NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID ATLANTA, GA PERMIT NO. 1443
FALL
2020 THE LOVETT SCHOOL 4075 PACES FERRY ROAD NW ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30327-3009
PARENTS: If this is addressed to a child who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, kindly notify the Alumni Office at (404) 262-3032 or alumni@lovett.org.
2020
looking back+ moving forward the lovett school magazine
table of contents
04 letter from head of school
the lovett character pledge We, who are members of the Lovett community, seek to live lives of good character. We believe that good character grows from daily acts of honesty, respect, responsibility, and compassion. We pledge ourselves to develop these ideals with courage and integrity, striving to do what is right at all times.
03 / Lovett School Board of Trustees 2020-21 04 / Letter from the Head of School 07 / Lovett Board of Trustees Updates
the lovett school mission
10 / Graduation 2020
29
12 / Oh, The Places They’ll Go! 16 / Class of 2020 Wall Signing
features
18 / What COVID-19 Taught the Class of 2020
30 / 2020: Looking Back + Moving Forward
21 / Faculty/Staff Awards
32 / The Virtual Learning Curve
22 / Riverbank Round-up 24 / Fine Arts Through the Fall 26 / (Out of) Office Hours
40 / Breaking Barriers 42 / Building for Tomorrow 44 / One Lovett, One Pride
08 campus news 09 / Around the Neighborhood
The Lovett School is a community that seeks to develop young men and women of honor, faith, and wisdom with the character and intellect to thrive in college and in life. Founded in 1926 by Eva Edwards Lovett, we continue today as an Atlanta independent school serving children in Kindergarten through Grade 12. With an emphasis on the whole child, we provide integrated experiences in academics, arts, athletics, and service through an education grounded in learning, character, and community. Learning Lovett faculty and staff inspire our students to love learning. We help them discover how to think critically, communicate effectively, engage creatively, and collaborate purposefully. We create opportunities for them to grow in all dimensions—intellectual, emotional, physical, aesthetic, moral, and spiritual. Character Lovett teaches the qualities of servant leadership and sound character—honesty, respect, responsibility, compassion, courage, and integrity. We celebrate the uniqueness of each individual within an intentionally inclusive, diverse, and welcoming environment. We honor God in an atmosphere that is rooted in Judeo-Christian beliefs and is further enriched by a variety of religious traditions. Community Lovett is a dedicated community of students and teachers, joined by loyal parents, staff, alumni, trustees, and friends. We are committed—with shared purposes and principles—to improving our school, our city, our society, our environment, and our world.
Where are they now? ▶ PAGE 12
APPROVED BY THE LOVETT SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES, FEBRUARY 2012 the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
The Lovett School
48 alumni news 50 / A Note from the Director of Alumni Programs
Board of Trustees, 2020-21 John O. Knox, Jr. ’88, Chairman
John C. Staton III ’84, Vice Chairman
Nancy Brumley Robitaille ’84, Secretary David B. Allman ’72
Yetty Levenson Arp ’64
Donald M. Leebern III Alison Elizabeth Lewis
Katherine Rowland Boudreau ’91 Anne Helms Marino
51 / Alumni Board
Frank H. Briggs III
52 / Alumni and Their Grads
Harold M. Cohen
56 / Love in the Time of Coronavirus
Sylvia L. Dick
Garry Lamond Capers, Jr. Malon W. Courts
Eileen Keough Millard ’80 James T. Mills, Jr. ’74
Wade Wright Mitchell ’88 C.V. Nalley IV ’90
Carla Y. Neal-Haley, M.D.
Elise Blitch Drake
David Wall Rice, Ph.D.
74 / Marriages & Babies
Michael S. Hardee, M.D.
Irma Shrivastava
78 / In Memoriam
Raymond J. Kotwicki, M.D.
Burke W. Whitman ’74
79 / Tributes
Justin Jones ’97
Amy Rollins Kreisler ’88 Nikunj Lakha
Megan Apple Stephenson ’93 Leonard Wood, Jr. ’94
Emeriti Trustees
Clayton F. Jackson ’77
Charles R. Arp, Jr., D.D.S. ’62
David B. Kahn ’81
David F. Apple, Jr., M.D.
Harrison Jones II
Brian M. J. Boutté
Frank Kinnett
Gordon A. Buchmiller, Jr.
Kathryn McCain Lee
J. Donald Childress
Robert C. Loudermilk, Jr. ’78
Bradley Currey, Jr.
C. Knox Massey, Jr.
Sallie Adams Daniel ’68
Jane Kerr Mathews
John M. Darden III
James M. McIntyre ’83
Richard A. Denny, Jr.
James B. Meyer
Bruce L. Dick
C. V. Nalley III
Margaret Denny Dozier ’73
Robert E. Peterson
Elizabeth Dykes Pope ’79
57
Daniel M. DuPree
class notes
Thomas C. Gallagher
Arthur W. Rollins ’77
John T. Glover
F. Blair Schmidt-Fellner
Life updates and musings from alumni
Russell R. French
R. Reid French, Jr. ’89 William B. Fryer
Deborah Hodge Harrison William F. Henagan ’76 J. H. Hilsman III LL ’57 Jeffrey F. Hines, M.D. John R. Holder ’73
Dabney Mann Hollis
Mark C. Pope IV ’68 Jan N. Portman
William H. Rogers, Jr.
Christian B. Schoen ’79 Richard F. Smith John R. Wells Elizabeth B. West Gerald J. Wilkins
Frank L. Wilson III ’72
head of school message
04
Dear Lovett Community:
yourself is exhausting and takes an emotional toll. Belonging to a community is important
I cannot begin to express my emotions on the
during good times, but it is critical during tough
morning of our Opening Chapel this year. Experi-
times.
encing the sights and sounds of our community coming together for this storied annual occasion
In my Opening Chapel talk in fall 2019, I quoted
- although only our oldest and youngest learners
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who wrote:
this year due to pandemic restrictions - was a
“Differences are not intended to separate, to
poignant reminder that these traditions that
alienate. We are different precisely in order to
bring us together are critical to our life as a
realize our need for one another.” According to
community. And it was one that, coronavirus or
Tutu, when a community acts out of love rather
not, we knew we could not miss.
than fear of the other, people are able to be themselves authentically amidst difference. At
In the months since this spring, the very defini-
Lovett, our value of love is THE foundation of
tion of “together” has been redefined. From the
ALL foundations, and it is the core element of
breathtaking loss we felt when togetherness
creating belonging and togetherness in our com-
seemed to vanish overnight to the extraordinary
munity. Frankly, it’s never been more important.
lengths people employed (technological and otherwise!) to try to maintain it, this basic human
I often reference Mrs. Lovett when I speak or
need came to society’s forefront. Togetherness
write, and one of my favorite stories is about
assumed an even greater importance this sum-
the mustard seed that she wore around her neck
mer, as it became clear that so many across our
as a reminder that great things grow from small
nation are disenfranchised from others through
beginnings. Seeds need good soil, though, in
no fault of their own.
order to not just survive but to thrive, and that’s at the heart of the organizational development
As part of our Strategic Design work over the
and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion work (see page
past year (see page 42), we have given a great
44) that Lovett started last school year and
deal of thought to values. Just as we all have
will continue to focus on as the 2020-21 school
individual values and families have values, so
year unfolds. We literally have to start from the
do communities - and so does Lovett. Our values
ground up to make sure we grow greatness here
provide our foundation and our strengths, and
at Lovett - greatness for every single person in
they are what we look to when we need to find
our Pride.
clarity. Chief among Lovett’s values are belonging and love. Belonging is so important! Humans are wired to need connection and to be part of something, to feel emotionally comfortable, to not need to pretend or change to fit in. Belonging involves both being known and being loved;
Sincerely,
Meredyth Cole Head of School
not belonging hurts, and not being able to be
the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
masthead
06
head of school Meredyth Cole
assistant head of school for external affairs Stewart Lathan
executive editor
Courtney Fowler, Director of Communications & Marketing
graphic designer & editor Lindsey Wohlfrom, Communications & Marketing Manager
associate editors
Lara Kauffman, Director of Alumni Programs Starr Pollock, Assistant Director of Alumni Programs
contributors
Steve Allen, Bob Amar, Nancy Black, Jay Freer ’78, Kaitlyn Garrett ’20, Ted Gilbreath, Beverly Hamrick, Andrew Mabini, Stacia McFadden, Laura McHargue, Elizabeth R. Pearce ’87, Michelle Pope, Caroline Rollins, Katie Post, Jessica Sant, Fran Turner, Chelle Wabrek
on the cover
Lyon Park, Class of ’29
cover photography Alice Park
Graduation Photography Miguel Gutierrez
Lovett is published by the Communications Office twice a year and is mailed free of charge to alumni, parents, and friends of The Lovett School. For more information or to submit alumni news, e-mail alumni@lovett.org or visit www.lovett.org. ©2020 The Lovett School, 4075 Paces Ferry Road, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30327-3009. The Lovett School, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of any category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, including, but not limited to, race, color, gender, religion, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, or gender identity and expression, with respect to qualified persons in the administration of the school’s employment practices, admission policies, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic programs, or other school administered programs. This publication is printed by an fsc-certified printer on paper that is 30 percent post-consumer waste and 50 percent recycled, processed chlorine-free.
lovett board of trustees updates
new board
members Justin jones ’97 Justin Jones ’97 is a graduate of Lovett and has been a Lovett parent since 2013. He is married to Jessica Allen Jones ’97, and they have four children, three of whom are current students at Lovett: Gunner ’26, Lennox, ’31, Bennett ’33, and Everett.
john o. knox ’88
LOVETT BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR The Lovett School welcomed alumnus John O. Knox, Jr. ’88 as the chair of the Board of Trustees on July 1. He succeeded R. Reid French, Jr. ’89, who concluded a fiveyear term at the end of this school year. John O. and the Knox family have a long connection to the Lovett community. The son of two Lovett alums, Dorothy Smith Knox Hines ’69 and John O. Knox, Sr. ’69, John O. is also the grandson of former Lovett Board Chair Rankin M. Smith, Sr. Since 2010, he has served as a Lovett Trustee, chairing the Endowment Committee while also serving on the Executive, Audit, and Education & Student Life Committees. He currently co-chairs Lovett’s Strategic Planning Committee. He and his wife, Rae, are the parents of Mari Cole ’15, Harriet ’17, and current Lovett student John O. ’22. John O. graduated from the University of Georgia and earned an MBA from Georgia State University. He serves as Principal of Peregrine Investment Advisors, a wealth management firm. In addition to his deep involvement at Lovett, John O. serves as Trustee Emeritus of the University of Georgia Foundation and as a Board Member of the John H. Carmical Foundation. The Knox family are also members of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church.
Justin and Jessica are the chairs of Lovett’s 2020-21 True Blue Campaign, and previously, Justin served as the Alumni Board Chair from 2011-12, on the Advancement Strategic Planning Committee; and the New Parent Campaign Committee. He has a BS in International Business from Georgetown University and is the CEO of Heritage Plastics.
megan apple stephenson ’93 Megan Apple Stephenson ’93 is a graduate of The Lovett School and The University of Virginia. She is married to John W. Stephenson, Jr. ’93, and is the daughter-in-law of John W. Stephenson, Executive Director of the J. Bulow Campbell Foundation. Her father is Dr. David Apple, an emeritus member of Lovett’s Board of Trustees. Megan is an active member of the Lovett Alumni Association, serving as a committee member from 2013 through 2017 and as the Alumni Board President in 2015-16. She has two children, May ’25 and Jack ’27, who attend Lovett. Megan and John have been True Blue Annual Fund 1926 Society Members since 2016-17, and Megan is also active in the Lovett Parent Association. She has volunteered as Grandparents/Special Friends Day Chair, Lower School Vice President, and was co-president of the LPA.
the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
CAMPUS NEWS graduation edition
After a long postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lovett seniors and their families were finally able to celebrate a socially-distanced graduation at Kilpatrick Stadium on Thursday, July 30.
around the
river
bank
| by Lindsey Wohlfrom, Communications and Marketing Manager & Nancy Black, Major Gifts and Endowment Manager
WRITING FOR A CAUSE
A longtime tutor at Agape Youth & Family Center, Lovett senior Conner Kanaly noticed that the children he worked with needed more books to help them learn English. He wrote “John Taylor the Mighty Strong Sailor” with the goal of providing a story that would hold children’s interest, teach them basic English words, and raise money for Agape. “John Taylor the Mighty Strong Sailor” is currently being sold on Amazon, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefitting Agape. Kanaly currently has another book in the works, ”Raley the Rockstar.”
LOVETT’S PHOTO FINISH
Lovett senior Wasswa Robbins won The Curated Fridge’s summer photography contest, “Little Wins.” The Curated Fridge is an organization that celebrates fine art photography and connects photographers around the world with quarterly themed shows. Wasswa’s work was chosen from 1,060 images from 231 photographers. Bree Lamb, Managing Editor for Fraction Magazine said, “It was exciting to see such a rich response and interpretation of the call ‘Little Wins,’ especially during this important time in the United States with calls for racial justice, systemic change, and advocacy for equity, in the midst of a global pandemic.”
TRUE BLUE GOALS
The beginning of a new school year always brings excitement and renewed energy as families return to the Riverbank. While this year is markedly different than years past, Lovett continues to prioritize the foundation of what makes our students’ experience exceptional. Our True Blue Annual Fund, the school’s most important fundraising initiative, aims to reach $2.7 million to support the school’s 2020-21 budget. Lovett will need the generosity and commitment of our community to fund 5% of our budget during such an unprecedented time in our school—and in our history. To give a gift, visit lovett.org/support.
campus news
10
graduation
(2020 style)
CONGRATULATIONS,
class of 2020!
Blaise George Achecar Michael Alexander Agard Jeremiah Thomas-Mark Allen Vaghul Anbil Cole Robert Arndt Katherine Margaret Atwater Ava VanClief Ault Julia Roslyn Balser Calvin Rutherford Barwis Samuel Jay Becker Henry Chiles Beery Jones Kendrick Bell Lauren Elizabeth Bernard Thomas Bradbury Bethea Marguerite Kent Mackenzie Boden Paige Hannah Bogard Jackson Charles Borden Clyde Hamilton Junah Bresnahan John Thomas Brooks Edward Davison Burch III Elise Laura Burns Aiden Howell Camillo Anna Irene Carroll Luke Andrew Casey Margaret Grace Chambers Nathan James Chang Jenny Min Chen Conner Sullivan Chevalier Taylor Nicholas Cohen William Findley Collier Hannah Gabrielle Crenshaw Clayton Eric Cross William Gray Cumbie Emma Marielle D’Emilio Charlotte West Dalke Colin Baird Daniel, Jr. James Dobbs Davie Savannah Elizabeth Dean Blake William Degner Price Brantley Doherty Anna Carron Eiland George Hunter Fankhauser Edwin Augustus Feinour Emilio Dante Ferrara Harper Virginia Finch James Melody Fite III Colin McRee French
Virginia Holmes French Margaret Ellison Friedman Alejandro Garcia-Civita Joseph Aynder Garrett Kaitlyn Abigail Garrett William Barnett Gibson Kasey Elise Goldenberg Ralston Buck Goldfarb Margaret Lanier Gordon Riya Manish Govin Matias Daniel Gowens Kendall Lindsey Greene Joshua Harper Gregory Nichelle Mattie-Lynn Haley William Stewart Hammond, Jr. Robson Huger Harber Chauncey Elizabeth Hill Cammie Chapman Holmes William Alexander Houk Molly Ellen Hubbard Wesley Hudson Huffard Brett Lines Hull Isabelle Hunter Johnson Dorothy Spratley Jones Mary Eliza Kamerschen Christian Ian Kelley Graham Kelly Nicolas Joseph Kemether Albert Thornton Kennedy III Marisa Palmer King Penny Katherine King Elizabeth Ireland Kleinknecht Jordan Nicole Knotts Eric Kofi Lacefield James Patterson Lewallen Virginia Camille Lewis Margaret Bennington Lindsay Caroline Allen Long Chandler Morgan Love Franklin Edward Lummus Sarah Grace Madden Alexander Atkinson Maner Gregory Brooks Mauldin, Jr. David Blaine McAllister III Evelyn Louise McCrady Carter Andrew McIntosh Caroline Beth McPherson Benjamin Matthew Metcalfe Jonathan Phillip Molner Meredith Dailey Moog Elizabeth Fowler Moore Rhys Churchill Morgan Anne Rankin Mori John Richard Mulcahy III William Tyler Neville Jahaan Prakash Nijhawan Justin Edward Novellas Erin Elizabeth O’Shaughnessy Nathaniel Olmstead
Catherine Allen Olsen Sarah Lillian Packman Michael William Panos Duncan James Park Riya Ajay Patel Beatrice Carter Pavloff Laura Andreea Pencea John Cole Pisowicz Katherine Gorman Pitfield Charlotte Miles Pollard Elizabeth Erwin Pope Lily Glazebrook Preisinger John Ellis Prigge Lindsay Morgan Pugh Cory Henderson Riley Mary Alyson Rogers John Douglas Steven Russ Hannah Cary Saad Harrison Lee Savage Sloane Evana Saxon Emma Marie Schimpf Mary Katherine Schmersal Cooper Pierce Schmidt-Fellner Towner William Switzer Schunk Margaret Taylor Schwieger Mary Pearce Seawell Elizabeth Merrick Sharpley Catherine Jean Sherling Olivia Rose Sidman Lily Rose Siegel Matthew Robinson Smith Sanceray Sanai Smith Hailey Drennen Staton Ethan Tony Tai Reeves Lindholm Taylor Chloe Catherine Titelman Campbell Aiko Tomlin Paxton Kennedy Trevett Stefano Christian Ulrich Justin Nduka Umeri David James Underwood Marie-Dominique JH Vallés Joseph Michael Valls Frederick Sloat Van Winkle II Sara Elizabeth Vaughan Stockton Woodall Vohs Casey Elizabeth Wade Luke David Wahl Claire Rutledge Wallace Cyrus James Walls Alicia Marie Walters Richard Prosser Watts II Lillian Francis Whittle Ritter Woodruff Windom Jonathan Scott Wolle Luke Turner Wooddall Patrick James Woodward Noah Alexander Young Haley Marie Zoellick
FIND MORE PHOTOS OF THE CLASS OF 2020 AT: WWW.LOVETT.ORG/GRADUATION
campus news
12
OH, THE PLACES
THEY’LL GO! ALABAMA The University of Alabama Auburn University
CALIFORNIA Pepperdine University Pomona College University of Southern California
COLORADO University of Colorado Boulder Colorado College
CONNECTICUT Trinity College
FLORIDA University of Florida University of Miami
GEORGIA Berry College Emory University Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Southern University Georgia State University University of Georgia University of North Georgia
ILLINOIS University of Chicago Loyola University | Chicago
INDIANA
University of Notre Dame
KENTUCKY University of Kentucky
LOUISIANA
Louisiana State University Tulane University
MAINE Bates College Colby College
MARYLAND
University of Maryland, College Park
MASSACHUSETTS
Amherst College Babson College Boston College Boston University Harvard University Tufts University
NORTH CAROLINA
Davidson College Duke University High Point University The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina State University at Raleigh Wake Forest University
OHIO
Case Western Reserve University Denison University Miami University-Oxford The Ohio State University Wright State University
PENNSYLVANIA
Lehigh University Villanova University
SOUTH CAROLINA
College of Charleston Clemson University Furman University University of South Carolina Columbia Wofford College
MICHIGAN
TENNESSEE
MISSISSIPPI
Belmont University Sewanee: The University of the South The University of Tennessee Knoxville
University of Michigan
University of Mississippi
MISSOURI
Saint Louis University Washington University at St Louis
NEW JERSEY Princeton University
NEW YORK Colgate University New York University
TEXAS Baylor University Southern Methodist University Texas Christian University The University of Texas at Austin
VIRGINIA University of Richmond University of Virginia Washington and Lee University College of William and Mary
WASHINGTON
Seattle University
“THE CLASS OF 2020 WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. THEY ENDURED SOME OF THE MOST TRYING TIMES—FROM A GLOBAL PANDEMIC TO SOCIAL UNREST—ALL WHILE STAYING A POSITIVE AND CLOSELY-KNIT GROUP OF STUDENTS.” -COURTNEY HOOKER, 12TH GRADE DEAN
the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
campus news
14
honors & awards VALEDICTORIAN
Sarah Lillian Packman
SALUTATORIAN
CATHARINE LOUIS LOVELL ’66 AWARD IN LATIN Evelyn Louise McCrady
Marisa Palmer King
GWYNNE ADAMS BURROWS AWARD IN ENGLISH
FRIENDS OF THE ARTS AWARDS
Virginia Holmes French
JAMES E. WARREN AWARD IN CREATIVE WRITING Penny Katherine King
COMPUTER SCIENCE AWARD Eric Kofi Lacefield
BIBLE AND RELIGION AWARD William Stewart Hammond, Jr.
Lily Rose Siegel
FAITH AND LEADERSHIP AWARD
EMILY DUNN ’06 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR INTERNATIONAL GAP YEAR STUDIES
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AWARDS
Towner William Switzer Schunk
MATHEMATICS AWARDS AP CALCULUS Emilio Dante Ferrara
MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS/ LINEAR ALGEBRA Laura Andreea Pencea AP STATISTICS William Alexander Houk
HISTORY DEPARTMENT AWARD Lily Rose Siegel
MARVIN HOWARD FLOYD AWARDS IN SCIENCE BIOLOGY Emilio Dante Ferrara
CHEMISTRY Ralston Buck Goldfarb PHYSICS Harper Virginia Finch ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Mary Katherine Schmersal
MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT AWARDS SPANISH Margaret Lanier Gordon CHINESE Jenny Min Chen SIMONE CRONK AWARD IN FRENCH Riya Ajay Patel
VINITA THERRELL LEAKE ART AWARD
Margaret Ellison Friedman SENIOR GIRL Emma Marie Schimpf
SENIOR BOY Jackson Charles Borden
JOHN A. RABBE SCHOLARATHLETE AWARD David Blaine McAllister III
WILLIAM C. CONLEY DISTINGUISHED ATHLETE AWARD John Thomas Brooks
MONTAGUE LAFFITTE BOYD, JR. AWARD IN CHORAL MUSIC William Alexander Houk
“In a time where we are not only experiencing so much change, but also calling for change, I have the utmost confidence that the bright young minds that I had the privilege to spend so many years with will be passionate leaders, innovators, and game-changers, but I also hope that we never forget the importance of finding that community that loves and supports us.”
-Evelyn Mccrady, class president
PERFORMING ARTS Mary Pearce Seawell Haley Marie Zoellick VISUAL ARTS Lillian Francis Whittle
KATE FLOURNOY EDWARDS ART AWARD Kendall Lindsey Greene
PRINCIPAL’S AWARDS
Jenny Min Chen George Hunter Fankhauser
THE BOBBY TRAIN ’83 FRIENDSHIP AWARD Nathaniel Olmstead
SENIOR CLASS FACULTY AWARD
Ms. Kim Morgan
PARENT ASSOCIATION AWARD Richard Prosser Watts II
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARD Cooper Pierce Schmidt-Fellner
DAN DALKE AWARD FOR CHARACTER Charlotte West Dalke
A MESSAGE FROM OUR
VALEDICTORIAN
FACULTY AWARD FOR SERVICE Eric Kofi Lacefield
VERNON B. KELLETT AWARD IN THE HUMANITIES Kendall Lindsey Greene
THE ATLANTA JOURNALCONSTITUTION CUP Sarah Lillian Packman
THE EVA EDWARDS LOVETT FOUNDER’S MEDAL Evelyn Louise McCrady
DIPLOMAS WITH DISTINCTION GLOBAL STUDIES Michael Agard Charlotte Dalke Kasey Goldenberg Mary Eliza Kamerschen Camille Lewis Sarah Packman Mary Katherine Schmersal Sanci Smith Chloe Titelman SERVICE & LEADERSHIP Sam Becker John Thomas Brooks Taylor Cohen Will Cumbie Savannah Dean Molly Hubbard Brooks Mauldin Ellis Prigge Sloane Saxon Stockton Vohs Alicia Walters
NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS Edward Burch III Jackson Borden Blake Degner Riya Govin William Neville Duncan Park
TO VIEW EVERLYN MCCRADY’S AND SARAH PACKMAN’S FULL SPEECHES, VISIT WWW.LOVETT.ORG/SPEECHES2020
Sarah Lillian Packman, valedictorian for the Class of 2020, delivered her address during Lovett’s sociallydistant Commencement exercises on July 30.
“This graduation is unlike any other graduation in history, and I think we should acknowledge that fact. If we think of the past few months as an interruption, a great pause before our normal lives resume, then we will miss out on everything these past few months have shown us. These past few months have taught me this: we may not be invincible, but we are powerful. I hope that you will continue to be a force for positive change. We are not invincible, and I think that in some ways, this is a good thing. We are vulnerable, and the world has the power to change us. At the same time, we have the power to change the world right back. For those who want to get started, but who are not sure how, I encourage you to take inspiration from the words of John Lewis, a Georgia Congressman and civil rights icon who recently passed away: “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
campus news
16
class of 2020 wall signing
In order to maintain proper distancing, 2020 grads weren’t able to sign the wall inside Loridans, but the tradition lived on in a unique way—a door was brought to the students to sign outside before graduation.
Pictured, TOP: Sanci Smith, William Collier, Jenny Chen. MIDDLE: Emilio Ferrara, Camille Lewis, Jahaan Nijhawan. BOTTOM: Haley Zoellick, Christian Kelley, Elizabeth Kleinknecht
a journey to remember | by Jessica Sant, Director of College Counseling
At the start of the 2019-2020 school year, we knew the Class of 2020 was a special one, but to see the courage, steadiness, selflessness, and maturity our most recent graduates displayed as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded was deeply admirable. We witnessed seniors raise funds for frontline health workers, student leaders facilitate critical dialogue around the Black Lives Matter movement; we watched as 2020 grads found creative and safe ways to celebrate the end of their Lovett journey - never complaining - but simply adapting to the realities our world was facing.
“THIS GROUP HAS REPEATEDLY RISEN TO THE OCCASION AND IS UNQUESTIONABLY BOUND TO SHAPE OUR WORLD FOR THE BETTER.”
Out of 166 students, 2020 graduates will attend 69 different colleges across 26 states. Close to home, 17 Lovett grads will attend the
University of Georgia and seven will attend Georgia Tech. A number of students were awarded full-tuition academic scholarships, with some earning additional travel and research stipends. Seven student-athletes will compete in NCAA varsity athletics, and two will pursue fine arts programs. Graduates will attend university as far as Seattle, Washington, and Lewiston, Maine, Boston, Massachusetts, and Miami, Florida. It’s abundantly clear seniors embraced college exploration and found academic homes that will offer tremendous opportunities. While I know we were all looking forward to pond jumps and picnics, closing chapels and of course, graduation celebrations, the Class of 2020 made the most of circumstances no one could have dreamt up just one year ago. But, this group has repeatedly risen to the occasion and is unquestionably bound to shape our world for the better. We are grateful to have joined in for part of your journey, Class of 2020. Congratulations on a job very well done! the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
campus news
18
what covid-19 taught the class of 2020 An excerpt from a story by Kaitlyn Garrett ’20 for the OnLion student newspaper
To say the very least, senior year looked a little different this year. A lot of things were taken from us: prom, graduation at Peachtree Presbyterian, the pond jump, senior chapel, and a closing chapel where we’d actually get to walk down the center of the Wallace gym and hug all of our teachers. The Lovett administration has done an incredible job of making sure that most events (and extras) could be creatively made up. While in quarantine, some of us have enjoyed time with family, enjoyed time resting and watching TV, and enjoyed time outside. But what has quarantine and COVID-19 taught the senior class as a whole? What have we missed the most? What have we learned about our friendships? What have we learned to never take for granted again?
“Quarantine has taught us the importance of creating the world that we want to live in.”
We’ve also walked away with deeper perspectives on life after quarantine, for perhaps in some ways, it served as a wake-up call. Charlotte Pollard says: “Quarantine has taught me that life is very unpredictable and humans need to realize that we are not in control, and God is in control.” Jake Garrett has walked away from COVID-19 with similarly deep takeaways, as he says that quarantine has taught him that “there are “I’ve learned to never take seeing our friends every day for granted,” Mary Katherine Schmersal says. Charlotte Dalke agrees, saying that “it’s crazy how much quarantine has made me realize how much I loved all the small moments I got to spend with my friends whether it was walking into school, walking out of school at the end of the day or at lunch.” And speaking of food, quite a few of us miss Lovett’s cafeteria lunches. Hunter Fankhauser says, “I never really understood how much I loved the fried ravioli and circle pizza until well, I couldn’t have it.” I couldn’t agree more with Hunter in the statement. I took full advantage of Lovett’s food, especially the café. You can ask Mr. Newman for confirmation of that statement as I’m pretty sure every single Newspaper period I popped out for a few minutes to go grab an iced coffee or cappuccino, both of which I miss immeasurably.
a lot of things that we take for granted and we should spend time cherishing those close to us.” Similarly, Stewart Hammond says that he’s learned that “it’s important to take time for yourself while also valuing and never taking for granted the time you spend with others.” Quarantine has also taught us about the importance of creating the world that we want to live in. Campbell Tomlin said that COVID-19 showed her the importance of medical professionals and further inspired her to pursue the study of medicine at Michigan this fall. That’s certainly a practical way of looking at things. As for me.... I’d say that at the end of the day I learned the importance of treasuring every single moment because as we painfully learned this year, we have no idea when it’s all going to change or be over.
the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
Becoming a Lovett Legacy Member
Donors who have included Lovett in their wills or other estate plans are members of The Lovett School Legacy Society. The Legacy Society allows our school to acknowledge, honor and thank these special donors as their gifts are created.
What is legacy giving?
Legacy giving, or planned giving, allows you to “leave a legacy.” It allows you to have an impact on Lovett beyond your lifetime.
Why should I become a member?
A planned gift may enable you to make a much more significant gift than you may have thought possible.
Common types of planned gifts include:
BECOME A LOVETT LEGACY MEMBER
• Bequests (gifts made through a donor’s will or living trust) • Charitable gift annuities • Insurance policies • Gifts of retirement plan assets after a donor’s lifetime
Questions about Planned Giving?
Contact Elizabeth R. Pearce ’87, Chief Development Officer at elizabeth.pearce@lovett.org
AWARDS
| by Elizabeth R. Pearce ’87, Chief Development Officer
The end of the school year at Lovett brings all sorts of milestones and traditions. One such important tradition occurs after the students are gone from campus and summer is upon us: the faculty and staff come together to celebrate each other as well as another successful year in the books. The faculty/staff awards ceremony is a special event—one that we are fortunate to have—because throughout the years, generous donors have created named, endowed awards to celebrate our employees. These donors understand the importance of recognizing excellence, passion, and dedication in our teachers and staff and their gifts allow us to do just that. Of course, the 2019-20 school year unfolded in a unique way. Never has our community been so important to us, and we realized it would be hard to single out 15 or so people to honor with these awards. So many individuals have gone over and above, even more than usual. We reached out to all donors with named, endowed awards and asked if they would allow Lovett to pool the proceeds of each endowment (for this year only) so that we could recognize all employees for their hard work and commitment to the Lovett mission. All donors overwhelmingly agreed that giving an award to all permanent employees this year was the right thing to do. Lovett is fortunate to have friends who not only understand the hard work that happens on campus (or virtually) every day, but who are flexible and committed to doing what is right.
A huge thank you to all of our endowed award donors, listed below: Patti and Jordan Clark
Jane Mathews
Mary and Jack Dinos
Marilyn and John O’Neal
Felicia and Billy Huger
O. Wayne Rollins Foundation
Jessica Allen Jones ’97 and Justin Jones ’97
James R. and Lana B. Stephen Family Fund: Sue Glander and Diane Brown
Jennifer and David Kahn ’81 Leslie and Dan Kahrs Kathy and Richard Lee Holly and Doug Leeson Charles Loridans Foundation The Loudermilk Family Foundation
Carla and Leonard Wood Kira and Leonard Wood, Jr. ’94 The David, Helen and Marian Woodward Fund 50th Class Reunion Award: Founders Glenn Smith Kincaid ’63 and Roger Moister ’63
THANK YOU
FACULTY & STAFF
campus news
22
| by Michelle Pope, Sports Information Manager
RIVERBANK
ROUND-UP
ABOVE: Mike Valls ’20 slides safely into third base in a 5-0 victory over North Atlanta High School. RIGHT: Catherine Olsen ’20 on a breakaway in the girls’ lacrosse season opener at Mt. Paran Christian School. Love what you see? Follow @LovettAthletics on Instagram for daily Athletics content.
Athletics before COVID-19 seem like
4-3 on the season, highlighted
these teams, it’s a shame we couldn’t
a distant memory. Spring sports were
by a 16-3 win over St. Pius X. The
see them in postseason action. The
getting into a groove and important
girls’ finished with an impressive
boys ended the season with two
region matches lay ahead when the
4-1 record, their only defeat by
shutouts and a 4-1 record, while the
GHSA recommended that all member
1-point in an overtime thriller to 6A
girls finished at 2-2.
schools suspend team activities on
powerhouse McIntosh High School.
March 12. Despite the abrupt finish,
Track & Field competed just once
Lovett’s 2020 spring sports season
Boys’ soccer entertained fans with
before spring break, but what Coach
still includes many fond memories
thrilling wins over Marist and
Mayer saw from his athletes that
and moments.
Northwest Whitfield. Their veteran
afternoon at Westminster gave
leadership was apparent both on and
him great hope for this season
After a rain-filled start to the spring
off the field, in a season cut short
and beyond. The team managed to
season, 11 of 12 varsity teams were
by lightning delays and coronavirus.
produce excellent results, including
able to compete. The boys’ golf team
The girls’ soccer team met the same
a first-place finish by the boys’ 4x100
placed third in a crowded field at
fate, as weather and the pandemic
meter relay.
the Larry Nelson Invitational, while
canceled eight of their fourteen
the girls’ team secured a win over
scheduled games. However, the
Westminster at the Dogwood Country
girls made the most of their limited
Club.
playing time and ended the season with a 4-2 record.
Lovett baseball started fast and hot with a four-game win streak and
Perhaps the sport most affected
squeezed in a trip to Jacksonville for
by the gloomy spring weather was
a two-game melee over spring break.
tennis. Both boys’ and girls’ teams
Both boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams
had seven of 12 matches canceled
anticipated extended postseason
before the pandemic ended their
runs this year. The boys’ team went
season. With the talent and skill of
Stay up-to-date on the latest
Athletics happenings and schedule updates at
www.lovett.org /athletics
the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
FINE FINE ARTS ARTS
campus news
24
through the fall
| by Jay Freer ’78, Director of Fine Arts and Lindsey Wohlfrom, Communications and Marketing Manager
2020 started without a hitch for
School Performing Arts students were
with the Bach Ensemble offering a
Lovett’s fine arts students. They rang in
selected for Honors and All-State Band,
special online performance of a piece
the new year with a musical production
Chorus and Orchestra, and Photography
by John Cage, 4’33. Band continued
of The Little Mermaid—executed by the
student Kendall Greene ’20 was the
online, and Visual Arts teachers
talented Upper School Theater Arts and
2020 Sony World Photography Awards
continued to instruct and encourage
Design & Production students—which
Shortlist Winner.
students to produce work and present
received four Shuler Hensley award
it to their classmates online. Film
nominations for Best Performance by
The COVID-19 pandemic brought forth
classes created short film projects, and
Leading and Supporting Actresses,
some challenges, but the Fine Arts
Dance continued with online classes
Technical Execution and Musical
Department shifted gears and ended
and choreography from Rebecca
Direction. The Upper School Honors
the year on a high note. Students
Metzger and virtual presentations from
Ellington Jazz Ensemble performed at
switched to all virtual classes, and
the students. Design & Production
Cafe 290 and Venkman’s in Atlanta, and
every discipline was able to do amazing
worked to design visuals for the Middle
Lovett’s annual student art show at The
work. Scene study continued online
and Upper School virtual plays.
High Museum featured extraordinary
in Honors Theater, the Middle School
artwork by selected K-12th grade visual
produced a virtual production of a play
The start of the school year has
artists. Upper School Dance students
called “Squad Goals,” and Upper School
brought our Fine Arts students back
traveled to Disney for a jazz and hip
Theater Arts did a virtual performance
to the Riverbank, and though it may
hop workshop, and the Honors Theater
of “All the King’s Women.” Choral
not look like a typical school year, it’s
Arts students went to New York for
classes sang their hearts out online
great to be back. Due to live audience
their annual Broadway extravaganza
and studied bird song. The Ellington
and distancing restrictions, no in-
trip—experiencing New York in a rare
Jazz Ensemble (from the safety of their
person theater productions or concerts
and exciting way with backstage tours
homes) recorded “Certified,” a chart
are on the schedule at this time;
and the chance to meet professional
written by jazz artist Steve Williams,
however, virtual performances from all
actors and directors. Middle and Upper
and Orchestra continued classes online,
performing arts will be planned.
have you seen the 2019-20 signature?
The Signature, a curated collection of student artwork and creative writing, provides a unique reflection of Lovett Fine Arts students’ time and experiences over the school year. Check out their work at: www.lovett.org/arts.
TOP: Ariel (Catherine Sherling), Scuttle (Virginia French), and the Seagulls (Sarah Piña, Lindy Benton, Ciara Kilroy, Alizeh Chamadia, Alex Spitale, Julia Jamieson, and Sarah Packman) after “Positoovity,” a song in which Scuttle insists on Ariel’s positive attitude while she learns to use her legs and begins her new life as a human. BOTTOM LEFT: Upper School Dance students perform during the fall concert. BOTTOM RIGHT: Upper School Band’s holiday performance, featuring Brandon Holmes, tenor saxophone, Raymond Mann, bass, Holden Carson, drums, and Ishaan Lakha, guitar.
campus news
26
(out of)
office hours
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: Diane Husmann, Marc Mallet, Faye Odom, Ken Rau.
At the close of the 2019-20 school year, Lovett bid farewell to four longtime members of our teaching community. Students and fellow colleagues shared a few words about these standout teachers and the impact they had on our community.
diane husmann
Since 1987, Diane Husmann has taught both Middle School mathematics and earth science. During her 33 years at Lovett, Diane successfully generated a love of science for her sixth grade students. In 1998, Diane was recognized by her colleagues as a master teacher when she received the Woodward Award for Excellence in Teaching. Early in her career at Lovett, Diane helped implement robotics for sixth grade students. In speaking of Diane, colleague and fellow science faculty member Kevin Sauter says, “Diane is one of the most open-minded people I have ever met and she is always willing to step outside of her comfort zone to try anything. Diane has a great way of taking feedback and laughing at herself. She has taught me how to appreciate and admire the quirks that make each of us unique. She is the friend I never saw coming and the friend I will always hold dear.”
marc mallet
Marc Mallet retired after 33 years of service to Lovett. Born and raised in Bordeaux and passionate about the French language, Marc taught French in international schools before coming to Lovett in 1987. In addition to teaching French in the Upper School and then in the Middle School, Marc also served as the Director of Lovett’s Summer School. In 1994, Marc received the Woodward Award for Excellence in Teaching, an honor awarded to him by his fellow teachers. Lovett alumna Sarah Carrison Smith ’93 said of Mr. Mallet, “He was a kind and compassionate educator, and I loved observing and listening to him communicate in his native tongue. … I am grateful to Monsieur Mallet for laying the foundation of my passion for the subject. Bon courage et félicitations M. Mallet!”
faye odom
Faye Odom retired from Lovett after teaching Kindergarten for 27 years. Since 1993, Faye has taught hundreds of Lovett’s littlest learners. Not only a dedicated member of Lovett’s faculty, Faye is also the proud mother of two Lovett alumnae, Abbie ’03 and Neeley ’04. Her colleagues recognized Faye as a master teacher when they selected her to receive the Woodward Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2010. Lovett parent Cameron Davis Glass ’99 said, “Our family was lucky enough to have two years in Faye’s kindergarten class, and we could not imagine a better start to the Lovett experience. Faye is extremely caring and loving to her kids and their nervous parents! We will miss her at Lovett but so thankful for her friendship, guidance, and love.”
ken rau
Ken Rau retired after 37 years of teaching Latin at Lovett. Ken has been recognized by colleagues and alumni as an extraordinary teacher by receiving the Woodward Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching. In addition to being a faculty member since 1983, Ken is the parent to Lovett alumni Dorothy ’15, Ben ’17 and current student Alex ’22. Through Ken’s dedication to teaching, Lovett Latin students have consistently scored outstanding marks in the National Latin Exam. Lovett alumna Marilyn Boutté ’18 said, “Mr. Rau was one of the best teachers I had at Lovett. He was so clearly passionate not only about Latin, but also giving his students the critical thinking and analytic skills that would be helpful outside of the classroom. Mr. Rau left me with a passion for the Classics that I carried with me to college.”
pandemic art AT HOME OR IN THE CLASSROOM, LOVETT FINE ARTS STUDENTS HONE THEIR CRAFT.
meet the artists
TOP (left to right): Gabi Janis, Foundations of Art; Jack Shaifer, Visual Arts; Wells Kamerschen,
Ceramics. MIDDLE (left to right): Ainsley Thomas, Digital Photo; Palmer Kloberdanz, Visual Arts; Jenny Chen, Virtual Printmaking.
BOTTOM (left to right): Thomas Pryor, Lower School Visual Arts; Ariana Bandyopadhyay, Lower School Visual Arts.
the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
campus news
28
new faces james choi, head of lower school James joins Lovett from The John Cooper School, where he served as Assistant Head of the Lower School. During his tenure, he guided the division-wide implementation of Responsive Classroom and initiated a mentorship program to onboard first-year teachers in their transition to a new school. He received a Master of Education from the Klingenstein Center Teachers College at Columbia University and a Master of Science in Teaching Literacy and Childhood Education from Bank Street Graduate School of Education. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University.
darren rish, chief operating officer Darren brings more than 25 years of progressive experience in finance and operations management to his new role, joining us from Comcast Cable, where he served as Regional CFO/Vice President Finance. Darren has worked with small start-ups as well as Fortune 500 companies over the course of his career, developing a strong background in implementing financial controls, improving productivity, and building relationships across organizations like The Home Depot and Ernst & Young. Darren earned his undergraduate degree in Accounting from Bucknell University and his MBA in Finance from Emory’s Goizueta Business School.
lovett welcomes four new members to our administrative staff adam nelson, director of athletics Adam Nelson ’93, alumnus and Olympic gold medalist, joins Lovett from The D10 in Houston, Texas, where he served as CFO/COO. Adam attended Dartmouth College for his undergraduate degree—where he was a four-year letterman in football and track & field—and received his MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. In addition to overseeing the daily operations of the department, Adam will work closely with leadership to position the program for the continued growth of the school’s strong tradition in athletics.
ted gilbreath, director of Strategic Programs After spending a year as Lovett’s Interim Director of Athletics, Ted has stepped into a permanent role as the new Director of Strategic Programs. He will be responsible for the oversight and strategic development of our summer school, summer camps and programs, and Auxiliary and Enrichment Programs. A 20-year veteran of independent schools, Ted previously served as Director of Athletics at Newark Academy in New Jersey. He received his B.A. from Pennsylvania State University and a Master’s in Education from the University of Southern Maine.
features
Mornings on the Lower School playground look a little different these days, but fourth graders Alisha Krishnan, Sofia Adamo and Sylvie Nieminen are happy to be back on the Riverbank together—masks and all!
features
30
2020
looking back + moving forward
2020 has certainly been a year “that will live in infamy,” to quote President Franklin Roosevelt’s famous words at the onset of the United States’ involvement in World War II. The start of a new decade felt full of possibilities, but by the end of March, the entire world seemed to be going through the motions of a science fiction novel: schools and churches shuttered, lockdown orders for entire states, food insecurity and empty grocery store shelves, and an unknown enemy virus with no cure. The end of May brought a reckoning of a different kind, as the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor drove people across the country into the streets to demand justice and protest systemic racism. And yet…when Lovett and other schools were forced to go online to teach students, we pivoted our technology but kept those attributes that make a Riverbank education special. When Breakthrough Atlanta couldn’t provide its usual on-campus summer program to bright students from public middle schools, it provided virtual high-impact academics, loaner laptops and food support. A new and exciting after-school program, canceled this spring due to COVID-19, was moved to July upon the reopening of campus - giving young Lovett campers the opportunity to learn baseball, character and leadership skills from exceptional Atlanta Public School student-athletes with life experiences
Pictured: Head of Lower School James Choi greets Asher Givens ’28 on the first day of school. extraordinarily different from their own. Hopeful things have indeed happened, even during the chaos brought by this year like no other. To look forward, however, is to know that there are still challenges ahead and much left to do. Lovett’s Strategic Design Process committees, forced to pause this spring, have restarted their important work regarding the future of our school. And the new standing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee of Lovett’s Board of Trustees - which met dozens of times over the summer - has released its initial report and moves forward with its plans to ensure that all families of color thrive at Lovett. “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower,” wrote French philosopher Albert Camus. Perhaps this season, so long associated with the start of a fresh new school year, holds the possibility of many other important new beginnings as well.
Courtney Fowler executive Editor, Lovett Magazine
the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
MASKS ONLINE LEARNING STUDY features
32
OUTSIDE
LAPTOP
INTERACT
ON CAMPUS
VIRTUAL JOYFUL
THE DIGITAL
LEARNING CURVE | by Stacia McFadden, Director of Academic Technology
I remember it all as if it were yesterday.
were already very comfortable using instead of adding the stress of learning something new.
On the morning of February 26, 2020, I shared an article entitled, “If Coronavirus Worsens, Online Learning
Lower School librarian Jennifer Northrup expressed her
Could Fill the Gaps” with Chelle Wabrek, the Assistant
amazement watching “teachers step up to the plate to
Head of School for Academic Affairs. By the end of
explore new technologies and teaching strategies” in
that same day, I found myself attending a Coronavirus
the midst of unexpected change. One of those teachers
preparedness workshop hosted by the National
who stepped up to the plate was Upper School Science
Association of Independent Schools at their annual
instructor, Jim Crowley, who had the challenge of moving
conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In a matter of
his AP Environmental Science classes online. “What I
hours, I had to make a mental shift from hypothetical
have enjoyed about virtual learning is how it has made
to highly likely when it came to the possibility of Lovett
me dive deeper into the practical use of technology
going virtual.
and explore technological applications that I otherwise may never have.” Extraordinarily, Lovett’s faculty were
In the span of two weeks, including spring break, Lovett
not only educators in this moment, but also students
was obliged to consider and make very difficult choices
themselves. Some signed up for weeklong classes
about a virus we knew little about, yet was wreaking
offered by Global Online Academy to learn strategies
havoc on the entire world. Making definitive decisions during this time was nearly impossible, as information was changing rapidly. In record time, the administrative and academic technology teams delivered plans and training for transitioning to a virtual learning environment. While teaching in-person and teaching online requires very different skill sets, our initial focus was ensuring teachers would be able to connect with their students as seamlessly as possible. We decided to use Google Meet, rather than Zoom, for video meetings since we were already a Google Apps for Education School. Thinking about the immediate needs of our faculty and students, it made sense to use a platform most users
“
(VIRTUAL LEARNING) HAS MADE ME DIVE DEEPER INTO THE PRACTICAL USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND EXPLORE TECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS THAT I OTHERWISE MAY NEVER HAVE.
”
-JIM CROWLEY, UPPER SCHOOL SCIENCE
the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
features
34
for distance learning and assessment, while others participated in webinars and read articles for insight. Yet where I was most inspired—even to this day— was everyone’s willingness to share and learn from one another. No matter the academic division (Lower, Middle, or Upper), we learned that teaching our youngest students was just as challenging as teaching our older students virtually, particularly in uncertain times. Teachers shared everything from
“
WE ARE LEARNING TOGETHER. WE ARE STRUGGLING TOGETHER. AND WITH COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING, WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
”
pedagogical strategies to technology tips to virtual
-STACIA MCFADDEN, DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY
community-building activities. They even shared funny skits and stories or wellness activities and resources to keep one another encouraged. Assistant
Head of Middle School for Academic Affairs Erin Polk Dixon ’94 reflects, “We came together to support
and cheer each other on in an unprecedented time, and ultimately, I think that navigating that time as a community is what helped make it a success.“
Our students were just as adaptable. “Our transition to virtual was pretty seamless once the students inventoried what supplies they had available to them at home...I’m so proud of the artwork they made in the spring!” shares Ashley Schick (Upper School Visual Arts). Vicki Greenberg (Upper School Math) candidly states, “I felt completely unprepared for virtual, but the students were amazingly flexible and let me figure out my groove.” Beginning the 2020-2021 school year with a hybrid learning model (combining traditional classroom experiences with digital course delivery) presented its own opportunities and challenges. One such opportunity is the time available to practice and improve the processes that ensure we remain healthy —wearing our masks, keeping our social distance, sanitizing ourselves and our workspaces, and more. Joe DeLuca, Middle School Math and Science instructor commented to one of his classes that “lessons [felt] much slower now,” in which a student replied, “Yep. And I like it.” So there are definitely some benefits to online learning, including the “voice” it gave many of
Pictured: Second grader Aiden Chen works on an assignment during his virtual class last spring.
our students who identify as introverts, allowing more
Pictured: Chief Operating Officer Gray Kelly checks temperatures as Lovett students embark on their first day of school. opportunities for written participation, not just
and the historical and current experience of our Black
verbal. Speaking of introverts, Heidi Gray (Upper
community members as reported in the recently
School History), who proclaims to masquerade as
released DEI Board Committee report. Teachers are no
an extrovert, appreciated having “a little bit of
longer simply content experts in a particular subject,
time and quiet to think problems through,” as the
but they must create inclusive classrooms (physically
pandemic slowed down life as we once knew it.
and virtually), get to know their students behind masks
With the gift of time, Mrs. Gray realized she could
(literally and figuratively), and so much more.
actually accomplish the learning goals she had set for her students and “loved teaching online!”
Educators love boasting about being lifelong learners; yet I cannot think of another time where that phrase
The challenges of a hybrid model include providing
has truly been put to the test. The learning curve has
a learning experience as equitable as possible
been steep as we have been challenged to pivot at a
to those who bravely enter the campus as well
moment’s notice and use technology in ways we never
as those who bravely choose to self-isolate
had to before. And just when we thought that curve
themselves and learn from home. Christina Smith
might flatten, it steepens again. I guess you can say
(Middle School Language) states, “This year feels
that one of the biggest takeaways: we are all in this
like my first year of teaching, rather than my 25th…
together. We are learning together. We are struggling
the majority of my activities have to be remade to
together. And with compassion and understanding, we
fit this new model of learning.” Another point of
will get through this together.
consideration for those learning remotely is the amount of time those students are now spending looking at a screen. Layer those challenges with the
Take a look back on our virtual journey on Lovett’s instagram, @thelovettschool.
nuanced intersectionality of the COVID-19 pandemic the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
features
36
VIRTUAL
LEARNING
VS. HOMESCHOOLING
How Lovett’s virtual experience is markedly different from homeschool programs | by Chelle Wabrek, Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs By April 15, 191 world governments had closed K-12 schools impacting 1.6 billion children across our globe, and Lovett students were counted in those numbers. Our transition to a virtual learning platform happened at speed, and teachers had a crash course in distance learning, prototyping class structures creatively and inviting frequent feedback to improve the quality of approach. Legitimate questions about Lovett’s value proposition, rooted deeply in the relational nature of
teaching, arose. Teachers had to consider the difference between “teaching a class online,” simply transitioning what they did in a physical classroom to a virtual platform, and “teaching an online class,” repackaging learning structures to impact multiple modalities. Families began to think about the qualitative differences between Lovett’s virtual programming and “boxed” homeschool programs. These types of questions are actually very helpful, because they lead to a clearer distinction between homeschool programs and Lovett’s virtual experience. Places that are fully dedicated to delivering “online school” (i.e. there is no brick and mortar school, just programming) do so on a large scale per their business models. Their curriculum is a concrete object, a set of lessons that are connected to specific benchmarks irrespective of the student. This “boxed set” of lessons arrives, sometimes virtually, sometimes physically, and students pace themselves through it. Some wise homeschool parents will find ways to get small groups of kids together biweekly or monthly, but these happen largely through the ingenuity of users, not because the program creates the opportunity. In contrast, the student is the centerpiece of all we do at Lovett. While teachers have clear learning goals and benchmarks, they design the lessons that get us to those
benchmarks based on the children who sit in the seats of their classrooms (virtual or otherwise). Teachers get to know the modalities that allow individual students to learn optimally, and they create lessons and experiences to promote cognitive, social and emotional growth. Thus the “bespoke” nature of Lovett classes, designed to expand each student’s sense of purpose, mastery, and possibility. When a student who is a talented poet turns up in a 10th grade English class, the teacher works to capitalize on that strength, centering the student experience. The Lovett curriculum does not exist in a vacuum, but is responsive
meaningful to them.
MAKING IT COUNT: ASSESSMENT & FEEDBACK IN HYBRID LEARNING
The feedback that Lovett teachers provide our students is
| by Bob Amar, Head of Upper School Math
to individual students. That does NOT mean we simply do what kids want to do; rather, it means that we get to know our students so that we can help them learn in ways most
similarly hand-crafted. Often in homeschool programs or other schools, an assignment is turned in and a number grade is given. At Lovett, we endeavor to help students disconnect grades from feedback. Feedback is individualized and detailed, designed to ensure that when a student does an assignment again, he or she has built capacity to do it better based on responses specific to the student. Places that are stand-alone online programs are most often unable to give feedback at this detailed level, largely because of the way these programs are designed. A homeschool company builds its financial model on the fact that “Teacher A” designs “Course B” to be rolled out to an infinite number of students. The business model is completely scalable, because once the teacher creates the “module” it can be “pushed” to an infinite number of students. That highlights the generic nature of the curriculum: not necessarily boring, as some of these lessons can be good - but they are not designed with specific students in mind. Further, the sheer numbers mean that feedback is limited to basic cut-andpaste comments, completes or incompletes or a succinct number grade. As the school year has launched in a “hyflex” model, feedback from this spring has informed Lovett’s virtual choices. The questions we asked ourselves have challenged us to continuously innovate better ways to remain connected with our students and each other. Anticipating possible turbulence in the traditional mechanisms of learning has pushed teachers to find unique ways to get to know their students and their accompanying talents,
This past July, about 20 Lovett teachers across all divisions examined resources and case studies, many drawn from Lovett’s own faculty, for developing clear skills goals in teaching, giving asset-based feedback that helps students generate and maintain momentum, and designing assessments that both showcase and promote learning—all in the context of partial (hybrid) or total virtual learning. In addition to networking across the school and exchanging ideas and experiences, participants had the opportunity to design policies and curriculum for their classrooms, share this work with fellow teachers, and receive feedback. I discussed restructuring feedback and instruction to move conversations away from pure grades and more towards skills in my AP Calculus class, as well as activities meant to allow students to discover course concepts together online regardless of location. Some of the things teachers implemented represented huge instructional shifts or new experiments. Angela Mitchell, US Spanish teacher, put together a great new unit in collaboration with a remote colleague in New York tying together cultural identity in the context of the AP Spanish curriculum, and Thomas Cooper, Engineering instructor, revised plans for sending equipment home and restructured projects to better support the half present/ half virtual model. A lot of teachers are making shifts in terms of opening routines and common classroom routines, like group discussions, to include students both present and at home.
perspectives and strengths in a way that will propel learning regardless of our location. the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
features
38
STUDENTS WITHOUT BORDERS Juniors Campbell Key and Alex Rau travel virtually to Morocco | by Fran Turner, Director of Civic and Global Engagement
Working alongside students from Morocco to talk
As students around the globe were forced to
cool to see,” Campbell said. Campbell also enjoyed
postpone or cancel their plans for study abroad this summer due to the pandemic, two Lovett students took the opportunity to learn about a different culture—virtually. Lovett Juniors Campbell Key and Alex Rau represented Lovett in the Morocco-U.S. Virtual Exchange for High School Students, where they worked with peers from Morocco and around the U.S. to learn more about significant challenges facing the global community. As part of the virtual exchange, which was organized in part by the Global Education Benchmark Group (of which Lovett is a member ), cohorts from schools around the U.S. and Morocco explored the ways their own backgrounds and experiences shape their understanding of the world around them—including humanitarian and environmental challenges. Together, groups from both countries used the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals to develop ideas for tackling those challenges.
about world issues was a highlight for the Lovett students. “They had a different perspective, which was the speakers, some of whom, like Fernando Reimers, Director of Harvard University’s Global Education Innovation Initiative, are world experts in international studies. Alex acknowledged that the course’s online format had its difficulties, but he appreciated the opportunity to collaborate with students from different places. “The exchange taught me a great deal about interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds.”
br eakthrough atlanta
SUMMER
OF CHANGE | by Laura McHargue, Breakthrough Atlanta
Because many students depend on Breakthrough for access to two nutritious meals a day during the summer, Breakthrough shifted its summer meal program to provide food support for students and families experiencing food insecurity. Thanks to generous donations from the Lovett community and others, Breakthrough was able to provide food support not only for students, but for their entire families. Throughout June and July, Breakthrough delivered nearly $30,000 worth of food support to families and partnered with Atlanta Public Schools to distribute 750 prepared meals. Breakthrough also provided counseling, case management, and other resources for students and families impacted by the pandemic. Breakthrough’s student support team developed a new parent/caregiver
Breakthrough Atlanta, a nonprofit hosted at The Lovett
workshop series on topics including technology tools,
School, provides life-changing educational opportunities
social-emotional learning, trauma-informed care and more.
to students from metro Atlanta’s under-resourced public schools. Breakthrough’s annual summer program has been
The Breakthrough Atlanta Impact Fund was launched to
hosted on Lovett’s campus for 24 years, but due to the
help Breakthrough meet these urgent needs. The campaign
global pandemic, Breakthrough Atlanta held its first-ever
raised more than $75,000 from many generous donors
virtual summer program. Despite having just weeks to
within the Lovett community and beyond. Breakthrough
prepare, the program was a success, serving nearly 330
has also received support from the Greater Atlanta
students and their families with summer learning and
COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, the Goizueta
additional support.
Foundation, JustFund, the O. Wayne Rollins Foundation, Wells Fargo, and the Zeist Foundation.
As schools closed in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students from Atlanta’s underserved communities experienced the combined impacts of learning loss, food insecurity, and trauma related to social isolation and economic upheaval. Breakthrough Atlanta was quick to respond, adapting its annual summer program into a high-impact, student-centered, virtual learning program to help students recover from learning loss and meet their other urgent needs. Breakthrough provided six weeks of engaging academic instruction, delivered in small classes by live teachers. Students gained a total of 13,623 hours of learning this summer to help them recover from learning loss and grow their skills in core subjects. Teachers also offered virtual office hours to provide additional academic support. Breakthrough employed 16 professional educators and 46 teaching fellows. Lovett Middle School science teacher Justin Hicks led the program as Site Director, sharing valuable experience from Lovett’s months of virtual education. To support students’ virtual learning, Breakthrough loaned laptops to students as needed, and hired an Instructional Technology Specialist to provide technical support to students, parents and teachers.
To learn more, visit breakthroughatlanta.org
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breaking barriers
| by Ted Gilbreath, Director of Strategic Programs & Courtney Fowler, Director of Communications and Marketing
Lovett returned to on-campus programming on July 6 with three athletic camps, one of which was “Breaking Barriers: Baseball and Leadership,” run by current Lovett parent, C.J. Stewart. The camp grew from a planned enrichment program within the Lovett afterschool curriculum, which never ran due to the school’s March switch to virtual learning. In his professional life, C.J., an Atlanta native and former Chicago Cubs outfielder, is one of the top baseball player development professionals in the country. Several years ago, he and his wife, Kelli,
founded L.E.A.D. (Launch. Expose. Advise. Direct.), an organization whose mission is to empower an atrisk generation to lead and transform Atlanta. Using baseball, L.E.A.D. helps Black boys overcome three curve balls that threaten their success: crime, poverty, and racism. In 2011, Lovett began its relationship with L.E.A.D. via a partnership between the baseball program and the organization, says Varsity Assistant Coach Jamie Palmer. Over the years, the team worked with L.E.A.D. on baseball camps for Atlanta Public Schools middle
schoolers as well as visits to the Fulton County Jail. Most recently, coaches have selected several Lovett players to participate in an annual L.E.A.D event called the Human Ambassador Project; the event, held at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, was developed to “foster understanding and community between the youth of different races.” In 2018, L.E.A.D. added the Breaking Barriers Baseball Camp to its programs. The camp, conducted by L.E.A.D. Ambassadors, provided baseball skills training as well as character and leadership skills programming to children in grades 2-5. These Ambassadors—all Atlanta Public School student-athletes—not only encouraged and nurtured the young campers’ passion for baseball but also provided the participants a chance to build relationships with young men whose life experiences are extraordinarily different from their own. Bonded over their shared love of the game, both campers and counselors benefitted from the opportunity to learn from one another. Fifteen kids participated in the Breaking Barriers camp on the Riverbank this summer.
Campers enthusiastically answered “yes” when asked if they were enjoying the camp, and clearly adored their counselors, who they followed all over the baseball facility, regardless of whether they were engaged in baseball activities or taking a break. Parents, as well, were effusive in their praise of the camp. Although longtime partners of Lovett through their non-profit organization, the Stewarts joined our community as a family last fall when their youngest daughter started in Middle School. The family quickly threw themselves head, heart, and soul into the Lovett community, according to Director of Admission and Enrollment Management, Janie Beck. “Kelli and C.J. are always willing to make time to discuss questions or ideas I might have related to admission, retention, and community engagement. Their warmth and generosity is a real gift to Lovett.”
To learn more about L.E.A.D., visit lead2legacy.org or email info@lead2legacy.org the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
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An update on Lovett’s Strategic Plan:
BUILDING FOR
TOMORROW
| by Katie Post, Director of Major Gifts
Last fall, when Lovett launched the Strategic
following activities: forming a Strategic Design
Design Process, we asked ourselves: How does
Team, conducting a community-wide survey,
Lovett continue to cultivate character, emotional
forming four Learning Teams to study specific
intelligence, and intellectual curiosity which is at
strategic questions, and developing and approving
the heart of the educational vision of our founder
Core Values for the school.
Eva Lovett? Little did we know that a global pandemic, economic crisis, and monumental
The Strategic Design Team launched four
social movement awaited us in 2020. However,
“learning teams” to seek information and gather
the question and the pending answers feel more
quantitative and qualitative data in response
relevant and urgent as we launch into the most
to these questions. They conducted interviews
unusual start of a school year in Lovett’s 94-year
and market research, and held focus groups with
history.
internal and external stakeholders, and discussed and analyzed all that they learned. Their hard
The purpose of Lovett’s Strategic Design Process is
work and efforts were reflected in comprehensive
to reflect deeply on Lovett’s mission and discuss
reports back to the Strategic Design Team, and
openly as a community where we are now and
their insights will be at the foundation for the
where we go from here. Building on Lovett’s
final strategy.
enduring values, this process will clearly define our core beliefs and highest goals for our students,
Our aim is to finish a draft of the strategy, so
and the school’s future strategic initiatives will
that we can engage in dialogues with the Lovett
unfold from there. This work now comes with a
community in early 2021 and solicit feedback. The
heightened importance that we never could have
strategic design process will conclude at the end
anticipated 12 months ago.
of this school year in June 2021, when our Board formally adopts the plan. Thus, as we near our
To create a dynamic, succinct and compelling
centennial celebration, Lovett will have a clear and
strategy that builds on our strengths and creates
concise strategy that articulates our mission, core
conditions for success at Lovett for generations
institutional values, and provides a road map for
to come, we have walked hand in hand with all
the years to come.
Lovett stakeholders over the last year through the
“
How does Lovett continue to cultivate character, emotional intelligence, and intellectual curiosity which is at the heart of the educational vision of our founder Eva Lovett?
�
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on e lov e t t on e pr i de An update on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at The Lovett School
| by Courtney Fowler, Director of Communicatons and Marketing
Many people, regardless of their religious tradition, have at least a passing familiarity with these words of Jesus’ in the New Testament: “Love one another.” An idea that is not exclusive to Christianity, appearing similarly in the Jewish, Sikh and Islamic faith traditions, as well as other world religions and civilizations throughout history. No matter the
“
Knowing that it must approach Diversity, Equity and Inclusion differently in order to make concrete progress, Lovett has undertaken a more systemic approach to ‘improving the soil’ through organizational development.
”
origin, the sentiment itself has been around a
Knowing that it must approach Diversity, Equity
very, very long time.
and Inclusion differently in order to make
concrete progress, Lovett has undertaken a It is no stretch at all to link “love one another”
more systemic approach to “improving the soil”
to the subject of inclusion. This cherished ideal
through organizational development. With the
has surely been on our hearts this summer,
goal of positioning an institution to make change,
making it urgent that Diversity, Equity and
organizational development seeks to cultivate the
Inclusion (DEI) work proceed at speed across
alignment, systems, training, and accountability
our country and on our own campus. But
structures that can best support it.
inclusion also transcends a religious and moral imperative (“love one another because
Lovett was already headed in this direction as
it’s the right thing to do”). In another context,
part of the launch last fall of its Strategic Design
such as an organization or a business, this
Process, which included a significant amount
phrase reveals a mission-critical charge:
of self-reflection and assessment by Learning
prioritize inclusion because it is central to an
Team committees who sought the perspective of
organization’s long-term success - and that of
hundreds of individuals across our community.
every single person who is a part of it.
Concerns about inclusion surfaced early on, and work was consequently underway on the subject
In education, prioritizing DEI initiatives hasn’t
of belonging when the events of this spring made
historically been consistent, often resulting
this issue even more urgent. Convened in June,
in varying experiences for students of color. “I
the Board of Trustees’ new standing Diversity,
keep coming back to this metaphor of needing
Equity and Inclusion committee devoted countless
good soil in which to sow our seeds,” said
hours this summer working on its report issued in
Meredyth Cole, Head of School. “Past efforts of
August. Identifying four areas of focus - Student
many schools and univerities seemed a lot like
Experience, Family and Employee Competency,
casting handfuls of precious seeds upon fallow
Institutional Policy & Practice, and Pedagogy -
ground to see if any would root. Why didn’t we
the committee immediately began working with
first ensure that our soil was fertile?”
faculty, staff and others on strategies organized
the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
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into 30, 90, and 180+ day timelines. Small-group
cultural competencies necessary to foster authentic
community meetings are being planned for the fall and
relationships, curiosity, and continued growth make
winter.
them not only better equipped for life in college, but also stronger, more engaged citizens.”
But how will meaningful inclusion contribute to Lovett’s long-term success? “The ultimate goal of all the work we are doing is improved outcomes,” says Meredyth Cole. “For us, this means shaping a culture of true belonging that will in turn help us graduate even more capable and prepared Lions of all backgrounds, foster greater employee engagement, raise parent and alumni satisfaction, strengthen the school’s financial picture, and increase the community’s capacity to adapt and renew.” College admissions is one of the many areas where inclusion efforts can have a direct and positive impact, says Director of College Counseling Jessica Sant. “Having visited hundreds of colleges and universities, a recurring message I hear from virtually every admission officer is that their community supports and values efforts of inclusion, equity, and belonging across their campus. So, it’s no surprise that admission offices prioritize those same values in helping to identify some of the best candidates for admission to their institutions,” notes Sant. “Ensuring Lovett graduates are developing the
“
For us, this means shaping a culture of true belonging that will in turn help us graduate even more capable and prepared Lions of all backgrounds, foster greater employee engagement, raise parent and alumni satisfaction, strengthen the school’s financial picture, and increase the community’s capacity to adapt and renew.
”
-Meredyth Cole, Head of school
“
Ensuring Lovett graduates are developing the cultural competencies necessary to foster authentic relationships, curiosity, and continued growth make them not only better equipped for life in college, but also stronger, more engaged citizens.
”
-jessica sant, director of college counseling
Dane Holmes ’88, an 18-year veteran executive of Goldman Sachs with extensive experience leading
the firm’s Human Capital Management, agrees. “The purpose of any great organization is to galvanize its
MEET LOVETT’S DEI COMMITTEE Brian Boutté (Co-Chair) Malon Courts (Co-Chair) Michael Hardee David Wall Rice Thaddeus Rolle ’04 Irma Shrivastava John Staton ’84 Megan Apple Stephenson ’93 Vanessa Wilkins ’11 Meredyth Cole, ex officio Robert Greene, Consultant, ex officio
collective potential for the positive benefit of all of its stakeholders,” says Holmes, now the CEO of Eskalera, a San Francisco-based technology company committed to elevating people, companies and cultures through greater employee engagement and a focus on creating more inclusive environments. “Inclusion is the cultural glue required to achieve that aspiration.” With a strong long-term commitment from Lovett’s board, its new DEI committee continues to work towards these positive benefits for all. “Our success will be measured in years and not months. And where we can make immediate and impactful differences, we will not hesitate to do so,” says Cole. “This is a season of growth for Lovett, one we are leaning into with determination as we work to address our own challenges regarding equity and inclusion, innovative 21st-century curriculum and programming, and community building that affirms, nurtures, and sustains all Lions, across the diversity of identities and backgrounds of those who are here and who will continue to come.”
VIEW OUR FULL DEI REPORT »
www.lovett.org/deireport
alumni
In February, Courtney-Simone Graves ’14 was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to conduct research on traditional and digital networking practices used by female entrepreneurs in the Baixada Fluminense region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Read more in Class Notes on pg. 70
save the
dates
Lovett has made the difficult decision to avoid in-person alumni gatherings for 2020. Mark these new dates and stay tuned to www.lovett.org/alumni for updates and upcoming events in the virtual realm.
5th-45th Spring Reunion Weekend
April 23-24, 2021 | Class Years Ending in 0, 1, 5, 6
50th+ Reunions & Golden Lions Gala
March 19, 2021 | Reunion Parties 1970, 1971, 1965, 1966 March 20, 2021 | The Golden Lions Gala 1962-1971 Email alumni@lovett.org with questions
alumni
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A Lovett Student/Alumni reflection time at Chattahoochee Park on Sunday, June 7. Pictured left with megaphone: Kendall Greene ’20
Dear Alumni, The earth beneath our feet moves constantly these days, and it’s hard to find words that adequately speak to our individual and collective experiences over the last several months. Perhaps it is a good time to ponder some thoughts of a historical figure from English Lit? Thomas Carlyle’s 1836 essay “Sartor Resartus” (Latin for “The Tailor Retailored”) states, “But indeed Conviction, were it never so excellent, is worthless till it convert itself into Conduct.” Within the same paragraph he offers, “Do the Duty which lies nearest thee, which thou knowest to be a Duty! Thy second Duty will already have become clearer.” If only Carlyle could observe our alumni taking action for their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and standing in support of Lovett’s Black students, families, teachers, and alumni. He would be gratified by your sense of duty and how so many of you are helping to change your communities for the better. In so many of you, we see Lovett’s core values illuminated, tangible, and on full display. While a number of stories have reached our attention here on campus, many of your challenges, selfless acts, and heroic kindnesses are known only to those who have observed them. For those who are struggling, please do not hesitate to let us know how we might help. To all who serve others, know that Lovett is grateful for you and immeasurably proud of you. Sincerely,
Lara Kauffman Director of Alumni Programs P.S. If you want to learn more about Thomas Carlyle, see Fleming McClelland’s news for the Class of 1964. And, it’s not too late to share your own story with us, just reach out to the alumni office or visit http://tiny.cc/LovettNews.
The Lovett School
lovett links
In December, the lovett alumni association hosts lovett links, a business networking event benefitting young alumni. Look for a virtual event this year!
Alumni Executive Board, 2020-21 Thaddeus Rolle ’04 - President Rebecca Warner Strang ’93 President-elect Kurt Hohlstein ’76 Larry Jackson ’77 *Peter Thomas ’84 David Lee ’87 Bobby Mitchell ’89 Kate McIntosh Pearce ’90 Will Porter ’93 *Russ Richards ’99 Chris Foster ’00 Ali Dick Blaisdell ’02 Preston Davis ’04 *Alex Thomas ’04 Cameron Bagley Zakem ’07 Stuart Coleman ’09 Sarah Brook Williams Austin ’11 *Vanessa Wilkins ’11 *Courtney-Simone Graves ’14 *Josh Moore ’15 Ex Officio Lara Kauffman - Director Starr Pollock - Assistant Director *Indicates new members
Interested in sharing your perspective and business experience with young Lovett alumni? Email alumni@lovett.org to get involved today!
alumni
52
lovett Alumni & their grads
2020 graduation looked different from years past, but alums and their graduates still found ways to safely celebrate their lovett legacy with family.
TOP ROW: Elizabeth Pearce ’87, Paterson Seawell ’17, Mary Pearce, Virginia Pearce Seawell ’90 and Anne Pearce Worrell ’97; Allen Madden ’86 and Sarah Grace. MIDDLE ROW: Patrick, Tom Woodward ’90 and Matthew ’17; J.T. King ’89 and Penny; Alex Van Winkle ’82 and Fritz. BOTTOM ROW: Amy Dick Hurst ’90 and Charlotte; Hannah and Susanne Estes Saad ’87; Bill Maner ’81 and Alex.
TOP ROW: Barnett ’20, Kimbrough Mobley Gibson ’84, John Gibson, Charles ’18, and Raymond Gibson; George Olmstead ’89, Nate, and Kathy McCarroll Olmstead ’88. MIDDLE ROW: Dailey and Tripps Moog ’88; Lloyd Bell ’85, Jones and Ashley Bell. BOTTOM ROW: Colin, Reid French ’89, Sarah French and Virginia; Katherine King Wahl ’86 and Luke. the lovett school magazine / Fall
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TOP ROW: Zach ’11, Bill ’79, Margo Owens Boden ’80, MacKenzie, and Nick ’13; Thornton Kennedy ’92, Thornton, and Lori.
MIDDLE ROW: Hudson and Haynes Huffard ’91; John Staton ’84, Hailey and John Staton ’17. BOTTOM ROW: Hunter, Allison Booker ’87 and Chip Fankhauser ’17; Mike McPherson ’83 and Caroline.
Not pictured: Jan Bradbury Bethea ’89 and graduate, Tom; Emily Travis Olsen ’85 and graduate, Catherine; Paige Tabaka Vohs ’89 and Derrick Vohs ’87 and graduate, Stockton.
TOP ROW: Alex ’22, Margaret, Douglas ’88 and Sarah Toole Lindsay ’87; John Pope ’86 and Liza. MIDDLE ROW: Jean Barry
Underwood ’82 and David; Ellie and Geoff Friedman ’87; Hollis Houk ’83 and Will. BOTTOM ROW: Sally, Woody Vaughan ’86 and Mathes Vaughan ’18; Henry and Molly Ware Beery ’87; Vanessa, Palmer and J.T. King ’89. the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
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LOVE IN THE TIME OF
coronavirus | by Rev. Steve Allen, Head Chaplain
One of the great blessings in my line of work is that I get to stay connected to former Lovett students when asked to participate in their weddings. Every year I do a handful of them, and they’re typically in the spring and summer. In spring, as Covid-19 forced the shutdown of schools and businesses, even weddings were thrown into chaos. I had two on my calendar. Rather than cancel the events, we pivoted to backyard weddings in both cases. It was a strange sight to behold, as they were missing most of the elements of a traditional ceremony—the flowers, the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, the friends, and even most of their families. Despite this, they did have all the things necessary for their matrimonies to be considered “official.” A couple, someone licensed to perform such a thing (me), a wedding license, and a pen to sign it! The first one I did was on March 19th in the backyard of Lovett alumni Patrick Emerson ’12 and Tate Mabon ’12 (bottom image). The second was on March 30th on the patio of Lovett parents of alumni Blanton and Lou Winship (top image). In each case, the weather was perfect and the ceremonies were beautiful in their simplicity. We obviously have no idea when we will be able to return to a sense of normalcy, but in the meantime, these weddings were a reminder that sometimes beauty can be found in the simplest of expressions. I’m trying to convince my own kids that the backyard wedding is the wave of the future.
the classes lovett class notes ¡ fall edition
Pictured: Seniors and cheerleaders from Lovett’s 1970 State Championship team. Read more about their season on pg. 61.
class notes
58
1962
George McDaniel ’62 and Lonnie Bunch, the new Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, have been friends for about 40 years. When George was director of the historic site Drayton Hall in Charleston, South Carolina (where Hampton Morris ’69 is now vice chairman), George asked Lonnie to speak, consult, and then serve on its board. Lonnie has also asked George to both speak and consult at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where he served as founding director. A landowning house of an African American family of 1874 (documented by George in the 1970s in Maryland) is now on exhibit as the “Freedom House,” the museum’s introductory exhibit to the post-Civil War period. Still good friends, Lonnie and George continue to be devoted to history and education, something George attributes in part to his Lovett experience as both a student and teacher and which his son George has imbibed as well.
1964 Patricia Baggerly Hardman retired in February from Newport News City Human Services after 25 years. Patsy, a diligent student of trauma-informed service, was recipient of the agency’s highest award in recognition of creating a significant impact on the lives of others and exemplifying an extraordinary sense of public service. As a member of Citizens United for Action, she helped facilitate a positive partnership between the community and the police department, as well as developed activities for youth. Patsy has also been a dedicated volunteer with Healing Hearts, a semi-monthly grief support program for foster care children and foster parents, and has promoted community awareness of child abuse through the Blue Ribbon Project. Patsy introduced a challenge to read aloud for 15 minutes daily to all her customers and provided them with free children’s books. Within
Pictured, from left to right: George H. McDaniel, Lonnie Bunch, and George W. McDaniel ’62 at the College of Charleston.
her own neighborhood, she was part of a citizen-led effort, Friends of the James (River), a group who persuaded the city to embrace conservation, build up the neighborhood beach, and develop a living shoreline. Last December, after 34 years residing in Hilton Village, a historic neighborhood in Newport News, Virginia, Patsy moved to Williamsburg and now lives a mile from her daughter. She likes to spend time gardening, taking daily walks on the trails of Kingsmill, bird and deer watching, attending online church at Williamsburg Community Chapel, and participating in her Zoom book club, whose last read was “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.” In this time of coronavirus, Patsy misses hugs, playing with her four grandchildren, cheering at swim or gymnastics meets, and socializing. She loves walking with her granddaughter, age 11, and grandson, age 8, but misses seeing her son’s daughters, ages 3 and 5, who live in Hampstead, North Carolina. Fleming McClelland is Professor Emeritus at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He is a co-editor of “Poems of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle,” a former co-editor of the Carlyle Newsletter, and the author of various scholarly articles on Thomas Carlyle and on other figures from the 19th century. As an editor of the newly released “Essays on Literature,” McClelland brings together 10 of the most important literary reviews and essays written by the acclaimed Victorian philosopher, social critic, and essayist Thomas
Carlyle. Spanning his writing career, the essays allow the reader to track Carlyle’s development as a reviewer and stylist, the evolution of his perennial themes, and the tremendous impact of his writing on the development of British and American literature. In keeping with the Norman and Charlotte Strouse Edition of the “Writings of Thomas Carlyle,” these essays are accompanied by a thorough historical introduction to the material, extensive notes providing historical and cultural context while expanding on references and allusions, and a textual apparatus that carefully details and explains the editorial decisions made in reconciling the many editions of each essay.
used clothing and then gives it away at no cost to those in need. A leaking roof in the building was about to close it down before the virus did, but she hopes they can find a benefactor to replace the entire roof system soon. She’s still working with the artists guild in Madison, and the guild is moving to a new space in a few months. Most important to Dottie is watching her two grandsons become fine young men and embark on their careers - and knowing her daughter is just minutes away.
Pictured: Dottie Missbach Kurtz ’65 smiles for the camera during her three-week trip through Spain last fall.
Congrats to Cindy Lewis Riley and Bill Riley who were married on Oct. 20, 2018
Pictured: “Essays on Literature” by Fleming McClelland ’64.
1965 On any day, one can usually find Dottie Missbach Kurtz working in her garden and enjoying the beautiful quiet that comes from living in the country. She took a three-week trip through Spain last fall and was about to travel through Eastern Europe when the coronavirus erupted. Since she moved to Madison, Georgia 12 years ago, Dottie has been working with a non-profit that takes in
stay connected!
follow us on social to stay up-to-date
instagram: @lovettalumni facebook: lovett alums linkedin: lovett alumni group the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
class notes
60
1969 A group of 1969ers caught up for lunch over the holidays, pictured below. Front Row: Carl Crowley, Phillip Meyerson, Chuck Jarvis, John Feininger; Second Row: David Shuford, Duvall Brumby, Strib Stribling; Third row: Paul MacDonald, Guy Tucker, Jay Steele; Back: Bill Johnson
1970 Pictured: “Anne Aletha” by Camille Neville Wright ’65
When Camille Neville Wright first began writing her novel “Anne Aletha” 20 years ago, she had no idea that on the eve of its release the world would be mired in a pandemic just like her main character, Anne Aletha, faced with the 1918 Spanish Flu. The book was published on April 25. BookLife Reviews (Editor’s Pick) called it a “vivid story of love and activism in 1918 Georgia.” You can read about the book and her journey to write it on her website, www.annealetha.com.
A message from the 50th Reunion Committee: While our 50th Celebration has been postponed again, you should have received your reunion book via mail this summer. We greatly look forward to seeing you when we are able to celebrate. Please contact alumni@lovett. org if you did not receive your reunion book and/or to update the contact information in your alumni record.
1971 Debbie Roach Avery wants her classmates to know we have one more year until we become Golden Lions in the spring of 2021. Save the date for March 19-21. More to come!
class notes - special segment
Pictured: Senior football players from the 1970 season. Top: Tom Avery ’71, Jeff Nabors ’71, Dru Doyal ’71, Pritch Morgan ’71, Marsh King ’71. Bottom: John Bryan ’71, Bill Lummus ’71, Steve Scofield ’71.
Remembering the 1970 State Championship 50 years ago!
But those facts belied extremely strong junior and sophomore classes moving up to take their places on the team, as well as a focus and drive initiated the prior spring training that set a state championship as the final goal. At the end of the season, the Lovett football team would collect its first state championship trophy, winning all 14 of its games and outscoring its opponents 424-48, including eight shut-outs. (Continued, next page)
| by Tom Avery ’71 In mid-August of 1970, an unlikely group of athletes gathered on the “upper field” in back of the new gym to begin summer practice in preparation for the 1970 Lovett football season. The prior year’s team, which had gone 8-2, had graduated 23 seniors—leaving only eight rising seniors for the 1970 edition, and only five of them would end up as starters. Most of the starting lineup started on both offense and defense. Pictured: Bill Lummus ’71 caught after a long gain.
class notes - special segment
Two players, Bill Lummus and Marsh King, both seniors, would earn first team All-State honors, and two juniors, Frank Wilson and Gary Arnold, would be recognized as honorable mention All-State. Lummus’s 28 touchdowns scored still remains the Lovett single-season record. Eight players would proceed to play at least one season of college football—admittedly small college teams for the most part. Of those eight, three would play in the Ivy League. 1970 was a tumultuous and divisive time in this country. Nixon was in the White House, the Vietnam War was still going strong, and civil rights struggles were in the news then every bit as much as they are today. But amidst the tumult, 35 players managed to zero in on the task at hand, which was winning. Led by the venerable Bill Conley as head coach, this team would, in the opinions of many, put this relatively young high school on the map. Fifty years have come and gone. A number of that 1970 team have passed away, including Conley and all but one of the
Pictured: Coach Bill Conley hoisted on his player’s shoulders after the North Georgia championship game.
coaching staff. Many, if not most, of the players went on to successful business and professional careers. But one accomplishment still holds this group together, and will always do so. And even in the midst of the pandemic, the team will celebrate the 50th anniversary of that amazing group of individuals on December 11 via Zoom—50 years to the date of the win!
Pictured: Number 77 Co-captain Tom Avery ’71, Number 28 Captain Bill Lummus ’71, and Number 88 Co-captain Marsh King ’71 pose for a photo together.
1975 John Allman, Head of School at Trinity School in New York City, has been leading the school through the coronavirus outbreak in the nation’s hardest hit city. The school has been operating via remote learning since the early spring. In addition to their studies, Trinity students, teachers, parents, and alumni are taking an active role in community service projects related to the pandemic. Lower School students are sending messages of hope and encouragement to the elderly, hospitalized patients, and members of the medical community. The Science Department provided much-needed PPE to a local hospital. Upper School students are providing assistance on homework, as well as entertainment for the children of medical personnel who are working double shifts. Parents and alumni have worked to provide meals on-site to members of the EMS and other hospital personnel. Trinity families have also received training on how to make protective medical masks and are distributing them to the communities surrounding the school. In January, Tommy Holder was recognized by “Atlanta” magazine as part of the “2020 Atlanta 500: Real Estate” article. To quote the piece, “Thomas “Tommy” Holder joined Holder Construction in 1976, filling various positions in operations and management before being named chairman and CEO in 1997. Holder Construction is a national commercial construction services firm consistently ranked among the nation’s top 100 contractors. The company works in both the public and private sectors and is experienced in corporate headquarters, commercial office buildings, and data and technology centers, among others. Clients have included UPS, the Coca-Cola Co., and Emory University.”
Pictured: Tommy Holder ’75, Chairman and CEO of Holder Construction
Pictured: Nancy Clifton Kinzer ’75, Associate Pastor of Pastoral Care at Northminster Presbyterian Church.
Nancy Clifton Kinzer is an Associate Pastor of Pastoral Care at Northminster Presbyterian Church (PC-USA) in Roswell. During the pandemic, the ministry team has been forced into an online, rather than in-person, form of worship for their services. Their mantra is that connection is more important than perfection in their production capabilities. She has found pastoral care at a distance to be quite a challenge. This has been especially true with hospital visits, which require presence, including simply sitting in silence, holding a hand, or having a private conversation with the patient. They have had to lean heavily on hospital chaplains to accomplish this outreach due to limits placed on outside visits. Funerals have presented another challenge, as loved ones often cannot say goodbye in the normal manner due to gathering restrictions and inability to travel. Rituals that hold us together in times of crisis and transition are not available at this time. Her church has set aside daily moments for prayer for the sick and the dead, as well as to pray for the everyday heroes in this time of crisis: the medical workers, grocery store employees, and others in essential services. Her church has also been working with parishioners who have lost their jobs in finding resources for food and shelter. She reminds us that the church is actually its people, and that church members have been able to fill some of the void during this pandemic.
the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
class notes - special segment
I survived COVID-19 on a ventilator. Here’s how my faith carried me. | By Ann Ray McNair ’75
Excerpt from an opinion piece written by Ann Ray McNair ’75 for Tennesseean.com on April 28, 2020. See the full article here: https://rb.gy/omdcek I am a survivor of COVID-19 because of faith and medicine delivered to me at Ascension St. Thomas West Hospital. You may not know it, but the nine Ascension hospitals located here in Middle Tennessee are all not-for-profit hospitals and are faith-based ministries serving our entire community. I can tell you firsthand, these hospitals are living their mission “It is more than caring. It’s our calling.” These hospitals, including Ascension St. Thomas West, were ready for a pandemic. The protocols they proactively had in place protected not only their doctors and nurses, but kept each individual patient from spreading the illness to other patients and staff in the hospital. I received many prayers from my church, friends, neighbors, and family, but also prayers from churches and people I never met, even from other countries as far away as Kenya, South Africa, and Australia. Those prayers lifted me and my family up; they sustained us and strengthened us in ways that are almost incomprehensible. The staff of St. Thomas West were praying for me too. The doctors, nurses, caregivers, and administration who took care of me for over three weeks in the ICU prayed for me and my family. I will forever be grateful to each one of you.
Our son was the 14th COVID-19 case in the state. Being young and strong, he was cared for at home and is now healthy. To every citizen in Tennessee, thank you for the sacrifices you are making to stay home and follow our governor’s “shelter in place” order. I know it’s creating difficulties and challenges for a lot of families. Please know that your sacrifices are helping us all to not spread the disease. I am convinced that we will come back from this and be stronger for it. The power of prayer is truly remarkable, as I can personally attest. I have a lot to be thankful for, and my gratitude extends to many, many people including the EMTs and the ambulance driver who delivered me to the hospital. God, prayers of many, and the excellent staff at St. Thomas West in Nashville saved my life. My family and I thank you!
1977 Billy Bridell is so happy to announce that he became a grandfather twice over in the last several months! Classmates from 1977 (pictured to the right) joined together for Zoom virtual happy hours during the COVID-19 restrictions in order to stay connected, bring cheer, and generally encourage one another and make quarantine bearable! Thanks to Julia Wallace Johnston for organizing this fun way for the ’77 ladies to catch up hearing and seeing everyone!
1978 Pictured below, Allison Garner Rollins ’76, Leslie Collins Barron ’78, Courtney Wright Jenks ’78, Cindy Kattel Price ’78, and June Bishop Seiler ’78 practice social distancing at a baby shower held for Sarah Price Barnes ’05.
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1985
Damien Heckstall was named principal of Centennial Academy K-8, a charter school of Atlanta Public Schools. Prior to this appointment, Damien has served in the Christian ministry and public education for over 20 years. He reports being excited about leading Centennial towards educational ethos reflected in Lovett’s educational tradition.
idea so much we launched a nationwide campaign to donate 100,000 smoothies across the country, and the response has been incredible. Within the first day, several local franchisees jumped on board and donated more than 600 smoothies each, and the donations just kept growing from there. On April 16 we met our goal of 100,000 smoothies, but our franchisees haven’t stopped there, and the new challenge is to donate a total of one million smoothies. Knowing that those essential workers are not only in the healthcare field, we’ve also extended our giving to grocery store, warehouse and post office employees. We’re proud to report that as of today, we’ve donated more than 200,000 smoothies to these hometown heroes, and we’re not done yet! In support of National Nurses Appreciation Month in May, we have also pledged to donate $100,000 to the American Nurses Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund upon reaching our goal of giving away 1,000,000 smoothies.” Through the onset of COVID-19 and quarantine, Dan Gordon has been working to help locally and via Jabian Consulting, where he serves as Executive Director. Through his work, he supports the Global Health Crisis Coordination Center, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and the Community Outreach Taskforce for the Governor of Georgia. In addition, he serves on the Georgia Innovates Taskforce for the Lt. Governor of Georgia. Outside of the office, Dan serves as Board Chair of Leadership Atlanta.
Pictured: Damien Heckstall ’85, principal of Centennial Academy K-8.
1995
In May, Forbes.com featured Tropical Smoothie Café CEO Charles (Chas) Watson. In the article, Chas shared much about the company’s strategy under his leadership, including their response to COVID-19. “When COVID-19 struck the restaurant landscape in mid-March, we closed all dining rooms and shifted our focus to drive-thru, curbside pickup, and delivery where available. Then we determined two focus areas: giving back to the community and prioritizing support for our franchisees. Some of our franchisees had the idea to donate smoothies to first responders and hospital workers in Atlanta. We loved the
1996
In April, 2020, Judge Elijah Levitt retained his seat as a County Court Judge in Miami-Dade County, Florida. With a caseload over 8,500, and courts closed, Judge Levitt continues to conduct hearings via Zoom. He welcomes a return to the bench with proper social distancing protocols in place. Dr. Donnie Oliver continues working as a brain/ spine oncologist in Tampa, Florida. Due to the pandemic, he has had to make significant changes to his practice in order to service his mostly elderly and vulnerable clients. He has mastered Zoom and all other virtual platforms but looks forward to direct patient interaction in the future.
In her leadership coaching business, Natalie d’Aubermont Thompson now finds herself coaching those who are leading teams through a severe time of crisis and uncertainty. Her work as VP of the Board of the Children’s Literacy Network of Ann Arbor, Michigan has also required a pivot from supporting children’s literacy programming to ensuring that literacy packs are distributed along with meals at closed elementary schools and food banks.
1999
Courtney Bradshaw Baldwin is a mental health therapist serving adolescents, adults, and families in Georgia during COVID-19 and beyond.
Nakato Japanese Restaurant, led by third generation owner Sachi Nakato Takahara, has adapted the restaurant’s offerings in an effort to stay ahead of the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. After closing their dining rooms, they remained open for to-go and delivery orders. Just as they were starting to build momentum providing guests with their favorite Nakato dishes to take home, Sachi grew concerned about the rampant spread of the virus. In order to keep her employees and guests safe, she made the difficult decision to close the restaurant and wait until the curve flattened to reopen.
Pictured: Sachi Nakato Takahara ’99.
When she was comfortable with the idea of re-opening their to-go business, Sachi hired one of the most respected companies in the industry to perform a thorough sterilization of the restaurant and decided to re-open Nakato on May 1. Nakato now offers a structured curbside pick-up and delivery system that promotes proper social distancing. In addition to offering dozens of sushi rolls, hibachi meals and traditional Japanese dishes, Sachi and her team added an array of family meals to their offerings, providing a variety of dishes that serve four people and proving to be extremely popular with people who are sheltering at home.
2000 An alumni family together on Todd Stone’s wedding day. Pictured to the right of Todd and his bride Audrey are Mike Stone ’66, Linda Murphy Stone ’66, and Jamie Stone Rogers ’98.
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2003
Stephen Brown recently founded D.S. Brown Wealth Advisors, a boutique wealth management firm focused on serving business owners and families. Alice Fairbank Emerson accepted a position last July as Associate Director of Marketing and Communications with Temple Health Institutional Advancement, and has spent her quarantine—with husband Brandon and two children, Connor, 6 and Jane, 4—helping to raise emergency COVID-19 response funds for Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Pictured: Connor Boney ’01 poses at his Atlanta-based meat and seafood distribution company, Revere Meat Company.
Brandon Rowlett lives in Atlanta’s Historic West End with his wife of two years, Megan Rowlett, and their 17-month-old son Rockford Alonzo Rowlett. Brandon works as a designer at the world’s largest Bitcoin payment processor, BitPay, which was founded in Atlanta in 2011.
2001
Connor Boney’s Revere Meat Company, an Atlanta-based meat and seafood distribution service for restaurants, hotels, and groceries, has quickly pivoted as the pandemic impacted Revere’s customer base. Seeing that his family, friends, neighbors, and community struggled to find what they needed in the grocery stores—and knowing some were unable to go to the stores themselves—Connor began to sell to the public directly. “This has made it easier, and likely safer, for people to get proteins instead of going into a crowded grocery store. Everyone keeps a safe distance and some just drive up. Since my company sells directly to restaurants (80% of my revenue), we now have an abundance of products to make available to end users. Every Wednesday I have a truck in the driveway of my home (Argonne Forest). Every Saturday, I had my warehouse “open to the public” for protein sales as well. We have discontinued the Saturday sales, but if anyone wants more information, they can reach out to info@revermeatco.com or check out our instagram page for the latest update.”
Pictured: Megan and Brandon Rowlett ’03 smile with their son, Rockford, in front of their Historic West End home in Atlanta.
Pictured: Jamie Steele ’03.
Over the last year, Jamie Steele has been featured in a number of publications including HGTV.com, Arts Atlanta, and the Northside Neighbor. She has a background in art-making, photography, and real estate and an M.F.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and B.F.A. from University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Jamie founded the Camayuhs Gallery, located on Mobile Avenue in Atlanta, and curates the gallery’s exhibits. The Northside Neighbor’s Thornton Kennedy ’92 featured Steele in his November 2019 article, “Granddaughter to help restore architect’s ‘lost’ Garden Hills home.”
2009
Phillip Link graduated medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in May and entered residency in July for Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Pictured: Members of the Class of 2009 gathered over the holidays.
2010
Aubrey Clayton is on the frontlines working as a nurse practitioner in the COVID-19 Unit at Emory University Hospital. In December, Aleha Saleh graduated from Emory University with her Master’s of Science in Nursing, specializing in Pediatric Acute Care. In May, she moved to New York City to be a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Blood and Marrow Transplant at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Jamesa Stokes graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering. Dr. Stokes is a civil servant at NASA John H. Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Pictured: Patients are in good hands with Aubrey Clayton ’10, a nurse practitioner in the COVID-19 unit at Emory. Pictured: Jamesa Stokes ’09 smiles as she graduates from Pennsylvania State University with a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering.
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2012 2012 classmates connect during quarantine for birthdays and camaraderie.
Pictured: Courtney-Simone Graves ’14.
2014 Pictured, from top left: Kate Laird, Katie Smith, Lorin Rogers, Tate Haverty, Katy Underwood, Maggie Wolters, Kathryn Chanaberry, Caroline Cronk and Catherine Sacher.
Pictured, from left: Marcy O’Halloran, Amina Khan, Kelsey Roof and Camille Kapaun.
2013
Kelly Peterson recently graduated with her master’s in social work from Boston College. Pictured below, Forrest Bell and Katlyn Taylor are engaged to be married.
In February, Courtney-Simone Graves was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to conduct fully-funded independent research in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. While in Rio, she will attend classes at The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and simultaneously conduct her research. In 2016, the year of the Rio Olympics, Courtney-Simone moved to Rio to continue her undergraduate studies and work with a non-govermental organization (NGO) called Asplande. Over the course of that year, she was introduced to grassroots cooperative economics while working with Asplande’s network of female entrepreneurs. Her work as a project management intern spurred her interest in social enterprise, socio-economic justice, and community development. “Asplade’s community network is expansive. Through them, I have worked and continue to work with black-indigenous land rights organizations, women empowerment collectives, and environmental sustainability actors, amongst others.” This collaboration led to the development of her senior thesis, which evaluated spatial discrimination in urban spaces and took an in-depth look at the dynamics between populations that inhabit the urban center and those that inhabit the peripheries. At Loyola University-New Orleans, Courtney-Simone majored in Latin American Studies and Strategic Communications. She is passionate about storytelling and says that it is a bridge that unites these two disciplines. She’s added a creative edge to her traditional research project by incorporating a multimedia storytelling component, with an emphasis on film photography. “This journey has been amazing. I’m thrilled because I’ve been acquiring the skills I need to execute this project since high school. I have the amazing Karey Walter to thank for inspiring me to pick up my camera and for introducing me to the art of visual storytelling.”
class notes - special segment
lions on the front line
A Q&A with Kathleen Connell ’13 about her work as a paramedic during the COVID-19 pandemic | by Lara Kauffman, Director of Alumni Programs Paramedic Kathleen Connell ’13 is working in Charlotte, North Carolina on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is currently working for Mecklenburg EMS Agency (MEDIC), as well as in the emergency department for Atrium Main, the Level I trauma center of the region. Kathleen spent three weeks in quarantine recovering from COVID-19, which she acquired while working during the pandemic. She has since returned to full health and is back on the streets. As the paramedic crew chief of her ambulance, she is the highest ranking medical provider and makes all patient-care related decisions whenever a 911 response is required. HOW DID YOU BECOME A PARAMEDIC? I was always interested in medicine, so I became certified as an EMT during my last spring semester at UNC-Chapel Hill. After graduating, I started working for MEDIC that October. For 16 months, I worked for them as an EMT while attending school and became a paramedic in January of 2019. WHAT IS IT LIKE WORKING AS A PARAMEDIC DURING THE CURRENT CRISIS? Before COVID-19, we would always wear gloves, but would only wear surgical or N-95 masks if necessary. Now, no matter the situation, we wear gloves, a surgical mask, and a plastic face shield on every call and until we can conduct EIDS (Extremely Infectious Disease Screening). The EIDS screening is like progressing through a flowchart of known symptoms of COVID-19 and serves as a field evaluation tool that helps paramedics determine if a patient may have the virus. Before we arrive on the scene, the dispatching center uses the EIDS protocol to make a preliminary determination of EIDS positive or EIDS negative and we verify the status upon arrival. If a patient is screened by the dispatcher as EIDS negative, we keep wearing the protective gear we have on. If the patient screens EIDS positive, one of us will change out our surgical mask for N-95, put on a protective gown and go in first to verify the EIDS status of the patient. Once verified, we will both wear the appropriate gear to treat the patient. We wear the most protective gear if we are performing an aerosolizing procedure. WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO HAVE COVID-19? I started feeling ill on March 29, and my supervisor told me to stay home and see how it progressed. By the time I was tested and received my results, I was actually past the worst of it. I feel really lucky, because my case was mild compared to what many people experience. That said, it was the sickest I have
class notes - special segment
ever been. I had a fever between 101.6 and 102 for six straight days and a migraine-like headache that coincided with the fever. I am not someone who gets headaches, so hearing my heart beating in my ears and the incredible light-sensitivity was new to me. My body ached, and I was so very tired. I slept for five or six days straight and just let Netflix play in the background. I had no appetite, a dry cough, and some shortness of breath. I was sick for about 12 days in total—it took three weeks from the onset of COVID to feel “normal” again. I returned to work on April 30, nearly a month after falling ill. HOW HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU RETURNED TO WORK? During my last shift, 50% of my calls were EIDS positive. I don’t really expect that to change any time soon. I am cleared to return to the trauma center, and I have only been working shifts for MEDIC because I am applying for PA school. If all goes well, I plan to start classes in the fall of 2021. SO COVID-19 HASN’T TURNED YOU AWAY FROM PURSUING MEDICINE FOR YOUR CAREER? No! I still want to stay in medicine and become a PA. Sure, I am more cautious on calls, but getting COVID-19 has actually made me more comfortable with my work. The vast majority of patients get sick and recover. We in the healthcare field know that the worst-case reactions are rare, but emotionally, we can’t help but wonder about having that experience ourselves. Even though I had a more mild case, experiencing the disease has helped me relate to what my patients are going through. I like to help people, and the COVID-19 crisis has only strengthened my resolve to help others by working in medicine. WHAT DO YOU WANT OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT COVID-19? I really hope things open back up and that everything goes very smoothly. That said, I want people to keep following the regulations we’ve been living by. I don’t think most of the nation is going to have the experience of
“
I like to help people, and the covid-19 crisis has only strengthened my resolve to help others by working in medicine.
Pictured: Kathleen Connell ’13 reporting for duty in Charlotte, North Carolina during the COVID-19 crisis.
New York City, but we should understand that the virus hasn’t just gone away. We must continue to minimize the risk of infecting ourselves and others. This virus is not just the flu it’s a lot more dangerous. For people who are at higher risk, it’s a very serious situation. It’s still a good idea to wear protection, practice social distancing, and continue to wash your hands regularly. Keep practicing these precautions to protect as many people you can. The quarantine was not enacted because we thought everyone would get it. The purpose was always to help protect those most at risk. COVID is still very transmissible and it’s not going away. Another thing I want people to know is how impressed I have been with all of my colleagues working on the frontlines. EMTs and Paramedics have adjusted to this new reality in an incredible way - so have the nurses who deal with so many of the COVID-19 cases. From what I have seen, the crazy hours and stress hasn’t dampened their desire to help others through their work. Their commitment and personal sacrifice is so inspiring to me.
2017
Michael Moore has helped start a Fuel Our Heroes ATL branch with alumni of other Atlanta independent schools to support healthcare workers at Emory. Through this effort they strive to provide critical resources for the thousands of Emory Healthcare professionals dedicated to working on the frontline during this pandemic. These heroes are working extra hours, putting themselves at risk of infection, navigating altered working schedules and finances, and juggling care for their families and their patients alongside the same uncertainties that we all are facing as a result of COVID-19. Learn more here: https://momentum.emory.edu/project/21057
2018
On May 15, TheAtlantic.com featured Emma Ellis as part of an article in their “The Friendship Files” segment titled, “The High Drama of a Homemade Survivor Game.” Each installment of “The Friendship Files” features a conversation between The Atlantic’s Julie Beck and two or more friends, exploring the history and significance of their relationship. Emma is part of a “group of college students separated by the pandemic who turned their fandom for the reality-competition show “Survivor’ into their own at-home ‘Survivor’ competition—complete with immunity challenges and tribal councils held over Zoom. They discuss how the show bonded their friend group in pre-pandemic times, and how their homegrown version added some much-needed fun and structure to their lockdown days.”
Pictured: Madison Thompson ’19; image source: IMDB.
2019 Madison Thompson appears in the new third season of Netflix’s fan-favorite show “Ozark.” Thompson plays “Erin,” the 17-year-old daughter of Helen Pierce’s (Janet McTeer) daughter. She can be seen in seven of the 10 new episodes of the new season that debuted March 27. She began shooting the season in Atlanta before she graduated from Lovett last year. During her time at Lovett, Madison was very involved in the arts, serving as the Vice President of the Lovett Singers, Fine Arts Student Liaison, and held starring roles in Lovett musicals including “Peter Pan” and “Footloose.”
Pictured: Emma Ellis ’18 (bottom right) with friends and fellow “Survivors.”
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marriages 1. Tate Mabon Emerson ’12 and Patrick Emerson ’12 March 19, 2020 2. Eleanor Falgoust Hallmark ’08 and Chad Hallmark August 17, 2019 3. Rene Sasser Jenkins ’75 and Randy Jenkins April 4, 2020 4. Jensen Paterson Pincus ’07 and Adam Pincus October 26, 2019 5. Shaune Arp Rodrik ’94 and Yomi Rodrik February 6, 2019 6. Audrey Bowles Stone and Todd Stone ’00 December 14, 2019
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babies 1. Jack Ronald Derksen January 3, 2020 Maarten and Whitney Horton Derksen ’99 2. Charles McLean (Mac) Riley March 19, 2020 Katie Jackson Riley ’06 and Chris Riley ’06
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3. Sutton Elizabeth Sartain August 19, 2019 Kohler Jensen Sartain ’02 and William Sartain ’00
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4. Robert (Bo) David Bleke November 27, 2019 Campbell and Michael Bleke ’04
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5. Wyatt Murphy McNearney December 23, 2019 Kevin and Meghan Murphy McNearney ’99 6. William (Liam) Vinson Hughes, Jr. January 10, 2020 Will and Caroline Davis Hughes ’07 7. Henley Margot Tully July 24, 2019 Adam and Austen Clark Tully ’04
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babies (CONTINUED) 8. Presley Virginia Luk April 7, 2020 Laura and Jonathan Luk ’03 (with sister Bella) 9. Dailey Ellis David February 24, 2020 Britt and Emily Head David ’03 (siblings are Lucy, Jackson & Rhodes) 10. Benjamin Scott Flood November 1, 2019 Matt and Betsy Keough Flood ’04 11. Evangeline Shelby Mansour November 21, 2019 John and Katie Thornhill Mansour ’07
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12. William Miller Blough February 28, 2020 Logan and Lucy Goins Blough ’08 13. William Howard Tallman IV January 10, 2020 Chip and Ginnie Carr Tallman ’06 14. Hamilton (Grey) Buchanan October 2, 2019 Michael and Courtney Turrentine Buchanan ’03 15. Anna (Annie) Maxwell Stoller April 1, 2020 Zach and Anna Baker Stoller ’08 16. Lachlan Fraser Egan Hardy September 7, 2019 Allison Hardy ’97 17. Robert (Wyatt) Settle March 18, 2020 Kelen Carlock Settle ’99 and Will Settle ’97 William (Parker) Baldwin (not pictured) January 1, 2020 Chris and Courtney Bradshaw Baldwin ’99
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18. Henry (Huck) Crawford Archer February 21, 2020 Adam and Katie Bazzel Archer ’12 19. Cordelia Mae Griffin August 3, 2019 Claire and Edmond Griffin ‘96 20. Marc Etienne Monat February 23, 2020 Etienne and Natalie Bonnet Monat ‘96 21. Rebecca Meyer Brown February 28, 2020 Laurie and Taylor Brown ’03 22. Davis Garrett Cross and Conner Hopkins Cross December 2019 Carolyn and Colin Cross ’03 23. Thomas Mobley Barnes June 7, 2020 Ley and Sarah Price Barnes ’05 (Photo by Kathryn Wray Rogers Photography, Class of ’07)
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in memoriam Deborah Benson Abernethy Parent of alumni
Kiyoshi Takahara Nakato Parent of alumna
Katherine Arnold ’70
Helen Knox O’Callaghan Parent of alumni, grandparent of alumni
Robert S. Baiter ’68 Asa Griggs Candler VI Parent of alumni Anne Cox Chambers Parent of alumnus, grandparent of alumna Mark Codner ’79 Parent of alumni Carl Hubert Cofer, Jr. Parent of alumnae, grandparent Suzanne Coleman Parent of alumnus, former employee O’Mara Cook Retired employee Elizabeth “Marcia” Edwards Farber ’63
Ellen Sanders Old Parent of alumna, grandparent of alumnae Frank Owens Parent of alumna, grandparent of alumni Robert Payne ’76 Mallory Erle Phillips III ’72 Parent of alumnae John Calvin “Jack” Portman III ’66 Lamar Roberts Parent of alumni, grandparent of alumni
Rita Traver Fink ’62
Mary Ray Robinson Parent of alumna
Charlotte Wilson Graham Parent of alumni
Richard Randall Rollins, Sr. Parent of alumni
Chenault William Hailey Parent of alumnus
Cecile Rodbell Talesnick Parent of alumni
Fred A. Harms Parent of alumni
Harry C. Tindall Parent of alumnus, grandparent of alumni
Clementine “Kimi” Harrison ’72 Joseph Edward “Ted” Harty, Jr. Parent of alumnus, grandparent of alumni John Wendell Johnson ’73 Arthur Laws LL ’39 Parent of alumna Lucille “Lulu” Perez Lopez ’77 Carolyn Howell Lovell Parent of alumni, grandparent of alumni, great grandparent of alumna Myrtle Miller Parent of alumna Cecil Thomas Miner Parent of alumnae, grandparent of alumna
Barbara Lee Tyler Parent of alumna Lindsay Wilson Wall Parent of alumni Bradford Weathersby ’82 Patricia Bryan Wilber Parent of alumni, grandparent of alumnus Kate Winne Retired faculty Mary Craighill Yellowlees Parent of alumna, grandparent of alumni
tributes | by Courtney Fowler, Director of Communications & Marketing
Richard Randall Rollins, Sr. (1931-2020)
John Calvin “Jack” Portman III ’66 (1948-2020)
Randall Rollins was known for his longtime generosity to many Atlanta- and Georgia-based organizations, and educational institutions in particular, serving as a member of the Board of Trustees at Lovett (1973-1979), Emory University and Berry College, as well as the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center Fund. Rollins, who spent most of his career with Rollins family companies, is survived by his wife of 67 years, Peggy Hastings Rollins. The Lovett community has benefitted from the Rollins’ significant investment in the school going back decades, notably support for faculty/staff and the academic resource center. Several generations of the family are Riverbank alumni, including children Rita Rollins, Richard Rollins ’73, Pamela Rollins ’75, Tim Rollins ’81 and Amy Rollins Kriesler ’88. Grandchildren who have graduated or currently attend Lovett are Rick Rollins ’98, Wilson Rollins ’04, John Henry Rollins ’08, Sam Rollins ’17, Ansley Kriesler ’19, Madison Kreisler ’19 and Ian Kriesler ’25.
Jack Portman, a visionary architect and businessman on a global scale, was a member of a family whose history with Lovett goes back more than 50 years. Portman began his education at Lovett, followed by a B.S. in Architecture at Georgia Tech and an M.A. in the same subject at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, remaining involved with both university alma maters as he pursued a storied career with the Portman Companies. The Portman Family Middle School was named in the family’s honor in 2009 in appreciation for a $10 million unrestricted gift—the largest in Lovett’s history--from Jan and the late John Portman, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents of many Lovett graduates and current students. Jack Portman’s Riverbank connections include siblings Michael W. Portman ’65, Jeffrey L. Portman ’77, Jana Portman Simmons ’78, and Jarel P. Portman ’80; children Alissa Portman Beard ’96 and John C. Portman IV ’97; and grandchildren Holden Beard ’28, Amelia Beard ’32, Calvin Portman ’29 and Everett Portman ’31.
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RETURN TO THE
RIVERBANK
Stay up-to-date on the latest Lovett COVID-19 news and guidelines by visiting the Return to the Riverbank section on our website.
www.lovett.org/returntotheriverbank For additional information or queries regarding the COVID-19 measures, e-mail nurse@lovett.org
table of contents
04 letter from head of school
the lovett character pledge We, who are members of the Lovett community, seek to live lives of good character. We believe that good character grows from daily acts of honesty, respect, responsibility, and compassion. We pledge ourselves to develop these ideals with courage and integrity, striving to do what is right at all times.
03 / Lovett School Board of Trustees 2020-21 04 / Letter from the Head of School 07 / Lovett Board of Trustees Updates
the lovett school mission
10 / Graduation 2020
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12 / Oh, The Places They’ll Go! 16 / Class of 2020 Wall Signing
features
18 / What COVID-19 Taught the Class of 2020
30 / 2020: Looking Back + Moving Forward
21 / Faculty/Staff Awards
32 / The Virtual Learning Curve
22 / Riverbank Round-up 24 / Fine Arts Through the Fall 26 / (Out of) Office Hours
40 / Breaking Barriers 42 / Building for Tomorrow 44 / One Lovett, One Pride
08 campus news 09 / Around the Neighborhood
The Lovett School is a community that seeks to develop young men and women of honor, faith, and wisdom with the character and intellect to thrive in college and in life. Founded in 1926 by Eva Edwards Lovett, we continue today as an Atlanta independent school serving children in Kindergarten through Grade 12. With an emphasis on the whole child, we provide integrated experiences in academics, arts, athletics, and service through an education grounded in learning, character, and community. Learning Lovett faculty and staff inspire our students to love learning. We help them discover how to think critically, communicate effectively, engage creatively, and collaborate purposefully. We create opportunities for them to grow in all dimensions—intellectual, emotional, physical, aesthetic, moral, and spiritual. Character Lovett teaches the qualities of servant leadership and sound character—honesty, respect, responsibility, compassion, courage, and integrity. We celebrate the uniqueness of each individual within an intentionally inclusive, diverse, and welcoming environment. We honor God in an atmosphere that is rooted in Judeo-Christian beliefs and is further enriched by a variety of religious traditions. Community Lovett is a dedicated community of students and teachers, joined by loyal parents, staff, alumni, trustees, and friends. We are committed—with shared purposes and principles—to improving our school, our city, our society, our environment, and our world.
Where are they now? ▶ PAGE 12
APPROVED BY THE LOVETT SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES, FEBRUARY 2012 the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID ATLANTA, GA PERMIT NO. 1443
FALL
2020 THE LOVETT SCHOOL 4075 PACES FERRY ROAD NW ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30327-3009
PARENTS: If this is addressed to a child who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, kindly notify the Alumni Office at (404) 262-3032 or alumni@lovett.org.
2020
looking back+ moving forward the lovett school magazine
