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 of integrity, and to be contributors to society.
ENSWORTH MISSION 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.
ENSWORTH VISION STATEMENT
A letter from the Head of School
School years have cycles and seasons, and as time passes in the life of a school, patterns and themes emerge. The end of the year and the acceleration toward closing exercises and graduation are some of our most memorable moments. These are times when I love watching our students complete their journeys, having found their place at Ensworth and beyond.
In this edition of Ensights, we celebrate the members of the Class of 2024 for their leadership and accomplishments. Our Capstone Scholars and Service Scholars continue to raise the bar in academic research and service learning, and many senior athletes and artists are continuing their careers at the collegiate level. More than any accomplishment, though, I am proud of this year's graduating class for the positive and lasting impact on our school community. I look forward to seeing all this group will accomplish in the coming year's adventures.
This issue of the magazine also shares stories of Ensworth Tigers, who have made valuable, behind-the-scenes contributions to our arts and athletics programs. These
spotlights exemplify Ensworth's commitment to helping students discover their strengths, maximize their talents, and find their place.
I hope you enjoy this edition of Ensights and feel the same pride I do when you read about the incredible work that our students and alumni are doing across disciplines. I've loved having my own children in the midst of a community that loves them well and pushes them to grow and develop. Even in the summer months when they are away from school, Ensworth's influence on them is clear.
We look forward to seeing you soon and are overjoyed that you continue to find your place here.
Once a Tiger, always a Tiger!
Prentice Stabler
2024–2025
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Brock Kidd
President
Jim Bowen '90
Vice President
Alex Ryerson
Treasurer
Gerard Bullock
Secretary
John Jacobson
Legal Counsel
Inman Trustees
Bruce Moore
Rob McCabe
Jennifer Frist
Kathryn Brown
Daphne Butler
Raja Clark
Julie Dretler '95
Shervin Eftekhari
Amanda Farnsworth
Harrison Frist '98
Frank Gordon '77
Kailey Hand
Emily Kurtz
Deb McDermott
Don Orr
Tree Paine
Neal Patel
Yvonne Ralsky
Rebecca Shah
Louis Upkins
Stephaine Walker
Ex-Officios
Prentice Stabler, Head of School
Roochita Mathur, President, Ensworth Parent Association
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Prentice Stabler Head of School
Rebekah Armstrong Director of Enrollment Management
Heather Caponi
Associate Head of School
Angela Claxton Director of Marketing and Communications
Nowell Hesse Head of High School
Doug Magee Head of Middle School
Jason Maxwell Director of Athletics
Bobby Mirzaie Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Kerry Ann Masoner Head of Lower School
Beth Pollard Chief Financial Officer
David Whitfield Director of Community Engagement & Inclusion
06 | FEATURE CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2024
Stephanie Gounder, President-Elect, Ensworth Parent Association
Margaret Anne Byerly '08, Chair, National Advisory Council
TABLE OF
ENSIGHTS
Copyrighted 2024 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.
EDITOR
Angela Claxton
EDITORIAL STAFF
Michelle Andrade
DESIGN
Angela Claxton, Mary Byrne Dailey
PHOTOGRAPHY
Renee Allen, Michelle Andrade, John Bloom, Angela Claxton, Mary Byrne Dailey, Paul Downey, Tim Jones, Mike Strasinger, Daniel White
ON THE COVER
Camilla Garza, Class of 2024
Graduation
Celebrating the CLASS OF 2024
Ensworth Class of 2024
Kennedy Hope Aderogba
Lauren Blair Alexander
Bridget Leigh Bailey
Laura Frances Beaird
Laela Jasmin
Benchekroun Clark
Lola Grace Bird
Campbell Austin Bodzy
Watts Werkineh Bond
Emerson Grace Bone
Antonella Boschi Asbun
Kathleen Virginia Bottorff
Sullivan Harkness Brown
Lila Jane Butler
Hayden Fisher
Sullivan Caldwell
Taylor M. Campbell
Mary Leland Champion
Savannah Rhea Cherry
Corinne Jean Chidsey
William Won Joon Chung
Ruth Ann Clements
Connor Monroe Cobb
Braden Paul Cooke
Townes Duncan Coppeans
Alexandra Buchanan Crews
Mason Copley Curtis
Albert Jackson Dale V
Peter Wise Darst II
Addelyn Joanne DeCoster
Estelle Andrea
Karolina Denker
Lana Camille Dismukes
Elle Mathea Evans
Sarah Katherine Faber
John Timothy Fleming
Reese Whitman Fogaros
Brian Peter Fong
Charles Joseph Gaither
William Mason Garner
Camilla Marguerite Garza
Dean Jae Goodman
Claire Ellen Gracey
Maeby Jane Greatens
Addison Virginia Hartle
Grace Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Simon Bennett Heeren
Lucas Matteo Herring
Hunter Olivia Hitchens
Isabella Beatriz Hodes
Maximilian Holtzclaw
Rowan Spencer Honeybone
Madisyn Michelle Hughes
Margaret Saunders Hull
Avrey Theresa Hunt
Nicolas Jon Hyche
Owen Thomas Jackoboice
Tanner Louise James
Noelle Alexandria Jamison
James Stutzner Johnson
Jay W Johnson
Sean Nelson Johnson
Cooper Landon Jones
Alexis Settler Kappelman
Caroline Grace Kirkby
Theodor Robert Koehner II
Colin Marcus Krupp
Grace Elizabeth Lane
Renee Rooker Lawton
Jackson Robert Leininger
Henry Muir Leschen
Natalie Marie Linn
Ella Geneva Lucas
Chloe Elise Lucy
Spenser Jameson
Malenovsky
Abigail Christine Martin
Julia Martini Mason
Cooper James Materazzi
Lee Steven Mattoon
Katherine Paige McGehee
Quintin Alexander Miles
Juniper Victoria Mixon
Julia Jensen Moore
Zaidyn Moore
Blythe Lovvorn Needham
Estelle Marie Newell
Gabriel DeLuca Nizzardo
Chokash Nanaiya
Owns Different Horses
Juliana Shyla Peak
Harrison James Phillips
Mary Genevieve Philpott
Lola Elizabeth Price
Dean Miles Ralsky
William Spencer Rice
Kenzie Marina Robbins
Nathaniel Boone Sadler
Tatum Elizabeth Saunders
Eli Edward Schuh
Hailey Jane Scott
Jaren Gregory Sensabaugh
Grier Headrick Short
Stanhope Alexander Sifford III
Benjamin Phillip Sonkin
Greta Marie Sonnenschein
Noah Clay Sparrow
Cates Anne Armour Spitzer
Connor James Stewart
Sydney Alexandra Strnad
Jayden Willow Surratt
Akshay Karthik Venkatesh
Varun Krishna Venkatesh
Emerson Elise VonColln
Anderson Paul Waller
Grant Steven Watts
Alara Sophia Weitkamp
Declan Bailey Werthan
Nolan Miles White
Meredith Malyn Whitson
Caroline Alexa Williams
Elizabeth Grace Williams
Hudson Cannon Wilt
Riley Fontaine Woolwine
Howell Alexander Wright
Spencer Rowan Yu
SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT
GRADUATION SPEAKERS
NOELLE JAMISON
Chosen by the Senior Class
LANDON JONES
Student Government President
"I was blessed to have Mr. Miller as my freshman year advisor, and he played a major role in my development as a young man. I would consider myself a polite, honest, and respectful freshmen, but everybody at that age has a lack of maturity. I never would have had the courage to be a Class Senator, let alone speak at graduation as Student Body President. Mr. Miller saw a leader and he helped me find my confidence to speak in public. Mr. Miller, I will always remember the way you shaped and prepared me for the next chapter of my life."
HONORING THE CLASS OF 2024
An Excerpt from Noelle Jamison's Graduation Speech
I am overjoyed and honored to be chosen to speak on behalf of the Class of 2024. Today, I'd like to talk about seeds. Yes, seeds. You may be wondering, "Well Noelle, what exactly do you plan to tell us about seeds that we don't already know?”
Don't worry, I'm not going to talk to you about trees or those little pea-plant hybrid things we learned about in biology. No, today, I'd like to talk about the seeds in our lives.
A seed is a small thing, but with the right food, water, soil, and sunlight, it can grow into something great. Similarly, the seeds in our lives are tended to by the words we hear, the people we surround ourselves with, and the things we give our time to. Ghandi said, "We but mirror the world... If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do." As we step onto new campuses next year, I'd like to offer a few of my hopes for how the Class of 2024 can make the world a more positive place.
First, I hope you shine your positive light on others with true kindness and a good heart. I hope you are a passionate person—a person of truth. Someone who is loyal, and someone who looks for the good in others. I hope that you are the person other people flock to and want to be around when they've had a bad day and need a positive light. And if you can shine your light bright enough for long enough, you will attract other positive lights. Be the person who sows seeds of positivity into others, and you will reap what you sow.
Second, I hope you watch your mouth. Yes, I said it. Watch your mouth. Actions are important and they are observable, but words are direct. There is so much power in our words. While not visible to the human eye, words can cause hurt and wounds that fester and spawn seeds of negativity. Today, I want to encourage you to speak life to others and to yourself.
My third hope is for you to take care of yourself. Because we often focus on loving others and doing right by them, we forget to first look within ourselves and plant our own positive seeds of self-love and worth. Many of us have been at Ensworth for a long time. Even for those who started as freshmen or later, we have become used to the care and support of the Ensworth community. It is easy to plant good seeds while surrounded by the love and care of our classmates, teachers, coaches, and parents.
I hope you find people who continue to plant seeds of love within you, people who care for you, and people who encourage you to love yourself and be your best self. Every single one of you is important. You each have a purpose. It is up to you what type of fruit you produce to fulfill your purpose. Goodness starts within. We must first love ourselves before we can truly love others and reap good fruit.
To the class of 2024, each one of you has planted many beautiful seeds in my life that I will forever cherish. It has been an honor and privilege to be your friend.
I love you all. ■
CAMILLA GARZA
Chosen by the Senior Class
"Take time to enjoy the journey, not the reward. When I look back on all Ensworth has given me, it’s not state championships or awards or good grades or a great education—it’s those stomach-clutching laughing moments during lunch, the bodypaint covered dinners after big games, and every moment in between. Carry each memory with you and allow it to impact your life where you are. Never leave any dream for the future, but pursue what you love right now."
DEAN RALSKY
Senior Class Speaker
"Here we are, gathered in victory formation, with the crowd cheering us on, surrounded by our teammates, coaches, and fans who got us here. The future is wide open—take that diploma and run with it all the way to the endzone, my friends. This team is stacked with talent and potential, and it’s time for us to take on the world."
Arizona State University (Tempe)
Auburn University
Baylor University
Belmont University
Case Western Reserve University
Coastal Carolina University
Columbia State Community College
Connecticut College
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
Duke University
Elon University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Emory University
Flagler College
George Washington University
High Point University
Lee University
Loyola University Maryland
Methodist University
Motlow State Community College
New York University
Penn State University
Presbyterian College
Rhodes College
Richmond American University London
Saint Louis University
Samford University
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Sewanee: The University of the South
Southern Methodist University
Stevens Institute of Technology
Texas Christian University
Tulane University
University of Arizona
University of Denver
University of Georgia
University of Kentucky
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Mississippi
University of Missouri
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
University of Pittsburgh
University of Southern California
University of Tennessee (Chattanooga)
University of Tennessee (Knoxville)
University of Tulsa
University of Virginia
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
Wake Forest University
Washington and Lee University
Washington University in St. Louis
Williams College
Wofford College
CLASS OF 2024 COLLEGE MATRICULATIONS
Capstone Scholars
WRITTEN BY JENNIFER ISHEE, Capstone Director
The Capstone program draws on our mission by encouraging students "to be intellectually curious" and "to use their talents to the fullest" by going above and beyond the wealth of electives and AP courses offered. The program gives students who have excelled in all the upper-level courses in a specific academic area the opportunity to continue their learning in this area. Students design and complete an in-depth student-driven project for academic credit under the mentorship of a faculty sponsor. While all projects include a research component, projects range anywhere from science labs to creative writing. They may merge two disciplines, allowing students to synthesize concepts across different academic areas. In addition, students often partner with experts in the local community, including Vanderbilt University.
The Capstone process begins junior year, when students discuss their idea with the Capstone Director, choose a faculty member as a sponsor, and then write a formal proposal for consideration. If approved, students complete their independent project during their senior year. All projects culminate with a final artifact and a formal presentation for the Ensworth community, giving students the space to share their experience and knowledge while inspiring future Capstone Scholars.
Ensworth has a long tradition of Capstone projects in various areas, and many former Capstone Scholars have left a legacy. Most recently, Helen Thompson '23 detailed a cell culturing protocol that
CAPSTONE SPOTLIGHT
ESTELLE DENKER '24
Compared the Protein Expression Between Fibroblast Sarcoma Cells and Normal Cells
laid the foundation for current cell culturing projects. Jonathan Smith '22 built a functional wind tunnel, which spans 12 feet in length, stands over 5 feet tall, and proudly resides in the new tech space on Frist Campus. Sally Seitz '13 returned to Ensworth six years after her playwriting Capstone project to work closely with students on a second production of her original play. These examples show how Capstone projects are more than culminating experiences—they form an essential and inspiring series of grand stepping stones for continued learning and growth for the Capstone Scholar and the Ensworth community. ■
"Working with Estelle executing and further refining our cell culture protocols has been a true pleasure. I could not have hoped for a more intelligent, hardworking, prepared student. She has really been at this project for a year and a half as she started contributing in the lab second semester of last year. The dividends have been twofold. One is we now have fibroblasts, developing the correct morphology. She kept the culture alive for multiple weeks, free of contamination. Second, Estelle successfully incorporated protein product analysis to our project capabilities. I’m excited she had this opportunity to showcase her work and I can’t wait to hear what science(s) she pursues in her future studies. She has a bright future ahead of her in this discipline."
- CHRIS THOMPSONHigh School Science Faculty & Capstone Sponsor
CLASS OF 2024 Capstone Scholars
Alex Crews
“Women Behind the Wheels: The Ever-Growing Role of Women in Motorsports”
Dean Goodman
“Creating a Concept Album”
Blythe Needham
“Developing a Choreographic Voice”
Estelle
Denker
"Comparing the Protein Expression Between Fibroblast Sarcoma Cells and Normal Cells"
Claire Gracey
“Analysis and Recommendations on U.S. Tariffs of Goods in Four Industry Sectors”
Gennie Philpott
“Writing a Feature-Length Play”
Camilla Garza
“Guerrera: The Story of Immigration through the Eyes of Latin American Immigrants”
Owen Jackoboice
"Study in Choral Composition and Arranging"
Alara Weitkamp
“Testing the Effects of Heat Shock to Cardiomyocytes with and without the Hikeshi V54L Mutation”
Class of 2024 & Presentations
Better Together: Collaboration at its Finest
"Ensworth values service and has incorporated it into the core curriculum for decades.
From as early as Kindergarten, students have opportunities to engage with service projects and enhance their relationships with community partners. By the time students reach their senior year, completing a student-designed individual service project is required for graduation. Many students exceed these expectations and earn the distinction of Service Scholars."
- Mary Catherine Bradshaw, Service Scholars Coordinator
As a graduation requirement, each Ensworth senior is required to design and complete a project and present insights about their experience. Some seniors choose to go beyond the minimum requirements and become Service Scholars by completing a research essay, a reflection essay, additional service hours, and a presentation. Several Service Scholars in this year's senior class chose to go one step further by publishing one or both of the essays based on their work with a variety of nonprofits. Service Scholars experience the challenges and rewards of designing and completing a purely independent project outside of any specific Ensworth class.
Service Scholar Meets Long-Standing Partner Harris-Hillman School
Claire Gracey and Chloe Lucy partnered with HarrisHillman School for their Service Project. Ensworth's service connection with HarrisHillman has existed since the late 90s. Over the years, our Grade 4 students have partnered with the school on annual projects, but seniors have yet to do their projects with them. That changed this year when Claire and Chloe's project expanded this long-standing relationship with Ensworth's Lower School. The effort has not only enhanced the student experience at Ensworth, but our students have had the chance to improve the lives of countless students and teachers at this local school that serves students ages 3–22 with multiple disabilities. When the girls realized they both wanted a similar service partner, it became clear that a co-partnership would be a viable option, and they decided to establish The Buddies of Harris-Hillman Club.
Service Scholars
Kennedy Aderogba Franklin First United Methodist Church Giving Garden
Bridget Bailey Ensworth Dance Marathon
Campbell Bodzy MOVE Inclusive Dance
Taylor Campbell Backfield in Motion
Leland Champion Amistad Mission
Savannah Cherry The First Tee
Duncan Coppeans Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
A.J. Dale American Red Cross
Addie DeCoster Abe’s Garden
Estelle Denker Abe's Garden Community
Lana Dismukes E.L.I.'s House
Camilla Garza Preston Taylor Ministries
Claire Gracey Harris-Hillman School
Addison Hartle Faithfully Restored
Béla Hodes National Museum of African American Music
PUBLISHED
SERVICE SCHOLARS
Madisyn Hughes Tearing Down The Walls
Saunders Hull Barefoot Republic
Tanner James Faithfully Restored Noelle Jamison Tearing Down the Walls
Renee Lawton Saddle Up!
Natalie Linn Calvary United Methodist Church
Ella Lucas The Community Resource Center
Cooper Materazzi Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
Shyla Peak Crossroads Pets
Harry Phillips The Heimerdinger Foundation
Tatum Saunders Preston Taylor Ministries
Cates Spitzer Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
Alara Weitkamp Williamson Medical Center
Meredith Whitson The Battle of Nashville Trust
Scan this QR code to read the published 2024 Service Scholars Research and Reflections:
Beginning in Grade 4, Claire Gracey was introduced to Harris-Hillman School. Harris-Hillman has been a part of the High School's Special Olympics over the years, but Ensworth did not have a direct, formal relationship with this service partner. When asked how they chose to work with this particular partner, Claire referenced her experience in Grade 4 and encouragement from Betsy Thomas, Director of Service Learning. Chloe's mother was an occupational therapist when she was younger, surrounding her from a young age with children with disabilities. "I have just always been in that environment," Chloe shares. Establishing the club also allowed the girls to empower other High School students to participate with Harris-Hillman.
Claire collaborated and worked with Chloe, as both girls wanted to work with children with disabilities. This was a unique opportunity for the girls and Harris-Hillman. Claire said, "Multiple students will do things at the same organization, but it's mostly individualized."
Chole shared, "When it came time to [choose our service project], I did not know what to do, and then Claire said, 'We should do it together!'" The collaboration and partnership took off, and they performed their required hours together every step of the way. The girls began by
meeting with Grade 4 students and learning about their experiences with Harris-Hillman. Then, they collaborated with Harris-Hillman to work directly with students, visiting and building projects on campus. Logistics with Harris-Hillman School can often be challenging, as students are in school, and Ensworth's designated Service Days do not always align with Harris-Hillman's schedule, but Claire and Chloe worked through it.
Claire chose to pursue the distinction of Service Scholar, publishing her research findings and reflections as shared on the next page.
WRITTEN BY MICHELLE ANDRADE, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
Top left photo: Claire Gracey in Grade 4, ice skating with Harris-Hillman students.
Working with Harris-Hillman and Special Olympics Unified Champion School, I've had the opportunity to make lasting connections with the kids we worked with and Ensworth students. This past year, we accomplished three main tasks: created a bond within the Ensworth community, created a relationship with Harris-Hillman students and staff, and learned the value of collaboration and cooperation. When forming the club to work with Harris-Hillman on service days and extra fundraising, there were plenty of Ensworth students ready to help.
Even when the leaders were uncertain about what the plans were or where we needed to be, our club members always did an amazing job jumping in where help was needed and bringing joy to all of the kids. This allowed many people in different grades to get to know each other and work together to form a bond over The Buddies of Harris-Hillman Club. This group of people taught me the importance of helping out even when you're not asked and forming relationships with new people.
been more helpful and ready to work together. Additionally, the kids of the school were an amazing part of our work. Their happy attitudes and excitement when our high schoolers showed up really helped me realize how important showing up for your community is and the importance of small events like bowling or playing outside.
Our time with Harris-Hillman and Special Olympics Unified Champion School taught me to collaborate well while being cooperative. Being the first students from the High School to work with Harris-Hillman, there were definitely some challenges when organizing events and making sure all planning was taken care of on time. Ms. Thomas and our contacts at Harris-Hillman always reassured us that we were doing the right thing and were always there for us when we were uncertain. This collaboration taught me that it's okay to not entirely know what you're doing as long as you're okay with asking questions and putting yourself out there. I'm thankful that we were able to create a relationship between Ensworth and Harris-Hillman that we can pass down to future Ensworth seniors.
Additionally, Chloe and I had the opportunity to talk to the Ensworth Grade 4 students about Harris-Hillman before their first visit with the school, providing us another opportunity to bond with the Ensworth community. Then, we had the opportunity to create a strong relationship with all members of Harris-Hillman. We felt that Ensworth lacked a relationship with an organization like Harris-Hillman, so when we approached the school about possibly working together, the staff couldn't have
I'm glad I was able to work with Ensworth students and teachers who were always there to help and be supportive.
I'm thankful for the kids of Harris-Hillman, who taught me that having fun and enjoying time with those around you, no matter the circumstances, is important for everyone.
I'm glad I was able to work with two great schools, and I can't wait to see what happens next year for The Buddies of Harris-Hillman Club and the two schools!
CLAIRE GRACEY'S SERVICE SCHOLAR REFLECTION
EMPOWERING YOUNG MINDS
THE STUD ENT JOURNEY THROUGH INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING
WRITTEN BY CAITLIN HARRIS, Red Gables Interdisciplinary Coordinator and Director of Lower School Languages
Ensworth aims to equip students with a deep understanding of the world, fostering multiple perspectives, connections, and inquiry. A flourishing program of interdisciplinary units helps our students do just that. Interdisciplinary learning happens when teachers from multiple disciplines combine learning to magnify connections and encourage new ways of thinking about ideas and issues. Students engage deeply, benefiting from diverse interactions with peers, faculty, and the wider community. Faculty dedication to curricular planning and alignment with grade-level goals ensures fruitful outcomes, with students demonstrating pride in their accomplishments.
INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING »
Interdisciplinary learning is collaborative by nature. The relationships between students, students and faculty, and faculty and their colleagues are where the magic truly happens. We learn from one another's experiences and talents as content knowledge grows. The wider Ensworth community becomes teachers as they share information and personal ties to the curriculum. Through this shared exploration, students grow as learners and citizens as they connect to resources in the Nashville community, the nation, and the world that expand horizons.
This article will highlight our largest multidisciplinary units; however, smaller interdisciplinary connections in the curriculum are made throughout the year. Each unit is unique in aspects such as duration, delivery, level of collaboration, and how students share their knowledge with the community.
KINDERGARTEN
HOME UNIT »
In Kindergarten, students engage in an interdisciplinary unit centered on their Habitat for Humanity service learning. Students seek to answer questions such as: What makes a house a home? Why do we need homes, and how are they designed? How do homes differ globally? What is a habitat, and how do they differ? In homerooms, students learn about where they live and their roles at home, in their classroom, in school, and in larger communities. In Science and homerooms, students discuss and explore habitats for animals and plants. Students engage in classwork and creative writing related to the topic. In Art, Music, Library, World Language, and the iLab, students investigate "home" themes and share their perspectives through individual and group work and creative projects. Our Kindergarten students collect money for Habitat for Humanity, which extends into learning math and counting coins. The project culminates in a home-themed concert and presentation.
Faculty Interdisciplinary Team: Cricket Alexander (K), Andrew Bond (Science), Caroline Corley (K), Leslea Gaines (Library), Sukey Johnson (K), Grace Palmer (Music), Terri Schulz (iLab), Caroline Schoen (K), Kathryn Swords (Art), Monica Tobaldo (Spanish), Jennifer Toppins (Chinese), Caitlin Harris, Bobby Mirzaie, Kristian Noden
GRADES 1 & 2
THE ROOTS AND STREAMS OF
JAZZ »
Grades 1 and 2 students explore jazz music, worldchanging musicians, and the power of inspiration and influence through a two-year unit, The Roots and Streams of Jazz. The unit, created in conjunction with Nashville's National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), integrates local resources offered by NMAAM, The Frist Museum, the National Jazz Workshop, Nashville Puppet Truck, Jefferson Street Sound Museum, and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Ensworth community resources also provide our students with further experiential learning. Homeroom lessons expose students to the influence of jazz and jazz artists and the study of Civil Rights. Students study jazz fundamentals, musicians, and instruments in Music. Spanish classes explore Latin jazz and icons like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente. At the same time, our young artists create stunning visual art inspired by Romare Bearden and Alma Thomas, as well as methods inspired by jazz and the revolutionary and creative jazz era. Students develop literacy skills by studying non-fiction books and biographies related to jazz in Library and dance in PE while developing agility, stamina, and coordination. iLab incorporates jazz exploration through technology. The unit culminates with a musical performance and presentation of learning. Jazz resonates with our students!
Our Grade 3 students recently completed the fifth annual Mosaic unit. Through Mosaic, students examine traditional arts and literature to develop a deeper understanding of Chinese cultural elements. Students are exposed to folktales from around the world, the elements of a story, the rich Chinese language, and China's cultural and artistic traditions. In Chinese, students focus on the sequencing and retelling of a traditional folktale using Chinese. In Library, students compare and contrast multicultural folktales and develop cultural literacy by investigating varied cultural influences. In Art, students create beautiful shan shui hua (山水画) landscape paintings using the elements found in this traditional genre, finishing it off with a "chop" stamp and characters. Students learn to sing traditional songs in Chinese using the pentatonic scale while accompanying the songs with Orff and percussion instruments. PE supports Chinese character learning by incorporating words into games. For the culminating project, students create a stop-motion animation retelling of the traditional story learned in Chinese class in iLab, combining their study of literature, musical orchestration, art, and Chinese to share with the Ensworth community.
Faculty Interdisciplinary Team: Evie Coates (Art), Leslea Gaines (Library), Grace Palmer (Music), Terri Schulz (iLab), Jennifer Toppins (Chinese), PE Faculty, Caitlin Harris, Bobby Mirzaie, Kristian Noden
GRADE 4 FROM HUMBLE ROOTS TO SEQUINED SUITS »
A longstanding Grade 4 language arts unit centered on songwriting and the pioneers of country western music inspired a new cross-curricular collaboration, From Humble Roots to Sequined Suits. We are located in Music City, after all! The Grade 4 language arts unit was created in partnership with the Country Music Hall of Fame (CMHOF) Words and Music program. Students compose their own lyrics after learning about aspects of songwriting including parts of a song, mood, theme, and rhyme scheme. Professional songwriters from the CMHOF then select student-written songs to put to music. This year, Choir, Library, Art, and PE created a curriculum to support and deepen students' understanding of the country western music history and traditions and Nashville's connection to the growth of country music. Students explored CMHOF biographies and genres, learned line dance and square dance, and created art on upcycled vinyl to illustrate the "story" of their song. In Choir, students explored the instruments, music, and musicians that create country music's signature sound. Students practiced performance skills and melodic and rhythmic notation as they sang and accompanied themselves on the ukulele. The concert was a toe-tappin' good time! It will be exciting to watch this unit expand and evolve in the years to come.
2024 Faculty Interdisciplinary Team: Lisa Benton (Choir), Chris Champion (Grade 4), Whitney Earhart (Grade 4), Kathryn Swords (Art), Sydne Richardson (Grade 4), Debbie Sandwith (Library), Katie Wickes (Grade 4), PE Faculty, Caitlin Harris, Jim Aveni (Arts), Bobby Mirzaie, Kristian Noden
GRADE 7 MEMORY PROJECT »
Grade 7 students study memory, examining the subject through the lens of science and how memory relates to history, literature, and technology. Students investigate the emotional aspects of memory and its impact through interviews, personal connections, and community service. During this unit, students learn how memories connect to their lives and those around them. Memory illuminates the past and creates a lens through which to view and comprehend the present and future.
"Memory illuminates the past and creates a lens through which to view and comprehend the present and future."
The unit begins with a student-led interview with a grandparent or older loved one about a meaningful memory or experience. The interview is the basis for creative writing and literature study in English, discussion of primary sources in History, memory and music in Band, and an assemblage style memory box in Art. In Science, students explore memory and the brain and investigate the science of memory loss. In Technology class, students learn about computer variables and memory as they relate to the essential functions of a computer. Students delve into memory-making as part of their own story in life class. The unit culminates with two unique experiences. First, students visit a memory care facility and engage with residents. Finally, students invite grandparents, friends, and family members to a special reception where they share their creative work and learning process. The keepsake memory boxes and creative writing are lovely and genuinely "memorable!" ■
2024 Faculty Interdisciplinary Team (Grade 7): Ruby Cortner (History), James Douglas (English), Carolyn Henry (Science), Matt Hollowell (Tech), Maurice Hopkins (History), Jenny Lenz (English), Jennifer McGee (Life), Logan O'Connor (Art), Emily Pearson (History), Ellen Reynolds (Life), Whitney Ruf (English), Betsy Thomas (Director of Service Learning), Tim Wallace (Art), Stephanie Ward (Science), Meredith Warren (Band), Phillip Wilson (Science), Caitlin Harris, Doug Magee, Ellen Ives
The High School Model United Nations Club, led by Ensworth faculty David Chanaca and Cecilia Wang, participated in their second conference of the year, this time in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee, bringing more students and racking up a record number of honors. The Volunteer Model UN Conference, now in its ninth year, brings hundreds of high school students from around the region. Twenty-six Ensworth students attended, with an astounding seven receiving individual awards. The team won the Outstanding Large Delegation award for the first time in club history.
"Growing up, my father was vocal that I should join Model UN as he had in his youth. It showed him his gift for networking, which is now a big part of his professional life. I was the first to sign up at the club fair during my freshman year. The Model UN conferences are the highlight of the club, but they also require preparation. Before the conference, a delegate must read the background guide, study current information for their country, and write a position paper about their country's point of view on their committee's specific topic. Once the conference begins, all the preparation pays off. Delegates have to find their objectives, pick sides, and write and pass directives, gaining a deeper understanding of global problems through teamwork and problem-solving.
Model UN has framed my outlook on global issues and my responsibility as a world citizen to help improve the world as much as possible. Participating in the discussion forces me to articulate my stance on the topic at hand. In committees, delegates are shown the world's problems and have to think about the best solutions for unity and peace.
Ensworth participates in these eye-opening conferences with the leadership of Ms. Wang and Mr. Chanaca. They planned Ensworth's involvement in these conferences and helped me earn Best Delegate at the Vanderbilt conference and Honorable Delegate at the UT conference. During all the conferences, Ms. Wang provides constant feedback and advice to help everyone succeed. She guides me in making alliances with fellow delegates representing other nations with similar ideals. Together, we can often pass directives that benefit our collective peoples. Better yet, delegates get free time to explore the cities and venture out with friends for lunch.
Model UN provides experiential learning. It shapes who I am and how I deal with everyday problems. I encourage others to try it to expand their own knowledge of worldwide issues/problems, build communication skills, and have fun while doing it."
Mya Jones '26
Awarded Best Delegate at Vanderbilt
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE MODEL UN CONFERENCE AWARDS
Estelle Denker '24 Honorable Delegate
Sutton Korn '27 Verbal Commendation
Isla Oliviero '25 Verbal Commendation
Mya Jones '26 Honorable Delegate (PICTURED)
Mia McDermott '26 Verbal Commendation
Harper Jacobs '25, Colin Spitzer '26
Stephano Boschi Asbun '26
Marin Kurita '27 Verbal Commendation
Thao Le '27 Honorable Delegate
Student Leadership & News
FOR THE RECORD
FOUR-BAR PIN AWARDS
Bar pins are 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 students who earned Optime Merens for every semester all four years, earn four-bar pins. Optime Merens recognizes students with a GPA of at least 90 in all their academic courses in a semester. A full list of this year's bar pin award winners can be found using the QR code on this page. Congratulations to the following seniors earning four-bar pins:
Bridget Bailey
Laura Frances Beaird
Emerson Bone
Antonella Boschi Asbun
Sullivan Brown
Lila Butler
Savannah Cherry
Laela Clark
Alex Crews
AJ Dale
Addie DeCoster
Sarah Kate Faber
Reese Fogaros
Camilla Garza
Claire Gracey
Addison Hartle
COLLEGE BOOK AWARDS
Rowan Honeybone
Tanner James
Lexie Kappelman
Gracie Lane
Natalie Linn
Abby Martin
Julia Mason
Cooper Materazzi
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: Brian Tierney
The Hollins Book Award: Bayley Bartman
The Princeton Book Award: Robbie Schader
The Vermont Citizen Scholar Book Award: Miles Whitfield
The Rensselaer Medal: Grant Rehm
The Rhodes College Book Award: Anna Claire Damp
The St. Lawrence University Book Award: Harper Jacobs
The Saint Michael's Book Awards: Selin Weitkamp, Lilia Spaventa
Tulane University Book Award: Jana Yassin
The Jefferson Book Award (UVA): Claire Kurtz
The Yale Book Award: Brenna Hanbury
A description of the book awards can be found using the QR code on this page.
Lee Mattoon
Quintin Miles
Julia Moore
Blythe Needham
Harry Phillips
Gennie Philpott
Tatum Saunders
Ben Sonkin
Cates Spitzer
Alara Weitkamp
Declan Werthan
Ellee Williams
Spencer Yu
STUDENT GOVERNMENT LEADERS ELECTED
President: Miles Whitfield
Vice-President: Grace Thompson
Newly elected Class Speakers include:
Class of 2025: Jackson Baldwin
Class of 2026: Gabi Bullock
Class of 2027: Dan McGugin
LEARN MORE!
Additional academic, arts, and athletics awards and school news can be found by scanning the QR code:
HOUSE OF INTEGRITY WINS THE DEVON CUP
From Homecoming to Spirit Week, our Tiger Houses competed in various activities throughout the year. House points were awarded for competitions as themed dress days, Flag Football, Volleyball, Ping Pong, Spike Ball, and even the terrible Tiger Relay Race during the halftime of Homecoming. 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 hous.
The House of Integrity Team Captains: Jayden Surratt and Alexander Sifford
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 eighthgrade year, were presented to:
Mitch Addison
Sarah Beth Gallimore
Tempo Haun
Jasmine Hollowell
Atia Mansouri
Emily McWilliams
Jet O'Rear
Sofia Shah
Zephyr Stapleton
ORANGE TEAM WINS
Congratulations to the Orange Team for winning the longstanding spirited tradition of Black vs. Orange competition. The Orange team was led by captains Charlotte Williamson and Ethan Starling
Orange: 779,534 | Black: 760,551
TIGER HOUSE CAPTAINS
ELECTED FOR 2024-2025
House of Integrity:
Mimi Bowen and Micah Smith
House of Morality:
Sophie Gill and Sam Haley
House of Truth:
Breahn Fisher and Rodger Grant
House of Vitality:
Tess Staelin and Jack Allen
MIDDLE SCHOOL 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:
Mitch Addison
Whit Alexander
Leo Alexopoulos
Salem Bahr
Carlisle Bolton
Haley Bowman
Davis Bryant
John Champion
Clay Chick
Hayes Chinn
Elizabeth Crawford
Sebastian Eveland
Nathan Fletcher
Katie Freeman
Emmersen Fulghum
Sarah Beth Gallimore
Lucy Gichner
Lauren Glenn
Claire Hale
Tempo Haun
Jasmine Hollowell
Harper Hudson
Caroline Kakac
Grant Kinnett
Annie Lane
Atia Mansouri
Emily McWilliams
Maddie Mirzaie
Jet O'Rear
Hines Porterfield
Shep Porterfield
Dashiell Priestley
Sanders Rhodes
Alexander Shah
Sofia Shah
Annie Spencer
Wayland Stapleton
Zephyr Stapleton
Rae Turberfield
arts
ENCORE
Encore is Ensworth’s Contemporary A Capella Ensemble. This dynamic and energetic group explores elements from a wide range of vocal styles, advanced harmonic content and arrangements, and choreographed staging, students come together to create highproduction value performances. Focusing on arrangements in pop, jazz, r&b, blues, funk, and more, students perform challenging and nuanced modern music that is vibrant, detailed, and refined. This spring, the group released two songs on Spotify called "I'm Tired" and "Erase Me." We hope you enjoy hearing these talented students! ■
WRITTEN BY MICHELLE ANDRADE, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
Take a seat. The curtains are drawn. The lights dim.
As a spectator, you are immersed in the experience. All the while, people are behind the curtain, in the sound booth, backstage, and in the control booth with tiny microphones speaking to one another as they prep, check, move, and monitor everything from lights to sound to the set and even the actors themselves. The tech crew of any play or musical holds the threads behind the curtain (sometimes literally) in support of the overall production.
Ensworth's spring musical Footloose had 14 members on the tech crew. The cast worked on the show for two months, while most of the tech crew learned the show and their roles in 13 hours over four days with the help of staff and student leadership. This small group of talented students called 400 lighting cues, 50 set and rigging cues, and 22 projection and special effects cues.
Behind the curtain, working alongside the cast, was a technician running lights, two controlling spotlights, and eight for the run crew, who were responsible for setting and clearing props and set pieces, including rigging, special effects, and curtains. Technicians also got the actors mic'd up into 25 individual microphones.
High School Technical Theater Director Cody Allen describes the process. "If we do our jobs correctly, technicians often go unnoticed—you will never even know we were there. The technicians for Footloose did so much more than just move set pieces. Everyone had a specific role, and everyone's position was pivotal in ensuring everything would move smoothly. From the soundboard to the spotlights, it took the whole team to create magic for the cast and audience alike."
The leaders of the tech crew helped everything happen. Kennedy Aderogba '24, Stage Manager, was the eyes on stage. Natasha Maldonado '25, Backstage Manager, and Alaena Smith '26,
Assistant Backstage Manager, were the eyes backstage. Braxton Gunn '25 was in charge of lights in the tech booth. This group of students led the rest of the team in the final hours of show prep and through three live performances. Cody (or Mr. Beardman, as he is so affectionately called) shares, "Each job is as important as the other, and it takes a tremendous amount of focus and energy to be the shadows behind the scenes."
Working in the dark is a requirement. With the lights down, the tech crew has to know their way around and stay on top of the running of the show. If anyone was off their game for just a moment, another had to pick up the slack. As they say, the show must go on, but this group was in sync, running like a machine for two acts and 22 songs.
Natasha Maldonado '25, Backstage Manager, maintains, "People don't realize how much time it takes because they think that [the actors are] learning their lines and blocking, but [the tech crew is] learning it all at the same time. We know their blocking better than they do. Sometimes, we know their lines better than they do. It's a lot of work and so much fun."
Tech is one of those chances for students to get involved in musicals without having to be center stage, and it offers a unique perspective to students who also participate in performing arts as actors. Braxton is one of the actors who also chose to work behind the scenes on some productions. For this show, he was on lights in
the tech booth. Alaena overheard Kennedy and Natasha discussing the need for another stage manager. Due to other commitments, Alaena opted to try tech instead of auditioning for a role in the musical. She thought, "It might be fun to try something different, and I always thought tech would be interesting," and she learned a lot doing it. "Being on the other side of the curtain was the most humbling experience. I have never done something like this, and it is so different." ■
Tech Crew for Footloose
STAGE MANAGER Kennedy Aderogba
BACKSTAGE MANAGER Natasha Maldonado
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Alena Smith
LIGHTING Braxton Gunn
SPOT OPERATORS Thao Le and Elek Repas
PROPS Veronica Wong
RUN CREW Emerson VonColln, Eliza Baggott, Brian Fong, Lev Humphries, Samuel Howard
COSTUMING Harper Jacobs and Julia Moore
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR/FACULTY SPONSOR Cody Allen
Congrats to our seniors who are pursuing the arts in college
Dean Goodman University of Miami Frost School of Music
Lee Mattoon High Point University
Blythe Needham
VISIBLE brought the entire Ensworth community to Frist Campus for a K–12 visual arts show. Lower and Middle School students showcased their work next to High School art, and the display was as creative as the pieces themselves. Then, High School students presented the Creative Coffee Shop, providing a thorough exploration of their creative processes.
During the 2018-2019 school year, a small group of Ensworth faculty devised an idea to formally show and educate the student body about their peers' visual artwork. The idea, called the Art Walk, allowed all High School students and faculty to view the artwork on
the walls of the Ingram Arts Center. The Art Walk's success has evolved into what we now know as VISIBLE.
VISIBLE, a celebration of the visual arts within the entire K–12 Ensworth community, now includes student artwork from both campuses and all grade levels. The week-long event
showcases artwork from students in the Ingram Arts Center, beginning with the Art Walk and ending with the weekend community night.
This year's VISIBLE exhibit theme, Nature and Sustainability, resonated with all of us. We curated pieces
from K-12 and an alumnus related to nature, each exhibition area pointing to sustaining the land, the seas, and the sky. As part of a service project, volunteer students used recyclable materials to create designs, decorations, and immersive art installations around the building. Each High School student had the opportunity to contribute to interactive pieces during a Service Day, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
The hope is that VISIBLE celebrates the visual arts creatively and thoughtfully each year. The support and positive interaction have been overwhelming, and seeing students proud of their efforts is exciting. Showcasing our talented and dedicated visual arts students has been a pleasure. They spend so much of their time, creativity, and craft in art classes, and it's exciting to have an opportunity to celebrate their hard work. ■
WRITTEN BY JC JOHNSON, Director of Photography & Digital Art
teaching artist
The Artist in Residence Endowment Fund
This semester, our High School students had an amazing time learning from and performing with the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra as part of our Artist in Residence Fund. From masterclasses and workshops to chamber performances and an exclusive community concert, it's been an incredible learning experience for all involved.
Exclusive Concert
The Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra kicked off its residency as our Ensworth Teaching Artists with an exciting evening of music. Our community experienced an incredible new work by Nathan Bieber, a virtuosic duo for violin and double bass by Bottesini, and Holst's timeless masterpiece The Planets. It was a thrilling educational journey we will not forget!
Strings Masterclass
Nashville Philharmonic Concertmaster Janet Darnall visited our High School string players to lead a strings masterclass. She helped our students with tips and tricks for mastering their music as well as insights into the world of being a professional string player.
Side-by-Side Concert
Over 25 Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra members joined our Chamber Orchestra during dress rehearsal for their spring concert to help guide them and give wonderful, helpful context to the music they were playing. The following evening, the NPO members sat side-by-side with our students for a fantastic performance of beloved film score music to open the Chamber Singers and Orchestra spring concert, Seasons and Stories
Chamber Performances
Two talented chamber groups comprised of NPO members visited the Ingram Arts Center to perform Mozart's dazzling Clarinet Quintet in A Major and a piano trio performed Clara Shumann's beautiful Piano Trio in G Minor. Students were presented with fascinating educational context and background
for each piece before it was performed. After the performance, the visiting NPO musicians sat in a panel for a Q&A moderated by their Operations Manager, Alan Fey. Our students asked questions about the process of preparing such pieces as well as the world and life of a musician beyond school. The NPO members graciously offered their advice and wisdom to our students.
Conducting Masterclass
NPO’s Conducting Fellow Dr. Tal Benatar visited the Ingram Arts Center’s music rehearsal hall to give a profound and enlightening masterclass into the world of a symphony conductor. Our students analyzed the score to Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and broke down the various elements that a conductor must interpret and consider before ever conducting the piece. They even tried their hand at conducting, and a few lucky students conducted Dr. Benatar playing the opening bars of the piece on piano! What a truly unique experience for our High School musicians! ■
ALUMNI CONNECTION
Briana Middleton '16, voice and text coach extraordinaire, came back to campus this semester to work with the cast of "Cymbeline." Briana attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Carnegie Mellon University, and her career as an actor has been soaring. Briana is a true talent, and we are thrilled to welcome her as a recipient of Ensworth's Teaching Artist Endowment this semester.
THE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE ENDOWMENT FUND
The Artist in Residence Fund was established by a generous family to enrich the performing arts program at Ensworth. The fund shall be maintained as an endowment for the support of an Artist in Residence Program at the High School. To learn more about Endowment Funds at Ensworth, please contact Kim Hubner, Director of Development: hubnerk@ensworth.com.
ICE HOCKEY
TEAM CHAMPIONS
GNASH Predators Cup Champions
Ben Sonkin '24, Mitchell Meilnik MVP Award and GNASH All-Star Team
Hudson Honeybone '26, GNASH All-Star Team
Trex Hooper '26, GNASH All-Star Team
HIgh School Athletics
WINTER/SPRING HIGHLIGHTS
STATE RUNNER-UP
Girls' Lacrosse
STATE RUNNER-UP
Lana Dismukes '24, All-Region First Team
Camilla Garza '24, All-Region First Team
Sophie Gill '25, All-Region First Team
Grace Hasselbeck '24, All-Region First Team
Meredith Whitson '24, All-Region First Team
Reese Fogaros '24, All-Region Second Team
Gracie Lane '24, All-Region Second Team
Hailey Scott '24, All-Region Second Team
COMBINED REGIONAL CHAMPIONS
STATE CHAMPION: LILLY ROBERTSON '25
SWIMMING & DIVING
TEAM ACCOLADES
Girls Regional Meet Champions
Combined Regional Meet Champions & State Runner-up
Tempo Haun, Emily McWilliams, Rosemary Bowen, Grace Wells Haeberle, 4 x 800 Relay
Lucy Hart, 100 Meter Hurdles
Faith Moye, Elise Milner, Lucy Hart, and Chandler
Brinkley, 4 x 100 Meter Relay
Thomas McGugin, Tucker Reynolds, Charlie Jackoboice, and David McIntosh, 4 x 800 Meter Relay
Kaden McNeal, 110 Meter Hurdles, 200 Meter Dash
Elijah Hensley, 100 Meter Dash
GIRLS' LACROSSE
BACK-TO-BACK HVAC CHAMPIONS
BOYS' LACROSSE
HVAC CHAMPIONS
BOYS'
GOLF
HVAC CHAMPIONS
college signings
WATTS BOND University of the South
LAELA CLARK Williams College
CONNOR COBB Northwest Florida State College
ALEX CREWS Washington and Lee University
MASON CURTIS University of Michigan
CAMILLA GARZA Duke University
LUCAS HERRING Methodist University
MAX HOLTZCLAW Presbyterian College
Previous commitments | SAVANNAH CHERRY, Golf at High Point University PETER DARST, Track and Field at Davidson College GRACE
HASSELBECK, Lacrosse at Vanderbilt University
JULIA MASON, Swimming at Loyola University-Maryland MEREDITH WHITSON, Lacrosse at Coastal Carolina University HUDSON WILT, Golf at Texas Christian University SPENCER YU, Baseball at The George Washington University
SEAN JOHNSON University of the South
QUINTIN MILES Richmond International Soccer Academy
ALEXANDER SIFFORD University of Georgia
CONNOR STEWART University of the South
JAMES JOHNSON Stevens Institute of Technology
GRIER SHORT University of Tennessee
JAREN SENSABAUGH University of Missouri
NIC HYCHE Lee University
Athletic Awards
the Hendrix Foundation Athletic Award
Sullivan Brown and Camilla Garza were awarded the Hendrix Foundation Athletic Award. This award is given to a female athlete who has competed in all 12 athletic seasons, has a cumulative GPA of 87 or higher, and has received individual honors in at least two sports. Prior to this year, there have only been three females in the history of the high school to receive this award.
RObert Inman Athletic award
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. The following seniors participated in at least 11 athletic seasons while the junior winners participated in at least 8 athletic seasons and received this award:
MALACHI BATTLE '25
DREW BRADLEY '25
SARAH BROTHERS '25
SULLIVAN BROWN '24
RUTHIE CLEMENTS '24
CAMILLA GARZA '24
CARYSS GREEN '25
KATE HANEY '25
HUNTER HITCHENS '24
LOGAN MILLER '25
TATUM SAUNDERS '24
MICAH SMITH '25
RASHAD SMITH '25
GABRIELLE SNELL '25
NIAMIAH TAYLOR '25
GRACE THOMPSON '25
ETHAN UTLEY '25
ELLEE WILLIAMS '24
CLASS
2024
SULLIVAN BROWN Hendrix Athletic Award Recipient
CAMILLA GARZA Hendrix Athletic Award Recipient
a place on the team
WRITTEN BY MICHELLE ANDRADE, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
Sometimes, we don't make the team, get the role, or even want to play the game anymore. But there is something to be said for finding our place—a place to thrive and share our thoughts. Our students have always had the opportunity to find their place. They found their place when they joined Ensworth, and then they had endless opportunities to find and discover more of themselves.
From arts to academics to athletics, students are encouraged to discover new parts of themselves through the roles they play, and the activities they choose, and the impact they make.
Lee Atwood '26 played baseball in Middle School. He loved the game but did not want to play in High School. Head Coach Jason Maxwell wanted to find a place on the team for Lee because he clearly cared deeply for the baseball community. His freshman year, Lee was designated Student Director of Baseball Operations. Lee admits, "I'm not very good at baseball, but I still wanted to be part of the team in some way, and this was a great way to do it." That first year, Lee spearheaded player and coach support, helping with everything from social media to schedule management and team engagement. He recalls, "Last year, during some of the games, I would calculate velocity for the pitchers."
Lee's role increased this year, and two more players joined the baseball team's management side. Varun Venkatesh '24 and Colin Krupp '24 supported Lee and the coaching staff as Assistant Student Directors of Baseball Operations. Colin shares, "I have been playing baseball since I was a freshman, so it means something to stay with the team."
In November 2023, Ensworth purchased a Trackman system to enhance players' performance and support coaches in data-driven analysis. Trackman is a leading authority in helping major league players excel through its digital baseball software, and Ensworth wanted to bring the same support to its players' development. The highly sophisticated system, coupled with students eager and excited to be leaders, created the perfect synergy for student growth and leadership.
This approach to player development is data-driven and intentional. Trackman tracks everything from spin rate to pitch speed to efficiency, along with batting stats, to help players achieve the highest success rate when pitching and batting. Spectators see the results of the play out on the field, but there are also boys behind the scenes helping at practice, sitting with coaches, and calculating each player's stats to help each player be their best. But there is more to all of this than just player enhancement, and the baseball program is also building spaces for team members who want to do something other than play.
Lee, Varun, and Colin were at every practice and set up the Trackman in three to four bullpens. They
Lee is a stats guy. He loves analysis and numbers (his math awards this year also prove that), and he was able to do something he loved while also being a part of the team. Colin and Varun played on the team, wanted something different for their senior year, and could stay on in a modified form.
worked with every player, tracking and reporting on pitching and batting. The video component of Trackman allowed players and coaches to see the mechanics of form and to slow things down to analyze player performance. Lee acknowledges that Coach Maxwell loves the video component of this app, "Coaches can see if a player's hips are moving too quickly or if they are not moving at all. They can slow down the videos and go frame by frame." Varun recalls, "Players can see what they need to work on rather than just hearing it. It creates another form of learning; it helps them visually learn what they need to work on."
Coaches saw marked improvement for players this year with the addition of the new machine and the work of Lee and his operations team. Players viewed themselves and tracked their progress throughout the year. Lee praised the players, noting, "It is a huge advantage for us this season. [Players took] advantage of this opportunity. Not a lot of high schools have [this]." Most players
voluntarily looked at their statistics to improve their game outside practice.
Students are at the heart of this experience. These boys are fully invested in the players, remaining integral members of the team. Colin acknowledges that when transitioning from playing to an operations role, "Nothing really changed." This program not only embraces its players but also creates opportunities for them to stay connected and active within the team.
Which player hit the hardest this year? The boys laugh and report, "Connor Cobb hit 101 with a softball bat." Colin chimes in, "Chris Brown hit 97 with his bat."
These boys know the game, but they've forged a new and deeper connection with baseball. "We got all that on film." ■
Diverse VOICES
Celebrating Differences, Enriching Perspectives
"Students at both campuses enjoyed hearing from special guests who shared their stories through a series of assemblies curated by the Office of Community Engagement. These assemblies are intentionally designed to provide insight into the diverse cultures and life experiences represented within our school community. For that reason, David Whitfield, Maurice Hopkins, and I invite Ensworth alumni, students, and current parents as presenters but also invite guests from the broader Nashville community and beyond."
- HOPE MOELLERGrade 2 Faculty; Community Engagement & Inclusion Team Member
The best way to find truth is to see it from different perspectives.
CIVIL DISCOURSE WITH ELISABETH HASSELBECK
Welcome to the conversation. How do we maintain civility while holding to our individual values as we discuss education, political, religious, and social topics?
High School students had the opportunity to observe dialogue between Director of Community Engagement and Inclusion David Whitfield and American TV personality, talk show host, and Ensworth parent Elisabeth Hasselbeck on civil discourse. Whitfield inspired students to learn to disagree without being violently disagreeable, referencing the Harkness Table model. "Always seeking the common good," he charged.
Elisabeth and David offered great knowledge and experience in engaging in meaningful conversations with those who may have differing opinions. Elisabeth, a former talk show host on ABC's The View and former co-host of Fox & Friends, interviewed multiple United States presidents of varying political beliefs, politicians, religious leaders, and the like. She shared what she learned and marked that she often learned the hard way how to engage in relationships potentially challenged by differing views. "Be in relationship while you hold your issues," she shared.
From the political sphere, we know debates are often designed to divide rather than unite. She cautioned students to always consider the motivation of the news, social media, politicians, etc. "What is this trying to tell me?" she advised. "Stay awake," she added. She concluded with the keys to successful civil discourse: "Seek a common goal, find common ground, be curious, be countercultural, and be less offended."
"What happens first is your heart changes. It happens because you understand someone a little bit more, and then you can have compassion and empathy for where they're coming from. It's about understanding why the person thinks the way they think."
ELISABETH HASSELBECK
WOMEN'S HISTORY
On Frist Campus, Mary Catherine Bradshaw, History and English teacher, hosted a special assembly with a panel of Ensworth women. It was a truly empowering moment at Ensworth as we hosted a special assembly featuring incredible women from our community.
Ensworth faculty members Lexus McDaniel, Cecelia Wang, Jess Lopez-Otalvaro, Mary Taylor Cowles, and Mary Catherine Bradshaw took the stage to share their life journeys, experiences, and unique perspectives in a dynamic and personal panel. The women held different life stories, backgrounds, beliefs, and values, yet all sat in community together, learning about one another.
Red Gables Campus welcomed two members of the Ensworth community who are outstanding in their arenas—not 'despite' being women, but because they have leaned into and celebrated their femininity.
Natalia Johnson is an Ensworth parent to Nico '34 and Nino '32, wife of Ensworth faculty member Nick Johnson, Sergeant with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and Program Director of the Nashville Police Activities League.
Corrina Gill '19 attended Ensworth for 13 years. Corinna graduated from Belmont with a major in commercial voice and an emphasis on songwriting. Since graduating from Belmont, she has released six singles and a five-song EP titled "Here for Holding," and she just finished recording an album that she will release in late 2024. From singing at Ensworth and Belmont, to places like the Ryman Auditorium, the Fisher Center of Performing Arts, and the Opry House, she has stayed the same girl: creative and silly with a deep love of music and songwriting.
These women have used their compassion for others, relatability, and experiences to shine in what they do.
BLACK HISTORY
Cortez Watson Jr. and Tanqueray Hart of The Hip-Hop Firm, an organization that uses elements of hip-hop culture for transformative social and emotional learning through youth development, visited Ensworth to share the history and pillars of hip-hop. They encouraged our students to look at the culture of Ensworth and to live into it in a way that positively impacts people's lives.
High School students heard from Officer Reggie Rucker of the Nashville Fire Department to learn more about the challenges and triumphs faced by Black firefighters.
"History and culture make up our human nature."
CORTEZ WATSON, JR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Martin Luther King, Jr. is a name that has become synonymous with words such as dream, social justice, nonviolence, and civil disobedience. Still, words can only retain their meaning if they are put into context. Ensworth parent Dr. Richard Thigpen shared context through his experience living in Chicago and about Martin Luther King Jr.'s influence on his life.
Growing up in Chicago, Dr. Thigpen saw the implications of segregation and the influence great teachers like King had on the community. Dr. Thigpen was raised by his grandmother, who, he shared,
had three pictures of non-family members in her house, and Dr. King was one of them. He discussed the poem "Harlem" by Langston Hughes, encouraging students not to let their dreams be deferred.
The stories Dr. Thigpen shared with our community tremendously impacted our students and offered a first-hand encounter with the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Each year, our Middle School students host their classmates and with the Lower School for an assembly that brings the life of Martin Luther King to the forefront of knowledge. This year, students discussed Dr. King's early life and his impactful words, and everyone watched Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
RAMADAN
Rashed Fakhruddin '83, an Ensworth alum and engineering supervisor with Nashville Electric Service, is a leading proponent of service, inclusion, and cultural diversity within Nashville's ever-changing and growing community. Rashed visited with High School students to illuminate the essence of Ramadan. He dispelled myths and discussed the pillars that are the cornerstones of the faith. He shared the principles of testimony, prayers, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage.
Each year, Rashed hosts Grade 7 students annually when they visit Islamic Center of Nashville's Bellevue Masjid as a part of their World Religions unit.
JAPANESE INCARCERATION DURING WORLD WAR II
High School students had the opportunity to welcome Ensworth parent Jessica Baba to discuss her family's story as Japanese Americans living in the incarceration camps during World War II. She shared her family's journey from the West Coast to the incarceration camps throughout the United States, from camp to the post-war years far from the West Coast, and back to California again.
Middle School students also welcomed Jessica to hear about her family’s story and to understand the lives of Japanese Americans during the 1940s. This experience was a continuation of their lessons around photo essays and storytelling as a literary tool and accompanied the Grade 6 reading of Seen and Unseen by Elizabeth Partridge and Lauren Tamaki and Fred Korematsu Speaks Up by Laura Atkins and Stan Yogi.
In Seen and Unseen, the authors show the reality of the internment camps in a graphic novel format through the eyes of three famed photographers: Ansel Adams, Toyo Miyatake, and Dorothea Lange. Fred Korematsu Speaks Up details the plight of one man who resisted the internment and became a fugitive then later a civil rights activist. ■
WRITTEN BY MICHELLE ANDRADE, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
"Although my grandparents were American citizens, due to their Japanese ancestry, they were incarcerated during World War II. At ages 5, 8, 18, and 19, they were detained in what was previously referred to as 'internment camps.' My grandmother was five when she was sent to Manzanar, the camp that is the primary focus of Seen and Unseen. I shared family photos, anecdotes about camp, and the personal experiences of my grandparents, as well as how the incarceration of the Japanese has impacted our lives generations later. For example, my cousins and niece are the third generation of my family to play basketball in the Japanese basketball leagues in Southern California. These leagues have roots in the incarceration camps and have thrived as a means of communitybuilding since the 1940s."
JESSICA BABA
Building COMMUNITY
Extending a Warm Welcome to Our Newest Tigers
WRITTEN BY REBEKAH ARMSTRONG, Director of Enrollment Management
Many of you can vividly remember when you visited Ensworth for the first time as a potential student, parent, or employee. Depending on the length of time since that day, the details of the visit might be unclear, but I presume you remember how you felt and the effect the people you met had on you. One of the greatest responsibilities of our admission team is to continue the momentum for prospective families from this first impression throughout the application process. We work diligently to develop relationships with families and connect them to the Ensworth community at large. Each touchpoint is designed to be meaningful and engaging so families develop a genuine understanding of Ensworth.
Once trust is established and a family chooses to enroll, we build on this energy with intentional and personal outreach to new students and their parents throughout the spring and summer. We use various strategic efforts to introduce new families to those who will partner most closely with them during their school experience, including key administrators, faculty and current families. The months leading up to the start of school are pivotal and act as a springboard into full engagement with the Ensworth community.
TIGER BUDDIES
There is a longstanding tradition at Red Gables to pair each new student with a “Tiger Buddy” who is a current student in their respective grade level. For the past two years, we have also expanded this program to the High School. Tiger Buddies connect with new families well before school begins so that individual relationships are in place by August. Most Red Gables Tiger Buddies meet their matches at the Super Saturday New Student Booth, and then gather over the summer
months. One parent recently told us, “Meeting our Tiger Buddy augmented my daughter’s excitement to join the Tiger community. We are so grateful for the intentional connections you all make to ensure the best start for new Tigers.”
PARENT ASSOCIATION PARTNERSHIP
New students tend to settle in quickly once school is in session, but we encourage the Tiger Buddy parents to stay in touch with the new parents ahead of events like Parent Night and gradelevel gatherings. We partner with the Parent Association’s New Parent Welcome Committee to assist in engaging with new parents as they continue to find their place at Ensworth throughout the fall. This committee strives to be attentive to the needs of new families, choosing the timing of their efforts to benefit all parents, regardless of
What drew us to Ensworth was the palpable school culture, apparent at every meet-up and when talking to any staff member. We felt this even more fully as new parents. The Tiger Buddy program connected us with other families and before you knew it, we were not only texting them questions but socializing with them as well. The Tiger Buddy program is only one part of a whole spectrum of ways the school welcomes new families.
- Matthew Pirotte,
2023–2024 New Parent
grade level and background. From the New Parent Breakfast to the New Family Tent at Tiger Towns, we hope that the various interactions help parents find a sense of belonging in our community.
COMMUNICATION
Beyond the Tiger Buddy program, we focus on communicating necessary information promptly and coherently to all new families. There is a lot to learn when coming to a new school, so each division head sends an introductory email a few weeks after the initial admission cycle ends to give an overview of what lies ahead. Following this outreach, new families begin receiving our weekly newsletter, E-News, with a section specifically designed for them, highlighting news and upcoming events. As summer approaches, we unveil all relevant information to address before
the start of school, such as summer reading assignments, health forms, and orientation schedules. We communicate often but are mindful not to inundate our families during a time that can already be overwhelming.
EVENTS
Ensworth also hosts key events on campus that new families are invited to attend. This begins with our New Parent Dinner held in early April. While the event is primarily social in nature, the audience hears from Head of School Prentice Stabler, who encourages parents to take full advantage of the Ensworth experience. Tables are arranged by grade level or division so that parents can connect with other parents who have children the same age and begin building relationships with those who will walk alongside them at Ensworth. At the end of
the evening, guests go home with a spirited gift bag that includes our Parent Partnership book outlining the most important aspects of the Ensworth journey.
We host two other events to welcome families at our major entry points of Kindergarten and Grade 9. The Kindergarten Family Picnic has become such a highlight for all incoming Kindergarten students, regardless of whether they are a new family or the sibling of a current Ensworth student. In the eyes of a young child, it does not get better than playing on the playground of your new school and eating ice cream with your soon-to-be classmates! In early August, we host the incoming Grade 9 students and parents so that both the returning students from Red Gables and all new members of the class are able to spend time together.
We add many other layers to our embrace of new families, such as new student yard signs, thoughtfully crafted new student orientations, an inclusive Grade 9 Homecoming Dinner, and new parent focus group coffees in the fall. We improve this process every year, adapting to the needs across grade levels and divisions.
Our new students and parents enrich the strong culture that already exists in our school, and we want to honor their commitment by onboarding them as thoughtfully as possible. As the welcoming process unfolds, we aim to build excitement and goodwill that will propel new students and parents towards a successful start of their Ensworth journey. ■
Com muni ty EVENTS
THURSDAY, JULY 25
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8 - 9
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10
FRI - SAT, NOVEMBER 15 - 16
THURS - SAT, NOVEMBER 21 - 23
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14
Fall / Winter 2024
Class of 2024 Yearbook Party | Frist Campus
Tiger Town Tailgate & Home Football Game | Frist Campus
High School Creative Coffee Shop | Frist Campus
Inclusivit-E Event
Robert Inman Tiger Classic Golf Tournament | Golf Club of Tennessee
Kindergarten Admission Lunch | Red Gables Campus
Middle School Preview | Red Gables Campus
All-Community Homecoming Tailgate & Football Game | Frist Campus
Kindergarten Admission Lunch | Red Gables Campus
Tiger Bazaar Shopping Event | Red Gables Campus
High School Talent Show | Frist Campus
High School Preview | Frist Campus
Middle School Musical | Red Gables Campus
High School Fall Play | Frist Campus
Lower/Middle School Grandparents & Special Friends Day | Red Gables Campus
High School Rock and Jazz Band Concert | Frist Campus
Tiger Bazaar is a community-wide, shopping-based fundraising event held at Red Gables Campus.
FIELD DAY
A Semester in Review
Scan here for more!
HIGH SCHOOL GRANDPARENTS & SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY
The Power of Togetherness
Connecting and Contributing to the Ensworth Community
When we made the decision to send our oldest to Kindergarten at Ensworth, we made the decision based on where we thought was the best school for him. Little did we realize it would be the best decision for our entire family.
I spent my first three years as an Ensworth parent sitting on the sidelines - marveling at all the wonderful things my children were able to be a part of, but never feeling comfortable enough to dive in myself. Slowly, fellow parents started becoming friends, and these friends became my village. I started looking forward to gatherings as faces became familiar and soon received the kind of call you can't ignore- "Would you like to volunteer for....?" I hesitantly said yes, not fully grasping that this small step would change my sense of belonging in the community that had slowly started wrapping its arms around me.
The welcome and support I felt as a parent from the beginning was
Roochita Mathur
Parent Association President
Roochita and Abhishek are parents to Sanaya '36, Niam '32, and Syon '30
undeniable. The familiarity and care of the voices later asking me to volunteer made it easier to say yes. I've seen firsthand how "you get what you give" unfolds at a school like Ensworth and hope that every parent in our community can find their own way to contribute to a meaningful experience for not just their own children but also for themselves. This phase of life with our children is short, and I encourage each of you to make the most of it daily!
Erica Kyle
PARENT TO LIV KYLE '34
Erica has held numerous volunteer positions at Ensworth including three years as Library Committee Chair and as a committee member for Lost & Found, Teacher Appreciation, Sunshine Committee, Admissions, and On-Call.
TIME COMMITMENT 5 hours/month
LOCATION Red Gables Library
"I love feeling connected to my daughter and having a window into the world she inhabits without me when at school, and being on campus gives me that opportunity! Because I’m often in the library, I have so many encounters with teachers and staff that I otherwise would never see or get to know, which helps me feel like I’m a part of the Ensworth experience, too. And I can't discount the look on my daughter's face when she occasionally sees me!"
Jackie Luckey
PARENT TO HAYLEY LUCKEY '33 AND LOGAN LUCKEY '31
Jackie chaired the Lost & Found commitee and has volunteered on other committees including Uniform Sale Committee, Teacher Appreciation Committee, Library Committee, and Sunshine Committee.
TIME COMMITMENT Varies as needed/available
LOCATION Red Gables Campus
"I enjoy getting to meet new parents while volunteering and seeing familiar faces. I also love the small conversations with faculty and staff. Knowing the people my children are with every day is important to me. Whether it's getting to say hi to Officer Sam, hearing about a teacher's Spring Break plan, or asking Celestia how her son is, it's nice to feel a part of the Ensworth Community.
From picking one day every other month to reshelve books, dropping off a treat to the teachers lounge, or delivering a gift to a student in need of sunshine, I can easily fit it in an already busy schedule, or simply say, 'No, I don't have time today.'"
"No matter how small the task may seem, we have always felt appreciated and grateful to be able to give our time to a place that has become so special to our family."
LAURA PERKINS
Laura Perkins
PARENT TO ALICE PERKINS '30
Laura co-chaired the Cake Walk at Super Saturday and volunteers her time with school support tasks and various commitees.
TIME COMMITMENT A few hours a month
LOCATION Red Gables Campus
"One of the things that drew us most to Ensworth was the amazing sense of community. Being a new family this year, we were eager to jump right in and become a part of what we had heard so much about. By taking advantage of volunteer opportunities starting at the very beginning of the school year (from writing names in PE uniforms to working concessions to collecting cakes for Super Saturday… there is truly something for everyone!), we quickly learned just how wonderful Ensworth is. No matter how small the task may seem, we have always felt appreciated and grateful to be able to give our time to a place that has become so special to our family."
Hayes Bryant
PARENT TO MATTHEW BRYANT '31, DAVIS BRYANT ' 28, AND PETER BRYANT '26
Hayes has served as the Grade 9 Parent Representative, High School Representative / Representative-Elect, and is a multi-year volunteer as a Super Saturday blackjack dealer.
TIME COMMITMENT About two hours per week
LOCATION From his home office, but likes to meet at Frist Campus when possible
"Volunteering as a ninth grade parent coordinator when my oldest started high school was a way for me to understand the big transition he was making on a new campus and meet the 30 or so new families joining our community. I have built many new and strong relationships with parents and faculty, and I have a greater understanding and appreciation for our community—including the amazing students!"
Kisha Batey
PARENT TO AKEEM BATEY '26 & ANTHONY BATEY '13
Kisha has served as room parent and gate volunteer. She has held volunteer positions such as lead Grade 9 Parent Coordinator and volunteered at various Ensworth events such as football and basketball gate and concessions, teacher appreciation lunches, Super Saturday, High School Service Day, and dances.
TIME COMMITMENT 2 to 4-hour events
LOCATION Frist Campus
"Although I work full-time, I am happy to serve with the Ensworth community. It is great meeting so many at all of the activities. As the Grade 9 Parent Coordinator, I was able to provide great information, reminders, and tips to families as they transitioned to the High School."
Sam Patel
PARENT TO SAHIL PATEL '35
Sam is a member of the Ensworth Grill Team. You'll find him behind the grill at Tiger Town and many other community events!
TIME COMMITMENT A couple hours during Tiger Town events
LOCATION Primarily on Frist Campus
"I found that this role allowed me to stay connected with my child's school activities and contribute meaningfully to the community. I love being on campus and interacting with other parents. Volunteering has helped me build a strong network within the Ensworth community and stay informed about school events."
SAM PATEL
The Art of DISCOVERY & FRIENDSHIP
WRITTEN BY MICHELLE ANDRADE, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
The path to finding ones self, discovering talents and using them to the fullest with the greatest joy, has always been a part of the Ensworth experience. From academic exposure to artistic endeavor, Ensworth encourages each student to uncover their abilities and grow beyond what they believe is possible. Stories of expansion live in the hearts and memories of those who have gone before. When our alumni come back to campus, it is clear that what was still informs what is.
This is the story of two friends who came to Ensworth, found their place through discovery, and established interests that fed into their careers today.
We welcomed Vadie Turner '91 and Cecy (Lovvorn) Casey '91 for an interview about all things art, Ensworth, and friendship after seeing a social media post of two current Ensworth students, Vail Casey '34 and Leela Sanghani '34, at Vadie's art show.
Cecy (Lovvorn) Casey '91 and Vadie Turner '91 have been friends since birth—they were born two days apart here in Nashville. Vadie calls it a “cocktail of miracles” of how they met and remained friends for so many years. Much of their childhood memories together involve Ensworth. “I remember Super Saturday had real rides then. Like real rides. Dangerous ones that weren’t up to code the way it is now,” Vadie remembers, laughing hysterically. “We would spend the night together the night before. We had our outfits picked out. This was in the 80s, so we would curl each other's bangs and spray paint them. I was like, ‘If we had a salon, we'd call it the Burn and Bang.”
As in Ensworth form, they were exposed to everything from arts to athletics, literature to math. This built the foundation for who they would become. Cecy gravitated toward music, brilliantly performing on stage or quizzing her friends on tempo and song in the car. Vadie got into all things visual art, finding her flare and spark in and out of the classroom. “We were pursuing our interests from day one at Ensworth,” Vadie recalls. Cecy tells Vadie, “You just always found a way to make the art happen.”
Although they were never in the same class, they walked alongside each other at Ensworth, growing and finding themselves. They had different interests and friends, but they always remained
close. "Ensworth is where we really established our identities as people,” Vadie shares. Vadie and Cecy took advantage of every opportunity while at Ensworth.
The two found their passions at Ensworth and are in professions that stemmed from those interests. “We established our goals at a relatively early age, but we continued to pursue them and we had the drive,” Vadie boasts. Cecy’s love of music and the music industry led her into accounting at Sony Music Group. Vadie is a professional mixed media artist where she encourages the misbehaviors of domestic materials. She transforms things like curtains and bedsheets into unruly 2D and 3D visual art. ■
CLASS NOTES Ensworth Alumni
WEDDINGS
Caroline Cooke ’08 and Heather Reed
April 27, 2024
Allison Perkins ’09 and Matas Sidrys
October 21, 2023
Mary Beth Oglesby ’11 and Jack Thomasson
April 20, 2024 in Sewanee
Will Downey ’12 and Morgan Mason
May 25, 2024
Abbey Bounds ’13 and Kert Kaiser
November 18, 2023
Cayce Sweat ’13 and Trey Smith
November 4, 2023
Collin Goins ’14 and Kaeley Scott ’14
December 30, 2023, officiated by Caden Scott ‘16
Caroline Blair ’15 and Lucas Crenshaw
April 27, 2024
Caroline Sheridan ’15, married Larkin Dobson on September 16, 2023 in Linville, NC. They reside in Dallas, where she works as a Corporate Communications Manager in JCPenney‘s corporate headquarters.
William "Will" Martin Stigall ’15 married Melissa "Lissa" Kate Brown on December 30, 2023. They are residing in Christiansburg, VA.
Shayna Rosenbloom ’17 and Nathan Earl ’16 were married atop Lookout Mountain on January 21, 2023. Both are working towards their PhDs in Ecology, Evolution, and Population Biology at the University of Louisville.
FAMILY ADDITIONS
Josh and Elizabeth Scoville Doyle ’98
George Ethan Doyle
December 23, 2023
Haley and Winston Voigt ’00
Celia Lindsay Voigt
February 14, 2024
Luke and Meg DeLozier Ferguson ’02
Benjamin DeLozier “Buster” Ferguson
January 9, 2024
Tracy and John Burch ’03
Rees May Burch
April 7, 2024
Ben and Millie Chapman Long ’08
Oliver Dean Long
March 29, 2024
Becky and Clay Wammack ’09
Tilden Cumberland Wammack
August 11, 2023
Coleman and Katherine McDonald Breland ’09
Neely Elizabeth Breland
February 27, 2024
Jack and Laura Barrier Slaughter ’09
Anne Frances “Francie” Slaughter
December 17, 2023
IN MEMORY
Christopher Lawrence Fort ’63
May 31, 1949 - July 24, 2023
Julia Webber Gildemeister ’65
April 29, 1951–December 22, 2023
Russell Jankowski ’23
September 28, 2004–March 19, 2024
Cayce Sweat ’13
Mary Beth Oglesby ’11
Caroline Sheridan ’15
Tilden Cumberland Wammack
Caroline Cooke ’08
George Ethan Doyle
Neely Elizabeth Breland
Celia Voigt
Caroline Blair ’15
Buster Ferguson
Abbey Bounds ’13
Will Downey ’12
Oliver Dean Long
Collin Goins ’14 & Kaeley Scott ’14
Shayna Rosenbloom ’17 & Nathan Earl ’16
Francie Slaughter
Rees Burch
CLASS NOTES Ensworth Alumni
Sheila Lambos Reuther ’76 is entering her 37th year in selling residential Real Estate in Nashville. She is an advisor with Engel & Voelkers, Nashville and currently sits on the Ensworth Alumni Board.
Lissa Bradford ’77 was selected as one of two inductees into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame for the 2024 year. Lissa’s career in Tennessee golf, both as a player, professional and administrator, has spanned five decades.
Rashed Fakhruddin ’83 came to campus in March to shed light on the essence of Ramadan, dispelling myths and discussing the pillars that are the cornerstones of the faith. He illuminated the principles of testimony, prayers, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage. See page 30 for more information.
Matt Reasor ’92’s work was featured in our VISIBLE Art Show at the Frist Campus in January. Matt is a multidisciplinary visual artist who lives in Nashville. Watercolor and oil painting are his primary focus with nature themes as a main interest. Sculpture and creative writing are additional disciplines. Matt finds inspiration through travel and adventure with his wife.
Eva Baltimore Willis ’97 has been promoted to Vice President of Sales, National Accounts at CME Corp. CME is the country's largest dedicated medical equipment distributor. In this role, she oversees sales strategy and growth for national health systems as well as group purchasing organizations.
Critically acclaimed indie folk-pop singer-songwriter, psychotherapist, and mother Lauren Ezell Minear ’99 recently released her sophomore album, Chasing Daylight
Gretchen (Wilson) Altenburger ’03, has been appointed Senior Counsel for the SB/SE Division in the IRS Office of the Chief Counsel in Denver, Colorado. Gretchen is also an adjunct professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law since 2022, as the lead professor of Tax Research and Writing and National Instructor at Basic Trial Advocacy and Litigation School for the U.S. Department of the Treasury. She lives in Denver with her husband Steve and two daughters.
Cole Parrish ’11 earned his Masters in Real Estate Development (MRED) from the Harbert College of Business and the College of Architecture, Design, and Construction at Auburn University in May 2024. He is a commercial real estate broker in Nashville where he also assists in coaching the Ensworth golf team.
Will Higgins ’13 moved to Melbourne, Australia to continue his work with Epic Systems in implementing Analytics within Electronic Medical Records for Hospitals. He plans on being there for the next 4-5 years working with the New South Whales Public Healthcare system, which serves a little under 1/3 of the population of Australia.
Aubrey Kazimi '13 graduated with a master of public health from George Washington University in May of 2024. She was inducted into GW's chapter of Delta Omega honor society and has accepted a position as Chief of Staff of Rubrum Advising.
Sally Seitz ’13 received her MFA in Dramatic Writing, in both screenwriting and playwriting, from Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama in May 2024. Devo Hanai ’14 graduated in May from the University
of Florida College of Pharmacy with her PharmD. She will be working with Johnson and Johnson in the Cardiovascular and Metabolism therapeutic area.
Maria Schulz ’14 received her MD from Quillen College of Medicine in May 2024. She is accepted to a preresidency fellowship in ocular pathology and imaging at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Ashley Slay Glotta ’14, Head High School Volleyball Coach at Ensworth, received Hall of Fame honors from her alma mater, Austin Peay State University (APSU) in Clarksville.
Track & Field Olympian Tyra Gittens ’17 celebrated her first professional victory at the International Meeting in Troyes, France on Sunday. The Olympian secured the win with a leap of 6.56 meters.
In her final game at Memorial Gymnasium, Jordyn Cambridge ’18 became Vanderbilt women’s basketball’s all-time leader in steals and joined the 1,000-point club in a 72-55 victory over Georgia on Senior Day. Cambridge's long career at Vanderbilt was interrupted by injuries and the pandemic, but she still managed to earn All-Defensive SEC Team and became the first NCAA Division I men’s or women’s player to reach 100 steals and 100 assists in one season.
This past season as a redshirt senior on Georgia Tech’s football team, Jaylon King ’18 was named third-team all-America by College Football Network. In addition to the All-America honor, King was also named CFN’s ACC Safety of the Year and named second-team all-ACC by the Associated Press.
In January, Chaz Lanier ’20 was awarded the Atlantic Sun Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week, for the second time. Chaz will be playing for the University of Tennessee for the 2024–2025 season.
Jordan Williams ’20 visited with Ms. Jeanne Hubert in Washington, DC. Jordan had a storied swimming career both at Ensworth and Pepperdine where she graduated in just three years. She is now a student at Georgetown Law School.
Gianna Bullock ’21 has been nominated for Female Athlete of the Year by NIL Summit. Gianna is a multievent athlete for the storied University of Oregon Track & Field team. The 2024 NIL Awards, held in June 2024, recognize achievement by student-athletes, brands, and institutions during the third year of the name, image and likeness rules.
In January, Malik Dia ’22 was named Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Newcomer of the Week—for the second time—on the Belmont team! Malik will be playing for Ole Miss for the 2024-2025 season.
Rising LSU junior and country artist Timothy Wayne ’22 recently signed his first record deal with UMG Nashville. His first single, “God Made A Country Boy” debuted on May 17th.
In January, Devaki Garr ’23 earned his second Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week following an 18-point performance over No. 9 University of West Georgia. Garr plays for Union University and was previously awarded GSC Freshman of the Week in the first week of January. SHARE YOUR ALUMNI NEWS!
Send your latest news, moves, and photos.
Ensworth's former head Girls' Basketball Coach, Mary Taylor Cowles, traveled to Boston to watch Dontavia Waggoner ’20 play for the Boston College Golden Eagles vs. the Pittsburgh Panthers. Mary traveled with her two daughters, Caroline Cowles ’17, and Catherine Cowles ’19, and Dean of Academic Support Kate McGlasson. Waggoner finished the game with an overtime victory with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Ensworth Alumni
In May, our Class of ’94 celebrated their 30th reunion since leaving Red Gables, and, in the words of one of our alums, “laughed till we cried!”
We loved seeing some of our Ensworth alums in Austin, TX! A big thank you to everyone who joined us for brunch on Sunday, January 21 while members of our Advancement Team were in town attending the CASE-NAIS Conference. Photographed L to R: Molly Nesbitt Warren ’08, Emma Goddard Daly ’10, Nina Ralsky ’22, Kendall Ungar ’23, Cam Gordon ’23, and Nash Crook ’19
CLASS NOTES
We had an absolute blast catching up with some of our incredible alumni in Washington, D.C.!
Great times with great friends! We loved seeing the classes of 2009, 2014, and 2019 come together for their 5, 10, and 15 year high school reunions!
LEGACY FAMILIES
Class of 2024 Seniors with Alumni Parents / Grandparents
The late Drew Alexander ’84
Lauren Alexander ’24
(Pictured with mother Cara Alexander)
Chad Bottorff ’88
Kate Bottorff ’24
Jody (Bainbridge) Hull ’87
Saunders Hull ’24
Harkness (Harris) Brown ’85
Sullivan Brown ’24
Cooper Jones ’91
Landon Jones ’24
Ruth (Duncan) Coppeans ’93
Duncan Coppeans ’24
Bartley McGehee ’89
Kate McGehee ’24
Jackson Dale ’91, Tiffany (Gaston) Dale ’91, AJ Dale '24
Jennie Garth (Lovvorn) Lowe ’90
Blythe Needham ’24
Ben Bodzy ’92 Campbell Bodzy ’24
Andrew Bond ’84 Watts Bond ’24
Michael Hitchens ’86
Hunter Hitchens ’24
Maury (Ward) Woolwine ’87
Riley Woolwine ’24
Jim Dismukes ’88
Lana Dismukes ’24
Three Generations: Joanne Fleming Hayes ’60 T.J. Wilt ’91, Hudson Wilt ’24
Delia (Hardin) Darst ’88
Peter Darst ’24
Dorothy (Barfield) Sifford ’86
Alexander Sifford ’24
CELEBRATING TWO ENSWORTH LEGENDS
The Ensworth community came together this spring to celebrate the retirement of two beloved long-time faculty members:
Dean Schneider & David Chanaca
Thank you Mr. Schneider & Mr. Chanaca for your combined 71 years of service!
With Gratitude
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the over 1,400 donors who showed their Tiger pride with a gift to Ensworth this year. The stories and highlights on the previous 80 pages reflect only a fraction of the ways your support directly impacts the lives of the more than 1,200 Tigers who benefit from the Ensworth experience. Thank you for believing in our mission and for your continued partnership and support.
Grades K–5 Ice Cream Social
APRIL 12, 2024
Awarded to the division with the most parent participation in the Ensworth Fund.
Thank you, Grade 1, for leading the charge!
Alumni Giving Challenges
• Congratulations to the Black Team for winning the Black vs. Orange Ensworth Fund Challenge!
• The Class of 2009 - Young Alumni Cookie Challenge Winner (highest participation)
• The Class of 2023 - Young Alumni Cookie Challenge Winner (highest increase in participation)
Please look for our digital Report of Giving that will be available later this summer. To learn more about giving to Ensworth visit www.ensworth.com/give
