KnightTimes Fall 2019 by Pace Academy

FA L L 2 0 19

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

Securing Our Mission Through

THE CASTLE CIRCLE

plus!

SUMMER

Farewell to the

Randall House

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR TOP: Lower School carpool drop-off in front of the Randall House has remained the same for decades. In this photo from the 1987– 1988 school year, KIM OWENS '94 welcomes ASHLI FOSTON '99 to another day at Pace Academy.

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As a Pace Academy student, my exposure to the Lower School consisted of the time I spent in the carpool line in my family’s Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser—“vintage” in the late 90s—waiting to drop my younger sister at the Randall House before squeezing into my assigned spot in the back parking lot. I enrolled at Pace in the ninth grade and sadly missed the Pillars, lunchtime concerts and other Lower School traditions that I have come to love as a member of the Pace staff. For nearly 40 years, the Randall House has been the gateway to those defining rituals, and while goodbyes are never easy, I’m excited that our new facility will provide a state-of-the-art home for our traditions to thrive. We will reveal our plans for the new building in our next issue. But first, we reflect on the history of the Randall House and its role in Pace’s growth as an institution known for nurturing the whole child (page 40). I hope you’ll enjoy this walk down memory lane as much as I enjoyed researching and writing it.

CAI T LI N G O O D R I C H J O N E S ’00 D I R E C TO R O F C O M M U N I C AT I O N S

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

KnightTimes 966 W. Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327 www.paceacademy.org

GUEST WRITER

HEAD OF SCHOOL

GENNA SCHWARZ ’19

FRED ASSAF

GENNA SCHWARZ is a freshman at the University of Virginia studying computer science. While at Pace, Schwarz participated in four years of varsity soccer, was co-editor-in-chief of the The Knightly News, volunteered at the Zaban Paradies Center and was a member of the National Honor Society. In her free time, she enjoys playing pickleball and Settlers of Catan with her friends and hanging out with her dog, Cody.

DIVISION HEADS MICHAEL GANNON Head of Upper School 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

CONTENTS 06 NEWS 06 NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS 08 AROUND PACE A look at what's happening on campus 08 NEW BOARD CHAIR ELIZABETH CORRELL RICHARDS becomes our first female chair 10 NEW BOARD MEMBERS We welcome CAMERON BREADY, MIKE DOHENY, BIJON MEMAR and SAM SONI 12 2019–2020 PARENT ORGANIZATION LEADERS 13 KEEPING PACE

ASHTON STANISZEWSKI

14 NEW FACULTY & STAFF LEADERS

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

16 PACE FUND PROFILE THE THOMPSON FAMILY

MELANIE POPE DANA RAWLS

18 BEGINNING-OF-THE-YEAR FESTIVITIES

HAYLEY SHOJI ’12

20 NEW FAMILIES

OUR MISSION To create prepared, confident citizens of the world who honor the values and legacy of Pace Academy.

22 FACES OF PACE Meet KEVIN NEELY, ASHLEY STAFFORD and LELA WALLACE 24 ALL ABOUT PACE ARTS 24 MIDDLE SCHOOL PLAY

To contribute ideas for the KnightTimes, please email Caitlin Jones at caitlin.jones@paceacademy.org.

25 VISITING ARTISTS INSPIRE 25 COMING UPPER SCHOOL SHOWS 26 NEW ART TEACHERS

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28 ICGL The Isdell Center for Global Leadership 28 SUMMER STUDY TOURS Intrepid learners explored Brazil, Costa Rica, France, Ghana and Botswana, Greece, and Japan 32 ICGL VISITING SCHOLAR Talking trash with Tom Szaky 34 THE YEAR OF WASTE Launching our discussion of this year's annual theme 36 GLOBAL LEADERS Inspiring individuals within the Pace community 36 GOVERNOR'S HONORS INDIA BEHL and FRANCESCA VANERI are recognized 38 FACULTY PROFILE DR. KAYLAN HAIZLIP 40 FAREWELL TO THE RANDALL HOUSE Bidding adieu to a structure that has served Pace for more than 40 years 46 A PRIMER ON PLANNED GIVING Securing the Pace mission by arranging for estate gifts 50 ALUMNI 50 ALUMNI UPDATES 56 BACK-TO-SCHOOL HAPPY HOUR 58 NEW ALUMNI BOARD MEMBERS LINDSAY THURMAN MULLIN ’94, SARA MULLALLY ’13 and GRACE SOUTHWORTH NADEAU ’10

LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL THE COVER In the heart of Paris, Upper School history teacher CAITLIN TERRY and students survey the Panthéon. Read about this summer ICGL study tour to France on page 31. Photograph by OMAR LÓPEZ THISMÓN

ABOVE Lower School students had a blast at the Homecoming pep rally on Oct. 4.

Dear Pace Family, ’Tis the season of joy and thanksgiving—and the Pace Academy community has many reasons to give thanks! This past fall was filled with new beginnings. We welcomed new families (page 20), faculty and staff (page 14), parent leaders (page 12) and Board leadership (page 10). We launched the Isdell Center for Global Leadership Year of Waste (page 34); staged theatre performances and hosted visiting artists (page 24); and brought home our third consecutive state volleyball championship—more on that in our winter issue. We also finalized plans for a new Lower School facility, to replace the Randall House and provide an expanded, state-of-the-art home for innovative learning, the arts, academic support, community gatherings and play. In December, we say goodbye to the Randall House and usher in a new era for the Pace Lower School. We’ll unveil our detailed plans for the building in our next issue, but first, we pay tribute to the home that has welcomed generations of Pace students over the years (page 40). In addition to imagining the future of the Pace campus, our Board of Trustees, under the leadership of new chair ELIZABETH CORRELL RICHARDS, has embarked on the development of our 2022–2027 Strategic Plan. With academic excellence at the core, the plan will build on our past successes while envisioning our future. That future will be made possible, in part, by members of The Castle Circle, a group that has arranged for estate gifts to our school, ensuring the fulfillment of our mission for years to come. Learn more about how you can join The Castle Circle and make a lasting gift to Pace on page 46. During this holiday season, I wish for you the joy that I see in our Pre-First students as they experience for the first time the traditions that make our school such a special place. May you find that same warmth, peace and community in the days ahead. Sincerely,

FRED ASSAF HEAD OF SCHOOL

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

Sofcholars Merit

Andrew Neville

Maya Kaplan

Claire Wierman

Francesca Vaneri

Alan Tapper

John O'Brien

Aidan Gannon

Anna Jordan

NEWS What you ne ed to know

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation annually honors outstanding high school seniors based on their performance on the PSAT. Seniors AIDAN GANNON, ANNA JORDAN, MAYA KAPLAN, ANDREW NEVILLE, JOHN O’BRIEN, ALAN TAPPER, FRANCESCA VANERI and CLAIRE WIERMAN have been named 2020 National Merit Semifinalists, placing them among the highest-scoring test takers in Georgia. These seniors are now eligible to apply for National Merit Scholarships, which will be awarded beginning in March 2020.

The Georgia Private School Tax Credit Program allows individual and corporate taxpayers to donate a portion of their state tax liability to a Student Scholarship Organization. The funds are then used for need-based financial aid at the independent school(s) of the taxpayer's choice.

Put your

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE: • Taxpayers receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit and incur no cost for participating in the program. • Tax credits are limited based on tax filing status— up to $1,000 individual; $2,500 married filing jointly; $1,250 married filing separately; $10,000 for passthrough taxpayers from an S-Corp, LLC or Partnership.

Apply now for the

2020 TAX YEAR www.paceacademy.org/support/tax-credit

• C-Corps, under the newly adopted IRS ruling, can allocate the tax credit as an expense against revenue, reducing taxable income on the Georgia return by 5.75%. • Under a recent IRS-adopted ruling, only those taxpayers who are itemizing and who fall under the SALT cap are able to claim the federal deduction.

to work for Pace Academy.

The Pace Parent s Club is pleased to present one of the finest event s of the yearâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Pace Academy Auc tion. Enjoy an amazing night including cocktails, dining, a live band, dancing, and silent, online and live auctions. Proceeds fund student travel, teacher requests, financial aid a n d o t h e r e n r i c h i n g e v e n t s w i t h i n o u r c o m m u n i t y.

THE PACE AC ADEM Y AUC TI ON S a t u r d a y, M a r c h 2 8 , 2 0 2 0 , 7 p . m . T H E S TAV E R O O M 19 9 A r m o u r D r i v e N E , A t l a n t a , G e o r g i a 3 0 3 2 4 Cocktail attire w w w. p a c e a c a d e m y.o r g /a u c t i o n

ace Academy Board of Trustees Chair ELIZABETH CORRELL RICHARDS, parent of two Pace alumni and the Board’s first female chair, assumed her role in May, succeeding GREG KELLY, who now serves for one year as vice chair, according to Board by-laws. Beginning her ninth year on the Board, Richards has unbridled enthusiasm for Pace and her involvement. “I have always enjoyed the people at Pace, so I spend a lot of time on campus. The more time I have spent with the administration, the more I have learned about the school, which is a joy to me. It is the people who make Pace such a special place.” She adds, “It’s an honor to serve on the Board, and I hope to be an accessible and effective chair.” Richards assumes the position during an exciting time for Pace. Under her leadership, Pace will launch Accelerate Pace, a

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

capital campaign to fund a two-phase initiative that will replace the Lower School’s Randall House and renovate the Castle. Her term will also include the completion of the goals and objectives of Pace’s 2016–2021 Strategic Plan and the start of a new five-year planning cycle. Richards and her family have been part of the Pace community for over a decade. She and her husband, KEN RICHARDS, knew Pace was the right school for their children after their daughter, COREY RICHARDS ’14, toured in 2008. “Corey felt like the Middle School walls were giving her a hug,” Richards recalls. “We were sold.” The family’s enthusiasm for the school burgeoned that first fall. “It was the beginning of football at Pace, and we immediately spent Friday nights watching the Knights and making friends,” she recalls. Their son, JAKE RICHARDS ’16, came to Pace two years later, in 2010. Since graduating, both children have thrived.

“When it comes to leadership and dedication, there's no one quite like Elizabeth. We are fortunate to be the recipient of her tremendous expertise in nonprofits, her vast understanding of best practices in governance, her smart humor and her boundless generosity.” FRED ASSAF H EAD OF SC HOOL

A Look at What's Happening AROUND PACE

“Corey graduated from the Terry School of Business at the University of Georgia (UGA) in 2018 and is currently working in digital marketing for Rooms To Go,” Richards says. “Jake is a senior at UGA, majoring in real estate in the Terry School of Business.” Richards spent her high-school years in Ohio and attended The Ohio State University. When she was a college freshman, her parents left Ohio and moved to Atlanta. She followed them after college graduation and accepted a job at Ernst and Young, where she soon met Ken. “We met on his first day of work, were married a year after we started dating and had Corey nine months and 10 days after our wedding,” she says. Richards describes her husband, who left the consulting world and now runs his own businesses, Resource Mosaic and Quality Staffing of America, as “amazing—absolutely the better half of this marriage.” After having children, Richards uncovered a fervent passion for nonprofit volunteer work, which for her, replaced a return to a traditional work setting. “The common thread of my interests has always been children,” she shares. “Over the years I have enjoyed helping children’s causes by chairing campaigns, events and galas, and by serving on and chairing boards for organizations such as Trinity Early Learning Center, Sheltering Arms and Camp Twin Lakes (CTL).” Not surprisingly, as her middle schoolers became engaged at Pace, Richards became a busy parent volunteer. She says, “My second year as a parent at Pace, I chaired the Parents Club Auction. That same year I joined the Board—at that time I was serving on the boards of both Pace and [our children’s former school] the Trinity School.” Her involvement continued to grow. “I then agreed to co-chair the Aim High campaign for the [Arthur M. Blank Family] Upper School with ROBERT SHEFT [now a Life Trustee], and loved it.” She adds, “Pace’s smaller community and deeply involved parents made the campaign a huge success and allowed me to get to know the parents.” “Elizabeth exhibited extraordinary lead-

ership and boundless energy during the campaign, two traits that I know will serve her well as chair of the Board,” Sheft says. “Her willingness to serve after her children have graduated tells you all you need to know about her commitment to Pace.” Richards also serves on the CTL and UGA Foundation boards, and is leading capital campaign initiatives for each. “When you like raising money, it’s never a big stretch for an organization to ask you to join the board. Free labor is hard to turn down! I’m not sure I’m ever the best, but I’m generally the cheapest hire,” she says with a laugh. “I have always done best when I have a full plate.” Richards is candid about her leadership style: “You will never wonder what I am thinking,” she says. “I believe it is much quicker to speak my mind.” She also speaks energetically about passions beyond volunteering. “I love sports—not playing, watching. Football and golf are my favorites, and I will watch them alone, all day and night. I love my children’s friends as much as I love my own, and I have driven an RV full of college kids on multiple occasions to see big football games. I’m a dog person—we have two. I love country music concerts, and I adore my parents. They influenced my volunteer spirit and push me to constantly give and do more.” The Pace relationships established through the years remain important to every member of the Richards family. “Over holiday breaks, we still have a house full of Pace kids most nights.” She adds, “Pace has been a true pleasure and gift to me.”

QUESTIONS FOR OUR NEW CHAIR Do you have experiences and/or passions that you bring to your role as Board Chair? I don’t ever want to be in a role that isn’t fun. I will work hard and devote as many hours as needed to get the job done, but I expect to laugh a lot. Also, I have a passion for children, so my starting point will always be to work for what is best for Pace students and families. What do you hope to see happen at Pace as you move forward in your leadership role? I hope to continue to build on the success of the past 60 years and not let up on the gas when it comes to pushing the school to strive for excellence. I don’t take these words lightly. I am fortunate to stand beside an incredibly talented and committed Board of Trustees and leadership team at Pace. I can promise that each of us will work to ensure Pace is a place of pride for all our families. How do you believe the Board can work to further the mission of the school? Although the mission of the school hasn’t changed in the past 60 years, the world has. As we begin a new strategic-planning process, we will push ourselves to think outside of the box while also ensuring we maintain the exceptional environment that has existed for 60 years.

Introducing

ELIZABETH CORRELL RICHARDS KnightTimes | Fall 2019

AROUND PACE

CAMERON

BREADY In his four years as a Pace parent, CAMERON BREADY, president and chief operating officer of Global Payments Inc., has served as a member of the Pace Academy Board of Trustees’ Finance Committee and volunteered at various Pace events, such as the Parents Club’s Fall Fair. Bready takes his engagement to a new level as he becomes one of four new members to the Board of Trustees this school year. Bready and his wife, MARY BREADY, and their oldest son, SAMUEL BREADY ’22, became part of the Pace community in 2015, after their family moved back to Atlanta, happy to once again call the city home. Bready fell in love with the city when he enrolled at Oglethorpe University in 1990; he has now lived here for the better part of the past 30 years. When speaking about his family’s initial reaction to Pace, he describes similar emotions: “From the first moments we stepped foot on the campus, we sensed there was something different about Pace—we truly felt the culture was unique, and the sense of community was palpable.” All three of the Bready’s children now attend Pace: THOMAS BREADY ’24 enrolled in 2016, and CATHERINE BREADY ’29 became a Knight in 2017. Bready’s enthusiasm for Pace is also palpable: “I would characterize my overall experience as a Pace parent thus far as fantastic,” he says. “My family has been embraced by the Pace community— our children have quickly formed strong friendships we hope will last a lifetime.” The Board will benefit from Bready’s substantial financial expertise. Bready served as Global Payments’ CFO prior to its recent merger with TSYS, and in this role was recognized as one of the best in the business by publications such as Institutional Investor and the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Bready credits lifetime experience as a soccer player for shaping his strong belief that students benefit from engaging in organized activities such as athletics, the arts and student government. “Participating on teams and learning to work with others are critical to developing the whole child and preparing students for the future,” he says. “I have enjoyed seeing my children experience this at Pace and look forward to opportunities to tie in my passions as a member of the Board.”

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

MIKE

DOHENY Born in Oklahoma but raised in a military family across the U.S. and overseas, MIKE DOHENY brings wide-ranging experiences to his position on Pace’s Board of Trustees, where he hopes “to contribute to an already high-performing institution.” A graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in mechanical engineering, Doheny served as a captain in the U.S. Army. He also obtained a master’s in business administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. A senior partner with McKinsey & Company Inc., which brought him to Atlanta in 2006, Doheny concentrates on advising top executives on strategy and operational improvement, leveraging analytics. Doheny and his wife, KERRY DOHENY, have two children, HARPER DOHENY ’28 and GRAY DOHENY ’32. The couple appreciates Pace because of its dual focus on academics and character education. As Pace parents, Doheny says, “we have always felt welcomed and valued.” Doheny believes Pace stands out from other schools because it “focuses more on the whole student [and] celebrates and nurtures different types of strengths.” Looking ahead for Pace, Doheny’s focus is on continuing to ensure the best educational experience. “I want to help Pace continue to help prepare its students for productive and healthy lives, innovating how we do it,” he says. Doheny also makes time to volunteer for other organizations: The Georgia Research Alliance, which grows Georgia's economy by expanding university research capacity and seeding and shaping startup companies around inventions and discoveries, and Team Red, White & Blue, which enriches the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their communities through physical and social activity.

AROUND PACE

BIJON

MEMAR BIJON MEMAR says that he and his wife, former Upper School math teacher DIANA MEMAR, “have a passion for Pace like no other.” Their passion for the school emerged seven years ago, when the couple enrolled their son, MICHAEL MEMAR ’25, in PreFirst. Their daughter, Madeline, is in the fifth grade at the Atlanta Speech School. Memar, who came to Atlanta from Baltimore in 1980, brings a strong business acumen to the Pace Board. He holds a business degree from Georgia College and State University and is the founder and CEO of Medac Inc., which opened in 1992 as a small billing company with 14 employees. It has since become one of the nation’s premier anesthesia revenue cycle management companies, with over 500 employees and 11,500 providers in 41 states. Memar looks forward to contributing his expertise to Pace, which he views as different from other schools. “What differentiates [it] is the diversity; also, there is an excitement within the parents that I do not see anywhere else,” he says. “It has an environment like no other.” He describes Pace as “very nurturing” and believes it prepares students “for the workforce of the ever-changing economy and gives them the tools to be ready for college and thereafter.” Memar also appreciates the friendly Pace community. “The parents are very genuine… [we] have met some of the nicest people through Pace,” he says. He adds, “My passion for leadership and the experiences and challenges that I have faced as a business owner provide me with tools for a meaningful contribution. I look forward to supporting academic initiatives that will prepare our children and educators for years to come.”

NEW BOARD MEMBERS BRING

SAM

SONI New Trustee SAM SONI, a University of Texas graduate, left the Longhorn state for Atlanta in 1993 to expand Primesport, the sports ticketing and hospitality business he founded in college. Soni’s choice of Atlanta was intentional—the upcoming Super Bowl and Olympics would offer his business new opportunities. His strategy was successful, and Primesport, now part of the NFL’s official hospitality arm, has enjoyed tremendous growth. Soni and his wife, MICHELLE SONI, were also intentional in the process of selecting an independent school for their daughter, LUCY BARNETT ’30. “The reputation of the institution in the Atlanta community was stellar in our due diligence, and this was reinforced during our site visits and interactions with the staff,” Soni explains. “When we looked at the prospect of having our daughter attend an institution for 13 years on one campus, we carefully examined [all aspects]... and found that Pace Academy seemed to be an ideal fit for our family.” The first three years have been fulfilling, Soni reports. He has volunteered on the Board’s Properties Committee and says, “the opportunity to serve as a member of the Board and work with others toward a unified goal is very appealing. I am very supportive of the great leaders at the school and their vision. To help accomplish their goals and objectives is a key factor for my involvement.” Soni believes Pace’s diversity distinguishes it from other schools. “Pace attracts students from many different backgrounds,” he explains. In the coming years, this “will continue to differentiate the institution from other independent schools. Pace puts a major emphasis on global immersion, allowing students to get different perspectives through their education and experiences.”

VARIED VALUABLE EXPERIENCE

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

AROUND PACE

PACE ACADEMY became the first high school to participate in the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival’s (AJFF) On Campus initiative when the school hosted a screening of Witness Theatre in September. The film offers a behind-the-scenes look at an

intergenerational program that brings together Holocaust survivors and high-school students. As part of the event, VOX ATL hosted a pre-show self-expression station and Upper School students presented This Is What I’ve Seen, short theatrical depictions of survivor stories, directed by Mira Hirsch, director of education at Theatrical Outfit.

BEARING WITNESS Photos by Vaughn Gittens

NEW LEADERS

for the New Year

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

PARENTS CLUB

ARTS ALLIANCE

BOOSTER CLUB

PRESIDENT Corey Hirokawa

CO-PRESIDENTS Mary Kelly Cunningham & Angie Howell

CO-PRESIDENTS Laurie & Hampton Mallis

SECRETARY Julie Carson

VICE PRESIDENTS Mary & Ed Holmes

TREASURER Jennifer Douglas-Ullman

SECRETARY Susan Graham

PAST PRESIDENT Jennifer Demba

TREASURER Keith Payne

VICE PRESIDENT Nicole Allen SECRETARY Diane Saini TREASURER Terri Janki PAST PRESIDENT Alison Arenth

PAST CO-PRESIDENTS Margaret & Bill Warren

AROUND PACE

EEPING PACE is a summer program at Pace for middleand high-school students from under-resourced metro Atlanta communities. Staffed by Pace faculty members, students and alumni, Keeping Pace offers an academic curriculum and activities such as swimming, art and standardized test prep. It also includes enrichment programming ranging from guest speakers to field trips. The summer of 2019 served up backhands, forehands and more for the Keeping Pace Scholars, who participated in a new tennis initiative funded by ALTA, in partnership with the United Way. While in class, Scholars learned tennis basics, as well as the history, rules and current state of the sport. Then each day, they took to the courts to develop their playing skills. A highlight of the initiative was a trip to see tennis professionals play at the BB&T Atlanta Open, where Scholars met famed tennis player Venus Williams! An arts initiative—developed with funding from the Zeist Foundation, in conjunction with the Fox Theatre and Woodruff Arts Center—scored additional points. Scholars studied expression through the visual arts, literature and performance while reading The Day the World Came to Town, a book about the 38 jetliners forced to land in Newfoundland on Sept. 11, 2001. Scholars also traveled to the Fox Theatre to see the Broadway musical Come From Away, based on the book. Before camp, the Alliance Theatre sponsored an informative and amusing training session for the Pace studentand alumni-counselors, who are an essential and appreciated part of the Keeping Pace program.

Ke e ping Pace Se rve s Up T e nnis a nd Mor e

K E E PING PACE STAF F STUDENTS & ALUMNI Matthew Aronson Will Aronson Sam Assaf ’19 Tommy Assaf Madison Auchincloss Isabel Battista Kargil Behl Noah Bennett Caroline Brown Allie Campbell Austin Chastain Thea Chastain Tim Coleman ’16 Hugh Douglas Riley Fox Zoie Freier

Sidney Funston Marissa Govic Reily Hamilton Grace Hatfield Charlie Janko Devan Johnson ’19 Justin Johnson Camryn Jones Ryan Kann Evan Karetsos Austin Kelly Lily Koch Henry Leusink Alexandra Litvak Kate Mallard Madison Martin Leah Mautner ’19 Amalia Maxa Meghan McMillan Raina Moseley Andrew Neville Hannah Pace Maggie Pope Ben Shelton

Emma Shelton Thomas Siegenthaler Shalizeh Thobani Brianna Thomas Jayden Thomas Sydney Thomas Tripp Trimble Denzel Welsh Alivia Wynn FACULTY Joanne Brown Martha DownerAssaf Lisa Dubovy Ty Johnson Katie Moss Clement Rouviere Elizabeth Rucker Matthew Smentek Nancy Quintrell (retired)

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

ABBY SCHIRMER

WES FORTIER

ALICE TRAHANT

Schirmer comes to Pace after serving as head policy debate coach at Marist and teaching summer debate camps. A 2014 STAR Teacher and the recipient of Stratford Academy’s 2011 Rising Star Award, Schirmer earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Michigan State University.

With 12 years of experience at Pace under his belt, Fortier takes the reins of the maintenance department. He has a diploma in air conditioning technology, as well as an associate’s degree in applied technical management from Chattahoochee Technical College.

Formerly director of giving at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Trahant also served as director of Spotlight on Art and special events at Trinity School and worked in legal recruiting. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Rollins College.

TED WARD

KACY BRUBAKER

BARBARA SCOTT

Formerly a member of the Pace counseling team, Brubaker continues to support students, parents and faculty as Lower School director of student life. She holds a master’s in divinity from Emory University, a graduate certificate in nonprofit administration from Georgia State University and a master’s in mental health counseling, also from Georgia State.

A longtime fourth-grade teacher at Pace, Scott brings a wealth of classroom experience and institutional knowledge to her new role. She holds a master’s in reading, language and literacy from Georgia State University and received the 2011 Kessler Excellence in Teaching Award, Pace’s highest faculty honor.

D I R E C TO R O F S PE EC H A N D D E B AT E

D I R E C TO R O F MAINTENANCE

A D VA N C E M E N T A N N UA L G I V I N G D I R E C TO R

WELCOME ABOARD

A S S O C I AT E D I R E C TO R O F THE ISDELL CENTER FOR G LO B A L L E A D E R S H I P Ward comes to Pace after serving as education and public programs coordinator for the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, a position that allowed him to become involved in the Pace community prior to joining the faculty. Ward earned a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s in education from Georgia Southern University.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

LO W E R S C H O O L D I R EC TO R OF STUDENT LIFE

LO W E R S C H O O L D I R E C TO R O F AC A D E M I C S

With the start of school, several familiar faces assumed different roles within the Pace Academy community, and new faces joined our team in leadership positions.

AROUND PACE

PAIGE CREASMAN CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER

In this new position, Creasman works to strategically manage the lifecycle of a Pace employee and ensures a cohesive experience for all faculty and staff. A graduate of Agnes Scott College, Creasman brings nearly three decades of experience to her role, most recently as manager of human resources for McKinsey’s New Ventures and Growth Platforms group in North America.

GROWING OUR DIVERSITY & INCLUSION TEAM

THE ADDITION of Lower, Middle and Upper School coordinators to Pace Academy’s diversity and inclusion staff this year bolsters the school’s commitment to fostering a culture in which differences are embraced and students, faculty and parents have a sense of belonging. With the start of school, Director of Diversity and Inclusion JOANNE BROWN (third from left) welcomed to her team Lower School strings instructor NIRVANA SCOTT (second from left), Middle School history teacher SCOTT SHUPE (right) and Digital Content Producer OMAR LÓPEZ THISMÓN (left). In addition to their existing roles, Scott, Shupe and López Thismón help coordinate educational and professional development opportunities for faculty and staff, advise student organization, facilitate classroom discussions, and plan events and programs that encourage engagement.

CHAD WABREK

TY JOHNSON

SEKOU WALTON

Wabrek began his career as an English teacher and coach at Fessenden School in Massachusetts. His experience includes myriad leadership roles at Suffield Academy, Louisville Collegiate School and, most recently, Greenhill School in Texas, where he served as head of athletics and physical education. Wabrek is a graduate of Hobart College and has a master’s in English from Middlebury College.

Johnson, previously a part-time member of Pace’s sports performance team, joins Pace Athletics full-time. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and plays for the U.S. Women’s Flag Football National Team.

Walton has coached the Knights to countless victories since his 2015 arrival at Pace and will continue to do so as he leads the sports performance program. Walton is an active member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and holds certifications in USA Football, USA Weightlifting, USA Track & Field, Functional Movement Systems, International Youth Conditioning and NESTA personal training.

A S S O C I AT E D I R E C TO R O F AT H L E T I C S

A S S I S TA N T D I R E C TO R O F S P O R T S PE R F O R M A N C E

D I R E C TO R O F S P O R T S PE R F O R M A N C E

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

AROUND PACE

“We participate in The Pace Fund to show our appreciation for the school and the impact it’s had on our children. We are grateful for the many Pace families that have given before us, and we want to be faithful to the Pace tradition of paying that generosity forward.” JULIE & SCOTT THOMPSON

In 2007, JULIE and SCOTT THOMPSON relocated from North Carolina to Atlanta with three young children in tow—a career move for Scott that he recalls as “both exciting and daunting.” The move was a positive one according to Scott, a managing director and office head with CIBC Private Wealth, where he has worked for the past 18 years. “We love everything Atlanta offers,” he says. “It has been a great place for our children to grow up.” Two years after their move, the family became part of the Pace Academy community when their 5-year-old son, GRANT THOMPSON ’22, enrolled in Pre-First. They were excited to join “a family school with a strong partnership between parents and the faculty and administration,” Julie says. By 2011, their other two children were Pace Knights: BEN THOMPSON

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

THE THOMPSON FAMiLY THE PACE FUND DONOR SPOTLIGHT ’18 enrolled in 2010, and REBECCA THOMPSON ’24 in 2011. In their 10 years at Pace, the Thompsons have engaged in countless ways at the school, valuing its warm family atmosphere and the close relationships they have forged in the school community. Although their middle child, Grant, was first to enroll, it was during their school search for their oldest, Ben, that the Thompsons learned of Pace. “We were introduced to Pace by several friends when we moved to Atlanta. At the time, only Ben was school-aged,” Julie explains. The couple had particular interest in independent schools because of their own positive educational experiences in their home state of Virginia. “We were both fortunate to have benefited from private education and were committed to extending that gift to our children,” Scott

explains. “Not being from Atlanta, we also wanted a smaller, close-knit community for them.” “There was a different feel when we walked through the doors of the Lower School,” Julia adds. “They really wanted to get to know us and our whole family.” From the outset, Julie and Scott found Pace’s focus on individual learning styles and meeting the needs of each child appealing. ”We had just discovered that Ben was dyslexic and were interested in finding a school that would challenge him, but also one where the teachers would understand his weaknesses. We decided to enroll him at The Schenck School for a few years to address his dyslexia, but we were so impressed with Pace that when it came time for Grant to start school, Pace was at the top of our list,” Julie explains. The

AROUND PACE

Photograph by Kem Lee

year after Grant enrolled, Ben joined Pace’s fifth-grade class; the next year Rebecca enrolled in Pre-First. “We didn’t know what kind of students they would become or where their particular interests might take them, but we believed Pace would be a school that would uniquely nurture and challenge each one,” Julie says. “We are so grateful that has been true.” While at Pace, the Thompson children have uncovered interests beyond academics. “They are passionate about athletics and the arts, and have been able to pursue and enjoy both,” Julie explains. “Ben loved his involvement with Pace athletics, participating on the cross-country, track and wrestling teams. This equipped him to continue his athletics pursuits at Princeton, where he plays on the rugby team. The [Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL)]

Habitat for Humanity trip to Chile in 2017 was a highlight for him,” she adds. His other interests included flute, the Pace Academy Social Entrepreneurship Challenge and Model United Nations. She continues, “Grant has found a love of running as well, thanks to Pace’s strong cross-country program. He also plays the French horn, and is becoming involved with the Social Entrepreneurship Challenge this year.” She adds, “Rebecca is very creative and loves her studio art classes at Pace, in addition to athletics. She is looking forward to traveling on an ICGL trip to Japan this summer with her Middle School art teachers.” Julie and Scott’s involvement at Pace has grown over the years as well. Scott chaired The Pace Fund Committee from 2015 to 2017 and volunteered for the Aim High campaign; Julie is passionate about sup-

porting the teachers and served as Parents Club president in 2017–2018. “The teachers give so much to our students day-in and day-out—their commitment truly never ends,” she says. “My involvement at Pace and on the Parents Club has been first and foremost about giving back to them.” Scott hopes Pace families will continue to partner with the school to carry on its tradition of academic excellence, character education and focus on the whole child. “Our children need to be adaptive to change, while grounded in certain foundational truths about who they are, why they are here and how to develop the gifts God has given them to their greatest potential,” he says. “Pace is positioned to be a leader in building young people of character, who will do great things in their families, communities and around the world.” n

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

AROUND PACE

back at it From day one to firstgrade pet day and every day in between, the Pace Academy community embraced the flurry of activity associated with the first months of school.

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KnightTimes | Fall 2019

Gr ade N i nth - u n it y Comm e me nt Day E ngag

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AROUND PACE

Welcome to the Pace Family! The following students and

their parents joined the Pace community with the start of the 2019–2020 school year.

PRE-FIRST Johnny Alden

Elisha and John Alden

Emily Almond Hannah Almond Amber and Peter Almond

Isabella Ambra

Carla Silvado and Joao Ambra

Bentley Basille Amanda and Michael Basille

Roshan Bhatia

Kavita Kotte and Samir Bhatia

Vivian Bickenbach Rachel and Mark Bickenbach

Leena Boykin

Sita Jhaveri and Jason Boykin

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

Gray Buffenbarger Sue Gardner and Eric Buffenbarger

Alexandra Close Jackie Castillo and Alex Close

Caroline Combs Julia and JIM COMBS ’96

Kaylee Crumley

Oliver Edwards

Logan Marsico

Zarah Patel

Zahra Masilamani

Pradhaan Pradeep

YiYi and Curt Hutchins

Lanie and Sanjay Masilamani

Elise Jalil

Jack McWhorter

Maya Renteria

Colette Johnson

Laney Morris

Presley Rohrig

Peri Labovitz

Joshua Myles

Aiden Sackel

Theo LaManna

Katelyn Parrilli

Jett Sanders

Jennifer and GREG GREENBAUM ’83

Scarlett Leslie

Deven Patel

Molly Sandlin

Calder Groves

Hashini Manawadu

Michelle and James Edwards

Jack Flaum

Abbey and Doug Flaum

Hadley Freeman Jennifer and Adam Freeman

Kenzie Frett

Stacy and Ken Crumley

Katania and Lawrence Frett

Eduardo De Cock

Charlie Friedman

Ana Pallares and Paul De Cock

Harper DeLeon Anh and Patrick DeLeon

Gray Doheny

Kerry and Mike Doheny

Avni Doshi

Remmi Singh and Justin Doshi

DANA FEINSTEIN ’97 and Craig Friedman

Evie George

Sheba and Melvin George

Lucy Greenbaum

Christa and Chris Groves

Whitney Sloane Hirsekorn

Mary and Andrew Hirsekorn

Chloe Hutchins

Tisha Tipnis and Omar Jalil Stephanie and Matt Johnson

Ali and Andrew Labovitz Nicole Wu and Kenneth LaManna Erica and Logan Leslie Kumi and Chathura Manawadu

Colleen Cherry and Matt Marsico

Kim and Graham McWhorter Kathleen and Erik Morris

Renee Crosby-Myles and Zachary Myles Amanda and Dan Parrilli

Madhavi Vajani and Jay Patel

Ritu Bath and Biranj Patel Prasanna Rajakumaran and Pradeep Thirumalai Mona Ariza and Fred Renteria Michelle and Matt Rohrig Jordana and David Sackel

Julian Sanders Gabrielle Sanders KATIE SANDLIN and Kristopher Sandlin

Mira Sceusi

Angira and Eric Sceusi

AROUND PACE

Jack Shirley

NATALIE UNDERWOOD SHIRLEY ’01 and BLAKE SHIRLEY ’01

Anika Singh

Latika Goyal-Singh and Amar Singh

Hannah Sobelson Robyn and Jared Sobelson

Clay Sokolsky

Bonni Bigler and GEORGE SOKOLSKY

Jack Thrasher Corrie and Bret Thrasher

Chandler Vicars

Lara and Adam Vicars

Caden Vieira Kathleen and Brian Vieira

Eliza Walker Amanda and Ted Walker

Jay Weaver

Connor Chitwood Jodi and BRYAN CHITWOOD ’93

Lavin LaManna

Nicole Wu and Kenneth LaManna

Nathan Wu

William Griffin

BRITT JACKSON GRIFFIN ’00 and ANDREW GRIFFIN ’99

Lila Leslie

Erica and Logan Leslie

Arlo Levitt

Alisha and Chad Levitt

THIRD GRADE Rohan Brahma Pavna and Barun Brahma

Graves Hamilton

FOURTH GRADE Jack Harmon

Eliza Fogarty

Bodhi Wise

Nick Klein

Sophia Resnick Stephanie and Stuart Resnick

Emma Rich

Sarah and Daniel Rich

Thatcher Simmons MEREDITH BAILEY SIMMONS ’01 and MCKITTRICK SIMMONS ’94

Simani White

Page and Chris Hamilton

Campbell Hanna

Kristin and Matt Hanna

Lawson Hight

Jane and Phillip Hight

Henry Proctor Holly and Palmer Proctor

SIXTH GRADE Beckett Allegra Lorrie and Patrick Allegra

Samantha Ayeni Michelle Wright and Charles Ayeni

Sawyer Barnette

Anne and Will Barnette

Saya Brahma Pavna and Barun Brahma

Harrison Brown Alison Brown

KIM SZUROVY FOGARTY ’97 and Sean Fogarty

Brooke Forrester

MEREDITH WINITT FORRESTER ’95 and Jeremy Forrester

Bella Goings

Molly and Harold Goings

Will Grabowski

KIERY BRAITHWAITE ’90 and Matt Grabowski

Andrew Kamin Lauren Kamin

Lindsey and Josh Kamin

Eddie Langford Emma and Andrew Langford

Julian Lewis Tyrone Lewis

Jack Lynch

Sarah and Rob Lynch

M.J. Madison

Brianna and Michael Madison

Nayana Nag Nilaya Nag

Nabanita and Neil Nag

Grace Richardson Alli and Matthew Richardson

Zach Sitterle

Valerie and Jeff Sitterle

Kinley Stephens

Kim and Jonathan Swartz Sara Fersha

Brandi and Cedric Thomas

Iowa Vance

Jenn and Frank Buonanotte

Tracey and Jim Klein

Roxana Shershin and Patrick Vance

Nicholas Lennon

Reid Richardson

Vivian and Cale Lennon

Hanna Yilma

Alli and Matthew Richardson

Cooper Williams

Jae Lieberman Shele and Gary Lieberman

Melissa and KC Williams

Sophia Mador

NINTH GRADE

Reed Marthers

Jennifer and Jeremy Mador

Avery Abram

Chloe and John Abram

Janet and Paul Marthers

Trovon Baugh

Chris Mason

Sandra and Kimber McDaniel

Aisha Gayle Jerold Mason

Ella Berman

England Meadows

Mara and Justin Berman

Ava Byrne

Bo and Chris Byrne

Frank Caldwell Ebony and Frank Caldwell

Wande OkunorenMeadows and Dino Meadows

Stella Nelson

Cindy and Craig Davis

Ian Dempsey Shannon and Tom Dempsey

Quincy Downing Tracy Downing

Brooke Fung Chung

Charles Thompson

Simon Gerber

Nadra Hopkins

Civia and Benjamin Gerber

10TH GRADE RJ Austin

Keanya Jones Reginald Austin

McLean Eagleson

BOWEN EAGLESON and John Eagleson

Quantaves Gaskins Quantiyanna Gaskins Ivery Gaskins

Victor Ovalle-Mares Maria Mares and Edgar Ovalle

Myles Bolton

Bea Chadwick

Lyndsey Davis

Christine Zinman

Ovie Nirgudkar

Gerardo Ovalle-Mares

Claire and Ben Chadwick

Anna Zinman

11TH GRADE

Cele Camp

Allison and Craig Camp

Aida and Gerum Yilma

Hilary and Stuart Nelson

Pranita and Amol Nirgudkar

Latoya and Travis Stephens

Liles and Charlie Thompson

Maddie Swartz

CJ Thomas

Angie and Shawn Janko

Nicole and Clay Harmon

Jasmine Jamieson

Hermela Teferi

Ellie Morris and Josh Weiss

Lisa and Adam Webb

Jordan Sloan

Angelle and Art Hamilton

LISA DUBOVY and Darin Dubovy

Max Hamilton

SECOND GRADE

Jen Metzger and Robert Venturi

Maria Mendoza and Ricardo Gomez

Anne Weiss

Adam Barodawala

Melinda Chandler and Mikel Muffley

Raina Desai

Luca Venturi

Brandon Gomez-Mendoza

Samantha Dubovy

FIFTH GRADE

Madison Muffley

Cia and LARRY CUMMINGS ’86

Kiplyn and Gardiner Thompson

Jack Janko Katie Janko

Ronghong Li and Alan Wu

FIRST GRADE

Ana Pallares and Paul De Cock

Bennett Cummings

Merritt Thompson

Sophia Webb

Jemeka and SHARMAN WHITE

Arturo De Cock

Cally and David Bybee

Angela and Ketan Desai

Katie and Scott Weaver

Lubaina Rangwala and Fayyaz Barodawala

Mack Bybee

Maxine and Tim Bolton

Matthew Cleveland Sandra and Ralph Cleveland

Maria Mares and Edgar Ovalle

Michael Fu

John Perez

Jamaal Jones Chenille Jones

Roberto Perez

Caitlyn Pinsker

Stacy and Brian Pinsker

Jack Schmitt

Jin Wang and Oliver Fu

Joel Jones

Katie Khajavi

Wendy and Jay Schmitt

Peggy and Kaveh Khajavi

Austin Scott

Jordyn Lewis

Barri Seitz

Evan Smith-Rooks

Ashley and Duke Scott Tracy and Brian Seitz

Kylen Shields

Patrick Shields Danielle Shields

Tyrone Lewis

Robin Rooks and Melissa Smith-Rooks

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

AROUND PACE

FACES OF PACE

Get to know the Pace Academy staff members who make the business of school happen.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

Kevin Neely

/// COMPUTER SPECIALIST ///

What is your role at Pace? I am one of the computer guys, as well as fourth-grade computer teacher. How did you come to work at Pace? Prior to Pace, I worked for Promethean, where I trained teachers and techs how to use and fix front-of-class interactive projectors and such. In that role, I had conducted trainings in the Pace Lower School. When the computer guys opened up an additional role, they thought of me. What do you love most about your job? The people. The faculty, staff and students make it easy to show up every day, and the sheer number of things I get to learn about and master is wonderful.

AROUND PACE

Ashley Stafford

Lela Wallace

/// ADMISSIONS DATABASE MANAGER ///

/// DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER ///

What is your role at Pace?

I am responsible for our two admissions databases, as well as a lot of behind-the-scenes work for our team. Also, I help prospective families troubleshoot in our Ravenna database, which is used during the application process.

My primary responsibility is to create, update and maintain the Pace website. My secondary duties include social media strategy and analytics, teacher email communications training, and grade rep communications and volunteer training.

How did you come to work at Pace?

I came to Pace during the summer of 2011 to work with the Pace Summer Programs staff and eventually became assistant director of that team. In 2015, I began working with admissions.

My background is in corporate and digital agency environments. Most notably, I worked for The Coca-Cola Company as a social media strategist and analyst. After a number of years in corporate/agency life, I sought a position that would allow for more of a work/life balance and still challenge my skill sets. That's when I came upon this opportunity. It seemed like the perfect fit for me— and I was right!

What do you love most about your job? I love the team that I work with because my colleagues make it a joy to come to work and give me “the courage to strive for excellence” each and every day.

What do you love most about your job? I love the communications team. We genuinely have a lot of admiration for each other and our respective roles. Because we have created such a supportive environment, it makes it easier for other departments, parent organizations and students to work with us.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

ALL ABOUT PACE ARTS

Horrifyingly Hilarious The Middle School drama department kicked off its 2019â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2020 season with The Hallmarks of Horror, a theatrical analysis of the tropes that make horror movies laughably predictable. From the car that wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t start to the villain that never dies, Director PATRICK CAMPBELL and his cast and crew made the scary side-splitting.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

A New Season for Upper School Theatre Expanded programming moves the musical to spring

Yehimi Cambrón

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

Judine Somervillei

VIP Visitors Over the first semester, a steady parade of professionals in the visual and performing arts made its way through the Fine Arts Center. Students learned from prolific Broadway performer Judine Somerville, muralist Yehimi Cambrón, visual artist Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, Florida State University Professor of Voice Dr. Chuck Candler and Converse College Associate Professor of Voice Valerie MacPhail.

“Everything changes,” the character of Jenna sings in the hit Broadway musical Waitress. It’s a joyous refrain that applies to life—and to Pace Academy theatre, a long-standing program of pride for the school. For decades, the Upper School’s annual fall musical headlined Pace’s first-semester calendar, attracting soldout crowds and regional acclaim. Students also participated in a one-act play and a spring show, consistently outstanding productions. All good things grow, and in recent years, the visual and performing arts department, under the leadership of chair SEAN BRYAN (top right), has—pardon the pun— dramatically increased its offerings. Today, Upper School students continue to stage three productions: a musical, a one-act play and a winter showcase. Curricular offerings include classes in acting, advanced acting and directing. The drama club boasts more than 50 members, and students participate in the annual Georgia Thespian Conference at the state and national levels, and in the Georgia High School Association’s (GHSA) One-Act Play Competition and Literary Meet. In addition, Bryan and the Pace Arts Alliance have partnered with organizations like the Alliance Theatre, the Wallace Buice Theatre Company, Theatrical Outfit, the Center for Puppetry Arts and the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival to facilitate student workshops, bring outside directors and professionals to Pace and coordinate field trips. Students have traveled to London, Chicago and New York City to take in professional productions, visit theatre landmarks and learn from experts in the industry. A music-focused Isdell Center for Global Leadership study tour will travel to Vienna this summer. The expansion in programming has necessitated shifting schedules, so this year and going forward, the Upper School’s mainstage musical will roll into the Fine Arts Center in early April. The move better accommodates the vast array of opportunities now available, ensures adequate time for student preparation, and allows those new to the theatre program to hone their interests and skills before making their musical debuts. “We have evolved while maintaining the quality productions that Pace is known to present,” Bryan says. “Our program contains all of the elements necessary for an inclusive theatre education. I’m proud to have student designers, performers, technicians and directors all getting their hands into the work and being recognized.” Please join the Pace community for Upper School theatre’s upcoming productions. The winter showcase will take place Jan. 24 and 25 at 7 p.m. The 2020 spring musical, The Music Man, takes the stage April 2 and 4 at 7 p.m. A performance for all Upper School students, faculty and staff will take place Friday, April 3, at 1:30 p.m.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

ALL ABOUT PACE ARTS

JENNIFER WILSON

CARLA CONTRERAS

MOLLY HURD

Wilson has more than 20 years of experience in education—including a year as a science teacher in Pace’s Garcia Family Middle School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in two-dimensional studies from Bowling Green State University, a bachelor’s in photography from the Corcoran College of Art and Design and a master’s from the University of Delaware.

Originally from Ecuador, Contreras earned a bachelor’s degree in contemporary arts from San Francisco University, Ecuador and a Master of Fine Arts in painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). She also works with Middle School students as a long-term substitute, teaching Spanish.

Hurd is a familiar face around the Pace Academy Lower School after serving as a long-term substitute for visual art, third grade and Design Thinking. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and visual arts from Eckerd College and brings to Pace experience in graphic design and photography.

Is there a photo, or series of photos, that has been particularly impactful?

Which artist inspires you most?

UPPER SCHOOL PHOTOGR APHY

I will never forget the first time I saw the work of Sally Mann. Her ability to capture light is magical. I look forward to seeing her exhibition [now on view] at the High Museum of Art! What can students expect to take from your classes? I hope to inspire students to take the time to really see the world around them and to understand how powerful an image can be. And I strive to set each of them up for success, to make the most of each day and to have loads of fun while doing it!

THE S TART OF SCHOOL BROUGHT NE W FACES TO OUR VISUAL ARTS FACULT Y. RE AD ON TO LE ARN A BIT ABOUT MOLLY HURD, CARL A CONTRER A S AN D JENNIFER WIL SON.

MID DLE SCHOOL VISUAL ART

Olafur Eliasson, a Danish-Icelandic artist known for sculptures and large-scale installation art. Eliasson explores issues dealing with space, time, light and society. His art inspires me because he believes that art has great potential for changing the world, improving people’s lives and creating a sense of trust in our societies. He pushes the boundaries of what an artist does. His practice combines social and artistic processes with science, math, physics and technology to encourage reflection. What brings you joy, professionally? In terms of my artistic practice, it brings me joy to share concerns, experiences and ideas with people through my art, and to encourage empathy, trust and a sense of community. In relation to teaching, submerging myself in a younger generation’s beautiful, positive energy brings me joy. I love learning from them, resetting my mindset with their fresh perspectives and sharing with them my passion for art and its important role in shaping, documenting and transforming our society.

LOWER SCHOOL VISUAL ART

Did you have a favorite art project as a child, one that has stuck with you and impacts your teaching today? My elementary school art teacher was incredible in so many ways. More so than the projects, I remember the experiences she created for us. My very favorite was our artists critique. Every year, starting in kindergarten, we took home a portfolio that showcased all our favorite work. We spent time beforehand learning the various terminology that applied to the projects we created, and we would sit down with our parents and describe our artworks, making sure to include the vocabulary we learned. I remember being so proud to present everything I created to my parents. I really felt like an artist. How do you want students to feel as they spend time in your classroom? I want students to feel challenged and supported in my class. I hope that they can always arrive to class knowing that the creative process can be hard but is equally exciting. I strive for students to gain comfort in the small failures that come with art in the hopes that they can then create work that goes past what they initially thought possible.

Getting to Know Our

NEW 26

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

ALL ABOUT PACE ARTS

HURD

WILSON

CONTRERAS

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

ICGL

AS STUDENTS PREPARE FOR 2019–2020 ICGL STUDY TOURS, WE LOOK BACK AT THEIR

SUMMER TRAVELS.

FOLLOW STUDENTS’ TRAVELS ON INSTAGRAM VIA @PACEABROAD.

With contributions from GENNA SCHWARTZ ’19

1 2

GHANA & BOT S WA N A

3 [1–4]

Upper School students returned to Ghana and Botswana in partnership with the SubSaharan Education Project (SSEP) to better understand the conservation of endangered species and ecosystems in southern Africa, the rich history and culture of Ghana, and the challenges and threats facing the people of West Africa today. Thirteen students, Director of Athletics DR. TROY BAKER and Director of Diversity and Inclusion JOANNE BROWN worked with rangers and conservationists at Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana before traveling to Ghana to assist SSEP staff in facilitating programs such as medical outreach and recycled bead-making. Students also visited sites related to the trans-Atlantic slave trade and spoke with local experts regarding the lingering impact of history on modern political, economic and environmental challenges.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

ICGL JA PA N

Nineteen Middle School students, art teachers ANNA MURPHY and KATY COWLES, and faculty advisers ED WILLIAMS and LENNY JEFFERSON began their exploration of Japanese art and culture in the bustling city of Kyoto, where destinations included Nijo-jo Castle, a UNESCO world heritage site. The group then traveled to Tokyo, Fukushima and Yamaguchi, learning the traditional art of raku and the more modern manga (Japanese comics or graphic novels). Other study tour highlights included participating in a traditional tea ceremony, creating Japanese-style prints, visiting Zen temples, bathing in a mountaintop hot spring, making Soba noodles and traveling via the famed bullet train.

GREECE

[5–6]

11 [7–11]

Under the expert tutelage of Head of Middle School and history teacher GRAHAM ANTHONY, Latin instructor STEWART TARVIN and Upper School science teacher ALLISON TARVIN, 12 Middle School students received a hands-on, in-depth crash course on ancient and modern Greece. From Athens to the Peloponnese Peninsula to the island of Crete and its ruins at Knossos, these intrepid travelers observed signs of the country’s evolution throughout history, participated in cooking classes, dined with archaeological experts and explored museums and ancient landmarks in an effort to better understand the historical narratives that have shaped the Greece of today. 10

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

“One valuable aspect of ICGL study tours is the chance to step out of our day-to-day routine and fully engage in another culture to build cross-cultural relationships. The Brazil partnership gives us a unique opportunity to do this as we live at the PRECE Education Training Center with Brazilian students and share language, food, games, dances and traditions. We also reflect on ourselves as individuals and members of the broader community. This communal experience helps us break down assumptions and prejudices and draw upon our similarities.”

ICGL

CO S TA R I C A

[1–3]

For the fifth consecutive summer, rising sixth graders traveled to Costa Rica’s Chilamate region in partnership with World Leadership School in an effort to develop students’ leadership capabilities and increase their global awareness. Director of Lower School Global Leadership REBECCA RHODES, Director of Advancement HEATHER WHITE and Lower School teachers HAYLEY HARDWICK, LISA RICHARDSON and VONDA VRIELAND led 23 students as they engaged in cultural exchanges, service and conservation education. As students immersed themselves in the local language and culture, they also took time to adventure and enjoyed hiking, whitewater rafting and ziplining.

KACY BRUBAKER DIRECTOR OF LOWER SCHOOL STUDENT LIFE

“[The Brazil study tour] is one of the best trips I’ve ever been on. I really loved how hands-on we were with the Brazilian students and also thoroughly enjoyed learning about the cultural differences. I feel as if I learned from them as much as I was able to teach.” DARIAN HOWARD ’19

BRAZIL

[4–7]

A partnership with PRECE (Program of Education in Cooperative Cells) took 11 Upper School students and faculty advisers KACY BRUBAKER and DEMETRIUS SMITH to Brazil this past summer. Founded in 1994 in the area of Cipó, PRECE has helped more than 500 poor students attend college. The Pace group spent six days learning about PRECE and its efforts, teaching English and assisting with maintenance at PRECE headquarters. When their work was complete, the group traveled to Rio de Janeiro, where students explored the history, politics, culture and art of the city.

ICGL

8 10

FRANCE

[8–12]

Faculty advisers CAITLIN TERRY and OMAR LÓPEZ THISMÓN and six Upper School students made Paris their home base as they dug deep into French history and the concept of nationalism amid the celebratory atmosphere of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Throughout their travels, the group explored postcolonialism and its effects on European nations, particularly France; discussed FIFA and its role on the global stage; and cheered the U.S. World Cup team to victory over Chile. Students documented their daily observations and impressions, which, coupled with their experiences, allowed for introspection, national awareness and insightful discussion.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

ICGL

EVERYTHING IS RECYCLABLE 32

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

ICGL

ICGL VISITING SCHOLAR TOM SZAKY’S VISION FOR THE FUTURE

DAV I S , LOWRIE JOIN ICGL ADVISORY B O A R D

FOR 48 HOURS in September, members of the Pace community talked a whole lot of trash as Tom Szaky, 2019–2020 Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) Visiting Scholar, officially launched a community-wide conversation about Waste, this year’s ICGL global theme. Szaky (shown left) is founder and CEO of TerraCycle, a global leader in the collection and repurposing of complex waste streams. TerraCycle operates in 21 countries, working with some of the world’s largest brands, retailers and manufacturers to create national platforms to recycle products and packaging that currently go to landfills or incinerators. The company runs the world’s largest supply chain for ocean plastic and recently announced Loop, an e-commerce platform that enables consumers to shop for many of their favorite brands in durable, reusable packaging—a step toward ending the epidemic of singleuse consumption. Szaky spent time with students and faculty in every division, and with parents and community members, sharing what he has learned as well as his hopes for the future of our society and our planet. “Before [Szaky’s] talk, I hadn’t realized that the idea of waste and garbage is so new,” sophomore LAURA ROMIG reported. “It was actually very valuable to learn that a waste-free lifestyle can be and is compatible with a comfortable life—which I think a lot of people don’t realize.”

THE ICGL ADVISORY BOARD is made up of Pace Academy parents or parents of Pace alumni with diverse professional backgrounds representing each of the ICGL’s five organizational pillars: Science & Technology, Culture & Arts, Social Entrepreneurship & Business, Service & Environmental Sustainability and Public Policy & International Relations. With the start of the new school year, several members of the Advisory Board completed their terms. Thanks to NEAL ARONSON, KHALID HAMIED, ROBERT SHARPE, GAIL STARR, BUCK WOODRUFF and ERIC TANENBLATT for their dedication to furthering Pace’s mission through the ICGL. The Advisory Board is pleased to welcome new members PETE DAVIS and JULIE LOWRIE. Davis is president of Peachtree Investment Solutions, LLC, a private investment firm that specializes in environmentally sound and socially conscious alternative investments. Lowrie is a senior knowledge expert in McKinsey’s global consumer practice, focused specifically on marketing and sales.

“I understood that the problem of waste and the need to

recycle are even more important than I had realized. I learned that it is possible to recycle and reuse so

much more than we think, but we need to take action now!” ALLIE CAMPBELL ’22 KnightTimes | Fall 2019

TAKING CLIMATE DEMANDS TO THE CAPITOL

On Sept. 20, Upper School student leaders and faculty participated in the Youth Climate Strike at the state Capitol, an event held in conjunction with other protests around the world. The movement, inspired by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, calls for sweeping environmental policy changes to combat climate change.

OUR RESIDENT ICGL SCHOLAR

Upper School Science Department Chair DR. JOHN PEARSON headlined one of the first ICGL assemblies of the year and discussed with students the many connections between ICGL themes of years past—Water, Food, Climate, Conservation and Energy—and this year’s theme of Waste. Waste is not only an environmental issue, Pearson stated, but also a social justice and humanitarian issue, as much of the world’s waste negatively impacts the waters, land and air of those in poverty.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

A LITERAL WASTELAND

When Lower School students entered their classroom building at the start of school, they discovered that each floor had been decorated to represent a different level of waste—waste in the water, waste on land and waste in the air. The decor brings to life issues Lower School teachers encountered last spring on their waste-themed trip to Japan and highlights some of the solutions the Japanese have employed to reduce, reuse and recycle waste in daily life, as well as ways members of the Pace community can make a difference in Atlanta and the world.

FIGHTING FOOD WASTE

With food as its community engagement theme, the third grade has partnered with Second Helpings Atlanta to learn more about food rescue. The organization’s volunteers pick up surplus food from grocery stores, retailers, corporate dining halls—and Pace!—and deliver it to nonprofit agencies that feed those in need. Representatives from Second Helpings shared information about their work with the students, and reported that Second Helpings has rescued more than 2,000 meals from the Pace cafeterias.

A CHaRMed PARTNERSHIP WOKE 2 WASTE

As part of the Year of Waste, the ICGL partnered with the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) to promote proper recycling and reduce harmful materials in the Pace community’s waste stream. Middle School students led the charge and organized a month-long, cross-divisional collection of hard-to-recycle soft plastics—things like grocery bags, bubble wrap and dry cleaning bags. In addition to gathering 406 pounds of recyclables, Middle Schoolers visited CHaRM’s facility to see how the organization keeps harmful materials out of landfills, oceans and waterways.

To bring the Year of Waste to life for students, the Middle School launched Woke 2 Waste, a yearlong competition that aims to build knowledge and awareness around waste-related issues. Together, students, faculty and families are winning points while taking on challenges to improve our community, our city and our world. Challenges include documenting and cleaning up waste on campus or in the community, engineering ways to reduce waste at Pace, up-cycling or donating used items, and initiating a composting program at home or within a neighborhood.

ICGL

IN THE FIELD

The Middle School continued its study of Waste with grade-level trips to Dalton, Ga., where students explored the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority (DWSWA), which provides waste-management services for commercial and residential customers in Whitfield County, as well as environmental education programs. Students observed the processes behind large-scale recycling and participated in hands-on learning activities with the DWSWA staff before heading to the Mohawk Light Lab, home to all of the commercial and hospitality product design teams in the Mohawk organization. Led by a Mohawk sustainability coordinator, students toured the light lab and learned about Mohawk’s environmental initiatives.

VISITING EXPERTS

The ICGL hosted a who’s who of VIPs this semester, and issues surrounding Waste have been front and center for Middle School students. Sixth-grade STEAM & Design students participated in a handson demonstration with Pace parent DR. MATT GRABOWSKI (right) of Georgia Anesthesiologists P.C., who re-created an operating-room scene to illustrate medical waste. Pace parents COREY and BEN HIROKAWA, who operate Blue Goblin Recycling Solutions, spoke to seventh graders about the technical and economic issues surrounding the recycling of styrofoam. All Middle Schoolers heard from Rev. Kate McGregor Mosley (above), executive director of Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, and from 16-year-old environmentalist Hannah Testa, who shared with students her fight for the planet and its future.

THE YEAR OF

WASTE IN ACTION

FROM SECOND HELPINGS AND VISITING SCHOLARS TO SOFT PLASTICS AND PROTESTS, HERE’S HOW WE LAUNCHED THE DISCUSSION AROUND THIS YEAR’S ISDELL CENTER FOR GLOBAL LEADERSHIP (ICGL) ANNUAL THEME. KnightTimes | Fall 2019

GLOBAL LEADERS

The Future of SCIENCE

University of Georgia labs offer summer learning experiences

FOR THE SECOND consecutive year, Pace’s Upper School students participated in the University of Georgia’s Young Dawgs Program. The program for high-achieving high-school juniors and seniors (applicants must have a grade point average of at least 3.7) places students in six-week internships throughout the university with the goal of preparing them for post-secondary education and professional careers. Seniors RHUNA GIBBS, INSHA MERCHANT and MATTHEW QUINTANA and junior OLIVIA ULLMAN represented Pace as 2019 Young Dawgs. With guidance from Upper School science teacher MELODY WALTER, students pursued hands-on lab experiences in a variety of scientific disciplines. Their internships culminated in final oral presentations in front of a panel of three judges. “Rhuna, Insha, Matthew and Olivia really enjoyed the experience, and they learned a lot throughout the process,” Walter reports. “They all gave polished, informative presentations.” Quintana, who also participated in the Young Dawgs program during the summer of 2018, claimed the runner-up prize.

Highest Honors

TWO MEMBERS of the Pace Academy Class of 2020 joined an elite group of students from across the state at Georgia’s 2019 Governor’s Honors Program (GHP). Following nomination and intensive application processes, seniors FRANCESCA VANERI and INDIA BEHL were selected to participate in the residential summer program for gifted and talented high school students. The program provides academic, cultural and social enrichment in an effort to create “the next generation of global thinkers, innovators and leaders.” Both Vaneri and Behl participated in the GHP social studies track.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

s lter Wa Gibb and

Walter and Quintana

Lower School music teacher VONDA VRIELAND shares her passion with students in Ukraine

Debating on the World Stage FOR MORE than 30 years, the World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) have brought together high-school students from across the globe to compete in English-language debating tournaments. WSDC strives to “promote international understanding and free speech through debating to help young people develop their capabilities that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society.” This past summer, Middle School debate teacher ED WILLIAMS traveled to Bangkok to participate in the 2019 tournament as a judge. “I was selected by the executive director of the National Speech & Debate Association and the head coach of USA Debate,” Williams explains. “This was the first time that I have judged at the world championships, and it was amazing to hear from some of the world's best and brightest students.” Williams adjudicated nearly every day during the six-day tournament and watched as India claimed the 2019 title.

“EVERY YEAR, my family hosts a dinner for the missionaries that our church, Mount Paran Church, sponsors. During the evening, the missionaries share their experiences and needs with those in attendance. In February 2019, we welcomed to our home Jane Hyatt and Barbara Klaiber, co-founders of Father’s Care: The Ark Rehab Center for Street Children at Risk. The organization, based in Ukraine, serves orphaned children in Kiev on a 12-acre site that includes dormitories, a school, athletics facilities, and an auditorium and dining hall. Full-time caregivers supervise learning and daily activities. At the dinner, Hyatt and Klaiber expressed their desire for a U.S. team to engage their children in music, drama and art during their summer camp. As we learned more about The Ark and its work, several friends and I felt called to participate. So, this past summer, six other church members and I traveled to Kiev to share our love and talents with 25 Ukrainian children. I taught children at The Ark our Pace students’ favorite activities—drumming with beat boards, songs, singing games and playing recorders. The youngest children enjoyed the singing game Black Snake, similar to Duck, Duck, Goose. There were squeals of laughter as we played, and even the caregivers, interpreter and teacher joined the fun. The older children enjoyed the challenge of the song Bim Bom and used hand motions as the tempo picked up. They learned that it was okay— and rather fun—to make mistakes. Students were excited to try the recorder and, in just five days, learned how to use proper technique and play Hot Cross Buns and Swag in the BAG. Each student received a beat board and drum sticks, and the group loved playing drum games and learning Get Down and Play the Drums for their end-of-camp talent show. Our theme song for the week was one Pace students have sung year after year in the Lower School holiday program, and it touched all of our hearts. Not only did the children sing Jesus, Name Above All Names in Ukrainian, they also used the sign language that I teach to my Pace classes. When the trip came to an end, everyone in our group wished we had another week. So the children could continue the fun activities we introduced, I left with them everything from recorders and songbooks to flamingo floats and bouncy balls, and I left The Ark with a bigger heart. My hope for these kids is that they find homes and families where they will be loved and nurtured.”

The Universal LANGUAGE

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

GLOBAL LEADERS

G L O B A L L E A D E R S

Dr KAYLAN HAIZLIP F A C U L T Y

S P O T L I G H T

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

GLOBAL LEADERS

pper School biology teacher DR. Her research expeditions to West KAYLAN HAIZLIP promotes the Virginia, Vermont and Puerto Rico with importance of global learning in and out of the IGLs and Director of the Isdell Center the classroom. With a lifelong passion for for Global Leadership TRISH ANDERSON travel, Haizlip has embraced the mission of have enriched Haizlip’s Pace experience. Pace’s Isdell Center for Global Leadership “I absolutely loved collaborating with the (IGCL), a program that has further opened IGLs, understanding how they think and her eyes to the world’s cultural richness. really getting to know them,” she reports. A native of Canton, Ohio, Haizlip received “I’ve been impressed by how capable our a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State students are. It’s fun helping them learn University, where she also earned a Ph.D. in to trust themselves and their instincts and biomedical technology with a focus on carwatching them become more innovative, diovascular physiology, as well as numerous adventurous and kind.” academic awards. Before arriving at Pace in In addition to building relationships 2016, Haizlip served as a research associwith students, Haizlip’s background added ate at the University of Colorado, Boulder, a level of depth to their studies. “As we studying musculoskeletal genetics and the traveled, we talked to energy experts, educardiovascular response to pregnancy and cators and advocates in each location, and familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathies. I was able to bring a scientific perspective While completing her postdoctoral research, and critical thinking to those conversations she worked several nights a week as a house and to the material we studied.” mother at a home for teenage girls. Beyond her work in the classroom and “As a result of that experience, I realized on the road, Haizlip co-leads a cohort of that I have a passion for working with teenICGL Fellows, sophomore students who agers,” Haizlip says. “I wanted to combine have committed to a two-year deep dive my love of science with my love of working into the issues and science surrounding with kids, so the opportunity to teach biolHIV/AIDS. She also enjoys participating in ogy at Pace seemed like a perfect fit.” Pace’s Model United Nations program, led Haizlip joined the Pace faculty in 2016 by longtime history teacher HELEN SMITH, and strives to incorporate into her teaching and will travel with the Pace delegation to discussion of national and global issues and Washington, D.C., this spring. their interconnectedness with science. For “The world is much smaller than I origiinstance, when learning about parasitism, nally thought,” Haizlip says. “Participants students’ understanding is typically limited in Model UN know a great deal about the to ticks and fleas, nuisances that have little people and countries outside of their own, effect on their daily lives. When Haizlip and I must work harder to do the same.” introduces them to jiggers—African sand With that goal in mind, Haizlip will fleas that embed in human feet and quickly lead an Upper School ICGL study tour grow, causing bacterial superinfections— to China in the summer of 2020. The the impact that such organisms might have trip will focus on science, technology on an individual’s quality of life becomes and conservation, with stops in Beijing, more real and students consider perspecShanghai and Chengdu. tives beyond their own. “I know, now more than ever, that our Haizlip employs that same global mental- students must understand the world ity to her work on ICGL study tours—she’s around them,” Haizlip says. “Only by traveled with Middle and Upper School understanding other people and places groups to China (see sidebar)—and served will they be able to make good decisions as a faculty adviser to the 2018–2019 Isdell regarding the future.” Global Leaders (IGLs), a small group of Upper School students who spent the year — with contributions from researching and traveling to better underGENNA SCHWARZ ’19 stand issues around Energy, the 2018–2019 ICGL global theme.

It’s fun helping students learn to trust themselves and their instincts and watching them become more innovative, adventurous and kind.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

THE RANDALL HOUSE

The Randall House in 2013

Once Pace Academyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fine Arts Center, now the Lower School administration building, the Randall House takes a final bow.

So Long,

Farewell

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

THE RANDALL HOUSE

The History

As 2019 comes to a close, Pace Academy will bid adieu to the Randall House, a structure that has served the school well for more than 40 years. Growing program and curriculum needs, as well as safety, security and accessibility requirements, call for a new home for our Lower School’s leadership and expanded spaces for innovative learning, the arts,

The Randall House’s story began in 1939, when Luther H. Randall Sr., chairman and CEO of the moulding and millwork supplier Randall Brothers Inc., commissioned the construction of his family’s home on 22 acres at the corner of W. Paces Ferry and Rilman roads. The home, completed in 1941, featured six tall columns, large windows and floor joists made of southern heart yellow pine that Randall procured from downtown Atlanta's old Kimball House Hotel after its demolition. Constructed of red bricks produced by the Chattahoochee Brick Company, the home sat atop a hill adjacent to the Ogden family estate, built in 1928, which was to become Pace Academy three decades later. The Randall family watched as the fledgling school came into its own over the years, adding students, a gymnasium and a large classroom facility. In the early 1970s, Pace enrollment reached 680, and programming was robust. The Pace community had begun to feel the confines of the existing facilities, so in 1975, when Luther H. Randall, Jr. and his sister, Helen Randall Shreve, put their property, then 5 acres, on the market, the Pace Board of Trustees decided to make a bid.

academic support, community gatherings and play. So, in late December, Pace will begin the process of replacing the Randall House with a three-story, 36,500-squarefoot, state-of-the-art space, in keeping with the beautiful

Luther H. Randall, Sr.

Luther H. Randall, Jr.

aesthetic of our campus and neighborhood—but not before we say a proper goodbye.

Head o f Schoo l George Kirkpatr ick with He ad of Lower S chool E rma Hudmo n during constru ction of the Low er Scho ol classroo m build ing

A Golden Opportunity The Board, which had long eyed the Randall home as a possible site for its growing performing and visual arts programs, entered into an option-to-purchase agreement with the family. There was one small problem, however—Pace lacked the $395,000 asking price. The school’s leadership had obtained a $200,000 grant toward the purchase from the J. Bulow Campbell Foundation but needed to raise the remaining funds, plus $55,000 required to renovate the home for educational use. The Board launched a campaign with a brochure entitled A Golden Opportunity for Pace Academy. “The Luther Randall home, a large, fine home … can be ours and ... create in our youth a love for the arts,” it read. Fundraising was slow, but Randall and Shreve believed in Pace’s vision for the property and agreed to extend the option-to-purchase beyond its initial time frame. Pace officially closed on the Randall home on Jan. 4, 1977. Headmaster GEORGE KIRKPATRICK called the purchase “a milestone in Pace Academy’s history” and, in partnership with ERNEST KEY, chair of the Board’s Building and Grounds Committee, quickly set about the business of remodeling.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

THE RANDALL HOUSE

A Place for Pace Arts Kirkpatrick and Key made use of every nook and cranny in the Randall home. The basement playroom became a Lower School music room with a small stage for class plays; the screened porch was glassed in to house Lower School art; the two-car garage, with a clay sink and kiln, served as an art studio for all grades; the second-floor bedrooms and bathrooms became settings for art and music offices and a classroom, as well as practice rooms and storage. The new chair of the Building and Grounds Committee, RANDOLPH GOULDING (left), oversaw the remodeling process, which ran into unexpected challenges—leaks, electrical issues and other necessary repairs. Despite the setbacks, the Pace community came together to ensure the building, when open, would serve the needs of the students and faculty inside. Families donated pianos, furniture and wall hangings. Over the course of three Saturday workdays, parents, teachers, students and alumni put in countless hours to prepare the space. “A daisy chain went up the hill, and people were passing books and passing chairs from hand to hand to hand,” Kirkpatrick recalled. The Pace Academy Fine Arts Center officially opened with a celebratory reception on Sunday, Nov. 6, 1977. Trustee MARTHA THWAITE planned the event, which began at 4 p.m. to take advantage of the late-afternoon light that streamed into the art studios. Students and faculty set to work in the new space, and music and the smells of art supplies filled the halls. “Although the FAC is regarded by some as only an academic alcove, there still lingers a hint of elegance from its Randall Home days,” the staff of the 1978 Pacesetter wrote.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

Mus ic 1987 class du rin –198 8 sch g the ool y ear

BELOW: Pace Academy first used the Randall House during the 1977–1978 school year. It was then known as the Fine Arts Center and housed all Lower and Upper School music and visual arts classes.

THE RANDALL HOUSE

The Lower School The Randall House’s time as a hub for Pace Arts was short lived. Bridges Hall, Pace’s only classroom building at the time (since replaced by the Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School), housed classrooms for all grades, a cafeteria and library, and was bursting at the seams. To accommodate the school’s enrollment and delineate between the Lower and Upper Schools (there was no Middle School at the time), Pace’s leadership soon set about constructing a new facility adjacent to this first Fine Arts Center. The new space would provide a home for the Lower School, then Pre-First through sixth grade, and free up space in Bridges Hall for the Upper School, grades

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Generations of friends have enjoyed their time within the walls of the Randall House; In the shadow of the Randall House's iconic columns, a student waits to go home during the 1987–1988 school year; SILKE CLIATT with an art student during the 1984–1985 school year.

seven through 12. The Lower School classroom building opened in 1983, and while SILKE CLIATT’S Lower School art classroom remained in the space that is now the Goldman Conference Room, and the strings program continued to practice in an upstairs classroom, the Randall House became more of an administrative hub—and remains so today. “With a recently completed building and many new faces, the Lower School is full of new beginnings,” the 1984 Pacesetter stated. “It is the start of the educational process which includes studies, athletics, extracurricular activities, and perhaps most importantly, friendships that will last a lifetime.”

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

THE RANDALL HOUSE

The Gateway to Pace Academy Since 1983, the Randall House has served as the gateway to the Lower School, its oversized front door and warm entryway evoking a sense of home for all who enter. Through the decades, Lower School leaders ERMA HUDMON, HOLLY GARDNER, MIKE MURPHY and ANNA VALERIUS greeted students as they jumped out of cars at morning carpool, eager to start the day with a handshake or a hug. Head of Lower School SYREETA MOSELEY has stood watch since 2014. Under their leadership, events like First Grade Pet Day, Grandparents & Special Friends Day and the Holiday Program have become beloved annual traditions. First-grade students have looked forward CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Head of Lower School Anna Valerius welcoming to learning the identities of a student to school during the 1997–1998 school year; Michael Murphy served their fifth-grade buddies, and as Head of Lower School from 1989–1997 before becoming Head of School; In 2014, Head of School Fred Assaf welcomed current Head of the character-education proLower School Syreeta Moseley gram, now the Noble Knights’ Pillars of Character, has instilled in generations of Pace students the values of empathy, curiosity, collaboration, respect, from parted leadership and nts de use to e d tu S o ndall H Duke perseverance. the Ra urs at m le y An updated stud 017 ity in 2 Univers Lower School facility will provide much-needed space for these traditions to thrive and new discoveries to unfold, but the Pace community will be forever grateful for the foundation of family—of home—fostered within the Randall House.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

THE RANDALL HOUSE

A little neighborhood trivia…

Mos stude eley with nts in 2017

BELOW: Anna Valerius talking to students in 2007; Lower School carpool during the 1987–1988 school year

The land on which the Randall House sits was previously owned by a Mrs. J. L. Riley and a Mrs. Manley. While little is known about these women, the combination of their last names resulted in the name of the road that runs alongside the property: Rilman Road.

A little Pace family trivia… Luther Randall Jr., who sold his home to Pace in 1977, has two grandchildren who are Pace alumni: LAURA CHOYCE STEIN ’01 (top right) and MATTHEW RANDALL CHOYCE ’05 (bottom right).

Coming Soon! We’ll ring in 2020 with the launch of Accelerate Pace, a $50-million capital campaign for an expanded Lower School and renovations to our iconic Castle. Look for details in the winter 2020 KnightTimes.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

PLANNED GIVING

Introducing

The Castle Circle

The Castle Circle recognizes individuals and couples who have arranged for a future gift, also known as a planned gift, to Pace through provisions in their estate plans—for example, a will bequest, charitable trust or retirement plan beneficiary designation. Members of The Castle Circle view planned giving as a meaningful way of expressing gratitude to Pace and helping ensure the school’s financial viability for all generations to come. Membership in The Castle Circle is accessible to all because it doesn’t require an immediate contribution. No specific gift amount is necessary, and while members may share the gift value if they wish, it is only necessary to share the type of gift arrangements.

A Primer on

PLANNED GIVING The founders of Pace Academy could not have imagined all the school would become by 2020, more than 60 years after the Ogden family’s West Paces Ferry home was transformed into the Pace Castle. Likewise, we can’t foresee Pace’s future—yet we know so much can and will happen at Pace over the next 20, 40, 60 years—and beyond. Regardless of what’s in store, we are confident that Pace will continue to touch lives and create prepared, confident citizens of the world. Members of The Castle Circle help secure the Pace mission by arranging for estate gifts—eventual gifts that will support the Pace of the future.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

PLANNED GIVING

Understanding

Common Types of Planned Gifts by Pace parents and Planned Giving Committee members TIMOTHY M. CURTIN and STEPHEN E. PARKER

This article outlines common types of estate-plan provisions donors use to arrange planned gifts. This type of giving can offer a lasting gift to Pace while creating a legacy for the donor and potentially providing estate-tax benefits. Each type of gift described below will establish a donor’s membership in The Castle Circle and ultimately support Pace. Membership is confirmed by notifying the school in writing or submitting a completed Castle Circle Membership Form.

Tim Curtin and Steve Parker

A Bequest to Pace Academy through your Last Will and Testament or Revocable Trust

Designating Pace Academy as the Beneficiary of a Qualified Retirement Plan

By far the most common method of planned giving is through a bequest made under a last will and testament or a revocable trust (also known as a living trust). Regardless of which estate planning vehicle is right for you, a bequest under a will or trust offers several benefits:

Making a planned gift through a qualified retirement plan (such as an IRA or 401(k)) is becoming more popular and can provide advantages to both your beneficiaries and to Pace:

• You can make a gift of a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate or the remainder of your estate, after you have provided specific gifts to other beneficiaries. • The gift can be increased, decreased or canceled altogether at any time through the execution of a codicil to the will or an amendment to the trust. • It doesn’t cost you anything now. You will have the satisfaction of knowing you have provided for the school, but the peace of mind that you maintain control over your assets while you are alive. • If you have an estate that may be subject to the federal estate tax (consult with your professional advisers), a gift to a charitable organization like Pace can reduce your overall estate-tax liability.

• A planned gift through a qualified retirement plan can be easily implemented by updating the beneficiary designation form associated with the account, meaning you don’t need to amend your current will or trust. • Designating individuals as beneficiaries of retirement plans results in income tax recognition to the beneficiary on withdrawal from the account, and other assets can be inherited without embedded income tax. • Since Pace is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization, no income tax will be due when retirement plan money is transferred to Pace.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

PLANNED GIVING

Designating Pace Academy as the Beneficiary of Life Insurance Proceeds Charitable giving through life insurance can be effective in augmenting your gift to Pace. There are many strategies that can provide both a benefit to you and Pace (consult with your life insurance professional and review arrangements with Pace), including: • Similar to a qualified retirement plan, life insurance proceeds may be easily directed (or redirected) through a beneficiary designation form. • When structured properly for the donor and Pace (including ownership of the policy), life insurance premiums can be tax-deductible to you. • You can make premium payments in the amount of your choosing during your life and leverage these premiums to provide a larger gift to Pace upon your death.

Giving to Pace Academy through a Donor Advised Fund or Charitable Remainder Trust The popularity of donor-advised funds (DAFs) has increased exponentially in recent years due to their ease of funding and implementation and treatment as a public charity. You make a gift to the DAF upon your death, along with specific instructions regarding how much and when your designated charitable organization receives your bequest. A charitable remainder trust (CRT) is a trust that you create and fund during your lifetime under which you (and/or another individual) receive distributions during life; the trust remainder passes to charity upon your demise. Both DAFs and CRTs can be very helpful regarding: • Estate- and income-tax savings; • The creation of a family legacy of giving, which can last years after you have died; • A platform for your children to participate in—and ultimately lead—the family’s charitable giving to the charitable organizations important to the family.

Tim Curtin is an estate planning attorney and the founder and president of the Curtin Law Firm, which assists clients with estate planning, wills, trusts and probate/estate administration. He and his wife, JENNIFER CURTIN, are the parents of COLIN CURTIN ’24 and CARSON CURTIN ’29. Steve Parker is a wealth adviser at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Atlanta. In his role, he provides clients ongoing guidance on tax-efficient wealth and estate planning strategies. He and his wife, TAMMI PARKER, are the parents of DOUG PARKER ’23. Note: This article is informational and educational in nature. It is not offering professional tax, legal or accounting advice. For specific advice about the effect of any planning concept on your tax or financial situation or with your estate, please consult a qualified professional adviser.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

Planned giving can be specifically tailored to meet your needs and benefit Pace and other causes you value. Please consult with your professional adviser(s) for guidance as you consider securing your Pace legacy.

What is the

Pace Academy Endowment? Comprised of a general fund and 30 named funds, the Pace Academy Endowment provides a permanent monetary foundation intended to secure the school’s long-term financial viability. Each fund’s principal grows through investment; a percentage of annual earnings may be used for operations or other purposes according to Pace’s endowment spending policy. Pace’s Board of Trustees determines the use of income from the general endowment. Disbursements from named endowment funds are governed by the donors’ defined purposes. These funds—most established by families or foundations as a tribute to special individuals or loved ones—support a variety of needs that include school programs, financial aid, faculty development and more. Planned gifts that are received support Pace’s general endowment unless otherwise designated by the donor. Endowment gifts, given outright or planned through an estate, demonstrate the foresight and dedication of these caring donors. Their gifts of permanence serve to strengthen Pace and safeguard its future for all generations.

One FAMILY’S STORY Crissa HAWKINS ’88

David HAWKINS

“My decision to include Pace in my will reflects the love Crissa had for Pace.”

Pace Academy holds a special place in the heart of parent of alumni DAVID HAWKINS for the meaningful role it played in the lives of his three children: the late CRISSA HAWKINS ’88, LARA HAWKINS ’94 and REBECCA HAWKINS ‘95.

to include Pace in my will also reflects the love Crissa had for Pace, as well as my belief that Jennifer would have wanted to be a part of Pace's future good works.” Hawkins’ younger daughters, Lara and Rebecca, entered Pace in the eighth

This high regard for Pace, coupled with the desire to make an enduring gift, prompted Hawkins and his wife, JENNIFER HAWKINS, now deceased, to establish a memorial endowment in 1991 in Crissa’s name, after her unexpected death at age 21. Hawkins, who subsequently included a bequest for Pace in his will, is also recognized as a member of The Castle Circle, celebrating those who arrange estate gifts to Pace. The couple explained to then-Head of School GEORGE KIRKPATRICK that by creating the Crissa Hawkins Memorial Scholarship Fund they wished “to partially repay what Pace did for Crissa and to perpetuate her memory at the school she loved so much.” Crissa immediately fell in love with Pace after she enrolled in the eighth grade, in 1983, Hawkins recalls. “She worked hard to keep her grades at the A and B levels, joined the basketball and softball teams and participated in Young Life. Just as important, she made many friends among the Pace students.” He adds, “Over the years at Pace, Crissa put as much effort into friendships as she did in leading the Pace softball and basketball teams to many victories. She continued her friendship-building and sports efforts in college at Florida State University and Georgia State University.” Creating the endowed scholarship fund was a testament to “her love for Pace’s staff and students and our belief that Pace was the best high-school experience she could have had,” he explains. “My decision

and ninth grades, respectively. He describes Lara as the scholar among his daughters, although she too was a student-athlete. Now a management consultant in Charlotte, N.C., Lara enjoys biking and hiking with friends on trips overseas and in the mountains in the western U.S. Hawkins says his youngest daughter, Rebecca, was “the best natural athlete of the three.” He adds, “As a Pace senior, Becka tried out for, and made, the defending-state-champion boys’ baseball team. Becka enjoyed making a statement, and her last joke for her classmates was to hike up her graduation gown to show her wildly colored argyle socks for all to see as she received her diploma.” An outdoors enthusiast, she attended the University of Charleston and now resides in Asheville, N.C., with her husband, Calin, and their two daughters and owns a massage business. Hawkins attends Pace’s Honors Day for the presentation of the Pace junior award that is associated with the Crissa Hawkins endowment. “Every year, I try to be on the Pace stage to award one or two students for their special personal characteristics and sports accomplishments,” he explains. Hawkins, who is remarried and lives in Ellijay, Ga., with his wife, Susan Hawkins, doesn’t mind the drive to the special place that rekindles happy memories of “many hours spent in and about the school” during the years his daughters were students.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

ALUMNI

M NI U L A TE S A D UP

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

In September, VoyageATL published an interview with LAUREN FALOHUN ’06, owner of Passion 4 Performance, which offers sports performance training in one-on-one and group settings. Lauren, who played basketball for the University of South Carolina, is a certified sports performance trainer with nearly a decade of coaching experience on the high school and collegiate levels. A graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Georgia’s College of Public Health, ROSS BROWN ’07 recently started a new position as a public health analyst at RTI International, an independent, nonprofit institute that provides research, development and technical services to government and commercial clients worldwide. MEREDITH BRADSHAW ’13 is a first-year law student at the University of Georgia. She spent two years in the private sector

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before beginning law school, and she hopes to apply the skills she learned during those intervening years to the nonprofit or government sector. COOPER DROSE ’15 earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in cognitive science from the University of Georgia. After graduating, he traveled with his family before beginning work at The Leaders Lyceum, and organization that creates transformational experiences to develop leaders' effectiveness in the workplace and at home. The Leaders Lyceum works with a wide range of clients—from teachers to real estate companies to investment bankers. As a research associate and data analyst, Cooper organizes years of personality data to find trends that allow The Leaders Lyceum to predict individuals’ performances based on myriad factors.

“We haven't been at it long, but we have already found some amazing results that I hope to present at a conference this fall,” says Cooper. “I was very lucky to have found this job, and I am using this as a gap year before applying to graduate school in the fall of 2020. Next year, I hope to begin working toward a Ph.D. in industrial-organizational psychology. My goal is to one day work at a company similar to [The Leaders Lyceum] that focuses on enabling others to excel in every facet of their lives.” SCOTT EISENBERG ’15, a student at the University of Georgia, helped launch a program to screen freshmen for mental health issues. The initiative, featured on Atlanta’s 11 Alive newscast, aims to help students better adjust to college and establish balance in their lives. RACHEL MUCH ’15 graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in art

ALUMNI

history and enrolled at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, where she plans to earn a master’s degree in architecture following the completion of the three-and-one-half-year program. LAURA ROSENBAUM ’15 graduated in May from Washington University in St. Louis with a double major in global health and the environment, and psychological and brain sciences. Following graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C., and interned with the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington, where she now serves as nonprofit programs coordinator, a fulltime position. The Catalogue helps small nonprofits in the region fundraise and grow. “We hold workshops for nonprofits to teach them best practices in the space—from solicitation and stewardship to grant writing and branding,” Laura writes. “As an intern, I did a lot of research behind these workshops.

Now, I continue to do research, but I also have many other responsibilities, such as running Giving Tuesday for 200+ nonprofits. I love my job because everyone I work with is so passionate about what they do and wants to help the community.” XORI JOHNSON ’16, a marketing major at Morehouse College, was selected as a 2019 Forbes Under 30 Scholar and attended the Under 30 Summit in Detroit this fall. The event brings together the future captains of technology, entertainment, finance, fashion, food and philanthropy for a four-day gathering. “At the summit, I met people from around the nation doing absolutely inspiring things—from education to biomedical engineering to music and entertainment,” Xori writes. “The most memorable parts of the conference were hearing Serena Williams speak and having downtime in the evenings to get to know the other scholars.”

MARK SOMMERVILLE ’17, a junior at Berry College, was named Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Football Defensive Player of the Week in October after leading the Vikings to a 54–10 victory over Rhodes College. Mark recorded three tackles, a tackle for a loss, a pass breakup and a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown, the first score of his career. Berry's 54 points were the third-highest scored during a game in program history. 1. Mark Sommerville photograph by Steven Eckhoff 2. Meredith Bradshaw 3. Lauren Falohun 4. Rachel Much 5. Scott Eisenberg 6. Ross Brown 7. Cooper Drose 8. Laura Rosenbaum

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ALUMNI

MARRIAGES After 41 years in the active market, STEVE MICKLE ’96 tied the knot on July 20, 2019. He and Carlyne Frenkel of Paris were married in Park City, Utah. Pace attendees included “the core crew,” says Mickle: MAGGIE ISLER KILLGORE ’96, BRANNON COOK ’96, HAYNES ROBERTS JR. ’96 and BETH ALLGOOD BLALOCK ’96. JENNI RIDALL ’05 married Mike Lata on Sept. 1, 2019, in Charleston, S.C. Pace attendees included MAGGIE MATHEWS WINGO ’05, CHRISTINA MORRISON ’05, VANESSA PETROSKY ’05, BEN TORBERT ’05, LAURA RIDALL TORBERT '03, WALT TORBERT ’97 and Upper School English teacher ERICA BARBAKOW. Mike is a James Beard Award-winning chef with two restaurants in Charleston, FIG and The Ordinary. Jenni has her own culinary consulting company, TK Test Kitchen. The couple travels and cooks a lot and enjoys spending time with Mike’s son, Henry, 7.

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FRANK PETERS ’09 married Haley Mizell on April 13, 2019, in Charleston, S.C. The wedding party included BETH PETERS PENG ’07, LAURA PETERS ’08, CODY WHITE ’09, DJ EDLER ’09, BROOKS PALMERTON ’09 and BRANDON THOMAS ’09. The couple lives in Charleston, where Frank is a development manager at WRS, Inc. and Haley is activities director at Shem Creek Health Center at South Bay. They enjoy exploring the city and spending time with their cat, Tilly, and dogs Chipper and Maddie. HAILEY HEBEBRAND MORELLI ’12 married Reid Morelli on July 6, 2019, at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. A reception at the Atlanta Botanical Garden followed. The wedding party included HENRY HEBEBRAND ’10, JENNA MITCHELL ’12 and CAROLYN PROPST ’15. Hailey earned a degree from the University of Georgia College of Engineering, and Reid is a graduate of the Emory University School of Law. The

couple recently bought a home in Atlanta and started their careers. JARED WASSERMAN ’11 and CAROLINE SMITH WASSERMAN ’13 married on June 15, 2019, at Peachtree Presbyterian Church and celebrated with a reception at the Capital City Club’s downtown location. SARAH SMITH ’15, LUCY WELLBORN ’13, MARIA MORAITAKIS ’13, SARA MULLALLY ’13 and ELLIE WEBBER ’13 served as bridesmaids. AARON WASSERMAN ’14, DAVID DARLAND ’09, WILL BREWSTER ’11 and ARTHUR OMILIAN ’11 were groomsmen. Many Pace Knights attended. Jared is a manager in Huron Consulting Group’s healthcare practice, and Caroline recently began medical school at the Emory University School of Medicine. 1. The Smith/Wasserman wedding 2. The Mizell/Peters wedding 3. The Frenkel/Mickle wedding 4. The Ridall/Lata wedding 5. The Hebebrand/Morelli wedding

ALUMNI

HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE? email alumni@paceacademy.org

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

ALUMNI

BIRTHS DAVID HANSON ’96 and his wife, Christine, had a baby boy, Gus Schwager, on Aug. 11, 2019. The family, which also includes daughter Ada, 2, lives in Hood River, Ore. David is a freelance writer and filmmaker working on a variety of projects, including one with his brother, MICHAEL HANSON ’99, about wild hog damage around the U.S. BROOKE BEADLE ANDERSON ’00 and her husband, Chris, welcomed daughter Charlene "Charley" Noel, on June 22, 2019. The family resides in Boulder, Colo. Hayley and WILL TYLER ’01 had a daughter, Eliza Jean, on May 17, 2018. Eliza was 8 pounds, 10 ounces and 21 inches. She joins big brother Henry, and they are “loving life as a family of four,” 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. ALEX GADDY ’03 and his wife, Megan, welcomed Harrison Lynwood on June 13, 2019. He joins big sister Margeaux, 2. The family lives in Atlanta. BLYTHE O’BRIEN HOGAN ’03, her husband, Will, and their son, Henry, 3, welcomed Anna Blythe on June 17, 2019. She weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce. The Hogans live in Atlanta, where Blythe is an insurance broker and an art and collections specialist with Aon’s private client division. Will is marketing manager at Guardian Pharmacy Services. TEDDY OKONOKHUA ’04 and his wife, Eileen Offer, had a son, Lloyd Ke’alohi Osazee, on Oct. 4, 2019. Lloyd was 5 pounds, 14.5 ounces and 18 inches and “has been on a constant growth spurt since,” Teddy writes. MEGAN ELLIOTT LONG ’07 and her husband, Brandon, welcomed son Brett Hawkins on April 1, 2019. Fifth-grade teacher LAURIE ELLIOTT is the proud grandmother.

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1. Eliza Jean Tyler with brother Henry 2. Anna Blythe Hogan 3. Gus Schwager Hanson 4. Lloyd Ke'alohi Osazee Okonokhua with parents 5. Brett Hawkins Long 6. Charlene "Charley" Noel Anderson 7. Harrison Lynwood Gaddy 8. Mateo Felipe Singleton 9. Ethan Murray Michael Walter 10. The Fortier/Golphin wedding

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FACULTY & STAFF MILESTONES Assistant to the Head of School KAITLYN FORTIER GOLPHIN married CHRIS GOLPHIN, an Atlanta Police Department detective who, when off duty, monitors security at Pace and is known around campus as our beloved “Officer Chris.” The two met at work and made it official at the Stone Creek Inn in Rockmart, Ga., on May 25, 2019. The event was a Pace family affair— Kaitlyn’s father, DAVE FORTIER, serves as director of facilities; her brother, WES FORTIER, is director of maintenance. The bridal party included ZEENA LATTOUF ’12 and administrative staff member NIKKI POYER. Many members of the Pace community attended the wedding. The couple honeymooned in London. Middle School Spanish teacher MARIA SINGLETON and her husband, James, welcomed son Mateo Felipe to the world on Oct. 16, 2019. He was 8 pounds, 15 ounces and 21 3/4 inches. Upper School science teacher MELODY WALTER and her husband, Steven, welcomed son Ethan Murray Michael on Aug. 10, 2019.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

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Party

IN THE PAR K I N G LO T The Association of Black Pace Academy Alumni gathered for a tailgate at Walsh Field prior to watching the Knights take on the Lovett Lions.

1) Members of the Pace community cheered on SUMMER BROWN ’17 and the Duke volleyball team as the Blue Devils took on Georgia Tech.

2) While traveling in São Miguel, Portugal, RHONDA PECK O’GORMAN ’88 ran into KEN JAFFE, who coached and taught math from 1983 to 1993.

2 3

3) JAMES CURTIS ’90, JASON WYCHE ’90 and former Pace student Elliott Dangar attended the Iron Maiden concert at Lakewood Amphitheater in July. 4) ANDREW LYBARGER ’08 showed up to cheer on the water polo club team in the state tournament.

KnightTimes | Fall 2019

ALUMNI OUT & ABOUT

ALUMNI

Have you liked or joined us yet?

The Pace Academy Alumni Board toasted the new school year by hosting a back-toschool happy hour for all alumni. The event took place on Aug. 5 at the home of Head of School FRED ASSAF. Alumni representing the Classes of 1967 to 2016 attended.

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

Cheers TO A NEW YEAR!

Need an old yearbook? Was yours lost, damaged or destroyed?

We can send you a new copy! Contact Pacesetter adviser Ryan Vihlen for availability. ryan.vihlen@paceacademy.org

LEADING THE WAY MULLALLY, MULLIN AND NADEAU JOIN ALUMNI BOARD

LINDSAY THURMAN MULLIN ’94

SARA MULLALLY ’13

LINDSAY THURMAN MULLIN ’94 loved being a Pace Academy student. A Pace Lifer, Mullin tried her hand at a variety of sports and activities and discovered a passion for cheering on her classmates as a soccer cheerleader. In her current role within the school’s alumni community, Mullin continues to provide encouragement and support to her fellow Pace alumni as well as today’s students, faculty and staff. Mullin earned a degree in business administration from Washington and Lee University, and then worked in private wealth management for individuals, families and companies such as Gleneagles Group and Fuller and Company. She currently serves as chief operations officer for Descante Capital LLC. “I love crossing paths with Pace alumni in the business world,” Mullin says. Mullin, who has two children and two stepchildren, enjoys participating in the Pace community although her children attend other schools. That love for her alma mater is why Mullin decided to join the Alumni Board for a second time. “I thought

As a student, SARA MULLALLY ’13 spent much of the school day in the Fine Arts Center among the canvases and paints, learning from Upper School visual arts teacher DONICE BLOODWORTH. But after school, Mullally often played or managed a sport. “The fact that I felt comfortable doing things like signing up for lacrosse as a junior who had never touched a lacrosse stick is one of my favorite things about Pace,” she says Mullally attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas and majored in art history and fashion journalism while minoring in studio art. She studied abroad at Sotheby’s Art Institute in London and interned in New York with interior designer Miles Redd. Mullally now lives in New York City and has worked at Hill House Homes for two years. As one of the bedding, bath and loungewear company’s first employees, she has handled design, partnership management, customer experience and product launches. Mullally participated in Leadership Pace 2019, an experience that prompted her to join the Alumni Board. “For Pace to maintain

I could use my perspective as an interested and connected alumna whose children go to other schools to contribute to the mission of the school,” Mullin reports.

— With contributions from GENNA SCHWARZ ’19

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the environment and values that we all love, alumni need to stay connected and supportive—with both our time and money,” Mullally says. “Through conversations and events, I hope that I can help keep young alumni involved and informed.”

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S AV E T HE D AT E

AT THE FAIRMONT

GRACE SOUTHWORTH NADEAU ’10 GRACE SOUTHWORTH NADEAU ’10 credits who she is today to her 13 years at Pace. “Pace is the place where I learned to love and respect others, always do my best and be an engaged citizen in today's world,” Nadeau says. “I developed a love of learning that will stay with me for the rest of my life.” Nadeau has joined the Alumni Board to repay Pace for all she gained and help contribute to its future strategic goals. Nadeau attended Rhodes College, where, inspired by Upper School teacher CAPPY LEWIS, she received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish. She later returned to Atlanta and in 2017, earned a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Today, Nadeau works at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church as an associate director of youth ministry, interacting with students in grades six through 12. She oversees the church’s youth leadership team, organizes its annual confirmation class and coordinates youth retreats.

Nadeau’s day-to-day work with children allows her to bring a unique perspective to the Alumni Board, and she looks forward to serving on its Alumni to Future Alumni committee. “Connecting with current students and hearing about their experiences at Pace is so important to growing a thriving alumni program,” she says. Nadeau and her husband, Zack Nadeau, live in Dunwoody.

FEB. 21, 2020 7–11 p.m.

Save the date for the seventh annual Alumni Knight Cap benefiting need-based student financial aid. The event will return to The Fairmont on Atlanta’s Westside, where alumni and their guests will enjoy a fun-filled evening including a silent auction featuring art from Pace faculty, students and fellow alumni; live entertainment by Lilac Wine; and scrumptious food from Carlyle’s Catering, owned by WALT TORBERT ’97, MARY TORBERT ATKINSON ’99 and BEN TORBERT ’05. Chaired by MEREDITH WINITT FORRESTER ’95 and SALLIE HAYS ’13 If you are interested in contributing or want to learn more about the event, please email alumni@paceacademy.org.

966 W. Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327 www.paceacademy.org

RECEIVING MULTIPLE COPIES? 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 information.

WE NEED YOU! Which area is most meaningful to you? Pace Academy is a vibrant community composed of many parts, and we treasure the diverse passions represented within our school family. To ensure that your Pace Fund gift aligns with your Pace priority, you may 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/support/uknight-the-pace-fund.