I n S e a rc h o f Tr u th WINTER 2024
THE FOUNDING OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
RED GABLES PATCHWORK ARTISTS
CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY CENTER
Vision Statement We envision a school community dedicated to following the highest principles with the greatest love, as characterized by moral integrity, intellectual vitality, discipline, compassion, humor and joy.
We envision a school where a deep sense of community
In Search of Truth
and belonging pervades all aspects of school life, where all members participate in a broad array of diverse activities both in and out of the classroom, and where collaboration, integration, and tradition thrive.
Ensworth is a
We envision a school committed to growth and learning for
kindergarten
that is open, honest, and direct, in decision-making that is
all members of its community, as reflected in communication
through twelfth
inclusive, flexible, and efficient, in school governance that
grade, coeducational
of mind, and in opportunities for faculty development and
independent school.
responsibilities.
The School promotes
And we envision a school that reaches beyond itself to its
academic excellence and
is clear and transparent, in practices that honor diversity
innovation as fundamental components of their professional
broader community, that embraces service opportunities, and that serves as a leader in the national educational community.
inspires students to be
Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
intellectually curious,
Ensworth must actively strive to be a diverse and inclusive
to use their talents to the fullest, to be people of integrity, and to be contributors to society.
In order to realize the goals of our Mission and Vision,
community of learners that engages collectively In Search of Truth. The presence of different perspectives and life experiences plays a vital role in the development of our students, enhancing classroom and extracurricular experiences in meaningful ways. As a school, we are committed to cultivating an environment in which all members of the Ensworth community experience a true sense of belonging and are empowered to be active participants in the life of the school. These efforts are essential if we are to
ENSWORTH MISSION STATEMENT
foster the growth of all students in line with their potential, and to equip them for lives of purpose that extend far beyond their time at Ensworth.
A letter from the
Head of School
This year marks 20 years since the founding of the High
From performing on the stage to competing on the field and
School—an initiative that began with a vision to carry
serving in the community, the fall semester was filled with
Ensworth’s tradition of excellence forward to provide the
moments of joy as our students shared their talents and
very best educational experience for our students from
discovered meaningful ways to positively impact the world
Kindergarten through Grade 12. In this edition of the
around them.
magazine, we celebrate the establishment of the High School through stories of the early days and a Cornerstone
I’m grateful for the countless people who have contributed to
alumna sharing the impact her High School experience had
the growth and development of our school. Our community
on her beyond Ensworth.
continues to benefit from generations of families who support our vision, faculty who pour into our children, and
An exceptional academic program, talented faculty, and a
alumni who actively participate in the life of the school.
whole-child approach to learning continue to be hallmarks of an Ensworth education. I hope you enjoy reading
I hope you enjoy this edition of Ensights and that you’re
about the innovative programming in our new Creative
inspired to visit campus and watch our students in action. We
Technology Center, the breadth of offerings for High School
would love to see you!
electives, and the history of our beloved Lower and Middle School Patchwork tradition. Prentice Stabler
2023–2024 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
LEADERSHIP TEAM
President Brock Kidd
Prentice Stabler Head of School
Vice President Jennifer Frist Treasurer Jim Bowen Secretary Kathryn Brown Legal Counsel John Jacobson Inman Trustee Bruce Moore Inman Trustee Rob McCabe Gerard Bullock Daphne Butler Raja Clark Shervin Eftekhari Amanda Farnsworth Frank Gordon Chad Greer Kailey Hand Emily Kurtz Deb McDermott Don Orr Tree Paine Neal Patel Yvonne Ralsky Alex Ryerson Rebecca Shah Louis Upkins
Rebekah Armstrong Director of Enrollment Management Ricky Bowers Assistant Head of School; Director of Athletics Heather Caponi Associate Head of School Angela Claxton Director of Marketing and Communications Nowell Hesse Head of High School
F E ATU RE FO U ND I NG O F 06 | TT HE HE HI GH S C HO O L R NE R STO NE 12 | CO A LU M NI FO CU S
Jason Hiett Director of Technology Bedell James Director of Advancement Doug Magee Head of Middle School Bobby Mirzaie Director of Curriculum and Instruction
TAB L E O F
Contents
Kristian Noden Interim Head of Lower School
ENSIGHTS
Beth Pollard Chief Financial Officer David Whitfield Director of Community Engagement & Inclusion
Stephaine Walker Ex-Officios Prentice Stabler, Head of School Katie Porterfield, President, Ensworth Parent Association Roochita Mathur, President-Elect Ensworth Parent Association Christopher Coode ’09, President, Ensworth Alumni Council Lauren Elcan Ingram ’13, Chair, National Advisory Council
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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, Paul Downey DESIGN
Angela Claxton, Mary Byrne Dailey PHOTOGRAPHY
Michelle Andrade, John Bloom, Angela Claxton, Mary Byrne Dailey, Paul Downey, Mandy Johnson, Mike Strasinger, Daniel White ON THE COVER
Noah Franklin '27, Robotics Class, Fall 2023
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28
36
REAT IVE 16 | CTEC HN O LO G Y CEN TER
28 | SL EE AR RVINIC ENG
I D D L E S C H OOL 36 | M M U S I CA L
22 | PATCHWO R K
GH S C HO O L 32 | HI C LU B S
GH S C HOOL 40 | HI DRAMA
S CH O O L 24 | HIGH ELECTIVES
R T HE 34 | FO R ECO R D
R S C H OOL 42 | LOWE VI S UA L A RTS
44
52
58
44 | ACCOL A DES
R E NT/STU D E NT 52 | PA E D U CAT I O N
58 | STU D E NTS
E S CH O O L 48 | MIDDL ACCOL A DES
54 | R AC E TA L KS
M NI 60 | ANLU EWS
E 50 | COLLEG SIGNIN G S
I NM A N 56 | RGOO BL FE RT TO U R NA M E NT
Y WE 68 | WH S U PP O RT E NS WORT H
ACADE MI CS
ATHLE TI CS HIGH S CH O O L
STU D E N T L I F E
CO MMU N I TY
ARTS
ALU MN I NEW L EGACY
Welcoming our new
TRUSTEES ROB MCCABE (Inman Trustee) is a founding member and chairman of Pinnacle Financial Partners, one of the largest financial institutions in Tennessee and one of the 50 largest banks in the United States. Throughout his career, Rob has served in a number of executive roles including president and CEO of First American Bank of Knoxville, president of First American’s corporate and general banking divisions. Rob was named the 2013 laureate of Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee’s Nashville Business Hall of Fame. He is past chairman of Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art and the Middle Tennessee Boy Scout Council and has served on the board of the Nashville Symphony.
Rob and his wife, Jennie, have been an integral part of our school community for many years, and their two daughters, Jennie and Katherine, both attended Ensworth. Rob served on the Ensworth Board of Trustees as Vice President in 2007–2008 and then as President from 2008–2010, moving into an ex-officio advisory role as Immediate Past President from 2010–2012.
SHERVIN EFTEKHARI has been a thought leader and innovator in the insurance industry for over two decades. Beginning his insurance career in 1996 with Northwestern Mutual Life and Robert W. Baird, Shervin won accolades as the Top First Year Agent and Top Second Year Agent at the Northwestern Mutual Life General Agency in the Washington Metropolitan area. In 1999, Shervin co-founded ReliaQuote Insurance Services, an internet-based insurance agency that marketed term life insurance nationwide. He designed and directed the operations, managed corporate partnerships, and developed sales relations that drove the company’s growth from 4 to 130 employees. In 2003, Fortune 500 Company Fiserv acquired ReliaQuote and Shervin served as a Fiserv Senior Vice President. Shervin joined Zander Insurance as President in 2013. He currently serves on the boards of the Martha O’Bryan Center, OZ Arts Nashville, and the Life Insurance Direct Marketing Association.
Shervin and his wife, Georgette, are the parents of Stella ’30 and Zane ’32.
6 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
KAILEY HAND holds a B.S. in Human and Organizational Development with a focus on Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness along with an M.Ed. in Elementary Education (K–8), both from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University, which led her to be a middle school civics and social studies teacher. As an avid philanthropist, Kailey has served on a variety of boards including, The Family Center, Our Kids, Nashville Public Library Foundation, and the Advisory Board at Monroe Carrell Jr Children’s Hospital. Kailey has led various capital campaigns, most recently for the expansion of the pediatric cancer center at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. An advocate for lifelong education, Hand is currently working toward an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and will become an LPC with added certifications.
Kailey and her husband, JR, have three small Tigers, Harper ’31, Jackson ’33, Beckett ’35, and Hayes (age 3). She served two years as the chair of the Ensworth Fund and is an active leader in the Ensworth Parent Association, coordinating multiple events throughout the years, including Super Saturday.
TREE PAINE moved to Nashville in 2007 to oversee the publicity department of Warner Music Group, Nashville. In 2014, she opened Premium PR, a global communications company. Throughout her career, she has worked mainly at record labels from Mute Records, Maverick Records, Interscope Records and finally as SVP of Publicity for Warner Music Nashville. She also oversaw all publicity, marketing, and promotion at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Tree has had the privilege of working with artists such as Blake Shelton, Sheryl Crow, Jimmy Fallon, for King & Country, and No Doubt. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Country Music and Lifting Lives (previous Chairman of the board). She has been actively involved in the community serving on the Board of Trustees of the Grammys, Cheekwood, and is a graduate of Leadership Music.
Tree and her husband, Lance, have one daughter, Lux ’25. She has volunteered at many Ensworth events, including chairing the homecoming dinner and post party and serving as the Grade 10 parent coordinator.
ALEX RYERSON is a Partner at Luxor Capital, a multi-billion dollar investment firm based in New York City, where he has worked since 2008. At Luxor, Alex handles the firm’s media and telecommunications investments for both equity and credit. Prior to Luxor, Alex worked in investment banking at Wasserstein Perella and Miller Buckfire & Co. He currently sits on the board of directors for Family and Children’s Services and Lead Public Schools. He was previously president of the board of trustees at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, where he served on the personnel committee and was chairman of the investment committee managing the church’s endowment. Alex was born and raised in Houston, TX, where he attended St. John’s School. After St. John’s, he attended Vanderbilt University, majoring in Economics, Mathematics, and Engineering Science and later attended Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business where he graduated with an MBA in 2007.
Alex and his wife, Polly, have three children, Gazzie ’29, Guy ’32, and Knowles ’36.
2024 WINTER | 7
THE FOUNDING OF
ENSWORTH'S HIGH SCHOOL A Risk Worth Taking WRITTEN BY MICHELLE ANDRADE,
Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
The
spirit truth.
of a place is evident. If enough people
it becomes a
believe
If enough people believe that truth, it becomes a
A culture passed from one generation to the next is a came together in support of the
8 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
in something,
vision
F E ATU R E
tradition.
culture.
Everyone
and In Search of Truth.
W
e come into certain circumstances and
and Bruce Moore, was formed to research and study
spaces just as we are meant to. Ask anyone
compiled data for a solid year. The committee broke
who has lived for years on this Earth, and
into two groups tasked with an impartial pro/con
they will reflect there is something to this thing we call
approach to all information. They gathered data on
life. Is it fate, luck, a higher power, or something else? We
comparable schools in similar cities to help Ensworth
may never know. But the stars aligned for the founding
create a viable financial model.
of Ensworth's High School. The people, place, time, philanthropic support, and talents all came just as they
The special committee presented the findings to the
were needed to create a new place that has impacted
full Board. The Board required a supermajority to move
the lives of thousands of people—a family school serving
forward to ensure that a decision had broad support.
students from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
On April 16, 2002, the Ensworth Board of Trustees
The Vision In the Spring of 2001, the Board of Trustees presented
voted to open the High School. It was more than just a decision. It was forging a new path. On that Tuesday night, the answer was to move forward.
a new strategic plan, bringing enhancements to the well-established Red Gables Campus, and renewed discussion on the opening of a high school unfolded. The
The Foundation
Board partnered with an independent firm to research
At the end of the meeting, Townes Duncan and Head
the feasibility of such an endeavor. In March 2002, the
of School Will Moseley left the room to follow up with
proposed expansion of Ensworth School research results
future key players who would be instrumental in the
were presented to the Board of Trustees. When 65%
development of the High School.
of surveyed parents said they would highly consider sending their students to Ensworth for high school, it was
Will Moseley was in his third year as Head of School.
evident that this adventure had above-average feasibility.
Earlier in the school year, Will had approached former
Former Board Chair Townes Duncan returned to serve as Chair again and to spearhead the process of deciding whether to open a high school or not. "What initially drove [the decision to expand Ensworth to a K–12 school] was to protect the K–8 experience," shared Duncan. "Adolescence is hard, and the K–8 experience gives kids opportunities to lead during a challenging developmental time of life."
Years of contemplation culminated in several surveys, parent perspectives, thoughtful deliberation, conversations, possibilities, and, inevitably, a final vote. In concurrence with the 2001–2002 strategic plan, a special committee, including Trisha Elcan, Brad Reed, Bobby Mathews, Jim Tate, Alison Douglas, Townes Duncan,
"Joy is what an education should be like." — David Morgan — FOUNDING HEAD OF HIGH SCHOOL
2024 WINTER | 9
colleague David Morgan, whom he had worked with
was contagious. Parents would host gatherings in their
at The Bishop's School. "What do you think?" the
homes. People invited current parents for dinner to
question may have been, but David was deep in an
come and hear about the High School, what it would be,
extensive two-year exploration of best practices in high
and everything it would entail."
schools. Additionally, a long-time educator, coach, and Ensworth parent Ricky Bowers had expressed interest
David Johnson was hired in May 2002 to coordinate the
in Ensworth expanding to a K–12 school. Following
project in collaboration with architect Graham Gund
the Board’s decision to move forward, conversations
to ensure the High School would be ready to open
began in earnest with Bowers, and he agreed to join
in August 2004. Details, waterways, Native American
the founding faculty. Morgan and Bowers, along
burial grounds, and codes had to be managed carefully
with Moseley, were the dynamic trio who formed
throughout the process. David shares, "In that two-year
the foundation of what Ensworth High School would
time frame, we had to select design and construction
become. They worked with the Board of Trustees to hire
teams, put together committees to finalize the scope,
architects, contractors, and faculty, all of whom were
hire department chairs for the High School to develop
motivated by the mission, vision, and development
the curriculum, complete the drawings, obtain the
of the program. Former Director of Communications
permits, and get it built and equipped. The number
Anne Stringham recalls, "The facilities were designed
of decisions that were needed and the speed at
and built to empower the innovative program."
which those decisions had to be made were almost overwhelming."
Ensworth launched a capital campaign that significantly enhanced Red Gables Campus with
David Johnson recalls, "This committee trusted each
Patton Hall, Ingram Library, and renovations to the arts,
other and the design and construction team so that
sciences, administration, and classroom spaces. This
decisions were made, and those decisions didn't
effort also included building the High School. Parent
change.” The uniqueness of the nature of this project
Kathryn Brown shares, "Everyone was just so excited. It
and the people who came together was evident. “This
"We did
everything
with the best of intentions and with the
highest
integrity
,
and we held each other accountable."
— Trisha Elcan '79 —
PICTURED ABOVE (left to right): David Morgan, Christy Thomas, Nancy Scoville, David Chanaca, John Faulkner, Myra McLarey, John Bean, & Joe Brady
10 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
level of cooperation is very rare, but without it, I don't
that understanding the preexisting culture was
believe we would have made the early August date
"probably the most important thing about the High
with furniture in classrooms, food in the kitchen, and
School. The spirit and love of learning, love of the
green grass in the quad. Sports fields were ready to
children, and what we were doing as teachers really
play games and practice, library books were on the
was the foundation for everything we did." Teachers
shelves, and supplies were in the art rooms."
were brought in and given space to create.
The P rogram
Joe Brady fondly remembers being on Red Gables
While fundraising and plans were taking place, hiring was also underway. Department Chairs were hired 18 months out. Joe Brady would head up the Math Department, Myra McLarey, English, Dr. John Bean, Science, John Faulkner, Arts, David Chanaca, History. Nancy Scoville, Red Gables World Language Department Chair, was added as an advisor until a permanent Department Chair could be hired. Countless others helped in the program development,
Campus. "Each of us was asked to teach a class along with the planning of the school, and I got to teach a seventh-grade math class. There was really a wonderful benefit to that.” The opportunity to know the Ensworth community was created by design to enhance the experience for all involved. “We got to know them; they got to know us. Plus, it was fun to see and learn how the Middle School acted and reacted to things in planning for the High School."
embracing a democratic process for establishing
The faculty and leadership had ideas of what
everything from the schedule to requirements for
education could be and came to Ensworth for, as Ricky
student electives. As a team, they spent an entire year
Bowers proclaimed, "A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
creating the curriculum process for the school. What
It was a risk—a huge one. Nashville families needed
could it be? Everyone brought their expertise to the
more choices. Families wanted to provide their
table and literally built the school from the inside out.
children a similar experience to what they had at Red Gables through high school. Ensworth had a thriving
Understanding the culture of Red Gables was essential
Kindergarten through Grade 8 school, but there was
to establishing the High School. David Morgan shared
still a need for improvements in some areas. The
2024 WINTER | 11
focus to continue building up what had been working
it. I was like a kid in a toy store. It was both exhilarating
ensued as the decision to expand was embraced.
and frightening at the same time."
Could Ensworth do both successfully? "One of the many wonderful traits of Ensworth's High David Morgan shares, "We decided everything from
School was Will Moseley's intent of students being
scratch. Sometimes, I gave input on what I had seen
successful at every level," said Kathryn Brown "One of
nationally, but I never voted on any of the proposals.
the philosophies was that every student was met at
This was a team effort. What the team decided was
their level and raised up to their best potential. As a
what we did, and it turned out to be something
parent, you can't wish for anything better."
that was different from any school in the country. It was a very exciting program that involved student
Academics were only some of what was being
immersion, discovery, and exploration based on
developed. They were also building the culture of
integrity and principles."
Ensworth’s High School. "What I thought was really cool was at three o'clock when school was over, kids
David Chanaca was a veteran teacher at Ensworth's
didn't leave. They didn't go home. And if you did, there
Middle School. David's extensive experience in the
is a chance of a teacher running into you and asking
Middle School made him the prime candidate
what you were doing. 'You're going home? Don't go
to embark on the path of developing the History
home, come on. I want you to be a part of this group,
department. "It was a blank slate," David shares. "The
or I want you to be a part of the theater. It doesn't
Board didn't come to us and say this is the school we
matter if you can't act," Kathryn shares. Everyone
want you to create. Will Moseley didn't say this is the
was invited in, and everyone had a part to play in the
school we want you to create. They said we want you
foundation of that first year.
to create a high school in the model of our Middle and Lower School with the whole child in mind. Go at it. Do
There were many ideas, and this was a new way of
"The hope was to be
innovative.
David Morgan
was the driving force who pulled it all together and built the image of what Ensworth High School's
curriculum
would be."
— David Chanaca —
FOUNDING HISTORY DEPARTMENT CHAIR
12 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
Our
GRATITUDE In the campaign report published in 2010, Board Chair Bruce Moore's message celebrated the community effort:
$112 million raised in eight years with donations from more than 1,000 families. "What you'll see on paper…are gifts school. Ensworth didn't just happen. There were, and are, many people behind the scenes, ensuring it survives. Everyone had to build. Maybe not the physical structures, but the culture, curriculum, and student body required everyone's help. These were the types of people drawn to Ensworth's High School at the genesis. Faculty, staff,
given sacrificially at all levels. What you may not see from the numbers on paper is the amazing commitment to a first-class
educational experience and the dedication to helping Ensworth School fulfill its
mission to each of our students."
and families who enrolled that first year had to have an entrepreneurial mindset to share in the vision of creating something like this, and that vision was worth the risk. ■
FIRST YEAR
FACULTY & STAFF Will Moseley, Head of School David Morgan, Head of High School Lee Baldwin
Michael Henry
John Bean
Marty Kauffman
Travis Bellenfant
Laura (Koerner) Stewart*
ENSWORTH
Ricky Bowers*
Eva Lea
Joe Brady
Myra McLarey
Jean Bruce
Jim Newman
Harkness Discussions
Edd Caudill
David Pack
Interdisciplinary Collaborations
David Chanaca*
Scott Perkinson*
Seminar Classes
Debbie Cherry
Jeff Pettit
Schedule (with lab period, etc.)
Linda Derossett
Linda Proctor
Alima Dubrulle
Laura Riley
Katie Dunn*
Cindy Rose
Kerry Dye
Stephane Ruz
John Faulkner
Sarah Shoemaker
Dr. Jessica Field
Heidi Smithson
Trina Flynn*
Christy Thomas
Robert Glaus
Darrell Wells
Small Class Sizes
Dr. David Gold
Justin Weatherby*
House System
Dr. Ruth Hagerty
Taliesa Wicks*
Quintessentially
Customized Scheduling System Students as Keynote Graduation Speakers Student-Teacher Commons Daily Fitness Classes Umbrella Policy Service Learning
*Current Faculty/Staff
2024 WINTER | 13
ALUMNI PROFILE
memories & influences
14 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
ALUMNI
TAYLOR (THOMAS) WELLMAN '08
memories & influences
B
eing a member of the
In the early days of the High School,
first graduating class of
before the soccer fields and cross-
the High School was both
country loops were fully developed, I
empowering and intimidating. It
recall a vivid memory of adventuring
was our own mashup—part high
down with friends to the creek that
school playground, part academic
ran through campus. It was on a
pressure cooker, and part performative
rare afternoon that we didn't have
experiment. During my time at the
a practice to get to, so instead, we
High School, I developed a strong
spent time trudging through the
sense of self-sufficiency, which has
mud, sharing stories, and goofing
continued to carry me through various
around without a care in the world.
aspects of my life and career. I learned
A lot of my high school experience
how to communicate effectively from
involved learning how to be an adult,
years of sitting around the Harkness
but that was one moment when I fully
tables, processing and verbalizing my
embraced the opportunity to still be
ideas while also actively listening to
a kid.
and engaging with my peers. I have a hard time finding this The Harkness table encouraged
type of presence anywhere but
collaboration as much as it did
the studio these days. During my
introspection—two skills I continue
painting process, I inhabit the kind
to draw upon in my art practice
of careless joy, experimentation, and
and career today. In the studio,
timelessness I did in that fleeting
I generate images based on my
memory. There’s something about
internal exploration of emotions,
being alone, surrounded by canvases
questions, and doubts. Translating
and strewn materials, that allows me
and presenting those works to an
to tap into gestural movement and
external audience becomes a highly
full acceptance of self. Five minutes
collaborative act. Whether I’m in
somehow turns into five hours when
dialogue with curators, collectors,
I’m painting, and five hours feels like
journalists, students, or other artists,
the blink of an eye.
I’m relying on the important balance between pouring out (speaking/
I have fond memories of my teachers
expressing) and taking in (hearing/
who encouraged me and helped
digesting). There is rarely an end-all-
shape me as a student, friend, and
be-all concept or statement with art,
individual. Three women, in particular,
so instead, I focus on contributing to
stood out as mentors whom I still
an evolving, collective conversation.
cherish to this day. My high school
"It was our own mashup—part high school playground, part academic pressure cooker, and part performative experiment." 2024 WINTER | 15
"Even to this day, that sense of pondering and searching still translates through my painting practice."
English teacher, Varina Willse, first
college they select, and it certainly
office, with a character and light
captured my attention through a
made an impact in my case. Laura
radiating well beyond those walls. She
William Wordsworth poem, and I've
helped me identify the difference
exemplified what it looked like to care
admired the way she evokes purpose,
between finding the most impressive
for others well and consider a different
pause, and inquiry through words
fit versus finding the right fit when
perspective than my own. Talk about a
since. She was one of the first women
it came to college. She knew how
life lesson that has continued to carry
to wow me with her creativity and
I wanted to flourish in the world as
over into my profession.
push me to embrace my mind and
much as she knew how I performed
voice. She taught me to hang onto
on paper. That was key. When it came
From my earliest studio days to grad
the words of poets as if there were
to my choice, I was able to land on
school to now, I have constantly been
treasures within them if only I dived
Davidson College — a place that was
challenged to examine varying visual
deep enough. Even to this day, that
small enough for me to feel known,
and conceptual perspectives. To solidify
sense of pondering and searching
challenging enough for me to grow,
(and continue identifying) my artistic
still translates through my painting
and creative enough for me to test out
style and voice, I learn from artists who
practice.
various avenues. I still remember the
bring alternative approaches and ideas
trip I took with Laura to see Davidson
to life. It’s not just about accepting one
Laura Stewart, better known as
for the first time — I don’t think I
another’s differences but celebrating
Coach Laura or "CL" back in the day,
would have been able to make my
them. That’s what keeps things
single-handedly led me through four
decision without that exposure and
interesting — we are all so uniquely
years of high school as my biggest
encouragement.
wired. I hope those three women know
supporter—on the field, off the field,
just how much they meant to me back
in my toughest moments, and in
Rebekah Capps Armstrong, lovingly
then and how they've inspired the
my proudest. Her hope for students
known as Reebs, was also someone I
person I have become. ■
continues to extend further than the
always found in the college counseling
16 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
Taylor is the owner and artist of Taylor O. Thomas Studio and the Product Manager at Artifact. Her paintings have been exhibited in galleries, museums, and private collections across the United States and in Italy, Spain, Australia, Singapore, and China. Taylor graduated magna cum laude from Davidson College with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. She was then awarded a Graduate Fellowship by the University of South Florida, where she earned her Master of Fine Arts.
Taylor is the recipient of an inaugural Innovate Artist Grant, a Peripheral Vision Publication Fellowship, a two-time role as Publication Juror for Friend of the Artist, a Regional Artist Project Grant by the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte, NC, and residency scholarships to attend Vermont Studio Center and Benaco Arte in Sirmione, Italy. Other residencies include MassArt’s Art New England and Deli Grocery New York. Taylor and her husband, Will, currently live in Nashville, Tennessee.
During her time at Ensworth, Taylor received the National Merit Scholarship, Yale Book Award, Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award, Presbyterian College Academic Achievement Award, Randolph Macon College Women’s Book Award, National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, Vanderbilt University Young Scholars Medical Program Graduate, and attended the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference.
She was captain of the soccer team and a member of the track, lacrosse, and math teams. She was part of the Ensworth Singers and was involved with the annual musicals/plays and school exhibitions. She volunteered with Operation Christmas Child, Dominican Republic Young Life, and Habitat for Humanity.
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CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY CENTER
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CREATORS » Ensworth is committed to providing our students with access to the latest technology and an expert faculty. The new Creative Technology Center at the High School, featuring an engineering-oriented instructional space, a full-service broadcast suite and control center, a dedicated home for the Robotics team and arena, a podcast studio, and a well-equipped digital media and computer science classroom, opened in the fall of this year. These purposefully designed spaces allow our students to leverage digital resources, advanced equipment, and the technical knowledge of our faculty to acquire coding and computational thinking skills, create new media and digital content, and design novel applications and machines.
ACADEMICS 18 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
COMPUTER SCIENCE Our new digital media and computer science classroom features 16 M2 Mac computers with studio displays that provide our students with larger screens for detailed design work and advanced processing power for running specialized design, rendering, and editing software. In our 3D Design & Technology course, students are learning to create 3D models in the computer lab which they then send to our high-speed 3D printers for prototyping. Students are using this space to gain an edge in developing their computational thinking skills, which in recent years, have become more critical in preparing our students for college and beyond.
In addition to 3D Design, all Grade 9 students will learn coding and computational thinking principles beginning next year with the introduction of a new required technology course. The lab is also equipped for music, photography, and video production.
ROBOTICS The robotics program is a centerpiece of the new technology center. With a central location and new visibility, more students are showing an interest in robotics which is now offered as an elective on the academic schedule. Students in this elective work in teams using the engineering design process to build and code a robot for competition, all while leveraging their individual strengths to achieve a common goal.
The robotics space boasts an arena, VEX competition robotics kits, and an array of tools and parts for creating bots to compete in the arena. With a full-time home and the availability of a class, Ensworth students can now compete in local and regional competitions.
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BROADCAST Since the early days of the High School, Ensworth has offered students an opportunity to be involved in broadcasting, and many alumni have continued with media and broadcasting as a career. When first envisioning a new broadcasting space, we wanted to provide a centralized location that our students could easily access during and after the school day. The new technology center houses a professional studio room and multi-monitor 4K-ready broadcast control room that can accommodate live broadcasts of all sporting and arts events. Students are gaining experience operating advanced broadcast technology and developing the skills needed to continue their passion at the next level.
“Students who participate in the Broadcast Club are learning more than just technical skills. Students are working in groups where communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving are critical to the success of the broadcast,” said Jason Robinson, Director of Broadcasting and Associate Director of Technology at Frist Campus. “Since the production is happening live, students are utilizing these skills in a fast-paced environment, and have to learn how to adapt quickly.”
PODCAST The podcast studio serves a variety of purposes in the new technology center. Students use the studio for seminar and capstone courses as well as an opportunity to explore topics they are passionate about, share stories, and engage in meaningful conversation and debate. The studio is an acoustically treated space with a four-person podcasting desk, Tascam Mixcast Podcast Recorder, and video technology to host remote guests.
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FABRICATION LAB
“
THE SYNERGY OF THIS NEW, DYNAMIC SPACE AND AN EXPANDED TECHNOLOGY
The Fabrication Lab was designed to house our engineering courses. In addition to a variety of power tools, the lab contains resin printers, a 3D scanner, a laser cutter and engraver. The Engineering Technology course is focused on application rather than theory; students combine scientific concepts and basic engineering principles to create and implement solutions to real-
CURRICULUM WILL EQUIP OUR STUDENTS
world problems. By employing the iterative nature of the
WITH ESSENTIAL TECHNOLOGY SKILLS
teams, applying and further developing core skills that are
TO EXCEL IN ANY FIELD OF STUDY AFTER ENSWORTH. - JASON HIETT Director of Technology
engineering design process, students collaborate in small
critical for engineering teams in today’s world.
Beginning in the spring of 2024, students will have the opportunity to take Material Engineering to learn to modify, design and build using a variety of materials to meet the needs of modern technology. This hands-on course immerses students in materials, how they are manufactured and how their use in various devices and structures impacts modern society. ■
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patchwork AN ENSWORTH TRADITION
Patchwork assemblies bring some of the most prolific and talented authors, illustrators, and entertainers to Red Gables Campus several times a year to talk to our students about their work.
T
he idea for Patchwork came from Ensworth librarians Mary Ella Burke and Barbara Griffin and began in 1981. The
name was chosen for how patchwork quilts blend seemingly disparate pieces into a coherent, distinct whole through time, patience, and experience. The first guest was renowned author and illustrator Tomie dePaola, just six years after his Caldecott Medal for Strega Nona. When Dean Schneider arrived at Ensworth as a Middle School English teacher in the late ‘80s, Patchwork had become an evening event for students and families with music, readings, and poetry. Over the years, Ensworth received visits from many illustrious authors, illustrators, and entertainers, including Kate DiCamillo, Katherine Paterson, Mo Willems, Jeff Kinney, and Rick Riordan, plus repeat visits from Tomie dePaola, Ashley Bryan, David Holt, Steven Kellogg, Johanna Hurwitz, Jack Gantos, James Ransome, Charles
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LOWER SCHOOL ACADEMICS
Smith, Allan Wolf, Kate Hovey, Ralph Fletcher, Chris
bestselling author and illustrator of the graphic novels
Clark, Gregory Christie, Jacqueline Woodson, Peter
New Kid and Class Act. New Kid is the only book in
Brown, Jonathan Miller, Kwame Alexander, Sophie
history to win the John Newbery Medal for the most
Blackall, Nathan Hale, and Doug Berky.
outstanding contribution to children’s literature (2020), the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature (2019),
These artists have been recognized widely, including
and the Coretta Scott King Author Award for the most
four Newbery Medals, three Coretta Scott King Awards,
outstanding work by an African American writer
one Caldecott Medal, and even one Grammy. No
(2020). Jerry was born in Harlem and grew up in the
matter the guest’s profession or the visit’s format,
Washington Heights section of New York City.
Patchwork has always maintained a commitment to sharing inspiring stories through books and personal
Adam Gidwitz, Newbery Honor Award-winning
interaction.
author of The Inquisitor’s Tale, visited in November. He captivated our students by retelling classic
This semester, Jerry Craft (pictured below) shared his
Grimm’s fairytales through his book series A Tale
work, his passions, and how he went from someone
Dark and Grimm, which is also a miniseries on
who did not love reading to a world-renowned author
Netflix. He is also the author of Star Wars: The
and illustrator. Jerry Craft is the New York Times
Empire Strikes Back: So You Want to Be a Jedi?. Dion Leonard came to Ensworth to share his inspirational journey with Gobi! While doing an ultra marathon run across the Gobi Desert, Dion met a stray dog he named Gobi. They went through a lot together during that desert trek and became great friends—a story Dion shares through his books. The emphasis on reading and literacy has been an integral part of the student experience at Ensworth from the early days. Just like a patchwork quilt, the lessons from these inspiring stories are woven together in the memories of countless Ensworth students. ■
WRITTEN BY PAUL DOWNEY,
Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications
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Breadth &Depth HIGH SCHOOL ELECTIVES WRITTEN BY DR. JJ ANTHONY,
Associate Dean of College Counseling & Academic Advising; Director of Academic Affairs
As an important part of our mission to promote academic excellence and inspire our students to be intellectually curious, we prioritize creating an academic program that goes beyond developing foundational skills by providing opportunities for students to explore a variety of interests outside of our core curriculum. This comprehensive academic program is possible as a result of our talented faculty’s dedication to providing the most dynamic, innovative educational experience possible.
ACADEMICS
During their sophomore year, students meet with their college counselor and academic advisor to select from over 100 electives available to them for their junior year. Each semester, student interest drives the elective offerings which ensures our curriculum includes courses that spark student curiosity. A 7-period rotational schedule allows time for courses that deliver a core curriculum and cultivate students' personal interests.
Some student favorites include Crime Scene Science, World Religions, and Poetry. By taking these staples or selecting from an evolving list of exciting new facultydeveloped classes created each year, our academic program pushes students to develop their skills above and beyond the traditional curriculum. The courses below highlight some of the unique opportunities that our students took advantage of this past semester.
PSYCHOLOGY This course dives into theories that try to explain human individual and group behavior by analyzing theories of personality, exploring the stages of human development, and studying human behavior in a social setting. The course attempts to explain if behavior is predetermined based on our nature and environment and tests to see if that behavior can be altered. It explores the early origins of this social science and puts an emphasis on how the scientific method through experimentation has attempted to quantify the study of human behavior today.
During the unit on developmental psychology and education, our students visited Red Gables Campus to interact with our Lower School students to witness these
students in action
theories in action. Lower School Counselor, Olivia Betts, offered the High School students some valuable insight on how critical understanding child development is in her role and how to identify important clues.
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NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY Students taking this course explore Native American history and issues such as first arrival, construction of great societies, battles of removal, and their effort to preserve their cultures despite modern-day marginalization. Students study primary and secondary sources, as well as the Ensworth property, to grow in their understanding of Native American populations and their history.
This fall, students visited the Pow Wow, which is hosted annually by the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee at Long Hunter State Park. This trip allowed students to witness live Native American dance and learn more about the culture including art, music, traditions, food, and storytelling.
CRIME SCENE SCIENCE In this elective, students explore crime scene processing, evidence collection, and suspect examination. A large portion of the course uses laboratory-based explorations through techniques such as chromatography, ballistics, blood typing, DNA analysis, and lifting of latent fingerprints to analyze evidence commonly found at a crime scene. Field-based work includes observation and analysis of decomposition rates. Students also analyze factual crime scene case studies and the evidence used to catch and convict known serial killers. A final project requires students to analyze evidence to solve a crime.
Facial reconstruction is used in crime scene forensics and Dr. Crystal Miller’s Crime Scene Science class. Students performed a facial reconstruction activity as part of their Anthropology Unit, where they started with a skull and reconstructed a face using clay.
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WORLD WAR II: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE World War II was unarguably one of the major historical events of the 20th Century. However, many American History courses only study the effect of this conflict on the people and politics of the US. This course offers an opportunity to view the war from a more global perspective, examining how the war affected citizens, soldiers and politicians from other countries drawn into the conflict. Through films, literature , document analysis, and oral histories created by the students of World War II veterans, we expand our vision and understanding of the war beyond our own borders.
Veterans from the Ensworth community visited Frist Campus to meet with our World War II students, share stories, and attend a special assembly to honor Veterans Day.
DANCE FOR ATHLETES Our Dance for Athletes course allows students to hone their skills as an athlete while learning to appreciate the art of dance. Through the application of a variety of dance principles and styles, students work to increase agility, strength, balance, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory endurance. While designed with athletes in mind, this course is also beneficial to anyone looking for a creative way to enhance their physical fitness.
Students in the Dance for Athletes and Music Video Dance classes collaborated to create a pumpkin spice themed dance performance for the High School’s annual Spook-E assembly. The performance featured over 80 students from our dance elective classes with special appearances by members of the High School faculty. ■
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learning WRITTEN BY BETSY THOMAS,
Director of K–12 Service Learning
Service learning is at the heart of the student experience
the Service Learning program at Ensworth is attributed
at Ensworth, and it’s an integral part of the school’s
to the strength of our relationships with over 100
mission and vision statements. Service Learning has
community partners—many of which we have served for
been an important part of the high school experience
decades.
since its founding. We have carefully structured our Service Learning program to provide our students with a wide variety of enriching experiences from Kindergarten
Bell Garden
through Grade 12. At each stage in their educational
Bell Garden is a community garden and education
journey, our students work with nonprofits to foster
center in the heart of the Bellevue neighborhood with
a spirit of service, encouraging students to become
a long-standing partnership with our High School. They
lifelong contributors to society. Much of the success of
offer a myriad of classes for local students, including
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STUDENT LIFE
sustainability, gardening, and nutrition, and provide fresh food to local food banks. They are focused on building
The Bridge Nashville
healthier, deeply connected communities through
Following in this same vein of connecting students
garden-based service, education, volunteerism, and food
across campuses through service is the work that
distribution to those in need.
we do with The Bridge Nashville. This organization works with those in our community facing food and
Run almost entirely on volunteer support, Bell Garden is
housing insecurity. We have connection points with
unique in that it offers students from each of our divisions
this community partner at all three divisions, which
the opportunity to engage in service learning projects.
allows our students to study issues facing the Nashville
Lower School students will spend time during their Grade
community in different ways as they grow through their
2 Veggiecation curriculum learning about produce and
time at Ensworth.
visiting Bell Garden to learn how vegetables grow and clean up the gardens for our neighbors.
This fall, the High School partnered exclusively with The Bridge for our November Service Day, participating in a
Middle School students work with this community
packing event for their Bridge to Kids program. In one
partner during their annual Grade 8 Service Week and
day, students packed more than 6,000 meal bags to be
High School students routinely connect with Bell Garden
distributed to Metro Nashville Public School students
on several Service Days throughout the school year.
facing food insecurity when not in school.
From a relational perspective, students begin to develop friendships with the staff and other volunteers at Bell
At the Lower and Middle School levels, students are also
Garden. From an educational perspective, students
able to engage in hands-on service with The Bridge at
deepen their understanding of the ways this nonprofit
their Nashville warehouse by assisting in meal packing
service work connects with their classroom learning.
programs and supply organization.
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“The Bridge has been such a good experience for me.
Harris-Hillman on Service Day and several of our High
It’s wonderful to see the smiling faces of the families
School Service Scholars have selected Harris-Hillman as
receiving the food, and I’m grateful to be a part of such
their partner for ongoing service.
an amazing organization!” shared Reese Fogaros ’24. “There are two ways I serve with The Bridge. Sometimes,
“Our service learning partnership with Harris-Hillman is
I go to the warehouse to pack bags with household items
one of the most impactful service opportunities we have—
and snacks that are later shipped out across Nashville
not because of the impact we have on them, but because of
to those in need; other times, I work at various Bridge
the impact they have on us,” said Whitney Earhart, Grade
outreach locations. I’ve worked with this organization
4 Teacher and Grade Level Coordinator. “Our students
since I was little, so it means a lot to continue this work
learn to embrace people with differences and to truly serve
with them at school.”
the needs of others.” ■
Harris-Hillman The Harris-Hillman School serves children with multiple disabilities ages 3 through 22 in Davidson County. Ensworth has partnered with Harris-Hillman for over 25 years on a variety of projects to help serve the needs of their students.
Our Grade 4 students work with Harris-Hillman three times throughout the year. The first visit is to perform a show, tour the school, and visit students in their classrooms. In the winter, Ensworth students go ice skating with Harris-Hillman students at the Centennial Sportsplex. Our students help skate and push the Harris-Hillman students in their wheelchairs around the rink. In the spring, our Grade 4 students serve in conjunction with a game day similar to the
ABOUT BETSY THOMAS Betsy is a 13-year veteran of secondary education, holding positions in teaching, counseling, service learning, and high school administration. She earned her Bachelor of Arts, Master of Education, and Master of Divinity degrees from Lipscomb University. Before becoming the Director of K–12 Service Learning, she served as Director of Service Learning at the High School. In her time before Ensworth, her deep passion for service learning emerged and led her to take a deep dive into professional development through conferences, workshops, and training programs. Her journey even brought her to Ensworth years ago to learn more about the incorporation of service learning into a school-wide curriculum.
Special Olympics. Our students sing for the opening ceremonies and take Harris-Hillman students around to various games and activity stations or run the activities.
Our High School students also have numerous opportunities to serve with Harris-Hillman throughout the year. This fall, students spent time bowling with
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EXPLORING THE TAPESTRY OF TALENT High School Clubs at Ensworth
At
Ensworth, a robust offering of clubs and activities provide a wide variety of opportunities for students to follow their passion through extracurricular life. These programs represent a variety of interests, including service club, pickleball, cooking,
and entrepreneurship. Each fall, the High School hosts a Club Fair for students to learn about the clubs and join their favorites. "The clubs and student organizations at Ensworth allow students and faculty to explore beyond academic classes,” said Cecilia Wang, High School Clubs Coordinator and Chinese Teacher. “This is a great opportunity for our students to practice their leadership skills and for faculty to get to know students outside of the classroom setting."
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FIBER ARTS CLUB Faculty-Led Faculty Leaders: Courtney Bahr and Trina Flynn Meets: Tuesday–Friday from 12:40–1:20 p.m. in the "Studio" in the Library The Fiber Arts Club was born out of a desire for the Ensworth community to practice knitting, crocheting, and sewing. Trina and Courtney began knitting in December 2022 and chatting endlessly about techniques, stitches, and more. They
TIGER GARAGE
eventually connected with students who knew how to knit from the late Robin Smith.
Student-Led
Robin taught at Ensworth and shared her love of knitting
Student Leaders: Owen Jackoboice ’24,
with so many students, and that kind of joy and passion is
Varun Venkatesh ’24, and Akshay Venkatesh ’24
infectious. Close to 21 members loosely attended on club
Faculty Sponsor: Andrew Smith
meeting days.
Meets: Wednesdays after school in the Tiger Garage — Tiger Garage provides opportunities for students to learn about how vehicles work and hone skills necessary for car maintenance and upkeep. Students have had the opportunity to learn how to change oil, do valve cover replacements, and jack up vehicles. This club averages 5–10 members per meeting and offers students the opportunity to bring problems they may be having to the group setting. Tiger Garage hosts a car show each semester on Ensworth's Frist Campus, which brings car enthusiasts together from all over the Middle Tennessee area. Club members are assisted by members of Ensworth's maintenance crew like Andrew Smith and Justin Weatherby. Next Car Show: March 2024
FIBER ARTS MEETS SERVICE The Fiber Arts Club teamed up with Service Day on November 17, when the entire High School had the opportunity to work with club members to create felted flowers and birds using upcycled materials. As Ensworth prepared for the first Service Day and started pricing out the cost of materials, it was decided to keep it "service-minded" and totally in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Goal #12 - Responsible Consumption and Production) to use discarded materials to create the projects. With bags of donated yarn, fabric scraps, and old sweaters that were repurposed to make all sorts of creations, the Fiber Arts Club is bringing service to life. The menagerie will go to the Red Road organization—an organization started by our club member, Imayia Owns Different Horses' mother. Before they are sent away, they will be part of the Visible art exhibit in January, which focuses on sustainability. ■
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Student Leadership & News FOR THE RECORD
STUDENT GOVERNMENT LEADERS ELECTED
CLASS OF 2024
CLASS OF 2025
CLASS OF 2026
CLASS OF 2027
Dean Ralsky*
Claire Kurtz*
Gabi Bullock*
Christian Kurtz*
Congratulations to the following
Alex Crews
Rodger Grant
Isaiah Batten
Tom Courtney
individuals who have been elected
Will Garner
Dax Martin
David Choma
Mills Darst
to represent their class as Senators
Camilla Garza
Richard Thigpen
Harrison Kilgore
Dan McGugin
in this year's Student Government:
Jay Johnson
Grace Thompson
Julia Grace Linn
Tyler Roh
* Indicates Class Speaker
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL We would like to formally congratulate the following students for being elected to this year's Middle School Student Council: President: Greyson Waller
Grade 8 Representatives: Tucker Lyman and Jet O'Rear
Vice-President: Laura Thompson
Grade 7 Representatives: Rose Mason and Thomas McGugin
Secretary: Gazzie Ryerson
Grade 6 Representatives: Willie Mo Belott and Zigi Haun
Sergeant-at-arms: Kip Keyser
NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN RECOGNITION PROGRAM SCHOLAR Kennedy Aderogba '24 was recently named a College Board National African American Recognition Program Scholar based on her remarkable academic achievements and outstanding performance on the PSAT and/or AP Exams.
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HONORS CHOIRS Three Ensworth High School Chamber Singers have been selected for the Middle Tennessee Vocal Association's regional honors choirs. Katarina Santiago '26 and James Heinrichs '26 made the Mid-State SATB Choir, while Emmy Woodard '27 earned a spot on the Freshman Honors SATB Choir. Join us in congratulating these three hard-working and talented vocalists selected from among 800+ high school auditionees. James was also selected for the All-State choir as the 11th-ranked tenor in Middle Tennessee! This spring, James will be the first Ensworth student to sing in an All-State choir—performing with the All-State TTBB ensemble at the Tennessee Music Education Association's annual conference.
ORANGE & BLACK CAPTAINS Black and Orange are not just Ensworth's school colors; they are the basis of a long-standing spirited tradition that dates back to the 1960s. When students are in Kindergarten, they are assigned to the Orange or Black team and remain an "Orange" or "Black" throughout their time on the Red Gables Campus. Generational traditions live on as family members are always assigned to the same team. Early in the year, Grade 8 students nominate four captains who give speeches to K–8 students at an assembly. Then, Grades 4–8 vote for their Team Captain for the year. This year's team captains are Charlotte Williamson and Ethan Starling for the Orange Team and Katie Freeman, Hines Porterfield, and Shep Porterfield for the Black Team (co-captains in an unprecedented stroke of happenstance or perhaps even serendipity, finishing in an exact tie).
MODEL UN Ensworth's Model United Nations High School club members attended the 19th annual Vanderbilt University Model UN conference in early November. Bringing a delegation of 16 students from three grade levels and three separate committees, Ensworth students were well-prepared and well-engaged. Tyler Roh ’27 won the verbal commendation, Sutton Korn ’27 the honorable mention, and Mya Jones ’26 the best delegate award in the General Assembly. The next stop for the Model UN is in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee in February. Model UN is an educational simulation of the UN General Assembly. This experience allows students to build research, public speaking, debating, critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership skills while expanding their knowledge of global affairs.
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arts 38 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
A MAGICAL MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSICAL OF A TALE AS OLD AS TIME This year’s Middle School musical, Beauty and the Beast, Jr., was a memorable and sensational production for all involved. The impressive theatrical performance was immensely comedic, beautifully designed, and exceptionally enacted by our talented Middle School students. It showcased the performing arts program through a lively event and as an impressive educational experience that highlighted our students using and evolving their talents to the fullest. Directed by Chorus Teacher Lisa Benton, music directed by Lower School Music Teacher Grace Palmer, and choreographed by the School of Dance’s Leila Jones, the Middle School musical team worked diligently to shine a light on our individual students’ work and our community in creating a supportive experience filled with joy, laughter, drama, and song for all.
The real show stealers, however, were the student cast and crew. Students like Annie Lane brought their characters to life with incredible talent and dedication, all while balancing a busy Ensworth schedule. In Beauty and the Beast, Annie played Mrs. Potts, who serves as the head of the Beast’s kitchen. The wicked enchantress transforms her into a teapot as a result of the curse
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MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSICAL
placed on the castle. Annie mentioned that the short time they had to prepare for the show was challenging. “We had to have all of our lines in about two weeks and had to pick up choreography very fast,” she explains. “Another hard part about this show was trying to accommodate the choreography with your costumes because most people are enchanted objects.”
Annie appreciated the help and consideration from the adults involved in the production. “Mrs. Leila went over the choreography whenever anyone needed, and I was never scared to ask her a question,” she recounts. “Mrs. Palmer was also very helpful by always being super kind and making jokes. Lastly, Mrs. Benton was a huge help by providing food and giving us breaks whenever needed. Although we did have long rehearsals, everyone had breaks throughout those rehearsals.”
Mrs. Benton was likewise impressed by the students’ hard work, observing, “As Director of the show, I enjoy seeing the progression of the show from beginning to finale. This was a challenging musical, and the students worked so hard together to accomplish the successful production. I was so proud of the students and the talents they shared as they worked through choreography or took notes on feedback to make the production better.”
The lighter moments also stuck with Annie. “Some of my most memorable moments were learning the dances I wasn’t in and performing them backstage with all of my friends as if we were dancing with them,” she recalls. Annie’s passion for the arts is evident, and she is excited to continue pursuing her love for performing. “I will 100% continue theater at the High School!” she shares. “I love musical theatre and feel like the stage is my happy place, so any opportunity I have to sing and dance on stage, I will take it,” she said.
Productions like the Middle School musicals provide excellent avenues for expression, craft, passion, and skill development in many areas. The true value of such an experience lies not just in the recognition and accolades our students receive on stage but in the talents that blossom as a result of their dedicated efforts. These moments create lasting memories, foundational skills, and meaningful connections and relationships formed within the Ensworth community. ■
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Wilde Perfection in Love and Satire WRITTEN BY DAVID BERRY ’91, Director of Theater
Ensworth actors, musicians, and student designers took to the stage this fall in a gorgeously rendered, music-infused interpretation of Oscar Wilde’s, An Ideal Husband.
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HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA
As all Wilde’s plays do, An Ideal Husband celebrates
with bringing it to life on stage. There are certainly
human wit and beauty. The play also seems to want to
the intellectual demands of interpreting Wilde’s
explore the worst in the best of us—before it redeems
heightened 19th-century text and playing that text
us through the beauty of love.
with clarity and immediacy for a live audience. There are also the demands of grappling with the play’s
Time and again while working on this show, I was taken
central questions: How do we love one another well?
aback by how directly it speaks to our school’s mission
What ideals should we ultimately be in search of?
and vision statements, challenging us to ask ourselves again what it means to be In Search of Truth and to
When pursuing those questions, there is no one I
follow “the highest principles with the greatest love.”
trust more than our students. Over the years, my most
We trust our students to engage and grapple with
common reaction to working with our students is to
texts that challenge us as students, educators, and
be humbled. I am humbled by their dedication. I am
community members.
humbled by their relentless work ethic. I am humbled by their emotional and intellectual intelligence. And
The challenges inherent to Wilde’s text make
I am humbled by how they love and care for one
numerous demands on the student actors charged
another with such steadfast courage. ■
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Inspire. Appreciate. Create. 44 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
LOWER SCHOOL VISUAL ARTS
Our Lower School visual arts curriculum embraces imagination, encourages personal expression, and engages the ability to communicate using visual language. While exploring a range of art techniques and materials such as painting, drawing, ceramics, and mixed media, our young artists’ creative voices begin to emerge and bloom.
Woven throughout the Lower School art experience is a consistent reference to the elements of art and a growing understanding of how they help us bring creative ideas out of our minds and into reality. Our students also learn to understand and appreciate the perspectives of others as they study art from other cultures and are exposed to the work of both traditional and contemporary artists.
We seek opportunities to work across disciplines, creating rich, holistic experiences to deepen the adventure of learning. Our hope is that this joyful environment inspires in each child a love and gratitude for the broad world of visual art that they will carry with them, wherever their paths may lead. ■
WRITTEN BY
EVIE COATES AND KATHRYN SWORDS, Lower School Art Teachers
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46 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
ATHLETICS
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS FALL 2023 HIGHLIGHTS
GIRLS' GOLF TEAM STATE CHAMPIONS Alexandra Crews '24, Individual State Champion, All Mid-State Golf Savannah Cherry '24, Individual State Runner-up Hayden Cherry '26 Elle Evans '24 TEAM REGIONAL CHAMPIONS Savannah Cherry '24, Individual Regional Champion Alexandra Crews '24, Individual Regional Runner-up Hayden Cherry '26, 3rd Place in Regionals
BOYS' GOLF Landon Jones '24, Individual Region Runner-up
ALEXANDRA CREWS '24
VOLLEYBALL Maeby Greatens '24, All-Region Sullivan Brown '24, All-Region
MAEBY GREATENS '24 & SULLIVAN BROWN '24
2 0 2 4 W I N T E R | 47
CONNOR STEWART '24
FOOTBALL Zaidyn Moore '24, DII-AAA West All-Region and TACA Tennessee East-West All-Star Team Connor Stewart '24, TACA Tennessee East-West All Star Team Brandon Collins '25, DII-AAA West All-Region Mason Curtis '24, DII-AAA West All-Region Sam Haley '25, DII-AAA West All-Region Jaren Sensabaugh '24, DII-AAA West All-Region Micah Smith '25, DII-AAA West All-Region Ethan Utley '25, DII-AAA West All-Region Jack Watts '25, DII-AAA West All-Region
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ZAIDYN MOORE '24
GIRLS' SOCCER Breahn Fisher '25, All-State and All-Region Camilla Garza '24, All-Region Brenna Hanbury '25, All-Region
BOYS' CROSS COUNTRY Grant Rehm '25, State medalist (9th) and new school record (15:31)
BREAHN FISHER '25
GRANT REHM '25
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MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS FALL 2023 HIGHLIGHTS
GIRLS' TENNIS HVAC TEAM CHAMPIONS Tempo Haun and Lauren Glenn, #1 Doubles Champions Lucy Hundley and Marie Preis, #2 Doubles Champions Yeva Diachenko, #1 Singles Runner-up Abby Martin, #2 Singles Champion Ruby Saunders, #3 Singles Runner-up
BOYS' TENNIS HVAC TEAM RUNNER-UP Brennan Bartman, #1 Singles Champion Austin Ahrend, #2 HVAC semifinalist Declan Ahrend, #3 Singles Runner-up William Dorr and Holden Smith, #1 Doubles Runner-up Grant Kinnett and Jet O’Rear, #2 Doubles Runner-up
FOOTBALL GRADES 7–8 VARSITY FOOTBALL Undefeated Season (7–0) GRADE 6 FOOTBALL HVAC AA Division Runner-up GRADE 5 FOOTBALL Raising Canes Bowl Champions
50 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
GIRLS' SOCCER GRADE 6 SOCCER HVAC Junior Division Champions Undefeated Season (7–0)
VOLLEYBALL VARSITY VOLLEYBALL HVAC AA Division Runner-Up GRADE 6 VOLLEYBALL HVAC Junior Division Semi-Finalist
WRESTLING Kris Rice, HVAC Champion (235 class) Ethan Starling, HVAC Champion (160 class) Clay Deleot, HVAC Runner-up (90 class) Josh Easley, HVAC Runner-up (95 class) Elijah Hensley, HVAC Runner-up (180 class) and Best Match Award
CROSS COUNTRY Emily McWilliams, All HVAC Clay Deleot, All HVAC
2024 WINTER | 51
COLLEGE SIGNINGS CO N G R ATU L AT I O N S to the seven student-athletes from the Class of 2024 who committed to continuing their athletic careers at the collegiate level!
SAVANNAH CHERRY
November 2023
High Point University
JULIA MASON
Loyola University Maryland
52 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
ATHLETICS
MEREDITH WHITSON
Coastal Carolina University
PETER DARST
Davidson College
HUDSON WILT
Texas Christian University
GRACE HASSELBECK
Vanderbilt University
SPENCER YU
The George Washington University
2024 WINTER | 53
HOSTED BY THE PARENT ASSOCIATION
Navigating the Educational Journey From building healthy friendships to managing the college admissions process This fall, the Parent Association hosted acclaimed author and psychologist Michael Thompson, Ph.D., who visited both Ensworth campuses and spoke to students and parents about the challenges facing our children today at various stages of their lives. Dr. Thompson engaged with our Grades 4 through 8 students at the Red Gables Campus about friendships, kindness, and popularity. Instead of presenting to them, he walked through the bleachers and asked questions which sparked remarkable participation. Grades 4 and 5 students gave beautiful descriptions of what makes a friend; Grades 7 and 8 students contributed thoughts on what made people popular. Many students stopped him afterward to ask more questions, greet him, thank him for coming, and tell him how much they enjoyed his assembly. Dr. Thompson also spoke with our Grades 11 and 12 students at Frist Campus about the increasing stress and myths in American culture regarding the college admissions process. He engaged with three students going through the college admissions process, who shared openly about their experiences. Dr. Thompson asked them to consider scenarios where they were not admitted to their first- and second-choice colleges and helped them frame a longer-term perspective. He acknowledged this transition was a significant life step and reminded our students to focus on becoming loving,
COMMUNITY 54 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
moral, productive, and independent members of society. Dr. Thompson spent time that evening speaking with Red Gables parents about the social lives of children, sharing strategies for understanding typical development and how parents can best support their children as they navigate social groups and friendships. “Dr. Thompson’s visit with our students helped them navigate some of the normal developmental tensions they face from friendships in the middle grades to the looming departure from home awaiting our college-bound seniors. Our faculty learned more about the many factors rooted in children’s psychosocial development and how those challenges are often sources of anxiety for parents,” said Associate Head of School Heather Caponi. “We have arranged for Dr. Thompson to return to work with our faculty during in-service in August 2024. We are grateful to the Parent
UPCOMING PARENT ED EVENT
Association for bringing Dr. Thompson to Ensworth.”
How to Raise an Adult:
Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success
This spring, the Parent Association is thrilled to host Julie Lythcott-Haims, New York Times bestselling author of books on human development. Julie believes in humans and is About Michael Thompson, Ph. D Dr. Thompson is a best-selling author and psychologist specializing in children and families. He is the supervising psychologist for the Belmont Hill School. He has authored nine books focusing on the emotional lives of boys, friendships, and social cruelty in childhood, the impact of summer camp experiences on child development, the tensions that arise in parent-teacher relationships, and the psychological aspects of school leadership.
deeply interested in what gets in our way, and her work encompasses writing, speaking, public service, and activism. She is a TED speaker, a former Stanford dean, and a lawyer, and she holds degrees from Stanford University (BA), Harvard Law (JD), and California College of the Arts (MFA). Held in partnership with several local independent schools, the event will take place in the auditorium of Ensworth’s Frist Campus on April 4, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
2024 WINTER | 55
RACE TALKS ORGANIZED BY DAVID WHITFIELD AND THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INCLUSION
Ensworth’s Office of Community Engagement and Inclusion offered an in-depth educational opportunity to parents and faculty this fall. Vanderbilt professor and Ensworth parent Dr. Rich Milner facilitated a series of conversations about race in education and society for a cohort of 25 Ensworth community members.
The Race Talks class was piloted with a group of
common threads were a willingness to listen, grow,
parents during the 2019–2020 school year and
and improve life in the Ensworth community.
returned this year by popular demand. Race Talks is designed to be both informative and interactive
“I am the father to two Middle School students and
to help parents in our community (1) learn how to
have worked with Ensworth as an educational
talk about race more effectively, (2) build bridges
partner since 2008. Ensworth is a vibrant, dynamic
and relationships across differences, (3) develop
community rich in human capital, empathy, and
knowledge about what race and racism are and how
innovation. This project represents one aspect of
they impact education and society, and (4) foster
what makes Ensworth a special place for learning
increased understanding and dialogue about race
and human development as adults – parents and
inside and outside of education. In particular, the
teachers – commit to engaging in difficult, data-
course is designed to build civil discourse around
driven conversations about race and racism. As parents and educators learn more about and
challenging issues.
commit to anti-racist mindsets and practices Under the guidance of David Whitfield and Dr. Rich
through Race Talks, our young people should be
Milner, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Education,
even more equipped in the fight for equity and
Vanderbilt University and Immediate-Past President,
justice,” shared Dr. Milner.
American Educational Research Association, Race Talks has been an exemplary form of civil discourse.
“Participating in the 2nd Race Talks cohort allowed
We have witnessed a fraternity grow between
me to engage with a sizable, inclusive, diverse,
participants from virtually all walks of life. The
vulnerable, and thoughtful group of adults in a
CO M M U N I TY 56 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
“I anxiously awaited every session, As a group, we’ve decided to continue
knowing I’d come out with a
meeting to watch films and read books
new understanding of someone
to further our knowledge about race and
else’s experience that would
how it impacts education and society.
influence how I move through the
Thank you to Dr. Rich Milner, who has
world. Having these conversations
encouraged us to keep pressing! — CONOR SWEETLAND —
is so important and not something I would ever do without this safe space. I hope this program continues for many years to come as I believe it plays an integral role in the growth of our Ensworth community. — BLAIR STEFANESCU —
The project stretched my academic understanding of race relations and helped improve my own practice of becoming a better world citizen. I also met and got to know a great group of Ensworth parents and employees—a group I can join at football games, see at events, and chat with at school functions.
Race Talks was a supportive
— PAIGE MOORE —
and enriching environment
GRADE 2 ACADEMIC SUPPORT TEACHER
that encouraged the thoughtful discussion of racial issues that affect our children in school today. — STEVE KIM —
shared space,” said Mary Catherine Bradshaw, High School English Teacher and Service Scholars Coordinator. “I am inspired and encouraged by both the willingness to share stories and the stories themselves. I am honored and humbled by the experience. I am proud to work at Ensworth precisely because of the institutional commitment to engage a diverse community of parents, staff, and students in meaningful discussions and opportunities. Thank you to the Community Engagement team led by David Whitfield.” ■
2024 WINTER | 57
Registration/Lunch: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Registration/Lunch: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Announcements: 11:45 am Announcements: 11:45 am Start Time: 12:00 pm Shotgun Start Start Time: 12:00 pm Shotgun Start After Tournament: 4:30–5:30 pm Join awards, hors d’oeuvres, and Rhinodart Tasting After Tournament: 4:30–5:30 pm - Join usus forfor awards, hors d’oeuvres, and Rhinodart Tasting Format Play: Scramble – Each player hits a tee shot every hole. Pick the best drive. Each player hits Format ofof Play: Scramble – Each player hits a tee shot onon every hole. Pick the best drive. Each player hits a shot from that point. The team then picks the best shot from there, and each player again hits a shot. a shot from that point. The team then picks the best shot from there, and each player again hits a shot. Continue this format until the ball holed. There a two-putt max rule effect today. Continue this format until the ball is is holed. There is is a two-putt max rule inin effect today. Scoring: Record your team’s score the scorecard provided. Bogey the worst score possible. Once Scoring: Record your team’s score onon the scorecard provided. Bogey is is the worst score possible. Once bogey reached, pick and move the next hole. Teams are guaranteed automatic two-putt once bogey is is reached, pick upup and move toto the next hole. Teams are guaranteed anan automatic two-putt once the ball the green. Teams will flighted after play into two flights with prizes awarded 1st, 2nd, the ball is is onon the green. Teams will bebe flighted after play into two flights with prizes awarded forfor 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Ties will broken using the USGA Recommended Method (Last Last Last Last and 3rd place. Ties will bebe broken using the USGA Recommended Method (Last 9, 9, Last 6, 6, Last 3, 3, Last Hole). Hole). T H E G O L F C LU B O F T E N N E S S E E — AU GU ST 2 1 ,may 2may 0 2play 3 play — their Rules Play: U.S.G.A. Rules will govern play. Players their shots from within 1 club length Rules ofof Play: U.S.G.A. Rules will govern allall play. Players shots from within 1 club length ofof the selected best shot. If the selected shot is in a hazard or bunker, all players must hit their shots from the selected best shot. If the selected shot is in a hazard or bunker, all players must hit their shots from the hazard or bunker. you play a from the rough, ball must stay the rough (you cannot use It may been the hottest week of shot the from year inthe Nashville, but itthe was a fantastic day for golf! The annual Robert the hazard orhave bunker. If If you play a shot rough, the ball must stay in in the rough (you cannot use the 1-club length to move to the fairway or onto the green). the 1-club length move to the fairway onto 21, the green). Inman Tiger to Classic kicked off on Monday,or August when 30 teams ventured to the Golf Club of Tennessee to benefit the Robert Inman Endowed Financial Aid Fund. Congratulations to the winning golfers,
Forecaddies: Each group will have Forecaddie assist with play. The base has been covered Forecaddies: Each group will have aa Forecaddie toto assist with play. The base feefee has been covered byby andby many thanks to our sponsors and participants! Ensworth but tip is encouraged players. Ensworth but tip is encouraged by players. Beverage Cart: Beverage cart drinks provided Hand Family Companies Beverage Cart: Beverage cart drinks provided byby Hand Family Companies . . Tees: Men - Blue tees Seniors (Age Over) – White tees Women Women - Red tees Tees: Men - Blue tees Seniors (Age 6565 && Over) – White tees - Red tees Mulligans: The Mulligan Package $50 and includes 2 mulligans and 1 Red Tee* (*women get 3 mulligans). Mulligans: The Mulligan Package is is $50 and includes 2 mulligans and 1 Red Tee* (*women get 3 mulligans). Limit 1 mulligan package per player. Limit 1 mulligan package per player. Longest Drive Men - #17 Drive Men - #17 On-Course Contests: Longest On-Course Contests: Longest Drive Women - # 11 Longest Drive Women - # 11
Closest the Hole #4 Closest toto the Hole - #- 4 Closest to the Hole #14 Closest to the Hole - #14 Hole One Contest: Hole inin One Contest:
Hole # 8180 180 / 165 Hole #8 MM / 165 WW
Ensworth Golf Shirt Ensworth Golf Shirt Pair of Ensworth Tailgate Chairs Pair of Ensworth Tailgate Chairs Ensworth Golf Shirt Ensworth Golf Shirt Ensworth Golf Shirt Ensworth Golf Shirt 2-Year Lease: 2-Year Lease: Mercedes-Benz 2023 EQE SUV Mercedes-Benz 2023 EQE SUV
*Mulligans cannot used win skill contests* *Mulligans cannot bebe used toto win skill contests* PLEASE AWARE YOUR PACE PLAY. PLEASE BEBE AWARE OFOF YOUR PACE OFOF PLAY. OUR GOAL TO COMPLETE THE ROUND 4 HOURS OR LESS. OUR GOAL ISIS TO COMPLETE THE ROUND ININ 4 HOURS OR LESS. SCORECARDS MUST BE IN NO LATER THAN 4:45 pm. SCORECARDS MUST BE IN NO LATER THAN 4:45 pm. Upon completion play, please turn scorecards the Golf Staff located the Pavilion. Upon completion ofof play, please turn in in scorecards toto the Golf Staff located atat the Pavilion. Awards will be presented immediately following play. AwardsTwill beKpresented following HAN YO U TOimmediately OUR SPON S O R S play.
THE THE ARNHOLT ARNHOLT FAMILY FAMILY
THE THE BEEM BEEM FAMILY FAMILY
DODSON DODSON Nat THETHE Nat FAMILY Harris FAMILY In Memory of Harris of Family In Memory Victoria J. & Family Victoria J. & Vic G. Vic G.
58 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
CO N G R AT S TO O U R G O L F TO U R N A M E N T WI N N E R S F I R ST F L I G H T
S E CO N D F L I G H T
CO N T E S T S
1ST PLACE
1ST PLACE
CHIPPING CONTEST
Greg Lanford, Brian O’Shaughnessy, Cameron Simmons, & Kyle Simmons 2ND PLACE
Cory Parkinson, Brent McPherson, Nathaniel Beaver, & Matt Wallace 3RD PLACE
David Bailey, Chad Greer, Brad Haas, & Lee Vaughn
Dave Dodson, Vic Dodson Sr., Eric Santichen, & Mark Santichen 2ND PLACE
Josh Buckley, Chris Finke, Andy Heiman, & Jackson Moran 3RD PLACE
Robert Finger, Adam Lamarre, Steven Sloop, & Chris Tardio
Joe Mort
CLOSEST TO THE HOLE
Vic Vallejo (#4) Joe Mulherin (#14) LONGEST DRIVE
Nathaniel Beaver (#17) Mary Frances Evers (#11)
GOLF TOURNAMENT CHAIRS Sid Chambless & Davis Murfree 2024 WINTER | 59
Welcoming our New Students of
Legacy Families
The true hallmark of a stellar school is witnessing alumni come back, and we're thrilled to welcome 22 new students of legacy families to Ensworth. Excitement fills the air as we extend the Ensworth journey to a new generation of students while also embarking on a fresh adventure with our alumni, who are now taking the road as proud parents. Here's to the ever-growing Ensworth family!
Rosie Averbuch '36
Marion Berry '36
Amelia Brockman '36
Anne Fleming Clayton '36
Liza (Trickett) '00 & Cutler Averbuch '00
Emily & David Berry '91
Ashley & Will Brockman '98
Grace Clayton '97 & Marie Young
Presley Craig '36
Johnny Downey '36
Ward Frist '36
Dempsey Johnston '30
Anna Kate (Dunn) '09 & Dylan Craig
Liza & Paul Downey '92
Elizabeth & Bryan Frist '02
Melissa & Chris Johnston '88
60 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
LEGACY FAMILIES
Jack Kopald '36
Emily Murdock '36
Benson Sloan '36
Andrew Strongin '36
Melissa & Hunter Kopald '02
Heather & John Murdock '99
Caroline (Rhett) '01 & Benson Sloan '00
Julie (French) '02 & Kyle Strongin
Turner Vacek '36
Sophie Williford '36
Greer Bodzy '27
Dan McGugin '27
Megan (Turner) '99 & Tim Vacek
Ann (Ezzell) '97 & Battle Williford
Allison & Ben Bodzy '92
Jennifer & Daniel McGugin '92
William McGugin '31
Helen Rich '27 & Lucy Grace Rich '29
Aubrey Travis '31
Sophie Ward '29
Rankin & Bill McGugin '92
Jessica & Johnny Rich '94
Ashley (Haury) '93 & Josh Travis
Ashley Shearin & John Ward '89
"Ensworth has had such a big impact that there was absolutely nowhere else I would ever send my children, which is why my first daughter is in Kindergarten at Ensworth. But when I say it's completely shaped who I am now, there is nothing in my life that did not start here. Nothing." — Anna Kate (Dunn) Craig '09 — Temaj Young '31 Nakia Lang '09 & Thomas Young
2024 WINTER | 61
Ensworth Alumni
CLASS NOTES
across their three stages in Chicago; and transferred work to Broadway, Playwright's Horizon and Manhattan Theatre Club (NYC), Center Theatre Group (LA), and the Galway International Arts Festival (Ireland). Before this role, Brooke served ten years as Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Managing Director. Brooke received Nashville's Mayor's Several Ensworth Tigers from the Class of 1982 gathered
Acts of Excellence Award for directing The Holocaust—a
together for Coffee at the home of Devereux Cummins
Gathering of Stones. She is honored to have been included
Pollock '82 for a reunion to welcome Andrea Carter '82,
in "Who's Who in Business" by Crain's in 2023. She and her
who was visiting friends and Nashville from her home
husband reside in the Lincoln Park neighborhood with their
in Los Angeles. Pictured, left to right: Elizabeth Lane
three children.
McAlister '82, Elizabeth Bass Lamar '82, Delphine Sloan Damon '82, Andrea Carter '82, Devereux Cummins
Vadis Turner '91 recently
Pollock '82, Ellen Sergent Rickert '82, Jennifer Burke
closed a solo exhibit in
Anderson '82
Atlanta entitled "Seven Sisters," telling the story of
Rashed Fakhruddin '83 was honored during the 125th
female outcasts. Her first
Anniversary of the YWCA during their luncheon at the
solo museum exhibition was
Country Music Hall of Fame on October 24, 2023. At the
at the Frist Art Museum in
end of the program, the YWCA gave an award to Rashed,
2017, followed by the Huntsville Museum of Art in 2022 and
Predators President Sean Henry, and Joey Hatch and
the Abroms-Engel Institute for Visual Arts at the University
named this award the Hatch, Henry, and Fakhruddin
of Alabama in Birmingham in 2023. She was awarded the
Award moving forward in recognition of a person who
Joan Mitchell Painters and Sculptors Grant in 2016.
provides extraordinary service to the mission of the YWCA (which is to eliminate racism, empower women
Ensworth's beloved, now-retired Latin teacher of 26 years,
and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for
Nancy Scoville, shares updates on her four children:
all). Rashed has been engaged with AMEND since its
Helen Scoville Pemberton '93 lives in Alexandria, VA.
inception in 2013, having just rolled off their board last
She and her husband, Ryan, have two adorable sons. Ryan
year. He is an ambassador to help end domestic violence.
is the Head of the McCain-Ravenel Center at Episcopal High School. George Scoville '94 is a complex commercial
Brooke Flanagan '90 has served as Executive Director
litigator at Sims|Funk, PLC in Nashville, where he represents
for Steppenwolf Theatre Company, America's premier
individuals and companies in business litigation and other
ensemble theatre, since 2020. During her tenure, the
types of cases. He also occasionally teaches upper-division
Tony-award-winning theatre has expanded its artistic
pre-law electives as an adjunct professor in the Department
campus with the addition of the Lefkofsky Arts and
of Political Science at Belmont University. He and his wife
Education Center and Ensemble Theatre in Honor of
Emily Passini have been married for nine years. Emily is a
Helen Zell; produced/ presented myriad productions
communications strategist for the ACLU's national office,
62 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
informing and advising the organization on persuasion
Deutsch, after 20 years in Los Angeles. Emily and Andrew
messaging across the country. They live in Nolensville with
first met in pre-first grade at Ensworth before Emily and
their three dogs: Juno, Tater, and Ernest Tubb. Morgan
her family relocated to the Washington, DC area. They
Scoville '96 is the Head of The Fay School in Houston,
reconnected in Los Angeles in 2016 after not seeing each
Texas, and serves on the NAIS Faculty for the Institute
other for over 30 years.
for New Heads of School. Elizabeth Scoville Doyle '98 is a licensed psychotherapist serving children, adolescents,
High School students had the opportunity to hear from
and adults at her private practice, Scoville Counseling. Her
current Ensworth parent and alum Jeffrey Ezell '98 about
husband, Josh, is a Family Nurse Practitioner in Nashville.
compost. Jeffrey is the Co-Owner of The Compost Company,
Elizabeth and Josh are expecting their first child in
the receiver of all compostable materials on Frist Campus.
December 2023. Nancy shares, "I appreciate the Ensworth teachers who taught our children and the wonderful 'Tiger
Jennava Laska '99
Ethos' which nurtured them! Our family was very lucky to be
recently revived
a part of the Ensworth community! Go Tigers!"
a dilapidated underground house
Ensworth is excited to announce that Johnny Rich '94 has
and transformed
returned to the school as the High School Head Wrestling
it into a stunning
coach. Johnny was Ensworth's inaugural Head Wrestling
subterranean villa
Coach from 2003–2008 before entering the business world.
unlike anything else
Coach Rich's history with the sport of wrestling runs deep,
in Middle Tennessee.
including winning a TSSAA State Championship and being
Jennava helmed
a collegiate wrestler at the University of North Carolina.
the project wearing
Coach Rich and his wife Jessica have two daughters at Ensworth, Helen ('27) and Lucy Grace ('29).
many hats—general contractor, interior designer, developer, investor, sculptor, and artist. She credits Ensworth teachers as expanding
Andrew Fuller '95 produces a podcast, LEONARD: Political
her horizons and creating a passion for art very young:
Prisoner, that launched on Wondery+ as one of their most
"Mrs. Odom played Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven to us
"bingeable" podcasts. The podcast follows Native American
in 3rd grade. Mrs. Pickel and Mrs. Scoville took us to see
activist Leonard Peltier, who in 1977 was sentenced to
Michelangelo and da Vinci in Italy on 7th and 8th-grade
consecutive life terms for killing two FBI agents. In 2000,
summer trips. We were learning Latin, speaking French,
a Freedom of Information Act disclosure proved the Feds
and playing at the Louvre while Mr. Arthur had us doing
had framed him. But Leonard's still in prison. This is the
impressionism-style painting in 5th grade art class. It is
story of what happened on the Pine Ridge Reservation half
only natural that I would create something styled like a
a century ago—and the man still behind bars for a crime he
Tuscan villa," she shared. To learn more, the official website
didn't commit. The first two seasons, consisting of 22 total
for the property is www.UndergroundVilla.com.
episodes, are available to listen to on Wondery+. Andrew has recently moved back to Nashville with his wife, Emily
Leigh Ivey Hicks '01 recently accepted a new position as
2024 WINTER | 63
Ensworth Alumni
CLASS NOTES
Major Gifts Officer for the Smithsonian American Art
Corn Elder '13 has returned to Ensworth to help coach our
Museum and Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC.
basketball team. We're happy to have you back, Corn!
Avery Graham Browne '02
Sally Seitz '13 is pursuing her MFA in Dramatic Writing at
and her husband Jim are
Carnegie Mellon University. Last year, she wrote a romantic
spending the year in Italy.
comedy screenplay titled Too Many Fish in the Sea, which
Not long after they were
explores declining coastal health and the severe threats to
married in November 2022,
coral reefs by examining the invasive lionfish population on
they decided to take an
Little Cayman Island. Her script was the first-place winner of
adventure. Avery works in
Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama's 2023 Alfred
marketing for Porte Italia, a Venetian furniture company
P. Sloan Script Competition and is currently a Sloan Student
specializing in fine-painted furniture. Jim works remotely
Grand Jury Prize finalist. The Sloan Script Competition is
as Vice President of Payer Analytics at Trilliant. They are
intended for scripts that enhance the public's understanding
enjoying traveling and entertaining many visitors.
of science and technology.
Wirth Campbell '11 was a part of CMA Fest Fitness this
Andrew Halloran '16 is in his 3rd year of living in Montréal,
past summer, bringing workouts and health to the stage.
working for MPC, a technicolor company doing visual effects,
Wirth is the gym owner of TRUMAV Fitness in the Gulch,
as Key/Mid Lighting Artist. You may have seen some of his
offering high-intensity interval training (HIIT) boot
work on shows like "Hawkeye," "Joe Pickett," "The Witcher"
camp-style classes and personal training. Proceeds for the
and "Crater."
event benefited the CMA Foundation. Marco Mirnics '16 graduated from EmmaJulia Jones Siegel '11 returned to Ensworth as a
Tulane University in 2020 with a
Middle School Math Teacher this fall. Before returning to
degree in Biomedical Engineering.
teach at Ensworth, EmmaJulia taught Grades 5–8 math in
During college, he played
Metro Nashville public schools. Welcome back!
competitive ultimate frisbee and spent lots of time in the Maker Space.
Bobby Nichols '11 moved into a new position at AmWINS
As of 2023, Marco recently graduated
Group in Los Angeles earlier this year, working in the
from the University of Delaware
professional lines division of the nation's largest wholesale
Physical Therapy program. Now, Dr. Mirnics works as a
insurance broker. Bobby lives in Santa Monica, about a
physical therapist in Fairfax, Virginia, just outside of DC.
mile from the Pacific Ocean. Bobby moved to LA in 2019, about a year before the Pandemic. When not up to his
Lily Pearl Black '19 performed
elbows in policy-related issues, Bobby likes to hike, hit the
The Star-Spangled Banner
beach, attend Dodgers and Rams games, and travel to San
for the Chicago White Sox in
Diego and Santa Barbara. While he loves SoCal, Bobby
June and threw a ceremonial
would welcome the opportunity to hang out with any of
first pitch.
his EHS friends and classmates who travel to the LA area.
64 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
Corrina Gill '19 played her first headlining show at the
made the league All-
legendary EXIT/IN on September 28, 2023. She recently
Star Team and was
released her debut EP “Here for Holding.”
named the Team's Most Valuable Player.
Allison Halloran '19 graduated in May 2023 from
Andrew and Devin
Auburn with a BSN in nursing. She's now working in the
are in their junior year
Cardiovascular ICU at Centennial Medical Center in
at Duke University, while Drew is a junior at Georgia Tech
Nashville and loving her job.
University.
Serena Howard '19 recently graduated from Boston college
Rob McCall '21 swims at SMU and went to the US
with a neuroscience degree and is now in an accelerated
Nationals/US World Trials at the end of June 2023. He
nursing program at
made his US Olympic Trials cut, along with fellow alum
Northeastern University.
Jake Mason '22, who swims at Arizona State University.
Serena wrote and illustrated
Olympic Trials will be held in June 2024 as they turn Lucas
a children's medical
Oil Stadium, home of the Colts, into a swim arena.
book, Charlie Goes to the Emergency Room, now
Zoe Upkins '21 was part of the historic live debut
available on Amazon. She
performance of the University of Southern California's
credits Dr. Crystal Miller
Centennial Celebration Anthem, "We Came To Bring
and Mr. Joe Brady for
The Fire." This groundbreaking initiative, created in
giving her the confidence
collaboration with the USC Thornton School of Music,
to thrive and publish her
marks the first-ever student and alumni-led song
own book. Additionally, Serena continues to figure skate
commissioned in the Coliseum's storied 100-year history.
competitively and will attend the national synchronized
Zoe is a member of the USC choir and is no stranger to the
skating championships for the third time this season.
music world. She shined on the stage all throughout her years at Ensworth, even performing on Season 17 of NBC's
John Smalley '19 graduated with distinction from Duke
“The Voice" during her junior year.
University in 2023, majoring in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. After completing his Master's at Duke in 2024, he will move to Los Angeles to join Space X as a structures engineer. Andrew Yu '21, Drew Byers '20, and Devin Obee '21 were together again this summer! The trio played for the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod Baseball League, a premier summer collegiate baseball league. Former Ensworth Assistant
SHARE YOUR ALUMNI NEWS! Send your latest news, moves, and photos.
Baseball Coach Steve Englert coaches the Mariners. Devin
2024 WINTER | 65
Ensworth Alumni
CLASS NOTES
FAMILY ADDITIONS
WEDDINGS
Mary Cannon Spradley Swain '09 and Stewart Swain Watson Vaughn Swain July 14, 2023
MacKenzie Sample '10 and Jesse Tidyman May 6, 2023
Allison Trickett Gallagher '10 and Wes Gallagher '09 Luke Wesley Gallagher July 27, 2023 Lindy and Jonathan Krebs '10 Jonathan (Jon) Richard Krebs July 31, 2023 Hannah and Miles Asafo-Adjei '09 Naomi Hope Asafo-Adjei August 9, 2023 Anne Walker Harrison Wilson '02 and Bob Wilson Celeste "Cecy" Casey Wilson August 17, 2023 Ashley Piper Pratt '08 Griffin "Wells" Pratt September 12, 2023 Charlie and Patricia Kelley Crocker '08 Marguerite (Margot) Sheridan Crocker September 19, 2023 Annie Buttarazzi Tovo '10 and Freddy Tovo Alfredo "Freddy" Tovo Jr. October 10, 2023 Margaret Anne Moore Byerly '08 and Michael Byerly John “Jack” Carney Byerly October 16, 2023 Kitty Ganier O’Connor '97 and Logan O’Connor* Ann Eastman O’Connor November 2, 2023 Liza and Paul Downey '92* Rosemary Frances Downey November 16, 2023
66 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
Andrew Triggs '01 and Mary Fowler Howell June 9, 2023 Caroline Pratt '08 and Keaton Sloan September 23, 2023 Kate Barnes '12 and Hank Ingram October 14, 2023 Maggie Zerfoss '17 and William Bright October 14, 2023 Cate Elcan '16 and Connor Fair October 28, 2023 Jake Estes '14 and Eleanor Smith October 28, 2023 Sam Deaton '09 and Clara Chandler November 4, 2023 Aaron Crowe '10 and Alli Sciarretta November 11, 2023 Lizzie Hogan '12 and Mark Bryant '12 November 11, 2023 *Indicates Faculty/Staff Member
SHARE YOUR ALUMNI NEWS! Send your latest news, moves, and photos.
Caroline Pratt '08
Aaron Crowe '10
Cate Elcan '16
Lizzie Hogan '12, Mark Bryant '12
Jake Estes '14
Kate Barnes '12
Luke Wesley Gallagher
Cecy Wilson
Freddy Tovo
Naomi Asafo-Adjei
Watson Vaughn Swain
Rosie Downey
Ensworth group at Aaron Crowe's wedding
Jack Byerly
Ann Eastman O'Connor
Jon Krebs
2024 WINTER | 67
Community EVENTS
Winter / Spring 2024 Calendar FRIDAY, JANUARY 19
Winter Tiger Town | Frist Campus
SUNDAY, JANUARY 21
Alumni Brunch | Austin, Texas
JANUARY 22 – 27
Visible Art Show | Ingram Performing Arts Center | Frist Campus
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10
The Parent Association's Tiger Night | The Conrad Nashville
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15
All Alumni (21+) Happy Hour | Red Gables
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24
Middle School Winter Play | Frist Hall | Red Gables Campus
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29
Alumni Gathering | Washington, DC
FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 2
High School Spring Musical | Ingram Performing Arts Center | Frist Campus
THURSDAY, APRIL 4 FRIDAY, APRIL 5 SATURDAY, APRIL 6 FRIDAY, APRIL 12
The Parent Association hosts Julie Lythcott-Haims | Frist Campus High School Rock & Jazz Band Concert | Ingram Performing Arts Center | Frist Campus The Parent Association hosts Spring Tiger Town | Frist Campus High School Encore Concert | Ingram Performing Arts Center | Frist Campus
APRIL 19 – 20
Dance Concert | Ingram Performing Arts Center | Frist Campus
APRIL 25 – 27
High School Spring Play | Ingram Performing Arts Center | Frist Campus
FRIDAY, MAY 3
High School Orchestra & Chamber Singers Concert | Frist Campus
SATURDAY, MAY 4
The Parent Association's Super Saturday | Frist Campus
SATURDAY, MAY 4
Reunions for Classes of 2009, 2014, and 2019
MAY 6 – 10 SATURDAY, MAY 25
Spring Art Show | Ingram Performing Arts Center | Frist Campus High School Graduation | Turner Quad | Frist Campus
For more details, visit: ensworth.com/calendar The Parent Association invites you to join us for
TIGER NIGHT
Saturday, February 10 | 6:30 p.m. The Conrad Nashville Buy tickets & bid online at ensworth.com/tigernight Online Auction runs from February 4 – 10
68 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
The Charles T. Munger Science Chair
We are sorry to learn of the recent passing of Charles T. Munger. The Charles T. Munger Science Chair was established by long-time trustee Brad Reed in honor of Mr. Munger. This endowed fund helps the school recruit and retain the best and brightest science faculty, ensuring that students will be mentored by faculty members who are among the most knowledgeable in their field. Excellence in teaching has always been
CHARLES T. MUNGER 1924 – 2023
a cornerstone of the Ensworth experience and this fund ensures that exceptional teaching remains a top priority for the school.
"I am grateful for all that Mr. Munger did to benefit others, and most especially for those who learned from him and through their experience with him who have passed this valuable gift on to the next generation. In honor of both Mr. Munger and Mr. Reed’s gift in his name, we will continue our efforts to innovate our science program, integrating across science disciplines and incorporating the most up-to-date methods and practices to best serve our students." Nowell Hesse, Head of High School
To learn about contributing to this fund or other endowed funds, please contact Bedell James at 615.290.8919 or jamesb@ensworth.com 2024 WINTER | 69
The Beasley Family OUR STORY
Can you tell us about your family’s Ensworth journey?
Pioneer Day—to what Louise had as a student here. It’s
LOUISE: Though Matt and I are in our fourth year as
What makes those traditions even stronger are the
Ensworth parents, Ensworth has been part of my personal
families that are new to Ensworth and who embrace its
story for as long as I can remember. I started at Red
traditions with the same passion and enthusiasm.
remarkable how many parents are alumni themselves, which certainly helps preserve the school’s traditions.
Gables in kindergarten where I developed a lifelong love of learning and lifelong friendships. My parents were both actively involved in the school, and my two younger
Why do you support the Ensworth Fund?
siblings had equally transformative experiences at
LOUISE AND MATT: There are so many ways to
Ensworth, so I always wanted to consider the school as an
contribute to the Ensworth community, whether through
option for my own children.
the Parents Association, volunteering at the uniform sale, or giving to the school financially. When we were asked
As an alumna, I’ve always been proud to be a Tiger. Now
to chair the Ensworth Fund, it was an easy decision for
that I’m an Ensworth parent, it gives me great joy to see
us, and we’ve already found the experience extremely
my own children develop the same sense of pride in being
rewarding as it connects us even more deeply to the
Tigers. We love seeing how the high school students
school and the leadership, faculty, and families that make
embrace younger students to make them feel connected
Ensworth so special.
to a larger school community. Even our son Billy, who’s four years old, proudly tells people he’s a Tiger!
Ensworth has always been a priority for us when considering what causes and organizations we can
How have our faculty members impacted your children and your family?
support. As the Ensworth Fund chairs, it’s been
LOUISE AND MATT: Every faculty member who
generosity of the Ensworth community bridges the
engages with our children meets them at their level and encourages them to cultivate their talents both inside and outside the classroom. They continue to inspire curiosity and a love of learning, motivating and challenging our children to reach higher while nurturing them in a safe and supportive environment. As a specific example, we’ve been impressed by the emphasis on developing strong reading skills as the foundation for academic and
enlightening to learn how much of the school’s operating budget is covered by the funds we raise. The collective difference between tuition and the actual cost of educating each student, and helps take Ensworth from a good school to a great school. The funds raised each year directly benefit not only our children and their classmates, but also the faculty and staff who educate and care for them. The Ensworth Fund is essential to help ensure that everything we love about the school is fully funded. The
personal growth, and we’ve loved seeing our children
Ensworth Fund enables all supporters of the school—
develop confidence in their abilities and apply those skills
not only current parents—to help the school attract
to unlock knowledge and adventure through the stories
and retain the best faculty, offer competitive financial
they read.
aid packages, and fund the academic programs and extracurricular activities that make the Ensworth
What have you loved most about your experience as a part of this community?
experience exceptional.
MATT: The word ‘community’ is often misapplied, but
children, Laura (Grade 3), and Wilson (Grade 1), sharing
Join us in showing your Tiger pride with a gift to the Ensworth Fund!
similar experiences—such as the First Grade Pet Show or
WWW.ENSWORTH.COM/GIVE
when it comes to Ensworth, ‘community’ is precisely what makes it special. We are grateful every day to witness our
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ARTS | ENRICHMENTS | SPORTS
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