True Blue Magazine - Fall/Winter 2024 Issue

JACKSON ACADEMY

FALL/WINTER 2024 | VOLUME XXVIII

A Publication for Jackson Academy Alumni, Families, and Friends

JACKSON ACADEMY

FALL/WINTER 2024 | ISSUE XXVIII

Editor/Writer

Patti Wade

Director of Marketing and Communication

Creative

Jonathan Blackwell

Graphic Designer

Photography

Seth Swinney

Social Media & Brand Specialist

Contributing Editors/ Photographers/Writers

Jonathan Blackwell

Catherine Burford ’17

Spence Butler

Joe Ellis

Daymon Gardner

Martha Grace Gray ’03

Josh Hinkle ’15

Joshua Taylor McCoy/ Ole Miss Athletics

Bruce Newman

Laurie Parker ’97

Cathy Strauss

Patti Wade

Jim Wilkirson

Office of Advancement

Jim Wilkirson

Associate Head of School for Advancement & Performing Arts

Frances Bussey

Associate Director of Development

Rebecca Fowler

Development and Events Coordinator

TRUE BLUE, AN ANNUAL PUBLICATION, IS PUBLISHED BY THE JACKSON ACADEMY OFFICE OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION AND THE OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT.

JACKSON ACADEMY 4908 RIDGEWOOD ROAD JACKSON, MS 39211

IF YOU HAVE ALUMNI NEWS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, VISIT JACKSONACADEMY.ORG/CLASSNOTES TO SUBMIT OR UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION. SUBMISSIONS MAY ALSO BE MAILED TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS OR EMAILED TO FBUSSEY@ JACKSONACADEMY.ORG. ALL PHOTOS SUBMITTED SHOULD BE HIGH QUALITY.

Nine

Asking Essential Questions

Education is a powerful resource that provides lasting benefits. During a graduate business course I took at Millsaps College, our class delved into Stephen Covey’s book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” Years later, I often reflect on these principles in my work, home, and faith.

“Begin with the End in Mind” is a pivotal “habit” outlined in Covey’s book. This principle underscores the importance of planning and decisionmaking in shaping our future. It urges individuals to steer their lives towards a purposeful destination rather than drifting aimlessly.

This second habit in Covey’s list of seven ties nicely into Jackson Academy’s mission statement: “Within our nurturing and spiritual community, Jackson Academy inspires and equips each student to lead a life of purpose and significance.” A highlight of my time at JA includes serving on the team that developed the mission statement. The Mission Statement Task Force carefully analyzed each word to ensure that the language accurately represents JA’s core purpose and provides clarity and inspiration to students, families, faculty, and staff. By keeping the end goal of the mission in mind—students leading lives of purpose and significance—faculty and staff can evaluate whether their work contributes to that goal.

Asking essential questions is at the heart of New York Times bestselling author Debbie Ford’s writing. Her book, “The Right Questions: Ten Essential Questions to Guide You to An Extraordinary Life,” recommends that individuals ask themselves

either-or questions that force an honest look at their choices. This practice helps individuals choose proactivity over autopilot. Ford’s questions include whether choices move one toward an “inspiring future” or keep one stuck in the past; bring a long-term benefit or short-term gratification; remain in line with personal values or are made to appease others; and are grounded in faith or fear.

Before Ford’s book, JA’s mission statement, or Covey’s remarkable work, the Bible guided individuals to shed things that hinder them from their purpose. The verse from Hebrews 12:1 encourages believers to let go of anything that slows them down, especially the sin that entangles, and to focus on the race ahead.

Scripture guides individuals of faith to run toward their purpose, making conscious decisions to let go of those things that hold them back. And why? God has designed each person to be His unique masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). If becoming the masterpiece He intended is the end in mind, choices become even more meaningful and deserving of our careful attention.

Patti Wade Director of Marketing and Communication pwade@jacksonacademy.org

As I mark my fortieth year in independent school education, I continue to learn that while many things evolve, the most essential principles remain steadfast. The 2040 graduating class will navigate a future vastly different from that of 2024 graduates. Pedagogical methods, curriculum adaptations, and even defensive strategies in sports will undoubtedly evolve. However, the core values that define Jackson Academy—past, present, and future—will endure by the grace of God. I am privileged to serve in a mission-driven school where each measure, initiative, operation, and aspiration is deeply rooted in our mission, making JA unique in its commitment.

As Head of School, I witness so many inspiring moments on campus. They remind me of the phrase, “I would rather see a sermon than hear one any day.” I love hearing my son, a priest, preach, but what I admire is how much he cares for his congregation. It’s the same with JA—I enjoy talking about it, but I treasure watching the more than 200 dedicated JA team members carry out our mission. Our educators love telling others about JA, but more than this, we love being a part of this unique community’s action.

Allow me to share a few perspectives of what we experience each day:

• We talk about our 26.5 average on the ACT, with over 50 percent of the class scoring 29 or above. We see students helping each other be their best individually and collectively.

• We talk about the joy of winning state championships. We see students learning the importance of teamwork and putting the greater good above oneself.

• We talk about the importance of knowledge, content, and skills. We see teachers developing wisdom in our students-something far more important than knowledge.

• We talk about incredible performances in our Performing Arts Center. We see productions and performances on stage, and equally celebrate the efforts of those behind the scenes, showing how everyone’s efforts come together in spectacular ways.

• We talk about the continuity of the curriculum and the importance of academic coordination. Our students see faculty who embody the idea that “no one cares how much they know until they know how much they care.”

• We talk about culture. We see what author and educator CS Lewis described: “What draws people to be friends is that they see the same truth, and they share it.” Our hope for JA is to attract people who want the same truth for their children as lived out in our mission.

This year we commemorate our sixty-fifth year as a school, celebrating our past and looking forward to a bright future. JA isn’t just about what happens on our campus—it’s alive in the Jackson metro area and worldwide through our graduates’ achievements and meaningful contributions.

Join me in praying for our school and its intention to live out sermons in incredible ways. Our dedication and forward-thinking strategies strengthen our foundation every day, shaping an even more robust tomorrow for JA.

Blessings to each of you! Go Raiders!

Palmer Kennedy

Profiles

DEE BALL

This Upper School Advanced Placement teacher loves teaching history as a platform for developing students’ critical thinking and writing.

Just for fun

Working in my garden as well as taking care of hummingbirds and bluebirds.

Loves about JA

I treasure the opportunity to have made lasting friendships with many incredible young people during the past 35 years. I enjoy keeping up with students after graduation and watching them become community leaders who know and appreciate our cultural, historical, and political heritage (and the U.S. Constitution).

High point of a day at JA

Becoming an Advanced Placement (AP) teacher in 1985 and attending the AP professional development workshops changed the way I understood and taught history and government. Knowing the facts of history is just the beginning of creating challenging courses that require a critical analysis necessary for a comprehensive understanding of time periods and events. I believe the Advanced Placement program provides the best quality education that is available in high schools, and I am so proud of the AP program (science, math, art, English, and social studies) that JA has developed during the past 35 years!

Still to do

Lifelong learning is a goal as is sharing fresh information with my students.

When she has a moment

I enjoy reading history and historical novels as well as books on ethics. In my free time, I enjoy following the activities of my grandchildren from Quiz Bowl competition, tennis, pole vaulting, lacrosse, to ballet, show choir, and theatre.

Little-known fact

I completed my undergraduate degree in 2 1/2 years. I was teaching high school at age 20! Three years later, I had completed my master’s degree.

ZYON MCDOWELL ’24

This top honors student adheres to the idea of practice until you cannot get it wrong.

Never thought I’d try Auditioning for show choir

Comes easy

Math and performing on stage

My other interests Theatre, Mu Alpha Theta, French Club, Chapel Band

What I cherish most about JA I am grateful to JA for giving me a place that’s not just a school. I could come every day and expect something new and fresh. JA also helped me create lifelong friendships and helped me find my passion in performing.

Have to work at it

Trusting the process challenges me. To just trust God and endure the hardships that would eventually make me better in the end.

My high point

Performing makes me feel more like myself than anything else I do.

Advice to younger self Stay true to yourself and the things that make you, you. Also, don’t be afraid to be different.

Features Architects of a Better Jackson

Jackson Academy graduates hold vital roles in multiple initiatives in the City of Jackson. Ongoing revitalization projects and completed ones bear the vision and imprint of JA alums. Look further for specific ways JA alumni are shaping a vibrant Jackson.

Planning for Fondren’s Future

Blake Reeves ’01 has been called a champion of community development, having led and supported urban projects worldwide. The Atlanta-based Reeves grew up in Jackson and attended JA from first through twelfth grade.

Reeves and the company he represents, City Collective, signed on in January 2024 to develop a long-range plan for the Fondren

area this year. Fondren Forward, a local planning initiative that seeks to revitalize and sustain the Fondren community, working under the Fondren Renaissance Foundation, initiated the effort. Fondren Forward raised private funds to secure a firm for the work. Five firms interviewed for the job.

Reeves and his team of eight have listened to hundreds of locals from

diverse backgrounds describe their wishes for the Fondren community. Surveys, conversations, and feet-onthe ground experiences have helped the team blend the community’s hopes with the company’s extensive expertise in city planning and urban design. City Collective will create an actional playbook for a vibrant, welcoming mixed-use environment. Preserving the historic and eclectic vibe of the area is a priority.

How Reeves Came Full Circle

Reeves describes himself as an “overly involved” student at JA. By high school, he ran track and cross country, was elected to the Student Council, and served as junior class president (coordinating prom). That particular prom and designing JA theatrical sets started his career path.

“When I think about my creativity today, I remember making fun of our theatrical production set designs in the JA Activities Building. This was before JA built the Performing Arts Center,” Reeves said. “The JA director overheard me, saw some of my sketches, and said, ‘Oh, you are now our set designer!’ Then Baylor University offered a series of student-run productions. I thought, ‘I’ve been doing this through high school. I’ll just keep doing it.’”

With a rich portfolio of set design and a college business degree in hand, Reeves landed in Austin, Texas, for an eight-year career in set design. He always knew he wanted to continue school, perhaps in architecture. While in Austin, he refined that career path to urban design. He pursued two master’s degrees from Georgia Tech: one in city planning and one in urban design. From there, he began his career helping cities put their best foot forward while serving the needs of their communities. This work has taken him across the world. Domestically, he has worked for the White House, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, downtown Birmingham and Orlando, Tier I universities, pro sports teams, and iconic Southeastern cities such as Savannah and Charleston. Beyond the United States, he has worked on all six developed continents and continues to serve as part of a working group for UN-Habitat, the branch of the United Nations focused on city and community building.

The Appeal of Fondren

So why Fondren? By all points of comparison, the scopes of the other projects were grander. Yet an emotional tug compelled Reeves to make a case to City Collective to submit a bid for the Fondren long-range plan. His experience across the country gives Reeves a bird’s-eye view to see potential for greatness. The Southeast is booming. Developers are looking for communities poised for revitalization. Fondren’s intrinsic attributes of design, history, and function make it ripe for developers’ interest.

“Every community is different, but one of the first questions our firm asks is: ‘What is the secret sauce of your community? What is special about it?’” Reeves explained. “What is special about Fondren has a lot to do with its physical, built history, such as its mid-century architecture. Fondren was developed in a very unique window of time after the invention of the automobile, but before we had fully committed to

suburban land-use patterns, which put the automobile first before everything else. There’s a 20-30 year period where this unique type of architecture was born. That’s what’s here. It’s this gas-station architecture. It’s neon and chrome. This niche architecture genre, streamlined moderne, exists between Art Deco and the international style. It’s all about the aerodynamic design of trains and cars. Everything has curves; that is where you get these rounded forms in Woodland Hills shopping center. A lot of Fondren is built in that style, so to have a lot of it in one district is fun.”

With roots in Jackson, Reeves wants the area to be the best it can be. All of his family members have called Fondren home at some point. His brother, Brad Reeves, and his family live there now and own Brent’s Drugs. During visits home, Blake Reeves would find himself sketching plans for Jackson, as he had done as a student observing JA’s theatre productions; he had just not figured out how to make his dreams for Jackson a reality.

“For me personally, I am a brain drainer, someone who left at 18 and did not come back,” Reeves

explained. “My job only exists in other nations and about 15 of the United States’ largest cities, so the jobs and contracts have not been here. Yet when I would visit here, I would walk outside and just begin drawing what I could do here. I would think, at no point ever will I be able to do this work. It was like a dream come true when, a year or so ago, Fondren was doing competitive bidding with money it had raised for a long-range plan,” he said.

Now, City Collective is bringing to Fondren national expertise and extensive connections with developers who might be interested in opportunities in Jackson and the niche architecture genre streamlined moderne. “Hopefully, we can bring folks here and get them looking at Fondren in a positive way,” Reeves said.

Reeves said that every community is trying to determine its competitive advantage, the particular characteristic for which it can be known and recognized. “Fondren already has that,” Reeves said. “That’s exciting. Part of that is preserving what is here and also codifying it so that when new development comes, it employs some of the same design motifs that make it look like Fondren.”

A Catalyst for the City

Reeves said Fondren had no neighborhood plan, so the team started from scratch. “What is interesting to me is that Fondren is a small community node that has existed as its own commercial mixed-use area,” he said.

Fondren Renaissance Foundation

Executive Director Rebecca Garrison agrees that Fondren has been fortunate to have had its share of success without a lot of formal planning. “Successful communities rarely ‘just happen,’” she said. “In this day and age, you can’t afford to leave things to chance.”

She and Foundation members recognized the need for a long-range plan and launched the initiative of seeking resources to fund one. “Effective community plans are not inexpensive, so our only option was to roll up our sleeves and start asking for money,” Garrison explained. “Fortunately for us, Fondren Renaissance Foundation Board Member Sandy Carter had just retired from Trustmark and was looking for a project. Sandy was the perfect person for the job and he has done a phenomenal job!”

Like Reeves, Sandy Carter felt compelled to get involved in revitalization. “I have lived in Fondren for 30 years and became really concerned about our city during the water crisis. My wife and I considered moving, but instead she challenged me to ‘do something.’ I was asked to be the chairman of Fondren Forward and tasked with raising $400,000 to hire an urban planner and help produce a long-range plan for Fondren. Our committee, along with personnel from the city, interviewed five nationally known urban planners, including Blake’s firm, City Collective, and eventually hired City Collective to perform an in-depth study of Fondren and the city and ultimately

produce a very detailed long-range plan. We have worked closely with the city, state, residents of Fondren, business owners, and developers to piece together a plan that will lead Fondren and the city into the future with growth and development.”

The community plan will provide a roadmap for success based on research, community input, and best practices, Garrison said. “Getting a true picture of Fondren’s economics, an analysis of our population and employment trends, our housing inventory and future needs - these facts will inform the plan and prioritize our actions,” she explained.

“In our business, there is no definition of what a neighborhood is,” Reeves said. “When I grew up here, Fondren wasn’t a named place. In its success, neighborhoods with no separate identity want to be included in this name, such as North Fondren in recent years. When the selection committee defined this project, it listed the parameters as Northside Drive to Woodrow Wilson and West Street to the Interstate. Part of this process is defining things that were not defined before.”

The plan for Fondren could serve as a springboard for similar neighborhoods in the Jackson Metro. “From the beginning, we had the City of Jackson in mind,” said Garrison. “Sure, the work would focus on Fondren but Fondren cannot be successful unless our city is successful. We were very intentional about modeling a process that could be adopted by other

communities and are committed to helping other communities that might want to follow a similar path.”

Reeves believes Fondren’s future success could catalyze development in central Jackson. “In and around Fondren, there are a number of vital anchor institutions such as UMMC, Millsaps College, and Belhaven University. Fondren can leverage these assets and its recognizable character to drive transformative change and build up Jackson,” he said. “There is enough momentum and love for this community that it can happen. A sign of that is I have never heard of a community raising external private funds to fund its plan. I’m emotionally attached to all my projects, but this one has been particularly emotional. The smallest things move the needle in big ways here.”

He also hopes this plan helps Fondren and Jackson capitalize on the momentum of development in the Southeast. “Everyone is seeing growth. Birmingham, the Carolinas, for example. Jackson has not figured out how to capture this huge national movement. The opportunity is good for this area of town with its collection of assets. To me, it is serving Jackson and serving Mississippi,” he said.

Seeing the Beauty in Civic Spaces

In most cities, some assets are great equalizers, such as the Atlanta Beltline, a subway, or a park. These are democratic, egalitarian spaces in cities where people come together and see neighbors whose lives differ from theirs, making people more empathetic. “This strange, polarized world that we live in today is manufactured in a lot of ways, and if you don’t have a lens into other people’s lives, it can be hard to remember that,” he said.

“I’m hopeful that in whatever way is possible, Fondren can play that role and remind Jacksonians and Mississippians who their demographic is. It is easy to say, ‘Oh, I live in this bubble with these people,’ and sure, that might be who you socially spend time with, but at the same time, you are inherently tied to Jackson and those people’s lives. Their success is your success, whether you see that or not. We need civic spaces to help people see through that lens. People have been looking at their own lives and not willing to say, ‘How do we all succeed?’”

When City Collective first looks at a community, the team evaluates where a city falls on the spectrum of scarcity versus abundance mentality. “With a scarcity mentality, people are fighting for limited resources, for pieces of the pie. With an abundance mentality, everyone knows you can all work together, and you are growing the pie; you are making more for everyone by sharing resources. People must set aside differences. This is where I am a dreamer,” Reeves said. “As much as possible, Fondren might be a landscape where you can make these things real for Jackson in the near future.”

A Walkable Lifestyle

“The whole world has been building cities like this since the beginning,” Reeves said. From ancient times, cities had a community well from which to draw water, with multiple neighborhoods all using a town center. The concept for Fondren varies from today’s high-end exclusive mixed-use developments or suburbs that are automobile-dependent and separated from retail. Fondren’s development envisions a community with something for everyone, an essential distinction for Reeves, who said that the team has the numbers that show that this is one of the city’s most diverse areas.

“I get to use my expertise on behalf of vulnerable communities in a way that is super important to me. In this country, the kind of mixed-use development that is happening may have a high-end price point that puts a premium on it that is not for everyone, so we really have to have someone who makes sure these communities are for everyone,” he said.

On the very front end of the project, City Collective asked: What makes

Fondren, Fondren? Reeves said community members and stakeholders answered, “It is openminded, it appreciates diversity, and so forth.” City Collective said they would remind the constituents of that vision throughout the process.

“We are not going to make only special things that people of a certain income can enjoy. It will be a diversity of price points and housing types and truly for everyone. This walkable lifestyle shouldn’t be at a premium. It should be open to everyone,” Reeves said.

The research and planning process also revealed a little-known story that happened more than 100 years ago. “Fondren, as we know it today, was started by a freedman, freed before the Emancipation Proclamation,” Reeves said. “He built this neighborhood as a neighborhood for formerly enslaved people to own their own property, to build their own wealth. Duling Avenue started as Cade’s Alley. The founders started Cade’s Chapel and the Cade Chapel School. It was booming and existed for many years. The city annexed the area in 1924. The homes along Cade’s Alley were demolished, and Duling School was built in their place. Cade’s Chapel still exists nearby.”

The early foundation of community seen in that history continues to benefit the area. “Personally, I have loved learning more about Fondren’s history and Isham Cade. Cade was all about community,” Garrison said. “It’s like he sowed the seeds of ‘community’ in the ground under Duling Avenue and we are now reaping the harvest and tending the crop. I expect our plan to acknowledge and pay tribute to our rich history.”

Fostering the Community Feel of Fondren

The Fondren traditional, mixed-use area, built around a model other cities have used for centuries, advances a sense of community that lifts the area and protects its assets while making it available to all. City Collective’s work strengthens this sense of place and pride and attracts new development.

“You establish a sense of identity, that becomes a sense of place, that becomes a sense of belonging, that

becomes a sense of safety. That is all that good stuff that people love about a community,” Reeves said. This sense of community also helps users of the space take pride in their community, wanting to sustain it, and working against crime and toward common goals.

“The same tools to fix one fix the others,” he said. While doing this, City Collective’s plan gives Fondren Forward the direction to attract new developers who will celebrate the unique attributes that make Fondren so special and bring more of that to the community.

“With the new Museum Trails and the walking paths on Old Canton and Meadowbrook, you can already see a huge increase in walkers, runners, and bikers,” said Carter. “It makes a community feel safer and more welcoming when you see people on these paths. In addition, Fondren is well-suited for walking and biking, but we just do not have the dedicated paths that encourage that now. Our long range plan will help develop new paths to encourage walking and biking. Fondren has great restaurants, retail shops, a wonderful fitness center, coffee shops, and the list goes on and on. Best of all, all these are all walking distances for most Fondren residents. We want to capitalize on this fact to encourage people to live in Fondren.”

Carter and Garrison could not be more pleased with what Blake Reeves has brought to Fondren Forward’s initiative. “At the end of the process, Blake checked all the boxes and then some. He had the knowledge and experience, but he also knew Jackson. No one could compete with that combination. Blake knows more about building successful communities than anyone I’ve ever worked with,” Garrison said. “We wrapped up the formal planning effort in October, but the real work begins then. It will be up to us to implement the plan.” More information can be found at Fondrenforward.com.

A LOOK AT WAYS JA ALUMNI ARE SHAPING JACKSON

FONDREN DEVELOPERS

Drawing people to the Fondren neighborhood is something Peters Real Estate has been doing for years. The development of Fondren Corner in the early 2000s was a catalyst for Fondren, becoming one of Jackson’s first mixed use developments, and ultimately raising the value of property ownership and attracting shoppers and diners. Fondren Corner houses restaurants, artists, offices, and residents. Sam Peters ’00 and Mitch Peters ’98 have worked with their father Mike and others on the development of this and additional developments in Fondren.

MISSISSIPPI ARTS COMMISION

Since college graduation, David Lewis ’10, has led initiatives to lift and showcase Jackson and Mississippi. He is now executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission and previously was deputy director of the Department of Human and Cultural Services for the City of Jackson, bringing his talents to community spaces and events, such the City of Jackson’s Bicentennial campaign.

JACKSON HEART FOUNDATION

Like trail systems in Atlanta, Memphis, and Houston, which offer public spaces for all to use, the Museum Trail is a multi-use trail and greenway for City of Jackson residents and visitors. It connects museums, parks, public art, and communities. Working on various phases of the Museum Trail is Jackson Heart Foundation Executive Director Morgan Geary ’07.

CATHEAD DISTILLERY

This award-winning, small-batch distillery was co-founded in 2010 by Austin Evans ’99. Majure Markow ’99 works with sales for Cathead. Located in downtown Jackson, Cathead was the first legal distillery in Mississippi.

GREEN OAK

A mainstay in Northeast Jackson since 1960, Green Oak is a third generation business offering full service florist and garden centers as well as landscape, maintenance, interiorscape, and Christmascape services. Eric Mckie ’08, grandson of founders Billy and Rita Martinson, owns Green Oak and a second location in Ridgeland. He plays an important role in the LeFleur East Foundation’s work at the Parham Bridges Park area.

THE DISTRICT AT EASTOVER

A centrally located urban multi-use space co-developed by Breck Hines ’97, The District at Eastover combines dining, shopping, living, and working at a 21acre space in the heart of Jackson. The resort status location offers community events, luxury living spaces, restaurants, boutique shopping, and offices.

FRIENDS OF CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

These alumni devote their time to helping children stay healthy and happy by leading fund-raising efforts to support Children’s of Mississippi. Signature fundraising events include a golf tournament, car tag, rappelling event, and clay shoot. John Scarbrough ’92 served with Friends for 13 years and Ben James ’04 and Mark Hosemann ’99 are current board members.

ELVIE’S, MAYFLOWER CAFE

Named a 2024 James Beard Award finalist for the “Best Chef: South” award, Hunter Evans ’08 developed and is head chef at Belhaven area Elvie’s restaurant. He recently purchased the Mayflower Cafe, a historic downtown restaurant, continuing a cherished dining experience for locals and must-visit diner for guests of the city.

LEFLEUR EAST FOUNDATION

Since 2012, the LeFleur East Foundation (LE) has been committed to enhancing this community’s beauty, safety, and overall development. Governed by a board of community volunteers, LE represents a vast business community and 22 neighborhoods dedicated to improving the quality of life for the LE area and the entire Jackson community.

With the bold initiative of forming a Business Improvement District from Lakeland Drive to the I-55 corridor encapsulating our outer borders, LE is now focusing its efforts on the center of the LE area with a $6.9 million master plan for the stabilization and revitalization of Parham Bridges Park. An inner city “retreat,” this park serves as a wellness and fitness center for everyone in our community. The park offers a nationally recognized tennis center set amidst walking trails and play areas bordered by native plants. LE is proud to announce the recent addition of ten pickleball courts to the park, and a three-hole “teaching” golf course is coming soon. Additional enhancements to the newly adopted master plan in cooperation with the City of Jackson include perimeter fencing and the relocation of the park’s main entrances, the raising and maintenance of the park’s dense tree canopy, the creation of a watershed retention area and stabilization of Eubanks Creek, additional tennis courts with added and relocated central parking, a renovated children’s play area with shade structures, and a new clubhouse with a pavilion event space in the park epicenter.

More than 12 community partners have committed to fostering and bringing the Parham Bridges project to fruition. With the aid of area grant writers and a passionate board of volunteers, LE has just kicked off fundraising for the “perimeter fencing phase” of the project, making this new master plan closer to reality for the betterment of Jackson.

JA LeFleur East Board members currently working on the project and featured on the cover of this volume of True Blue include David Barrett ’05, Ben James ’04, Ann Elizabeth Walker LoCicero ’15, Caroline Walker Reed ’13, Stephanie Baker Maley ’00, Jim Wilkirson (VP) JA Advancement, Marcus Burger, Blann Lutken, and Lott Warren.

PATHWAY TO SIGNIFICANCE

JACKSON ACADEMY STRATEGIC PLAN: 2022-2027

The school’s regular participation in strategic planning is a testament to JA’s dedication to always moving forward and providing the best education possible for students. This strategic planning cycle, under the leadership of Associate Head of School for Operations Eddie Wettach ’03, is another significant step in our journey. The team assigned for this process, including Director of Apple Educational Technology Lori Snider, Head of Preschool Sandra Triplett ’09, Athletic Director Brandt Walker, K2 Director Katrice Hadley, Chief Advancement Officer Jim Wilkirson, and Associate Head of School and Academic Dean Matt Morgan, is committed to shaping the future of JA.

The Path to Here

The nature of our school is continual improvement.

Reflecting on the strategy and achievements of the past 10 years while envisioning excellent education of the future, Jackson Academy’s faculty and administration have identified three core ways to continue to provide students and families the best education possible. That level of educational excellence centers on inspiring every child individually and equipping every child holistically to live a life of purpose and significance.

Join us on our Pathway to Significance. For our children, for our families, for a stronger JA.

Bright Minds

Jackson Academy will take a deep dive into the needs of today’s learners and the school’s performance data to make sure curriculum meets the educational needs of a spectrum of learners.

What We’ll Do

1 Review and analyze academic plans to meet the needs of today’s learners

a. Complete and then develop an ongoing plan to review curriculum mapping for all divisions, ensuring continuity of all content areas.

b. Recommend a committee for periodic review of transcript earning (semester vs. year), naming of courses on the transcript, fairness of course grade/credit earnings for electives, assessing weighting of courses, and potential online offerings.

c. Implement interdisciplinary lessons for all divisions.

d. Consider course offerings: an advanced math accelerated path senior offering; coding and robotics in Middle School and Upper School.

2 Ensure diverse learning experiences for a spectrum of learners

a. Plan and execute a schoolwide professional development initiative aimed at training teachers and staff to engage learners through a variety of instructional strategies and assessments.

3 Leverage data to ensure academic goals are met

a. Implement a systematic approach for utilizing data from previous years to drive academic goals.

b. Develop age appropriate surveys to measure self-efficacy of students and other soft metrics (honors college admissions, preparation, post-secondary surveys, career assessment, etc.).

c. Work with department chairs and test prep to formulate specific test prep skills per grade level to embed in the curriculum.

“We want students to graduate with more than a diploma. We want them to be better citizens and well-rounded people.”

ON THE PATH

Where Academics and Art Intertwine

Art can expand a student’s perspective, helping them think about an issue in a new way. JA’s competition plays do just that. “We Shall By Morning,” written and directed by Director of Performing Arts Kerri Sanders, explored the life of Nellie Bly, an investigative journalist who, in 1887, exposed insufferable conditions for women in insane asylums by being admitted undercover as a patient. Students reenacted this story at JA, at the Mississippi Theatre Association’s Dramafest, at the International Thespian Society’s ThesCon, and in a recorded version to be broadcast. Former JA valedictorian Bailey Berry ’23 commented about how much she valued sharing compelling stories with historical or cultural significance to audiences at JA and beyond. Learning these stories through art has a profound academic impact.

Good Hearts

Jackson Academy will invest in the mental and emotional wellness of JA students and faculty, seeking also to foster connection and belonging across the community. JA will clarify the spiritual element of its mission, enhance the SOAR outdoor program, and formalize the administration of student life programs and community service.

What We’ll Do

1

Social and Emotional

a. Invest in the mental and emotional wellness of JA staff and students and JA community.

i. Refine and extend the Path to Purpose ethical education plan from K-12, ensuring continuity through graduation, while fostering grade-specific social skills. Designate a leader to oversee this plan.

ii. Provide mental health resources for the JA community and organize mental health resources and discussions for students and parents.

iii. Plan more leadership and character development opportunities for Middle and Upper School students.

b. Ensure a sense of connection and belonging across JA’s community.

i. Expand upon Morning Meetings in the Preschool and Lower School.

ii. Structure mentor groups (houses) for Middle and Upper School students to do activities together monthly to ensure that each student has a faculty/staff advocate.

iii. Organize more opportunities for both faculty and students across divisions to foster cross division interactions.

iv. Expand Raider Ready, our new student orientation, to share about the JA culture and extracurricular activities to help new students find a place to belong in our community.

2 Spiritual

a. Establish a spiritual committee with a leader from each division to define and articulate the spiritual element of JA’s mission.

i. Approve the tenets of the spiritual community of Jackson Academy.

ii. Continue or organize faculty/volunteer-directed Bible studies for students.

iii. Create a yearly theme for chapel that is developed and taught in every grade level in age-appropriate ways.

iv. Evaluate biblical course offerings at Jackson Academy.

v. Further develop and define the spiritual aspect of JA’s mission.

vi. Adopt a school prayer.

b. Share about the spiritual community at JA, and share it on the JA website including a list of all spiritual activities.

3 Student Life and Community Service

a. Ensure that all student life programs reflect the mission of the school.

i. Assess the effectiveness of student organizations to enhance and improve them.

ii. Create a student leadership club/program.

b. Continue to develop JA’s SOAR program by doing the following:

i. Evaluate and promote the SOAR program.

ii. Plan a SOAR activity for each grade level.

iii. Encourage staff to participate in SOAR events.

c. Appoint a staff member to oversee community service schoolwide. This person would implement and track student service opportunities, service hours, and coordinate with local schools and service organizations.

ON THE PATH

Traditions and Transitions

When Coach Ray Higgins joined JA in the 1970s, he shared his love for the benefits of the great outdoors with JA students and families through rafting excursions. This tradition of experiential education extends into many of JA’s programs today. JA seeks to further invest in wellness, connection, and spiritual development, working alongside parents. These ideals are carried out through intentional programs such as the Path to Purpose, SOAR outdoor, voluntary community service, and Lower School Morning Meetings. Whether refining a well-loved tradition or launching an innovation, JA seeks to provide the support, leadership, and spiritual guidance JA students need to lead lives of purpose and significance.

Facilities and Processes

There is a spirit to JA that can only be experienced in person. JA will refine processes to connect mission-appropriate students who will thrive within our school and to keep alumni in connection throughout their lives. JA will continue to provide a highly functioning campus that engages students year-round through auxiliary programs. JA will position the school to be prepared for effective expansion, appropriate use of existing and future facilities, and continuing attention to security and safety.

What We’ll Do

1 Advancement

a. Review enrollment management.

i. Explore the most effective enrollment management system.

ii. Loudly and proudly tell the JA Middle School story to help retain and attract mission-appropriate students while looking for additional ways to create the premiere middle level experience in the Metro Jackson market.

b. Review and develop an alumni outreach program.

i. Explore best practices on updating alumni contacts and identifying their preferred communication channels, such as email, text, or social media platforms.

ii. Along with the leadership team, reorganize the Alumni Mentoring Program.

2 Auxiliary Programs

a. Develop a plan for after-hours and summer programs that aligns with the school’s evolving needs.

i. Tailor activities, sports, and camps to engage Middle School students.

ii. Attract external students to summer camps to enhance admissions opportunities.

iii. Initiate summer camp registrations by December or January.

3 Physical Safety and Facilities

a. Ensure that facilities meet the needs of students, staff, and programs.

i. Analyze daily scheduling, and create a master schedule of the entire campus in order to better use the existing facilities.

ii. Determine and prioritize the area of the school with the most pressing need for growth and expansion.

b. Ensure that the facilities and campus of JA offer safety and security to everyone in JA’s community.

i. Explore additional ways to utilize JA’s Raider Park.

ii. Explore way to better campus communication schoolwide.

iii. Establish an ongoing security and safety committee.

“The word ‘excellence’ is a moving target. We’re never satisfied with the status quo. We can always be better.”

ON THE PATH

Welcome to the Middle

JA’s Middle School expansion, opened in August of 2023, is part of a multi-phase facilities master plan. This construction added six Middle School classrooms to the north side of the Middle School building. The expansion allowed for relocating current classes into new square footage and redesigning the original classrooms for lower grades and special subjects through kindergarten. This made space for JA’s new K2 program.

Science labs in JA’s Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools were remodeled. Landscaped outdoor spaces and common areas for student activities and breaks now provide more spaces for community interaction. Across campus, the realignment of divisional offices provides better accessibility for the parent body.

Students Excel in AP Scholar Program

Jackson Academy offers a robust Advanced Placement program with 11 classes. Students who seek greater academic challenge and the potential for college credit while in high school can select AP coursework beginning in the tenth grade. AP is administered by the College Board.

“AP results at JA are impressive,” said Head of Upper School Kyle Nichols. “Most JA students who take AP exams earn college credit after completing the exam. In fact, JA’s average pass rate exceeds the Mississippi average and the global average by a significant margin.”

Earning College Credit

At the end of each course, students take an AP exam designed, field tested, and administered by the College Board to earn scores that reflect the students’ mastery of the coursework. Their scores are

AP Scholar

Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams

CLASS OF 2024

Darbie Brewer, Jonea Carter, Caroline Champagne, Anna Kate Lucas, Abbi Mims, Madilyn Ray

CLASS OF 2025

Aniya Bradley, Schyler Chambers, Stanton Cole, Parker Halford, McNeil Haraway, Sophie Henderson, Caroline Johnston, Sarah Breyden Moulder, Elizabeth Nichols, Logan Rohman, Richard Sumrall

available to the colleges of their choice. Colleges grant credit, typically with a score of three or higher. Some selective colleges require a score of four.

Not only do students gain college credit, they also achieve a high level of mastery of a subject. “The Advanced Placement program prepares students academically with course content, but most importantly in critical thinking and writing skills. This gives the student confidence and valuable preparation for the academic challenges of higher education,” said JA College Counselor and AP Coordinator Amy Bush.

“The College Board is very careful about the creation and administration of AP testing,” said Bush. She explained that Advanced Placement courses are designed by the College Board based on input from college professors and experienced AP teachers who define the skills, learning objectives, and

AP Scholar with Honor

Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams

CLASS OF 2024

Virginia Browning, Alex Guild, Sophie McIntire, Sam Roberts, Vivien Stevens

CLASS OF 2025

Alex Davis, Willis Thigpen, Miller Usry

course framework. The AP courses align with collegelevel courses and prepare students for future academic success in higher education.

AP Scholars Designation

Once students have completed multiple AP classes and have earned scores of three or higher, the College Board honors the students with the designations AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, or AP Scholar with Distinction. Being an AP Scholar indicates to colleges and universities that a student is well prepared for higher education. The designation can influence college acceptance and be rewarded with scholarship eligibility.

Look below at current JA students and 2024 graduates who have achieved these accolades. Congratulations!

AP Scholar with Distinction

Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams

CLASS OF 2024

Mallory Brooks, Mya Coins, Red Deaton, Anna Margaret Hooker, Tack Mahaffey, Zyon McDowell, Noah Pressler, Gautam Ray, Titus Taylor, Sydney Thaxton, Danielle Wallace, Ben Watson

CLASS OF 2025

Julia Berman

News & Stories

JA Renames Its Student Resources, Introducing The Peak

Jackson Academy offers programs to help its students connect with the support and opportunities they need to thrive. Under the innovative banner of The Peak, JA has introduced a holistic approach to student life that transcends the traditional educational framework, aligning with the demands of today’s dynamic learning environment.

This comprehensive framework encapsulates a diverse array of specialized programs, each crafted to cater to the distinct needs of JA students. From academic excellence to personal growth and social development, The Peak ensures that students are equipped not just to succeed, but to soar.

Thoughtfully chosen for its powerful symbolism, The Peak evokes imagery of overcoming challenges, experiencing personal growth, and the triumph of reaching the summit. It embodies Jackson Academy’s commitment to providing differentiated, personalized, and comprehensive support, reflecting the school’s dedication to guiding each student toward their highest potential.

Student Services

Among the transformative programs housed under The Peak umbrella are:

ĥ Tailored Counseling Resources: Offering personalized career planning, alumni shadowing, and customized academic scheduling, ensuring each student finds his or her path.

ĥ Academic Excellence Programs: Providing essential resources such as ACT accommodations, differentiated learning instruction, and targeted help sessions to enhance academic achievement.

ĥ Holistic Health and Wellness Initiatives: Featuring the SOAR outdoor experiential learning program for each grade, an emphasis on optimal physical wellness, and Life Skills programming designed to prepare seniors for the challenges ahead.

By centralizing these vital services within a cohesive framework, Jackson Academy ensures that both prospective and current families can easily visualize and access the wealth of opportunities available to their children. The language and philosophy of The Peak seamlessly integrate with JA’s overarching mission, reinforcing the school’s dedication to nurturing wellrounded, successful individuals.

Upper School Leaders and Coaches

Kyle Nichols

Kyle Nichols, a veteran educator from the Clinton Public School system, joined JA this year as head of Upper School. Nichols was chosen based on his alignment with the school’s mission, professional values, and demonstrated leadership qualities. Nichols brings extensive experience as an Advanced Placement (AP) teacher, as a coach, and with programming that contributes to student achievement. Nichols and his wife Hannah have two children.

Austin Fortenberry

Austin Fortenberry, who previously instructed Upper School English and coordinated chapel and student government programs, is serving as associate head of Upper School, a new position that focuses on nurturing deeper student relationships, supporting discipline, fostering decorum, coordinating activities, and promoting a balanced approach to student life.

Eager Students

Delight in STEM

JA’s fifth grade had a memorable morning at the school’s new “STEM in the Gym!” activity in April. The activity was so successful that planning is underway for another date in the spring of 2025.

In a collaborative effort, parents and faculty members set up six hands-on stations in the Activities Building, providing an exciting rotation for curious and energetic fifth graders. The stations, including

David Duggan

Veteran college coach David Duggan returned to JA this year as head football coach, something both he and his former players found exciting. When he held his first meeting with the Raider football team last spring, 6-foot3, 300-pound junior defensive lineman Dereon Albert greeted Duggan with a big bear hug. “He is a great coach,” said Dereon. “He pushes you until your limit, and he’s going to coach you hard. He’s smart, caring, and an honest man.” Duggan and his wife Lynne have two daughters and a granddaughter.

Marble Run Design, Coding with Dash, Rocket Launch, Imagination Playground, Barefoot Frogger, and the Rigamajig, were all designed to reinforce the science, technology, engineering, and math concepts that JA students have been learning through the STEM program.

On a day-to-day basis, faculty member Cliff Powers’ STEM classroom is a

beloved space that young students eagerly anticipate --and Middle School students fondly remember. “STEM in the Gym!” is the culmination of the fifth grade’s participation in Lower School STEM. With science and technology playing a crucial role in today’s world, students completing the curriculum are fully equipped to navigate their next steps into the sciences and math of Middle School.

Student-run Broadcast Wins at Southeast Regional Student Production Awards

The Raider Network, JA’s broadcast team, clinched the Best Live Event category at the Southeast Regional Student Production Awards for outstanding coverage of a junior high football game. JA students orchestrate the entire broadcast of junior high games under the direction of faculty and staff. This award comes from an organization closely associated with the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, known for the Emmy Awards. This connection underlines the importance and prestige of the students’ accomplishment, emphasizing their contribution to the standards of excellence in broadcasting.

JA Earns Accreditation Through 2029

JA completed a review by the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and became reaccredited from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2029. The SAIS accreditation team determined that JA met all the SAIS standards and indicators required for accreditation.

In preparation for the visit, JA completed a self-study and identified three strategic impact areas for growth and improvement. The visiting team reviewed the self-study and JA’s strategic plan in advance. JA administrators answered questions about both during the visit. Students, parents, and faculty discussed their experiences with the visiting team.

In their follow-up report, the accreditation team observed a deep commitment to the school, trust in the school community, and a devotion to the school’s mission. “First and foremost, the faculty, students, and parents all

expressed their appreciation for the caring and nurturing culture of the school, making it feel like one belongs to a family, not just a school community...Initiatives to optimize the use of facilities, ensure students achieve academic success, and position the school to sustain and grow enrollment reflected the innovative thinking that inspired plans for the future. Finally, there is a great commitment among all constituents towards ensuring that Jackson Academy remains a viable, thriving institution that will serve students and the surrounding community well into the future,” the team stated.

The next SAIS re-accreditation visit will likely occur in the fall of 2028. JA is accredited by SAIS, AdvancED/Cognia, and MAIS, and is affiliated with the international Cum Laude Society and the Jackson Area Association of Independent Schools (JAAIS).

JA Named Best Private School Four Years Running

The Clarion-Ledger announced that Jackson Academy was named Best Private School for a fourth time in the 2024 Community’s Choice Awards, an annual poll to discover Mississippians’ most admired businesses, organizations, people, and events. Voters also named JA’s Performing Arts Center as the Best Live Music/Concert Venue and the JA Carnival as the Best Festival/Fair. In a new category, voters selected JA’s afterschool programs and summer camp programs as the community’s choice.

Head of School Palmer Kennedy believes that JA’s strong school mission and culture play a part in the recognition. “All facets of a JA experience –academics, athletics, the arts, or a variety of other co-curricular programs – are studentcentered and mission-driven. Our mission and culture are advanced by a superior and committed faculty and staff, parents, Board of Trustees, and of course, students. We deeply appreciate this recognition of our efforts. We also understand that ‘to whom much has been given, much is expected,’” Kennedy said.

Presented by the NATAS Southeast Foundation

Athletics

BEST RECORD IN SCHOOL HISTORY

Jackson Academy has had some great boys basketball teams during the past five decades, but none of those teams accomplished what the 2023-2024 team did.

The 2023-2024 Raiders, led by secondyear head coach Jesse Taylor, won the team’s final 22 games to finish with a 36-1 record – the best record in school history – and won the MAIS

Overall Tournament championship, the first one for JA since 2006.

JA finished the season with a 70-59 victory over Madison-Ridgeland Academy for the Overall title at Mississippi College in Clinton.

JA’s season record beat out the 36-2 mark of the 1994-1995 team, coached by Stan Jones.

Taylor, a Chattanooga native who set 3-point school records playing for Mississippi College, finished his fifth year at JA. He was an assistant varsity coach for the first three seasons and had a 54-14 record as junior high coach. He ended the season 58-11 as a high school coach.

Along with a strong team of starters and key players off the bench,

“

These guys bought into it each and every day. The preparation, the long practices, the breakdown of the film. They bought in and they deserved the Overall championship.”

Coach Taylor believes the Raiders’ preparation and commitment led to a well-deserved payoff.

“These guys bought into it each and every day,” said Taylor, who was assisted by Danny Robertson and Andre Stringer. “The preparation, the long practices, the breakdown of the film. They bought in and they deserved the Overall championship.”

Kaylee Lowther

First in Mississippi to Win Gatorade Player of the Year as Volleyball Libero

The Gatorade Player of The Year Award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court. Since the program’s inception in 1985, Gatorade Player of the Year award recipients have won hundreds of

professional and college championships, and many have also turned into pillars in their communities, becoming coaches, business owners, and educators.

The Lady Raider volleyball program has boasted the top player in the state for five consecutive years.

Senior Kaylee Lowther was named the 2023-2024

Gatorade Mississippi Volleyball Player of the Year. This was the tenth time in the last 11 years a Jackson Academy athlete has received a Gatorade Mississippi Player of the Year distinction. Kaylee was also the first Libero to ever win the coveted award in the state of Mississippi.

The Lady Raiders have now received the Gatorade

State Award for volleyball six times. Last season, JA continued its dominant run in the MAIS and took home the fifth straight MAIS State Volleyball Championship as the team finished 35-13. JA has now won nine MAIS state titles since volleyball began at Jackson Academy in the 2011-2012 school year, including a five-year title run.

Volleyball Magazine recognized Kaylee as the Mississippi Player of the Year. Kaylee was named a 2023 MaxPreps Preseason 2nd Team All-American, 2023 MaxPreps Best Player in the state, 2023 SBLive Top Libero in the Nation, 2023 All-Star, AVCA Best and Brightest 1st Team, and 2023 and 2021 Under Armour Next Camp. She was also named the Scorebook Live National Libero of the Year, an American Volleyball Coaches Association 1st

Team All-American, and a MaxPreps 2nd Team All-American. Kaylee was one of 50 athletes from across the country to receive this AVCA AllAmerican title and the only Mississippian on the 1st team. Kaylee was one of 60 athletes from across the country to be named a 2nd Team MaxPreps AllAmerican. She was the only athlete from Mississippi to be named to that list. Considered among the top four defenders in the nation, Kaylee finished the 2023-2024 season with a new school season record as she logged 719 digs. She also recorded 86 aces, 122 assists, and 605 receptions. The MAIS Division I Player of the Year, she concluded her prep volleyball career with 1,642 digs.

In the classroom, she earned a spot on the JA Academy Honor Roll and Honor Roll multiple times and was the 2022 & 2023 AAU Academic AllAmerican. She continues her academic and athletic career in volleyball with the University of Southern Mississippi.

MAIS ATHLETIC STANDINGS

ACCENTS

2023 State Champions (Kick)

2024 State Champions (Kick & Pom)

BOYS BASKETBALL

2023 State Champions

2023 Overall State Champions

CHEER

2023 State Champions (Tumbling)

2024 State Runner Up (Tumbling)

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

2024 State Runner Up

GIRLS SOCCER

2023 State Champions

2024 State Runner Up

GIRLS TENNIS

2023 State Champions

GOLF

2023 State Champions

MASCOT

2023 State Champion

2024 State Champion

VOLLEYBALL

2023 State Champions

2024 State Runner Up

MLB Veteran Serves as Head Baseball Coach

Eleven-year Major League Baseball veteran Corey Dickerson joined Jackson Academy as its new head baseball coach. A dedicated leader on and off the field, Coach Dickerson is overseeing the development of JA’s baseball program with a passion for building athletes of character while guiding them to reach their peak potential.

In his time at Brookhaven Academy, he hit 45 home runs during his four years and even posted a single-season .591 batting average and 55 RBIs — shattering school records. The Colorado Rockies selected Dickerson in the eighth round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2013. Dickerson was elected an MLB All-Star in 2017 while with Tampa Bay. He won his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award as the Pittsburgh Pirates everyday left fielder in his first season. He ranked first among National League left fielders with a .996 fielding percentage. He also had two top ten finishes in National League batting average, and an impressive .280 career batting average. He finished with 1,028 hits, 136 home runs, and 469 RBIs in his career before hanging up the cleats as a member of the Washington Nationals in 2023. Coach Dickerson had both his high school (No. 3) and college (No. 23 - Meridian Community College) jerseys retired.

“Joy is only found through service to others,” said Dickerson. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to learn every child’s soul and be a part of their development. I hope to teach them the importance of details, hard work, empathy, and discernment, and I’m excited for our student-athletes at JA because of the staff that will surround them.”

The assistant coaches who round out the staff are Josh Rogers, Brian Pettway, AJ Downs, Justin Reed, Josh DeMoney, and Tanner Leggett.

“I am incredibly pleased with the vision and excitement that Coach Dickerson is bringing to the helm of JA’s baseball program and our school and community,” said Athletic Director Brandt Walker. “The coaches are all so excited to be a part of this – with his knowledge of the game and his excitement, they are ready to get the season started.”

Dickerson and his wife, Beth Ann, have three children, Davis (JA ’33), Miller (JA ’36), and Vivi (JA ’39).

Athletes Continue Academic and Athletic Careers in College

Jackson Academy held college signing events for eight Raiders and Lady Raiders who intend to continue their athletic careers. At signings, students were surrounded by teammates, coaches, family members, faculty, fellow students, and media as they signed for college scholarships.

The final signing of 2023-2024 put JA over the 200 mark for signings in JA’s history.

Ava Antonaros Volleyball Mississippi College

Colby Archie Football Dodge City Community College

Baker Ebner Lacrosse Thomas More University

Nicholas Harris Football Alabama State University

Lucy Lee Tennis

Sewanee - The University of the South

Kaylee Lowther Volleyball The University of Southern Mississippi

Abbi Mims Cheer Western Kentucky University

Kiandre Terry Football Arkansas State University

Getting Technical

Hinkle’s live event production experience benefits JA and its students

Five days a week, Josh Hinkle ’15 works as Associate Director of Operations and Technology at Jackson Academy. Many weekends, he catches a flight that takes him across the country to a sports event for an assignment as a freelance technical director.

He takes care of broadcast production details that few viewers think about

when they turn on their televisions to watch a game.

“As a technical director, I have the best view of the game,” he said. “I’m watching every angle of the game at all times.”

Hinkle works as a contract technical director, director, or engineer, depending upon the position needed,

“As as technical director, I have the best view of the game. I’m watching every angle of the game at all times.”

for several production companies that handle live event production for ESPN, NBC, and CBS.

Hinkle has traveled from California to Connecticut for broadcasts for college, professional, and even international sports. He has directed football, basketball, baseball, and lacrosse for ESPN, YES Network, NBC, and USA Network.

A 2015 graduate of JA, Hinkle’s production experience is broad. He and his brother, Matt, a 2003 graduate of JA (now chief of strategic operations and advancement at the Mississippi State Fire Academy), operated their own commercial and wedding video company for several years. Hinkle credits his dad, Mark Hinkle, a Sports Illustrated award-winning photographer who has shot many JA sports events, with assisting them.

At the University of Mississippi, Hinkle majored in integrated marketing communications and gained experience as an undergraduate by working with

Ole Miss Sports Productions and the SEC Network. He graduated in 2019.

The Raider Network, which streams athletics, theater productions, and school programs throughout the year, has benefited from Hinkle’s expertise.

Eddie Wettach, Associate Head of School For Operations at JA, said Hinkle’s knowledge and connections are well respected.

“Josh is one of the smartest people you will ever meet, but that quality is only to be surpassed by his character,” he said. “His connections to the college and professional sports broadcasting industry have been invaluable to Jackson Academy and the Raider Network.”

“I am always flattered when someone in the broadcast industry says, ‘That is a high school broadcast?’ The quality, level of detail, and professionalism that you see at home is in a large part to the backend engineering and overall vision of Josh.”

Hinkle freely shares his experience with JA students who assist with the Raider Network, which has its own broadcast truck equivalent to what some universities have.

Several JA graduates have used the skills they learned from working with the Raider Network at the collegiate level, he said.

For four years, Hinkle and Bryan Eubank, sports information director at JA, co-taught a sports broadcasting class at JA.

“Broadcasting teaches students what it’s like to have a job,” Hinkle said. “They learn communication skills that are necessary in life and to react quickly during stressful situations.”

Hinkle said he’s happy to be back at JA where his mother, Jane Hinkle, happens to be a first-grade teaching assistant.

“The biggest thing for me is the people I work with,” he said. “We have a great staff, and I get to do things I like.”

ANDREW RITTER’S JOURNEY: FOOTBALL, FAITH, & FAMILY

Andrew Ritter’s story is one of those that sticks with you. In 2009, he graduated from Jackson Academy after attending the school since pre-kindergarten. During high school, he was already making waves on the football field. His skills as a

kicker landed him a spot on the team at The University of Mississippi, where he played for four years, including a redshirt year.

In 2013, Ritter made one of the biggest plays of his life. With the score tied 24-24 with LSU–which happened

to be ranked sixth in the nation–Ritter was sent out to kick a field goal with two seconds left on the clock. As the fans of both teams collectively held their breath, Ritter made the field goal, securing the Rebels’ victory over the Tigers. This was a moment Ole Miss fans—and Ritter— won’t forget anytime soon.

But Ritter’s life isn’t all about football. In the spring of 2024, the now Oxford, Mississippi, resident spoke to the Young Business Leaders of Jackson at the Country Club of Jackson. This group brings people together who want to make a positive impact, using their faith as a guide. That’s precisely what Ritter talked about - how his faith helped him through the ups and downs of his football career and continues to be a guiding light in his life.

Ritter spoke to the young business leaders about how success is not just about achievements on the field but also off it. He shared personal stories on life, challenges, faith, and purpose.

TRUSTING

GOD’S TIMING

Practicing patience and maintaining peace during times of waiting are among his stories, he said in a later interview. “There have certainly been many moments that have challenged my faith,” he admitted. “Athletically, one thing that really sticks out to me is how long it took for me to earn the starting job as the placekicker at Ole Miss. I started at kick-offs my freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons while I was the backup placekicker.

My ultimate dream was to kick field goals, so I decided to sit out my true senior season and redshirt that year in order to have a chance to win the starting job as the placekicker for my fifth season. During that time, my faith played

a pivotal role in giving me patience and peace by understanding that God is ultimately in control and He has a plan for me. That hope allowed me to continue to fight for my dream while also trusting in the process.”

“

“My time at JA was an incredible blessing in my life. It was a nurturing environment where I was constantly encouraged, challenged, and surrounded by people who truly cared about helping me establish a solid foundation for my future.”

Celebrating in the Ole Miss locker room after Andrew’s game-winning field goal against LSU.

(Opposite page top, right)

John Scarbrough ’92, Bowen Thigpen ’11, Sarah Love Bickerstaff Crawford ’02, Nathan Best ’00, Andrew Ritter ’09, Will Mosby ’03, Hank Waterer ’09, Jonathan Hontzas ’09, Guy Boyll ’95, and Matthew Brown ’19. (Below from back, left) Carter Mathison, Andrew Ritter ’09, Jacob Scarbrough, (front, left)

Abbie Cox, Frances Bussey, Liles Williams ’24, Kayla Mosal, and Rebecca Fowler.

RECOGNIZING THE SOURCE OF SELF-WORTH

Adjusting from one phase of life to another is another of his stories. “Closing the door on my football career was harder than I ever anticipated,” Ritter said. “At the time, I was excited to move on and start my career. However, it didn’t take long at all to realize how much I actually missed playing the game and being around my teammates. It is impossible to replicate the feeling of competing at that level - the butterflies, the emotions, the highs and lows, etc. That being removed from my life was very challenging to accept. However, I eventually realized the real root of

that struggle was where I had been placing my identity. Whether I like to admit it or not, I had placed a lot of my identity and self-worth in my athletic career. Now that it was over, I was struggling spiritually. Through the encouragement from my wife and family, along with the mentorship and fellowship that I received from getting involved with YBL Jackson, I was finally

able to recognize that and begin to place my identity back in Jesus Christ. That was a game-changing moment for me as I then began to see my business career as my platform for the Gospel, and no longer a search for self-worth.”

While at Ole Miss, Ritter studied managerial finance and was involved in Campus Crusade for Christ, FCA, the Sigma

Chi fraternity, and the football team. His career as a student at Ole Miss ended when he graduated in 2014 with an MBA.

Ritter went on to work for Southern Ag Credit in Jackson for four years and then for Puckett Machinery in sales. In those roles, he gained valuable experience in both business and finance while working with people who positively impacted his life. Ritter currently serves as a Development Partner for The Blackburn Group, LLC, in Oxford, focusing on multifamily communities in different markets.

Ritter, his wife, Haleigh, and their children, Lilly Love and Walters, reside in Oxford and are active members of Oxford-University United Methodist Church. He

serves on the FCA Emerging Leaders Board at Ole Miss.

His journey from Jackson Academy to Ole Miss football to fatherhood and business proves that a life filled with purpose and heart defines true success.

“My time at JA was an incredible blessing in my life,” Ritter recalls. “It was a nurturing environment where I was constantly encouraged, challenged, and surrounded by people who truly cared about helping me establish a solid foundation for my future. Then, at Ole Miss and in my business career, God continued to put great people in my life who selflessly poured into me. My hope is that I can carry that forward and be that for others, just as so many teachers, coaches, mentors, family, and friends have been for me.”

Arts Arts Programming Expands Student Opportunities

JA believes in the power of visual, performing, and literary arts to unite the community. From K3 up, classes present annual programs on the Performing Arts Center stage, giving students learning experiences before live audiences. Optional performing opportunities, such as Beginner Band, start as early as fifth grade. Elective classes for theatre and music begin in sixth grade. Students can audition for a role in the fall musical starting in sixth grade. Visual arts begin from day one and continue through upper grades, where they become elective or Advanced Placement classes.

New efforts to integrate the arts across campus are underway. In a collaborative effort with Lower School Music Teacher Caroline Stewart, Upper School students offered theatre workshops in Lower School music, and Lower School students created drawings and stories that became characters in an Upper School performance. The arts are an integral part of the student experience at each stage of development at JA.

A Year in the Life of a Blackbox Theatre

Through participation in JA’s programs, students become familiar with an important space on campus—the intimate setting of Jackson Academy’s Blackbox Theatre. Each year, the Blackbox is completely transformed for the Upper School spring play in March and April. This past spring, students in the Middle School Musical Theatre elective performed “The Orphan Train Goes West” in this flexible space.

The proximity to the audience, a hallmark of a Blackbox Theatre, provides a distinct performance experience. JA’s Blackbox typically hosts performances for audiences of up to 100, while the Performing Arts Center auditorium can accommodate 800. The Blackbox creates important ways to experience theatre, for both students and audiences.

The Blackbox allows students to perform on a different stage each show. It is a flexible theatre space, which means the actors and audience can be anywhere! The main stage at

JA is a traditional proscenium stage, where there is an audience on only one side of the actors. In the Blackbox, JA offers students the opportunity to perform on a thrust stage (with the audience on three sides) as in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “They Promised Her the Moon,” an alley stage (audience on two sides) as in “Dilemmas With Dinner,” and even in the round (audience on all four sides) as in “As You Like It.”

Throughout the year, the Blackbox serves in the following ways:

] As an extension of the scene shop, as students and directors build sets and props for the fall musical, one-act, spring play, and show choir shows under the supervision of Production Manager Chris Lloyd.

] As a rehearsal space for the oneact and spring play.

] As a classroom space for Theatre I-III, Theatre Comp, and Middle School Musical Theatre.

] As a holding area for show choir sets from around the region as they wait to go onstage at JASI.

] A performance space for the Thespian Cabaret.

] A rehearsal and performance space for the Middle School Musical Theatre Elective class play.

] A rehearsal and gathering place for the Thespian 10-Minute Play Festival.

] A holding area for instruments and band students before and during concerts.

] A storage area for show choir sets and risers while other events are happening onstage.

] A rehearsal and performing space for dancers and substantial set pieces when JA welcomes Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet and other dance studios for their performances each year.

If you’ve yet to see a performance in the Blackbox, make it a priority this coming year. Walking through the black curtain and into the space, you’ll be amazed at what JA Theatre students can accomplish (on stage and off) in this flexible and multi-use space.

Students Build Friendships, Develop Vocal and Dance Skills

In show choirs, students participate in a lively mix of singing, dancing, and creative stage formations in a setting with exciting backdrops and colorful costumes. JA currently offers Middle School and Upper School show choirs that compete with other Mississippi groups and beyond. Over the years, participation at JA has grown, and the school now participates in the large group

division. For example, Showtime comprised 50 singer-dancers from sixth through eighth grade this past year. Besides those on stage, many students support the show by serving

as a stage crew, set crew, or stage band member. This allows students to participate in the arts, whether they want to be on stage or making things happen behind the scenes.

Choral Music Director Looks Forward to Continuing Tradition of Excellence

The JA Department of Performing Arts announced last spring that Jacob Butzin had been named the new Director of Choral Music. Butzin joined JA having previously served as the Director of Show Choirs at Brandon Middle School in Brandon, Mississippi. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Director of Ross

High School’s show choir, Legacy, in Ross, Ohio.

Butzin received his Bachelor of Music Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and during his tenure, received the Phyllis Poccia Music Scholarship for continued excellence in music. He is an active

member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA), and the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA).

He enjoys introducing students to a variety of clinicians and choreographers who will provide the necessary resources for them to excel and reach new heights on and off the stage.

Director of Performing Arts Honored for Contributions to Theatre

Students and faculty participants were thrilled when their director received the Outstanding Contributions to Theatre Award at the Mississippi Theatre Association Festival. Director of Performing Arts Kerri Sanders had been nominated by Gibson Cheney ’22, former JA Thespian President and STAR student.

“Mrs. Sanders has the innate ability to both create a spark of interest in a person for theatre and develop that spark into a roaring flame of passion for theatre,” Cheney wrote in his nomination letter. “When I think of people who truly exemplify what it means to contribute to theatre, the first name that comes to mind is that of Kerri Sanders.”

‘Anything Goes’

During the past several years, JA has enjoyed successes with shows such as “Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure,” “Newsies,” Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” and “West Side Story.” In October 2024, theatre students set sail on the S. S. American for a musical comedy adventure on the high seas. The production of “Anything Goes” challenged and thrilled the cast and crew from day one. The process began in the summer with the foundation of choreography and dialect work and continued into the school year with countless rehearsals onstage and numerous hours backstage. Students dedicated time honing tap skills, comedic timing, dialects, and pratfalls. The musical introduced students to stellar music and choreography, technical excellence of scenic elements, and nuanced acting techniques.

‘Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure’

“Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure” drew an audience of more than 1,800 over three nights in the fall of 2023. The professional-level performance delighted audiences and was made possible by the hard work of many individuals on stage and behind the scenes. Audiences witnessed Peter Pan and the Darling children flying across the stage with the flight crew’s assistance. They also saw elaborate sets and props including a vicious crocodile that swallowed Captain Hook, a larger-than-life dog house for the family pet, Nana, and the Lost Boys’ toadstool, which doubled as the hidden chimney to their hideout.

Theatre Students Retell Moliere’s ‘The Miser’

JA Theatre participated in two types of competitions at the Mississippi Theatre Association Festival: individual events and one-act play competitions. JA students won some of the top awards in both categories. Individual events included solo, duet, group musical and acting, design, and tech events. For the one-act, students performed “Skinflints and Scoundrels,” a hilarious retelling of Moliere’s “The Miser.” JA’s students earned the opportunity to take their one-act play to MTA by advancing from the regional DramaFest competition in December 2023. They then competed at the ThesCon Festival in Meridian in February 2024.

Performance Tells Story of Space Struggle

In April 2024, JA’s Theatre Department featured “They Promised Her the Moon,” a play about Jerrie Cobb, a pioneering pilot striving to become the first female astronaut. Cobb was part of the Mercury 13, a group of women who underwent testing to qualify for the astronaut program. Despite Cobb excelling in the tests, Congress voted to keep women out of space, preventing her from achieving her dream. JA’s Theatre Department regularly selects works that help students gain new insights into critical historical moments, cultural facts, or little-known stories.

Alumni Return to Lead Summer Theatre Camps

Jackson Academy welcomed former performing arts alumni who returned during June to lead Musical Theatre Summer Camps for rising K5-eighth graders. They taught music and choreography to Center Stage campers who completed their week performing “Willy Wonka Kids!” and to Lights Up campers who performed “Pajama Party” at the completion of their camp.

Reese Overstreet ’19 returned from New York to direct camps. Joining

Overstreet as camp counselors and instructors were recent JA graduates Houston Hearn ’23 and 2024 grads Thomas Earl, Alex Guild, Anna Payton Parker, and Danielle Wallace.

“The show was incredible! It is hard to believe those kids learned that much in just one week,” said Director of Admission Kayla Mosal, whose daughter participated in Center Stage

Visual and Literary Arts News

Students interested in literary pursuits have several options at JA to develop knowledge and skills in planning, writing for, editing, and managing publications. The JA

Chronicle is a studentproduced newspaper now published online. Students use the design platform Canva to publish each issue. The school annual, “Reflections,” provides students an experience working under deadlines while producing a large publication. This past year, annual staff students had the opportunity to participate in a photography workshop with the JA Department of Marketing and Communication and professional

Camp. “The vocals, choreography, acting, lighting, and everything were superb. Thank you for putting on a professional show and representing JA so well. The staff you put together for the week was perfect as well. How thrilling for our students to have actress and alumna Reese Overstreet join JA’s professional staff Kerri Sanders and Emily Green in directing our theatre camps!”

photographer Mark Hinkle. JA students also produce a literary magazine called “Images.” The beautifully produced publication features student writing, photography, and visual art.

Congratulations to Upper School art and writing students for their winning works at the 2024 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. This statewide competition judged more than 1,330 submissions from more than 500

students. JA boasted two Gold Key winners, four Silver Key winners (one with three pieces), and nine Honorable Mention winners. In Scholastic

Writing, JA earned an Honorable Mention in the flash fiction category.

Each year, the artwork of Lower School students,

one from each grade, is selected to be displayed in the Mary Sprayberry Lower School Art Gallery. Mrs. Sprayberry was the elementary art teacher at JA for 17 years. The honor goes to students who demonstrate creative, artistic talent, and a Christian spirit of encouragement and kindness as exemplified by Mrs. Sprayberry.

Eleven Advanced Placement art students developed portfolios made up of twelve original pieces of their work. The AP Artwork was displayed in the lobby of the PAC

so that fellow students, faculty, and visitors could enjoy the creativity and artistic skills in their artworks. Students in AP Art also collaborated with art students from Jackson Prep to practice presenting their work to one another and accepting critiques of their work.

In June, JA learned that alumna Annalee LeDuff, ’22 had won an art competition with Miss Vickie’s chips. Her artwork was on a billboard in Los Angeles and features clever chip references throughout. LeDuff is an art major at Samford University.

The 2023-2024 Mary Sprayberry Lower School Art Gallery honorees were (from left) 1st Grade - Lee Monsour, 2nd Grade - Annabel Pinnen, 3rd Grade - Chloe Odom, 4th Grade - Emelie Duncombe, 5th Grade - Grayson Barnard

3D Virtuoso

Taylor Hits the High Notes with Custom Instrument Mouthpieces

Not so long ago, the concept of 3D printing sounded like a notion taken straight from the pages of a science fiction novel. While the technology has been around since the early 1980s, early 3D printers were utilized mainly for industrial purposes because they were costly and challenging to operate. The market for consumer 3D printers began to pick up steam in the 2010s as affordable, user-friendly machines became available. Today, home

inventors and hobbyists are using 3D printers in a variety of ways to make everything from toys to tools, food, and even band instruments.

Yes, band instruments. Titus Taylor ’24 comes from a musical family. He was a trumpet player for the JA band where his father, Todd, is the band director. The talented musician was also selected to travel to Australia with the Lions Band International. Outside of music, Titus’s interests include 3D modeling, design, and 3D printing.

Arts

He purchased his first 3D printer, a Creality Ender-3 Pro, in January 2021 with leftover Christmas money. He started off making fun items, such as toys, from designs he found online.

“Eventually, I found a [instrument] mouthpiece that someone else had designed, and it wasn’t great,” he explains. “At that point, I started learning how to 3D model so that I could make a better one.”

As an experienced trumpet player, Titus possesses invaluable knowledge of the instrument. He soon discovered small mistakes in many of the online plans in relation to the scale and proportion of the mouthpieces. For example, the shank, the part of the mouthpiece that fits into the horn, has to be extremely precise to ensure the airflow from the player flows through the horn in an exact way. Several models Titus found online weren’t precise enough. He also felt the measurements for the cup and the rim of the mouthpiece produced an end product that was not comfortable to the player and did not produce a good sound.

“Being able to test mouthpieces myself meant that I could really trial and error my way into making a precise shank. It wasn’t just a matter of accurate measurements, since the plastic I use tends to expand a little in the printing process, but I had to find out what tolerances allowed for a perfect final product,” Titus says. “I specifically modeled mouthpieces using measurements from metal mouthpieces I had and felt comfortable using. That way I could combine aspects of different ones I liked, while still maintaining a realistic set of parameters.”

Titus’s printer uses a process known as fused deposition modeling, or FDM, to build objects layer by layer from a spool of thermoplastic filament. Once a design file is loaded into the machine and the physical dimensions are calculated, the filament is heated to 210 degrees Celsius, or about 410 degrees Fahrenheit, and fed through a nozzle onto a platform to build the completed part. From start to finish, Titus can usually create a new mouthpiece within 45 minutes.

Titus initially focused on brass instrument mouthpieces. After friends and fellow bandmates discovered he could make mouthpieces in fun colors, his creations gained in popularity and he expanded into other instruments. With the exception of wooden reeds needed for wind instruments such as clarinet, saxophone, oboe, or bassoon, Titus says he can create a mouthpiece for just about any band instrument. However, Titus admits the sound of the 3D printed mouthpiece does differ slightly from a traditional metal mouthpiece.

“Acoustically they do vibrate at different frequencies and there are always some limitations to my machine specifically,” he says. “I wouldn’t use the mouthpieces for anything that requires my peak performance. But they are nice if I have a gig outside, like a football game, when the temperature is low and that metal mouthpiece kind of stings.”

Even Titus’s father, Todd, has found practical uses for his son’s

creations, specifically when introducing upcoming fifth graders to the band program.

“The mouthpieces are brilliant when I bring in a class of fifth graders. I have a mouthpiece for every one of them to try at the same time, as opposed to letting a student try one and disinfecting it before letting another student try it. Now I have a classroom’s worth of different mouthpieces for all of them,” says Todd.

As he gained more knowledge of the printer’s capabilities, Titus started experimenting with different materials such as resin, which allowed him to create objects with finer detail and more durability. Titus has since gone beyond mouthpieces to constructing entire 3D-printed instruments. While his dad jokes the instruments sound “dreadful,” the project did give

Titus the knowledge of how certain instruments are constructed and how all the parts and pieces work together to make a specific sound.

“All the kids bring their instruments to him when they’re not working because he now understands how the valves and the pads and the fingers work. He’s now my instrument repair guy, too,” Todd adds.

Even though Titus’s printer began as a fun hobby, it has helped him develop creative, technical, and critical thinking skills that will serve him well as he transitions into the next phase of his life. The National Merit Semifinalist now attends the University of Alabama and is studying engineering. As we continue to witness the ingenuity of young minds like Titus’s, it becomes increasingly evident that the possibilities for exploration and discovery with 3D printing are truly limitless.

In the Land Down Under

Each year, JA band members audition to represent their state and school in the Mississippi Lions All-State Band, which travels internationally each summer for competition. Titus Taylor joined musicians from across Mississippi in Australia in 2024. Titus earned eighth chair on the trumpet, which also qualified him to participate in the State Honor Band.

Students in Action

Service With Purpose

Each year, Jackson Academy students of all ages take part in service opportunities, not out of obligation or for school credit, but because serving others is at the core of the JA mission. Student-led and school-initiated programs include fundraising for local and national organizations, leadership for special observances, and multi-grade student collaborations focused on meeting direct needs in the community.

Students Value Giving Opportunities

JA participates in school-wide food drives for organizations such as We Will Go Ministries and Stewpot Community Services. We Will Go Ministries’ efforts focus on education, essential food, and engaging others while Stewpot provides compassionate assistance to people in need of physical and spiritual nourishment.

Students say they look forward to opportunities to serve in this way. “It is meaningful for me to volunteer in a program like this because it is a great way to show kindness and the love of Jesus to others,” said ninth grader Drew Hederman about We Will Go Ministries. “I love how JA provides these opportunities for students.”

No-Shave November for a Cause

Upper School males grow out their facial hair in November to bring attention to a cause. In 2023-2024, students raised money for No-Shave.org, a nationwide organization supporting men’s health research (pictured right). In 2024-2025, students supported the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation (TCAF) through an initiative of Dr. Clark Gamblin ’87, Professor of Surgery and the Vice-Chair for Clinical Operations at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Gamblin is part of an international team of 60 runners who will complete marathons in Antarctica, South Africa, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, Brazil, and the United States. Through the marathons, Gamblin aims to raise $250,000.

Service Fair Helps Students Lead Lives of Purpose and Significance

Part of JA’s mission statement is to inspire and equip each student to lead a life of purpose and significance. The Service Fair provides opportunities for students to volunteer in their community and lend a hand to others. Students gather in the PAC lobby every year to sign up for volunteer opportunities throughout the community.

Service Club Collects Items for Nursing Home Residents

The Mississippi Health Care Foundation helps bridge the gap between the quality of care provided in nursing home facilities and those special emotional and physical needs not covered by insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or even family members. The Jackson Academy Service

Club collected items for the MHCA Foundation. In their sophomore year, Crystal Gao and Morgan Cheatham took the lead with this special project. Items collected, such as crossword puzzle books, adult coloring books, and colored pencils, went to residents who receive few visits, if any.

Student Councils Join Together to Pack Boxes

In November, Middle School and Upper School Student Councils sponsor the collection of boxes together for Operation Christmas Child. Necessities and gifts are packaged into decorative gift boxes and shipped to children in more than 170 countries by the nonprofit organization, Samaritan’s Purse.

Alpha and Omega Service Project

Alpha and Omega Buddies spend one of their meetings working on a service project. In 2023-2024, students sent care packages to JA alumni who were deployed overseas. Senior CJ Banks was surprised when he found out Alpha and Omega members were sending care packages to his brother, JJ Banks ’21. Students wrote encouraging notes and drew heartfelt drawings to send. In 2024-2025, buddies created artistic cards to honor past and present veterans who are related to faculty and staff.

Black History Month Chapel

Students and faculty gathered together for JA’s annual studentplanned Black History Month Chapel, where they heard readings and music prepared by JA students. Students were inspired by the words of alumna Dr. Brett Ball ’11, who helped initiate the plans for Black History Month Chapel during her time as a junior at JA. She spoke about her faith in Jesus Christ and the call, the cost, and the reward of living out a dream. Ball found much success on the basketball court, helping the Lady Raiders win back-to-back state championships, receiving all-tournament and all-star selections, among other accolades.

Ducks Unlimited Club Ranked at Top

For the fourth consecutive year, the JA Ducks Unlimited Varsity Chapter has earned elite status among high school chapters from across the nation. Earning the top spot and the coveted Duck Bowl trophy for Mississippi the past three years, the JA chapter ranked No. 1 in the nation for 2024! Breaking the previous year’s JA chapter record, the group increased its fundraising total 15 percent over the previous year to raise an impressive $57,438.00. All of JA’s past chairman along with incoming chairs attended the DU State Convention in Starkville in

Ball said that while a junior at JA, God placed the seed of the first black history program on her heart. Ball was shaped by the foundation of discipline in academics and basketball that she learned at JA. “A disciplined person can do anything,” she recalls hearing from Head Varsity Girls

Basketball Coach Jan Sojourner. “You can take principles you learned at JA and apply them to life.” At the core of Ball’s journey is faith in Jesus Christ, resilience, perseverance, and gratitude. She believes education and sports are pathways to strengthening and living out her faith.

Black History Month Art Competition

Middle and Upper School students submit artwork each year for the Black History Month Art Competition to the Upper School Art teachers. The artwork is displayed in the PAC Gallery. In 2024, Faith Wicks won first place, and Mya Coins ’24 won second place in the competition.

August to accept the national honor. The chapter wishes to thank all of those who have led the group in achieving this impressive ranking

and to thank Newell Eatherly ’24 for his outstanding leadership in fundraising and conservation efforts for Ducks Unlimited this past year.

Scholars

Cum Laude Society

Seventeen Jackson Academy students crossed the Performing Arts Center stage to receive the Cum Laude Society pin, indicating superior academic achievement: (from back, left) Abbi Mims, Caroline Champagne, Miller Usry, Tack Mahaffey, Zyon McDowell, Ben Watson, Parker Halford, Virginia Browning, Sydney Thaxton, (front, left) Alex Guild, Sophie Henderson, Aniya Bradley, Sarah Breyden Moulder, Anna Margaret Hooker, Julia Berman, Kate Frost, and Danielle Wallace. They joined previous student and faculty Cum Laude inductees of JA’s chapter, one of only four Cum Laude charters granted in Mississippi.

National Merit Recognition

The status of National Merit Finalist is reached only by the top 0.5 percent of all high school juniors taking the PSAT test. Jackson Academy is proud to acknowledge Richard “Red” Deaton, Noah Pressler, Gautam Ray, and Titus Taylor as National Merit Finalists. All are accomplished musicians, with three having served in the Jackson Academy band and one a classical pianist. Three were JA Lifers, attending JA since kindergarten. All were engaged at JA in challenging academic pursuits and extracurricular activities on and off campus, such as Quiz bowl, science and math competitions, show choir, musicals, 3D modeling and design, student government, and Ultimate Frisbee.

National Honor Society

Sophomores inducted into the National Honor Society in 2024 at Jackson Academy were (from back, left) Rebekah Brooke Benson, Cayden Shorter, Abhi Sharma, Shelby Grant, Breck Hines, Natalia Elmore, (front, left) Crystal Gao, Mary Lamar Chustz, Sara Kate Long, Sadie Sandifer, Olivia Price, Sanders Reeves, and Morgan Cheatham. Not Pictured: Ava Barbour, Natalie Roberson, and Sadie Williamson

Juniors inducted into the National Honor Society at Jackson Academy were (from back, left) Micah Wallace, Olyvia Thornton, Cameron Reese Benton, Mamie Barton, James Chapman, (front, left) Faith Wicks, Ellen Morgan, Bella Palomo, Morgan Pollack, and Aniyah Brown. Not Pictured: Caroline Bush, Schyler Chambers, Alex Davis, and Caroline Johnston

Seniors inducted into the National Honor Society at Jackson Academy were (from back, left) Turner Denton, Fisher Waldrop, Rett Stringer, (front, left) Liyah Wilson, Kaylee Lowther, Mary Hampton Walker, and Mae Mathison. Not Pictured: Lindsey Johnson

SOPHOMORES

JUNIORS

SENIORS

National Junior Honor Society

Jackson Academy seventh and eighth graders who were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society were (from back, left) Preston Gough, Perry Allen, Sam Melichar, Laurence Asher, Alexander Weems, Drew Edwards, Daulton Lynskey, Joseph New, Alex Rosamond, AJ Duncombe, (middle, left) Ann Marie Penick, Lillian Griner, Chamari Johnson, Carson Lester, Sue Berman, Emma Pollack, Stella Blair Sims, (front, left) Selah Jones, Jane Helen Jones, Betsy Beard, Brennan Maley, Ella Williams, Sawyer Simpson, and Pettey Sandifer.

Hall of Fame

Jackson Academy welcomed eleven seniors into the school’s 2024 Hall of Fame: (from back, left) Noah Pressler, Titus Taylor, Red Deaton, Gautam Ray, Ben Watson, Zyon McDowell (front, left) Sydney Thaxton, Mallory Brooks, Liles Williams, Alex Guild, and Danielle Wallace. Selection is based upon leadership, versatility in activities, service to JA, scholastic achievement, and an exemplary standard of integrity in all areas of school.

Star Students

The Mississippi Economic Council M.B. Swayze Foundation selected Jackson Academy seniors Noah Pressler and Gautam Ray as STAR Students for the 2023-24 school year. The foundation selects STAR Students based on academic excellence, factoring in standardized test scores and scholastic averages.

Each STAR Student is asked to designate a STAR Teacher who has significantly contributed to the student’s academic achievement. The JA seniors selected teachers Jacob Sullivan and Richard West as STAR Teachers.

Co-Valedictorians

Mallory Brooks of Jackson, daughter of Marie and Josh Brooks, and Gautam Ray of Brandon, son of Anandhi and Paresh Ray, were the Class of 2024 co-valedictorians. With impressive, identical scores from their body of work throughout their high school careers, Mallory and Gautam each received the honor of addressing the senior class at graduation. These students have excelled academically throughout the four years of Upper School and have outstanding community service and campus involvement resumes.

Scholars 2023-2024

29+ ACT

In the 2023-2024 academic school year, 77 Jackson Academy Upper School students achieved a score of 29 or above on the ACT. As a college preparatory school, JA proudly celebrates students’ pursuit of academic excellence and congratulates each of the following students on their accomplishments.

Anna Adkins Vivian Baker Bo Barbour Anna Catherine Bennett Julia Berman Thomas Blanks Ella Boykin

Aniyah Bradley Darby Brewer Mallory Brooks

Virginia Browning Trevor Bryson Sherrod Cauthen Caroline Champagne James Chapman Morgan Cheatham Mya Coins Stanton Cole Fagan Daniel Alex Davis

Kendell Davis Red Deaton Turner Denton Weathersby Dinkins Newell Eatherly Meghan Ellis Natalia Elmore Bryan Eubank Caroline Flechas Kate Frost

Crystal Gao Madelyn Griffith Morris Griner Alex Guild Parker Halford McNeil Haraway Jack Harrison Sophie Henderson Breck Hines Anna Margaret Hooker

Addison Jeffcoat Caroline Johnston Ben Jones Lucy Lee Ellie Lohmeier Tack Mahaffey Zyon McDowell Abbi Mims Molly Marie Moody Sarah Breyden Moulder

Henley Nance Elizabeth Nichols Bella Palomo Anna Payton Parker Julia Parker Rob Penick Morgan Pollock Noah Pressler Gautam Ray Madilyn Ray

Sanders Reeves Natalie Roberson Logan Rohman Brennon Shorter Cayden Shorter Olivia Smith Vivien Stevens Richard Sumrall Titus Taylor Sydney Thaxton

Willis Thigpen John Travelstead Miller Usry Fisher Waldrop Danielle Wallace Ben Watson Blair Wilson 62 TRUE BLUE

Teachers of the Year

Jackson Academy acknowledges and honors its Teachers of the Year every spring. The recognition was particularly noteworthy in 2023-2024 as it fell during National Teacher Appreciation Week. During the final chapel of the year, administrators called four teachers to the PAC stage where they formally expressed gratitude for the teachers’ dedicated service to the school. Faculty members vote for Teachers of the Year from among their peers by division.

Dee Ball

AP US Government and AP History Teacher | 35 Years of Service

Upper School Teacher of the Year Dee Ball has a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in teaching, with an emphasis on teaching history. She loves the ability to build strong relationships with students, teachers, and administration at JA. Having taught for 35 years at JA, Ball enjoys watching students become community leaders who know and appreciate our cultural, historical, and political heritage. She spends her free time outside working in her garden as well as taking care of hummingbirds and bluebirds.

Sarah Clark ’00

Eighth Grade History Teacher | 11 Years of Service

Middle School Teacher of the Year Sarah Clark has a bachelor’s of arts degree in history from Wheaton College and a master’s of social science and secondary education from Mississippi College. Clark is a 2000 graduate of JA. She has been teaching at JA for 11 years and was influenced greatly by the JA teachers who also taught her. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and being outside.

Jamie Wright

Second Grade Teacher | 22 Years of Service

Lower School Teacher of the Year Jamie Wright has a bachelor’s of science degree in elementary education with a minor in music from Belhaven University. She loves teaching because she gets to see children as they learn and develop into what God intended them to be. She loves spending time with her six grandchildren and cooking for her family. Wright retired at the end of the 2023-2024 school year after completing 22 years of service to JA.

Courtney Bush ’94

K4 Teacher | 8 Years of Service

Preschool Teacher of the Year Courtney Bush has a bachelor’s of science degree in communication disorders from Auburn University. She has been teaching for 20 years and has fallen in love with the occupation. Bush, a 1994 JA graduate, calls the JA Preschool the “happiest place on campus.” She loves seeing the children’s joy of learning and the discoveries they make each day.

JACKSON ACADEMY CLASS of 2024

Joneá Amelia Alexis Carter Caroline Elise Champagne

Thomas Bradford Childress Jr.

Gery Samuel Chustz

Mya Janay Coins Isabella Louise Conn Fagan Marsh Daniel

Meghan Leigh Ellis Stephen Bryan Eubank Jr. Susanna Rose Everett

Abby Elizabeth Fielder

Kate Wesley Frost

James Hiser Funderburg II

Isabella Grace Gates

Frances Elizabeth Hawkins Reese Belle Hill Foster McCall Hodges

Alexander Thomas Holmes Anna Margaret Hooker

Lindsey Michelle Johnson

Genevieve Ruth Kelley

John Fuller Mahaffey

Samuel Harper Mars

Alyssa Diane Martin

Caroline Mae Mathison

Kellen Ray Maurer Jr.

Alphonso Zyon McDowell

Sophie Louise McIntire

Madilyn Lane Ray Sarah Brooke Roberson

Samantha Audrey Roberts Brister Wood Robertson Matthew Thompson Ryan Enisha Shakayra Shelton

Robert Lowe Sims

Sydney Elizabeth Thaxton Julian Alexander Danielle Turner Morgan Paige Turner

Fisher Wells Waldrop

Bailey Jackson Walker Marion Anthony Walker Jr.

Mary Hampton Walker

Qasim Maridjata Abdul-Tawwab

Avamarie Maeann Antonaros

Colby Hayden Archie

Daniel Tate Averett

Charles Aitken Baker

Vivian Claire Baker

Clifton Jorrell Banks

Austin Fowlkes Barbour Jr. Owen Allen Bates

Darbie Lynn Brewer Mallory Lind Brooks

Joshua Xavion Brown

Virginia Hollon Browning

Trevor Joel Bryson

Richard Eugene Deaton Jr.

Turner Burns Denton

Thomas Mallory Earl

Thomas Newell Eatherly

Conrad Baker Ebner Jr.

Kendall Lynn Edmonson

Zachary Bray Elinski

Robert Michael Greenlee Stephen Maddox Greer

Harper Claire Griffin

Madelyn Nicole Griffith

Alexandra Rebecca Guild Raygaen Jewe’l Hall

Nicholas Austin Harris

Avery Ellyssa Kobs

Lucy Kate Lee

Jada Danielle Lester Landry Elizabeth Lester

Kaylee Virginia Lowther

Anna Kathryn Lucas

James Tackett Mahaffey

Meredith Reese McMichael Abbi Lauren Mims

A’miracle Sunyé Owens Anna Payton Parker Julia Lynn Parker

Noah Robert Pressler

Gautam Ray

Olivia Claire Smith Arthur Dennis Spratlin III

Vivien Rose Stevens Everett Sims Stringer

Addison Love Tatum

Titus Landon Taylor Kiandré Darrell Terry

Danielle Grace Wallace Benjamin McRae Watson Jr.

Elizabeth Liles Williams Maurice Raphael Williams Jr.

Blair Scott Wilson

Farrah Bayleigh Wilson Liyah Mornae Wilson

College Choices

Qasim Maridjata Abdul-Tawwab

Tougaloo College

Avamarie Maeann Antonaros

Mississippi College

Colby Hayden Archie

D odge City Community College

Daniel Tate Averett

University of Mississippi

Charles Aitken Baker

University of Mississippi

Vivian Claire Baker

University of Mississippi

Clifton Jorrell Banks

Mississippi State University

Austin Fowlkes Barbour Jr.

University of Mississippi

Owen Allen Bates

Samford University

Darbie Lynn Brewer

Ballet Magnificat Trainee Program

Mallory Lind Brooks

Mississippi College

Joshua Xavion Brown

University of Mississippi

Virginia Hollon Browning

University of Mississippi

Trevor Joel Bryson

University of Mississippi

Joneá Amelia Alexis Carter

University of Mississippi

Caroline Elise Champagne

L ouisiana State University

Thomas Bradford Childress Jr.

University of Mississippi

Gery Samuel Chustz

University of Mississippi

Mya Janay Coins

Mississippi State University

Isabella Louise Conn

University of Mississippi

Fagan Marsh Daniel

University of Mississippi

Richard Eugene Deaton Jr.

University of Alabama

Turner Burns Denton

University of Mississippi

Thomas Mallory Earl

University of Mississippi

Thomas Newell Eatherly

University of Mississippi

Conrad Baker Ebner Jr.

Thomas More University

Kendall Lynn Edmonson

Mississippi State University

Zachary Bray Elinski

Holmes Community College

Meghan Leigh Ellis

University of Mississippi

Stephen Bryan Eubank Jr.

University of Mississippi

Susanna Rose Everett

University of Mississippi

Abby Elizabeth Fielder

Mississippi State University

Kate Wesley Frost

University of Mississippi

James Hiser Funderburg II

Mississippi State University

Isabella Grace Gates

Tuskegee University

Robert Michael Greenlee

University of Mississippi

Stephen Maddox Greer

University of Mississippi

Harper Claire Griffin

University of Mississippi

Madelyn Nicole Griffith

Tougaloo College

Alexandra Rebecca Guild

University of Alabama

Raygaen Jewe’l Hall

University of Southern Mississippi

Nicholas Austin Harris

Alabama State University

Frances Elizabeth Hawkins

University of Mississippi

Reese Belle Hill

Mississippi College

Foster McCall Hodges

University of Mississippi

Alexander Thomas Holmes

University of Mississippi

Anna Margaret Hooker

University of Mississippi

Lindsey Michelle Johnson

University of Mississippi

Genevieve Ruth Kelley

University of Arkansas

Avery Ellyssa Kobs

University of Mississippi

Lucy Kate Lee

Sewanee: The University of the South

Jada Danielle Lester

Hinds Community College

Landry Elizabeth Lester

Mississippi State University

Kaylee Virginia Lowther

University of Southern Mississippi

Anna Kathryn Lucas

University of Mississippi

James Tackett Mahaffey

University of Mississippi

John Fuller Mahaffey

University of Mississippi

Samuel Harper Mars

Mississippi State University

Alyssa Diane Martin

Hampton University

Caroline Mae Mathison

University of Mississippi

Kellen Ray Maurer Jr.

Holmes Community College

Alphonso Zyon McDowell

University of Mississippi

Sophie Louise McIntire

University of Mississippi

Meredith Reese McMichael

University of Mississippi

Abbi Lauren Mims

Western Kentucky University

A’miracle Sunyé Owens

University of Southern Mississippi

Anna Payton Parker

Mississippi State University

Julia Lynn Parker

Mississippi State University

Noah Robert Pressler

University of Alabama

Gautam Ray

C olumbia University

Madilyn Lane Ray

Mississippi State University

Sarah Brooke Roberson

Mississippi State University

Samantha Audrey Roberts

Savannah College of Art and Design

Brister Wood Robertson

Mississippi State University

Matthew Thompson Ryan

Mississippi State University

Enisha Shakayra Shelton

University of Southern Mississippi

Robert Lowe Sims

University of Mississippi

Olivia Claire Smith

University of Mississippi

Arthur Dennis Spratlin III

Millsaps College

Vivien Rose Stevens

University of Alabama

Everett Sims Stringer

Mississippi State University

Addison Love Tatum

University of Mississippi

Titus Landon Taylor

University of Alabama

Kiandré Darrell Terry

Arkansas State University

Sydney Elizabeth Thaxton

Mississippi College

Julian Alexander Danielle Turner

P earl River Community College

Morgan Paige Turner

University of Mississippi

Fisher Wells Waldrop

University of Mississippi

Bailey Jackson Walker

The Citadel

Marion Anthony Walker Jr.

Mississippi State University

Mary Hampton Walker

University of Mississippi

Danielle Grace Wallace

University of Mississippi

Benjamin McRae Watson Jr.

University of Mississippi

Elizabeth Liles Williams

Mississippi State University

Maurice Raphael Williams Jr.

Jackson State University

Blair Scott Wilson

Mississippi State University

Farrah Bayleigh Wilson

Mississippi State University

Liyah Mornae Wilson

Mississippi College

Academic Signing Days

Jackson Academy proudly hosts Academic Signing Days in recognition of seniors who have earned scholarships to colleges and universities near and far. During the spring of 2024, Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi hosted individual signing events, and students attending other Mississippi schools or studying out-of-state were recognized at a third event.

Mississippi State University

Jackson Academy was honored to welcome Mississippi State University President Dr. Mark Keenum to campus for the school’s 2024 MSU Academic Signing Day. Thirteen members of the Class of 2024 were presented with awards by Dr. Keenum.

The University of Mississippi

Jackson Academy was honored to welcome The University of Mississippi Chancellor Dr. Glenn Boyce to campus for the school’s 2024 Ole Miss Academic Signing Day. Thirty-six members of the Class of 2024 were presented with awards by Dr. Boyce.

Other Mississippi and Out-of-State Schools

JA welcomed to campus Mississippi House District 64 Representative Shanda Yates (I – Jackson) who spoke to students who were accepting scholarships from various colleges and universities throughout the United States. Thirty-three members of the Class of 2024 were presented with scholarship awards at this annual Academic Signing Day.

Lifers

Enrolled from kindergarten to graduation, Jackson Academy’s “Lifers” forge a singular bond with the school. Throughout their formative years, marked by profound social, psychological, and academic development, they return to a constant: a familiar campus and a nurturing community. This fosters a sense of continuity and security as they change and grow into young men and women.

DANIEL TATE AVERETT

CHARLES AITKEN BAKER

VIVIAN CLAIRE BAKER

VIRGINIA HOLLON BROWNING

THOMAS BRADFORD CHILDRESS JR.

RICHARD EUGENE DEATON JR.

KENDALL LYNN EDMONSON

STEPHEN BRYAN EUBANK JR.

ABBY ELIZABETH FIELDER

KATE WESLEY FROST

ROBERT MICHAEL GREENLEE

STEPHEN MADDOX GREER

HARPER CLAIRE GRIFFIN

ALEXANDRA REBECCA GUILD

ALEXANDER THOMAS HOLMES

ANNA MARGARET HOOKER

AVERY ELLYSSA KOBS

ANNA KATHRYN LUCAS

JAMES TACKETT MAHAFFEY

JOHN FULLER MAHAFFEY

CAROLINE MAE MATHISON

MEREDITH REESE MCMICHAEL

ABBI LAUREN MIMS

A’MIRACLE SUNYÉ OWENS

ANNA PAYTON PARKER

NOAH ROBERT PRESSLER

GAUTAM RAY

MADILYN LANE RAY

ROBERT LOWE SIMS

ARTHUR DENNIS SPRATLIN III

EVERETT SIMS STRINGER

MORGAN PAIGE TURNER

MARY HAMPTON WALKER

BENJAMIN MCRAE WATSON JR.

ELIZABETH LILES WILLIAMS

FARRAH BAYLEIGH WILSON

LIYAH MORNAE WILSON

Scholarships

Endowed scholarships are awarded to current JA students who meet the criteria set by the donor. Criteria may include citizenship, scholarship, extracurricular activities, or other characteristics. Students use the scholarship for the following school year at JA or in college, depending upon the scholarship type. Recipients attend a luncheon where they meet the donors who funded their scholarship. JA is grateful to all the donors who have made endowed scholarships possible.

The 20th Century Endowed Scholarship

Sara Kate Long

The Harmon and Faye Bowman Memorial Scholarship

Miller Usry and Ellen Morgan

The Scott Branning Scholarship Richard Sumrall

The Herschel Brickell Family Endowed Scholarship Walter Towery

The Glenn Cain Scholarship Sarah Yung, Julia Berman, and Natalie Roberson

The Julie Dyer Collins Leadership Award Parker Halford

The Andrew Yoste Defore Scholarship Carson Caraway

The Frances Anne Fortner Memorial Scholarship Henley Nance

The Jane Gibbons Scholarship Harper Cooley

The Higgins Family Scholarship Elizabeth Peters

The Hallie Houston Keyes Scholarship Anna Adkins

The Mary Sprayberry Memorial Art Scholarship Faith Wicks

The Leigh Anne Ward Memorial Scholarship Garrett Maloney and Chamari Johnson

Legacy Loyal

Seventeen members of the Class of 2024 followed in the footsteps of parents who went before them to graduate from Jackson Academy. Thank you to these families for their legacy of loyalty to JA. We are thankful for the opportunity to continue serving your families throughout generations of growth, change, and cherished traditions.

BRYAN EUBANK, JR. ’24 and mother Cynthia Eubank ’92

KATE FROST ’24 and parents

Candace ’94 and Cable ’93 Frost

MICHAEL ELINSKI ’24 and mother Lee Ann Elinski ’88

LILES WILLIAMS ’24 and mother Mary Carolyn Williams ’90

LOWE SIMS ’24 and mother Misti Sims ’92

MAE MATHISON ’24 and father Chris Mathison ’93

RETT STRINGER ’24 and mother Katie Bourne ’90

KENDALL EDMONSON ’24 and father McKie Edmonson ’94

ANNA PAYTON ’24 and mother Laurie Parker ’97

ABBI MIMS ’24 and mother Michelle Mims ’89

LANDRY LESTER ’24 and father Reid Lester ’94

CHARLES BAKER ’24 and VIVIAN BAKER ’24 and father Brian Baker ’87

ELIZA HAWKINS ’24 and parents

Kerri ’89 and Rusty ’89 Hawkins

MADDOX GREER ’24 and parents

Emily Greer ’96 and Stephen Greer ’95

ALEX GUILD ’24 and parents Suzanne ’92 and Cameron ’92 Guild

TACK MAHAFFEY ’24 and FULLER MAHAFFEY ’24 and mother Cynthia Mahaffey ’89

SAMUEL CHUSTZ ’24 and father Jamie Chustz ’92

Children’s Promise Act

Over the last four years we have raised $1,174,00 for the JA Annual Fund from local businesses who utilized the Children’s Promise Act passed by the Mississippi Legislature in 2019. To receive tax credits, applications must be completed and filed with the Mississippi Department of Revenue on January 2, 2025, and time stamped prior to the maximum annual cap being reached. For more information, contact Jim Wilkirson, Chief Advancement Officer at jwilkirson@jacksonacademy.org

JA Annual Fund

Donors 2023-2024

Cornerstone Circle 25,000+

Anonymous*

Ergon Foundation, Inc.

Lyn ’98 and Breck ’97 Hines*

Jackson Academy Association

Geri Beth and Allen Smith

Speciality Metals Supply*

Benefactor Circle $10,000+

Drs. Allison and Austin ’99 Barrett

Delta Industries*

Jennifer and Mckie ’94 Edmonson

Sharon Martin and Bobby Graham

Mid State Construction*

Jackson Academy Booster Club

Frieda and Joe Lauderdale

Vicksburg Forest Products, LLC*

Rebecca and Robert Watson

Ashley ’87 and Mark Willson

Honor Circle $5,000+

Linda and Gene Barrett

Leigh ’89 and George Butler ++

John Caldwell

Patty and Don Clark

Gloster Forest Products*

Jane and Robert Hederman

The James Family Foundation

Hillary ’00 and Chesley ’99 James

Kinkade’s Fine Clothing **

Amy and Barton ’97 Lampton

Deborah and Les Lampton

Claire and Logan Phillips

Sustainer Circle $2,500+

Balch & Bingham LLP

Jie Zheng and Pei Jian Gao

Suzanne ’92 and Cameron ’92 Guild

Amy and Robert ’90 Hederman

Carrie and Nic Henderson

Mahaffey Quality Printing

C ynthia ’89 and Tim Mahaffey

Elizabeth ’93 and Kerk Mehrle

Cherry and Patrick Mullen

Jessica and Jeffrey ’96 Lohmeier

Vera and Flip Phillips

D. Craig Ray

Jeanne ’93 and John ’92 Scarbrough

Leigh and Scott ’92 Shoemaker

Sunbelt Sealing**

Eleanor Wettach

Visionary Circle $1,000+

Albriton’s Fine Jewelry**

Susannah and Cameron ’04 Albriton

Lynn and John Albriton

Kristin and Sidney Allen

Suzanne and Richard Antonaros

Sharon and Jim Armstrong

Rosemary and Les Aultman

Marsha and Haley Barbour

Becky and Tommy Blanks

Donna and Roger Bozarth

Lamar Chustz

Barbara and Jason Craft

Dean Architecture*

Lindsay ’94 and Dodds ’92 Dehmer

Mary Ann Griesbeck

Lee Ann and Brad Griffin

Billie and Bill Grogan

Kim and Richard Johnson

Pat and Peter Jernberg

Stephanie ’00 and Collin Maley

MacMillian

Newk’s Eatery*

Susan and Joel Payne

Lulu and Scott ’90 Pedigo

Sandy and Charlie Penick

Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts

Elizabeth ’99 and Percy Quinn

Morgan and Aaron Samuels

Melissa Scholes and Brian Williams

Martha and Michael Summerford

Rebecca and Charles Tindall

Robin and Marty Tucker

Meredith ’89 and Joel Travelstead

Sarah and Les White

Mary Carolyn ’90 and Brad Williams

Myra and Woody York

Loyalty Club $500+

Kathy and Larry Accardi

Suzie and Jeff Adcock

Deborah Allen

Lynn and Leigh Allen

May and Matt Benton

Aida and Sidney Bondurant

Lind and John Bussey

Steve Carmody

Susan and Ken Chapman

Checkwriters Inc.

Mysti ’96 and Philip ’96 Chustz

Peggy and Josh Davis

Alwin Dockins

Harriett and Mark Eppes

Shirley and Jim Futral

Marty and Leland Gebhart

Angie ’96 and Allen Haraway

Ashley and Steve Morgan

Karen and Jeff Morris

Courtney ’01 and Sam ’00 Peters

Jeanine and Steve Pickering

Steve Priest

Natale and JJ Sheehan

Theodore Waechter

Becky and Chris Waterer

Susan and Walter Weems

Linda Young

Legacy Club $250+

Annie Laurie and David ’05 Barrett

Countess and Eddie Coleman

Julie Cotner Farris ’89

Kathy and Nelson Gibson

Neeli and John Graham

Allen R. Griffin

Theresa and Greg Hill

Debbie and Lee Harris

Mary Lene and Newt Harrison

Ellen and Tommy Hontzas

Jackson Jokers Basketball

Paula and Randy James

Brandon and Foster ’98 Kennedy

Ava Ladner ’23

Zoe Ladner ’21

Janet and Mike Moll

Gloria and Tommy Moore

Jan ’89 and Wen Nance

Polysurveying of Mobile, Inc.

Melinda and Steve Ray

Naomi and Bob Ridgeway

Sharon and Tom Rhoden

Betty and Joey Samuels

Barbara and Ed Sentell

Julie and Cole Smith

Barbara Stinson

Louisa and Tate Thigpen

Sarah and Britt Thomas

Rachel and Walt Towery

Rebecca ’98 and Michael ’98 Ueltschey

Kay and Joe Usry

Melanie and Warner Wadlington

Charlotte and John ’90 York

JA Annual Fund

Donors 2023-2024 (continued)

Century Club $100+

Suzanne and James Almas

Ava Antonaros ’24

Judy Arnold

Karen Booth-Belton and Marrio Belton

Camp Best

Carter and Glenn ’96 Breazeale

Lauren and Maury ’98 Breazeale

Mickey Brown

Janet and Richard Burnette

Marimae Coleman

Marlene Cook

Craft Croswell

Helen and York Craig

Cindy and Mike Curley

Britney Daley

Judy and John Decker

Pam and Mike Drake

Renee and Conrad Ebner

Jeffrey Edgington

Gail and John England

Carol and George Evans

Robin Hall

Ann Harper

Lindsay and Jack ’05 Harris

Loicka and Heyward Hodges

Betty and Jerry Horn

Nancy and Bill Howard

Carol and Victor Jones

Beth and Harper Keeler

Lucy and Seth Knight

Jane and Larry Lee

Lauren and Reid ’94 Lester

Cherri and John Lindigrin

Janet and Matt Lusco

Denise Lynch

Natalie ’96 and Josh Lynch

Judy and Norton McKeigney

Beth and Tim McWilliams

Ken Meacham

T and Bill Miley

Molly and Brad Moody

Julie Murray

Kristen ’95 and Lee ’93 Nations

Becky and Guy Parker

Nancy Morse Parkes

Robyn and Greg ’94 Pollack

Shirelene Priest

Linda and Gus Purviance

Mandy and Brad ’97 Reeves

Sherry and Richard Rula

Patty and Mike Robbins

Joseph Robinson

Dana and Bill Robertson

Lisa and Bill Schroeder

Sandy and Lester Smith

Mandi and Robert Stanley

Ann and Earl Stubblefield

Aqfa Sultana and Azad Bhuiyan

Martha and Thomas Tyson

Virginia Wallace

Felice and John Wicks

Isabel and John Woods

Anniversary Club $50+

Van Aggelakos

Karen and Jerry Banks

Claire and Charles Belknap

Farah Hamdad and Yanis Amrari

Jodie Lockhart

Judy and Larry Marett

Britton and Bryan Owen

Nancy Stevens

Scholar Club 15+

Michelle and James Baquie

Phyllis and Don Collins

Katie and Jamie ’92 Chustz

Polly Crosthwait

Ali and John ’84 Dinkins

Lee Ann and Mike Elinski

Bridget and Brent Harris

George and Whit Johnson

Kristin and Patrick Malouf

Linda and Alphonso McDowell

April and Richard Roberson

Emily ’12 and Landon ’08 Thompson

College Club

2020

Gracie Eubank

2021

Drew Antici

Isabelle Eiland

Caroline Harrington

Anabel McCraney

Priya Ray

Anna Claire Seago

Rett Stanley

Don Waller

Anne York

2022

Gibson Cheney

Conner Gee

Maggie Koury

Mary Gibson Lundy

Clayton Mahaffey

Annalee Willson

Fran Wilkirson

2023

Mary Peyton Barnette

Amelia Dare Bowman

Adams Kennedy

Walker Lake

Samuel Long

Donors from June 1, 2023- May 31, 2024

* Children’s Promise Act ** Gift in Kind

Faculty & Staff Donors 2023-2024

Sustainer Circle 2,500+

Angie and Brad Antici

Visionary Circle 1,000+

Pat and Peter Jernberg

Karen and Palmer Kennedy

Mary Clay and Matt Morgan

Kathryn and Tyler Parvin

Brandi and Brandon Richardson

Lynn and Ben Watson

Brittany and Eddie ’03 Wettach

Audrey and Jim Wilkirson

Loyalty Club 500+

Theresea and Adam Berman

Molly and Travis Pollet

Patti Wade

Jennifer and Brandt Walker

Legacy Club 250+

Brandi and Aubrey Blackwell

Carol and Trey Brister

Jamie and Richard Byrd

Dawn Duncombe

Andrea Ferguson

Amanda and Tommy Ferrill

Mimi and Andrew ’07 Heard

Gloria and Stephen Hirn

Susan Ingram

Lynn Ladner

Sandra and Mike McKay

Lynda and Gene Morse

Marcy and Blake Rall

Jacob Sullivan

Sharon and Chris Tucker

Century Club 100+

Stacy ’89 and Chris Bates

Taylor and Justin Beard

Beth and Jonathan Blackwell

Bronwyn ’83 and Chris Burford

Hope and Bob Burford

Amy and Bill Bush

Frances and John ’06 Bussey

Emilie and Andrew Byrd

Catherine and Jon Carter

Ann Boswell ’03 and Chris Carlson

Becky and Bobo Clarke

Claudia and Dennis Conklin

Abbie and Sam Cox

Courtney and Walt Denton

Cyndi ’92 and Bryan Eubank

Rebecca and Parker Fowler

Patricia and Lane Frazier

Cheryl Griffin and Richard West

Katrice and Jeff Hadley

Laura and Parker Harris

Sarah Lambert and Josh ’15 Hinkle

Mary Rebecca ’01 and Matt Jefferies

Krysten ’06 and Jay ’06 Jernigan

Colleen Jones

Laura and Corey Latham

Stancie Ley

Chris Lloyd

Elaine Low and Ed Retumban

Lisa and Steve Lofton

Michele and Mark Markow

Evan McCarley

Melodi and Tim McNair

Kayla and Seth ’00 Mosal

Emily and Scott Melichar

Austin and Martin ’05 Miller

Sheri and Clint Moody

Gloria Morris

Beth Murray

Vickie and Robert Neal

Erin and Max ’06 Neely

Laurie ’97 and Brandon Parker

Wanda and Randy Pearcy

Jennifer and Cliff Powers

Taylor ’11 and Tyler Reeves

Mary Crosby ’06 and Walker Roberts

Cyndie and Gene Robertson

Madi ’14 and Austin Scott

Kerri and Jim Smith

Jan Sojourner

Cathy Strauss

Candice and Todd Taylor

Kristy Trejo

Avery and Matt Truitt

Beth and Greg Williamson

Patrice and John Worley

Jamie and Ellis Wright

Anniversary Club 50+

Brooke and Scot Akins

Bee Ball

Sara Bannerman

Jackye Barbour

Michael Brinson

Christian ’16 Burford

Alesha and Stuart Cary

Andrea Coleman

Jennifer and John Conway

Melissa and Josh Denson

Susan Elliott

Jennifer Funderberg

Jennifer and Rowland Hall

Carny and Mike Harkins

Jane and Mark Hinkle

Shay Hodge

Roxie and David Hood

Chloe and Patrick Hudson

Erica and Rabun Jones

Garrett Lindsey

Joy and Colin Miller

Bronwyn and Danny Robertson

Castlen King-Rogers

Ronnie Rogers

Kerri and Michael Sanders

Melanie and Justin Schade

Leanna and Mike Shay

Lori Snider

Caroline Stewart

Sandra ’09 and Rob Triplett

Meri Scott and Hank ’09 Waterer

Scholar Club 15+

Ashley and John Adcock

Cindy and Mike Bailey

Nancy and Bill Cheney

Allie Coats

Holly and Webb Collums

Carrie Ann and Wilson Eatherly

Ashley ’16 and Matthew Elmore

Austin Fortenberry

Ashlee Flechas

Neely Holland

Lisa Kimbrell

Betsy and Carl King

Jennifer and Robert Miller

Michelle and Bob Mills

Michelle and Jon Mims

Suzanne ’91 and John ’83 Murray

Allison ’97 and Jess ’98 New

Shelby Pavatte

Shelle and James Pinkard

Sydney and Christian Pinnen

Christy and Chris Richardson

Amanda Smithers

Katharine Todd

Bonnie and Gray Wiggers

Faculty & Staff Donors as of May 31, 2024

JA Annual Fund

Alumni Giving 2023-2024

1983

Bronwyn Caves Burford

John Murray 1984

John Dinkins

Phillip Bowman

Ashley Edmonson Willson

1989

Stacy Bozarth Bates

Leigh Barnett Butler

Julie Cotner Farris

Jan Laws Nance

Meredith Montgomery Travelstead

1990

Robert Hederman

Cynthia Burney Mahaffey

Scott Pedigo

Mary Carolyn Inkard Williams

John York

1991

Suzanne Kinard Murray

1992

Jamie Chustz

Dodds Dehmer

Cyndi Tomlinson Eubank

Cameron Guild

Suzanne Greer Guild

John Scarbrough

Scott Shoemaker

1993

Elizabeth Warren Mehrle

Lee Nations

Jeane Moak Scarbrough

Lindsey Hines Dehmer

Mckie Edmonson

Reid Lester

Greg Pollack

Kristen Kennedy Nations 1996

Glenn Breazeale

Mysti Futral Chustz

Philip Chustz

Angie Stubblefield Haraway

Jeffrey Lohmeier

Natalie Tinnin Lynch

Claire Smith Belknap

Breck Hines

Barton Lampton

Laurie Perry Parker

Allison Cook New

Brad Reeves

Maury Breazeale

Lyn Edwards Hines

Foster Kennedy

Jess New

Michael Ueltschey

Rebecca Gough Ueltschey

Austin Barrett

Chesley James

Elizabeth Calhoon Quinn

Hillary Taylor James

Stephanie Baker Maley

Seth Mosal

Sam Peters

Mary Rebecca Jefferies

Courtney Chinn Peters

AB Johnson Carlson Eddie Wettach

Abriton

Mary Kate Sims Whelan

Barrett

Jack Harris

Martin Miller

Bussey

Jernigan Krysten Keyes Jernigan

Max Neely Mary Crosby Turner Roberts

Gracie Eubank 2021

Drew Antici

Isabelle Eiland

Caroline Harrington

Zoe Ladner

Anabel McCraney

Priya Ray

Anna Claire Seago

Rett Stanley

Don Waller

Anne York 2022

Gibson Cheney Conner Gee

Maggie Koury

Mary Gibson Lundy

Clayton Mahaffey

Annalee Willson

Fran Wilkirson

2023

Mary Peyton Barnette

Amelia Dare Bowman

Adams Kennedy

Walker Lake

Ava Ladner

Samuel Long

2024

Ava Antonaros

JA Annual Fund

Grandparent Society 2023-2024

Kathy and Larry Accardi

Suzie and Jeff Adcock

Lynn and John Albriton

Deborah Allen

Lynn and Leigh Allen

Sharon and Jim Armstrong

Rosemary and Les Aultman

Stacy ‘89 and Chris Bates

Marsha and Haley Barbour

Janet and Richard Burnette

Linda and Gene Barrett

Becky and Tommy Blanks

Aida and Sidney Bondurant

Donna and Roger Bozarth

Mickey Brown

Janet and Richard Burnette

Lind and John Bussey

Susan and Ken Chapman

Lamar Chustz

Patty and Don Clark

Phyllis and Don Collins

Marlene Cook

Cindy and Mike Curley

Polly Crosthwait

Judy and John Decker

Pam and Mike Drake

Gail and John England

Susan Elliott

Carol and George Evans

Shirley and Jim Futral

Allen Griffin

Mary Ann Griesbeck

Billie and Bill Grogan

Ann Harper

Debbie and Lee Harris

Jane and Robert Hederman

Loicka and Heyward Hodges

Ellen and Tommy Hontzas

Betty and Jerry Horn

Paula and Randy James

George and Whit Johnson

Carol and Victor Jones

Lucy and Seth Knight

Deborah and Les Lampton

Frieda and Joe Lauderdale

Jane and Larry Lee

Cherri and John Lindigrin

Janet and Matt Lusco

Denise Lynch

Judy and Larry Marnett

Sandra and Mike McKay

Ken Meacham

T and Bill Miley

Janet and Mike Moll

Gloria and Tommy Moore

Ashley and Steve Morgan

Beth Murray

Julie Murray

Becky and Guy Parker

Claire and Logan Phillips

Vera and Flip Phillips

Shirlene Priest

Joe Robinson

Sharon and Tom Rhoden

Betty and Joey Samuels

Lisa and Bill Schroeder

Sandy and Lester Smith

Barbara Stinson

Ann and Earl Stubblefield

Martha and Michael Summerford

Sharon and Tom Rhoden

Sherry and Richard Rula

Louisa and Tate Thigpen

Rebecca and Charles Tindall

Martha and Thomas Tyson

Kay and Joe Usry

Melanie and Warner Wadlington

Becky and Chris Waterer

Rebecca and Robert Watson

Susan and Walter Weems

Eleanor Wettach

Isabel and John Woods

Linda Young

Myra and Woody York

Giving

True Blue Raiders 2023-2024

Kristin and Sidney Allen

Mary Kathryn ’04 and Bo ’99 Allen

Jim and Sharon Armstrong

Lindsey and Matt ’99 Armstrong

Lindzey and Jeremy Arnold

Anna and Fred Asher

Michelle and Kevin Barnett

Lauren and Frank Benner

Taylor and Justin Beard

Fran and Cee Brown-McClure

Ashley and Norman Cannady

Lyndsey and Chris ’00 Carlton

Chris Champion

Bonnie and Jim Chapman

Mysti ’96 and Philip ’96 Chustz

Amanda and Trey ’02 Clark

Karla and Guy Collins

Alex ’06 and Chase Cooper

Lindsay ’94 and Dodds ’92 Dehmer

Jennifer and McKie ’92 Edmonson

Suzanna ’04 and Jeff Evans

Kelli and Matt ’02 Ferrell

Rebecca and Parker Fowler

Mary Margaret and Kevin Gay

H.M. and Bobby Gill

Katie ’09 and Marcus Ginn

Bethany and Preston ’03 Gough

Neeli and John Graham

Rebekah and Josh Gregory

Lindsey and John ’03 Gresham

Kelly ’99 and Josh Guyton

Melanie and Kristopher Hamel

Anna ’00 and Jacob ’99 Haralson

Angie ’96 and Neil Haraway

Mandy and Michael Harkins

Brandee and Joseph Harrington

Kristen and Bo Harwell

Terri and Steve ’92 Hederman

Missy and Mack Heidelberg

Carrie and Nic Henderson

Mallory ’03 and Michael Henry

Martha and Eric Holland

Courtney and Chad ’96 Hosemann

Quinn and Bradley ’99 Kellum

Rhoshunda and Mike Kelly

Brandon and Foster ’98 Kennedy

Lauren and Reid ’94 Lester

Jessica and Jeffrey ’96 Lohmeier

Mae and Clark Luke

Ann ’01 and Chris Lutken

Valarie and Jon Mabry

Stephanie ’00 and Collin Maley

Ruthie and Will Massey

Whitney and Graves Maxwell

Tara and Tyson McCoy

Elizabeth ’93 and Kerk Mehrle

Lauren and Nick Miller

Katie and Chris Monsour

Katie and Matt Monsour

Mary Clay and Matt Morgan

Miles and David Munn

Jomiski Nelson

Erica and Jeremy Ory

Sandy and Charlie Penick

ACADEMY

Jill and Burwell Barton

Fresh Cut Catering & Floral*

Tatum ’00 and Gray Goodman

Geri Beth and Allen Smith

VH Companies

Carolyn and Jason ’94 Voyles

Watkins Construction & Roofing

NAVY

BankPlus

Ben Nelson Golf and Outdoors*

Coattails*

Cole Facial Clinic*

Dean Architecture

Hammett Gravel Company, Inc.

Lynn and Delbert Hosemann*

Jennifer and Chris ’93 Mathison

Mississippi Urology Clinic

London ’98 and Joseph Simpson

Southern AgCredit

SILVER

After Five Designs*

Bailey Mechanical, LLC

Dr. and Mrs. Gene Barrett

Claire Barwin

Emblematic Creative

Tamika and Richard Bradley

Capital Ortho

Tabitha and Stephen ’92 Clay

Elinor and Jack Phillips

Dana and Bill Robertson

Audrey and Jeremy Rodden

Jocelyn and T.C. Rollins

Keira and Daniel Rushing

Ashley and Charlie Russell

Vanessa ’95 and John Petty Sandifer

Scarlet and Darrington Seward

Natale and JJ Sheehan

Angie and Brent Shorter

Misti and Clint Sims

Anne ’09 and Parker ’09 Snow

Keyla and Christopher Spankovich

Liz and Art Spratlin

Mary Ellen ’99 and Jeff Stancill

Mandi and Bob Stanley

Brandi and George Stinson

Helen and Clay ’94 Summerford

Charlotte ’06 and Jeremy Taylor

Rachel and Chase Thompson

Carmen and Adam ’03 Thrash

Rachel and Walt Towery

Rebecca ’98 and Michael ’98 Ueltschey

Catherine and Stephen Usry

Whitney and Slates Veazey

Holly and Matt Vollor

Jordan and Tyler Walker

Kyla and David ’00 Weems

Alexa and Steven Wier

Kelly ’02 and Louis Wilkinson

Courtney and Paul Williams

Miranda and Ben Wilson

Corner Market

Barbara and Jason Craft

D Squared*

Mark and Lee Fuerst

Frank L. Hadden, III

Hamilton, Davis, Martrain, McCaskill, LLC

Hillary ’00 and Chesley ’99 James

Dr. Ashley and Mr. Brian Johnson

Lisa and Michael ’92 Johnson*

Lindsay and Jon Mark Jordan

Kinkades Fine Clothing*

Kyle Wynn and Associates*

Majestic Metals

Kristin and Patrick Malouf*

Christie ’95 and Ashley Ogden

Porter & Malouf, P.A.

Elizabeth ’99 and Percy Quinn

Rootdown

Sunbelt Sealing, Inc.

Threads*

The Usry Family

Van Life Rentals*

The Winning Smile

WHITE

Alpha Lit Marquee*

Jessica and Mohit Ahuja

Sharon and Jim Armstrong

Brooks Collection Vault*

Lauren and Austin Brown

Allie and Marcus Burger

Ashley and Michael Borne

Athletics Booster Club 2023-2024

Brandi and Kalil Abide

Kathy and Larry Accardi

Natalie and Todd Adkins

Rekettsia Alexander

Kristin and Sidney Allen

Ginger and Dennis Allen

Suzanne and Rich Antonaros

Anna and Fred Asher

Lisa Bailey

Karen and Jerry Banks

Reeves Barbour

Deidre and Austin Barbour*

Allison and Austin ’99 Barrett*

Sara Katherine and Ryan Beckett

Elisha Benton

Caroline ’95 and Brad ’95 Blanks

Leigh Ann and Frank Bonvillain

Ashley and Michael Borne*

Lorraine and Smith Boykin

Courtney and Andy Brien

Ashley and Joseph Bronzi

Allie and Marcus Burger

Brandi and Alan Callison

Lauren and Ricky Caraway

Amy Champagne

Bonnie and Jim Chapman

Mysti ’96 and Philip ’96 Chustz

Katie and Jamie ’92 Chustz

Tabitha and Stephen Clay

Allison and Trey Cox

Barbara and Jason Craft

Amanda and Myles Cross

Janelle and Heath Douglas

Renee and Conrad Ebner

Breazeale Wealth Management

Brent’s*

Shannon ’01 and David ’99 Blanks*

Carson Law Group, PLLC

CLARKINATOR

Courtney Peters Interior Design*

Lauren and Jordan ’05 Cantrell

The Can Man

The District at Eastover

Dogwood Animal Hospital,

Dr. Andrea M. Jones DVM

Downtown Fitness*

Jamie and Alex Eaton*

Fertile Ground Brewery*

The Finery

Gill, Ladner, & Priest Law Firm

Grantham Poole CPA’s*

Jennifer and McKie ’94 Edmonson

Brooks and Thomas Elfert

Cyndi ’92 and Bryan Eubank

Suzy and Todd Everett

Lucy and Bill Gault

Erika and Gillian Goodloe

Tatum ’00 and Gray Goodman

Bethany and Preston ’03 Gough

Stefanie and Alan Grant

Emily Greer ’96 and Stephen Greer ’95

Lee Ann and Brad Griffin*

Shannon and Jeff Grimsley

Claire and Stephen Griner

Price and Robert Halford

Gabrielle ’02 and Tripp Hammett

Bridget Harris

Camille and Barry Hassell

Terri ’93 and Steve ’92 Hederman

Missy and Mack Heidlelberg*

Leslie ’99 and Matt Henson

Laura Hillman

Lyn’98 and Breck ’97 Hines

Linda Carol and Tom ’93 Hudson*

Hillary ’00 and Chesley ’99 James

Kim and Richard Johnson

Erin and Troy Johnston

Rhoshunda and Mike Kelly

Brandon and Foster ’98 Kennedy

Lauren and Reid ’94 Lester*

Jana and Craig Long

Kindal Lutken ’98

Cynthia ’89 and Tim Mahaffey

Stephanie ’00 and Collin Maley

Tracy and Mike Mason*

Harmony Dental Care

Highland Medical*

Highland Village Chevron

Robert and Price Halford

The Insurance Mart

Abby and Ben ’04 James

Dr. Lindsay Jerome,

Southern Women’s Health

Blann and Poteat Lutken

L and S Fitness, LLC*

Lavish Fleur*

Magpie Floral Design

Mary Margaret McKinnon

Milling Pediatric Dentistry

Mississippi Federal Credit Union

Holley and Don Noblitt

Austin and Joel Nutt

Jennifer and Chris ’93 Mathison

Bo and Kellen Maurer*

Lauren and Brandon Meeks

Lauren and Nick Miller*

Mississippi Federal Credit Union

Jan ’89 and Wen Nance

Christie ’95 and Ashley Ogden

Christy and Shannon Orr

Sandy and Charlie Penick

Courtney ’01 and Sam ’00 Peters

Jeanine and Steve Pickering

Robyn and Greg ’94 Pollack

Christy and Billy Quin

Kecia and Corey Ray

Kristie and Chris Rhoman

Bronwyn and Danny Robertson

Audrey and Jeremy Rodden

Sommer and Jason Rodrigue

Morgan and Aaron Samuels

Jeanne ’93 and John ’92 Scarbrough

Scarlet and Darrington Seward

Natale and JJ Sheehan

Leigh ’92 and Scott Shoemaker

Sharon and Glen Silverman

London ’98 and Joseph Simpson

Jennifer and Ben ’93 Skipper

Geri Beth and Allen Smith

Liz and Art Spratlin

Mandi and Bob Stanley

Candace and Walker Tann

Shay and Rob Tatum

Vick Arthur-Thornton and James Thornton

Rachel and Walt Towery

Caroline and Jack Nowell

Nancy Price Interior Design*

Erica and Jeremy Ory

Ken Revere*

Drs. Morgan & John Shaughnessy

Emily and Justin Sumrall

Evangeline Sonnier*

Jeanne & John Scarbrough for Paul Moak Honda Subaru

Morgan and Aaron Samuels

Simmons Tire

Tiffany and B.T. Steadman

Candace and Walker Tann

TEC

Treehouse Boutique*

Triangle Development

Jennifer Tripoli Therapist,

Catherine and Stephen Usry

Jennifer and Brandt Walker

Rivers ’97 and Shaun Walker

Story ’94 and Todd ’90 Warren

Lynn and Ben Watson

Julia and David Whitt*

Alexa and Steven Wier

Mary Carolyn ’90 and Brad Williams

Ashley ’87 and Mark Willson

Miranda and Ben Wilson

Meredith ’00 and Harrison ’97 Young

Katie Carlyle and Bo Zimmerman * Silver Level Member

Athletic Corporate Community Partners

ANCHOR LEVEL

Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center

TrustCare

Trustmark Bank

Watkins Construction and Roofing

FOUNDING LEVEL

BankPlus

Clarke Beverage Group, Inc.

C Spire

Fowler Buick GMC

Gallagher Insurance

Mississippi Smart Homes Performance Therapy

Cornerstone Counseling Center

Tristan Duplichain*

Drs. Brian Williams and Melissa Scholes-Williams

Walt Denton Marketing*

Waring Oil Company, LLC

Lynn and Ben Watson

Myra and Woody York

Meredith ’00 and Harrison ’97 Young*

The Young/Veasley Family

Catie Carlyle & Bo Zimmerman

*In-kind donation

Class Notes

1994

CAMERON HATCHETT

HUFF and husband, Josh, live in Jackson with their four children. Cameron is a Physical Therapist at Methodist Rehab and Owner/ Designer of Enduring Links Permanent Jewelry and Ear Piercing. Josh is a real estate agent.

1 PAIGE HERRING

HUNT and husband, Andy, live in Starkville with their son, John. Paige is the Director of Tourism at Greater Starkville Development Partnership. Andy is the Owner of Disc and That. Paige was recently named MS Tourism Association

Member of the Year. She currently serves as Treasurer for the Mississippi Destination Marketing Organization Association, on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Tourism Association, as Secretary of the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area Alliance, and as President of the Board of Directors for the Starkville Community Theatre.

2004

2 JENNIFER VIRDEN

CRISSEY and her husband, Chris, live in Madison. Jennifer is currently teaching at Germantown High School

Eight JA Alumni in UMMC Long Coat Ceremony

The University of Mississippi Medical Center Long Coat Ceremony serves as a significant transition for medical students, marking their journey from medical school student to physician. In May, eight Jackson Academy alumni participated in this ceremony. (From left) Georgia Gibson Hughey, Caroline Nall, Will Varner, Ford Gordon, Hannah McCowan, Sydney Hays McDowell, and Catherine Strauss. Not pictured: Davis Rippee.

while sponsoring Mu Alpha Theta and coaching Girls’ Powerlifting. She recently completed her Ph.D. in Science and Mathematics Education at USM. Chris is the Owner of Ray Ray’s Lawn Service, LLC.

2005

3 JACK HARRIS was named as Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40. Jack is Vice President, Employee Benefits with Fisher Brown Bottrell, a Marsh McLennan Agency. Jack and his wife, Lindsey, reside in Jackson with their two sons, Jack and Hayes.

2008

4 BOBBY PETERSON and wife Mimi live in Birmingham with their three children. Bobby is the Generosity manager and Program Director at JH Ranch. Mimi is an accounting controller.

2009

CAROLINE BOBINGER is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center. She was recently named to Ole Miss Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40. This program celebrates the personal, professional,

and philanthropic achievements of successful University of Mississippi graduates under the age of 40.

FRANKLIN AND RACHAEL DAVIS

KEYES welcomed Davis Franklin Keyes on April 8, 2024. Rachael is the Senior Director of Development at Make-AWish Mississippi. Franklin is an agent at Southern Insurance Specialists, Inc. They live in Madison.

2010

5 HOUSTON AND MADISON COBURN

KEYES welcomed their daughter Hallie Elizabeth Keyes on January 24, 2024 in Jackson. Madison

is an attorney at The Smith Law Firm, PLLC, and Houston is an agent at Southern Insurance Specialists, Inc.

NATALIE ETHRIDGE

RUDSENSKE lives in Madison with her husband, Ben, and son, JT. Natalie is a physician at Mississippi Asthma and Allergy Clinic. Ben is a dentist.

2011

SARAH ALLEN BOWMAN and husband William live in Nashville. Sarah Allen graduated from Belmont University College of Law in May of 2023 and is currently practicing at a firm in Franklin, Tennessee.

2012

6 CLARA BETH TUCKER and Austin Watts were married on June 1, 2024 at St. Richard’s Catholic Church with a reception following at the Country Club of Jackson. Clara Beth is a registered nurse with Baptist Hospital and Austin is with CSpire.

2015

KRISTIAN BRENT

TAYLOR and husband, Dyllan, live in Brandon. Brent is a teacher at Northwest Rankin Middle School. She was awarded NWRMS New Teacher of The Year. Dyllan is an Assistant Basketball Coach at Pearl High School. They welcomed daughter Krislan Noelle Taylor on March 20, 2024.

7 ELIZA LUNDY and Will Courtney were married in an outdoor ceremony at The Reed House at Live Oaks on May 25, 2024. Eliza serves as Military Legislative Assistant for MS Senator Cindy Hyde Smith and Will serves as Chief of Staff for TN Representative

David Kustoff. The couple makes their home in Alexandria, Virginia.

2016

8 GEORGIA GIBSON and Conner Huey were married on January 27, 2024 at Christ United with a reception following at the Country Club of Jackson. The couple resides in Jackson where Georgia is in a dermatology residency and Conner is in a internal medicine residency, both at UMMC.

2020

KATIE CARTER is a Graduate Assistant in The Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union working as the GA for Philanthropic and Service Programs. This graduate assistantship works directly with the Big Event day of service and RebelTHON Dance Marathon as a primary advisor, and with other various student involvement and engagement initiatives. Katie is in grad school for Speech Pathology.

Anne Marie Lundy ’19, Eliza Lundy Courtney ’15, Mary Gibson Lundy ’22

Celebrating 65 Years of Community

It’s hard to quantify the impact of Jackson Academy on the thousands of alumni and families who have been part of its journey since 1959. The school has been a catalyst for life-changing experiences, from students discovering their life’s calling in a JA class, to teachers nurturing sparks of brilliance, coaches fostering potential, and administrators steering the school through challenging times. Each story is a testament to the profound influence of JA on its community.

However, in the case of JA’s 65th anniversary, a picture is not just worth 1,000 words, but a whole library. The school has decided to narrate its journey through a unique pictorial

display (previewed below through the next few pages). Located in the new Plaza, this four-sided, larger-than-life display starts with JA’s humble beginnings as a primary school for teaching reading by phonics and weaves through the decades, showcasing significant moments, cherished memories, and influential leaders.

We hope you will stop by the Plaza next time you visit campus to view the new installation. Although no display can capture the thousands of stories belonging to JA and its families, we hope it will encourage you to remember JA’s remarkable influence and your own JA stories.

Stewart Barry

Jackson Academy Association

Glenn Cain

Judy Arnold

Trip Arnold ’87 and family

Susan Ingram

Pat and Peter Jernberg

Janet and Matt Lusco

Julie Murray

Linda and Gus Purviance

Barbara and Ed Sentell

Patti Wade

Bill Campbell, Sr.

Susan Ingram

Jackson Academy Association

Patti Wade

Ashleigh Arnold Dehmer

Suzanne ’91 and John ’83 Murray

Beth and Harper Keeler

Virginia England

Suzanne ’91 and John ’83 Murray

Walker Fielder

Catherine and Jon Carter

Rebecca and Michael Ueltschey

Patti Wade

Gus Gregory

Jackson Academy Association

Patti Wade

Dr. Glyn Hilbun

Pat and Peter Jernberg

Lee Ann Kantor

Memorials

Suzie and Jeff Adcock

Kathy and Nelson Gibson

Bill Murray

Julie Murray

Katie Johnson ’18

Stacy ’89 and Chris Bates

Linda Brasfield Jordan

Billie Skipper Grogan

Robert Wilson Peded

Jackson Academy Association

Frances Sheffield

Judy Arnold

Linda Smith

Jackson Academy Association

Dr. J. George Smith

Judy Arnold

Tripp Arnold ’87 and family

Paula and Randy James

Pat and Peter Jernberg

Ann and Earl Stubblefield

Patti Wade

Janet Quayle

Susan Ingram

Raymond R. Stevens, Jr.

Nancy Stevens

Ray Edward Stevens ’15

Drury Stevens

Nora Tannehill

Judy Arnold

Trip Arnold ’87 and family

Leslie Wilkirson

Jackson Academy Association

Susan Ingram

Patti Wade

Ed Woods

Jeffrey Edgington

Jack Brooks Yates, Sr. Camp Best

Ashleigh Park

Suzanne Murray ’91

Bronwyn Burford ’83

Memorials from June 1, 2023- May 31, 2024

Honorariums

Perry ’29 and William ’33 Allen

Sidney and Kristin Allen

Ava Antonaris ’24

Susan Ingram

Qusim Adbu-Tawwab ’24

Susan Ingram

Dee Ball

Lynn, Zoe ’21, and Ava ’23 Ladner

Tack Mahaffey ’24

Sara Bannerman

Tack Mahaffey ’24

CJ Banks ’24

Susan Ingram

Darbie Brewer ’24

Susan Ingram

Avery Brooks ’24

Susan Ingram

Phillip Buffington

Ava Antonaris ’24

Katie and Jamie ’92 Chustz

AB Carlson

Ava Antonaris ’24

Fuller Maheffey ’24

Mya Coins ’24

Susan Ingram

Sam Chustz ’24

Mysti ’96 and Philip ’96 Chustz

Susan Ingram

Red Deaton ’24

Andrew Baquie

Brayden Gales

Susan Ingram

Leighton Denley

Isabel and John Woods

Melissa Denson

Ava Antonaris ’24

Fuller Mahaffey ’24

Newell Eatherly ’24

Susan Ingram

Baker Ebner ’24

Susan Ingram

Kendall Edmonson ’24

Ashley ’87 and Mark Willson

Meghan Ellis ’24

Susan Ingram

Bryan Eubank ’24

C yndi ’92 and Bryan Eubank

Rebecca Fowler

Lynn, Zoe ’21, and Ava ’23 Ladner

Patrica Frazier

Ava Antonaris ’24

Fuller Mahaffey ’24

Isabella Gates ’24

Susan Ingram

Grace ’17, Land ’20 and Lilly ’23 Gebhart

Marty and Leland Gebhart

Madelyn Griffith ’24

Susan Ingram

Rayean Hall ’24

Susan Ingram

Gloria Hirn

Tack Mahaffey ’24

JT Hontzas

Stacy ’89 and Chris Bates

Donna and Roger Bozarth

JA Class of 2024

Karen and Jerry Banks

C ynthia ’89 and Tim Mahaffey

Patti Wade

JA Class of 2024-Fish Class

Katrice Hadley

JA Rowdies

Jim Wilkirson

Lucy Lee ’24

Susan Ingram

Jada Lester ’24

Susan Ingram

Landry Lester ’24

Dawn Duncombe

L auren and Reid ’94 Lester

Stancie Ley

Lynn, Zoe ’21, and Ava ’23 Ladner

Sarah Kate Long, Anna

Caroline Long, Ainslie Long, and Samuel Long ’23

Carol and Vic Jones

Kaylee Lowther ’24

Susan Ingram

Anna Kate Lucus ’24

Susan Ingram

Avery Kobs ’24

Bridget and Brent Harris

Tack Mahaffey ’24

Susan Ingram

Michelle Markow

Ava Antonaris ’24

Harper Mars ’24

Pierce Malouf

Alyssa Martin ’24

Susan Ingram

Evan McCarley

Ava Antonaris ’24

Zyon McDowell ’24

Linda and Alphonso McDowell

Sophie McIntire ’24

Susan Ingram

Harper Mars ’24

Pierce Malouf

Lynda Morse

Ava Antonaris ’24

Julia Parker ’24

Susan Ingram

Elizabeth Pedigo ’21

Lulu and Scott ’90 Pedigo

Walker Pedigo ’18

Lulu and Scott ’90 Pedigo

Bennett Phyfer

Becky and Bobo Clarke

Noah Pressler ’24

Andrew Baquie

Madilyn Ray ’24

Katrice and Jeff Hadley

Gautham Ray ’24

Susan Ingram

Brandi Richardson

Melissa Scholes and Brian Williams

Sarah Roberson

April and Richard Roberson

Sam Roberts ’24

Susan Ingram

Ronnie Rogers

Katie and Jamie ’92 Chustz

Caroline Samuels ’32

Betty and Joey Samuels

Kate Samuels ’30

Betty and Joey Samuels

Jacob Sullivan

Ava Antonaris ’24

Vivien Stevens ’24

Susan Ingram

The Stinson Family

Barbara Stinson

Zoubir Tabout

Lynn, Zoe ’21, and Ava ’23 Ladner

Titus Taylor ’24

Andrew Baquie

Sydney Thaxton ’24

Susan Ingram

Chris Tucker

Julier Cotner Farris ’89

Danielle Wallace ’24

Andrew Baquie

Anthony Walker ’24

Clayton Moody

Henry Waterer ’35

Becky and Chris Waterer

Benjamin Watson ’24

Mary Ann Griesbeck

George and Whit Johnson

Frances Watson ’29

Mary Ann Griesbeck

Richard West Tack Mahaffey ’24

Liles Williams ’24

Ali and John ’84 Dinkins

Liyah Wilson ’24

Susan Ingram

Jamie Wright

Fuller Maheffey ’24

Honorariums from June 1, 2023- May 31, 2024

Jackson Academy acknowledges gifts made in memory of faculty, staff, and JA family members each year in the True Blue magazine. To submit a memorial, contact Frances Bussey at fbussey@jacksonacademy.org or mail your memorial to Frances Bussey, Jackson Academy, 4908 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, Mississippi 39211.

In Memoriam

DR. PAT TAYLOR

Former Jackson Academy Headmaster

William Patrick “Pat” Taylor, who served Jackson Academy as headmaster from 2007-2017, died July 2, 2024, at his home in Alabama after a multi-year battle with cancer.

“Pat mentored no fewer than seven Heads of School, several dozen division heads, and thousands of teachers,

STANCIE LEY

Upper School Science Teacher

Beloved faculty member, colleague, mentor, and friend, Stancie Diane Schwenker Ley, passed away July 20, 2024. She began her career as a pharmacist, practicing for more than a decade before entering into

but his proudest and most profound impact would be the tens of thousands of students that he kept in the forefront of his student-centered approach,” said Jackson Academy Head of School Palmer Kennedy. “His students are difference-makers not only in Jackson and Mobile, but throughout the entire world. Pat opened every conversation with, ‘How is your family, and how can I help you?’ Pat exemplifies how one person can impact this changing and challenging world. Pat’s legacy lives on as his service to JA continues to influence all we do. I am joined by countless others who are honored to have called Pat a colleague and a friend.”

JA advanced its strategic planning, installed STEM labs, further developed differentiated learning programs, and completed an accreditation cycle during his tenure. He encouraged JA to share its expertise with schools across the Southeast by hosting school visits and programs. He frequently served with accrediting organizations, helping JA and other schools develop into stronger educational institutions. He and his wife, Sherrye, were involved in many aspects of the JA and Jackson communities.

Dr. Taylor received the 2024 Midsouth Association of Independent Schools Joe Shepard Memorial Award. Recipients are recognized for their extensive expertise, dedication, service, loyalty, and leadership to the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools. In 2016, Dr. Taylor accepted the Southern Association of Independent Schools Distinguished Service Award, in recognition of a lengthy and distinguished career in independent education.

the profession of teaching, which is where she found her true calling. She dedicated more than 18 years to Jackson Academy, influencing and inspiring students who took her physics classes or encountered her effervescent personality across campus. In the classroom, she loved creating hands-on lessons, such as the annual Rube Goldberg contest where students created simple machines that performed various tasks.

Beyond the classroom, Stancie Ley touched the lives of her family, numerous friends, and colleagues. Faculty member Gloria Hirn explained, “The name Stancie means capable and willing to assume a position as a pillar of a community. That was the Stancie that God brought into our lives. When Stancie moved from Texas,

she chose Jackson Academy for her girls because she wanted them to be in a school community that embraced our Lord, Jesus. Even though Stancie was a Pharmacist by profession, she found herself in a JA classroom teaching. She had an admirable passion for teaching, and she gave her all everyday, even when facing personal difficulties.

“Stancie was a gift to JA, but for me personally, she was a blessing sent from God. We shared so many things, but mostly our love for God and the importance of faith and family,” said Hirn. “I miss her beautiful spirit in the halls of our school. But I know in my heart that she is still walking them. We were all fortunate to have Stancie as a pillar of our community, but no doubt, she is walking the halls of heaven as a Saint.”

GLENN ALLEN CAIN

Former Jackson Academy Headmaster

Longtime educator, school administrator, pastor, and U.S. Army veteran Glenn Allen Cain Sr. died August 16, 2023. He was an influential educator in Mississippi, spending many years at Jackson Academy and Indianola Academy. As headmaster of JA from 1975 to 1988, he led the school during the Flood of 1979 and JA’s subsequent establishment of a high school.

JAMES MICHAEL TAYLOR Substitute Teacher

Faculty member James Michael Taylor, who served JA as a long time substitute teacher, died on August 22, 2024. He served in state government for 25 years with different state agencies, and after retiring

“Glenn Cain was a dedicated educator and a devoted family man who was guided by a deep and abiding faith,” said Jackson Academy President Emeritus Peter Jernberg. “He served Jackson Academy as headmaster for 13 years with an unparalleled commitment to continuing its educational excellence.”

Along with the Board of Trustees’ vision, it was his exceptional leadership that established the JA Upper School, which was a significant accomplishment, as well as navigating the Flood of 1979 for JA families. I personally consider him to be one of the most significant influences in both my personal and professional life,” Jernberg said.

While earning a bachelor’s degree at Millsaps College, Glenn Cain lettered in basketball, football, baseball, and track. An All-Conference recipient in football and basketball, he was later inducted in the Millsaps Sport Hall of Fame, honored with the Livesey Service Award, and led as president of the ‘M’ Club. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1957, then completed a Master of Education at Mississippi State University. He served as a local pastor in the United Methodist Church at D’lo and Bethany for 11 years.

The Midsouth Association of Independent Schools honored him as a Hall of Fame member. He served on the board of the Southern Association of Independent Schools. He and his wife, Wyonda M. Cain of Jackson, were highly involved in the Jackson community during his tenure at JA.

from the state, he found much joy in teaching. He took substitute teaching roles in Madison, Ridgeland, Canton, Gluckstadt, and Jackson, but spent a significant amount of time at Jackson Academy. He began substitute teaching with JA in 2006.

“He was genuine and reliable,” said Administrative Assistant Becky Clarke, who worked with the substitute teacher list in the Middle School during the time he taught at JA. “He loved coming to JA. Any time I saw him he would remind me to keep him on the substitute list. Even while he was going through treatment, and was unable to teach, he would come by the school. The students were always excited to see him.”

He was referred to by students as “Mr. T.,” a name coined by

students of Jackson Academy. He enjoyed running into students when he and his wife (Fidelia), his son (Michael), and his daughterin-law (Ashley), were out and about. The family enjoyed hearing students convey renditions of family tales that Taylor had shared with students during classes.

Originally from Canton, Mississippi, Taylor was educated at Canton Academy, Holmes Junior College, and Mississippi State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. A member of Christ United in Jackson, he was instrumental in starting an orchestra of church members, which aligned with his love of music. He was a faithful member of the church for 38 years. He remained an avid and active Mississippi State University fan.

BE SOMEONE TO LOOK UP TO

At Jackson Academy, our students achieve beyond what they imagined was possible.

Last year, you helped us reach 1,363 gifts totaling $562,051.82 to the JA Annual Fund.* The JA Annual Fund helped us cover diverse discretionary costs to support a wide range of improvements in our athletic programming and training facilities, classroom upgrades throughout all school divisions, wayfinding signage throughout campus, and enhanced outdoor areas for classroom and school activities across campus. Not a day goes by that students and teachers are not impacted by gifts from our parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty, and friends.

SCAN TO GIVE through the JA website or Venmo today!

JACKSON ACADEMY

4908 Ridgewood Road

Jackson, Mississippi 39211

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