Hutchison Magazine - July 2023

carnegie hall

VOCAL POINT had the once-in-alifetime experience of performing in the WorldStrides Performing Arts’ Festival at Carnegie Hall. They joined elite music groups from across the country and worked with worldrenowned conductors and additional music professionals in preparing for their performance of six songs. They also saw a Broadway musical and other sights while in the Big Apple!

dear friends,

Oftentimes our interest in something begins with a spark. It might be something we are trying out for fun, or we may recognize the interest and want to explore it more fully. We might be nervous about trying something new or a little unsure of ourselves, or we may be excited enough to dive headlong into it.

When these moments spark an interest, we might even say: “Wait a minute, this is it!” This enthusiasm may lead to a lifelong pursuit or career. When I was young, for instance, I discovered a love of books. The more I read, the more my world expanded. I channeled that interest and became an English teacher.

For Dr. Lauren Pharr Parks ’02, the gift of a microscope when she was a young girl fed her interest in science. When she teaches others about her work now, she may be igniting an interest in someone else. When Noor Obaji’s ’10 parents told her she was good at arguing, she saw that as a path to becoming a trial attorney. Today, she imparts her enthusiasm for a good argument to upper school girls on Hutchison’s mock trial team.

Our teachers and coaches see interests blossom every day. Whether it’s discovering a love for math, noticing a talent for writing, getting an adrenaline rush when scoring a goal, or finding a voice on the stage, our girls are realizing new interests that may define their lives.

Pay attention to whatever sparks your interest. It may change your life, too.

Warmly,

Kristen Ring, Ed.D. | President and Head of School

MISSION

Hutchison School is dedicated to academic excellence and to the parallel development of mind, body, and spirit as it educates young women for success in college and for lives of integrity and responsible citizenship.

HUTCHISON MAGAZINE

JULY 2023

PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF SCHOOL

Kristen D. Ring, Ed.D.

EDITOR

Max Maddock

Director of Communications mmaddock@hutchisonschool.org

CONSULTING EDITOR

Lori Guy Director of Strategy lguy@hutchisonschool.org

ALUMNAE DIRECTOR

Mary Aubrey Landrum Stafford ’10 mstafford@hutchisonschool.org

DESIGNER

Barbara Himber

PHOTOGRAPHY

Jessica Coulson, Brandon Dill, Danielle Katz, Connor Ryan Creative, Nick Simpson, Tennessee Shakespeare Company, Alyssa Villarreal, and various Hutchison constituents

Hutchison Magazine is published by the Hutchison Communications Office.

Please forward address changes to:

HUTCHISON SCHOOL

1740 RIDGEWAY ROAD MEMPHIS, TN 38119 or khouston@hutchisonschool.org

Dr. Kristen Ring

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Seven Rising Seniors Attend Tennessee Governor’s School Summer Programs

Seventeen Juniors Gain Hands-On Experience in Politics

Seventeen juniors rose to the challenge of running the State Capitol at the Youth in Government Tristar Conference in Nashville. Our girls participated as state senators and House representatives at the conference, argued cases in the Supreme Court, and served on the Governor’s Cabinet. Izzy Ellis ’24, Caroline Kim ’24, and Sakshi Singh ’24 received an Outstanding Bill award. Kate Anderson ’24, Adela Calzada ’24, Blair Mellone ’24, and Shifa Qureshi ’24 received Outstanding Statesperson awards, and Kate was invited to attend the YMCA Conference on National Affairs in July. Hutchison girls were also selected to leadership positions for next year’s conference: Ayrah Kashmiri ’24 will serve as an associate justice in the Supreme Court, and Sakshi Singh ’24 and Caroline Kim ’24 will serve as court clerks.

Ana Hunter ’23 Wins Local Poetry Contest

Ana Hunter ’23 won first place in the Tom Lee Poetry and Spoken Word Contest for “The River Cries.” Ana wrote a narrative from the point of view of a young girl walking with her mother by the Mississippi River and reflecting on Lee’s heroism when he saved the lives of 32 people from nearly drowning. The Memphis River Parks Partnership celebrated Ana at a special ceremony, and she had the incredible opportunity to read her poem in front of descendants of Tom Lee.

Saving Lives with Blood Drive

Eleanor Merchant ’23 organized Hutchison’s second blood drive to aid hospitals dealing with critically low blood supplies. With her efforts over the past two years, blood donations at the Hutchison blood drive could have saved as many as 192 lives.

L to R: Zelia Cedeño-Avila ’24, Izzy Ellis ’24, Lilly Fahey ’25, Angela He ’25, Caroline Kim ’24, Corinne Rhodes ’24, and Sakshi Singh ’24 attended 2023 Tennessee Governor’s Schools. They participated in high-intensity summer programs in subjects including computational physics, international studies, and visual arts at universities across the state.

Alumnae Panel Provides Insight into Legal Careers

Young Writers Win 11 Scholastic Writing Awards

Nine Hutchison girls earned Scholastic Writing Awards in the recent Alliance for Young Artists & Writers competition. Congratulations to (L to R, top row) Kendall Blaylock ’24, Kiri Feinstone ’27, Loralei Forgette ’23, Reese Hardin ’27, Ana Hunter ’23, Carter Mann ’27, (bottom row) Evelyn Roberts ’27, Holly Scheinblum ’25, and Sloane Vandergrift ’27. They submitted original works of fiction, poetry, and critical essays and competed against students across several states in the South region.

Senior Receives State and Regional Honors for Theatre Talents

Juliette Forgette ’23 was awarded All-State and All-West honors in both the musical theatre and acting categories of Tennessee All-State Theatre. She was chosen after auditioning at the Tennessee Thespian Conference, a similar process to vocal and instrumental music All-State auditions.

Annie Tauer Christoff ’96, Keisha Perry Walker ’97, and Emily Herring Lamb ’98 spoke about their respective careers in the legal profession in a Food for Thought panel for students interested in law.

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Five Beloved Hutchison Community Members Retire

109 years! That’s the number of years combined that our five retiring faculty and staff members have served the Hutchison community. We thank (L to R:) Nancy Fields, Mary Lee Wesberry, Jane Maxwell, Anne Davey, and (inset) Millie Duke for inspiring and influencing generations of Hutchison girls. Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement!

You will all be missed!

Christina Wellford-Scott ’69 Named Tennessee Shakespeare Company Teacher of the Year

Upper school English teacher and alumna Christina Wellford-Scott ’69 received the inaugural award in April at a special gala. The award honors teachers who promote the study of Shakespeare, continue to grow their knowledge as lifelong learners, lead their classrooms with empathy and compassion, and advocate for the arts.

Far left: Wellford-Scott receiving her award Left: performing in The Glass Menagerie

Seniors Receive Indie Memphis Youth Filmmaking Mentorship

Kennedy Adeogba ’23, Nyla Johnson ’23, and Alacia Williams ’23 received a CrewUP Youth Filmmaking Mentorship from Indie Memphis. The three recent graduates will write, shoot, and edit an original film that will compete in the Indie Memphis Youth Film Fest this fall. They will work with a professional filmmaker mentor and a $500 budget.

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Hutchison Girls Win Big at Regional Scholastic Art Awards

Hutchison girls won 57 Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards this year, with 11 Gold Keys, 15 Silver Keys, and 31 Honorable Mentions. Congratulations to Loralei Forgette ’23, Mary Grove Gilbert ’23, Addie Halliday ’23, Angela He ’25, Angela Jacobs ’23, Hannah Pollard ’25, Elizabeth Soefker ’24, Laura Grace Stafford ’23, and Emmy Walton ’23 for winning Gold Keys in the Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards. Their work was put on display at the Brooks Museum. In addition, Loralei Forgette ’23 won a National Silver Medal.

Eye of the Hurricane by Addie Halliday ’23

Distorted Mary Grove by Mary Grove Gilbert ’23

By the Pool by Angela He ’25

The HeART of Music, Track 1 by Emmy Walton ’23

Ethereal by Laura Grace Stafford ’23

Darkness and Light in Myself by Elizabeth Soefker ’24

Dying Lungs by Loralei Forgette ’23

Brand New Wheels by Angela Jacobs ’23

I Want to Be Tall by Hannah Pollard ’25

Number Five Award Honors Liza Wellford Fletcher ’06

Meriel Rowland ’24 was announced as the inaugural Liza Wellford Fletcher Number Five award winner. Liza wore the number five during her time at Hutchison. Members of our athletic department created this award to honor Liza’s contributions, and it will be given annually to further her legacy. Liza had both a passion for sports and a heart for lifting up younger athletes and helping them shine.

At the year-end Sports Awards Celebration, a junior will be named Hutchison’s Number Five. In the fall, that senior will be the only athlete across all sports and all ages to wear the number five for Hutchison. The Liza Wellford Fletcher Number Five award recipient will be a student who emulates the ideals of Hutchison athletics that Liza so beautifully demonstrated. In addition to striving for athletic excellence, she will demonstrate the kind of character, integrity, and leadership that Liza personified.

Three Seniors Sign to Play Collegiate Sports

Seniors (L to R) Arabella Hall, Eve-Elyse Hall, and Anna-Margaret Webber signed National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic careers in college. Arabella will play golf at Wheaton College, Eve-Elyse will play volleyball at Asbury University, and Anna-Margaret will play lacrosse at Rollins College.

Varsity Tennis and Track Teams Earn Regional Championships

The varsity tennis and track teams took home TSSAA D-II AA West Region Championships. The win marks back-to-back victories for the track team, and it’s the 17th consecutive regional championship in a row for the tennis team. Members of both teams also competed at state, and Melanie Woodbury ’24 was the tennis singles runner-up.

Lacrosse Athletes Recognized

USA Lacrosse honored Kolby Cohen ’23 and Alexis Parent ’24 as All-Americans, and Sara Byrnes ’23, Sarah Davis McAllister ’23, and Alexis Parent ’24 as All-Academic honorees. The Tennessee Girls Lacrosse Association selected four players to All-State and seven to All-Region. This year, the Sting advanced to the state semifinal.

Middle School Lacrosse Team Wins City Championship

Hutchison’s middle school lacrosse team won the West Tennessee Middle School Girls Lacrosse Championship. The black team defeated the only opponent they had lost to earlier in the season, Houston Middle School. Congratulations to the team and the MVP, goalkeeper Lily Kate Nevels ’27!

Sara Crump Byrnes University of Georgia

Hannah Gail Flatt Furman University

Callie Frances Hutton Washington and Lee University

Eleanor Katherine Merchant Princeton University

Mary Faith Sharp University of Arkansas

Jeanne McCadden Wilbourn The University of Alabama

Virginia Humphries Billions University of Mississippi

Ellie Juliana Diehl Bryn Mawr College

Arabella Terra Hall Wheaton College

Lucie Elaine Lamberson Southern Methodist University

Margaret Alma Allison Pierotti The University of Texas

Victoria Estelle Turner Belmont University

Kennedy Bliss Adeogba Howard University

Lucille Gray Chiozza University of North Carolina Wilmington

Loralei Phoenix Forgette Dartmouth College

Nyla Jai Johnson University of Southern

Ruby Esther Nahmias Tulane University

Isabell Kaylynn Snead University of Tennessee,

Ava Carrington Wilson University of La Verne

Eleanor Belle Bridgforth University of Tennessee, Knoxville*

Elizabeth Parks Renovich University of Georgia

Lillius Ousley Eggers Mississippi State University

Shelton Lee Vance University of South Carolina

Caroline Margaret Lovell Adams Sea | Mester Study Abroad

Emily Grace Cater Worcester Polytechnic

Juliette Stella Forgette Rollins College

Angela Faye Jacobs University of Georgia*

Agnes Chandler Muller

Morgan Dunaway Simmons Oklahoma Baptist University

Alacia Zykia Williams Howard University

Gloria Elizabeth Bird The University of Alabama*

Katherine Kennedy DiMento University of Mississippi

Eve-Elyse Amaris Hall Asbury University

Antonella Lucila Lejwa University of California,

Elle McLain Pogue Texas Christian University

Harper Reese Vance University of Mississippi

Zain Qais Amro NYU Abu Dhabi

Gaines Elizabeth Snider Texas Christian University

Kathryn Elivia Cohen Florida Southern College

Lillian Frances Wilson Pepperdine University

Emma Pierce Abbay University of Mississippi

Addie Brown Halliday Loyola University Chicago

Katherine Warren Luter University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Katherine Elisabeth Frazer University of Mississippi*

Caroline Cecilia Nappier Auburn University

Ellayna Kate Angelakis University of Mississippi

Desaix Alexandra Ringger University of Tennessee, Knoxville*

Katharine Claiborne Collier University of Georgia

Emily Ellis Walton Purdue University*

Chloe Jean Brown Auburn University

Laura Grace Stafford

Mary Abbott Elliott University of Arkansas*

Eleanor Rose Woodmansee University of Tennessee, Knoxville*

Avery Meriwether Arkle University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Riley Nicole Coopwood Boston College*

Cynthia Quinn Avery Gintz Hendrix College

Mary Asher Johnston Auburn University

Margaret Leslie Patton Texas Christian University

Olivia Bennett Sykes Tulane University*

Katherine Ann Wunderlich University of Georgia

Kendyl Elise Brown Chapman University

Brooke Pierce Fair Belmont University*

Ana Christi Hunter University of Southern California*

Sarah Davis McAllister University of Virginia

Margaret Williams Roux University of Tennessee,

Elizabeth Louise Watson Southern Methodist University

Sarah Feagin Bartusch University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Emma Walsh Couch University of South Carolina

Reese Elizabeth Godwin University of Mississippi

Helen Catherine Kastner Texas Christian University

Alexandra Elizabeth Catherine Peet University College London

Juliet Claire Tayloe University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Gabriela Elizabeth Yambrek The University of Alabama

Sara Emery Brown University of Tennessee,

Annabelle Marie Flanders University of Mississippi

Eliza Hederman Hussey University of Mississippi

Olivia Grace McCarver Rhodes College

Berklee Kay Scifres Embry-Riddle

Anna-Margaret Boyd Webber Rollins College

Claudia Marie Damants University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Alexandra Elizabeth Beard Minneapolis College of Art & Design

Audrey Marie Graves University of Mississippi

Julia Scott Knowlton Auburn University

Zoe Vida Pelts Texas Christian University

Sarah Calder Trotz

Zoe Marie Zerwig Ford Lehigh University

Alexandra Josephine Howser Belmont University

Catherine Isabelle Mansour Georgetown University

Mary Grove Gilbert The University of Alabama*

Morgan DeAnna Nichols Spelman College

Congratulations!

Class of 2023 Acceptances

American University

Appalachian State University

Arizona State University

Asbury University

Auburn University

Aurora University

Belmont University

Binghamton University

Boston College

Boston University

Bryn Mawr College

Bucknell University

Case Western Reserve University

Centre College

Chapman University

Clark University

Clemson University

Coastal Carolina University

Colgate University

College of Charleston

College of William & Mary

Colorado State University

Columbia College Chicago

Dartmouth College

Denison University

DePaul University

DigiPen Institute of Technology

Drexel University

East Tennessee State University

Elon University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Emerson College

Emory & Henry College

Fisk University

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Florida Southern College

Fordham University

Furman University

George Washington University

Georgetown University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Hampton University

Hendrix College

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Howard University

Indiana University Bloomington

Kenyon College

Lehigh University

Louisiana State University

Loyola Marymount University

Loyola University Chicago

Macalester College

Marist College

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Miami University

Michigan State University

Michigan Technological University

Middle Tennessee State University

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Mississippi State University

Montana State University

Mount Holyoke College

Nashville State Community College

New York University

Northeastern University

Oklahoma Baptist University

Pepperdine University

Point Loma Nazarene University

Point Park University

Pratt Institute

Princeton University

Purdue University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rhodes College

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rollins College

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Samford University

Savannah College of Art and Design

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Smith College

Southern Methodist University

Spelman College

Syracuse University

Tennessee State University

Texas A & M University

Texas Christian University

The University of Alabama

The University of Memphis

The University of Southern Mississippi

The University of Texas at Austin

The University of the South

Tufts University

Tulane University

University of Arkansas

University of California, Irvine

University of California, San Diego

University of California, Santa Barbara

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Connecticut

University of Denver

University of Florida

University of Georgia

University of Houston

University of Illinois

Urbana-Champaign

University of Iowa

University of Kentucky

University of La Verne

University of Massachusetts Amherst

University of Miami

University of Mississippi

University of Missouri

University of Montana

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

University of North Carolina

Wilmington

University of Oklahoma

University of Oregon

University of Redlands

University of Richmond

University of South Carolina

University of Southern California

University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

University of Utah

University of Vermont

University of Virginia

University of WisconsinMadison

Ursinus College

Vanderbilt University

Villanova University

Virginia Tech

Washington and Lee University

Wellesley College

Wesleyan University

Western Carolina University

Wheaton College

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

A CLASSIC WHODUNIT

The Hutchison upper school cast and crew of Clue presented a hilarious, suspenseful, and thrilling production this spring! The comedic murder mystery is based on the cult classic film and popular board game. Directed by Anne Marie Caskey ’80, the talented, zany cast of eight upper school girls, two MUS boys, and our dedicated backstage and technical crew did a fantastic job keeping the audience guessing the murderer’s identity (or identities) until the end.

Hutchison

Photos by Nick Simpson

Photos by Nick Simpson

Hutchison

THE NEVERLAND YOU NEVER KNEW

Middle school pirates and sailors traversed the treacherous seas during their spring production of Peter and the Starcatcher, directed by Jay Rapp. Adapted for the stage by Rick Elice, the show upends the centuryold story of how an orphan boy becomes the legendary Peter Pan. Peter and the Starcatcher playfully explores the depths of greed and despair and the bonds of friendship, duty, and love. Our middle school girls did an amazing job bringing this story to life on the Wiener Theater stage with pirates, sailors, sea shanties, mermaids, and more!

Bringing Depth to a Study of Maus

Studying the Holocaust is no easy assignment—for a student or a teacher. Many students are first introduced to the history and stories of the Holocaust around the fifth or sixth grade through books such as Number the Stars by Lois Lowry or Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.

There’s also a book titled Maus by Art Spiegelman that’s often used in studies about the Holocaust. Styled as a graphic novel, the book tells the real-life story of Spiegelman’s father, who was a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp during the Holocaust. In the book, the author chose a unique device to tell the story: he portrays Jews as mice and Nazis as cats. The first volume of Maus was published in 1986 and a second volume was released in 1991. In addition to critical acclaim, the book won a Pulitzer Prize in 1992 and has been taught in schools across America since then.

When eighth-grade English teacher Robby Uhrman decided he wanted to have his girls read Maus this past year, he resolved to enlist some additional support for teaching and discussing the Holocaust and the book’s content. The goal was to ensure that a book such as Maus—or any material about the Holocaust—could be taught intentionally and thoughtfully, considering the difficulty of its subject matter.

“Eighth-grade girls are moving toward more independence,” Uhrman explained. “They’re able to process books such as Maus or George Orwell’s Animal Farm because they are cognitively at a place where they can make connections to history and clearly see the allegory of both books, even if it’s a struggle and emotionally heavy. Part of their development is a heightened sense of right, wrong, and justice, and they can develop empathy by studying these books.”

Danielle Katz, Hutchison’s social media manager, conducts a Q&A with her father, Ben Katz, whose parents were Holocaust survivors.

Uhrman consulted with Trey Wilson, Hutchison’s middle school head, and together they thought carefully about how to best lead the eighth-grade girls through a study of Maus. They decided to enlist the help of Facing History and Ourselves. The organization is known for equipping educators with ways to teach the lessons of history, and its unique pedagogy emphasizes empathy and reflection. Uhrman had attended Facing History workshops and events in the past, and as part of his professional development at Hutchison, he joined a Facing History day of learning with visiting scholars. One of the professors detailed a curriculum she designed around how to use personal testimony from Holocaust survivors in the classroom, which fit well with Maus because it is a form of personal testimony.

During the workshop, Uhrman also met with Rachel Shankman, who is the retired founding director of the Memphis office of Facing History and Ourselves and a previous visiting scholar at Hutchison. She volunteered to visit Uhrman’s eighth-grade class as part of this study. In the past, she has shared her story and that of her parents, who were concentration camp survivors, but she had an idea about a different approach. Instead of reading the book in isolation, she wanted the girls to learn about Jewish culture and traditions, so that they could form a more complete picture.

“Rachel didn’t want the girls to live only in the atrocities of the Holocaust and the victimization of Jewish people,” Uhrman explained. “Instead, she wanted the girls to learn that this is a faith full of rich traditions and at the center of it is acknowledging the humanity in others, Jewish or not. She believes that studying the Holocaust has more depth if we humanize the people. Maus does a good job of this because the author details the story of his father and his family before the Holocaust begins.”

Investigating Identity

To start the study, Uhrman used an exercise suggested by Facing History, which is to create an identity chart so that each student can examine her own personal community. “I modeled mine for them to show the diverse number of places you can go,” Uhrman said. “I’m a father, a teacher, a reader, a son, a husband, a white male, to name a few examples.

“Once they completed their charts, they started to think about the different communities that we exist in and our circle of obligation. We have these ideas about how to conduct ourselves ethically, but how far does that reach? Where does that circle of obligation stop?” The beginning of Maus, Uhrman explained, essentially tells the story of Spiegelman’s father, his community, and his circle of obligation.

After that initial exercise, they moved into learning some of the history that led up to the Holocaust. Uhrman took the class to the gym for a research relay, which is a way to get up, move around, and take in a lot of information in a short period of time. The girls familiarized themselves with facts about Jewish tradition, World War II history, and Hitler’s rise to power, and then competed in a relay race to answer questions. “It’s an active way to learn and retain the history and it’s more effective than sitting in a quiet classroom and listening to me lecture them,” Uhrman said. The girls were also studying the Holocaust and World War II in their social sciences class.

They’re able to process books such as Maus or George Orwell’s Animal Farm because they are cognitively at a place where they can make connections to history and clearly see the allegory of both books, even if it’s a struggle and emotionally heavy.”

— ROBBY UHRMAN

“

Then they started reading Maus. One lesson Uhrman learned that he will implement next year is to have the girls read some of the difficult chapters in the classroom so that the content can be processed together instead of on their own. While the girls are developmentally able to grapple with the challenging topic, engaging in a discussion with their peers helps sharpen their critical thinking and sparks intellectual curiosity.

When Shankman visited, she titled her session Judaism 101 and brought a guest, Rabbi Abe Schacter-Gampel of the Memphis Jewish Community Center. Together they talked about Jewish culture and tradition, including the centuries of culture before the Holocaust, and what their faith looks like today. They brought religious items such as yarmulkes, tallitot, and mezuzahs, as examples for the girls to see, and answered the girls’ thoughtful questions about Judaism.

Later, Uhrman invited two other visitors to speak to his class. Danielle Katz, Hutchison’s social media manager, and her father, Ben Katz, spoke to the girls about how her grandparents (Ben’s parents) survived concentration camps and being hidden among other families. It was the first time Danielle had organized her family’s history to talk to a group about it.

“Danielle said she had always wanted to do something like this, but admitted she had some trepidation around it,” Uhrman said. “The presentation she put together was amazing and powerful, including primary sources and photos, and then she conducted a Q&A with her father. Because Danielle is someone that the girls know, it was a further way to humanize the people affected by the Holocaust.”

Rabbi Abe Schacter-Gampel of the Memphis Jewish Community Center and Rachel Shankman, retired founding director of Facing History and Ourselves, led a session titled Judaism 101 about Jewish culture and tradition.

Rachel Shankman didn’t want the girls to live only in the atrocities of the Holocaust and the victimization of Jewish people. Instead, she wanted the girls to learn that this is a faith full of rich traditions and at the center of it is acknowledging the humanity in others, Jewish or not.”

— ROBBY UHRMAN

Having R.E.A.L. Discussions

Teaching Maus dovetailed with another initiative. Dr. Alyssa Villarreal, academic dean, worked with Trey Wilson to pilot a new in-class discussion technique called R.E.A.L. Discussion, which is an acronym for four key discussion skills—relate, excerpt, ask, and listen. The technique can be used in both formal discussions and casual conversations and was born out of the need to provide structure to in-person discussions for students who “struggle with expressing themselves, engaging different viewpoints, listening deeply, and reading non-verbal cues.”

Uhrman said that “relate” equates to the different moves you can make in a discussion, whether you agree or disagree, connect it to a personal experience, or to another text. “Excerpt” is similar to producing evidence. What do you have to back up what you are saying? “Ask” is important because often the girls will not ask enough questions. Instead, many times they quickly agree with one another. But asking clarifying questions or redirecting is important. And “listen” begs the question, are we listening and how are we listening?

The R.E.A.L. format uses hand signals so that girls can indicate when they’ve heard or agreed with a statement. This keeps the discussion moving.

Uhrman explained how R.E.A.L. is different from other formats such as a Socratic seminar: “Sometimes students will dominate a conversation and this is an equitable format where they have a system for showing how many times they’ve spoken. It gives the girls an opportunity to pause and say ‘who hasn’t spoken?’ or ‘who’s only spoken once?’ ”

For the discussion of Maus, Uhrman offered them five questions and had them rank the questions based on their interest. They then chose the top two questions, which gave them buy-in to what they would discuss. Using their copy of the book, as well as some supplemental articles, they had a day in class to fill out planning documents for the discussion, pull evidence, and decide how the evidence supports their answers to the questions.

“The day of the discussion, I go over the guidelines and the hand signals they use, and then I sit back. They have the whole hour and they run the entire discussion.

“They rose to the occasion,” Uhrman reflected. “This was a time in class that they were able to learn as much or more from each other than from me because they needed to talk with each other to process what they were going through. There wasn’t going to be a lecture from me that was going to help them get through all the discomfort of reading the book. They needed to hear each other’s experiences with it.

“The end of the pedagogy from Facing History,” Uhrman said, “is to look at what kind of lessons have we learned from this. What led to this scenario and how do we prevent things like this from happening again? That reflection piece is supposed to inspire them toward future civic action in their lives. How do we apply what we’ve learned here to their own communities that we outlined and identified at the beginning of the unit?”

As a conclusion to the Maus study, Uhrman gave an assignment to help the girls process what they had learned. They could choose from a variety of creative projects including keeping a diary, writing a graphic novel, composing an original song, writing haikus or a letter to Spiegelman, or presenting a dramatic monologue. Campbell Jenkins ’27 chose to create a civic self portrait (above) which expresses ways that she hopes to act in the future based on what she learned from this in-depth project.

Her Day in CouRt A DREAM REALIZED AND SHARED

by Max Maddock

I always had a sense that I was meant to be an attorney. It was like a calling I had at a young age,” said Noor Obaji ’10 . “It was kind of an idea that my parents put in my head when I was younger. They said, ‘Oh, you’re really good at arguing,’ which is a nice way of saying that I was argumentative and opinionated.”

Thirteen years after graduating from Hutchison, Obaji is fulfilling her dream. Since she passed the bar exam and became licensed in 2018, she’s been practicing law at Lewis Thomason, PC, a general civil liability defense firm in downtown Memphis. One of the firm’s specialties is healthcare liability defense, defending doctors who are sued by patients alleging medical negligence. She’s also spent the last two years helping to coach Hutchison’s mock trial team (see full story on page 22).

Just last year Obaji had her first taste of a jury trial in court when she served as second chair on a case with one of the firm’s partners. It was a federal trial in Mississippi. Even though she might average three or four trips to court a month to argue motions, oppose motions, or hear rulings, this was the first time assisting in a trial in the courtroom.

“That was my driving force in wanting to be a lawyer—getting before a judge, getting before a jury, presenting my case, presenting the facts, and I was finally able to do that.”

She admits the experience was everything she thought it would be and more. “You can read textbooks about trials, you can read examples of cases with similar facts and the ultimate outcome, but you never know until you’re actually doing it,” she said. “It’s made me think about the way we approach cases in a different way, in a better way perhaps, because I’m more aware of why we do things the way that we do.”

The Psychology of Law

As an undergraduate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Obaji studied psychology and political science. Although psychology isn’t a typical subject for a pre-law student, she thought it would come in handy. “I’ve always been interested in psychology and how the mind works. I knew it would be particularly helpful when

Photo by Brandon Dill

trying to pick a jury for a jury trial. Political science was a more traditional background to have for someone going to law school.”

Indeed, in her first trial, one of her roles was to gauge the reactions of the jury. She admits, being in court is both nerveracking and thrilling. “I don’t think there will ever be a day when I’m in court and not nervous,” she admitted. “Even if I’m very confident in what I’m going to say, I get butterflies.”

Whether she’s in court for a trial or to argue or oppose a motion, she said that nine times out of ten, she has to speak in front of other attorneys, clients, litigants, and a judge. “You have to be comfortable speaking to other people and not let that intimidate you. That’s easier said than done.”

The thrilling parts are getting to pick a jury, presenting the case, raising objections, and all of the other pieces that come with a trial. When she’s not in court, she’s in the office researching and writing.

“I’m just itching for my next trial, but it takes a long time to get a case ready, and a lot of times cases settle or go away because of a procedural technicality or a factual issue. It is frustrating when you’re ready to try a case and it settles the week before, the month before, or even the day before, but that’s experience that I would not have had otherwise. Every case is unique, and you learn different things that are good to have in your arsenal.”

Nevertheless, she said it’s hard to pick a specific challenge when thinking about her work. “Every day is challenging. There’s never a clear-cut answer in the law, and that’s something that I struggle with, because I like to have definitive answers, but sometimes there just aren’t,” she said. “You have the law, and it says what it says, but sometimes your facts are different than what the law presumes. Then you have to be creative in articulating why your position is distinguishable from what the letter of the law is. Those kinds of challenges arise every day.”

continued on page 25

The rebiRth of a hutchison Mock tRial team

In the summer of 2021, Isabelle Mansour ’23 and Loralei Forgette ’23, who were rising juniors at the time, attended the Summer Trial and Advocacy Institute sponsored by The University of Memphis Law School.

The four-week-long program taught the basics of trial law, and by the end, Mansour was named the highest-ranking witness for trial presentations and earned the highest trial team score. Forgette received the highest individual ranking for the advocacy presentations and the highest advocacy team score.

That fall, Mansour decided she wanted to continue practicing what she had learned. Katy Nair, upper school assistant head, mentioned the idea of a mock trial team, something Hutchison had in the past, but didn’t currently have. Mansour said, “Well, why don’t I just start one?”

After gauging interest, the team was born.

“When I agreed to coach the mock trial team,” Nair said. “I knew I needed an attorney coach. Noor Obaji ’10 came to mind immediately as a perfect coach for these students. Noor is early in her career and has a level of humility and vulnerability that I knew the girls would appreciate. She’s smart, competitive, and approachable, and I knew

Mock trial competition, L to R: Katy Nair, Lilly Fahey ’25, Lillian Kent ’25, Sarah Beth Cunningham ’26, Virginia Unglesby ’25, Jordan Deupree ’24, Isabelle Mansour ’23, Mary Abbott Elliott ’23, Emma Goughnour ’26, Noor Obaji ’10, Loralei Forgette ’23, and Shawn McCarver

You can read textbooks about trials, you can read examples of cases with similar facts and the ultimate outcome, but you never know until you’re actually doing it.”

she’d be committed to helping our girls improve and grow as litigators in this competition.”

Meanwhile, Obaji remembered that after she passed the bar exam, she told her mom, “Okay, now that I’m official, I really want to give back to Hutchison.” She had attended Hutchison since pre-kindergarten and believed that it gave her a lot. “I don’t think that I would be in the position that I’m in today if it wasn’t for the education I received and the connections I made at Hutchison.” She just wasn’t sure how to give back. As fate would have it, Nair reached out about helping with the mock trial team. “It was a no-brainer,” Obaji said. “It was like I said it, Mrs. Nair heard it, and she contacted me.”

Mansour kickstarted things by doing outside research and watching mock trial competitions. She then started to build a foundation by teaching the other girls who had joined the team what she had learned during the summer program.

Obaji, who had competed in mock trial during law school, and Professor Demetria Frank, from The University of Memphis Law School, held workshops to teach the girls specific trial skills, including persuasive public speaking, cross and direct questioning, and examining evidence. “My role was to help the students with strategy, and crafting their arguments, their questions, and their responses to an objection,” Obaji said. “They knew the facts like the back

Photo by Brandon Dill

Mock tRial, continued

of their hand, so I didn’t really have to help them with the facts. I was there to help from a legal standpoint, applying the law to what they were saying and ensuring that it was sound in the law.”

“The first year was kind of rough,” Mansour admitted. “We did well, but we didn’t have any experience in the courtroom against other teams.”

Fast forward to the fall of 2022. Mansour and her team were dedicated to improving in the next mock trial competition in the spring of 2023, and Obaji was onboard as well. Nair enlisted additional help from Shawn McCarver, who serves as a law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, and whose daughter, Olivia McCarver ’23, was on the mock trial team. Additionally, John Reynolds, who teaches upper school debate, joined as an advisor.

During the 2021–2022 year, Olivia McCarver portrayed a witness. Because she’s involved in theater, she enjoyed that assignment because it felt like acting. This past year, she took on the role of plaintiff attorney, which she admitted was more challenging because she had to form convincing arguments for her side of the case.

“Ms. Obaji and my dad helped explain how the law works on both sides of the case, whether it’s the plaintiff and the defense in a civil case or the prosecutor and the defense in a criminal case,” McCarver said. “She helped explain the logic behind different laws, how they apply to different situations, and how to be on the lookout for specific details that could help your case. My dad provided insight into federal proceedings and how the law would be interpreted by a judge.

“When Ms. Obaji talked about different aspects of the court proceedings, she was emotionally invested in it and passionate about it,” McCarver continued. “She always made sure to give helpful critiques about what needed to be fixed, but she also let us know the things that we did right.”

“The girls came to rely on Noor’s expertise and encouragement,” Nair said. “She found a good balance between guidance and giving the girls the autonomy to solve problems themselves. Personally it was fulfilling to work with her. She’s a former student, and I could see her growth.”

In the spring 2023 mock trial competition, Hutchison’s team fared much better. In one trial, team member Emma Goughnour ’26 was named best witness and

I think the number one thing you can do … is maintain your professionalism and maintain the confidence in what you’re saying and your position.”

Photo by Brandon Dill

continued from page 22

In addition to the work she does in healthcare liability defense, Obaji takes on other work as it comes along, whether it’s writing wills, going to court regarding a ticket, or even helping with immigration cases. Her parents emigrated from the Middle East, so she speaks Arabic fluently and sometimes helps the firm’s immigration attorney communicate with clients from the Middle East.

One of the things Obaji has been committed to since law school is being part of the Association of Women Attorneys (AWA). The purpose of the AWA is to support female attorneys both professionally and personally, offer education and mentorship, and be of service to the community. During law school she was the president of the student chapter, and now as an attorney, she’s the vice president of the professional chapter in Memphis.

“There are several organizations around the community for lawyers, and this was one that I gravitated toward the most because I felt like the mission of the organization was special to me,” she said. “Especially coming from Hutchison and being surrounded by women. It was kind of comforting.

“I think in my generation of lawyers, women have not had as much of a struggle as older generations have had. Hearing stories from some of the women who work in my office, it’s a different world now than what it was even 10 or 20 years ago. I believe it’s going to continue to get better.”

For the past two years, Obaji has been sharing her passion for law as an advisor to Hutchison’s mock trial team (full story starts on page 22). One student, Isabelle Mansour ’23, came to Obaji and told her that she thought one of the other teams competing was not taking her seriously.

“I told her that things like that happen in real life and that it is something you’re going to have to deal with whatever you decide to do. Unfortunately, in this profession, especially as a woman, the other side is going to try to rattle you a little bit and see what they can get away with. You’re always going to get the one person who doubts you or thinks they’re better than you.

“I think the number one thing you can do in that situation is maintain your professionalism and maintain the confidence in what you’re saying and your position. Isabelle did that.”

Mary Abbott Elliott ’23 was named best attorney for the prosecution. In another trial, Jordan Deupree ’24 was named best witness and Mansour was named best attorney. By the end, Mansour took the top attorney title for the entire district competition.

“It was amazing. It was a culmination of everything I had worked toward and put hours and hours into,” Mansour said. “It felt good to have that kind of affirmation.” She says it was not a one-person job and gives due credit to her fellow teammates, and to their advisors, Nair, Obaji, McCarver, and Reynolds, for all of their help. She hopes that the students remaining at Hutchison will continue with the mock trial team. This fall, Mansour will head to Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service to study international political economy and is interested in law school after her undergraduate studies.

Olivia McCarver will attend Rhodes College and major in political science. She intends to participate in mock trial while there and plans to go on to law school. “Those girls made me

so proud this year, and the year before, but this year they were exceptional,” Obaji said. “They made me feel a sense of pride to be an attorney in the community, to be a member of the Memphis community, and especially to be a member of the Hutchison community. It is so cool to see the growth they had over a year. That was probably my favorite part of all of this.”

Teammates: back row, L to R: Jordan Deupree ’24, Mary Abbott Elliott ’23, Sarah Bartusch ’23, Anne Tyler Bartusch ’26, Emma Goughnour ’26, and Sarah Beth Cunningham ’26; front row: Loralei Forgette ’23, Isabelle Mansour ’23, Virginia Unglesby ’25, Olivia McCarver ’23, and Lilly Fahey ’25

Giving Day Was a Great Success, Thanks to You!

Thank you!

When the Hutchison community comes together, there’s nothing we can’t do. We hosted our annual Giving Day on February 9, 2023, and parents, grandparents, alumnae, faculty and staff, and so many more participated. What made the day all the more special was to see the gifts made in honor or in memory of friends, teachers, coaches, students, or classes. The campus was filled with joy, appreciation, and most of all, HUTCH LOVE .

Martha Hollis Williams ’03, Meade Miller Carlisle ’05, Paige Phillips Gillespie ’07, Lee Smith Yates ’02, Stewart Taylor Hunt ’06, Shibahn Singh Rodda ’02, and Laura Isom

More than $202,890 raised!

More than 2,400 members of the Hutchison community honored in 24 hours

Giving Day is just one way to support the Hutchison Fund, which is essential to providing the wide array of academic offerings and life-defining experiences that set Hutchison apart.

The Hutchison Fund supports the school’s challenging academics combined with diverse art, athletic, service, and leadership opportunities that offer a unique path for each girl.

Above: Hutchison Fund Co-Chairs Lauren Keras and JJ Keras

Above right: Aubrey Tyler ’35 loves her school! Right: Powell Roll ’34 spreading Hutch love

Kindergarten teacher Renee Grinder helps students complete a Giving Day writing exercise. Anne Willis Brown ’35, Virginia Cummings ’35, and Elle Curtis ’35 are enjoying their project. Ann Smith ’28 and Lucy Carmichael ’28

A LOVE OF SCIENCE UNCOVERS THE impact of vultures

by Max Maddock

About four minutes into her 2017 TEDx talk, Dr. Lauren Pharr Parks ’02 jokes that if you’re ever on a bad first date, you might reference her TED talk and likely never have to worry about the potential suitor giving you another call. It’s not because her talk isn’t interesting. After all, it has nearly a million and a half views on TED.com.

You see, Parks is a forensic anthropologist or a person who specializes in the analysis of human skeletal remains. A forensic anthropologist’s work can help determine the identity of a person, how they died, and how long ago they died. These days, with crime scene investigation shows dominating television, most people are somewhat familiar with this kind of work.

Parks’ particular area of focus is the study of vultures and how they scavenge. During her PhD study of vulture behavior at Louisiana State University, she had a lightbulb moment: What if vulture scavenging could play a key role in missing persons cases?

Indeed, for the past seven years Parks has been sought out as an expert by state and federal authorities to determine whether the remains found at a crime scene were scavenged by vultures. If they have, that can skew what an investigator thinks may be the estimated time of death. Parks’ expertise helps them better determine if a body has been in a spot for weeks or merely hours and how that fits with the other facts of a case. In some instances, her testimony has been a crucial element, including in two death penalty cases.

an early interest in science

“When I was a child, my aunt gave me a microscope,” Parks remembered. “It came with slides, and I would look at bug’s wings and leaves. I thought it was fascinating. It was one of my favorite toys.”

At Hutchison, Parks cultivated her love of science, but also her interest in art. She fondly recalled biology teacher Betty Stimbert and art teacher Gwen English. Her chemistry teacher at the time, Karen Irving, helped her with a project for the Shelby County Science Fair that won an award. In the experiment, Parks hypothesized whether sodium polyacrylate, the substance that helps absorb liquid in diapers, could be used

Photo by Brandon Dill

as a fire retardant. She applied it to cloth and popsicle sticks and tested the burn rate.

“Actually, the experiment failed,” Parks admitted. “At the science fair, the judges would ask, ‘Did your experiment work?’ When I said that it didn’t, they commented that I was brave to say that. That experience helped me. ”

In 2002, when she matriculated to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Parks said she was torn between taking an artistic path in interior design or gravitating toward the sciences. She was a painter and sold some of her

forefront,” Parks said. It wasn’t the popularity of the show that had hooked her though. “I enjoyed studying skeletons, and they have a large skeletal collection at UT,” she said. “I got into anthropology because UT has one of the best anthropology programs in the country.”

After UT, Parks decided to continue her work in anthropology by enrolling in a master’s program at Louisiana State University. When she arrived, she told her advisors she wanted to study decomposition. Their response was, “Are you sure?” Parks often dresses stylishly and doesn’t necessarily convey the part of a field anthropologist who digs in the dirt. So they tested her.

artwork, but she enjoyed biology classes and considered working toward medical school. She also was intrigued by UT’s Anthropology Research Facility, commonly known as The Body Farm. Established in 1972, it was the first research and training facility for the study of human remains. Donated bodies are used by students to learn about excavation, decomposition, examination of teeth and bones, documentation, and other aspects of forensic anthropology.

The television show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation first premiered in 2000, and by 2002, when Parks started college, it was the most watched show on American television. “That put forensic science smack dab in the

“To make sure that I was ready, my advisors sent me to this field by a prison in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, and they gave me three little pig carcasses,” Parks said. “My advisors said, ‘You have to sit with these pigs all day until they’re gone, collect bugs every hour, and take photographs.’ When I showed up, I wore a sundress. I was a sorority girl at UT. I didn’t know. But I did it. I was out there from morning until sunset.”

Because it was so hot, the pigs decomposed quickly, Parks said. She admitted she was more bothered by huge spiders she had seen in the nearby woods than by observing the pigs. She also recalled an earlier experience that may have helped: in 10th grade at Hutchison, her class had dissected a

Parks photographing a carcass used to attract vultures

Parks feeding vultures she housed in preparation for tagging

TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS READY, THEY SENT ME TO THIS FIELD BY A PRISON IN ST. GABRIEL, LOUISIANA, AND THEY GAVE ME THREE LITTLE PIG CARCASSES. … WHEN I SHOWED UP, I WORE A SUNDRESS. I WAS A SORORITY GIRL AT UT. I DIDN’T KNOW. BUT I DID IT. I WAS OUT THERE FROM MORNING UNTIL SUNSET.”

piglet. “I remember thinking, ‘Cutting open the pig is either going to be really scary, or it’s going to be okay.’ It was okay.”

Her master’s work after that test focused on how concealment of a body affects decomposition.

captivated … by vultures?

Parks completed her master’s in two and a half years but decided to continue her studies at the doctoral level at LSU. She knew she wanted to do something with animals and GPS tracking. It was 2009, and a new research facility called the Texas State Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (FARF) had just opened. It was similar to The Body Farm at UT in Knoxville. What FARF didn’t anticipate, however, was the presence of vultures disturbing the bodies used for research. That had not happened at UT.

“They said, ‘We need someone to come study these birds.’” Parks explained. “I knew it was an area that was underresearched, so I went there to study the vultures and got government funding to GPS track them. I was at the right place at the right time.”

Her initial funding was from the National Science Foundation. Parks was using the GPS transmitters to measure the altitude of the birds, which are so large that they usually soar at high altitudes. This is why you often see vultures coasting in circles high above an area. “I was looking to see if the altitude data could be used to isolate where the birds are scavenging and then figure out what environmental factors are associated with their scavenging.” Because the transmitters were so expensive, Parks applied to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) for additional funding. “They wrote back and said, ‘Cool study, but we don’t care where the birds are scavenging. We want to know, have they scavenged?’ ” The reply surprised Parks and shifted her focus.

The NIJ, it seems, was primarily concerned about the impact vultures could have on a body at a crime scene.

Next, she created a large trap to capture the vultures. The vultures soon figured out it was a trap, so Parks enlisted her dad, an outdoorsman, to help her build a better trap. Once she trapped them, she had to tag them. Because vultures are large and not particularly pleasant birds, she asked a number of people to help. “It took two grown men holding them down,” she described. “It was scary. But I had spent

so much time and money. I told myself, ‘I’ve just got to do it and work through it.’ ” She placed wing tags on 52 vultures and six of these birds also received GPS transmitters.

“ I emailed my advisor and said, ‘I have a list of vulture scavenging traits. I think everything we know about decomposition is wrong. ’”

As Parks explained in her dissertation, the previous forensic literature “gave much focus to insect scavengers with little attention paid to animal and avian scavengers.”

“If you read stories such as, ‘Memphis Light, Gas & Water found a body in the bushes when they were cleaning up some power lines,’ the thought is, if you have bones, they’ve been there for a year or a very long time,” Parks explained. “But the birds can go in and scavenge a body within five hours. The goal is to recognize whether vultures have been on a body and then refine the timeline for that. Then law enforcement can search through missing persons files.”

Parks tagging a vulture’s wing; success!

PARKS SAID THERE ARE OFTEN A NUMBER OF FAILURES FOR EVERY ONE SUCCESS . “THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM APPLYING FOR GRANTS TO ANY OF MY PROJECTS. IT’S PART OF THE GAME. YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP THINKING, ‘OKAY, SOMETHING GOOD IS COMING ALONG.’ YOU HAVE TO KEEP ON TRUCKING.”

Her PhD took seven years, and by the end, Parks had defined 16 traits that could be used to identify vulture-scavenged remains, which she now employs to help law enforcement determine whether a body has been visited by vultures. Her expert opinion can change the way a case is being looked at. She has aided in cases in Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, New York, and even Brazil, although remotely in that instance. Since COVID, much of her work is now handled by looking at photos that have been sent to her from crime scenes. She’s also helping to educate people through talks with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

keeping it simple

One fun fact: in 2013, while Parks was at FARF conducting her research, she appeared on a television show called Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy, which aired on the History Channel. The show followed the affable comedian as he “explores the country, immersing himself in different lifestyles, jobs and hobbies.” Parks appeared in the season 3 episode titled “Larry Sees Dead People.” While some of the show’s content may not be for the squeamish, Larry has a down-home way of explaining a topic that makes it—at times—funny.

It may seem like an obvious question, but it had to be asked—how does Parks describe her work at a cocktail party without getting too gruesome? “I just say I’m a forensic consultant, and I usually say I study bones,” she answered without hesitation.

When Parks heard that her daughter’s junior kindergarten class was learning about bones, fossils, and dinosaurs, she was happy to give Patty Mae ’36 and her classmates a glimpse of her work and how it is related to their studies. She kept it simply to the study of animal bones, rather than talking about vultures or scavenging.

“My collection is huge, so I have all sorts of animals. I would pull out an animal skull and ask, ‘What is this?,’ and they thought a horse skull was a dinosaur.” The girls enjoyed observing the bones, at least until Parks pulled out the somewhat scary looking (at least to a JK-er!) alligator gar

skull, a freshwater fish with a broad snout and long, sharp teeth! But then they were fascinated.

One thing the girls had learned was the difference between herbivores and carnivores. Looking at the skulls that Parks brought in gave them the opportunity to determine what each animal ate based on the shape of their teeth. “I think they liked it because it was unexpected, it was a surprise. It’s a little scary, but not too scary.”

In addition to the fun of speaking to junior kindergarteners or Larry the Cable Guy, Parks is an accomplished researcher, speaker, academic writer, and teacher. She’s been invited to speak to a number of organizations, presented at conferences continuously since 2010, and authored or coauthored numerous peer-reviewed articles. In 2021, she was named a Fellow by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), the top honor for the premier society in her industry. “You are required to submit a certain number of case reports, peer-reviewed articles, and volunteer in order to qualify to go under review. I worked on that for about 10 years.”

The AAFS has invited her to be a guest teacher next year at the Student Academy, an educational program for high school students.

Parks with her daughter, Patty Mae ’36, when she visited with Hutchison’s junior kindergarteners.

Photo by Danielle Katz

Parks also has mentored a Hutchison student in the Hutchison Leads program about education and careers in forensic science.

In thinking about all her work to date, Parks said there are often a number of failures for every one success. “That includes everything from applying for grants to any of my projects. It’s part of the game. You just have to keep thinking, ‘Okay, something good is coming along.’ You have to keep on trucking.”

“Sometimes I think maybe I should hang up my hat with the forensic science stuff. And then I’ll get a big case or opportunity and it just revs my engine, and I am right back. With gusto.”

ONE THING THE GIRLS HAD LEARNED WAS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HERBIVORES AND CARNIVORES. LOOKING AT THE SKULLS THAT PARKS BROUGHT IN GAVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DETERMINE WHAT EACH ANIMAL ATE BASED ON THE SHAPE OF THEIR TEETH. “I THINK THEY LIKED IT BECAUSE IT WAS UNEXPECTED, IT WAS A SURPRISE. IT’S A LITTLE SCARY, BUT NOT TOO SCARY.”

To watch Lauren’s TEDx talk, scan this QR code.

Photo by Brandon Dill

Photo by Danielle Katz

Junior kindergarteners analyze skulls from Parks’s collection.

Thank You to Our Leadership Donors

Leadership gifts to Hutchison enable the school to provide challenging academics while also allowing each girl to discover her passions and develop into a strong leader. We showed our appreciation to faculty, alumnae, parents, grandparents, parents of alumnae, and trustees who gave leadership gifts in the past year at a celebration at the home of Hutchison Fund Co-Chairs, JJ and Jay

Keras.

1. Dr. Kristen Ring, center, with Hutchison Fund Co-Chairs, Jay and JJ Keras and Lauren and Ben Keras | 2. Dr. Jamila Smith-Young and Paul Young

3. Andrew and Maggie Phillips | 4. Riley Coopwood ’23, Mary Lee Wesberry, and Sarah Davis McAllister ’23 | 5. Peggy Curtis ’98 and Chip Campbell

6. Jeanne Bowen ’75 and Richard Hollis | 7. Rebecca and Edward Nenon | 8. Kelly and Christopher Lamberson

Hutchison

Photos by Jessica Coulson

Thank you!

1. Jason and Janice Gibert | 2. Dr. Tom Merchant and Dr. Jenny Tibbs ’83 | 3. Cara Baskin ’96 and Justin Grinder | 4. Kim Nunn, Garnett Hutton, and Lauren Keras | 5. Gwen and Tony Alexander, Kirby Dobbs Floyd ’82, and Catherine Chubb | 6. Joy and Zack Moore | 7. Penny Reed ’65 and Jim Keras with Mary Miles ’72 and Bill Loveless

Thank you!

1. Hardin Barton Kimmel ’92 and Kaylea Hill | 2. Ruthie Stewart Taylor ’74, Deborah Tipton, Kristen Ring, Stewart Taylor Hunt ’06, and Edward Taylor

3. Kim Crain Lowrance ’86 and Kate Connell | 4. Dennis and Kristen Ring and Sean and Emily Bryce Bowie ’00 | 5. Taylor and Stephanie Key 6. Terry and Martha Campbell Robertson ’05 | 7. Elizabeth Morrow Carlisle ’06 and Manoucheka Thermitus-Jerome | 8. Ann Alise and Matt Hayden

1. John and Trudy Copeland | 2. Dudley and Lynn Schaefer | 3. Katie Horner ’92 and Jeremy Alpert | 4. Christy Smith Muller ’91, Dee Turley Muller ’67, and Ralph Muller | 5. Celia Economides ’97, Joan Schadt Biddle ’97, Debby Owen ’65 and Steve Schadt | 6. Lynn and Jonathan Rowe and Julie and Philip Wunderlich | 7. Chloee and Dan Poag

Alumnae Award Honorees Distinguished Alumna Award

Ellen Gannaway Lail ’84

The Hutchison Distinguished Alumna Award recognizes and celebrates an alumna who is making a difference in the world through exceptional professional achievement, singular artistic creation, and selfless and visionary service. These characteristics are certainly true of Ellen Gannaway Lail, Class of 1984. Over the past 30 years, Ellen has opened countless doors of professional opportunity and growth for girls and young women as a mentor for Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center, as an active volunteer at Women Unlimited, a national coalition of top executives committed to advancing female talent, and as a member of Hutchison’s National Alumnae Board. She currently serves as Head of VMware’s Application and Cloud Transformation Practice for the Americas. Throughout her career, she has distinguished herself as an inspiring and inclusive builder and leader of collaborative, high-performing teams. “Hutchison was transformational for me,” Ellen said. “I am so appreciative of the teachers, faculty, and parents of Hutchison who were focused on one thing: ensuring we left Hutchison as strong women capable of taking care of ourselves and participating as upstanding members of our communities.” Thank you, Ellen, for your commitment to Hutchison. We are proud to honor you this year.

Anne Marie Newton Walker ,47 Philanthropy Award

Created in recognition of Anne Marie’s passion for and service to her alma mater, the Anne Marie Newton Walker ’47 Philanthropy Award is presented to an alumna who advances philanthropy to Hutchison through personal giving and serves as an inspiration to the larger community to give. We are proud to honor Josephine Phillips Schaeffer, Class of 1961, as this year’s recipient. A loyal and faithful donor to her beloved alma mater, Josephine continues to make Hutchison a philanthropic priority, having made an annual contribution to our school for over 50 years. She leads by example, and it is wonderful to see her legacy continue to grow through her children, grandchildren, nieces, and great-nieces. When asked about giving back and why it’s important to her, Josephine said, “It doesn’t matter what you give to the Annual Fund. Every little bit counts. Don’t think you can’t give if it’s not a large gift. You should give from your heart because you love the school.” Thank you, Josephine, for your commitment and support of Hutchison. We are grateful for your generosity.

Josephine Phillips Schaeffer ’61

Alumna Service to Hutchison Award

The Alumna Service to Hutchison Award recognizes the school’s appreciation for exceptional and longstanding service to and advocacy for Hutchison. We are proud to honor Missy Nichols Rainer, Class of 1977, with this award. For the past 45 years, Missy has truly done it all. She has served not only as Class Rep, as Alumnae Director under Jack Stanford, and as Alumnae Association Board President—twice—but also as a Parents Association Board member, a development and admissions volunteer, and much more. Missy said that having four boys pushed her to stay involved, but after her daughter Daisye, class of 2017, was born, she just never stopped. “Hutchison is such a special place and continues to amaze me. It is always important to give back to your alma mater,” Missy said. “As an alumna, you should feel pride in your school and a willingness to stay involved in order to promote your experience to future students and graduates.” Thank you, Missy, for your service to and advocacy for Hutchison. We are grateful for your support.

Photos by Brandon Dill

Kristen Ring and the Hutchison community celebrate outstanding alumnae Josephine Phillips Schaeffer ’61, Ellen Gannaway Lail ’84, and Missy Nichols Rainer ’77 during Alumnae Weekend.

Missy Nichols Rainer ’77

Comeback Coffee & Conversation

Convocation

Vocal Point members, directed by Hannah Good Crowley ’08, shared a beautiful rendition of the Alma Mater.

Ellen Gannaway Lail ’84

Annie Wesberry Shea ’06, Lucy Loveless-Wingfield ’06, and Stewart Taylor Hunt ’06

Lauren Edmonds ’98, Molly Dorman Flynn ’98, Lane Arnold Clanton ’98, and Anne Samaha Dunavant ’98

Mary Beth Buchignani Wilson ’03

Jo Holmes Walt ’49 pictured with her daughter, Lucy Wepfer

Ann Marie Crump and Laura Painter Stafford ’93

Rachel Hammons Parks ’10, Hannah Parks, and Dot Jones Hammons ’76

Barbara Crain Williamson ’77

Missy Nichols Rainer ’77, Megan Wellford Griner ’91, and Kristen Ring

To see more photos from Alumnae Weekend, scan the QR code or type in this web address: qrco.de/alumweekend2023

Curry Barton Blanton ’03, Lauren Ploch Ellison ’03, Martha Hollis Williams ’03, Tara Skelley Burrows ’03, and Jeanne Whitehead Forsyth ’03

Comeback Coffee & Conversation

Veazey Gully Krausnick ’78, Sloan Towner Germann ’78, Claudette McCord Oliver ’78, and Mary Adamson Edwards ’78

Laurie Counce Donlon ’84 and Ellen Gannaway Lail ’84

Jane Allen and Laurie Fraser (Stanton) Elliott ’65

Farm Lunch & Learn

Alumnae enjoyed a delicious lunch featuring produce from the Hutchison Farm. Lauren Edmonds ’98 and Margaret Rochelle Neely ’98

Class of 2003: Standing, L to R: Meredith Alston Wooten, Anne-Marie Dudas Moehring, Jeanne Whitehead Forsyth, Grace Henderson Hartman, Alexandra Adams Roll, Katie Siegal Griffin, Mary Beth Buchignani Wilson, Kimberly Ciocca Lucas, Tara Skelley Burrows, and Marion Steel Barclay; seated: Paige Patrick Vaughan, Martha Hollis Williams, Curry Barton Blanton, Lauren Ploch Ellison, and Sarah Morgan Ashey

After lunch, alumnae enjoyed a tour of the Hutchison Farm led by Alison Chesney.

Marion Steel Barclay ’03, Kimberly Ciocca Lucas ’03, and Tara Skelley Burrows ’03

The Class of 1984 Shares Lessons Learned

The Class of 1984 has gained a lot of life experience in their 39 years since leaving Hutchison, and five alumnae from the class shared the career and life lessons they have learned with the Class of 2023 in a special Food for Thought panel. The alumnae panelists were back on campus for Alumnae Weekend and also to support their classmate, Ellen Gannaway Lail ’84, this year’s distinguished alumna honoree. During the panel, they offered the seniors a glimpse into their diverse careers and told them what they wished they had known when they were younger. They encouraged students to not be afraid of failure, give themselves permission to evolve over time, and continue to support each other long after graduation.

We truly felt the sisterhood and strength of our panelists as they passed down their wisdom to our recent graduates. Thank you to the following alumnae panelists for taking the time to speak with our seniors:

■ Sian Hunter

Senior Acquisitions Editor, University Press of Florida

■ Kelly Shipley

Quality Improvement Manager, Innovista Health Solutions

■ Ellen Gannaway Lail

Head of Application and Cloud Transformation Practice, VMware

■ Michelle Nelson Miller

Senior Vice President of Finance, FedEx

■ Amy Tenent Jackson

Royalty Consultant, Amy Jackson Consulting

BE MINDFUL. NOBODY IS A GOOD MULTITASKER. IF YOU RECOGNIZE THAT YOU CAN’T DO TWO THINGS AT ONCE WITHOUT SACRIFICING ONE OF THEM, YOU WILL BE SO MUCH BETTER OFF. YOU WANT TO REMEMBER THINGS, SMELL THE ROSES, AND MAKE GREAT MEMORIES BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT. ”

— ELLEN GANNAWAY LAIL

BRING YOUR PERSONALITY AND FULL SET OF SKILLS TO WHATEVER OPPORTUNITY IS IN FRONT OF YOU. SET GOALS AND HAVE A PLAN THAT CAN BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO BE ATTUNED TO THE UNEXPECTED, BECAUSE UNEXPECTED THINGS WILL BE THERE. ” — SIAN HUNTER

I WISH I HAD KNOWN THAT THERE IS NO FINISH LINE. LIFE IS BEST WHEN YOU DON’T SEE IT AS A RACE. YOU CAN SET GOALS, BUT BE PREPARED FOR THAT GOAL TO SHIFT AND CHANGE. ” — MICHELLE NELSON MILLER

MY FLOWER GIRL’S MOTHER WAS A BIG INFLUENCE ON ME. SHE WAS FEARLESS, AND IT WAS GREAT TO BE AROUND HER AND SEE HOW SHE ADVOCATED FOR HER CLIENTS. I BRING THIS TO MY CAREER TODAY. I AM IN SITUATIONS WHERE I HAVE TO PULL THAT FEARLESSNESS, BE ARMED WITH THE FACTS, AND STAND UP FOR MY CLIENTS. ”

— AMY TENENT JACKSON

IT’S IMPORTANT TO GET OUTSIDE OF YOUR BOX. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION, DEPARTMENT, AND ORGANIZATION. EXAMPLES ARE WORKING ON VOLUNTEER PROJECTS OR JOINING THE HR DEPARTMENT’S DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TEAM. ” — KELLY SHIPLEY

Left: Class of 1984 classmates: Matt Blythe, Kelly Shipley, Ellen Gannaway Lail, Sian Hunter, Amy Tenent Jackson, Virginia Malmo White, and Michelle Nelson Miller

Below: Sian Hunter, Kelly Shipley, Ellen Gannaway Lail, Michelle Nelson Miller, and Amy Tenent Jackson

Above: Jennifer Gentry Alessi ’88, Barbara Ruth Googe, Ginny Gannaway, and Erin Schultz

Left: Class of 1983: Vance James Lewis, Margaret Heiskell Jefferson, Anne Latham Holdaway, and Katy Green Moore

Heather Guglietti ’18 and Frazer Campbell ’18

Class of 1977: Ellen Raines Hendry, Paige Bailey Phillips, Missy Nichols Rainer, Beth Humphreys Moore, and Peggy Latham McClure

Jenne Prest Williams ’82 and Mignon Coors Canale ’83

Josephine Phillips Schaeffer ’61

Ragan Crawford Magness ’88 and Anne Pringle, daughter of Josephine Phillips Schaeffer ’61

Chris Wright Wilson ’68 and Betsy Dumas Gebhardt ’53

Anne Marie Caskey ’80, Cynthia Britton Cross ’80, Amy Atkinson Shreve ’80, Linda Parrott Coleman ’80, Rhea Clift ’84, and Ivy McPherson Hayes ’84

Milestone Mimosa Brunch

Class of 1988: Standing, L to R: Lane Patton Patikas and Ragan Crawford Magness; Seated: Jennifer Gentry Alessi, Alice Trotter Crow, and Stephanie Boyle Berrier

Right: Class of 1998: Lauren Edmonds, Emily Ketner Adams, Jenny Brindell, and Morgan Futrell Harriman

Class of 2003: Clockwise from top; Jeanne Whitehead Forsyth, Alexandra Adams Roll, Martha Hollis Williams, Leslie Turley Walsh, Grace Henderson Hartman, and Katie Siegal Griffin

Missy Nichols Rainer ’77

Ellen Gannaway Lail ’84

Black & Gold Fiesta

Anne Latham Holdaway ’83, Milly Joyner ’83, Betty Green, Virginia King Jeffries ’83, Kristen Ring, Elizabeth Allen ’83, Dennis Ring, Katy Green Moore ’83, and Catherine Fulmer Muscari ’83

The Class of 2003 celebrates their 20th reunion with some photobooth fun!

Mikell Hazlehurst, Lindsay Caldwell Hazlehurst ’03, Carie Balton McPhail ’03, Meredith Alston Wooten ’03, Sarah Morgan Ashey ’03, and Paul Ashey

Catherine Folk Dowdle ’03, Noelle Hansen Douglass ’03, Leigh Ann Pritchard Rogers ’88, Sarah Grace Rogers Youngblood ‘15, and Ann Bennett Nash ‘15

Black & Gold Fiesta

Class of 2005: Back row, L to R: Liz Wilder Lemley, Sophie Good Edwards, Alison Humphreys Nenon, and Lily Thompson; Front row: Katherine Ray and Molly Prewitt

Dennis Ring, Ragan Crawford Magness ’88, and Robyn McGee Raby ’88

Daria Letcher ’17 and Brinkley Raby ’17

Suzanna Fisher Ragen ’80, Anne Marie Caskey ’80, and Maggie Hogan ’80

Peggy Garrott Peters ’78, Murrey Malmo Watkins ’78, and Claudette McCord Oliver ’78

To see more photos from Alumnae Weekend, scan the QR code or type in this web address: qrco.de/alumweekend2023

Kristen Ring and members of the Class of 1983 enjoy getting to know each other.

Virginia King Jeffries ’83, Catherine Fulmer Muscari ’83, and Elizabeth Allen ’83

Jennifer Gentry Alessi ’88, Alice Trotter Crow ’88, Stephanie Boyle Berrier ’88, and Pam Patteson Shumake ’88

Napa Valley Los Angeles

Back row, L to R: Dash Alison ’07, Melanie Herndon Betty ’99, Kate Loveless ’10, Mary Aubrey Landrum Stafford ’10, Kristen Ring, and Sloane Trezevant ’09; front row: Grace Henderson Hartman ’03, Sarah Morris Brower ’95, Florence Raines Friedgen ’82, and Ginger Williams Bricken ’96

Above: Katie Griesbeck ’96 and Kristen Ring

Right: Mary Aubrey Landrum Stafford ’10, Margaret Cates Luna ’12, Sequoia Taylor ’04, Kristen Ring, Ginger Norfleet Coy ’96, Katie Griesbeck ’96, Celia Economides ’97, Sophie Stubblefield Bracewell ’05, and Susan Anthony

Mobile San Francisco

Susan Riggan Thomas ’69, Lexie Nelson Jones ’69, Betty Day Koutny ’69, Julie Sims Vickers ’90, Kristen Ring, Virginia King Jeffries ’83, and Amy Ferguson Pipes ’88

Right: Kristen Ring with Carol Harton Shannon ’54 and Mary Wallace Harton Murray ’55

Back row, L to R: John Reynolds, Tonya Faulker, Ebet Roberts ’64, Rebecca Burnett ’24, Hailey Litzsey ’25, Jamie Woods ’25, Maggie Higginbotham ’25, Adeena Awan ’25, Sofia Frisch ’25, Izzie McCarroll ’25, Millie Malone ’25, Natalie Alexander ’25, Sarah Grace Taylor ’25, and Olivia Kelly ’18; third row: Gaby Nair ’14, Lele Popwell ’16, Kelley Guinn McArtor ’12, Helen Morrison Guyton ’05, Sarah Williamson ’14, Emma Haire ’24, Lauren Coleman ’24, Caroline Kim ’24, Hira Janjua ’24, Sakshi Singh ’24, and Elizabeth Gonda ’16; second row: Katy Nair, Katherine Hammons ’12, Alexis Parent ’24, Emily Jackson ’25, Jana Lane Whitehead ’25, Emma Grace Hibbard ’24, Ella Colvett ’25, and Mary Aubrey Landrum Stafford ’10; front row: Anne Catherine Demere ’14, Chloe Simpson ’25, Mary Ross Whipple ’24, Mae Stockburger ’24, Gracie Wilkinson ’24, Lillian Kent ’25, and Campbell Wilson ’25

Back row, L to R: Tracey Zerwig Ford, Makayla Boswell, Bonner Williams Morgan ’12, Karrington Davis ’25, Lauren Dukes ’24, Angela He ’25, Garner Monroe ’25, Amelia Pennington ’25, Adela Calzada ’24, Zelia Cedeño-Avila ’24, Olivia Lester ’24, Lilly Rower ’24, Emily Heim ’24, Stephanie Park ’25, Anne Hartmann Lewis ’24, Kelly Shannon Sawyer ’94, and Kristen Ring; front

Sally Wynn ’12, Joy Agho Clodi ’03, Shifa Qureshi ’24, Sophie Siler ’24, Virginia Unglesby ’25, Haley Floyd ’25, Lara Eason ’24, Sadie Rosenblum ’25, Piper Wheaton ’25, Ellye Carpenter ’25, Hannah Dunlap ’25, Sophie Battaile ’25, Abby Martin ’24, and Elizabeth Soefker ’24; kneeling: Kate Connell ’25, Mary Claire Cox ’25, and Anna Catherine Brickey ’25

row:

Back-to-School Brunch

Classes of 2019–2022

In January, our collegiate alumnae stopped by campus for brunch before they headed back to school. They caught up with former classmates and teachers, and we loved hearing about the wonderful things they’re doing and how their time at Hutchison has helped them along the way.

well as the courage

built at Hutchison when it comes to trying new things.

Six alumnae spoke to upper school students about their college experiences on a “Bee-yond the Hive” panel: Jane Dodge ’20, Dakota Shelton ’21, Kiya Brown ’21, Mary Franklin Williams ’21, Rachel Perry ’22, and Lauren Ma ’19. These alumnae shared valuable advice, from the importance of staying organized to having professional clothing at college in case a career opportunity arises. As they talked about how Hutchison prepared them for college, they highlighted the confidence they have in the classroom and extracurricular activities, as

they

earlychildhood

Above: Catherine Talbot Lackie ’00 and Cate ’38

Above right: Lauren Pharr Parks ’02 and Patty Mae ’36

Katie Siegal Griffin ’03 and Macrae ’37

Alex Roberts Heflin ’05 and Poppy ’38

Catherine Cowart O’Mell ’07 and Kate ’37

Paige Phillips Gillespie ’07, Grace ’38, and Bailey ’36,

Martha Hollis Williams ’03 and Cappel ’36

Farley Howe Ezekiel ’08 and Ace ’38

Ashley Bryce Riney ’02 and Jane ’36

Helen Morrison Guyton ’05 and Gracie ’38

Shibahn Singh Rodda ’02 and Sienna ’36

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PARENTS of ALUMNAE: If your publication is addressed to your daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumnae Office of her new mailing address at (901) 762-6664.

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