THE MAGAZINE OF LAUSANNE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL | FALL 2017
Reflecting on Relationships
Lausanne Magazine is a publication of Lausanne Collegiate School whose mission is to prepare each of its students for college and for life in a global environment. EDITOR
Carrie Linder Robinson Assistant Director of Strategic Communications crobinson@lausanneschool.com 901.474.1003 MANAGING EDITOR
Drew Smith Director of Strategic Communications dsmith@lausanneschool.com 901.474.1047 CLASS NOTES AND ALUMNI NEWS
Charlotte Albertson Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Affairs calbertson@lausanneschool.com 901.474.1029 COPY EDITOR
Susannah Reese Young ‘00 ART DIRECTOR
Alison Johnson Charles PHOTOGRAPHY
Krishna Andrews Carrie Linder Robinson Steven Russell Drew Smith Lausanne Collegiate School 1381 W. Massey Rd., Memphis, TN 38120 901.474.1000 www.lausanneschool.com
We Forge Meaningful Relationships The coeducational and diverse environment at Lausanne allows our students to grow in understanding and appreciation of their similarities. Girls and boys learn to work side-by-side, building their social skills as well as their confidence. They thrive in our coeducational setting, openly sharing their thoughts and opinions while respecting the viewpoints of others. Engaging with students from 57 different countries helps them see beyond our campus, teaching them to collaborate with people not only from around the city, but from around the globe. Students develop empathy, understanding and life-long friendships built on respect for one another. Building meaningful relationships is central to our mission, and they’re forged everyday at Lausanne. LAUSANNE FALL 2017
ON THE COVER: Fifteen Lausanne performing arts students journeyed to New York this past summer to study theatre. The five-day trip was a time for them to grow their talents and relationships outside of the classroom. ON THE LEFT: Lausanne students silently reflect outside of the Freedom Tower after visiting the 9/11 Museum in July. Read more about their trip to New York on page 10.
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“ Lausanne’s values foster a spirit of collaboration in our students even while they are being passionate about becoming the best at whatever they are pursuing.” —Stuart McCathie, Headmaster
Lausanne students (left to right) Jyotika Maharaj ‘23, Hayley McManic ’23, Madison McDermott ’23 and Jonathan Kagoo ‘18 make a few last-minute tweaks to their solar-powered car at this year’s University of Memphis E-Day.
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LETTER FROM THE HEADMASTER
Students from our Upper and Middle Schools recently competed in the University of Memphis’ Engineering Open House (E-Day). The event allows student teams from regional public and private schools to test their engineering designs in a college environment. Our students, who developed their designs in our Physics, Design Technology and STEM labs, collaborated to create highly competitive projects while forming lasting bonds with one another. During this year’s event, a team from another school ran into trouble when testing their solar car. Our students noted their struggle and immediately offered to assist. For the next two hours, they helped find and assemble replacement parts, collaborating with students against whom they would ultimately compete. Their teacher was deeply grateful and somewhat surprised by our students’ actions.
Jon Thompson and Jim Keegan ’20 presented the “Go Lynx” rally towel that traveled to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, to Headmaster Stuart McCathie at a special Convocation this fall. Read more about this story on page 16.
We are proud, and not very surprised, at our students’ willingness to help. One of the seven pillars of the Lausanne Way encourages all of us in the Lausanne community to forge meaningful relationships. That means helping students connect and empathize with other people and preparing them to build bonds that may last their entire lives. Lausanne’s values foster a spirit of collaboration in our students even while they are being passionate about becoming the best at whatever they are pursuing. That’s why our students are inspired to form lasting relationships with the people around them, regardless of background, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic standing and culture. Our student team at “E-Day” moved past the immediacy of competition to the more lasting value of cooperation and making connections with others. Our Lausanne students and graduates are united in their excitement about the possibilities and opportunities to continue to connect with others in new and exciting ways. Because they have experienced an educational environment at Lausanne that is inclusive rather than exclusive, honors individuals rather than stereotypes groups, seeks to understand rather than give way to prejudice, they become the leaders in their communities that are dedicated to building and sustaining meaningful relationships with all individuals with whom they come in contact.
ENJOY THE VIDEO OF OUR STUDENTS AT E-DAY
http://lausanneschool.com/magazine
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
Stuart McCathie Headmaster
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LAUSANNE MAGAZINE | FALL 2017 We Forge Meaningful Relationships TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Finding Their Space At Lausanne LOWER SCHOOL FEATURE
Acting On Their Differences MIDDLE SCHOOL FEATURE
Showing Their Colors UPPER SCHOOL FEATURE
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41 THANK YOU!
Following Their Own Path CLASS OF 2017
18 Lausanne Athletics 20 Legendary Lynx 32 Class Notes
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Inking Their Story LAUSANNE ALUMNI
2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
As we walked past the American Immigrant Wall of Honor at the Ellis Island Museum in New York this past July, I heard a conversation happening between some of our rising Lausanne sixth-graders. “Remember in fourth grade when we studied about how some children were sent alone to America by their families? I wonder how many of their names are on this list?” The group of Middle Schoolers browsed the long exhibit overlooking the Lower Manhattan skyline and continued their knowledgeable discussion without taking their eyes off of the inscribed names. Our students were experiencing a place they had learned extensively about two years earlier, in Lower School at Lausanne, during their unit of inquiry on immigration. It was a moment of connection. It was a simple yet powerful reminder of how Lausanne provides a gateway for relationships to develop both inside and outside of the classroom.
Throughout this issue of the Lausanne Magazine, we will explore how Lausanne helps forge those meaningful relationships, one of the core values of The Lausanne Way. “When I look back at my time here at school, and think of all the memories I made, the things I remember the most are the people around me,” shared class of 2017 co-valedictorian Paul Rozzi ‘17 to fellow classmates during his graduation address. “Thank you for being open to me and being willing to look past each other’s differences to make incredible friendships.” These relationships breed success. Our students are confident because they are challenged by their peers, teachers and families to share their viewpoints and grow into themselves. As you read this magazine, it is my hope that you are as inspired as I have been by the unique relationships that are fostered at Lausanne. Go Lynx!
Carrie Linder Robinson Assistant Director of Strategic Communications
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
Lausanne junior Naiya Nolan-Dillard ‘19, studies one of the many exhibits at Ellis Island Museum in New York.
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FINDING THEIR SPACE AT LAUSANNE
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LOWER SCHOOL FEATURE
Sadie Cohen ’32 has strolled the Lausanne sidewalks many times with her big brother Sam ’27. Since he became a student in PK, she has felt like it was her school, too. And this year, it is.
Just as she had many times before, Sadie confidently walked the familiar path to the Early Childhood hallway for her first official day as a Lausanne Lynx. “The relationships we have seen Sam build over the years here, and the way the teachers help foster those relationships, are what made us confident this was the place for Sadie, too,” said their mother Stephanie Cohen. “She felt like this was her school already so it made it extra special to walk her in on the first day.”
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
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Clockwise from top left:
“ The classroom improvements are just another example of how this school understands the importance of teaching children at the youngest age how to learn.” —Margaret Thomson, mother of Lexie ’32 and Nicholas ’27
Our teachers understand that for all students at Lausanne, a solid foundation of basic skills and a deep sense of self is essential to developing a passionate learner and strong relationships. One large contributor to this process is making sure each learning space is as welcoming as possible for our students. That’s why over the summer, our PK areas were remodeled to encourage collaboration between the students. The blueprints came to life as the two existing rooms, one was larger than the other, were turned into three smaller classrooms, creating a more intimate learning environment to better support the budding relationships being made. “The small class sizes facilitate a family atmosphere which allows the teachers to customize their teaching to fit each student’s learning needs,” said Lausanne’s Head of Lower School Kara Barbour. “Also, the students are able to create a strong bond with each other and learn through cooperative play, project work, centers and other small group activities.” The renovations were complete by the first day of school this fall with many new collaborative areas, welcoming our young learners as they set out on their Lausanne academic journey. “We knew we wanted both of our children to experience the kind of unique environment Lausanne provides,” said Margaret Thomson, mother of PK student Lexie ’32 and third-grader, Nicholas ’27. “The classroom improvements are just another example of how this school understands the importance of teaching children at the youngest age how to learn.” As they build relationships, the goal of instilling and maintaining a sense of wonder and excitement for learning in all of our students is always a main goal on our campus and why continual improvements, such as this PK project, are important. For first-year Lausanne parents Gretchen and Anastasios Karydis, choosing Lausanne’s Early Childhood program for their son Jack ’32 was a comfortable fit for their multi-cultural family.
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Sadie Cohen ’32 walks to her PK classroom on the first day of school with her mother Stephanie. Exploring one of the new collaborative centers in the PK classrooms, Jack Karydis ’32 tips his hat to a day of learning. Lower School Innovation Specialist Brad Manker teaches PK students (left to right) Qahir Devji ‘32, Willie Elliott ‘32, Olivia Johnson ‘32 and Nina Gulka ’32 how to use technology in a classroom setting. The renovated setup for PK has allowed more learning opportunities together as a group.
“As we visited during the Early Explorer Experience and our individual visit, it was apparent that Lausanne is dedicated to fostering creativity and developing open-minded citizens,” said Mr. Karydis, a native of Greece. “The school understands that the world is bigger than your own backyard, so emphasizing relationships at an early age and growing a global network they can have for life is important.” The new space allows for all three PK classes to come together and quickly form bonds between peers and teachers, while at the same time learn through cooperative play, project work, centers and group activities.
“From the very earliest age, we customize the curriculum to meet the needs of the individual learner,” said Ms. Barbour. “Parents realize that no matter the personality, gender or learning style of their children, their educational experience at Lausanne will be the right one for their family.” It’s The Lausanne Way.
LOWER SCHOOL FEATURE
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
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ACTING ON THEIR DIFFERENCES 10
MIDDLE SCHOOL FEATURE
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
Broadway actor Leonard Joseph stood in a mirrored studio in downtown New York City facing a wide-eyed group of young thespians. The masterclass acting instructor held a small soccer ball in the palm of his hand and spun around the semicircle of students so they could all see it.
Masterclass instructor and Broadway actor Leonard Joseph reminds Lynx actors Josh Pearse ‘21 (opposite page, left) and Christina Frye ‘19 (right) that “who you are, beginning now, is a matter of choice,” before they begin a one minute improv act.
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ITINERARY FOR PERFORMING ARTS TRIP TO NYC DAY 1 5th Avenue Rockefeller Center Grand Central Station Empire State Building DAY 2 2 Masterclass Workshops- Downtown Radio City Music Hall Times Square Aladdin on Broadway- New Amsterdam Theatre DAY 3 Ellis Island Statue of Liberty Wall Street St. Patrick’s Cathedral 9/11 Memorial and Museum DAY 4 Lincoln Center Metropolitan Museum of Art Central Park Wicked on Broadway- Gershwin Theatre DAY 5 NYU Campus Washington Square Fountain SOHO Chinatown
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MIDDLE SCHOOL FEATURE
Radio City Music Hall will never be the same! Our Lausanne arts students took center stage at the famous New York landmark on day two of their summer trip.
“If we only call this a soccer ball, you will be frustrated,” said Joseph, who made his Broadway debut in Miss Saigon. “But if you use your imagination and dig deep, you can make it anything you desire.” And they did. The 15 Lausanne actors, who had arrived in the Big Apple the day before, each took a turn spontaneously creating a story. When eighth-grader Skylar Harts ‘22 took the ball in her hand, she closed her eyes and was silent. When she opened her eyes, she held up the ball and said, “This is my favorite jacket.” She completely captivated her audience and used her improv skills to weave an emotional tale of friendship based on a pretend jacket.
The school trip in July allowed a handful of our arts students to build closer relationships outside of the classroom, paramount for self-discovery and social and emotional growth. It was a time for them to experience learning from their own unique perspective and to grow their ability to engage others with authenticity, honesty and kindness. For Lauren Stallings, director of Lausanne’s Conservatory, being a chaperone on the trip gave her a special vantage point to the values that are nurtured through relationships at Lausanne.
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
“I was being vulnerable in front of my group of friends, and it was scary but exciting at the same time,” said the second year Lausanne student.
“When you are able to view something from someone else’s perspective it’s helpful and I feel like we are constantly doing that in our Lausanne community. It’s what brings us closer together.”
(opposite page) Lausanne junior Lauren Lester ‘19 uses her moment during a masterclass acting workshop to tell an emotional story through dance.
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“ After our time here is over, we may never see each other again, but we as humans will still share the same world and breathe the same air. We will forever be a part of each other’s lives.” —Leonard Joseph
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MIDDLE SCHOOL FEATURE
Gabriella Graves ‘24, Walter Mink ‘22 and Josh Pearse ‘21 explore the city streets of the Big Apple.
“I watched them perform with such a powerful sense of confidence that I felt myself crying,” said Lauren. “Experiencing the impressive and authentic displays by Skylar and the other students allowed me to see the empowerment instilled in them at Lausanne in action.”
The students explored the crowded streets of New York as a group for five days, learning more about each other and growing together. They honored each other’s differences, understanding from their time at Lausanne that is just as important as celebrating similarities.
This summertime adventure to New York had many of these moments.
As the acting class came to a close, Leonard Joseph said something that reminded the students of how we view our relationships at Lausanne.
The group ranged in age from 11-18, but the gap quickly closed as they experienced the city together. Just as the arts often do, the trip increased the students’ sense of belonging to something larger than themselves.
Eighth-grader Skylar Harts ‘22 studies an optical illusion wall mural during some free time in New York.
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
“Some of my friends I met for the first time on the trip,” Skylar reflected. “But, when you’re standing next to someone and experiencing the 9/11 Memorial Museum for the first time or sitting next to someone and laughing at the same moment during a Broadway show, a new connection is formed.”
“After our time here is over, we may never see each other again,” he told the class. “But we as humans will still share the same world and breathe the same air. We will forever be a part of each other’s lives.”
(opposite page) Our Lausanne thespians experienced the neon lights of Broadway twice during their summer trip to New York when they saw Aladdin and Wicked.
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SHOWING THEIR COLORS
Clockwise from top: Lausanne grandparent Jon Thompson in the South Pacific Ocean on the deck of the ship Mermaid Vigilance.
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Lausanne’s blue and gold colors were represented on the latest Amelia Earhart search expedition in the spring of 2017. The “Go Lynx” rally towel sat inside the hatch of this underwater sonar radar that searched the bottom of the Pacific Ocean for the wreckage of Amelia Earhart’s plane. Jon Thompson (top left) with the 35-person Eustace Earhart Discovery Expedition.
UPPER SCHOOL FEATURE
In the spring of 2017, Jon Thompson pulled a folded towel from his bag and walked it over to a large sonar radar on the deck of the Mermaid Vigilance ship. He lifted the hatch and placed the gold “Go Lynx” rally towel inside before the underwater exploration sonar was lowered into the South Pacific Ocean to search for the wreckage of Amelia Earhart. “My mother always reminded me to ‘show your colors,’” said Mr. Thompson, a member of the 35-person Eustace Earhart Discovery Expedition crew, who spent weeks at sea on their latest journey. “She told me that whether it’s the colors of your school, country or ancestors, the colors are what make you, you, and to always be proud.” He has carried that lesson with him throughout life, and when Mr. Thompson called his grandson Jim Keegan ’20 from the ship, he made sure to let Jim know Lausanne was represented aboard the mission to help solve one of the greatest mysteries of the 20th century. “My grandfather has done so many great things in his lifetime and been a part of some fascinating moments in history,” said Jim, a Lausanne sophomore. “But to know that he made sure my school was a small part of the moment really means a lot to me.” Jim has developed a deep relationship with the man he calls Papa over the years, listening to his maternal grandfather tell stories about his fantastic globe-trotting adventures. Through his position as president of the Defense Orientation Conference Association (DOCA), Mr. Thompson has traveled to 42 countries with business and professional leaders on fact-finding missions regarded critical to national defense.
He was in China for the 1989 student uprisings in Tiananmen Square; in Santiago, Chile when President Pinochet returned the government to civilian control; and at Normandy Beach with President Reagan on the 40th anniversary of D-Day. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Along with his love of adventure and history, Mr. Thompson is also passionate about his city. So, it was a natural fit for him to be named Director of Cultural Affairs for Memphis in the ‘90s when he brought the Titanic Exhibit to the Bluff City as a part of the globally renowned Wonder Series.
“ History has always been one of my favorite subjects and a big part of that is my relationship with my grandfather,” reflected Jim. “Because of him, I see things in a different way.” For Mr. Thompson, sharing the unique moments he has experienced with his grandson is an opportunity to show him exploration, perseverance, passion and patience in action, while at the same time leave a lasting family legacy. “I didn’t have the experience to grow up with my grandparents or be close to them,” said the former Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority board commissioner. “Being able to share my love for what I do with Jim and grow our relationship has been special.” Mr. Thompson and his exploration crew will set off to sea again in the spring of 2018 on another expedition to hopefully find out exactly what happened to Amelia Earhart on her last voyage.
#BlueandGold Lausanne sophomore Jim Keegan ’20 listens to some of his grandfather’s latest adventures from his Amelia Earhart search expedition.
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
“It might be a bit hard to out-do him,” said Jim with a thoughtful smile, referring to his Papa’s eye-opening resume. “But he has instilled a love of learning in me and definitely made me proud.”
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GOAL ACCOMPLISHED: BOYS SOCCER: STATE CHAMPIONS In a down-to-the-wire, sudden death overtime state title game, our Lynx boys soccer team beat St. George’s 2-1. This brought the state championship trophy count to three for our varsity sports teams last school year. #HistoryWitnessedAgain Thursday, May 25, 2017 Murfreesboro, Tenn. Sudden death overtime. The Lausanne boys varsity soccer team and St. George’s had battled in the Division II-A state championship game for 107 minutes and 15 seconds. Play came to a sudden halt when one of the Gryphon players lay in the middle of the field. The sun and time had caught up with him as he was cringing in pain with leg cramps. As hard fought as the game had been and as intense as the rivalry has historically been between the two schools, Lausanne’s Lucas Drumond ‘18 didn’t even hesitate. He walked directly across the field, pulled the St. George’s player’s foot to his own chest and began stretching him out. It was a perfect example of the sportsmanship Lausanne student-athletes embody and will forever be one of the many memorable moments frozen in the minds of all who watched this classic game. Both Memphis-area teams were coming into this game with 2-0 semifinal wins. Lausanne held Knoxville Webb scoreless the day before, and St. George’s had the shutout over ECS.
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Less than 24 hours later, the Lynx and Gryphons stepped onto the field at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex to play the biggest game of their seasons. Lausanne struck first with 17:58 left to play as Kelvin Borges ‘20 put the ball in the left corner, assisted by Gabe Castro ‘17, giving the Lynx a 1-0 lead. It wouldn’t be until the second half that St. George’s would get on the board. Just 13:39 into the period, the Gryphons got a head on the ball off of a free kick for the goal, tying it up 1-1. It would be a scoreless game for the remainder of regulation. And the first overtime. And the first half of sudden death overtime. With just a five minute half of sudden death OT to play, the urgency to score could been seen on both team’s faces. It was now or onto a shootout to determine the state champion. As the ball bounced off a St. George’s defender and the Gryphon goalie out of position, the game seemed to turn to slow-motion. Lausanne’s Castro rebounded the ball with just 53 seconds remaining and struck the ball toward the right corner of the net. Goal. Game over. State Champions. The blue and gold section of the stands erupted. The bench cleared and the Lynx players on the field all sprinted toward the senior who had just
scored the winning goal, giving Lausanne our first ever state soccer title. Lynx goalie Matt Kelly ‘19 had a huge game with 7 saves on St. George’s 23 shots on goal, while the Lausanne offense had 30 shots, forcing the Gryphon’s keeper to make 11 saves. In his fourth year as Lausanne’s head coach, Rogerio Lima added a fifth state title to his successful Memphis-area coaching career, leading the Lynx to an 18-2-2 season. This championship gold ball came home and was the third in sports to be placed in Lausanne’s trophy case during the 2016-2017 school year, along with a Knowledge Bowl Championship.
Crosstown rivals, competing for the state championship, in sudden death overtime. Players, coaches and fans dream about these games, and in May, our Lynx soccer team’s dream came true.
This is the first soccer state championship in Lausanne school history and the fifth high school title for Coach Lima. David Wakefield ’18 takes advantage of an open field for the Lynx. The Lausanne offense had 30 shots on goal and forced St. George’s keeper to make 11 saves.
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
(from top) The 2017 Division II-A Tennessee soccer state champions.
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LEGENDARY LYNX
LINKS FORE OUR COMMUNITY… The rain held off for the Links 4 Lynx Golf Open this year on May 19 after a twoyear hiatus. The tournament’s revival was held at Mirimichi where 12 teams teed off during the early afternoon. Team OrthoMemphis came in first place and all 48 players wrapped up the day enjoying a nice dinner overlooking the course. Make plans to join us this year on Friday, May 11 for the 2018 Links 4 Lynx Golf Open. COMPOSING A MASTERPIECE… After three months of collaborating with Lausanne’s composer in residence, Garrett Hope, our Upper School Band wowed the audience with their masterful work at the annual Spring Concert. The Lynx wind ensemble workshopped the commissioned project, created through the Composers and Schools in Concert program, with Mr. Hope via Skype on three different occasions before debuting the finished piece, Boreas. ENJOY LISTENING TO BOREAS.
http://garretthope.com/boreas/
READING RICKSHAW GIRL… Our Lower School students journeyed through Bangladesh with their classmates and families during the 2017 family read-aloud book Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins. At the end of the six-week-long reading adventure, our young Lynx welcomed Mrs. Perkins to Lausanne for the annual, and always highly anticipated, Writers’ Guild Celebration. The students enjoyed learning details from the author about the book’s development and were excited to hear the story is being turned into a feature film. After her presentation, Mrs. Perkins signed books while our Lower School students shared their personal Writer’s Workshop books with their families and friends.
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HIGHLIGHTS
HE RAN. HE HURDLED. HE WON… Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal
As the runners sprinted off the starting line in the 110 meter hurdle in Murfreesboro, Tenn. at Spring Fling, it didn’t take long to realize Lausanne’s Meshach Boyce ‘17 was the favorite. Meshach didn’t miss a step in the race and crossed the finish line as the Division II-A state champion. His final state championship competition resume also included 5th place in the long jump, 6th place in the 300 hurdles and state runner-up in the 4x100 relay. Meshach is now a member of the Cornell University track team in Ithaca, N.Y.
CELEBRATING FIRST DAY TRADITIONS… The first day of the 2017-2018 school year welcomed 855 Lausanne students to campus and was full of some of our favorite traditions. LAUSANNE FALL 2017
The class of 2018 enjoyed the senior breakfast off campus while the Middle School students gathered by the flag pole and the House Cup winners from last year, Massey, raised their flag to fly in top position throughout the year. Next, it was onto the senior drive-thru where all underclassman lined the campus as the seniors drove by to cheers. The Main Gym was the next stop where Headmaster Stuart McCathie greeted the students to a new year at the all-school assembly and the members of the boys varsity soccer team were presented their state championship rings. Before classes began, the last tradition of the day was the tapping of the seal. The freshman class, as well as any other new Upper School students and teachers, walked by and tapped the Lausanne seal and will tap it once again on their graduation day.
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LEGENDARY LYNX
SOLAR ECLIPSE MEMPHIS: 35º 15’ N, 90º 04’ W… Our Lynx were spread out across campus on Monday, August 21, lining Tanner Circle and covering Lynx field, to watch the first total solar eclipse visible from coast to coast across the United States in 99 years. Memphis was just outside of the path of totality and experienced a max eclipse of 94% at 1:22 p.m.
LYNX IMPACTING OUR CITY… Our sophomore and senior Lynx set out across the city of Memphis and the country in August to participate in Lausanne’s third annual internship week. This community learning experience allows our students to experience the Lausanne mission by exploring how their personal participation in community organizations prepares them for college and life in a global environment. Our sophomore students were assigned to non-profit organizations, and seniors had to research and find internships for themselves in the corporate realm.
LYNX BEGIN THE PROCESS… Our freshmen and juniors look forward to class trips each year during the second week of school. This year, the Lausanne freshmen were at Trout Lodge in Missouri and the juniors were in New York, N.Y. touring colleges. The class of 2021 was able to experience amazing weather while they bonded during the week. This freshman trip is always a wonderful way for our newest Upper School students to begin the next four years and get to know each other even better. Our juniors were in the Big Apple on the college visit trip. Nine different New York area colleges and universities were seen by our students. This trip allows our students to explore the differences between schools, such as state, local, urban and small liberal arts schools.
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HIGHLIGHTS
SENIORS MERIT ATTENTION… Lausanne seniors, Sam Hori ‘18, Allison Kerr ‘18 and Milanca Wang ‘18, were among 16,000 names announced this fall as National Merit Semifinalists in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring. Seven more senior Lynx, Zephyr Barlow ’18, Lucas Davis ‘18, Anna Hori ‘18, Alisha Pershad ‘18, David Rhea ‘18, Laney Surbrook ‘18 and Mason Weiss ‘18, were named Commended Students in the program.
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, LAUSANNE 5K… It was the same fun race, but a new course route for the Lausanne Fun Run and 5K participants this year. The runners took off through the streets surrounding our campus with first-grader Asher Arney ’29 taking the top spot in the Fun Run and Lausanne’s Director of Operations, Stewart Crais, placing first in the 5K. The race is in memory of Lausanne student Peter Kling ’86 and a great way for our community to come together each year to support the Lausanne Alumni Endowment for Financial Aid.
LIGHTS DOWN, CURTAIN UP: IT’S BROADWAY TIME… Our Lynx stars shined bright once again this year at Lausanne’s Night of Broadway. The student-organized show featured seniors Gabriella Gonzalez ‘18 and Lucy Callicott ‘18 as the emcees for the evening who introduced scenes and songs from hit Broadway shows performed by students of all ages, faculty and staff. Before the curtain went up, patrons enjoyed appetizers, visual arts demonstrations, along with instrumental and vocal performances at the Arts Gala.
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CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2017 The Lausanne class of 2017 was celebrated in a big way over Memorial Day weekend.
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CLASS OF 2017
On Saturday, May 27, family and friends of the Lausanne community were welcomed to campus for Baccalaureate. Lausanne alumna Esperanza King ‘06 gave the Baccalaureate address to the soon-to-be graduates. After the ceremony, a reception was held in Tully Dining Hall to honor the graduating class. The 92 seniors arrived on campus the next day, Sunday, May 28, as students and left as alumni.
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
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James Babb ’17 tapping the seal on his graduation day in 2017.
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After the class members were dressed in their caps and gowns, they tapped the seal on the way to the ceremony. This tradition begins for each Lynx on their first day of Upper School, and on graduation day, it marks the end of their time as a Lausanne student. The Main Gym was filled to capacity with proud families, Lausanne faculty and staff as all members of the class were
awarded their diplomas. Lausanne’s first African-American graduate, Monique Smith ‘79, was welcomed back to campus and gave an inspiring Commencement address to the graduates during the ceremony. Seniors Paul Rozzi ‘17 and Nupur Singh ‘17 received the honor of co-valedictorians and Elizabeth Goetz ‘17 was named the salutatorian.
Lausanne’s first African-American graduate Monique Smith ’79 delivers the commencement address to the graduates.
Danielle Howard ’17 enjoys all of the PK high fives during the college t-shirt walk-through around campus. This is another fun tradition of graduation weekend.
CLASS OF 2017
(Opposite page, top) Co-valedictorian Nupur Singh ‘17, salutatorian Elizabeth Goetz ‘17 and co-valedictorian Paul Rozzi ‘17 lead the procession to the graduation ceremony. (Above) The 92 members of the Lausanne class of 2017 were accepted to 177 different colleges and universities and matriculated to 64 different schools.
LAUSANNE CLASS OF 2017 • Class size: 92 • 100% college acceptance rate • 370 acceptances to 177 different colleges and universities • Matriculation to 64 different colleges and universities • Offers from every Ivy League School • 43 Full International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP) Candidates • 95% IBDP Lausanne pass rate: compared to a 69% national pass rate and a 79% global pass rate • Knowledge Bowl Champions • State Football Champions • State Basketball Champions • State Soccer Champions • 10 High School Musical Theatre Award Nominations • 83 Scholastic Art Awards • Two perfect scores on the ACT CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2017! ENJOY THE VIDEO OF GRADUATION WEEKEND.
http://www.lausanneschool.com/celebration LAUSANNE FALL 2017
Nassem Yousef ’17 and her father take pictures after the ceremony.
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When Lausanne class of 1969 alumna Nancy Schiesari ’69 is not on the set of her latest documentary film, she is at home in Austin, Texas, where she is a professor in the radio-television and film department at the University of Texas at Austin. She worked for three years on her film, Tattooed Under Fire, documenting the relationships which grew between tattoo artists and Fort Bragg soldiers before and after their deployment to Iraq.
Nancy Schiesari ‘69 stood in the middle of River City Tattoo parlor in Killeen, Texas. The sound of machines buzzed around her. After she had taken in all of the activity, the Lausanne alumna stepped back behind her camera and began rolling, focusing on a soldier smiling as a tattoo artist continued to work on his arm. Over the past three years, Nancy had gotten to know many of the Fort Bragg-stationed soldiers well. She would meet them when they came in to be tattooed before their deployment to Iraq, and she was there when they returned to capture the rest of their journey, which she used in her documentary Tattooed Under Fire.
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LAUSANNE ALUMNI
INKING THEIR STORY
(left) In her work Canine Soldiers, Nancy told the stories of the emotional attachment that forms between military working dogs and their handlers. One of the scenes in her film documents a military dog burial in Michigan. (above) During her senior year at the Lausanne School for Girls, Nancy was named Most Artistic. She moved to Europe after graduation to pursue her painting career which eventually led to her interest in photography and film.
“I become deeply invested in the lives of the people in my films, it’s almost like you become a family,” said the Austin, Texas-based filmmaker. “You never know who you are going to meet or how they will influence your life, but you come to realize quickly how similar we all are as humans.”
The class of 1969 graduate has been telling other people’s stories around the globe for over twenty years. As the director of photography on over 30 documentaries and feature films,
Nancy and her sister Juliana ’66 grew up in Jackson, Miss. The two young ladies craved a different type of learning experience and environment once they entered their high school years. After hearing about a highly esteemed, girls boarding school in Memphis, the Schiesari sisters headed north and enrolled at the Lausanne School for Girls. “My friends and I learned together in a small classroom setting and those relationships were developed through our teachers providing an
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
Her love of people has been the driving force of Nancy’s career path and was molded as a boarding student at Lausanne.
her work has been broadcast on the BBC, ABC, National Geographic and PBS.
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Nancy has been courageous enough to step outside of her own story and into the story of others. By doing this, she can open up space to understand people’s differences, creating a path for connection and change around the world.
Nancy on location in the Yuma Desert filming her award winning documentary Canine Soldiers. Her production company, Mo-Ti Productions, is devoted to finding the untold stories and bringing them to light.
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LAUSANNE ALUMNI
On October 18, 2017, Nancy Schiesari ’69 won the University of Texas Co-op Research Excellence Hamilton Award for her latest film Canine Soldiers - The Militarization of Love. She is pictured after the ceremony with members of the University of Texas Co-op Society: (from left to right) Dr. Daniel Jaffe, Vice President for Research; Cheryl Phifer, President and CEO of the University Co-op; Nancy Schiesari ’69; Dr. Michael Hasler, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the University Co-op Hamilton Awards.
atmosphere for us to be open-minded,” said the Primetime Emmy award nominee for her film The Human Face. “Our minds were valued and we were expected to use our brains and challenge each other using critical thinking.” Most recently, she utilized what she learned at Lausanne to show how close the tattoo artists and the soldiers became in Tattooed Under Fire. Nancy showed the artists using ink to imprint the soldiers’ skin and at the same time carve a lasting connection between their hearts. Throughout the process, she observed people collaborate to create a narrative on their body through the art of a tattoo. The soldiers transparently revealed their story, while the artists proudly told it. “Life is about empathy and relationships,” said Nancy, who won the Women’s Film Critics Circle Courage in Filmmaking Award for the documentary. “When people are willing to share the parts of their lives that are meaningful to them, it will be meaningful to others.”
TO WATCH HER FILMS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT NANCY’S SUCCESSFUL CAREER, VISIT HER PRODUCTION COMPANY’S WEBSITE:
http://www.motiproductions.com
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
Nancy has been courageous enough to step outside of her own story and into the story of others. By doing this, she can open up space to understand people’s differences, creating a path for connection and change around the world.
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Class Notes The first week of school is always my favorite time of year. So many Lausanne traditions are still seen through the week’s festivities, including the senior breakfast, senior drive-thru and the first all-school pep rally. The excitement on campus from the Class of 2018 is truly infectious! The alumni office had such a busy spring and summer with reunions, regional events and the launching of the new online alumni networking platform, Lausanne Link. Read more about the newest way to connect on page 34. Our Alumni Board and Alumni Emeritus Society work tirelessly to make sure that the Lausanne Alumni Network is stronger than ever. I feel very fortunate to have the constant support of these hard-working and dedicated individuals throughout the year. We are excited to say that this year will be better than the one before, and we look forward to bringing our alumni many more exciting events and programs. Lausanne hosted an exciting Alumni Weekend in September, and our faculty, staff and administration enjoyed catching up with several alumni celebrating their reunions. Classes ending in 8’s are already hard at work planning their reunions for next year. We hope you will stay in touch and send us your updates of life post-Lausanne. Stop by for a tour, drop us a line, mail us a postcard or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you! #AlwaysALynx Best,
Charlotte Albertson Director of Alumni Affairs calbertson@lausanneschool.com | 901-474-1029
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Welcome Our New Alumni Board Members… Andrea Dancy Auguiste ‘82 is a transplant to Boulder County, Colorado where she is the Regional Philanthropy Director for the National Wildlife Federation in its Denver office, serving seven Western states. Originally from Memphis, Andrea was a part of the first Lausanne class to graduate boys, although most of her student life was at this former all-girls school. During her time at Lausanne, she was involved in most every aspect of student life, including sports, yearbook staff and student leadership.
“ My favorite thing about Lausanne is that it represents the colors, ethnicities and brilliance of diversity in America. It lets differences shine while also uniting everyone around the Lausanne Way—I call it a little U.N.” Esperanza King ‘06 is from Memphis, Tenn. and is a recent graduate of the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. During her time at Lausanne, she was involved in cross country, track and field and president of the Spanish club. Since graduating, she has been the Tennessee Alumni Chair for the George Washington University, president and founding member of the Hispanic Law Student Association and an active volunteer for Latino Memphis, Memphis Area Legal Services and the Community Legal Center.
“ My favorite thing about Lausanne is the close-knit community it provides. Regardless of the grade we were in, we all knew each other and after graduating we continue to keep in touch and support each other in our careers and beyond.”
CLASS NOTES
1965
Charlotte Hays ’65 was featured on the Southern Living Facebook page this July discussing the do’s and don’ts of wedding etiquette.
1982
Sally DePriest Whitehorn ‘82 is now the parent of an alumna! Her daughter, Emma ‘17, graduated from Lausanne after 15 years! Sally recently got Emma settled in to life at Loyola University in Chicago, Ill.. Sally’s other daughter, Julia ‘19, is a junior at Lausanne and just returned from a fabulous trip to New York with her classmates, teachers and college counselors. Sally is still with Memphis Business Journal, beginning her fourth year. Her husband Lowry is with Crossroads Hospice working as a Bereavement Coordinator going on 17 years.
This past spring, Amy Barnes Wright ‘82 became a new member of both the Lausanne and the BRIDGES boards of trustees. Amy is the co-founder and CEO of Macro Solutions, an information technology consulting company focused on enterprise application and agile solutions. She founded the company in 2000 which has grown from a small consulting practice to a leading provider of technology services. Macro Solutions was recently included in the 2016 Inc. 500 list and was recognized by both Washington CEO Magazine and Bisnow for being one of the fastest growing companies in the Washington, D.C. region.
Gayle Fleming Hulsey Barton ’52, 83, died May 26, 2017. Gayle was born in Memphis, Tenn. to Jake and Frances Fleming. She was married to Chessley H. Hulsey, Sr., in 1953, who preceded her in death in 2001. Gayle was a real estate broker and achieved the Multimillion Dollar Club Member of the Memphis Area Association of Realtors. She helped many Memphians buy their first homes in her four-decade career. Gayle partnered with her husband, Chessley, to establish Hulsey and Hulsey Printing which operated in Memphis for over 30 years. In her early career, she was an architectural draftsman for local engineering firms. Gayle was an artist, writer, poet, soprano and volunteer. She had a special place in her heart for dogs and was an animal rescue volunteer and was an active member of many other organizations including: the Altrusa International women’s organization, the Josephine Circle, Byhalia Garden Club and an early supporter to save Shelby Farms. Gayle was a member of Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church for many decades and sang in the church choir. She always found a faith home wherever she lived. She attended Lausanne School for Girls and the University of Mississippi in Oxford. Gayle valued her faith, family, friends and artistic creativity. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Gayle is survived by her daughter, Melinda Edwards (Phillip) of Panama City Beach, Fla.; her son, William N. Hulsey III (Donna) of Austin, Texas; her daughter, Cammy Lerner (Matthew) of Hendersonville, Tenn.; her daughter, Frances Heinrich (Steve) of Bartlett, Tenn. and her son, Chessley H. Hulsey, Jr., (Diana) of Brighton, Tenn. Gayle had seventeen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her second and third husbands, Glenn Barton and Billy Pattat, respectively.
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
Amy believes in giving back to the community and is currently serving on the alumni board of managers for the University of Virginia and the board of directors of D.C. BUILD, a non-profit entity dedicated to providing at-risk kids a path toward high school graduation and college, and serves on the Americana Music Association Board. In addition, Amy is an avid musician which led her and her
IN MEMORIUM:
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husband to found DittyTV. The internet-based television network focuses on Americana and Roots music. Amy and her husband, Ronnie, have a home on South Main St. as well as in D.C., as she commutes regularly to Washington.
1987
Nancy Granoff Train ’87 has had her two oldest children graduate high school who now attend the University of Texas. Her youngest will be a senior in high school this year. She and her family enjoy going to Park City, Utah for winter fun and summer cool air. This past summer was busy with travel for her. Nancy’s oldest spent a semester abroad in Sydney, Australia. Nancy and her husband, Jonathan, visited her in June and absolutely fell in love with Australia. Her youngest spent the summer with a youth group in Israel. She and her husband also recently celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary on August 1. She is really looking forward to seeing her classmates during alumni weekend!
Lausanne Link Join over 250 alumni who are already connected on our new online platform, Lausanne Link. This new system provides alumni with a powerful and searchable alumni directory. •R e-connect: Find and reminisce with fellow graduates, see what they have been up to and stay in touch. •G ive back: Introduce, offer internships, employ and act as a mentor to our graduating students. • Expand: Leverage your professional network to get introduced to people you should know. • Advance: Advance your career through inside connections working in top companies. •A nd more! Getting started is quick and easy! Join today at www.lausannelink.com or download the app from iTunes or Google Play.
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1997
Charles Levingston ’97 was recently named by the Washington Business Journal as one of Washington, D.C.’s “Top 40 Under 40.” Charles serves as the executive vice president and chief financial officer of EagleBank. He has more than 16 years of experience in the banking industry.
1999
Matt Isbell ‘99 and his fellow bandmates of Ghost Town Blues Band (GTBB) were recently featured in the August issue of Memphis Magazine in which they were called “one of the bright lights on the Bluff City’s music scene.” GTBB had a busy summer touring in Canada, New Hampshire, New York, Kentucky and many other adventures. John Priddy ’99 and Lauren Hermann were married last summer on June 25, 2016 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Their honeymoon consisted of a month long trip to Switzerland, France, Austria, China and finally Indonesia. They returned to a recently renovated co-op in the sleepy neighborhood of Windsor Terrace in Brooklyn where they later welcomed Elliot Priddy on July 28, 2017. After a short paternity hiatus, John continues to work at RedHat out of their New York City office after nine years of service.
CLASS NOTES
2001
Karon Nash ’04 recently started a new position as a graphic designer at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital - ALSAC.
Charles May ’01 is enjoying San Francisco life as a preowned vehicle quality specialist at Tesla Motors.
2002
Meredith Calvin Pearson ‘02 was excited to share this photo of her two daughters enjoying some summer fun on the beach.
2005
2003
Alex Scarbrough Fisher ’05, who previously worked at Thompson Burton, PLLC, has recently accepted a new position at Frost Brown Todd, LLC in Nashville, Tenn. as a senior associate attorney in their health care service team practice. Frost Brown Todd has 500 attorneys across eight states, from Texas to Ohio to Pennsylvania to Tennessee.
2007
Ginger Traywick Paquin ’07 is an architect in training, actively pursuing her license. She received her bachelor’s of architecture from the University of Arkansas in 2012 and loved Northwest Arkansas so much that she has called it home ever since. She currently works at Hight Jackson Associates where Ginger primarily designs public and private schools. She and her husband Sean met in college and got married on Valentine’s Day in 2014. They are proud parents to two beautiful pups, Cuda and Kaya. Julie Baer Arney ‘03 and her husband Lawson welcomed twins Genevieve and Sebastian in May 2017. Big brother Asher ‘29 is excited to have a new brother and sister! Sarah Baker Blackbourn ’03 just completed her first year as executive assistant for athletics at Academy of Our Lady of Peace, an all-girls high school in San Diego, Calif., and this year is looking forward to also being an assistant kinesiology teacher. She coaches tennis, basketball and lacrosse and also enjoys working with her basketball team year round and teaching summer basketball camps to high school and middle school girls. She and her husband, Marshall, enjoy the nice Southern California weather spending time outside with their dog, Callie, a thirteenyear-old chocolate lab.
2004
Landy Kus ’08 recently graduated in May from Emory University with a master’s degree in public health. She will be starting a fellowship in September with Catholic Relief Services in Guinea, West Africa doing a variety of public health work.
2009
Brooke Vogel ’09 has changed jobs to be the Community Relations and Event Manager at Kendra Scott here in Memphis. Kendra Scott recently raised $200,000 in online sales in one day for Hurricane Harvey relief.
2010
On September 3, 2016, Catherine Clubb-Brown Turner ’10 married her high school sweetheart, Ryan Turner, incidentally who also was her date for both junior and senior proms at Lausanne. In May 2016, she graduated with her master’s degree in social work from the University of Memphis.
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
Anna Ishii ’04 recently moved to New York and accepted a position at SOM Architects as a designer. One of SOM’s most memorable projects is their design of the One World Trade Center (pictured). Anna joined other New York area alumni for happy hour at the Ainsworth in August.
2008
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IN MEMORIUM:
Diana Baker ’15, passed away on July 24, 2017 in Savannah Ga., where she was a sophomore majoring in animation at Savannah College of Art and Design. Her passion for art, which started in high school while at Lausanne, accompanied her through her brief journey of life. Her three-legged black cat Hershey was a frequently featured subject of her art work. She loved cats, drawing, puns and cartoons. A memorial service to celebrate her life and art was held on Saturday, August 19.
Congratulations to Josh Steiner ‘10 and his team at Strano Sicilian Kitchen and Bar for being nominated in nine categories for the Best of Memphis awards which included Best Chef, Best Italian, Best Pizza, Best Date Night Restaurant, Best Patio, Best Brunch, Best Bar, Best Bar for People Watching and Best Dessert.
2011
Alexandra Corbett ’11 is excited to have curated Queer Eye Rococo, a Rococo inspired show at Naming Gallery in Oakland, Calif. The show ran from September 9 through October 6 and featured works by Scott Vanderveen, Lucien Dante and Isabelle Marshall. These artists repurposed the Rococo visual language, quoting these historical sources in order to frame queer individuals in positions of power and freedom. Alexander Galfsky ’11 was promoted to director of basketball operations at Campbell University after serving one year as assistant director. In his role as director of operations, Galfsky is in charge of internal scheduling, serves as liaison to the compliance office, oversees team managers, handles equipment orders, ticket requests and assists in scouting. During his first year, he handled travel logistics, film exchange, video analysis of games and practices, as well as assisting with the organization of Campbell’s basketball camps, alumni events, on-campus official visits and statistical and analytics analysis. “Ander has a done an outstanding job as our assistant director of operations and will continue to do so in his expanded role as our director of operations,” said Kevin McGeehan, head men’s basketball coach at Campbell. A 2015 Birmingham-Southern graduate, Galfsky joined the Fighting Camel staff in May 2016 after serving the previous year as an athletics department graduate assistant at Auburn University. During his collegiate playing career at Birmingham-Southern, Galfsky helped lead the Panthers to a SCAC regular season championship and NCAA Division III national tournament berth in 2012. Kate Morrison Murphy ‘11 and Will Murphy ’11 were married in July 2017 at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Germantown, Tenn.
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CLASS NOTES
2012
Christian Nelson ‘12 recently graduated in May with dual degrees from two universities. He graduated with a bachelor of science in chemistry from Xavier University in New Orleans and a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from Tulane University.
2014
Elizabeth Dia ‘14 is studying history at the University of Chicago and will be graduating in the spring of 2018. She is writing her B.A. thesis on Latina women’s activism and community building in Chicago during the late 20th century. She recently completed a policy internship at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights where she researched law enforcement policies and practices which affect immigrant victims of crimes.
RSVP now to Young Alumni Week 2018 Young Alumni Week is right around the corner. RSVP today to the Alumni Office at calbertson@lausanneschool. com or 901-474-1029.
Maya Todd ’14 is ready for her senior year at Maryville University in St. Louis. This summer, she interned for the Houston Scrap Yard Dawgs in the National Pro Fastpitch League.
2015
Christine Odom ’15 spent the summer interning at General Mills in Los Angeles, Calif. Zoie Brown ‘15 is busy studying journalism and photography at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Check out her work @picsbyzoie.
Tuesday, January 2 at 11:45 a.m. in Elder Performing Arts Center Young Alumni Panel, featuring alumni from the classes of 2008 – 2018. Lunch to follow. Thursday, January 4 at 5:30 p.m. in Blackmon Gallery Young Alumni Reception, featuring works from the Alumni Art Exhibition on display through January 12.
Benjamin Staton ’15 is majoring in music composition at University of Memphis. He is staying busy working part-time at Woodland Presbyterian School and was recently awarded the Smit Composition Award, presented in memory of Professor Johannes Smit for excellence in composition.
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
Thursday, January 4 in the Main Gym Immediately following the Young Alumni Reception, wear your blue and gold and come out to support Lynx basketball. 6:00 p.m. Girls Varsity Basketball vs Margolin Hebrew Academy 7:30 p.m. Boys Varsity Basketball vs Margolin Hebrew Academy
Natalie Russell ’15 had a blast this summer interning in the communications office at Lausanne. She even participated in an office prank where they staged a photograph to tell a story.
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WE WANT TO
Please let us know about new jobs, marriages, children, travel opportunities, accolades, etc.
FROM YOU!
Email calbertson@lausanneschool.com
HEAR
Charlotte J. Albertson, Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Affairs
2016
Benjamin Calkins ’16 is majoring in economics at Northwestern University and loves how vibrant and fun it is in the city of Chicago. He hopes to see more Lausanne folks come join him at Northwestern soon!
Photograph by Elliot Slovis ‘14
Alumni Art Exhibition On view December 12, 2017–January 12, 2018 Lausanne’s Blackmon Gallery, Elder Performing Arts Center Lausanne is pleased to announce the return of our alumni art exhibition, featuring work by several of our talented alumni artists including Elliot Slovis ’14, Marcy Wurzburg Stagner ’02, Stephanie Eggleston Harrover ’61, Shelley D. Franklin ’88, Alexandra Corbett ’11, Rachel Hays Rieves ’83 and Alexandria Perel ’02. Please plan to join us for the exhibition reception Thursday, January 4 at 5:30 p.m. in Lausanne’s Blackmon Gallery. RSVP to the Alumni Office at 901-474-1029 or calbertson@lausanneschool.com.
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Tony Chen ’16 interned in the office of enforcement at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission this summer, an independent agency in D.C. that works on regulating interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas and oil. His project for the summer involved studying electric price indices, comparing electric transactions with data collected by FERC and ultimately trying to evaluate how well these indices reflect activity in wholesale electric markets. During his internship, he learned about the electricity, natural gas and oil markets, which combine scientific knowledge about energy production with economic knowledge about how these markets operate. Since his project was more on the technical side, he learned to use various software and programming languages in order to navigate databases and analyze the large amounts of data that FERC receives. Tony found it challenging but certainly rewarding, and the overall environment at FERC was geared towards learning and allowing interns to directly contribute to work currently being done at the Commission. Tony mentioned that the people in his division were so helpful in guiding him through his project and making sure he got the most out of this experience.
CLASS NOTES
Aynsley Hartney ’16 had a great first year at Clemson. She was excited to be back in Memphis this summer with an internship in Medtronic’s Spinal and Biologics in their research and development group. She stated that she gained incredible experience as an engineer and had the chance to meet some brilliant people. She was also very grateful to her mentor Heather Savage-Erickson for her constant support. Fernand Qvyjt ‘16 stopped by the alumni office to say hello and tell us how great his first year at Lake Forest College had been. He is majoring in both English and music and is involved in the theatre program. Afif Showkat ’16 has enjoyed his first year at Purdue and is majoring in pre-med. He also enjoys playing intramural soccer and is a member of the medical student organization.
Ashley Thomas ‘16 will be spending the next 18 months serving the Japan Tokyo Mission. She is looking forward to taking a brief break from college at Brigham Young University, her non-profit work towards holistic and mental health and regular media and technology use in order to devote all of her time to teaching and serving God’s children. Ashley is pictured here with her mom, Melanie, her father, Matthew, her sister, Lauren, her twin sister, Emily Thomas ’16, and her brother, Samuel Thomas ’14. Savannah Woods ’16 has had a busy gap year before heading to Dickinson College this fall. She was the assistant center director at Mathnasium where she just finished organizing and overseeing a STEM camp for students in downtown Memphis.
IN MEMORIUM:
Shayel Mohanty Patnaik ’14 passed away September 22, 2017 in St. Louis, Mo. He was a senior majoring in history at Washington University. While attending college, Shayel was committed to serving low-income children in the St. Louis region. He tutored elementary school students through the Each One Teach One program and prepared East St. Louis high school students for the college-application process through College Access Mentoring. He also served as a program assistant for the College Prep Program, which prepares talented, first-generation students from the St. Louis region for life on a college campus. A celebration of Shayel’s life took place on September 29 in Lausanne’s Elder Performing Arts Center. The memorial was attended by several members of the Lausanne community including faculty, staff, administration, alumni, students and parents. Shayel’s classmate, Jessica Reed ’14, released the following statement on behalf of their graduating class: “Very few people are able to connect with so many and build such strong and genuine relationships. Yet, Shayel was that person for us. Consequently, his laughter, smile, and energy will truly be missed. The motto for the Class of 2014 is ‘one for all and all for one.’ Shayel not only embodied this but fostered this in the connections he built between us every day. I hope we can continue to let this guide us personally, as a class collectively, and as a community at Lausanne.”
LAUSANNE FALL 2017
Members of the Class of 2014 are currently organizing efforts to remember the life of their classmate with a tree planting ceremony on campus in 2018. If you have any questions about this, please reach out to the Alumni Office at 901-474-1029 or calbertson@lausanneschool.com.
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CLASS REUNIONS AND
ALUMNI WEEKEND 2017 CLASS OF 1997 REUNION
ALUMNI WEEKEND 2017
The Class of 1997 held their 20th reunion in June here in Memphis. They started the weekend with dinner at the home of Blake Ballin ’97, enjoyed dinner at Local in Overton Square on Saturday night and closed out the weekend with a campus tour and mimosa brunch on Sunday with Lausanne administration, including Headmaster Stuart McCathie.
Lausanne’s Alumni Weekend is always one of our busiest and most exciting alumni events of the year! This year’s was no exception. We kicked off the weekend with an alumni reception on campus, followed by tailgating on the VIP bluff to watch our undefeated Lynx football team. Several alumni came out bright and early to run the Lausanne 5K and closed out their Saturday with reunion happy hours at local favorites ranging from Railgarten to Owen Brennan’s. The weekend concluded with the Rise and Shine Alumni Brunch. Lausanne was also excited to host a special convocation for class of 1977 graduate, Mary Ruth McKee Hunt, who was joined by her classmates and received her diploma at a special Upper School convocation. The Lausanne Alumni Board also held their annual retreat and began planning the exciting programs and initiatives for the upcoming year.
ARE YOU
REUNION READY? Several classes ending in 8’s are already hard at work planning their reunions for next year. Want to update your contact information so you get on the invite list or learn more about your reunion weekend schedule? Contact the Alumni Office at calbertson@lausanneschool.com or 901-474-1029.
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Building meaningful relationships is central to our mission, and they’re forged everyday at Lausanne.
Marketing & Communications Office 1381 West Massey Road | Memphis, TN 38120 www.lausanneschool.com
Leia Trautman ‘30 and Alex Russell ‘30 have a fun night honoring New Orleans at the annual SK Artists at Play. The class of 2030 and their parents enjoyed a cajun food dinner before heading off to the Lower School art room and music room to celebrate the arts.
NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID MEMPHIS, TN PERMIT NO. 1419