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SECOND BAPTIST SCHOOL 6410 Woodway Drive Houston, Texas 77057 secondbaptistschool.org Established in 1946, SBS provides a world-class 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 Christcentered 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. OUR MISSION The mission of Second Baptist School is to train students in areas of knowledge that will allow them to understand clearly, to think deeply, to judge wisely, and to have the courage to live their lives on the great principles and convictions of biblical truth as they engage an innovative and digitallybased global community. OUR PASSION Our passion is to bring every student into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ while equipping them to do with excellence that which God has called them to do. HONOR CODE As a member of the Second Baptist School community, I will not lie, cheat or steal; I will do my best to exemplify Christlike integrity in my academic and personal endeavors and encourage others to act accordingly.
The Eagle is published by the Office of Communications 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 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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LETTER FROM S T U D E N T E D I TO R
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LETTER FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL
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CAMPUS NEWS
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ARTS NEWS
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AT H L E T I C S N E W S
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CLASS OF 2020
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INTERIM TERM 2020
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A LU M N I N OT E S
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S E C O N D G E N E R AT I O N
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TWENTY QUESTIONS WITH SECOND BAPTIST LEGENDS
Loved Cherished His
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I could say I came to Second Baptist School eagerly and voluntarily; however, I did not. I came to this school kicking and screaming. As a scared, insecure fourth grader, I cried as I left my friends and my old elementary school to become the “new kid” at SBS. I was positive God had made a mistake. Surely, He didn’t mean to uproot me from my life. Surely, He didn’t intend to make me suffer in a school full of uniformed, private school kids whom I thought would be as stuck up as they looked. Of course, He didn’t want any of that. He wanted to watch me grow. On my first day of school at SBS, I remember playing on the rings at the jungle gym during recess. I was a gymnastics kid and fairly well-versed with the acrobatics on the rings, and I thought I could impress my classmates into being friends with me.
Alas, a humbly spoken “I like your shoes!” were the words my first friend at SBS ever spoke to me. My shoes in question, TOMS, were all the rage then, and my mom had mine decorated in SBS colors, unknowingly giving me my best friend, Anna Lea Kimmel. She played with me every day on the rings during recess and brought me into her friend group, giving me the same friends that have helped me through middle and upper school. My year only improved from there. I was in love with my Bible class, something I never experienced in a school setting before. I was suddenly eager to learn Bible verses and even managed to get perfect scores on all of my memory work. I could talk about Jesus freely among my peers without fear of being silenced. It was about this time I realized I needed to quit gymnastics because 20 hours of practice a week made it difficult to spend time with my new friends. Having severed that final tie to my old life along with my whole identity at the time, I remember walking into chapel that next morning with tears streaming down my face. Immediately, my teacher sat me down and hugged me as I cried through chapel that morning. She was the first of many teachers who would leave an impact on me. Middle school began, and I remember struggling to find my place as I tried to discover the person I wanted to be. After playing the guitar in Mrs. Brown’s music class, I decided to pick up the instrument as a hobby. Following a year of practice, I became proficient enough to play in front of other people. Coincidentally, my sixth grade English teacher also played the guitar and encouraged me to play with her in chapel. She pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and lead others in worship, giving me a new purpose outside of myself.
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K E N DA L L P E N N I N GTO N ’ 2 0 Co m municat ions Fe llow
Still in the mindset of competitive gymnastics, I was not prepared for the warm encouragement from my teacher, especially encouragement to look out for other people. I soon learned that this value stems from being a believer in Jesus Christ. I decided I wanted to make Jesus my new identity. After never being “good enough” or a “perfect 10” in gymnastics, I was intoxicated by this idea of unconditional love, of having an identity as God’s child that could never be deducted from or taken away. I continued being brave and participated in the middle school musicals where I discovered I also loved singing. I also joined the soccer team and tried out for cheer. I had decided not to limit myself in my pursuits of excellence and I was determined to succeed in each one. I didn’t know it then, but SBS is just about the only school where it is possible to do just that. Be anything and do everything. I continued that philosophy into upper school. By sophomore year, I made my way up to varsity cheer squad, serving as chaplain my senior year. I played on the varsity soccer team all four years and proudly represented my team as captain and top-scorer of our district my senior year. In the last two years, I helped lead worship in chapel with Carol Ellis and Mary Turner. My English teacher, Mrs. Shannon Brooks, encouraged my writing and inspired me not only to become editor-in-chief of the yearbook my senior year and the Communications Fellow but also inspired me to pursue a degree in Communications Honors at Texas A&M University. I was asked recently if I regretted making the move from Pearland to Houston, or if I missed the person I could have become. It took me a minute to process the entirety of that question. Second Baptist School not only gave me the best education I could have received but also gave me opportunities to discover my identity. If I had stayed in my old life, I would probably still be that shy, insecure gymnast who was confident only in her ability to perform. Now, I can confidently say I am a soccer-playing, cheerleading, singer-songwriting, guitar-playing, yearbook-editing, article-writing Christian who desires to serve the Lord and others with her whole heart. SBS gave me insight. SBS gave me perspective. SBS gave me the opportunity to be anything and do everything. Second Baptist gave me my identity. From a loving and gracious faculty who goes above and beyond to a rigorous educational experience, I have been challenged and encouraged to grow beyond what I thought was possible. So no, I do not miss the person who could have been. Because that person would have had no purpose. The Bible says in Luke 17:33 that “whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” God planted me here so I could grow into the person He wanted me to be. I lost my previous life so I could gain this new one. I lost who I was, so I could learn who He wanted me to be. Loved. Cherished. His.
Loved. Cherished. His. SUMMER 2020
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LETTER
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Dear Second Baptist School Family, This school year started like any other year as we gathered for Convocation on that first day of school in August 2019. We began with a vision to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrew 12:1-2) because we know that when we center our lives on Christ, we can face all challenges with confidence and hope. ...And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith... The year proceeded as normal with typical school events like volleyball and football games, a spelling bee, the Distinguished Speaker Luncheon, an art show and a grandparent day program. Weeks turned into months, and the second semester began. 2020 arrived and we had no idea what was to come. None of us had ever experienced a worldwide pandemic that would close schools and businesses and quarantine us in our homes. All of the sudden, we faced uncertainty, fear and isolation. However, it was during this wave of adversity that our community turned toward its core values to find courage, hope and purpose.
SBS VISION
We rarely are able to choose the obstacles in our race, but we can always choose our response. Christ gives us the courage to look at challenges as opportunities for growth and blessings. I was personally encouraged by the daily devotional videos provided by our church and school staff. I found great strength through intentional prayer time with my executive team for wisdom to lead SBS. It is our Christ-centered foundation that allowed our school family to run this particular race with perseverance.
faculty and staff were committed to continuing our tradition of educational excellence in spite of the crisis we faced. I was and continue to be very proud of all they accomplished to meet the needs of our students and families. It is the love and care within the SBS community that compels us to selflessly serve one another. I observed this and participated in it each week during distance learning. As a community, we connected through online prayer services, weekly family trivia games and even socially distanced celebrations. We used a variety of digital platforms to care for and encourage each other. This strong community provided the support we all needed to endure the challenges and isolation brought about by the coronavirus. Looking back, I can proudly say that the SBS community earned an A+ for fulfilling our core values of Christ-centered, educational excellence and caring community. I could not be more proud to be an SBS Eagle! God bless,
Dr. Don Davis Head of School
Our faculty and staff overcame the incredible challenge of quickly transitioning from on-campus education to online education. Throughout, our
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A N A P P L E C E L E B R AT I O N !
Early in January, the SBS community celebrated ten years of being an Apple Distinguished School. To commemorate this remarkable anniversary, the SBS Tech Team hosted an apple-themed event complete with apple inspired breakfast foods from Apple Jacks to apple fritters and even hot apple cider. The Atrium, decked out with balloons, was the center of the celebration. Included with remarks from visiting Apple dignitaries, was a drawing every 10 minutes for AirPods. Three lucky recipients not only celebrated our tenyear anniversary but began their school day with a new set of AirPods.
Apple Distinguished School for ten consecutive years
SBS is excited and proud to have achieved this accomplishment of recognition. According to Apple K-12 Education Development Executive, David Hernandez, “This is a remarkable and rare occurrence for a school to be named as an Apple Distinguished School for ten consecutive years. We are proud of Second Baptist School and thankful for our association with such an outstanding community.�
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13 MILES, GRADE 3 13.1094 miles, approximately. That’s the distance of a half-marathon, an incredible feat and major milestone for any runner. The Chevron Houston Marathon hosted its annual event in January, including the Half Marathon, bringing out thousands of runners and those who support them. One, in particular, was third grader Zach ’29, who attended the half-marathon event, not as a spectator, but as a participant. “Zach has always loved to run, and his dad usually runs the marathon every year,” said Zach’s mom. “So after the 2019 marathon, we asked Zach if he wanted to do the half in 2020 and he was super excited! He and my husband trained together usually running two or three times a week, with their long runs being on Saturdays.” Training is key for any participant in a half-marathon and to practice running the long distances, athletes dedicate hours of time each week. For a young athlete like Zach, this was intimidating, but he didn’t let it overwhelm him. “We always go see my dad or mom run in the races and I thought it would be fun, and it was,” said Zach. Adding, “I even beat my dad to the finish line!”
LET THE GAMES BEGIN! By: Caroline ’21 and Emily ’23 Bolling
You should see the Bolling family every Friday on Family Game Night hosted by Second Baptist School. The whole house rushes to get ready. A few minutes prior, we Zoom our brother in from Texas A&M and gather around one tiny iPhone. Throughout the game, every member of our family is engaged and on edge…and we tap our toes between the questions. Mom is usually yelling, “I can’t see!” and Dad is yelling, “Read the question more slowly!” Meanwhile, I am yelling, “Give me an answer!” If you didn’t know, the Bolling family is very competitive, especially around Bible and Second Baptist School trivia. We play to win! SBS Family Game Night gives me a sense of community and camaraderie with our school even though we are apart. Knowing that other families are gathered around their electronic devices yelling like our family, gives me a great sense of joy and puts a smile on my face. Even though we are competitors, we are one family making the best of a difficult situation. And when the game is over, we are eager to see the scoreboard. Relishing in our success or mourning our defeat, family game night is the highlight of our week.
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S B S N AT I O N A L H O N O R S O C I E T Y By Kendall Pennington ’20, Communications Fellow
Eager upperclassmen filled the Sanctuary pews, anticipating their induction into the prestigious National Honor Society. The inductees worked diligently in their three upper school years, maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA to receive membership. Additionally, they must show a commitment not only to academic excellence, but also to servant leadership.
the Florence Weaver Chapter of the National Honor Society is one of the most prestigious academic distinctions that an upper school student at Second Baptist School can attain. Not only does membership acknowledge students’ commitment to academic excellence, but it also signifies a dedication to serving SBS and the broader Houston community,” Mr. Lindsey said.
National Honor Society is a nationally recognized commendation, and its membership has become a key feature in resumes when applying for and being admitted into colleges.
Current senior members of the organization have pursued this mission in the past year, participating in various service activities both on and off-campus.
Dean of Academics Jacob Lindsey had the honor of initiating the new members. “Founded in 1921, the National Honor Society is a nationwide organization that recognizes students for outstanding achievement in the areas of scholarship, leadership, character and, most especially, service. Membership in
All of these service project opportunities have been coordinated and organized through the efforts of Service Prefect Nico Barrera ’20. Members of National Honor Society play active roles in this service committee in order to guarantee all donation bins are consistently filled and volunteers are always plentiful.
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PA R A D E O F P R E S I D E N T S PROGRAM When SBS students, parents, faculty and alumni think about second grade, they fondly remember the Parade of Presidents program. A treasured tradition at SBS, the Parade of Presidents honors the men and women who served as leaders of our country, giving special thanks to those in our own community who served in the armed forces. With songs like “God Bless The USA” and “Blessed is the Nation,” patriotism abounds in this program. Many alumni state they can even remember all the words to “The Presidents Song,” claiming this knowledge has helped them along the way! “Many of the student programs at SBS are timehonored traditions, and the Parade of Presidents is special in its own way,” said alumna McKinzie (Jones) Howard ’11. “I remember the stories that my classmates and I shared as we learned about the presidents who gave their lives in service to the United States of America. Although it was twenty years ago that I walked down the Sanctuary aisle as former First Lady Betty Ford, I remember it like it was yesterday!”
Through programs like this at SBS, students are immersed in comprehensive research projects that help to seal in the knowledge they need for the program and plant seeds toward becoming lifelong learners. From amazing library resources to crosscurricular alignment through art and music class, students begin to understand how fun learning can be! “Each student researches their own president or first lady. Our amazing librarian, Lana Wallace, put together a library guide filled with websites, videos and books that students use to gather information,” said Alison Tidmore ’91, second grade teacher. “While they are writing research papers in class, activity teachers are working with the students as well. In art with Mrs. Long, students learn how to draw portraits and then create a portrait of their president or first lady. In music, students learn the songs for the program and work with Mrs. Brown to add expression to their speeches. In Technology, Mrs. Manion helps with more research through various sources.” An important skill students learn through this program is the ability to speak in front of a large group. The confidence this instills in our students from a young age is part of what helps set them up for success later in life.
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T H E F R E E D O M O F FA M I LY F U N By Becky Gray ’22
With so much additional time on our hands, it is easy to spend it binging shows and scarfing down food. Trust me, I would know! However, there are so many better uses of this time that we should try to include in our temporary normal of quarantine with our families. God has blessed us with our families so we can support and be supported even as we learn to adjust to the hardships that have arisen from this virus. Proverbs 17:17 says, “a relative is born to help in adversity.” True, it is easy to break into a fight minutes after bringing out Monopoly, but there are ways to have fun while families stay at home together. I’d like to share with you one way my family has been using quarantine to have fun and grow closer together.
foods available). Once dinner was ready, I called my family into the ticket booth where I gave them their meals while I acted like a moody, part-time theater employee. Last, my family made their way upstairs to the cardboard car I made earlier so we could watch our family movie. We had a fantastic time laughing at old videos and reminiscing with each other!
After spending more time than I’d like to admit scrolling social media, I came across the idea of family theme night dinners. The basis of this activity is that all members of a household pick a day to cook dinner for the family according to a theme of their choosing. For example, being the competitive person I am, I tried my hardest to set the bar high. I chose the theme of “Drive-in Movie Theater.” I went through old videos of my family growing up to create our movie to watch. I cooked what I could (which included the easiest
We are still trying to convince my brother to join our game, but my family has had so much fun and made many memories with this activity. I would highly recommend encouraging your families to do something similar to keep your focus away from the doors God is closing, to the doors He is opening during this season. Ephesians reminds us to, “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
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After this, my parents wanted to get in on the fun. My dad made a hibachi-style restaurant at home where he cooked in front of my family while we ate. He even learned how to make an onion train! Next, my mom blew my entire family away by creating a delicious French café, complete with berets for us to wear while we dined.
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experiences, our newest students were encouraged to get involved as soon as school starts in August. “Without the opportunity to connect in person, we have had to be creative,” said Prothro. “We want new students and families to feel a part of our community as soon as possible.” New families have participated in Family Game Night as well as our Weekly Prayer Service. One new parent shared, “We ‘attended’ the recent all school prayer service, and it was lovely!” School levels hosted a zoom call for students and parents to get ready for the fall semester. While learning about health requirements and textbooks is important, connecting students and parents to leadership teams at each level was the goal. One parent commented, “Thank you so much for hosting the Zoom call this evening. I enjoyed hearing everyone speak, and felt at peace that this is exactly where our daughter belongs. I wanted you to know what a blessing it was for me.” Current families are an integral part of welcoming new families to the SBS community. If you want to know more about becoming a part of the Welcome Teams that help transition new families to SBS, please contact Director of Admissions Andrea Prothro. We are happy to be expanding our #SBSFamily!
W E LC O M E TO T H E # S B S FA M I LY ! The Office of Admissions team returned from spring break challenged with adjusting to a whole new way of doing business due to COVID-19. With campus closed and face-to-face meetings suspended for the foreseeable future, the team made quick adjustments and sprang into action. “We immediately began calling families just to check-in and see how they were doing. We wanted each one to know we were praying for them and we were available for their family. Asking about their admissions decision was not our first priority,” shared Director of Admissions Andrea Prothro. This fall, Second Baptist School will welcome more than 100 new students and their families. The Office of Admissions has been providing unique opportunities for students and families to transition to SBS. From a Zoom meeting hosted by our Head of School Don Davis to our coaches and staff delivering yard signs to their homes, new families are being welcomed to the #SBSfamily in creative ways during this quarantine. Arts and athletics also hosted a call to share about co-curricular involvement in middle and upper schools. Joined by our newly announced SBS Prefects and Fellows who eagerly shared their own
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A VIRTUAL EAGLEFEST AUCTION
One of the SBS community’s favorite days of the year is EagleFest, a fun day that includes the spirited Blue/Gold competition, a familystyle picnic, an old-fashioned carnival and an exciting auction. As you may recall, EagleFest was originally scheduled for Friday, April 17. The Office of Advancement quickly pivoted amidst new safety regulations due to COVID-19 and took an inventory of the amazing auction items acquired pre-pandemic. Then, after prayerful consideration, determined that the way to be excellent stewards of the donations was to proceed with an online auction to benefit something near and dear to their hearts.
circumstances beyond their control.”
Making decisions like this is never easy. Thankfully, this year’s proceeds from the auction will be entirely directed toward providing short-term emergency economic relief for SBS families who have been financially impacted by COVID-19.
EagleFest Auction Chair Jenaye Gardner also shared, “I’ve always known SBS was a special school, but working on this year’s auction during such unusual circumstances proved that even more. We are truly all in this together, and I am so thankful to be a part of this wonderful SBS community.”
According to Head of School Dr. Don Davis, “God prepared us for this year, and He is not surprised by this turn of events. I am thankful for His perfect timing in providing EagleFest as a way for us to provide short-term needbased tuition assistance for our families who are experiencing financial hardships caused by
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Held online April 20-24, the 2020 EagleFest auction raised over $160,000! According to Auction Chair Olivia Wolcott, “What was amazing to me was that even in uncertain and scary times, the SBS community rallied together to complete its first-ever virtual auction. One hundred percent of the profits will help SBS families experiencing financial difficulties because of COVID-19. That’s pretty special in today’s world and I’m extremely thankful to be a part of such a wonderful school.”
A special thanks to the Office of Advancement and the EagleFest chairs, Sommer Bukowski and Lorraine Koerner, along with their EagleFest committee, who continued to work tirelessly to celebrate and serve in these unprecedented circumstances.
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TA K I N G E D U C AT I O N OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM Second Baptist School strives to be intentional in training students and preparing them for engaging the global community. Field trips allow students to apply the knowledge learned in the classroom to the real world. “The purpose of field trips is to extend learning beyond the classroom,” said kindergarten teacher Sarah Bramlett. “For students, it is fascinating to learn about something and then witness it in real life. That is what experiential learning is all about!” Kindergarten visited the Houston Museum of Natural Science, as they do each year, to explore different exhibits and take in the science they’ve learned about this year. From the bugs in the butterfly garden to the rocks in the gems and mineral hall, SBS students impressed museum staff with their knowledge. This trip sets the stage for other units in class, getting students excited about and engaged with the curriculum. “Soon we will start our dinosaur projects, where students choose a dinosaur to research,” said Bramlett. “They love being able to check out some dinosaurs up close and personal that they might want to choose for their project.” Fourth grade also took advantage of local learning experiences with a trip to Taste of Texas and Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham. “At Taste of Texas, the field trip was listening and interactive, where some students got to dress up as characters from that time period,” said fourth grade teacher Leah Flanagan. “At Blue Bell, students saw first-hand how ice cream is made, ask questions and hear all about the process! We want students to see how what we learn in the classroom connects to the real world outside SBS.” Fourth grade spent a significant amount of time studying Texas history, inventors and inventions, and these trips were the culmination of that curriculum. “We are doing our famous Texan project, where students research and write a speech about famous Texans. Taste of Texas owner and history buff Nina Hendee talked about many famous Texans and the history behind Texas,” said Flanagan. “She also showed us different items in her museum. This was a culminating activity for the study of inventors and inventions.”
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FA M O U S T E XA N S P E E C H E S
What do Sam Houston, Mary Kay and Dwight D. Eisenhower all have in common? They’re all from Texas. The great state of Texas has been home to many acclaimed people throughout history, from politicians turned presidents to giants in various industries. During the fourth grade unit on Texas History, students learned how the great people of Texas played various roles in history and how it affected our nation. The cumulation of this unit results in the Famous Texan Speeches.
accomplished completely through their independent research
“Students choose and research a famous Texan, create an outline, rough draft and final draft of a speech about them,” said fourth grade teacher Leah Flannagan. “They then memorize their final draft to share with their peers and parents. They also dress as their famous Texan for the speech to help them get into character.” By the time SBS students reach fourth grade, they have completed enough research projects that this famous Texan project is accomplished completely through their independent research. Students receive guidance through library resources and feedback from teachers, but ultimately they have the final say on their projects. “I love seeing how our students work hard during the process and then are so proud of what they have accomplished during their speech,” said Flanagan. “They will remember this person forever!”
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That night, we went ice skating. It was so much fun and was a highlight of the trip! In the morning, we toured monuments and memorials that included the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. Later, we went to Arlington National Cemetery and saw John F. Kennedy’s grave and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A special tradition for SBS eighth graders is to witness and partake in a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. On behalf of Second Baptist School, Keenan Bonner ’24, Regan Gamble ’24, Elizabeth Loeffler ’24 and Nick Terril ’24 had the honor of placing the SBS banner on the tomb. After lunch, we visited the World War II Memorial, across from the Lincoln Memorial. Later that night we went on a dinner cruise for a night of fine dining and a dance floor, which the Class of 2024 took over. The next day we visited the International Spy Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. We then traveled to Mount Vernon in Virginia, George Washington’s house and his tomb. As our last night in D.C., we toured the Jefferson, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorials. Friday morning we took the traditional group picture in front of the White House. Our last stop was at the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
THE CLASS OF 2024 IN WA S H I N G TO N , D . C .
By: Samuel Konuma ’24 & Elizabeth Loeffler ’24 On an early Monday morning in March, we boarded a plane to the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. Our first stop after landing was the Museum of the Bible. We explored several exhibits of the Old and New Testaments. That night, we went on a walk in the National Mall from the United States Capitol Building to the Washington Monument. Finally, we ended our evening at the Iwo Jima Memorial—a monument that honors the fallen soldiers on the Island of Iwo Jima during World War II.
This trip was one we will never forget as the years go by. We would like to thank Second Baptist School and our parents for giving us this amazing opportunity to go to D.C. and experience firsthand what we learned in the history classroom this year.
On day two, we woke up early to go to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland where we saw many things including John Paul Jones’s tomb, the Sanctuary and the ballroom. After the tour, we enjoyed lunch at their diner. When we returned to Washington, D.C, we went to the National Archives which has important U.S. documents and the original Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights documents. That afternoon, we went to the Holocaust Museum, which taught us the history of World War II and what Europe and the world had to endure during that time.
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M O D E L U N I T E D N AT I O N S SAN ANTONIO
Twelve SBS students attended Model United Nations San Antonio XXIV, a two-day Model U.N. conference hosted at Trinity University. These students were assigned delegations of countries or individuals to portray during the conference, for which they did advance research and preparation beforehand. Students then produced position papers based on their research, which they submitted upon arrival at the conference. According to Tanner Chapman ’22, “Model United Nations San Antonio (MUNSA) was a great conference. From opening ceremonies centered around younger generations’ involvement in making the world a better place, to committee rooms filled with a lively debate on real-world topics such as women’s rights and taking on new innovations in cybersecurity.”
students debated historical and current event issues
During Model U.N. committee sessions, students debated historical and current event issues. Delegates then attempted to help resolve them by passing written resolutions with each other.
He went on to say, “One of the great things about the local (Texas) conferences we attend is that you consistently begin to see people you have worked with, chaired with or even debated against in committee, allowing you to create friends from all over the state and even the country.” Chapman finished by sharing, “Thanks to our amazing sponsors, Mr. Lindsey and Mrs. Towery for always being there to guide us through our tough committee sessions and taking time out of their free time to be with us. We wouldn’t be the delegates we are today without them!”
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ENRICHMENT CURRICULUM In a time where the familiar classroom setting has abruptly transitioned into something new and often confusing, SBS faculty and staff are coming together to ensure that students feel cared for, even from afar. Collaborations from the arts department and P.E. coaches offer SBS students creative content and activities to provide opportunities to thrive during this unique time. “We gave our upper school students an opportunity to feature a genre in which they had experience. For example, Zac Decker ’21 created a video on how to speak with a French accent. Kara Swain ’20, Caroline ’21 and Emily Bolling ’23 taught choreography from Beauty and the Beast. Middle school art teacher Sarah McKeon gave instruction on a visual art project.” “The inspiration for this content was to give parents and teachers some downtime by providing short instructional videos with various arts content for lower and middle school students,” said Director of Arts Cindy Blades.
In addition, Coach Susy Crosser has created several resources for lower school students to stay active and moving! For students who may miss their regular P.E. class or motor skills lab, Coach Crosser and other SBS coaches created helpful videos with fun exercises students can do at home requiring minimal equipment. These videos were posted on the lower school DLP resource page. “I have taught physical education for almost 14 years. However, I only just began teaching online, and it is still evolving,” said Coach Crosser. “My goal is to teach lessons that inspire students to get outside, move their bodies and safely interact with people around them. Why? Because fresh air, physical movement and community are three things proven to help us shift out of worry and stress and into ease and contentment.” SBS faculty, staff and even students are continuing the school’s tradition of Christcentered educational excellence even as they themselves are learning new things. Though our classrooms might look different, the measure of our educational excellence does not waver.
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DRIVE-BY GOODBYE
Saying goodbye to the ones you love is never easy. It is especially hard when you haven’t seen your beloved teachers and school friends for several weeks because of an unexpected worldwide pandemic. On a breezy and warm last day of school, lower and middle school students rode through the first-ever and one-of-kind Drive-By Goodbye. Peaking through sunroofs, leaning out windows and waving vigorously through smiles and tears, students were driven by their parents through SBS parking lots to say their final farewells. Teachers lined the walkways decked out in colorful accessories to blow kisses and send air hugs letting their kids know how much they missed being together in the classroom from March to May. The #SBSfamily was together again, if only for a brief time. Thank goodness for the creativity and heart of our talented and committed SBS faculty and staff who couldn’t bear to end the school year without seeing the faces of the students they love so dearly!
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HLSR RODEO ART CONTEST
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Calla ’29 Mary Emma ’30 Lachlyn ’30 Evangeline Sahinen ’26 Daniel Ventura ’26 Grace Calabrese ’26 Reese Womble ’26 Elizabeth Wise ’26 Rachel James ’20
Grace Evans ’21 Luke Johnson ’21 Kennedy Crites ’22 Haley Bullington ’20 Bella Phillips ’20 Maddie Erwin ’20
Charlie ’32 Cate ’32 Kirby Harrison ’26 Blake Harrison ’26 Nic Schweers ’26 Chloe Craig ’26 Ava Kate Maffet ’26 Ella Petersen ’27 Jude Brown ’27 Morgan Bingham ’21
BLUE
Luke ’28 Caroline ’29
SBS proudly brought home 29 ribbons for the remarkable artwork our students presented. “I really enjoyed seeing the students use their own photos to create a western composition,” said upper school art teacher Nora Ripple ’02. “It’s more personal for them when it’s something they’ve taken and created.”
Téa Flores ’21 Tristan Ellis ’22
TURQUOISE
(Finalist)
Caroline ’28 Morgan Bingham ’21 Kirby Harrison ’26 Ella Peterson ’27
“This year, students worked in several mediums, such as chalk, charcoal, oil pastel and watercolor to create rodeo projects,” said middle school art teacher Sarah McKeon. “It was amazing to see all of their hard work as they applied themselves to create a unique piece. I am very proud of these artists.”
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Blades. “The students worked with Mrs. Brown on their vocals and Mr. Brown on the line delivery. They submitted the recordings of their various parts and solos and Mr. Brown used Garage Band to layer Scan this code the voices of the students to listen to the for the larger numbers. The radio play of students and parents were so 101 Dalmatians. pleased to have this recording of a portion of the show.” Another creative way the arts department adapted to distance learning was by making social media videos for SBS students and families. Whether singing “We’re All in This Together” or “Ain’t No Virus Big Enough,” the arts team shared their talents through humor and song to give the #SBSfamily encouragement and laughter during the challenges of distance learning. Check out their most recent video here. Instead of the annual spring choir concert that the #SBSfamily looks forward to each year, the arts department came up with a virtual Senior Showcase. “The vision for the virtual showcase was to create an opportunity for our talented arts students to perform one last time for students and parents,” said Mrs. Blades.
A R T S D E PA R T M E N T D I S TA N C E L E A R N I N G The arts department at SBS provides students with creative opportunities to think critically, live biblically and lead courageously outside the classroom. Since the beginning of distance learning, the dedicated arts faculty and students have collaborated to adapt to this new normal. Because their spring season came to a close on campus, several arts-related events had to be creatively reassessed and adjusted to a virtual setting.
SBS is proud of our students, faculty and staff who have committed their energies to arts education throughout distance learning and shared their remarkable talents with the #SBSfamily.
One way in which the arts department adapted an event to fit the distance learning plan was this year’s fifth and sixth grade musical, 101 Dalmatians. Mrs. Liza Brown and Mr. Sam Brown had prepared for much of the year to provide a new opportunity for fifth and sixth grade students to showcase their talents by performing a musical on stage. Because of the required quarantine, the team came up with an alternative plan for a radio play version. “Mrs. Liza Brown and Mr. Sam Brown diligently worked to make the radio play version of 101 Dalmatians possible,” said Director of Arts Cindy
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CHOIR AND BAND A L L - S TAT E For students at Second Baptist School, the arts department is a place to explore, grow and learn through various creative endeavors. As part of the Association of Texas Small School Bands, two SBS students traveled to audition for the All-State band. “I was able to take Ty Strickland ’20 and Caden Cooper ’20 to the ATSSB area level auditions for the All-State Honor Band process at Robinson High School in Waco, Texas. This is one-fifth of the state of Texas for us,” said Band Director Kendel Hickenbottom. “I am so very proud of them and their accomplishments,” said Mr. Hickenbottom. “This is an amazing accomplishment out of the thousands of students who started the process.”
The SBS choir took nine students to the third and final rounds of Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Small School Choir Auditions. Students worked hard to prepare for this since the start of the school year, mastering seven unique pieces to showcase their strengths as performers and knowledge of music. “This group of students was such a joy to work with. They came in for lessons after school each week, studied and listened to their music on their own,” said Choir Director Becky Martin. “I could not be more proud of them. The process made them stronger vocalists and better musicians.”
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hold so much respect and admiration for those in my cast who were also worthy to receive nominations for their hard work! I am thankful for my supportive family, Mrs. Blades and Mrs. Westmoreland, Mrs. Wylie, all the moms who helped with the show and my family of cast and crew members who have loved and taught me so well throughout this process!” “Being nominated is always something that takes me by surprise, but throughout all the congratulations it can be hard to fully realize that God gives people talent to entertain,” said Decker ’21. “Although the name on the nomination is Zac Decker, it was truly a group effort. If there were no Cogsworth, Belle, Beast, the ensemble, the makeup and costumes crew, the lights and set crews and everyone else, I couldn’t have played Lumiere like I did. The cast’s and crew’s amazing talent helped me. ‘Be Our Guest’ was an incredible number to perform, but it couldn’t have happened with just me. Glory be to God.”
TO M M Y T U N E AWA R D N O M I N AT I O N S The Tommy Tune Awards exist to celebrate the arts in Houston area high school theatre programs, highlighting the hard work and dedication of casts and crews of various musicals. With nearly 3,500 participants annually, Second Baptist School is proud to have received three nominations for our upper school musical, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. • Best Actress – Emily Cagle ’20 as Belle • Best Supporting Actor – Zac Decker ’21 as Lumiere • Best Featured Performer – Kevin Menendez ’20 as LeFou “I am so excited to be nominated, and represent my school, my amazing theatre department and God for allowing me to do what I love with the most wonderful people,” said Emily Cagle ’20. “It is very exciting to be recognized for my portrayal as Belle in Beauty and the Beast, but I
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UPPER SCHOOL MUSICAL
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
It’s a tale as old as time. The kind-hearted and beautiful girl from a small town gets swept up in adventure, romance and magic. Finding unlikely friends in the form of enchanted furniture and silverware, the girl ends up falling in love, saving her father and, ultimately, restoring the entire enchanted castle. The ever-familiar and beloved Beauty and the Beast was presented by the Second Baptist School theatre program and they brought the magic. “We are so proud of this amazing group of students from the ensemble to the leads, from the crews to the stage manager, from the sound engineer to the assistant director, from the dance captain to the deputy stage manager; everyone put forth their best,” said Director of the Arts Cindy Blades. “This show came together and ran like a well-oiled machine. The characterizations, vocal performances, choreography and scenic changes were nothing short of amazing. Thank you to the excellence the entire company sought for each performance. So
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many parent volunteers, accommodating teachers, cast and crew members worked tirelessly to achieve this incredible display of God-given talents.” The SBS theatre program is unparalleled in how it touches nearly every student and every part of the school. This program doesn’t just produce amazing shows, it also produces remarkable student leaders. With a philosophy of Christ-centered educational excellence, students who are part of this program learn how to think critically and problem solve as they work through scripts and blocking and stage transitions. They work collaboratively so that all aspects of the production are seamless. “The theater program has been one of my favorite parts about SBS,” said Ellis ’20. “Mrs. Blades and Mrs. Westmoreland truly care for us so much, and they have helped me grow a lot. Theatre has also given me a sense of confidence that I don’t think I could have found anywhere else.”
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S
W I N T E R AT H L E T I C S SWIM
W
State
Men’s – Third Place Women’s – 14th Place
E
Regionals
Men’s – Third Place Women’s – Third Place
N
All-State
Ryan Calderon ’20 Brandon Young ’22 Michael Towne ’20 Spencer Locascio ’21
C
S
Honorable Mention
Brandon Young ’22 Ryan Calderon ’20 Michael Towne ’20 Grant Mueller ’20 Spencer Locascio ’21
A
T
H
L
E
T
I
Academic All-State
Ryan Calderon ’20 Grant Mueller ’20 Savannah Neal ’21 Claire Tidmore ’21 Chloe Tondera ’20 Jefferson Trammell ’21 “This year went by fast for the varsity swim team,” said Coach Mark Hahn. “I am very proud of all the accomplishments that each swimmer has made to improve themselves and the team this season!”
still qualified a total of 14 swimmers for the 2020 State meet.
Second Place Finishes
According to Head Coach Mark Hahn, “This team really did an outstanding job! The men’s team kept their record of finishing in the top four (or better) for the past 11 years!”
Bronze Medal (Relay), Boy’s 200 Free Relay
TAPPS Eastern Regional Meet
Both the men’s and women’s teams finished in third place at the 2020 TAPPS Eastern Regional meet at the University of Houston on January 18, qualifying for the top 16 swimmers to advance to the state meet.
Women’s State Team
Elaine Adams ’23 Luella Bakker-Barrink ’22 Haley Killough ’23 Savannah Neal ’21 Claire Tidmore ’21 Chloe Tondera ’20 (captain)
Men’s State Team
Ryan Calderon ’20 (captain) Tanner Chapman ’22 Spencer Locascio ’21 Grant Mueller ’20 (captain) Evan Steelman ’22 Michael Towne ’20 (captain) Jefferson Trammell ’21 Brandon Young ’22
Silver Medal (Relay), Boy’s 400 Free Relay
Third Place Finishes
Coach Hahn went on to say, “We are looking forward to next year, but will miss our eight seniors. I am grateful they decided to be a part of the SBS swim team and family.” Congratulations, SBS swimmers, on an impressive season!
GOLDEN GIRLS TAPPS Dance Championship Second Place
They competed against 11 other TAPPS teams in the 5A Small Squad division, which was the largest of the competition.
All-State First Team
Caroline Carlyle ’20 Lauryn Edwards ’21
Second Team
Caroline Bolling ’21
The 2020 TAPPS State swim meet was held on Thursday, February 6, at the Walker Natatorium in San Antonio, Texas. This was an exciting year for our SBS swimmers. After Varsity Swim Records losing only one teammate from last year’s men’s team Boys 100 Butterfly, Spencer Locascio ’21 and two others from last year’s women’s team, SBS
Honorable Mention Moriah Feng ’20
Academic All-State Caroline Bolling ’21 Caroline Carlyle ’20 Lauryn Edwards ’21 Moriah Feng ’20
At the Crowd Pleasers North Houston Showcase,
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the Golden Girls competed for three team dances, four solos and one officer piece. Each of these routines received high marks including Best in Class, Super Sweepstakes, the “Crowd Pleaser” award and Best in Category. Ultimately taking home the fourth place slot against public high schools across the greater Houston area, the Golden Girls also earned the award for the Highest GPA of the competition. In addition, Caroline Bolling ’21 placed third runner up in the eleventh grade solo division. According to four year Golden Girl veteran Kara Swain ’20, “Being a part of a dance team taught me discipline and that the only way to achieve your goals is through hard work and repetition.” Dancers not only practice technique but execute performance numbers upwards of one hundred times before it is deemed fit for a field, floor or stage. At Second Baptist School, these young women have not only the opportunity to be a part of a team that teaches them this discipline and grace but also about Christ. Golden Girls dance with precision, excellence and technique, for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ.
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W I N T E R AT H L E T I C S MEN’S BASKETBALL Season Record
3 wins, 22 losses “‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ best sums up our season,” said Assistant Coach Curtis Scipio. “The goal for the season was to keep preparing our young men to grow on and off the court. We have a completely new varsity roster, so it’s been a learning and rebuilding season for our athletes.”
All-District Second Team
Johnathan Gooden Dominic Cestero
Honorable Mention Jackson Krueger Elijah Mouton
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Season Record
26 wins, 10 losses “We went into this season with great expectations, even with several injuries/ illnesses affecting our starters. The season was played creatively, moving inexperienced players up from JV, experimenting with new position players, re-defining roles and looking for point production from players not used to carrying the load,” said Coach John Herndon.
All-State First Team
Victoria Ryan Kaitlyn Kollmorgen
All-District First Team
Victoria Ryan Kaitlyn Kollmorgen Leyla Ertan
Second Team
Emily Blackmon
Honorable Mention Caroline Torn Alyssa Elias
Academic All-State Victoria Ryan Kaitlyn Kollmorgen Emily Blackmon Leyla Ertan
“Our season started with a mixed bag of expectations. Our ladies have not disappointed,” said Coach Geoff Brooks. “Following the example set by our senior captains, they played through our district, setting a tone of success that is resonating throughout Houston. They ended district play tied for first and are hopeful to continue writing the success story of SBS Soccer all the way to the end.”
SPRING SPORTS CANCELED BECAUSE OF COVID-19
All-District First Team
Caden Cooper Grant Spurlin Vincent Tyrrell
Kendall Pennington Naomi Konuma Sarah Flynn Alexis Gill Carly Berkman
MEN’S SOCCER
Second Team
Season Record
Helena Platis Cameron Kelley
6 wins, 8 losses, 3 tie “We have overcome a lot of adversity and challenges this season and still improved on our overall record and the quality of play,” said Coach Guy Chalhoub.
All-District Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention Julia Sauvageau
All-State Second Team
Naomi Konuma Carly Berkman
Honorable Mention Kendall Pennington Alexis Gill
Riley Good Kevin Menendez Schuyler Clark
Academic All-State
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Kendall Pennington Sarah Flynn
Season Record
11 wins, 6 losses 1 tie
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Academic All-State Men’s Track Isaac Baker Luke Johnson Jacob Skyles
Women’s Track
Lindsay Bell Haley Bullington Maddie Johnson Kaitlyn Kolmorgen Victoria Smith
Men’s Tennis
Women’s Tennis
Caroline Crocker Annika Vinson Liz Sloan
Baseball Seniors
Juan Carlos Macias
Juniors
Connor Claypool Davis Bandy
Softball
Clara Garcia Mckenna Ratliff Victoria Ryan Rachel Riley Leyla Ertan
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
CHASING THE TITLE
SBS is proud of our 2019-2020 women’s basketball team! “What an incredible journey this team took us on this year! I am thankful to have crossed paths with this talented group of seniors. Three straight trips to the TAPPS 5A Final Four and 20 wins in back-to-back seasons,” said Director of Athletics Mike Walker.
three straight trips to TAPPS 5A Final Four
He continued, “This team fought through challenges and injuries and came together to try and accomplish what no SBS women’s basketball team has done before... win a state championship! While the final outcome fell just a few points short of their goal, the breadth of what was accomplished did not. Our Eagles gave administration, parents and fans something to be incredibly proud of. God will use this experience to impact these young women for years to come. Tears are a result of investment, and no one can question the investment this team made over the course of a long and memorable season.”
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FLIGHT NIGHT 2020 The Second Baptist School community came together at Flight Night to support and celebrate winter sports. The entire school gathered for it’s first all-school pep rally of 2020 and it was certainly one for the books! Between possibly the longest game of knock-out the E Gym has seen to date, to lip sync battles between teachers of every grade level, this pep rally was entertaining and memorable for all. Spring sports were celebrated and school spirit permeated the air! Families enjoyed dinner outside the E Gym with delicious meals from Houston area food trucks, while students made their pit stop at the face painting station to show their Eagle spirit. In between the two varsity games, the EABC Junior Eagles made their way across the court with light-up pom-poms, followed by more than 60 future Golden Girls who showed off their dancing talent for the annual Lower School Golden Girls Clinic performance.
B A S K E T B A L L T R I P TO SAN FRANCISCO By: Victoria Ryan ’20 In early January, the men’s and women’s varsity basketball teams traveled to San Francisco for a series of three games against some quality competition in the Bay Area. This trip was a great bonding experience for both teams as well as a necessary push into district play and the second half of our seasons. Coach Kevin Mouton designed and scheduled this trip. He grew up in the area and set us up to play against two school teams he attended; it was a great full-circle moment. “We have what is considered a ‘young’ team and our goal is for the players to get to know each other better on and off the court. This leads to more encouragement of each other and playing as one unit,” said Coach Mouton. “We had a lot of fun on the trip and exploring San Francisco but we also accomplished a lot as a basketball team, setting us up for success in the second half of our season,” said Emily Blackmon ’20.
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SPRING SPORTS
C O L L E G I AT E AT H L E T E S
For many seniors, an abrupt end to their high school athletic careers caused by COVID-19 has been hard to accept. For a few, these last several weeks has them continuing to work hard and prepare for the next season of life in collegiate athletics. This unlikely season of life propelling them toward their future has these athletes eager to demonstrate the knowledge and experience they gained through the athletic program at SBS. Dylan Kim ’20 is playing baseball next year at San Diego State University and is excited for the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level. Kim reflects on his time at SBS, “I have been playing baseball my whole life and at SBS since seventh grade. The athletic program and the coaches at SBS have molded me into a better overall player,” said Kim. Another product of the SBS baseball program is Carlos Macias ’20, who will be playing next year at Southwestern University. Macias, who also began playing for SBS in seventh grade, is thankful for the program at SBS.
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“The program has taught me to play with excellence because there is an expectation to be a good team, so we want to live up to that. Coach Noble has always been a great mentor to me. He taught me how to be a leader and handle adversity.” Another athlete who SBS is proud to see participate in a collegiate athletics program is Maddie Johnson ’20, who will run for Texas Christian University next year. Her hard work and dedication to her events, the 300 and 100-meter hurdles, are evident and she feels worthwhile. On her success, Johnson has her coaches to thank. “The SBS athletics program pushed me to be the best athlete I can be. Coach Lane constantly stretched me and encouraged me throughout high school to be not only a good athlete but also a good person,” said Johnson. “He steered me towards the cross and always encouraged me to trust God. SBS helped me use my faith on the track. Coach Worley always prayed for me and encouraged me to trust God and calmed me down when I was stressed.”
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E AG L E V I S I O N S O A R S AG A I N Several weeks ago, SBS Director of Athletics Mike Walker started Eagle Vision, a series of Zoom webinars with athletes, coaches and trainers sharing their unique perspectives and experiences as they process through the COVID-19 quarantine.
E AG L E V I S I O N S OA R S SBS Head of School Dr. Don Davis and Director Athletics Mike Walker hosted a unique episode of Eagle Vision in mid-April, featuring a conversation with new SBS wide receiver coach Cecil Shorts III and new Houston Texans’ wide receiver Brandin Cooks. The episode was a success and soared to the pages of Sports Illustrated. The athletic program at Second Baptist School strives to live biblically and honor God in training, practice and competition. The heart that Shorts and Cooks have for God was evident in the 40-minute conversation with Dr. Davis and Coach Walker. The men discussed various attributes that have defined them in trials and successes – discipline, ownership, self-reflection, rest and living in the moment. The conversation also included questions from current SBS students looking for insight on topics from holding yourself accountable, to running a great route, to the benefits of multi-sport athletes and shifting your mindset after a loss. Shorts and Cooks shared personal experiences from their family life and NFL careers and agreed that “if God is not at the center of it all, it is all going to crumble.”
“I realized during this time we have access to some influential people who can offer encouragement and inspiration,” said Walker. “I wanted our student athletes to hear from professional and college athletes about how they might be using this time to sharpen their skills and come out better than before. We can either wait for this to be over or prepare for what happens next.” “Eagle Vision also has a community benefit. While I started out thinking Eagle Vision speakers would encourage our student athletes, the information shared has been helpful to our coaches and parents of athletes.” Walker continues by saying, “Many of our families have young children and find that rearing young athletes can be challenging. Both episodes have something to offer parents of athletes in terms of advice, encouragement or inspiration.” The second video in the series and features father/son duos Robert Heaton with son and SBS alumnus Zach Click here to view Heaton ’17, Andy the most recent Pettitte and his son, Eagle Vision with SBS alumnus Jared father/son duos: Pettitte ’16. Pettittes and Heatons.
Second Baptist School is honored to have Shorts joining the football coaching staff. Shorts is married with seven young kids and they are “excited to be a part of the Second Baptist family.” The question submitted by Jonah ’29 inquired about Shorts’ coaching style. He replied, “I’m passionate about what I do. I love studying the game, however, I’m not an in-your-face type of coach. I’m going to celebrate my players’ victories. I’m going to talk with them. I’m going to critique them. I’m going to love them. I’m going to tell them when they’re wrong and be completely honest…it’s about communicating well and loving your players.”
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C E L E B R AT I N G THE CLASS OF 2020
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SECOND BAPTIST SCHOOL
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CLASS
OF
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CLASS OF 2020 Olivia Valentine Antona* Cum Laude The University of Texas
Summer Lane Conkling* Magna Cum Laude Texas A&M University
Moriah Lani Feng* Summa Cum Laude Baylor University
Nicholas Andrew Barrera* Cum Laude Texas A&M University (West Texas A&M University)
Caden Thomas Cooper* Summa Cum Laude Texas A&M University
Sarah Kathryn Flynn* Summa Cum Laude Texas A&M University
Connor Zack Cordell* Summa Cum Laude The University of Texas (via ACC and DCC)
Clara Anabel Garcia* Summa Cum Laude Baylor University
Kendall Elise Beard* Magna Cum Laude Texas A&M University (Blinn Engineering Academy) Lindsay Anne Bell* Summa Cum Laude Baylor University Kate Annmarie Binau* Summa Cum Laude Texas A&M University Emma Rose Bingaman* Summa Cum Laude University of Arkansas Emily Kate Blackmon* Cum Laude Colorado Christian University Maia Bradford* Summa Cum Laude University of Mississippi
Dylan Michael Cordell* Summa Cum Laude Southern Methodist University Caroline Elizabeth Crocker* Summa Cum Laude Texas Christian University Georgia Marie Daniel* Summa Cum Laude Elon University Madeleine Grace Daniels* Summa Cum Laude University of Arkansas Dane Christian Dentler* Cum Laude Texas A&M University (Blinn)
Micah Christopher Gentry* Cum Laude Louisiana State University Johnathan Jayvon Gooden University of Houston Nathan KinCade Hawkins* Magna Cum Laude Texas A&M University Christina Abigayle Igo* Summa Cum Laude Texas Christian University Rachel Anne James* Summa Cum Laude Texas A&M University Joshua Allen Johnson Trinity University
Kyle Andrew Bruegger University of Houston
Carter Bradley Dunn* Cum Laude Texas Tech University
Haley Faith Bullington* Summa Cum Laude Savannah College of Art and Design
Nathan Matthew Dyman* Cum Laude United States Air Force Academy
Emily Ann Cagle* Summa Cum Laude The University of Texas
Rose Alyssa Elias* Cum Laude Loyola Marymount University
Dylan Knox Kim* Cum Laude San Diego State University
Jane Elisabeth Cagle* Cum Laude University of Mississippi
Carol Elizabeth Ellis* Summa Cum Laude Liberty University
Anna Lea Kimmel* Summa Cum Laude Baylor University
Ryan McLain Calderon* Summa Cum Laude Texas A&M University
Madeleine Kate Erwin* Summa Cum Laude Undecided
Kaitlyn Breann Kollmorgen* Magna Cum Laude University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Caroline Elizabeth Carlyle* Summa Cum Laude Baylor University
Julia Claire Faseler* Magna Cum Laude Texas A&M University
Nicole Ashley Krueger* Summa Cum Laude Louisiana State University
Jaylon A. Coleman Houston Baptist University
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Madeleine Grace Johnson* Magna Cum Laude Texas Christian University Alan Edward Key Southern Methodist University
Rongkai Liang* Magna Cum Laude University of California, Irvine
Zachary Alan Piggott* Magna Cum Laude Texas A&M Galveston
Anna Elizabeth Swain* Summa Cum Laude Dartmouth University
Elizabeth Grace Little* Magna Cum Laude Texas A&M University
Russell Bonham Pokluda* Summa Cum Laude University of Alabama Birmingham
Kara Katherine Swain* Summa Cum Laude Emory University
Juan Carlos Macias Jr.* Cum Laude Southwestern University
McKenna Lea Ratliff* Summa Cum Laude Samford University
Amber Marie Thomas* Summa Cum Laude Baylor University
Kassidy Ann MacKenzie* Cum Laude Texas A&M University
Mitchell Joseph Reddy Texas Tech University
Yiyang Tian* Magna Cum Laude University of California, Davis
Star Meze Matthew* Summa Cum Laude Vanderbilt University Kevin Valentino Menendez Cum Laude Texas A&M University Sarah Ashwini Michael* Summa Cum Laude Baylor University
Benjamin Bradford Richter Baylor University Henry Alexander Ritchmond* Summa Cum Laude Texas Christian University Kendall Ely Rodriguez* Cum Laude Texas A&M (via Blinn Community College) McKenna Elyse Rodriguez* Summa Cum Laude Texas A&M University
Jared Ethan Monroe* Cum Laude Trinity University
Victoria Lynn Ryan* Summa Cum Laude Texas A&M University
Grant Huntley Mueller* Summa Cum Laude University of Oklahoma Peter Andrew Newell* Cum Laude University of Texas Dallas
Basil Mark Saab Jr.* Cum Laude University of Houston
David Edward Nunez Texas State University
Samuel Christian Schlenker* Summa Cum Laude The University of Texas
Prince Oritsematosan Ofoeyeno* Summa Cum Laude Texas A&M University
Elizabeth Abigail Sloan* Summa Cum Laude University of Oklahoma
Kendall Rae Pennington* Summa Cum Laude Texas A&M University
Savannah Layne Smith* Summa Cum Laude Texas Christian University
Charity Fabello Perito* Cum Laude Louisiana State University
William Grant Spurlin* Magna Cum Laude Baylor University
Autumn Isabella Phillips* Cum Laude Mississippi College
Ty Arnett Strickland* Cum Laude Sam Houston State University
COLLEGE PLANS SUMMER 2020
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Chloe Grace Tondera* Summa Cum Laude University of Houston Caroline Sarrazin Torn* Summa Cum Laude Texas A&M University Michael Everett Towne Cum Laude University of North Texas Mary Bess Turner* Magna Cum Laude Baylor University Vincent Monroe Tyrrell* Magna Cum Laude Baylor University Annika Reilly Vinson* Summa Cum Laude Clemson University Joshua Langford Warren* Magna Cum Laude University of Houston Jessica Nicole Yarbrough* Magna Cum Laude Belmont University Johnathan Bradley Young* Summa Cum Laude Baylor University Susannah Dale Young* Cum Laude University of Arkansas *National Honor Society
new dawns
BY KENDALL PENNINGTON ’20
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“How could we have known that unremarkable Thursday on the twentyseventh of February would mark our last time to sit in class with our teachers? Our last time to listen for Star’s crazy national day announcement on Second Seconds? Our last time to answer the “Q” with Simo? Our last time to walk from student parking into school as students? How could we have known it would be our last time, even, to brave the line at Second Cup? And fend underclassmen off the elevators? And endure all the distinctly Second Baptist things we’ve spent four years complaining about, but now wish we could experience one last time? How could we have known that ordinary Thursday would be our last day of high school, our last time to walk the six storied hallways of the place we’d for so long called home?”
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Head Prefect and Valedictorian Anna Beth Swain ’20 explained it perfectly in our class’s commencement speech: we didn’t see this coming. We didn’t see this virus, this infectious COVID-19 that would force us all apart in our final moments together. We didn’t see powderpuff or our senior prom getting cancelled. We didn’t see that our final memories of our senior year would come to an abrupt halt at Interim Term, a full three and a half months prior to our senior year’s expiration date. This virus called our bluff. After complaining all semester about just wanting to be done, just wanting to be independent and be on our own, we finally got our wish. We were done, and we were alone. I vividly remember our Senior Sunrise picnic at the beginning of the year, envisioning all the memories for my last year of high school as being vibrant and fleeting. I thought for sure that the Senior Sunset dinner would arrive sooner than I thought, and I was correct. As the administration fought tirelessly to give us as many senior activities as possible within CDC guidelines, I was filled with gratitude for being saved this closure, this sunset on our senior year. Though the year may not have ended as gratifyingly as I had hoped, I had something even more valuable. I had learned a lesson. I learned that time waits for nobody. Time will be filled no matter how we choose to fill it. Time will not sit around and wait for us to act. Time will continue on as we sit isolated at home, regretting how we had wasted our time before this virus forced us to notice our passivity. Time and moments are not synonymous. We can control moments. We can make the most out of our time, make memories, and be intentional with the people we love. But we cannot control time. What’s done is done, and there is no moving backward. I realized that there was only moving forward and taking charge of the moments we still had even with one foot already out the door.
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Sitting there watching the heartfelt video made by the teachers and faculty as the sun set in the background, the Class of 2020 reclaimed our moments. We reclaimed our senior year, and we became determined to finish strong. With one week left until graduation, the Class of 2020 held onto our moments. Following our socially-distanced graduation practice at the school, the senior class made the annual jump into the fountain wearing our college shirts. We celebrated, we cried and we carried on, determined to squeeze all the moments out of the time we had left. Until finally, graduation day came. We marched up those steps six feet apart wearing our caps and gowns, eagerly accepted our diplomas and began walking toward our new future. The sun finally set on our senior year. But as we keep moving forward, keep making memories, keep grasping onto every moment, we will reach our new dawn. We will be something. Anna Beth’s closing remarks said it best, “Now tomorrow is a new day. And from that day forward there will be new mornings to come, new choices to make, new seconds to fill, new horizons to push. And the day after tomorrow and then the day after that, when it comes to our choices, there will be infinitely many more. And I’m not worried. I know in the days to come that we’ll be something incredible because we already have been. But before we just get swept away into this turning of tides, into new days and new nights, into new dawns and new dusks, I want to say that as I stand here on our shore looking out at the horizon, watching as the day dips out of the sky, I couldn’t be more grateful, couldn’t be more proud, to be a part of this picture we’ve painted, a part of our beautiful, breathtaking, sunset.”
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the sun finally set on our senior year
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2020
COMMENCEMENT
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View a slideshow of photos from the Class of 2020 Commencement.
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C L ASS
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Lifers SUMMER 2020
Olivia Antona Emma Bingaman Ryan Calderon Caden Cooper Madeleine Daniels Dane Dentler Carol Ellis Madeleine Johnson Dylan Kim Anna Lea Kimmel Elizabeth Little
Carlos Macias Kassidy MacKenzie Grant Mueller McKenna Ratliff Savannah Smith Grant Spurlin Amber Thomas Caroline Torn Michael Towne Mary Turner Vincent Tyrrell Joshua Warren Jessica Yarbrough 47
A N S B S T R ADIT IO N HAS A NE W T WIST FO R THE
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BY K ENDA L L PE N N I N GTON ’ 20 SB S CO M M U N I CAT I O NS FEL LOW Colorful streamers and college-themed balloons cover senior cars, wrapping their occupants in a celebratory hug. The SBS community came together to commemorate the Class of 2020 with the first-ever Senior Car Parade. COVID-19 has greatly impacted the SBS community, especially seniors who have had their long-awaited traditions of Powderpuff games, Prom, SeniorFest and Senior Skip Day taken away. Though no senior has fallen victim to the virus’s infectious touch, we have all become victim to its isolating reach, being forced away from our friends and teachers during a time meant to draw us closer together before we leave for college. As an SBS senior, I have deeply mourned the loss of my last year of high school, supposedly one of the best times of my life. We’ve been living in an endless stream of “what-ifs,” hoping that we still have a graduation ceremony and walk the stage in our caps and gowns like the seniors before us. Upper school administration promised my class to do all that they could to celebrate us and our four years of hard work, birthing the idea for a Senior Car Parade. Initially, I thought the idea was endearing, but mostly, I was thrilled at the chance to leave my house and see my friends again. I thought it would be a drop of hope in the middle of a sea of disappointment. However, I was not prepared for the overwhelming love and support that would pour out from the school family around me. I pulled up in my Texas A&M decked-out car to a celebratory scene full of underclassmen yelling for me as I drove into the parking lot. I was met by my other excited classmates in their decorated cars as I realized exactly what I would miss next year. The people. Driving through the car parade with lines of socially-distanced students, parents, faculty and alumni alike cheering for me and my classmates, I was overwhelmed with the strongest sense of gratitude. Gratitude for this school. Gratitude for its community. Gratitude for all the people within this community who put this entire parade together for our class in the midst of a global pandemic. I have never felt so loved, so appreciated and so completely valued in the middle of a group of people. Throughout our route, I saw cowbells, masks and handmade signs, and the sight touched me. Seeing those masks amid such a jubilant event did not detract from the joy I felt there; it infused me with a sense of pride in the community that raised me. Despite this virus and despite the risks, my SBS family showed up for me. They showed up for my classmates. They became a light in the darkness, a city on a hill during such a dark and tumultuous time in our world’s history. They showed Jesus to a class in need, a class robbed of our senior year only to be given something even more special. A community that loves us. A community that shows up.
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IN MY LIFETIME BY STAR MATTHEW ’20 SBS PUBLICITY P REFECT I always imagined 2020 as being the year my life began. It would be the year I walked across a large stage, received a leatherbound diploma and made my debut in the real-world as a sophisticated adult Star. However, upon reaching the future I once longed to grasp, 2020 quickly shifted from being a year that may have only occupied significant personal importance to a year that is certain to have significant historical importance. In my lifetime, 2020 stands alone as the only year to hold a nationwide shortage of toilet paper, canned goods, milk, eggs, hand sanitizer, Clorox products and protective face masks. In my lifetime, 2020 stands alone as the only year to witness the desertion of countless restaurants and small businesses for fear of a silent killer lurking in the shadows of the nearest spoken word. In my lifetime, 2020 stands alone as the only year to present as profound a threat to our grandparents, our healthcare providers, our food service workers, our friends and family members with weakened immune systems and our first responders—all people who have silently and often thanklessly served us and stood beside us. In my lifetime, no year has been less all about me.
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Though I was saddened to hear my final year on the Second Baptist School campus would be shortened for the safety of those who bravely stand on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, the transition to a Distance Learning Plan amidst federal stay-at-home guidelines seemed the only reasonable measure. While it was not a popular opinion amongst teenagers, quite honestly, I missed the intellectual stimulation of learning. I missed waking up every day with a clear daily objective beyond cutting down on my tortilla chip intake. The day of our first Zoom meetings arrived, and I had an optimistic outlook on the trajectory of my virtual learning experience. Seeing my teachers made me feel strangely remorseful, especially considering only a month earlier I was quickly transforming into a caricature of the stereotypical “second-semester senior,” clawing at the nearest exit toward graduation. Speaking to my classmates in a virtual classroom was a similarly sorrowful experience as if all the people I remembered seeing every day were now figures of my imagination that had resurfaced through a webcam as twodimensional images of formerly multidimensional beings. Who could have foreseen that a virtual reading of Othello would reinvigorate the sense of normalcy that surrounded the life I once lived on the campus of Second Baptist School? Somehow, through the inordinately histrionic performances of my peers, I was transported to a time when things were simpler. I recognized the spirit of their voices as the unified expression of their desire to make the best of our new situation. It was a collective cry against a resignation to despair. In that moment I realized that, though it was not conventionally normal, it was a new normal that could work for me. Within the enclosure of the new normal, I experienced new freedoms. Casting aside the silent acceptance of
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uneasiness, teachers and students came together to verbalize and address the concerns we all shared regarding the impact that the coronavirus will provoke on our present and our future. The comfort I experienced through our collective feelings of disorientation and confusion reached far beyond the screen. I was not alone in my distress; I was free to worry and free to encourage. It is often said that old habits die hard. Within only a few days of starting the Distance Learning Plan, I quickly fell back into the routine of being a student. I soon recognized the opportunity to accomplish meaningful goals every day to be a luxury I refused to take for granted. Surrounded by a community that championed the spirit of power, love and sound mind, while acknowledging that we live in times conducive to the spirit of fear, I felt supported in the face of a global context opportune for discouragement. Although the circumstances we now find ourselves in are nowhere near where we may have imagined, there is a beauty often found in the unexpected. Though accompanied by unimaginable hardship and chaos, the oneness enjoyed by those in a battle against a common enemy rises above the boundaries that once separated us. In doing our part to mitigate the effects of the novel coronavirus, we prioritize the well-being of those who work tirelessly to treat the virus, cure the virus, and those who could or are currently suffering from the virus above our own comforts, most of which—in the light of our current perspective—can now be rightfully considered inessential. From the virtual classroom and the circumstances that have necessitated it, I have learned that only in the midst of situations far larger than one’s own ability to comprehend does one gain true insight into the very entity that connects all of humanity in the first place: compassion.
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Interim Term 2020
WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS
For my Interim Term trip this year, I had the privilege of following the footsteps of the Bible throughout the Holy Land.
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ime periods, culture and religion blend together, homogenizing Israel’s rich history into a mixing pot of progress and tradition. For my Interim Term trip this year, I had the privilege of following the footsteps of the Bible throughout the Holy Land. Starting in Tel Aviv, my six classmates and I made our way through Caesarea, Nazareth, Capernaum and Jerusalem over the course of the week. Each day was filled with activities that inspired the same breathtaking realization: I was standing on holy ground, the same ground that Jesus walked in his life. The first full day of our trip, our team traveled to Caesarea, a city King Herod built on the Mediterranean to show off
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his power and his ability to defeat even nature itself. Ironically, Nature, or God as we know Him, allowed the city to be destroyed by the roaring waves of the sea, proving nothing and no one is greater than the strength of God. From there, we traveled Armageddon to see the large field that is prophesied to be the place of the final battle before the Second Coming of Jesus. Standing in front of that grass, I felt like I was given a glimpse into the future where everything will be set right and all will be made perfect. To top the day off, we ventured into the city of Nazareth, visiting the houses of both Mary and Joseph. It was surreal imagining Jesus as a child, running and playing on the ground where we stood. So often, I’ve forgotten Jesus had a childhood; it was humbling to picture Jesus growing up as a normal kid like me, even though He was anything but normal. On the second day, our group drove to Capernaum where Jesus performed many of His signs. We had the opportunity to stand on a glass platform in the church over Peter’s house and sing “Amazing Grace” as we looked down upon the ancient structure. It was dreamlike whispering the words of the song into that sacred space where Jesus had visited; it felt like the Gospel had come full circle. We also visited the Mount of the Beatitudes where Jesus gave his famous sermon to the multitudes. Our group read all of the Beatitudes aloud together under
the peaceful shade of a tree, and we each said which verse spoke to us the most. From there, we took a boat like one Jesus might have been on and went out onto the Sea of Galilee. We read the Bible story about Jesus calming the storm, and while looking out onto that same water, it was tangible to imagine Jesus silencing the waves. Lastly, we traveled to the place of Jesus’s baptism, the Jordan River. The water was murky, muddy and not at all like I pictured, but I think it made the Bible seem more realistic because it wasn’t perfect. That even the most pure moment of Jesus’s time here was tainted by the filth of the earth. The next day, my group and I went to Roman ruins called Bet She’an and traveled to the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. It was cold and pouring rain, so we were ready to rush into the bus and head to Jerusalem. Our tour guide told us that it only rains two days out of the year there, so we were “extra lucky” to have been there. When we arrived in Jerusalem, we were able to overlook the city, and I was amazed by the overlapping cultures and religions in front of me. There were temples, mosques and churches all next to one another, sharing spaces even. I learned that while the philosophies and beliefs of Judaism, Islam and Christianity may be different, their histories are deeply interwoven and rooted in Jerusalem. On the fourth day of our trip, we walked around the city and noticed many different denominational churches. We went to the room of the Last Supper where Jesus told the disciples about his upcoming death and resurrection, along with the Garden of Gethsemane and the Upper Room. The Upper Room was the place where the disciples received the Holy Spirit like tongues of fire after Jesus ascended into heaven. I was desperate to feel the Holy Spirit like the disciples did in that room, and I wasn’t the only one. All of the tourists walked around the room and touched the ancient walls, imagining that some remnant of the Holy Spirit was still left on the surface, seeping through their skin and into their souls.
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We drove to Mesada, a place where Romans invaded the Jews. We took a gondola to get to the top, and the view from the crest of the ancient village was spectacular.
a gondola to get to the top, and the view from the crest of the ancient village was spectacular.
We stayed in Jerusalem the next day and followed the Stations of the Cross where they believe Jesus carried his cross on the way to his crucifixion. There were plaques to mark the various spots He walked, but it was in the middle of a bustling marketplace, so we had to move along fairly quickly. Later that day, we did my personal favorite activity, Hezekiah’s tunnels. The tunnels were part of Jerusalem’s water system in the City of David, and we had the opportunity to walk through them. These passageways were barely wide enough for me to walk through, and I had to duck my head multiple times throughout our trek. Not only that, but we were also in utter darkness with no flashlights, wading through three feet of freezing water. It took us about 30 minutes to get through the tunnel, and it was definitely a memorable activity among the group. We ended the day in the New City, and I was stunned by the sudden modern twist in this ancient place. Popular stores lined the streets with kids skateboarding in the city squares. On day six, we all traveled to the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea. We walked into the water and immediately started floating from the amount of salt around us. After swimming, my classmates and I decided to cover ourselves in Dead Sea mud because it’s supposed to be rejuvenating for the skin. After we cleaned up, we headed to a nature reserve called En Gedi and hiked up to a waterfall where we took stunning pictures. To finish the day, we drove to Mesada, a place where Romans invaded the Jews. We took
On the final day of our trip, our tour guide took us to the Western Wall where the Jewish people go to mourn the loss of their temple. They cry and pray against the wall because they believe it is the closest they can get to the presence of God since the temple inside of the wall is no longer there. In its place is the Dome of the Rock, a stunning mosque with bright colors and a golden dome that makes it easy to spot from miles away. From there, we went to the place believed to be Golgotha, the site of Jesus’s crucifixion and his tomb. However, as I was trying to soak in this special moment, I became increasingly distracted and frustrated by the buses stopped directly on this sacred spot where Jesus was said to have been crucified. The ironic site made me laugh, and a puzzle piece finally connected in my heart that I didn’t realize I was missing. We had been walking the footsteps of Jesus, touching walls and holy water and anything we possibly could to get even a little bit closer to God and who He was. But that’s exactly why the Jews had been crying at the Wailing Wall earlier that day and why Christians had been getting baptized in the filthy water of the Jordan River. The fallacy of my beliefs and theirs was that these ancient artifacts and places would induce some sort of “holiness” or “spiritual awakening” within us, when, realistically, they’re only remnants of an ancient time in history. While these holy sites are moving to see, they serve only as a reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. In truth, as Christians, we always have hope because we only have to open our Bible or spend time with God to feel closer to him. Whether we be in America or Israel, God is present and near to all who call on Him, and, even in the hard times, we can feel confident and secure in His goodness and faithfulness.
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HOW SPAIN STOLE MY HEART G
rowing up at Second Baptist School, I looked forward to Interim Term most of my life. I saw the two-week period as a time to broaden my horizons and learn about the world beyond my classrooms. Freshman and sophomore year of high school brought fulfilling memories I will never forget. My first two Interim Terms I tried different forms of exercise, became lifeguard certified and toured several colleges. However, my most rewarding and exciting trip was yet to come. Junior year, after a frenzied sign-up, I managed to claim a spot on the trip to Spain. My friends and I became increasingly thrilled about the upcoming international trip and made sure to prepare our wardrobes accordingly. As the departure date drew near, tensions continuously arose because of developing concerns about COVID-19. Our group was cleared to travel and all 28 students boarded the ninehour flight to Frankfurt, Germany. Our layover was short, and finally, after an additional threehour flight, we made it to Spain. We drove into Barcelona and spent the first evening in wideeyed admiration of the city and culture, despite many of us being exhausted from being awake for over thirty hours. After a good night’s rest,
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the group was more than ready to hit the ground running and take in the sights of the city. To me, one of the most compelling aspects of Barcelona is the diversity built into the city. We learned of Barcelona’s complex past, stretching from the rule of the Romans to the 1992 Summer Olympics. The mix of ancient and modern structures amazed me; the union of the past and present was unlike anything I had seen in the United States. The Olympics sparked financial prosperity in Barcelona, and the city’s gratefulness for tourists was evident. We spent three nights in Barcelona and explored the city to our maximum potential. My favorite part was
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entranced our group, with bizarrely unusual contortions of the human body and seemingly random objects strewn about. We ate lunch in the small town, drove back to spend the night in Barcelona, then traveled to Córdoba the next day.
Antoni Gaudí’s Basilica of the Sagrada Família, a church nearing the end of construction of more than 130 years. Both the basilica’s outside and inside featured unparalleled beauty. Impossibly intricate carvings covered every inch of stone, and multicolored stained-glass windows illuminated the interior with breathtaking hues. Our final day in Barcelona took our group to Figueres, and we were curious as to what more Spain had to offer. Salvador Dalí’s museum in the artist’s hometown Figueres was our first destination. The museum was strangely unique, and Dalí’s work was the same. The artist’s paintings, sculptures and films
Córdoba was a refreshing change from the clustered city we had traveled from. While Barcelona was reminiscent of New York City, Córdoba felt more like a small town. White buildings studded with bright blue flower pots holding pink flowers created picture-perfect scenery everywhere we looked. The city made taking memorable pictures easy, and my camera roll is filled with beautiful photos of Córdoba. Even simple alleyways looked like a postcard brought to life. Evidence of past life in the city peeks through the worn stone roads and detailed architecture. Roman, Muslim and Christian influence was evident through the cathedrals and mosques in the city. Córdoba quickly stole everyone’s hearts, and I believe most of us would say it was our favorite stop on the tour. Our next destination was Seville. Upon our arrival, we went to the Plaza de España, an outdoor square created to welcome visitors
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with open arms. The landmark stretched out in a half-circle and showcased major Spanish cities through mosaics lining the interior. Seville’s scenery was similar to that of Córdoba, featuring mostly white buildings with vibrant flowers. Orange trees were abundant, lining every street and filling the air with a lovely fragrance. Sophisticated architecture characteristic of every Spanish city we had encountered was also found in Seville. A flamenco lesson followed by a professional performance established the strange yet jaw-dropping complexity of the cultural phenomenon. Filled with an appreciation for Seville’s abundant culture, our group had to move on to the next city. Following Seville, we drove to the nearby town of Zuheros to explore an underground cave. The Cuevas de los Murciélagos astounded me; the stone walls seemed as though they would be soft to the touch as wind, water and time had worn the stone to velvety smoothness. As our group climbed up and down about 700 steps, we learned about the stalactites, stalagmites and even human remains found in the cave. Once out, we ate lunch in the village of Zuheros, population 700. There were only two options for lunch, but the tiny town charmed us with its quaint beauty. After strolling amongst the streets for a bit, it was time to travel to our final Spanish city. Granada immediately proved why it is beloved by so many. Our guide took us to an overlook of the city, and what rested before us looked like a still from a fairytale. The Granada Palacio De Carlos V showed us how centuries of diverse religions and cultures could come together and form a masterpiece that generations to come will marvel over. Granada is famous for the number of mosaics it possesses, and for good reason. Beautiful tile masterpieces covered many buildings throughout the city. Our final night in Spain was tearful, and upon reflecting on our favorite cities and moments, it became clear how memorable the entire experience would always be to all of us. One twelve-hour flight later, we were back in Houston.
Our group was blessed with perfect weather for the entirety of the trip: sunny and 60 degrees in nearly every city. At the end of our trip, the reality of the global pandemic was setting in. We landed in Houston approximately eight hours before the European travel ban took effect. We were greeted in the airport by emotional parents who had been praying for many days, and thankfully no one from our group became sick. This trip is something I will forever remember, and I will always be especially thankful to our chaperones (Mr. Brooks, Mrs. Farias, Mr. Klingsmith and Mrs. Towne) for making this Interim Term such an incredible experience. Spain solidified a special place in my heart, and I am already looking forward to where I might travel next year for my final Interim Term experience.
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MODEL U.N. VISITS THE HAGUE
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or my Interim Term trip this year, I had the privilege to travel to the historic city of Amsterdam as well as The Hague, the Judicial Capital of the World. We traveled with the sponsors of Second Baptist School’s awardwinning Model United Nations team, Mrs. Clare Towery and Mr. Jacob Lindsey. We competed among teams of international delegates from countries such as Jordan, Spain, Turkey, Malawi, Uganda, Hungary, the Netherlands and one other school from the United States. On the first day of the trip, after a 9-hour flight, we arrived in Amsterdam and ate at a local farm-to-table restaurant. All of our meals were pre-planned by
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WorldStrides, an education-based international travel program that Second Baptist School has used for previous Interim Term trips such as the World War II and The British Isles trips. On the second day, we walked around Amsterdam, taking in the historic architecture and city structure. Amsterdam is built entirely on canals, with subdivisions of streets that extend out radially from the heart of the city. Cutting through these streets are the three main canals of Amsterdam – the Herengracht, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht. Each is named after a social status, and the wealthy classes would separate themselves by their commute routes. The Herengracht is for the city’s wealthiest citizens, the Prinsengracht was for princes and the Keizersgracht was for Kings – the lower classes would stay away from these famous canals. Our tour guide Peter explained the ancient inner workings of Amsterdam in great detail, and we learned much about Dutch culture just by looking at the layout of its port city. The next day, we visited the Royal Coster Diamond factory, the oldest operating diamond polishing factory in the world. We learned about the intricate process that cutting a diamond requires, as well as the waste that occurs during the cutting process. We looked at Coster’s collection of diamonds, including Coster’s patented Royal 201 cut, which has over two hundred facets for maximum light reflection. We then visited the Anne Frank House, which was without a doubt the most sobering visit of the trip. An actress playing Anne Frank had recorded her voice reading Anne’s diary, and she explained the fear and suspense that she experienced during the Nazi occupation in World War II. To wrap up our first stretch of the trip, we visited the historic museum district in the heart of Amsterdam. We walked through the life of Vincent Van Gogh and discovered the reasons for his mental health crisis and eventual suicide. We also visited the Rjiksmuseum, which
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It’s a trip I’ll never forget, and I’m so happy to be at a school that gives us these kinds of incredible opportunities!
housed a NASA-funded restoration project of Rembrandt’s The Night Watch. This museum tour exposed the duality of tradition and innovation that exemplifies Amsterdam - always something new but sticking to what’s old as well. For the next section of the trip, the Model United Nations team competed in The Hague, Netherlands, which is the Judicial Capital of the World and home to the International Court of Justice. We attended HagaMUN, an international Model United Nations conference where delegates prepare extensively to engage in debate structured by parliamentary procedure and Robert’s Rules of Order. The delegates were in committees ranging from the Security Council to the Commission on the Status of Women to the United Nations General Assembly. Two delegates, myself and Eva Vennigan ’22, took home Best Delegate awards in our committees. While in the Hague, we toured the old town square of Plein, the Lange Poten, and the Hofweg, the home to shops, cultural sites and delicious local restaurants. We went in the underground of Binnenhof, the Dutch seat of government and the frequent location for the Dutch royal family. After the conference ended, we headed back to Amsterdam and enjoyed a guided cruise through the canals. Amsterdam is the bike capital of the world, so bikers were absolutely everywhere – we even saw a trash barge pulling up hundreds of rusted bikes that had fallen into the water. We moved into the countryside and visited the farm of Dutch cheesemaker Henri Willig, where friendly farmers let us meet newly-born calves and see the cheese-making process step by step. Then, we went to a castle straight out of Downton Abbey – the Kasteel De Haar. Famously
owned by the Rothschild family, this incredibly expensive estate was located in Utrecht near the village of Haarzuilens. Our trip to the Netherlands wouldn’t be complete without the iconic windmills, so we visited Zaanse Schans, a neighborhood in the Dutch town of Zaandam and home to six massive windmills. On the very last night, we had a Rijsttafel dinner, which is an elaborate Indonesian meal adapted by the Dutch. As we headed back home to Houston, I reflected on my time in the Netherlands and the people I met. I made friends at HagaMUN that I still keep up within the time of social distancing, and I learned about the caveats of Dutch culture and customs that can only be seen in-person. It’s a trip I’ll never forget, and I’m so happy to be at a school that gives us these kinds of incredible opportunities!
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REMEM BE R TO FOLLOW US ON FACE BOOK AND INSTAGR A M @S BSALUMNI TO STAY CONNE CTE D AND LE AR N ABOU T UPCOMING E VE NTS AND ON-CAMPUS H APPE NINGS ! MOVE D? MAR R IE D? NE W E MAIL ADDR E SS? E MAIL S BSALUMNI@ S E CONDBAPTISTS CH OOL.OR G TO S E ND ANY CH ANGE S . WE WANT TO STAY IN TOUC H !
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With her husband’s recent retirement from the Air Force, AMANDA KARES KOCH and her family settled back home in Houston. Amanda and Travis have two boys, John (15) and Andy (7). Amanda has an online health and wellness blog/business called My Well Balanced Life. Through it, she gets to help people live healthier lives as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) and Pilates & Barre Master Trainer (NCPT). Amanda says she is incredibly grateful to be home and connected with family and her SBS best friends of over 30 years.
JILL HARMEYER COLLUM has served as the director of mentoring of Mercy Street for eight years. Mercy Street is positioned in historically neglected neighborhoods of Dallas and exists to mentor the next generation of Christian leaders from the inner city for the inner city. Mercy Street wants to empower kids to fulfill their God-given potential, knowing their God-given purpose. Mercy Street walks alongside children and their families to close opportunity gaps and ignite transformational change. Through Christcentered programming and mentorship, they develop the innate talents and strengths of our students to become tomorrow’s leaders. Jill, her husband, Dan, and daughter, Kylee, live in West Dallas with the people they serve. www. mercystreetdallas.org
Eagle Sweethearts RORY BREWTON ’01 and BEAU BELLOW ’97 welcomed their son, Daniel Glyn Bellow III “Tripp,” on March 11, 2020. He weighed 7 lbs and was 18.5 inches long. Tripp joins big sisters, Collins (6) and Spencer (5).
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NICHOLE ALDAPE YOUNG is celebrating 12 years working as a regional executive director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, helping raise funds and awareness for children fighting cancer and other deadly diseases. Congratulations, Nichole!
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AMY DANVERS JOHNSON and her family welcomed daughter, Georgia Kay Johnson, on April 28, 2020. Georgia weighed 7 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19.75 inches long. Big Brother Walker (4) and Big Sister Caroline (2) love their new sibling!
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ELIZABETH OWEN ROARK and husband, Robert, welcomed their fourth child, Clementine Jane, on January 23, 2020. She weighed 8 lbs. 6 oz. and was 20.5 inches long. According to Elizabeth, “Her older sisters and brother can’t get enough of her and argue over who gets to hold her next. They know all the ways to get her to laugh and, oh, what a delightful sound! We adore her and are incredibly thankful for this blessing.”
Jennifer and PATRICK CODDOU welcomed daughter, Georgia Grace, on March 30, 2020. She was 7 lbs. 7 oz. and 20 inches long. Madeleine is thrilled to be a big sister!
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KATHERINE GREEN PONCIK and her husband, Ryne, welcomed baby boy Beckham on December 19, 2019.
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REBECCA HICKMAN SMITH and her family welcomed Henry Clyde Smith on May 3, 2020, at 1:27 p.m. He was 7 lbs. 2 oz. and 20.25 inches long and already loves his big sister, Charlotte. Rebecca says they are enjoying life as a family of four.
ANNABEL STEPHAN HARDIN and husband, JB, are thrilled to announce the birth of their daughter Florence. She was born May 11, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. KATIE BERNARD EISTERHOLD and husband, Ben, welcomed son James Robert on September 21, 2019. He is named for both of his grandfathers and goes by “J.R.”
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AMY ELDERS RODGERS and her husband, Jerome, welcomed son, Grayson Perry Rodgers, on February 11, 2020. Grayson weighed 10 lbs. and was 22 inches long. He joined siblings Jayce Alan and Averi Joy to complete the Rodgers5!
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CHELSEA DEUTSCH GUTHRIE and her husband joyfully welcomed baby Geoffrey Mack into their family on April 21, 2020. He is named after both of the grandfathers— men of faith who have had a huge impact on countless lives. In Chelsea’s words: “Geoffrey was born right smack dab in the middle of a global pandemic (never a dull moment in the Guthrie house), but God’s timing is always perfect. He already adores his big sister, Genevieve, who loves to give him ‘sugars’ (kisses). We praise the Lord for entrusting us with these precious little loves!”
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SARAH SHARP MALLOY and her family welcomed daughter Mary Margaret on October 24, 2019. She weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz. and was 20.5 inches long. Sarah and her family are absolutely smitten!
JENNIFER GURNEY MORGAN always wanted to be a teacher. Fast forward to this past February when Jennifer received the 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year award at Bryant Elementary School in Katy, Texas. Jenn and her husband, Zach, have been married for three years and currently reside in Oak Forest with their adorable puppy, Kinley.
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BRANDON POWELL and his wife, Lauren, joyfully welcomed their first child, Landon John, on January 29, 2020. Landon was 6 lbs. 14 oz. and 20 inches long.
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Congratulations to DANIELLE COPE and Matthew Waterman who tied the knot on March 7, 2020. COLETTE COPE ’13, served as her sister’s maid of honor.
Eagle Sweethearts HARPER MCGEE and Grant Hinds married on May 2, 2020. Harper and Grant met in sixth grade and began dating toward the end of high school. They both attended Baylor, and the rest is history! The couple proceeded with their wedding day despite the pandemic, where they were surrounded by eight special loved ones, including Eagle Sweethearts, Matron of Honor ELIZABETH MAYES BRYANT ’14 and Best Man CONNOR BRYANT ’14. Although the day was not as they originally planned, it was just what God had in store for Harper and Grant.
MOLLY TOLLETT married Alex Housewright on May 9, 2020, at Cedar Creek Lake alongside their parents and siblings. Molly works as a registered nurse in Parkland Hospital’s emergency department. Thank you for your service on the frontlines, Molly.
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This past season, MACY SCHMIDT made her Broadway debut on the music team of TINA: The Tina Turner Musical in New York City. Macy’s duties included overseeing the sheet music for the show and playing rehearsal piano when needed. Tina, herself, joined them for opening night! Macy’s next project, which she was in development for at the time of the coronavirus shutdown, is Disney’s revival of the musical AIDA, which is now scheduled to open in Germany in 2022.
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’19
’19 In Memoriam ERNEST EVANS II (1995-2020) CLASS OF 2012
CORBIN SCHWINGER and TYLER BRASWELL’s drone business, Schwingwell, flew them over to east Houston for a job. While there, they quickly connected with the owner, Chris Alvarado, who was starting a disinfectant company. Chris described how the medical grade products kill viruses and bacteria for 90 days and the science behind his electrostatic spraying technique. One thing led to another, and the three soon became partners of Disinfection Response Team. As it turned out, the three men were all connected through Second Baptist School. What a small world!
WILLIAM WEBSTER (1987-2020) CLASS OF 2006 During the 2020 Star of Hope Annual Banquet, FIELDEN BAKER was presented with this year’s George and Barbara Bush Points of Light Award for exemplary volunteer service. At a very young age, Fielden stepped forward, serving others through Star of Hope Mission by giving of his time, talents and resources.
Congratulations to MADISON PENNINGTON for being one of eight students selected to represent the student body in Texas A&M’s inaugural 12th Man Foundation’s Collegiate Council. Whoop!
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ELAINA DICHIARA PIGGOTT ’84
D O U G DA N I E L S ’ 8 9
D A N I E L L E G L E N N ’ 9 4 & C L I F F YO U N G ’ 9 1
G R A D U AT I N G SECOND
T H E N E X T G E N E R AT I O N O F S B S G R A D U AT E S I N C L U D E S PA R E N T S W H O A L S O G R A D U AT E D F R O M S B S . O U R ALUMNI REMINISCE ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN’S E X P E R I E N C E S AT T H E S C H O O L T H E Y AT T E N D E D .
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D O U G DA N I E L S ’ 8 9 D a u g h te r : M A D E L E I N E DA N I E L S ’ 2 0 Q: What role did SBS play in your life? In Madeleine’s life? A: It was a training ground, a community, a place where I could challenge myself but still have a safety-net of spiritual and emotional support before launching out into a world where there are no safety nets. Here, Madeleine made close friends— friends she will have for a lifetime. SBS is where she found her purpose—to serve God by caring for the needs of others. Q: What has been the best part of watching Madeleine go through SBS as you did? A: Seeing her have some of the same teachers who taught me and watching her play basketball in the same gyms where I played 30+ years ago. Q: Do you have any additional thoughts or feelings of nostalgia as you watched Madeleine walk through graduation and the last months of Covid-19? A: It’s been very hard watching these seniors have to miss out on some of the things I remember most fondly about my senior year at SBS, including prom and all the graduation celebrations. However, I’m so proud of how this year’s class of graduates stepped up and made the best of a terrible situation and of how SBS went the extra mile to make the 2020 graduation ceremony happen and in such a special way.
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E L A I N A D I C H I A R A P I G G OT T ’ 8 4 S o n : Z AC H A RY P I G G OT T ’ 2 0 Q: What role did SBS play in your life? In Zachary’s life? A: It was a spiritual and emotional community that I needed before going out into the real world. Everyone needs that foundation, and SBS provided that for me. SBS helped Zachary grow spiritually. He learned to serve God and at the same time, he learned what it means to be a solid Christian man. Q: What have you loved about watching Zachary go through SBS as you did? A: Watching him excel in playing the drums at football games to running up and down the field defending the goals in soccer. I loved seeing him interact with his friends that he will have for a lifetime. It was fun to see him walk the same halls as I did as a student and to share some of the same traditions. Q: Do you have any additional thoughts or feelings of nostalgia as you watched Zachary walk through graduation and the last months of Covid-19? A: My heart is broken that he did not get to do all the traditional things all the seniors usually experience. However, SBS stepped up and made a very difficult end to a school year a most wonderful and unique one. SBS showed the Class of 2020 how special they are, and they felt it! We will always be thankful to SBS for going above and beyond for the Class of 2020.
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DA N I E L L E G L E N N ’ 9 4 a n d C L I F F YO U N G ’ 9 1 D a u g h t e r : S U Z YO U N G ’ 2 0 Q: What role did SBS play in your life? In Suz’s life? A: SBS helped me, a naturally shy person, to have the confidence to try activities and find my gifts that lead to the path my life would take. There were particular teachers and administrators who were like second moms — invaluable during those rocky teenage years. And the best part is that I met my lifetime boyfriend—turned husband—of almost 23 years! Q: What has been the sweetest thing watching Suz go through SBS as you did? A: Suz was surrounded by loving teachers who she could go to when she needed to. She was surrounded by friends who also followed Christ and encouraged her in her faith. A highlight was watching her experience the joy of the musicals! Q: Do you have any additional thoughts or feelings of nostalgia as you watched Suz walk through graduation and the last months of Covid-19? A: I love the community at SBS! I love how we take care of each other when there’s a need. I love how we walked around the campus in prayer when we needed guidance. I love football games when all three levels of the school are on the field together: kids playing, parents talking and everyone cheering.
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THE SECOND G E N E R AT I O N CONTINUES TO
EACH YEAR, SECOND BAPTIST SCHOOL WELCOMES A H O S T O F N E W F A M I L I E S I N T O T H E C O M M U N I T Y. FOR SOME, THIS IS THEIR RETURN HOME.
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ANNA BRADLEY FERGUSON ’01 O ld e st son, Bra dley ’34 (PK4) Q: Why are you returning to SBS? A: We wanted Bradley to have the whole SBS experience — loving teachers, lifelong friendships, great education which will set the foundation for his life! Q: What are you most excited about? A: I’m most excited for Bradley to be at a school where his teachers will love him and encourage him to be his best, where he will make lifelong friendships and where he will be taught and challenged intellectually and spiritually on a daily basis. Q: What is most important to you about having Bradley at SBS? A: Simply, I feel safe at SBS. I know my son will be loved, respected and challenged to be his best self every day. And, that is the most important thing to me — if my baby has to grow up, I want him to be at SBS where I know he has the teachers that will help him to thrive.
“IT IS A N HONOR TO WALK ALONGSIDE A LU MNI AS T H EY CONS I D ER S BS FO R THEIR FAMILY. IT IS E XCITING TO S E E ALU MNI CONNECT W I T H F ORMER T EAC HER S A ND VIE W CAMP US FROM TH E PERS PECT I V E OF A FU T U RE S BS PAR EN T. THE JOY COME S IN S H ARING H OW S BS H AS GROW N S I NCE T H EI R TIME HERE AND H OW TH AT GROWTH W I LL BENEFI T T H EI R FAMI LY.” DIRE CTOR OF ADMISSIONS ANDREA PROT H RO
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Q: If you could sum up SBS in just three words: A: Foundation for life!
NANCY GEYER HAISLUP ’99 E liz ab eth ’34 (PK4) Q: Why are you returning to SBS? A: To give Elizabeth the opportunity to learn in an environment committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Q: What are you most excited about? A: I’m excited about the academic, spiritual and social growth Elizabeth will experience at SBS. Q: What is most important to you about having Elizabeth at SBS? A: It’s important to me to have Elizabeth at a place where she develops a Christian worldview and learns to think and make decisions based on that foundation. Q: If you could sum up SBS in just three words: A: Academic, Bible-based, community
“WE A R E HO NORE D WH E N OUR ALUMNI P UR S U E S BS FOR T H EI R OW N C HILDR EN . WE H AVE H AD TH E P LE AS URE O F W ELCOMI NG LEGACY STU DEN TS T HR OUGH TH E ADMISS IONS P ROCESS , AS W EL L AS ENGAGE WITH C U R R E NT PARE NTS WH O ARE ALUMNI AS T H EY S ERV E AS TOUR GUIDE S AND PARE NT AMBASSAD ORS .” A D MISSIONS COORDINATOR SAR A BI NGAMAN
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STEPHANIE STIEFEL HOSKINS ’06 L ily Kate ’34 (Bridge) Q: Why are you returning to SBS? A: Second Baptist was more than just a school to my entire family; it was a second home. Above all, it was a place to seek and learn about Christ. It means the world to me to have my children grow up in a place where Jesus is first. The education I received was excellent. As I graduated from Second Baptist and attended college, this was made very apparent. I would love for my children to have this same experience that I feel so blessed to have had. Q: What are you most excited about? A: I am most excited about our family returning to Second Baptist together. Lily Kate will be surrounded by her cousins and aunt every day! Q: What is most important to you about having Lily Kate at SBS? A: Chapel and an environment that loves Jesus and teaches grace.
“ SERVIN G IN T HE ALUMNI RE LATIONS ROLE AS A CU RRENT S ECOND GENERAT I ON PAR EN T, I G ET TO PARTNE R WITH TH E ADMISS I ONS T EAM W H EN W ELCOMI NG OU R L EG ACY FA M ILIES BACK ON CAMP US TH ROUGH T H E TOU RI NG AND APPL I CAT I ON PR O C ESS! E VE RY S E COND GE N E NCOUNT ER I S A SW EET ONE AS W E R ECO N NEC T TH ROUGH SH ARE D E X P E RIE NCES AND S H ARED CORE VALU ES .” A LU M NI RE LATIONS COORDINATOR MARLO T U RNER W I S E ’93
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Q: If you could sum up SBS in just three words: A: Home, Christ-centered
TWENTY QUESTIONS WITH
Second Baptist L E G E N D S
1 If you could be famous, what would you want
to be famous for? I would want to be famous for teaching my students and my children to work hard, persevere through mistakes, follow God’s plan for their lives, and grow up to make a difference in the world … and for finding the cure for cancer!
2
If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do? I’d walk onto every Broadway stage during the performance and sing with the cast. I know, I know....they could still hear me.
3 What is the best gift you have ever given or
been given? Why was it so special? I bought my parents a satellite dish when they first came out so that they could watch all my games with either the Astros or Phillies because they were limited in traveling from Mississippi.
4
What is your dream vacation and why? A West Coast motorcycle trip along Hwy. 101-1 from Washington to Southern California. I have so many great family memories camping out there when I was growing up.
5 If you could travel back in time ten years and visit your younger self, what advice would you give yourself? God really will provide. Be patient.
6 If you could invent something that would
make life easier, what would it be? I would invent a cloning machine. I’d clone myself so we could take turns relaxing.
7
If you could make one rule that everyone in the world had to follow, what rule would you make? Listen more than you talk, and beware of comma splices!
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LEGENDS / YEARS OF SERVICE Jeannene Simonton (SBS) .............36 Eva Walters (SBC) .............................36 Donna Sims (SBS) .............................34 Rita Herring (SBS) .............................32 Jeff Schroeder (SBS) .......................30 Cindy Blades (SBS) ...........................29 Jerry Towne (SBC) ............................28 Karen Jensen (SBS) ..........................27
Sue Berg (SBS) ...................................26 Allison Armond (SBS) ......................25 Mary Ramey (SBS) ............................25 Jeff Calhoun (SBS/SBC) .................21 Clare Towery (SBS/SBC) ................21 Beverly Bradley (SBS) .....................20 Christine Oliphant (SBS) .................20 Iris Stewart (SBS) ..............................20
8 What is your go-to Jane’s Grill order?
The most popular Jane’s Grill orders for SBS Legends are the Chicken Salad Sandwich and the Club Sandwich!
9 What do you love most about SBS?
The endless opportunities to fill and be filled by others everyday. The SBS community has been a blessing to our family.
10
What is your most unusual talent? I used to love dancing and won several dance contests!
11
What is your favorite thing to do with your family? Sharing a meal together. We love to cook together and when I am with grandchildren we play lots of boardgames.
12 What is one thing in your life you couldn’t live without? Sugar! and Jesus.
13 What’s your favorite place on the SBS/SBC
campus? The Sanctuary circle carpool spot when the fountain is on, and sun is low in the east and the Hankamer Chapel.
14
What is your spirit animal? Why? My daughter says my spirit animal is a Koala because I can be vicious but I am soft and cuddly. (Insert rye roll)
15 What’s the best advice you’ve ever been
given? “Remember, they don’t love math as much as you do.” My mentor once told me this when I was discouraged about the lack of motivation in my students. My mom used to say, “Worry is always a little too early or a little too late. No use in worrying because the Lord cares for us, and He knows what we need when we need it.”
Laura Visage (SBS) ...........................20 Cristian Hernandez (SBC) ..............18 Debbie Cherry (SBS) ........................17 Jane Jackson (SBS) ..........................17 Adriana Saavedra (SBS) ..................14 Brad Lane (SBS) .................................13
“Go the extra mile; it is never crowded.” “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” – Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
16 What is one fact everyone would be
surprised to learn about you? I was asked to train for the Olympics in the 100m sprint!
17 What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about God? That He is with me and for me.
18 What’s your favorite Bible verse?
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3: 5-6 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
19 What Bible character would you like to meet in person? Why? Paul, Mary and of course...Jesus!
20 Would you rather go 30 days without
your cell phone or your entire life without dessert? Why? Are you kidding me? 30 days without a phone would be a walk in the park compared to an entire life without warm chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven.
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