PILLARS MAGAZINE FOR RABUN GAP-NACOOCHEE SCHOOL
SUMMER 2017
339 Nacoochee Drive | Rabun Gap, GA 30568 706-746-7467
www.rabungap.org
Pillars Magazine is published by the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School Office of Advancement.
Paige Spivey Michelle Lakey
Associate Head of School for Advancement
Advancement Services Coordinator
Matt McGee Megan Studdard
Director of Annual Giving and Constituent Relations
Director of Marketing and Communication
Eric Vogelbacher Sourosh Amani Assistant Director of Development
Communication Coordinator
Claire Foggin
Assistant Director of Legacy Giving and Donor Stewardship
Special thanks to Mark Henning for his work on this edition of Pillars. Mr. Henning retired this year as Director of Alumni Communication after almost 20 years of service at Rabun Gap. He played a vital role in the re-establishment of Pillars and connecting with generations of Rabun Gap alumni!
OUR MISSION Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School combines its strong academic program, mountain setting, and Presbyterian heritage to inspire young people eager to learn and grow. Living our motto, Work Study Worship, our community nurtures and challenges students of diverse backgrounds as they prepare for college and a lifetime of service.
I
t is exciting to share with our extended Rabun Gap family and friends the great stories contained in this issue of Pillars. The pages within detail a firm commitment to the important history and legacy of our remarkable school. Highlighting the work and legacies of Billy Joe Stiles and Dess Oliver, this issue presents an intersection of a history grounded in the legacy of a vision set forth by Andrew Ritchie and a future that meets the Dr. Anthony Sgro needs of our students entering an ever evolving HEAD OF SCHOOL world. Alongside this history, the stories that detail the work of our faculty including Dr. Erika Farr in Humanities, Michael Lomuscio in STEAM, and Renee Rogers in the Evelyne Sheats Lower School demonstrate a visionary curriculum designed to best serve the needs of our contemporary students. Our faculty and staff remain committed to the ideal that we are a diverse school that seeks to serve the finest students from across the globe regardless of their ability to pay. Such a commitment is best illustrated in the great accomplishments of our alumni whose lives and service are making an impact in local communities and beyond. How inspiring to see the work of our alumni and to hear in their own words the impact of a Rabun Gap education! We continue to change the lives of students from Appalachia to over forty countries across the globe. In closing, we remain deeply grateful for the faith and loyalty of so many like you that has helped to ensure and sustain our mission. Thank you for continuing to share the news of Rabun Gap with others, to support the work of our school through charitable gifts, and to pray for our community of teachers and learners. I hope you will visit us on campus in the coming school year, there is much to see and celebrate here at the Gap!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 6
Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead Rabun Gap’s S.T.E.A.M. program is thriving in the new Dess Oliver S.T.E.A.M. Center.
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The Evelyne Sheats Lower School Rabun Gap expanding to serve PK12
Humanities Focused
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Class of 2017
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History and English combine into new program
Largest class in school history graduates
Eagles in Action
Year-in-review with top sports headlines
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Alumni Events
Relive the Homecoming festivities
Passing the Baton
Billy Joe Stiles’ 49 retires as archivist
Alumni Profiles
Three decades of alumni stories
Inside the Arts
Cirque, dance, music and more
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RABUN GAP EXPANDS TO PK-12 The Evelyne Sheats Lower School to open in Fall 2017
R
abun Gap-Nacoochee School announced in September 2016 it will open a Lower School on the Rabun Gap campus. The Evelyne Sheats Lower School will serve local students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade starting in the 2017-18 school year. Rabun Gap’s Board of Trustees has been studying the possibility of expanding to add a lower school for many years. In 2013, Rabun Gap expanded to include fifth grade in its Middle School located at the newly established Niles Bolton Middle School Complex. According to the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Margaret
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Carton, “The tremendous success of the fifth grade program and our thriving Middle School have prompted the Trustees to further the historic mission of the school and reestablish a lower school.” The Evelyne Sheats Lower School at Rabun Gap will be located in the newly renovated Emily Winship Woodruff building on the main campus complete with classrooms, common gathering space, and convenient access to an indoor pool, arts studios, playground, and athletic fields The new Lower School continues a vision started by Rabun Gap’s founder Andrew Jackson Ritchie more
PILLARS MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2017
The Evelyne Sheats Lower School opens in August, welcoming day students in grades PK-5 and expanding Rabun Gap to serve students of all ages. The Lower School will emphasize a traditional curriculum that builds a foundation of skills and knowledge needed for success in Rabun Gap’s college preparatory curriculum. It will also offer athletic and fine arts opportunities, including swimming and instrumental music lessons, to Rabun Gap’s youngest scholars.
than 100 years ago — to bring quality education to the people of the mountains. For decades Rabun Gap opened its classrooms to the area’s youngest children and continued to serve them until a community school was established in Dillard. “Rabun Gap originally served families with children of all ages and thus operated a school to serve all elementary and secondary grades. Eventually with the establishment of the community school in Dillard, the elementary school at Rabun Gap closed, and faculty children and other Rabun Gap families sent their youngest children to Dillard,” said Head of School Anthony Sgro. “We are excited to bring that opportunity back to families in Northeast Georgia and Western North Carolina.” It’s a mission Evelyne Sheats, the school’s namesake, is passionate about. Mrs. Evelyne Sheats is a longtime resident of Lake Burton who considers Clayton home. Originally from Alabama, Evelyne lived in Atlanta with her husband, Lamar, and it is where she raised their daughter Stephanie Sheats Dyer. Mr. Sheats, a highly successful financial executive looked forward to the day when the two could retire full time to their home at the lake. Upon his passing, Evelyne increased her involvement in the local community including philanthropic and leadership support to important missions such as
FAITH and St. James Episcopal Church in Clayton. In recent years, Eveylne’s affection for and commitment to the children growing up in North Georgia has propelled her generous support of The Little School in Clarkesville, Georgia and Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School. “Children deserve every opportunity to explore, create, and learn about the world,” Sheats said. “North Georgia is a lovely place to grow up, and Rabun Gap is a special place to have the best of both worlds ‒ a caring community with a world-class education program!” Consistent with the Rabun Gap philosophy, The Evelyne Sheats Lower School will emphasize a traditional curriculum that builds a foundation of skills and knowledge needed for success in Rabun Gap’s college preparatory curriculum offered in the middle and upper grades. There will be a focus on innovative teaching that helps students develop written voice and mathematical thinking, along with world language instruction in Spanish, French, and Mandarin. “The rich academic and cultural immersion our Lower School will provide is unmatched in this region,” Sgro said. “Students will learn three world languages and have structured interaction with our diverse community — all before they enter Middle School.” The Evelyne Sheats Lower School will be dedicated in an allschool gathering on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017.
LEFT: Early renovation stages of The Eveyne Sheats Lower School. The school is housed in the Emily Winship Woodruff building, which once contained offices. CENTER: Evelyne Sheats and Dr. Anthony Sgro tour the classrooms during the construction and renovation phase. RIGHT: A kindergarten classroom awaits the arrival of students.
Mrs. Renee Rogers named Head of the Lower School
Mrs. Renee Rogers will lead the new Evelyne Sheats Lower School in its inagural year. Rogers has been a fifth-grade teacher at the Rabun Gap Middle School and was instrumental in designing the curriculum for that highly regarded program. With an extensive background in early childhood education, Rogers taught gifted and talented students in North Carolina and Ohio before joining the Rabun Gap faculty.
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around campus
FULL S .T.E.A.M. AHEAD
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in the classroom
SCIENCE
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Y TECHNOLOG
DIRECTOR OF S.T.E.A.M.
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his year has been an amazing time of growth for the Rabun Gap S.T.E.A.M. program! In 2016-2017, we ran nine S.T.E.A.M. elective courses, started an afternoon S.T.E.A.M. program in the Middle School, and opened the Dess Oliver S.T.E.A.M. Center. Looking back, and ahead, I could not be more proud of the commitment and vision that Rabun Gap has to advancing our efforts to offer a world class education in the S.T.E.A.M. fields.
T
Michael Lomusico
.
NGINEERING
. ART . MATH
Courses this year covered a wide variety of topics and were taught using an innovative agile group work model developed in the software industry. The model is called SCRUM and requires students to learn how to organize themselves around a common vision, communicate effectively, learn from failure, and create a quality final product. Student feedback regarding the classes and the SCRUM model has been excellent, and we look forward to continually growing and improving our
NEW S.T.E.A.M. CENTER DEDICATED TO DESS OLIVER Beloved industrial arts teacher Dess Oliver’s legacy lives on a the new S.T.E.A.M. Center on campus, which opened to classes in spring 2017. S.T.E.A.M. at Rabun Gap is an outgrowth of the industrial arts program Dess started at Rabun Gap in the 1970s. Dess passed away March 30, 2015 after serving more than 40 years at the school. Family, friends, alumni and faculty gathered Saturday, October 15 to celebrate his legacy at the building’s dedication. TOP: The family of Dess Oliver, including his wife Jackie, center, and Dr. Anthony Sgro, far right, celebrate the dedication of the S.T.E.A.M. Center on October 15, 2016.
PILLARS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2017
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in the classroom S.T.E.A.M. offerings. During the winter trimester, we launched an afternoon S.T.E.A.M. program at the Middle School. The student response was amazing! Twentyone middle school students spent the season developing and coding their own apps, learning the basics of robotics, and working with our 3D printer to create and prototype their own inventions to solve problems around the Middle School. Energy and enthusiasm were certainly high! We are looking forward to growing and expanding this program in the Middle School in the coming years. One of the most exciting developments of the year was the opening of the Dess Oliver S.T.E.A.M. Center. Named after our beloved former Industrial Arts teacher, this facility is a state of the art S.T.E.A.M. facility. Dess’ legacy will live on in this new building. The first floor is equipped with separate wood and metal working spaces as well
as an area for robotics and electronics work. The second floor houses a spacious classroom, fully equipped with the latest technologies. We are so excited to offer students the opportunity to engage with both the traditional industrial arts and cutting edge fields and technologies. The Dess Oliver S.T.E.A.M. Center is a bold facility that houses an innovative educational vision. It stands as one of the finest S.T.E.A.M. facilities in the southeast. Rabun Gap’s commitment to offering a top-notch science, mathematics, and technology education is one of the reasons that I love working at this school. The passion surrounding S.T.E.A.M. from both students and faculty is strong and can be felt across campus. It is such a joy to serve in a community like this one. I am excited about all that we have accomplished and will accomplish in the near future! Rabun Gap is truly leading the way in S.T.E.A.M. education!
Edmundo Ortiz ’18 of Mexico makes repairs on the S.T.E.A.M. class’ underwater ROV. Students designed and built the ROV to search Nacoochee Lake for a pair of missing yard flamingos, rumored to be once owned by Former Head of School Gregory Ziegler and his wife.
More than 20 middle school students spent the winter season as a part of the new afterschool S.T.E.A.M. program.
LEFT: Samuel Taylor ’17 of Franklin, North Carolina, builds a guitar during his S.T.E.A.M. class. RIGHT: S.T.E.A.M. students built a working hologram display and showcased it during the 2017 Academic Symposium.
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PILLARS MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2017
in the classroom
HUMANITIES FOCUSED
New model combines English and history to broaden student learning BY DR. ERIKA FARR, HEAD OF THE UPPER SCHOOL Rabun Gap has recently transformed its long-standing English and History departments into a newly integrated Humanities department. This new department will harness the deep experience, creativity, and commitment of over fifteen faculty members to develop an Upper School curriculum that prepares students to think critically, write effectively, read carefully, and develop habits of mind that will ensure their success in college and life. The Humanities faculty strives to develop an adaptive learning environment that
encourages students to engage deeply with diverse modes of cultural expression as they explore what it means to be human. While literature and history will be important foundations, an exciting element of this humanities curriculum will be the opportunity to include more art history, philosophy, and other disciplines. “Educators today are challenged to prepare students for a future we can only begin to imagine. The world’s problems grow increasingly complex and interrelated. Our humanities
approach will teach students to collaborate, as they research, discuss, and seek to understand this complexity.” said David Landis, Associate Head of School for Academic Affairs. The Class of 2021 will begin their Upper School career with Humanities 9, a course that explores essential questions around citizenship, community, and leadership. This course will examine historical documents, literary texts, and artifacts from ancient civilizations in an attempt to understand how these early explorations of the individual and community
continue to shape our own experiences. Following this initial offering of Humanities 9, the faculty will continue developing integrated curricula for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. These courses will pursue the same goals: developing critical skills, making meaningful connections between history and artistic expression, and preparing students for a lifetime of asking important questions, seeking meaningful information, and expressing informed opinions.
Dr. Erika Farr named Head of the Upper School
Dr. Erika Farr starts as Head of the Upper School in the 2017-2018 academic year. She has been a member of the Rabun Gap community since 2015 and previously served as Chair of the Humanities Department. She holds a Doctorate in English Literature from Emory University, a Master’s in Library Science from the University of North Texas, and a bachelor’s degree (Phi Beta Kappa) from North Carolina State University.
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in the classroom
Middle School gets ‘infected’ for day of cross-curricular learning The Niles Bolton Middle School Complex at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School was under “quarantine” one day this past year for the Infectious Disease Museum. The cross-curricular day of learning featured student projects and classroom activities revolving around the concept of infectious diseases. The event was organized by science teacher Johnathan BySura. Sixth-graders in BySura’s classes showcased their projects in the museum for parents and the community. The sixth-grade students researched infectious diseases ranging from Ebola to rabies, then created models and paintings depicting what the
microscopic organisms look like. The day concluded with a special visit from Rabun County native Dr. Elizabeth Irvin-Barnwell, Community Studies Team Lead in the Environmental Epidemiology Branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Dr. Irvin-Barnwell gave students a glimpse into the world of epidemiology through her illustrious career in public health. She is the wife of Jon Barnwell ’92, an alumnus and member of the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School Board of Trustees.
Jonathan Gardner named STAR student
Dr. Truslow earns STAR Teacher Senior Jonathan Gardner was named the school’s STAR Student and selected Dr. Marion Truslow as his STAR Teacher. The Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition Program, organized by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, honors the state’s top-achieving seniors and their inspirational teachers.To secure the STAR nomination, high school seniors must have the highest score of the SAT taken and be in the top-10 percent or top 10 students of their class based on GPA. Jonathan aspires to become a writer and will attend Emerson College in Boston. He was one of 50 students accepted to the Honors Program at Emerson College. Dr. Truslow has been a member of the Rabun Gap faculty since 1999, and first taught Jonathan in his AP European History class.
TOP: Mr. Johnathan BySura and his students showcase their work in the Infectious Disease Museum LEFT: Dr. Elizabeth Irvin-Barnwell, Community Studies Team Lead in the Environmental Epidemiology Branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
TOP RANKING Rabun Gap was ranked #18 in Town and Country Magazine’s list of Best Boarding Schools in America this year!
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January 2017, the Rabun first Rabun Gap-Nacoochee nnJanuary 19,19, 2017, the first Gap-Nacoochee School Founders Dinner was held in Atlanta celebrate School Founders Dinner was held in Atlanta totocelebrate andthank thanksome someofofour ourmost mostloyal loyal and generous donors. and and generous donors. It was an honor to celebrate the legacy of such philanthropic It was an honor to celebrate the legacy of such philanthropic givingas asexemplified exemplifiedin inthe theFounders FoundersCircle Circlefor forLifetime LifetimeGiving. Giving. giving From Fromits itsbeginning, beginning,Rabun RabunGap Gaphas hasbeen beenblessed blessedwith withsupportsupporters ers who helped the School provide access to education, who helped the School to provide access to education,regardregardless less of a family’s ability to pay. Our founder, Andrew Jackson of ability to pay. Our founder, Andrew Jackson Ritchie, stepped Ritchie, stepped out in faith, tirelessly to raise funds for out in faith, tirelessly worked to raiseworked funds for the School, and the School, and found great friends and donors in the Hodgson found great friends and donors in the Hodgson and Woodruff and Woodruff families. He and his wife, Addie Corn Ritchie’s families. of His and his and wife,stewardship Addie Corn examples examples leadership ledRitchie’s, the way for Ruby of leadership and stewardship led the way for Ruby van van Rooyen’s service to and support of the school. PayingRooyen’s tribute service to and support of the School. Together, the Hodgson, to the Hodgson, van Rooyan, and Woodruff names, the giving van Rooyen, andFounders Woodruff names up the giving clubs in the clubs in the Circle bearmake the examples of their generous and loyal support. Founders Circle.
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van rooyen Society van rooyen
S$500,000 ociety LIFETIME GIVING
HodgSon SH ociety odgSon
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$100,000 ociety
LIFETIME GIVING
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CLASS OF
2017 12
PILLARS MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2017
LARGEST CLASS IN SCHOOL HISTORY GRADUATES 87 students receive diplomas in 114th Commencement Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School graduated its largest class in school history during the 114th Commencement Weekend. Eighty-seven graduates from the Class of 2017 walked across the stage Sunday, May 14, in an outdoor ceremony surrounding statues of school founders Andrew Jackson and Addie Corn Ritchie. Members of the Class of 2017 hail from across the nation and globe, representing 17 countries and four states. With 100 percent college acceptance, members of the
Class of 2017 are headed to the nation’s top colleges and universities. Overall, the class received 376 acceptances. More than half of those were to public or private universities listed in the U.S. News and World Report Top 50, with several listed in the Top 20. Students will attend colleges and universities in 19 states and four different countries. Eleven students committed to participation in collegiate athletics. “This year’s graduating class represents the best of Rabun Gap — in academics, athletics,
and character,” said Head of School Dr. Anthony Sgro. “The students’ acceptances into such prestigious colleges and universities is a testament to their hard work and our outstanding academic program.” Seniors Amirah Adem of Stone Mountain, Georgia, and Jessie Kuehne of Dillard, Georgia, opened graduation by singing “The Star Spangled Banner.” Andrea Maia of Decatur, Georgia, was the student speaker. The baccalaureate service preceded graduation and Mr.
Archie Crenshaw delivered the baccalaureate address. After a successful career in business, Mr. Crenshaw founded the nonprofit HOI, a Christ-centered missions organization focused on strengthening communities in Honduras and Nicaragua. Senior class president Priscilla Yiv of Clarkston, Georgia, delivered the Prayers of the Class of 2017 during baccalaureate, and Honor Council President Will Sadlon of Franklin, North Carolina, gave the scripture reading. Photos by Tammi Nowack
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eagles athletics
EAGLES IN ACTION
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PILLARS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2017
FALL 2016 SPORTS HEADLINES MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER WINS TRI-STATE CHAMPIONSHIP The Eagles claimed the Tri-State Championship title on Friday, October 7, at Tallulah Falls School, beating Swain County 2-0.
EAGLES FOOTBALL HAS EXCITING FINISH ON THE ROAD
Rabun Gap’s varsity football team had an exciting road win over rival Asheville School.
GIRLS TENNIS HAS BEST SEASON IN YEARS
Our Lady Eagles tennis squad celebrated a milestone year, starting with an undefeated streak to begin the season.
ANNA ARMFIELD ’17 PLACES 6TH IN STATE MEET
Cross country star Anna Armfield ’17 notched her place in the top 10 of the NCISAA State Meet.
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eagles athletics
WINTER 2016-17 SPORTS HEADLINES MS BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM IS REPEAT TRI-STATE CHAMPION
The Eagles defeated Highlands 49-19 to claim the championship at Tallulah Falls School on Saturday, February 4.
WRESTLERS FINISH IN TOP 10 AT STATE
Our varsity wrestlers finished ninth out of twenty teams with 70 points and were turning heads from coaches, wrestlers, and fans alike.
LADY EAGLES BASKETBALL ADVANCE TO NCISAA FINAL 4
Rabun Gap defeated Ravenscroft in the NCISAA 3A Quarterfinals to advance to the Final 4.
JANA JACIMOVIC ‘17 BREAKS SCHOOL SWIM RECORD
Jana broke an eighteen-year-old school record in the 100 Breaststroke, with a time of 1:15.55 at the CAA Meet in Asheville.
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PILLARS MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2017
eagles athletics
SPRING 2017 SPORTS HEADLINES MS SOFTBALL STARTS INAUGURAL SEASON WITH WIN
The Middle School Softball Team began their inaugural season with a 15-13 win on the road against Fairview Middle School.
TRACK TEAMS TAKE 2ND PLACE IN CAA
The Eagles earned 7 conference champion spots in the meet before heading to state.
ALEX ZORKO ’18 MAKES ALL-STATE TENNIS
Alex played at #1 singles and ended the regular season with an overall record of 12-1, dropping only 4 of 28 sets. The Middle School Baseball Field of Dreams was dedicated in March. The new field is located between Jane Woodruff Lane and Ernest Woodruff Lane.
WILL RAWLINGS ‘17 PLAYS AT STATE GOLF TOURNAMENT
Will Rawlings ‘17 qualified for the NCISAA state championship golf tournament held May 15-16 in Pinehurst, NC.
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rabun gap arts
Cirque Mystérieux brought record crowds to the Rearden Theater on October 28-29. This year’s show chronicled the adventures of Lily Malone, P.I. (Anja Racic ‘18), as she solved the mystery of Mr. Yeux’s (Dorian Provencher ‘18) missing wife. Performed as an “old-timey” radio show, the performance was narrated by Jessie Kuehne ‘17. Cirque acts included: Jonathan Gardner & Olivia Tavolacci as The Ponceaus performing on on Spanish Web Julianne Harrod & Jasmine Williams on Aerial Sling Katie Cox with Cydni Coppage & Victoria Cochran on Aerial Cube Kendall Butler and Zoe Owens as the Envy Twins on Lyra Bess Prim as Mary-Ann Steele performing on Ladders Pickle Anda as Iris Adore with Erin Corcoran and Samantha Rulli on Aerial Silks Aly McAlister, Leah Grace Craig, Elizabeth Taylor, Cade Carroll, Sam Taylor and Jeremy Nash as City’s Finest performing on the German Wheel
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PILLARS MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2017
rabun gap arts
rabun gap arts
The Wizard of Oz, Rabun Gap’s spring musical, wowed audiences in February 2017.
celebrating
the arts
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alumni events connection
I N M U AL ALUMNI RETUrN TO CAMPUS for OCTOBER WEEKEND OF FUN abun Gap alums came together to celebrate Alumni R Reunion Weekend on October 14-15, 2016. On Friday night, the first Rabun Gap Spirit Night was held, bringing together the entire community for food, games, and fun. aturday morning, around 100 runners hit the start line S for the Run the Gap 5K. The race kicked off a Saturday full of events, including a luncheon, tree dedication, the dedication of the S.T.E.A.M Center, and the Homecoming football game versus the Hickory Hawks. Alumni gathered for a reception in the Alumni Heritage Center Saturday night. J ordan Hajazin ’17 and Frida Cyuzuzo ’17 were crowned Homecoming Queen and King. They were joined by 2006 King and Queen Rachel Cook Lampros and Chris Crawford.
Mark your calendar for this year’s Homecoming festivities on October 27-28, 2017! 20
PILLARS MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2017
alumni connection
Heritage Homecoming Join us for the celebration in 2018 on the first weekend in June!
SAVE THE D
Change lives. Did you know 75% of Rabun Gap students are on financial aid? The generous support of alumni and friends to our Cornerstone Scholarship Fund allows us to continue the mission of educating young people regardless of their ability to pay. The Alumni Association Scholarship is one way alumni can contribute. This scholarship is given to a returning student each year. In 2017, Samuel Core of Smyrna, Georgia, (pictured) earned the award.
Visit www.rabungap.org/giving to make a difference. PILLARS MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2017
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alumni connection
PASSING THE BATON
Rabun Gap Archives dedicated to Rabun Gap legend Billy Joe Stiles ’49 After 44 years of service to Rabun Gap as a dorm parent, teacher, coach, mentor, and school historian, Mr. Billy Joe Stiles ’49 has handed the role of Rabun Gap Archivist to his long time co-worker David Grist ’67. Billy Joe’s service to the school was honored Saturday, June 3, when the Archives building was dedicated to him. Mr. Stiles’ commitment and love for Rabun Gap began when he was a student. After graduating from Berry College, he returned to Rabun Gap to teach, raise a family, run dormitories, teach, and do just about every job imaginable at the school. Mr. Stiles holds a deep and abiding commitment to teach and guide young people. In 1988, Mr. Stiles and Reverend Jack Beaver began collect-
ing and saving artifacts of Rabun Gap history and thus the Archives collection was born. Mr. Stiles firmly believes the school’s heritage needs to be maintained to remind us where Rabun Gap started and what we have achieved over the years. Rabun Gap has been blessed by Billy Joe Stiles’ long and outstanding commitment and service.
A distant relative of the Ritches, David Grist has lived in Northeast Georgia most of his life. He taught fourth, fifth and sixth grades in science and social studies; and in the latter part of his career he also added instruction of technology to his students. David became involved with Billy Joe Stiles and the Rabun
Gap Archives when, “for the fun of it,” he started bring artifacts, photographs, and various memorabilia from his family home to “show, share, and donate to the growing collection.” He believes that it is important for current students to know this institution has a long and deep history. “In today’s world not too many places can say that about their place, where they live and work…so many people today lack roots and a sense of belonging to something,” David said. Mr. Grist has lived in a quiet and thoughtful way and he has devoted much of it to education. His thoughtful, caring and active contributions to Rabun Gaps Archives have been wonderful; he is a natural fit for his new position as Rabun Gap Archivist.
To support the Billy Joe Stiles ’49 Scholarship Fund, visit www.rabungap.org/stilesscholarship. 22
PILLARS MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2017
Transform Lives, Using Taxes You Pay Anyway! BY ERIC VOGELBACHER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Part of Rabun Gap’s mission is to
serve young people from all economic backgrounds, helping transform their lives through Work Study Worship. To achieve that mission, we aim to provide financial aid to 75% of our students, based on merit and need. Fulfilling this commitment is a challenge each year. For 2017, about $100,000 of that aid comes from GOAL Scholarships, thanks to 67 caring individuals and businesses who redirected some of their Georgia income taxes – which they would have to pay anyway- to help fund a student’s education at Rabun Gap. If you pay Georgia income taxes, you can help our students and get your contribution back as a “Qualified Education Expense” tax credit. To partner with us in this effort, you would need to complete a simple application in 2017 for the 2018 tax year. It takes just a minute to complete the form and transform a student’s life!
The Kindness of Strangers Recently, I reached out to a woman in Atlanta and heard her story about participating in GOAL. She explained, “My son is a CPA and told me one day that we can use part of our tax money to provide scholarships. I liked that idea, but knew right away that I did not want to support a school in Atlanta: there is too much money
here already! I did a little research and learned about Rabun Gap. I have never been on campus or even by the school, but what you do for young people, from the mountains and around the world, is wonderful! This is the fourth year my son and I have been able to support students through GOAL, and we love it. It is a great way to help!” By participating in GOAL, individuals and businesses can have some say in where their tax dollars are put to work. One mother with two children at Rabun Gap recently said, “As small business owners, we fully appreciate what it means to provide for a family of four. The opportunity to have our two children develop and grow from middle school to graduation at an exemplary school like Rabun Gap is only made possible by the Georgia Goal Scholarship and the outstanding mission of Rabun Gap itself.” More Georgia students are waiting for financial aid, so please consider participating in Georgia GOAL! Please contact me, Eric Vogelbacher, evogelbacher@rabungap.org or (706)7467721, for details.
DOING YOUR TAXES SOON? When doing your taxes, go one step further and apply for a tax credit for next year. The “Qualified Education Expense” tax credit is known as the Georgia GOAL Scholarship. Take a look at your most recent Georgia income tax return to find how much you owed in taxes. This amount can be used as an estimate of taxes you will owe next year. Your GOAL tax credit can’t be higher than the taxes you owe or the limit for your filing status (Single $1,000, Married Filing Joint $2,500, LLC/S-Corp $10,000 per owner, C-Corp/Trust up to 75% of tax liability).
It takes just a minute… to complete a form and transform a student’s life.
Applications for 2018 are now open: www.goalscholarship.org Your names on the application should be the same as on your tax returns. Participants get a dollar for dollar tax credit and support a Georgia student at Rabun Gap.
Nowhere else can you do so much for so little!
Connect with Rabun Gap! Don’t miss a single photo, video, game score, or news story about Rabun Gap! Follow us on social media and check our website for an “in” on campus even if you’re miles away!
YOUTUBE
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School Rabun Gap Alumni Rabun Gap Athletics
@rabungap @rabungapalumni @rabungap_athletics
@RGNS @RG_Eagles
Rabun GapNacoochee School
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alumni connection
alumni profiles
ALUMNI FROM THE LAST THREE DECADES
In addition to reporting the latest events and news at Rabun Gap we have again included a section about Rabun Gap alumni and what they have been doing with their lives. Many readers told us they enjoyed these stories. It is our hope that you will be happy to see what former classmates are doing and what they have accomplished. We invite you to write to us and tell us your story and send pictures so that we can include your story in future issues of Pillars or other publications.
24 Pictured at left, PILLARS Sophie Guntram MAGAZINE ’09 points •toSUMMER a camel. 2017
alumni connection
SOPHIE GUNTRAM ‘09
is making a world of difference, one young person at a time.
S
ophie Guntram came to Rabun Gap in 2007 as an international student from Germany. At Rabun Gap, she ran crosscountry and was in cirque. She lived in Irene as a prefect, and always looked forward to Mr. Landis’ literature class. She graduated from Rabun Gap in 2009, never knowing she would spend five more years in the USA! During her years abroad, Sophie studied linguistics and education policy at Georgetown and Harvard. She calls America her home and deeply believes that education is the way toward a decent life in friendship and peace. Last year, Sophie returned to Germany to join Teach First Germany, the German organization of the Teach For All network. Known as “Ms. Guntram” to her students, Sophie shares her knowledge and passion for languages with students at a secondary school in Duisburg, Germany. Her students come from different cultural
backgrounds and live in an underprivileged area. In her English class Ms. Guntram has her students make movies about their role models, write poetry about where they come from, and discuss current events in their class Whatsapp group. After Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit in Duisburg last year, Sophie realized once more that a well-rounded education is the
only way to empower people and strengthen communities. On an average school day — admittedly an odd expression for a professional field that seemingly never consists of such days — Sophie is reminded of her Rabun Gap experience at least three times: first, when she plans her next lesson with her Rabun Gap pen that Ms. Christiansen gave her at the spring reunion with Rabun Gap alumni in Cologne. During these planning sessions, she thinks of ways to engage all students, for example with Mr. Landis’ discussion-based teaching style. …Or by generally taking a strengths-based approach to giving feedback on homework assignments. And right before entering the classroom and switching into the role of “Ms. Guntram,” she takes Mr. Henning’s words to heart: to teach the right things as well as subject matter!
BRIAN DEAN ‘95
A
serves as Senior VP of Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.
fter graduation from Rabun Gap, Brian Dean went on to earn his Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Public Health Administration at the University of Kentucky and later he went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from the University of Miami. Brian now serves as Senior Vice President and Memorial Hermann Regional PresidentCentral Region with overall responsibility for Memorial HermannTexas Medical Center (TMC), Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, Memorial
Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital, the Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute- TMC and the Memorial Hermann Mischer Neuroscience Institute at the TMC. Memorial Hermann, with thirteen hospitals and more than 23,000 employees is known for world class expertise, patient centered care, leading edge technology and innovation. Brian remebers the five years he spent at Rabun Gap with genuine fondness. He said the academic work and solid education he received was highly valuable in
preparing him for college. “The work ethic that I learned at Rabun Gap was a critical component to my education and something I sometimes see lacking among many of the young people I see today. I remember well the first job I held at the school, cleaning and washing the school buses, taught me fundamental life lessons,” he said. “At Rabun Gap I was also exposed to a wide diversity of students from other parts of the world which has impacted me even today. Just recently I traveled with my family to Japan to visit an old friend from Rabun Gap.
The relationships I made then are ties that last forever.” Brian added: “From my first days I remember well, faculty members like the Loders and the
Beavers, Carl Zenal, and the Kohtalas, who had an open-arms approach to education and to me and they always gave me a sense of being part of a family.”
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alumni connection
LYNNE VOGELBACHER ‘86
has come full circle with her Rabun Gap experience as an alumna, now parent. In her own words...
I
n1982, I started Rabun Gap as a freshman from Pennsylvania, eager for a meaningful boarding school experience. Rabun Gap did not let me down! It was a great place to blossom while receiving guidance from teachers and dorm parents who deeply cared for my well-being. Today I see the same devotion, which helped me in the decision to make Rabun Gap my home again. After graduation in 1986, I decided to serve in the military. This was a natural choice for me, having been raised by parents who met in the Marine Corps, along with five siblings who served our country as well. I chose to be a military policewoman and was fortunate
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to be stationed in Germany at the end of the Cold War when the Berlin Wall came down. When my three years ended, I attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama, earning a degree in Forensic Science. Eager for more travel, I took a job in Seoul, South Korea teaching English. My traveling continued and in 1996, while backpacking through East Africa,
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a new desire sparked inside me to return to school. I attended nursing school in Savannah, GA. My very first weekend at church, I met my future husband, Eric Vogelbacher. He was an adventurous Search and Rescue helicopter pilot in the U.S. Coast Guard. We wed in 1998 and soon after, got our first orders together - set for Alaska!
The packing and unpacking continued as we moved around the country for 18 great years. In that time we were blessed with four children: Maximilian, Dominic, Stella Maris, and Lucy. Eric retired from the military in 2015 and we decided to take some time for family travel. We backpacked all spring and summer through twelve countries in Europe. Our family of homeschooled children also visited various National Parks in the western United States, before trekking around the southeastern states. While in Georgia, we attended Rabun Gap’s Alumni Reunion held in October. When alumni return to campus, I imagine that most experience a mix of emotions as they remember what the school SEE VOGELBACHER, PAGE 28
alumni connection
ANNE MOORE ‘74
serves Foxfire organization and community for four decades.
Previously published in The Clayton Tribune.
T
ucked away in the office above the Foxfire gift shop at The Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center is a true Appalachian woman. A warm smile stretches across her face as she reminisces on students telling the stories of her heritage. She is Ann Moore and she was the face of Foxfire for over 40 years. After serving her last 15 years as executive director and president of the Foxfire program, a non-profit, educational organization that produces a studentwritten magazine
celebrating the culture of the Northeast Georgia mountains, operates the Museum, trains teachers in the Foxfire Approach to Teaching and Learning, and more, Moore retired from the position. Born and raised in Dillard, Georgia, Moore experienced firsthand the Appalachian culture Foxfire preserves. Moore remembered her father working hard and recalled the struggles the family went through. “Life was hard at times,” she said. “We spent a lot of winters in one room of a house around the log heat because it was the only heat source and we were freezing.” The family spent
Ann Moore ’74 stands beside the sign outside The Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center in Mountain City.
many years in homes on the Rabun GapNacoochee School campus. Moore reminisced
on those times in her introduction to the Foxfire books. “My fondest memories of the School
Farm are of spending many nights throughout those years with my SEE MOORE, PAGE 28
WAYNE MCPHEARSON ‘09 A
reflects on impact of his Rabun Gap experience.
fter three years at Rabun Gap, Wayne moved on to Davidson College, where he majored in economics. Upon graduation, he obtained a position with A.T. Kearney, a global management consulting firm that helps large corporations and governments solve complex business problems. After four years with A.T. Kearney, he will take a leave of absence to earn a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management beginning this fall. In reflecting on the three years he spent at Rabun Gap, Wayne said, “Rabun Gap was a place that came at a time in my life when I needed to get on track and focused. Rabun Gap was an environment that was totally new to me. It was small and isolated, but it was a loving and caring place where I got to know everyone. The school’s small size helped me develop close relationships with
Wayne McPhearson ’09
others, and this was what I needed. Rabun Gap’s academic rigor helped me see what I could accomplish if I worked hard.” Wayne added, “Several faculty members influenced me and helped me grow. David Hopkins, my Spanish teacher, and Roger
Cox, my coach, for example, were great role models for me, and they were also older friends who pushed me to always try for better.” Wayne also had advice for Rabun Gap students today. “Don’t take the experience for granted; get involved with as much as the school has to offer, and look for things other than just what you think that you are good at—things that will push you out of your comfort zone. Also, make a conscious effort to give back, not just in money—look for other ways to contribute to the school. Doing so will keep you connected to the strong community that you once were a part of. Rabun Gap affected me, and I feel a need to pay it forward— Rabun Gap helped me get where I am today, and I truly appreciate that.”
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alumni connection
VOGELBACHER used to be like, while trying to understand what it has become. Change is inevitable and that can bring concern and wonder. We extended our reunion weekend and took time to explore both Middle and Upper Schools. I was excited at the positive growth of the school and asked many questions of faculty, staff and students. Soon our children exclaimed, “We should settle down HERE!” They could feel what I was already
MOORE Aunt Lucy Webb, Uncle Grover, and my seven cousins, who were one of the School Farm families. My wonderful Aunt Lucy would spoil my brother Billy and me by making us ‘cakey bread’ and hot chocolate gravy for breakfast! Uncle Grover would strum his banjo for us in the evenings, and we’d all sing…” It was that Appalachian connection that piqued Moore’s interest in the Foxfire program decades ago. Ann Moore was a
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feeling: this special place from my past was still very special. Rabun Gap continues to help kids flourish in a caring environment, understanding that each person is a unique child-of-God. As a family, we decided to make Rabun Gap our new home! We applied, got acceptance letters and found a house down the street from the school. While I continue to get us unpacked and settled, Eric has taken a position on campus in the Office of Advancement, helping reach the financial goals of the school. Money raised and
student at Rabun GapNacoochee School four years after the Foxfire program was founded. Though she was never in the Foxfire class as a student, Moore would often go on Foxfire interviews with her friends when she had no tasks to do for RAGANA. “When I first saw the magazine, I loved it, but what drew me to actually work for the program was my love of my own history and heritage,” she said. Like a true Appalachian woman, Ann was no stranger to hard work. She started her first job
at age 8, working for families in Dillard to clean homes. At night, she stayed with a disabled teacher. She began working at Boxwood Terrace, a boarding house in Dillard, at age 11. “We did everything, from helping do the cooking to waiting tables to setting the tables to cleaning rooms. We milked the cows, we slopped the hogs, and we raised vegetables in the garden. We did the entire works,” she said. During her years at Foxfire, Ann saw the program grow. She said Foxfire originally
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donated helps allow 75% of the families to receive financial assistance. I was only able to come to Rabun Gap through the generosity of others and I am so pleased to see this remains important to the school’s mission. I have come full circle: having had positive experiences many years ago, and now I am back, delighted that my family will create their own wonderful memories here. RGNS has continued to grow in ways that makes me proud to be a part of the community again.
operated its facility on Black Rock Mountain as a true educational center. Some of her most cherished memories were made there working with students during the summer. She remembered fun games they played and how they hosted square dancing during lunchtime in the chapel. Moore said she, other staff, and students traveled to Minneapolis when the play debuted there at the Guthrie Theater. She also traveled to New York City as a young woman when the Foxfire play hit Broadway. “The students were highly
involved in the writing process of the play,” she said, “protecting the character based on Aunt Arie Carpenter and other Appalachian women.” Ann stepped down from her position at Foxfire last year for health reasons and to be better able to care for her mother and husband Larry. Museum Curator Barry Stiles said of Ann Moore, “She lives and breathes for Foxfire. It’s just been a joy working with her. Ann Moore said of her retirement, “It’s time for a new face for Foxfire.”
Lead The Way AT RABUN GAP-NACOOCHEE SCHOOL
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Competitive Eagles athletic teams
75%
Countries represented in the student body
#18
National ranking among Best Boarding Schools in America - Town & Country Magazine
7
1400
Local counties served
157
12
Students on financial aid assistance
States represented in student body
Students are Georgia residents
100%
Acres on campus
Graduates accepted to competitive colleges & universities
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PILLARS MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2017