THIS PAST FEBRUARY, I traveled with 15 Middle School students on an Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) study tour to Montreal and Québec,
where we spent a week diving into themes of water, ice and indigenous cultures. While we bundled up to brave the cold, 98 Middle Schoolers and their faculty advisers explored global issues in Baja, Morocco, Panamá and Uruguay—while 167 other Middle Schoolers engaged in the inaugural ICGL Middle School Minimester program on campus and throughout Atlanta (see story on page 52).
My travel companions, REBECCA RHODES and HEATHER WHITE, and I tracked the ICGL adventures via Instagram (@pace_icgl for those not yet following along). All three of us have been at Pace Academy since prior to the inception of the ICGL. We have watched the program grow and evolve and change lives, and we once again marveled at the ways in which Pace truly creates prepared, confident citizens of the world.
As you learn more about our Minimester program and springtime study tours in this issue, I hope you too will be struck by the world of opportunities available to Pace students of all ages. It’s a great time to be a Pace Knight!
To create prepared, confident citizens of the world who honor the values of Pace Academy.
Head of School
FRED ASSAF
Division Heads
DOROTHY A. HUTCHESON
Head of Lower School
GRAHAM ANTHONY
Head of Middle School
MICHAEL GANNON
Head of Upper School
Communications Department
CAITLIN GOODRICH JONES ’00
Director of Communications, editor
LELA WALLACE
Associate Director of Communications
DIDIER BRIVAL
Digital Content Producer
MARY STUART GRAY ’16
Communications Associate
RYAN VIHLEN
Creative Services Manager, Graphic Designer
Contributing Photographers
JULIAN ALEXANDER ʼ17
FRED ASSAF
GEMSHOTS PHOTOGRAPHIC www.gemshots.com
NICOLE SEITZ
Contributing Writer
CASON GIVEN
Want to contribute?
To contribute ideas for the KnightTimes, please email Caitlin Goodrich Jones ’00 at caitlin.jones@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.
LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear Pace Community,
This issue of the KnightTimes goes to print as the Class of 2024 goes out into the world as newly minted Pace Academy alumni (look for Commencement coverage in our next issue). Our graduates’ launch brings to a close an exciting—and busy!—spring semester in which we celebrated traditions like the Parents Club Auction (page 12) and the Pace Race (page 50), applauded artists of all ages (page 26), cheered our sports teams to thrilling victories (page 46) and traveled the world on Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) study tours (page 42).
This spring also marked the start of the Middle School ICGL Minimester program, a week-long immersive experience focused on developing global mindedness, cultural awareness, engaged citizenship and leadership skills by taking students out of the classroom and facilitating learning about global issues in and around Atlanta. I’m grateful to TRISH ANDERSON, PATRICE WRIGHT-LEWIS and the rest of the ICGL team, our Middle School faculty and staff, and the many friends of Pace who helped make the week possible. I hope you’ll take a moment to learn more about the transformative program on page 52.
May the summer months be filled with adventure and curiosity, good conversations, great books and quality time with loved ones. As always, I’m thankful for your partnership. Pace is a special place because of YOU.
Sincerely,
FRED ASSAF HEAD OF SCHOOL
During the inaugural Middle School ICGL Minimester week, GRAHAM ANTHONY and MARK SOMMERVILLEʼs Effective Leadership course visited Norfolk Southernʼs new high-performance headquarters in Midtown Atlanta. Read more on page 52.
Photo courtesy of Norfolk Southern
THE COVER
A talented cast transformed from Pace Academy Knights into East High Wildcats in the Middle School’s February production of High School Musical Jr. The Disney Channel classic featured spectacular sets, dazzling dancing and show-stopping songs. See more on page 28.
Photo by FRED ASSAF
PERFORMERS SHINE AT REGION LITERARY MEET
Every spring, performing artists and writers from across the state participate in Georgia High School Association regional literary meets and compete for the opportunity to perform at the state level. In this year’s regional competition, Pace Academy representatives placed fourth as a team and earned awards in two categories. ELSA NAGLE ’25 (right), MARY OYEFUGA ’25 (center left) and HANNAH KLEIN ’25 (center right) won the Girls Solo region title, while NICHOLAS DEMBA ’25 (left) was first in the Boys Solo competition. l
CELEBRATED CERAMIC ARTISTS
Upper School students in visual art teacher TY NICHOLSON’s ceramics classes have earned rave reviews from judges at both the state and national levels.
Work by JACKSON ALLEGRA ’24, REITA MAGUIRE ’24, GRIFFIN BRYAN ’25, KEENY WARREN ’25 and HAYES HURD ’26 was selected for inclusion in the 2024 Georgia High School Ceramic Exhibition, part of the Georgia High School Ceramic Arts Awards & Symposium at LaGrange College, and pieces by Bryan and CAMPBELL THOMAS ’26 were included in the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts’ (NCECA) National K–12 Ceramic Exhibition. The juried competition for students across the U.S. showcases the best ceramic work in the country and takes place in a different city each year in conjunction with the annual NCECA conference. This year’s exhibition received 1,169 student entries; only 150 were selected for display. l
MUSICIANS MAKE ELITE ENSEMBLES
This spring, nine Middle and Upper School musicians earned spots in selective local ensembles. DOMINIC HANTULA ’26, ARJUN NIRGUDKAR ’28, MAC LUBER ’29 and NATHAN WU ’29 advanced through two highly competitive rounds of auditions to secure positions in the Georgia Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra, which performed in Athens, Ga., in March. In April, DEAN BROWN ’30, MIKAH BURNETT ’30, EDWARD ELKINS ’30, BRYSON PARKER ’30 and BLAKE SHIRLEY ’30 performed with the Fulton County Honor Band. l
THREE UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS BOUND FOR CONGRESSIONAL SEMINAR MATHEMATICAL MARVELS
Upper School mathletes spent several spring weekends flexing their arithmetical muscles at academic competitions throughout the state.
Based on the results of a first-round, 25-question multiple choice test, DOMINIC HANTULA ’26, ARNAV MADDINENI ’26, STEPHEHN YANG ’25, ALEX FINN ’24 and DAVID FU ’24 were invited to participate in the second round of the annual Kennesaw State University Math Competition, one of the largest academic contests in Georgia. When all was said and done, Yang placed first in the state; Finn claimed the 25th spot; Fu was 28th; and Maddineni placed 34th. Yang followed up his gold-medal performance with a win at the Westminster Math Tournament, where the team—Finn, Fu, Maddineni, Yang, SRIARVIND PADMANABHAN ’27, NOAH EISENMAN ’26, ANDREW KAMIN ’26 and MORGAN GOLDSTROM ’24 —placed second overall.
The mathletes concluded the season at the invitation-only state tournament in Macon, Ga., where Finn, Fu, Goldstrom and Yang represented the Knights. The team finished seventh across all classifications and third in Class AAAA. Yang finished in the top three among all participants, missing first place by approximately .01 points. l
ZAHARA BERNAL ’25 (center) joins DREW PARK ’25 (right) and STEPHEN YANG ’25 (left) as a Congressional Seminar Essay Contest winner. The contest, sponsored by the National Society of Colonial Dames and Washington Workshops Foundation, asks students to submit responses to a prompt, which are then evaluated by a panel of lawyers and judges. This year’s question? “Why did the nation’s founders choose a government with separated power rather than a parliamentary system?” Winners receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they take part in the Workshops Foundation’s Congressional Seminar, an interactive, civic-focused learning experience.
Bernal, Park and Yang are students in DR. CHRISTINE CARTER ’s Advanced Placement United States History class. The Georgia chapter of the Society of Colonial Dames recognized Bernal during a special presentation in April; Park and Yang were recognized in January. l
PADMANABHAN GOLDSTROM
GRAY GARNERS SCHOLASTIC
KNIGHTS EARN 26 SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS
Upper School visual artists had quite the showing at this year’s regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The program, open to students in grades seven through 12, is the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition opportunity for creative teens and acknowledges excellence across 28 categories of arts and writing. Gold Key winners are automatically considered for national awards and scholarships.
In this year’s Art division, Gold Keys went to REITA MAGUIRE ’24 (3), GRIFFIN BRYAN ’25, AVA GRANT ’27 and LILLY KRIETHEREED ’27 AMELIA HONABACH ’24 (2) and LONDYN WILBURN ’27 earned Silver Keys, while Honabach, EMMA LOWRY ’24 (2), OLIVIA DIAZ ’25, CLAIRE JIANG ’25, CHARLES SMITH ’25, JOCELYN AXELROD ’26, BENNETT CUMMINGS ’26 (2), CAMPBELL THOMAS ’26, ELI BEJAR ’27, HAILEY HALL ’27, SOPHIA HALSEY ’27, Kriethe-Reed and Wilburn received Honorable Mention accolades. l
Over the course of her high-school career, MILLIE GRAY ’24 earned an impressive eight regional Scholastic Writing Awards—four of which were Gold Keys, eligible for national awards. Two of Gray’s awards came this year: a Silver Key for her poem Roe v Wade, and a Gold Key for her poem To the people who read the biographies of dead artists. Gray is editor-in-chief of the 2024 edition of Knight Gallery, the Upper School literary magazine. l
FOX 5 Atlanta recently profiled Sketching with Seniors, an organization co-founded by CLAIRE JIANG ’25, which provides free art enrichment programs for senior citizens in an effort to reduce isolation, build connection and improve mental health. The art classes, taught by high-school students who are passionate about art, operate in local retirement communities and emphasize “finding peace in art while having fun.”
USA gymnast WILLOW RICE ’33 became a back-to-back and double state champion when she placed first in both the balance beam and floor events in the Xcel Silver Child F Division of the 2024 Georgia State Meet. Rice brought home medals in all events and finished fifth in the all-around competition. Her first state beam title came at the 2023 state meet. Rice now advances to Xcel Gold, sparkling hardware in hand.
by Alice Parks
STANDOUT STUDENTS
PACE ACADEMY STUDENTS OFTEN SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS BEYOND THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. IN THIS ISSUE OF THE KNIGHTTIMES, WE APPLAUD…
LUCY BRYAN ’27 was part of the award-winning cast of Legally Blonde Jr., a production of City Spring Theatre’s Competition Team, which trains students for national musical theater festivals and competitions. Legally Blonde Jr. won the 2024 Excellence in Ensemble Award at the Junior Theater Festival and the 2024 Senior Ensemble Showcase Award—and 15 other group and individual awards—at the National Performing Arts Festival in Orlando, Fla.
“I love art and wildlife,” says RYAN FLAUM ’34. Flaum’s passions converged in this year’s Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest, in which her depiction of Georgia’s state bird, the brown thrasher, won first place among Pace Lower School participants to advance to the statewide contest, where it placed second in the firstand second-grade division. Nearly 3,500 students from 24 schools took part in the 34th annual conservation art competition coordinated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.
Photo
Juniors and seniors celebrated spring and the final weeks of school at Prom, which took place at Ventanas in downtown Atlanta. The far-out festivities—themed Disco Knights—included food, music, dancing, casino games and prizes galore!
The 2024 Pace Academy Parents Club Auction, A Knight Out at the Ballpark , was a smashing success. Auction Co-Chairs MARION HINDMAN, KATHERINE MITCHELL and MEREDITH SUTTON spearheaded this year’s iteration of the celebrated annual event. Hindman, Mitchell and Sutton were supported by a team of parent volunteers, including ELISHA ALDEN, who built the auction bidding website.
Held at the Delta SKY360° Club at Truist Park, the evening was filled with laughter, dancing and good cheer as guests donned their best cocktail-andsneakers attire, dined on dressed-up stadium fare and danced to DJ Aetii’s turntable selections. While attendees were not engrossed in conversation, participating in dance contests or taking in Truistʼs majestic views, they bid on an array of silent and live auction items. A special appearance by the Heavy Hitters, the Atlanta Braves drumline, rounded out the evening.
Proceeds from the event supported the long-standing partnership between the Parents Club and the Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL). The Parents Club’s Citizens of the World Travel Grant program covers the cost of a student’s airfare once in the Middle School and once in the Upper School. Thanks to all the dedicated parent volunteers, generous sponsors and other friends who brought this event to life! l
A Night in the Middle Ages
Members of the Class of 2030 donned their finest armor, tunics, cloaks, mantels and gowns to attend this year’s Medieval Banquet, the culmination of an annual sixth-grade history project. Playing the roles of blacksmiths, jesters, peasants, lords and ladies, students—and parent event chairs SANDRA CHUNG and RICK MCMURTRY—brought to life a medieval village on campus, complete with fire juggling, musical and artistic entertainment, and a feast fit for the most decorated of Knights. l
Lower School Family Fun
Lower School students enjoy nothing more than showing off their school to the people they love. In February, our youngest Knights welcomed their fathers and special friends to spend a morning in the Kam Memar Lower School, including crafts, community time and lots of coffee.
Sarah STEWART
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
What do you do at Pace that falls beyond the scope of your job description?
This year, I had the opportunity to attend the sixth-grade retreat. It was amazing to watch the bonds that were created between students in such a short period of time. They were welcoming not only to each other but to me as well, and I was excited to join in their fun! I also serve as a sixth-grade adviser, a role that allows me to guide, mentor and support students as they navigate Middle School. I love helping students explore their interests, set achievable goals and discover their amazing potential. Next summer, I will travel to Iceland with the Isdell Center for Global Leadership, and I can’t wait to model for students the importance of fostering global understanding.
Why is Pace a special place to work?
Pace serves not only as a platform for student growth and learning but also as a space where faculty and staff members like myself have the chance to expand our own knowledge and skills. At Pace, I have found an environment that has taught me collaboration skills, nurtured my personal growth and embraced me as part of its close-knit community. Pace continues to be a welcoming environment for all to be their best selves.
Is there a particular experience that defines Pace for you?
Giving an admissions tour on Halloween! Pace embraces the individual student and does not require that children fit a specific “mold.” On Halloween, students and teachers dressed in costumes, which really allowed their personalities to shine. Observing every student confidently share their passions and quirks reinforced my belief that, at Pace, we are a more cohesive and supportive community because we encourage each other to be exactly who we are. l
Didier BRIVAL
DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER
What do you do that falls beyond the scope of your job description?
My favorite thing to do at Pace is to make people smile and feel comfortable around me. The film sets that I craft can sometimes be intimidating. Having the benefit of a camera lets me observe people as they are, and I can often see the nerves on the students’ and teachers’ faces as we start our projects. I try to remind them of their priceless value as beautiful human beings and of how worthy they are of the moment by affirming the brilliance that we all see in them. This happens both on set and as I wander the corridors of Pace. I've come to realize that this really is the purpose of my life: to show audiences why people are indelibly special.
Why is Pace a special place to work?
We all see the Castle as we pull up to work every morning; however, what most don’t see is the deeply meaningful relationships that are formed at Pace. Being able to share life’s ups and downs and finding a community of people united in pouring themselves into each and every student is really special. We believe in something bigger than ourselves; we believe in the Pace community.
Is there a particular experience that defines Pace for you?
I started at Pace during the first week of school. I was in the cafeteria, and two Middle School students, who had no idea who I was, stopped me and asked me my name. They invited me to sit down with them, and we had an awesome chat. I couldn't believe it. I now know that this is just Pace students being themselves, but I wasn't expecting to meet such genuine kids with genuine interest in others, especially new people. Those Noble Knights Pillars of Character really work! l
Claire
FACES of PACE
Get to know the Pace Academy staff members who make the business of school happen.
CHRISTERSON
COMPUTER SPECIALIST
How did you come to work at Pace?
I started my Pace journey in 1998, stepping in as a substitute Lower School teacher. Fresh out of grad school, I aimed to plant roots in Atlanta. Luckily, I secured a teaching position the next autumn—back when sixth grade was part of the Lower School—and I spent four years teaching sixth graders at Pace. Twenty years later, my path veered toward technology, moving away from teaching to focus on training, problem-solving and IT support in schools across Texas, South Carolina and Atlanta. In the summer of 2022, an opportunity arose for the computer specialist role at Pace, beckoning me back. Returning felt like a homecoming.
Why is Pace a special place to work?
Pace’s people and culture are what drew me back. The school’s clear sense of purpose provides a driving force behind daily efforts, and you simply cannot find a better group of colleagues and students who make you think, laugh and feel appreciated. I’m especially grateful to be a part of the Computer Crew. The job posting described this office as a “welcoming and fast-paced place,” and that couldn’t be more on point. The demands of my job differ every day, and I’m excited to be part of a team that helps tackle these chal lenges head-on and with a sense of humor.
Is there a particular experience that defines Pace for you?
Certain moments have a way of staying vivid in my memory. Whether it’s humming melodies from the Light One Candle holiday program, enjoying the excitement of the Fall Fair and Auction, or recalling familiar names and faces of former colleagues and students, hardly a week goes by without reflecting on events from two decades ago. Pace maintains its vibrant culture, deeply rooted in tradition, while also welcoming contemporary influ ences and changes. I will always remember the unity within the Pace community following the events of 9/11. The day after, the sixth grade was scheduled to go on our yearly teambuilding trip to North Carolina. We were initially on the fence about going, but given the turbulence in the world, ultimately decided to take a break from it all, which in turn strengthened our bonds as a class. l
Claire in 1999!
JOY AT THE CENTER
AN UPDATE ON OUR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES
At the start of the 2023–2024 school year, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer JOANNE BEAUVOIR BROWN and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) team announced their annual DEI theme: Unearthing Joy
“Over the past 10 months, our goal has been to cultivate joy in teaching and learning and to recognize the genius in every student,” Beauvoir Brown says. “The world presents challenges that can make finding joy difficult at times. This year has been no exception. By holding space for students and faculty through affinity groups; facilitating conversations that support and educate students, faculty, staff, parents and caregivers; and highlighting the diversity of religious and cultural traditions represented within the Pace community, we have been able to unearth moments of joy and cultivate a sense of belonging."
FEBRUARY [01– 05]
The arrival of February brought with it celebrations of Black History Month across the Lower [05] , Middle and Upper Schools [01]. Programming included presentations from students, families and special guests, which honored the ongoing contributions of Black people—locally and globally. Lower School students used Black History Month Activity Passports to discover local sites relevant to Black history, and the DEI Office furnished the Pace community with a list of Black-owned restaurants to visit. A walking tour of historic Auburn Avenue, led by Associate Director of the Isdell Center for Global Leadership TED WARD, attracted families, faculty and staff across all divisions and included stops at The King Center, as well as iconic sites such as the Butler Street YMCA, Big Bethel A.M.E. Church, Ebenezer Baptist Church and Sweet Auburn Municipal Market. The festivities concluded with the second annual Cookout [02–04] , a gathering for Pace families representing the Black and African diaspora. La Joie Catering, owned by parents of alumni CHERITHA and HERBERT DOUCET, catered the event.
APRIL [12 –16]
In April, the Christian holiday of Easter [12–15] and the Jewish celebration of Passover [16] took center stage. PreFirst students enjoyed an Easter egg hunt on the Castle lawn, and Jewish students shared their Passover traditions in class and during Lower School Community Time.
In March, students and their families educated the school community about the Muslim holiday of Ramadan [06–08] , a sacred month marked by prayer, self-reflection and fasting that culminates in the joyous celebration of Eid al-Fitr. The Lower School showcased a “Tree of Good Deeds,” which urged students, faculty and staff to chronicle their acts of kindness throughout the month. The display, a visual testament to the importance of generosity and goodwill, helped reinforce the Lower School’s Noble Knights Pillars of Empathy and Respect. An additional Ramadan display in the Woodruff Library informed Middle and Upper School students, faculty and staff about the month-long observance. March also included celebrations of Women’s History Month, marked by assembly presentations and on-campus displays, as well as Holi [09–11] , the annual Hindu festival commemorating the start of spring and the victory of good over evil.
MAY [17–19]
May closed out the year with recognition of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month [17–18] and Jewish American Heritage Month [19]. Assemblies, Community Time and library displays spotlighted the important role that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have played in our shared history, as well as the generations of Jewish Americans who have helped form the fabric of American history, culture and society.
“As the school year comes to an end, we appreciate our Pace community, which has the courage to strive for excellence and continues to embrace joy, and we look ahead to the coming year with great anticipation,"
—Joanne
Beauvoir Brown
Bluegrass & Barbeque Par ty Honors
Knights of the Round Table
Donors
Knights of the Round Table is a giving society that honors donors who have generously contributed $2,500 or more during the current year to the Pace Fund or other school initiatives. Each spring, these donors and their commitment to Pace Academy are celebrated at the Knights of the Round Table Party. This year, attendees enjoyed a bluegrass-and-barbequethemed fête in the Pace Gardens. The DejaBlue Grass Band entertained guests as they chatted and noshed on delicious eats from Epting Events.
Head of School FRED ASSAF thanked donors for their generosity, noting that Pace Fund gifts enable the school to deliver “excellence in every endeavor” by augmenting resources available during the current school year. Pace parent HANAN IDRIS, a Pace Fund New Family and Inclusion Committee chair, echoed Assaf’s sentiments and thanked volunteers for their enthusiasm and engagement, which spread Pace Fund support and led to more donations than ever before.
Special thanks go out to all of the Knights of the Round Table donors and to this year’s Pace Fund Volunteer Committee, who chose to make the Pace Fund Priority One ! l
The Idris Family Makes the Pace Fund Their Priority One!
Pace Academy parents and co-chairs of the Pace Fund’s New Family and Inclusion SAMIR IDRIS’s guiding principle in life is clear: “The larger community and giving back should be the essence of life and the core of our values.”
Using this premise as a guide, the Idris family discovered their school home at Pace, an environment that they have found to be welcoming, diverse, inclusive, globally-minded
Both Samir and Hanan hail from Ethiopia, and each has lived in several countries around the world. Samir spent his earliest years in Addis Ababa and relocated to Bath, England, to attend boarding school. Just before the 1996 Olympic Games, he moved to Atlanta, where he finished high school and attended both college and graduate school. Now a self-proclaimed Atlanta native, he has built a career in commercial real estate and has joyfully watched the city bloom into a diverse, international metropolitan area.
From Ethiopia, Hanan’s family relocated to the Middle East and later Europe before ultimately settling in Canada. During her secondary and collegiate school years, Hanan lived in Toronto, a place she credits with giving her “a strong foundation to see things from many perspectives.” After graduating from Ryerson University, Hanan worked in information technology in Toronto before moving to Dubai, where she took a job with a public relations firm.
Throughout their international adventures, both Hanan and Samir prioritized visiting Ethiopia, and on one such occasion, met each other. The rest, as they say, is history—the couple will soon celebrate their 10-year wedding anniversary.
Given their backgrounds, it is no surprise that Hanan and Samir sought a school dedicated to creating prepared, confident citizens of the world. When exploring educational options for daughters DALIA IDRIS ’34 and LEENA IDRIS ’36, the Idrises were immediately drawn to Pace’s welcoming, open approach, characteristics that were obvious even as admissions tours were modified during COVID. When touring Pace, Hanan was struck by the personal manner in which Head of School FRED ASSAF, admissions team members and Pace students greeted their guests. “It was very clear that this was a community, and the pandemic was not going to stop the love and the true character of the school from being revealed to prospective families,” she recalls.
As the Idrises continued getting to know Pace, they found that the school’s focus on global learning through the Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL), combined with high academic standards and a strong sense of community for all stakeholders, aligned with their family’s values. “A supportive learning environment is a family environment in a sense,” they say. “Education should be an extension of the foundation and values set in the home; education should help with development, growth and academic achievement, and should ultimately lead children to live successful and meaningful lives.”
The Idrises have enjoyed watching how Pace has inspired second-grader Dalia to further explore this year’s ICGL theme of Water, with school conver sations and projects catapulting her advocacy for sustainable water usage at home. They have likewise watched Pre-Firster Leena light up when learning about new places and cultures, and then sharing that same learning at home.
Recognizing the value of their own children’s outstanding school experience and wanting to realize that same opportunity for other students, Hanan and Samir have prioritized giving back to Pace through volunteerism and philanthropy. The Idrises view their generous financial support as something akin to investing in a home. To them, phil anthropic giving is “like moving into an amazing neighborhood and an incred ible home and thinking that there is nothing else to do. The reality is we must spend time and contribute toward its maintenance and improve ment to ensure that our incredible home and neighborhood continue to evolve and thrive.” In other words, donors’ gifts of time, talent and treasure help ensure that the first-in-class Pace Academy experience remains top-notch.
Leena and Dalia on the Worldʼs Greatest Playground
Further, by volunteering with the Pace Fund, the Idrises have not only strengthened their connections with other Pace families but have also remained true to one of their core values.
“Volunteering has reinforced our beliefs about being involved with and investing in our children’s future,” Hanan says. “It has also helped build lifelong friendships with fellow Pace parents. Some of our closest friends now are the people we have met while volunteering with the Pace Fund. It is easy to make meaningful friendships when there are common values and principles involved.” l
ARE YOU A CASTLE CIRCLE MEMBER ?
Have you included Pace in your will or estate plan? If so, you are a Castle Circle member, and we hope you’ll let us know!
If you’d like to confirm—or explore— Castle Circle membership, please contact HAYNES ROBERTS ’96 in the Office of Advancement at 404-926-3708 or haynes.roberts@paceacademy.org, or visit www.paceacademy.org/planned-giving for information.
As this edition of the KnightTimes heads to print, readers are in the midst of May madness and are looking forward to sleeping in and soaking up the summer sun. Soon, however, August and back-toschool busyness will be upon us once again.
We know that the transition to a school schedule can feel abrupt, so we surveyed some of the best and brightest—Pace Academy’s very own counselors and learning specialists—to ask how both students and parents can lessen the summer-to-school stress.
Lower School Learning Specialist LAURA FITZPATRICK suggests setting aside time for reflection and goal-setting:
“Schedule a bit of reflective time a few weeks prior to the start of school to think and talk about the prior school year. Write and/or discuss with your child what they feel went well during the previous school year and ways they could improve. It would be fun to create a goal or vision board for the upcoming school year.”
Lower School Learning Specialist SANDI EPSTEIN relays an important end-of-summer reminder:
“A week before the first day of school, begin transitioning students to a regular sleep schedule. Make small adjustments each day that move toward the ‘school’ bedtime and wake-up time that work for your child. Two weeks before the first day of school, make sure students have completed their summer reading requirements.”
If your child’s screen time increased over the summer months, Lower School Academic Resource Center (ARC) Director JUDITH INNISS suggests incorporating alternate activities as students prepare to return to the classroom:
“Parents should gradually reduce the time children are on their devices and replace screen time with conversations and goal setting for the upcoming school year, family games, journaling and increased time reading.”
Middle School ARC Director KATY GOLDSMITH highlights the importance of students and parents working together to identify a dedicated space for school-related tasks at home:
“Support your student in establishing a space at home to complete academic work during the school year. Empower your student by including them in the setup process. Establishing a self-selected space, designating routines and supporting your student in limiting distractions during homework time can create a successful and purposeful environment to tackle assignments at home.”
SUE ERRERA, a counselor in the Middle School, encourages families to set aside time for family meetings to cover the nuts and bolts of each week:
“To encourage forecasting and decrease last-minute surprises, consider a designated time each week where your family gathers to review schedules, time-management intentions, anticipated needs and transportation arrangements. Having two-way conversations about these topics supports students’ autonomy, self-advocacy and personal responsibility while helping them appreciate the needs of others. With a set time for these conversations, family members know they will be able to articulate their needs, and parents and caregivers can engage in discussing non-academic topics and enjoying leisure and play time with their loved ones during the time between conversations.”
CALLAHAN DICKHERBER EPSTEIN
ERRERA FITZPATRICK GOLDSMITH
HARMON INNISS MILLAWAY
Director of Upper School Counseling AMELIA HARMON advocates for discussing stress openly and identifying strategies for stress management:
“Start talking to your child about stress. Validate that school is going to be stressful, and that it’s normal and expected. Being able to talk to a parent about feeling stressed is an important coping skill for all children. Some prompts would be:
• How do you know when you are stressed?
• Healthy eating, eating enough and getting enough sleep have a huge influence on our ability to handle stress. How can we make sure these three things happen this school year?
• If we do nothing but school work, we will get burned out. How can we schedule breaks during our days so we can take care of ourselves?”
Upper School ARC tutor MEGAN DICKHERBER recommends extending grace and reaching out for support when needed:
“First, be gentle with yourself as you start the school year—give yourself a grace period of two to three weeks to adjust to your new teachers’ teaching styles. You are collecting data about yourself and the class in this period of time. In that way, it is a metacognitive time period—you are thinking about how you think in this class and learning the expectations of the teacher. Second, be open to getting extra support! The ARC has specialists who can help you develop a plan for small changes to feel more confident in the classroom.“
TIPS FOR RE-ENT RY:
Director of Mental Wellness ELLYE MILLAWAY emphasizes the importance of being proactive:
“I think it is beneficial to talk with your child about ‘coping ahead,’ the preparation of coping skills in advance of potentially stressful situations that we may face. Talk with your child about how they will cope if they experience stress during their transition and what tools they already have that they can access if needed. Ask questions like, ‘If you have a problem at school, who could you talk to?’ and ‘If you are having a bad day, what do you like to do to help yourself feel better?’ Having these discussions in advance allows you to problem-solve difficult situations before they arise, so you don't have to figure that out when you are distressed.”
ARC Director MICHAEL CALLAHAN, a former basketball coach, enjoys applying a sports analogy when approaching the start of a new school year:
“As summer winds down, you are about to enter a brand new ‘season,’ and your classes are the ‘teams’ in your ‘conference.’ In preparation for the season, you will want to create a scouting report on each one of your classes. Which team (class) have you enjoyed the most success with historically and why? Which has been the toughest competition for you? Research the teams (classes) to learn what you will be going up against in the year ahead. For example, which books will you be reading? What can you expect from your math and science classes? What type of ‘game plan’ can you construct for each one of your classes? As the ‘season’ progresses, you constantly assess and adjust your approach. This type of mindset may provide motivation and consistent goal setting throughout the school year.”
Which tips do you plan to incorporate into your back-toschool routine this year?
STRATEGIES FOR TRANSITIONING FROM SUMMER TO SCHOOL
LOWER SCHOOL STARS SHINE BRIGHT
From a reimagining of Charlotte’s Web to a journey Back to the Fourth Grade and School House Rock , Lower School class plays delighted audiences throughout the spring semester.
WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
Pace Academy Knights became East High Wildcats in the Middle School’s February production of High School Musical Jr. Under the watchful eye of Middle School Drama Director PATRICK CAMPBELL and Music Director DONNA POTTORFF, a talented cast and crew brought the beloved Disney Channel classic to life, complete with spectacular sets, dazzling dancing and show-stopping songs like Start of Something New, Get’cha Head in the Game and We’re All in This Together.
’87
Photos by Fred Assaf and Ann McLean Nagle
“The story of Mean Girls may be slightly exaggerated, but it’s very real for many students. It’s my hope that the audience takes away the messages of empathy and kindness—toward others and themselves.”
—NAILAH BEACHEM ’25
THE MESSAGE OF MEAN GIRLS
After relocating from the African savanna to suburban Illinois, Cady Heron encounters unexpectedly vicious social dynamics in her new high school. The Upper School’s production of Mean Girls , which took the stage in April, followed as Cady adjusted to life at North Shore High School; fell prey to Queen Bee Regina George and her pack of “Plastics”; and ultimately learned hard lessons about friendship, acceptance and identity.
Under the direction of SEAN BRYAN , the cast and crew of Mean Girls had a blast bringing Tina Fey’s coming-of-age story to life. “No matter the show, the people are always the best part,” says HANNAH WHITE ’24 . “I loved connecting with cast and crew members new to Pace theater and forming even deeper bonds with my returning peers. Together, we pulled off an amazing show!”
Amidst the cast’s evident camaraderie and enjoyment, the production’s powerful messages shone through. “I hope that audiences left the theater thinking about the fact that we give others power over us,” KYEN WASHINGTON ’27 reflects. “Regina needed the rest of the school’s attention to be relevant.”
ELSA NAGLE ’25 , who played Cady, had a different takeaway. “Karen’s Rule of Twos is a really good message: everything is also something else. For example, Cady tricks the Plastics, but she also becomes really good friends with them,” Nagle says. “Many disputes start with miscommunication, so it’s important to step back and think before you act. Taking the time to think things through can make it easier to get along.”
For White, the message in Mean Girls was simple: “It’s never too late to be kind.” l
Seventh and eighth graders in Studio Art unveiled pieces spanning a variety of mediums during a reception for friends, family and fellow classmates in the Garcia Family Middle School’s Knights Hall.
Lower, Middle and Upper School visual arts teachers showcased their work at the annual Arts Faculty Exhibit, on display in the Fine Arts Center’s Zalik Theater in March.
Seniors in Advanced Studio Art presented the results of a year’s worth of work at an April exhibition in the Fine Arts Center, which culminated with a reception hosted by the Pace Arts Alliance.
AS THE SEMESTER CAME TO A CLOSE, ARTISTRY FLOURISHED AS VISUAL ART STUDENTS— AND FACULTY— SHARED THEIR CREATIONS WITH THE PACE COMMUNITY.
STRINGS ATTACHED
The third-grade orchestra program thrives
In the 2022–2023 school year, the Lower School expanded arts programming by introducing a third-grade strings class, allowing students to begin in-school study of one particular instrument a year earlier than previously possible. The 2021 opening of the Kam Memar Lower School, which includes nearly 3,000 square feet of classroom space dedicated to music education, enabled the program’s growth. Last year, 45 third-grade students participated in the new class; this year, 50 young musicians make up the ensemble. The group, led by Lower School strings instructor LAUREN TAYLOR , shared its learnings at an informal concert in March and looks forward to performing on The Zalik Theater stage next year. l
KNIGHT OF JAZZ
UPPER SCHOOL ARTS LAUREATES
SPRING ARTS WEEK SHOWCASES A TAPESTRY OF TALENT
Every spring, the Pace Academy community designates a week to celebrate all things Pace Arts.
“The visual and performing arts are so ingrained in the culture of our school that it’s important for us to take a moment to slow down and highlight the individuals who make excellence in the arts possible,” says Fine Arts Chair SEAN BRYAN
“This year’s Spring Arts Week, Creative Street , did just that.”
Thanks to the efforts of Fine Arts Center
Technical Director JAX ROOTES , Pace Arts Alliance volunteer AMY BIRNBAUM , the Pace Arts Alliance, and the visual and performing arts faculty, Creative Street showcased Pace student-artists as well as visiting musicians, artists, performers and creative professionals.
To jumpstart the week, the Upper School band, chorus and ensembles transformed the Fine Arts Center’s Zalik Theater into New Orleans for a Mardi Gras-themed Knight of Jazz concert. Under the direction of CHRIS BARBEE , DANNY DOYLE , ELLIE NEUFELD and DONNA POTTORFF, students and visiting vocalists and instrumentalists kicked off the annual concert like those of years past, by performing a variety of jazz classics from the 1930s to today. Things took a turn, however, when Pottorff took the stage to share a solo of her own—only to be interrupted by hard-hat-clad students, who transformed the stage into a fully fledged construction site, featuring cement-bucket percussion, black lights and drummers on scaffolding. The show continued after this entertaining interruption, incorporating a fresh energy to well-known jazz favorites.
As the school week commenced, Arts Laureates in the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools—selected by the visual and performing arts faculty as outstanding in a particular medium—showcased their talents at special assemblies (see sidebar). In addition to student performances and presentations, visiting artists gathered each day under the Gardens’ tent to share their expertise with all students, faculty and staff. From special-effects makeup and fashion painting to culinary arts, karaoke and collage, the tent burst with creative energy, while in the Kam Memar Lower School, a collaborative mural took shape. Spring Arts Week concluded with the Middle School’s annual Improv Throwdown , an evening of hilarity in which students flexed their comedic muscles.
“The week was a wonderful celebration of everything that makes the arts at Pace so special,” Bryan says. “I’m very grateful to the team that pulled it all together.” l
LOWER SCHOOL ARTS LAUREATES
Exceptional student-artists honored as 2024 Arts Laureates during Spring Arts Week were:
CATE DICKEY ’36
CHARLIE GRIFFIN ’36
ALEXANDRIA HOWARD ’35
HENRY RUSSELL ’35
ISHIA ABANG ’34
NAYYAB SHAIKH ’34
JACKSON BOWMAN ’33
CHARLIE ITZLER ’33
LILLIE STERN ’33
HANNAH ALMOND ’32
SARINA SONI ’32
CADEN VIEIRA ’32
VERONIKA AVDYEYEVA ’31
ELIZABETH BRUNE ’31
OLIVIA KAUFMAN ’31
JAYME SHARE ’31
EMMIE CHUNG ’30
NORA PARTIN ’30
AARON HARRIS ’29
SELAH ROBERTS ’29
BRAYLEN DREWS ’28
LEXIE KAUFMAN ’28
LUCY BRYAN ’27
APARNA KALLINGAL ’27
ANGELIKA AVDYEYEVA ’26
JOCELYN AXELROD ’26
NAILAH BEACHEM ’25
OLIVIA DIAZ ’25
CARLY CANNON ’24
ELLIE CARTER ’24
REITA MAGUIRE ’24
HANNAH WHITE ’24
RIPPLE
EFFECT
AN INTERDISCIPLINARY
INITIATIVE EXTENDS
LEARNING
BEYOND
THE CLASSROOM
At Pace, STEAM occupies an important place within the Lower School curriculum for all students in Pre-First through fifth grade. The interdisciplinary approach— melding Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math—develops critical-thinking skills, promotes creativity and curiosity and encourages students to examine global problems. The goal is that as students grapple with real-world issues using human-centered, hands-on and teambased methods, they become empathetic, effective and engaged citizens.
So, how does that lofty learning objective come to life in an actual classroom? In his first year as Lower School STEAM specialist, GUNTER SELL hoped to connect the Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) 2023–2024 theme of Water to cross-functional,
age-appropriate and interactive learning that would build academic skills, global awareness and healthy habitats beyond the classroom. A recommendation from secondgrade teacher BRIAN MCKINLEY led to an introduction to Trout in the Classroom, an initiative of Trout Unlimited, a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation of freshwater streams, rivers and their associated habitats.
“Trout in the Classroom installs coldwater tanks in schools around the country and allows students to shepherd fish from egg to fingerling and then to release them into a local body of water,” Sell says. “The process gives students a sense of ownership and responsibility while opening up conversations about life cycles, climate, water care and quality, and nearby watersheds— in our case, the Chattahoochee River.”
Sell, in consultation with fellow specialist teachers, decided that his third-grade students were up for the task. A tank and chiller system arrived in the Kam Memar Lower School’s STEAM lab in early October, as did approximately 200 rainbow trout eggs, FedExed from Oregon to Atlanta. Typically, schools care for fish for six to eight weeks before releasing them into the wild; however, the longer the fish remain in the tank, the greater the chance of survival.
“We decided to keep our fish for as long as possible,” says Sell.
From October to late February, third graders tested the water in the tank for nitrates and nitrites, tracked survival rates and monitored water temperature. Unlike the warm water that fills tropical tanks, cold water is required for trout to thrive—a fact that led to conversations about warming seas and the effect of climate change on local ecosystems. Students also documented how the fish and mealworms, their food source, evolved into bigger beings.
“Over the course of this process, we emphasized that we were raising these fish to create a healthier Chattahoochee, not to keep them as pets,” Sell reports. “Trout
“I LEARNED THAT WHEN THE RAINBOW TROUT GO FROM EGG TO ALEVIN, THE ALEVIN HAVE A SACK LIKE A LUNCHBOX.”
JOLENE CHEN ’33
“I LEARNED THAT TROUT CAN COMMIT CANNIBALISM!”
THOMAS MITCHELL ’33
eat mosquitos and other insects; they help regulate water chemistry by controlling algae; and they promote the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen between water and the atmosphere. By caring for our fish, students came to understand that we were actually caring for the rivers and streams around us.”
Sell and the STEAM team took things several steps further. Visual Art Specialist RACHEL NICHOLSON, who enjoys fly fishing in her spare time, incorporated what students were learning in the STEAM lab into her lesson plans. “I wanted to find a fun avenue to get the kids thinking about the great outdoors and how they can interact with
water in recreational ways,” she says. In addition to the rainbow trout growing in their tank, students investigated brook and brown trout, species found in Georgia, and their respective diets. Using paperclips, the adjustable handles of X-Acto knives and other materials of their choosing, students designed their own flys, attempting to replicate a golden stonefly, a favorite meal for freshwater fish. “The final results were a little rough and ready, but the kids and I had a blast,” Nicholson says.
Adding yet another educational element to the project, as the trouts’ release date approached, Technology Specialist HOLLY BERG challenged students to create animated gifs to showcase the life cycle they had observed. “A gif—graphic interchange format—is a video or collection of still frames compressed to share easily online,” Berg explains. “Creating gifs is a great way for students to share steps in a process or changes over time, and to explain the steps taken to solve a problem. We reviewed the major points of change for our trout and discussed how each had unique features that needed to be included in our sketches.”
Students then broke down the growth process into distinct parts and determined how many images, or frames, were needed to illustrate each stage. “Students added backgrounds, text, grouped images and duplicated objects, and they used onioning, a layering tool, to show motion—all while teaching and entertaining the viewer about rainbow trout,” Berg reports. “I was blown away by the variety and quality of their videos.”
The caretaking, research and learning culminated in a trip to Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area on a sunny winter day. There, students met with representatives from Trout Unlimited, explored the watershed and took a crash course in fly fishing before journeying to the riverbank to release their charges. Given the high survival rate among the Pace trout, each student released three or four fish into the river system.
“This initiative really brought to life the saying ‘Think global, act local,’” Sell says. “My hope is that students better understand the interconnectedness of our world and their ability to make an impact in it.” l
TRAVELER OR TOURIST?
English teacher CELESTE ARELLANO and the Middle School ICGL Faculty Cohort prepare for THE YEAR
IN AUGUST 2023, Director of Middle School Global Leadership PATRICE WRIGHT-LEWIS came into my classroom and asked, “Would you like to join the Middle School ICGL Faculty Cohort and go to Chile to study Food ?” Before she could explain any details, I said, “Absolutely!”
Among the reasons I work at Pace Academy is the school’s commitment to global education, the emphasis placed on extending students’ thinking beyond their everyday communities and the immense benefits that come with traveling abroad with colleagues. I was ready to become a student again in a different country and to learn how best to bring back the experience to the Middle School. Prior to our trip, the members of my Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) Faculty Cohort met multiple times over lunch to discuss our lenses of inquiry for the week: How is food produced? and How does food impact culture?
We arrived in Santiago, Chile, on a sunny Saturday morning and spent the first day building our background knowledge of Chilean history and culture. The country endured a dictatorship spanning more than 20 years and continues to feel its impact. Our tour guide in Santiago had family members who lived through the authoritarian regime and who still hold differing opinions regarding its outcome. This history came to life at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, which houses a wall of remembrance that commemorates those who died or
were lost during the dictatorship. Seeing the never-ending frames filled with pictures of real people was powerful because it was a reminder that every country has a complex history that needs to be reckoned with over time.
After acquiring this important historical context, we set off to explore our essential questions in two ways: by hearing the stories of local communities and by engaging with experts in various sectors of food production and distribution. Chile has 16 regions, each of which has a unique agricultural profile based on its climate. We traveled to the Valparaiso region, where its eponymous coastal city is filled with street art and beautifully prepared seafood. The bustling port there includes an industrial-sized fishing warehouse capable of handling the hundreds of boats that bring in their daily catch to be cleaned, packaged and distributed. This was our first exposure to Chile’s thriving fishing industry.
We then traveled to the port city of Puerto Montt, where we explored an open market. Like Valparaiso, Puerto Montt is known for its seafood, and we met a father and son who have been in the business for more than 40 years. They spoke to us about the importance of keeping the fishing tradition—a steady source of income—alive within their family. Our experience with these skilled fishermen stood in stark contrast to the industrial complex we had observed in Valparaiso. They taught us about the origins of their seafood and shared their techniques for preparing
MEMBERS OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ICGL FACULTY COHORT IN CHILE (LEFT TO RIGHT): CHASE WINTER, JASON MILLER CELESTE ARELLANO, PATRICE
WRIGHT-LEWIS and DECLAN TRAQUAIR
the food—they even provided us with a fresh seafood bowl filled with fish, shrimp, crab and octopus.
Following our delicious meal, our guide had planned an immersive experience that pushed us out of our comfort zones: a scavenger hunt through the market to find the native fish we had learned about during the week. During my team’s search, we met Patti, who shared our passion for learning and wanted to show us her hospitality. Not many people visit Puerto Montt, she explained, and she was so excited to discover that we were teachers learning about her country in order to take that knowledge back to our students.
As we ventured into Chiloé, we met Enriqueta and her husband. Enriqueta opened her restaurant and home to us and taught us about the importance of food in her culture. Enriqueta believes in a mysticism rooted in the beauty of nature, and she demonstrated that mysticism by instructing us in a traditional Curanto cooking class. In Curanto cooking, a hole in the ground is filled with locally caught meat and seafood, as well as vegetables from the garden. The food is separated from the soil and rocks by large, green leaves that adorn the houses in the coun -
tryside. As she worked, Enriqueta shared stories about her life and, more importantly, about her passion for cooking. She showed us that cooking brings people together, and that when we are together, we experience authentic moments—it feels like time moves more slowly, and you can truly listen to those around you.
Before I came to Pace, I often asked myself, “What is the difference between a tourist and a traveler?” After my travels to Chile, I know the answer. We at Pace are travelers because we go to a country to learn about and immerse ourselves in its culture. We return to our homes— the same places we left—but we bring with us the stories and les sons we have collected around the world, and we allow those experiences to change us for the better. l
What is the Middle School ICGL Faculty Cohort?
This year, nine members of the Middle School faculty comprise the Middle School Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) Faculty Cohort, a group that prepares developmentally appropriate curriculum in conjunction with the ICGL’s annual theme— Food in 2024–2025. This past semester, the cohort took to the skies; one group traveled to Thailand in October, another to Chile in December. Their hands-on learning will come to life for students and the school community over the course of the 2024–2025 school year.
CHARTING OUR WATER JOURNEY
Since August, Pace Academy Knights of all ages have worked to understand Water, this year's Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) global theme and, in April, students and faculty reflected on what they have learned at the ICGL/STEAM Water Showcase.
During the event, which took place throughout the Kam Memar Lower School, students in Pre-First through 12th grade facilitated discussions about their water-related projects, as well as recent ICGL study-tour and Minimester experiences. From the Pre-First What Is Water? display and introductions to water warriors, to hands-on experiments illustrating the impact of plastic waste in ocean systems and the process of cleaning up oil spills, students shared their newfound knowledge and spirit of activism with hundreds of guests. l
H E A DIN G S O U T H
Our Isdell Global Leaders explore Water issues in and around a sinking city
What lies at the end of one of the largest river systems in the world, and how does everything above it impact life there?
UMA GRAZ ’24
MARY OYEFUGA ’25 Global Leadership (ICGL) Director ANDERSON and Associate Director WARD set out for New Orleans and the Mississippi Delta to answer that question.
Over the course of the school year, the 2023–2024 Isdell Global Leaders (IGLs) cohort has investigated issues related to Water ICGL global theme. Selected following an intensive application process, IGLs par ticipate in coursework, research and two travel opportunities during their year of study.
The group first explored ocean science at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in
flooding and sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion and water’s impact on marginalized communities.
In Cajun Country, the IGLs learned that, for decades, the Army Corps of Engineers has attempted to harness nature, using the mighty Mississippi to propel economic growth and development throughout the 31 states touched by the massive waterway. Today, due to the creation of levees, shipping channels and canals, dams, and oil and gas infrastructure, as well as forces such as sea-level rise and hurricanes, a football field of Louisiana’s wetlands disappears into open water every 100 minutes.
As land vanishes and saltwater creeps into freshwater systems, many of those who call southern Louisiana home face a devastating decision: leave, as approximately one quarter of the population of Orleans Parish has done since 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, or stay and face
environmental disenfranchisement in the form of exorbitant insurance costs, housing crises, water shortages and economic decline. The IGLs tackled these and related topics as they traversed Highway 23, observing paddlefish and alligators, shrimp boats and oil rigs while visiting the towns that speckle the swampland, as well as the Lower Ninth Ward, a neighborhood decimated by Katrina.
“We spent the final two days of our trip participating in the Lower Mississippi River Science Symposium [LMRSS] at Tulane University,” Lubin reports. The annual gathering connects academic, government and NGO scientists and managers in the region in an effort to share research, ideas and needs with a goal of building synergy—“a way to ensure that all voices in impacted communities are heard,” says Lubin. According to the LMRSS, the goal of the forum is three-fold: optimizing the data collection network, strategizing the next generation of models, and outlining key applications of the data and models for management decisions.
“This type of collaboration is new,” Oyefuga says. “In the past, parishes would try to solve water issues on their own, and
their solutions would often adversely affect neighboring parishes. By bringing everyone to the table as equals, I think there’s hope for more mutually beneficial, longerterm solutions.”
Anderson is less optimistic: “The Symposium and our time in Louisiana helped me see that there is hope when it comes to reintroducing natural processes back into the river—but not without some significant displacement of the most vul nerable communities."
One thing is certain: bearing witness to Water —as a source of life, a force of de struction, a bargaining chip, a moneymaker and myriad other agents of change—has forever altered the IGLs. “It’s one thing to learn about something in a classroom, but when you’re examining the impacts up close with other people, interacting with scientists and community members, it changes you,” says Gratz.
For Oyefuga, her time as an IGL has created a sense of personal urgency. “It has been a great opportunity and privilege to see what we have seen,” she says. “Applying that knowledge to be part of the solution is now completely and totally up to us.”
GLOBAL DISCOVERY DIARIES
UPPER SCHOOL SPRIN G - BR E A K
STUDY TOURS E X PAND HORI Z ON S
Under the guidance of faculty explorers BEN EWING and TED WARD, students embarked on an eye-opening expedition to Ecuador. Amidst the breathtaking vistas of the High Andes region, they explored the various ecosystems that make Ecuador a biodiversity hotspot. Backpacking at 12,000-foot elevation, students navigated muddy slopes, bogs, tall grass and cooking in the wilderness. While this week-long adventure was at times uncomfortable, students gained insights into conservation efforts and a new appreciation for the wilderness.
Photos by Anna Nicole Arteaga
B A SQUE C OU
Upper School Spanish teachers ALLISON RILEY and DR. JENNA DWYER led a zealous group of students on an unforgettable journey through the Basque Country, an autonomous community of northern Spain. Immersed in the rich tapestry of Basque culture, students delved into the region’s history, art, language and culinary delights. From building relationships with host families in Pamplona to enjoying Donosti’s natural beauty, every moment was an opportunity for discovery and connection.
Led by Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer JOANNE
BEAUVOIR BROWN and Director of College Counseling
JONATHAN FERRELL , a dynamic group of student explorers embarked on an exhilarating adventure through Thailand. Three lenses of inquiry guided their experience: the annual ICGL global theme, Water ; religion (specifically, Buddhism); and “Sanuk”—the Thai concept that illustrates the easygoing, fun-loving way of life that many Thai people strive to lead. From the bustling streets of Bangkok to the history-rich Kanchanaburi region, every moment was filled with excitement and cultural immersion. Whether learning the art of Thai cooking, hiking breathtaking waterfall trails or exploring ancient temples, students experienced the vibrant tapestry of Thai life firsthand.
UNITED ARAB EMI R ATES
Guided by Upper School faculty and seasoned world travelers NIKKI MCCRARY and DR. JASON BROOKS, students embarked on a captivating journey through the United Arab Emirates. From the dazzling skyscrapers of Dubai to the unparalleled beauty of Abu Dhabi’s mosques to the compassionate innovation of International Humanitarian City, they experienced the juxtaposition of tradition and modernity that defines the UAE. Engaging with local communities and exploring the region’s rich history, students gained a deeper understanding of this corner of the world.
HIGH LIGHTS
VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL
Coached by SHARMAN WHITE, JOHNATHAN ROBINSON, AIDAN SAUNDERS, CHASE CRAWFORD and WILL EVANS
Firmly established as a powerhouse program at both the state and national levels, the defending-state-champion varsity boys basketball team had high hopes for the Knights’ 2024 campaign.
The squad started strong, defeating the likes of Langston Hughes, Osborne, Stockbridge, Hampton, Mount Zion, Woodland, Lovett, Luella, Hiram, Pebblebrook and McDonough throughout the regular season. They also hit the road, traveling to the Windy City to play in the Chicago Elite Classic, and to Hawaii for the Iolani Classic. The Knights defeated Milton High School at the prestigious Hawks-Naismith Classic and hosted the fourth annual Judge Clyde Reese Playing For A Change Tournament, which supports the Clyde Reese III ’76 Diversity Leadership Award.
As the regular season came to a close, the Knights fell just short of the region title but advanced to the state tournament feeling good about their prospects. A firstround win over Walnut Grove propelled the team to the Sweet Sixteen, where the Knights took on Holy Innocents’. Unfortunately, the Bears put an end to Pace’s statetitle hopes, defeating the Knights by 3 points to end their season.
Several standouts received postseason Region 5-AAAA accolades: ERIC CHATFIELD ’25 earned the Player of the Year title; First Team honors went to KYLE GREENE ’24; CHANDLER BING ’25 and LJ MOORE ’24 landed on the Second Team roster; and Head Coach SHARMAN WHITE was named All-Region Coach of the Year. Greene and Chatfield also earned All-State and All-Metro honors. Next season, the team will miss its two senior leaders, Greene and Moore. Action photos by Shawn Riddle
VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL
Coached by CHRISTAL CALDWELL , MEAGHAN CATRON, KENNESHA NICHOLS and SHELDON WEST
Led by lone senior REED MILLNER ’24, the 10 members of the varsity girls basketball team displayed remarkable work ethic and skill as they marched through their 2024 season. Victories over North Cobb Christian, Tucker, Hampton, Mount Zion, Chapel Hill, Redan, Carver, Lovett, McDonough, Hampton, Woodland and Westminster contributed to the Knights’ 15–6 regular season record and thirdplace finish in Region 5-AAAA. While the team secured a spot in the state playoffs, the Knights ultimately fell to North Oconee in the first round of the tournament.
Following the season, LAWSON MONROE ’26 was recognized as a member of the Region 5-AAAA AllArea First Team, while RYAN WRIGLEY ’25 made the Second Team. Action photos by Fred Assaf
SPOTLIGHT! OUR ALL-AMERICAN COACHES
On April 2, basketball enthusiasts far and wide watched the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game to check out the country’s top high-school players. Knights fans who tuned in to the nationally televised competition may have noticed two familiar faces on the sidelines at Houston’s Toyota Center: Varsity Boys Basketball Head Coach SHARMAN WHITE (left) and Assistant Coach JOHNATHAN ROBINSON (right). With White at the helm and Robinson at his side, the Boys East Team came from behind to claim the 2024 McDonald’s AllAmerican title, besting the West squad 88–66.
VARSITY BASKETBALL CHEER
Coached by SHENEQ DANIELS, JORDAN LEET and KIM MARTIN
Basketball season is long and busy—and this year’s varsity basketball cheerleaders were there for every bit of it. The 12-member squad cheered with vim and vigor throughout the entirety of the basketball season, demonstrating unwavering support for both the varsity girls and boys teams. Their spirited performances ignited crowds and—particularly when they included the Lower School Junior Knights—brought down the house. As the season came to a close, the squad bid farewell to REITA MAGUIRE ’24, MADELINE MCMULLAN ’24 and EVA TUCKER ’24, who hung up their Pace pom-poms for good. Action photos by Fred Assaf, Dave Quick and Shawn Riddle
VARSITY WRESTLING
Coached by JASON MILLER, CHRIS BARBEE and DEVIN BILLINGS
Led by two-time captain WILL MOORE ’24, the varsity wrestling team entered the season with determination and optimism. The 15 student-athletes trained tirelessly and faced tough competition at tournaments throughout the season, and two Knights— DYLAN HIROKAWA ’25 and Moore—qualified to represent Pace at the GHSA Traditional Wrestling State Championships Presented by U.S. Army. At the Macon Centreplex, Hirokawa’s exceptional performance secured fourth place in the 157-pound weight class, while Moore, with 126 career wins, narrowly missed the podium. He ended his illustrious career with the second-highest number of wins in program history. Action photos by Fred Assaf
VARSITY GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING
Coached by JOHN AGUE, OLIVIA BAKER ’17, MARTY HAMBURGER, MICHAEL LAGUNA and JOCELYN PAWCIO
The 14 members of the varsity girls swimming and diving team hit the pool hard this season, setting personal records and amassing state-qualifying times as they sprinted their way to the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, home of the GHSA State Swimming & Diving Meet.
At the state meet, diver ANSLEY FREUDENSTEIN ’24 kicked things off for the Knights, setting the tone for the strong swimming performances that followed. Seven swimmers represented Pace in six events, and when all was said and done, the team of GRACE RICHARDSON ’26, SAMANTHA DUBOVY ’26, ELLA REAGAN ROTH ’27 and GRAY MULLER ’27 ranked 15th in the 200-meter freestyle relay and 16th in the 400. Overall, the team finished the season 25th in the state.
In addition to Freudenstein, the Knights bid farewell to graduating seniors CLAIRE EASTERLING ’24 and MORGAN GOLDSTROM ’24 Action photos by Fred Assaf and Nicole Seitz
VARSITY BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING
Coached by JOHN AGUE, OLIVIA BAKER ’17, MARTY HAMBURGER, MICHAEL LAGUNA and JOCELYN PAWCIO
With their eyes on the GHSA state competition, the members of the varsity boys swimming and diving squad improved meet by meet as they attempted to secure statequalifying times. At the conclusion of the regular season, eight Knights advanced to the Swimming & Diving State Championship, representing Pace in seven events.
Following multiple days of competition at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, the 200-meter freestyle relay team of LANE CANOVA ’24, REID RICHARDSON ’25, MASON HADE ’27 and MATTHEW BRAMWELL ’26 ranked seventh in the state; the same team was 11th in the 400 freestyle relay. Richardson, competing in the 50 and 100 freestyle events, finished in sixth and ninth place, respectively. Canova concluded his high-school swimming career with a bronze medal in the 50 freestyle and a 12th-place finish in the 100 butterfly. As a team, the Knights wrapped up the season ranked 13th in the state.
For their outstanding efforts, the aforementioned swimmers earned All-State accolades. Canova made the All-State Second Team; Richardson was named to the AllState Third Team; and Bramwell and Hade received Honorable Mention honors. Next season, the team will miss this year’s senior leaders: Canova, HAYDEN HARRIS ’24 and WALKER SMITH ’24 Action photos by Fred Assaf and Nicole Seitz
THE PACE RACE TURNS
The skies cleared and the temperature rose just in time for the 40th running of the Pace Race. The friendly competition for Lower School students and their families featured a 1-mile course that traversed West Paces Ferry Road, Rilman Road and Gatewood Court. Special appearances by Freddie the Falcon, the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders and Sir Winsalot elevated the sense of celebration and fun. Following the race, participants danced to the musical stylings of DJ JACK SCHMITT ’23 and enjoyed face-painting and balloon animal stations. Many thanks to event chair KATIE THOMAS and the entire Booster Club—and congratulations to all race finishers!
Photos by Rick Cone
Middle School
Minimesters Bring the World to Atlanta
For the Sake of LEARNING
“MIDDLE SCHOOLS are meant to be places of exploration,” says Assistant Head of Middle School for Academics
NANCY QUINTRELL . “In the Pace Academy Middle School, our faculty and staff encourage students to try new things, to step outside of their normal routines and to consider ideas through a global lens—and, as a faculty, we want to practice what we preach.”
The addition of Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) Minimesters to the Middle School calendar this year perfectly illustrates the philosophy Quintrell describes.
Launched in 2014 with funding from former CEO and Chairman of The Coca-Cola Company and Pace Academy Life Trustees
NEVILLE ISDELL and his family, the ICGL is an incubator for ideas about global education and a launch pad for innovative cocurricular initiatives focused on global leadership. By exploring an annual, school-wide global theme and supporting education around those themes with curricular, co-curricular and hands-on activities, as well as a scholar-in-residence program, leadership fellowships, internships and study tours, the ICGL strives to cultivate four core characteristics: Global Mindedness, Cultural Appreciation, Engaged Citizenship and Leadership.
In late 2022, Wright-Lewis and ICGL Director TRISH ANDERSON convened a series of faculty focus groups to gather feedback regarding ICGL initiatives within the Middle School. “As the 10-year anniversary of the ICGL approached, we chose to take a step back and reevaluate ICGL programming in the division,” recalls Director of Middle School Global Leadership PATRICE WRIGHT-LEWIS. “For years, we had offered Middle School spring-break and summer study tours, but we found that student participation in March trips was decreasing. Understandably, many Middle School families weren’t quite ready to give up their spring break,” Wright-Lewis says. “And asking faculty to forfeit their week off in March to take their classrooms halfway around the world and then go back to work on Monday was a hefty request.”
Anderson elaborates: “We wanted to ensure an equitable, effective ICGL experience for every Middle School student.”
The answer? Middle School and ICGL leaders decided to dedicate a full week of the school year entirely to global leadership, and the Middle School ICGL Minimester program was born.
2024 Minimester Course O f ferings
• Abrahamic Faiths in the Modern World
• Aerospace Engineering: A Global Industry
• Art & Activism: Addressing Global Issues
• Civic Engagement & Social Innovation
• Effective Leadership in a Complex World
• Food Security: Local Approaches to a Global Issue
• Refugee Migration: The Most Diverse Square Mile in America
• Water & Global Cities
• Follow the Water: Crossroads of Native & Atlanta Waterways
• Water is Life: Food, Farms & Migrant Workers
• Worldly Wellness: A Global Perspective
As the 2022–2023 school year came to a close, WrightLewis, Anderson, Quintrell, Head of Middle School GRAHAM ANTHONY and Associate Director of the ICGL TED WARD assembled an expert design team to put meat on the bones of their vision: Learning Specialist JULIA EGBEBIKE, science teacher
INDIRA GUEVARA , art teacher ANNA MURPHY, Latin teacher REV. KIM PETERSON and STEAM teacher KATIE SANDLIN Representatives from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion served as content consultants.
The team set aside the first week of February 2024 for Minimesters, all of which would take place during the school day. The week would focus on developing students’ global mindedness, cultural awareness, engaged citizenship and leadership skills by taking them out of their familiar classroom environments and allowing them to learn about global issues in real-world settings in and around Atlanta. The hope was that the program’s emphasis on immersive and experiential learning focused around socially relevant topics would support the growth and development of all of students’ global competencies.
To accommodate the new initiative and to circumvent scheduling issues over spring break, the ICGL shifted the timing of Middle School spring study tours to coincide with Minimesters—which meant that every Middle School student would either participate in an ICGL study tour or enroll in a Minimester.
Eleven cross-disciplinary pairs of Middle School faculty members—those not traveling on February study tours—set about creating curricula for 11 Minimester courses ranging from Effective Leadership in a Complex World to Refugee Migration: The Most Diverse Square Mile in America (see sidebar for the complete list). “We really encouraged faculty to build a curriculum that aligned with both their personal interests and our ICGL themes,” Quintrell says.
Seventh-grade history teacher KIRSTIN BAILLIE partnered with strings instructor TARA HARRIS to teach Follow the Water: Crossroads of Native & Atlanta Waterways. “I’m a U.S. history teacher; Ms. Harris has Indigenous background; and we both love interacting with the natural world, so this seemed like an impactful topic,” Baillie says.
For Director of STEAM and Design DR. KIRSTEN BOEHNER and visual arts teacher KATY COWLES, Drifters Project served as inspiration for Art & Activism: Addressing Global Issues. The traveling exhibition uses trash collected from oceans to “provide a visual statement about the engine of global consumption and the vast amount of plastic objects impacting the world’s most remote places and its creatures.” Informed by first-hand perspectives and research, and with guidance from Boehner and Cowles, Minimester students would create an installation of their own.
Peterson, an ordained pastor in the Lutheran Church, and science teacher LISA DUBOVY, faculty sponsor of the Middle School Jewish Affinity Group and an active member of her synagogue, understand that religion significantly impacts the lives of individuals all over the world. “It’s such an important topic to so many people, but sometimes we fear talking about it because we don't want to offend anyone,” Peterson says. “The challenge in that, however, is that regardless of one’s personal beliefs, religion shapes our country’s politics, international relations, values and much more.
If we are truly going to raise global citizens, they need to have a framework in which to discuss topics that are both influential and can be hard to talk about, especially when those beliefs are different from their own.” To model active listening and thoughtful, curious inquiry, the duo conceived of Abrahamic Faiths in the Modern World
Baillie, Harris, Peterson, Dubovy and the other members of the Minimester cohort began planning over the summer and worked throughout the fall to refine their curricula. By the time February arrived, the Minimester team was ready to roll.
Minimester students reported to the Garcia Family Middle School as usual on Monday, Feb. 5. They had ranked their course choices and been assigned to multi-grade Minimester classes. “ICGL study tours include students from multiple grade levels; we wanted to create that same cross-grade experience here,” Anthony says.
No one was entirely sure what to expect. “I was kind of confused on how we were going to be able to become better global leaders within the span of one week,” reports EMMA ALVAREZ ’28, a student in Anthony and Assistant Head of Middle School for Student Life MARK SOMMERVILLE’s Effective Leadership in a Complex World course. “However, I was very excited because I think Mr. Anthony and Mr. Sommerville are both amazing people.”
As the week unfolded, students and faculty criss-crossed the city to examine global issues at the local level through very specific lenses of inquiry, each of which tied into this year’s—or a previous year’s—ICGL theme.
To understand the ways in which the Muscogee and Cherokee people and their use of water shaped modern-day Atlanta, students in Follow the Water visited the Carlos Museum and the Atlanta History Center; they explored the banks of the Chattahoochee while creating comparative maps of the ancient area and the modern urban landscape; and they fieldtripped to Standing Peachtree Park, located at the confluence of the Chattahoochee River and Peachtree Creek. “Peachtree Street now follows the path that was once the trail between the two watersheds,” Baillie says. “We quickly learned that, to the Indigenous communities, ‘water is life.’”
Those in Abrahamic Faiths in the Modern World set out to learn more about Judaism, Christianity and Islam and the interrelationships between the faith traditions. Leaders at Congregation Etz Chaim, a synagogue; Al-Farooq Masjid, a mosque; and Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, the seat of the archbishop of Atlanta, welcomed Pace Knights to their places of worship. Students gained additional insight from Lower School teacher AISHA ALI, who earned her undergraduate degree in history and Islamic studies and her master’s in the history of art and architecture of the Islamic Middle East, and retired Assistant Head of Middle School KATHIE LARKIN, a docent at the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum.
“We didn't want to talk about Abrahamic faiths without bringing up some of the challenges people face as religious minorities,” Peterson says. “So we concluded our week learning about antisemitism and Islamophobia and talking about how we can combat those two troubling trends in our world today.”
F
O L L O W THE WATE R : C R O SS R O A D S O F N A TIV E & A T L A N T A WATER W AY S
“I LEARN AND REMEMBER THINGS THROUGH EXPERIENCES
THAT ARE MARKED BY STRONG POSITIVE EMOTIONS LIKE HAPPINESS AND FUN. I FIND A LOT MORE CLARITY WHEN LEARNING HAPPENS OUTDOORS, OR IS NEW OR DIFFERENT, SO MINIMESTERS WERE WAY BETTER THAN ANY LECTURES OR WORKSHEETS.”
—Selah
Roberts ’29
A E R O S P A C E E N GINEERIN G : A G L O BA L IN D UST R Y
Civic Engagement & Social Innovation, led by Ward and debate teacher WHIT WHITMORE, took students to Pittsburgh Yards, a 31-acre, mixed-used site in south Atlanta, where more than 100 small businesses stimulate economic growth for a previously underserved community. The group also spent time with leaders at The Annie E. Casey Foundation, which strives to improve the wellbeing of children and youth; The Giving Kitchen, which provides emergency financial support for foodservice workers; and Cafe 458, a sit-down, reservations-only restaurant staffed by volunteers and serving those experiencing homelessness.
“We really wanted students to understand their roles as active citizens in a democratic society, and to evaluate the roles nonprofits, businesses and civic organizations play in the creation of policies that affect local and global communities,” Ward explains.
Many members of the extended Pace family helped make Minimesters possible. “Everyone we reached out to or invited to participate in the program believed in what we were doing and wanted to roll out the red carpet,” Anthony says.
Aerospace Engineering: A Global Industry kicked off with special guest JEB CARTER ’18, a mechanical and aerospace engineer with specialties in applications of computing and robotics and intelligent systems. The course concluded with a visit to Delta Air Lines’ headquarters and a behind-the-scenes look at the airline’s Tech Ops and Flights Ops facilities—complete with the opportunity to pilot the aircraft flight simulator—experiences made possible by Pace parent DAN JANKI, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Delta.
ZEENA LATTOUF JOY ’12, a public policy expert and leadership coach, and TEMPLE MOORE ’00, community health program director at Refugee Women’s Network, helped students in Quintrell and math teacher ANDY LOPUSZYNSKI ’s class, Refugee Migration: The Most Diverse Square Mile in America, better understand the experience of refugees living in Clarkston, Ga.
At Norfolk Southern, students in Anthony and Sommerville’s Effective Leadership course learned from President and Chief Executive Officer ALAN SHAW and Executive Vice President Corporate Affairs and Chief Legal Officer NABANITA NAG, both Pace parents. A visit to City Hall, coordinated by City Councilmember and Pace parent DUSTIN HILLIS, allowed the same students to talk leadership with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Councilmember Matt Westmoreland and Hillis.
Thanks to former Pace parents ELENA KOUZMINA and DR. SERGUEI KOUZMINE and the Kouzmine Teaching Fund for Science and Technology, aspiring scientists in Food Security: Local Approaches to a Global Issue partnered with Ponix Farms to assemble and plant their own vertical hydroponic garden, a project that facilitated learning about plant care and maintenance, local food production and nutrition. The group harvested its first crop of 250+ romaine lettuce plants following spring break.
Any apprehension, confusion or uncertainty present at the start of the week had disappeared by its conclusion. “Minimesters provided a total change of pace,” Anthony says. “The rules were different; everyone relaxed. There was no homework and no stress—just an incredible amount of learning.”
Quintrell agrees. “Students really came to understand that learning—lifelong learning—takes many different forms,” she says.
Students provided overwhelmingly positive feedback about both the experiences and the skills they gained. “For me, the highlight of Effective Leadership was meeting so many amazing leaders in Atlanta,” Alvarez says. “Each person had a different perspective on leadership, and it was so cool to learn from them and see their offices. It was very reflective and inspiring. I was surprised just how much we did in one week!”
“Visiting the Delta Tech Ops facility and doing the real flight simulator had a significant impact on me,” says NOAH SENDER ’28. “Those once-in-a-lifetime experiences opened the door to my
imagination of aerospace engineering. I’ll always remember seeing the giant body of the A350—it was so amazing that they got a plane like that off the ground!”
“My active listening skills have improved, and I can use them to enhance my communication with others,” says EZRA BYRNSIDE ’29. “I also learned other peoples’ religions, which has helped me see things from other peoples’ perspectives.”
Anthony, Quintrell and Wright-Lewis credit the participating faculty with the success of the inaugural Minimester program. “I can’t stress enough how fabulous our teachers were in terms of being creative and flexible,” Quintrell raves.
“It was really exciting to collaborate with my colleagues, to talk about global education and to think about different ways to approach our mission,” Wright-Lewis says. “One of the things we really appreciated was that the same pedagogy applied to study tours and to Minimesters; our essential questions were the same. So, while students’ experiences may have been wildly different, at their core, they were also very similar.”
Plans for next year’s Minimesters are already in the works. While some of the course offerings will remain the same, others will change to align with the 2024–2025 ICGL theme of Food
“The world is facing complex challenges that demand innovative and compassionate leadership,” Anderson says. “Through the ICGL, we want to continue to nurture a diverse community of students who are not only academically equipped but also culturally aware, ethically grounded and committed to positive change— and our Minimester program does just that.”
The Minimester Mission
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL MINIMESTER PROGRAM DEVELOPS…
Global Mindedness by helping students understand both the wider world and their place in it, and by encouraging them to take action on global issues;
Cultural Awareness by helping students identify their own cultural expressions, practices and value systems—and then recognizing those expressions and values in others;
Engaged Citizenship by supporting students as they learn to connect with community organizations, communicate ideas and collaborate to make the world a better place;
Leadership Skills by helping students learn how to take appropriate action, individually or collaboratively, in response to a local, regional or global issue.
Turn the page to see photo highlights from the Middle School ’s February study tours! AB R A H A M I C F A ITHS I N THE M O D ER N W O RL D
Conservation, Marine Biology and Community Engagement
P A N A M Á
Water & Technology, Leadership & Adventure, Indigenous Cultures
Water, Climate Change and Indigenous Cultures
Middle School February Study Tours
UPDATES
[01] DAVE LYNN ’82 stays busy as a professor of industrial design at Georgia Tech. “I teach sketching, modeling and design fundamentals to first-year students, and automotive design to upper-level and graduate students,” he reports. “I also recently organized the 20th anniversary of the Georgia Tech Auto Show, and I would love to see more Pace graduates at Tech!”
[02– 03] JORDAN HARBIN ’06 launched Eat Halfway, the first app to provide restaurant and/or bar suggestions between friends, dates or family using transportation and personalized filters. Suggestions are based on equivalent journey time, and filters can be used to provide the most relevant recommendation. Jordan lives and works in Atlanta and invites fellow Knights to learn more at www.eat-halfway.com
[04] SAMANTHA DELMAN ’18 is marketing and communications manager for Wocstar Capital, LLC, an investment and business platform built to incubate and accelerate diverse business opportunities. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in political science and gender, sexuality and women’s studies, Samantha leverages her academic background, professional expertise and commitment to social justice to uplift the stories of women of color and diverse teams. With experience in political and nonprofit communications, digital marketing, social media management and freelance writing, she applies her skills to initiatives dedicated to fostering positive social change across a range of issues.
[05 – 06] After graduating from Howard University, ALEX ALLEN ’19 accepted a job teaching kindergarten at DC Prep, a public charter school in Washington, D.C.
[07] LILY WAGONER ’19 accepted a position as a brokerage specialist in Cushman & Wakefield’s New York City office. “I am incredibly excited for this opportunity and cannot wait to learn and grow alongside such an exceptional retail team,” Lily writes.
[08] RYAN KANN ’20 graduated with highest honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a bachelor’s in applied languages and intercultural studies. He now plans to pursue a Doctor of Medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine. “Becoming a physician has been my dream for the past 10 years,” Ryan writes. “I’m looking forward to achieving this goal while continuing to advocate and educate others about transgender health in medical school and beyond.”
[09] The University of Virginia women’s diving program named LIZZY KAYE ’21 its outstanding performer for the 2023–2024 season. Lizzy, the first women’s All-American diver in program history, qualified for the NCAA Championships in all three diving events and finished eighth in the 3-meter and 10th in the 1-meter events. This past season, the University of Virginia women’s swimming and diving team won its fourth consecutive NCAA Championship.
[10 –12] OLIVIA ULLMAN ’21, a Johnson and Bonner Scholar at Washington and Lee University, is studying abroad in India, South Africa and Argentina on a semester-long comparative public health studies program through the School for International Training. Last summer, Olivia spent two months in Kisumu, Kenya, and studied Swahili while conducting HIV/Tuberculosis research at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI/CDC).
MARRIAGES
[13 –14] MOLLY DALY LANCASTER ’07 married Dillon Lancaster on June 16, 2023, in Palos Verdes, Calif. Pace alumni in attendance included Matron of Honor KATIE DALY JOHNSON ’03, LAUREN KRAVITZ HAIRE ’07, PEARSON MATHEWS
MCSHANE ’07, COURTNEY SCHAEFER DEVEAU ’07 and PATRICK DEVEAU ’05 DALY JOHNSON ’36 served as flower girl. Molly is an events manager at Ogletree Deakins, and Dillon is a pilot at Southwest Airlines. The couple lives in Redondo Beach, Calif.
[15 –16] CLAIRE QUINTRELL ’12 and Thomas Englis were married at Half Mile Farm, in Highlands, NC, on Sept. 23, 2023. Claire’s brother, BAILEY QUINTRELL ’05, walked her down the aisle, and her sister, DR. ELISABETH QUINTRELL SWEENEY ’08, and ANNIE RIDDELL TRINCHERE ’12 served as matrons of honor; JESSICA DIORIO PARRISH ’12 was a bridesmaid. Flower girls were MARY JUNE QUINTRELL ’36 and Summer Sweeney; ring bearers were Murphy Quintrell and Bennett Sweeney. Head of Middle School for Academics NANCY QUINTRELL is the mother of the bride. Other alumni in attendance included BUD WHITMIRE ’05, SARAH PATTERSON KUBLANOW ’11, ZEENA LATTOUF JOY ’12 and ERIC ESTROFF ’12 . The couple resides in San Francisco, Calif., where Claire works for Anthropic, and Thomas is a principal at Clearvision Ventures.
[17] SYDNEY WILLIS GINN ’13 and Colton Ginn were married on May 4, 2024, at Wrightsville Manor in the coastal town of Wilmington, NC. “It was a black tie affair with friends and family,” Sydney reports. SALLIE BOONE ’13, ELIZABETH WILLIS ’15 and KENDALL WILLIS ’19 were bridesmaids; HARRY MORELAND ’13, SAM SCHAFFER ’13 and LAUREN SCHAFFER ’13 attended. “We went on a minimoon to Bald Head Island, and we will go on a real honeymoon to Greece next summer after I graduate from OBGYN residency.” After residency, the couple plans to move to Charlotte, NC, where Sydney has accepted a job in private practice.
[18 –19] KATE MORRISROE THURMAN ’14 and former student WILL THURMAN were married on Oct. 28, 2023, at Blalock Lakes in Newnan, Ga. KENNY SELMON ’14 officiated. The wedding party included RACHEL MORRISROE ’15, STEVEN MORRISROE ’21, ANDREW THURMAN ’12, PATRICK THURMAN ’19, PATE HARDISON ’14, EVELYN HOBBS ’14 and KANDACE THOMPSON RAY ’14
[20 –21] HARRISON RAY ’16 and Lillian Baker were married on Nov. 10, 2023, at Riverside on the Potomac in Leesburg, Va. JACK EICHENLAUB ’16 served as best man, and ABBY RAY ’19 was a bridesmaid. Harrison and Lillian were classmates at the United States Naval Academy and met in Charleston during submarine training. Both are lieutenant junior grade and serve on fast attack submarines stationed in Norfolk, Va.
BIRTHS
[22] KATIE DALY JOHNSON ’03
BEN JOHNSON, had a son, Robert “Robby” Jett, on Aug. 9, 2023. Robby joins big sister DALY JOHNSON ’36 family lives in Atlanta.
[23] CAMERON RICHARD-SMITH ’05 and his husband, Jacob, welcomed daughter Mabel Wynn on Feb. 7, 2024. Mabel was 8 pounds, 12 ounces and 21.5 inches. She joins big sister Esther.
[24] MADELINE ENGLAND DIGRAZIA ’10 and her husband, John Mark DiGrazia Jr., wel comed son John Mark III on Feb. 20, 2024. The family lives in Falls Church, Va.
[25] ARDEN CARLTON GOELLNICHT ’14 and RICARDO GOELLNICHT ’12 welcomed daughter Brighton. The family lives in Kingston Springs, Tenn.
FACULTY & STAFF
MILESTONES
[26] Associate Director of College Counseling LENA ANDREWS and her husband, Drew, welcomed their baby girl, Carter Abigail, on Feb. 8, 2024. She was 3 pounds, 14 ounces and 16.5 inches. After a month-long stay in the NICU, she is home and doing wonderfully.
[27] Lower School Nurse MORGAN BASINGER and her husband, Justin, had a son, Beckam Michael, on Jan. 24, 2024. Beckham was 7 pounds, 13 ounces and 21 inches.
[28] Upper School Learning Specialist ERIN MCNICHOLAS and Thomas Lucas were married on Nov. 25, 2023, in the Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta.
[29] Upper School history teacher and Class of 2024 Dean CAITLIN TERRY and her husband, John Terry, welcomed Phoebe Cassandra Miriam on March 25, 2024. Phoebe was 6 pounds, 1 ounce.
IN MEMORIAM
[30] CHRISTINA BANICK ’11 died peacefully at her home in Denver, Colo., on Feb. 18, 2024. After graduating from Pace, Christina spent a year at Furman University before her love of all things culinary took her to Johnson and Wales University in Denver, where she earned a degree in culinary and hospitality management. She worked for Marriott as both a pastry chef and restaurant manager before pursuing an MBA at the University of Colorado.
While in graduate school, an entrepreneurship course sparked Christina’s interest in alternative protein sources, which she translated into an LLC. She led research and development for Hercules Food Co. and, in the final two years of her life, worked to obtain FDA approval for her entovegan burger.
“Christina was a very creative and exuberant person, and she always had a heart for those less fortunate than herself,” her family writes. A Girl Scout Gold Award recipient, she served as an assistant Girl Scout leader, volunteered with SafeHouse Denver and worked with Denver’s immigrant population. Christina is survived by her parents, CATHY and MIKE BANICK and her brother, ROBERT BANICK ’06. Contributions in her memory can be made to SafeHouse Denver.
SCOTT LEWIS, beloved husband of longtime Upper School Spanish teacher CAPPY LEWIS, now retired, died on March 26, 2024, following a battle with Alzheimer’s. Scott became part of the Pace community when Cappy joined the faculty in 1976. Their daughters, CARA LEWIS ’02 and AMANDA LEWIS ’04, attended Pace in the Middle and Upper Schools.
Scott attended Sequoia High School and Georgia State University, where he majored in French. “Scott was a salesman his whole life, of both tall tales and fine menswear,” the family writes. His career took him from Pine Tree Men’s Shop, to Zachary and eventually H. Stockton. “Scott loved telling the same stories, music (R&B and Motown), buildings (old), language (French), Ferraris (all), cycling on road bikes, Atlanta sports and Georgia Tech football.”
The Lewis family asks well-wishers to celebrate his life “by donning a tailored sport coat, loving your family with abandon and judging other people’s houses. Eat a cherry pie, go for a bike ride and read a book to a small child. Use your best voices.” Donations may be made to The Fountainview Center for Alzheimer’s Disease.
[31] DAVID PRICE TATUM ’01 passed away on Feb. 12, 2024. Price leaves behind his parents, JACQUELINE TATUM and DAVID TATUM; his sister, ASHLEY TATUM ’98; a loving extended family; and many cousins and friends.
After graduating from Pace, Price earned a degree from Georgia State University. “An artistic soul, Price found beauty in the people and the world around him, and his passion for adventure led him to explore both close to home and more far-flung destinations,” his family writes. “Above all, Price will be remembered for his boundless love for his friends and family. His kindness, generosity and infectious laughter brought light into the lives of all who knew him.”
The family requests donations in Price’s memory be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or a local animal shelter. l
[1] BRIAN TING ’06 and SARAH COSSICH ’04, both assistant professors of medicine at Tulane School of Medicine, ran into each other in the physicians lounge at the University Medical Center New Orleans on a weekend call day.
[2] Former Pace teammates EVAN KARETSOS ’21 and IAN DEMPSEY ’23 reunited on the lacrosse field in March when the Muhlenberg College Mules took on the Dickinson College Red Devils.
CELEBRATING STATE CHAMPIONS OF OLD
This spring, Pace Athletics and the Alumni Office launched a new initiative: recognizing members of past state-championship teams on the decadal anniversaries of their title wins. Alumni and former coaches returned to mark the milestones at spring-season athletics competitions.
HAYNES ROBERTS ’96, DAVE
MICHAEL BARRETT ’95
BRAD JOHNSON ’93, members of the 1994 state-championship baseball squad, were recognized at a varsity baseball game in April.
SOCCER
[C] In 1974, RUSS MATHIS ’76 and the Knights won the boys soccer state title.
MAGGIE INMAN ’14, who played on the 2014 state-championship squad, joined coaches JOHN AGUE and RICKS CARSON, now retired, at Riverview Sports Complex’s Walsh Field to take in a springtime varsity soccer match.
TENNIS
BRIAN BEEGLE ’96, a member of the 1994 state-championship tennis team, reunited with 1984 champs SAM WYLIE ’84 and BO HEINER ’84 and former varsity boys tennis coach NEIL
Networking KNIGHTS
LAUREN LINDER ’00, vice president and group counsel at EquiFax, DR. DANIELE BOURGET SIMON ’00, attending physician of emergency medicine at Kennestone Regional Medical Center, and KATIE DALY JOHNSON ’03, director of marketing at Comcast, headlined the first in-person Women’s Knight Network event of the calendar year in February. The panelists—all of whom are parents to Pre-First students—reflected on their professional and personal lives during an inspiring and informative evening. Then, in May, KELLY BROWN ’14, JANE SHIPPEN LEVINGS ’90 and MEREDITH BAILEY SIMMONS ’01, colleagues at WholeHeart Psychotherapy, addressed the Women’s Knight Network as part of Mental Health Awareness Month where the women practiced clear communication and listening skills.
Chaired by ADAIR ROGERS VILELLA ’02, COURTNEY SCHAEFER DEVEAU ’07 and GENNA GADDY FRANCONI ’02, the Women’s Knight Network is composed of Pace alumni and parents and provides a supportive and enriching environment for women to network, learn, mentor and be mentored, collaborate and celebrate success. l
In February, Alumni Manager OLIVIA DILLON ’17, Principal Gifts Officer HAYNES ROBERTS ’96, and faculty members HELEN SMITH and SCOTT SARGENT hosted a happy hour for Washington, D.C.area alumni. The event took place at Astro Beer Hall and coincided with Upper School students’ annual trek to D.C. for a Model United Nations conference.
For more than 31 years, ANNA VALERIUS called the Pace Academy Lower School her home—serving first as a classroom teacher and later as Head of Lower School. She retired from Pace in 2014 and died peacefully on April 13, 2024, following a brief battle with cancer.
Anna was born in Memphis, Tenn., in 1945 and moved to Atlanta as a young adult. There, she met ALAN “AL” VALERIUS, the love of her life. The couple was married for 55 years before Al passed away in 2023. A Danforth Scholar at Sophie Newcomb College at Tulane University, Anna served as president of Chi Omega Fraternity and went on to earn a master’s in education from Oglethorpe University. Before her arrival at Pace, Anna taught at Sarah Smith Elementary School.
For generations of Pace students, “Mrs. V” was synonymous with the Lower School. She possessed a unique combination of grit and grace and always kept her students at the center. The Lower School’s signature character education program—now the Noble Knights’ Pillars of Character—was her brainchild, as was Light One Candle, the annual Lower School Holiday Program. During her 18 years at the helm of the Lower School, Anna greeted every child every day with a hug or a handshake, and her educational philosophy was simple: “Teaching brains and touching hearts.” Above all, her students knew that they were loved.
Head of School FRED ASSAF eulogized Anna at a memorial service on April 21. “In title, I may have been Mrs. V’s boss,” he said, “but let’s be real: everyone knew who actually ran the show. The truth of it is, Anna was a mentor to me… she owned her position of leadership and was not afraid to be out front and in charge. At the same time, she was the soft hand to the hundreds of educators she shepherded over the course of her career, and to the students she knew so deeply and loved so well… Anna shared her knowledge and expertise far and wide, becoming a parent to generations of Pace parents as they partnered together to raise the children in their care.”
Anna is survived by her daughter, Anna Cathryn Valerius Smith, and son-in-law Vince Smith; her son, A. Camp Valerius; her grandsons, Bridger Smith and Val Smith; and her siblings, William Baugh and Sissy Nickels.
In remembrance of Anna’s commitment to and profound impact on the lives of children, her family has requested that charitable contributions be made to the Anna B. Valerius Faculty Development Fund at Pace Academy or to Harp’s Christmas Kindness at Peachtree Road Methodist Church. l
From the ARCHIVES
The Pace Race (initially called the “Fun Run” and “Fun Race”) has had a near-continuous presence on the school’s spring calendar since the early 1980s. For most of its history, the race’s start and finish lines have been on campus, but in its earliest days, the event took place around Chastain Park. In those nascent years, money raised from the event benefited various philanthropic initiatives, including funding for the blind, cancer research and, in 1986, the restoration of the Statue of Liberty.
Relatively early in the event’s history, the focus recentered on Pace, and the Booster Club used the race to raise funds that would enrich and expand the school’s athletics opportunities and facilities. Proceeds from the 2012 and 2013 Pace Race supported the renovation of the school’s historic William T. Boyd Memorial Gymnasium, originally built in 1966. Other years have supported fitness center updates, recognition board signage and funding of coaches’ requests.
The 2024 event was limited to a 1-mile course, but the Pace Race has traditionally included a 5K race as well. Older iterations of the event featured notably larger adult participation as seen in the above image from 1986. Over time, the focus shifted to Lower School students, and recent years have included face painting, balloon art, a DJ, and special guests Freddie Falcon and the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders. What has remained consistent from the very beginning is the emphasis on fun and a dependence on phenomenal parent leaders who have devoted much time, effort and passion to assure the continued success of this beloved perennial event.
— by RYAN VIHLEN
THE PACE RACE
the event, as demonstrated in this image from 2010.
