The Sabre, Summer-Fall 2018 by Randolph-Macon Academy

Fall Open House Dates October 8 | November 12 | December 2 To RSVP, visit rma.edu/open-house or call 540-636-5484.

Ladies and Gentlemen, What a spring we have had! Our new brand, “The Power of Rise,” resonates with so many of you…I’ve never received so many positive responses to an issue of The Sabre as our last one, and the fact that many of you sent checks was inspiring as well! R-MA is on the move and your support means everything to us as we continue to improve your Academy.

From the President’s Desk

In the space of a single week this spring: your Drill Team won the Virginia State Championship for the first time since we became a charter member of Air Force JROTC 38 years ago; our military program was once again selected for a Distinguished Unit Award with Merit (placing us in the top 10% of all AFJROTC units worldwide); and, dwarfing both of those achievement in its significance to our Nation and the world, 15 R-MA students were confirmed in either the Methodist or the Catholic Church. Shortly thereafter, our seniors celebrated College Decision Day, racking up more than $6.2 million in college scholarships at R-MA President Brig Gen David C. Wesley, USAF, Retired, some of the finest colleges and universities in the world. Our presents Anastacia Chineme ‘18 with the Most Genteel Female Award seven Falcon Scholars will take an additional $2.8 million to the during Class Night 2018. United States Air Force Academy, where they will study for the next four years before accepting commissions as Air Force lieutenants. For those keeping score at home, that means that 74 R-MA graduates have more than $9 million to use at the next level. What an incredible commentary on the quality of our Academy and her graduates! As you’ll see later on in this issue, Dr. Tess Hegedus, Dean of Instructional Leadership & Innovation, is superbly preparing the next generation of graduates, with the creation of our first Upper School Simulation Lab and her vision for Pre-Professional Pathways. These specialized paths will serve as the architecture for our entire scholastic enterprise in the years ahead. With Tess’s leadership and the resources you are providing, there is simply no limit to what is possible in the next few years. I wish each of you, reading these words, could have been here on Saturday, May 26, 2018, to watch our seniors graduate. R-MA is a great place to be every day, but that ceremony, so powerful and so filled with the pride of students and their parents, inspires me—even though I’ve seen it four times now. You can view this year’s ceremony on our YouTube channel--the direct link is bit.ly/RMAClass2018. We’ll rest and re-load now, so that we’re ready to gear up for the Class of 2019! If you haven’t visited campus lately, please come to see us soon – your Yellow Jackets are on the move! Most sincerely,

David C. Wesley Brigadier General, USAF, Retired President

Randolph-Macon Academy admits persons of any race, gender, color, religion, nationality, and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. R-MA does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, religion, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Rise & Shine

Reader Submissions........................................................................ 3

Rise Inside

Inside This Issue

Campus Happenings...................................................................... 4 Eighth Graders Ready to Rise to the Next Level................................. 6 Determined to Rise......................................................................... 7

The Power of Leadership A Legendary Leader Retires............................................................. 8 Kathleen Fedzer ‘18: Valedictorian and Overcomer..........................10 Not Just Any Salutatorian: Ryan Latham ‘18..................................... 11 Greg McCann Presents Vertical Leadership Concepts.......................12 Field Trip! .....................................................................................12 Leadership Briefs..........................................................................13

The Power of Service

Lad in a Battle Inspires Students.....................................................14 Students Return to Help Community..............................................14 Parents’ Association Corner............................................................15

Homecoming 2018

Event Information.........................................................................16 Registration Form..........................................................................19

The Sabre

M a g a z i n e Summer-Fall 2018 | Volume 97 | Number 2 Published by the Office of Communications Editor: Celeste M. Brooks P’12,’21 Photography: Misti Walters Copy Editors: Clare M. Dame, Christine Meyer, Amy M. Harriman The Sabre is published twice a year for alumni/ae, parents, students, and friends of: Randolph-Macon Academy 200 Academy Drive | Front Royal, VA 22630 Phone: 540-636-5200 | Fax: 540-636-5419 www.RMA.edu | sabre@rma.edu On Facebook: Facebook.com/Randolph.Macon.Academy.VA On Twitter: @RandolphMaconA On YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/RandolphMaconAcademy On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/randolph-macon-academy On Pinterest: pinterest.com/randolphmacon/ On Instagram: instagram.com/randolphmaconacademy/

Feature Articles

VA-091 Air Force Junior ROTC State Champions!..............................21 Innovation Invasion...................................................................... 24 Connecting Education & Community............................................. 26 Class of 2018: Celebrate Success, Remember Gratitude................... 29

The Power of Grit: Your Yellow Jacket Sports

Rising Above the Challenges for a State Title (or Two)...................... 34 Surprising Results for Varsity Tennis.............................................. 35

Rise Beyond Class Notes................................................................................... 36 The Final Roll Call........................................................................ 38 The Power of Alumni..................................................................... 39

Affiliated with the United Methodist Church

Board of Trustees RADM John D. Stufflebeem '70, Chairman Mr. Henry D. Light ’58, Vice Chairman Mr. Harry G. Austin III ’75, Secretary Mr. Rodney Deane, Jr., P’95, Treasurer Mr. Eric D. Carlson ’73 Mr. Glenn Carrington P’08 Mr. James Crouse ’67 Mr. Joe Hadeed '84 Mr. Stuart Hester P'16 Ms. Lucy Williams Hooper Mr. Doug Huthwaite ’69 Ms. Patty Keenan Mr. George Mathias ’54 Ms. Pamela McInnis Maj Gen David Puster, USA, Retired ’75 Mr. John D. Simar ’68 Ex-Officio Members Dr. Susan Gawalt P'14, '16, '20 Ms. Heather Grossman P’16, ’18, ’21 Mr. Robert “Bo” Snitchler ’06 Rev. John Peters, Representing Bishop Sharma Lewis Rev. Larry Thompson

President Brig Gen David C. Wesley, USAF, Retired

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

R i se &

SHINE

So much happens at R-MA and with our alumni that our photographer cannot get to it all! Reader-submitted photos are highlighted in this section, to give you a glimpse of the camaraderie of our people. Have a photo you would like to send in for the next issue? Email a high-resolution file to sabre@rma.edu.

From Our Readers

R-MA Vice President Jonathan Ezell P’07, ’08, has a serious chat with his grandson, Beowulf, about the importance of reading the classics. Photo by R-MA Director of Human Resources Krista Peacock.

je suis Batman! Photo provided by Jonathan Ezell.

The small things can build camaraderie--like turning a mandatory shoe shining event into a party! Photos by R-MA Cadet Life Supervisor Marcelo Goncalez.

The Middle School Interact students attended their annual retreat at Camp Alkulana April 6-8, 2018. Photo by Michael Williams P’20.

Later in the spring, R-MA students attended the Rotary picnic held on campus. Photo by Middle School Science Teacher and Interact Faculty Advisor Dani Clingerman P’21.

“Three Boys in Band,” taken by Scott Mayo P’21.

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

R i se

INSIDE

Campus Happenings

Flying High

R-MA’s Flight Program celebrated three solos and a private pilot this spring. The first was Jacob Gehly ’20 (pictured at right), who soloed on February 6th, just five days after his 16th birthday. Sophomore Connor Gamma ’20 (pictured above) soloed next, three days after his 16th birthday on April 18th. Connor was also one of three students to earn a remote commercial pilot license this year; the other two cadets were Andrew Brock ’19, and Ethan Mayo ’21. Katelyn Ponn ’18 and Carolyn Laourdakis ‘19 drew one step closer to that goal as well when they successfully passed the FAA Private Pilot written exam. James Miranda FS’18 (pictured below) was the final soloist of the year, accomplishing his on May 10th. With single-minded determination, James went on to earn his private pilot certification on May 21st, less than two weeks later.

From left to right: R-MA Aerospace Instructors TSgt Tina Laing, MSgt Stephen Pederson P’13, ’15, and CMSgt Matthew Lusson P’19, along with VA-091 Group Commander Cadet Colonel Victoria Voellm ‘18, and R-MA President Brig Gen David Wesley, USAF, Retired, affix the “Distinguished Unit with Merit” ribbon to the R-MA flag.

Unit VA-091 in Top 10% of AFJROTC MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – Unit VA-091 at Randolph-Macon Academy has been selected as one of 118 units to receive the 2017-2018 Air Force JROTC Distinguished Unit with Merit Award. This award recognizes Air Force JROTC units that have performed well above and beyond normal expectations, and that have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to their school and community while meeting the Air Force JROTC citizen development mission for America. The objectives of the Air Force JROTC program are to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship and life skills; promote community service; instill responsibility, character, and self-discipline through character education, and to provide instruction in air and space fundamentals. Enrollment is open to high school students who are in the 9th to 12th grades. Air Force JROTC is located in close to 900 high schools across the United States and at selected schools in Europe, in the Pacific, and in Puerto Rico. Air Force JROTC enrollment includes more than 120,000 cadets who perform over 1.6 million hours of community service each year. -From an Air Force press release

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Three Take Top Honors at MSBCF

Rise Inside

Fifteen select members of the R-MA Band and Chorus traveled to Missouri Military Academy during the last weekend of February, to attend the 42nd Military School Band & Choir Festival. Several R-MA students won honors during the festival, including Alan Williams ’20 (pictured top right), who received a silver medal for earning first chair flute, and Ziyin “David” Chen ’18 (pictured on left below), who received a silver medal for earning first chair alto saxophone. Chen also had a featured co-solo during the concert held on Sunday. The much-anticipated drum major competition was held over the weekend as well, with R-MA’s Jacob Gehly ’20 (pictured on right below) winning the gold medal (first place).

Band Wins Multiple Apple Blossom Awards The R-MA VA-091 AFJROTC Band and Parade Unit marched in the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival Parades in Winchester, VA, on May 4th and 5th, bringing home several awards: Firefighters’ Parade (Friday, May 4) 1st Place Military School Band Director’s Award: 3rd Place Overall (of all out-of-town bands) Grand Feature Parade (Saturday, May 5) 1st Place Military School Band 1st Place Drum Major (Ryan Latham ‘18, pictured above leading band in Grand Feature parade) President’s Award: 2nd Place Overall (of all out-of-town bands)

Teams Advance in CyberPatriot The R-MA CyberPatriot Team, under the guidance of Aerospace Science Instructor MSgt Stephen Pederson USAF, Retired, P’13, ‘15, continued to improve their performances this year. Each year, the first round of competition divides the teams into different tiers for the second round. While previous teams have earned first place in the “Gold Tier,” this year one of the R-MA teams broke through to the “Platinum Tier,” which is the highest level. In addition, two other R-MA teams earned “Gold Tier” status. With the introduction of the new Computer Science class and the Upper School Simulation Lab this year, the program looks to continue its upward trajectory.

First Annual Yellow Jacket Academy Awards Amidst sparkling apple cider, freshly made popcorn, and movie-themed decorations, formally and semi-formally dressed attendees mingled and laughed during the reception for the Inaugural Yellow Jacket Academy Awards. The awards ceremony, held Sunday evening, February 18th, in Boggs Chapel, showcased student-made videos that had earned coveted prizes including cash, gift cards to various local stores, and homemade goodies, as well as jars of candy from I Want Candy and gift certificates to C&C Frozen Treats; both stores are located in downtown Front Royal. The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Eighth Graders Ready to Rise to the Next Level guest speaker. Instead, they heard from one of their own, Mirtha “Cecilia” Paredes ‘22, who was one of the two Aim High award winners. In fact, according to Ballard, this was another major reason the ceremonies were combined.

Campus Happenings

by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ‘21, Director of Communications

As R-MA embraces “The Power of Rise,” personnel on campus are making changes that bring improvements while still maintaining tradition. Sometimes, that is a monumental “Many of our change, such as sixth and seventh the changes in graders went the academic The eighth grade class gathers for their final class photo just before the promotion ceremony. home right after programs to the Thursday morning exam, which meant they weren’t able incorporate lessons that are more project-based, to support our eighth graders moving on,” he said. “By them collaborative, creative, and problem-solving, while still being there, it allowed Cecilia to provide advice on how they holding to the Academy’s primary mission to be a college-prep should take advantage of all the opportunities that R-MA has school. Other times, it is a smaller change, one that is still to offer.” And visible to students and their families. Cecilia did This year, the staff at R-MA Middle School made both of not disapthese changes, and it was capped off with the combining of point. the Middle School Awards Ceremony with the Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremony. “There were several reasons for the change,” said R-MA Middle School Principal Tony Ballard. “The first was an academic one. There is still one more exam period on that Thursday morning before the promotion ceremony. Having the students attend an awards ceremony, study, and pack up their rooms all on Wednesday night was a bit more chaotic than we liked. The second reason was consideration for the parents. For them to come in for both ceremonies meant that many of them had to get a hotel room for the night. Now, those who are close enough can just come for the day.”

Elianne Gihozo ’22 performed twice for her classmates during the moving up ceremony.

The format of the program itself changed as well. The 26 eighth graders did not hear from an outside

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

“From the moment I entered the campus of R-MA and sat down to have my interview with Mrs. Mirtha “Cecilia” Paredes ’22 gave a light-hearted yet thought-provoking speech to her fellow students. Pam Cole, I did not want to be here,” she told her fellow Middle School students. “I was satisfied with where I was at the time and did not want to leave home. I also thought to myself, ‘Boarding school? Ew, I don’t want to go to a boarding school.’” “Turns out that someone saw the potential that I didn’t see early on,” Cecelia said. “This school has made a huge impact on my life and this year has been a period in my life that I will never forget. It was the turning point in my adolescence where I took advantage of my opportunities. I realized I had a wonderful mother who was working hard to pay for the expenses for me to come to this school. I used to be a C+ average student,

now that has changed. Students, each one of your parents care about your education enough to send you to R-MA, I hope you take that opportunity and use it as an advantage and try hard every day. You have to work for what you want. Next year, even though some of you are still only going to be in middle school, start doing the best you can and become involved in all the activities that R-MA has to offer. As said by many, ‘life is short’ so get the best out of it.”

In conclusion, Cecilia said, “Finally, here we are at the end of the year, and the beginning of new chances and opportunities. We sit here today getting ready to take another step forward. I wish you all good luck, and I know everyone here is ready to do something amazing.”

Around the World in Melton Gym by Awungafac Ngosong ‘18 During International Night, a number of different countries were represented by not only our students but our staff as well, including Russia, China, and Nigeria. The chance to experience that many countries and ethnicities all at once is great. We have a great amount of diversity in our school and being able to share your background and where you come from is amazing. We not only had food from different ethnicities and cultures, we also had a fashion show in which different people wearing their native outfits walked across the stage and gave everyone a perspective of what is worn where they are from. Another event we had was the talent show; students performed dances on stage originating from various countries.

The determination of Minjun Choi ’22 and Mirtha “Cecilia” Paredes ’22 to rise to the top of their class and succeed was recognized during the Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremony on Thursday, May 31, 2018. Both received the Aim High Awards, which are annually presented to one girl and one boy of the eighth grade class who best demonstrated character, scholarship, and positive leadership throughout the year. Minjun had a 4.0 GPA. His rigorous academic schedule did not stop Minjun from excelling in sports; he was a threesport athlete who played soccer, basketball, and track and field. Minjun was an officer in the Interact Club and volunteered many hours raising funds for those in need. His positive attitude and ability to lead by example earned him the Aim High Award. Cecilia also had a 4.0 GPA. She received the Aim High Award because she took advantage of many the opportunities that R-MA offers. She was also a three-sport athlete, playing both Middle School (fall) and varsity girls’ (spring) soccer, as well as Middle School basketball in the winter. She participated in the after-school flight program, the Interact Club, and other volunteer activities throughout the year. She set an example for her peers by being a leader that was respectful, funny, and fair. She showed that you can aim high and achieve goals in both academics and athletics.

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Rise Inside

Cecilia went on to recall memories made with her R-MA family, then praised her teachers for their incredible support. “It may be difficult to see this when we are frustrated or tired, but teachers here do care about each one of you,” she reminded the students.

Determined to Rise

The Po w e r o f

LEADERSHIP

Leadership on Display

A Legendary Leader Retires

Retiring teacher Bill Curl ’66 receives a U.S. flag from R-MA President Brig Gen David C. Wesley, USAF, Retired. The flag was flown over R-MA in honor of Mr. Curl.

by Jonathan Ezell P’07, ‘08, Vice President Meticulous, thorough, and fastidious in the ways of teaching, coaching, and life—Bill Curl has had an exceptional influence on his young charges at the Middle School. Since being hired 20 years ago, he has had the task of preparing our Middle Schoolers for the rigors of writing and reading at the Upper School. His deliberate, methodical approach preparing our students for high school English has been transformational for many. At the Senior Luncheon, Mr. Brian Barbour, R-MA Social Studies Department Chair and Senior Advisor, took a moment to recognize Bill: Mr. Curl, the English poet John Milton wrote, ‘I call therefore for a complete and generous education that which fits a man to perform justly, skillfully, and magnanimously all the offices both private and public.’ For the past 20 years Mr. Curl has

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

served this Academy in many capacities—as a teacher, mentor, and coach. The students whom you have taught have mastered the English language and prose. And since my first day on the campus in 2007 you have been a true colleague, mentor, and dear friend. Bill, I think I speak for every student in this room that had your class or had you as a coach that our lives have been made richer and have been made more precious by having you in them.” At the end of these comments Bill was given a standing ovation by everyone at the luncheon. Deservedly so. The teachers at R-MA have as their mission to positively impact every student they work with. Whether in the classroom or on the basketball court, in the halls or after school, on the golf course or while tutoring, Mr. Curl has nurtured, guided, shaped, and encouraged many a struggling

student who doubted himself or herself. And he has demanded of the stronger students an excellence they did not know they possessed. Teaching is only one aspect of the professional educator at R-MA. Coaching and mentoring are what separates the great teachers at R-MA from their public school brethren: shaping character and developing self-reliance are an essential part of R-MA’s mission.

I will relate an anecdote about one student. (Many of Bill’s students will recognize themselves in this account though the details may be different; many of you alumni had other teachers who made such an impact on you.) A young man came to the Middle School having been lost at his previous school; discouraged academically, uninterested in improving himself in any endeavor through lack of confidence, downtrodden in virtually every respect until he had Mr. Curl as his teacher and coach. Mr. Curl earned his trust. The young student grew more confident in the classroom while having success on the basketball court and golf course. It wasn’t long before he became a star in both sports, but more importantly the success in sports transferred itself to a renewed application to learn through effort. He saw effort produced success on the field of play—and in the classroom. His self-confidence was built on many small but important successes in and out of the classroom. This young man has gone on to earn his bachelor’s degree and then a law degree. Much of the credit, in my opinion, is due to Bill Curl and the environment and culture he contributed to building here at R-MA. There are many such stories I can relate that have their beginning with Mr. Curl’s influence and guiding hand. His colleagues at the Middle School will miss him, but they have had a model to emulate— a model to use to shape and build and encourage their students now and long into the future. Thank you for your service to your Alma Mater (Class of ’66) and have a wonderful retirement. Top left, Bill Curl ’66 works with a student during his English class in the 2010-11 school year. Middle photo, Curl gives some dynamic instruction to his basketball players during the 2007-08 season. Bottom left, Curl is honored for his years of coaching at the Yellow Jacket Athletic Association’s 2018 Athletic Social.

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Honoring a Lifetime Leader

Bill is an exceptional coach and, therefore, an exceptional teacher. To infuse pride and confidence in a young person no matter the ability level at which he begins is the sine qua non of great coaching, great teaching, and great mentoring. In developing a team culture of accountability and responsibility for each performance requires discipline, focus, rapport, and high expectations.

Kathleen Fedzer ‘18: Valedictorian and Overcomer that she wrote and performed a faux valedictorian speech for the R-MA Arts Slam competition held in April 2018. It won her a prize in the poetry/prose part of the competition and also turned out to be a foreshadowing; Kathleen was named valedictorian as the school year drew to a close.

Our Student Leaders

“I did not expect it, but I hoped for it,” she said. Yet Kathleen does not consider herself to be any more intelligent than her classmates. “I commit to things if I want to do well,” she explained. “I feel I’m not that smart, I just do the work.” Her teachers have sought to help Kathleen overcome her tendency to underestimate herself. R-MA math teacher Eric Barr commented, “She was lacking in confidence and was not sure she belonged in the class. More than once she asked if she could drop the class but I would not let her because I could tell by her work and comments in class that she was understanding the material just fine. As the year went along, she became more confident and assured that she indeed could do Calculus. She was very vocal in class and was quick to participate in class discussion. She consistently demonstrated her ability to do college level work while continuing to amaze herself!”

Kathleen Fedzer ‘18 receives the Valedictorian Award from R-MA President Brig Gen David C. Wesley, USAF, Retired. She is holding her clarinet because at the start of her speech, she played a Korean ballad dedicated to her mother.

by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ‘21, Director of Communications When you listen to Kathleen Fedzer, you learn of a young woman who has traveled the world and is cultured beyond her years, yet has struggled to find a place where she felt she truly belonged. She spent her freshman year in Connecticut, her sophomore year in Germany, and began her junior year in Côte d’Ivoire—only to be the victim of what the adults in her life called cyberbullying. Kathleen tried to blow it off, but her parents had other ideas. Kathleen’s father had attended Bucknell University with the mother of Ryan Latham ‘18, who had been enrolled at R-MA since sixth grade. As Kathleen struggled to fit into her small school (there were only 24 students in her grade), her parents made the difficult decision to send her back to the U.S. for her education—and as they spoke to the Lathams, they determined that R-MA might be just the place they were looking for. So in the second quarter of her junior year, Kathleen switched schools yet again. She spent her junior year trying to learn the ropes at R-MA, but one of the fun things she did try was performing in the Christmas play. She enjoyed it so much

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

At the start of her senior year, Kathleen decided to start running on her own, and soon found herself recruited onto the cross-country team. She performed poorly in her first race, vying with another girl for last place. “I came in last,” she said candidly. “But in the next 5K, I beat her. I cut two to three minutes off of my time by the end of the season.” From there, she went on to swimming, where she won the MVP award. As the old expression goes: “But wait, there’s more!” Participating in the drill team at R-MA takes an extraspecial level of dedication, and Kathleen took that on as well. The work, hours of practice, the competitions, and the state championship title created memories and a level of camaraderie she will never forget, as she referenced several times in her valedictorian speech. During Class Night, Kathleen received the Art Medal and the Semper Fidelis Award, the latter of which recognizes diligence, dedication, and musical excellence as a performing high school bandsman and soloist--because in addition to her academic, athletic, artistic, military, and literary prowess, Kathleen also plays the clarinet in the R-MA band. In the fall, Kathleen will attend Bucknell on an Army ROTC scholarship valued at $300,000. It is an assurance that this young lady, who found a home at R-MA, will continue to be an overcomer, and take to heart her own advice spoken to her classmates at graduation: “Remember, it’s not what we say, but what we do, that counts, so do something phenomenal.”

Not Just Any Salutatorian: Ryan Latham ’18 by Jonathan Ezell P’07, ‘08, Vice President Those who earn the valedictorian or salutatorian honors have earned their way to the top of their academic class through intelligence, hard work, self-denial, and curiosity.

The Power of Leadership

From the day he entered R-MA as a sixth grader to his last day as a senior, Ryan Latham applied himself. Year after year, assignment after assignment, and test after test Ryan mastered material, processes, information, and concepts. From start to finish—Ryan—the best of the best, rose to the top early and stayed there. His other honors include Honor Council President, Deputy Group Commander, President of the National Honor Society, star soccer player, Band Commander, Drum Major et al; there is nothing that Ryan reached for that he did not attain. You alumni reading this know the burden that each individual responsibility and activity requires and understand the effort and brains necessary to have earned all these achievements. It is difficult to relate the time commitment that all these disparate endeavors required to succeed at our school to those who have not lived it—the self-denial required to ‘do it all’—and to do it all so well is herculean. Let’s look ahead for Ryan. He is entering the University of Virginia with the skills necessary to succeed mightily at a first rate school. But to look ahead, you must look back to when Ryan was first introduced to R-MA. Consider this in his own words: “My greatest and most proud achievement is winning the Military School Band and Choir Festival Drum Major Competition. Ever since I was a two-year-old I have been at Randolph-Macon Academy. My dad has taught here since before I was born. Early on when I would come to campus parades with my parents, I would march alongside pretending to be the drum major with the straightest posture and greatest pride! When I first joined the Upper School band in eighth grade, after two years of beginning band, I knew I wanted to be the drum major. I was taught to march by my strong, commanding drum major and thought, ‘Wow! That could be me one day.’ Freshman year I began my training . . .” As you know from your own life, a characteristic among the successful is a laser focus on a goal. The teachers taught; he learned. For Ryan to have earned the high honor of salutatorian—it is as it should be and as it should have been. He earned it. But Ryan is a modest young man. He credited many for his achievements including Mr. Eric Barr, TSgt Laing, Mr.

Deputy Group Commander and Best All-Around Cadet Ryan Latham ‘18 (on right) and Group Commander Victoria Voellm ’18 show off their college choices.

Robert Davies, Ms. Lynne Schoonover P'17, and not the least of which was Mr. Ed Richards. (How many students have come under the strong direction of Mr. Richards’s influence these past forty (yes, 40!) years to do their best, to do more than they thought they could?) Of Mr. Richards, Ryan said, “You inspired me to lead by example and to take care of my people . . . Through years of learning I have become a much better musician and a better person thanks to you.” Ryan spoke to exactly what makes Randolph-Macon Academy special: caring, professional instructors demanding more from their students in the way of leadership and academic performance than the students thought they could produce. To the many parents, grandparents and alumni--what attracted you to R-MA? What did it offer Ryan? Opportunity! Opportunity to test oneself, to explore one’s curiosity in academics, to compete in athletics, or try one’s mettle in the myriad of special programs and experiences such as Band or Flight or robotics or (and especially) leadership. You benefited from the rigor and the care. Your sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters would benefit as you did, if not more—if only they were given the opportunity. Ryan certainly did. The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Developing Leadership

Greg McCann Presents Vertical Leadership Concepts

Students and faculty attend West Point Leadership and Ethics Conference

by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications

On Monday, April 9th, leadership expert and renowned speaker Greg McCann spoke to RandolphMacon Academy faculty, staff, and upperclassmen. McCann has been a leadership coach for nearly 20 years, focusing on family-owned businesses and the unique challenges they face. His publications include “Who Do You Think You Are? Aligning Your Character and Reputation” and “When Your Parents Sign the Paychecks.” He also co-authored a white paper on Vertical Leadership with R-MA Board Member and leadership expert Patty Keenan.

A group of R-MA faculty and students attended the 2018 West Point Leadership and Ethics Conference, hosted by the West Point Society of DC on Thursday, March 15, 2018. Approximately 200 juniors from 50 DC Metro area schools attended the event. Representing R-MA were Chair of Leadership and Character LT COL Mike Starling, USMC, Retired, ’88 P’19, ’23, ’24, English teachers Lynne Schoonover P’17 and Brandon Sloan, and juniors Nathaniel Chichester, Noelle Kramer, Khalila Karefa-Kargbo, and Bradley Gao.

During his presentation, McCann emphasized character, comparing it to a ship or a plane in the way it directs a person’s life. He spoke of four “agilities,” naming self-awareness (the ability to be aware of and manage your emotions), empathy (the ability to empathize with the needs, feelings, and thoughts of others), framing (looking at the full situation in a global context), and innovation (best defined, according to McCann, as “creating value from change”). He also spoke about the four stages of leadership, pointing out that everyone is a conformer, looking to fit into a group. About 45% of the population reaches the next level of expert—the problem solver who sees people as tools to achieve a solution, wants to be the hero, and starts to develop the four agilities. McCann stated that due to the programs and education R-MA provides, he would expect most R-MA students to graduate at this level or higher. The next level, achievers (35% of the population), tend to be outcomefocused strategists, who listen to others’ ideas more readily. The top 5% of leaders are post-heroic and develop a culture in which others feel encouraged to contribute. They tend to be highly reflective, empathetic in the moment, but pushing forward when the time comes. He emphasized several times that in the theory and practice of Vertical Leadership, being a catalyst is about developing a culture, rather than being the hero. For more information about McCann, visit his website at http://greg-mccann.com.

Field Trip!

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

During the event, the students heard from elite speakers such as LTG Nadja Y. West, the U.S. Army Surgeon General and the first African-American woman appointed 3-star general in the Army, and Army Captain (Retired) Florent A. Groberg, a recipient of the Medal of Honor. Faculty attendees heard from Marine Colonel (Retired) Arthur J. Athens, Director of the Naval Academy’s Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership. The student audience learned about the process of ethical decision-making, then the 200 students were divided into 12 teams. After the initial round of competition, all four of the teams that included R-MA students had placed in the top six, making them eligible for the second round. For this, they performed a skit demonstrating how to use the process they had been taught to solve a theoretical ethical problem. Chichester was a member of the winning team. Nathaniel Chichester ‘19 was a member

“Our situation was one of the team that won the ethics challenge concerning a classmate, during the conference. whom we had been friends with for most of our lives, getting involved in a gang and having a suspicion that they committed a crime on school campus,” Chichester said. “We chose that the best bet would be to tell the principal that he had done something wrong, and we wanted him to get help but not necessarily get arrested.” For their win, each member of Chichester’s group was rewarded with a $25 iTunes gift card.

Give a Speech, Play Some Paintball

R-MA Hosts Leadership Symposium On Saturday, April 14th, Randolph-Macon Academy hosted a leadership symposium that LT COL Mike Starling, USMC, Retired, '88, P'19, '23, '24, R-MA Chair of Character and Leadership, hopes will become an annual event.

Bill Abelkopf ’70 (center) with members of the Class of 2020.

The Class of 1970 continued their mentoring program with the Class of 2020 this year. A key highlight came at the end of the year, when each sophomore was required to give a presentation on “Leadership and Character” to their peers. The primary purpose was two-fold: to encourage the sophomores to truly consider what these two R-MA “pillars” mean to them, and to provide them with some experience in public speaking. Giving a presentation qualified each student to attend the year-end 20/70 activity on May 12th: Paintball & Laser Tag at Skyline Laser Tag & Paintball, Winchester, VA. Students who were not interested in playing paintball were offered a trip to DC on the same day. The Class of 1970 will continue their efforts in the fall, with the first semester highlight being a trip to the National Museum of the Marine Corps in November.

Leadership Briefs

The keynote speaker was Lieutenant Colonel Kelly C. Jordan, who currently serves as the Professor of Military Science and as the Battalion Commander for the US Army ROTC “Fightin’ Irish” Battalion at the University of Notre Dame, where he also holds a concurrent appointment as an Assistant Professor of History. Throughout the day, the students heard from Jordan, then enjoyed a panel discussion with journalist Malcolm Barr P’02, local businessman George Karnes, R-MA Clinical Counselor Dr Connie Richards, former NIS & DCIS agent William Sterling, R-MA Athletic Director Frank Sullivan P’20, ‘23, Gabe Williams ’16, and VMI Cadet Pat Doolan. The students then broke into groups to play James’ Games, organized by James Taafel ‘05 and Lynne Schoonover P’17, in which four teams competed in ethical battles. Finally, the teams competed in ethics challenge speed rounds, in which they participated in fast-paced ethical debates in front of a judge.

Barbour Selected to Attend Rotary Leadership Summit R-MA Social Studies Department Chairman Brian Barbour was one of two people selected from Rotary District 7570 (84 clubs and over 4,500 Rotarians) to attend the Rotary Leadership Summit for Zone 33 & 34. The two zones encompass 27 districts and over 125,000 Rotarians.

Students Receive Confirmation On Sunday, April 29th, eight students were confirmed through the United Methodist Church. In addition, seven students were confirmed in the Catholic faith on April 14th; they were also recognized at Boggs Chapel on the 29th.

The event, which will take place in Norfolk in November 2018, is primarily reserved for Zone Coordinators, District Governors, and Governor Elects. Each district is allowed to identify a maximum of two people they see as emerging Rotary Leaders to attend a special set of meetings and events designed to further their leadership skills.

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

T h e Po w e r of

SERVICE Students Return to Help Community

Serving Others

The Community Service Day held in the fall was such a success that students returned to the community again in the spring to offer assistance wherever needed. Projects took place at the 4-H Center, C&C Frozen Treats, Habitat for Humanity, Catholic Charities, and other locations throughout the local area. In addition, there were several clean-up crews wandering the nearby roadsides, picking up trash that had been dumped over the long winter.

Lad in a Battle Inspires Students On Wednesday, February 14th, James Orrigo, founder of “The Lad in a Battle,” brought inspiration to R-MA. He told stories of his trials, including the task of caring for his cancer-stricken mother during his high school years, and being injured in a lacrosse game to the extent that he suffered from Severe Post-Concussion Syndrome. It took him two and a half years to re-learn how to walk, talk, read, and write, among other “normal” tasks. Orrigo found music to be a source of comfort and laughter, and he brought that to the children’s oncology unit in a Boston hospital. He helped the children write and record their own songs and create cartoon videos to go with them. Through this program, “Outside the Music Box,” he began doing the same in hospitals across the country. Orrigo’s backstory brought the students to attentive silence, while his self-deprecating sense of humor endeared him to them and coaxed forth laughter, even in the early morning hours at the Upper School. Through his stories and his visual presentations, Orrigo not only brought his own story to life, but he emphasized four points for the R-MA students: You make a difference. Your actions matter. You being you is enough. Help and listen. “Take a negative situation, make something positive out of it, and help others,” he told the students. Orrigo also spent time at the Middle School delivering a similar message. The students there were so inspired that the Interact Club donated funds to “The Lad in a Battle,” to help him bring smiles to sick children throughout the U.S.

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Parents’ Association Corner

The PA—supporting the programs that directly impact our children. The Military Ball, held at the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club on March 1, 2018.

The Academy Awards held in Boggs Chapel on February 18, 2018. Funds for mentoring meals, anywhere, anytime, at the mentor’s discretion.

Thank you to Bo Snitchler ‘06, president of the Alumni Association, and the rest of the Alumni Association Board for providing the seed money for our concession stands this winter for the Wrestling Tournament and the JROTC Drill Meet! We raised over $300 due to their seed money and parent food donations. The work will continue this fall with football concessions and uniform sales. Come join us!

Our tentative meeting dates for the fall are: • August 26 • September 16 • October 7 • November 4 • December 2 For more information, contact the PA President, Susan Gawalt P’14, ‘16, ‘20, at sgawalt@pediatric-assoc.com.

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

HOMECOMING 2018 OCTOBER 12-13

A PROUD TRADITION

TO-DO LIST

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2018



REGISTRATION

SONNER-PAYNE CROSS HALL

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

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CELEBRATION DINNER & RAFFLE

HOLIDAY INN & SUITES

5:30 – 9:30 PM

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The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

CLASSES ENDING IN 8 AND 3, THIS IS YOUR REUNION YEAR!

HOMECOMING 2018 OCTOBER 12-13

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018 CLASS OF 1968 PRESIDENTIAL BREAKFAST

HOLIDAY INN & SUITES

8:00 AM

REGISTRATION 9:00 – 11:30 AM

HOMECOMING MEMORIAL PARADE 10:00 – 11:15 AM

TOUR SONNER-PAYNE

SONNER-PAYNE CROSS HALL TURNER HALL

RIDDICK FIELD

SONNER-PAYNE CROSS HALL

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEETING & LUNCHEON

TURNER HALL DINING ROOM

11:30 AM

REGISTRATION CONTINUES 2:00 – 4:00 PM

RIDDICK FIELD

FOOTBALL GAME vs. BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL

RIDDICK FIELD

2:00 – 5:00 PM

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HOSPITALITY SUITE 6:30 – 9:30 PM

HOLIDAY INN & SUITES

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HOMECOMING 2018 OCTOBER 12-13

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION PARKING

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SHUTTLE TRANSPORTATION

ACCOMMODATIONS

HOMECOMING REGISTRATION FORM OCTOBER 12-13, 2018

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ONLY ATTENDING SOME EVENTS? SELECT THEM INDIVIDUALLY BELOW: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2018 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018

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TOTAL

Photo by Kim Link P’17

VA-091 Air Force Junior ROTC

State Champions!

by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ‘21, Director of Communications

When the Randolph-Macon Academy Drill Team and their coach, TSgt Tina Laing, USAF, Retired, attended the Air Force Junior ROTC State Drill Championship three years ago, they walked away inspired to do better, to become an unbeatable cohesive unit, and to one day be the team to which others would be looking up. That year, two of their performance teams placed in the top-ten, earning “special recognition.” The group decided to proceed towards their dream by setting achievable goals; their first, in 2016, was to win just one trophy, which is reserved for

the top five teams in each category. They won two: fifth place for armed exhibition under the cadet leadership of Jake Branham ‘16, and third place for color guard, under Laing’s management. But Laing could see that the team’s camaraderie still wasn’t at the level at which it needed to be. “I want us to start being prideful of who we are and taking some ownership,” she told the cadets. “Start chanting and cheering, and start being proud of our accomplishments.” In 2017, they worked hard again with the goal that all of the teams would make it into the top ten. Six of the seven teams did so. Accomplishing that took an inner strength, because before they even started, an opposing team was chanting their spirit cheers over top of the Yellow Jackets, with the commander on one side of the R-MA cadets, and the rest of the drill team unit on the other.

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

That student ownership was the key, and from there Laing watched with joy as her cadets came together into a solid unit that she knew could accomplish almost anything. “In the years past, I had been a little concerned, [thinking] ‘We’re not ready,’” she explained. “The last week before [this year’s] event, I was calm.”

State Champions!

The team’s goal at the start of the year was to finish in the top five overall among the 21 competing schools, but as the competition drew near, Laing knew that they had a chance at much more.

The unarmed regulation team reports in during the on-campus Yellow Jacket Invitational Drill Meet on February 3rd. Below, the team calmly accepts the scrutiny of the instructors during the Inspection competition during that same meet.

“Corps Commander Victoria Voellm [‘18] is my gut-checker, and we kept going through each event together. We kept reaching the same conclusion that each team was capable of finishing in the top five at States,” she said. Logic told her that if that happened, the State Championship title could be theirs. But on the morning of 13th Virginia Air Force Junior ROTC Drill Championship on April 28, 2018, the team had another challenge thrown at them. One of the students had a family wedding to attend later that day, and was given permission to drive himself to the drill meet so that he could go directly to the reception once the meet had concluded. On the way to the meet, his car went off the road. He had been ahead of the bus, and he was able to get Laing a message that he was okay before the bus reached the scene. He told her that as soon as the tow truck could get the car out of the ditch, he would be at the meet.

“Our team was just kind of sulky, and sitting lower and lower and lower in their seats,” Laing recalled. But that very example helped Laing open the students’ eyes to what their level of camaraderie could be, and rather than trophies on the shelf, that level of fellowship and school spirit became their goal. The cadets took it to heart and came into the drill class the following fall completely pumped up. “The kids came in and they hit the ground running, and I couldn’t keep up,” Laing said. “Never in my wildest [dreams] would I imagine the places and the accomplishments and the goals we would achieve.” The cadets decided that they needed competitions to decide who the commanders and vice commanders of each team would be, and then went one step further, recommending that they select managers for each team, someone to be another critical eye in addition to Laing’s. “The next thing I know, they really started feeling a sense of pride and ownership within their team,” said Laing with the smile of a proud parent. “It was no longer me directing and me dictating how the team should be. They owned that team, and they started telling me how it was going to go.”

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Even with that assurance, as they drove past the accident, they could see emergency services vehicles surrounding the car. The cadets were worried, fearful; some of them were in tears. Laing sought to capture the team’s attention, reassure them, and keep them focused, even as she fretted internally over the cadet driver’s health and whether he was truly okay. Ian Mounts ’20 and his parents had been following the bus; Laing contacted them and they graciously agreed to stop and tend to the cadet as needed. Upon arriving at the meet, Laing went inside and explained the situation. The organizers immediately made accommodations to move R-MA’s slots to later times, to allow the two cadets additional time to arrive. Laing went back out to meet her team and the other chaperones, and emotions were running high. The cadets were distraught with worry over their teammate and couldn’t focus. In walked Rob Farmer, a member of the 2016 drill team. “When he showed up, it was exactly what we needed to rally that team,” said Laing. “We all gathered together in a circle, and we said the biggest cheer. And when that cheer was done, that car pulled up.”

just win, they dominated the meet, winning by 35 points with a score of 102, a huge margin in an event consisting of 21 schools. “Even if you took away one of our first-place finishes and one of our second-place finishes, we would still have won,” TSgt Laing noted.

The team went on to compete in all six team events and one solo event, and their team spirit had reached a new level. By the end of the day, the Randolph-Macon Academy Air Force Junior ROTC VA-091 unit had claimed the State Championship title. The Color Guard team finished fourth in their event, and every other team finished in the top three: the Inspection Team and Unarmed Regulation both won first place; Armed Exhibition and Unarmed Exhibition both won second place; and Armed Regulation took third place. And the student who had been in the accident? That was Nathan Stewart ’19, who finished third in the solo competition—even though he had to improvise a bit.

As they had once been inspired by other teams, now the other teams are looking up to R-MA, as proven by the words of CMSgt Al Clemmons, USAF, Retired, from Chantilly Academy AFJROTC. "You and your team were INSPIRATIONAL on Saturday!" he wrote to Laing shortly after the competition.

“I had a pretty set routine, I was working on it that day,” he admitted with a grin. “I had gotten the beginning down, and I was just trying to finish getting the reporting out statement. But the judge really threw me a curve ball because I didn’t know you had to start and stop in a corner! So it wasn’t my rehearsed routine that I did. I kind of pieced it together as I went along.” With all of those top-four finishes, R-MA’s team did not

Apparently, the Jackets’ unarmed exhibition call, “We’re number one on the drill floor!” had not consisted of idle words. They were more of a prophecy.

R-MA Drill Team Cheer (adapted from an R-MA athletic cheer)

VA-091! Don’t mess, don’t mess, don’t mess with the best of the best! Don’t fool, don’t fool, don’t fool with the best of the best, don’t fool! From the East, to the West, the Jackets are the best! We’ll B-E-A-T beat ‘em! We’ll B-U-S-T bust ‘em! Beat ‘em , bust ‘em, that’s our custom, come on Jackets, clap your hands! Jackets! Jackets! JACKETS!

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Drill Team: The Spirit

Tears of relief flowed freely as the teammates hugged. “We gathered together as a ‘one team, one fight,’” said Laing, quoting the team’s cheer, “because we are all in it together. And we managed to rally and say the loudest cheer I think I’ve ever heard this school say in my time here.”

Innovation

Invasion

by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ‘21, Director of Communications

When it comes to integrating technology into

Surging Forward in Academics

the classroom, changes are happening quickly. In case you missed the last issue of The Sabre, here’s a quick re-cap: The Middle School Innovation Lab took the school by storm this past year. Students took classes in coding, robotics, and “makers.” They learned basic programming concepts, how to build a web page, and how to build a robot, but more importantly, they learned how to think critically and creatively, in collaborative groups, to solve problems. And even more impressively, this went beyond those few classes, as teachers and students throughout the school used the space and the technology available within for cross-curricular projects. “Apple carts,” loaded with MacBooks, were available in each academic building at the Middle School and the Upper School this past year. This coming fall, that will be taken one step further, as every student will be issued an Apple device. As a result, personal devices will not be needed or allowed in the classroom. This move will provide the students with the technology they need in the classroom, put everyone on an even playing field, and, even better, ensure that the teachers know what each student is doing on his or her device.

science, flight/aeronautics, robotics, engineering, graphic design, and studio art, with simulation spaces and space for collaborative, experiential learning. The most eye-catching addition in the Simulation Lab will undoubtedly be a flight simulator that is so sophisticated, student pilots can use it to log flight hours toward the private pilot certification and instrument training. The drone program will also be expanded; students will explore engineering, analyze meteorology, work with integrated levels of computer science and robotics, build models, and more. Of course, those are just the classes assigned to that space. As with the Middle School Innovation Lab, Hegedus expects that other teachers will bring their classes in to use the space. The advancements in technology and the dedication of an entire wing towards a collaborative, creative approach to learning are a strong step towards where Hegedus wants R-MA to be. Over the next few years, the Academic Office will be putting into place “Pre-Professional Pathways” (PPP). These are carefully planned programs for students who have an interest in or affinity for a specific field. Students will select standard course offerings combined with specifically-aligned elective courses to develop a pathway toward deeper understanding of a field. This purposeful course selection will allow students to tailor their high school degree in a specific direction, such as engineering or health sciences.

All of that is just the start for what Dr. Tess Hegedus, R-MA’s Dean of Instructional Leadership & Innovation, has planned for R-MA in the coming years. Over the summer, the northern side of the second floor in Stan Fulton Hall is being transformed into an Innovation Wing. This wing previously held the art room, various computers for the yearbook class, and a Spanish classroom. By the time classes open this fall, it will be home to courses in computer

One of the initial Pre-Professional Pathways will be Government Advocacy & Civic Leadership, based on the strength of the Air Force Junior ROTC program.

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

The start of the PPP will begin in ninth grade with a seminar-style career exploration course in which students explore their learning styles and take skills assessments and interest inventories. They will be exposed to a variety of guest speakers and possible career paths. From there, they would pursue internships aligned with their selected pathway as sophomores and juniors, to further explore areas of interest. “We would look locally,

The new Upper School Innovation Wing, scheduled to open this fall, will feature equipment for robotics, graphic design, and coding, as well as a top-of-the-line flight simulator and drones. The goal is to create a high-tech space that will promote collaborative, experiential learning.

nationally, and even internationally for these internship opportunities,” said Hegedus. “It will help us as a school connect better to our community, and to the world around us.”

The ultimate goal is to offer at least five PPPs, but for now, Hegedus plans to start with two that capitalize on R-MA’s signature programs: Government Advocacy & Civic Leadership, and Aeronautics. “Our school is known for its leadership program, the Air Force Junior ROTC program,” she said. “We also have a flight program. Not many schools have that. Those two programs distinguish us from other schools, and it is in our best interest to capitalize on what we’re already doing well.” In looking forward, Hegedus said part of the purpose of this focus is to help students learn about “recession-proof” careers. “Where is there always going to be a need?” she asked rhetorically. “Meds and eds. There is always going to be a need for health services and education.” Hegedus said that the PPPs are intended for highly motivated students with specific interests, so she does not anticipate enrolling the entire student body in the Pathways. “Essentially, if a student has a firm idea of what area he or she is interested in, and is motivated to get a jump start, so to speak, in that field, then we want them to align their electives in a purposeful way that will help prepare them for that career field,” Hegedus explained. “We don’t want them to take a smattering of classes just to fulfill credits.” Yet Hegedus recognizes that not all students will be ready to select a PPP at the age of 14 or 15. Students who are unsure of their future career path, or who want to focus in career areas that are not part of a PPP, will still be well-served by R-MA’s college-prep academic program, which will continue to offer

The Power of Rise.

The culmination of the program will come in the students’ senior year, as they develop a Capstone Project in which they research an issue, gather evidence, come up with a solution, and present it to the R-MA community. The project will help students develop research and communication skills culminating in a final portfolio made of their own ideas, helping set them apart in the college application process.

both a college-prep diploma and an advanced college-prep diploma. And they will still benefit from the existence of the PPPs due to the increased number of electives being offered on campus. The Pre-Professional Pathways will not officially begin this fall. There are pieces that need to be put into place yet, not the least of which would be the funding for a Director of Experiential Learning to coordinate the career exploration, internships, and Capstone projects. In the meantime, R-MA’s academic program continues to propel forward, with new offerings in Graphics Design, Computer Science, Robotics, Economics, and AP Environmental Science. Students will find that their English classes will be adding an emphasis on research and writing as well, to support the stronger STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) program being developed. “We are not just moving forward, we are flying forward, but in a purposeful way,” Hegedus said. “I am very excited about the teachers’ enthusiasm for what we’re putting into place. I think we all see it as a huge benefit for our students.” R-MA President Brig Gen David C. Wesley, USAF, Retired, conveyed his enthusiasm for the plan, saying, “In her first few months, Dean Hegedus has propelled R-MA forward in these exciting, competitive ways. Though the techniques are new and dynamic, they fulfill the timeless promise the Academy has always kept: to help our graduates prepare to be successful in life. Even better, these new courses and the Pre-Professional Pathways will cultivate interest and motivate higher quality academic work for some of our students who have not yet found the right goal for their educational efforts. Best of all: her approach is making school work FUN! That, in my view, is a winning combination!” The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

C E C

Educating and Serving

ONN

CTING DU ATION & OMMUNITY

by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications

There are school projects that are remembered for a lifetime, ones that build skills, forge character, and touch the hearts of students. Kim Cramer’s freshman English classes experienced such a project this year. In the summer of 2017, Kris Campesi of Summit Therapy Services was scheduled to bring her therapy dog onto the R-MA campus to help combat homesickness. Kim Cramer P’12, ’14, who teaches drama and freshman English, approached her about coming into the freshman classes. The two women hit it off, and amidst discussions of the places Mrs. Campesi and her therapy dog, Nicodemus (“Nic” for short), had visited, and the things they had done, an idea was formed. Not long after school started, Mrs. Cramer challenged her students to write, design, and publish a book that would then be presented to special needs students and/or retired military personnel in a retirement community. The topic was wide open. The students were a bit daunted, and their reactions were not as excited as one might expect. “Truthfully, I thought, ‘Oh no, I don’t want to do this,’” admitted Abigail Stewart ’21, author of Animals Talk? “Initially, our class didn’t think it sounded like much fun,” agreed Ricky Giuffrida ’21, who produced the recipe book Mexican Sweets. But the carrot of a field trip off campus was enough to get the ball rolling, he added. Before they knew it, the students were immersed, engaged, and imagining. With some fits and starts, the students went through the process of brainstorming, choosing an idea, researching the topic, obtaining and/or creating artwork, and laying out the book. Then came the editing process as they tried to make each

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

page perfect. The books were submitted to bookemon.com for publication, and by the end of spring break, they had arrived.

Relating the Classroom to Real Life

On Friday, April 13th, the students gathered in the President’s Dining Room for the book release ceremony, where each student was presented with a hard copy to keep. Paperback copies were scattered about the tables for the R-MA staff and faculty guests to peruse. Heard throughout the room were exclamations of delight, accompanied by small smiles of pride from the students and a huge grin of joy from Mrs. Cramer. “I’m just so proud of them,” she said. “They really bought into this and came out with some great books.” Ask Mrs. Cramer about the project, and she could tell you about every one of the 21 books and their authors. There was Isabella Spencer’s book of inspirational photos and quotes, Come Into My Dreamland, written with her eight siblings in mind. JJ Banek-Gabelle’s book, Nic and I, featuring Mrs. Campesi’s therapy dog, was written for his younger sister. Ethan Mayo and Alex Tendler’s books took Nic to the airport to learn to fly. Bernie Luan’s writings The Pearl On the Yellow Sea: A Concise Guide of Dalian, China focused on a favorite childhood spot in China, and Long Vu’s cookbook The Pho Cookbook features secret family recipes (though perhaps they are not so secret any longer!). On April 17th, when the group took their books to The Key Center, a school for special needs students ranging in age from five to 21, the R-MA students were treated to untethered, heartfelt reactions to their books. Some of the Key Center students, knowing Nic from his visits there, clapped and cheered excitedly when they saw him in books. One student grasped it tightly and had to be coaxed into letting go of it. Another student laughed aloud with excitement while hearing The Journey of Astronaut Bill by Hugo Chambert. “The first group we read to had a hard time focusing their eyes on the book. The adults in the room really helped with that. But the second group of kids lit up,” said Ricky. Abigail admitted that she was uncomfortable at first, but the student’s enthusiastic reactions to her book changed that. “One student was yelling while I was reading, repeating the words I had just said,” she recalled. Though it was hard for her to raise her voice loud enough to be heard over him, she knew he liked the book based on his reaction. “That made me feel good,” she said. “It was a wonderful opportunity for both groups to learn from each other,” said Mrs. Campesi. “Both groups got a feeling of belonging from each other, how they could blend as two different populations, how they could come together and respect each other and to care for each other. I loved seeing the Randolph-Macon students interact with the special needs kids and the love and the care and the compassion they gave to

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Shukriya Hasanka ‘21 shows “Animals Talk?” by Abigail Stewart ’21 to the Key Center children.

them. And the response of those kids to the Randolph-Macon Academy students. They looked up at them with large eyes. Seeing people like that, and the fact that they’re from so many different nations, these kids haven’t been exposed to that.” Next the students traveled to Falcon’s Landing, a military retirement community. They split into two groups with one going to read to residents of the assisted living area, and the other going to visit the independent living side. A small group of musicians visited each site and performed two songs. While Nic was the highlight for the Key Center students, it was the cookbooks, such as Ricky’s Mexican Sweets, and the books on foreign countries that caused a stir among the older audiences. “This was an experiment, and I think it was a success,” said Mrs. Cramer. “The project hits on so many valuable life skills: creativity, research, managing deadlines, writing, desktop publishing, editing, graphic design, presentation skills. At the same time, it provides an opportunity for these students to connect to groups they may not have encountered before. They did a fantastic job relating to both audiences.” All of the students’ books are for sale on bookemon.com. For a complete list of the student authors and their book titles, visit https://www.rma.edu/blog/english-class-authorsconnect-community.

Class of 2018: Celebrate Success, Remember Gratitude

by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ‘21, Director of Communications

R-MA’s Class of 2018 came into their graduation ceremony in Melton Memorial Gymnasium on Saturday, May 26, 2018, already filled with a sense of accomplishment. Each of the 68 seniors had earned at least one college acceptance, resulting in a total of 230 college acceptances to 139 different colleges and universities. Collectively, the seniors were offered more than $6.2 million in college scholarships. In addition, the seven Falcon Scholars of 2018 had all earned appointments to the U.S. Air Force Academy. While the graduates were clearly prepared for college and ready to move forward, they enjoyed many moments

to reminisce amidst the three days of ceremonies and celebrations during Senior Week. Throughout those events, the departing seniors acknowledged that they gained far more from R-MA than the subjects on which they had been educated and tested. During Class Night on May 24th, salutatorian Ryan Latham recalled a band trip to Orlando during which the hotel lost power. The band members gathered in the hallway and played games, laughed and told jokes. “That’s one of the most important things I have learned,” he said. “It doesn’t take Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, or any social media to make friendships; real connection comes through interactions, not distractions. It comes from difficulty and hardship that bring people together, but also the fun and laughter had in remembering those times and the fun of being with one another.” Valedictorian Kathleen Fedzer and Randolph-Macon College President Robert R. Lindgren spoke during graduation on Saturday, May 26th, and while they had not collaborated, there were a few common themes in their speeches. Fedzer slightly paraphrased Abraham Lincoln, saying, “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Rise.’”

Graduation 2018

Fedzer spoke of “The Power of Rise” in her speech as well, albeit in different terms. “If you really work at something, you can achieve it,” she told her classmates. “Now, naturally this isn’t a guarantee. Sometimes, you’ll pour your heart into something and it still won’t work the way you want it to. This is a simple fact of life, but I think it’s a learning experience. The most important things one can take away from failure is how to be better the next time.”

Randolph-Macon College President Robert R. Lindgren gave the commencement address, urging the students to “live by their gratitude.”

here, but it can never forget what we did here.” And the first thing she did in her speech was thank her family, then her teachers and her classmates, at the same time reminding everyone, “It’s not what we say, but what we do that counts.” Moments later, Lindgren reinforced Fedzer’s comments with his own quote from John F. Kennedy, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” “I call that ‘living by your gratitude,” Lindgren said. “And I trust that part of your living by your gratitude—now that you have reached this important stage—is that you will always focus on being grateful. You see, expressing gratitude regularly is, quite simply, a powerful way to keep yourselves mentally and emotionally balanced throughout your lives.” Lindgren also quoted Mark Twain: “The two most important days of your life are the day you are born, and the day you learn why.”

Fedzer concluded her speech by challenging her classmates. “I know that the future holds many more triumphs as well as defeats, successes as well as disasters, and a whole menagerie of individuals to meet along the way. Whenever you feel discouraged, just remember all the things you’ve been through already. You’re stronger than you think, tougher than you know, and capable of more than you can imagine. So just keep moving forward, and keep your chin up. Remember, it’s not what we say, but what we do, that counts, so do something phenomenal.” As he closed his speech, Lindgren again echoed Fedzer in the challenge to “do,” wrapped in the emphasis of gratitude. “I pray that you all go forward today knowing you have ‘The Power of Rise,’ and with the resolution to live your gratitude. Gratitude for the loving support of your family and friends, gratitude for the excellent education you have received here at Randolph-Macon Academy, and gratitude for the glorious opportunities awaiting each and every one of you to find your purpose, to do big things, and to make this world a better place as a result.”

“Discovering the “why” of our lives, indeed, our very purpose in life, defines us,” he told the graduates, “and ultimately gives our lives meaning and value and joy. And, most especially, it is the secret to how and why we keep striving to get better. “One of the benefits of attending a school like Randolph-Macon Academy is that you have been at a special place that understands the power of purpose, and in turn, encourages you to find yours. This discovery does not happen in a day, but over months and years and even decades. It is sparked by moments of inspiration and opportunities for exploration, many that you have been given here at Randolph-Macon Academy, encouraged to find your inner ‘Power of

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

The Lifers: Members of the Class of 2018 who have been at R-MA since sixth grade. From left to right, R-MA Alumni Association Board President Bo Snitchler ’06, Kate Ponn, Sarah Vaughan, Kimmie Pitts, Samuel Uzoma, R-MA President Brig Gen David Wesley, USAF, Retired, Naomi Eke-Spiff, Michael Grossman, and Ryan Latham.

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

THE POWER OF INTELLECT. Congratulations to the Class of 2018! The seniors are listed below along with their college acceptances; the college listed immediately after each senior’s name is the one to which he or she plans to matriculate.

Akintoye Adesomoju Georgia State University

Georgia Southern University

Roy Arriola Bowling Green State University

Hampden-Sydney College Bridgewater College

Ziyin Chen Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

University of California, Davis University of California, Santa Barbara Fordham University University of Massachusetts, Amherst Villanova University

Ho Tin Cheng Harrisburg University of Science University of California, Los Angeles & Technology Manhattanville College Southern New Hampshire University Universidad de Costa Rica

Cailen Baggett Lord Fairfax Community College

Wytheville Community College

Babson College University of California, Irvine University of California, San Diego University of Miami University of Virginia

Anastacia Chineme Northwestern University

Katia Berger University of South Florida, Tampa Maxwell Berman Drexel University

University of Cincinnati Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach Virginia Commonwealth University

Rishav Bhattacharya University of Maryland, College Park

George Mason University Pennsylvania State University University of Pittsburgh

Connor Blow Virginia Commonwealth University James Madison University Old Dominion University

Alexander Fekkes Baylor University

George Mason University Samford University

TaJour Gadson Old Dominion University Louisiana State University

Tradarius Gadson Virginia State University Grayson Galeone Virginia Military Institute

Zuorui Jin Stony Brook University

The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina George Mason University James Madison University Norwich University

khadijat “Rukky” Garuba New York University

David Daughtridge United States Air Force

Miles Gilmore George Mason University

Norwich University

Wingate University

Rafael Diaz Dylan Glascock Northern Virginia Community University of Mary College - Reston Center Washington Hampden-Sydney College Khai Do Longwood University Temple University St. John’s University - Queens Michael Grossman Campus George Mason University University at Buffalo, SUNY

Naomi Eke-Spiff East Carolina University

Reagan Grove Coastal Carolina University

Mary Elizabeth “Molly” Evans Virginia Commonwealth University

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Averett University Bridgewater College Johnson & Wales University, Charlotte Mary Baldwin University New England College Sweet Briar College

Kathleen Fedzer Bucknell University

Shuai Gu New York University

Rhamel Brewer

Habib Issa Marymount University

Radford University

Georgetown University New York University

Brigham Young University

University of California, Irvine University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara Pennsylvania State University Purdue University The Ohio State University

Northern Virginia Community College - Loudoun Campus West Virginia University

Georgia State University Howard University Oxford College of Emory University Spelman College Syracuse University Xavier University of Louisiana

Tiwanioluwa Bayo-Adeyemo University of California, Los Angeles University of Houston Florida International University Illinois Institute of Technology Texas Tech University

James Madison University

University of California, Davis

Florida Institute of Technology SUNY Buffalo State College SUNY Fredonia University at Buffalo The State University of New York

Taeho Joung University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Boston University University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Pennsylvania State University University of Washington University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lehigh University North Carolina State University Randolph-Macon College Virginia Tech

Sangyoon Lee California Institute of Technology

Pennsylvania State University

Chenxi Lei American University

University of Connecticut University of Delaware University of Massachusetts, Amherst Pennsylvania State University Syracuse University

Cyrus Lesko Saginaw Valley State University Hanyu Liu University of Virginia

Boston University College of William and Mary

Yongxi Liu Boston University

Fordham University Pennsylvania State University The Ohio State University

Elenda Liyel-Imoke University of Virginia

George Mason University University of Georgia The New School - All Divisions

Christopher Khalil Edmund Loolo St. John’s University - Queens Pennsylvania State Campus University Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Long Island University, Brooklyn Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

Xuan Phan Kieu American University

DePaul University St. John’s University - Queens Campus Temple University

Ryan Latham University of Virginia

Colorado School of Mines

Luel Mekonnen Towson University Howard University Morehouse College

Awungafac Ngosong Towson University

East Carolina University Morehouse College Virginia Tech West Virginia University

Wyatt O’Donnell Radford University

St. John’s University - Queens Campus

Oluwateleola Oduntan Syracuse University

St. John’s University - Queens

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Campus

American University

Chukwunonso Pearl Okafor Liana Trupiano University of Waterloo The University of North University of Massachusetts, Carolina at Chapel Hill Boston Syracuse University

Nhi Phung George Mason University Georgetown University

Kimberly Pitts University of Tennessee, Knoxville Lynchburg College New England College

Florida State University North Carolina State University Pennsylvania State University

Samuel Uzoma University of Washington Purdue University

Sarah Vaughan James Madison University

Christopher Newport University Katelyn Ponn George Mason University University of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania State University Boston University of California, George Mason University Merced Louisiana State University University of Maryland, College Victoria Voellm University of California, Park Marymount University San Diego McDaniel College University of California, Riverside

Edward Rapoport Rutgers University-New Brunswick University of Colorado at Boulder Florida Atlantic University Virginia Commonwealth University West Virginia University

Gillian Rydholm George Mason University

Christopher Newport University Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus James Madison University University of Mary Washington Montclair State University Pace University, New York City Seton Hill University Smith College Wilkes University

Alene Saavedra Mount Saint Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University (Chalon)

Tuan-Kiet Vu Seattle Central College Erik Wagner Santa Barbara City College The University of Tampa

Ian Whalen US Merchant Marine Academy

Fengze Yang University of California, Santa Barbara

University of California, Davis

Kaibing Yang University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine Pennsylvania State University The Ohio State University

Liwen Zhang University of California, Irvine

University of California, Santa Cruz University of Florida George Mason University Georgia State University Lynn University University of Oregon The University of Tampa And congratulations to our Falcon Scholars on their US Air Force Academy appointments!

James Chase Jack Giannettino Shanna Hoven Parker Mascarenhas James Miranda William Mitchell Alfred Shuford

Maine Maritime Academy Norwich University West Virginia University

Hannah Wiggle University of Massachusetts, Boston

University of Illinois at Chicago University of North Carolina at Charlotte Pennsylvania State University

Mason Wilkins Lynchburg College

Liberty University Marymount California University University of Nevada, Las Vegas Yi Xiong

Yiran Su American University

Pennsylvania State University

Chayla Taylor Morgan State University Hui Ting

Pratt Institute

Rochester Institute of Technology School of Visual Arts

THE POWER OF RISE. The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

T h e Po w e r o f

GRIT

Your Yellow Jacket Sports

Rising Above the Challenges for a State Title (or Two)

Track and Field State Champions!

by Celeste M. Brooks P’12, ’21, Director of Communications

If an award were given for the athletic team of the year at R-MA, there would be a strong argument that it should go to this year’s Track and Field Team. Head Coach Joshua Ilnicki will be the first to admit he was overwhelmed with the sheer number of track and field athletes this year. “We had 50 when we started, which is a far cry from the 14 we had my first year coaching!” he exclaimed. Fortunately, several R-MA co-workers stepped forward to assist. Chair of Leadership and Character LT COL Mike Starling, USMC, Retired, '88, P'19, '23, '24, and Middle School teacher Dani Clingerman P'21 both rose to the occasion and worked with the throwers and the high jumpers, respectively. Science Department Chair Dr. Tony Maranto took over as the distance coach, allowing Ilnicki to focus on the sprinters, long jump, and triple jump. The team overcame its share of challenges during the season. The runners trained on R-MA’s paved, odd-shaped track, local roads, and on campus trails. The field eventers worked on mechanics at R-MA, then traveled to a local public school several times a week to put what they learned into practice, as there are no field event facilities on campus. The result of their display of grit: 14 of the athletes qualified for the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association (VISAA) State Meet in 20 different events. It was more than any other year since Ilnicki took over the team, and perhaps one of the best years in R-MA’s recent history. And on Saturday, May 19th, the team not only went to States, they proved that talent, hard work, and good coaching are the real recipe for athletic success. Edmund Loolo ’18 returned to R-MA with the VISAA State Championship, Division 2 title in triple jump in the closest match-up anyone had ever seen. He jumped 46 feet, ¼ inches, tying him with Eldby Omohundro of St. Christopher’s School. To determine the winner, Ilnicki said, “They had to go to the second-best jump by each student. Edmund had the best one by an inch and a half.” For Edmund, the goal at the start of the season had been

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Edmund Loolo ’18 is the VISAA Track and Field, Division II, State Champion in the triple jump.

a top-five finish in the State Meet, but as he continued to improve, he and Ilnicki began thinking that a podium finish was possible. “He was amazingly coachable, took everything to heart, focused, and listened,” said Ilnicki. “He paid attention to the little things, and all those little things added up to being a state champion.”

“When I won I started laughing because I didn’t think it was real,” Edmund admitted. “I’d been waiting for that day for months and it finally happened so I guess I was in shock.” Though he cannot deny his own talent, Edmund was quick to give credit to Ilnicki for the win. “He was the one who pushed me to do jumping events, taught me what I needed to know, and finally he actually believed in me,” he said. Edmund brought home a second medal from the state meet, finishing fourth in the long jump. And he wasn’t R-MA’s only state champion that weekend. Caroline Starling ’19 came home with not one, but two state championship titles. She claimed the high jump title with a jump of 5’4”, which didn’t even come close to her personal best of 5’7”. “The weather was bad leading up to it, so the runway was wet,” Ilnicki said. “They weren’t ideal conditions, but she still beat the second place girl by four inches.” “I didn’t think I was going to do so well, because it was raining and everything was soaked,” Caroline agreed. “I was

Surprising Results for Varsity Tennis

This spring, Varsity Tennis Coach Bryan McCabe had the right combination of tennis players to create a very competitive team: a strong returning core of senior players who were further challenged and pushed by two talented freshmen. With that combination of experience, leadership, and talent, the team made their mark, ending the season as the Delaney Athletic Conference Runners-Up. “My biggest challenge all season was getting the roster in the right order,” said McCabe. “We had a lot of competition within our team all season for the top spots on the roster. Our players pushed each other to get better all season, and they all looked better each practice.”

Caroline Starling ’19 is the State Champion in both the high jump and the shot put.

When the results for shot put were announced, Caroline didn’t even hear them. She learned about her second championship title when fellow track athlete Khalila Karefa-Kargbo ’19 ran over and congratulated her for being a double state champion. “I was confused, but then overwhelmed with excitement,” Caroline said. “I was working towards getting first for one event, but I never imagined that I would get first in the state for both events!” She won the event with a throw of 35’ 9½”, winning the Division 2 State Championship by nearly five feet. “She has a lot of natural talent,” Ilnicki said. “I think she practiced shot put all of about four times. And she missed part of the season due to an injury. When she fully actualizes her ability, she is going to be a star.” “Caroline has a lot of natural talent and combined with her sweet personality and sportsmanship she was a pleasure to coach this season,” added Clingerman, who worked with Caroline on the high jump throughout the season. Caroline’s stats back up her coaches’ faith in her talent. Even if the divisions had been combined, Caroline would have still won both of her events. Her personal record has ranked her third in Virginia for high jump among all public and private schools. In addition to Caroline’s and Edmund’s success, Destinee Thomas ‘21 brought back a medal for finishing seventh in the triple jump.

Challenge with Honor

nervous about my feet slipping. I also had to run back and forth between events, so I wasn’t sure about how I would perform. When I won, I was definitely surprised and so happy. This was a big accomplishment that I have been working towards since freshman year.”

As the team approached the end of the season, the anticipation was running high. Their excitement was wellfounded, as they made it all the way to the championship match. “Our team was very honored to play in the championship,” said McCabe. “We were very optimistic and motivated. We all knew what we were up against. Seton is an awesome team with many highly ranked players.” Although the team fell short of winning the championship title, they competed strongly and were able to leave the court that day with Yellow Jacket pride, knowing they had given it their all and were coming home with a second-place trophy. “The players of this team had a great positive energy and spirit all season, whether we won or lost,” said McCabe. “I was very encouraged as a coach by how gracious my team was when shaking hands and congratulating Seton on their victory.” R-MA Coaches’ Award recipient Phan Kieu ’18 finished the season as the number one seed, with a record of 7-6. David Li ’21 took the number two spot and earned himself a promising record of 12-1, along with the school’s MVP award. Rounding out the top five were Most Improved Player Jerry James (JJ) Banek-Gabelle ’21 (3-1), Ho Tin Cheng ’18 (7-6) and Tele Oduntan ’18 (9-4).

Delaney Athletic Conference Spring Season All-Conference Honorees Soccer

Tennis

Liana Trupiano ’18, 1st Team Grace Wagner ’20, 1st Team Tiwani Bayo-Adeyemo ’18, 2nd Team

Zhengze “David” Li ’21, 1st Team Ho Tin Cheng ’18, 2nd Team

Golf Connor Gamma ’20, 2nd Team Ian Mounts ’19, 2nd Team

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

R i se

Beyond

Class Notes

Alumni News & Class Notes

On April 22nd, R-MA hosted our annual Gratitude Reception at the Middle School’s Innovation Lab. Alumni and their families, including Board of Trustees chairman Rear Admiral John

Stufflebeem, USN, Retired, ‘70; Board of Trustees members John Simar ‘68, Doug Huthwaite ‘69, and Joe Hadeed ‘84; and Dave Moore ‘53, Shelly Kats ‘93, and Larissa Hansen ‘00, explored the many innovative tools now available to R-MA students.

1970’s The 1970/1920 Class Partnership ended the 2017-2018 school year with a round of paintball! The cadets had a wonderful time and returned to “The Hill” tired and happy. Thank you to Bill Abelkop ’70 for organizing the trip. (See photo and related note, page 12.)

1980’s Joe Hadeed ‘84, R-MA Board of Trustees member, and wife Valerie Hadeed (pictured right, with R-MA Board of Trustees chairman Rear Admiral

John Stufflebeem, USN, Retired, ‘70 and his wife Nan Stufflebeem) were honored before over 500 people with the

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Childhelp Shining Star Award at the Childhelp Washington Area Chapter Shining Stars Gala at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner on April 21, 2018. Childhelp dedicates $0.91 of every dollar they raise directly to benefiting abused children through the programs and services provided by the Childhelp Alice C. Tyler Village in Lignum, VA.

LT COL Mike Starling, USMC, Retired, ‘88, P’19, ‘23, ‘24, R-MA’s

2000’s Charlotte Junnila ‘02 and her husband Jerre welcomed their baby daughter on July 7, 2017! Charlotte currently lives in Turku, Finland, and works as a project manager for a Finnish investment company.

A number of R-MA alumni reported celebrating graduations:

Rebecca (Jackson) Spellacy ’04 received her Doctorate in Theology from the University of Toronto. She is now Associate for Liturgy for the Archdiocese of Toronto, where she lives with her husband, Anthony.

Rachel Jackson ’07 received her Masters in Divinity from The Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, CA. She is in the process for ordination as a priest in the Episcopal church.

Whitney Lee ’10 graduated with a JD from Columbia Law School.

Benjamin Pederson ’13 graduated from Virginia Tech with a BS in Meteorology, and received his commission in the US Air Force as a second lieutentant. Ben is pictured above during the commissioning ceremony, as his parents, R-MA Air Force JROTC Instructor MSgt Stephen Pederson, USAF, Retired, P’13, ‘15, and Andrea Pederson, “pin” on his second lieutenant rank. Ben has been assigned to Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. Ben is also engaged to Campbell McChord; the couple plans to marry in October 2019.

Lake Tankersley ‘06 and wife Christina welcomed their first child, William Lake Tankersley, on April 16, 2018. (Photo at right.) The family is doing well and living in Atlanta, GA.

2010’s Jared Purcell ‘11 has been awarded a Fulbright-Hays Scholarship and, through American Councils, will be studying advanced Russian language at Moscow International University.

Allyson (Doran) Shea ’11 married Andrew Shea on May 5, 2018 in Colorado Springs, CO. (Pictured at right.) Ben Schoonover ‘17 completed his first marathon at the Eugene Marathon in Eugene, OR, on April 29, 2018. With a time of 2:58:50, Ben qualified for the Boston Marathon with seven minutes to spare.

Emmanuel Arellano ’14 and David Lee ’14 (pictured below, David on left, Emmanuel on right) both graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point. David is heading to the University of Beijing as a Yenching Scholar to study Economics. Manny will be stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington State.

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Class Notes

Chair for Leadership and Character, recently attended the Principled Leadership Symposium at The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina. The annual Symposium hosts approximately 70 college student delegates from regional institutions of higher learning, senior military colleges, and the federal service academies, and operates with the goal of exploring principled leadership across a range of vocations and professional organizations. While in Charleston, he visited with Juliette Michael ‘11 and Steve Churchill ‘88, who also attended the Symposium.

GRADUATIONS

Catey Borden ’14 graduated cum

Fall Open House Dates

laude with a BA in English and a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies from George Mason University. She has also finished the first year of an accelerated Master’s degree in Secondary Education; she expects to complete that degree in 2019.

Caitlin Bunker ’14 graduated from Class Notes

Case Western Reserve University.

Madeline Chafin ’14 graduated with a BS in Operations Research and Computer Analysis from the US Coast Guard Academy. She also earned a commission as ensign in the US Coast Guard.

Bryan Mazzola ’14 graduated from Norwich University – The Military College of Vermont with a degree in Criminal Justice. He has since enlisted in the Vermont National Guard.

Siqi Tang ’14 graduated from Pennsylvania State University.

Tell a family member or friend about R-MA! Monday, October 8, 2018 Monday, November 12, 2018 Sunday, December 2, 2018

To learn more or register, visit RMA.EDU/open-house Naji Bseiso, Falcon Scholar ’14, graduated from the Air Force Academy and has been selected for Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training.

Jewel Davidson, Falcon Scholar ’14, graduated from the Air Force Academy with a specialty in Remote Pilot Aircraft. She is on her way to Randolph Air Base in San Antonio for RPA Pilot Training.

CAMPUS VISITORS It is always good to welcome alumni back to “The Hill.” Recently, several Yellow Jackets visited and checked in with the Advancement Office: Ned Coleman ’59; Alex Kaufhold ‘14, who will

soon enlist in the US Navy; Yangboya Liu ’13, a graduate of Babson College, is now living and working in Boston; Gordon Anderson ’15, a junior at East Kentucky University, is studying Aviation and almost finished with his commercial pilot’s license; Teunis Verhuel ’15, a junior at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona, FL, who shared that he has been selected for the US Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training Program; Talaat Hamooh ’15 and Fahad Al Jasser ’15, who visited together in the midst of a snowstorm in late March; Lila Walker '17, a freshman at Whitman College who recently completed her first solo flight; and Thomas Minchew ’17, a freshman at Lynchburg College.

The Final Roll Call

Alumni

William J. Clark ‘56

William T. Miars, III ‘68

Isaac F. Ormond ‘42

2014

February 18, 2018

February 8, 2017

Clarence E. Chew ‘57

A. Newth Morris, III ‘69

William D. Naylor ‘45

November 12, 2017

April 28, 2018

February 26, 2018

Hartwell J. Fitchett, Jr. ‘57

Stephen C. Wright ‘70

George F. Mentz, Jr. ‘49

February 18, 2018

December 12, 2016

No date available

Arthur H. Portnoy ‘59

Adam C. Toohey ‘07

F. Ross Murdock ‘50

May 22, 2018

April 15, 2018

February 19. 2018

Edward “Newton” Dance ‘60

H. Bruce Vincent ‘50

May 28, 2018

Friends of R-MA

January 16, 2018

Loring L. Tonkin ‘65

Bernard Stokes

William J. Bundick ‘52

February 12, 2018

January 27, 2018

November 10, 2017

Woodrow W. Adams ‘66

Robert F. Boyd (former R-MA trustee)

September 14, 2017

April 7, 2018

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

THE POWER OF ALUMNI. We all want to give back - but who has time? You do. Whether you have 30 seconds or 30 minutes, "The Power of Alumni." allows you to give back to R-MA on your schedule, anytime, anywhere. Every month, you choose and complete a task:

REPORT. Report back to the Advancement Office and let us know what’s going on with you! Send in a class note for the Dome Dispatch, or check in to update your contact information.

INTERACT. Interact with other alumni by attending an R-MA alumni event! Whether it's coffee with your classmates, returning to campus for Homecoming, or calling in to hear an Alumni Association Board of Directors meeting - it all counts.

SHARE. Share (and like and comment on) R-MA social media posts, or create one of your own and share it on R-MA's social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter).

EXCEL. Excel in your professional life and help others to do so by staying active on our LinkedIn group. If you're new, join the group; if you're already a member, invite a friend, share a job or internship opportunity, ask for help finding a connection, or just post and let folks know what you're working on now.

Complete your task and you'll be entered into that month's drawing for an R-MA prize! More importantly, you'll catch up with classmates, forge new friendships, make new professional connections, and strengthen R-MA's Alumni community. That's The Power of Alumni.

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

Th e Po w e r o f

GIVING

Happenings made possible by your gifts

The Power to Make a Difference

Annual Fund Gifts: Making a Daily Difference Throughout the year, the annual fund gifts have supported activities across campus. They supplement the funds needed for everything, from paying salaries and turning on lights, to providing football uniforms and computers. When you make a donation to the Annual Fund, you make a difference in the life of each and every student on campus. You build confidence, develop scholars, and create leaders. For that, we all say:

Thank you.

Annual Fund gifts support student life programs that make a studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; time here memorable, including events like the Middle School Jacket Jubilee.

The Middle School Innovation Lab is in use almost constantly for classes and hands-on projects. The Upper School Innovation Wing will open this fall.

The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2018

The Annual Fund and the Yellow Jacket Athletic Association combine to make R-MA sports possible,helping to supply equipment, uniforms, coaching stipends, referee fees, and travel expenses.

Like all academic programs, Ground School classes are partially funded by annual fund gifts.

THE POWER OF RISE.

Make a gift. Make a difference. Inspire the Rise within. RMA.edu/gift | 540-636-5343

The Sabre

RANDOLPH-MACON ACADEMY 200 Academy Drive Front Royal, Virginia 22630

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID Winchester, VA PERMIT NO. 339

For parents: if this issue is addressed to your son or daughter who no longer lives at your home, please notify R-MA of the new mailing address at sabre@rma.edu, or 540-636-5200. CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

It’s time to gather ’round on The Hill.

Homecoming 2018 information & registration forms enclosed.

See you in October!