The Bell
S T. M A R T I N ’ S E P I S C O PA L S C H O O L M A G A Z I N E
32 DARING TO DREAM
20 STORYTIME 2.0
Spring/Summer 2017
50 THE INCOMPARABLE
Creative take on Steinbeck’s
CHICK MCGEEHAN
school, shaped by its past
The Pearl engages students
Longtime St. Martin’s coach
and present
like never before
honored with Dorothy
Envisioning the future of the
Porter Service Award
Table of Contents
24
46
13
features
in every issue
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CLASSIC NOVEL GETS A NEW TWIST
A different take on Steinbeck’s The Pearl engages students like never before
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TREASURED TRADITIONS
Alma Roohi ’83 recounts one of her favorite St. Martin’s events: Community Day
36
The head of school shares a message with the StM community
6 38
GIVING BACK
Community support enables StM students to become leaders in an ever-changing world
MODEL CITIZENS
INNOVATIVE + INSPIRING ALUMS
NEWS + NOTES
News about StM students, faculty, and staff
Model United Nations club teaches students indispensable skills
48
FROM THE DESK OF MERRY SORRELLS
46
A group of young alums who are making their marks on the world
ALUMNI EVENTS
Alumni stay connected to St. Martin’s through a variety of engaging events
51
SCATTERED SAINTS
Keep track of alumni “no matter where e’er life’s cares may drive us”
58
MESSAGE FROM BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Stephen M. Huber ’89 shares his final message as board chairman
32
FOCUS ON THE FUTURE
Imagining the future of St. Martin’s shaped by its past and present.
The Bell
S T. M A R T I N ’ S E P I S C O P A L S C H O O L M A G A Z I N E
Spring/Summer 2017
The Bell is published twice each year by St. Martin’s Episcopal School. Spring/Summer 2017 stmsaints.com/thebell CREDITS Editor: Meghan Weaver Contributors: Mary Brown, Kim Conway Crawford ’87, Lisa Davis, Aimee Hyatt ’02, Linda Irwin, Alma Quiroz Roohi ’83 Photography: Megan Bauer, Taylor Bui ’17, Ford Dieth, Sr., Ricky Gilmore, Aimee Hyatt ’02, Wally Porter ’76, Sarah Jane Spell ’17, Parker Waters, and faculty, parent, grandparent, and alumni submissions. Design: KP Creative
All inquiries and comments should be addressed to: The Bell St. Martin's Episcopal School 225 Green Acres Road Metairie, LA 70003 504.733.0353 thebell@stmsaints.com
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MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
The Changing Bell The publication you are reading is quite different from the debut issue in the spring of 1960. Its mission, as Headmaster Ellsworth O. Van Slate noted in the opening letter of the premiere issue, is to “present student work and achievements, alumni news, faculty efforts, curriculum developments, and, in general, our hopes and plans for the future.”
1st
The first issue featured class news, student poetry, and the announcement of the formation of the alumni association. It wasn’t until two years later that Scattered Saints, a compilation of alumni class notes, appeared for the first time. The cover shifted from art to photos over the course of the first several years of the publication. In the spring of 1966, the magazine shifted to a typical magazine format. Large scale photos and faculty writing increased in prominence. With a growing number of graduates, the number of entries in each edition of Scattered Saints increased as well. A full-color cover emerged in the late 1980s, though the interior pages remained black and white until the early 2000s. The Bell has adjusted to changing times and graduates, and this issue marks another evolution of this storied publication. As you flip through the pages, you’ll spot familiar features, such as news from campus, messages from the Head of School and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and the beloved Scattered Saints. We hope you’ll also enjoy the publication’s new features and feel.
A
1970
B
C
As St. Martin’s celebrates its 70th year and looks toward the future, The Bell will continue to remain true to its original mission of keeping the parents, alumni, and friends of St. Martin’s Episcopal School informed. A The Bell’s masthead was changed to reflect a As Van Slate said in the very first issue, “We hope clean and current look, with a nod to tradition that through the pages of this magazine, we will be and history. able to communicate to you, and in turn have you share with us, our aspirations and enthusiasm.” B The interior of the magazine underwent a
1990
complete overhaul. New typefaces were chosen for their legibility and style. Fresh colors were added to the magazine’s color palette. A number of graphic elements were implemented for page continuity.
C The Bell received a new element on the cover —the teaser bar. This bar will feature headlines and descriptions of articles in each issue, making it easier to locate stories within the magazine.
4 | The Bell
2002
MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
OUR PAST
inspires our future In the fall of 1951, St. Martin’s Headmaster Ellsworth O. Van Slate addressed his faculty with powerful words: “We must always be on guard lest we become preoccupied with the letter rather than the spirit of learning. Our emphasis must be on purpose, on intent, on the why and how of things. We must always seek to motivate and stimulate thought, to raise important questions in the minds of students which will lead them in a desire for further knowledge.” This quote may seem familiar to you because I cited it in my letter for the Fall 2016 issue of The Bell, celebrating our first 70 years. It has been 70 years since St. Martin’s first opened its doors to the scholars of New Orleans. Seventy years of excellence in Faith, Scholarship, and Service. Now, as we peer into the future in the current Bell, Headmaster Van Slate’s message to his faculty mirrors the message we are sharing with our faculty today. The “why” of our purpose and mission remains steadily centered. It is the “how” that has us moving in exciting new directions as we look to the future. The cornerstone of learning — past, present and future — is our ability as a school to remain fluid and relevant as we prepare our students for whatever life has in store. At a time in history when things are moving and changing at breakneck speed, St. Martin’s remains laser-focused on teaching our students the skills they will need to meet their futures head-on. In the words of Henry James, “A tradition is kept alive only by something being added to it.” At St. Martin’s, we are adding much. We have become educational leaders in providing avenues for our students to apply what they are learning while they are learning it. We have captured and expanded on Mr. Van Slate’s caution to stay focused on the spirit rather than the letter of learning. The “why and how of things” is not just a message delivered from the podium to the pupil. Rather, it is the hands-on focus through which we teach our students to be discerning problem-solvers and creative, intellectual adventurers. I hope you will look at and enjoy the pages of this Bell with a deep confidence that the past has informed our vision for a bright and exciting future.
The cornerstone of learning — past, present and future — is our ability as a school to remain fluid and relevant as we prepare our students for whatever life has in store.
MISSION STATEMENT
“We prepare students to thrive in college and in life through Faith, Scholarship, and Service.”
Merry Sorrells Head of School
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Spring/Summer 2017 | 5
NEWS + NOTES
Upper School Holds Service Day As part of St. Martin’s commitment to service, classes for Upper School students were cancelled March 17 for a day of community service. Students and faculty members traveled to locations around the greater New Orleans area to lend a hand to a variety of organizations in need.
Plessy Community School. One group of seniors travelled to Hope Lodge to cook meals for residents. Another group worked with the NOLA Tree Project, planting bushes and trimming all of the flower beds on ten blocks of a stretch of Canal Boulevard in Lakeview.
Ninth and tenth grade students visited a Volunteers of America program, The Terraces on Tulane, and the junior class spent the day at the Homer
The day is both rewarding and eye-opening for St. Martin’s students. Sophomore Gabby Killett spent her time at The Terraces on Tulane. “I was
fortunate enough to meet Ms. Norma and speak with her in Spanish,” Killett said. “I was in awe listening to her. She is originally from Puerto Rico and moved to Little Rock, where she attended the first integrated school at the same time as the ‘Little Rock 9.’ It was so interesting to hear about things we’ve learned in history class directly from a person who lived through it.”
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1 Junior Brett Pfefferle works with a student at Homer Plessy Community School. 2 Seniors Brooke Williamson and Julia Reggio plant trees in Lakeview. 3 A group of seniors serves lunch at Hope Lodge.
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By The Numbers
Students Earn Musical Accolades
1 2 4 5 11 13
The highest rating possible was awarded to the Lower School Handbell Ensemble and the Lower and Middle School Bands at the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) Solo and Ensemble festival in April. The number of Excellent ratings earned by the Lower School Choir in performance at the LMEA Large Ensemble festival in March. The group also earned a Superior rating in sight reading at the festival.
Admission Update
680 Total number of inquiries *
285 Total number of visits and tours *
Students were named to the LMEA District IV honor bands and honor choir — two were named to the honor bands and two were selected for the honor choir. Students selected for the Louisiana American Choral Directors Association All State Choir in November. Students received at least one Superior rating for their choral performances. Several also received Superior ratings for their solos, in the LMEA Solo and Small Ensemble festival in March. Students earned a Superior rating for their solo performances at the April LMEA Solo and Ensemble festival.
33% Increase in overall Open House attendance
*Highest numbers post-Katrina
6 | The Bell
I+D Hosts Family STeaM Night With the help of Innovation + Design team members, more than 115 students and their families filled several Lower School classrooms to compete in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STeaM) activities. Students and their families were challenged to build the longest chain, create the tallest spaghetti tower, and design a familiar song with MaKey MaKeys, among other competitions. The exciting, hands-on event was part of the school’s first-ever Family STeaM Night, which took place Feb. 2. As part of the evening’s activities, families competed to win raffle tickets and a chance to take home one of five MaKey MaKey prizes. The occasion also gave parents an opportunity to explore the curriculum their children are learning each day at St. Martin’s. Both parents and students enjoyed the evening of learning and funfilled, friendly competition.
“I love how St. Martin’s is able to engage the kids in learning through technology and hands-on play,” said parent Claudia Everitt-Andrews. Director of Lower School STeaM Lab Mary Lee Saucier believes exploring STeaM and Innovation + Design projects is critical for students’ future success.
“The careers that will be available to our students when they graduate, regardless of the path they choose, will require critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills that are developed through a STeaMbased curriculum,” said Saucier. The evening was so successful, the Innovation + Design team is already planning another event for fall 2018.
Sawyer and Muffin Adriance ’96 work together on a catapult paint splatter activity.
FACULTY PRESENT AT
NATIONAL CONFERENCES St. Martin’s educators have been asked to share their expertise at national conferences throughout the year. While they are invited to address a range of topics, most of their presentations address strategic 21st century competencies developed at St. Martin’s, including design thinking, innovation skills, technology in the classroom, studentdirected learning, and a focus on lifelong learning. Director of the Innovation + Design program Garrett Mason was a keynote speaker at the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES) Biennial Conference 2016 in New Orleans in November. Mason’s session, “(Re)designing Learning in the Age of Information,” was attended by heads of school, administrators, and faculty from Episcopal schools across the country. Director of Lower School STeaM Lab Mary Lee Saucier and Head of Middle School Jenny Velasquez presented “Using Design Thinking in the Elementary Classroom.” at NAES. Middle School teacher Keith Schwarz’s presentation, “The Constantly Evolving Classroom: How to Stay Relevant in a Rapidly Changing World,” focused on the seamless integration of multiple technology tools and a shift in pedagogical approach to a more studentcentered model. This presentation gave attendees a snapshot of the future of education. Saucier and Velasquez presented again in December, at the National Council for the Social Studies annual conference in Washington, D.C. Their session, “Design Thinking in the Elementary Classroom,” introduced conference attendees to ways they can use elements of design thinking to help young learners tackle real-world problems, while covering standards-based content and skills. Velasquez and Saucier also presented their work to the faculty at Holy Nativity School in Honolulu, Hawaii. Head of Upper School Kevin Weatherill and Garrett Mason spoke at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Annual Conference in Baltimore in March. Weatherill co-presented with William Daughtrey of University School in Hunting Valley, Ohio, and Will Hester of Nashville School of the Arts. The group presented “Tuition Trends in Independent Day Schools.” Mason led a three-hour workshop entitled “So You Think You Can Empathize?” with Carla Silver and Erin Cohn of Leadership+Design, and Ryan Burke of Allendale Columbia School in New York.
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Spring/Summer 2017 | 7
NEWS + NOTES
Students Benefit from Master Class in Singing
Student Work Selected
for State Art Show
Iris Hu ’17
Seniors Iris Hu and Michael Gandolfi had their art featured in the 3rd Annual Statewide Juried Exhibition for High School Artists. Each student had two works chosen for the competition and was honored during its closing reception in March. The exhibition, sponsored by the Louisiana State University College of Art and Design and held in the school’s Foster Gallery, featured selected works from the finest artistic students throughout the state.
“As singers, we are serving the art form,” says Gerardo Ortega, a professional vocalist whose credits include stage roles and solo concerts throughout the South. “We’re not just saying words. We are telling stories. We are conveying strong, deep emotions.” The students who gathered in the Dan and Frances White Chapel for Ortega’s master class listened not only to Ortega’s incredible voice, but also to his counsel. Organized by Director of Performing Arts Meredith Long-Dieth, the master class was a concentrated public coaching for the student singers. Ortega, who is the brother of St. Martin’s students Sofia ’21 and Diego ’18, began vocal studies at Loyola University New Orleans and continued them in Miami at New World School of the Arts (NWSA). Ortega is receiving his master’s from Florida International University in Vocal Performance. He has recently appeared in a number of voice and stage performances and made his Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre as a National Finalist competitor last year. For his master class at StM, Ortega was able to expertly observe and engage with the participating students while simultaneously creating an experience which was inspiring to the audience.
Michael Gandolfi ’17
Retiring Employees Thank you for your service to StM
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26 Peggy Fransen
8 | The Bell
Though his time with individual students was brief, Ortega excelled in maximizing the use of that time. After a student performed, Ortega quickly immersed himself in the details and emotion of that particular song to uncover a valuable nugget of information the student could apply. “We have so many talented singers with incredible voices, so it was fascinating to watch him give them advice on small adjustments they could make,” said Head of School Merry Sorrells. “After they made those adjustments, hearing them sound even better than before was just wonderfully inspiring.”
9 Karen Daboval
Students find this type of class helpful because it gives them the opportunity not only to hear from an expert, but also to feel the support of the entire audience encouraging them to succeed.
Connie Munson
Photo by Ford Dieth, Sr.
Cottage Teachers Study in Italy George Cottage teachers Jenny Collins and Shannan LeJeune traveled to the town of Reggio Emilia, Italy, in April to take part in an International Study Group detailing the Reggio approach to educating young children. The pair was among 450 international educators delving into the acclaimed teaching philosophies.
“To have the opportunity to witness the worldrenowned centers in Reggio Emilia, and gain a deeper understanding of how to incorporate their pedagogical approach into our context here at St. Martin’s, is priceless,” said Collins. St. Martin’s early childhood program, George Cottage, is inspired by the work of educators from Reggio Emilia. This approach actively encourages children to take control of their own learning, express themselves, collaborate with others, and investigate the world through sensory exploration.
Students Participate in
Hour of Code Students in Lower and Middle School participated in Code.org’s Hour of Code, an event designed to introduce young people to the field of computer science. The movement, which has spread to more than 180 countries, allows students to learn about the basics of computer coding through online tutorials and games. Middle School teacher and Innovation + Design team member John Dicasali was one of several teachers leading students in a variety of age-appropriate activities.
“Learning to code means that students can play an active role in creating the future world in which they’ll live,” said Dicasali.
See more about COMMUNITY DAY on p.23!
#NowTrending Facebook @STMSAINTSLA St. Martin’s Episcopal School March 27, 2017
Instagram @STMSAINTS St. Martin’s Episcopal School
Twitter St. Martin’s Saints @stmsaints • April 25, 2017 Pre-K classes combined fun, learning, & service for Community Day 2017. See more online. #stm1617 #stmsaints
Once a Saint, always a Saint! Head of School Merry Sorrells announced today that New Orleans Saints Hall of Famer Deuce McAllister is joining the athletic department as an athletic consultant.
54 likes
376 Jimmy Ray Hotty Toddy, a Who Dat is joining the team! -- from a StM and Ole Miss alum and a lifetime Saints fan! Martha Hart The Deuce is loose! me some Deuce McAllister!
January 24 These little Pre-K Saints started off the day by serving as acolytes. #stm1617 #stmsaints #FAITHscholarshipservice #stmls :@myersamp Comments jlt143143 Noah!!!!! juliekins2 Love this little group!! 4nursing Omg!! They look like angels!! I miss those days!
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St. Martin’s Saints @stmsaints • April 27, 2017 Such a fantastic day of collaboration & #3Dprinting with @stmsaints & @BricolageNOLA! Thank you @diturn10, @mlwsaucier, & #1stgrade Ss & Ts! 3
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Spring/Summer 2017 | 9
ACADEMIC ACCOLADES
ACADEMIC POWERHOUSE StM Students Excel in Scholarly Competitions
QUIZ BOWL TEAM PLACES 3RD IN THE NATION, BOASTS OVERALL HIGH SCORER
A
St. Martin’s Quiz Bowl team took home a third place finish in the National Academic Quiz Tournament’s 2017 Small School National Championship in Chicago this April. The team was one of just two representing Louisiana in the tournament, which featured the top quiz bowl teams from across the country. Over the course of the three-day event, St. Martin’s team played 18 games, falling in only three. Representing St. Martin’s were juniors Caitlin Bagnetto, Ally Bartholomew, Chloe Bartholomew, Jules France, Bruce Miller, and Bryce Monier (captain). Monier was the overall individual high scorer for the entire tournament. The Quiz Bowl team is coached by English teacher Lee Klebba. Throughout the school year the StM group faced many larger teams, preparing the students for the national competition. In March the team took the state title, after placing third in a tournament that month and second in a local tournament last December. St. Martin’s Quiz Bowl team has also experienced success in recent years. During the 2014-2015 school year, St. Martin’s was named State Champion. The following year the team qualified for nationals, where it advanced to the playoffs.
10 | The Bell
B A (Front row) Jules France, Bryce Monier, Caitlin Bagnetto, and Ally Bartholomew and (back row) Bruce Miller and Chloe Bartholomew take home a third place finish in the National Academic Quiz Tournament’s 2017 Small School National Championship in Chicago in April. B Bryce Monier, Clara Conatser, Caitlin Bagnetto, and Jules France display trophies they earned throughout the season.
Middle School debate team members Jackson Nettles, Camila Figueroa, and Renee Angerer display trophies earned at the Southeast Regional Championship, where the team earned a second place finish.
SAINTS EXCEL AT STATE RALLY, INCLUDING ONE OVERALL WINNER Seventeen Middle and Upper School students placed in the top five in Division IV (enrollment of 151-250 students) of the 2017 State Literary Rally, hosted by the Louisiana High School Rally Association. Students from across the state competed in the rally, each taking the same tests. Twenty-four students represented St. Martin’s, advancing to State from their top district finishes in February. St. Martin’s posted an overall winner in a category — Gabriella Killett, Spanish III — for the second consecutive year. To participate in the state competition, students either qualified by finishing in the top five in a literary event at the District Literary Rally, or were chosen by the academic department to represent the school in open foreign language events. Each student may test in only one State Rally Literary Event. Gabriella Killett, overall winner in Spanish III
MIDDLE SCHOOL LATIN STUDENTS EXCEL IN NATIONAL EXAM
MIDDLE SCHOOL DEBATE TEAM WINS DISTRICT TOURNAMENT AND IS REGIONAL RUNNER-UP
Several students in Keith Schwarz’s Middle School Latin class have earned stellar scores on the National Latin Exam. The exam, which is taken by students around the globe, features questions on grammar, comprehension, mythology, derivatives, literature, Roman life, history, geography, oral Latin, and Latin in use in the modern world.
The Middle School debate team took home first place in the district tournament in April at Tulane University. The win qualified the team for the regional tournament, where they debated on stage after receiving an undefeated record for the day. After a rousing performance opposing the proposition, “Countries have a moral obligation to accept refugees,” the team earned second place in the region.
Eighth graders Renee Angerer, Isabella Bartholomew, and Clara Conatser earned Gold Medals – Summa Cum Laude honor, while Jackson Nettles earned a Silver Medal – Maxima Cum Laude distinction. Eighth graders Camila Figueroa and Hannah Bonnette earned Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude honors, respectively. Five seventh graders (Lauren Bone, Halle Bryan, Katie Main, Taylor Stokes, and Michael Talbot) earned Purple Ribbons and Certificates of Outstanding Achievement. Seventh graders Kate Corcoran, Carden Pippin, Lilly Rabe, Ashton Shepherd, Daniel Thompson, Vashed Thompson, and Brooke Whelan each earned a Certificate of Achievement.
The students also received individual speaker awards for placing within the top 20 students of all debaters in the region. Team members include Camila Figueroa, Jackson Nettles, and Renee Angerer, who each ranked in the top 30 speakers of the tournament. Keith Schwarz and Jay Angerer served as faculty sponsors.
Spring/Summer 2017 | 11
ACADEMIC ACCOLADES
GOING FOR THE
GOLD IN SCIENCE
StM Science Olympiad Team Makes Its National Debut
Wearing tie-dyed lab coats and holding a St. Martin’s banner, the Science Olympiad team marched into the Olympic-like opening ceremonies of the 33rd Annual Science Olympiad National Tournament and secured its place in St. Martin’s record books as the school’s first nationally-competitive Science Olympiad team. The group of 15 talented Upper School students, coached by science teacher Warren Lind, was among more than 2,000 students from all 50 states battling in competitive science and engineering projects — from Robot Arm and Hovercraft to Microbe Mission and Wind Power — as part of the national event at Ohio’s Wright State University in May. Recognized as one of the nation’s most prestigious science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) competitions, Science Olympiad tournaments feature rigorous hands-on and lab events in physics, epidemiology, astronomy, chemistry, meteorology, and engineering. Competitions take place progressively; regional winners participate in state competitions, and the top teams contend each year at the national event. On the road to nationals the St. Martin’s team won both the regional and state tournaments, earning a number of gold medals in the process. Competition at the national tournament was fierce, with StM
students facing schools with much larger enrollment. St. Martin’s fared well as firsttime competitors, placing 45th out of 60. Lind says while he knows the national result isn’t exactly what the team hoped for, he is immensely proud of how the young team competed.
NATIONAL TOURNAMENT RESULTS MATERIALS SCIENCE Jun Choi and Caitlin Bagnetto, 20th
“They got a big dose of reality at the national tournament,” said Lind. “They are already talking about how much harder they are going to work next year to not only return to the national tournament, but also improve their team standing.”
DYNAMIC PLANET Bryce Monier and Maansi Solanky, 24th
Lind says, regardless of the wins or losses, Science Olympiad competitions are a valuable experience for students.
INVASIVE SPECIES Lainey Pickens and Jessie Pickens, 31st
“The ability to work with your teammates, to adapt to the circumstances, and to course correct when something isn’t working are all skills students gain from competing in Science Olympiad,” said Lind. “Those are all skills that are necessary for a successful career — not just in science, but in a variety of fields.”
DISEASE DETECTIVE Bryce Monier and Lainey Pickens, 30th
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY Alexandra Bartholomew and Chloe Bartholomew, 34th ROCKS AND MINERALS Lainey Pickens and Jessie Pickens, 36th
2017 SCIENCE OLYMPIAD TEAM (Front row) Collin Shannon ’18, Bruce Miller ’18, Evan McCollum ’18, Stephen Richards ’17, Caitlin Bagnetto ’18, and Natalia Bourg ’19. (Back row) Maansi Solanky ’18, Chloe Bartholomew ’18, Jun Choi ’18, Jessie Pickens ’19, Coach Warren Lind, Elise Lafleur ’19, Lainey Pickens ’19, Bryce Monier ’18, Rico Coleman ’19, and Alexandra Bartholomew ’18.
12 | The Bell
ATHLETIC UPDATE
During the winter and spring seasons, StM Athletics saw a number of successes. From wins at state to top ten individual performances to district honors, St. Martin’s athletes are making a name for themselves.
LEAVING IT ALL ON THE FIELD 10 SAINTS
finish in STATE MEETS’
TOP 10 WINS BOYS SOCCER
Golfer NICK DELLACROCE wins the individual DIVISION IV
District Championship
CHAMPIONSHIP
SAINTS NAMED DISTRICT MVPS
SAINTS QUALIFY AND PARTICIPATE AT THE STATE LEVEL Nick DellaCroce ’17 finishes 5th overall in golf at state level, qualified for the LA Champions Invitational.
River Relan ’17
• Division II LHSAA Indoor Track & Field • LSHAA Class 1A State Track & Field • LHSAA State Golf Tournament • Division IV Allstate Sugar Bowl/ LHSAA State Tennis Tournament
• River Relan was named Overall MVP for the district for soccer • Will Leopold was named defensive MVP for soccer
SAINTS HEAD TO PLAYOFFS • Boys Basketball • Boys Soccer • Girls Basketball
SAINTS FINISH IN TOP 10 AT TRACK STATE MEET
JESSE REEVES
was a semi-finalist in the Division IV Allstate Sugar Bowl / LHSAA State Tennis Tournament.
Division II LHSAA Indoor Track & Field • 60m Hurdles — Kylar Coleman, 3rd place • 800 — Ally Bartholomew, 8th place • 1600 — Chloe Bartholomew, 9th place • 1600 — Rico Coleman, 6th place; Ben Bone, 7th place • 3200 — Samuel Kellum, 6th place; Bryce Monier, 8th place • 4x800 Relay Team — Chloe Bartholomew, Ally Bartholomew, Annabelle Imbornone, Isabelle Bartholomew, 6th place
Jesse Reeves ’17 Chloe Bartholomew ’18 at the Allstate Sugar Bowl/ LHSAA Outdoor Track Meet in May.
SAINTS NAMED TO ALL-DISTRICT TEAMS • • • • • •
River Relan, 1st Team All-District Soccer Joseph Martin, 1st Team All-District Soccer Gershom Thompson, 1st Team All-District Soccer Will Leopold, 1st Team All-District Soccer Jun Choi, 1st Team All-District Soccer Jakob Castaneda, 2nd Team All-District Baseball, Honorable Mention Soccer • Nick Tuleu, Honorable Mention Soccer • Ethan Everett, 1st Team All-District Baseball, Honorable Mention Soccer • Pierce Gremillion, Honorable Mention Soccer • Kolby McWilliams, 1st Team All-District Baseball pitcher, 2nd Team All-District Baseball catcher
• Brandon Roth, 1st Team All-District Baseball • Ben Bone, 1st Team All-District Baseball • Barrett Shepherd, 1st Team All-District Baseball • Jonathan Jones, 2nd Team All-District Baseball • Curry Cappel, 2nd Team All-District Baseball • John Hurley, 1st Team All-District Basketball • Andrew Devall, 1st Team All-District Basketball • Khaja Bradley, 1st Team All-District Basketball • Gabby Killett, 1st Team All-District Basketball • Charley Leopold, 1st Team All-District Soccer • Heaven Barriere, 1st Team All-District Soccer • Sofia Ortega, 1st Team All-District Soccer
Spring/Summer 2017 | 13
NEWS + NOTES
Grand Opening
The Gibbs Family Center Mobile Idea Lab Hits the Road St. Martin’s is taking its Innovation + Design program on the road. The Mobile Idea Lab will enable StM students and faculty to partner with schools, small businesses, and community organizations on project-based programs. The 27-foot classroom-onwheels will serve as a multipurpose design studio, prototyping lab, and workspace, giving participants opportunities to develop noncognitive skills. It will also enable teachers to incorporate and develop these skills in their own classrooms and to become expert designers of student learning experiences.The Mobile Idea Lab program will support K-12 teachers across all content areas in public and charter schools, helping to strengthen students’ skills and mindsets through design thinking and making. Equipped with powerful tools, openended materials, and innovative work areas, the Mobile Idea Lab will enhance curriculum instruction and empower teachers to become expert designers of student learning experiences. Small businesses and community organizations will also benefit from the program through specifically-tailored design thinking experiences.
14 | The Bell
“Why do we need to learn this?” It is a question nearly every teacher has heard, and for some teachers, it just may be the most-asked question in their class. But what if there were a school where that question was rarely asked, if ever? What if there were a curriculum that taught not only the facts students need to know, but also why those facts matter and how to use them to change the world? What if there were a school dedicated to helping students develop as doers and deep thinkers, not just as test takers? These are the questions St. Martin’s set out to answer when it founded the Innovation + Design program in 2013. On January 26, 2017, St. Martin’s celebrated a new milestone in the school’s flourishing program – the grand opening of The Gibbs Family Center for Innovation + Design. The 4,900 square foot facility serves as the centerpiece of the school’s Innovation + Design program and features a modern design with white exterior walls that sharply contrast with the
asymmetrical, bright red roof. The facility houses seven unique spaces – an idea lab, digital lab, woodshop, build shop, production studio, and two flexible classroom/community partnership workspaces. State-of-the-art equipment featured in the Gibbs CID includes a RED SCARLET-X camera with an MX sensor, Grizzly Industrial Variable-Speed Wood Lathe, Shapeoko CNC Benchtop 3D Milling Machine, and Behringer X32 Producer Audio Mixing Board. The Gibbs CID is accessible to all grade levels and classes, further underscoring the school’s commitment to integrate innovation and design across its curriculum. Each of the spaces within the center represents a different component of the innovation and design process, helping students work together and connect lessons from the classroom to real-life situations. The center’s grand opening ceremony began with a brief chapel service, which was followed by a blessing of the building on the lawn in front of the center. The crowd heard remarks from Head of School Merry Sorrells, capital campaign cochair Larry Gibbs,
for Innovation + Design and Jefferson Parish Councilman Paul D. Johnston. A unique ribbon cutting ceremony capped off the festivities as the doors to the center opened for attendees to tour the new space. Students and faculty were on hand during the grand opening to lead interactive demonstrations showcasing the center’s various capabilities. The presentations ranged from student-led mini coding lessons in the digital lab and green screen editing in the production studio to a “where ‘wood’ you go” map activity in the woodshop. “St. Martin’s is transforming education, and the opening of The Gibbs Family Center for Innovation + Design is a tangible symbol of our commitment,” said Sorrells. “The range, safety, and sophistication of the center’s equipment make it the most comprehensive school-based makerspace in the region.” The addition of the Gibbs CID to St. Martin’s campus is not just a change in architecture or an upgrade in equipment. It is a change in the culture of learning. It is a movement toward creating authentic experiences that make learning real and deep and meaningful. It places students at the center of learning and empowers them with the skills that they need to direct their learning.
What makes the Gibbs CID different from other makerspaces? Without St. Martin’s faculty’s investment in revolutionizing the traditional education paradigm, the building would simply be an impressive edifice. Instead, it stands as the embodiment of a true shift in pedagogy. The teachers of St. Martin’s are transforming education — piece by piece, lesson by lesson. They work tirelessly to improve and redesign their lessons every day. They enthusiastically take risks, try new things, and innovate their teaching. Every day, the faculty pushes forward to re-invent the very craft of teaching and re-shape the way students learn. These faculty members are models for exactly the skills and mindsets that St. Martin’s is encouraging its students to develop. St. Martin’s students recognize the building as their own. It is their place to build, create, imagine, study, rehearse, record, dream. It offers a blank canvas on which to turn their ideas into reality. St. Martin’s students now have the tools, time, space and support — from teachers, parents, and friends — to make their wildest dreams come true.
The Gibbs Family Center for Innovation + Design was named in honor of Marian and Larry Gibbs, recognizing their ongoing commitment to St. Martin’s School for more than 26 years. The Gibbs’ children and grandchildren all attended St. Martin’s. Both Marian and Larry have served the school as leaders in a variety of areas, including the Board of Trustees, the Board of Visitors, and the Booster Club, along with the Mothers’ and Dads’ Clubs. Located on the Haring Road side of the school’s campus, the new facility was a $1.2 million project funded entirely through individual and foundation donations. The project, which broke ground in August 2015, was designed by local architect firm Blitch Knevel, and constucted by F.H. Meyers Construction.
discover more
stmsaints.com/cid-opening
Spring/Summer 2017 | 15
AWARDS
STUDENTS RECOGNIZED AT AWARD CEREMONIES Lower School
Middle School DON SCHWARTZ DEAN’S AWARD
Presented to Ford Millican by the Head of Middle School for excelling academically and displaying dedication to St. Martin’s ideals of faith, scholarship, and service.
(From left) Kaitlyn Tillery, winner of the Marjorie Conatser Award with Shilling awardee Ashley Gaspard and Millican Cup recipient Gabriella Rubin.
SHILLING AWARD
Presented out of love and gratitude for Penny Shilling, former teacher and friend. Awarded by the faculty and students to Ashley Gaspard on the basis of scholarship, service, and amiability. MILLICAN CUP
Presented in appreciation for the innovation of Mary Lou Millican, beloved former Head of Lower School. Awarded to Gabrielle Rubin, who has excelled in academic achievement and has consistently displayed the characteristics of good citizenship.
HIGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Ethan Kann Patrick LaForge Gabrielle Rubin Carter Scheuermann Kaitlyn Tillery MARJORIE CONATSER AWARD
EIGHTH GRADE AWARD WINNERS
(From left) Highest Class Average Winner Clara Conatser with Citzenship winners Adriana Paz and Hayes Whitney.
Presented in thanksgiving for the vision and dedication of Marjorie Conatser, former teacher and Lower School Head. Awarded to Kaitlyn Tillery, who has attended St. Martin’s for at least five years and possesses integrity, initiative, creativity, and enthusiasm. CITIZENSHIP AWARD
Awarded to Emerson Arensman and Cooper Odom who have consistently demonstrated kindness, helpfulness, and empathy toward their peers throughout the school year. Pictured to the left.
16 | The Bell
SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADE AWARD WINNERS
(Front row) Sixth grade Citizenship winners Bohden Huwe and Molly Rivas, seventh grade Citizenship winners Ryan Johnson, and Carden Pipen. (Back row) Highest Class Average Luke Alvendia (sixth grade) and Lauren Bone (seventh grade).
Upper School THE SPIRIT OF ST. MARTIN’S AWARD
Presented to senior Jenni Li, selected by the Upper School faculty for best possessing and representing St. Martin’s qualities of faith, scholarship, and service.
THE REV. JOHN STONE JENKINS CITIZENSHIP AWARD
HEAD OF SCHOOL’S ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Presented to two seniors, Jonathan Davis and Rickeia Coleman, selected by the Upper School faculty based on character, courage, scholarship, leadership, and service.
Presented to Alexandra Bartholomew and Bryce Monier, who have attained the highest academic average for the school year while lettering in two or more sports.
THE MICHAEL JOHN MOSELEY AWARD
VALEDICTORIAN
Commemorating the outstanding record that was established at St. Martin’s by Michael John Moseley ’67, who was a scholar and a leader in service and athletics. Presented by the Student Council to Hakeem Blackstone, who excels in athletics, scholarship, and service.
Joseph Martin
THE MILDRED ELLIS HERRON MEMORIAL AWARD
Presented in memory of Millie Herron ’88 and selected by the Upper School faculty and administration to Heaven Barriere, who exemplifies an enthusiasm for life, school spirit, and true friendship not only to the St. Martin’s community but to the community at large.
THE E.O. VAN SLATE SERVICE AWARD
In recognition of the respect and affection of the faculty for the former Head of School. Presented by the Head of School to senior Julia Reggio, who has provided outstanding service to the school.
SALUTATORIAN
Tyler Falk NATIONAL MERIT RECOGNITION
Luke Jeanfreau Joseph Martin CUM LAUDE SOCIETY
Seniors
Dylan Bryan Rickeia Coleman Tyler Falk Joseph Martin Curry Cappel Jeff Ganucheau Luke Jeanfreau Brooke Williamson
Juniors
THE JULIE DIETH 13-YEAR CLUB MEMBERS
Austin Chamorro Jonathan Davis Jaulet Ebrahimpour Johnathan Glenn Adam Pendleton Jesse Reeves THE JULIE DIETH 14-YEAR CLUB MEMBERS
William Baird Dylan Bryan Tyler Falk Max Gremillion Christian Rice Stephen Richards Bailey Taylor Savannah Watermeier Brooke Williamson
Ally Bartholomew Chloe Bartholomew Jun Choi Bryce Monier
Spring/Summer 2017 | 17
AWARDS
Upper School GIRLS’/BOYS’ STATE RECOGNITION
Girls’ State Delegates Karly Bruss Elizabeth Kuehne
Boys’ State Delegates Andrew Devall Evan McCollum Diego Ortega
THE UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE BOOK AWARDS
Presented by Alumni Chapters of various institutions to outstanding members of the junior class. THE COLUMBIA BOOK AWARD
Chloe Bartholomew THE DARTMOUTH BOOK AWARD
Jun Choi
THE JOHN F. AKER AWARD
Commemorating affection and respect for a former colleague and English teacher. Presented by the Upper School faculty to junior Lillian Doskey, whose effort, example, and character have made an outstanding contribution to St. Martin’s Episcopal School.
THE COATNEY LEADERSHIP AWARD
Presented to junior Rimi Mandal, selected by the junior class from Upper School faculty nominations. Coatney Leaders guide by example and take effective action based upon thorough knowledge of a particular situation, with concern for the good of St. Martin’s students and the greater community as well. They give graciously of their time and skills, thus inspiring others to do likewise.
THE HARVARD BOOK AWARD
Bryce Monier THE SEWANEE BOOK AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN WRITING
Elizabeth Kuehne THE WILLIAMS COLLEGE BOOK AWARD
Maansi Solanky THE YALE BOOK AWARD
Ally Bartholomew
THE O.E. HARING MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Presented to junior Evan McCollum, who has set an example of exemplary Christian citizenship on campus, making a significant contribution to the religious life of the school. The recipient is selected by the Head of School and the school clergy from Upper School faculty nominations.
THE GUSTAF R. WESTFELDT, JR. AWARD
Presented to sophomore Griff Thomas, who is noted for attitude, effort, example, and service. The recipient has provided outstanding service to the school and community out of a desire to be helpful, without thought of recognition or praise. This award honors a student chosen by the sophomore class from a list of nominees selected by the Upper School faculty.
THE DR. W. BROOKS EMORY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
discover more
stmsaints.com/awards
18 | The Bell
Established by Dorothy Dorsa Porter to honor Dr. Emory’s professional efforts and friendship. This legacy in her estate provides a modest scholarship for the recipient’s junior year. Presented to sophomore Ritchie Whitney, who exemplifies “Faith, Scholarship, and Service.”
THE JOE MOOTY AWARD
Presented to underclassman Brandon Roth, who through his attitude and work ethic exhibits a love for the game of basketball.
THE DAVE RICE AWARD
Presented to seniors Jesse Reeves and Julia Reggio (not pictured), varsity athletes who have displayed the most caring attitude and devotion toward their teammates.
THE GLENN “ABE” MARTIN AWARD
Presented to Garrett Kalogiratos, selected by the Athletic Department, who has demonstrated the highest ideals of leadership, character, spirit, and athletic achievement while participating in two or more varsity sports during the school year. THE ROBERT L. PETTIT AWARD
Presented to Lillian Doskey, selected by the Athletic Department, who has demonstrated the highest ideals of leadership, character, spirit, and athletic achievement while participating in two or more varsity sports during the school year.
THE JAMES M. BURLINGAME AWARD
Presented to John Hurley, who has demonstrated superior athletic achievement and ability in two or more varsity sports during the school year.
Athletic Awards
Upper School Athletic Awards
THE E. DOUGLAS JOHNSON AWARD
Presented to Khaja Bradley, selected by the Athletic Department, who has demonstrated superior athletic achievement and ability in two or more varsity sports during the school year.
THE JUDY KETCHUM BAEHR AWARD
Presented to athletes who have distinguished themselves by lettering in three or more varsity sports during their senior year. Merited this year by (from left) Jakob Castaneda, River Relan, Savannah Watermeier, Julia Scofield, Hakeem Blackstone, and Dylan Bryan.
THE A.G. “TONY” PORTER AWARD
Commemorating St. Martin’s affection for and admiration of Tony “Chief ” Porter. Presented to track team members William Leopold and Isabella Bartholomew, who are spirited and unafraid to take risks and try new events for the improvement of the team. They possess the qualities of dedication, commitment, and hard work.
Spring/Summer 2017 | 19
INSIDE THE CLASSROOM
CLASSIC NOVEL, NEW TWIST Middle School English Updates the Teaching of Steinbeck’s The Pearl
Each year as part of their literature curriculum, sixth grade English classes read John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. This year, Middle School English teacher Keith Schwarz is increasing student engagement by constructing a deep thinking exercise for each of the six chapters and by bringing guests to the class. For the first chapter, Schwarz worked with Middle School social studies teacher Mike Huwe to team-teach a lesson on Central America in order to lay the groundwork for the novel. During the study of the second chapter, in which Kino discovers the pearl, Schwarz paired with Middle School math teacher Anastasia Nekoz to incorporate a lesson on probability. Students related math concepts to the chances of actually finding a pearl. Schwarz extended the activity in English class by having the kids write an explanation of the Chance Ladder in relation to the novel. On November 2, the class participated in a Skype session with Northwestern University student Amanda Rosner, who discussed and took questions about the harassment she experienced via social media after achieving a bit of “instant fame” by appearing on an episode of College Jeopardy. This activity worked in conjunction with an analysis of the third chapter of The Pearl, in which Kino experiences his own social pressures after finding “the greatest pearl in the world” and gaining instant notoriety in his village. Students had been discussing how the villagers in the novel act as a single entity propelled by gossip and group-think, and the parallels to similar phenomena on today’s social media channels are striking. In chapter four, pearl buyers attempt to swindle Kino with a false valuation. Schwarz enlisted the help of StM alum Josh Kaston ’00, the owner of BeJe Designs, who visited the class. Students were fascinated to learn about the process of appraising pearls.
20 | The Bell
For chapter five, St. Martin’s Director of Music Dr. Louise Labruyere spent time with the group in an interactive lesson related to the musical culture of Kino and his people, who were “makers of songs.” In the last week of the unit, each student picked what he/she felt was the most important theme of the novel and wrote a paragraph defending the choice. For their final assessment, students created quadramas. Similar to dioramas, these four-sided projects are on display in the Martin Family Library. The ending of the unit coincided with Sixth Grade Service Day. Students begin the day reflecting on the abundant blessings present in their lives. They connected the idea of gratefulness to Kino, and how his obsession with the pearl made him lose sight of how good his life was before he let greed overtake him. Other activities on Service Day included volunteering at Second Harvest Food Bank and cleaning the beautiful stained glass windows in the Dan and Frances White Chapel. Sixth graders also volunteered in the George Cottage. The Pearl has been part of the sixth grade English curriculum for many years, but this is the first time Schwarz has introduced an auditory element. The class actually heard the entire novel. Students read a chapter over the weekend and then they listened as Schwarz read the same chapter again the following week, about 5-7 pages per day. He says, “It really does make a difference. Most of the kids are showing a level of interest and excitement that I haven’t witnessed in the near-decade I have taught this book.”
“It really does make a difference. Most of the kids are showing a level of interest and excitement that I haven’t witnessed in the near-decade I have taught this book.”
Spring/Summer 2017 | 21
HEARD ON CAMPUS
Grand Tour Students welcome grandparents to campus on special day “For me, it is a privilege to be an alum, parent, and grandparent at St. Martin’s. I love taking part in all of the activities at school, but the highlight of the year, for me, is Grandparents’ Day. I look forward to this day every year, and really enjoy visiting Allie’s and Arthur’s classrooms and learning what they are learning; and I know they enjoy showing me around. It’s a special day for me, and I know it is for my grandchildren.” - Judy Fremaux Adams ’64, grandmother of Allie Deutcsh ( fourth grade) and Arthur Deutcsh (second grade)
“Grandma Huwe came to my school and I showed her my classroom. She lives far away. She loves me.” -Audrey Huwe, George Cottage 3s
“My grandparents got to have free play with me. That was the best. And they saw me sing on the stage and they took me to buy books at the bookfair and we ate cookies too.” – Evan Crawford, second grade
22 | The Bell
“I like how we got to interact with our grandparents. Sometimes they can’t see us or get out often. And being at school, they can go back and have memories of what they learned when they were our age.” - Samantha Thompson, sixth grade
“It’s nice having my grandparents see where I spend my time every day. They get to have an insight into our life.” - Colby Shannon, ninth grade
“It’s the smiles on their faces when you enter their classroom; it’s the games and artwork you create with them when they are in the lower grades: it’s the being with these little people to whom you belong in a setting in which they want you to see where they excel; and finally, it’s the love that you show to them, no matter what grade they are in, when they know you have come specifically for them. Grandparents’ Day at St. Martin’s -- I wouldn’t miss it.” - Ford Dieth, Sr., grandfather of Trey ( first grade), Kelly (George Cottage 3s), and Lee (George Cottage 3s) Dieth
TREASURED TRADITIONS
Community Day
By Alma Quiroz Roohi ’83
Teaching students how to be engaged citizens in their local and global communities begins early at St. Martin’s. In a tradition that dates back more than 25 years, pre-k students assume the roles of workers in a pretend town on Community Day. Our St. Martin’s community has many special traditions, but the one closest to my heart is Community Day, a special day that has been a part of Lower School for more than two decades. As “working adults,” students offer a product or service — ranging from a movie theater to an arcade to a barber to an ice cream parlor — to visitors for a nominal fee. The students use the money they “earned” to give back as they assemble care baskets for residents at an elder care facility. Learning complex citizenship issues at an early age can be challenging, but enabling children to see that they can make a difference is so important. Community Day allows them to rise to the challenge and learn citizenship. Serving as a nurse or doctor in a community health center can help children discover a love for helping others. Working in the toy store can help them realize they can work in a field that brings happiness to others. When we complete the unit by assembling care baskets for elderly residents, students feel the joy that comes from helping those in need. We don’t overwhelm them with information, or try to explain how we’re teaching them the building blocks of citizenship. Without their realizing it, the first-hand experience makes the lesson relevant and memorable for them. One of the things I truly want for all my students is that they live well-balanced lives. I love it when I see that my former students — whether as Upper School students, in college, or as adults — are happy, thriving, and giving back to their community. And I believe it ties in to Community Day, one of their first experiences finding the meaning of citizenship in their StM classroom.
Treasured Traditions first appeared in The Bell in 2007 as a way to document St. Martin’s time-honored traditions. If you have a treasured StM tradition to share, email alumni@ stmsaints.com or call 504.736.9986. Spring/Summer 2017 | 23
Congratulations CLASS of 2017
William Donald Baird Heaven Bless Barriere Génova Alanis Bernárdez Banegas Hakeem Jameel Blackstone Dylan Thomas Bryan Taylor Tu-Quynh Bui Curry Booker Cappel Jakob Paul Castaneda Austin Christopher Chamorro Rickeia Genene Coleman José Diddier Contreras Jonathan Leon Davis Nicholas Frank DellaCroce Jaulet Jacleen Ebrahimpour Tyler Ferdinand Falk Michael Porter Gandolfii Jeffrey Alan Ganucheau Johnathan Owen Glenn Maxwell Kramer Gremillion Chenlang (Ophelia) Hu Luke Andrew Jeanfreau Zhiming (Sam) Jin Jonathan Dale Jones Philip Bergeron Lazich Jingyi (Ophelia) Li Jinjin (Jenni) Li Joseph Jonathon Martin Adam Stark Pendleton Jesse Anderson Reeves Julia Michelle Reggio River Benjamin Relan Christian Alexander Rice Stephen Gerard Richards Julia Blair Scofield Sarah Jane Spell Bailey Patricia Taylor Gershom John Yede Thompson Savannah Leigh Watermeier Brooke Elizabeth Williamson Zhilei Zhao Yiwei Zheng
24 | The Bell
Tulane University Loyola University New Orleans Spring Hill College Benedict College The University of Georgia Undecided University of Notre Dame University of Mississippi Arizona State University Washington University in St. Louis Universidad de Buenos Aires Louisiana State University University of Mississippi University of New Orleans Louisiana State University Arizona State University Louisiana State University Louisiana Tech University Southern Methodist University London College of Fashion Louisiana State University Union College (New York) Loyola University New Orleans Saint Mary’s College of California Tulane University Pennsylvania State University Tulane University San Francisco State University University of Mississippi Texas A&M University Texas A&M University, Galveston Louisiana State University Louisiana State University DePaul University The Evergreen State College Louisiana State University St. Edward’s University Rollins College University of Mississippi Hobart and William Smith Colleges University of Denver
BY THE NUMBERS
60
%
will attend institutions out of state.
WHERE WILL THE StM CLASS OF 2017 GO?
35
%
will attend institutions in state.
5
%
will attend international institutions
CLASS OF 2017
1646
Mean SAT score on 2400 scale
301
College applications submitted
1169
Mean SAT score on 1600 scale
7
Average number of applications per student
27
Mean ACT score on a 36 scale
22
Colleges with only 1 member of StM’s Class of 2017 attending
3.371
Mean GPA on a 4.0 scale
4912
Farthest distance (in miles) that a member of the Class of 2017 will travel to attend college.
Spring/Summer 2017 | 25
Senior
CLASS OF 2017
Events
1 River Relan takes a selfie with his classmates before graduation. 2 Senior Heaven Barriere with siblings Trinity ’15 and Antoine ’14 at Baccalaureate. 3 The 14-Year Club members ring the Lower School bell to signal the start of their last day at StM. 4 Members of the Class of 2017 get a picture with Nolan Dewey during their last lunch as seniors. 5 Brooke Williamson and Savannah Watermeier pose with Dr. Vaccaro before graduation. 6 Jaulet Ebrahimpour and Nick DellaCroce on graduation
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day. 7 Baccalaureate speaker Lester Ricard with members of the Class of 2017. 8 Gary Solomon, Jr. ’04 gives the graduation address at McAlister Auditorium. 9 Tyler Falk during his internship at HaasWood. 10 Jenni Li works for the Senior Resource Guide of Louisiana during her internship. 11 Max Gremillion at Children’s Hospital during his internship with Austin Medical, LLC. 12 At graduation Stephen Richards, Christian Rice, Gershom Thompson, River Relan, and Jesse Reeves stop for a picture. 13 Heaven Barriere during her internship at WWL TV. 14 LSUbound members of the Class of 2017 get a group picture before Senior Chapel. 15 Curry Cappel interns with Computrols. 16 Jeffrey Ganucheau and mom Angie Ruiz with Al Tritico after graduation. 17 Rickeia Coleman, Jakob Castaneda, Austin Chamorro, Curry Cappel, and Taylor Bui at graduation. 18 Sam Jin, Jenni Li, Iris Hu, Ophelia Li, and Julia Scofield show off their diplomas.
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stmsaints.com/Graduation2017
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CLASS OF 2017
HARD WORK PAYS OFF Class of 2017’s valedictorian Joseph Martin and salutatorian Tyler Falk.
28 | The Bell
Top Honors An Interview with the Valedictorian and Salutatorian
Valedictorian Joseph Martin and salutatorian Tyler Falk have the first and second highest rankings in the Class of 2017. Their hard work throughout their academic career is worth noting, but it is their formation as leaders of their class that makes them truly outstanding young men. On the evening of commencement, The Bell sat down with them to talk about their StM experience and their plans for the future. Tell us about your plans after graduation.
Describe a skill, principle, or concept learned at StM that you will use in your future. TF: I talk a little bit about this in my salutatorian speech: St. Martin’s taught me to have an open mind and not to push what I think on other people. It taught me to really listen to people and consider what they say, before I form an opinion. JM: St. Martin’s taught me how to work hard and continue to push through when things get tough.
Tyler Falk: I plan to attend Louisiana State University and study mechanical engineering.
What is one piece of advice you would give to current StM students?
Joseph Martin: I will attend Tulane University and plan to major in accounting. I did my senior internship at an accounting firm, so I see myself going into a career somewhere in the business or finance world.
TF: Get involved with as many things as you can. Doing all those things will help you figure out who you are and who you want to be and what your passions are. St. Martin’s has a lot to offer, so take advantage of it.
What is your favorite memory of St. Martin’s? TF: I think my favorite memory of St. Martin’s is playing football here for four years — getting to spend time with the guys and playing a game I love. JM: Senior Weird Day this year. I organized a group of about 10 other guys. We did a 610 Stompers-type routine, complete with the outfits. What teacher/faculty member impacted you the most in your time at StM, and how? TF: Dr. Joe Vaccaro, definitely. He taught me in biology and chemistry. He teaches the material, of course. But more than that, he teaches you to open your mind and think creatively. He never taught you what to think, but how to think. His lessons go beyond the classroom. JM: Ms. Mary Bond was there for me throughout my four years at St. Martin’s. She taught me sophomore through senior year. She’s the teacher I’ve spent the most time with, between classes and the National Honor Society. She’s always been there to help. Was there an experience at StM that helped you focus on your future goals?
JM: Take both life and school seriously. Always have fun, but also do what will be best for you, both now and in the future. What is one thing you’d like to change about the world? TF: I’d like to change how fast everyone is to judge others. If someone has a different belief than you, you don’t automatically need to stereotype them. Try getting to know them before forming an opinion on them. JM: In today’s world, with all our modern innovations and technology, we should have more communication and collaboration. Rather than acting as separate countries and groups acting in our own self interests, we should be focusing more on acting in the interest of humanity as a whole. What is your personal definition of success? TF: Having the chance to do what you love and truly enjoy doing it. JM: For me, success is taking what you have in life and building on that and making the most of it.
TF: I really enjoyed my math classes with Ms. Bond, and engineering and calculus go hand-in-hand. I think that, along with the whole design thinking process, helped steer me towards majoring in mechanical engineering. JM: Mr. Chuck Rivet’s classes, without question. He taught me in both civics and economics, and his teaching in economics is one of the reasons I want to go into economics.
discover more Read commencement speeches in their entirety online at stmsaints.com/Graduation2017.
Spring/Summer 2017 | 29
IN FOCUS
30 | The Bell
A VASE IN THE MAKING Junior Grayson Doyle works on the lathe to create a vase in The Gibbs Family Center for Innovation + Design. The lathe was a gift of James O. Gundlach ’54.
This photo by Taylor Bui ’17 first appeared in The Halo, the student newspaper of St. Martin’s Episcopal School. As the Halo’s photo editors, Bui and classmate Sarah Jane Spell ’17 received an Outstanding Overall Photography award from the American Scholastic Press Association this spring.
Spring/Summer 2017 | 31
the shape of things to come 32 | The Bell
FEATURE
In the previous issue of The Bell, we celebrated memorable milestones in St. Martin’s first 70 years; therefore, it seems fitting for the focus of this issue to be an about-face to look at the future. Here, The Bell invites you to imagine the future of St. Martin’s, one formed by the school’s foundation and mission, and shaped by its past and present.
a
group of students sits quietly, all of their wooden desks arranged in neat rows. Their hands furiously scribble notes as a teacher lectures from the front of the class. Occasionally the teacher writes notes on the board, which the students copy verbatim.
For more than a century this was the face of education. And many schools continue to follow this model. But students everywhere are seeking more.
21ST CENTURY EDUCATION GLOSSARY Design thinking A bundle of mindsets and philosophies that incorporate proven teaching techniques, such as self-directed inquiry and collaboration, to find innovative solutions to realworld problems.
St. Martin’s teachers and administrators are alive with new ideas, building on the lessons of the past and excited to explore unchartered learning territory. Today’s world is complex and fluid. Rapidly-changing technology, advances in science, shifting economies — these transformations are converging quickly, and the challenge to St. Martin’s is to prepare our students for success in an unknowable future.
Project-based learning A teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge.
St. Martin’s is uniquely positioned to lead at this critical time. Independence, autonomy, and creativity are written into our DNA. Our students and teachers, our programs and pedagogy, are transforming education.
Co-teaching A teaching method in which two faculty members work together with groups of students, sharing the planning, organization, delivery, and assessment of instruction, as well as the physical space.
An innovative education is nothing new at St. Martin’s. Throughout the past 70 years, the school has continued to improve its facilities and resources; to attract and hire the most talented faculty; and to provide an education, guided by faith, that prepares our students to be the visionaries of tomorrow. St. Martin’s students are inspired each day to exceed expectations and to seek further knowledge. They search for their purpose and feel a calling to their communities. St. Martin’s graduates are leaving Green Acres with an education that gives them the ability to quickly learn new skills on the job — or, better yet, to have the skills to create their own career paths. Gaining these skills, and gaining deep, meaningful learning, is achieved when students take control of their learning and apply their new skills as they learn them. Knowledge continues to be less and less defined by the possession of factual information, and more by the ability to adapt and react to changing circumstances.
Growth mindset A belief that a person’s basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. Noncognitive traits (also called “soft” or “character” skills) A set of skills that allow an individual to contribute meaningfully to society and have social and personal success, such as critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, social skills, persistence, creativity, and self-control.
The classroom of the future is sure to reflect some, if not all, of the following characteristics.
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FAITH-BASED LENS
CONTENT DELIVERY
CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
In St. Martin’s motto, “Faith, Scholarship, and Service,” it is no accident that faith is listed first. Since the school’s founding, our Episcopal faith has been integrated into all aspects of the school’s educational program. The St. Martin’s classroom of the future will continue to see students engaged in age-appropriate study that is academically rigorous, fosters dialogue with other faith traditions, and examines multiple perspectives. We will continue to help students respect themselves and others. The St. Martin’s community will continue to value and emphasize a life in which the physical, spiritual, and emotional health of all are supported and nurtured. Our faculty and students will continue to support equality and social justice, and model it in their daily lives. The school community will remain committed to service as an integral part of its identity and educational program. As an embodiment of the Christian faith, St. Martin’s honors, celebrates, and worships God as the center of life — yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
In the early 1900s, John Dewey championed the learning-by-doing approach to education. Today, this approach continues to shift the focus away from teacher-centered instruction and toward a student-centered methodology. Interest-driven learning, with a focus on projects that are relevant to students, will be key. The classroom of the future will fit with what we know about our current world: information is abundant, but the ability to determine its relevance is increasingly difficult. Teachers will continue to approach their craft creatively, giving students freedom to explore their own ideas and have ownership of their learning. The skills and concepts future students will need to master will likely match those of today, but how the skills are acquired will be diverse and flexible. This new style of learning will be enabled by improvements to the way student learning is assessed. If educators can measure deep learning beyond facts, they can continue to expand the variety of ways to guide students’ learning.
The concept of the traditional physical classroom environment is being turned on its head. Gone are the days of every single classroom being designed for teacher-led work. Rigid environments are being replaced with break-away desks, chairs on wheels, flexible and moveable furniture, and walls to write on. Students and teachers are trading traditional classrooms for light and airy spaces that can be configured in a variety of ways. Some classrooms will remain more traditional when the teaching style calls for it, but others will shift and change with the curriculum. Many teachers opt to move their classrooms outdoors at times, giving students a change of scenery and space for group work. Moving walls make spaces more adaptable for the lesson, project, or task at hand. The common thread that ties each of these shifts together is a focus on customization for student-led work.
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FEATURE
St. Martin’s will head into the future by following the path forged by our teachers and students whose meaningful, purposeful engagement addresses real-life problems.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
GLOBAL COMPETENCY
In this networked society, the ability to navigate the digital world, to make sense of the deluge of information online, to uncover what is real and what is fake news, and to be able to find relevant needles in the haystack of online information is crucial. Students must be able to contribute to the online global community as responsible digital citizens, learning to be cautious as they effectively find and discern reliable content. With a wealth of technology at our fingertips, skills like collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, resiliency, and communication may be as important as course content, because they’re practical skills that will be used by our students in college and life after college. Technology will certainly be a major player in the future of education, but it cannot be the only influence. A focus on the ability to adopt new technologies will be balanced with the ability to teach students interpersonal skills and ethics.
In social studies teacher Charles Rivet’s class, students don’t just research a country, they put themselves in the shoes of another country’s citizens. Students compare and contrast judicial systems around the world. They identify a nation’s socioeconomic problems and discover how they affect common values and national identity. They discern if a country’s governing documents are a form of propaganda. In St. Martin’s global languages program, rote memorization of vocabulary has been replaced with the concept of comprehensible input, meaning students should be able to understand the essence of what is being said or presented to them. Students understand most aspects of what is being presented, and the experience pushes them to greater understanding. The interaction of our American and international students is yet another example of how St. Martin’s is continuing to expand the variety of ways we are building global citizens. Each of these endeavors helps students not only to think critically and analyze, but also to understand and empathize with people who lead lives very different from their own.
St. Martin’s has always believed in an integrated, practice-based, and purpose-driven approach to learning — a structure that provides the “why” for learning (as Head of School Merry Sorrells detailed in her letter on page 2, referencing a quote from the school’s first headmaster). We believe in listening to our children and families. We believe in the Reggio-Emilia philosophy of development for our youngest learners. We believe in an approach to learning that is transformational. We believe in continually breaking down the artificial boundaries between school and life. We believe in engaging students in exploration of authentic questions and real-life problems that are important to them. We are proud of our more than 4,000 alumni around the world making an impact in their communities every day (including five young alumni profiled on page 48). We are proud of our faculty who work tirelessly to lead students to prepare for college and future careers, and to live meaningful and purposeful lives framed by faith. We are proud of our students’ many athletic and extracurricular achievements and our reputation as an academic powerhouse, of course. However, more important than any trophies, championships, or accolades, is the deep, meaningful learning that empowers students and gives them skills that will inspire and embolden them to change the world. Our students understand that learning cannot stop at the edge of our campus and that their work can matter to people searching for solutions. Their education at St. Martin’s has developed a capacity for empathy that takes them far beyond participation in days of community service to authentic, student-led, servant leadership in their communities. St. Martin’s will head into the future by following the path forged by our teachers and students whose meaningful, purposeful engagement addresses real-life problems. We will create organizational environments and community partnerships that foster collaboration. We will explore new ways of being a school-without-walls, transforming the local education sector and cocreating just and sustainable communities both locally and globally. Through the process, St. Martin’s will ensure that the school remains a vital, vibrant, and valued school — today and tomorrow.
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OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Model Citizens Students develop indispensable skills through Model United Nations club
O
n a quiet Sunday afternoon, roughly a dozen St. Martin’s students gather in Mary Quinet’s classroom to continue research they started weeks before. They work in groups, charged with the task of uncovering fact after fact about a country they’ve chosen to represent.
The students are members of St. Martin’s Model United Nations (MUN), an Upper School club that gives students an authentic simulation of the United Nations, introducing them to the world of diplomacy, negotiation, and decision making. St. Martin’s MUN club, which was founded in 2011, is one of just a handful in Louisiana. Under the guidance of club sponsor Mary Quinet, students spend several months and countless hours preparing for a conference. And the preparation is intense. They research their assigned country’s policies, the issues to be debated at the conference, and the structure of the United Nations. Quinet and MUN team leaders teach students how to follow parliamentary procedure, speak with proper diplomatic tone, and present themselves professionally. They guide students through the process of writing position papers, making sure students cite sources and use the proper language of diplomacy.
“An extraordinary amount of preparation takes place before we ever set foot in a conference,” said Quinet. “Students must research their chosen country — who are their allies, who can you negotiate with, who are the players at the table.” Student delegates must also be ready to tackle and work for a resolution of realworld problems. Some of the topics MUN students have worked involve a vast amount of technical knowledge. “We’ve taken on topics such as superbugs and antibiotic resistance, terrorism, and refugees,” said Quinet. “Competing in an MUN conference demands an understanding of current events, with many requiring an in-depth technical understanding of far-ranging scientific or social issues.”
The competition relies on students to uncover realistic, creative solutions to these types of problems via political discussions that require not only knowledge of the issues, but also awareness of their selected country’s position on the topic. Quinet guides club members as they prepare, giving them enough space to uncover the answers themselves but ensuring the learning is deep and meaningful. “It is so important that our students are learning about global issues, technical facts, and international policy, but I think the truly powerful thing is that they’re discovering is significant lifelong skills,” said Quinet. “Problem solving, empathy, listening, and conflict resolution are crucial skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives.”
“It is so important that our students are learning about global issues, technical facts, and international policy, but I think the truly powerful thing is that they’re discovering is
AN ALUM’S PERSPECTIVE
significant lifelong skills.”
Travis Adolph ’15 fondly remembers participating in MUN at St. Martin’s. The political science major, currently studying at John Cabot University in Rome, feels the MUN gave him a strong preparation for the challenges of college and beyond.
Photo by Sarah Jane Spell ’17
“In many of my political science classes, I find myself using the same formats and viewpoints that I was first exposed to in MUN,” said Adolph. “The club gave me a real advantage and shortened the learning curve with my introductory political science and international relations classes. “I was taught to form questions and deeper hypotheses which were tailored to my studies and research. In essence, MUN taught me to ask the right questions and to examine a particular system from many different viewpoints.”
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PREPARATION FOR A MUN CONFERENCE
Photo by Sarah Jane Spell ’17
Prepare
The preparation for an international MUN conference is a year-round process. • Before the end of a school year, club members set goals for the coming year, plan member recruitment, evaluate international competitions, and schedule the first in-house practice competition. • At the start of the school year, students welcome returning and new members, set the agenda for the year (including practice conferences and international conference competition), and lay out expectations for members who want to participate in international competition. • Students begin weekly “mini-lessons” in Model UN parliamentary procedure and speaking. They help delegates research and prepare for Model UN Committee Simulations. They also develop the Delegate Background/ Research Guide for topics to be discussed and debated in the first in-house practice conference. Practice
Practice for an international conference involves countless hours of practice. Members:
• prepare research for topics
chosen for Committee Simulations, following the MUN Delegate Background Guide; • craft research position papers that summarize their country’s experience and policy on topic; • peer edit each other’s papers for practice Committee Simulations; • run Committee Simulations in which multiple draft resolutions for addressing a problem are negotiated, and in which at least two finalized resolutions are developed and voted on;
• discuss areas of improvement
in preparation, parliamentary procedure, and speaking techniques with the chair and advisor; • plan revisions for next practice Committee Simulation; • register for International Conference, submitting requests for preferred country and committee assignments. Upon receipt of assignments from the International Conference, team members research their assigned roles, either a nation delegate or diplomat. They also research pertinent topics and their country’s position on issues, and they write and peer edit position papers for submission in advance of the conference. The team practices debating the issue during the weeks prior to the competition. Perform
In the week before leaving for the conference, delegates: • finalize document portfolios to take to the conference; • pack “power diplomat” (Western business) attire; • finalize critiques of each other’s opening statements. At the conference, delegates: • compete by actively engaging in all debates, resolutions, and feedback sessions; • network and collaborate with their fellow committee members to forge consensus; • make new friends with students from around the world; • interact with conference keynote and area specialty speakers; • prepare to return home with an expanded and nuanced view of world affairs, and a passion for service to the global community.
PREPARATION FOR LIFE Participation in the Model UN club opens students’ eyes to the issues facing our world today, but the benefits go far beyond a knowledge of global affairs. Model UN teaches student delegates some of the lifelong skills employers look for when hiring: Conflict resolution
When working with other delegates to create compromise, students learn valuable lessons in the art of persuasion and their role in conflict resolution. Empathy
The process of researching and discovering a country very different from their own opens students’ eyes to circumstances around the world, helping them develop empathy for others. Listening skills
MUN requires a high level of social and emotional intelligence to be able to understand people, work with people, and persuade people. Writing resolutions and lobbying for support requires delegates to listen and incorporate all their allies’ perspectives, and sharpens team and consensus building skills.
Problem solving
The main objective of MUN delegates is to solve global problems, and almost every problem includes a complex set of related political, economic, humanitarian, and security issues. Students tackle the same complex issues that real-life diplomats face each day. Negotiation skills
The goal at MUN conferences is to negotiate solutions to global issues until they could be passed or adopted by the committee. MUN delegates hone their negotiation skills in both small and large groups during caucus or lobbying sessions. Leadership
Students develop confidence and leadership skills through experience. MUN conferences give them opportunities to practice research, public speaking, teamwork, negotiation, and writing skills in a safe and structured environment. Service orientation
Research and role play put students in the place of others suffering from global problems such as conflict, starvation, and persecution. The practice helps foster mindsets that prioritize justice and equity.
Spring/Summer 2017 | 37
GIVNG BACK
Deuce McAllister Gives Keynote at Inaugural Champions Club Luncheon
Thank You
FOR THE BEST GOLF TOURNAMENT TO DATE!
St. Martin’s Epsicopal School 2016 Golf Tournament was proudly presented by
EUSTIS INSURANCE & BENEFITS
TOURNAMENT SPONSOR Eustis Insurance & Benefits CORPORATE SPONSOR Cranford Equipment Company, Inc. Crescent Bank & Trust FAST Specialty Pharmacy Fitness Expo Hurley & Cot APLC Metairie Small Animal Hospital/ Brian Melius ’74 South Coast Concrete, LLC The Eastman Family, Auto-Chlor
After being drafted by the Saints in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft, Deuce McAllister played for the New Orleans Saints for eight seasons. As any Saints fan knows, McAllister was an incredible football player. And he is proving to be an even better mentor for St. Martin’s student athletes. McAllister was the keynote speaker at the inaugural Champions Club luncheon on May 12. He detailed for the club’s first members how he is helping St. Martin’s students in his new role as athletic consultant to the school. “At St. Martin’s a strong academic program is a given,” said McAllister. “What I’m helping our coaches do is show our student athletes how to be champions on and off the field. We’re working on things like strength and conditioning, but we’re also working on improving their leadership, perseverance, collaboration, and teamwork skills.” The Champions Club was founded this year to provide the funding necessary to sustain St. Martin’s high-quality, mission-driven athletic program. It will enhance the training experience for all student-athletes, ensuring they have the equipment, coaches, facilities, and resources to compete at the highest level. Membership in the Champions Club provides the resources necessary to sustain and grow StM athletics today and for future generations. The Champions Club will host another member luncheon in the fall. To become a member or for more information, visit stmsaints.com/ ChampionsClub.
SAINTS SPONSORS Blake International DA Exterminating Co., Inc. George Mueller - Chehardy Sherman Law Firm Law Office of Kyle Sclafani Nancy Johnson Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute HALO SPONSOR 504 Pools, LLC Christine & Stephen Jones Equitas Capital Advisors, LLC General Biomedical Service Helm Paint & Decorating Mansoo “Bill” Roohi ’83 Terry ’69 & Keith Stanton Titan Construction HOLE SPONSORS Betsy and Gary Laborde Bez Oysters & Seafood Bourgeois Bennett LLC Brett Simpson ’92 Caleb Didriksen Catherine Johnson Crescent City Swim Club Dale Fleishmann Appraisal Services Dena & Parker Waters Diane & Jim Bower Dr. & Mrs. Michael Morin
Fairmont Flooring Gina & Rick Jones GT Automotive IDIYA Kristen & Michael Nicoladis ’78 Law Office of M. Suzanne Montero Lodovico & Ashley Vignes Maria & Joe Cali Merry & Kim Sorrells Palmisano Contractors Patrice & Peter Kelly Re/Max - The Becky Weber Team Rev. Fred Devall ’87, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church RMC Construction StM Varsity Cheerleaders Sue, Andy & Will Bower ’14 Superior Honda Tony Manzella III ’18 EVENT SPONSORS DocuMart Hudson Services Lucky Dogs Sno-Balls To Go The Bone Family The Court of Two Sisters The Crossing Wally Porter Associates
Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 Check-In/Brunch 9:30 am Shotgun Start 11 am Awards Reception 4 pm Cypress Lakes Country Club at Ormond stmsaints.com/golf
SAVE THE DATE! For more information about the upcoming 2017 Golf Tournament, contact Lisa Davis at 504.736.9960 or lisa.davis@stmsaints.com.
38 | The Bell
LIVING THE MISSION
A member of the 13-year club, Kimberley Conway Crawford ’87 was deeply impacted by her years at St. Martin’s. That’s why she and her husband Mark chose StM for their sons, Leland and Evan. An active volunteer, Crawford was the 2016-17 president of the Saints Community Organization. Crawford stays busy in the school community and loves sharing the St. Martin’s experience with her boys.
Here, Crawford shares why she gives back to St. Martin’s
in her own words.
For more information on how to give back to StM, contact Lisa Davis at 504.736.9960 or lisa.davis@stmsaints.com.
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Community Events
1 Nolan Dewey joins in the fun at the Pancake & Pajamas party celebrating 100% Lower School Annual Fund participation. 2 Will (left) and Sawyer (right) Adriance enjoy Family Fest with Head of School Merry Sorrells. 3 Corbin Nicoladis, Head of Lower School Ford Dieth ’89, Sophie Chailland, and Erin Johnson enjoy the SCO Family Fest at City Park. 4 Toni Caserta gladly donates to the Annual Fund on the 24-Hour Day of Giving. 5 Donna Gorum, Kimberley Conway Crawford ’87, Amy Lawler, Annie Palmisano, Christy Simeon, and Danny Imbornone pose during the SCO Banquet. 6 Dawn LaForge celebrates Annual Fund participation during the 24-Hour Day of Giving. 7 Penny Salvaggio, Eve Peyton, Amy Lawler, and Jeff Henderson at the SCO Banquet.
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stmsaints.com/news
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ST. MARTIN’S SUPPORTERS ROCK OUT AT TOTALLY 80S GALA If they were big in the 80s, they were represented at the 2017 St. Martin’s Gala on April 1. Chairperson Melanie Branton Manzella ’87 and her team —Annie Palmisano, Christy Simeon, and Wanda Castaneda— took us all back to revisit a decade known for big hair, big shoulders, and big music.
TOTALLY 80s is proudly presented by
Presenting sponsor for the evening, Didriksen, Saucier, Woods & Pichon, PLC was recognized at the Patron Party, hosted by the St. Martin’s Board of Trustees, in The Gibbs Family Center for Innovation + Design. The party, which paid homage to the 1984 World’s Fair, featured one of the original gondolas that soared across the Mississippi River during the Fair. 1
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1 Leigh Adams Deutsch ’94 and Kimberly Smuck 2 Melanie Branton Manzella ’87 with Caleb Didriksen (Presenting Sponsor). 3 Gala committee members Christy Simeon, Annie Palmisano, Melanie Branton Manzella ’87, and Wanda Castaneda 4 Assistant Head of School the Rev. Dr. Michael Kuhn and his wife Maria and the Rev. Ford Jeff Millican, Jr. 5 Head of School Merry Sorrells and her husband Kim with Chairman of the Board of Trustees Stephen Huber ’89 and his wife Shannon.
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WE THANK OUR SPONSORS! St. Martin’s Board of Trustees | Patron Party Sponsor Solomon Group | Event Experience Sponsor Cain Construction and Design | Entertainment Sponsor Annie and Wesley Palmisano | Gala Bar and Gala Specialty Cocktail Sponsor Mid City Yacht Club | Patron Party Bar Sponsor Donovan and Lawler Law Firm | Patron Party Gift Sponsor Gian Durand | Patron Party Specialty Cocktail Sponsor Kellie Russell | Patron Party Entertainment Sponsor Mullin Landscape Associates | Grab Bag Sponsor
SOLID GOLD SPONSORS MARIAN AND LARRY GIBBS MELANIE BRANTON MANZELLA ’87 DAWN AND TIM MAYEUX PRETTY IN RED & BLUE CHERIE AND BEAU BLAKE RHONDA AND STEPHEN FLEISHMANN DOMINIQUE ’86 AND CHUCK GIORDANO NICOLE AND STEPHEN LACOSTE VANESSA G. CARROLL OHMES ’94 AND ROBERT A. OHMES ANA ’85 AND GERARDO ORTEGA LACY ’87 AND MORRIS RABE BRANDI ’87 AND WILLIAM FEIBLEMAN ’82 TERRY ’69 AND KEITH STANTON LAURIE AND JEFF YOUNG FOOTLOOSE FRIEND PATRON MUFFIN ’96 AND JASON ADRIANCE LISA AND JAY ANGERER, JR. LYNN AND ROBERT ARENSMAN LAUREN AND ROBY ARENSMAN ’91 KELLY AND DAVID ARIZOLA ALYSON AND KEVIN BERTHELOT ROBIN AND MARK BONE ANDREA BONNETTE ’98 AND TODD PEREIRA PAMELA C. BRIERRE DORIS AND TOMMY BRYAN CHERIE AND EDDIE CABOS MELISSA AND MITCHELL CHAILLAND BLANE AND TERRELL CLAYTON MEAGHAN ’91 AND KYLE COLEMAN CHRISTINA VIAL COMER ’91 AND PATRICK COMER VALERIE AND CHARLES CORCORAN ’88
MICHELLE AND BART CRANFORD KIM ’87 AND MARK CRAWFORD LISA AND BRET DAVIS VIRGINIA “GINI” DAVIS, PT LEIGH ’94 AND ARTHUR DEUTCSH LISA AND FRED DEVALL ’87 BRENDA AND JIM FALANGA YANIRA AND RAFAEL FIGUEROA KRISTI AND JAY FRENCH LESLIE AND RANDY GASPARD DONNA AND ROBERT GLENN HEIDI AND ADAM GREMILLION IMAN AND FADI HAWAWINI JENNIFER AND JEFF HENDERSON CYNTHIA HILL AINSLEY AND BRIAN HOUGHTALING ’93 SHANNON AND STEPHEN HUBER ’89 TRUDY AND TIM HURLEY LINDA IRWIN CHRISTINE AND STEPHEN JONES LINDA JOUET NIKKI AND BRIAN KANN RACHEL JURISICH AND DONALD KLOTZ ERIN AND DAVE LAVIE BRIDGET AND BRIAN LAWRENCE MARIA BERNAL AND JESUS LOVERA REBECCA AND MARK LOVISA ROBIN AND JEFF LUNSFORD MIRIAM AND KENNETH MANCUSO BRENDA MARTIN GAYLE AND RANDY MARTIN ELENA AND KEVIN MCPEAK MICHELLE AND RAJ MITRA ALICIA VIAL ’89 AND MATT MOLAISON SUSAN AND MARK MORERE ’74 JACKIE AND JOHN MORGAN
KATHLEEN ’87 AND MIKE MORIN LAURA AND GEORGE MUELLER KRISTEN AND MICHAEL NICOLADIS ’78 AVA AND LEON NOWALSKY PROVANCE CHIROPRACTIC SPORTS & WELLNESS NIKKI RABALAIS JULIE AND BENNIE RELAN HELEN AND BOB RICHARDS SUSAN AND PETER RIGNEY ALMA ’83 AND BILL ’83 ROOHI BRANDI JONES AND MITCHELL RUBIN ANGIE RUIZ MARGARET AND WALKER SAIK ’02 ASHLEY SALGE AND FREDA FREEMAN AMY SANDRIDGE ’80 AND BILL RENAUDIN CYNTHIA ’74 AND LENNY SCHMIDT MELANIE CARSON AND PAUL SCHURKE FRAN AND MARK SCOFIELD FLOYD AND MELISSA SIMEON MERRY AND KIM SORRELLS JULIE AND KIRK TALBOT ’88 DEANNA AND TODD TILLERY AARON THOMPSON AND SHANNON LOBELL KIM AND BILLY TOLAR KIM AND JEAN-MARC TULEU MICHELE ’87 AND JEFF VARON DENA AND PARKER WATERS STEPHANIE AND KELLY WILLIAMSON
Spring/Summer 2017 | 41
TEACHER FEATURE
Dr. Harriett Aguiar-Netto
In Her Element As she walked into her chemistry class for the first time her junior year, Katie Faught ’93 had no idea what to expect from the well-known Dr. Aguiar. “Chemistry frightened me because I was never particularly interested in science, but I found that Dr. Aguiar had a natural ability to make it fun and exciting,” said Faught in a recent interview.
“We could laugh and joke around with her, but we also knew when it was time to buckle down and learn.” DR. HARRIETT AGUIAR-NETTO Served at St. Martin’s from 1982 to 2005 Dr. Aguiar was awarded the Spirit of St. Martin’s Award by the Booster Club in 2005 for her boundless support of St. Martin’s athletics. A fixture at St. Martin’s football games for years, she was often seen toting a custom-made StM umbrella that she used for touchdown dances. Passionate about STEM education, she has served a number of organizations, such as the Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair, Women for a Better Louisiana, Lake Pontchartrain Foundation Education committee, and Louisiana Children’s Museum. In April, Aguiar was honored for her service to the Jewish Children’s Regional Service.
42 | The Bell
Dr. Harriett Aguiar-Netto joined St. Martin’s in 1982 and taught physics, chemistry, and mathematics. She was the science department chair for 16 years before serving eight years as head of the Upper School. While working on her doctorate at Tulane University in 1966, Aguiar was pictured in an Associated Press story about a team working on a malaria cure. The article described her as “a greeneyed blonde who could well rate as a pin-up girl for Viet Nam [sic] servicemen.” “I remember seeing that photo of her in her lab coat when she was young,” said Faught. “She was strikingly beautiful.” But it is another photo of Aguiar’s that stands out most in Faught’s mind.
“After I graduated, I went back to visit Dr. Aguiar and noticed a photo of my chemistry class on her desk. She told me that she kept the photo as a reminder that things could always be worse. I know she secretly loved my class, but we were a handful.” Despite the class’ “difficult, but lovable” reputation, Aguiar found a way to reach her students. “She was firm, and we knew the boundaries,” said Faught. “We could laugh and joke around with her, but we also knew when it was time to buckle down and learn.” It was Aguiar’s approach that motivated Faught to work hard. “At that time, my focus was more on socializing than learning, but she inspired me to do well,” said Faught. “I wanted to do my best for Dr. Aguiar. I didn’t want to disappoint her, and began taking great pride in earning good grades in her class.” After losing track of each other for several years, they recently reconnected via social media. “I told her how much I loved and respected her as a teacher,” said Faught. “I also asked about the photo of my class and was surprised when she said she still had it. She quickly posted it online for me. She must still have it close by to remind her things could always be worse.”
HONOR A TEACHER
HONO R
T HOSE
W H O
H AV E
made a difference
Honor the St. Martin’s teacher, coach, or staff member who made a difference in your life.
When you send your gift of $25 or more, tell us why you chose to honor that person and we’ll share your sentiments with the honoree in a personal letter. Honorees’ names will be posted on the website and featured in the next issue of The Bell. Find out more about the Honor a Teacher program at stmsaints.com/give.
Celebrating 70 years of Faith, Scholarship, and Service.
Endowment and Special Funds
A LIFE-CHANGING GIFT St. Martin’s Board of Trustees
$160,000
FACULTY RECOGNITION SCHOLARSHIP FUND
This scholarship was established in 2007, by St. Martin’s Board of Trustees, to honor certain long-serving, retiring faculty members. Proceeds from the fund are awarded to students based on academic merit and financial need. THE 2017 HONOREE Peggy Fransen
PREVIOUS HONOREES Doris Baron Eileen Beckman Margaret Budde Carolyn Busenlener Jane Caine Julie Dieth Susan Godchaux Dianne Greer Jane Guillory Tina Hintz Ginny Hoffmann Vicki Johnson Betsy Kaston ’72 Jim Marsalis ’62 Janis McCormick Chick McGeehan Rex Mooney Susan Pansano ’66 Pedro Perez Stephenie Pittman Cheryl Resignola Sue Shaw Gloria Siegel Michelle Snow Linda Trevino Linda Trotter Winnie Wendel
awarded to students by the Audrey B. Michaud Scholarship Fund. Established in 2007 by Beau Bisso ’90, in honor of his grandmother
When Luke Jeanfreau ’17 started at St. Martin’s four years ago, he had no idea the opportunities he’d uncover. “I’ve worked with amazing teachers at St. Martin’s,” said Jeanfreau. “Through my time at [the student newspaper] The Halo, I discovered my love for journalism. Because of the great education I received, I am able to study what I want and have great scholarship opportunities.” Jeanfreau will attend LSU this fall to study political communication. He is a recipient of multiple scholarships, including one from the prestigious Manship Scholars program. And he is grateful for it all. Jeanfreau knows his future was launched with an incredible gift — a scholarship to St. Martin’s from the Belle Johnson Scholars Foundation. The foundation, now in its 19th year, provides scholarships to students with financial need who combine strong academic performance with extracurricular involvement, citizenship, and promise. Each year St. Martin’s receives restricted gifts, such as those listed to the right, for specific purposes such as scholarships, faculty professional development, student aid, Episcopal identity, and academics. Jeanfreau says that it is important to him for the Johnson family to know how grateful he is. “My four years at St. Martin’s have been the best of my life. Thank you for your investment in me.” The scholarship was named after Belle Johnson (pictured above, left), a teacher and vibrant member of St. Martin’s community for more than 30 years. Senior Luke Jeanfreau (above, right) is a 2016-17 foundation scholarship recipient.
2013
The Lewis Lagniappe Fund for Students is established to assist students with costs of an StM education beyond tuition
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faculty recipients of the Godiwala Fellowship for Innovation in Education since it was established in 1998
Scholarship Funds
Alumni Financial Aid Fund Barbara H. Ryan Fund Billie Walters Memorial Fund Dorothy Dorsa Porter Scholarship Fund Faculty Recognition Scholarship Funds The Lewis Lagniappe Fund for Students Gustaf Westfeldt, Jr. Award Rigdon Family Scholarship Fund Ruth U. Fertel Foundation Scholarship Fund Tad Huber Memorial Scholarship Fund W. Brooks Emory Scholarship Fund Educational Purpose Funds
Christian Life Fund Unrestricted Funds
Family Endowment Green Acres Fund Tony Porter Memorial Fund Award Funds
Audrey B. Michaud Scholarship Fund * Belle Johnson Scholars Foundation * Godiwala Fellowship for Innovation in Education Haring Road Fund Mildred Ellis Herron Fund Moseley Fund Reisch Teacher Fund *Are not housed within the St. Martin’s Family Endowment.
Plant Funds
Haring Road Fund
10
years since the Dorothy Dorsa Porter Scholarship Fund was established, benefitting select Upper School students with superior academic promise
For more information on how to give back to StM, contact Lisa Davis at 504.736.9960 or lisa.davis@stmsaints.com.
44 | The Bell
Three generations of the Spell family have attended St. Martin’s
StM Spells Success In June, the Spell family became one of just a handful of families to have three generations of St. Martin’s alums. Doyle “Bubba” Spell ’51, his son Doyle “Buddy” Spell ’76, and granddaughter Sarah Jane Spell ’17 now share a bond linked by 70 years of tradition. Bubba played varsity football for St. Martin’s under the legendary coach Tony Porter, an experience that greatly impacted his life. “Tony was a wonderful man and taught me many of the life values that make me who I am today,” said Spell. When it was time to think about his future, Spell made sure it involved a Legacy Society gift to St. Martin’s. Through his gift, he is glad to know future students will benefit from the education, values, and long-lasting relationships they form at St. Martin’s. “Our lifelong benefactors choose to leave a legacy to show they care about the quality of education that St. Martin’s offers,” said Head of School Merry Sorrells. “Benefactors who make Legacy Society gifts join those who have invested so well in the past.” A FAMILY TRADITION Doyle “Bubba” Spell ’52, Sarah Jane Spell ’17, and Doyle “Buddy” Spell ’76 are part of a small group of families to boast three generations to graduate from St. Martin’s.
The Legacy Societies of St. Martin’s Those who remember St. Martin’s Episcopal School through a will, trust, designation, or other planned gift, are invited to join the Legacy Societies. Involvement in the Legacy Societies gives benefactors the opportunity to enjoy the company of others who, like themselves, care about leaving a legacy to protect and strengthen this community. Mrs. Margaret Stainbach Adams ’75 Mrs. Carol Appel Senator Conrad Appel Mr. Brian Bossier ’78 Mr. John D. Broadbent and Mrs. Karon Brenes Broadbent ’61 Mrs. Margaret Dannenberg Bossier ’78 Mr. Alan Brackett Mrs. Linda Eckles Brackett Rev. Daryl Canfill* Mrs. Lynn Coatney Mr. Michael Coatney Mrs. Ethel G. Coupland* Mr. Sean Daly Mr. John DeMartini ’80 Mrs. Sandra DeMartini Mr. F. Otway Denny Mrs. Beth Hughes DePass ’79 The Rev. Fred Devall IV ’87 Mr. Michael A. Flick Mr. Lawrence Gibbs Mrs. Marian Gibbs Mr. John Girault ’55 Mrs. Murrell Girault Dr. Tejas Godiwala Mr. John Graham Mr. Peter Hagan* Ms. Jan M. Hayden Mr. Tom Huber* Mr. Tim Hurley Mr. Hans A.B. Jonassen ’58 Mr. John P. Labouisse ’60* Mrs. Meredith Labouisse* Mr. Dan LeGardeur ’69 Mr. Jon King Mayer* Mrs. Mary Anne O’Neil* Mrs. Anthony Porter* Mrs. Mary Sue Roniger ’60 Mrs. Charlotte Smith* Mr. Gary N. Solomon, Sr. Mr. Doyle Spell ’52 Mrs. Billie Poag Walters ’63* Mr. Parker Waters Dr. Susan Wilkie *deceased
St. Martin’s is grateful for the profound impact these benefactors and their gifts have on the school.
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ALUMNI
Alumni Events 1 Nathaniel Rogers, Brandon Lobell, and James Buckley, of the Class of 2001, with their children at the Alumni Easter Egg Hunt. 2 Pre-K student William Feibleman, son of Brandi ’87 and William Feibleman ’82, at the Alumni Easter Egg Hunt. 3 Ashton Harris ’16 and Dante Bertucci-Ness ’16 at the Young Alumni Yearbook Lunch. 4 Jeff Millican, Jim Marsalis ’62, and Fred Devall ’87 at Alumni Chapel. 5 Andre Thionville ’88 and Lacy Williams Rabe ’87 at the Alumni Spirits Party. 6 Members of the Class of 2016 enjoy their Yearbook Lunch. 1
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7 Frances Derby ’05 and Barbara Farris ’94 volunteer at the Alumni Easter Egg Hunt. 8 Thom Robbins ’75 with Tracy Lee ’75 and Tim Deano ’74. 9 Karen and Mike Sullivan with Chris Tidmore ’92 at the Spirits Party. 10 Chick McGeehan receives the Dorothy Porter Service Award from Linda Trevino. Read more about McGeehan on p.50. 11 Saints take on Saints in an Alumni Hoops pick-up basketball game. 12 Marlene and Doug Nester ’70, Pat McCurnin ’70, and Jeanette McCurnin ’71 reconnect at the Spirits Party. 13 Members of the Class of 1977 Calvin Perilloux, Cielle Muller Clemenceau, Mary Beth Pendley Ray, and Jim and Charlotte Kreher Cook visit at the Spirits Party. 14 Lauren and Roby Arensman ’91 with Stacy McGeehan Ellefson ’89 (center). 15 Mickey Delaney Andry ’98 with Linda Trevino, Merry Sorrells, and Coach McGeehan at the Spirits Party. 16 Members of the Class of 1992 Jennifer Adams, Mike Odom, Kelly McGeehan, Claiborne Schmidt, and Beau Bethune catch up at the Spirits Party.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
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St. Martin’s alumni are making extraordinary things happen throughout the world. Whether serving their colleges as student leaders, publishing research papers, or meeting the medical needs of people in developing countries, St. Martin’s grads distinguish themselves through their hard work, determination, and commitment to social justice. Building on the strong foundation that was laid during their time on Green Acres, these inspiring alumni exemplify the ideals of faith, scholarship, and service. Here, The Bell highlights five alumni who graduated within the last five years who are working to better their communities and change the world.
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Photo Credit: Wake Forest University/Ken Bennett
YOUNG ALUMS ARE MAKING NAMES
NYDIA ARAYA ’13 Student Activist, Loyola Krewe Leader
TYLER DEAN ’13 Published Researcher, Cure Seeker
Once a disconnected Loyola University New Orleans student, Nydia Araya ’13 discovered her passion in a moment of clarity. While thinking about the first time she felt truly connected to her university, she realized it was during the school’s orientation sessions. Now a passionate leader in Loyola Krewe, the student ambassador group, Araya helps incoming freshmen and commuters feel at home themselves. As a first-generation college student and a commuter, Araya says she feels she can be a voice for students who may feel marginalized. Her Krewe experiences have unlocked a passion for higher education administration, one which she is pursuing through an undergraduate fellowship with the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. In the fall Araya will begin to work toward a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at Louisiana State University while completing a graduate assistantship in Campus Life: Leadership.
With a mother who is a breast cancer survivor, it’s not difficult to see why Tyler Dean ’13 was inspired to study biomedicine and how the hard sciences apply to medicine. The Wake Forest University senior is making waves in the research field. In 2015 Dean was selected as a Beckman Scholar, a program that provides exceptional students with funding to pursue research. Dean was awarded $130,000 to pursue undergraduate research to develop antibodies against T-cells involved in autoimmune disease. The research spanned two summers under the guidance of faculty mentors. This spring Dean was recognized by Wake Forest at the 8th Annual Senior Showcase, honoring the exemplary research endeavors of undergraduate students in their final year at Wake Forest. He is the first author of a published chemistry research paper, “Design of Gold-Based Trojan Horse Therapies for Treating Autoimmune Disorders.”
FOR THEMSELVES IN THEIR FIELDS
BEN GRIFFITH ’13 Risk Taker, Campus Leader
ANNA CATINAS ’14 Global Citizen, Medical Advocate
QUEEN TERVALON ’16 Community Activist, Student Ambassador
Where others see a risk, Ben Griffith ’13 sees an opportunity to grow. Inspired by the mission of his college, St. Edward’s University in Austin, he took a risk last year and ran for vice president of the student body. He lost. Undeterred, the rising senior ran this year for student body president — and won. “Whether it was directing The Outsiders, acting in more than 10 shows, serving as a member of the Honor Council, or even running cross country, being able to participate in such a wide variety of activities at St. Martin’s helped me learn to take risks and participate in things I never would have imagined,” says Griffith. The communications major is looking forward to his term as president, and to making connections with the students he will serve. Before taking office this fall, the Transfer Student Association Ambassador and Anchors Herd Leader will spend the summer leading freshmen and transfer student orientations.
When faced with healthcare disparity in developing nations, do you stand down or join the movement? For Anna Catinas ’14, the answer is simple: be part of the brigades -- the Global Medical Brigades. A rising senior at the University of Southern California, Catinas is a Health and Human Sciences major and a member of the executive board of USC’s chapter of Global Medical Brigades, a nationwide organization that works closely with rural communities in developing nations to offer long-term holistic medical assistance. Once in-country, students work closely with staff members who live in the community, locals who are trained to help with patient intake, physicians, specialists, and health staff from the US. Catinas, who has been on the dean’s list since 2015, is also the recipient of a Presidential Scholarship and a member of the Trojan Scholars Society and Order of Omega Honor Society. She plans to attend medical school after graduation next year.
Leading change. Inspiring activism. That’s the mission of Queen Tervalon ’16. The Clark Atlanta University (CAU) freshman wasted no time working toward that goal. In her first year at the school, she was appointed by university leadership as “Miss Honors Program,” the representative for the Isabella T. Jenkins Honors and Scholars Program, and was elected Student Government Association freshman class representative. The firstgeneration college student and CocaCola Scholarship Program recipient is passionate about civil rights and activism. An active member of campus student leadership, Tervalon consults with the university provost and other upperlevel administrators to affect change in the lives of students. This summer she will serve as a CAU global ambassador participating in a two-week program in China with other CAU students. Tervalon is also a member of the Model African Union, and has an internship with Amnesty International.
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ALUMNI AWARDS
Proven Track Record Charles “Chick” McGeehan
Awarded Dorothy Porter Service Award
To the large crowd gathered on the Alumni Lawn to honor the 17th Dorothy Porter Service Award recipient, the listing of Charles “Chick” McGeehan’s successes may have sounded like a broken record. That could be because he did break records. A standout track and football athlete, McGeehan attended Fishburne Military School and earned a football scholarship to the University of Tennessee. He was a member of the Vols’ 1967 National Championship football team and was also a track All American. McGeehan was an Army special service officer during the Vietnam War and was awarded a Bronze Star. He was recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution for his “service, valor, and sacrifice.” His record-setting continued through his professional career as he amassed numerous coaching accolades. The two-time StM state championship coach has been inducted into several halls of fame, including the school’s Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. A beloved member of the St. Martin’s community since 1980, he has two yearbooks dedicated to him and also was the Commencement speaker twice. McGeehan holds additional less formal records: He has been hired or re-hired by three different heads of school. In his 35-plus years at St. Martin’s, McGeehan has served as athletic director, track and field coach, physical education teacher, advisor, and substitute teacher. When the school needed an interim athletic director, McGeehan gave up the comfort and ease of retirement to return in that role. Unofficially, he also holds the record for the number of sayings etched in the memories of St. Martin’s alums. These “McGeehanisms” include, but are not limited to: Happy feet; Pocket to chin; Righty tighty, lefty loosey; Measure twice, cut once; Be careful what you wish for; and Do you have your center hole punch? Despite consummate success as a coach, administrator, and leader, McGeehan’s legacy surely will be his impact as a model of boundless courage, selfless service, and positive demeanor. Since 2002, the school has presented an exemplary St. Martin’s citizen with The Dorothy Porter Service Award. Representing the school values of Faith, Scholarship, and Service, Charles “Chick” McGeehan was honored as the 2017 recipient at the Alumni Spirits Party on May 13.
To read more about the Dorothy Porter Service Award or to nominate a 2018 recipient, visit stmsaints.com/awards.
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Scattered Saints 1957 In May the class celebrated its 60-year reunion at the Southern Yacht Club. The dinner and other weekend events were enjoyed by all.
1959 The class is anticipating a 60 reunion in a few years and has already started organizing. Contact class agent Sue Skolar for more information. She spends her time enjoying the accomplishments of her two granddaughters. One recently competed in The Snowboarding Nationals, and the other will travel to Israel this summer to compete in golf. th
Henry “Holland” Collins is living in New Orleans on St. Charles Avenue and enjoys being on the streetcar line. Also in the area is James “Buddy” Martin III, who lives in Covington. He is a retired major of the U.S. Air Force who is now busy in the community; he has been on the Board of Directors of St. Matthew’s Church and is on the Board of Omni Bank. John Little is thinking about retiring soon. He lives in Florida, where he operates a mortgage company. He is married to classmate Carole Andrews, who spends time playing tennis competitively.
1960 This always-active class is ever on the move. Hackett Cummins and wife Nan split time between North Carolina and Pass Christian, with plans to visit John Woolfolk and his wife Kay in California.
Bob Livingston and wife Bonnie, who are in their 52nd year of marriage, are still splitting time between D.C., New Orleans, and Savannah. Judi Harlow is loving her new home in Sun City, S.C., near Hilton Head. She is active with the chorus there, which does a great production every spring. Judi’s husband has written two new books since they’ve been in their new home. Hjalmar Breit reports that he and his wife Polly are both still working. They spend free time at the yacht club, enjoying friends and sailing. Lizann Kreeger Hardy had a great family reunion in New Iberia where they feasted on boiled crawfish. She headed to Johns Hopkins in May to see her daughter Penny receive her Ph.D. Patti McHugh Fullilove is in Bay St. Louis, where she has two antique and collectible booths. Nancy Kinser and her husband George still spend winter months at Amelia Island and return to Bailey Island, Maine in the spring. Last summer they sailed the Nantucket/Martha’s Vineyard area for two weeks and will sail in Maine this summer. Doug Johnson and his wife Susan are planning a trip this summer with all their kids and grandkids, 16 total, to Italy! Every year Doug takes the whole crew on a trip together.
1964 Milton Pounds, who created the stained glass windows in the Dan and Frances White Chapel on campus, invites everyone to visit his studio’s new website at
The Bell began keeping up with alumni in a feature called Scattered Saints as early as 1963. As our alumni family continues to grow, we have created a new design for this section. We have grouped all the written updates together, and then Lifetime Events photos together. Class Reunion photos close out the section.
www.PoundsStudio.com. There you will find a portfolio drawn from over 180 major fine art commissions executed in a wide range of media for churches, mausoleums, synagogues, state capitals, and public buildings worldwide.
1965 Vince Massimini and his wife Pat welcomed their ninth grandchild in August. Vince and Pat still work in the D.C. area on civil aviation safety and global positions systems, and they live on a grass runway near the Chesapeake Bay, with an airplane beneath the house. Pam Danos and Sonny Wiegand are well into their 10th year of downtown, highrise living in Denver. Sonny has moved his law office to a storefront two blocks away, with a satellite office in their mountain house in Breckenridge. Pam is well into her second term on the Board of Trustees of the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge. Sonny has recently been elected to the Board of Directors of the Central City Opera House Association. Kathi McHugh Gunter is enjoying retirement. In July Madeline Steiner Mitchell will retire from UNC after over 30 years and plans to spend more time with her seven grandchildren.
1966 Cathy Kirgis Kuhlman was chosen by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities as Humanities Hero-of-theMonth for February 2017.
1967 The class celebrated a reunion in March at the Southern Yacht Club where they celebrated their graduation 50 years ago. A good time was had by all. David and K.T. Snyder have been living in New Orleans since 1981. They have two children. Their son James married an StM alum last year (Florie Claire Webb ’99). He has three boys and Florie Claire has a daughter. David and K.T.’s daughter and her family live in Dallas. She and her husband Cory have twins. David is a cardiologist at East Jefferson Hospital, and K.T. is retired and having fun with the grandkids! Cathy Reyna enjoys travelling with her husband to visit family. In California she spends time with three grandsons in San Francisco and with her daughter-in-law’s family in La Jolla for Christmas. Another frequent destination is New York City to visit daughter Katie. Bill Brockman continues to practice law in the New Orleans area and has been married to his wife Bea for 41 years. They have four children and five wonderful grandchildren. After a career as a surgical oncologist with a specialty in breast cancer, Anne Krementz Bigliani has retired and become a horticulture judge. She spends her time in the garden and at flower shows as well as with her husband Louis, two daughters, and new grandson. After retiring a year ago, Courtee Merrick also spends time with grandchildren, six under the age of 6.
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SCATTERED SAINTS
Ric Gregory has lived in Houston for 40+ years and just retired from the broadcast television business. He has two stepsons with his wife Margaret, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Paulette Dupont Rinkle and her husband Phil live in Metairie. She retired after 39 years of teaching the elementary grades. They are planning a trip to New Zealand to visit their granddaughter. Keith Ann Bateman Stopa is in New Orleans, but she and her husband Stan are planning to move to Houston. They have three grandsons and love watching them play football and baseball. They both spend time playing golf. Carol Robinson Tompkins and her husband Jim have been in Texas for the past 23 years. Carol retired from the antique business but still keeps busy.
1973 Bernard Maddox was featured as the cover artist for the February issue of Inside New Orleans magazine. His work can be found on display in uptown New Orleans at the Carol Robinson Gallery.
1977 The class celebrated its 40-Year Reunion on Alumni Weekend at the home of Parke Ellis and his wife Nancy. It was a lovely evening enjoyed by all. After serving two terms as an elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Washington, D.C., Mary Beth Pendley Ray started a nonprofit, Van Ness Main Street, and is now president of the Board of Directors. She and Sheldon are approaching their 30th anniversary and her daughter Betsy works in NYC, while their son Alex attends Loyola University, giving them a great excuse to return “home.”
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1986 Dominique Brown Giordano was selected to to make the ball favors for this year’s Washington, D.C. Mardi Gras. She also lent her talents to StM, creating a new modern design for the senior rings.
1989 During a game in March at Greer Field, Tulane Athletics honored the 1992 Metro Conference Baseball Championship team, which includes Alfredo Mesa.
1993 Colin Gold was married to wife Shiori at the Tsurugaoka Hachiman shrine in Kamakura, Japan. Brother Scott Gold ’95 and family were thrilled to join the celebration. The couple live in Portland, Oregon.
1995 Billy Schroeder and his wife Teri expanded their mental health counseling practice ( Just Mind) with a second location in Austin, Texas. Alison Grice Barrios and her husband, Troy, have recently opened a real estate brokerage in New Orleans, the Barrios Real Estate Group.
1998 The class is planning a 20-year reunion in early 2018. Send your contact information to the Alumni Office or class agent Nihal Godiwala. He is in New Orleans working as an attending physician in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care at Children’s Hospital. In December 2016 Brian Werth married Bella Castillo. The couple reside in Atlanta.
Alisa Baum Alloy is also in Atlanta. She and husband Jason have a son Ryan (3) and are awaiting the arrival of another child in June 2017. She enjoys hanging out with fellow classmates Marci Juneau, Amanda Abrams, Katie Wester-Neal, and Katie Nugon Arminio. In April, Amanda Abrams was the featured speaker at the Jewish Children’s Regional Service Gala. At the event she was introduced by former StM teachers Harriet Aguiar-Netto and Betsy Kaston ’72. Both are on the JCRS board and were honored at the event. Matt Houston was married this February and is living in Austin. Micki Delaney Andry, who coaches girls basketball at Academy of the Sacred Heart, was named District Coach of the Year for the 2016-2017 season. Elena Perez is the Managing Attorney of a medical legal partnership at Southeast Louisiana Legal Services and the co-chair of Louisiana State Bar Association’s Legal Services for Persons with Disability Committee, and the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Access to Justice Public Benefits Taskforce. Also in New Orleans is Annie Fowler, who works in advertising sales for Laurel Outdoor. Emily Hymowitz is still living in the D.C. area.
2000 In the winter Alumni Board President Josh Kaston, owner of BeJe Designs, was on campus to speak to a Middle School English class that was learning about pearls. Read more about that presentation on p.16.
2001 Stephanie Kaston Gutierrez became a licensed realtor with Crescent City Living LLC. Also getting in on the real estate business is Zachary Tyson, who joined the REMAX Synergy team as a licensed real estate agent/realtor. Zach is also the owner of Tyson Construction which was featured in the spring 2017 issue of New Orleans Homes and Lifestyles magazine. He is the 2017 Parade of Homes Chairman and serves on the 2017 Home Builders Association Board of Directors. In March Clayton Eiswirth was featured in the Doctor Profiles of New Orleans Living magazine. He is practicing pulmonary medicine at East Jefferson General Hospital.
2002 REUNION YEAR The class of 2002 will celebrate its 15-year reunion in the Fall of 2017. Be on the lookout for more info coming soon. In the fall of 2016 Kathryn Bullock opened Pilot and Powell, a clothing store on Magazine Street. It was named one of “the coolest new stores” by Vogue and one of America’s top independent boutiques by The Business of Fashion. This spring, Richard Thompson began offering first edition prints of his photography. See his work at www.rvt3.net. In December Aimee Hyatt married John Marshall Whatley. StM alums Liz Levy Duawe, Margot Castaing Rainold, Beth Washington ’03, and Lauren Giles Mora ’01 were bridesmaids. Also there to celebrate were Sara Castano, Katherine Burke Flohr, Tracy Goldblatt, and Julia Groome.
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In 2016 Michael Musso married Mark Erickson. Celebrating with the couple were classmates Sadiha Ahmed, Leslie Geiger Wynne, Nicole Chopin and others.
Following graduation from LSU, Alex de Gravelle will be moving to Charlotte to work for Bank of America.
In April, Beth Washington was married to Michael Letourneau. Kristina Haydel married Kyle Riggins in March. Both events were attended by several StM alumni including Mariann Wilson Sengelmann and Mary Scott Westfelt McKinnon.
Recently Jack Hurley launched clothing line Arcady, which was then featured on Forbes.com. Working for Arcady is classmate Dustin Disalvo, who in February teamed up with Catholic organizations in New York City to host a proper Mardi Gras ball in Manhattan. Disalvo is also part of the band John the Martyr with Kyle Ridley. The NYC-based group performed this spring at the local Bayou Boogaloo.
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Colleen Gravley was married to Will Leaf in February at the One&Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas. Celebrating with the couple were Mitchell White, Caroline Wilson Wolfe, Sophia Loupakos Biesanz, Julie Henson and others from the StM community.
This semester Caroline Burglass passed her veterinary boards and will graduate from LSU Veterinary School. She will do a Large Animal Medicine & Surgery rotating internship at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine.
In 2016 Kristin Malone opened Home Malone in Mid City, New Orleans. This art and gift shop features more than 60 makers and artisans from the Deep South. Gretchen Hoffman earned an MBA from the McCombs School of Business at UTAustin and, after eight years in the academic software industry, joined Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, where she specializes in higher education executive recruitment for colleges and universities.
2007 REUNION YEAR On December 10, 2016, Caroline Wilson was married to Michael Wolfe. Celebrating with the couple were several classmates, including Sam Mickal Solomon, Adele LeGardeur, Ellen Cunningham, Bryan Flick, and Sarah Beth Pansano.
In May 2017 Jane Ball graduated from Tulane University School of Medicine and is heading to Baylor Houston for an internship in surgery. In March Ellie Simmons was married to Bryce Penny. Many classmates were there to celebrate, including Sara Beth Eumont, Makenzie Kozojet, Katie Gilmore, Sarah Rothschild, Elizabeth Webber, and Maryclaire Manard.
2010 In 2016 Jeff Favaloro traveled with classmates Tommy John and Shannon Schweitzer to Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand. He returned in January to Bangkok, Thailand, with classmates Chris Cobb and Chris Breault. While in Bangkok, they visited their classmate, Krittin Noibanchong.
In April, Ben Griffith was elected Student Government Association president at St. Edward’s University. As student body president he will serve on the board of trustees as a non-voting member, to ensure that student concerns are reaching the highest level of leadership at the University. He has also been on the Dean’s List each of his semesters at St. Edward’s. In December Vishal Shah graduated from the E.J. Ourso College of Business at LSU. In January, Joanna Smilari celebrated her white coat ceremony at the LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing. The ceremony includes the recitation of an oath, presentation of the coat, and a reception for students and invited guests. Ben Griffith, Tyler Dean and Nydia Araya are featured in this issue. Turn to p.48.
2014 This Carnival season Stephanie Bossier was a maid in the royal court of Olympians and Caliphs of Cairo. Kathryn Favaloro was elected president of the Student Kinesiology Association at Texas Christian University. She is also involved on campus with TCU Dance Marathon, One Love, and her sorority, Delta Delta Delta.
Aiden Harris has accepted a position as an auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He begins his final year at LSU this fall, then plans to obtain a master’s degree in accounting. PwC has well-established student programs that provide the training, coaching, and experiences that students need to build relationships and take advantage of career opportunities. Anna Catinis is featured in this issue. Turn to p.48.
2015 Srihari Korrapati pledged Delta Tau Delta at Emory University this semester.
2016 In January Madison Cummings pledged Phi Mu at Tulane. Austin White was named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2016 at LSU. Kailee Gibson, Jaclyn Murphy and Abigail Sims were named to the University of Alabama’s Dean’s List for the fall semester of 2016. During a break from college, Ian Ottinger, who is studying theater at Emerson, returned to campus to help teach an improv class to StM drama students. In the fall Ashton Angelle was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout during a Court of Honor ceremony. Queen Tervalon is featured in this issue. Turn to p.48
The StM Alumni Office is here to help you connect! For your class agents’ contact information, call the alumni office at 504.736.9986 or email alumni@stmsaints.com.
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SCATTERED SAINTS
Lifetime
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1 Mason Talbert ’00, wife Michelle, and big brother Hays welcomed Corrine Charbonnet on April 21, 2017. 2 Karl Senner ’04, wife Bridge D’Isernia Senner, and big sister Mimsy welcomed Karl Ashby Senner, Jr. on December 5, 2016. 3 Margot Castaing Rainold ’02, husband Zandy, and big sister Reese welcomed Charlotte May ‘Charley’ on March 10, 2017. 4 Brian Werth ’98 married Bella Castillo in December 2016. 5 Kristina Haydel ’03 married Kyle Riggins in March 2017. 6 Friends from the Class of 2010, Chris Cobb, Chris Breault, Krittin Noibanchong, and Jeffrey Favaloro in Bangkok, Thailand in January 2017. 7 Kelsey Vogt Napier ’06 brings her triplets to visit her StM Pre-K class this spring. Kelsey and husband Brett welcomed Quinn, Owen, and Kellen on January 18, 2017. 8 Michael Musso ’03 and Mark Erickson were married in November 2016. 9 Gerald Martin ’15 and Stephanie Bossier ’14 at the 2017 Caliphs of Cairo Ball. 10 Tommy John, Shannon Schweitzer, and Jeffrey Favaloro, of the Class of 2010, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in summer of 2016.
11 Aimee Hyatt ’02 married John Marshall Whatley in December 2016. 12 Ellie Simmons ’09 married Bryce Penny in March 2017. 13 Muffin Adriance ’96 and son, Sawyer, who was a page at the 2017 Elves of Oberon Ball. 14 Marguerite King Marschner ’02 and husband Richard welcomed their first child, Adelaide, on May 8, 2017.
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15 Ashley Stewart Wilson ’98 and husband Steve welcomed their third child, Matthew, on January 27, 2017. 16 Beth Washington ’02 was married to Michael Letourneau in April 2017. 17 The wedding of Michael Musso ’03 was attended by classmates from StM. 18 Members of the Class of 2007’s 14-Year Club enjoy the wedding of Caroline Wilson ’07.
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19 Chris Leopold ’86 and family celebrate StM Ring Day with his son, Will, in March 2017. 20 Jay Shannon ’84 and son, Collin, at StM Ring Day 2017. 21 Luke and mother Dominique Brown Giordano ’86 at StM Ring Day 2017.
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22 Kristin Malone ’05 opened retail store Home Malone in 2016. 23 StM alums enjoy the wedding of Colleen Gravely ’05 in February 2017.
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Myrna Coe, mother of Lester Coe ’84 and Denise Roberts ’83; grandmother of Spencer Schlesinger ’10, Tia Schlesinger ’14, and Lila Coe ’23 Eric Fabio ’11, brother of Alex Fabio ’07 Nancy Farber, mother of George Farber ’77, Mike Farber ’78, Jeff Farber ’80, Guy Farber ’82, and Scott Farber ’82; grandmother of Allan Farber ’06, Samantha Farber ’09, Nathan Farber ’12, Will Farber ’12, Emy Farber ’24
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George Lewis, former faculty Charles Martinez, father of Jonathan Martinez ’00 Jon Martin ’83, husband of Keppy Laudeman Martin ’83, brother of Michael Martin ’78, brother-inlaw of Judy Becker Martin ’80, uncle of Gerald Martin ’15 and Will Martin ’12, son-in-law of Elliott and Sue Rupple Laudeman ’55 John McGinnis, father of Mark McGinnis ’86 Prospero Mesa, former faculty and father of Ana Mesa Ortega ’85, Carlos Mesa ’87 and Alfredo Mesa ’89; grandfather of Diego ’18 and Sofia ’21
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Stuart Neal ’70, brother of Dianne Neal Davenport ’63 Elizabeth “Libby” Odell ’07, sister of Richard Odell ’06 Jean Parmelee, former faculty and mother of Michelle Parmelee ’90 John G. Phillips, father of Fran Phillips Ordoyne ’69 and Cherry Phillips ’71 Cindy Scalia, sister of Brent Scalia ’94 and Amy Scalia Lavoie ’99; daughter of former faculty Debbie Scalia Mark Schlesinger, father of Spencer Schlesinger ’10 and Tia Schlesinger ’14; uncle of Priscilla Schlesinger ’08, Lila Coe ’23, and Carter Rigney ’25 Geraldine Sistrunk, mother of Mike Sistrunk ’71, Terry Sistrunk ’76, and Shawn Sistrunk; mother-in-law of Lane Malony Sistrunk ’76 Steven Threefoot ’75, brother of Betsy Threefoot Kaston ’72 and Amy Threefoot Valerias ’78; uncle of Josh Kaston ’00 and Stephanie Kaston Gutierrez ’01 Ethen Jonathan Willis, Jr., father of Deon Brown ’90 Don B. Woods ’58, father of Ashley Woods Bozeman ’85; grandfather of Ella Bozeman ’25
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Class
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1 Members of the Class of 1957 celebrate their 60-Year Reunion at the Southern Yacht Club in May. 2 Women of the Class of 1967 visit during their 50-Year Reunion. 3 Men of the Class of 1967 reconnect with their classmates. 4 Members of the Class of 1967’s 13-Year Club enjoy their 50-Year Reunion. 5 Ken McAshan, Katherine Burck Rutledge, and Bill Wright catch up at the Southern Yacht Club for their 50-Year Reunion. 6 Paulette Dupont, Melinda Moss, Carol Robinson, and Barbie Taylor attend the Class of 1967’s reunion at the Southern Yacht Club.
7 Members of the Class of 1977 celebrate their 40-Year Reunion in May at the home of Parke and Nancy Ellis. 8 Members of the Class of 1987 celebrate their 30-Year Reunion in May. 9 Kimberley Conway Crawford and Rachel Wittich, of the Class of 1987, enjoy their 30-Year Reunion. 10 Rachal Gately Moriarty, Beth Patterson Trotter, and Carol Steinman Stern of the Class of 1987 during their reunion.
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11 John Falgoust, Allan Burkes, and Brent Edwards during the Class of 1987’s 30-Year Reunion. 12 Stephanie Pecquet and Donald Chin enjoy the Class of 1987’s 30-Year Reunion.
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56 | The Bell
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6 WITH A SAINT
Julia Reggio ’17
Participated in? Julia Reggio ’17 recently met up with The Bell to answer six questions in six minutes. Reggio is active in both the school community and in the greater New Orleans community. She serves in leadership roles in several student organizations and regularly volunteers her time for a number of nonprofit organizations and causes, such as Team Gleason, Patrick F. Taylor Hope Lodge, and Liuzza Palooza. Reggio was featured as a student activist to watch in the May 2017 issue of St. Charles Avenue Magazine.
How has St. Martin’s changed you?
St. Martin’s has allowed me to pursue goals that I thought that I would never accomplish. Little did I know that I would be running all of the Upper School activities along with being a National Honor Society scholar at the same time. With gentle encouragement from my teachers and the student leaders ahead of me, I have created a balanced life of school spirit and scholarship through my experience at StM.
Accomplishment you’re most proud of ? I enjoyed organizing a pancake breakfast for the entire Upper School student body, held on the lawn near Saints Hall. All the proceeds went to charity.
Student council (president), cheerleading (captain), soccer (captain), National Honor Society, diversity club, art club
Favorite spot on campus? Tony Porter field, because I love cheering on my friends on sports teams as both a cheerleader and a spectator.
Post-graduation plans? I plan to attend Texas A&M University and study veterinary sciences and nonprofit entrepreneurship.
What is great about St. Martin’s in 15 words or less?
StM is great because it’s student-led. We are pushed to be creative problem-solvers. Spring/Summer 2017 | 57
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD
St. Martin’s Episcopal School
Looking Forward There are those who teach, and those who transform. Throughout my years of connection to St. Martin’s, I have met a number of educators who have transformed the very craft of teaching. These mentors and skilled educators motivate students every day to reach their full potential. As you read through this issue, I hope you are inspired by St. Martin’s as the school continues to forge a path into the future. I am grateful to our head of school, Merry Sorrells, who had the courage to set this new vision, and I am thankful for our extraordinary teachers, who show courage every day as they work within this new framework. Stephen Huber ’89 has served on the Board of Trustees since 2010. He has served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the last three years.
IN RECOGITION OF YOUR SERVICE
“Thank you, Stephen, for all you have done to serve the St. Martin’s community as a graduate, as a parent, and as Chair of the Board of Trustees. We are forever grateful!” —Merry Sorrells, Head of School
58 | The Bell
As we embark on this journey to innovate and transform the educational landscape, the value of exceptional teaching skyrockets. Today, the excitement about the future of St. Martin’s is palpable. Students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni are thrilled to be a part of this vibrant, thriving community. From continued academic success to gains made in our athletic department to a record number of prospective families attending our Open Houses this year — we celebrate each one of our continued successes, and we share the same high hopes for our school and community. In reflecting upon my final year as Chair of the Board of Trustees, I feel a tremendous amount of gratitude for being able to serve my alma mater and my children’s school. It has been an honor to work with so many outstanding partners, benefactors, and families in the St. Martin’s community.
Stephen Huber Chair, Board of Trustees
Encore
THEN + NOW
Performance
THEN Gary Solomon Jr. ’04 and Hardy Weaver ’04 in St. Martin’s November 1994 production of Oliver! in the chapel. After graduating from St. Martin’s, Solomon earned a degree from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where he studied theatre design. He is the co-founder of the Solomon Group, an awardwinning entertainment design and production firm based in New Orleans. Weaver joined the Broadway company of the hit show Book of Mormon in 2015, after touring in that show for 2.5 years. He has also completed national tours as part of the casts of A Chorus Line and Cats. Weaver is a graduate of Florida State University, where he earned a bachelor of fine arts in music theatre. NOW Leland Crawford took the stage as Oliver Twist in the April 2017 production of Oliver! St. Martin’s students have performed in several productions of the adaption of Charles Dickens’ novel, Oliver Twist. Though times and locations have changed over the years, all productions featured students from a wide range of grade levels, as well as faculty members.
“Whether you end up on the Broadway stage or standing in front of a courtroom, you cannot deny the benefits of theatre. It fosters creative thinking, builds confidence, and provides memories and friendships that last a lifetime.” — Meredith Long-Dieth, Director of Performing Arts Spring/Summer 2017 | 59
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR FALL! George Cottage and Lower School Parents’ Night
Middle School and Upper School Parents’ Night
Tuesday, August 29
Thursday, August 24
Pre-K Coffee and Kindergarten Coffee
New Parent Chapel and Breakfast
Monday, August 14 George Cottage Opens Half Day for Pre-K (A-L) First Day of School (LS, MS, US)
Wednesday, August 16 First Full Day of School
Thursday, August 17 SCO Back to School BBQ Bash
Sunday, August 20
Wednesday, September 20 Homecoming Game Fall Fellowship Cookout
Friday, October 6 StM Golf Tournament
Friday, November 3 St. Martin’s Day
Friday, November 10 Grandparents’ Day
Tuesday, November 21