ENSIGHTS I N S E ARC H OF T RU T H
SUMMER 2018
PEOPLE OF ENSWORTH A Day in the Life Finding the Right College Fit
Profiles on Ensworth Alumni & Faculty
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2018-2019 In Search of Truth President Toby S. (T.J.) Wilt, Jr. Vice President A. Bruce Moore, Jr. Secretary Christi Turner Treasurer Philip D. Krebs Legal Counsel John Jacobson Edie McBride Bass* Kathryn C. Brown Amy Christiansen
ENSWORTH Mission Statement Ensworth is a kindergarten through twelfth grade, coeducational independent school. The School promotes academic excellence and inspires students to be intellectually curious, to use their talents to the fullest, to be people of integrity, and to be contributors to society.
Beth Courtney Bruce Crosby Persephone Felder-Fentress Ben Freeland Jennifer Frist Trish C. Frist* Craig Goguen Chad Greer Sam Hazen Phil Hertik Phyllis Hildreth Will Morrow Josephine Smithwick Jamee Thompson
Administrative Team David Braemer Head of School Dr. Sarah Buchanan Associate Head and Director of Enrollment Management David Morgan Associate Head and Head of High School Ricky Bowers Associate Head and Director of Athletics
DJ Wootson
Bruce Libonn Head of Lower School
Head of School David Braemer, ex officio
Chan Gammill Head of Middle School
President Ensworth Parent Association Britt Horn, ex officio
Whitney Johnson Director of Finance and Operations
President-Elect Ensworth Parent Association Barbara Smith, ex officio President Ensworth Alumni Board Jonathan Gluck, ex officio *Indicates Permanent Trustee
Jenny Hannon Director of Institutional Advancement Bobby Mirzaie Director of Curriculum and Instruction Jason Hiett Director of Technology
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44
Contents ATHLETICS
ACADEMICS
COMMUNITY
3 A Day in the Life
12 Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
32 Beehive: High School Musical
18 For the Record
34 Arts Awards
22 Parent Association
35 Our Town: High School Play
13 College Counseling 16 Capstone Scholars
FACULTY 44 Faculty Profiles 48 Faculty Bookshelf 49 Faculty News
24 Events Photos 60 Campaign Update
ARTS
36 Cheaper by the Dozen: Middle School Play
38 Middle School Athletics 40 High School Athletics 43 Awards & NCAA Commitments
ALUMNI 50 Alumni Profiles 54 Alumni Class Notes
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN FOR A NEW LOWER SCHOOL BUILDING Page 60
Paper: Chorus Art Silk - 70 lb Text and 80lb Cover; 30% Post Consumer Waste, 100% Recyclable, EFC Chlorine Free
Copyrighted 2018 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 Tiffany Townsend DESIGN Mary Byrne Dailey EDITORIAL STAFF Paul Downey, Jenny Hannon, Leigh Ivey Hicks, Nancy Keen Palmer-Gift, Anne Stringham CONTRIBUTING WRITERS David Braemer, Paul Downey, Alli Hicks, Leigh Ivey Hicks, Nancy Keen Palmer-Gift, Tiffany Townsend PHOTOGRAPHY Travis Commeau, Mary Byrne Dailey, Paul Downey, Tim Jones, Nancy Keen Palmer-Gift, Adrienne Parker, John Picklesimer, Mike Strasinger
2018 SUMMER | 1
MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
People Independent school education is a highly personal,
certain ideals that have always been part of the Ensworth
relational enterprise. With that being the case, this edition
experience. In doing so, this statement creates a formal
of Ensights focuses on the most important aspect of
touch point that will guide our efforts going forward. More
Ensworth, its people. From the variety of contexts in which
information and the full text of the statement can be found
the members of this community interact, to the range of
on page 12 of this issue.
perspectives and experiences that these individuals bring to the table, it is our people who make this school such a
In regards to a new Lower School building, the third phase
special place.
of our Excellence Begins with E Campaign, the Board is affirming its commitment to ensuring
Recognizing the importance of people, the
that Ensworth provides the best possible
Board of Trustees engaged in a great deal
experience at this critical developmental
of conversation during the past school
level. The foundation established in
year about how to continue to create an
Lower School sets our students on a
environment that allows the members
path to success that will extend far
of our community to more fully realize
beyond their time at Ensworth. New and
their talents. Two major outcomes of
enhanced learning spaces will facilitate
these discussions were the creation of a
even greater collaboration among our
Board Statement on Diversity, Equity, and
students and allow our exceptional
Inclusion and the reinforced commitment
faculty to personalize a child’s education
to the development of a new Lower
with even greater efficacy. As a result of
School building. Both represent important initiatives
this project, we will be in the best position possible to help
that will significantly enhance personal and educational
students and faculty use their talents to the fullest.
experiences at Ensworth. As a school, we must never lose sight of the fact that people The Board felt strongly that, in order to meet our obligation
are Ensworth’s most important resource. Maximizing
to the members of our school community, it is essential that
the potential of this resource requires a multi-faceted
we are a welcoming environment that embraces the value of
approach. It is a privilege to work with a Board and to be
diversity and its importance as a catalyst to the realization
part of a community that recognizes this dynamic and is
of our goals as a school. The Board’s effort to develop and
willing to take action in ways that benefit people now and
approve a statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is
in the future.
an important step in this direction, as it clearly articulates
David Braemer HEAD OF SCHOOL 2 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
A DAY
in the
LIFE of
4 ENSWORTH
Students
By Office of Communications Staff Paul Downey ’92, Nancy Palmer-Gift ’03, Tiffany Townsend 2018 SUMMER | 3
ACADEMICS
Stella is a larger than life kindergartner with a big personality and even bigger heart. Her compassion and empathy for others would commonly be seen on the playground when she would invite others to play or help a child if they had been hurt. She made sure everyone was included at all times and would lift her classmates’ spirits by complimenting their work. She put others before herself, which was admired by her classmates and teachers. I will always remember her sophisticated artistic ability, infectious laugh, and sweet hugs. It was an honor being Stella’s kindergarten teacher. KAREN ROOT
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF:
Stella EFTEKHARI
EFTEKHARI CLASS OF 2030 44 || ENSWORTH ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS ENSIGHTS
ACADEMICS
K
indergarten student Stella Eftekhari begins her day with a “hello” from Head of School David Braemer in the hook-up line, a visit with friends in the atrium, and unstructured free play with her classmates before Morning Meeting begins. Lots of laughs, smiles, and pleasant moments are had…and she’s just getting started.
8:55 a.m. Morning Meeting
From 7:55 a.m. to 8:55 a.m., kindergarten students are allowed free time in their classroom to play, explore, and relax. Stella and her friends know as soon as the lights blink that it’s time to prepare for Morning Meeting, which consists of greeting all classmates by name (perhaps with a handshake, a “woof woof,” or a simple rhyme), sharing about important events, collaborative class activities, calendar, weather, seasons, and what to expect from the day. It is within the Morning Meeting activities that our kindergartners first learn the foundational Core Skill of communication, and, as we all know, great communicators must first be great listeners!
9:15 a.m. Academic Block
Following Morning Meeting, all kindergarten classes transition into an academic block that involves either table group activities or Writer’s Workshop. During table group activities, small groups of students rotate through different literacy or math-based activities, with one table being reserved for independent work. Stella loves table group activities that involve mathematics. She was particularly excited to learn how to count quickly to 100 in groups of 10s and 5s. Having seen examples of her artwork firsthand, one would guess she’s a fan of Writer’s Workshop, too.
Writer’s Workshop begins with a reading/ writing lesson and evolves into a drawing exercise that each student then independently describes in writing. During the independent block, it’s not uncommon to find Stella lying on the floor with an iPad, practicing her handwriting in the Handwriting Without Tears app.
12:10 p.m. PE
PE starts with fundamental movement skills, and as the year progresses, Stella and her friends participate in an array of group fitness games that promote team-building concepts. “Teaching lifelong fitness concepts and skills, while making PE exciting and enjoyable, is an essential component of kindergarten PE,” says Department Chair Tish Picklesimer ’99. “The goal is for every student to be physically active, to learn or strengthen a skill or concept, and to enjoy the process.” When asked about her favorite subjects at school, Stella’s understandable response was, “My favorite thing is everything!” But don’t worry, Coach Picklesimer; PE made the list.
1:45 p.m. Specials Block
Within a seven-day period, Stella will experience two sessions each of Chinese, Spanish, music, art, library, and science. She’ll learn how to count and greet in another language and talk about the experience of living in different cultures. She’ll head to the science lab with Mr. Bond and learn about magnets and polarity, solvent dilutions, and the spectrum of light. She’ll enjoy books read aloud in the Lower School library and gravitate toward her own favorite stories, taking them home after a quick swipe of the library card. She’ll prepare for the K-1 Choral Concert with Mrs. Wolter and sculpt clay and draw for days with Mrs. Pickel. Before all of her treasures come home at the end of the school year, she’ll see her creations decorating the hallways and filling the glass cabinets, breathing life into our Lower/Middle School Campus.
3:00 p.m. Extracurricular Activities
10:55 a.m. Lunch
The fun certainly doesn’t stop at three o’clock; Stella is either enjoying dance class, basketball, piano, tennis…or simply “going home and playing and relaxing.”
11:40 a.m. Reading Workshop
She took part in a performance of Moana’s theme song “How Far I’ll Go” in the School of Dance Concert this past April, dribbles with the best of them down the basketball court in our Futures Basketball League, and knows her way around the piano thanks to one-on-one after-school lessons. “There are three keys and two keys,” Stella explains. “I mostly like playing three keys, and you’re not supposed to bang on the piano when you play.” She’s already learning songs and finds that her favorites these days are “The Walking Song” and “The Tightrope Song.” When asked what she hopes to pursue next year, she thoughtfully responds, “I want to keep learning what I do now and get better.”
No matter the age, all K-8 students are assigned a different lunch table each week, not in the name of constraint, but rather, in the name of community-building. You’ll find Stella at a lunch table with fellow kindergarten students, first and second grade students, as well as a Lower School teacher. Stella’s big personality and even bigger heart establish her as a community-building leader during this time, despite being one of the youngest at the table. By the time she gets back in August, there will be a brand-new Robinson Hall with the same routine in place. Knowing Stella, she’s sure to be shepherding the new kindergartners to a place of comfort and ease.
After lunch, all of the kindergarten classes blend together for Reading Workshop, which consists of independent partner reading, group reading led by a teacher, or perhaps, a visit from the third-grade reading buddies. Stella has never met a stranger, and it’s safe to say she equally enjoys time spent with her third-grade reading buddy, her fifth-grade buddy, and her eighth-grade buddy.
She’s balanced. She’s positive. She’s playful and kind. She’s an Ensworth Tiger from the Class of 2030…and she’s just getting started.
2018 SUMMER | 5
ACADEMICS
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF:
Braxton GUNN GUNN CLASS OF 2025
6 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
ACADEMICS
raxton Gunn is an eager learner with a passion for science that shines as brightly as his smile. He exudes a
B
quiet confidence as he moves throughout his day and approaches each assignment with enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity, ready to tackle new challenges, solve new problems, and learn how everything works.
7:55 a.m.: Homeroom
When Braxton arrives at school in the morning, the first thing he does is check to see which rotation day it is so he can prepare for the schedule ahead. In fifth grade, students change classes and meet with three different teachers for humanities, math, and science. The special classes, such as Chinese, Art, and Spanish, cycle throughout the seven-day rotation. He gathers the books he’ll need from his locker, then spends a few minutes chatting with his friends. The buzz among the students centers on the upcoming Field Day, an annual competition between the Black and Orange teams and one of Braxton’s favorite traditions. “I like Field Day because you have people cheering you on, and you want to try your best and do well, but you don’t really have pressure; it’s a friendly competition,” he says.
10:00 a.m.: Band
All Grade 5 students take Band, so they gain experience playing an instrument before choosing if they want to participate in Chorus or Band in middle school. Braxton plays the trumpet, which he plans to continue next year. It’s not surprising that, as much as he enjoys learning how to play the trumpet, he also loves learning about the instrument itself and how it works. A typical band class starts with the students warming up on mouthpieces in addition to some work on rhythm and note reading. They spend the rest of class working on tunes and exercises that help the students improve on their instruments. Teacher Fred Schmidt says, “Students learn how to play a wind instrument with as good a tone as they can create and improve upon. That process also involves deeper lessons on problem-solving, teamwork, self-control, and other concepts that will help students in life outside of Band.”
11:50 a.m.: Lunch
At lunch, Braxton sits at his assigned table with a mix of other students in third, fourth, and fifth grades. One of the benefits of the lunch structure is that older students can share their experiences and give the younger students a glimpse of what’s ahead. The conversation includes stories from the recent trip to the Land Between the Lakes, an annual Grade 5 tradition. It’s the first overnight school trip for students, and they engage in a variety of team-building and educational activities: orienteering, where they use compasses and maps to travel through the woods to go to different landmarks, testing the ponds and streams to determine if water is healthy for animals to live in, and completing a challenge course where students have to work together to problem-solve and accomplish entertaining tasks. “In one challenge, we had to fit our entire group on top of a box and sing ‘Happy Birthday’; it was pretty funny,” says Braxton.
2:10 p.m.: Science
Science is Braxton’s favorite subject; he already knows that he wants to be a scientist when he grows up. When you ask him what he likes about science, he answers, “Everything. The big words, the procedures, the different types of materials we use.” Recently, the class has been learning about plants and cells. Today, they are doing a plant dissection with a tulip. Braxton and his classmates carefully remove the petals and cut open the pistil and the stamen. They look at the pieces under the microscope and write down observations about what they discover. Then, they draw a labeled diagram of the whole flower and also draw a microscope diagram of it. Braxton says, “I like how the teachers at Ensworth use different techniques to help whatever they are teaching stick in your brain and help you remember.” Braxton’s ardor for science is evident, even in his response to a question about what he’s looking forward to in Middle School. “I’m excited to take Latin. A lot of root words and scientific terms come from Latin,” he explains.
3:00 p.m.: STEM
This year, Braxton has participated in all three seasons of after-school STEM offerings. He notes that chemistry, audio engineering, and video editing have been his favorite activities, although he has also enjoyed 3D printing, coding, and Robotics Club, where the group was challenged to consider different problems and propose new technology that could address those issues. Braxton’s homeroom teacher, Mr. Sherland, helps organize the STEM programs. “Braxton absolutely loves science and hopes to work as a scientist one day,” says Sherland. “We have designed our STEM program to help a student like Braxton achieve that dream by continuing to cultivate his passion for science while exposing him to different disciplines and areas of focus so he can have a wide range of experiences. Over the last few years, this has included courses in chemistry, robotics, engineering for natural disasters, audio engineering, and much more. Our STEM teachers really enjoy seeing Braxton and his peers engage in this program and look forward to continuing to provide a place where they can learn, explore, play, and truly become scientists both now and in the future.” Braxton hopes to participate in Coding Camp during the summer, and he’s already looking forward to “more science” in sixth grade. It doesn’t take a microscope to see that Braxton’s joy of learning runs deep, and he’ll continue on his path of exploration and discovery as he enters middle school this fall.
2018 SUMMER | 7
ACADEMICS
Marshall WILT A DAY IN THE LIFE OF:
WILT CLASS OF 2022
8 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
ACADEMICS
A
n apt description for Grade 8 student Marshall Wilt might be “Extracurricular Extraordinaire.” From serving as Middle School Student Council President to participating in Robotics Club, from singing in Advanced Chorale to helping lead the Middle School Girls’ Golf team to an HVAC championship, Marshall isn’t afraid to try it all, and she gives her all to everything she does. “Ensworth is really great about encouraging people to try new things that they have never done before,” she says. Her days reflect her enterprising spirit and variety of interests.
7:55 a.m.: Advisory
At the beginning of the day, middle school students meet with their advisory group to talk about the day ahead or special events on the horizon. Today, they will be spending time with their kindergarten buddies with whom they partner throughout the year on different projects. They are preparing for the St. Jude Mini Marathon, where the kindergarten classes run laps to collectively finish a marathon together. “We prepare by running around the track, doing as many laps as we can,” Marshall explains. “So many of the kindergartners take off sprinting, trying to show off for the eighth graders, and we have a hard time keeping up!” The bonds forged through these cross-grade partnerships leave a lasting impression on the students. “I still remember my eighth grade buddy from when I was in kindergarten,” says Marshall.
10:00 a.m.: History
In history class, students are preparing for the annual May Madness Presidential Debates. Each student is assigned a president and writes a paper on how that president was successful in four of nine criteria (domestic policy, foreign policy, economy, crisis management, compromise, persuasiveness/public popularity, moral values/integrity, sticking to ideas, and the pursuit of equal justice for all). Then, they engage in class debates to determine who was the “Greatest President” in our Nation’s history. “History has been one of my favorite subjects this year,” Marshall claims. “We do a lot of labs where you try to decide for yourself answers to questions that historians have been asking for years. We have Harkness discussions and debates, which has been a great experience.” Marshall is representing Abraham Lincoln and will compete in the finals against fellow student Bo Maradik who is arguing for Eisenhower. “I love that Ensworth doesn’t just teach you how to prepare for tests or ERBs,” she notes. “It’s more about teaching you how to prepare for life. They teach you core skills, like asking questions and problem-solving.” History teacher Hayley Brantley shares, “Marshall truly embodies our mission statement; she is hard-working, helpful, honest, and an outstanding contributor to all class activities and discussions through her thoughtful comments. What I love most about Marshall, however, is her love of learning. She digs deeply into each topic we cover and asks questions that help her classmates learn and help me become a better teacher and learner myself.”
11:50 a.m.: S.I.P.
Supplemental Instruction Period is a recent addition to the middle school schedule. The flexible period allows time during the day for clubs to convene, for students to seek out teachers for instruction, or for extra study hall time. For Marshall, it might involve practicing
with Advanced Chorale, meeting with Student Council to plan the spring dance, or gathering with classmates and faculty members to talk about the eighth grade Spring Service Learning Day. Eighth grade students are able to choose a social issues topic that they feel is important to the Nashville community; they study the topic throughout the year and then partner with community organizations that are working to address the issue. This year, Marshall has been studying the issue of hunger, so she volunteers with Loaves and Fishes on the service learning days. She says, “Ensworth is big about making a change in the environment and changing the world for the better, doing what you can to improve small things.”
1:15 p.m.: Integrated Geometry/Algebra 2 Honors
In today’s class, life imitates math, as the students sit in a circle while working together on angle and chord relationships for lines tangent to and intersecting a circle. Marshall is one of ten students in the Class of 2022 on the advanced math track who are able to take Integrated Geometry and Algebra 2 in their eighth grade year. Math has always been an interest and strength of Marshall’s; she qualified to compete at the MathCounts Chapter Competition in February and was also one of nine middle school students who represented Ensworth in the Tennessee Mathematics Teachers Association Math Contest.
6:00p.m.: Dance Practice
After school, Marshall travels to the High School Campus to practice with the other members of the Middle School Dance Team. The spring dance concert is a three-night production, and Marshall is in five of the dances. “Dance is one of those things that I never thought I would do until I was exposed to it at Ensworth. The dance classes start early at the preschool level and go all the way through high school. I have really enjoyed being involved in the dance program; it truly feels like a family.” Marshall’s dance teacher, Rachel Tolbert, says, “I have enjoyed watching Marshall thrive on dance team. Not only is she a talented dancer and student, she is an excellent leader and friend to her teammates. She works tirelessly on new skills and is always ready to help others. Marshall’s love of dance, combined with her phenomenal work ethic, have helped shape her success in the program.” Marshall looks forward to continuing dance at the high school and diving into all of the additional opportunities that will open up as she transitions to ninth grade. She’s already making plans to try photography and work on her swing in the new golf center on campus, and she is poised and ready to take full advantage of the endless possibilities.
2018 SUMMER | 9
ACADEMICS
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF:
Jude MALOY
MALOY CLASS OF 2020 10 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
ACADEMICS
T
he distinguishing characteristic of sophomore Jude Maloy’s day at Ensworth is its variety. From receiving a raucous greeting from his fitness instructor to working on his songwriting chops with music teachers, to a reflective English class, to getting ribbed by his coaches, there’s no boring day.
8:55 a.m.: Music 2 Jude has been exposed to music all his life. ”My dad used to be the lead singer of a rock band but started writing songs for other people after the band broke up,” Jude explains. “I grew up around a lot of instruments due to my dad’s career and started playing both piano and guitar at a very young age.” After he got to Ensworth, he didn’t necessarily want to focus on music. “I was a little worried that it would take away a lot of free time,” he recalls. “But then I found myself playing guitar or doing something musical during nearly all of my free time freshman year. Mr. Aveni continued to pester me about it until I joined Rock Band and Music 2 this year.” A focused, academic approach to the arts is just what Jude needed to develop his music. Elias Salazar, Music 2 teacher, is known for holding his students to a high standard. As Conductor of the Trevecca Symphony Orchestra and the Nashville Collegiate Orchestra, the music educator propels high school students to the next level with their music. “I have learned a lot taking Music 2 with Mr. Salazar,” Jude acknowledges.
11:20 a.m.: English with Mr. Mischinski American Studies English is one of Jude’s favorite classes this year. Students in Grade 10 take two courses in American Studies, one in English and one in history, to tackle the question of what it means to be an American. “I have enjoyed English this year with Mr. Mischinski,” Jude recalls, “and really enjoyed the books we read.” Mischinski sees great potential and an uncommon insight in Jude. “He possesses a wonderfully creative temperament,” the teacher observes. “He loves thinking outside the box and enjoys bringing diverse disciplines into his inquiries and problem solving, particularly his music. When studying poetry, the verse, song lyrics, and the music of language all come together for him. This is uncommon in a sophomore. He is also courteous, respectful, and eager to know more outside the curriculum.”
1:20 p.m.: Rock Band Although Rock Band involves a lot of hard work, Jude approaches it as the period of the day with the greatest level of creative development. “The experience I’ve had in Rock Band has really inspired me more than anything else to pursue music,” explains Jude, who has written a number of songs. One of these songs, “Vagabond,” has become a crowd favorite at events like the first Student Singer-Songwriter Night. Tired of questions about his future, Jude wrote the song “about working a job but not making any money, and then quitting and running away with a bunch of hippies.”
3:00 p.m.: Track Practice “After school, I’ll go to practice for whichever sport I’m in at that point and probably listen to Coach Seig [track] or Coach Garrett [football] make fun of my facial hair before we get serious and start practice,” Maloy explains. Jude is a three-sport athlete: football in the fall, diving in the winter, and track in the spring. He has broken or tied school records in the 400m, pole vault, decathlon, 4x100, and 4x200. In track tournaments, he placed first in the region in the 400m, second in state decathlon, and second in the state 400m. His coaches recognize excellence beyond mere ability. “We challenge our students to be Ensworthian on a daily basis,” Coach Seigenthaler observes, “to use their talents to the fullest. Over the past two years, I have witnessed Jude display the characteristics of an Ensworthian in the arts, football, basketball, diving, the decathlon, and most importantly, through his interactions with all members of the Ensworth community.” Like many of his Ensworth classmates, Jude fills his days exploring diverse interests while also cultivating a deeper understanding and mastery of the talents he enjoys most. Whatever his future may hold, whether breaking more athletic records or signing a record deal, Jude is prepared to take it all in stride.
12:15 p.m.: Fitness “My fitness periods start with Coach Johnson yelling ‘HERE WE GOOOO!!’ as soon as I walk in,” Jude recalls. Students enjoy taking breaks from academic work during the day for physical activity that varies from weight training to yoga. In the development of the curriculum at the high school, Ensworth recognized the integral part that fitness plays in both the physical and emotional health of students. All students participate in daily fitness classes where they engage in workouts that are customized to address their individual needs and goals. After fitness class, Jude observes, “the mood will completely switch when I walk into Rock Band class.”
“I think what makes Ensworth so great is all the opportunities. I think Ensworth does a better job than other schools of allowing any talent to be utilized and giving opportunities for everyone to do what they want: music, academics, athletics, everything.”
2018 SUMMER | 11
COMMUNITY
Celebrating A Diverse Community of Individuals This spring, the Ensworth Board of Trustees adopted an official Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to supplement and support the school’s Mission and Vision Statements. The impetus behind the development of the statement was a desire to affirm the climate of respect and culture of inclusion fostered at Ensworth and to emphasize the importance of valuing and celebrating differences. Board of Trustees President TJ Wilt states, “A portion of Ensworth’s Vision Statement reads ‘We envision a school
where a deep sense of community and belonging pervades all aspects of school life.’ As we strive to live a day-to-day life in education that reflects our vision, with equal respect to all individuals regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin, we felt it was necessary to formalize our thoughts and feelings around our actions. The Board of Trustees took this process very seriously, and after two years of discussion, research, respect for the past, and an open mind to the future, we created the Ensworth Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement.”
Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Ensworth In order to realize the goals of our Mission and Vision, Ensworth must actively strive to be a diverse and inclusive community of learners that engages collectively In Search of Truth. The presence of different perspectives and life experiences plays a vital role in the development of our students, enhancing classroom and extracurricular experiences in meaningful ways. As a school, we are committed to cultivating an environment in which all members of the Ensworth community experience a true sense of belonging and are empowered to be active participants in the life of the school. These efforts are essential if we are to foster the growth of all students in line with their potential, and to equip them for lives of purpose that extend far beyond their time at Ensworth. (Approved by Ensworth Board of Trustees on March 14, 2018)
12 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
FINDING
Alli Hicks Class of 2009
2018 SUMMER | 13
ACADEMICS
DEREK RIOS
L AU R E N P I T TS
Vanderbilt University
Carleton College
erek Rios is headed down the street to Vanderbilt University where he intends to study pre-med. In his words, “I believe it is best for me to use my God-given abilities to help others in this life,” and therefore, he plans to become a physician.
auren Pitts’ college counseling process began her freshman year with Mr. Phillips. Frequent visits to his office helped her create a consistent and comfortable dialogue with him that made choosing classes, and eventually a college, so much easier. Mr. Phillips shares, “Lauren is very self-motivated and independent, and she initiated a lot of the research on her own. With her process,
D
While he’s always had a heart of gold, the looming question in his college counseling process was whether or not he wanted to pursue collegiate football. Guided by Mrs. Stewart in the College Counseling Department, Derek had two different lists of prospective schools: one with strong football programs and the other with strong pre-med programs. While this process required an added juggle of thoughts and decisions, Mrs. Stewart was thoroughly impressed with Derek’s ability to navigate the entire process. Stewart explained, “Other than those two requirements, Derek was very open-minded about where he looked. After football season, Derek was able to reflect more deeply on what he wanted out of his college experience and came to the decision that he did not want to play football. At this point, he was also able to make a full commitment to Vanderbilt. Derek was very organized and diligent throughout his entire process. He stayed on task and asked questions when he needed clarification or help in the process, which made for a smoother journey this year. I am so proud of Derek and selfishly glad he is going to college just down the road. I am very much looking forward to following his journey at Vanderbilt.”
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I was more of a resource than a guide. She would drop by often to ask a quick question or bounce an idea off of me. By the time she reached senior year, she was already in the right frame of mind to know exactly where she wanted to be.” Lauren quickly discovered her desire to attend a liberal arts college, but with so many to choose from, she needed to narrow her focus. Pitts explains, “I chose Carleton because it is an elite liberal arts college with a strong undergraduate teaching program and a focus on community and intellectual curiosity.” On the far side of extensive research, Lauren knew Carleton was the right fit and was accepted through early decision. She is set to join their cross-country team and looks forward to taking advantage of the wide range of classes offered at Carleton before declaring a major in her second year.
By the time Lauren reached senior year, she was already in the right frame of mind to know exactly where she wanted to be. Paul Phillips, College Counselor
14 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
ACADEMICS
SAM JOHNSTON
GRACE HALL
Southern Methodist University
Davidson College
am Johnston follows in his father’s and sister’s footsteps as he heads to Southern Methodist University, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t take the college counseling process seriously and investigate alternatives along the way.
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Sam applied to five colleges in total, fueled by the knowledge he gained about each of them through meetings with representatives at our mini college fairs, site visits to multiple campuses, and the guidance and instruction from his counselor JJ Anthony. “My college counseling process was very helpful,” Sam explains. “Mr. Anthony assisted me with the application process, essays, and stayed in touch with me along the way. He offered me advice with any questions I had, and his door was always open.” Sam intends to study business at SMU and notes his desire to tap into the strong alumni community in pursuit of summer internships and future job opportunities.
“My college counseling process was very helpful. Mr. Anthony assisted me with the application
race Hall left no stone unturned in her college process, traveling with her parents from New York to California and everywhere in between before setting her intentions on Davidson, a decision that led her to apply early decision in the fall of 2017. With visits to campuses near and far, Grace came to realize what she was seeking was something similar to what she’d already experienced. Hall explains, “As I took my family
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on the wild cross-country tour of American colleges and universities, I realized that what I’ve come to love is learning in a small environment with dedicated teachers and a school community that supports my growth. I’ve been so fortunate to have experienced that educational environment at Ensworth, and it was the dedicated professors and students, along with a strong sense of community, that drew me to Davidson.” The secret ingredient to such a strong educational environment, she notes, are the educators and their ability to connect with their students. “The teachers at Ensworth are more than the adults who mark your paper with a red pen; they are friends and mentors, too. They treat their students like young intellectuals instead of children; in my opinion, they’re the best part about Ensworth.”
process, essays, and stayed in touch with me along the way. He offered me advice with any questions I had, and his door was always open.” Sam Johnston, Class of 2018
2018 SUMMER | 15
ACADEMICS
S CH OLARS The Capstone Program offers students in Grades 11 and 12 the opportunity to engage in an extensive exploration of an academic passion that lies above and beyond courses normally offered at the High School. To participate, a student investigates, proposes and gains approval for a specific Capstone project in Grade 11, and then pursues that project through Grade 12 with the support of a faculty sponsor.
Sponsors share their thoughts on the Capstone Scholars and their projects
David Allen
Murder, Madness, & the Macrocosm: Historical Fiction & the Life of Tycho Brahe
“The English classes he has had here at Ensworth so impressed David with the importance of stories and storytelling that he decided he would attempt writing historical fiction. The result is Saturn’s Revenge, a novella that revives the controversy over the suspicious death of famed Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. Immersing himself in late16th and early-17th century European science, spirituality, and social customs, David mastered a difficult storytelling technique, the frame narrative, and pulled off a whodunnit of cosmic proportions. I am so very proud of his efforts.”
Frances Lavey
A Crayola Color Story from Blue to Red: The Increasing Inability for Purple to Be Used
“Frances has shown great diligence and dedication toward the pursuit of the evaluation of the evolving political ideologies in Tennessee and their impact on voting patterns over time. I have no doubt that what Frances has learned through her Capstone project will serve her well as she heads into the future. If we are lucky, she will continue her love for government and politics, becoming a force in a political system that needs individuals such as Frances Lavey.” Sponsor: Tim Love
Sponsor: Brad Knopp
Lucie Clayton Johnston
What Power Doesn’t Buy
“For her Capstone, L.C. blended her interest in history, her love of poetry, and her desire to branch out from the poetry she wrote in last year’s Poetry class to produce a set of poems that followed the principle that less is more. It was a daunting challenge and very time consuming, but L. C. was up to it. She read and read and read. Then she wrote. And then she honed and honed and honed. I came to think of her process as the work of a diamond cutter. She cut these stories to their essence, without losing clarity and color.” Sponsor: Myra McLarey 16 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
Donny Lawrence
Staving the Horde: Developing and Securing fluentcode, an App That Can Teach Anyone to Program
“Donny’s strong algorithmic thinking and enthusiasm for all aspects of computing are two of the qualities responsible for his successful development of his own web-based application, fluentcode. His application teaches novice coders how to write their own programs using Python, a high-level programming language. His persistence in troubleshooting the functionality of these and numerous other features of his app was impressive. I am extremely proud of Donny for his final product, a sophisticated app completed at a level that matches some expert software developers.” Sponsor: Karen Boles
ACADEMICS
“ She brought her wisdom to this project,
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and then she became much wiser because of it.
Wyatt Mullowney
Immigrants on I.C.E.: A Study of Kurdish and Latino Immigration in Davidson County
“Wyatt Mullowney has developed her Capstone project out of more than her love and passion for AP Government. Throughout her life and with the help of her family, she has developed a close connection to immigrants in the Nashville area. It is this connection that led to her desire to explore immigration in the city of Nashville and the possible effects of immigration policy on this community. Wyatt has shown great diligence and dedication toward the pursuit and completion of this year-long project. I have been impressed with her professionalism and work ethic throughout this Capstone.” Sponsor: Tim Love
Caroline Seitz
Jailbird
“Caroline has the gift of listening, hearing not only what is obvious but what others might not hear—the silences, the pauses, the word choices. She has ‘the writer’s eye.’ She sees the smallest details—the gestures that others miss. And I think that’s where wisdom begins—by hearing and seeing. Caroline is wise beyond her years. She brought her wisdom to this project, and then she became much wiser because of it. If you are fortunate enough to have a copy of Jailbird, then you are in for a spellbinding experience.” Sponsor: Myra McLarey
Carrie Lee Sullivan
Screenwriting: Isolation and Collaboration
“Carrie Lee Sullivan is one of the more uniquely gifted students I have taught in my Ensworth career. The nature and quality of her insights is so sensitive and nuanced that, if you are not careful, you might be looking the other way when she drops the day’s most profound insight. Carrie Lee’s Capstone project in screenwriting has been the ideal forum for her to pursue her talents and her interests beyond the bounds of our regular curriculum.” Sponsor: David Berry
Eric Williams Goddess
“When Eric first shared the vision for his Capstone with me, I was intrigued not only by the scope of the work but by the person who would aspire toward such a grand idea. Creating a Beyoncé-like ‘Lemonade’ level artistic statement was not only ambitious but would require a truly inspired belief in one’s abilities and the potential of one’s own individual voice. The individual whom I first admired for his dream-like idea, I now applaud for his hard work, determination, and artistic conviction.” Sponsor: Jim Aveni
Iain Zwiebel
Pooling My Resources: A Bio-mechanical Analysis of Swimming
“Iain Zwiebel diligently pursues many complex interests, including swimming, photography, and cutting-edge technologies; he actively blends his interests in bringing his ideas to fruition. His Capstone project combined his passions for competitive swimming with underwater video analysis in order to develop a method for coaches to evaluate critical competitive swimming techniques. Iain has been extremely self-directed throughout this project and maintained an optimistic attitude in spite of challenges and setbacks. Demonstrating flexibility to adjust to the unknowns is a valuable character trait, which Iain skillfully exercised throughout this project.” Sponsor: Mike Ireland 2018 SUMMER | 17
ACADEMICS
2018–2019 Student Government Leaders Elected
Congratulations to Chazzie Bailey and John Gibson Lewis, elected as High School Student Government President and Vice President for the 2018-2019 school year. Congratulations to the following class speakers: Thomas Awad (Grade 12), Ryan Crants (Grade 11), and William Vreeland (Grade 10).
Math Awards
Colin Murray ‘20 won First Place in the Pre-Calculus division at the Tennessee Mathematics Teachers Association Math Contest held at Lipscomb University. Colin was one of 36 Ensworth students who qualified to attend, 27 from the high school and nine from the middle school, ten of whom placed in the top 25 of their divisions. Colin also won the National Championship for the tenth grade at MathCON, a national mathematics competition for students in grades 5-12. Whit Uden ‘25 received a fifth grade Honorable Mention award with a fourth-place regional finish, and Paul Park ‘20 also qualified and attended the prestigious competition.
Sweet Example of Service
Brownie Troop 2101 visited the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital in March, where they delivered 167 donated boxes of Girl Scout Cookies and a $200 check that represented 25% of their proceeds.
Predators Game National Anthem
The honor of singing the National Anthem to open the Predators Game went to our very own Corinna Gill ‘20, Ashley Settles ‘19, and Zoe Upkins ‘21 on Tuesday, January 30.
Head of School for a Day
Third grade student Alex Aplin served as a wonderful Head of School for a day on Tuesday, April 10. He went back and forth between campuses, held meetings, and even directed the morning hookup traffic!
3rd and Lindsley Concert
Ashley Settles ‘19 was on stage at 3rd and Lindsley on Saturday, February 18 performing in the “She’s A Rebel” Girls Tribute Show.
Choral Award Accolades
Congratulations to our Grade 8 choral students who received a Superior Rating (the highest honor) at a Choral Festival in March.
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Bar Pin Awards
To view a complete list of 2018 high school academic awards, visit the Ensworth Blog: www.ensworth.com/awardsday
ACADEMICS
Book Awards
Each year colleges and college alumni groups recognize outstanding students throughout the country with book awards. This year, Ensworth juniors were honored for their excellence in various fields of endeavor by fifteen colleges and universities. The George Washington University Book Award: Shoshana Kelner
Presented to outstanding high school juniors in recognition of their academic excellence, leadership outside the classroom, diversity of thought, and their ability to put knowledge into action.
The Harvard Prize Book: Thomas Awad
Presented annually in more than 2,000 high schools around the world to recognize outstanding students in the next-to-graduating class who demonstrate excellence in scholarship and achievement in other non-academic areas.
The Sewanee Award for Excellence In Writing: Scottie Koehner
Selected on the basis of scholarship, leadership, demonstrated excellence in writing and for notable potential for future success as a writer. Also taken into consideration are interests, activities, and achievements in the school and community.
The St. Lawrence University Book Award: Rose Civitts Recognizes an outstanding high school junior who has displayed a significant commitment to community service.
The Tulane University Book Award: Lucy Eubanks
The Hollins Book Award: Marianna Staff
Recognizes an outstanding junior who has demonstrated sustained academic excellence and possesses a special interest in English and creative writing.
Students selected for the award embody the university’s motto, “Not for one’s self, but for one’s own,” and have demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership, and public service, in their respective communities.
The Kenyon Review: Jackson Buschmann
The Jefferson Book Award: Andy Garside
This award is presented by the President of Kenyon College to a junior in recognition of intellectual engagement, creativity, and commitment to community.
Presented by the University of Virginia Club of Nashville to a junior whom the high school considers to represent the Jeffersonian ideals of scholarship, leadership, and citizenship.
The Princeton Book Award: Caroline Frist
Vanderbilt University Book Award: Serena Howard
Recognizes a junior who displays excellence in the areas of academics, extracurricular activities, and community service, as well as a strong desire, either through words or actions, to change the world for the better.
Presented in the form of a silver bowl inscribed with the name of the Ensworth junior who has showcased outstanding academic achievement, demonstrated leadership skills, and has excelled in English literature.
The Randolph College Book Award: Lauren Hall
Washington Lee University Book Award: James Kent
Recognizes an outstanding high school junior who displays excellence in academics and leadership.
The Rensselaer Medal: John Smalley
Established in 1916 with two purposes: to recognize the superlative academic achievement of young men and women, and to motivate students towards careers in science, engineering, and technology. The Rensselaer Medal recognizes an outstanding junior who has distinguished himself/herself in mathematics and science.
The Rhodes College Book Award: Jillian Gray
Awarded to a junior student who has demonstrated exemplary community service coupled with a commitment to leadership and helping others.
Presented by the Nashville Chapter of the Washington & Lee University Alumni Association to a student in his or her junior year who exhibits the qualities cherished and exemplified by George Washington, a generous benefactor of the University, and Robert E. Lee, its president from 1865 to 1870. These qualities are personal integrity, academic excellence, and leadership.
The Yale Book Award: Hailey Braemer
Awarded to a student at Ensworth who shows the greatest intellectual promise, as evidenced by actual achievements and demonstrated potential; who, by activities at school and in the community, has demonstrated a broad range of interests and accomplishments, and who is of outstanding personal character.
2018 SUMMER | 19
ACADEMICS
FOR T H E R E C OR D
Head of School Award
The Head of School Award, given to students who have earned a place on the Head of School list in all four marking periods of their eighth grade year, was presented to: Bella Chadwick Indie Charles Katherine Dagley Harper Dale Karim Daouk LiLi Dellinger
Catherine Duvall Lanie Dyke Jasmine Finlay Cambria Fong Maeve Glattes Scout Halligan
Orange & Black Competition
Congratulations to the eighth grade captains Harper Dale, Rogers McDougall, Catherine Duvall and Takis Patikas, who led their respective Orange and Black teams through a variety of activities throughout the year. In the end, victory went to the Black team on Field Day, and they also won the overall competition. Go Tigers!
Grade 2 Chess Accolades
Congratulations to our young chess enthusiast, Aly Porter ‘28 who placed third in the K-3 division of the All Girls State Chess Tournament in April.
Grade 8 Gift
Each year, the Eighth Grade Class works together with their parents and teachers to host the Pancake Breakfast, an Ensworth tradition that has grown into a major event for the school community. After serving well over 1,000 people at the breakfast, members of the class determined that the proceeds of their Pancake Breakfast will be directed toward financial aid funding so that “other students can enjoy and experience what they’ve experienced.”
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Amelia Laffer Adelaide Mason Hadley McCormack Claire McGehee John Morrow Emma Noonan Genevieve Schaefer
James N. Brown Award
The James N. Brown Award, given to students who have earned all A’s in Effort and Consideration throughout their sixth, seventh, and eighth grade years, was presented to: Bella Chadwick Katherine Dagley, Harper Dale, Catherine Duvall, Lanie Dyke, Sofia Fagin, Izze Gill, Scout Halligan, Ella Hartman, Phoebe Kyriopoulous, Amelia Laffer, Nhi-Ha Le, Spencer Linn, Hadley McCormack, Vivian Morrow, Emma Noonan, Olivia Prentice, Nina Ralsky, Marshall Wilt
Math Counts
Congratulations to middle school students William Chung, Karim Daouk, Katherine Groomes, Scout Halligan, Amelia Laffer, Quintin Miles, Sam Moeller, Julia Moore, Genevieve Schaefer, and Marshall Wilt who qualified to compete in the Math Counts Chapter Competition in February.
MS Geography Bee
Katherine Dagley ‘20 was the 2018 National Geography Bee champion on the Lower/ Middle School Campus.
ENSWORTH
2018 IMPORTANT DATES Visit ensworth.com to confirm dates and for more information
August 15 First Day of Class (see calendar for orientation schedule) October 5 Homecoming Weekend & Alumni Reunion October 11–12 Fall Break October 19 High School Grandparents Day October 21 High School Campus Preview Day October 29 Robert Inman Golf Classic November 16 Pancake Breakfast November 20 Lower/Middle School Grandparents Day November 21–23 Thanksgiving Break December 22 Winter Break Begins (through January 7, 2019)
House of Morality Wins the Devon Cup
From Homecoming Week to Spirit Week, our Tiger Houses have competed in various activities throughout the year. House points were awarded for competitions including Dress Days, Powder Puff Football, House Dodgeball, Mr. Morgan Says, and Dining Hall Clean-up. Designed to promote school spirit and build connections among the grade levels, each of our four Tiger Houses is led by two senior captains who were selected by the members of their houses at the beginning of the school year.
1 st PLACE House of Morality Sarah Allen and Brennan Robinson 2 nd PLACE House of Vitality James Bright and Lowery Nickels 3 rd PLACE House of Truth Frances Garrard and Ian McDonald 4 th PLACE House of Integrity Laura Cheek and Christian Dixon
House Captains Elected for 2018-2019 House of Integrity Allison Halloran Disser Wallace
House of Morality Elizabeth Perrone Scottie Koehner
House of Truth Gracie Sinks Grant Hollomon
House of Vitality Ashley Settles Jackson Wright
Beekeeping For a Cause
Beekeepers Melanie Comoglio ‘19, Jackson Jeansonne ‘18, and William Wallace ‘18 presented a $3,000 donation to Hands on Nashville after the success of their E-honey sales. Let’s hope the bees keep buzzing through the school year; it was delicious!
2018 SUMMER | 21
COMMUNITY
Meet Our Parent Association Board Members! BRITT HORN, Parent Association President
Favorite tradition: One of my favorite Ensworth traditions is the Book Signing at the High School Campus. I love the ceremonial aspect of students lining up outside Founders Hall waiting to be called on to enter, signing the book, and proceeding through the hallway lined with faculty waiting to congratulate and honor each student. I love the way that Ensworth uses this tradition to celebrate each student’s entrance into the halls as a new beginning of life in high school. What a thoughtful way to commemorate this rite of passage. I would love to be a fly on the wall in ___’s class because…. Brooke Morgan’s Seminar Class because I would enjoy participating in the conversations, delving into discussing day-to-day events, and hearing the diverse perspectives of our students. Estimate your lifetime hours of service to Ensworth: It has been said that “you make a living by what you get and you make a life by what you give.” I am not confident that I can accurately estimate the hours in which I have volunteered, but I certainly know that I have received more than I have given through volunteering at Ensworth. If you could chaperone one trip, excursion, or field trip, what would it be? I would love to chaperone for the Washington, D.C. trip because the trip is filled with so many wonderful opportunities to absorb the history of our nation and culture.
BARBARA SMITH, President-Elect
If you had to wear an Ensworth uniform piece, what would you pick and why: The pleated skirt, because it never needs to be ironed! I would love to be a fly on the wall in ___’s class because…. Mr. Hopkins’ Geography class because he leads the students in discussions about the most compelling topics, including the civil war in Rwanda, immigration, and the daily struggles affecting children living in other parts of the world such as Sudan. Volunteer goals for 2018-2019: I would love to see all of the new families join at least one Parent Association committee. Advice for families new to Ensworth: Get involved! There are a variety of ways to volunteer at Ensworth, and there is no better way to get to know your fellow parents and the amazing faculty and staff. List all the ways you’ve volunteered at Ensworth: Room parent, library volunteer, First Grade Parent Coordinator, Faculty/ Staff Appreciation Committee, Parent Association Treasurer, Plant Sale Co-Chair, School Support Committee, Tiger Family, Kindergarten Grade Coordinator, New Parent Support Committee , Super Saturday Co-Chair, Middle School Representative, PA at-Large Representative, concessions, and admission events.
ELIZABETH GERKEN, Parent Education Chair Favorite tradition: Kindergarten reading buddies
Best part of Ensworth is...The thoughtful curriculum that builds on skills each successive year. Favorite Ensworth volunteer activity: Chairing the Auction really was fun; I got to know my Auction Co-Chairs well, and we ended up raising a lot of money. That was the most thorough Ensworth immersion experience I’ve had! Volunteer goals for 2018-2019: Finalize the Parent Education events for next year by September 1, 2018. Chair-Elect Sharon Pensinger and I are hoping that all Ensworth parents will have these events on their calendars, will attend, and will learn something new about the critical role we play as parents. If you could chaperone one trip, excursion, or field trip, what would it be? Belize or Tanzania! 22 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
COMMUNITY
PA’S GIFT TO THE SCHOOL
Each and every Parent Association initiative aligns with one or more components of our mission: to Educate Our Parents, Build Our Community, and Support Our School. Through the success of the E-vent Auction, Super Saturday, and Shop & Earn program, the Parent Association was proud to make a donation of $145,000 this year to support the Excellence Begins With E Campaign, in addition to providing operational funding for the 2018-2019 school year.
2018-2019 PARENT ASSOCIATION
Board Members President Britt Horn President-Elect Barbara Smith
JIM BOOSALIS, At-Large Representative
Special/funny memory of volunteer experience: Cooking burgers and hot dogs in a driving rain this year at Super Saturday. Great camaraderie, and the food was prepared by aspiring chefs! Would you rather be in the dunking booth on Super Saturday or on the early morning grill for Pancake Breakfast? Grill for the Pancake Breakfast. I’m a connoisseur when it comes to pancakes, French toast, and waffles. Ask my wife and daughter! Publix is only a few blocks away; I use my Shop & Earn card, too! Would you rather do a belly flop during Spirit Week at the HS or jump in the pond? A pond would be better for me, like Bill Murray in “Caddyshack.”
If you could chaperone one trip, excursion, or field trip, what would it be? I wish to chaperone a trip to Washington, D.C. with young students. Every time I go to our nation’s capital my feeling is always the same…we are so fortunate to live in our great country! Most recent volunteer role at Ensworth: I helped with the third grade play costumes. It was fun to see the children excited before their “Broadway performance.”
Secretary Lauren Lunsford Treasurer Coco Kyriopoulos Communications Chair Tiffany Armistead Fundraising Chair Mike Haney Parent Education Chair Elizabeth Gerken Immediate Past President Elena Rollins Treasurer-Elect Denise Boosalis Communications Chair-Elect Jennifer Rasmussen Fundraising Chair-Elect Ned Spitzer Parent Education Chair-Elect Sharon Pensinger
MIKE HANEY, Fundraising Chair
If you had to wear an Ensworth uniform piece, what would you pick and why: Tiger’s head, to cover up my bald spot. If you had to complete a school project of your own, you’d choose…. Physics is Phun, the Grade 5 Egg Drop! Would you rather be in the dunking booth on Super Saturday, or on the early morning grill for Pancake Breakfast? One word: BACON. Volunteer goals for 2018-2019: I’d like an increase in the number of families that are using the Shop & Earn programs, which is such an easy way to raise money for the school. I’d also like to increase attendance at the E-vent Auction. First place you volunteered at Ensworth: At the Kindergarten Halloween Party, I was the Incredible Hulk...strong start, right?!
SUE SPISSU, Arts Council Chair
Special/funny memory of volunteer experience: My first Super Saturday, I had no idea what I was really signing up for and I ended up at the Donut Dangle. I didn’t know it was going to be real donuts....I was sticky from head to toe! Best part of Ensworth is... The great education and opportunities my son is receiving. He gets to be involved in as much as he wants, and there are so many extra things that I just know he wouldn’t get the opportunity to be a part of somewhere else. I would love to be a fly on the wall in ___’s class because….Jim Miller’s English class because I think he challenges the kids to think outside the box, and I’d love to hear the discussions around the Harkness table. Advice for families new to Ensworth: Get involved. You can’t meet people without getting involved, especially in the high school. Volunteering is an easy way to be present on campus and get to know other parents and faculty.
Arts Council Chair Sue Spissu Arts Council Chair-Elect Anna Talerico High School Representative Lucy Duvall High School Representative-Elect Libba Vickery Middle School Representative Libby Sheer Middle School Representative-Elect Delia Darst Lower School Representative Katie Porterfield Lower School Representative-Elect Irene Head At-Large Representatives: Jim Boosalis, Carrie McLaren, and Charmine Ravanpay
Save the Dates! February 9, 2019: The Ensworth E-vent Auction May 4, 2019: Super Saturday 2018 SUMMER | 23
COMMUNITY
CHAIRS Kathy Dorr, Jacqueline Phillips, Allison Hadley, Libba Vickery
Ensworth’s
E-VENT AUCTION Saturday, February 10 Mercedes-Benz of Music City
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COMMUNITY
CHAIRS Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Betsy Wilt, Kristen Greer Ensworth’s
SUPER SATURDAY Saturday, May 5 High School Campus
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COMMUNITY A
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EVENTS E
Spring 2018
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PICTURED A & B Kindergarten Money March C & D Grade 2 Pioneer Day E Valentine’s Day F Grade 8 Washington D.C. Trip G & H Field Day C
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I, J, K, L Grade 4 Biography Fair
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ENSWORTH
High School
EVENTS Spring 2018
PICTURED A, B, C Senior Send-Off Celebration D Spring Fun Day E & F Spring Dance Concert G Spring Encore/Choral Concert H, I, J, K Spirit Week Competitions D
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(Caroline Duke, winner of Mr. Morgan Says)
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COMMUNITY
CLASS OF 2018 GRADUATION Saturday, May 26 • High School Campus 30 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
COMMUNITY
GRADE 8 CLOSING EXERCISES Tuesday, May 22 • Lower/Middle School Campus 2018 SUMMER | 31
ARTS
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ARTS
EN S WO RTH p res e n ts
High School Musical March 8–10, 2018
“Beehive” features beloved hits that take you on a journey through the look, sounds, and feel of the Swinging Sixties. Through pop, rock, and R&B, the ten women of “Beehive” document the dramatic changes that America underwent during the Sixties, using more than 75 wigs, 75 costumes, 50 cans of hairspray a week, an amazing ensemble, a talented company of lead dancers, and one gifted on-stage band. These songs reach into the deepest part of where we’ve been— through the cultural revolutions of the mid20th Century to the fun and fancy-free hits of a nascent pop culture. A little definition might be in order: although the beehive hairdo has become an enduring icon of the late 1950s, it was considered the height of fashion in the Sixties. The beehive was created by hairdresser Margaret Vinci Heldt in Elmhurst, Illinois primarily as a
way to make women look taller. In 2011, the woman behind the hive said, “The opportunities opened to me and I said, ‘Now it’s up to me. I have to make it work.’” That’s what our show is—the women of music taking their turn, making their way in music, and giving us hits that stand the test of time all on their own terms. The beehive came to be seen as a reminder of a revolutionarily feminine time in music, pop culture, and American history. “Beehive” reminds us all of this time, not just through the cans of hairspray and teasing done to such a myriad of wigs, but through a documentation of what these powerful women in history contributed to what America is. With the Supremes, the Ronettes, Dusty Springfield, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, The Angels, The Shirelles, The Chiffons, and Janis Joplin, the face our music changed forever.
Donnie Bryan
Director & Designer; Visual & Performing Arts Department Chair
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ARTS
E N SWO R T H Arts Awards Performing Arts Awards Music Awards • Leonard Bernstein Musicianship Award: Trey Lanier • Quincy Jones Musicianship Award: Eric Williams, Carson Lovell • Louis Armstrong Jazz Award: George Lloyd • National School Orchestra Award: Margaret Johnson • National School Choral Award: Bella Moses
Encore • Nominated for a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) in the category of Best High School Song. • Selected by Varsity Vocals to be featured on the BOHSA 2018: Best of High School A Cappella compilation album. • One of only six groups nationwide selected as an exhibition group for the National A Cappella Convention.
Visual Arts Awards Scholastic Art Competition, Gold Key Winner: Rhianna Mann ’18, Untitled (pictured left) Malcolm Bryan ’20, Honorable Mention Middle Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition: Wyatt Mullowney ‘18, Ring Barrett McFerrin ‘20, Photogram Carrie Elcan ‘20, Shadow Farm Lucas Chaveyriat ‘20, Traffic, Best in Photography Will Materazzi ‘21, Dream Car, 9th Grade Third Place 34 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
ARTS
E NS WO RTH p res e n ts
High School Spring Play May 3–5, 2018
“Our Town” is a great teaching play. It teaches dramatic theory; it teaches stagecraft. It is easily harnessed to teach acting and directing. But it teaches a lot more than that. It teaches us both how to live well together in community and how we might live more fully realized lives as individuals. Is that why it is so well loved? Perhaps our students love “Our Town” because it—like them—is on a bold and willfully independent search for truth. “Our Town” unfurls in short, concentrated bursts of intense focus—and then its focus shifts. It comes across as unfailingly earnest—carefully measured, yet passionate and impulsive. Though we know it to be abrupt and unpredictable, progressing through the play, we always feel coddled—until we look back from the ending and the pace suddenly feels frenetic. Like teenagers, “Our Town” is often underestimated. Its elegance is often mistaken for simplicity. It doesn’t read like an 80-year-old play. Fully educated in its place in dramatic history and inspired by tradition—yet eager and fully empowered to pioneer its own course—”Our Town” is the 80-year-old adolescent of our dramatic canon and, in my opinion, the best American play. “Our Town’s” great charge to us is that we awake to live our lives in a state of wonder and appreciation—that we “see” the world, and more important that, as Emily says, we “see each other.”
David Berry
Director & High School English Faculty 2018 SUMMER | 35
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Middle School Spring Play February 23–24, 2018
“Cheaper by the Dozen” is the true story of the Gilbreths—an American family with twelve children who lived in the first half of the twentieth century. Frank Gilbreth, the family patriarch, was an efficiency consultant who strove to bring the principles he used in factories into his home. Not a moment or a movement should be wasted. He set up record players in the bathrooms so that his children would learn French and German while they bathed and brushed their teeth. The original book was written by two of Frank’s children. In their book, the siblings grapple with their memories of a father so consumed with making them ready for adulthood that they missed the common rituals of childhood. In hindsight, the adult Gilbreth children became aware that their father knew that he was dying during those years. Frank Gilbreth had a weak heart and died at 40 – when his youngest child was still a baby. In his last year, he realized that his children would need to fend for themselves and help their mother and younger siblings in his absence. As I listened to the conversations our young actors had about the Gilbreths, I had to appreciate that the Gilbreths were trying to find a balance that so many of us are struggling with today. The Gilbreths did not have sports leagues or AP classes, cell phones, or even televisions, but they were
faced with the same frenetic busy-ness that many of us feel when our children are school aged. As Anne, the oldest Gilbreth, asked her father in their last conversation together: “I understand that you want us to get ahead. What I don’t understand is, what are you saving time for?” It is only in retrospect that the adult Gilbreth children are able to look back on their childhood and remember their mother’s calm and soothing nature balancing out that of her charismatic husband. Her refrain echoed throughout the play and their young years, “Right now is the happiest time in the world.” And it is, isn’t it? Our children are under our roofs finding out who they are and what their paths are. It’s summertime, and they are young. What are we saving time for? Right now is the happiest time in the world.
Hope Moeller
Middle School Drama Director & Second Grade Teacher 2018 SUMMER | 37
ATHLETICS
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ATHLETICS 2017
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2018
MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS CROSS COUNTRY
• The girls’ Cross Country team finished the season as the HVAC Champions. • HVAC Individual Medalists: Harper Dale, 1st Claire McGehee, 2nd Gray Fleetwood, 5th Kate McGehee, 6th Genevieve Shaefer, 11th
GOLF
• Both the boys’ and girls’ Golf teams finished the season as the HVAC Champions. • Individual Medals: Toby Wilt, HVAC Individual Champion; Marshall Wilt, 2nd place ; Katherine Dagley, 3rd place; Vaughan Banks, 6th place
VOLLEYBALL
• The team finished the season as the HVAC Division A Champions. • All HVAC: Katie Barrier, Maeve Glattes, and Logan Wilbanks–Davidson
FOOTBALL
• Rogers McDougall: most valuable defense • Cole Hooper: MVP
GIRLS’ TENNIS
• #2 Singles Hadley McCormack • #3 Singles Genevieve Schaefer • #1 Doubles Amelia Laffer and Vivian Morrow • #2 Doubles Olivia Prentice and Erin Schuh
SWIMMING AND DIVING
• Emily Harris, 1st place 2018 HVAC 100m backstroke • Aaron Shackell, 1st place 2018 HVAC 200m freestyle • Aaron Mixon, 1st place in 1m diving
SOCCER
• Boys: Division A Champions • All HVAC Boys: Sam Horn, Toby Wilt, Rogers McDougall, and Sam Moeller
BASEBALL
• All HVAC: Brooks Langston, Rogers McDougall, and Hadley Maxwell
• All HVAC Girls: Genevieve Schaefer and Claire McGehee
LACROSSE BASKETBALL
• All HVAC Boys: Joshua McDaniel, Devaki Garr • All HVAC Girls: Genevieve Schaefer, Harper Dale, and Anna Brock • The Grade 6 girls’ team finished the season as HVAC Jr. Division Champions.
• All TGLA Girls: Izze Gill, Emma Armistead, Kate Greer, Catherine Duvall, and Amy Halloran • All MTSLA Boys: Henry Cato, D.J. Weinstein
TRACK AND FIELD
• Sullivan Brown, HVAC long jump Champion
SOFTBALL
• All HVAC: Ella Hartman, Katherine Dagley
• Harper Dale, HVAC 1600m Champion • Girls’ HVAC 4x800 Relay Champions: Harper Dale, Gray Fleetwood, Claire McGehee, and Kate McGehee
• Joshua McDaniel: most valuable offense
2018 SUMMER | 39
ATHLETICS
40 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
ATHLETICS 2017
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2018
HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS FOOTBALL
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
• Henry Byrd was recognized as a National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete.
• 2nd Team All Mid-State: Dontavia Waggoner
• TSWA All-State Football Team: Tanner Antonutti, Jaylon King, and Pryce Wade
• 2017 All-USA Today Tennessee Football Team: Jaylon King • All Mid-State Team: 1st Team Defense: Tanner Antonutti and Jaylon King 2nd Team Offense: Pryce Wade 3rd Team Offense: Henry Byrd • 2017 All-Conference: Tanner Antonutti, Henry Byrd, Nicky Clifton, Jaylon King, Derek Rios, Pryce Wade
• All-Region: Annabel Frist, Dontavia Waggoner, and Kaiya Wynn
• TSWA All-State Team: Annabel Frist, Dontavia Waggoner, and Kaiya Wynn • Dontavia Waggoner was a finalist for Ms. Basketball. • The team finished the season as State Champion Runner-up.
• Placed first in combined team score in Regionals and third overall in the State Championships.
• All-Region: Kallie Chelsvig and Evan Petty
GIRLS’ SOCCER
• Kallie Chelsvig was the State Champion Runner-Up in the 100m Backstroke and earned All-America honors in the 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 100 backstroke.
• All-Region: Hailey Braemer and Ellie Faber • THSSCA All-State Team: Hailey Braemer
CROSS COUNTRY
BASEBALL:
• All-Region: Elijah Brooks, Christian Dixon and Rudy Maxwell
GIRLS’ LACROSSE: • Second Team All Mid-State: Annabel Frist, Caroline Frist, and Sam Banks • Girls golf team finished the season as the State Champion Runner-up.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
• All-Region: Keshawn Lawrence and Warren Zager • TSWA All-State Team: Warren Zager
ICE HOCKEY:
• Henry Hitt was named to the GNASH All-Star Team.
• Coby Sheer was named the Offensive Player of the Game and James Seabury the Defensive Player of the Game. • Worth Scott and James Seabury were finalists for the Tennessean’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. • All-Midstate honors go to Worth Scott, Jalen Sueing, and James Seabury. Coach Mark Cahak was awarded All-Midstate Boys Coach of the Year.
TENNIS:
• All-Region: Maggie Cannata, Anna Chambers, and Ben Firestone • Maggie Cannata and Anna Chambers finished third in the State Tournament & All-Midstate Doubles First Team
TRACK AND FIELD:
• Lauren Pitts finished 7th at the State Championship meet.
GOLF
The Boys’ Lacrosse team made school history by winning the TSLA State Championship for the first time.
SWIMMING AND DIVING:
VOLLEYBALL
• All-Region: Lily Martin
BOYS’ LACROSSE:
• All-Region: Lola Duff, Carrie Elcan, Caroline Frist, Lanier Mason, Lowery Nickels, and McLean Whitson • All-State 1st Team: Lanier Mason, Caroline Frist, Lowery Nickels, and Lola Duff. AllState 2nd team: McLean Whitson • All-Midstate honors go to Caroline Frist, McLean Whitson, and Lola Duff. Lanier Mason won All-Midstate Player of the Year. Coach Corey Donohoe was awarded All-Midstate Girls Coach of the Year.
• The 4X100m boys’ relay team of Elijah Jenkins, Taye Kinnard, Jude Maloy and William Wright broke a school record at the Doug Hall Relays with a team time of 42.85 sec. Region Champions: • Julia Moody in the pole vault • Dontavia Waggoner in shot put • Tanner Antonutti in discus • Jude Maloy in the 400m • JaTorria Lee in the 400m • Harper Dale, Lauren Pitts, Rita Johnson, and Gray Fleetwood in the 4x800m relay. State Results: • Kaiya Wynn won the State Pentathlon. • Jude Maloy finished as the State Runner-up in the decathlon with new school record of 6,298 points, and State Runner-up in the 400m dash with a new school record of 50.19 sec.
• Both Caroline Frist and Lanier Mason were finalists for the Tennessean Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year.
• Taye Kinnard, Dante Wynn, Jude Maloy, and Gabe McDaniels broke the school record for the 4x200m with a time of 1:30.30.
• The team finished the season as State Champion Runner-up.
• JaTorria Lee, Abbie Berry, Ellie Berry, and Kaiya Wynn won the State 4x400m relay with a new school record of 3:56.38.
ATHLETICS
42 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
ATHLETICS 2017
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2018
HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS ROBERT INMAN AWARD for Athletic Participation
Robert Inman, a coach and teacher at Ensworth for 33 years, instituted the ideals of Ensworth participation. Mr. Inman coached four athletic seasons for over 30 consecutive years and positively influenced the lives of thousands of students. The following seniors participated in at least 11 athletic seasons and received the Robert Inman Award for Participation: Delia Martinez
Brennan Robinson
Miller McAllister
Lucas Rodriguez
James Seabury
The following juniors participated in at least eight athletic seasons and received the Robert Inman Award for Participation: Fred Jackson
McLean Whitson
Cole Kennon
Jackson Wright
COLLEGE SIGNING CEREMONY May 4, 2018
Owen Alsup: Centre College, Tennis
Gentry Hopkins: University of Tennessee, Dance
Tanner Antonutti: University of Tennessee, Football
Margaret Johnson: Rhodes College, Swimming
Henry Byrd: Princeton University, Football
Rita Johnson: Rhodes College, Swimming
Jordyn Cambridge: Vanderbilt University, Basketball
Jaylon King: Georgia Tech, Football
Nicky Clifton: Kent School, Football
Lanier Mason: Furman University, Lacrosse
Christian Dixon: Southern University, Baseball
Rudy Maxwell: Duke University, Baseball
Lola Duff: Centre College, Lacrosse
Lauren Pitts: Carleton College, Cross Country & Track
Ellie Faber: Centre College, Soccer
Paxton Smith: Denison University, Football
Zac Gammons: Rhodes College, Swimming
Warren Zager: Hampden-Sydney College, Basketball 2018 SUMMER | 43
ACADEMICS FACULTY
FAC U LT Y PROFILE S
A closer look at faculty/staff at Ensworth
A
s a member of the Admissions staff, Grade 1 Reading Assistant, Middle School Advisor, and High School Varsity Baseball Coach, Jason Maxwell works with Ensworth students in many different capacities throughout their journeys at Ensworth. He brings the same energy and positivity to every role and is always quick to offer a high five and enthusiastic greeting to students and faculty alike. Coach Maxwell shares thoughts about his Ensworth experience and how he spends his time off campus.
students on a daily basis. There are also some great memories with the sixth grade teaching team, especially on the class trips white water rafting in West Virginia. I am definitely blessed to be surrounded by such incredible teachers and students on a daily basis. Tell us about your summer plans. I have two baseball camps here at Ensworth, and they are always a ton of fun. After my two weeks here, I will begin my journey as the manager for the 15u USA National Baseball Team that will play for the World Championship in Panama in August. This is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve as the manager, and I am looking forward to getting started.
What does a typical day at Ensworth look like for you? A typical day for me starts with sixth grade advisory from 7:50 - 8:00 a.m. After advisory, I Who was an impactful teacher/coach am in the first grade classrooms for in your life, and what is one of the 30 minutes per class from 8:30 - 10:30 Jason Maxwell lessons you learned from them? The a.m. I usually have a fifth or sixth grade one teacher that made the biggest impact Life class at some point during the day Grade 1 Reading Assistant; Lower/Middle School Admissions on my life was my high school English whether it's 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th period. teacher Kay Daughrity. She was someone From 11:50 a.m. - 12:40 p.m., I am with the sixth graders during their Supplemental Instructional Period. who always pushed me to strive for the best in the classroom and If an admissions tour or interview is scheduled, then I will have instilled confidence in me to think outside of the box, so to speak. that as part of my day as well. After school, I am hurrying out to My high school and college coaches always supported me on and off of the field and helped me become the person that I am today in the High School Campus for baseball practice or games. more ways than you can ever imagine. I owe those guys everything In your role in Admissions, you speak to a lot of prospective because, outside of my family, they were my biggest supporters in families. What do you think sets Ensworth apart/makes us good and bad times. unique? I think the community value at Ensworth is second to none and that separates us in my opinion. I am also the parent of What do you enjoy doing in your free time? My free time is two boys (Jayden ’22 & Jase ’28), and my experience as a parent always family time for me. My wife, Frederica, and I enjoy going to helps me answer questions pertaining to parental roles as well watch our sons play in their sports games. It is a pure joy to watch them enjoy doing things they love. as how the classes or extracurricular activities are for students. Do you have a favorite Ensworth memory/story to share? I have so many memories that it is hard to share just one. Other than walking into school with my sons every day, first grade reading has brought so many memories and great times to me. The first grade teachers are all wonderful and they bring such joy to the 44 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
What is a fun fact that few people know about you? A fun fact that nobody knows about me is that I am an avid sneaker collector. I love TRYING to keep up with the youngsters today in their shoe styles. You can never go wrong with some retro Air Jordans!
FACULTY
Let’s talk about Tiger Garage. What is Tiger Garage, and how did it get started? Tiger Garage is a car and mechanics club we have here on the High School Campus. I love cars, and I thought it would be cool to get some students involved with the hobby. We have a great workspace down in Facilities and now also have a dedicated space in the parking garage underneath the Ensworth Tennis Center for repairing the school’s buses, maintenance vehicles, and equipment. With all the space and tools we have available, I thought it would be a fun opportunity. I presented the idea to Associate Dean of Students Ash Weber and she encouraged me to host a booth at the High School Club Fair. Forty-three students signed up in the first year!
Andrew Smith Facilities Manager
A
t the end of this interview with Facilities Manager Andrew Smith, you will realize that his department does so much more than maintain our beautiful school; they are the true facilitators of a successful day, taking on responsibilities, big and small, on behalf of the Ensworth community. Life at Ensworth truly wouldn’t be the same without them! What does a typical day look like for you? Busy, most of the time! I wake up and usually have a few calls first thing in the morning letting me know of issues that need to be addressed as soon as I get to work. The fire alarm might be going off; we usually have a couple of teachers locked out of classrooms; a controlled access door or gate might not have opened on time; the walk-in freezer might not be working; the sandwich bar might be too warm; the pool in the Natatorium might be flooding; various places on campus might have climate control issues… it could be anything. We’re responsible for all maintenance, lighting, event setups, and campus safety. We oversee the cleaning crews and security, the doors and gate schedules. We’re responsible for fixing anything that breaks, any and all repairs, and making things look pretty. Really, there is no typical day for me. What brought you to Ensworth? The late Robert Glaus. I’m an electrician and was doing electrical work out on my own, and he called and asked if I wanted to come to Ensworth. I wasn’t looking for a job and originally told him no, but then I got curious and looked Ensworth up to see what it was—and immediately called him back. I started work the next day. What is your favorite part of your job? That’s hard to say. I genuinely like everything I do, and we get to do a little bit of everything. I guess I would have to say that it’s the group of people that I work with. There are good guys downstairs in Facilities. We have a lot of fun and we get everything done.
What are some of the projects undertaken by members of Tiger Garage? We’ve done a lot of work on faculty members’ cars: fixing carburetors, brake systems, and a lot of general tune-ups. We have a tire machine downstairs and have changed many tires; we’ve changed headlights, and we’ve assisted the lunch ladies with general mechanical issues. I also have a lot of trucks and bring different ones in from time to time for us to play around with and work on while we learn new things. We spent the first year working on basics, but now the club members want to do a little bit more. We’d like to maybe build a car to auction off at the Ensworth Auction next year. Any favorite Tiger Garage memories? We had a car show on campus one Saturday. The students wanted to bring their cars and take a look at each other’s all at once. They ended up inviting parents and friends who had cool cars—hot rods, exotic or classic cars—and it turned into a big group of people truly sharing our passion and love for the hobby. What are you up to this summer? I’m here all summer; this is actually our team’s busiest time of year. It’s when we make the school new again; right now, it’s all about new lights, new paint, etc. It’s really an overall refresh to prepare for 2018-2019. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? My family and I do a lot on the water. We do a lot of boating; we’re at the pool all the time and love to fish. We like to be out on the Cumberland and canoe or kayak the Harpeth. I also enjoy cars, of course. We work on cars, go to all the car shows around town, and also like to travel. We like to go to Gatlinburg and to Panama City. What is your proudest accomplishment? My son Colton. He’ll be four in August. He loves to get out in the garage with me and work on trucks. He’ll hand me the tools that I ask him for and just loves being out there with me. It’s a lot of fun. Name three things you can’t live without. My family, Mexican food, and my phone. I’m always on my phone. See the first answer about those early morning emergency calls!
2018 SUMMER | 45
FACULTY
J
im Aveni, the newly appointed High School Visual and Performing Arts Chair, has a deep passion for music, teaching, and Ensworth. As he enters his third year at Ensworth in roles both old and new, we asked him a few questions to better familiarize the Ensworth community with the man behind the music. Where did you grow up? Were you raised in a musical family? I am from New Haven, Connecticut, and a number of my family members are musicians. My father, Frank, owned a small construction company; however, he played guitar and sang in rock ’n’ roll and country bands his whole life. He is the main reason I play the guitar. My very first memory is the time he forgot a microphone at home and my mother had to drive to the gig, with my brother and me in the back seat of our Volvo station wagon, to make sure the band had it in time for the first set. I was three. What is your educational background and previous teaching experience? I have a Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music and a Master of Music from New York University. Although my primary instrument is guitar, academically I have studied composition in a variety of styles—everything from Bach to the Buchla Modular Synth. Some of the most important skills that I call upon daily as an educator are really from experiences outside of my academic degrees. I spent many years working in a professional capacity as a freelance musician and also spent a number of years at Yale University as an assistant to a Music Director. It was a great experience where I not only learned a great deal but, most significantly, was pointed toward the world of teaching as vocation.
Walk me through a typical school day for you. Because I teach a variety of music courses (including Rock Band, Jazz Band, Guitar, Music Production, and Musicology), my typical day is filled with sound. I might start out teaching a guitar class how to play “Blackbird,” then move on to teaching composition in Logic X, to leading the Rock Band through a comparative harmonic analysis of “Passionfruit” by Drake or “All the Stars” by Kendrick Lamar, to ending the day rehearsing “Straight No Chaser” by Thelonious Monk with the Jazz Band. I love that I get to talk about so many different kinds of music, all in the scope of a single workday.
46 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
You were recently selected to be the Arts Department chair. What is your vision for the department? My vision for the department is to shine a light on the teaching of my colleagues, to exalt the hard work of their students, and to share these good works with the greater community. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes daily that is the real story, not just the culminating performance or completed work of art. Watching Cati Blitz at the potter’s wheel, Elias Salazar rehearse Encore, David Berry discuss Shakespeare, Lindsay White and Rachel Tolbert choreograph Dance for Athletes, or JC Johnson turn her classroom into a Camera Obscura, all in the scope of one afternoon’s walk through the arts building, is really something to behold. And then, to see the students showcase the abilities gained through these lessons just a short time later is really magical. It is truly great to witness the transformative impact of my colleagues’ teaching, the evolution of the students’ talents, and the great reaction of the audience. What do you think makes Ensworth stand out? The Core Skills of Ensworth are very powerful cultural and academic values. There is a real sense that the students and faculty engage in a deeper level of discourse, both in the classroom and outside of it. Another equally great thing about our school is just how much fun the community is. Everyone is so supportive and enthusiastic about each other’s good work. At the end of a performance or a game, we usually have to wait out the fun hang-out that inevitably occurs before we pack up for the night. People do not want to leave! What are some interesting facts that people might not know about you? I once placed guitar on the David Letterman Show. I had the honor of standing in the very same place as George Harrison when he performed with the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. I am from New Haven, arguably the pizza capital of the world. If you’re ever in New Haven, Sally’s is the best, but Pepe’s or Modern will do if the lines are too long.
Jim Aveni Arts Department Chair, High School; Director of Instrumental Music
Willie Nelson is one of my favorite guitar players. His unique tone, use of space, and lyrical sense of melody in his guitar playing, to me can be just as moving as his vocal phrasing.
FACULTY
M
id dle S c h o ol s c ience teacher Carolyn Henry’s classroom is often abuzz before, during, and after school. She shares some of her observations about teaching, how science helps students learn, and Ensworth in general. What are the grades and subjects that you teach? I teach sixth and seventh grade science. At each level of middle school, students get to explore content in the three primary branches of science (physical science, life science, and earth science) that are appropriately challenging and relevant for the development and ability of the age group. I love to see the connections that students build year to year when they dig deeper into concepts and expand their understanding of natural phenomena. They’re often able to simultaneously ask and answer more complex questions about the same topics.
Tell me about your involvement in the STEM program. The extracurricular STEM program is an opportunity for students to dig deeper into some of the areas that we explore in class, as well as innovate and discover in fields or technologies that may be completely new to them. For example, last year students began working with an online program called Tinkercad that is used to for 3D design and 3D printing. Students worked on a variety of projects, ranging from keychains to board games. This year, the Sixth Grade Robotics Team researched coal ash pollution in the Cumberland River and decided to use their experience with Tinkercad to design and print a prototype for a water filter as part of their project.
What about Ensworth makes it stand out? The Ensworth community is extraordinary. I heard about the school Carolyn Henry long before my husband and I even Middle School Science moved to Nashville, from close friends who are tied to Ensworth. It has turned out to be exactly what I hoped to find here: much more than just a What are some of the most fun and popular labs that your students take part in? What is your favorite and why? It place to teach. From the students who make each day hilarious and has to be all of the dissections that we do! The kids get a taste exhausting to the faculty members who are constantly evaluating of dissections starting in fifth grade. Mr. Sherland’s classes and improving their teaching, the people of Ensworth were and dissected flowers this year, and in my sixth grade class, they dig continue to be its biggest draw for me! into fungi, sea stars, earthworms, crayfish, and grasshoppers to examine and identify all of the different ways that living things have adapted for growth and development, reproduction, obtaining food for energy, movement, and homeostasis. By seventh grade, students are ready to dissect more complex, vertebrate organisms, including frogs, rats, and snakes, in order to explore the relationship between form and function in each organ system while also making comparisons to human anatomy. My favorite part of these labs is seeing students become more and more autonomous and self-directed as their confidence grows from experience and understanding. It all starts with students asking a few driving questions about a topic and then they devise an investigation and collect data to make conclusions. Not only do students encounter surprises along the way (we’ve found crickets in the stomachs of frogs and tiny, unborn offspring in female water snakes!), but they develop curiosity and control over the entire learning process. One of my highlights this year came while watching a student who was typically very reserved grow into a class leader in these labs. I learned that she loves animals and plans to be a vet one day; she was decisive in her cuts and meticulous in her observations of each organism. Peers who were originally timid or squeamish watched her example and rolled up their sleeves!
Tell me about how you became interested in science and/or teaching in general. Although I didn’t consider it learning at the time, I grew up in Maine and spent summers in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, where outdoor activity was an education. Skiing, hiking, mountain biking, swimming, paddling, and riding were experiences that instilled in me a love of the outdoors and an appreciation for discovery. It wasn’t until college that I developed a love for biology and chemistry through molecular virology research, but once I began learning to answer the how and why questions I had about the way the natural world works, I was hooked! My teaching philosophy is directly rooted in those experiences. Experiential learning, adventure, and hard work (often punctuated by failure) are the vehicles by which young people build lasting selfesteem, develop their own interests, and are empowered to ask and answer their own questions.
2018 SUMMER | 47
ATHLETICS
FAC U LTY B O OK S H E LF What did the Ensworth faculty read this summer? ASH WEBER
ROB HERRING
Associate Dean of Students, High School
Overstory: A Novel
Red Sparrow: A Novel
Author: R icha rd Powers
Author: Ja son Matthews
I’ll be reading Richard Powers’ Overstory, a multi-narrative novel that tackles the fraught relationship between trees and humankind. I recently found myself staring at a photograph of one of the world’s oldest trees, a baobab in Africa that has 6,000 years under its belt. What has that tree witnessed in its time, and what has it communicated? Though this book’s characters are significantly more intense than The Giving Tree of my youth, I imagine that they’ll make for good company in the summer shade.
I picked up Red Sparrow on a whim in the airport. The author, Jason Matthews, is a former CIA operative who gives the reader a glimpse into a spy’s world. Contrary to how the movie is billed, the book is much less about the use of operative as honeypot than it is about the cat and mouse games that are still being played covertly between Cold War nemeses. It was fascinating and unsettling. I couldn’t put it down. John Le Carré
MEGAN FLORENTINE
ANDY KELLEY
The Little Princesses
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics
Kindergarten
Author: Marion Crawford
If you are like me and just can’t get enough information on the British Royal Family, this book is for you. It was written by Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret’s childhood nanny, Marion Crawford. “Crawfie” started working with the family when Elizabeth was just five years old, before they knew she was destined to be Queen. Though the Windsors weren’t pleased with this book (poor Crawfie was excommunicated from the royal fold as a result), I found it a jolly good read!
High School Chinese
Authors: Carlo Rovelli
A beautiful, thought-provoking meditation on what we know and (mostly) don’t know about the universe. Seven Brief Lessons includes insights from science rendered in poetic terms and laced through with sly commentary on education in general (e.g. “Undistracted by schooling, one studies best during vacations” punctuates the author’s discovery of the beauty of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity). Rovelli brings us “in contact with the ocean of the unknown...” and it is breathtaking.
Visit the Ensworth Blog at ensworth.com/bookshelf for more faculty book recommendations
FACULTY SUMMER READING
This summer, Ensworth faculty had a choice of four books, each of which aligned with one of our accreditation self-study goals for the upcoming school year. • The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World that Values Sameness by Todd Rose • Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
• Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle • iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy, and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood by Jean M. Twenge, PhD
FACULTY
FAC U LTY N E WS At the end of the 2017-2018 school year, we bid farewell to three retiring faculty members. Donnie Bryan served as the Chair of Visual and Performing Arts and Technical Director at the high school for ten years. Under his direction, the Arts department presented many memorable musicals, including two original adaptations: the first high school productions of the Johnny Cash musical “Ring of Fire” and “Beehive: The 60s’ Musical.” Nigel Lloyd helped many Ensworth students and alumni become bilingual and gain a greater understanding of other cultures in his role as a Middle School Spanish and French teacher since 2004. Sara Hurst retired after serving at Ensworth since 1993 in a variety of capacities: as a Kindergarten assistant, Junior Camp Director, and most recently, Director of AfterCare. After a very successful 14-year run, Ricky Bowers decided to step down as Ensworth’s Head Football Coach at the end of the school year, although he will continue in his role as Athletic Director and Associate Head of School. Assistant Defensive Football Coach Jeremy Garrett has taken the reins as the school’s new Head Football Coach.
WEDDINGS
Brad Wilkerson to Blaire Knighton on Saturday, June 23, 2018
Molly Burgdorf (Brian) Elizabeth “Parks” Burgdorf
High School faculty members David Whitfield & Dina Marks helped organize and lead “Tearing Down the Walls,” a two-day race and leadership conference for independent school students in the Southeast, which was hosted at Vanderbilt in June. Thirteen high school students attended the conference alongside Mr. Whitfield and Mrs. Marks.
January 22, 2018
David Berry (Emily) Marion Latta Berry May 2, 2018
Sue Hartley Lower School Music Ensworth: 1969–2000
Grade 1 Teacher K.K. Wynn served as an adjunct professor at Belmont University this summer, teaching an Advanced Educational Psychology course to graduate and undergraduate students. The course covered issues related to learning
Robert Glaus Facilities & Maintenance Ensworth: 2004–2018
theories, human growth and development, motivation, classroom management and discipline, testing and evaluation, techniques of studying education, and application in the classroom. Director of Curriculum and Instruction Bobby Mirzaie is one of the co-chairs of the 2018 People of Color Conference that will be hosted in Nashville in November. In March, Teresa Todd presented at the Southern Conference on Language Teaching on “Virtual Explorations: Google Tools for Cultural and Language Learning.” Faculty Summer Professional Development: Elias Salazar participated in the Tennessee Arts Academy “Trio Track” for arts educators, which is a multidisciplinary approach to teaching and learning in the areas of music, theater, and visual art. Ash Weber attended the Greater Good Science Center Summer Institute for Educators. This institute explores the science of prosocial human development and assists educators in the areas of social-emotional learning, mindfulness, and character education for students. Trey House began his master’s degree program in Independent School Leadership at the Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt University. Whitney Earhart, Camy Sanchez, Kelly Goorevich, and Sukey Johnson attended the Responsive Classroom Course for Elementary Educators, which dives into the integration of social-emotional and academic skill building in order to build classroom environments that further promote collaboration, engagement, community, and belonging.
FACULTY BOOK AWARDS
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ALUMNI
PROF I LE S The passions and professions of our alumni represent the lasting impact of our school’s mission statement. Read on to see h ow a handful of E nsworth alumni a re using their talents to the fullest to be positive contributors to society—in academics,the arts, athletics,service, and beyond.
Nancy Keen Palmer-Gift ’03 Communications Coordinator
Alumni in Service:
W I LL CONNE L LY ’9 3
“E
nsworth instilled in me a curiosity of the world that I still have today. I want to know why things are the way they are. Teachers like Mr. Chanaca and Mr. Kautzman helped me develop this curiosity through their examples inside and outside of the classroom…their passion and curiosity were contagious.”
For the past fifteen years, Will Connelly ’93 has channeled that passion and curiosity into creating better ways to respond to homelessness. He led the Metro Homelessness Commission in Nashville for four years and helped co-found The Contributor, a street magazine sold by homeless and formerly homeless Nashvillia ns. Nashville Business Journal recognized him as one of the “Top 40 under 40” in 2014 for his leadership and positive impact on the community. Will currently serves as the Executive Director of the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative and resides in the Denver area with his wife, Eva, and two young children. 50 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
Metro Denver Homeless Initiative’s mission is to lead a nd adva nce collaboration to end homelessness in their region. Similar to Ensworth’s Core Skills (to collaborate, communicate, observe, question, speculate & hypothesize, and apply knowledge) the work of MDHI to bring people home is guided by their core values of inclusivity, collaboration, innovation, information, and boldness. Collaboration is the keyword, as the issue of homelessness is complex, and solutions require a holistic approach. As Executive Director of MDHI, Will serves as the leader of one organization within a network of many. That network is known as the Denver Continuum of Care, a community of like-minded, c ompa s sion a t e i nd iv idu a l s a nd organizations who, like Mr. Inman and Mr. Connelly, recognize that things in life “aren’t always black and orange.” Find out more about Will’s work with the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative by visiting MDHI.org
ALUMNI
Alumni in Academics:
LEAF S E L IGMAN ’ 7 3
L
eaf Seligman ’73 juggles many roles. She is a college professor, retired clergy, founder of a nonprofit, and leader of both juvenile and adult court diversion programs. She has both a Master of the Arts in English & Writing from the University of New Hampshire and a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School; she is an Adjunct Professor at Keene State College and notably sees herself as “a practitioner of life, not a professor of knowledge.” As a young Ensworth student growing up in the 1970s, she wanted to be Martin Luther King, Jr. She wanted to “preach in the prophetic tradition, be a foot soldier for justice” and write stories “that would stir people to equity and compassion.” By the end of this brief article, you’ll realize she’s already accomplished such and sees no end to her efforts in sight.
that she came upon the concept of restorative justice, and it is at the intersection of these two interrelated concepts that her current vocation came calling loud and clear. Her pupils encompass the entire spectrum, from first-year college students to retired adults taking noncredit courses, from firstoffense juvenile offenders to men and women, both within and exiting incarceration. Her message of forgiveness and reconciliation packs serious impact: first and foremost, on how they see themselves, next, how they relate to others, and ultimately, how others begin to relate back.
LEAF’S MENTORS AT ENSWORTH: “Barbara Griffin, the librarian, fostered a lifelong love of books and reading, and Bet Scott, my kindergarten teacher with whom I am still in contact, saw me as I was and made me feel valued and safe. Lucille Maddox, my second-grade teacher, offered great encouragement and compassion.”
Learn more about Leaf’s fascinating approach, her restorative justice work, and nonprofit Monadknock Restorative Community by watching her TedX Talk: “How Stories Help us Choose Connection.”
Upon retiring from congregational ministry work in 2013, she created a course at Keene State College called “Forgiveness and Reconciliation.” It was through this work 2018 SUMMER | 51
Alumni in the Arts:
ANDR E W GAL L IVAN ’ 0 8
A
self-described rebel, Andrew Ga llivan ’08 found kindred spirits in faculty members Myra McLarey and David Lovell. He notes that a strong sense of nurturing the individual was prevalent in his high school experience and recognizes the same flame of confident individuality present within his peers. Representing the inception class for the High School Campus, the Class of 2008 was indeed a group of students leading the way, carving a fresh path that others would follow. “It’s not a coincidence that we all have the confidence and drive to pursue our interests,” Andrew observes. “At Ensworth, your point of view matters.” Andrew’s own point of view is expressed through his fashion line, Andrew Gallivan LLC. He is in his second year designing for and maintaining his own business, an edgy fashion line for women looking
to add versatile staple garments to their wardrobe. His line was present in Nashville Fashion Week, and he designed custom dresses for attendees at this year’s Swan Ball, but those are merely the hometown roots of his growing fashion enterprise. Andrew graduated from the Pratt Institute in 2012 and has been designing clothes since his Ensworth days. While his talent is uniquely his own, he credits his time at Ensworth in preparing him for what was to come next. “From the academics, to the arts, to the fitness program, Ensworth provided a really good base platform for entering college and the real world,” he comments. “I find some of my best habits are ingrained in me from my time at school.” We look forward to watching Andrew’s craft continue to unfold and invite you to visit his online store at www.AndrewGallivan.com
Alumni in the Arts:
FOR D GARRARD ’ 1 2
F
ord Garrard ’12 pursued becoming a professional musician since his time at Ensworth. He plays bass and sings vocals in the Americana-Country band Boy Named Banjo, is signed with William Morris Endeavor, and has plans to release an album in 2019.
Ford recalled, “Ensworth’s music program was, without a doubt, the most important part of my educational career. Without the guidance from Carrie Glenn and Sean Smith, I never would have gone on to study music at UNC Chapel Hill and would likely not be a professional musician today. Seeing the continued growth of the Ensworth music program firsthand as a substitute teacher has been incredible.” When Ford’s not on the road, he can often be found substitute 52 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
teaching on the High School Campus, and while he loves lending a hand in the Arts Department, his favorite class to teach is English. “Jim Miller’s classes are always a blast to teach, and it’s turned me on to some pretty killer books.” Garrard observes, “I had definitely underestimated how much patience is required of teachers and now have an entirely new perspective on the education field.” He’s come full circle, evolving from student to teacher (though at the Harkness Table, it’s a circle and not a linear divide between one role and the next), accomplished his dreams, and has a bright future ahead of him. Keep an eye out for a Boy Named Banjo concert near you, find their music online, and watch his star rise!
Alumni in Athletics:
NANTAMBU FE NT RE SS ’11
N
antambu Fentress ’11 kept his plate full while at Ensworth, excelling in the arts, academics, and athletics. He played wide receiver and defensive back on the high school football team, took home two consecutive state championship titles (2010 and 2011), and went on to play linebacker at the University of Miami. He’s currently in his third year of medical school at Meharry Medical College, tutors Ensworth high school students during evening tutorial, and coaches youth football. Somewhere in between all of those commitments, he found time to publish his own book, Faith and Follow Through: A Dream Conquered. Nantambu’s name translates to “man of destiny,” and his self-motivation and discipline exemplify such. He sees a goal, sets a plan, and acknowledges that although the journey ahead may not be clear, his destination is.
“In my own search for truth, whether I have been encouraged or discouraged, my agenda has never changed,” he says. “If I had a goal in mind, there was no question that I was going to get it done.” It was through his work as a youth football coach in Nashville that his desire to write a book came to light. In order to provide a thoughtful answer to his players’ constant questions about “making it to Miami,” he turned to his own form of therapy—writing. “I started to write to see if I could remember where the dream started,” Nantambu recalls. “As I started writing, I saw the opportunity to teach and pay my own experience forward by giving back. That is how Faith and FollowThrough: A Dream Conquered was born.” Visit FaithandFollowthrough.com to learn more about Nantambu’s book, his complete bio (he’s quite the decorated athlete) and what is next on the horizon. He doesn’t want to give anything away but noted that he’ll soon be known as “The Renaissance Doc.”
“ Whenever sharing with our teams the positive life-changing value of determination, hard work, desire, and selfless motivation, we mention 2011 graduate Nantambu Fentress.” RICKY BOWERS
High School Athletic Director 2018 SUMMER | 53
ALUMNI
Ensworth Alumni
WEDDINGS Mark Fuqua ’89 married Amanda Marsh on April 21, 2018. Charlie Nelson ’00 married Amy Fossaluzza on April 21, 2018. Lindsay Elizabeth Jacques ’02 married Brian Francis Irving July 14, 2018.
Mark Kelly, Jr. ’02 married Kelly March on May 27, 2017. Dede Nesbitt ’02 married Wallace Palmer on April 28, 2018. Caroline Hart ’09 married Ronald Cubillo on May 6, 2018. Schuyler Floyd ’12 married Emily Labuda on January 27, 2018. Miller Morris ’12 married Patton Robinette on December 23, 2017
BIRTHS David Berry ’91 (Emily) Marion Latta Berry, May 2, 2018
Robert Riley ’95 (Lindsay) Carolyn Jane Riley, June 27, 2018
Grace Clayton ’97 (Marie Young) Anne Fleming Young Clayton, June 17, 2018
William Benson ’01 (Suzanne) Emily “Hayward” Benson, May 16, 2018
Caroline Hale Berberich ’01 (Garrick) Joel John Berberich II, May 8, 2018
Eileen Campbell Hart ’03 (Chris) Evelyn Elisabeth Hart, March 8, 2018
Anna Kate Dunn Craig ’09 (Dylan) Presley Mae Craig, January 18, 2018
Daniel McFadden ’10 (Tiffany) Harper Marie McFadden, June 6, 2018 54 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
C LAS S NOT E S
1980
Sam Chang ’80, MD, the
Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Urologic Surgery and Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, was named to one of three assistant secretary positions for the American Urological Association.
Rashed Fakhruddin ’83
received Vanderbilt’s 2018 Alumni Public Service Award. Fakhruddin has been honored as the YWCA’s MacDonald/ Negri Man of the Year and the Pencil Foundation’s Volunteer of the Year, and has received the Conexión Américas Annual Amigo We Love, the Women’s Political Collaborative of Tennessee’s Good Guys, and the Community Nashville Human Relations awards. At Vanderbilt, he has served on the Religious Leaders Advisory Council and the Advisory Board for Diversity and Equity.
Alice Ganier Rolli ’93, Vice
President of Quaver Music, was chosen as one of Leadership Nashville’s incoming enrollees out of more than 275 applicants.
George Scoville ’94 graduated from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in May where he served as the editor-in-chief of Volume 48 The University of Memphis Law Review. A second-career lawyer, George will begin his journey in the legal profession as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Sheryl H. Lipman in the United States District Court for the Western District of
Tennessee, also in Memphis. Following his clerkship, George will return to Nashville in the fall of 2019 to join the firm of Lewis, Thomason, King, Krieg & Waldrop, P.C. as an associate attorney.
Clay Ezell ’95 inspired our
high school students during an assembly in March where he spoke about his passion for environmental issues and how he was able to channel those passions into a sustainable business, The Compost Company.
Mimi (Verner) Stricker ’95 moved back to Nashville in June 2017 with her husband, Dan, and three children: Dolle (9 yrs), Gus (7 yrs), and Chip (4 ½ yrs) and accepted the Upper School Visual Arts teaching position at Christ Presbyterian Academy where she has been teaching this past school year.
Chip Howorth ’96 was
named one of the city’s “40 Under 40.” Howorth was recognized as the principal of S+H, the engineering and design firm that built the recently completed Capitol Tunnel project and delivered it in time for the beginning of the legislative session in January. Howorth was also recognized for growing the firm in the two years he’s served as president.
Ellen Green Hoffman ’00 launched “Her Story of
Success” in April 2018, a podcast featuring women’s unique journeys navigating the
ALUMNI
workplace, aimed at uplifting and inspiring audiences of all ages.
year associate at Williams & Connolly in Washington, DC in September 2018.
weeks. Promos for the show can be seen on Instagram and @verycavallari.
Ann Wyatt Little ’00
Matt Reed ’09 is a real estate
Natambu Fentress ’11 was
transferred from Austin, TX to Charlotte, NC as a Fox 46 News anchor and reporter.
Walker Matthews ’00 broke ground for the new Nashville Food Project facility in his role as project manager for RC Matthews. The 6,000-squarefoot facility will house new offices, kitchen, food prep and community space for the local nonprofit.
Erik Landman ’01 was
named “Resident of the Year” by Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Department of Radiology.
Jeremy Pinsly ’01 performed his comedy skit “Definitely Not Kosher” for an audience of old friends, alumni, and the general public in Nashville at Zanies Comedy Club in May.
Kevin McDermott ’08
earned his MBA from the University of Indiana.
Alex Peerman ’08 earned his J.D. from Columbia University Law School in May 2018. He will begin working as a first-
agent at Parks in Charlotte, NC.
completed her first year of medical school at East Tennessee State University, where she was accepted into the rural studies program which serves the underserved in the Johnson City area.
on the High School Campus as our special guest speaker during the Black History Month Assembly. Natambu shared his perspective on historically black colleges & universities and spoke to his experience attending Meharry Medical College. Natambu recently published his first book Faith and Follow Through.
Lindsay Head ’10 was back in
Ashlyn Johnson ’11 is
Victoria Stabile ’09 just
the Ensworth Lehman-Eskind Blackbox theater in March leading acting classes with Mr. Berry.
Rachel O’ Rear ’10
graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine with her D.V.M. this May.
Wirth Campbell ’11 is a
cast member of a new reality show, Very Cavallari, which is scheduled to air on the E! Network beginning Sunday, July 8, at 9:00pm. The lead and executive producer, Kristin Cavallari, is married to former Vanderbilt and NFL quarterback, Jay Cutler. Season one is scheduled to air for eight
living in New York City and recently began working with a marketing agency after three years working in the fashion consultant industry.
Robert D. “Bobby” Nichols ’11 graduated with
a B.S. in Finance from the College of Charleston in 2016. He later obtained a postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Marketing at Northwestern University in 2017. Earlier this year, he started work as an Account Coordinator at Integrated Merchandising Systems, LLC (part of Omnicom group) in Morton Grove, IL, a suburb of Chicago. Bobby lives in Evanston, IL.
Andrew Rappuhn ’11
works with asset and wealth managers in his role as a consultant with Alpha Financial Markets Consulting in New York City.
Carol Allen ’12 recently
started a new job with National Geographic in Washington, D.C.
Rachel Bryan ’12 will begin
her Ph.D. in English in the fall at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a concentration in Literature, Criticism, and Textual Studies. Currently, she works for the Tennessee Senate as a proofreader for the 2018 Session of the General Assembly and regularly publishes articles in The Baffler and 100 Days in Appalachia. She has a forthcoming essay on Jesmyn Ward’s novel, Sing, Unburied, Sing, to be published in Xavier University’s journal, the Xavier Review.
Avery Bennett ’13 is
spending the next academic year in Reykjavík, Iceland on a Fulbright Scholar grant.
Alexandria White ’13
is currently employed at Capwealth Advisors in Brentwood, TN as a Financial Services Representative and
Saturday, October 6 Friday, October 5
Class of 2008 10 Year Reunion & Reunion Parties for class years ending in ’3 & ’8
Homecoming Football Game vs. MBA
Monday, October 29
Homecoming Tailgate at 5:30p.m. Catered dinner - Free for the Ensworth Community Football Game at 7:00p.m.
Robert Inman Tiger Classic Golf Tournament Contact Cindy Rose at rosec@ensworth.com 2 0 1 6 Sfor U M details. MER | 55
ALUMNI
Ensworth Alumni will be attending Belmont University in the fall working on her MBA in finance.
Beau Allen ’14 graduated
from Sewanee with a B.S. in Mathematics and a Business minor. Next year he will attend Washington University in St. Louis for a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering as well as an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering.
Bobby Bethke ’14 graduated
from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in Economics and will be working as a Production Assistant at an NYC media production company.
Grace Chang ’14 graduated
from Southern Methodist University with a double major in Psychology and Education. Next year, she is returning to SMU to get her master’s degree in Elementary Education.
Casey Close ’14 graduated
from Vanderbilt University with a double major in Elementary Education and Human & Organizational Development and is moving to San Francisco to be a teacher. She recently shadowed Grade 1 Teacher Mrs. Budde in March as a final component of her educational degree.
Liz Cox ’14 earned a B.S. in
nursing from the University of Virginia and is moving to Jinja, Uganda to work as a nurse for Ekisa, a home for children with special needs.
Shelby Crants ’14 graduated
from Stanford University with a Bachelor’s in Human Biology. Next year she is working as a Course Associate for the Human Biology program at Stanford and is applying to medical school.
Caroline Elcan ’14 graduated from Vanderbilt University with a B.A. in Psychology and will begin nursing school at Vanderbilt this fall.
Miranda Foster ’14
graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing. She is now a Marketing Associate at a firm in Boston, MA.
Leah Hayes McAlister ’14
graduated from Vanderbilt University with a dual major in Human & Organizational Development and Sociology. She plans to pursue a career in public policy and hopes to use her skills in theatre to positively influence social discourse.
C LAS S NOT E S Hunter Merryman ’14
graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Astrophysics. He intends to stay in the Boston area and find work in the tech start-up industry.
Pete Nordlund ’14
graduated from Boston University Questrom School of Business with a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Law and a minor in Economics. He is moving back to Nashville where he will work at Caterpillar Financial in their Finance Foundation Program.
Mary Sawyer ’14 graduated
from Kenyon College with a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Studio Art. She will stay on campus this summer as a Teacher’s Assistant and Community Advisor, providing guidance and supervision to high school students residing on campus while taking college-level courses. She intends to find a Research Assistant position while applying for M.D. and/or Ph.D. programs.
Maria Schulz ’14 earned
a B.A. in Spanish and a B.S. in Biology from Washington University in addition to a minor
in Medical Humanities. Maria will be a medical scribe and clinical researcher in St. Louis while taking a gap year to apply for medical school.
Rachel Scott ’14 graduated
from Baylor University with a B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. Rachel relocated from Waco to Austin upon accepting a position with Dell.
Kaeley Scott ’14 graduated
from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga with a B.S. in Art Education.
Ashley Slay ’14 graduated from Austin Peay University and is now the head volleyball coach at Clarksville Academy.
Natalie Smith ’14 graduated
from Berry College with a B.S.N. and intends to begin a nurse residency program this fall at Tristar Centennial Hospital with a focus in critical care.
Chandler Telfer ’14 graduated
from the University of Mississippi with a major in Accounting and a minor in Religion. He will be returning in the fall to acquire his C.P.A. certification and plans to backpack Europe throughout the summer.
Continuing the Ensworth Tradition
SENIORS WITH ALUMNI PARENTS 56 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
ALLEN Kirby Allen ‘79 David Allen ‘18, Sarah Allen ‘18
AMBROSE Frannie Jackson Ambrose ‘71 Ben Ambrose ‘18
BASS Jim Bass ‘82 Josephine Bass ‘18
ALUMNI
Parker Wade ’14 graduated
from the United States Naval Academy with a B.S. in Political Science. Parker will attend the Navy Supply Corps School in Newport, RI before heading to the fleet as a commissioned Navy Supply Corps officer. In addition, Parker will also be the offensive line coach for the Naval Academy Prep School.
Kaitlyn Waggoner ’14
graduated from Southern Methodist University in May 2018 with a major in Applied Physiology and Sports Management and a minor in Advertising and Graphic Design. She has been admitted to SMU’s Cox School of Business to pursue a master’s degree in Business Management this fall.
Lynn Whitfield ’14 graduated Magna Cum Laude from Sewanee: The University of the South with a major in Economics and minors in both International Business and Spanish. She was awarded the Outstanding Female Intramural award and is spending the summer working on A Bar A Ranch in Wyoming.
in the NCAA Gymnastics Championships where he tied for 17th place on high bar with a score of 13.366. He is a USAG All-American and NCAA Academic All-American for the 2018 season and received William & Mary’s Provost Award for academic excellence.
P.J. Settles ’15 is playing
football and studying History and Africana studies at Rhodes, and he also produced his own podcast Can’t Knock the Hustle.
Will Stigall ’15 is a rising
senior at Wofford College who is set to graduate with a dual major in Mathematics & Economics along with a minor in Physics. Not only is he an E-Sports camp counselor favorite each summer, he is a Residential Assistant at Wofford, the student manager for the men’s basketball team, and is spending eight weeks this summer in Myrtle Beach, SC as a part of a Campus Outreach Leadership project.
Aison King ’16 is studying
fourth in high bar in the Gymnastics Conference Championships and competed
Animation at Loyola Marymount. He sits on the board of the university’s animation club and continues to pursue his love of music. Aison and his band recently
BURCH Lucius Burch’77 Luke Burch ‘18
BYRD Trudy Caldwell Byrd ‘74 Henry Byrd ‘18
David Allen ’15 finished
performed original songs at their school’s opening Fallapalooza fest.
Brianna Middleton ’16 was
back on campus sharing her talents as guest choreographer for the spring musical Beehive. Brianna also taught School of Dance classes for younger dancers and will attend North Carolina School of the Arts in the fall.
Desmond Cambridge ’16
was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year and SecondTeam All-Ivy while playing
basketball at Brown University. Desmond is the fifth Brown player in school history to receive the Rookie of the Year honor after receiving Rookie of the Week six times running and setting a Brown freshman scoring record of 468 points. In her first year at Texas A&M, Tyra Gittens ’18 won four out of the seven heptathlon track & field events, taking home the championship SEC title and setting new records for Texas A&M as well as the Trinidad & Tobago national team.
S E N D U S YOU R N E WS Keep in touch with your classmates and let them keep up with you. Send your latest news, moves and photos.
S T OP ON BY ! We’d love to have you back on campus sharing your passions and professions. Whether it’s for assembly, individual class, or anything in between, contact Nancy Palmer-Gift to discuss.
Nancy Palmer-Gift ’03 at alumni @ ensworth.com.
CHEEK Ross Cheek ‘80 Laura Cheek ‘18
DUFF Martha Brothers Duff ‘76 Lola Duff ‘18
ALUMNI
Ensworth Alumni
C LAS S NOT E S
a
c
b
d
e
g
f
h i
j
k
a Casey Close ‘14 worked with Ensworth Kindergarten students in March? b Jeremy Pinsly ‘01 performed comedy at Zanies c Marion Latta Berry, daughter of David Berry ‘91 d Matt Reed ‘09 is a real estate agent in Charlotte, NC e Presley Mae Craig, daughter of Anna Kate Dunn Craig ‘09 f Lindsay Head ‘10 visits to work with high school students in the Lehman-Eskind Blackbox Theater g Emily Hayward Benson, daughter of William Benson ‘01 h Clay Ezell ‘95 speaks to high school students about the Compost Company i Ensworth hockey vs. Alumni hockey team on December 27 j Dede Nesbitt ‘02 marries Wallace Palmer k Joel John Berberich II, son of Caroline Hale Berberich ‘01
HIGGINS Sarah Edwards Higgins ‘77 Clay Higgins ‘18 58 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
JACKSON Edward Jackson ‘73 Caroline Jackson ‘18
MASON Steven Mason ‘82 Lanier Mason‘18
M C ALLISTER Elizabeth Graves McAllister ‘79 Miller McAllister ‘18
COMMUNITY
Shop & Earn
Android
Apple
Find the directory, calendar, athletics schedule, and more on the new Ensworth app!
PITTMAN Cindy McNally Pittman ‘79 Holden Pittman ‘18
SELL Charlie Sell ‘66 William Sell ‘18
WALLACE Paul Wallace ‘81 William Wallace ‘18
WHELISS Shelby Bailey ‘85 John2 0Hill 1 8 Wheliss S U M M ‘18 ER | 59
A place to dream , the space to do ... WE INVITE YOU TO ENVISION spaces that promote growth & learning spaces that e ncourage collaboration & exploration spaces that spark creativity & innovation spaces that kindle conversation & community spaces that inspire excelle nce
AND WE INVITE YOU TO HELP M A K E T H E V I S I O N A R E A L I T Y.
40%
3
2
larger classrooms
new science labs
dedicated world language classrooms
24
1
$15MM
flexible classrooms
teaching kitchen
goal
60 | ENSWORTH ENSIGHTS
The campaign for a new lowe r school building
5
grade-level commons areas
Endless possibilities
Please join us! A CA M PA I G N C E L E B R AT I O N :
A Taste of Ensworth and
A Taste of What ’s to Come Join us as we celebrate the completion of the new Robinson Dining Hall and learn more about the next element of our vision: the campaign for a new lower school building.
Heavy hors d’oeuvres & cocktails
August
13
6:00 pm
Robinson Hall Ensworth Lower/Middle School Campus
Please park on campus or across the street in the Regions Bank parking garage. Adults only, please. RSVP to hicksL@ensworth.com
w w w.e nsw o rth ca m pai gn .co m
PAID
Nashville, TN Permit No. 2630
Ensworth School 211 ENSWORTH PLACE NASHVILLE, TN 37205-1997
Ensworth Class of 2018 ensworth.com
SUMMER 2018
C ONG R AT U L AT IONS ,
ENSWORTH SCHOOL ENSIGHTS
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage