The Highlander: 2024 Spring/Summer Edition

The Highlander

Core Values

COMMUNITY

Based on trust, traditions, communication, appreciation, and support

St. Andrew’s develops exemplary scholars, artists, athletes, and servants in a loving Episcopal community who are curious, courageous, and compassionate global citizens.

SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION

Developed by intentional instruction in moral and ethical behavior

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

Reflected in both the knowledge base and behavior of the faculty, staff, students, parents, and board members

CARING, CELEBRATION, AND HUMOR

Fostered by kindness and collegiality

Cover: Nica Boerema ’25 performs during the opening ceremony of the ISAS Arts Festival. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Stratton Photography.

Green Thumbs

the Life and Legacy of Former Head of School Sean Murphy

Remembering Former Fourth Grade Teacher Marilyn “Bebe” Thompson Roberts

Building Community Through ESL

Dear St. Andrew’s Community,

We have much to be grateful for, which I think you will appreciate when you review this beautiful recap of our spring and summer accomplishments at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. What an incredible year for our scholars, artists, athletes, and servants!

We have so many exciting projects, programs, and priorities on the horizon. Our new Five Year Strategic Plan—which was carefully curated by our Board of Trustees with significant community input—is reflected in these pages along with our beautiful new Portrait of a Graduate, which defines the qualities, characteristics, and hopes for our students as they grow in their own beautifully unique ways at St. Andrew’s.

Our Athletics Complex & Student Union is under construction and our Campaign Committee and staff are working very hard to raise the remaining $14M to complete this magnificent facility. Next will be our incredible new Middle School and STEM Center on Southwest Parkway, which will improve our programming opportunities, allow for modest growth, and support and inspire our students and teachers in very meaningful ways.

It has been a privilege this year to know and love our students. We are so proud of the work they do, for their curiosity and compassion, and for our families and teachers who nurture them along the way. As our seniors walked across the stage on May 24, I hope they knew in their hearts that our school will always be a place where they are loved, remembered and welcome.

Please enjoy this Spring/Summer 2024 edition of our Highlander magazine—we look forward to another wonderful new school year ahead!

Faithfully,

Melissa Grubb Head of School

Highlander Highlights

Inspired by his class’ SEL Growth Goal of compassion, Brandon L. ’32 organized a food drive that he called The Soup-er Bowl. Ahead of the Super Bowl, people could donate canned goods in boxes corresponding to either the Kansas City Chiefs or the San Francisco 49ers, indicating their prediction of who would win the game. Faculty, staff, and students jumped to make signs, count daily totals, advertise, and come to carpool to rally the community to support the cause. Former Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez even showed up to help rally support! In the end, the Soup-er Bowl collected over 350 canned goods for the Central Texas Food Bank. We’re proud of the entire fourth grade class for stepping up as servant leaders!

The Upper School track team returned from the spring SPC Championships with an impressive six new school records, the most the team has ever achieved in a single meet. On the first day of the tournament, Kaylee J. ’26 set a new school record in the shot put. Pruett F. ’24 broke records in both the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles, while Kate P. ’25 set a new record in the 800-meter event.

The boys’ 4x400 relay team— Adrian P. ’26, Miles N. ’24, Alex N. ’24, and Reed R. ’26—and the boys’ 4x100 relay team—Adrian P. ’26, Jakece M. ’26, Will R. ’27, and Noah G. ’27—also set new records for St. Andrew’s. Congratulations to these talented athletes!

In eighth grade science, students culminated their chemistry unit with an exciting hands-on project: making soap from scratch. Studying saponification (the chemical reaction undergone during the soapmaking process), students mixed sodium hydroxide with a variety of fats like olive oil and shea butter to create soap. Each group was then able to customize their soap with fragrances or colors. As a class, the eighth grade sold their high-quality handmade bars of soap at Grandparents’ Day, raising $1,327 for the ALS Association of Texas. But the journey didn’t stop there! Several eighth graders later took to their neighborhoods to continue the campaign. After a few hours selling soap door-to-door, students raised another $1,200 to benefit ALS research. This project perfectly exemplified the scholar and the servant pillar working together!

The St. Andrew’s community was buzzing with anticipation for the total solar eclipse on April 8. Leading up to the once-in-a-lifetime event, the science department focused on education around the phenomenon of a solar eclipse. On the day of, students, faculty, and parents gathered to experience the aweinspiring spectacle together. As the sun disappeared behind the moon and daytime became nighttime for just a moment, the crowd was left in awe, creating a memory that won’t be forgotten.

The Empowering Women of Our World club hosted their second annual Evening of Empowerment on May 13. Featuring a panel with Stefanie Cavanaugh (Chief Financial Officer of Giving Home Health Care), Susan Morse (Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Civil Jurisprudence at the University of Texas School of Law), and Amy Paddock (Managing Director at Group SJR), the panelists left guests with words of wisdom, supportive advice, and valuable perspectives.

Two St. Andrew’s faculty members have been accepted into competitive and renowned fellowships in their field. Upper School English teacher Heather Tone was awarded a 2024 Jack Hazards Fellowship by the New Literary Project, receiving a $5,000 cash award to support her summer dedicated to creative writing, along with various promotional and pedagogical opportunities. The fellowship, awarded to writers of fiction, creative nonfiction, or memoir, supports ongoing projects in these genres and enhances the creative lives of writers teaching high school nationwide. Middle School Science teacher Emma DeVine was named a 2024 CDC Science Ambassador Fellow, a unique program for STEM teachers to integrate public health sciences into classrooms. She will attend a 5-day summer course at CDC headquarters and then participate in a yearlong program developing public health curriculum materials in partnership with the CDC. We congratulate Ms. Tone and Ms. DeVine on their hard work that has led to these incredible opportunities!

Highlander Highlights

Upper School Latin students have been spotlighted in two classical contests this spring. Sana A. ’25 won the Bernice Fox Creative Writing Contest, an annual competition sponsored by Monmouth College focusing on Classicsrelated topics. Presley K. ’26 won two translation contests, sponsored by the Vergilian Society and the Classical Association of the Middle West and South. Both Sana and Presley received cash prizes for their outstanding achievements.

Tara Ruiz ’27 finished 1st place in the Oratory competition at the National Hispanic Institute's (NHI) 2024 Texas Great Debate competition held at Austin College in June. The long running debate competition brought over 250 students from all over Texas together to compete in many different categories. Tara had this to say about her experience: “I’ve definitely seen myself grow, becoming a more competent speaker and presenter, especially in front of people and especially under pressure with all of the rounds and the competition. And then also just having emotion in my voice, especially when I’m talking about something really important or emotional.”

Film teacher Rommel Eclarinal won two Percy Awards from the Academy of Independent Motion Pictures. His film, Seahorse, earned him the awards for Best Director and Best Picture. Bravo, Mr. Eclarinal!

During “From The Page To The Stage,” a Lower School interdisciplinary project that brought together science, ELA, art, music, and drama, third graders wrote pourquoi tales (legends that explain why certain events happened) and adapted them into stage plays. After reading poetry and pourquoi tales about different frog species, students generated “why” questions they had about certain frogs, like “Why are poison dart frogs poisonous?” “Why are glass frogs transparent?” “Why are some frogs colorful?” They wrote their own fictional narratives that provided imaginative answers to their questions as well as research paragraphs that presented the factual explanations. In drama class, students worked together to adapt three of their classmates’ pourquoi narratives into plays, and in art class, they presented a pop-up art show in connection with the project. In a total celebration of the fine arts program, third grade was able to connect their academic learning to creative work and invite even more depth to the artistic and academic experience.

The Model UN team competed at the St. Mary’s Hall Model UN Conference in San Antonio this spring. Students from across Texas participated in mock committees, tackling complex issues such as crime in the Americas, international terrorism, space colonization, and the events of January 6, 2021. The St. Andrew’s team performed admirably, with four members receiving committee awards. Johnny G. ’24 won Honorable Delegate for representing Australia in the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs. Andrea O. ’25 won Honorable Delegate for her role as Senator Lindsey Graham in the January 6 Senate Crisis Committee. Luke V. ’24 won Distinguished Delegate for his portrayal of Shou Zi Chew in the January 6 Media Crisis Committee. Connor V. ’24 won Best Delegate for his portrayal of Sean Hannity in the January 6 Media Crisis Committee. Congratulations to the winners and the entire Model UN team!

TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science) is an annual STEM competition that challenges student teams to work collaboratively to solve real-world engineering challenges, applying their math and science knowledge in practical and creative ways. St. Andrew’s first entered into the competition during the 2022–2023 school year, and competed again this year. This year’s theme, “Engineering Another World,” involved teams writing an essay on space colonization, then competing in a daylong event that included a challenging exam and a hands-on design project. The St. Andrew’s team consisting of (clockwise) Michelle H. ’25, Cole P. ’25, Nate D. ’25, and Sage D. ’25 excelled by placing third in Texas (the highest placement among independent schools) and scoring perfectly on the essay. Their achievement qualified them for the national TEAMS competition in Orlando, Florida, where they will compete with teams from across the country.

Portrait of a St. Andrew’s Graduate

During the 2023–2024 school year, St. Andrew’s faculty and staff engaged in a comprehensive exercise that challenged them to imagine “the ideal graduate.” What would they know? What skills would they possess? What would be their attitudes? What do we hope for them as they walk across the graduation stage?

This process yielded rich conversation, infused with memories of our alumni and their successes and our hopes and dreams for our current and future graduates. The entire faculty was asked to participate in this process because this Portrait is intended to stand alongside our mission statement as the beacon that guides and illuminates who we are and what we do. At its core, it represents what we most value in our school community.

Working in small groups, it became quickly apparent that there was a degree of similarity from one group to the next. Wording differed, but basic themes appeared again and again. It was thus with clarity and confidence that we were able to resolutely say “THIS is the Portrait of a St. Andrew’s Graduate.”

Uncovering our ideal graduate’s attitudes, skills, and knowledge is powerful when we recognize the opportunities that it provides. How do we use this information in our day-to-day work at St. Andrew’s— in the ways we interact with one another, the words we use, and the examples we set?

How does a Portrait of a Graduate inform a thoughtful evaluation of our curriculum and programming? If, for example, we say that our ideal graduates are compassionate, how do we as a community foster this? How do we ensure that they think critically, solve problems, learn independently, acquire historical and cultural perspectives, persevere, and thrive? Our faculty know the importance of both asking these questions and seeking to answer them.

This Portrait of a Graduate was thoughtfully timed in tandem with the creation of our 2024–2025 Strategic Plan. As such, a united vision for our graduates— represented by this new Portrait of a St. Andrew’s Graduate—makes us ever mindful of the privilege, as well as the responsibility, we all share.

St. Andrew’s graduates are . . .

SCHOLARS WHO

• Think, speak, and write with purpose and clarity across a variety of disciplines

• Apply content knowledge, critical thinking, and communication skills

• Learn independently and with curiosity

• Synthesize and evaluate data insightfully

• Utilize established and emerging technologies to further knowledge and skills

• Approach new ideas confidently and with open minds

ARTISTS WHO

• Value a variety of perspectives

• Create and appreciate beauty

• Demonstrate poise and confidence

• Engage in authentic expression, collaboration, and human connection

ATHLETES WHO

• Compete with honesty and resilience

• Contribute as individuals and teammates

• Commit to lifelong habits of wellness

• Demonstrate accountability

SERVANTS WHO

• Respect the dignity of every human being

• Demonstrate empathy through action

• Embrace responsibility to give back to the community

• Steward their gifts and talents for local and global benefit

• Strive to create meaningful connections

Through consistent emphasis on excellence in academics, arts, athletics, and service, St. Andrew’s graduates are prepared for college and beyond.

LEADERS

• Demonstrate integrity

• Treat others with equity and respect

• Appreciate differences as strength

• Seek opportunities to include and unite

• Engage in creative problem-solving

• Inspire others through their positive examples

ETHICAL

• Courageously do what is right even when difficult

• Leverage technologies for the greater good

• Advocate for what is right and just

• Respect our natural environment and resources

• Demonstrate respect and accountability to self and others

• Value honesty and integrity

• Evolve into empathetic, engaged citizens of the world

RESILIENT

• Unafraid to learn from failure

• Lean into difficulty and challenge with stamina

• Self-reflective

• Skilled at self-advocacy

JOYFUL

• Celebrate authentic accomplishments of self and others

• Delight in the pursuit of life-long learning

• Embrace a growth mindset

• Strive for continuous improvement with enthusiasm

• Enjoy a healthy sense of self-confidence grounded in authentic accomplishment

Strategic Plan 2024–2029

The Board of Trustees of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School enthusiastically shares the strategic priorities of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in the 2024–2029 Strategic Plan that follows.

Included with each identified priority is a sampling of possible operational means to achieve them which charts a course of action that the Board of Trustees and the school’s leadership team will use to guide our work over the next five years.

Last summer, in planning for our future, the St. Andrew’s Board of Trustees committed to a comprehensive, community-wide strategic planning process that considered a variety of perspectives from key constituents. This process began with a facilitated retreat in August of 2023. It was followed by several weeks of third-party led focus groups to listen, test assumptions, and discern emerging themes from an inclusive sampling of the school’s constituents as well as perspectives from beyond the St. Andrew’s community. The alignment among the constituent groups regarding the highest priority next steps in support of the school’s future was compelling, allowing the Board of Trustees to confirm priorities with confidence and optimism.

Thank you to the parents, alumni, students, faculty, and staff who participated in this process and provided invaluable insight and feedback that have informed this Strategic Plan. It is clear from your feedback that St. Andrew’s is valued, loved, and supported by both current and previous generations. As trustees of the school, we have no greater responsibility than holding the school “in trust” and assuring that this and future generations benefit from the most outstanding version of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School we can create, support, and sustain for them.

Faithfully,

Grace Ingram-Eiser

Yvette Rios Chair, Strategic Planning Task Force Chair, Board of Trustees

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 1

Assure Excellence in all Four Pillars

Assure excellence in all four pillars of the school: academics, arts, athletics, and service in ways that lead to outcomes articulated in the Portrait of a Graduate. Fully realize programmatic opportunities created by new facilities. Place particular emphasis on assuring both vertical and horizontal curriculum and program alignment are continually updated. Augment current K–12 leadership opportunities in each division and across each pillar. Enhance the K–12 experiential education program and the STEAM curriculum that will be especially supported by new facilities. Stay abreast of and leverage positive impacts of AI.Enhance impact of the service pillar, recognize student success in all four pillars on a regular basis, and ensure divisional communications include K–12 successes and updates about all four pillars

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2

Preserve and Strengthen the School’s Long-Term Financial Sustainability

Preserve and strengthen the school’s long-term financial sustainability by growing the endowment through fundraising and increased communication about the importance of endowment dollars for the St. Andrew’s student experience. Expand the school’s comprehensive multi-year financial modeling that seeks to fully fund the needs of the school while being mindful of the impact of tuition increases on families and helps inform the school’s optimal enrollment. Preserve and increase the value of the school’s physical plant by investing in improvements and additions to facilities in ways that align with and enhance our curricular and programmatic goals across all grades and all four pillars. Leverage non-tuition based auxiliary revenue opportunities in ways made possible as new facilities are completed.

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3

Attract and Retain Outstanding Faculty and Staff

Assure that St. Andrew’s is positioned to attract and retain outstanding faculty and staff members who know they are valued, supported, and appreciated. Prioritize competitive compensation and benefits packages, access to professional development, and additional leadership opportunities. Build upon onboarding procedures for new faculty and staff members to accelerate integration into the community and augment opportunities for K–12 faculty and staff to connect and engage both professionally and casually to strengthen the sense of welcome and belonging.

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 4

Enhance a Culture of Belonging and Inclusion

Augment efforts to create a safe and inclusive school community and a culture in which all families K–12 find opportunities to connect and engage in ways that create a sense of belonging. Cast a broader net in the greater Austin area to connect with under-represented communities and enhance transportation options to reduce geographic barriers. Continue to evaluate our program to assure it represents a variety of viewpoints and voices. Provide more grade level social events for parents, create and leverage parent booster clubs for athletics and the arts, and eliminate financial barriers to full participation in school-sponsored events and activities for students receiving tuition assistance. Offer more consistent opportunities to engage in service projects for alumni to increase their sense of connectedness. Enhance opportunities for faculty and staff to build community and form connections with one another.

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 5

Navigate and Manage Change in Ways that Strengthen and Build Community

Prioritize timely and transparent communication when navigating significant changes within our school community. Manage the relocation of the Middle School with care and in ways that strengthen and build school culture. Make changes related to the relocation of the Middle School to Southwest Parkway in advance of the move when possible. Align class schedules grades 6–12 in support of course access and shared faculty when appropriate, re-align current K–8 staff assignments to reflect coming K–5, 6–12 needs. Enhance grade 5 spring “step up” experience to support transition to grade 6 on Southwest Parkway. Provide additional opportunities for collaboration among grades 6–12 faculty members and enhance programs designed to ease student transitions between divisions

While this strategic plan will be used to guide our decision making in the coming five years, it is a living document. As such, the St. Andrew’s Board of Trustees commits to reviewing it on a regular basis to ensure that these strategic priorities— and our operational means to achieve them—remain relevant, appropriate, and the best path forward to ensure we are meeting our mission as a school.

The Future Is Bright

Gala For Financial Aid

On Saturday, April 27, the 31st Street campus was awash with vibrant colors as guests dressed the part for The Future Is Bright: Gala for Financial Aid. Decked out in every color of the rainbow, guests came ready to celebrate St. Andrew’s and raise money for the financial aid program. The annual gala is the largest single source of support for the financial aid program, allowing nearly 150 students to attend St. Andrew’s and benefit from all that this special community has to offer.

The night kicked off with jazz and blues band Big Night Quartet, led by second grade teacher Andy Boutot. The band, dressed on theme in light-up bow ties and glasses, provided beautiful music for cocktail hour while guests mingled, picked up colorful custom airbrush hats, and posed for photos.

Under sparkling lights and a rainbow of color, attendees enjoyed dinner followed by a live auction led by the Cowboy Auctioneers, where guests bid on items like a stay at a charming house in the French countryside, an exclusive Austin FC fan experience in the owner’s suite, and a getaway to a waterfront villa in Belize. After the wonderful live auction and paddles up portion, DJ Cassandra started to spin, the dance floor teeming with color as guests danced the night away.

St. Andrew’s is deeply grateful for the donors to the Financial Aid program. The $830,000 raised during this year’s gala ensures that the school’s doors remain open to the best and brightest students, no matter their financial situation. Thanks to the generosity of these donors, the future really is bright for so many students at St. Andrew’s.

Meet Yvonne Russell

New Head of Lower School

After an extensive national search, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is delighted to announce the hiring of Yvonne Cervantez Russell as the new Head of Lower School, effective July 1, 2024. Mrs. Russell joins us from St. George Episcopal School in San Antonio, where she has served as the Director of Lower School for the past nine years.

Mrs. Russell brings an impressive record of success both as a classroom teacher and as a school administrator. She is known for her ability to foster leadership within institutions, build strong collegial relationships among faculty, and forge meaningful partnerships with parents.

At St. George Episcopal School, her achievements include developing a comprehensive Lower School technology initiative, aligning curriculum and instruction across grades JK–5, implementing a new school-wide assessment tool, and prioritizing faculty professional development in early childhood literacy, math instruction, and technology. She also dedicated instructional time to entrepreneurship, diversity, and inclusion, established signature service learning projects for all grade levels, and developed the Lower School STEAM program.

Instrumental in establishing the Social and Emotional Learning Program at St. George, Mrs. Russell deeply values the use of data and metrics to reflect on and improve current practices. She emphasizes the importance of understanding data in various forms—test results, constituent feedback, and program statistics—to ensure that a school remains relevant, dynamic, and effective for all students.

One faculty member remarked, “I appreciated her leadership style and her preference for collaborative approaches. She also emphasized the significance of open, transparent, and frequent communication in today’s context.” A parent commented,

“I appreciate that she understands there are 360 different viewpoints and is willing to listen, but make the best choice. She has a deep willingness to grow and learn constantly. She is a leader that teachers, children, and parents would want to follow.”

Mrs. Russell shared her vision, saying, “Great schools don’t just happen; they are thoughtfully planned. I look

forward to setting the tone and direction for St. Andrew’s Lower School, resulting in students who engage fully, follow their curiosities, ask questions with confidence, and learn from their experiences as they interact with content, one another, and their world. I am grateful for the opportunity to join the St. Andrew’s team and be part of this incredible organization’s future!”

In addition to her roles at St. George, Mrs. Russell has served on school boards, and as a public school vice principal, principal, and classroom teacher, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge that will greatly benefit the Lower School community. Outside of her professional life, she and her husband, Travis, enjoy traveling and hiking with their dogs, Luna and Abbie. They have three children: Elizabeth, a pediatrician in the NICU at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Matthew, a Sourcing Specialist for SpaceX; and Luke, a sophomore engineering student at Texas A&M University.

on our Athletics Complex & Student Union

Because of the generosity of our St. Andrew’s families, alumni and friends, and our dedicated Board of Trustees, we have reached a monumental moment in our school’s history. With $18M raised toward our $32M goal, we were able to begin construction on our incredible Athletics Complex & Student Union!

A formal ceremony to bless the construction of this magnificent facility will take place on Friday, August 30 and our entire community is welcome to attend.

St. Andrew’s has long-needed more gym space and more gathering spaces to truly be together in community. This Athletics Complex & Student Union is the first project in our “Raise the Roof” campaign. Our new Middle School and STEM Center are in the design phases and will be our next “raise” in this exciting campaign.

Features of our Athletics Complex & Student Union:

• Our first ever large community space, our Student Union, with our Spirit and Snack Shop, room for clubs to meet, for groups to study, and more

• Dance Studio for St. Andrew’s new and exciting Dance Program!

• Film Room for teams to meet, strategize, and build camaraderie

• Designated and large men and womens home and visiting team locker rooms

• A 5,000-square-foot Sports Performance Center, which can accommodate full teams for workouts and strength and conditioning, and offer larger strength and conditioning classes

• A competition court and four cross-courts, which will finally allow St. Andrew’s to host SPC tournaments for court sports and offer reasonable practice hours for our volleyball and basketball teams

Many generous families have supported this campaign and we look forward to celebrating their faith and vision on August 30! Work will continue to secure the remaining $14M to complete the construction of this wonderful new space for our entire school community.

You can find more information about this campaign at sasaustin.org

Our Newest Alumni Class of 2024

On Friday, May 24, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School graduated the class of 2024, welcoming our newest class of alumni. The air was filled with excitement and pride as students, families, friends, and faculty gathered to honor the achievements of this spectacular senior class.

The Class of 2024 selected Courtney Elliott and Price Daniel as the faculty and student speakers, respectively, for this year’s ceremony. Ms. Elliott reflected on her own time in high school, at a school very similar to St. Andrew’s. She assured the graduates that even if their high school years looked differently than they imagined, the foundation they have learned and lived through the

four pillars of St. Andrew’s will serve them throughout their life. “. . . Our Four Pillars of Scholars, Artists, Athletes, and Servants are not meant to be the way you self-identify, or even the thing you most shine in, but instead the basis of being a good person, and the means by which you will make future decisions.”

Student speaker Price Daniel reminded his classmates that while it is important to plan, whether it be for a fishing trip or their future, it is quite likely that those plans won’t go as they thought, and that’s ok. “We may have a vision for how we want our lives to go, but realistically, that vision will not come to fruition. Our hopes and dreams may not come true, and our plans will fall through. We must accept that we will have to adjust our plans at some point, but this place has prepared us

to do that. We can’t control the weather. Rain storms, tropical storms, or even hurricanes will be in our futures. Be prepared to take your vessel off course to avoid these storms, and remember that we will find safety in interesting places when we change our course of direction. Load your coolers and tackle boxes with the supplies you need for that storm lurking in the distance. We have been afforded some of the best tackle we could possibly have at this point in our journey. Thanks to St. Andrew’s, we have our fishing poles and we have our life jackets. We will be ready when our plans fail.”

As the ceremony drew to a close, Dr. Fletcher announced each student as they proudly received their diplomas from Mrs. Grubb, symbolizing the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and personal growth.

Before processing to Nazro Green to the traditional “hug line” to say goodbye to their teachers and greet their proud families and friends, Mother Whitney blessed the Class of 2024 as they became the newest Alumni of St. Andrew’s. Congratulations to the class of 2024! We can’t wait to see the adventures and achievements in your future—please know that you always have a home at St. Andrew’s.

Check out more photos from the ceremony here.

Class of 2024 Award Winners

The History Awards

GENEVIEVE ALCORTA, GRIFFIN HILL & RORY O’HARA

The English Awards

FINLEY AHEARN, KARA KILLEEN & ANNA BELLE MONCRIEFF

The Packwood Math Awards

BELLA BENKE, PRUETT FEDOROWICZ & SHAUN GULATI

The Science Awards

RORY O’HARA, GRACE TUHABONYE & WILLIAM TUTTLE

The Mandarin Language Award

CLAIRE PRICE

The Spanish Language Award

CHARLIE CAHOON

The Latin Language Award

GRIFFIN HILL

The Religious Studies Awards

PRICE DANIEL & AVA WALRATH

The Warren Dickson Instrumental Music Awards

JOHNNY GALLICK, AUGUST NORDSTEDT & AKHILA PISUPATI

The Warren Dickson Vocal Music Awards

FINLEY AHEARN & STELLA MCABEER

The Theatre Discipline Award

OWEN ALMY

The Technical Theatre Discipline Award

ELLE FOSTER

The Senior Yearbook Award

JAMIE KUPER

The Susan Kemner-Reed Visual Arts Awards

GRACE STALCUP & GRACE TUHABONYE

The Kethan Kumar Filmmaking Awards

CHARLIE CAHOON & BEN STAPLETON

The Artist Awards

JOHNNY GALLICK & OLIVIA LAMIN

The Jeff McCrary Athlete Awards

EMILY GREGG & GUS STRATTON

The Scholar Award

BELLA BENKE

The Scott Field Bailey Servant Awards

LOULA AYCOCK & AMY LI

The Faculty Prize

This award is given to that student whose curiosity, positive energy, and supportive attitude consistently improve the classroom experience for fellow students and for teachers, regardless of discipline. This student’s presence, the faculty agrees, is a tide that lifts all boats.

KACIE JAGGER & ADDISON SELL

The Hilary H. Carlson Award

By charting a path of dramatic growth throughout their individual high school journey, this senior exemplifies the tenacity and composure of the founder of the Upper School, Hilary H. Carlson.

SOLOMON MARSHALL

The Cornerstone Award

Established to commemorate the pioneering Class of 2002, the Cornerstone Award recognizes that outstanding senior whose principled audacity and original thinking push the school to be a better version of itself.

CADE M c CALL

The Lucy Collins Nazro Award

Created to honor former Head of School Lucy Collins Nazro in recognition of her love of this school and her ability to unite and inspire others, this award goes to that remarkable senior who contributes in thoughtful ways to improve the life of the St. Andrew’s community.

PRUETT FEDOROWICZ & EMILY GREGG

The St. Andrew Award

The Episcopal tradition values employing the head and the heart in all that we do. Both are essential to encouraging people to love themselves, love their neighbors, and serve the deep needs of the world. Through our common life together, St. Andrew’s fosters a sense of each person’s belovedness and the desire to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being.” The winner of this award embodies the spirit of our school’s foundation.

FINLEY AHEARN & GRACE TUHABONYE

Eighth Grade Turns The Page

This year’s chapel theme was Instruments of Peace, inspired by the Prayer of St. Francis. During this year’s eighth grade commencement ceremony, Head of Middle School Tim Moore spoke on the ways that the students in the class of 2028 have exemplified this theme throughout their time in middle school. “What does being an instrument of peace really even mean? To me, it means that your presence and your actions bring others comfort and support when they may be feeling alone, or joy and hope when they are feeling down. It may be the simple act of lending a helping hand when one is needed,” said Moore, later sharing examples of how the students of the class of 2028 have consistently embodied these qualities. He noted that collectively, the eighth grade class had received 907 Acts of

Kindness notes from the Middle School faculty over the last three years, demonstrating their natural capacity for creating peace.

The ceremony continued with the presentation of Commencement Awards and the distribution of certificates to each student. Before the newly graduated eighth graders processed out of the gym to meet their families, pose for photos, and celebrate with classmates, the event concluded with a video created by eighth grader Payton Johl to honor the class of 2028. Congratulations to the class of 2028 on all of their hard work to reach this milestone! This class exemplifies the four pillars of St. Andrew’s—Scholar, Artist, Athlete, and Servant—and this community cannot wait to watch their journey as the class of 2028 continues to high school.

Eighth Grade Awards

The Adrienne Grooms Medal

The faculty’s collective choice for that eighth grade student who seems to most completely represent what St. Andrew’s Middle School is all about, a student who embodies and exemplifies the four pillars of scholar, artist, athlete, and servant. This award is given in honor and memory of Adrienne Grooms who was the first math teacher in the middle school.

ANNA JANE FROST & HOLLY QUINN HORNADAY

The Bill Costas Medal

This award is given to a student who works diligently at his or her responsibilities, who keeps the faith, and demonstrates good cheer about any task or challenge. This student consistently demonstrates hard work, dedication, and a positive attitude. The award is given in honor and memory of Bill Costas, a former math teacher, who emphasized a positive work ethic to his students.

AMELIA BRANDON & HAYES PADDOCK

The Faculty Medal

The Faculty Award is presented annually to an eighth grade student who, from the beginning of their Middle School experience to the end, has shown significant growth and maturity, both academically and socially. This person demonstrates perseverance and does not make excuses. They learn from their mistakes and show a willingness to improve on them. They get out of their comfort zone. They are mindful of their interpersonal skills and have worked on their relationships with teachers and peers.

MIGUEL ANGEL FERNANDEZ ROSAS & EMMA ARZEGAR

Scan this QR code for more photos from eighth grade graduation!

Fifth Graders Step Up to Middle School

Fifth graders gathered with their teachers and families in McGill Chapel to celebrate the exciting step from lower to middle school. The Eucharist service was a chance for students to reflect on their time at the lower school and look ahead at their middle school years, and included speeches from members of the class, some words from Ms. Peterson, and a heartwarming slideshow. After the ceremony completed their transition with the tradition of running through a tunnel created by their middle school peers.

Spotlight on Senior Projects

Senior Projects are the capstone assignment and a graduation requirement for every senior at St. Andrew’s. Following months of proposals and planning, the month of May is dedicated to their projects. They are asked to pursue an interest, follow a passion, create something, investigate a complicated issue, solve a problem, or serve a community. At the end of the month, seniors present what they have learned to family, faculty, and friends. As always, this year’s projects have been as diverse and innovative as the Class of 2024 themselves. From hands-on maker projects to serviceoriented efforts, the projects demonstrate the seniors’ abilities to apply their learning, but also reflect the unique spirit they bring to the St. Andrew’s community.

Here is only a small selection of the 103 remarkable Senior Projects accomplished by the class of 2024.

Finley Ahearn ’24 volunteered at Lirios Pediatrics, a community clinic that provides free healthcare to uninsured children. She undertook special projects, such as revamping and translating a patient feedback survey into multiple languages, and connected families in need to Lirios at outreach events. Inspired by the clinic’s founders and their commitment to healthcare equity, Finley continued to volunteer over the summer.

Bella Benke ’24 (above) learned the art of metalsmithing and created a collection of jewelry inspired by Art Deco, Gothic, and Victorian art and architecture. After a long designing and conceptualizing process, she worked under the guidance of a mentor to hone metalsmithing techniques like precision soldering, filing, sanding, etching, and patina. Throughout the process, she

experimented, problem-solved, and saw her abilities improve. At the end of her project, Bella had completed a collection of a bracelet, multiple pendants, and several pairs of earrings, bringing her unique designs to life.

JJ Castanon ’24 (below) set out to build a soccer field at Hart Elementary, his former elementary school. After researching and getting formal approval from the City of Austin, school administration, and Austin ISD, JJ began fundraising for the construction of the field. Putting together 600 individual envelopes, he gave every family at school the chance to contribute $1 towards the construction of the field. In the end, he raised nearly $800. After measuring and drawing the necessary lines, he mowed the entire field, built two wooden benches for the sidelines, and put together six soccer goals (two regulation size and four smaller goals for the smaller kids’ field that he built beside the main field). When the new soccer field was complete, JJ organized a soccer tournament for the Hart students to celebrate the new field, using the remainder of the money from the fundraising period to buy the children pizza and drinks. JJ’s project has already made a positive impact at Hart Elementary, and his love of soccer is sure to inspire children for years to come.

Several seniors built pieces of furniture from scratch, created for the community to enjoy St. Andrew’s campus both indoors and outdoors (right). Luke Cottrill ’24, Travis Josey ’24, and Claire Price ’24 built benches and bench swings for St. Andrew’s green spaces, while Homero Rangel ’24 built custom benches for the transepts of the Upper School chapel. These creations ensure that the impact of the class of 2024 will be felt on campus for years to come.

Solomon Marshall ’24 and Christopher Jarrett ’24 teamed up to organize a spikeball tournament to benefit Dell Children’s Blood and Cancer Center. They carefully planned the event over the month of May, reaching out to community members for sponsorships and prizes.

Their fundraising efforts included both door-to-door campaigns across different neighborhoods as well as an online campaign to maximize reach. Through their hard work and generous contributions of the community, all expenses for the event were covered, allowing the funds raised at the tournament to go even further for the patients at Dell Children’s Blood and Cancer Center. The event not only brought people together for a day of fun and competition, but it also raised thousands of dollars for a worthy cause, making an impact on the lives of many children receiving care there.

Grace Stalcup ’24 (above) built a traditional Hawaiian surfboard called an alaia. Intrigued by Hawaiian culture and inspired by their approach of building things with their hands, Grace learned woodworking skills to create her own board. Many surfers are enthusiastic about Alaia boards because of their unique appearance, the challenge of riding a board with no fins or other attachments, and their minimal environmental impact.

Ben Stapleton ’24 (above) wrote, directed, and produced Pressure, an original short film. Over the month, Ben navigated the complexities of assembling a cast, planning the shooting days, directing actors and non-actors alike, and editing the film to ensure a cohesive narrative flow. The result was a polished film that highlighted Ben’s technical skills as well as the ability to persevere through the many challenges inherent in film production.

Embracing Leadership Opportunities in the Middle School Leading By Example

By PRESTON ACHILIKE , Assistant Head of Middle School

Leadership at our Middle School is continually evolving. During the 2023–2024 academic year, our students proved that leadership is something to look forward to and something with which they can proudly engage. Whether students realize it or not, leadership is for everyone, not just for those who have a title. Students are continuously reminded that “Leadership is a behavior, not a position.”

The introduction of the Middle School House System and the Cabinet System has evolved into a wide array of leadership activities. Our students are growing into servant leaders, evident when they greet visitors,

participate in prospective faculty interviews, organize fundraising projects, and collaborate with community organizations.

This past year marked the launch of the inaugural leadership course, Leadership 222, specifically designed for all elected or appointed students holding formal leadership positions. This semester-long course engages them in discussions about service, leadership styles, and personal strengths and challenges as student leaders. It also involves them in shaping the cultural and procedural elements of the Middle School. This team of student leaders plays a key role in determining and communicating school policies, especially in the first weeks of school, and welcoming new students into the Middle School community.

A highlight of the spring semester was the Midyear Leadership Retreat. Student leaders visited the University of Texas System headquarters, engaging with professionals about civic engagement and public service through the Archer Center. They also visited the Dell

Children’s Community to learn about how leadership changes lives. During their time at Dell, they engaged in a service project and made Valentines for the patients at Dell Children’s Hospital. The retreat aims to inspire our leaders to think beyond the school environment and to understand their potential impact on broader communities. Each year, student leaders will visit a different location during their retreat, pushing students to see leadership and service in various sectors and populations.

Looking ahead to the spring of 2025, the Middle School will introduce Leadership 101, a course designed to nurture leadership qualities among students who do not hold formal leadership roles. This course will contribute to the growth of students as they explore how they can find themselves as leaders and initiate a growing culture of leadership. Through this curriculum, our aim is to build character, foster inclusivity, and boost confidence among our students, empowering them to enact change. This is a key part of our ongoing mission and our vision for leadership development within our school community.

College Counseling

A Year In Review

By ELIZABETH GUICE , Director of College Counseling, and CHAD FULTON , Associate Director of College Counseling

In a year with college admissions headlines like “Inside the Blunders that Plunged the College Admission Season into Disarray,” we were reminded that the big headlines don’t tell the whole story. Amidst the backdrop of Supreme Court decisions about affirmative action, changes in testing policies, and revamps to the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), many parts of the college application and selection process remained the same as in previous years and St. Andrew’s seniors thrived.

While all four years of high school prepare students for this process, intentional work in the second half of high school and particularly in the senior year guides students. To do this work, St. Andrew’s begins our connection with freshmen in course scheduling workshops, all students and families are invited to our virtual College Admissions Panel and the annual Hills of Austin College Fair, and juniors have individual meetings with college counselors. Timely newsletters offer ways in which students in all grades can be preparing for

and making progress in this process with everything from college visits to test prep. Prospective athletes and artists receive support from those departments on campus. College Nights, FAFSA workshops, and welcoming over 100 college admissions counselors to campus to meet with students provide additional educational opportunities for students.

This work culminates in the senior year when students work closely with their college counselor. The Class of 2024 applied to approximately eight schools each and were accepted by over 140 colleges and universities. They are on track to attend 61 different schools and 11 will be the first St. Andrew’s Highlander to attend the college of their choice (or the first on those campuses in over seven years). All of this is the result of hours of researching and writing, personal discernment, campus visits, and much support from college counselors, mentors, teachers, and family. We are so proud of you, Class of 2024!

Words/advice from recent graduates about the college application process

“Start early and be open minded to different schools and paths that you did not originally think of. I learned to accept failure and trust that you will end up where you are supposed to—and to celebrate your own accomplishments as well as the ones around you.”

“Everyone is on their own timeline when it comes to making college lists and submitting applications. Make sure you’re following your own timeline and meeting your own deadlines that you set for yourself, rather than comparing your progress to other people’s progress. It’s good to take your time writing essays, and it’s okay to not have all your applications submitted by early August.”

Looking Ahead to 2024–2025

We will have four full-time college counselors as we transform our program to provide more support for students and families as early as 9th grade.

As the result of our new format, students and families will get matched with a college counselor in the second semester of freshman year and will have multiple levels of guidance at the Upper School throughout their four years, including their advisor, college counselor, and dean.

We are collaborating with St. Michael’s and Regents on programming that will allow us to offer more comprehensive and dynamic programs to all three private school communities.

A Year at Rollins Library Reading, Leading, and Succeeding

By CAROLINE TURELIER , Lower & Middle School Librarian

The Rollins Library was a hub of literacy and learning during the 2023-2024 school year. With so many exciting projects and lessons unfolding this year, the library is looking forward to another year of learning and growth!

THE POWER OF STORIES

From kindergarten through fourth grade, students have enjoyed weekly library lessons, focusing on enhancing literacy, reading for pleasure, and honing research skills. For their final unit of the year, fourth graders dove into the concept of “Mirrors, Windows, and Doors,” a frequently-used metaphor in education that illustrates how books can serve as mirrors for us to see our own

experiences reflected back to us, windows to see another perspective outside of our own, or doors to escape into a whole new world.

The class applied the metaphor to a few classic picture books. The book Thank You, Mr. Falker, which tells the story of a young girl with dyslexia, was a favorite for the class. For some, the story served as a mirror, reflecting their personal experiences, and for others, it acted as a window, a tool to peer into the experiences of others and practice empathy. After reading each book in this unit, classes discussed whether they could see themselves in the characters’ experiences, whether it opened their eyes to the experiences of others, or whether it helped them escape to another world—all reasons why literature is so important for the soul!

REVITALIZING OUR COLLECTION

The guiding mission of Rollins Library is to encourage reading for the pure joy of it. The library’s yearlong

chapter book project aimed to advance this mission by making it easier for students to find books they enjoy. Over the course of the year, all 2,400 chapter books were re-catalogued and stickered with a colored label, simplifying the search process for our young readers. From fantasy and mystery to science fiction and historical fiction, the new stickers allow students more independence in their book selection process and invite them to explore genres they may have previously overlooked. We look forward to hearing all the book genres that students enjoyed over the summer!

LIBRARY LEADERS

Looking ahead, the library is excited to introduce the Library Stewards program, which will launch for Middle School students during the fall of the 2024–2025 school year. This program aims to cultivate a sense of ownership and agency among students in their library environment. After an application process, selected students will create videos, posters, and reading

competitions to promote reading to Lower School students. In addition to being reading role models, stewards will also experience real-world job skills by helping with library projects such as analyzing checkout data, curating book lists, and organizing library materials. We are excited to see the innovative ideas that the middle schoolers will bring to the table.

Stay connected by following the library on Instagram at @RollinsLibrary!

Boys Lacrosse

SPC Champions Again!

The Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse team won the 3A SPC Championship title on April 30. After an impressive 5–0 record in conference play, they secured the top seed in the SPC tournament, earning a first-round bye. In the semifinals, the Highlanders won over Greenhill with a 9–4 victory. After weather and scheduling conflicts caused an eleven day delay, St. Andrew’s finally played for the title, facing crosstown rival St. Stephen’s in the finals and winning 14–6. Congratulations to the team on this remarkable achievement!

Check out a highlight reel of the championship game, created by videographer (and St.

Andrew’s lacrosse fan!) Ibifiri Jamabo.

College Bound

Seven Highlanders to Compete at the Next Level

Congratulations to the seven student athletes from the Class of 2024 who have committed to play at the collegiate level next year. Being a student-athlete requires discipline and focus, even more so when training and preparing to play at the next level. These Highlanders have shown their hard work, dedication,

and passion for their sport and the St. Andrew’s community is thrilled to watch them excel at the next level. In two different signing ceremonies this spring, the following athletes were celebrated as they committed to play for their school next year.

REESE GOODMAN

Lacrosse University of Chicago

KAI COHAGAN Lacrosse Vassar College

Rowing

University of Texas

GRACE TUHABONYE

Swimming California Institute of Technology

SAGE EPSTEIN

Baseball

Ursinus College

WHEELER EHRLICH

Tennis University of Dallas

Baseball

Rhodes College

BELLA BENKE

REID MANTI

St. Andrew’s to Launch Inaugural Dance Program in 2024–2025 School Year

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, under the leadership of Athletic Director Thomas Sale, is excited to announce the launch of its inaugural dance program, set to begin in the Fall of 2024.

The program will be an addition to the PE/Athletics Department and will include both competitive dance teams and dance classes for PE credit. The fall dance season will focus on adding spirit to athletic events and the spring dance team will compete in area dance competitions. Dance classes will be held during the school day and are open to all ability levels. The curriculum will focus on movement, flexibility, and basic choreography.

“I’m thrilled that the St. Andrew’s dance program will begin in the upcoming school year,” said Coach Sale. “This moment has been years in the making, and I am so excited for both our students and our school.

Dance holds a significant place in our students’ lives, and our new program will provide a platform for them to share their passion and talents with the wider St. Andrew’s community.”

Texas native and St. Edward’s University alumna Taylor Rainbolt has been appointed as the first Director of Dance. With an impressive background in

teaching, choreography, and performance—including training stints with the Radio City Rockettes, Austin Shakespeare, Zilker Theatre, ZACH Theatre, and The City Theatre—Rainbolt is well-equipped to lead the program. She has choreographed and taught in high schools and universities, as well as at various dance studios and Austin-area theatre companies.

Taylor will design and implement the curriculum for the dance classes, coach the dance team, and choreograph the school musicals. “My vision for this department is to instill students with a love for the artistry and athleticism of dance,” said Taylor. “I intend for it to further enhance existing programs, positively impact school spirit and develop poised, dedicated performers. I believe this program will instill individual confidence, encourage collaboration, and allow a safe space for creative exploration.”

The new Athletics Complex and Student Union, slated to open in the Fall of 2025, will feature a large stateof-the-art dance studio. It is the perfect opportunity for Taylor to lead the way on building the foundation for this program and provide new and exciting opportunities for St. Andrew’s students.

The feeling is mutual for Taylor as she joins St. Andrew’s. “I was drawn to St. Andrew’s for the amazing environment it cultivates and phenomenal students it produces,” she said. “It truly is an exceptional place that nourishes the scholar, athlete, artist, and servant. When I learned of the plans for the inaugural dance program, I knew I had to apply for such a dream role. I am humbled and grateful to have been selected as the Director of Dance.”

Golf

The 5/6 Girls Golf team dominated the AIPL Tournament with Avery S. ’30, Mei Mei B. ’30, and Macy M. ’30 placing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, respectively! On the boys’ side, Wes T. ’28 was the overall champion and Adam O. ’28 finished in second place to give the 7/8 Boys the victory.

Game On

Middle School athletes shine this spring

Fifth through eighth grade athletes had an impressive spring season, marking a successful year for these young athletes across various sports.

Track & Field

The Track & Field team triumphed at the 2024 AIPL Championship Meet, winning three out of four divisions. The following student athletes earned gold in at least one of their individual events: Katy F. ’30, Phinley G. ’30, Kannon W. ’30, Levi W. ’30, Holly H. ’28, Anna Jane F. ’28, Hayes P. ’28, Chance F. ’29, Cyrus S. ’28,

and Nick J. ’28. Along the way, Holly, Kannon, Chance, and Hayes all broke school records this season, and Kannon’s high jump of 5 feet tied the league record!

Middle School Baseball had one of their best seasons in several years, ending their three month journey with numerous victories and only one loss! Look for eighth graders Miles H. ’28 and Jason H. ’28 to make waves at the Upper School next year.

Lacrosse

On the lacrosse field, the 7/8 Boys team excelled throughout the season. This skilled, physical team made things difficult for their opponents all season long and took down Regents in their final game to win the CTYLA for the first time in a number of years. The 5/6 Boys also had an outstanding season with a number of solid victories. With a large roster, this program looks to be in a great place for the future.

The 7/8 Girls Lacrosse team, under the outgoing Coach Spieth, worked hard and showed significant improvement throughout the season. Under the leadership of Coach Callie McDowell ’23, the 5/6 Girls Lacrosse team tore through their regular season with only one loss. They earned the second seed in the CAPLAX playoffs and defeated St. Gabriel's in the semifinals, moving on to face Westlake's feeder program in the championship game. With a one point lead heading into the 4th quarter, the Highlanders scored a flurry of goals to win the championship by a margin of 9–5, solidifying their status as the best public or private school team in the Austin area!

Tennis

The Middle School Tennis team had a great showing at the AIPL Tennis Tournament. Emily F. ’30 won the intermediate singles division on the girls side, while Abby H. ’28 won the advanced singles division for the fourth straight year! Competing in doubles, Eloise F. ’28 and Maeve O. ’28 won the intermediate division and the dynamic duo of JP H. ’28 and Hugh B. ’28 won the intermediate competition on the boys side.

Congratulations to all of our coaches and student-athletes on an outstanding season!

St. Andrew’s City Limits

St. Andrew’s hosts 54th ISAS Arts Festival

From the moment one arrived at St. Andrew’s City Limits—the name given to the 54th annual ISAS (Independent Schools Association of the Southwest) Arts Festival hosted by St. Andrew’s—the buzz across campus was electric.

On the Nazro Green, students strummed guitars in impromptu performances, lounging in the beautiful spring weather. Nearby under a shady tree, others beaded together colorful friendship bracelets. Along sidewalks, chalk artists turned gray concrete into an elaborate work of art in itself. Artistry and joyful noise filled the air—it was only fitting that this year’s ISAS shared a similar creative energy as the local festival after which it was named.

Since its first iteration in 1967, the ISAS Arts Festival has been an exceptionally unique experience for students at participating schools.

Over three days, more than 3,000 students from 42 schools across the Southwest gather at one host school, where they can showcase their art,

enjoy musical, choral, and theater performances, engage in displays of 2D and 3D visual art, attend workshops, benefit from critiques from expert adjudicators in their discipline, and so much more.

From the beginning, the festival has been intentionally designed to be a celebration and exchange of the arts rather than a competition for rankings. This attitude lends itself to a truly lively atmosphere, one rooted in joy rather than competition.

St. Andrew’s first hosted the festival in 2013, shortly after the opening of the Dell Fine Arts Center. For this year’s festival, it took 18 months of planning and countless community members to pull off an event of this magnitude. Crucial to the planning process were Festival Coordinator Helen Gilbert, Fine Arts Department Chairs Jason Kruger, Alec Warn, and Lucy Bourland, and Associate Head of School Alice Nezzer.

Photos courtesy of Jennifer Stratton and Darcie Westerlund

Parent Taylor Bowles managed hundreds of volunteers that helped the festival run smoothly each day. SAGE Dining Services, led by Senior Food Service Director Jake Love, fed thousands of people at all hours of the day, serving 20,000 meals throughout the span of the festival. John Richardson and his Transportation team transported volunteers to and from campus safely and helped manage the flow of nearly 60 charter buses from participating schools on campus.

Walking through the festival grounds is a game of “choose your own adventure”. At ISAS, there is always something to discover, a thread to follow, and a moment of joy to be found. You can follow the sound of rock music streaming from one tent, stumble into a silent disco on the DFAC porch, or find yourself at a figure drawing workshop. You could head to the Dell Theater to watch a musical showcase like Mean Girls or Chicago, enjoy student short films and documentaries at the film tent, or meander through rows and rows of visual art displays in the gym, marveling at the paintings, drawings, ceramics, textile

and fiber art, photography, and sculptures by hundreds of young artists across the Southwest. You could watch dance showcases ranging from jazz to hip-hop to contemporary, enjoy performances of orchestra, choir, or concert band, or join the audience of a one-act play. When students were not performing or showcasing their work, they were supporting the art of their peers, either by attending as audience members or, in the case of the visual arts showcase, leaving Post-It notes near each piece with compliments and questions for the artist.

Mid-morning on Saturday, after an action-packed festival, amps were unplugged, tripods collapsed, and dance costumes folded away. Thousands of students boarded their buses home and campus eventually quieted, allowing the festival’s impact to be felt. ISAS is a rare gift that not many students get to experience— three days of artistic expression, collaboration, creativity, mentorship, and joy. “Our faculty, staff, students, and parent volunteers did incredible work to create such a marvelous experience for thousands of students,” said Head of School Melissa Grubb.

“It will go down as a great moment in the history of our school, simply superb in every way.”

Curtains Up!

Middle School performs Curtains the musical

The students of St. Andrewʼs Middle School delighted audiences at the Dell Fine Arts Center this May with their production of Curtains (School Edition), a musical filled with mystery, comedy, and the spirit of show business.

Curtains was an exciting choice of show for Middle School theater students, featuring a murder mystery storyline, plenty of madcap comedy, and a show-withina-show format. The show is set in 1959 Boston during the opening night of a brand new musical. When the leading lady mysteriously dies on stage, the entire cast and crew become suspects. A local detective—a huge musical theater fan—takes on the case, trying to solve the mystery and ensuring that the show can go on.

The show featured a colorful cast of characters that were perfect for the big personalities of Middle School theater students. With delightful comedy, intriguing mystery, and spectacular song and dance numbers, Middle School put on a truly show-stopping performance—their professionalism, vibrant energy, and skill were evident in every scene. Bravo to this cast of Show People, the crew, and directors Laura Skipper and Alec Warn for a fabulous show!

Select Choir Takes DFW

This spring, Select Choir embarked on their annual tour, this time around the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where they shared their talents with new audiences and learned from professionals in collegiate-level clinics.

The students began their trip with a visit to Texas Christian University, where they participated in a campus tour and a clinic with Dr. Marla Ringel, Assistant Director of Choral Activities. She introduced the choir to innovative singing techniques that they later applied to their performances on tour, like the use of resistance bands to reinforce breath support and musicality. The following day, the choir shared the stage with the ESD Choir and Lakehill Preparatory Choir at The Episcopal School of Dallas for an incredible collaborative choral experience. Each choir performed three pieces on their own and ended the performance with a rendition of “Fairest Lord Jesus,” directed by choir director Olivia

Havel. Later, at the University of North Texas College of Music, students received a clinic from Choral Conducting doctoral student and Music Education teaching fellow Evan Powers. Mr. Powers allowed Select Choir to explore their musicality through movement and gestures that helped students bring even more expression and emotion to their performance.

On Saturday, students enjoyed sightseeing and popup performances in both Fort Worth and Dallas. The first stop was Brookdale Lewisville, where students performed for residents in the senior living community. After the performance, students visited with the residents and shared their passions for music. Next, Select Choir visited the Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth, where they viewed the collection and the Surrealism exhibit of Caribbean and African diasporic artists. The visit included a performance in the lobby of

the museum as well as a scavenger hunt for a sculpture in the collection by Ms. Havel’s uncle, Joseph Havel. Students ended their action-packed day with a visit and performance at the top of Reunion Tower, where they enjoyed panoramic views of downtown Dallas.

The tour concluded on a high note with a beautiful Palm Sunday service at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas. Students joined the church choir in singing their hymns as well as the anthem performance of “Ride on King Jesus” by Moses Hogan.

The Highlanders felt right at home during the service, which was bookended by bagpipe performances by the Metroplex United Drum and Pipe Band.

Each year, Select Choir leaves their tour with a reinvigorated love of music, a commitment to serving their community through song, and new skills taught by experts in their field. A beloved annual tradition, the tour not only enhances their repertoire, but solidifies their unity as a choir.

“Even If You’re Little, You Can Do A Lot” Sixth grade performs Matilda, Jr.

Sixth graders brought the whimsical world of Roald Dahl to life during their production of Matilda, Jr., the musical. In an adaptation of the classic children’s novel, students told the story of Matilda, a precocious and powerful young girl who is misunderstood by her family. At school, under the tyrannical rule of cruel headmistress Miss Trunchbull, Matilda dares to take a stand, inspiring her classmates with her courage, intelligence, and imagination. Sixth graders performed the dynamic dance numbers and catchy songs with energy and joy, and in telling this special story, reminded audiences of the strength that lies in being different.

A Colorful Year

Middle School presents Art Fest

This April, Middle School students unveiled their work at the 2024 Art Fest, highlighting a year’s worth of artistic accomplishments. The display featured a variety of mediums including ceramics, watercolor, and printmaking. Throughout the year, students honed their skills, discovering and refining their unique artistic voices. Exploring different techniques helped each artist grow their creativity and skills. Parents, students, and faculty enjoyed a festive evening admiring the display of work while also enjoying student music and poetry performances.

Middle School Service In Action

By ANNIE SYKES , K–8 Director of SEL and Service Learning

Community service is a cornerstone of the St. Andrew’s Middle School experience. Our students are enthusiastic about helping out and are becoming known as capable and cheerful helpers around 31st Street and even in the greater Austin area.

While Middle School service statistics are always impressive, the 2023–2024 school year was something special. Collectively, students served 5,259 hours,

equivalent to about 219 days. An impressive 94% of Middle School students participated in some form of community service, and over half (58%) contributed fifteen or more hours throughout the school year.

“People tend to think Middle Schoolers aren’t helpful, but I don’t think you could say that about our kids,” said Tim Moore, Head of Middle School.

Students particularly enjoy serving on campus, often working with younger students and assisting teachers. This type of service allows them to see the immediate impact of their efforts. Reese B. ʼ28, a member of the Student Food Team for the annual Big Bend trip, noted, “It is very hard for everyone to feed that many kids, so

it made it a lot easier to have more hands.” Ray K. ʼ29, who was a Grandparents’ Day buddy to a first grader without a visiting grandparent, said, “I think I helped my buddy have a good Grandparents’ Day experience and helped strengthen the bond between the Middle School and the Lower School.”

Our students also extend their service to the wider Austin community, supporting many local charitable and non-profit organizations. These experiences teach invaluable skills, particularly in building empathy through action. Sarita Z. ʼ30 prepared a meal for a family staying at the Ronald McDonald House, explaining, “I was helping the people who are staying there because they don't have to worry about food and can just go and see their children in the hospital.” Similarly, Charlie G. ʼ28 used his football skills to coach a junior team, saying, “I helped kids learn to play safely by telling them to keep their heads up and teaching them how to tackle properly.”

Each spring, the seventh grade embarks on a fourday trip to Camp Buckner, focusing on the servant pillar of the St. Andrew’s experience. This trip includes team-building activities and service learning, where students work with various non-profits in Austin.

Importantly, they also take time to reflect on their experiences, considering what they learned and how it impacted them. After this year’s trip, many students spoke about the impact their service time had made on them. One student, who spent the afternoon sorting and organizing a Prom Rack event for foster children, spoke about how good it felt to provide some normalcy for kids around a milestone event that she herself is looking forward to experiencing one day. Another student spoke about how connecting with a memory care patient helped her feel closer to her relative who is battling the same disease. Reflections like these help students understand the significance of service, laying a foundation for becoming steady servant leaders.

The benefits of a robust community service program like ours are endless. Local organizations appreciate the material support and commitment of our young generation. Meanwhile, our students gain valuable lessons from their service experiences, often without even realizing it. Service provides an opportunity to turn their focus outward, offering a welcome break from the often relentless self-focus of the middle years. When they’re busy helping others, selfconsciousness fades, allowing them to grow in empathy and leadership.

How did the Middle Schoolers serve this year?

Below are just some of the places and people served by Middle School students this year.

Mentoring, Coaching, and Connecting

Central Texas Autism Center

Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas

Peer Mentor Cabinet

Ambassadors Cabinet

WAYA Youth Sports

Summer at St. Andrew’s Camps

Little Behavior Consulting

Westminster Senior Living

Letters of Love

A Million Thanks

Baking, Cooking, and Food Services

Ronald McDonald House

Mobile Loaves & Fishes

Central Texas Food Bank

Hope Austin

Jewish Family Services Food Bank

Meals on Wheels

House Painting, Trash Pick-ups, and Yard Work

Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT)

Community First! Village Keep Austin Beautiful

Pease Park Conservancy

Shoal Creek Conservancy

Kit-making, In-Kind Donations, and other Odd Jobs

Austin Diaper Bank Partnerships for Children

Austin Pets Alive

Caritas of Austin

Austin Assistance League

Austin Humane Society

Kendra Scott Foundation

Middle School Service By The Numbers

94% of students did community service this year 58% of students served the recommended 15 or more hours this year

5,259 Total hours served by students this year

22.7

Average hours served by an MS student this year 5.5

Average number of different times an MS student served this year

About the Middle School Community Service Program

• There is no service requirement in Middle School We recommend students serve at least 15 hours each year in Middle School. This year, 58% for middle school students completed at least 15 service hours.

• On- and off-campus community service opportunities are regularly published or emailed to students. Students are not limited to schoolpublished events—they can serve however makes sense to them! Any questions about what will or will not “count” should be directed to Annie Sykes, K–8 Director of SEL and Service Learning.

• Students going above and beyond in their service are celebrated during Servant of the Month announcements, during the Four Pillars Banquet, and at Eighth Grade Commencement.

Instruments of Peace

In their Capstone Project, fifth graders engage with their community to make change.

“Nothing about us without us.”

For St. Andrew’s fifth graders, this centuries-old mantra was central to the Capstone Project, a culminating project that marks the end of a student’s Lower School experience. Rather than working for people in need, the focus of the project was working with them to identify needs and make a difference. During this yearlong project, students learned skills in guided and independent research, chose an issue in the community that mattered to them, selected an organization that supported their cause, then collaborated with the organization to make a positive impact. Guided by empathy, groups set out to make a difference as they closed out their time at the Lower School.

Fifth grade focused on community issues like animal rights, pollution, endangered species, poverty,

homelessness, and food insecurity. Students were sorted into groups based on the issue they wanted to focus on. Groups worked with a faculty mentor over months, who helped students hone research questions, narrow down the organization they wanted to work with, and reach out to the organization.

In March, students embarked on their service trips, traveling all over Austin to work with and learn from their chosen organizations.

Members of the Homelessness capstone group traveled to Community First Village, Austin’s 51-acre planned community for people transitioning out of homelessness. Community First provides affordable permanent housing, a supportive community, and opportunities for residents to earn an income. While volunteering in the expansive Genesis Gardens,

students were able to speak to residents and understand homelessness from an entirely new perspective. “I chose the topic of homelessness because I think it’s unfair for people to be left alone on the streets without a home and a stable job,” said William T. ʼ31. “I love the work that Community First does, and it was really inspiring to see people who have been through hard times rebuilding their lives.”

“Children of all backgrounds and ages deserve to thrive, have fun, and enjoy life as much as anyone else,” said members of the Children’s Rights group. Members of this group decided to work with Foster Village Austin, an organization that aims to bridge the gap between those experiencing foster care (both children and foster parents) and those who want to help, meeting material and practical needs and providing practical and emotional support during what is often a turbulent time. The group organized a drive to collect items for Family Fun Packs, full of new items intended to help new foster families bond. After a successful community drive, the group assembled the packages and delivered them to Foster Village, where they also had the chance to speak with employees and learn more about their mission.

“A piece of trash can end up in streams, rivers, and drains that lead to the ocean. Litter is really hurting marine life and most of it does not biodegrade easily,” said Gemma P. ʼ31. The group felt passionately about this cause. Choosing to address the issue within our

community, they joined up with Keep Austin Beautiful, which hopes to encourage Austinites to volunteer, beautify green spaces, clean waterways, and reduce waste. Fifth graders joined some Keep Austin Beautiful team members at the West Bouldin Creek Greenbelt, where they spent time picking up trash from the creek, improving conditions for the life forms who live in the creek and keeping the debris from traveling to oceans. Cleaning up the creek was an eye-opening experience for the group. After seeing how much debris had ended up in just one creek in Austin, the group considered the scale of this problem across the city, the state, the country, and beyond.

After their trips, each group created a documentarystyle video, describing their issue, especially as it shows up in the city of Austin, as well as the organization that the fifth graders chose to work alongside. Videos included a call-to-action for viewers, encouraging them to get involved with their chosen organization or others that make a positive impact on their selected issue. The Capstone project allowed students to learn from community leaders making a difference in Austin as well as practice hands-on service learning themselves.

As they move to Middle School, fifth grade is equipped with empathy, leadership, and compassion to make real change.

Growing Green Thumbs

Middle School students plants seeds of sustainability

A student-led gardening initiative is taking root at St. Andrew’s Middle School, as middle schoolers experience the joys of gardening and the importance of sustainability.

The Middle School Garden project is spearheaded by the Environmental Action Cabinet (EAC), a student-led club dedicated to environmental stewardship.

“Students came up with the idea of a middle school garden, and the results have been fantastic,” said Rev. Nathan Speck-Ewer, Assisting Chaplain and the faculty sponsor of the EAC. The garden has successfully yielded a variety of produce, including lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers, as well as flowers designed

to attract pollinators. An avid home gardener himself, Fr. Nathan also gives students bite-sized lessons in plant history, botany, and soil science, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of the environment.

Fr. Nathan emphasized the broader educational goals of the project. “We want to grow more than plants. We want to grow student’s confidence in themselves and teach them that they can make a positive change in the environment by learning to grow their own food, and gain a greater appreciation for this wonderful world in which we’re blessed to live. I’m so pleased that’s happening,” he commented.

The middle school garden is part of a larger greening effort across divisions at St. Andrew’s. At the Lower School, second grade teacher Annie Billups leads a garden club where students cultivate vegetables,

herbs, and pollinator plants. On the Upper School campus, raised garden beds of vegetables and herbs are regularly grown, often used by SAGE Dining Services in school lunch offerings.

Blake Amos, Director of Experiential Education, notes the impact of these hands-on learning experiences. “We know that whenever we can get our kids to touch, feel and live an experience, then those lessons will leave a major impression on them. Fr. Nathan and Annie Billups have worked hard this year to create authentic experiences that have been incredibly meaningful and impactful on so many students,” he said.

Head of Middle School Tim Moore also praised the initiative. “One of the highlights of my year has been seeing the EAC take off with so many cool initiatives and projects. This is a group of highly motivated

students seeking to make change at our school and on behalf of our planet. It’s been wonderful to witness student leadership in action this year in the EAC.”

As these gardening programs blossom, they are helping more than just plants; they are nurturing young people who are ready to make their mark on the world.

Honoring the Life and Legacy

of Former Head of School Sean Murphy

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our former Head of School, Sean Murphy, who led St. Andrew's from 2013–2021.

Sean was born in 1963 in Corrales, New Mexico. He was a graduate of the Albuquerque Academy's Class of 1981; he earned a BA in English from Dartmouth College in 1985 and completed a Masterʼ s at St Johnʼs College, Santa Fe, in 1994. From his first days as an English teacher to his final two decades as a head of school, he devoted his professional life to the vision and mission of independent schools across the country.

He found his true home in leading Episcopal schools, where his faith and love for others found full expression. When he spoke at a school assembly or

commencement, gave a eulogy, or wrote for school publications, his gift was to mix the simple and personal with the profound, leading congregations as easily as he did conversations. As a scholar, he loved quoting Aristotle and Shakespeare. As an orator, he was not afraid of tears or silence.

Sean was an upper school administrator at Albuquerque Academy, associate head at Oldfields School in Glencoe, Maryland, then Head of School at Palmer Trinity in Miami, Florida and finally at St Andrewʼ s in Austin, Texas. During his tenure at St. Andrew’s, he oversaw the creation and construction of our new kindergarten, led a number of important strategic initiatives, and helped navigate the unprecedented COVID crisis at our school. He mentored and inspired a generation of school leaders in his various roles, who are now transforming schools nationwide.

“I had the blessing and pleasure to work alongside Sean for six years. Over that time, Sean evolved from a mentor into a close friend. A gifted institutional leader, Sean led with his heart and demonstrated comprehensive strategic knowledge and discipline. His guidance left an indelible mark on my career as an educator, and his passionate advocacy for the dignity of every child was unparalleled. He was quiet in his humility, understood the beauty of a patient and deft ear, and remained steadfast in his faith. Sean’s belief in the goodness of children was inspiring, as was his unwavering dedication to making change in a troubled world.”

—Kama Bruce, former Lower School Head

Always looking for ways to serve, Sean spent many years on the board at the National Association of Episcopal Schools; he was chair of the board for the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education; he served on the board of the Florida Independent Schools Association where he chaired the committee on Standards and Accreditation; he was elected to the Country Day Schools Headmasterʼ s Association; and he was active in the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). After his retirement from St. Andrewʼ s, he continued to serve on the board of Headwaters School in Austin and had recently joined the board of St. Mark's Montessori School in Albuquerque. Sean impacted thousands of people over the course of his professional life. This is his legacy.

Sean loved The Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan, and knew every John Prine song by heart. His favorite act of hospitality was to serve up a rare ribeye steak, a side of green chiles, and a homemade blueberry pie. He enjoyed the occasional Cuban cigar.

He adored his family; they retreated every summer to their lakeside cabin in Cable, Wisconsin. He was a loving husband and a steadfast father to daughters Helen and Jackie, attending every one of Helenʼ s cross-country races as well as all of Jackieʼ s theater performances. He was so proud of them.

Sean is survived by his wife, Katrina Murphy, his devoted partner in every way. They would have been married 28 years on July 27. His wedding gift to her was to build a horse barn at their Albuquerque home. He pitched hay and shoveled manure, and greeted Katrina in the back alley when she returned from riding in the Bosque. He took the reins and led her through the gate. He would say this was the most important work he ever did.

In addition to Katrina, he leaves behind his daughters, Helen (24) and Jackie (23), both of Austin, Texas. He is also survived by his brother Tom Blueher and his wife Fran, his brother John Blueher and his wife Kim, and his sister Von Roberson and her husband Robby. He is preceded in death by his two brothers Bill Blueher of Telluride and Peter Murphy, as well as his parents: his father John C. Murphy and his mother Joann Cooper Murphy.

Sean admired and supported The Gazelle Foundation, which saves lives by developing clean water sources in the small African country of Burundi. In lieu of flowers, we hope friends will consider a gift to The Gazelle Foundation through his memorial page.

In the words of musician John Prine, “Realizing youʼ re not going to see that person again is always the most difficult part about it. But that feeling settles, and then you are glad you had that person in your life, and then the happiness and the sadness get all swirled up inside you.”

A memorial service for Sean in Austin will be held at the Southwest Parkway campus of St. Andrewʼ s Episcopal School on Saturday October 19, 2024, at 11:00 A.M.

“I remain gladdened of heart that I knew you, Sean, gladdened that the world got to know you, and gladdened that your work touched so many. Through that work, you will continue to be the change you desperately wanted to see for the children who will inherit it. Goodbye, dear friend, and thank you for making us better for everything that you represented.”

—Kama Bruce, former Lower

School Head

Remembering former Fourth Grade Teacher

Marilyn "Bebe" Thompson Roberts

For thirty years, St. Andrew’s fourth grade teacher Marilyn “Bebe” Thompson Roberts changed the lives of Lower School students and the many teachers she mentored. She passed away at the age of 90 on May 29, 2024.

A beloved teacher, mentor and influence, Bebe is fondly remembered by her former students. “Bebe epitomized St. Andrews in my view,” remembered alum John Nelson ʼ80. “Not only was she the best teacher I had in my six years at St. Andrew’s, she was the best teacher I ever had (including Culver, college, and JD/ MBA graduate school). In my view she was an even better person, and I enjoyed keeping up with her from time to time over the past few decades. I’m not alone in these sentiments, as I’ve been in touch with several classmates and St. Andrew’s alums today who shared fond memories and thoughts of Mrs. Roberts.”

“Bebe always liked to share with people that I was a student from her first fourth grade class at St. Andrew’s,” remembers alumna Julie (Little) Metzger ʼ 72. “We were close from the very beginning and ended up being more like mother-daughter than teacher-student. We kept in touch all through the years. When we moved back to Austin from Dallas in 2005, Bebe helped us find a home that was four houses away from her own.”

Bebe graduated from Beaumont High School and attended Lamar University before graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in zoology.

She later returned to the University of Texas where she earned an education degree and began her 30-year teaching career at St. Andrew’s.

An avid sports fan, she and her husband Jerry held season tickets to University of Texas football, basketball and baseball for decades. She continued attending games well into her 80’s.

“When I was hired to teach P.E. at St. Andrew’s in 1977, I had just graduated from the University of Texas and had zero teaching experience,” said former St. Andrew’s P.E. teacher and long-time Lower School Head Sharon Wilson. “I remember feeling overwhelmed and intimidated until my first meeting with Bebe. She was the most beautifully coiffed woman I had ever met (even as a younger woman, Bebe had the most glorious upswept silver hair) and she had the kindest sparkling blue eyes. From my first days, Bebe figuratively and literally embraced me and she became my beloved mentor until the day she retired. I learned so many important lessons from Bebe and was filled with gratitude for her steadfast support and guidance.”

Bebe was preceded in death by her parents John and Agnes Thompson, and her husband of 50 years, Jerry Roberts. She is survived by her son Mark and his wife Carrie of San Antonio, her brother John Thompson and his wife Lorraine, and her nephew John and his wife Diane.

A foundational member of our Lower School faculty, the memories from Bebe’s classroom days are a treasure for many. She epitomizes the quote from historian Henry B. Adams, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”

Mrs. Roberts and the importance of following instructions

“I still remember this test like it was yesterday, when Bebe taught me an important lesson about following instructions. Bebe passed out a test with twenty questions on it. She said, before you start answering the questions on the test, read all of the questions first. Well, as a competitive person, I just started answering the questions first, not following her very specific instructions. The last question said, ‘Now that you have read all of the questions and followed my instructions, simply write your name on this line and turn in your test.’ I could not figure out how everyone else was finishing the test so quickly until I skipped a few of the questions and finally read the last question as instructed . . . lesson learned!”

JULIE (LITTLE) METZGER ’72

“Bebe was the quintessential teacher— not only to the untold number of students whose lives she profoundly impacted but to countless parents and colleagues who all benefited from her wisdom and compassion. I will forever hold Bebe dearly in my heart. Godspeed, Bebe.”

SHARON WILSON former Lower School Head

Building Community Through ESL

By JUAN R. RECONDO , Upper School Spanish Teacher

The Modern and Classical Languages Department in the Upper School prides itself on having representation from Taiwan, Ecuador, Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the United States. The office echoes with the three languages taught at St. Andrew’s: Mandarin, Latin, and Spanish. Throughout the day, you may hear Dr. Hsiao having a phone conversation in Mandarin, Ms. Doss asking a question in Spanish to Ms. Salamanca, or Mr. Fleming greeting students in Latin. The department is one of the most culturally diverse spaces at school.

English serves as a common language for colleagues in the department. Recognizing this, one of the Spanish teachers, David Barragán, teaches English as a Second

Language (ESL) to members of our St. Andrew’s community. His students include Aldegunda, Doris, and Alfredo, highly respected custodians who work hard to maintain school grounds.

Aldegunda, Doris, and Alfredo, much like the native Spanish speakers in the Language Department, left their homes and families behind in Latin America to pursue better opportunities in the United States. They contribute to the beautiful diversity that defines the country. However, many immigrants feel isolated and misunderstood, precisely because they do not speak English. But languages open doors, create connections, and allow people to advocate for themselves confidently.

David understands the challenges of relocating to the United States with limited English. Although his job teaching Spanish did not require English proficiency, he felt the need to improve his language skills and began taking ESL courses at Brown University during the summers. As a language teacher, he appreciates not

only how to teach but also the intricacies of gaining fluency. By immersing himself in the language, David gradually became proficient.

Years later, when David started working at St. Andrew’s, he discovered that there were some coworkers who did not speak English. Since he has always valued service, one of St. Andrew’s defining pillars for students, David decided to take action. Everything started coming together. First, the class attracted coworkers like Aldegunda, Doris, and Alfredo who were intent on expanding their linguistic horizons. The school provided support by supplying a classroom (David’s own 1101), books, and used iPads. Students like Paula Vidal-Tama ʼ23, Anna Belle Moncrieff ʼ24, and Ana Vidal-Tama ʼ25 have volunteered their time and valuable teaching assistance, with more students volunteering to help after Sloan Golson’s ʼ24 May 1 article in The Tartan

spotlighting the class. Despite challenges and busy schedules, David is determined to continue with his class when school starts back in the fall.

Language acquisition is a long process that calls for a profound level of engagement. Some of the ESL students work long hours and even more than one job to make ends meet. Sometimes, devoting twenty minutes to studying English after class is not a realistic goal. Nonetheless, Aldegunda, Doris, and Alfredo remain committed.

Through teaching and learning English, David and his students model how to build community through language and action.

1 ALEXANDRA BECK ’ 03 welcomed baby Alec Stripling Reuvers on November 20, 2023

2 SARAH MILLER-FELLOWS ’06 serves as the Director of Impact at the Girls Empowerment Network. In January, she helped senior EMI ALDERSON ’24 brainstorm ideas for her Senior Project.

3 TORI HARRISON ’08 writes, “On May 1st, my wife, Rebecca, and I welcomed our newest addition to the Harrison family—Griffin W. Harrison. We are over the moon and big sister Elliot is absolutely smitten with her baby brother!”

4 It’s been a big year for KATHERINE LEWIN ’09 . Her shop, Big Night, has now expanded to two locations in New York City: Greenpoint and the West Village. Our alumni were lucky enough to enjoy an event in the shop in the fall. Katherine’s next project is a book titled, Big Night: Dinners, Parties & Dinner Parties , and she spent the summer hosting book tours in NYC and DC. Big Night focuses on the simplicity of creating the perfect evening with friends and family, with tips, tricks, and recipes to make hosting fun. On June 5th, Katherine was a guest on the TODAY show, hosting a picnic on the plaza with anchor Savannah Guthrie. Visit bignightbk.com to read more about Katherine’s shop, her book, and how to host the perfect dinner party!

5 JASMIN VARA ’09 (with former faculty member Bri Berkowitz) has launched Connected Family Partners, a private practice that provides parent coaching, educational consulting, and therapy to support families through learning differences and mental health needs. Visit connectedfamilypartners.com to learn more.

6 GRANT WILSON ’09 and his wife Kimmie welcomed twins Harper Sterling and Palmer Elizabeth on May 16th!

JULIA BARCENAS ’17 and her sister, LUCY ’10 , bought a house together!

7 TRACE TURNER ’13 has continued to write and direct local theatrical productions. Most recently Trace directed Bottle Alley Theatre Company’s Aurora , inspired by a legendary UFO crash in Aurora, TX. The show received raving reviews from sources such as The Austin Chronicle and Broadway World

8 KENDRA SCHAFER ’14 graduated from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in May of 2024. She will be coming back to Texas to start her residency at UT Health Science Center in San Antonio.

9 MANDY JUSTIZ TODD ’15 graduated from Dell Medical School, and welcomed baby Felicity Mae Todd into the world this spring!

10 OLIVIA CAHILL ’17 served as the Class of 2024 Valedictorian for the SMU Dedman School of Law. After earning her undergraduate degree in Political Science at SMU, Olivia stayed to pursue her J.D. Olivia served on the SMU Law Review Association as Air Law Symposium Editor and participated in SMU Dedman School of Law’s Corporate Counsel Externship Program. After the bar exam, Olivia will join Vinson & Elkins’ Mergers and Acquisitions/Capital Markets group in Dallas.

11 ETHAN ROGERS ’17 has spent the last few years touring nationally with Broadway’s Les Miserables as part of the ensemble and understudy for the role of Jean Valjean, having already played the role in the 2015 St. Andrew’s musical. His next project is quite different, as he joins the cast of Back to the Future: The Musical as antagonist Biff Tannen. The show has begun touring, so visit backtothefuturemusical.com/northamerica/ to catch the show in a city near you!

POUYA MOHAMMADI ’17 recently started a job at Oway, a rideshare freight platform that sells unused space at a 50% discount.

1 BRANDON FARBER ’20 graduated from Baylor University this spring with a degree in Accounting and Professional Sales, and will be moving to Dallas to begin a job at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

2 JAKE HUGGINS ’20 graduated with the Class of 2024 from Middlebury College with an A.B. in Political Science (Cum Laude)

3 MACKENZIE KRUGER ’20 graduated from Chapman University with a BA in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution

4 KYLA THOMPSON ’20 graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in American Studies. She is heading to DC to work for a private equity search firm starting in July!

5 NINA JOURDAN ’21 graduated early from Texas State with a degree in Psychology.

6 BO STALOCH ’23 has been working on his music career by teaming up with artists such as Hans Williams, and opening for the Two Step Inn music festival this spring. Pictured here are Class of 2023 friends William Berry, Rhett Parker, Jackson Harshbarger, Bo Staloch, Zoe Rogers, Evie Dewey and Cullen Dawkins, who all came to see Bo perform at Antone’s.

7 SHANE DICKENS ’17 has continued his music career, and recently played a set at the Highball in Austin with St. Andrew’s Director of Technology, Matt Lipstein.

8 Thank you to everyone who came out for our annual Alumni Baseball Game. We hope to see you for next year’s game on May 25, 2025!

Radio Coffee + Beer, owned by JACK WILSON ’ 02 , is celebrating its 10th anniversary! Since their grand opening in 2014, Radio has opened a second location, and is currently expanding to a third location.

WHITNEY LANGSTON LEWIS ’ 09 was promoted to Managing Director at Accenture this spring!

AMIL MALIK ’ 12 graduated from George Washington University Law School last year and is working for a law firm in New York City. She specializes in crypto and blockchain.

JORDAN KAPPLER ’ 16 just graduated from Reed College with a Bachelor’s in English and is starting a Master’s in English this fall at the University of Chicago!

SAMEER MALIK ’ 18 earned a degree in Finance with a minor in Middle Eastern Studies and a certificate in Business and Public Policy at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. He now works in consulting at Deloitte in New York City.

SAM MCCARTHY-POTTER ’ 19 is a scientific researcher at the Haim Lab in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Carver College of Medicine, the University of Iowa. His research is focused on developing molecular, bioinformatic, and machine learning tools to tailor antiviral therapeutics.

ALEX HERNANDEZ ’ 20 graduated from New York University, Stern School of Business with a degree in Finance. He works as an investment banker at BNP Paribas in Manhattan.

HARRISON CHUI ’ 20 writes, “Hey SAS Alums, I just got back from a month-long Asia trip with other ’20 alums Rawley Casey, Sam Zapalac, and William Goodman. We were celebrating each other graduating from college and were joined by a few other middle school friends (Trinity Episcopal). We went to Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. It was a trip of a lifetime.

I recently opened up a film production company, Salado Pictures, and I am always looking to connect with fellow creatives and people in the industry. Our company focuses on branded content and documentaries for local brands and artists, so if you know anyone who might need anything like that, we’re happy to talk to them! A larger goal of mine is to develop and produce a feature film within the next year—shot in and around Austin with the people who have helped shape my skill set and style. Would love to bounce ideas off with anyone interested in film production. Cheers!”

Alumni Gatherings

Reunion Weekend 2024

We were delighted to host our annual Reunion Weekend this spring, welcoming back the classes of 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019 for their milestone celebrations.

The weekend kicked off on Friday afternoon with a special alumni chapel service. Elizabeth Ketner Winterroth ʼ04 delivered the alumni offering, reflecting on the appreciation of this year’s chapel theme, “Instruments of Peace,” a prayer attributed to St. Francis.

One of the weekend’s highlights was our inaugural Alumni Golf Tournament at Butler Pitch & Putt, held to benefit the St. Andrew’s Fund. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and sponsors, the event raised over

Classes of 2005, 2010, 2015 & 2020 this is your Reunion Year!

$16,000. We are so grateful to our sponsors and alumni for making this tournament a success! A big thank you to our Alumni Board for their efforts in fundraising and organizing.

Saturday evening’s Reunion Celebration Dinner, accompanied by the music of Steel Grassy at the Dell Fine Arts Center, was a huge success. It was wonderful to see so many alumni and faculty in attendance, and we look forward to next year’s Reunion Weekend on April 11–12!

If you’d like to get involved in planning, please email alumni@sasaustin.org.

SAS Reunion Weekend

Save the Date!

April 11–12, 2025

Chapel & Campus Tour

Reunion Cocktails & Dinner

All SAS Alumni, Faculty & Staff are invited to attend. Return to campus for Chapel and a tour of all of the exciting things happening on the St. Andrew’s Campus. Gather with your classmates & your former teachers for cocktails and a catered dinner on the Nazro Green. We can’t wait to see you!

Alumni, save the dates for the following events during the 2024–25 school year.

SEPTEMBER

September 5: True Blue Alumni Coffee

September 25: LA Alumni Happy Hour with College Counseling Team

OCTOBER

October 3: True Blue Alumni Coffee

October 10: SAS & SSTX Networking Event

October 24: Alumni Golf Tournament at Butler Pitch & Putt

October 25: Alumni Tailgate at Homecoming

NOVEMBER

November 7: True Blue Alumni Coffee

November 20: St. Andrew’s Day

DECEMBER

December 5: True Blue Alumni Coffee

December 14: Alumni Holiday Party

December 15: Advent Evensong

JANUARY

January 9: True Blue Alumni Coffee

FEBRUARY

February 6: Alumni Night at the Upper School Musical

February 13: True Blue Alumni Coffee

February 20: SAS & SSTX Networking Event

MARCH

March 6: True Blue Alumni Coffee

APRIL

April 3: True Blue Alumni Coffee

April 11–12: Alumni Reunion Weekend

MAY

May 1: True Blue Alumni Coffee

May 22: Senior Dinner, Honoring the Class of 2025

May 25: Alumni Baseball Game

BENEFITING THE ST. ANDREW'S FUND

Thursday, October 24 5:00 pm

Butler Pitch and Putt

Golf with SAS Classmates & Faculty Party on the Putting Green Food | Drinks | Games

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

KIDS & LEASHED PUPS WELCOME

Welcome to the Alumni Association, Class of 2024!

Another spring has gone by, and another class of St. Andrew’s graduates have entered the Alumni Association.

We begin celebrating this transition in March, when we hold our annual Senior Wildflower Chapel. This is a time for the senior class to gather together for a picnic lunch and head out to the PARK for a special chapel service. The seniors sat by advisory on picnic blankets under the large oak tree, with abundant sunshine and a light breeze. With the help of the Chapel Advisory Board, Mother Whitney led the class through chapel, citing that this event was made to be the beginning of the end. She relayed the Parable of the Good Samaritan, encouraging them to make the most of their time left at St. Andrew’s, to let go of the past for the sake of the present, and to always be good neighbors to each other. Then, as per tradition, the senior class planted

wildflower seeds in the PARK for future generations to enjoy.

SENIOR DINNER, HONORING THE CLASS OF 2024

To kick off graduation week, the Class of 2024 received an early welcome into the St. Andrewʼs Alumni Association at their Senior Dinner. This event was created to celebrate our newest classes of alumni as they join the ranks of the many St. Andrew’s graduates who have come before them. Alumni volunteers and donors were in attendance, including this year’s Senior Dinner speaker Irfan Alam ʼ14, who shared how his relationships at St. Andrew’s have held strong through life’s various milestones.

For the last several years, the senior class has been asked to complete the Senior Challenge, a classwide competition that consists of three tasks: updating their email address, joining our True Blue Alumni Network,

and making a deferred pledge to the St. Andrew’s Fund, to be fulfilled by their five year reunion in 2029. The St. Andrew’s Alumni Board has graciously agreed to match that pledge, dollar for dollar, in our current fiscal year.

The results are announced at the Senior Dinner, in front of the entire class, faculty, and alumni in attendance. This year, Alumni Board member Merritt Bury Rasmussen ʼ09 announced the following Senior Challenge results:

60% of the Class of 2024 had updated their email addresses.

24% of the Class of 2024 had joined our True Blue Alumni Network.

41% made a participatory pledge to the St. Andrewʼs Fund, to be fulfilled during their 5 year reunion in 2029. The Class pledged a total of $1,850. 18% completed all three!

After the results of the challenge were announced, Irfan Alam ʼ14 addressed the senior class.

Irfan attended Bowdoin College, where he served as the Student Body President, Chair of the Treasury, and Representative to the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, among many other impressive leadership positions. He went on to attend Harvard Business School, but made a decision to defer after one year to develop his own business.

Irfan is a Forbes Austin 30 under 30 honoree, after he raised $3 million to launch Frontrow Health, where he is Founder and CEO.

Irfan and his wife, Zaynab, are expecting their first child this spring. As they are preparing for this new chapter in their lives, they considered what lessons they would pass down to their child.

Zaynab asked what, if anything, Irfan would want to take from his experience at St. Andrew’s. Irfan was initially stumped by the question, and it wasn’t until a few months ago that an answer came to him.

As a lifer, Irfan spent 12 years at St. Andrew’s, and has recently had a few serendipitous encounters with his former classmates and teachers. A few months ago, Irfan was able to reconnect with his second grade teacher, KimMarie Suhr. She is now the principal at Hyde Park Elementary, and Irfan always had a fond memory of her kindness in the classroom.

“I was a very anxious kid growing up, and I looked very different from the rest of the kids I grew up with,” Irfan said. Mrs. Suhr’s kindness in the classroom was formative and memorable for his time there, helping him break out of his shell. Irfan posed the question his wife had asked about what to pass along to his future child.

Mrs. Suhr laughed, pulled out a folder, and handed Irfan a letter he had written her in second grade. The first line read, “Dear Mrs. Suhr, you changed my life and you taught me how to be kind.”

As Irfan was recalling this, he said, “I didn’t think much of that moment other than it was so random and cool that she remembered that, and that she shared with me that this was something that had stuck with her . . . that teaching the practice of kindness and it being imparted on her students was so critical to the way she followed her philosophy of teaching.”

It wasn’t until a month or so later that he realized why that was relevant to the question of what to pass on from his time at St. Andrew’s.

As Irfan was going through things with his father, he stumbled upon a book that was given to his father by late former Head of School Lucy Nazro. She included a letter of gratitude to Irfan’s father, who had been part of her medical care team while he was in grade school.

In this letter, Lucy included a quote from Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address, “malice toward

From left to right: Kyle Quick ’10 , Irfan Alam ’14 , Jared Samuels ’14 , Frankie Chen ’14 , Whitney Langston Lewis ’09, and Merritt Bury Rasmussen ’09 at the Senior Dinner.

none with charity for all.” It was in reading that quote that everything came together.

“As you all, as stewards of the privileged education we have at St. Andrew’s, go off to your next adventure and meet people from different walks of life, with perhaps very different opinions and perspectives, I hope you will remember what Mrs. Nazro was perhaps

trying to call attention to: that we ought to seek out these commonalities because that is what allows us to find bridges of empathy, and to be kind, which can have a unifying factor in a time like today.”

Thank you to Irfan, and to our alumni who attended this celebration of an important milestone for the Class of 2024.

Meet the St. Andrew’s Alumni Board

St. Andrew’s is proud to have many alumni serve as volunteers on the Alumni Board. These alumni take great pride in giving back to their school by planning events, participating in the St. Andrew’s Fund, and encouraging their classmates to do the same, and bridging the gap between the school and its alumni.

Are you interested in serving? Email alumni@sasaustin.org.

Jase Burner ’09

Occupation: Attorney at Latham & Watkins LLP

Education: Vanderbilt University (Bachelor of Arts) and University of North Carolina School of Law (Juris Doctorate)

Other organizations you are involved in: Austin Sunshine Camps

What are some hobbies you enjoy? I enjoy spending time with my family and our German Shepherd. We spend a lot of time outdoors and exploring fun things to do in Austin. My wife and I also love going to the theater and the opera.

What makes you excited about serving on the St. Andrew’s Alumni Board? I’m excited to give back and serve a place that has given so much to me and my family. It also provides a great way to reconnect with classmates and find new ways to support the school.

Merritt (Bury) Rasmussen ’09

Occupation: Senior Director of Account Management at DAS Health

Education: Vanderbilt University (Bachelor’s of Arts in Medicine, Health & Society; Corporate Strategy; Leadership & Organization)

Other organizations you are involved in: Bachelor’s of Austin, I Live Here I Give Here, Elizabeth Ann Seton Board

What are some hobbies you enjoy? My family, running/exercise, going to the lake, and traveling

What makes you excited about serving on the St. Andrew’s Alumni Board?

St. Andrew’s and its community are so unique and special. My experience growing up as a part of St. Andrew’s was invaluable and I truly believe was my foundation for success. I am so excited about the opportunity to continue to help foster, grow and evolve both!

John Covert ’15

Occupation: Associate General Counsel at Refuel Operating Company

Education: University of Texas (Bachelor of Arts in Government) and Georgetown Law School (Juris Doctorate, licensed attorney in Texas)

What are some hobbies you enjoy? I enjoy golfing, watching sports, running, and spending time outside at the beach or on the water.

What makes you excited about serving on the St. Andrew’s Alumni Board?

I am excited to continue seeing the amazing growth and achievements by the school and community and the constant evolution the school and community go through to improve.

Kyle Fadal ’05

Occupation: CEO of TexaScapes Inc.

Education: Texas Tech University (Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Agricultural Economics) and Texas Christian University (Certificate of Ranch Management)

Other organizations you are involved in: The Grove Church Liberty Hill, Capital Area Suburban Exchange (CASE)

What are some hobbies you enjoy? I enjoy spending time with my family, playing outside with my children, football, hiking & the outdoors, cooking, serving the church, and St. Andrew’s school.

What makes you excited about serving on the St. Andrew’s Alumni Board?

St. Andrew’s gave me a firm foundation that I rely on daily for success. I am excited to support the school providing the same opportunity for current and future students. This is a community of good people who love God. I look forward to the opportunity to connect with St. Andrew’s students, alumni, parents, and staff.

Susannah Haddad ’11

Occupation: President at Far West Collective

Education: University of Georgia (Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Spanish)

Other organizations you are involved in: Visionary Committee for the Paramount and State Theatre, Freehands Art Project

What are some hobbies you enjoy? I love to cook, garden, and spend time outside with family and friends.

Whitney (Langston) Lewis ’09

Occupation: Managing Director at Accenture

Education: The University of Texas (Bachelor of Arts in Government & Social Work)

Other organizations you are involved in: Temple Beth Shalom

What are some hobbies you enjoy? Running, playing tennis, walking our dog London, spending time with my family over a good meal, and traveling around the world with my husband, Clayton.

What makes you excited about serving on the St. Andrew’s Alumni Board? St. Andrew’s was such a formative place for me and I love being able to go back on campus and continue to build on the great community we have in this school. It is rewarding to be able to partner with Merritt and other alums through the Business and Entrepreneurship class to strengthen that connection between students and alums.

“It is a full circle moment to have worked on school projects and now work on our new ‘school project’ to help Upper School students get a glimpse into what life after college could look like. I feel lucky to be part of this community and I am excited to see how it continues to grow in the future!”

Chad McLaren ’10

Occupation: Real Estate Broker at Texas Ranch Sales LLC

Education: University of Denver & Universidad Pablo de Olavide (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and International Business) and Texas A&M University (Master of Agribusiness), Licensed Texas Realtor, Licensed Texas Auctioneer, Licensed Colorado Realtor

Other organizations you are involved in: Texas Alliance of Land Brokers, Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Austin Woods & Waters Club, Texas & Southwest Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Wildlife Association

What are some hobbies you enjoy? Enjoying life in Austin, Texas with my wife, Erica, and our two bird dogs, Maverick and Zoe, whitetail and waterfowl hunting, camping, hiking, fishing, and overseeing our family ranches in Milam and Bastrop Counties.

What makes you excited about serving on the St. Andrew’s Alumni Board? Working with students both past and present and increasing involvement in the community we love so much.

Hattie Sherman ’12

Occupation: Architectural Designer at Lambert McGuire Design

Education: University of Texas School of Architecture (Bachelor of Architecture)

Other organizations you are involved in: Susan G. Komen Young Professionals Committee, Ronald McDonald Friends of the House Leadership Team

What are some hobbies you enjoy? Cooking, hiking, photography, yoga, and adventuring with my dog, Stevie Nicks

What makes you excited about serving on the St. Andrew’s Alumni Board? For all intents and purposes, I was raised by the St. Andrew's community, starting when my mom began working at the school when I was 8 months old. I don't know who I would be if it wasn't for the relationships with faculty and peers, the education in and out of the classroom, and creative outlets that were fostered in my 17 years on campus.

“I couldn't be more honored and excited to serve this community that has done so much for me personally, but also my whole family. Go Highlanders!”

Justin Soffer ’95

Occupation: Founder of Conduit Media

Education: Wesleyan University (Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies), London Business School (Master of Business Administration), Columbia Business School (Master of Business Administration)

Other organizations you are involved in: Advisory Board Member for Tsai Capital Corporation, a Manhattan-based investment management and advisory firm

What are some hobbies you enjoy? Tennis, running, and traveling.

What makes you excited about serving on the St. Andrew’s Alumni Board?

“Having graduated from St. Andrew’s in the 1990s (gasp), I’m happy to give a longer-term perspective of the community and school experience, as both an alum from way back when, and as a parent of two St. Andrew’s students today.”

Will Temple ’12

Occupation: General Counsel at Phenix Governmental Affairs

Education: University of Texas, University of Texas School of Law (Juris Doctorate)

Other organizations you are involved in: Visionary Committee for the Paramount and State Theatre, Bachelor’s of Austin, Texas Exes

What are some hobbies you enjoy? University of Texas athletics, golf, and traveling with my friends and family

What makes you excited about serving on the St. Andrew’s Alumni Board? Being able to give back to a place where I spent so many formative years is really important to me. Through my service on the board, I have reconnected with many old friends and even made new friendships.

“Lastly, I believe that the potential for St. Andrew’s to be one of the best schools in the country is being realized with the current administration and the families at the school— it is fun and rewarding to be a part of it.”

Graham Trull ’10

Occupation: Project Leasing, Riverside

Educational Background: Texas Tech University (Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Bachelor of Business Administration in Management)

Other organizations you are involved in: Commercial Broker's Association of Austin (CBA), Bachelor’s of Austin, Real Estate Council of Austin, Society of Industrial and Office Realtors

What are some hobbies you enjoy? Live music, trying new restaurants, and spending time with my wife, son, and dog.

What makes you excited about serving on the St. Andrew’s Alumni Board? Reconnecting with old classmates and forming new connections. Giving back to my alma mater.

Marielle Turner ’16

Occupation: Customer Success Manager at Amazon

Education: University of California, Los Angeles (Bachelor of Arts in Honors Communication, Minor in Film & Digital Media Studies)

“I enjoyed my 12 years at SAS so much and would love to contribute to enhancing this experience for Alumni as well. I would love to help increase programming and enhance our alumni networks in areas outside of Austin.”

Micah Wiener ’03

Occupation: Equipment Financing Specialist at LeasePoint Funding Group

Educational Background: University of Missouri at Columbia (Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism)

Other organizations you are involved in: Staff Writer for Dripping Springs City Lifestyle magazine.

What are some hobbies you enjoy? Golf, attending concerts, writing, and meeting neighbors through my work with the magazine.

What makes you excited about serving on the St. Andrew’s Alumni Board?

“I am so pleased to help give back to the community and have some input in the school’s exciting future. As a new father, it brings me joy to reconnect with my school, classmates, and teachers.”

Remembering Leslie Gunn ’04

Leslie Ariel Gunn passed away suddenly on April 3, 2024 at age 37. She was a cherished member of her family and is survived by Ed Delashmit, her life partner, her mother, Sandra, father Tom, sister Julie, step brothers Ben and John, step sister Stephanie, and nieces Juliana, Ashlyn and Shayna.

Leslie was a graduate of the class of 2004 of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School and attended Texas A&M University for three years where she met her life

partner, Ed. She was an accomplished three dimensional artist in diverse mediums, and won recognition of her mastery in three dimensional beaded creatures and masks, which were included in theatrical productions.

Her kindness and generous sharing of her artistic talents will be remembered by her fellow workers at the IRS (Austin) and others who were fortunate to know her. Leslie had a special lifelong passion for horses that she rode and cared for from an early age. Eagles, wolves, and cats were also her muses and inspiration. The spirited, fearless originality of her art and her expansive intellectual curiosity were Leslie’s essence; she was a bright red poppy in a field of daisies.

Remembering Trent Wilson ’09

Trent McBee Wilson passed away on January 22, 2024 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama at age 33. Trent was born March 4, 1990 and raised in Austin, Texas by his proud parents, Lauren and Sterling Wilson. He was the loving twin brother to Grant Kimbell Wilson.

Trent was a lifer at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, attending from first through twelfth grade, where he developed deep friendships and excelled at sports, serving as captain of the varsity golf and football teams. Golf was Trent’s first love and he became a state ranked golfer and served as President of the Austin Junior Golf Association. He loved that you could spend time outside with people you enjoy and he embodied the spirit of the game, exhibiting good sportsmanship and courteousness to other players. Much of this was learned under the guidance of his coach and dear friend, Ann Marie Gildersleeve. Trent was also an avid snow skier, spending Christmas vacations on the slopes in New Mexico and Colorado. As a young boy, he was named by NASTAR as the fastest skier in his age group for the state of Texas.

With his parents and twin brother, Trent spent many summers traveling the world. Some of his family adventures included snorkeling with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands, bungee jumping at Victoria Falls, paragliding in the Swiss Alps, hiking Machu Picchu, and

scuba diving with sharks in Fiji. Trent played one of his favorite rounds of golf in Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

At the University of Alabama, Trent majored in Business with a specialty in Sales and was an enthusiastic fan of the Crimson Tide. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Upon graduation, Trent married the love of his life, Kristy Lee Cole, and embraced his role as a stepfather to Oscar Cole. His greatest joy was being a father to daughter, Mary-Sterling, named after his father. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed disc golf and hunting. Trent could build anything and almost singlehandedly remodeled their home. He loved animals, especially dogs. His warm smile and friendly laugh reflected his kind, personable nature.

Trent was preceded in death by his father, Sterling Wilson, and his grandfather, Sam Wilson.

Trent is survived by his wife, Kristy Cole, stepson Oscar Cole, and daughter, Mary-Sterling; mother, Lauren Wilson (Bill) Kerr; brother Grant (Kimberly) Wilson, stepsister Isabelle Kerr; grandparents Sonia Wilson, Lee and Marilyn Enz; aunts and uncles Steve and Nancy Wilson, Sharon Wilson, Ed and Carolyn Kyritz; cousins Brooke and Lydia Wilson, Catherine (Greg) Henson, Caroline Chlebowski, Claire (David) Pruitt, Kendall (Conor) Griffin, Courtney and Tom Kyritz; mother- and father-in-law Dale and Vanessa Cole; brother-in-law Matthew Cole and Brittany Wilemon (fiancé); sisterin-law Alesha (MSgt Lee P USAF) Phillips; nieces and nephew Gillie, Chandler, and Brett Phillips.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that St. Andrew ’ s alum, former teacher and parent Cecily Wright ’72, passed away peacefully in her home on June 20th after a lengthy battle with leukemia.

Remembering Cecily Wright ’72

Cecily dedicated her life to education, not only as an educator for nearly four decades, but also as a lifelong learner, continuously striving for professional growth. She started her career in 1983 as a first-grade teacher at Arrowhead Elementary School in San Bernardino, California. After completing her Masters in Education at Whittier College, Cecily held several roles in the East Whittier City School District, inside the classroom and beyond. In 1993, the East Whittier Teachers’ Association recognized her with the We Honor Ours Award for outstanding service to the profession.

Shortly after returning to Austin, Cecily commenced a 16-year tenure at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, where she taught first-, fourth-, and fifth-grade homerooms, as well as fifth-grade Math and Science. As a teacher, parent, and former student at the school, she was an invaluable member of the community. Cecily eventually transitioned away from the classroom in 2011 to become an Educational Diagnostician for Austin ISD. Her commitment to further learning led her to

complete extensive coursework and 500 hours of tutoring to become certified as an Academic Language Therapist in 2020. With this new credential, she went on to teach dyslexic students at Rawson Saunders School, marking the final chapter in her distinguished career.

The Wright Family has been part of St. Andrew's history since the 1960’s. Her father, Charles Alan Wright, served on the Board of Trustees twice and was instrumental in a number of important initiatives at SAS including the desegregation of the school and serving as a source of wisdom and counsel when the Upper School was being contemplated in the mid 1990's.

Our St. Andrew’s Day Community Excellence Award is named after him.

Cecily is survived by her partner, Ken McClure; her children, Sean Fitzsimons ’ 05, Declan Fitzsimons ’08 and daughter-in-law Katie Fitzsimons; her granddaughter, Arden Fitzsimons; her siblings Norie Clarke and brother-in-law Alan Davis, Ted Wright and sister-in-law Nina Macdonald, Margot Clarke, Henny Wright, and brother-in-law Ed Stead; and her nieces Taylor Wright, Haywood Wright, Emma Davis, and Sierra Stead.

We honor and remember Cecily and her years of devoted service to children and families.

Grandparents’ Day —SEPTEMBER!

Upper School

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Lower & Middle School

Friday, September 27, 2024

Ground Blessing for our new Athletics Complex and Student Union

Friday, August 30, 2024

Homecoming

Friday, October 25, 2024

Gala

Saturday, April 26, 2025

Leadership Team

MELISSA GRUBB Head of School

ALICE NEZZER Associate Head of School

DR. STEVEN FLETCHER Head of Upper School

TIM MOORE Head of Middle School

YVONNE RUSSELL Head of Lower School

BRANDON ARMBRUSTER Chief Operations Officer

AMANDA BOARDMAN Director of Health and Wellness

KAREN COWAN Chief Financial Officer

CATHERINE HERTER ERVIN Director of Advancement

PRISCILLA LUND Director of Enrollment Management and Financial Aid

MATT LIPSTEIN Director of Technology

MICHELLE ROE Director of Human Resources

Board of Trustees

YVETTE RIOS Board Chair

THOMAS QUEEN Vice Chair

NICOLE BRENNIG Secretary Chair, Advancement Committee

SEAN GREENBERG Treasurer Chair, Finance Committee

JOHN BURNHAM

BETH COHEN

THE REV. ANGELA CORTIÑAS

VERÓNICA ROSAS FERNANDEZ

SILVER GARZA

VICKY GREGG

JEFF HOWARD

MICHAEL HSU Chair, Master Planning

GRACE INGRAM-EISER Liaison to the Parent Association

CHRIS MABLEY

RAVI REDDY

ANNE SMALLING Chair of Investment Committee

ROBERT STRAUSS

AISHA D. GAYLE TURNER

JASON NEAR, EX-OFFICIO Chair of Committee on Trustees Immediate Past Chair

ST. ANDREW’S SCHOOL

1112 WEST 31ST STREET

AUSTIN, TEXAS 78705