Holland Hall Magazine - 2016

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Holland Hall THE HOLL A ND HA LL SCHOOL MAGA ZINE

Spring/Summer 2016



Spr ing/Summer 2016

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From the Head of School

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SPECIAL: Class of 2016

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CAMPUS VIEW: A Look at School Activities

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FEATURE STORY: Bringing Inspiration to Life

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FEATURE STORY: Living History

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SPOTLIGHT: Focus on School Stories

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Advancement News

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2015-2016 Annual Report

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Alumni Matters

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LANDMARKS: Announcements & Milestones

FRONT COVER: Primary School students celebrate Dia de los NiĂąos, a celebration of children, families, and reading that culminates yearly on April 30. The celebration emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.


2016-17 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Roger B. Collins Chair

J.W. Craft Vice Chair

Stephen J. Brady Treasurer

Amy Fogleman Koontz Secretary

J. Darin Alred ’84

Alumni Association President

Kenneth D. Busby ’85

Past Alumni Association President 1998-2002

Shelley Carter

William C. Lawson ’81

The Rev. Irving T. Cutter

Scott Mabrey

Mendi Dunn

Tammie L. Maloney

Parents’ Association President

Rabbi Marc Boone Fitzerman Bill G. Freudenrich

Past Board Chair 2006-2009

Tim McFerrin Susan Stuart Peterson ’97

Keith C. Goddard ’87

David B. Ragland

Past Board Chair 2011–2013

Brett Riley

Stephanie Jackson

K. Michael Saliba, MD

Anthony S. Jezek

Harold W. Salisbury

Deana N. Johnson

Kelly Wilkerson

Courtney Knoblock Rt. Rev. Dr. Edward J. Konieczny

EMERITUS BOARD OF TRUSTEES Philip B. Allen ’73 Katherine G. Coyle Elizabeth G. Hagans Thomas J. Hughes David A. Johnson Edward C. Lawson Susan C. Stone Barbara D. Sturdivant

Jamie Zink

ADMINISTRATION J.P. Culley

Brent Casey

Steve Heldebrand

Richard Hart

Steve Dyer

Leslie Kelly

Bert Bibens

Henry Finch ’76

Director of Technology

Director of Admission & Financial Aid

Joel Bicknell

Frances Fondren-Bales

The Rev. Art Scrutchins

Heather Brasel

Beth Goddard ’86

Head of School

Director of College Counseling

Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs

Director of the Walter Arts Center & Fine Arts

Head of Primary School Head of Middle School

Head of Upper School

Director of Communications & Marketing

Athletic Director

Chief Financial Officer

Olivia Martin

Upper School Chaplain

Interim Director of Institutional Advancement

Connect and keep up with current Holland Hall events on social media.

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Welcome from the Head of School. Dear Holland Hall Community, Annual Field Day festivities are behind us and our Upper School students and choirs recently performed the 54th annual Service of Lessons and Carols at Trinity Church in downtown Tulsa. Much has been happening on our 162 acres — some familiar, some new. But as each day passes, and as we learn from our students — and our students learn from us — much remains the same. Forever we will be focused on the importance of relationships. Just as indelibly, we remain focused on bringing out the best in one another. The Holland Hall experience is, in its truest form, an apprenticeship in self-discipline. The independent-minded, thoughtful students who leave us for college and future leadership opportunities do so having learned in the company of thinkers and doers who care deeply about children — and the young men and women they will become. Three years into the Board-approved strategic plan, it seems appropriate to provide you with an update as well as some data that might help communicate our overall health and vitality. Holland Hall remains active and engaged in the Tulsa community. Examples of newer student- and faculty-led initiatives include, but certainly are not limited to: Upper School students and faculty, under the leadership of Ms. Nancy Baumann and Ms. Ronda Cooper, are offering essential reading tutoring to underserved Tulsa public school students through the outstanding Reading Partners Program. Led by Max Martucci ’17, Upper School students are providing math tutoring at the Tulsa Boys’ Home. Middle School students remain connected to students at Mark Twain Elementary School, a partnership that builds community across Tulsa. Director of Technology Mr. Henry Finch ’76 is leading a team of Primary, Middle,

and Upper school faculty to outline a world-class computer coding program based on the work that is already being done at Holland Hall all the way down to our PreK program! Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs Mr. Richard Hart is working closely with our branch heads and faculty to launch our new faculty growth and evaluation program. Including classroom observations and video feedback, the program promises to help us recognize and reward faculty excellence in and out of the classroom. Intentional diversity and inclusivity (D&I) work continues. This year, we have D&I coordinators in each branch.

Leading the efforts are Ms. Patrice Cardiel (Primary School), Mr. Justin Butler ’04 (Middle School), and Mr. Nathan Parker (Upper School). Our collective goal for this work is to fully realize the school’s Board-adopted Diversity and Inclusion Statement (hollandhall.org/diversity-inclusivity). The Class of 2017 earned some of the highest SAT scores in school history. At an average of 1366 (1600 scale), Holland Hall has the highest average of four-year high schools in the state of Oklahoma, and we landed in the top ten of PK-12 coed independent schools in the INDEX, a highly selective group of marketleading schools throughout the country.

Finally, we recently launched our $50 million comprehensive capital campaign. The campaign is focused on developing a new Middle and Upper School dining and wellness facility, along with ensuring the financial future of the school. Recently, we celebrated in Morning Meeting that the A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Foundation has given $5 million towards the new building. All of this builds on what already makes Holland Hall such a unique PreK-12 experience. If you have not been home in a while, we hope to see you again soon. In Community,

J.P. Culley Head of School

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AND THOUGH WE PART, WE DO NOT FORGET. THOUGH WE LEAVE, A PIECE OF OUR HEART REMAINS... – Liam Carey ’16

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The 72 graduates of the Class of 2016 were awarded more than $6.3 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS and attend 41 INSTITUTIONS in 19 STATES: 24 private, 17 public, 65% out of state, 35% in state.

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GOODBYE, GOLD SOUNDZ by Liam Carey ’16, Class of 2016 Student Speaker Well, this is it. At the risk of stating the obvious, this place has been a home to me. As many hours as I spent knocking around my house shuffling Legos into new shapes, throwing fits over Call of Duty, and laughing with old friends, I grew up here. When I was young, I burned off whole hot summers here, too. Most kids dread returning to school after that last half-day, after the last recess bell, after scuttling off into the blazing freedom of late May. But I looked forward to the dog days when my Dad would have half a dozen meetings because I ended up stranded in this wood-paneled echo chamber, this art deco catacomb bursting with secrets. One wide-eyed kid strolling the empty halls. I wanted desperately to squeeze my way into all the places I didn’t belong. I spent hours collecting those throwaway objects that seem to children like artifacts of being. But after wandering around, filling my pockets and killing time, I ended up drenched in doldrum sweat, slumped in boredom on the same patch of carpet on the second floor. And I would sit down in the shadow of this bronze plaque, and I would read it quietly, under my breath, because at the time, it seemed like quite the secret. It read: “We shall not cease from exploration/ And the end of all our exploring/ Will be to arrive where we started/ And know the place for the first time.” The name T.S. Eliot meant nothing to me. It would be a while before I dared to dive into the Four Quartets, and read around these hallowed lines. But right then, still short enough to sit in the shadow of that single section, it shook me the way all good writing should. So, every day I came back, every day I said those same words, and every day I discovered new pieces of the world, new corners of this place. I was lost in a life of constant discovery. And I’m still lost, I’m still young. I tell you this because so often we find ourselves retracing our steps. Trudging through another day, another cycle, another year. And there’s this great myth that to grow up you have to make peace with that dull rhythm. That if you go through the motions and keep your nose to the grindstone, you will passively absorb enough knowledge to be called an adult.

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But I believe that there is no difference between the wanderings of a child, the struggles of a student, and the trials of adulthood. The problem is not that we retrace our steps, the problem is that we give up our interrogation of the world. Familiarity fills us with comfortable numbness. We begin to assume that we are in the know, that there are no corners left to discover. Recently, my uncle told me that deep down, beneath our masks of calm composure, we are all clueless. We become so determined to convince the world that we know our destination, we become afraid to admit that we’re wandering. And this is why I’m so glad to have been surrounded by all of you. Whenever the repetition of days begins to dull my senses, to convince me of some innate clairvoyance, you keep me clueless. You remind me that no matter how much knowledge I have stuffed my pockets full of, I am young, I am always wandering, always making it up as I go along. Only the most wonderful people can show us the children we hide deep in ourselves. And because you showed me mine, I was able to return here every morning, to sit down, to see my life with fresh eyes. And while I have no idea what it means to go on alone, I take solace in knowing you have taught me the lessons my classes never could. I have spent my life at this school being taught by the best, but you are the ones who taught me how to live. So I hope, I hope with every fiber of my being, that we do not walk through our lives anticipating their solution, waiting for some single instant of imagined success. Life is always and must always be its own solution, one labyrinth solved by walking. And so, after one last yearly stroll, we have reached the fork. And though we part, we do not forget. Though we leave, a piece of our heart remains. Our sweat is remembered, our words will be heard again, and even if we were never the heroes they wanted, we saved each other. Even if we can never know the future, and knowing we can never quarantine the past, when at last we do look back, when we return again to this place of many secrets, we will know for the first time how wonderful it was, to be young, to be lost, to be us. My dearest friends, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.


NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS CHERYL KALAPURA: Cornell University PETE KELLY: Brown University BRIANA LIU: University of Southern California GRIFFON MCMAHON: Purdue University

COLLEGE ATHLETES EXCERPT FROM

“THE LONG GOODBYE ( FOR LIAM)” by Greg Carey, Upper School History teacher, father to Liam Carey ’16

When you were born, time stopped But with each birthday candle lit Time accelerated Approaching light speed Opening, once again, that black hole inside of me Plunging me into an emptiness I cannot shake Or break loose from no matter how hard I try, How will I live without seeing you, hearing you, holding you? “Our revels now are ended. These our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits and Are melted into air, into thin air...” The last lines have been spoken The curtain is coming down “I guess this is it.” (me) “I guess this is it.” (Liam) “Goodbye.” (me) “Goodbye.” (Liam) “I love you.” (me) “I love you, too.” (Liam)

ELIZABETH ADELSON: Yale University – Track ANTHONY ARMOUR: Missouri State University – Football JESSICA ATWELL: Austin College – Basketball JENNA BYERS: Texas A&M University – Soccer MERICH FRIZZELL: Liberty University – Field Hockey TARA SMITH: Texas Christian University – Soccer SPENCER SUTTON: Oral Roberts University – Basketball JAKE VAN HOOSER: Oklahoma City University – Golf GRACIE WHITE: DePauw University – Field Hockey

DID YOU KNOW... The average ACT composite score for the Class of 2016 was 27.2. (The state composite average is 20.7.) Lizzy Adelson was named one of Oklahoma Magazine’s “2016 Graduates – Oklahoma’s Promising Youth.” The middle 50% SAT average score for the Class of 2016 was 1260 – 1440. (The state average is 990 – 1210.) The Class of 2016 included 27 “lifers” who had been at Holland Hall since at least 1st Grade. 14% of the Class of 2016 had a 4.0+ GPA. There were 7 legacies in the Class of 2016 whose parent(s) or grandparent(s) are/were also Holland Hall graduates. Sehej Parmar was voted one of Tulsa People’s “2016 Graduates Most Likely to Succeed.” Nine 2016 graduates have parents who work at Holland Hall: Liam Carey – Father, Greg Carey, US History Teacher Dakota Christian – Father, Matt Christian, PS Librarian Hagan Gross – Father, Tag Gross, Head Football Coach, US Teacher Callie Jackson – Mother, Paula Jackson, 3rd Grade Teacher Pete Kelly – Mother, Leslie Kelly, CFO Anna Schale – Mother, Kim Schale, Asst. to US Head Tanner Thompson – Father, Brian Thompson, MS Dean Audrey & Garrett Warren – Mother, Margie Warren, Director of the Capital Campaign

Gracie White – Mother, Tina White, 8th Grade History Teacher

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CLASS OF 2016 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES Bold indicates colleges of choice. Auburn University

Missouri State University

University of Colorado at Boulder

Austin College

Missouri Southern State University

University of Denver

Baylor University

Northwestern State University

University of Houston

Boston University

Northwestern University

University of Iowa

Brown University

Oklahoma State University

University of Maine

Carleton College

Oberlin College

University of Maryland

College of Wooster

Oral Roberts University

University of Mississippi

Colorado State University

Pitzer College

University of Missouri

Cornell University

Prairie View A&M University

University of Missouri-Kansas City

DePauw University

Purdue University

University of Montana

Desperation Leadership Academy

Rhodes College

Drake University

Rogers State University

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Drury University

Saint Louis University

Eckerd College

Saint Mary's College of California

Elon University

Savannah College of Art and Design

Emporia State University

Southern Methodist University

Fort Lewis College

Southwestern University

Furman University

Stetson University

Goucher College

Tabor College

Grambling State University

Temple University

Hendrix College

Texas A&M University

High Point University

Texas Christian University

Indiana University at Bloomington

Texas Tech University

Jackson State University

Trinity University

Johns Hopkins University

Tulane University

Juniata College

University of Alabama

Langston University

University of Arkansas

Liberty University

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Lindenwood University

University of California, Berkeley

Loyola University New Orleans

University of California, San Diego

Michigan State University

University of Central Oklahoma

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University of North Texas University of Notre Dame University of Oklahoma University of Pittsburgh University of Puget Sound University of Redlands University of Richmond University of San Diego University of South Florida University of Southern California University of Texas, Austin University of Tulsa University of Virgina University of South Carolina Ursinus College Virginia Tech Washington University in St. Louis Westminster College Whittier College Yale University


CONGRATS TO THE CLASS OF 2016!

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G R A DUAT ION

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6 1 Liam Carey, the class of 2016’s student speaker. 2 Student-elected faculty speaker Christy Utter ’92, Director of Alumni Relations and field hockey coach.

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3 Coach Utter leading the graduates in an unprecedented group cheer on stage at graduation. 4 Class of 2016 “lifers,” who have been at Holland Hall since at least 1st Grade.

5 6 Nine in the Class of 2016 have a parent or close relation on staff at Holland Hall. Family members are invited to join their student(s) on stage to present the diploma.


G R A DUAT ION

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6 1 Marta Almazovaite, 8th Grade Closing Exercises student speaker. 2 3 8th Graders celebrate Closing Exercises with friends and family. 4 Head of Primary School Mr. Bert Bibens congratulates 3rd Graders at Primary School Bridge Crossing.

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5 Head of School J.P. Culley hands out 8th Grade certificates at Closing Exercises in the Branch Theatre.

8 Teachers, fellow students, and even the Head of School sign old uniform shirts for posterity.

6 7 3rd Graders participate in the “Bridge Crossing� ceremony to signify their transition to Middle School.

9 10 Crowds gather to celebrate 3rd Grade crossing of the bridge.

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IN THE CLASSROOM

Classroom activities that inspire & excite. Owl Pellet Dissection During the 1st Grade “Birds of Prey” unit, students dissect owl pellets, a mass of undigested food some bird species regurgitate. The contents can include the bones, bills, claws, and teeth of the most recent meal. Students attempt to reconstruct the parts, learning about the bird’s diet and the anatomy of the prey.

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The Butterfly Club The Middle School Butterfly Club plants milkweed seeds each year in November for the Monarch Butterfly Migration that happens each spring. The students collect milkweed seeds, draw, and engage in arts and crafts activities that have a butterfly theme. 1 2 3 1st Graders dissect owl pellets. 4 PreK students wear costumes of what they want to be when they grow up at the Occupation Parade.

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5 5th Graders build and test bridges in Ms. Graybill’s Robotics class. 6 7 Middle School students replant milkweed seedlings.

8 Upper School students build robotic vehicles in Mr. Ford’s Robotics class in preparation for the BotBall® robotics competition.


IN THE CLASSROOM

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VIA – Visiting Illustrator Author George Shannon Each spring, the Primary School Maloney Library hosts a guest children’s book author/illustrator. The author/illustrator meets with each Primary School class to read aloud their books and teach about the writing and illustration process. This year we welcomed George Shannon, author of over 40 children’s books. Mr. Shannon writes primarily from his personal experience as a child growing up in the midwest.

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America Day America Day is a culminating event after a year-long study of the regions of the United States in 4th Grade Social Studies and Language Arts. The students put together research projects varying from creative art pieces to technology presentations that focus on one state of their choice. Family members and faculty are invited to view the projects then enjoy some patriotic songs performed by students and an All-American lunch.

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9 10 11 Author George Shannon reads his books and enjoys Q&A with each Primary School grade during VIA.

13 3rd Grade students experiment with oil and water to create water bottle volcanoes in Ms. Lopez’s class.

12 8th Graders design, perform, and document science experiments in Ms. Parker’s Science class.

14 15 Middle School students present their America Day projects to visiting family members and teachers.

16 Special guest Mr. Culley reads “Sick” from “Where the Sidewalk Ends” to 1st Graders on Poetry in PJ’s day. Students enjoyed faculty and Upper School student guest readers all day. Spring /Summer 2016

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THE ARTS

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1 2 Upper Schoolers perform in the musical comedy Nunsense, held in the Branch Theatre. 3 4 Middle Schoolers perform in the 5th Grade Music Program, held in the All Saints Chapel.

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5 8 Junior Kindergarteners display their art in the Holliman Gallery in an art show attended by faculty, parents, fellow students, and even 2015 ARTworks artist Christopher Westfall.

8 6 7 2nd Grade students present to their parents projects from throughout the semester at the PE, Music, and Art Sharing Program.


THE ARTS

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9 The Middle School Honor Choir performs at Morning Meeting under the direction of Ms. LeDoux.

12 1st Graders perform the Ocean Play in the Branch Theatre.

10 11 1st Graders perform the Reptile Play in the Branch Theatre.

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13 14 2nd Graders re-enact classic stories in the Fairy Tale Play.

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15 16 17 Upper School orchestra and jazz band members perform in the Newman Theatre “black box.�

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TRADITIONS

Enduring traditions shared for generations. Sakawa–Wanata Track Meet Dating back to 1924, the Sakawa-Wanata Track meet is one of Holland Hall’s oldest traditions. 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade students are placed on either the Sakawa team or Wanata team based on family legacy. The two teams battle it out in various track events including sprints, long jump, high jump, shot put, and softball throw to win the Silver Trophy.

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1 2 3 4 5 Middle School students compete in the annual Sakawa-Wanata Track Meet. Sakawas won in 2016!

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6 Each spring, Holland Hall’s campus is home to ducks and Canada geese who make their nests in the same spots then lead their babies to the pond to grow up.

7 3rd Graders participate in the annual Land Run. Land Run day is filled with square dancing, a mock land run, and Oklahoma-inspired activities.


TRADITIONS

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Oklahoma History Day Western humorist and cowboy storyteller Sky Shivers has been coming to Holland Hall for almost 18 years. Shivers teaches our 3rd Graders about early Oklahoma homestead life through interactive storytelling and crafts.

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SOOD – School out of Doors Each year, Middle School students push learning beyond the classroom at School Out Of Doors (SOOD), where they participate in team-building activities that encourage character growth and leadership. In the fall, 6th, 7th, and 8th Graders camp at St. Crispin’s in Wewoka, OK. In the spring, 5th Graders camp out on the Holland Hall campus, setting up tents on athletic fields and gathering around the campus fire pit.

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8 9 3rd Graders learn about the perils and challenges of living in the Oklahoma pioneer days.

11 12 6th Graders test hand-made hot air balloons at the annual Balloon Launch.

14 15 Middle School students race hand-made cardboard boats at the 8th Grade Regatta.

10 12th Grade “lifers” visit the Primary School to see their former teachers and connect with future lifers.

13 Kindergarteners will never forget that ‘u’ follows ‘q’ after the traditional “Wedding of Q and U.”

16 17 5th Graders camp overnight on the Holland Hall campus during SOOD.

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SUMMER PROGRAMS

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1 2 11 Campers at Kamp Kindness pay it forward with kindness by mulching 51 trees with Up with Trees, sacking 300 lbs. of onions at the food bank, and offering free lemonade on campus, just to name a few!

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3 Robotics campers learn to build robotic vehicles.

7 Digging up bones at Roar with the Dinosaurs camp.

4 Learning to knit at Knitting 101.

8 Arts and crafts at Adventure Camp.

5 6 Star Wars campers make and use their own light sabers.

9 Coding and creating computer games at Learn to Code camp.


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SUMMER PROGRAMS

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10 Campers hone their musical skills at String Orchestra camp.

13 Celebrating U.S. traditions at Celebrate America camp.

16 Learning to bake at Fun and the Art of Pastries.

12 Fun with building at Construction Junction camp.

14 15 19 Athletes stay in shape in the off-season through the Summer Athletic Commitment (SAC).

17 18 Board games and Legos at Old Fashioned Fun and Games camp.

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AT H L E T I C S

HOLL AND HALL MAGA ZINE


AT H L E T I C S

Baseball

The young 2016 team had several wins including a big win over Casady. Another highlight was playing Cascia Hall at ONEOK field downtown. The team looks forward to next season as they only graduated one senior.

Track

The girls and boys track teams both consistently placed in the top four at 2016 meets. High jumper Elizabeth Adelson finished off her high school track career with her 4th straight year of All-SPC honors. Also earning All-SPC was senior Spencer Sutton in the shot put.

Softball

Softball opened the season strong by winning two of the first three games, beating Hockaday and ESD. The team made a nice transition to the OSSAA in fall 2016 and looks to improve next year as they return the entire team.

Basketball

The girls team won the SPC title with a 23-2 overall record and went undefeated in SPC play. The Dutch girls basketball team has won four SPC titles in the last eight years while finishing in the top four for eight consecutive years. The boys team had several nice wins early on including a win against Cascia Hall. Senior Spencer Sutton signed to play basketball next year for ORU.

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Soccer

Girls soccer finished the season on a high note, winning the last two games against Casady and All Saints. After outstanding conference play, boys soccer earned the #2 seed from the north and a bye in the first round of the SPC tournament. The team finished with a 11-5-2 record and looks to make a strong showing in the OSSAA.

Golf

Boys golf had an outstanding season, taking home several top finishes including wins at Skiatook and Bishop Kelley. The team finished in 4th place at SPC with sophomore Bobby Hughes earning All-SPC honors and taking 7th place overall. Senior Jake Van Hooser signed with Oklahoma City University to play this year.

Tennis

Boys tennis finished the season with a 4-5 conference record, just missing out on making the SPC Tournament, but freshman Jack Atherton played well at #1 singles and will lead the Dutch next spring in the OSSAA. The girls had a strong run at the SPC Tournament with a big win in their quarterfinal match against Kinkaid, advancing to the semifinals before falling to eventual SPC champion, Hockaday. The girls had a second consecutive top four finish at SPC.

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“What do you think I should wear on my head?” she asked, holding up her striped scarf. Our daughter Lucy Claire Sharp was assembling some options for her biography presentation. The annual Holland Hall 4th Grade biography unit included choosing one influential person to study and culminated in the “Living Museum” performance with students dressed in the likeness of their character and giving a memorized speech about the inspirational person. Nearly all preparations were done in school, drawing on the creative resources of the 4th Graders and their teachers, so we remained eager to see what Lucy Claire and her classmates had learned. Lucy Claire chose to study Malala Yousafzai, the teenage Nobel laureate and survivor of a Taliban attack. Speaking as Malala, Lucy Claire told her story: “All my life, I’ve loved going to school. A good education is very important to me. I was born July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan. I am named after a great leader, Malalai of Maiwand. When I was 10, I saw the Taliban fight Pakistani soldiers right by our house. I got shot by a Taliban man in the left eye socket when I was 16 years old. I was flown to Birmingham, England, to be treated more. This year, on July 12, 2016, I will be turning 19. ‘They thought the bullets would silence us, but they failed. And out of that silence came thousands of voices.’ (Malala Yousafzai)” When we asked how she chose Malala, Lucy Claire said she remembered seeing the biography I am Malala on our bookshelf and another book about Malala in Mrs. Dresser’s collection. Malala, she said, is brave and wants education to be available to girls. We were learning so much about Malala from Lucy Claire. But she still needed to figure out what to wear.

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A hijab is the traditional and religious headcovering many Muslim women wear as a spiritual practice of the body rather than the often misunderstood acceptance of submission. I’d never worn a hijab myself and we didn’t own one Lucy Claire could wear for Malala. What is the most respectful way to wear a hijab? We decided to ask for help. Through my work as a theologian at Phillips Theological Seminary and also our family’s commitment to interfaith learning, we have made friends within the Muslim community here in Tulsa. Lucy Claire and I sent a Facebook message to Aliye Shimi, the then Director of Outreach and Public Relations for the Islamic Society of Tulsa and tireless advocate for interfaith education. Miss Aliye, as we call her, invited Lucy Claire to Friday prayers where anyone who is curious about Islam can attend. Friday is the sacred call for prayer for Muslims, much like Saturday is the Sabbath for our Jewish friends and Sunday the typical worship day for Christians like ourselves. On Friday, February 12, 2016, Lucy Claire and I arrived at the midtown Masjid Al Salam, one of two mosques in town and also the site of the pre-K-12 private school Peace Academy. Lucy Claire had a notebook of questions: What happens on Fridays at the mosque? What is girls’ education like? When do girls start wearing the hijab? Why do girls and women wear the hijab? What is the most beautiful thing

Is it ok for Lucy Claire to wear a hijab if she is Christian?


BR IN G IN G INS P IR AT ION T O L IF E arp, PhD By Mindy McGarrah Sh

about Islam? Is it hard to be Muslim in Tulsa? And, of course, the question that prompted our visit: is it ok for Lucy Claire to wear a hijab if she is Christian, and what is the most respectful way to dress up as Malala for the presentation? As a United Methodist theologian, I have studied, experienced, and even presented at conferences on the topic of hospitality. The Methodist Church in Georgia where I grew up was well known for community picnics and pot luck dinners on Sundays and Sunday school classes that could and would deliver pies and casseroles to anyone in need or grieving. However, the hospitality Lucy Claire and I experienced at the Peace Academy here in Tulsa was nothing short of extravagant. Miss Aliye had asked a few female students to meet with Lucy Claire before the Friday call to prayer, had arranged a meeting for her with the Imam John Ederer, had planned a tour, and was prepared to entertain all of Lucy Claire’s questions around a table with a spread of chicken and rice, sodas, cookies, and more. We learned that young Muslim girls consider the hijab a special spiritual experience and enjoy shopping for head coverings. We learned that our hosts have a deep understanding of their religious faith practices and wanted to help us learn. We learned that in Amera Hammami, Aliye Shimi, conversation with their Crystal Issacs, and Heera faith community, some Sheikh teach HH student Lucy girls choose to wear the Claire Sharp ’24 about Islam. hijab at different ages and at different times. It reminded us of confirmation in our Methodist tradition, the bar and bat mitzvahs we have attended, and the beautiful coming of age ceremonies that

I witnessed in African traditional religious practices as a Peace Corps volunteer years ago. We learned that there are many different kinds of hijabs. We saw the basic hijab that is part of the Peace Academy school uniform. We also learned that Muslims in Tulsa are as brave as they are kind. When we met in February 2016, there had already been over 90 documented hate crimes against Muslims in Tulsa just a few weeks into the new year. Lucy Claire asked, why?

The hospitality Lucy Claire and I experienced at the Peace Academy here in Tulsa was nothing short of extravagant.

The conversation progressed to our question about dressing up like Malala in the Holland Hall performance. Miss Aliye paused for a minute and came back with a large shopping bag. She called some other women into the meeting room. Then she invited Lucy Claire to try on some outfits over her dress. Miss Aliye showed us three beautiful outfits with matching hijabs: a long red and black tunic, a brilliant multi-colored striped pants and tunic, and the one that fit the best, a deep pink and orange tunic with tiny embroidered detail, patterned tan pants and a coordinating blue, pink, and orange hijab. The handmade garments had been purchased by a Tulsa Muslim woman from a seamstress in Syria. We thanked the women for the chance to try on the beautiful garments – learning different ways to wear the colorful hijabs over a smaller fitted white hijab. When Miss Aliye told Lucy Claire that these were not just examples of outfits but also personal gifts for her to keep, we couldn’t believe it. When it was time to attend the Friday call to prayer, Lucy Claire decided to keep wearing one of the hijabs while we sat with other guests of the mosque. Throughout the service, Miss Aliye quietly entertained more questions,

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made sure Lucy Claire was following what was happening, and pointed out that many different kinds of people worship together in this one place because there are so few mosques in Tulsa. At the end of the service, Miss Aliye introduced Lucy Claire to friends as the young girl who wants to learn about Muslims in Tulsa. On the drive home with a bag full of beautiful garments in the backseat, Lucy Claire and I talked about how friendly everyone had been, how terrible it is that these new friends experience hate crimes in Tulsa, and how great it would be if everyone could get to know the amazing people we had just met. We realized that there are Muslim friends right here in Tulsa who have to be brave daily to get the education, respect, and peace that all people desire.

As a Holland Hall parent, I am grateful to be a part of a school where inquiry is valued, where kids are encouraged to seek and share inspiration, and where a class project can turn into an interfaith friendship. On February 19, Mrs. Prince’s 4th Grade class performed their biographical sketches. Each fourth grader was fantastic – delivering memorized messages of inspiration, and freezing in tableau while their classmates were speaking. In the performance, Lucy Claire stepped forward in the pink and orange tunic and pants, with coordinating blue, pink and orange hijab. Like Malala Yousafzai, she carried a sign that read “I am stronger than fear.” Like her brave classmates, she delivered a short speech about Malala. After the presentation, we wrote thank you notes to Miss Aliye and the women at the Peace Academy who gifted us with such a great experience. A month later while on

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spring break at Hogwarts in Universal Studios, Orlando, we unexpectedly ran into one of the Peace Academy school girls we had met. When I asked if she recognized her friend by her hijab, Lucy Claire said, “no I recognized her by her face.” Two months later, Miss Aliye accepted an invitation to our home for dinner and the friendships continue. As a Holland Hall parent, I am grateful to be a part of a school where inquiry is valued, where kids are encouraged to seek and share inspiration, and where a class project can turn into an interfaith friendship. Malala is right: in a world of violence and fear, education and friendship are powerful things.

Resources ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF TULSA www.istulsa.org PEACE ACADEMY www.patulsa.org MALALA YOUSAFZAI www.malala-yousafzai.com PHILLIPS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY www.ptstulsa.edu


Sebastian Alderman ’23 had the chance to step back into history and gain a deeper understanding of an important event in America’s past thanks to an innovative 5th Grade curriculum and a family summer trip. In the fall/spring of 2015-16, Andrea Reese, 5th Grade Language Arts teacher, and Ryon Stirling, 5th Grade Social Studies teacher, asked their students to read The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, and designed a specific curriculum to deepen understanding and meaning for their students. The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 is a fictionalized account of a young African-American boy and his family who find themselves in the middle of one of the darkest times in American history, the summer of 1963, when the 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed by white supremacists, killing four young black girls. The book was discussed in “literature circles,” led by the students themselves and facilitated by teachers and parent volunteers. All students had a specific role in the literature circle, allowing each to contribute in meaningful ways to the overall understanding of the novel’s narrative and its historical significance. Ms. Reese explained, “Because of the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the students we teach, their personal perspectives add tremendous depth to the discussions at hand. Not only do the students form stronger bonds with each other when placed in small groups, they learn more about the diverse cultures, values, and beliefs we have in the Holland Hall community.” Fast forward to the following summer, when Sebastian was on a road trip to Florida with his family. The Aldermans’ route took them through Memphis and then south towards Birmingham. In part because Sebastian had studied the Civil Rights movement in school, the Alderman family visited Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s church and the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. Knowing they’d be traveling through Birmingham, the family decided to make a stop at the 16th Street Baptist Church.

Every day we are so close to history that we can’t help but touch it if we allow it to touch us.

Tobey Ballenger ’91, Sebastian’s mother, had been a parent facilitator for the literature circles, so she knew the visit would be an opportunity to reinforce what Sebastian had learned at school, but she wondered how meaningful it would really be. “We were all tired of being cooped up in the car,” Tobey said. “We could easily have gone to the hotel and had a swim or headed straight to dinner.” But it seemed a shame to be so close to the church and not see it for themselves. What happened next was much more than a “check-box” parenting moment or typical tourist quick-stop. Standing in the spot where the four girls were killed, where hate boiled over and shocked a nation, was a truly transformative and reflective moment for the whole family. Understanding that the experience was more significant for Sebastian because of the deep dive he had taken with his literature circle, Tobey was thankful for Ms. Reese and Mr. Stirling. She said, “Their passion for their subjects helped make us stop that afternoon and understand that every day we are so close to history that we can’t help but touch it if we allow it to touch us.” Spring /Summer 2016

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Spotlight

GIRLS BASKETBALL SPC CHAMPIONS

Finishing strong – girls basketball 2016 SPC champions. When Holland Hall made the decision in 2015 to leave the Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) and join the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA), it was a chance to engage more fully in the local and regional communities, reduce the number of days that students athletes missed class time due to travel, and compete against like-sized schools. The SPC, of which Holland Hall had been a member since 1967, is made up of schools primarily in Texas, and most of which have larger enrollments than Holland Hall. One team that historically has had no difficulty competing against the larger SPC schools is the Holland Hall Varsity Girls Basketball team. The program boasts 12 SPC championships, more than any other team in the history of the school. In the last eight years, Holland Hall has captured the SPC title four times, been the runner-up twice, and played in the 3rd place game the remaining two years. Remarkable results for one of the smallest schools in a 19-school conference! While many talented players have come and gone over those years, the one constant has been the dedicated coaching staff, led by Head Coach Crystal Lawson. Winning an SPC championship in 2009, her first year coaching at Holland Hall, Coach Lawson set the bar high but was able to lead her teams to subsequent wins in 2010 and 2011, and again in 2016, the school’s final year as a member of the SPC. The 2015-16 season started out with high expectations. The team had lost several starters to graduation but returned most of a group that had the year before placed 3rd in the conference. In addition, the Dutch welcomed several new and talented players to the team. Although every group takes time to come to a cohesive whole, Assistant Coach Mark Cyrus noticed this team had something special in their “sheer joy of being together.” He observed, “They were more than a team, more like sisters, family.” That closeness paid off both in practice and on the competition court right from the start; the team won their first three earlyseason games with little difficulty.

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Heading into the first big challenge of the season, Holland Hall participated in the Vinita tournament, beating Miami and Vinita before losing a close game in the finals to 7A Bentonville (AR). The Dutch would go on to play two other large, 7A Arkansas schools in the Siloam Springs tournament, coming away undefeated and with a They were more first-place trophy. Two satisfying wins against than a team, more like crosstown rival Cascia sisters, family. Hall and a handful of ~ Mark Cyrus, other games prepared Assistant Coach the team well for SPC competition beginning in January. But even with some early wins, there was no guarantee of success when matching up against strong SPC teams, so the Dutch took nothing for granted. What was increasingly seen as a sure thing, however, was the bond the girls shared. Said Coach Lawson, “It truly felt like a family any time they were together... practice, games, bus trips, hotels, team dinners. They were a very special group of young ladies who made friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.” SPC competition went extremely well, with the Dutch going undefeated in conference play, outscoring opponents 511 to 205, and holding four of seven opponents to fewer than 20 points. Going into the SPC conference tournament in February in Houston, Holland Hall was the #1 seed in the North Zone, allowing the team a bye in the first


GIRLS BASKETBALL SPC CHAMPIONS

Spotlight

round. There was tough competition to be faced, however, as Houston Kinkaid, the top seed in the South Zone, had taken first or second place in three of the previous four years. The Dutch won their first two games with relative ease, setting up a championship match against Kinkaid. The game was played at Houston Christian in a gym packed with local Houston Kinkaid fans and a small contingent of traveling Holland Hall supporters. “Once they made it to the championship game, still not many thought they had a chance,” said Juniors Kennedy Cox and Annie Wise each had five 3-pointers, Coach Lawson, “but they and Freshman Gabby Gregory had a belief in each other added 18 points in the final and a desire to give against Kinkaid. All three were named SPC All-Conference. everything they had.”

It was special seeing Coach Gross and Hagan share a moment together as a father and daughter winning an SPC championship together as a coach and player.

The Dutch had a quick start, leading Kinkaid 40-19 at the half and leaving the hometown crowd slightly stunned. But Kinkaid wouldn’t give up easily and mounted a comeback effort that resulted in a 4th-quarter scoring frenzy. As the clock ticked down, though, and the Dutch victory became inevitable, Holland Hall was able to maintain possession and run out the clock. A celebration on the court ensued, a moment those who

Congratulations to the 2015-2016 Girls Basketball SPC Champions!

~ Coach Lawson

were there won’t soon forget. Coach Lawson remembered the moment the buzzer sounded. “Seeing the pure emotion and jubilation on the faces of the girls and seeing them be rewarded for all of their hard work was an amazing feeling as a coach. They were the epitome of what “team” stands for. It was the most selfless group of players I have ever coached.”

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Spotlight

M I D D L E S C HO O L P L AY

Holland Hall talent shined in the Middle School play. The Middle School play is always an exciting production that highlights the talents and hard work of many Middle School faculty members and students. It is a team effort to build the set, design and create the costumes, cast and direct the actors, manage rehearsals, promote the production, and for the actors to learn their lines and get into character. But the 2016 play, Juliet Rescue, spotlighted Holland Hall talent even more than usual as the story itself was based on a novel written by 7th Grade English teacher Mr. Mark Johnson and adapted for the stage by now-retired Middle School Drama teacher Ms. Sally Adams and her son, Will Inman. From concept to execution, Juliet Rescue was a true Holland Hall talent showcase. SYNOPSIS: It’s not Kate’s fault that Jack Parker is lost in 1595, and besides, he did dump her for a mean girl. But Kate knows she has to rescue Jack, even though she didn’t realize he followed her through the Z2000 Time Traveler into Shakespeare’s London. When Kate and her friend Margo return to 1595 and find Jack preparing to play Juliet at the Theatre, the girls must convince him to return with them, though Jack remembers nothing of his former life. The girls have four days to save Jack and Shakespeare’s production of Romeo and Juliet before they too forget their old lives.

Juliet Rescue, a novel by Mr. Mark Johnson and screenplay by Ms. Sally Adams and Will Inman: What inspired the original creation of Juliet Rescue? MR. JOHNSON: For years, I looked for some way to introduce the world of Elizabethan London to my 7th or 8th Grade students before having them read and act out Romeo and Juliet and other plays. What I hoped to find was a smart, fun novel with enough historical references to get Middle School students excited about Shakespeare. I didn’t find one, so that’s what I have tried to write.

How long did it take to complete the novel? MR. JOHNSON: I started writing Juliet Rescue in September a few years ago. While I’m able to do a lot of writing during the summer, it’s tough to do much new work during the school year. So I began thinking through

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this story in those quiet moments... at 5:30am after making coffee and feeding the dogs and while hiking the trails around Holland Hall. But most of the early events in Juliet Rescue were developed in my sleep. I would wake up at about 4am and think about where I had left Kate and Margo and Jack in the novel, and then work through the new challenges in my dreams. Of course, even when I knew what was going to happen next, I still

How was it decided to turn the novel into a play?

had to do the real work of writing it

MS. ADAMS: When Mark was sharing

all down. It took about three years to

parts of the story with me in the

get Juliet Rescue to the point where it

beginning stages, I was immediately

was ready to send it off to agents and

interested. The idea of sending

potential publishers. Sally and I talked

these characters back in time where

last year about turning this book into

they would meet the real William

the Middle School play, so I knew I

Shakespeare really appealed to me.

really had to commit to finishing the

Once I read the manuscript, I really

story over the summer.

wanted to translate that part of the story to the stage.


M I D D L E S C HO O L P L AY

Spotlight

Practice what you teach. Award-winning writer and 7th Grade English teacher, Mr. Mark Johnson.

Mr. Mark Johnson spends his days in the classroom teaching and inspiring students in his 7th Grade English classes. However, Mr. Johnson is more than a teacher; he is a role model with direct industry experience as a working, published, and award-winning author.

MR. JOHNSON: I’ve had the chance

both me and Will. We had great

to collaborate with Sally on many

conversations on how to adapt the

projects over our years together in

story to the stage, and Mark helped

the Middle School, and I knew from

us solve some of the issues we had

her excellent Middle School musical,

translating a first person narrative to

Radio Kids, that she had the chops to

third person, which is how most stage

transform Juliet Rescue.

plays are written. We also lost the dog

How long did the play-version of Juliet Rescue take to complete?

in Mark's story, and I was sorry about that. We also created new characters based on Shakespeare’s plays in

MS. ADAMS: My son, Will, is a

order to hammer home the idea that

playwriting student at The University

Shakespeare borrowed ideas from

of Houston, so I enlisted him to help

what was already in his environment.

me with the structure of the play. He

MR. JOHNSON: Sally and I met a

wrote the first draft and many of the funniest things in the script are his. I did the rewrites to create a script tailored to our cast size. It took us from June to September to get to the final version folks saw on the stage.

How involved was Mr. Johnson with the adaptation? MS. ADAMS: Mark was incredibly helpful. He met several times with

number of times in June and July so I could hand over new chapters and so we could look over what she was coming up with for the play. While the play is essentially the same story and includes the same major characters as you find in the novel, Sally knew she needed to add new characters and make significant changes to adapt the

In 2016, he won the Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry, presented by the Nimrod Literary Awards, for a collection of poems titled “Greenwood Burning: Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1921.” Mr. Johnson’s work was selected from more than 1,000 entries, and he is the first Tulsa writer to win this top prize. The winning poems were published in the Nimrod International Journal. He has also been published in Nine Mile Magazine, Art Focus Oklahoma, This Land, and has two published books of poetry. After publication of Greenwood Burning, seniors in Ms. Eder Williams-McNight’s Upper School English class read the poems and met with Mr. Johnson to discuss them, drawing upon his experience and expertise to elevate the classroom experience.

story for a Middle School play. Spring /Summer 2016

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Spotlight

HARKNESS INSTITUTE

The 2016 Harkness Institute. With a generous gift from the George and Jennie Collins Foundation, Harkness tables were introduced at Holland Hall during the spring of 2015. The beautiful oval-shaped tables serve as a symbol for the learning that happens around them. When the student is an active participant, a much greater depth of learning occurs. The best Harkness lessons are revealed when students say as much, if not more, than the teacher — building on and reflecting through one another’s ideas. Long a predominant pedagogical technique for Upper School teachers, discussion, dialogue, and debate provide rich content for clarifying ideas and digging deeper. While teaching is as much of an art as it is a science, faculty receiving Harkness tables hoped to learn more about how to deepen the experience for students. As part of ongoing professional development, Holland Hall reached out to Phillips Exeter Academy, a school well versed in the Harkness Method.

work across disciplines, as well as build a common set of techniques that are domain specific. While two days of an intense workshop is draining during the academic year, many teachers left feeling it was one of the best professional development experiences they have had.

The Harkness Table in Use.

Since 1922, Phillips Exeter Academy has used Harkness tables and the Harkness Method of teaching to encourage students to listen well and then speak with conviction and openness. In short form, it’s called discussion-based, student-centered instruction. Upper School Head and Phillips Exeter graduate, Ms. Frances Fondren-Bales, reached out to her alma mater and brought two distinguished Exeter teachers to campus last March. With funding from Holland Hall’s generous professional development budget, Ms. Becky Moore, Woodbridge Odlin Professor in English at Exeter, and Mr. Kwasi Boadi, Michael Ridder ’58 Distinguished Professor of History, came to Tulsa for two days to work with over twenty-five Upper and Middle School faculty. The two-day workshop took place during a Sunday and a Monday. Mr. Boadi and Ms. Moore expertly guided our faculty participants through the rigors of effectively helping students prepare for class discussion. Their mixture of focusing on pedagogy and content knowledge allowed our teachers to both find transferable techniques that would

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Above is a concrete example of what a Harkness discussion might look like on paper. This document traces the discussion during a single meeting of one of Ms. Jane Beckwith’s Upper School history classes. About the Harkness Method and table, she said, “the Harkness Method has helped me provide a classroom environment that empowers students to take charge of their learning. After learning and practicing the protocols for Harkness discussion, students lead the way. This approach helps me continue to learn how to be an effective facilitator through quiet observation. Because feedback is a critical piece of this method, I also continue to refine my skills in this area as well.”


S T U DE N T AWA R D S

Spotlight

STUDENT AWARDS. Across campus, students are honored for a variety of skills and talents. From the arts to scholastics to citizenship, Holland Hall students make us proud with their diverse range of accomplishments. Below are just a few examples of honors bestowed last spring.

MIDDLE SCHOOL HONOR CHOIR. Sixteen singers from the Middle School Honor Choir were accepted into the SWACDA National Honor Choirs to perform at the Kauffman Center for the Arts in Kansas City. They spent countless hours rehearsing, and the Honor Choir students worked even harder at the rehearsal sessions in the days preceding the concert where national clinicians mentored singers from seven states to artistically craft their voices for the performance. MIDDLE SCHOOL SPIRIT WEEK WINNERS. Advisory groups in each Middle School grade competed to show their school spirit during Spirit week. The winners chose between a pizza party or ice cream party, and Ms. Graybill's 5th Grade class picked ice cream. Other winners included Ms. Prince’s 4th Graders, Mr. Marshall’s 6th Graders, Ms. Matthews’ 7th Graders, and Ms. White’s 8th Graders. OUTSTANDING CITIZENSHIP AWARD. 11th Grader Jacob Herring was the 2016 recipient of the Sons of the American Revolution Outstanding Citizenship Award. Holland Hall nominated Jacob in recognition of his leadership qualities and commitment to outstanding citizenship.

OKLAHOMA REGIONAL BOTBALL® TOURNAMENT. The Upper School robotics team won a Judge’s Choice award for the “Outstanding Use of Sensors” in the 2016 Oklahoma Regional Botball Tournament, a team-oriented robotics competition. GEOGRAPHY BEE. On April 1, 2016, young geography whizzes across the U.S. participated in National Geographic State Bees, competing for a spot in the 28th Annual National Geographic Bee Championship in Washington, D.C. 8th Grader Garrett Eaton won the Middle School Geography Bee, then placed in the top 12 of 100 students competing in the Oklahoma state Bee.

GODDARD SCHOLARS. The Les and Ellen Goddard Merit Scholarship Program provides outstanding 6th and 9th Grade students the opportunity to attend Holland Hall as merit scholars. These competitive scholarships are renewable each year of the recipients’ enrollment at Holland Hall provided the students maintain solid academic performance and contribute positively to the Holland Hall community. Learn more at www.hollandhall.org/ admission/goddard-scholars. GREEN COUNTRY REGIONAL SPELLING BEE. 6th Grader Robert Sharpe finished 8th in the Green Country Regional Spelling Bee. Holland Hall was a sponsor of the Bee and donated a week of summer camp to the champion.

SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARDS. Out of nearly 320,000 works of art submitted by students from the USA and abroad to the 2016 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Senior Rachel Wenger ranked in the top 1%, receiving a Silver Medal for her ceramic pottery.

2016 NATIONAL SPANISH EXAMINATIONS. Holland Hall students earned three gold, three silver, and four bronze medals along with 14 honorable mentions at the 2016 National Spanish Examinations. The three gold medalists scored in the top 5% of the middle and high school participants nation-wide. “Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious,” said Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, National Director of the Exams, “because the exams are the largest of their kind in the United States with over 160,000 students participating in 2016.” OKMEA ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA. 11th Grader Lydia Jeong was the 5th-ranked first chair second violin in the state at the All-State Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OkMEA) Orchestra concert.

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Spotlight

B E YON D T H E G AT E

Beyond the Gate Part 1: Spanish tutoring, Downtown Studies, & gifts from the heart. By Olivia Martin Holland Hall enjoys a long tradition of volunteerism and civic engagement that only grows more extensive and meaningful each year. The school’s outreach is grounded in our mission statement in which we “seek to foster in each student a strong moral foundation and a deep sense of social responsibility.” Whether Holland Hall’s students and teachers are supporting students with their English skills across town at a Tulsa Public elementary school or traveling across the world to minister to orphans in Tanzania, they are committed to collaborating with others to improve the lives and educations of individuals near and far. Locally, Holland Hall students and teachers are actively involved in all kinds of programs to enhance the lives of Tulsans and families in the surrounding area. The Upper School students enrolled in Ms. Maureen Burke’s Spanish Advanced C Honors class serves three Tulsa elementary schools: College Bound, Kendall-Whittier, and Zarrow. All of the students devote at least an hour each cycle to assisting students whose parents are native Spanish speakers develop their reading and writing skills. As a result of all According to Rohan of his work speaking Trehan ’17, “We not only help the Spanish, Ben is an excellent Upper School students become better students tour guide for Spanish- of English, but we speaking parents. also enjoy hanging out with them and bonding over the fun we have together.” Ben Troung ’17 likes practicing his Spanish-speaking skills while helping younger children. Ben credits his work with these students for really enhancing his Spanish communication. As a result of all of his work speaking Spanish, Ben is an excellent Upper School tour guide for Spanish-speaking parents. Ms. Burke believes “that working in the community gives my students a chance to see first hand the struggles that many schools and many families in Tulsa face (large class size, lack of funds, food insecurity, etc.). It also gives them a wonderful opportunity to use their

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Spanish skills working as mentors. I also hope to instill in my students a desire to give back and help others in the future, wherever they live.” This balance of excellence in teaching and a model of service is only one facet of the programmatic emphasis on social responsibility and community engagement at Holland Hall.

The innovative Downtown Tulsa Studies program that begins in 7th Grade and commences in an incredible senior elective course is another example of Holland Hall students and teachers moving beyond our campus to learn within and impact the Tulsa community. Not only do students learn all about the history of Tulsa and present their research and findings in locations around the city, but students also participate in city planning meetings and develop a rich


B E YON D T H E G AT E

understanding of municipal processes and leadership. As students strengthen their research, reading, writing, and presentation skills, they are also serving as teachers for and leaders in Tulsa. Ms. Jane Beckwith, Upper School history teacher and co-founder of the Downtown Tulsa Studies program, along with Mr. Mark Johnson, believes that students need to “live history” in order to understand it and positively shape their own futures. Mr. Johnson asserts, “Through Downtown Tulsa Studies, students become aware of the city in which they live as they explore answers to essential questions.” Michael Burke ’17 reports that he was especially moved by the class’s visit to the Greenwood Cultural Center. “Through Downtown Studies, we learned about the hidden history of Tulsa (Tulsa Race Riots) and the plans for future development proposed by Tulsa companies such as ONEOK.” Because the faculty in Holland Hall’s branches work together to design curriculum that serves and inspires students as they promote to higher grades, the opportunities for meaningful service multiply. During the holiday season each year, students in Holland Hall’s 4th Grade class knit scarves and blankets and collect books for children at Crosstown Learning Center. According to Leah Beakey ’25, “I feel good knowing that our Holland Hall community is helping people who have less than we do.” Ms. Tracy Prince works with the students to learn how to knit, while Ms. Summer Molloy, Ms. Vicki Vrooman, and Ms. Mary Kay Hobbs assist the students in making fleece blankets. The class travels to Crosstown Learning in December to meet the younger children and share their creations and the books that they have purchased. Ms. Vrooman reports that students have the opportunity to learn a new skill and to build a bond with younger students at another school. The 4th Grade not only delivers their hand-made gifts and books to the children, but they read to the children and visit them again in February after creating

Spotlight

friendship bracelets for them. Dr. Mary Ann Cameron, mother of Michael Cameron ’25, shared the following: “We love the kids’ project for the Christmas gifts. The fact that they are making the gifts and learning a new skill makes it so special. Michael has been so excited. He woke up early to knit today, so he can finish this scarf and start a new one. He's planning to buy me knitting needles for Christmas so we can knit together! Thank you for organizing such a great gift.” Clearly, this project unites the class, families, and the Tulsa community in a powerful way.

Clearly, this project unites the class, families, and the Tulsa community in a powerful way.

In following installments of “Beyond the Gate,” we will explore the Middle School’s long-term commitment to Mark Twain Elementary, the annual Wright Elementary holiday party, Upper School Reading Partners, the Cyber Seniors program, Max Martucci’s ’17 leadership at Tulsa Boys’ Home, the Primary School’s various community service projects, and the amazing stories that our Upper School students and teachers share each autumn after traveling around the world to Tanzania to serve the children at The Janada L. Batchelor Foundation for Children, founded by Chris Gates ’06.

Spring /Summer 2016

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Spotlight

TA L E S F ROM T H E P C T

2,650 miles in 107 days – tales from the PCT. By Greg Spencer Over the summer of 2016, I had the opportunity to fulfill a dream – hike the entire 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). All I had with me was what I could carry on my back, including a sleeping bag, tent, ground pad, water filter, food, and water. My trek began on the US/Mexico border in Campo, CA where, for the first 700 miles, I was in a desert environment battling the heat, rattlesnakes, lack of water, and poodle-dog bush*. Once out of the desert, I was treated to the awe-inspiring Sierras, seeing some of the country’s most beautiful mountains and national parks. This was my favorite section of the trail even though I had to contend with freezing temps, snow, and several dangerous river crossings. From the Sierras, the trail took me through northern California before hitting Oregon and the Cascade Range. The first half of Oregon required traversing through thick forest terrain filled with fallen trees to maneuver around and hordes of aggressive mosquitoes. I emerged from the forest to experience the spectacular views of Crater Lake and Mount Hood on my way into Washington. Washington lived up to the hype with breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and the Goat Rocks, just to name a few. My adventure came to an end at the Canadian border, near Manning Park, BC. Along the trail, I came in contact with lots of wildlife, including snakes, lizards, skunks, marmots, deer, elk, goats, and even a bear. I never really felt like I was in any danger but hearing those loud rattles from the rattlesnakes was scary at times because, while I could hear them, I couldn’t always see them.

*Eriodictyon parryi or poodle-dog bush is a tall California mountain shrub with showy purple flowers, and is notable for secreting a severe skin irritant.

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TA L E S F ROM T H E P C T

Spotlight

What made this experience truly exceptional were all the unique, interesting, and kind people I met along the way. I started off solo but never truly felt alone, as there were plenty of people to hike with along the way. Sometimes I would hike with a group for a few days then break off and go it alone or find another group. I met people from all over the United States and from 20+ different countries around the world. It wasn’t just my fellow hikers who made a difference. Another group known as “Trail Angels” helps hikers along the trail by providing food, housing, rides, or sometimes just some much-needed company. It was inspiring how the Angels welcomed me, a complete stranger, by opening up their home, and treating me like family.

Greg with Trail Angel “Coppertone” outside Mojave, CA. Coppertone travels up and down the PCT in his RV.

The PCT was an amazing experience that I will never forget; a lifetime worth of memories across 2,650 miles in 107 days. Spring /Summer 2016

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AdvancementNews

PLANNED GIVING

Create a lasting legacy for Holland Hall students today & in the future. Make a meaningful gift that honors the memory of a loved one today or ensure that your commitment to Holland Hall extends beyond your lifetime. Holland Hall offers several ways to honor a lifetime spent supporting the belief that education transforms lives. Donations to the Holland Hall Annual Fund in memory of a loved one are a wonderful way to honor the life of a family member, former Holland Hall teacher, or special friend. Gifts are applied to the Annual Fund for the fiscal year in which the memorial gift is made. Notification is sent to the family of the honoree and the memorial gift is acknowledged in the Holland Hall annual report. Sarah Adams ’99, daughter to Jan and Roger Adams, sister to

Donors who include Holland Hall in their estate plans Andi Noland Neaves ’89 and Laura Adams Allen ’03. ensure our mission for years to come. Grandparents, parents, alumni, and friends of the school who make legacy gifts to Holland Hall play a key role in the school’s fiscal stability. The school’s current endowment We made a exists largely because of the generosity and forethought of past supporters who memorial gift in honor included Holland Hall in their wills and trusts. Holland Hall offers many planned of our parents, John giving options that provide tax benefits and even income from certain types and Barbara Rossetti, of planned gifts.

“Why I Give...” Holland Hall parents Hal and Tracy Salisbury give because they believe in the mission of Holland Hall. They said, “We are incredibly happy with the experiences and life and college preparation our kids received at Holland Hall. We wanted to give back to an institution that gave us and our children so much. A planned gift enabled us to leverage our resources and make a much more significant gift than we may have otherwise been able to. It was a very simple process and we were able to structure the gift in a way that provided favorable tax opportunities to us We are truly and an impactful gift to Holland Hall.”

touched when we receive a notice that a gift has been made in Sarah’s memory. ~ Jan Adams

36

with gratitude for the generosity of others who went before us to provide the funds, opportunities, and education we received from Holland Hall. ~ Gina Rossetti Gunn ’77, Joe Rossetti ’73, Tony Rossetti ’72, Dave Rossetti ’70

Retired PreK teacher Mrs. Jan Adams gives for her daughter, Sarah Adams ’99. Jan shared, “Three years ago we lost our daughter Sarah in a tragic accident as she served in ministry as a part of Young Life Africa. There isn’t a day that we, her family, do not think of her. Our greatest fear is that others will forget about her, and the incredible life she lived. We are truly touched when we receive a notice that a gift has been made in Sarah’s memory. It serves as a reminder that others still remember. Sarah loved Holland Hall as much as we do. Everyday love changing everyday lives.”

HOLL AND HALL MAGA ZINE


EVENTS

AdvancementNews

Save the dates for upcoming events! Trivia Night JANUARY 28, 2017 6pm Middle School Gym

Book Fair Preview Party FEBRUARY 24, 2017 6pm Middle School Gym

Book Fair FEBRUARY 25, 2017 8am – 5pm Middle School Gym

Dutch Divine

Speakeasy Auction APRIL 7, 2017 Silo Event Center

Alumni Hall of Fame and Sports Banquet MAY 20, 2017 DoubleTree Hotel Warren Place

Golf Tournament JUNE 13, 2017 12pm The Patriot Golf Course

MARCH 23, 2017 6pm Spain Ranch

2016 Golf Tournament. Hosted at the beautiful Patriot Golf Club for the second year in a row, the 2016 Holland Hall Golf Tournament had a full roster of golfers and sponsors. We were also pleased to see a record number of women golfers joining the tournament and hope that number continues to grow! Proceeds from the tournament provide vital additional support to athletic programs at Holland Hall. Thank you to all of our sponsors, participants, and volunteers for making this another successful and fun tournament!

Spring /Summer 2016

37


AdvancementNews

EVENTS

Hand drawn art by Cybil Seneker ’17 was the inspiration for the invitation.

Schureman Circle Donor Appreciation – An Evening of the Arts & Intrigue. Senior Cybil Seneker ’17 set the tone for the event with her design for the program and invitation to “An Evening of the Arts & Intrigue” held on April 16, 2016. The night featured a cast of characters including Founders of Holland Hall, Notorious City Leaders, and Tulsa’s Finest Entertainers from the 1920’s. Guests enjoyed a duet featuring Barron Ryan ’05 on the piano and soloist “Madam Adams” (Middle School drama teacher Sally Adams) and the magic of “The Amazing Culley.” An event is held every year to honor and recognize Holland Hall’s Schureman Circle Giving Society Members. Please visit www.hollandhall.org/give to donate and join the Schureman Circle.

38

HOLL AND HALL MAGA ZINE


EVENTS

AdvancementNews

56th Annual Book Fair. Long held as one of Tulsa’s most beloved community events, the 2016 Book Fair welcomed over 1,000 guests to the Holland Hall campus to shop for used books. The inventory is an extensive range of books, toys, and multimedia including rare books, children’s books, textbooks, games, stuffed animals, fiction and non-fiction hard and softback books, coffee table books, records, and even decorative books perfect for Pinterest crafting projects, just to name a few. The Book Fair would not be possible without our dedicated volunteers, led by Book Fair Chair Jan Pearson. Over 400 volunteers worked over the summer and throughout the entire school year to sort, organize, and price donations. On the day of the event, hundreds of faculty, staff, and parent volunteers man the Book Fair to ensure our visitors enjoy their time at Holland Hall. Monetary donations collected at the Book Fair went to purchase new library books for the Tulsa Boys’ Home, McKinley Elementary, and Mark Twain Elementary.

Spring /Summer 2016

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HOLLAND HALL ANNUAL FUND

OR

CO

LOY

TY AL

Three virtues — honor, loyalty, courtesy — were the inspiration for the Holland Hall school motto penned by Headmistress Frances Perl Bemis in 1924, the year of Holland Hall’s first graduating class. We celebrate again those virtues, and the Holland Hall founders who built a school around them, with the establishment of the Holland Hall Founder’s Guild. Donors who make a gift of $2,500 or more in a fiscal year to the Holland Hall Annual Fund will become inaugural members of the Founder’s Guild and will be invited to an elegant recognition event in the spring.

HON

Introducing The Founder’s Guild.

U RT E SY

Nearly 100 years ago, a group of parents who believed passionately in the need for Tulsa to have an educational institution to rival the best schools in the country came together to generously support the establishment of Holland Hall. We invite you to become an original member of the Founder’s Guild and honor the commitment of our founders with a gift to support the outstanding educational experiences that continue at Holland Hall today.

The Schureman Circle Giving Society. Schureman Circle Giving Society members are the dedicated parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the school who give $1,000 or more in a fiscal year to the Holland Hall Annual Fund. The Schureman Circle Giving Society donor recognition event is being moved to the fall! Please watch for your invitation to an all-new Schureman Circle event honoring your generous support of the Holland Hall Annual Fund.

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HOLL AND HALL MAGA ZINE


G I V E ON L I N E AT HOL L A N DH A L L .ORG /G I V E

Why give? Your financial contribution to the Annual Fund supports the people and programs that make Holland Hall a unique and exceptional school — talented teachers, small classes, enriching arts and athletics programs, advanced technology, exciting field trips, and much more. Your child’s complete education and experience at Holland Hall is financed by both your tuition and your Annual Fund gift. When asked, “why give?” our parents and alumni share the reasons they give so generously... “The Holland Hall community prepared me academically to survive in college, and helped me appreciate the options I had outside my immediate world.” – David Todd ’91 “We give to the Annual Fund to support the world-class, diverse education offered at Holland Hall. The Annual Fund is the school's most important fundraiser! We hope you will join us in making a gift to Holland Hall.” – Cristi Martens, parent

We give to the Annual Fund to support the world-class, diverse education offered at Holland Hall. The Annual Fund is the school's most important fundraiser! We hope you will join us in making a gift to Holland Hall. ~ Cristi Martens, Holland Hall parent

Your gift to the Annual Fund has an immediate impact on the student experience.

It supports academics, arts, athletics, faculty, technology, and financial aid.

To make a gift to the Annual Fund, please visit www.hollandhall.org/give or contact Monica Champ at (918) 879-4766 or mchamp@hollandhall.org. Thank you for your participation in the Annual Fund. Spring /Summer 2016

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Annual Report 2 01 5–2 016

Holland Hall is thankful for each donor who invests in our school, our students, and our community. Their generosity and committment to Holland Hall ensures our ongoing ability to impact the lives of future generations. To view the complete list of 2015-2016 donors by giving level, please visit hollandhall.org/2015-16-donors.

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HOLL AND HALL MAGA ZINE


2015–2016

AnnualReport

Thank you for giving to Holland Hall. The 2015-2016 school year was full of experiences, activities, and events that reflect Holland Hall’s commitment to providing an educational experience that prepares today’s students to make an impact on their communities now and far into the future. The Dutch Weekly does a great job of keeping you abreast of the wonderful things going on at Holland Hall and by our students in the Tulsa community but I would like to list a few facts of which you may not be aware: Historically, 10 to 20% of the senior class is recognized in the National Merit program*. That’s the highest percentage in Oklahoma! With an average of 1366, Holland Hall has the highest SAT results in the state* and is in the top 10% of nationally recognized K-12 coed independent schools in the country. Holland Hall has the highest AP results in the state*. Typically, 90% of our students who take an AP exam earn 3 or above. Holland Hall has the highest ACT scores in the state* with an average of 27.2.

Holland Hall is the only Cum Laude Society School in Tulsa and one of only three Cum Laude Society schools in Oklahoma. Having a Cum Laude Society chapter is seen by colleges as the most critical mark of academic excellence.

In the Upper School, Holland Hall offers 62 different art courses and over 17 different sports teams.

Holland Hall’s student-teacher ratio is 9:1, and on average there are 25 seniors per full-time college counselor, the best ratio in the region.

To attract and retain the highest quality faculty, Holland Hall invests heavily in our teachers. On average, we pay our teachers five to ten thousand dollars more than other Oklahoma private and public schools, and provide significant ongoing professional development opportunities for our faculty and staff.

Holland Hall is a welcoming and diverse community. Students of color represent 22% of the entire student body and 28% of Upper School students.

James & Leta Chapman Bequest Society. The James and Leta Chapman Bequest Society is a group of donors who have included Holland Hall in their estate plans. To learn more about estate planning or to notify the school of a bequest, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at (918) 481-1111. Judith Pape Adams ’57*

Jack G. Morris*

Anonymous

Wayne and Victoria MacNaughton

Miriam Parrish Baird ’28*

Thomas D. Neal ’76

Horace G. Barnard, Jr.*

Grace Porter*

Genevieve Ann Alcott Causse ’55

David Rossetti ’70 & Jan Avent

James & Leta Chapman*

K. Michael Saliba & Lodie Naimeh-Saliba

Ena B. Cochran* J.P. & Mary Culley Robert H. Duenner, Jr.* Rod & Danette ’85 Elliott-Mullens Bill & Karen Freudenrich Audra Hewgley Gallegos Charles Gregory Gephart ’71* Keith ’87 & Beth Lieser ’86 Goddard Shelley Smith Jackson ’64

The collective efforts of our students, faculty, families, and the broader school community ensure that Holland Hall remains one of the finest independent schools in the country and one of which we can all be proud.

Shelby H. Scott Nancy Seay* Katherine Q. Sinclair* Edward C. Sloan, Jr.*

Roger B. Collins Chair, Board of Trustees

Joanne L. Farmer Suppes ’39* Jay P. Walker* Pauline McFarlin Walter* Peter M. Walter

Jonathan Knoblock & Courtney Latta Knoblock

Mary Frances Walter O’Hornett ’35*

Eugene L. McCarthy, Jr. ’77

Thank you for your unwavering support of Holland Hall.

Hal & Tracy Lorton ’82 Salisbury

James L. Kincaid

J. David & Tammie Maloney

70% of the Upper School faculty has an advanced degree, including 5 doctorates.

Margret Harned Warren ’82

* Deceased

* Compared to all other 4-year high schools in the state.

Spring /Summer 2016

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AnnualReport

2015–2016 TRIBUTE GIFTS

Holland Hall Tribute Gifts.

Paying tribute is an especially caring and memorable way of giving. Whether the gift is in memory or honor of a loved one, friend, family member, teacher, or life event, we gratefully accept and recognize these gifts.

IN HONOR OF:

Corey R. Babb ’00

Geoffrey Butler

IMPACT: STUDENTS HELPING STUDENTS

Leif Tanaka Abufadil ’24

Natalie Bair ’20

Justin O. Butler ’04

Caroline Bair ’17

Jenna Byers ’16

John & Sharon Baker

Baylor Calvin ’16

19 22

Jan Adams

Leo Tanaka Abufadil ’22 Jan Adams

Luka Tanaka Abufadil ’20 Jan Adams

Luna Tanaka Abufadil ’27 Jan Adams

Jody & Sarah Hawn Jody & Sarah Hawn Brett ’89 & Carey Dunkin Baker

Faye Bartlett ’16 Susan Sullivan

Jan Adams

John & Noel O’Haren ’94 Groves Greg & Brandy Laird Christy Zahn The Stolper Family

Sally Adams

Karen Bowers Elizabeth Adelson ’16 Kay Holt

Alex Alabbasi ’12

Bob & Kathleen Alabbasi

Kathleen Alabbasi

Stephen & Stacy O'Sullivan

Abigail Alderman ’20

Bob Ballenger & Jeanne Hartley-Ballenger

Sebastian Alderman ’23 Bob Ballenger & Jeanne Hartley-Ballenger

Vivian Alderman ’26

Bob Ballenger & Jeanne Hartley-Ballenger

Kim Allan

Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan

Phil Allen ’73

Jean Newton Tate ’47

Elliott Andrew ’21 Jim & Mary Lewis

Meredith Andrews Rod & Jill Coulter

Margery Armstrong

Bob & Jacque Swanston

Abraham Arredondo ’15 Amy Cauthon

Arielle Auerbach ’26

Stuart & Elyse Auerbach

44

Ray & Jannelle Babb

Christina Basora ’11

Juan & Carmen Basora

Nancy Baumann

Nicholas ’03 & Julie Bunting

Linda Christensen Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan Kay Holt Kay Holt

Abigail Campbell ’16

Upper School peer tutors Middle & Primary School peer tutors

John & Sharon Campbell Susan Sullivan

Louie Culley ’27

Grace Campbell '16

Dolores Culley

John & Sharon Campbell

Ted & Carol Welsh

Kay Holt

Blake Curlee ’18

Liam Patrick Carey ’16

Sheila Curlee

Susan Sullivan

Norm Tomasko

Elizabeth Carstens ’07

Alicia Cutter ’27

George & Robin Carstens

Irving III & Hilde Cutter

Emily Carstens ’09

Austin Cutter ’22

George & Robin Carstens

Irving III & Hilde Cutter

John Carstens ’13

Katie Darden ’18

Cason Carter ’96

Larry B. & Doris Darden

Henry Carter ’29

Glenn & Karol Day

Lizz Carter ’94

Glenn & Karol Day

Luke Carter ’26

Jim & Lise Dean

Jaxon Castillo ’20

Jim & Lise Dean

Dakota Christian ’16

Bruce & Beverly Dieterlen

Kay Holt

Bruce & Beverly Dieterlen

Jude Christian ’21

Bridgette Dieterlen ’22

Caston & Joyce Christian

Bruce & Beverly Dieterlen

Matt Christian

Brittany Dieterlen ’14

Laura Longoria

Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan

Bruce & Beverly Dieterlen

Tucker Brown ’26

Joshua Chung ’16

Tempest Dulany

Henry Berry '21 Barbara Berry

Bert Bibens

Preschool 4’s Teaching Team

Collier Bicknell ’30 Jane Bicknell

Delaney Bicknell ’23 Jane Bicknell

Jillian Bicknell ’26 Jane Bicknell

Olivia Bicknell ’19 Jane Bicknell

Bella Bieligk ’20

Samuel Bieligk & Karen Parsons-Bieligk

Reagan Bieligk ’25

Samuel Bieligk & Karen Parsons-Bieligk

Alex Booker ’20 Ray Booker

Debbie Brokaw

Jimmy & Julie Beard Christy Zahn

Charles H. Brown

Roy S. Johnson ’74

Greg & Kathy Carey

George & Robin Carstens Mike & Paula Carter Mike & Paula Carter Mike & Paula Carter Mike & Paula Carter William & Miryam Castillo Caston & Joyce Christian

Elyse Tomasko Curtis ’09

Dana Darden

Barrett Day ’29 Caitlin Day ’26 Erin Dean '19

Evan Dean ’21

Blair Dieterlen ’17

Blake Dieterlen ’19

Matthew ’99 & Erica Joseph ’99 Brown

Susan Sullivan

Ron & Fay Palma

Bessie Collins

Elle Elmburg ’20

Mollie Buffington ’26

Amanda Viles ’91

Cy & Linda Elmburg

Susan Connor

Emily Elmburg ’18

Kenneth & Wanda Wolfkill

HOLL AND HALL MAGA ZINE

Henry Sherburn ’27

Cy & Linda Elmburg


2015–2016 TRIBUTE GIFTS

Evy Elmburg ’31

Yolanda Hankins

Alexus Enloe ’16

Karen Harris

AnnualReport

Holland Hall Faculty & Staff, Past & Present

Amy Koontz on Mother’s Day 2016

Neil Bergenroth & Cathy Rose-Bergenroth

Marianne Holmes

Ayden Korn ’21

Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan

Kenneth & Keri Shingleton

Hatcher Heldebrand ’30

Kate Hook ’23

Benjamin Korn ’24

Bob & Jacque Swanston

Kyle Hook ’20

Zarine Koshy

Levi Hudson ’28

Morgan Kramer ’16

Olivia Hudson ’28

Jeanne Laidlow

Madison Huhn ’16

The Stolper Family

Cy & Linda Elmburg Kelly Danner

Sami Estes

Thomas Feemster ’21 Jean Stemmons

Casey Ferguson ’17

Mead & Mary Ferguson

Lucy Flegler ’24

John & Marnie Flegler

Maggie Flegler ’26

John & Marnie Flegler

Olivia Flegler ’21

John & Marnie Flegler

Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan

Jim & Juanelle Heldebrand Steve & Whitney Heldebrand Bruce & Stephanie Riddle

Holt Heldebrand ’22

Jim & Juanelle Heldebrand Steve & Whitney Heldebrand Bruce & Stephanie Riddle

Hunt Heldebrand ’22

Jim & Juanelle Heldebrand

Harper Fox ’25 Mary A. Fox

Steve & Whitney Heldebrand

Lila Fox ’22

Bruce & Stephanie Riddle

Charlie Fryer ’16

Jan Adams

Jackie Gibson ’18

Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan

Mary A. Fox Kay Holt

Ken Gibson & Helen Huhn-Gibson

Mary Jo Gilliland Luc Tomasino ’81

Foster Gillingham ’30

Clint & Anne Darnell ’88 Gillingham

Nellie Gillingham ’27

Clint & Anne Darnell ’88 Gillingham

Lynn Glover

Kathleen Harris

Charlie Goddard ’21 Dick & Trish Lieser

Ellen Goddard ’17

Dick & Trish Lieser

Jackson Goddard ’15 Dick & Trish Lieser

Emma Goldberg ’17

Marc & Linda Frazier

Elise Goldberg ’20

Marc & Linda Frazier

Amber Graybill

Stephen & Stacy O'Sullivan

Asialynn Griffin ’24 Gerald Griffin

Tag Gross ’87

Brian & Diane Thompson

Whitney Heldebrand Pam Herman

Ellie Herndon ’21 Ken & Tory Brust

John & Mary Alice Bird

Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan Carl & Sandra Hook Carl & Sandra Hook Rick & Diane Hudson Rick & Diane Hudson

All of My Holland Hall Students J. Dan Rives, III

Holland Hall's Faculty

Mengjiao Yu & Ye Feng

Holland Hall Faculty Who Have Impacted our Childrens’ Lives Mark & Lori Zahn

Holland Hall Class of 1995 20th Reunion David Beynet ’95

Holland Hall Community, a Wonderful Group of Talented & Diverse Individuals! Barbara Reavis

Holland Hall Community Supporting the Simpsons Bret & Teri Simpson

Kay Holt

Gina Johnson

Ed & Jay Lawson

Bill & Patty Lawson

Bill & Patty Lawson

Crystal Lawson

Emily Jezek ’24

Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan

Steve & Judi York

Matt & Jennifer Wise

Atala Johnson ’24

Ed & Jay Lawson

Jo Ellen Fielding

Bruce & Katie Johnson

Morgan Johnson ’27 Jo Ellen Fielding

Bruce & Katie Johnson

Ryan Jones ’18

Bernard & Lolly Shaw

Knox Tucker ’31 & Family

Edward W. Jenkins, M.D.

Walker Herndon ’19 Clayton Wayne Hill ’20

Phil & Lonnie Snyder

Caroline Lawson ’20

Reed Herndon ’18 Ken & Tory Brust

Phil & Lonnie Snyder

Ken Gibson & Helen Huhn-Gibson

Elise Jones ’20

Ken & Tory Brust

Rick Koontz ’81

Frank & Karen Richey Frank & Karen Richey

Bill & Patty Lawson

MacLeod Lawson ’18 Bill & Patty Lawson Ed & Jay Lawson

Ginny LeDoux Karen Bowers

Mason Lee ’19

Bill & Sandy Lee

Milan Lenhart ’23

Jack & Cheryl Lenhart

IMPACT: BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS

46

book room volunteers

600 volunteer hours worked

Magnus Lepak ’22

Roy & Sharon Love

Roman Lepak ’27

Roy & Sharon Love

Sophia Lepak ’20

Roy & Sharon Love

Rebecca Levit ’20

Edward & Bonnie Koven

Breanna Lewis ’20 Jim & Mary Lewis

Emma Lewis ’22

Jim & Mary Lewis

Vanessa Jones

Knox Tucker ’31 & Family

Kelly Keglovits ’16

Jim & Mary Lewis

Emily Little ’26

Kay Holt

Tony & Sharon Little

Pete Kelly ’16

Olivia Little ’30

Kay Holt

Lara Koch

Josh Lewis ’17

Tony & Sharon Little

John & Noel O’Haren ’94 Groves

Payton Little ’23 Marian Franklin

Spring /Summer 2016

45


AnnualReport

2015–2016 TRIBUTE GIFTS

Briana Liu ’16

Brock Morgan ’16

Andrea Reese

Laurie Spencer

Matthew Lollar ’20

Jim Narlock

Griffin Tucker ’23 & Family

Richard Spencer

Kristopher Neumaier ’16

Audrey McKellar Rhodes ’94

Susan K. Carlson

Jim & Ann McKellar

Oliver Lorton ’21

Piper Nida

Julia Roark ’25

William Lorton ’16

Sagan Ocepke ’29

Andy Liu & Jin Wang Lane ’85 & Amy Lollar

Sadie Lollar ’21

Lane ’85 & Amy Lollar Bob & Roxana Lorton Kay Holt

Bob & Roxana Lorton

Jeremiah Lower ’20

Monica Gardner ’98 & Eric Lower

Brandon Maddux

Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan

Tia Magee

Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan

Pam Martin

Henry Sherburn ’27

Frances Martucci

Martin & Ellen Martucci

Romney Nowlin McGuire '94 Laura Longoria

Caroline Lee McKee ’24 Ernie & Judy McKee Piper Nida

John Michael McKee ’21 Ernie & Judy McKee Piper Nida

Sloan Meier ’27

Robert J. & Barbara Meier

Truett Meier ’25

Robert J. & Barbara Meier

Anna Milligan Anthony Clay

Brian & Debbie Morgan Rod & Jill Coulter

Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan Richard & Linda Ocepek

Ava O’Hara ’22

Jim & Nancy O’Hara

Jacob O’Hara ’20

Jim & Nancy O’Hara

Mia Mascarin Oven ’81 Luc Tomasino ’81

Maddie Phillips ’25

Hershel & Lynett Martin

Robert & Carolyn Brooks

Emily Ann Milton ’19

Robert & Carolyn Brooks

David & Margaret Underwood

Stephen Robison

Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan

Paige Rudd ’16 Kay Holt

Jeff Rudd

Cindy Saliba ’12

K. Michael Saliba & Lodie Naimeh-Saliba

Michael Saliba ’16

Merrick Phillips ’26

K. Michael Saliba & Lodie Naimeh-Saliba

Bill & Kathy Fellers

Susan Sullivan

Michael Phillips ’21

Laurel Salisbury ’17

Alexa Pierre ’19

Mac Sanders ’20

Lolly Pierre ’19

Nate Sanders ’22

Bill & Kathy Fellers Jules Theagene

Harold Pierre & Josie Theagene

IMPACT: ATHLETICS

12%

of the class of 2016 signed an athletic scholarship.

John & Laura Vance

Alice Milton ’22

Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan

Passion Pierre ’26 Harold Pierre & Josie Theagene

Queen Pierre ’15

Bob & Roxana Lorton David & Susan Poston David & Susan Poston

Amy McKellar Sasick ’85 Jim & Ann McKellar

Luke Savage ’23

Dwight & Veronica Savage Damon '95 & Miriam Savage

Kathleen Harris Jimmy & Julie Beard

Sheryl Springer Erin Henderson

Olin, Karen, Courtney ’12 & Caroline ’13 Holmes John & Pam Lieber

Alex Stanton ’16

Gene & Connie Tompson

Jason Starr ’78 Gene Starr

Joel Starr ’77 Gene Starr

John Starr ’72 Gene Starr

Susan Starr ’70 Gene Starr

The Steele Family Anonymous

Bailey Steele ’22 LaReda Cadieux

Corbin Steele ’20 LaReda Cadieux

Gavin Steele ’24 LaReda Cadieux

Logan Steele ’27 LaReda Cadieux

Susan Steinmeyer

Lynn & Jeanne Laidlow

Trey Sawyer ’16

Ben Stewart ’22

Len Sexton

Kate Stewart ’20

Robert Sharpe ’22

Ryon Stirling

Thomas Sharpe ’22

Ashley L. Babb Studdard ’01

Tierney Shaw ’22

Joseph Studebaker ’21

Susan Sullivan

Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan Hartmut & Diane Schnell Hartmut & Diane Schnell Malcolm & Linda Shaw

Richard & Vicki Stewart Richard & Vicki Stewart Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan Ray & Jannelle Babb

Don G. & Nancy Nelson

Georgia & Hudson Monks’ Awesome Teachers, Past & Present

Harold Pierre & Josie Theagene

Tynan Shaw ’21

Olivia Studebaker ’18

Hallie Polson ’27

Tara Smith ’16

Emma Summers ’23

Robert & Maxie Polson

Susan Sullivan

Emily Grace Moore ’19

Reese Poston ’30

Bryson Smith ’21

Molly Summers ’23

Maggie Smith ’21

Landon Sutterfield ’30

Spencer Smith ’20

Phil Sweeney

George & Rachel Monks Monte & Shayne Moore

Spencer Moore ’17

Monte & Shayne Moore

46

Malcolm & Linda Shaw

Thomas & Angela Hoffman ’03 Poston

Lois Smith

Pradeep & Sandhya Reddy

Lois Smith

Chai ’97 & Maile Reddy

Rosalind Elder HOLL AND HALL MAGA ZINE

Don G. & Nancy Nelson Howard & Peggy Summers Howard & Peggy Summers Gail Nelson

Joseph Hunt ’05


2015–2016 TRIBUTE GIFTS

Lori Swisher

Melanie Yaffe

Tracy Brune ’87

Bryce Tero ’21

Chloe Zahn ’16

Karen Buffington

Summer Thompson ’17

Mark & Lori Zahn

Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan Jerry & Pat Russell Gene & Connie Thompson

Tanner Thompson ’16

Gene & Connie Thompson

Melissa Tomasko ’11

Jan Adams Kay Holt

Polly Zebrowski ’06 Rachel Zebrowski

Serena Zebrowski ’04 Rachel Zebrowski

Norm Tomasko

Tucker TomlinsonHowell ’19

Christina L. Armstrong

Ria Trehan ’20

Sanjeev & Monica Trehan

Rohan Trehan ’17

Sanjeev & Monica Trehan

Jack Tulloch ’18

John & Judy Frey

IMPACT: MENTORS

200

6-8th Graders paired up with 1-3rd Graders from Mark Twain Elementary to form mentor relationships.

Andrea Turner

Stephen & Stacy O’Sullivan

Carlos Tuttle

Bruce Buford ’69

Christy Utter ’92 Laura Longoria

Mira Vaidya ’24

Atul & Ashwini Vaidya

Nikhil Vaidya ’26

Atul & Ashwini Vaidya

Brice & Sue Venable

Frank & Peggy Ward

Jodi S. Welch

Caroline Adams

Richard & Kelly Wilkerson

Scott & Liz White

Mary T. Allen The Allergan Foundation Eric & Adry Auerbach Marty Babbington Randy & Rhonda Bluhm Gregory & Jerelyn Burkemper Craig & Mary Ann Cameron Bob R. Carter Charles & Sandra Chappel Victor Cheng & Yoon-Hee Cha Max & Vicky Corlett

Beau & Vanessa Driggers

Mike & Paula Carter Steve & Sarah Joyce Dyer

Craig & Julie Dietert Richard & Jewel Drinkwater David & Gwen Fleske William & Margaret Guthrie Judy Jones Hutter Eugene & Beverly Jackson Jeff & Jill James Brett & Stacy Johnson

Amy Venable

Ilan & Kathryn Lieber ’99 Grinberg

Liza Vest ’90

Chris & Vanessa Jones

Sally Adams

Callum Kerr ’00

Robin Vest ’93

Alan & Vicki Lewis

Sally Adams

Robby ’99 & Taylor Merrick

Weston Keene Vrooman ’13

Laura Adcock

Waylan & Linda McLain

Stephany Ward

Peyton Arens

Mary Mottola

Vicki Vrooman

John & Noel O’Haren ’94 Groves

Hannah Whitaker ’17

Mike & Amy Whitaker

Gracie White ’16 Kay Holt

Adrienne Winchester ’17 Philip & Carolyn Hart

Bruce & Sarah Winchester

Jaclyn Wooten

Bob & Jacque Swanston

Nolan Wyatt ’29 Ingrid Matthews

Arthur Scrutchins Jim & Katie Arens

Darin Arnold

Tag ’87 & Cassie Gross

Craig Benton

John L. Brechin III ’77

Jack & Mattie Bicknell Joel & Regina Bicknell

Ray Bizjack

The Bizjack Family Cheryl Somers-Ingersol ’74

Bill Brown

Jack & Judith Berry ’69 Ingraham Laurie Spencer

Darton & Jamie Zink

Ed & Lora Leigh Butler Bob Butler

Steven D. Camp ’75 Tamara Laster Deisenroth ’75

Damon T. Carreiro ’93 Bob & Cathy Carreiro Mike & Paula Carter John & Kathie Coyle

Sarah Adams ’99

Richard & Victoria Cameron

The Brian J. Wilson Family

Jim & Cherry Bost

Frances Catania

Glenn & Karol Day

Nancy Baumann

Jo-An Vargo Karen R. Weidner

IN MEMORY OF: Laura Adams Allen ’03

Peggy Thompson

Michael & Anatina Aaronson

John & Rebecca Curry

Roger & Jan Adams

AnnualReport

Tyra Langley

Jim & Elizabeth Dodd Deborah Harmon Mary McGraw James Paragamian & Ann Marie Etergino Patricia Pape Savage ’42 Brenda Self Jim & Barbara Sturdivant Chris & Ann White

Scott Carter

Mike & Paula Carter

Steve Connor

Susan Connor

Denise Cork ’92

John & Pam Lieber Jorge & Drucilla Madamba Lainie A. Marnelakis Donald D. & Lee Ann McGill Horace & Kendra Morse Ohio and Michigan Teams Bea Paul Michael & Cyndy Phillips Restoration Medical Spa Risa Rose & Family John & Kathlin Rothermel Gary & Peggy Schoenhals Harold & Sheryl Springer Robert & Suzanne Stetson Heidi M. Suprenant Ashley Tarleton Mary Travis Joel Thomason & Family

Dave & Angela West ’92 Carter

Douglas E. Cox Hanley B. Cox

Sharon Daubenberger Hanley B. Cox

Diane K. Davies ’74

Garret ’72 & Leslie Davies

Marie Dickason Dysart ’52

Anne Dysart Vergiels ’87

Charles W. Flint, Jr.

Frank & Peggy Ward

Timothy Fox Mary A. Fox

Eric T. Freeman ’75 Tamara Laster Deisenroth ’75

Spring /Summer 2016

47


AnnualReport IMPACT: PROFESSIONAL DAY

150

Upper School students spent a day off campus shadowing a professional.

Carolyn Glenn

Craig & Pam Herman Andrea Turner

2015–2016 TRIBUTE GIFTS & BEQUEST SOCIETY

Marshall Milligan

Dixie Busby & Ken Busby

R.G. & Louise Mills

Randy & Aletha Mills

Richard Minshall Hanley B. Cox

Mary Frances Walter O’Hornett

Lane ’85 & Amy Lollar

Bill & Shirley Ossenfort Martin & Ellen Martucci

George & Pearl Pettigrew

Rita Pettigrew ’46

Lucinda Tuttle Ross ’80 Mary L. Yeakey

Haden Haworth ’75

Lila Smith

James M. Hewgley, Jr.

Katherine Stover Sparks ’55

Tamara Laster Deisenroth ’75

Frank & Peggy Ward

Alec Hill ’77

Hanley B. Cox

Genevieve Alcott Causse ’55

‘Enhancing our Common Ground’ Campaign Donors (as of 11/2016) $5,000,000+

A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Foundation

$2,000,000-$4,999,999

Margery Mayo Feagin Bird ’33 Mary K. Chapman Foundation J. David & Tammie Maloney

$1,000,000-$1,999,999

Judith & Jean Pape Adams Charitable Foundation David Rossetti ’70 & Jan Avent Kenneth ’88 & Jacqueline Brody Roger & Francy Collins Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma Brian & Debbie Morgan Ruth K. Nelson Pauline McFarlin Walter Trust Margret Harned Warren ’82

$500,000-$999,999

Kimberly Ho Schoelen ’77

Bill L. Stewart

Ed Hooker

Dave Terpstra

Mary Jane Jenkins

Charles Tetrick

Sue T. Lawson

Angelo Tomasino

Helene Jill Leder ’91

Daniel P. Vinyard ’14 Carol Basso

J.W. & Mollie Craft The John & Jerry Marshall Foundation Hal & Tracy Lorton ’82 Salisbury Stuart Family Foundation David & Lynda Tippeconnic Family Foundation Mrs. Mary Frances Walter O’Hornett ’35 Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation

David LeRiche ’75

Michael & Teresa Butler

$250,000-$499,999

John L. Brechin III ’77 Bill & Patty Lawson Lynn & Jeanne Laidlow Laurie Jones ’91

Paula Stewart

John & Becca Parker Bob Patterson

Luc Tomasino ’81

Tamara Laster Deisenroth ’75

Mark & Susan Hall

Joel C. Lowery

Floyd & Karen Morris

Charles H. Brown & Nancy Wilk Tim & Christina Crozier ’87 Crawford

Diane Kennedy Franklin Naifeh Cynthia Rigby Tex & Sherian Slyman

Steve & Sarah Joyce Dyer

Jayson Williamson ’07

Christy Utter ’92 & Sarah Vizza

Martin & Ellen Martucci

Sharon Williamson

Robert & Caroline Mansfield

Tom & Glenda Carlile

Jim & Lisa Mansfield

Lauren L. York

Frank & Peggy Ward

Leo Martucci

Martin & Ellen Martucci

Frederick Mertens Jim & Lise Dean

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HOLL AND HALL MAGA ZINE

Anonymous Robin Flint Ballenger ’63 Stephen & Annie Brady Keith ‘87 & Beth Lieser ’86 Goddard Lawson Family – Ed & Jay Lawson, Bill & Patty Lawson, Holbrook Lawson & Rick Holder, John & Elizabeth Lawson Linehan Mabrey Bank Trase & Shana Mahan Jay P. Walker Charitable Trust John Steele Zink Foundation – Darton & Jamie Zink

$100,000-$249,999

The Allen Family Foundation Anonymous H.A. & Mary K. Chapman Charitable Trust

J.P. & Mary Culley In Honor of J.P. Culley & Family Cara & Michael Hall, GH2 Architects Robert & Sara Lockard ’93 Franden Bill & Karen Freudenrich Stephen & Shelley Smith ’64 Jackson Herman G. Kaiser Foundation Jonathan Knoblock & Courtney Latta Knoblock K. Michael Saliba & Lodie Naimeh-Saliba Travis & Megan Short Richard & Kelly Wilkerson

$50,000-$99,999

Anthony & Kelly Jezek Rick ’81 & Amy Koontz Stephen & Leslie Lake David & Jensica Ragland Brett & D’Ann Riley

Up to $49,999

Darin ’84 & Brenda Alred Charles H. Brown & Nancy Wilk Kenneth D. Busby ’85 Francois & Laura Cardinal Irv & Andrea Cutter Jeff & Mendi Dunn Matthew & Stephanie Farris Marc Fitzerman & Alice Blue Jeff & Sara Fox Hardesty Family Foundation Kathleen A. Harris Hawn Foundation-John & Shannon Bair Benny & Stephanie Jackson Craig & Deana Johnson G. Scott Lewis ’76 Michael & Joyce Moran Thomas D. Neal ’76 Joseph L. Parker Jr. John & Leigh Reaves Bard & Julie Johnson ’82 Richmond Eric Sherburn & Leigh Ann Moss Niente Ingersoll Smith ’64 Greg Spencer ’99 Richard & Millie Spencer Peter M. Walter


2015–2016 FINANCIALS

ENDOWMENT: FINANCIAL AID

38%

Miriam Parrish Baird ’28 Trust........................$696,000 Excellence Fund........................................................3,547,000 Les & Ellen Goddard Fund...................................104,000 Patricia C. Bowen....................................................3,168,000 Herman G. Kaiser Fund........................................680,000 J.A. & Leta Chapman Trust.................................16,184,000 Jay P. Walker Charitable Trust..........................405,000 2007 Capital Campaign Financial Aid Endowment Fund............................................143,000 Kristin Mills Ragland ’91 Memorial Financial Aid Scholarship....................................143,000 Frank & Betty Ward Financial Aid Endowment....................................1,297,000 Griot Scholarship Endowment...........................985,000 Frances Walter O’Hornett Financial Aid Endowmnet...................................754,000 Margery Mayo Bird Financial Aid Endowment........................................................2,974,000 Total $31,080,000

AnnualReport

ENDOWMENT: FACUTLY SALARIES

5%

Charles Brown Athletic Chair............................$173,000 Pauline McFarlin Walter Trust Primary School Chair............................................714,000 Pauline McFarlin Walter Trust Upper School Chair.................................................667,000 Collins Family Endowment for Academic Excellence.......................................1,294,000 Elizabeth Griot Faculty Fund..............................1,361,000 Faculty Fund..............................................................133,000 Total $4,342,000 ENDOWMENT: OTHER

8%

Operating....................................................................$3,483,000 Sue T. Lawson Visiting Illustrator Author Fund........................................104,000 Kistler-Gilliland Fund............................................1,586,000 Repair Reserve..........................................................945,000 SMT Maintenance...................................................141,000 Total $6,259,000

ENDOWMENT: BOND PAYMENT

4%

Performing Arts Center.......................................$1,741,000 Science, Math & Technology Wing..................1,472,000 Total $3,213,000 ENDOWMENT: BUILDINGS/GROUNDS 45% Pauline McFarlin Walter Memorial Trust....$36,615,000

ENDOWMENT: DRAWS Capital...........................................................................$1,773,000 Professional Development & Other.................26,000 Operating....................................................................1,423,000 Bond Payments.........................................................480,000 Total $3,702,000

TOTAL ENDOWMENT: $81,508,886 OPERATING EXPENSES

SOURCES OF INCOME

Instructional Salaries...............................39%.......... $7,332,000 Administrative & Staff Salaries...........14%........... 2,622,000 Employee Development............................1%............. 147,000 Employee Benefits......................................15%........... 2,835,000 Instructional, Arts, & Library ..............2%............. 445,000 Athletics..........................................................1%............. 243,000 Plant, Maintenance, & Supplies............11%........... 2,078,000 Administrative Departments................1%............. 293,000 General Expenses........................................3%............ 507,000 Financial Aid.................................................13%........... 2,496,000

Tuition & Fees...............................................82%.......... $15,640,000 Auxiliary & Other Programs.................<1%........... 77,000 Trust & Investments Income.................9%............ 1,676,000 Annual Fund..................................................5%............. 969,000 t Events Income..............................................<1%........... 161,000 * Operating Reserves Expended..............2%............. 452,000 Other................................................................<1%........... 23,000

Total $18,998,000

* Auction funds are apportioned between years.

Total $18,998,000 For operating budget purposes, $105,000 is classified as Trust income. t

Spring /Summer 2016

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AlumniMatters

WELCOME

From the President of the Alumni Association Board. Dear Dutch, Each year as I reflect on the year passed and the year ahead, I evaluate the financial and time commitments I plan to make and those I will not renew from the previous year. I consider the impact of my relationships and decide which ones to focus on and which to let go. Like a good pruning, this allows my finite energy to be centered on growth and blossoming in the most vibrant way possible. One relationship that always stays at the heart of our life is the one we have with Holland Hall. As both a current parent and an alumnus, and in my roles on the Alumni Board and Board of Trustees, I am especially well positioned to see the merits of Holland Hall as an institution and as a collection of fine people. As we have watched our son Logan enter the Upper School and now as a sophomore, it has been so gratifying to see the impact of his years at Holland Hall on his maturity, his intellect, and his values. Logan is a lifer, attending since Preschool. The sense of community and of consistently high-quality teaching and mentoring he has enjoyed are wonderful. One of the best things about Holland Hall is how it allows the space for students to explore so many facets of their interests and gain deep experience in anything of special interest. As I have spent time with other students and interviewed them before graduation, it has become crystal clear that Logan’s experience has not been unique, in fact, it is the rule. Holland Hall graduates are simply amazing young people! Of course, I could quote many impressive statistics about our student ACT and SAT test scores and about how many seniors get accepted to first choice colleges. By every meaningful objective measure, Holland Hall stands out at the top in Oklahoma and shares the thin air with our nation’s top schools. Objective excellence is certainly important, and I am glad to see it bear out what those of us familiar with the school already know. What makes Holland Hall so special and worth the investment, and what, in my opinion, produces every other measurable quality, is the genuinely nurturing environment focused on the pursuit of excellence. Our kids are both challenged and supported intellectually, physically, artistically, and emotionally to be their best and to see the best in others. They graduate ready to handle the challenges life will present them and with the right skills to adapt and continue learning. While no school can be the best possible fit for every child, Holland Hall is a model for what every school should strive to be and to provide for its students. I firmly believe that attending Holland Hall changed the trajectory of my life. If you have children who are not attending Holland Hall, please consider a visit to the school for a tour. Our Admission team does a wonderful job working with families of all means to make a Holland Hall education within reach for as many families as possible. Warmest Regards,

Connect and keep up with current Holland Hall events on social media. J. Darin Alred ‘84 President, Holland Hall Alumni Association

@hollandhall.alumniassociation @hhallalumni @holland_hall_alumni

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HOLL AND HALL MAGA ZINE


WELCOME

AlumniMatters

Taking the time for reflection & appreciation. Dear Alumni, The hustle and bustle of everyday life seems to make everything feel like it is in fast-forward. When I ask people how they are doing or people ask me the same, the response lately has been, “I am so busy! It’s crazy!” Every year, however, Thanksgiving has a way of forcing me to slow down and really take the time to notice everyone and everything around me. Thanksgiving is always the right time for reflection and appreciation, and this time of year, I always seem to have time for that very necessary and important task. When I slow down and take the time to reflect on the important things in my life, Holland Hall, and everything associated with it, is always at the top of the list. I can never say enough about our incredible community. Our students, faculty, current families, alumni, and friends are truly one-of-a-kind. They are a dedicated bunch and offer so much of their free time to give back to our beloved school in so many ways. One of the biggest and most important ways our community gives back is through volunteering. It takes a lot of time and energy to execute all the wonderful things that happen throughout the year here. Without volunteers, we simply would not be able to offer the high level of service and care our community deserves. In these days of “I’m so busy,” there are still so many who are always willing to give their precious time to us. From committees to lunchroom duty, morning drop off to Book Fair preparation and collecting gate admissions for sporting events, our community and its legacy of giving back always rises to the occasion. During this time of giving thanks, I hope each of you will recognize and appreciate those who have given of their time on your behalf. I know I certainly do.

Christy

Utter ’92

Director of Alumni Relations

2016-17 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD J. Darin Alred ’84

Mr. Charlie Brown

Clint Brumble ’93

Dr. Kimberlie Dullye ’83

President

Past President

Joey Wignarajah ’00 Vice President

Brad P. White ’95 Secretary

Megan Rule Beck ’98 Lindsey Hawkins Bristow ’95 Kara Beair Butler ’02

Director of Stewardship

Anne Darnell Gillingham ’88 Noel O'Haren Groves ’94 Paige Miller Hulse ’08 Amanda Campbell Josserand ’98 Caroline Lindemuth ’08 Nancy Rizley Lipotich ’76 Virginia Miller ’71

Ashley Parrish ’93 BJ Pohl ’89 Susan Pray Rainey ’85 Adrian Reents ’06 Sanford Roberds ’93 Christy Utter ’92

Director of Alumni Relations

Regan Mahl Watts ’06 Rachael Pearson Wilson ’06 Nan Hawkins Winton ’91 Julie Yeabower ’77 Spring /Summer 2016

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AlumniMatters

PROFILES

Nina ’03, Jesse ’05, & Jessica ’08 Badoe. The Badoes, Nina ’03, Jesse ’05, and Jessica ’08, are a family that is passionate about education, service, and creating opportunities. During their time at Holland Hall, they took full advantage of the chance to cultivate meaningful relationships and experience all that is unique and special about our school. Since graduation, the Badoe siblings have made their individual marks in all of their endeavors, and they attribute the strong foundation upon which their success has been built to Holland Hall. Jesse stated, “The benefit my family has gained from our inclusion at/with Holland Hall is a benefit we intend on paying forward.”

L to R: Nina ’03, Jesse ’05, Jessica ’08.

Nina Badoe ’03

Jesse Badoe ’05

Jessica Badoe ’08

After graduating from Holland Hall in 2003, Nina attended Westminster College in Fulton, MO where she received her bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. After college, she completed a Postbaccalaureate program at Georgetown University School of Medicine then worked as a clinical research coordinator at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and a medical assistant in Brooklyn, New York. Nina matriculated to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond VA in August of 2010 and graduated with her M.D. in June of 2014. Currently, she is in her third year of Internal Medicine Residency at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Northern Virginia with future plans of pursuing specialty training in cardiology.

After graduating from Holland Hall in 2005, Jesse attended Truman State University, where he majored in Justice Systems and minored in East Asian Studies (with a Chinese concentration). He then went to Oklahoma State University for graduate school, where he received a master’s degree in Sociology with an emphasis on Crime & Deviance.

After graduating from Holland Hall in 2008, Jessica attended Texas Tech University, where she received an MBA and a Master of Architecture with an emphasis in Urban Design and Community Development. Currently, Jessica works in the Dallas area for Perkins+Will, an industry-leading architecture and design firm that is founded on the belief that great design has the ability to transform lives.

Of her time at Holland Hall, Nina said, “Looking back, I've realized that Holland Hall was the first chapter to my successful career journey. With the modular schedule, Holland Hall encouraged discipline and maturity. The faculty had high expectations and most importantly were supportive and BELIEVED in each student’s ability to be successful. The educators in both the classroom and the arts were dedicated and invested in us. Holland Hall opened my eyes and my mind to a world I had not previously been exposed to, and for this, I am forever grateful.”

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Jesse currently works in the field of poverty alleviation through early childhood education and parental support as an administrator at Tulsa Educare. Prior to this, he worked with Head Start grantees across the country in the Administration for Children and Families in Washington, D.C. Of his time at Holland Hall, Jesse said, “In 2004, my Holland Hall classmates gave me my first experience in school and service leadership. As the Upper School Community Service Chair, I had the opportunity to organize school resources and volunteers to impact social issues addressing the community. The value I found in that process still drives me. I also still carry with me several life lessons that Coaches Gross, Westbrook, and Brown drilled into me on what felt like a pretty consistent basis.”

Last summer, Jessica made her first visit to Mankoadze village on a mission trip to Ghana and met many children who are so enthusiastic about learning, yet lack the basic resources we take for granted every day. She is passionate about the opportunity to contribute to their community and about how a simple, small gesture can make an everlasting impact on the lives of the children in Mankoadze. Of her time at Holland Hall, Jessica said, “My teachers, advisors, and friends truly helped shape me into the person I am today. I received constant encouragement to just be myself even when those around may not look, act, or think the same way as I do. These reassurances from the Holland Hall community to create my own path, even in the face of adversity, helped carry me through architecture school and still helps me daily in professional practice.”


PROFILES

AlumniMatters

Luc Tomasino ’81. One of the goals of the Alumni Association at Holland Hall is to reconnect alumni with each other and the school. It’s always special when alumni return, and the entire community benefits when graduates share their successes and experiences. A shining example of this can be seen through the involvement and commitment of Luc Tomasino ’81. In 2016, Luc was integral to Holland Hall’s Annual Fund success, making nearly 1,000 phone calls to alumni from the years 1975 to 1990. He was a fixture at alumni events and contributed his time and talent several times throughout the year – he was a go-to guy when it came to reconnecting alumni and hosting alumni events. Luc was also the Cum Laude Society speaker, inspiring 2016 Cum Laude Inductees with stories of his life and experiences after Holland Hall.

Things go wrong in life, in love, in business, in friendships. And when they do, the fundamentals you’re learning here at Holland Hall are going to help you through those tough times.

L to R: Peter Walter, Julie Bills ’72, Luc Tomasino ’81, Ken Busby ’85, Leisa Marshall McNulty ’72, Jim Edwards ’72

degree in international relations from Northwestern University and an MBA in international finance from NYU. Luc’s extensive international business experience includes significant tenures at Central European Media Enterprises (CME) in London, Warsaw, and Prague. While at CME, Luc helped launch some of the first national television networks in central and eastern Europe, including networks in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, and Romania.

~ Luc Tomasino ’81, 2016 Cum Laude speech

He later gained considerable turnaround experience as the head of the international division at Vyvx Media Services, which specializes in live sports and television news. Luc helped convert this segment of the company into one of the fastest growing divisions within the larger corporate structure.

While at Holland Hall as a student, Luc was himself a member of his class’s Cum Laude Society and has since distinguished himself in the world of international business for over 25 years. He holds a bachelor’s

Luc then joined SDI Media, where he was part of the executive team that led SDI Media’s transformation from a small, one-dimensional subtitling company into the world’s largest language localization provider,

servicing all major film studios and international television broadcasters across 55 languages and multiple video platforms across 30 offices worldwide. More recently, Luc has also served in various capacities for Mercy Nutraceuticals and TabletTV, the latter focused on becoming the first complete broadcast television service for the 156 million tablet users in the U.S.

Between Luc’s considerable professional success and his willingness to stay connected to Holland Hall and give back to the school to which he attributes the building blocks of his success, Luc represents the best of Holland Hall, past, present, and future.

Spring /Summer 2016

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AlumniMatters

CLASS NOTES

Merrin Trombka ’07. Merrin graduated from Holland Hall in 2007 and headed to New York City to join a dance company. She graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Economics. While performing, Merrin discovered a need in the industry and thus, her first entrepreneurial adventure began. How did your dance clothing company come to fruition?

Mer-Wear started back in 2008 when I decided to have a type of dance warmup short made (I hired a seamstress) with colorful fabric as opposed to the traditional black, which was pretty much the only color on the market in this particular style. I had the shorts made for my own personal use, but then my aunt encouraged me to see if I could sell them in New York, where I was about to move to join a ballet company. I moved to New York in 2008 with one of my suitcases filled with these warm up shorts in five different colors, 30 of each. I wore the shorts to ballet classes and rehearsals around the city and they basically sold themselves. I got enough business going to the point that I needed to formally declare it, so I formed an LLC in March of 2009. I

had the business for seven years and sold to ballet dancers at all levels, both nationally and internationally, with a particular presence in the professional ballet world. I closed the company in 2015 when I entered [the finance industry] due to regulations against having an external business. You moved on to work at Goldman Sachs for a year, and while there, you had a vision for a new endeavor. Tell us about Meet Me In Italy. I spent a lot of time in Italy

during my years in school at Columbia University (I studied Economics but took Italian as kind of a passion project...all after I finished dancing) and continued to travel there whenever I had the chance, even after entering finance. When I was in Italy, I was typically there visiting Italian friends and spending time with them and their families, so we inevitably only went to

Photo by Andrew Steinman, NYC.

local spots wherever we happened to be. It was only when senior colleagues at my financial firm started asking me for advice, and then subsequently to plan their Italy trips, that ... a light bulb went off, and I realized perhaps I could make this my full-time job. What have been some unexpected obstacles, if any? This wasn't

necessarily unexpected but a lot of people want advice for free. One of the biggest obstacles so far has been explaining what I do to potential clients who are not expecting to need to pay for a service like mine. Traditional travel agents are typically compensated by commissions on what they book, so they often work for “free.” In other

Marjorie Atwood ’80. Every May, Tulsans and artisans from around the globe look forward to the arrival of Mayfest, an internationally renowned arts festival and unofficial kickoff of spring. Always much anticipated prior to the event is the reveal of the new poster art. Local artists contribute their time and talent to create original works of art that represent the year’s Mayfest event. The Mayfest poster is considered a collectible piece of Tulsa art that aficionados and fans alike add to their poster collection each year. Each poster is added to a mural downtown that showcases the diverse history of selected designs. The poster for Mayfest 2016 holds special significance for Holland Hall, as it was created by Tulsa artist and Holland Hall alumna Marjorie Atwood ’80. The poster is called ‘Namid,’ which is a Native American name meaning Star Dancer. The original painting size is 48” x 36” and the materials include oil paint, pencil, watercolor, and gold-leaf on cradled wood panel.

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HOLL AND HALL MAGA ZINE


PROFILES

words the travelers don’t directly pay the travel agent. Meet Me in Italy, instead, operates as a travel consultant. We offer a highly specialized service, and we work with partners in Italy that we have personally vetted, for which we charge a consulting fee. Part of what clients are paying for is the exclusivity of the relationships we have created and to which we grant them access. When they are traveling in Italy, they know they will receive special care by our partners, who are essentially an extension of MMII.

nothing like hearing from clients in Italy who are having the trip of their life. It gives me goose bumps every time. companies claiming to offer a similar service? We differentiate

ourselves by the quality of what we do and the relationships we have built in Italy. I have curated an intimate group of contacts in Italy that help me do what I do. I send each client to the place where I believe they will have the best experience, based on their unique interests and needs. This applies to hotels, restaurants, private tour guides, drivers, you name it. I understand how things work in Italy from my own travel experience there, while also understanding the expectations and unique perspective of American clients, since I am one myself. day with MMII? It's refreshing to wake

business? Helping my clients discover

Italy in the way that I have come to know and love it. Sharing Italy with my clients and providing them with unforgettable experiences. There’s

friends, both here and in Italy, has also been critical to my success.

How is MMII different from other

What keeps you motivated every What is the best part of your

AlumniMatters

up every day and really believe in what you are doing. I love what I do, and I love sharing it with others. I couldn't be more grateful to my clients and partners who have made Meet Me in Italy a reality, and the support of my family and

What are your future plans for Meet Me in Italy and beyond? I'm

curious to see how Meet Me in Italy continues to grow. Clients we have sent to Italy have asked for new places - Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, and Southeast Asia - so we may expand to include a few new spots but would start exclusively with clients we have already sent to Italy. In that case, I have some scouting to do. There are honestly so many things left to do with Italy, though. Each time I go, I am struck by something new that I feel would be just the perfect experience for the right client. Regardless of how I choose to grow the business from here, the priority will continue to be the high quality of what we do and the happiness of our clients. You can learn more about MMII at www.meetmeinitaly.com.

Of the creation of ‘Namid,’ Marjorie shared, “This is an exciting time to be living in Tulsa, with its dynamic growth of the arts and technology. And while our community is experiencing a whirlwind of change and development, we also possess a heritage that is easily overlooked: that of the first Americans. The first Americans have a connection to the earth and nature, a respect and reverence for the planet and the gifts that it bestows on us. By including silhouettes of well-loved sculptures of Native Americans, I hope to remind us of the value and beauty of a belief system that can make our world a more sustainable one. The colors in the skyline show fluid growth and optimism for the future, a golden horizon. ‘Namid’ reminds us to look forward with hope but also to cherish our roots.”

I love seeing my students succeed in their work. ~ Eleanor Carmack

Marjorie was recognized for her talent while at Holland Hall and, according to retired Upper School art teacher, Eleanor Carmack, it is no surprise that she was selected to create the 2016 poster design. Eleanor said, “I knew from the beginning she had special talent, so it wasn’t any surprise that the Mayfest Committee asked her to design the 2016 poster. They paint them on the sides of buildings downtown, and I am thrilled our posters are by each other. I love seeing my students succeed in their work.” Spring /Summer 2016

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AlumniMatters

PROFILES

An interview with Anthony ’14 & Michael ’16 Oyekan from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Medicine. 6 years. But it’s more manageable than I expected. I was really prepared. MICHAEL ’16: I’ll admit it has been harder than I expected... college is a whole different beast. It’s not like Holland Hall where every teacher is there to help you succeed. Some professors have huge classes, and you have to learn to make it on your own. Talk about the UMKC 6-yearprogram. MICHAEL ’16: I was

L to R: Michael ’16 and Anthony ’14 at Anthony’s White Coat Ceremony.

How do you think Holland Hall prepared you for what you are doing in college? ANTHONY ’14: In

terms of undergraduate classes, I was way ahead. College microbiology was a cake-walk – I had just learned all that material my senior year in high school in Dr. Shingleton’s class. The same applies to my writing skills. When you learn how to write an 11-page paper in high school, writing 1-page papers in discourse classes was a piece of cake. Regarding math, I'm currently taking Pharmacology, which requires all sorts of calculations, so high school calculus is coming back to me, making it not nearly as hard as for some others. And that’s part of the blessing of being able to go to Holland Hall, where I could define my workload and take harder courses – it prepared me for what I’m doing because it just gets harder and harder. All the teachers that pushed me back in

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HOLL AND HALL MAGA ZINE

high school to do my best, be my best, helped me become self-sufficient and successful. I owe a lot of what I do to my mentors back in high school – on and off the field. That's my big takeaway. MICHAEL ’16: Holland Hall taught me how to manage my time. Other students were saying, “I've never had this much free time. I always just went from class to class.” College is exactly like the mod schedule at Holland Hall, so it wasn’t much of a transition for me. I had classmates missing class and not getting assignments in on time. I was able to manage – I go to class, do a little work in between, go to another class, etc. It works for me.

admitted to the 6-year medical program, so I will have two full years of undergraduate work and move on to medical school in my third year, just like my brother Anthony, who is also a Holland Hall grad. I’ll graduate with a bachelor’s degree and a medical degree. What is your specialization going to be? MICHAEL ’16: I am interested in

both radiology and anesthesiology. I will declare a specialization in my 5th or 6th year. What has been your hardest class so far? MICHAEL ’16: Anatomy. It has

Kansas City been harder or easier

also been my favorite class. Though it is difficult, it’s fascinating to learn all the little things about the human body that I didn’t know. I also really like a class called “Fundamentals of Medicine,” during which we each shadow a local doctor. That’s when I get to give flu shots and interview patients at the hospital for their medical history. We’ve also gone to the psychiatric hospital and interviewed patients there.

than you expected? ANTHONY ’14:

This sounds like an intense

It’s been easier than expected. I was expecting to have absolutely no life and have my head in the books for the next

program. Do you have any down

Has the University of Missouri at

time? ANTHONY ’14: You make time

for the things you want in life. There’s


PROFILES

always going to be down time. When I’m a surgeon someday, there’s going to be down time. Use it with family. Use it to stay fit. Use it for the things that really matter in life.

someone from any walk of life, you’ll probably find them here. And they’ll give you all sorts of insights. I’ve learned a lot about different cultures since I've been here.

MICHAEL ’16: Compared to the average person, I don’t have much. Part of that is me and my personality. I feel I need to do things. And it’s not like I don’t have a social life; I just spend a lot more time studying.

about college? ANTHONY ’14: That

there are a lot of people out there who are really, really sharp. And not sharp in terms of who gets the best ACT score, but who have special talents. You shouldn’t blow anyone off. You should really get to know people, and you’ll find that a lot of people know a lot more than you do. MICHAEL ’16: What surprised me the most is how big the transition is from living at home. You don’t have mom and dad to do this and that for you. You’re 18 years old; you’re supposed to be independent. It's different, but it's good. What is the best part of UMKC?

ANTHONY ’14: The diversity. It’s nice having African guys and gals around who are just like me who are doing the same thing. It’s really nice to have a community with similar backgrounds and to share my culture. MICHAEL ’16: Definitely the diversity of this campus. If you want to meet

did they have these type of classes in high school? MICHAEL ’16: No.

A lot of them said to me, “Wait. You've already been working with microbes and electrophoresis?” I just assumed everyone had been doing that. When I first got here, I definitely felt I had a leg-up. Ceremony. ANTHONY ’14: After year

your brother? MICHAEL ’16: I visit

What has surprised you the most

In talking with your classmates,

Tell us about The White Coat

Do you get to spend much time with

Anthony every Sunday and hang out at his apartment. I do laundry at his place. It’s refreshing to spend some time there. He’s now at the medical school, since he’s in his third year. It’s in a different location.

AlumniMatters

Where are some of your good friends from? MICHAEL ’16: My

friend Sherouk is originally from Egypt, and she has now moved here and is in the program with me. Abby is from St. Louis and Cyrus is from Persia. What is your best advice for current

two, we have a ceremony to recognize the transition from the Volker Campus to Hospital Hill. At the ceremony, I met the physician who I will work under for the next four years during my clinical rotations every Friday. After two years of having my butt kicked, it was nice to have a reward, even if it was just a little ceremony, and to have our friends and parents visit.

Holland Hall students? ANTHONY

’14: I would tell them to relax and to enjoy themselves. At the same time, still work hard. Things that are bugging you right now, or the little trivial things like who is dating who won’t matter in the end. Treat people with respect, work hard, and everything will be fine. MICHAEL ’16: Even though you've gone through Holland Hall and you’ve made it through the process, it’s not a guaranteed ride through college. You will have to try hard, and you will have to continue trying hard for the rest of your life. It’s prepared you. Wherever you go, you got there for a reason. And you’re going to make it. What class or classes at Holland Hall do you think helped you prepare for your major in college?

MICHAEL ’16: I have to give the biggest shout out to Mr. Bergenroth and Dr. Shingleton. They are my favorites!

As an upperclassman, what is the best advice you can give your brother? ANTHONY ’14: Work hard

and don’t focus on the little things. He needs to loosen up and enjoy himself and figure out who he is. What are you most looking forward to? ANTHONY ’14: Graduating and

pursuing my dream career. And, growing up. MICHAEL ’16: Graduation. I hope to come back to Tulsa and make everyone proud, especially the people who helped get me this far.

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CLASS NOTES

1976

1985

SCOTT LEWIS, president and chief executive officer of Optimus Industries LLC, was named the 2016 winner of the Sara J. Waggoner Hunger Awareness Award. He started Optimus in 1988 with his father. Along with performing other professional and community service, he’s served as a Community Food Bank of Eastern OK board member since 2005 and was board president from 2011-2013. 1979

LAURA HEIDINGER SKOCH directed Theatre Tulsa’s Cabaret, which ran November 3-5, 2016 at the Williams Theatre of the Performing Arts Center.

1993

1991

1981 STACY SCHUSTERMAN was recognized by City Year Tulsa as the 2016 Champion for Student Success on April 28, 2016.

GRETCHEN DENSLOW married Chris Wright on March 21, 2016. Gretchen also opened a new eyeglasses store called Eye Candy Eyewear in Tulsa at the Vineyard on Memorial. If you are a Holland Hall alumnus, you get 10% off your purchase! Check out her premier selections at www.eyecandy.style

SARA STONE married Steve Finch on September 17, 2016. BOND LOVE won a Regional EMMY for his writing of the film

Boomtown – An American journey.

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TYLER RAMSEY and wife Jacq welcomed River Ramsey on May 17, 2016. He weighed in at 7lbs, 4oz.

1990

KYLE HAM and wife Katherine Stolarz now live in Towson, MD. Kyle’s first feature film, a psychological thriller called REPARATION, which won eleven film festival awards, has now been released for online streaming, and on DVD and Blu-Ray disc. Learn more at www.reparationmovie.com.

CAROL BUSH was recently sworn in as an official member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. She won the race for Oklahoma State Representative in District 70.

1992

ASHLEY PARRISH and husband Michael Overall welcomed Thatcher George on November 15, 2016. He weighed in at 8 lbs, 7oz and was 20.5 inches long. 1994 LIZZ CARTER married Gary Clark on June 6, 2016. CORBETT RAMSEY and wife Aleksandra welcomed son Willing Harrison on September 21, 2016. Willing joins older sister Capen. 1995 PARKER FLEMING is preparing for the Boston Marathon, having qualified in the NYC marathon with a time of 2:52:21. Parker was on the historic HH cross country team that had the perfect score of 15 at the SPC conference meet, with runners placing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th! He lives in Denver with wife Beth and sons Ryder (4) and Dylan (2).


CLASS NOTES

AlumniMatters

1997 ALEX COFFELT WALENTA and husband Robbie welcomed daughter Dylan Alice on July 6, 2016. She weighed in at 6lbs, 13oz and was 19.5 inches long. 1998 BETH GREER MONROE and husband Carter welcomed Cole Victor on July 6, 2016. He weighed in at 7lbs, 10oz and was 20 inches long. 1999 BRYNNA SCHELBAR married Stormy Phillips on April 17, 2016. 2000 LACIE BENIEN FRANKLIN welcomed Crew Parker on April 12, 2016. He weighed in at 9lbs, 7oz and was 22 inches long. 2001 After 8 years at Washington University, UMANG SOOD recently moved back to Tulsa to start in private practice in pediatrics and is accepting new patients. Her new practice is called Birth and Beyond Pediatrics. 2003

Lizz Carter ’94 and husband Gary Clark.

7th Annual Awards Ceremony held at the Warner Brothers lot in LA . Deepak is now a Lecturer at the University of Texas, Austin, and works as a consultant and researcher in the field of Immersive Media, which includes projects in virtual reality, augmented reality, and stereoscopic imaging. WILL HENDERSON and wife Maryann welcomed Andrew on May 9, 2016. He weighed in at 8lbs, 9.2oz and joins big sister Lauren. RUSSELL AND SARAH YATES HUTCHERSON welcomed John William (JW) Hutcherson on August 1, 2016. He weighed in at 8lbs, 8oz and joins big sister Sadie Mae. BETH KNIGHT is a fine-art oil painter and entrepreneur. She had a solo art show at Mainline Gallery in July. Knight took up programming to create Votebyte, a mobile app that gives information about upcoming elections.

DEEPAK CHETTY won ‘Best 3D Live Action Short’ for his film Hard Reset at the Advanced Imaging Society’s

KYLE SCHAEFER married Kristin Parker on October 15, 2016

TYNE SHILLINGFORD completed her second marathon in Chicago on October 9, 2016. 2004 LESLIE SPENCER HAUGHEY and husband Ben welcomed Kamden Oliver on October 19, 2016. He weighed in at 7lbs, 7oz and was 19.5 inches long. He joins big brother Kaiden.

ROB INGRAHAM plays the saxophone for New Orleans-based group The Revivalists. They performed “I Wish I Knew You” on the Today Show on April 12, 2016, and on the Ellen Show on November 29, 2016. Spring /Summer 2016

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CLASS NOTES

2011 MADISON RAHHAL and ANNA ROYCE hiked the 484.6 mile Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango over the summer. It took them 35 days, and with true Dutch spirit, they captured a photo at Dutchman Trail Crossing. 2012

Tiffany McKnight ’06 with the Ambassador of Hope Award.

2007

2006 In the Fall of 2016, TIFFANY MCKNIGHT received the ‘Ambassador of Hope Award’ at the RJCBF and OSAF Collaborating Foundations 2016 Angel Awards. She also published her first book, NUVEAU The Future of Patterns, set to release in December 2016. AURORA SIEGFRIED RUTLEDGE and husband Rick welcomed Lachlan Liam Jackson on September 25, 2016. He weighed in at 6lbs, 13oz and was 21.75 inches long. LIZ BENDER married GRANT PLOST on August 6, 2016 in Colorado at Castle Pines Golf Club. They currently live in Atlanta where Liz is a corporate accountant for Southern Healthcare Management and Grant is a dermatology resident at Emory University. The bride and groom celebrated with a wedding party that included several Holland Hall alumni, including Zach Plost ’03, Jonathan Bender ’04, Sam Plost ’05, Kevin Lieber ’06, Clark Plost ’08, and Torie Bender ’08.

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ARDA BULAK won the University of Puget Sound’s ‘Charles T. Battin Award,’ presented to a junior or senior who has displayed significant potential for future service in the field of Government. ASHLYN HUDSON received her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology at SMU, recently sat for the national exam, and is now a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. She works at Episcopal School of Dallas where she is a Learning Support counselor and field hockey coach. 2014

JOHN SPENCER and his wife Carrie welcomed Elizabeth Emerson on October 7, 2016. She weighed in at 7lbs, 12oz and was 20.5 inches long. She joins big sister Hannah.

KELSEY ARNOLD, a junior on the University of Oklahoma softball team, was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Kelsey and her Sooner teammates defeated Auburn University in a thrilling 3-game series to win the program’s third national title.

Anna Royce ’11 and Madison Rahhal ’11 at Dutchman Crossing on the Colorado Trail.


CLASS NOTES

AlumniMatters

DARBY CAMPBELL worked for Senator James Inhofe during the summer in Washington, DC. 2015

Kelsey Arnold ’14, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

HARRISON PETRE was named Oklahoma Christian University’s Person of the Week on March 8, 2016. He is currently a sophomore and is majoring in Political Science. He is an avid biker and rides upwards of 150 miles per week. Harrison is widely recognized for his servant spirit and selfless approach to others.

Class Note Submissions. Keep the Holland Hall community updated with your announcements and news! Fellow alumni, If you have some news to share and are not sure where to submit it, please email me at cutter@hollandhall.org. We accept submissions throughout the year! Our Class Correspondents have been incredible, and we are going to change our focus to call on them for more specific tasks including alumni features, mentoring opportunities, advice, reunion planning, etc. The Holland Hall Magazine has expanded its alumni section to allow for bigger highlights of the wonderful things our alumni base is accomplishing every day. I want to take this opportunity to thank our Class Correspondents for their continued dedication to Holland Hall. It might seem like a small gesture, but their effort and willingness to keep the connection between their classmates and the school has been nothing short of incredible. Correspondents will hear from me in the coming weeks with a personal thank you and to share our vision for the future of the Holland Hall Alumni Association. Christy Utter ’92 Director of Alumni Relations

Liz Bender ’06 and Grant Plost ’06 at Castle Pines Golf Club.

Please send alumni news to cutter@hollandhall.org. Spring /Summer 2016

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EVENTS

WENGnuts reign supreme at pop-culture themed 2016 Trivia Night! Trivia Night at Holland Hall has become an anticipated event each year. 380 players flooded the Middle School Gymnasium on January 30, 2016, and were greeted by an incredible spread of sushi, skewers, salads, and desserts from In The Raw. Greg Hughes ’84 generously sponsored the food, and his staff delivered a dazzling display. Emcee Ken Busby ’85 was back at the helm and got the festivities started. Judges Ron Palma, Monica Champ, Amanda Campbell Josserand ’98, and Sam Martin were primed and ready with their answer sheets to help run the event. Each year, the Trivia Night Committee takes into consideration the pros and cons of the previous events. With that information in mind, the committee settled on questions this year that were more crowd-friendly. Categories ranging from movie theme songs, identifying actors in still shots, pop culture, and more, kept the players engaged, competitive, and most importantly, excited! But alas, only one team can come out victorious. After seven rounds of trivia and some fun in between, the ‘WENGnuts’ finished with a perfect, 30-point final round to close out the win! The ‘WENGnuts’ included Matt and Mary Wenger, Jeff and Mendi Dunn, Keith ’87 and Beth ’86 Goddard, Eric Sherburn and Leigh Ann Moss, and Paul and Stephanie Gilmartin. 2nd place went to ‘Team Philcrest’ and 3rd to the ‘Smart Team.’ A special thanks goes out to our sponsors: Southwestern Payroll, In The Raw, Darnell Law Offices, David and Tammie Maloney, Legacy Wealth Management, LLC, Norlem, The Carson Roberds Group at Morgan Stanley, and Weslock. Get your team together now and be ready to join in the fun this year at the 2017 Trivia Night on January 28 at 6pm!

Dutch Divine - a divine new tradition. The Holland Hall Alumni Association wanted to find a way to showcase the culinary and musical talents of our alumni community while raising money for financial aid that would directly impact the children of our faculty and alumni. After years of planning to make the vision a reality, Dutch Divine was born and the inaugural event was held on April 21, 2016. Dutch Divine featured a wine tasting and wine dinner, pairing the best food from local alumni chef Justin Thompson ’98 with wines from vineyards with Holland Hall ties. Chef Justin delighted guests with dishes from his top restaurants including Ciao, The Brasserie, Juniper, Prhyme, and Tavolo. Selections of wine from 32 Winds Winery were generously donated by alumna Mia Mascarin Oven ’81 and Darms Lane selections were donated by current Holland Hall parent Terry Bump Gilbert. Darell Christopher ’76 provided the live music entertainment throughout the evening. His music was the perfect accompaniment to the event. This new, one-of-a-kind event was held at the beautiful Spain Ranch, a 44-acre venue in Jenks run by retiree Cindy Spain, her husband Michael, alumnus John Spain ’07 and alumna Emily Spain Avolos ’02. Dutch Divine was just that...…divine. A special thank you goes out to emcee Ken Busby ’85, committee co-chairs Susan Rainey ’85 and Ashley Parrish ’93, and committee members Sanford Roberds ’93, Paige Miller Hulse ’08, Oliver Sutton ’98, Christy Utter ’92, Darin Alred ’84, and Heather Lightbody ’94. Dutch Divine 2017 will take place on March 23 at Spain Ranch. For more information, please call Director of Alumni Relations Christy Utter at (918) 879-4745.

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EVENTS

AlumniMatters

The 2016 Athletic Hall of Fame and Sports Banquet. The Holland Hall Alumni Association, Hall of Fame Selection Committee, Athletic Department, and our community were thrilled to induct the 2016 class of the Dutch Athletic Hall 1 of Fame. The outstanding inductees included Jim Edwards ’71, Amy Brechin ’74, Elizabeth Lawson Linehan ’83, Greg Wolfe ’83, Justin Butler ’04, Coach Fred Utter, and the 1993, 1994, and 1995 SPC Championship Field Hockey Teams. The inductees were treated to a wonderful celebration in conjunction with the Dutch All Sports banquet. The program provides current student-athletes and their families the opportunity to celebrate the great tradition of Holland Hall sports with former athletes. The annual Hall of Fame Ceremony recognizes former athletes and coaches who were a credit to their family, community, and Holland Hall, and competed with the utmost sportsmanship, honor, and integrity.

2

3

1993-1995 Field Hockey Teams: Romney Nowlin McGuire ’94, Amy Bromley Harrell ’94, Carrie Lipe Gardenhire ’94, Tamy Young Dillon ’94, Audrey McKellar Rhodes ’94, Lindsey Hawkins Bristow ’95, Kaycie Hicks ’95, Anna Seymour Knipfer ’95, Rebecca Richards Kutcher ’95, managers Halle Thompson Lorimer ’95 and Daryn Jones Bridwell ’95, Mallory Chambers Tucker ’96, Leigh Anderson Barrow ’96, Michelle Blocker ’96, Natalie Brown Cagle ’96, Jennie Chiu ’96, Christi Frates Garrison ’96, Dana Grubb Weart ’96, Stephanie Lipe Lansing ‘96, Kristin Graves Schenk ’96, managers Meredith Jackson ’96 and Nicole Wilburn McCants ’96, Juniors Courtney Sommer ’97, Nekia McDaniel Geer ’97, Barrett Hightower ’97, Sarah Maycrink Guthery ’97, Susan Selby Aldrich ’97, Ashley Hightower East ’98, Laura Hawkins Johnson ’98, Beth Greer Monroe ’98, Jenny York ’98, and Sarah Adams ’99. The coaching staff included head coach Lynne Caroon and assistant coaches Laura Longoria, Tina Smith, Stephanie Collins Furqueron ’89, Emily McKee Wilson ’89 and Terri DeGray Lukens.

1 Coach Fred Utter, Justin Butler ’04, Jim Edwards ’71, Greg Wolfe ’83, Elizabeth Lawson Linehan ’83, Amy Brechin ’74. 2 Justin Butler ’04 with parents Robert and Pam Butler.

3 Greg Wolfe ’83. 4 Elizabeth Lawson Linehan ’83 and Bonnie Minshall Cherry ’83.

4

5

6

5 Patty Lawson ’81, Amy Brechin ’74, and Julie Yeabower ’77. 6 Jim Edwards ’71 and Mark Cyrus.

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D CH I VI T

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AlumniMatters

Join us at Spain Ranch on March 23rd for a one-of-a-kind event celebrating Holland Hall.

23rd

MARCH S PA I N R A N C H

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Showcasing alumni talent – the best in food, wine and music. Candace Conley ‘74 of the ever popular The Girl Can Cook culinary classes and catering will be our featured chef. She will prepare a four-course dinner featuring her most decadent selections. Greg Hosterman ‘90 and Devan Yanik ‘90 from the famed musical group November will delight the crowd with their acoustic harmonies. Guests will enjoy a wine tasting and wine-paired dinner with selections of excellent wines provided by Mia Mascarin Oven ‘81 and Terry Bump Gilbert—all set at the beautiful Spain Ranch. Proceeds benefit financial aid for children of alumni and Holland Hall faculty.

Tickets $125, special pricing for young alumni over 21 and current or retired faculty. Please go to: hollandhall.org/alumni/dutchdivine17 For sponsorship information, please call Christy Utter, Director of Alumni Relations (918) 879-4745.

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EVENTS

AlumniMatters

Mark your calendars for upcoming Alumni events! Do we have your current mailing and email address? Please visit www.hollandhall.org/alumnicontact to send us your updated contact information so you don’t miss an invitation to an alumni event!

Trivia Night

Golf Tournament

JANUARY 28, 2017 6pm Middle School Gym

JUNE 13, 2017 12pm The Patriot Golf Course

Dutch Divine

Distinguished Alumni Awards

MARCH 23, 2017 6pm Spain Ranch

Athletic Hall of Fame and Sports Banquet MAY 20, 2017 DoubleTree Hotel Warren Place

OCTOBER 2017

Alumni Homecoming and Reunion Weekend OCTOBER 2017

PLEASE VISIT WWW.HOLLANDHALL.ORG/ALUMNI FOR MORE DETAILS. Spring /Summer 2016

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Landmarks

IN LOVING MEMORY

Alumni

JANET WATSON JONES ’63 February 15, 2016, New York, NY.

DOUG DISLER ’74 May 18, 2016, Hulbert, OK.

KENNETH LOW ’76 November 26, 2016, Tulsa, OK.

JOHN FREEMAN ’79 October 29, 2016; son of retiree Tom Freeman.

GLORIA SMITH STOTTLEMYER ’71 September 10, 2016, San Antonio, TX; sister of Frank Smith ’70.

ANDREW GORDON ’02 August 31, 2016. PAUL GREGOLI ’80 May 28, 2016, Inola, OK; brother of Mark Gregoli ’81.

LUCI TUTTLE-ROSS ’80 February 23, 2016, Tulsa, OK; daughter of retiree Carlos and wife Elizabeth Tuttle; sister of John Tuttle ’82.

Friends and Family BRENDA BOVASSO October 9, 2016, Tulsa, OK; mother of Sharna Magoon Bovasso '87; grandmother of Blake Bovasso '15 and Ali Bovasso '18. KATY BRANDER October 2016, Tulsa, OK; aunt of Mallory Brander ’19. BARBARA CHITWOOD May 12, 2016, Tulsa, OK; mother of Ami Chitwood ’84. LUELLA DOUGLAS November 16, 2016; grandmother of Mollie Goforth Craft ’94 (non-grad alumna). MARY GEORGE EWING April 27, 2016, Tulsa; mother of Martha Ewing Endsley ’77, Ann Jones, and Bill Ewing. JAMES HAWKINS August 17, 2016, Ft. Smith, AR; grandfather of Nan Hawkins Winton ’91, Scott Hawkins ‘93, Chris Hawkins ’93, Lindsey Hawkins Bristow ’95, Laura Hawkins Johnson ’98, and Hunt Hawkins ’00. MARY JANE HEIDINGER November 26, 2016, Tulsa, OK; grandmother of Laura Heidinger Skoch ’85 and Nic Heidinger ’99. DAN HOOKER March 20, 2016, son of retiree Ed and Marjorie Hooker; brother of Leigh Hooker Standingbear ’70, Ann Hooker Hanisch ’77 (non-Grad alumna), and Scott Hooker ’80.

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EDWARD JENKINS September 17, 2016, Tulsa, OK; father of Chris Jenkins ’72, Patty Jenkins Lawson ’81, Nancy Jenkins-Heidarian ’74, Becky Jenkins and Margaret Jenkins; mother-in-law of Bill Lawson ’81; grandmother of Alex Jennemann-Jenkins ’11, MacLeod Lawson ’18 and Caroline Lawson ’20. BARBARA JEZEK November 25, 2016, Tulsa, OK; mother of Trustee Tony Jezek and his wife Kelly, current parent Rob and wife Jennifer Jezek, and son Jack Jezek; grandmother of Katherine Jezek ’12, Will Jezek ’15, and Emily Jezek ’24. EDWIN “TED” KRONFELD February 13, 2016, Tulsa, OK; father of Nicholas Kronfeld, Alice Kronfeld Fernelius ’83, and Alex Kronfeld ’85. JAMES LEACH April 9, 2016, Tulsa; husband of Carol Seidenbach Leach ’59; father of Chris Leach ’84 (deceased) and Leslie Leach Crawford ’87. ANN MEYERS November 2, 2016; retired faculty; mother of John Meyers, Mary Sue Meyers Gardner (deceased); mother-in-law of former faculty Paul Gardner (deceased). KATHLEEN MYERS July 29, 2016, Tulsa, OK; mother of Brad Myers ’90 and Brandon Myers ’92. CAROL ANN PINION May 24, 2016, Tulsa, OK; mother-in-law of Zach Walker (non-Grad alumnus).


IN LOVING MEMORY

Landmarks

TYLER RAMSEY March 12, 2016, San Rafael, CA; father of Tyler Ramsey ’92, Corbett Ramsey ’95, and Ashton Ramsey.

LILA SMITH April 16, 2016, Tulsa; mother of Leigh Smith ’89 and Ashley Smith ’91.

BARBARA LEE ROSSETTI August 4, 2016, Dallas, TX; mother of Dave Rossetti ’70, Tony Rossetti ’72, Joe Rossetti ’73, and Gina Rossetti Gunn ’77.

MARIE SUTTON May 17, 2016, Jenks, OK; mother of Oliver Sutton ’98.

JIM RUSHTON April 2016, Tulsa, OK; father of Andrew Rushton ’91. JACK SILVER August 18, 2016, Tulsa, OK; grandfather of Maggie Brady ’10 and Pierce Brady ’15; father of Annie Brady; father-in-law of Trustee Stephen Brady. FRED SLICKER October 6, 2016, Tulsa, OK; father of Laura Slicker Mayes ’92 and Kipp Slicker ’95.

LIBBY WALLIS April 19, 2016; mother–in-law of Kaisa Smith Wallis ’91. MARTHA “MARTY” WEBER October 23, 2016, Tulsa, OK; mother of Kim Weber Frank, Dana Weber ’75, and Ashley Weber ’81; grandmother of Lauren Weber Yates ’06, Lindsay Frank ’06, and Rachel Frank Etheridge ’09. BLANCHE WHITNEY August 3, 2016; mother of David Whitney ’69.

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RETIREMENTS

Retiring Faculty & Staff. At the end of the 2015-16 school year, we said goodbye to six amazing women after many years of loyal service. Their dedication to the mission and ongoing success of Holland Hall is appreciated, and they will be missed by each member of our community.

Left to right: Marian Dresser, Debbie Brokaw, Jan Adams, Sally Adams, Ginny LeDoux, Jeanne Laidlow.

Marian Dresser

Debbie Brokaw

Jan Adams

Middle School Librarian, 8 years

Upper School Learning Specialist, 11 years

Preschool 3’s Teacher, 24 years

“Marian is the consummate professional, always working to create an ever-expanding, more inviting, and interesting library for her students and the Middle School faculty. Her colleagues speak of her high, yet positive expectations, and often comment that she is a wonderful collaborator who always strives to put the student experience at the core of her decision-making. She leaves with us a promising legacy of leadership and innovation, and the Kistler Library, as sharp as it was when she arrived, is even sharper than she found it.” –J.P. Culley, Head of School

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“I had the pleasure of teaching with Debbie Brokaw for 9 years. Debbie’s humble service made one of the most significant impacts on the lives of students in the Upper School. Debbie was a careful listener and observer. She always knew the right thing to say and do with a student in need. Debbie’s genuine nature and deep faith made her the perfect fit for her job and our school.” – Phil Muir, Upper School Wellness Coordinator, Strength & Conditioning Coach

“Jan Adams is, quite frankly, the quintessential preschool teacher... fiercely committed to her craft, incredibly organized and thorough, and possessing an incomparable warmth and respect for her students and families. Those of us who have been fortunate to work alongside her will miss Jan's humor and attention to detail. She has been an exceptional teacher, devoted mom, and valued colleague during her many years at Holland Hall.” – Bert Bibens, Primary School Head


RETIREMENTS & INTERNAL PROMOTIONS

Landmarks

Sally Adams

Ginny LeDoux

Jeanne Laidlow

Middle School Drama Teacher, 10 years

Middle School Music Teacher, 10 years

Middle School Support Services, 22 years

“Sally is a creative force and an outstanding advocate for arts education, and we will miss her dearly. But, most importantly, Sally is first and foremost an advocate for kids. Anyone who has ever observed Sally in the classroom or during rehearsal knows that she has a special focus when communicating with students. A focus that imparts the message, “what you are saying to me is important and meaningful.”

“Throughout her years in the Middle School, Ginny has fostered a love of choral music in our students. Ginny has positively influenced our community by developing and growing the Honor Choir, teaching Orff instruments (and the recorder) to every 4th and 5th Grader, directing a Middle School choral program of over 100 students in 6th/7th/8th Grades, and introducing our students to the organ in chapel. What strikes all of us most is how she champions kindness and gratitude every single day.”

“Jeanne is one of the most dedicated and compassionate professionals I have ever known. She cares deeply for the well-being of her students and her colleagues. Along with an unmatched work ethic, her attention to detail saved the day more than once. When looking across her twenty plus years at Holland Hall, it is obvious that what she brought to this place every day was value-added to all. We will miss her humor, her wisdom, and her example.

– Steve Dyer, Director of the Walter Arts Center & Fine Arts

– Gina Johnson, Middle School Academic Support

– Joel Bicknell, Middle School Head

Internal Promotions Nicole Masullo

Shelly Bagwell

Shari Harjo

Middle School Librarian

Preschool 3’s Teacher

Middle School Support Services

Nicole has served admirably in the Kistler Library since 2012, collaborating closely with Ms. Dresser and Middle School teachers to ensure that our collection is up-to-date and the library continues to best serve our students. She is positioned to step into her new leadership role as she knows the culture well, both as an educator and alumni parent. When asked about her appointment, Nicole shared, “I am thrilled for the opportunity to be the Middle School librarian in the dynamic, innovative, bustling library environment that Marian has nurtured and created. I hope to continue only the highest standards that Marian has modeled and established to provide information services, promote literacy, and the love of reading and learning for all Middle School students and faculty.”

Shelly has been Jan Adams’ teaching assistant for several years and was a natural successor in the Preschool 3’s program. Prior to joining us at Holland Hall, she taught Preschool and special needs students and also served for three years as the State Department of Education’s Early Childhood Coordinator. Of her new position, Shelly said, “The Early PreK classroom is a fun and happy place to teach! On any given day, you will find us engaged in a variety of learning activities in the areas of: Math, Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, Spanish, Yoga, Art, blocks, pretend play, social skills, technology, sensory experiences, and problem solving. It is a joy and an honor to be a teacher that begins to form the foundation on which all future academic success is built.”

While Shari Harjo joined the ranks of teaching faculty this year in the Middle School, she has long been associated with Holland Hall as both a teaching assistant and parent. With a joyful spirit and a students-first mindset, along with her credentials, it was a no-brainer that Shari was the best choice for the Academic Support position that requires a nuanced understanding of our unique Middle School culture. Holland Hall is blessed to have her calm, thoughtful demeanor as a soft-place to land for our students.

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FAC U LT Y & S TA F F A N N OU N C E M E N T S

Melissa Stirling, 6th Grade Math teacher, entered the Brock International Prize in Education’s Big Idea Challenge with a video called Melissa’s Big Idea - A Beanbag. Her “big idea” encouraged girls to consider opportunities in STEM through the building and use of a bean bag slingshot and was selected as one of four finalists. Melissa’s video can be viewed at www.wishpond.com/ lp/1351739/entries/85166645.

Markham Johnson, 7th Grade English teacher, won the Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry with four of his poems from the manuscript Greenwood Burning and was subsequently published in Nimrod. Four additional poems were recently published in Nine Mile Magazine, and another will be in the next issue of Art Focus Oklahoma.

Assistant School Nurse Kathleen Alabbasi and husband Bob are proud to have celebrated the graduation of their son Alex ’12 from OSU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance. He was accepted at University of Tulsa College of Law on scholarship and began his first year in August 2016.

Primary School PE teacher Brandon Maddox and wife Megan welcomed baby boy Boden Benedict Maddox. Sarah Richardson, Middle and Upper School Orchestra teacher, spent 29 days in Kenya with husband David and their two daughters, Karis and Allison, at an orphanage of 29 children. They also spent time working with 240 widows in the community. Greg Spencer ’99 with nephew Kamden.

The Spencers, Upper School Dean, Richard, and Primary School Teaching Assistant, Millie, were blessed in October by the birth of 2 new grandbabies. John ’07 and Carrie Spencer welcomed Elizabeth Emerson October 7, joining 2-year-old Hannah. Leslie Spencer Haughey ’04 and husband Ben welcomed Kamden Oliver on October 19, joining 2-yearold Kaiden. They also rejoiced in the safe return of Greg ’99 after his Pacific Crest Trail completion.

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HOLL AND HALL MAGA ZINE

After 5 years of marriage, Director of Communications Heather Brasel finally took a belated honeymoon to Mexico with husband Dustin. Technology Integrationist Micah Keyan recently earned another degree, an Associate of Arts and a Certificate in Japanese from Tulsa Community College. Working with Tulsa Global Alliance, he also participated in Tulsa’s annual Asian American Festival and the Tokyo in Tulsa convention to help bring awareness to Tulsa’s Sister Cities, including Utsunomiya, Japan.

Upper School History teacher Jane Beckwith and Upper School Science teacher Nancy Baumann traveled with 9 Holland Hall students, 2 alums, and Jane’s oldest daughter to JBFC in Tanzania. As part of the trip they went on safari in the Serengeti National Park. It was the trip of a lifetime!


FAC U LT Y & S TA F F A N N OU N C E M E N T S

Upper School American Studies teacher Phil Sweeney celebrated the wedding of his son, Jake, to April Rodriguez.

Neil Bergenroth, Upper School Chemistry teacher, and wife Cathy Rose, Upper School Math teacher, traveled to the UK to spend some time with Neil’s family. They spent time in London, Nottingham, and Edinburgh.

May Chen, Upper School Chinese teacher, welcomed her second dog, 3-month-old Mia, to the family!

Landmarks

Upper School Librarian Bracken Klar attended the Teach for Experience Workshop in Dobbs Ferry, NY. He spent a lot of time in NYC and explored Harlem and the Empire State Building in detail with fellow workshop attendees. Coordinator of Health Services Linda Christensen welcomed grandchild number 13!

Kim Schale, Assistant to the Head of Upper School, celebrated the marriage of her daughter Molly ’11 to Brock Turner. Molly and Brock met rowing for Coach Neil Bergenroth in high school and now live in Denver, CO.

5th Grade Language Arts teacher Andrea Reese and husband Nathan welcomed baby boy Charles “Charlie” Frederick Reese. Lana Brown, Upper School English teacher, traveled all around the western US to Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Highlights included seeing the Spruce Goose, Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, and her favorite, the UFO Museum in Roswell.

John Bennett, Upper School Math and Science teacher, welcomed 3 new grandkids to the family. 8th Grade English teacher Jackie Wooten was the assistant director of and singer in a production of Godspell, and was joined by Holland Hall students Sydney May ’15, Olivia Bicknell ’19, Delaney Bicknell ’23, William Paul ’25, Harper May ’26, and Jillian Bicknell ’26 as cast members.

Greg Spencer, Website Coordinator and Cross Country Coach, completed his 18th marathon in February at the Los Angeles Marathon.

Spring /Summer 2016

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5666 East 81st Street Tulsa, Oklahoma 74137 (918) 481-1111 www.hollandhall.org Thank you to contributing photographers: Heather Brasel, Miranda Caughron, Wes Kane, Richard Meulenberg, Madison Rahhal ’11, Shirley Sokolosky, Greg Spencer ’99, and many parent, faculty, and staff volunteers. Please submit general questions, corrections, omissions, address changes, letters to the editor, and/or material for publication to Heather Brasel, Director of Communications, at hbrasel@hollandhall.org. Please contact Christy Utter ’92, Director of Alumni Relations, at cutter@hollandhall.org with questions, corrections, and/or submissions concerning alumni. MISSION STATEMENT: Holland Hall provides a challenging, comprehensive educational experience grounded in a rigorous liberal arts, college preparatory curriculum that promotes critical thinking and lifelong learning. A PreK-12 Episcopal school, we seek to foster in each student a strong moral foundation and a deep sense of social responsibility. Holland Hall shall provide equal opportunity in education and employment for all persons without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, military status, sexual orientation, or any other status or condition protected by applicable state or federal laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification applies.


HOLLAND HALL 5666 East 81st Street Tulsa, Oklahoma 74137

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Tulsa’s PreK through Grade 12 Independent Episcopal School


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