2016 True Blue Magazine

JACKSON ACADEMY

2016 ISSUE | VOLUME XVII

A Publication for Jackson Academy Alumni, Families, and Friends

FROM THE EDITOR

Patti Wade Director of Marketing and Communications

The “best of innovation and tradition” is a phrase that has been used to describe Jackson Academy.

This issue of True Blue shows ample evidence of our school’s forward momentum balanced alongside an appreciation for well-loved traditions.

Forging ahead in innovation are fourth graders who have built an electric car, teachers who have embraced paperless classrooms and STEM education, administrators who seek to enhance the student experience with a new Learning Commons, and alumni who are models of entrepreneurial talent. Stories of each are within the pages of True Blue.

Our 2016 graduates spent part of their senior year mentoring kindergarten students in a program called Alpha and Omega, which also exemplifies tradition and helps shape the future. The relationships between seniors and kindergartners create a bond that helps maintain the best of JA’s traditions.

Even our new crest and seal—just like these stories— show how intertwined the past and the future are at Jackson Academy. They signify tradition and innovation, with each aspect of the crest and seal thoroughly considered for its symbolism. Other nods to tradition are reflections from faculty and staff who are departing JA after lengthy careers within our community. They share milestones witnessed and memories cherished.

We are delighted to share these stories with you in this issue of True Blue.

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FROM THE EDITOR CONTENTS

TRUE BLUE XVII

5

EDITOR/WRITER Patti Wade Director of Marketing and Communications

Entrepreneurs

JA Alumni Create Jobs That Match Their Gifts and Personal Style

10

Technology Enriches Teaching and Learning

PHOTOGRAPHY Michelle Mills Interactive Media Coordinator

Fourth Grade Students Build a Race Car

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News on Campus

22

From the Classroom and Beyond

29

JA Scholars

38

Raiders in Action

41 Athletics

46

CREATIVE Brian Byrd Graphic Designer

Leaving A Legacy Uplifting Others, Working Together, and Loving Your Work Are Lessons to Emulate

50 Arts 56

JA Celebrates Philanthropy

76

Alumni News

CLASS NOTES/WRITER Haleigh Ritter Annual Giving and Alumni Coordinator ANNUAL REPORT OF GIFTS Tim McWilliams Director of Development Ebony Welch Development Services Coordinator CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Brian Byrd, Patti Wade, Bill Dennison, alumni, parents, JAA, Athletic Booster Club, and students The True Blue magazine is published annually by the Office of Marketing and Communications and the Office of Development.

Jackson Academy 4908 Ridgewood Road P.O. Box 14978 Jackson, MS, 39236-4978

If you have alumni news you would like to share, please send it to the above address or email it to hritter@jacksonacademy.org.

Photos submitted should be of professional quality.

COVER The Raider Racer kit was purchased with donations to the JA Annual Fund by our JA families and friends. Read about the Raider Racer beginning on page 10.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear Jackson Academy Family, As I write my first message for True Blue, Dr. Taylor pens his last. Dr. Taylor is entering his 47th year in education and his 10th and final one at Jackson Academy. I, along with our school community, will greatly miss Dr. Taylor for so many reasons. I am personally grateful for Dr. Taylor’s leadership, vision, mentorship, and friendship. He has taught me much, especially what it means for Jackson Academy to be a mission driven independent school.

In Dr. Taylor’s nine years and in my two years as President, Jackson Academy has instituted many positive changes. Just in the last two years, we have restated our enduring mission with a new mission statement, developed a comprehensive branding identity, created a new school crest, and launched an ambitious and exciting strategic plan, ONE Path Forward. Jackson Academy has transformed its teaching and learning, putting a stake in the ground as a progressive, innovative school.

The nature of a progressive school is to never be at rest—to always be looking ahead for the next opportunity to improve how we serve children. I like change and feel that if one school year ever looks exactly like the last, then we have missed opportunities for our students. In a world that is changing at an exponential rate, if we don’t innovate and transform, besides doing a great disservice to our students, we also risk our very existence and relevance as a school.

What then, if anything, should be unchanging? In the context of a progressive school that is constantly evaluating everything it does, what is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow? One of the unchanging anchors of Jackson Academy, which is expressed in our All for One motto, is meeting the God-given need for relationships. God created each and every one of us with a need for relationships, first and foremost with

Him, then with our family and with others. No matter how much disruptive change we see in the world and in education, the need for human relationships is unchanging, and no amount of technology will ever replace this basic human need. I am proud that Jackson Academy has always been and will continue to be a place where each student is known and is loved.

When I meet with all of our sophomores and seniors, I ask them to tell me in their opinion what makes a “good” teacher. The students consistently describe a teacher who develops meaningful relationships with students. Students work best and hardest for and learn the most from teachers with whom they have positive relationships. When I ask seniors to tell me which adult in our school has had the biggest impact on their life and why, they struggle. The struggle is not to come up with a name; rather, the struggle is to narrow the list of many teachers, coaches, and administrators who have had an impact on their life down to just one. Many students cannot narrow to one and share several names with me.

As Jackson Academy presses forward into an increasingly uncertain world, know that while teaching practices and technology devices will change, our commitment to developing and nurturing relationships with our students is unwavering.

All for One,

Clifton L. Kling

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HEADMASTER’S MESSAGE

Dear Jackson Academy Family, It’s bittersweet for me to say: The upcoming 2016-2017 school year will be my last as Headmaster at Jackson Academy. In these latter years of my career as an independent school educator and leader, it has been gratifying to see a school advance as quickly as JA has to meet the educational demands required of our students for a very complex world. I’ve visited countless schools in my role as an independent school accreditation team member/chair, and each time I assess another school, I come away with the conviction that JA is doing things right.

JA has transformed into an interconnected, tech-savvy, one-to-one campus, twice earning the honor of Apple Distinguished School. Students’ excitement about science and learning has exploded with the addition of three new STEM labs and other hands-on experiences as our project-based instruction grows.

The school has experienced growth of the arts with the building of an 800-seat Performing Arts Center, amplified programming, and increased student participation. Faculty, staff, and parents have forged a partnership to support students with learning differences. Professional development speakers brought to JA to help faculty advance teaching have included some of the most influential thinkers in independent education (with next-day results in teaching and learning—see page 18).

character-building encounter through Soar each of their Middle and Upper School years.

JA has done it all—raised each other and our school up—as one. Without each person, there is no Jackson Academy. So thank you, students, for coming to school ready to open your minds and faculty and staff for opening your arms, hearts, and doors. Thank you, parents and alumni, and the entire JA family, for standing behind JA 100 percent. No institution moves forward without leadership, and JA is blessed to have a strong, dedicated leadership team, committed to student development and possessing a vision for continued educational improvement. To this group, I thank you for all you have contributed and will contribute to JA. The ability to take change in stride requires special people. JA and its people have definitely been up to the task. I know you will only continue to rise together because of the love you have for Jackson Academy.

As JA enters the second year of a new strategic plan, I look forward to the initiatives that will be introduced this academic year, and I look forward to watching JA continue its mission to develop students of character, leadership, and service to others. It’s my honor to have been part of it all. I’ll truly cherish this upcoming year.

Go Raiders,

JA’s dedication of resources to character education, including our launch of the Soar program, forecasts alumni of character and purpose who will influence their communities in positive ways. Now, fifth grade students discover their resilience on the Mississippi River and first through fourth graders do chores that support efforts to combat poverty through Heifer International. When the program is fully implemented, students will have an experiential, TRUE BLUE 4

Pat Taylor

FROM THE EDITOR Kristen Ley and her signature Push-pop Confetti™

JA ALUMNI CREATE JOBS THAT MATCH THEIR GIFTS AND PERSONAL STYLE

Ralph Waldo Emerson is known for the quote: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Four Jackson area residents are among many JA alumni who have forged paths as entrepreneurs and contributors to the creative economy. Read about their businesses and how JA influenced them to recognize their passions and carve their niche in a field that matters deeply to them—and to their customers.

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JA ALUMNI CREATE JOBS THAT MATCH THEIR GIFTS AND PERSONAL STYLE

Opened in 2011, Thimblepress is the creation of Kristen Ley, a 2003 JA graduate, former JA graphic designer, and art enthusiast.

After dabbling in design at studios in both Charleston and Jackson, Ley purchased her first letterpress: a 1925 Chandler + Price platen press from Lexington, Ky. With her new press acquired, Ley immediately fell in love with the craft of printing and decided to open Thimblepress. The name came from her lifelong collection of thimbles saved from her travels or passed down from family members.

“I began Thimblepress to give myself a creative outlet where I can produce what I want to create,” says Ley. “The only client is myself, and I can freely create without red tape or guidelines.”

Located in the heart of downtown Jackson, Thimblepress is an internationally known boutique stationery and design studio specializing in letterpress. Employing her love for handmade items, color, and pattern, Ley has made Thimblepress a reflection of her life, family, and her favorite places in the world— one of them being Mississippi. Products range from greeting cards to Push-pop Confetti™ to party hats and are all original designs handdrawn or painted by Ley and hand-packaged by her Thimblepress team.

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Create work that reflects your values

“Thimblepress strives to be unique and thoughtful with each product, thinking about each customer and how each product will be used,” says Ley. “At the end of the day, we want to create solutions and emphasize and celebrate some of life’s smallest, but greatest, events and happenings!”

Since 2012, Ley’s work has been mentioned on a national morning show and in magazines, newspapers, trade publications, and popular blogs. Among these are Good Morning America, Better Homes & Gardens, Atlanta Business Journal, Brides Magazine, Martha Stewart American Made, O The Oprah Magazine, Southern Living blog, and Lauren Conrad blog. Her work was selected as a Martha Stewart American Made Finalist in 2015.

“I never knew my end goal would be what Thimblepress is or has become, but I am so excited to see what else is to come!

Thimblepress is a true reflection of me—my values and core—and JA has played such a large part in its success! I truly wouldn’t be the woman or business owner I am today without JA and the relationships that I gained from being there,” said Ley.

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Do something you genuinely love

Tucked in neatly at the end of English Village shopping center in the heart of Jackson’s historic Belhaven, Lou’s Full-Serv is dishing up fine dining in a casual atmosphere. The cuisine is Southern and French, influenced with a hint of Creole. Owner Louis LaRose describes the food as “eclectic.” According to LaRose, the main goal is serving good, fresh food with as much sourced locally as possible.

“I simply want all of our guests to have a quality dining experience,” says LaRose, a 1995 JA graduate. “In the restaurant business, you’re only as good as your last dish.”

Lou’s Full-Serv opened in September 2014 with a vintage industrial look, still sporting the original black and white linoleum floor and the old parcel post window as homage to the past. The old parcel post window is the centerpiece for the restaurant’s bar.

“Opening Lou’s Full-Serv was a long time in the making, but we did it,” said LaRose.

“I am especially proud of the parcel post window as one of the focal points of the restaurant because Eudora Welty used to come buy her stamps at that window.”

Cooking has always been close to LaRose’s heart. While he was a student at JA, he

JA ALUMNI CREATE JOBS THAT MATCH THEIR GIFTS AND PERSONAL STYLE

secured a job as a dishwasher at the original POETS location. LaRose soon took on more positions as a busboy, prep cook, waiter, and then as a cook. In 1998, he graduated summa cum laude from Johnston & Wales University in Miami with a culinary arts degree. After college, he returned to Jackson where he was chef de cuisine at BRAVO! for over a decade. In 2012, he joined the Mississippi Museum of Art as executive chef, but soon realized he wanted something else: his own restaurant.

“I always felt like I was meant for something more than working in someone else’s kitchen.

It’s never been about making money. I just knew I wanted to spend my days doing something I genuinely loved,” said LaRose.

“Owning your own business can be a little frustrating at times, but every bit of it is educational and strengthening.”

“I simply want all of our guests to have a quality dining experience.”

Louis LaRose

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JA ALUMNI CREATE JOBS THAT MATCH THEIR GIFTS AND PERSONAL STYLE

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Follow your passion and have faith

Courtney Chinn Peters is an artist and interior designer with a boutique showroom, Courtney Peters Interior Design, located in the historic Fondren area of Jackson. A 2001 JA graduate, Peters graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in art. After teaching elementary art at JA for a year, she began pursuing her own business. She opened a small retail store and quickly began selling her ceramics throughout the state. As business grew, she moved into a larger space to offer interior design services and furnishings. Peter’s artwork and interior design have been featured in several magazines, such as Portico, Mississippi Magazine, and Delta Magazine.

“My interest in art started as a child at the kitchen table with crayons, water colors, and clay,” said Peters. “My mother always had a craft out for me on the table, and I spent hours with it.”

This interest continued at JA where she honed her skills in painting. “I started at Jackson Academy in kindergarten and went all the way through to graduation from high school. JA had a profound and positive influence on me, and served as a foundation for my success in both business and life. I would not be where I am today without JA,” she said.

There was never a question that her college major would be art. “I graduated with a specialty in pottery. Ole Miss equipped me with all of the skills I needed to start a business and then move easily into interior design,” said Peters.

“From the very beginning, I thought in terms of a brand of style and not about a particular medium,” she said when referring to the growth of her business. “Starting your own business is one of the most difficult things to do, but if you have a passion for what you want to achieve in your life, and faith that it can be accomplished, there is no better way to go than starting and running your own business.”

Known for her eclectic, artistic eye, Peters personally works with her clients to identify a personal aesthetic for their home that suits their tastes and needs within the framework of a well-executed design. Each project has a sense of effortless style with clean and fresh furnishings.

“I believe in creating spaces that are made for family lifestyles—to be used and enjoyed, functional and refined, while utilizing all the space given in a home,” says Peters.

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Be willing to put in the hours and take risks

JA ALUMNI CREATE JOBS THAT MATCH THEIR GIFTS AND PERSONAL STYLE

Allen Taheri, also a 2001 JA graduate, bought his first printer in 2005 as a college student. Eleven years and a dozen printers later, Taheri’s A2Z Printing in Jackson is now an established, successful commercial printer that serves a wide range of clients, including politicians, news organizations, and realtors.

A2Z Printing, with its state of the art equipment, creates turnkey solutions for every client with a speed, efficiency, and quality highly valued in the printing industry today.

Taheri and his team have created custom software that allows clients to maximize success in marketing campaigns from direct mail to signage.

“Our software coordinates content to target the individual consumer through mail with the most effective message to gain their trust and business,” says Taheri. “This allows our clients to maximize their marketing budget through very specific targeting.”

A2Z Printing’s success can also be credited to the advanced printing and cutting machines they own and operate. These machines allow A2Z printing to consistently meet customer demands and deadlines, enabling them to accept more types of jobs – and more profitable, high-volume jobs.

“Our customers want faster and faster turnarounds,” says Taheri. “By operating with the most advanced machines in the printing industry, we can complete jobs with fewer delays and less downtime. And in an industry where nobody is ever fast enough, we’re turning jobs around the same day.”

One of Taheri’s favorite machines is his HP FB 7600, which he says is the only printer of this kind in the Southeast. This machine is particularly popular among politicians from all over the country who use A2Z printing for their campaign yard signs. The machine can produce over 2,000 signs per hour.

“Owning a business is not easy, but it is extremely rewarding,” said Taheri. “You must be willing to put in the thousands of hours to create value. You must be willing to take big risks; nothing in life worth having is easy.”

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FROM THE EDITOR

TECHNOLOGY ENRICHES TEACHING AND LEARNING

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FROM THE EDITOR

“It was amazing that we could actually build something that works and moves in a school setting. Who would have thought a fourth grader could build this?”

– Garrison Payton

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TECHNOLOGY ENRICHES TEACHING AND LEARNING

Go, Raider

Go!

Racer,

O

ne blue and white-striped electric car has the power of a whole team of 10-year-olds —and a pretty heavy duty battery—behind it. The Raider Racer is speeding (at a whopping 15 miles per hour) around Jackson Academy’s football field.

Fourth graders from Cliff Powers’ STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) class built the Raider Racer from the ground up using nothing but bare hands and hand tools. That’s right, not a power drill in sight. What did come in handy? Each other.

already knew how to use some of the tools from building a skateboard ramp with his grandpa.

For Powers and Harriett Eppes, a fourth grade teacher, seeing the students leap out of their comfort zones and jump into the project with tons of excitement was the best part. And watching them really, truly collaborate? Even better.

“There’s no way just one person could do this alone.

It took a team to build it, and they knocked it out of the park,” says Powers.

Students were part of teams that worked on a different piece of the car every day – from the front and rear axles and the steering column, to graphic design and a frame made of recyclables. Some even brought special skills they learned outside the project into the classroom. Like Garrison, who

“It took some work…but we finally did it!”

– Addie Elliott

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TECHNOLOGY ENRICHES TEACHING AND LEARNING “Without a license, I felt like I was breaking the law!” said Addie about driving the car on the track around Raider Field.

Together, the fourth graders powered through the project. Even when they had to take the Racer apart and start all over, or made a mistake—like swapping the car’s back and front parts—everyone was always there to pat each other on the back and keep moving forward.

“My students would come back from STEM class buzzing with excitement,” says Eppes. “They told me all of the great things their classmates did before telling me about their own part of the project.”

At the end of each day, every child left having learned something new…how to handle a socket wrench, how to persevere, how to drive. (All fourth graders got a chance to “race” the Racer around JA’s football field.)

The team even talked about the need for female engineers, which had an empowering impact on the girls. Take Addie for example: She used her new skills to fix her brother’s broken book light. “I didn’t want to throw it away or ask someone to help. I knew I could do it on my own.” So she took the initiative to find a way to fix it.

12 Miles That’s how far the JA Raider Racer can go on just one charge of its two 12-volt batteries.

Push to Start One red button is all it takes to get the Racer rolling. And when it does, the force is strong enough to push the driver back in the seat (like a race car should!).

8,000+ Students More than 500 schools worldwide participate in Greenpower competitions.

Greenpower Goblins Formula Goblin is for students ages nine to 11. While the younger kids work on Goblin kit cars, Greenpower also hosts races for more advanced, customizable vehicles.

What’s next for the group of future engineers?

Gearing up for the Greenpower races. Greenpower Education Trust is a United Kingdom-based organization with a mission to bring out a love of sustainable engineering and tech in youth. That was exactly what JA set out to do for students when it launched JA’s Raider Racer program as part of Greenpower.

The kids won’t be crossing the pond, though; the Trust has a U.S. division that hosts races stateside.

The students want their Raider Racer to cross the finish line. It can – with a team of proud fourth grade engineers and teachers backing it up.

“We would get going and not want to quit. It would be time to go to our next class, and we would say, ‘No, can we just stay and keep working?’”

— Landry Lester

Harriett Eppes

Fourth Grade Teacher

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TECHNOLOGY ENRICHES TEACHING & LEARNING

Just Call Us Apple Geniuses JA’s forward-leaning take on tech has earned the honor of 2015-2017 Apple Distinguished School. Since 2013, Apple has recognized Jackson Academy for innovation in education. It’s no wonder: JA was one of Mississippi’s first one-to-one campuses; it gives every student either a MacBook Air or an iPad. These days, our kids use technology to create websites, make digital posters, and collaborate on lab projects. Faculty, such as English teacher Sandra McKay and science teacher Katie Chustz, go completely paperless or use tech to lead STEM experiments. For them, technology has totally transformed their classrooms—and given students new ways to love learning.

See classroom examples on the next page.

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TECHNOLOGY ENRICHES TEACHING AND LEARNING Sandra McKay English Literature

“Everything has changed!” says Sandra McKay, American and English literature teacher at Jackson Academy who now offers a paperless classroom, including her own textbook. “I think the one-to-one program has made us all better teachers.

“I could go on and on, but I believe that the one-to-one technology has greatly enhanced my ability to communicate with students and guide them through the curriculum.

The students respond to the technology positively and are more organized and engaged because all their materials are easily accessible on the computers,” she said.

Katie Chustz

Middle School STEM

“In STEM class students in teams of two log on together to access JA’s online content. This allows them to collaboratively record data in experiments as well as prompts me to check their team’s progress,” said seventh grade science teacher Katie Chustz.

“Also, they are receiving the content through sound, sight, and touch—better meeting the needs of different learning styles. Content basically ‘comes alive’ better than in a textbook or a teacher lecturing.

“Through online assessments, students can get immediate feedback on their level of mastery of a unit of study,” she explained. “Students are highly motivated to relearn missed objectives as soon as they receive a grade. The faster the feedback between teacher and student, the faster students can master objectives and move forward.

“I’m a completely different teacher in a one-to-one school than I was four years ago,” said Chustz.

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NEWS ON CAMPUS

Crest and Seal Installed Prominently on Campus With the adoption of the ALL FOR ONE brand expression, the time was right to evolve the Jackson Academy crest and seal. The crest and seal symbols represent JA’s past, present, and future. They communicate the school’s reason for being—excellent academic preparation, and they reflect JA’s particular blend of tradition and forward momentum.

JA has long employed a crest to give visual representation to the academic stature of the school. Two crests had been used throughout the school’s history. In 2014, JA revisited the design and elements of the crest with the hope of raising the crest’s prominence as a mark identified with JA and increasing its usage by the JA community. A student group and a team of staff members worked alongside the president, the marketing and communications department, and the school’s agency to research the JA crest and other educational institutions’ crests and their symbolism. Students and staff drew prototypes of potential crests. After three phases of refinement, a final choice was presented to the Board of Trustees, which approved the crest and an accompanying seal in June 2015. Of particular note, the first visual choice was closely inspired by a version drawn by a student. In the 2015-16 school year, the TRUE BLUE 16

marks were placed throughout campus and on certain printed material.

The crest can stand independently or be paired with an outer circle to create the Jackson Academy seal.

The traditional purpose of a seal was to authenticate a contract, proclamation, or other official document.

The JA seal adds an outside ring to the crest, with a crenellated edge reminiscent of the wax or foil perimeters of traditional hand seals of antiquity.

Contained within the ring are the school’s name and the motto “Omnes Pro Uno,” Latin for “All For One.” Our students suggested including this phrase in the seal.

The seal will be used on official documents, such as diplomas. The crest will be used on academic attire, such as a suit jacket. Both will be used on campus physical facilities and structures as appropriate. The JA community and vendors are asked to go through the JA Office of Marketing and Communications if interested in using the crest or seal.

NEWS ON CAMPUS Symbolic Meaning of Elements of the Crest and Seal

Crest Comparison

Previous Crest

Current Seal

Many of the elements of the crest are rooted in Jackson Academy history, with four particular elements carried forward from the previous two JA crests. The top portion of the crest takes its shape from the first JA crest. The flame, book, and founding date are classic elements of previous crests.

Symbology BOOK WITH FOUNDING DATE Represents JA’s founding for the purpose of teaching reading by phonics. The date is placed on the book to connect our founding date with our founding purpose. This represents the quest and thirst for knowledge.

RISING SUN Represents both spirituality and innovation and draws inspiration from Luke 1:78-79: (NIV) “[B]ecause of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

The rays of the sun also represent enlightenment, reaching outward signifying exploration, innovation, and new beginnings each day.

CHEVRON Mimics the roof of a house and derives from the French word for rafter. It signifies protection, family, and home and was awarded for faithful service or accomplishment in heraldic tradition.

LIVE OAK WREATH Symbolizes tradition and the tree of learning. JA students play and learn under the shade of prominent Live Oak trees lining the front of campus. The wreath has 18 oak leaves on each side, coinciding with the typical age that a student completes his or her education at JA.

ACORNS Represent growth and potential. A small acorn develops into an oak tree, which is originally small but has much potential for growth. In the same way, Jackson Academy begins with the limitless potential of its youngest students at age 3 and inspires and equips them to lead lives of purpose and significance. The four acorns represent the four divisions of the school, indicating each division is instrumental in nurturing the potential of each student.

TORCH Represents learning, carrying a torch into the world. The lamp and flame were in each previous JA crest. The flame shown atop a torch, rather than in a lamp, represents our students carrying the torch into the world and passing the torch to others, a key aspect of a purposeful life and one of true significance.

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NEWS ON CAMPUS Visiting Experts Keep

on

Leading Edge

Independent Schools as Change Agents

(From left): JA President Cliff Kling, SAIS President Kirk Walker, JA Board of Trustees Chair Ashley Willson, and JA Headmaster Pat Taylor

Dr. Kirk Walker, president of Southern Association of Independent Schools, was guest speaker for the opening day of Teacher Work Week in August. JA had the honor of hearing his first official address as president. He has 34 years of experience leading schools.

His remarks centered on the condition of education in the United States and independent schools’ role as a change agent. “You choose to be different and to demonstrate that different can be better,” he said,

noting that independent schools have opportunities to be flexible as well as countercultural. He noted recent research that indicates that countries with the most successful education are not those that have the most funding, highest family income, or technology in education. Rather, the most successful exhibit the following characteristics: agreement between the school and parents on mission, high academic expectations for all students, talented teachers, an appropriate number of tests without over testing, ample support for all students, and programs that emphasize skills such as resilience and empathy.

Character Education Continues to Flourish David Streight, executive director of the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education, visited JA in November to continue to guide and direct the school’s development of a more formal character education program. He met with the strategic plan ethics committee, members of the Soar team, the Board of Trustees, the president’s council, JA students, deans, and the advancement team. The programs being developed are part of the 2015–2020 strategic plan.

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To read more about the strategic plan and these initiatives, visit the strategic plan website at jacksonacademy.org/ strategicplan and click on “Take a Stand.”

NEWS ON CAMPUS Visiting Experts Keep

on

Leading Edge

Nurture ‘Smart’ and ‘Good’ Qualities

The former president of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Pat Bassett, led a series of in-depth sessions for the leadership team and the Board of Trustees in August.

During the presentation, The Moral Life of School: Teaching Ethical Thinking & Moral Courage, Bassett pointed out to JA’s leadership team that nationally 20 percent of parents choose a school based on what is referred to as the “second curriculum,” the character portion or formative impact of the school.

Bassett commented that the percentage is likely much higher in schools like JA that have articulated a strong mission. He encourages schools to magnify this impact by being more intentional about initiatives that develop qualities of character such as compassion, honesty, fairness, responsibility, and respect. Bassett pointed out that students who choose to live a moral life have a higher likelihood of also being successful and happy. JA’s 2015-2020 strategic plan is centered on helping students develop lives of purpose and significance in keeping with these values.

In his presentation, Schools of the Future: The Big Shifts, Bassett expounded on six areas of educational change currently underway or projected. Bassett complimented JA for being progressive regarding issues where educational shifts are taking place. These include a shift from “knowing” to “doing,” such as the approach used in JA STEM labs. A second shift involves how information is processed, with students moving away

Bassett complimented JA for being progressive regarding issues where educational shifts are taking place. from simply being consumers of facts toward being critical thinkers who gather and interpret information.

Bassett spoke to the trustees about their leadership roles and the changing landscape of education in a session entitled Board Governance 101/201/301: Level Three Leadership for Heads & Boards. He outlined current practices in school governance and methods for effectiveness. He returned in May to work with the Board of Trustees at their trustee retreat.

Bassett was president of the NAIS for 12 years. NAIS provides services to more than 1,700 schools and associations of schools in the United States and abroad, including 1,400 nonprofit, private K–12 schools in the U.S. that are self-determining in mission and program and are governed by independent boards. Bassett is now a senior consultant on issues of leadership, governance, and strategy. He has a long career with roles as teacher, coach, dorm parent, and headmaster in independent schools.

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NEWS ON CAMPUS Visiting Experts Keep

on

Leading Edge

Clinical Psychologist Addresses Expectations, Pressure Dr. Michael Thompson discussed pressures that students of today feel during staff development day September 8. He reminded faculty and staff that while adults think they know what school feels like, in reality, they have forgotten. In fact, he so strongly believes that adults have forgotten that he originally named his book, The Pressured Child, by a different title. The original manuscript was titled, Smarter Than We Think: What Kids Know About Schools That Adults Have Forgotten.

He encouraged educators to follow a student throughout their entire day to better understand the experience. For a look at shadowing a student at Jackson Academy, see President Kling’s message at www.jacksonacademy.org/shadow.

For nearly 35 years, Thompson has worked as a clinical psychologist, school consultant, and international speaker on the subjects of children, schools, and parenting. His presentations focus on dealing with the culture of schools.

Thompson included in his talk a discussion of anxiety about world events, parental models of success for their children, and fear of failure. In speaking about pushing for success, he asked the question, “When does the expectation start to take the joy out of the experience?”

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He noted three indicators that a student is successful: Connection Each student is involved in an extracurricular activity he or she enjoys or has a connection to a teacher.

Recognition All students are known as individuals by their teachers and other adults on campus, and their unique gifts and talents are recognized, appreciated, and valued.

Mastery Every student is doing something pre-vocational that lets them explore potential future career options.

NEWS ON CAMPUS Visiting Experts Keep

on

Leading Edge

Brain Research Influences Education Strategies Learning differences expert Allen Broyles presented a session in February on Cerebro Diversity and Diversified Learning. He led faculty and staff through exercises that demonstrated how memory is enhanced when touch or movement is incorporated; how it feels to a student to complete a task in an area of weakness; and how people interpret intelligence based on performance.

Broyles also met with small groups of faculty, staff, and administrators sharing current research about the ways individuals and classes learn best. Broyles routinely encourages educators to incorporate new models of teaching that help all students learn more effectively. He said that even students who have no trouble with memorizing and giving info back learn better with hands on, multimodal, and multisensory experiences. He also finds that strategies used for learning differences work for all students.

Using strategies presented by Broyles, Middle School teacher Lisa Lucas modified a test review the next day. Instead of a participating in a traditional

review of South America’s geography, the students drew from memory South America and placed labels of 27 landforms, islands, and rivers in the correct location on their map. Students displayed their maps and checked one another’s work for mistakes. Students responded afterwards that they never thought they could do this when the teacher presented the instructions, but once they started, all were able to remember nearly every item and location. The students also shared they really enjoyed doing a hands-on review because it didn’t even feel like a review.

Broyles serves on the National Board of Directors of the Learning Disabilities Association of America.

He has presented and consulted on the topics of brain research, math, and differentiation for Southern Association of Independent Schools and at regional and international conferences. He has 24 years of experience in independent school education, currently as assistant head of school at The Howard School in Atlanta.

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IN THE CLASSROOM

Alpha and Omega Every September, a JA kindergartner is paired with a JA senior through our Alpha and Omega program. Each month these pairs get together for fun activities that allow them to spend time together and get to know each other. By the end of the school year, the “buddies” have developed a big brother/big sister relationship that our kindergartners and seniors will remember for many years. These supportive relationships are not only beneficial for our kindergartners, but for our seniors also as they are able to remember the simplicity of life as a preschooler.

Some examples of monthly activities: • Shoe swap and snow cones •D ecorating bags for the school wide Thanksgiving food drive • Christmas movie and Christmas cookies in the PAC while wearing pajamas • Playing basketball together in the gym • Picnic on the football field and portraits drawn of the senior with advice from the kindergartner

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FROM THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND

LOWER SCHOOL IMPACTS COMMUNITY Lower School students are challenged throughout the year to think about those locally and globally who are not as fortunate as they are. This year, the Lower School offered three opportunities for the students to reach out and help.

• As part of the Accelerated Reading program, the Lower School developed a program called “Read 4 Need” in which the students in second, third, and fourth grades set an overall point goal for their grade to work toward in their Accelerated Reading each term. Each grade selected a group that would benefit from their reading if they reached the goal for the term.

When the grade reached its goal, the Lower School donated books to the selected organization. This year the students donated books to Batesville Elementary School in Batesville, Miss., that lost many of its library books in a fire last summer; Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital; the library at Stewpot; and the Mississippi School for the Blind.

• During Christmas holidays, students created around 1,000 Christmas tray decorations for patients at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The special decorations were put on the meal trays of every patient at UMMC during Christmas week, including the patients at Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital. Because the UMMC volunteer coordinator told us that the adult patients are often forgotten by outreach groups, the Lower School decided to adopt UMMC as one of our outreach focus groups. As part of our continued work with UMMC, the students also created special meal tray decorations for the adult patients on Valentine’s Day.

• For the past few years, Heifer International has been the focus of a Lower School Easter project. Heifer International’s mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. With gifts of livestock and training, Heifer projects help families improve their nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways. As part of the Heifer project this year, each grade selected specific kinds of animals to purchase for Heifer families. Then the children worked at home and in their neighborhoods to earn a donation of any amount to help purchase the animals. They completed chores for their families and neighbors, sold lemonade and cookies, and even contributed part of their own allowance or savings. Each grade created a display where the students used cutout paper animals to write about the various kinds of work they did.

This year, the Lower School donated $5,079.52, which purchased 38 different kinds of animals from heifers to honeybees.

The Lower School students link their hands and hearts to help others, and in doing so, they fulfill the JA mission of learning to live a life of purpose and significance.

Sarah Love Lower School Dean

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R

esearchers U lock Fascinating Secrets of the Gulf for 93 Students

It’s hard to say what moment of the seventh grade trip was most captivating. For students, many of whom had only passed through the Mississippi Gulf Coast while traveling, the March 8-9 overnight trip was eye-opening. Thanks to staff from the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Lab and the Institute of Marine Mammal Studies, the trip was educational, too.

New encounters for JA students generated many questions for USM Research Lab Director Ben

There was a large cannon that originally took four soldiers to move. There was a lesson about how sand has to be moved from one side of the island to the other to prevent natural erosion of the island that would otherwise submerge the fort over time.

Jack Madison, a 91-year-old park docent, shed light on historical aspects of the fort. For instance, the fort is two colors of brick because construction had to be stopped, and a filtration system allowed roof water to be filtered into the fort so inhabitants could have fresh water.

“It was cool to see animals I had not seen before.”

Weldon and 20 staff and research students. During a three-mile hike from Ship Island’s Gulf side to the west side, students found live crabs, shark teeth, vegetation, animal remains, numerous shells, a molted horseshoe crab, a moon jelly fish, black sediment on the beach that comes from the Rocky Mountains, and a coconut with coral and barnacles attached.

“It was cool to see animals I had not seen before,” said Michael Hogue. He was especially interested in the horseshoe crab and how arthropods molt.

At Fort Massachusetts there was the discovery of an old bullet that may have been a Civil War relic.

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Back at the USM Gulf Coast Research Lab in Ocean Springs, students dissected sharks, fished with a seine net, and used a dichotomous key to identify fish. They baited hooks with shrimp and reeled in fish off a dock during a blustery day.

At Gulfport’s Institute of Marine Mammal Studies, a facility with a mission to rehabilitate injured dolphins and sea turtles, students visited a touch tank containing sharks, stingrays, starfish, and a horseshoe crab. They learned things humans could do to protect creatures, such as cutting the plastic that holds together a six-pack of soft drinks before disposing of the plastic. Left in nature, such plastic

injures sea life. Students saw sea lion and dolphin shows. They met two “retired” dolphins that had worked for the U.S. Navy in undisclosed missions.

Students learned how trainers communicate with a deaf dolphin. Apollo was found in Mississippi when he was a one-year-old suffering from the effects of the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. He cannot return to the wild because of deafness. Trainers communicate with Apollo by tapping on the water with their hands or a mallet.

Even students who were hesitant about a rigorous island hike or touching a stingray returned saying there was a lot to enjoy about the seventh grade trip. “Even if you are not an outdoorsy person, you

“Even if you are not an outdoorsy person, you are going to like this trip!”

Teacher Katie Chustz said the trip met a variety of purposes. One was to expose students to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and reinforce lessons of the Mississippi Studies curriculum taught by teacher Sydney Pinnen. All of the events were also tied to their STEM oceanography and ecology studies. Finally, in keeping with JA’s Soar objectives, students had an opportunity to get out of their comfort zones and try new things.

Students learned how trainers communicate with a deaf dolphin. are going to like this trip,” Emily Thompson said.

Will Pilkington and Thomas Arnold agreed. They were particularly interested in the shark teeth, the fort, and fishing. Thomas learned that sharks lose teeth each week, and he was thrilled to find shark teeth at Ship Island. Will thought the fort was fascinating. He also liked the yabby pumps that unearth burrowing crustaceans used along with a screen sifter that sorts for shrimp. Using these tools, students got a glimpse of clear ghost shrimp.

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IN THE CLASSROOM

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE As part of Jackson Academy’s strategic plan emphasis on character development, all tenth grade students go to Camp Down Range in Clinton each year. The outdoor adventure camp (formerly Camp Kickapoo) helps youth develop character traits and life skills by learning to overcome challenges. The experiences at Down Range challenge participants to overcome adversity through physical obstacles, leadership, and team building activities.

An impactful part of the students’ experience centers around meeting the camp’s founder, CJ Stewart. During his sophomore year in college Stewart became a medic for the 502nd Infantry Regiment of 101st Airborne Division (’09-’12). In Afghanistan, he suffered a severe injury resulting in emergency surgery, 40 total surgeries, and a lengthy recovery. His work now encompasses preparing the next generation to overcome life’s obstacles—whether physical, mental, or spiritual.

JA students wrote reflections about their visit to Down Range and offered them for the readers of True Blue.

Cameron Welch

This is like in life, we have to help each other over obstacles.

Garner cheney

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CJ Stewart was one the best group bonding moments I’ve ever experienced. It was very eye-opening, and I got to learn a lot about my new classmates and friends, as well as myself. Originally, when I arrived with everyone else, I was nervous and excited. As we were split into groups, I became nervous even more so, because I ended up with a group of people I had never met. As the camp director began to explain how to do some of the obstacles and that we would be timed as a team, I began to worry that I might let my team down.

However, the more we talked and laughed, the more comfortable I felt. As I relaxed, the more confident I was that I could help my team succeed.

As our team began to run the exercises, we experienced a change. We believed in each other, tried hard not to let anyone down, and were the first group to complete the obstacle course. The final exercise of the day was the Confidence Climb, and I was so sure that I could not do it. My team kept telling me I could do it and I just would not. But right as the day was about to end, I made the climb and set the fastest time on my team. It was a great and unforgettable experience.

I realized that most tasks in life are mind over matter.

Emma Lucas

Toryn Steed Meeting CJ Stewart was a good experience for me.

He is a great guy, with a lot of history behind him. I love that he was in the military; I have great respect for the people who served our country and were wounded doing so. While I was there, it was fun

getting into our teams and competing, because I’m a very competitive person. He taught us great life lessons. He taught us that in life not everything is given to you.

Kameron Palmer

Emma Lucas

We all helped and encouraged each other and kept each other up and cheered each other on. Everybody gave it their all and never gave up. My biggest fear was the Confidence Climb because I’m not that fond of heights, so you can just imagine how much I was shaking when I got to the top, but I had an amazing group of people cheering me on telling me, “You can do it, Kam,” “You got it,” “You’re almost there.” It was amazing, and I would definitely go back any chance I can get.

The lessons I took away from CJ Stewart will help give me the confidence to tackle any tasks. I learned from the individual obstacles that I am able to conquer anything I want; I just have to put my mind to it. There were several obstacles that I decided I would not be able to finish, but when I tried, I surprised myself and was able to accomplish the obstacles.

Mason Glaze I saw a different aspect of certain people I rarely talk to at school. I had to do things I wouldn’t normally do. These challenges taught me to go out and challenge myself: I need to meet new people and experience different things.

Garner Cheney The teamwork started off slow at first, but then we started to learn to trust each other. I learned a lot about my classmates on the trip. We worked together and learned the importance of helping each other.

The obstacle that tested us the most was probably the ascending walls. We had to support each other in order to get over the walls. This is like in life, we have to help each other over obstacles.

I learned leadership skills and tactics while going through the teamwork obstacles. The teams had to work together to help each other climb over a wall and go across the monkey bars. Having a team to encourage you to push through truly helps improve one’s confidence. As a team, we had to work together as one and help each other’s weaknesses with each other’s strengths.

The most I got out of it was during the Confidence Climb. I realized that most tasks in life are mind over matter. Before I started climbing, I knew there was no way I could finish to the top, but as I started to climb I realized that I was getting closer to the top and had a chance to reach it. Once I got to the top, Coach Nic told me to stand up, and at first I was scared, but after I stood up I knew I could accomplish anything.

YOU CAN DO IT…YOU GOT IT TRUE BLUE 27

FROM THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND

Raider Network :

After years of producing high-quality live streaming of sports broadcasts, Jackson Academy launched the Raider Network in the fall of 2015. The Raider Network’s formation served multiple goals of the broadcast program. These goals included increased student involvement, further expansion beyond the athletic arena, and further development of a professionally operated live broadcasting network.

The first goal of the Raider Network is greater student involvement. This past year students in the Upper School assisted staff and alumni in producing live broadcasts of various events both on and off campus.

These students had exposure to running cameras and operating studio level production gear, video switchers, and graphics packages. Several students gained experience directing and commentating at events. Next year JA will launch its first Raider Network elective class, where students will further expand their knowledge of broadcasting. Graduates are already getting exposure beyond their high school years. One JA alum assists in the production of broadcasts in the Southeastern Conference while also giving back and helping with the Raider Network.

gives students hands-on broadcast experience

The Raider Network is known not only statewide, but also regionally for the quality of broadcast at the high school level.

In 2013, JA began broadcasting live online. Originally focused on athletic events, the Raider Network looks to expand coverage into all areas of the school. In the 2015-16 school year more athletic events, chapels, awards days, Preschool and Lower School plays, and special events were broadcast. The Raider Network gives those who are unable to attend these special events an opportunity to participate.

Producing a quality product was another very important reason for the creation of the Raider Network. The Raider Network is known not only statewide, but also regionally for the quality of broadcast at the high school level. The Raider Network has been invited to broadcast several athletic state championships due to the high broadcast quality.

The Raider Network will continue to expand each year. Next year the addition of a broadcast trailer will give students the opportunity to broadcast in a studio-like production suite and will allow for the network to be even more mobile. With this increased mobility and efficiency, even more programming will be coming to the Raider Network in 2016-17.

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RAIDERNETWORK.ORG

JA SCHOLARS

Jackson Academy Announces Jernberg Scholarship Recipients

Jackson Academy has selected six students for the 2016-17 class of Jernberg Scholars. The Board of Trustees established the Jernberg Scholarship, which celebrates and awards academic excellence, in honor of President Emeritus James Peter Jernberg Jr. in 2014.

Jernberg, considered one of the most influential educators in independent education nationwide, led JA from 1988 to 2014.

Students were chosen from among a large group of highly qualified applicants who completed testing, essays, recommendations, and school and financial

applications. Finalists completed on-campus interviews.

The scholarships will become effective in the 2016-17 school year and will cover full tuition, fees, and other costs to attend Jackson Academy.

In keeping with the influence Peter Jernberg has had on students and independent education in Mississippi and nationwide, the scholarships are designed to have a life-changing impact on the students receiving them.

The students, likewise, will be individuals who will have an impact on their school through their focus on academics, character, and school participation.

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JA SCHOLARS

Peter Jernberg and the 2016-17 Jernberg Scholars from left, Parker Lowe, Brandon Miller, Dolph Maxwell, Boston Hollingsworth, Megan Lacey, and Priya Ray. Chosen for the 2016-17 academic year are Boston Hollingsworth of Byram (fifth grade), son of Marla Hancock; Megan Lacey of Braxton (tenth grade), daughter of Walter Lacey and Jackie Lacey; Parker Lowe of Brandon (seventh grade), son of Lewis Lowe and Karen Miller; Dolph Maxwell of Jackson (eleventh grade), son of Joe and Rosanne Maxwell; Brandon Miller of Jackson (tenth grade), son of Rodney Miller and Sharolyn Miller; and Priya Ray of Flowood (eighth grade), daughter of Paresh and Anandhi Ray. Megan, Dolph, Brandon, and Priya are current JA students, and Boston and Parker will be coming to JA for the 2016-17 school year.

Boston, Parker, and Priya are all active Middle School students.

Boston has an interest in science and enjoys reading, riding a dirt bike, and playing Minecraft, an innovative 3D video game that involves construction and activities.

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Parker’s favorite subject is math, and he has an interest in playing and watching baseball and basketball. Priya likes both math and science. In her spare time, she plays the piano, dances, and reads. She is a member of JA’s showchoir, Showtime, and participates in musicals.

Brandon, Megan, and Dolph represent the Upper School. Brandon enjoys science and history. He is an active Boy Scout and enjoys cycling and playing basketball. Megan’s favorite subjects are biology and English. She likes reading, and participates in track and showchoir at JA. In track, Megan competes in the high jump, the triple jump, and the long jump. Dolph has an interest in science, particularly this past year in biology. He is a member of the football team, and participates in JA musicals and the showchoir, Encore. Dolph recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

The newest Jernberg Scholars join a group of highly accomplished students who were named Jernberg Scholars in the program’s inaugural year. The Jernberg Scholar Class of 2015-16 is made up of Gracie Coe of Brandon (seventh grade), daughter of Josh and Sarah Coe; Carter Elliott of Brandon (eighth grade), son of Daniel and Katie Elliott; Columbia Holeman of Sand Hill (ninth grade), daughter of Tony and Ashleigh Holeman; Allie Perkins of Brandon (tenth grade), daughter of Lance and Cydney Perkins; and Sahil Patel of Jackson (eleventh grade), son of Anil and Jyoti Patel.

Qualified students may apply for the Jernberg Scholarship at Jackson Academy for the 2017-18 school year beginning September 15, 2016. More information is available at jacksonacademy.org/ jernbergscholars.

JA SCHOLARS National Merit Scholarship Corporation Recognizes JA Students National Merit Semifinalists Georgia Gibson Robyn Hadden

Commended Students Dalton Gibson Rebecca Nosef Davis Rippee

(From left, front): Georgia Gibson and Robyn Hadden were named National Merit Semifinalists; (back): Davis Rippee, Rebecca Nosef, and Dalton Gibson were commended by the National Merit program. Those receiving semifinalist status make up less than one percent of high school seniors across the country. In addition to testing, students seeking finalist status must validate other qualities of excellence, involvement, and leadership through a detailed application process.

Cum laude society

Inducted into The Cum Laude Society April 12 are (from left, back): Rose Maxwell, Sydney Hays, Sahil Patel, Kyle Kantor, Hayley Murphy, Alexander Schott, Nancy Usey; (front) Lizzie Bowman, Caroline Nall, Glennis McWilliams, Clarke Wilkirson, Amanda Ray, and Annalee Purdie.

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JA SCHOLARS NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

The Jackson Academy chapter of the National Honor Society recently inducted new twelfth grade members: Makenna Adams, Nick Beddingfield, Brennan Canton, David Crystal, Daisy Ford, Kathleen Giddens, Beaty Hill, Hannah Hudson, Camryn Kestenbaum, Bryn Noble, Hays Rogers, Ashley Sanders, Brady Stringer, Blaine Tierney, Cory Tirman, Delaney Wallace, and new eleventh grade memers: Anna Douglas Almand, Alexandra Barlow, Hope Berry, Lizzie Bowman, Mary Kathryn Brogan, Mary Kate Brown, Catherine Burford, Kathryn Butler,

Grace Cartwright, Conley Chinn, Emily Earle, Natalie Ford, Chelsea Francois, Callie Hall, Grace Herfurth, Mary Hunter Johnston, Abbie Knighton, Claire McClure, Milla McCormack, William Mitchell, Kassidy Neal, Grace Parry, Sahil Patel, Michael Payne, Travis Rogers, Olivia Rule, Alexander Schott, Elizabeth Scott, Malon Stratton, Livvie Strickland, Phillip Talley, Nancy Usey, Dray Willson, and Kayla Young.

NATIONAL junior HONOR SOCIETY

The Jackson Academy chapter of the Junior National Honor Society recently inducted new ninth grade members: Carnelius Powers, Pier Thompson, Cianna Brewer, Ainsley Hill, Thomas Lupe, Nayan Malhotra, Tyler Pitts, Tafarri Pleas, Walker Rippee, Kaylan Sanders, Logan Thomas, and new eighth grade members: Blakely Amis, Reese Anderson, Walker Barnes, Nicholas Brown, Emily Burks, Brent Butler, Elizabeth Childress, Steven Chustz, Kellum Clark, Carter Elliott, Gracie Eubank, Courtney Francois, Logan Hatten,

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Russell Hawkins, Ashlie Henderson, Trey Herrington, Caroline Hill, Alayla Jackson, William Janous, Henry Lee, Christian Luckett, P.J. Martin, Sara Evelyn McClintock, Harris McLemore, Christopher Mondie, Sydney Morris, Kennedy Nations, Douglas Noble, Virginia Parry, Anna Katherine Ray, Anna Roberson, Ellie Rogers, Kayla Shepherd, Lily Grace Thigpen, Nelson Thomas, Will Travelstead, Jane Anna Vickery, Mary Gray White, Reed White, and Camden Yates.

JA SCHOLARS ACT TEST SCORES TRENDING UP

From back, left to right, Tyler McClellan, Dalton Gibson, Reid Fracchia, Davis Rippee, Kyle Kantor, Mac Temple, Steven Winford, Parker Kennedy, Nathan Lucas, Nic Beddingfield, Brennan Canton, Ben McDowell, Cory Tirman, Caroline Nall,

Hannah McCowan, Amanda Ray, Glennis McWilliams, Annalee Purdie, Rose Maxwell, Madison Carroll, Georgia Gibson, Robyn Hadden, Clarke Wilkirson, Sydney Hays. Not pictured are Rebecca Nosef and Bryn Noble.

ACT scores among Jackson Academy students are showing an upward trend. In 2015, seniors averaged a composite score of 25.3, up from the previous two years and above JA’s recent five-year average of 25. The state average was 19 and the national average was 21 that year. Although final figures were not available at press time of this publication, composite scores during 2016 are indicating a similar upward pattern.

and ensures that they plan a rigorous Upper School course load.

Two particular categories of JA test takers demonstrate notable figures. Students attending JA since Lower School averaged 26.2. Students in advanced curriculum averaged 30.

Overall, 28 percent of seniors scored 29 or above, making them eligible for Mississippi’s Eminent Scholars Grant, a $2500 per year grant awarded to in-state residents pursuing their first degree at an approved post-secondary institution in Mississippi. Recipients of the grant also must maintain a high school cumulative grade point average of 3.50 on a 4.0 scale. Juniors scored 29 and above at a rate similar to the senior class.

While scores are showing an uptick, counselors are quick to point out that the ACT score is just one indication of college readiness. “JA is on the leading edge of preparing students for college success,” said Amy Bush, JA college counselor. “Our students are prepared for college and are successful in college.”

The school engages students in early college and career awareness, helps students set high aspirations,

Associate Dean Paula Pratt said three factors play into students’ testing success: their regular classroom course of study; workshops and classes designed for ACT preparation; and JA serving as an ACT testing site.

“Preparation for college admissions testing starts in the classroom,” said Pratt. “What occurs every day in the classroom is key to students reaching college readiness benchmarks. At JA, regular classroom preparation has proven effective for preparing students.” A college readiness benchmark is a score on each of the subsections (English, math, reading, and science) of the ACT that the ACT, Inc. uses as the minimum score that would predict college success in that area. JA also offers classes and workshops for students who wish to go beyond regular classroom study to advance their scores.

JA takes serving as an official ACT testing site very seriously, so it arranges for qualified proctors and maintains a quiet and orderly testing environment.

Pratt says that letting students test in classrooms that are familiar to them in desks that are comfortable for extended testing can make a difference. Students can test at JA at all testing dates except June. Also, students from other schools can test at JA. “Helping students reach college readiness is an important task of any school, and we are pleased TRUE BLUE 33

JA SCHOLARS with JA’s success in preparing students for college. Our mission includes helping students lead lives of purpose and significance. ACT scores are just one measure of preparation, and we encourage families to consider scores along with other qualities their children possess, such as grade point average, leadership, service, and artistic or athletic giftedness, when preparing for college admissions,� said JA President Cliff Kling.

Univ sissi sissi Ala Art ver Mi ist Le W v

SEVENTH GRADERS CHOSEN FOR DUKE TIP PROGRAM The Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP) identifies seventh graders who have scored at the 95th percentile or above on a grade-level achievement test.

These students are invited to participate in the Duke TIP seventh Grade Talent Search and take either the SAT or the ACT.

This year, 55 Jackson Academy students qualified for the program including (from left, back) Ty Usey, Parker Bracken, Ridgely McIntyre, Drew Antici, Jesse Montgomery, Phoebe Guinn, Avery Hendrick, Jonathan Lucas, John Henson, Simms Baker, Demi Williamson, Gracie Coe, Lachlan McLendon (third row) Wes Thomas, Nikki Lawrence, Isabelle Lee, Zharia Hill, Kaylee Ashford, Zoe Ladner, Rosemary Caldwell, Thomas Arnold, Will Edwards, Jack Varner, Parker Kirby, James Smith (second row) Elizabeth Pedigo, Jude Reeves, Emery Thigpen, Samia Wilson, Katie Youngblood, Graham Laseter, McNeill Dinkins, Michael Hogue, Locke Danley, Parker Ryan, Coleman Dinkins, William Meck, Ben Sigler (front) Sophie Hays, Caroline Graven, Anna Claire Seago, Ava Couey, Lila Robertson, Madeleine Pettus, Isabel Lehman, Miles Taylor Leverette, Emory Laseter, Meagan Gautier, Emma Collums, Lily Rhoden, Priya Ray. Not pictured: Natalie DeRusso, Andrew Holmes, Rett Stanley, and Alex Summerford.

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M f o y t i s r e v M y t i s r e v i n U e t a t S i p ip y t i s r e v i n U e g e l l o C i p ip g e l l o C h a n n a v a S a abam U t l i b r e d n a V n g i s e D t& t u o S f o y t i s r e v i n U rsity t e M n r e h t u o S i p p i s s issi o t g n i h s a W y t i s r e v i n U t t i s r e v i n U y t i s r e v i n U ee e t a t S a t l e D a d i r o l F t s e W u m m o C s e m l o H y t i s r ve t s a o lf C COLLEGE CHOICES

Ford Adams

Cash Heath

Annalee Purdie

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

Makenna Adams

Beaty Hill

Amanda Ray

University of Mississippi

Mississippi State University

University of Southern Miss.

Will April

Chris Howie

Sam Rhodes

Mississippi State University

University of Mississippi

Mississippi State University

Jamie Banks

Hannah Hudson

Carter Richardson

Mississippi State University

University of Mississippi

Mississippi State University

Gus Barnett

Olivia Johnson

Alexis Ridgeway

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

Nick Beddingfield

Kyle Kantor

Davis Rippee

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

Allie Brown

Keaton Kennedy

Hays Rogers

Mississippi State University

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

Sarah Buchanan

Parker Kennedy

Ashley Sanders

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University

Christian Burford

Camryn Kestenbaum

Davis Simmons

Holmes Community College

Mississippi State University

University of Mississippi

Brennan Canton

Jace Lacoste

Bettye-Grace Sirven

University of Mississippi

Mississippi State University

Mississippi College

Mary Chosen Caples

Laurin Lacoste

Amanda Skipper

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

University of Southern Miss.

Madison Carroll

Abbey Lindsey

Avery Smith

University of West Florida

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

Gipson Clark

Nathan Lucas

Brady Stringer

Mississippi State University

University of Mississippi

Mississippi State University

Kendall Cockayne

Rose Maxwell

Mac Temple

University of Mississippi

Washington and Lee University

Mississippi State University

Austin Crain

Tyler McClellan

Drew Thomas

University of Mississippi

University of Alabama

University of Mississippi

Robert Crisler

Hannah McCowan*

Tillman Thomas

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

Maggie Cross

Mallory McCubbins

Blaine Tierney

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

David Crystal

Ben McDowell

Cory Tirman

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University

University of Alabama

Aaron Dallaire

Glennis McWilliams

Taylor Tucker

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

Symone Davis

Austin Melton

Abigail Tyner

Mississippi State University

University of Mississippi

Mississippi State University

Matthew Faulkner

Max Milam

Jack Virden

Mississippi State University

University of Mississippi

Mississippi College

Candice Fielder

Bryant Miller

Delaney Wallace

Mississippi State University

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

Daisy Ford

Charles Moor

Lucy Waller

Savannah College of Art & Design

Mississippi State University

University of Mississippi

Will Ford

Michael Morgan

Corbin Walter

University of Mississippi

Mississippi State University

University of Mississippi

Reid Fracchia

Hayley Murphy

Chance Waltman

University of Mississippi

Vanderbilt University

University of Mississippi

Sarah French

Caroline Nall

Neville Whitehead

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

Mississippi State University

Dalton Gibson

Avenell Newman

Clarke Wilkirson

Southern Methodist University

University of Mississippi

University of Alabama

Georgia Gibson**

Bryn Noble

Ford Williams

Vanderbilt University

University of Mississippi

Savannah College of Art & Design

Kathleen Giddens

McLeod Norwood

Steven Winford

Mississippi College

Delta State University

University of Mississippi

Ford Gordon

Rebecca Nosef

Hannah Wootton

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

Mississippi State University

Robyn Hadden

Chase Oswalt

William Youngblood

Mississippi State University

University of Mississippi

Mississippi State University

Zykeyous Hawkins

Mary Ousley Owen

MS Gulf Coast Comm. College

University of Mississippi

Sydney Hays

Allan Thomas Pickle

University of Mississippi

University of Mississippi

*Valedictorian **Salutatorian

TRUE BLUE 35

CLASS OF 2016

Ford Adams

Makenna Adams

Will April

Jamie Banks

Gus Barnett

Nick Beddingfield

Allie Brown

Sarah Buchanan

Christian Burford

Brennan Canton

Mary Chosen Caples

Madison Carroll

Gipson Clark

Kendall Cockayne

Austin Crain

Robert Crisler

Maggie Cross

David Crystal

Aaron Dallaire

Symone Davis

Matthew Faulkner

Candice Fielder

Daisy Ford

Will Ford

Reid Fracchia

Sarah French

Georgia Gibson

Dalton Gibson

Kathleen Giddens

Ford Gordon

Robyn Hadden

Zykeyous Hawkins

Sydney Hays

Cash Heath

Beaty Hill

Chris Howie

Hannah Hudson

Olivia Johnson

Kyle Kantor

Keaton Kennedy

Parker Kennedy

Camryn Kestenbaum

Jace Lacoste

Laurin Lacoste

Abbey Lindsay

Nathan Lucas

Rose Maxwell

Tyler McClellan

Hannah McCowan

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CLASS OF 2016

Mallory McCubbins

Ben McDowell

Glennis McWilliams

Austin Melton

Max Milam

Bryant Miller

Charles Moor

Michael Morgan

Hayley Murphy

Caroline Nall

Avenell Newman

Bryn Noble

McLeod Norwood

Rebecca Nosef

Chase Oswalt

Mary Ousley Owen

Allan Thomas Pickle

Annalee Purdie

Amanda Ray

Sam Rhodes

Carter Richardson

Alexis Ridgeway

Davis Rippee

Hays Rogers

Ashley Sanders

Davis Simmons

Bettye-Grace Sirven

Amanda Skipper

Avery Smith

Brady Stringer

Mac Temple

Drew Thomas

Tillman Thomas

Blaine Tierney

Cory Tirman

Taylor Tucker

Abigail Tyner

Jack Virden

Delaney Wallace

Lucy Waller

Corbin Walter

Chance Waltman

Neville Whitehead

Clarke Wilkirson

Ford Williams

Steven Winford

Hannah Wootton

William Youngblood

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RAIDERS IN ACTION

Celebration Includes Drama, Poetry, and Music The Black History Program Committee organized an event that remembered the past and looked to the future. Entertainment was provided by Tevin McGuire, a Murrah High senior who has been singing and writing since age 5. The Power Academic and Performing Arts Dance Group presented a performance that was followed by a drama called Take Me Back by Jackson State University’s MADDRAMA, a group that produces plays that reflect the African American experience. JA student Reggie Fullwood offered a poem that encouraged working together to create a better future.

With each segment of the program, members of the committee offered historical perspective about the traditions of dance, poetry, drama, and music as means of expression.

Committee members were Taylor Tucker, chairman; Symone Davis, co-chairman; Tevin McGuire, Kelsey Ford, Heather Molden, Madison Stanton, Brianna Cry, Hayley Murphy, Reggie Fullwood, Bryant Miller, Tosh McGee, Zykeyous Hawkins, Jamie Banks, Deja Bradford, Joyia Petty, Will April, Lauran Sheriff, and Chelsea Francios. The committee thanked BankPlus for sponsorship of the program.

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RAIDERS IN ACTION

Students Ablaze with D evotion at R etreat

The Retreat: Ablaze was an amazing experience for the 300-plus students and alumni who were part of this student-led weekend. There was pizza and meeting with team leaders after a Friday night game before heading to host homes for small group times.

On Saturday, sessions with speaker Chad Berry and praise music with the Matt Collins Band were followed by breakout sessions. After lunch, participants had recreation time with a wide range of sports, relay races, and games. Saturday evening included dinner with small groups, more music, sessions, and small group times, plus a surprise party. On Sunday, the students cleaned up at the host homes then returned for a closing session at Raider Park. Both the leaders and the participants reported it was a wonderful

time of fellowship and fun. Many recent alumni, now college freshmen and sophomores, returned to campus to be part of this great program and assist the leaders.

Students organized a second retreat in the spring semester. Each time, students have taken more and more responsibility for the details of the retreat with the objective that the retreat will become an entirely student-led event with adult supervision.

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RAIDERS IN ACTION

JA TEEN

TRENDSETTERS SERVE TO IMPROVE LITERACY The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy hosted an event in January to celebrate the Teen Trendsetters programs that were recently launched in Jackson. These programs help struggling elementary school children improve reading skills.

Attending the event, which featured an appearance

by Mississippi First Lady Deborah Bryant, were JA’s 15 mentors, Board of Trustees Chair Ashley Willson, and staff members Audrey Wilkirson, Paula Pratt, Amy Bush, and Michelle Mills.

Teen Trendsetters programs consist of volunteer teen mentors who help young mentees who are six months or more behind their peers in reading. This year the foundation established 11 Teen Trendsetters programs in Jackson, where elementary schools partnered with local middle and high schools. JA and Murrah High School partnered with Spann Elementary.

“We’re so happy to be working in partnership with these schools to help struggling young readers in Jackson gain literacy skills that are absolutely critical for their success,” said Liza McFadden, CEO and President of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. “With 74 percent of fourth grade students in Mississippi reading below grade level, we know that these programs can

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Mississippi’s First Lady Deborah Bryant joins educators and students in support of literacy efforts. have life-changing impact on these children and their community.”

Teens spend one-on-one time each week bonding with their young mentees while teaching them to read better and enjoy books. The Barbara Bush Foundation is the nation’s leading advocate for family literacy. To learn more about the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy’s commitment to promote family literacy in homes across America, please visithelpthemread.org.

ATHLETICS

Coach Weems Prepares for Upcoming Season

The familiar sounds of preseason running and conditioning have been emanating from Raider Field. One new sound is the well-seasoned voice of JA’s varsity head football coach, Larry Weems. Weems brings 40 years of coaching experience to the Raiders, with 20 of those years as a head coach. The Raiders began official football practice the last week of July.

“Coach Weems shares our ideals of inspiring young men to reach their potential and lead lives of purpose.

We believe he is a great fit for the job to ensure not only the success of the program but even more importantly, that our mission as a school continues to be fulfilled through the program,” said David Sykes, JA athletic director.

Weems most recently served as head football coach for Meridian High School where he led the team to a 107-31 record. His teams appeared in playoffs each of 10 seasons, earning the

state championship in 2008 and runner-up in 2006 and 2010. As head football coach at Pearl High School from 2000-2006, he led teams to five consecutive state play-off appearances. Earlier this year, Weems was named as one of five inductees into the Mississippi Association of Coaches’ Hall of Fame. Weems holds a master’s degree in secondary administration from the University of Southern Mississippi and a master’s degree in education from Mississippi State University, where he also earned his bachelor’s degree.

Coach Weems is taking effective strategies from his experience in other settings and blending those with the knowledge of the assistant coaches who are familiar with JA traditions. Together they will craft a program that will be in the best interest of students. “In my first few months here I have spent time observing. It is important to understand a school’s culture and way of doing things before making changes. My recommendations to strengthen our football and athletic programs are ones that will continue to help our student athletes be as successful as they can be,” said Weems. His approach includes a philosophy of inspiring students to maximize their potential in life by working hard, doing what is right, and having fun.

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ATHLETICS

New Equestrian Team The Equestrian Team completed regular and regional competition during its first official season at JA. The team trains weekly, and the season runs through February.

The team competed in three events this year in Birmingham. The team, as well as four individual team members, earned enough points over the season to qualify for regional competition in Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, Georgia in February. Ana Kelly Hontzas then advanced from regional competition to Zone Finals in Clemson, South Carolina.

Ashley Manning competed individually at the Lucinda Green Cross Country Clinic in Ocala, Florida in January and then competed in the Rocking Horse Winter Trials that was a rated event for Area Three. She is in the Young Rider Program, and she and Astro placed fourth in their first rated event at the Beginner Novice level.

EQUESTRIAN TEAM MEMBERS Members Individual Qualifiers Hannah McCowan Hannah McCowan

Twelfth Grade Sydney Simmons Lauren Sutton Kellan Clower

Ninth Grade Lauren Sutton Ana Kelly Hontzas Ana Kelly Hontzas

Eighth Grade Lily Rhoden Lily Rhoden Anna Claire Sheffield

Seventh Grade Annalee Willson Alden McNamara Addison Armstrong Molly McClure Ashley Manning

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12 3 4 5 6 7 8

8 99

ATHLETICS

Congratulations MAIS

State Championship

Wininning Teams

Archers Aim for P r e c i s

i

n

Students have participated in five archery tournaments this year, including two hosted by JA and both the North State and State tournaments. The team participates in the high school 4A division in a program called Archery in Mississippi Schools (AIMS). The archery team was formed in the 2014-15 school year and is coached by Bill Bunch and Mallory Gnemi.

Archery team members include Karla Brown, Zacchaeus Brown, Owen Carter, Gunner Cress, Hudson Hadley, Samuel Hadley, Ann Cole, Marcus Harris, Nicholas Harris, Michael Hederman, Caleb Hernandez, Harrison Johnston, Katherine Kelly, Gracie Drew Pratt, Olivia Quin, Jude Reeves, Kendall Ross, Logan Thomas, Laila Wilkins, Skylar Wilkins, Fran Wilkirson, and Annalee Willson.

The JA Lady Raiders basketball team attained its 32nd straight win and the MAIS Overall Championship at Mississippi College in February defeating Jackson Prep for the title. State Sen. Walter Michel visited the JA campus May 4 to present a special resolution to the basketball team and coaches. Drafted and introduced by Sen. Michel, the concurrent resolution was approved by the Mississippi Senate and House of Representatives and signed by Gov. Phil Bryant.

BASKETBALL The tennis team finished the season in May with a 10-1 overall record including an undefeated 5-0 conference record. The girls team earned the Division 1 AAAA state championship.

TENNIS

Archery is considered the fastest growing sport nationally and in Mississippi. The AIMS program introduces students from fourth through twelfth grades to the sport. At North State, seventh grader Caleb Hernandez was ranked at No. 42 out of the top 100 male scores and No. 48 out of all scores. That is 48 out of 1425 scores.

Volleyball earned the state championship for the second year in a row! Read more on page 45!

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks is the driving force behind AIMS. The program, which began in 2005 with 10 schools, is now in almost 500 schools and in 50 counties with more than 70,000 students participating each year. The first statewide Archery Invitational was held in Mississippi in 2011 with 400 student archers competing; that number has expanded to over 3,900 student archers competing annually in the AIMS State Championships. Mississippi students also rank at the highest levels in both national and international archery competitions every year.

The junior high football team, junior high boys basketball team, and junior high boys track team all won conference championships this year.

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VOLLEYBALL FOOTBALL

RAIDERS

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ATHLETICS

Jackson Academy Tennis Center Dedicated Jackson Academy put the finishing touches on a new tennis facility at the school’s Raider Park and held a dedication ceremony May 16. The Jackson Academy Tennis Center will facilitate the school’s growing and successful tennis program. The six lighted tennis courts are on the northwest side of Raider Park, an area that also includes facilities for baseball, softball, and track and field. The $625,000 Tennis Center includes a dedicated tennis building with office space, restrooms, and storage, as well as bleachers for viewing matches. The Tennis Center was funded by generous donations from Jackson Academy families and friends.

JA would like to thank and recognize three families in particular who gave so generously so students can enjoy this first-class Tennis Center for years to come.

•C hristie and George Walker in recognition of their generous contribution that helped make the Tennis Center building possible.

•C ami and Brian Hill whose generosity sponsored a court in memory of Cami’s father and Caroline and Harrison’s grandfather, James Cline Stone.

•M s. Sandra Dabbs Rogers who sponsored a court in memory of her stepson, John M. (Johnny) Rogers, Jr., father of Hays, Max, and Ellie Rogers.

The JA Booster Club also made a generous gift in support of this project.

JA Tennis Donors Mr. and Mrs. Richard Beneke Mr. Marc Brand Katie and Jamie Chustz Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Cragon Deviney Construction Company, Inc. Dana and Hank Lomax Deviney Equipment Ditch Witch Mid-South Eric and Missy Elam Dr. Richard Gill Girl Scout Troup #7574 Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Greenlee Les and Michelle Hardin Cami and Brian Hill Heather and Tommy Hixon JA Booster Club TRUE BLUE 44

Kevin and LeeAnn Kantor Mike and Jennifer Lowe Julie and Mark McLemore Trenton Miller Milam Mike and Kathy Morgan Paula Stewart, DMD & Associates, Inc. Mr. Lan Pickle Mary and Richard Puckett Colleen and Stan Roberts Sandra Dabbs Rogers Dr. Paula Strange George and Christie Walker Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Whitehead Williams, Weiss, Hester & Company, PLLC Mark and Ashley Willson

ATHLETICS The Lady Raiders basketball team earned the Overall MAIS Championship at Mississippi College in February 2016.

Volleyball Continues Momentum

Lawrence Named Head Volleyball Coach

The 2015-16 season was a superb year for volleyball.

In Jackson Academy’s fifth year to offer the sport, junior varsity finished the season 13-3 and varsity finished 35-3. Varsity won the MAIS championship title for the second year. Ranked No. 1 in the state on MS MaxPreps, varsity also won the Gulf Coast Kick-off Classic and the Madison Madness Invitational.

The teams were led by Jennifer Bracken, head coach, and Brittany Ammons and Riley Busching, assistant coaches.

Jackson area native Christina Lawrence will lead the Lady Raiders as head volleyball coach in the upcoming season. Lawrence began playing volleyball in the seventh grade in Mississippi. She joined the Lady Barons of Franciscan University in Ohio in 2012, serving as captain in 2015-16. She completed a bachelor of arts in communication arts with a concentration in radio and television in May of 2016.

The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, named Conley Chinn its 2015-16 Gatorade Mississippi Volleyball Player of the Year. The award recognizes athletic excellence, high standards of academic achievement, and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field.

Lawrence will coach volleyball, teach two classes, and be part of the Marketing & Communications staff.

“I’m impressed by the culture of JA, by the loyalty of the community, and by the student-centered focus of the faculty and staff,” she said. “I’m excited to offer my coaching ability and mentoring to the volleyball team and to learn as much as I can from the notable staff around me.”

Two Receive Wendy’s High School Heisman Two Jackson Academy seniors have been chosen to represent JA in the competition for the prestigious Wendy’s High School Heisman Award based on their academic aptitude, athletic talent, and exceptional commitment to their school and communities. Jackson Academy’s 2015 Wendy’s Heisman recipients are (from left) Robyn Hadden and Parker Kennedy. The program, awarded in conjunction with the collegiate Heisman, celebrates the achievements of the nation’s top high school seniors both in and out of the classroom.

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LEAVING A LEGACY

Leaving A Legacy The final weeks of May at Jackson Academy are always bittersweet as seniors embark upon college and coworkers who’ve become friends begin new chapters. Three of the individuals who have been with Jackson Academy for many years paused to reflect upon memories and milestones as they concluded their final year here.

BARBARA NATIONS

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GUS PURVIANCE

MARSHA REVERE

LEAVING A LEGACY

Being Uplifted, and Uplifting Others Barbara Nations thought she was coming to JA for one year…and 36 years later she is still smiling about her time here.

“I got a call from the Preschool director in 1980 saying an assistant could not come back and asking if I would help for one year,” she explains. She has now worked with almost every age group at JA. “Everywhere I’ve worked has been special,” Nations says. She remained in the Preschool for 16 years. There she found the special gift preschool students have of brightening the day for adults.

“On days I might feel low, I’d not be there 10 minutes and a 4-year-old would say something funny, and my whole day would change,” she remembers.

a student who was shy or did not have a lot of friends. Some days it may have been the only positive thing in their day,” she said.

She worked in what was the Junior High for 16 years. The last few years she has helped in the Middle and Upper School divisions. “It’s been quite a ride.

I’ve loved it, and made so many friends,” she said.

Nations keeps in touch with students. In particular, there is one teacher in Preschool now who was one of Nation’s first 4-year-olds. “Being at JA for 36 years has been very rewarding, and I hope that maybe I have touched a life. I know they have touched mine.”

While preschool students brought her joy in earlier years, Nations felt called to be an uplifting presence in junior high.

“I made a special effort to get to know TRUE BLUE 47

Working Side by Side The school was small when Gus Purviance first began maintenance work, so he would come to Jackson Academy after a shift at the fire station or on his days off and handle most maintenance needs. He says his 47 years at JA have felt short. “Every day has been good. There are too many good things to mention them all,” he said. “You know the saying, ‘Time flies when you’re having fun.’”

Purviance and his wife, Linda, who also worked at JA until her retirement, have found over the years that most every conversation is about JA, or leads back to JA. Both daughters attended JA and daughter Lee was in the first graduating class. “Our whole life is here at JA. Our friends are here,” he said. “We have trouble going anywhere without talking about JA.” Purviance remembers in great detail the flood of 1979, which was a turning point for JA. “That was probably the single most important event. It was both bad and good,” he said, noting that the high school developed out of that challenging time.

“It brought the school together. We had everybody out cleaning up. During that time together you got to know people…when you are working side by side on something as important as getting the school running you develop lasting friendships.” In the momentum after the flood, JA began adding classes by grade until it extended through twelfth grade.

Another memory about the flood is that it coincided with a trip the Purviances had planned to Disney World.

“We cancelled Disney and rode around in boats here instead,” he joked.

Fortunately for the Purviances, retirement is providing another opportunity for Disney. They plan a trip to Florida where a sister lives, so Disney is just moments away. From there they plan to take a road trip that includes Denver, Washington State, and a number of other spots.

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LEAVING A LEGACY

Teaching an ‘Angel Chorus’ Doesn’t Feel Like Work “I found a way to make a living doing something I love, so I don’t work,” says Marsha Revere, fondly known at JA as “Mrs. Rootbeer.” Her alter ego, Mrs. Rootbeer, has become her identity, even following her into her life outside JA. “Mrs. Revere is a nice old lady…Mrs. Rootbeer is really fun,” she says.

the world. There is no way you can be unhappy. If you are burdened, within three minutes of being around them, you are lifted up. They hug you, adore you, and make you laugh,” she said.

The name started out as a bit of a misunderstanding. A kindergarten student who is now a senior in college was saying her name and another student interpreted it as an insult.

“That little boy is calling you a name,” the child told Revere. She talked to the boy in question and realized he was simply having trouble pronouncing her name, Mrs. Revere. He was actually saying, Mrs. Rootbeer. Now 23 later, she is Mrs. Rootbeer nearly everywhere she goes where children are present. It has developed into a persona.

Her time at JA has been special to Revere and to the many children who have experienced her music classes.

“The goal has always been to have them enjoy the class and love music when they leave my class. Music gives us empathy and feeling, and it also enhances listening. I want them to have a love of music—whether it is singing, or dancing, or listening—and want to participate in music in some way throughout their lives,” she said.

Being surrounded by children ages 3, 4, and 5 has been a joy to Revere. “I love that you tell them something, and they accept it,” she explained. “You can say, ‘Jesus loves me,’ and they don’t say, ‘Show me proof.’ You can say, ‘Be kind to one another,’ and they will do so.”

“Three year old voices are like an angel chorus,” she said.

Now, after 27 years, being a “granny” has trumped being “Mrs. Rootbeer.” She is looking forward to spending time with grandchildren in north Mississippi and Tennessee. Revere is excited that her “angel chorus” will be in good hands with experienced teacher Holly Collums.

And Revere will retire as “Mrs. Rootbeer” and fully enjoy “Granny.”

Revere says working with this age group is the “best anti-depressant in TRUE BLUE 49

ARTS

The Arts Give Students

Opportunities to Shine!

The educational and programmatic offerings in the arts—and student participation—continue to grow. Whether students opt in for the fun of it or have an eye on a future career, they have numerous choices for exciting forms of

expression—musicals, plays, concert choirs, show choirs, bands, visual arts, and speech and debate. For those who prefer behind the scenes roles, students can participate in stage crew, show choir band, and technical support.

Musicals and Plays Draw Crowds

The 800-seat auditorium in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) was just the right setting for Into the Woods this past November. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and based on a book by James Lapine, Into the Woods blends several fairy tales with an original story. The musical featured a large cast directed by Katie Shores, choral music director.

The Black Box Theater, housed inside the PAC, was the venue for an April theatre production Mutually Assured Destruction: Ten Plays About Brothers and Sisters by Don Zolidis. The Black Box offers a more intimate setting with this particular play set up for an audience of 60.

“The play looks at how family structures transcend time,” said director and JA theatre teacher Lauren Ray. “Each scene represents decades beginning in 2015 and working backwards to 1922.” It gave students the opportunity to perform work representing different periods of time, she said.

Middle School students participated in a musical in April. Adapted for young performers, Honk! Jr. is a heartwarming celebration of being different. Witty and hilarious, but also deeply moving, Honk! Jr. treated audiences to equal amounts of laughter and tears.

Save the Dates for Fall 2016 Productions!

The fall musical will be 42nd Street offered on October 15-17. Students are taking tap classes this summer in preparation for August auditions. Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes and featuring music by Harry Warren, 42 nd Street tells the story of Peggy Sawyer, a talented young performer with stars in her eyes who gets her big break on Broadway.

The fall competition one-act will be Tammy: A Coming of Age Story About a Girl Who is Part T-Rex by Julia Weiss. The one-act will go to the North High School Dramafest competition on December 2 and 3, 2016 with public performances either immediately before or in the week following competition.

With clever nods to 1990’s culture, Tammy tells the story of the average middle school student who feels like she doesn’t quite fit in. This poignant dark comedy, is a reminder that being different is not easy—especially when your lunch is raw meat, and you get muzzled every time you roar in math class.

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ARTS

” ! s t n e d u t s r u o f o d “We’re so prou Speech and Debate Accelerates

The 2015-16 school year was a big one for development of speech and debate, from hosting a speech and debate tournament at JA, competing in numerous tournaments, and qualifying for national competition. Upper School students competed in 10 debate tournaments. Middle School students also competed in a tournament this year.

The Jackson Catholic Forensics League speech and debate tournament held at JA in February was a qualifier for a national tournament in Sacramento, Calif. The event drew students from the Jackson area and the northern part of Mississippi. Through this event, JA students Natalie Ford, Chloe Owens, and Brianna Cry qualified to compete at the national tournament held in May.

JA Speech and Debate adviser Lauren Ray was pleased with the team’s first year. “We’re so proud of our students, and we’re so thankful to each volunteer who helped us make the JCFL qualifier a successful weekend for our school and our state,” she said.

Choirs and Show Choirs Choir and show choir opportunities include Middle School Concert Choir (seventh and eighth grades), Finale (sixth grade), Upper School Concert Choir (ninth to twelfth grades), Showtime (seventh to ninth grades), and Encore (ninth to twelfth grades).

Music, with opportunities to perform in the PAC and Black Box, is offered for fifth grade, Lower School and Preschool as well.

The show choirs, Showtime and Encore, had another excellent competition season. Both groups were in their fifth year under the direction of Katie Shores, with shows choreographed by Kevin Chase and Nick Quamme.

Showtime was made up of 37 singers/dancers, six crew members, and five band members. The group’s season competition included trips in central and

Audiences south Mississippi, where their accomplishments included several awards, including being named Grand Champion with Best Vocals and Best Visuals at one show.

Encore was made up of 45 singer/dancers, 14 crew members, and 11 band members. Encore also competed in central and south Mississippi and in Branson and Chicago, earning numerous awards including a Grand Champion nod. Encore earned second runner up at FAME in Branson in April, qualifying the group for national competition in Chicago. They received sixth place in the national finals.

For more performing arts photos, visit facebook.com/jacksonacademyperformingarts.

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ARTS

Ar tists Bring Joy to Others

In addition to participation in the annual Scholastic Art Competition, art students lifted spirits of pediatric hospital patients by painting wall hangings for a local hospital. Faculty and staff joined together for a two-week art show in the PAC Gallery in January. Susan Ingram, Jacob Rowan, Richard Stafford, and Lori Snider were among the exhibitors.

Our Upper School students had another very successful year competing in the Scholastic Art Competition. For 2016, 22 of our students in grades nine through twelve earned a total of 38 awards, including six Gold Key individual and one Gold Key portfolio.

Visit facebook.com/JAUpperSchoolArt to see all of our winning entries.

Students in all other divisions— Preschool, Lower School, and Middle School—also enter local, district, and state MAIS Art Competitions. PreKindergarten, kindergarten, and Lower School students advanced to district and state competition. These groups of students garnered quite a number of first and second place district and state awards.

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ARTS

BAND PROGRAM WELCOMES TODD TAYLOR AS BAND DIRECTOR

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N J A D B N A A J B D A N A B A J BAND J D N A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J ARTS A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J D AB N A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J D N JA B A B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A J ND D N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D N JA A B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B A J ND J D N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D N A D JA B A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J D AN N A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D N A D JA B A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J D AN N A B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A B ND A J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A B ND A J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A B A AND J D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D N A A BA B A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B A AN J D N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B A J BAN D N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A JA B A BAN

T

odd L. Taylor joined the faculty as band director on June 1.

Taylor has nearly 30 years experience developing musicians and leading bands in both Mississippi and Iowa.

Taylor comes to JA from Hillcrest Christian where he served as band director for the last nine years. Taylor’s tenure at Hillcrest has been noted for growth of programs and nurture of young musicians.

The band program grew from 33 students to a 96-member ensemble.

His bands also earned superior ratings at MAIS marching and concert festivals.

Taylor enjoys introducing students to band as well as developing the talents of gifted musicians. “Everyone loves to be a contributing part of something. That’s one of the wonderful things about band: Everyone practices…everyone performs. There is no one sitting on the bench,” he said. “Also, at this level, if they want to be better than the other person, all they have to do is practice twice as much. They aren’t limited to how tall they are, how strong they are…they just have to put more time in.

“Students continue to surprise me every day. It just takes that one moment to propel them on…I love watching their eyes light up when they conquer that challenging piece that looked impossible when I first handed it to them. Sometimes it just takes that right moment for the ‘switch to flip’ and they step up to the next level…occasionally they are just happy to be a part of a group…and that’s OK, too.”

Taylor moved to Mississippi in 1989 to complete a degree in music education with a minor in art from Mississippi College. He also studied at Coe College, and during those years held positions with bands at two schools, one working specifically with beginning band students.

After completing his degree at Mississippi College, Taylor taught art and music and was assistant band director at Provine High School for eight years. He served as band director at Forest Hill High School for two years, where he directed a band of 125 high school students that was rated excellent at state marching competition and concert competition.

Taylor is excited about his role at JA. “JA has a long history of having a high quality band. I look forward to continuing the excellence, as well as growing the program. I love finding those students who need a group and introducing them into the band family.”

He and his wife, Candice, have three sons, Troy, Toby, and Titus.

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A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A J A D J N D A N B A A B J A ARTS D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D N BA A B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A B ND A J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D N BA A B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A B A AND J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D N BA A B A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B A AN J D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D N A A BA B A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B A J BAN D N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A B JA A J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A B JA A J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J D AB N A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J D AB N A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J D N JA B A B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B A J ND J D N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D N JA A B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J A D J N D A N B A A B A J ND J D N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D A N J A D B N A A J B D N A D JA B A B J A D J N D A N B A A B J D JA

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he Jackson Academy band program provides students in grades six through twelve opportunities to learn instrumental music, develop maturity and poise through performance, improve leadership skills, contribute to JA spirit, and gain confidence in their own capabilities.

During the 2015-16 season, the drum line, consisting of student musicians from all sections of the band, pumped up JA spirit at pep rallies, football games, and campus events. The marching band competed at the Gulf Coast Invitational at Biloxi High School and the Groovin’ in the Grove Band Invitational at Oak Grove High School. At Biloxi, competing against much larger bands from public schools around the region, the JA Band earned every caption in its class, and was named Grand Champion, with the highest score of 19 bands at the event. At Oak Grove, the band was named Class A Champions, third overall out of 27 bands. The color guard earned first place overall. At the Bands of America St. Louis Super Regional Championship, where 64 bands competed at the Edward Jones Dome, the band was second in Class A. To close the marching season, the band earned all superiors at the MAIS Marching Band Festival.

The concert band participated in a pre-fest at Jackson Prep and the MAIS Concert Band Festival. At the MAIS fest, they again received all superior ratings and high praise from the adjudicators. The Jazz Band performed at the Features Pageant and other campus events.

The winter guard had another undefeated season and was named Mississippi Indoor Association Class Champions.

The guard also traveled to Pensacola, Fla., to compete at the WGI Regional Championship, where they were named class champions.

Junior Alexander Schott was one of 66 trombonists who auditioned for the 2016 Mississippi All-State Lions Band.

He earned a spot among the 32 student musicians who were chosen for callbacks, and moved up 14 spots to earn eighth chair in the band. Alexander traveled to Fukuoka, Japan this summer to perform with the band at the International Lions Convention.

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JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY

Meet the Development Office Staff

Tim McWilliams Haleigh Ritter Ebony Welch

Jackson Academy Celebrates Philanthropy Jackson Academy would not be the school we now enjoy without the donations from a vast community of inspired families, alumni, and friends. Charitable giving helps provide students the tools they need to discover a life of

purpose and significance that tuition alone will not cover. JA celebrates the hard work of the parent-driven Jackson Academy Association and the JA Athletic Booster Club.

Development Office Purpose The purpose of the Jackson Academy Development Office is to foster the advancement of the mission and goals of JA through the private, financial support of individuals, TRUE BLUE 56

corporations, and foundations. Being good stewards of such charitable giving is a vital part of the development office through donor recognition and record keeping.

What is your hometown?

Hattiesburg, Miss.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Fashion blogs What is one interesting fact about you?

My parents have the same name—Staci and Stacy, and I was an Ole Miss Rebelette. hat is the most embarrassing song in your iTunes library?

W One in a Million by Hannah Montana What is your favorite food?

Anything Italian!

When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up?

A princess or a mermaid

HALEIGH RITTER

Fun Facts

Two new faces joined the JA Development office last year serving in the areas of annual giving, alumni relations, and development services. Haleigh Ritter is JA’s annual giving and alumni

coordinator and Ebony Welch serves as development services coordinator.

They join Tim McWilliams, director of development.

EBONY WELCH

What is your hometown?

Ann Arbor, Mich. I bleed Maize and Blue!

What is your favorite food?

There’s not much I don’t like, but as silly as it sounds nothing makes me happier than good pancakes and sausage.

What is the most embarrassing song in your iTunes library?

Burning Up by the Jonas Brothers.

When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up?

A belly dancer and a movie star.

What is one surprising fact about you?

I studied opera for four years and would have had a career in it if I had listened to my voice teacher.

You live and you learn.

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JA CELEBRATES GIVING

A Blue & White Night Creates Festive Evening

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BOOS

JA parents, faculty and friends were treated to a special evening of fun and celebration at the Jackson Academy Association’s (JAA) annual A Blue & White Night fundraiser held last fall at The South. Live music, great food, and a rousing live auction made for a perfect night to bring parents and faculty together and support the school.

JAA makes largest, single commitment of $300,000 to new Learning Commons Thanks to the generous support of this event by our JA families and sponsors, the JAA was able to pledge the largest, single commitment of $300,000 toward the Learning Commons renovation project. The JAA’s fundraising efforts have provided and assisted in making possible many campus-wide academic projects including the 21st Century Learning Initiative, C.A.R.E. (Classroom Academic and Resources TRUE BLUE 58

Enhancement) Grants, and the Jernberg Scholarship.

The 2015 A Blue & White Night committee included Brooke Akins, Candace Frost, Jenni Graven, Jan Ishee, Lisa Jeffcoat, Mechelle Keeton, Brandon Kennedy, Jennifer Mathison (event co-chair), Kristen Nations, Geri Beth Smith, Owen Stratton, and Max Wondries (event chair).

The JAA is the parent association for Jackson Academy. The JAA provides volunteers and financial support for educational tools in our K3–12 classrooms as well as many other benefits to our students and faculty. Focused on

building fellowship and enabling growth, the JAA enhances the overall educational experience.

The JAA conducts two parent-driven fundraisers during the year, A Blue & White Night (August 13, 2016) and the JA Fall Carnival (October 18, 2016).

BOOSTER C JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY

BOOSTER CL Color Me Raider

Mix more than 1,000 JA students, families, alumni, and faculty with a blizzard of neon-colored cornstarch, and you have a great family afternoon at the second annual Color Me Raider 5k Run/Walk. Whether running, walking, or riding in a stroller or wagon, participants made their way through the Sheffield neighborhood while being pelted by color bombs.

OSTER CLUB The Athletic Booster Club fundraiser was part of a family night at beautiful Raider Park with a varsity baseball double-header, children’s activities, and boiled crawfish. Monies raised go to support JA athletics.

STER CLUB Booster Club Enhances Programs for Student Athletes The Color Me Raider 5k Run/Walk was the spring fundraiser for the Athletic Booster Club and is one of the many annual efforts to raise money for the direct support of Jackson Academy’s athletic programs. The Athletic Booster Club is able to accomplish and support many special projects each year to enhance the athletic facilities and experiences at JA.

In addition to special projects the JA Athletic Booster Club produces the annual Sports Information Guide (SIG) and manages all concessions for JA sporting events. Support of fundraisers like the Color Me Raider event and annual support through the purchase of an Athletic Booster Club membership, SIG advertisement, All-Sports passes, and special event parking/seating allow the Board of Directors for the Jackson Academy Athletic Booster Club to continue providing strong support to our student athletes and athletic programs.

BOOSTER CL

Examples of recent projects produced or contributed to by the Booster Club include the new Tennis Center, overhead lights for the baseball field, renovation of the basketball locker rooms and equipment, installation of new volleyball practice courts, and construction of the baseball/track deck area adjacent to the main concessions. Major projects in the past have included the construction of Raider Hall, installation of artificial turf on the main activity field, and HVAC systems for the gymnasium.

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JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY “We are grateful for the many families and alumni who responded so generously to our Annual Fund efforts.”

– JA President Cliff Kling

JA Annual Fund Surpasses $400,000!

Campus-wide enhancements will impact the Jackson Academy learning experience for 2016–17 thanks to families and friends who participated in this year’s JA Annual Fund. For the first time ever, more than $420,000 was committed by families, alumni, faculty, grandparents, and friends to the Annual Fund.

Five Week Annual Fund A JA Annual Fund reboot made a positive difference as JA families responded in tremendous fashion to the new Five-Week Annual Fund drive held September 28 – November 4. Mass letter and email appeals for the Annual Fund were limited to this window with weekly email updates and a team of parent volunteers encouraging parent participation.

a

Volunteer leadership took the new ideas and ran with them.

The Development Office is grateful for the leadership of Annual Fund Parent Chairs Elizabeth and Percy Quinn.

Austin Barbour, JA Trustee and Development Chair, headed the leadership giving division along with the Development Committee members.

“We are grateful for the many families and alumni who responded so generously to our Annual Fund efforts,” said JA President Cliff Kling. “The Annual Fund is a difference maker and allows us to provide new, enhanced programs and opportunities for our students.

“Our annual donors are partnering with us to help fulfill our mission of inspiring and equipping each student to lead a life of purpose and significance.”

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The 2015–16 Annual Fund is helping make possible a total renovation of the Upper School Library into a beautiful, state-of-the-art Learning Commons. Demolition of existing interior walls will allow a more open concept with student-centered spaces for collaborative work, individual study carrels, and a coffee shop.

Annual Fund

k e e 5w Parent volunteers included Brandon Kennedy, Hillary James, Lindsay Dehmer, Mallory Davis, Fran Fowler, Beebe Garrard, Leslie Henson, Laura Hillman, Lee Ann Johnson, Ann Elizabeth Purcell, Mandi Stanley, Rachel Towery, and Elizabeth Weeks.

f

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helps provide Raider Racer and Hokki stools

Lower School STEM lab students were given the opportunity to build and drive a battery operated “Raider Racer.” The one-person aluminum car has a maximum speed of 15 mph and a battery charge can last approximately 12 minutes.

This fall, Preschool students will pull up to their classroom worktables on new “Hokki” stools. The ergonomic stool lets busy children sit comfortably with the ease of quickly being able to move about the room.

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JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY

JA GRANDPARENT CHAIRS Pictured with Barbara and her husband, Perry, are grandchildren, Sam Rhodes ‘16, Merritt Nations ‘23, and Kennedy Nations ’20.

Not pictured is Reagan Rhodes ’13.

Donations from JA grandparents are an important part of the JA Annual Fund. More than $80,000 was given this school year through the generous contributions of our grandparents. Annual Fund grandparent chairs for this year are Barbara and Perry Nations. Barbara retired this year from JA having served the school for 36 years, first as a Preschool assistant and then as an administrative assistant in the Middle School and Upper Schools.

PETER JERNBERG PLAQUE UNVEILED President Emeritus Peter Jernberg was surprised this year when Jackson Academy unveiled a plaque in his honor in the Upper School Library.

The plaque acknowledges sustaining donors who have contributed $10,000 or more to the Jernberg Scholarship, a scholarship named last year to recognize Mr. Jernberg for his many years of service to the school.

Initial donors listed on the plaque are the Jackson Academy Association and Amy and Robert Hederman IV. The Hedermans made their gift in honor of Jane and Robert Hederman III.

For more information about gifts to the Jernberg Scholarship, contact the Office of Development at tmcwilliams@jacksonacademy.org.

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JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY Honorariums Lorraine Blount Jamie and Katie Chustz The Burford Family (Gift of JA Membership) Caroline Burford ‘16 Christian Burford ‘15 Bill Campbell William and Debbie Campbell Peter and Pat Jernberg Mike and Patty Robbins Walter and Susan Weems Anne Keenan Joe and Rosanne Maxwell Samuel, Sara Kate, Anna Caroline, and Ainslie Long Mr. and Mrs. Victor Jones Beckie Moes Jamie and Katie Chustz Elizabeth and Scott Markle Cliff Powers Watts and Martha Ueltschey Marsha Revere George and Whit Johnson and Family Grayson Ridgway Reid Gunn Preston, Nancy, and Rob Derivaux, and Beth Derivaux Smith Mrs. Thomas McCord Velma Stewart Charles and Lynn Witt David and Nancy Sykes Jonathan, Jamie, and Katie Reeves

Gifts to the Annual Fund made possible the purchase of Hokki stools. Hokki stools are ergonomic seats that have been found beneficial to students by allowing more freedom of movement during certain classroom activities. The stools will be used at prekindergarten and kindergarten reading tables.

Gifts-in-Kind Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Bowman Building materials for concession stand renovations and drink cart Mr. Edwin Chesire Use of bus for JA Showchoir Invitational Ms. Jennifer Richards Seven hardback and 67 paperback books Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Lohmeier 100 hardback and 33 paperback books

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Mrs. Anne P. Moore 30 magazines Jan and Wen Nance Showchoir and fall musical production costumes

JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY Alumni Giving So many Jackson Academy alumni have faithfully shown a deep commitment and affection for their school. In giving of their time and talents through volunteering across campus, our alumni share a great history of giving back. This same commitment is also shown in their financial support. We are indeed grateful for all our alumni who want to help ensure today’s students have the same great JA experience.

For the fifth year, JA alumni class representatives have joined together each fall in the gallery of the Performing Arts Center for two nights of phonathons.

They enjoy reconnecting with friends and encourage their classmates to participate with a gift to the JA Annual Fund. We are so appreciative of the positive response from our alumni in giving back to their school. The alumni listed made a gift to the JA Annual Fund between June 1, 2015, and May 31, 2016.

Class of 1982 Kathy Cockayne Sheffield John Simpson Chuck Smith

Class of 1990 Robert Hederman IV Scott Pedigo Lee Seago

Class of 1983 Mary Kay Hollis Catchings Ronnie Cockayne Josh Dehmer Kim Jones Gonzales John Murray Rob Porch Dan Richart

Class of 1991 Dr. Edward Copeland Greg Johnston Julia Potter Lucius Suzanne Kinard Murray Allen Sheely

Class of 1984 Wendell Catchings John Dinkins Melody Anderson McNair Sharon Ratliff Simpson Class of 1985 JoBeth Crespino Avdoyan Kenny Avery Trip Lobrano Class Reunion Gift Class of 1986 Phillip Bowman Class of 1987 Will Van Skiver Ashley Edmonson Willson Class of 1988 Kristy Lee Sanders Class of 1989 Doug Archer Stacy Bozarth Bates Frank Buchanan Claire Jacobs Bush Leigh Barnett Butler Deborah Potter Copeland Kerri Quayle Hawkins Rusty Hawkins Lesley Smith Jones Scott Overby Meredith Montgomery Travelstead

Class of 1992 Guy Bowering Niles Buchanan Jamie Chustz Stephen Clay Dodds Dehmer Avery Edmonson Dr. Cameron Guild Suzanne Greer Guild Michael Johnson John Scarbrough Class of 1993 Chris Mathison Elizabeth Warren Mehrle Jeanne Moak Scarbrough Bubba Shaw Ben Skipper Class of 1994 Lindsay Hines Dehmer McKie Edmonson Dr. Reid Lester Jack Lutken LeeAnn Royals Lutken Elizabeth Barefield Powell Dr. Calvin Thigpen Jeff Upchurch Ginger Van Skiver Wallace Jason Voyles Class of 1995 Christie Evans Ogden Class Reunion Gift

Class of 1996 Mysti Futral Chustz Dr. Philip Chustz Jill Tinnin Grogan Angie Stubblefield Haraway Chad Hosemann Class of 1997 Claire Smith Belknap Allison Cook New Harrison Young Class of 1998 Maury Breazeale Shannon Spencer Hahn Foster Kennedy Jodie Low Lockhart Jim Morrison Jess New Michael Ueltschey Rebecca Gough Ueltschey Class of 1999 Matt Armstrong Austin Barrett David Blanks Seth Christian Justin Courson Bobby Croswell Kelly McLennan Guyton Jacob Haralson Mark Hosemann Jim Jacobs Chesley James Bradley Kellum Cal Laney John Lauderdale Drew Maxwell Russ McNees Lee Owen Adam Quick Brynnen Baker Quick Brent Tyler Erskine Wells Laurin Revere Wheaton

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JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY Class of 2000 Chris Carlton Sarah Clark Tatum Noblitt Goodman Hillary Taylor James Stephanie Baker Maley Jonathan McCullough Keith Studdard Meredith Mitcham Young Class of 2001 Brian Barnett Shannon York Blanks Reid Gunn Anna Smith Haralson David McKinnon Zach New Carolyn Hartlein Noblitt Ann Fowler Purcell Joseph Shayeb Will Walker

Class of 2002 Nikkie Travis Bonham Preston Denley Michael Wakefield

Class of 2005 David Barrett Lauren Wakefield Ray Class Reunion Gift

Class of 2003 Ann Boswell Johnson Carlson John Gresham Matt Hinkle Scott Noblitt Josh Neely Lindsey Phyfer Roberson Eddie Wettach

Class of 2007 Kellon Lawrence Hunter Murray Mary Wesson Sullivan

Class of 2004 Wright Busching Jay Fowler Aaron Graham

Class of 2009 Christie Allen Sandra England Katie Love Garraway Katie Puckett Ginn Jonathan Hontzas Adam Keyes Franklin Keyes Ali Pyron Andrew Ritter

The Sarah, David, and Joy Howie Teacher Appreciation Award

The Sarah, David, and Joy Howie Teacher Appreciation Award was established in 2001 to honor Jackson Academy’s outstanding faculty and annual valedictorian.

A monetary award is given to the valedictorian, who is then asked to select three teachers who made an impact on his or her life while at Jackson Academy.

The teachers are given a monetary stipend as well.

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(From back, left): David Howie ‘98, Steven McCartney, Dee Ball; (front) Gloria Hirn, Hannah McCowan (valedictorian), and Dianna Howie.

JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY JA Annual Fund Donors Pacesetter Circle $10,000 + Omni Diversified Services Roger and Donna Bozarth Ergon Foundation, Inc. The Wesley A Caldwell Foundation Morningside Foundation, Inc. Darrington Seward Mr. and Mrs. Jason R. Voyles Mr. and Mrs. Robert Watson Mr. and Mrs. Mark B. Willson Honor Circle $5,000 + Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Brantley Melanie and Theodore Costas Bobby and Sharon Graham Mr. and Mrs. Matt Herfurth Chris and Emily McNeil Mr. and Mrs. Wen Nance Mr. and Mrs. Don Noblitt Mr. and Mrs. Kent Ritchey Meredith and Joel Travelstead Mr. and Mrs. Guy White President’s Circle $2,500 + Anonymous Rick and Ann Calhoon Community Foundation of Greater Jackson Drs. Jason and Barbara Craft Mr. and Mrs. Nelson H. Creath Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Gathings The Honorable Alexander H. Good Mrs. Barbara Hart Mrs. Dianna Howie Mr. and Mrs. William R. James Bruce and Amanda Kirkland Cliff and Heather Kling Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Laseter John and Hayley Lundy Mr. Randy and Dr. Lisa Gibson-McKee Trevor and Cris Pickering Billy and Christy Quin Mr. and Mrs. Joe F. Sanderson Jr. Drs. Tim and Grace Shumaker Mr. and Mrs. Scot Thigpen Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Williams Headmaster’s Circle $1,000 + Mr. and Mrs. Larry Accardi Mr. and Mrs. Sidney P. Allen Jr. Anonymous Anonymous Brad and Angie Antici George M. Ardelean Tyler L. Armstrong Mr. and Mrs. Les Aultman Mr. and Mrs. Austin F. Barbour Sr. Dr. and Mrs. Bryan Barksdale Dr. and Mrs. Gene Barrett

C.B. and Michelle Berry Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Bertolet Phillip and Audra Bowman Mr. and Mrs. Michael L. Bracken Dr. and Mrs. Andy Brien Dr. and Mrs. Bill Brister Bruckner’s School Photography, Inc. Hope and Bob Burford George and Leigh Barnett Butler Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Cade Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Croswell Mr. and Mrs. Dodds M. Dehmer Mr. and Mrs. David E. Dyess McKie and Jennifer Edmonson Mr. and Mrs. Larry Edwards Paxton and Christin Farese Cecil and Kimberly Felder Steve and Deanna Funderburg Dr. and Mrs. Leland Gebhart III Kathy and Nelson Gibson Mr. Brad and Dr. Lee Ann Griffin Mr. and Mrs. Bill Grogan Mr. Robert and Dr. Price Halford Robert and Amy Hederman Mrs. Nancy Herrin Hickson Family Foundation Dr. and Mrs. John Hontzas Rafe and Jennifer Hudson Mr. and Mrs. Peter Jernberg Mr. and Mrs. Gregory M. Johnston Sr. Ed and Robin Kennedy Kirk Auto Company Mr. and Mrs. Steve Kowalski Dr. and Mrs. John Lancon Drs. Sudhakar and Kimberly Madakasira Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Malouf Mrs. Crystal Wise Martin Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Martin Mrs. Thomas McCord Tara and Allen McDaniel Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy McLain Mr. and Mrs. Barry McNair Dr. and Mrs. Robert K. Mehrle Jr. Kathy and Mike Morgan Mr. and Mrs. Matt Morgan Mr. Kenneth O’Keefe Britton and Bryan Owen Dr. Thomas Payne and Dr. Cheryl Johnson Chip Pickering Percy and Elizabeth Quinn Mr. and Mrs. Ray Robertson Mr. Jim Schott and Mrs. Karen Radosevich Ben and Jennifer Skipper Kristie and Steven Speights Mr. and Mrs. Art D. Spratlin Jr. Drs. Ben and Laura Stronach

Dr. and Mrs. William P. Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Will Van Skiver Jody and Michelle Varner Mrs. Eleanor Wettach Ben and Melissa Williams Denny and Ann Zimmerman Visionary Club $500 + Mr. and Mrs. John B. Beard Frank and Lauren Benner Chris and Elisha Benton Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Bertolet Maury and Lauren Breazeale Mr. and Mrs. Ronald E. Butler Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Cheney Mrs. Lamar Chustz Mr. Mike Cotten Digital Imaging Group, LLC EastGroup Properties, LP John and Gail England Mr. and Mrs. Jay Fowler Maribeth and Teddy Gibson Dr. Michelle Gibson Mr. Kevin Hammons Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lovell Mr. and Mrs. Lamar Maxwell Mr. and Mrs. David McKinnon Mr. and Mrs. Zach W. New Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy O’Mara Jean Anne Patton Anonymous Rob and DeLeslie Porch Quality Printing Bob and Naomi Ridgway Bill and Creed Ridgway George and Mary Elizabeth Smith The Whitehall Trust Dr. and Mrs. Curt G. Tribble Mr. and Mrs. Brent Tyler Frank and Patti Wade Mrs. Joe Ann Ward Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin M. Watson Mrs. Wendy Welch Loyalty Club $250 + Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Matt Armstrong Mrs. Rhonda Armstrong Dr. and Mrs. Peter B. Arnold Mr. Bill and Dr. Kameron Ball Mr. and Mrs. Kelvin L. Bateaste Stacy and Chris Bates Emilee and Justin Brasell Dr. and Mrs. David Carroll Cathy and Mark Chinn JA Class of 2005 (Reunion Year) Mr. and Mrs. Rod Clement Dr. and Mrs. Lane Clower TRUE BLUE 65

JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY Mr. and Mrs. Glen W. Dace II Avery Edmonson Ricky and Sherri Eiland Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Elfert Harriet and Mark Eppes Linda Finch Ms. Rita Gaines Dr. Joe and Kristal Golden Mr. and Mrs. Gray Goodman Mr. Aaron Graham Jacob and Anna Haralson Dr. and Mrs. Neil Haraway Dr. and Mrs. James L. Henderson Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Hirn Thomas and Ellen Hontzas Mr. and Mrs. Ed Wilburn Hooker Mr. and Mrs. John Sharp Howie Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin C. Hudson Mr. and Mrs. James Ishee Mr. and Mrs. Chesley R. James Mr. and Mrs. Lifei Ji Mr. and Mrs. Mac Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Kelly Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kennedy Mr. and Mrs. Kellon Lawrence Lauren and Reid Lester Mr. and Mrs. Mark Markow Mr. and Mrs. John McCormick Mark and Beth McDowell Hugh and Reba McWilliams Mr. and Mrs. Mike McWilliams Tim and Beth McWilliams Jackie and Shani Meck Mrs. Nora Milam Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Neal Mr. Mack and Dr. Anne Norwood Mr. and Mrs. Ronald E. Odom Scott and Elizabeth Pedigo Paul and Paula Pratt Mr. and Mrs. Clay Purcell Mary and Smiley Ratcliff William and Martha Ray Mr. and Mrs. Tom Rhoden Renee Rice Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Roberts Mr. and Mrs. Bill Robertson Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Samuels Michael and Kristy Sanders Dr. and Mrs. Patrick H. Scanlon Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John T. Scarbrough Lee and Gina Seago Joseph Shayeb Mr. and Mrs. Lester Smith Bob and Mandi Stanley Dr. and Mrs. G. Crawley Stubblefield David and Nancy Sykes Mrs. Suzie Tharpe Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Tindall Dr. and Mrs. Walt Towery Mr. and Mrs. Jon C. Turner Dr. and Mrs. Richard Warren TRUE BLUE 66

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Weems Eddie and Brittany Wettach Stacy and Michael Williams Century Club $100 + Mr. and Mrs. Lamar Adams Dr. and Mrs. David A. Adkins Mr. and Mrs. Sidney P. Allen Sr. Jim and Suzanne Almas Bubba and Judy Arnold Drs. Fred and Anna Asher Mrs. Sandra Ashford Mr. and Mrs. Bubba Avdoyan Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Avery Bank of America Mr. and Mrs. Hilton W. Ball Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Banks Kevin D. Barnett Austin and Allison Barrett Mr. and Mrs. Justin Beard Mr. and Mrs. Gary Belyeu Mr. Blaine C. Benson Mr. and Mrs. James Bettenhausen, Jr. BKD, LLP Mr. and Mrs. David J. Blanks Mr. Trey Bobinger Mr. and Mrs. Nate Bonham Steven Browning Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Bryant Mr. and Mrs. Niles Buchanan Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bunch Mr. and Mrs. Barry A. Burks Mr. and Mrs. Richard Burnette Mr. and Mrs. Wright Busching Mr. and Mrs. Brian Byrd Mr. and Mrs. Alan P. Callison Mr. and Mrs. Chris Carlson Mr. and Mrs. Gregory W. Carpenter Mr. and Mrs. Jon Carter Jim and Bonnie Chapman Dr. Seth Christian Mr. and Mrs. Richard Chunn Dr. and Mrs. Philip L. Chustz Mr. and Mrs. Jay S. Ciaccio Mr. Richard Ciaccio Mr. and Mrs. John E. Clark Sr. JA Class of 1995 (Reunion Year) Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Clay Ronnie and Ginger Cockayne Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie D. Coins Mr. and Mrs. James J. Cole III Mrs. Marlene Cook Clay and Deborah Crystal Mr. and Mrs. Sean M. Culhane Drs. Justin and Kasey Davis Steve Davis Rick and Heather Deaton Drs. Jesse and Mary Evelyn Dees Josh and Susan Dehmer Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Denson Jr. Drs. Matthew and Holly DeShazo

Mr. and Mrs. Cameron M. Diket Mr. and Mrs. John C. Dinkins Mr. and Mrs. Simon J. Duncombe Mr. and Mrs. Brad Dye Dr. and Mrs. Derek S. Dyess Wray and Jennifer Eidt Ryan England Mr. Jack Forbus Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Ford Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Larry Fortenberry Rebecca Fowler Mrs. Ima Gardner Mr. and Mrs. Pete Gaston Mr. and Mrs. Chris Gibson Mr. and Mrs. Bucky Gideon Mr. and Mrs. William B. Gill III Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Ginn Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Gnemi Mr. and Mrs. John S. Graham Anonymous Dixie Gray Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Greenlee Mrs. Barbara Gregerson Dr. Allen R. Griffin Mr. Stephen and Dr. Claire Griner Dr. and Mrs. Cameron S. Guild Mr. and Mrs. Matthew W. Guinn Mr. and Mrs. Kevin G. Hahn Mr. Michael and Dr. Heather Harasty Ms. Ann Harper Mr. and Mrs. Parker Harris Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Harrison Miss Leah Helmbrecht Mr. and Mrs. Ron Hewitt Ray and Millie Higgins Dr. and Mrs. Glyn R. Hilbun Ms. Laura Hillman Thane Hodson Mr. and Mrs. Ken Hollingsworth Mr. John Hooker Dr. and Mrs. Charles Delbert Hosemann Mr. Mark Hosemann Mr. and Mrs. John S. Howie Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hurt Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Hurt Mr. and Mrs. William Ikerd Mr. and Mrs. Jerry E. Ishee Sr. Jackson Academy Association JA Preschool Teachers Ms. Candise Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Whit Johnson III Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Michael E. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Ronny Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Walker W. Jones III Ms. Jean Jones Mrs. And Mrs. Victor H. Jones Jr. Ms. Kathleen F. Keeton Ms. Mechelle Keeton Dr. and Mrs. Bradley Kellum

JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY Brandon and Foster Kennedy Franklin Keyes Ms. Carol Kirkland Mr. and Mrs. Mark S. Lackey Mr. and Mrs. Stanford Ladner Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Lagg Tim and Beverly Lawrence Larry and Jane Lee Mr. and Mrs. Don Lewis Stancie Ley Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy D. Litton Dr. and Mrs. Robert C. Long Mike and Jennifer Lowe Mr. and Mrs. Geno Lucas Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Collin Maley Mr. and Mrs. Bill Manning Mr. and Mrs. Tommy L. Marshall Chris and Jennifer Mathison Dr. and Mrs. David K. May Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Steve McCartney Mrs. Sara Ann McClintock Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert McCown Mr. and Mrs. Mark McDowell Mr. and Mrs. Vincent K. McGee Mr. and Mrs. Mike McKay Mr. and Mrs. Ken Meacham Dr. Gail C. Megason Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mehrle Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Miner Mr. and Mrs. Willie Mitchell Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Moak Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Morgan Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Gloria Morris Dr. and Mrs. Jim Morrison Mr. David and Dr. Rebekah Moulder Mrs. Beth Murray-Wilson Mr. and Mrs. Perry Nations Mr. and Mrs. Jess S. New Jr. Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Scott Noblitt Mr. and Mrs. Harold Oriol Mr. and Mrs. Scott Overby Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Parker Mrs. Bernard Patrick Mr. and Mrs. Patrick L. Payton Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Penick Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Perkins Ms. Victoria Perkins Mr. and Mrs. Gary Pettus Mr. and Mrs. Flip Phillips Logan and Claire Phillips Michael and Laura Phillips Dr. Vicky Pilkington Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Pinkard Mrs. Faye Porch Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Powers Mr. and Mrs. James M. Priest Jr. Ms. Shirlene Priest Ms. Susan Puckett

Mrs. Joyce Pully Mr. Craig Ray Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ray Dr. and Mrs. Chris Reed Mr. and Mrs. Bill Reeves Dr. and Mrs. Mark O. Rester Dr. and Mrs. Robert K. Revere Mr. and Mrs. Dan Richart George and Betsy Ritter Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Ritter Mrs. Lindsey Phyfer Roberson Mr. and Mrs. James L. Roberts Jr. Jonathan and Dara Rogers Mr. Chris and Dr. Kristie Rohman Mr. and Mrs. Richard Rula Ed and Barbara Sentell Craig and Paige Sessums Mr. Anil Sharma and Mrs. Kamini Bhavsar Bubba and Jamie Shaw Mr. John and Dr. Natale Sheehan Dr. and Mrs. Robert Allen Sheely Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Shores Mr. and Mrs. William U. Sigler II Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Simpson Mr. and Mrs. Cole Smith Mr. and Mrs. Danny Smith Mrs. Nell Smith Jan Sojourner Dr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Soltau Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stafford Lynn and Lillian Stapleton Ms. Janet Starr Nancy Stevens Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Stringer Mr. Keith Studdard Mr. Floyd Sulser Mr. and Mrs. John Sumner Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Edward R. Sutton Mr. and Mrs. Glen A. Talley Mr. and Mrs. James T. Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Jim Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Stacy E. Thomas Mr. and Mrs. John Travis III Mr. and Mrs. Chris Tucker Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Tucker Mr. and Mrs. Robert Turner Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Tyson Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Michael B. Ueltschey Mr. and Mrs. Watts C. Ueltschey Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey W. Upchurch Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert C. Van Loon Thad and Kate Varner Mr. and Mrs. Slates C. Veazey Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Bedford W. Wadlington III Mr. and Mrs. Mark J. Wakefield Annette Watson Mr. and Mrs. James Weeks Mr. and Mrs. Jason E. Weeks Ms. Ebony Welch

Mr. and Mrs. Erskine Wells Mr. and Mrs. Carl Welsh Mr. and Mrs. Bobby West Mrs. Dessie White Mr. and Mrs. Joe L. White II Mr. and Mrs. Jim Wilkirson Mr. Mark and Honorable Patricia Wise Mr. and Mrs. Dee Wisor The Charles Witt Family John and Patrice Worley Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Wright Mr. and Mrs. Hansell W. York Mr. Harrison Young Anniversary Club $50 + Angie and Brian Adair Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Adcock Miss Christie Allen Mr. and Mrs. John Allin Mr. and Mrs. Lance Anderson Jim Barfield Mr. David Barrett Mr. and Mrs. Charles Belknap Mr. and Mrs. David Bowman Miss Sarah Brannan Reagan and Malinda Brown Mr. and Mrs. N.Z. Bryant Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Buchanan Mrs. Claire Jacobs Bush Mr. and Mrs. John W. Bussey III Debbie and Bill Campbell Mr. and Mrs. Norman A. Cannady Jr. Sylvia Caples Dr. Chris Carlton Mr. and Mrs. Ken Chapman Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Chatham Bill and Nancy Cheney Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Chustz Dr. Dennis Conklin Dr. and Mrs. Edward Copeland Mr. Justin Courson Mr. and Mrs. Frank Crosthwait Mr. and Mrs. Frizell Cry Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Daniel Mr. and Mrs. Glen F. Dear Mrs. Bill Eubank Adelaide and Les Fletcher Clarence and Virginia Foreman Mr. and Mrs. Dan Frierson Mr. and Mrs. Pei Jian Gao David and Kim Gonzales Mr. and Mrs. Charles Greenlee Mrs. Jill Tinnin Grogan Mrs. Kelly McLennan Guyton Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hadden Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Hadley Mrs. Heather Harris Mr. and Mrs. Rusty Hawkins Dr. and Mrs. Darin J. Hildoer Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hines Mark and Jane Hinkle TRUE BLUE 67

JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY Jonathan and Heather Hontzas Mr. and Mrs. David Hood Mrs. Leslie Hosemann Mr. and Mrs. Earnest Jackson Mr. Jim Jacobs Mr. and Mrs. James T. Johnston Adam Keyes Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Keyes Mrs. Nancy L. Kilpatrick Ms. Castlen T. King Gregory and Suzanne Laird Mr. John Lauderdale Mr. and Mrs. David Locke Mrs. Jodie Law Lockhart Sarah Love Mr. and Mrs. Donald R. Lucas Mrs. Julia Potter Lucius Mr. and Mrs. Chris Lutken Mr. and Mrs. L. V. McClellan John and Charlotte McCormick Mr. and Mrs. Norton G. McKeigney Mr. and Mrs. Timothy McNair Mr. Russ McNees Mr. and Mrs. Martin Miller Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Moor Mr. and Mrs. Kirk R. Morgan Mr. and Mrs. Larry Morrison Dr. and Mrs. Seth H. Mosal Mr. and Mrs. Josh Neely Dr. and Mrs. Wayne S. Orr III Mr. and Mrs. Lee Owen George and Judy Potter Linda and Gus Purviance Mr. and Mrs. Adam Quick Mr. and Mrs. James Randall Mr. John and Dr. Sara Rippel River Hills Club of Jackson Mr. and Mrs. Michael Robbins Ronnie Rogers Mr. and Mrs. David L. Ross Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas C. Rule Mr. and Mrs. David Russell Mr. and Mrs. Pat Scanlon Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Shaw

Mrs. Tina Shaw Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel L. Stapleton Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Sullivan Mr. and Mrs. Claude E. Tharp Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John T. Tharp III Dr. Katharine Todd Rob Triplett Sarah Avery Truitt Mr. and Mrs. Tom Turner Mr. and Mrs. Michael Wakefield Mr. and Mrs. Will Walker Mr. and Mrs. Ben Wallace Don and Yonnie Waller Mr. and Mrs. Yan Wang Mr. and Mrs. Karl T. Woodard Dr. and Mrs. Richard L. Yelverton Drs. Zach and Laura Zettler Scholar’s Club $25 + Mr. and Mrs. David B. Allen Mr. and Mrs. Curtis M. Anderson Mr. and Mrs. Doug Archer Mrs. Cindy A. Bailey Dr. and Mrs. Gene Barlow Mr. and Mrs. Arden M. Barnett Mr. Brian Barnett Mr. and Mrs. David L. Blount General and Mrs. Dick Burney Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Catchings Mr. and Mrs. Don H. Collins Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Webster A. Collums Dr. and Mrs. David Crasto Mrs. Polly Crosthwait Mr. and Mrs. Charles Decker Dr. Preston Denley Mr. and Mrs. Rodney W. DePriest Mr. and Mrs. Spence B. Fletcher Katie Love Garraway Mr. John Gresham Reid Gunn Rev. and Mrs. Rowland Hall Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Hays Mr. and Mrs. Nic Henderson Ms. Lynn Herrington

Mr. Matt Hinkle Ms. Neely Holland Grace Hull Mrs. Susan Ingram Mr. and Mrs. David Jones Mrs. Linda M. Lambert Dr. Cal Laney James H. Lear Mr. and Mrs. Trip Lobrano Mrs. LeeAnn Royals Lutken Drew Maxwell Mr. and Mrs. Rodric Mays C.E. McRoberts Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Miller Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Murray Mrs. Suzanne Murray Mr. and Mrs. Joe D. Nosef III Mrs. Jamie Pace Mrs. Ethel M. Parkes Ms. Laura S. Pressler Miss Ali Pyron Mr. and Mrs. Lee L. Ragland Mrs. Lauren Ray Gerald Roberson Mr. and Mrs. Jacob A. Rowan Mr. and Mrs. Richard Sheffield John K. Simmons Mrs. Cathy Strauss Drs. Bradley and Margie Suggs Miss Mary Wesson Sullivan Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Sumrall Mr. and Mrs. Randy Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Charles Tindall II Mr. and Mrs. Brandtley O. Walker Mr. and Mrs. Greg Ward Mrs. Haley Whatley Mrs. Laurin Revere Wheaton Mary Lou Young Ms. Katherine B. Youngblood Mary Virginia Youngblood

Gifts From Our Grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Larry Accardi Hallie Hillman Conner Hillman Mr. and Mrs. Lamar Adams Adams Kennedy Baird Kennedy Lynn and Leigh Allen Lucy Allen Stella Allen Bennett Allen Abby Fielder Walker Fielder

TRUE BLUE 68

Sidney and Deborah Allen Perry Allen Sandra Ashford Kaylee Ashford Jordan Ashford Rosemary and Les Aultman Caroline Johnston Margaret Johnston Mr. and Mrs. Hilton Ball Avery Anderson Reese Anderson

Dr. and Mrs. Gene Barlow Abbi Mims Kara Mims Wyatt Mims Gary and Donna Belyeu Jack Funderburg Dodi Funderburg Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Bertolet Anna Kate Bertolet Roger and Donna Bozarth Ana Kelly Hontzas Anna Catherine Bates

JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY N.Z. & Ruby Jean Bryant Bryant Miller Brandon Miller Richard and Janet Burnette Lucy Brooks Elfert Yates Elfert General and Mrs. Dick Burney Tack Mahaffey Fuller Mahaffey Clayton Mahaffey Rick and Ann Calhoon Anders Quinn Chesley Quinn Kendall and Susan Chapman Audrey Chapman James Chapman W. G. and Martha Cheney Garner Cheney Gibson Cheney Mrs. Lamar Chustz Coleman Chustz Mary Lamar Chustz Clay Chustz Samuel Chustz Steven Chustz Richard Ciaccio Joseph Ciaccio Sam Ciaccio Don and Phyllis Collins Liam Gill Marlene Cook Luke New Joseph New Mike Cotten Caroline Childress Elizabeth Childress Ford Childress Polly Crosthwait Emma Lucas Anna Kate Lucas Larry and Pam Edwards Breck Hines Hart Hines Jesse and Mary Evelyn Dees Riley Sprayberry Zoe Sprayberry Brad and Donna Dye Emma Dye Margaret Dye Mrs. Bill Eubank Gracie Eubank Lila Eubank Bryan Eubank Mrs. Linda Finch John Thomas Bruckner Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Fletcher Blake Fletcher Jack Forbus Anna Kate Lucas Emma Lucas

Mrs. Ima Gardner Addison McNamara Alden McNamara Pete and Phyllis Gaston Anderson Cross Lucy Kate Cross Bucky and Kay Gideon Will Gideon Cole Gideon Robert and Mary Jane Greenlee Wilder Greenlee Michael Greenlee Ross Greenlee Barbara Gregerson Ava McManus Dr. Allen R. Griffin Harper Griffin Cooper Griffin Mr. and Mrs. Bill Grogan Stone Skipper Jack Skipper Will Skipper Charles and Charlotte Hadden Robyn Hadden Allee Hadden Ann Harper Harper Griffin James Griffin Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Harrison Mary Grace Foster Tristan Foster Jimmy and Lynda Hays Hays Rogers Max Rogers Ellie Rogers Robert and Jane Hederman Erin Hederman Avery Hederman Michael Hederman Nancy Herrin Herrin Goodman Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hickson Gibson Smith Dr. and Mrs. Glyn R. Hilbun Anne Marie Lundy Mary Gibson Lundy Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hines Nash Dehmer Ridley Dehmer Rimes Dehmer Breck Hines Hart Hines Ken and Joan Hollingsworth Wes Thomas Will Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hontzas Ana Kelly Hontzas

Mr. and Mrs. Ed W. Hooker, Jr. Alexis Ridgeway Eli Ridgeway Owen Ridgeway Win Hooker Anna Margaret Hooker John B. Hooker Dalton Gibson Lynn and John Sharp Howie Brooks Howie Christopher Howie Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Hudson Caleb Hernandez Jim and Debbie Hurt Ellis Tharp Hayes Tharp William and Mary Ikerd Alice Williams Liles Williams Mary Parker Williams Sarah Kathryn Williams Anna Ballard Tharp Mr. and Mrs. Jerry E. Ishee, Sr. Austin Ishee Owen Ishee Randy and Paula James Perry James Pruet James Taylor James William James Charlie James Judi and Jack Johnson John Morgan Johnson IV Mac and Pat Johnson Georgia Weeks Mr. and Mrs. Victor H. Jones Samuel Long Sara Kate Long Anna Caroline Long Ainslie Rebecca Long Kathleen Keeton Hannah Hoover Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kelly Lauren Smith Olivia Smith Ed and Robin Kennedy Kennedy Nations Merritt Nations Baird Kennedy Adams Kennedy Carol Kirkland Lillie Walker Sarah Grea Walker Baker Kirkland Linda Lambert Pearson Greer Maddox Greer Brady Stringer Olivia Stringer

TRUE BLUE 69

JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY Larry and Jane Lee Andrew Lee Davis Lee Henry Lee Debra and Frank Lovell Jacob Suggs Katie Suggs Bill and Charlotte Manning John Porch Tommy and Joanna Marshall Denym Mitchell Herbert and Darlene Martin James Brister Zach Brister Mr. and Mrs. Lamar Maxwell, III Rose Maxwell Dolph Maxwell Mr. and Mrs. Liary McClellan Tyler McClellan Meredith McClellan Sara McClintock Jack McClintock Sara Evelyn McClintock Rosemary McClintock John and Charlotte McCormick Hope Berry John and Corinne McCormick Erin Hederman Avery Hederman Michael Hederman Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert McCown Conner Hipps Jimmy and Frances McLain Austin Ishee Owen Ishee Ken and Sandra Meacham Foster Meacham McNeil Meacham Gail C. Megason M.D. Jack Jones Abby Jones Mimi and Robert Mehrle Pryor Mehrle Matthew Mehrle Anderson Mehrle Nora Milam Max Milam John Scott Milam Chuck and Pat Miner Michael Elinski Willie and Princella Mitchell Corey Barnes Paul and Jeanne Moak Jacob Scarbrough John Moak Scarbrough Mr. and Mrs. Larry Morrison Ashlie Henderson Haley Henderson

TRUE BLUE 70

Mr. and Mrs. Perry Nations Kennedy Nations Merritt Nations Sam Rhodes Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth L. Neal Landry Asbell Mr. and Mrs. Don Noblitt Herrin Goodman Mr. and Mrs. James O’Mara Bryn Noble Liv Noble Douglas Noble Harold and Maureen Oriol Avery Pickering Mr. and Mrs. Charles Parker Anna Lauren Parker Ethel Parkes Annie Parkes Bernard and Jo Patrick Gage Morgan Michael Morgan Jean Anne Patton Walker Campbell Anne Campbell Victoria Perkins Jalia Coins Mya Coins Mr. and Mrs. Flip Phillips Betsy Beard Mrs. Robert L. Porch John Porch George and Judy Potter Elizabeth Copeland Julianna Copeland Shirlene Priest Seamus Priest Susan Lang Puckett Parker Puckett Peyton Puckett Joyce Pully Chandler Anderson Smiley and Mary Ratcliff Stephanie Ratcliff Spencer Ratcliff Ashley Winford Trenton Winford Tyler Winford Steven Winford Mr. and Mrs. Fred G. Ray Anna Katherine Ray Mr. and Mrs. Bill Reeves Caroline Reeves Mason Reeves Tom and Sharon Rhoden Lily Rhoden Lola Rhoden Sophie Rhoden Bob and Naomi Ridgway Amanda Ray

Mr. and Mrs. Kent Ritchey Hollis Wondries Molly Wondries Dr. and Mrs. Lloyd E. Roberts Allie Martin Richard and Cheryl Rula Kate Rula Nicholas Rula Allie Martin Mr. and Mrs. Joe Sanderson Sophie Creath Danny and Linda Smith Lila Pressler Noah Pressler Sela Pressler Lester and Sandy Smith Smith Haralson Nellie Smith Rob Elliot Lynn and Lillian Stapleton Lynnzee Stapleton Janet Starr Ava McManus Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Stringer Isabelle Partain Dr. and Mrs. Crawley Stubblefield McNeil Haraway Stone Haraway Graves Haraway Floyd and Bean Sulser Holden Benner Liza Benner Walker Benner Braiden Guinn Mr. and Mrs. Michael Summerford Alex Summerford Louis Summerford Suzie Tharpe John Raines, Jr. James and Linda Thomas Gracy Thomas Phoebe Guinn Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Tindall III Joseph King Robert and Mary Turner C.J. Banks Jarrott Banks Phillip Browning Mr. and Mrs. Tom Turner Rose Maxwell Dolph Maxwell Martha and Tommy Tyson Virginia Browning Watts and Martha Ueltschey Anderson Ueltschey Tanner Ueltschey Taylor Ueltschey Mr. and Mrs. Warner Wadlington Ellie Morgan Mrs. Joe Ann Ward Brennan Maley

JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY Richard and Virginia Warren Pryor Mehrle Matthew Mehrle Hudson Bridges Houston Warren Hayden Warren James and Janete Weeks Georgia Weeks Walter and Susan Weems Alexander Weems Wendy Welch Cameron Welch Mr. and Mrs. Carl V. Welsh, Jr. Hadley Brennan

Eleanor Wettach Hannah Collums Emma Collums Dessie White Janise Bennett Jade Bennett James Bennett III Mark and Patricia Wise P. J. Martin Daniel Martin Alyssa Martin Anna Martin Sally and Dickie Yelverton John Ross Kendall Ross

Woody and Myra York Hampton Blanks Mrs. Mary Virginia Youngblood Katie Youngblood William Youngblood

Don Breazeale Trustee and past Board Chair

Cliff and Heather Kling

Tim and Beth McWilliams

Peter and Pat Jernberg

Phillip and Marsha Hurt

A.C. Tipton

JA Preschool Staff

Scott and Jean Hines

Larry Morrison

Jim Morrison

Larry Fortenberry

Ray and Millie Higgins

Tim and Beverly Lawrence

Lamar Chustz

Bob and Naomi Ridgway

Betty and John Allin

Mike and Martha Summerford JAA

Joan and Dan Frierson

Judy and Bubba Arnold

Barbara and Ed Sentell

James and Martha Thomas

Charles and Pat Decker

Mark and Carolyn Wakefield

Gene and Mimi Barlow

Annette Watson

Mike and Patty Robbins

Nelson and Kathy Gibson

Jim Barfield

Susan Ingram

John and Gail England

Pat and Clifford Ammons

Gene and Linda Barrett

Mr. and Mrs. Ronny Johnson

Ralph and Melissa Daniel

John and Patrice Worley

Edgar Brown Father-in-law of Suzanne Brown, former JA staff Greg, Suzanne, Megan, and Will Laird

Memorials Mrs. Floyce Paxton Adams Mother of Nancy Sykes Upper School Administrative Assistant and grandmother of Jamie Pace Pre-K teacher

Patti Wade

Ebony and Cameron Welch

Cliff and Heather Kling

Sandra Dyess

Pat and Peter Jernberg Mrs. William Dallas Bethea Friend of the Witt Family

Charles and Lynn Witt Voula Blake St. Andrew’s educator and friend of the Bates Family Stacy Bates and Jonathan, William, and Ana Kelly Hontzas Leon Crow Bramlett Friend of the Witt Family

Charles and Lynn Witt Scott Branning Memorial

Cindy Bailey

Katherine Youngblood

Leland & Marty Gebhart

Allen & Tara McDaniel

Susan Elliot

Tommy and Wendi Blair

Patricia Weissinger

Cheryl Smith

Robert & Kay Lane

Amy & Greg Ward

JA Class of 2016

Mary Alice Bush Mother of Becky Greer, former staff and mother-in-law of Amy Bush, College Counselor

Peter and Pat Jernberg

Tim & Beth McWilliams

David and Cathey Russell

Sarah Love

Mr. and Mrs. John Worley

Nancy and David Sykes

Cliff and Heather Kling

DeLeslie and Rob Porch

Susan Ingram

Jan Sojourner

Susan Puckett Joseph Chatman Former security office for JA

Katherine Youngblood Carol Cosby Former Upper School librarian

Cole and Julie Smith Grace Elizabeth Cox Grandmother of Stacy Bates, PAC Events Director

Cliff and Heather Kling

Ebony Welch

Peter and Pat Jernberg

TRUE BLUE 71

JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY Martha Crisler Mother of Anne Keenan and Robert Crisler, grandmother of Kathy Roberts, Beth Lalwani and Robert, Jack and Caroline Crisler

John, Gail, & Sandra England

Amy & Greg Ward

Jan Sojourner Ashleigh Arnold Dehmer Memorial

Mr. and Mrs. Chris Burford

Wendell & Mary Kay Catchings

Kathy Ingram

Suzanne and John Murray

Patricia Weissinger Reverend Doctor Arvah Dyess Father-in-law of Sandra Dyess, French teacher

Peter and Pat Jernberg Virginia England Former teacher and mother of Betsy Crawley and grandmother of Sandra England, 3rd grade teacher

JA Preschool Faculty

The Whit Johnson Family

Peter and Pat Jernberg

Cliff and Heather Kling

Jeff and Suzie Adcock

Sarah Love BKD-CPA

Cindy Yelverton JAA

Thane Hodson

Betsy Crawley Nelson, Kathy, and Georgia Gibson The “Office Family” of Leigh Ellen England

Chris and Stacy Bates David, Susan, Mary Chandler, and Baud Allen Clarence Foreman and Virginia Payne

Frank and Sandra Crosthwait

Dr. and Mrs. David Crasto

River Hills Club of Jackson

Penny, David, and Matt Jones

Dee and Janice Wisor

G. Gerald Roberson

Pat and Carlene Scanlon

Dennis and Ann Zimmerman

Gloria Morris

Mary Virginia Youngblood

Les and Adelaide Fletcher

Judy and Bubba Arnold Mr. and Mrs. C. Eugene McRoberts

Rose Marie Turner TRUE BLUE 72

Roseanne and Joe Maxwell

Frank and Ann Kinard

Catherine Hester

Randy and Nan Randall

Kicker Hull

Annette Watson

Mrs. James H. Lear, Jr.

Jan Sojourner Earnest and Mary Elizabeth Jackson

Suzanne and John Murray

Michael and Sylvia Caples

William and Debbie Campbell

Ray and Millie Higgins

Stanford and Sandra Ladner

Mary Lou Young Edwina Goodman Friend of the Witt Family

Charles and Lynn Witt Stan Hall Father of JA student Callie Hall ‘17

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Harris

Mr. and Mrs. Weldon Aultman

John and Polly Pendergrass

Marianne Powers

Mary McKenzie

Raymond and Lee Dearman

Dr. and Mrs. Craig Howard

Christopher and Yvonne Bowen

Kirk and Evie Hines

George and Leigh Butler

Mrs. Bobby L. Chain

Mrs. Neal D. Rogers

Ms. Holly Stubblefield

Mrs. Gary Sutherland

Lawrence and Irene Long

Ken and Carol Wood

Joe and Virginia Tatum

Jacqueline Polk

Peter and Pat Jernberg

Mary and Wirt Yerger

Dr. and Mrs. Lewis Hatten

Michelle and Jody Varner

The David B. Allens John, Gail, Sandra, and Virginia England

Randy and Nan Randall

Mrs. Paul McMullan

Lisa Weathers Officers and Staff of Planters Bank and Trust Co. Sylvia Hall Friend of the Witt Family

Charles and Lynn Witt

William Kirk Hannon Father of Caroline Hannon ’15 and Elizabeth Hannon ’14,

Pat and Peter Jernberg Paul and Mary Jane Henley Parents of Nan Dear, 5th grade teacher, grandfather of Jameson Dear ‘18

Glen and Nan Dear Melinda Hooker Mother of Maribeth Gibson former staff, grandmother of Catherine Gibson ‘08, Mary Paxton Gibson ‘12, and Dalton Gibson ‘16

John and Patrice Worley

Jan Sojourner Homer Lee Howie Valued Patron

Peter and Pat Jernberg

Ray and Millie Higgins David Randolph James Jr. Father of Randy James, trustee, grandfather of Matthew ‘95, Chesley ’99, and Ben James ‘04, great-grandfather of Charlie, William, Perry, Pruet, and Taylor James.

Tim and Beth McWilliams

Pat and Peter Jernberg

Cliff and Heather Kling

Lamar Chustz

Logan and Claire Phillips Jane Jernberg Sister of Peter Jernberg, President Emeritus

Stacy Bates

Patti and Frank Wade

Ebony Welch

Andrew and Haleigh Ritter

Sandra Dyess

Gus and Linda Purviance

Beth Murray-Wilson

Randy and Nan Randall

Cliff and Heather Kling John, Gail, Virginia, and Sandra England

Barbara and Ed Sentell

David and Nancy Sykes

Walter and Susan Weems

Ray and Millie Higgins

Sarah Love

JA Preschool Staff

John and Patrice Worley

JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY Dr. Whitman B. Johnson Jr. Father-in-law of George Johnson Preschool Librarian, grandfather of Ann Boswell Carlson

Pat and Peter Jernberg

Ebony and Cameron Welch

Cliff and Heather Kling Marceline Kellum Dr. Roy Kellum’s mother

Charles and Lynn Witt Bill King Former JA staff

Amy and Greg Ward

Jan Sojourner Jack Laws Grandfather of Latham ‘18, Thomas ’20, Cruise ’23 and Henley Nancy ‘25

Pat and Peter Jernberg

Cliff and Heather Kling

Stacy Bates

Ray and Millie Higgins Mack Lofton Father of security officer, Steve Lofton

Patti and Frank Wade

Pat and Peter Jernberg

Ebony Welch

Beth Murray-Wilson

Cliff and Heather Kling

Sandra Dyess

David and Nancy Sykes

John and Patrice Worley James Marquis Father-in-law of Tim McWilliams, Director of Development

Patti and Frank Wade Merle McCullough Mother of Millie Higgins

Pat and Peter Jernberg Samantha Murray Daughter-in-law of Julie Murray, former JA teacher

Cliff and Heather Kling

Pat and Peter Jernberg Kathy Nutt Sister of Sandra McKay, Upper School English Teacher Upper School English department

Ebony and Cameron Welch

Cliff and Heather Kling

Pat and Peter Jernberg

Tim and Beth McWilliams

Patti and Frank Wade Sandra Dyess Beth Murray-Wilson

Mr. James O. Peters Great-Grandfather of Anna Mitchell and Elizabeth Peters

Peter and Pat Jernberg Mr. Robert “Jack” Porch Father-in-law of DeLeslie Porch, Director of Admissions, grandfather of Avery ‘14, Caroline ‘12, and John Porch ‘19

Millie and Ray Higgins

Cliff and Heather Kling

The McWilliams Family

Peter and Pat Jernberg

Ebony Welch

Nancy and David Sykes

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Arnold James Queen Sr. Brother of Mary Donnelly, former JA administrator

Pat and Peter Jernberg Shirley Williams Pouncey Friend of the Witt Family

Charles and Lynn Witt Charles Rosen Friend of the Witt Family

Charles and Lynn Witt Howard Samsel

Stancie Ley and family Joan Speed Mother of JA Alumni Bailey Speed ‘15 and Hayden Speed ‘14 Stacy and Chris Bates and William Hontzas

Pat and Peter Jernberg

Mrs. George Johnson Mary Sprayberry Memorial Art Scholarship

Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Adcock

David and Debra Hastings

Alison Turbeville Jackson Academy Alumna class of 2014

Peter and Pat Jernberg

Cliff and Heather Kling Stancie, Michelle & Kristen Ley and Jennifer Kirschten Chris and Stacey Bates and William Hontzas

David and Nancy Sykes

John, Gail, & Sandra England

Susan Ingram

The Tim McNair Family

Jan Sojourner

Ray and Millie Higgins

Paula and Randy James

John and Patrice Worley Bill Underwood Friend of the Witt Family

Charles and Lynn Witt Mrs. Joyce Harris Walker Mother of Jana Ragland, 3rd grade teacher

Peter and Pat Jernberg

Cliff and Heather Kling Herschell Waltman Grandfather of Chance and Lily Waltman

Peter and Pat Jernberg

Judy and Bubba Arnold Stennis Earl Wells Jackson Academy Alumua JA class of 1987

Dr. and Mrs. Edward Copeland Leila Wilder Mother of Tricia Weissinger ‘84 and Mary Kay Catchings ‘83, grandmother of Connor Weissinger ‘14

Peter and Pat Jernberg

Judy and Bubba Arnold Betty Wright Grandmother of Reese ‘20 and Cole Phillips ‘18

Judy and Bubba Arnold

Raymond R. Stevens, Jr. Son of former JA Headmaster, Roy Stevens, Sr.

Nancy Stevens Barbara Thompson

Dr. and Mrs. David Crasto

TRUE BLUE 73

JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY

TEACHERS OF THE YEAR Jackson Academy is proud to recognize our outstanding teachers each year at the JAA’s annual Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. Teachers are selected by their peers in each division.

Preschool Teacher of the Year Award

Lower School Teacher of the Year Award

Jackson Academy Preschool teacher Bebe Sumner received the Preschool Teacher of the Year Award for 2016. The award is given each year in memory of Ashleigh Arnold Dehmer, JA Class of 1983, and beloved Preschool teacher. A monetary stipend is also given to the recipient from an anonymous donor. Sumner has taught JA Preschool students how to read and know their colors for nine years.

Brenda Sullivan, Lower School music teacher, was awarded the Lower School Teacher of the Year Award for 2015. An anonymous donor, in memory of long-time Preschool teacher, Ashleigh Arnold Dehmer, JA Class of 1983, provides the monetary stipend.

Sullivan has taught songs, musicals, and dance steps to Lower School students for 16 years.

Middle School Teacher of the Year Award The Middle School Teacher of the Year Award was presented to Castlen King. King is a third-year teacher at JA and teaches seventh-grade English.

The award comes with a monetary stipend through the JA Annual Fund.

Upper School Teacher of the Year Award Bruce Sumrall was awarded the Upper School Teacher of the Year Award. The award comes from a class gift made by the JA Class of 2001 given in honor of Bill Bunch. The JA Class of 2004 also donated a portion of their class gift to this award. Sumrall has taught and served at JA in various capacities for 20 years.

TRUE BLUE 74

JA CELEBRATES PHILANTHROPY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS

Rob Elliott

Webb Strickland

Olivia Rule

Micah Morgan

Catherine Burford

Elliott Butler

Anna Carlisle Nichols

Abigail Addison

Chelsea Francois

Isabelle Lee

JA Scholarships

Read more about each

scholarship online at jacksonacademy.org/scholarships Wes Thomas

Abbie Knighton

Lizzie Bowman

The 20th Century Endowed Scholarship

Jane Gibbons Memorial Scholarship

Rob Elliott 2017 Son of Susan Elliott and Corky Elliott

Abigail Addison 2022 Daughter of Kathleen Addison

Andrew Yoste Defore Annual Scholarship

Julie Dyer Collins Leadership Award

Webb Strickland 2019 Son of Ashley Nichols

Chelsea Francois 2017 Daughter of Carol Cannon

Hallie Houston Keyes Memorial Scholarship

The Leigh Anne Ward Memorial Scholarship

Olivia Rule 2017 Daughter of Doug and Olive Rule

Isabelle Lee 2021 Daughter of Preston and Dianna Lee

Harmon & Faye Bowman Memorial Scholarship

Wes Thomas 2021 Son of Stacy and Ginger Thomas

Micah Morgan 2017 Son of Kirk and Dayna Morgan

Mary Sprayberry Memorial Art Scholarship

Catherine Burford 2017 Daughter of Bronwyn and Chris Burford

Abbie Knighton 2017 Daughter of Charlie and Amy Knighton

The Herschel Brickell Family Endowed Scholarship

Scott Branning Scholarship

Elliott Butler 2019 Son of Ronnie and Rita Butler

Lizzie Bowman 2017 Daughter of David and Kate Bowman

Higgins Family Scholarship Anna Carlisle Nichols 2022 Daughter of Ashley Nichols TRUE BLUE 75

ALUMNI NEWS

Class Notes Class note news items are compiled by the Alumni Office and can be sent to Haleigh Ritter at hritter@jacksonacademy.org.

Class of 1982 Leslie Eaton Lyons is a fifth–grade teacher at D’Iberville Middle School.

She and her husband, Robert, live in Ocean Springs, Miss. and have three sons, James, Jake, and Josh.

Larry Methvin and wife, Kelly, live in Longview, Texas with their four children, Garrett, Landon, Nathan and Hannah. Larry works with Joy Global, Inc. Chuck and Natalie Smith live in Jackson with their two children.

Chuck owns Smith Brothers Body Shop in Jackson. Their daughter, Avery, graduated from JA in May 2016 and son, Denton, is a rising eighth grader at JA.

Class of 1983 Bronwyn Caves Burford is the Upper School Librarian at JA. She and her husband, Chris, have two daughters. Elizabeth is a 2015 JA graduate and is now studying secondary education at Mississippi State University. Catherine is a rising senior at JA. Dan Richart lives in Lawrenceville, Ga. where he is a certified clinical mental health counselor at Haven of Hope Counseling Center.

Class of 1984 Wendell Catchings is married to Mary Kay Hollis `83 and is with the Brown Bottling Group, Inc. and Mary Kay is a JA preschool teacher.

Tom Herrington is a professional web design consultant and senior sales executive with U.S. NEXT, the largest web development firm in Mississippi. Tom holds a bachelor’s of business administration TRUE BLUE 76

degree from the University of Mississippi.

Class of 1985 Dr. Beth Jenkins is a licensed clinical psychologist in Tampa, Fla. She received her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Miami with a specialization in behavioral medicine and completed her doctoral internship at the Tampa VA Hospital. She is a member of the International Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and owner/director of Professional Health Consulting, PA (PHC).

In April 2016, Sam Scott was named vice president of finance with St. Dominic’s Hospital in Jackson. He and his wife, Vicki, have two children, Thad and Elizabeth. Thad graduated from JA in 2015, and Elizabeth will graduate from JA in May 2017.

Trey Waltman and wife, Jodi, live in Jackson where Trey is an insurance agent with Aflac. His son, Chance, graduated from JA in May 2016 and daughter, Lily, is a rising tenth grader at JA. Jodi is a first grade teacher at Rouse Elementary School.

Class of 1986 Phillip and Audra Bowman live in Ridgeland and have three children at JA, Blaine, Wesley, and Amelia Dare. Phillip owns Specialty Metals Supply, Inc. in Jackson.

Dr. Chris Murphree is a clinical psychologist in Fairhope, Ala. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Argosy University in Atlanta. He specializes

in providing therapy and psychological assessment for children and adolescents and has worked for more than 18 years in both outpatient and inpatient settings.

He and his wife, Shelby, have a two-year-old son, Henry.

Class of 1987 Deborah Atkins is an educator for Shelby County Schools in Memphis, Tenn.

Will Van Skiver has been working as a financial advisor for 20 years and is co-owner of Van Skiver Financial Services, LLC in Jackson.

He and his wife, Desi, have a son, Reese, who is a risign eighth grader at JA.

Class of 1988 George Harmon lives in Waco, Texas with wife, Meredith, and their two children. George is the president of Mr. Rooter of Central Texas and Meredith is a real estate agent with Kelly Realtors.

Courtney McCoy Streeter is a kindergarten music teacher at Madison Ridgeland Academy.

She and her husband, Clinton, have two daughters, Sallie Kaye and Anne Rivers. Clinton is a landscape architect.

Class of 1989 Stacy Bozarth Bates is the events director for JA’s Performing Arts Center. She and her husband, Chris, live in Madison where Chris owns his own marketing company, Agora Company. Son, Jonathan Hontzas ‘09 married Heather Waldrop in November 2014. They are both finishing nurse practitioner school and reside in Madison.

William Hontzas ‘14 is finishing

ALUMNI NEWS his second year at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. and will graduate in 2018. Daughter, Ana Kelly Hontzas is currently an eighth grader at JA where she is on the JA equestrian team and rides in many hunter/jumper circuits. Anna Catherine Bates is in the tenth grade at Madison Central and a member of the Chamber Choir.

Bill ’87 and Denise Maness Furr have three children at JA, Wilson, Hartwell, and Prentiss. Bill is a regional sales manager with Tyson Foods, Inc. and Denise is the managing broker and founder of The Furr Group, a real estate firm in Jackson.

Class of 1990 Stephanie Burton Byrd and her husband, Chris, live in Birmingham, Ala. with their daughter, Madison.

Stephanie is with Providence Property Management, and Chris works for the City of Pelham.

Dr. Jennifer Guild Trihoulis is a clinical psychiatrist with her own private practice in Hattiesburg.

She received her master’s in public health from Tulane University and her Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She and her husband, George, have three children, Andreas, Sydney, and Leo.

Class of 1991 Roger Bulloch lives in Las Vegas where he is a senior partner with Brightstar Capital Partners, LLC. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and his master’s of business administration from Emory University. He and his wife Megan have four children, McKenna, Hayden, Quinn, and Grey.

Mike and Sharon Frascogna welcomed a son, Saverio “Rocco”, on May 2, 2016. Mike is an attorney with Frascogna IP which specializes in intellectual property strategy. He is currently working on a documentary based on the JA 1995 football team and Coach Sherard Shaw. (See page 92 for more details.)

Class of 1992 Bryan and Cyndi Tomlinson Eubank live in Madison and have three children at JA, Gracie, Lila, and Bryan Jr. Cyndi works as an attorney for the Mississippi Department of Mental Heath and Bryan is JA’s sports radio broadcaster.

Elizabeth Ross Hadley is an attorney with Greenberg Traurig, LLP in Austin, Texas where she specializes in government law and policy and litigation matters. In 2014, Elizabeth was named one of five finalists for Austin Under 40 Awards in the legal category and was nominated again in 2015 in the government relations category.

She and her husband, Bryan, have three children, Hudson, Bennett, and Caroline.

Jim Jacobi and his wife, Allyson, welcomed their fourth child, Jett, on August 5, 2014. They live in Alpharetta, Ga. with daughter, Anna Claire, and sons, Drake and Yale.

Brian Ramsey and wife, Alaena, welcomed a son, Westin, on February 18, 2016. Brian is in real estate property management and home building for The Ramsey Companies. He also serves as Alderman, Ward 4, for the City of Ridgeland, and is the state director for the American Canoe Association. Brian is currently working on a master plan that will bring kayaking and canoeing to Mississippi.

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ALUMNI NEWS Class of 1993 Josh and Kristi Patrick Williams live in Bakersfield, Calif. with their two children, Claire and Carson. Kristi is the school nurse at Bakersfield City School District and Josh is the assistant principal at Liberty High School.

Class of 1994 Tommy and Suzanne Barnette live in Madison with daughter, Mary Peyton, a JA fifth grader. Tommy is a licensed personal and small business banker with Wells Fargo, and Suzanne is a registered dental hygienist. Tommy serves on the JA alumni council and is a member of the Raider Network radio broadcast crew alongside Bryan Eubank and fellow JA alum, Andrew Ritter ‘09.

Andy Cunningham is the pastor of adult discipleship at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston where he serves over six thousand adult members. He and his wife, Kaisi, live in Katy, Texas with their two daughters, Ryvers and Ella.

Matt and Amanda Gibbons Glover live in Birmingham, Ala. with their three children, Abby, Jack, and Olivia. Amanda is an executive ministry event coordinator at Student Life, and Matt is the director of technology at The Church at Brook Hills.

Chad Hirn and wife, Kelly, live in Madison with their three children, Augusta, Mabry, and Sullivan. Chad is a commercial real estate broker with The Cress Group, LLC and Kelly is an interior designer.

Reid and Lauren Lester welcomed their fourth child, Christopher “Wilson”, on December 6, 2016.

Landry, Drake, and Carson, are all JA students. Reid is a periodontist with Mississippi Periodontic Specialists Group, PLLC located in Flowood.

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Elisa Perry Mosal and husband, Dave ’95, welcomed their third son, John Tyler, on October 13, 2015. Elisa is the office manager at Hughes Eastern Corporation, and Dave is in commercial real estate. Their sons, Tripp and Barron are both students.

Frederick Salvo is an attorney with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell, & Berkowitz, PC. where he primarily concentrates in business and commercial litigation.

He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Jackson with daughters, Natalya and Olivia, and son, Frederick.

Natalya and Olivia are JA students.

Todd ’90 and Story Moore Warren serve on the JA Booster Club and have three children at JA, Hudson, Houston, and Hayden.

Todd is the CEO of GI Associates in Jackson.

Jeff Upchurch serves as senior sales executive with Ergon, Inc. His wife, Elizabeth, owns Fresh Ink, a gift and stationary store, located in Jackson. They have two children at JA, Clayton and Charlotte.

Class of 1995 Ken Edwards and wife, Lendy, welcomed a son, George Hampton, in August 2015. They live in Oxford where Ken is a graphic designer for Ole Miss Athletics. He also has a band, The Mustache Band, that plays 90’s country party hits.

Jennifer Fillingim has a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in mathematics and a Ph.D. in mathematics education. She lives in Ridgeland and works as the mathematics currciulum coordinator for the Madison County School District. She recently presented at the Mississippi Council of Teachers of Mathematics 2015 Annual Conference and at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics 2015 Regional Conference in Nashville, Tenn.

Brian and Emily Brown Johnson live in Nebraska with their two children, Tyson and Ava. Emily is a regional sales representative for Streck Labs, and Brian is a choir director at Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Lee ‘93 and Kristen Kennedy Nations live in Madison and have two children at JA, Kennedy and Merritt. Kristen works as a physical therapist, and Lee was recently named president of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Mississippi, which is the largest ABC chapter in the nation as well as the largest construction trade association in Mississippi.

Dr. Vanessa Lackey Sandifer and husband, John Pettey, live in Madison with their three children.

Vanessa is an endocrinologist at the Diabetes and Endocrine Center of Mississippi located in Jackson.

Class of 1996 Matt and Megan Allen welcomed a daughter, Hartley Victoria, on June 16, 2015. They live in Jackson where Matt is an attorney with Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC. Valerie Duckworth Allison is a chemical engineer and territory manager with Parker Hannifin Corporation. Her husband, Dustin, is also associated with Parker Hannifin Corporation as a division sales and marketing manager.

They live in Ventura, Calif. with their daughter, Savannah.

Asher Street Beam works as the program director and clinical coordinator for the Master of Science in Magnetic Resonance Imaging program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. This program is the only one of its kind in the United States. She is enrolled in the Doctor of Health Administration program with an anticipated graduation in May 2017. She and her husband, Jim, live in Ridgeland.

ALUMNI NEWS Lindley and Wes Slay live in Chesterfield, Mo. with their two children, Wyatt and Abby Rose.

Wes is the president of Slay Marketing, Inc. and WAR Sports Group LLC.

Class of 1997 John Clay ’95 and Cerissa Pitts Ashford have two daughters at JA, Kaylee and Jordan. They own Straight Edge Concrete Cutting, LLC and Ashford Leasing and are partners at Total Healthcare Solutions, LLC and Nexus Medi, LLC in Jackson.

Brian Emory was named director of development at Brookhaven Academy in 2014. He holds a master’s degree in management and lives in Brookhaven with wife, Heather, and daughters, Cameron, Chloe, and Zoe. Jeff and Wendy Upchurch Farmer and son, Jack, welcomed a daughter, Atley Jane, on June 24, 2015. Wendy is associated with Hunt Mortagage Capital, LLC as a MAP underwriter for various FHA housing programs.

She was promoted to director and senior underwriter in March of 2016, where she specializes in FHA new construction projects and financing affordable multi-family apartment communities. Her husband, Jeff, serves as Captain in the Air National Guard and is the Deputy Base Civil Engineer for the 117 th Air Refueling Wing in Birmingham.

Drew and Laura Hendon welcomed a daughter, Caroline, on April 22, 2015. Drew is a pharmacist at St. Dominic Hospital. They live in Madison.

Barton Lampton and wife, Amy, have three children at JA, Barton, Taylor, and Emily. Barton is the general manager of domestic crude oil with Ergon Oil Purchasing, Inc.

Class of 1998 Christi Brewer lives in Birmingham, Ala. where she is associated with Daxko, a SaaS company that helps

community-based organizations increase efficiency, engagement, and community impact. In her position as sales maestro, Christi does operations and administration for a sales team of 20 or more people. She recently moved to the Highland Park neighborhood and has enjoyed getting to know the Southside area of the city. In her spare time, Christi is active in Junior League of Birmingham, attends Redeemer Community Church, and spends as much time as possible with her two adorable nieces, Annie and Mary Wells, daughters of Baker and Cathy Cannada Brewer ‘02.

Sarah Kathryn and Gantt Hickman live in Fairhope, Ala. with their two-year-old son, William McCormick. Gantt is in sales for Security Card Services, LLC. Daniel and Shea Scarbrough live in Madison with their three children. In 2015, Daniel became the family pastor at Riverwood Bible Church and is serving alongside Thomas Gardner ‘99 who is the teaching pastor. Daniel is currently attending Tyndale Theological Seminary pursuing a Certificate of Biblical Studies.

Michael and Rebecca Gough Ueltschey have three children at JA, Anderson, Taylor, and Tanner.

Michael is in commercial insurance at Bancorpsouth, and Rebecca is co-owner of Smitten Gift Boutique in Ridgeland.

Ben and Brittany Smith ’05 Walker welcomed a daughter, Katherine, on May 5, 2015.

Class of 1999 David and Shannon York Blanks ‘01 live in Jackson with their two children, Hampton and Maclure.

David is a district sales manager with Sysco Jackson, LLC, and Shannon works as a sales consultant. Hampton is a rising first grader at JA.

Dr. Bradley and Quinn Kellum and son, Roy, welcomed another son, Robert Benton, on August 31, 2015.

Bradley is an orthopedic surgeon at Capital Orthopedic Sports Medicine Center in Flowood.

Leanne Medlin Lewis is a family nurse practitioner at Internal Medicine and Pediatric Clinic in New Albany, MS. Her husband, Whit, is the pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church. They have two sons, Harrison Hill and Jackson Whitten.

Class of 2000 Katie Quaka Deweese and husband, Clay, live in Oxford with their two sons, Rhett and Tison.

Katie is a part-time teacher for Mother’s Morning Out at First Baptist Church of Oxford and Clay is a real estate broker.

Ryan and Lindsey Finnegan, along with son, Oliver, and daughter, Violet, welcomed another daughter, Elisabeth Reece “Birdie”, on April 17, 2016. Ryan is an attorney in Orlando, Fla. and recently left his job at a law firm to become in-house counsel at TopBuild Corp. in Daytona Beach.

Melissa Bush Liles lives in Nashville, Tenn. where she is vice president and broker with Avison Young and was awarded 40 Under 40 by the Nashville Business Journal in 2016.

Her husband, Leighton, is CFO at Sano Informed Prescribing, Inc. They are both graduates of the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. Leighton is also a graduate of the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. Melissa and Leighton have one son, Wells.

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ALUMNI NEWS

Seth and Kayla Mosal live in Jackson with their two daughters, Eva and Clara. Seth has been working as a dentist for eight years and is now the owner of Mosal Dental Care located on Ridgewood Road in Jackson. Kayla is the associate admissions director at JA, and Eva will begin JA’s K3 program in the fall of 2016.

Robert Rushton is the executive chef at Local 463 Urban Kitchen in Madison. After moving back to Jackson in 2010, Robert worked at Mint the Restaurant for a short time and was hired as chef de cuisine at Walkers’ Drive-In in 2011.

He worked there until chef Derek Emerson, who co-owns Local 463, Walker’s and CAET Wine Bar, gave him a promotion and moved him to Local 463. As executive chef, Robert creates, cooks and manages the five-member kitchen staff during lunch and the seventeen member crew during dinner. His wife, Lauren, also works at Local 463 as a floor manager.

Amanda Brown Skinkle is a stay-at-home mom to son, Johnathan, and daughter, Tori.

Her husband, Lee, was recently named provost at Southwest Baptist University in Missouri.

Jason Spell is a sales account executive with Busby Companies, a Mississippi owned digital billboard company out of Laurel. He handles all of the Jackson territory and sells billboard advertising all across the state, as well as building sports billboards in large stadiums.

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Jim and Natalie Hunt Towery live in Birmingham, Ala. with twin daughters, Courtney and Sheila.

Jim is an interventional cardiologist at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Courtney and Sheila are in the first grade at Briarwood Christian School.

Class of 2001 Grant and Page Chestnut Callen live in Madison where Page is a stay-at-home mom to Freeman, Kate, and Rebecca. Grant is the founder and president of Empower Mississippi, a nonprofit organization working to engage citizens in the public policy process. They are expecting their fourth child, another son, due June 2016.

Jacob ’99 and Anna Smith Haralson live in Jackson with their two sons, Smith and Carter.

Smith is in kindergarten at JA. Jacob is associated with Ross & Yerger Insurance, Inc. and was recently named shareholder in January 2016.

David and Mary Margaret McKinnon and daughter, Caroline, welcomed a son, William “Gray”, on March 31, 2016. They live in Ridgeland where David is senior vice president at Fisher Bottrell Insurance, Inc. Lindsay Miller lives in Destin, Fla. where she is an interior designer at Lovelace Interiors, Inc. Ryves and Mary Chris Kellum Moore and two-year-old daughter, Darby, welcomed a second daughter, Mary Mason, on December 29, 2015. Mary Chris is a nurse practitioner and Ryves is an orthopedic surgery resident at Campbell Clinic Orthopedics in Memphis.

Jeffry and Morgan Cartledge Peters live in Wiggins, Miss. with their four children. They own Jack’s Home Improvement Center, a local hardware store, and Morgan serves as worship leader at Northwood Church.

ALUMNI NEWS

Allen and Michelle Taheri live in Jackson with their daughter, Mina. Allen owns A2Z Printing, a commercial printing company located in Jackson.

Class of 2002 David Adcock is a certified internal auditor with Trustmark National Bank and was recently promoted to vice president in the corporate main office in Jackson where he serves as credit policy administrator.

Sarah Bynum has been working with the American Cancer Society in Memphis for the past three years, and recently assumed her new role as communications manager of supporting staff in Tenn. and Ala.

Patrick Walton is an industrial real estate broker with Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors, LLC in Memphis, Tenn. and was appointed principal in 2016. Patrick joined the firm as vice president in March 2012. He was the 2014 MAAR Pinnacle Industrial Landlord Broker of the Year, and was the lead broker in the largest industrial transactions in the market for the last two years.

He is a member of the Cushman & Wakefield Global Supply Chain Services Group, a graduate of Nexus Leadership Academy and a member of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. He also currently serves on the MAAR Commercial Council board of directors. Patrick and his wife, Shanleigh, are expecting their first child, a baby boy, due August 2016.

Class of 2003 Dr. Claire Brabec married Bill Rosenblatt on December 12, 2015.

Claire is a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and is board certified in internal medicine. She is currently completing a post-doctoral fellowship in allergy and clinical immunology at UMMC. Capt. Ryan Bridley is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the Army’s Ranger, Airborne, and Air Assault schools. He was deployed to Iraq as a rifle infantry platoon leader, and also served as a company commander of 380 service members in Seoul, Korea. He has

completed ten marathons, including a 50-mile ultra marathon, and currently serves as an army officer at Ft. Lewis. Ryan and his wife, Alexis, live in DuPont, Wash. with their three children, Lila, Wes, and Quinn.

Kristen Privett Colavita works as a registered nurse in the pediatric preoperative unit at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, N.C. Her husband, Paul, is a surgeon at Carolinas Medical Center. They recently purchased their first home together and are expecting a baby boy in September 2016.

John and Lindsey Gresham and daughter, Mary Hollis, live in Jackson where John is a petroleum landman for Gresham Land Services, LLC. They are expecting their second child in July 2016.

Matt Hinkle is an instructor for the Mississippi State Fire Academy in Jackson. He also owns Box Alarm Training, a company that provides free online training resources to firefighters. Matt was recently accepted into the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy, which provides firefighters with graduate level executive leadership courses.

The program only accepts 200 firefighters throughout the United States each year. Matt’s company, Box Alarm Training, will soon hit a milestone of 1 million views on YouTube reaching firefighters in over 100 countries around the world.

Brian and Ramsey Cruise Long and daughter, Ann Arrington, welcomed a son, Brian “Carter” Jr., on May 10, 2016. They live in Jackson.

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ALUMNI NEWS Susan Love lives in Ridgeland, where she is the marketing and advertising manager for Love Irrigation, Inc. In July 2014, Susan resigned from her position as a community support specialist at Region 8 Mental Health Services to pursue her master’s degree in professional counseling through Grand Canyon University. She will graduate in Spring 2017.

Will and Betsey Mosby welcomed a daughter, Elizabeth “Pryor”, on October 16, 2015. They live in Jackson where Will is a financial advisor for UBS Financial Services, and Betsey has her own interior design business.

Brittany and Eddie Wettach welcomed a son, Quinn, on March 21, 2016. Eddie is Dean of Technology at Jackson Academy and was instrumental in launching JA as the only K-12 Apple one-toone school in the Southeast in 2012. They live in Ridgeland.

Class of 2004

Patrick and Lindsey Phyfer Roberson and son, Jack, welcomed a daughter, Lucy James, on September 25, 2015. Lindsey is a first grade teacher at JA and Jack is in the K3 program. Lindsey loves being back home at JA and says that sharing it with her son makes it even more special!

Jennings Ross currently lives in Dallas, Texas where she is the creative manager for Read Between The Lines, a successful paper goods company.

Will Ulmer lives in Madison with wife, Martha, and son, Will II. He and his brother, Ben ‘07, recently opened Beagle Bagel Cafe in Oxford, Miss.

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Daniel and Lindsey Benefield welcomed a son, Walton, on April 14, 2015. Daniel is employed with Caterpillar Financial Services Corp. and is currently living and working in Luxembourg, Europe in Caterpillar’s Treasury Division. Daniel received his MBA from Ole Miss in 2010. Lindsey is a graduate of Ball State University and previously worked at ServiceSource, Inc. in Nashville, Tenn. While in Luxembourg, Lindsey is learning French and is heavily involved in local expatriate organizations.

Congressman, Rick Crawford.

Courtney manages the Congressman’s scheduling in Washington, D.C. and for his district in Arkansas, while acting as a liaison between the Congressman and other members of Congress, committee staff, the White House, and all other government agencies and offices. Her husband, Buddy, is an attorney for the United States Department of Justice in Washington D.C.

Dr. Nicholas Dennery attended Mississippi State University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 2008. He then graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry in 2012.

He married LeeAnn Rudman on July 16, 2016 and they currently reside in Nashville, Tenn. Nicholas is a dentist at Rivers Dental and LeeAnn is a cardiac ICU nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Sean Harrison has been hired as athletic director/football coach at Heritage Academy in Columbus, Miss. After playing football at Delta State, Sean served as an assistant coach at Washington School for two years. He then worked at Greenville-Weston High School as offensive coordinator and at Mississippi Delta Community College. Most recently, Sean was a coach at Pillow Academy for one year and spent his last two seasons at Wayne Academy as athletic director and football coach. Sean and his wife, Brittney, have a three-year-old daughter, Mills.

In January of 2015, Courtney Kowalski Handey was named director of scheduling for U.S.

Ben and Abby James welcomed a daughter, Callaway Fae, on August 20, 2015.

ALUMNI NEWS Katie Kean is a child psychotherapist in Biloxi, Miss. She is with Anchor Psychology Center located in Ocean Springs.

Dr. Kurt and Ashley Anderson Lancaster live in Jackson, Mo. with their three children, Evy, Liam, and Lynley. Kurt is an anesthesiologist, and Ashley is a stay-at-home mom, event coordinator for women’s ministry at Lynwood Church, and homeschools her children.

The JA family is deeply saddened by the loss of Ryan LaSource, son of Austin and Lauren Vise LaSource.

Ryan battled leukemia with a huge smile on his face from the age of five months old until he passed away at three and half years old. Love radiated from Ryan throughout his battle and his legacy will live on through his parents and The RyanMan Foundation, a non-profit organization for childhood cancer that Ryan’s father, Austin, founded. The RyanMan Foundation hosted its first annual RyanMan triathlon in October 2015 which is the only 70.3 distance race in Mississippi.

This year’s race will be held on Sunday, October 2, 2016 and proceeds will be used to enrich the lives of childhood cancer families being treated at Blair E. Batson in Mississippi. For more information, including signing up to race or volunteer, please visit www.RyanMan.com.

Stephanie Henson McNab and her husband, Jamie, live in New York City. Stephanie is in business development with KPMG and Jamie is an analyst at Slate Path Capital Lp.

Kirk and Maggie Russ live in Homewood, Ala. with their four-year-old daughter, Mary Nash, and two-year-old son, McCord. Kirk is starting his Gastroenterology & Hepatology (GI) fellowship in July 2016.

Elizabeth Blevins Crenshaw and her husband, Cole, welcomed a baby boy, William Phillip, on November 21, 2014. Elizabeth works as a licensed master social worker at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson.

J.W. and Angelena Heath Stowers welcomed a daughter, Rivers Josephine, on August 24, 2015.

Steven Blevins married Ellen Elliott ’07 on October 24, 2015.

They live in Louisville, Ky. where Ellen is the lead graphic designer for Churchill Downs Inc., and Steven works with PNC Bank Wealth Management Group.

Jennifer Varden has been a teacher in Florence Middle School’s gifted program, Venture, for four years. She received her National Board Certification in November 2015, and is teaching two courses in the elementary education department at Mississippi State University. Jennifer is engaged to marry Chris Crissey in June 2017.

After graduating from Ole Miss, Morgan Wiggers spent a year in Australia on a study abroad scholarship and then obtained his MBA from Belhaven University in 2013. He is currently working as a customer service representative for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi.

Erick and Kimbrell Spencer Evans live in Madison with their twoyear-old daughter, Anna Spencer.

Kimbrell graduated from Ole Miss with a master’s degree in communication science and disorders in May of 2011 and is now a speech-language pathologist at UMMC. Erick is a senior account executive at The Ramey Agency, a brand strategy and marketing communications firm, located in Jackson.

Class of 2005

Allan and Jane Gray Wiggers Bledsoe and son, James, welcomed another son, David, on August 30, 2015. They live in Prattville, Ala. where Jane Gray is a registered dietician and Allan serves as an assistant pastor at First Presbyterian Church.

Andrew and Marion Keyes Gowdy currently live in Memphis, Tenn. where Marion works as a licensed veterinary technician. She has started her own pet sitting business in East Memphis, which includes emergency care as well as any medical services when needed, and helps animal rescue groups and shelters find foster homes in the Memphis area. Andrew is starting his third year of residency in July at the University of Tennessee (Memphis) where he is specializing in urology. They recently celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary on February 7, 2016, and they live in the same East Memphis neighborhood as Nicholas and Leisel Gresham Jew and daughter, Caldwell.

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ALUMNI NEWS Jack Harris married Lindsey White on December 19, 2015. He earned his bachelor’s degree in risk management, insurance, and financial planning from Mississippi State University and is now associated with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi.

Collins Johnson is engaged to marry Nick Pease in January 2017.

Collins currently lives in Chicago and works for Barracuda Networks, Inc. as the channel account manager.

Mary Jordan Kirkland married Thomas Fuller on September 5, 2015.

Jason and Dendy Hogan McDavid and daughters, Manning and Riley Reed, welcomed another daughter, “Hampton” Elizabeth, on January 25, 2016. They live in Jackson where Jason is an accountant for KLLM, Transport Services, Inc. Dr. Jack Murray completed his medical degree at UMMC in May 2014 and is currently an internal medicine resident at West Virginia University. He is engaged to marry Christine Bowman ’11 on August 27, 2016 in Jackson.

Joshua Watson owns NuLevel Studios, a wedding videography business located in Brandon, and serves as senior systems administrator for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. He and wife, Brittany, welcomed a daughter, Rachel Annaliese, on February 12, 2016.

Class of 2006 Patrick Almas married Meaghan Gaynor on April 23, 2016 in Coral Gables, Fla. Patrick graduated from the University of Miami in 2010, where he received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. In 2013, he earned his master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering from Auburn University. Patrick and Meaghan live in Atlanta, Ga. where Patrick is associated with Deloitte Consulting.

John and Frances Bussey currently live in Jackson where John is a manager for The Can Man metal recycling center and Frances is a kindergarten teacher at JA. They are expecting their first child due in October 2016.

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Chase and Alex McCaskill Cooper welcomed a daughter, McCaskill May “McCay”, born April 7, 2015.

They live in Memphis, Tenn. Alex is a civil engineer with Neel-Schaffer, Inc. and a dance instructor/ choreographer with Studio B Dance.

Chase is a life sciences account manager with Ecolab, Inc. Kenny Ellis married Grace Craig on June 17, 2016 in Saint Lucia.

Kenny is a 2010 graduate of the University of Mississippi, where he received bachelor’s degrees in both biology and psychology.

While at Ole Miss, he was active in Manna Feeding Ministry and was a member of the Ole Miss track and field team. Kenny currently serves as legislative liaison to Lt. Governor Tate Reeves.

Joseph and Sally Gex currently live in Meridian, Miss. where Joseph is in orthopedic surgical sales with Athrex, Inc. Joseph is a 2010 graduate of the University of Mississippi where he received his bachelor’s degree in history. He and Sally married on May 30, 2015 in Oxford.

Daniel and Joy Kate Waterer Gilmer welcomed a son, Daniel “Rieves”, on April 4, 2016. Joy Kate is a registered nurse at Blair E. Batson Hospital, and Daniel is in his residency in the radiology program at UMMC.

Krysten Keyes and Jay Jernigan were married on April 30, 2016 at Northminster Baptist Church in Jackson. Krysten is associated with The William Morris Group, PA of Jackson, and Jay is with The Pyron Group, Inc. They live in Madison.

On December 10, 2015 Kaley McCluskey received her Ph.D. in physics from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

Mary-Crosby Turner Roberts and her husband, Walker, welcomed their first daughter, Ava Price, on June 3, 2015. They live in Jackson where Mary-Crosby is a teacher at St. Luke’s Early Childhood Learning Center, and Walker is a CPA at HORNE, LLP.

Class of 2007 In December 2015, Jordan Eiland earned a master’s of science in nursing from the University of South Alabama. She married Daniel Morris on January 30, 2016, and now works as a registered nurse in the emergency room at St. Dominic’s Hospital.

Hunter Harris married Karleigh Brown on September 12, 2015 in Austin, Texas. They currently live in Corpus Christi, Texas.

ALUMNI NEWS Michael and Jennifer Ley Kirschten live in Lansing, Ohio with their two sons, Lukas and Grayson.

Michael serves as project manager for Rice Energy, Inc. John McGowan married Jordan Conn on June 4, 2016. John is a 2014 graduate of Mississippi State University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He is associated with McGowan Working Partners as a civil engineer.

Spencer Mills graduated from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

He has opened Mills Mobile Veterinary Services, a concierge veterinary house-call practice that provides in home veterinary care, including routine wellness exams, vaccinations, sick visits and diagnostic testing, behavior consultations, and additional services in the Madison, Hinds, and Rankin County areas.

Dixie Pond graduated from Mississippi College School of Law in 2014 and went on to earn her Master of Law in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center in 2015. She currently lives in Washington, D.C. where she is a compensation and benefits tax attorney at KPMG. Mary Wesson Sullivan graduated from Ole Miss in 2011 and went on to earn her master’s degree in teaching from Belhaven University in 2014. She spent the last three years working in the Madison County School District as a high school math teacher where she served on the leadership team and the tier support team. Mary Wesson also served as webmaster, prom chairman, and was on the homecoming and hospitality committees. In August of 2014, she was awarded the First Class Math Teacher Award and in December of 2014 was selected as Teacher of the Month. In summer of 2015, she was hired as the eighth-grade Algebra 1 teacher for the honors and regular classes at Jackson Academy. She also teaches the Middle School math competition class at JA and

is currently serving on the Neon Nights Committee with the Mississippi Children’s Museum.

Ben Ulmer lives in Jackson with his wife, Joan. He and brother, Will ‘03, recently opened Beagle Bagel Cafe located on Jackson Ave. in Oxford.

Southern Methodist University with a degree in markets and culture and a minor in international studies, and is currently working as the showroom manager for The Mix Showroom in Dallas, Texas.

Hannah Neely married Harley White on May 9, 2015, and is working as a registered nurse at St. Dominic Hospital while completing her master’s degree.

Harley is in commercial real estate development.

Stephen Worley serves as deputy communications director for the United States Senate Appropriations Committee in Washington, D.C.

Class of 2008 Dr. Andrew Benefield received his medical degree at UMMC in May 2016, and is now an internal medicine resident at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. Domina Cox graduated from Ole Miss in 2013 with a master’s degree in accounting and a minor in marketing. She is now working as an auditor with Haddox Reid Eubank Betts, PLLC in Jackson.

Domina married Jack Kaler on August 22, 2015.

John Austin Durfey married Brittany Richardson on May 21, 2016 in Oxford.

After graduating from Ole Miss in 2012, Hunter Evans attended The Culinary Institute of America in New York City. He worked as a cook for the North End Grill in New York City for over a year and moved back to Mississippi in June 2015. Hunter is currently working as a chef for Lou’s Full Serve in Jackson. He married Mary Kathryn Stewart on April 2, 2016.

Heather Horner married Kirkland Hines on April 9, 2016 in Oxford.

Heather is a nurse at St. Dominic Hospital, and Kirkland works as a producer for Marchetti, Robertson & Brickell Insurance & Bonding, Inc. in Ridgeland.

Justin and Hannah McWilliams Lewis live in Madison with their daughter Katherine. Hannah is an auditor with Horne LLP, and Justin works as a software designer at C Spire.

Landon Thompson has been working for Nationwide Insurance Rusty Healy Agency in Madison since January 2015. He sells home, auto, life, and commercial/business insurance and can be contacted at 601-502-4830 or thompL@nationwide.com.

Class of 2009 Tori Arinder received her doctorate degree in physical therapy from UMMC in May 2016, and was recently inducted into the Alpha Eta Honor Society for UMC’s School of Health Related Professions.

Catherine Gibson is engaged to marry Colin Luba on September 24, 2016. Catherine graduated from TRUE BLUE 85

ALUMNI NEWS

Rebekah Clarke married Shane Byrne on October 10, 2015 in Jackson. She earned her bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Louisiana State University in May 2015, and is now working as a pipeline inspector for the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. She and her husband, Shane, live in Baton Rouge where Shane is vice president of Pro Power. Their wedding photos were done by fellow JA alum and ‘09 classmate, Ashley Howard Schurch, who owns her own wedding photography business, Ashley Schurch Photography.

Katie Love Garraway is a kindergarten teacher at Spann Elementary in Jackson, and is engaged to marry Alston Owen on January 7, 2017 Jonathan and Heather Hontzas live in Madison, and are both in nurse practitioner school at UMMC. Rebecca Josey is a 2013 summa cum laude graduate from Mississippi State University where she earned a bachelor’s in kinesiology with a concentration in clinical exercise physiology. In May 2016, she received her doctorate in physical therapy from UMMC and was recently inducted into the Alpha Eta Honor Society for UMC’s School of Health Related Professions.

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Adam Keyes is an insurance broker with Wellington Associates Inc. in Flowood.

Samantha Pettus lives in Dallas, Texas and works as director of retail for Barrington Gifts.

Megan Laird married Blake Brown on February 27, 2016. Megan graduated summa cum laude from MSU in 2013 and received her doctorate in physical therapy from UMMC in May 2016. She was recently inducted into the Alpha Eta Honor Society for UMC’s School of Health Related Professions.

Paul Rice married Christine Rustom on November 7, 2015 in Greenwood, Miss. Paul is an MSU graduate and is now working as a financial advisor at Raymond James in Jackson. Christine is in nursing school at UMMC.

Bethany Mahaffey married Witt Haggard on October 3, 2015.

Bethany graduated from Ole Miss in 2013 with a bachelor’s in marketing, and currently works as the marketing sales representative at Mahaffey’s Quality Printing in Jackson.

David Mills was accepted as a veterinary student for the Class of 2019 in the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and recently completed his first year.

Andrew Ritter graduated from Ole Miss in December 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in managerial finance and a master’s of business administration in May 2013. He and his wife, Haleigh, live in Jackson where Andrew is a loan officer for Southern Ag Credit, a full-service lender specializing in financing rural land and agricultural operations in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Haleigh is the annual giving and alumni coordinator at JA and the Accents dance team coach.

Carly McKie was selected as Mississippi’s Rotary Global Scholar for 2015–2016 and was awarded funding for a year of post-graduate studies abroad. She is currently studying at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland to earn a master’s degree in business management and will graduate in November 2016. While in the United Kingdom, Carly serves as an ambassador of goodwill for Mississippi, participates in local and international service projects, and speaks at local Rotary events, civic organizations and other forums. Carly is hosted by the Rotary Club of Edinburgh, which is working with clubs in Mississippi on international humanitarian projects.

ALUMNI NEWS Maggie Selph married Nicholas Carr on June 18, 2016. Maggie is a magna cum laude graduate of Mississippi State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. While at MSU, she was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in education, where she served as vice president. In 2014, she received her master’s of education degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Mississippi. She and her husband, Nick, currently live in Jackson where Maggie is a second grade teacher.

Rayner Sullivan graduated from Mississippi State in May of 2013 and earned a master’s in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University in May 2015. While at Georgetown, she served as a Public Relations and Corporate Communications Ambassador and was awarded the Community Engagement Award. She currently lives in Nashville, Tenn. and is working at Service Source.

Parker and Anne McCaslin Parker Snow live in Madison. Anne McCaslin is a news reporter at WAPT news, and Parker is a sales representative at Stryker Endoscopy.

Peyton Thigpen married Mary Alex Street on July 11, 2015 in Jackson.

Lindsey Thompson is a registered nurse at Blair E. Batson Hospital in Jackson. She is engaged to marry Will Brunson in December 2016.

Class of 2010 Maribeth Barfield married Justin Hillhouse on July 15, 2016. She recently completed her second year of medical school at UMMC. Sonny Beneke married Laura Lee Smith on June 11, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson.

Sonny graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi Honors College in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in public policy

leadership and received his master’s of business administration in August of 2015. He currently works as the engineering coordinator for Pileum Corporation in Jackson. Laura Lee is a medical student at UMMC. Taylor Gex graduated from Ole Miss in December 2014 with a bachelor’s degree of general studies and a minor in education.

She works as the executive assistant to the Mayor of Oxford, and she is recently engaged to marry Jon Walhood.

works at Tellus Operating Group, LLC in Ridgeland as a petroleum landman.

In May 2015, Kellie King graduated cum laude from Ole Miss with a bachelor’s degree in general studies where she received the Academic Excellence Scholarship, Holmes Scholarship, and was listed to the Dean’s Honor Roll and Chancellor’s Honor Roll. She married Austin Hartzog on May 21, 2016 and is in nursing school at UMMC.

In May 2015, Jim Hand started the physical therapy program at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Bentley Harvey is a surgical ICU nurse at UMMC in Jackson.

Lucy Tucker Knight is engaged to marry David Roberts on August 20, 2016. Lucy Tucker graduated from Ole Miss in 2014 and is currently working at Betsey Mosby Interior Design in Jackson.

Morgan Welsh lives in New Orleans where she is a second-year member of the Saintsations Field Team. Morgan graduated from LSU with a bachelor’s in mass communications and a minor in psychology and was a LSU Golden Girl for four years.

Patrick Worley is a graduate engineer with Walter P. Moore & Associates, Inc. in Houston, Texas.

Class of 2011 Christine Bowman graduated from MSU with a bachelor’s degree in public relations in May 2014, and is currently working on her master’s in public relations at Boston University. She is engaged to marry Jack Murray ‘05 in August 2016.

Carter Clarke is a 2015 graduate of the University of Oklahoma where he earned his bachelor’s of business administration in energy management. He currently

Kendall Kirk married Russ Singleton on February 6, 2016. Kendall graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Mississippi State University in 2015. She and Russ live in Georgia where Kendall owns and operates her own art business, Kendall Kirk Art. Cambrey Pinkard married Preston Bates on April 30, 2016 in Nashville, Tenn. Cambrey graduated from Millsaps College in May 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She and Preston currently live in Lafayette, La. Alex Ray married Caroline Noelle Harris on January 2, 2016 in Jackson. Alex will attend Harvard Business School to pursue an MBA in 2017. He is the founder of Zyn Careers, a tech-based career matching service, in Oxford.

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ALUMNI NEWS Elliott Thomas graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s of accountancy in May 2015.

He then went on to earn his master’s of accountancy from Ole Miss in May 2016 and was elected as Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Elliott is moving to Atlanta in the fall of 2016 where he will begin working as an accountant with KPMG.

In May 2016, Melissa Ramsey graduated from Ole Miss with a bachelor’s degree in English and minor in business administration. As a senior, she served as co-director of the Ole Miss Big Event and was a member of the Mortar Board, a national honor organization for exemplary scholarship, leadership, and service. She is currently working as an intern with the Aspen Institute in Aspen, Colo.

Class of 2012

Class of 2013

Michelle Ley served as a student trainer for the Ole Miss football team during the 2015-2016 season, and was chosen as the University of Mississippi’s Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She graduated in May 2016 and will begin applying for physical therapy school in 2017.

Kelsey Pettus graduated cum laude from the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College at Ole Miss in May 2015. She will begin medical school at UMMC in August of 2016.

Caroline Porch graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi in May 2016 with a bachelor’s of pharmaceutical sciences. She is currently pursuing her doctorate of pharmacy at UMMC where she serves as vice president of her pharmacy school class.

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Ellie Yates is a 2016 graduate of Vanderbilt University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in business. She was a member of the Vanderbilt women’s tennis team that won the 2015–2016 NCAA National Championship in May 2016.

Jamaal Clayborn is the starting center for the Mississippi State football team and was one of eight Southeastern Conference centers recently named to the Remington Trophy watch list. The award is presented annually to college football’s most outstanding center and was named after Dave Rimington, a former center for Nebraska. Jamaal is the first MSU football player to be named to the watch list since 2013.

Sarah Criddle is a Taylor Medal recipient at the University of Mississippi and recently received Outstanding Student in Biochemistry and Outstanding Student in Physical Chemistry. The Taylor Medal, which recognizes outstanding academic performance, is given to no more than one percent of the student body. Sarah was also recently inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society at Ole Miss.

ALUMNI NEWS Brent Ferguson was recently elected ASB Attorney General at Ole Miss. He is a biochemistry major, member of the Sally Barksdale Honors College, and was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society in April 2016.

Katie Ferguson is an accounting major and was recently inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society at Ole Miss.

Sarah Katherine Mills was recently inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society at Ole Miss for 2016. She is studying pre-occupational therapy and is a member of the Sally Barksdale Honors College.

Class of 2014

Sarah Wade is a senior at Millsaps College where she is a freshman orientation director, a member of the Millsaps Singers, a Presidential Ambassador, and serves as president of Chi Omega Fraternity.

Class of 2015

William Hontzas is finishing his second year at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Co. He will graduate in 2018.

Steven Irby is at Ole Miss majoring in integrated marketing communications. He was inducted in to Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society and Lamda Sigma Honor Society, which honors the top 50 freshmen at Ole Miss. He is also on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll and is working at JH Ranch in California as a raft guide this summer.

Natalie Jones, an English and sociology double major at Mississippi State University, is one of 54 students nationwide to be named a 2016 Harry S. Truman Scholar, the nation’s most prestigious scholarship for students dedicated to public service.

She received her award in a ceremony May 29, 2016 at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Mo. Recipients of the Truman award receive a $30,000 scholarship toward graduate school and the opportunity to participate in professional development programming to help prepare them for careers in public service leadership. Natalie is a member of the MSU Student Association’s Executive Council, Roadrunners student recruiting group, a member of the Dean of Arts and Sciences Student Advisory Council and a leader in the Society of African American Studies. Following her undergraduate studies, she will seek a law degree, as well as a master’s in public policy.

She plans to dedicate her career to helping dismantle institutional and systemic injustices in society. Natalie is the 18th recipient in MSU’s history to receive the Harry S. Truman scholarship and the only one in Mississippi for 2016.

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ALUMNI NEWS

Class of 198

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Class of 199

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Class of 200

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REUNIONS Jackson Academy's classes of 1985, 1995, and 2005 celebrated their class reunions on Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3, 2015. Alumni were invited back to campus for a tailgate party before the Friday night football game which included live music, dinner, and kids activities. The following day a picnic was held for the alumni classes along with evening events planned by the reunion committees.

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Cla lasses SSsesofof 1985, 1995, and 2005

ALUMNI NEWS

ALUMNI COUNCIL 1982-2009

Jackson Academy’s Alumni Council is made up of alumni volunteers from the classes of 1982-2009. The council assists the alumni office in establishing and encouraging an active and involved alumni network. The 2015-16 council includes (from left, back): Andrew Ritter ‘09, Will Mosby ‘03, Maury Breazeale ‘98, Trey Sebrell ‘91, Brian Ramsey ‘92 (front) Chris Mathison ‘93, David McKinnon ‘01, JoBeth Avdoyan ‘85, and Jacob Haralson ‘99.

Not pictured: Kathy Sheffield ‘82, Melody McNair ‘84, Leigh Butler ‘89, Tommy Barnett ‘94, and Mark Markow ‘97.

ALUMNI CHRISTMAS PARTY ​​ The JA Alumni office hosted a Young Alumni Christmas Party at The Apothecary at Brent’s Drugs in Fondren on Friday, December 18, 2015.

Alumni from the classes of 2000-2012 were invited to attend. All enjoyed time visiting with former classmates and friends!

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LOOKING AHEAD

SHERARD SHAW’S 1995 TEAM COMMEMORATES FIRST JA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Learning Commons Construction Underway As teaching methods continue to change, schools must create learning spaces that correspond with advancements in teaching and learning. The current Upper School library at Jackson Academy will be renovated this summer into a multifunctional Learning Commons, a central hub for student learning, collaboration, and innovation. Work began in late May. The Learning Commons will allow for student collaboration and study, access to technology and other learning resources, and space for free time and student entrepreneurial efforts.

It provides options for how students work individually or in groups, with or without technology. Specific areas include spaces for active learning, collaboration, small groups, medium groups, a learning theater, a media/broadcast room, traditional stacks, gathering spaces, and flexible classrooms with moveable walls. The new Learning Commons also will feature a student-run coffee shop.

The coffee shop will give students real-life experience operating a business.

The Learning Commons project is funded by major commitments from individual families and gifts to the JA Annual Fund for a total of $680,000 in cash and pledges. The Jackson Academy Association, JA’s parent organization, has pledged $300,000 of support for the project.

In the fall of 1995, a group of JA students put their hearts on the line to win their first state football championship. What is remarkable about their story is that their coach, Sherard Shaw, had lost his battle with cancer shortly before the championship game. The Clarion-Ledger named Coach Sherard Shaw and the 1995 Raider football team as one of the most significant sports stories in the state that year.

This truly special group was back on campus Friday, October 23, to remember the first Jackson Academy football championship, their years together, and their beloved Coach Shaw. They gathered in the Upper School Library with their families, parents, and members of the Shaw family and were recognized at halftime.

Coming this fall is a 60-minute, documentary-styled movie entitled, Shaw: The Championship Life that Ignited the Rise of Raider Nation. Raiders past and present are encouraged to learn about the story that propelled JA into the spotlight and created experiences that still motivate today.

For more information about the movie, visit: shawmovie.com

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4908 Ridgewood Road | P.O. Box 14978 Jackson, Mississippi 39236-4978 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

TRUE BLUE | 2016 ISSUE | VOLUME XVII

JACKSON ACADEMY