INDIAN SPRINGS A M AG A Z I N E F O R A L U M N I A N D F R I E N D S O F I N D I A N S P R I N G S S C H O O L
WINTER 2020–21
a place to For students from near and far, Indian Springs is a second home where they can feel comfortable being themselves. Page 12
BACK TO SCHOOL
I Page 8
ANNUAL REPORT
I Page 26
ALUM SPOTLIGHTS
I Page 31
INDIAN SPRINGS MAGAZINE
HEAD OF SCHOOL
MISSION STATEMENT Guided by our motto, Learning through Living,
SCOTT G. SCHAMBERGER
Indian Springs School fosters a love of learning and creativity, a sense of integrity and moral courage, and an ethic of participatory citizenship with respect for individuality and independent thought.
ACADEMICS
Dr. Jonathan Gray EDITOR
ADMISSION
Christine Copeland
Rachel Wallace Preskitt
ADVANCEMENT AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Jim Simon
Ellen S. Padgett
ATHLETICS
PHOTOGRAPHER
Greg Van Horn
Quez Shipman
COLLEGE ADVISING
Amelia Johnson
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
COMMUNICATIONS
Margaret Blackerby ’14
Rachel Wallace Preskitt
CONTRIBUTORS
FINANCE AND OPERATIONS
William Belser ’80
Tanya Yeager
Dr. Dan Clinkman
FACULTY
Clay Colvin ’95
Dr. Tanya Hyatt
Christine Copeland
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
Amanda Griffin
Kathryn D’Arcy
STRATEGY AND SPECIAL PROJECTS
Emanual Ellinas
Lauren Wainwright ’88
Dane Peterson
STUDENT LIFE
Scott Schamberger
William Blackerby ’05
Jim Simon John Slaughter ’20 Weslie Wald Cal Woodruff
BOARD OF GOVERNORS 2020-2021
Alan Engel ’73 Robert Aland ’80 Janet Perry Book Myla Calhoun Joe Farley ’81 Jerolyn Ferrari Clara Chung Fleisig Braxton Goodrich ’93 Kyung Han ’85 John Hudson, III Ben Hunt ’82 Leo Kayser, III ’62 Emily Hess Levine ’01
Jimmy Lewis ’75 Ellen McElroy ’78 Randall Minor ’99 Eli Phillips Scott Pulliam ’85 Lia Rushton John Simmons ’65 Hanson Slaughter ’90 Rhonda Nabors Ex Officio, Parents Association Callen Bair Thistle ’01 Ex Officio, Alumni Council
INDIAN SPRINGS SCHOOL
publishes Indian Springs Magazine twice a year, in fall/winter and spring/summer. Printed by Craftsman Printing, Birmingham, Alabama.
CLASS NOTES
classnotes@indiansprings.org ADDRESS UPDATES
addressupdates@indiansprings.org At Indian Springs School, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint. If you would prefer to receive Indian Springs Magazine or other school communications electronically, please let us know via email at indiansprings@indiansprings.org.
©2020 Indian Springs School. All rights reserved. 190 Woodward Drive, Indian Springs, AL 35124 Phone: 205.988.3350 | Website: www.indiansprings.org
NOTICE OF NONDISCIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS Indian Springs School, an independent school nationally recognized as a leader in boarding and day
education for grades 8-12, serves a talented and diverse student body and offers its admission to qualified students regardless of race, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Located in Indian Springs, Alabama, just south of Birmingham, the school does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or sexual orientation in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic and other school-administered programs.
INDI A N {CONTENTS}
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FEATURE
STORY
SPR INGS
WINTER 2020–21
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VOLUME NINETEEN, ISSUE ONE
A Place to Belong
For students from near and far, Indian Springs is a second home where they can feel comfortable being themselves. Foreword by Head of School Scott Schamberger
ON THE COVER
Sohana Caplash ’25 and Lydia Robinson ’25 canoe on the lake during the 2020 fall festival.
F E AT U R E D
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Get to know our newest teachers and hybrid learning program.
See improvements made to campus for the safe return of students.
Thank you to the donors who supported Indian Springs last year.
Meet six of our alums and learn about their unique career paths.
Enjoy snapshots from years past and get ready to celebrate.
Our Faculty
IN EVERY ISSUE
Back to School
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WELCOME LETTERS
Annual Report
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NOTEWORTHY
Alum Spotlights
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Save the Date
@ExperienceSprings
WELCOME
FROM BOARD CHAIR ALAN ENGEL
F ALAN ENGEL
Winter 2020–21
’73, P ’03, ’12 Chair, Board of Governors Indian Springs School
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Exclusive look at our proposed new dining hall, more coming soon!
all at Indian Springs is truly a glorious time. The massive oak trees have turned a beautiful hue, Double Oak Mountain behind campus creates a stunning backdrop, and the fog rises over the lake on these crisp mornings. Perhaps the most wonderful part of this Autumn is that our students, faculty, and staff are, for the most part, back on campus. Yes, life is very different during the pandemic, but there is also an air of normalcy this semester. The Indian Springs community owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the faculty and staff who worked so hard over the summer to create the protocols and the physical distancing to enable on-campus learning to return. Our students have shown remarkable resilience as they have embraced the pandemic controls required to be inperson once again. Leadership from Student Government has been critically important to our effort, and we commend this outstanding group of students for stepping forward and leading by example. As of this writing in late November, the pandemic is worsening, and we know that the privilege of continuing in-person learning is fragile. The investments we made this summer will allow us to transition to remote learning quickly should that become necessary. But even then, the learning experience Indian Springs can offer is truly unparalleled among our sister institutions—again, a tremendous testament to our faculty and staff ’s efforts. As we think ahead to a post-Covid world, we plan to initiate a capital campaign for the new dining hall. We look forward to sharing details with you very soon, and we hope you will consider joining our efforts to create a new campus hub that will be both a community center and a dining hall. Plans are currently being finalized as we incorporate some lessons we have learned from providing food service during a pandemic. More to come on this exciting project. I hope you will enjoy profiles on a few of our highly successful alums in these pages as well as details on the adaptations we have made to offer uninterrupted educational excellence during the pandemic. The year 2020 has been difficult and sometimes depressing for many of us. But when you read the following stories on how our students are continuing to contribute to our community, you will be inspired for the future. Even in the face of an unprecedented school year, our students are being prepared to become tomorrow’s leaders. They give us confidence that, indeed, the Indian Springs experience is still making our world a better place. Please accept my best wishes for a safe, healthy, and wonderful new year.
FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL SCOTT SCHAMBERGER
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SCOTT SCHAMBERGER Head of School, Indian Springs School
2020 fall festival Indian Springs
ndian Springs’ motto, Learning through Living, is a fitting description of what it means to be a school in 2020. I couldn’t be more proud of what our community has accomplished together. When I arrived on campus in July, significant work was underway to re-imagine nearly every aspect of school life with a singularly-focused goal of safely and responsibly opening campus as an in-person teaching and learning environment. And that’s just what Indian Springs School was able to do. During our opening meetings, I shared with the faculty that if public health experts were to design a school for a pandemic, it would look very similar to Indian Springs. We are fortunate to have the outdoor spaces and academic facilities to spread out and the technology to engage learners beyond the walls of a traditional classroom. There is nothing more “Springsy” than to chart a distinct course and be a leader. Socially distanced classrooms, daily schedule adjustments, additional class sections, HVAC upgrades, PPE stockpiles, al fresco dining, electrostatic disinfection, overcoming supply chain disruptions, health screenings, synchronous/asynchronous learning platforms. In any other year, any one of these things would have had the potential to be all-consuming and overwhelming. The dogged determination of Indian Springs’ faculty, staff, and administration to provide a world-class educational experience for our students despite COVID-19 is inspiring. Has it been perfect? Of course not, but I am convinced that the creativity and adaptability displayed over the last five months have made Indian Springs a decidedly better school. When we opened the campus at the start of the school year in person, I was content with ensuring that we remained on campus for as long as possible. What I quickly learned was that the Indian Springs community had loftier goals. Our faculty and students wanted to maintain and enhance the culture and traditions of the school. If you had asked me in August if Indian Springs would have a fall drama production, the answer would have been a quick “no, that’s not possible in a pandemic.” Dane Peterson, Indian Springs’ Director of Theater Arts, thought boldly and creatively and directed a stunning performance of Vintage Hitchcock:A Live Radio Play out on McLean Lawn and Engel Terrace. Our boarding students and on-campus faculty watched under the stars while day students, families, and alumni tuned in to the live-stream. There are countless examples of how Indian Springs faculty and students have adapted to preserve and enhance the school’s culture. When the Commissioners of Recreation learned it wasn’t feasible to host a school dance, they put their heads together and came up with a fall festival instead. With socially distanced games, rides, and fun, I would be shocked if the fall festival isn’t around in a post-COVID world. And as I write this letter in late November, planning is underway for the winter concert. We won’t be cramming 400 audience members into the concert hall. Still, I am excited for our students to have the opportunity to perform outdoors and socially distanced as our campus transforms into an art promenade. There is little doubt that this school year will exemplify what it means to be a learner. COVID-19 has provided new and challenging opportunities to grow, but Learning through Living is what the Indian Springs community does, pandemic or not. I remain grateful each and every day to be at Indian Springs and am proud that our school community is moving boldly and creatively into the future. I wish you and your family well for a happy, healthy, and safe new year.
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OUR FACULTY
MEET THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF
OUR FACULTY 1. Mathematics teacher John Brunzell served in the United States Army for 20 years. He holds a B.S. in mathematics from Norwich University and an M.A. in teaching from Trident University. He lives on campus with his wife, Deanna, and serves as a dorm faculty member.
JIM FLANIKEN
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2. English teacher Dr. Renee Chow grew up in Singapore and earned a B.A. and M.A. in English from the National University of Singapore. She earned a second M.A. and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Wales in the United Kingdom. 3. Science and mathematics teacher Jim Flaniken holds a B.S.E. in mechanical engineering from Auburn University and most recently worked for Raytheon Technologies. He was responsible for designing a Tomahawk cruise missile controlled flight test.
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4. Physics teacher Hazal Mohammed has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Central Florida and an M.S. in teaching from Florida Atlantic University. He previously worked as an intern for Walt Disney Imagineering.
JOHN BRUNZELL
5. Mathematics teacher Rebecca Neel earned a B.S. in mathematics from Auburn University and is working toward an M.S. in mathematics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She previously taught at Vanguard Preparatory School. 6. Physical education teacher and women’s soccer coach Justin Pino has a B.A. in political science and an M.A. in human performance/sports management from the University of Alabama. He has coached soccer for ten years, most recently at Judson College. 7. Physical education teacher and athletic trainer Brad Skiff holds a B.S. in sports science from Indiana University and an M.S. in athletic training from Illinois State University. He has over 20 years of experience in sports medicine and has worked with multiple Olympic teams.
Winter 2020–21
8. Director of Choral Music Dr. Lee Wright earned a B.A. and M.A. in music education from the University of Montevallo and a D.M.A. in choral conducting from the University of Georgia. He previously worked at John Carroll Catholic High School and Shenandoah University.
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RENEE CHOW
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HAZAL MOHAMMED
MEET ALL OF OUR FACULTY AND STAFF AT www.indiansprings.org
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
BRAD SKIFF
Elizabeth Goodrich served as President of the Parents Association for the 2019–2020 school year. Her children are Catherine ’20 and Gibson ’23, and she is the wife of Mike ’90, daughter-in-law of Mike ’63, and sister-in-law of Braxton ’93 and Charles ’94. Catherine McLean was on the Board for 14 years. She served terms leading the Parents Association, Governance Committee, and Planning Committee and was also a member of the Executive Committee. Her children are Laura ’03, Carter ’06, and Stuart ’11, and she is the sister of Terry ’63, John ’69, and Philip ’84.
REBECCA NEEL
WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS!
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JUSTIN PINO
LEE WRIGHT
John Hudson, III is the father of Jordyn ’21. He earned his B.S. from Alabama A&M University and his J.D. from Miles Law School. He currently serves as executive vice president of Southern Gas Company and was recently named president and CEO of Nicor Gas. Rhonda Nabors will serve as President of the Parents Association for the 2020–2021 school year. She earned her B.A. and J.D. at the University of Alabama and is an attorney at Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. Her children are Jackson ’22 and Thomas ’24. Emily Hess Levine ’01 returns to Indian Springs to serve on the Board. She earned her B.A. at Dartmouth College and works as vice president and administrator of The Ronne and Donald Hess Foundation. She is the daughter of past Board Chair Donald ’66; the sister of Heidi ’89, Carl ’93, and Lisa ’95; and the step-sister of David Nelson ’93 and Stuart Nelson ’95.
Indian Springs
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THANK YOU, OUTGOING MEMBERS!
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OUR FACULTY
REFLECTIONS FROM OUR FACULTY
TEACHING TODAY
Winter 2020–21
After finishing last school year remotely, Indian Springs reopened in August to offer a dynamic hybrid learning program wherein students may attend classes in person or online. Across departments, our teachers have found innovative ways to simultaneously engage those who are learning on campus, over Zoom, or through access to class recordings.
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“Before coming back to Indian Springs, I worked at a large research university for 20 years. From managing multi-site secure data collection systems in San Francisco and Minneapolis to connecting researchers to Mumbai for biweekly video conferences, most of my work was done remotely from a small desk in Birmingham. When Indian Springs moved to a hybrid model with some students physically in class and others connecting from the dorms, Hoover or Mountain Brook, Rangoon, or Beijing, I was intellectually and technologically prepared for the challenge. Coding and digital design lend themselves very easily to remote and asynchronous paradigms. The real challenge is keeping human interaction. This is where an extra Zoom call or email means the most. I had friends in Mumbai that I knew I would never see in person, but we had a good laugh every two weeks and looked forward to talking to each other. Keeping these remote interactions personal is what makes them successful.” –William Belser ’80 Computer Science and Engineering Department
“A major challenge this year has been coming up with an assessment structure that is secure, rigorous, fair to students, and practical to grade. Due to some students’ necessity to study from home, I have moved all assessments to an online model. This carries its own challenge, namely the near impossibility of proctoring a test for both in-person and remote students simultaneously. This has led me to revise my testing philosophy. I have de-emphasized testing specific knowledge and have, in fact, given all students permission to use their notes and the internet while completing their assessments. Instead, I have moved most of the emphasis to assessing specific skills, particularly the ability to interpret questions and then organize information in response in intelligent ways. This is one of many developments that has been positive and which I may retain in subsequent years.” –Dr. Dan Clinkman History Department
“My art history and studio art courses are using Art21, a collection of digital media showcasing contemporary art and artists, for research and inspiration. We are using Google SketchUp, a 3D design software, as well as Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop to do projects and apply skills. For example, in one project, art history students curated a digital gallery of art from the Italian Renaissance period. They were provided a template in SketchUp, but many chose to alter and redesign their galleries. They wrote text panels for each piece they chose to include. Students were able to visit each other’s galleries virtually.” –Clay Colvin ’95 Visual Arts Department
–Emanual Ellinas Contemporary Music Department
“One of my greatest joys as a Spanish teacher is using a rich immersion approach to language instruction called Comprehensible Input. CI requires storytelling to engage and immerse students in language growth. Students and teachers often work together to create stories that model and refine newly acquired vocabulary and language concepts. Trying to bring that spontaneous and interactive experience to a virtual platform has been challenging, but Indian Springs’ thoughtful tech choices have made this transition quite natural. The 360-degree camera focuses the video and audio on the continually changing storytellers. The ViewSonic smart boards share the notes with the virtual students. Zoom allows the virtual students to interact with the story in live time. I want the tech to be transparent, so I can maintain an authentic shared experience that is as organic and human as possible, and I’m thankful that so far that’s what this transition has been like for me.” –Weslie Wald Modern and Classical Languages Department
“Every week for AP English, I provide my students with a tentative agenda, including an overview of topics, activities, learning objectives, and estimated out-of-class workload. My students have appreciated our weekly roadmaps, which provide them a clear agenda while maintaining room for the creativity and spontaneity that characterize our lively discussions. Zoom’s breakout rooms have worked wonderfully for small group discussions and peer reviews, allowing students to engage and connect regardless of physical proximity. While our new ViewSonic boards, 360 cameras, and video archiving systems have proven vital in delivering and differentiating instruction, our goals remain the same: to facilitate deep learning and to foster community for all students.” –Cal Woodruff English Department
Indian Springs
“In the past, we learned to play songs, had a concert, and then recorded the songs. This year we flipped the program upside down and are instead learning the songs by recording them. We have provided students with the technology and instrumentation to record their parts at home or school so that synchronous, asynchronous, and in-person students can participate and work on songs together. We have implemented an extensive digital audio networking system based on the DANTE protocol, which lets students create music together in real-time from anywhere on campus. Performances will be possible because the performers can be spread apart, even between buildings. The audio can be distributed to an almost infinite location on campus, allowing us to spread the audience through several areas on campus. We are using an online workstation for recording so that any student can work on the same recordings regardless of physical location or equipment. We can then play their recorded tracks along with the students who are in person so that it feels and sounds like they are all in the same place. For instance, the drummer may have recorded their drum tracks at home, and while that is playing over the network, two guitarists and a bassist are playing live in the contemp room, while singers are spread out through the contemp hall. In this way, we can very accurately simulate them all playing together live.”
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CAMPUS NEWS
BACK TO SCHOOL Indian Springs’ campus underwent numerous improvements in preparation for the safe return of students and faculty last August. AIR QUALITY To improve indoor air quality, we installed bipolar ionization devices in all of our classrooms and buildings. These devices, combined with high-quality air filters, provide an air filtration rating comparable to that of a general hospital.
HEALTH PROTOCOLS To provide the safest possible learning environment, we require everyone on campus to complete a daily health screening and to wear a face mask, maintain social distancing, and wash their hands frequently throughout the day.
Winter 2020–21
CAMERAS
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To offer a more immersive experience for students who are learning remotely, we installed panoramic cameras with omnidirectional microphones in all of our classrooms. The cameras simultaneously provide five different perspectives.
VIEWBOARDS To connect students in person and online, we purchased ViewSonic ViewBoards for every classroom. These devices have Zoom conferencing software built in as well as a digital whiteboard that automatically preserves notes.
EXERCISE ROOM
THANK YOU
to our school nurses, Amy Wammack and Ramona Mullinax, for their leadership and dedication this school year! Thank you as well to the faculty and staff who have volunteered to conduct health screenings and temperature checks before school each morning.
Each morning when students arrive on campus, they receive a Tyvek wristband indicating that they’ve passed their health screening and temperature check. With a new color every day, the school goes through thousands of wristbands each week. Commissioners of Protection Virginia Slaughter ’22 and Anna McCormack ’22 were quick to develop a solution for reducing the environmental impact. They partnered with the manufacturer to recycle used wristbands, which are collected at the end of each day in bins across campus.
Indian Springs
To support health and wellness on campus, we opened an all-new exercise room on the second floor of the gym. The room features half racks, benches, bars, dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, speed ropes, battle ropes, and more.
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CAMPUS NEWS
FOOD TRUCK To reduce traffic in the dining hall, we installed a new food truck by the lake. The food truck offers fun fare such as burgers, hot dogs, and street tacos, while the dining hall provides numerous hot and cold grab-and-go options.
SHADE GARDENS
Winter 2020–21
To further promote social distancing at mealtimes, we constructed shade gardens with ample outdoor seating. The gardens are complete with handwashing stations, mounted fans, and outlets where students can charge their devices.
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FROM THE OFFICE OF ADMISSION & FINANCIAL AID
JIM SIMON Assistant Head of School for Advancement & External Affairs
CHRISTINE COPELAND Interim Director of Admission and Financial Aid
SAMANTHA MOATS Admission Assistant
MARGARET BLACKERBY ’14 Admission, Communications Coordinator
IMPORTANT DATES DAY STUDENTS January 25, 2021: Admission and financial aid applications due February 10, 2021: Admission notifications March 10, 2021: Enrollment contracts due BOARDING STUDENTS February 1, 2021: Admission applications due March 10, 2021: Admission notifications April 10, 2021: Enrollment contracts due We will review applications submitted after the due dates and admit additional day or boarding students on a rolling basis as space allows.
Indian Springs
Many aspects of life at Indian Springs had to adjust quickly to the pandemic, and the admission process was no exception. In late spring and throughout the summer, our top priority was protecting the health and safety of our residential life community. Classes were being held remotely, and our campus was closed to visitors, so we had to think of new ways to cultivate an interest in the school and connect with prospective families. Our first order of business was to create a virtual tour so that families who are unable to visit in person could still explore our beautiful campus and state-of-the-art facilities. Our virtual tour offers 360-degree views from 11 points on campus and photo galleries showing how the spaces are used throughout the school year. Families may navigate the tour independently or opt for a guided tour over Zoom with a member of our office. In addition to guided tours, we are offering one-on-one virtual meetings with our volunteer Student Ambassadors. These meetings provide an opportunity for prospective students to ask questions informally and learn about life at Indian Springs. We have also invited prospective students to watch live streams of our arts and athletics events so they can join in the experience from home. To top off our virtual offerings, we hosted three open house events in the fall. Attendees heard from Head of School Scott Schamberger, several members of our senior administration and faculty, and a panel of students. Finally, we are offering flexibility for families who have had difficulty obtaining certain elements of the application. Many students have been unable to get standardized test scores, and because of this challenge, we have gone test-optional for admissions in the 2021–2022 school year. This decision has proven to be a natural pivot for us as we always evaluate our applicants as individuals and not just transcripts and test scores. While our campus is still closed to most visitors, we are now able to extend an invitation to prospective families. With many protocols in place to protect everyone’s health and safety on campus, we hope that applicants will be able to meet us in person for a tour and admission interview. Our scenic campus and welcoming community are what make Indian Springs special, and we are eager for you to experience them both firsthand. At a time when many parents may feel distanced from their children’s education, all of us on the admissions team are happy to spend extra time walking families through the admission and financial aid process. We want to do all we can to make a family’s transition to Indian Springs as stress-free as possible. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about Indian Springs, please visit www.indiansprings.org or reach out to us via email at admission@indiansprings.org or phone at 205.988.3350.
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Students enjoy a concert by the lake during the 2020 fall festival.
a place to FOR STUDENTS FROM NEAR AND FAR, INDIAN SPRINGS IS A SECOND HOME WHERE THEY CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE BEING THEMSELVES. Compiled by RACHEL W. PRESKITT Photographs by QUEZ SHIPMAN
Foreword by Head of School Scott Schamberger “When I initially explored the head of school opportunity at Indian Springs, I was struck by its distinct culture. However, questions lingered in my mind before I shared the position description with my wife, Tracy. If I was going to uproot my family, I had to be confident that the reality of Indian Springs matched the rhetoric of what I had heard through my professional networks and what I had observed as a curious outsider. I had come to know Indian Springs as a place of belonging, where students felt comfortable pursuing their unique passions, developing new interests, and stretching their intellectual muscles. What I was most fascinated by was a natural ability for Indian Springs students to be themselves. From my experiences, this was unique in the world of education, particularly so at the high school level when social pressures and extrinsic factors conflict with developing a sense of self. After visiting campus during the interview process, my excitement about Indian Springs continued to grow. The students I met were light-years ahead of where I was at their age—not only academically, but in understanding who they are. Most high school students are defined by what others think, trying to become the people they believe friends, parents, and teachers expect them to be. At my high school, fellow students defined one another in three broad categories: athletes, artists, or academicians. If memory serves, I recall the terminology being more derogatory: jocks, geeks, and nerds. But I vividly remember no group would escape some level of public ridicule. The invisible yet impenetrable barriers between these groups prevented my peers and me from developing a complete sense of self. It saddens me knowing that this remains the norm in most schools. As the search process progressed, Tracy and I recalled conversations with various members of the Indian Springs community. We recounted the stories that students, alums, and parents shared with each of us. We learned that there was great substance to the rhetoric that Indian Springs was different, a place of belonging for the students and adults who called this campus their second home. Professionally, I felt fully aligned with Indian Springs’ mission. Personally, I wanted this culture and environment for my daughter and son, and for every young person trying to find their unique path. Fast forward six months, and I continue to observe this sense of belonging. The more conversations I have with Indian Springs alumni, the more activities I attend, and the more I see our students engaged in their learning, the more I am convinced of the transformational power of this place. It was inspiring for me to shadow students in the eighth grade and see that they felt safe to be authentic and genuine, unapologetic for both their many talents and shortcomings. I witnessed the same when I went undercover as a student in the ninth grade and 11th grade as well. Everyone, child and adult alike, craves acceptance and a sense of belonging. I know Indian Springs students develop a love of learning in large part because they feel safe enough to stretch themselves and take some risks. When I first arrived on campus, I wrote to the community about an overwhelming sense of comfort I experienced strolling through campus that first night. Indian Springs is different, and our students benefit from this in all aspects of school life.”
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Winter 2020–21
Indian Springs was different, a place of belonging for the students and adults who called this campus their second home.
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Over the next several pages, read reflections submitted by over 20 students on finding themselves, their interests, and a place to belong here at Indian Springs.
“I feel like I have found my place here. From the first day, I knew this was where I belonged. Everyone was so welcoming and helpful. And now, I am excited to get up and come to school every day. The friends I have made are awesome, and they accept me for who I am, weirdness and all. I could describe the Indian Springs culture as diverse, liberating, and so many other things, but all I need to say is that everyone feels at home here.” –Lizzy Tagtmeyer ’24
–Delana Berry ’24
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... everyone feels at home here.
Indian Springs
DELANA
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“I can’t imagine myself anywhere else. Indian Springs is where I belong.”
“I chose to come to Indian Springs because I don’t know yet who I want to be or what career I’d like to have. My siblings all attended Indian Springs, and I can see how passionate they are about their jobs. I know Indian Springs will do an excellent job of directing me on the path to becoming a successful and happy person. Also, having lived on campus since the age of seven, I know firsthand how lovely this school is, and I know it’s the type of community that I want to surround me. Ever since I started attending here, I can say that I don’t think I’ve ever been happier, and I can’t imagine myself anywhere else. Indian Springs is where I belong. Indian Springs has many creative ways of allowing students to be themselves. I think one of the most effective and fun ways we do this is through clubs. We have all sorts of clubs, and they are a way to get involved in the community and be around people who are like you and who are also very different. But no matter how different you are, you will be accepted because everyone in this community is family, and we will always be here for each other. Meeting new people and making friends at Indian Springs is fantastic. You never have to be insecure or shy to talk to anyone because everyone is fairly accepting, and no one gets left behind. It’s a great place to be around others, and I say that with an open heart.”
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Academic Highlights Seven Indian Springs seniors were named 2021 National Merit Semifinalists: Cindy Geng ’21, Carina Lim ’21, Hooper Markert ’21, Steven Tang ’21, Paul Weir ’21, Noah Williams ’21, and Danna Zhang ’21. Two were named National Merit Commended Students: Jack McCormack ’21 and
“I chose to come to Indian Springs because it provides me the opportunity to challenge myself both academically and socially. Indian Springs provides a welcoming atmosphere for individuals to explore different areas. What’s more, the experience at Indian Springs leads me to ponder what I could do for the people around me. It is exciting to meet new people, and the process of getting to know them is so great.” –Linda Sun ’22
“Indian Springs provides a welcoming atmosphere for individuals to explore different areas.”
Jack Swanner ’21. Kennedi Banks ’21 and Binta Diallo ’21 were named to the College Board National Recognition Program for scoring in the top 2.5 percent of Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test-takers who identify as Black or African American. Andrew Glassford ’22 and Hooper
“I would describe the Indian Springs culture as open and intellectual. Everyone’s here to learn and improve. It’s not so much about finding your place as it is just being yourself. Anything I want to do, someone will support me. You can take classes specific to your interests, and there are clubs out the wazoo.” –Andrew Glassford ’22
Markert ’21 earned perfect scores on the ACT. The team of Andrew Glassford ’22, Catherine Kung ’22, and Krystal
“Anything I want to do, someone will support me.”
Li ’22 entered SCUDEM V 2020 (the SIMIODE Challenge Using Differential Equations Modeling). They earned the highest ranking of “Out-
and undergraduate students world-
“At Indian Springs, there is so much opportunity to succeed and try new things without having to worry about what people think of you. I am not judged by what I wear or how I talk and look. The culture here is open.”
wide, they were one of only four
–Lily Hampton ’24
standing” for their solution to one of the problems presented. Competing against 130 teams of high school
teams to earn this distinction.
Winter 2020–21
“At Indian Springs, there is so much opportunity to succeed and try new things without having to worry about what people think of you.”
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“As I sit at my desk writing this, a stern statue of Julius Caesar stares up at me from the cover of a book sitting on my backpack, and two mystical sages from ancient Mesopotamian myth (called apkallu in Assyrian) stare down at me from another book cover, this one lounging atop my desk storage. The three make an odd group, with Caesar’s military intensity and the carp-skin robes of the apkallu. Still, they represent a world I have come to know and love at Indian Springs: the Bronze and Iron ages. This topic is something I intend to study for the rest of my life, but my journey to such a decision likely never happens without me attending Indian Springs. My journey towards studying such figures began in ninth-grade world history class when I was certain that I would become an innovative engineer and enjoy reading about history recreationally. I found myself enthralled with the characters and nations that were presented to me by Ms. Jacobs, whether it was Sargon’s establishment of the first known kingdom, the fiery one-liners delivered by the Spartans to the expanding nation of Macedon, or the amicable meeting between Scipio Africanus and Hannibal Barca shortly before the end of the Second Punic War. The members of the grand story of history were brought to life, leading me to do more research on my own. My fascination with ancient history has yet to slow down since, and only continued to grow throughout the following years, as I learned about other sections of history from Dr. Clinkman and Dr. Davis. Still, I wanted to be an engineer, so I spent most of my 10th-grade year in either classroom 17 with the robotics club or the Makerspace for engineering class. Such groups helped me hone my ability to design and create and gave me an appreciation for the design process and the joy to be found in it. I had also taken multiple math classes the year before to prepare myself to major in engineering in college. Therefore, I had an interesting dilemma heading into my junior year: whether to continue to follow the path of an engineer or follow the path of a historian. The resolution to my dilemma of interests was calculus, which I do not care much for (this is by no means the fault of Dr. Lacasse, who is an excellent teacher. I simply feel my brain die a little every time I see a Calculus problem). Engineering naturally utilizes a lot of calculus, and I have since chosen to focus on history moving forward. In my current quest to study history, I am a student in AP Latin, Ancient Greek, and Akkadian. I mention this story to make a point: this journey would not be possible (during high school, at least) if I were not a student at Indian Springs. For starters, the classes mentioned are difficult to find in another high school and are significantly more challenging here at Indian Springs. Had I not had such an excellent calculus teacher like Dr. Lacasse, I would never have been challenged enough to learn that high-level calculus is not something that I enjoy. If I didn’t have the likes of Ms. Jacobs, Dr. Clinkman, and Mr. Blackerby to teach me the joys of history and Latin, I would likely not enjoy history enough to consider it a legitimate career option. I would most certainly not be studying Akkadian at any other high school, as most schools do not allow independent studies, and would most certainly be scared away by a language that only began to gain attention in the late 19th century and died over 2000 years ago. So as I stare back at the faces of the apkallu and Caesar and look out my dorm room window onto the Indian Springs campus, I am reminded of how I came to learn of them and why I consider them important to know. Indian Springs is the reason that I know anything beyond their reputation and the main reason I find them worth knowing. It is truly rare to find such a place as Indian Springs that takes such effort to challenge and develop students and help them find their niche object of study. So, from the wondrous campus of Indian Springs, bultu u lamda tabi (live well and learn well).” –Alex Forbes ’21
Indian Springs
ALEX
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It is truly rare to find such a place as Indian Springs that takes such effort to challenge and develop students and help them find their niche object of study.
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PAUL
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‘‘ Winter 2020–21
Melting pots of students exist all over our campus, yet I have never felt defined by who I hang out with or what I do.
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“Finding your place in a new environment is an incredibly daunting challenge. When I arrived at Indian Springs, I knew basically nobody, the seniors towered above me, and everyone seemed to know exactly where they needed to be all the time. In my first week at Indian Springs, I got lost three separate times. However, thanks to the tremendous opportunity put into place by the students and faculty of Indian Springs, finding my way was not as challenging as I first conceived. See, the first thing I noticed about the community was the welcoming, enthusiastic, and encouraging environment. At the first few Town Meetings, club heads would come on stage and encourage everyoneto join. Coaches insisted that players did not need any prior experience. When I traveled from booth to booth at our annual Club Expo, I saw nothing but smiling faces and warm vibes, beckoning me to give it all a shot, from Scholar’s Bowl to French Club, to even some of our zanier activities, like Oral Hygiene Club. Where I really found my home, though, was the Contemporary Music Ensemble. The class itself was fun, and I improved significantly as a musician, but the real value of joining was the people I got to meet. Students from every grade with loads of different interests congregated in the contemp room in and out of class. It wasn’t just the “music kids” in the room; we had multiple mayors, several varsity basketball and soccer players, the head of Science Olympiad, a few history buffs, and some (like myself ), who did a little bit of everything. Melting pots of students like this exist all over our campus, yet I have never felt defined by who I hang out with or what I do. At Indian Springs, you are who you are based on your character alone. While at some schools, the kids who acted in plays would be dubbed “theatre kids” till the end of their senior year, students are given the opportunity to pick and choose who they want to be. I joined many different groups initially as an outsider, but not once did I feel out of place or unwelcome. This freedom meant that I didn’t need to find my home; I had to create it. Additionally, Indian Springs challenges us to better ourselves as individuals and consider the bigger picture. While every group I was a part of allowed me to express my individuality, the ultimate goal was always something more. On my first day in Glee Club, we were taught that choir was about creating something more than the sum of its parts. The beautiful music was the product of over a hundred individual voices, but as one, we were able to make something far more moving than any of us alone. And at Indian Springs, groups of all kinds can produce something bigger than themselves, whether that be building a robot, winning a state soccer championship, or writing your songs to perform at Student Concert. So, for those of you incoming students who (like me) feel overwhelmed at the idea of making new friends and finding a place, I have just one piece of advice: try everything. Go to club meetings, try out for choir, or a play, or a sport. Even if it’s something you may not be initially drawn to, you might find yourself surprised as to how much fun you’re having. Indian Springs is a hallway full of doors, but you’ll never be able to reap the benefits unless y ouopen them yourself. But, if you do dive headfirst into what this place has to offer, you’ll never have to worry about finding a home. It will come to you.” –Paul Weir ’21
Paul served as mayor for the fall 2020 semester. Dean of Students William Blackerby ’05 says, “Paul sustained the spirit of the student body during a challenging time. He was a leader and advocate for his peers. He handled the pressures of the office with the perfect mix of lightheartedness and responsibility, and he has a lot to be proud of from his time as mayor.”
“At Indian Springs, I am surrounded by a community that consistently encourages me to embrace my individuality.”
Student Life Every club on campus is studentmanaged, reflecting our belief in individual and group initiative and ensuring that clubs are an expression of student engagement. Clubs may change from year to year, but they mirror our students’ interests, concerns, and values. Black Student Caucus
D’ARIA “Throughout my time at Indian Springs, I have been exposed to many different clubs and have met numerous diverse people. I have participated in the school’s peer mentor program and have been a part of the Black Student Caucus since the ninth grade, where I am now co-head of the club. At Indian Springs, I am surrounded by a community that consistently encourages me to embrace my individuality. My teachers and peers have provided continuous support as I learn to develop my leadership skills. I have created many personal and long-lasting connections with people of various grades, races, ethnicities, religions, genders, and sexual orientations. I am encompassed in a welcoming and inclusive environment that has allowed my confidence to flourish.” –D’Aria Lane ’21
Book Club Bridge Club Bringing Change to Mind Christianity Club Computer Programming Club Fishing Club French Club Gender & Sexuality Alliance Junior United Nations Assembly Key Club Latin Club Logic on Board Math Club MATCH Engineering Mock Trial Model United Nations Neo Junto Outdoor Club Paw Pals Psychology Club Records & Roasts Robotics Club
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“Indian Springs puts forth the effort to make sure all students feel safe and welcomed.”
Scholar’s Bowl Songwriting Club Sounds of Springs Spanish Club Speech & Debate Club Springs Speaks Sustainability Club Talk About It Club The Woodward Post Ultimate Frisbee UNICEF Club Visit www.indiansprings.org/ studentlife for club descriptions.
Indian Springs
“It’s almost like I meet new friends every day at Indian Springs. I connect with people I have classes with who might not necessarily be in the same grade as me, but I always smile and speak as I walk by and build friendships. I am involved in a number of clubs here at Indian Springs, such as The Woodward Post, Black Student Caucus, Springs Speaks, Sounds of Springs, Christianity Club, and more. Indian Springs puts forth the effort to make sure all students feel safe and welcomed.” –Victoria Kindall ’21
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Arts Highlights “When the school closed during our run of The Tempest last March, I immediately began to consider how our fall production Arts Dane Peterson. “The challenge was to find a play that could be adapted for COVID-19 but would still give my students an educational experience that felt complete, valuable, and exciting.” On October 30, Indian Springs Theatre performed Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play on McLean Lawn in front of Engel Terrace. Boarding students and oncampus faculty watched in person while family and friends joined the experience virtually from home. The show included over two dozen cast and crew members as well as a four-part choir and two accompanists. Auditions and rehearsals took place over Zoom. The show required no costume changes or physical contact, and actors were stationed on risers with partitions so they could safely remove their masks when it was time to perform. In addition to Vintage Hitchcock, Indian Springs Theatre produced its annual One-Act Festival featuring student directors Catherine Edwards ’21 and Caleb Harris ’21. Catherine directed The Actor’s Nightmare (which her mother, Dr. Claire Edwards ’89, also directed as a student at Indian Springs). Caleb directed The Edge of Noir and Fishing for Fate. All three shows were rehearsed and performed entirely through Zoom. “It has been said that ‘creativity comes from restrictions,’” says Dane. “The arts are not novices to this notion. In fact, throughout history, artists have continually had to adjust to the times. We at Indian Springs are no different. COVID-19 has allowed us to stretch ourselves to be better humans,
Winter 2020–21
adaptable learners, and stronger artists.”
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“My mom is an Indian Springs alum, and she always told me about this magical school that I could go to when I was old enough. I went to a public school from kindergarten to seventh grade, and I always heard how this school was so much different and so much better, and how I would be able to have the freedom to explore. I am a nerdy theater kid. The theater program here has let me explore as much as I want and then some when it comes to my interests both on and off stage. I’ve always been a performer, so I found my friends through theater. Some of my closest friendships were formed simply by me being the choreographer of a show. On top of that, I am in the choir and chamber choir. I was the founder of Swan Con: The Pop Culture Club, and I am currently one of the Gender & Sexuality Alliance heads. I feel safe as a member of the LGBTQ+ community here because all of my teachers and peers have been accepting of me.” –Catherine Edwards ’21
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would function,” says Director of Theatre
“I feel safe as a member of the LGBTQ+ community here because all of my teachers and peers have been accepting of me.”
“I joined the theater in ninth grade, participating in many productions. The theater experience teaches me how to be myself. The Indian Springs culture is very inclusive” –Angela Yang ’22
“The Indian Springs culture is very inclusive.”
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–Santiago He ’23
I would describe the Indian Springs culture as welcoming with open arms.
“This is a place where you can feel secure, like you belong.”
“I chose to come to Indian Springs because of the various opportunities that let me pursue my passions. This year, I started a club called MATCH Engineering, and I’m an officer for the French Club, a peer mentor, and I play tennis. I would describe the Indian Springs culture as welcoming with open arms. We’re simply accepting. We don’t know your past, and we all just want another friend.” –Amitis Moradkhani ’22
Indian Springs
SANTIAGO
“I came to Indian Springs last year as a ninth-grade boarder. The boarders are friendly and easy to approach, and we quickly got into very natural conversations. The day students are also kind and accepting. I often get invited to their outings as well, if I can get a ride. There is no such thing as a grade gap. As long as you wish to talk to upper-level students, most of them are happy to discuss a wide variety of topics with you. I have a bunch of friends now from all grades. The caring community is part of why I chose Indian Springs. The choir program is what I longed for before high school. I have been in a school choral group since fourth grade. I joined the Indian Springs Concert Choir and the selective Chamber Choir. Some of us are amateurs, while others already had some sort of training or experience. Despite the difference in proficiency, we manage to sing harmoniously. Theater is also a big thing. I never thought I would progress as an actor. But the group and our director, Mr. Peterson, have helped get me into shape. We bring laughter and enjoyment to the community through our performances, and that is enough. I also participate in clubs, extracurricular activities, and town meetings. The Student Government is running smoothly, and all of the Commissioners and the Mayor work diligently for our wellbeing. Indian Springs is definitely centered around the student body, and this kind of system is hard to find, even in more famous schools around the nation. I like how united the community is. We can see it through the 100-person choir and how the teachers pay attention to every student. This is a place where you can feel secure, like you belong. In daily life, you can be yourself, and you will be accepted here. Almost nobody will judge you based on your identity or appearance. I came out as bisexual around the end of last year. It is against traditional norms where I am from, and there are voices against it in the U.S. as well, but I receive immense support from others here. Indian Springs is a place where you can actually fit in. If you are here, you automatically have 300 acquaintances.”
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OLIVIA Winter 2020–21
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“When it comes to finding your place within a community, the process is different for everybody. I found my place at Indian Springs during my junior and senior years, when I reconnected with my lifelong passion for art and began to find myself and my peace of mind. I got involved with theater and the contemporary music program, which allowed me to express myself visually on stage. I love being able to work together with a group of students who enjoy the arts as much as I do, and through the process, we created our own type of family. My favorite part of it all is the performances, the connection between the performers and the audience creating a state of euphoria. I also started designing posters and banners for the athletic department. Coach Tetzlaff and the volleyball team adopted me as one of their own and honored me during Senior Night in October. Seeing my art displayed around campus continues to bring me joy as the pieces I created illicit a reaction from those who see them, which is the purpose of art. It’s been a slow progression over the course of my years here at Indian Springs, but I have learned how to fully express who I am. My advice for younger students is to experiment and try different activities, find the ones you are passionate about, and keep with them. Even though it might take time, you will find something that inspires you, and once you do, go for it and find people who support you along the way.” –Olivia Pope ’21
“Over the course of my years here at Indian Springs, I have learned how to fully express who I am.”
“There are many reasons why I chose to come to Indian Springs, but the main one is that my dad went here. Since I was four years old, he would tell me stories and experiences, and as I grew up, I developed a love for it even before I came here. I love the school for the campus and the community. Indian Springs is an environment where you are free to be yourself. I was on the volleyball team, and now I am on the soccer team. Even if you don’t do extracurricular activities, you are automatically part of the community because everyone is amazing and loving and will accept you. It is a place of growth and understanding.” –Julia Gale ’25
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Indian Springs is an environment where you are free to be yourself.
“It is my personal growth that mattered, and I am quite happy with how I turned out.”
Residential Life A small group of international boarding students stayed on campus over Winter Break. They received a surprise visit from Santa, who left them each a stocking and personalized gift, and rang in the new year with a party. They enjoyed movies
“I came to Indian Springs because I liked how everyone here smiled at me during my tour. Perhaps it was an overly naive way to decide on my home for the next five years. Now that I am near the end of my time here, I can safely say that I do not regret coming to this school. My experiences here cannot be summed up in clear-cut preferences or inspirational stories of how I have transformed, and I do not wish to degrade my experience by romanticizing it. There have been ups and downs, moments of pride but also of shame, moments of exhilaration but also of despair. At times I overworked myself, other times I slacked off. At times I followed some rules, other times I broke some rules. At times I loved the school, other times I did not. But that’s all behind me now. In the end, it is my personal growth that mattered, and I am quite happy with how I turned out. By my evaluation, Indian Springs did its job. It gave me the room to make mistakes and time to think. In a few months, I know that I will leave Indian Springs neither excited nor depressed. I will be at ease with myself, and this is all that matters.” –Bob Fu ’21
Film Center, hiking at Red Mountain Park, and an after-hours tour of the Birmingham Art Museum. They also enjoyed catering from several local restaurants, including a traditional Japanese meal from Maki Fresh donated by the Parents Association. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to our faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and friends for their generous care of our boarding students over Winter Break,” says Director of Residential Life Mandy Griffin. “Delicious meals, copious hot chocolate, coffee, and tea, and abundant and thoughtful presents were a delight for the students. Your kindness was such a significant and meaningful part of our students’ experience.”
Indian Springs Indian Springs
BOB
in a private theater at the Sidewalk
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ELEANOR
“I wouldn’t be who I am without the support I’ve had at Indian Springs.”
“When I first came to Indian Springs, I was struck by the sky. Whenever I looked up, it wasn’t a cold gray roof, but an infinite, vast blue. Indian Springs has become the sky to me. The opportunities it offers are endless. At Indian Springs, I’ve been surrounded by peers and some teachers who have helped me become someone who can form an opinion solely my own, who isn’t afraid to voice my thoughts, even if it may clash with others. At Indian Springs, I’ve become aware of what it means to recognize the bigger picture in an imperfect society and to feel compelled to help change what we all encounter in our daily lives. I wouldn’t be who I am without my experience and the amount of support I’ve had at Indian Springs, whether it be my musical journey, leadership, and more. Now, as a senior, I look up at the sky and see an unlimited future, and I look forward to how the school and I will change in the years to come.” –Eleanor Lee ’21
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Winter 2020–21
“At Indian Springs, there are so many opportunities for me to try new things. This allows me to figure out what I love to do and dive into it deeper. I chose to come to Springs because of the opportunity and atmosphere. Everyone is so accepting and encouraging, the open campus is beautiful, and the teachers are so helpful. After the first week of school, I found that I had already learned so many new things, met so many great people, and most importantly, I felt like I belonged.” –Catherine Hinson ’25
Everyone is so accepting and encouraging.
MARK Athletic Highlights On December 6, swimmer Mark Underwood ’23 won first place in the 2020 AHSAA State Championship 1A-5A 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:04.34. He also won second place in the 1A-5A
“I chose to come here because I felt like this was the place to be. Indian Springs doesn’t press you into social groups or require you to act a certain way as long as you follow the rules. The school lets you become who you are and decide what you want to become. I am active in athletics, being a two-year captain of the swim team and a co-captain of the cross country team. I want to be a leader and help others achieve excellence for the better of the team and improve my leadership skills for later on in life. It’s a beautiful experience that has given me friendships that will last for years to come.” –Mark Underwood ’23
“The school lets you become who you are and decide what you want to become.”
“I love sports, and I’m on the volleyball team and soccer team. Sports are really fun at Indian Springs, and even if you don’t win all the time, each team is like its own little family. Indian Springs students accept everyone for who they are, no matter what.” –Margaux Richards ’23
200-meter individual medley with a lifetime best time of 2:01.86. Mark shattered his wrist in August, requiring surgery. He missed almost three months of workouts and practices but remained focused on the championship.
“Indian Springs students accept everyone for who they are, no matter what.”
He hopes his passion and perseverance will inspire other students to join team Indian Springs. The Indian Springs Women’s Varsity Volleyball Team placed second in the area on October 14 to advance to regionals for the first time since entering Division 4A. Hayden Schell ’22 and Rezi Ubogu ’23 were named to the all-tournament team. The entire Indian Springs Men’s Cross Country Team qualified to advance to state after an excellent performance at sectionals on November 5. Team mem-
“I’m still discovering who I am and who I want to be, but it’s been a fun journey so far. I chose to come to Indian Springs because it’s open, accepting, and just a great community and family. The culture is beautiful, loving, and all around, the best.” –Dana Berry ’24
“The culture is beautiful, loving, and all around, the best.”
bers include Hayes Blackstone ’24, Sawyer Impello ’21, Shahin Kooshiar ’23, Leo Liu ’24, Simon Ma ’22, Sovan Shrestha ’23, Enoch Xiao ’23, and Ethan Xiao ’23. From the Women’s Team, Caroline Beisher ’22, Catherine Hinson ’25, and Elise Picard ’23 qualified for state. Elise finished in sixth place among all 4A runners in our section.
These reflections came from an invitation to all Indian Springs students to share their thoughts on belonging. Thank you to all who contributed!
Indian Springs
Mark Underwood ’23, Charlie Wilder ’23,
25
ANNUAL REPORT
2019–2020
“Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher from the 4th century BCE, wrote, “a good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” Compacted within that phrase are the greatest lessons I’ve learned these past five years: confidence in one’s journey, patience with life, and the ambition for self-betterment. It is my belief that I would likely not have embraced these principles elsewhere. It seems that all the right factors for intellectual and personal growth lie on this campus: an overwhelmingly supportive faculty, a free and open campus that demands exploration, and an emphasis on experience as the primary mode of learning. I have witnessed myself and my classmates change dramatically over the years, growing in confidence, worldliness, and insight, in many thanks to Indian Springs’ encouraging and caring environment. We have formed some of the deepest friendships of our lives, found beauty, had fun, and explored our world in adolescent wonder. If there is so much to be found in a small high school in central Alabama, the rest of the world must be truly fit for an unintentional traveler.”
Winter 2020–21
—JOHN SLAUGHTER ’20, GRADUATION SPEAKER
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A N N U A L R E P O RT
Seventy-four seniors became Indian Springs alumni on July 30 in a long-awaited, socially-distanced graduation ceremony.
Indian Springs
2019-2020
27
ANNUAL REPORT
2019–2020
To the Indian Springs Community:
I
would like to express our sincere gratitude for the generosity of the Indian Springs School alumni, parents, faculty, grandparents, students, and friends this past year. The 800 donors who gave or pledged over 1,400 gifts raised over $1.6 million for Indian Springs,
including a record Annual Fund total and critically-needed support for emergency financial aid to help Indian Springs families whose businesses and jobs were negatively impacted by the pandemic keep their children in the school. The broader Indian Springs community also came out with strong support for last fall’s Harvest Market and, despite our inability to hold any spring events due to COVID-19, we saw a 20% increase in parent participation in annual giving, an increase in our average gift size and 100% giving participation from our Board of Governors, Alumni Council, and current faculty. As always, volunteers play a crucial role in our efforts, so a big thank you to our Board’s Advancement Committee, Alumni Council fundraisers, alumni class representatives, our faculty/staff, and our Parents Association committees for their great collective work. And while much of what we do at Indian Springs is volunteer-driven, I would be remiss if I didn’t offer my special appreciation to our advancement team. They faced hurdles unlike any I have seen in my 20-year career in education, but they worked through all of it to help us achieve a successful year. As we look ahead to challenges in the broader world, we continue to be thankful that supporting Indian Springs remains a priority to our community and that the school’s dedication to our students and their experience will not be paused or delayed. Learning Through Living
continues to be our guidepost both on and off campus, and we once again thank you for your commitment to Indian Springs. JIM SIMON
Winter 2020–21
Assistant Head of School for Advancement and External Affairs
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FROM THE LEFT: Advancement Office Members Peggy Fleetwood, Leah Taylor, Kathryn
D’Arcy, and Jim Simon
F I N A N C I A L S T AT E M E N T S July 1, 2019—June 30, 2020
SOURCES OF O P E R AT I N G F U N D S
FUNDRAISING ANNUAL FUND & ANNUAL FUND R E ST RICT E D 2 019 -2 0
Annual Fund – Unrestricted
$688,615
Annual Fund – Restricted
$144,782
Total
$833,397
RESTRICTE D & OTH E R G IFTS 2 019 -2 0
Total
Total Giving
$845,426
$1,678,823
O P E R AT I N G S T AT E M E N T INCOME
Tuition and Fees
g
Tuition & Fees
g
Annual Fund & Other Gifts
g
Endowment Draw
USES OF O P E R AT I N G F U N D S
$10,679,718
Annual Fund & Other Gifts (adjusted for multiyear pledges) $857,317 Total Income Endowment Draw
$11,537,035 $287,279
EXPENSES
Salaries and Benefits
$5,702,665
Financial Aid
$1,702,569
Instructional and Student Activities
$556,406
Dining, Transportation and Other Services $941,707
Operations and Maintenance
$1,009,808
General and Administrative
$1,394,365
Total Expenses
$11,307,520
g g
g
Salaries & Benefits
g
Operations & Maintenance
g
Dining, Transportation & Other Services
g
Instructional & Student Activities Financial Aid General & Administrative
Indian Springs
29
ANNUAL REPORT
2019–2020
ANNUAL FUND DONORS
Unrestricted Annual Fund gifts received between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020 are listed below. A complete list of donors by constituency and by class can be found at www.indiansprings.org/ 2020annualreport.
LEADERSHIP LEVEL $25,000+ Kaaren “Coo” Hirschowitz Engel ’79* Gillian and Mike Goodrich ’63 Leo Kayser III ’62 Flora Yao and Minfang Lu Sharon and Frank* Samford ’62
ARMSTRONG SOCIETY $10,000 TO $24,999 Lisa and Alan Engel ’73 Mary and Rob Henrikson ’65 Ronne and Donald Hess ’66 Jon Loflin ’94 Ellen McElroy ’78 Emmett and Catherine McLean Heather and Dan Mosley ’74 Courtney and Jay Pigford Patti and Ed Rogers Rene and John Simmons ’65
Winter 2020–21
FOUNDERS LEVEL
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$5,000 TO $9,999 Susan and John Abbot ’80 Judy* and Hal Abroms Pris and Eddie Ashworth ’67 Julia and John Badham ’57 Maud Belser Myla Calhoun Pilar Kohl Childs ’92 and Jared Dostal Elizabeth and Mike Goodrich ’90 Mary and Braxton Goodrich ’93 Kyung Han ’85 Cathy and Paul Jones, Jr. Cecilia and Alan* Matthews ’68 Mr. and Mrs. Mark Myatt ’55 Molly Myers ’92 and Rick Hatfield Susanna Myers ’90 and Gerry Pampaloni Keiko and Kayser Strauss ’96 Nancy and Jim Tyrone ’73 Richard Whitley
GOVERNORS CIRCLE $2,500 TO $4,999 Kelly Bodnar ’85 and Brett Battles Betsy and William Belser ’80 Shay and John Michael Bodnar ’88 Allan Cruse ’59 Heidi and Martin Damsky ’68 Missy and Chip Dawson Dana and Jeff Gale ’92 Terry and Paul Goldfarb ’69 Andrea Engel ‘03 and Kent Haines ’03 Emil and Jimmie Hess* Martha Diefendorf and Robert Hogan ’68 Jennifer and Ben Hunt ’82 Emily Hess ’01 and Bob Levine Michael Levine ’74 Ying Qin and Honglu Li Julie and Mark Nelson ’88 Mary and Don North Libby and Dennis Pantazis Jennifer Morrissey-Patton and Heath Patton Stacy and Scott Pulliam ’85 Dolores and Dave Richie Lia and Rusty Rushton ’74 Mary Helmer and Mark Sabel ’84 Melissa and Hanson Slaughter ’90 Ginger Lolley and Joe Socolof Heather and Jason Swanner Ann and David Tharpe Alex and Jeff Thompson Tricia and Troy Wallwork Xiaomin Chen and Pingpin Yan Debbie and Steve Youhn Xia Ding and James Zheng Yong Shao and Yu Zheng
TOWN MEETING LEVEL $1,500 TO $2,499 Misty and Chris Antoon Brenda and Doral Atkins Anne and Bill Blackerby Kay Armstrong and Frank Carter ’62 Alex Cooper ’08 Elizabeth and Bart Crawford Ginny and Joe Farley ’81 Jan and Chip Feazel ’63 Barbara and Jim Flowers Carol Dewar and Larry Futrell ’64 Pamela and Prescott Kelly ’61 Kate Konecny ’02
Sheri and James Krell Malinda and Jimmy Lewis ’75 Judy and Gerson May Chinelo Dike-Minor and Randall Minor ’99 Lee and Mac* Moncus ’60 Ann and Richard Monk ’57 Rhonda and Jason Nabors Libba and John Owen ’70 Hina and Rakesh Patel Paget Pizitz ’97 Janet and Charles Plosser ’66 Margaret and Kip Porter ’60 Laura Schiele ’86 and Steven Robinson Cindi and Michael Routman ’72 Kelly and Scott Schell Jim Simon Patti and Scott Simpson Blakeley and Bill Smith David and Janet Standaert Kyle Strange Jane and Kevin Tavakoli ’98 Leah and Bo Taylor Callen Bair ’01 and Will Thistle Fergus Tuohy ’96 and Michael Barnett Gareth Vaughan Helen Gong and Xibo Wang Amy McDaniel ’80 and Steve Williams Haili Shao and Zhaorong Ye Yanna Chen and Yande Zhang Gloria Ge and Jie Zheng
MAYORS LEVEL $500 TO $1,499 Cathy and Tom Adams ’63 Erin and Adam Adrian Barbara and Jack Aland ’75 Kelly and Robert Aland ’80 Margaret and Bruce Alexander Regina and John Ammon Candi and C.P. Bagby ’63 Zheng Chen and Xianghu Bai Jennifer Bain ’84 Roger Baldwin ’87 Gabrielle Matese and Jeff Barton Jie Ma and Yuliang Bi Marie and Duncan Blair ’75 Janet Perry and Jeff Book Elizabeth and John Breyer ’71 Suzanne and Lewis Brodnax ’63 Patricia and Ehney Camp ’60 Myung Ju Kim and Chad Cho Jonette and Kenneth Christian ’67 Sandra Chung ’94 and Christopher Bae
Jeff and Lisa Clifton Helen and Ron Colvin ’68 Caryn and Steven Corenblum ’75 Anna and Chandler Cox Martha Anne Rich and Bill Craig Richard Cusick ’90 Anne Davis and Cris Picard George Dellinger ’80 and Trevor King Amy and Andrew Dibble Amy and Ricky Dick ’68 Patty B. and David Driscoll Bill Engel ’75 Heidi and Bill Falconer Lori and Richard Feist Jerolyn Ferrari Renee Ridgeway and Kimberly Flowers Candi and Mallory Forbes Liesel and Will French Elise May ’88 and Hank Frohsin Howard E. Furnas III Alice and Paul Goepfert Sylvia Goldberg Rachel Krantz and Edward Goldstein ’67 Sydney and Michael Green Shumin Liu and Junmin He Jean and Fred Heath ’62 Kathy and Robert Henderson, Jr. Kirby Pool ’07 and Ryan Henderson ’07 Leslie and Dabney Hofammann ’72 Kathryn and Edward Hook Mitch Ives ’70 Li Hua and Hua Jiang Jessica and Ben Johnson ’71 Maria and Lawrence Katz ’82 Michelle Lee and Joon Yong Kim ’72 Sara Kim ’89 Yang Suck and Richard Kim Xiaoling Wang and Lingdong Kong Dr. Patrick Kung and Dr. Margaret Kim Scottie and Bruce Lanier Alison Goldstein ’88 and Alan Lebovitz Michelle Abroms ’98 and Jon Levin Jing and Jose Li Xueping Jiang and Shengxue Li Sharon Kean and Bob Lipson ’68 Jing Chang and Guoliang Liu
*Deceased
Continued on page 32
FAR LEFT: Victoria
celebrates her formal admission to Oxford University. LEFT: Victoria walks with colleagues in a women’s march in Mexico City. Her banner reads, “In support of migrant women and girls, together we demand a life free of violence.”
SPRINGS SPOTLIGHT
Victoria Saenz ’13 Wherever she goes in life, Victoria Saenz ’13 forges a path. If you were to hear of her many accomplishments and the honors she has received, you might never guess that she was one of the first members of her extended family to graduate from high school. Indian Springs was a leap forward for Victoria. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree at Stanford University and is now studying at Oxford University. Victoria’s academic interests have spanned various topics in sociology and international affairs, but the subject that remains closest to her heart is immigration policy. Victoria’s family is from Ciudad Juárez, a Mexican city on the Rio Grande just south of El Paso, Texas. Her mother immigrated to the United States as a young child and faced decades of obstacles before receiving her citizenship last year. In 2011, the Alabama legislature passed HB 56, the Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act, which raised concerns among immigrant communities across the state. Victoria, an eleventh grader at the time, recalls hearing the adults in her family make plans for what would happen to their children if they were deported. At this point, Victoria began to consider how she could help families like her own navigate the process of immigration. After graduating from Stanford in 2017, Victoria volunteered for five months in Greece and Serbia during the height of the migrant crisis. She worked at refugee camps as a member of the relief organization A Drop in the Ocean and helped organize laundromats and “community closets” where those living in the camps could find clothing. “It was a unique experience to get a global perspective on immigration,” says Victoria. “One of my favorite parts was running the laundromat. I would sit outside drinking tea for hours with people from all over the world, including Uyghurs from China and Kurds from Syria.” Victoria booked her next flight for Brazil in 2018 courtesy of a Fulbright Research Fellowship. The
country was experiencing political turmoil surrounding the presidential election and increased violence in the cities, which required federal military intervention. While there, Victoria studied the ways music was used as a tool to unite citizens in minority communities. After completing her fellowship, Victoria moved to Mexico City to work for the Institute for Women in Migration. She organized educational talks and access to pro bono legal consultation for deported migrants and their families and those planning to seek asylum at the U.S. border. She also provided research assistance for litigation cases related to migration policies implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Policy research is important,” says Victoria. “But what I really like doing is offering direct services that help people. I remember working with a mother whose son was a U.S. citizen and had no documentation in Mexico for 12 years. He was invited to join the national chess team but wasn’t able to because he was undocumented. He could audit in school but wasn’t allowed to graduate. I started helping him in July, and he received his citizenship in October. The mother wrote me a letter during the pandemic to thank me for being ‘their guardian angel.’ It’s humbling to work with families like this because they are so like my own. Being able to offer support is very meaningful to me.” Victoria began classes at Oxford in October. She received a Rotary Scholarship to study sociology and plans to research families deported or returning to Mexico from the U.S. who have U.S. citizen children. “My ultimate goal is to develop a binational perspective as a citizen of both the U.S. and Mexico,” says Victoria. “I want to see an improved relationship between the two countries, and through all of my experiences, I am learning how we can do this.” Even when working internationally, Victoria finds ways to stay connected with Birmingham, the place she calls home. As a member of the local nonprofit College Admissions Made Possible, she empowers other students to forge their paths too. —RWP
Indian Springs
Mrs. John A. Lockett, Jr. Alice Hawley Long ’03 and Henry Long ’01 Gina and Hank Long ’70 Wenyan Zhang and Guanghua Lou Tommy Maddox ’69 Laili and Jim Markert Cathy and Caldwell Marks’ 93 Leslie and David Matthews ’75 Virginia Bledsoe Mattox ’86 June and Joe Mays ’63 Michael and Carole Mazer Dawn and Joe McCarty Brandi and Jeff McCormack Edith and Henry McHenry ’68 Cheryl and Burk McWilliams ’65 Carol and B. G. Minisman ’63 George Monk ’69 Jeanne and Richard Monk III Pam and Steve Moore Beatrice and Frank Morring ’68 Susan Brand and Harry Mueller ’62 Christy and David Nelson ’93 Hilary and Stuart Nelson ’95 Maizie and Tom Nelson Meredith and Daniel Odrezin ’05 Melissa and John* Oliver ’60 Marla Weinstein ’99 and Steven Ostroff Nancy and Sandy Petrey ’59 Jeff Pettus ’73 Kathy and Eli Phillips Don Pittman ’78 Emily and Jerry Pittman ’76 Janet and Craig Pittman ’74 Kathy and Bill Pittman ’70 Marjorie Pittman Merritt Pizitz Alison Pool-Crane ’79 Fenrong Miao and Qimin Qian Deborah and Larry Quan ’68 Katrina Armstrong ’82 and Tom Randall Andrea and Atticus Rominger Anne Marie Seibel and Steven Rowe Gail and Deak Rushton ’78 Tracy and Scott Schamberger Josie and Clark Scott ’71 Linda and Robert Sherman ’58 Royal Simpkins ’83 Mona Singh ’85 and Trevor Jim Diana and Bill Slaughter ’56 Judy and M. D. Smith ’59 Tom Smith ’72 Patricia and Rick Sprague ’66
31
ANNUAL REPORT
2019–2020
FAR LEFT: William’s
portrait entitled “Woman with a Red Earring” was accepted into the 2020 annual exhibition of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. See more of William’s work on Instagram @williamjrushton. LEFT: William poses at his new studio in downtown Birmingham.
Ping Zhang and Qu Su Martin Tobias ’95 and Robert Marx Judy and Arthur Toole ’58 Anisa Ssengoba-Ubogu and Erobo Ubogu Connie and Marshall Urist Jenny and Billy Walker Joel Thomas Walker ’87 Ruizhi Pang and Zeng Wang Bucky Weaver ’68* Tom Whitehurst ’68 Deborah and Brian Wiatrak Barbara and David Williams Tanya and Scott Yeager Li Hao Yang and Jun Feng Zhang
COMMISSIONERS LEVEL
SPRINGS SPOTLIGHT
Winter 2020–21
William Rushton ’11
32
At a historic atelier in Florence, Italy, William Rushton ’11 works alongside a cohort of dedicated artists to keep alive a centuries-old method of painting. William was interested in art from a young age but had not considered pursuing a career in the field until he was introduced to Charles H. Cecil Studios. On a semester abroad during his junior year at Colorado College, he took a drawing course that would inspire him to return to Italy two years later to take up residence as a full-time apprentice. “The door was opened to me, so I decided to give it a shot,” says William. Cecil Studios is a small but influential academy located near the medieval Porta San Frediano. The building served as a church in the 16th century, was adapted as a workspace in the early 19th century, and is now considered the oldest art studio in Florence still actively in use. Many current and former students, including William, have achieved recognition through the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and other international competitions. Cecil students generally follow a three-year course of study beginning with pencil and charcoal drawings and culminating in large-scale oil portraits. Their works are drawn or painted from life using the sightsize method. The artist places the paper or canvas next to the subject and, between pencil or brush strokes, repeatedly moves a dozen steps back to see both the subject and image from a distance and in full. Sight-size as a portrait technique originated in the practices of 15th and 16th-century European painters such as Titian, van Dyke, and Velázquez. It was used extensively by American artist John
Singer Sargent and his contemporaries. “It’s an approach that has been practiced and passed down through many generations of great painters,” says William. “Where you learn and who you learn from affects how you go about your work, which is easy to see in the style and technique of talented artists.” Cecil students also paint in spacious studios north of the city center. Designed and built in the late 1800s specifically for painters, these studios have large, northfacing windows that provide ample natural light, another essential element of traditional portraiture. “My favorite part of painting is finding the right light,” says William. “And in my paintings, I’m looking to create a flow of light that mimics real life.” William stayed at Cecil Studios for a fourth and fifth year to continue his training and instruct new students. He plans to return for a threemonth term each year but is excited to be back in Birmingham and has opened a studio downtown on First Avenue North. “My studio has great windows, and it feels like a good place to get started,” says William. “I am optimistic about making a career for myself here in Birmingham.” William is available for commissioned charcoal, pastel, and oil portraits. His clients will have the opportunity to observe, through multiple sittings, the historical methods he has brought home from Italy. “Paintings are meant to be experienced in person,” says William. “In books or online, you don’t see all the subtleties and don’t get the full effect. I encourage everyone to seek direct exposure to great art.” —RWP
$250 TO $499 Snehal and Sanjiv Bajaj ’98 Lisa Barnard ’85 Adina and W. C. Bass ’97 Karen and Curt Bassett ’57 Jody Klip ’78 and Jeffrey Black Kristin and William Blackerby ’05 Anne and Don Brunson ’64 Susan Caraway Liz and John Carraway Brooke and Tom Carruthers ’78 Clara Chung and Glenn Fleisig Mary Lee and David Darby ’61 Jen and Conrad De Los Santos Rebecca Garity DePalma ’80 Ilana Engel ’12 Ellen and Benjamin Erdreich Nedra and Joey Fetterman ’74 Anne and Rick Finch ’60 Peggy and Michael Fleetwood Mac Fleming Jan Fortson Gail and Chip Gamble ’58 Sarah and Jonathan Geisen Ingrid Straeter and Christopher Giattina Beth and Kirk Hawley ’66 Carla and Larry Hawley ’68 Kayo and Steven Howard ’83 Ann and David Hunt ’84 Brett Janich ’06 Muff* and Gilbert Johnston ’63 Jessica Spira ’82 and Robert Kahn Cathy Bekooy and Sanjay Khare ’85 Katy and David Killion ’00 Cathey and Kerry Kirkland ’69 Beth Folmar Krueger ’91 and Bill Krueger
*Deceased
Continued on page 34
DEVELOPMENT DAY LEVEL $100 TO $249 Michelle Abney Joanna and Al Adams ’62 Anonymous Lee and Iain Armitage Barbara and Spencer Atkins Rachel and Neville Baay Lindsey and Bill Barclift Monica Shovlin and Chris Baxley ’79 Ann-Maria Benedikte Beard ’85 Anne and James Bell ’92 Carol and Bill Bell ’73 April and Blake Berry Jean and Nick Bouler Casey and Garrett Bradford ’96 Chris Breyer ’75 Adrienne and Julian Brook Pam and Alan Buchalter ’83 The Brice/Bunting Family Tom Byers ’67 Denise and Greg Canfield Lindsey Moye Carter ’06 and Halcott Carter Pinkie and Bryan Chace ’74 Jane and David Chaplin Sienna Chen ’14 Shelley and Jerry Clark Blanche and Luther Coggin Cason Benton and Stuart Cohen Caroline Wingo ’95 and Clay Colvin ’95 Mary Emily and Edward Colvin Jeanne Conerly ’80 and David Venturo June Conerly Pam and Bob Cooper Christine and Darryl Copeland Sheri and John Corey ’75 Clara and Johnny Creel ’79 Mia Swier ’03 and Darren Criss Carolyn and Richard Crocker ’65 Gisele and Steve Crowe Hanelle Culpepper ’88 and Jeff Meier Kathryn Darcy Colin Davis Amy and Clint Dillard ’84 David Doggett ’68 Rick Dominick ’78 Lori and Stephen Dorsky ’71 Starr Turner ’02 and David Drum Betsy Stewart ’09 and Lucas Durst
Anne and John Durward ’90 Elizabeth and Robert Eckert ’64 Catherine Fleming ’78 and David Edwards Dr. Claire Maples Edwards ’89 Janet and Erik Eide ’96 Rana and Mohamad Eloubeidi Amy Finkelstein ’95 and Myles Steiner Patricia and Danner Frazer ’62 Sarah Frazier ’90 and Marc Sennewald Lindsay Frost ’97 and Sam Bhasin Diane and Tom Gamble ’60 Reese and Sally Ganster ’63 Elizabeth and David Garcia ’85 Irene M. Garcia Lawrence Garcia ’88 Cathy and Henry Garrett ’70 Loren Gary ’76 Terri and David Glasgow Ann and Richard Goldstein ’69 Nancy and Sidney Grady Kathleen and Jesse Graham ’56 Anna and Jon Gray Mandy and James Griffin Ann and Tim Hamner Linda Harrington Leigh Ann and Ray Harris Nina and Harry Harrison ’60 Susan and Wyatt Haskell ’57 Kate Hawley ’09 and Matt Neal Judy and Buddy Heacock ’58 Kathy and Gary Heacock Britta Brott and William Hillegass Karen and Stephen Hodge ’85 Howard Holley ’72 Tammi Caldwell and Jonathan Horn ’75 Floyd Howard III ’04 Mary and Cutter Hughes ’61 Susie and Peter Jander Qin Wang and Kai Jiao Amelia Johnson and Tony Diliberto Bailey Jones ’79 Hye-Sook Jung and Jinchul Kim Anya and Andrew Keller ’92 Maura and Jerry Kennedy ’66 Alexa and Eddy Kim ’81 Mac LaCasse Susan and Billy Lapidus Joonsuk Lee ’93 Jane and Perry Lentz ’60 Jennifer Carter Logan and Jerome Logan
Karen and Harry Maring ’72 Tameeka Marshall-McCall Herb Martin ’62 Kathy and Lealand McCharen ’69 Cheryl Killingsworth and James McMinn Ruth Ann and Jack McSpadden ’64 Brenda and Wayne Meshejian ’63 Mr. and Mrs. W. Eugene Mills Homa Rabiee and Hamid Moradkhani Elizabeth Morrison and Susan Watterson Dena and Robert Moye Mary Katherine Myatt ’86 and Randy Earl Anil Nanda ’92 Francesca and Richard Novak ’03 Lea Novakova and Jan Novak Victoria West and Richard Nunan ’70 Gabriela and Stuart Oates Dragana and Mak Obradovic Jamie and Greg Odrezin Bryn and David Oh ’87 Anne and David Ovson ’69 Norton Owen ’72 Evan Pantazis ’09 Sarah and D. G. Pantazis ’03 George Ann and Alton Parker Madeleine and Hubert Pearce Karen and Andrew Permenter ’72 Lori and Bob Pollard Dave Porter Rachel and Ryan Preskitt Laura and Erskine Ramsay ’64 Sherrie and Bruce Richards ’73 Ginny and Grady Richardson ’57 Debra Riffe David Rinald ’59 Elizabeth and Evan Roberts Ramsey Rossmann ’15 Rebecca and Josh Rothman Neil Roy ’96 Betsy and Daniel Russakoff ’92 Judy and Ed Rutsky Allison and Scott Salter ’85 Betsy and John Saxon Kiki and Pierre Scalise Lane and John Schmitt Yikun and David Schwebel Alan Seigel ’77 Barbara and Waid Shelton
Indian Springs
Joyce and Jerry Lanning ’59 Janet and Adam Lichtenstein ’91 Margie MacNeille and Julian Mason ’61 Margaret R. Monaghan Sara and Tommy Moody ’64 Mariko and Ichiro Nakano Sarah Mills ’03 and Jon Nee Marcia and Mike Nichols ’70 Deborah Cramer and Pat Odum ’72 Leslie and Peter O’Neil Mel and Keith Otter Stacy Donohue ’86 and Chris Perrone Paula Purse Pointer Martha and Michael Pratt ’67 Michele and Rod Reisner ’84 Jan and Dick Richardson ’70 Byron Riffe Jason Riffe ’03 Robert Riordan Nancy and Paul Roberts ’73 Charles Robinson ’59 Julia and Nick Roth Jamie and Justin Routman ’02 Nirmal Roy ’02 Ginger Grainger ’86 and Steve Rueve ’84 Christina and Keck Shepard ’78 Susanne and Jim Shine ’77 Dorothy and Jodie Smith Virginia and Ben Spradlin Kimberly and Michael Steiner ’95 Linda and Ed Stephenson ’65 Irene and Dorion Thomas ’90 Valerie Morrison ’87 and Clark Thompson Talia and Barry Tobias ’98 Kris and Andre Toffel ’72 Teresa and Mark Underwood, Sr. Alison and Rhett Walker ’83 Valerie and Wendell Walker Robin Greene ’03 and Michael Wall Howard P. Walthall, Sr. Theresa and Raleigh Whitehurst ’77 Mike Witten ’75 Mary and Terry Woodrow ’63 Yabing Chen and Hui Wu Luiwei Zeng and Panrong Xiao Timi and Carlton Young Amie and Tim Zanaty
33
ANNUAL REPORT
2019–2020
Karen Shepard ’81 Margaret Shepherd Judy Shepura Lele Shoemake ’86 Amy and Jeffrey Sides ’91 Andrea and David Simon ’73 Kate and Charles Simpson Ed Smith ’63 Ruth E. Wells and Clark Smith ’69 Sue and Allan Solomon ’68 Steve Spivey ’70 Janet and Walter Stephens ’67 Laura and Luke Strange ’03 Cindy and Andy Strickland ’57 Cantey and Jim Tanner ’64 Elizabeth Barbaree-Tasker and Eric Tasker Ameer Tavakoli ’91 Anne and Lee Thomas ’70 Niamh Tuohy ’89 Cindy and Greg Van Horn Weslie and Greg Wald Angela and Sam Waldo ’69 Ellen and Jim Walker ’80 Lissa Waldo ’01 and Allan Waller Jill and Thomas Walton Amy and Tim Wammack Lucy and Elias Watson ’58 Holly Ellis ’84 and Prince Whatley Marjorie Lee White ’88 Rebecca Rutsky ’91 and Hal White Andrea and Larry Whitehead Sarah and Chris Whitley ’99 Dee and Barry Woodham Brian Woods ’90 Elizabeth and Fred Wooten ’61 Ham Inn and Shih Bin Wu Rachael Mills ’01 and Jim Yarbrough ’01 Dawn and Jobey York
Winter 2020–21
UP TO $100
34
India and D’Anthony Allen Anonymous Lindsay Levine Ascherman and Lee Ascherman Krissie Ames Axon ’92 Hallie and Neil Barrett Virginia and Morris Benners ’65 Riley Berry ’19 Margaret Blackerby ’14 Philip Bryson ’62 Melanie Buffett ’90 Anne and John Burruss Maranda Berry ’12 and Jack Buttrey
Athena Chang Vernon Chaplin ’03 Anna and Dan Clinkman Mia Coleman Steve Coleman ’59 Linda and Glen Connor Joseph Copeland ’17 Joshua Copeland ’13 Annie Damsky ’98 and Mark Brink William Dickerson ’02 Liz Dillard ’15 Sam Dillard ’19 Tim Donaldson Marilyn Drennen Helen Eckinger ’03 Lindsay and Emanual Ellinas Madeline England ’98 Pamela and David Eskridge Mac Farley ’14 Chappell Stewart ’08 and Taylor Fendley Emily Fleisig ’13 Melissa Fortson ’97 and Brad Green Una MacArthy and Reid Freeman ’77 Megan Fortson ’00 and Cayce Fry ’00 Allison and Jeff Fuller Annie and Ryan Galey Susana Garrido Julie Dyas ‘90 and Brian Goldberg ’87 Theo N. Greene Andreia Griggs Conor Gubbins Liza Pugliese ’04 and Luke Hallsten Marilyn Haver Anna Lott and David Haws Lucinda Headrick Dore-Jean Heverly Elizabeth Hodges ’09 Liz Hunt ’17 Tanya Hyatt and Cris Morriss Becca Fletcher ’91 and Joe Impello Marisa Bradford ’02 and Edward Inge ’02 Kadie Jacobs ’19 Kelly Jacobs A.J. Jamroz ’11 Shannon Johnson ’88 Mary Beth Katz Diane and Frank Kennedy ’56 Huhn Yong Kim ’07 KPMG Gives John Laszlo
Deirdre Lewis ’92 and Creighton Mason Patricia and Tom Lloyd ’59 Tessa Magnuson Melodie and Greer Mallette ’89 Katherine and George Mange Nancy and Boo Mason Phoebe Mayor Das ’07 and Abhi Das Paul McGee Samantha Moats Ramona and Chris Mullinax Rebecca and Joshua Neel Buffy Fuller Oliver ’81 Emma Harms O’Neal ’10 and Alexander O’Neal Scarlet Stephenson Orlando ’95 Rawlins Parker ’99 Sand Rearden ’94 and Brooks Parker ’94 Dane Peterson Michael Pigue ’11 Megan and Justin Pino Sam Pointer ’81 Thornton Prayer ’82 CeCe Reisner ’18 Beebe and David Roberts ’61 Alfred Rose ’61 Lexie Rueve ’17 William Rushton ’11 Ina and David Russakoff Beth and James Scott ’75 Lisa Read ’78 and Michael Sheehan Dottie and Jeffrey Smith ’61 Rebecca Smith ’02 Lee and Sam Stayer Mrs. Mary Lee W. Sullivan Christina Tetzlaff Becky Thomas ’81 Ben Thomas ’62 Emma Turner ’17 Anna Clark ’88 and Eric Velasco Lauren Wainwright ’88 Helen Deas ’82 and Randy Walton Alexa Whitehead ’01 Janice Williams Brian Padgett and Cal Woodruff Chloe Yeager ’16
CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS 1919 Investment Counsel, LLC Abroms Charitable Foundation, Inc. Acworth Foundation
Allstate–The Giving Campaign AmazonSmile Foundation Birmingham Jewish Foundation Cardiac Evaluations, Inc. Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, Inc. Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama ConocoPhillips Petroleum Foundation Drennen Jones Scholarship Trust (Mike Goodrich ’90, Anna Meade Harris ’86, Gilbert Johnston ’96, Vaughn McWilliams ’92, Trip Meade ’89, Will Rose ’92) Edwards Lifesciences Corp. Engel Family Advised Fund Ernst & Young Foundation Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund James C. & Nancy O. Tyrone Family Fund J.E. and Marjorie B. Pittman Foundation, Inc. Jimmie and Emil Hess Fund for Indian Springs School Jones Family Fund Joseph H. and Reva Engel Foundation KPMG Gives Microsoft Mike and Gillian Goodrich Foundation PayPal Giving Fund Phi Gamma Delta of MIT Fund at Schwab Charitable Pinellas Community Foundation Pinkerton Foundation Publix Super Markets Regions Financial Corporation Ronne & Donald Hess Foundation Rusty and Lia Rushton Advised Fund Sabel Law Firm, L.L.C. Santosha Foundation, a Donor Advised Fund Scholarships for Kids Schwab Charitable St. Vincent’s Health System Synopsys Inc. & The Synopsys Foundation TA Services, Inc. The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, Inc.
EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID During some of the most challenging days of last spring as the pandemic unfolded and schools like Indian Springs were faced with the daunting task of moving instruction to an online platform, the Indian Springs community rallied and raised over $70,000 in emergency financial aid to help support tuition for current students and their families who were facing significant financial hardships. This was driven by robust alumni support, fueled on by a challenge grant from members of the Indian Springs Board, as well as our faculty and current parents, including parents of last year’s seniors who leveraged the opportunity to support financial aid by purchasing a paver honoring the Class of 2020 on Armstrong Green. The funds raised from over 100 donors made it possible for several Indian Springs students to remain in school this year. Thank You! –JS
Continued on page 36
LEFT: William teaches students on a geology field trip in Death Valley. CENTER: William deploys a seismic instrument on an expedition documented by National Geographic.
SPRINGS SPOTLIGHT
Dr. William Hawley ’08 On a quest for scientific discovery, Dr. William Hawley ’08 has explored the farthest reaches of space and the darkest depths of the ocean. His curiosities led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in astrophysics at Harvard College and a doctorate in geophysics at the University of California, Berkeley. He is now a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University. “In undergrad, I thought of myself as an astronomer,” says William. “Later, I realized I wanted to do something practical that would directly impact the communities where I lived. When I moved to California, studying earthquakes seemed like a natural fit.” William’s research involves using seismic data to image the interior of the Earth and integrate geodynamic models with the inferred seismic structure. These models help scientists better understand plate tectonics (a theory explaining motion in the Earth’s crust and the many resulting phenomena) and, thereby, our planet’s long-term evolution. “I remember being introduced to plate tectonics in the seventh grade,” says William. “When you learn about them as a student, you think of them as a solved problem. The truth is, we don’t know why we have them. We’re figuring it out in granular detail. One piece at a time fills in the gaps until we eventually have the full story of what’s down there.” William says one of the most crucial aspects of understanding plate tectonics lies in oceanic plates, which have remained largely unexplored—until now. Using cutting edge technology, William is addressing
a range of problems in marine geophysics, including deep processes related to mid-ocean ridges, structural and mechanical properties of the lithosphere and asthenosphere, and the structure and evolution of subduction zones. Day-to-day, William spends most of his time in the office writing code and processing data. But three times now, he has had the opportunity to join expeditions in the South Pacific and Pacific Northwest. On a ship with two dozen crew members, he and fellow researchers drop seismometers specially equipped to measure vibrations on the ocean floor. “If you want to study the ocean, you have to go there,” says William. “The world doesn’t look the way we think it does. Earth is a water planet, and the land is an anomaly. The most compelling thing is being on the ship, going in a straight line for days. When you see an albatross flying overhead, you realize that maybe no human has ever seen it before or may ever see it again. Life exists outside of our data-driven world. It is a totally different universe out there, probably the closest most of us will come to visiting another planet.” One of William’s expeditions returned information confirming a tear in the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate under Central Oregon. National Geographic documented this development in a web article published on July 29, 2019. “Science is about seeking new realities that need to be uncovered,” says William. “Figuring out the nature of reality of truth is my anchor and North Star.” —RWP
Indian Springs
The Ehney A. Camp & Mildred Fletcher Tillman Camp Foundation The John & Julia Badham Family Trust The J. Michael Bodnar Foundation The Prudential Foundation Matching Gifts The Robert Hogan and Martha Diefendorf Charitable Fund The Virginia Samford Theatre, LLC Thompson Family Foundation U.S. Charitable Gift Trust Vanguard Charitable Vulcan Materials Company Walker Charitable Rem Foundation Trust WineSmith Wines & Consulting
35
ANNUAL REPORT
2019–2020
LEFT: Karima
launched her company, Forged Ed, in February 2017.
Indian Springs is proud to partner with Karima and her company, Forged Ed, to provide equity workshops for our senior administrators this spring.
SPRINGS SPOTLIGHT
Winter 2020–21
Karima Wilson ’99
36
Karima Wilson ’99 grew up in a biracial household in Birmingham. Living in the legacy of the civil rights movement shaped her view of the world and inspired her to build a brighter future for young people of color everywhere. During her time at Indian Springs, Karima explored her interest in world languages and cultures. She was awarded an Abroms Scholarship to study abroad in Japan, igniting a lifelong love of travel and a goal of becoming multilingual. She continued her education at Swarthmore College, earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology. As a student at Swarthmore, Karima received the Lang Opportunity Scholarship to develop a training program for individuals interested in volunteering. The program addressed cross-cultural issues such as saviorism and paternalism. She also began working as a facilitator for the Birmingham Chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice. “The opportunities I had in school were the defining aspects of my life,” says Karima. “Through my experiences, I saw that education was the way to make a difference.” Karima began her career with Teach for America as a bilingual instructor in Houston, Texas. After seven years, she joined KIPP Sharpstown College Prep as the founding reading teacher and advanced to serve as assistant principal and, ultimately, principal. While she enjoyed working in education, racial inequities in the system began to weigh on her.
“There were students we weren’t able to reach,” says Karima. “Teachers bear the brunt of underfunding, and too often, it felt like the most important work wasn’t getting done. That led to a lot of disappointment, and after 13 years, I was tired. I didn’t have a clear plan for where to go, but I had a dream about how things could be different and more just.” Throughout her tenure as an educator, Karima continued to build upon her skills as a facilitator and trainer in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion. One workshop at a time, her dream began to take the shape of a consulting business. In 2016, she enrolled in the Harvard Graduate School of Education and began exploring entrepreneurship. “Harvard gave me time to process everything I had experienced,” says Karima. “I created my own plan of study addressing the changes I wanted to see in education. I learned about education policy and everything I would need to create my business.” Karima launched her company, Forged Ed, in February 2017. Her mission is “to support educators as they build schools where students of color thrive.” She has worked with numerous organizations to facilitate workshops and design materials. Looking ahead, she hopes to write curriculums that will “create bridges for students to learn about each other.” “It started with a couple of clients, and now it has grown a lot bigger,” says Karima. “More and more people are realizing this is a priority we can’t ignore.” —RWP
EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GIFTS 1919 Investment Counsel, LLC Susan and John Abbot ’80 Pris and Eddie Ashworth ’67 Ann-Maria Benedikte Beard ’85 Anne and Bill Blackerby Jeanette and John Brockington Tom Byers ’67 Liz and John Carraway Helen and Ron Colvin ’68 Allan Cruse ’59 Hanelle Culpepper ’88 and Jeff Meier Heidi and Martin Damsky ’68 Ginny and Joe Farley ’81 Jan and Chip Feazel ’63 Chappell Stewart ’08 and Taylor Fendley Emily Fleisig ’13 Mac Fleming Candi and Mallory Forbes Jan Fortson Alex Freedman ’10 Dana and Jeff Gale ’92 Reese and Sally Ganster ’63 Gillian and Mike Goodrich ’63 David Hill ’02 Li Hua and Hua Jiang Jennifer Shen and Frank Jiang Joonsuk Lee ’93 Emily Hess ’01 and Bob Levine Michael Levine ’74 Ying Qin and Honglu Li Sharon Kean and Bob Lipson ’68 Tommy Maddox ’69 Karen and Harry Maring ’72 Cecilia and Alan* Matthews ’68 Michael and Carole Mazer Edith and Henry McHenry ’68 Cheryl and Burk McWilliams ’65 Sara and Tommy Moody ’64 Beatrice and Frank Morring ’68 Ramona and Chris Mullinax Susanna Myers ’90 and Gerry Pampaloni Julie and Mark Nelson ’88 Bryn and David Oh ’87 Leslie and Peter O’Neil George Ann and Alton Parker Madeleine and Hubert Pearce Julia Pearce ’11 Stacy and Scott Pulliam ’85 Deborah and Larry Quan ’68 Jan and Dick Richardson ’70 Byron Riffe Debra Riffe Jason Riffe ’03
CLASS OF 2020 PAVER GIFTS Anonymous Jill and Vikram Arora Barbara and Spencer Atkins Diane and Todd Baker Betsy and William Belser ’80 Liz and John Carraway Brooke and Tom Carruthers ’78 Jeff and Lisa Clifton Missy and Chip Dawson Rebecca Garity DePalma ’80 Katie and Michael DeSocio Patty B. and David Driscoll Danielle and Rob Dunbar Jerolyn Ferrari Elise May ’88 and Hank Frohsin Angela and Terry Garrett Paola and Fernando Garza Shira and Matthew Goldberg Elizabeth and Mike Goodrich ’90 Marnie and Jamie Gray Andreas and Britta Heine Elizabeth Hudson Jennifer Shen and Frank Jiang Elizabeth Kvale Hoa Nguyen and Andy Le Denise and Andre McFadden Robin and Jim Meador-Woodruff Pam and Steve Moore Hina and Rakesh Patel Patti and Ed Rogers Kelly and Scott Schell Melissa and Hanson Slaughter ’90 Karen and Sean Sovacool David and Janet Standaert Holly Terrell Laura and Chris Terrell Continued on page 38
HARVEST MARKET GIFTS Ashley and Reed Bates Emmy and Doug Bell Maud Belser Janet Perry and Jeff Book Elena and Merrill Bradley Olga and Hector Caballero Liz and John Carraway Brooke and Tom Carruthers ’78 Lynn and Ed Cassady ’76 Jane and David Chaplin Clara Chung and Glenn Fleisig Jeff and Lisa Clifton Leigh and Bobby Collier Alexee Deep ’96 and Matthew Conroy Elizabeth and Bart Crawford Becky and Troy Crisswell ’71 Anne Davis and Cris Picard Patty B. and David Driscoll Jane and Charles Ellis Lisa and Alan Engel ’73 Jerolyn Ferrari Niamh Tuohy ’89 Candi and Mallory Forbes Maye and Bernard Frei Liesel and Will French Elise May ’88 and Hank Frohsin Sarah and Jonathan Geisen Sara Hoover and Ashley Gilbert Elizabeth and Mike Goodrich Susan and Wyatt Haskell ’57 Kathy and Robert Henderson, Jr. Amy Manson-Hill and Kevin Hill Kristi Kimberly and Rob Hodson Ingrid and Carlos Huff Nimi and Praveen Jetty Li Hua and Hua Jiang Natalie and Mike Johnson Sheri and James Krell Joy and Martin Ledvina Dedra Lewis Brandi and Jeff McCormack Ellen McElroy ’78 Emmett and Catherine McLean Carole and Matt Miller Ann and Richard Monk ’57 Jeanne and Richard Monk III Pam and Steve Moore Rhonda and Jason Nabors Karen and Chris Naylor Lea Novakova and Jan Novak Dragana and Mak Obradovic Anne and David Ovson ’69 Hina and Rakesh Patel Charles Picard Courtney and Jay Pigford
Margaret and Kip Porter ’60 Stacy and Scott Pulliam ’85 Lisa Read ’78 and Michael Sheehan Michele and Rod Reisner ’84 Dolores and Dave Richie Laura Schiele ’86 and Steven Robinson Kay and Paul Roller Rebecca and Josh Rothman Anne Marie Seibel and Steven Rowe Ginger Grainger ’86 and Steve Rueve ’84 Lia and Rusty Rushton ’74 Mary Helmer and Mark Sabel ’84 Kiki and Pierre Scalise Beth and James Scott ’75 Joanie and Greg Scott Elizabeth and Jack Shannon ’71 Edina and Sadeep Shrestha Jim Simon Rebecca Simon and Linda Peacock Diana and Bill Slaughter ’56 Melissa and Hanson Slaughter ’90 Dorothy and Jodie Smith Sally and Steve Smith Natalya and Ken Snow Ginger Lolley and Joe Socolof Virginia and Ben Spradlin David and Janet Standaert McNeill and Andrew Strang Erin and Shane Street Magda and Jerzy Szaflarski Elizabeth Barbaree-Tasker and Eric Tasker Connie and Marshall Urist Vulcan Materials Company Alison and Rhett Walker ’83 Valerie and Wendell Walker Tricia and Troy Wallwork Helen Gong and Xibo Wang Pam Weaver Kimberly and Scott Wilder Amy and Chris Williams Debbie and Steve Youhn Amie and Tim Zanaty Xia Ding and James Zheng
FACULTY AND STAFF D’Anthony Allen India Allen Hallie Barrett Neil Barrett William Belser ’80 April Berry
Blake Berry Margaret Blackerby ’14 William Blackerby ’05 Anne Burruss Susan Caraway Athena Chang Dan Clinkman Mia Coleman Caroline Wingo Colvin ’95 Clay Colvin ’95 Bob Cooper Christine Copeland Kathryn Darcy Colin Davis Andrew Dibble Emanual Ellinas Peggy Fleetwood Mac Fleming Jan Fortson Annie Galey Jon Gray James Griffin Mandy Griffin Ann Hamner Jonathan Horn ’75 Tanya Hyatt Kelly Jacobs Amelia Johnson Hye-Sook Jung Mac LaCasse Tessa Magnuson George Mange Boo Mason Samantha Moats Chris Mullinax Ramona Mullinax Rebecca Neel Don North Dragana Obradovic Mak Obradovic Dane Peterson Justin Pino Bob Pollard Lori Pollard Rachel Preskitt Scott Schamberger Michael Sheehan Jim Simon Leah Taylor Christina Tetzlaff Stephanie Thomas Cindy Van Horn Greg Van Horn Lauren Wainwright ’88 Weslie Wald Amy Wammack Cal Woodruff Tanya Yeager
Indian Springs
Ramsey Rossmann ’15 Cindi and Michael Routman ’72 Mary Helmer and Mark Sabel ’84 Melissa and Hanson Slaughter ’90 Dorothy and Jodie Smith Ginger Lolley and Joe Socolof Tracy and Benjie Spence Elizabeth Sztul Jane and Kevin Tavakoli ’98 Fergus Tuohy ’96 and Michael Barnett Joel Thomas Walker ’87 Robin Greene ’03 and Michael Wall Mike Witten ’75 Xiaomin Chen and Pingpin Yan
37
ANNUAL REPORT
2019–2020
ANNUAL FUND RESTRICTED GIFTS
Gifts for the following initiatives selected by the school were received in 2019–2020. Acworth Scholarship Athletics Badham Scholarship Chess Program College Counseling H. Drennen Jones Scholarship Trust Iain Alexander Scholarship Scholarship Granting Organization Scholarships Fund Science Special Events Theater Program
RESTRICTED GIFTS
In 2019–2020 restricted gifts were made for the following purposes:
ART BUILDING Nancy and John* Poynor ’58
BROOKS HINES MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Rene and John Simmons ’65
CONFUCIUS PROGRAM/ CHANG DISCRETIONARY FUND Troy University Foundation, Inc.
CLASS OF 1959 SCHOLARSHIP Elizabeth and Bob Athey ’59 Allan Cruse ’59 Nancy and Sandy Petrey ’59
CLASS OF 1966 SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND Sandra and Tom Lewis ’66
Winter 2020–21
CLASS OF 1967 THEATER CURTAIN
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Judy and David Allgood ’67 Pris and Eddie Ashworth ’67 Tom Byers ’67 Jonette and Kenneth Christian ’67 Genevieve and Samuel Cohn ’67 Ann and Bill Edmundson ’67 Robert Friedel ’67 Rachel Krantz and Edward Goldstein ’67
Karl Hofammann ’67 Lauren and Glen Howard ’67 Anne and Paul Liles ’67 Caroline and Erle Pettus ’67 Martha and Michael Pratt ’67 Schwab Charitable Janet and Walter Stephens ’67 Henry Weinberg ’67
THE ALAN MATTHEWS ‘68 SCHOLARSHIP FUND
CLASS OF 1968 SCHOLARSHIP FUND
CAMPAIGN FOR SPRINGS ETERNAL
Bilee and the late Wendell Cauley ’68 Heidi and Martin Damsky ’68 Amy and Ricky Dick ’68 Martha Diefendorf and Robert Hogan ’68 Anne and Charles Kessler ’68 Cecilia and Alan* Matthews ’68 Pam and Roy Meyer ’68 Beatrice and Frank Morring ’68 Laura Lee and John Samford ’68 Schwab Charitable Jerry Shadix ’68 Sue and Allan Solomon ’68 The Robert Hogan and Martha Diefendorf Charitable Fund Linda and John Thomas ’68 Vanguard Charitable
DIRECTOR’S PURSE Pris and Eddie Ashworth ’67
ELAN LAXER STRANGE ’10 GARDEN FUND Kyle Strange
HELEN B. PAYNE HUMAN RIGHTS ENDOWMENT Jeanne Conerly ’80 and David Venturo June Conerly
LARA HOGGARD ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Dottie and Jeffrey Smith ’61
RAY HARTWELL MEMORIAL MOCK TRIAL FUND Marianne Geeker Hartwell Deborah and Peter Keefe Rene and John Simmons ’65
STEVEN LANDRY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT Jan and Larry Landry
Cecilia and Alan* Matthews ’68
VOLLEYBALL
Kelly and Scott Schell Jennifer and Scott Smith P & S Transportation TA Services, Inc.
Those who made additional gifts to the Springs Eternal Campaign in 2019–2020 beyond what they had already given are acknowledged here. Kelly and Robert Aland ’80 Priscilla Goodwyn ’80 and Robert Anderson Misty and Chris Antoon Barbara and Spencer Atkins Anne Knox Morton ’04 and Austin Averitt Melody and Johnny Banks Birmingham Jewish Foundation Jim Burke ’69 Mary Emily and Edward Colvin Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama Caryn and Steven Corenblum ’75 George Dellinger ’80 and Trevor King Danielle and Rob Dunbar David Faber ’66 Lynn and Ken Fisher Emily Fleisig ’13 Theresa and Eric Fox Patricia and Danner Frazer ’62 Linda and Arthur Freeman ’59 Mary Ann and John Furniss ’60 William Gamble ’03 Elizabeth and David Garcia ’85 Google Gift Matching Program Carla and Larry Hawley ’68 Cynthia and David Hobdy Laura Moon Hopson ’90 Tammi Caldwell and Jonathan Horn ’75 Danny Markstein ’92 Rosalind and Daniel Markstein Thomé Matisz ’80 Milestone Fund Meredith and Daniel Odrezin ’05 Bryn and David Oh ’87 Sarah and D. G. Pantazis ’03
Kathy and Eli Phillips Patti and Ed Rogers Ginger Grainger ’86 and Steve Rueve ’84 Schwab Charitable Joyce and Maury Shevin ’70 Sarah and Will Slaughter ’91 Anne and Richard Theibert Alex and Jeff Thompson Thompson Family Foundation Judy and Arthur Toole ’58 Susan and Carlisle Towery ’55 Aye Unnoppet ‘88 and Maria Byars Heidi Molbak and Rob Verchick Angela and Sam Waldo ’69 Alexa Whitehead ’01
DINING HALL CAMPAIGN The following donors made gifts to the Dining Hall Campaign in 2019–2020. Judy* and Hal Abroms April and Blake Berry Mary and Don North Andy Sperling ’79 Vicky and Peter Sperling ’77 The Sperling Family Charitable Foundation
MATCHING GIFTS
The following employers matched their employees’ gifts to Indian Springs School in 2019–2020. 1919 Investment Counsel, LLC Allstate–The Giving Campaign ConocoPhillips Petroleum Foundation Edwards Lifesciences Corp. Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.) Microsoft Regions Financial Corporation The Prudential Foundation Matching Gifts
GIFTS-IN-KIND
Gifts of tangible property and services are also a significant help to Indian Springs through the year. Gifts-in-kind from the following people were contributed in 2019–2020. Anonymous Rachel and Neville Baay
*Deceased
LEFT: Glennon is a first assistant federal public defender for the Northern District of Alabama.
IN MEMORIAM GIFTS
Gifts to Indian Springs School were given in memory of the following people in 2019–2020. Iain M. Alexander ’91 Jim Brown ’65 Ann Kelty Carpenter Frank Curry ’63 Brian Dowling ’65 Martin Freeman ’65 Bill Gwin ’65 Ray Hartwell ’65 Eugene “Hawkeye” Hawkins ’59 Brooks Hines ’65 Sarah Bradford Horn Nick Jamroz ’09 Merrill Johnston ’65 Muff Johnston Susan Davis Johnson, late wife of John L. Johnson ’65 Sam Lapidus ’12 Frank Lary ’65 Mike Lee Charles Lupton ’65 Randy Marks ’65 Pellum O. Moncrief III ’77 Clay Newsome ’65 Dustin Osborn ’98 Helen and Martin Payne Dick Pigford ’65 John W. Poynor ’58 Wilmer Poynor III ’56 James Prayer Jr. Billy Ray ’61 LaVona Price Rushton Frank Samford ’62 Jyoti “Jimmy” Singh ’88 Kate ‘93 and Diane Stewart Elan Laxer Strange ’10 Debbie Kayser Strauss Bob Watson ’59 Iain Wilson ’91 David Woods ’85
Continued on page 40
SPRINGS SPOTLIGHT
Glennon Threatt ’74 Before becoming one of the first African American students to graduate from Indian Springs, Glennon Threatt ’74 was one of three gifted children selected to integrate Elyton Elementary School in 1967. Growing up in Birmingham during the civil rights movement, Glennon knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue a career in law. “Even in the fourth grade, I saw how civil rights could change things,” says Glennon. “I went to church with a number of civil rights activists, including Angela Davis and Arthur Shores. I talked with them a lot, and they became mentors to me. I knew I wanted to have a life of service.” After Indian Springs, Glennon earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Princeton University and a Juris Doctor at Howard University. He worked for brief stints in the oil industry and urban development before establishing a private firm in Washington. His practice specialized in many areas, including child welfare, and he provided legal counsel and instruction for the District of Columbia Court Appointed Special Advocate Unit. Glennon moved back to Birmingham in 1997. He spent four years at Hare, Wynn, Newell and Newton, L.L.P overseeing the development of automated solutions for the organization and management of complex class action and litigation cases. After that, he focused on practicing independently and as a member and partner of two other firms. From 2001 to 2012, Glennon completed over 100 jury trials as lead counsel and hundreds of bench trials and administrative hearings. He represented numerous death penalty cases at the trial and appellate levels and argued death penalty cases before the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. From 2008 through 2012, Glennon also served as the Criminal Justice Act panel representative for the northern district of Alabama, providing counsel for 60 attorneys. From 2012 through the present, Glennon
We were proud to welcome Glennon on the first day of school to speak to the student body on the topic of Inclusion, one of Indian Springs’ core values and our theme for the year. has served as the first assistant federal public defender for the Northern District of Alabama. He provides manages legal defense for individuals who have been charged with federal crimes but cannot afford attorneys. Glennon’s most high profile clients have included former Alabama governor Don Siegelman and former Birmingham mayor Larry Langford. He says the “zaniest” case he has worked to date was Harvey Updyke, the Alabama football fan who made national headlines for poisoning landmark oak trees at Auburn University. He says one of his most challenging cases was Nathaniel Woods, convicted of capital murder after shooting three Alabama police officers. Glennon is currently working on the federal capital prosecution of Patrick Stallworth and Derick Brown, charged in the abduction and murder of a three-year-old Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney. “I take pride in having the qualifications and experience to handle difficult cases like these,” says Glennon. “Not every case is a high point, but it’s all part of the job, and I love my job. Being an attorney is the only career I ever wanted; I never wanted to do anything else. A lot of people are still trying to find themselves, but I never had to do that.” Glennon also serves as an adjunct professor at the Samford University Cumberland School of Law. He previously taught at Miles Law School, the Birmingham School of Law, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He presents at conferences across the country and is a frequent guest political commentator on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show. Outside of work, Glennon is the proud father of two daughters who are graduates of George Washington and Princeton University. He and his wife, Carla, an acute care nurse practitioner at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, are active members of their church and continually look for ways to improve the Birmingham community. —RWP
Indian Springs
Renee Peacock and Steve Bair Liz and John Carraway Elizabeth and Bart Crawford Andrea Lilly Hina and Rakesh Patel Nancy and John* Poynor ’58 Kelly and Scott Schell Linda and Leo Sullivan-Bashinsky ’64 Cindy and Greg Van Horn
39
ANNUAL REPORT
2019–2020
FAR LEFT: Preston founded one of the largest private construction companies in the U.S. LEFT: Since retirement, Preston focuses on his passion for collecting art.
SPRINGS SPOTLIGHT
Winter 2020–21
Preston Haskell ’56
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Preston Haskell ’56 is among a small few who has the distinction of not only being one of Indian Springs School’s original students (along with brother Wyatt Haskell ’57) but was also both a member of one of our first graduating classes and one of the first Mayors. While he went on to found and run one of the largest private construction companies in the U.S., The Haskell Company, Preston looks back with fondness upon his work in student government and his mentors from his years at Indian Springs. “We had a town meeting form of government; we elected four commissioners and a mayor,” Haskell recalled in a recent conversation. “I ran and served as Commissioner of Services and then senior year ran for mayor. Cory Jackson ’56 ran against me and prevailed,” he said, but Haskell himself prevailed in the spring and gave the student commencement speech, something he still remembers as a highlight of his tenure as Mayor. “I learned how to chair meetings…becoming Mayor was more or less a natural progression from being Commissioner of Services and the culmination of my learning and leadership exercises,” Haskell said. Haskell is still able to recount some of the advice that Indian Springs’ founding director, Doc Armstrong, imparted on him at various stages of his student career. “There are two things I will always remember from Dr. Armstrong,” Haskell said. “At one time I was trying to push my way into being in charge of some effort, and he told me: ‘Part of leadership is knowing when to let the other fellow lead.’” Haskell chuckled when also remembering a Doc Armstrong admonishment: “You were logically right but psychologically wrong.” Haskell graduated from Indian Springs and went to Princeton, where he studied Civil Engineering, directly followed by earning an M.B.A. from Harvard
Business. After continuing his studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Haskell settled in Jacksonville, Florida, and started his construction career, which quickly led to great success. When asked when he settled upon his career choice, Haskell replied, “I had an idea at an early age.” “Preston was the first of my friends who knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life from a young age,” recounted classmate and friend Bill Slaughter ’56. “He knew he wanted to build things, and he started with the chicken coop we built at Indian Springs when we were students!” The Haskell Company combines architectural, engineering, and construction services, which was a less common practice in the earlier years of his business but one that was responsible for the company’s growth. While Preston Haskell hasn’t run the dayto-day business for many years, he still maintains an office at The Haskell Company, where he considers himself a “resource” whenever he can be helpful. He remains focused on his passion for collecting art, an endeavor that has spanned over 50 years. He derives great pleasure in making important pieces from both his personal and corporate collections, the foundation of which revolves around important American abstract expressionist artists, available to a wider audience by lending to museums and academic institutions. “I am passionately drawn to the energy, mystery, and excitement these works possess,” Haskell says. Haskell has also engaged in several worthy philanthropic pursuits, including having served as a trustee of Princeton University and, over the years, board chairs of the Jacksonville Museum of Contemporary Art, Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, the Jacksonville Electric Authority, and the United Way of Northeast Florida. —JS
COMMEMORATIVE GIFTS
Gifts in honor of the following people were made to Indian Springs School in 2019–2020. Jon Arora ’20 Trey Atkins ’20 Catherine Baker ’20 Catherine Belser ’20 William ’05 and Margaret ’14 Blackerby Scout Carruthers ’20 Kay and Frank Carter Jin Cho ’24 Class of 1967, Living and Deceased Dr. Robert A. Cooper Kathryn D’Arcy Cate Dawson ’20 Blanton ’07, Katherine ’14, and Elizabeth ’20 DePalma Courtney Denson ’03 Dede Driscoll ’20 Evan Dunbar ’20 Catherine Edwards ’21 Jim Ellington Jacqueline Ferrari ’20 Mac Fleming’s 97th Birthday Molly Frohsin ’20 Gio Garza ’20 Alice Goff ’20 Julia Goldberg ’20 Catherine Goodrich ’20 Virginia Gray ’20 Lydia Harrington ’06 Benedikt Heine ’20 Luke Hillegass ’20 Rebecca House ’20 Ken Jiao ’18 Amelia Johnson and College Advising Dylan Le ’20 Yichen “Jeffrey” Lu ’20 Mac Maharrey ’20 Danny Markstein ’92 Alex McFadden ’20 Aidan Meador-Woodruff ’20 Shauna Moore ’20 Deven Patel ’20 Sabra Rogers ’20 P arker Schell ’20 Maury Shevin ’70 Jim Simon John Slaughter ’20 Laura Sovacool ’20 Ben Standaert ’20 Ryan Standaert ’20
2019–2020 LEGACY SOCIETY Judy* and Hal Abroms Steve Apolinsky ’80 Pris and Eddie Ashworth ’67 Julia and John Badham ’57 Candi and C.P. Bagby ’63 Murray and Keehn W. Berry, Jr.* Lois Blackwell Karen and Bill Boyle ’62 Kay Armstrong and Frank Carter ’62 Pinkie and Bryan Chace ’74 Hanelle Culpepper ’88 and Jeff Meier Heidi and Martin Damsky ’68 Cathy and Mell Duggan ’76 Coo Hirschowitz Engel ’79* David Faber ’66 Ginny and Joe Farley ’81 Robert Friedel ’67 Howard E. Furnas III Gertrude Gildea Sylvia Goldberg Rachel Krantz and Edward Goldstein ’67 Gillian and Mike Goodrich ’63 Billie Grace and Henry Goodrich* Eugenia and Larry Greer ’63 Ronne and Donald Hess ’66 Robert W. Johns, Ph.D.* George Johnston ’65 Muff* and Gilbert Johnston ’63 Judy and Philippe Lathrop ’73 Lawrence Matthews ’64* Cecilia and Alan* Matthew ’68 Kristine Billmyer and Russell Maulitz ’62 June and Joe Mays ’63 Susan and Tennant McWilliams ’61 Margaret R. Monaghan Bob Montgomery ’74 Joe Nonidez ’62* Margaret and Kip Porter ’60 Carol and Wilmer* Poynor ’56 Nancy and John* Poynor ’58
Cindi and Michael Routman ’72 Sharon and Frank* Samford ’62 Cooper Schley ’64 William S. Schuler ’66* John Tanquary ’74 Jane and Kevin Tavakoli ’98 Ann and David Tharpe Jill and Chip Thuss ’74 Fergus Tuohy ’96 and Michael Barnett Nancy and Jim Tyrone ’73 Pamela and Bill Weeks ’69 Marjorie and Jim White ’60
VOLUNTEERS ALUMNI COUNCIL Callen Bair Thistle ’01 (President) Sanjiv Bajaj ’98 Johnny Creel ’79 Starr Turner Drum ’02 Helen Eckinger ’03 Claire Maples Edwards ’89 Emily Fleisig ’13 Andrea Engel Haines ’03 Kate Hawley ’09 Elizabeth Hodges ’09 A.J. Jamroz ’11 Brett Janich ’06 Kate Konecny ’02 Sarah Mills Nee ’03 Daniel Odrezin ’05 Evan Pantazis ’09 Rod Reisner ’84 Mark Sabel ’84 Valerie Morrison Thompson ’87 Chris Whitley ’99
PARENTS ASSOCIATION Elizabeth Goodrich (President) Erin and Adam Adrian Missy and Chip Dawson Katie and Michael DeSocio Candi and Mallory Forbes Sarah and Jonathan Geisen Mike Goodrich ’90 Andreia Griggs Becca Fletcher Impello ’91 and Joe Impello Jeanne and Richard Monk Rhonda and Jason Nabors Hina and Rakesh Patel Andrea and Atticus Rominger Ginger Grainger Rueve ’86 Melissa and Hanson Slaughter ’90 Virginia and Ben Spradlin McNeill and Andrew Strang Erin and Shane Street
Heather and Jason Swanner Niamh Tuohy ’89 Anna Clark Velasco ’88 and Eric Velasco
2019 HARVEST MARKET COMMITTEE Jeanne Monk, Co-Chair Rhonda Nabors, Co-Chair Ashley Bates Christie Butler Liz Carraway Elizabeth Crawford Patti B. Driscoll Heidi Falconer Paola Garza Elizabeth Goodrich Kathy Henderson Karen Naylor Gabby Oates Stacy Pulliam Kay Roller McNeill Strang Edina Shrestha Niamh Tuohy ’89 Tricia Wallwork Amy Williams Nicole Williams Amie Zanaty
ARTS VOLUNTEERS Amanda Adams ’79 Chip Dawson (Co-Chair) Missy Dawson (Co-Chair) Jonathan Geisen (Co-Chair) Sarah Geisen (Co-Chair) Barbara Atkins Spencer Atkins Sally Barry Liz Carraway Kathryn D’Arcy Mamadou Diallo Jim Dunaway Maggie Dunaway Joe Dunsmore Sheryl Dunsmore Claire Edwards ’89 Heath Edwards Elise Frohsin ’88 Angela Garrett Terry Garrett Paola Garza Marnie Gray Andreia Griggs Leigh Ann Harris David Haws Becca Fletcher Impello ’91 Danielle Johnson
Hye-Sook Jung Jing Li Jose Li William Marshall Andre McFadden Denise McFadden Rebecca Miller Mike Miller David Monteleone Stacey Monteleone Huaqiang Peng Andrea Pope DeWayne Pope Yujuan Quan Hanson Slaughter ’90 and Melissa Slaughter Jerzy Szaflarski Magda Szaflarski Marilyn Trible Jill Walton Thomas Walton Hong Wang Tim Young
ADVANCEMENT OFFICE Jim Simon, Assistant Head of School for Advancement & External Affairs Leah Taylor, Assistant Director of Advancement Kathryn Darcy, Advancement Associate Peggy Fleetwood, Advancement Associate Thank you to the 150 donors who made the 2020 Harvest at Home Parents Association fall fundraiser a success! We raised a record $85,000 for the Annual Fund, which supports all aspects of life at Indian Springs. Details and a full list of donors will appear in the next annual report. Thank you to our volunteers, especially our event chair Elizabeth Goodrich and our sponsorship co-chairs Jeanne Monk and Tricia Wallwork. –JS
Indian Springs
Ethan Thomas ’20 Marlie Thompson ’21 Rik Tozzi Elma Tuohy Mark Underwood ’23 Cindy and Greg Van Horn Jesse ’14, Juliet ’18, and Katie ’18 Wiatrak Ariana Young ’20
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ANNUAL REPORT
SUPPORT SPRINGS
WE ARE HERE BE
O Winter 2020–21
ur goal for this school year has been to provide, as much as possible, an uninterrupted experience for our students and their families despite the pandemic. After finishing the last school year remotely, we reopened on schedule in August to offer both in-person classes and the flexibility of a dynamic remote learning platform. Preparing our campus for the safe return of students was a monumental effort requiring months of hard work from our faculty and staff as well as a significant financial investment. Over the summer, we spent nearly $400,000 on • classroom safety and technology; • enhanced outdoor dining options; • heightened cleaning protocols; and • increased support for wellness.
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BECAUSE OF YOU
Our commitment to providing a healthy learning environment, along with increased financial aid for families who have been impacted by the pandemic, will require ongoing investments through the remainder of the fiscal year. Your generous gift to the Annual Fund will not only support academic and extracurricular activities; it will help us weather the storm and maintain the experience of Learning through Living for current students and future generations. Thank you!
Indian Springs
DONATE By mail using the enclosed envelope By phone to 205.332.0592 Online at www.indiansprings.org/give
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ALUMNI & FRIENDS
N OT E WO R T H Y CLASS OF 1965 Dick Crocker ’65 retired from chaplaincy at Dartmouth College and is now living near one of his sons in Providence, Rhode Island, where he and his wife Carolyn attended Brown University. Dick enjoyed a mini-reunion with classmates last summer in Portland, Maine. Pictured from the left are Bert Wiesel ’65, Chris Johnson ’65, Dick, and Knapp Hudson ’65. CLASS OF 1972 Dabney Hofammann ’72 and Rev. Thomas Crittenden ’72 reconnected last fall when Crittenden served as the interim priest at Hofamman’s church in Decatur, Alabama. Dabney is pictured with his wife, Leslie.
DICK CROCKER ’65
CLASS OF 1975 Mark Waldo ’75 is in his fifteenth year as rector of St. Michael & All Angels’ Episcopal Church in Millbrook, Alabama. Mark is pictured with his wife, Mitzi, and his siblings (from the left) Mary, Andrew ’71, Sam ’69, Peter ’77, and Anne Louise ’79. The Waldo family was the first to have five siblings graduate from Indian Springs. CLASS OF 1983
DABNEY HOFAMMANN ’72
Steven Howard ’83 joined the Fiskars Group as its first lawyer responsible for the Asia Pacific region after eight years covering Sony’s mobile business as Asia Pacific General Counsel in Singapore and Senior Legal Counsel and Global Privacy Officer in Tokyo. Fiskars is the oldest company in Finland and is known for its orange-handled scissors and iconic brands like Wedgwood, Waterford, and Royal Copenhagen. Steven is pictured with his wife, Kayo, and his children, Salia and Yujin. CLASS OF 1986
MARK WALDO ’75
MARK WALDO ’75
Lele Shoemake ’86 is a speech-language pathologist in Altoona, Alabama.
Winter 2020–21
CLASS OF 1994
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STEVEN HOWARD ’83
Jesanna Cooper ’94 and Princeton Baptist Medical Center were recognized by Newsweek as one of the Best Maternity Care Hospitals of 2020. This list recognizes hospitals that provide excellent care to mothers, newborns, and their families, based on the 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Survey. The Leapfrog Group identified lower rates of early elective delivery, NTSV C-section, and episiotomy as the necessary standards to be considered a Best Maternity Care Hospital. Jesanna is pictured with members of Princeton’s OB-GYN and Midwifery team Dr. Heather Skanes ’06, Sheila Lopez, and Sandra Collins.
Class notes edited by Margaret Blackerby ’14
CLASS OF 1999 Shilo Groover ’99 visited Indian Springs this summer to produce a story on biology teacher Bob Pollard and the Fertile Minds Learning Garden for WBRC. Groover interviewed Pollard, her former teacher, as they took a stroll through the different varieties of fruits and vegetables to discuss how Pollard adapted his summer farmstand to accommodate COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. CLASS OF 2001 Sipiwe Moyo ’01 and her husband, Leeroy, welcomed their second child, Simone Luyanda Moyo, on February 4, 2020 in New York City. Sipiwe is an actress with numerous credits to her name. She is currently featured in “Teenage Bounty Hunters” on Netflix and “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” on HBO Max. She is also in an upcoming film entitled “Naked Singularity” starring John Boyega.
JESSANA COOPER ’94
SHILO GROOVER ’99
SIPIWE MOYO ’01
TIM BEENKEN ’05
ADAIR MARTIN SMITH ’09
CARLEE DUGGAN ’09
CLASS OF 2005 Tim Beenken ’05 returned to Birmingham after a brief career as an opera singer to serve as a registered nurse in the emergency room at Princeton Baptist Medical Center. He met his wife Kathryne Overturf, Arts Recruiter for Samford University School of the Arts, in 2018. CLASS OF 2009 Carlee Duggan ’09 and her husband, Blake Lewis, welcomed their son, Harrison Lee Lewis, on January 20, 2020. Harrison is a grandson to Carlee’s father Mell Duggan ’76 and a nephew to her brothers Ivy Duggan ’07 and Reeves Duggan ’14. Adair Martin Smith ’09 and Marshall Smith welcomed their first child, Lee Alice Smith, on June 23, 2020.
Jake Shuford ’12 released his first book The Secret of the Green Anole in paperback and e-book format on October 27. His second book Beneath the Sand is forthcoming. Shuford attended the University of Colorado and achieved a national first-place ranking in medical and product training in 2017. He has worked as a medical device sales representative of orthopedic implants and facilitated the correct insertion of products in an OR setting. Learn more at www.jakeshuford.com. continued on page 46
JAKE SHUFORD ’12
Indian Springs
CLASS OF 2012
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ALUMNI & FRIENDS
N OT E WO R T H Y
IN MEMORIAM ALUMNI Claude McCain (Mac) Moncus ’60 passed away on July 15, 2020. Mac was Mayor in 1960 and served on the Indian Springs Alumni Council from 2010 to 2015. He attended Birmingham-Southern College and The University of Alabama School of Law. He was a member of The Country Club of Birmingham and Monday Morning Quarterback Club and served as Board Member and Chairman of the Board of St. Vincent’s Foundation. He loved the University of Alabama football and basketball and enjoyed spending his weekends hunting in Greene County. He is survived by his wife, Lee; children, Katherine (Chris), Susan (Win), Burke, and Leslie (Bowen); and grandchildren, Mac ’17, Miles, Ann, Caroline, Edwin, Burke, Janie, Bowen, William, and George; and brother, James ’59 (Marilyn).
CLASS OF 2013
Winter 2020-21
From Emma Knapp ’13
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“After starting my own business as a junior at Indian Springs, working in an iron foundry, achieving my B.F.A. in sculpture from Birmingham Southern College, and creating a jewelry line sold in 45 stores nationwide, I know I’m ready for the next chapter in my life. I’m the kind of person always looking for my next challenge and opportunity for growth, and I’m very happy to have found that within the Miss Universe Organization. I am running for Miss North Carolina USA in March 2021, and it has been an incredible journey. To be honest, I knew very little about pageants, and the more I got involved in this process, I realized what an opportunity this presented for personal growth. My misconception was that this was a beauty pageant, but I have learned that this is a celebration of intelligent, talented, and articulate women. After a few months of research and preparation, I have already noticed the positive influence on how I carry myself, communicate with others, and visualize my future. By running for Miss North Carolina USA, I plan to encourage young women never to let anyone tell them no and always pursue their dreams. Always be unapologetically yourself and never listen to social stigmas. I’m looking forward to kicking off my steel toe boots and strapping on my six-inch heels. I am so incredibly grateful for the lessons I learned at Indian Springs that taught me how to appreciate individualism and seize new experiences.”
LEFT: Emma works
in an iron foundry. RIGHT: Emma is
running for Miss North Carolina.
Dr. Henry Franklin (Frank) Gafford, IV ’64 passed away on July 6, 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Johns Hopkins University and UAB School of Medicine. He was a resident at the University of California San Diego and then studied cardiology at Washington University in St. Louis. He and his wife, Sally, were both raised in Alabama and moved to St. Louis in 1974, where they raised their three children. Leroy Monsky ’64 passed away on December 27, 2018 in Rockville, Maryland. He was the son of University of Alabama Football Hall of Famer Leroy Monsky, Sr and is survived by his three daughters and his cousins, Paul (Cathy), Mark, and Sandy. Carol van Zalingen ’85 passed away on April 14, 2020 in Pasadena, California. She was born in Kampala, Uganda and lived in Tehran, Iran before moving to the United States. A National Merit Scholar, she held a B.A. in English and Anthropology from Rice University and an M.Ed. from the University of Montevallo. She was a gifted Young Adult novelist and taught 8th-grade language arts in Hoover and 7th-grade language arts in Hillard, Ohio. Carol joined Westridge School in 2008 as the 8th-grade English teacher and in 2015 transitioned to the Dean of Lower and Middle School student support. She loved animals, especially her dogs, Abby and Sparky. Carol is survived by her mother, Lea Jane and her brother, Michael. Paul Lydolph III, J.D., LL.M. ’90 passed away on September 30, 2020. Paul was a founder and managing partner of Lydolph & Weierholt Title Insurance Agency, a national title agency that provides commercial and residential closings, as well as escrow services. He was one of the top asset protection attorneys in the nation and served as in-house counsel and litigator to several multi-million dollar businesses. He was an Ironman finisher, coast-to-coast bicyclist, motorcyclist, photographer, scuba diver, and aspiring writer. Paul enjoyed traveling and visited about 50 countries and participated in study abroad programs in France, Spain, England, and New Zealand. He is survived by his wife, Kristin; their five children; his parents, Judith LaMarche and Rob Stainback; and his sister, Tamara ’92. Vonshelle Baldwin ’92 passed away on October 3, 2020. She received a B.A. in History from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and enlisted in the United States Army on May 11, 2001, at the rank of Specialist. Vonshelle’s military occupational specialty (MOS) was 92Y Unit Supply Specialist with duty assignment at Fort Benning, Georgia with the 30th Adjutant General (AG) Battalion Infantry Training Brigade (ITB). Her
Class notes edited by Margaret Blackerby ’14
Wes and Parker deliver computers to Birmingham City School teachers.
military awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon. In addition, her hobbies included reading, watching wrestling, and listening to music. She is survived by her two children, Joshua and Jessica; her brother David; her sister Valerie; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
SARAH BRADFORD May 7, 2020 Mother of current faculty member Jonathan Horn ’75; grandmother of Julia Horn ’11 and Kettler Horn ’14 JANICE BASS October 5, 2020 Mother of Willie ’97, Edward ’00, and Brittney ’05 NANCY BEAN Grandmother of Joseph ’11 KENDERRICK CARNES October 4, 2020 Guard employed by Security Engineers, Inc. to serve Indian Springs School ELAINE DEROBBIO April 23, 2020 Mother of Indian Springs board member Lia Rushton; mother-in-law of Rusty Rushton ’74; grandmother of Tullia Rushton ’09 and William Rushton ’11 IDA MAE KING April 8, 2020 Grandmother of Aisha Holmes Thorn ’90; former Indian Springs faculty member LYNETTE MAZER December 29, 2019 Grandmother of Adam ’04, Tara ’08, and Cori ’14
JACOB BAER MAZER June 12, 2020 Grandfather of Adam ’04, Tara ’08, and Cori ’14 IDA PULLIAM August 25, 2020 Mother of Max ’77 and Scott ’85; grandmother of Rob ’16 and Chandler ’17 ELEANOR SKLENAR July 2, 2020 Mother of Tisha ’79 HERBERT SKLENAR July 23, 2020 Father of Tisha ’79 THERESA SPRAIN September 30, 2020 Grandmother of Priscilla Jones ’15 and Elizabeth Jones ’18 JAMES WALKER Father of Jim ’80; grandfather of Tess ’14 DEBORAH JANE WARREN June 11, 2020 Daughter of former Indian Springs faculty member Richard Warren RAYMOND WOODSON November 3, 2020 Father-in-law of former Indian Springs faculty member Dr. Tom Barr: grandfather of Rebecca ’09, Lizzie ’11, and Thomas ’16
CONTRIBUTE TO INDIAN SPRINGS MAGAZINE Alumni, did you recently reach a milestone in your career, get married, or welcome a child into your family? We want to celebrate you in the upcoming issue. Please submit your class notes to classnotes@indiansprings.org now. We are also accepting nominations for our Springs Spotlight series, which profiles alums in interesting careers. If you know an alum we should feature, please email Editor Rachel Wallace Preskitt at rwallace@indiansprings.org.
CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021
Tech4Teens Benefits Birmingham City Schools Through Indian Springs’ core values of Intellectual Curiosity and Innovative Thinking, Wes Simpson ’21 and Parker Schell ’20 (now a first-year student at the University of Virginia) embody the spirit of Learning through Living to fulfill a need within our broader community. After attending Club Expo his 10th-grade year, Wes started to think critically about how he could give back to the community. Because of a busy baseball schedule that didn’t align with many club meeting times, his dad suggested he start his own club, unifying his interest in computers with his commitment to community service. Then, on their ride home from school, the lightbulb went off. Why not refurbish gently used computers from local businesses to support learning at Birmingham City Schools? Wes called Parker to share his idea and ask if his father’s company, TA Services, had any computers that were no longer in use. “Without Parker, I think it would have been hard to keep the dream alive,” says Wes. “He was the bridge between the idea and the businesses.” Over the following year, the two Indian Springs students set their plans in motion and created Tech4Teens, LLC. They hosted a Halloween fundraiser in Montevallo last fall and raised enough money to purchase 50 used Chromebooks and Windows computers from TA Services and Blair Logistics. Wes and Parker partnered with IT Express to wipe each hard drive, reinstall the software, and check their security. They connected with J.W. Carpenter ’97, Executive Director of the Birmingham Education Foundation, who put them in touch with the Birmingham Board of Education to donate the restored devices to their students. Tech4Teens met with principals from across the school district at Princeton Elementary to present the computers, which were distributed to students to assist with distance learning. Wes reflected that the project could not have come to fruition at a better time, given how many schools are grappling with learning challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic. After successfully distributing the first batch of computers, Wes and Parker used their leftover funds to purchase a brand new computer and plan to award it to the winner of an essay contest open to all students in the Birmingham City School system. After the contest, they will continue to look for ways to serve the community through Tech4Teens. MB —
Indian Springs
FAMILY AND FRIENDS
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ALUMNI & FRIENDS
LASTING TIES
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PRESERVING HISTORY Mac Fleming, from the 1970 Khalas.
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Winter 2020-21
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As many Indian Springs alumni know, founding faculty member Mac Fleming still serves the school community as our resident historian. In the Kayser Academic Center, he oversees a collection of Indian Springs documents and memorabilia dating back to the 1930s. For the past several years, Mr. Fleming has assisted alum and former Board member Charles Robinson ’59 in writing a book about Indian Springs’ early history. The book begins with the founding of the school and follows milestone events through the 1980s. Mr. Fleming has also been working with alum Lisa Read ’78 to prepare Indian Springs’ archives for professional digitization. Lisa lives on campus with her husband, longtime photography teacher Michael Sheehan. She has enjoyed a successful career as an attorney and social worker and now gives back to Indian Springs by volunteering her talents. We look forward to sharing more information soon about the book and digitization. If you have a question or contribution, please email archivesoffice@indiansprings.org.
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Save the Date ALUMNI WEEKEND 2021
THURSDAY, JUNE 3 TO SATURDAY, JUNE 5
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Contingent on the state of the pandemic, we hope to offer programming both virtually and in-person following all health and safety guidelines. This year we will honor alumni with reunion class years ending in 0, 1, 5, and 6. WATCH FOR MORE DETAILS SOON!
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Birmingham, AL Permit #2287
190 Woodward Drive Indian Springs, AL 35124 205.988.3350 www.IndianSprings.org
HAPPY NEW YEAR, INDIAN SPRINGS!