Patriot Magazine 2017-18

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PATRIOT A M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E A LU M N I , PA R E N T S , S TA F F, A N D F R I E N D S O F J A C K S O N P R E PA R AT O R Y S C H O O L • 2 0 1 7 - 1 8

Institute for Innovation and Creativity Extended Reality Lab Debuts at Prep

FROM THE

Head of School L AW R E N C E M . C O C O, I I I

MISSION STATEMENT: Jackson Preparatory School inspires and challenges students toward academic, athletic and artistic excellence, instills personal integrity through biblical values, and equips students to pursue lives of distinction in service to society.

Dear Prep Family, The following pages contain a compilation of achievements and realizations that stand as proof that Jackson Prep is the very definition of excellence without exception.

The students, alumni, faculty, and coaches featured in this magazine are testaments to Prep’s commitment to developing students who “pursue lives of distinction in service to society.” As a Prep parent, I am amazed at what our students are accomplishing in the classroom, on the field, and in the community. As an alum, I am proud of the impact former Prep students and parents are making on campus, as well as in our state and beyond. And as Head of School, I take great honor in standing shoulder to shoulder with the best faculty, staff, and coaches in the region.

I hope that you enjoy the articles and successes detailed in this issue of The Patriot. These stories are just a snapshot of what the Prep Family can accomplish. I am so proud to be a part of this great institution, and I look forward to seeing all of you soon and to celebrating a great year at Jackson Prep.

Sincerely, Lawrence M. Coco, III Head of School

ON THE COVER .................................................................26 Extended Reality Lab Debuts at Prep Cover photo by Ryan Sherman

WESLEY WHITE ................................................................32 Named QuestBridge Scholar

FOREVER BLESSED .........................................................40 RICKY BLACK .....................................................................42 NHSACA Coach of the Year

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A Prep Patriot Through and Through ....................................... 6 Prep Fest 2018 ......................................................................... 8 Barbara Fortenberry Hederman: An Extraordinary Lady ......... 10 The New Daily Schedule ......................................................... 12 Global Leadership Institute ..................................................... 14 Community Service Review .................................................... 18 Achievements in Creative Writing............................................ 20 New Course: Kinesiology ........................................................ 22 Alumni Spotlight .................................................................... 24

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Honor Roll of Donors ............................................................ 34 Spotlight on Our Faculty & Staff ............................................ 46 Show Choirs ........................................................................... 50 Visual Arts .............................................................................. 52 Performing Arts ...................................................................... 54 The Significance of Training in High School Sports................. 56 On Track: Montgomery Peoples ............................................. 58 The Adventures of Matt Mills ................................................. 60 A Senior Trip to Remember .................................................... 62

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Baseball Alumni Continue Baseball Tradition in College ......... 64 Leadership .............................................................................. 65 Legacy Dinner ........................................................................ 66 Circle of Honor ...................................................................... 67 A Family Affair ....................................................................... 70 Jackson Preparatory School admits students of any race, color, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, tuition assistance, or athletic and school-administered programs.

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EDITORIAL TEAM Vicki King, Editor-in-Chief Nathan Devine, Copy Editor Megan Seyfarth, Designer Hederman Brothers Printing HEAD OF SCHOOL Lawrence M. Coco, III, Head of School Jina Smith, Chief of Staff EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM Denny Britt, Chief Operating Officer Will Crosby, Director of Athletics Luke Nealey, Assistant Head & Head of Senior High Trudy Powers, Head of Junior High ACADEMIC AND ACTIVITY PROGRAMS LEADERSHIP TEAM Laura Bishop, Head of Information Technology Sharon Box, Assistant Director of Global Leadership Institute Norma Cox, Director of Library Services Alyssa Finneyfrock, Director of Student Life Bobby Gross, Technical Director of Centre for Arts and Leadership Kelly Headley, Director of Community Service Adam Mangana, Chief Diversity Officer, Director of Extended Reality Lab, & Associate Director of College Counseling William Merrell, Director of Global Leadership Institute Jimmy Nix, Technology Coordinator Gary Noble, Assistant Head of Junior High Sarah Scruggs, Assistant Head of Senior High Carolyn Sisk, Director of Academics Laurie Van Pelt, Director of Instructional Technology STUDENT SERVICES LEADERSHIP TEAM Anne Duncan, Girls Senior High Counselor Reta Haire, Sixth and Ninth Grade Counselor Malika Lindsay, Director of College Counseling Lee Ozier, Boys Senior High Counselor Allyn Ray, Director of Support Services Maret Watson, Seventh and Eighth Grade Counselor EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LEADERSHIP TEAM Stacey Ferreri, Director of Institutional Advancement Vicki King, Director of Events and Partnerships Kesha Mabry, Assistant Director of Admission Tracie Mallard, Director of Admission Emily McClain, Director of Branding and Marketing Ryan Sherman, Director of Communication OPERATIONS LEADERSHIP TEAM Kurt Jordan, Director of Physical Plant Jennifer Powers, Controller SUPPORT TEAM Ashleigh Bowen, Administrative Assistant to Senior High Counselors Cindy Brooks, Financial Assistant Bethany Johnson, Junior High Office Manager Paula Kuhn, External Affairs Administrative Assistant Lelia Manning, Senior High Administrative Assistant Trudy McLaurin, Athletic Administrative Assistant Sarah McMillan & Delores Navarrete, McRae Center Receptionists Brenda Whittington, Junior High Administrative Assistant MAINTENANCE TEAM Tim Benton Norwood Sanders Randolph Smith Bobby Joe Spann Robert Sproles

A Prep Patriot

THROUGH AND THROUGH

By Allyn Ray, Director of Support Services (class of 1974) Photos by Ryan Sherman & Hubert Worley

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awrence Coco, our recentlynamed, seventh Head of School, brings to the office the most comprehensive relationship with Jackson Prep than any other holder of the office. From his days in the classroom as a student to his most recent job as managing partner of the law firm McCraney, Coco & Lee, Lawrence has remained involved with and connected to Prep. An honor student, National Merit Finalist, athlete, actor, singer, and editor of Earthwinds, Lawrence experienced all that Prep offers during his student years.

Continuing his education at the University of Mississippi in 1992, Lawrence credits his collegiate successes to the solid foundation he built at Prep.

In 1996, after college, the magna cum laude Taylor Medalist came to Prep for his first job, teaching 11th grade American Literature and 10th grade World History—while coaching football and track. Lawrence’s second year afforded him an opportunity to learn administrative responsibilities when he assumed the position of Assistant High School Principal.

In 1998 Lawrence returned to the University of Mississippi, entering its School of Law. He graduated summa cum laude in 2001, garnering many honors and awards. After clerking for Honorable Tom S. Lee, he worked with two regional law firms.

Finally, in 2010, Lawrence began McCraney, Coco & Lee, serving as managing partner and maintaining an active litigation practice.

His affinity for Prep has kept Lawrence connected to his alma mater. He has served on the alumni council as President, followed by six years on the Board of Trustees, where he served on the finance committee and the executive committee as Secretary of the Board. In 2015, Lawrence chaired the school’s Steering Committee for the Strategic Plan.

This committee’s work ultimately produced the strategic plan currently

“He seeks, first and foremost, to unify Prep constituents in pursuit of the shared goal of uncompromised excellence in every aspect of school life.”

under implementation. Most recently, Lawrence joined the ranks of many other alumni as the parent of a Prep student. His daughter Mary Robinson is a ninth grader. He believes the experience of parenting a Prep student will give him invaluable understanding and empathy, which will strengthen his connection with both students and parents.

A deeply devoted family man, Lawrence and his wife Rebecca (class of 1992) are active members of St. Richard Catholic Church.

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Inspired by their faith in Christ and zeal to serve others, Lawrence and Rebecca are raising three children, intentionally instilling in them principles of faith and service.

The Coco family includes Mary Robinson, Thomas (a sixth grader at FPDS), and Edward (a second grader at FPDS).

After so many accomplishments, why does this young attorney want to be Head of School? In his letter to the Head of School Search Committee, Lawrence wrote, “My primary motivation for offering myself as a candidate for the Head of School position at Prep…

Simply put, I love Prep!” When you combine qualifications and experience unmatched by any other candidate with a pure, deep love for the institution, it is undeniably clear why he was named.

What philosophy will guide Lawrence’s leading role at Prep?

He seeks, first and foremost, to unify Prep constituents in pursuit of uncompromising excellence in every aspect of school life. As Head of School, he will lead by example, setting and communicating goals of excellence in classrooms, on the athletic fields and venues, on the stage, in art galleries, and in leadership settings. In daily interactions with faculty, students, and parents, he will seek a team commitment to Prep’s shared vision of excellence that dates back to the school’s founding.

Prep enthusiastically welcomes our new Head of School, Lawrence Coco.

Prep Fest

2018

By Adrienne Carter, PAT President (class of 1991) • Photos by Adrienne Carter

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rep Fest 2018, the PAT’s fundraising weekend, was held Friday, April 13, and Saturday, April 14. Friday evening, guests were treated to a sponsor reception followed by a five-course Supper Soirée at the Bridlewood of Madison.

The night’s delectable dishes were prepared by alumni chefs Reynolds Boykin, Kimme Hargrove, David Ferris, Whitney Maxwell, Taylor Bowen Ricketts, and Stewart Robinson.

Following a live auction, the evening closed with cocktails on the patio and the sounds of the Brady Stewart Band.

Saturday’s Lagniappe event was a Cajun celebration for the entire Prep Family and included Lucky Dogs, crawfish, hamburgers, New Orleans-style snowballs, and games, all set to the tune of live zydeco. We were excited to bring this portion of Prep Fest back to the campus for all to enjoy.

The weekend raised over $66,000 that will directly impact every student. Proceeds were used to fulfill the teachers’ wish list: TI Navigator systems for math classrooms, stereomicroscopes and chemistry lab equipment, a new kiln and pottery wheel for the art department, mobile desks for language classes, virtual reality software for every department, keystone benches for the red slab, and a new 3D printer for virtual art, engineering, and maker projects.

We hope you will join us April 12 and 13 for Prep Fest 2019! Plans are underway for a fantastic weekend beginning with Friday night’s Supper Soirée. On Saturday, get ready for a throwback as we revisit Prep days gone by with the return of the Revolutionary Fair. For sponsorship information, please contact Melissa Hederman at 601-613-4003 or mhederman@hedermangroup.com. Stay tuned for details by following the PAT on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @JacksonPrepPAT.

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Barbara Fortenberry Hederman:

An Extraordinary Lady

By Allyn Ray, Director of Support Services

Marshall M. Fortenberry Theatre Photo by Hubert Worley

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ow many of us can say that the legacy we will leave our community is arguably the finest secondary independent school in the South? Barbara Fortenberry Hederman can proclaim this proudly. Even at age 92, with a twinkle in her eyes, Barbara recently said to me, “Allyn, Jackson Prep was my first grandchild.” And this is how the story goes.

In the fall of 1969, when driving home to Jackson from a dental convention on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Barbara and her husband, Dr. Marshall Fortenberry, were discussing the education of their three children, Lisa, Tina, and John. Both desired an excellent college preparatory education for their children. Barbara recalls looking at Marshall and saying, “Why don’t we start a school?” With that simple question and proposal, a creative whirlwind of collaboration and labor among a group of like-minded parents began.

In retrospect, Barbara pioneered educational pursuits as a young woman.

Educated in Jackson public schools, she attended Draughn’s Business School and earned a business degree. Inspired by her love of the TV show Perry Mason, however, Barbara determined to be a lawyer.

Encouraged by Standard Oil, her employer, she enrolled in the Jackson School of Law in 1950, one of only three female students at that time. In 1952 Barbara not only passed the Mississippi Bar Exam, becoming one of the first women to do so, but also posted a very high score.

Although fully credentialed and poised to become the first female Perry Mason in Jackson’s law community, Barbara put aside that dream for what she now considers a loftier journey. On a double date on the roof of the Heidelberg Hotel, she met a young dentist, Dr. Marshall Fortenberry, and within the year they were married; a year later they welcomed a daughter, Lisa. Three years later, a second daughter, Tina, was born, and in 1959, the birth of John Fortenberry put a period on the Fortenberry family.

Barbara devoted her time and energy to the care of her family, church, and community, always keenly attentive to the importance of an excellent education both for her own children and all children in the capital city. It is thus not hard to imagine that, in 1969, a

group of men and women passionate about exceptional education assembled in the living room of Barbara and Marshall Fortenberry, at 1215 Belvoir Place, and dreamed a dream… Jackson Preparatory School. This fearless, focused group of men and women, in the short span of a few months, planned a secondary independent school. A corporation was formed, and stock was sold to those families wishing to enroll. Barbara led the drive, joining other families to raise money through bake sales, garage sales, and raffles. Land was secured on Lakeland Drive, and construction of the school began. Barbara relates that the weekend before Prep opened its doors, she and her family, along with Mr. Jesse Howell (our first Head of School) and his son Lee, cleaned the school to prepare it for the inaugural student body.

When the doors opened in September of 1970, 648 students in grades 9-12 blessed the classrooms of Jackson Prep. The school flourished, adding a junior high building and more athletic facilities its second year. In 1979-80, an auditorium was built, aptly named the Marshall M. Fortenberry Auditorium in recognition of the school’s founder and first chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Barbara Fortenberry Hederman—lady, lawyer, leader, servant, mother, grandmother—a true Patriot—continues to follow “all things Prep” from her Belhaven home. Adored by many, she is described in flattering terms by her children and grandchildren.

“An amazing woman…strong, independent, elegant, and kind,” says Lisa, class of 1971. John, class of 1977, emphasizes her “surprisingly sharp wit and keen sense of humor.” Tess, John’s daughter, age 16, calls her grandmother, “a real lady.” Chance, John’s 14-year-old son, recalls how, “Gamma read many books to me.” But I think daughter Tina, class of 1974, sums it up perfectly: “[Barbara’s] excitement, curiosity, and adventure—her genuine love and concern—helped create a school of higher learning. A school that she thought of—a school that she imagined and that my father made happen—a school called Jackson Prep.”

Barbara Fortenberry Hederman, your first grandchild—Jackson Prep—says a heartfelt THANK YOU!

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The New Daily Schedule

By Lee Ozier, Boys Senior High Counselor (class of 1974) Photos by Ryan Sherman

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he year was 1970. Richard Nixon was in the White House. Gas cost 36 cents a gallon. And both The Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel disbanded. 1970 was also the year that Jackson Preparatory School opened its doors and established a six-period class schedule.

Well, a lot has happened in the 48 years since. Seven presidents have entered and left the White House. Gas is closer to $2.50 a gallon. And Paul McCartney’s latest live performance was probably for his grandchildren.

At Prep, however, we were still operating with the same schedule.

But that has changed. In August of 2018, Prep launched a new daily class schedule. When that

occurred, it marked the end of a process that began two- and-a-half years ago when a faculty task force met as a part of the school’s five-year strategic plan initiative.

These changes impact the senior high to a greater extent. The high school operates on a rotating schedule that provides students with seven periods. This not only provides the opportunity to take more courses, but many innovative semester electives have been added to the curriculum, such as a coding course, studio art classes, marketing and entrepreneurship—to name a few. Students may also take online dual-credit semester electives through Hinds Community College. All juniors enrolled in Junior Seminar, a semester-length

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“For some time, a rotating daily schedule has been the reality in the vast majority of the schools with which we wish to associate. It is time for us to join them.�

experience that provides aptitude assessment, career exploration, ACT test preparation, and an introduction to the college search process.

The high school schedule operates on a series of A, B, and C days. Each day consists of five periods, along with a 25-minute Community Time and Activity Period, which occurs between second and third periods and includes Senior High Advisory which meets once a week. Four rotating periods are 70 minutes in length.

The fifth period, a fixed period, is 50 minutes in length.

All senior high students eat lunch between 12:25 and 1:10. (Students no longer take an academic class period divided by lunch.)

The junior high schedule remains largely unaltered as students continue to meet six class periods each day.

This provides a sense of continuity and security for younger students. Each day begins with a 10-minute Advisory Period. For both the junior high and senior high school the length of the school day increased 15 minutes. School now begins at 8:10 and ends at 3:10.

Some may ask why Prep made this change now.

Jackson Prep has always striven to associate itself with the leading independent schools in the Southeast. In providing innovative scheduling opportunities for students with varied talents and interests, however, we needed to catch up. For some time, a rotating daily schedule has been the reality in the vast majority of the schools with which we wish to associate. It was time for us to join them.

Second, our students benefit from this change.

Abundant research shows that a slower-paced, more flexible day offers advantages. By meeting fewer classes each day, for instance, students will face fewer potential homework assignments each night. And as the total number of required graduation credits has not changed, students can now add a study hall, an interesting on-campus elective, or perhaps a dualcredit online semester elective, without worrying about staying on track to graduate.

Longer class periods allow for deeper learning, with more hands-on and innovative components than we can currently incorporate into 50-minute classes.

And rotating between morning and afternoon meeting times allow students and teachers to interact when energy levels are higher and attention spans longer. In other words, you no longer have the same subject at

8:30 in the morning (or 2:30 in the afternoon) for the entire semester or year.

It is no secret that the path through high school and college is very different now than in the 20th century.

Our students face challenges and demands that might not have existed even 15 years ago. It is our belief that the new daily schedule will better equip Prep students to manage their time and seek out opportunities that haven’t been available to them in the past. This schedule provides flexibility as well for individual students to pursue the innovation of their choosing. It is the one best able to serve the wonderfully diverse interests of our talented, diverse student body. Thirty-six cents of gas will not take you very far today. You need more to reach your destination. We are betting that the same applies to schedules and the students they serve.

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GLOBAL

LEADERSHIP

INSTITUTE

he Global Leadership Institute encourages sophomores and juniors to create Make a Difference (MAD) projects in areas about which they are passionate. Developing during summers and during the school year, MAD projects are often the first time students get to solely lead an effort—seeing their unique vision through from conception to execution. MAD projects are just one way we “equip students to pursue lives of distinction in service to society.”

1 Neil Stewart, Sara Thomas Easley, Emme Aldridge, Tianyu Nina Sun GoodWill Art Show 2 Katie Simmons, Amanda Roberts, Nora Beth Hetzel, Caroline McIntyre, Gabbi Ferreri, Robert Jordan, Jean-Paul Guilbeau, Tori Newsome, Jordan Headley, David Purvis, Reece Davis, Spence Graves, Alex Gibbs, Parker Williams, William Fletcher, Chandler Usry, Matt Mills, Emory Maxwell Junior Garage Sale Leaders 3 Jack Drennan, Jack Turnage, Nelson Ramsey, Trip Perkins, Theo Costas, Alex White Ducks Unlimited Varsity Chapter, #13 in Nation

Make a Difference PROJECTS

4 Camille Grady Teen Healthy Eating 5 Kyle Sistrunk Built ROPES leadership wall with funds raised by charity soccer game 6 Elizabeth Downing GOD’s Haven December Break Lunch Project for Metro Jackson Children

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7 Gabbi Ferreri, Caitlin Parks Veterans Day Luncheon Celebration 8 Phoebe Carlton Made Presentations to MS Senators on behalf of Canopy Children’s Services 9 Amanda Roberts Developed “Let’s Read Rankin” children’s book fairs and literacy program 10 Tanner McCraney, Kole Crotwell Worked with Red Cross on awareness and fund collection for LA flooding 11 Jennings Duncan, Matt Gross, Charlsey Rowan, Miriam Box, Beth Ann Young, Reed Kellum, Walker J Patterson, Mary Patton Murphy, Gregory Vance UNLEASH Praise Student Band 12 Joseph Voynik Funded and built Miracle Mile Baseball Field for handicapped children, Ridgeland 13 Jewels Tauzin City Church Girl’s Room Makeover Project 14 Isabelle McLeod, Addison Galloway, Maddy Mazzafero, Parker Williams, Maddie Puckett, Gabbi Ferreri, Thomas Thornton, Reece Davis, Haley Wimberly, Parker Dausman, Dixon Hughes Young Life Metro Jackson

15 Stewart McCullough, Olivia Thigpen, Mary Noble Howard Caleb Miskelly Anti-Drug Forum 16 Amanda Roberts, Katie Simmons 172nd AWG Air National Guard Family Support Day Coordination

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17 Abby Newton, Alex Turner, Preston Dubberly Hurricane Harvey Buckets with FPDS; purchase, assemble, off-campus fundraiser 18 Remi Koestler, Andrew Beard “A Slice of Life” HUD Housing kids fundraising event at Altitude, raised money 19 Christopher Russell, Brooks Gobbel City Church Fundraiser Dodge Ball and Playground build 20 Kathleen Myers, Mary Parker Plunkett, Mary Riels Jeffreys, Ramsay Jeffreys New Eyes for Needy 21 Phoebe Carlton, Anna Rose Harris Ballet MS, Metro Jackson Dance

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team outfits

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28 Robert Jordan, Madeline Claire Hughes Madison Leadership 29 Katie Walker, Olivia Thigpen Guatemala Mission Trip, supplies event

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30 Lauren Williams, Wesley White, Reed Peets, Jewels Tauzin 1st Black History Month Celebration Event at Prep 22 Claire Allyn Griffith “Backpax” 50 each, Catholic Charities Foster Care Program 35

23 Mary Riels Jeffreys, Eloise Moore Blair Batson New Books 24 Madison Heidelberg Anti-Bullying Speech to 7th Graders 25 Caroline Whitaker, Celeste Knighton Little Lighthouse Christmas Party, Craft, Lunch 26 Jimmy Underwood Stewpot Backpacks 27 7th Grade 2nd Term Leadership Class Sunnybrook Orphanage Gently Used Bike Donation

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31 Polly Watkins Music at Blair E. Batson 32 Alex Trumpore, Rivers Womack Gently Used Bikes For Sunnybrook Children’s Home 33 Avery Andress Casey Elementary, Student After School Support Project 34 Thomas Thornton, Steven Wyatt 3 on 3 Basketball tourney and Hoops for a Home Fundraiser for Children’s Protective Services, First Baptist Church 35 Kennedy Marble, Parks Flynt, Mary Parker Plunkett 3-Day Summer Camp for Special Needs Children

GLI VISITS

Japan&Taiwan J

ackson Prep’s focus on leadership goes global each summer, immersing students in new places, people, and cultures. Students step out of their comfort zones. Worldviews expand.

This year students traveled to Japan and Taiwan. Japan is a demanding experience for the senses, surrounding visitors with discovery, cultural difference, and delight. This is a nation whose every action displays respect and obedience. Deferential values saturate daily life. No trash, graffiti, or homeless citizens were observed on our long trip. In contrast to the United States, Japanese citizens seem to be allied to groups, clubs, or organizations, only occasionally breaking out as individuals.

Their reverence and orderliness gave us a different perspective on America.

In Tokyo, we visited the famous Asakusa Kannon Temple, Harujuku shopping district, Meiji Shinto Shrine, Akihabara district (home to electronics and anime), and Tsukiji fish market.

Students also had two to three hours of free time each day to explore. They competed in and won a scavenger hunt in Akihabara against other touring groups and even attended a Sumo class presented by a wrestler who spoke on the sport’s training, rules, customs, ranking, and ceremonies. Later that evening, the group saw him in action in an exhibition.

Food challenges were a highlight of many days. Our group endeavored to try every food they saw. Their favorite game was the food dare, which was never refused. Whole squid on a stick,

By William Merrell, Director of GLI (class of 1985) Photos by William Merrell

fish eyeball, chicken feet, and stinky tofu challenges were met and consumed.

Food explorers Kennedy Marble and Georgia Perkins were, hands down, the most adventurous.

The group traveled from the largest urban area of the world—Tokyo—to the rural Hakone region, staying at a traditional Ryokan Hotel on a scenic volcanic lake. Sleeping on traditional tatami mats and waking up to local fishermen perched on tall lifeguard-like chairs on the placid lake was certainly an extreme contrast to the bustle of Tokyo’s 37 million people.

Trekking to the traditional city of Kyoto aboard a 200-mile-per-hour bullet train set the group up for more excursions. Lake Ashi supplied a boat tour. A cable car via Mount Komagatake allowed us to glimpse Mt Fuji. The list goes on: The Golden Pavilion, Kimono show, Nijo Castle, Arashiyama bamboo forest, and Nara Temple, where 1,200 sacred deer stroll among tourists.

The group landed in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, after some final island hopping. Taipei 101—the tallest building in the world—the National museum, Hualien aboriginal show and village, Taroke Gorge, and a Pacific beach swim made great memories.

The Global Leadership Institute will travel again, in July 2019, to Krakow, Poland; Prague, Czech Republic; and Nuremberg and Munich, Germany, concluding with a twoday student leadership conference in Davos, Switzerland.

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Community ServiceReview

By Kelly Headley, Director of Community Service

“We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”

Winston Churchill

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n Friday, August 25, Hurricane Harvey made catastrophic landfall in southern Texas. On Monday morning, however, Prep students began doing what they do best—giving back. When students see great need, they are more than willing to help and very quick to respond.

Thousands of personal care items were collected and assembled into kits. Hundreds of cases of water were also collected. By September 1, the kits were loaded onto the largest Salvation Army truck in our area and delivered soon thereafter to Houston, providing aid for hundreds of victims left without shelter and basic necessities.

“For the Salvation Army to continue providing services here in the Greater Jackson area, it is essential to

have community support,” said Taylor Hart, Salvation Army Special Events and Volunteer Coordinator.

“Students at Jackson Prep have been instrumental in helping us do the most good. Jackson Prep students and families not only supported us through the generosity of donating items, but their time as well.

We cannot continue to provide services to those in the Jackson-Metro area without the support of community members like the students at Jackson Prep.”

Service to society is part of the mission. Our students naturally and eagerly participate. Whether there is a natural disaster that begs for help with no time to spare, or an after-school program where children need tutoring on a regular basis, Prep students are actively and consistently involved. The Community

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Service Program is unique in that it is completely voluntary; students serve because they want to, not because they are required.

Another unique aspect of the Community Service program is our partner relationships. Each year, Prep partners with a nonprofit entity in the Metro area, teaching our children the difference they can make by investing in one area. By focusing on one nonprofit, students gain extensive knowledge of that area of need while building greater passion for making a difference.

In return, the nonprofit benefits from the outpouring of time and financial contributions the school is able to offer: it’s a win-win!

The Prep partner this school year is the LeFleur Museum District, which brings together four amazing museums in our area: Mississippi’s Sports Hall of Fame, the Mississippi Children’s Museum, the Agricultural Museum, and the Museum of Natural Science. Susan Branson, Volunteer Coordinator for the Mississippi Children’s Museum, offered the following: “Being a partner with Jackson Prep has had a huge impact on our organization this year! The commitment your students have shown during events such as Science Fest, Park After Dark, and Journey to the North Pole has made a significant difference in the level of customer service offered to our museum guests. Every time they come to volunteer with us, they bring a positive attitude and a willingness to pitch in wherever needed. It speaks so well of the core values you have instilled in them.”

JEWELS TAUZIN, CLASS OF 2018 Platinum Community Service Award Recipient “Some of the most valuable, special times that I remember from the past three years have been spent volunteering. I have become a part of communities like Southwest Village, Mission First, and We Will Go. Playing with children on Wednesdays, bringing lunches on Saturdays, and tutoring students during the week have brought me great joy. I have learned that deeply investing your time in a community is invaluable, because time builds meaningful relationships. I would not trade anything for the sound of a dozen 10-year-old girls shouting my name every Wednesday for the past three years. Service Club has given me an outlet to find what I am most passionate about—helping and loving others—and I am so thankful for that!”

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ACHIEVEMENTS IN

Creative Writing

SENIOR HIGH

JUNIOR HIGH

Earthwinds

Mindprints

earthwinds

Mindprints 2018 Perspectives

literary and art journal jackson preparatory school

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Volume X

INTERNATIONAL CSPA GOLD CROWN AWARD

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION Columbia Scholastic Press Association National Critique of Student Publications Crown Awards Competition Silver Crown 2017

Earthwinds 2017 has been awarded a Gold Crown, the highest award in the annual international competition sponsored by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, a division of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University.

Earthwinds is one of only ten high school literary magazines in the nation to earn the distinction of a Gold Crown. This is the 11th Crown Award for Earthwinds since 2005.

Columbia Scholastic Press Association National Critique of Student Publications Medalist Competition Gold Medal 2017 National Council of Teachers of English Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines Recommended for Highest Award 2017

Full article: http://cspa.columbia.edu/recepient-lists/2018awards-student-work-crown-awards-scholastic-recipients

PACEMAKER AWARD Earthwinds 2017 also earned the Pacemaker Award, the National Scholastic Press Association’s preeminent award for student literary magazines.

Earthwinds is one of only six magazines from across the nation to earn this distinction.

Southern Interscholastic Press Association Evaluation of Student Publications Superior 2017 American Scholastic Press Association Annual Magazine Competition First Place with Special Merit 2017 Outstanding Variety of Literature and Art 2017

List of finalists and winners: http://studentpress.org/nspa/awards/mpm17/

EARTHWINDS COFFEEHOUSE

National Scholastic Press Association First Class 2017

Earthwinds is released and distributed at the annual Earthwinds Coffeehouse, a day designed to celebrate the creative talents of Prep students.

The festivities include Cups coffee and live performances. Even instant poetry—a booth where students and faculty can request a poem about anything from ice cream to golden retrievers—is available.

Mississippi Scholastic Press Association Excellence in Journalism Awards Overall Literary Magazine, Design, and Theme Finalist 2017 Best Literary Magazine in Mississippi 2017

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NEW COURSE:

Kinesiology

By Meredith Lang • Photos by Meredith Lang

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new science was offered for the 2017-18 school year: Kinesiology, with a focus in Exercise Physiology. Prep joins a small number of high schools nationwide to offer this course.

The class is for seniors on the college prep track, who are now able to choose among Kinesiology, Marine Biology, Cell Biology, and Intro to Engineering. Seniors who choose Kinesiology are introduced to the study of human movement, the role of body systems during exercise, as well as how lifestyle choices affect the health of the body over time.

Kinesiology began to take shape when teachers in the science department wanted to offer an innovative option that would pique students’ interests while challenging them academically.

Because Prep allows teachers to be involved in curriculum and course planning, I was excited to be able to suggest this course.

As a former collegiate cross country and track athlete, I have always had a fascination with and profound respect for the adaptabilities of the human body. I pursued an undergraduate degree in the field as well as a Masters of Science in Exercise Physiology. It was a no-brainer for me to pitch the subject I loved. Additionally, in my roles as head cross country and assistant track coach, I have observed that students are curious how and why their bodies move and operate.

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Students enrolled in the course spend the first semester studying human anatomy and physiology.

This provides the foundational knowledge of how the body functions under normal circumstances, which sets the stage for students to learn how it functions during exercise and other physiologically stressful circumstances. The semester of Kinesiology focuses on practical application. We spend a great deal of time doing labs and activities that demonstrate what students are learning. In our study of cardiorespiratory endurance, students demonstrated a graded exercise test using a cycle ergometer. They observed and recorded changes in heart rate and blood pressure as the intensity of exercise increased. Students used the results to create a graphical analysis of those parameters over time. In the same unit, students performed submaximal exercise tests on the track, which measured the maximal oxygen consumption of their bodies. In another unit of study, students used spirometers to measure lung volumes and capacities, which was followed by a discussion of how doctors use spirometry to diagnose pulmonary disorders such as asthma. Other activities included the use of electrocardiograph sensors to measure electrical activity in muscles. Prep is fortunate to have resources available so students can learn in a practical way. Other topics of study include nutrition and the incidence and prevention of metabolic diseases, such as obesity and cardiovascular disease, that are ravaging the country today.

Students are responding with interest. Miriam Box (class of 2018) added: “My favorite part of this class is

the hands-on aspect of it. I love that we get to do labs and activities that help visualize what we’re learning.

It’s also really cool to learn about things that apply to ourselves; it makes things so much more interesting.

I’ve learned so much more than I thought I would!”

Our studies culminate in the Physiology Fair.

Students develop demonstrations pertaining to the units of study in which they were most interested. Junior high science students take part in the Physiology Fair to learn from the seniors about their bodies. Examples of topics developed by students include the effects of exercise and body position on blood pressure (where junior high students have their blood pressure taken by the seniors), as well as nutrition for a healthy lifestyle (where seniors will explain needs for carbohydrate, fat, and protein as well as foods that contain each). The Physiology Fair will give Kinesiology students a chance to teach and apply what they’re learning in specific areas of study that interest them.

The addition of this course has added a greater scope of opportunity for Prep students. Addison Galloway (class of 2018) commented on how it is contributing to her future goals: “Kinesiology has been one of my favorite classes at Prep, specifically because of the hands-on labs. Physical therapy is my dream job, and I think the labs and the material we learn in this class have helped prepare me for the future. I feel like I’ve learned a lot while doing something I am super interested in and am so glad I had the opportunity to take this class.”

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AlumniSpotlight Harvard University in 2013, LTC Drake was assigned to the Office of Defense Cooperation in the Republic of Georgia, where he served as the Deputy Chief. Since June of 2015, he has served as a regional and military specialist on Russia at the Headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels, Belgium.

LTC Drake has earned various ribbons and decorations, including the combat action badge, parachutist badge, bronze star medal, meritorious achievement and commendation medals, and service ribbons for operations and deployments.

LTC Drake has a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Management from West Point and a Masters in Russian, Eurasian, and East European Studies from Harvard University.

LTC Drake is married to the former Catherine Rand. They have four young children: Daniel, Olivia, Margaret, and Eleanor.

JONNY DRAKE (class of 1995)

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC), US Army 2018 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year LTC Drake commissioned as a second lieutenant from the United States Military Academy in 1999 and entered the US Army Field Artillery. After completing the FA Officer Basic Course, he served as a platoon leader, battery executive officer, battalion adjutant, and battalion fire direction officer in 1-94 Field Artillery, 1st Armored Division, in Idar-Oberstein, Germany.

After completing the Artillery Captains Career Course and the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, he was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division in 2003. In 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery, LTC Drake deployed to Afghanistan, where his unit was charged with securing Kandahar Province and providing fire support across the country. In 2005 he deployed with 2-22 Infantry to Baghdad, Iraq, as the battalion fire support officer and assistant operations officer. After undergoing extensive back surgery, LTC Drake was assigned as rear detachment commander.

In 2009, LTC Drake entered the Foreign Area Officer (FAO) training program. After learning Russian and attending Intermediate Level Education (ILE), LTC Drake worked throughout the former Soviet Union and conducted research for the George C. Marshall Center. After completing graduate school at

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LESLEY WIGLESWORTH (class of 2000) Creative Thinking Faculty Fellow Researches Student Risk-Taking

by Kerry Steinhofer, Centre College News

Centre College’s Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) Creative Thinking Faculty Fellow Lesley Wiglesworth, who is also an associate professor of mathematics, has been researching and investigating pedagogical strategies that encourage students to take risks academically and to think beyond the grade earned in a course.

“Many researchers agree that we are living at a time of significant change,” Wiglesworth said. “We are unsure of the future, but clearly, we need to venture out from familiar terrain.

“Wintrol and Jerinic argue that ‘Creativity, the conversation suggests, is the quality that will help us navigate these new lands, and educational institutions must somehow foster, develop and value it,’” she continued. “Moreover, I believe students need to see faculty members taking risks.”

The idea for her research came from the fact that several students have learned to define themselves by their ability to perform in an educational system that rewards them for delivering “what the teacher wants” and “correct answers.”

Wiglesworth explained that with standardized testing that predominates K-12 schools, students are only rewarded when answers are correct and are penalized when they are incorrect.

“They are never rewarded for the process,” she added. “This emphasis on the answer is prevalent in all subjects but particularly in mathematics. Because students have been touted by a system that relies on testing and emphasizes rote learning, students are often afraid to disappoint. As such, many students are playing it safe on assignments and are not taking risks in the classroom.”

Beginning her research in the classroom last summer, Wiglesworth has been working on two projects on the topic of risk-taking.

First, she is investigating the effects of classroom climates and student experiences on outcomes, as well as ideas for promoting risk-taking in students.

“I have used strategies learned at a past Creativity and Creative Pedagogies Workshop, as well as through readings, to create a learning environment

where students are more comfortable being wrong and speaking up with ideas for solving mathematical problems,” she explained.

Her second project deals with first-year and senior students focus groups. The goal of this project is to determine ways students are encouraged to take risks while at Centre, the positive outcomes, the negative outcomes, whether risk-taking is more prevalent in introductory or upper-level courses, and how the academic push from a professor affects the student’s perceptions of the course.

This summer, Wiglesworth plans to filter through the collected data and put together a booklet for CTL. In addition to sharing her results with students and colleagues at Centre, she will present her research at a national pedagogical conference.

For Centre News, June 26, 2018 Centre College, centre.edu

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EXTENDED

REALITYXR Lab Debuts at Prep

By Russ Upton Photos by Ryan Sherman & Hubert Worley Reprinted with permission of The Sentry

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J

ackson Prep is poised to become a leading school in preparing students for the technologyfilled world they are bound to encounter. On Thursday, April 5, the school inaugurated its Extended Reality (XR) Learning Lab in the Jesse L. Howell Jr. library. With an initial installation of 24 virtual-reality stations, the XR Lab will allow students to use state-of-the-art hardware and software for a wide variety of educational purposes. This lab is one of the largest of its kind in any K-12 school in the country.

To work at each station, students put on a headset that gives them a picture of virtual surroundings. The students are also given hand controllers that enable them to interact with the virtual surroundings. For example, you can point, make a fist, and even grab virtual objects.

The setup utilizes an Oculus Rift headset in conjunction with dedicated Alienware PCs. One of the many additions to the available electives for students in the 2018-19 school year will be an extended reality class. This is an exciting opportunity for students that promises to be very different from the normal high-school class setup.

This idea for an XR lab came from the strategic plan that Prep has every five years. Mr. Denny Britt, the school’s Chief Operating Officer and previous Interim Head of School, helped come up with this idea to broaden the horizons of Prep.

Another product from the strategic plan is the Institute of Innovation and Creativity. This is an “umbrella” idea designed to help Prep increase creativity in everyday school life and stay current (or ahead of the curve) with new educational methods. It was instrumental in the formation of the XR project.

Last fall, there were four stations above the library, in the Hederman Media Center, before the full setup of the XR Lab. This allowed for a trial run before library space was available.

This year the stations are meant mostly for teachers to incorporate XR into their lesson

plans. For example, geography teachers can use Google Earth VR to give students a 360-degree view of sites around the world. Students can fly through cities and landscapes with a sense of actually being there. This app could also be used by History and English teachers.

If a student were taking European History, he or she could go on Google Earth VR to look at the building or architecture they are discussing in class. English classes that are studying Shakespeare could go see the Globe Theatre on the app to help visualize how big the building actually is and imagine themselves going to a performance there.

Students can also visit other places that interest them. Tanner McCraney, class of 2018, said, “It was really fun getting to see my house.”

There is a fascinating Anatomy app where science teachers can guide students through the body’s organs and systems. “Not too long ago, when students learned about the heart and its functions, they looked at a simple diagram in a textbook,” noted Mr. Britt. “Now, with extended reality, a student can go inside a beating heart, see the valves opening and closing, and learn by experiencing the functions of the heart.”

Within extended reality, students can view the outside of healthy organs and those with diseases. For example, with the brain, the student can see the outside

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of a brain and then view the neurons firing from the inside. It is an amazing experience that would be difficult to do any other way. This interactive extended reality anatomy picture, and others like it, will help students visualize lessons.

Hundreds of other educational extended-reality apps are currently becoming available, and one of the functions of the XR Lab will be to help teachers and students find the best software experiences available for their particular educational goals.

English teacher Mr. Nathan Devine said, “XR technology provides what education should: immersion.

At Prep, students engage and make unique products.

In the past, that might have been accomplished by handing someone a paintbrush, but XR is the next generation of learning—it’s handing a paintbrush to the mind.”

The XR Lab sits between the librarians’ desk and the main bookshelves in the library, in an area once home to general-use computers (since most Prep students now bring their own devices, these computers were no longer being used as much).

Next to the stations there is a dedicated laptop where teachers can observe what the students are working on. Director of Instructional Technology Ms. Laurie Van Pelt said, “The teacher laptop is really awesome because it allows teachers to interact with their students in the same virtual space.” This shared space is an app called Infinite Whiteboard. This allows students to be in a virtual classroom with the teacher. It is password protected, which ensures the class’s privacy.

Using that same computer, the teacher can monitor students’ progress in the apps.”

Next year the stations will be for the extended reality class and for other courses where extended reality will improve lessons. In the XR class, students will learn how to operate the stations and, by the end of the year, be able to make their own virtual experience.

Classes that come to the XR Lab will also be assisted by student lab assistants. Prep hosted summer camps solely for learning how to use extended reality.

Technology will be a big part of this generation, and it already is. For example, UPS is using extended reality to train workers before they work on the actual conveyor belts that make UPS run. This could drastically change medical school, dental school, and other graduate schools that require a lot of expertise.

Doctors performing their first surgery would not be as nervous if they had performed that surgery on a virtual patient many times before.

The school hopes the extended reality class and the XR Lab will offer an amazing opportunity to broaden Prep’s horizons. Mrs. Norma Cox, Prep’s Director of Library Services and XR Learning Lab Director said, “Educators are seeing increased engagement levels and improved test scores across the board with extended reality education programs.”

I

am very excited about the opening of the XR (Extended Reality) Lab and the transformation potential this has for our institution and education in general. We are on the leading edge of introducing this technology into a school setting, particularly on this scale. This is one of the largest implementations in a K-12 setting in the country.

The XR Lab serves many functions. The power of experiential learning for students in retaining and comprehending knowledge is well documented. The XR Lab gives our faculty another tool to dig deeper and to create experiences that reinforce learning—and, in some cases, create that light-bulb moment of comprehension. I watched our science classes last semester do their exam review of the body in the XR Lab. They were exploring inside the body, seeing not only the parts but how they were functioning. The students were able to be inside the heart, lungs, circulatory system, and many other organs in the body. In English, our seventh-grade class was reading a Willie Morris book and did a Google Earth Virtual scavenger hunt for Yazoo City landmarks described in the novel, making the book even more real. These are just a few of the examples of the lab’s unlimited applications.

The lab also allows students to experience the tool of Virtual Reality (VR). VR is becoming mainstream in applications across multiple DENNY BRITT industries including shopping, interviewing, design, and situational Chief Operating Officer training, to name a few. These events are happening now—not in the distant future. It is becoming the norm in which industries operate and engage employees and consumers. We want our students to have a head start in that environment.

Another significant impact of the XR Lab is that it introduces our students to the skills of creating virtual content, coding, and critical thinking to solve challenges. It allows us to prepare students for jobs that don’t exist today but will in the near future. A recent McKinsey & Company report projects that by 2030 up to 375 million jobs will require different skills than those that exist today. We live in exciting times and are committed to preparing our students to thrive in the new normal of rapid change.

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INTERVIEW WITH ADAM MANGANA Director of the Extended Reality Lab

A

new economic element is emerging worldwide, and the opportunity for the young people of Mississippi to take advantage of it is now. The technology generally described in the marketplace as Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) is being adopted by multiple industries such as architecture, health care, education, manufacturing, tourism, and of course, entertainment. In 2016 the VR/AR industry was a $16 billion industry, and forecasts for 2020 project it to triple or quadruple. Already today, there are thousands of unfilled positions in this industry—one of the leading companies, Oculus, has over 400+ job opportunities on their website—and the need for VR/AR technicians and developers grows daily. While we are clearly in the early phases of this economic initiative, the opportunity is analogous to web development in the early 90s and app development in the early 2000s. The chance to be

a leader in workforce development for this growing industry is now.

Two major universities in the state, the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University, are already deploying VR stations and looking into curriculum development in VR. This will require both VR developers and technicians. In Clarksdale, MS, AR applications are being developed to enhance tourists’ experiences in the downtown area. A regional health care clinic is beginning to use VR as an element in treating patients suffering from ADD, ADHD, and PTSD. Regionally, UPS utilizes custom VR experiences for employee training. It is not unreasonable to expect that additional companies and education organizations in Mississippi and the region at large will be utilizing VR/ AR technologies in the immediate future. Employment in VR/AR for both entry level and skilled workers are in line with the highest paying jobs in the tech industry and will quickly be at a premium due to the growing need and lack of experienced workforce. Individuals who have hands-on experience with these technologies

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and equipment are the lead candidates. Without access, applicants will be left behind.

VR/AR developers and technicians are clearly some of the most exciting workforce opportunities in the 21st century economy and will be for decades ahead. This technology is poised to become as pervasively utilized in industries, education, and personal use as web technology and smartphones. Prep is endeavoring to lead the way in Mississippi, and we have an exciting interview with its lab director. Mr. Mangana gives insight into Prep’s vision for the future of this technology in the largest secondary, independent school in the state.

How are you using the lab to benefit teachers and students?

Faculty might be teaching something in English and want to do a Google Earth scavenger hunt to get students excited about how geography shapes story.

Having students fully engage is one of the things I joke with the faculty about: you can’t be on your iPhone in VR. You have complete focus in the classroom, when students are engaging, and it makes the learning feel full.

The other side of the experience is a more vocational one, to be frank. It’s the opportunity to actually develop VR experiences—and that requires collaboration. That requires somebody with the facility of coding. (Primarily, C Sharp and C++ are the languages that dominate the VR space right now.) And it requires artists to create 3-D models, in addition to folks who can orchestrate, produce, and coordinate these skillsets. It requires level designers—who are really the new architects— who have high spatial intelligence. Imagine a class where students can combine those talents and work on VR projects. That’s dazzling. Each of the academic verticals at Prep will be supported in the VR lab, from English to History to Science to math, our fine arts, and music classes. Everything is supported by VR.

Interviewer: What led to the creation of the XR lab?

Adam Mangana: I have always been really passionate about virtual reality, and the stars around Prep aligned. I was able to meet a VR company based out of Mississippi. Simultaneously, I was doing Master’s work at Vanderbilt University, where I was allowed a capstone project focused on how you would implement and integrate VR in a school setting. Our Interim Head of School, Denny Britt, and his administration created the conditions for us to build the largest VR lab in the Southeast, probably in the country. Initially, Denny and I wanted to have great VR content curated for students to improve engagement and learning, but as we saw that we had students capable of creating experiences of their own, Denny was nice enough to appoint me in a role that could provide leadership. His courage to be a first mover is inextricably tied to this huge first for Prep, for Jackson, and for Mississippi.

What is the greatest potential for XR? As technology continues to progress, so too does humanity’s dystopian tendency: to think that everything is going to be bad, that computers are going to take over, that artificial intelligence is going to make us slaves.

The reality is that technology like VR may actually allow us to keep our greatest asset—time—and as a person who sees himself as an instructional technologist, the thing I value most is my time with people.

Why build a XR lab in Mississippi?

The great Peter Thiel said the next big thing won’t come out of Silicon Valley...My money is on Mississippi.

One of the things that I think the Deep South exceeds in is creativity, and VR allows for many more kinds of students to access the technology. You don’t just need coders. You need some to tie the back end of the experience up, but you also need artists, level designers, producers. You need people who can work on soundtracks, who can shape the experience and be very connected to the human part of the experience— so you access the humanities as well. It takes a team of students to build an amazing experience, and having students engage and own their learning is an exciting phenomenon in the world of education.

So what is the goal of your XR lab?

We want students to know that we have a twopronged goal. One, we want to curate the very best VR experiences so that we can make learning more efficient, and two, we want our students to be able to create experiences that their peers can learn from.

As I said, what’s exciting about that is the number of accesses: more skillsets, gifts, and types of genius than just what it takes to be an excellent coder.

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WESLEY WHITE

QuestBridge Scholar

By Malika Lindsay, Director of College Counseling Photos by Hubert Worley

W

esley White, class of 2018, is not particularly interested in whether anything he does draws your attention or adulation. He is moving through the world every day, at ease in his skin, humble yet confident, and more resilient and lavishly gifted than most of us can begin to appreciate.

The word humble has been applied to many, but it genuinely characterizes only a handful of the people we run into. His humility is not the sort that is really thinly-veiled self-importance looking for validation— the sort all too common today. Rather, his is the sort that recognizes his blessings, naturally cares for others above self-interest, and works hard because that is his essential character.

In the past year, Wesley has experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. His mother passed away after an extended battle with cancer in February 2017.

Throughout her illness Wesley took care of her first and always. At her funeral he spent his energy caring for others even as he managed his own grief. Wesley’s mother knew how bright her son was and wanted the best education possible for him.

She did everything in her power to ensure that he got it, enrolling him at Prep his sophomore year after a less-than-challenging freshman experience at a local public school.

Wesley’s Prep experience has been full and varied. He consistently stood out in our classrooms and was one of the strongest members of the senior class academically. Teachers and peers alike valued the maturity, positivity, drive, and insight he brought daily to our conversations. His performance in our Speech & Debate program was outstanding, and his work on Earthwinds, the SH literary journal, was sensitive and consistently impressive.

So, in March, when Wesley decided to apply to the QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program—which identifies “outstanding potential candidates to highly selective colleges”—we were not surprised. Once accepted, he became part of an elite group competing for the QuestBridge National College Match.

According to their website: “QuestBridge is a powerful platform that connects the nation’s brightest students from low-income backgrounds with leading institutions of higher education and further opportunities. We are an aggregator of excellence.

By facilitating these exchanges, QuestBridge aims to increase the percentage of talented low-income students attending the nation’s best universities and the ranks of national leadership itself.”

Through an arduous application process, students vied for the opportunity to receive comprehensive four-year scholarships to attend one of 40 of our country’s most prestigious colleges and universities. Among them are Harvard, MIT, Yale, Stanford, Amherst, Princeton, CalTech, Pomona, Williams, Duke, Davidson, and Rice. This year the National College Match program drew a pool of 15,606 applicants, from which QuestBridge chose 5,759 as finalists.

Only 918 outstanding students were selected as recipients. From the program’s promotional materials: “Academically, the 918 College Matches have an average unweighted GPA of 3.92. On standardized testing, the middle 50% received between 1350-1490 on the SAT and between 29-33 on the ACT. 95% rank in the top 10% of their class.” Wesley White is one of those.

Wesley was matched with and is attending Columbia University in New York City on a scholarship that is covering the full cost of tuition, room, and board, loan-free and requiring no parental contribution for his undergraduate career. QuestBridge develops and supports students through college and into their early career “to be successful at America’s best colleges, graduate schools, and companies.”

Wesley’s resilience, compassionate spirit, wit, and tenacity will serve him exceptionally well at the next level of his academic experience. He will hold his own at Columbia and beyond. As he leaves Prep, nearly everyone who has interacted with him agrees that Wesley White is destined for greatness. This is just the beginning of his story.

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Honor Roll of Donors What an outstanding year the Patriot Club realized!

T

he Patriot Club Annual Fund fuels every aspect of Jackson Prep’s remarkable student-centered educational experience, making many unique programs possible every day. We are incredibly grateful to our faculty and staff, parents and grandparents, alumni and friends, who realize the distinct impact their gifts make each year.

Every tax-deductible gift, regardless of the amount, is important. 100% of Patriot

STACEY FERRERI

Club dollars are invested right back into students for every facet of campus life: academic, athletic, and artistic endeavors.

Each and every student will experience the many benefits made possible by Patriot Club member contributions.

With your continued help and boundless generosity, we can accomplish much more.

Director of Institutional Advancement

PATRIOT CLUB CIRCLE OF GOLD ($15,000+ ) Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Bertolet Carroll & Carroll Real Estate, Inc. Ergon Foundation, Inc. Feild Co-Operative Association, Inc Jackson Prep PAT Ashley and Hu Meena CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE ($10,000+) BankPlus Stacy, Greer, and Jay Underwood FOUNDERS‘ CIRCLE ($5,000+) Whitney and David Andress Brown Bottling Group, Inc. Roy H. Furrh Mr. and Mrs. John H. Geary Bettye and Dick Mason Mr. and Mrs. C. Eugene McRoberts, Jr. Chip Triplett Julie and Dudley Wooley TRUSTEES‘ CIRCLE ($2,500+) Sidney and Holt Crews Dulaney Electric and Associates Ergon, Inc. Jan and Lawrence Farrington Huffman & Company, CPA, P.A. Laurie and Tony Huffman Cindy and Mac McGehee Regions Anne and Steve Rogers Trustmark National Bank Amy and DeFord Walker Emily and Stuart Whitaker HEAD OF SCHOOL‘S CIRCLE ($1,000+) Anonymous Ashley and Gabe Baldwin Kathy and Henry Burkhalter Rebecca and Lawrence Coco Mary Frances and John Crawford Sheila and Rett Crowder Lesley and John Davis

2017-18 Dr. and Mrs. David Duncan Kay and Marcelo Eduardo Sherry and Mike Gleason Melinda and Steve Hendrix Carter and Wilson Hood Cathy and Doug Hudgins Jackson Prep Booster Club Ellen and Charles Johnson Lakeside Moulding, Inc. Loving Friends of Rivers McGraw Sally and Len Martin Tammie and James McCullough Wendy and Chuck Mullins Mr. and Mrs. Emile Ott Melinda and Jeff Peoples Susie and John Puckett Raney Rives Amanda and Ben Roberson Sherri and Randal Russell Barbara and Joe Shelton Leigh and Scott Shoemaker SJE-Rhombus Smoothie King Star Service, Inc. of Jackson TELLUS Operating Group, LLC. Mr. and Mrs. William J. VanDevender Guy T. Vise Heather and Will Vise Mrs. Margaret W. Vise Barry Walsh

Saundra and Duane Dewey John England Kelley Walton Fenelon Stacey and Glenn Ferreri Alyssa Finneyfrock Owenne George Marsha M. Hobbs Dr. and Ms. Jeff Hubacek Effie Hubanks Jackson Eye Associates Rashard Johnson Libby and Ted Kendall Dr. Billy and Rebecca Long Ashley Maddux Madison County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited Tracie and Joe Mallard Mrs. Sudie Manning Ron McAnally Mr. and Mrs. John McCarty Lou Ann and Doug McKibben Tootsie Merrell Rachel Misenar Mississippi Janitorial Service Patsy G. and Henry H. Mounger NewSouth NeuroSpine, LLC Melissa and Nash Neyland Susan and Jimmy Nix Old South Brick & Supply Co. Julia and Paul Ott Meg Outlaw Stephanie and Hal Perkins Renasant Bank Robyn and Todd Roberts Betsy and Steve Rosenblatt R S Runnels Jr., M.D., PLLC Carol and Scott Swayze Mary Herschel Thames Tri Scape Landscape Management Caroline and Hunter Upchurch Mary Elizabeth and Charlie Upton Valley Services, Inc. Cheryl and Cal Wells

HONOR CIRCLE ($500+) Gwen and T. J. Anderson BancorpSouth Kathy and Herman Beard Sara Brantley Pam and Denny Britt Carpenter Properties, Inc. Doctors Nikki and Ken Cleveland Allan Cooper Cosmich, Simmons & Brown, PLLC Dallas Printing

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M'Lee and Kelley Williams Kelly and Jean Williams Family Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson Dr. and Mrs. Allen R. Yates PATRIOT CIRCLE ($50+) Anonymous Katie and Lewis Agnew Paul Alanis Charese and Spence Aldridge AmazonSmile Foundation Karla and Scott Andress Fran and Jimmy Armstrong Automated Power Dea Dea and Dolph Baker Mary and Brock Baker Bank of America Charitable Foundation Claire and Rees Barksdale Shane Bennett Lucette and Kenneth Bennett Joan and Tom Bertaut Barbara Bethshares Lillian and Maurice Birdwell Laura Bishop Amelie and John Black Anonymous Blackledge Face Center Mollie Blair Dr. and Mrs. Richard L. Blount Janice and Buddy Blumenthal Helen and Terry Boler Georgia K. Bonds Sharon and John David Box Nell Bradford Brann & Whittemore, Inc. Patsie and David Brann Shelby K. Brantley Jr., M.D. Nick Brewer Brister Orthodontics Cindy and David Brooks Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Brunini, Jr.

Ann Hilton Buckner Rusty Burke Celia and Cecil Burnham Melanie Largent and Jamey W. Burrow Butler Snow LLP Matt Butts Lauri Byrd Gail and Dan Cado Cindy and Ron Caloss Leslie and Phillip Carpenter Adrienne and Keith Carter Cory and Matthew Caton Rachel and Ken Causey Gracie Chesnut Cori and Jay Ciaccio Pam and Todd Clapp Ann and Jim Coggin Norma Cox Craddock Oil Company, Inc. Libby and Jack Crawford Glenda Crosby Milicent and Will Crosby Cindy and Pepper Crutcher Anne Manning Cunningham Beverly and Gary Davis Nathan Devine Patsy and John Douglas Brister Orthodontics Jack Drennan Anne and Ligon Duncan Jon Marcus Duncan Mary and Tom Eby Elf Marketing, Inc. Shannon and John Elliott Dr. and Mrs. Don Epley ERS, Inc. Suzanne and John Eskrigge Patty and Chris Ethridge Mona and Johnny Evans Virginia and Rob Farr Mari and Sam Farrington Sara Hart and Gordon Fellows Kelly Walton Fenelon Linda and Tom Fenter The Ferguson Family Nancy Flowers Brian Fugler Ginger and William Gage Mary G. Galloway Dave Gammill Max Garriott Anne Toy and Robby Gathings Christine and Bobby Gill Laura and Chris Gill GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Amber and Chris Goodman Susan and Alan Goodman Graduate Services South, Inc. Helen and Jesse Graham Grantham Poole CPAs Greenfield Horticulture Dr. and Mrs. Raymond F. Grenfell III Anna and Ricky Griffin Dr. and Mrs. H. T. Grizzard Kim and Bobby Gross Chere and Donovan Guilbeau Melissa and Alan Gunn Mr. and Mrs. Mark Haire Cindy and William Harris Mr. and Mrs. John S. Harvey Mr. and Mrs. Earl Hassler Elizabeth and Clay Hays

Kelly and Blake Headley Brent Heavener Barbara Fortenberry Hederman and The Fortenberry Family Barbara Fortenberry Hederman and Tina Fortenberry Blair and Doug Hederman Sally Hederman Carolyn Heidelberg Laura Hepner Clem Herron Dr. and Mrs. Reed B. Hogan II Virginia C. Hogan Luanne and Phil Hogue Mr. and Mrs. Tab Hollins Caroline and Ashley Hollowell Angie and B. A. Holman Kevin and Emily Holman Philip and Kim Holman Stephanie and Brian Holt Paula and Jimmy Hood Katherine and Adam Horlock Linda and Buddy Huff Lain Hughes and Jessica Long Tara F. Hunter Janyl Igadna Christina and Charlie Jackson Cindy and Doyle Jefcoat Dr. Kirk and Tracey Jeffreys Family and all the staff of Eyecare Professionals Bethany Johnson Dr. Lee Johnson Sue and Otis Johnson Temperance Jones Kim and Kurt Jordan Teri Dallas Jordan JP Class of 1981 JP Class of 1983 JP Senior High Staff Tracy and Jeffrey Jue Mr. and Mrs. Harper Keeler Mary and Ted Kendall Dave, Jen, Chuck, and Marie Kesler Vicki and Larry King Kroger Paula and Steve Kuhn Vivian and Jay Lacoste Jacob Land Meredith and Daniel Lang J. Henry Larose Realtors Mary Anne and Larry Lefoldt Malika M. Lindsay Susan R. Lindsay Gail and David Litchliter Addie and Tommy Louis Toni and Aubrey Lucas Katie Luckey Robert Lundberg Lauch Magruder Kathy and George Malouf Patsy and Mike Malouf Sophy and Adam Mangana Toni and Ed Manning Lelia and Mike Manning Caroline and Brad Mason Phyllis and Mike Massey Michael McAnally Leesa Crim McCharen Silas and Leesa Crim McCharen Emily and Guy McClain Kenneth McDade Anne and Doug McDaniel

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Mitchell McGinnis Renda McGowan Lauren McGraw Trudy and Sidney McLaurin Sarah McMillan Annie Laurie and Tom McRee Kristin and William Merrell Henry Michel Miller & Cory, PA Dr. Lynn Miller Valda Miller Dr. and Mrs. Billy E. Mink Mrs. Elizabeth Minor Elizabeth and Longstreet Minor Kelly Griffin and Kathy Eilertsen, Mississippi Design Services Mississippi Museum of Art Mary Sue and Don Mitchell Kathleen and Mack Mitchell MMC Materials, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Armin J. Moeller, Jr. Carolyn and Hal Morrison Rita and John Morrison Allison Myers Anne and Tom Myers Delores and Jorge Navarrete LeAnn and Luke Nealey Sarah and Phil Nelson Haley Toler Newcomb Anna and Jimmy Nix Lisa and Gary Noble Waynette and Shane Noe Suzanne Nordberg Ric Nowell Dr. Greg and Beverly Oden Susan and Bill Osborne Loren Ostrow Lee Ozier Ann and Jim Packer Silvia Page Parker & Associates, CPA PLLC Lisa Graham Parson Sandra and Dennis Perkins Elisa and Brian Phillips Paige Polk Jennifer and Cliff Powers Trudy and Dave Powers Priority One Bank Mary and Richard Puckett Leigh Ann and Chris Purnell Janie and Joe Purvis Jo D. Raulston Allyn and S. T. Ray Raytheon Company Kimberly and Guy Reedy Wanda and John Regan Lynda and Michael Richardson Mr. and Mrs. Julius M. Ridgway Betty and Jim Roberson B. J. and Kellie Roberts Kevin Robichaux Alexander Romano Carol and David Rose Judy and Cy Rosenblatt Ross & Yerger Amy Allison and Weston Russ Jeanne and Rod Russ Wilma and Tom Sanders Trina and Rance Sapen Richart Schug Sarah Louise and Ralph Scruggs Linda and Mike Self

Dr. Walter R. Shelton Melissa and Ryan Sherman Rhonda and Terrence Shirley Lisa and Allen Shive Kathryn Shuff Jordan Shumaker Josh Shumaker Judy and Doug Simpson Carolyn and George Sisk Lisa and Mark Sledge Allison Smith Cassie Smith Jean Smith Jina Smith Paul D. Smith, Ph.D. Valerie Smith Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Spaulding Marla and Warren Speed Amber and Stephen Stack W. Mark Stanton, M.D. Sunflower Home Health Carolyn and Jim Tatum Todd C. Tauzin Telpro.biz Anna K. Thames Muffin and Marcus Thompson Mrs. Jackie Triplett University of Mississippi Medical Center Psychology Residency Program William J. VanDevender, Jr. Clare and Gilbert Van Loon Ben Van Pelt Kacie Van Pelt Laurie and Miles Van Pelt Dr. and Mrs. Robert Van Uden Mr. and Mrs. Robert Thomas Van Uden III Jan and Johnny Wade Lee and John Waits Mrs. Gloria M. Walker John Wesley Wallace Maret and Steve Watson Pollyann and Ross Watters Beth Mason Watts Gloria Weathers Dr. Andrew Q. Weeks Dr. Christopher C. Weeks Dr. Stephen Weeks Beverly and Steve Weeks Vianne and Bill Welch David White Mary Alice and Donny White Brenda and Steve Whittington Amy and Ken Wiandt Faye and James Wiginton Sheila and David Wilbanks Shawn and Bob Wilkerson Jessica Wilkinson Karma and Scott Williams Derek Williford Drew Wilson Betty Pruitt Wilson Rachel and Tim Wise Mary and Wirt Yerger Richard Younce Mollie Hederman Young Alix Zachow Jane Zhu Cynthia and Richard Zubic

PARENTS CLASS OF 2018 Charese and Spence Aldridge Karla and Scott Andress Whitney and David Andress Kathy and Herman Beard Sharon and David Box Anne and Ligon Duncan Sherry and Michael Gleason Chere and Donovan Guilbeau Margaret and John Harvey Laurie and Tony Huffman Addie and Tommy Louis Lynn and Trey Lovertich Cindy and Mac McGehee Kristin and William Merrell Nancy and Billy Mink Kathleen and Mac Mitchell Anne and Tom Myers Elisa and Brian Phillips Amanda and Ben Roberson Robyn and Todd Roberts Sherri and Randal Russell Lisa and Allen Shive Paula and Todd Tauzin Stacy and Jay Underwood Sheila and David Wilbanks CLASS OF 2019 Anonymous Amelie and John Black Deanna and Adair Blackledge Libby and Jack Crawford Lesley and John Davis Mari and Sam Farrington Connie and Sean Ferguson Stacey and Glenn Ferreri Ginger and William Gage Kim and Bobby Gross Chere and Donovan Guilbeau Kelly and Blake Headley Kathy and Doug Hudgins

2017-18 Tracey and Kirk Jeffreys Bethany Johnson Kim and Kurt Jordan Teri and Dan Jordan Tammie and James McCullough Mary and Richard Mills Julia and Paul Ott Debbie and Phillip Parker Melinda and Jeff Peoples Stephanie and Hal Perkins Anne and Steve Rogers Carol and David Rose Trina and Rance Sapen Marla and Warren Speed Amber and Stephen Stack Lee and John Waits Emily and Stuart Whitaker Karma and Scott Williams Jane and Jeff Zhu

CLASS OF 2021 Charese and Spence Aldridge Whitney and David Andress Ashley and Gabe Baldwin Beth and Shelby Brantley Rachel and Ken Causey Nikki and Ken Cleveland Libby and Jack Crawford Lesley and John Davis Shannon and John Elliott Connie and Sean Ferguson Sherry and Mike Gleason Caroline and Ashley Hollowell Cathy and Doug Hudgins Tracey and Kirk Jeffreys Bethany Johnson Waynette and Shane Noe Beverly and Greg Oden Kimberly and Guy Reedy Amanda and Ben Roberson Melissa and Scott Runnels Marla and Warren Speed Rachel and Dan Spivey Laurie and Miles Van Pelt Beth Mason Watts Jessica and Lenny Wilkinson

CLASS OF 2020 Ashley and Gabe Baldwin Pam and Todd Clapp Sidney and Holt Crews Beverly and Gary Davis Natalie and Brian Drennan Cheryl and Bill Dulaney Kay and Marcelo Eduardo Suzanne and John Eskrigge Blair and Doug Hederman KK and Jeff Hubacek Beverly and Greg Oden Paige Polk Leigh and Scott Shoemaker Rachel and Dan Spivey Stacy and Jay Underwood Mary Elizabeth and Charlie Upton Maret and Steve Watson Shawn and Bob Wilkerson Rachel and Tim Wise Jane Zhu

CLASS OF 2022 Amelie and John Black Sharon and John David Box Adrienne and Keith Carter Cori and Jay Ciaccio Nikki and Ken Cleveland Rebecca and Lawrence Coco Beverly and Gary Davis Tammy and Jon Marcus Duncan Margaret and John Harvey Kelly and Blake Headley Christina and Charlie Jackson Caroline and Brad Mason Kathleen and Mack Mitchell

ALUMNI *Précis Club. See page 39 for Précis levels.

CLASS OF 1971 Dr. Chris Ethridge Dr. Lee Johnson Richard Puckett CLASS OF 1972 Mary Briggs Baker Marietta Bradley Allan Cooper* Janie Lydick Purvis CLASS OF 1973 Dr. Ed Manning Mac McGehee* Annie Laurie Heidelberg McRee CLASS OF 1974 Dea Dea Adams Baker

Wendy and Chuck Mullins Kim and J. D. Pinnix Paige Polk Carol and David Rose Melissa and Scott Runnels Lisa and Allen Shive Cassie and Carter Smith Clare and Gilbert Van Loon Lee and John Waits M'Lee and Kelley Williams Karma and Scott Williams CLASS OF 2023 Milicent and Will Crosby Kay and Marcelo Eduardo Connie and Sean Ferguson Ellen and Charles Johnson Malika M. Lindsay Tracie and Joe Mallard Kathleen and Mack Mitchell Waynette and Shane Noe Elisa and Brian Phillips Susie and John Puckett Amber and Stephen Stack Muffin and Marcus Thompson Stacy and Jay Underwood Mary Elizabeth and Charlie Upton Laurie and Miles Van Pelt Beth Mason Watts CLASS OF 2024 Anonymous Nikki and Ken Cleveland Kim and Bobby Gross Kelly and Blake Headley Caroline and Ashley Hollowell Ashley and Chris Maddux Caroline and Brad Mason Emily and Guy McClain Amanda and Hastings Puckett Marla and Warren Speed Kimberly and Robert Van Uden

2017-18 Anne Manning Cunningham Larry King Leesa Crim McCharen Lee Ozier Lisa Graham Parson Allyn Mann Ray W. Mark Stanton, M.D. CLASS OF 1975 Dolph Baker Kelley Walton Fenelon* Robert Nash Neyland* CLASS OF 1976 Alan Gunn Doug Hudgins* Anne Snyder Myers Clare Thomas Van Loon Jan Jacks Wade Johnny Wade

CLASS OF 1978 Dr. John Cox Roy Furrh* Charles Johnson* Tommy Louis* Doug McDaniel CLASS OF 1979 Anne Toy Clark Gathings Mike Manning Ashley Creekmore Meena* Jimmy Nix* Dr. Scott Swayze* CLASS OF 1980 John England* Susan Roach Nix* Chip Triplett CLASS OF 1981 John Puckett*

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JP Class of 1981 Barry Walsh CLASS OF 1982 Scott Andress Sam Farrington Henry Michel Ann Wells Rogers* CLASS OF 1983 Susan Bush Goodman Dr. Clay Hays* Scott Newton Paul Ott* Guy Vise* David Wilbanks* CLASS OF 1984 Dr. Herman Beard* Jim Coggin* Dr. John Davis*

Ginger Goodwin Gage* Dr. William Harris* Jeff Peoples* Julius Ridgway Kelley Williams* Dudley Wooley* CLASS OF 1985 Chris Gill Franc Lee* Kristen Reed Merrell Colonel William Merrell* Elisa Thomas Phillips Allen Shive Will Vise* M'Lee McMullan Williams* Richard Younce* CLASS OF 1986 Jay Ciaccio

Sidney Creekmore Crews* Suzanne Hasseltine Eskrigge* G.G. Ferguson Valerie Hyde Smith Dr. Jay Underwood* CLASS OF 1987 Jack Crawford* Dr. Kirk Jeffreys Melinda Latimer Peoples* Ben Roberson* Warren Speed* CLASS OF 1988 Will Crosby* Rett Crowder* Sherry Shaw Gleason* Margaret Minor Harvey* CLASS OF 1989 Johnny Black Doug Hederman Lain Hughes*

Mack Mitchell* Ric Nowell* Hal Perkins* Mary Elizabeth Russ Upton*

CLASS OF 1993 Dr. Nikki Duncan Cleveland* Caroline Monsour Hollowell

CLASS OF 2000 Lewis Agnew*

CLASS OF 1994 Caroline Yates Mason

CLASS OF 2001 Sara Hart Rosenblatt Fellows Caroline McKibben Upchurch*

CLASS OF 1995 Jon Marcus Duncan* Dr. Ric Grenfell*

CLASS OF 2002 Wilson Hood* Dr. Christopher C. Weeks*

CLASS OF 1991 Adrienne Cox Carter* Dr. Keith Carter

CLASS OF 1996 Michael McAnally* Weston Russ*

CLASS OF 1992 Lawrence Coco* Rebecca Thomas Coco* Bobby Gross* Brad Mason Cassie Anderson Smith Trey Smith Beth Mason Watts

CLASS OF 1997 Melanie Largent Burrow*

CLASS OF 2004 Robert Parker Neyland* William J. VanDevender, Jr.* Dr. Andrew Q. Weeks*

CLASS OF 1990 Ashley Hollis Maddux* Stephen Stack* Robert Van Uden*

CLASS OF 1998 Amy Lampton Walker* Dr. Stephen Weeks* CLASS OF 1999 Christina Sandifer Jackson*

CLASS OF 2005 Jimmy Nix Swayze Neyland Pentecost* Anna Kendall Thames

CLASS OF 2008 Jordan T. Shumaker Anna Wells* Alix Zachow CLASS OF 2010 Joshua Shumaker* CLASS OF 2011 Daniel Lang* Andrew Lloyd Neyland* CLASS OF 2014 Ann Hilton Buckner* CLASS OF 2015 Ben Van Pelt* CLASS OF 2017 Kacie Van Pelt

CLASS OF 2006 Sarah Toler Newcomb Kathryn Moseley Shuff*

IN HONOR OF

2017-18

AVERY ANDRESS Dr. and Mrs. H. T. Grizzard

BUDDY CROSBY Paula and Steve Kuhn

JACOB LAND Paul, Julia, Paul Vegas and Charlie Ott

DAVID OLLAR Adrienne and Keith Carter

JOHN HENRY ANDRESS Dr. and Mrs. H. T. Grizzard

MILICENT CROSBY Wanda and John Regan

ALLYN RAY Addie and Tommy Louis

KATHERINE BERTAUT Joan and Tom Bertaut

WILL CROSBY Paula and Steve Kuhn Wanda and John Regan

SUSAN LINDSAY Friends of Susan Lindsay Carolyn Heidelberg Susie and John Puckett

ANNA KATE BERTOLET Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Bertolet Jean Smith

ELIZABETH DOWNING Glenda Crosby

LAURA BISHOP Helen and Jesse Graham

PETER DOWNING Glenda Crosby

KIMBERLY BLOUNT Dr. and Mrs. Richard L. Blount

ANNE DUNCAN Mari and Sam Farrington

KALEB BOLER Helen and Terry Boler

MARI FARRINGTON Addie and Tommy Louis

NELL BRADFORD Carolyn Heidelberg

HELEN R. GRAHAM Mari and Sam Farrington Addie and Tommy Louis

DENNY BRITT Susie and John Puckett

LUCIE LOUIS Charlie Ott and Family EMILY LYNCH Norma Cox KENNETH MCDADE Helen and Jesse Graham COACH JOHN MCINNIS Vivian and Jay Lacoste SARAH MCMILLAN Helen and Jesse Graham WILSON MINK Charlie Ott and Family

MR. AND MRS. T. KENNY GRIFFIS Mr. and Mrs.John McCarty

ELIZABETH MINOR Mr. and Mrs. John S. Harvey

RETA HAIRE Helen and Jesse Graham

LONGSTREET MINOR Mr. and Mrs. John S. Harvey

ANNA ROSE HARRIS Charlie Ott and Family

ANDREW MITCHELL Helen and Jesse Graham

WILL HERRON Clem Herron

ELIZABETH MITCHELL Mary Sue and Don Mitchell

HALI HOLLMAN Lillian and Maurice Birdwell

MARY MARGARET MITCHELL Mary Sue and Don Mitchell

JILLIAN HOLLMAN Lillian and Maurice Birdwell

MONT MITCHELL Mary Sue and Don Mitchell

HARTLEY CARROLL Dr. and Mrs. Don Epley

CHRISTINA JACKSON Mari and Sam Farrington

LUKE NEALEY Susie and John Puckett

LAWRENCE COCO Laura Bishop

JP JR. HIGH FACULTY AND STAFF Sarah McMillan

GARY NOBLE Richard Younce

CINDY BROOKS Sarah McMillan DEVIN BROWN Mr. and Mrs. Tab Hollins GAIL CADO Helen and Jesse Graham Hannah Caloss Cindy and Ron Caloss COOPER CARROLL Dr. and Mrs. Don Epley Charlie Ott and Family

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ANNE WELLS ROGERS Teri Dallas Jordan CHARLSEY ROWAN Charlie Ott and Family TRINA SAPEN Helen and Jesse Graham NEIL STEWART Renda McGowan HUNTER UPCHURCH Mari and Sam Farrington GREGORY VANCE Charlie Ott and Family LAURIE VAN PELT Helen and Jesse Graham KATIE WALKER Mrs. Gloria M. Walker WILLIAM WALKER Mrs. Gloria M. Walker JON SANDERS WATSON Wilma and Tom Sanders DR. LISA WHITNEY Addie and Tommy Louis Kimberly and Guy Reedy Allison Smith BETH ANN YOUNG Charlie Ott and Family

IN MEMORY OF CLAIRE ANDRESS Paul Alanis Cindy and Pepper Crutcher Mr. and Mrs. Armin J. Moeller, Jr. Carolyn and Hal Morrison Loren Ostrow Suzanne Nordberg Faye and James Wiginton OUIDA AND JOHN BASS Leesa Crim McCharen WARD BRELAND JP Class of 1981 WILDA L. BUCKLEY Sarah McMillan LAUREN ANN CLEMENT Melanie Largent Burrow and Jamey W. Burrow BRIAN H. COLLINS JP Class of 1981 JANIE AND GEORGE COOPER Allan Cooper MARK COX JP Class of 1981 RICHIE EDMONSON JP Class of 1981

2017-18 Jackson Prep Booster Club Dave, Jen, Chuck and Marie Kesler Vicki and Larry King Mary Anne and Larry Lefoldt Susan R. Lindsay Lauch Magruder Kathy and George Malouf Silas and Leesa Crim McCharen Sarah McMillan Elizabeth and Longstreet Minor Mary Sue and Don Mitchell Delores and Jorge Navarrete Sarah and Phil Nelson Mary and Richard Puckett B. J. and Kellie Roberts Dr. Walter R. Shelton Mrs. Jackie Triplett University of Mississippi Medical Center Psychology Residency Program Mr. and Mrs. William J. VanDevender Cynthia and Richard Zubic

SARAH ELIZABETH SHELTON Barbara and Joe Shelton

RIVERS MCGRAW Loving Friends of Rivers McGraw

JOHN WILLIAM WALTON Anne and Ligon Duncan

SUNNYE MCGRAW Susan R. Lindsay Mississippi Museum of Art Sandra and Dennis Perkins

CALVIN L. WELLS Cheryl and Cal Wells

WALLACE MCMILLAN Carolyn and Jim Tatum

FORREST FRIDAY JP Class of 1983

PRISCILLA NEALEY Laura Bishop Cindy and David Brooks JP Senior High Staff Sarah and Ralph Scruggs

TAIT HENDRIX Melinda and Steve Hendrix JANE ELLEN HYDE Valerie Hyde Smith

JIM NEWMAN Lauren McGraw Anne and Tom Myers

LOST MEMBERS OF THE JP CLASS OF 1982 Henry Michel JAMES O. MANNING, M.D. Nell Bradford Linda and Tom Fenter Stacey and Glenn Ferreri Barbara Fortenberry Hederman and The Fortenberry Family Sally Hederman

HELEN HESTER SILLS JP Class of 1981 ROBERT SPELL JP Class of 1981 MARK STEELE Katie and Lewis Agnew SANDY HOLMAN TAYLOR Susan and Alan Goodman Leesa Crim McCharen JO ANN WALTON Anne and Ligon Duncan Helen and Jesse Graham

ROY WILKES Automated Power Dea Dea and Dolph Baker Claire and Rees Barksdale Lucette and Kenneth Bennett Barbara Bethshares Brann & Whittemore, Inc. Janice and Buddy Blumenthal Patsie and David Brann Sara Brantley Cindy and David Brooks Celia and Cecil Burnham Cosmich, Simmons & Brown, PLLC Patty and Chris Ethridge Virginia and Rob Farr Sara Hart and Gordon Fellows Kelley Walton Fenelon Anne Toy and Robby Gathings Owenne George Christine and Bobby Gill Laura and Chris Gill Kelly Griffin and Kathy Eilertsen, Mississippi Design Services Mr. and Mrs. Earl Hassler

JOHN “COACH MAC” MCINNIS Sandra and Dennis Perkins

MARTHA ESKRIGGE Delores and Jorge Navarrete

MARVIN SIGMON Sarah McMillan Delores and Jorge Navarrete

TRUETT S. PRIMOS Lauren McGraw Trudy and Dave Powers BRODIE RAY JP Class of 1981 WILLIAM DOUGLAS REYNOLDS Delores and Jorge Navarrete

Barbara Fortenberry Hederman and Tina Fortenberry Sally Hederman and Mollie Hederman Young Virginia C. Hogan Angie and B. A. Holman Kevin and Emily Holman Philip and Kim Holman Paula and Jimmy Hood Effie Hubanks Dr. Kirk and Tracey Jeffreys Family and all the staff of Eyecare Professionals Rashard Johnson Sue and Otis Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Harper Keeler J. Henry Larose Realtors Susan R. Lindsay Dr. Billy and Rebecca Long Toni and Aubrey Lucas Toni and Ed Manning Lara and Wes Martin Leesa Crim McCharen Anne and Doug McDaniel Trudy and Sidney McLaurin Annie Laurie and Tom McRee Dr. and Mrs. Billy E. Mink Rachel Misenar Rita and John Morrison Anne and Tom Myers Susan and Bill Osborne Meg Outlaw Ann and Jim Packer Susie and John Puckett Janie and Joe Purvis Mr. and Mrs. Julius M. Ridgway Judy and Cy Rosenblatt SJE Rhombus Lisa and Mark Sledge Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Spaulding Mary Herschel Thames Mr. and Mrs. William J. VanDevender Heather and Will Vise Jan and Johnny Wade Gloria Weathers Cheryl and Cal Wells David White Mary Alice and Donny White Betty Pruitt Wilson Mary and Wirt Yerger DR. AND MRS. O. B. WOOLEY, JR. Julie and Dudley Wooley

WALKER WILBANKS SCHOLARSHIP FUND Sheila and David Wilbanks

Every attempt was made to ensure accuracy. We apologize for any oversights or errors that may have occurred.

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2017-18

JOIN THE PATRIOT CLUB CIRCLE OF GOLD $15,000 or more

FOUNDERS’ CIRCLE $5,000 to $9,999

HEAD OF SCHOOL’S CIRCLE $1,000 to $2,499

CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE $10,000 to $14,999

TRUSTEES’ CIRCLE $2,500 to $4,999

HONOR CIRCLE $500 to $999

PATRIOT CIRCLE Up to $500

In support of Jackson Preparatory School’s 2018–2019 Patriot Club, I pledge $_________________________.

A check (made payable to JP Patriot Club) in the amount of $_________________________ is enclosed for: Full Payment Partial Payment (balance to be paid by 6/15/2019) I will set up a monthly bank draft for $_________________________.

One-Time Monthly Quarterly Annually Bank Routing #____________________________________ Account # ___________________________________ Bank Account Name (if different from above) __________________________________________________________ Financial Institution ___________________________________________________________________________ Begin Date____ /____ /____ End Date____ /____ /____ Draft on the: 1st 15th

I agree that each payment shall be the same as if it were an instrument personally signed by me. This authority is to remain in effect until the date designated above. I have the right to stop payment of a charge by timely notification to Jackson Prep prior to charging my account. I understand, however, that both the financial institution and Jackson Prep reserve the right to terminate this payment plan (or my participation therein).

Signature __________________________________________________________________________________ Please charge my credit card a prorated amount each month.

I wish to charge my donation to: American Express Mastercard VISA Card #____________________________________________________ Expiration Date ____ /____ /____ Billing Address ______________________________________________________________________________ City________________________________________________ State____________________ Zip ___________ Name as it appears on Card _____________________________________________________________________ Card Verification # _______________ Signature _____________________________________________________

For your safety and security, our payment system requires that you enter your card verification number. The verification number is a three- or fourdigit number printed on the back of your card.

I will donate by credit card online at www.jacksonprep.org. (Please complete pledge information above and sign at bottom.)

I am not certain of the amount I want to pledge at this time, but please contact me in: September October November December Yes, my company or my spouse’s company will match my gift.

Name (to appear in the Honor Roll of Donors) please print _________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________________________________ City________________________________________________ State____________________ Zip ___________ Email Address _______________________________________________________________________________ Home Phone___________________________________ Cell Phone ____________________________________ Please indicate if applicable: Alum of Jackson Prep, Class of___________ Maiden Name ____________________________________________ Spouse is alum of Jackson Prep, Class of___________ Maiden Name _____________________________________ Précis Club member (see amounts at right) Parent of student currently attending Jackson Prep Parent of Jackson Prep alumnus This gift is A Memorial to _______________________________________________________________________________ An Honorarium to ____________________________________________________________________________ Return your tax-deductible gift to Stacey Ferreri, Director of Institutional Advancement Mailbox located in McRae Center • 601-932-8106, Ext. 275 • sferreri@jacksonprep.net Or mail to: Jackson Preparatory School • P.O. Box 4940 • Jackson, Mississippi 39296-4940

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Précis Club Précis Club members are alumni who give the recommended amount or more according to class year.

CLASS AMOUNT 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971

$ 10 $ 20 $ 30 $ 40 $ 50 $ 60 $ 70 $ 80 $ 90 $100 $110 $120 $130 $140 $150 $160 $170 $180 $190 $200 $210 $220 $230 $240 $250 $260 $270 $280 $290 $300 $310 $320 $330 $340 $350 $360 $370 $380 $390 $400 $410 $420 $430 $440 $450 $460 $470 $480

d e s s e l B r e v e r o F

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In July 2017, we made the decision to become

a host family. Guy, a colonel in the MS Army National Guard, has spent time in other countries as a result of his service, and our girls—Kailee, Lauren, and Mallory— have always wanted to visit beyond our borders. It was with an inquisitive spirit that we welcomed two exchange students from China: Roaman Zhou and Brittany Jiang.

Our education proceeded at an exponential pace.

Not only did we learn about the customs, geography, values, and language of their home in Kunming, but especially who Roaman, a 10th grader, and Brittany, a 9th grader, were as individuals—two young people who were as curious about us as we were about them.

Roaman and Brittany acclimated quickly to life at Prep (but slowly to the Mississippi heat). Roaman joined the football team and chess club, while Brittany immersed herself in cross country, art, and band. Needless to say, our fall semester was a busy one with before and after school practices, weekend meets, and games. However, we did go on a family vacation, in November to Pigeon Forge, TN, where we spent the days hiking and exploring. It was during this time that we struggled through the typical family picture. You know the one: the photo shoot where there is always one person not smiling or not looking at the camera. New family members, same family dynamics.

I will say that it took all of us about five months to find our new normal, a place where no one felt a sense of awkwardness or hesitation in communicating their wants or needs. Christmas was a special time for Roaman and Brittany to bond with our older girls, Kailee and Lauren, as well as Mallory. Our children spent time telling stories, sharing experiences, playing games, and giving gifts.

The hardest time was when Kailee and Lauren returned to college. Tears flowed from everyone, proving that home is not defined as a place but as people who love one another.

Our time together included Brittany’s first ear piercings and her making the drum line as well as Roaman’s breaking his wrist at practice and then becoming one of Jackson Free Press’s Amazing Teens.

Through these and other rollercoaster moments, we discovered that the familial bond is strong, loyal, and loving. Roaman and Brittany have become a part of us, forever connected to our hearts and memories. And for that we are tremendously blessed and grateful.

THE REEDYS

Guy, Kimberly, Kailee, Lauren , Mallory, Roaman , & Brittany

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RICKY BLACK

NHSACA COACH OF THE YEAR

By Billy Watkins, The Clarion-Ledger • Photos by Hubert Worley

A

sk Ricky Black about his first win as a head football coach, and he starts talking about his first loss.

“I remember it a lot better,” he says. “I was at Kosciusko (in 1975) and lost to Starkville in the first game of the season. Our fans weren’t accustomed to losing. Not a soul said anything to me after the game— except our radio announcer, and he just wanted to know where the gate was.”

Things improved quickly for the young coach.

And on June 27, 2018, Black was named the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s Football Coach of the Year at a banquet in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is the only Mississippi football coach to win the NHSACA award in its 40year history.

In 37 seasons as a head coach, Black’s teams at Kosciusko, Tupelo, and Jackson Prep have lost just 74 times. With the season opener win over East Rankin, he has amassed 372 victories, which moves him into second place in Mississippi high school history. Centreville Academy coach Bill Hurst, still going strong, leads with 394.

In 21 seasons at Jackson Prep, Black has won 233 games and 12 Mississippi Association of Independent Schools state championships. His teams have never

been more dominant than they are now. Since 2012, Prep is 76-5—including 8-3 against public schools—and has won six consecutive state titles, a Mississippi record.

“Coach Black has done a good job for a long time,” says Bubba Davis, who coached West Point High School to four state championships in 12 years during the 1980s and ’90s. “He’s had some talented players, but he’s also done a good job of squeezing every ounce of talent out of his kids. He knows how to win.”

Black’s national recognition means a lot to little ol’ Mississippi, too, which has produced arguably the best running back (Walter Payton), quarterback (Brett Favre); and receiver (Jerry Rice) in NFL history. Those men were raised in towns—Columbia, Kiln, and Crawford, respectively—with a combined population of approximately 9,000.

Black can relate. He grew up in Ackerman (pop.

1,469) and earned one of the town’s most important duties—quarterback of the high school team. With each snap, the town’s heart was placed in his hands.

“Ackerman was one of those places where the pride of the city was based on how well the high school team was doing,” Black recalls. “Everybody went to

“He has amassed 372 victories, which moves him into second place in Mississippi high school history.”

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RICKY BLACK Date of Birth: June 17, 1949, Ackerman, MS Parents: Leonard and Beatrice Black School: Ackerman High School Married: Linda Arnault Daughter: Paige Black Clayton Son-in-law: Kyle Clayton Grandchildren: Haze Clayton-7th Grade Jackson Prep Grayson Clayton-5th Grade First Presbyterian Day School

the games on Friday night, and that’s what people talked about, whether you were at the barbershop or at church.”

Black was a good player at Ackerman, then at Holmes Community College. But he knew his true calling was on the sidelines.

“A football coach is all I ever wanted to be, from the time I was in junior high,” he says. “But I have to admit, when Kosciusko hired me as head coach when I was 25 years old, I thought, ‘This is a pretty courageous move on their part.’ I have to thank Kosciusko School Superintendent A.D. McBeth for having faith in my coaching ability.” *** Black spent one year as an assistant at Ackerman, then eight seasons at Kosciusko—five as head coach. His teams won four conference titles and two bowl games.

In 1980, he, wife Linda, and daughter Paige moved to Tupelo, a progressive town socially but not exactly all-in when it came to the school’s football program.

“We had people invite us to parties on Friday nights—the same nights we were playing,” he says.

“The team hadn’t been winning, nobody was going to the games back then. It was quite different from what I was used to.”

Black helped change the mindset of the town and the players. In 11 seasons, Tupelo won five district titles and one north state championship.

Head coach Jackie Sherrill lured him to Mississippi State in 1991 to coach tight ends and added the job of recruiting coordinator. Black enjoyed his six years in Starkville, but he missed Friday nights—everything from the smell of the burgers on the concession stand grills to the look on a 16-year-old’s face after he scored his first touchdown.

In 1997, he accepted the football job at Jackson Prep, which already had a rich winning tradition.

Much has changed about the game during his 47 years as a head coach and assistant. High school offenses are spreading the field and throwing the ball

44

more often and with more precision. Defensive coaches have battled to stop it.

“Where we used to see one or two (pass) coverages in a game, now teams have eight they can throw at you,” Black says.

Two things that haven’t changed are the basic makeup of the kids and Black’s approach to building a team.

“The inner soul of the child is the same—they still have that competitive nature about them,” Black says. “What has changed is parenting. Kids now seem to be the center of the family instead of being part of it. And kids have so many distractions today that occupy their time.

“I still meet with the parents every year and I tell them, ‘Your son is going to experience every emotion possible. He will learn to take criticism. He will deal with being offended.

And he will learn how to be part of something bigger than himself.’”

A lot is made of Prep’s numbers. Usually, Black’s teams have between 70 and 90 players. While that certainly helps build depth, it has cost him some good players who see a better chance for playing time elsewhere.

“Here’s what people don’t understand,” Black says. “We usually go into the first game planning to play about 50 kids—that’s a lot. They learn real fast

that if you learn what to do and believe in yourself, then we are going to play you.

“And I’m a big believer in listening and understanding. We want players to understand why we ask them to do certain things—why we ask them to step a certain way to make a block. And once they understand that what we are teaching is going to help them do their job better, they listen more.” ***

“A football coach is all I ever wanted to be, from the time I was in junior high.”

Black is often asked by other coaches: “How do you get your kids to play so hard?”

“That’s a great compliment to our coaches and our players,” he says. “I used to talk to players about trying and giving 100 percent. But I learned at Tupelo that I needed to change my wording. That’s when I quit talking about trying and focused on doing. It takes away that excuse of, ‘Coach, I’m trying.’ You’re either doing or not.”

He credits Linda for being “the perfect coach’s wife.” They married 49 years ago. “She’s been very supportive and able to reach some players that I couldn’t,” he says.

And as the interview nears the end, Black says this: “Please be sure and say that I know my success is due to my faith, listening to what God is telling me and being led to do it. That’s been the foundation of this whole thing.”

NHSACA 2018 COACH OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS AWARD CATEGORY Asst Boys' Sports Asst Girls' Sports Athletic Director Baseball Basketball, Boys' Basketball, Girls' Cross Country, Boys' Cross Country, Girls' Football Golf Soccer Softball Special Sports Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field, Boys' Track & Field, Girls' Volleyball Wrestling

NAME Bob Raeth Robert Jacobson Joseph Madaffari, Jr. Bill Miller Argie Rhymes Russell L. Ninemire Claney Duplechin Bob Bonk Ricky Black Jodi Schoeck Amber Kelley Ashcraft Bob Bunting Audra Rew John Barnes David John Sukup Adam J. Kedge Mike Parker Diane Rouzee Tom Seamans

SCHOOL Flathead High School Fargo Davies High School Brien McMahon High School Pleasure Ridge Park High School Carl Hayden Community High School Sandy Creek High School Episcopal High School Fairmont High School Jackson Preparatory School Barrington High School La Cueva High School Lisbon High School Mitchell Senior High School Saint Thomas Academy Forest Hills Northern High School Albuquerque Academy Iowa City West High School Northwest High School Campbell County High School

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STATE MT ND CT KY AZ NE LA MN MS IL NM IA SD MN MI NM IA NE WY

ALYSSA FINNEYFROCK

KESHA MABRY

SPOTLIGHT ON OUR

SARAH SCRUGGS

KIMBERLY VAN UDEN

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Photos by Hubert Worley

Faculty&Staff

ALYSSA FINNEYFROCK Director of Student Life

By Anna Griffin

Early on Saturday mornings, rain or shine, you’re likely to find Alyssa Finneyfrock at the Reservoir running with her dogs: Lander, a husky, and the puppy, Cali, a Golden Doodle. As a Division 1 college athlete—a center midfielder on the Appalachian State University women’s soccer team—Alyssa learned to juggle a demanding academic load with plenty of out of class commitments. Alyssa’s parents had taught her the values of integrity, empathy, and independence, and as the oldest of five, Alyssa had already learned to organize and—perhaps most useful of all—to listen to multiple perspectives. Perhaps that’s why she is so passionate about being an advocate for students in her role of Director of Student Life.

In her second year in the role, Alyssa’s primary goal is to make sure each student feels connected to the Prep community. Supporting our mission statement’s goals for educating the whole child, Alyssa develops and oversees programs for all students to find a place to belong and thrive. In fact, the new 6th-12th grade Advisory Program was developed and will be overseen

by Alyssa. The Advisory Program matches each student with an on-staff mentor and advisor.

Other offerings are student driven. For example, Prep Bookends, a senior-to-sixth-grader mentoring program, was developed by Evie Farrington because she saw a need. “Evie came to me wanting to craft this opportunity, and I helped her navigate the process to start the program,” said Alyssa. Other programs, such as the new stock market club and the sailing program, were student driven as well.

Likewise, Alyssa, who serves on the GLI board, partners with the GLI as they plan events and activities for students. A seasoned traveler, having been to 30 countries, Alyssa oversees all of Prep’s student travel, both domestic and international. She partners with faculty to plan a wide variety of travel opportunities that extend the classroom and enrich the student experience. Alyssa’s duties also include overseeing the Outdoor Program, which includes sailing and bass fishing to complement the equestrian, clay trap, and skeet teams. One of her goals is to lower the financial requirements for these and other activities.

Alyssa’s experience and education give Prep a great advantage. After receiving her BS in Education, Alyssa started her independent school career teaching and coaching at Charlotte Country Day School. Then Alyssa transitioned to the Oak Hill School in Nashville.

While teaching full time, Alyssa completed a Master’s Degree from Vanderbilt University in Independent School Leadership. Kudos came her way in 2016 when Alyssa was awarded the Tennessee Teacher of the Year.

Alyssa now serves on the Tennessee Teacher of the Year selection committee along with being active in independent school organizations. She is frequently a presenter at meetings for The Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS oversees Prep’s own accreditation), The National Business Officers Association of Independent Schools (NBOA), and The Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS). Her external connections to these organizations broadens Prep’s name, building pride and name recognition for our school in larger circles.

Alyssa’s continuing relationships with these organizations means she has up-to-date resources for our faculty. She is intentional about partnering with Prep teachers as they navigate away from 20th century models of education to 21st century ones that help our students learn. These resources empower teachers to be their best and students to engage fully in learning.

For example, Alyssa encouraged a workshop offered at Woodward Academy in Georgia to learn about innovations in teaching. Along with seven faculty members, Alyssa attended the July workshop, coming back with a host of materials and ideas to share with colleagues. Alyssa continues to pursue her own lifelong learning through a post master’s program in Advanced Educational Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Best of all, what Alyssa brings to the table is a great passion for students. Her enthusiasm and support of the school’s mission, its philosophy, and its strategic plan all align to give Prep a true advantage in our community.

What better person than Alyssa Finneyfrock to have on board as we move forward in leading our students to “pursue lives of distinction in service to society.”

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KESHA MABRY

Assistant Director of Admission Prep welcomes Kesha Mabry as Assistant Director of Admission. Kesha holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration and Bachelors in Accounting from Jackson State University. She is married to Ricky Mabry, and they have three children: Amber (Prep 2016 alum), Maya (Prep 11th grader), and Raegan (Prep 7th grader).

Kesha has been a proud Prep Mom since 2013 and says she is “honored to now be a part of the team that has and is actively preparing my girls to pursue lives of distinction.” She is eager to share with parents why Prep is the best choice for their children’s education.

Kesha adds, “My years of experience auditing school districts, consulting, and building relationships through my tax and bookkeeping business has equipped me to represent Prep in excellence without exception, and I look forward to the endeavor.”

SARAH SCRUGGS

Assistant Head of Senior High

By LouAnn McKibben

When Sarah Louise Loewenberg graduated from Kosciusko High School and headed for Millsaps College, she had absolutely no interest in becoming a teacher. Inspired by Millsaps history professor Robert McElvaine, she changed her major, but the plan remained law school. After her father became seriously

ill, Sarah transferred to Mississippi State to be closer to home. Her mother encouraged her to get a teaching certificate along with her History degree, but Sarah still insisted that teaching had no place in her future.

Following graduation, Sarah took a public relations job with the American Cancer Society, traveling across the state, recruiting volunteers, raising money, and speaking at schools on the dangers of tobacco. But her mother’s illness brought her back to Kosciusko, where she took advantage of the teaching certificate she never thought she’d need. She taught in the high school for two years, and from that point on, she was hooked.

After marrying Skipper Scruggs in 1984, she moved to Jackson, where Skipper worked in the Attorney General’s office. Sarah taught at Clinton High School until the birth of her second child. Sarah stayed home for 15 years, but when her sons, Taylor (class of 2007) and Marshall (class of 2011), came to Prep, so did she, as a substitute teacher. Head of School Susan Lindsay tried to hire her as a full-time history teacher, but Sarah was convinced the technology was over her head. After serving for two years in the Madison school system, she finally joined Prep in 2010 and became the 11th Grade U.S. History teacher. In 2014, Sarah was named the Director of New Teacher Mentoring. While

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continuing to teach fulltime, she mentors first- and second-year teachers as they try to maneuver through common obstacles. She is a lifeline for young teachers, who become successful under her tutelage.

As Social Studies chair, I can say that Sarah is the teacher you always hope to have in your department, and as a parent, that you always hope will teach your child. She has a passion for history, but more importantly, she has a passion for teaching students. Over the years, I have heard people ask why she continues to teach—her answer is, very simply, “I just love it.”

Sarah now serves as the Assistant Head of Senior High, replacing Nell Bradford, who retired as a legend.

Sarah realizes she has big shoes to fill, but she’s excited about the challenge of her assignment. Sarah Scruggs represents everything we want our teachers and administrators to be: knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the mission and programs, compassionate and caring toward students, and supportive of her coworkers. While Sarah will be greatly missed in the classroom, Jackson Prep is gaining a tremendous asset in the front office.

KIMBERLY VAN UDEN

Honored by Mississippi College Kimberly Van Uden, Prep’s AP Calculus teacher, has been recognized by the faculty of the Department of Mathematics at Mississippi College for her distinguished career as an educator and for service to

her community and state. She will be honored as the Mississippi College 2018 Distinguished Alumna in Mathematics at their Homecoming, October 26-27.

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ShowChoirs

By Mitchell McGinnis • Photos by Chase Richardson

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he 2017-18 season for Prep Show Choirs proved to be one for the books, setting records in competition scores, winning four Grand Champion titles, and receiving numerous caption awards in Best Vocals, Best Visuals, and Best Show Design. Fusion, the junior high show choir, entertained the masses with their 80’s themed show, taking adults back to a time of big hair, blue eye shadow, and rock-

n-roll. Reveillon, the senior high show choir, brought to life a complex deck of cards, portraying themes of hearts, diamonds, a queen, a king, and more. Reveillon ended their competition season on a high note in Orlando, Florida.

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FUSION Junior High Show Choir

REVEILLON Senior High Show Choir

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VisualArts A SKETCH

By Brittany Wilson • Photos by Lynn Miller

The arts are important to me because they are a great outlet for people who get bored easily and need something to do. Music was my introduction at a young age. I learned theory at seven and started to play piano at ten. When I was not playing, I would doodle something: a landscape, a skyline. When I auditioned for the music program at Power APAC for fifth grade, I was drawing a portrait before my audition. I came to Prep in ninth grade, though I harbored some doubts. Prep had band, show choir, and art, but I couldn’t whistle through a reed, much less sing. I could do a bit of drawing, but admittedly without a lot of technique. I applied for Graphic Design because I wanted to learn to make art and logos digitally. I still craved sketch work, and there was a fair amount in the course, but what really sold me was seeing other artistic friends show their portfolios. I knew I loved this. As

a sophomore, I applied for Art I, and it went well. I completed a lot of art pieces, even netting compliments from other students and teachers. I didn’t realize how far I had come from my doodling days. Art and music helped me define who I am, and they continue to shape me today.

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William Faulkner, another world-class writer said, “To understand the world, one must first understand a place like Mississippi.” The converse is as true for me. To more meaningfully experience myself and home is to achieve a better sense of my setting. As I’ve worked with Dr. Ferris, the visual record of the Civil Rights Movement has facilitated this understanding, and no doubt, will continue to do so. Our project crosses so many borders. Searching for perfect pieces has led me from New York to New Orleans in order to explore private collections, government archives, and museums.

I have been given unilateral freedom to choose significant images. From one photograph to the next, I might pivot from the virtues of dispassionate historical documentation or virtuoso technical composition skills to raw representations of tenderness, pain, or anger. Soon, a small team of graduate students and professors from UNC and Duke will choose the final collection of approximately 100 photos, and we will reconvene in Montpellier this fall for the opening. The impact of this exhibit and accompanying publication will be far-reaching, carrying pieces of Mississippi and the American South around the world to inform and transform others. It has certainly done both to me.

A SNAPSHOT

By Greer Underwood (class of 2018) Portrait by James Patterson • Photos by Greer Underwood

I line up three photographs: a child pouring gasoline on a burning cross, a tearful eye, and a sign reading “MLK Is Our Moses!”

I am selecting images for “I Am a Man,” a Civil Rights exhibit curated by Dr. William Ferris which opens this October in France. I had contacted Dr. Ferris at UNC’s Center for the Study of the American South to express my interest in his work on Southern people and places. After reviewing my own work, he recognized common themes and invited me to join his project. I jumped at the chance.

As a Southerner and avid photographer, I am clearly a product of my state, an American region known historically as the flashpoint of poverty, illiteracy, and racial discord. Yet I have vowed to help change Mississippi’s circumstances. My photographic inspiration, Eudora Welty, expressed her roots by remembering and identifying with its past, using fiction to address the state’s navigation of Civil Rights. In contrast, I have come to better understand my home by studying and celebrating its living culture—reading its books, tasting its food, singing its songs, and photographing its people.

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PerformingArts 25. Orchestrated and directed by high school English teacher Jessica Wilkinson, this winter play used over 50 students. Although the cast was small—11 actors— several musicians, artists, and woodworkers from different classes played a part in producing the show.

Set in a small Texas town, the show tells the story of Georgette (Claire Porter) and her daughter (FPDS student Christy Rutledge) who are in search of Georgette’s recently paroled husband, Henry (Aidan Creel). Their plans do not go as expected, and with the help of new friends, Georgette realizes that she has to be open to new possibilities, including a new love (Thomas McBride) and home. Other cast members included Alex Reichle, Dakota Kraus, Mary Frances Dickie, Michelle Dashbach, Amanda Roberts, Jerrion Ealy, and Ben Johnson. The show was stage managed

by Katie Simmons.

Over 500 people attended this tender drama full of complicated characters, which made bringing these characters to life a hard task for the actors. They rose to the challenge and under the direction of Mrs.

FOOTLOOSE, THE MUSICAL

By Mitchell McGinnis • Photo by Chase Richardson

In October 2017, students won their case against the officials of Bomont, proving there was nothing wrong with a little dancing. Four showtimes of Footloose, the Musical, including one encore performance, debuted these talented students in jaw-dropping showcases of talent. Prep family came together in the form of students, parents, grandparents, and community musicians to make the 2017 Fall Musical an amazing experience for those both attending and performing.

THE TRAVELING LADY

By Jessica Wilkinson • Photos by Hubert Worley

Horton Foote, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and two-time Academy Award winning screenwriter for Tender Mercies and To Kill A Mockingbird, wrote a lesser known play, The Traveling Lady, that was beautifully brought to life on the Lindsay Hall stage for four performances, including an encore, February 23-

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Wilkinson, brought truthful vulnerability to the stage, painting a poignant picture of uncertainty and hope.

Using the Lindsay stage allowed for benefits and challenges that were new to both actors and audiences.

Without microphones, the cast had to learn to project vocally, a skill required of all actors. The space allowed viewers to feel they were experiencing, not just watching, the action on stage.

Woodworking instructor Richart Schug designed the beautiful set, and his 22 students built it. Along with Mr. Schug’s classes, Dr. Lynn Miller’s Art II class produced artwork that uniquely embodied themes from the production. These pieces of art were on display in the lobby of Lindsay Hall.

Not only did art classes get involved, but some student musicians added their talents to this crosscurricular project. Horton Foote’s plays often contain music, and The Traveling Lady is no exception. Jennings Duncan composed an original score for the show and used a live student band for each performance. Band members included Thomas McBride, Mary Patton Murphy, Graham Roberson, Zack Richardson, and Peter Downing. Along with the musicians, some of the cast members (Porter and Creel) lent their vocal talents to both heartwarming and heartbreaking songs in the show.

This winter play was an experimental endeavor, but many students were involved and many attendees

were touched. This time of year, although busy for show choir members, was perfect for a literary gem and a small cast to make their way into the hearts of audiences.

BALLET MISSISSIPPI’S THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

By Carey Yelverton (class of 1989) • Photo by Carey Yelverton

Ballet Mississippi presented Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty, Act III (Aurora’s Wedding) on Saturday, May 12, at Prep’s Fortenberry Theatre and McRae Stage. This fairy tale came to life with soaring music by Tchaikovsky, beautiful dancing, and gorgeous costumes. Prep dancers in the performance included Riley McCoy, Isabella Overby, Kimberly Blount, Lawson Yelverton, and Caroline Yelverton.

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THE SIGNIFICANCE OF

Training in High School Sports

By Nick Brewer Photos by Hubert Worley

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raining high school athletes for competitions has evolved significantly in the last 25 years.

More and more teams are training on a yearly plan that can significantly improve performance during the athletes’ competitive season and during the time the athlete is not competing. A good training program for young adults should consist of a set of common exercises that work the entire athlete and include sport-specific exercises that further enhance his or her ability for the sport. In this article, we will go over a basic training program for a high school athlete.

Before starting a training program, athletes must pass a physical examination administered by a doctor to make sure there are no physical limitations or restrictions. Once passed, athletes are then instructed on the basic, common exercises for the program. This section of training should include the following parameters: warm up exercises, preworkout drills and stretches, instruction on the exercises being done, testing athletes on these instruction, and post-workout drills and stretches.

This section of the program should be done with any athlete regardless of age or level of experience. Once athletes master the basic skill set for this phase, intermediate and advanced skills

or exercises can be added. Good training will also address nutrition and rest by instructing the athletes on diet and sleep patterns.

Listed below are some of the significant reasons why all high school athletes must be involved in a training program. Athletes must train to prevent as many injuries as

they can. No program can prevent all injuries, but teaching the body to repeat a skill without becoming fatigued can prevent some. Athletes learn to coexist within a team structure, learning how to become great teammates by helping others, following their role on the team, and doing their job. And athletes learn

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how to handle stressful situations in a controlled environment. Coaches can create game-like situations to teach them how to respond to certain stimuli.

Training helps athletes to improve mentally as well as physically.

Studies have shown that athletes develop better communication and organizational skills than students who are not involved in a structured program.

Training programs help older athletes mentor younger ones. Studies have shown that athletes who interact and teach one another build stronger relationships. Training programs develop bonds between coaches and players.

Finding a common bond, besides the sport or training session, can build trust.

Training programs build life skills that the athlete can carry over after his or her athletic career is over.

Teaching skills that can be used later on in life, whether they are physical or mental, will allow athletes to live a more balanced and productive life. Players that fully involve themselves in a well-balanced program generally become more well-rounded.

From training the body to building lasting friendships and mental toughness, athletes can truly benefit from being a part of something that pushes them to their physical and mental capabilities.

On Track

By Montgomery Peoples Portrait by Hubert Worley

“I got a 2017 Mustang Eco-boost for my 16th birthday and have been hooked on performance cars.”

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ince I was a little girl, I lived in my dad’s workshop, helping him with cars.

My fingers tightened bolts and replaced fuses underneath the dash, and I can even remember my dad figuring out how to make my white and pink Barbie Jeep faster for me. I steered our family car up the long driveway. All my life, I have been at races and car shows: in Arizona, Kentucky, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, and Tennessee.

I got a 2017 Mustang Eco-boost for my 16th birthday and have been hooked on performance cars. To personalize it, I installed a Ford Performance tune for extra horsepower, painted the brake calipers red, and affixed several features: a louder exhaust; a PedalMax, for a more responsive throttle; a Mishimoto oil catch to keep the valves free from buildup; and matte black stripes on the car’s hood and sides. Earlier this year, I took a driving class in Arizona which taught me defensive and high performance driving techniques, as well as the rules on a race track. I learned about car control behind the wheels of a Fiat 124 Spider and a Dodge Charger SRT. Returning home, I immediately wanted to go back to the race track again and learn more.

My last race-track experience was at the NOLA Motorsports Park in March. It was the most exciting, nerve-wracking thing I’ve done. With the support of my family and instructor, I managed 120 mph around the track, with my dad chasing me in his Shelby GT 350. In the summer, I had another race at Memphis International Raceway, and this time, I learned without an instructor. Racing has become a hobby that I will cherish for the rest of my life. And as for my nerves, I remember what Mario Andretti says: “If you have everything under control, you’re not moving fast enough.”

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THE ADVENTURES OF

Matt Mills ACONCAGUA MOUNTAIN TRIP

By Matt Mills

In December of 2017, I began the altitude acclimatization process for our attempt to climb and summit Aconcagua. Truly the “Roof of the Americas,” Cerro Aconcagua, at 22,841 feet, is not only the highest peak on the North and South American continents, but the highest peak outside of Asia. Located on the Chilean-Argentine border, it is a three-hour jeep ride from Mendoza.

Our climbing team consisted of two guides and seven hikers—two from Minnesota, two from South Africa, one each from Indiana and Colorado, and me. Hikers’ ages ranged from late 40s down to me, at 17.

Initially, the group started off towards the Ameghino Valley en route to the first Plaza Argentina Base Camp. Rather than taking the traditional route, we traversed the mountain in a circuitous manner, taking in the mountain glaciers and their expansive valleys. The wind blew constantly. By day seven of the 18-day climb, the group reached 17,000 feet. When I called in the dispatch, I noted that the group had hiked five hours covering about 13 kilometers through a glacial valley. The hike was like walking on the edge of the world.

The team made our summit push at the end of the month, waking before dawn to begin our trek up to 22,841 feet. Round trip,

summit day typically takes teams anywhere between 12 and 18 hours, depending on the conditions on the route. The weather was “splitter,” meaning perfect. Early in the morning, we were rewarded with a sunrise projecting the shadow of the peak of Aconcagua across the mountains below. The winds were clocked at 60 miles an hour, and the temperature was well below zero degrees. At that altitude, each step forward was arduous, with the air so thin I would take a step, stop, and think, “One Mississippi, two Mississippi, take a step.”

It was an emotional moment for the entire team. The daily team report was called in and warm wishes shared in multiple languages.

We took pictures at the top of the world and began our safe descent to High Camp. A slumber party in the Grajales dome tent (which, everyone agreed, was the best night of sleep yet) and the first snow of the trip greeted us in Plaza de Mulas. The team reached Mendoza again the next day. The hike out was a long, tough one, but was mostly downhill, so the miles rolled by fairly quickly.

For me, the hike was so much more than I anticipated. Having played football in the fall, I thought I was in fine shape. In reality, the hike to the summit proved to be the hardest physical undertaking I have experienced. Breathing hurts at 20,000 feet, and at 22,841 feet is excruciating. Each one of the hikers doubted his or her own abilities, but kept on moving. When I was asked what happened once we reached the absolute summit, I replied, “Well, everyone burst into tears except for me.” But I’ll admit—thinking about it since then, I’ve shed a few grateful tears.

SEAMESTER PROGRAM

By Mary Mills (class of 1978)

After Matt’s successful summit of Aconcagua over the Christmas holidays, mom asked what he wanted to do next. Of course he

had an answer: to sail the ocean.

After a little research, a program named SeaMester became the vehicle by which he could achieve this goal. SeaMester is a gap year, semester abroad, or summer adventure for college students who want an extended period on a large sailing vessel while gaining college credit for such courses as Marine Biology or Oceanography. Students become the crew for the ship and take accredited classes. Thanks to Prep’s dual enrollment agreement with Mississippi College, Matt qualified as a college student and was accepted into the program. On July 7th, he set sail from Tortola in the British Virgin Islands on Argo, a 112-foot vessel.

The 40-day trip saw him sail the entire width of the Atlantic into the Mediterranean Sea. It included 24 college students from all over the world, who lived in close proximity on the two-mast ship. The boat was huge, and there was something to do all the time. Students were grouped into three Watch Teams. They kept bow watch 24/7, cooked dinner in the galley, swabbed the decks when wet, and manned the helm. Quickly the students bonded as a working team. There was no internet, Instagram, or cell phone coverage from the middle of the Atlantic! So

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on the 12-4 am watch, the students had what Matt has dubbed DMC’s: Deep Meaningful Conversations.

Dance offs and 20 Questions were very important. Whale observation and dolphin play kept the crew enchanted. The sighting of a bird was a big deal. The stars at night and the moon were bigger and brighter than anything seen on land. The horizon was huge.

Freighter ships carrying who knows what were watched with curiosity.

As they sailed more northerly, the temperature got cooler on deck.

When the ship turned east toward the Mediterranean, it was on the same parallel as Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada.

After 20 days with no land in sight, the first land they saw was the Azores off Portugal. Daily ship logs posted to parents revealed the most anticipated thought after almost three weeks at sea involved FOOD! From all accounts the food on the ship was amazing and plentiful, but if the rest were like Matt, they always wanted more. Future stops at port included Gibraltar on the Iberian Peninsula, Majorca on the Balearic Islands off Spain in the Mediterranean, and finally Nice, France, where Matt flew home and began his senior year at Prep. But not before a serious haircut and shave.

A Senior Trip to Remember

By Nikki Rowell, Northside Sun

Back from left: Kelly McBride, Mitchell Boulanger, Parker Daily, Wilson Mink, Reed Peets, Spivey Gault, Tanner McCraney; Front: Ryan Myers, Landon Wilbanks Colleges currently attending: University of Mississippi - Mitchell Boulanger, Parker Daily, Spivey Gault, Kelly McBride, Ryan Myers, Reed Peets, Landon Wilbanks; Mississippi State University - Wilson Mink; Rhodes College - Tanner McCraney

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days, nine guys, eight states, and one van all add up to one unforgettable experience.

Nine Jackson Prep graduates decided to take to the open road for the customary senior trip. However, traveling with friends was the only way this group’s trip was traditional.

Reed Peets, Tanner McCraney, Spivey Gault, Landon Wilbanks, Mitchell Boulanger, Kelly McBride, Ryan Myers, Parker Daily and Wilson Mink got their hands on a van large enough to haul them across the country and then they began to plan.

“McCraney had the initial idea to forego the typical senior trip and do something more adventurous,” said Peets, who kept a journal detailing their travels.

They began by gathering a few times on Sunday nights to make preparations for the trip. During

these meetings they loosely planned an itinerary and assigned responsibility for stops they wanted to hit along the way.

Each guy was given a specific area to find an Airbnb or campsite to spend the night and find things to do in that area while they were there.

McCraney’s dad bought the van, with the agreement that the dealership would buy it back after the trip because the guys were too young to rent a vehicle.

“Each of us kind of picked a spot based on our connections there,” he said.

Peets had Fort Worth, which was on the last leg, because he has family members living there. He also planned the Denver stop because his brother lives there.

“A lot of us had connections to the different places we were going,”

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he said. “Our only restriction was that we had to be in those particular places at the time to check in.”

Other than that, they had freedom to do whatever they wanted along the way.

Peets said the most important thing he learned on the trip was the importance of fellowship with friends.

He also credits these experiences with bringing him and his group of friends closer.

“I kept realizing how important and how valuable and much fun it was to be at a campfire or sitting around a table or hanging out in the living room and just having good conversation,” he said. “The kind of conversation, timeless conversation, where you don’t care about anything else but what’s going on right there.

“The most important thing I learned was the real power of

good fellowship and conversation, because I think a lot of us grew in a lot of different ways just from substantive interaction,” he added.

The trip started in Oxford for freshman orientation. Several of the guys who took part in the trip— including Peets—plan to attend Ole Miss in the fall.

They departed Oxford with their sights set on Petit Jean, Arkansas.

With only a short distance under their belts, the group encountered their first obstacle.

“In Memphis, the van was hit by what we think was a golf ball, but what felt like a gunshot,” Peets said.

The impact left a small hole in the windshield, which spiderwebbed across the glass. Mink, who was driving, had glass on his arms.

They had to pull over and duct tape the windshield.

When they arrived in Petit Jean, they set up a campsite for the night.

After hiking to a waterfall the next morning, the group set out for their next stop, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The next day, they spent the entire day driving across Kansas. They stopped in Burlington, Colorado.

Peets said they spent the night in a single hotel room for all nine guys.

They spread out their sleeping bags on the floor. Who got to sleep in the beds was determined by the “ID game.”

To decide in what order they drove, who sat where in the van, and who took the beds during their stops, they played this game: Someone would take everyone’s driver’s licenses, shuffle them up, and someone would pick at random to make it fair.

“We would do that to decide just about anything,” Peets said.

“We would do this when we had to drive for long periods. We would ask if someone wants to drive. Someone would usually volunteer, then we would take the IDs, shuffle them up, put them in the seats. We would flip them over and that would be where you sat for the entire trip that day.”

This eliminated the shot gun rule and any arguments over seats.

“Because not all of those van seats were created equal,” Peets said. “The back, middle seat was miserable.”

The group made their next stop in Denver, Colorado, where they went to a concert at Red Rocks and went to a Rockies game.

After that, they drove to Rocky Mountain National Park where they rented a campsite and went hiking.

Peets said they went on a twomile hike to Emerald Lake before hitting the road again for their next destination, Moab, Utah.

The drive to Moab was long, but Peets said it was worth it to see Arches National Park. When they arrived, some of the group hiked and watched the sunrise over the Delicate Arch.

“I kept realizing how important and how valuable and much fun it was to be at a campfire or sitting around a table or hanging out in the living room and just having good conversation.”

“That was probably the coolest thing from the entire trip,” Peets said.

From there, they went to Zion National Park.

“Zion was like Pandora in Avatar,” Peets said. “It’s a huge park.”

Some of the guys hiked Angel’s Landing, which is a 1,488-foot tall rock formation in Zion National Park.

“We hiked the narrows, which are rocks that have been pushed together,” Peets said. “At points you can touch either side. There were so many awesome views.”

The first night, the group had a campsite at Zion. Since campsites were limited, they could only get one. However, the campsites are meant for only six people each, and

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park rangers were out in full force to enforce those rules.

Some of the guys were going sky diving in Hurricane, Utah, so they took the van and slept in it in the facility parking lot.

“We did front flips out of the plane,” Peets said. “After that, you realize you’re falling to the Earth and you kind of freak out. So then you think, I’ve got to do what they told me to do, and you get into position. Then, you kind of get your wits about you, and you’re able to look around. Then, you fall for about 45 seconds, then you pull the cord.

As soon as you pull the rip cord, it’s this tremendous shock.

“It’s a silence as if there was never any noise,” Peets added. “You pull the cord and the parachute just yanks you. You have all of this wild commotion of air whizzing past you, and it just stops and you’re just like ‘whoa’ and you can see everything.”

Peets said the instructor would yell out: “Welcome to the sky.”

Following their stay in Utah, the group made their way to Flagstaff, Arizona.

“We got up the next morning and went to the Grand Canyon,” Peets said. “It was probably the least exciting of all of our big stops.”

By the time they made it to Albuquerque, New Mexico, the guys were all exhausted from their travels. Peets said their plans were to get to the Airbnb to eat and relax.

They departed for Amarillo, Texas, then Fort Worth as they made their way back to Mississippi.

From long days of driving to their in-depth conversations to all the adventures and memories made in between, the trip brought the group closer.

Their adventures weren’t over when they got home. The final stop before going home was to clean out the van, which as one could imagine, was quite a sight after the trip.

The next journey they will embark on will be attending college in the fall.

Prep Alumni CONTINUE BASEBALL TRADITION IN COLLEGE ROW 1 Will Warren Southeastern Matthew Myers Ole Miss ROW 2 Hudson Little Pearl River CC Gene Wood Alabama Noah Hughes Hinds/Southeastern Parker Caracci Ole Miss Jake Mangum Mississippi State Greg Oden Hinds ROW 3 Coaches

“Prep taught me how to be a leader and to push myself as well as my team.”

Will Warren “Prep baseball not only made me a better player, but also made me a better man in life.”

Gregory Oden “Prep taught me to compete and never give up. There is no I in team.”

Parker Carracci “Prep baseball taught me the meaning of brotherhood.”

Hudson Little “Prep baseball taught me that excellence is the standard.”

Jake Mangum “Prep taught me to push myself to get better everyday.”

Noah Hughes “To be good at anything, it takes getting better every single day.”

Gene Wood “Prep taught me to take nothing for granted and to work day in and day out so you can be at your best when the time comes.”

Matthew Myers

Derek Williford Brent Heavener (HC) Zander Romano Shane Bennett Photo by Hubert Worley

“These guys are what Prep baseball standards are. They have been and continue to be great examples of what Prep Baseball stands for. They have helped make us a Championship program and help make great leaders for the teams that follow.”

Brent Heavener, Head Caoch

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Leadership

By Avery Andress (class of 2018)

P

rep has many leadership programs. From the Global Leadership Institute to various clubs, there are many ways to get involved.

The Student Council is one group that provides these opportunities for students, sponsoring a myriad of events at Prep and for the community.

This year the Student Council has 53 members who represent the sophomore, junior, and senior classes.

At the beginning of each year, the Student Council is in charge of a supply store which is set up in the cafeteria. Students can come before school to get any supplies they might need for classes. We make packets for seventh and eighth graders, crammed with the supplies they need for the year.

We also set up tables with binders, pens, pencils, and other necessities for individual purchase. The supply store is the biggest fundraiser for the Student Council budget each year. It is also a fun reunion as you get to see everyone before official schedules begin.

Homecoming is another event the Student Council sponsors.

The week of homecoming, there are dress-up themes for each day.

Games on Patriot Avenue are based on the homecoming theme, which for 2017 was Hawaiian.

One of my favorite events the Student Council sponsors is Candlelighters in December.

Candlelighters is an event where children and families from Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital come to Prep one Saturday, and members play games and do crafts with everyone. It is such a special time of fellowship and a great way to give back to the community.

The Student Council is involved in so much. Ms. Laura Hepner, our sponsor, is instrumental in organizing

and making sure we have everything we need for them to run smoothly.

Members of the Student Council are amazingly helpful and eager to serve.

Teamwork is a required trait on the Council. We have to work together to accomplish these goals. For example, when we do Fallfest—an event at which students can perform in the amphitheater, singing or playing instruments—all hands are on deck. Some members

“People lead in different ways. Everyone is a leader of some kind, whether in a classroom, sport, or extracurricular activity.”

set up tables, others introduce the performing acts, and still others serve refreshments.

Collaboration and communication are vitally important. Everyone has a voice in the activities we do; soliciting opinions on how we should run those activities can be overwhelming but is a fundamental part of the process. There are many ways to set up and accomplish the events we sponsor, but we seek the most efficient way. When there is a lack of communication, there is a lack of understanding. Members quickly learn that communication is the key to accomplishing any task.

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Organization also plays a role.

We have to figure out the steps we need to take before we can accomplish anything. Committees and officers are in charge of events that the Student Council hosts, but everyone is required to be supportive and pitch in when anyone needs assistance.

People lead in different ways.

Everyone is a leader of some kind, whether in a classroom, sport, or extracurricular activity. Leadership tasks depend upon someone’s personality, but everyone can lead in ways they might not realize initially.

Part of the enjoyment of working with Student Council is arriving at and refining this self-knowledge.

If all of this sounds like hard work, I shouldn’t overlook the fun.

For example, before exams started, the Student Council brought puppies from Mississippi Animal Rescue Fund to Patriot Avenue.

Any students could come and pet the puppies, which relieved stress.

Some students even decided that they wanted to go to volunteer at the shelter. The Student Council donated laundry detergent and other supplies to the shelter in order to thank them. Another fun activity the Student Council sponsors is selling carnations around Valentine’s Day. In the week leading up to the holiday, senior high students buy flowers that are delivered to lockers the day before Valentine’s Day. Students can write messages on cards that are sent with the carnation, and on the 14th, lucky students discover their bouquets.

Our Student Council proves that leadership and service are two sides of the same coin.

Legacy Dinner

By Stacey Fererri Photos by Hubert Worley

L

ove for our institution was never more powerfully felt than on February 22, 2018. More than 100 founding, former, and current Board of Trustee members and spouses joined for fellowship and heard the positive achievements of Jackson Prep. Those in attendance enjoyed Anne Rogers, President, Board of Trustees; Denny Britt, Interim Head and COO; and Stacey Ferreri, Director of Institutional Advancement. The highlight of the evening was certainly the remarks of Lawrence Coco, newly named Head of School. According to Mrs. Ferreri, “to be present among so many influential members of the Prep Family was a true honor.”

The Board of Trustees of Jackson Preparatory School Foundation is comprised of the outstanding individuals as noted. The members are selected by a Committee on Trustees that has solicited recommendations from members of the Foundation, which include every parent or guardian of a child enrolled as a student. The board meets seven times a year to manage the affairs of the corporation. The Foundation’s Executive Committee— composed of the officers of the corporation and the immediate past president of the corporation—usually meets ten times a year. It serves as a board management unit, annually reviewing the strategic or long-range plan, determining the board agenda, developing committee structure and function, and selecting committee leadership.

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JACKSON PREP BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2018-2019 Anne Wells Rogers, President John Davis, Vice President Doug Hederman, Secretary Tony Huffman, Treasurer David Andress Jim Coggin, Jr. Duane Dewey Marcelo Eduardo Wilson Hood Ashley Meena Susie Puckett Ben Roberson Terrence Shirley Laura Stansell Joe Stradinger Francine Smith Thomas Mary Elizabeth Upton Heather Vise William Edward Walker III Emily Whitaker Kelley Williams, Jr.

Circle of Honor

By Stacey Fererri Photos by Hubert Worley

S

ince its founding, Jackson Prep has been shaped by individuals whose leadership, philanthropy, and service over many years have cherished and guided our students, built and molded this institution, and established traditions that continue to define the Prep experience.

A Circle of Honor was established and dedicated in 2005 as a tribute to individuals who have had a lasting influence on the school. Honorees include educators, leaders, and benefactors. The Circle of Honor is prominently located in front of the McRae Center—a testament to those revered by the community.

On April 30, 2018, two extraordinary members of the Jackson Prep family were included in the Circle of Honor.

SUSAN R. LINDSAY Education

DUDLEY WOOLEY Leadership

A lifelong educator, Susan R. Lindsay served Prep for 40 years. Susan was a social studies teacher, department chair, senior high guidance counselor, junior high principal, Associate Head of Academic Affairs, and twice Interim Head of School. In 2004 she was named the first female Head of School at Jackson Prep, where she remained until her retirement in 2014.

She was instrumental in successful capital campaigns resulting in the construction of the Guyton Science Center and Lyceum, the Dining Commons, and the Centre for Arts and Leadership. Susan is pictured with her son, Michael (class of 1990).

Dudley Wooley has always been a tremendous advocate and leader throughout his association with Prep. A 1978 graduate of Jackson Prep, he is a past member and a past President of the Board of Trustees. Dudley has also served as a Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee and Capital Campaign Co-Chairman. His love for Prep has been seen by his involvement with a myriad of campus activates from athletics to the arts. In 2017, Dudley received the prestigious Alumni Service Award—The Patriot Award—given in recognition of commitment to Prep’s tradition of excellence in all aspects of life. Dudley is pictured with his wife, Julie.

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A Family Affair Fifty-one members of the Jackson Prep class of 2018 are second-generation alumni.

Photos by Emma Lou Horrell

SHELBY ANDRESS daughter of Scott Andress ('82)

ANDREW BEARD son of Herman Beard ('84)

CLARK BEARD son of Herman Beard ('84)

JACOB BEARD son of Herman Beard ('84)

JAMES BEARD son of Herman Beard ('84)

ZOIE CAIN daughter of Dustin Cain ('93)

WILLIAM COTTEN son of Kathryn Hays Cotten ('89)

TREY CURRIE son of Dale Currie ('78)

LAUREL EVANS daughter of Michael Evans ('87)

COLEMAN FRYE son of Davis Frye ('90)

THOMAS FRYE son of Davis Frye ('90)

PARKER GLEASON son of Sherry Shaw Gleason ('88)

BROOKS GOBBEL son of Sandra Shimpf Gobbel ('79)

ANNA KAT IRELAND daughter of Sai Ireland ('79)

DUNCAN JONES son of Alese Johnston Jones ('86)

DAKOTA KRAUS son of Amy Traub Kraus ('87)

LUCIE LOUIS daughter of Tommy Louis ('78)

JAKE MALONEY son of Laurie Douglas Maloney ('80)

ANDREW McCAA son of Andy McCaa ('78)

ALICE McCRANEY daughter of Kathryn Martin McCraney ('92) Will McCraney ('92)

TANNER McCRANEY son of Tad McCraney ('88)

MADDY MAZZAFERRO KELLY McBRIDE daughter of son of Betsy Edgar Mazzaferro ('91) Mary Allen Bowen McBride ('82) Gregory Mazzaferro ('91)

ANNABETH ROSE HARRIS daughter of William Harris ('81)

ANNE CLARK HARVEY daughter of Margaret Minor Harvey ('88)

KIRK McGEHEE son of Mac McGehee ('73)

ISABELLE McLEOD daughter of Paige Neville McLeod ('91) Scott McLeod ('91)

MARY ROGERS MERRELL daughter of Kristin Reed Merrell ('85) William Merrell ('85)

MARY MARGARET MITCHELL daughter of Mack Mitchell ('89)

JACK MYERS son of Lynn Hobbs Myers ('83)

RYAN MYERS son of Anne Snyder Myers ('76)

BENNETT O'QUINN son of Chalise Lenoir O'Quinn ('86)

REED PEETS son of Randy Peets ('77)

HAYDEN PERKINS son of Todd Perkins ('90)

PATRICK PHILLIPS son of Elisa Thomas Phillips ('85)

CLAIRE PORTER daughter of Kim Griffing Porter ('83)

GRAHAM ROBERSON son of Ben Roberson ('87)

PIPER SCHROCK daughter of Amy Griffin Schrock ('89)

STEWART SHIVE daughter of Allen Shive ('85)

FORREST SMITH son of Susan McGee Smith ('83)

MARGARET O'NEIL STEWART daughter of Tracy McGowan Stewart ('89)

OLIVIA THIGPEN daughter of Angie Carter Thigpen ('88) Lee Thigpen ('82)

MATTHEW THORNTON son of Emily Martin Thornton ('88)

GREER UNDERWOOD daughter of Jay Underwood ('86)

KATIE WALKER daughter of Will Walker ('84)

POLLY WATKINS daughter of Betsy Bartling Watkins ('92) Trey Watkins ('92)

RUSSELL WEATHERSBY son of Charlie Weathersby ('82)

NEVIN WELLS son of Leslie Harrington Wells ('87)

LAWSON YELVERTON daughter of Carey Cassreino Yelverton ('89) Ralph Yelverton ('89)

PETE ZOUBOUKOS son of Constantine Zouboukos ('82)

LANDON WILBANKS son of David Wilbanks ('83)

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID JACKSON, MS PERMIT NO. 93

P.O. Box 4940 Jackson, MS 39236-4940

Ryan Sherman

connect with us: jacksonprep.org | prep@jacksonprep.org /jacksonprep @jacksonprep @thejacksonprep