Summer 2018
IN THIS ISSUE Graduation Alumni Profile: Angela Armstrong G’82, ’86 Alumna of the Year: Kelly Wright Henrion ’92
By Alexandra S. Thurstone G’80, ’84
This school has taught me to stay true to myself, and be passionate to what I believe in, and has instructed and educated me with the knowledge to ask for that thing. This school does not make a perfect person, but strives to make people better and hopefully fill them with the courage Oprah so sincerely preaches about, and I know for sure they have filled me with it.” Ali Muse G’18, ’22 Wyvern Report
We conclude each year with two magnificent graduation ceremonies: the Goshen Campus Graduation, which marks the transition from Middle School to High School and the end of a student’s time on the Goshen Campus, and the Graduation, which is the final ceremony for all St. Francis students who leave our school to move on to college and beyond. Each year, I hear a similar refrain from the many friends and families who attend these ceremonies: “This was the best Graduation ceremony I’ve ever attended”; “Your students did such an amazing job speaking”; “I am shaken to the core by the power of your students’ words”; and from those familiar with our Graduations: “It makes me so happy that the essence of St. Francis is alive and well, as evidenced by the Graduation.” Because the highlight of each ceremony is our students’ words (it is our tradition that any student who wishes can speak), I always choose to share some of them with the whole St. Francis family here each year. Please enjoy! From Goshen Campus Graduation Speeches : Riley Elliott G’18 speaks of her transformation in her five years at St. Francis: “I remember when I first came to St. Francis, I was a shy little girl who didn’t speak unless spoken to. I had never had many friends or teachers that encouraged me to come out of my shell, until St. Francis. The first moment I walked into the doors of St. Francis School, I immediately had people smiling and greeting me when I walked in. I had already felt welcome within the first five minutes of stepping foot inside the building… I never felt bored or out of place at St.Francis. Now the shy little girl I once was is no more, all thanks to this amazing school. I will forever be grateful for the motivation St. Francis gave me to be the girl I am today.”
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Lily Gilbert G’18, ’22 (who has been at St. Francis since Preschool) talks about the community at St. Francis: “I already miss everything about this [Campus]: the bright green grass, the amazing atmosphere, the aggressive attack chickens, and so much more. I bet some people think that St. Francis is just a school or a place to study. Well, they’re wrong. St. Francis is a place of community. It’s somewhere you can go when you are hurt, feel badly, or helpless. It’s a place of progress, change, and love. I’m so sad to leave this wonderful [Campus] in which I grew up, but I’m so thankful for everything it has taught and given me.” Ali Muse G’18, ’22, who joined us in 6th grade, talks about what he has learned: “A great inspiration of mine, Oprah Winfrey, once said, ‘You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.’ This school has taught me to stay true to myself, and be passionate to what I believe in, and has instructed and educated me with the knowledge to ask for that thing. This school does not make a perfect person, but strives to make people better and hopefully fill them with the courage Oprah so sincerely preaches about, and I know for sure they have filled me with it.” And Stevaun Butler G’18, ’22 (who has been at St. Francis since Preschool) sums it up like this: “They say your home is where your heart is, so St. Francis will always be my home.” From Graduation Speeches: Thomas Simpson G’14, ’18 characterizes the teachers at the High School: “What I always tell people about St. Francis is that what makes it special is the teachers and faculty at this school, who are simply the greatest. They care for the students as their own children, and get excited about the subjects they teach in a way that infects the class with curiosity. St. Francis isn’t a place, it’s a people. It’s educators who know the importance of the job they do, and touch the lives of kids like me. The biggest thank you goes to them… St. Francis — the people, the community, that is — has helped me become who I am today. I am the product of so much effort, care, love, and thought from so many people that I cannot take credit for anything I do. This place has lit a fire inside me, and it won’t be put out.”
Hana Ibrahim ’18 talks about what she has learned in her four years at St. Francis: “I have learned so much at St. Francis, from finding my voice, to finding myself… This school has truly helped me not only grow intellectually but it has also helped me grow as a person. Unfortunately, though it has not helped me grow in height… So thank you to the school and faculty and staff for helping me find my voice. For letting me think independently. And for truly getting me ready for college.” Victoria Richardson ’18 explains the impact St. Francis had on her after transferring during junior year: “St. Francis taught me how to voice my opinion and to stay true to myself. This school also pushed me to do my best and excel in everything I do. Before I came to St. Francis, I honestly wasn’t trying in the classroom or with sports. I just wanted to make it to see this day, by barely getting by. But then this community changed my whole perspective. I raised my cumulative GPA and went from not putting my all into sports to winning the Hustle Award and the Athlete of the Year Award. Therefore, I want to thank St. Francis for being a place where students can come to grow and learn and making it where it’s actually fun to learn. I want to thank everyone for welcoming me into the St. Francis community. Thank you, St. Francis, for helping me do the things I need to, not just to get by, but pushing me to my full potential and beyond.” To our 8th graders who leave St. Francis this year, we wish you the best and hope that you come back to visit us! To our graduates, we send you into the world with the values we hold dear at St. Francis – Individuality, Inclusivity, Community, Thought, Openness, Expression, Curiosity – that will leave you prepared and ready to make a difference in the world. To all our returning students and families, enjoy the summer and we’ll see you in August!
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A Legend Retires
Alumni, students, parents, and colleagues gathered at the Goshen Campus May 15th to celebrate the retirement of St. Francis legend Sarah Wallace. Sarah has been a math teacher on the Goshen Campus for the past 22 years. She was honored with speeches, letters, and videos that described the traits that made her such a special teacher. Some of the themes in these tributes were her unique ability to reach students who were reluctant mathematicians, her loyalty to her students, and her interest in their lives. It was clear that Sarah had a lasting impact on decades of students at St. Francis. We will miss her very much, but we look forward to seeing her and her husband, David, at future sporting events and drama productions.
annual fund
Kim Hales, Director of Development
Wyvern Report
One of the many things that allows us to be extraordinary is the Annual Fund. This past year we changed the Annual Fund to The Fund for St. Francis and gave donors choices of where they could direct their gift. These options were: • Greatest Need • Scholarship • Athletics • Faculty Support • Performing & Fine Arts
Thanks to our alumni, parents, grandparents and friends, we raised over $425,000 for these five funds. This includes 100% participation from our Board of Trustees and faculty/staff, and 82% participation from our current parents. Each gift profoundly impacts the resources we are able to provide to our students and ensures that we are able to continue to offer the unique education and environment that define St. Francis School.
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By Síofra Rucker G’84, Director of Advancement
Breaking Ground Fall 2018!
View from the field hockey field
View from the front door
We will be breaking ground this fall on the Goshen Main Amp/Lobby Entrance Project and plan to complete it by spring/summer 2019 in time for the 2019-20 school year. Last year one of our Middle School families made an incredibly generous matching gift of $1,000,000 to this renovation and expansion project, which in turn the St. Francis community has matched and then some. The goal of the next phase of fundraising is broad participation from our community - and that includes our students. As part of building a culture of philanthropy throughout SFS, each class on the Goshen Campus will raise funds to support this project. Each teacher will work with his/her students to determine how they will raise funds - read-a-thon, bake sale, etc. Each class will have a theater seat named for their class in the new theater to commemorate their efforts. If you would like to join our students and have your name or a favorite teacher’s name on a theater seat, gifts from $1,000 - $10,000 will be commemorated by a named seat. All gifts matter - big and small. Your help is needed and very much appreciated. Thank you for considering making a gift of support to our Capital Campaign. Ginny Frazier, Campaign Co-Chair Nina Bonnie, Campaign Co-Chair Dace Brown Stubbs, Campaign Honorary Chair
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Angela Arm
Senior Natural Resource M Angela in her senior year at St. Francis in 1986
Briefly describe your path after leaving St. Francis. After leaving St. Francis, I attended Washington University in St. Louis, double majoring in business and Spanish. I knew even before starting college that I wanted to work in an international field, and after graduating and working as an international representative for a biochemical company for two years in St. Louis, I went on to graduate school at American University’s School of International Service. Just after receiving my MA, I was fortunate to find a job with an international development organization in Washington, DC. I’ve now been working for this organization for over 23 years. Looking back at your time at St. Francis, how would you describe what makes a St. Francis education unique? Do any specific memories or examples come to mind that illustrate this? I attended St. Francis’s Middle and High Schools, where I found most teachers really enthusiastic about the subjects they were teaching. They enjoyed what they were teaching and, for me, their interest was pretty infectious. I have so many memories from my High School classes and probably can still remember something I read or something a teacher told me from each class that made an impact on me. Teachers were always coming up with a unique way for students to learn, whether it was acting out meiosis and mitosis in the theater during biology class or giving students the freedom to find books or topics that interested them most. I also remember teachers’ availability during free periods to teach kids interested in learning new subjects (from genetics to investing) and discuss books (the weekly readers’ club). Do you recall a specific teacher who influenced you or had a particular impact on you? It’s hard to think of just one teacher. I remember really enjoying a Greek literature course taught by Betty Jean Hisle in Middle School, as well as having the opportunity to take two years of Latin in High School. I even debated for a while whether to pursue classics in college.
Angela in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Wyvern Report
When I started college, I realized what a great education St. Francis had provided. During my first week of freshman English, my first writing assignment was circulated around the class. My heart sunk and I was sure my paper was going to be used as an example of how not to write. Luckily, it turned out to be the opposite, so I have Ron Mikulak and Dean Robertson to thank. I also found I was well prepared for Spanish. Because I tested out of grammar and composition, I was able to start with literature courses and take graduate-level courses my junior and senior year, so a big thanks also goes to Kit Llewellyn.
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mstrong G’82, ’86
Management Specialist with the World Bank How did your experience at St. Francis impact your career path? I transferred to St. Francis’s Middle School in sixth grade, after the semester was well underway, and can remember having to select a foreign language. I remember feeling I was at huge disadvantage because I hadn’t taken a foreign language class previously and wondered if I would be able to catch up with the rest of the class. I joined the Spanish class and remember how welcoming and encouraging the Spanish teacher was and how much I enjoyed learning a new language. After starting Spanish, I realized fairly quickly that I wanted a job where I could work abroad. I have now worked in over 20 different countries around the world, in South and Central Asia, Europe, and Latin America. At my organization, the Latin America region is the only region where you are required to be fluent in a native language. I am grateful that St. Francis provided such a strong foundation for my career path.
(e.g., households and communities having the resources for the first time to feed their kids meat year-round, learning to grow produce that they once traveled hours to the closest city to purchase, and learning to develop a profitable business).
What are the highlights of your career thus far? I feel really fortunate to work in a field that makes a difference in people’s lives. I work on rural development projects (primarily forestry and climate-smart agriculture projects) in developing countries that help communities and households better manage their land resources and increase their productive assets. It’s rewarding to see and hear firsthand how people’s lives have improved thanks to a project you have helped design and supervise
What’s next for you? I hope to continue working in international development for at least another ten years or so. I also recently purchased a vacation home in the Allegheny mountains and look forward to spending more time there with my family, skiing, hiking, and boating.
I’ve now been to so many places around the world I never imagined I would ever visit (from Pokhara to Pucallpa). It’s also pretty cool to go back to places for work where you had once been a tourist. For example, to go from checking out the Diego Rivera murals at the National Palace in Mexico City during college, to now attending a high-level conference at a lecture hall in the same building to provide policy advice to an incoming administration. How do you define success? I feel successful and fortunate to have the job that I have – a job that I enjoy and where I can work to make a difference in the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable in developing countries.
Note to Alumni Parents: If you are receiving mail that is addressed to your son or daughter who no longer resides at home, please notify Alissa Shoemaker in the Alumni Office, AShoemaker@StFrancisSchool.org, of his/her contact information, including mailing address, email address, and/or cell phone, so we can keep him/her in the loop on Wyvern happenings.
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Jacob Williams ’97
If you are not receiving emails from the School, update your contact information by emailing Alissa Shoemaker, Alumni Coordinator, at AShoemaker@StFrancisSchool.org.
Melinda Beck G’03, ’07
Joanna Hay G’79, ’83 has a new short film, The Art of Recovery, about a program in Frankfort that is trying to combat the effects of drug addiction and the opioid epidemic through art. The film is being screened at The Speed Art Museum on June 10th at 12:30 p.m. During the screening, Joanna’s sound exhibit, If Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes will play in the museum’s lobby. The film will also air on KET through the months of May-July. Carol Wyatt G’79, ’83 is currently working as the color stylist on the animated show Amphibia, which will air on Disney XD in 2019. She also recently finished work on the Green Eggs and Ham series coming to Netflix next year. As the color stylist on these shows, Carol works with character and background designers and painters to take animation from line drawings to finished frames. She helps them put together a cohesive style for the show using lighting and special effects to tell the story and punch the mood. Check our some of her work on carolwyatt.com.
Joanna Hay G’79, ’83 Virginia Mattingly ’88
Turner Wathen G’98, ’02
Carol Wyatt G’79, ’83
Virginia Mattingly ’88 has been living in northern New Mexico for the past 2.5 years. She is the Director of the Shuter Library of Angel Fire, which is hosting a Festival Eclectica on June 16th. She is also a Board Member of the Angel Fire Lutheran Mission Service Food Pantry. Joe Waterman ’89 is living in Louisville where he works as the Midwest Coordinator for the US State Department.
Gant Hill G’88
Abby Karp Marcus ’91
Abby Karp Marcus ’91 has seen a lot since graduating from St. Francis, but the past five years have been the most exciting. She and her family relocated to Seattle after almost 20 years in Chicago. Abby had been a realtor in Chicago for 10 years prior to their move. She got the opportunity to start over in Seattle - pursuing her passion for music. Fast forward with two full albums released and a thriving presence in the Seattle music scene as a songwriter, Abby embraces her life as a mother, music teacher, and a realtor for Redfin. She and her husband Brian of 18 years love the life they have created with their sons Jared and Daniel and their two pups Arlo and Buddy. “Seattle is far, and magical. But my love for Louisville and St. Francis will always remain strong.” You can follow her career at www.abbykmusic.com
Wes Ramsey G’92 ’96
Wyvern Report
Gant Hill G’88 formed his Louisville firm, Gant Hill & Associates, in 2002. He is the President & Principal Broker of this successful real estate company that employs over 50 associates. The brokerage handles residential, commercial and rental properties. Gant lives in Louisville with his two children, Norah and Phillip.
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Turner White G’07
Maya Jamner ’13
Wes Ramsey G’92 ’96 joined the cast of General Hospital in the recurring role of Peter August. He also plays the role of Franco in the movie Last Seen in Idaho, which was just released on DVD and streaming services. Wes also released a book of poetry titled Salt and Sand. Jacob Williams ’97 has resumed his role as a cast member on the latest season of Nick Cannon Presents: Wild-’n-Out on MTV. He also recently made his late-night network television debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS. Turner Wathen G’98, ’02 and his business partner Jordan Morris formed the company Rolling Fork Spirits, which seeks to import the purest rums from the Caribbean. Several years ago, they found a rum in Trinidad that fit the bill and shipped it to a warehouse in Louisville where it was accidentally mixed with a rye whiskey. The result was a successful new spirit they named Fortuitous Union, which is sold exclusively in Louisville and Chicago. Melinda Beck G’03, ’07 will be the Artist-in-Residence at the Louisville Free Public Library in October 2018. During the session, she will be writing her own one-woman show with input from participants, as well as offering acting workshops. Lizzy Denny G’05, ’09 is currently working as a case manager at the Youth Policy Institute in Los Angeles, CA, where she helps guide high school students toward employment and secondary education opportunities in justice-related fields (public safety, emergency services, and law). She is also an interpreter in Mandarin, Spanish, and French for the Mayor’s office on their Crisis Response Team (thanks to Ed Gupton, Connie Hu, Bob Jones and Sarah Moran!). Lizzy has been doing stand-up comedy on the weekends (thanks to Reed Gabhart!) and has even walked in a fashion show. She keeps in touch with many St. Francis alums and remembers her time there (as both a student and teacher) fondly. Rachel Linkous Rannefors ’09 just graduated from the University of Kentucky Medical School and is returning to Louisville for her pediatrics residency.
Kinsey Morrison ’14
Lucia Burton G’11, ’15
Turner White G’07 earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Louisville. He now works for General Electric in Louisville as part of the Edison Program. The program allows Turner to rotate through the various departments. He is currently focused on range electronics, but will shift to a new area in July. Maya Jamner ’13 just finished filming the movie Girl/Girl Scene. The film is based on a TV miniseries by the same name. Maya plays a wealthy and neurotic party girl in this suburban lesbian dramedy. The movie should be released on Amazon Prime within the year. Matthew Linkous ’13 is living in San Francisco, where he recently started working as a software engineer for Google. Editor’s note: Matthew credits his summer internship working on the SFS website as the foundation of his success! He also created a website as part of his Senior Project before he graduated. Kinsey Morrison ’14 graduated in June from Stanford with a BA in international relations and a minor in Spanish. In July, she is moving to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to help start a new organization called Lead for America. This group will fund and organize two-year fellowships in local government for college graduates. It is similar to Teach for America in many ways, but the focus is on local government instead of education. The organization is working in partnership with the University of North Carolina School of Government. Kinsey doesn’t know many people in the area, so if you live nearby, please look her up! Lucia Burton G’11, ’15 just completed her junior year at Earlham College, where she is studying women’s, gender, and sexuality studies with a minor in English. She studied abroad in London this year. She then travelled to Iceland to begin a comparative study of urban versus rural public health initiatives (as well as the sociology of environmental sustainability) in the U.S. and Europe. The students travelled from Iceland to the rural cities surrounding London. They completed their studies in Chicago in late May.
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in memoriam Giles Groff ’80 passed away on April 29, 2018. Giles sold medical equipment and lived in Louisville with his wife Melissa and their four children. He loved being outdoors and was an accomplished home cook. continued
Michael Malpartida ’16
Chris Malpartida ’16
Michael Malpartida ’16 is travelling to Italy for a month this summer, visiting four different cities and learning about the culture, global advertising and branding. After this trip, Michael will begin a 2-month internship at Red7e, a Louisville-based advertising agency where he will be immersing himself in the advertising industry. Michael and Chris Mapartida ’16 both made the Spring 2018 Dean’s List at Berea College. A student is named to the Dean’s List who achieves a GPA of 3.4 or higher while passing at least 4 total credits, a course load equivalent to 16 semester hours. Molly Bingham G’82 is the CEO of Orb Media, a nonprofit journalism organization that produces stories from a global perspective. Check out Orb’s latest story about aging around the world: https://agewell.orbmedia.org/. Janet Wolanin Alexander, Middle School science teacher from 1983 - 2007 is now a published author. Her book At Home in the Woods on a Horse: A Memoir was published last August. She is still making horse hair jewelry (swishtails. WordPress.com), working part-time at a dog kennel, riding her horse, taking Pilates, and helping her husband care for stray dogs and cats they’ve adopted.
Wyvern Report
St. Francis alumnus, former Board of Trustees member, and SFS parent Danny Alvarez ’93 passed away on May 23, 2018. He had just won a primary election for the position of Jefferson County District Judge which, had he won in November, would have made him the first Hispanic Judge in Jefferson County. Danny began his legal career as a public defender, protecting the rights of the indigent. He then opened his private practice in 2003, in order to expand his advocacy to include helping immigrants, defending the accused, and assisting people from all walks of life in their times of need. Danny was a leader in the legal community, recognized for his talent, integrity, compassion, and generous pro bono service. And, he was a passionate believer in the vital role of education for immigrants. As the child of Colombian immigrants himself, Danny was a recipient of the New American Scholarship at St. Francis. To honor his life, work, and legacy, St. Francis is creating a fund within the New American Scholarship Fund called the Danny Alvarez New American Scholarship. This scholarship fund will provide need-based financial aid for students who are immigrants themselves or are the children of immigrants to attend St. Francis. Danny will be greatly missed by all in the SFS community, and it is our hope that by naming this fund in his honor, we will help to keep his memory alive. Bobbie Evans ’09 passed away on October 27th, 2017. Bobbie was a beloved member of the St. Francis community and a valued member of the SFS basketball program. After leaving St. Francis, he graduated from Northern Kentucky University and was pursuing a master’s degree at Full Sail University in Orlando. On November 4th, 15 alums from Bobbie’s class and the surrounding ones reunited at the High School to celebrate his life. Attendees included: Dominique Betts ‘09, Brandon Dowlat ‘09, Gaby Perez ‘09, Kyle Snyder ‘09, Shane Warren ‘09, John Henry Bonin ‘10, Rachel Dowlat ‘10, Labreya Firman ‘10, Darnell Scott ‘10, Brelin Tilford ‘10, Kiara Floyd ‘11, Zsa Harris ‘11, Caitlin Joy G’07, ‘11, Nate Patterson ‘11, Shantay Chandler ‘12, and Dynessia Johnson ‘12. Beloved Lower School teacher Jenny Marshall passed away on May 23rd. She was a legendary teacher at St. Francis School for 25 years, teaching 1st and 2nd grade. The passion and love that she brought to her classroom allowed her to positively impact so many lives and she kept close relationships with many of those students and their families until the end of her life. So many of our recent 8th grade graduates mentioned in their Graduation speeches the impact Jenny Marshall had on their lives. She will be terribly missed by her students and colleagues alike. The St. Francis community mourns these losses.
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baby
Julianne Henrion
Simon Zephyr Coan
wyverns
Penelope Rae Schwehr
Harrison Thomas Overby
Alina Enessa Grenning
Devinder Sahni Galpin
Gariah Rachelle Taylor
Katherine Elizabeth Hannan
Lumineaux Cole-Covington
Alessandra Anna Lee Taylor
Umi Herovic Jenniges
Kelly Wright Henrion ’92 and her husband, Tom Henrion G’85, ’89, welcomed baby Julianne Henrion on January 20, 2018
Jessica Lee (Mershon) Taylor G’96, ’00 and her husband Kurt welcomed baby Alessandra Anna Lee Taylor on October 20, 2017.
Emmy (Liter) G‘01 and Austin G’92, ’96 Kupper welcomed baby Charlotte Rose Kupper in November 2017.
Elizabeth Hurst Miller ’01 and her husband Brewster welcomed baby Winston Wolfe Miller on October 13, 2017.
Monica Schwehr G’92, ’96 and her husband Kurt welcomed baby Penelope Rae Schwehr on April 24, 2018.
Marianna (Kiselev) Grenning ’03 and her husband Kevin welcomed baby Alina Enessa Grenning on March 22nd. Marianna is working for the City of Chicago Department of Law as a lawyer. She and her husband live in the Lakeview neighborhood in Chicago close to Wrigley Field.
Joslyn (Bennett) Overby ’97, her husband, Manny, and big sister, Emma Dawn, welcomed baby Harrison Thomas Overby on October 8, 2017. Sarah Hollis ’97 and her husband Damien Petrescu welcomed baby Susannah Beatrice Petrescu on November 10, 2017. Sara Sahni ’97 and her husband Chris Galpin welcomed baby Devinder “Dev” Sahni Galpin on January 16, 2018. Sara and her family recently moved back to Louisville, after spending 10 years in Atlanta. Sara is currently the employment and labor counsel for Atria Senior Living, a privately-held international company that is headquartered in Louisville. Caroline Gilles Hannan ’99 and her husband Schot welcomed baby Katherine Elizabeth Hannan on January 3rd, 2018. Katherine was born five weeks early, but is doing very well!
Amber Winburn ’06 welcomed baby Gariah Rachelle Taylor on November 3, 2017. Amber is currently working at General Electric Appliances and working toward her bachelor’s degree. Her older daughter, Annieya, is a 3rd grader on the SFS Goshen Campus. Olivia Cole ’07 and her husband Omaun Covington welcomed baby Lumineaux Cole-Covington on October 22, 2017 Emina Herović G’03 and her husband Derick Jenniges welcomed baby Umi Herovic Jenniges on May 18, 2018. Jamee (Priest) Rogers ’08 and her husband Hunter welcomed baby Carolyn Ressie Anne Rogers on April 17, 2018.
Summer Auerbach ’00 and her husband Brandon Coan welcomed baby Simon Zephyr Coan on March 17, 2018.
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marriages
goshen ‘03 reunion By Emina Herović G’03
Adam Lorch ‘92 married Evan Phillips on October 7, 2017 in the Lincoln Park Conservatory in Chicago. Fellow alum Tim Hudson ‘02 read the poem “Touched by an Angel” by Maya Angelou during the service. Immediately after the ceremony, a double rainbow appeared right above the conservatory! The couple also celebrated with a reception in New Albany. Tedd Pollard G‘01, ‘05 married Brittany Rickman on October 8, 2017. Nadir Siddiqui ‘05 married Zarina Majid in December 2017. Bruce Brown, Jr. G‘04 married Jenna Underhill on October 14, 2017.
alumni crawfish boil
The 7th Annual Alumni Crawfish Boil was held on April 26th at the lovely home of Jane & Denny G’73 Cornett. (They are also the parents of Savannah ’15 and Ben ’20.) George Parker ’95 was again the boiler-in-chief, providing a table full of perfectly cooked crawfish, shrimp, sausage, and veggies galore, while other guests supplied delicious side dishes and desserts. Erica Black G’91, ’95, Tina Brown G’00, ’04, Jim Carter, ’95, Kelli (Wilson) Carter G’91, ’95, Julia (Duncan) Clements ’87, Matt Gatton, Jeff Goldberg G’79, ’83, Suzanne Gorman, Kim Hales, Belle Holloway, Angela Katz, Kit Llewellyn, Melanie Pugh, Robin Roggenkamp G’79, ’83, Mark Roth ’92, Alissa Shoemaker, Alexandra Thurstone G’80, ’84, TurnerReport Wathen G’98, ’02 also joined the Boil. Wyvern
Lauren Hart, Liz Bingham, George West, Eleanore Brown, Barrett Freibert, Rebecca Brooks, William Dallas Jones, Joey Coe, and Emina Herović
For the G‘03 class, 2017 would have been our 10-year high school reunion. In the spirit of reunions, our G‘03 class decided it would be equally, if not more, fun to reunite with our Goshen SFS peers, and thus spawned the G‘03 reunion at Garage Bar in Louisville on December 23rd. For many of us, we hadn’t seen each other since we graduated from the SFS Goshen Campus over 14 years ago! Life took us on differing paths and many of us are now living and adventuring far from the nest in which we grew. So, as you can imagine, we did a lot of reminiscing about our great times at SFS together. We talked about growing up together, embarrassing middle school moments, fun moments, and the truly unique and enriching atmosphere of SFS that helped us blossom and grow. As my SFS classmate Will Jones playfully mentioned the day of the event, and I think it can serve as the unofficial motto for the event, “Let’s get middle school awkward,” and that we did. We plan to continue to reunite over the years with our G‘03 SFS peers and discussed plans of our next gathering being sooner rather than later, especially considering some classmates were unable to attend this year. The spirit of SFS, its faculty, and our peers will forever remain so dear in our hearts.
Wyvern Gatherings If any other alumni have stories of other impromptu SFS reunions let us know - we’d love to share your story! If you are thinking of planning a gathering, let us know and our alumni office will happily send some SFS gear/swag/merch - whatever it is the kids are calling it these days - to help you celebrate.
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wyverns in D.C.
On a wintery January evening a flight of Wyverns gathered in the gracious home of Sophia McCrocklin G’75. The crowd was mix of alumni from both campuses, several of whom attended when SFS was only a one campus K - 9th grade school in Goshen. As is typical in the Washington area, several alums have international careers, but all have strong roots in Louisville. Attendees included Angela Armstrong G’82, ’86, Trey Armstrong ’90, Lynne Queenan Beauregard G’76, Heidi Haggerty ’83, Sarah Heine G’04, Emina Herović G‘03, Pamela Groff Hirsch ‘82, Mark Jones G’72, Anne Owens Kirby ’82, Saskia (Warren) Leeds ’06, Jon Osler G’77, ’81, Síofra Rucker G’84, Alexandra Thurstone G’80, ’84, and Porter Wiseman G’91, ’95. Here are some updates from attendees: Mark Jones G‘’72 - I am an elementary school counselor in Arlington Public Schools. I work at three schools, Arlington Traditional School, Ashlawn, and Jamestown. I teach socialemotional skills in the classrooms, run small counseling groups, and provide individual counseling to students K-5th. I was a trial lawyer for 30 years and have been an elementary school counselor since receiving my master’s degree from George Washington University in 2016. Pamela Hirsch ’82 - I currently live in Falls Church City, VA. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I am currently working with the Army New Parent Support Program at Joint Base Myer Henderson Hall in Arlington, VA as a home visitor. I provide parenting education and support to military families who have children 0-3 years old. I have instructed indoor cycle and Body Pump for the past 12 years and I am currently instructing at Gold’s Gym in Falls Church. I am a single mom with 3 children - the oldest is
25 and he is in the Coast Guard; middle is 23 and he is attending Virginia Commonwealth University; youngest is 18 and she is a senior in high school. Alumni I have stayed connected with are Giles Groff ’80, Anne Owens Kirby ’82, Mike Moxley G’78, ’82, and Heidi Haggerty G’79, ’83. I love to exercise, eat cheese, and drink wine! Emina Herović G’03 - I am currently serving as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Social Science Research for the First-Year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD. In this role, my aim is to break down the wall that often exists in higher education between a student’s educational experience and the research that faculty are conducting. I teach courses on research whereby students are active participants in the research process with me beginning their freshman year of college and continuing through their college career. My students develop their own research ideas, conduct scholarly literature reviews, find appropriate methods to answer their scientific inquiries, yield results, and discuss the broader political, cultural, and social implications of their findings. My impactful educational experience at SFS influences my teaching and mentorship philosophy to this day. I went to Western Kentucky University for undergrad and the University of Kentucky for my MA and Ph.D. My partner of almost six years, Dr. Derrick Jenniges, is an Economist at the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis in Washington, D.C. We are excitedly expecting our first child in May! Audrey Matthias ’05 is Director of Strategy for iStrategy Labs and focuses on providing social media strategy for clients from Kroger to Sam Adams.
save the date Wyvern Reunion Weekend for Classes of 1988, 1998, 2008 Come back home to your Wyvern Reunion! Mark your calendar, get your plane tickets, book the babysitters for the weekend of September 15, 2018.
Class of 2008 Class Reunion Chairs - Emily Nixon G’04, ’08, Nathalian De La Garza ’08, and Tom Skaggs G’04, ’08. Class of 1998 Class Reunion Chair - Josh Chapman ’98. Class of 1988 Class Reunion Chair - Devin Emke G’84, ’88. More details to come from our Alumni Office.
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Kelly Wright Henrion ‘92 Every year we have the distinct pleasure of honoring one of our St. Francis School graduates. We are truly fortunate to have such an amazing pool of Wyverns to choose from who continually support the School and our Mission, while also demonstrating the qualities of a St. Francis graduate years after they leave our halls. This year, we honor Kelly Wright Henrion from the Class of 1992 as the 2017-18 Alumna of the Year.
Kelly in her senior year at St. Francis in 1992
Kelly has been a part of the St. Francis community since 1988 when she became the School’s first St. Francis Merit Scholar. This honor at the time included a full four-year scholarship, which made it possible for Kelly to attend St. Francis. The education Kelly experienced at St. Francis had a profound effect on her. During her junior year at Carleton College, she visited the public high school she might have attended were it not for the scholarship. The disparities in education were extreme and did not seem just to her. This experience inspired her to pursue a career in education with a mission to help less privileged students obtain an excellent education like the one she experienced at St. Francis. For the past 22 years, Kelly has worked to fulfill that mission. She joined Teach for America immediately upon graduation, helping to open a bilingual elementary charter school in Phoenix, AZ. She then obtained a master’s degree in administration, planning and social policy at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Following that, she founded a college preparatory middle school in San Diego that achieved the National Title I Distinguished School Award after only three years. She joined the national Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) as their Chief Learning Officer and worked as the Executive Director/Superintendent of a school district in Memphis. Kelly’s most recent position was as Louisville’s West End School’s Head of School, replacing its founder. Throughout her career, Kelly has continued to support St. Francis School in many ways. She is a regular contributor to the Annual Fund. She has been active in attending many St. Francis and alumni events. In fact, she reconnected with a fellow alum, Tom Henrion G’85, ’89, at an alumni event. They were married last year and welcomed future Wyvern Julianne in January. Most recently, Kelly has been an ambassador to the newest members of the alumni family, speaking to students at the Senior Cookout the past two years and providing them with the inspiring reasons why she gives generously to St. Francis in honor of the impact it had on her life. We are so happy to have her back home in Louisville and are pleased to recognize Kelly as the 2017-18 Alumna of the Year!
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Goshen Campus Class Day Awards/8th Grade Graduation
Goshen Campus Graduation 2018
The Head of School Award Ayda Marshall, Lily Gilbert The Spirit of St. Francis Award Evie Dunn, Riley Elliott The Eagle Award Grayson Karleski, Katie Hammond, Robert Boyd The Edward Y. Mason, Jr. Athletics Award Anna Hardwick-Jones, Ayda Marshall, Brian Haupt, Isaiah Green, Isaiah Robles, Katie Hammond, Stevaun Butler The Russell D. Herr Art Award Nicolette Bert, Piper Shiflet Triple Crown Award Isaiah Robles The Russell D. Herr Art Award Nicolette Bert, Piper Shiflet
The Ed Gupton Drama Project Award Harrison Aberle, Josie Cooley, Lily Gilbert, Natalie Koch, Sydney Marks The Volunteer Service Award Sydney Marks, Sinclaire Smith Goshen Campus Preschool through 8th Grade “Lifers” Harrison Aberle, Katie Hammond, Stevaun Butler, Lily Gilbert, Ayda Marshall Goshen Campus JK/K through 8th Grade “Lifers” Robert Boyd, Lars Barbercheck, Brian Haupt, Sydney Marks 8th Grade Children of Alumni: Robert Boyd, Grayson Karleski, Gray Owen The Frank Q. Cayce Scholarship Award (7th graders) Catherine Dewberry and Hayden Jones The Cassie Stevens Memorial Award (5th grader) Abby Hairgove
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class of 2018 enrollments and acceptances
Ellyssa Anastas - Indiana University Southeast, Hanover College, University of Kentucky, Miami University, Western Kentucky University, Xavier University
Sam Erbes - Louisiana State University, Bellarmine University, Indiana University, Michigan State University, Xavier University, University of Louisville, Miami University
Olivia Bajandas - University of Denver, University of Colorado Boulder, Sewanee: The University of the South, University of Oregon, University of San Francisco, Columbia College Chicago
Clay Foye - Dartmouth College (ED), Queen’s University - Belfast, University of Edinburgh
Aakriti Bista - Hanover College, Bellarmine University, Centre College, DePaul University, DePauw University, Wheaton College (MA), Saint Louis University, Loyola University Chicago, Xavier University David Blythe - University of Kentucky, Ohio University, University of Louisville Eva Borders - Furman University (ED) Andrea Brito - Centre College, Berea College, Hanover College Lila Brown - University of Kentucky Hanna Cobb - Northern Arizona University, University of Arizona, University of Northern Colorado Robby Davenport - College of Charleston, University of Mississippi, University of Redlands Tanner Dehler - University of Tennessee, University of Alabama, Bowling Green State University, University of Cincinnati, University of Louisville, Ohio University, University of North Carolina - Wilmington Will Edwards - DePaul University, University of Kentucky, Sonoma State University
Wyvern Report
Zoe Hall - University of Louisville Hana Ibrahim - Bellarmine University, University of Louisville, Spalding University Chris Jayes - Boston College, Centre College, University of Kentucky Cat Kidman - University of Kentucky, University of Louisville Shelly Lancaster - University of New Hampshire, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Denver, Furman University, University of Kentucky, Montana State University Natalie McClain - Barnard College, Williams College, Bard College, Centre College, Middlebury College, Oberlin College Ethan McCrocklin - University of Colorado Boulder (defer), University of Kentucky Wah Doe Moo - Hanover College, Earlham College, Murray State University Kenna Mudd - Western Kentucky University (defer), Murray State University Alexis Nelson - Hanover College, University of Kentucky, Spalding University Dakota O’Bannon - University of Kentucky, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Norfolk State University, Tennessee State University Charlie Owen - Purdue University, Drexel University
Alex Resnik - Ithaca College, Ohio University, Xavier University, Quinnipiac University Victoria Richardson - US Army Christina Saliga - Oklahoma City University, Boston University, Marymount Manhattan College, University of Miami, Point Park University Nicholas Scarfe - Purdue University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, University of Alabama - Huntsville, University of Dayton, University of Illinois, Miami University, Saint Louis University, Case Western Reserve University Thomas Simpson - University of Louisville, Centre College, Middlebury College, Vassar College Justin Strothman - University of Kentucky, University of Cincinnati, University of Alabama-Huntsville Jomar Sullivan - Hanover College, University of Arizona, Bellarmine University, University of Louisville, Murray State University Jack Tierney - Full Sail University Willa Tinsley - New College of Florida, Occidental College, Hampshire College, Bard College, Mills College, Mount Holyoke College, Eugene Lang College - New School Maris Woldin - College of Wooster, Wofford College, Hanover College, University of Louisville, Fordham University Will Yelton - Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Case Western Reserve University, University of Kentucky, Missouri University of Science and Technology
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High School Graduation Awards
High School Honor Roll:
Phi Beta Kappa Award Natalie McClain
Christina Saliga - Disciplines of Dance: The Process of Creating a Jazz Style
Head of School Award Alexis Nelson and Thomas Simpson
Maris Woldin - Maris Tends an Apiary Mayor’s Outstanding Senior Alexis Nelson
Thomas H. Pike Award Aakriti Bista and Hana Ibrahim
Rotary Club Unsung Hero Andrea Brito
Class of ’93 Esprit de Corps Maris Woldin and Charlie Owen Cia White English Prize Clay Foye Honors Graduates Ellyssa Anastas, Olivia Bajandas, Aakriti Bista, Eva Borders, Andrea Brito, Robby Davenport, Sam Erbes, Clay Foye, Zoe Hall, Chris Jayes, Shelly Lancaster, Natalie McClain, Alexis Nelson, Charlie Owen, Christina Saliga, Nicholas Scarfe, Thomas Simpson, Maris Woldin, Will Yelton Senior Project Honors Andrea Brito - Creating a Literary Workshop for Hispanic Youth
St. Francis AP Scholars Clay Foye, Natalie McClain, Christina Saliga, Thomas Simpson, Maris Woldin Wyvern Scholar/Athlete Award Natalie McClain and Sam Erbes Wyvern Athletes of the Year Victoria Richardson, TJ Richardson St. Francis Preschool through 12th Grade “Lifers” Eva Borders, Shelly Lancaster, Will Yelton 12th Grade Children of Alumni: Hanna Cobb, Chris Jayes, Charlie Owen, Ethan McCrocklin
High School Awards Assembly BOOK AWARDS (for 11th graders)
Bryn Mawr College (Purposeful young woman) Dartmouth College (Excellence in Languages) Hampden-Sydney College (Purposeful young man) Harvard University (Excellence in Math) Princeton University (Excellence in Science) University of Louisville (Excellence in Community Service) University of Kentucky (Excellence in Leadership) University of Virginia (Excellence in History) Yale University (Excellence in English)
Audree Huebner Mike Snyder Ahmad Moore Chris Hammond Evie Boland Caroline Parker Dani Arias Gabe Mutchnick Hope Carstanjen
NATIONAL SOCIETY OF ARTS AND LETTERS AWARDS
Overall Arts Elyssa Anastas Art Justin Strothman
Drama Music
Nick Scarfe Jack Tierney
Students who have received all As and Bs second semester
12th Grade Ellyssa Anastas, Olivia Bajandas, Aakriti Bista, Eva Borders, Andrea Brito, Hanna Cobb, Robby Davenport, Tanner Dehler, Sam Erbes, Clay Foye, Zoe Hall, Chris Jayes, Shelly Lancaster, Natalie McClain, WahDoe Moo, Alexis Nelson, Charlie Owen, Victoria Richardson, Christina Saliga, Nicholas Scarfe, Thomas Simpson, Jomar Sullivan, Willa Tinsley, Maris Woldin, Will Yelton 11th Grade Iqlas Abukar, Dani Arias, Josh Arnett, Evie Boland, Hope Carstanjen, Chris Hammond, Audree Huebner, Erin Lyons, Maggie McGraw, Hanna Otto, Julian Prince, Noah Sparks, MacKenzie Wickel 10th Grade Priscila Angoa, Lalit Bhattarai, Jack Charlton, Maimouna Cherif, Ben Cornett, Oliver Cox, Michael Crinot, Amelia Dimas, Grace Donovan, Caroline Frederick, Connor Gordon, Connor Gorman, Sam Greenbaum, Lily Johnson, Natalie Lancaster, Adelaide Lenihan, Grace Malone, Eston McLeroy, Ford Middendorf, Christ Moo, Osaz Omoruyi, Caroline Pepa, Drew Perkins, Alex Shelley, Connor Strothman, Colleen Torrans, Bradley Wilson, Holly Yelton 9th Grade Eden Baize, George Bevan, Audrey Brinkmann-Piuma, Andrew Case, Jasmin Gonzalez, Lily Johnson, Sophie Johnson, Emma King, Matt Kurtz, Jimmy Lancaster, Angela Liu, Audrey McClain, Bennett Middendorf, Stuart Middleton, Teagan Morrison, Katie Mushkin, Bella Nugent, Claire Richards, Sara Seim, Drew Siciliano, Mellie Simpson, Sydney Snyder, Natalie Stewart
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Kit Llewellyn upon her retirement Kit is a founding faculty member of St. Francis High School. She joined the faculty in 1977 as a Spanish teacher and moved into college counseling shortly thereafter. She retired this May after 42 years of service to the students of St. Francis.
What is one of your earliest memories of being the St. Francis College Advisor? Well, in 1985 the senior class asked me to speak at their Graduation. John (Llewellyn) and I had married in 1982 and we wanted to have children, but were unable. During that speech I told the seniors, and everyone else there too, that we wanted to adopt a baby; a baby who had characteristics from each of those seniors. I spoke about the seniors one by one, noting what characteristic of theirs I wanted our baby to have. Turns out Dr. Lyman Armstrong (alum parent of Angela ‘86, Trey ‘90, and Brian ‘98) was listening in the audience. He approached me afterwards at the reception and asked if I were really interested in adopting (he had a patient who was looking for an adoptive family). We joyfully welcomed our son Tyler on the first day of school in August. That speech led to what we call the Senior Luncheon now, where faculty members speak personally about each senior. What has changed in your decades as a College Advisor? Well, technology for one! At the beginning I was typing on a Selectric typewriter. Each January, I would post the mid-year transcripts to the colleges where our seniors had applied - that was an all-nighter, a labor of love, licking those stamps, and stuffing those envelopes. I would put on the Australian Open (tennis tournament) and just work through the night; now it’s a click of a send key with Naviance.
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Because of technology and the Common App, students apply to many more colleges than they used to. As a result, colleges are more interested in yield (percentage of accepted students who enroll) than they used to be. Now colleges will see where else a student is applying and if it looks as though the student will be admitted elsewhere, the college might waitlist the student. Early Decision is much more prevalent than before; it’s a business decision for the colleges and I understand that, but this is a challenge for the students and their families. Early Decision can reinforce economic inequity because a student is committing to that college without any knowledge of financial aid packages, so it only works if finances are not a consideration for a family. What advice do you have for parents regarding the college process? There was much less parent involvement in the first decade; there is increasingly more and more parent involvement. I don’t think it is of much value to begin the process in earnest too early, not in middle school, for example. Early high schoolers, freshman and sophomores, are not fully baked; they often haven’t discovered their preferences, they haven’t honed their passion. Don’t push the process too early. However, when you go on a trip anywhere and there is a college nearby, go explore, walk around, get a feel for the campus. Those experiences will really help formulate what kind of college experience will best fit for your student. And most of all during this journey, listen and steep your children in love. What will St. Francis be like in another 20 years? You know, every time someone comes to visit after many years, they are amazed by the larger spaces, the new bells and whistles,
but that initial closeness of community, the brilliant faculty, Tom Pike’s vision, and the ethos of St. Francis are observable. Our job is, and has been, to care and prepare. That remains as it ever was and will be (in my humble opinion). If you could wave a magic wand and do anything for St. Francis, what would you do? Oh, I wish I could! I’d fill up the scholarship fund, increase salaries, and build the (high school) gym. I’d love to the see a gym at the Downtown Campus. The students always need that balance of academic rigor and gross motor outlets. What will you miss most? Retiring is hugely bittersweet. I hold the history of this School in my heart, a history of love, of pain, and of nurturing. I simply love being here. I learn, and continue to learn, so much - for example, I know about inequity, transgender, and privilege because I am here with the next leaders as they come through. My contemporaries are always amazed at how in tune I am with this newest Generation Z! Working at SFS has kept me thinking young (although I am not). That is the reward: to see our alumni when they return for reunions or casual visits, to hear their stories - it’s like a big ol’ book of life journeys. So when I leave, I will not need accolades, because I am carrying all the accolades I could need in my heart. I am carrying each of these little souls in my heart. I love this place. It is my place. I mean, I started here in my late 20s, I got married, had two babies, and the School grew with me as I grew. It is my family. And then to top it off, my Advisee Group WON the Advisee Games Trophy this year - a feat I had never experienced in my four decades as an Advisor! Woohoo!
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If we have something incorrect here, please accept our apologies and set us straight by using the postage-paid envelope inside to let us know.
We THINK; therefore, we are St. Francis. 233 West Broadway
Louisville, KY 40202
thank you to our parent association Every parent at SFS is a member of the Parent Association (PA). The PA raises funds through annual dues and fun family events throughout the year to give back to the School in the form of PA grants. Last year the School received another incredibly generous PA grant to $18,000 fund the following items requested by faculty: High School • Risers & signage for the Performing Arts Space • Four (4) athletic records boards for field hockey, basketball, track, and soccer Goshen • Roland Keyboard for the Music Department • Two (2) Grammy-winning jazz musicians visit Preschool • Giant slide for the natural playground
Thank you, SFS Parents, for these grants and for all you do to make our School the wonderful community it is! Questions about how to support your PA? Ask Leslye Arnett, High School PA Chair, at DowntownPA@ StFrancisSchool.org or Shari Broecker, Goshen PA Chair, at GoshenPA@StFrancisSchool.org.