Academy Magazine Summer 2023

ACADEMY

Norfolk Academy Thrives & Grows

During the Manning Years: 2001 – 2023

A Retrospective

NORFOLK ACADEMY MAGAZINE SUMMER 2023

ACADEMY

SUMMER 2023

HEADMASTER

Dennis G. Manning

ASSISTANT HEADMASTER FOR DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Grayson Bryant

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Esther M. Diskin

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Kim Yager

EDITOR

Esther M. Diskin

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Mike Connors

EDITORIAL BOARD

Ruth Payne Acra ’86

Chad Byler

Beth Manning

David Rezelman

Jennifer Rodgers ’97

Gigi Cooke Tysinger ’87

Elbert Watson

Sean Wetmore ’86

Charlotte Zito ’99

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mike Connors

Esther M. Diskin

Steven Goldburg ’04

Stephanie Kalis

Matthew Lester

Kim Yager

DESIGN

RiverBend Design & Lyons Graphics

Norfolk Academy admits students of any race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, color, and national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, color, and national or ethnic origin, or any other basis prohibited by federal or state law in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, employment policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other schooladministered programs.

COVER: Headmaster Dennis G. Manning stands in the Wynne Courtyard in front of the fountain at the start of academic year 2022–23, The Year of Kindness, the final year of his tenure.

6

IN TRIBUTE

Alfred Randolph Jr. ’80: “Trust is the Special Sauce”

Alfred Ritter Jr. ’64: “Call a Rising Star”

Rev. Harold James Cobb Jr.: “A Once-in-a-Generation Pivotal Leader”

Price Massey Hall ’02: “Building Genuine Relationships”

Student Tributes: “Full of Wonder”

12

16

18

20

CURRICULAR INNOVATION

CREATING A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS TO ELEVATE LEARNING

BUILDING DIVERSITY & STRENGTHENING A SENSE OF BELONGING

STRENGTHENING THE HONOR SYSTEM

21 “DEAR MR. MANNING,” POEM BY TIM SEIBLES

Dear Norfolk Academy Family,

It is time to say goodbye to a school, community, and dear friends whom I have grown to love these past 22 years. Though I hope to have imparted something to students and colleagues here, I have been more deeply enriched by and learned far more from the Academy experience than I could ever have imagined I would or that I could ever repay. From the moment I stepped onto campus in late June 2001, I have been bettered, challenged, and elevated by a prevailing ethos of excellence and unrelenting aspiration to be even better — all for the children we serve. Here are a few simple lessons I’ve learned.

Children are sacred. As Wordsworth reminds us, “The Child Is Father of the Man … And I could wish my days to be bound each to each by natural piety.” Childhood is our highest, most precious and sacred condition, and adults must act consistently, without apology, in the interest of children — and in a way that preserves as best we can their natural piety — their innate virtue, innocence, and goodness. As simple as it sounds, Norfolk Academy exists to serve and advance children, to prepare them morally, spiritually, and intellectually to become useful and responsible citizens of a democracy and thus help them create a just society. That’s a mission to wake to each morning and be called to serve alongside faculty brothers and sisters.

The best of human institutions, like Norfolk Academy, matter more than ever. Throughout history human institutions, though inherently imperfect but nonetheless our greatest vehicles for progress, have been the building blocks and foundation for cultures, societies, and civilizations. Great human institutions have a high, soaring purpose, a mission worth embracing and pursuing, worth driving toward, as well as a reason to exist. Norfolk Academy’s purpose (why does the school exist?) we memorialize in a “Statement of Philosophy and Objectives”; it states eloquently but forcefully what we aspire as an institution to inculcate in children, what we believe is most important to develop in them from early childhood to graduation as young, independent, honorable, intelligent, consequential, and selfless adults. This powerful Statement of Philosophy and Objectives animates the school by giving the head of school a clear charge and mission to deliver and by providing an imperative for the head to identify, assemble, and lead with all his will and unyielding ambition the men and women, the faculty, in delivering the school’s mission and moving a distinctive culture forward.

Leadership matters. These grand aspirations that we espouse for children in our Statement of Philosophy and Objectives can only happen through the agency, efficacy, and power of a Board of Trustees supporting the head of the school, the administration, and the faculty, while brooking no interference from outside parties who might alter, wittingly or unwittingly, the mission or direction of the school. The Board, cognizant

MAJOR EVENTS IN DENNIS MANNING’S 22 YEARS AS HEADMASTER

Headmaster Dennis G. Manning begins his tenure on July 1

Inaugural All-School Seminar Day with Henry Hikes to Fitchburg by D.B. Johnson

Academy Players perform a play about Anne Frank in Germany

Norfolk Academy launches exchange with St. Dominique in France

Royster Honor Council established Medical Scholars Program established Norfolk’s Academy — The Heart of Tidewater, a school history by Toy Savage ’71, published

German Program recognized by the AP as one of nation’s best Guest Speaker Rev. Billy Kyles, Civil Rights activist

Olympic Soccer Gold Medalist Angela Hucles ‘96 visits

always of its sacred and fiduciary responsibility, provides resource, strategic direction, and perhaps most important, guardianship — a protective hand over the mission and the deliverers of that mission, the faculty. Its trusteeship and trust allow institutional momentum to gather in flywheel fashion around the deliverers and recipients of the school’s mission, with its centripetal force deriving from its very center or core — a shared belief that first, character formation is our chief end and aim in a student’s formation and, second, the faculty is Norfolk Academy’s most important fixed asset, for these men and women drive the school’s philosophy.

Truth, Integrity, and Character matter more than ever. This student generation has been witness to the most profound erosion and serial lapses in moral leadership in the history of our country — they have seen truth and reality manipulated and digitized to a point where distortion, equivocation, ambiguity now supersede clarity, moral courage, and plain old honesty. With the advent of AI, integrity as we have known and defined it will become even more elusive. This is not a time to shrink from challenge. I am reminded of 19th century scholar John Ruskin’s charge: “The constant duty of every man to his fellows is to ascertain his own powers and special gifts, and to strengthen them for the help of others.”

This is a time to call us all to moral leadership, to reinforce the value of our school’s more-than-century-long commitment to an honor system, to character formation, citizenship, leadership, and service. The future of truth, honor, integrity may seem up for grabs, but I know where the Academy has always stood on these loftiest principles.

A life of the mind matters. In a final Upper School Chapel I shared 19th century English poet John Keats’s sonnet, “On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer,” a poem Keats dashed off in one sitting to capture the exhilaration reading provided him — a single translation of Homer, a journey only his imagination could provide him, and an excitement in intellectual and emotional discovery — he felt “like some watcher of the skies when a new planet swims into his ken,” as if he discovered a new planet or universe. And later in the poem Keats likens his exhilaration to an explorer peering at the Pacific Ocean for the first time, realizing he had discovered the passage to Asia and the East. Whatever excites learning — across the standard disciplines or in new arenas such as our Fellows programs, Medical Scholars, Maymester, or Mini-mester offerings — there are countless ways and means to engage our students’ developing and emerging intellects. We want our students’ minds to be interesting places for them to live and spend time for the rest of their lives. A final coda: the humanities have never been more important, for they provide us a path to more empathetic sensibilities and sensitivities, as well as a quiet refuge where

Campaign for the Fourth Century ends, raising over $40 million Center for Civic and Global Leadership established

E.E. Ford Foundation grant helps launch Chesapeake Bay Fellows

Inaugural classes of Global Health and Global Affairs Fellows

Wes Moore, now governor of Maryland, speaks about his memoir, The Other Wes Moore NA starts exchange with Beijing 101 through World Leading Schools Association

Inaugural class of Literacy Fellows Launch of Engineering, Design, and Innovation (EDI) in the Lower School and EDI Fellows

stillness, contemplativeness, and our own inner sanctum disconnect us from plastic pursuits and hollow activities in digital and social media.

Finally, I have learned that a great institution like Norfolk Academy not only produces great people but also attracts them. Over two decades, I have been blessed by friendships with countless alumni of this school; their pride and devotion to this place are extraordinary. I also take great pride in having been able to recruit administrators, faculty, and staff to this school who are outstanding in every regard — passionate about teaching and serving the school; dedicated to coaching athletics, arts, and our vast array of co- and extra-curriculars; and committed to bringing out the best in every child. We see this excellence in employees at this school from top to bottom, many of whom work behind the scenes, unheralded but integral. And of course, new families continue to bring their children to our school. It does not take long for anyone to appreciate the vitality of our community, where the Honor System is the foundation of our sense of trust in one another.

For all of these lessons, all of these friendships, I feel tremendous gratitude. I am grateful, too, for a new friendship, in particular, with Norfolk Academy’s new Head of School Travis Larrabee. It has been a special joy to break bread and share conversation with him and with John Tucker. This school could not be in finer hands, and I know that this community will embrace Travis and his family, as you have embraced Beth and me, and our children, Mary Heath and Will.

I will close with lines that have risen to mind often in recent days, from a poet well known to be a favorite of mine, W.B. Yeats. He closes his 1937 poem “The Municipal Gallery Revisited” with these memorable lines:

Think where man’s glory most begins and ends And say my glory was I had such friends.

Thank you for your friendship and for the inspiration it has provided to me every day over these 22 years. Onward, Bulldogs!

Yours sincerely,

Dennis G. Manning, Headmaster

2016 2017

Massey Leadership Center and Youngkin

Refectory open

CCGL renamed the Batten Leadership Program

NA-TV, student-led broadcasting, established

2018

2020

Wynne-Darden Stadium opens

Launch of Mini-mester

Arrival of Class of 2028, first graders who will graduate as the 300th Anniversary Class

Convocation with Governor Terry McAuliffe

Norfolk Academy adopts Diversity, Equity, and Justice Statement

Expanded Lower School opens

Defining Leadership Campaign concludes with $68 million raised

Norfolk Academy opens in-person and with Covid testing program amid the pandemic

Launch of Maymester

Headmaster Manning receives Distinguished Service Award from the Virginia Association for Independent Schools

50th Anniversary of the German Exchange with CopernicusGymnasium Löningen

2022 2023

In Tribute

Trust is the Special Sauce

My 22 years on the Board have coincided precisely with Dennis Manning’s tenure as Headmaster of Norfolk Academy. I did not realize back in 2001 that I would have a front row seat for what was to be one of the most extraordinary careers in the history of independent school education in Virginia and beyond.

As I reflect on the past 22 years, my first memory of Dennis and Beth is of hosting an event in our home to help welcome them to the Academy community. That was the beginning of a friendship that has grown in depth and durability over all these years and of a headmastership that is, for lack of a better word, legendary. And, as I dissect that friendship and that

headmastership and the reasons for the prodigiousness of both, I come back time and again to one word:

TRUST

Like my fellow trustees and so many of you, I love Norfolk Academy. I love what it did for me, I love what it has done for my three sons, I love the impact it has had on generations of students and families, I love what it has done and will continue to do for our world, and I love what it stands for. It is a precious gem to me, among the most precious. Twenty-two years ago, we entrusted that precious gem to Dennis Manning, and we were wise to do so.

He has polished that gem so that it gleams more brightly than ever, even in the face of forces that might try to tarnish it. He has elevated it with his sterling reputation and he has guarded it with his tireless hard work and remarkable endurance, his fierce passion and protective instincts, and yes, his undying love and complete devotion. I quickly came to understand that Dennis was “all in” on Norfolk Academy because I saw that he loved the Academy and what it stands for as much as I did. It did not take long for me or the Board to realize that we had something special in Dennis and that we could entrust our priceless gem to his care.

The Academy has had three leaders in 73 years. And the prevailing reason for that is because we have been fortunate enough to find leaders in whom we could place our trust, and because we have had the wisdom to trust them. Quite simply, that trust is the foundation upon which all the Boards of Trustees over the past 73 years have based their relationships with the Headmasters of our school. Because of that, the Board/Head relationship at Norfolk Academy is widely recognized as a unique and special one. Like his predecessors, J.B. Massey and John Tucker, Dennis came to the job with an inherent understanding of and alignment with the school’s values. Because of that, the Board’s relationship with Dennis has personified what constitutes a model Board/Head relationship.

Because of that trust and that relationship, I believe Dennis has had the latitude, freedom, and confidence to be visionary, to be great. And he has been great. Trust is the special sauce that has made all the difference for our school as he has engineered programmatic innovation, led the reimagination and reconstruction of our campus, bolstered the importance of the Honor System, enhanced the diversity of

and access to our school, and elevated the reputation of Norfolk Academy as not just good, but great on a national scale.

On a personal note, my last three years as Board President have been interesting, to say the least. A pandemic, political turmoil, the search for a new head of school, and other challenges have presented hardships and have demanded sacrifice. But, what I learned along the way is that there could have been no greater partner for me and for the Board than Dennis Manning in meeting every challenge head-on, with vigor and confidence, and in total alignment with the school’s Philosophy and Objectives.

Like the foundation of any great friendship, a great Board/Head relationship fundamentally is rooted in trust. As the leader of our school and as a friend to me, Dennis Manning has proven more than worthy of my trust, of our trust, at every turn. Thank you, Dennis, for your love of our school, for your special friendship, and for having earned and validated our trust every day for the last 22 years. Godspeed.

Sincerely,

Alfred M. Randolph Jr. ’80 President of the Board of Trustees

At the President’s Circle Celebration in fall 2022, Board President Alfred M. Randolph Jr. ’80 gave special recognition to Beth Manning for her distinguished service to the school. LEFT TO RIGHT: Mr. Randolph, Kristen Randolph, Beth Manning, Dennis Manning.

In Tribute

Call a Rising Star’’ ‘‘

Dear Dennis:

On behalf of all members of the 2001 Norfolk Academy Board of Trustees, its Search and Visiting Committees, and the many faculty members who supported our deliberations, I want to offer our wholehearted thanks for making us look so good.

As you know, our original search to find John Tucker’s successor did not go as planned. We followed our consultants’ playbook, but that process did not yield the appropriate leader for Norfolk Academy. Fortunately, they had one last trick up their sleeves. They suggested that I call a rising star currently serving as Head of the American School in England. I’ll never forget that call. We must have spoken for an hour. Soon thereafter, you and Beth were in Norfolk and Virginia Beach to meet the Trustees and some of the faculty. It was clear to all of us that you were the man to lead Norfolk Academy. Happily, you accepted our offer. Norfolk Academy has been a better place ever since.

The memories of those days 22 years ago are among my most treasured. Over the years, they have gained added meaning because of the remarkable contributions that you, Beth, and your colleagues have made to the life of our school. Our students have been blessed with the educational and personal growth opportunities made possible by the highly skilled teachers, coaches, and administrators you have attracted to the school. You, your colleagues, and the Board have managed an impressive series of lasting enhancements to the school’s programs as well as its buildings, fields, and other campus structures. Throughout, you and the Board have managed the Academy’s finances with an admirable focus on affordable tuition. Now, working with today’s Board, you have led the school through another period of leadership transition.

I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve Norfolk Academy with you and to call you my friend.

Best wishes to you, Beth, and your family,

Alfred F. Ritter Jr. ’64 President, Board of Trustees (1998–2002)

Cover from the Alumni Bulletin for Winter 2001 features (LEFT TO RIGHT ) Board of Trustees President Al Ritter, Interim Headmaster Peter Briggs, then–Incoming Headmaster Dennis Manning, and Former Headmaster John Tucker. All spoke at a ceremony to celebrate the completion of a campus renewal project and to welcome the Manning family.

A Once-in-a-Generation Pivotal Leader ’’

Friend, Confidante, Scholar, Leader, Educator, Father, Husband, Grandfather, Faithful Servant. There is nothing I would not do for Dennis Manning. I knew Dennis first as the Head of Norfolk Academy, our daughter Caryn’s school. I grew to love him as a cherished friend of our family. We worked and served together to make not only Norfolk Academy but the region of Hampton Roads a better place. He embraced diversity, equity, and inclusion long before it became a popular phrase. Our friends became his friends; he brought United States Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater to speak at Norfolk Academy. He brought United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the Norfolk Forum. Dennis brought the Reverend Samuel “Billy” Kyles, the last person living who was with the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis when King was assassinated, to speak at Norfolk Academy. Dennis

and his lovely wife, Elizabeth, hosted a dinner in their home for the Reverend Kyles and invited me, Sheliah, and Caryn.

Dennis Manning is a once-in-a-generation pivotal servant leader. Our daughter Caryn’s life, as well as my wife Sheliah’s and my own are better, richer, and fuller because of Dennis Manning.

Faithfully,

Rev. Harold James Cobb Jr.

Rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Norfolk and father of Caryn Cobb ’11

Rev. Cobb and his wife, Sheliah, joined Dennis Manning at the Board of Trustees reception this spring.

In Tribute

Building Genuine Relationships’’ ‘‘

trajectory of my life, and I will forever be indebted to him for bringing me back to my second home. Overnight, Monsieur Warsaw became Warren, Mr. Wetmore became Sean, Mrs. Gorsline became Linda, and Mr. Manning became Dennis (that one took a while). As a colleague, mentor, and boss, Dennis became even more influential in my life, and I was fortunate to work with him for 12 years. Dennis’s innovative approach to integrating traditional education with experiential, interdisciplinary instruction epitomizes his unwavering respect for the history of the institution and a willingness to engage in some “judicious experimentation with the new.”

Some of the most formative and impactful mentors in my life come from my time as a student at Norfolk Academy. At the top of that list is Dennis Manning, who arrived on the scene for my senior year. Navigating a leadership change, especially for my final year at a place I had called home for my entire childhood, came with some apprehension. However, Mr. Manning quickly became a beloved and revered new head of school, calling everyone on campus by their name, asking after family members, commenting on an athletic or arts performance from the night before, and even teaching a senior English elective that, regrettably, I was too intimidated to take.

This past fall during our 20-year-reunion weekend, several of my Class of 2002 peers reminisced that one of their favorite memories from high school was Thursday morning Senior Donuts in the Pit with Mr. Manning. I don’t think he ever missed a Senior Donut with our class that year. Looking back, those mornings were emblematic of his leadership style, one founded on building genuine relationships. Our class jokes that we really broke him in that year, but in our 20 years since graduation, it is remarkable to see all the visionary progress Mr. Manning has shepherded the school through — from major facilities upgrades to the introduction of interdisciplinary programs aiming for social impact to expanded faculty professional development to a commitment to increased diversity.

In the late summer of 2009, I unexpectedly returned to Hampton Roads, and somehow Mr. Manning persuaded me to join the faculty at Norfolk Academy. It was an opportunity that would change the

For me, the most compelling additions to NA during his tenure, his most notable legacy, are the formation of the Batten Leadership Program and the five Fellows Programs, along with shifting the academic calendar to involve all students in grades 7–11 in experiential education through the Mini-mester and Maymester programs.

I owe so much to Dennis and Beth Manning, both personally and professionally; my stint on the faculty not only led me to the most professionally fulfilling role of my life, working with the Global Health Fellows, but also introduced me to my husband. Our daughter will join the Class of 2035 this fall, and while it is bittersweet that Dennis will not be shaking her hand on her first day as a Bulldog, I know the educational experience, and, more important, the community she is joining, are extraordinarily strong due to the tireless, inspired service of Dennis Manning.

With gratitude and admiration, Price Massey Hall ’02

Price Hall served as a teacher in Lower and Middle Schools, the founding Director of the Global Health Fellows, Director of International Programs, and Associate Director of the Batten Leadership Program.

TOP: In October 2022, the Class of 2002 gathered for their reunion and a chance to see the headmaster that they helped to introduce to the school. BOTTOM: Price Massey Hall ’02 with the new headmaster, after he had completed his first Norfolk Academy graduation ceremony with the Class of 2002.

Full of Wonder’’

TRIBUTES FROM MR. MANNING’S STUDENTS

THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE AS HEADMASTER, MR. MANNING HAS TAUGHT AN UPPER SCHOOL ENGLISH CLASS IN THE SPRING SEMESTER. RECITATIONS FROM MEMORY, MOST NOTABLY OF SHAKESPEARE’S SONNETS AND SOLILOQUIES FROM HAMLET , GAVE HIS COURSES AN AURA: ONLY THOSE WITH FORTITUDE AND PASSION FOR ENGLISH SHOULD SIGN UP. WE ASKED SOME STUDENTS FROM “FAITH AND REASON,” HIS COURSE FOR SPRING 2023, TO REFLECT ON MR. MANNING AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER. THE PAEANS POURED FORTH.

Lily Stockwell ’24

You wouldn’t think that such a brilliant academic would have a sense of humor too. One minute we are having an intellectual discussion about metaphysical poetry, the next the whole class is laughing so hard, it’s difficult to stay in our seats. He teaches our class with both irrefutable leadership and empathetic kindness, being both our role model and compatriot. I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from him.

Zoë Jones ’24

Mr. Manning is a wonderful teacher — by that, I mean full of wonder. Every sentence is fascinating to him, and his enthusiasm inspires the best in us. His teaching encourages nothing but curiosity; each class I realize that I’ve annotated my pages so that there is no space left. But what makes him truly special is how he applauds our own thinking. Mr. Manning seems the most delighted when we challenge his arguments, or when we think of something entirely new. If Mr. Manning’s classes have taught me anything, it is that all emotions are a miraculous gift — even sadness. We should hold them close and appreciate our memories and feelings while we still have them. Thank you, Mr. Manning, for everything you do for us. You are truly one of the best people I have ever known.

Quinn Carroll ’23

Mr. Manning takes great pride in wading deep into the literary tradition of English authors and analyzing each passing sonnet, psalm, or play with a refreshed interest and a twinkle in his eye. He’ll often burst out into animated

recitations during class and is ever-patient with his “Treasury of Grace” to encourage students through the toughest writing assignments or memorized poems. His genuine interest in each student (alum or prospective) and friendliness while strolling the grounds throughout the day make Mr. Manning a key component in the culture of Norfolk Academy.

Bella Burr ’23

During my semester with Mr. Manning, I have observed his true passion for not only the class itself, but for teaching and engaging us as students. He applies this same passion to his role as a headmaster, always making our enjoyment of learning his first priority. I am so glad I took Mr. Manning’s class this year and thankful to have the opportunity to know him as both a headmaster and teacher.

Joe Bakkar ’24

I appreciate Mr. Manning’s ability to instill excitement and intrigue in the class. His eagerness to explore prominent poets and texts creates an environment of deep conversation and learning. Mr. Manning’s personal connections to our readings invigorate the classroom, building upon our well-established understanding of the literature.

William Cole ’24

In the classroom Mr. Manning incorporates all the most important aspects of a Norfolk Academy experience. He embodies a passion for learning, caring for others, and scholarly excellence. He models how to internalize poetry and literature in every aspect of life.

Mr. Manning, who has taught an Upper School English course annually during his tenure as headmaster, teaches “Faith and Reason” this spring.

TRANSFORMING THE WAYS WE TEACH & LEARN

Dennis often reminds faculty and parents to read the school’s Philosophy and Objectives at the start of each school year. Those of us who have worked with him for a long time have no doubt that he has the whole thing “by heart.” Certain phrases in the document are his favorites, and he understood the sense of possibility they offered to our school. At the top of his (unwritten) Top 10 List of favorite phrases, perhaps in the top three, is “judicious experimentation with the new.” He invested that phrase with fresh meaning, and he has used those words repeatedly over 22 years to elevate Norfolk Academy’s teaching and learning experience in all three divisions. In this work of “judicious experimentation,” he had a full and joyful partnership with the faculty, who created the transformation with him.

“Judicious experimentation” defined the approach to every new academic change or co-curricular program. Dennis always insisted on a great deal of deliberation, discussion of pros and cons, research, and often a period of travel to other secondary schools or colleges for fact-finding. He was never one to embrace a trend; rather, he asked faculty to explore thoroughly and help craft a vision for moving forward.

The Batten Leadership Program was the vanguard of the change. With its three-pronged focus on research, engagement with partner organizations, and learning in the field, the Fellows programs of the Batten Leadership Program opened the doorway to new avenues of thought about how our students could learn and then leverage that learning to create a better world. From 2010, when we made plans for the Chesapeake Bay Fellows to launch, quite literally, into the waves of the Bay in kayaks, we knew we had a formula that would galvanize exciting growth in our educational program. Four more Fellows programs followed — Global Health, Global Affairs, Literacy, and Engineering, Design, and Innovation (EDI) — with a measured degree of investigation before each one. All are still thriving, generating new opportunities to serve and help solve real-world problems.

However, the importance of the Batten Leadership Program is not limited to the programs that fall under its umbrella, including Medical Scholars and Leadership Lab. Rather, it provided a brand-new blueprint for learning, one that drew other schools to

us for consultation, and one that sparked fresh ideas for bringing experiential learning to every student.

The EDI program in the Lower School is emblematic of this broader approach to learning by doing. Before it launched in 2015, Dr. John Galler ’93 spent many months of research and travel to other schools. What he created in the Lower School had a distinctive approach, particularly in its daring starting point; schools he visited did not consider first graders as developmentally capable of starting to “engineer” anything. Norfolk Academy did. That program’s approach to problem-solving, and its emphasis on perseverance in the face of challenges, was a huge hit. Gradually and judiciously, EDI expanded in grades 1 through 6, extended into the Middle School, and now engineering and additional computer science courses are getting launched in the Upper School.

Over the past 22 years, we have dramatically expanded our global learning initiatives. When Dennis arrived in 2001, our language exchange with Germany was our sole international program. Since then, students have traveled with our NA faculty to France, Spain, Italy, Peru, Argentina, China, and other countries. Every trip has had a specific educational purpose and goal, from language and cultural exchanges to investigations of art and archaeology. Those trips built our confidence that we could do more.

The launch of the Middle School’s one-week Mini-mester in 2017, and the Upper School’s threeweek Maymester last year, allowed us to change the way students wrap up the year. Where we once ended with a lineup of exams, we now end with outwardlooking exploration. Of course, we kept exams and final projects — yes, alumni, I know you’re wondering — but we moved them earlier in May, and faculty created distinctive learning experiences to spark our students’ curiosity.

We have done a lot of “the new,” more than I could ever cover, but it would be injudicious to focus just on that. Amid all the change, our headmaster kept us focused on things that should stay the same. Experiences inside the classroom remain central; the learning that happens there gives our students the foundation to follow their curiosity. Above all, we have kept ourselves anchored on what sparks excitement about learning in the first place: that magical connection between a student and a teacher or a coach. The teacher-coach model is the bedrock of all we do.

In his love for the teacher-coach model, and in his embodiment of it through his total commitment to all of us at Norfolk Academy, Headmaster Dennis Manning has led the way. ◆

Linda Gorsline is Associate Head of School and Director of the Upper School.

judicious experimentation with the new

Creating a Beautiful Campus to Elevate Learning

When I first set foot on campus as a first grader in 1975, the nine-year-old buildings were utilitarian — most made of featureless brick with aggregate fascia on the rooflines, with only two spaces, Burroughs Gym and Price Auditorium, occupying more than a single

story. The trustees had performed the remarkable task of relocating the entire campus from Wards Corner (and joining with the Country Day School in the process), but their need to economize during such a large construction project resulted in a basic and uninspiring facility. Over the next 25 years, improvements came with additions such as the Conrad Gymnasium, the Vaughan Aquatic Center, and — finally a building that wasn’t simply a brick box! — the Batten Library.

Still, though, Dennis Manning says that when he arrived to interview for the headmaster position in 2000, he almost turned right around because of the plainness of the school buildings. He firmly believes that the beauty and grace of the built environment contribute meaningfully to teaching and learning, a philosophy shared by many institutions, including those of higher education. The cornerstone of his first major capital project was the construction of the John H. Tucker Jr. Arts Center and the Samuel C. Johnson Theater, which were initially planned for siting on the back side of the campus near the interstate. With his input, though, the decision was made to build them front and center, a magnificent statement of the importance of the arts in the school’s curriculum.

The next major construction project came in the second decade of Mr. Manning’s tenure, with the addition of the turf hockey/lacrosse field, the WynneDarden Stadium and field, the Youngkin Refectory expansion, and the beautiful new addition to the front

of the Lower School. The crown jewel of that effort, though, was the Massey Leadership Center. Not only does that building house administrative offices and vibrant student spaces, but it also earned a LEED gold sustainability certification, partly due to the fact that its energy usage is completely offset by the solar arrays recently installed on the Middle and Lower School roofs. During my student years, the May Library stood where the Massey building now stands and served as a campus hub, drawing students from the Middle and Upper Schools. When the Batten Library was built in the ’90s, May was repurposed to house the Headmaster’s Office and the Business Office — and as a result, students avoided it like the plague. There was no longer a reason for students to cross the invisible lines of demarcation outlining their respective spaces. With the construction of Massey, though, the space at the heart of campus is alive with student activity (at times boisterous and a bit messy), and it is a joy to behold. The main artery leading to that heart — through the arch, around the fountain, past the iconic Pit, finally to arrive in front of the building evoking memories of the Greek-temple-inspired 1840 site — is now an inspired and thought-provoking journey, hinting at the intellectual exploration and development happening all around it.

We are privileged to work, teach, and learn on our beautiful campus, and we owe Dennis Manning a debt of gratitude for leaving such a meaningful, long-lasting legacy. ◆

Jeff Martin ’87 is Assistant Head of School for Business and Auxiliary Operations.

LEFT: The Massey Leadership Center, located near the Pit and both the Middle and Upper Schools, is a hub of campus activity. OPPOSITE TOP: The cornerstone of Mr. Manning’s first capital campaign was the construction of the John H. Tucker Jr. Arts Center and the Samuel C. Johnson Theater, which sit front and center on campus. OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Wynne-Darden Stadium is home to many Norfolk Academy athletics contests, as well as special events, including graduation.

BEAUTY AND GRACE OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFULLY TO TEACHING AND LEARNING

Building Diversity & Strengthening

In 2018, Mr. Manning unveiled the school’s Diversity, Equity, and Justice Statement, written in a months-long process by a faculty committee and approved by the Board of Trustees, to affirm the school’s mission to foster “a climate of belonging, so that each member of our Bulldog family feels secure, respected, and valued as an individual,” to quote from the Statement in part. The Statement also echoes, and thereby reaffirms, the

Mr. Manning partnered with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities to conduct annual diversity and equity training to encourage teachers to cultivate inclusive classrooms and add the voices of underrepresented groups to the curriculum. As a result, the Lower School faculty structured the social studies curriculum around the theme of “creating a just society,” a key phrase in the school’s Philosophy. Middle and Upper

Philosophy’s focus on making students “aware of their role in creating a just society.” The introduction of the DEJ Statement was both a milestone and a watershed moment, as the school had not previously added to its core institutional documents over many decades.

The DEJ statement has energized efforts to prepare faculty to meet the needs of an increasinfigly diverse student body. Under Mr. Manning’s leadership and with intentional outreach by our Admissions Office, the population of students of color has increased dramatically from 5% at the beginning of his tenure to 25% now. Moreover the school continues to diversify its faculty and administrative leadership team, noting the benefits these perspectives bring to our students’ experiences as well as our community as a whole.

School English and history courses have added perspectives from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and most recently, African American history. Summer faculty readings such as Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s Stony the Road and Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel The Underground Railroad have raised awareness about racial injustice. Guest speakers devoted to social justice have addressed faculty and students, most notably NFL star and motivational speaker Ben Watson; Morgan Stanley executive Derek Melvin ’01; Poet Laureate of Virginia Tim Seibles, who served as NA’s visiting poet; author and activist Wes Moore, now Maryland’s governor; and radio talk show host and local community leader Barbara Hamm Lee.

Strengthening a Sense of Belonging

Mr. Manning has long been a champion of the learning that can transpire outside traditional classroom spaces; robust club and co-curricular activities celebrate the vibrant voices, cultural traditions, and history of our students. Longestablished Middle and Upper School multicultural clubs continue to thrive and promote events such as Multicultural Day and Chapel talks. In addition,

Khan. The school has also partnered with Norfolk State University’s choir to present annual concerts.

Mr. Manning’s steadfast efforts have put Norfolk Academy in the position to be a national leader in education, committed to preparing “students to become ultimately useful and responsible citizens of a democracy — aware of their role in creating a just society.” Indeed, the Board’s most recent Strategic Plan,

the Upper School PRISM Club (People Respecting the Identities of Schoolmates) amplifies the voices of students identifying as LGBTQ+ and their allies, giving them an outlet to share their experiences.

In keeping with Mr. Manning’s belief that access to a diversity of perspectives enriches the learning experience for all of us, students also hear from a variety of distinguished guest speakers and performers, including Newbery Award–winning author Kwame Alexander, who read excerpts from his book The Undefeated during All-School Seminar Day. Other visiting authors have included Chinese American graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang and award-winning Muslim author Hena

Creating a Just Society: Integrity, Leadership, and Pluralism, made that a major focus. More challenges lie ahead, but he has set the table for our new head of the school to continue this important work. ◆

Jennifer Rodgers ’97 serves as a Middle School English Teacher and Admissions Associate.

LEFT TO RIGHT: An advocate of introducing students to diverse perspectives, Mr. Manning brought in a multitude of speakers over the decades, including Virginia’s Poet Laureate Tim Seibles, who spoke in 2017 and served as NA’s visiting poet; author Kwame Alexander, whose book The Undefeated was the focus of an All-School Seminar in 2021; and NFL star and motivational speaker Ben Watson, who spoke in 2019. The diversity of Norfolk Academy’s student body grew during Mr. Manning’s tenure from 5% students of color to 25% today.

Strengthening the Honor System

A pillar of Norfolk Academy life, the Honor System expanded and strengthened during Dennis Manning’s 22 years as Headmaster. This growth was most noticeable in the formation of the Royster Honor Council (RHC), established at the start of the 2005–06 school year. The strengthening continues with the recent appointment of a Lower School faculty member, Cosby Hall ’93, as coordinator for instruction about honor in the Lower School, and faculty professional development focused on the Honor System.

TOY SAVAGE ’71, LONGTIME MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER AND SCHOOL HISTORIAN, WAS THE FACULTY ADVISOR FOR THE FIRST DECADE OF THE ROYSTER HONOR COUNCIL; ASSISTANT MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR TRISH HOPKINS CURRENTLY SERVES IN THAT ROLE. MR. SAVAGE DESCRIBES HOW THE ROYSTER HONOR COUNCIL CAME INTO BEING AND ITS IMPORTANCE:

To fully understand the Royster Honor Council’s creation takes historical context. The Honor System was instituted in 1950 by new Headmaster James B. Massey Jr., who sought to communicate his belief that the teaching of right and wrong was the school’s primary objective. Massey tasked Arthur A. Maconochie Jr., a new Upper School English teacher, with creating and implementing the system. In its original form, every student would sign a pledge upon the submission of any graded assignment that said, “I pledge that I have neither given nor received any unauthorized assistance on this assignment,” and append his signature.

At the time of its inception the school had 48 students in grades 9 through 12 and eight faculty. The procedures put into place accommodated that size. Upon an infraction, the student-elected Honor Council, six students strong, convened to learn what had happened and make a recommendation as to any disciplinary action, which would then be submitted to the faculty and ultimately the Headmaster for approval. The process took an hour or so. It worked like a charm.

Fast forward through merger and explosive growth. As of 2005, there were 300-plus students in both Tunstall and Royster and a combined faculty exceeding 60. The old way of enforcing the Honor System was no longer as simple as a handful of students and faculty meeting around a conference table.

Gary Laws, longtime Director of the Middle School, sought a way to recapture some of the advantages of the system, particularly with respect to younger students. With consultation and approval from Mr. Manning, Laws sought to create a Royster Honor System that more directly impacted the daily lives of Middle School students.

Laws had two major goals in mind. The first was to give younger students a legitimate leadership experience. The second was, in Laws’ words, to have the Honor System “walking the halls of the building.” Before 2005, if Middle Schoolers appeared before an Honor Council, they were meeting Upper School students, who were strangers to them.

To think through how it would work, Laws turned to Witt Borum, eighth grade science teacher. Borum had attended St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, which had a Middle School Honor System during his years there. Second, as a career Naval veteran, he had a proper sense of the importance of honor.

There were several chief differences between the Tunstall Honor System and the new Royster one. First, in any RHC meeting there were two faculty members present. Second, there would be a visible presence of student honor representatives in the building. Finally, the entire faculty no longer needed to approve the RHC’s recommendation.

My experience was that the RHC accomplished everything it was intended to do. Time after time I witnessed the benefits bestowed on young people by having to confront and admit to mistakes in the presence of peers. For many, the experience was transformative, even life-changing.

The student body greatly benefited in another way. In electing their representatives, students undertake the important task of gaining ownership of the system itself. Choosing leaders provides leadership “training” for the choosers as well. They take the job seriously.

The entire Norfolk Academy community is the better for it. ◆

Toy Savage III ’71 served in an array of administrative, teaching, and coaching roles during his decades of service. He retired from teaching in 2022 but continues to serve as school historian and author of The Savage Chronicles

Dear Dennis Manning,

I trust this letter finds you well. Where I am, the wind is damp and lazy. Clouds are strolling in like a bunch of bad boys in black leather jackets.

Word has it that you’re about to turn it loose, reshuffle the deck, retire, and run roughshod into the free world! After twenty-two years of headmastery,

you must be asking yourself, where did they go, all those busy days and days. Those many hungry hearts and minds gathered under your governance,

shaped and sent out to move this world with sweat and grace, words that fueled your stride. I remember your Shakespeare class. The students aloft, the sonnets

like delicious jewels in their mouths — because of you, man! As the captain steers, so goes the ship: Norfolk Academy,

so close to utopia, where restless minds find teachers filled with passion. You lived on campus — worked, slept, and dreamed this school — and I know

you’re too humble to believe me, but your kindness, your faith in the light of learning, your love for people kindled the heart of this place.

I’m sure you’ll remember the sunlight slanting on the walls, the steady rains walking across the campus grass, young voices flying the halls

and perhaps you’ll also remember what’s harder to name — the timpani of a school in motion: everyone breathing together, books open,

pencils whispering to paper, fingertips tapping the keys, and the thoughtful silence of teachers settling their souls at the close of a day.

I hope you can take these words with you, my friend and, in the coming quieter hours, celebrate the many amazements that blossomed while you were here,

then get up and get on with what’s next.

Wishing you all that you wish,

Tim Seibles

Tim Seibles served as Virginia’s Poet Laureate from 2016–2018. Seibles, who served as a professor of English at ODU until his retirement in 2019, has also been the Visiting Poet at Norfolk Academy. He is the author of numerous poetry collections, including the 2012 National Book Award–nominated collection, Fast Animal

Bowtie Day

“Intellectual.”

“Iconic.”

“Snazzy.”

These are just a few adjectives that students apply to the bowtie — Mr. Manning’s signature sartorial statement. The Bulldogs thoroughly appreciate its creative potential, as we demonstrated with our surprise celebration of Mr. Manning’s birthday last fall. Our collective Bulldog bow (-wow!) to the bowtie was full of jaunty joy!

Board of Trustees Honors Headmaster Dennis Manning

LOWER SCHOOL NAMED IN HIS HONOR

Board of Trustees President Alfred M. Randolph Jr. ’80 opened the April 26 reception to honor Headmaster Dennis Manning with the promise of a “Red Letter” evening — Norfolk Academy shorthand for a truly historic occasion.

A surprise awaited: The Lower School, which underwent a major expansion and reimagining as a result of The Defining Leadership Campaign, will be known henceforth as the Dennis G. Manning Lower School.

The announcement was made by two individuals who have served the school with great distinction, and who made the honor possible: Past Trustee Helen Dragas ’79 and Trustee Conrad M. Hall. They also unveiled a portrait and a plaque that summarizes Headmaster Manning’s contributions to the school; both will be displayed in the Lower School building.

In his remarks, Hall noted that Manning made the Lower School a top priority, strengthening reading and math, introducing an engineering program and expanding science instruction, and keeping the focus on character-shaping lessons in honor, civility, and community service. “By every measure, he created the Lower School as we know it today, a unique strength to NA’s offering and a source of pride by the NA community,” Hall said. “It is arguably one of the strongest grades 1 through 6 programs among private schools in the country. The Lower School enhances the learning experience in the grades that follow by the incredibly strong foundation it builds, and thus it is the bedrock of this Academy.”

Dragas drew on personal memories, as one of her three children entered first grade alongside Manning’s daughter, so she got to know him as a parent on a shared journey, as well as headmaster of the school. She expressed profound appreciation for Manning’s wisdom over the decades. “This is not a job for the faint of heart or a person of soft backbone. Rather, it is a role suited only for someone with Dennis Manning’s rare constitution for effective, steadfast leadership — always from the heart, always guided by unshakable

values, always selfless, and in an age of seemingly rampant narcissism, always humble.”

Their announcement was preceded by a video tribute to Headmaster Manning with reflections from trustees, administrators, faculty, and students. It focused on the myriad ways his leadership has transformed the school. The video also touched on the extraordinary partnership between Manning and his wife, Beth, who has also served the school with great dedication. This year, as he stepped into retirement, she served as co-chair of Field Day.

The naming decision had been a closely held secret by the donors and Board leadership, and Manning appeared both surprised and floored by the moment. In his remarks, he reflected on the friendships that have brought him profound joy in serving the school. “This is the greatest personal honor I have ever received in my life,” he said. “There is no way to sufficiently express my appreciation and gratitude.” ◆

Esther Diskin is Director of Communications.

TOP: From left, Trustee Conrad M. Hall, Headmaster Dennis Manning, Past Trustee Helen Dragas, and Board President Alfred M. Randolph Jr. MIDDLE LEFT: Members of the Manning family traveled from out of town to attend the ceremony. MIDDLE RIGHT: Dennis Manning and former Headmaster John Tucker shared a celebratory moment with several trustees. BOTTOM LEFT: Conrad Hall and Helen Dragas share a private moment with Mr. Manning. A plaque that will hang in the Manning Lower School is in the foreground.

BOTTOM RIGHT: From left, Lynn Durham, Trustee Rhonda G. Durham ’68, and Dennis Manning.

all-school celebration for

With words of appreciation in prose and in rhyme, with soaring harmonies and humorous lyrics, and with the crowning gift — a polka dot Bulldog, with the orange and blue dots made by fingerprints of every student in the school — Norfolk Academy students

celebrated retiring Headmaster Dennis Manning in Burroughs Gymnasium. Each of the three divisions — in fact every grade level — was instrumental in the May 9 celebration, which was a complete surprise to the headmaster. As the event’s emcee, Senior Class

President Lucas Knapp ’23, put it, for the past 22 years Mr. Manning has been “the best headmaster a school could ever have.” In brief remarks, Mr. Manning quickly deflected the praise: “I love being on teams, I always have. And this has been just a great team effort.”

mr. manning

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TOP ROW : Mr. Manning shook hands with Lyric ’27 after her speech. • Charles ’29 and Beau ’29 delivered the wagon bearing the polka dot Bulldog, a gift that the entire student body helped to speckle. • The Lower School sang “From Now On,” from The Greatest Showman

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT BOTTOM ROW : Senior Class President Lucas Knapp ’23 was an energetic emcee. • Heartfelt and sometimes humorous thanks from students drew appreciative smiles and laughter, including from Mrs. Manning and trustees. • The Barbershop Quartet, featured in The Music Man, made a surprise appearance to offer a song with lyrics written specifically for Mr. Manning. • A group of Lower School students, including Ellington ’30, delivered rhyming advice to Mr. Manning for his retirement.

Bulldog Family Gathers to Give the Mannings a

Fond Farewell

Exuberant reunions. Spontaneous “selfies” with the headmaster.And hundreds of hugs. The Bulldog Community Celebration on June 6

to honor Dennis and Beth Manning drew parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty, former faculty, and students to the campus’s favorite gathering spot, the

Pit.They stood in line, happily chatting and snacking on summery treats like ice cream, as they waited for

Board ofTrustees President Ran Randolph offered brief

their chance to share a few memories with the Mannings and personally thank them. Lower and Middle School Choruses performed, and

a world-class faculty, modernized the curriculum, transformed the campus, tripled the endowment, and

remarks. He noted that the school has advanced with

led the school through a global pandemic. “But to me,

Mr. Manning at the helm in myriad ways: He attracted

his most important accomplishment, which has been

no small feat, has been to serve as the keeper of the flame, the defender of the ideal that honor, integrity, and character must remain at the forefront of everything that we do, even when challenging and painful,”

he said. He gave Mr. Manning a smaller replica of a formal portrait that will be placed, alongside a plaque, in the newly named Dennis G. Manning Lower School. Mr. Manning thanked theAcademy family for the

love that they have showered upon him and his family, and closed by quoting from a beloved children’s book,

A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

SPECIAL CONVOCATION HONORS DR. JONATHAN ZENILMAN

Norfolk Academy’s Guide Through the Pandemic

online. Dr. Zenilman credited the students and teachers who went through the regular testing. He also credited school leaders who he said came to him by asking what needed to be done to keep school open at a time when many campuses were closed. “You have made this successful,” he said.

Honor Council Chair Anna Russell ’23 noted that her sophomore volleyball season practices were held outside and she did not have a choir to sing with that year because of the pandemic. Yet she remained thankful because she was able to go to school and be with friends and teachers every day.

“I can confidently say that the team covered all sides of the Covid-19 crisis,” she said.

Norfolk Academy pulled out all the stops on November 10, 2022, for a Convocation to express heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Jonathan Mark Zenilman, professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University, whose guidance and expertise helped the school navigate in-person schooling during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Although Dr. Zenilman spent countless hours on Zoom and conference calls with members of the school’s Board of Trustees and Headmaster Dennis Manning, this visit was his first time on campus. The entire school community — 1,200 students and 200 faculty and staff — assembled in Burroughs Gymnasium for a ceremony that included expressions of appreciation from students and school leaders, as well as music from the Upper School Chorus.

Dr. Zenilman was the keynote speaker, and he opened his address by telling the packed gymnasium that when he signed on to help Norfolk Academy, there was no rule book for how to proceed or how to protect students.

He recalled that he told Mr. Manning, “I would love to help you, but at this time, I don’t have the answers. What we think we know today will change, and we have to be prepared to change.”

Starting in summer 2020, Dr. Zenilman provided leadership as Norfolk Academy created a thorough program of protocols that included regular Covid testing, contact tracing, masking, and ventilation that allowed students to learn on campus every day at a time when many other schools were forced to be

Senior Class President Lucas Knapp ’23 said the pandemic upended just about every aspect of his life. The one constant was being with his school friends and finding comfort learning on campus.

“We must never forget the importance of our community,” he said.

Mr. Manning lauded Dr. Zenilman’s generosity and announced the establishment of a scholarship named for Dr. Zenilman that will provide funding for a student to attend the school.

The school also honored Trustee Guy R. Friddell III ’69, whose “insatiable” appetite for research and tireless approach to Covid research led the school to Dr. Zenilman. Over the course of the pandemic, Friddell and Zenilman emailed and spoke for hours by phone and Zoom; through their work for the school, the two men forged a close friendship. Board of Trustees President Alfred M.

Jr. ’80 presented Mr. Friddell with a doctor’s white coat as a gesture of appreciation.

“Without his relentless tenacity, we would not be where we are today,” Mr. Randolph said. ◆

Esther Diskin is Director of Communications.

Randolph

ABOVE : From left, Board of Trustees President Alfred M. Randolph Jr. ’80, Dr. Jonathan Zenilman, Trustee Guy Friddell III ’69, and Headmaster Dennis Manning at a Convocation honoring Dr. Zenilman in November. OPPOSITE : Dr. Zenilman, professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University, was instrumental in helping Norfolk Academy stay open throughout the 2020–21 school year, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

NORFOLK ACADEMY & COPERNICUS – GYMNASIUM CELEBRATE

50years

A Friendship for the Ages

Norfolk Academy students lined the sidewalk in front of the school’s main arch, waiting breathlessly for the arrival of tour buses from Washington, D.C.

It was the repetition of a moment that has happened every year since the historic moment in 1973, when German Teacher Katherine “Frau” Holmes first connected with Jürgen Wiehe, her counterpart at Copernicus-Gymnasium in Löningen, Germany, for a phone call. That conversation began building a bond that led to a half-century of exchange visits.

This year’s anniversary marked a dramatic difference in scale and planning: in addition to the 15 exchange students and two faculty chaperones, Norfolk Academy families hosted 36 student-musicians and about a dozen additional faculty members from Copernicus-Gymnasium.

To see a recording of the concert and a digital version of the “Festschrift,” an event program featuring official letters and memorabilia submitted by alumni, visit our website: www.norfolkacademy. org/academy-advantage/ international-programs/50thanniversary-celebration-of-the-germanexchange.

Indeed, hours after their arrival at the school, the German students joined their American counterparts onstage in Johnson Theater to begin a week of rehearsals in preparation for a gala celebration and premiere of “We Hold These Truths,” a piece by composer Stephen Melillo for chorus and orchestra, commissioned in honor of the occasion. In between hours of rehearsals, the German students had field trips to explore Hampton Roads, including Jamestown, Yorktown, and the Outer Banks; since Löningen is in a rural part of northwestern Germany, the sand and dunes of this region are a novelty.

Students, alumni, teachers, parents, and many special guests attended the 50th anniversary celebration of Norfolk Academy’s exchange program with Copernicus-Gymnasium on April 1.

The rehearsals, directed by NA’s Cheney Doane and CGL’s Philipp Hemmen, were core components of the learning experience; the two music directors, who had been planning for months, forged a strong friendship. “We got on very well from the beginning on Zoom,” said Doane, who is fluent in German.

“Nonetheless we were asking ourselves how this was going to be. Actually, it was such a relief to see how easy it was because everyone had such strong ability.”

The intensity of the rehearsals paid off. The nearcapacity audience in Johnson Theater on April 1 took an emotional journey with eloquent speeches, evocative artwork and photos of past exchanges, and soaring brass, woodwinds, percussion, and choral harmonies.

Speakers noted that the 50-year friendship between the schools sets an example, not only for other exchange programs but also nations.

“I applaud your success, your commitment, your educational and cultural dialogue,” said Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander, one of the celebration’s distinguished speakers. “You are truly making a difference in the world.”

The two schools were one of the first pairings of the German American Partnership Program (GAPP), administered by the Goethe-Institut and funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and the U.S. State Department. Molly Rowland, executive director of GAPP, said that the organization has exchanges at 730 schools with 400,000 alumni of its program. Yet, it has never seen a friendship as durable as this one. “What an accomplishment,” she said, in presenting a plaque. “To 50 more years!”

Ralf Göken, head of school at CGL, presented Norfolk Academy with an abstract sculpture, made from stone from a quarry near Löningen, entitled “Dialogue”; the two pieces are mirror images of each other but fit together perfectly, which he said mirrors the nature of strong human relationships. “At a moment when there is too much hate and division in the world, we must treasure this gift of a very steady friendship.”

Kadyn Johnson-Smith ’23, who went on the exchange to Germany last year, spoke on behalf of student participants. He candidly admitted that he was nervous before leaving Norfolk, not sure what was in store. However, he quickly felt right at home with his homestay family. “The German exchange brought me unforgettable memories,” he said.

Kadyn introduced “We Hold These Truths,” which was performed in five movements, interspersed with remarks from longtime directors Chris Nelson and Elisabeth Rüve about the exchange and its broader influence.

Nelson, who has introduced hundreds of NA students to Germany and shown German students the beauty of Hampton Roads for more than three decades, spoke about the value of the homestay and the growth he sees students make in the weeks of their visit.

Rüve summarized what so many others said during the night: “This special program has changed the world for the better.”

Among the other highlights of the night was a prerecorded speech from Frau Holmes; the video was introduced by Nelson, noting that Holmes deserved to have the “final word” of the evening.

“It has been a great relationship for 50 years,” she said, “and I am so proud of all of the people and teachers and institutions that have made it so wonderful.”

But the celebration was not over: in June, Norfolk Academy’s delegation traveled to Löningen for a concert and homestays there. More to come about that visit in our next issue! ◆

Esther Diskin is Director of Communications.

A New Community Partnership to Assist Migrant Farm Workers

In recent years, the Batten Leadership Program has partnered with Dos Santos, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, led entirely by volunteers, that assists migrant farm workers and the immigrant Latino community of Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Dos Santos means “two saints” in Spanish; its name embraces the promise of Jesus as conveyed in Holy Scripture: “Where two or more are gathered in my Name, There I will be also” (Matthew 18:20). Students volunteer weekly for food distributions at the Dos Santos food pantries, raise funds for crucial supplies, and aid migrant farm workers and their families in any other way possible.

Evan Mitchell, Assistant Director of the Global Affairs Fellows and Middle and Upper School Spanish Teacher, has been a central advocate for expanding and strengthening the partnership between Dos Santos and Norfolk Academy. Mitchell became involved with Dos Santos last year in hopes of finding a positive outlet for his Spanish students to use their language skills outside the classroom while engaging meaningfully within their community. After his first meeting with the migrant farm workers, Mitchell said, “This experience was very memorable for me — a big part of it was hearing their stories and learning about what they were going through. Another part was realizing that it was only their second week here in the United States. Speaking with these migrant farm workers made the mission of Dos Santos come alive for me and it helped me appreciate all that we have at Norfolk Academy.”

Dos Santos works closely with the Agricultural Workers Advocacy Coalition (AWAC) to help fight for increased labor rights and better treatment of migrant farm workers. Every year, tens of thousands of migrant farm workers from Mexico and Central America are granted H-2A temporary work visas. The H-2A temporary agricultural program allows farming companies to transport foreign workers to the United States to perform seasonal agricultural labor. On the Eastern Shore, migrant laborers are the lifeblood of the economy, performing the jobs no one else is willing to do. And yet, despite being essential to our nation, migrant farm workers are treated as disposable and are frequently left out of moral and legal discussions. This is why Dos Santos and AWAC collaborate to aid these workers when there are food shortages, transportation

difficulties, and a whole host of other legal and labor issues. Many students and teachers within the Batten Leadership Program have been lucky enough to meet some of these workers, attend partner meetings with Dos Santos and AWAC, and help to find and work on creative and out-of-the-box solutions to the migrant farm workers’ problems.

Joe Bakkar ’24, a Global Health Fellow, also started volunteering with Dos Santos last year. Bakkar commented, “Normally when you participate and help with fundraisers you don’t actually see the people that you are helping, but with Dos Santos, you get to meet and interact with the migrant farm workers on a very close level. And now that I have become more involved with Dos Santos, I am looking forward to contributing to the nonprofit in my own way.”

From the Batten Leadership Program to the Maymester Program, Norfolk Academy students are fortunate to have such a plethora of experiential learning opportunities offered to them. Strengthening Norfolk Academy’s connections to organizations like Dos Santos will continue to broaden students’ horizons and challenge them to engage in solving real-world problems. ◆

OPPOSITE: During the 2022 holiday season, Batten Leadership Program Fellows joined with other students who help support the Dos Santos Food Pantry to donate more than 130 gifts to migrant children. The students also handed out food assistance to more than 130 families. Dos Santos serves the immigrant and farm worker communities in Accomack and Northampton counties on the Eastern Shore.

Antonia Baudoin ’23, a Global Affairs Fellow, worked as a writing intern for the Communications Office during the 2022–23 school year. She will be attending Yale University this fall.

STUDIO stage&

“A CEASELESS, GIVING DANCE”

TOP LEFT: Sherah Powers and Elbert Watson perform a dance about PTSD and Black veterans returning from Vietnam. TOP RIGHT: Virginia Arts Festival Director Rob Cross presents Elbert Watson with the Ovation Award. BOTTOM LEFT: Lower School students are avid dancers. BOTTOM RIGHT: Elbert Watson dances to Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Dance Master Elbert Watson Receives Ovation Award

When Elbert Watson was a boy growing up in Norfolk, his parents would often call him into the living room to show off his moves to friends and neighbors. As a teenager and senior class president at Booker T. Washington High School, he kept dancing but considered it just a hobby.

He changed his mind in his 20s, after hearing family friends mourning their own missed chances; he resolved that he would have no such laments — he would pursue his passion. After two years of grueling training in ballet, he was accepted in 1973 by choreographer Alvin Ailey into his pioneering troupe, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Within a year, Ailey promoted Watson to principal dancer, and the world opened up; he performed on stages around the globe, playing a new role every season. When Watson eventually grew to feel that he was being typecast, he moved on to the Staatstheater in Germany, Pearl Primus Earth Theater, and the Joan Miller Dance Players.

When one troupe shut down unexpectedly, he came back home to plan his next move; he thoroughly expected to return to Europe. In the interim, he began teaching in Richmond and at Norfolk Academy, in the school’s Academy of the Arts summer program.

Suddenly, a new path beckoned. “When the letter finally came for me to go back to Germany, I realized I was a different person,” he said in a documentary made about his career by WHRO’s Curate 757. “I liked teaching children. Dancing can be a very self-absorbed kind of career. Suddenly I was giving back to children, and that was an exciting thing for me.”

Even as he embraced the role of a dance teacher for grades 1–12, he has continued charting new pathways as a

choreographer, leader of a dance troupe, and performer. He has created dances about the Holocaust; Vietnam veterans and PTSD; and race relations, including a dance to Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. He has twice performed with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, most notably in 2018, in a concert to promote healing and unity in the aftermath of the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. He has had countless collaborations with groups throughout the region, using dance as a vehicle for storytelling.

This spring, Watson received the Virginia Arts Festival’s Ovation Award, which honors the lifetime achievement of artists with a special connection to the Hampton Roads area. As a recipient, he joins a distinguished group, including JoAnn Falletta, former conductor of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and director, conductor, and pianist Rob Fisher.

Speakers at the award presentation shared Watson’s life-shaping impact on thousands of children and adults. “He teaches more than dance; he teaches values,” said Thomas V. Rueger ’65, a member of the Arts Festival Board and a Norfolk Academy Trustee. “It is amazing the loyalty his students feel for him. He is a mentor for life.”

Headmaster Dennis Manning noted that Watson has reached beyond the walls of the dance room to offer flexibility training to athletic teams and to develop movement-based lessons that dovetail with academic courses. Watson’s strong spiritual life allowed him to act as a “real minister” to many in the campus community during the difficult days of the pandemic, Manning said. “His life is a perpetual, ceaseless, giving dance, and he has insisted that we dance with him.”

Matthew Rushing, associate artistic director of Alvin Ailey, which performed as part of the 2023 Virginia Arts Festival, spoke about the revelatory impact of seeing Watson’s performances online. “I saw myself in you, and I saw what I wanted to become,” he said. “I saw someone taking something he loves and turning it into a vehicle for loving others.”

In his remarks, Watson said that the two most important dates in your life are “the day you’re born, and the day you find your purpose.” He noted that life has taught him three things: humility, how to forgive, and how to listen with his whole heart. He added, “Life is short, but life is long enough to do God’s will.” ◆

Esther Diskin is Director of Communications.

THE VIRGINIA ARTS FESTIVAL’S HIGHEST HONOR FOR LIFETIME ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT

STUDIO stage&

“A PARADE OF MUSIC AND DANCE”

TOP: From left, Addie ’25, Lily ’27, Alex ’23, and CJ ’25. MIDDLE: Anna ’23 and Kadyn ’23. BOTTOM RIGHT: Kadyn ’23.

“Shipoopi!” A song from Norfolk Academy’s 2023 Winter Musical, The Music Man, cast members shouted the word in unison to celebrate each brilliant number with pitch-perfect harmonies, ballroom dancing, and unmatched energy. The smiles on the students’ faces matched the work and energy that they put into making the performance a hit … again.

A lot of factors went into choosing this year’s musical. It was highly requested and recently off-Broadway. But The Music Man was also the first production put on in the Samuel C. Johnson Theater when it opened in 2006, making it a great way to honor retiring Headmaster Dennis Manning. The theater’s first performance would also be his last.

Because of its more traditional nature, the success of the show was heavily reliant on the immaculacy of the vocals, especially the Barber Shop Quartet. Orchestra and Choral Teacher Cheney Doane played a pivotal role in working with the actors as they learned difficult melodies and harmonies.

“Everybody learns differently; some students need a lot of energy and attention, and some need to do things on their own with only an occasional check-in,” Doane said. “The better you can understand the members of the cast, the higher the level of the whole group can be.”

Doane’s hard work and dedication paid off. Audiences throughout performance week in February agreed that the vocal performances and on-stage orchestra sounded beautiful. In addition, Doane left an indelible mark on the entire cast.

“Mr. Doane’s dedication to his craft and generosity toward those with whom he works left the whole cast feeling fulfilled both musically and emotionally,” said Anna Russell ’23, who played Marian Paroo. “I

have never met someone so humble, selfless, and full of energy and motivation for students and teachers of all ages.”

Another crucial teacher was Dance Master Elbert Watson, who choreographed and taught all of the dance numbers. For 40 years, Mr. Watson’s expertise in dance has elevated the musical, and he has loved every second of a program he said is unmatched in its ability to foster community and relationships between students from all grade levels.

“When choreographing a piece, I first assess how many people are involved and what their abilities are,” Watson said. “With the musical, there is a broad range of actors who have and haven’t danced before, so it’s crucial that the choreography is achievable for all levels. I come prepared with some combos, then it’s like a puzzle, where I am putting all the pieces together so the dance fits the set, is appropriate to the show, and is safe for all involved.”

The work put into the musical went beyond the stage. Throughout the season, the sound and lighting crew helped make the production polished. Every day, the sound team methodically set up stage microphones, miked actors, and performed sound checks, while lighting set up lights and ran projections and spotlights.

Taran Jeevan ’23, a captain of the sound team, brought knowledge and patience to a group that consisted of many eager but inexperienced members.

“During the show, we have people in the booth, house, and backstage,” Jeevan said. “In the booth, there are people on the board, who, when cued by a teammate following the script, mute and unmute actors, hanging mics, and stage mics, as well as run sound effects. We also have people in the house listening and telling the board when balance is needed. As for

the people backstage, they are there to fix any problems that may arise in the middle of the show.”

The sound and lighting teams showed tremendous resilience. They had to be prepared for anything, as things could change even a few minutes before the curtains opened. During one of the first shows, Russell’s microphone stopped working, so the sound team had to quickly switch it out during her brief time offstage. The show went on flawlessly.

Drama Teacher Caroline Bisi brought all these moving parts together as the director of the musical. Since coming to the Academy in 2006, she has both cherished and cultivated her work on the musical.

“It’s always hard this time of year because the seniors are leaving, but they taught the younger generations how to do lighting and sound, to be respectful actors,” Bisi said. “It’s a proud moment because I’ve seen how much the seniors have progressed but also how much they’ve left on stage. I just hope they continue it to keep the arts alive.” ◆

Annabelle Dyer ’23 worked as a writing intern for the Communications Office during the 2022–23 school year. She also worked on the sound team for The Music Man

NORFOLK ACADEMY BRINGS NON-STOP ENERGY TO THE RETURN OF THE MUSIC MAN

“Station Stop River City, Iowa!”

Three Seasons, Three

NA’s TRIPLE THREAT TRADITION

In an era when many student-athletes specialize in one sport, chasing dreams of playing in college and then professionally, Norfolk Academy offers an exception. At its annual end-of-year athletics celebration, the school salutes student-athletes who have competed three seasons for all three years of Upper School; seniors who play three seasons also receive a VISAA award. Each year, it’s a large group, and many will continue playing in college.

Peter Galiotos ’25 is one of those dozens upon dozens of three-sport student-athletes. Baseball is his favorite and best sport; he made varsity as a ninth grader. But he also made the varsity basketball and varsity football teams in 10th grade.

Galiotos aims to play baseball in college in a few years. Still, he never considered abandoning basketball and football. To him, those two sports offer attributes that both benefit him on the baseball field and enhance his enjoyment of school life.

“You get to see different locker rooms and coaching perspectives, and get to meet new guys,” Galiotos said. “You make friendships you wouldn’t make otherwise.”

Finding time to improve in all three sports is not easy, Galiotos said. During the fall and winter, he’ll hone his baseball skills on weekends, throwing (catcher is his primary position) and hitting in NA’s dome. He’s also lifting weights late at night and running early in the morning before school, habits that benefit him in all three sports. Summer is devoted to more baseball.

Don’t think that Galiotos is focusing solely on athletics, though. He prides himself on being well-rounded and an

TOP LEFT AND RIGHT: Peter Galiotos ’25. MIDDLE LEFT AND RIGHT: Gabby Harvey ’23. BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT: Ruby Garrison ’23.

active participant in school life; last school year he was a sophomore representative on the Tunstall Honor Council.

Galiotos still remembers being in first grade and looking up to the studentathletes who played three sports and were popular for the many different activities they did around school.

“Make the most of your time,” he advised younger students. “Try new things.”

Gabby Harvey ’23 played volleyball, basketball, and lacrosse at NA. She excelled enough that at Graduation in May she received the John A. Tucker Award, given to the senior girl who made the greatest contribution to the girls athletic program.

“When I think about Gabby, I think about her heart,” said Trish Hopkins, Middle School Assistant Director and Varsity Volleyball Coach. “She is a talented athlete in so many respects: skilled, strong, fast — so fast. But her heart stands out the most.”

Like Galiotos, Harvey devoted her weekends and summers to workouts and practices that helped her improve in all three sports. She also never considered dropping one or two of them. She will attend the College of Charleston and hopes to play volleyball and perhaps lacrosse at the club level.

“Every sport is so different,” she said. “And I like the team aspect of all of them. I met so many of my best friends on sports teams.”

Ruby Garrison ’23 played field hockey and soccer and ran indoor track at NA. At graduation she received the Country Day School For Girls Award, which goes to the senior girl who exemplifies a superior degree of devotion and commitment to the unselfish pursuit of excellence in academics and in athletics.

To her, that busy schedule is natural. “I could never imagine myself going home at 3:15,” she said.

Garrison has played soccer since she was about 4 years old and it’s her favorite sport. She was a varsity captain this spring and loved that leadership role of helping younger players improve. She picked up field hockey before she entered Middle School, and track while in Middle School. Each of those sports offers her specific benefits: The field hockey program has won several state titles and carries a storied tradition; the girls indoor track team had strong chemistry and won a state title this year.

“They all have very different team cultures,” Garrison said. “I can be myself and get something different out of playing, and that’s important to me.”

Director of Athletics Chad Byler was a multi-sport athlete growing up, then pitched for four years on Messiah College’s baseball team. He offers a bevy of reasons why student-athletes benefit from playing different sports.

Specialization can lead to overuse of body parts, which can cause injuries, Byler said. It also can lead to burnout. And contrary to what many might think, college coaches value multi-sport athletes because they’ve demonstrated a lot of different skillsets.

“Playing three sports, we put our student-athletes in a lot of different competitive situations,” Byler said. “That makes them better prepared to perhaps play in college, and it makes them better prepared for life.” ◆

A STELLAR 2022–23 CAMPAIGN

Norfolk Academy did plenty of winning on the athletics fields last school year, with both individuals and teams earning numerous conference and state championships.

Varsity sailing won state titles in both the fall and spring seasons. Girls indoor track won a state title in the winter. And dozens of rowers, runners, swimmers, and wrestlers won individual championships — and even national acclaim — over the course of the year.

Among the other notable stats from 2022–23:

29 student-athletes will compete at the collegiate level

student-athletes played three sports during their senior year

17 were three-sport athletes throughout their time in the Upper School 14 teams won TCIS conference championships 16

Mike Connors is Digital News and Social Media Specialist.

Graduation &

Valedictorians Jen Yuan and Micah Baum reminded the graduates of their closeness as a class, “bound by a common thread.”

The Class of 2023 stepped into the future inspired by Vespers Speaker Hampton University President Emeritus Dr. William R. Harvey, who called upon them to renew civility in society and to serve with honor and distinction.

Vespers 2023

Field Day

UNDER THE SEA ON MAY 6, 2023

President’s Circle Celebration

OCTOBER 19, 2022

Beth Manning was honored at the President’s Circle Celebration for all her service to Norfolk Academy. Mrs. Manning has tutored and mentored students, edited publications, served as an admissions ambassador and tour guide, co-chaired Field Day 2023, and served the school in myriad ways.

Homecoming & Class Reunions

OCTOBER 21–22, 2022

Bulldogs of all ages enjoyed their reunions and the many activities on campus Homecoming weekend! Joe Sargent ’02, a member of Mr. Manning’s first class of graduates, was the Homecoming speaker. Although he was part of a Super Bowl championship team, as director of brand marketing for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020, he said that one of his favorite roles is cheering the Bulldogs as an NA alumnus.

HOMECOMING & CLASS REUNIONS, CONT.

CLASS OF 2023 HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE, DECEMBER 7, 2022

YOUNG ALUMNI HOLIDAY BULLDOG BASH, DECEMBER 22, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C., ALUMNI REUNION, JANUARY 18, 2023

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, ALUMNI REUNION, FEBRUARY 10, 2023

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, ALUMNI REUNION, JANUARY 30, 2023

alumni profile | Steve Lawson ’83

Helping to Improve the Housing Industry

The Lawson Companies has a policy of giving employees two days off each year to perform community service, and a history of positively serving the Hampton Roads community through its housing and development projects. That devotion to service started when Bob Lawson, a former Norfolk Academy trustee, founded The Lawson Companies in 1972. It has continued with Bob’s son, Steve Lawson ’83, at the helm.

Steve Lawson became the companies’ President in 1999 and is now Chairman of the Board. For following his father’s model of improving the housing industry by doing what is fair and right, he this year received the Community Leaders Award from the Urban League of Hampton Roads at its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast.

During the breakfast, held virtually, Lawson thanked the entire Lawson Companies team. “We are an honest, hard-working group sharing a strong set of core values and believe in our purpose — to positively impact people,” he said.

After graduating from Norfolk Academy, Lawson earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Duke University. He didn’t intend to join the family business; he studied engineering in school and thought his future was in mechanical engineering. But as he weighed the pros and cons of his next steps, he decided following in his father’s footsteps was his best move.

Both Lawson’s parents instilled in him the values of service. His mom, who sadly passed away in 1996, volunteered at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center, teaching inmates. While running The Lawson Companies, his dad became heavily involved in housing policy at the state and even national levels; his motto was to strengthen the industry by acting ethically and helping the communities in which he built.

While his parents played an instrumental role in his character development, Lawson also credits his studies at NA. “The Academy really encourages students to get involved in the community,” he said. The rigors of student life at NA also benefited him, he said. Even though math and science were his strengths, he learned to write at a high level and gained public speaking confidence, both skills that remain crucial. He also developed time management by balancing academics and extracurriculars, including playing varsity lacrosse.

“I learned a lot from the challenge that the Academy offers its students, and I think that is truly formative in a lot of different ways,” he said.

The Urban League’s Community Leaders Award goes to individuals or groups who exemplify service, demonstrate the values modeled by Dr. King, and make significant contributions to Hampton Roads. In receiving the award, Lawson noted his father’s early adoption of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, which he has built upon.

“My father instilled in us a duty to make a positive impact in the community,” Lawson said. “We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to do that through the creation of affordable housing throughout Virginia.”

Mike Connors is Digital and Social Media Specialist.

Steve Lawson ’83

Alumni Board President Loves Giving Back to NA

Mike Moore ’85 still fondly recalls his time as a Norfolk Academy student, the speaking, writing, and thinking skills he developed and his play on two state champion lacrosse teams, including an undefeated squad his senior year.

Moore traveled the world after graduating from the Academy. He attended college at Hampden-Sydney and worked for about eight years in south Florida, earning a master’s from the University of Miami’s Herbert Business School. He even worked in England for close to three years.

Through all that travel and the higher education degrees he gained, his love and appreciation for what he learned as a Bulldog never waned. For that reason, he happily agreed to serve as NA’s Alumni Board President, starting in 2021 and continuing through the close of the 2022–23 school year. (Merrick McCabe ’98 will begin a two-year stint at the start of next school year.)

As President, Moore helps lead board meetings and participates in fundraisers and other school activities. He also builds connections with fellow alumni, a task he particularly enjoys because it allows him to reminisce about teachers, sports, speeches, and other memories from his school days.

Moore is well suited for the position: In addition to the strong friendships he maintains with NA classmates, his three sons graduated from the school in recent years — Ridge ’18, Cole ’20, and Drew ’20.

“I wanted to give back because I wanted other students to enjoy the same things I enjoyed,” Moore said.

For almost 20 years, Moore has been with London & Norfolk Ltd., a commercial insurance agency based in Norfolk. He is a commercial property casualty broker, working mainly with mid-sized businesses. The agency serves business segments ranging from government contractors to healthcare to real estate to manufacturing and well beyond.

The keys to being a successful broker are responsiveness and honesty with customers, Moore said. He cultivated those traits at Norfolk Academy, where he absorbed the Honor System.

“You need to be able to analyze and think through what is right,” Moore said. “And NA really helped develop my brain.”

Mike Connors is Digital and Social Media Specialist.

alumni profile | Mike Moore ’85

Mike Moore ’85

’98

Protecting Press Freedoms on the Job

When Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins was playing volleyball, basketball, and lacrosse as a three-season athlete at NA, she was learning skills and absorbing, almost by osmosis, an understanding of the way to collaborate for success.

“We’re stronger together,” she said. “Together, we can win.”

Blaize-Hopkins went on from Norfolk Academy to earn a B.A. in sociology from Columbia University and an M.A. in journalism from the University of Miami. She worked in television journalism in Florida, Texas, and Nevada, earning an Emmy Award along the way, and now is a professor of journalism at Santa Monica College in California.

She is also the incoming president of the national Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), the first Black woman to serve as the organization’s president. It was her supreme skill at building a winning team that helped catapult her to that nationally prominent position.

In 2020, Blaize-Hopkins watched as the murder of George Floyd ignited demonstrations across the country. Journalists were covering the protests or attempting to do so; there were at least 50 documented cases of journalists who were detained, arrested, or seriously injured by police in California while covering the civil unrest, Blaize-Hopkins said.

Blaize-Hopkins, who was then serving as president of the Greater Los Angeles chapter of the SPJ, was outraged by the interference in the rights of journalists “to do their jobs.”

She mobilized. Working methodically and strategically in her outreach, she

helped build a coalition of 20 organizations, many of which had not collaborated before, to lobby the state legislature for a bill that would strengthen press freedoms in California. Over months, the coalition used every tool it could find to press its case, from phone calls to social media to Zoom meetings with state legislators. Blaize-Hopkins wrote an editorial in the Sacramento Bee, the daily newspaper in the state capital, which began: “Journalism is not a crime.”

The coalition’s full court press secured the win. Senate Bill 98, exempting media professionals from having to comply with police dispersal orders while covering protests, marches, and other types of demonstrations, passed both houses of the legislature, and in October 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it into law.

Blaize-Hopkins cheered the decision and lauded the governor and legislators on Twitter (@AshantiBlaize). “It was a great moment to feel that we did something that will impact the lives of journalists in the state,” she said.

There’s more work ahead. BlaizeHopkins is excited about challenges ahead at the helm of SPJ, particularly in making the organization — and the nation’s newsrooms — more open to the “huge, diverse, cornucopia of people” who are working in the industry. She’s also keenly aware journalists are losing their jobs as media organizations struggle financially; she feels the public needs a greater appreciation of the importance of a free press in sustaining a healthy democracy.

“I am very cognizant of what my ancestors had to go through to be viewed as humans. Everything I do is in honor of my ancestors,” she said. “How are we making a difference in the lives of others? That’s why I got into journalism in the first place, and why I care about press freedom.”

Esther Diskin is Director of Communications.

Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins ’98

After the Pandemic in New York City, Returning Home to Practice Medicine

When it comes to providing exemplary healthcare for the women of Hampton Roads, for Dr. Derwin Gray II, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. In fact, according to Dr. Gray, the opportunity to work with and be mentored by his father, Dr. Derwin Gray Sr., brought him home. Dr. Gray II, Norfolk Academy Class of 2007, received his Bachelor of Science degree from Morehouse College, earned his medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School, and completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU in New York.

The final three months of his residency at NYU were dominated by the first three months of the Covid-19 pandemic. He felt tremendous relief leaving behind the hectic healthcare landscape of New York City during the pandemic and joining his father’s practice at Virginia Center for Women. According to Dr. Gray, many young surgeons say that the toughest part of starting a medical career is securing a reliable, experienced mentor. He never feels alone knowing that he can call on his father for help or consult him in managing difficult cases.

Not only has Dr. Gray benefited from the wonderful guidance of his father, but also from the mentorship he experienced during his 12 years as a student at Norfolk Academy. He remembers how classes taught by Patty Klewans and Susie Coker first introduced him to the scientific method. Rigorous Upper School courses in physics and chemistry also gave him the foundation to succeed at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Varsity basketball Coach Eric Acra taught him a lot about mental toughness, and many of those lessons still help him persevere through some of the more difficult days caring for patients. He also

recalls powerful life lessons he learned on the Spanish exchange in 2006. He met lifelong friends and discovered an appreciation for how people of different cultures can share similar values.

Since his return to Hampton Roads, Dr. Gray has continued the tradition of caring mentorship at Norfolk Academy. He serves on the Alumni Board and as a mentor for Bulldogs who want to pursue careers in medicine. He advises current students to take advantage of the wide variety of opportunities available at Norfolk Academy and to spend as much time with each other as their time permits.

Dr. Gray observed, “Norfolk Academy students grow to become world leaders and seeing my classmates succeed has been very inspiring.” He encourages recent graduates to continue to cultivate their Bulldog network and stay in touch. The tree of family, community, and school that sustained Dr. Gray and helped him grow has helped him to start a fruitful career in Hampton Roads, and the NA community is grateful that he has returned to nurture the seeds of curiosity for young Bulldogs.

Charlotte Zito ’99 is an Upper School English teacher and faculty advisor to the Tunstall Student Council.

alumni profile | Derwin Gray II ’07

Derwin Gray ’07

in memoriam

Dr. George R. Webb ’55

Mr. A. Wallace Grafton Jr. ’56

Mr. Frank D. Lawrence III ’59

Mr. Robert Forrest Fowler II ’62

Mr. Richard Franklin Welton IV ’70

Mr. Paul J. Davidson Jr. ’73

Mr. Theodore M. Galanides ’79

Mr. Gregory Lewis Mahan ’81

Mr. Jeffrey G. Malone ’97

Mr. Daniel Ryan Law ’98

Ms. Margaret Jean Pritchard ’08

STUDENT

Mr. Daniel Ni Cheng ’23

FORMER FACULTY

Ms. Kathryn J. Brownlow

Ms. Nancy S. Flippen

Made Us Better Through His Friendship, Caring, and Humor

What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. A sunset, a mountain bathed in moonlight, the ocean in calm and in storm — we see these, love their beauty, hold the vision to our hearts. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.

— Helen Keller from We Bereaved Daniel Cheng ’23, a beloved member of the Senior Class, died November 8, 2022. His sudden loss came as a terrible shock to the school community, prompting an outpouring of grief and deep, lingering sadness. Daniel died of an extremely rare congenital heart defect called ARVD/C, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy; his condition was not detected or diagnosed, in part because it is not able to be uncovered in a routine physical or a single test. Doctors told his parents and the school that patients with the condition “can be without symptoms and then progress to a fatal abnormal heart rhythm in the span of seconds.”

The Cheng family wished to share this: “In our grief, we are left with memories of the many ways Daniel contributed to our community and made all of us better people through his friendship, caring, and humor.”

Daniel joined Norfolk Academy as a sixth grader, and from that moment, being a Bulldog became a cherished part of his identity. He studied German, and he participated in the German Exchange during the summer of 2022. He loved that trip, which was one of the first foreign trips that students could make after the pandemic. While a quiet student in class, traveling evoked his curiosity about and enthusiasm for German places, history, and food.

Daniel participated in robotics and was a member of the Sci-Fi Club. He had studied piano for many years and was the pianist for the Upper School Band. In that group, his ability to be a team player truly showed. Everyone in the band appreciated his witty humor, and his jokes helped bond the ensemble. More than that, he was an inspiration to the other instrumentalists through his caring personality, willingness to learn, and love of music. His style of musicianship showed his character: He never sought the spotlight; rather, he just wanted to make everyone better, and he did.

Daniel’s mother said he loved the way that Norfolk Academy felt like a real family. Daniel, our brother, will always be in our hearts.

Teacher Embodied Kindness

Nancy Shults Flippen, 89, the only child of John Brooks Shults and Eleanor Finley Shults, died peacefully on February 11, 2023. She was born in Hope, AR, and reared in the HopeTexarkana area. Following a stellar high school academic career, she entered Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, VA, where she met her husband-to-be, James H. Flippen Jr., on a blind date.

After two years at Randolph-Macon, Nancy transferred to Washington University in St. Louis, where she was an active member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and graduated with an A.B. degree. She later earned a master’s degree in the humanities from Old Dominion University.

Shortly after their marriage, Nancy and James moved to Norfolk; as he began law practice, she taught English at Norview High School. When her children came along, she stopped teaching but engrossed herself in civic affairs, including work at the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach thrift shop and service as a docent at both the Chrysler Museum and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. In her later years, she served as a Mobile Meals volunteer and hospice worker.

In 1978, Nancy began teaching English and history in the Middle School at Norfolk Academy, where she served for 22 years. She was instrumental in the development and expansion of the ninth-grade speech program and the literary magazine. She was one of the first teachers to collaborate with fine arts for teaching Shakespeare’s plays, which Dance Master Elbert Watson recalled as a joyful, exciting experience. She received the Middle School award for teaching excellence.

Pat Hume, who started her long career at NA as an English teacher in the Middle School and, like Nancy, coached cheerleading, recalled her as “a role model. Her manners were impeccable, and she was so kind. She also had a great sense of humor.” The two shared a passion for grammar and for introducing women authors into the curriculum. In those years, Ms. Hume said, the school was still adjusting to the 1966 merger of Norfolk Academy with Virginia Beach Country Day School, and Mrs. Flippen was a strong advocate for treating young women as equals.

Gary Laws, who served as director of the Middle School, said Mrs. Flippen understood the importance of rules and structure, but always treated all students with the utmost compassion. “She was concerned with all of the things the Academy holds dearest, like integrity, kindness, helping others,” he said. “That wasn’t just near and dear. That was who she was and what she lived.” ◆

in memoriam | Nancy Flippen

parting SHOT

“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields.”

— Irish Blessing (often used at Lower School lunch)

With boundless thanks for all the love you have given to the Bulldog Family, we wish you, Dennis and Beth, the best of luck on the journey ahead.