G R A D U AT E S P O T L I G H T S
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THE LEGACY OF MRS. THOMPSON
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ANNUAL REPORT
THE MAGAZINE OF LAUSANNE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL / fall 2012 Vol. 5 Issue 2
Empowering individuals to seek their own journeys
Fr om th e He a d m a s t e r
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Dear Lausanne community, In general, lower school students are often quite dependent throughout their elementary years and only later move toward independence in their middle and upper school years. While it is true that our youngest students begin their academic experiences similarly, our Lausanne Lower School teachers provide a nurturing and supportive environment that both encourages and challenges students to become independent quite early. Lausanne students are expected to learn to self-advocate, to learn to ask questions, to learn to do research, to learn to collaborate with their peers and to learn to take risks. From the beginning of their experiences at Lausanne, students are creatively empowered to seek their own journeys. In Middle School, we further the individual journey and pathways that reflect self, individual passion and interest through independent self-reliance. Students new to our Middle and Upper Schools are often quite surprised by the level of independence experienced here. They call it freedom. We call it responsibility. By the time students reach the Upper School, they know how to build networks of support and information by seeking connections with their peers and the faculty. This builds a truly collegiate atmosphere for academic and personal growth. The interdependence of the Upper School community of learners is empowered through mutual support, dialogue and commitment. The seeds of interdependence are sown in the Lower School, take shape in the Middle School and blossom fully during the Upper School years. This empowering of the individual gives each Lausanne graduate the skills and attributes necessary to explore and find success wherever their interests take them. The interdependence of our school community is mirrored by the interdependence within our school institution. Without the caring support of our alumni, parents past and present, grandparents, faculty and staff, as demonstrated later in this magazine in the pages of the Annual Report, we would not be able to plant those seeds. Indeed, our collective strength and support not only empowers the individual journey but also Lausanne’s.
M A GAZINE
fall
2012
DEPARTMENTS 1 2 4 16 18 45
From the Editor Looking Back Lausanne Today The Road Ahead Class Notes Save the Dates
F E A T U R E 25 Thank You! Annual Report 2011–2012
On the cover: Lausanne students explore the Galápagos Islands, where they conducted extensive studies of the geography, geology, flora and fauna this summer.
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
Laura S. Trott Director of Marketing and Communications ltrott@lausanneschool.com 901.474.1003 ART DIRECTOR
Alison Johnson Charles CLASS NOTES AND ALUMNI NEWS
Jennifer Saxton Director of Alumni Relations jsaxton@lausanneschool.com 901.474.1008
We thank you for your support.
ANNUAL REPORT
Kate Shelton Director of Annual Giving kshelton@lausanneschool.com 901.474.1029 PHOTOGRAPHY
Brian Johnson Laura S. Trott Michael Christopher Assistant Headmaster — School Advancement
Stuart McCathie Headmaster
During the culminating activity for our second-grade robotics project, Stuart McCathie observes one of Lausanne’sLsmall-group 2 A U S Astudent N Npresentations. E fall 20
Lausanne Collegiate School 1381 W. Massey Rd., Memphis, TN 38120 901.474.1000 www.lausanneschool.com
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From the Editor
Lausanne: Providing priceless and irrevocably amazing moments… This summer a group of Lausanne students and their faculty guides, Dr. Annette Teepe, Wayne Kelley and Mavis Negroni-Foosaner, followed in the footsteps of Charles Darwin as they explored the Galápagos Islands, conducting extensive studies of the geography, geology, flora and fauna of the area as well as important field science research to protect threatened species. They were some of the last explorers to see Lonesome George, the only surviving Pinta tortoise, before the sub-species became extinct with his death 10 days after their visit. Reflecting on collaborating with local students during the trip, Schyler Cole ’14 (pictured above) explained, it was “an example of the life I want to live as a global citizen. I relished the mutual effort for understanding and connection. This moment was truly priceless and irrevocably amazing.” The Galápagos summer science study was an example of the unique educational adventures available to students at Lausanne Collegiate School throughout the year. From rigorous self study and field research challenges to teamwork and cultural exchanges, the deliberate pedagogical design of this course was exemplary of The Lausanne Way and our faculty’s collegial approach to student-centered learning.
It’s hard to miss the energy that emanates from our school with exciting stories such as this one, students cheerfully greeting peers and adults alike as they walk the hallways, lively discussions and projects taking place in classrooms, healthy competition on our playing fields, moving performances from the stage and innovative ideas springing forth throughout the day. The wonderful diversity of thought, opinion, experience and culture in our community strengthens the pursuit of our shared vision that can be traced back to our earliest days as a school (“If you can see it, you can do it!”, page 2). With each graduating class and update from our alumni, we celebrate the Lausanne educational process that empowers individuals to seek their own journeys. Our feature section of this magazine issue provides a glimpse into the experiences of four recent graduates and the opportunities that await our current and future students (page 4). As we sent our recent graduates off to college this fall prepared for life in a global environment, we delighted in the anticipation of a new school year, welcoming back to campus all the familiar faces as well as our new students and faculty (page 12). In August, we surpassed our previous enrollment record of 809, set the year prior, and opened the
school year with 850 students, retaining 96% of our students from the year before. With 55 different countries now represented by our student body, we added six new flags to the ceiling of the newly refurbished Tully Dining Hall. Students are thrilled with the renovations that include an expansive new serving area, carpeting featuring our school colors of blue and gold, better lighting, wood paneling and windows highlighting an original stained-glass piece familiar to many of our alumni. Thanks to the generosity of our annual giving donors (page 25), this project was complete for the first day of school. Construction on the alumni dining hall addition should be complete later this fall. Please make plans to come see Tully Dining Hall for yourself. Visit our campus during any school day or during a special event listed in the back of this magazine; I promise you’ll leave energized and inspired by our students, faculty and The Lausanne Way!
Best regards,
Laura S. Trott
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Looking Ba c k
“If you can see it, you can do it!” The Legacy of Mrs. Nelse R. Thompson Lausanne Collegiate School would not be where it is today without the support of Lausanne parents. One particular parent, Mrs. Nelse R. Thompson, played a significant role in the founding of Lausanne as well as its achieving academic excellence. Each day, Lausanne students benefit from the fortitude of this inspiring woman with keen organizational skills and a gift for problem-solving, who readily shared her passion for education, global mindedness and a staunch belief in “to whom much is given, much is required.”
A friend to Lausanne founders Mrs. Emma DeSassaure Jett and Ms. Bessie Statler, Mrs. Thompson provided the organizational meeting space and encouragement to establish Lausanne School for Girls in 1926. Determined to provide her daughters with an equal if not superior education to the young men of Memphis, Mrs. Thompson strongly encouraged Lausanne’s founders to offer classes in kindergarten through 12th grade rather than the originally planned 1st–6th grade structure. Although the school had survived the Great Depression, as Lausanne’s founders aged, there was danger that the school might close with their deaths. Several parents and teachers pulled together to gain non-profit status for Lausanne and to expand by renting the former Pentecost-Garrison School on Union Avenue, but their efforts did not bring financial stability. When Mrs. Thompson returned from an extended European trip, she quickly stepped in to resolve the failing rental situation as well as to address a delay in renewing the school’s accreditation, which further threatened Lausanne’s future. The original board resigned and Mrs. Thompson assumed the primary leadership role for setting the school aright, including the hiring of Lausanne’s next three heads of school: Mrs. Myrtle Cobb, Mr. Walter Coppedge and Mr. Thomas Eppley. She worked closely with faculty and staff to reaccredit Lausanne and update the school’s curriculum. She also was critical in helping the school to purchase the current campus site on Massey as well as to raise the funds to construct a greatly expanded physical plant. A “professional volunteer” with worldwide connections, Mrs. Thompson used her influential circle of friends to raise awareness for the school by helping invite and host renowned
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community and world leaders for Lausanne’s Distinguished Speakers Series in the 1960’s. Some of these guests included Aldous Huxley, author of “Brave New World” and Margaret Mead, professor and American cultural anthropologist. Mrs. Thompson’s granddaughter Mrs. Nelse Thompson Sharer explains, “She wanted to present Lausanne as the host of the most important people in the world that she could get a hold of.” After being born at a Minnesota trading post and raised in various places across the country, young Nelse R. Thompson’s perspectives had been greatly broadened by living with her world-traveling, benefactor uncle, “Sloo” Caldwell. It was he who had brought her to live in Memphis and instilled in her a determination that students should be aware of world events and the repercussions on local communities and not focused primarily on societal issues such as what to wear to prom. She was known to have stated on more than one occasion, “Ladies should not be advocated to be debutantes or prom queens in ball gowns. Don’t educate them and then dress them up like dolls and play with them like marionettes.” Not only was Mrs. Thompson a visionary for the school but most importantly she saw the opportunities available to each of its students. “If you can see it, you can do it,” explains her granddaughter. “She knew her worth as a human being and valued herself and the people around her. She knew how capable people could be and created strong expectations that we were supposed to be good people and think of how we could be good to each other.” Lausanne alumna Lila Dulaney Gardner ’57 explains, “(Mrs. Thompson) had an enormous influence on my education, cultural life and awareness. She was way ahead of her times and
Mr. Ed Jappy (former chairman of the board of trustees) and Mrs. Nelse R. Thompson discussing the new dormitory to be built on campus, which was named in honor of Mrs. Thompson. The Upper Middle School building and Elder Performing Arts Center now stand in that location. Mr. T. Herbert Darnell, past president of Rite-Way Products Co. donated this portrait (center) of his longtime friend Mrs. Thompson to Lausanne in 1961 so that “the savior of the school should be remembered by more than a mere name.” The presentation was made at a dinner celebrating Mrs. Thompson’s gift of $40,000 to help kick off a capital campaign to build a 10-classroom addition to Lausanne’s current campus. Upon completion, the dormitory and classrooms were named Thompson Hall honoring not only Mrs. Thompson’s monetary gift but also her lifetime of service to Lausanne including housing many of Lausanne’s boarding students throughout its boarding school years. Mrs. Nelse Thompson Sharer, granddaughter of Mrs. Nelse R. Thompson, was on campus in May to present Jeremy Reisman ’12 with the service award given annually in her grandmother’s honor.
not bound by what others might think about her as a woman. She could be pugnacious to get through what she was trying to accomplish and you definitely sat up straighter in her presence.”
Mrs. Thompson’s legacy continues at Lausanne today; our current vision statement reads “Lausanne Collegiate School will gain a national reputation for providing a superior education and for taking a leading role in promoting positive educational change. In particular, we will be noted for providing differentiated instructions for students, integrating technology in the classroom, promoting independent schools as public resources, and embracing diversity of race, religion, class and learning styles.” Walk through the hallways at Lausanne any day to see this vision being realized. For example, read more about Lausanne’s recent reception of a $50K challenge grant by the E.E. Ford Foundation or make plans to attend the annual presentation of the Nelse R. Thompson award given to Lausanne students who strive to look outside of their environments to see how their actions may affect and ultimately benefit others and the community at large. The award given in her name “highlights that the compensation from any project is participating in the process, creating connections between people and broadening perspectives,” shares her granddaughter. “Her community awareness was an evolution,” and she rose to the occasion like any good student of the world and Lausanne.
Lausanne Awarded $50K Challenge Grant by E.E. Ford Foundation Lausanne Collegiate School is proud to announce that it is the recipient of a $50,000 challenge grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation, based in Portland, Maine, to establish a new teacher-to-teacher mentoring program. Continuous implementation of and support for strategic planning, strengthened admission requirements, highly qualified faculty, the use of technology as an essential tool for teaching, the inauguration of the International Baccalaureate Programme and the construction of new facilities that emulate a collegiate atmosphere have resulted in steady enrollment growth at Lausanne throughout the recession. Lausanne’s globally diverse student body of 850+ students (47% are people of color and 30% of students or their parents come from 55 countries) continues to distinguish itself in college placement, academic achievement, arts and athletic performance. Sharing best practices, this new mentoring program will include: workshops in identity and vision development, strategic planning, technology assessment and planning and curriculum alignment. Two critical components will include creating opportunities for Lausanne’s faculty to connect with faculty at other schools while also providing aid to the area’s public school system. While the relationship will be one of mentor to mentee, Lausanne’s faculty will gain insight into their own teaching through observations of other classrooms and conversations with teachers from a wide variety of schools and backgrounds. In order to receive the $50,000 grant from the E.E. Ford Foundation, Lausanne must raise an additional $100,000 through donor gifts. To learn more about the development of this new peer-to-peer initiative and how to lend your financial support to this effort, please contact Assistant Headmaster for Advancement Michael Christopher, mchristopher@lausanneschool.com or 901-474-1045.
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Lausan n e To d a y
Empowering Individuals to Seek Their Own Journeys From pre-kindergarten to International Baccalaureate diplomas, from ivy leagues to state universities, from athletics to arts, Lausanne students are empowered to seek their own journeys. The diversity of the following four students’ experiences at Lausanne as well as their individual college searches exemplifies the range of opportunities available to Lausanne graduates.
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Abshir Esse Cornell University
• Applied to 26 colleges • Strong grades, extracurricular and volunteerism activities • Joined Lausanne student body in 8th grade • Advanced Placement (AP) classes
How many schools did you apply to? I applied to twenty-six schools. Yes, you read correctly; I said twenty-six! I wanted to be sure I gave consideration to a wide variety of schools. I applied and was admitted to large, state schools such as the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; research universities such as Carnegie Mellon; and small, liberal arts colleges such as Rhodes. I have to give a huge thanks to Mrs. Thigpen and Mrs. O’Neill for their counsel during the college admissions process. They helped me successfully navigate all of the different universities’ deadlines and requirements. Why did you choose Cornell? Choosing one college out of so many fine institutions, each with their unique benefits, was not easy. Ultimately, I wanted to choose the college where I felt I would be both intellectually stimulated and challenged to the utmost, just as I had been during my five years as a student at Lausanne. So, I chose Cornell, because I felt Cornell’s rigorous curriculum, the accomplished faculty and the prime internship opportunities would give me the best opportunity to reach my career goals. Why was Lausanne the choice for you and your family? My parents chose Lausanne because they felt Lausanne shared their belief that it is important for students to interact with students from different backgrounds and cultures, with different thoughts and beliefs. Lausanne continues to be a “city on a hill,” serving as an example to other schools of the benefit of a diverse student body to the learning process. The Lausanne community is exceptionally diverse, and the one unifying element is the students’, teachers’ and administrators’ commitments to learning. What will you miss about Lausanne? Without a doubt, I will miss my friends and traditions such as senior appreciation week, but I think I will miss my teachers the most. One of Lausanne’s greatest attributes is the bond between students and teachers. Although we boast such an esteemed faculty, where else do teachers make videos like the “Phaculty Pom” video (available on Lausanne’s YouTube channel). Teachers at Lausanne such as Dr. Parsons, Mr. Brewster, Mr. Holdeman and Mrs. Planchon, or “Madame” as she is lovingly known, have greatly impacted my life through their encouragement, their humor and their ability to give me that extra push when tackling tough assignments or concepts. What are your plans for the future? My junior year of college, I plan to apply for Cornell’s Johnson School of Management five-year bachelor’s/master’s in business administration program. I then plan to begin a career in business as a management consultant for a “Big 3” professional services firm such as McKinsey & Company.
The class of 2012 on graduation day; Harper Landau, Abshir Esse, Lyndy Burnett; David You, Abshir Esse, Bode Faleye, Tyler Epps, Austin Curland
What made Abshir stand out as a college applicant? Former college advisor Tela Thigpen shares, “Abshir is a unique student in the fact that everything that he does is so organized, professional and efficient. It comes through in his writing and extracurricular activities. He has an old soul and is much wiser beyond his years than he even realizes. When the schools started seeing his applications, they saw that this is a young man who could eventually change the world.”
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Joe Howard Dartmouth University
• 36 ACT • International Baccalaureate • Salutatorian • Cross Country, Male Athlete of the Year 2012 • Heritage Club – Attending Lausanne since the Cottage (early childhood)
What were you looking for in a college/university? Class size, academic standing and the resources/freedom to major in anything that might interest me were all deciding factors on which colleges/universities I would consider attending. Every college I was considering applying to (there were seven) has class sizes of 1000 students per class or less—with the smallest having a mere 200 students per class, and all are highly successful colleges on merit of retention rate, rankings and the success/productivity of their graduates. I only applied to Dartmouth, and I did so early decision, which is binding. Why Dartmouth? I chose Dartmouth for its liberal arts curriculum and small class size, approximately 1000 students per class. With the academic quality of its students combined with the academic rigor of its courses, the choice was a simple one. What were some of your best experiences at Lausanne? The interactions with my teachers have meant the most. I had an incredible 6th grade English teacher, Mr. Josh Clark, who allotted time so that we could discuss novels, ranging from “Oryx and Crake” to “The Great Gatsby,” in a more focused environment than could be found in class. Another experience, which I would have to rank as one of the best, was being disqualified from the regional championship; it became the impetus for a year of grueling training that led to being the number one team in the region. What will you miss about Lausanne? I will miss the teachers, for they are excellent, and the coaches at Lausanne. Though I only had one coach for the entirety of my time in high school, I have known several and have always been impressed with their devotion to sport and team. What are your plans for the future? I intend to pursue either a professional degree or Ph.D. in a scientific field. What made Joe stand out as a college applicant? Former college advisor Tela Thigpen shares, “The combination of Joe’s great test scores, a 36 on his ACT and a rigorous IB program made Joe stand out to Dartmouth during the early decision process. His enthusiasm for running showed the intense level of commitment and dedication he is willing to give to whatever challenges he approaches.”
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Lyndy Burnett University of Virginia
• Jappe Award Recipient, awarded to the senior who best represents the ideals of Lausanne • High test scores • International Baccalaureate • Applied to 11 schools • Heritage Club – Attending Lausanne since JK
Joe Howard; senior run through on the first day of school; the Heritage Club; Koshy George, also the class of 2012, and Lyndy Burnett; Dr. Tom New, Mike Cody, Fred Blackmon, Stuart McCathie; Lyndy Burnett
Why did you choose University of Virginia? I was looking for a place where I would have the opportunity to explore a lot of different areas of study as well as a place that would provide the perfect balance of a challenging academic curriculum and a dynamic social life. I chose UVa because it was the perfect fit for me. UVa is a place of respected tradition and extreme school spirit in addition to a place of excellent academics. At UVa I have the option to study anything and everything I could possibly want to study. I plan to study engineering, but am currently undecided with regard to my concentration. I also plan to explore other areas of study, including business and architecture. Why was Lausanne the choice for you and your family? After moving from Florida in October (1998), my family was looking for a private school that would provide an easy transition for my sister and me. Lausanne seemed to best fit because it was a school with a lot of families from all over the country and the world, that was PK–12 and that provided the opportunity to get involved in many extracurricular activities. What were some of your best experiences at Lausanne? Some of my best experiences were from Lausanne sports teams (varsity lacrosse and soccer) and yearly class activities. When on the field, I gained the opportunity to really get to know the people I went to school with, whether they were my classmates, upperclassmen or underclassmen. Also some of my fondest memories are from class activities and going to events with my classmates including sports fests, junior-senior banquets and winter basketball games. I am going to miss the community atmosphere that exists at Lausanne, and most of all I will miss being able to walk down a hallway and know every student and teacher’s name. What made Lyndy stand out as a college applicant? Former college advisor Tela Thigpen shares, “When we went through Lyndy’s college process, she was so humble about her success and her abilities. She knew what she wanted but didn’t know where to go to get it. We spent a lot of time doing comparisons and contrasts of schools. Ultimately we figured out that the University of Virginia was going to give her everything she needed to set her up for success in an area of the country that she can still be familiar with and close to family. She’s going into engineering as a woman, and I’m certain that they are just as excited to see her coming to Virginia as we were to have her here at Lausanne.”
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Isabella Basco Wake Forest University
• “Outstanding Featured Actress” Orpheum Awards 2012 • International Baccalaureate • Applied to 9 Schools • Heritage Club – Attending Lausanne since SK
Why did you choose Wake Forest? After being a student at Lausanne for several years, I had grown to love the small classes, one-on-one relationships with my teachers and the intimate community and bond that the students all shared. However, I also wanted to experience multiple study abroad options, great sports and an array of organizations and extracurricular activities. One reason I loved Wake Forest was because it offered a small atmosphere with superb academics, yet the school was very “big-time” in that Wake Forest is nationally known for all of their Division I sports and participation in the ACC. I felt like I was getting the best of both worlds. What made Issa stand out as a college applicant? Former college advisor Tela Thigpen shares, “In addition to Issa’s strong academic record including participation in the IB, her outside accomplishments as a writer, actress, singer and leader catapulted her acceptance to Wake Forest. Issa applied “testoptional” to Wake Forest, meaning in lieu of ACT/SAT scores, they considered only her academic and extended resume. Wake Forest saw in Issa everything that everyone at Lausanne has always seen.” Why was Lausanne the choice for you and your family? Lausanne was the choice for my family because we were looking for an independent school that could offer me the best education and the personal attention that could benefit me well in the classroom and the future. Another plus of Lausanne was that it was so diverse! As a Filipino-American young woman with parents who emigrated from the Philippines, I loved that I didn’t feel so out of place. Everyone at Lausanne comes from different walks of life yet we all share the same love of our school and community. What were some of your best experiences at Lausanne? Some of my best experiences at Lausanne had to be in the theatre. I discovered my love of the performing arts when I did my first musical, “The Wizard of Oz,” in the 7th grade. Since then, I have starred in multiple productions and even directed a one-act my senior year! Through Lausanne theatre, I became a better actress and singer and discovered talents I didn’t even think I had! It was a definite confidence booster and I met so many talented, hardworking people that I will call friends for the rest of my life. What are your plans for the future? I have so many hopes and dreams for the future. Lausanne was a huge factor in making me very driven and goal-oriented because the school always pushed me to strive for my very best. I hope to either attend law or medical school after graduating from Wake Forest. My dream is to pursue a noble calling and make positive changes in my community. As long as I know I can be of help to something, I know I have lived a life worth living.
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Class of 2012 College Acceptances & Matriculation *Matriculation Agnes Scott College* American University* Appalachian State University Arizona State University* Auburn University Bates College Baylor University Birmingham-Southern College Boston University Brandeis University Brevard College Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University* Christian Brothers University* Clark Atlanta University Clark University Clemson University College of Charleston Colorado State University* Cornell University* Dartmouth College* Davidson College Denison University Drexel University Duke University* Elon University* Emerson College Emory University Flagler College Florida A&M University Florida State University Freed-Hardeman University* Furman University Georgetown University
George Washington University Georgia Institute of Technology* High Point University* Hofstra University Indiana University (Bloomington) Indiana University Purdue (Indianapolis) Iowa State University Kalamazoo College Kansas State University* Kent State University* Lewis & Clark College LIM College* Louisiana State University Loyola Marymount University Loyola University (New Orleans)* Macalester College Maryville University Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) Middle Tennessee State University Millsaps College Mississippi State University* Morehouse College* New York University New York University; Tisch School of the Arts* North Carolina A&T University North Carolina State University Notre Dame de Namur University* Oglethorpe University* Ohio State University Ohio Wesleyan University Oxford College of Emory Pennsylvania State University Philadelphia University* Pomona College
Purdue University Queens University of Charlotte * Radford University Rhodes College* Rice University Rollins College Roosevelt College Saint Louis University* Sewanee: The University of the South* Southern Methodist University* Southwestern University Spelman College* Syracuse University Texas A&M University Texas Christian University Transylvania University Tulane University* Tusculum College Union University University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa)* University of Arizona* University of Arkansas University of California (Berkeley) University of California (Davis) University of California (Los Angeles) University of California (San Diego)* University of California (Santa Barbara) University of Colorado (Boulder)* University of Denver* University of Georgia* University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) University of Maryland (College Park)* University of Memphis* University of Miami
University of Michigan University of Mississippi University of Missouri (Columbia)* University of Nevada (Reno) University of North Carolina (Asheville) University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) University of North Carolina (Wilmington) University of Notre Dame University of Oregon University of Richmond University of South Carolina University of South Florida* University of Tampa University of Tennessee (Chattanooga) University of Tennessee (Knoxville)* University of Texas (Austin) University of the Pacific* University of Vermont* University of Virginia* Vassar College* Villanova University Wake Forest University* Washington & Lee University Washington University (St. Louis)* Webster University Western Carolina University* Western Kentucky University Willamette University Wofford College Worcester Polytechnic Institute* Xavier University (Louisiana)* Xavier University (Ohio) Young Judea Gap Year Program*
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Lausanne Highlights Illustrator Loren Long
ating In celebration of individually writing, illustr l Schoo r Lowe , books own their hing publis and ts paren their and students in grades 1 through 4 and n ntatio prese al were treated to a speci conversation with author and illustrator Loren Long, who illustrated Madonna’s book, “Mr. book, “Of Peabody’s Apples,” and Barack Obama’s 2012) (May .” hters Daug my to Thee I Sing: A Letter
Dany Hamze ’23 reads his book
to his mother, Hala.
Yout h Chinese Language Profi ciency Test
Lausanne’s third and fourth grade students participatin g in the Youth Chinese Language Proficien cy Test (YCT) administered this spring by the Confucius Institute eac h received a passing score of 120 or higher. Their average score was a 179 out of a possible 200, and three students made perfect scores. The students particip ating in the optional proficiency test hav e benefited from three to four years of daily Mandarin with Mrs. Sar ah Li. (August 2012)
Rishab Jain ’18 and Roshan Natarajan ’18 took first and second place in the state for their achievements on the National Spanish Exam, each receiving a monetary prize in addition to state recognition. Of the 36 students who opted to participate in taking this online exam, five students ranked gold (scoring better than 95% of all other participants at their level in the country), eight received silver (students scoring higher than 85-94% of participants nationally) and nine earned bronze (students scoring higher than 75% to 84% of other participants). (May 2012)
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Tennessee Governor’s Schools National Spanish Exam Achievements
nne Collegiate Seven rising juniors and seniors at Lausa rnor’s Schools Gove ssee School attended various Tenne s to ologie techn ging emer to arts ranging from the . more many and s studie al ation intern
Marisa Rozzi ‘14, Rebecc a Zielinski ‘14 and Rishika Singh ‘14 took first place in the State of Tennessee History Day com petition in the senior group exhibits category wit h their exhibit titled “The Beautiful and Damned : The Flapper Cultural Revolution” and represent ed the State of Tennessee at the National Competition held on the University of Maryland campus outside of Washington, D.C. (April and June 2012)
Pro gram (Du ke TIP) Duke University Talent Identificatio n qualified to
State of Tennessee History Day
grade students (now in eighth) who Seventeen of the thirty-seven seventh d on t Identification Program (Duke TIP) base participate in the Duke University Talen or ACT SAT the take to opted th tests CTP4 grade ERB outstanding achievement on their 6 state for fied rs. Thirteen of those students quali college entrance exams as seventh grade on at ates gradu ol scho national average of recent high recognition, scoring at or above the to fied quali ts cipan parti h searc t Only 36% of all talen least one part of the ACT or the SAT. ) (April 2012 attend a state recognition ceremony.
“Broad way or Bust”
Sabaa Sharma ’13 made her natio nally televised debut on the PBS-prod uced documentary “Broadway or Bust.” The series followed her experience from receiving the award for high school musical best actress by The Orpheum for her role as Ti Moone in “Once on this Islan d” to New York for a week of workshop s in preparation for the National High School Musical Theater Awards, popu larly known as The Jimmy Awards. Lausanne , nominated for 12 awards by The Orpheum, also received awards for best chorus and best featured actre ss, Issa Basco ’12 for “Once on this Islan d.” (May and September 2012)
Health Occupat ions Students of America
After winning at the regional level for Healt h Occupations Students of America (HOSA), Lausanne Collegiate Schoo l students Zack Joerg ’14, Keyuree Satam ’14, Alexis Stein ‘14, Monika Jain ’14 and Chisom Oraedu ’13, competed in the state confe rence. Our students placed in the top five in two categories. (April 2012)
“Poof! Bang!”
Oroma Womeodu ’14 won the Divisi on II-A regionals in tennis for the second year in a row and was runner-up in the state finals.
student Alex Teepe ’14 Upper School chemistry aste” for Lausanne’s thp created “elephant too annual “Poof! Bang!” the ing dur s second grader . Alex was one of five chemistry demonstration dents who competed in Lausanne chemistry stu iad at the University of mp Oly the 2012 Chemistry the first time, Rebecca Memphis. Competing for rd place and Marisa Rozzi Zielinski ‘14 took 3 th peting for the second ‘14 took 4 place. Com k 2nd place and Alex too year, Maria Xie ‘13 rd ward ‘12 tied for 3 Teepe ‘14 and Joe Ho this to ts studen place. Lausanne sent five divisions we took five of two in and n itio pet com y 2012) the top eight spots. (Ma
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Preparing Students for College and Life in a Global Environment After conducting national and international searches, Lausanne is happy to welcome several new teachers to our school community as well as our new head of Upper School. With a wealth of diverse experiences, our newest faculty members have embraced the values of The Lausanne Way and gladly joined their peers in preparing each of our students for college and life in a global environment.
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Mrs. Fauune Brown, Upper School physics
Ms. Lauren Huddleston, sixth grade language arts and Middle School girls lacrosse coach
Señora Maria Rosario “Chary” Jara, Upper School Spanish I and II honors
Mrs. Melody Kelly, second grade
Mrs. Michelle Martin, eighth grade science
Ms. Michelle Steinkamp, fourth grade
Mrs. Fauune Brown, Upper School physics teacher and co-sponsor of the robotics team, has a Bachelor of Science in physics, with a minor in mathematics, from the University of Memphis and a master’s of science in biomedical engineering from the University of Tennessee, Memphis. Mrs. Brown was the head of science for the majority of her tenure at Hutchison School. As a graduate student, Mrs. Brown won the student design competition awarded by RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America) for a pool mobility device for children with disabilities. With an early interest in air and space travel, she had the opportunity as an undergraduate student to work for NASA at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. studying solar flare data collected from the GRO (Gamma Ray Observatory) satellite. She is passionate about STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and careers for all students and welcomes the opportunity to discuss this topic. Ms. Lauren Huddleston, sixth grade language arts and Middle School girls lacrosse coach, has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and English and a master’s in education in learning and instruction, both from Vanderbilt University. An honors student, Ms. Huddleston also studied abroad at Universita` degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy. Her most recent teaching stints were at Meigs Magnet Middle School and Centennial High School, both in Nashville, Tenn. She has taught ACT prep classes for the Princeton Review and has worked at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth summer program teaching dystopian and utopian literature. Ms.
Huddleston has a love of cooking and baking and is looking forward to volunteering at the Memphis Ronald McDonald House now that she has returned to her hometown of Memphis. Señora Maria Rosario “Chary” Jara, Upper School Spanish I and II honors, was born and raised in Sevilla, Spain and began her serious study of English after expanding a two-month trip in London, England to a two-year stay. She has a master’s degree in English language and literature from the University of Sevilla, Spain as well as a master’s degree in romance languages (Spanish) from the University of Memphis. In addition, she has an endorsement in English as a second language. She worked for Memphis City Schools for 12 years and was also a parttime Spanish instructor at the University of Memphis for three years. She was voted “Best Spanish Teacher” at Raleigh-
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Egypt High and also received a certificate from the Congressional Youth Leadership Council in recognition of honoring highachieving students by mentoring them. Señora Jara travels to Spain each summer to visit family and to study the most upto-date knowledge and teaching methods for world languages.
Auburndale in Cordova, Tenn. In addition, she served as a teacher at Lichterman Nature Center in Memphis and has coached softball at Crichton College, Rhodes College and St. Benedict. When coaching at Crichton College, at 22 years old, she was the youngest female head coach in the country.
Mrs. Melody Kelly, second grade, comes to Lausanne from Sacred Heart School in Southaven, where she taught second, fifth and eighth grades over seven years and was the teacher of the year in 2008. Her supervisor describes her as “a phenomenal teacher, with impeccable organizational skills, a wonderful attitude and excellent relationships with her students and colleagues.” Mrs. Kelly graduated from New Mexico State University with a bachelor’s degree in English. She earned a Master of Education from the University of Oklahoma. Her goal is to begin working on her doctorate soon. A voracious reader of all genres, Mrs. Kelly considers it an important responsibility to stay current on children’s literature so she can make great books available to her students while inspiring their love of reading. After living for three years in England, Mrs. Kelly says she is “an avid Anglophile, loving all things British.” She and her family even have an authentic red British phone box in their backyard.
Ms. Michelle Steinkamp, fourth grade, formerly taught fifth grade at Farmington Elementary in Germantown, where she was described as “creative, professional, flexible and a natural in the classroom.” A graduate of The University of Memphis, Ms. Steinkamp majored in integrative studies K-6. Ms. Steinkamp is CPRcertified and an avid runner. Her favorite philanthropic efforts have included working with the Girl Scouts of America.
Mrs. Michelle Martin, eighth grade science, earned her Bachelor of Science in biology from Middle Tennessee University, where she played Division I softball. While completing her master’s in biology from the University of Memphis, she worked in the research department at the Memphis Zoo with a focus on assisted reproductive technologies in amphibians. She spent two years at the University of Memphis as an instructor of science labs and also taught high school classes as an instructor of biology, physical science and chemistry at St. Benedict at
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Ms. Faye Tao is the second Mandarin teacher to join the faculty staff for Middle School Mandarin, expanding the program to include seventh and eighth graders. Ms. Tao grew up in Tianjin, China, which is very close to Beijing. She received her bachelor’s degree in English from Tianjin Normal University in China in 2009 and later received her teacher’s certificate. After graduating, Ms. Tao was hired by the Confucius Institute to teach Mandarin in the United States. She has worked for the Greeneville City Schools in east Tennessee as well as St. Andrew’s College in Canada. With a great love of travel, Ms. Tao has already visited all 50 of the United States and both east and west provinces in Canada. Before leaving China, she received an Outstanding Volunteer award for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and also volunteered for FIFA in 2010. Mrs. Robin Trusty, eighth grade algebra I & honors, earned her bachelor’s degree in education (magna cum laude) from the University of Memphis and a master’s in educational leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University. Mrs.
Trusty has taught in the Shelby County School System at Arlington Middle School, Kate Bond Elementary and Houston Middle School and was awarded the following honors during her years in the classroom: Outstanding New Teacher of the Year, Tennessee Honorary Lifetime PTA Member Award and recipient of the Arlington Educational Foundation Grant, with which she bought algebra manipulatives to help her algebra students understand multi-step equations, fractions and probability. In addition to teaching, she has served as a math tutor and also started her own embroidery business. She is deeply involved in Relay for Life and is looking forward to completing her doctorate in education. Mrs. Melinda Wilder, Upper School math, grew up in South Korea attending a small international school. Her undergraduate schooling was at Southwest Baptist University in Missouri with a major in mathematics. She earned her master’s in mathematics education from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and has continued to be inspired through distance learning courses, conferences and workshops for educators, travel experiences and parenting. In 18 years of teaching, Mrs. Wilder has worked at the International School of Kenya; the American International School of Abuja in Nigeria; Taejon Christian International School in Korea; the Country Day School in Costa Rica; the American Community School in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; the American Cooperative School in La Paz, Bolivia; and Stanwood Middle School, Washington. She has taken schoolorganized trips to Geneva, Switzerland; Bangkok and Chang Mai, Thailand; and London, UK and traveled to conferences in Bangkok, Thailand; Seoul, Korea; and Manila, the Philippines. For most of their longer
Ms. Faye Tao, Middle School Mandarin
Mrs. Robin Trusty, eighth grade algebra I & honors
Mrs. Melinda Wilder, Upper School math
THE LAUSANNE WAY • We create a joyful and challenging learning process. • We encourage continual self-reflection. • We provide opportunities to succeed. • We embrace global mindedness. • We forge meaningful relationships. • We build character through service to others. • We empower individuals to seek their own journeys. Dr. Ron Wilder, head of Upper School
vacations, the Wilders have returned to their home in southwest Ireland or visited family in Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Ron Wilder, Lausanne’s new head of Upper School, joins the administration after a national and international search and the retirement of former head of Upper School Dr. Thomas W. New. Dr. Wilder has spent the last 20 years in overseas educational posts as teacher, high school principal or head of secondary education. He has vast experience with both Advanced Placement and the International Baccalaureate (IB), including introducing the IB to a school in South Korea while serving as principal and most recently at the International School of Kenya, where he was deeply involved in the re-authorization of the IB. The International School of Kenya has similar traits to Lausanne, including a
Mr. Terrance Wilson, Upper School English
student body of 840 students from over 75 nationalities. They also share Lausanne’s 100% graduation and college acceptance rates. Dr. Wilder received his bachelor’s degree in political science from George Washington University and a master’s degree of philosophy in peace studies from Trinity College, University of Dublin. In addition, he earned his doctorate in education policy and administration from the University of Minnesota. Mr. Terrance Wilson, Upper School English, received his bachelor’s degree in English and a professional clear teaching credential in language arts from California State University Chico. Additionally he earned his master’s in education technology from the American College of Education in Chicago. Mr.
Wilson has had a variety of jobs and livelihoods in his adult life including work as a delivery driver, taxi driver, sales clerk, legal clerk, dishwasher, bartender, handyman, marine brightworker (one who varnishes wooden boats), manual laborer and briefly as a voiceover artist. As a teacher of English (with side trips in drama, speech and religion), he has enjoyed time in his native California, Japan and Indonesia. Mr. Wilson has additional interests in scuba diving, old bicycles, guitars, Japan and Japanese things, shopping and sartorial pursuits, reading big thick books, observing culture, enjoying quality cinema, exercising, washing the car, drinking coffee and learning about technology. In his work with schools, he has supervised servicelearning projects, various student clubs, activities and technology projects.
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T he Ro a d Ah e a d
Our students leave here, as they have done for more than 86 years, with a deeply rooted sense of who they are and what they can accomplish in the world around them.
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Dandelions I just don’t like pulling dandelions. Don’t now, never did. When I was little (a thousand years ago, I think), my dad would instruct me on the proper way to extract these plants from our lawn: use a funny-looking fork-tipped gadget that he affectionately called a ’dandelion puller.’ (I never understood why he called it that—all I could do was dig with it.) I was supposed to get on my hands and knees, put this tool thing into the ground and pry the dandelion out, roots and all. Of course, there were a few problems with this process: • I wasn’t patient enough to be sure the tool was deep enough before prying out the flower. • Naturally, the dandelion’s roots rarely came out with the rest of the plant. • I had no intention of pursuing that root after it had clung so tenaciously to the ground. The result? The dandelions would always come back after a few days and I would have to start the process all over again. This summer we travelled to Utah and Colorado for our vacation. I grew up in Denver and that part of the country is very dear to me. Although I left the West permanently when I was 18, when I go back, I feel a unique and deeply-felt emotional connection to the place. I know that part of me, despite the many years that have passed since I lived there, will be rooted in the soil of that beautiful country for the rest of my life. Lausanne’s roots are just as tenacious. While the school has undergone several transformations over the years, from a small girls’ school on Central Avenue, through its years as a boarding school, a Montessori school and finally a coed, college prep day school in East Memphis, its roots have held fast in its celebration of the worth of the individual and the encouragement of those individuals to be empowered to seek their own journeys. This common theme can be traced from the mid-twenties and the thoughts of school founders Mrs. Jett and Ms. Statler, through the vision of Mrs. Nelse Thompson in the ‘50s, to the values outlined by The Lausanne Way which guide us now as we shape the lives of our students.
Our students leave here, as they have done for more than 86 years, with a deeply rooted sense of who they are and what they can accomplish in the world around them. Our most recent grads are travelling the world and accomplishing amazing things. From teaching in Korea, translating video games in China and joining the White House staff, our young alumni epitomize what John Zogby identifies in “The Way We’ll Be: The Zogby Report on the Transformation of the American Dream” as “first globals”—young people whose sense of belonging to a place is not limited by city, state or even country. They see themselves as the first truly global citizens and can be found living anywhere in the world, making the most out of their lives and dreams. What we also know about our graduates is that they will be forever influenced by the time they spent at Lausanne. The knowledge, skills and values that are articulated by The Lausanne Way will inform their thinking and the choices they make for the rest of their lives. The Lausanne Way will have taken root and no “dandelion puller” will ever be able to remove it. Now, back to watching my dandelions grow.
Michael Christopher Assistant Headmaster—School Advancement
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SAVE THE DATES! OCTOBER 2012 “The Four-Legged Friends” Middle School Art Show in the Fred Blackmon Gallery in the Elder Performing Arts Center Fall Break: October 4–October 8
s More information about any of these event site, Web nne Lausa can be found on the book, www.lausanneschool.com. Find us on Face l; schoo egiate ecoll usann www.facebook.com/la YouTube, www.youtube.com/lausanneschool; chool and/or follow us on Twitter, @lausannes for even more!
Lausanne Parent Connections Meeting: October 2, 8:30–9:30 a.m. in Dawson Board Room Alumni Board Meeting: October 9, 5:00–6:00 p.m. in Robinson Board Room Scholastic Book Fair: October 17–October 20 The Peter Kling ‘86 Memorial Pumpkin Run/Walk 5K: Saturday, October 20, 9:00–10:30 a.m. Fall Carnival: Saturday, October 20, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
NOVEMBER 2012 Lower School Art Exhibit in the Fred Blackmon Gallery in the Elder Performing Arts Center Upper School Fall Theatre Production “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller: November 1–3, 7:00–9:00 p.m. in the Elder Performing Arts Center Lausanne Parent Connections Meeting: Tuesday, November 6, 8:30–9:30 a.m. in Dawson Board Room Veterans Day Celebration: Thursday, November 8, 7:00–9:00 p.m. in the Elder Performing Arts Center School Holiday for Professional Development: Monday, November 12 Alumni Board Meeting: Tuesday, November 13, 5:00–6:00 p.m. in Robinson Board Room Grandparents & Special Friends Day (1/2 day of school): Tuesday, November 20 Middle & Upper School Band Concert: Thursday, November 29, 7:00–9:00 p.m. in the Elder Performing Arts Center
DECEMBER 2012 Lower School Art Exhibit in the Blackmon Gallery in the Elder Performing Arts Center Lausanne Parent Connections Meeting: Tuesday, December 4, 8:30–9:30 a.m. in Dawson Board Room Alumni Board Meeting: Tuesday, December 11, 5:00–6:00 p.m. in Robinson Board Room Lower School Performance of “A Year With Frog And Toad KIDS”: Friday, December 14, 7:00 p.m. End of 2nd Quarter (1/2 day of school): Friday, December 21 Holiday Break: December 22-January 6 (Classes resume Monday, January 7)
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at io n Explore ed uc ay! eW t he L ausann An International Baccalaureate World School
Empowering individuals to seek their own journeys 68 Students in the Class of 2012 100% Acceptance rate to college 281 Acceptances to 135 different colleges and universities 51 Different colleges and universities attended $10.4 million Scholarships awarded
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