Summer Eagle 2012

EAGLE S E C O N D

B A P T I S T

S C H O O L

SUMMER EDITION 2012

Celebrating

OurGraduates:

Portraits of the College Application and Selection Process

contents

Summer 2012

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4 campus Second Baptist School

6410 Woodway Drive, Houston, Texas 77057 www.secondbaptistschool.org Established in 1946, SBS provides a worldclass education for the leaders of tomorrow.

SBS is a learning community for over 1,000 students (PK-12) who enjoy a breadth of educational opportunities – from customized learning experiences to travel exposure to technological advancement. Nurtured by a Christ-centered community that edifies the soul and an academically rigorous environment that enriches the mind, SBS graduates are armed with the character, confidence and capability needed to succeed in the world they confront in the 21st century.

The Eagle is published by the Office of Advancement in the fall, winter/spring and summer and is mailed free of charge to students, parents, faculty, alumni and friends of Second Baptist School. For more information call (713) 365-2310 or visit our website at www.secondbaptistschool.org.

Disclaimer: Second Baptist School makes every effort to ensure that all names and listings are accurate and complete. If a name has been omitted, misspelled or listed incorrectly, please accept our sincerest apologies.

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From The Head of School

As Dr. Jeff Williams reflects on the past school year, he gives thanks for the many ways in which God is working in and through SBS.

Campus News

A summary of the latest news, events, achievements and highlights at Second Baptist School.

The Sound Of Music

The Sound of Music came to life at The Hobby Center as Zilkha Hall was transformed into the hills of Austria during the four sold out performances.

EagleFest 2012

Once again, EagleFest was a great success as the entire SBS community came together for a day of fun and to benefit the wonderful SBS faculty and staff.

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features Celebrating our Graduates: Portraits of the College Application and Selection Process

During Interim Term, students explored the world, toured colleges, learned new skills and served others.

Looking Forward

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Twelve seniors give insight into the college application and selection process and share memories from their time at SBS.

Interim Term 2012

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In order to reduce student stress without sacrificing academic excellence, the SBS Upper and Middle Schools are adopting a Bin Scheduling model for the 2012-2013 school year.

alumni Alumni Updates

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An Epic comeback in alumni Kickball

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SBS alumni defeated SBS sophomore boys in a game for the ages.

Alumni enjoy a taste of texas

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A collection of alumni news from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

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Houston alumni came together for a networking lunch at Houston’s favorite restaurant.

Tribute to Ms. Ruth Dale

After 25 years as the Yearbook Advisor, Ms. Ruth Dale steps down from this position.

A gifted educator and mentor, Ms. Dale will continue on as an AP English teacher.

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letter from the head of school

What are you

Thankful

for?

A

s we began to evaluate the 2011-2012 school year, I proposed this question to the administrative team. Their responses included thankfulness for a great faculty that cares deeply for students, parents who are engaged in their kids’ lives, the opportunity to train young men and women who will become godly leaders, and the list goes on. After talking with the team, I was reaffirmed in my own thankfulness for the Second Baptist School community. As we seek to be the best in the world at Christian college preparatory education, we are thankful for the great honor of being part of a community that is ultimately devoted to maximizing God’s glory.

Dr. Barrett Mosbacker wrote an article in Christian School Journal entitled, “Building World Class Christian Schools,” and lists eight traits that a Christian college preparatory school must pursue.

He calls for Christian schools to be world-class in: Character, Content and Quality of Instruction, Cultural Relevance, Caring, Courage, Fostering Curiosity, Championing Excellence, and, above all, Commitment to the Preeminence of

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Christ. At Second Baptist School, we strive to take up his call. We not only celebrate the cultivation of these traits, but are thankful for the privilege to devote our work to this mission.

It is our mission to train young people in the areas of knowledge in order to think deeply, judge wisely, and have the courage to live their lives on the principles and convictions of biblical truth. It is our passion to bring every student into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ while equipping them to do with all excellence that which God calls them to do. We pray that in our pursuit of excellence, God’s name is lifted, and we celebrate the many ways in which this prayer is answered.

In his article, Dr. Mosbacker states, “a world-class Christian school is one that is used by Christ to change lives, its community, its culture by virtue of its commitment to the preeminence of Christ as reflected in the development of the Christian mind and character of students and in its establishment of superior standards in teaching and learning so that the school is a model of best practices

throughout the world.” As we conclude the 2011-2012 school year, we celebrate that Christ is using Second Baptist School to change lives, our Houston community, and our culture.

God’s manifestation in the lives of our students is evident across every School level. Our Upper School FCA students opted to serve the Third Ward community instead of hosting a “Fight the Finals” event for themselves. A fifth grade boy decided to organize a book drive for Star of Hope, and, with help from his classmates, collected over 19 boxes of books to give. Also, our Lower School collectively donated surplus school supplies to SBC Missions to benefit students in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Christ is at work in and through our School, and out of a grateful spirit, we will continue to glorify Him. In glorifying God, we must not stop at thanking Him for our successes. As we build a world class educational institution, we must pay heed to God’s Word through both victories and challenges. I shared at the 2012 Commencement a passage from my Gideon Bible. It says:

“The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers… Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy…

It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter… Christ is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end… It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.”

Dr. Jeff D. Williams Head of School

Like we advised our graduating seniors, we praise God for what He has done, and we look to His Word for guidance in the future. As we reflect upon the past school year, we truly have much for which to celebrate; as we prepare for 2012-2013, we will remain faithful to the work that God has given us.

I am thankful for so many things. In regards to Second Baptist School, I am humbled to be a part of God’s design in bringing young men and women to Christ while equipping them to do what God has called them to do.

As an entire community, we bring glory to God by raising up the next generation’s godly leaders.

To God be the glory,

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A thletic news fine arts N ews C ampus news

campus news

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Second Grade Parade of Presidents

by Aida Barakat ‘13

Is George Washington your favorite president? Or is Abraham Lincoln your favorite?

Maybe James Madison? Presidents’ Day took place earlier this semester. Second Baptist School second graders gathered in the Sanctuary among friends and family in order to celebrate the historically significant leaders of our country. (continued on next page)

Campus News pp 4-17

Fine Arts News pp 18-25

Athletic News pp 26-35

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campus At the beginning of January, students drew names out of a hat in order to determine which president they would represent. Each student wrote a research paper on his or her president and memorized a speech by that president, which was presented during the program.

Second grader Kelsey, representing Elizabeth Monroe, said, “My favorite part of the program was singing the songs and it was also fun to say my speech.”

Taydum, representing Amy Eisenhower, said her favorite part of the program was “singing songs, and I enjoyed learning about my president by reading books.”

In addition to singing songs and performing speeches, each student dressed up in different attire in order to look like his or her president or first lady. Rachel, representing Helen Taft, said she plans to “dress in a hot pink dress with little high heels and put on a crown or a hat.” Also, Hunter wore a suit and a long beard in order to look like his president, Chester A. Arthur.

The Presidents’ Day program was a fun way for students to learn about all of the presidents. Through research, each student studied many interesting, lesser-known facts about each president. For example, Brooke said “I really like how Caroline Harrison was the first to put a Christmas tree in the White House.” Josiah, representing Zachary Taylor, said, “I like how Taylor was in the army for 40 years, and he was president for only fourteen months.”

The Presidents’ Day Program is a good way for students to remember and learn about the beginning of our government. Also, Presidents’ Day is an important day to remind Americans about the impact the previous presidents have had on the United States. The second graders will forever remember the important information they learned about each president and

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the fun they had in learning and representing each president.

Student’s App Breaks into Apple Store’s Top 50!

In order to challenge advanced computer science students, Second Baptist School offered a Mobile App programming course this year. Mr. Blake Skidmore, who is also the School’s IT Director, has been teaching students about iOS Apps due to their current global popularity.

Writing an app takes a series of lines of code written through multiple files linking together; the idea is similar in nature to a chain link fence. Through the class, Nick Madole programmed an app called Mosaic News, which is a news app that curates top stories in categories such as politics, business, entertainment, U.S., and world news. Classmate John Van Anglen helped on parts of the app and is currently working on the website design and coding.

“The process is like solving a complicated puzzle in which the pieces don’t always fit,” says Nick Madole.

The Mosaic News app is currently available in the Apple App Store.

The news app uses the clean functionality of pulling in photos and titles which allows the user to see what they are about to read.

Also, using the Readability interface, Mosaic News is very easy to read once the story is chosen. You can even share what you are reading with social media outlets. Nick worked to complete this project for about six weeks, and then he tested it on various devices before submitting the app to Apple.

Nick Madole said, “The hardest part was figuring out how to have users read and share the information with others quickly; then I had my break-through idea of using Readability’s API for a clean look and an easy to use interface.”

The other Mobile App programming class is working on a RSS reader and a “How-to” dancing app. Mr. Skidmore says, “All of the teams have worked through several struggles. Because of the challenges, the students are learning about coding as well as working and managing hardships as a team. I can stand up at the front of the room and teach them how to code; however, that is boring, and students need to learn how to work through and research issues they are having. Anyone can learn how to code, but where many courses as a whole tend to fall short is in teaching the ability to work through failures to achieve success.”

Nick plans to double major in Economics and Computer Science.

He says, “Looking back on the past 10 years really had me thinking: look how far we have come with technology. Now it is time to take apps to the next step. These two subjects will help me forecast as well as build better tools to help with everyday life.”

The show began with “Deep in the Heart of Texas.” They sounded like true Texans while singing one of our state’s favorite songs.

The Bridge class presented facts about Texas, such as our state bird, the Mockingbird; the capital city, Austin; and the biggest city in Texas, Houston. This was followed by a dance to “Walk the Lonesome Trail.”

All classes marched around the gym in one group dance number.

More songs, poems, Bible verses, and other Texas-themed acts followed.

The youngest Eagles looked adorable as they proudly showed off the importance of the state of Texas. For being so young, their confidence on stage was impressive.

Mrs. Corbin said her favorite part of the program was the smiles on the children’s faces as the audience applauded at the end of the program.

“They looked so happy. I was very proud of them!”

Early Childhood Program Celebrates Texas

by Kate Krhovjak ‘13 “Howdy Partners!” Our youngest students danced and sang during the Hoedown in the E-Gym. Pre-K, Bridge, and Soaring Eagle students were dressed in their very best cowboy and cowgirl attire as they rode in on their stick horses.

During the spring semester, Mrs. Ashley Corbin, early childhood program music teacher, helped the students prepare for the program.

She said the program’s purpose was to teach children to take pride in their home state of Texas.

According to Mrs. Corbin, the program also taught the children other valuable lessons such as the rewards of hard work, patience, and self-control.

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campus Net Profits Soar in First Grade Market

Sophomore Earns National Recognition for Poetry

SBS tenth-grader Nicholas Vafiadis earned national recognition in the poetry category of The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2012, under the auspices of the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers.

π In the LS Enrichment Class, first grade students learned what it means to start up a business and sell the products. These first graders created a product, company name, and even set sales projections for their company. They even learned a little about marketing through business card creation. Once this was done, second grade took the stage with their new math skills. From this project, the second graders learned money management using a budget, and also learned how to buy in a strong sales market.

First graders sold products ranging from key chains to face painting to Lego creations. With so many tempting items to buy, the second graders had to choose wisely as they budgeted for items with a fixed amount of money.

Through interesting projects like First Grade Market, our strong Lower School curriculum helps to prepare students for success in higher level Math and Science classes and life beyond school.

Nick joined other award-winning students for a national celebration at the end of May in New York City’s Carnegie Hall and Parsons The New School for Design. His portfolio included two collections of poetry.

According to Nick, one group carried a metaphysical theme and the other selections, a physical or tangible theme. His three award-winning pieces, “Convey,” “If Time Stopped in Times Square,” and “If I Could be Loved” had metaphysical themes.

Of the 200,000 submissions for the 2012 event, 13,000 teens received Gold Keys, signifying top regional honors; and 1,500 received National Medals, qualifying these students to attend the national celebration in New York City. As a national medal recipient, Nick is following in the footsteps of past winners including Sylvia Plath, Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Joyce Carol Oates, and Robert Redford.

The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a nonprofit organization dating back to 1923, identifies teenagers with exceptional artistic and literary talent and brings their work to a national audience through The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Each year, the Alliance partners with more than 100 regional affiliates across the country to bring the program to local communities.

Students were able to submit in thirty different categories, including drawing, painting, photography, film and animation, video games, poetry, personal essay, short story, and humor. Luminaries in the visual and literary arts jury submissions.

Panelists look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

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Baseball Takes Center Stage at Spring Swing

by Billy Arendt ‘12 With the crowd in the stands and the smell of hot dogs and hamburgers in the air, the Friday night contests between long time baseball rivals Fort Bend Christian and Second Baptist were set to begin. However, there was added anticipation for these games because it was Spring Swing.

This year’s Spring Swing featured inflatables from Camp Ozark and Beach Bum’s Shaved Ice as well as an Alumni Kickball Game. The Alumni Kickball Game ended in spectacular fashion with an 11-10 victory, after a 9-run comeback in the last inning.

6 runs off of singles from Carter Brown, Will Zimmerman, Jordan Stading as well as doubles from Evan Brown and Cade Edwards.

Finally in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Eagles topped off the victory with another run after Taylor Dick and Davis Dick each singled and James Richter knocked them in. The final score of 12-1 over Fort Bend Christian advanced the Second Baptist Eagles’ record to 15-5 and 6-2 in district.

During the JV baseball game, both teams were neck and neck until Ft. Bend Christian pulled away in the 3rd inning and ended up winning 5-1. Before the start of the Varsity game, seniors from tennis, track and field, and baseball were introduced, the Junior Eagle Booster Club sang “Take Me Out To The Ballgame,” and senior Sophie Adickes sang the National Anthem.

Starting off the game with a strike, the starting pitcher Jordan Stading consistently worked the strike zone and kept the Fort Bend Christian batters off balance. After a quick top of the first, the Eagles used patience at bat and took advantage of timely hits to score two runs with two outs, which gave Stading early support. Though, Stading only needed those two runs as he allowed only one run throughout the entire game. However, the Eagles did more than that. In the second inning, the Eagles led off with a home run from freshman Travis Moreland. After a single from Cade Edwards and a sacrifice bunt from Sterling Neal, Billy Arendt took one out of the yard and made the score 5-0 after the second inning.

In the third inning, the Eagles continued an offensive outburst making the score 11-0 by scoring

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campus Lower School has 42 “Millionaires”

It was another record-setting year in our Accelerated Reader Program.

Forty-two Lower School students each read more than one million words in their AR books (and scored high on their book quizzes). This is an outstanding number of students – the previous record was thirtyseven millionaire readers.

While we are shattering records, we also have the youngest millionaires this year – two students from the first grade! Additionally, the top millionaire this year read a recordsetting six million words.

The library held a party in honor of these outstanding readers, which included a fun activity and the traditional Marble Slab ice cream treat. Students had a blast making green glow-in-the-dark slime as a special activity that coincided with a special book they received. All 42 millionaires received Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! by Matthew McElligott and Larry Tuxbury. The ten multi-millionaires also received the sequel, Benjamin Franklinstein Meets the Fright Brothers.

Juniors Get Down to Business

by Colette Cope ‘13 David Abbott, Kyle Hendrick, Miranda Girouard and I were selected from the junior class to participate in Camp Enterprise, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Houston. Around 100 students from the Houston area participated in this business camp. At the camp, we were divided into six teams that would be working together the whole weekend. To develop teamwork and trust, we participated in rope tasks and challenges in which we had to rely on our teammates.

In addition to learning to work and communicate as a team, we also learned about business and the free enterprise system. Many successful business leaders spoke to us about their jobs and how to succeed in the corporate world.

I learned that to be an effective leader, one must always make a good first impression, speak clearly, listen to teammates, and realize it is not just about personal gain.

We participated in a business simulation in which we had to run our own company and figure out the best prices and production to

generate the greatest profit. Kyle Hendrick’s team won the challenge and earned a $500 scholarship towards the college of his choice.

Kyle loved the event. He said, “Camp Enterprise was a great experience that I was lucky to be a part of. At first I didn’t know what to expect; however, soon after I arrived, I began to love it! I gained an enormous amount of knowledge about business in America as well as what it means to be a leader in this world.”

David Abbott also enjoyed the camp, “I had a blast at Camp Enterprise!

I learned a lot about being a better person, how to run a business, and how to be a servant leader.”

When we first arrived at the camp, we were told to write down three things we wanted to get out of Camp Enterprise. I wrote that I wanted to make new friends, step outside my comfort zone, and learn to be a successful leader.

Looking back, I realize I reached all those goals as I grew closer with my teammates, challenged myself in the business tasks, and learned tools to succeed and lead.

Praying and Playing: The Bond Between SBS and Yellowstone

were dismissed from class to go out to the softball field, where each of us located our respective protégés, who ranged in age from elementary to middle school.

I met with mine and moved us over to the shade for a bit of a chat; after that, though, the festivities really broke loose! It all began with one mischievous kid taunting the rest of us with backflips. Subsequently, some discussion about the most athletic popped up, which of course had to be settled with races. Soon, someone found a few balls, and an impromptu game of catch started up.

Out on the softball diamond, several adventurers located some baseball equipment and a fast paced pick-up game commenced. Crossing in and amongst the sweating, teasing, and laughing boys were the giggling gaggles of girls walking about with their prayer leaders, whose eyes glinted with impish glee. A few groups retreated from the rowdy mayhem, content to chat quietly by the side and discuss the finer aspects of life, God, and boys.

All too soon, the wild affair ended, and we wished the Yellowstone kids a safe trip back to school. I hope that, on the whole, the kids enjoyed their relaxing morning and came closer to Christ throughout the year.

by Joshua Kee ‘12 As a culmination of our year together, seniors met up with their prayer partners from Yellowstone Academy in order to relax and have fun together. We

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campus Students Spread Their Love of Reading

Eighth Graders Get a Promotion

The Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremony was a time of celebration and reflection for the Class of 2016. As always, the ceremony was a memorable occasion for students, their families and the SBS community as the students marked their official transition into Upper School.

During the ceremony, the DAR Good Citizen Award, which is given to an eighth grader that demonstrates outstanding leadership, character and patriotism, was presented to Esther Yeboah.

π During Christmas break, fifth grader Fielden Baker decided to clear his room of all the books that he had outgrown. After remembering serving with his family at Star of Hope’s Women and Family Emergency Shelter downtown, he decided to give the books away.

Fielden wrote letters to a small group of boys in his grade at SBS and on his baseball team to ask if they would also donate books to Star of Hope. The boys caught the vision, and over 20 of Fielden’s classmates contributed by giving financially, donating books, or going to deliver the books. Together, they collected 19 boxes of children’s books!

Star of Hope was overwhelmed with gratitude as the boys jumped out of the SUV brigade and unloaded box after box of books for the kids. Star of Hope serves 250-300 children each day who stay in their facilities while their parents work to recover from homelessness. These children will benefit in countless ways from being exposed to this number of books.

After dropping off the boxes and touring the Transitional Living Center, Fielden asked the boys to take a moment to pray that God would use these books. Adding that “Tebowing [is] allowed,” 15 fifth grade boys dropped to their knees in prayer. They asked their Creator to use these books to draw children at Star of Hope closer to Him. Fielden plans to do this again with an even larger group of SBS boys from all grades. Another boy was so moved by the entire experience that he is putting together a clothing drive for the Star of Hope. God is truly working in the lives of our students and their families!

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The featured speaker for Promotion was alumnus Brooks Shanklin from the SBS Class of 2006. He challenged students to get involved in activities during their Upper School years so that they can find their passions and pursue them.

He shared lessons that he learned through both athletics and the fine arts and encouraged the eighth graders not to take their years in Upper School for granted. Mr. Shanklin also said that though they will be challenged spiritually; godly leaders and mentors are surrounding them at SBS. Before they took the traditional walk across the Sanctuary stage, Laura Laughead, Student Council President, addressed the class and reflected on the wonderful memories they made together during their formative Middle School years.

Congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2016!

Order Up! First Grade Transforms into Restaurant

The reviews are in and the critics are raving. This year’s annual Reading Restaurant was a wonderful success for first graders and their nearly 150

guests. “Memorable”, “fun”, and “moving”, were just some of the words parents and grandparents used to describe the experience of choosing selections for their first grader to read to them off an individually prepared menu.

“Our restaurant wasn’t about food,” said Alek. “Our menus were full of all our favorite books that we read at school this year. Each of our menus looked a little different. We chose our own computer fonts and our own books.” Alek explained that teachers and students worked together to decorate all four first grade classrooms’ restaurant style.

Students also wore white uniform shirts and khaki bottoms with red bow ties.

“It was fun,” said Katelyn. “I was sorry when it was over and my mom had to leave.”

First graders have been presenting the Reading Restaurant for nearly ten years. It’s a great event that exhibits not only their reading skills, but their technology development as well.

“This is my favorite event we do in first grade because it gives each student the chance to showcase their reading skills in a fun and interactive way,” Christine Hackney, first grade teacher, said. “The students have come so far in their reading this school year and we are very proud of them!”

SBS Recognizes National Day of Prayer

Thursday, May 3 was the National Day of Prayer, and the Second Baptist School community recognized this day in each grade level.

also participated in a daily chapel service, “In Focus,” led by Second Baptist Church Children’s Ministry.

The theme for “In Focus” was from Hebrews 12:2, “Keeping your eyes on Christ.”

Middle School began the National Day of Prayer observance with a prayer over the intercom led by Lindsey Williams, the eighth grade Student Council chaplain. At the beginning of each class period, teachers led their classes in prayer, and prayed specifically for our nation and our school as well as any specific requests mentioned by the students.

Head of Middle School Jon Guthrie said, “In order to finish the school year strong, we must be steadfast in prayer.” He emphasized the importance of prayer for the “spiritual welfare of our students and teachers.”

To observe National Day of Prayer in Upper School, junior Margaret Hartman began the day by leading the students and faculty in prayer over the intercom. Prior to May 3, students and teachers submitted daily prayer requests that were corporately prayed for on the National Day of Prayer.

Nathan Barber, Head of Upper School, said, “As a career educator, I understand how important it is to ask God to go before us in all our endeavors at SBS. The complexities of school life and the potential for eternal impact on our students require that we seek God’s will in all we do. The National Day of Prayer was simply a public display of what happens on our campus regularly.”

Lower School held its annual prayer partner picnic. The prayer partner program has been taking place for many years and teaches older students how to be mentors to their younger prayer partners. During the week, Lower School students

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LOWER SCHOOL EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Middle School Enjoys After School Event

The third annual Middle School Ice Cream Social was fun for everyone.

Each grade level of teachers formed a team to compete for the coveted “Best Ice Cream” award. Even the administration teamed up to compete! Middle School students arrived at the rocky playground after school and visited each table to taste the delicious ice cream.

The Shake Shack, also known as the fifth grade team, had an island style theme for its ice cream table.

Sixth grade teachers donned masks and even wigs for their Mardi Gras carnival table. Their ice cream was just as festive and delicious as their table decorations. The seventh grade team of teachers decided on a birthday theme and they were ready for a celebration at the social!

The students loved that they had mini cupcakes to go with their ice cream. Eighth grade teachers put on their finest cowboy hats and boots for their western themed ice cream table. Bringing in ice cream all the way from Voss Creamery, the administration team won the award for best ice cream.

It was a fun afternoon dedicated to fellowship for Middle School!

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First Grade Students Create a Thunderstorm

Third Grade Explores Science

Fourth Graders Experience History with a View

Beautiful weather didn’t stop SBS first graders from making a thunderstorm on their recent field trip to the Houston Arboretum. A thunderstorm in a bottle, that is. Throughout the fun-filled day, students explored weather concepts through making weather instruments, taking a weather hike, studying the states of water, and playing a water cycle game.

After their interactive game, students wrote about the experience. “We were droplets in a cloud,” wrote Karsten, Caleb, Caroline H., and Caroline M. “We condensed and became rain, and we fell into Buffalo Bayou. We evaporated back into a cloud. Then it got cold and we became snow and fell into a glacier in Antarctica.”

At the end of the day, students left the Arboretum with plenty of first-hand weather knowledge. They all agree that this field trip was a highlight of their first grade year. “It was the best school day ever,” said Sebastian.

“Weather can be scary, but it is also cool.”

An exciting trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science began with an expedition through the Butterfly Center, where students observed hundreds of beautiful butterflies in their simulated natural habitat. The students wore brightly colored tops in hopes that they would attract the butterflies, and a few students were lucky enough to have butterflies land on them! After enjoying the Butterfly Center, students visited the Entomology Hall to explore the amazing world of insects.

Continuing through the museum, the students saw what many considered the most exciting portion of the trip: the chance to see Tornado Alley 3D. Students were captivated as they watched the up-close footage of the powerful storms. They also learned about the science behind tornado formation. One student summarized the film by stating, “It was intense!”

After a picnic lunch, students visited the planetarium, where they studied the stars and then learned more about the vastness of God’s universe. The day ended with time to explore Weiss Energy Hall and the Hall of Paleontology. It was a fast-paced and fun day, but everyone went home abounding with new knowledge!

Fourth graders are learning all about Texas History!

From their memorable projects to their field trip to the Taste of Texas, the Class of 2020 is full of knowledge about our state. This semester they embarked on an adventure to the tallest point in east Houston – the San Jacinto Monument. This monument towers over the very grounds where General Sam Houston and his army defeated the Mexicans to win independence for Texas in 1836.

A highlight of the trip for our students was going to the top of the San Jacinto Monument. They rode an elevator 50 floors for a scenic view of the grounds and the entrance of the Houston Ship Channel. Watching a movie recapturing the events leading up to the Battle of San Jacinto and a reenactment of the victorious battle for the Texans on that April day was especially interesting for these young historians.

Following a picnic lunch, the students were ready to board the Battleship Texas, a World War II ship that acts as a floating museum. Each student participated in the scavenger hunt to find specific items on the ship as they explored the three decks. The students enjoyed their adventure on the large vessel as they tried to complete their hunt for the items.

This is an all time favorite field trip for fourth grade and provides an enriching experience to accompany their study of the great state of Texas!

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campus SBS Names 2012-2013 Prefects

The room was hushed as Upper School students eagerly awaited the decision of the 2012-2013 Prefects.

The Prefect System was started two years ago as a way for students to gain leadership experience and have more involvement in the daily life of our school. Each Prefect is responsible for a different area of service in the Upper School and should demonstrate servant leadership as an example for their classmates to follow. Additionally, Prefects form committees of students to help complete their assigned responsibilities and serve as the student voice to the school administration.

After filling out an application and writing an essay, 37 students from the upcoming senior class were interviewed for the seven Prefect positions. Each interview lasted 30-45 minutes. The current senior Prefects and a committee of teachers and faculty selected by the juniors conducted the interviews.

Following the interviews, the committee nominated the Prefects and presented them to Dr. Williams.

The 2012-2013 Prefects are: Head Prefect: Margaret Hartman Mentor: Dr. Jeff D. Williams Academic Prefect: Katherine Ann Rush Mentor: Mr. Nathan Barber Admissions Prefect: Davian Wilson Mentor: Mrs. Andrea Prothro Publicity Prefect: Colette Cope Mentor: Mrs. Kelli Touchstone Service Prefect: Brian Howell Mentor: Mr. Brandon Alred

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Student Life Prefect: Lauren Whitaker Mentor: Mrs. Kim Orr Unity Prefect: Carter Brown Mentor: Mr. Jim Shewmake The new Prefects will meet with their mentors and with the current Prefects before this school year ends to start planning for the school year ahead. Additionally, over the summer the Prefects will take a hiking trip in Colorado as a teambuilding experience. Through this experience and in preparation for their senior year, they will learn to accomplish a difficult task and work as a team. Like hiking, being a Prefect takes hard work, dedication and a vision, but the rewards from the labors are very evident.

Congratulations to our new Prefects!

“The talents and abilities of the fourth graders were showcased with excellence during their program,” Tamara Gallagher, Head of Lower School, said. “I am so proud of their focus and dedication to make this one of the best programs we have ever had!”

The fourth graders worked very hard for many weeks to prepare for their program. Memorizing lines, dance steps and songs all paid off as the crowd of parents, grandparents, siblings and friends were in awe of their tremendous talents.

Fourth Graders Prove It’s Cool to be a Jesus Freak

Wearing the traditional tie-dyed t-shirts, the fourth grade class presented “Jesus Freak” for their annual grandparent day program.

This program is filled with singing, acting and dancing, and provides many opportunities for our fourth graders to shine. The students energetically presented a program showing what it means to be sold out for Jesus. Fourth graders did a great job entertaining the SBS community with their songs, choreographed dances and outstanding acting abilities as they portrayed Peter and Paul from the New Testament. During the program, Peter and Paul explain what a life of a “Jesus Freak” looks like, with the help of appearances from Barnabas, John, Albert Einstein and even Cher! The cast of actors told stories to a young girl, the “Baby Jesus Freak,” a new Christian, about what it looks like to have a life that is completely sold out for Jesus.

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Four Sold Out Audiences for The Sound of Music

One of the most popular musicals of all time, The Sound of Music came to life at The Hobby Center as Zilkha Hall was transformed into the hills of Austria during the four sold out performances.

With a cast and crew of more than 80 talented students, the actors performed to audiences totaling over 2,000. SBS has been performing at Zilkha Hall since 2004, but this was the first year that all four shows at the Hobby Center were sold out.

(continued on next page)

Summer 2012 19 Photo by Sam Miller ‘12

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fine arts Under the talented direction of Cindy Blades and Claire Westmoreland, the cast worked tirelessly for three months preparing for the show. They were especially excited to enter the musical into the prestigious Tommy Tune Awards for the first time.

“We are so proud of and thankful for our hard-working cast, crew and ensemble of parents who made The Sound of Music a screaming success. Our actors and actresses gave extraordinary efforts and showcased their top talent each night at Zilkha Hall,” Mrs. Blades and Mrs. Westmoreland said.

Students had the opportunity to portray characters that stretched their acting abilities and forced them to dig deep and learn more about their roles.

For John Van Anglen, this was his first time to participate in a musical, and he was cast as a Nazi soldier.

“The Sound of Music was an experience unlike any other. It gave me the ability to get out of my comfort zone and play a man I resembled in no way whatsoever,” John Van Anglen, senior, said. “The cast was excellent, as well as the two directors, and it was an experience I will never forget.”

Senior Adam Hammer, who is no stranger to the stage, portrayed Captain von Trapp. In this story he played a caring father and traveling naval officer trying to find the best person to care for and love his seven children.

“It was an eye opening experience that allowed me to step into someone else’s shoes and live another life,” Adam Hammer said.

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Congratulations to the cast and crew on their successful performances: CREW Assistant Director: Ally Finken Deputy/Stage Manager: Alyssa Melillo Props: Elizabeth Iloff, Schlea Thomas Set: Pablo Enriquez, Chambers Sizemore, Timothy Streller, Rebecca Medrano, Katie Brennan Costumes: Emily Harvin, Sarah Johannesen, Kayley Looney, Megan Lyons, Grace Pfeffer, Amy Rosenthal Hair/Makeup: Elizabeth Mayes, Harper McGee, MaryBeth McMichael, MacKenzie Townsen Lighting: Kennedy Nabors, Emma Prestage Sound: Keeler Porter CAST Maria Rainer…..Sophia Adickes The Mother Abbess…..

Kendall Looney Sister Berthe…..Mia Pastel Sister Margaretta…..Kasey Sisson Sister Sophia…..Annie Samuelson Captain von Trapp…..

Adam Hammer Franz…..Matt Cox Frau Schmidt…..Bethannie Greco Liesl…..Alli Motley Friedrich…..Kyle Hendrick Louisa…..Katherine Herrington Kurt…..Corbin Schwinger Brigitta…..Meagan Maloney Marta…..Morgan LePori Gretl…..Audrey Bishop Rolf Gruber…..Micah Adickes Elsa Schraeder…..

Lauren Whitaker Ursula…..Molly Tollett Max Detweiler…..Ethan Hackett Herr Zeller…..John Van Anglen Frau Zeller…..Bailey Wilkerson Baron Elberfeld…..Joe Lavoi Baroness Elberfeld…..

Emma Raymond Admiral von Schreiber…..

Sam Mannetti Frau von Schreiber…..

Kristin Thomas

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Trio Saengerbund of Herwegen…..

Bailey Wilkerson, Kristin Thomas, Sam Dunegan Fraulein Schweiger…..

Brittainy Gutierrez Dance Captain…..

Lauren Whitaker Nun Ensemble: April Van Anglen, Emily Bauer, Caroline Boyd (Novice), Sara Bresser (a new Postulant), Eun-Bit Chang, Yuann Chang, Rafaella Cuneo (Novice), Sarah Geis, Brittainy Gutierrez, Victoria Hartman, Hannah Huguenard, Katharine Kimmel, Sara Grace Lee, Brandi Miller (a new Postulant), Christon Nichols (Novice), Moriah Odermann, Amanda Ostrander, Annie Pitner, Paige Plato, Parker Plato, Elizabeth Ramsey, Emma Raymond, Hannah Raymond (Novice), Katherine Ann Rush, Macy Schmidt, Mary Paige Stevenson, Kristen Thomas, Molly Tollett, Katharine Towne, Robyn Whitaker, Bailey Wilkerson, Nicole Young Third Reich Ensemble: David Abbott, Stanley Chang, Sam Dunegan, Will Hale, Ross Kimmel, Joe Lavoi, Bishop Powell, Caleb Russo, Sam Worsham Understudies: Maria Rainer…..Alli Motley The Mother Abbess…..

Kasey Sisson Sister Berthe/Margaretta/Sophia Swing…..Emma Raymond Captain Georg von Trapp…..

John Van Anglen Frau Schmidt…..

Moriah Odermann Liesl…..Victoria Hartmann Von Trapp Children Girl Swing…..

Elizabeth Ramsey Rolf Gruber…..Sam Mannetti Elsa Schraeder…..Nicole Young Kurt…..Paul Rush

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fine arts Fine Arts Director Appointed at SBS

Second Baptist School is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Katherine Payne as the Director of Fine Arts.

“Kathy has been working tirelessly with the various Fine Arts programs at SBS for years now, so this new position seems a natural fit for her.

I know her passion for the arts will help elevate the Fine Arts program to a new level in years to come,” says Nathan Barber, Head of Upper School.

Mrs. Payne is no stranger to fine arts at SBS, where she has served as the Fine Arts Coordinator since 2007. She developed her passion for fine arts when her daughter Sarah ‘04 began participating in community and professional theater and subsequently in SBS Upper School musicals and dramas. The fine arts tradition continued in the Payne family with Andrew ‘07, who developed a love for classical music and art and then Laura ‘09, who took the stage in SBS musicals.

Both girls were also members of Vision Choir.

“I am privileged to be working with the wonderful group of faculty we have in the Fine Arts Department.

We have only seen a glimpse of the creativity and talent they will share with our students. The support we receive from SBS parents is phenomenal. These are exciting times for Second Baptist School Fine Arts and I am thrilled to be a part of it,” says Mrs. Payne.

Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Katherine Payne to this new position.

Choir Sings Farewell to School Year

by Lauren Whitaker ‘13 The Upper School Vision and Genesis Choirs showcased their award-winning pieces along with other songs to families, faculty and staff at the Spring Choir Concert.

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The freshman Genesis choir performed three songs for which they received the Superior Award at the Alamo Showcase of Music choir competition. The sophomore, junior, and senior Vision Choir presented two Superior Award winning songs. The combined choirs then performed two Disney pieces, “Be Our Guest” and “The Circle of Life.”

At the conclusion of the showcase, graduating seniors were recognized and alumni were then invited to join in wishing the seniors farewell with “The Blessing.” At the end of the evening, some of our talented seniors graced us with their beautiful voices and bid us goodbye with solo performances.

The night was spectacular and the concert was unforgettable.

Sounds Like Success

by Joshua Dunegan ‘12 The annual Spring Band Concert was a fitting ending to both this year’s band program and my personal involvement with the band at Second Baptist School.

In January, the band began work on preparations for the concert. All 18 members of the Upper School Band along with the Sixth Grade Band practiced and perfected their music for the performance. Working with Mr. Littlefield and Mrs. McNeil to prepare for the concert was a great way for us to improve on our music skills and prepare for the concert.

When it came time for the concert, the hard work and dedication culminated in the finest show I’ve ever been a part of as a member of the band. The band would like to thank those who attended the performance as well as the administration for their continued support of the Fine Arts programs.

Choir Excels in Competition

Every Upper School choir student had the opportunity to compete in the Solo and Ensemble competition, held on campus during the spring semester. All students learned a solo from the University Interscholastic League prescribed music list. The song had to be memorized and the music styles ranged from English Folk songs to Italian Art songs and varied in difficulty, according to the literature selected. Esteemed judges came to the choir room and evaluated students on their solo performances.

“I learned a lot from this experience and gained confidence in performing by myself,” freshman choir student Andrew Reppert said.

The students began selecting solos and rehearsing small ensembles in choir classes. Students were given a recording of the piece to practice both at home and in class.

After their live performance in the competition, students were given verbal comments and a critique sheet with written comments from their judge.

groups were awarded a trophy for “Best in Class.”

Several outstanding choirs competed both days of the competition, and our choirs, directed by Upper School Choral Director Mrs. Tammy Patterson, were very excited to receive the honor of “Best in Class.”

The SBS students certainly displayed excellence throughout the weekend as they represented their school in the competition.

In addition to the awards, both choirs received a clinic session from one of the participating judges.

This was their opportunity to receive immediate feedback about their performances and gain additional knowledge from a professional musician.

Each choir member had a rewarding time, thanks to the meticulous planning put into making this trip possible. A special thank you to the parents and students for making the spring trip such a wonderful memory.

“I was nervous to perform, but the judges were nice and gave us helpful critiques to improve our singing abilities,” freshman choir student Laney Elders said.

Students were awarded Division I for Superior (gold medal), Division II for Excellent (silver medal) and Division III for Good (bronze medal).

SBS is proud of the outstanding 53 Superior I ratings, and 9 Excellent II ratings.

Choir Takes Its Show on the Road

SBS choir members experienced phenomenal success when both the Genesis and Vision Choirs competed in the Alamo Showcase of Music in Boerne, Texas. Each choir received superior ratings from all three judges for their performances. In addition to the trophy for a superior rating, both

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Athletic news

Arendt Heads to Ivy League Summer 2012 27

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athletic Arendt Heads to Ivy League

Billy Arendt is on the roster to play baseball at Princeton University.

After playing four years on the Eagles Varsity baseball team, Billy is prepared for this next step in his career.

“Billy left an impression on our baseball program and school that may not be matched in years to come. His combination of a humble spirit, talent and servant heart have inspired not only the student community but also every teacher and coach that has been fortunate to have mentored him,” Jeff Schroeder, Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach, said. “Princeton is accepting an incredibly gifted baseball player that has consistently modeled and used the gifts that God has given him.”

During his senior year, Billy was named to the All-Greater Houston team and he was among the talented athletes named to the 2012 Louisville Slugger Pre-Season High School All-American team.

Throughout his career he has received numerous awards, which include academic all-state 2012, first-team all-state 2012, team MVP 2012, first-team all-district 2012, district MVP 2012, second-team allstate shortstop 2011, first-team allacademic 2011, first-team all-district 2010-2011, nominated to Pre-Season All Houston Team 2011, nominated to Houston Top-10 Power Hitters 2011, and Under Armour Pre-Season All-American 2011.

Tarik Tyler: State Champion!

Junior Tarik Tyler has much to celebrate. Not only was he the only SBS track team member to qualify for the TAPPS State Meet, but he also was the district, regional, and state champion in the 800-meter run. In fact, this season he won the 800 at every meet in which he competed. At the biggest meet

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of the year, the outcome was no different. With a time of 1:58.7, he was crowned state champion at the state meet in Waco.

“Tarik is very dedicated to track.

He works harder in practices than he does at the meets, which makes him so good,” Coach Eddie Otwell, Head Track Coach, said. “I am so proud to see all of his hard work pay off!”

Tarik also qualified for state in the 400-meter run, and he finished in fourth place at the meet. He has been a member of both the cross country and track teams since his freshman year and runs in a summer track program to stay in shape.

Senior Commits for College Volleyball

Senior Samantha Strother left her mark on the volleyball court this year; so much so that she impressed Austin Peay College, where she has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball.

“Samantha is an extremely hard worker and is very dedicated to volleyball. She will be tremendously successful at Austin Peay, and I cannot wait to see her develop even further as a volleyball player,” Sue Berg, Head Volleyball Coach, said. “She is a team player and leads by example on the court. Her humble spirit and positive attitude will carry her far. I wish her nothing but the best!”

Kharkevitch Signs Letter of Intent

Senior Christine Kharkevitch has signed a national letter of intent to play tennis at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Christine has been a member of the SBS Varsity Tennis Team for four years, and has played tennis since she was a young girl. In 2010, Christine won the TAPPS State Title for Individuals Women’s Tennis.

“We are so proud of Christine and her many achievements in tennis.

Not only has she accomplished a great deal on the court, but she has also exhibited integrity and grace as a player and as a person.

We will miss her but wish her well in Wilmington!” Derik and Susy Crosser, SBS Tennis Coaches, said.

Among Christine’s accomplishments on the court are two individual district championships, one state championship, and she was named the 2012 state runner-up. Christine was selected to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine and received an invitation to attend the next level Global Youth Leadership Forum. She is also a member of National Honor Society.

During Samantha’s senior season at SBS, she led her team to the final four of the state volleyball tournament. She was captain for the Eagles and also named team MVP. TAPPS also recognized her top talent by naming her firstteam all-district and second-team all-state, giving her a place on the all-tournament team and granting her an academic all-state award.

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athletic Eagles Soar into Post-Season

by: Billy Arendt ‘12 The SBS varsity baseball team clinched the district championship once again this season! After sweeping bi-district with a 9-1 victory over Tyler Grace, the team headed into regionals where they faced Midland Christian. The Eagles knew Midland would be a formidable opponent and that the game would be a battle. With great pitching and impressive hits from the Eagles, the game went back and forth. However, Midland Christian pushed ahead and won 7-5.

Even though the Eagles did not win the last game of the season, they persevered in every situation throughout the year. The seniors Kevin Diaz, Evan Brown, and Billy Arendt leave the team to next year’s capable seniors: Jordan Stading, Carter Brown, Will Zimmerman, Davis Dick, Taylor Dick, Sterling Neal, Preston Williams, and James Richter.

Tennis Ends Season at State

by: Grace Pfeffer ‘13 The varsity tennis team had a great season, winning several key matches and qualifying many players for state. The district tournament took place at Memorial Park in Houston, and the Eagles made a big statement on the court. The players practiced hard all season in order to prepare for the high level of competition at this tournament.

Christine Kharkevitch won first place in women’s singles, and was named the district champion. Shannon Garner and Carolyn Treener

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achieved fourth place in women’s doubles, and Mike Hartley and Adam Hammer finished at second place in men’s doubles.

These five Varsity players qualified for the State Championship tournament, where Kharkevitch was named the state runner-up.

The women’s team won second place in district, and the men’s team placed fourth overall. Overall, SBS placed second in district.

Johnnie Butterfield, Head Golf Coach, said, “Who would have thought that the first year since I’ve been here we could gather up a group of girls for a team that would place seventh in the state and third at the Regional Tournament? What a year to remember.”

The men’s team competing at state consisted of Garrett Gunter, Jordan Hall, Cameron Keel, Josh Morgan and Collin Whalen.

At the end of the first day of the tournament, the men’s team was in first place, a few strokes ahead of Fort Worth Southwest, Midland Christian, and district rival Tomball Concordia. The team had not been ahead of Tomball Concordia all season, but on the first day of the tournament, they were leading them by 11 strokes! This accomplishment meant a lot to the team and motivated them as they entered day two.

The entire team would like to thank the fans for their support and their coaches, Schroeder, Noble, Calhoun, Engle, and Ferree, for the many hours spent with us. In addition, we would like to thank Brad Cooper and Abby Trammel, our trainers. It’s been a great year!

With beautiful weather, the team was ready for the second day of the state tournament. During the front nine holes, the team was able to keep its lead, with Fort Worth Southwest remaining within strokes of SBS. On the back nine, Fort Worth Southwest pulled ahead, but SBS held off the rest of the teams, and finished as the state runner-up.

Golf Teams Qualify for State

Congratulations to the entire golf program!

Qualifying both the men’s and women’s teams for the TAPPS State Golf Tournament was a significant milestone for the SBS golf program.

The women’s team consisted of Natasha Henderson, Alexis Kollmansberger, Ali Krause and senior Megan Rogers. The women’s team finished in seventh place at state, with each member of the team posting her personal best score and a team score 24 strokes better than any score the team posted all year.

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athletic Esteemed Coach Volunteers with Baseball Team

Eagle Baseball has long been a source of pride for Second Baptist School, and with Coach Rayner Noble on board, the baseball program will only continue to grow stronger. Coach Noble is the new volunteer assistant baseball coach for the Eagles and brings years of college coaching and professional playing experience to the table.

After earning several honors as a left-handed pitcher at the University of Houston, Noble was drafted to the Astros in 1983. He worked his way up through the organization until 1987, when he decided to stop playing professional baseball because of nagging arm injuries and his growing family. Subsequently, Noble had very successful seasons as assistant coach at University of Houston and then at Rice. In May of 1994, Noble returned to his alma mater as head coach.

In his 16 years at UH, Coach Noble guided the Cougars to three NCAA Super Regional berths, eight NCAA Regional berths, three Conference USA regular-season titles, and three C-USA Tournament championships. Also, he is the only baseball coach in UH school history to lead his team to five consecutive NCAA postseason appearances.

In addition, Noble is one of only three coaches in the history of the

UH athletic department to lead his team to more than 400 victories, recording his 500th career win against Kansas State in 2009.

“We are very fortunate to have Coach Noble helping with our team this year. You can imagine the benefit our student athletes are receiving from someone with all the years of college coaching and professional playing experience that this coach has,” Jeff Schroeder, Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach, said.

Rayner Noble and his wife, Lisa, are longtime members of Second Baptist Church and have two daughters that graduated from SBS, Hannah ’03 and Kelsey ’10.

Coach Rayner Noble will undoubtedly add to our excellent baseball program. We look forward to seeing his influence on the field!

MS Track and Field Sets Their Pace

Standing 66 members strong, the Middle School track team had a very successful season! With a record number – 66 – of Middle School students competing on the track and field team, they were able to attain several first, second, and third place victories at their four meets this season.

The HJPC Conference Meet was the culmination of the season for the Middle School track and field team. Competing against the 11 schools in the HJPC conference, this was a great chance for SBS to make a lasting impression. The eighth grade boys finished 5th overall and the eighth grade girls finished 4th overall. In the seventh grade division, the girls placed 3rd overall and the boys finished 1st place overall!

“We had a great finish to a very successful season. Thank you to all of the athletes and parents for all of their hard work and support,” Roxanne Worley, Middle School track coach, said.

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TAPPS Honors SBS Athletes Congratulations to the following athletes on their accolades from TAPPS.

Baseball ALL-DISTRICT AWARDS Billy Arendt – 1st Team All-District Carter Brown – 1st Team All-District Evan Brown – 1st Team All-District Jordan Stading – 1st Team All-District Cade Edwards – 2nd Team All-District Davis Dick – 2nd Team All-District ALL-STATE AWARDS Billy Arendt – 1st Team All-State Jordan Stading – 1st Team All-State Carter Brown – 2nd Team All-State ACADEMIC ALL-STATE AWARDS Billy Arendt Carter Brown Jordan Stading

Men’s Track & Field ALL-STATE AWARDS Tarik Tyler – First Team All-State

Men’s Golf ALL-STATE AWARDS Garrett Gunter – 1st Team All-State Joshua Morgan – 1st Team All-State ACADEMIC ALL-STATE AWARDS Collin Whalen

Tennis ACADEMIC ALL-STATE AWARDS Adam Hammer Christine Kharkevitch

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What the swimmers have to

SBS Swim Coach

Named TAPPS Coach of the

Year

π Swim Coach Mark Hahn Coach of the Year

Second Baptist School has long recognized the tremendous talents of swim coach Mark Hahn. And now TAPPS has recognized it, too. Coach Hahn has been named the TAPPS 4A Coach of the Year. This is the highest coaching honor that can be earned from the athletic association, and he is the first SBS coach ever to receive this accolade.

“I received this award because of each and every swimmer that has participated in the swim program at SBS over the past eight years.

Without their time and dedication, I would not be a swim coach,” Coach Hahn said.

Hahn became the Head Swim Coach at SBS in the fall of 2004, and the team has had significant success under his leadership. The men’s swim team has finished as the TAPPS State Runner-Up in 2005, 2006 and 2010. The women’s team was TAPPS State Runner-Up in 2011 and finished fourth in 2012. In 2010, the men’s team finished in second place at the state meet by just a single point. Since then, the men’s team has won the TAPPS State Title in 2011 and repeated in 2012 beating a strong San Antonio Christian team.

The back-to-back state championship titles have been a highlight for Coach Hahn.

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Coach Hahn

“Winning state was such an exciting moment for those two teams. They did an awesome job and competed hard all year long,” Coach Hahn said.

For the past three years, the men’s team has won the TAPPS South Regional swim meet. The men’s team held the TAPPS State 200 Free Relay record in 2006-2007.

The swim team has produced 25 State Champions (men) and 13 State Champions (women).

This year, the team had 9 TAPPS All-State Champions and 8 TAPPS All-State Academic Champions.

Over the past eight years, 12 of the men’s and 7 of the women’s team school records have been broken!

“The SBS swimmers are fortunate to be under the leadership of Coach Hahn. Being named the 4A Coach of the Year is an incredible honor for our school and Mark is very deserving,” Jeff Schroeder, Athletic Director, said. “He has led our swim program to numerous championships and built our program from the Middle School level up.”

In fact, Coach Hahn has done such an outstanding job with the Middle School swim team that they have won the Houston Junior Preparatory Conference six years in a row (since the HJPC was created).

Coach Hahn is currently on staff at the Houstonian as the SwimFit Coordinator. SwimFit is a program

that trains all abilities of swimmers – from novice to competitive – in a group environment. He coaches the Houstonian Bluefins summer swim team. Additionally, he has been the Masters Swim Coach at the Trotter YMCA since 2003.

“His patience with each swimmer and his ability to get the most out of his athletes makes him a remarkable coach,” Troy Karcher, assistant swim coach, said. “He shares his dedication and love of the sport with each one of the swimmers.”

Coach Hahn has a background in swimming that started with age group, and continued with high school and collegiate swimming as part of the University of Houston swim team. He joined a Masters swim program in 1990 at the Post Oak YMCA and has competed at 14 USMS National Swim Meets, with 17 individual Top 5 finishes and two National Championships. He has competed in open water races in Minnesota, California, Texas and Hawaii.

“Every student athlete that has participated in swim has had a great experience and that is a testament to the quality of instruction that Mark and his assistant coach Troy Karcher bring each day to practice. This honor comes as no surprise as I believe he has consistently done a terrific job behind the scenes for many years and is most deserving,” Coach Schroeder said.

“Coach Hahn has been a really inspirational coach to me over the last three years. He is a great coach, and I’ve benefitted so much – as a person and as a swimmer – being under his leadership.”

Ross Kimmel ‘15 “I’ve been swimming for Coach Hahn for the past 5 years, and I can honestly say that it has been an honor from the very start.

If anyone deserves to be called the coach of the year, it is he. He’s a calm, kind and effective leader, and his athletes respect him for the way he directs the team. He’s led the men’s varsity swim team to become state champions for two years back to back – an accomplishment that few can boast.

He’s a great coach.”

Laura Durie ‘13 “Mark Hahn was my first and only swim coach I trained under when I decided to join the SBS swim team during my junior year. He was incredibly gracious with new swimmers such as myself and was always quick to encourage. He would affirm not in a coddling way, but to such a healthy degree that his athletes pushed themselves to perform with a greater intensity. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the sport and spent individual time with each swimmer to address strengths and weaknesses. He was dynamic enough to train athletes that often medaled at tournaments as well as to develop swimmers such as myself that had never before swam competitively. He was serious enough to keep us pushing ourselves but never so much that he couldn’t laugh with his team. All in all, swimming is a sport I hope to pursue for many years, and I credit nearly all of that desire to the instruction and training I received from Coach Hahn. He is an incredible teacher that is undeniably deserving of this honor.”

Parker Jones ‘07 “It was truly a joy to swim for Coach Hahn.

He was always encouraging and believed in his swimmers. During a time in my life when I was burnt out on swimming, Coach Hahn helped me return to the basics and just enjoy swimming again. He is most deserving of Coach of the Year.”

Katie Palmerton Frank ‘07 Summer 2012 35

by Ashley Petkas ’12

A Festive Celebration of Blue and Gold:

EagleFest 2012 O

n April 20, the Second Baptist School community came together for the highly anticipated EagleFest. The day began with the student body’s marching on to the field in the traditional class parade.

“One of my favorite things was the parade,” said Shannon Garner. “It was so great to be a part of it. As the class of 2012, we paraded in with the youngest grade, the class of 2025.”

As the day went on, so did the fun. Each grade level competed in field events like sack races, over/under races, balloon pop races, tug-o-war and even a hula-hoop competition! As tradition goes, the Gold team competed against the Blue team. For the first time in years, the Gold team claimed victory! After the field events, students enjoyed the carnival, played fun and wacky games, and devoured all the delicious food. Whether it was face painting, a dunking booth, or hamster balls there was something for everyone to enjoy.

Lower School students look forward to EagleFest all year, especially the carnival! Second grader Emma said, “The best part of EagleFest was the Hamster Ball. I liked it because you feel like a hamster. Also because it is unreal. It is almost impossible to stand up.” Her classmate Tatum echoed Emma’s statements by saying, “The best part of EagleFest was when I won lots of candy and stuffed animals.”

The day of fun undoubtedly takes months of hard work. EagleFest chair Jodi Rook was more than pleased with how the day turned out.

Planning for EagleFest starts at the beginning of the school year and takes a committee of more than 100 parent volunteers to pull off.

“We were so excited that our new initiatives were so successful – the food court, new carnival booths, and text bidding at the auction all came together for an AMAZING EagleFest!! Thank you, Lord, for covering a million details, holding off the rain and making this day special for our teachers and school family.”

As the day came to a close, the junior and senior boys competed in a volleyball game. After two hard-fought matches, the seniors won. The senior girls also took a victory in the powder-puff football game against the junior girls.

“It was awesome to come together as a class and cheer on our senior boys as we took the win against the juniors,” said senior Emily Harvin.

Once again, EagleFest was a huge success and brought the SBS community closer together. A special thank you to the entire EagleFest committee and the Office of Advancement for such a memorable day!

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EagleFest 2012

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Summer 2012 39

Portraits

Celebrating our Graduates:

W

hen a portrait artist sets out to capture the subject on canvas, he spends significant time with this individual, observing interactions with others and learning this person’s inner character. In fact, many portrait artists say that getting to know the individual is one of the most important steps in the artistic process.

Some artists will go so far as to interview others close to this person to get a sense of how to capture the essence of this individual on canvas. Creating a first-rate portrait goes well beyond capturing the likeness of the person; it must do something much more. A portrait should reveal the very soul of the subject.

A similar process to that of a portrait artist is used by the college guidance counselors at Second Baptist School.

Mrs. Janice James, director of college guidance, and Mrs. Donna Sims, associate director of college guidance, take the time to know the heart of each student and, in turn, help that student evaluate where he or she will best thrive. They look beyond the numbers on paper and identify what makes a student tick. With this valuable, intangible information, they then start the process of guiding students toward school options. The primary purpose is to find a school that will maximize each student’s God-given gifts and passions.

This feature article celebrates the greatness in the Class of 2012. While not every senior could be highlighted here, this article provides a glimpse of how the college selection process unfolds at SBS. What each of these seniors shares is a common desire to find the right college choice through perseverance and exploration. None of these seniors haphazardly decided upon a college but rather made their decisions based on prayer, analysis,

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of the College Application and Selection Process

and wisdom. When looking at colleges, they had a clear idea of what they wanted to study and narrowed down their schools by focusing on those with strong academic programs in these areas. They also took it a step further by evaluating the student culture and location of that school. Creating a big picture of their college experience helped them imagine how the next four years would play out for them.

A Glimpse of the College Admissions Process at SBS Because college presents a large financial, time and emotional investment, it is crucial not to settle on a school but rather to find the best possible platform for future success. The well-oiled college admissions process at SBS helps students stay on track and find the right school. SBS understands the value of the individual who thrives in a challenging community of learners and guides students to find environments where they will excel intellectually, academically, socially and spiritually.

From the very beginning, the counselors sit down with students and narrow down schools by discussing some basic criteria: the size of school, location, and whether the school is a private or public institution. “Students can usually be clear on these aspects,” says Mrs. James.

“But, we also encourage them to complete a personality inventory and/or college career inventory during junior year, so they can figure out where they are best suited.

They should identify strengths and weaknesses and then match these results with the school options. Of course, we always take GPA and test scores into consideration when compiling a list of safety, target and reach schools.”

by Johannah Kersey

The guidance counselors begin working with students as early as eighth grade when students attend an informational session, where they learn about the steps in the admissions process. Upper School students use the College Application Handbook compiled by the SBS College Admissions Office, an invaluable resource that breaks the process into steps. Starting at the freshman retreat, students are prepped for the college admissions process. Many students will never forget what Mrs. James says to them at that retreat: “Day One Counts.”

Mrs. James and Mrs. Sims also urge students to establish depth of experience throughout Upper School rather than jumping around to different activities. “They need to zero in on one area of interest during freshman year and then create a thread of involvement in that organization,” explains Mrs. James.

When it comes to college admissions, the distinct advantage for SBS students is that they are taught to approach everything from a college preparatory perspective. Setting that tone of excellence early is critical for the future success of students. Additionally, students benefit from a customized approach in Upper School.

“Having that one-on-one time with the college guidance counselors and faculty is a luxury that students are not afforded in public schools. We pick our students up as juniors and work with them on the college application process. We touch on everything from keeping grades high to applying for scholarships,” explains Mrs. James.

SBS students are also fortunate to have access to electronic resources for managing the application process. Using Naviance, SENDedu and Parchment makes the process much more seamless. The college guidance counselors can track what pieces of the application are missing and help students meet deadlines. “Not every school is fortunate enough to have these electronic resources to help students,” explains Mrs. James.

One of the most important pieces of advice Mrs. James and Mrs. Sims give students is to visit college campuses even before they have narrowed down their options.

“Anytime you are in a town with a university, go visit.

Walk around. Ask questions. Go into the Admissions Office. You will start to get a feel for what appeals to you.

Starting freshman year, this is a good practice for gaining exposure,” Mrs. James says.

Helping students find their passion in life is at the heart of the SBS experience. “Students are encouraged to start crystallizing where they see themselves beyond Upper School,” explains Mrs. James.

Finally, seniors are encouraged to commit their college choice to prayer. At Senior Retreat, the faculty emphasizes giving God’s will ultimate priority. During Bible classes, students have the opportunity to bring their prayer requests about college decisions before their peers.

Portraits of Seniors and Their College Choices...

Summer 2012 41

Princeton University

Belmont University

Adickes

Sophia

S

ophie found her passion for music through involvement with the SBS Fine Arts Department. She credits Mrs. Blades and Mrs. Westmoreland for giving her the experience and guidance needed to take performing to the next level. This foundation in the theater arts at SBS gave her direction for finding a college that specializes in music.

Belmont University was a natural choice for her. “Belmont has a well-known music school, and their program provided me with all the opportunities I needed to receive a strong degree in classical vocal performance and opera,” she explains.

Additionally, living in the dynamic music city of Nashville will enable her to experience music firsthand through local concerts and professional operas.

Throughout the application process, Sophie stayed on top of her applications and deadlines. She also customized her application

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Arendt

Billy

to highlight her musical talents. Having this dimension made her resume stand out to schools. Demonstrating a strong interest in an area helps applicants like Sophie find the perfect college fit.

Sophie treasures her experiences at SBS. From AP English class with Mrs. Dale to cheering on the football team, her senior year was a culmination of hard work and enthusiasm for the next phase of her life journey. Perhaps, the best memory she will carry with her is the Upper School musical, The Sound of Music, in which she played the role of Maria.

During her time at SBS, she has learned many life lessons, the most important being, “You never need to bear your burdens alone.” Relying on family, friends and faculty enabled her to keep her eyes on her dreams and excel in academics, athletics and the fine arts.

B

illy’s decision to attend Princeton University was influenced by several important factors. The fact that Princeton is well known internationally and ranked #1 among the national universities by U.S News and World Report appealed to his quest for excellence. Additionally, Princeton’s strong programs in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering matched well with his interest in pursuing an engineering degree. He also appreciated both the small size of the campus and its proximity to two major cities, New York and Philadelphia. Billy also felt a connection with the school during recruitment by Princeton’s baseball program. The camaraderie among the teammates left a positive impression on him.

While senior year provided challenges and triumphs, Billy values what he learned through the experience and the friends he had the privilege of knowing. “The time to build friendships definitely went by the most quickly, regardless of whether I had known that person since Lower School or only a year or two,” he explains.

Billy expresses gratitude to the SBS College Guidance Office for providing encouragement and support along the way. Looking back, he respects his guidance counselor for not pushing him to decide on Princeton but rather helping him to discover the best school for fostering his talents and helping him achieve his goals.

Like many other SBS students, Billy has found a home at SBS. As a gifted student and baseball player, he found himself spending many days on campus. “The moral support from the SBS community has been extraordinary,” he says.

From a spiritual perspective, Billy grew as a Christian in the classroom and on the baseball field. He will take away the following life principle: “Things happen for a reason, and sometimes we will never know why. Through it all, I learned to work hard, embrace others and offer everything to God.”

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Trinity College

Pepperdine University

Barnett

Taylor

W

hile the breathtaking views of Malibu seen from the precipices of Pepperdine certainly tugged on Taylor’s heartstrings, she was also captured by the Christian culture and community she found on campus. “Pepperdine stood out to me because it is a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership, much like Second Baptist!”

Throughout the college admissions process, Taylor relied on the College Guidance Office to help her. In addition to reminding her to meet deadlines, her college guidance counselor also guided her to find schools that would be the best fit for her.

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Overall, Taylor is grateful for the dynamic educational experience she has enjoyed at SBS. She uses the word “home” to describe the school environment. “The rigorous academic demands and support and encouragement in extracurricular activities have instilled in me the significance of time management as well as dedication. I have learned study methods, which will enhance my college learning experience as well as the supportive and understanding environment that has allowed me to become a well-rounded individual.”

As she reflects on her journey through SBS, she recognizes how much she has grown. “I came in as a fledgling freshman, unsure and unaware. SBS has helped ground my Christian values.

Now, I leave ready to embark on this next journey.”

Brandfield-Harvey

Agatha

A

ddie’s exposure to Trinity College began all the way back in eighth grade when she attended Yale University’s “Bulldog Camp” to train with coaches and rowers. There, she met Coach Wesley Ng, Trinity’s head women’s rowing coach. Staying in touch with him over the years kept her connected to the school. Since this experience, she has been recruited by several other schools.

When it came time to select a college, she traveled to Hartford, Connecticut to visit Trinity, sit in on classes, experience the campus and meet the rowing team. What stood out to her is that she could maintain a healthy balance between academics and sports. The accredited four year B.S. program in engineering appealed to her academic interest, and rowing at the head of the Charles and the Henley in England excited the sports enthusiast in her. During the flight home, Addie exclaimed, “I have found my school!”

Addie appreciates the support system she had at SBS during the application process. “Working with Mrs. Sims, Mrs. Oliphant and Ms. Ware made the process seamless and helped to reduce the stress in an already high-stress situation,” she says. She encourages other students to stay on top of the admissions game and have options when it comes time to making the final decision.

She is also grateful for the rigorous academic program at SBS and the leadership opportunities available to her. She credits these experiences as shaping influences on her life. “All the opportunities that I have been granted and the people whom I have met have prepared me to expand my horizons and take the extra step. I now feel ready and excited to make the leap to college,” she claims.

A feeling of belonging characterized Addie’s experience at Second. “My teachers, counselors, coaches, and friends have all made me feel special, and I gained the confidence to achieve more than I ever thought I could. I was encouraged and appreciated, and I believe that Second has been the foundation for a dynamic life ahead.”

Most importantly, Addie has enjoyed becoming a giving and caring servant. “SBS provided so many paths for me to give to others both in and out of the school. I have learned that I have so much to contribute and just how terrific it feels to do so. I will carry this with me to Trinity College where giving to the community is an integral part of the school’s mission.”

Summer 2012 45

University of Georgia

Northwestern University

Bresser

Sara

B

efore Sara figured out where she wanted to attend college, she knew that she wanted to eventually become a physician assistant (PA). Knowing her career path in advance helped her narrow down her choices quickly, and finding a school with a strong, reputable science program was a top priority. When she met with her college guidance counselor, she shared her career aspirations and the qualities she wanted to find in a college, and her guidance counselor suggested that she look at the University of Georgia.

At a closer glance of the University of Georgia, several things appealed to Sara. On a personal level, she loves the vibrant student culture and the town of Athens, a true college epicenter. For Sara, venturing outside of Texas and plunging into a large university environment presents an exciting opportunity. Most importantly, she was drawn to the fact that UGA has a great science program.

“The many pre-med focused internships and other resumebuilding opportunities really appealed to me,” she explains.

Sara credits Second Baptist School for providing her with a solid foundation in science, math and English. She knows 46

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how much her knowledge in these areas will serve her well as she pursues a career as a PA. She also benefited tremendously from her involvement in team sports at SBS. In fact, she already misses her athletic teams. She especially enjoyed the tight-knit group of girls that played on the volleyball and soccer teams.

Through these athletic outlets, she learned life lessons about leadership and being a team player.

A word of advice she would offer upcoming seniors is to “submit college applications as early as possible” in order to maximize enjoyment of one’s senior year at SBS. Additionally, she recommends “never stop fighting for the school you want to attend because you never know what God can accomplish through you.” While waiting for the decision process to unfold can be stressful, she also sees it as a time of growth and maturity.

As an SBS graduate, she is grateful for the strong sense of community she has experienced. “I know when I was going through some hard times, many SBS families and classmates reached out to support me. I don’t think I could have found that connection anywhere else except Second,” she says.

Cho

Daniel

W

hile Daniel gained admission to several top schools, Northwestern University stood out to him because of its beautiful campus, central location in the Windy City and topranked academic program in economics. When he visited the spring of his junior year, he truly loved the campus.

The College Guidance Office has been very helpful throughout the application process. He also appreciates the conversations he had with faculty members about his college decision, including a memorable conversation with his Bible teacher, Ms. Simonton, who helped Daniel strategize carefully about the college application process.

Daniel is grateful for the support he has received from the SBS community. “As an international student, I struggled with my English when I first came to America. The English department at SBS, however, greatly helped me improve my English skills. I think SBS is an amazing college preparatory school that equips all students with the qualities needed in college and beyond.

Also, SBS has been the perfect place for me to get to know about American culture,” he explains.

His advice for upcoming seniors is “Don’t freak out.” While the college application process appears stressful, Daniel claims that it is much easier when you break it down into manageable parts. He is also grateful that he got a head start on his college essays during the summer of his junior year. He had time for revising, editing and polishing the essays.

For Daniel, senior year at SBS went by “in the blink of an eye.”

During the first semester, he remembers writing a lot of essays, enjoying his last year of high school and praying for his future.

During the second semester, he enjoyed EagleFest, prom and acceptance letters from colleges.

Beyond the classroom, Daniel learned that “life is all about the journey, not the destination.” His faith in God was also strengthened. “I believe it is very noble for all of us to set a goal and work toward that goal, but it is also important for us to enjoy the daily occurrences in our lives. At SBS, I came to know about God better. I went to a church in Korea, but the Bible classes at SBS have been simply phenomenal,” he says.

Summer 2012 47

Houston Baptist University

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

D

Cox

uring junior year, Matt toured several college campuses.

His first visit happened to be Virginia Tech, a school that instantly appealed to him. He appreciated the friendliness of the student body and the small-town feel of Blacksburg.

Additionally, Virginia Tech has a strong degree program in Matt’s area of study, industrial design. “It wasn’t like I had planned to attend Virginia Tech all my life. In fact, I applied to five schools and got into all of them. My visit to this school made the decision an easy one,” he explains.

Matt credits SBS’s College Guidance Office for “getting my mind into the zone.” He says, “They plugged me into the process.” With this boost, he was able to apply himself and find the right college for him. They also introduced him to Naviance. While using Naviance one day early in the process of college applications, Matt found a quiz that evaluated career fit. After taking the quiz, he discovered a degree in industrial design was custom-made for him.

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SBS has provided an environment for Matt to grow academically, socially and spiritually. “Second challenges you. I appreciate how the faculty and administrators treat you like an adult.

Herrington

Katherine

Matt

They set high expectations but leave it to you to step it up and meet those expectations. This approach has made me much more responsible,” he says. He particularly benefited from taking classes like Physics Technology where he learned the basics of industrial design.

Matt has great memories of the time he spent with the soccer team. During his freshman year, he served as the team manger and played on the team during his sophomore year. Then, he served as the team photographer during his senior year. He enjoyed the way he was able to be part of the soccer team even though he didn’t play every year.

Matt’s faith was strengthened during his time at SBS. When he moved to Houston from the Middle East, he almost attended another private school in the area but ultimately decided to attend SBS because of the Christian influence. He committed his life to Christ during the summer between his sophomore and junior years. “SBS is the main reason I became a Christian,” he says. Being in Bible classes and developing relationships with other Christians gave him a strong foundation in his faith.

E

ven though Katherine was familiar with Houston Baptist University, she had no idea how much she would love it until she visited. “HBU stood out to me the most because of its great atmosphere. The people I have met from HBU are some of the nicest and most genuine people I know.” Her desire for a school with a strong academic program, Christian environment and vibrant study body was fulfilled when she found HBU.

Katherine took full advantage of SBS’s College Guidance Office and found tremendous support from her college guidance counselors. From figuring out which teachers to ask for recommendations to brainstorming for the essays, encouragement came every step of the way. She also is grateful for the influence of her teachers. “My teachers at Second have been the most amazing people I know. They care about their students and strive to bring out the best in them,” she says.

Starting college next year doesn’t appear daunting because of the preparation Katherine has had at SBS. “My teachers not

only taught me how to be responsible with my school work but also how to set aside time for other activities. Now, I know how to balance several commitments at once,” she explains.

In reflection, she appreciates every moment of her senior year but only wishes she had slowed down long enough to savor the days even more. Katherine is grateful for the memories and friends she will take away from her experience. She has the following to say to current SBS students: “The lesson that I learned at SBS is to always give everyone a chance because you never know if they could become one of your best friends.”

As she embarks on her next chapter, she has a heart of gratitude for the School she leaves behind. “SBS was the best school for me because it challenged me to reach for something more than I thought I could ever attain. Second gives a student the chance to be in Fine Arts and Athletics, which was a great combination for me, and we are all really close and like a big family.”

Summer 2012 49

Texas Christian University

Rice University

Kee

Joshua

W

hen Josh learned that Rice University was voted the fourth happiest campus in the nation, he took a closer look and liked what he saw. Rice’s excellent biology program matched perfectly with Josh’s interest in the subject. He also desired to stay in Houston, a city he loves.

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Kendall

Department. “They gave me helpful tips on some of the nuances of college admissions that I may have missed,” he explains.

When it came time to apply to college, he aimed high and applied to a broad array of schools. He shares the following advice with college applicants: “Apply to as many schools as possible. If you haven’t been rejected once or twice by the end of the year, then you definitely didn’t reach high enough.”

When Josh attends Rice in the fall, he will feel equipped to thrive in many dimensions. “I learned how to write properly under the instruction of a fabulous English department,” he says. During his senior year, he juggled five AP classes in addition to other activities. “SBS has also greatly diversified my interests as I was involved in the musical, drama, and choir. I feel that SBS has really taught me how to manage my time and organize myself to do the best work possible,” he says.

Josh found tremendous support in the SBS faculty and administrators. In fact, he shared several lengthy discussions with different teachers about where they had attended colleges.

These insights helped him ultimately decide on Rice. He also appreciates what he learned from the SBS College Guidance

Overall, the best life lesson Josh learned from SBS is the following: “With enough hard work, anything is possible. Of course, putting in that hard work can be a hassle and a bit of a pain, but in the end, it is satisfying to do a job to the best of your abilities and be able to take pride in a task well done.”

F

Looney

ollowing the advice of her college guidance counselor to visit campuses, Kendall took the opportunity to visit colleges before making her final decision. This visit made all the difference in the world for her. When Kendall first visited TCU, she immediately fell in love with the campus. She particularly liked the small class sizes, which would provide opportunities to develop one-on-one relationships with the professors. The importance of visiting college campuses is paramount to finding a school that has the right chemistry for a student. Oftentimes, students cannot learn about cultural fit by merely reviewing a university’s website, leafing through a school magazine or even visiting with other students.

When Kendall decided to study nursing, TCU became the perfect fit. The lifestyle of the school and the nursing degree program in the Harris College of Nursing sold Kendall on TCU. She used wisdom while making her college choice by considering her overall happiness with the culture of the

university as well as evaluating how it best serves her educational and career goals.

As the oldest sibling in her family, Kendall had some trepidation about the college admissions process. However, she soon felt at ease with the process after meeting with her college guidance counselor. “My college guidance counselor walked me through every step of the process,” she says.

Despite the commitment of filling out college applications, Kendall enjoyed her senior year at SBS immensely. In addition to bonding with fellow classmates, she also enjoyed playing on the soccer team. “I had such a fun time with my team, and I found it very sad to play our last game together. I’m really going to miss them next year,” she exclaims. Experiences like these help seniors keep everything in perspective as they navigate the college admissions process.

Summer 2012 51

University of Texas

Texas Tech University

Mannetti

Samuel

T

hrough the college admissions process, Sam learned not to rely on first impressions but rather to explore schools before making a final decision. Initially, the University of Texas was not at the top of his list. “Honestly, I was scared to go to a school with 38,000 other students and get lost in the crowd.”

Even during a tour, he was amazed by the massive size of the campus covering 431 acres.

It wasn’t until Sam was accepted to UT and returned for a visit over a long weekend that he discovered this was the school for him. “After interacting with friends, visiting classes, and experiencing Austin, I immediately fell in love,” he explains.

“Being there made me realize that even though the school is so big, it is small as well. You find your close-knit group of friends and everything just becomes less frightening.” Additionally, he found that attending a big school also has its advantages, as UT has top-rated film and business programs. Going to school in a city like Austin also provided excitement. Sam describes Austin as “a great city with a little of everything…the perfect place 52

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to attend school.” Once Sam took the time to explore UT, he walked away with the knowledge that UT was the right place for him. His experience with finding his college highlights the importance of spending significant time visiting colleges.

Sam credits the SBS faculty and College Guidance Department for helping him through the application process from A to Z. “Without them, applying to college would be nearly impossible,” he says. The greatest preparation for him occurred in the classroom where he engaged in a challenging academic program and benefited from a Christian atmosphere. In addition to preparing him for college, SBS “helped me find my path that will continue well beyond my collegiate years.”

The one word that describes Sam’s senior year is “phenomenal.”

He recommends that upcoming seniors “not get caught up in the stress of applying to colleges but rather enjoy friends and family and prepare for the next chapter of your life.”

Muras

Bryce

W

hen surveying Texas universities, Bryce visited several during the SBS Texas college tour and spoke with SBS faculty and administrators who had attended these institutions.

Ultimately, Texas Tech University stood out to him, and Bryce was subsequently admitted to the Honors College as well as Texas Tech’s Whitacre College of Engineering. On a side note, the fact that Texas Tech is located in a smaller city with a drier climate was a selling point, too.

Through the process of college admissions, Bryce has learned the value of finding a school where one can tap into an honors college or a specialized academic program, such as engineering, that will help distinguish an individual from the rest of the student body.

This academic differentiation will provide an advantage from day one, offer a more customized college experience and likely better prepare the student for graduate school.

during college. He also understands the value of surrounding himself with others who have a positive influence over his life.

Learning how to manage his time wisely will also serve him well. Most importantly, staying involved in a local church will be important for his spiritual growth.

Since Bryce applied to colleges early and stayed actively involved in the process, he found his senior year relaxing and enjoyable. For example, playing on the SBS basketball team provided an outlet for him. He greatly enjoyed the camaraderie on the team and only wishes that the final buzzer hadn’t come so early this year.

As a lifer, Bryce describes SBS as a haven for the past 15 years.

“SBS created a nurturing atmosphere and stability for my educational growth. The teachers have always wanted me to succeed,” he explains.

SBS has prepared Bryce for his college experience in some critical ways. Through his exposure to extracurricular activities at SBS, he has learned the importance of plugging into activities Summer 2012 53

Photograph: Blackburn Studios

Elyse Marie Elsenbrook Texas Christian University

Michael Adam Hammer Wake Forest University

Ka Wa Leung Purdue University

Brandi Momoko Miller Oklahoma State University

Emma Joel Raymond Fordham University

Ernest Martin Evans, II Dartmouth College

Emily Anne Harvin Baylor University

Courtney Elizabeth Lewis University of Oklahoma

Sam Allen Miller Texas A&M University

Jenna Marie Exley Stephen F. Austin State University

Katherine Anne Herrington Houston Baptist University

Kendall Claire Looney Texas Christian University

Mallory Anne Moreton Baylor University

SaMaya Symone Readore-McCalpin University of Texas at San Antonio

Joshua Danville Kee Rice University

Meagan Nichole Lyons University of Alabama

Bryce Allan Muras Texas Tech University

Kayla Mikelle Chambers Samford University

William Robert Hale University of Tulsa

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Joshua Alan Dunegan Texas A&M University

Allyson Jessie Finken University of Texas at San Antonio Shannon Eve Garner Louisiana Tech University Cody Allen Garrett Texas Christian University Bethannie Rose Greco Texas A&M University

Nicholas Payne Madole Christine Dmitri Texas A&M University Kharkevitch University of North Carolina Samuel James Mannetti Wilmington University of Texas SaraGrace Stuart Lee Michaela Dena Maxwell Vanderbilt University Baylor University Travis Dane LeJune Megan Renee Milam Louisiana State University Auburn University Christopher Henry Leon Baylor University

Grace Alexandra Peacock University of Miami Ashley Anne Petkas University of Texas Corbin Keeler Porter Texas State University Michael Benjamin Kern Proler Undecided

Madison Alexandra Riffle University of Arkansas

Kristen Loraine Chlora Thomas University of Oklahoma Molly Frances Tollett Baylor University John David Van Anglen University of Texas

Megan Nicole Rogers University of Texas

Edward James Visnaw Texas A&M University – Blinn Team

Anne Ellen Samuelson University of Texas

Alyse Marie Walters San Jacinto College

Brianna Marie Sherman University of Houston

Yumeng Zhang Baylor University

Samantha Rose Strother Austin Peay State University

transcripts sent schools accepted acceptances schools attending states applied to states attending foreign country attending scholarship monies

facts at a glance

SBS Class of 2012 Sophia M. Berglund Adickes Yuann Chang Belmont University Fu Jen Catholic University (Taiwan) William Eugene Arendt, III Princeton University Sung Wan Cho Northwestern University Taylor Paige Barnett Pepperdine University Matthew Ryan Cox Virginia Polytechnic Institute Agatha Eugenie and State University Brandfield-Harvey Trinity College Morgan Christine Cummins Texas State University Sara Anne Bresser University of Georgia Joseph Richard Dean, III Drexel University Evan Landon Brown University of Arkansas Kevin Alexis Diaz Louisiana State University Mircea Galileo Bucio Tello New York Institute Preston Andrew Dow of Technology Belmont University

451 94 277 35 30 18 1 $3.5M Summer 2012 55

Class of 2012 A c a d e m i c a n d S e r v i c e Aw a rd s

Boys/Girls State

Each year, the American Legion and the Ladies Auxiliary sponsor summer programs to instill in young men and women the ideals and objectives of American government. Schools may nominate a limited number of students to attend the Boys or Girls State programs. For one week, these students develop a working knowledge of the principles of democracy by establishing and running a complete state government.

Adam Hammer Bryce Muras Sam Mannetti

Senior Servant Award

The Servant Award is unique because it is the only award not voted on by faculty or a committee, but by the students themselves. The Servant Award is given to the young man and young woman in each grade level who are truly exhibiting the character of Christ in their daily lives. These students are living the Christian life on the field, on the stage and in the classroom.

Molly Tollett and Billy Arendt

National Merit

The National Merit Scholarship Program identifies academically outstanding students through the administration of the PSAT each year. Of the 1.5 million students who take the PSAT, 34,000 students earn scores in the top 3%. These students are National Merit Commended Students.

National Merit Commended Students Preston Dow Joshua Dunegan Nick Madole The next level of award in the National Merit Scholarship Competition is that of Semifinalist. Of the same 1.5 million students who took the PSAT, approximately 1% were named Semifinalists.

Semifinalists continue in the competition and may advance to Finalists by submitting a detailed scholarship application documenting their academic performance.

National Merit Finalist SaraGrace Lee

Golden Eagle Award

The Golden Eagle Award, the highest award an athlete at Second Baptist School can obtain, is presented to a senior girl and boy athlete who best exemplify a Christian athlete. It is presented on the basis of Christian leadership, team work, fair play and courage. The selection of the male and female recipient of this award is made by the coaches.

Molly Tollett and Billy Arendt

Soaring Eagle Award

The Soaring Eagle Award is presented to the senior boy and girl who have deeply enriched the Fine Arts Department and the Second Baptist School community with their God-given talents. Over their four-year Upper School career, these students have been successfully involved in multiple areas of the fine arts.

Sophie Adickes and Joshua Dunegan

Honor Roll

The yearly Honor Roll is the highest academic honor given to a student at Second Baptist School. It is presented to the students who have made the Honor Roll each grading period of the school year. To qualify, the student must be taking 6 or more graded courses and earn a 4.0 GPA or better.

Sophie Adickes Billy Arendt Addie Brandfield-Harvey Sara Bresser Yuann Chang Daniel Cho Joshua Dunegan Elyse Elsenbrook Ally Finken Joshua Kee Kendall Looney Brandi Miller Emma Raymond Annie Samuelson Jessica Zhang

Of the National Merit Finalists, approximately half become Merit Scholar awardees. These scholarship winners are the candidates judged to have the greatest potential for success in rigorous college studies and beyond.

National Merit Scholar Joshua Kee College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program identifies academically outstanding Hispanic high school students. They must have scored in the top 2% of all Hispanic students and have a minimum of 3.5 GPA. Of the 235,000 Hispanic students who took the PSAT this year, approximately 2% of the highest-scoring students are designated as Scholars.

National Merit Hispanic Scholar Billy Arendt

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Interim Term 2012

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Colorado Sunset Photo by Nora Ashkar Ripple ‘02 Summer 59 US 2012 Art Teacher

Exploration. Enrichment. Experience.

Interim term is a two-week period in the Upper School that enables students truly to experience what the world has in store for them. Through travel opportunities, they are able to cross cultural barriers and explore new areas of the world. In the career exploration track, seniors are placed in internships, where they gain vital experience in their field of choice. During Second Serving, each student participates in a service project or mission trip where they give back to the community.

Locally based enrichment courses give students the unique opportunity to develop new interests and passions as they participate in a variety of classes.

Altitudes of Photography The Colorado Photography Trip was the first of its kind. Students loaded up a plane and then a van to head to the Great Colorado Sand Dunes and capture nature on camera. A professional nature photographer accompanied the students on daily photo shoots and gave the students tips and tricks. It was a beautiful location, and the students captured bison, cranes, the sand dunes, each other and the glistening night sky.

The students not only learned how to use their cameras more extensively but also walked away with a greater appreciation for God’s country.

Mission Trip to Honduras During Second Serving, a group of juniors and seniors opted to go on a mission trip to Honduras with trip sponsors Brett Chancey and Laura Kates. It was an unforgettable experience for the group as they were given the opportunity to minister to orphans and their families during the week. Throughout the trip, they led Vacation Bible School at La Brisas and served at the Nueva Esperanza Orphanage, playing with babies and young children. Witnessing first hand how the people in Honduras live and how little they have enabled the group to gain a different perspective on life.

Students opened their hearts, poured out the love of Christ and were able to see Him breakthrough language and culture barriers.

PANDA-monium in China

by Colette Cope ‘13 When I first stepped off the plane, I could not help thinking to myself, “Wow, I can’t believe I’m in China.”

Along for the Interim trip to China this year were my four other classmates, David Abbott, Caroline Boyd, Jessie Prillaman, and Bailey Wilkerson, as well as Ms. Rowland, Mrs. Womac, and our translator Howard. We first arrived in Shanghai, where we toured an emperor’s gardens, saw the city from the 100th floor of an observatory, and rode a bullet train.

We then headed to Chengdu where we met with our Chinese host families.

Living at a host family’s house was definitely an eye opening experience.

I had to learn to step outside my comfort zone and become part of a Chinese family for a week. At first, it was hard adjusting to their way of life, but once I developed a relationship with my Chinese friend, I had so much fun! I now have memories that will last a lifetime.

After Chengdu, we flew to Beijing. We visited the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and of course the Great Wall.

Standing on the wall and amazed at the beautiful sight surrounding me, I reflected on the past two weeks in China. I enjoyed the culture, people, and food of China. Although some of the food was really spicy, and as Caroline says, “certain animal body parts should never EVER be put on a plate,” most of the food was very good. And we all became pros at using chopsticks! Overall, the experience really opened my eyes about how another part of the world lives and gave me a new appreciation and love for the Chinese culture.

Junior Bailey Wilkerson agrees about the great opportunity of living with the host family. She comments, “From eating their strange breakfasts to helping my Chinese friend with her intense English homework, I learned a lot about their culture and developed close relationships with my host family along the way.”

We joined our Chinese students at school, where all the students were thrilled to see us. “Everywhere we went, we felt like superstars because everyone wanted to take a picture with us and get our autographs,” said Junior Caroline Boyd.

At school, we attended English, art, and music classes. We also learned Tai Chi, a Chinese martial arts. We had huge swords and these cool traditional Chinese outfits. While our instructor was teaching us the moves, all the school students were crowding around us and taking pictures. The school was very excited that we were there and I felt honored to be participating in their culture. One of my favorite days of China was when we went to Panda Protection Center because pandas are one of my favorite animals! My dream came true when we all got to hold a baby panda bear and take a picture with it. It was the cutest thing ever!

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Summer 2012 61

Spanish Students Travel to EspaĂąa!

by Laura Durie ‘13 Over Interim Term, a group of Spanish students and teachers had the remarkable opportunity to travel to EspaĂąa! We participated in a variety of cultural activities ranging from a traditional Spanish cooking class to Flamenco dancing to visiting a bull farm.

Starting in Madrid, our group traveled to Toledo, Cordoba, Granada, Sevilla, and finally Barcelona. We loved going sword shopping in Toledo, a location that is world-famous for its swords and daggers. One of the most beautiful places that we saw was the Alhambra in Granada. It is essentially a walled fortress on the outside, but an impressive palace with scenic gardens and streets on the inside.

Another favorite excursion was visiting the bull farm in Sevilla. That outing was full of surprises, such as seeing a dead horse get dissected. Finally, we ended our stay in Barcelona, where we took a bike tour around the old city and along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. After traveling around Spain for just ten days, we all feel more confident in our Spanish speaking skills and have experienced a taste of the rich Spanish culture. It was a trip to remember.

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Summer 2012 63

Students Experience a New World in Russia

by Sam Mannetti ‘12 This year a select group of eleven Second Baptist Upper School students had the opportunity to travel to Russia during Interim Term for the 16th annual St. Petersburg International Model UN conference.

After flying ten hours to Paris and another four hours after that, we finally arrived in Moscow. The city was unlike any other. With gray clouds as far as the eye could see and fresh snow blanketing the ground, it seemed as though we had traveled to another world. The next day, we started our tour of the magnificent city. First, we visited a renowned cemetery containing the graves of many famous Russian historical figures such as Nikita Khrushchev and Boris Yeltsin, and after that we stopped by Christ the Savior Cathedral and the world recognized Saint Basil’s Cathedral.

The following day, we traveled just outside of Moscow to Star City, the Russian equivalent of NASA, that just years before could not be found on a single map as if invisible to the world around. Once inside, we were led around by an old-school Soviet that showed us the amazing facilities including the centrifuge, full-scale space station replica, and the training tank in which we saw actual astronauts training.

Our last site in Moscow before we moved on to St. Petersburg was the Kremlin. The Kremlin is Russia’s equivalent to the White House, and it was stunning. Behind its huge walls lay many cathedrals, important government buildings and even a giant cannon. Before we left, we stopped by the outdoor market place to bargain for a few Russian souvenirs to bring back home.

The next day, we traveled on a highspeed train to St. Petersburg. One of the first sights we saw in the city was the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood Cathedral, which took twenty-eight years to build and was fascinating to tour. Last but not least, we had a chance to go inside The State Hermitage Museum, probably the second greatest art gallery in the world, full of numerous artistic works from the likes of da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and many others.

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The conference’s opening ceremonies were held in the Smolny Cathedral, one of Russia’s most beautiful cathedrals. The rest of our days in St. Petersburg took place in Gymnasium 157, a local school where the Model UN committees took place against delegations from Russia, Belarus, Egypt, Bahrain, Germany, Italy, Cyprus, Turkey, Dubai, and other countries.

As if the language and cultural obstacles didn’t create a challenge enough, St. Petersburg International Model United Nations (SPIMUN) uses a slightly different format and procedure than at other Model UN conferences. Regardless, Second Baptist was able to succeed.

At the closing ceremonies, Josh Kee was honored for his service as a Chair of the Baltic Forum, Adam Hammer received the Special Recognition Award (equal to Honorable Mention for Outstanding

Delegate), and Sam Miller was awarded the Best Delegate for his committee.

Of the schools present at SPIMUN, very few could claim an honors recipient and even fewer could claim multiple award winners. Overall, the experience was truly amazing and one that none of us will ever forget.

A Little Southern Hospitality

by Ashley Petkas ‘12 A small group of Second Baptist girls went on the Southern Architecture tour in Louisiana for the first week of Interim Term. With sponsors Mitzi Sisk and Laura Towne, the six senior girls and four freshman girls enjoyed everything from visiting the LSU campus to touring original Southern plantations.

“My favorite part was staying in the plantation home overnight; it really made me feel like I was experiencing history first-hand,” said senior Morgan Cummins. “This was actually my second year in a row attending. I loved it so much the first time that I had to come back before I graduated.”

Another popular activity on the itinerary was the famous swamp tour.

“Even though it was pouring down rain, I really loved the tour. We saw our tour guide feed crocodiles feet away from us,” said Shannon Garner.

There were so many amazing things to do and experience in Louisiana because it has such a rich culture and history. State pride is evident everywhere, and a visitor simply cannot walk down the street without being captivated by the Cajun rhythm and way of life.

Students Tour Texas Colleges The Texas College Tour is a popular choice during Interim Term for many students. Beginning on Monday, the group traveled by two charter buses throughout Texas to visit college campuses and take a glimpse into life at each of the Universities.

The week began at Houston Baptist University, where students had the opportunity to see the many new buildings on the HBU campus and have a special meeting with the Dean of the Honors College. Heading north after HBU, the students traveled to Texas A&M University. Prior to the tour, they enjoyed lunch at one of the student dining halls, and especially enjoyed the pizza! Several SBS alumni joined the group for lunch, which was a special treat. The tour at A&M had the students walking all over campus – at least two miles – to see all of the buildings and learn about the unique traditions of the University.

“Texas College Tour was a great way to get a feel for each of the colleges, and to experience the schools with our friends,” Kayley Looney, sophomore, said. “We now realize that we all have big decisions ahead of us.”

That evening, the group traveled to Austin for a special dinner at The Oasis.

Many SBS alumni who attend the University of Texas joined the group

for dinner overlooking Lake Travis at sunset. Tuesday morning, the group woke up bright and early to tour St. Edward’s University. St. Edward’s is a liberal arts college situated on top of a hill overlooking Austin. The students broke into two tour groups for an in-depth look at the University. That afternoon, they toured the University of Texas, which was a highly anticipated tour for many students. They were surprised at just how big the University is! Even though the campus is so large, the tour guides were able to give the students an insightful glimpse into UT and a preview of what being a college student is like. Tuesday was capped off with a UT baseball game, where students enjoyed premiere seating to cheer on the Longhorns.

Wednesday morning found the students in Fort Worth to visit Texas Christian University. Although the campus was closed for Spring Break, Mrs. Oliphant and Mrs. Crawford, seasoned College Tour chaperones, were able to give students an informative tour of the school. Many students said that TCU was their favorite school during the trip – and the perfect weather that day didn’t hurt! Wednesday afternoon was a highlight of the tour when students toured Southern Methodist University.

With a peppy tour guide leading the group around the perfectly manicured campus, students enjoyed the tour and absolutely loved the school. Spending

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Students Tour Texas Colleges continued

Students Explore New Skills and Ideas during Interim Term

the day in Dallas was definitely a highlight of the week! That evening, the students headed to Waco, where they enjoyed dinner with several SBS alumni who are currently Baylor students.

In the Houston-based Interim Term classes, students are able to learn a new skill or delve deeper into a particular area of interest. From Pin Hole Photography, Finances Made Easy, and Lego My Lego to Tap Code Vietnam, Horseback Riding and Movie Messages, students in the Upper School have been challenged, entertained, and instructed in their first week of Interim Term.

“The week was a great experience, and it was neat to see so many of the big schools in Texas,” Clay Broussard, sophomore, said. “It definitely broadened my horizons to the different types of schools that are out there.”

Thursday morning, the group headed to their last stop on the Texas College Tour, Baylor University. A big moment happened on this trip when one of the tour groups ran into Brittany Griner, who is the star of the Baylor Women’s Basketball Team and was recently voted Associated Press Player of the Year. Brittany stopped to take a picture with a couple of students. The girls were thrilled to meet such an inspiring role model. The Baylor tour was really interesting, as students learned about the rich history of the oldest university in Texas. Many of them were already picturing themselves as Baylor Bears!

Students Plant New Trees in Houston

by Ashley Petkas ‘12 During Second Serving, Mrs. Sisk and Mrs. Towne took a group of Second Baptist School students to help Trees for Houston, a non-profit organization dedicated to planting, protecting and promoting trees. SBS students got their hands dirty while beautifying their community.

Freshman Ross Kimmel said, “I really enjoyed this service project. I have never participated in something like this and it was a really neat way to help others.”

The students planted, potted, and pruned trees. The first day was dedicated to planting trees at a local park and the next two days were dedicated to hard work at the tree farm.

“It may seem easy at first glance, but it really took a lot of strength and man power to get the job done. I really felt like we made an impact,” said Morgan Cummins.

Overall, it was a fun and rewarding experience for all those who participated.

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In Dead Man Talking, students studied forensics and criminology. SBS teacher Ruth Dale acted as assistant to instructor.

Grace Das this week. Ms. Dale said, “This course exposes students to the real world where crime is ever-present. It is fascinating what can be learned through forensic science, and the dead man really can talk!”

Brett Chancey’s Social Psychology class had an interesting week exploring the norms of human behavior and how society reacts when these norms are violated. Throughout the week, they conducted experiments in which the students displayed odd behavior— one group of students pretended to nap in the elevator—and then they documented and presented an analysis of people’s reactions.

Arizona One Second Serving trip took a group to Arizona, allowing our students to serve at the Meonkopi Senior Center.

The shoveling out a drainage ditch and pulling weeds at the center was greatly appreciated by the senior citizens of Meonkopi, as they now see the lovely landscaping outside their home.

In addition to their service, the students and sponsors were able to tour the scenic state of Arizona. Hiking Bell Rock, exploring Sedona and visiting the Grand Canyon allowed the travelers to immerse themselves in the beauty of Arizona.

“A rewarding and spiritually enriching experience for the students, our efforts in cleaning up the landscaping meant a great deal to the people at Meonkopi,” Troy Karcher, trip chaperone, said. “We also visited a sweat lodge, a unique experience for our group. Being together and praying for each other in a small hut with steaming rocks not only cleansed our minds, but gave us an amazing connection to the Lord.”

Have you ever wondered how to make the perfect crepe? Students attending the Chefs R Us class learned the proper procedures for crepe making, soufflé baking and much more from chefs at Well Done Cooking Classes. Complete with monogrammed aprons, students practiced their culinary skills under the guidance of teachers Kathy Lee and Tammy Seale.

In More Than a Taco, Mrs. Geo Wyss took students on a gastronomic tour of Hispanic restaurants in Houston. The students not only enjoyed great Latin food, but also honed their food critic skills through daily blogs. One student’s blog reads, “The food at Cafe Piquet is authentic Cuban food, which has a lot of meat and vegetables but very little fish. I had a dish called the Cuban Sampler, which consisted of two beef empanadas, two pastries, one tamale, and a stuffed potato. All the flavors seemed to complement each other nicely, the corn tamale was very good, and I loved the stuffed potato.”

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Looking Forward

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TIME S

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CLA S S

( B IN S )

Typical Upper School 6-Day Rotation

DAY S ( A t h r o u g h F )

S U B J ECT S

In the Middle School, the Bin Scheduling model will be similar with a few major differences. Like in the Upper School, classes will rotate over a six-day cycle and students will not attend every class every day. Also, classes will meet at different times each day. However, the Middle School will remain on a seven period per day schedule. Also, all classes, including electives, will meet five out of every six days. The Middle School schedule will help students transition easily both out of Lower School and into the Upper School.

DAY S ( A t h r o u g h F )

CLA S S

Classes will not meet at the same time every day. A student may have English first period on an “A” day, fourth on a “B” day, third on a “C” day and so on. This increased variability helps the students in a few ways.

For instance, if a student routinely misses the last part of the day for baseball games, he will not miss the same class a few days in a row. Also, students are more likely to have difficult classes at prime learning times, and as research shows, are more likely to be engaged when each day is a little different.

For example SBS Upper School will use a Six-Day Rotation (A, B, C, D, E, F) that has six periods, or “bins,” each day. Each student has 36 total bins over the course of each six-day rotation.

PERIOD S

The model of Bin Scheduling that SBS Upper School has chosen uses a six-day rotation that has six periods, or “bins,” each day. So, each student has 36 total bins over the course of each six-day rotation. Core classes will each take up five bins, thus meeting five out of every six days.

Electives like Creative Writing will take up fewer bins, some classes like BC Calculus will meet more often, and other classes like AP Chemistry will meet for two-hour blocks once each cycle so as to provide adequate lab time. Students will be preparing for fewer classes each night, so while the academic rigor will stay consistent, study and homework time will be reduced.

After much research and prayer, the Middle and Upper Schools decided to adopt a Bin Scheduling system beginning in the 2012-2013 school year.

1 - 6

tudent schedules are replete with challenging classes, rigorous athletic practices, musical rehearsals, service projects and club meetings, not to mention SAT prep and homework. In the ever-consuming race toward college admittance, our students are overwhelmed.

Therefore, the administration decided to reevaluate the traditional school schedule and ask, “What is best for our students?” After much research and prayer, the Middle and Upper Schools decided to adopt a Bin Scheduling system beginning in the 2012-2013 school year.

SBS Bin Scheduling System

( B IN S )

S

In the Upper School, students will have empty bins in their schedules.

For freshmen, this will be traditional study hall time. However, for sophomores, juniors and seniors with good grades and behavior, this will be unstructured study time. Students may spend that hour in the library or in any of the School’s study lounge areas. Many college freshmen report that they have had difficulty in adjusting to Study hours In Independent School free study time between serve to magazine, David C. Flocco classes. These study teach time from Montclair Kimberley hours serve to teach time management Academy in New to older management to our older students.

Jersey writes about the students while they are still implementation of a similar in a protected environment. new schedule. After quite a bit of research on the topic for his The schedule also has 30 minutes dissertation, he “discovered that the of protected time each day called schedule most certainly could impact Community Time. In the Middle School, Community Time will serve as student perceptions of academic stress.” Upon putting his findings into a short break in the day for students practice, he writes, “the research has to regroup; on Thursdays, it will not only led to a dramatic change be time set aside for chapel. In the in the school schedule… but also to Upper School, this block allows time reduced student stress, increased for pep rallies, chapel, assemblies, faculty engagement club meetings, office hours, and and significant tutoring without cutting into the academic gains academic day or lunch period. So, Student for students.” stress is chapel will be held every week reduced with regardless of other scheduled events, significant We expect that athletes will be able to both attend academic installing this tutoring and be on time to practice, gains. and College Guidance can meet with new schedule will serve to students without taking time from benefit our students Bible classes. Community Time also in several ways. Head of Middle provides a break in the academic day School Jon Guthrie says, “We are so for the benefit of our students’ health. excited about our new schedule and Head of Upper School Nathan Barber the opportunities it will afford our says, “Research shows that students students.” should have no more than two classes without a break. Community Overall, this change should relieve time provides that break, and helps our students of some unnecessary create a more student centered stress, encourage self-discipline in environment.” preparation for college, and enable students to excel in both academics and extra-curricular activities.

PERIOD S

In our success driven age, students are pressured to pack resumés with outstanding grades and achievements in order to be competitive. But how do we help our students avoid this cycle and run with excellence toward their individual callings?

Classes will not meet at the same time every day.

A student may have English first period on an “A” day, fourth on a “B” day, third on a “C” day and so on. Days A - F will fall on different days of the week.

Summer 2012 69

Alumni Updates

Dawn Williams Trozzo

Stay connected and Send your updates to sbsalumni@secondbaptistschool.org!

1 9 6 9 - 2 0 1 2

Save the Date for Homecoming 2012!

D

awn Williams Trozzo went home to be with the Lord on Monday, May 14, 2012.

She was born on February 18, 1969 in Houston, Texas. Dawn was a lifer at Second Baptist School and excelled as a varsity cheerleader, member of the spirit committee, and she was a key player on the varsity softball and tennis teams. She pursued leadership through her involvement with student council, drama club, yearbook and newspaper.

Dawn then went on to attend Baylor University and American University.

Being involved in the community was a top priority for Dawn. She worked on many political campaigns including serving as campaign manager for several candidates over the years. She also served as Precinct Chairman for her Briargrove neighborhood and served on the board of the Magic Circle Republican Women’s Club. Dawn was a member of the Junior League of Houston.

She was actively involved at Houston Baptist University and was a member of the Guild and on the President’s Advisory Council. Recently, she initiated the search for the new HBU mascot, a husky named Kiza II.

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She enjoyed reading, traveling, tennis and golf, and won the ladies pro-am championship at the Mercedes tournament in Kapalua, Maui two consecutive years. The role she loved most was being a devoted mother and wife.

Dawn’s love for Second Baptist School was passed down to her children, Jared and Payne, who are both in the Middle School at SBS. Dawn was an eager volunteer and served in many leadership roles as an SBS parent and alumni. She was the chairman of EagleFest, a class agent for the class of 1987, member of the sixth grade Gatekeepers prayer group and a room mom. She and Clay served on the Distinguished Speaker Luncheon Committee and were the presenting sponsors at the inaugural luncheon.

Dawn is survived by her husband, Clay Trozzo; her children, Jared and Payne; her parents Diane and Stanley Williams; and her brother Jay Williams.

Please keep the Trozzo and Williams families in your prayers.

Mark your calendar for SBS Homecoming Friday, October, 12, 2012 highlighting the Classes of 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2007! Be sure to stop by the alumni tent for giveaways and enjoy free ice cream at the Alumni Third Quarter Party on the terrace of Jane’s Grill. All alumni and alumni parents are invited!

Update your address! Did you know you can easily update your mailing address and e-mail address through the SBS website? Log in at secondbaptistschool.org

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1982

1983

. . . . . . . –––––––––––––––––––– ............................

class agent

class agent ––––––––––––––––––––

cmoritz@spe.org

. . . . . . pessarra@sbcglobal.net .............................

Craig Moritz

Trisha Pessarra

...................................

Attention Class of 1982

May of 2012 marked the 30th anniversary of the first graduating class from Second Baptist School – the outstanding Class of 1982!

We will celebrate this class at Homecoming 2012!

Charles Bacarisse is still

enjoying his role as the Vice President for Advancement at Houston Baptist University, where he is responsible for development and alumni relations. His children – Charles P (16) and Ellen (13) – are doing great. His wife, Jana Fay, continues her practice as a probate and estate-planning attorney. cbacarisse@hbu.edu

Craig W. Moritz is the Senior

Manager for Sales & Exhibits at the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Offshore Technology Conference. His daughter Lindsey will be a junior at SBS this fall and his son Ryan graduated from Memorial High School in the Class of 2012. cmoritz@spe.org

1984 class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Charles Beall

charles@beall.org

Helen Buckner

. . . . . .helen@bucknerweb.com .............................

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1985 class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Eve Phelps Giddens Eg996320@aol.com

Beth Brock Looser bblooser@aol.com

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1986 class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Kimberly Arnold Parker kap1228@gmail.com

Michelle White

rm_white@yahoo.com

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Alumni Updates

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1987

1989

.................................

class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Leslie Niermeyer

lniermeyer@yahoo.com

Sabrina Morgan Ogelsbee

...................................

1988 class agent ––––––––––––––––––––

Kimberly Thode

. . . . . . . .kcthode@gmail.com ...........................

Alumni Updates

The Class of ‘92 is planning 20-year reunion for March 1-2, 2013. More details to come! Please contact the Office of Alumni Relations

its

to update your contact information. sbsalumni@ secondbaptistschool.org

. . . . . . . .smogles@yahoo.com ........................... ................................... ...................................

1990 class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Donny Ford

dford@ford-math.com

Tisha Harper Krause

1993 class agents

––––––––––––––––––––

Anne Munger Freeman

annefreeman20@yahoo.com

Meredith Jolley Arendale

................................... jarendale@comcast.net ..

Candi Donalson Robinson and

her husband, Ron, welcomed twins on October 17, 2011. Scout Elizabeth was 5 pounds and Gage Harrison was 5 pounds, 5 ounces.

Big sister Charli Love is thrilled about her new siblings! candi.10@comcast.net

. . . . . . . . tkrausepfs@aol.com ........................... ................................... ...................................

1991 class agents

class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Lucian Bukowski

––––––––––––––––––––

lucian.bukowski@staubach.com

lsr@maisonriz.net

Peyton Millinor

Leslie Stiver Rice

Jill Moses Holstead

. . . . . .jmholstead@comcast.net .............................

Keith Morris

keith@rkm3law.com tomstuckey@suddenlink.net

...................................

1992 class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Kristin Johnson Paull kpaull@planetpaull.com

Lisa Rude

Heather Till Patton welcomed Ashley Rebecca Patton on April 13, 2012. She was 6 pounds, 2 ounces.

Big brother Luke loves his baby sister! aggie4th_00@hotmail.com

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1995 class agent ––––––––––––––––––––

Marissa Mariner Womble

. . . . . . . mwomble@gmail.com ............................

peyton@mail.com

Thomas Stuckey

Ted Cruz is in the run-off election

for the U.S. Senate. ted@tedcruz.org

1994

Thomas Davis is currently traveling in Australia and enjoying life. After his journey down under, he will move to Houston to start working for the family business, Davis Brothers Construction. tdavis62877@earthlink.net

Marilyn Van Zandt Kehr marilyn_kehr@yahoo.com

Chris Wood

cabwood@gmail.com

...................................

1996 class agent ––––––––––––––––––––

Allison Moody Ball

. . . . . . . . .alliball02@me.com ..........................

Jamie Martin Lumsden and

her husband, Joey, welcomed daughter Presley Reese on April 12, 2012. Presley was 8 pounds, 11 ounces and 21 inches long. jamiemartin78@aol.com

Mandy Smith Sisco and her husband, Lance, have recently moved to Richardson, Texas so that Lance could begin a job as the Director of Newly Marrieds with Watermark Church in Dallas. Their family has grown by one as they welcomed Griffin Allen Sisco on March 1, 2011. mandysisco05@yahoo.com

. . . . . . . . .lwrude@gmail.com ..........................

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Alumni Updates

Alumni Updates

...................................

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An Epic Comeback in Alumni Kickball!

1999

1997

class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Reagan Fincher

Lori Smith Johnson

Katy Kyle

Amanda Skelton Yocum

O

ld school sports have made a comeback…at least with our alumni!

First it was dodgeball at Flight Night, followed by kickball at Spring Swing.

Smithers83@aol.com

reaganfincher@yahoo.com

asyocum@yahoo.com

. . . . .katy.kyle@expresspros.com ..............................

Beth Trahan

crushBT@yahoo.com

Jennifer Hernandez Buckley

Brooke Bellow Marquart

and her husband, Steve, welcomed their second son Jackson Drew on May 10, 2011. Their older son, Tyler, loves being a big brother.

The Buckleys feel blessed to have such wonderful, happy boys! jennlbuckley@hotmail.com

Ricky Wood graduated from the Villanova University Executive MBA Program in May 2012 and he is currently the President of Faulkner BMW in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

He and his wife, Kate, are the proud parents of daughter Henley Kate, who is two years old. ricky.evin.wood@gmail.com ...................................

1998 class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Kelly Clanton Holton kcholton@hotmail.com

Meghan Griffin Norton

. . . . .marymeg2002@yahoo.com ..............................

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Kelly Clanton Holton and

her husband, Michael, are still living in Vail, Colorado, and are thankful to have the whole Clanton family there. Their kids, Knox, Kate and Jay will turn 5, 3 and 1 this summer.

and her husband, Matt, welcomed daughter Annie Charlotte on April 16, 2012 at 11:48 a.m. She was 7 pounds, 10 ounces and 20 inches long. Annie has two big sisters, twins Ella and Olivia, who turned two in March. brookemarquart@ gmail.com

It was a game to remember as a rag tag group of SBS alumni from various graduating years took on a well-trained, just-out-of-theweight-room group of SBS sophomore boys. It started out slow for the alumni team with a few missed kicks and only a couple of runs on the scoreboard. By the fourth inning, the sophomore boys were already up by half a dozen runs, but the alumni kept their spirits high and continued with a steady and strong defense to hold the current students.

With one more inning to go, the alumni were up to kick. With a few solid bunts by the girls, the runs started rolling in and, for the first time, the alumni team pulled ahead of the sophomores with an 11-10 lead. The sophomores then had one more chance to secure the win. The game came to a spectacular close with an unassisted double play followed by a catch, and the alumni team rushed to the center of the field to celebrate the world’s greatest comeback in alumni vs. student kickball history!

What’s next? Send us your ideas for the next old school sport you want to see alumni play. Flag football, blind pitchball, matball, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee? The options (and memories) are endless! sbsalumni@secondbaptistschool.org.

Will Bradley would like to congratulate Brooks Shanklin ‘06, Cale Dowell ‘05, Sarah Dodds ‘04 and Rebecca Sears ‘07 for joining Read King Commercial Real Estate. All five alumni enjoy working together at the company’s San Felipe office. will@read-king.com Max Monzon married Carrie

Goodson on March 24, 2012 at Second Baptist Church. Max and Carrie are both graduates of Baylor University. They currently live in Houston where Max is an attorney and Carrie works for a non-profit organization, Living Water International. mmonzon@ raintreeresorts.com

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Alumni Updates ...................................

2000 class agents

––––––––––––––––––––

Christen Bringhurst Myers

5 ounces and he loves life! Lydia, his two-year-old sister, loves him and is already a great big sister. llee@moodynational.com

ceebs2815@aol.com

...................................

Erin Larkin Watkins

2001

. . . . . .erin.l.watkins@gmail.com .............................

Alumni Updates ...................................

The Class of ‘02 is planning its 10-year reunion for October 13, 2012. More details to come! Please contact the Office of Alumni Relations

2004 class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Casey Brewton

cabrewton@gmail.com

to update your contact information. sbsalumni@ secondbaptistschool.org

Rebecca Hickman

. . . . . . . . rsh1129@gmail.com ...........................

class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Rory Brewton

rjbrew@gmail.com

Peter Warden

. . . . . .peterwarden@gmail.com .............................

her husband, Adam, welcomed Hudson Joshua on December 25, 2011. Their sweet Christmas blessing was 5 pounds, 14 ounces and 21 inches long. mandyrayej@gmail.com

Caitlin Fincher married Blake Zorn in Atlanta on October 22, 2012. The couple met on a blind date arranged by one of Caitlin’s co-workers. caitlinfincher@gmail.com

Jill Ford married Andrew

Wright on June 23, 2012, in Aspen, Colorado. Andrew went to Stratford High School and is an oil and gas attorney. Fellow SBS lifer, Gray Thornton ‘00, who was an usher in the wedding, introduced the happy couple. jill@encoreresidential.net

Elizabeth Smith became engaged

to David Joseph Haffner II on March 31, 2012. They are looking forward to their wedding on October 27, 2012 at Second Baptist Church.

Elizabeth is an HR representative at Westlake Chemical Corporation in Houston. They are planning a move to south Alabama, where David is from, in the spring of 2013. lizzybooh2@hotmail.com

Lauren Blackwood Wuertz and her husband, Nick, welcomed Elle Brennan on January 11, 2011. Elle was 8 pounds, 7 ounces. Lauren is enjoying life as a stay at home mom, raising her future SBS eagle! lblkwd@aol.com

...................................

2002 class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Logan Lee and his wife Kara

welcomed William Levi Lee on May 14, 2012. Levi weighed 7 pounds,

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Catherine Crane graduated from

Mandy Johnson Stephens and

Kristin Hendee Blackford kristin.blackford@gmail.com

Jackie Wahl

. . . . . . jackie.wahl@yahoo.com .............................

the School of Law at Washington University in St. Louis. She is the Virginia Election Day Operations Director for the Mitt Romney Presidential Campaign. She is responsible for monitoring election activities in Virginia and recruiting, supervising and training lawyers to work on election-related issues during the voting period. Catherine will be working with the campaign through the November election and possibly longer if there is a recount in Virginia and/or Romney is elected. ccrane32@gmail.com

Dr. Allie Evans graduated from medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch. She will complete her residency in OB/GYN at UTMB in Galveston. alliegigem08@yahoo.com

...................................

2003 class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Bradley Jackson

bradleyjax@gmail.com

Mary Margaret Porter Brollier . . . . . marymbrollier@gmail.com ..............................

Jessica Hatton lives in Houston Daniel Giltner married Kelsey

Peeler on January 1, 2012 in Austin. SBS alums in the wedding party were Chris Seckinger ‘02 who served as best man and Jeff Black ‘03 and Charlie McCorvey ‘01. The couple resides in Albany, New York, where Kelsey is attending Albany Law School. uncledgiltner@yahoo.com

where she works in Public Relations for Neiman Marcus (she is pictured with designer Tory Burch). She completed the New York Marathon in November and is already looking forward to running another one.

Jessica is very grateful to have a job that she loves and looks forward to seeing where her career takes her. jesshatt@gmail.com

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Alumni Updates

Alumni Updates

...................................

Catching up During Texas College Tour

mission family that he stayed with. His time in Haiti was spent in Jeremie, doing construction and painting the school, playing with kids and teaching the teachers. It was an eye-opening experience for David to see the residents of the town live by their faith, because they have so little. He loved seeing how they worship the same God, just in a different language. towery_david@yahoo.com

2005 class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Robert Doty

rdoty87@yahoo.com

Elizabeth Suffield

. . . . . . . desuffield@gmail.com ............................

Bethany Herndon married Ross Caplet on May 13, 2012 in Richmond, Texas. The couple met while working together on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ at The University of Connecticut.

T

eachers attending the Texas College Tour during Interim Term eagerly look forward to the trip each year because they have the unique opportunity to visit alumni at their colleges. Mr. Brown, Mrs. Oliphant, Ms. Crawford, Coach Ford, Coach Lane, and Ms. Patterson visited 29 alumni during their trip around the state.

Aubrey Hunsaker married Adam Ballard on March 17, 2012 in Dallas, where the couple currently resides. Alumni in the wedding included Michelle Small Gunning, Katie Moyes and Kathrine Zeren from the Class of 2004, and maid of honor Lindsey Hunsaker, from the Class of 2005. alhunsaker@gmail.com

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Texas A&M University: Danielle Cope, Ellen Geis, Jesse Worsham, Kaitlyn Kellam, Ben Riggle, Maddie Peveto, Drew Sekaly, Chris Jolly and Kevin Smith.

Baylor University: Leslie Garza (she just picked up her cap & gown for graduation), Caroline Ross, Becca Dixon, Scott Terrell, Natalie Tollett and Kirstyn Dominy (who brought a picture from her own Texas College Tour!)

University of Texas: Alumni we visited with in Austin: William McMichael, Jacy Burrell, Callie Fine, Ryan Pool, Lauren Rogers, Jenna Hendrick, Kelsey Orr, Emily Boyd, Katie Lackenmacher, Vanessa Vandenworm, Caroline Wallace, John Durie, and John Wallace.

Nathan Rees and his wife, Elise, welcomed Jude Denton on May 25 at 9:07 a.m. Jude was 7 pounds, 5 ounces and 18 inches long.

Big brother Mac loves his baby brother! Nathan works at Second Baptist School as the Upper School Technology Specialist. nathanreesmusic@gmail.com

Leah Terrell is engaged to Joe Deegan. The happy couple is getting married on September 15, 2012 at Second Baptist Church.

Joe and Leah met in the fall of 2011 through alumna Becca Schwinger ‘89. Becca set Leah and Joe up on a blind date, and the rest just fell in to place. Joe proposed on March 31, 2012 in his hometown of Tuscumbia, Alabama on an old antebellum train bridge that runs across the Tennessee River. Leah is a second grade teacher at Second Baptist School and Joe is a youth pastor at Christ the King Presbyterian. leah.k.terrell@gmail.com

Annie Williams is marrying Keith Kerr on November 17, 2012 in Houston. They are both about to start their last year of medical school at UT Houston, where they met. Keith is going into neurosurgery and Annie is going into pediatrics. ann.h.williams@uth.tmc.edu

David Towery recently went on a mission trip to Haiti where his group helped out at Haiti Bible Mission, a school started by the

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Alumni Updates

Alumni Enjoy a Taste of Texas

S

econd Baptist School Alumni joined together on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 for a special (and delicious!) Alumni Networking Lunch at the Taste of Texas. A special thanks is extended to Nina Hendee for greeting us with encouragement and love. The Hendees are owners of the restaurant, long-time alumni parents and supporters of SBS, and current SBS grandparents.

We had great attendance from the Class of 2007, our most recent alumni college graduates. Leslie Herring, who recently returned from working in New York City, stopped by along with Laura Rickaway, Kelly McInturff, and Joey Dunn, who currently works in Sports Marketing.

Alumni Updates

...................................

2006 class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Jenny Long

jenniferlaurenlong@gmail.com

Brooks Shanklin

dbshanklin@gmail.com

Seliece Dodds

seliece.dodds@gmail.com

Haley Calhoun and Jack Beauchamp, both from the

Class of 2006, were married on November 26, 2011 in Houston, Texas. The newlyweds live in California.

Hayley.calhoun1@gmail.com JackBeauchamp1@gmail.com

Sarah Dodds (2004) and Brooks Shanklin (2006) both work in commercial real estate at the same company. Nathan Rees (2005) is the newest alumni addition to the SBS staff; he has been hired as the Upper School Technology Specialist.

Bobbi Ingram (2002) has finished law school, successfully passed the bar and is now working as an attorney.

Yet again, the Class of 2003 made a great showing, as they always do at alumni events!

Joe Blades, Adam Selwyn, Hannah Noble, Amy Danvers Johnson, Tim LeVrier (the triplets are doing great!), Jordan Anderson and Loren Steifel Hopf were all present.

SBS faculty and staff are always a support and encouragement. Special thanks to Becky Larkin, Carol Ware, Christine Oliphant, Jeannene Simonton, Ruth Dale, Mitzi Sisk and Dr. Jeff Williams for your investment in our alumni!

Houston alumni in attendance: Matthew Wells ’96, James Patterson ’96, Reagan Fincher ’97, Jason Kates ’97, Mike Turner ’98, Amir Radfar ’99, Nicole Martinez ’99, Will Bradley ’99, Rochelle Ferrada Tucker ’01, Brad Talbert ’01, Bobbi Ingram ’02, Lauren Ashkar Baker ’02, Hannah Noble ’03, Loren Steifel Hopf ’03, Joe Blades ’03, Adam Selwyn ’03, Tim LeVrier ’03, Jordan Anderson ’03, Amy Danvers Johnson ’03, Sarah Dodds ’04, Jonathan McKenzie ’04, Nathan Rees ’05, Cale Dowell ’05, Paige McInturff ’05, Evan Elsenbrook ’05, Brooks Shanklin ’06, Kelly McInturff ’07, Joey Dunn ’07, Leslie Herring ’07, Laura Rickaway ’07

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Crossfit gym in College Station where Josh is a trainer. Jordan graduated from Texas A&M University in 2011 and is now working for her family’s business while Josh finishes his degree in molecular dietetics at A&M. Josh is a corporal in the Marine Corps and has completed active duty and a two-year tour in Iraq. jndixon89@neo.tamu.edu ...................................

2008 class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Christina Hayes

christina7006@aol.com

Sarah Holland

Seh2990@comcast.net ...................................

Jacob Plagens

2007

jnplagens@gmail.com

class agents

seatonross@gmail.com

––––––––––––––––––––

Ross Seaton

Mallory Dixon

malloryd313@yahoo.com

Tyler Bambrick graduated

from Army Ranger School, after completing the 3-4 month grueling adventures of the field, mountain, and swamp phases. Since then, he has gone to Jump School (Airborne School) and he has made five exciting parachute jumps. He is now processing out of Fort Benning in Georgia and will soon move to his base at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, in the 101st Airborne Division.

Paul Thompson

. . paul.thompson8811@gmail.com .................................

Jordan Dixon is marrying Josh Becker on July 14, 2012 in Houston. The couple met at a

Daniele White graduated from Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Nursing. She has relocated to Fort Worth to work at Baylor All Saints in their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. danielewhite90@yahoo.com

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Alumni Updates

Alumni Updates

Fifth Annual Second Generation Breakfast

................................... ...................................

2009

D

class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

uring the fifth annual Second Generation Breakfast, alumni brought their children, who are current SBS students, to enjoy a breakfast and time of fellowship together before the school day began.

Hailie Durrett

hailied90@gmail.com

Sarah Mayes

sarahkmayes@aol.com

Tyler Lohse

tylohse@gmail.com

Matthew Kerns

Jay Calhoun had a great season with the Dallas Baptist baseball team as one of their star pitchers.

He was one of three teammates chosen by his coaches to play baseball in the Alaskan League this summer. He is playing in the Mat Sui Valley on the Mat-Su Miners.

Longhorn1590@sbcglobal.net

matthew.kerns@bba09. mccombs.utexas.edu

...................................

2010 class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Shannon Dodds

shannondodds@comcast.net

Josh McKenzie

. . . . . mckenzie.jsm@gmail.com ..............................

...................................

2011

................................... ..................................

Maggie Britven’s AP Studio

Art 3D work is featured on the AP website as leading examples of student work. The site shows examples for each of the three different sections of the portfolio, and Maggie’s work is featured in two out of three of the sections. cbritven@sbcglobal.net

2012

class agents ––––––––––––––––––––

Billy Arendt

billyarendt@gulfstar.com

SaraGrace Lee

saragracelee@comcast.net

In the center of each table were printouts of each alumnus’ senior picture from their yearbook.

What great conversation starters! “Mom, is that you?” “Dad, you had more hair back then.” and “I didn’t know you played volleyball!” were some of the students’ comments. The tradition continues as more and more alumni enroll their students in Second Baptist School.

SBS Alumni with SBS students in attendance included: Craig Moritz ’82, Charles Durrett ‘86, Laurie Rankin Carl ‘88, Kimberly Craig Thode ‘88, Elizabeth Monzingo Bezemek ’88, Paige Hazeltine Weidner ’89, Doug Daniels ‘89, Becca Kirk Schwinger ‘89, Scott Sage ‘90, Carrie Skelton Holcomb ‘92, Melissa McBride Tredennick ‘92 and Kirk Craig ‘96.

Chris Leon

class agents

christopherhleon@gmail.com

Danielle Cope

Ashley Petkas

––––––––––––––––––––

What could be better than waffles and pigs-in-ablanket? Students lined up for the delicious waffle station, complete with fruit toppings, syrup and whipped cream. There was plenty of excitement in the Magnolia Room during the breakfast, especially when the students opened up their gift bags from the Office of Alumni Relations.

dcdandy@hotmail.com

William McMichael

. . . wemcmichael@sbcglobal.com ................................

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Summer 2012 83

Graduation 2012 Tribute to Ms. Ruth Dale

A

chapter is coming to a close for Ms. Ruth Dale, as she retires from her 25-year stint as the Yearbook Advisor at Second Baptist School. Ms. Dale has been at SBS since 1987 and is continuing on as one of the AP English teachers in the Upper School. Several alumni shared their favorite memories of their beloved yearbook advisor.

“On the day of the senior prank, I walked into Ms. Dale’s class with a hammer, a giant stake, and a glow stick and did a very poor job of concealing them under the table. Wonderful and kind lady that she is, Ms. Dale must have been pretending not to notice. I fumbled the prank supplies in the middle of class, exploding the glow stick fluid all over my hands and flinging the hammer to the ground with a loud thump. Ms. Dale couldn’t stop laughing.

I asked to be excused and she consented with a suppressed grin and a semi-serious nod of solidarity, saying, “Don’t forget your hammer.”

– Kristen Gunn ‘11 “Ruth Dale is a woman who could have done anything, and she chose to serve children. Aside from being a very gifted speaker and educator, Ruth has incredible creative instincts. Before we had Facebook, we had the yearbook to capture our lives and thoughts in pictures and moments. And every yearbook that Second Baptist School has produced over the last 25 years bears her indelible touch. Ruth’s greatest gift to the students who worked with her is the gift of responsibility – the responsibility for memorializing our youth and our fellowship with one another.”

– Mitch Little ‘97 “Congratulations ‘Ruthie’ on 25 years!! Hard to believe it was almost 15 years ago when I first joined the SBS yearbook staff as an assistant photographer. During our 3 years together, you were so much more than just an English teacher or yearbook advisor... you were a life advisor and a friend. Your loving instruction and counsel helped make me the woman I am today. So, thank you for always being there (and for letting me erase those few dozen tardies from the attendance folder – oh wait, you DID know about those, right?) Love you!”

– Kathryn Klein ‘00 “Ms. Dale is the reason I majored in English in college. She was my favorite teacher at SBS; not because her class was an “easy A”, and certainly not because of her political incorrectness when discussing the irony of Jim from Huckleberry Finn, but because she pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me tangible ways to improve my writing skills. My favorite Ms. Dale memory is riding with her (and Jennifer Brockwell) to the downtown Greyhound station very late one Christmas Eve to pick up her daughter, Terri. Jennifer and I took great pride in guarding our instructor’s life, and quite frankly we were honored that she would entrust her safety to two Sharpstown kids! Now, that’s ironic, Ms. Dale!”

– John LaCarter ‘90

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Parents of Alumni If this magazine is addressed to a graduate who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the SBS Alumni Office by fax (713) 365-2355, phone (713) 365-2310 or email sbsalumni@secondbaptistschool.org.

Please forward this edition of the Eagle on to your SBS graduate. Thank you.

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