ENSIGHTS IN SEARCH OF TRUTH
SUMMER 2022
YEAR OF T H E T I G E R Cultural Celebrations K–12 Chinese Program Artist in Residence Program
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2022-2023 President Will Morrow Vice President Brock Kidd
In Search of Truth ENSWORTH Mission Statement
Special Advisor Bruce Moore
Ensworth is a kindergarten through twelfth grade, coeducational independent school. The School promotes academic excellence and inspires students to be intellectually curious, to use their talents to the fullest, to be people
Kathryn Brown
of integrity, and to be contributors to society.
Treasurer Bruce Crosby Secretary Jim Bowen Legal Counsel John Jacobson
Gerard Bullock Daphne Butler Raja Clark Beth Courtney Amanda Farnsworth Jennifer Frist Frank Gordon Chad Greer Emily Kurtz Deb McDermott Don Orr Neal Patel Yvonne Ralsky Rebecca Shah Louis Upkins Stephaine Walker Head of School Prentice Stabler, ex officio President, Ensworth Parent Association Amanda Graff, ex officio President-Elect Ensworth Parent Association Katie Porterfield, ex officio President, Ensworth Alumni Council Christopher Coode ’09, ex officio Chair, National Advisory Council Lauren Elcan ‘13, ex officio
Administrative Team Prentice Stabler Head of School Ricky Bowers Associate Head of School; Director of Athletics Heather Caponi Head of Lower School Rebekah Capps Director of Enrollment Management Nowell Hesse Head of High School Jason Hiett Director of Technology Bedell James Director of Advancement Darwin Mason Head of Middle School Bobby Mirzaie Director of Curriculum and Instruction Beth Pollard Chief Financial Officer Tiffany Townsend Director of Marketing and Communications David Whitfield Director of Community Engagement & Inclusion
ENSWORTH Vision Statement We envision a school community dedicated to following the highest principles with the greatest love, as characterized by moral integrity, intellectual vitality, discipline, compassion, humor, and joy.
Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion In order to realize the goals of our Mission and Vision, Ensworth must actively strive to be a diverse and inclusive community of learners that engages collectively In Search of Truth. The presence of different perspectives and life experiences plays a vital role in the development of our students, enhancing classroom and extracurricular experiences in meaningful ways. As a school, we are committed to cultivating an environment in which all members of the Ensworth community experience a true sense of belonging and are empowered to be active participants in the life of the school. These efforts are essential if we are to foster the growth of all students in line with their potential, and to equip them for lives of purpose that extend far beyond their time at Ensworth.
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COMMUNITY
Year of the Tiger
14 Celebration of Cultures 18 Interdisciplinary Jazz Unit 22 College Counseling Focus 30 Capstone Scholars 31 Middle School Podcast Club 32 For the Record
FACULTY
ARTS
59 Meet the Stabler Family
28 Graduation & Closing Exercises Photos
42 Artist in Residence Program
54 Parent Association
46 Middle School Spring Play
61 Faculty Profiles
47 High School Spring Play
64 Amy Rich’s Retirement Tribute
48 High School Musical
70 Celebrating David Braemer
50 High School Events Photos 52 Lower/Middle School Events Photos
ATHLETICS
60 Faculty News
ALUMNI
37 High School Athletics
12 Alumni Focus
40 Middle School Athletics
65 Alumni News
Copyrighted 2022 by Ensworth School. Ensworth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin in its admissions or its hiring policies. Ensworth is a member of NAIS, CASE, SACS, SAIS, and the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools. ENSIGHTS is a bi-annual publication of Ensworth’s Office of Institutional Advancement. EDITORIAL STAFF Tiffany Townsend (Editor), Michelle Andrade, Paul Downey
DESIGN
Mary Byrne Dailey
PHOTOGRAPHY Michelle Andrade, Mary Byrne Dailey, Paul Downey, Tim Jones, Kevin McGee, Mike Strasinger, Tracy Walls
MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Becoming a Tiger in the Year of the Tiger The year 2022 marks the second
expanding K–12 Chinese program and
time in my life that I’ve become a
interdisciplinary studies, and you’ll
Tiger. The first was years ago as I
receive glimpses into our cultural
prepared to begin my college career
learning and celebrations, moments
at Princeton. After a coast-to-coast
that stitch our community together.
search and considering a multitude
You’ll see examples of students,
of possible schools, I chose a place
faculty, and alumni performing at
that I thought combined the best of
the highest levels in the classroom,
many worlds: a place known for its
studio, gym, and community, and
top academics, dynamic campus
you’ll see the faces of students who
culture, elite arts and athletics,
love their school and are developing
and people who strive to make one
their talents to the fullest on behalf of
another better.
a cause greater than themselves.
It is striking to me that the same factors excite me about
As we begin the year, please know that I am excited and
Ensworth as my family and I become Tigers this fall. For
ready to get to know all facets of our school. I hope that
the better part of my two decades in Middle Tennessee, I
as you see my family and me around campus, you will
have watched Ensworth build a unique blend of factors that
introduce yourselves and share your Ensworth stories and
result in an amazing school. Three things stand out:
experiences. This is a remarkable place, and I hope you join me in my enthusiasm for what lies ahead this year.
1) Ensworth is committed to academic excellence and has purposefully designed a unique curriculum that prepares
This Year of the Tiger provides us an opportunity to build
students with skills for a dynamic and changing world.
upon the amazing accomplishments of the past as we design an even more exciting future at Ensworth. There is a spirit
2) Ensworth is committed to wellness and the development
of continuous improvement and growth that is woven into
of the whole child—body, mind, and spirit—and this
the DNA of this school, and I can’t wait for you to see what
commitment bears fruit in all areas of school life.
comes next.
3) Ensworth’s community is infused with joy and provides students myriad opportunities to pursue passions and innumerable chances to make an impact. As I’ve spent the last year immersing myself in all things Ensworth, I have only grown more excited about the factors listed above. In this issue of Ensights, you’ll read about our
Prentice Stabler HEAD OF SCHOOL
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The Year of the Tiger H i g h l i g h t i ng Ensw o r t h’ s K - 1 2 C hin e s e P r o g r am It has undoubtedly been a year of the tiger, but not just because the Chinese lunar calendar declared 2022 the Year of the Tiger. This year has been full of courage, perseverance, assertiveness, and innate leadership. Emerging from an intense time with Covid restrictions and masks, mandates, and exhaustion from more than two years of having to modify, pivot, and calibrate, the Ensworth Tigers emerged stronger and more present. When choosing the theme for this summer’s Ensights, the serendipitous celebration of the Year of the Tiger was clear.
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small exposure is all it takes to spark a deep dive into a culture and language like Chinese, and Ensworth strives to offer such inspiration to the entire school community. By executing school-wide K–12 experiences, teachers and administrators alike hoped to impress upon everyone—not just our students who elect to take Chinese—the gifts and magic of Chinese as we celebrated the Year of the Tiger.
traditions like Chinese New Year and lesser-known cultural traditions into Ensworth’s curriculum. This sixteen-day spring festival is based on the Lunar calendar that is synced with the 12 animal signs in the Chinese zodiac. This year, the Chinese New Year was celebrated from January 31-February 15, and with it being the Year of the Tiger, it was especially celebratory for our Ensworth community.
“[Celebrating the Chinese New Ensworth integrated Mandarin Year] is a great opportunity Chinese into the core curriculum to celebrate the outstanding in 2006. Nancy Scoville, who was Chinese program we have here at the Lower/Middle School World Ensworth in all three divisions. Language Department Chair at When I describe our Chinese the time, shared, “The addition program and its successes to of Chinese to the Ensworth peers around the country, it is program is an unparalleled clear we have a uniquely strong initiative which underscores program, not only in Tennessee both a long tradition of World but nationwide,” Mrs. Harris “Ensworth has made the admirable Language education and a expresses. commitment of offering its students commitment to preparing our a range of language choices. Allowing For the celebration, all students students for the future. The importance of developing the and faculty received a special students to explore their strengths communication skills necessary Year of the Tiger t-shirt to wear in languages aligns with Ensworth’s to build relationships with the to school on Monday, January Mission Statement in every way.” most populous country in the 31st. At the High School, Chinese world is a priority we cannot students prepared a presentation Caitlin Harris ignore. Early exposure to Chinese and dance that they performed in World Language Department Chair-LS/MS and will help our students develop assembly to educate their peers Interdisciplinary Learning Coordinator-LS both familiarity and confidence about the significance of the with the language and the culture.” Chinese New Year. On the Red Building and expanding this program over the past 16 Gables Campus, Middle School Chinese students taught about years has been of utmost importance at all levels, introducing Lunar New Year traditions in China as well as the Zodiac Chinese to Lower, Middle, and High School students. calendar. K–8 students gathered on the field to do a countdown in Chinese to 10:00 a.m., which corresponded to midnight in Beyond the basics of studying language and grammar, the China. After the countdown, everyone received hong bao (red integration and examination of cultural norms and traditions envelopes typically given as gifts to children on the Chinese have been vital, prioritizing the weaving of well-known New Year) with red gummy fish. Red is a popular color in 4 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
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ACADEMICS Chinese culture, symbolizing luck, joy, and happiness, and fish are a symbol of wealth and abundance. SAGE also prepared a special lunch for each campus with signature Chinese dishes such as Mongolian beef, braised tofu, cabbage, and sticky rice. Lower School Chinese Teacher Jennifer Toppins was excited to begin her Ensworth teaching career in the Year of the Tiger. Ms. Toppins shares that her first exposure to the Chinese culture came through a close childhood friend. She continued with a yearning to learn more about Asia, sparked by her Vietnamese family heritage. “I thought Chinese was the best way to access that side of the world. I also really enjoyed it after I began my language studies and wanted to go further.” (See Jennifer’s profile on page 63) Andy Kelley, High School Chinese Teacher, has studied Chinese for over two decades. He shares that Chinese “has changed who I am and expanded my imagination of what the good life can and should look like. It is what I do now professionally—teaching language and culture—but it is also
what we do at home—building family traditions that honor our little family’s life stories, histories, and cultures in all its diversity. It strikes me that this is what we do whenever we build strong communities: we respect, love, and embrace what makes the individual parts as they truly are.” (See Andy’s profile on page 62) The tiger represents courage, assertiveness, and innate leadership in the Chinese zodiac. K–12 Chinese offerings and cross-curricular cultural celebrations have taken the learning beyond the World Languages Department and the classroom setting to create immersive and engaging experiences for our students.
Michelle Andrade
Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications
C h i nese new y e a r c e l e b r a t io n s :
Year of the Tiger t-shirts were distributed to the entire school
Assemblies on both campuses educated students about Chinese New Year culture & traditions
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ACADEMICS The students learned about traditional Chinese New Year food during assembly. The lunch menu at the High School consisted of noodles, fish, and dumplings.
“Hong Bao” red envelopes were given during snack (with gummy fish inside).
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Kindergarten students dressed as a Chinese dragon visited classes on the Red Gables Campus. In the Chinese culture, the dragon represents good luck, strength, and health.
AP Chinese students danced to a popular Chinese pop song during the Chinese New Year HS assembly. 8 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
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Grade 3 Mosaic Grade 3 students prepared and presented Mosaic: Arts in Concert for the third consecutive year. This annual crosscurricular collaboration celebrated the Chinese culture. Students explored traditional arts and literature of China, examining folktales, music, and landscapes. They also learned to narrate a story, underscore it using music class compositions, and sing lyrics in Chinese. Students created artwork and developed a stop-motion animation movie with traditional shanshui style landscapes created in art class retelling the “Great Race,” the Chinese zodiac myth. The culminating performance occurred at the 3rd Grade Mosaic Concert in March, allowing students to showcase their talents, knowledge, and love for Chinese culture and language. In addition, Caitlin Harris, Heidi Wolter, Evie Coates, and Leslea Gaines presented a workshop session on this project at the Tennessee Association of Independent School Biennial Conference.
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Chinese New Year cartoons created by Lili Dellinger, Class of 2022:
Lili Dellinger ’22
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ALUMNI
Alumni Focus H o w di d s t u d y in g c hin e s e i mp ac t y o u r l if e a n d / o r w o r l d v ie w ?
Erica Gray ’12
“Studying Chinese has given me opportunities to develop and nurture an adventurous spirit, and has allowed me to learn from others in a more understanding, open, and compassionate way.” “My class was the very first to be offered Chinese at Ensworth (7th grade in 2006!). After that, I took Chinese every year until I graduated. In college, I took Chinese every semester (I majored in East Asian Studies with a concentration in Chinese), and spent my summers interning in Shanghai. After I graduated, I moved to China where I did some work in education consulting before switching to working for a stem cell research company. After three years there, I moved back to the U.S. to start law school at Notre Dame.”
Sara Pickrell ’20
“By studying another country, especially one whose recent (and historic) relations with the United States have been relatively fraught with tension, from the perspective of the other country, I have learned to recognize biases growing up in the United States has given me, and evaluate both China and the US from a more neutral standpoint. Additionally, language and culture are intertwined and by learning Mandarin, I am better able to understand the history and culture of China. This further enables me to look at other countries, the world, and the United States from a more all-encompassing and compassionate view.”
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ALUMNI
William Seitz ’19
“Studying Chinese at Ensworth opened me up to a whole new world of educational and professional opportunities. I now go to Duke Kunshan University, so studying Chinese affected my education and educational choices quite a bit.”
Camille Bryan ’16
“Studying Chinese definitely gave me a more comparative view of international relations and inspired me to work in US-China economic and trade relations!”
Serena Howard ’19
“Studying Chinese broadened my view on other societies and cultures, which I am forever thankful for.”
Chloe Rollins ’21
“I so enjoyed studying Chinese at Ensworth that I decided to minor in it in college! I visited China with my family my freshman year of high school, which only furthered my desire to study Chinese.” “Studying Chinese has given me a window into an entirely different culture, making the world seem just a little bit smaller. I have also had so many joyful moments studying Chinese, whether it was learning to recite Chinese poetry, incorporating Chinese into my conversations with friends, or writing my own version of Chinese legends. When I got to college, I realized how few people have the opportunity to study Chinese in high school, and I am so grateful that Ensworth gave me that chance.”
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Around the World in 180 Days A Celebration of Cultures Throughout the School Year Michelle Andrade
Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications
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earning about cultures and stories other than one’s own builds curiosity and compassion in humans. When people nurture not only self-awareness but the ability to empathize with the stories of others, their contribution to the world around them grows immeasurably. Ensworth strives to foster an environment equipped with the resources, lessons, and experiences for students to grow and learn so they can contribute and invest in the world around them. As a part of these efforts, the Office of Community Engagement and Inclusion (CEI) set a goal of honoring and celebrating various events and cultures as a school-wide community. Many schools and institutions celebrate months such as Native American Indian Heritage Month, Black History Month, and Women’s History Month. But what is the hope of these commemorative times? One of the goals at Ensworth is
to have the immersion extend beyond just a single month. The integration of such celebrations continues to be in the planning for each school year, but is enhanced through the incorporation of a deeper cross-curricular approach that weaves education and cultural awareness through various aspects of school life. With the induction of new representatives from each school division, the CEI office undertook such a feat. David Whitfield, Maurice Hopkins, and Hope Moeller, along with numerous faculty and staff members and the Parent Diversity Council, supported this effort to broaden the community’s scope on the world. There were talks, assemblies, activities, art exhibits, panel discussions, musical performances, special guests, and more, all emphasizing community engagement and inclusion.
Simple Shifts: •
CEI staff educated teachers about special religious holidays celebrated in our school community to better support families with their distinct needs while educating our community as a whole.
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Community and family members visited individual classrooms aligned with curriculum and interest.
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Special guests visited both campuses to share stories, traditions, practices, and rituals.
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Assemblies were held with specific goals to inform and enlighten the community.
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Community-Wide Cultural Celebrations Hispanic Heritage Month
September 2021 In our National Hispanic Heritage Month Assembly in mid-September, Grade 8 students welcomed everyone in Español, and Grade 7 students shared their Hispanic Heritage Heroes reports. Grade 4 performed “Piragua” from the motion picture “In the Heights.”
Trunk-E-Treat
October 2021 The Office of Community Engagement and Inclusion’s Trunk-E-Treat was a rousing success. Cars lined the lower level of the tennis parking garage at the Frist Campus as families trick-or-treated. Ensworth invited several local chefs, including Japanese pop-up Kisser, Guyanese food truck The Pepper Pott, and Taiwanese dumpling chefs Mama Yang & Daughter, run by former Ensworth Chinese teacher Grace Tseng.
Parent Diversity Council member Jessica Baba shares, “Community is a huge part of the Ensworth experience, and I think we’ve all missed each other. The Trunk-ETreat event was an enjoyable experience that really reflected the strength of the K–12 experience. We had High School students hosting trunks to hand out treats to the younger students, and the family trunk decorations were impressively spooky!”
Veterans Day
November 2021 Following a long-standing tradition of celebrating and honoring veterans, Ensworth’s Veterans Day Service Club hosted a Veterans Day Assembly, panel discussion, and lunch with beloved veterans from our community. Hight School students Nora Wheliss, Gracie Pulliam, Lara Rogers, Maddie Bradley, and Krsna Garr, with the support of David Chanaca and the History Department, compiled videos showcasing appreciation and stories from students, remembering times gone by with cherished veterans, and honoring the lives of those who serve this country.
Ms. Cortner, Mr. Wallace, and Ms. Lenz, along with Grade 8 and Grade 6 students, hosted a Veterans Day Assembly on the Red Gables Campus, which began with an informative panel discussing the history of Veterans Day and explaining the different branches of the US Military. The assembly concluded with a compelling enactment of America’s White Table by Margot Theis Raven. The hope was that students would leave this formal celebration thinking in a new way about the lives of the men and women who have served our country. 2022 SUMMER | 15
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Native American Indian Heritage Month November 2021
Students on both campuses received visits from Charles Robinson, Ensworth parent and founder of The Red Road, and his family. He and his family, including his daughter Nanaiya Owns Different Horses ’24, danced and shared about the culture, games, and daily life of Native Americans. He explained to the High School students that the Frist Campus was tribal land, so it was the first time tribal dancing had taken place on this land in more than 500 years.
Family Traditions
December 2021 Ensworth is full of traditions as a school; one such custom is sharing and celebrating the traditions of our families and community. Every year, Grade 2 works on their Family Traditions unit, with each student creating a book of their own family’s customs and practices. This year, families and community members visited campus to share more about their cultural and religious traditions.
Kwanzaa
December 2021 Dr. Terrance McNeil, an assistant professor and coordinator of the M.Ed in Instructional Leadership at TSU, shared about Kwanzaa on the Frist Campus in December. Dr. McNeil explained how Kwanzaa is an attempt to reignite connection to the lost cultural ties to Africa for AfricanAmericans. This cultural holiday, rather than a religious one, is about the reconnection to culture and values with celebrations, gifts, time with loved ones, and introspection.
Martin Luther King, Junior Day
January 2022 Across both campuses, students, faculty, and staff commemorated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The High School welcomed Dr. Kelly Miller Smith Jr., child of prominent Civil Rights leader Kelly Miller Smith. Students engaged with Kelly’s delivery, asking questions about nonviolence, Nashville, and his overall experience of Dr. King. At the Lower/Middle School, Grade 8 students presented a dialogue about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s history and performed an engaging rendition of Doreen Rappaport’s Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Chinese New Year
January/February 2022 Each year, Kindergarten students bring the spirit of the Chinese New Year to the Red Gables Campus with their lion parade. The Chinese Arts Alliance also visited campus this year and shared a lion dance. The lion dance is one of the most important traditions at Chinese New Year; it is performed to bring prosperity and good luck for the upcoming year. Special celebrations were held on both campuses to commemorate the advent of the Year of the Tiger (see article on pg. 5 for more). 16 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
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Black History Month
February 2022 Seminar teacher and Volleyball Coach Ashley Glotta ’14 shared her passion and knowledge of HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) with High School students. With Nashville’s four Historically Black Colleges and Universities, students continued to delve into the history of Nashville and the Civil Rights Movement. Lower and Middle School students welcomed Stefan Forbus, saxophonist and alumnus of Tennessee State University’s Aristocrat of Bands, as they learned more about HBCUs. Student voices shared how they celebrate their culture, and all students were challenged and encouraged to celebrate their own community culture here at Ensworth. All learned the compelling fight song from TSU with a modification to include Ensworth School. Ensworth’s choral ensemble, Opus, graced everyone with song. Dr. Darwin Mason, Head of Middle School, was asked to be a guest in Mr. Schneider’s seventh-grade English class as they continued their Marching for Freedom study. Dr. Mason offered a short lesson on Negro spirituals and delivered a performance of one song found in their corresponding text. High school students thoroughly enjoyed an interview with Henry Hicks III, President and CEO of the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM). The museum has been open for just over a year, yet Nashville has been working toward having a museum that celebrates African American culture for a long time. Mr. Hicks shared a little more about this unfolding in Nashville and the vision of “One Nation Under A Groove.”
Women’s History Month - March 2022
Dr. Kristene Kelly, Vanderbilt’s Deputy Athletic Director for Internal Affairs and a former Ensworth parent, spoke to the High School about her path to success as a black woman in college athletics. She brought along her Vanderbilt colleague and Ensworth alumnus, Donovan Sheffield ’15. Ensworth parent and The Hermitage Hotel Managing Director Dee Patel spoke on the Red Gables Campus about the history of women’s voting rights and the significant role Nashville played in the suffragette movement. She shared how the movement progressed due to a critical person and a pivotal state (hint, Tennessee).
Amanda Farnsworth, former Ensworth parent and current Board Trustee, visited the Frist campus to share her story of accomplishment and growth. When she began working in private wealth management, she saw that 95% of her peers were male. But she loved the financial markets, so she worked hard and stayed the course. Now a pilot and retired from the public financial sector, Mrs. Farnsworth shared insights from her experience with the High School students: • Do something you love and are passionate about • Explore opportunities - accept the push • Work hard • Play hard (enjoy your life) • Help others • Dream big!
Tiger Taste - Celebrating the Cultures of our Community - May 2022
The Office of Community Engagement and Inclusion closed the school year by hosting a potluck picnic to celebrate the diverse cultures of our community. Ensworth’s first annual Tiger Tastes left everyone’s tummies and hearts full! Tiger Tastes again featured The Pepper Pott and Mama Yang & Daughter in addition to family-provided foods. More than a dozen families hosted tables to provide a taste of foods from various cultures, including Mexican, Italian, Jewish, Chinese, Japanese Hawaiian, Persian, Appalachian, and Southern vegan.
“Do something about problematic things in the world. And meet the community’s needs without stripping anyone of their dignity,” shared Ensworth parent and Nashville police officer Natalia Johnson. Officer Johnson shared her compelling story from growing up in a small town in California with a high murder rate per capita to a Nashville police officer. She shared how track and field changed the trajectory of her life and how her hard work brought her to a place where she works to serve and protect all people.
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And All That Jazz... Lower School Specials Collaborate to Make Music & Beauty
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rade 1 and 2 students moved through an Interdisciplinary Jazz Unit in the 20212022 school year with guidance from Nashville’s new National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM). The Roots and Streams of Jazz fused musical influences with history, art, culture, language, and a spirit for social change. Lower School faculty explored this fantastic new museum to integrate exhibit themes into a unit that would create a deep appreciation for jazz and jazz musicians.
Michelle Andrade
Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications
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Lower School faculty Caitlin Harris, Hope Moeller, and Heidi Wolter initially conceived the jazz unit for Grades 1 and 2. The idea grew with support from Director of Curriculum and Instruction Bobby Mirzaie and Head of Lower School Heather Caponi and a meeting with Nikki Walker, NMAAM’s Director of Education & Programs. The three toured the museum with books and resources as they brainstormed essential questions and student learning goals. The collaboration expanded as Lower School Spanish, Library, and Art faculty contributed to the planning for this unit. Specials teachers and Grade 1 teachers also visited NMAAM, and each teacher on the collaborative team brought their own expertise and excitement to make the unit more meaningful.
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The advent of the unit was timed to coincide with the celebration of Black History Month in February and continued through early April. The study exposed students to wonderful exhibits, events, places, and resources in our community at large. Students learned how jazz music influenced history, art, culture, and the pioneering spirit of using your voice to impact change. Students learned the roots and legacy of jazz music, influential musicians, and their impact on American history and culture. They explored literature on artists, world changers, and civil rights leaders who embodied the pioneering spirit of creativity, self-expression, improvisation, individuality, and speaking up to bring positive change. The students enjoyed the opportunity to jam with visiting artists from NMAAM, including the legendary Lucius “Spoon Man” Talley. Furthermore, the Arts faculty facilitated student projects inspired by Alma Thomas, a barrier-breaking African American artist influenced by jazz music who was the subject of a recent exhibit at the Frist Arts Museum called Everything is Beautiful. The first graders also created a “Jazztown” based on the Nashville Public Library puppet show, Ellington. This project culminated in a joint presentation with music and art on April 5, 2022, at the Grades 1 and 2 Music Concert, where students performed a tribute to the history and impact of jazz music on the world. Some of the output from this project included further collaboration across grade levels, a deeper dive into the work transpiring at NMAAM, and a strong appreciation for jazz history and the work happening all over Nashville. 2022 SUMMER | 19
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A) “Ellington” Puppet Show Grade 1 students enjoyed Ellingtown as a part of their continued study of jazz music and its impact on the world. NPL’s Puppet Truck brought the story of Duke Ellington, the great master of Jazz, through a musical journey with puppets of all sorts. B) Rhythm & Drums Things got a little drum-atic. When Professor Thomas Spann brought “Drums and Shakers” (not to mention drum sticks for every student). Professor Spann brought the beats to continue Grade 1’s interdisciplinary study and appreciation of Black History and Jazz music. Professor Spann is a former professor at TSU, current Music and Percussion teacher at Fisk University, and an National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) artist in their From Nothing to Something program, “Rhythm and Drums.” C) Mr. Lucius “Spoonman” Talley Mr. Talley taught students to play spoons. This was a continuation of students’ study of Jazz and came to us through a program at the NMAAM, From Nothing to Something (FN2S). FN2S highlights musical innovations of early African Americans created by memory and with limited resources.
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Jefferson Street Sound Museum (see pg. 13) Grade 2 visited the Jefferson Street Sound Museum and learned about the musicians who gave “Music City” its name—the Fisk Jubilee Singers, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, and Jimi Hendrix—all from curator Lorenzo Washington. The museum shares the rich musical history known as the “Golden Age” of Jefferson Street. Our old friend Mr. Tally even came by to visit! D) Books about Jazz Music Students read biographies of influential jazz musicians while bolstering their reading comprehension skills through text connection. Change-maker musicians include Duke Ellington, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Marian Anderson, and Louis Armstrong. In Spanish, students learned about Tito Puente, the Latin Jazz genre, and the Afro-Cuban tradition of the mambo and other dance styles in an immersive way.
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E) Alma Thomas Artwork In Art, students studied the art of Alma Thomas, a barrier-breaking Black artist influenced by jazz, who was the first African-American woman to have a solo show at the Whitney. The art classrooms were filled with music as students created their own artwork inspired by Alma Thomas and jazz music.
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FINDING the right
COLLEGE FIT Students are matched with their college counselor at the beginning of freshman year and stay with the same counselor throughout their high school career. Seven seniors share their experience with the program and how it helped them find the right college fit.
What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)? I have been involved in 12 seasons of golf, hockey, and lacrosse, as well as playing trumpet in the Jazz Band and guitar in the Rock Band. I founded the Ultimate Frisbee Club and was an avid member of the Chess Club. I also competed on the math team, as well. Outside of Ensworth, I volunteered at Walk Bike Nashville and the B’nai Brith Youth Organization.
I chose Cornell for their Human Biology, Health, and Society program in their College of Human Ecology. This program will help support my professional aspirations of becoming a healthcare provider. I also loved Cornell’s rural geography and their on-campus Dairy Bar, i.e., ice cream store! What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you? The most valuable aspect of my Ensworth experience has been the collaborative and inclusive culture between the students and faculty at the High School. The faculty are always there to help academically, as well as in other aspects of our lives. Their focus and effort make a difference.
Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of four years. D.J. WEINSTEIN I met Mr. Anthony my freshman year, and Cornell University we got to know each other that year through a few one-on-one discussions. Over the What advice would you give to incoming next couple of years, these one-on-one conversations became more frequent when talking about my freshmen? course selections. They ramped up into senior year when making I would tell every freshman to become a “super user.” the big decisions about where I was applying to college. Mr. Ensworth has abundant academic, extracurricular, athletic, Anthony was always there to help me with my college application and artistic opportunities. Tapping into these resources allowed me to branch out, meet new friends, try new process and was always happy to answer any questions I had. activities (like guitar), and expand my horizons. Because I have seen how these activities can positively impact my life, Did you go into the process with any specific goals or I encourage new students to branch out! particular colleges/programs of interest? I went into the college process wanting to find a university that best fit my academic and social goals. Why did you choose Cornell? 22 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
ACADEMICS
“Ensworth has abundant academic, extracurricular, athletic, and artistic opportunities. Tapping into these resources allowed me to branch out, meet new friends, try new activities (like guitar), and expand my horizons.” DJ Weinstein
What extracurricular activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)? In my four years, I’ve tried to make the most out of the opportunities given to me. My first and longest commitment was volunteering at the Nashville Public Library, where I started freshman year and published my senior Service Scholar project. I continued this service at school with the Service Club, where I was eventually on the leadership team this year. Coach Bradley also got me operating the scoreboard for almost every sport early on. As for hobbies, photography has always been a fun pastime of mine, and I received a Gold Key Award in Scholastics for that. Finally, I was able to wrap up the school year by organizing the Boundaries program with some other students.
decision at the end of the day. I was able to narrow down what mattered and make the right decision with Mr. Phillips. Why did you choose Reed College? Reed checks off everything on my list. Oregon offers a beautiful and diverse landscape of mountains, beaches, and deserts all in one state. I’m excited to explore Portland’s awesome culture with many activities. The college itself is the perfect mix of scholarly academics and fun, with heavy importance on individual growth. Its uniqueness might be my favorite part. I am proud to call myself a Reedie. What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you? Above all else, the teachers are what make Ensworth special. They really do care about their students. Whether it’s being there in tutorial or providing individual help outside of class, they work hard to see everyone succeed both academically and personally. Even the teachers who I’ve never had classes with are there to support me in whatever it is. We really have a great group of mentors. I’m very thankful for them.
Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of four years. Truly, I couldn’t have gotten into my dream college without Mr. Phillips and the rest of the college counseling team. Mr. Phillips, in particular, was always extremely welcoming since day one. Sometimes, I would just go SOFIA DEANGELIS into his office for candy and a quick chat. Reed College Other times, he would help me through the rough topics in my college essay. And on the rare occasion, he would be up on a Google doc with me editing my essays the night they were due —which I What advice would you give to incoming freshmen? don’t recommend! But, needless to say, I have a lot of thanks for You are bound to make mistakes. You will get the wrong answer, stutter during a presentation, and trip over the door stoppers him and the others. outside of the lunch room. But everyone else is going through the same experience with you. Don’t be afraid to fail. Every Did you go into the process with any specific goals or step back is just more room to run forward. So join that club, particular colleges/programs of interest? All I knew for sure was that I wanted to go north out of Tennessee, introduce yourself to that friend crush, and maybe try not to which was not very helpful considering that left me with more trip over the door stopper. It goes by fast. Make it matter. than half of America to sift through if that was my only limitation. Although it’s good to be open to many things, I only had one 2022 SUMMER | 23
ACADEMICS What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)? At Ensworth, I’ve been involved in Cheer Team, Ensworth Dance Team, Student Lead, Cafeteria Composting Initiative, Steering Committee, Project TALK, Ensworth Environmental Club, Ensworth Investment Club, Ensworth Dance Marathon, Cheer Camp Counselor, Adventure Camp Counselor, and an Ensworth Student Ambassador. Outside of school, I am the Founder & President of the Junior Economic Club of Nashville, Founder of TheNinaFeed, Senior Counselor at Sequoia Club Camp, and Marketing Volunteer for Bellevue Edible Learning Lab.
NINA RALSKY
University of Texas
Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of four years. Mr. Whitehill and I were both very invested in finding the right-fit school for me. I came to him with questions beginning my freshman year. Some of the best advice I’ve received throughout this process has come directly from him, including discussing essay topics, planning my High School courses and activities, and brainstorming and evaluating different schools and programs. I am sure that Mr. Whitehill will have much more free time on hand with me all the way in Texas!
Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/programs of interest? I went into the college search process knowing I wanted to study business in a large city. Originally, I was focused on medium-sized private schools, yet I ended up choosing this big public university for a lot of intangible reasons. Why did you choose University of Texas? My decision came down to three things: the quality and prestige of the program, the location, and the school culture. I look forward to majoring in International Business on the Language Skills Track at The McCombs School of Business, which is ranked #5 in the country and offers a concentration in languages unlike any of the other business schools I looked at. The “Language Skills Track” specialization aligns with and directly supports my ambition to study and work abroad. Not to mention, UT is located in one of the coolest cities in the country—full of natural beauty, live music, great food,
and one of the best job markets in the world! Being a Longhorn lasts a lifetime—the spirit and loyalty of Longhorn Nation are unmatched! I am so excited for football season and to explore Austin in the fall. It’s a dream come true! What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you? The relationships with my teachers during my time at Ensworth have been so special. I feel lucky to know that I could stop by any of their offices and chat with them about anything from a project in class to the college process, life advice, and everything in between! And, I know when I come back to visit, their doors will still be open. What advice would you give to incoming freshmen? Go to tutorial! There is no better way to get personalized help and build strong relationships with your teachers.
What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)? I’ve played football and basketball and participated in theater. Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of four years. If I’m being honest, my college counselor was the single most helpful person to me throughout High School. It wasn’t like we met super often, but Mr. Anthony was always very relaxed and understanding. It didn’t seem to me like he had any agenda other than helping me get through the college application process and helping me with other things that I asked for his assistance with. He never pushed me to take any classes I didn’t want to or anything of the sort; he just provided guidance and knowledge that helped me make informed decisions, and I deeply appreciated that. Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/ programs of interest? No, I went into the process very open-minded, which I know puts me in a drastic 24 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
LUKE VENABLE
University of Vermont
ACADEMICS minority. However, I believe it was the way to go for sure. I knew I wanted to go somewhere far away from Tennessee, so I just started looking at schools on the west coast and in New England. That allowed me to see schools I would have never even considered, including what turned out to be my top school, the University of Vermont. I think having clear and open communication with my parents about my financial situation also helped me a lot in selecting schools initially because I knew not to reach out of our range. What worked for me was sorting by the single most important thing to me as well as finance, but everyone is different. Why did you choose University of Vermont? I chose the University of Vermont for three main reasons: culture, facility quality, and location. Burlington is a great town; everyone at the school was very relaxed, and the facilities were outstanding. The academic prestige of the school mattered less to me because I knew that I would be able to accomplish anything I might want to from most schools. If I see myself regretting that decision in the future, I can try and attend grad
What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)? At Ensworth, I have been involved in Rock Band, Encore, Chamber Singers, musicals, and softball. Outside of school, I am in two bands at School of Rock, take weekly voice and piano lessons, and volunteer at WO Smith School of Music. Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of four years. Ever since freshman year, Mrs. Stewart has been there to help in as many ways as possible. Mrs. Stewart set me up for success in High School by guiding me to difficult classes that I would enjoy. In addition, when it came to the college application process, Mrs. Stewart constantly went above and beyond to find me information on programs, proofread countless essays, and support me.
school at a more prestigious university. Plus, I struggle to care in an environment with a broader, more generalized education and only being able to properly engage with tangibly important concepts, meaning I would likely struggle with an academically rigorous college in their more generalized years. What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you? The most valuable aspect of my Ensworth experience has been learning that the perceived righteousness of institutions is a fallacy. Nothing about an institution having power over you makes the institution morally in the right or in the right at all. Legality is not morality. What advice would you give to incoming freshmen? Never put undue pressure on yourself. Especially after sophomore year when you can pick classes, keep your ear to the ground and take classes you know you can succeed in. Don’t be the kid in AP Physics and AP Chemistry who has a C in both or the kid in no APs with a 96 average.
Why did you choose University of Miami? I am attending the University of Miami because of the broad set of opportunities the school provides. The MIND major at the Frost School of Music is unique because it combines rigorous academic classes in business, law, and marketing with challenging music performance, composition, and production classes. This program creates well-rounded people and will give me the foundation for many different jobs, such as a singer-songwriter, producer, and entertainment lawyer.
ELLA HARTMAN
What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you? The most valuable aspect of my Ensworth experience has been the growth I experienced as a musician and person through the music program. Music has always been my passion, but the curriculum at Ensworth allowed me to become more confident in myself and my abilities.
Did you go into the process with any University of Miami What advice would you give to incoming specific goals or particular colleges/ freshmen? programs of interest? The best advice I have for a freshman is to Going into the college admissions process, I was not sure what school I wanted to go to, but I knew I get involved in as many ways as possible. Ensworth offers so wanted to major in music business and minor in songwriting. many different opportunities through academics, arts, sports, When Mr. Aveni told me about the Frost School of Music at and clubs, and I would encourage everyone to try new things the University of Miami, I immediately fell in love with it. The and take advantage of what the school offers. program offered everything I was looking for and more. Having Mrs. Stewart help me with the academic side of the admissions process and Mr. Aveni help me with the musical side made me feel confident in my audition and application process. 2022 SUMMER | 25
ACADEMICS questions about academic programs to help me narrow down my list.
What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)? I have been a year-round swimmer since I was five years old, and I participated on the swim team, Frisbee Football team, the Investment Club, and the Tiger Pack while at Ensworth. I’m also an assistant coach for the Nashville Dolphins, a special needs swim team hosted at Ensworth.
Why did you choose Arizona State? I chose Arizona State University for their top-ranked WP Carey Business School in addition to their nationally ranked swim team. Also, I was accepted into ASU’s Barrett Honors College, one of the country’s leading residential honors colleges, providing the best of a smaller liberal arts experience with all the benefits of a major university.
Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of four years. JAKE MASON What has been the most valuable My college counselor has been working Arizona State University aspect of the Ensworth experience for with me every step of the way, from which you? classes to take when I first got to Ensworth The most valuable aspect of the Ensworth to guiding me with perspective as I made my final college decision, all the way to transferring AP credits and experience has been the connections and relationships I have built with my teachers and peers. The teachers at Ensworth are registering for college classes. really invested in the students’ success and want to get to know each of us as a person and not just as a student. I truly feel I have Did you go into the process with any specific goals or built friendships with my classmates, teachers, and coaches particular colleges/programs of interest? My college decision process may have differed from others as that will last a lifetime. I was recruited for swimming, narrowing the process from the beginning. I knew I wanted to swim in college, so I cast my net What advice would you give to incoming freshmen? wide when I first started looking. When deciding on a college, I would tell freshmen to put themselves out there and get my goal was to find a solid balance between swimming and involved. Ensworth has so many great opportunities to get academics. I wanted to find a school where I could be challenged involved in the school community through many unique clubs, in the classroom as well as in the pool. Working through the arts, sports, and activities. The more you participate, the more process with college counseling really helped me ask the right you will get out of your Ensworth experience.
What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth? I was in Yearbook for three years and did Project Talk for two years. Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of four years. Mr. Whitehill has always supported me and my goals for college. He completely understood what I would need to do to succeed in the application process and qualify for the schools I was interested in. And he always helped me stay on track!
Why did you choose Vanderbilt? I chose Vanderbilt because everyone I know there has loved their time at the school. It’s warm and welcoming and also very academically rigorous. I just love so many of the programs Vandy offers, the campus, their diversity, and the school’s overall atmosphere.
INDIE CHARLES
What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you? I’ve loved my 13 years at Ensworth, but I think I’m especially grateful for the teachers here. They’ve really just been the best, and I’m thankful to have become close to so many of them. I always knew I could go to them for help and support whenever needed.
Did you go into the process with any Vanderbilt University specific goals or particular colleges/ programs of interest? I did! Back when my siblings applied to colleges, they did it through a program called “Questbridge.” It What advice would you give to incoming freshmen? basically offers a full-ride scholarship to one of its partner schools I think I would say that you should keep your goals in mind and to those who are selected as Finalists. One of those schools is remain consistent in your efforts. I know it’s hard sometimes Vanderbilt, and I knew it would be such an incredible opportunity to stay motivated, but keep going! It’ll be worth it! to receive a scholarship to my dream school. 26 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
Cl ass of 2022
68
Matriculating to
120
different colleges & universities
Students
77%
U. S . P resi de ntial S chol a rs C andida te
4
Nat i o n al Me ri t S cholars
29
different states + D.C. & Scotland
33%
Attending college outside of Tennessee
1
in
Attending college outside the Southeast U.S.
3
National Me rit C omme nd ed Sch olars
1
National Hisp anic Sch olar
3
Na t i o n al Af rica n Am e r i ca n Sch ol a rs
C la ss of 20 22 st u d e n ts a re m a t r i c u l a t i n g to th e fol l o wi n g s ch o ol s : Appalachian State University Arizona State University Auburn University Baylor University Belmont University Bethel University Birmingham-Southern College Boston College Bryant University Butler University Clemson University College of Charleston Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Elon University Emerson College Emory & Henry College
Fisk University Furman University Georgetown University Georgia Tech Hampden-Sydney Haverford College Lipscomb University Louisiana State University Loyola Marymount University Loyola University Chicago Miami University, Ohio Michigan State University Middle Tennessee State University Pomona College Reed College San Diego State University Southern Methodist University Syracuse University
Tennessee Technological University Texas Christian University The Ohio State University Trevecca University Tulane University of Louisiana University of Alabama University of Arkansas University of Colorado Boulder University of Georgia University of Kentucky University of Miami University of Michigan University of Minnesota University of Mississippi University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Pennsylvania University of Richmond
University of San Diego University of San Francisco University of South Carolina University of Southern California University of St Andrews University of Tennessee (Knoxville) University of Texas University of Toledo University of Utah University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin Vanderbilt University Wake Forest University Washington and Lee University Western Kentucky University Wofford College 2022 SUMMER | 27
COMMUNITY
Graduation Speech Excerpts:
CLASS OF 2022 GRADUATION Saturday, May 28, 2022 • Frist Campus 28 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
COMMUNITY
GRADE 8 CLOSING EXERCISES Tuesday, May 24, 2022 • Red Gables Campus 2022 SUMMER | 29
ACADEMICS
CAPSTON E
-2022-
SCHOLARS
Ensworth’s Capstone Program is exemplary of experiential learning. Students are given the opportunity to engage in an extensive exploration of a passion or interest that is above and beyond academic courses and extracurricular involvements—though it is often the product of weaving multiple inspirations into one. To participate, a student investigates, proposes, and gains approval for a specific research project in Grade 11, and will conduct the research and presentation of their findings over the course of their senior year.
EDIE BASS:
“The Power of One”
HARPER DALE : “What the People Say: A Capstone Analyzing Gender Differences Between Generations from the 1950s to Today” ELLA HARTMAN:
“Creating an EP”
VIVIAN MORROW:
“Places Lost to Time In Film”
NINA RALSKY:
“The Sustainability of Luxury Brands”
DJ WEINSTEIN:
“The Impact of 3D Technology on Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacements”
ALEA CLARK:
“Can Allergens Cause Arthritis? An Analysis of the Connection between Allergic Responses and Immune-mediated Medical Conditions, plus Potential Therapeutics”
LANIE DYKE:
TRENT CONLEY:
“Chasing Entropy: A Journey to Computationally Analyze a Brownian Ratchet”
KRSNA GARR:
“My Muse”
“The Latino Vote in U.S. Presidential Elections”
MORGAN HUMBERT:
“Depictions of Musicians through Photography”
EMMA NOONAN:
“An Investigation into the History of Human Genetics and its Impact on the Definition of Human Life”
OWEN SHAFFER:
NHI-HA LE:
“The Rudiments of Economic Inequality: An Analysis on the Presence of Economic Inequality through the Eyes of Philosophers”
BRADEN PEETS:
“The Creation of a Short Story through the Medium of Film”
JONATHAN SMITH:
“North American Celestial Bodies in Astrophotography”
“Aerodynamic Impact of In-Flight Damage”
AJ WIKNER:
MARSHALL WILT:
“Manipulated Photographs through History”
“Covid-19-Related Female Unemployment and the Economy”
To learn more or view videos of the Capstone presentations: 30 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
ACADEMICS
What’s Poppin’ Behind the Scenes with the Middle School Podcast Club Michelle Andrade
Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications
F
rom Lower School presentations to High School Harkness tables, Ensworth offers a variety of avenues for students to discover and develop their voice. The new Middle School Podcast Club provides another opportunity for students to share their ideas in a fun and innovative way. Often informative or opinion-led, podcasts range in topic, style, and demeanor. Students in Grades 6-8 develop their podcasts utilizing state-of-the-art technology, honing their interviewing and writing skills, and exploring topics amusing to them.
“What’s Poppin’ is a new after-school club provided for interested Middle Schoolers. These students create a monthly podcast centered around life as a Middle Schooler and events around the school. Episodes include stories, jokes and skits, and news stories at Ensworth in the Middle School. Our episodes can be found on our website (see the QR Code below). Every episode is created completely by students. The stories are written by students, the interviews conducted by students, and even the intro music was created by a Grade 6 student. The ability to provide a creative space for students to produce content relevant to their lives is a great honor for me. We hope Middle School Technology Integration Specialist Jenny to continue to offer this opportunity in the future and look Krzystowczyk shares more about the Podcast Club, founded to forward to more amazing and fun episodes!” integrate technology and interests for Middle School students.
“Every episode is created completely by students. The stories are written by students, the interviews conducted by students, and even the intro music was created by a Grade 6 student.” Jenny Krzystowczyk Middle School Technology Integration Specialist
To listen to “What’s Poppin’” Podcasts:
2022 SUMMER | 31
ACADEMICS
FO R T H E R E C O R D Bar Pin Awards
This distinction is awarded to those students who earn Optime Merens for both semesters of a school year. Students who do so for one year earn one-bar pins; those who do so for two years earn two-bar pins, and so on. Students who graduate from Ensworth, having earned Optime Merens for every semester all four years, earn four-bar pins.
Middle School Language Exams
World Language classes in the Middle School tested their knowledge against their peers outside of Ensworth.
Chinese Proficiency Test, Level 1
Ensworth is honoring the top three scores in Grades 7 and 8. Grade 8: Stefano Boschi Asbun (received a perfect score), Mary Nell Pettigrew, Coco McGehee, Caroline Greer (pictured above) Grade 7: Hollis Jacobs, Tully Johnson, Aaliyah Williams
Optime Merens recognizes students who earn a GPA of at least 90 in all their academic courses in a semester and who have no individual academic semester grade below 75.
To view Bar Pin & Cum Laude award winners:
Student Government Leaders Elected
Middle School National Spanish Exam
Congratulations to President Katherine Sales ’23 and Vice President Caleb Park ’23 who will represent the High School student body during the 2022–2023 school year.
Oro (Gold): Cameron Herring, Frances Duvall, Plata (Silver): Cate Barfield, David Choma, Elliott Parker, Evie Denbo, Julia Grace Linn, Mason Brunson, Mia McDermott, Mención Honorífica (Honorable Mention): Aadi Srivastava, Alaena Smith, Blake Surratt, Caroline Sifford, Charlotte Garza, Edward Coppeans, Gabi Bullock, Hayden Cherry, Jack Tompkins, Jordan Scott, Lily Sonnenschein, Paige Haas, Sumner Hiett
Middle School National Latin Exam Grade 8 - Summa Cum Laude: Hobs Atwood, Cameron Obee, Collin Spitzer, Avery Franklin, Maxima Cum Laude: Sadie Anderson, James Heinrichs, Zoe Eveland, Isaiah Batten, Jacob Francy, Mya Jones, Magna Cum Laude: Henry Turberfield, Cum Laude: Michael Cowhey, Peter Bryant, Harrison Kilgore Grade 7 - Summa Cum Laude: Tom Courtney, Christian Kurtz, Claire Murray, Delaney Flack, Adeline Courtney, Drew Bass, Giselle Michael, Tyler Roh, Georgi Karmo, Hugh Mixon, Maxima Cum Laude: Cael Tierney, Alannah Wong, Lillian Mosher, Emerson Darr, Noah Franklin, Lilly Goorevich, Neriah Taylor, Madison Miller, Henry Oeser, Magna Cum Laude: Nathalie Peete, Cum Laude: Tanner Tapp, Makaylah Batten, Maggie Kate Cowles 32 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
“Heart Nebula”
Owen Shaffer ’22 was named a recipient of the American Vision Medal and Gold Medal winner! Owen was recognized for his astrophotography and the image Heart Nebula, for which he spent years investigating the process and techniques of photographing deep space.
ACADEMICS
Book Awards
Each year colleges and college alumni groups recognize outstanding students throughout the country with book awards. This year, Ensworth juniors were honored for their excellence in various fields of endeavor by eleven colleges and universities. The Harvard Prize Book: Jackson Rehm
Presented annually in more than 2,000 high schools around the world to recognize outstanding students in their next-tograduating class who demonstrate excellence in scholarship and achievement in other non-academic areas.
The Rhodes College Book Award: Chloe Ward
Awarded to a junior student who has demonstrated exemplary community service coupled with a commitment to leadership and helping others. The St. Lawrence University Book Award: Ella Howard
The Hollins Book Award: Audrey Campbell
Recognizes an outstanding junior who has demonstrated sustained academic excellence and possesses a special interest in English and creative writing. The Princeton Book Award: Caleb Park
Recognizes a junior who displays excellence in the areas of academics, extracurricular activities, and community service, as well as a strong desire, either through words or actions, to change the world for the better. The Vermont Citizen Scholar Book Award: Hailey Riven
Recognizes an outstanding high school junior who has displayed a significant commitment to community service. The Tulane University Book Award: Kate Mischinski
Students selected for the award embody the university’s motto, “Not for one’s self, but for one’s own,” and have demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership, and public service, in their respective communities. The Jefferson Book Award: Chris DeCamillo
Presented by the University of Virginia Club of Nashville to a junior who best represents the Jeffersonian ideals of scholarship, leadership, and citizenship.
Awarded to deserving junior year students who have demonstrated both outstanding dedication to scholarship inside the classroom and impressive duty to citizenship outside The Saint Michael’s Book Award: Katherine Sales and Lucas Rehm the classroom. Awarded to two students of high academic success and exemplary community service involvement, whose accomplishments embody St. Mike’s commitment to intellectual achievement, social justice, The Rensselaer Medal: Phillip Rollins issues of peace and concern for others. Established in 1916 with two purposes: to recognize the superlative academic achievement of young men and women, and to motivate students towards careers in science, The Yale Book Award: Helen Thompson engineering, and technology. The Rensselaer Medal recognizes Awarded to a student at Ensworth who shows the greatest an outstanding junior who has distinguished himself/herself in intellectual promise, as evidenced by actual achievements and mathematics and science. demonstrated potential; who, by activities at school and in the community, has demonstrated a broad range of interests and accomplishments, and who is of outstanding personal character.
Excellence in Arts
In its 13th year, the Annual Middle Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition is a professionally juried exhibition, showcasing exceptional middle and high school student artwork from around the region. Congratulations to Spencer Linn for Best of Show – Land of the Sun: Drawing & Illustration Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious program for creative teens in grades 7–12. More than 260,000 works of art and writing were submitted by teens from U.S. territories, Canada, and every state in the nation. Entries are selected by some of the foremost leaders in the visual and literary arts. Jurors look for works that exemplify the Awards’ core values: originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. This year the following Ensworth students have won awards: Scholastic Art & Writing Gold Key Sofia DeAngelis (2) Mei Mei Dellinger Sophia Frist (2) Owen Shaffer
Scholastic Art & Writing Silver Key Audrey Campbell Mei Mei Dellinger Anna Jackson Vivian Morrow
Scholastic Art & Writing Honorable Mention Audrey Campbell Alea Clark Sofia DeAngelis LiLi Dellinger Sophia Frist
Amelia Laffer Spencer Linn Vivian Morrow Owen Shaffer (3)
The Visions Award recipient was selected by some of the foremost leaders in the visual and literary arts for excellence in originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. Less than 2,000 works received a National Medal, which places a work within the top 1% of all submissions. The American Vision Award is selected out of all Gold Key works (across all categories) as the “Best in Show” for each region for which Top National Medalists are invited to an in-person National Awards Ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Thursday, June 9, 2022. Congratulations to Owen Shaffer for winning the National Gold Medal & American Visions Award for Heart Nebula: Photography (pictured on opposite page). 2022 SUMMER | 33
ACADEMICS
FO R T H E R E C O R D
National Merit Finalists
Four members from the Class of 2022 were named National Merit Finalists: Trent Conley Karim Daouk Genevieve Schaefer Owen Shaffer
Boys & Girls State
Each year, students are selected from every high school in Tennessee to attend Boys’ State and Girls’ State, which are weeklong conferences focusing on state government. Our Boys’ State representative was Caleb Park. Girls’ State representatives were Hailey Riven and Olivia Bentley.
Grade 8 Presidential Debate
Congratulations to Julia Grace Linn, winner of the Presidential Debates.
Middle School: Head of School Award
The Head of School Award, given to students who have earned a place on the Head of School list in all four marking periods of their eighth-grade year, was presented to: Sadie Anderson Hobs Atwood Lee Atwood Ilyana Bachmann Cate Barfield Stefano Boschi Asbun Mason Brunson David Choma Elliott Darr
Rhys Dyer Zoe Eveland Alex Glenn Sydney Johnson Julia Grace Linn Mia McDermott Cameron Obee Alaena Smith
James N. Brown Award
The James N. Brown Award, given to students who have earned all As in Effort and Consideration throughout their sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade years, was presented to: Sadie Anderson Lee Atwood Ilyana Bachmann Cate Barfield Stefano Boschi Asbun Christopher Brown Mason Brunson David Choma Zoe Eveland Avery Franklin Alex Glenn Paige Haas
Sydney Johnson Mya Jones Julia Grace Linn Mia McDermott Cameron Obee Jordan Scott Caroline Sifford Alaena Smith Lily Sonnenschein Alana Wells Ryleigh Wescott
MathCounts Honors
On Saturday, March 26, James Heinrichs ‘26 represented Ensworth at the State MathCounts Competition. Of the top 10 Regional competitors from our school (Hobs Atwood, Lee Atwood, Mason Brunson, Peter Bryant, Caroline Cox, James Heinrichs, Aidan Kilgore, Julia Grace Linn, Henry Oeser, and Elliott Parker), James had the highest score. On Saturday, he competed in multiple rounds against all of the other top scorers in the state of Tennessee. Way to go, James! 34 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
Miss Basketball
Congratulations to Jaloni Cambridge ‘24 on being named Division II-AA Miss Basketball for the second year in a row! The top girls and boys basketball players were honored by being named the winners of the 2022 Mr. and Miss Basketball Awards. A statewide committee of sportswriters selected the winners based on performance during the 2021-2022 regular season. Academics and character were also taken into consideration. Way to go, Jaloni!
ACADEMICS
August 17 First Day of Class (see calendar for orientation schedules) September 23 Homecoming
ENSWORTH
September 28 Kindergarten Admission Lunch
2022 IMPORTANT DATES
October 2 High School Campus Preview October 13–14 Fall Break November 15 Middle School Campus Preview
Visit ensworth.com to confirm dates and for more information
November 22 Grades K–8 Grandparents Day (HS: April 14, 2023) November 23–25 Thanksgiving Break December 17 Winter Break Begins (through January 4, 2023)
House of Truth Wins the Devon Cup
From Homecoming to Spirit Week, our Tiger Houses competed in various activities throughout the year. House points were awarded for such competitions as themed dress days, Flag Football, Spirit Week’s Tiger Games, “Say What?” and Dining Hall Clean-up. Designed to promote school spirit and build connections between grade levels, each of the four Tiger Houses is led by two Grade 12 captains who were elected by the members of their house prior to this school year.
House Captains Elected for 2022-2023 House of Integrity
House of Truth
Katie Barrier, Henry Cato
Sophie Williamson, Tommy Frist
House of Morality
House of Vitality
Mia Wilhelm, Miles Scarpero
Aliyah Batten, Russell Jankowski
Congratulations to the House of Truth, led by 2021–2022 Captains Edie Bass and Sam Horn, for the Devon Cup championship win this year.
Composting Project
Middle School Geography Bee
Congratulations to Middle School Geography Bee winner William Dorr ‘28!
This spring, a group of students (Nina Ralsky, Duple Travillion, Christian Grimes, and Sammy Taylor) along with faculty advisor Matt Kaminski initiated a composting project at the High School. They added signage in the dining hall to guide people through the composting process, and they analyzed data comparing pounds of compost vs. trash collected from May 2–20. They collected a total of 1,138.5 pounds of waste over the three week period, and 68% of it (774 pounds) was compostable material—while only 32% (364.5 pounds) was trash. The goal is to continue the project through the summer and into the next school year, helping to lessen Ensworth’s environmental impact and also opening the door to great leadership, service, and scholarship opportunities for our students. 2022 SUMMER | 35
ACADEMICS
FO R T H E R E C O R D Class of 2022 Service Scholars
Congratulations to the Class of 2022 Service Scholars! Service Scholars engage in an extension of his/her senior Service Learning project. The extension consists of an academic component as well as additional service hours. Below is a list of Service Scholars and their research topics. Emma Armistead Second Harvest Food Bank
Maeve Glattes Global Volunteers
Gracie Pulliam Retrieving Independence
Edie Bass Halo Missions
Brady Goguen The Store
Lara Rogers National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Anna Brock Ensworth Dance Marathon
Scout Halligan Safe Haven Family Shelter
Genevieve Schaefer Global Volunteers (Blackfeet Reservation)
Bella Chadwick Thistle Farms
Sam Horn Time to Rise
Alea Clark New York-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Rheumatology and Neurology Departments
Anna Jackson Nashville Dolphins
MH Wall Preston Taylor Ministries Elementary Daycare, Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society, Dance Marathon for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital
Amelia Laffer Nashville Humane Association
Douglas Weinstein Walk Bike Nashville
Oliver Crawford Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
Nhi-Ha Le Turnip Green Creative Reuse
Katherine Dagley Smithsonian Research Institute
Spencer Linn Appalachian Service Project
Nora Wheliss Preston Taylor Ministries, Nashville Dolphins, Westminster Presbyterian Church
Harper Dale Spreading Sunshine
Ellie Mahlendorf Nations Ministry Center
Sofia DeAngelis The Nashville Public Library
Sophia McFerrin Saint Matthews
Lili Dellinger My First Books (Books for Haiti)
Vivian Morrow Eden House (New Orleans), Thistle Farms (Nashville)
Catherine Duvall Time to Rise
Emma Oehlrich Saint Matthews
Lanie Dyke Dance Marathon/Children’s Miracle Network Gray Fleetwood Faithfully Restored Izze Gill Spreading Sunshine 36 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
To view the Research & Reflections Publication:
Marshall Wilt First Presbyterian Church
ATHLETICS
FOR THE RECOR D - AT HL ET ICS Robert Inman Award for Athletic Participation Robert Inman, a coach and teacher at Ensworth for 33 years, instituted the ideals of Ensworth participation. Mr. Inman coached four athletic seasons for over 30 consecutive years and positively influenced the lives of thousands of students. Senior Inman Award Recipient The following senior participated in at least 11 athletic seasons and received the Robert Inman Award for Participation: DJ Weinstein
Junior Inman Award Recipients The following juniors participated in at least eight athletic seasons and received the Robert Inman Award for Participation:
Hunter Haney, Russel Jankowski, Levi Moore, Phillip Rollins, Katherine Sales, and Helen Thompson
Class of 2022 College Signings Kennedy Cambridge University of Kentucky, Basketball
Hannah Guy University of Virginia, Rowing
Bo Maradik Georgetown , Golf
Riley Collins Appalachian State University, Tennis
Emily Harris Southern Methodist University, Swimming
Jake Mason Arizona State, Swimming
Kamil Collier Lipscomb, Basketball
Axton Hunt Birmingham Southern College, Football
Roland McGhee Jr. University of Toledo, Football
Malik Dia Vanderbilt, Basketball
Charles Ingram V Furman University , Football
Kenneth McKinley Middle Tennessee State University, Baseball
Tyrone Ford Bethel University, Football
Mason Jablonski Hampden-Sydney, Baseball
Hudson Powell Miami University, Football
Phillip Gray III University of Richmond, Football
Anna Jackson Bryant University , Swimming
Trevecca Nazarene, Basketball
Jayda Woods
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ATHLETICS 2021
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2022
H I G H S C H O O L W I N T E R / S P R I N G AT H L E T I C S Swimming & Diving:
• STATE CHAMPION: Anna Jackson ’22 - 500 freestyle • Region Winners Team Combined • Region Individual Winners: 200 Free: Jake Mason ’22 500 Free: Anna Jackson ’22 Women’s 400 Free Relay: Olivia Solimine ’23, Anna Jackson ’22, Julia Mason ’24, Lizzie McWilliams ’25 Diving: Whitney Sanders ’23 • MTHSSA All Region Awards: Diver of the year: Whitney Sanders ’23 1st team: Anna Jackson ’22, Jake Mason ’22 2nd team: Olivia Solimine ’23 Girls’ Basketball
• Tennessean All MidState Team & TSWA All-State Basketball Teams: Malik Dia ’22 Winter Cheer
• 2022 TSSAA State Tournament Spirit Award Hockey
• Tennessean All MidState 2nd Team: Ben Sonkin ’24 Girls’ Lacrosse
• All Region Team & All State Team: Izze Gill ’22, Grace Hasselbeck ’24, Adelaide Mason ’22, Meredith Whitson ’24
• 2022 STATE CHAMPIONS
Boys’ Lacrosse
• Gatorade Player of the Year Candidate, Miss Basketball Winner, All State Tournament MVP, 2022 USA Women’s U17 World Cup Team Member: Jaloni Cambridge ’24
Tennis
• Miss Basketball Finalists: Kennedy Cambridge ’22 • TSWA All State Basketball Teams: Jaloni Cambridge ’24, Kennedy Cambridge ’22 • All Team Middle Region: Jaloni Cambridge ’24, Kennedy Cambridge ’22, Kamil Collier ’22 • Tennessean All Midstate Team: Jaloni Cambridge ’24 , Kennedy Cambridge ’22, Kamil Collier ’22 • All State Tournament Team: Kennedy Cambridge ’22, Kamil Collier ’22, Jayda Woods ’22 Boys’ Basketball
• Malik Dia ’22 (Region Co-MVP) • Devaki Garr ’23 (All-Region) • BSN All-Tournament Team Malik Dia ’22, Tony Gaines ’22, Devaki Garr ’23
• All Region Team: Watts Bond ’24, Joshua Burch ’23, Henry Cato ’23, Dylan Curtis ’23, DJ Weinstein ’22
• STATE CHAMPION: Hank Trondson ’23
Baseball
• All Region 1st Team: Kenneth McKinley ’22, Ben Daniel ’23, Pete Daniel ’23 • All Region Honorable Mention: Mason Jablonski ’22 Track & Field
• INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS: 100m: Erica Douglas ’23 4x200m Relay: Braden Cooke ’24, Shamar Porter ’23, Charles Ingram V ’22, Sammy Taylor ’23 4x100m Relay: Erin Schuh ’22, Jayda Woods ’22, Jaloni Cambridge ’24, Erica Douglas ’23 400m: Jaloni Cambridge ’24 200m: Erica Douglas ’23 • State Runner Up Recipients: Triple Jump: Sammy Taylor ’23 100m: Jayda Woods ’22 Girls 4x200m Relay: Erin Schuh ’22, Sullivan Brown ’24, Jayda Woods ’22, Addison Hartle ’24 Boys 4x100m Relay: Braden Cooke ’24, Shamar Porter ’23, Charles Ingram ’22, Cam Gordon ’23
• Track & Field Region Champions: Girls 4x200m: Erin Schuh ’22, Sullivan • State Runner-up: Brown ’24, Jayda Woods ’22, Addison Riley Collins ’22 Hartle ’24 Boys 4x200m: Braden Cooke ’24, Shamar • All Region and All State Girls Tennis: Porter ’23, Charles Ingram ’22, Sammy Riley Collins ’22, Avery Franklin ’26, Taylor ’23 Hadley McCormack ’22, Anna Brock 100m: Jayda Woods ’22 ’22, Leena Hamdan ’25, Mimi Bowen ’25 200m: Erica Douglas ’23 400m: Jaloni Cambridge ’24 • All Region and All State Boys Tennis: Girls 4x100m: (new Region meet record Ludvig Denker ’22, Hank Trondson ’23 47.29) Erin Schuh ’22, Jayda Woods ’22, Jaloni Cambridge ’24, Erica Douglas ’23 • All Region Boys Tennis: John Morrow Triple Jump: Sammy Taylor ’23 ’22, Karim Daouk ’22, Eli Schuh ’24, Owen Irving ’23 Middle Tennessee High School • Tennis Region Champions: Riley Collins ’22, Hank Trondson ’23 Doubles team: Anna Brock ’22/Hadley McCormack ’22 Boys’ Soccer
• All Region Team: Chris DeCamillo ’23, Parker Wainwright ’22
Sports Awards
• Girls’ Basketball: Jaloni Cambridge ’24 • Girls’ Swimming & Diving: Whitney Sanders ’23, Anna Jackson ’22 • Boys’ Swimming & Diving: Jake Mason ’22 • Girls’ Tennis: Riley Collins ’22 • Boys’ Tennis: Hank Trondson ’23, Ludvig Denker ’22 • Girls’ Lacrosse: Adelaide Mason ’22
ATHLETICS
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ATHLETICS 2021
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2022
M I D D L E S C H O O L W I N T E R / S P R I N G AT H L E T I C S Swimming
• HVAC Combined: 1st Place • Girls: 2nd place at HVAC • HVAC meet Individual Results: Elliott Darr ’26: 1st - 200 Freestyle and broke an HVAC record in this event by 2 seconds; 1st - 100 Backstroke Alex Glenn ’26: 1st - 100 Freestyle; 2nd - 50 free Mac Spurrier ’27: 1st - 100 Breaststroke; 2nd - 200 IM Emerson Darr ’27: 2nd - 100 Backstroke; 4th - 50 free Alex Aplin ’27: 2nd - 50 Freestyle; 2nd - 100 Backstroke Anna Catherine Jones ’26: 1st - Diving 1st - 200 Freestyle Relay, 2nd - Medley Relay: Mac Spurrier ’27, Alex Glenn ’26, Elsa Staelin ’27, Emerson Darr ’27 2nd - 200 Medley & 200 Freestyle Relays: Elliott Darr ’26, Lee Atwood ’26, Jackson Gallimore ’26, Alex Aplin ’27 • Swimming and Diving Middle Tennessee State Swim Meet: Elliott Darr ’26: 1st - 100 Backstroke; 2nd- 200 Freestyle Alex Glenn ’26: 1st - 100 Freestyle; 4th - 100 Breaststroke Mac Spurrier ’27: 5th - 50 Freestyle; 2nd - 100 Breaststroke Alex Aplin ’27: 3rd - 100 Freestyle, 3rd - 100 Breaststroke Anna Catherine Jones ’26: 3rd - Diving Evie Denbo ’26: 6th - Diving 6th Boys’ Basketball
Varsity Team: 3rd consecutive undefeated HVAC Jr. season and brought home the Gold Ball from the Championship. The Varsity Team was led by B.J. Williams ’28, Ethan Starling ’28, and Clyde Vaughan ’28. 6th Girls’ Basketball
The A team went into the tournament as the third seed with a 7-3 record in the conference. They made it to the tournament’s semi-finals and lost in a competitive and close game to St. Paul. Tempo Haun ’28 led the team in scoring, and Lucy Atwood ’28 led the team in rebounds per game.
Boys’ V/JV Basketball
• Finished the season as the #3 seed in a very competitive HVAC conference and lost in their semifinal matchup. Class of 2026 leaders: Edward Coppeans, Rico Edwards, Hobs Atwood, Blake Surratt, Justin Hopkins, Isaiah Batten, Eli Wilt, Nelson Butler, Cameron Obee, and Caleb Ingram. Class of 2027: Elijah Gibson and Cutler Smith. Varsity Baseball
• Players selected All-HVAC: Hobs Atwood ’26, Christopher Brown ’26, Aiden Nick ’26, Cameron Obee ’26 and Blake Surratt ’26. V/JV Softball
• Class of 2026 leaders: Ryleigh Wescott, Sumner Hiett, and Eliza Baggott
Girls’ Track and Field
• Won every meet leading up to the finals and finished a respectable fourth place as a team in this year’s HVAC championship meet. • The following girls were individual medalists in this year’s HVAC Finals: Caroline Watts ’27: 3rd - high jump Gabi Bullock ’26: 3rd - 10m hurdles Zoey Rushing ’27, Elsa Staelin ’27, Emily McWilliams ’28, and Eleanor Denbo ’27: 2nd - 4 x 800m relay Gabi Bullock ’26, Makaylah Batten ’27, Kat Fones ’27, and Charlotte Garza ’26 – second place in 4 x 100m relay Gabi Bullock ’26, Makaylah Batten ’27, Kat Fones ’27, and Charlotte Garza ’26 – second place in 4 x 200m relay Eleanor Denbo ’27, Kat Fones ’27, Makaylah Batten ’27, and Charlotte Garza ’26: 1st - 4 x 400m relay Boys’ Track and Field
Boys’ V/JV Lacrosse
• Class of 2026 leaders: Trex Hooper, Justin Nozko, and Colin Spitzer Girls’ V/JV Lacrosse
• Finished with a winning season Class of 2026 members Lily Sites & Evie Denbo led the charge for the team at midfield. Caroline Greer & Caroline Sifford guided the team on the attacking end, and Frances Duvall, Cate Barfield, and Liza Hadley held down the fort on defense. Charlotte Garza, Audrey Bailey and Paige Fogaros also made major contributions to the team. Girls’ Golf
• Finished 3rd in HVAC and MollyKate Orr ’26 finished 3rd individually. Boys’ Golf - HVAC Champions
• Eli Wilt ’26 and Cameron Herring ’26 finished T–2 individually with a (-1) 34 score. • The boys won the HVAC: Dan McGugin ’27, Jude Bambic ’26, Cameron Herring ’26, Eli Wilt ’26
• Completed a perfect season to win the HVAC Finals and beat the runnerup team from Brentwood Academy with a sizzling, record-setting (both Ensworth record and HVAC record) performance in the last event of the meet, the 4 x 400m relay. • The following boys were individual medalists in this year’s HVAC Finals: • Cameron Obee ’26: 1st - long jump • Nelson Butler ’26: 2nd - pole vault • Mason Brunson ’26: 3rd - pole vault • Edward Coppeans ’26: 3rd - discus; 3rd - 800m • Akeem Batey ’26: 3rd - shot put; 3rd - long jump; 1st - 400m • Jack Tompkins ’26: 2nd - 110m hurdles • Edward Coppeans ’26, Nelson Butler ’26, Hobs Atwood ’26, and Mason Brunson ’26: 1st - 4 x 800m relay • Bishop Starling ’26, Nelson Butler ’26, Cutler Smith ’27, and Akeem Batey ’26: 1st - 4 x 200m relay • Cutler Smith ’27, Nelson Butler ’26, Edward Coppeans ’26, and Akeem Batey ’26: 1st - 4 x 400m relay 2022 SUMMER | 41
ARTS
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ARTS
Artist in Residence Program Through the Years
“A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.” -Salvador Dali
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or the past eight years, High School students at Ensworth have benefited from the inspiration of artists through the Artist in Residence program. Established in 2014 through the generosity of an endowed gift, the program brings in experts in various artistic fields for a series of sessions within current classes, exposing students to new and innovative ideas and introducing them to influential leaders of the Nashville arts community. Thoughtful intentionality goes into the process of selecting each year’s artists to ensure that all aspects of the visual and performing arts department benefit from the program.
This year’s visiting artists were jazz saxophonist Evan Cobb, who worked with the Jazz Band, and professional dancer and choreographer Natalie Aaron, who helped the Dance Company choreograph and produce a video that premiered at the spring dance concert. Evan Cobb is known as a leading force in Nashville’s music scene as a jazz player, session player, and horn section member. He has performed with a wide array of artists including Steven Tyler, Chris Stapleton, Maren Morris, Mavis Staples, Aretha Franklin, Jerry Lee Lewis, George Strait, Brett Eldredge, Cage the Elephant, and the Nashville Symphony. The focus of Cobb’s work with the Ensworth Jazz Band was on the art of improvising. He engaged with students in a deep dive into the world of saxophone improvisation as inspired by the jazz greats such as John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, and Joe Henderson. Bringing his expertise as a section leader, Cobb guided the Jazz Band to perform with a crew of professional session musicians at the Spring Concert, playing a variety of styles including Big Band, Rock, Pop, Funk, Motown, and R&B. Students learned advanced articulations, phrasing, and stylistic interpretations as modeled by some of the highest level Nashville jazz musicians by playing alongside these outstanding performers. “Evan’s command of a variety of styles really helped the group evolve and deepen its understanding of what it means to play music from a 20th Century American perspective. The effect of a year-long experience under his mentorship was extremely evident by the year’s end. The group is simply playing at a different level than it was a year ago,” shares Jim Aveni, Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair. “The ensemble of top veteran Nashville session musicians that Evan brought in to perform with our students during the Spring Concert created a memorable and impactful culminating performance to the year’s work. Evan was super fun to work with and the students enjoyed having him around as a musician and as a teacher. He brought not only a world of knowledge to the classroom, but equal parts laughter and joy to the ensemble. We are grateful for his time with us!” 2022 SUMMER | 43
ARTS
To view the dance video:
Meanwhile, in the dance studio, Natalie Aaron was helping the Dance Company prepare for their spring concert. A Nashville-based professional dancer and choreographer, Aaron specializes in hip hop and commercial dance styles. She has trained locally at DC Dance Factory, holds a degree in Kinesiology, and has built a successful dance career working with artists such as Pitbull, Luke Bryan, Trace Adkins, Chris Lane, and more. Aaron is also a sought-after instructor who teaches and choreographs for various studios across the country. Aaron worked with the Dance Company to choreograph and produce a High School Musical-style music video to open the Spring Dance concert. Aaron choreographed, set, and provided creative direction for the music video, giving dance students the unique experience of working with a professional choreographer on a commercial shoot. “There’s no question that dance has increasingly become a main ingredient in commercials, film, music videos, and on popular social media platforms, such as Tik Tok. Many of the professional opportunities for dancers in Music City require working knowledge of how to operate on a commercial dance shoot,” shares Lindsay White, Director of Ensworth School of Dance. “Performing for the camera requires a unique set of skills for dancers, many that can only be learned first-hand. In creating the opening music video for Technicolor, Company members had a quick turnaround to learn intricate choreography and blocking, often having to adjust things in real-time to account for a different set location or camera angle. Improvisation played a large role in the creative process, as dancers were called upon in the moment to freestyle for various shots in the video. These 44 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
unchoreographed moments required individual dancers to think on their feet and showcase their unique strengths and personalities, from Noelle Jamison’s stylized dribbling in the basketball gym, to Hailey Riven’s jazzy freestyle in the football bleachers. Not only did the dancers learn a lot from their collaboration with Natalie, but they had a great time in the process. Hearing their ‘oohs and ahhs’ as they sat onstage to watch the video for the first time before the dance concert was a special moment, and they all seemed proud of how it turned out.”
Tiffany Townsend Director of Marketing & Communications
ARTS
Artist in Residence Program Through the Years: 2014-2015: Songwriting/producing with Jason Sever and Rachel Thibodeau 2015-2016: Dance with Aerial Angels; Photography with Jack Spencer 2016-2017: Encore with Jill Clark; Searchers play with Laurie Brooks 2017-2018: Rock Band with Blackbird Studio; Dance choreography with Travis Cooper 2018-2019: Pottery with Susan Beiner; Photography with Armon Means 2019-2020: Fall Play Puppetry with Brian Hull and Brianimations; Jonathan J. Smith Choral Arranger working with Chamber Singers and Encore 2021-2022: Jazz Band with Evan Cobb; Dance Choreography for Video with Natalie Aaron
The Artist in Residence program has introduced students to a wide variety of professional artists who have offered real-world insight and hands-on experiences, helping students further discover and develop their talents and interests. To learn more about how the endowment supports the enrichment of the Ensworth experience, contact Director of Institutional Advancement Bedell James at jamesb@ensworth.com. 2022 SUMMER | 45
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MIDDLE SCHOOL SPRING PLAY Alice in Wonderland • February 26, 2022
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ARTS
HIGH SCHOOL SPRING PLAY A Midsummer Night’s Dream • April 28–30, 2022
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ENSWORTH
High School Musical
FREAKY FRIDAY March 3–5, 2022
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ARTS
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PICTURED A, I Spring Dance Concert B, C, D Spirit Week E, F Spring Day G Encore & Chamber Singers at Disney H, J, K, L Spring Music Concerts 50 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
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EVENTS Spring 2022
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PICTURED A Kindergarten Music Concert B, C, D Grade 4 Biography Fair E, F, G, H Field Day I, J, K, L Grade 2 Pioneer Day 52 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
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CONGRATULATIONS, BLACK TEAM! 2022 FIELD DAY CHAMPIONS
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Build Our Community
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Educate Our Parents
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or more than 60 years, Ensworth parents have nurtured our beloved school through community building, parent education, and school support. I feel privileged and honored to lead this association in a pivotal year for our school when we warmly welcome a new Head of School into our treasured community. We look forward to supporting Prentice and introducing the Stabler family to our timehonored Ensworth traditions while showing them the ever-present E-love, kindness, and joy.
2022–2023 Parent Association Board Members President Amanda Graff Immediate Past President Elizabeth Gerken President-Elect Katie Porterfield
Middle School Representative-Elect Whitney Schickling High School Representative Alagra Morris
Secretary LeAnne Bottorff
High School Representative-Elect Jamee Thompson
Treasurer Jason Bates
Arts Chair Kate Scott
Treasurer-Elect Sara Perry
Arts Chair-Elect Hallie Jones
Parent Education Julie Dretler
New Parent Welcome Chairs Ruth Coppeans (HS) Roochita Mathur (LS/MS)
Parent Education-Elect Courtney Bolton Communications Katie Robinson Communications-Elect Kristin Paine Fundraising Kathy Dorr Fundraising-Elect Ari Dowdy Lower School Representative Amanda Tolbert Lower School Representative-Elect Catherine Perry Middle School Representative Jessica Amden 54 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
New Parent Welcome Chairs-Elect Naomi Priestley (HS) Stacey Vallejo (LS/MS) Volunteer Coordinator Caroline Sloan Tiger Club Chairs Shannon McIntosh Tracy Walls Event Coordinator Rebecca Rutledge Auction Liaison Ashley Lane At-Large Representatives Cynthia Arnholt, Jessica Baba, Lindsey Clark, Darshan Prabhu
I hope your family will join us for many of the great events we have planned for the 2022-2023 school year, including: Tiger Town Tailgates New Parent Welcome Gatherings Uniform Swap and Sales Tiger Salon Parent Education Events Parent Gatherings Parenting With Purpose Series Fiction With Friends Book Club Tiger Night 2023 Super Saturday Although all current parents are automatically members of the Parent Association, we hope you will take the next step and get involved on campus! Be on the lookout for a SignUp Genius with opportunities to volunteer for a variety of committees, including Admissions, Tiger Club, Faculty & Staff Appreciation, Tiger Night, Library, New Parent Welcome, Arts Council, and Uniform Swap & Sale. I am grateful for each of you and look forward to spending time with all of you in a joy-filled and magical school year. Warmest regards & GO TIGERS!
AMANDA GRAFF 2022-2023 Ensworth Parent Association President
COMMUNITY
FACES of the Meet Tracy Walls and Shannon McIntosh
We are excited to announce that these wonderful ladies are serving as the 2022-2023 Tiger Club Chairs, a revived role on the Parent Association Board. This dynamic duo will encourage school spirit, enlist parent support for concessions and ticket sales, and organize Tiger Town Tailgates for various Ensworth sporting events. TRACY WALLS
High School Tiger Club Chair
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SHANNON MCINTOSH Lower/Middle School Tiger Club Chair
racy is the proud parent of Ethan Utley ‘25 and is hannon is a proud Ensworth alum a veteran educator passionate and a busy mom of three kids in about serving at-risk students the Lower School. In her free time, and students with disabilities. she enjoys serving in the children’s She is currently an Assistant program at her church, volunteering Professor at Tennessee State with children in at-risk communities University in the Special in the area, and playing tennis. She Education Department. She has graduated from the University of also spent time in the public North Carolina (as did her husband, school setting as a principal, a David), and they love to cheer for classroom teacher, and a varsity their beloved Tar Heels! Let’s get to Tracy Walls (left) & Shannon McIntosh (right) athletic coach. She played know Shannon! collegiate women’s basketball at the University of Georgia, where her team finished as the What are your goals for this year as Tiger Club Chair? National Champion Runner-up! My goals are to help grow community engagement through fun What are your goals for this year as Tiger Club Chair? and creative events that bring together students and families on both campuses while supporting our athletic teams. My goals are to increase parental engagement, support the mission and vision of the school, and build a bridge between both What brought you and your family to Ensworth? campuses to allow all the E-magic and E-love to spread freely! I’m an Ensworth alum and loved my years as a Tiger! Ensworth What brought you and your family to Ensworth? has grown in so many wonderful ways since I was a student but has also kept many of its special traditions. It has been a Ensworth has an impeccable academic and athletic great fit and community for our family. reputation. We were also drawn to the fact that there are so many good and strong families in the Ensworth community! Please tell us a bit about yourself and your family. Please tell us a bit about yourself and your family. My son, Ethan Utley ’25, is a rising sophomore. He started at Ensworth as an 8th grader (during Covid!) and has had an amazing experience. We have loved his teachers, the rigor, and the connectedness, and I know he has already made many lifelong memories. A three-sport athlete (football, basketball, and track & field), Ethan is interested in pursuing a career as an athletic trainer. As for me, in my free time, I enjoy spending time with Ethan, parasailing, walking barefoot on the beach, and reading or listening to a good book! I’m also excited to say that I will soon be a published author!
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My husband, David, and I have three children: David ’30, Stephen ’31, and Mary ’33. Like many others, we are in a fun and busy season of life. You will typically find us on a sports field or court, and we also love traveling to the beach or mountains and being with extended family. We are so grateful to be part of the Ensworth community. A random fact about me is that I am fluent in Pig Latin! My cousins and I have spoken the “language” with each other since we were kids, including while traveling in Europe during college!
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Save the Dates! Save the Dates for these Parent Association Events!
PARENT EDUCATION SERIES FEATURING TIM CORBIN Sunday, September 11 Frist Campus Coach Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt baseball coach and twotime national champion, will speak to the Ensworth community on winning the most important game, life. Dinner will be served in the quad beforehand. Samuel M. Simpkins The Tennessean
Watch for more details in August E-News on how to register for the event.
TIGER TOWN TAILGATES
Join the Ensworth community this fall in Tiger Town! Bring your family and school spirit to the High School before home football games and visit the new Tiger Town location just beyond the Natatorium for fun and games for all ages. Watch for weekly updates about Tiger Town in E-News, but put the dates on your calendar now! August 26 September 2 September 9
September 30 October 7 October 20
TIGER NIGHT February 11, 2023 The 2023 Tiger Night Chairs Stacey Advani, Carlie Cruse, Stephanie Gounder, and MacKenzie Averbuch are already planning a fabulous Tiger Night you won’t want to miss! 56 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
SUPER SATURDAY May 6, 2023
COMMUNITY
Ensworth’s 2022
TIGER NIGHT AUCTION February 12, 2022 Marathon Music Works
CHAIRS Lizzie Kappelman, Ansley Hampton, Ashley Lane, Bonnie Cross 2022 SUMMER | 57
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CHAIRS Mary Ann Weprin, Rebecca Rutledge, Sharon Hale, Caroline Sloan
Ensworth’s 2022
SUPER SATURDAY May 7, 2022 Frist Campus
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FACULTY
Meet The Stabler Family Get to Know Ensworth’s New Head of School & His Family
coaching career at the US Rowing National Championship. A boat we had been coaching for three extra weeks into the summer qualified for the finals with six other boats, and with about a minute left, the gap between first and last was just a few seconds. This group had fallen just short of the medals two years running and pulled off an amazing sprint to win a silver medal. I was so proud of them. Though the win eluded them, they broke through a years-long barrier and performed at the highest level they had ever achieved.
What drew you to work in education, and specifically independent school education? I have always loved work where I can connect with people and be part of growth. I think that the best schools are all about the people. Close relationships and a commitment to know students individually allow us to provide personalized programs and help young people become the very best versions of themselves. I love this work and find it immensely fulfilling. Working in schools can be exhausting, but it provides so much energy for me and my family.
What is your favorite aspect of your job as an educator/school administrator? Who is a teacher or coach who had the This one is easy: the people. I am a people greatest influence on you, and why? Prentice Stabler & his wife Rhymes, person at my core and I truly love the I had a 4th grade teacher named Wynne Pace (8), Ramsay (6), & Bennett (3) communities that form in schools at every Harkless who was one of my all-time level. I consider it a privilege to see students grow into thriving favorites. He had high expectations for students and pushed talented adults and to work alongside other educators who are us beyond what we thought we could do. Simultaneously, he part of that growth process. As a dad, I want my kids around provided consistent support and demonstrated a belief that adults who pour into them, and as a teacher, I get a front row we could meet the challenges he put in front of us. This balance seat to watch so many incredible educators, coaches, and of high expectations and high belief in students’ abilities is at school staff do that work for our students. the core of my educational philosophy today. I think that when students know we have real faith in them and we are willing What attracted you to this opportunity at Ensworth? to work alongside them, they are willing to work harder and Ensworth exemplifies the qualities that I think great schools stretch themselves in ways that bring about growth. require. It is committed to educating the whole child and to inspiring continuous growth and improvement for all What is a memorable moment/favorite memory from members of the community and for the institution. Finding your career in education? this combination in a city that I love made this opportunity a Most of my favorite memories involve moments where dream come true for me and my family. sustained hard work leads to a breakthrough. One of the very first of these moments was early in my teaching and
For Prentice, Rhymes, Pace, Ramsay, & Bennett: What excites you most about joining the Ensworth community? Ramsay: Eating lunch in the cafeteria, especially dessert and hamburgers! Pace: Meeting new friends Bennett: Living next door to the playground, going to games and shows Rhymes: Having a place where our whole family can get connected and join a warm, welcoming community Prentice: Being at a place that is committed to growing in all areas of school life: academics, arts, athletics, community, and more
What does your family enjoy doing in your free time? Ramsay: Play on the playground, swim, ride bike Pace: Ride bike, play with Legos, read books Bennett: Follow Pace and Ramsay around, play with stuffed animals, eat! Rhymes: Painting, time with close friends, family dinners Prentice: Being outdoors and on the water: fishing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, camping
Joy is an integral part of the experience at Ensworth. What brings you joy? Ramsay: Surprises! Celebrating holidays and birthdays by decorating the table, making confetti bags, and writing notes Pace: Sniffy the stuffed monkey, making new Lego creations Bennett: Running and being chased, tickling, ice cream Rhymes: Family, creating art, meals with friends Prentice: Family, moments of rest and restoration in nature, building communities where people can thrive
FACULTY ACADEMICS
FAC U LTY N E WS RETIREMENTS
NEWS
Kevin McGee High School Math Teacher
Cati Blitz has two of her pieces included in an exhibit at Nashville International Airport on Concourse D. The two panels are part of their permanent collection from the initial show in 1998, where they purchased several pieces.
for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program in the area of Exploring Music in Context.
Over the past school year, Kevin Brown published eighteen book reviews for publications such as Portland Review, Intima: A Journal of Narrative Medicine, New Pages, and SOLRAD. He published four creative nonfiction essays and five poems in various literary magazines and also worked with nine different nonprofits for volunteer writing work. Kevin attended a virtual, week-long AP Literature training session in February. He also did a virtual presentation for the LSU Graduate Student Association on alternative careers, where he spoke about teaching in an independent school or pursuing a degree in library science.
Summer Professional Development: Orton Gillingham
5 Years at Ensworth
Rich Mischinski High School English Teacher 10 Years at Ensworth
Amy Rich Grade 2 Teacher
26 Years at Ensworth
WEDDINGS Lauren Cummings to Wilson Johnson March11, 2022
BIRTHS
Carolyn Henry (Tim)
Catherine Collins Henry February 15, 2022
Ashley Slay Glotta (Zach)
Elijah David Glotta March 16, 2022
IN MEMORY Carolyn Cronan Shull Grade 2 Teacher 1964-1969
January 1, 1934 - December 19, 2020
Caroline Corley graduated from Vanderbilt University in May with her Master’s Degree in Reading Education. She is transitioning to a full-time position next year at Ensworth, working as a Kindergarten Fellow in the morning and Grades 3-5 Reading Specialist in the afternoons. Bedell James and Tiffany Townsend presented “The 15 Most Important Things We’ve Learned in 15 Years of Advancement” at the CASE/NAIS annual conference for independent schools. Lianne Mash passed her Society of Human Resources Management exam and is now an SHRM Certified Professional. Paul Phillips completed his Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Innovation at Arizona State University and won the Leadership & Innovation Research Impact Award for the last two years. He currently serves on the editorial board for Current Issues in Education, a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the Teachers College at ASU. Meredith Warren qualified for and completed another session as an examiner
60 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
Justin Weatherby has been promoted to Facilities Manager at Ensworth.
Grade 3 teachers plus all incoming Grades K-2 teachers (including Assistant Teachers and the new literacy support teachers in Grades 1 and 2) will be taking a week-long Orton Gillingham training. This training incorporates the latest research and best practices on the science of reading to help students learn how to crack the code of reading comprehension through phonics instruction and a multi-sensory approach to reading acquisition.
Responsive Classroom New LS faculty attended the Responsive Classroom Core Elementary Course that provides an array of effective strategies on social and emotional learning in the classroom, positive teacher language, and effective classroom management skills for teachers to empower students to collaborate effectively and gain a sense of inclusion in the classroom setting. Ensworth hosted this conference where over 60 educators joined our new faculty. Kindergarten teacher Megan Florentine was one of the teacher instructors for the week, and High School English faculty Matt Kaminski took the MS Core Class as well.
Tearing Down the Walls Ensworth hosted the fifth year of “Tearing Down the Walls.” This two-day conference on race and leadership invites independent school students in the Southeast from diverse racial and socio-economic backgrounds to become leaders and bridge builders in race relations. Students heard from author Andrew Maraniss and then split up into small group sessions led by Dr. Tracy Walls, Dr. Doug Magee, Ashley Slay Glotta, Oman Frame, and Jim Miller. This event was spearheaded by The Office of Community Engagement and Inclusion, David Whitfield, and Dina Marks.
FACULTY
FACULT Y FOCUS
Christina Alvarez Middle School Spanish
What is your educational background? I received my B.A. in Spanish and Psychology from Wake Forest and my MAT from Belmont University. I taught in Metro Nashville Public Schools for six years before coming to Ensworth and taught most recently at Hume-Fogg Academic High School for four years. During my tenure, I have taught every level of Spanish (Spanish I, II, III, IV, and AP Spanish Language & Culture). How did you learn Spanish? As a first-generation Cuban American, I learned Spanish at home from both of my parents and other family members. Then, I chose to major in it while at Wake Forest University. What led you to Ensworth? After graduating from Wake Forest, I moved to New York City for a year and then to Nashville with my now husband, an Ensworth alumnus. I had heard all about Ensworth for years and upon my arrival in Nashville, my mother-in-law, also an Ensworth alumna, connected me with Dr. Sarah Buchanan. Dr. Buchanan informed me that there was a need for a long-term Spanish substitute and, after interviewing, I joined Ensworth for several months during the 2009-2010 school year. My teaching experience at Ensworth encouraged me to enroll in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Belmont and pursue licensure to teach Spanish. In 2018, I was hired for the same position in the same classroom in which I had previously been a long-term substitute teacher. I am very thankful to be a part of this amazing community and working alongside many of the same colleagues that had been here over a decade before. How does the study of world languages positively impact students? Learning other languages and understanding the culture of the people who speak them is a 21st Century skill that is vital to success in the global environment in which our students will live and work. Moreover, allowing our students to engage
with other languages and cultures enables them to gain a more profound understanding of their own language and culture. To this end, I appreciate the flexibility to engage in skills-based learning approach within our curriculum at Ensworth.
What’s an interesting aspect of the Spanish language that most people may not know? Inverted (or upside down) question marks and exclamation points are unique to the Spanish language. These helpful punctuation marks give the reader a warning sign and prepare them to read the sentence correctly as either a question or an exclamatory statement. In English, sentences start at the capital letter at the beginning and finish with the punctuation mark at the end. However, by placing the inverted punctuation at the beginning of the clause (it won’t always be at the front of the sentence) the reader has advanced notice and can modify their tone, if necessary. Do you have any exciting plans for the upcoming school year? I am excited to plan our second annual Hispanic Heritage Month assembly. Last year’s assembly was a wonderful opportunity to broaden our cultural awareness, and I anticipate this year’s celebration will be even better. In the classroom, I look forward to reconnecting with our international pen-pals. In the past, we have had pen-pals in Ecuador and in Spain. Share a few interesting facts about yourself. • My oldest son will begin Kindergarten this upcoming school year as a third-generation Ensworth tiger. • I have traveled to four different continents and over 18 different countries. I hope to add more destinations to this list soon!
2022 SUMMER | 61
FACULTY ACADEMICS
FACULT Y FOCUS
Dr. Andy Kelley High School Chinese
List your previous relevant education and work experience. I lived in China and worked at universities in China through my twenties as I worked on various graduate degrees in Education. How did you get into teaching? And how did you get into teaching Chinese? I originally became an English teacher in China because I loved literature and really wanted to go to China and travel to Asia. I had an opportunity to teach literature classes at a college in China and spent my free time traveling around China and other southeast Asian countries (Thailand and Cambodia). This teaching opportunity quickly turned into a language learning adventure for me. I clearly remember my first Chinese language lesson with my first tutor a few weeks after landing in Wuhan, where I learned how to read a train schedule and book my train tickets. Once I could do that, I was off and running, dreaming up and eventually going on countless adventures in China and beyond. My love for the language stemmed from my love of Chinese culture and connection with Chinese people in China. The move from teaching English to Chinese students to teaching Chinese to American students was about passing on the life-changing experience I had in China to young people with backgrounds that were more similar to mine. I was mentored to be a bridge-builder, and that is something I wanted to pass on. What led you to Ensworth, specifically? I was living and teaching in China while collecting dissertation data and writing during the 2009-2010 school year. My brother, Jon, then a Technology Specialist at Ensworth, told me about a Chinese teaching position that was opening up. In conversation with him and other leaders on campus, I started to learn more about the school via Skype while living in Tianjin. The early excitement and ability to build something new and innovative in the early years of the High School were highly intriguing to me. The more I talked with leadership about what they were building, the more I wanted to be involved. 62 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
How does the study of Chinese positively impact students? Studying foreign languages, in general, is really good for the brain. Learning how to control and use a new system as a young adult that can allow you to move in the world and connect with people is one of life’s ultimate challenges for those of us that began our lives monolingual. It also allows students to connect with people different from themselves. Language study can lead to travel and opens doors internationally for work and enjoyment. There is so much depth to Chinese culture: food, music, dance, sport, etc. The ways to get involved are almost endless. Studying Chinese distinguishes them in the college application process. Usually, only about 50 to 60 students take the AP Chinese exam annually in the state of TN. Ensworth has had as many as 10 of those 50 recently. The Ensworth China Trip (2013, 2014, 2017, and 2019) is my very favorite thing. It allows us to see two very different urban centers in China: Beijing and Zhengzhou (a central China hub of commerce and transportation). It also allows us to explore off-the-beatenpath sites in China like the oldest Buddhist temple in China, ancient capitals, and some of the most significant historical sites in the world. Watching students put their Chinese into action, bargaining for souvenirs, and ordering food in China has been a big-time highlight of the last ten years. What’s something about you that people may find interesting? • While traveling in China my first year, I was able to go to Mt. Everest base camp on the Tibetan side of the mountain. • My dissertation explored using an American-based social networking site in Chinese English language classes and how social media affected student language learning motivation and identity.
FACULTY
FACULT Y FOCUS
Jennifer Toppins Lower School Chinese
What is your educational background? After attending Belmont University for undergrad, I moved to Shanghai, China where I received my M.A. from Fudan University. I then earned my M.Ed from Vanderbilt University. In addition to teaching Chinese at Ensworth, I have served as an ESL Adjunct Professor with Nashville State Community College and a Chinese Language Adjunct Professor with Belmont. How did you get into teaching Chinese? I was a latecomer to Chinese and to teaching. I began as a Chinese learner at Belmont as an undergraduate, mainly to fulfill a language requirement for my English literature degree, but I fell in love with the language and chose to declare a second major in it! I owe a lot of that inspiration to my professor, Dr. Joan Li, but I was also fascinated by the culture and wanted to learn more about their literary tradition. I came to teaching in a similar way: I had to fulfill a graduation requirement to complete an internship. I took a position working with the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE), coordinating after-school activities for refugee and immigrant students in southeast Nashville. However, in my first week with NICE, we had a sudden influx of Spanish-speaking students who wanted to practice their English after school in the hopes of attending college. That became my responsibility, and suddenly, I was a teacher! Through that transition, I was guided by a very special mentor, Monica, who was ESL-certified and very passionate about equitable education for second language English learners. What led you to Ensworth? I graduated from Vanderbilt in May 2021, and I was looking for a strong institution where I could grow as a teacher. I was attracted to Ensworth because of its welcoming atmosphere, its openness to creativity and collaboration, and the opportunity to work with younger students. I found that the children’s curiosity and joy for learning reminded me a lot of myself when I first began to learn Chinese.
How does the study of Chinese positively impact students? I believe that even very young children can benefit from learning about the culture and traditions of another country. Chinese is a challenge in thinking outside of the box for any learner, and as a pictorial language, it can inspire young minds to see and think about language in a completely different way from English. Further, it can help them to develop empathy, appreciation, and respect for the ways of life of a radically different culture. What are some interesting aspects of the Chinese language? I mentioned that Chinese is a pictorial language, which is challenging for new learners to get used to. But our students learn at Ensworth that each symbol (“character”) is actually made up of smaller pictures called “radicals,” and that with enough recognition of these radicals, they can build up literacy in Chinese really rapidly. In this way, Chinese is actually similar to English with its reliance on Greek and Latin roots. Another difference—one that I’ve enjoyed a lot as a learner—is that Chinese doesn’t conjugate, or change the verb form to show tense. That is, no “am, is, are, was, were” to memorize for every verb. You just learn one verb, and it never changes! Trust me, this is a big deal for learning a language. Do you have any exciting plans for the upcoming school year? Edimary Morales and I are opening up our new World Language classrooms in the renovated Lower School space! We’re really thrilled to get to work setting up the new classrooms so we can accomplish big dreams with our students. What’s something about you that people may find interesting? Moving to China in 2015 was the first time I’d been on a plane. I went by myself and stayed five months! At the time, my Chinese was atrocious, and I could barely get around my new city. On my first day in China, I got hopelessly lost in the middle of the night, but a very kind taxi driver helped me find my university stay. If it weren’t for him, I might still be wandering around there. 2022 SUMMER | 63
FACULTY ACADEMICS
A Retirement Tribute to:
Amy Rich, Grade 2 Teacher At the end of the year faculty meeting, Ensworth honors faculty and staff who celebrate milestones with the school or retire after a long career. This year, we honored Grade 2 Teacher Amy Rich for her 26 years of service. Delivering remarks about Amy’s unique personality and dedication to her students were Kindergarten teacher Megan Florentine and Hope Moeller, Amy’s fellow second-grade teacher for the last 11 years.
From Megan Florentine, Kindergarten Teacher:
From Hope Moeller, Grade 2 Teacher:
“As I quickly learned, to know Amy is to love her. Amy has “To be a teammate of Amy Rich means that every printer and the distinction of being the most interesting, unique, quirky, copier accessible to you will have a post-it stuck to it with hilarious person I know. Amy is, in a word, legendary.” Amy’s perfect handwriting detailing how to use the machine and what to do if it fails to work - which it consistently will “To be a friend of Amy Rich means you know she originated if Amy is using it.” the term ‘lockdown,’ pre-Covid. This was Amy’s term for quiet classroom time when her students had “To be a teammate of Amy Rich means you will revel a big project to finish. You would enter her in her talent of finessing hard conversations— darkened second-grade room, a Kenny G with you, with other colleagues, and especially CD blasting from a 90s-era boombox, kids with parents of her students. You may at first silently working at their desks. ‘We are on think that it’s the way her drawl gets just a lockdown,’ Amy would say as she looked at bit deeper that softens what she is saying her students above the glasses perched on just enough to make it palatable, but you will her nose. They would all smile because to be come to realize that her gift is the love and a student of Amy’s was to love her, too.” commitment she feels for her students and their families. She can say the hard things because we “But mostly, to be a friend of Amy Rich is to feel loved know she is invested in these relationships and that she and cared for by her. She will listen to you, comfort you, help will see the work through with you and with them.” you think through dilemmas, offer you helpful advice and tough love, call you to check on you, and tell you that she “To be a teammate of Amy Rich is to watch her lean into every loves you. She will make eye contact with you across an new curriculum change that comes our way and become unruly lunchroom exactly when you need it. When you are its staunch supporter. Structured literacy, Responsive 23 and far from home, she will treat you like a second mother. Classroom, Singapore Math - she loves to talk shop about the She will make you laugh, hug you, invite you to her beautiful impact of each program on her teaching and her students— home to talk, let you sleep over when Nashville is snowed from her first year at Ensworth to her 26th.” in and you can’t get home, and she will make you feel like a family member.”
64 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
ALUMNI
Ensworth Alumni C LAS S NOT E S WEDDINGS
BIRTHS
Anne Walker Harrison ’02 to Robert Norman Wilson, III May 21, 2022
Zach and Whitney Haley Kalb ’01 Estelle “Stella” Virginia Kalb on March 25, 2022
Jonas Hill ’09 to Mimi Middlebrooks June, 4, 2022 Tate Lanford ’09 to Molly Ralph ’13 June 11, 2022 Kathleen Riley ’09 to Clay Timmons November 6, 2021 Jamie Allsmiller ’10 to Alex Hattenhauer March 5, 2022
Tracy and John Roland Burch III ’03 John “Jack” Roland Burch IV on April 8, 2022 Michael and Margaret Anne Moore Byerly ’08 Michael “William” Byerly, Jr. on April 20, 2022 Tim and Carell Brown Robinson ’09 Maya Carell Robinson on May 15, 2022 Zach and Ashley Slay Glotta ’14 Elijah David Glotta on March 16, 2022
Leila Oakley ’10 to David Broughton March 13, 2022
IN MEMORY
Alex Benson ’11 to Jamie Shepherd April 30, 2022
Margaret Sharp Howell ’62 March 20, 1948–March 14, 2022
Lauren Cummings ’11 to Wilson Johnson March 11, 2022 Sarah B. DeLozier ’11 to Julian Danziger January 15, 2022 Caroline Deaton ’12 to Nick Sabourin October 2, 2021
A professional networking & mentoring platform for Ensworth Alumni
Jake McDonald ’12 to Sarah Duyck April 22, 2022
Join now!
Keely Shearer ’12 to Henry Rogers Varner III June 11, 2022 Tyler Sinks ’13 to Maggie Grzeskowiak March 12, 2022 Kaelene DeCoster ’16 to Liam Mardis December 18, 2021
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Send alumni news and photos to alumni@ensworth.com 2022 SUMMER | 65
ALUMNI
Ensworth Alumni
C LAS S NOT E S
Eric Killinger ’75,
Morgan Ogilvie ’95 Morgan
Riverside Community Hospital
systems analyst. He is also
independent scholar-
Ogilvie’s painting, “Ever since
in Riverside, California.
working on his Master’s degree
researcher and author, had
she was a little girl, she has
two books published at the
always had a vivid imagination”
Katie Osborne ’11 received
science. David enjoys skiing,
end of 2021: the brilliant,
(Oil on Canvas 2021, 20 x 11 in.)
her Master’s in Library and
hiking, camping and climbing
groundbreaking study, Between
was presented in a group show
Information Studies from the
and he is still playing drums.
the Frying Pan and the Fire:
entitled “Work,” curated by the
University of Alabama last
The Intermundia of Clergy
artist and Calartian, Benjamin
year and is now working as a
Kaelene DeCoster ’16
Transitioning out of Parish
Gordon February 17th - 20th in
Librarian at the Nashville Public
graduated in December 2021
Ministry and The Pacifica
Los Angeles, California. All of
Library.
from Washington University in
Papers: A Festschrift of Midlife
the work was by Calartians and
Meditations and Musings
explored painting as a medium.
Toward Celebrating a Poetics
from Georgia Tech in computer
St. Louis School of Medicine
Carol Allen ’12 received
with her Master of Science in
her MBA from Georgetown
Occupational Therapy.
of Depth Psychology. Previous
Massey Armistead ’08
University’s McDonough School
books include The Nerve of
graduated with an MFA in
of Business in May and is
John Dugan ’17 graduated
My Third Twin, which concerns
Creative Writing from University
moving to Charlotte, NC to begin
from Vanderbilt with a degree
dealings with the rare disorder
of Memphis in December
work for Campbell’s.
in Neuroscience last spring
known as classic trigeminal
2021. She has started her own
neuralgia, and a volume of
business as a self-love and
Lauren Barnett ’12 CFA, CPA
at the University of Tennessee
sermons entitled A Bricoleur
empowerment coach.
started a new position as Senior
Health Science Center this fall.
and is starting medical school
Valuation Associate at S&P
in the Pulpit. He is currently
Rachel Barnes ’18 graduated
a series of uncommon books
Molly Nesbitt Warren ’08 joined the Ensworth staff
of prayer, the first of which,
as the Assistant Director of
Sally Krebs ’14 joined Nestle
the University of Tennessee,
Adoration in Secret: Landlocked
Development and Alumni
as a Senior Analyst on the CX
Knoxville with a BA in Modern
among Poets, appeared in 2020.
Relations.
Analytics team.
Foreign Language in World
working on a second volume in
Global.
Magna Cum Laude from
Business- French and Int’l
Relishing his relative obscurity, Eric writes and lives with his
Tavarres Jefferson ’09
David Allen, Jr. ’15 lives in
Retail Merchandising and a
wife and their shelties in Santa
was promoted to the role of
Colorado Springs and works
minor in Art History. This fall,
Fe, New Mexico.
Vice President, Operations at
for Northrop Grumman as a
she is headed to Toulouse,
Continuing the Ensworth Tradition
SENIORS WITH ALUMNI PARENTS 66 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
ARMISTEAD Emma Armistead ‘22 Jim Armistead ‘81
BASS Edie Bass ‘22 Jack Bass ‘84
BROWN Tallent Brown ‘22 Harkness Harris Brown ‘85
ALUMNI
JaTorria Lee ’19 is a junior
senior season. Lola set the
Gentry Hopkins ’18, Lowery Nickels ’18, and Ian MacDonald ’18
school record for most saves
graduated from the Haslam
abroad in Dakar, Senegal. Her
in a single game, breaking the
College of Business at
major is child psychology and
Josephine Bass ’18
previous ten-year old record,
University of Tennessee
Africana studies with a minor
graduated Magna Cum
and also set new program
Knoxville.
in Spanish.
Laude from the University
records for most saves in a
of Richmond with a B.A. in
single season and average
Jackson Jeansonne ’18
Leadership Studies with a
saves per game. She was
graduated from the University
double major in Psychology.
named the Southern Athletic
of Texas with a degree in
She will be attending graduate
Association’s Defensive Player
Management at McCombs
school at the University of
of the Week three times and
School of Business. He will be
Virginia to pursue a Masters in
was twice named to the All-SAA
staying in Austin, TX working
Counselor Education.
Conference team (2019 and
for Poncho Outdoors.
Keep in touch with your classmates and let them keep up with you. Send your latest news, moves, and photos.
Stop by! We’d love
France to teach ESL to
all four years, setting multiple
elementary school kids as a TA
program records during her
for TAPIF during the upcoming school year.
2022.) She is coaching travel
Asia Charles ’18 graduated
lacrosse and teaching preschool
Liza Sweeting ’18 graduated
from the University of
in Nashville and working
Magna Cum Laude from
Tennessee, Knoxville with a
towards becoming a Strength
Sewanee with a Bachelors
B.S. in Mathematics. She will
and Conditioning Coach.
of Science in Psychology
be joining the Logo Brands
and Education. She will
Frances Garrard ’18
be pursuing a Masters of
graduated from Vanderbilt
Education at Vanderbilt
Lola Duff ’18 graduated
University with majors in Child
University in Quantitative
from Centre College with a
Development and Medicine
Methods and teaching pilates
B.A. majoring in Anthropology
Health & Society. Next, she will
at Marathon Pilates in 12
and Sociology with a minor
be attending NYU for a masters
South.
in Education. She played for
in Mental Health Counseling.
team working in Data Analytics.
at MTSU, going into her senior year. She is studying
Send us your news!
to have you back on campus sharing your passions and professions. Whether it’s for assembly, an individual class, or anything in between, contact the alumni office to discuss.
Contact: alumni@ensworth.com
the Women’s Lacrosse team
DALE Harper Dale ‘22 Tiffany Gaston Dale ‘91 • Jackson Dale ‘91
HULL Edward Hull ‘22 Jody Bainbridge Hull ‘87
JOHNSON Stephen Johnson ‘22 Heather Johnson ‘79
2022 SUMMER | 67
ALUMNI
Ensworth Alumni
C LAS S NOT E S
Whitney Haley Kalb ’01
Anne Walker Harrison ’02
Jamie Allsmiller ’10
Tyler Sinks ’13
Margaret Anne Moore Byerly ’08
Lola Duff ’18
Kaelene DeCoster ’16
Kaelene DeCoster ’16
Kathleen Riley ’09
Gentry Hopkins ’18, Lowery Nickels ’18, Ian MacDonald ’18
Ashley Slay Glotta ’14
John Roland Burch III ’03
Caroline Deaton ’12
Morgan Ogilvie ’95
JaTorria Lee ’19
Lauren Cummings ’11
Asia Charles ’18
Continuing the Ensworth Tradition
SENIORS WITH ALUMNI PARENTS 68 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
MASON Adelaide Mason ‘22 Steven Mason ‘82
M C GEHEE Claire McGehee ‘22 Bartley McGehee ‘89
SIFFORD Claiborne Sifford ‘22 Dorothy Barfield Sifford ‘86
ALUMNI
Class of 2012 & Class of 2017 Reunions MAY 7 , 2 0 2 2 • 6 T H & PE AB ODY
ENSWORTH
Homecoming Save the Date!
F R I DAY, S E P T E M BE R 2 3
ALL-COMMUNITY TAILGATE 5:30–7:00 pm Dinner on the baseball field with live music
FOOTBALL GAME
7:00 pm Ensworth vs. St. Benedict
Class of 2008, 2013, and 2018 reunions will be held on May 6, 2023. More information coming soon!
WHELISS Nora Wheliss ‘22 Shelby Bailey ‘85
WILT Marshall Wilt ‘22 Fleming Wilt ‘83
WILT Toby Wilt ‘22 T.J. Wilt ‘91
2022 SUMMER | 69
ACADEMICS FACULTY
A Tribute to:
David Braemer Head of School 2012–2022 This spring, Ensworth celebrated the leadership and legacy of David Braemer, who served as Ensworth’s seventh Head of School from 2012-2022. Special assemblies were held on both campuses to honor Mr.Braemer, as well as an evening reception that included board members, past and present parents and faculty, alumni, grandparents, and friends. The Ensworth community came together to raise $226,515 for The Braemer Family Fund, which will provide financial aid for children of faculty and staff. Thank you, Mr. Braemer!
Read more about David Braemer (From Ensights Winter 2022) 70 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
With gratitude... Your gifts during the 2021-2022 school year directly impacted our students and touched all aspects of the Ensworth experience. Your dedication to upholding Ensworth’s mission is the foundation of our success, and we are grateful for your partnership and support.
$4.3
1,594
million
Total N u m b e r of D o n o rs
$1,913,495 Special Gifts, Capital, Endowment Total
$2,424,109
O v e rall Giv ing (all fund s)
G e ne ral O p e rating / Bud get Relie v ing Total
196
276
Total numbe r of ne w d onors
Numbe r of d onors wh o h a v e g iv e n consecutiv ely fo r 10+ years
THE ENSWORTH FUND:
$1.7 million
E nsw orth Fu nd Total
337
$1,162,858 Amount contributed from Current Parents
Your generosity ensures our
Total Numbe r of Alumni D onors
1,183
68
Total N u m b e r of Young Alum n i D o n o rs (2008 – 20 21 )
Tigers benefit from all Ensworth has to offer.
Congratulations to the Class of 2009 and Team Orange for winning the Alumni Giving Challenges! Our 2021-2022 Report of Giving can be found online at:
e n s w o r t h .c o m /a n n u a l - r e p o r t
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
Nashville, TN Permit No. 2630
Ensworth School 211 ENSWORTH PLACE NASHVILLE, TN 37205-1997
2022
CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2022!
