VISIONS SUMMER 2012
THE MONTGOMERY ACADEMY Visions - Summer 2012 1
“I do.
With a planned giving strategy
tailored to your needs, you can put your assets to work for The Montgomery Academy, while you and the school share in the benefits. Let the Advancement Office help you and your financial advisors develop a gift plan that meets your financial and philanthropic goals.
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Young Boozer
For more information on planned giving and gifts to the endowment, call Carolyn Bryan, Director of Advancement
parent of two MA graduates, former Board President and Alabama State Treasurer
carolyn_bryan@montgomeryacademy.org • 2 Visions - Summer 2012
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• m o n tg o m e ryac a d e m y. o rg
Visions
SUMMER 2012 The Montgomery Academy Established 1959
Head of School Dave Farace dave_farace@montgomeryacademy.org
Associate Head of School Vivian Barfoot vivian_barfoot@montgomeryacademy.org
Director of Advancement Carolyn Peddy Bryan ‘75 carolyn_bryan@montgomeryacademy.org
Communications Coordinator Leigh Barganier
ON THE COVER
leigh_barganier@montgomeryacademy.org
Eagle Day 2012 was filled with friendly Cardinal and Navy competition, MA spirit and lots of fun! Congratulations to Eagle Day 2012 champs Navy! See more photos from the day on page 34
Annual Giving & Alumni Programs Coordinator Marie Harrington
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GRADUATION SPOTLIGHT
ATHLETICS
ALUMNI
ARTS
marie_harrington@montgomeryacademy.org
The Montgomery Academy 3240 Vaughn Road Montgomery, Al 36106-2725 (334) 272-8210 • Fac (334) 277-3240 www.montgomeryacademy.org The Montgomery Academy is a member of
Mission
The mission of The Montgomery Academy is the pursuit of excellence within the four major spheres of Academy life: academics, the arts, athletics and activities. Implicit in this is the existence of an environment in which students are simultaneously supported and challenged. The ultimate component of this mission is to assist students in becoming adults of strong moral character who contribute to society in both their professional and community lives.
National Association of Independent Schools The Montgomery Academy admits students of any race, religion, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students of the school. Visions - Summer 2012 3
2012 COMMENCEMENT
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Commencement Address Richard B. Hardegree Class of 1986 May 27, 2012 Twenty-six years ago I sat in a seat on this lawn in the first and last white dinner jacket that I’ve ever worn. The commencement speaker said we wouldn’t remember his name or what he said. He was right. Only with Google’s help, did I remember Robert Hillier, the architect from Princeton, New Jersey that designed many of the buildings on this campus. So I have pretty low expectations on how much you’ll remember from these short remarks. I grew up less than a mile from here with my parents, brother and sister. Now, I live in Menlo Park, California with my wife, Julie, and our three daughters. As the sole male in our house, I am given lots of instructions on how to do things better. This speech is no different. My daughter Ellie suggested that I speak about food; it’s pretty clear that Ellie thinks I know a thing or two about that topic. My daughter Bailey suggested that I let you know that “you’re all going to die someday.” That seemed depressing and well covered elsewhere. As I always do, I have taken both of their suggestions today - I’m going to try to have a few bits of wisdom befitting such an august occasion (as Bailey suggested) and talk about something that I know well (as Ellie suggested). So, this evening, I’ll share three of my stories from the Academy to today each with a theme - small turns, bad breaks, and staying connected. The first story is about the small turns. After sitting on this lawn in 1986, I went to Dartmouth College. I went to Dartmouth because Robin Byrd (then the Academy’s headmaster) told me that I ought to apply there. I got in, and it had a good reputation. I went to visit, had a good time at the fraternity parties and liked the people I met. So, off to Dartmouth College in cold and snowy New Hampshire, I went. I had grand designs to be an international diplomat and travel the globe. But, I couldn’t quite get my Alabama tongue to speak French, so I figured that wouldn’t fit so well. I thought about going to get a Ph.D. in Political Science and becoming a college professor. But, my parents told me “No more school, until you get a job and work for a while.” During my senior year at Dartmouth, I started looking for a job without much direction. Investment banks from New York came to campus to interview and that made things pretty convenient. I got a job at one. So, I was set to move to New York and get into investment banking. Around the same time during my senior year, a girl from near San Francisco asked me to go to her sorority dance. Julie and I started dating after that. I spent the next decade tracking Julie through
Richard B. Hardegree Biography Richard Bains Hardegree enrolled in first grade at The Montgomery Academy in 1974 and graduated in 1986. During his time at MA, he played football and was on the math team. Richard graduated from Dartmouth College in 1990 where he earned an A.B. in Government with High Honors. He received a JD from Columbia University School of Law where he was a Senior Editor of the Columbia Law Review and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Richard is currently a Managing Director at Barclays where he serves as Co-Head of Global Technology, Media and Telecom Mergers & Acquisitions. He currently lives in Menlo Park, California with his wife Julie Clugage and their three daughters. He has a sister (Laura Hardegree Davis, class of ‘90) and a brother (Henry B. Hardegree, Jr.); his parents were Henry and Anita Hardegree (deceased). Richard is an ardent follower of Crimson Tide football and attended recent BCS championship games in Pasadena and New Orleans. California, Washington, D.C., Guatemala, Princeton, and much of Latin America. In 1998, we got married and shortly after that moved to Julie’s hometown of San Francisco. So thanks to Robin Byrd telling me to apply to Dartmouth, my parents telling me to get a job, and a girl from California asking me to a sorority dance, I went on an improbable journey from this lawn in May 1986 to where I am today - a husband, father of three girls, and a technology Merges & Acqusitions investment banker in Silicon Valley. As many have observed before, life only makes sense when looking backwards. Call it fate or God’s plan, but it certainly wasn’t the result of some grand plan of mine. There have been a series of small turns when accumulated that have taken me to some interesting places thus far. Sometimes, I had a choice in it - like saying yes to the sorority dance - and sometimes it was purely circumstance and chance. Standing here at 44 years old today, I’m hoping for a few more twists and turns to come. If you realize that life works this way sooner rather than later, it should emancipate you from the pressure you may feel now or will soon feel to set out a grand plan for your life. The only thing required of you is to try to make decent decisions along the way. The second story is about bad breaks. In 2006, I was working at Citigroup where I had worked for a decade. Another big investment bank came along and was dead set on hiring some semiconductor specialists. In September 2006, I started working at Lehman Brothers. I was warned by a really smart friend in California that admitting my prior association with
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Lehman Brothers might be controversial and provoke someone to throw a rotten tomato at me. What she failed to understand about this audience was three things: first, folks at the Academy are far too polite for that; second, Henry Emanuel and Mayer Lehman founded Lehman Brothers in Montgomery, Alabama in 1850, and, finally, tomatoes are picked fresh in Alabama and eaten promptly. Anyway, back to Lehman Brothers. Eighteen months after starting there, in early 2008, it became pretty apparent that Lehman Brothers wasn’t such a stable place to work. I spent most of 2008 doing two things: flying around the world as the lead banker on a big semiconductor deal for the government of Abu Dhabi and watching the news flow about the unfolding financial crisis. I was gripped by these twin stresses. It all culminated during mid-September 2008. Starting Friday, September 12, we started a series of conference calls with all the senior bankers at Lehman Brothers, and the news on those conference calls got bleaker and bleaker. By that Sunday night, I knew that Lehman Brothers was heading into bankruptcy. On Monday, I exchanged surreal goodbyes, and I got some boxes to pack up my things. On Tuesday, we were summoned to a meeting that began with a rousing rendition of “God Save the Queen” and an announcement that London-based Barclays was buying us out of bankruptcy. The next day I ended up in Stanford Hospital with pancreatitis and was in excruciating pain. I had really reached the bottom. There I was laid up on
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a morphine drip, watching the financial markets collapse, and with a vague sense that maybe I had a job working for Barclays. It was an experience more miserable than playing football in Autaugaville during a cold downpour in 1985 and getting beat by five touchdowns. I can’t say that I was particularly courageous or calm during the events of 2008. But, four years later, I’ve found Barclays to be a great place to work and am having some new adventures every day - whether it’s shuttling off to Headquarters in London or trolling the halls of the Googleplex five miles down the road in Mt. View. You are going to have some bad breaks. Some of them will be of your own making - the result of a bad decision like saying yes to working at a company destined for bankruptcy. But, lots of them will be plain bad luck. You’re going to be like me laying in that hospital bed and feeling sorry for yourself. Don’t get too discouraged or stay in that bed too long - be resilient. Prepare yourself for the bad breaks to come and when they happen remember that on the other side, it almost assuredly will be just fine. My third and final story is about staying connected. In 2012, staying connected means Facebook. That’s part of it. In fact, my Facebook friends in this community are an important part of the connection I’m talking about. But, it goes
beyond that. It’s the simple statement that a family friend from church made me repeat over and over when I was a teenager: “Remember where you come from.” Where I come from is deeply grounded here at The Montgomery Academy. I’ll spare you the long version of my 12 years at the Academy. But here goes, the short version: spelling tests in second grade, climbing the Magnolia in front of Hill Hall, the first dance in seventh grade, two-a-day football practices in the August heat while David Bethea coached, and history classes with R.B. Roberts. I have many more. But, this connection has meant the world to me. When I was here in 2007 after my mother’s untimely death, it was the connections to this community that sustained me. It was an outpouring unique to the community in Montgomery and certainly not something I’d seen in New York or San Francisco. Last night I understand that you all shared some of your stories with each other. Hold on to these stories and these connections. No matter where your life takes you from here, our time here at the Academy is a special certainty. Think about the time that has made your time here - it may have been an afternoon in the Chemistry lab, leading cheers in front of a pep rally, or running cross country. Remember the school carnival, Eagle Day, and those summer reading lists.
But remember most of all the values that you’ve learned here at this school and in this community. Remember to think critically, to value community with compassion towards people near and far, and to pursue excellence in whatever you do. It will be these values and skills learned here at The Montgomery Academy and in this community that will determine the choices you make at each of the small turns that you encounter in the journey ahead. When I was sitting in your seat 26 years ago, all I could think about was the adventures that lie ahead. It’s your time to go on to the next adventure, and you are right to be really excited about it. Those adventures may lead you to San Francisco as they have for me, or to Mumbai or some far-flung place, or right back here to Montgomery. The rest of your life’s journey lies ahead - a series of small turns leading in a yet to be revealed direction. You’ll catch some bad breaks so don’t get too discouraged. Stay connected to your time here and the values you’ve learned. They’ll guide your way. But before you begin that journey, for a few more minutes, we remain here at this very special place. What a wonderful starting point for your journey, The Montgomery Academy is.
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The Montgomery Academy
Class of 2012
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Catherine Davis Adams University of Alabama Mary Ashley Allen University of the South: Sewanee Virginia Meredith Bear Trinity College Brittany Marie Briddell New York University Miah Victoria Brooks Millsaps College William James Canary IV University of the South: Sewanee Katherine Morgan Coleman University of Alabama Hannah Marie Cowart University of Alabama John Clayton Crenshaw Baylor University Layne McKenzie Doctson Davidson College John Alexander Cashwell Fowler Huntingdon College Julian O’Neal Freeman Oxford College of Emory University Benjamin Carter Goodwyn University of Alabama Nichole Danyelle Green Alabama State University Lucille Jackson Harris University of Alabama Wylie Melton Hayes Auburn University Mary Dawson Haynes College of Charleston Rachel Alexandra Heavlin Auburn University Hampton Forrest Hook Jr. University of Alabama Jean Catherine Milligan Hubbard College of Charleston Fitzgerald Salter Hudson II Auburn University Frances Bentley Hudson Texas Christian University Erin MacKenzie Katz Brown University LaRonica Janae Alexandria Van Kelly Samford University Seonjae Kim Auburn University Douglas Sawyer Knowles University of Alabama John Patrick LaPlatney University of Alabama
Class of 2012 Savannah College of Art and Design Bodoe Gymnasium Huntingdon College New York University University of Southern California University of Maryland University of Alabama University of Alabama Auburn University University of Alabama University of South Alabama Pennsylvania State University Birmingham-Southern College Auburn University Auburn University Auburn University Texas Christian University University of Alabama Auburn University University of Alabama Auburn University Auburn University Ithaca College Northeast Mississippi Community College University of Alabama Auburn University University of Alabama Washington University in St. Louis Case Western Reserve University
The Montgomery Academy
Gibbs Townsend Lee Kristoffer Venaes Monsen Jonathan Perry Moore Rosalind Brady O’Connor Sophie Ann Odom Rachel August O’Meara Ann Kathryn Parrish Bruce Elder Parrish Zachariah Valdez Pippin Margaret Cashion Price Ninoshka Shantel Rabsatt-Smith Justine Razalan Reighard Benjamin Clark Richardson Caroline Christian Rickard Anne Wyant Saunders James Stephen Scott Arthur Allen Sellers William Oldacre Sellers Darlena-Jené Maurcia Smith Bolling Powell Starke IV Addison Douglas Tambling Amanda Susan Thompson Hannah Drew Trachy Daniel Beckham Vann Samuel David Walker Sara Elizabeth Walker William Patrick Weatherly Audrey Victoria Woika Ryan Stanford Zienert
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Class of 2012 College Acceptances Alabama State University Alfred University Auburn University Auburn University Montgomery Baylor University Belmont University Berry College Birmingham-Southern College Boston College Brown University Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University Clemson University College of Charleston Davidson College Drexel University Eckerd College Faulkner State Community College Furman University Georgia Institute of Technology High Point University Huntingdon College Ithaca College
Kenyon College Louisiana State University Loyola University New Orleans Millsaps College Mississippi State University Northeast Mississippi Community College New York University Ohio University Oxford College of Emory University Pennsylvania State University Radford University Rhodes College Rollins College Roosevelt University Samford University Savannah College of Art and Design Southern Methodist University Syracuse University Texas A&M University Texas Christian University Trinity College University of Alabama
University of Alabama at Birmingham University of Arizona University of California Irvine University of Denver University of Georgia University of Kentucky University of Maryland University of Massachusetts University of Michigan University of Mississippi University of North Carolina Charlotte University of Rochester University of South Alabama University of South Carolina University of Southern California University of The South: Sewanee University of Texas University of West Florida Virginia Polytechnic & Institute Washington and Lee University Washington University in St. Louis West Virginia University Wofford College
By The Numbers 56 Graduating Students • 68 schools on acceptance list • 26 states represented on acceptance list • 24 schools on attendance list • 15 states represented on attending list • 57% attending in-state schools • 43% attending out-of-state schools • 13% applied Early Action/Early Decision • 80% applied to more than three schools • 8 recruited student-athletes• 3 performing arts students • 3 visual arts students 10 Visions - Summer 2012
A LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL I write this article having just completed the Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2012. If you haven’t been to an Academy graduation in a while, it is still as beautiful and reverent as you remember. I’ve attended many high school graduations over the years and none come close to matching the Academy’s elegant, dignified celebration of the graduating class and the school’s mission. This past school year was a busy one. As you may recall, we engaged in strategic planning at the end of last year and developed an ambitious list of goals to achieve in the 2011-2012 year. A few highlights of our work are below: • The Academy has a tradition of academic innovation and has always considered technology to be an integral part of a well-rounded education. In keeping with this tradition, we spent the year researching the potential benefits of an iPad program and announced an integration plan to parents and students this past winter. The first phase of that plan is in motion with a pilot grade having one-toone iPads and a large group of teachers using iPads to enhance teaching and learning this fall. • We remain a school community focused on educating and inspiring servantleaders. This year, the entire school community engaged in a year-long service project with the students of Hackleburg, Alabama, whose school was decimated by a tornado in April of 2011. Building on this success, we will create a permanent community outreach committee (comprised of faculty and student leaders) that will oversee and coordinate all future school wide outreach efforts.
• Starting in the 2012-2013 school year, we will implement a full day Kindergarten program. We believe this change allows us to continue to offer the premier K-12 program in the River Region. The new Kindergarten program is fully enrolled. • We launched a new parent enrichment program, Parents+, in the fall that offered a variety of sessions on student character and intellectual development and wellness issues. Our parent community has embraced this program and attendance has been excellent for all events. • The Academy continues to fund graduate degrees and national workshops/conferences for our faculty. In support of this school priority, we launched a new summer professional development program, Teacher Academy, that explores new strategies and best practices for inspired teaching. The program is open to all teachers in the River Region.
I consider it a high honor and privilege to serve a school community so committed to excellence. While the administrative team and I will take some time off this summer, we will also come together in a number of retreats to dream and plan ways to make a great school even better. With respect,
DAVID J. FARACE
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ALUMNI REFLECTIONS ON THE HONOR CODE by Ann P. Linder, Honor Council Advisor In 2009 I attended a conference on honor codes and honor councils in New Orleans. I didn’t get much time to enjoy the city, but I did learn a lot about the honor councils of the forty other schools that sent delegations. The actual honor codes were very similar to ours--all forbade lying, stealing and cheating. But significant differences emerged when we discussed the composition and powers of the honor councils. Most of the other schools represented at the conference had honor councils led, controlled and dominated, to a greater or lesser degree, by faculty and administration. The MA Honor Council, in contrast, is composed of students elected by their peers to administer the provisions of the Honor Code Constitution. The Honor Code Constitution, approved by a majority vote of students, mandates that each grade from nine through eleven shall elect two representatives to the Honor Council. The seniors elect three representatives, as one is then chosen by the members to become President and loses his/her vote in the Council. In addition, grades seven and eight elect one member each, and those members join the Honor Council if there is a hearing for a Middle School student. The other members are the non-voting Advisor and one voting Upper School faculty member selected yearly by the student members. It is commonly said around the Upper School that “Dr. Linder runs the Honor Council.” On a practical level, that is reasonably true. I serve as some combination of parliamentarian and paper-pusher, making sure that rules of conduct and procedure are followed, that the documentation is complete and in order and that accurate records are kept. But on a deeper level, it isn’t true at all. At any given Honor Council hearing, there are only two adults in the room; the rest are students. The President conducts the hearing and prepares the official record. I am free to ask questions and raise concerns, but ultimately the students and the faculty member vote for guilt or innocence, and if the former, make a recommendation for punishment that goes to the Head of School. I am sometimes asked how I feel about students having so much power over their peers. After all, a day in any high school contains enough drama for a reality series. My answer is always the same: I feel good about it. I believe that it is formative for students to struggle with complex situations, and through that struggle to comprehend that every exercise of power affects others. Any student who is accused of breaking the Honor Code is in good hands, because the members of the Honor Council are thoughtful, thorough, reasonable and compassionate. Ultimately, they “run” the Honor Council. 12 Visions - Summer 2012
ALUMNI QUOTES “On my honor as a Montgomery Academy lady …” to this day echoes in my head whenever I am faced with making an ethical decision. Having been guided by that statement for ten years as a MA student and by a similar one at Vanderbilt University, along with the principles learned from my family, church and Girl Scouting, it’s no wonder I became a career prosecutor. None of us is perfect, but living the Honor Code has kept me out of a lot of questionable situations all my life. It’s just the way I am.
Ellen Brooks Class of 1969 District Attorney of Montgomery County
Thirty eight years after my last day as an Academy student, The Honor Code and especially the ubiquitous “pledge” still resonate strongly with me. I suppose anything that has been written out literally hundreds of times over the course of a dozen years would have to leave its mark even if it had been mindlessly done at the time, which it usually was. In those early days, we were never allowed to simply write “pledge” on anything; we were required to write it out in its bold entirety on every submitted document; “On my honor, I have neither given nor received help on this test (paper or exam)”. It seemed like drudgery at the time but it served its purpose. It would be naïve to say cheating never occurred but the shame of a perpetrator having to admit that not only did he or she break the rules but that it had been done with a full understanding of the consequences and that the breach would cause a lasting stain on one’s integrity, surely halted most cheating before the idea had time to incubate. An uncaught violator with even the faintest sense of honor would surely revisit the incident in his mind every time he had to write the pledge thereafter. That punishment is worse than being caught and suffering the consequences. The pledge certainly serves its purpose with students but the lasting impact comes much later, long after graduation. It has been almost four decades since anyone in my class has written out the pledge but the exercise has given each of us a lifelong benefit. The pledge and the MA Honor Code are important.
Temple Millsap Class of 1974 Financial Advisor
For me, the Honor Code served to help build a foundation for ethics and integrity that I have carried with me in both my personal and professional life. As an attorney, I am faced with ethical considerations on a regular basis. While I did not realize it at the time, I now know that the honor code helped me instill a practice of maintaining honesty and fair dealing with my clients, adversaries and as an officer of the Court. I am grateful to have had the Honor Code as a part of my education at The Montgomery Academy.
Mahaley Paulk McInnes Class of 1992 Attorney
The Honor Council was extremely important to me while I was a student at the Academy. At an early age, I was taught that honesty was the only way to achieve academic and personal excellence. Faculty, students, and administrators together created a community of honesty and trust that motivated students to be honorable individuals. As a current middle school teacher, I have modeled programs after my experience with the Academy’s Honor Council. The impact it has on young people as they are making choices that will determine their paths to success is remarkable.
Emilie Reid Parker Class of 2003 Teacher
I believe the Honor Council is necessary because it allows our peers to view each situation as it presents itself. It is important to express a multitude of perspectives from teachers, administrators, and students. We experience the same classes, and, as such, we can empathize with potential violators’ thinking (most of the time). The Honor Council also allows students to ask questions about the Honor Code comfortably from their peers. We are here to determine the truth in unfortunate situations and help our friends learn from their mistakes.
Erin Katz Class of 2012 Honor Council President 2011-12 Brown University Class of 2016
Even when imperfectly adhered to, the Honor Code set before us all a standard of right and good conduct. We knew our honor mattered more to our teachers than did our grade. We were blessed with many honorable teachers and administrators who lived out before us, with consistency, the principles taught by our Honor Code.
Molly Lindsey Powell Class of 1981 Attorney
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During the eighth grade closing ceremony in May, Middle School Director John McWilliams asked class president Mary Braden Hendon to give a brief history of the Class of 2016’s time at the Academy. Here is what she shared: On behalf of the Class of 2016, thank you for coming to share this special day with us. Mr. McWilliams asked me to talk about some of our great MA memories, so I thought back to our kindergarten days, and I remembered one of my favorite books, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. Kind of like those DirectTV commercials about “Don’t end up in a roadside ditch” - This book describes how one thing leads to another, and as I read it again, I began to think about everything that happens if you give MA a kindergartener... If you give MA a kindergartener, she might come running onto the porch psyched about that first day of school – or she may come slowly crying down the sidewalk, terrified to leave Mom. They’ll both pass Mrs. Josey’s smiling face and find a welcoming kindergarten classroom with new friends and maybe even a pet hamster! They will experience all types of special days: Daddy day at the park, the Halloween costume parade, and Christmas pajama day to watch The Polar Express. On Dr. Seuss’ birthday, a REAL Cat in the Hat will show up to read to them! On the last day of school, all the proud kindergarteners will sing: “I like school and school likes me. I’m as happy as can be. I like school and school likes me, LIKES ME.” When you give MA a first grader, he’s really happy to be in Big School! Then… the teacher assigns HOMEWORK! Sure, the Big Kid playground is great, the ice cream makes the lunchroom rock, but what’s this deal about…Dictation?! I want to go home at noon! What– No afternoon naps? At Christmas time, Moms and Dads will tear up when their first graders sing Silent Night and the trumpet angels close the curtains on MA’s annual Christmas Pageant. The year will pass quickly, and finally the big seventh graders will come over from the middle school with their children’s books that they have written just for their special first grader. If you give MA a second grader, he will dread math facts and reading summaries, but library will be awesome because he can check out like, FIVE books at a time! Of course, his Mom may have to help drag his backpack into the car, but that’s 14 Visions - Summer 2012
ok, because he’ll be able to find Waldo any where, any time! They will all dress up as Indians and Pilgrims celebrating the first Thanksgiving with “Aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye. yayayaya!” Then in the blink of another eye, they’ll be moving over to the red hall. When you give MA a third grader, she is sure to come wearing a new pair of New Balance 996 tennis shoes. On meet-the-teacher day, he will happily wait in line to buy the MA gym clothes and the PE bag! Because nothing says “COOL” quite like dressing out for PE…well, unless it’s getting to go to the salad bar in the lunchroom! They will learn to write in cursive (that they will never use again) and read like crazy to reach those AR goals! They will join the Lower School Chorus, and will find that in
Mrs. Herrick’s class, everything said must be sung: “Sing it to me please!” When you give MA a fourth grader, he will create bottle buddies of famous Alabamians like Heather Whitestone, Hank Williams and Bo Jackson. They’ll have another buddy that is even cuter: kindergarten buddies! Their kindergarten buddies will look up to them as “seniors of the Lower School.” Near the end of the year, Mr. Butch will set up his teepee for Creek Week where they will make tiny flint fires. Finally, it’s time for the “Soar Eagle Soar” Flight Ceremony and they will sit crisscross apple sauce on the porch for the last time, singing “na na na…hey hey hey… Goodbye.” If you give MA a middle schooler, he will know he has ARRIVED. That is until he takes Mr. J’s first Wordly Wise test! Who knew one word could have so many meanings?! They will learn a lot from Mr. Johnson while he twirls his glasses: all about Bilbo Baggins and the turning point in the Hobbit; he might even throw in the scoop on how guitars are made or some other random trivia! Mrs. Kranzusch will teach PEMDAS and she’ll share her great “love” for squirrels. And they will learn from Mrs. Saunders that Pi day is all about numbers, not dessert.
There will be awesome field trips along the way, like Camp Rock Eagle and Jekyll Island. They will learn to “read the sentence” with Mrs. Sheehan and that this podium: it’s a concrete noun. They will all become mother hens as they wait for the eggs to hatch in Mr. Thomas’ incubator. Mrs. Quallio will show them that their forearm is the Nile and that their hand is the delta. They will practice diligently for the olympic games at Jasmine Hill. It will rain, but that’s okay. They will have fun anyway. As middle school continues, Mr. Armstead will share the secrets of equations and they will teach him the duggie and the stanky leg at the seventh grade dance! They will try out for every sport and be on all the middle school teams. They will learn of Mrs. Sease’s favorite Chinese food, allanymostnonesome, and will try to figure out what Robert Frost missed on “The Road Not Taken.” They will arrive in eighth grade to more of the same. Sports and tests but some new stuff too, like research papers, the Middle School Minute and even a Lipdub. They will meet new characters like Inca, Tom Sawyer, Scout, and Boo Radley. When they return from a weeklong trip to Washington, D.C. they will realize they’ve come a long way, in every sense of the word. Eighth grade is almost over and kindergarten seems so far behind. But they will remember the first day of kindergarten and what it was like to plop down into the reading bathtub with a favorite picture book, like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. They will remember the love and support of parents, teachers, and friends who encouraged them each day of their journey. And they will know that as far as it seems from kindergarten to this day as we finish middle school, the journey is just beginning. So, if you give MA a kindergartener – after 9 great years – MA will give you a confident student ready to step forward into the halls of the upper school. I guess it’s time for a new book now: OH THE PLACES YOU’LL GO.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT CLARK SAHLIE
Tell us about your degree and professional background. I graduated from Auburn in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. I had taken French at the Academy for four years so my advisor at Auburn suggested majoring in international business, which was a fairly new area of study at the time. When I graduated from Auburn in 1988, I moved to North Carolina to work for a company called Oberflex which was a French company that imported and distributed veneer laminate. I enjoyed my work; it gave me a chance to travel once or twice a year to France where the factory is located. I stayed with Oberflex until 1992 when I came back to Montgomery to work with my father and my brother-in-law. We had a company called Mid-South Wood that supplied pulp wood to a chip mill in Theodore, which is right outside Mobile. My father died in an automobile accident in 1996 and our business changed after that, ultimately leading us to close Mid-South Wood and start Alabama Roofing Supply, which we later sold in 2006.
Can you tell us about all the different positions you've held with the Academy? • Alumni Council Member • Alumni Council President • Board of Trustees Member • Board of Trustees Vice President • Board of Trustees Secretary/Treasurer • Search Committee Chairman leading to Dave Farace’s hiring • Board of Trustees President
Clark Sahlie with wife, Cindy, and sons Will class of 2015 and Lee class of 2019. Clark and Cindy have been married 16 years.”
What kind of impact has the Academy had on your life and how do you see it having an impact in your children's lives? I believe the impact is probably very similar. First and foremost The Montgomery Academy prepared me well for college. I became aware of that during my freshman year at Auburn when so much of what we were doing was what we had done our senior year at the Academy.
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Another way our lives have been impacted is through the varied opportunities the Academy offers each student. I think about my sons, Will and Lee, and all the different experiences they have had. Lee will be in sixth grade next year and he had such wonderful experiences this past school year, enjoying the Middle School Chorus, Pi Day and the overnight trip to the Coosa River Science Center where he participated in activities focusing on astronomy, team building and herpetology. Will, a rising sophomore, is a member of the Upper School Chorus, as well as the basketball and football teams, and serves as an Academy Ambassador. Just this spring, he got to travel with the Upper School Chorus to San Francisco to perform at several venues. It’s that ability to do so many different things across all four areas of the mission statement that really broadens your horizons. It gives you a chance to see places and do things that you ordinarily wouldn’t, and all the while preparing you for college. The Academy offers an amazing amount of opportunity and resources. My Academy education prepared me for life in so many ways, and so is the case for my children. My wife, Cindy, and I put a premium on doing everything we can to make sure our children get the best education they can get, and that’s The Montgomery Academy.
give back to these institutions that have meant so much to us and helped us get to the point where we are now. Of course, having our children at the Academy makes it even more significant. I feel that the Academy is a very important part of the Montgomery community. If you look around Montgomery, you’ll see a number of Academy alumni serving on non-profit boards, doing volunteer work and trying to make Montgomery a better place, and that is a direct result of the Academy diligently preparing students to be ethical leaders. I was also involved with the Montgomery Area Council On Aging for several years delivering for the Meals on Wheels program and I am on the Administrative Board at First United Methodist Church as well as the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Foundation. I definitely attribute the foundation of that sense of social responsibility to my years here at the Academy.
Can you talk a little bit about your recent appointment to the Auburn Board of Trustees? I was contacted by several friends over a year ago concerning the term for District 2, which includes Montgomery. They asked me if I was interested in being nominated for the Auburn Board of Trustees and I agreed. The first step in the nomination process was completing a set of written questions that were reviewed by the selection committee which was comprised of two members of the Auburn Alumni Association, two members of the current Board of Trustees and the Governor. From this they selected a number of potential members for interviews. Candidates were then selected and confirmed by the Alabama Senate. We now have six new trustees on the Board as well as seven incumbent trustees and Governor Bentley which creates a great, diverse group of people.
Are there any specific traditions that you really like about The Montgomery Academy? The first thing that pops into my mind is Eagle Day, a tradition that is still celebrated today. Those of us that were here for it and have children here now continue to treasure that tradition. I come back and participate in the Alumni Tug of War every year because I want to make sure Navy carries on! The funny thing is, when I was here, Navy won most of the time, but since my children have started, Cardinal has had the edge.
What will your main responsibility be? That’s still to be determined. This summer, the Board of Trustees will make committee assignments and I’ll be assigned to two committees as well as two colleges within the university to represent. I’ll also attend five board meetings a year. It's obvious that you make giving back to both The Montgomery Academy and your community a priority. Why is that important to you? Both Auburn and The Montgomery Academy have been important parts of our lives. We have made it a priority to
Is there any particular experience or person at the Academy that really impacted you? There were definitely a number of people that had a major impact on my life but I think the one thing that was common in each of them was that they were not the easiest teachers. In fact, most of the time they were some of the hardest teachers in their subject area, and they held us accountable. They were very good at what they did and they truly challenged and supported us. Yvonne Harvey was my French teacher at the Academy and I attribute my major in college to all the lessons she taught me. Other names that come to mind are Ken Dyess, R.B. Roberts, Marjorie Dubina and Mary Roten. Again, these were not the easiest teachers, but they had the biggest impact on me simply because they were so good at what they did and helped prepare me for college and life.
You know that The Montgomery Academy treats the Honor Code and the Honor Council very seriously. As Board President and also an alumnus, what are your thoughts on the Honor Code (both when you were here and now)? The Honor Code is a very important piece of The Montgomery Academy community, one that definitely instilled in me a sense of ethical responsibility, and in my children, as well. The Honor Code fosters the development of a school community of trust, mutual respect, integrity and academic honesty. It holds students accountable to a higher standard than most institutions. While we’re at the Academy, it builds a lot of self-reliance in what we do and that remains with us after we graduate. While students are going to make mistakes, the Honor Code is fair. It holds them accountable when they make mistakes, but it also gives them an opportunity to learn from their mistakes. Visions - Summer 2012 17
BOYS TENNIS STATE CHAMPIONS Throughout the years, The Montgomery Academy Varsity Boys Tennis team has produced a wealth of excellent individual tennis players, but one constant goal of the team is to win the state championship. In the past 19 years, the boys team has won 11 state championships and been runner-up seven times. This constant pursuit of excellence by players each year has helped produce one of the top tennis programs in the state. The 2012 version of the Eagles has continued the success of past teams by winning the Class 1A-3A State Championship. With talented players at each of the six seeds, the Academy won state with balanced scoring from all positions allowing the team to take top honors by four points over Bayside Academy. Throughout the season, the boys tennis team played against 3A opponents as well as 5A and 6A teams, including winning a match against the Class 5A State Champion, Muscle Shoals. The team also participated in a tournament that included teams from Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi and Alabama. With a young team consisting of one seventh grader: Camp Spain; three eighth graders: Bo Torbert, Allen Millsap and Clayton Muller; one freshman: Hunter Carroll; and two sophomores: Bonner McLemore and Guy Hood; and possessing excellent work ethics, the Eagles hope to continue the success of this year. One important characteristic of the players on the 2012 team was their willingness to put team goals over their individual goals, which is what enables the Academy to be one of the top programs in the state.
MA ATHLETICS 18 Visions - Summer 2012
GIRLS TENNIS STATE CHAMPIONS During the spring of 2012, The Montgomery Academy Girls Varsity Tennis team enjoyed another successful season, winning 9 of 11 matches and repeating to win another State Championship! This accomplishment makes five state titles in a row for a team that has not changed its basic line up in five years. The top six players at the state tournament were Hollan Smith, Mary Elizabeth Massey, Gretchen Lee, Ann Kathryn Parrish, Lee Ellen Bryan, and Brittany Briddell along with alternates, Barton Crum and Frances Freeman. Hannah Snider who won a top 6 spot this spring suffered a season ending injury during a match with Trinity. The team traveled often to find excellent opponents and competition. Their only losses were to Mountain Brook, the Class 6A State Champion and to Vestavia Hills High School, the 6A State Finalist. While Randolph School became the school to beat in the 1A-3A state tournament the Academy already had a regular season win against them. MA girls won the state title with 67 points to Randolph’s 51. For the second year, the team selected Hollan Smith and Mary Elizabeth Massey as their captains. Both girls continue to set a high standard for competitiveness on the court while displaying excellent sportsmanship and leading the team by example. While two of the team’s top players, Ann Kathryn Parrish and Brittany Briddell graduated this year, the future is bright for next year as the team returns a strong lineup with younger talent still coming in!
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BOYS GOLF STATE CHAMPIONS The Montgomery Academy Varsity Golf Team won a ninth state championship on May 15 when the team successfully defended their title at the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s (AHSAA) Class 3A state tournament at the Robert Trent Jones Grand National Golf Course in Opelika. This year’s team consisted of two seniors: Will Canary, William Sellers, one junior: Garrett Laurie, and two freshmen: Wells Hooper and Brock Trulove. The team competed against some heady competition during the season, failing to win a tournament until the state finals. Led by 3A State Individual Champion William Sellers, the team maintained composure during a tumultuous early season stretch. Their ability to weather a “subpar” start allowed them to gain much needed confidence during the final weeks of the season. Maintaining focus and playing their best golf when it counted most helped the team battle stiff competition from Trinity, Lauderdale County and Randolph during the state finals. Winning by 28 strokes, the team managed to post the lowest team score both days of the tournament, including Williams Sellers’ tournament best 139 and Wells Hooper’s 142.
FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Last year we proudly announced findings of an article written in the Montgomery Advertiser. The Advertiser’s article listed the most state championships won by schools in Class 1A-6A during the history of the AHSAA. At the time, The Montgomery Academy had the most state championships of any school in the River Region and was ranked 11th among all schools in the state (Class 1A-6A) with 43 state championships. This year, through dedication and diligence by a host of student-athletes, coaches, and loyal MA fans, The Montgomery Academy Athletic Department added five more state championships (Girls Cross Country, Boys Golf, Girls Soccer, Boys Tennis, Girls Tennis). This demonstration of prowess continues to highlight that The Montgomery Academy’s Athletic Department, unlike many in the area and around the state, is not defined by the winning percentage of a single team or sport. The productivity of our student-athletes in the classroom and in competition solidifies our school’s position as one of the state’s leaders in providing an educational environment conducive to higher learning and exceptional co-curricular activities. We are truly grateful for the student-athletes and coaches who work tirelessly to represent The Montgomery Academy, and for the many fans who support all we do.
Go Eagles!!! Anthony E. McCall / Athletic Director 20 Visions - Summer 2012
GIRLS SOCCER State Champions The Girls Varsity Soccer team completed the 2012 season as Class 1A-4A state champions for the second straight year and the for the third time in school history having won it in 2001. The Eagles ended the season with 124 goals in 28 matches and a record of 22-6. All six losses came against Class 6A competition. The 22 players on this team came to practice each day with one goal in mind: to repeat as state champions. Their team slogan for the season was “To win takes talent, to repeat takes character” and their willingness to work hard allowed them to achieve just that. The words “unselfish, talented, and dominating” would best describe the 2012 team. In the game that decided the state championship, the Eagles found themselves in an extremely tough game against a very evenly matched Randolph team. However, due to the leadership of experienced captains Erin Katz and Nini Rabsatt-Smith, the team endured and won the game 1 to 0. With twenty four seconds remaining in the contest and the game tied at zero, Nini Rabsatt-Smith scored a goal off of a free kick to send the Academy fans into a frenzy. The future looks bright for the Girls Varsity Soccer team as the Eagles have several returning players and promising newcomers.
MA ATHLETICS
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MA on the Road took quite the road trip this year! From Montgomery all the way to opposite ends of the country, Academy alumni socials were hosted in New York, Nashville, San Francisco, Mobile and, of course, Montgomery. Alums enjoyed catching up with old friends in their resident cities while visiting with Head of School Dave Farace and other faculty and staff at locations such as the City Winery in New York City, Morton’s Steakhouse in Nashville and Gordon Biersch in San Francisco. Stay tuned to see where MA on the Road will be stopping next!
2011-2012 LOCATIONS New York City October 6 at The City Winery Nashville November 29 at Morton’s Steakhouse San Francisco February 7 at Gordon Biersch Mobile/Baldwin County March 22 at Tacky Jacks
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retirement reception On a Sunday afternoon in early May, The Montgomery Academy community gathered in Hill Hall to recognize two faculty members who retired at the end of the 2011-12 academic year. Brinda Garrigan, Upper School Chemistry teacher and Margaret Grant, Kindergarten Resource teacher, have spent many years at the Academy and played a vital role in the lives of students. Brinda Garrigan joined the Academy in 2001 after serving in the public school system for 31 years. During her 11 years here, Mrs. Garrigan has patiently guided her students through the complexities of chemistry, offering coach classes at various hours and inviting students to her home for study sessions. She is an extremely kind and considerate person and to attend one of her classes is to see an enthusiastic and knowledgeable scholar in action. Mrs. Garrigan believed in every student and nurtured and encouraged them to understand the challenging principles of the subject. She leaves the Academy to enjoy time at home with her husband and another lab–her kitchen. Margaret Grant is a very caring person and celebrates life with a positive attitude that delights in everyday occurrences. Before coming to the Academy, Mrs. Grant was a preschool teacher at the YMCA and First United Methodist Church for 16 years. She has served tirelessly as the kindergarten resource teacher at the Academy for 14 years. To give you an idea of her love for the Academy, here is a brief story that Vivian Barfoot, Associate Head of School, shared: Years ago when the kindergarten resource teacher had no designated office space like the teachers in grades 1-4, Mrs. Grant figured out that the porch at the end of the kindergarten wing could be glassed in as a resource room if someone would just build the walls and put in a heating/AC unit. Mrs. Barfoot thought it was a great idea, but imagined it would be in the future before it could be started. Mrs. Grant’s enthusiasm for the idea did not disappear. A few days later when the President of the Board of Directors, Ken Upchurch of W.K. Upchurch Construction, came to look at the Lower School facilities, she took the opportunity to pitch the idea to him. A couple of days passed and in walked a handful of men in hard hats to scope out the idea. Next thing everyone knew, there was a wonderful glassed-in resource room that was perfect for a small group of kindergarten students to gather and learn. In just two weeks, Mrs. Grant had carried her vision to reality and started the school year with a beautiful teaching and learning space. These women have been incredible assets to the Academy. They are both passionate, dedicated educators that care about and invest time in their students. We are certainly sad to see them go, but we are very proud to celebrate their years with The Montgomery Academy.
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Class Notes
Class Notes 1978 Mark Barnes is serving as senior associate provost for research for Harvard University, and teaches full time at the Harvard Law School – health law, public health law, and the law of federal funding. He first came to Harvard in 2004, from Ropes and Gray, a Boston law firm where he was a partner, to start and direct the Harvard AIDS treatment programs in Nigeria, Tanzania and Botswana, which are now (in 2012) being devolved to local partner organizations in those countries.
1989
ERIC KAMMERUD
Katherine Bear Rogers and her husband, Gayle, proudly announce the birth of their son, Jack, on March 5, 2012. Bo Rumbley and his wife, Krista, are excited to announce the birth of their son, James, on March 28, 2012.
1997
William Carroll has been named Head of School at The Westfield School in Perry, Georgia. He leaves Bayside Academy in Daphne, Alabama where he served as Head of the Upper School WILLIAM since 2005. CARROLL
Sommerville Hill and his wife, Anne, are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Adams, on December 9, 2011.
1993
Cora Frances Kammerud, the daughter of Meg (Pirnie) and Eric Kammerud was born on March 8, 2012.
Justin Saunders and his wife, Tammy, proudly announce the birth of their son, Mason Taylor, born February 3, 2012. They currently live in Ann Arbor, Michigan where Justin is a Cardiology Fellow at the University of Michigan. WINSTON SHEEHAN
ADAMS HILL
Charles Winston Sheehan IV (Winston) was born on April 27, 2012 in Dallas, Texas. He is the son of Kayci and Charles Winston Sheehan.
Cary London and his wife, Melissa, proudly announce the birth of their daughter, Samantha Kate, on March 28, 2012. They currently live in Atlanta, Georgia.
Max Smith and Catherine Loftis were married on September 2, 2011 at Brentwood United Methodist Church. Max is an associate with Bradley Arant Boult Cummings law firm in Nashville, TN.
1994
Charlotte Montiel Davis and her husband, Sean, joyfully announce the birth of their daughter, Isabella Jordan, on October 22, 2011.
Caroline Cound Griffin and her husband, Jason, are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Ryden Garnett. Emlyn Saunders Minor and her husband, Justin, are excited to announce the birth of their daughter, Abigail, on February 9, 2012. Stephen Hamby Shook was born on April 10, 2012 in LaGrange, Georgia. Stephen is the son of Marc and Jennifer Shook.
1995 William Gordon and his wife, Garman, are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Brocklyn Kline, on January 22, 2012. They currently live in Atlanta, Georgia.
1998 Alex Carothers and his wife, Susan, are excited to announce the birth of their son, Michael “Holt”, on April 12, 2012.
1999
OLIVE & KATE DYESS
Adam and Sarah Dyess’ twin daughters, Olive Kimberly and Kate Laurely, were born on February 7, 2012. Daniel Fordham recently joined Peoples Health Network as
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Class Notes Corporate Counsel. Peoples Health Network is a Medicare Advantage organization serving 14 parishes in southeast Louisiana. Daniel and his wife, Laura, live in Metairie, Louisiana. Cynthia Heilpern married Rory Cameron on April 14, 2012. They currently live in Washington, D.C. where she is a nurse practitioner at Capital Oncology and Hematology Center. Richard Kohn and Marye Beasley Seymour were married in February 2012 at Canterbury United Methodist Church in Birmingham. Kate Roberts Madzar and her husband, Dali, are excited to announce the birth of their son, Christian Alexander, on April 17, 2012. Anne Preston Shepherd was born on January 24, 2012. She is the daughter of Sarah (Fordham) and James Shepherd. Morgan Hughes Studer and her husband Christopher are excited to announce the birth of their son, Colin Charles, on April 4, 2012.
2001 Evans Bailey and Casey Vaughn were married on May 26, 2012. They live in Montgomery where Evans is an attorney with Rushton Stakely. Liddie Marie Mooty was born on January 17, 2012 to proud parents Hal and Katie Mooty. Austin Stephen was born on May 11, 2012 to parents Gary and Melissa Tsai.
2002
Chris Bethea and his wife, Laura, are excited to announce the birth of their son, Milam, on February 20, 2012. James Hawthorne and Alison Douillard were married on April 27, 2012 in California. James is the Assistant District Attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit, Autauga County, Alabama. He and Alison are at home in Pike Road, Alabama. John Edwin Searcy III (Tripp) was born on January 30, 2012, to proud parents, Mallory (Watson) and John Searcy.
Congratulations to William and Tyler (Ely) Watson on the birth of their son, William, on March 19, 2012.
2000 Martin Barnes and Lauren Fowler were married on June 9, 2012 at First United Methodist Church in Montgomery. Martin graduated in June with a Doctor of Medicine from St. George’s University School. Martha Elise Dubina was born on April 6, 2012. She is the daughter of Mitchell and Mandy Dubina. Chet Marshall and Lauren Spencer married on March 17, 2012. He is a partner with Marshall Design-Build, LLC in Montgomery. Dempsey Wiley Moody V, was born on December 29, 2011 to Wiley and Neil Ann Moody. Gibian Goolsby Waites and her husband, Josh, happily announce the birth of their daughter, Jane Frances, on January 10, 2012. Allison Wilder and Jason Prince were married on May 18, 2012 in Charleston, South Carolina.
AUSTIN TSAI
TRIPP SEARCY
Philip Sellers graduated from Cumberland Law School on May 18, 2012. He joined the law firm of Rushton Stakely in Montgomery.
2003 Jackie Bushman and Beth Norris were married on June 23, 2012 at First United Methodist Church in Montgomery. Jackie graduated from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in June 2012. Alex Broder Cone and Brian Cone ’00 proudly announce the birth of their son, Jake Fuller, on June 2, 2012. They currently live in Birmingham where Brian is an insurance broker at CRC Insurance and Alex is a registered dietician. Kasdin Miller graduated in May 2012 from Yale Law School. Hunter Schloss and Paige Shevlin were married in June 2012 in Elkridge, Maryland. Hunter is the Manager of Sales Force Analytics at Otsuka America Pharmaceutical in Princeton, New Jersey.
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Class Notes
Class Notes John Scott and Allison Wachs were married on June 16, 2012 at Eastmont Baptist Church in Montgomery. John graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Science. He attends the William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and will graduate in 2015. Henry Tsai and his wife, Phoebe, proudly announce the birth of their son, Caleb Henry, on March 18, 2012.
2004 Drew Woods and his wife, Jodi, had their second child, Walter, on January 21, 2012. Drew is the National Sales Manager at WCOV in Montgomery. Will Jackson and Maryanna Finney were married on May 12, 2012 at First United Methodist Church in Montgomery. WALTER WOODS
Marissa Pantaleone and Joseph Anthony Brewer were married on April 21, 2012. In 2008, Marissa graduated magna cum laude from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. She received her Doctorate in Medicine in May 2012 from the University of South Alabama, College of Medicine.
2005 Carrie Tompkins Blanton graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2011. She passed the bar and married Rick Blanton on October 1, 2011. They currently live in Montgomery where Carrie is the campaign manager for Probate Judge Reese McKinney. Charlie Hubbard married Caroline Akin on January 14, 2012 at the Church of the Ascension in Montgomery.
Tade Anzalone, Class of 2011 shakes hands with President Obama at the White House Christmas Party that she attended with her father, John, this past winter. Tade, a sophomore at Georgetown University, is studying psychology, Spanish, and justice and peace studies. Dana Woods and AJ Burandt were married on March 3, 2012.
2008 Katie Bell graduated summa cum laude as an Honors Scholar from Auburn University with a degree in Biomedical Science. She was awarded the Comer Medal for Excellence in Biological Sciences and was also inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. In July, Katie will begin dental school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry. Laura Bownes graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Sewanee: The University of the South in May 2012.
2006
Tull Gearreald and fellow team members took first place in the MIT 6.270 Autonomous Robot Competition.
John Trevor, and his bride, Lizzy, will be moving to Charlottesville, Virginia where John will begin graduate school at the University of Virginia School of Architecture.
Anne McKenzie McEntire was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Sewanee: The University of the South in May 2012.
2007
Colin Schloss graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business in May 2012. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Operations and Information Management and a minor from the School of Engineering in Computer and Information Science. He will
Katherine Bryan and Jordan Berry were married on April 21, 2012 at First United Methodist Church in Montgomery and currently live in the Washington, D.C. area. 26 Visions - Summer 2012
Class Notes be working for Applied Predictive Technologies in Arlington, Virginia. Colin will also be competing in the Collegiate Teams National Bridge Championship to be held in Philadelphia. He is the captain of the Penn team that was one of eight collegiate bridge teams to qualify. Elizabeth Smyth graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in History from Sewanee: The University of the South in May 2012.
2009 Alex McEntire was named to the Dean’s List at Sewanee: The University of the South for the Spring 2012 term.
2011 Taylor Turner was accepted to Tisch School of the Arts for Drama at New York University.
Collier Williams was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Sewanee: The University of the South in May 2012.
JOHN THAYER
VOLTZ
John Thayer Voltz, ’91 died on May 21, 2012. After being diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, six years ago. He is survived by his wife Kendra, his daughter Mae Mae, his parents Tuttie and Charles Voltz, his brother Charles Voltz (Kate), his sister Carolyn Ecker (Mike), his grandmother Polly McQueen, two nieces and a nephew. Honorary Pallbearers were be Clinton Berry, Evans Brittain, John Coleman, Mike Ecker, Nelson Gill, Jeff Gulledge, Charles Kohn, Robert
Kohn,
Seawell
McKee,
Tate
McKee,
George Parker, Brooks Seale, Austin Singleton, and Frank Thomas. John Thayer was a graduate of The Montgomery Academy and Auburn University, a passionate Alabama Crimson Tide fan, an all-city punter, a sales representative at Blue Creek Marina, and a true friend.
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CAREER CONNECTIONS Initiated by Alumni Coordinator Marie Harrington in 2011, Career Connections is a program that brings MA alumni back to the Academy to speak to sophomores about opportunities available to them after high school, college and beyond. The general format of the presentation is a reflection from the alum on the role MA has played in their life since graduation. Many times the alum discusses courses they wish they had studied at the Academy and the faculty members who influenced them in their careers and in life. The presentation ends with the alum giving the students and faculty members in attendance the opportunity to ask questions. New in 2012-2013, Career Connections is open not only to alums in the Montgomery/River Region but also to alums all over the country and the world through video calling technology. If you are interested in being a featured alum, please contact Marie Harrington at 334-273-7155 or marie_harrington@montgomeryacademy.org.
The following alumni participated in this new program: Golson Foshee ’97 – President of Foshee Management Company Hart Johnson ’97 – Financial Advisor with Wells Fargo Georgia Stevenson Holmes ’01 – Special Education Teacher Mahaley Paulk McInnes ’92 – Attorney with Webb Ely Dexter Hobbs ’06 – Middle School History Teacher at The Montgomery Academy Allen Sheehan ’00 – Attorney with Capell Howard Chris Duggar ’90 – Physician - Obstetrics and Gynocology
If you are interested in being a part of Career Connection 2012-2013, please contact Marie Harrington at 334-273-7155 or marie_harrington@ montgomeryacademy.org
2012-13 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Sommerville Hill 1989 - President John Ashworth Mahaley Paulk McInnes Jeanie Montiel Parnell Gray Borden Hart Johnson Alex Carothers Tyler Caldwell Leigha Cauthen Allen Sheehan Evans Bailey Gary Tsai Georgia Stevenson Holmes Mary Beth Brown Walls Mallory Watson Searcy Elizabeth Williams Philip Sellers Taylor Williams Rachel Saucer Robert Mooty Clay McInnis Brittany Crawford 28 Visions - Summer 2012
1992 1992 1995 1997 1997 1998 1999 1999 2000 2001 2001 2001 2002 2002 2002 2002 2003 2003 2004 2005 2006
Chorus The Upper School Chorus had another exciting school year under the direction of Damion Womack and accompanied by Dr. Sallye York.
In February, the chorus traveled to Louisiana, performing at St. Mary’s Church in Lafayette and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. During the stay at LSU the chorus had the wonderful opportunity of hearing the LSU Acapella Chorus under the baton of Dr. Kenneth Fulton, Director of Choral Studies and one of the most respected conductors in the south. In addition, while in New Orleans the group performed at St. George Episcopal School and Isidore Newman School. In April, the chorus traveled to San Francisco, California where they had the opportunity to perform at Stanford University, Grace Cathedral, and St. Mary’s Cathedral. They also participated in a choral clinic with Mathew Oltman the Music Director of Chanticleer, one of the most well known professional choral ensembles in the nation. Additionally, they attended a concert given by the University of California at Berkley Concert Choir. The chorus excels in all areas including professionalism, discipline and performance due to the experiences the students are able to receive by attending clinics with nationally known composers and conductors and presenting concerts in some of the best venues in the country. They also continue to garner the highest awards at state competition. This year was no different. As it has been for the past eleven consecutive years, the chorus again received all “Superior” ratings at the Choral Music Performance State Assessment held in Birmingham, Alabama. The Pursuit of Excellence is not just our mission statement, it defines who we are as a school, family, and community and is certainly found in the choral program. Next year the chorus will compete in New York and North Carolina, look for them coming to an area near you!
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IT'S ARTASTIC! The Montgomery Academy’s Visual Arts Department is a dynamic and evolving program that provides students with significant opportunities to discover their own creative potential and avenues of self-expression. With a variety of different programs, projects and mediums, Academy students experience a diverse array of art at every level, from Lower to Upper School. Every year, Lower School students are given opportunities to create artistic pieces for a variety of art shows on campus as well as several contests held throughout the city. Under the guidance of BeeLee Tullos, the students are taught techniques that are the foundation for their art pursuits throughout their years at the Academy. Each fall and spring the walls at the Lower School are covered with multiple pieces from every student and in the winter, the focus turns to the annual culture study where students learn about the art of the country and create pieces native to the area. A highlight in Middle School art this year was a unit focused on Indian art. Amanda Townsend, Middle School art instructor, was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in the summer of 2011 that allowed her to tour India with a group of teachers from the United States. Upon returning to the States, she created an Indian artwork curriculum to share what she had learned with her students. Through the course of several weeks, Middle School students had the opportunity to create Indian pieces such as Mendhi hand designs and painted elephants in addition to learning more about the culture of India. Students also won awards at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts’ annual Flimp Festival as well as the annual “Draw Montgomery Art Competition,” a juried art exhibition sponsored by the Montgomery Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
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When students enter the Upper School, they are offered a breadth of opportunities in the visual arts. Led by Connie Deal and Visual Arts Chair, Camilla Armstrong, students can choose to pursue instruction in everything from photography to graphic design including several Advanced Placement art courses. Throughout each course of study students continue to learn techniques that build upon the instruction they have received over the years at the Academy and create pieces that are entered in a variety of competitions during the academic year. This year, the Advanced Placement studio art students, Gibbs Lee, Sophie Odom, Rosalind O’Connor, Addison Tambling, Hannah Trachy and Ryan Ziernert, were honored to have Stonehenge Gallery host their exhibition, Voices. For the weeklong show, each student exhibited eight to ten pieces from their portfolios and gallery manager, Sandra Hicks, noted how impressed and surprised visitors to the show were to learn that the artwork was created by high school age students.
A senior level course, Advanced Placement Art History, allows students to examine and critically analyze major forms of artistic expression from the past and present in a variety of cultures. The class emphasizes the understanding of how and why works of art function in context, considering issues such as patronage and gender. After studying art from various time periods during class, the students are afforded the opportunity to see many of the actual works of art with a trip to seven museums in New York City. This trip allows them to integrate what they have learned in the classroom with the museum experience. In addition to classroom work and outside competitions such as “Doing Our Own Thing” sponsored by the Montgomery Arts Council and the SNAPcircle 50 Poster Contest, Upper School students can also participate in the National Art Honor Society (NAHS), a national service organization for high school art students. The NAHS club participated in several events this past year to promote art in the community including creating pieces of art for Hearts for Hospice, creating cards for senior citizens who receive “Meals on Wheels” from the Montgomery Area Council on Aging, creating centerpieces for the Montgomery Area Business Committee for Arts luncheon and participating in “Paint the Town Red,” an outdoor art festival in Birmingham with funds going to support the American Red Cross. Not only do our students learn the techniques of art throughout their years at the Academy, they use their knowledge to create pieces for enjoyment, for competitions and to promote art in the area. The senior art students ended their year with a senior art show where a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their pieces were donated to “Hooked on Art,” an organization that provides art activities for schools in Alabama that do not have art programs. The pursuit of excellence is evident in every level of the Academy’s visual arts program. Academy students are afforded opportunities to grow and learn in the visual arts, to experience different types of art and to have a chance to design their own creations – for themselves or to share with others. Visions - Summer 2012 31
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Forensics Coach Jay Rye Earns National Distinction The National Forensic League (NFL) proudly announced its newest diamond coach: Jay Rye, The Montgomery Academy Forensics Coach, who received the Fourth Diamond Award. Jay is one of only four debate coaches in the country that earned the Fourth Diamond Award this year. An NFL Diamond Award recognizes a professional career that combines excellence and longevity. The NFL provides diamond awards based on coach points received. A coach may receive 1/10th the points of every student coached and 1/10th of the points earned as a student member of the NFL. After attaining a total of 1,500 points, a member coach is entitled to wear a diamond set key or pin; additional diamonds accrue at 3,000 points, 6,000 points, 10,000 points, and each 3,000 points thereafter. The minimum time between earning each diamond is five years as an NFL member coach. Jay received special recognition at the Lincoln Financial Group/NFL National Speech and Debate Tournament in Indianapolis, Indiana this June. Each year, the tournament draws more than 5,000 students, coaches, and parents from across the nation.
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SAVE THE DATE!
ALUMNI WEEKEND 2012 HOME IS CALLING.
OCT 19&20
1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007