KnightTimes Summer 2017 by Pace Academy

SUMMER 2017

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F PA C E A C A D E M Y

Exploring CONSERVATION Our 2017â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2018 ICGL Theme

GRADUATION The Class of 2017

Save the Date 10.21.17

Super-Sized Fun aT the Pace Fall Fair! www.paceacademy.org/fallfair

Former Middle School instructor of life sciences LARRY IVENS conducts a lab. Read about Ivens and other recent retirees on page 12.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Working at an independent school requires an all-in, service-above-self mentality—attending early morning meetings and evening parent gatherings, taking tickets at sporting events and late-night parent phone calls, supporting students at concerts and plays, traveling, coaching, counseling… and the list goes on. But Pace Academy employees wouldn’t have it any other way. This year’s retiring faculty and staff—JOHN ANDERSON, CALVIN COUCH, BETH CULP, SUZIE HARPER, LARRY IVENS and PAM MALONE—have been “all-in” at Pace for a combined 90 years, and they’ve contributed an astounding 131 years to the field of education. At every turn, these individuals put their students first. They inspired confidence, offered emotional support, provided guidance in times of challenge, launched careers and changed lives. I’m fortunate to have called them colleagues. Learn more about this year’s retirees on page 12, and please join me in thanking them for their service to our Pace family.

w F ollo ! Pa c e

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Caitlin Goodrich Jones ’00 DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

PACE CARES When our families and staff are in need, Pace Cares.

T H E MA G A Z INE OF PACE ACADEMY

CONTRIBUTOR

966 W. Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327

JILLIAN SNYDER ’16 JILLIAN SNYDER, a summer intern for the Pace communications department, is a rising sophomore at Wake Forest University, where she plans to study communications and journalism. While at Pace, Snyder was a cross-country and track team captain, peer leader and a member of the National Honor Society. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, hiking, camping and spending time with friends.

08 UPGRADES AT RIVERVIEW Pace opens additional training facilities and a new softball field at the Riverview Sports Complex

36 THE YEAR OF CLIMATE IN REVIEW

10 OH, WHAT A KNIGHT! The 2017 Auction & Gala celebrates JOHN ANDERSON 12 RETIRING FACULTY & STAFF CALVIN COUCH, BETH CULP, SUZIE HARPER, LARRY IVENS and PAM MALONE 14 LONGTIME BOARD MEMBERS SAY FAREWELL BONNIE HARRIS and JIM HOWARD leave lasting legacies 15 LIFE TRUSTEE PROFILE DR. STEPHEN DAWKINS 18 END-OF-THE-YEAR AWARDS

20 PACE ARTS

34 IGL SPRING TRIP TO HAWAII

38 GLOBAL LEADERS Highlighting individuals who set the pace outside of school 38 STREETWISE 39 SUSTAINABILITY ADVOCATE GISELLE STRONG 41 FACULTY PROFILE BRIANNA KORB and CHRISTINA SNYDER

42 THE CLASS OF 2017 The class with a "beautiful heart" takes a bold, confident step into the world

48 THE YEAR OF CONSERVATION The ICGL's 2017–2018 theme

52 ALUMNI UPDATES 54 MARRIAGES

22 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

54 BIRTHS

23 COLLEGE ARTISTS

57 JILL MILLKEY ’09

24 SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

34 ICGL

06 NEW POSITIONS New and familiar faces step into leadership roles

A look at what's happening on campus

58 OUT & ABOUT

30 BOYS TENNIS

59 LEGACIES

31 BOYS & GIRLS SOCCER

60 ALUMNI SCHOLAR AWARD

32 PACE RACE

61 GOLDEN KNIGHTS

32 COLLEGE ATHLETES

62 DR. ERIC RIDDELL ’06

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

HEAD OF SCHOOL FRED ASSAF

MICHAEL GANNON Head of Upper School The Isdell Center for Global Leadership

10 AROUND PACE

www.paceacademy.org

DIVISION HEADS

CONTENTS 06 NEWS

KnightTimes

GRAHAM ANTHONY Head of Middle School SYREETA MOSELEY Head of Lower School

COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT CAITLIN GOODRICH JONES ’00 Director of Communications, Editor OMAR LÓPEZ THISMÓN Digital Content Producer RYAN VIHLEN Creative Services Manager, Graphic Designer LELA WALLACE Digital Communications Manager

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS FRED ASSAF GEMSHOTS PHOTOGRAPHIC www.gemshots.com LAURA INMAN SMAX PHOTOGRAPHY www.smaxart.com

OUR MISSION To create prepared, confident citizens of the world who honor the values and legacy of Pace Academy. To contribute ideas for the KnightTimes, please email Caitlin Jones at caitlin.jones@paceacademy.org.

The Class of 2017 graduated on May 13. Read more about this remarkable group on page 42.

Dear Pace Family, Stay Woke was the title of Dr. Raymond R. Sommerville Jr.’s Baccalaureate address to our graduating seniors. “Stay conscious, stay connected [and] stay committed,” Sommerville told the Class of 2017, urging graduates to aspire to “courageous leadership, compassionate service, civic engagement, creative foresight and constructive solidarity.” Sommerville’s message spoke to the heart of a Pace Academy education. Our mission to “create prepared, confident citizens of the world” requires that students learn to look beyond themselves, to celebrate difference and ask good questions, to act as agents of positive change. This coming year’s Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) global theme mandates that we, as a school community, “stay woke” to the science and issues surrounding CONSERVATION. We’ll explore these topics through our curriculum, in our city and around the world as we work to increase our understanding. So, in this edition of the KnightTimes, we dive into The Year of Conservation (page 48), while reflecting on The Year of Climate, our 2016-2017 ICGL theme (page 36). We also applaud the Class of 2017 and its members’ many accomplishments (page 42), look back at year-end festivities (page 16), salute our retiring faculty and staff (page 12), and recognize excellence in academics, the arts and athletics.

ON THE COVER One of our 2017–2018 Isdell Global Leaders (IGLs), ABBY RAY, recently captured this striking photo in the Teton Range in Wyoming. Learn about Ray and the other IGLs on page 50.

As summer comes to a close and we enter a new year, may we “stay woke” to the needs of those in our school and global communities. Thank you for your partnership as we endeavor to fulfill our mission. It’s going to be another great year for Pace Academy! Sincerely,

FRED ASSAF HEAD OF SCHOOL

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

NEWS What you ne ed to know

GRAHAM ANTHONY

JOANNE BROWN

MAC MCCALLUM

HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

Formerly assistant head of Middle School for Student Life, a history teacher and a dean, GRAHAM ANTHONY will lead the Middle School in the coming years. “My favorite thing about being a Pace Knight is being surrounded by excellence,” Anthony says. “In every aspect of school life, there are people who love what they do and do it at a very high level. It’s not hard to find inspiration by observing my colleagues on a daily basis. Everything that goes on at this school makes me proud to tell people I work here… I am humbled, honored and excited to carry this torch, and I feel strongly that I am taking over the reins of a program that is already decidedly in a great place.”

JOANNE BROWN has served as associate director of Middle and Upper School Admissions, a ninth-grade Transitions teacher, a Middle School adviser, and a member of our Mental Wellness Taskforce and Faculty Diversity Committee. She will spearhead school-wide diversity initiatives in the coming year. “I am looking forward to working with all of our stakeholders—parents, faculty, staff, students, alumni—so that we are each in a position to value and drive the success of diversity and inclusion at Pace,” Brown says. “I hope that through the Office of Diversity, people are transformed; that our work becomes a way of being and not just doing.”

MAC MCCALLUM joins the Office of Admissions from the Asheville School, where he served as director of financial aid and associate director of admission, coached baseball and taught AP U.S. History. “I sought to work at a school that demonstrates genuine connections between students and faculty in many different settings. I found exactly that at Pace,” McCallum says. “My job will be to share Pace’s programs and purpose, but I also expect the Pace community to play a major role in my life and, in exchange, I expect to contribute to the success and growth of Pace students in a variety of ways.”

NEW YEAR, NEW LEADERSHIP AS PACE ACADEMY embarks on the 2017–2018 school year, several familiar faces will assume different roles within our community, and we’ll welcome new individuals to leadership positions.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

NEWS

HAYLEY SHOJI ’12

BETH SINGLETON

KAREN SOMMERVILLE

MANAGER OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

DIRECTOR OF AUXILIARY PROGRAMS

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF AUXILIARY PROGRAMS

HAYLEY SHOJI ’12 returns to her alma mater after working in marketing for Lacorte Enterprises and the University of Alabama. “I want to continue to build a strong line of communication between Pace and its amazing alumni to increase alumni participation in the Pace community,” Shoji says. “I want Pace to be known not only for its amazing educational environment but for continuing to foster meaningful relationships long after students graduate.”

Pace Summer Programs and the Lower School’s after-school programming, including Knight Crew (formerly APP and APPE) and enrichment activities, will now fall under the umbrella of Auxiliary Programs. BETH SINGLETON, who has served as director of Summer Programs for three years, will oversee the combined initiative. “I’m excited to continue building both our summer and after-school programs and offering many unique experiences for our students and our community,” Singleton reports. “We believe that Auxiliary Programs will be of great interest and will offer something for everyone!”

After seven years in the Pre-First classroom, KAREN SOMMERVILLE will help lead Pace Summer Programs and supervise Lower School after-school activities as assistant director of Auxiliary Programs. “Having been part of the Pace community for quite some time—first as a parent, then as a faculty member—I’m excited about the opportunity to enhance the offerings in our after-school and summer programs while building relationships with students and parents and helping them see the value in both,” Sommerville says.

MARK SOMMERVILLE

AMY UNDERWOOD

ASSISTANT HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR STUDENT LIFE

ASSISTANT HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL CURRICULUM & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MARK SOMMERVILLE has coached and taught generations of students during his 28 years in Pace’s physical education department. His experiences have prepared him for his new role as assistant head of Middle School for Student Life. “Teaching and coaching students is a rewarding blessing and, I believe, a gift from God,” Sommerville says. “Each student is uniquely precious and deserves attention, respect and love. Each day with the students offers tremendous opportunities, and it is refreshing to see them be triumphant in and out of the classroom. I believe navigating students through uneasy or difficult times requires listening, patience, and teamwork to effectively ensure sound direction and guidance. When the voice of each student is heard, it fosters an environment of safety and comfort.”

AMY UNDERWOOD joins the Lower School faculty from Woodward Academy, where she coordinated professional-learning opportunities through the school’s mentor program. She brings 16 years of teaching experience and has served as a professional-development coordinator for a decade. “I am beyond excited to work with Pace’s Lower School teachers,” Underwood says. “Providing personalized professionallearning opportunities in conjunction with a clearly defined, balanced curriculum is paramount to creating classrooms that generate future leaders. Supporting teachers in their implementation of new strategies will help them strategically use data to drive instruction, fulfill students’ needs and provide meaningful learning experiences.”

NEWS

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE Latin Lives On Middle and Upper School students continue to prove that Latin is thriving at Pace Academy. This spring, 17 Latin students participated in the Georgia Junior Classical League Convention in Eatonton, Ga., where they tested their knowledge of subjects such as ancient geography, Latin literature, grammar, mythology, reading comprehension and Roman history. The Intermediate Competitive Certamen team of freshmen AUSTIN FULLER, JACKSON HAMEL, ALEX NOEL and ALAN TAPPER placed third in the state, while Fuller won the Greek History & Culture category. Several students also placed in individual events, resulting in 19 total top-five finishes. Individual award winners were senior KYLE DUVAL; junior JACKSON FULLER; sophomores MERRITT ANN GLASS, ABIGAIL LUND and JACOB SLOMAN; freshmen Austin Fuller, Hamel, ANDREW MILLER and Tapper. Spring also brought the National Latin Exam. Thirty-one Upper School and 20 Middle School students (pictured) received awards on the 40-question, multiple-choice test. Gold medals went to juniors CHIP RATCLIFF and NATE REECE; sophomores Glass, Lund and Sloman; freshmen PAUL-LOUIS BIONDI, Austin Fuller, AIDAN GANNON, FINN LAMASTRA and Tapper; and eighthgrader ELLIOT MATHIS. Tapper earned a perfect paper for the second year in a row, while Ratcliff received a Book Award for his fourth consecutive gold medal. In addition, Sloman was awarded a Letter of Commendation for his performance on the Classical Association of the Midwest and Southâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Latin Translation Exam, placing him amongst the top 20 percent of entries.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

Riverview Sports Complex now boasts a state-of-the-art softball facility. As the fall sports season begins, Pace Academy softball teams will host opponents at a new facility within our satellite Riverview Sports Complex. The facility includes an all-weather, artificial turf softball field, an indoor training space, locker rooms and bathrooms. It fronts Riverview Road and sits adjacent to Charlie Owens Baseball Field and the entrance to the complex. During the spring season, the Middle School baseball team will use the field. The field enhances the 23-acre complex, which also houses Walsh Field, a stateof-the-art stadium with bleacher seating, a FIFA-regulation grass field and a Beynon track; Charlie Owens Baseball Field; a multipurpose field for football, soccer and lacrosse; locker rooms; an athletic training facility and a snack bar.

NEWS

Pacesetter Wins Top Prize Jostens, a leading publisher of school yearbooks, has named Pace Academy’s 2017 Pacesetter a National Yearbook Program of Excellence. The award recognizes schools that excel in the creation and distribution of yearbooks, meet deadlines throughout the year and produce an inclusive publication that is meaningful for all students. Senior Co-Editors-in-Chief OLIVIA BAKER and LINDSAY FISHER and faculty adviser RYAN VIHLEN oversaw the publication of this year’s Pacesetter.

GSPA Honors The Knightly News The Georgia Scholastic Press Association recognized The Knightly News, the Upper School student newspaper, at its annual General Excellence Awards ceremony in Athens, Ga. Under the leadership of senior Co-Editors-in-Chief LANDON GOLDSTEIN and ALEXIS WILKINS and faculty adviser LEE WILSON, The Knightly News website won the statewide award for General Excellence in its size category. The Knightly News print publication, entered into the competition separately, was awarded a rating of Excellent. Guest contributor senior MILES HSU won the state’s top honor in the Editorial Cartoon category.

TOP LEFT: Baker and Fisher; ABOVE: The staff of the 2017 Pacesetter (Not pictured: Samantha Delman); BELOW: The Knightly News staff; BELOW LEFT: Wagreich and Wilhelm

Life-Changing Literature Sixth-grader JACK WAGREICH appreciates the transformational power of a good book, and author Roland Smith’s novel, Peak, is one of his favorites. The book—about a boy’s passion for climbing and his journey up Mount Everest—inspired Wagreich to compose a letter to its author as part of the Library of Congress’s Letters About Literature Contest. English teacher ERIC WILHELM requires that students participate in the contest and share with their favorite authors (living or dead) the personal impact of the authors’ works. Thousands of students in grades four through 12 entered this year’s contest, and Wagreich’s letter won the state competition, marking the seventh time in 13 years that a Pace Academy student has taken the top prize.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

Auct i on & Gal a

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

A look at what's happening at Pace AROUND PACE

Oh, What a Knight! Honoring retiring Head of Middle School JOHN ANDERSON

For more than four decades, JOHN ANDERSON shaped the minds and hearts of students in Atlanta, closing out his career as head of Pace Academy’s Garcia Family Middle School. Anderson arrived at Pace in 2005, one year after the Middle School became its own division (previously, the student body was separated into Lower and Upper Schools). “We were rudderless,” Assistant Head of Middle School for Academics KATHIE LARKIN recalls. “We didn’t have traditions that set us apart from any other middle school in the world, and with John’s leadership, we built traditions and a culture that will resonate for years.” Those traditions include events like Canstruction, Middle School Team Challenge and PJ & Cocoa Day, class retreats to the North Georgia Mountains and the eighth-grade civil rights trip. The culture Anderson created celebrates the whole child. Through programs such as the Middle School Vital Signs, it emphasizes character education and the importance of kindness,

ABOVE: Anderson takes the seat of honor during "Mr. Anderson Day." LEFT: Festive scenes from the Pace Parents Club Auction & Gala, Oh, What a Knight!

while insisting on fun and reveling in the joys of early adolescence. “John Anderson embodies everything you could want in a head of Middle School,” says Life Trustee PAUL GARCIA. “He’s empathetic. He’s fun to be with. He’s focused on the task at hand. He understands that [the middle-school years] are crucial, vital times in a child’s development, and he crafts incredibly focused, hard-working kids who also enjoy themselves.” Anderson’s colleagues and students applauded their fearless leader by declaring April 27 “Mr. Anderson Day” and surprising him with a special assembly. They celebrated Anderson with a slideshow, an official Pace chair, a redesigned Middle School Team Challenge T-Shirt, a book of notes from current and former students, a framed photo of the entire Middle School, music and kind words. A reception, including cookies in Anderson’s likeness, followed. In addition, the Pace Parents Club themed its annual Auction & Gala Oh, What a Knight! in Anderson’s honor. The beauti-

ful event, co-chaired by Pace parents CARA LUBIN, JULI OWENS and DIANE SAINI, took place at the Georgia Aquarium and included moving tributes to Anderson, as well as live and silent auctions. The event raised record funds for the Parents Club, which provides opportunities above and beyond Pace’s annual operating budget—innovative programs such as environmental initiatives, global leadership opportunities, and professional development for faculty and staff. Oh, What a Knight! was a fitting tribute to a life-changing educator. “For 12 years, John Anderson opened his heart to our teachers, students and families,” says Head of School FRED ASSAF. “He truly made every day a great day to learn.” In his retirement, John looks forward to spending time with his wife, JO ANDERSON, and his son, LUKE ANDERSON ’09.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

Farewell and Thank You The Pace Academy community says goodbye to retiring faculty and staff. CALVIN COUCH Pace Academy community members often remark on the campus’s external beauty, but it is safe to say that an even greater number enthusiastically admired one of the individuals largely responsible. For 13 years, Maintenance & Grounds staff member CALVIN COUCH, known to most students simply as “Mr. Calvin,” kept Pace—the Lower School, in particular—physically stunning. More than that, however, he loved Pace and its students and was deeply loved in return. On May 8, the Lower School managed to pull off the ultimate surprise assembly in Couch’s honor. In attendance were the Lower School student body, faculty, staff, facilities team members, Head of School FRED ASSAF and Couch’s family. During the morning of farewells, each grade presented a special tribute to a man whose kindness, incredible work ethic, humility and strong character shone through on a daily basis. Second graders sang a rewritten version of My Favorite Things, while the third grade belted out You've Got a Friend in Me and offered a framed photo of their class. Fourth grade continued with Mr. Calvin Can to the tune of The Candy Man, and Pre-First sang You Are My Sunshine before presenting a birdhouse, which read, “You are our favorite Knight.” The assembly wrapped up with the presentation of a photo quilt and acrostic poem from the first grade and a book of letters written by fifth graders. Finally, Head of Lower School SYREETA MOSELEY presented a gift from the Lower School faculty and staff. The crowd was in for a treat, however, as Couch delivered a moving, impromptu speech detailing how much Pace meant to him. In a testament to his selflessness, he described how he refused to miss work, even on days he didn’t feel well, because the children depended on him.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

“There was not a dry eye in the place,” Moseley recalls. While the Pace campus will surely remain beautiful, Couch’s retirement will leave a void in the community. “He was attentive to the students’ needs and valued each person he came in contact with,” says Moseley. “I can honestly say that Mr. Calvin is one of the most honorable people I know, and it was truly a blessing to have the opportunity to work with and learn from him.”

BETH CULP Few know that BETH CULP is a highly skilled and awardwinning quilter. For the past 20 years, Culp approached her job as co-director of Student Affairs in the same way she approaches her craft—with quiet focus, attention to detail and great love. Culp’s relationship with Pace Academy began in 1986 when her eldest daughter, REBECCA CULP JACKSON ’99, enrolled in Pre-First. Rebecca and her sisters, ERIN CULP ’02 and MARY BETH CULP FREEMAN ’05, all graduated as Pace “Lifers.” Culp began working in Student Affairs in 1997 and, over the years, became one of those iconic individuals graduates associate with Pace. She was the first face to greet Upper School students as they entered the Fine Arts Center for morning assembly—and was the face they tried to avoid when tardy. Culp tracked attendance every day and knew each student’s name. From her perch at the desk inside the Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School’s main entrance, she observed students come and go, day to day and year to year. On the rare occasions that Culp was not at her desk, the entrance felt emptier; with her retirement, the Pace community will also feel a little empty. “Beth was quietly helpful to many kids,” Head of Upper School MIKE GANNON says. For several students who take MARTA

to and from school, weekdays are especially long. Unbeknownst to most, Culp voluntarily braved Atlanta traffic to make the drive from W. Paces Ferry to the Lindbergh Center MARTA Station so students could avoid bus travel. Additionally, Culp was “remarkably attuned to the emotional state of children,” Gannon says. “She would notice the bloodshot eyes of a crying student and alert me to keep an eye out for that child.” She expected nothing in return; she simply wanted to help. Also a professional when it came to planning, Culp organized the annual Orkin and National Honor Society assemblies, and she provided behind-the-scenes support to many other Upper School events. To thank her for her countless contributions, the Upper School Student Council planned a Beth Culp appreciation day, during which students donned handmade “We ♥ Mrs. Culp” T-shirts, presented Culp with flowers and showed a student-produced video in her honor. There’s no doubt that Pace will miss the kind, smiling face of the woman who was a “friend to many kids who needed friends” for two decades.

SUZIE HARPER Every November, SUZIE HARPER utilized her impressive cooking skills to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving feast, complete with a small turkey, for her first graders. Students donned handmade bonnets and paper hats to get in the Pilgrim mindset, while Harper sported a bonnet and traditional dress. The feast may have required a great deal of effort for one morning, but it was traditions like this that made Harper such a beloved educator during her 18 years at Pace Academy. While students certainly enjoyed the fun and food, it was perhaps Harper they were most thankful for—not only on that morning, but every day. In 1994, Harper enrolled her daughter, Virginia Lee, and joined the Pace family. Daughter CATHERINE LEE ’10 soon followed. As a parent, Harper volunteered as

AROUND PACE

a Parents Club Board member, co-chair of the Hospitality Committee and chair of the Fall Fair. In 2004, Harper realized she was meant to teach, understanding that “when children get the support they need in a loving environment, they are able to excel to their personal best.” She joined the Lower School faculty, served on the Math Committee and chaired the Hospitality Committee. For several summers, she also taught cooking classes at Pace Camp. A superbly talented educator, Harper “provided a nurturing environment in which children could grow academically, socially and emotionally,” says Assistant Head of Lower School PHYLLIS GRANT. During a time when student development is key, Harper maintained a “mother-like consistency and fairness that allowed her students to flourish,” and she worked tirelessly to instill a love of learning from an early age. “One of Mrs. Harper’s former students, now in Middle School, gave such a heartfelt tribute to her at our end-of-the-year assembly,” says Head of the Lower School SYREETA MOSELEY. “The student stated that he had difficulty reading in the first grade. However, because of Mrs. Harper’s commitment, he now has straight A’s.” Harper was also known for incorporating fun into her classroom and other school activities. For example, during the annual First Grade Pet Day, Harper brought her dog, Roo, to spend time with her students. As she did with her cooking, she strove to share another small part of her life with the children. “Every year, parents requested that their children be placed in Mrs. Harper’s class,” Moseley recalls. “We will miss her positive attitude, enthusiasm for teaching and learning and willingness to go the extra mile. Her contributions to Pace will be forever appreciated.”

LARRY IVENS As an instructor of life sciences, LARRY IVENS took his title literally, teaching his students to learn in ways that will benefit them well beyond the Middle School. In a subject that is not

always easy to teach to 12- and 13-yearolds, Ivens somehow managed to impart a love of science to his students, who could often be heard exclaiming, “That was cool!” or, “I liked that lab!” in the hallway after his classes. Finding a teacher like Ivens is rare. Ivens spent 40 years in education—seven at Pace Academy—and his passion for education and his students never waned. “Not only did he create unique lessons and labs that piqued students’ interest while instilling them with critical skills and knowledge,” says now-retired Head of Middle School JOHN ANDERSON, “but he also created a lively, yet organized and respectful classroom climate. Larry is without a doubt the finest science teacher I have ever known in my 41 years in education.” At Pace, Ivens was well respected, fervently admired, and truly loved amongst faculty, students and parents, who, without prompting, routinely emailed Anderson with messages like, “Whatever Mr. Ivens is doing is sparking a true love of science in our daughter,” and, “He certainly has a gift for teaching and connecting!” Anderson says that students “adored [Ivens] because of his gentle nature, his friendliness, his wisdom, and his dedication to their development as students and people.” Ivens taught his students science, but more than that, he took great interest in their lives, attending their sports games and theatre performances to show his support. “Larry must hold the all-time record for winning ‘Fan of the Year,’ an award each team gives out once their season is complete,” says incoming Head of the Middle School GRAHAM ANTHONY. Students adored Ivens so much that they planned both a surprise party and a special assembly at the end of the school year. He was presented with a tie-dyed lab coat signed by each student, enjoyed musical performances from the faculty band and heard student speeches about his impact on their lives. In his retirement, Ivens looks forward to joining his mother in Tennessee and continuing to pursue his favorite activities: camping, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and gardening.

PAM MALONE In 1997, thenDirector of Student Affairs TINA LOWREY reached out to Pace Academy parents PAM MALONE and BETH CULP to see if they might be interested in job-sharing the critical Upper School position. They were, and for the next 20 years, the pair operated like a well-oiled machine, one the community relied upon heavily. “Pam was a welcoming and reliable member of the Upper School team,” says Head of Upper School MIKE GANNON. “I’m incredibly grateful to her for her dedication to our students and this community. She kept us all organized.” “Pace holds a very special place in my heart, especially because my daughter [KATHERINE MALONE WATERS ’97] graduated in 1997,” Malone says. As one Malone moved on from being a Knight, the other was just getting started. For two decades, Malone witnessed the many exciting events and traditions that are unique to Pace. “I always enjoyed the seniors’ arrival on the first day of classes, the construction of the newest buildings and the holiday music programs,” she recalls Most valuable to Malone, however, were the relationships she built with her colleagues and students. “I loved watching students grow from sometimes-goofy ninth graders to very accomplished seniors,” she says. And she would be remiss in failing to mention Culp, her longtime colleague. Though sad to say goodbye to Pace, Malone looks forward to retirement. However, her work is not done. She volunteers for several nonprofits and is eager to spend more time with her “two darling grandsons” and travel with her husband. After being involved in education for 27 years, Malone says she will miss the excitement of working in a school: “It is a very vibrant atmosphere.” — by JILLIAN SNYDER ’16

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

AROUND PACE

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE The Pace Academy Board of Trustees bids farewell to two longstanding members.

BONNIE HARRIS

JIM HOWARD

For 21 years, BONNIE HARRIS has given tirelessly to Pace Academy. Since she and her husband, JAY HARRIS, enrolled their eldest son in Pre-First in 1996, she has been a fixture on the Pace campus, serving in myriad volunteer roles touching every area of school life. Harris joined the Board of Trustees in 2008 and chaired the Annual Fund from 2008 to 2011. During her Board tenure, she sat on the Planning and Advancement committees and was an active member of the Aim High campaign team, serving as Upper School division co-chair for the $35-million fundraising effort. She also lent her fundraising expertise to The Pace Fund as a volunteer from 2014 to 2017. In addition, Harris served on the Academic & Institutional Excellence, Community & Communications and Diversity subcommittees of the Board. An avid supporter of the arts, Harris played a key role in the launch of the Pace Arts Alliance and served as president of the organization during the 2010–2011 school year. “Bonnie’s dedication to Pace Academy is unparalleled,” says Head of School FRED ASSAF. “Over the past two decades, her enthusiasm for our school has never waned. You’ll find her in the stands at athletic competitions, in the audience at arts events and volunteering all over campus. Her contributions to the Board of Trustees have been invaluable, and I couldn’t be more grateful for her service.”

JIM HOWARD joined the Pace Academy Board of Trustees in 2008 and made an immediate impact as chair of the Finance Committee, working to ensure the school’s fiscal solvency and continued growth during a period of economic recession. He went on to serve as Board treasurer and, as a member of the Properties Committee, played a key role in the planning and construction of Pace’s satellite athletic facilities at Riverview Road and the Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School. In addition, Howard contributed to the Board’s Planning Committee and served on the Enrollment & Admissions Subcommittee during the school’s most recent strategicplanning process. In 2016, he joined the Mental Wellness Task Force, which has worked to assess, recommend and implement best practices in mental wellness for the Pace community. “During a time when many schools around the country struggled, Jim’s business and financial leadership helped Pace thrive,” says Head of School FRED ASSAF. “He’s seen our endowment grow significantly, had a hand in major capital campaigns and watched new facilities rise from the ground. While Jim’s time on the Board and as a Pace parent has come to a close, the Howard Field House at our Riverview Sports Complex ensures the family’s legacy at our school.”

The Harrises are the proud parents of three Pace graduates: JACK HARRIS ’10, CAL HARRIS ’12 and KEELEY HARRIS ’17.

Jim and his wife, KRISTIN HOWARD, are the parents of JAKE HOWARD ’11, ERIK HOWARD ’14 and CHRISTOPHER HOWARD ’17.

a family tree On a sunny afternoon following Baccalaureate, the Harris family celebrated senior KEELEY HARRIS’S Pace Academy graduation by dedicating a tree in her honor. “Keeley’s Tree” sits in the Pace Gardens outside the Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School’s Seaman Family Student Commons. Her graduation marks the end of BONNIE and JAY HARRIS’S 21 years as Pace parents.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

AROUND PACE

L if e T r u st e e P r o f i l e

The Dawkins Family

n 1998, ARNIKA and STEPHEN DAWKINS were searching for a new school home for their son, BRANDON DAWKINS ’04, who would soon complete his final year at The Children’s School. They wanted to find a place that would provide a strong academic experience with a focus on the individual student. “Pace had an exceptional reputation for academic excellence and was a logical choice,” Stephen Dawkins recalls. The Dawkins spent 12 years as Pace Academy parents, as MORGAN DAWKINS ’06 and PAIGE DAWKINS ’10 followed in their brother’s footsteps. They took an active role in the life of the school, and Dawkins joined the Board of Trustees in 2002. A graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Morehouse School of Medicine and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Dawkins has practiced occupational medicine for 27 years. His companies, Caduceus USA, Caduceus Exams, Caduceus TeleMed and Work Comp Surgeons, provide drug testing, physical examinations, and workers' compensation care for local, national and international businesses. Dawkins served on the Planning and Finance committees of the Board of Trustees and contributed his medical expertise, working with the administration to support the school nurse and provide on-site health clinics. As a Board member, he also oversaw a period of tremendous growth for the school, including the hiring of Head of School FRED ASSAF in 2005. “[Former Head of School] MIKE MURPHY was an excellent steward with a compassionate and caring heart,” Dawkins recalls. “Mike’s legacy was grown and extended with Fred Assaf, who has enhanced community engagement and enabled the school

DR. STEPHEN DAWKINS to have a meaningful balance of arts, sports, cultural learning and academics.” Dawkins points to the growth of the Office of College Counseling, the addition

of new facilities and a strategic emphasis on improved athletic programming as a few of Pace’s recent strides. “Thankfully, the culture, commitment, and dedication of the staff and faculty remain focused on each student’s individual success,” he says. Dawkins’ tenure on the Board ended in 2011, but he and his family remain involved at the school. As a Life Trustee, Dawkins is particularly focused on the school’s initiatives around diversity and inclusion. To that end, this past May, he and Arnika hosted a multicultural family reception honoring the Class of 2017 (see story on page 60). The event allowed parents and students of color to gather, reflect on their time at Pace and determine how they will stay connected to the school. “Arnika and Stephen applauded the sacrifice of time and resources that our parents have made in making a Pace education available to their children and inspired our now-young alumni to consider how they will support the generations of students of color who will come behind them,” says Director of Diversity and Inclusion JOANNE BROWN. “I think seeing [Dawkins’] continued commitment to Pace only deepened the sense of connection our young alumni and their families have.” The Dawkins plan to work with Pace’s offices of Diversity and Alumni Relations to host the event every year. They also hope to play a role in the school’s ongoing efforts around student health and mental wellness, particularly as Brandon and Morgan join Dawkins in practicing medicine. “The preservation of health and wellness is critical in allowing each student to achieve their

personal best, thus becoming successful global citizens and noteworthy ambassadors for Pace,” he says. In addition, the family has prioritized

support for Pace’s need-based financial-aid program through their participation in the Georgia Private School Tax Credit program. For Dawkins, it’s a no-brainer: “If you owe taxes to the state of Georgia, why not give those monies to Pace to help strengthen our school?” Dawkins encourages his fellow Life Trustees to stay connected to the school they once served. “Life Trustees have the ability to extend their giving of time, talent and treasure to the school over an extended period,” he says. “As time progresses, both the Trustee and Pace benefit from multigenerational wisdom. The natural energy of the student body is complemented by the extended wisdom of the Trustee. This student/ Trustee balance ensures that the cultural values unique to Pace are consistently represented in the ever-evolving student body.” As his children settle into their adult lives (Brandon, a graduate of Emory School of Medicine, now practices with Caduceus; Morgan will soon complete medical school at American University of Antigua and begin her residency; Paige, a Parsons School of Design alumna, commutes between Atlanta and New York with her fashion line, LUNASOUL), Dawkins hopes that future members of his family might also join the Pace community. “We want the institution that enabled our children to succeed to remain viable for our grandchildren and other families,” he says. “Our family wants the continued success of Pace to be measured by the contributions of its graduates to enhancing the quality of life for Atlantans, Georgians, Americans and our fellow citizens of the world.”

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

L ower School Picnic l Medieva Banquet

Principal y

Team ge Challen

A Festive Finale The Pace Academy community celebrated the end of the school year and the arrival of summer with time-honored traditions.

Prom

Physics Phlotilla Great n America Picnic

the Da

KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE

AROUND PACE

In April, Pace Academy and the Board of Trustees recognized members of the Knights of the Round Table Giving Society during a cocktail party in the Pace Gardens. The event honored Pace Fund Committee volunteers and all Pace supporters who gave $1,500 or more to the school during the 2016–2017 year.

Accomplished Arguers Recapping a semester of Pace debate

In their sophomore season, debaters TYLER HENDERSON (left) and BEN NOTTINGHAM (right) established themselves as the team to beat at both the state and national levels. Following their win at the fall’s Peach State Classic, Henderson and Nottingham participated in the Georgia Forensic Coaches Association’s (GFCA) First and Second Year State Tournament and came away with the championship title. They went on to compete at the varsity level in the GFCA State Tournament, where they bested more experienced debaters to claim ninth place. At the First and Second Year National Tournament, Henderson and Nottingham again finished ninth. Individually, Nottingham ranked ninth in the nation, while Henderson was 14th. The team closed out the year at the National Debate Coaches Association National Championship in Ogden, Utah, where they finished with a 3–3 record. Seniors JAKE MOVSOVITZ and MISHA ANDRA-THOMAS also represented the Knights at tournaments throughout the semester, capping off outstanding high-school debate careers.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

Awarding Excellence End-of-the-year honors recognize exceptional students and faculty.

LOWER SCHOOL Citizenship Award

Ellie Arenth & Joe Shippen [3]

MIDDLE SCHOOL Sanford and Barbara Orkin Scholars Sixth Grade:

Carter Freudenstein & Emma Beth Neville Seventh Grade: Cole Kaplan & Giana Karamanolis Eighth Grade: Helena Harris, Amalie Little & Anthony Salazar

Jim and Lesley Wheeler Scholar Athlete Award [5] Seventh Grade: Edward Blaha & Megan Hardesty Eighth Grade: Tripp Trimble & Hanna Vincent

BJ Hayes Good Citizenship Award

Madison Auchincloss & Jake Buffenbarger [7]

Daughters of the American Revolution Youth Citizenship Award Claire Howell & Dylan Kaminski

UPPER SCHOOL UNDERCLASSMEN

Cara Isdell Service Learning Award

Deanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Award for Character

Frances FelicitĂŠ Thomas Award

Columbia University Book Prize Daniel Blumen [2]

Class of 2020: Rhuna Gibbs & Josh Pickman Class of 2019: Sam Assaf & Margaret Bethel

Frank Woodling Community Service Award

Crissa Noelle Hawkins Scholarship Award

Eric Hay Henderson, Jr. Friendship Award

Insha Merchant

Ibum Obu & David Roos

Dartmouth College Book Award Jonathan Rushton

Rachel Hall & Jamaree Salyer [8]

Faculty Award for Scholarship Class of 2020: Aidan Gannon & Claire Wierman Class of 2019: Charlie Hirsch & Davis Mathis

Paul-Louis Biondi

Daniel Blumen & Molly Shapiro

Georgia Institute of Technology Mathematics Award Jennifer Spalten

Georgia Institute of Technology Science Award Catherine Sweeney

Harvard University Book Prize Ben Thompson

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

AROUND PACE

History Department Award

Mimi Ann Deas Award

Jefferson Book Award

Renaissance Award for Visual and Performing Arts

Donn Boddie

Melanie Crawford

FACULTY

Emily Schmitt & Gillian Weitzner

Kessler Award for Excellence in Teaching

Vonda Vrieland & Emily Washburn

Class of 2020: Payton Payne & Gabe Wright Class of 2019: Alexandra Baker & Brian Zeldin Class of 2018: Jack Douglass & Sarah Ann Ninan

Class of 2020: Emerson Barrett, Jackson Gray, Lauren O’Sullivan & Zoe Williams Class of 2019: Siofra Casey, Issac Eichenlaub, Grace Pottorff & Raina Williams Class of 2018: Paige Demba, Isaiah Kelly, Zoe Malloy & Cole McCorkle

Lance and Shield Award

Sewanee Book Award for Excellence

Class of 2013 Outstanding Teaching Award

Alex Tolliday

Cappy Lewis

Smith College Book Award

Cum Laude Society Teaching Award

Amy Butler

Gus Whyte

University of Pennsylvania Book Award

Knight Capital Investment in Education Award

Jennifer Spalten

Dr. John Pearson

Vanderbilt University Book Award

Lolly Hand Schoolkeeper Award

Spencer Sinclair

Grady Stevens

Wellesley College Book Award

Pacesetter Dedication Chris Bevel l

Jim and Lesley Wheeler Scholar Athlete Award

Class of 2020: Ben Tolliday & Dominique Turner Class of 2019: Paige Fleming & Jack Neill Class of 2018: Ryan Hofstetter, Justin Morris & Cameron Perchik

Mike Murphy Courage to Strive for Excellence Award Class of 2020: Virginia Hobbs & Everett O’Gorman Class of 2019: Deron Moore & Veronica Sandoval [1] Class of 2018: Justin Morris & Jordan Shoulberg [6]

Khaki Loughran [9]

John Anderson Excellence in Teaching Award Patrick Campbell [4]

Pace Parents Club 20 Years of Service Award Beth Culp & Pam Malone

Yale University Book Award Harrison Lewis

SAVE THE DATE Friday, Oct. 27, 2017 • 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (possible afternoon session) • Pace Tennis Courts Calling all Pace moms! Play a fun day of tennis and have lunch with moms from Lower, Middle & Upper Schools. • • • •

Exciting prizes Yummy lunch Awesome party favor Lots of music & fun

Queens

OF THE COURT

ARTS

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

ARTS

From concerts and class plays to field trips and creative collaborations, students’ artistic talents were on display in the final weeks of the spring semester. 1–3. STRINGS ENSEMBLES SIGN OFF Lower, Middle, and Upper School strings students presented a joint concert that celebrated our senior musicians and marked our fourth-graders’ debut on the big stage.

4–6. CLOSING CONCERTS 10

Our Middle and Upper School choruses and bands celebrated the arrival of summer with end-of-the-year performances.

7. ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Upper School students enjoyed a three-day visit from Chicago-based ceramic artist Kevin Snipes, who shared tips of the trade—such as his slab-building construction method—with ceramics and sculpture classes.

8–9. BIG WONDER Middle School Studio Art classes collaborated with Tiny Doors ATL artist Karen Anderson to create a Tiny Door in the Pace Gardens. Tiny Doors ATL installs 6-inch “doors” throughout the city to “bring big wonder to tiny spaces.”

10. AN AMERICAN TALE Well-known Americans took the stage in the fourth-grade play, Great Americans Past and Present.

11. EXPLORING STUDIO ART AT SCAD

Savannah College of Art and Design’s (SCAD) Atlanta campus hosted Middle School Studio Art classes for a day this spring. Students learned about SCAD’s programs, took a printmaking class, and viewed artwork by students, alumni and professors.

12. AN ESTEEMED EXIT 12

Upper School visual arts students displayed the fruits of their labors at the Visual Arts Senior Art Show.

the Arts in Bloom KnightTimes | Summer 2017

ARTS

SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS For two evenings in April, the Pace Academy community gathered in the Gardens for an outdoor Shakespeare festival, complete with musical acts, dramatic readings and a performance by Upper School Theatre Director SEAN BRYAN’S acting class, a primer for the main-stage production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Attendees took in the Bard’s comedic play within a play from picnic blankets and camping chairs spread across the lawn as the cast utilized the campus grounds to bring to life the magical tale.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

FIVE MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2017 PLAN TO MAJOR IN THE PERFORMING OR VISUAL ARTS IN COLLEGE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE ARTISTS!

ARTS

JOSIE CROSS

COLLEGE ELLIE ARTISTS DUNCAN The University of Alabama, fine arts

Belmont University, commercial voice

WHIT FITZGERALD Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music, music performance (violin)

Excellence in Sound Design The Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards—Shuler Hensley Awards recognized senior KYLE DUVAL with an Honorable Mention Award for his work as sound designer on Thoroughly Modern Millie, the 2016 Upper School fall musical. “Running sound for a musical is a tremendous amount of responsibility, and Kyle handled it with great poise and a level head,” says Upper School Theatre Director SEAN BRYAN. “I’m proud of him and our technical team, led by [Technical Director] SCOTT SARGENT.”

WILLIE LIEBERMAN

UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, vocal performance

CARSON MYERS Georgia Institute of Technology, music technology

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

THINK BIG.

WE KNEW that this past year’s move from the Georgia High School Association’s (GHSA) Class AA to AAA would be a challenge, but the Pace Academy community embraced our Start Small. Think BIG. philosophy—with extraordinary results. The move meant that we enjoyed an electric atmosphere at home contests against local rivals, and that we competed with public schools throughout the city and state. The experience was valuable for our community, and—despite being outsized by our opponents—our student-athletes thrived. The girls and boys cross-country teams finished third and sixth in the state, respectively; football, softball, girls basketball and baseball qualified for the playoffs; our swimmers claimed spots on the state podium; girls tennis advanced to the Elite Eight; girls track broke school records on their way to the state championship; girls golf finished second in the region and 12th in the state; boys golf was region runner-up and fifth at the state tournament. Knights competed in five state finals—volleyball, boys and girls soccer, boys tennis and boys basketball—and the basketball team brought home the GHSA AAA state-championship title. We also celebrated All-Region and All-State performers and three All-Americans: WENDELL CARTER JR., JESSICA HAIDET and ANDREW THOMAS. Out of a class of 105, 13 seniors will play college athletics next year. The accolades and competitive success we enjoyed came as a result of a great process, starting with the Blueprint strength-andconditioning initiative in the Middle School, made possible by investments from our Booster Club. More importantly, we learned much about ourselves as a community this year. Our students responded and came together when faced with adversity. Knights fans answered every call and showed up in droves when we needed them most. We demonstrated pride, spirit and unity against all odds, and we are stronger as a result.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

IGHLIGHT

START SMALL.

S P R I NG S POR T S

Director of Athletics DR. TROY BAKER reflects on the year in sports.

VA R S I T Y BASEBALL

SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

Coached by GUS WHYTE, BRETT BEASLEY, SETH LAFERA and JASE WRIGLEY ’94 The varsity baseball team ended its regular season with a 19–7 record; wins over Greater Atlanta Christian, Darlington and Westminster; and a season sweep of rival Lovett. The team clinched a state playoff berth and hosted the first-ever playoff game at Charlie Owens Field. Ultimately, the team fell to North Hall High School in a first-round heartbreaker. Sophomore ANDREW JENKINS and seniors JUSTIN RAYMAN and JACK RUBENSTEIN were named First Team All-Region, while juniors ZEKE DIAMOND and JADEN STEAGALL and sophomore BRIAN ZELDIN received Second Team All-Region recognition. The team bids farewell to seniors THOMAS HOOVER, BRENNAN MURPHY, JOHN PROPST, Rayman and Rubenstein.

Hayden Sample

Justin Rayman Jaden Steagall

HANNAH SCHRAGER

Brian Zeldin Molly Jacoby

VA R S I T Y GYMNASTICS Coached by STEVE CUNNINGHAM The varsity gymnastics squad wrapped up the season with an even record—four wins and four losses. The Knights’ victories included an upset against 7A Walton, as well as wins over the Weber School and Lovett, twice. Sophomore JILL RAWLS and freshman HAYDEN SAMPLE advanced to the state preliminary meet in the floor exercise and vault, respectively. The team wishes the very best to seniors EMMA DOWNEY, MOLLY JACOBY and KATY LEITZ.

Katy Leitz

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

VA R S I T Y GIRLS GOLF LAUREN O'SULLIVAN

Coached by TIM WALSH and KEVIN BALLARD The varsity girls golf team’s season concluded with a trip to the Class AAA state championship in Blackshear, Ga., where freshman JULIA KELLY and sophomores SOPHIE BECK and ALEKS GOLDE played 36 holes for a spot on the podium. When all was said and done, the Knights finished 12th overall, and Golde placed sixth individually. Next season, the Knights will miss senior SANDY XIE.

Sandy Xie BEN CRAWFORD

Sophie Beck

GEORGE LYON Jack McMillin

VA R S I T Y BOY S GOL F Alex Ross

Coached by SCOTT SHUPE and BAILEY PLAYER To top off an outstanding regular season, the varsity boys golf team placed second at the area tournament, where senior ALEX ROSS finished at a 3-under-par 69 to claim the individual tournament title. The Knights, 2016’s Class AA state runner-up, advanced to the 2017 Class AAA state championship, where, led by seniors BARRETT BAKER, JACK MCMILLIN and Ross, the team placed fifth in the state. Ross finished fourth in the individual competition, while junior MARC MITCHELL was eighth.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

VA R S I T Y B O Y S T R AC K & F I E L D Coached by JOLIE CUNNINGHAM Junior JACK DOUGLASS led the varsity boys track-and-field team this season and advanced as an individual qualifier to the state meet, where he finished fifth in the 1600 meters and sixth in the 3200. Next year, the team will miss seniors JULIAN ALEXANDER, SETH SWIECICHOWSKI, LEX TREVELINO, WILL TRIMBLE and JACK WALLACE.

DONN BODDIE

Leah Jones and Cameron Perchik

VA R S I T Y G I R L S T R AC K & F I E L D Coached by JOLIE CUNNINGHAM

JACK WALLACE

CATHERINE SWEENEY

Jack Douglass

The varsity girls track-and-field team’s efforts throughout the season paid off at the Region 5-AAA meet, where junior IBUM OBU claimed the championship title in the shot put, two relay teams advanced to sectionals, and sophomore JUSTICE JACKSON and seniors SOPHIE BLASBERG and JULIA ROSS qualified for sectionals in individual events. At the state meet, Obu finished fifth in the shot put, and the girls 4x400 relay team—Ross and Blasberg, junior CAMERON PERCHICK, Jackson and sophomore LEAH JONES—came in sixth with a new school record. The team says farewell to seniors Blasberg, TONYIA JOHNSON, MOLLY LEVINE, CARSON MYERS, Ross, CAMERON RUSS, SARA VAN ZYVERDEN and TAHIRIH WILLIAMS.

ELIZABETH MARR

BEN THOMPSON

ERIN HOOD

Tonyia Johnson

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

JACK NEILL

VA R S I T Y B O Y S L AC R O S S E Coached by GRADY STEVENS, SHAYNE JACKSON, JESSE KING and RANDY STAATS

Drew Simons

XION JOHNSON King

Staats

LAX L E S SON S F ROM THE PROS Pace’s Middle School, junior varsity and varsity lacrosse teams benefitted from professional expertise as three members of the Georgia Swarm— SHAYNE JACKSON, JESSE KING and RANDY STAATS—joined this season’s coaching staff. The Swarm, part of the National Lacrosse League (NLL), play in Gwinnett County’s Infinite Energy Arena and advanced to this year’s NLL Championship series, where they defeated the Saskatchewan Rush to earn the Champion’s Cup. “We were honored to have three of our Swarm players join the Pace coaching staff,” Swarm Co-Owner and President Andy Arlotta said. “Shayne, Jesse and Randy are all high-character gentlemen and are three of the best forwards in the National Lacrosse League.” Photos courtesy of Swarm Lacrosse.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

Jackson

The varsity boys lacrosse team battled hard all season for a spot in the state tournament, but—despite early season victories over Holy Innocents’, Mount Pisgah, St. Pius X, Walker and Darlington—the Knights failed to advance to post-season play. Junior RYAN HOFSTETTER and sophomore CHARLIE WARREN were named to the All-State Honorable Mention team. Seniors DREW SIMONS, JOSH SIMONS, SAMMY TANENBLATT, ROB WARREN, and MITCHELL ZWECKER contributed to the team’s many successes and will be missed.

Sammy Tanenblatt

SAM ASSAF

VA R S I T Y GIRLS TENNIS Coached by MATT MARSICO The varsity girls tennis team, 2016’s GHSA Class AA state runner-up, set its sights on a repeat statechampionship appearance in 2017 and made it all the way to Class AAA’s Elite Eight. The Knights swept Dawson County High School and Savannah Arts Academy before falling to Calhoun High School in the quarterfinals. The team bids a fond farewell to seniors ALYSE GREENBAUM, ZOE WEITZNER and SOPHIE ZELONY.

AVI ARORA Sophie Zelony

Claire Wierman

BAY BRICKLEY

VA R S I T Y G I R L S L AC R O S S E Coached by COURTNEY MORRISON, BOBBI BOYER and TY RICHARDSON The varsity girls lacrosse team may not have pulled off a winning season, but the Knights did record decisive victories over Gainesville, Mount Paran and Walker. Georgia coaches selected freshman CLAIRE WIERMAN to the All-State Honorable Mention team, while sophomores MADELINE ARENTH and MERRITT ANN GLASS were named to the AAAAA–A All-Area 2 Girls Lacrosse team. Arenth also was selected to compete in the U.S. Lacrosse Women’s National Tournament. The team bids a fond farewell to seniors KEELEY HARRIS, JULIA ROBISON, LIBBY SAMS and KATE TRIMBLE.

ALONDRA JUAREZ

SANDY LUM

PAULA SANDOVAL

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

The move from GHSA Class AA to Class AAA didn’t slow the varsity boys tennis team’s march to this year’s state championship. The Knights, led by veteran coach NEIL DEROSA and seniors PRASHANTH KUMAR, JOSH NASH and BEN SIEGEL, finished the regular season as region runnerup, falling to a strong Westminster team in the region finals. The team began its post-season run with a 3–0 sweep of Lumpkin County High

ge Si e

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

BOYS TENNIS

BACK-TO-BACK STATE RUNNER-UP School. The Knights then traveled to Savannah, where they faced the Region 3-AAA champions from Islands High School and defeated the Sharks 3–0. Calhoun High School proved no match for the Knights in the Elite Eight, and the Pace squad went on to defeat

a K um

Lovett 3–2 to advance to the state finals. The championship once again pitted the Knights against Westminster, and the Pace boys fell to the Wildcats to finish the season as state runner-up.

Nas

SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

VARSITY SOCCER TEAMS FINISH STELLAR SEASONS SECOND IN STATE Knights fans of all ages traveled to McEachern High School on a stormy Friday evening in May to cheer on the varsity boys and girls soccer teams in a historic state-championship doubleheader. The girls—coached by LIZ TUTT, RON APOLLON, CAITLIN TERRY and GRAHAM TUTT—began post-season play with a first-round win over Lumpkin County High School. The Knights then traveled to Savannah, where a 5–0 victory over Savannah Arts Academy cemented their spot in the Elite Eight. They bested Calhoun High School 3–2 and then hosted Lovett in the Final Four. The Knights came away with the win in dramatic fashion, defeating the Lions 3–2 in overtime to claim a championship berth against Westminster. Under the leadership of coaches LUCAS MORENO and BROOKS FLEMING, the varsity boys soccer team advanced to the state championship for the second consecutive year. The Knights, the 2016 Class AA state runner-up, began their playoff run with a 4–0 win over Dawson County High School. They faced a formidable second-round opponent in Windsor Forest High School but came away with a 3–2 overtime win to advance to the Elite Eight. The Knights then triumphed over North Murray High School 2–1 to make their way to the Final Four. The boys took on East Hall High School away on May 9 and emerged victorious, defeating the Vikings 1–0. Both teams fell to the rival Wildcats; the girls lost 3–0, while the boys came up short 2–1. The girls say goodbye to seniors ISABELLA ABDULLAH, MCKENZIE BAKER, All-American JESSICA HAIDET and KATIE JORDAN, while the boys bid farewell to seniors JONATHAN BOSS, MICHAEL CHEN, AVERY HERMAN, CHRISTOPHER HOWARD, SAMMY LETTES, TOM PHILLIPS, ENO REYES, BRIAN SLOAN and MICK STONE.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF THE PACE RACE The Pace Academy Booster Club’s Pace Race continues to grow under the leadership of parent co-chairs JASON IBARRA, CHRISHAUNDA LEE PEREZ and FARAZ ZUBAIRI. In honor of the event’s 35th year, an army of parent volunteers welcomed hundreds of runners, walkers, and spectators to campus on April 22 for the annual 1-mile fun run and 5K race, a Peachtree Road Race qualifier. The event included live music, food trucks and family friendly activities, and all proceeds benefitted athletic programs in the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. Photographs by True Speed Photo

THE NEXT LEVEL Thirteen members of the Class of 2017 representing seven sports committed to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. Congratulations to the following student-athletes:

OLIVIA BAKER

MEGHAN BOTSCH

TREY BLOUNT

SUMMER BROWN

Sewanee: The University of the South, swimming

University of Georgia, football

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

College of Wooster, volleyball

Duke University, volleyball

SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

WENDELL CARTER JR.

CONNOR LAMASTRA

JACK RUBENSTEIN

JESSICA HAIDET

JORDAN PAYNE

MARK ANTHONY SOMMERVILLE

DEON JACKSON

ALEX ROSS

ANDREW THOMAS

Duke University, basketball

University of Southern California, soccer

Duke University, football

Dartmouth College, swimming

University of Richmond, football

Davidson College, golf

Emory University, baseball

Berry College, football and basketball

University of Georgia, football

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

ICGL A global education for every graduate

ALOHA, The 2017 class of Isdell Global Leaders concludes its year of climate study in the Paradise of the Pacific. It was a whirlwind year for Pace Academy’s 2016–2017 Isdell Global Leaders (IGLs). The Upper School students—sophomore JENNY LUETTERS, junior MELANIE CRAWFORD, and seniors ROSS CEFALU and MAX IRVINE—were selected following an intensive application process to explore the Isdell Center for Global Leadership’s (ICGL) annual theme of CLIMATE through travel, research and customized learning experiences. ICGL Director TRISH ANDERSON and Upper School faculty members KEVIN BALLARD and CAITLIN TERRY supervised the IGLs’ exploration. Their adventures began at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Manitoba, Canada, where they investigated the effects of climate change on Arctic species. Then, when ICGL Visiting Scholar Robert Swan invited Upper School students to travel to Antarctica in partnership with his 2041 Foundation, the IGLs decided to tag along. Junior CHRIS MCCAFFREY, Head of School FRED ASSAF, ICGL Associate Director ZEENA LATTOUF

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

’12 and Pre-First teacher RHONDA PECK O’GORMAN ’88 joined them. At the other end of the earth, their studies focused on conservation efforts necessary to preserve the Antarctic as the world’s last great wilderness. To conclude their year of travel, in April, the IGLs journeyed to the Hawaiian Islands to study climate change’s impact on tropical environments. During their visit, the IGLs partnered with the University of Hawaii’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. Via kayak, snorkel and catamaran, and in labs and lecture halls, they examined coral reef ecosystems, observed the islands’ rich marine life, and engaged in research with graduate students and marine biologists. They learned more about ocean temperatures and acidification, coral bleaching, overfishing, turbidity and other sources of degradation that have damaged the local ecosystems.

ICGL

They even received a lesson in computer ecosystem monitoring, which enables scientists to predict the behaviors of reefs and fish species. “Ultimately, we came to realize that the complexity of these issues is far grander than we ever imagined,” Cefalu says. The IGLs also attempted to understand Hawaii’s rich culture and history, as well as the issues the state faces today. “We were surprised to learn that 63 percent of the fish sold in Hawaii is imported,” Crawford reports. “We were even more surprised that approximately 60 percent of Hawaiians on the island of Oahu live at the poverty line and are considered food insecure—an astonishing number of people, and indicative of the real divide between what tourists typically see and what daily life is like.” The IGLs’ Year of Climate has inspired action. The team has begun working with the Pace administration toward the goal of a campus free of plastic water bottles, and Crawford and Luetters will oversee the distribution of durable, reusable bottles to the school community in the fall. They also plan to ensure that education around climate-related issues continues. “Learning so much [about climate change] this past year has made me realize that people need to stop debating whether climate change is happening and just get involved,” Crawford says. “We need to take action, because just talking about it isn’t going to do anything.”

Read more about our students' adventures on the ICGL Student Travel Blog at: icgl.paceacademy.org/travel

Thank You,

P A C E PA R E N T S C L U B !

Since 2014, the Pace Academy Parents Club’s Citizens of the World Travel Grant has made Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) study tours more affordable to Pace students by providing airfare once during a student’s Middle School years and once during his or her Upper School tenure. During the 2016–2017 year, 197 students explored the world on 15 ICGL study tours, and 64 percent of those students took advantage of Travel Grant funding. Thanks to the Parents Club for enabling these lifechanging experiences!

a Peoplestown

PARTNERSHIP Community engagement has long been a hallmark of Pace Academy and, this past January, Pace added another organization to its list of community partners with the launch of Peoplestown Academy. The program takes Pace students to Atlanta’s Peoplestown neighborhood to tutor students in grades five through 12. Students met at the Rick McDevitt Youth Center from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons to improve math and writing skills and build relationships. In just five months, Peoplestown Academy grew from 14 to 33 young attendees and, under the leadership of Program Coordinator ED WILLIAMS, 32 Pace students contributed more than 400 hours of tutoring time. Upper School faculty members frequently joined the tutoring sessions as well. “While the program’s purpose is to improve Peoplestown students’ academic development, it accomplished that and more,” says Associate Director of the Isdell Center for Global Leadership ZEENA LATTOUF ’12. “Pace students shared increased confidence in their own academic and tutoring abilities, and Pace and Peoplestown students built meaningful relationships with one other.” One-hundred percent of Peoplestown Academy participants surveyed at the end of the school year indicated that they plan to take part in the program next year. Upper School faculty member LAURA AGRONT-HOBBS will serve as program coordinator during the fall semester; Williams, who also teaches Middle School debate, will remain on as program coordinator in the spring. They will be assisted by four Upper School students: Community Engagement Leaders SYDNEY MUSE and ERICA TASHMA, and Executive Leaders SAMANTHA DELMAN and JASON ROSENBLOUM.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

CLOSING OUT THE YEAR OF CLIMATE

SHOWCASING OUR STUDIES The Pace Academy community came

together on April 25 for the Isdell Center for Global Leadership’s (ICGL) Climate

Showcase, the school-wide culmination of the ICGL’s Year of CLIMATE.

The evening spotlighted Pace’s social

entrepreneurship programs, while celebrat-

ing the ICGL’s stated outcomes: leadership,

engaged citizenship, cultural appreciation, international experiences and global mindsets. The event began with Mini and JuniorPre-

neur Market Day [1&2], during which students

BRINGING THE OCEAN TO THE CLASSROOM While studying the effects of climate change, overfishing and pollution on coral reefs, first graders designed and printed their own coral using Makers Empire, a 3D design program. Students then affixed their coral to displays that highlighted the most important facts they had learned. [6 & 9]

FIRST-GRADE INVENTORS TACKLE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES First graders in Lower School science teacher KATIE SANDLIN’S class participated in the 2017 Smithsonian Global Invent It Challenge [7&8], which asks students to think about a real-world issue and come up with a solution using the Spark!Lab seven-step process of invention. Students selected their own environmental or global problems and worked on their projects in science, technology and Design Thinking classes. From 193 entries submitted worldwide, four Pace teams received Honorable Mention recognition: HARPER DOHENY and ESTELLE LEVITT (air pollution); CHARLIE HALL, HUDSON NELSON and HENRY SUKENIK (factory pollution); EDUARDO AMBRA, KYLA GRAY and CARTER MARSICO (deforestation); GRAYDEN AUCHINCLOSS, ASIM GEORGE, LANDEN KLOPP, CHARLIE PARTIN and ELIZABETH ROMIG (wildlife poaching). “I am so very proud that every single one of our first-grade inventors joined young inventors from all around the world to create inventions that make the world a better place,” says Sandlin.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

NIMBUS WINS SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHALLENGE Now in its fourth year, the Pace Academy Social Entrepreneurship Challenge (PASEC) asks Upper School students to create innovative solutions to issues related to the Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) annual theme—this past year, CLIMATE. Throughout the yearlong competition, participants worked with mentors to develop and refine business plans, taking into account the quadruple bottom line: purpose, people, planet and profit. They then presented their business plans to a group of judges. Juniors DANIEL BLUMEN, ETHAN MUCH and BEN THOMPSON claimed the 2017 PASEC prize with Nimbus [10], a sunshade that reduces car temperatures while collecting and storing solar power in a portable charger that can be used to power mobile devices. The Nimbus team received $10,000 to launch their company and, at print time, was in the process of creating its website, nimbus.solar. “Adopting Nimbus is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint and live the cool, comfortable life you deserve,” the site says. The team of sophomores CHARLIE HIRSCH, BEN SOLOMON and CLAY SWIECICHOWSKI took second place with CAPES (Carbon Air-Purifying Environment System), a filtration system that removes carbon dioxide from parking decks.

who participated in the 13-week Lower

School entrepreneurship course showcased the products they had created and raised

funds to benefit nonprofit organizations of their choosing. The fourth- and fifth-grade

JuniorPreneurs contributed $1,148.25 to The Ellis School, while second- and third-grade

MiniPreneurs donated $659.90 to the MakeA-Wish Foundation and the ASPCA.

Following Market Day, attendees gath-

ered for a reception and remarks from ICGL Director TRISH ANDERSON [11] before

dispersing throughout the Garcia Family Middle School to visit booths staffed by students and faculty in all divisions.

“For the past year, the Pace community

has explored causes, effects, implica-

tions and interventions around climate,”

Anderson said. “This exploration has taken on many different shapes across our divisions—from a Pre-First dive into weather patterns to an Upper School journey to

Antarctica. We’ve examined climate as part

of our curriculum, and we’ve investigated it through global excursions, local field trips, visits from experts and activities around the world. Tonight is an opportunity to

interface with a portion of this year-long excursion into climate.”

The booths [3, 4 & 5]—featuring student

projects and presentations, conversations

and interactive exercises—centered on five overlapping themes: Climate Around the

World, Communicating About Climate, Re-

newable Energy, Consumption & Waste and Sustainable Living.

Pace Academy’s yearlong dive into CLIMATE, the Isdell Center for Global Leadership’s (ICGL) annual theme, has come to an end. From coral reefs and deforestation to social entrepreneurship and a school-wide Climate Showcase, here’s how we braved the elements.

ICGL

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

GLOBAL LEADERS

Left to right: Pickman, Rubin, St. Amand, Gannon and Cushman performing at this year's Pace Race.

MAKING MUSIC FOR A GOOD CAUSE Streetwise wins Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Battle of the Bands

When freshmen ROBERT CUSHMAN, AIDAN GANNON, JOSH PICKMAN, NIKKI RUBIN and DANIEL ST. AMAND were Lower School students, they formed Freezing Fire, a band that plays classic rock, covering songs by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Nirvana and Green Day. For several years, the group, renamed Streetwise when its members were in seventh grade, has performed at birthday parties and Pace-sponsored events like the Fall Fair, the Pace Race and Middle School Spirit Nights, but its biggest performance came this past spring when Streetwise competed in Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s (CHOA) 2017 Battle of the Bands. The event raised funds for CHOA, “one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation,” and took place at the Buckhead Theatre in front of a packed house. When the music stopped, Streetwise emerged victorious. “[The Battle of the Bands] was a really professional event,” recalls Gannon, who plays the guitar. Rubin, the group’s lead vocalist, called the energy “incredible,” while Cushman, on bass, loved being surrounded by other talented musicians. Guitarist Pickman says the event was made even better by the fact that “all the funds and donations went to a great cause.” Looking forward, St. Amand, who plays the drums, says preparing four songs for the competition allowed Streetwise to “become really tight as a band,” and he hopes they will use the experience to branch out beyond cover-band status. Rubin agrees: “I’d love to try to write some music together,”she says. — with contributions from JILLIAN SNYDER ’16 Photographs by True Speed Photo

Lynx

g Feedin the u! Caribo W a t c h in g Bald Eagles

: .)

THIS PAST SPRING, I entered the Frank Ski Kids Foundation’s Planet Green 2017: Sustainability Alaska essay/speech competition. [The organization is dedicated to “exposing students to their future through science, technology, athletics and the arts,” and the 20 competition winners would spend a week exploring issues of sustainability in Alaska.] During this past school year, the Pace Academy community studied the Isdell Center for Global Leadership’s (ICGL) annual theme of CLIMATE, so my entry focused on global climate change, how it is affecting Alaska’s environment faster than any other state in America and mitigation ideas for our community. I delivered my essay as a speech, and a panel of judges selected me for the opportunity to experience a phenomenal trip! After a flight to Juneau and a five-hour ferry ride, we arrived in the city of Haines. Over the next seven days, we saw firsthand the effect climate change has had on the glaciers, the land and the native Jilkaat Kwaan tribe. While driving to our hostel, we saw Rainbow Glacier—which didn’t actually look like a rainbow. Our guide told us she grew up observing the glacier’s changes. She noticed the melting began about 20 years ago because the glacier started losing color, going from dark to light blue. If climate change continues, it will become white, then clear, like the last stage of melting ice cubes. We also saw the effects of isostatic rebound, when a landmass rises because of the loss of pressure from the glaciers melting. After kayaking the Chilkoot River, we walked along the beach and saw seaweed in the grass about 20 feet from the shoreline. As a result of the rising landmass, rivers flow backward into the ocean, exposing more and more of the riverbeds. The Jilkaat Kwaan tribe’s village, Klukwan, revolves around the Chilkat River, 5 miles away from the Chilkoot. Upstream, a Canadian mining company threatens their way of life. Mine tailings (mud-like waste from the mining process) could pollute their resources, making water unsafe to drink, and could poison the salmon,

An Advocate for Sustainability Eighth-grader GISELLE STRONG recounts her life-changing journey to Alaska with the Frank Ski Kids Foundation’s Planet Green initiative.

Kayak Fun making them unsafe to eat. Bald eagles would also be at risk. During salmon-run season, Haines has the largest number of bald eagles in the world. Without this food source, America’s symbol of freedom would return to the endangered species list. If we do nothing, they will die of starvation. On our visit to the Kroschel Wildlife Reserve, I saw a lynx, pet a wolverine, fed a caribou carrots and gave a 15-foot, 700-pound brown bear peanut-butter cookies—by tossing them into her cage, of course. As a wildlife enthusiast, this was the highlight of my trip. It saddens me to imagine these innocent animals becoming victims of our carelessness. Our Pace community can participate in the fight against this global catastrophe.

Let’s turn our tablets, cellphones and laptops completely off instead of leaving them on standby when not in use. We can carpool when driving long distances or ride bikes or walk for short-distance trips. To reduce our waste, we can cook more rather than eat out, and we can double-check all of the items we throw away to see if they are recyclable or can be used for another purpose. If enough people commit to reduce their emissions, these small sacrifices can create big change. Thanks to Pace, [eighth-grade science teacher] KELLY COLQUITT and the ICGL for helping me THINK BIG about global climate change! Photos courtesy of Ben Rose Photography

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

GLOBAL LEADERS

EVERY NIGHT, more than 3,300 young people in Atlanta sleep on the streets. In April, Upper School students and faculty partnered with Covenant House Georgia to help change that statistic by raising awareness of and funds to fight youth homelessness. Covenant House Georgia provides shelter, as well as educational, vocational, and mental-health services to homeless and runaway young people. On April 21, students and teachers gathered at Covenant House to “sleep out” in solidarity with homeless individuals. “I participated in the sleep out not just to support Covenant House, but to raise my own awareness of homelessness,” says

senior LEX TREVELINO. “The most surprising thing I learned from this experience is how easy it is for youth to become homeless. We heard personal stories from the youth [at Covenant House]… that changed my perspective on homelessness in Atlanta. I discovered that it is much more common than we believe, and that it can sometimes be staring us right in the face.” As the first high school in the country to participate in a Covenant House Student Sleep Out, Pace set a fundraising goal of $20,000—the cost of two beds at Covenant House for two homeless teens for one year— and raised $22,340 for this important cause.

SLEEPING OUT TO END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

CHRISTINA SNYDER

BRIANNA KORB UPPER SCHOOL teachers BRIANNA KORB and CHRISTINA SNYDER lead by example when it comes to innovation, investing their time and expertise in the Upper School’s robotics program, RoboKnights. With Korb’s knowledge of physics and Snyder’s background in computer science, the two are a dynamic duo—something Korb sensed immediately. “As soon as I met Christina, I knew we would be a perfect team,” Korb recalls. Her instincts were spot-on. In Korb and Snyder’s three years working together, the RoboKnights program has expanded from four to 11 students, and the team qualified for the 2017 state championship. Additionally, two robotics classes, Intro to Programming and Intro to Robotics, have been added to the Pace Academy curriculum, allowing for greater student involvement. RoboKnights now meets as a class, rather than an after-school activity, so any interested student can participate. Korb and Snyder’s commitment to the program began in the summer of 2014. To bolster their knowledge, they traveled to Carnegie Mellon University for training in ROBOTC, the language of the competition. In that week, the pair “became hooked on robotics and invested in the STEAM dream” and developed a five-year plan to grow Pace’s STEAM (science, technology, engi-

neering, arts and mathematics) curriculum. Snyder acts as a “coding coach” to help transform ideas into reality, and she serves as a sounding board as students work toward successful designs, assigning duties and enforcing deadlines. Korb describes herself as “the team organizer and cheering squad.” In addition to providing support and enthusiasm for students’ creations, she guarantees a smooth operation; she orders parts, registers for competitions, and pushes students to “stay on task and get goals done.” She also invests a great deal of her free time. This past year, she judged the FIRST Technology Challenge (FTC) South Super Regional tournament to see how other teams performed in the judging portion of the competition. She brought back what she learned, enhancing the RoboKnights’ competition presence. In an exciting weekend for the program, Pace hosted the FTC Kick-Off. As the initial event of the robotics season, it’s “kind of a big deal,” Korb says. Students from teams all over the state split up and attended nine coinciding workshops to learn as much as possible within two hours. Teams then gathered in the Fine Arts Center to hear the worldwide announcement of the season’s challenge and watch a video outlining objectives, rules and penalties. For Pace to host

such an integral event is a testament to how the program has grown under Korb and Snyder’s leadership. To prepare for each season, the RoboKnights spend the early part of the year familiarizing themselves with the game manual, strategies and robotics basics—including sensors and driving—using practice robots. This past year, the team maintained two robots: Sam, for practice, and Bruno, for competition. “While builders worked on Bruno, coders worked with Sam on the autonomous strategy, where the robot moves independently,” Snyder says. She describes how, before she and Korb took charge, “students really struggled to write good, robust robotics programs,” but the teachers’ combination of skills has enabled improvement. “Brianna can do the hardware, and I can do the software,” Snyder reports. And while their complementary skill sets make the pair a great team, Korb and Snyder credit their success to their genuine respect and affection for each other. “Working with Brianna has been a joy,” says Snyder. “I know that she is there to support me if I need it.” Korb feels similarly: “I am so glad that I was able to find someone as passionate and dedicated as Christina,” she says. That support extends to the duo’s students, who must learn to work as a group and maintain a positive attitude, especially when competitions don’t go as planned. But Korb and Snyder find value in instances of defeat. “A lot of failure happens in the lab, and that’s wonderful,” they say. “Students learn that failure is okay. It builds resiliency, which translates very easily to other STEAM classes.” Both Korb and Snyder expect to see students’ spirit of determination continue to grow and hope that one day the RoboKnights will compete in the World Championship. It will be a tough path, as Georgia teams—unlike Florida or Texas, which have active space programs—rarely qualify. However, Korb and Snyder are hopeful that with enduring support and increased student participation, the program will continue to make leaps and bounds.

F a c u lt y S pot l ig ht

GLOBAL LEADERS

— by JILLIAN SNYDER ’16

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

CLASS OF 2017

The Heart of Pace Academy

Talk of the Pace Academy Class of 2017’s indomitable spirit permeated this year’s graduation festivities. Not school spirit—although Head of Upper School MIKE GANNON acknowledged that the 105 members of the class “had kind of won Spirit Week for years”—but rather, the essence of the group, as Dean KRISTA WILHELMSEN named it, the class’s “beautiful heart.” “The Class of 2017 is the type of class that you could be afraid to leave behind,” Salutatorian WILL MOVSOVITZ told those gathered at commencement. “Teachers and speakers alike love to tell us that our grade has a reputation of being unusually close knit. Through the good moments and the bad, we trust and look out for each other.” That sense of family, resilience, and love shone through on May 12 and 13 as the Pace community lauded its newest alumni. The celebrations commenced with Senior Honors Day, where Gannon praised the Class of 2017. “We’ve had great scholars at Pace

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

CLASS OF 2017

Farewell to the Class of 2017 before, but not like this,” he said. “We’ve had a long line of singers and athletes, artists and musicians, but for shear quantity and quality, this class surpasses the rest… But more importantly to me, [the members of this class] stood up for each other.” A reception in the Pace Gardens and the Seaman Family Student Commons followed the awards ceremony, and the next morning, Dr. Raymond R. Sommerville Jr., emeritus professor of church history at Christian Theological Seminary and church historian for the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, delivered the Baccalaureate address. Sommerville urged graduates to “stay woke” as they leave Pace and embark on the next chapters of their lives. “Stay conscious, stay connected, stay committed,” Sommerville said, encouraging students to embrace “courageous leadership,” “compassionate service,” “civic engagement,” “creative foresight” and “constructive solidarity.” Dean Wilhelmsen then bid farewell to her class. “Today, we stand beside you

in awe of who you are, of what you have accomplished and of all the ways you have blessed us,” Wilhelmsen said. “We look forward with pride and confidence to all that you will achieve with the future that each one of you holds in your hands. You are ready. You’ve got this.” Commencement took place later that afternoon at Peachtree Presbyterian Church. During the graduation exercises, Valedictorian CHRISTOPHER HOWARD reflected on the strong relationships he and his classmates formed at Pace, the legacy they leave behind. Movsovitz then introduced surprise commencement speaker Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons quarterback and the National Football League’s 2016 Most Valuable Player. In his speech, Ryan ruminated on the Falcon’s 2017 Super Bowl appearance, the team’s “devastating” loss and the lessons of resilience he learned as a result. “You graduates have reached your own big moment today. No one can come from behind you and take that away. You have already won,”

Ryan said. “But some day, it is inevitable that you will get knocked down… whatever the circumstances of your disappointment, remember that you must get back up.” Ryan continued: “The fact that you’ve been disappointed does not mean that you’re fatally flawed; it means you’re human. You do not need to change who you are. You just need to embrace the opportunity to improve… Getting hit is not fun, but finding strength on the other side of it is its own accomplishment. You can do it. You must do it to define your own success.” Head of School FRED ASSAF closed the ceremony and thanked the Class of 2017 for its empathetic leadership, its heart. “You embody spirit as we’ve never seen it before,” he said. “You leave Pace as confident global citizens.” â

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

CLASS OF 2017

The Class of 2017… • Will matriculate to 49 colleges and universities in 20 states, the District of Columbia and Scotland • Includes seven National Merit Finalists, three National Merit Scholars and one U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Semifinalist • Earned 22 2017 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards • Represents Georgia High School Association team championships in cross-country, football, basketball, soccer and the literary meet • Traveled the world through Pace’s Isdell Center for Global Leadership, visiting destinations such as India, South Africa, Chile, Madagascar and Antarctica

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

Commencement speaker Matt Ryan

Baccalaureate speaker Dr. Raymond R. Sommerville Jr.

“The Class of 2017 picked each other up, looked out for each other, hugged when hugs were needed, cried when tears were called for and loved wholeheartedly.” —Head of Upper School MIKE GANNON “The legacy we leave behind, Class of 2017, is intrinsically tied to the friendships we have formed over our years at Pace Academy. Years from now, no one will remember our grades, our AP test scores or even where we are going to college, but they will remember the relationships we have fostered.” —Valedictorian CHRISTOPHER HOWARD “Pace Academy is a school that you should not be afraid to leave. No matter how long your stay at the Academy was, you are definitely now more prepared to take on the challenges of ‘the real world’ than you were upon entering.” —Salutatorian WILL MOVSOVITZ

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

Senior Awards Atlanta Journal-Constitution Cup Will Movsovitz

Career Contribution to Athletics Award

Samantha Moreland

Charlie Owens Letter Blanket Award Isabella Abdullah, Julian Alexander, Barrett Baker, Mckenzie Baker, Alexis Benson, Sophie Blasberg, Jonathan Boss, Meghan Botsch, Summer Brown, Ross Cefalu, Alyse Greenbaum, Jessica Haidet, Keeley Harris, Thomas Hoover, Christopher Howard, Max Irvine, Deon Jackson, Molly Jacoby, Alex Kaye, Prashanth Kumar, Connor LaMastra, Katy Leitz, Sammy Lettes, Molly Levine, Jack McMillin, Samantha Moreland, Brennan Murphy, Carson Myers, Josh Nash, McRae Oglesby, Parker Payne, Jordan Payne, Mary Brooks Perkey, John Propst, Justin Rayman, Eno Reyes, William Robbins, Julia Robison, Alex Ross, Julia Ross, Jack Rubenstein, Libby Sams, Laura Shelton, Ben Siegel, Drew Simons, Josh Simons, Mark Anthony Sommerville, Seth Swiecichowski, Sammy Tanenblatt, Andrew Thomas, Kate Trimble, Will Trimble, Jack Wallace, Rob Warren, Zoe Weitzner, Sandy Xie & Mitchell Zwecker

Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship Award Whit FitzGerald

Eagle Scout Recognition

Julian Alexander, Thomas Hoover & Alex Kaye [4]

English Department Award Taylor Upchurch [3]

Frank D. Kaley Award

Christopher Howard & Julia Ross

George G. Kirkpatrick Pace Knight Award

Prashanth Kumar & Carly Silverstein

George Mengert Lifetime Achievement Award

Julian Alexander, Ellie Duncan, Kyle Duval, Whit FitzGerald, Willie Lieberman, Carson Myers & Mitchell Zwecker

Gladys Johnson Award

Alexis Benson & Lex Trevelino

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

Headmasterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Award

Kate Bethel, Kyle Duval, Annie Nottingham & Seth Swiecichowski

Hilton and Philippa Kort Service Above Self Award Sophie Zelony

James De La Fuente Award Ellie Duncan & Willie Lieberman

Jim and Lesley Wheeler Scholar Athlete Award

Zoe Weitzner, Connor LaMastra & Andrew Thomas

Kent C. Taylor, Jr. Award

Megan Botsch, Summer Brown, Alyse Greenbaum, Thomas Hoover, Sammy Lettes & Jack McMillin [5]

Lance and Shield Award

Mckenzie Baker & Mark Anthony Sommerville

Margery Russell Wilmot Spirit Award Carson Myers, Mary Brooks Perkey, Cameron Russ, Ben Siegel, Brian Sloan & Sammy Tanenblatt

Mike Gannon Award for Excellence in History Julian Alexander

Mike Murphy Courage to Strive for Excellence Award Josie Cross & Max Irvine

Pace Literary Prize Mckenzie Baker [2]

Pace Senior Citizen

Isabella Abdullah, Barrett Baker, Kaki Cox, Ashley Estroff, Keeley Harris, Sam Hawn, Amanda Hinson, Molly Jacoby, Sarah Kitchen, Prashanth Kumar, Molly Levine, Jake Movsovitz, Will Movsovitz, Brennan Murphy, Carson Myers, Parker Payne, John Propst, Julia Robison, Julia Ross, Alex Ross, Carly Silverstein, Josh Simons, Drew Simons, Seth Swiecichowski, Sammy Tanenblatt, Zoe Weitzner & Mitchell Zwecker

Peter F. Hoffman Honor Scholarship Molly Jacoby & Justin Rayman

Ralph Lee Newton Literary Award Jake Movsovitz & Alexis Wilkins

Raymond Buckley Award

Wendell Carter Jr. & Julia Ross

Robert A. Yellowlees Award Josie Cross & Sari Leven [1]

Salutatorian Will Movsovitz

Science Department Award Katy Leitz

Silver Knight Award Julia Ross

Sydney Rushin Mathematics Prize Kyle Duval

Valedictorian

Christopher Howard

World Languages Department Awards

Alexis Wilkins (French), Annie Nottingham (Latin) & Isabella Abdullah (Spanish)

College Choices Isabella Abdullah, University of Miami Julian Alexander, University of Georgia Misha Andra-Thomas, Georgia Institute of Technology Barrett Baker, University of Michigan Mckenzie Baker, Wake Forest University Olivia Baker, Sewanee: The University of the South Alexis Benson, Texas Christian University Kate Bethel, University of Georgia Sophie Blasberg, University of Michigan Trey Blount, University of Georgia Jonathan Boss, Washington University in St. Louis Meghan Botsch, College of Wooster Summer Brown, Duke University Wendell Carter Jr., Duke University Ross Cefalu, Georgia Institute of Technology Michael Chen, Washington University in St. Louis Kaki Cox, University of Miami Josie Cross, University of Alabama Olivia Dillon, University of Alabama Emma Downey, Gap Year Ellie Duncan, Belmont University Kyle Duval, Georgia Institute of Technology Ashley Estroff, Tulane University Lindsay Fisher, Vanderbilt University Whit FitzGerald, Vanderbilt University Lizabeth Frohwein, Northwestern University Maximilian Garton, Auburn University Landon Goldstein, University of Texas, Austin Alyse Greenbaum, Santa Clara University Jessica Haidet, University of Southern California Keeley Harris, University of Richmond Sam Hawn, University of Alabama Avery Herman, Duke University Amanda Hinson, University of South Carolina Thomas Hoover, Pennsylvania State University Chris Howard, Stanford University Miles Hsu, Georgia Institute of Technology Max Irvine, Gap Year Deon Jackson, Duke University Molly Jacoby, University of Georgia Tonyia Johnson, University of Miami Katie Jordan, Case Western Reserve University Ramiro Juarez, Oglethorpe University Alex Kaye, University of Georgia Grace Kiersznowski, University of Georgia

CLASS OF 2017

Kendall Kirkman, Miami University, Oxford Sarah Kitchen, University of Colorado, Boulder Prashanth Kumar, Harvard University Connor LaMastra, Dartmouth College Katy Leitz, Georgia Institute of Technology Sammy Lettes, Vanderbilt University Sari Leven, Tulane University Caleb Levin, University of Alabama Molly Levine, University of Georgia Willie Lieberman, University of California, Los Angeles Jack McMillin, University of Virginia Samantha Moreland, Georgetown University Jake Movsovitz, University of Texas, Austin Will Movsovitz, University of Pennsylvania Brennan Murphy, Texas Christian University Carson Myers, Georgia Institute of Technology Josh Nash, University of Chicago Annie Nottingham, Rhodes College McRae Oglesby, University of Georgia Jordan Payne, University of Richmond Parker Payne, University of North Carolina Mary Brooks Perkey, Wake Forest University Tom Phillips, University of Georgia John Propst, University of Georgia Sallie Quiner, University of Alabama Justin Rayman, University of Georgia Eno Reyes, Princeton University William Robbins, University of Alabama Julia Robison, George Washington University Alex Ross, Davidson College

Julia Ross, Georgetown University Jack Rubenstein, Emory University Cameron Russ, Georgia Institute of Technology Jibril Sadiq, Kennesaw State University Libby Sams, Mount Holyoke College Laura Shelton, University of Colorado, Boulder Ben Siegel, University of Georgia Carly Silverstein, University of Georgia Drew Simons, Southern Methodist University Josh Simons, Southern Methodist University Brian Sloan, University of Pennsylvania Mark Anthony Sommerville, Berry College Mick Stone, University of Chicago Seth Swiecichowski, Auburn University Sammy Tanenblatt, Washington and Lee University Andrew Thomas, University of Georgia Lex Trevelino, Pennsylvania State University Kate Trimble, University of Georgia Will Trimble, Dartmouth College Taylor Upchurch, New York University Sara Van Zyverden, Rollins College Jack Wallace, Texas Christian University Rob Warren, Washington and Lee University Zoe Weitzner, University of Pennsylvania Alexis Wilkins, University of St Andrews Tahirih Williams, Stetson University Mia Wright, University of Miami Sandy Xie, Georgia Institute of Technology Sophie Zelony, Vanderbilt University Mitchell Zwecker, Georgia Institute of Technology l

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir on Glacier Point, Yosemite Valley, California, in 1903. Library of Congress photo

“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” – John Muir

the year of Conservation

THE YEAR OF CONSERVATION

the Isdell Center for Global Leadership’s 2017–2018 theme

• Engineering Eden by Jordan Fisher Smith • The Rise of the American Conservation Movement by Dorceta E. Taylor • The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery • The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert • Light at the Edge of the World: A Journey Through the Realm of Vanishing Cultures by Wade Davis • Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman: Conservation Heroes of the American Heartland by Miriam Horn

Conservation e

Pace Academy faculty and staff have spent the summer exploring conservation through the following books. Pick up one of these recommended reads and join the discussion!

the 2017–2018 school year, the Pace Acad-

Our Summer Reading List

“We have fallen heirs to the most glorious emy community will think critically about heritage a people ever received, and each CONSERVATION, the Isdell Center for one must do his part if we wish to show that Global Leadership’s (ICGL) fourth annual the nation is worthy of its good fortune,” a global theme. 28-year-old Theodore Roosevelt told the Students, faculty and staff will explore people of Dickinson, Dakota, on July 4, 1886. conservation as it relates to the ICGL’s five The young man, a lover of nature shaped focus areas: Science & Technology, Culture by his father’s commitment to conservation & Arts, Social Entrepreneurship & Business, and his time in the Dakota Territory, became Community Engagement & Environmental Suspresident in 1901. He tainability, Public Policy employed his power to & International Relacreate the United States tions. Teachers will Forest Service and esincorporate conservanoun, con∙ser∙va∙tion, tablish national forests tion issues and study kän(t)-s r-'vā-sh n and parks, bird reserves, into their curriculum game preserves and with the goal of build: a careful preservation and promonuments—in total ing awareness, fostering tection of something; especially protecting more than understanding and enplanned management of a natural 230 million acres of couraging engagement. resource to prevent exploitation, public land. Together we’ll exdestruction or neglect As president, Roosplore the relationships evelt preached a message between conservation of conservation. “We have become great be- and climate, food and water, our previous cause of the lavish use of our resources,” he said ICGL themes; travel near and far to see conat the 1908 Conference on the Conservation of servation efforts in action; talk to scientists, Natural Resources. “But… it is time for us now naturalists, activists and economists; and atas a nation to exercise the same reasonable fore- tempt to understand conservation’s impact on sight in dealing with our great natural resources our own lives. that would be shown by any prudent man in conserving and widely using the property which contains the assurance of well-being for himself SOURCES: and his children.” The Theodore Roosevelt’s challenge continues to resonate Roosevelt Association today—and a new generation of global leaders has answered his call. Over the course of The National Park Service

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

THE YEAR OF CONSERVATION

what are we trying to conserve? The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s leading conservation organization, strives to “stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature.” WWF structures its conservation efforts around

FORESTS

OCEANS

FRESH WATER

CLIMATE

FOOD

WILDLIFE

six areas: forests, oceans, fresh water, climate, food and wildlife. During the 2017–2018 school year, the Pace Academy community will attempt to understand the global threats to each of these areas and determine how we can help protect and preserve our environment for future generations.

Our Conservation Cohort

Boddie

Schank

Richardson

Ray

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For rising seniors DON BODDIE, MOLLY RICHARDSON, and ERIC SCHANK and rising junior ABBY RAY, the 2017–2018 school year will include months of research, travel, and conversation as they strive to comprehend issues of conservation at home and abroad. Selected as the fourth class of Isdell Global Leaders (IGLs) following a competitive application process, these students have been charged with bringing back to Pace Academy their findings and observations and leading their classmates in improving conservation efforts at Pace and in their own lives. Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) Director TRISH ANDERSON, Associate ICGL Director ZEENA LATTOUF ’12 and Upper School science teacher KEVIN BALLARD will work with our IGLs in an

independent-study course, preparing them for two conservation-themed study tours. The group’s adventures will begin in Yellowstone National Park, home to 60 percent of the world’s geysers and an array of wildlife. In recent years, America’s first national park has undertaken conservation efforts related to water, energy, fossil fuel consumption, recycling, environmental purchasing and waste reduction—and IGLs will learn from leaders championing these efforts within Yellowstone. Then, on a spring study tour to Baja, Mexico, IGLs will dive into conservation initiatives related to the area’s rich marine life, much of which is now protected as part of the Pacific Islands Biosphere Reserve, established in 2016 along the peninsula’s western coast.

Introducing the ICGL Student Advisory Council

THE YEAR OF CONSERVATION

Brennan

Carter

Hobbs

Hood

Over the course of the coming year, 12 Upper School students will work with Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) faculty to coordinate and promote events around the ICGL’s Year of Conservation. The 2017–2018 ICGL Student Advisory Council includes CATHERINE BRENNAN, JEB CARTER, VIRGINIA HOBBS, ERIN HOOD, SYDNIE JIANG, JEREMY LEVIN, SARAH ANN NINAN, EVERETT O’GORMAN, KATHRYN REISNER, MICHAEL STARR, ANNA STONE and SARAH TREADWAY.

creating a climate of Conservation

Levin Starr Treadway

O'Gorman

Reisner Stone

Ninan

Jiang

Lower School faculty travel to South Africa for a deep dive into the ICGL’s 2017–2018 global theme. International experiences are a critical component of the Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL), but how does one bring the world to those too young to venture into it on their own? To better incorporate global perspectives and real-world study of conservation into the Lower School curriculum, six Lower School faculty members—Pre-First teacher LANG FIVEASH, second-grade teacher JANIE ROWE, fifth-grade teacher DIANE WILBUR, science teacher KATIE SANDLIN, counselor KACY BRUBAKER and Director of Design Thinking MARY BETH BONGIOVANNI—traveled to South Africa this past spring. In partnership with Oceans Research, an organization based in Mossel Bay and dedicated to marine and terrestrial conservation, the Pace Academy crew engaged in hands-on research—from cataloging creatures in tide pools to cage diving with great white sharks. Then, it was off to the Schotia Game Reserve to study “The Big Five”—rhinos, elephants, buffalo, lions and leopards—and the other mammal species that call the protected area home. The group returned to Atlanta with photos and films, video messages from scientists and compelling stories from their journeys. To incorporate these lessons and materials into the curriculum, they’ll quite literally transform the Lower School building into the earth’s ecosystems for the coming year. The Pre-First and first-grade halls will represent oceans and freshwater environments; the second- and third-grade floor will house terrestrial habitats; and the fourth- and fifth-grade hall will serve as the treetops and the sky. Depending on the ecosystem in which it is located, each classroom will assume the identity of one of the animals the faculty group came across in South Africa. Students will spend the year becoming experts on that species, understanding how it interacts with and is affected by the creatures, climates and forces it encounters. As awareness and critical thinking grow, students will apply their knowledge and understanding to solve problems and take action in their own communities. “If one person can make a difference, imagine what 400+ Pace Lower School Eco-Knights can do!” Sandlin says.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? ALUMNI UPDATES 1) Andrew Nurkin; 2) Emily Hishta Cohen; 3) Lauren Melville; 4) Andrew Benator in Between Riverside and Crazy; 5) Roger Strauss; 6) Jennifer Smith; 7) Lindsey Zwecker; 8) Laura Adilman, Whitney White and Brooke Beadle Anderson

ROGER STRAUSS ’75 and his wife, Eve Kofsky, rode their tandem bicycle from coast to coast this past spring. “We began on March 4 by dipping our rear wheel into the Pacific in San Diego and finished at the Atlantic in St. Augustine on April 24,” Roger writes. “That’s 2,925 miles in 52 days!” ANDREW BENATOR ’89 recently appeared in The Founder, a film starring Michael Keaton that tells the story of Ray Kroc, a salesman who turned McDonald’s into one of the biggest restaurant businesses in the world. In the movie, Andrew plays Leonard Rosenblatt, a McDonald’s franchisee/ operator. In the coming months, Andrew will perform in two plays at Atlanta theatres: Between Riverside and Crazy at Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre and Crossing Delancey at the Alliance Theatre. ANDREW NURKIN ’99 joined the Free Library of Philadelphia as deputy director

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

for Enrichment and Civic Engagement. This newly created role oversees literary, cultural and civic programs for Philadelphia’s citywide public library system, including the Parkway Central Library, 53 neighborhood libraries, and the Rosenbach Rare Book Museum and Library. In addition to readings, exhibitions, classes and performances, Andrew’s office develops new initiatives to promote civic dialogue and community engagement across Philadelphia. In 2016, Andrew was a Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Creative Fellow at the Millay Colony for the Arts. LAURA ADILMAN ’99, BROOKE BEADLE ANDERSON ’00 and WHITNEY WHITE ’00 spent two weeks in Indonesia in partnership with Habitat for Humanity International. The group constructed a home for a deserving family in a small village near the city of Yogyakarta. “[Habitat for Humanity] trips change lives by giving individuals a hand up, and our

team was so grateful to be a part of Habitat’s mission and work,” Whitney writes. EMILY HISHTA COHEN ’06 graduated from The Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University with a Master of Science in the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works and a Master of Arts in the History of Art and Archaeology. During the four-year program, Emily specialized in book and paper conservation. She completed her final-year internship in the Conservation Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries and will continue to work there part-time while she establishes a private practice in book and paper conservation. Emily and her husband, JOEL COHEN ’06, recently purchased a home in Winchester, Mass. Joel has worked at MIT Investment Management Company since 2010. DANIELLE EZOR ’09 will soon begin her doctoral studies in art history at the

ALUMNI

A l um

Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. She plans to study 18th-century French painting and decorative arts with a focus on materiality and gender politics. In June 2016, Danielle received her master’s degree from the Williams Graduate Program in the History of Art. That summer, she spent two months traveling throughout Europe and returned to Boston, where she served as a graduate research intern in the Museum of Fine Arts’ Art of Europe Department. There, she researched the museum’s collection of Monet paintings and worked on an exhibition about women in Paris titled La Parisienne. The exhibit opened in Japan this summer. In May 2016, JENNIFER SMITH ’12 earned a business degree in marketing from the University of Texas and moved to Dallas, Texas, to work for Frito-Lay. As the marketing analyst on the Tostitos and Dips teams, Jennifer’s responsibilities include:

tracking and analyzing brand performance; maintaining budgets; ad hoc preparation and analysis for events such as innovation launches, customer meetings and campaigns; and supporting and leading various marketing programs. “So far, my favorite project has been our NFL program for the upcoming football season, which entails in-store and digital activation,” Jennifer writes. LAUREN MELVILLE ’13 graduated magna cum laude from Kenyon College with a degree in psychology. She moved to Boston following graduation to work as a community residence counselor at 3East, one of McLean Hospital’s inpatient residential treatment programs. The program serves adolescent girls with borderline personality disorder and utilizes dialectical behavior therapy, a method of treatment gaining popularity amongst clinicians. Lauren’s primary responsibilities include crisis intervention, patient supervision, skills

coaching, general engagement with therapeutic milieu and collaboration with the treatment team to provide effective treatment for each girl. Lauren is very excited to embark on this new adventure, as it will be an invaluable part of informing her future career in clinical psychology and counseling. In May, LINDSEY ZWECKER ’13 received a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from Dickinson College. A week before her college graduation, Lindsey began her coursework at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, where she is enrolled in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care accelerated master’s program. RILEY MUSE ’14, a rising senior in the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, was recently inducted into UGA’s Arch Society. Riley was one 36 individuals chosen to represent the student body of 36,000 and will

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

ALUMNI

1) Harrison Ray; 2) Riley Muse; 3) Kenny Selmon, photo by Rick Morgan of DuckNews.com.; 4) The Foxgrover/Dunlap wedding; 5) The Trotter/Smoak wedding; 6) Sybil Blaize Larson; 7) Leo Alexander Cleckley; 8–9) Lillie Caroline Duckett and the Duckett family; 10) Patrick Evans Hall; 11) Katherine Carlyle Mims Stephenson; 12) Erica Petrosky Delaney with her children

serve as an official host and goodwill ambassador throughout the coming year. During the summer break, Riley returned to Atlanta to work as a public affairs and communications intern for Coca-Cola North America. “In a nutshell, I’m generating good publicity for all of Coca-Cola North America’s sparkling beverage brands,” Riley says.

nominated HARRISON RAY ’16 to the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2021. Harrison, who completed his freshman year at Georgia Tech, reported to Annapolis in June and plans to study nuclear engineering or computer science.

At the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in May, KENNY SELMON ’14, representing the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, captured the 400-meter hurdle title in a lifetime-best performance of 48.76—the fastest in the nation. Kenny also ran on the second-place 4x400 relay team. The meet took place at Georgia Tech, and many Pace friends came out to support Kenny. Kenny went on to compete in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Oregon, where he ran a lifetime-best 48.60 in the 400-meter hurdles, placing fourth and breaking a 22-year-old UNC record. He was recognized with first-team All-America honors for the second time.

CAROLINE TROTTER SMOAK ’06 married Nicholas Smoak in Athens, Ga., on May 13, 2017.

Congressman Tom Price, Senator David Perdue and Georgia Tech Naval ROTC Commander Captain Baron Reinhold

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MARRIAGES

VICTORIA FOXGROVER DUNLAP ’06 and Tavner Dunlap were married on Nov. 18, 2016, at Auberge du Soleil in Napa Valley. Pace alumnae in attendance included LIZ CASON ’06, LINDSAY FORD ’06, ASHLEY LOHMANN HANSON ’06, KELSEY JONES PRATT ’06 and CLAIRE ROCK ’06. Tav and Victoria recently moved from the California Bay Area to Dallas, Texas, where they work in real estate.

BIRTHS KATIE MEYER LARSON ’97 and her husband, Tim, welcomed a baby girl, Sybil Blaize, on Oct. 20, 2016. She joins big brother

ALUMNI

Have something to share? email alumni@paceacademy.org Lucas Maverick, 5. Sybil was born at home and weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces. “Luke is obsessed, and uncle PATRICK MEYER ’96 seems pretty fond of her, too,” Katie writes. Tim roasts and sells coffee in Gainesville, Fla., and Katie is managing editor at Gleim Publications. The couple also coaches the University of Florida’s women’s water polo team, which finished fourth in the nation this past year. Next year will mark the couple’s 10th year coaching. In other news, Katie’s father, former Pace coach and guidance counselor JOHN MAYER, coached his final season of boys soccer this year. LUCKIE SMITH DUCKETT ’99 and her husband, Trey, welcomed their third child, Lillie Caroline, on Jan. 12, 2017. Lillie’s older brothers, William and Charlie, adore her.

Patrick Evans was born to MELANIE RUSHING HALL ’99 and her husband, Tom, on May 5, 2017. Patrick joins big brother Michael, 3. The couple moved to Jackson Hole, Wyo., five years ago and love raising their boys in the mountains. Tom is a sales manager for Teton Media Works, and Melanie is a registered client associate with J Singleton Financial, securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services. ANNE SMITH STEPHENSON ’99 and her husband, Martin, welcomed their third child, Katherine Carlyle Mims, on Jan. 11, 2017. She joins big brothers Gibson and Sanders. The family lives in Atlanta. CRISTINA DIAZ-CARRERA ’00 welcomed a son, Leo Alexander Cleckley, on April 20,

2017. Cristina lives in Washington, D.C., and works as a curator for the Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage, specializing in Latin American and Iberian projects. She plays soccer on Saturdays. ERICA PETROSKY DELANEY ’01 and her husband, Evan, welcomed a daughter, Emily Sophia, on May 14, 2017. She was 8 pounds, 22 inches and joins big brother Connor. The family lives in Brookhaven, Ga. Erica is an emergency medicine physician assistant at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta; Evan owns a mobile app agency. Emily’s youngest aunt, NICOLE PETROSKY, is a rising junior at Pace. KATIE STAHL SMITH ’01 and her husband, Aaron, welcomed Lucinda “Indie” Bay on March 6, 2017. Indie joins big sister Finn, 2.

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

ALUMNI

IN MEMORIAM

1) Ellis Edwards Goodrich; 2) Lucinda "Indie" Bay Smith with big sister Finn; 3) Megan and Alex Gaddy with new addition Margeaux Elizabeth; 4) Hayley and Will Tyler with son Henry Colgan

The family lives in Austin, Texas, where Katie works as an artist (check out her work at www.houndoggle.com) and recently started an art studio for artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Aaron is an electrical engineer. Henry Colgan was born to Hayley and WILL TYLER ’01 on March 15, 2017. He weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce and was 19.5 inches. “We’re enjoying our new life as a family of three!” Will writes. Hayley teaches art at St. Benedict’s Episcopal School in Smyrna, and Will is an assistant vice president at Colliers International, specializing in the leasing of office space for landlords in Atlanta. Megan and ALEX GADDY ’03 welcomed daughter Margeaux Elizabeth on April 20. She was 7 pounds, 7 ounces and 19.5 inches long. The family lives in Atlanta’s Meadowbrook neighborhood. Megan is a senior compensation consultant for Willis Towers Watson, and Alex is

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

director of strategy and business development for Novelis’s automotive business. The company is the leading producer of flatrolled aluminum products and the world’s largest recycler of aluminum. Megan and Alex enjoy playing golf at Ansley Golf Club with friends, including JON BIRDSONG ’03, ANDREW ALEXANDER ’04, TIM SCHAETZEL ’04 and RAY WHITE ’04. They also love spending time with family, including Alex’s older sister, GENNA GADDY FRANCONI ’02, who lives in Atlanta’s Morningside neighborhood. Kelly and PETE GOODRICH ’03 welcomed son Ellis Edwards on April 12, 2017. He joins big sister Louisa, 5, and brother August, 3. The family lives in Christchurch, Va., where Pete is director of college counseling at Christchurch School. CORRECTION: In the spring issue of this magazine, RYAN MANDRELL was listed as a member of the Class of 2009; he graduated in 2007.

DR. JOHN HORNEY, father of SARAH HORNEY UTSCH ’87, MONICA HORNEY HERRING ’89, ERIN HORNEY GANNON ’93 and KATHERINE HORNEY NEUENFELDT ’97, died unexpectedly on June 11, 2017. John attended the University of Notre Dame and the Medical College of Wisconsin before beginning his career at Atlanta’s Grady Hospital in 1971. An accomplished physician, John practiced for over 45 years in Atlanta, specializing in gastroenterology. “A devoted husband and father, John enjoyed exercise, travel, reading, golf, gardening, a nice meal and glass of wine,” his family writes. “John was at his happiest spending time with family and friends… A true kid at heart, he was adored by his 13 grandchildren and was known to them affectionately as ‘John Daddy.’” John is survived by his wife, ALICE FANNING HORNEY, his daughters and their spouses and his beloved grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Saint Joseph’s Mercy Care, the Cathedral of Christ the King and the University of Notre Dame. LAURA TISON passed away following a heart attack on June 3, 2017, in Atlanta. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Laura was an avid tennis player and equestrienne. “A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Laura’s absolute greatest joy was spending time with her family. She will be remembered as a beautiful, loving, strong woman, as a wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend,” her family writes. Laura is survived by her husband, HUNTER TISON, daughters FRASER TISON KENT ’98, Laura Tison Meis, and KATIE TISON BADDOUR ’02, and their spouses and five grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the horses of The Atlanta Police Department Mounted Patrol, Atlanta Police Foundation, Attn: Marshall Freeman, 191 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 191, Atlanta, GA 30303.

ALUMNI

BREAKING BARRIERS Jill Millkey ’09 is an advocate for disabled veterans and the preservation of public lands. JILL MILLKEY ’09 has always had a passion for helping others, an insatiable sense of adventure and a desire to be in nature—and she’s managed to combine her loves into the perfect career as an expedition leader for No Barriers Warriors. In 2003, Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to summit Mount Everest, launched No Barriers USA to provide transformative educational experiences for adults and children with disabilities. To mark the 10th anniversary of Weihenmayer’s 2001 climb, No Barriers initiated a Soldiers to Summit program—now No Barriers Warriors—to “empower veterans with disabilities to overcome barriers and reach their potential” through curriculum-based outdoor experiences. Millkey was working with homeless youth when a “fluke” conversation facilitated an introduction to the organization and ultimately led to a position as a No Barriers Warriors guide in Glacier National Park. For eight months of the year, Millkey leads adventures that challenge veterans in new and exciting settings. “I literally have my dream job,” she says. Millkey’s position isn’t your typical 9 to 5. One day, she is splinting a prosthetic limb, and the next she is sinking an ice axe into the snow or getting swallowed by a 20-foot wave

Spotlight

on the Colorado River. “More often than not, I wake up in a tent or a car,” she explains. One thing is constant, however. Millkey spends her days “walking beside new friends and talking about the trials and tribulations of life, celebrating the beauty that lies in the places only reached by foot and pushing [our] self-perceived limits.” She wouldn’t have it any other way. After all, “How often do you get paid to see the Northern Lights and gaze upon the world from a high mountain summit?” she asks. This summer, Millkey is leading Warriors to Summits, a series of training sessions for 12 veterans with disabilities. Trainings take place in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains and Wyoming’s Wind River Range and culminate in a climbing expedition in Denali National Park. On trips like this, Millkey sees the effects of climate change and recognizes the critical need for conservation. “I bear witness to the shifting weather patterns [and often see] significant recession of glaciers,” she laments. “I am forced to reconcile with the fact that the snowpack I love to ski is steadily growing more unreliable, and the public lands I lead trips on catch fire every year.” Most importantly, Millkey has observed what “seven days in these landscapes can do for folks with posttraumatic stress disorder, brain injuries, missing limbs and

survivors’ guilt. It is imperative that people give voice to our public lands.” Reflecting on her time at Pace, Millkey fondly remembers the teachers and coaches who made an effort to know her “not just as a student, but also as a human being,” in particular TRISH ANDERSON, ELIZABETH KANN, JONATHAN DAY, MARSHA DURLIN, EMILY STEVENS, and JOLIE and STEVE CUNNINGHAM. “[These faculty members] pushed me to expand my way of thinking and view of the world,” she says. “They supported my choice to not settle for anything less than what truly made me happy, even if it didn’t come in the traditional forms.” As a mountain guide, Millkey’s biggest takeaway has been that “we are all a collection of moments, experiences, emotions and decisions. We are the smiles, laughs, grimaces, aches, pains, and changes we choose to enact and embrace… What’s within us is stronger than what’s in our way.” To find out more about No Barriers USA or follow Millkey’s Warriors to Summit adventure, visit www.nobarriersusa.org or www.warriorstosummits.org. — by JILLIAN SNYDER ’16

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

Save the Date

ALUMNI

Oct. 6 & 7, 2017 The Classes of 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2012 will celebrate reunions this fall. More information at paceacademy.org/alumni/reunion

#ReUknight Out & About

ALUMNI & ART IN THE BIG APPLE The Pace Academy Alumni Association hosted a special happy hour for more than 40 New York City-area alumni and guests on June 15. The evening included a tour of the Museum of Modern Art’s exhibit Frank Lloyd Wright at 150: Unpacking the Archive with art history teacher TIM HORNOR, followed by cocktails at Papillon Bistro & Bar.

Former Pace Academy faculty member KEN JAFFE (above right) reconnected with BUD ADAMS ’83 (above left) at the University of Washington spring football game in Seattle in April. Bud’s son Trey (center) is an offensive lineman for the Washington Huskies.

ALUMNI

All in th e F amily Each year, Pace Academy alumni parents are photographed with their graduating seniors during graduation festivities. This year, five alumni welcomed children into the Alumni Association. 1. MIKE DILLON, MARY MCCUNE

DILLON ’81, OLIVIA DILLON ’17, TESS DILLON ’14 and CLAIRE DILLON ’11

2. THOMAS HOOVER ’17 and

TOM HOOVER ’86

3. CINDY GAY JACOBY ’83, MOLLY

JACOBY ’17 and DAVID JACOBY

4. ALEXA LEVINE ’20, OLIVIA LEVINE

’14, MOLLY LEVINE ’17, ALISON LEVINE and JONATHAN LEVINE ’77

5. JAY MYERS ’86, ASHLEY MYERS ’21, 3

4 5

CARSON MYERS ’17, BLAIR MYERS ’19 and KELLY MYERS

Have you liked or joined us yet?

www.facebook.com/paceacademy alumniassociation www.linkedin.com/groups/160587

MULTICULTURAL CONNECTIONS

CARTER Named 2017 ALUMNI Scholar

THE PACE ACADEMY Alumni Scholar Award Committee was excited to present the 2017 Alumni Scholar Award to junior JEB CARTER. This prestigious award is presented annually to a rising senior who embodies Pace Academy’s values of high moral character, academic achievement, leadership and service, therefore enriching the school community as a whole. Greatly involved in the Pace community, Carter is a selfproclaimed “theatre geek” who loves show business and has appeared in Pace’s Thoroughly Modern Millie, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Legally Blonde; he also played the title role in a professional production of Peter Pan. Carter brings that same passion and excitement to other activities, including junior varsity tennis, Model United Nations, chorus and PASS, a group that mentors younger students regarding healthy life choices. He most enjoys math and science, and this summer, worked as a lifeguard, traveled on a mission trip to Nicaragua and took an online Advanced Placement biology course. A committee of alumni selected Carter after faculty nominations and an interview process; he received a $10,000 scholarship, funded by the Pace Academy Alumni Association and the Alumni Scholar Committee. Former Trustee and Alumni Scholar Award Committee Chair JOHN INMAN ’83 presented the award. — by JILLIAN SNYDER ’16

KnightTimes | Summer 2017

IN MAY, Life Trustee DR. STEPHEN DAWKINS and his wife, ARNIKA DAWKINS, opened their home to host a Multicultural Family Reception honoring the Class of 2017 (learn more about Dr. Dawkins on page 15). Two of the Dawkins’ three children, BRANDON DAWKINS ’04 and MORGAN DAWKINS ’06, participated in the event; PAIGE DAWKINS ’10 was unable to attend. The evening, co-sponsored by the Pace Academy Alumni Office and the Office of Diversity, brought together graduating seniors of color and their parents to reflect on their time at Pace and to discuss ways to remain connected to the school going forward. MARK JOHNSON ’94, a member of the Pace Academy Alumni Board and chair of Leadership Pace 2017, helped facilitate the discussion with more than 40 attendees. “We hope that this will become an annual event to celebrate and honor the multicultural students in every senior class,” says incoming Director of Diversity and Inclusion JOANNE BROWN.

MARK JOHNSON ’94

ALUMNI

ALUMNI PREP GRADS FOR COLLEGE

HONORING OUR

GOLDEN KNIGHTS

EVERY YEAR before graduation, the Office of College Counseling coordinates a halfday seminar for the senior class to help prepare students for what might lie ahead. This year’s seminar included a presentation by SHARI OBRENTZ ’97, associate dean of Emory University’s Office for Undergraduate Education and director of the PreHealth Mentoring Office. Obrentz shared with the Class of 2017 her “Freshmen 15,” a list of tips for collegiate success. The seminar also featured a panel of recent alumni, who answered students’ questions about their college experiences. The panel included ANDY BAINTON ’16, WALLACE OHLHAUSEN ’16, BAILEY O’SULLIVAN ’16, JILLIAN SNYDER ’16, MARK HANDLER ’16, MAGGIE INMAN ’15, ELIZABETH WILLIS ’15 and KAMRAN SADIQ ’15.

ON MAY 13, members of the Pace Academy Class of 1967 gathered in the Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School’s Woodruff Library to celebrate their 50th reunion and be inducted into the school’s Golden Knights Club. Individuals from of the Classes of 1964, 1965 and 1966, inducted in previous years, also attended the festivities, which included dinner and time to reconnect and reminisce. “[Pace Academy’s] early graduating classes were pioneers, the base upon which this school has been built, the experiment to see if Pace could work,” DOUG FORD ’67 told the alumni gathered. Ford had delivered the 1967 commencement address and, five decades later, reflected on the growth of the fledging school that he called home. He recounted the heroic efforts of early Pace parents to keep the doors open, the high academic expectations for Pace students, and the energy and optimism of the school’s first classes. “You are truly worthy of being called Pace Academy Golden Knights,” Ford concluded. “I love you all.” During the event, the Class of 1967 also remembered GLENN DUNCAN ’67, who died while serving in the Vietnam War. CHAD CARTWRIGHT ’67 brought with him a rubbing of Duncan’s name from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

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Spotlight

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ALUMNI

Dr. Eric Riddell ’06 investigates the impact of climate change on some of the earth’s smallest creatures.

LEFT: Riddell holds a kangaroo rat in the Mojave Desert. This sunrise photo was taken at a field station in Zzyzx, Calif., while Riddell was trapping for small mammals.

DR. ERIC RIDDELL’S ’06 path to a Ph.D. was anything but traditional. After graduating from Sewanee: The University of the South with a degree in biology, Riddell decided that his first career choice, dentistry, was not the right fit. Instead, he moved to the Galapagos Islands to volunteer, teaching English and working in hotels until he found a gig as a field biologist—and his calling. Wake Forest University hired Riddell to research Nazca boobies, a species of large seabirds, on an uninhibited island in the Galapagos archipelago. The assignment compelled Riddell to pursue other research and conservation initiatives in the Everglades and the eastern Gulf and, in 2012, he began working toward his Ph.D. in biological sciences at Clemson University. He graduated this past May and won the Raymond B. Huey Award for the best student presentation at the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology’s annual meeting. Riddell’s doctoral research focused on “the ecological consequences of physiological plasticity in a group of terrestrial salamanders”—in other words, the amphibians’ ability to reduce the impact of climate change by adjusting the ways in which their bodies function, thereby reducing stress and the threat of dehydration. “In a nutshell, I want to make more realistic predictions about the potential impact of climate change,” he says. Making those predictions has been anything but easy. As a student, Riddell spent much of his time writing manuscripts and grants, analyzing data, mentoring undergraduates and teaching. As a researcher examining nocturnal salamanders, he adjusted to the animals’ sleep patterns, spending long nights in the laboratory or in the field collecting salamanders—a far cry from the dental office he once imagined. Riddell is continuing his academic journey as a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management at the University of California, Berkeley. He looks forward to “working with a diverse group of scientists

to understand the responses of more than two-dozen species of birds and mammals to the past 100 years of climate change.” Ultimately, he hopes “to improve ecological predictions by incorporating more long-term evolutionary responses to climate change.” Though California is a long way from Georgia, Pace Academy is never far from Riddell’s mind. “My brothers [THOMAS

RIDDELL ’98 and SCOTT RIDDELL ’00] and I often joke that everything we ever learned happened at Pace,” he says. Like most Pace students, Riddell was challenged and inspired in the classroom. He describes RICKS CARSON’S English class as “an incredible learning experience [that taught him] to always strive to become a better writer,” and he credits teachers JULIE HALL, JONATHAN DAY, and JASON SMITH with sparking his “passion for science, conservation and mathematics.” Riddell says Head of Upper School MIKE GANNON taught him “the importance of devoting yourself to something,” and the Spanish minor attributes his desire to live in South America to Spanish instructors DR. PAULA PONTES, BECKY WHEELER and LUISA MIGUEZ-PEREZ. As Riddell’s high-school interests evolved into his current passions, he lived Pace’s Start Small. Think Big. motto—in his scientific pursuits and his daily life. He encourages others to do the same. “I hope that we consider the threat of climate change as motivation to innovate and inspire the next generation to develop technologies that improve everyone’s quality of life,” Riddell says. What could be bigger than striving to change the world? To learn more about Riddell’s research and keep up with his work, visit www.ecophysiology.org. — by JILLIAN SNYDER ’16

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CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED If you have received multiple copies of this publication, please contact the Advancement Office at 404-240-9103 or advancement@paceacademy.org to update your address.

WE NEED YOU! Which area is most meaningful to you? Pace Academy reflects a vibrant community, composed of many partsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;we treasure the diverse passions represented within our school family. To ensure that your Pace Fund gift aligns with your Pace priority, you may now elect to support one of seven areas of need. In other words, uCHOOSE. For more information or to make a gift, visit www.paceacademy.org/thepacefund.