MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019
THE ADVENTURE ISSUE
MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019
THE ADVENTURE ISSUE P U B L I C AT I O N S TA F F GRAPHIC DESIGN / ART DIRECTION ..... Libby Williams libbywilliamsphotographs.com CONTENT MANAGEMENT ..... Jennifer Lorenz Director of Strategic Communications Brink Norton Director of Digital Media + Publications RESEARCH + DEVELOPMENT ..... Kathryn Sherrod Director of Annual and Major Gifts Hutson Dodds Director of Alumni Relations SPECIAL THANKS ..... Alex Werrell ‘09 Brink Norton, Photography Sally Jordan, Photography Libby Williams ‘88, Photography Lizzie Hamrick ‘04 and Ryan Schmitt, Photography Rogers Family, Photography Caitlin Adelson, Photography Larry Salley, Cyclone Sports Highlights Nicole DeNeane, Proofreading
It seemed only fitting that with the “Adventure Issue,” it was time for a refresh and redesign of the Porter-Gaud Magazine (to go with the new website launching in August!). We hope you like it! CLASS NOTES WILL RETURN IN THE FALL ISSUE. Please share your news, story ideas, and redesign feedback with us at hdodds@ portergaud.edu or jlorenz@portergaud.edu. Happy summer!
300 Albemarle Road | Charleston, SC 29407 843.556.3620 | portergaud.edu
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LIFE IN THE CROSSHAIRS
Melvin Brown has had a life of being caught in the crosshairs.
MY THREE SONS
The evolution of family and history at PG over the years.
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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A TRIBUTE TO NORDY
A dedication to longtime faculty member, Ralph Nordlund
MY LAST CLASS
A tribute to the end of a long-standing career by Wesley Moore
THE HEART OF IT
Personalizing dreams on the plains of the Serengeti
THE ROOTS OF HER LABOR The crossroads of craft and creativity met in the art room at Porter-Gaud.
S C H O O L F E AT U R E S PORTER-GAUD ENGAGE 7 2019 COMMENCEMENT 13 OUTWARD BOUND 23 2019 ALUMNI WEEKEND 29 PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 31 PARTING SHOT 34
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MINS WITH A PORTER-GAUD
ALUMNI
ONE WORD : HAPPY | FAVORITE PG MEMORY : Recovering a fumble at a football game – that’s a big thing to a lineman! | 5 YEARS FROM NOW : After leadership positions in the military, I have enjoyed being just a clinician and a participant in community service. In five years I have to take up more leadership roles in those activities. ADVICE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF : Read more.
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LIFE IN THE CROSSHAIRS Dr. Melvin Brown ‘87 has had a life of being caught in the crosshairs. Or is it the other way around? You are a graduate of the Class of 1987 from PG, but your life has had some twists and turns since then. Where have you been between graduation and today? I made a last-minute decision in the last week of April before my high school graduation to withdraw my acceptance to Vanderbilt University and attend the United States Naval Academy! After four years of study, I graduated and was commissioned in the United States Navy, proceeding to Destroyer Engineer training in Newport, RI. From there I took my first assignment at sea. I would be assigned to two different ships and see “the world“ for the first time in my life. My next assignment gave me a respite from seagoing life. I was accepted to the Medical University of South Carolina and let the United States Navy fund my education there! My second Navy life was as a physician, which sent me to northern Africa, Japan, and two tours in Afghanistan. I also met and married Deborah and had two kids, Lily ‘24 and Gabe. At the end of 20 years of service, I hung up my uniform and returned home to Charleston. I’ve done my best to be an active member of the community, while at the same time holding down a full-time job as a staff physician at Trident Medical Center. What similarities and differences did you take away from Porter-Gaud and being in the Navy? My most important takeaway from the Navy was learning respect for all peoples and cultures. It impacts everything I do. When someone says to me”We are all the same,” I believe we are not, but we are all equal. Like the Navy, Porter-Gaud not only sparked my interest in learning about my international community, but it also taught me how to bridge relationships between people who are different from me. I joined Porter-Gaud in 1981 - less than 20 years after the fight for civil rights and equality. The idea of a burgeoning black middle and upper class was still a very new concept for most in the Southeast. I had to learn many advanced social techniques at a young age. While it is unfair to expect an 11-year-old male to represent an entire race – the reality is that I (and the other seven or so black students in grades 1-12) was thrown into that position. I had to navigate how to make people feel at ease with uncomfortable topics.
So much has happened since you moved back to Charleston - The Rifle Club experience notwithstanding. Tell us about the impacts of that experience on you, on Charleston’s future, and on longtime friendships. I didn’t set out to make a name for myself. I certainly do not fancy myself a civil rights champion. I am just a guy who returned to his hometown after a career in the military to find a lot of change. And a lot of it is good change. I have rejoined old friends and made new friends. Many of my old and new friends have approached me about participating in activities that 25 years ago were not necessarily available to me. Several people suggested I join the Charleston Country Club. I’m not a big golfer, so at the time it didn’t make sense. The Charleston Rifle Club was casual, low-cost, and right in my neighborhood. I had misgivings about applying because of the history of the club, but I decided to go forward based on the encouragement of peers. We all figured there were no black members because there were no black applicants. That was the case when I became one of the first black members of the Florida Yacht Club during our time in Jacksonville. Currently, I have not gained access to the Club. In more recent news, the general membership was not able to get the legislation passed that would make the membership voting process more fair to all applicants. On the surface, I lost that “battle.” But it is my hope, that in the bigger, grander scheme of things, people have increased awareness of the role social clubs play in accessing opportunity. You are on the Board of Trustees at PG now, coming full circle to where you started this adventure. Can you tell us how life at PG has influenced you in the past and present? Our school gave me the tools to learn how to learn. That is invaluable. Nothing was spoon-fed for regurgitation. We were expected to know how to find the information and apply it. I learned this in the classrooms, I learned this on the sports fields, and I learned this in the fine arts. I will always love PG for that. I have made connections with people through our school that gave me access to the life I enjoy today. Of course, I wish it was a little more diverse when I attended PG. But it has all made me the person I am today. I think it was all worth it. I would go back to Porter-Gaud over and over again!
––––– For the full interview, visit our website at portergaud.edu/alumni –––––
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MY THREE SONS An account of the evolution of family at Porter-Gaud. As told by told by Drake Rogers ‘83. As I left my fourth and final Porter-Gaud graduation last month, I took a moment to reflect on what a long and exciting adventure it had been starting about 40 years ago. It all began when I entered Porter-Gaud as a freshman in 1979 and culminated with my third son, Willis, graduating this past May. Although my days at Porter-Gaud were long ago, I still have many fond memories and am very thankful for the experience I gained from Porter-Gaud that gave me many opportunities as I have moved through life. I certainly knew that if and when I had children, I wanted to give them the same opportunities that my parents had given me. My oldest son, Frank, started at Porter-Gaud in 2008 and my middle son, Thomas, followed two years later. Both of them had a wonderful experience at Porter-Gaud, not only excelling in the classroom but also on the athletic fields. My wife and I always enjoyed attending all of their events, never missing one. Our youngest son, Willis, was not a Porter-Gaud student at the time but, because he was with us everywhere we went, became a part of the Porter-Gaud family before he actually ever enrolled. He quickly became known as Thomas and Frank’s little brother, not to just their friends but to coaches and teachers as well After Thomas graduated in 2013, we went several years without any Porter-Gaud involvement until Willis arrived there as a freshman in 2015. Although we had been away for several years, it was as if we had never left. It wasn’t long before we were back in the “swing of things” and, once again, attending multiple athletic events and school functions. This time around, we also got involved with the drama and musical side of things and learned very quickly that the level of excellence in that area was consistent with all of our other Porter-Gaud experiences.
Right: Frank ‘11, Willis ‘19, and Thomas ‘13. Far right: Drake ‘83 and Covell Rogers with Willis ‘19.
........... “Over the 40 years, the faces may have changed and the campus may have grown, but the level of an excellent high school experience has remained consistent.” ........... With Willis now having successfully graduated and, once again, excelling in the classroom and in athletics, it is bittersweet that I will now be closing this chapter of my life. All of my boys established wonderful relationships at Porter-Gaud, not only with their peers but also with teachers and coaches. Those relationships and memories will last a lifetime. There is no question that it has been an excellent adventure for the Rogers family. Over the 40 years, the faces may have changed and the campus may have grown, but the level of an excellent high school experience has remained consistent. It gives me great satisfaction to have been able to offer the experience to my sons. Who knows, perhaps one day I will be able to reopen this chapter as a grandparent.
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PORTER-GAUD ENGAGE
7 The second year of PG Engage was a great success! Our 9th and 10th graders attended a variety of cultural and citizenship events and activities around the Charleston area. In so doing, they diversified their perspectives, engaged mindfully with other people and the environment, and heard from a variety of speakers, seeing how professionals communicate their passions. Two highlights included a visit to the Southbound: Photographs Of and About the New South exhibit at the Halsey Institute with PG Engage cocoordinators Jen Rader and me, Tom Weste rman. Later in the spring, an intrepid group experienced Goat Yoga at Jeremiah Farms with English teacher Tracey Castle, Science Chair Caitlin Adelson, and Ms. Rader. We thank all the parents and family members who supported their students by getting them to and from various events around Charleston this year. - Tom Westerman, US History faculty member
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“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.� unknown
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F LY I N G H I G H Kyson Brown ‘26 soars high at school and on the mats with all his achievements.
Kyson is the 2019 9-year-old Men’s Level 6, Division 2, State Champion. Kyson finished second at Regionals following his 4-month hiatus after breaking his arm in the fall. He was the 2018 Men’s Level 5, Division 2 - 8-year-old State Champion & the 2018 Regional Champion.
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QUESTIONS FOR A
PORTER-GAUD
STUDENT
WHEN DID YOU START GYMNASTICS? First Grade WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SNACK BEFORE PRACTICE? Banana nut bread and chai tea latte from Starbucks WHICH EVENT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST? Parallel bars FAVORITE WORD TO DESCRIBE GYMNASTICS: STRONG. HOW IS GYMNASTICS AN ADVENTURE FOR YOU? Last year, I broke my arm. I was scared. Then I came back, practiced a lot, and won the state meet. I didn't believe it at first! It felt awesome.
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A N E D U C AT I O N A L A P P L I C AT I O N Esther Adelson ‘21 and Mia MacLean ‘21 traveled to Facebook headquarters this May as finalists in Facebook’s Engineer for the Week competition in Menlo Park, California.
WHAT WAS THE FACEBOOK APP YO U T W O C R E AT E D T O L A N D YO U A S O N E O F T H E F I N A L I S T S FOR FACEBOOK ENGINEER FOR THE WEEK COMPETITION? We built a chatbot that would pop up when people visited a Facebook page that would lead you through questions prompting information to help serve whomever was communicating with it. It was aimed to speak on women’s issues from getting more involved in community programs to helping those who have unfortunately been stuck in abusive relationships or raped. DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE FACEBOOK HQ/CAMPUS. When we arrived on the Facebook campus for the first time and seeing how enormous it was – that was powerful. The tour we went on there in just a little section was impressive and seeing the space and how gorgeous it was – it was truly impressive and a sight to see! HOW HAS THE EXPERIENCE CHANGED YO U R P E R S P E C T I V E O F T E C H INDUSTRY AND COMPUTER SCIENCE? I’ve seen the great versatility needed in this field. During lunches, we would have panels of Facebook employees who would talk about their experiences and paths they took to get them to where they are now. It was truly all over the place, and it showed us the true diversity in the tech industry and how it can move forward improvements and advancements.
Top left: Mia MacLean ‘21 and Esther Adelson ‘21 consult with PG Computer Science Chair Doug Bergman on their project. Middle left: Esther and Mia pose for publicity photos. Lower left: PG Tech Specialist Julie Sessions and CS Chair Doug Bergman traveled with Mia and Esther to Facebook for the competition.
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Ralph H. Nordlund taught history at Porter-Gaud for more than 38 years from 1962-1999 and then in 2001-2002
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A TRIBUTE TO NORDY A dedication by Alex Werrell ‘09 Nordy died yesterday—the day the daffodils outside my classroom re-emerged from winter. He was my teacher, my friend, and my inspiration; his kindness, erudition, and love changed my life. Except for quizzes and essays, Nordy’s classroom was nearly always dark. We took notes by the light of the “Stegosaurus,” his name for the massive overhead projector that Porter-Gaud kept around just for him. Rusty, green, and noisy, the Stegosaurus doubled as a heatsink when he wheeled it in front of the board and plugged it in. The hum and heat were the precursors to forty-five minutes of magic. Almost as soon as Nordy cleared his throat, the tumult of our teenaged lives – fights with parents, siblings, and friends, overdue assignments, anxiety about this, that, or the other – dissolved. Nordy could do more than just tell the story of the world; he seemed to stop the world with a story. hen I picture Nordy, this is how I see him: standing in W front of the projector, half in light, half in shadow. He would get so excited in his teaching that he would pace in front of the Stegosaurus, walking in and out of the light. In my mind’s eye, I look for Nordy’s outline when I have the chance to see the paintings, buildings, battlegrounds, and landscapes he taught us about. Not the half-page outlines (cut vertically down the middle to help organize our notes) but his literal outline: his hunched shoulders, the wispy combed hair, the oversized glasses constantly projected onto the image behind him. French defenses leading up to World War II, as many of his students will remember, ran from near the English Channel in a straight line across the border with Belgium until just southeast of Lille, where they continued across Nordy’s short-sleeved shirt and tie before connecting with the Maginot Line near France’s border with Luxembourg. I so idolized him that the light seemed to come from him.
........... So word by word, and line by line, The dead man touch’d me from the past, And all at once it seem’d at last The living soul was flash’d on mine,
And mine in this was wound, and whirl’d About empyreal heights of thought, And came on that which is, and caught The deep pulsations of the world,
Æonian music measuring out The steps of Time—the shocks of Chance— The blows of Death.
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It is in large part thanks to Nordy’s love and care that I am a teacher today, and the daffodils by my classroom remind me of all the gifts he gave me. The summer before my first year of teaching, Nordy gave me an inscribed copy of Barbara Tuchman’s writing: “To a new teacher — let Barbara be your inspiration when you touch on history in your courses.” I leafed again through the book when I heard of Nordy’s death. I admire Tuchman’s scholarship and insights to no end, but it has been Nordy who has inspired me daily these past six years. He introduced so much of the world to me and, in so doing, became an unforgettable part of my life.
For the full tribute, please visit our website at portergaud.edu/alumni
COMMENCEMENT
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A SENIOR MILESTONE Seniors selected one classmate to deliver the keynote at the senior milestone dinner they chose Eleanor Lee ‘19. Let me just start out by saying that I never expected to be up here. If you had gone up to my third-grade self in her little Pokemon t-shirt, reading a fantasy novel about fighting cats, and said, “Hey...lil’ buddy! How would you like to speak in front of your entire class during graduation week?,” I honestly think I would have transferred schools. I was so shy in elementary school. My dad can probably remember all our conversations when he’d ask, “So, why don’t you talk to so-and-so more?” I’d say, “Well, ah, she’s nice, but I’d really rather read a book, Dad,” and he’d say, “Well, okay, but books aren’t friends.” And even though I resented his encouragement to engage with society, you really were right, Dad – I needed more than just books. I needed people. But it took me a while to figure that out. All around me, my young classmates were singing songs I had never heard and discussing movies and videos I had never seen; joining one of their conversations seemed akin to joining a dance troupe mid-performance. I didn’t think I could do it, and I was scared to try, so I hid in my books, and in my silence, for what seemed like a very long time. In fifth grade, though, something started to change. I don’t know exactly what it was. It could have been betting with Parks and King how late our other tablemate would be to homeroom that day. It could have been Victoria asking me to throw her her hat from the crowd before she performed her “cellular parts” rap. It could have been everyone who stopped and told me “good job” after I won our class spelling bee. It could have been every one of those instances, plus a bajillion other tiny acts of kindness and inclusion, that began to convince me other people weren’t as foreign and unapproachable as I’d thought. Through the years, I’ve discovered that reaching out takes courage – the courage to be different, at risk of being awkward – but that sometimes our difference makes all the difference to someone else. And every time I reached out or stepped out or stuck my neck out, you all were right there alongside me. Maybe we didn’t necessarily agree or think the same way, but whether I was trying out for the basketball team or writing articles for Watch Magazine or simply sharing my thoughts in class, your support, your respect, and your love gave me the courage to reach out, to try and make those new connections. And connecting those connections – knitting them together, if you will – broadened my perspective of the world around me, so that I could see not only who I was, but who all y’all were, too.
You guys are such brilliant, nutty, passionate, and talented people, whether you’re in the classroom or in the pool, on the stage or on the court, behind the mic or behind the fishing rod. Most importantly, though, you are all capable of such great kindness and love. I know, because I’ve received it. Let’s not sugarcoat things though – high school hasn’t been easy. We’ve pushed through so many late nights and early mornings, away games and major grades, drama outbreaks and deadlines. We’ve experienced loss. We’ve had to confront the fact that life doesn’t align with our standards of “fair.” But in all of this hurt and confusion, we’ve had each other to hold on to. Our words, actions, thoughts, characters, and habits (nerd move, I know) have imprinted on our classmates, and vice versa. Whether we like it or not, we are all products of each other – for better or worse.
So maybe, like me, you’re having a bit of a Talking Heads moment. You may ask yourself, “Well, how did I get here?” And the answers to that question are sitting all around you. You got here with your parents’ love and support. You got here with your teachers’ passion and dedication. And you got here with your classmates’ amusing, annoying, loving influence. Remember that in these last days we have together as Porter-Gaud students. Remember who you are, but also remember who made you who you are, and appreciate those people for that if for nothing else. In closing, I’ll just let you guys know this: most school mornings – if I’m not too distraught at leaving my bed behind – I take a minute. And I thank God for the chance to do things I love, in a place I love, with people I love. We’ve come so far, you guys. And I love you. Thank you.
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MY LAST CLASS by Wesley Moore
I guess it’s apt that I taught Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest for my very last class. It was Wilde, of course, who claimed “life imitates art,” and in my case it was true, in a way, as I chose Hemingway’s Jake Barnes and Humphrey Bogart as my public masks, assuming the persona of a hard-drinking cynic, eschewing public tears as a failure of, if not character, at least temperament. I didn’t weep at my parents’ funerals or at Judy Birdsong’s memorial service.[1] So I was somewhat surprised to find myself yesterday in that last class on the verge of tears. My friend and colleague Bill Slayton, a hell of a teacher, who is also retiring, asked if he could sit in, and I was happy he was there. The class had just finished Heart of Darkness, which was serialized in 1899, four years after the debut of The Importance of Being Earnest. I postulated that Marlow could be sitting on the deck of the Nellie in the River Thames telling his dark tale of jungle boogie, starring Kurtz and featuring severed human heads, while at the same time across town Wilde’s Algernon might be “tickling the ivories” and ordering his manservant Laine to fetch some cucumber sandwiches. I suggested they were in the same town at the same time but in different centuries.
Wilde, he said, instead of tilting against the windmills of civilization’s decline, went with the flow, enjoyed the farce, embraced the titillation of sense organs and the idea that art existed merely for its own sake. [2] The kids politely listened as Bill and I more or less had an adult conversation about art and civilization as the classroom clock wound down to dismissal. As I wrapped up, I told them how much I had enjoyed teaching them. Bill rose from his chair and said he’d done some calculating, and over my career at Porter-Gaud that I’d taught over 30,000 classes and didn’t they feel privileged to be sitting in on the last one. The kids were standing and clapping, and I was about to lose it until I managed to growl Yeats’ epitaph, “Cast a cold eye/, On life, on death/Horseman, pass by.” I shook hands with them as they left. A couple of the girls were teary eyed, but by then, my Bogie mask was back securely in place. [1] Though behind closed doors I’ve done more than my share of sobbing for Judy. [2] Until, of course, he found himself on his hands and knees scrubbing the latrines of Reading Gaol.
Bill talked of Tennyson and Browning and their raging against the decline of culture. He quoted the last lines of Tennyson’s Ulysses:
........... Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’ We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
........... Above: Moore and Slayton share stories with alumni at Legends & Lore event during Alumni Weekend.
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SPRING ATHLETICS
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20 BASEBALL The 2019 baseball team turned in one of the best seasons in program history, winning an outright region title for the first time in two decades and ending the year with a record of 18-4. BOYS’ GOLF In Coach Roscoe Bolton’s first season, the Cyclones capped off a very successful season by coming from behind on the final day of the SCISA state championship match to finish as state runner-up. TRACK & FIELD Coach Hugh Knight’s team turned in a solid season punctuated by multiple school records being broken. The girls’ team finished third at the state meet. The boys, hampered by injuries, finished fifth, ending a home-winning streak dating back to 2011. GIRLS’ SOCCER It was a banner year for girls’ soccer, as Coach Hope Walters’ team successfully defended their SCISA state championship, defeating archrival Pinewood Prep in the state finals at home. Senior Abi Stock ended her career with 92 goals, a new school record. BOYS’ SOCCER The Cyclones turned in a solid effort on the pitch against a very strong schedule in Coach Juan Roncancio’s fifth season, falling in overtime in the playoffs to Heathwood Hall. BOYS’ TENNIS Coach Jonathan Barth and his staff could have called the year a “rebuilding season.” But the Cyclones came together as a team, improved throughout the season, and ended the year by winning an incredible fifth straight state championship. GIRLS’ LACROSSE New Coach Brent Hilpert (also the new Upper School Dean) took the reins of a strong Cyclone program and raised them to the next level, winning a third consecutive SCISA state title and ending the year ranked in the top ten of all lacrosse programs in SC. BOYS’ LACROSSE The Cyclone boys also had a new coach this season, as Robbie Robinson took over the program. They successfully defended their SCISA state championship and also finished the year ranked in the statewide top ten. EQUESTRIAN The Cyclone equestrian team, under the leadership of Coach Colleen Jones, finished third at the SCISA Hunt Seat State Championships, their best finish thus far in program history. Senior Chloe Rogers signed to ride for Sacred Heart University next year. BOWLING Coach Al Wilson’s young Cyclone bowling squad earned the first state title in program history, winning the coed division at the SCISA state championships in January. PG Bowling is on a roll! SPORTING CLAYS It was a solid season of consistent performances by our sporting clays team. They are looking forward to a strong team next year with only four seniors graduating - four young men who had been on the team since its inception.
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J U D Y LYC K E : T E A C H I N G H O N O R Colleague and friend Deborah Reinhold celebrates the quiet leadership and legacy of Judy Lycke.
Look just about anywhere on campus this spring, and you will find reminders of Judy Lycke’s legacy at PorterGaud: petals from the beautiful floral arrangements from graduation, a somewhat daunting eleven-page exam study guide for biology, the last remnants of the daffodils beside the new building, the plaque on the “senior lawn,” honor reminders before each exam, the latest iteration of the Faculty Retreat topic on “the PG graduate,” an agenda for new faculty orientation—all these bear Judy’s touch. During her eighteen years at Porter-Gaud, Judy, with Bill Slayton, encouraged Honor Council members to teach and model honor; helped the new ninth graders bond with their classmates on the Kanuga trip; guided several classes through prom planning with Doug Bergman; initiated the faculty retreat with Julie Ellison, Kelly Campbell, and Doug, to give faculty a voice in educational issues that affected our teaching and our students; and inspired her students to excel, to reach higher than they thought possible. But as much as she will be remembered for encouraging her students, her advisees, and her colleagues, Judy will also be remembered as the teacher who stayed behind from river rafting to hang out with the ninth grader whose broken wrist prevented her from going, or as the teacher who spent every single planning period re-teaching the day’s lesson to a student struggling in biology. “Mom” to some of her students, and even to some of her colleagues, Judy leaves a rich legacy, including as a student recently noted, “her kind presence on campus.” Judy may be leaving our campus, but her kindness and passion for teaching have left their mark, making Porter-Gaud a better place for her eighteen years of service here.
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SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE Jill Williams, Lower School Chaplain, finds adventure in everything.
Rev. Jill Williams established different stations for students to celebrate the National Day of Prayer last year.
Q&A SESSION
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WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR ROLE AS LS CHAPLAIN? I love to get to know the students in first grade and then follow them through to fourth. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE
BIBLICAL ADVENTURE? I love to tell the story of the good shepherd because it reminds me that even when I feel “lost” God is already there finding me. DESCRIBE YOUR APPROACH IN THE
CLASSROOM AND AT WEEKLY CHAPEL. I always infuse a spirit of adventure. We spend time thinking about how the stories of God relate to our own story. We ask tough questions, we laugh, and we wonder.
QUESTIONS FOR
PORTER-GAUD
FACULTY
HOW IS A STUDENT’S SPIRITUAL JOURNEY LIKE AN ADVENTURE? All of life with God is an adventure. The people of God do amazing things! RECENT ADVENTURE AND HOW IT
IMPACTED YOU. My children and I spent the summer riding water slides and roller coasters. GOD is everywhere – especially in the fun!
OUTWARD BOUND
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AT T H E H E A R T O F I T Lizzie Hamrick ‘04 and Ryan Schmitt are personalizing dreams for their clients and themselves on the plains of the Serengeti.
There is a Zulu saying that the dust of Africa settles on your heart. For Lizzie Hamrick ‘04, she was just 13 when she experienced the Mother Continent for the first time on safari with her grandfather. “I absolutely loved it and it stayed with me, “ says Lizzie. After graduating from Porter-Gaud, Hamrick pursued political science at Sewanee and took every African politics course she could, all the while yearning to return to the African continent. Then, fate stepped in. While at a friend’s wedding in 2011, Lizzie was seated next to Ryan Schmitt. “Ryan’s first words to me were ‘I’m a safari guide on the Serengeti.’ And I knew right then,” says Lizzie.
dinners under the stars to cultural experiences to visit the Masai people or the Bushmen of Botswana. “We organize tours in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya, and Botswana. We cater experiences to our clients’ budgets and what they want to do. We can do just about anything - a wine experience, safari, helicopter tour, and then an excursion to Zanzibar or Seychelles,” says Lizzie. “From the minute our guests arrive in Africa to the minute they leave, they are taken care of and looked after. We hold your hand from the airport all the way through the entire trip, so there’s no worry,” adds Ryan.
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Ryan Schmitt was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. At the time, he had been guiding safaris in some of the preeminent areas of South and East Africa for more than 20 years. Eight months after their fateful encounter, Lizzie packed up her life in Washington, DC, and moved with Ryan to Tanzania. They worked together for four years at Singita Grumeti Reserve running the safari guide office. Singita (a South African-based company established in 1994), took over the operations of the Grumeti Game Reserve in 2005 with dedicated conservation and community support programs and turned the reserve into a safe haven for wildlife.
Ryan and Lizzie are also raising awareness about conservation through their trips and give guests the opportunity to contribute to community efforts.
“Tanzania was amazing and magical. I would see giraffes out our bedroom window. There was something interesting and awe-inspiring every day. I’ll never forget watching a pride of lions kill an aardwolf or the great migration of wildebeests,” remembers Lizzie.
“Our guests are learning a lot about the challenges of protecting wildlife. Poaching is rampant these days, and we find that so many people are not aware of it. Conservation is the coolest thing you’ll ever do. It’s amazing,” says Ryan.
The pair was married in 2015 in Tanzania on the Serengeti Plains with the entire Hamrick family in attendance. After four years in Tanzania, Lizzie was ready to move home, but still wanted Africa in her life. It was then they hatched Schmitt & Hamrick Safaris.
Lizzie and Ryan recommend getting at least 10 days on the ground when traveling to Africa. Exchange rates fluctuate and can make a difference in costs based on the countries you choose. The pair helps guests navigate all the options, including best flights and airlines to Africa.
With Schmitt & Hamrick Safaris, Ryan and Lizzie craft personalized experiences for travelers’ dream African adventures. They specialize in private, professionallyguided photographic safaris to the most exciting wildlife destinations across the African continent.
“Africa is so special. You need to experience it once in your lifetime,” says Ryan. “With its magical landscape and wildlife,” adds Lizzie, “it is simply life-changing.”
In addition to safaris, Ryan and Lizzie can customize personal and unique experiences that can include bush
For more information about Schmitt & Hamrick Safaris, visit schmitthamricksafaris.com
“With its magical landscape and wildlife... It is simply life-changing.”
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An adage that still holds true for Lizzie and Ryan.
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THE ROOTS OF HER LABOR The crossroads of her craft and her creativity for this pediatric dentist in the Bronx started at Porter-Gaud in the art room.
To Jessica Baron ‘06, dentistry is artistry. The craftsmanship involved in becoming a pediatric dentist takes her back to her days at Porter-Gaud in Ms. Gleaton’s art room. It was there Jessica learned to work with her hands, express her creativity, and create beautiful things. “In a school like PG where you’re stressed about academics and extra-curriculars and getting into college, art was my time to chill out and just learn to relax. Ms. Gleaton was always pushing you to try a new technique, a new format. She was also very funny. It was such a nice break at Porter to go into her art studio and just relax, listen to music, and laugh.” In dentistry, Jessica saw an opportunity to meld her love of art and science. After graduating from Porter-Gaud, Jessica went on to Duke University for her BA in Public Policy and Art History and then the Medical University of South Carolina for her doctorate in Dental Medicine. It was during her residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital that she made a shift to pediatric dentistry. “I started in general dentistry, but I learned that a lot of phobias and problems that adults have with their teeth stem from bad experiences as children, so I wondered what would happen if I could change that.” Jessica also enjoys that there is a little more to the visit in pediatric dentistry. She is teaching both the parent and child about dental health and hygiene. “Pediatric dentistry is family health which also combines my interests in health and public policy. I feel I can have more of an impact on the national level with pediatric and special needs populations.” Also during her residency, Jessica gained a mentor who reminded her of her favorite PG teachers – always wanting to watch you grow, planting the seeds for you, giving you the feedback, and pushing you the right amount. “At Porter, I was inspired. I wanted to learn more and that zest for learning that I got at Porter stayed with me throughout my graduate work and my early career. I am very thankful to my teachers and I think about them a lot and all they did for me. It was a very special place for me.”
After Yale-New Haven, she was accepted into a prestigious year-long program in dental oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Then, Jessica secured her pediatric dentistry residency with the Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. The academic medical center and University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center is nationally recognized for clinical excellence – breaking new ground in research, training the next generation of healthcare leaders, and delivering science-driven, patient-centered care. “I’m providing care in dental clinics in four areas in the Bronx. Most of my patients are on a federally-funded program and their access to resources is limited. It was a big awakening for me, and I couldn’t enjoy my patients and my work more.” Her biggest lesson: Step outside your comfort zone and see how other people live to make an impact for them. Jessica lives in Manhattan and commutes every day via public transportation to a different site. The Bronx is a stark contrast to Manhattan, and Jessica says it sometimes feels like another world, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I enjoy it so much. My patients are so appreciative and they want to get good care. It has been really rewarding working with kids and learning what they are going through as opposed to what I went through growing up.” Jessica also believes that the most exciting part about her adventure is taking a kid who was really afraid of the dentist and having them leave not afraid, as well as seeing the kids brushing better and wanting to show her their progress. “It’s exciting to help mold an otherwise anxious patient into an enthusiastic one that is no longer afraid of coming to the dentist. I love seeing them leave with a smile on their face. Residency has helped me hone my behavior guidance skills.” For now, Jessica is content using her artistry to create beauty, instill good oral health and build self-esteem in her young patients.
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ALUMNI WEEKEND
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CLASS NOTES WILL RETURN IN THE FALL ISSUE
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PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
CAMPAIGN Vision
We are committed to building a modern Performing Arts Center that will greatly enhance the educational experience for every student who passes through its doors. The Center will include community, learning, practice, and performing spaces that inspire intellectual curiosity, creativity, artistic expression, and build community.
Need
Gwynette Auditorium is nearing the end of its useful life, has limited seating capacity, and ongoing maintenance costs are unsustainable.
Cost
Design work and construction for the Performing Arts Center is estimated at $8.5 million.
Timeline
With your support, design work will begin in 2019, construction will start in 2020, and our grand opening performance will be in 2021.
THE HEART OF CAMPUS Life 101
Parent events
Visiting speakers and alumni
Student art exhibits and gallery space Student Performances
Chapel services
Awards Days
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Demolition of the old fine arts building began on June 21 by Trident Construction.
Visiting Writer Series
Grandparent's Day
Theatrical and music performances
Student wellness programs
Seven major productions per year
Founder's Day
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Porter-Gaud’s teachers invested their time and expertise in educating you. They taught, advised, encouraged, coached, and inspired. These amazing faculty members have also given back each year with their own gift to The Cyclone Fund. Many continue to support Porter-Gaud even after retirement. We encourage you to honor the faculty and staff that impacted you by making a gift of any amount to The Cyclone Fund. You, too, can be a differentiator in the life of a Cyclone.
MAKE A GIFT TO THE CYCLONE FUND TODAY IN HONOR OF SOMEONE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE! www.portergaud.edu/give
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Over the years, much of Porter-Gaud has changed. New buildings constructed over skeletons of old ones on a growing campus. A fresh crop of teachers arrive as others gently erase their whiteboards for their last time. And Seniors graduate, ushering in a wave of first graders – future PG graduates – in their wake. All of these things remain a constant and gentle reminder... that change is constant – both in life and on campus. But amidst change, familiarity is always a comfort. And the one thing that remains familiar and steadfast on campus: the campus green. Sprawling and open, lush with green grass surrounded by the embrace of the grand oaks extended overhead, like a mother shielding her babies. The green has seen lunches and love notes. Studying and song. Graduations and grand celebrations. It holds memories for every person that graces the campus each year, almost serving as a sanctuary for time that has escaped us – like water slipping through our youthful fingers. By Libby Williams ’88
NON-PROFIT U S P O S TA G E
PA I D PERMIT #1297 C H A R L E STO N , S C
300 ALBEMARLE ROAD CHARLESTON, SC 29407
NEW LOOK AND FEEL FOR THE PORTER-GAUD WEBSITE LAUNCHING IN EARLY AUGUST! portergaud.edu