T H E S C H O O L M AG A Z I N E • D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0
Heeding the Call DR. SUSAN EMMETT ’01
Celebrating the Right to Vote!
19th Amendment
EVEN THOUGH IT WILL BE A FEW YEARS before our third-graders go to the polls to vote, they were excited to commemorate an important milestone. On August 26, 2020, the United States observed the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed and protected women’s constitutional right to vote. Girls throughout the school learned about the suffragette movement and how that fit into the country’s broader history. A special commemorative button was produced for the girls. Read more about what girls learned on page 16.
Hutchison | 1
Celebrating the Right to Vote!
Hutchison | 1
“Find what it is that
you absolutely love and how you can make the world a better place, and then go do it.” — Dr. Susan Emmett ’01 Photograph by Eric Waters
CONTENTS FEATURES 10 A Glimpse Inside the Classroom 14 Virtual Theatre 16 Celebrating the 19th Amendment 18 Engaging in the Hard Work of Civil Discourse 38 Graduation ALUMNAE PROFILES 20 Dr. Susan Emmett ’01 Heeding the Call to Heal
26 Keenon McCloy ’86 Reinventing a Library That’s Not Your Parents’ Library
32 Katie Griesbeck ’96 Love at First Sip
2 | Hutchison
GIVING TO HUTCHISON 42 Being Thankful 44 Letters of Gratitude 48 Hutchison Financials 49 Financial Assistance Challenge Report 50 Honoring Angela Perkins ’88 ALUMNAE NEWS 54 Milestones: Marriages, Births & Adoptions, Memorials 56 Professionally Speaking 57 Class Notes D E PA R T M E N T S 4 Board of Trustees and Faculty/Staff Milestones 6 Are You Following Us? 69 Golf Scramble
M E S S AG E | F R O M T H E H E A D O F S C H O O L
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.
dear friends, I think we can all agree that this year has required a lot of us. We have had to rethink basic ways of being and to live with a lot of
H U TC H I S O N M AG A Z I N E
discomfort. At the same time, we’ve been chal-
DECEMBER 2020
lenged to be creative and resourceful, which is
PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF SCHOOL
a form of learning and growing. I firmly believe
K r i s t e n D. R i n g , E d . D. E D I TO R Max Maddock Director of Communications mmaddock@hutchisonschool.org CO N S U LT I N G E D I TO R Lori Guy D i r e c t o r o f S t ra t e g y lguy@hutchisonschool.org A L U M N A E D I R E C TO R M a r y A u b r ey L a n d r u m S t a f f o r d ’ 10 mstafford@hutchisonschool.org P H OTO G R A P H Y C a t h y B a r b e r, B ra n d o n D i l l , G a b r i e l l e P r ew i t t , M a r y R i d d l e , J e n n i f e r S t a n f o rd , E r i c Wa te r s , a n d var io us H u tc h i s o n co n stituents DESIGNER B a r b a ra H i m b e r
we will emerge from this health crisis stronger than we were before.
Dr. Kristen Ring
In addition to the logistics of dealing with the pandemic, our community is focused on conducting a thorough assessment of our school’s efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion up to this point. This is work that we have done for many years, and it was reinforced as an objective in our most recent strategic plan. Developing our cultural competency will remain part of our DNA because improving ourselves and our school is a lifelong process. There is no point at which we will say, “we’re finished.” Meanwhile, the important work of learning continues as always, even though some things may look a little different. Take a glimpse at what our girls are learning inside and outside the classroom on page 10. See how our theatre department adapted for this unusual year on page 14. Don’t miss the ways our girls engaged in commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment on page 16. Learn about our work with seniors and girls in all divisions
H u t c h i s o n M a g a z i n e i s p u b l i s h e d by
around civil discourse, a valuable life skill we can all commit to practicing, on
t h e H u tc h i s o n C o m m u n i c a t i o n s O f f i ce.
page 18. While these are snapshots in time, our girls are growing and changing
Please forward address changes to:
every day.
H U TC H I S O N S C H O O L 1 74 0 R I D G E WAY R OA D MEMPHIS, TN 38119 or twhite@hutchisonschool.org
The proof of our work is in our alumnae stories. This issue features three alumnae who have followed their passions and are making strides in different ways. Be sure to read about Dr. Susan Emmett ’01, Keenon McCloy ’86, and Katie Griesbeck ’96. Amid everything that is going on this year, let’s remember that we are all facing challenges in one form or another and we are all learning. Be kind to one another. We can use an extra dose of kindness. Warmly,
Kristen Ring, Ed.D. President and Head of School Hutchison | 3
2020-2021 Board of Trustees Hutchison appreciates the service of our retiring board member Kelly H. Truitt. The board welcomes the following new members:
Jenny Werner Carter ’89
Sequoia Taylor ’04
Craig L. Weiss
Paul A. Young
2 02 0- 2 02 1 B OARD OF T RUSTEES
2020- 2021 LE A D E R SHIP T E A M
The Hutchison board of trustees is the guardian of the school’s mission. In partnership with the head of school, the board sets the vision and strategy for the school and ensures sound financial management and proper stewardship of resources.
Great schools are distinguished by exceptional teamwork and collaboration across the organization. Our faculty and staff are led by a dynamic group of individuals known as our leadership team under the guidance of the head of school.
Dr. Kristen Ring
Dr. Kristen Ring
Katharine Duerr Kent ’95
HEAD OF SCHOOL
LOWER SCHOOL HEAD
Melissa Baker
Pam Patteson Shumake ’88
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
COUNSELING DIRECTOR
Beth Corley
Laura Shy
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
Catherine Chubb
DIRECTOR
ATHLETICS DIRECTOR
Nick Simpson
Tracey Zerwig Ford
MIDDLE SCHOOL HEAD
ARTS AND COMMUNITY
Susan Steinkamp
ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Adrienne Forgette
Alyssa Villarreal
UPPER SCHOOL HEAD
ACADEMIC DEAN
Lori Guy
Trey Wilson
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY
DIRECTOR OF SIGNATURE
Elizabeth Chisholm Jordan ’86
PROGRAMS
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Megan Wellford Grinder ’91 CHAIR
Will Deupree III VICE CHAIR
William R. Tayloe TREASURER
Edward J. Dobbs S E C R E TA RY
4 | Hutchison
Emily Bryce Bowie ’00 Jenny Werner Carter ’89 Allison Cates Erica Stiff-Coopwood Melissa Conrad Grimes ’87 Anne Orgill Keeney ’85 Kim Crain Lowrance ’86 Ragan Crawford Magness ’88 Andrew R. McCarroll Michelle Nelson Miller ’84 Richard C. Moore, Jr. Amy Rolfes Poag ’92 Jeannie Sherman Tabor Sequoia Taylor ’04 Sanford C. Thomas Muffy Farnsworth Turley ’88 Todd Watson Craig L. Weiss McLean T. Wilson Paul A. Young
EARLY CHILDHOOD HEAD
30
50
Laurie Stanton ’65, retired
2020-2021 Milestone Service Anniversaries
Anne Marie Caskey ’80
30
Vicki Koehn
Napoleon Logan
Jane Maxwell
Arnell Benton
Robert Edwards
Christina Wellford-Scott ’69
Grace Anne Morrison
25
Missy Prewitt
Kathleen Towner
Catherine Chubb
Angela Smith
Alice Crow ’88
Melissa Ivy
Millie Duke
Jennifer Stover
Jennifer Guglietti
Katharine Kent ’95
Ronnie Robinson
Hattie Rounder
Jill Allen
Janie Baker
Michele Cervetti
David Green
Lauren Huddleston
Andrea Jeter ’07
Elizabeth Jordan ’86
Max Maddock
Gabrielle Prewitt
Faye Rainer
Lonnie Scott
Jennifer Stanford
20
15
5
5
10
15
Nancy Smith
Hutchison | 5
Are You Following Us?
Dr. Ring Addresses International Forum about Student Growth in Math National Merit Semifinalist Dreams Big JAMIE SOKOLOFF ’21 was named a National Merit Semifinalist this year based on her junior year PSAT scores. She will advance to compete for finalist status. Sokoloff has dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon. She has already shadowed a renowned neurosurgeon at Semmes-Murphy and attended Duke University’s summer program, Innovations in Medical Care, where she visited a cadaver lab and participated in a research group focused on neuroprosthesis. This past summer, she participated in a virtual program with the University of Chicago during which she worked with different software programs focusing on molecular cloning, gene expression and sequencing, and amplifying DNA. When she’s not studying, Sokoloff is a talented equestrian. She has been riding horses since second grade and volunteers at Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy.
DR. KRISTEN RING, HUTCHISON’S HEAD OF SCHOOL, presented at the International MTSS Online Forum Series in October to participants in Singapore. MTSS, or Multi-Tiered System of Supports, is a framework that many schools use to provide targeted support to students. By assessing students regularly, MTSS aims to ensure that academic growth and proficiency are monitored and achieved. The International MTSS forum series offers participants from around the world the opportunity to engage with other school teams who are using evidence-based systems and proactive support to strengthen learning. During her presentation, Dr. Ring talked about how Hutchison has employed Spring Math, a comprehensive mathematics assessment tool that covers numeracy to algebra, to improve math outcomes in lower school. “Spring Math is an example of a tool that is an agile way of thinking about student growth,” Ring said. “It’s not just for students who are falling behind. All students can be pushed ahead and challenged when using this kind of tool. We are building the critical foundation for high level mathematics in later years.”
Senior Creates Health Information Website SOPHIE MANSOUR ’21 UNVEILED A WEBSITE called HealthCrib.net, which is designed to serve as a safe space for young people to learn about and understand the causes of diseases they or a loved one may be dealing with. “This website is for people who feel lost, curious, or alone,” Mansour said. “It informs people in less overwhelming ways about complex diseases, serves as an incentive for people to take on healthier lifestyles, and most importantly, it de-stigmatizes diseases.” The idea for the website came out of a pitch competition sponsored by Youth Ignite Memphis that Mansour won. She also founded the Memphis Medical Awareness Club at Hutchison. 6 | Hutchison
Be sure to follow us on
Two Seniors Make Athletic Commitments Two of our seniors made commitments to play at the college level. Carmyn Harrison ’21 signed to play basketball at Georgia Tech and Audrey Still ’21 will play lacrosse at Campbell University. Congratulations, girls!
Celebrating Our Fall Sports!
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Mary Riddle and the Hutchison Farm Featured in Memphis Parent MARY RIDDLE, our director of environmental education and sustainability, or “The Farm Lady” as some of our girls call her, and Hutchison’s newly revamped farm were featured in Memphis Parent magazine in print and online in August. The article described the Phase 1 expansion, which includes 36 raised planting beds, a greenhouse, a treehouse, and a walking trail with native plants. “The farm is another curricular tool,”
Young Equestrian Wins Award Eighth grader Ellie Grace Flynn ’25, an avid equestrian, was selected by the United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals as a recipient of the 2020 Betsy Fishback Sportsmanship Award for her leadership and sportsmanship. Recipients are chosen for their graciousness in both winning and losing, and for the respect, support, and encouragement they show to their fellow competitors. Way to go, Ellie Grace! 8 | Hutchison
Riddle said. Teachers incorporate farm studies into as many subject areas and class projects as possible. Science classes use it to study life cycles. World language classes visit the farm to learn words for vegetables, colors, or culinary practices. Math classes do calculations, planning, planting, and harvesting. “It’s good for their minds, it’s good for their bodies, and it’s good for their spirits. It’s just such an all-around win.”
Be sure to follow us on
Caroline Halliday ’21 Pays It Forward
Caroline Halliday ’21 hosted a farmer’s market at New Hope Christian Academy last summer. She shared what she harvested from the Hutchison farm with New Hope families.
LEARNING HOW TO PIVOT QUICKLY was never part of the plan, but for Caroline Halliday ’21, it enriched her experience. For her social science certificate project, Halliday planned to start a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) vegetable subscription service for Hutchison families with a pay-itforward twist: for every subscription purchased by a Hutchison family, she would provide one for a family in need in Memphis. When the pandemic hit, she shifted course and developed a partnership with New Hope Christian Academy in Frayser. She realized that the families in that community were more negatively impacted by the economic fallout of the pandemic than other communities. Mary Riddle, Hutchison’s director of environmental education and sustainability, gave Halliday a crash course in farm management. Then Halliday got to work. She planned, planted, and cultivated the farm all summer long, and each week she shared the bounty of her harvest with families at New Hope. “What I’ve come to realize,” Halliday reflected, “is that changing my project and creatively addressing the constraints of the pandemic actually embodies
the spirit of the social sciences. It gave me the opportunity to learn about the world, build new relationships, and do a small part to help bolster our local community food system.” Hutchison | 9
a glimpse inside the classroom …
Keeping our girls safe during the pandemic is a priority, so we do not have many visitors these days. Here is a little glimpse of how our teachers are making a challenging year more normal and what our girls are learning inside and outside the classroom.
Early Childhood
Making Birthdays Special One of the most special days for our early childhood girls is their birthday. In previous years, the girls would get birthday crowns to wear on the big day, but this year, they receive a birthday mask! Their teacher, Missy Prewitt, is making each pre-k girl her own bee mask, hand embroidered with her name. The girls also make a birthday board with the first letter of their name and the age they are turning. The birthday girl’s parents join in on the fun through Google Meet where they read a book to the class. Even during these unprecedented times, pre-k teachers are keeping the whimsy alive for our girls.
Learning Math Through Fairytales? Junior kindergarten girls in Allyse Holcomb’s class are learning about the number 2, creating AB patterns, measuring Rapunzel’s hair using nonstandard measurement, and counting by 10s. One of the girls even stopped to ask, “Wait! Are we doing math?” We love to see the girls enjoying themselves so much they don’t even realize they are learning!
Discovering the World Outside One safe way to learn this year is to be outside. Our littlest learners enjoy taking nature walks as they explore our school grounds and discover more about the world around them. Junior kindergarten entomologists in Tanya Crump’s class learn how gall wasps live in oak galls and inspect wasp larva inside the galls. When learning about the life cycle of cicadas (two to five years), they compare that to the life cycle of a pumpkin (only around 100 days). To continue their studies back in the classroom, they collect specimens like cicada shells and write poems about oak tree inhabitants. 10 | Hutchison
Lower School
Finding Geometric Shapes Everywhere Fourth-grade teachers Nancy Fields, Loraine Galbreath ’67, and Jane Maxwell devised a
clever way to teach geometry. They took their classes to visit the farm for a quadrilateral hunt. Girls brought their notebooks out to sketch and identify any geometric shapes they could find. They spotted everything from parallel lines on the greenhouse, to right angles on the fence, to a rhombus on the tree house, to obtuse and acute angles on the lookout tower. One girl even noticed a line of symmetry on a kale leaf. Using real-life situations to learn math vocabulary and identify geometric shapes helps girls understand abstract math concepts and improves retention of those concepts.
Releasing the Butterflies! Each year, Ann Alise Hayden, Linda Winchester, and Shannon Manzi lead our first-grade girls in a study of the life cycle of a caterpillar and how it becomes a butterfly. This tradition remains a favorite part of the curriculum because of the magical transformation the girls witness. The project starts when girls get habitats with caterpillars and food. The habitats are kept in the classroom, so the girls can observe them every day and watch as the caterpillars form chrysalises. Each girl creates a butterfly life cycle diagram using recycled materials and learns Spanish vocabulary for the different body parts of the butterfly. As a culmination of the project, when the butterflies emerge, the girls visit the school’s on-campus farm to release the butterflies.
Blooming with Good Ideas After learning about plants in science class with Molly Bond and Melissa Berthelson and the Colombian tradition of the silletas in Kenna Chelsoi’s Spanish class, second-grade girls create their own silletas in the innovation lab. Silletas are elaborate flower displays made for Colombia’s annual Parade of Flowers (Desfile de Silleteros) that celebrate the flowers, flower growers, and flower vendors of Colombia, the second largest exporter of flowers in the world. Using various materials, the girls come up with designs and then figure out the best way to construct their silletas so they aren’t too heavy and fall over. Once their designs are finalized, the girls visit the farm to put flowers on their silletas. They finish up the project by writing simple sentences in Spanish describing them.
Expressing Yourself! First-grade girls in Ann Alise Hayden, Linda Winchester, and Shannon Manzi’s classes are creating self-portraits. They begin the lesson by talking about how they are all different and discussing the special qualities that make each one of them unique. After creating the self-portraits to express what they look like on the outside, the girls read the book Be You! by Peter H. Reynolds and talk about what it looks like to be a kind person. They also practice writing complete sentences to explain what they feel they look like on the inside. This fun project gives the girls an opportunity to practice writing skills and grow in self-awareness and empathy, while also exploring sides of themselves they may not have been aware of. H H uu tt cc hh ii ss o o nn || 11 11
a glimpse inside the classroom …
Middle School
Becoming Math Superheroes Seventh-graders
in Joe Koelsch’s class are finding a broader perspective on math this year. Sharing stories of individuals like NASA’s Katherine Johnson, Koelsch shows how women have made unique contributions to the world through mathematics. One of the girls’ first assignments is to explain what they believed to be true about math. Ellie Palmer ’26 put her graphic design skills to work to create a squad of math superheroes. Her creation shows a new comfort level with math. “Every time I make a mistake, I study my mistake and learn from it,” Palmer said. “I learned that math is for everyone, and mistakes help the brain, not hurt it. I feel like a math person more than ever now,” she added. According to Koelsch, learning math often means taking extra time to think deeply about something that we might only ever view from a surface level to see the logic that lies beneath it.
Brushing Up on Lab Basics Middle school girls in Becky Deehr’s class learn how to use scientific equipment correctly. Multiple lab assignments help strengthen their skills, like measuring length, telling time on an analog clock, using spring and digital scales for mass measurement, taking temperatures of air and liquids, reading volumes of liquids, and completing scientific drawings. One girl in the class is the designated “digital escort” who logs in to their Google Meet class and carries her computer around to show the virtual learners what is going on and to walk them through the steps they are taking in the labs.
Sharing the Study of Seasons with Remote Learners Sixth-grade girls study seasons in Donna Budynas’ earth science class. Starting with summer, the girls use models of the earth to show its position during each of the four seasons. With a little ingenuity, everyone gets to participate. For instance, the on-campus girls realized if they logged in to their Google Meet class, they could put their computers in all different spots around the tables. As the earth was going around the sun, the remote girls could see it from all different angles, making it feel like they were in the classroom with their friends. 12 | Hutchison
¡Creando Invenciones en Español! Girls in Cathy Adams’ Advanced Honors V Spanish are proving they are talented and thoughtful inventors. To expand upon their knowledge of the Spanish language and culture, the girls are creating and presenting new, original inventions that could help make life easier. Some of the inventions include a “magic” pen that will write down your thoughts, a satellite to translate messages from other planets, rocket shoes to decrease traffic and get places faster, a wheelchair with built-in GPS, and an app that college students can use to find free textbooks and academic journals and articles.
Making Sense of the Zoo Out There Students in Robert Lofton’s upper school class visit our school farm to capture local insects. They catch dragonflies, ladybugs, wasps, and butterflies. As part of this semester-long project, the girls will capture and identify 24 insects from nine different taxonomic orders. When they are learning about fish, the girls go fishing at the school’s lake. Back in the classroom, students will dissect specimens from each animal field they study. A wildlife expert from the Memphis Zoo will meet with the girls virtually to discuss different animals and even present some live animals.
Getting Entrepreneurial With Alumnae Girls in Laura Wichman’s entrepreneurship class are learning the ins and outs of how you come up with ideas, and plan, start, and run your own business venture. Even though the girls can’t make site visits with entrepreneurs in the Mid-South community, they’re hosting Hutchison alumnae for a Virtual Entrepreneurship Speaker series. So far, they’ve heard from Alessandra Corona ’09, an industrial designer who started a new sleepwear brand called River Left; Sara Fay Peters Egan ’00 who runs Sara Fay Egan Events, a wedding and event-planning business; Perry Pidgeon Hooks ’75, owner of Hooks Book Events, which produces events with acclaimed authors; and Kendall Morgan Rhodes ’90, founder of Paraluman Media, a boutique management, development, and production company.
Top L-R: Corona ’09 and Egan ’00; Bottom L-R: Hooks ’75 and Rhodes ’90 Hutchison | 13
The Internet is Distract— OH LOOK A KITTEN! Jay Rapp, middle and upper school theatre faculty, directed a hilarious new play by Ian McWethy about a middle school girl desperately trying to finish her report on The Great Gatsby, if only she could stop watching videos of kittens. The play follows Micah as she navigates the perils of the internet, constantly interrupted by friends, as well as beloved and dreaded apps and websites, which are personified by actors. For this production, girls learned how to use a green screen and microphone, how to act for film, and the joy of retakes! It streamed in November.
14 | Hutchison
virtual theatre
This fall, Hutchison’s arts faculty and students stretched creatively to produce plays that would be safe for participants and viewers. Instead of presenting shows in the Wiener Theater, three plays were filmed, edited, and streamed online. Girls relished the chance to get back to acting, crafting props, gathering costumes, and serving as technical support. Please give our girls and theatre faculty a virtual
round of applause!
TRAP
A new play by Stephen Gregg, Trap was written for the stage, but was adapted for virtual theatre presentations. Anne Marie Caskey ’80, theatre artistic director, directed a cast and crew of over 40 upper school girls and faculty in the production. The story spans decades and concerns mysteries in a haunted theatre in California. Hutchison arts partnered with the Orpheum Theatre for “on location” filming. In addition to acting in the show, girls helped edit the footage. It was presented virtually in December.
LIFTING AS WE CLIMB Tracey Zerwig Ford, arts and community engagement director, helped Hutchison middle school girls devise an original play using primary source accounts of the Women’s Right to Vote movement and the 19th Amendment. Text was created from telegrams to senators, speeches by famous suffragists, and the amendment itself. The show was presented in October in conjunction with Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School’s show called Testimony 2020 in a virtual theatre event called PROTEST: One Ticket Two Plays. Thirty-six students performed or worked crew for the two shows and more than 100 people watched the performances. Hutchison | 15
Votes
Hutchison girls were able to celebrate a centennial mile-
stone this year. On August 26, 2020, the United States observed the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment. This landmark legislation guaranteed and protected women’s constitutional right to vote and had been sought for decades by women known as suffragettes. Even though Hutchison girls study the suffrage movement every year, this year was especially inspiring.
Upper School
With Women’s Equality Day happening
one week after school began, girls in Deb Brown’s women’s history class quickly produced a video that acknowledged the fight by suffragettes. In the video, seniors Madeline Wilson, Libby Moak, and Sally Martin speak of the courage of the suffragettes and the work still to be done to maintain equal rights for women. Senior Kiya Brown edited the video and provided voiceover narration. She said she was surprised to learn that women of color, such as Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, were so involved in the suffrage movement. Later in the semester, girls developed a comprehensive website about women’s equality and history, with biographies of suffragettes, the history of suffrage in Memphis, and interviews with women about what voting means to them. In the upper school graphic design class, girls created posters and social media graphics to encourage people to get out and exercise their right to vote.
Left: Third-grader Katherine Pace ’30 dressed as a suffragette for Halloween. Right: Seniors Madeline Wilson, Libby Moak, and Sally Martin celebrated Women’s Equality Day by making a video, which was edited by senior Kiya Brown. 16 | Hutchison
for Women H O N O R I N G A N D S T U DY I N G THE 19TH AMENDMENT
Middle School
Middle school girls worked with Tracey Zerwig
Ford, arts and community engagement director, to craft the script and movement
of a one-act play called Lifting as We Climb—an exploration of the women’s right to vote through the eyes of middle school girls and primary sources. Inspiration for the play script includes the 1848 Declaration of Sentiments, pro- and anti-suffrage letters, the 1919 joint resolution of the 19th amendment, and the girls’ own “postcards to the past” reflections.
Lower School
Jennifer Stanford’s third-grade girls remem-
bered that the mom from Mary Poppins was a suffragette, but they didn’t completely understand what that meant. They also were familiar with the musical Hamilton, so they knew that women didn’t have the same rights as men when the Constitution was written. They started gaining context by learning more about the Constitution and what an amendment is. A timeline helped the girls understand the persistence of women (and men) who fought for the right to vote. They saw how Upper school girls researched, wrote, and designed a website that tells the story of the suffrage movement.
events such as the Civil War and World War I affected women’s suffrage. They studied the temperance and anti-slavery movements and learned how African-American men and women were important activists in the suffrage movement. Girls prepared presentations about suffrage, which ranged from topics such as the Seneca Falls Convention, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Mary Church Terrell, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
Dance Classes
Inspired by what girls were learning about the 19th Amendment, dance teacher Louisa Koeppel explored topics such as freedom, rights, and having a voice. Lower school dance classes took place in the classroom, using their desks, chairs, and the space around them to express themselves. Girls learned that restrictions can be worked through instead of being a barrier. In middle and upper school dance classes, the girls discovered pioneers such as dancer Isadora Duncan and politician Shirley Chisholm. Koeppel showed how
Duncan’s work in dance represented her desire to break away from traditional ballet and musical theater dance and be more liberated. Her work mirrored the suffrage movement’s protest and resulted in the creation of modern dance. Hutchison | 17
Civil Discourse
Engaging in the Hard Work of
This might seem like a silly question: Are you a dog person or a cat person? Why? Now imagine you’re a dog lover and you can’t understand the enthusiasm of a cat aficionado. Or vice versa. Suppose you have to explain your passion for your favorite pet to a person who disagrees with you. How do you communicate your beliefs civilly?
T
hat’s an example of a somewhat benign topic
on their own ground rules. “It was empowering for them
that people often disagree on, but imagine if the
to be able to decide those rules themselves,” Jenkins
assignment is to explain your views on religion, politics,
said. “They’re more likely to follow rules they agree on
race, or a number of other topics that lead to disagree-
than if someone is dictating the rules.”
ments. The discussions can grow quite heated. How do we learn the skills to talk to one another
She added that they were intentional, at first, about not mandating certain topics. “We made it about com-
without dismissing opinions or completely blowing up?
municating across difference.” The earlier question about
This is the work of practicing civil discourse. According
whether you prefer dogs or cats, for example, was a kind
to the organization Facing History and Ourselves, civil
of ice breaker.
discourse is when we “listen respectfully to different
They then framed the sessions with six skills for
opinions and experiences, try out ideas and positions,
civil discourse that were defined by Laurel’s Center for
and give and get constructive feedback without fear or
Research on Girls. The first three are emotional, the last
intimidation.”
three are cognitive.
Getting Hutchison girls to understand and engage in civil discourse is the objective of Eryka Jenkins and Sarah Wilson this year. Jenkins is the school’s director of student equity and inclusion, and Wilson is a visiting scholar to Hutchison. She serves as the executive director of the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools (TAIS) and previously directed Laurel’s Center for Research on Girls (LCRG) at the Laurel School in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Part of Hutchison’s mission is to “educate young women … for lives of integrity and responsible citizenship.” Working together, Jenkins and Wilson are beginning to codify the principles of civil discourse throughout the school and in classrooms, where civil discourse discussions often arise organically. Additionally, they are being intentional by conducting a series of civil discourse sessions with Hutchison’s seniors. They chose to focus on the senior class this year because it’s crucial for them to practice these skills before heading off to college.
SIX SKILLS FOR CIVIL DISCOURSE 1. Extending Empathy - considering opinions or beliefs from another’s point of view 2. Accepting Discomfort - experiencing negative emotions and acknowledging and absorbing them 3. Braving Controversy - engaging and working through a complex conversation or conflict with someone you disagree with 4. Cultivating Curiosity - showing interest in new ideas and experiences, asking questions, discov ering others’ stories, and understanding oneself 5. Taking Perspective - understanding and articulating a point of view that is different from your own 6. Engaging Effectively - listening in a way that is fair and asking questions to further a conversa tion in an authentic and non-judgmental way
Before jumping into practicing civil discourse, Jenkins and Wilson challenged the seniors to create and agree 18 | Hutchison
Source: Laurel’s Center for Research on Girls (LCRG) at the Laurel School in Shaker Heights, Ohio
Girls … considered the differences between debate,
in which the goal is to win your argument, and civil discourse, in which you are sharing ideas and enlarging your own understanding.
Wilson noted that it was important for the girls to under-
For instance, some girls considered the differences between
stand that these six skills are not just habits or characteristics of
debate, in which the goal is to win your argument, and civil
their personality. “You have to engage and practice these skills.
discourse, in which you are sharing ideas and enlarging your own understanding. Additionally, they came to the realization that they’ve spent most of their academic lives writing essays to argue a certain point. Within these civil discourse sessions, Jenkins said, they’re having to examine what they believe and why. “A lot of them haven’t had to think about that. We are challenging them to think about the factors that have contributed to them holding an opinion or a belief and then helping them see that we all land somewhere different.” Wilson explained that practicing civil discourse is not about changing anyone’s mind. “A group of researchers who looked at disagreement in the classroom found that when students disagree with each other and talk it through, they are less likely to change their minds, but more likely to better understand their positions and the other person’s position. That’s a key skill for life.” “Some of them have experienced discomfort
Eryka Jenkins, the director of student equity and inclusion, and Sarah Wilson, a visiting scholar, are conducting civil discourse sessions this year with seniors.
with these sessions,” Jenkins admitted. “There were a few who were even honest and said that
You’re going to make mistakes on the way to improving your
they didn’t think that they could learn anything from someone
ability to engage in civil discourse,” she explained. “You make
who thought differently than they do.”
mistakes, you learn from them, you build, you work towards mastering and honing these skills.” A second aspect of this work is that you need others who
There were highlights, though. Wilson provided an example: “In one session, there was a girl who is very confident. She’s an accomplished leader, an accomplished student, and she shared
are mutually engaged in the same pursuit as you are, so that you
her point of view. Another girl asked her questions designed
feel comfortable hearing their feedback. “We discussed what
to understand her point of view better. At the end, when we
feedback looks like,” Jenkins added. “So if someone says some-
were giving them feedback, the confident speaker said, ‘I was
thing that’s an ouch point, how will you respond? How will you
really nervous about that.’ We had no idea she was nervous. We
not respond?”
thought she handled it gracefully, and we asked her how she did that. She credited the other student’s authentic openness,
Why Do This Kind of Work? Jenkins and Wilson understood going into these discussions that a lot of the girls, even though they are seniors, may not
true questioning, her tone, and the use of those effective engagement skills for her comfort. “It’s that idea that it’s a two-way street,” Wilson added. “It’s
be accustomed to this type of conversation. They talked about
two people coming together with shared norms and shared
the “a-ha!” moments that girls had while participating in
groundwork for engagement.”
these sessions. Hutchison | 19
ALUMNA PROFILE | SUSAN EMMETT ’01
HEEDING THE
Call to Heal
by Max Maddock
In rural Alaska, Dr. Susan Emmett ’01 was examining a three-yearold boy named Anuk. His parents brought him to the clinic because he didn’t seem to speak as much compared to his brothers. Emmett, an otolaryngologist, ear surgeon, researcher, and professor at Duke University School of Medicine, learned that Anuk had suffered from ear infections since he was about four months old. Several rounds of ear infections without proper treatment left him with significant hearing loss. Without treatment, Emmet knew the possible outcomes: Anuk’s speech could lag behind, he would likely do worse in school, his job prospects could be limited, and he might experience social isolation. Unfortunately, hearing loss statistics are grim. Anuk is one of an estimated 1.3 billion people living with hearing loss globally. Over 80 percent of those affected reside in low- and middle-income countries, where there is limited access to ear and hearing care. Dr. Emmett, who is Hutchison’s Distinguished Alumna for 2020, is working to change these disparities. Together with colleagues from around the world, they are striving to create equity in hearing care. HOW DID SHE GET HERE? Seven years after graduating from Hutchison as valedictorian of the Class of 2001, Susan Emmett was living in East Africa, working in Moshi, Tanzania, at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. Emmett was in her third year of medical school at Duke University. She was one of 65 medical students nationwide and the only student in global health to receive the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute fellowship that funded her research for a year. She completed her undergraduate work at Princeton University in molecular biology and in the School of Public and International Affairs. Building on her health policy and science in global health. During that year, Emmett observed something that wasn’t getting a lot of attention. “There were many children with hearing loss, and it wasn’t being addressed or even talked about because there were other issues that were taking priority.”
20 | Hutchison
Photograph by Eric Waters
interest in policy fostered at Princeton, Emmett’s research in Tanzania was looking at the intersection of
Hutchison | 21
“ I love what I do. All of this hard work has put me in a place
where I can build teams and dream about how we can really make the world a better place, improving access to care for the most disadvantaged.”
Noticing that deficit turned out to be a transformative expe-
otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency at Johns
rience, because up until that point, Emmett hadn’t decided
Hopkins, the top otolaryngology program in the country.
on a medical specialty. She began to think otolaryngology, a
While at Hopkins, she also completed a postdoctoral research
specialty that focuses on medical and surgical management of
fellowship and master’s in public health. Dr. Emmett now
disorders of the ear, nose, and throat, was the path she would
practices as a surgeon and professor at Duke, where she works
take. “I was excited about working with patients to restore
with colleagues around the world to conduct research on
hearing and change their quality of life. No one was doing
hearing health disparities globally.
global health research in otolaryngology at that point. Until I spent that year in Tanzania, I wasn’t sure how otolaryngology would fit with my interests in global health and policy work. I saw a need and decided to do what I loved.”
“I was mentored by some incredible public health researchers who taught me the nuts and bolts of how to do large public health intervention trials and field studies. It was combining two areas of expertise, surgery and public health research,
Emmett’s focus on hearing loss in children has turned out to
that set me up for the career that I’m in now. It’s exciting to
be her life’s work so far. She was selected for a seven-year
be filling a need that hasn’t been addressed before.”
22 | Hutchison
Photograph by Eric Waters
KEEPING A WIDE FOCUS
from ear infections. “Up to 75 percent
For many people, the grueling years
of children have had at least one ear
of medical school and hectic, sleep-
infection before their first birthday in
deprived residencies required to
Alaska, and the prevalence of hearing
become a doctor or a surgeon are
loss is anywhere from six to nine times
onerous enough. Once doctors start
higher in that state than it is in the
practicing, their hours are filled
general U.S. population. We’re trying
quickly with treating patients and
to understand what factors are creating
performing surgeries. Most don’t have the time or the bandwidth to tackle a global health problem or advocate for health policy.
As part of her work as an otolaryngologist and surgeon, Dr. Emmett ’01 has traveled to many countries to research hearing loss, including working with patients in Bangladesh.
this and why ear infections are happening so much more frequently there.” Her research has also taken her to Nepal and Bangladesh in South Asia.
Emmett was determined to take it all on. Her passion for
Knowing a root cause of hearing loss is helpful, but Emmett
policy work was nurtured by relationships with two important
cautions that hearing loss can happen even when there is
mentors while at Princeton. During her summers, she worked
good access to care. “That’s one of the complexities of this.
for Dr. Lana Skirboll, a longtime director of science policy for
Even if we develop the best systems in the world to make sure
the National Institutes of Health. “I learned a lot about what it
that every child has access to care, it doesn’t mean that we’ll
meant to have a career in policy and how to be a scientist and
completely change this problem. But it will put us a lot farther
a public servant from her,” she said. She still talks with Skirboll
down the path of addressing these disparities.
regularly. Emmett also had the opportunity to be mentored by Princeton President Shirley Tilghman, an accomplished molecular biologist who became the university president during Emmett’s freshman year. Emmett got to know President Tilghman when she taught one of Emmett’s classes. Tilghman later served as her senior thesis advisor, a yearlong scholarly endeavor for which Emmett was awarded the Molecular Biology Senior Thesis Prize at at Princeton’s graduation. “I never planned to become a scientist working in a lab,” Emmett explained. “I was interested in the intersections of how we explain science effectively to the public, how we make decisions that guide how healthcare is delivered in the future, and how scientific evidence is implemented to improve health. The goal is to do that in a way that the public understands and appreciates.”
THE PREVALENCE OF HEARING LOSS “The global burden of hearing loss is tremendous,” Emmett stressed. It bears repeating: an estimated 1.3 billion people suffer from hearing loss and the majority live in countries or communities where treatment is either scarce or almost non-existent. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 60 percent of childhood hearing loss could be prevented in these countries with better access to care or other preventative services like vaccinations.
“The focus of my research now is trying to understand why hearing loss is so much more common in low resource settings and what can be done about it,” Emmett explained. “How do we better identify individuals affected by hearing loss and ensure they receive the care they need, no matter how remote their community?”
TACKLING HEARING LOSS GLOBALLY AND EQUITABLY In Alaska, mobile screening and telemedicine technologies are being implemented successfully and used more frequently because of the remoteness of some areas. With telemedicine, patients can be connected to specialists who are thousands of miles away. Emmett began to see that the work she and her team were doing in Alaska could be applied around the globe, which was always her goal. In 2018, Emmett launched the Global Hearing Loss Evaluation, Advocacy, and Research (HEAR) Collaborative. It is the first international research network dedicated to reducing disparities in hearing loss. “We now have 28 countries involved,” Emmett said. “This is a network of surgeons, audiologists, and speech language pathologists who all work on hearing loss in their own countries. We have come together to try to address how we best treat patients with hearing loss in low resource settings and how we address challenges with access to care. We’re asking,
Emmett has spent significant time in rural Alaska, and, as with
‘What’s making hearing loss so common in these environments?
Anuk, the vast majority of hearing loss in children there is
How do we prevent it in the first place?’ Hutchison | 23
“A lot of my focus now is on building collaborations and developing research projects with a few of the sites and also big projects that cover many countries at one time.” One of the challenges Emmett and her colleagues face, she said, is that hearing loss is not yet a well-accepted concern within the public health realm. “We’ve got smart and dedicated people working on this issue, but it doesn’t always get the attention from funders and from policy makers that it needs and deserves. “Transformative change
Dr. Susan Emmett ’01 giving her TED Talk in 2017 about hearing loss disparities and her work to make care more equitable around the world.
doesn’t happen overnight, even if you see it coming in the future. It takes perseverance and
You can listen to Dr. Susan Emmett’s five-minute TED Talk by opening the camera on your phone and scanning the QR code or typing in this link: https://bit.ly/38Euh2x
really sticking with the work that you’re doing and knowing that changes will come, but they might not happen tomorrow.”
WHEN TED CAME TO TOWN How do you stand out in a world crowded with people and organizations trying to advance their cause for making the world a more equitable place?
and particularly in a way that would help to launch and publi-
Even though Emmett’s former college roommate lives at the
cize the work that I’ve been doing that essentially originated
southern tip of Argentina, they have seen each other every
from that place.”
year since they graduated. Her friend had been nudging Emmett for years to apply to become a TED Fellow. That’s the TED of the ubiquitous TED Talks and TED Conferences, the media organization that posts talks online for free distribution under the slogan “ideas worth spreading.”
Emmett applied, but the process was intense. She recalled being interviewed at 4 am on a snowy morning in Alaska. She was interviewed virtually by seven people, all of whom could see her, but she couldn’t see them. She spoke about her work in Alaska and her commitment to addressing disparities in
TED looks for individuals who are early in their careers, but
global hearing health. Soon, she was selected as a TED fellow.
who have visionary plans and are destined to be change
She spent nearly four months working with TED staff to
makers. Their goal, ultimately, is to get good ideas out into
prepare the talk she would give in Tanzania. After all, talks can
the world. For the person giving the talk, the exposure can be
eventually be viewed by millions of people around the world.
a great boost in terms of publicity, as well as mentoring and guidance.
“It was an amazing year,” she said. “I met incredible people from all over the world working in all kinds of different fields,
At first, Emmett brushed off her friend’s encouragement,
and I saw the transformative work that they were doing. We
thinking no one would care about the work she was doing.
were all building off of each other. It was one of the most
Then she found out that the TED Global Conference for 2017
remarkable experiences I’ve ever had.”
was going to be held in … wait for it … Arusha, Tanzania.
Although the fellowship lasts for one year, you’re a TED Fellow
“It had been 10 years since I had been there,” Emmett
for life. Emmett said she has benefited from the executive
recalled. “I was excited about the possibility of going back,
coaching and support of the program.
24 | Hutchison
“ Hutchison does an incredible job empowering young women to reach their full potential and to not feel constrained by limitations that society might otherwise impose.” COLLABORATION IS KEY
Like most people have experienced, the pandemic has had its
In addition to seeing patients, performing surgery, teaching
impact, but she’s still working as hard as ever remotely. “We
and mentoring students, and trips to field sites to oversee
were fortunate that the randomized trial I’d been running in
research, Emmett is knee deep in policy work. She is working
rural Alaska was wrapping up before COVID-19 hit the U.S. in
as a consultant for the World Health Organization to create
the spring. We’ve been doing data analysis and data cleaning and preparing our results, and that can be done remotely. I spend a lot of time on Zoom at odd times of day.”
TO THINK IT STARTED AT HUTCHISON “Vicky Fisher was a longtime math teacher at Hutchison,” Emmett recalled. “We became close, but she passed away when I was a sophomore in college. She was an inspiration to me with all that she accomplished in her life. She believed in me and was certain that I could go on to change the world. She embodied the lessons that I gained at Hutchison of being able to move forward and accomplish my dreams in an unencumbered way. I still think about her almost every day.” She added, “Hutchison does an incredible job empowering young women to reach their full Dr. Susan Emmett ’01, center, with some of the other TED Fellows from 2017: Mennat El Ghalid, left, a microbiologist from Paris, and Nighat Dad, right, a Pakistani lawyer and IT security expert.
the first-ever world report on hearing, which will gather evidence to share with ministries of health around the world about how to improve access to hearing care. She serves as
potential and to not feel constrained by limitations that society might otherwise impose. It never crossed my mind that I wouldn’t be able to accomplish something because I am a woman,
and so I’ve carried that forward throughout my career. It’s an amazing gift that I received from my education at Hutchison.”
the director of innovations in service delivery for the Lancet
How would she advise a Hutchison girl? “I would say go for
Commission on Hearing Loss, another international initiative
your dreams. Find what it is that you absolutely love and how
to address hearing loss disparities.
you can make the world a better place, and then go do it. It’s
If you ask her if it’s too much work, she simply shrugs it off, saying that the key is collaboration. “It’s about building on existing relationships and networks and empowering colleagues to be able to work on issues and answer questions scientifically that none of us would be able to answer if we worked in isolation. We can accomplish so much more by
important to keep the 30,000-foot view in mind and know where you’re trying to go. Help inspire those around you on how we can get there and how we can work together to get there. It’s a matter of perspective, grit, and perseverance. You have to be willing to work hard for things you believe in, even if there isn’t instant gratification.
working together instead of all working individually in our
“I love what I do. All of this hard work has put me in a place
own hospitals or regions or countries. If we can work across
where I can build teams and dream about how we can really
countries and across cultures, we can create transformative
make the world a better place, improving access to care for
change in a way that is impossible otherwise.”
the most disadvantaged.”
Hutchison | 25
A L U M N A P R O F I L E | K E E N O N M CC LOY ’ 8 6
REINVENTING A LIBRARY THAT’S
Not Your Par
W w
alking around the immense Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library with Keenon McCloy ’86, who has been the Director of the Memphis Public Libraries since 2008, you begin to notice something: she is excited to say hello to everyone who works there. What you discover is that everyone is happy to see her, say hello, and begin a conversation. You might chalk that up to employees being nice to their boss, but it’s not that. They are clearly enthusiastic about their jobs and McCloy. For instance, Dennis, who’s worked at the library for 42
years, is friendly, chatty, and seems to be the poster child for a determined worker bee. He works mostly out of sight, in the lower level of the library, as a senior cataloguer. He reminds McCloy and her visitors that he’s had his retirement planned for a long time, but can’t seem to leave. “That’s the problem with the library, it’s a great place to work,” he said. Then there’s Dara, who runs the children’s department at the Benjamin Hooks branch, and who is busily shelving some books, but is as friendly as the children’s space is visually. To get to the children’s section, you walk through a playful forest of colorful, sculpted trees—one of the first things you see when entering the lobby. Passing through the trees seems to transport both child and adult alike to a magical place. In Cloud901, a highly popular hub for teens that McCloy helped spearhead the creation of, and where young adults are encouraged to explore their creativity in a myriad of ways, such as music, graphic design, art, video, and photography, we meet Ralph, who is the audio engineer. 26 | Hutchison
The library is all about eliminating barriers to access.
ents’ Library
by Max Maddock | photographs by Brandon Dill
McCloy asks Ralph what he’s been up to, and he eagerly explains a project he’s been working on for a city park downtown. You can tell he brings that same excitement to his work at the library. Even during our interview, when she decides there’s someone else who can answer a question better, McCloy pulls out her cell phone and dials Shamichael, the director of the Cossitt Library downtown on Front Street, the first public library location in Memphis. He spends the next 20 minutes exuberantly describing innovative community programming planned for the Cossitt when it reopens after its renovation. The conversation ends with McCloy saying, “Thanks, Shamichael. You can tell he’s awesome, right?” To which Shamichael replies, “It’s all because of Keenon. She’s a great leader, with a great vision; so it’s not too hard to follow that.” One imagines that these conversations could go on all day. This little microcosm of encounters is a testament to McCloy’s leadership and talent for hiring the right people and her willingness to listen to them and trust them. McCloy is the first to admit she isn’t a librarian by education or training, which made her transition to becoming the library director quite difficult. Instead, she inspires the people who run the day-to-day of the library to think creatively about their work. The upshot is that the Memphis Public Library is not a place where dusty books sit to collect more dust. There is innovative programming that reaches a large and broad population of the city. Libraries from around the country have visited Memphis to model their own library programs after what’s being done here. Despite the library being mostly empty of patrons when we visited in September 2020, during the pandemic, McCloy and the library’s employees have continued their work with the same passion. In fact, they’ve been busier than ever, reimagining many programs for online audiences. Their goals are to keep the library relevant and ensure that everyone has access to the information and books that they need.
Hutchison | 27
A RETURN TO MEMPHIS McCloy never envisioned running a major metropolitan library system in her future. She did know that she wanted to
to people who worked at the library. “I took about the first six months to listen and ask questions. I had to build trust.” In retrospect, she knows that she brought some valuable
leave Memphis for college after graduating from Hutchison.
skills with her to the library directorship. “I had an under-
McCloy’s family, especially her father, were well established
standing of how you get what you need from the city, how
in Memphis. “I wanted to see who I could be by myself, on
to position things with the city, how the city works,” McCloy
my own, without anyone knowing who I was, and having
recalled. “I understood how the city budgeted. I understood
zero connections,” McCloy said.
the calendars and when everything needed to be done. I
She loved the vibe at the University of California, Santa Cruz, but once she visited the University of California,
understood expectations. “There was a lot of resistance because I came from the
Berkeley, about an hour and a half to the north, she knew
administration,” McCloy remembered, “but then eventually
that was where she would go. “Not one person I knew lived
they accepted me.”
anywhere close to there.” She majored in history, with a minor in conservation resource studies, which was a precursor to today’s environmental science degrees. “I wanted to be an environmental lawyer or a civil rights lawyer,” McCloy reflected. In 1991, after graduating from Berkeley, McCloy returned to Memphis to check in on family, but didn’t plan on staying. Then fate seemed to intervene. A family connection, local attorney Jim Gilliland, was working with then-mayor-elect Willie Herenton on his transition team. He introduced McCloy to Herenton, who interviewed her and hired her. She joined the transition team and became a trusted aide to the mayor. She thought Herenton’s request to give him a year was inconceivable, but the next thing she knew, she was celebrating her five-year anniversary. Eventually, Herenton asked McCloy to manage the City of Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center (MSARC), which she did for a year, and then she moved to the city’s Division of Public Services and Neighborhoods. This division oversees MSARC and more than 20 other city agencies or service centers. After six years, McCloy became the division’s director. One of the services under this division’s supervision was the library system. When Herenton decided to replace the longtime library director, McCloy was tapped, but she got
2019’s TOP FIVE TITLES BORROWED FROM THE MEMPHIS PUBLIC LIBRARIES
1 Becoming 2 by Michelle Obama Reckoning 3 The by John Grisham Before We Were Yours 4 by Lisa Wingate 5 Educated by Tara Westover
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
caught in a bit of a firestorm. The previous director was well liked, had served for two decades, and had won a coveted National Medal for Museum and Library Service in her last year. People questioned why McCloy, who did not have a master of library and information science degree, was
KEEPING THE LIBRARY RELEVANT One of the most common questions McCloy hears is,
tapped for the post. This was a big strike against her.
“With Google, why do we need a library?” The questioner
Herenton insisted that McCloy was a good manager and that
then offers a standard litany of modern-day replacements:
she could run the library even without the degree.
digital books, audio books, online news, music and film
McCloy remembered the time as one of the most challenging of her life. So she did what she knew best: she talked
28 | Hutchison
streaming sites, Google searches, and so on.
McCloy’s answer: “Google can’t hold your hand. Google
youth literature programs, and almost half, or nearly 45
can’t sympathize with you or empathize with you. Google is
percent, enjoyed some kind of lifelong learning program.
not going to be there when you need them.”
As the pandemic took hold in March of 2020, the library
What does she mean by this?
was not immune to the shutdowns that were happening
One example is helping people search for and apply for
across the country. Memphians temporarily lost their
jobs. “Everything is online these days. Many people don’t
connection to the in-person programs offered by the library,
have a computer, don’t know how to get online, don’t know
and their daily or weekly access to books, media, and
how to search for a job, and they require a lot of hand-
resources. Like so many others, McCloy and her team had
holding,” McCloy explained.
to pivot quickly.
In addition to job searches and training resources, people
The numbers show how they responded. In March and
reach out to find out about community services, for college
April, the Library Information Center (LINC) saw an increase
preparation, for classes on health and wellness, to learn
in usage of 27 percent over previous months. LINC, which is easily reached by dialing 2-1-1, maintains a large, comprehensive database of human services organizations, government agencies, and volunteer groups, and can help direct people who have issues with utilities, food, child care, or other situations. Also during this time, the library increased its ebook/ eaudio collection by almost 35 percent, adding nearly 12,000 titles. Lynda.com, an online tutorial site that library cardholders can access for free, saw a 350 percent increase in usage. The library’s TV station, WYPL, began broadcasting the City of Memphis/Shelby
I wanted to see who I could be by myself, on my own, without anyone knowing who I was, and having zero connections.
County Joint COVID Task Force updates. Library staff served as part of a team doing contact tracing for the Shelby County Health Department. Partnering with the Shelby County Schools and YMCA, library drivers distributed meals to five library locations.
Virtual programming also skyrocketed, with as many as 4,000 customers tuning in for 60 unique programs. Not everything went smoothly, McCloy said. She explained that they had to try out several live meeting platforms before languages, and for questions about immigration and
they settled on Instagram Live, but like many other people,
citizenship, just to name a few things.
they adjusted and learned from their mistakes.
In 2019, for instance, the library had over 2.5 million
“The staff are excited about their work; they want to do
visitors in person and online, with over 1.3 million items
more,” McCloy said. “It’s very inspirational to look at what’s
borrowed. Of the nearly 170,000 people who attended
happening here. Previous to the pandemic, we normally
programming at the library, about eight percent attended
would have 500 volunteers: 250 who run WYPL TV in
sessions on job or career help, almost 19 percent came for
conjunction with the staff, and 250 who are sorting and
youth STEAM programs, around 28 percent showed up for
selling books.”
Hutchison | 29
INSPIRING TEEN CUSTOMERS AND CREATING MORE ACCESS
Another concept McCloy and her staff are testing out is creating more flexible spaces. In the new Raleigh branch and
One of McCloy’s biggest successes was opening Cloud901,
the renovated Frayser and Cossitt branches, she said shelves
the teen technology lab, in 2015. Teens were welcome at the
and walls will mostly be on casters, so that instead of having
library, but there were often complaints about them from
walls and rooms, the spaces can be defined by the needs
other library patrons because the teenagers didn’t know how
of the event or situation. “We don’t know what libraries are
to occupy their time. While attending a conference in a
going to look like,” she explained.
Chicago library, McCloy saw a space that had been set aside for teens to basically hang out and do STEAM projects and other activities. It opened her eyes that Memphis needed this kind of space. She recalled someone saying, “All you have to do is spark curiosity, and the kids will take it from there.” McCloy decided to dream much bigger. After consulting with many experts, the funding was secured and the space was built. The state-of-the-art lab is 8,300-square feet and features video and audio production labs, editing and mixing stations, a performance area, a maker space, and room for creative exploration and even homework. The goal of Cloud901 is for teens, ages 13–18, to develop skills such as innovation, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem solving. “Cloud901 was sort of a turning point for me, because it showed that we were reinventing ourselves,” McCloy said. “It has been a game changer. It is literally talked about across the country. The library directors in San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles will often say, ‘Believe it or not, you need to go to Memphis. Just go to Cloud901.’ That’s pretty exciting, but it’s reflective of our staff again. I’ve encouraged our staff to share their skills, not only with teenagers, but with coworkers as well.” The concept has been so successful, she added, that they are starting to replicate the idea in other branches, such as the new branch being built in Raleigh. Additionally, they’re now creating tween spaces for ages 9–12. The other important detail about Cloud901 is that it’s all free. “Most libraries charge for something like that,” McCloy said. “That’s a barrier to access, and we’re all about eliminating barriers to access.” Last year, McCloy and her staff continued to put their money where their mouths are when they decided to do away with overdue fines. The result was they were able to reactivate more than 82,000 accounts that had previously been blocked.
30 | Hutchison
THE IDEAL HUTCHISON GIRL
She said she still thinks and dreams about the Ideal
Reflecting on her years at Hutchison, McCloy remem-
Hutchison Girl. “I wasn’t the ideal Hutchison girl, but those
bered: “We had extremely passionate teachers who were
characteristics are important: honest, understanding, trust-
inspired and could teach. I think about Margaret Tabor ’55,
worthy, courteous, humble, industrious, sincere, obedient,
Pat Newberry (honorary alumna), and David Doss. They were
and noble. All of those are characteristics that I think about.
incredible teachers. They were positive and challenging.
Do I reflect those characteristics? Not that I have to be the
They wanted to bring out the best that we had to offer, and
ideal, but that is the Hutchison ideal. That has been a
they didn’t want us coasting. They wanted us to do more.
framing for me. I’ve always wanted to be each of those
I was ready for college when I got to Berkeley, and not
things and have endeavored to be. I’m not there yet, but
everybody was, but the foundation provided by Hutchison
I’ll keep trying.”
was extremely solid.”
Cloud901 was sort of a turning point for me, because it showed that we were reinventing ourselves.
McCloy speaks with Ralph Calhoun, audio engineer in Cloud901 at the Benjamin L. Hooks Library. Hutchison | 31
A L U M N A P R O F I L E | KAT I E G R I E S B E C K ’ 9 6
love at first Sip I think my time in France, which is what I credit for my love of wines, ties back to taking French classes at Hutchison,” Katie Griesbeck ’96 said. “We started French in junior kindergarten and took classes until about sixth grade. I elected to pick it back up when I was in high school, and it set me up to be a Francophile for life. I loved the language, and that’s what inspired me to go to the Burgundy region of France when I was in college. Griesbeck related this story in one of the sleek tasting rooms at Cakebread Cellars, where she offered a glass of the brand’s cabernet. The winery is situated in Rutherford, California, the geographic heart of Napa Valley, and she serves as the company’s national sales and marketing director. Cakebread’s architecturally gorgeous visitor center is a mixture of rustic modernity and a touch of sci-fi—the center is clad primarily in reclaimed redwood wine tank staves that emanate calmness, while futuristic-looking concrete eggs filled with wine lurk in the fermentation halls and can be seen from the tasting rooms. But back to her semester abroad in France more than 20 years ago. “I studied in a little town called Dijon, and I lived with a French family there. I won the lottery of French host families because my host father was a wine aficionado. They had the cave or wine cellar down in the basement of the house. Each night we would walk the steps down to the cellar and discuss, en français, what wine to pair with dinner. He was also a professor at the Université de Bourgogne where I was taking my classes. He taught economics classes, which I had little interest in at the time, and he would do a special class just for our Wake Forest group of students. One night a week we had an econ class, all in French. The next night he led a wine class. He drove me back to the house at night, and he said I was a lot more talkative after wine class than I was after econ class. “I think that was a telltale sign of where my passions were and what my profession should be. It was kind of love at first sip.”
The Road to Wine Country Griesbeck’s path wasn’t straight from France to Napa Valley, though. After graduating Wake Forest University in 2000, Griesbeck moved to Washington, D.C., and worked in public relations and corporate communications in the technology industry for about seven years, most notably at AOL.
32 | Hutchison
Griesbeck works at the modern and serene Cakebread Cellars winery in Rutherford, California.
“The passion for wine was still there,” she admitted. “On
Cakebread University, which was intended for MBA students
weekends, I would go out to the Virginia wineries for tastings
who were curious about the wine business. Her meeting must
and to participate however I could. There was one winery that
have left an impression, because when she was working at
hired volunteers to help harvest the grapes each year, and I
Constellation Brands, she received a call about the opportunity to
would always volunteer early in the morning to go do that. It is
lead the sales and marketing at Cakebread.
hard work harvesting grapes. It gives me great respect for all of our teams out in the vineyards here at Napa.” She said she took wine courses to build her knowledge, and then started teaching wine classes to groups like the Junior
“I said, ‘I’m in.’ I am a firm believer that all things happen for a reason if you put yourself out there and allow it to happen. It’s just being open to those opportunities when they come your way.”
League of Washington and others. She served on a steering
Griesbeck is now part of the winery’s executive team, which
committee of a non-profit organization in D.C. dedicated to
includes the CEO, CFO, the vice president of operations, a wine-
wine education. She even did some freelance marketing work
maker, a vineyard director, and her role.
for a champagne importer. “All signs pointed to that being my passion, and I had to make it happen,” she said. Griesbeck then decided to return to school for an MBA at
A Thirst … for Knowledge Griesbeck said one of the more valuable things she has
the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. “I wrote
learned as she goes further in her career is to listen and observe
my application for UVA saying that upon graduation I wanted
to find the right answers.
to get into the wine business.” She kept true to her promise.
She calls it a thirst for knowledge. “Understanding how to lis-
She interned with E. & J. Gallo Winery, the largest family-owned
ten and surround yourself with people from whom you can learn
winery in the United States, founded by brothers Ernest and
is important. The other part is finding what subject draws you in
Julio Gallo. After graduating UVA, she joined Gallo full time in
and will continue to inspire and motivate you. It boils down to
Modesto, California, and worked there almost seven years as
having the passion for what you’re working in. If your heart’s not
a marketing and brand manager for several different brands.
in it, you won’t be successful.
While there, she helped launch the popular Apothic wine brand.
“The intoxicating part of wine is the fact that you will never
After Gallo, she moved north to San Francisco to work at
know it all,” she admitted. “It’s a lifelong quest for knowledge,
Constellation Brands, a beer, wine, and spirits company. She
and that is what I think inspires a lot of us to keep with it. You
admitted, though, that she had always had a soft spot in her
learn something every day, you learn something in every glass,
heart for Cakebread Cellars. “I made my first trip to Napa as a
but you still have an infinite world to discover.”
tourist in the early 2000s. I was still living in D.C. and came with a group of friends. The first winery I ever visited was Cakebread.” She later ran into Jack Cakebread, the winery’s founder, during business school when she attended a program called 34 | Hutchison
It is a good thing Griesbeck has a passion for her work, because the wine and alcohol industry is saturated with competition and a variety of new categories, such as hard seltzer. While Cakebread was early on the scene in California—it was
confidence
My education at Hutchison set me up for thinking more independently and being confident in expressing my voice.
founded in 1972 and is the 38th bonded winery in Napa—these
childhood is synonymous with Hutchison. If I can do any part of
days, there are approximately 1,500 wineries in the region. That
being able to help a new generation of Hutchison students in
makes Griesbeck’s job challenging, to say the least, but she
any way, I am happy to do so,” she said. “It also helps me keep
relishes the challenge.
in touch with a community that has meant so much to me.
“When I am wearing my marketing hat, I’m thinking about
Additionally, I am just wowed by what Hutchison has evolved
two things: one is how to drive visitors here to the winery itself.
into today—the facilities, the curriculum, the areas to explore.
For a lot of folks, their relationship with the Cakebread brand
It’s nothing short of amazing.”
begins by visiting us on location. As much as I want that, I also have to think about those people who never will come to the
She gives credit for who she is to Hutchison. “There was an opportunity to learn and grow in an environment that encourages
winery. How do I build the brand,
you to find your voice. There is
create that awareness, and foster
something to be said for this
that connection to our wines out
all-girls environment where your
in the marketplace?”
confidence is built up and you
An additional challenge, she
are able to find subject matters
said, is that baby boomers, who
that inspire you. My education at
drove the success of the wine
Hutchison set me up for thinking
business in previous years, are
more independently and being
starting to drink less. “It’s now
confident in expressing my voice.
finding a voice and starting to res-
I don’t know that I would have had
onate with younger generations.”
that same experience somewhere
One of the ways she accom-
else.”
plishes that is by being focused
She admits that she does not
on digital platforms. “That’s
feel challenged being a woman in
something that’s near and dear
the business world. “l am not blind
to my heart, since I worked in tech before and at AOL,” she said.
to the world that we live in, but growing up in an environment
“The first brand that I managed for Gallo was Barefoot Wine. It
like Hutchison is very empowering. Each professional challenge
is a different proposition than Cakebread wine, but I was able
I have faced, I haven’t thought at all about my gender. I’ve
to really dig into the digital space, and Barefoot was kind of a
thought more about: do I have what it takes to be the best I can
pioneer for wine brands getting into that. Technology and the
possibly be, or to be the best candidate for the job, or to make
digital revolution have been a great thing for wine, and, in a way,
the best decision, or to challenge other points of view? I grew
it’s helped me bridge the two sides of my career.”
up in this mindset that it doesn’t necessarily matter if I’m male or female, it’s just do I have the will within me?”
Staying Connected to Hutchison Living in California makes it difficult to stay connected to Hutchison, but for Griesbeck, it’s not for a lack of trying. She has been active on the National Alumnae Board (NAB) for years,
She said she often tells her parents how thankful she is for the gift of her education, and how important it is to create a mindset that learning is important and a joy. “If I said I had my career planned out, I would be lying. I feel
and just this summer volunteered to mentor senior Maya Risch.
like I have to keep the door open to see where it is going to
Because of the pandemic, the mentorship took place virtually.
lead me. I do think that ultimately an end-all goal is to be the
“There’s the obvious reason of wanting to give back to a
CEO of a winery like Cakebread. It’s the business side that I find
community that gave so much to me,” she said about staying
fascinating, and in navigating some of those challenges out in
connected to Hutchison. “I went to Hutchison for 14 years. My
the marketplace today.” Hutchison | 35
what if … … she finds her voice? … she learns she is gifted at math? … she overcomes her fear of public speaking? … she scores her first goal in soccer? … she discovers a knack for science? … she stars in her first play?
what if you could help make it happen? Your annual gift to the Hutchison Fund will change the lives of girls who one day may change the world.
hutchisonschool.org/give
36 | Hutchison
did you know? 2020 TAX RELIEF FOR CHARITABLE GIVING The CARES* Act offers special tax relief for charitable gifts in 2020. Are you taking advantage? • Individuals taking the standard deduction can benefit from a one-time $300 charitable deduction. Normally, no deduction is permitted. • Individuals itemizing may deduct cash gifts up to 100% of their adjusted gross income (up from 60%) in 2020 only. • Required minimum distributions from retirement accounts are suspended. However, individuals still can make a qualified charitable distribution of up to $100,000 from their IRAs. The direct distribution would not be included in taxable income.
Contact Beth Corley, development director 901-507-2472 bcorley@hutchisonschool.org
*(Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security)
Hutchison | 37
THE GRADUATION FOR THE CLASS OF 2020 LOOKED A LITTLE DIFFERENT and did not take place until June. Nevertheless, Hutchison was determined to celebrate the bright futures of our senior class and newest alumnae. The day started with a morning ceremony at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, which featured a procession, invocation, a speech by Callie Oehmler, the Meg Thomas Student Speaker, and a commencement address by Lucy Loveless ’06. Graduates also were awarded their sacred scriptures. In the evening, Hutchison held a ceremony at Memphis University School’s stadium, which featured a procession, presentation of the academic and special awards, and the awarding of diplomas, followed by a hat toss. We are so proud of our graduates and all that they have accomplished, as well as their determination during an unusual and difficult senior year. We can’t wait to see what they do next!
Graduation CLASS
of 2020
Miccaella Lejwa, Four Years, Top Honors & Senior Year, Top Honors
Helen Gillespie, Four Years, Second Honors & Senior Year, Second Honors Lilly West, Edward P. Russell Award
38 | Hutchison
Eleanor Campbell, Senior Year, Top Honors
Callie Oehmler, Meg Thomas Student Speaker
Katy Gilmore, Senior Year, Top Honors
Carter Patikas, Ideal Hutchison Girl Award & May Day Queen Far left: Dabney Collier, May Day Court Left: Grace Spain, May Day Court Hutchison | 39
40 | Hutchison
Lucy Loveless ’06, Commencement Speaker
Megan Wellford Grinder ’91, Board of Trustees Chair, and Dr. Kristen Ring, Head of School
L to R: Bailey Degan, Jada Millen, Micca Lejwa, Myanne James, Sydney Davis, and Lily Saunders
Hutchison | 41
42 | Hutchison
noun the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness
î
GIVING TO HUTCHISON enables something good to be better. Giving to Hutchison makes the impossible seem possible. Giving to Hutchison ensures a brighter future. Following are a few letters from members of Hutchison’s Board of Trustees about why giving to the school is important to them. We offer our gratitude to all who have given. We see you, we acknowledge you, and we thank you. To see a full list of those who have given in our Report on Philanthropy, use the camera on your phone to scan the QR code at the left or visit:
hutchisonschool.org/grateful
Hutchison | 43
L E T T E R S O F G R AT I T U D E
During this strange pandemic, my husband, Lon, and I have felt the way I am certain many of you have: we’re tired of the masks, tired of the take-out food, tired of the “air hug,” tired of the social distancing, and tired of the worry. There have been silver linings of the COVID pandemic for which we are grateful, though. One is, we were given the gift of time: Time to reset our priorities and focus on those areas of our life that have meant the most to us in the past. We are convinced that these are areas where we can give back today and truly make a difference for the future. Another gift for us is Hutchison School. We are more committed than ever to support Hutchison because we have seen firsthand what this strong foundation can give a girl. Additionally, we have been amazed with Dr. Ring and how her teams have fluidly and confidently navigated the challenges of COVID while maintaining the heart of Hutchison. Meredith Magness ’18 and Ragan Crawford Magness ’88
“There have been silver linings of the COVID pandemic for which we are grateful … One is, we were given the gift of time … Another gift for us is Hutchison School.”
Thank you for your support of Hutchison and its many academic and extracurricular programs to nurture smart, kind, thoughtful, strong Memphis girls who are ready to face the world ahead of them. Hutchison truly couldn’t do what they do for the girls in our community without your generous gifts! When this pandemic is behind us, I hope we can celebrate together a different, but wonderful, Hutchison school … along with some “real hugs” in gratitude for your support. Ragan Crawford Magness ’88 Alumna & Mother of Hutchison Graduates
44 | Hutchison
Hutchison meets each girl where she is and opens up possibilities they may have never imagined. I know this because I have witnessed it firsthand for five decades with my four daughters and five granddaughters. One of my granddaughters, Mary Moore Nelson ’19, was adopted from Siberia and given very little chance at a full life because of a brain injury. And yet, years later, I sat and listened to her senior speech where she acknowledged, “As I look forward to my future, I also look at the past and the opportunities Hutchison has given me. My teachers never gave up on me, even if it took me longer to understand things than others.” Hutchison understood Mary’s challenges, nurtured her, and helped her find her path forward for college and life. There is a special place in my heart for those at Hutchison who guided and took care of Mary. Hutchison is at its best when it meets girls where they are. Hutchison teachers are there for our girls inside the classroom and out. They help our girls grow and thrive and they prepare them for school and life after graduation … and remain in their lives. Teachers are part of what makes Hutchison excellent, and our fundraising ultimately leads to supporting the adults who inspire our girls. It is with a grateful heart that I thank those who share in supporting the school, our teachers, and each girl. Whether this year was your first time making a gift or your twentieth, you are part of something special: inspiring teachers and investing in our girls.
Rick Moore with two of his granddaughters who are current Hutchison students: Caroline Halliday ’21 (left) and Addie Halliday ’23.
“Hutchison meets each girl where she is and opens up possibilities they may have never imagined … Teachers are part of what makes Hutchison excellent, and our fundraising ultimately leads to supporting the adults who inspire our girls.”
Rick Moore Father & Grandfather of Hutchison Graduates and Students
Hutchison | 45
L E T T E R S O F G R AT I T U D E
I’m often asked, “How did you choose Hutchison for your girls?” Since I am a 14-year alumna, it may simply seem that I wished for my three daughters to have the same special experience that I did. Honestly, the fact that I am a Hutchison graduate was a minor factor in the decision my husband and I made. We chose Hutchison for the school that it was at the time that our oldest was entering pre-kindergarten, and we made the same intentional choice for our other two girls. In fact, we continue to choose Hutchison every year when we sign our contracts. We have three very different children, and the school proves to be the right fit for each one. So how do we choose Hutchison? We see that our girls are being challenged to push themselves academically, to think on their feet, to find creative solutions, to hold themselves accountable, to be independent, to consider their places in the greater world, to find their voices, and to serve others. But most of all, we see that they are HAPPY AT HUTCHISON, and as parents that is everything. Amy Rolfes Poag ’92 with Charlotte Poag ’26 (left), Alexandra Poag ’29, and Celia Poag ’24 (right)
“ … we continue to choose Hutchison every year when we sign our contracts. We have three very different children, and the school proves to be the right fit for each one.”
This school year we have daughters in lower school, middle school, and upper school, which gives us the benefit of experiencing the continuum of the Hutchison experience all at once. We see that at every level the school holds itself to the same standards to which our girls are being held. This means an ongoing investment of time and financial resources into self-assessment, professional development, curriculum enhancement, technology upgrades, and facility improvements. Thanks to the ongoing generosity of Hutchison donors, the school is able to prioritize its own growth and development. For that, I am grateful as a trustee, a parent, and an alumna. Amy Rolfes Poag ’92 Alumna & Mother of Hutchison Students
46 | Hutchison
When we first visited Hutchison, while touring schools for Zoë, we noticed there was something different. If I had to put it into words, it would be that there was a warmth we felt that took us by surprise. That feeling is, in large part, why we chose Hutchison for junior kindergarten. As the year started, Zoë’s teacher wanted to know what motivated and excited her. She watched to figure out the type of learner she was and what things stressed her out. We realized that it was all part of a path to help Zoë grow into her very best self. In the first few months of pre-kindergarten, we could feel Zoë’s confidence developing. She became less shy. She was slowly being coaxed out of her comfort zone to explore new things and herself. We started to see the nuance it takes to make a girl feel safe and loved so she can explore all that surrounds her and succeed and fail and grow through all of it. We see the joy that learning brings to Zoë’s life. We have Hutchison to thank for that. It extends beyond the classroom, too. When a teacher whom your daughter has come to know, trust, and love in the classroom shows up at her soccer game, you have the delight in seeing the expression on your child’s face. It is at this point that you know your school is your family. How lucky we are to have families who choose to make giving to Hutchison a priority. Your investment helps the school in providing the tangible and magical intangibles for each Hutchison girl. I am immensely grateful for your charitable giving. Your support makes a difference.
Zoë Young ’29 and Paul Young
“Your investment helps the school in providing the tangible and magical intangibles for each Hutchison girl. I am immensely grateful for your charitable giving. Your support makes a difference.”
Paul Young Father of a Hutchison Student
Hutchison | 47
F R O M T H E B OA R D O F T R U S T E E S
Hutchison Financials Operating Budget/2019-2020.......................................... $19,796,950 True philanthropy involves people with different lives, experiences, and priorities coming together in support of something that matters—differing perspectives united around a common cause. The Hutchison motto from our crest is “Minima Maximus Cedant,” which is interpreted to mean, “That which is of the least importance must yield to that which is of the greatest importance.” Through your generosity to Hutchison, you have stated that what matters—what is most important—is the best educational experience for our girls. The 1913-1914 Hutchison School directory contains this quote by Francis W. Parker, a noted New England educator: “Education is the allsided growth of the individual—physical, mental, and moral. The value of a school should be measured by the growth of its pupils in honesty, courage, helpfulness, unselfishness, charity, wisdom, and strength.” Over the past century plus, Hutchison has remained true to this vision of a complete education and is known for graduating interesting, well-educated individuals of integrity who are not only lifelong learners but thinkers and leaders. We cannot thank you enough for helping make this possible.
2019-2020 CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS Endowment & Capital Gifts.......................... $467,707 Hutchison Fund Gifts..................................... $785,339 Total Gifts.................................................$1,253,046
ENDOWMENT FUND BALANCE as of June 30, 2020............................. $21,209,558
1902 SOCIETY Planned Gift donors.............................................. 46 Estimate Value......................................... $11,351,759 Audited financial statement available upon request.
SOU
RCES OF REVENUE
OPE
R AT I N G E X P E N S E S
Net Tuition & Fees... 83.3% Philanthropy................7.3% Auxiliary/Misc............. 9.4%
Megan Wellford Grinder ’91 | Board Chair 2019–2021
k thanou! y
48 | Hutchison
Salaries & Benefits.... 68.4% Program Support ...... 19.9% Physical Plant..............6.7% Administration.................5%
F I N A N C I A L A S S I S TA N C E CHALLENGE REPORT
I have no doubt there is an amazing girl “ somewhere here in Memphis who has never dreamed of being at Hutchison, because she did not know it could be a reality. The generosity of our community to the Challenge helps reduce the financial barrier for qualified girls who would thrive here at Hutchison. —DR. KRISTEN RING, HEAD OF SCHOOL
”
$5,000,000 Community contributions + $2,500,000 Anonymous donor matching gift $7,500,000 A priceless gift to Hutchison & amazing Memphis girls
Thank you to the 500 families who supported the Financial Assistance Challenge and our anonymous donor for believing in the power of Hutchison to change a girl’s life and the important leadership role women have in the Memphis community.
Hutchison | 49
PLANNED GIVING | HONORING ANGELA PERKINS ’88
Spirit
GIVING IN THE
There’s a photo near the back of the 1988 Lantern yearbook, page 163, bottom of the page. In it is 18-year-old Angela Perkins, Class of 1988. She’s smiling widely, like she is in most photos. There’s a large bee drawn on the wall behind her and she’s holding two signs. One says: “Go Hutch!” The other reads: “Hutch Spirit!” The caption next to the photo reads: “Most School Spirited.” “She absolutely was the most devoted to school spirit,” said Angela’s classmate and friend Pam Padgett Shumake ’88, who remembers her fondly. “Angela brought energy to everything that she did.” Shumake works as Hutchison’s upper school counselor
caring, sympathetic, sociable, energetic, pleasant, goodnatured, warm, understanding. “That’s Angela, absolutely,” Shumake said. The Class of 1988, as well as friends from MUS who knew Angela, kept in touch with Angela’s parents, Liz and
and counseling director and is very much a keeper and
Dwight. “For years, her parents came to see who would
promoter of Hutchison’s school spirit. She remembered
receive the Goodwill Award,” Shumake said. “They stayed
that one of Angela’s favorite things to do was to take photos.
connected to the school.”
Mind you, this was back in 1988, when it wasn’t as easy as
When Dwight passed away, Hutchison and MUS students
pulling out a cell phone and snapping a photo. “Angela
helped with Dwight’s estate and became a conservator for
wasn’t trying to be a professional photographer,” Shumake
Liz. When Liz passed away, they finalized the estate. That
explained. “She loved taking
was when they found out that
pictures of friends at get-
Angela’s parents had left a gift
togethers, at events, at games.
to Hutchison in their will. “The
Half of her pictures would be the
amount of money could have
side of someone’s face, laughing
helped the Perkins in different
or whatever. She loved to try to
ways,” Shumake said, “but they
take embarrassing pictures with
made the choice to leave that
people. She was a character.”
money to Hutchison because
The result was a huge
they never broke that connec-
collection of photos in shoe
tion, that bond. I think a donation
boxes of all of Angela’s friends
was a way that they kept part of
and classmates over the high
Angela’s memory as a student
school years. “We’ve had
here alive in their minds.
opportunities to look at those photos
“The gift is gigantic in love.”
and laugh and be embarrassed by some of them,”
The money will be used to fund
Shumake said. It was almost as if school spirit had moved Angela to document that time for her class. Sadly, Angela passed away in 1994. Keeping a Connection with Hutchison The Class of 1988 decided to establish an award in Angela’s honor. The Angela Perkins Goodwill Award is awarded to the senior and member of the Twelve Year Club who best meets these characteristics: genuine, amiable, 50 | Hutchison
school spirit and culture initiatives. “School spirit is not something that is just for fun or for when we take a break,” Shumake explained. “It’s one of the most important ways to build your culture and keep it intact. It brings a lot of joy to the whole school, and people do better in school when they feel connected and love their school.” That’s certainly something Angela would cheer for.
Ann Weaver Wilson, Angela, Kim Gore Battaile
Angela with Kim
Pam Padgett Shumake and Angela
Kim, Piper Sammons Rauzi ’91, Angela
Angela with her camera!
Pam and Angela
Angela and Ann
Whitney Miller with Angela Hutchison | 51
52 | Hutchison
Consider a Planned a Gift to Hutchison Have you ever wanted to make a larger gift to Hutchison, but hesitated to do so because other financial priorities interfered with that desire? Through careful consideration of what you choose to give and the timing of your gift, you may find you can give more than you ever thought possible.
Give Gifts of Appreciated Securities A donation of securities held for more than one year offers special tax advantages by eliminating capital gains and may offer a tax deduction for the fair market value of the stock.
Provide Tax-free Gifts to Your Children and Grandchildren If you anticipate owing gift or estate tax on amounts you wish your loved ones to eventually receive, there are ways to direct gifts to Hutchison in lieu of taxes.
Make a Gift to Hutchison Through Your Estate Including the school in your will or other estate plans offers ways to reduce or eliminate estate tax on the amount donated.
To learn more, visit hutchisonschool.org/giving and click on Planned Giving. Beth Corley, development director, can talk with you about creative gift planning ideas. 901-507-2472 | bcorley@hutchisonschool.org.
Hutchison | 53
2020 GOLF SCRAMBLE Presenting Sponsor
2009 classmates and friends have started a quarantine book club dubbed “Love in the Time of Corona.” Clockwise from top left: Beckett Scott Caskey, Margaret Fleming Terrill, Rebecca Ruleman Mink, and Virginia Schaefer Robbins
meditation in at-risk communities. Ainsley also teaches breathing and meditation techniques to kids to help manage their ADHD. Congratulations to Sinclaire Montgomery Aucoin and husband Dan on the birth of their son, Lindsey Robert Aucoin, in February. Bailey Hill Dorsey also shares happy news! She and husband Bryan welcomed daughter Sutton
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH HUTCH! Our alumnae mean the world to us— we love to hear from you and share your latest news and photographs. Please send via email to alumnae@ hutchisonschool.org. When sending photographs, please send a highresolution file and include a full caption that identifies everyone in the photo. Editors may edit submissions for length, clarity, and style. The deadline for the next magazine is March 5, 2021.
68 | Hutchison
Elizabeth Dorsey in May. Hayley Efird is loving her startup business, The Doghouse Memphis, which is not your average doggie daycare. Hayley says her business model was inspired by her Hutchison early childhood education. She considers The Doghouse a “school,” but not your typical training for dogs.
2009
Congratulations to Meg Stephenson Burress and husband Austin who welcomed baby boy Charles Davenport Burress in February. More happy news to report for Mary Wills Bertwell! She and husband Peyton welcomed baby girl Raleigh Hayes Bertwell in May, a day before her 30th birthday. Big sister Hadley is already so in love! Margaret Fleming Terrill reports that she is still living in Dallas, Texas, and will be, at the very least, until husband Tyler finishes his residency in pediatric
neurology training. Margaret graduated with her master’s in library science in 2018 but is currently staying at home with their son, James. Quarantine brought a good bit of stress and cabin fever, but one bright point has been the formation of an impromptu Zoom book club with several classmates dubbed “Love in the Time of Corona.” Members include Margaret, Virginia Schaefer Robbins, Beckett Scott Caskey, and Rebecca Ruleman Mink. Even though everyone lives in different states, they have enjoyed “seeing” each other weekly since April. So far, they have read six books and have no plans to stop anytime soon!
2010
Mary Rachel Hamm Shirk and her husband, Owen, welcomed baby girl Jacolyn “Miller” Shirk in March. They currently reside in Nashville. Congrats, Mary Rachel!
SAVE THE DATE! NEXT SCRAMBLE: MONDAY, MAY 3, 2021 | CHICKASAW 2020 WINNERS! EVENT SPONSORS Buster’s Liquors & Wines CBRE C.R. Pollan Paving Hollis & Burns Insurance Co. Lehman-Roberts Sage Dining Services Swanky’s Taco Shop
Championship Flight
First Flight Winners
Closest to the Pin Hole #3
Jason Gilroy Craig Kamyszek Benji Pollan Roy Rothenberger
Eric Beatty Collins Roll Michael Schaefer John Summers
Matt Hayden
2nd Place Championship Flight
Second Flight Winners
Longest Drive Hole #2
Chris Beard David Coates Lee Scifres Scott Woodmansee
Putting Contest
Jacob Biddle Drew Cain Chip Campbell McCown Smith
Closest to the Pin Hole #9 Jacob Biddle
Chip Campbell Bubba Ray
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage 1 74 0 R i d g e w a y R o a d M e m p h i s , Te n n e s s e e 3 8 1 1 9 (901) 761-2220
PAID
Memphis, TN Permit No. 750
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. ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED. DATED MATERIAL—PLEASE EXPEDITE ©Hutchison School 2020
Hutchison accepts qualified female students regardless of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability or national origin.
March 18-19
Virtual
ALUMNAE WEEKEND 2021 Celebrating 100+ years of friendships! Thursday, March 18 & Friday, March 19
While this year may look a little different, all alumnae are invited to participate in Hutchison’s first ever virtual reunion. We are busy planning two days of exciting, online activities to help you reconnect with your classmates and to Hutchison. Details will be announced soon. Make sure you receive the latest alumnae news this year! Take a moment to update your information at: www.hutchisonschool.org/alumnae
