FPD Magazine

FPDmagazine

SUMMER 2012

A PUBLICATION FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN DAY SCHOOL

FROM THE

Headmaster FPD Magazine First Presbyterian Day School 5671 Calvin Drive Macon, Georgia 31210 Phone: (478) 477-6505 www.fpdmacon.org Administration and Staff Gregg Thompson, Headmaster Dr. Barry E. Shealy, Assistant Headmaster Joseph Childs, High School Principal Molly Pearson ’87, Middle School Principal Wade Putnal, Elementary Principal Kris Cutright, Instructional Support Director Charles Parrish, Chief Financial Officer Chris Childers, Development Director Cheri Frame ’89, Enrollment Director Carol Sawyer, Alumni Director Greg Moore ’84, Athletic Director Brad Thompson, College Counselor Andrew Strickland, Fine Arts Director David Bass, Technology Director Cal Powell, Communications Director 2011-2012 Board of Trustees Mr. Rick H. Bonfim Mr. Paul Cable Mrs. Lara Carlton Mr. Rob Danner Jr. Mrs. Patti Martin Mrs. Saynor Foshee’86, Vice Chair The Rev. Chip Miller, Ex Officio Mr. Charles Scurry Mr. Dan Slagle Mr. Daniel L. Smith, Chairman Mr. Jay Strickland ’81 Mr. Gregg Thompson, Ex Officio Mr. Cole Tidwell ’88 Mr. Kevin Watson ’88 Design: Cal Powell Writing: Cal Powell, Olivia Taylor ’14, Carson Pyles ’08, Susan Douglas Printer: Panaprint Photography: Cal Powell, Tyler Shores, Witt Gaither, Andrew Brooks FPD Magazine is published by the First Presbyterian Day School Development Office. Contents may be re-printed with permission of the school. For questions or comments, e-mail cal.powell@fpdmacon.org or carol.sawyer@fpdmacon.org

Praise God with trumpet sound; … with tambourine and dance; … let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Psalm 150 Dear FPD Friends and Family, It’s been exciting to feel the rumblings of the bulldozers and hear the noises of the backhoes as we begin construction to expand the Clark Fine Arts facility.

Thirteen years ago, when we started raising funds for the original 25,000 square foot facility, I remember folks wondering how we were ever going to fill the classrooms. It took a lot of faith and conviction on the part of our Board and many donors to build a facility in which the arts could flourish.

It’s been a joy to watch our band, dance, theatre and art programs grow and develop, to the point we’ve outgrown the facility.

For the past two years, the middle school science lab has been occupied by the middle school art program, pushing science lab work into the high school lab space when possible. The upper school choral music program outgrew the fine arts building about the time the new high school renovation was finished; the choral program looks forward to leaving its shared space in the Senior Hall (lecture hall) for dedicated space in the new facility.

The elementary music program moved out of the fine arts building about six years ago due to the growth in the theatre program. It has enjoyed its home in the original kindergarten building, but looks forward to being joined with the fine arts under one roof.

I’m equally excited about the Center for Student Success that will be located on the second floor of the expansion. Our Instructional Support Program and counseling services will be housed in this area. Our current spaces have been adequate, but did not have individual and small group study rooms. The new space is designed to help students maximize their learning and allow for more individualization and support.

As a school committed to glorifying God in all that we do, it will be wonderful to bring all our fine arts into the same structure as we celebrate and develop our students’ creative gifts and learning styles.

Thank you for your support in helping make this new addition a reality.

Because He is faithful,

Gregg Thompson

WHAT’S INSIDE graduation 2012

4 FPD sends 81 graduates from the Class of 2012 into the world.

senior profiles

8 A closer look at six seniors who are helping to make a difference.

FPD family

22 We profile three families with unique ties to FPD.

golf tournament

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26 A record number of golfers turned out for the annual event at Idle Hour Country Club.

faculty profiles

38 College Counselor Brad Thompson and Fine Arts Director Andrew Strickland talk of their love for watching students succeed.

22 on the cover FPD senior Courtney Markel shares a hug with a classmate following graduation on May 19.

Photo by Tyler Shores

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GRADUATION 2012

Moving On Members of the Class of 2012 set high standards.

At about 1 p.m. on May 19, headmaster Gregg Thompson stood in front of a packed worship center at Ingleside Baptist Church, smiled, and officially declared 81 seniors graduates of First Presbyterian Day School.

With that, the students marched out of the worship center for the ceremonial hat toss in front of a clapping and smiling faculty, finally joining the more than 2,500 others who now call themselves FPD Alumni.

The Class included students like Caroline Martin and Daniel Slagle, who attended FPD for 14 years, along with those like Kalo Oglesby,

who spent just a year as a Viking but considers his life forever changed for the better because of it.

“FPD has had a major impact on my life,” Oglesby said. “It came along at a time in my life when I really needed it and made me a believer in the goodness of people.”

Forty-two of the 81 graduates were named honor graduates, while 45 of them were recognized as members of the National Honor Society.

The class was just the second at FPD to have a community service requirement for graduation. The seniors responded with more than 6,700 hours for the past two years an average of 83 hours per student - impacting 70 different agencies and churches.

They traveled to places like Nashville, Chicago, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru and Honduras.

“They have truly felt the call and have impacted the world for God’s glory,” college counselor Brad Thompson said.

This edition highlights some of the Class of 2012’s accomplishments.

On the pages that immediately follow, six seniors are profiled as students who made a unique mark on their class and community.

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KAITLYNN JONES

College Choice: Mercer University

Major: Human Services

Why Mercer? I am definitely a homebody, so the idea of being far away from my family was a big factor in my college decision. One of the biggest things, though, was what I want to do and what community would be best for it. I want to major in Human Services so that I can counsel children who come from broken and abusive homes and go through the DFACS program. Macon is a good place for that, a place where I will be able to get my foot in the door and still be able to continue with my community service.

Activities: Project LEAD, National Honor Society, community service Honors: Golden Eagle nominee for Citizenship, Prudential Spirit of the Community Award, Senior Superlative, FPD Alumni Scholarship, Honor Graduate, Peyton Anderson Scholar Favorite memory: My favorite memory was probably the in-town mission trip that I planned in the fall. It was a three-day trip open to juniors and seniors on homecoming weekend where we went downtown and cleaned the streets and volunteered serving food at four different organizations. We even spent the night in an empty loft in order to experience what it would be like to live in homeless conditions. Because we saw some of the same people at each place we went, students were able to really get to know them and listen to their stories. It was neat to see each student realize that you didn’t have to travel to a third world country in order to do God’s work.

What I will miss most about FPD: MY FRIENDS! I’ve been at FPD for 13 years, so I have grown to be really close with the people in my grade. I love the atmosphere of FPD where the classes are small and the teachers are devoted to their students. I’m going to miss all the relationships I have built here.

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PEARCE GROOVER

College Choice: University of Georgia

Major: French/English Lit

Why UGA? II chose UGA because of the spectacular benefits the students within the Honors Program receive (such as priority when registering for classes, capped classes taught by the leading professors of the university, and automatic acceptance into the Terry School of Business).

Activities: Tennis, Swimming, Edda Co-Editor, President of French Club, National French Honor Society Member Honors: Ecce Quam Bonum Scholarship from Sewanee, Charter Scholarship from UGA, National Honor Society member, Superior Student of French 2012, National and State ranking Grand Concours National French Exam, Graduated Honors with Distinction Favorite memory: Rachmaninoff vs Chopin music analysis day in Dr. Carreker’s class and every single food day in Mrs. Marxsen’s (French) class.

What I will miss most about FPD: The regularity of my schedule. I knew what was expected of me and at what level I had to perform in order to be successful. I relished the sense of stability FPD gave to me, something that helped shape me for the many years I spent there.

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MARY MARGARET SMITH

College Choice: University of Georgia

Major: Pre-Law

Why UGA? I have been a Bulldog fan since I was a little girl. As I have grown older, I have developed an understanding of the necessity of a good college education. I have found that UGA can provide such educational opportunities. After shadowing two older brothers while they attended UGA, I have fallen in love with the campus and all the wonderful opportunities offered there. I plan to pursue a degree in law, and UGA has one of the top-ranked law schools in the nation. Now I cannot wait to be with 92,745 of my closest friends on Saturdays in Athens. Go Dawgs!

Activities: Football manager, numerous fine arts performances, FPD Student Ambassador, Honor Council, Project LEAD, Mu Alpha Theta, Spanish Club, Environmental Club, Literary Competition (trio and solo) Honors: Patty Fuchs Cup, Hugh O’Brian Leadership Seminar, Judy Jones Merit Scholarship, Girls State, People to People Student Ambassador to Italy/Greece, Exchange Club Youth of the Month, Golden Eagle Award, Girl Scout Gold Award, DAR Good Citizenship Award, High Honor Roll, Graduated Honors with Distinction Favorite memory: My favorite memory of my time at FPD is our Senior Spirit Week. We were so competitive and determined that we would achieve our third consecutive Spirit Week victory. We planned dress up themes for each day and made sure we had the cream of the crop for each relay. We began as babies or toddlers, then high schoolers, college students, working years and finished the week as the elderly or the undead. We all stormed the court and then fell down and “died.” It was a wonderful victory for the entire class.

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JAMES WATWOOD

College Choice: Auburn University

Major: Civil Engineering

Why Auburn? I chose Auburn because it has a good engineering program, and when I visited I fell in love with the campus. Everybody I met there was very friendly, and I have never met anybody who attended Auburn who did not enjoy their college experience.

Activities: Football, Basketball, Tennis, Math Team, Boys Ensemble Honors: National Merit Finalist, Auburn National Merit Finalist Scholarship, Middle Georgia Ambulance Free Enterprise Award, Macon Exchange Club Youth of the Month, Macon Exchange Club Youth of the Year, Georgia Scholar, Robins Officers Spouses Club Scholarship, Macon Touchdown Club Scholar Athlete Award, Graduated Honors with Distinction Favorite memory: My favorite memory of my time at FPD was celebrating in the locker room after beating Landmark during this past football season. The celebration after winning a football game is always an amazing feeling, but this one was especially great because we won at home against one of the best teams in the state. The best part was once we were all in the locker room, all of a sudden Coach Garvin came in and started dancing. You know you’ve done something really good if Coach Garvin starts dancing.

What I will miss most about FPD: I could spend all day listing the things that I am going to miss. It will be strange not getting up every morning and going to the same place that I have been going for the past 10 years. Out of all the things I will miss, the thing I will miss the most is all of the wonderful people I met during my time at FPD. God has blessed me with amazing teachers, coaches, classmates, and friends, and it will be extremely hard not being able to see them on a daily basis anymore.

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KATIE HUGGINS

College Choice: Wake Forest University Major: English Why Wake Forest? Originally, I only looked at Wake because it had similar qualities to the other schools I was applying to: a smaller liberal arts college with a strong English department and a theatre department that is open to non-majors. I visited their campus over spring break and had the “magic wedding dress” feeling - the school just felt right. I was amazed by how friendly and accommodating the school was. Admissions set a tour for me at the last minute, and my tour guide personally took me to the English department chair’s office to find a class for me to sit in. My interaction with the English professor sealed the deal. Not only was her class awesome, but she made my class experience personal. At the end of the class, I distinctly remember how hopeful and excited I felt about college.

Activities: Theatre, Competition Hip Hop Dance Team, editor of The Edda (literary magazine), staff writer for The Saga, chorus Honors: Honorable Mention Actress at One-Act Competition, National Merit Commended, AP Scholar with Honor, Recipient of Robins Officers Spouses’ Club Scholarship, Graduated Honors with Distinction Favorite memory: Performing onstage and being in the school shows! I have so many fond memories of all the hours I spent onstage and backstage during rehearsals and performances. Performing in Godspell was particularly special to me. I will never forget the first time we rehearsed the Last Supper and Crucifixion scenes. Usually we are chatty and cutting up in rehearsals, but there was such a reverent hush because the spiritual significance of our acting was tangible. I teared up every time we performed that scene, especially during the finale when one of the characters tore down the Dead End sign after Jesus’ death.

What I will miss most: I will especially miss all of the personal relationships I have built with my teachers. Knowing that my teachers loved and supported me as an individual, not just as a student, was a treasured part of my high school career.

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GREYSON BARGERON

College Choice: North Georgia College Major: Physical Therapy Why North Georgia? There are many reasons. First, I have always been interested in joining the military and NGCSU is the top senior military college in the country. Cadets there experience a military environment and at the same time enjoy a regular college lifestyle. I was awarded a four-year R.O.T.C. Scholarship and after I graduate I’ll be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army.

Activities: Over the past four years I participated in football, wrestling and track. I had run track since 6th grade and wrestled since 7th but one of the biggest challenges was starting football as a freshman. Being involved in sports has impacted me for the rest of my life. The words spoken by the coaches on the field, track or mat will stay with me always, guiding me with wisdom when I need to make tough choices, directing me to push myself to accomplish more than I thought possible and reminding me to honor God with all my actions.

Honors: Most Outstanding Senior Male Athlete, American Red Cross Hometown Hero Award (for work with Rebuilding Macon), Macon Sports Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete award, National Football Foundation Scholar/Citizen/Athlete award, Project LEAD member, Mu Alpha Theta, Ponder Scholarship recipient, Senior Superlative, Best Citizen award, National Honor Society, FPD Student Ambassador, class officer, Graduated Honors with Distinction Favorite memory: My favorite memory is also what I will miss the most about FPD and that is the relationships that we’ve built between classmates, teachers and coaches. I attended FPD for 13 years and made so many long-lasting friendships. While these friendship will last, the setting will change now that we’ve graduated. I think about all of the football games on Friday nights as our team walked out on the field. I loved all of our class trips, dances, spirit week and I realize how much we have done together. We have been so close over the past few years and this makes it difficult to leave FPD. I look forward to coming back for games and events and to see all of the people who were a part of my life for so long.

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CLASS OF 2012 Valedictorian Jonathan Easter

Director’s Award (FPD Theatre) Katie Huggins, Anna Daly Bullard

Salutatorian Patrick Clark

Moliere Award (FPD Theatre) Courtney Carr

STAR Student (school, county and region) Jonathan Easter

Wendy’s High School Heisman James Watwood (school winner)

Class President Patrick Clark DAR Citizenship Award Mary Margaret Smith Prudential Scholarship Kaitlynn Jones Georgia Scholar James Watwood Peyton Anderson Scholarship Kaitlynn Jones, Rachel Robertson, Joshua Shealy, Katelyn Sutton, Matthew Tyson Exchange Club Youth of the Month Mary Margaret Smith, James Watwood Exchange Club Youth of the Year James Watwood National Merit Scholars Katie Huggins, Jonathan Easter, James Watwood National Merit Finalists Jonathan Easter, James Watwood Golden Eagle Award Mary Margaret Smith, social studies John Philip Sousa Award Joshua Shealy

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Female Outstanding Athlete Victoria Coppage Male Outstanding Athlete Greyson Bargeron American Red Cross Hometown Hero Greyson Bargeron The Citadel Scholar Thomas Strickland Boys State Thomas Strickland Girls State Mary Margaret Smith FCA Huddle Athlete of the Year Rebekah Adams Best Citizens Award Greyson Bargeron, Gray Lindley, Kaitlynn Jones, Molly McCoy Senior Superlatives (pictured below) Greyson Bargeron, James Watwood, Jonathan Easter, Kaitlynn Jones, Cole Wheeler, Gray Lindley

College Decisions North Georgia College Bekah Adams Greyson Bargeron Valdosta State University Kim Caitlin Alderman D.J. Jackson Hannah Kortrey Katelyn Rutland Auburn University Luci Allen Reid Barry Joel Ham James Watwood Georgia College & State Maddie Anderskow Matthew Davis Ben DuBose Stanton Eversole Delaney Lister Samuel Mullis Christopher Phillips Dan Slagle Katelyn Sutton Ramsey Wynne Macon State College Bryan Barnes Polly Bergmark Bobby Leigh Danielle Miller Patrick Rule Spence Zebell Berry College Claire Carter

Samford University Evan Bates Mary Gaither Molly McCoy Meredith Wright University of Georgia Joseph Brittain Anna Daly Bullard Courtney Carr Victoria Coppage Morgan Curtis Mary Ann Foil Andrea Funk Pearce Groover Rachel Ham Melissa Hash John Kerry Howell Mary-Kate Hunnicutt Hannah Little Courtney Markel Matt McCommon Chris Myers Rachel Robertson Joshua Shealy Mary Margaret Smith Mary Claire Stroud Matthew Tyson Seth Vanhuss Georgia Southern Michael Canipe Kathryn Lengel Mary Grace Lindley Connor Morris Caitie Thomas Winson Mahathre

Georgia Tech Patrick Clark

Covenant College Reid Sawyer

Mercer University Megan Childs Brandon Greene Kaitlynn Jones Micah Moore

The Citadel Thomas Strickland

Kennesaw State Kayleigh Sky Donner

USMA at West Point Cole Wheeler

Northwestern University Jonathan Easter

Shorter University Ryan Moore

Univ. of South Alabama John Haney

Clark Atlanta Macie Turner

Georgia Military College Austin Tillman

Brigham Young-Idaho Laura Harrison Wake Forest University Katie Huggins Univ. of Missisippi Georgia King Kendall Patterson Troy University Gray Lindley Gordon College Caroline Martin Fort Valley State Kalo Oglesby Truett-McConnell Kenneth Reeder

Editor’s note: Due to circumstances beyond our control, the “Family Matters” photos featuring graduates with alumni siblings and parents will not be published.

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Graduation 2012 Commencement address The Rev. Joe S. McDaniel Pastor, Musella Baptist Church

I’d like to speak to you about your future, and I want to offer a challenge to you, along with some advice.

My hope and prayer for you as young adults is that you will become men and women who, first and foremost, are committed to Christ; then to your family, church, friends, and to the profession where God has called you.

At some point in your life, you may become community leaders, educators; you may be deeply involved in technology, called to be clergy, doctors, lawyers, missionaries, or medical people. You may serve in non-profit organizations, as business leaders, in sales, or you may gravitate to another professional area, maybe to the military, or the service arena.

The point is this: your future behavior, beliefs, actions, and conduct will ultimately determine your direction in life. So, I beseech you; I plead with you to believe and trust those biblical truths that FPD’s faculty has sought to build into your lives.

Honor God in the way you live your lives and in the decisions you make. Seek wise counsel, because you have the opportunity to shape or reshape the world that you inherit from previous generations. And believe me - you have your work cut out for you!

So let me offer some counsel to you, graduates.

1. Through diligent prayer and with God’s divine intervention, pursue with passion a direction in life that is both fulfilling and rewarding.

Too many young adults in this culture seem to wander about with little purpose and no motivation.

Many wander aimlessly and others appear lost when it comes to finding God’s direction for their lives.

Speaking of lost, I am reminded of the story of a bagpipe player who was world-class; he played lots of concerts in his community. One day, he was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. The man had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper’s cemetery in the Kentucky backcountry.

The bagpiper was not familiar with those backwoods, and on his way to the graveside, he got lost. Since he was a typical man, he didn’t bother to stop and ask for directions.

Finally, he arrived an hour late; then figured

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the mortician and the funeral home personnel had evidently left, because the hearse was nowhere in sight. Only the digging crew was still there, and they were eating lunch.

The bagpiper felt awful, and he apologized to the men for being late. He went to the edge of the hole in the ground, and looked down. The vault lid was already in place.

The bagpiper didn’t know what else to do, so he started to play. The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. He played from his heart and soul for this man with no family and no friends.

And as he played Amazing Grace, the workers began to weep. The bagpiper wept, and they all wept together.

When he finished playing, the bagpiper packed up his bagpipes and started for his car. Though his head was bowed low, his heart was as full as it could be.

And as he opened the door to his car, he heard one of the workers say in pitiful, but graphic, English, “I ain’t never seen nothin’ like that before, and I’ve been putting in septic tanks for 20 years.”

Apparently, the man was still lost.

Through prayer and seeking God’s direction, you won’t lead a life that is lost and meaningless. Pursue your direction in life with passion so that you will find a career that is both fulfilling and rewarding.

2. Watch TV and the Internet sparingly, but watch it intelligently, and don’t let them define or determine who you are or who you’ll become.

Television and the internet can be at once the best and the worst inventions created in the past 100 years. They can be time-eating cultural mediums that can be more dominant in our lives than the influence of schools, churches and even parents or friends.

Or, they can be tools that can speed up the learning process, expand our lives, take us to good places we’ve never been and enrich our education.

Interestingly, the choice is yours! So as you watch television and use technology and the internet, do so when you need to, but use them intelligently, sparingly, and with great discretion.

This is especially true wherever you will go to get your news. Do it wisely.

Read with a jaundiced eye and be smart when listening to your news sources to determine if they are reporting with an agenda. Gone are the days of honest, reasonable, investigative journalism. It has been replaced with biased reporting from newsrooms which are creating a political, immoral agenda.

So, beware when watching, listening, and reading the news.

3. Think before you speak, act, or post. That can save you from enormous embarrassment and a ton of headaches in your future.

4. Become involved in something that matters more than you.

Mission trips, helping the poor and disenfranchised, and causes that assist and bless other people will give you an eternal view of life.

Our tendency is to become preoccupied with our own lives, but loving and blessing others is something we all need to do, because that’s what Jesus modeled.

Christ said, “I have come not to be served, but to serve.”

Life is more exhilarating when the success of

the cause you are involved in is more important than your own agenda. It may be a social cause, something environmental or political, humanitarian, or maybe it’s a meaningful religious movement. But hopefully, more important than your agenda will one day be your own life as a parent and a spouse.

Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus On The Family, said “When I reach the end of my days, a moment or two from now, I must look back on something more meaningful than the pursuit of houses, land, stocks, and bonds. I will consider my earthly existence to have been wasted unless I can recall a loving family, a consistent investment in the lives of people, and an earnest attempt to serve the God who made me. Nothing else makes much sense.”

Except for your relationship with Christ and getting married, I don’t know if there is a greater emotional or spiritual experience than that which comes from devoting your energy to your family, to a cause or a pursuit that is greater than yourself.

5. Learn to appreciate the beauty that God has placed all around you. And those roses that you see? Stop and smell them from time to time.

This may be the wrong audience for this advice, but it needs to be said: 6. Don’t make babies with people you’re not married to. Have a Christ-like example in your personal life as you make ethical and moral choices that affect the lives of others.

Please: Don’t be reckless with people’s lives.

7. In a world where morality is often situational, and where values are relative, there are still absolutes. No matter what a college philosophy professor tells you, there are absolute rights, and there are absolute wrongs, and they don’t depend on the situation.

There are still some principles and some obligations that are non-negotiable. Ronald Reagan said on Omaha Beach on the 40th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, “Our country is worth dying for and democracy is worth dying for, because it’s the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man.”

9. You are personally responsible for the choices you make or don’t make. Not your mama, not your daddy. You are, so take responsibility for your own actions.

Finally, and most importantly…

10. Be men and women of faith. Believe the right things, seek and know the Truth, and then live out what you believe. Understand: facts change.

Facts are what you can get the most people to agree upon. It was considered a fact in the 1400s that the world was flat, but a man named Christopher Columbus showed the world that it was round.

Facts change, but truth doesn’t change. Jesus said, “I am the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

So what is truth? Truth is what God says.

In closing, Proverbs 3:5 was written in the first Bible that my parents gave me, and it reads, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will direct your paths.”

So now, may God bless you on your new, exciting journey, and may the girls soccer team beat Fellowship Christian tonight.

Valedictorian address Jonathan Easter Firstly, and most importantly, I’d like to thank my loving parents and family, who have played a role in nearly every important event in my life, notably, my attendance at FPD, something not possible without intense sacrifice.

I’d like to thank each and every one of my teachers over the past 10 years for your teaching and support during my time at school. I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to God for bestowing me with my talents and skills for without him, nothing is possible.

Last but not least, I’d like to thank my friends for making high school as fun as it was and leaving me with memories upon memories, most of them happy.

Once we finally receive our diplomas and flip over our tassels and toss our caps into the air, a large part of the Day School is gone and past. No more buildings, no more bells, no more teachers, no more classes.

However, there is one part of high school that doesn’t end here and now: friendship. It could be argued that friendship is the most important thing that we as students gain from school.

Even when geometry and chemistry lack utility in life, there is always a need for friendship.

Just as no two people are the same, no two friendships are exactly alike either.

However they can be lumped into two basic categories, levels of friendship, if you will.

First, you have your friends of common interest. These are the folks with whom you hang out with occasionally and genuinely enjoy their company. You share tastes in music and movies, and it is this shared interest that brings you together. This being said, these friendships do not extend too far below the surface. While you may continue spending time together in the years to come, it will be more and more infrequently. I say this not to disparage these friends in any way; in fact, most of your friends fall into this category.

But now I’d like to address this

second level of friendship. These kinds of friends are the people who you can always turn to for a smile, a hand, or just a good ol’ pat on the back.

These are the people you trust most in the world, and who know you better than you know yourself. These are the people who can carry you up from the lowest of lows, and join you on the highest of highs. Take a moment to think who these friends might be for you; there could be only one, quantity does not matter. It is these few that are most truly your friends.

Again, I say that not to criticize your other friendships; in some ways, these friends shape you just as much as your few true friends. I only tell you that to emphasize the absolute gift of such a friend. Through thick and thin, whether you be neighbors or on opposite coasts, these true friends will be there with you.

Aristotle speaks much of friendship in his book “The Ethics,” and he gives three things that must be true for the highest kind of friendship to exist: one, the two friends must bear a genuine feeling of good will towards each other, wishing them the best in life. Two, the two friends must hold in their hearts a responsibility to the good, the true, and the beautiful, three words which became very familiar to us during AP English with Dr. Carreker. Three, there must be time, and lots of it.

Friendships may come and go with the seasons, but true friendships of the good neither come nor pass so lightly.

If you can, take a moment later to thank those friends, for they will be a part of your life for as long as you live.

Thank you.

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Graduation 2012 Salutatorian address Patrick Clark

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the graduation of the class of 2012. Today is a day that we have all patiently waited for, parents and students included, and we would not sit where we do if it weren’t for our mothers and fathers who have guided us here.

Everyone who joins us for this occasion has in some way impacted our lives and made us into the men and women we have become. Today is a day of celebration and I am proud and very blessed to have been a part of the class of 2012.

When you think of The Day School, your first thought may be the brick buildings, or the football field, or maybe the baseball and soccer stadiums.

What makes this school memorable, though, are the experiences, and most importantly, the people who brought them to life. Mrs. Henley’s classroom holds no emotional or memorable value aside from Mrs. Henley and her infectious love for chemistry and all the endless laughter that filled it.

Any sports team is forgettable if it were not for the memories and connections made between the players and the countless hours spent practicing together.

When I think of FPD I think of people like Mrs. Hulsey who, for the past three years, has made us wait until today to accept our friend requests on Facebook and who let us be the wild and crazy sophomores that we were while we read A Tale of Two Cities and as Mary Claire and

I sang Black Eyed Peas duets.

I think of people like Dr. Shealy, who made BC Calculus exciting and applied it to real life when we plunged down the first drop of Goliath at Six Flags, and for other math teachers like Mrs. Ham and Mrs. Hall who prayed for us every day and were just as concerned about us as people as they were about us learning algebra.

I think of people like April Cassell, who has been a mentor, coach, and friend to many track and cross country runners and who does more work than she can ever be thanked for because she loves her school and she loves her Lord.

I cannot name every teacher and coach who has made a lasting impression on us, but when I think of FPD I think of the guys and girls that I have spent the past six years with and who have made this school into a place full of laughter, memories, and lifelong friends.

John Wayne, an American icon and salutatorian of his graduating class, said that “Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday.” My grandfather always says that “you learn something new every day.”

Since the seventh grade I have spent over one thousand days with my 81 classmates. If my grandfather is correct, and I have not known him to be wrong, we have learned over eighty thousand “somethings.”

We have learned that you must work like sled dogs in the Iditorad to conquer the AP Euro exam, and that the musher is not only a great man but a man of God and a true role model.

We have learned what is True, Good, and Beautiful, that classical music soothes the soul, and that there is more to Saturdays than college football.

We have learned that not all mad scientists are mad, but that ours never misses a chance to play with fire and has a sense of humor that consists of methane gas and Indian reservations in North Dakota.

We have learned our Miranda rights but have rarely chosen to remain silent,

and that voting in the next election is not only our civic duty but gives us a right to complain for the years to come.

We have learned that we are an immovable force when it comes to spirit week and powderpuff, and that our competitiveness cannot be equaled.

Whether you ran the football, played in the band, performed in plays or won state championships, you were a part of what made FPD great and what made our class greater.

The class of twenty twelve has been educated and equipped to change the world for God’s glory.

We will span the nation from West Point to Rexburg, Idaho, from Valdosta to Chicago, and the short distance between Atlanta and Athens.

Tomorrow I hope that we will all have learned something from today, especially that we have all been blessed to have been a part of something greater than ourselves.

Anyone in this class could tell you that I am always singing, so much even that my backup singers and I were banned by Mrs. Weems from singing in English class.

So, if I should leave you all with one last chorus, these are the words I would say: “Be strong in the Lord And never give up hope You’re gonna do great things I already know God’s got His hand on You So don’t live life in fear Forgive and forget But don’t forget why you’re here Take your time and pray And thank God for each day His love will find a way These are the words I would say”

Gallery

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Thompson in his first yearbook photo from 1997 and below with board chairman Danny Smith.

Faithful Service

Head of school Gregg Thompson celebrates 15 years at FPD.

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itting in a pew at Augusta’s First Presbyterian Church, Gregg Thompson felt burdened to act.

Thompson listened to the speaker talk about getting out of one’s comfort zone, of being emboldened in doing God’s will.

Thompson recalled the recent phone conversation with a board member at First Presbyterian Day School in Macon, asking him to consider applying for the vacant head of school position. He also recalled where he had stashed the application, unopened, in a cubby hole in his roll-top desk.

“I thought to myself, ‘All right, I’ll fill that application out and be faithful,’ ” Thompson recalled recently.

He thought he was too inexperienced for the job. He knew he was too young.

He was hired.

At 37 years old, with four kids ranging in age from 2 to 8, Thompson and wife Beverly moved to Macon from Augusta, where he had spent the previous six years as upper school principal and assistant headmaster, to become FPD’s third headmaster. It was June, 1997.

Thompson has been here ever since, recently celebrating 15 years with FPD. He is the longest tenured head of school in the Macon area and has presided over monumental growth in the school, both in facilities and enrollment.

“It’s been a good fit,” Thompson said. “The great commonality between the objectives of the board and administration to bring honor to our Lord is at the heart of our decision-making.

The board and school family are committed to providing the resources in the classroom and beyond that give faculty and students what they need to really knock it out of the park.

“It’s a blessing for my family and me to be a part of the FPD family.”

“FPD has been richly blessed by the leadership of Gregg Thompson. With his wisdom and guidance, the school has grown dramatically both in our enrollment and facilities.”

- Saynor Foshee, FPD grad, board member, mother of 2 FPD students “Gregg does not seek the spotlight for his service at FPD. Because of his humble walk with the Lord, recognizing him at the end-of-the-year faculty luncheon was great because it allowed us to publicly highlight his tenure and accomplishments at FPD.” - Danny Smith Board Chairman, 2011-13 “He doesn’t seem to be satisfied with just putting in the time. He’s moving the school forward. I hope he’s there for a long time.”

- Dr. Arthur Gray Former board member, head of headmaster search committee, 1997

Elementary students to receive Spanish lessons

By Traci Martin Elementary teacher I am so excited to be our Elementary Spanish teacher! I can’t wait for school to start!

I will go to every 1st through 5th grade grade classroom for 30 minutes twice a week. We will have such fun learning a new language.

Me gusta espanol!

I was born in Miami and went to a bilingual school, so I grew up listening to Spanish speakers and enjoying many foods from Spanish cultures.

I took Spanish in high school, but it wasn’t until I attended a Fluency Fast Spanish class here at FPD in the summer of 2007 that I became excited about Spanish.

I am so thankful for Dr. Shealy who let me attend that class even though I wasn’t on staff! I started subbing that next year and I would use Spanish as a way to keep control in the classrooms! When I started teaching kindergarten it was just so easy and natural to keep up with Spanish lessons in the classroom.

Last year I was able to teach Spanish to all three third grade classes and that part of the day was always my favorite!

I am thrilled that I will be able to go into all the classrooms next year and spend some time showing how much fun learning a new language can be!

technology update Faculty development for the 1-to-1 plan began in May. The plan is ultimately designed to put Tablet PCs into the hands of all middle school and high school students by the 2013-14 school year. Several faculty members attended summer workshops to familiarize themselves with the Lenovo ThinkPads the school has purchased for the initiative. For an overview of the program, see the spring issue of FPD Magazine at issuu.com/jcpowell/docs/fpdmagspring2012

A firm foundation Addition to the Clark Fine Arts Center scheduled to be completed by late January.

Construction on the new 20,000-square foot addition to the Clark Fine Arts Center began in May. The first step? Demolishing the original kindergarten building (below), a mainstay on campus since the early days.

Within a matter of minutes, the building was razed and the ground cleared, making room for construction crews to begin laying the groundwork for the twostory addition.

The $2.6 million building, set to be completed by the end of January, will house a dance studio, middle school art classroom space, a music room, chorus room, theater workshops and storage, broadcast and journalism suite as well as Instructional Support rooms and offices.

A rendering of the new building is shown at right. To see a video of the demolition, go to FPD’s Vimeo page at vimeo.com/43256893

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GOAL program a worthwhile investment You are already paying income taxes to the state of Georgia, so why not redirect some of those taxes to provide deserving Georgia children an opportunity to receive an exceptional private education?

By redirecting your Georgia income taxes to GOAL, you give a child Greater Opportunities for Access to Learning (GOAL). When you designate that the contribution be used to provide financial aid at FPD, the school is able to provide need-based assistance to eligible

students. GOAL financial aid helps increase our assistance funding for incoming students and in so doing provides greater opportunities for the school to help meet financial needs of existing families.

Only $51.5 million in tax credits is available in 2012 for Georgia citizens who wish to contribute to an approved scholarship organization such as GOAL, and we expect that this cap will be met in August. Therefore, we recommend that you act now.

For more information contact FPD Development Director Chris Childers at (478) 477-6505, Ext. 178 or e-mail him at chris.childers@fpdmacon.org

Gallery

FPD GOLF TOURNAMENT

The 13th Annual FPD Golf Tournament at Idle Hour was a huge success. A record 31 teams competed this year and it was a great time to catch up with everyone.

This event is an important part of continuing to provide an excellent Christ-centered education for our students, and there was an amazing show of support for FPD – both from our school family and the local community. There were more than 50 individual and corporate sponsorships as well as some fantastic prizes donated by local businesses. We are already eagerly anticipating next year’s event! Let us know if you’d like to participate.

Family FPD

TEE GEORGE

Pre-K aide Tee George (center) with her grandchildren Sophia Wrabel, Grace Anne Paine, Sheldon Paine, Benjamin Jones, Olsen Kate Jones, Olivia Johnston, Maggie Johnston and Tanner Johnston.

For the love of kids Longtime aide Tee George’s passion for FPD is a family affair.

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Story By Susan Douglas

Photo by Mary Helen Douglas ‘14

he helps teach letter sounds and color words. She wipes runny noses. She reads Bible stories and listens to prayer requests. She opens juice boxes and bags of goldfish.

She diagnoses fevers, coughs,

rashes, and ear-aches without having ever been to medical school. She umpires playground scuffles and puts Band-Aids on skinned knees. She sits in a rocking chair holding one who doesn’t feel well or whose tender little heart is breaking. After 26 years

of doing all of this, Tee George still repeats the phrase she uttered after her first day as an employee at FPD: “I love children and I love my job.”

George first heard about an opening as a teacher’s aide at FPD in 1986, while she was volunteering in the concession stand. Her friend, Charlotte Laurens, was then a PreKindergarten teacher at the school. In those early days, Tee recalls, there were only two teachers and aides to handle two kindergarten classes with a total of 40 children.

“We had a lot of ‘centers,’ and we just rotated the children around to different areas all day,” she said.

Of course, “Miss Tee,” as she is affectionately called, was already well-acquainted with the school for several reasons: Her home is about a stone’s throw away on Foster Road, and she also has four children who were students at the time – Jennifer George Johnston, ’88; Shannon Guest Paine, ’90; Jessica George White, ’92; and Lauren Guest Wrabel, ’94.

Now, 26 years later, George absolutely loves to see another generation of her family walk through the halls of FPD. She is the proud grandmother of eight FPD students, ranging in age from 4 to 17, Pre-PK through 11th grade.

They line up like stair-steps for a family photo: Sophia Wrabel, 4; Grace Anne Paine, 5; Sheldon Paine, 8; Benjamin Jones, 9; Olsen Kate Jones, 12; Olivia Johnston, 14; Maggie Johnston, 14; and Tanner Johnston, 17. Additionally, George’s daughter, Lauren Wrabel, is employed at the school as the Director of the Extended Day program on the main campus.

“I’ve always loved kids. I used to dream about adopting kids before I had a family of my own, because I always wanted a lot of children,” George said. “I feel like working here at the school is just an extension of my family, because I am with these little children so much, and by the end of the school year, I really hate to see them move on up since I’ve gotten so close to them.”

The ‘family atmosphere’ is important to both George and Wrabel.

“So many of the children I taught over the years have now graduated and they are bringing their kids back today as students. It sort of makes me feel old!” George joked.

“But it really makes me feel good, too, because of the quality of the education they are receiving here at FPD.” Born and raised in Macon, George graduated from Miller High School and attended Georgia Southern University.

When her four daughters were in elementary school, she enrolled them as students at FPD, primarily because of the relationship her family had with Henry Middlebrooks, the first headmaster at the school.

“My father was in school with Mr. Middlebrooks, and my husband was also a friend of his family. I wanted my children to receive a Christian education, and we really respected Mr. Middlebrooks, so we didn’t have a hard time

making the decision to send them to FPD,” George recalled.

With eight grandchildren now at FPD, George cherishes the opportunities she has to see them around campus.

“I can almost get emotional talking about it,” George said. “It really makes me feel good that they are here. I love seeing them, and I love knowing their teachers.”

“I love seeing my Mom here every day at work,” Wrabel added. “And when my kids see her on campus they are so excited to see her walking around – even more excited to see ‘Cammie’ than me!”

George tells a funny story involving her oldest grandchild, Tanner Johnston, a junior at FPD, and how he made her feel like a “celebrity.”

“One day Tanner was walking with a group of older high school boys and he stopped and hugged me. They all looked at him with funny expressions and then one of the boys asked, ‘Did you have her in kindergarten? I don’t remember you being in my class.’ Tanner said, ‘No, this is my Grandma.’ The boy replied, ‘Well, I had her as my teacher,’ and then another boy in the group exclaimed, ‘I had her, too!’ Tanner looked at me and joked, “Everybody in my grade knows you!’”

Smiling, George added, “It sure does make you feel good when they come up to you and hug you, no matter how big they are. I used to be taller than they were, but now they have to lean down to hug me!”

“Cammie” is at the school all the time for ballgames, concerts and plays, watching her own grandchildren and other children that have been in her classes over the years.

In 2011, George and co-worker Nina Fleming were honored by the Georgia Independent School Association for having served in the field of education for 25 years.

“It was really special that we were recognized for that,” George remarked. “So many people sent cards and emails congratulating both of us. It just made me feel very honored.”

Over the years there have been lots of times George and her fellow teachers have received words of encouragement or recognition from appreciative parents and students.

George recalled how one parent of a student recently sent an email to one of the kindergarten teachers, telling how their child talks about Jesus at home all the time.

“The parents said they really appreciated all that we are doing here at the school to influence these children for Christ,” George said.

She also tells of a recent experience with a little girl who was not feeling well. The class was scheduled to go on a field trip and George stayed behind with the sick child to wait for the parents to come pick her up.

To comfort her, George cradled the girl in her arms and gently began rocking back and forth in a rocking chair. She soon suspected the little girl was asleep. All of a sudden, George said, she felt this tiny, soft hand reach up and gently pat her on the cheek.

It was a subtle affirmation of a job well done.

“I believe God put me here for a reason,” she smiled. “I just love the kids and I try to be a good example.”

Family FPD

THE WHEELERS

Nikki, Tyler, Cole and Sydnie Wheeler. Nikki and Tyler are 2010 FPD graduates and Sydnie is a rising sophomore.

A legacy of service

Close-knit Wheeler brothers will attend West Point together.

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Story and photo By Cal Powell

here are no malls out North Rivoli Farms Drive in Bolingbroke.

No theaters or yogurt shops or fast food chains. When the Wheeler family moved there in 1998, there weren’t even any neighborhood

kids – because there weren’t any neighbors.

Just a lot of trees and open space and idle time.

“They made up games and obstacle courses,” Julie Wheeler said of her four children. “All four just had to

depend on each other.”

The lack of modern entertainment options led to a little creative mischief for the two boys of the family, Tyler and younger brother Cole.

Once, the pair locked little sister Sydnie in the laundry chute. Another time, Cole ambushed Tyler and nailed him between the eyes with a rock.

Trips to the doctor for stitches became so common that an exasperated Julie finally intervened.

“She threatened to make us pay for them,” Tyler said, laughing. “Once a week somebody was getting sewn up. I guess we were rough with each other.”

Despite the rough play, or perhaps because of it, the Wheeler boys, like the rest of the family, are close-knit.

“I’d bust his head open and 30 minutes later we’d be best friends,” Cole said.

Tyler grew up to be a studious sort, a voracious reader with a taste for military history and politics. When it came time to select a college a couple years ago, Tyler chose the United States Military Academy at West Point.

The Wheelers’ love of country runs deep.

Their grandfather is a retired Army major general, and their father, Alan, spent a month in the Army before a tragic tank accident as a 23-year-old second lieutenant at Ft. Bragg left him paralyzed.

“I got interested in it at a young age,” Tyler explained.

“Of all the American heroes I read about as a kid, it seemed like a lot of them came from West Point.”

During a family visit not long after Tyler arrived, Cole, three years younger than his brother, saw the West Point campus for the first time. He was captivated and immediately began the application process upon his return to Macon.

A state champion wrestler for FPD, Cole was accepted

Tyler (left) with Sydnie and Cole at West Point last year.

in the fall and left for West Point in July for Cadet Basic Training. He credited Tyler for inspiring him to apply.

“He’s 100 percent of the reason I went there,” Cole said of Tyler. “The letters he would write back really inspired me to want to open that application process.”

Tyler said while he never overtly recruited Cole, he saw the makings of a West Point man in his younger brother all along.

“His friends were joking the other day about how he had no social life for two years because he was always working (wrestling),” Tyler said. “With that kind of mentality, I always thought, ‘Man, West Point would be perfect for him.’ When he got accepted, I was pumped.”

“Tyler has always set the standard,” Julie added. “He’s been a great older brother. I think Cole has always followed him and looked up to him and wanted to do what Tyler did.”

Alan, who went on to become a successful local attorney following his injury, also was an inspiration.

“They’ve lived with their father who made such a huge sacrifice,” Julie said. “It impacts them to see what a great example he is. (The injury) was a setback but he just kept going.”

Both Wheeler boys say they were initially attracted by the challenge of life as a cadet: the academic and physical rigors, and, of course, the life of relative isolation.

“I know I wanted a challenge,” Cole said. “I really didn’t want a lot of free time. I kind of find it fun in a way.”

For Julie, the fact that both of her boys ended up at West Point, where days are long and demanding and “fun” is not a word commonly associated with the experience, does not exactly surprise her.

“They’re both very determined and focused, selfmotivated,” she said. “We never even had a curfew at our house – they just came home when they were supposed to.

They’ve always known what they wanted and what they had to do in order to get it. A lot of that is just how God made them.”

Family FPD

THE STRICKLANDS

Lucia, Katherine, Thomas, Anne and Jay Strickland. Jay is a 1981 FPD graduated. Anne followed in 2010 and Katherine is a rising sophomore.

Like father, like son Thomas Strickland follows his father’s footsteps to The Citadel.

Story by Cal Powell

Top photo by Tyler Shores

n the summer of 1980, just a few weeks before his senior year, Jay Strickland’s family took a detour on the way to the South Carolina coast.

They hugged the road along the banks of the Ashley River in

Charleston, eventually passing through the gates of an ancient military academy, The Citadel, whose origins trace back to the Revolutionary War. “I thought, ‘This is kind of different,’ ” Jay said.

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Thomas and Jay (above ) from Thomas’ Eagle Scout pinning ceremony .

Months later, in February of his senior year at FPD, Strickland paid a more formal visit to the academy, deciding almost instantly it was where he wanted to be.

“I saw a parade,” he remembered. “It was the first parade I’d ever seen. I said, ‘OK, this is the difference I’m looking for.’ I wanted to do something different.”

Four years later, in 1985, Strickland graduated from The Citadel, followed by law school at the University of Georgia. His brother, Matt, followed the same path not long after.

In August, Jay’s son, Thomas, will represent the second generation of Strickland men to attend The Citadel, continuing a legacy that Jay is convinced originated with a plot hatched by Strickland’s mother and the late Mary Jane Bateman, wife of 1948 Citadel grad Oliver Bateman, a World War II veteran and former FPD board chairman.

“I’m not sure what he or his wife saw in me then, but they saw or thought something because he clearly steered me and my parents in that direction, and look what it has wrought,” Jay said. “When Thomas got his (Citadel Scholar) scholarship, I told him, ‘Oliver, you set all this in motion 30 years ago. He laughed. I think it made his day.”

Thomas’ indoctrination into The Citadel way of life began much earlier, thanks to frequent family trips to the campus and Thomas’ admitted admiration for his father and other Citadel men such as Bateman.

While he considered other, more traditional college

paths such as Auburn and Clemson, Thomas said there was always a part of him that felt he’d end up a cadet.

“It is different. It’s very rigid and structured,” Thomas said, “but I’ve seen the men it produces, not just my father, but my uncle and Mr. Bateman. They’re different. If it can do that to me, it’ll be perfect.”

While Thomas, an Eagle Scout who has devoted hours of volunteer work to Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia, knows the next year will be grueling, Jay said he’s especially proud that his son chose a unique path.

“I’m immensely proud of him for choosing what is in large measure a difficult life,” Jay said. “I’ve told him it may be the hardest thing you’ll ever do in your life because it requires grit and determination and reserves of will that you don’t even know you’ve got right now. So I’m excited to see him face up to that challenge and excited to see what he’ll look like at the end of that year.”

“It’s very rigid and structured, but I’ve seen the men it produces . . . they’re different. If it can do that to me, it’ll be perfect.”

‘Everything looks

better

in black & white’ Students in FPD’s photography class build their own pinhole cameras (shown below) and learn the basics of the craft while capturing some pretty amazing images.

By Stephanie Garrison Art/Photography Instructor Photo by Mary-Kate Hunnicutt

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n the photography class we use homemade pinhole cameras to take black and white images.

You might wonder how

we take a picture from a box.

The students actually build the box, then take pictures. A pinhole camera works like this:

I fell in love with the way the shadow wraps around the Ray-Bans.

- Alex Davis, junior

This picture turned out better than I expected because the hubcap reflects a bit of the kindergarten office.

- Brittany Enoghayin, freshman

- Light enters through a pinhole, traveling through the “light proof box.�

- It hits the photographic paper.

- Paper reacts to light, light hits and exposes the paper.

Students then develop the paper in the darkroom and it produces a negative.

The students are given certain assignments to take pic-

I like this picture because you can see the different textures of the lily pads.

-Ashleigh Powers, freshman

I like the way Caitie Thomas appears as a ghostlike figure.

You can see through her.

- Hannah Kortrey, senior

tures of around the campus. Our conditions change daily depending on the light.

As you can see, the students do amazing work. We love studying the history of photography with the pinhole cameras.

We plan to incorporate digital photography into the class as we move to tablets in the next year.

This will extend student experiences and learning in the photographic arts.

This summer, art teacher Nancy Butler and I look forward to our continued growth as art educators as we attend workshops at the Savannah College of Art & Design that will help us better implement digital photography into our curriculum.

FPD Magazine Summer 2012

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Gallery

Fine Arts

The Crucible

FPD Theatre finished the 2011-12 season with a production of The Crucible. This powerful play by Arthur Miller explored the events surrounding the Salem witch trials. What began as a small lie by a group of teenage girls to avoid getting into trouble for dancing in the woods led to mass arrests, paranoia, and a very public forum to enact revenge for private grievances and to gain the hidden desires of the heart. Miller wrote The Crucible as a response to the communist “witch hunts� of McCarthyism. The production featured outstanding performances by more than 20 actors from grades 6-12.

Photos by Andrew Brooks

On Campus Scholarships & Awards

James T. Girardeau Scholarship McKay Family Scholarship Ponder Family Scholarship Andy Bridges Memorial Scholarship Jeremy Overman Cole Morton Scott McCormick Kristin Fillingim

Judy Jones Scholarship Lauren Ellard

Judy Jones Scholarship Gil Cutright Memorial Award FPD Alumni Scholarship Gibson Daniel & Patti Fuchs Cup Tanner Johnston & Katherine Strickland Will Martin & Lizzie Reed

National Merit Scholars Davy Priester, Scott McCormick, Michael Money

Mixon-Fincher Author/Illustrator winners with Toot Mixon

FPD Magazine Summer 2012

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FPD seniors (left to right) Melissa Hash, Kendall Patterson, Rachel Ham, Maddie Anderskow and Caitie Thomas accept the state championship trophy. Rachel Robertson not shown. Photo by Andrew Brooks.

Back-to-back

Girls soccer team runs GHSA record to 40-0 in earning another state title.

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true.

t was nerve-racking, thrilling and glorious.

In the end, it was a dream come

The girls soccer team accomplished the unthinkable in capturing its second straight GHSA Class A state championship, knocking off host Fellowship Christian 1-0 in a heartstopper of a final on May 19.

The victory ran the team’s record to 40-0 in GHSA competition and established the Vikings as one of the premiere teams in the state.

“There were seven seniors on the 2012 team and they cannot be replaced,” Vikings coach Joshua Trieste said. “They provided leadership in every area of the program and will be greatly missed. I personally will miss their abilities on the field that I had the opportunity to watch over the last few years and the friendships off the field.”

The shutout by the Viking defense and goalkeeper Claire Crawford was truly amazing as Fellowship’s striker was named the All-Class GHSA “Player of the Year.”

Crawford made two amazing saves in the match (six saves total) and Kim Caitlin Alderman (right) finished a 30-yard shot

which proved to be the game winner.

Alderman, along with fellow seniors Melissa Hash and Kendall Patterson, served as team elected captains on the 2012 team. Patterson was recognized during the season as a 13 WMAZ “Athlete of the Week” for excellence on the field and in the classroom. She also was named the All-Middle Georgia Girls Soccer Player of the Year by The Telegraph.

Alderman received a scholarship to play soccer at Valdosta State University this fall.

Hash has started more than 100 games at FPD, more than any other player in school history. She is the career record holder for steals with more than 1,000 during her five-year

Sports

Spring

REWIND

The Vikings celebrate a goal by Atalia Ramirez (16) in the state semifinal win over Holy Innocents.

Photo by Cal Powell career.

The team won the GHSA Region 2-A championship for the second consecutive season and has only allowed three region goals in 18 region matches over the last two seasons.

The Vikings won the FPD Viking Cup tournament as well as the Mary Persons Bulldog Cup, allowing just one goal in both tournaments. Overall, the team outscored opponents 127-8.

“Chemistry on and off the field was established very early and the result was an amazing season from start to finish,” Trieste said.

The senior class leaves the program having played in five “Final Fours” and four state championship matches.

FPD had six players recognized as GHSA 2-A All-Region players and several have multiple nominations on these teams.

Melissa Hash (4th), Kim Caitlin Alderman (3rd), Jane Howell (1st), Rachel Ham (1st), Katey Griggs (1st) and Atalia Ramirez (2nd).

Hash, Alderman and Ramirez were voted to the GHSA All-Class All-Star game at Columbus State University and Trieste was voted as All-Star coach for the girls squad.

This All-Star match is for top players in the GHSA at all levels (A-AAAAA) and the team the FPD players were part of won the match 9-0.

GOLF The team finished with an undefeated regular season and a second consecutive region title. The Vikings finished seventh at the state tournament in Augusta.

The team was led by juniors Conner Albright, Ian Smith and Brooks Stroud.

Underclassmen Dalton Taylor, Brantley Wilson and Aaron Reaves were all major contributors as well.

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD The Vikings finished third in the ultracompetitive Region 5-A and sent six girls to sectionals. Senior Victoria Coppage (see interview next page) won state championships in both the 1,600 and 3,200 events, setting new school records in both. Savannah Phillips finished third in the state in the 300-meter hurdles and the 4 x 400 relay team (Coppage, Lauren Ellard, Phillips and Jessica Smith) was fifth. The team finished fifth at state.

BOYS TRACK & FIELD Four FPD athletes advanced to sectional competition: Micah Moore (shotput), Ryan Moore (300 and 400 hurdles), Christian Moore (110 hurdles) and Greyson Bargeron (110 hurdles). Christian

Moore finished second at state while Bargeron took sixth.

BOYS SOCCER The team finished with a 9-8-1 record overall and a winning GHSA region record for the second straight season. At the host Viking Cup, the team tied eventual Class AAA Elite 8 team Veterans High School. The team also beat AAAA Warner Robins High school in penalty kicks for the second consecutive season.

Seniors were Stanton Eversole, Joel Ham, John Haney and Matthew Tyson.

BASEBALL The Vikings reached the GHSA state playoffs where they lost to Holy Innocents in the first round after beating The Walker School in a state preliminary series. Infielders Sam Joyce and Sam Pope and pitcher Evan Bates were all named first-team All-Region.

TENNIS Both teams reached the GHSA state playoffs for the first time in school history.

The boys team took third place at the inaugural Viking Slam tournament and the girls finished third at the region tourney.

Sports

Furious Finish Senior Victoria Coppage earns state titles in two events in her final meet as a Viking.

Lying in a hotel room just hours before the biggest race of her life, Victoria Coppage practically shook with nerves.

It caught her off guard, because Coppage said she hadn’t been nervous all season. As she approached the starting line for the state 1,600 meter event, Coppage went over to coach April Cassell for one final word of advice.

“She just told me it had to be my best race ever,” Coppage said.

It was. Coppage led the entire way, turning in a personal-best time of 5:02. The state title in the mile came just 24 hours after Coppage’s win in the two-mile event, also with a personal best time (11:08).

“I mentally prepared really, really well,” Coppage said. “I had written

Dreams fulfilled

Seven Vikings sign athletic scholarships.

Gray Lindley re-wrote the record books in his standout cross country and track career.

In May, he wrote his name on a letter of intent from Troy University to continue his career for the Trojans.

Lindley (pictured at right, middle photo) is a three-time All State selection who helped lead the Vikings to a second-place finish in the state cross country meet in the fall.

He holds school records in the 1,600 meters (4:28), the 3,200 (9:47) and the 5,000 (15:37).

“He set the bar really high here for sports at FPD,” coach Nick Morgan said of Lindley.

Lindley joined cross country teammate and two-time All-State selection Kenneth Reeder (photo top right) who

signed with Truett-McConnell; soccer standout Kim Caitlin Alderman (page 31), bound for Valdosta State University; cross country and track athlete Victoria Coppage (above), who signed with the University of Georgia; baseball player Reid Sawyer (Covenant College); track athlete Ryan Moore, who signed with Shorter University in Rome; and football star Micah Moore, who signed to become a member of the new team at Mercer University.

“I’m very excited,” Moore said.

“When coach (Hal) Lamb first came to me at practice, I knew it was something I wanted to do. I was really drawn to Mercer for a long time, so this is pretty exciting.”

on my arms the names of all the girls on our team and everybody else who had gotten me to that point. So many people had helped me get there. Every 200 (meters), I had to think about something I knew that would make me run faster.”

Shortly before the state meet, Coppage fulfilled a lifelong dream of signing to run for the University of Georgia. She leaves, she says, with a sense of gratitude for all she met along the way.

“I have no doubt I would not have signed and would not have won state if it had not been for my teammates and coaches,” she said. “I’m so blessed to have known all these people.”

- Cal Powell

A night to remember School honors longtime volunteer track coach Dick Frame, announces plans to dedicate new track facility in his honor.

On April 12, a small group of family, friends, and alumni gathered to celebrate the service of longtime volunteer track coach Dick Frame.

Frame thought he was going out to dinner to celebrate his son and daughter-in-law’s anniversary, so one can imagine the total surprise he felt when he walked onto a crowded patio at Idle Hour to a rousing ovation.

Athletic Director Greg Moore led a presentation of several current and former coaches and track athletes who took turns honoring their friend and mentor. Later, Frame’s longtime employer at the Trane Corporation, Howell Adams, made a special toast to a man he called “inspiring” and “someone we could always count on.”

In addition to the special time of personal stories and sharing, a canvas collage of some of Frame’s greatest achievements and his championship hurdlers (shown at right) was presented to his family by Dr. Arthur Gray.

As the evening wound to a close, there was one last surprise. Moore announced and unveiled the plans to build a championship track & field complex that would honor Frame for all of his years of service. The Richard L. Frame Track &

Field Complex, a beautiful 8-lane track with all of the amenities necessary to host high caliber track & field meets, is in the developmental stages of construction.

The project, estimated at nearly $500,000, has already secured nearly half the funding from private contributors and a leadership pledge from Frame’s former employer, The Trane Corporation.

“We can’t say enough about the generosity of the Trane Corporation,” Moore said. “They feel very strongly about helping us make this happen for Dick, and we are so appreciative. Now, we need all of our school family and alumni to come alongside us to finish this thing out. I know there are so many people who Coach Frame has touched in a special way, and our hope is that this will be a fitting way to honor him for a long, long time.”

Faculty News Teacher of the Year Carol Albright

Faculty Births John Thomas Leslein is the third child of FPD swim coach Elizabeth Leslein and her husband Justin. He was born Oct. 24, 2011 and joins older siblings Elcee (4) and Abee (2). He tipped the scales at 9 pounds, 5 ounces.

Margaret Campbell Hetes, daughter of FPD fourth grade teacher Chrissie and husband Keith, was born Dec. 29, 2011.

Siblings are Cole (7) and Caroline (5), both of whom attend FPD.

Carol Albright with sons, senior Conner and Ryan ‘10, and husband Craig. Daughter Emily ‘ 08 not pictured.

Carol Albright, who has taught second grade at FPD since 2001, has been named the recipient of the William H. Bragg Teacher of the Year Award.

The honor was announced at an assembly in May. At the assembly, headmaster Gregg Thompson read a few excerpts from faculty members’ nomination letters.

“She is a teacher who enjoys challenging her students to strive and explore new things,” one wrote.

“Her commitment to the Lord is evident as she works so naturally to integrate her faith with her students and colleagues. She can be observed taking every opportunity to show God’s love in all situations as she motivates her students to make good choices and to give God the glory in all circumstances,” wrote another.

“Probably the most important commendation is from her students,” Thompson said. “They say they love her because she makes school fun.”

Faculty Weddings FPD coach and IT assistant Seth Boyett married Kristen Leigh Allmond on March 26, 2011. Boyett met Allmond at church when both were high school freshmen and the two dated for 11 years before getting married.

John Richardson (left) and Christopher Phillip Stembridge were born on Feb. 16. Parents are Richard ’99 and Sarah Beth Stembridge, FPD fourth grade teacher. Kris Cutright, Instructional Support Director, is a proud grandmother.

Sarah Lynn Kitchell was born on Feb. 24. Proud parents are Matt and April Kitchell. Sarah joins older siblings Catch and Kate.

Lorelai Leigh Stone, daughter of FPD second grade teacher Kristen and husband Brian, was born March 18. She joins older sister Brinkley.

John Welch Powell was born on May 14. Arguably the cutest baby ever born, John is the son of FPD Communications Director Cal Powell and wife Miriam. The precocious and charismatic Parks (3) is John’s older brother.

Matthew Springer Cain was born on Sept. 1, 2011. His parents are Springer and Laura Susan Darnell ’00 Cain.

FPD’s elementary librarian Cyndi Darnell, shown here, is Matthew’s proud grandmother.

Math teacher Carol Hall announces her retirement after a lifetime in education, including the last 20 years as a Viking.

“Carol Hall made significant contributions in the lives of our students.

Her engaging teaching style combined with her love for kids made her an ideal teacher for FPD. We will always have fond memories of Carol and the job she did at FPD.” – principal Joe Childs

Born to Teach

I

magine this scene: FPD Spirit Week a few years ago, rowdy students anxious for the weekend and one brave soul who dares a few victory laps with his class flag.

Enter stoic, steady math teacher Carol Hall, who grabs him by the shoulders and firmly puts him back in his proper place in the bleachers.

Does something seem out of place? Perhaps it’s because when one thinks of Hall, the words neat, organized, and maybe even angelic come to mind, but certainly not linebackers coach.

“I picked him up by his shoulders and sat him down really fast,” Hall said, smiling. “It looked like I tackled him.”

If you ask anyone who knew Hall during her 20 years at FPD, you will get a similar answer to that of fellow teacher, Betty Ham. “She’s like an angel. She always has a positive attitude,” Ham said.

Hall’s mom was a biology teacher who inspired her to teach as well. Hall’s “career” began with tutoring throughout high school and college.

“I would be tutoring from 9 o’clock in the morning to 9 o’clock at night,” Hall said.

Before she found a home at FPD, Hall taught at Mount de Sales, where she taught a Bible class as well as math. She soon followed her own children to FPD. Former student Austin Childers was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease during his senior year, forcing him to miss more than 100 days of school. He credits his ability to stay with his class partly to Hall.

“It would take a while to catch up, but she worked however long I needed her to be there,” Childers said. “Her car was always first in the parking lot and many times the last to leave.”

A daily ritual in Hall’s class was to have a devotional and pray individually for one of the students each day.

“It was great praying for a different person each day,” Childers said.

Hall’s retirement will give her more time to spend with her grandchildren and her other passion, tennis, but she knows she’ll miss FPD. “I’ll miss my colleagues,” she said, “the fun that we had together and the relationships.

I’ll miss the students and feeling like I’m contributing to their lives.”

- Story by Olivia Taylor, FPD Class of 2014

Faculty Spotlight

Brad Thompson, College Counselor B.A., History and English, Mercer University; M. Ed., Educational Leadership, Covenant College

What brought you to FPD? Being from Macon, I always had great respect for FPD. What impressed me the most at the time was the heavy Christian influence, the balance of support for athletics, the people I knew who worked here and the families who sent their kids here. After 15 years, those still remain. I actually interviewed more for the experience and everything fell into place. It has been a joy to see FPD as an employee and now to see it as an FPD parent.

You started out as a history teacher, then became the college counselor three years ago. What do you miss about teaching?

Honestly, I love my new role. I really wasn’t looking to leave the classroom. When Mary Butler retired, I was approached by the administration who thought it was something I should consider. It had not really crossed my mind. The more I talked to Mary the more I became interested. My knowledge of the school and my relationships with the students and families made it a good fit for both the school and myself. There are some days when I am loaded with paperwork and stuck at my desk that I wish I could be in the classroom. However, I very much still consider myself a teacher. I just do more one on one and more with families, but I also still get to talk to classes or grade levels. My goal is to “teach” students and families through the college process.

Brad Thompson

At FPD since 1997. Wife: Katherine (FPD Class of 1995). Children: Olivia (9) and Emory (5).

38

FPD Magazine Summer 2012

What is the highlight of your job?

I think one highlight is watching a student find his or her fit for college.

Sometimes we get too caught up in the bigger name schools or the bigger awards. I truly find pleasure when any

of my seniors find their school of choice and then are accepted. It is an honor to watch God work in the process, and we must remember it is all in His hands.

For almost all seniors, this is the first big decision they will make. I always stress to them there will be bigger decisions and God is using this decision-making process to prepare them for those decisions down the road.

Another highlight is when former students come by and see me. I love to hear how they are doing. It also helps me keep up with the different colleges so I can talk to my seniors about them.

You’ve been here for 15 years.

Surely you have a few funny stories to tell about a student or a colleague from your time as a coach, teacher or counselor. Anything come to mind?

There are too many funny things that would be hard to explain ...

A personal FPD highlight was probably having the yearbook dedicated to me in 2007 I have definitely seen a lot in 15 years.

I am not sure if any one thing stands out.

Thinking back, I am always reminded of the people. I think of students I have taught, families I have worked with and faculty members who have taught here.

No matter how things have changed or will change in the future, the difference in FPD is the people. It is an honor to do something you enjoy doing for a living and to do it with people you enjoy working with.

Tell us a few little-known facts about yourself.

I try to run 50 miles a month. I also run the Peachtree and Publix half-marathons every year. Other than running, I like to read, go to the beach and hang out with my family.

Andrew Strickland, Fine Arts Director B.A, Theatre, University of Alabama; M. F.A, Theatre Directing, University of Mississippi

Ed. S., Lesley University; currently pursuing Ph.D. in Educational Studies, Lesley University What brought you to FPD? My journey to FPD was such a powerful example of God working in my life. I was serving as the head of the acting company and director of a theatre company in Detroit. I had directed in 10 different states over the previous years, moving from theatre to theatre to improve my pay and position. In Detroit, God really started to work on me. He put it on my heart that I needed to go back to teaching. My wife and I also wanted to return to the South – Janet is from Mississippi, I am from Florida. I left my job in Detroit, trusting in God to lead the way. Amazingly, FPD found me through an employment agent. I interviewed at many schools, but FPD was the obvious choice. I remember Otto Reitnauer, the fine arts director at the time, praying with me during my interview. That was powerfully different from anything I had experienced elsewhere in my job search. I quickly fell in love with the school, the students, and the faculty.

FPD had a sense of family that I had never experienced in a job before.

What is the most gratifying part of your job?

The thing I missed most during my years in professional theatre was that moment when a young performer discovers the magic of performing.

The actors are very talented in the professional ranks, but theatre has become a job to many of them. At FPD I get to see that love for theatre blossoming all around me. Young students are discovering their Godgiven talents, the older students are refining those talents, and I am blessed to be surrounded by it all.

You recently celebrated your 100th performance overall and 50th at FPD. What does this milestone mean to you?

I actually celebrated my 100th production as a director overall with The Crucible, and my 50th show directed at FPD. It takes a lot to direct a show, but directors have many more requirements working in educational theatre. In the professional world, I often just had to direct the show. At FPD I have my hand in everything – designing, choreographing, publicity, music, etc. It can be exhausting, but incredibly rewarding to be able to be so heavily involved in the artistic creation of a show. I love being part of the history of FPD Theatre, being able to look back at all of the shows and see the story of a developing program. More than that, I love that I get the chance to watch children grow up in my shows. I had the chance to direct some of the performers from the Class of 2012 since they were in 4th grade. For some of them, that was more than 25 shows ... Shows are a gift to any director, and I have been richly rewarded with lifelong friendships, amazing performances, and a chance to advocate for the power of the arts.

Of all the performances you’ve been a part of at FPD, are there a few that stand out?

That is a ridiculously hard question to answer! All shows are very special to me. That being said, our production of Cats back in 2006 leaps to mind. We had a very small cast willing to learn the intensely hard dancing required to do the show. We were one of the first schools in the world to perform Cats, and the performers did an amazing job.

Many of them learned to dance just for the show. More recently, 42nd Street jumps out as a special show. Many people spent 10 months learning how to tap dance for the chance to perform some of the greatest numbers ever put on stage. That was even more special to me as a tap dancing specialist. I had a chance to perform with the kids which was one of my favorite experiences at FPD. Tell us a few little-known facts about yourself.

I am a member of Marathon Maniacs, having run more than 30 marathons and ultra-marathons. I am also the co-founder/race director of the Make It by Midnight Marathon, Macon’s only 26.2 mile road race; at the University of Alabama I played goalie for the lacrosse team; in my youth, I played saxophone and keyboards for Staircase, a Christian rock band.

Andrew Strickland

At FPD since 2003. Wife: Janet. Children: Luke (7) and Caedmon (4).

13 FPD Magazine Summer 2012

39

Classnotes

Thomas Newton Ciolkosz, son of Clarissa Durden ’91 Ciolkosz and husband Tom

Rachel Elizabeth Gilmore, daughter of Ashley Frizzell ’91 Gilmore and husband Bill

The Ponder Family: Buddy Ponder, Bert Ponder’79, Saynor Ponder, Saynor Ponder ’86 Foshee, Eleanor Ponder ’81 Palmer, Bill Ponder ’91

1977

Devra Brown ’77 trained for & completed her first half marathon in Savannah finishing in 2:22. Her summer goal is to complete the Peachtree in 60 min or less.

She thinks she will stick to 2-3 hrs on the tennis courts over running!

1980 1981 classmates Jay Strickland, Joe Watwood, and Rhonda Aultman Watwood enjoyed an FPD football season with their sons Thomas Strickland and James Watwood who both graduated this year.

Robert Davidson ’80 recently retired from an intellectual property law group, and is active in the community development initiatives of Strong Tower Fellowship, an outreach of First Presbyterian Church of Macon. Find out more about the mission and ministries of Strong Tower Fellowship at strongtowermacon.com

1985

Colonel and Mrs. Michael Smith ’85, with their sons, Will and Luke, at his promotion to colonel.

Michael Smith ’85 was recently promoted to the rank of Colonel at a ceremony held at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The ceremony was attended by his wife, Margaret, and their two sons, Will and Luke; along with their parents and several friends and fellow Soldiers. Mike currently serves as the Executive Officer for the Chief of the Army Medical Service Corps; he assumes duties as the Command Surgeon for Joint Forces Headquarters National Capital Region/Military District of Washington this summer.

1991

Jessica George ’92 White with husband Jon and children Parx, Georgia, Walker, and Ava.

Clarissa Durden ’91 Ciolkosz and husband Tom of Lovettsville, Virginia proudly announce the birth of their third son, Thomas Newton, born on May 13, 2011. He weighed in at a healthy 10 lbs and was 22 1/4 inches long. Big brothers, William (3) and Andrew (19 months), are very excited about their new baby brother.

Ashley Frizzell ’91 Gilmore writes, “My husband Bill and I are thrilled to announce

the birth of our daughter Rachel Elizabeth on December 16, 2011. We are really enjoying being new parents. I am still in Texas and a partner at Wilson Elser, practicing insurance coverage law. Bill and I enjoy traveling with family and friends.

We actually got engaged in Paris while on a trip to visit Emily DeLancey Tart ’91 and her family in Germany. Our families got to vacation together again in Scotland. Bill, Rachel and I are getting ready for a trip to Alaska this summer.”

1992

Jessica George ’92 White writes, “We have a wonderful new addition to our family!

Ava Marguerite White was born June 4, 2011. She was welcomed by big brothers Walker and Parx and big sister Georgia.

What a sweet blessing she is to our family!”

1994

Amy Gaines ’94 Moore and husband Matt welcomed a daughter on January 18, 2012.

Her name is Avery Reid and she weighed 7 pounds, 11.5 ounces.

Marci Sams ’94 Richardson and husband Carter currently reside in Atlanta with their two children Jack (7) and Dorsey (4).

1995

Cassie Head ’95 Davis writes, “I graduated last year with my Masters of Science in Nursing- FNP emphasis. I am practicing as a nurse practitioner at Upson Family Physicians in Thomaston. We live in Forsyth, where my husband, Will, owns the local newspaper. We have two kids, Abbie, 10 and Park, 7.”

1996

Jessica Walden ’96 and Jamie Weatherford ’93 were married on April

Avery Reid Moore, daughter of Amy Gaines ’94 Moore and husband Matt.

Jack and Dorsey Mrs. Jessica Walden ’96 and Mr. Richardson, children of Jamie Weatherford ’93 Marci Sams ’94 Richardson and husband Carter

30, 2011 at the Cox Capitol Theatre in downtown Macon. They recently opened a Macon music history tour company called Rock Candy Tours in honor of their families’ background in the music and candy business. Visit them at rockcandytours.com.

1997

Erin Knight ’97 attends graduate school at Florida International University in Miami, pursuing a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. She was recently elected vicepresident of the honor society.

1998

John Wayne Anderson ’98 and wife Jennifer are proud to announce the birth of their son James Grant born Aug. 21, 2011, weighing 8 pounds, 10 ounces.

2000

Laura Susan Darnell ’00 Cain and husband Springer welcomed their first son, Matthew Springer, on Sept. 1, 2011. He weighed 8 pounds and was 20 1/2 inches.

After earning his Digital Media degree from GS&SU, Sean Caldon ’00 recently received his Licensing Certification while a Claims Representative at GEICO. Sean will attend Mercer University part-time for graduate studies while working full-time.

Congratulations to Beth Gorman ’00 Burnsed for being honored at the annual Tribute to Women Luncheon of the Brunswick YMCA. Beth is special events coordinator for the Jekyll Island Authority and invests lots of time in the community.

2001

Congratulations to Misty Doherty ’01 Borders and her husband Brett on the

birth of their daughter. Misty writes, “I am pleased to announce the birth of Ava Claire Borders on January 26, 2012. After arriving just 4.5 weeks early she weighed in at 5 pounds, 6 ounces. Brett and I couldn’t be happier or more in love with our little bundle of joy. God has truly blessed us.”

(Back row, L to R) Carrie Wheeler ’96 Thacker, Amy Chase ’96 Sery, Marcia Moon ’96 Livingston, Sandi Hammontree ’96 Lynch, (Front Row, L to R) Mary Bowman ’94, April Hornsby ’93, Jessica Walden ’96, and Alicia Cox ’93 Record kicked off Jessica Walden’s bachelorette party at historic Grant’s Lounge in Macon in March.

Jennifer Parker ’01 McMiller and husband Andy are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Addison Kate born November 7, 2011.

Logan Caldon ’01 Jones and her husband Brian welcomed Matthew Anthony on January 18, 2012. Matthew joins his older siblings, Hannah, 4, and brother, Colin, 2, on their “Little Feet Farm” in Tennessee.

James Grant Anderson, son of John Wayne Anderson ’98 and wife Jennifer

2002

Jason Faulkner ’02 and wife Caryn of Marietta announce the birth of their son, Wade Kenneth, on Sept. 11, 2011. He weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces. Jason is the assistant branch manager of State Bank in Marietta, and Caryn works part time from home with a public relations firm.

2003

Bryan Caldon ’03 was promoted to “Chief Petty Officer” during his final deployment on the USS Stennis. Bryan and his wife, Ali, live in Washington State where Bryan now serves as an FIDE Nuclear Engineer Instructor at Bremerton Naval Base. “Welcome Home!”

Matthew Springer Cain, son of Laura Susan Darnell ’00 Cain and husband Springer

2004

Caroline Darnell ’04 married Brian O’Rourke on April 30, 2011, at Martha Bowman Memorial United Methodist Church in Macon. The wedding party included her sister Laura Susan Darnell ’00 Cain as matron of honor and her brothers Will ’06 and David ’10 as

Ava Claire Borders, daughter of Misty Doherty ’01 Borders and husband Brett

Classnotes

Addison Kate McMiller, daughter of Jennifer Parker ’01 McMiller and husband Andy

Whitney Woodard ’04 vacationing in the Dominican Republic

Mr. and Mrs. Brian O’Rourke (Caroline Darnell ’04)

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Wood ’04 (Ashley Faulkner ’04)

groomsmen. The couple lives in Peachtree City. Caroline works as a pediatric ICU nurse at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite and is pursuing a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Masters Degree. Brian is an Administer in Training with Ethica Health and Retirement Communities. The couple is looking forward to spending their first anniversary in the mountains.

Logan Caldon ’01 Jones with her newest addition, Matthew Anthony

Jason Faulkner ’02 with wife Caryn and son Wade Kenneth

Chief Petty Officer Bryan Caldon ’03

Joby Peake ’07

Peyton Ethridge ’04 received his Juris Doctorate from UGA’s Law School May 19, 2012. He has been accepted to Georgetown’s Tax LLM program in Washington, D.C. and will begin studying there this fall.

Ashley Faulkner ’04 and Roger Wood ’04 were united in marriage on May 28, 2011, at the Gray United Methodist Church.

FPD alumni in the wedding were Jason Faulkner ’02, Jeffrey Wood ’02, Lindsay Wilson ’09, Bethany Greene ’04, Matthew Ousley ’04, and Brian McCommon ’04.

The couple resides in Macon where Roger is a nurse at RAI Dialysis Center and Ashley is employed at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth.

Whitney Woodard ’04 writes, “Since graduating from Georgia Southern University in 2008 with a degree in Nutrition and Food Science, I have worked with Kinetix Health Club and Global Fitness Personal Training for the past four years. I am currently the Chief Operations Officer of both companies and also help out with the marketing team of Kinetix. I will be moving to Atlanta in July to continue working with the corporate team of Kinetix and Global Fitness Training.”

Kris Hattaway ’04 has been working as

Mr. and Mrs. Noah Huggins (Christin Bates ’04)

Director of Place at NewTown Macon since graduating from the University of Georgia three and a half years ago. Heading their marketing and events department, some of her projects include A Halluva Auction and Friday Fest. She is very active in the Junior League of Macon and is getting ready to serve her second year as the Public Relations Chair. Kris was recently inducted into the Macon Rotary Club and also serves on several boards working to improve the quality of life in Central Georgia.

Christin Bates ’04 and Noah Huggins were married on June 11, 2011, at Martha Bowman Memorial United Methodist Church in Macon, Georgia. Alumni in the wedding included Caroline Darnell ’04 O’Rourke and the bride’s brothers Daniel ’07 and Evan Bates ’12. The couple honeymooned in Riviera Maya, Mexico and now reside in Athens, where Christin is pursuing her Ph.D. in Communication Studies at the University of Georgia and was named the recipient of the universitywide, Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award for 2012.

2006

Will Darnell ’06 graduated in the spring of 2011 from the Medical College of Georgia with a BS in Nursing. He works as a registered nurse in the new heart tower at the Medical Center of Central Georgia.

2007

Joby Peake ’07 won the Steeplechase event at Troy State University track meet as a member of Auburn’s track team. He later was named to the Academic All-District Team. Peake graduated from Auburn Summa Cum Laude in May with a degree in economics.

Kris Hattaway ’04

Will Darnell ’06

Christen Patterson ’07 works at Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research in Atlanta as the Program and Event Coordinator. It is a non-profit whose mission is to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research. Brian McCann is a spokesperson for Rally and Christen was on a media tour with him recently.

Logan Faulk ’07 graduated from Valdosta State University with a BBA in Accounting. He was selected to Beta Alpha Psi (a national honors accountancy society) and Sigma Alpha Pi (a leadership honors society). Logan plans to begin graduate school in the fall.

Laura Sexton ’07, a member of the instructional support faculty at Mary Persons High School in Forsyth, was named Teacher of the Month by the school in March.

2008

Foster Veazey ’08 graduated in May 2012 from Samford University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in June. He has been accepted in the Marine Aviation Program and will train to become a fighter pilot.

2009

Calli Watson, ’09 was awarded the Northside Scholars Leadership Development Program Scholarship from Northside Hospital in Atlanta, GA. She attended the University of Georgia where she was a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and named a Presidential Scholar. Calli is currently enrolled in the BSN program at Georgia Health & Science University, formerly named the Medical College of Georgia.

Logan Faulk ’07

Ashley Cope ’10

Rebecca Miller ’11

2010

Ashley Cope ’10 writes, “I finished my sophomore year at Samford University, majoring in Exercise Science. I have enjoyed volunteering at Lakeshore Foundation, which is the Paralympic training facility in Birmingham. I am still on the Samford Track and Field team and I compete in the Heptathlon and Pole Vault.

I won the Southern Conference Heptathlon two years in a row. My personal best for pole vault has improved to 12-7.”

2011

Jeremy G. Greene ’11 recently received the title of “Honorary Member” of the Medical Association of Georgia’s American Medical Association Delegation. Having been participating in the group for over 10 years, and having gone to numerous meetings in cities such as Chicago, Las Vegas, and Honolulu, he was presented the award from MAG’s AMA Delegation’s Chairman, Dr. Joseph P. Bailey, M.D., at their meeting in Atlanta last April.

Rebecca Miller ’11 was named the best offensive player for the Valdosta State women’s soccer team for 2011.

Stuart Veal ’11 is on the William & Mary Club Croquet Team that just won the national championship. The team competed at the National Collegiate Croquet Tournament and won. In addition to the school winning the tournament, Stuart and his croquet partner won the individual tournament, beating out more than 16 teams to be the national champs.

Christen Patterson ’07 (second from right) with Brian McCann of the Atlanta Braves (third from right) on a media tour for Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research.

Hunter Causey ’04, Eric Bevill ’04, Peyton Etheridge ’04, Yara Figueroa ’04, Cissy Bates ’04, Kris Hattaway ’04, Audrey Califf ’04, Ashley Griffin ’04, Jake Griffin ’05, Michael Impink ’04, Kenson Bates ’06, Chris Douglas ’04

Alumnae from the Class of 2009 met for lunch one day during the spring to read The Saga. L-R: Taylor Duggan, Weathers Veazey, Martha Easton McLemore, Hayley Hotchkiss and Brooke Ellard

In Memoriam Shay Sellers ‘84

Action photos by Bubba Thomas/VSU Morgan Johnson ‘09 rounds third after hitting a home run for Valdosta State.

We are family

Johnson girls help lead VSU to title.

History repeated itself down in Valdosta this summer, as the Johnson sisters led another team to the pinnacle of achievement.

Sisters Morgan ’09 and Fran Johnson ’11, who were key members of the Vikings’ 2007 state championship fastpitch team, helped lead Valdosta State University to the school’s first-ever softball national championship in May. The Blazers beat defending champion UC-San Diego 4-1 in the championship game.

The Johnsons, who held numerous school records for FPD by the time they graduated, seem on their way to doing the same in college.

Morgan, a junior left fielder, was named an All-American, Academic All-American and later won the Gulf South Conference’s Commissioner’s Trophy, the conference’s highest honor that recognizes Johnson as the top female student-athlete of all sports.

She is the fourth VSU female to win the award and the first since 1997.

Johnson finished with a .427 batting average with 18 doubles, 11 home runs (two

of which came in the national tournament) and 51 RBIs. Off the field, Johnson was named the VSU Community Service Student-Athlete Award Winner as the nursing student volunteered for the Storehouse Ministry, which helps feed the homeless, and organized both free softball clinics for area children as well as the VSU Softball Blood Drive.

Fran, a freshman outfielder, appeared in 54 games and finished with a .259 average and went 2-for-4 in one of the Blazers’ tournament wins.

“I think their work ethic and drive to work out is the key to their success,” VSU coach Thomas Macera said.

“They get every bit of their God-given talent out of themselves by working hard and having a great attitude and hustling.”

James Barry “Shay” Sellers, Jr., passed away on April 3, 2012 in Amelia Island, Fla., after a four-year battle with melanoma.

A 1984 FPD graduate, Sellers is survived by his wife, Allison Caldwell Sellers, two daughters, Sarah Anderson Sellers and Carson Caldwell Sellers; and a son, James Barry Sellers III as well as his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James B. Sellers of Macon, along with two sisters and a brother: Crocket Sellers ’89 Miller, Rader Sellers ’88 and Margaret Sellers Elliott.

Sellers’ friend and classmate, Thad Harris, wrote the following in memory of Sellers.

Shay had a gift. He had the ability to raise the spirits of those around him. It was a gift from above, and he knew it. Ever the true believer, Shay shared his gift every day.

Whereever he went, Shay would often arrive late.

Many times, he was late because he had stopped to talk with someone. Like the Good Samaritan, Shay would stop and help someone by simply taking the time to listen. He cared, and people knew it.

He had the ability to see past the appearance of someone and appeal to the “better angels” of their nature. By doing so, he brought out the best in people.

As his friend for almost 30 years, I had the privilege of seeing him lift the spirits of countless people. On one occasion, I witnessed him revive the spirit of a complete stranger by simply taking an interest in her and listening to what she had to say. As she stood behind the counter of the convenience store, the woman looked as if she had been beaten down by life. Her shoulders were hunched over. You could see the pain in her eyes. Shay started a conversation. Twenty minutes later, she was showing us pictures of her Grandchildren.

As we walked away, I looked back to see a woman who was no longer in despair. She was now standing tall, smiling and waving as we left the building.

In his 46 years on this earth, Shay gave more than most people give in eighty six years of living.

We miss him. We wanted him to stay with us much longer.

But it seems that God sometimes brings the best among us home early. I know God wants us to share our story and I know He wants to hear us laugh.

He must. He gave us Shay.

Alumni SPOTLIGHT

More than a game FPD grad Foster Veazey (left) organizes a unique fund-raiser in Birmingham.

F

oster Veazey ’08 and Owen Anderson ’08 thought they’d never put their Viking helmet back on after the fall of 2007.

But in April, the two fraternity brothers suited up in full pads and their familiar red “P” helmets and ran onto the turf of Samford University’s football field to take on their rival fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi. It was an unprecedented full-pad, fullcontact game with referees and even a professional commentator.

Not only did Sigma Chi win its game 35-0 in front of more than 1,000 curious spectators, but the game raised more than $6,000 for an inner-city Birmingham-area school, Restoration Academy in Fairfield.

Veazey, the organizer and chief planner for the inaugural “Charity Bowl,” started something that many Samford students think will stick around for years to come.

Veazey and his fraternity brothers first got involved with Restoration, a Christian school that serves lower-income families,

during volunteer tutoring sessions at the school.

“Their whole goal is to just reach out and pull these kids out of poverty and send them to college, to break that whole cycle of drugs and fatherlessness,” Veazey said.

Veazey said the initial goal was to attract maybe 400 fans to the game and raise around $2,000. Instead, close to 1,500 fans showed up, nearly filling an entire side of Samford’s stadium, and donations poured in from local businesses.

“We were blown away by it all,” Veazey said.

The game created a buzz around campus that was uncharacteristic for a fundraiser event.

The players from both teams wore pads borrowed from Restoration Academy, whose coaches and football players were recognized at halftime.

A few days after the game, Veazey and his fraternity brothers delivered the money to Restoration coach DeWayne Coker.

“He was blown away,” Veazey said. “He was more just very humbled by it all, that a bunch of college kids would want to do something like that to begin with.”

As for the game, Veazey, a former AllState linebacker for the Vikings, played defense, wrote Sigma Chi’s playbook and even Tweeted throughout the game. His sister, FPD grad Weathers ’09, also was involved from the beginning, helping promote the event to Birmingham media.

He was joined on the field by his former FPD teammate, Anderson, an All-Region lineman for the Vikings.

Both fraternities held daily practices for a month leading up to the game.

For Veazey, the game was less about football and more about helping out.

“Seeing the (Restoration) kids’ and coaches’ faces and seeing how humbled they were was really just a blessing to all of us,” he said. “I hope it becomes a tradition at Samford.”

- Story by Carson Pyles, FPD Class of 2008

FLASHBACK

Nordan, shown at left in a photo from the 1974 yearbook, was a physical education instructor at FPD from 1972-95.

She previously taught at schools in Alabama and Tennessee and spent six years at the all-girls Lasseter school (now Northeast) before joining the FPD faculty.

Janice Nordan

Raised on an Alabama farm, she helped establish a girls P.E. program at FPD. My father was a public works employee until the Depression came. My grandfather had land, so we moved to a farm and my father farmed. We grew cotton, peanuts, corn. Absolutely, I think my work ethic came from that. We really had to work hard. Even now, I have a push to get things done.

My two girls (Renee and Michele) came to FPD when the school opened in 1970. My older girl played basketball and I went to one of the games and saw (headmaster) Henry Middlebrooks. I asked him if he had any plans for starting a girls physical education program. He said yes. I went in for an interview and started working in the fall of 1972. I guess I saw him at a good time. Thank the Lord for that.

(The early faculty) just enjoyed each other and most of us ate lunch together that first year. Mr. Russell Floyd, our elementary principal, was so strict and proper and we had an English teacher one day who just reached over and grabbed a French fry off his plate. We were all aghast, just in stitches.

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FPD Magazine Summer 2012

Mr. Floyd didn’t know what to think. He didn’t say a word.

My philosophy in P.E. was a lot different from what the students wanted. They wanted to just play, but I wanted to teach the rules and skills so they could enjoy the sport as a spectator as well as a participant.

Most of the kids loved P.E. They couldn’t wait to get out there and participate, especially the first graders.

We used to have a pool on campus. One day, (first grade teacher) Sue Crumbley was taking the kids to the dressing room and letting the kids go out to the pool and this little boy came out with nothing on but his glasses. I’ve laughed at her telling that story so many times.

I was the only female (coach) there. I worked hard at it, I really did. And the other male coaches were so good to me, every one of them.

- As told to Cal Powell

2012

Football Schedule

Aug. 24 Aug. 31 Sept. 7 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct. 26 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 * Homecoming

at Hawkinsville (scrimmage) at George Walton Pike County at Pace Academy Lincoln County Georgia Military Academy* at Twiggs County at Hancock Central Wilkinson County at Warren County Aquinas

Senior quarterback and college prospect Brooks Stroud returns to lead the Vikings’ offense.

Homecoming OCTOBER 5-6

2012

We hope to see you at Homecoming 2012 this fall!

The Vikings host Georgia Military Academy at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5. The pre-game alumni dinner under the big tent begins at 6:15 p.m.

If you’d like to nominate someone for the Alumni Service Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award, please contact the alumni office at alumni@fpdmacon.org Homecoming week festivities continue on Saturday, Oct. 6, with a luncheon and campus tours for reunion classes of 1977, ’82, ’87 ’92, ’97, ’02 and ’07.

New faces join alumni office Two FPD graduates have joined the staff of Alumni Director Carol Sawyer as Carol begins teaching in the Instructional Support Program.

Mary Bennet Dunwody ’90 Rose and Chandler Lee ’07 will help coordinate homecoming and other alumni-related functions.

Rose, a Macon native, holds a management degree from Georgia Tech. Her husband, Matt, also a Tech grad, is owner of a local machine shop.

They have two children, Mary Bennet II, a rising seventh grader at FPD, and “little” Matt, who is a rising fourth grader. Rose will also continue to work in our 3K program as an aide.

Rose can be contacted at marybennet.rose@ fpdmacon.org Lee attended FPD for 14 years and was a member of FPD’s athletic broadcasting teams and newspaper staff. He holds a degree in rhetoric from Georgia College & State University.

Lee also will work as FPD’s sports information director and literary coach.

He can be reached at chandler.lee@ fpdmacon.org

FPD Online: Get connected!

To see school videos

http://www.vimeo.com/fpdmacon For school publications

http://issuu.com/jcpowell

For photographs of campus events

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fpdmacon

Folllow our tweets

Social networking

twitter.com/fpdsmacon

“Like” First Presbyterian Day School and FPD Alumni pages

Homecoming

2012

OCTOBER 5-6

5671 Calvin Drive Macon, Georgia 31210 www.fpdmacon.org

Reunion Organizers 1977 Mary Claire Hemby Hill mhill@richardhardy.org

1982 Lauren Lane Hailey

laurenhailey1@gmail.com

1987 Hope Hahn Shields hopeh@cox.net

1992 David Spivey

david@davidspivey.com

1997 John Michael Phillips

jmphillips21@hotmail.com

2002 Meg Gamble King

megking25@gmail.com

2007 Chandler Lee

chandler.lee@fpdmacon.org