Westminster Magazine Spring/Summer 2023 - Building Leaders to Serve and Inspire

Together, we support tomorrow’s leaders.

The Westminster Fund is essential to Westminster’s mission of helping young people become leaders of conscience. Your generosity supports innovative courses, vibrant arts programs, top-tier sports teams, DEI initiatives, Christian life programming, student support programs, and more, empowering today’s Wildcats to start their leadership journeys. When you make a gift to the annual fund, you’re supporting students inside and outside the classroom and helping us inspire leaders who will become positive forces in the world.

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SPRING/SUMMER 2023

CONTRIBUTORS

Executive Editors

Liz Ball

Emilie Henry

Managing Editor

Kathleen Poe Ross ’01

Production Manager

Marisa Crissey

Art Director

Alyssa Henderson

Editorial Staff

Alyssa Henderson

Contributors

President Keith Evans

Jane Lauderdale Armstrong ’74

Kavita Athalye

Wab Kadaba ’87

Mallory McKenzie

Pamela Nye

Landon Rowe

Brandi Tant

Regina Wood

Tiffany Wooten

Art Direction & Design

Green Gate Marketing

Photography

Alyssa Henderson

Clyde Click

Matthew DeMarko

Frederick Johnson

Student, faculty, staff, and parent photographers

The Lewis H. Beck Archives at Westminster

Paul Ward

Matthew Warren

Printing

Perfect Image

FEATURES

14

Love for Love Hall

Construction on the Love Hall expansion and renovation project officially begins with a groundbreaking celebration honoring the Love Family.

12

Building Leaders to Serve and Inspire

What does it take to become a leader? Westminster upperclassmen discuss with President Keith Evans, and leaders from across the Wildcat community share their stories.

Growing a Culture of Leadership

18 32

In order to help develop leaders, Westminster's faculty, trustees, and alumni are called to be inspiring leaders and lifelong learners themselves. From immersive retreats to professional development series and conferences, learn how the School's leaders hone their craft.

Dear Westminster Community,

The night before Westminster’s first day of classes—the very first day, in 1951—the School’s transportation director quit. Intricate maps of Atlanta with pickup spots for students whose parents were willing to take a chance on this fledgling institution were no longer helpful without the leadership to make it happen. In its place, our founder, Dr. William Pressly, and his partner and wife, Alice, scrambled to assemble drivers and vehicles to ensure the launch of this ambitious project that would become the Westminster we know today. If you are imagining teachers and coaches called to service in woodpaneled station wagons and school utility vans, I bet you would be pretty close to what actually happened.

As Dr. Pressly recounts in the story in his memoir, The Formative Years, classes started late that first year, and

demonstrated some pluck and initiative that signaled successful days ahead. The new team passed an early test and set the stage to meet future challenges.

The recently graduated Class of 2023 may not know this story even as they are heirs and stewards of the legacy it established. Our seniors were part of a modern-day scramble of their own as ninth graders when COVID broke loose in March of 2020. Where Westminster’s first-day crisis was getting students to school to learn, the pandemic posed the problem of getting them to learn from home. The ensuing two years of masks and distancing need no additional narration, except to note that this class started their final year in “normal” circumstances for the first time since starting the Upper School.

of the 2022–23 would have been any visible two-year-plus detour School careers. They opportunity of senior enthusiasm and skill influence in resetting

our community norms and student culture. To be sure, leaders cast vision and celebrate the good work of others. As often, leaders are facing and overcoming adversity, whether in salvaging the first day of school or recapturing the essence of that same school after an extended crisis.

This edition of Westminster Magazine takes inspiration from newly hired teachers finding their way around the city to pick up newly enrolled students. It sees the same spirit and ethos in a senior class that helped us regain our health and wholeness in a year that could have skidded sideways. These newly minted alumni have added to a legacy of leadership that is worth protecting and cultivating for the future. There will surely come a moment when it will carry us through another challenging circumstance in the way Wildcats do Onward,

Keith Evans President

ADMINISTRATION

Keith A. Evans

President

Toni Boyd

Vice President for Finance and Operations

Frank Brown ’04

Director of DEI and Community Engagement

Tim Downes Director of Athletics

Lauren DuPriest Head of Lower School

Emilie Henry Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Jim Justice Dean of Academics and Curriculum

Marjorie Dixon Mitchell ’82 Director of Enrollment Management

Danette Morton Head of Middle School

Thad Persons ’88 Dean of Faculty

Bob Ryshke Executive Director, Center for Teaching

Chanley Small ’87 Head of Upper School

Torrey Williams Chief Information Officer

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Katharine W. Kelley ’82, Chair

Allison Bolch Moran ’86, Vice Chair

Marilyn S. Black

Elizabeth Kilcullen Blake

J. Donald Childress

David D. Cummings

Clare H. Draper IV

Michael J. Egan ’74

Rand Glenn Hagen ’95

Jack N. Halpern ’67

Scott D. Hawkins

Angela Hsu

Ira L. Jackson ’83

Stephen S. Lanier ’96

Janet M. Lavine

David M. Love ’90

Lisa Olivetti McGahan

Richard V. McPhail III

R. Brand Morgan ’94

Joel T. Murphy ’76

Floyd C. Newton III ’73

Rahul Patel

Leslie D. Patterson

William T. Plybon

Kelly A. Regal

Natosha Reid Rice

Louise Scott Sams ’75

S. Stephen Selig ’61

Jeffrey P. Small Jr. ’85

C. Austin Stephens ’93

Timothy P. Tassopoulos

Dana Weeks Ugwonali

D. Scott Weimer

PRESIDENT

Keith A. Evans

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE

Wab Kadaba ’87

EMERITUS TRUSTEES

Betsy Barge Birkholz ’69

Lisa Borders ’75

James E. Bostic Jr.

David E. Boyd

Peter M. Candler ’60

Samuel G. Candler

Richard W. Courts II ’55

Ann Draughon Cousins

Suzanne LeCraw Cox ’71

F. T. Davis Jr. ’56

Harold A. Dawson Jr. ’82

Virginia Gaines Dearborn ’56

W. Douglas Ellis Jr.

Joseph W. Hamilton Jr.

Allen S. Hardin

Thomas D. Hills ’62

Ronald P. Hogan

Barbara Benson Howell

W. Stell Huie

L. Phillip Humann

M. Hill Jeffries Jr. ’73

E. Cody Laird Jr.

J. Hicks Lanier ’58

Dennis M. Love ’74

Carolyn Cody McClatchey ’65

Terence F. McGuirk

Olga Goizueta Rawls ’73

Margaret Conant Reiser ’73

B. Clayton Rolader ’72

John W. Rooker ’56

L. Barry Teague

John A. Wallace

James B. Williams

George B. Wirth

Wildcat Tracks

The Westminster community had an action-packed fall and winter, with class projects, concerts, art exhibitions, sporting events, theatrical productions, service projects, and more in each division of the School. Through it all, our students brought their signature Wildcat energy, leaving their tracks of leadership and love of challenge across our campus

Pigskin Picnic Pep Rally

The Wildcat spirit was next level at the cross-divisional Pigskin Picnic pep rally in Turner Gym, thanks to the intense hype of the Lower School students, who were special guests of the Upper School for the occasion. In addition to the usual pep rally programming, there were games of Four Corners and Don’t Forget the Lyrics with participants from the Lower Upper School, and the faculty. WiredCats even rolled out custom T-shirt cannon robot to help give away some new Wildcat gear!

Oktubafest

Ein Prosit! Band students celebrated the 50th anniversary of Oktubafest, a national tradition for band programs across the country created by an Indiana University music professor, with a casual concert outside of Barge Commons. The event was designed to spotlight lowbrass instruments and bring traditional German polka music to the masses.

A Visit from Mount Olympus

Fifth grade Greek gods and goddesses graced campus in their human form, dressed in their flowing robes and finery as they traveled from Love Hall to Pressly Plaza. From the Greek Parade and Living Museum —where each student performed self-written monologues in character for passersby—to the Greek Feast finale, students reveled in this unique and experiential learning opportunity.

Curtains Up for the Westminster Players

The Westminster Players kicked off their 2022–23 season with two productions based on real-life stories: Mrs. Packard, a play about Elizabeth Packard, an advocate for women and the rights of those accused of insanity in 1860s Illinois, and Les Misérables, the iconic musical based on Victor Hugo’s 1862 historical novel of the same name that was partially inspired by the author’s own life. The Westminster Junior Players opened their season with Peter and the Starcatcher, another wellknown book-to-stage adaptation.

Learning on Display at the Middle School Science Fair

Eighth grade students showcased their exploration of the scientific method through boards detailing a range of projects and experiments in food science, life science, physical science, and technology. While engaging with the presenters, sixth and seventh grade students took note of how to prepare for their own science fair in the coming years—a fun learning experience for

StudioW and WCAT

Westminster’s StudioW filmmaking team had an exciting week at the All American High School Film Festival in New York City in October. During the first three days, the team of nine students filmed, produced, edited, and presented their short film, The Man in the Mirror Also screened at the festival was WCAT’s Pigskin Picnic pregame show, nominated for Best Broadcast Journalism— Sports Feature.

Lovestock 2.0

Giving Thanks in the Middle School

Prior to Thanksgiving Break, each division held a Thanksgiving service—and in the Middle School, it was an opportunity for student leaders from the Chapel Council to take the reins. They celebrated the meaning of gratitude with skits, students reading scriptures, the choruses leading hymns, and Rev. Tina McCormick sharing an important message about togetherness and community.

Rain forced the second annual Lovestock music festival to move indoors, but even a last-minute change of venue couldn’t dampen the spirits of our third grade songwriters, the guest performers, and their fans. The photo booths and merchandise tables stayed busy all morning, WCAT livestreamed the performances, and another groovy time was had by all!

68 Seniors Honored by National Merit

In the fall, the National Merit Scholarship Program honored 68 members of the Class of 2023. Of the honorees, 21 students (pictured above) were selected as scholarship finalists, while 47 received letters of commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Visit our website to see the full list of students.

westminster.net/magazine

Watch Lovestock on our channel

WILDCAT TRACKS

Hispanic Heritage Month and Día de los Muertos

The Middle and Upper Schools observed Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from mid-September to mid-October, with special assemblies and other programming. At the Middle School assembly, affinity group Café con Leche brought in marinera and flamenco dance performers, while the Upper School assembly showcased musical styles from different Spanishspeaking areas of the world. On the heels of Hispanic Heritage Month, our community celebrated and learned more about Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

Christmas Traditions Across Campus

There’s no better place to be than on Westminster’s campus during the weeks leading up to Christmas. From festive traditions like Handel’s Messiah and the Lower School Christmas Pageant to caroling performances by MAC and WAC and giving back through the Alternative Gift Fair, hosted by the Glenn Institute and PAWS, students and families who celebrate Christmas can always find ways to feel the joy of the season.

MLK Day of Service

On January 16, Lower School Wildcats participated in their annual Day of Service in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Students served in their friendship circles—small groups made up of one student from each grade—and worked together to package 25,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger, write letters to American service members for Operation Gratitude, package snacks for local nonprofit PAWKids, and make valentines for residents of local communities for older adults. In between projects, students participated in reflection activities and heard a presentation by the Lower School DEI Team on why we serve as we remember Dr. King.

JanTerm

During JanTerm23, the Upper School’s 819 students chose from among 43 experiential and immersive courses across a wide array of disciplines and topics. Food Chemistry and Global Perspectives, Sports Medicine, Storytelling Through Filmmaking, Literature and Ecology of Fly Fishing, Disaster Management, Entrepreneurship, and Innovations in Vehicle Design were just a few of the classes offered.

Students heard from nearly 100 guest speakers and took more than 200 field trips over the course of JanTerm23, which saw them traveling throughout the Atlanta area, across the country, and even overseas. Locally, students met with prominent leaders from Atlanta’s business and cultural communities and experts in a variety of fields. Courses with domestic trips visited coastal Florida, New Orleans, Los Angeles, New York City, and more. This year’s international JanTerm courses took students to the Czech Republic, Poland, Israel, Italy, England, and Guatemala.

JanTerm also offers students the opportunity to participate in internships tailored to their specific interests. This year, 27 juniors and seniors completed internships, broadening their horizons and learning realworld lessons in a variety of fields.

Performing Arts Students Make All-State

Musicians from the Middle and Upper Schools earned coveted spots in the Georgia Music Educators Association’s All-State Chorus, Reading Chorus, Band, and Orchestra programs this winter. Nine students were selected for All-State choruses, 11 band students won spots in All-State Band, and 26 orchestra students earned spots in All-State Orchestra. With 18 students from the Middle School participating —one of whom was selected as concertmaster, the highest-ranked middle school violinist in the state—Westminster’s program once again led the state with the most students chosen for All-State from a single middle school.

Celebrating Lunar New Year

Lower School students celebrated Lunar New Year with a dragon parade led by the first graders. Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures and marks the first day of the lunar calendar, in which months align with moon cycles. Each culture celebrates Lunar New Year differently, with various foods and traditions that symbolize prosperity, abundance, and togetherness. Every year in the lunar calendar is represented by one of 12 zodiac animals—2023 is the Year of the Rabbit.

Matilda Takes the Stage

Move over, Netflix! Not long after the streaming release of the new film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, the Westminster Junior Players wowed audiences with an outstanding production of Matilda Jr. in Kellett Theatre. The company of 27 performers and 20 stage crew members played to packed houses for their two-performance run.

These were our top Instagram posts of the fall semester.

Can you guess which one was the most popular?

Answer: Homecoming

Pigskin Picnic StudioW in NYC

Homecoming

First Day of School

Honk 4 Seniors

A New Leader for the Lower School

Lower School head,” Keith wrote. “In fact, she would be a top choice in any lower school head search. I am thrilled for her, grateful for her extraordinary work as our interim head of Lower School, and especially excited for our students, who will benefit from Lauren’s care and commitment in the years ahead.”

In November 2022, President Keith Evans wrote to the Westminster community with an important announcement: Interim Head of Lower School Lauren DuPriest would drop the “interim” from her title and become the next head of the Lower School, leading the Love Hall community into the future.

“Lauren is an outstanding choice to lead Love Hall as Westminster’s

While the School ultimately didn’t have to go far to find what they were looking for in a new leader for its youngest Wildcats, they undertook an extensive search process to reach that conclusion. A national educational search firm assessed the leadership needs of the division through a comprehensive survey of Lower School faculty, staff, and families and on-campus visits with the Love Hall community, while Keith convened a search advisory committee. Lauren quickly rose to the top of their list, and after engaging Lauren in a structured interview process, the committee reached immediate consensus that the Lower School would thrive under her continued leadership.

A native of Durham, North Carolina, Lauren attended Vanderbilt University and completed a Bachelor of Science degree with majors in elementary education and child development. After graduation, she moved to Atlanta to be a fifth grade teacher with Fulton County Public Schools. Lauren loved working with older elementary students, but she found she wanted to be in a teaching environment that gave her greater flexibility to be creative in the classroom. This revelation led Lauren to Westminster, at the recommendation of a fellow teacher and friend, where she started as a third and fourth grade science teacher in 2004.

“As a homeroom teacher, I had taught science on one countertop with one set of supplies and everyone gathered around, so the whole idea that there was an entire room dedicated to this and that you could have 10 sets of everything just blew my mind,” Lauren says of her introduction to Westminster.

Not long into her tenure as a science teacher at Westminster, Lauren was selected to be part of the cohort of Lower School teachers who first went to the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University for intensive training in design thinking and brought it back to Westminster. She then taught design thinking classes in addition to science and helped to train fellow faculty members on the concepts. What started as a specialty class has since become ingrained in the culture of Love Hall, a mindset and major pillar of the Lower School

experience that has shaped the division for well over a decade.

“Design thinking brings a focus on empathy building and problem solving that’s so important for our students,” Lauren says. “Our teachers are passionate, and they’re constantly in reflection and in dialogue with each other to find connections between the different subject areas that can help students understand that there’s more than one way to solve a problem.”

Outside the classroom, Lauren and fellow teacher Stacy Chalmers established the Lower School’s

More than a Workplace

competitive robotics team in 2007— a feeder program for the Middle and Upper School WiredCats teams that now compete internationally. In 2013, Lauren shifted into an administrative role as director of operations and communications for the Lower School, giving her a deep understanding of the inner workings of the School.

In her new position as head of Lower School, Lauren is informed by the experiences and institutional knowledge she has accumulated over nearly 20 years as a teacher and administrator in Love Hall. She’s excited to continue to work through

the challenges and opportunities brought about by the events of the past few years as she shepherds the Lower School into the future. True to her background and the values embraced by Love Hall, Lauren is poised to lead with a design thinker’s mindset.

“One of the things I love about Westminster is that we do not rest on our laurels. Our teachers are always thinking, How can we improve? How can we make it better?” Lauren says. “I’m so excited to work alongside these amazing educators as we chart the path for our Lower School community.”

When Lauren accepted a job at Westminster in 2004, she had no idea that the School would play such a pivotal role in her life. Lauren met her future spouse, art teacher and Middle School Dean of Students Walter DuPriest ’99, when they were both teaching in the Lower School. Walter’s parents—since retired—also worked at the School at the time: Eddie DuPriest, a fixture on the Upper School English faculty since 1974, and Mary DuPriest, a constant friendly face in the president’s office in Pressly Hall for a majority of her 32 years on staff. Walter and his brother, Ben DuPriest ’02, attended Westminster as Alpha Omega students, and now Lauren and Walter’s children, Edwin ’29 and Griffin ’32, are enjoying their time as Wildcats.

Love for Love Hall Campus Construction Update

The project, which addresses immediate curricular needs and supports the programs that define the Love Hall experience, will include:

• An auditorium with more than 400 seats, enabling the entire Lower School to gather together

The green construction fencing that has become a familiar precursor to Campus Plan construction projects popped up near the Lower School campus almost as suddenly as the first flowers this spring. Adding 30,000 square feet to the Lower School campus as well as 15,000 square feet of redesigned spaces in the building’s original footprint, the expansion and renovation of The Gay and Erskine Love Hall at The Irene and George Woodruff Elementary School will provide Westminster’s youngest learners with a learning environment that matches the curricular experience their teachers so carefully craft.

“Thanks to the collaborative vision of our expert elementary faculty, our visionary Board of Trustees, the talented architecture team at Ennead, and a generous lead gift from the Love family, we are building spaces that encourage collaboration and connection, celebrate the process of discovery, put learning on display, and reflect the qualities that have made Love Hall such a special place for our youngest Wildcats,” says Head of Lower School Lauren DuPriest.

• An expanded and open library that provides more opportunities for access, connection, and collaboration

• Dedicated activity and performance spaces to best serve the Lower School’s unique program offerings, including art and design thinking labs

• Spaces for the growing instrumental music program

• A new and expanded space for the ASK! (After School Kids!) program

• Increased visibility and connection to Lower School leadership with administrative offices located at the School’s entrance

• New spaces for small-group instruction

• Reduced activity congestion in the Hamilton Room

• A pedestrian pathway to provide easier and direct access to the rest of campus

A new entrance to Love Hall will bring the Lower School’s administrative suite to the front of the building. Teachers and staff will be able to greet students, families, and visitors immediately upon arrival and help them find their way. This welcoming front door to the Lower School will lead to a renovated library and learning commons, where small groups can collaborate and learn together.

An auditorium with more than 400 seats anchors the Love Hall addition. This gathering space will serve the entire Lower School community as both a place to come together and a presentation space where students can showcase their talents. Performances, assemblies, meetings, and more will be held in this dedicated space that can comfortably accommodate both children and adults.

A new innovation hub will empower the Lower School to once again lead the way, laying a foundation of hands-on learning, creative problem solving, and outside-the-box thinking. Five labs will further integrate design thinking and art and include state-of-the-art equipment and easy access to the outdoors.

The new and renovated spaces are set to open in August 2024, just in time for students in the Class of 2037 to begin their Wildcat journeys. The construction team has partnered closely with Lower School leadership to minimize the impact the work will have on the student experience throughout the 2023–24 school year, even finding opportunities to incorporate elements of the construction project into the curriculum.

Love Hall is the latest in a series of campus enhancements envisioned through the School’s

campus planning process. Approved by the Board of Trustees in 2017, the plan focuses on three key themes: building community, strengthening connections, and putting learning and leadership on display. New buildings like Hawkins Hall and Barge Commons and renovated spaces ranging from Campbell Hall to Alfred E. Thompson Stadium have surpassed expectations. The Love Hall project promises to do the same, helping faculty foster the immense curiosity of the School’s youngest learners and connect them with the broader Westminster community and beyond.

A History of Westminster’s Lower School Campus

1951

In the School’s inaugural year, all Westminster grades held classes on the former North Avenue Presbyterian School (NAPS) campus located at 341 Ponce de Leon Ave. The Junior School, as it was originally called, included kindergarten through seventh grade.

1955

Washington Seminary, a 75-year-old private school, merged with Westminster. The School briefly leased the Washington Seminary property located at 1640 Peachtree Road to house the Junior School until Emma Scott Hall was completed on the new Westminster campus. The Junior School’s enrollment at this time was approximately 400 students.

1963

The seventh grade boys and girls classes moved from Scott Hall into Campbell and Askew Halls, respectively, joining the eighth through 12th graders.

1972

Lower and Middle School merged to create the Elementary School under one principal.

1978

Westminster’s student dormitories—Tull Hall for the boys and McLarty Hall for the girls—closed. Both buildings were renovated to accommodate the Elementary School and the Smythe Gambrell Library.

1981

The Irene and George Woodruff Elementary School opened for first through fifth grades, and the pre-first students were established at Tull Hall. The sixth grade was combined with the seventh and eighth grades to form the Westminster Junior High School in Emma Scott Hall.

1997

The next renovation expanded the facilities at Woodruff Elementary with the construction of a new building—The Gay and Erskine Love Hall at The Irene and George Woodruff Elementary School. In 1997 the Lower School employed more than 80 faculty and staff members, serving 452 students in grades pre-first through fifth.

2023

Construction began in spring 2023 on the latest renovation and expansion of Love Hall. The project is targeted for completion by August 2024.

Love Hall’s new innovation hub will include labs with doors that can open up to the outdoors. A pedestrian walkway will provide a direct route from the Lower School to the campus parking deck.

A new home for ASK! will provide children with engaging spaces in which to build creativity and connections. The new larger space inside the main school building will make new courses and experiences possible and ensure the after-school programming is a dynamic extension of the school day.

The Love Family

A legacy of leadership and generosity

On May 15, 2023, President Keith Evans, Board of Trustees Chair Katharine Kelley ’82, and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Emilie Henry welcomed a small crowd of community members—each with deep ties to Westminster and its Lower School program—to campus for the official groundbreaking of the greatly anticipated Love Hall expansion and renovation project. The guests of honor were members of the Love family, whose generosity, coupled with other leadership philanthropic investments, is enabling the School to bring these new and renewed spaces to life.

brought the entire Lower School community together and included an expanded library, chapel, art and music rooms, science facilities, and an auditorium/ cafeteria. One of the most iconic spaces in Love Hall was also installed during this renovation: the Centennial Olympic Games Basketball Court, given by Carol and Lawrence L. ’74 Gellerstedt III, which still serves as the Lower School gymnasium.

“Our family has long, deep ties with Westminster, going all the way back to 1961. Because our parents [Gay and Erskine Love] believed in the best education from the very start, we were extremely fortunate to have attended Westminster and received an excellent education that helped propel us to college and beyond. We all benefited from the vision of Dr. Pressly and the generosity of many families and organizations before us. Since the Lower School was such an important part of our educational experience, we believe the greatest impact for our gift will be felt by bringing those facilities up to new standards to support the current and future learning environment of the youngest students. With the help of many other generous donors, the new Lower School will be one that children and their families will enjoy for many more decades to come.” – the Love family

The day was a full-circle moment for the Love family, as they had been the guests of honor at a very similar event nearly three decades earlier. In 1996, Gay and Erskine Love and their children, Dennis ’74, Jimmy ’75, Cal ’76, Keith ’79, Bill ’80, and David ’90, joined Westminster’s founding president, Dr. William Pressly, and other School leaders with shovels in hand to celebrate the expansion and renovation of the Lower School building and its new name: The Gay and Erskine Love Hall at The Irene and George Woodruff Elementary School. The 74,000-square-foot building

For the past three decades, Love Hall has served as an engine for innovation, inspiring curiosity throughout the Wildcat Nation. The visionary generosity of the Love family will once again elevate the Lower School campus to match the dynamic student experience of our youngest learners.

Siblings David Love ’90, Keith Love ’79, Cal Love Jennison ’76, Jimmy Love ’75, and Dennis Love ’74 honored their late brother, Bill Love ’80, at the groundbreaking for the Love Hall project. Sixteen members of the Love family and three of their spouses are alumni of Westminster; remarkably, every year for the past 62 years at least one member of the Love family has been enrolled at the School.

By Keith Evans, President

By the fall of 1954, the secret was out. Just a few actionpacked years after Dr. William Pressly was recruited from The

McCallie School in Chattanooga to establish a premier independent school in Atlanta, Westminster was humming. “A Great City, A Great School” was the simple formulation, etched in white letters against the brightred background of the cover of the School’s first official fundraising brochure. Inside, this case for support details the story of ample enrollment, wellestablished philosophical pillars, and abundant campus resources. But it is that connection made on the cover that provides the context for everything that follows and captures the essence of what our founders hoped for Westminster.

“Atlanta’s position has inevitably cast her in the role of Leader, not only in the Southeast but in the nation as well.” Ninety years after being burned to the ground in the Civil War and less than a decade

from the end of World War II, Atlanta’s trajectory was evident. And Westminster understood its destiny and purpose as closely intertwined with the fate of this rapidly emerging city.

“A Great City Needs A Great School—Atlanta Is Now Building Hers” jumps off that first page in red letters, emphasizing the vision and the conviction behind it. Westminster’s ambition was not limited to developing leaders to propel Atlanta forward but to be a leader itself. Buried a bit deeper in the text after enrollment details and photos of the very first couple of buildings is a description of a just-launched project to develop a “curriculum designed to remove duplications and to make it possible for a capable student to move through the four years (of high school) at an increased speed.” Young Westminster joined with established Atlanta educational leaders Agnes Scott College, Emory University, and Oglethorpe University—funded by the Ford Foundation—to

pilot this approach with two groups of 10 students.

This pilot turned out to be the seed of what we know today to be the College Board’s Advanced Placement program, one of the most influential innovations in secondary education of the 20th century. The very exams that our Upper School students just completed this spring to demonstrate their mastery of college-level work were first imagined in some of the same spaces where these students learned and studied. It is but one example among many of Westminster’s early embrace of the responsibilities and possibilities of leadership.

And those opportunities kept coming. Atlanta became known as the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement, eventually hosted the Olympics, and stands today as the undisputed capital of the fastest-growing region of the United States. Westminster engaged and answered the challenging questions posed by civil rights leaders by desegregating in the late ’60s, installed a gym floor from the

Olympics at Love Hall, and claimed its place as one of the top independent schools in the nation. The School and the city have grown up together in a symbiotic relationship, with Westminster developing talent to lead Atlanta forward even as our dynamic city offers momentum to the growth of the School.

Today, we cultivate the leadership ethos that has been here from our founding. Westminster’s story has always b een marked by progress and achievements that have exceeded expectations. Our School has also met adversity and wrestled with the best strategy to meet the demands of the moment. In this way, we mirror the story of leaders everywhere and aspire to model for our students the persistence, resilience, and courage that is inevitably required by leadership.

These same students embrace this ethos and express it in their own unique way. For all of the picking on their generation as overly focused on box checking and resume building, our current Wildcats display as much interest in influencing culture and

values as they do in ascending to a team captaincy or student government office. T hey are as comfortable leading from a seat at the table as they are from the front of the room. Their style is to lead with curiosity and inquiry matched with decisiveness and action. Service to others above self is the common thread that ties it all together. This profile of leadership is well suited to a complex world facing seemingly intractable, existential challenges.

What follows tells this story in their voices and their words. Like every generation of Westminster students, they have made this enduring legacy of leadership their own, understanding it in the context of what they discover every day as they explore their campus community and their hometown. Westminster was built for this journey going back to the very beginning. We enthusiastically embrace our cause as growing leaders of conscience who are inspired to replicate our leadership ethos wherever they go.

A great city and a great school— and a promise fulfilled.

On a spring afternoon toward the end of second semester, President Keith Evans invited a group of Upper School student leaders to his office for a roundtable conversation about what it means to be a leader, both in the present at Westminster and in the future at college and beyond. Seniors Ava Wong, Elle McDonald, Frances Munger, and Vincent Bontempo and juniors Daniel Qiu, Gideon Zemedhun, Kate Harley, and Lizzie Hunter had each been a part of Keith’s Leadership Encounter JanTerm course. As they arrived in the President’s Office on the main floor of Pressly Hall, they chatted about the upcoming Easter break, the Christian Emphasis Week assembly later that day, and their favorite JanTerm guest speakers.

T hese upperclassmen represent a wide spectrum of academic and extracurricular interests, and they put leadership into practice every day at Westminster. They are athletes, musicians, editors and reporters, team captains and managers. You’ll find them on the air and behind the scenes at WCAT, arriving before school to lead Middle School Bible study groups, and heading up clubs and councils across campus. As they settled in around a long table in Keith’s office, Keith opened the discussion by asking what has helped them cultivate those skills while in school.

Note: This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

PRESIDENT EVANS: What experiences have you had at Westminster to help you grow as a leader?

AVA: I would say the most significant experience was the leadership JanTerm that I was in last year. Hearing the leaders who came to JanTerm empowered me to see my own potential in a different way. I started a club this year called the Women's Empowerment and Leadership Club, building off of the empowerment that I carried away from JanTerm. That experience has not only helped me as a leader in the organizational side of managing a club and recruiting people to join but also seeing the impact that it has had on other people and empowering girls in our community to believe in themselves too.

FRANCES: Last year, I wasn't on the state team for cross country, but Janie Cooper [’22] invited me to run the Meet of Champions with them. It was everything to me. It was this moment of leadership, realizing that my job isn't to run fast or make us win state—my job is to make everybody feel like they belong, and like Ava said, that empowerment piece is really important, especially with leadership among women.

KATE: I think at Westminster, we have the best of the best. We have world champion chess players, swimmers, mathletes, everything—you’re probably not going to be the best at something. But that’s not what it’s about. It’s about being outgoing, being willing to put yourself forward, having that confidence to try to contribute. In this environment, everybody has something they can bring to the table.

DANIEL: We recently had a Social Change Leadership Council town hall—Ava was part of the planning too. It was cool because we invited all the students around the Upper School to come meet with us at the Coyne Outdoor Classroom, and we talked about sensitive topics such as police brutality, mass shootings, and women’s rights in Iran. It was amazing that we could see the Westminster community come together to tackle these social problems.

GIDEON: Right now I’m the leader of WCAT, but when I first came in as a freshman, I was pretty much new to the club—I did a little bit in Middle School. But James Solomon [’22] took me in, kind of like Janie for Frances, and showed me the ropes. He gave me a lot of freedom, which was important in developing my own style of leadership. He just trusted I could do some things on my own and then helped me where I needed help, but he let me be my own person.

PRESIDENT EVANS: So what does it take to be a student leader here?

AVA: I personally believe that it takes a certain sense of humility to be a student leader here. It’s incredible being a part of a community that’s as talented and ambitious and smart as Westminster, and to be a student leader, you have to step back and realize you have so much to learn from the people around you. You need to have a spirit of curiosity and learning. And that’s not only learning from people who may be older or more experienced than you but even from your peers or your classmates.

LIZZIE: Yeah, I was looking back on my leadership journal this past weekend, and something I highlighted in all of my speaker notes was that you can’t be arrogant, because arrogance kills. Everybody here is so smart, and we’re all competing for such high achievements, so your character is what differentiates you here.

ELLE: Another thing that it takes is drive. I remember [JanTerm guest speaker and current parent] Mrs. Katarya said that when she came to the States, she had little to no money, and she was looking for internships and jobs. She recognized that there were people more talented than she was, but she wouldn’t stop knocking on people’s doors and wouldn’t stop calling. That drive and consistency was key to her success.

KATE: I think Westminster gives a lot of chances for growth after hardship. And honestly, I feel like that’s one of the best chances to become a leader. During my basketball season last year, I broke my nose, so I was just stuck on the bench with two months left in the season. I was like, “Well, what do I do now?” And I really think I developed more into a leader. I was more vocal, trying to figure out other ways to help my teammates and finding new ways to be part of that environment. It’s often the hardships and the challenges that will build you up as a leader and make you into a better one.

AVA: Something we learned in our leadership JanTerm was the adversity that comes with being a leader. It is a little bit scary being the one that people are looking to when there’s an issue. When it comes to that resilience in the face of adversity, it's remembering why you’re doing it in the first place. That’s what has pushed me

Ava Wong ’23 came to Westminster in third grade. In her senior year, she founded the Women’s Empowerment and Leadership Club and served as Social Change Leadership Council lead, senior Wildcat co-captain, and Middle School Bible study leader while participating in cross country, basketball

past it. What I love about Westminster is everyone wants to help you, and everyone wants to see you succeed, even if they’re not in your organization. I’ve relied on that so many times.

VINCENT: Most people would think it’s a bad thing to run into some difficulties here, but I feel like it’s

cheerleading, and track.

Daniel Qiu ’24 came to Westminster in ninth grade. As a junior, he served as VERITAS editor, a Bi-Line reporter, and vice president of the math team while participating in varsity baseball, Social Change Leadership Council, Mu Alpha Theta, and the Mooncakes affinity group leadership team.

quite the opposite. You don’t want this to be a place where you’re coddled, where everyone gets what they want and things are handed to you. It’s a good thing that we’re challenged—like maybe we're not doing so great in the classroom or we’re having

AVA: When Daniel and I did our town hall for Social Change Leadership Council, I could see a lot of leadership growth beginning in discussion groups. I even did a little bit of a study on this about polarization and the need to be able to hear different opinions than your own. There are all these opportunities to lead through discussion—even like this, learning from other people. So I see that as a real opportunity in the future.

FRANCES: I feel like there are more people leading not in terms of achievement but of culture and discussion. It’s not all about, “What can we do? What can we win? What can we accomplish?” anymore, but whether we have really strong relationships with each other and a culture where we can talk about really hard things. And, I mean, it’s Westminster—achievement is great. But I also think that the shift toward “How do we feel?” and “Are we doing the right thing?” is something that’s worth thinking about more.

difficulty on a sports field—because it helps us mature in a lot of ways. I think that maturity is also a really important aspect of leadership.

Keith asked the students to not only reflect on their own Westminster years but cast their minds forward to consider the future of student leadership at the School. How did they imagine they might see students stepping forward in new ways to take up the mantle of leadership at the School in a few years’ time?

VINCENT: I feel like as we go on, the number of opportunities will increase, and you can get kids that maybe weren’t in a leadership role in the first place into new leadership roles. You can cultivate more leadership with more opportunities.

ELLE: Three years from now, there’s going to be a bunch of new ideas as new people come to Westminster. There are a million more clubs that you could create. A diverse group of minds will identify a diverse group of organizations that can be created at this school.

LIZZIE: And not just racial diversity but also personalities and neurodiversity, just bringing different people to the table. You can’t have a team of likeminded people because you’re not going to grow. You need to be challenged by people who are different from you because you grow when you’re challenged. You’re not going to be challenged if everyone there is thinking and looking the same way as you.

AVA: I think that’s achievement in itself, though, just being able to discuss and talk and reach new levels of community.

LIZZIE: That’s the whole point of Civil Dialogue

Fe llows. I think the teachers picked quite possibly every single different viewpoint to bring to the table, and we had discussions on topics that were so polarized and kind of scary to talk about, in a sense, because they’re so personal. But those were so formational, because the whole point of civil dialogue is not to walk away winning; it’s listening and understanding where others are coming from, why they believe that, and using everyone’s opinions to shape your own.

PRESIDENT EVANS: There are a lot of new things in the last couple of years that are opportunities for students to shape the culture of the School in a way that was not quite as front and center before. If you think about something like the Voices of Resilience JanTerm class [which explored the Jewish experience in Poland and the Czech Republic], and then there’s a program about antisemitism in advisement, it’s sort of a student voice, saying, “Hey, here’s something to pay attention to,” as opposed to everyone in McCain Chapel listening to a speaker.

KATE: For me, with WCAT, along with Gideon, I think it’s just about sharing people’s stories. People approach us all the time with something they’re really passionate about, and we just want to share

Frances Munger ’23 came to Westminster in ninth grade. As a senior, she served as Wind Ensemble co-president, Mock Trial captain, and girls track captain while participating in cross country and Civil Dialogue Fellows, leading a Middle School Bible study, and managing the boys varsity basketball team.

it with people. That’s like what you’re talking about, Mr Evans, the culture evolving to seeing more people in the spotlight. I think that’s what makes our community so special. You have so many different people who excel in such diverse fields. Everybody brings something to the table. It’s important we recognize that and celebrate that because by doing so, it’ll fuel more change and more creativity and chances for growth.

DANIEL: Going off of Kate’s point about diversity, I think another thing that’s good about Westminster’s opportunities is the affinity groups, because you can relate and share stories with people who are similar to you and going through similar things as you. Being involved in Mooncakes really impacted me these past three years.

ELLE: Ava and I were just making eyes about the Voices of Resilience JanTerm trip. She went this year and I went last year, which was the first year.

change, and I remember one of the girls looked at us and goes, “Well, you guys are the leaders now.” They were saying, you know, what are you going to do about it?

LIZZIE: We all lead in different aspects of life and in different ways. No two people have the same style of leadership, and I think that’s definitely amplified throughout all these experiences we get, whether that be through WCAT or through Voices of Resilience or on sports teams or in classrooms. Everyone can learn how they best lead and dominate their own lane, rather than everybody competing for the same thing. Everyone has their own niche part of Westminster that they can really thrive in and create their own strong leadership values.

PRESIDENT EVANS: What role do alums play in all this? Or maybe I should say, what role have they played for you?

That was one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever had. On that trip, we had such a d iverse group of minds—people who were atheists, people who were Jewish, people who were Christian—and we made one of our documentaries about meeting Holocaust survivors and seeing all of these sites through the eyes of such a diverse group.

AVA: That trip was probably one of the most transformative experiences for me as a person and also as a leader. We had a Shabbat dinner with all these Jewish people, and we were just sharing ideas and discussion about religion and different viewpoints. We were expressing how much we empathize with them, how much we want to see

VINCENT: Their success or what we see them doing shows us that we can do something just like them. They came from the same place as we did, and, knowing that, I see that I can be exactly like them. They walked through the same halls as me; they had some of the same teachers as me. That personal connection means a lot.

LIZZIE: Mr. Evans, you brought up the point about how we’re working so our diplomas always carry gravity and substance to them, and they always serve us. We’re all working for the future of Westminster not so we can succeed now but so future generations can succeed and we can be somewhere in 30 years and Westminster will still serve us in the future. I’ve shifted my mindset: It’s not about me being here just to grind to get into the best college and leave but what I'll always carry with me from Westminster, how it shaped my character.

Elle McDonald ’23 started at Westminster in pre-first. As a senior she led G.E.R.L.S. (Girls Empowered in Relationships, Leadership, and Service) and the International Food Club and participated in Circle of Women and Westminster’s chapter of Active Minds, a national organization created to encourage conversation around mental health.

Vincent Bontempo ’23 started at Westminster in pre-first. As a senior, he was an Admissions Ambassador and Academic Quiz Team member while participating in the Sports Analytics Club and playing varsity baseball.

KATE: It’s cool to have those people as inspiration and also have those connections. You’re going to run into Westminster people when you’re in college and in the workplace. I think that can really help you in a career and also just to have a friend in life who’s had the same shared experience. The Westminster community, even beyond the gates, is something that’s really special.

ELLE: One of the most unique experiences we had in this JanTerm was getting to sit in on the board retreat. A lot of the board members are alumni, and it was really inspiring to see that even though these people have graduated and they’re very successful in their careers, they’re still learning themselves how to better run Westminster and cater to all walks of life. It was really inspiring to see that when you leave these halls, the learning doesn’t stop. You’re going to be constantly learning new things in life and growing yourself as a leader.

GIDEON: This year in boys cross country we had J.D. Blitch [’20], who’s an alum, come back as an assistant coach. It was really helpful to hear what kind of hardships he faced as they got close to the state meet. We actually talked about introducing communications between alumni and current captains to better the team and the culture as a whole.

for young leaders who would carry Atlanta into the future. Many of the School’s early benefactors didn’t even have school-age children to enroll, but they supported Westminster because they realized the urgent need for a school that could generate a certain kind of leader for their city at a critical time in its development.

More than seven decades in, there is a reliable cadence and momentum to the cycle of Westminster alumni who make a meaningful difference in their community—whether in Atlanta or beyond—and serve to inspire current students. The intentional focus on building leaders that students experience today has been part of the blueprint from the beginning, Keith told them. “It’s in the DNA of the School.”

LIZZIE: I remember reading that. It gave my education a lot more significance k nowing that, 70 years ago, this place was founded to be a school of great leadership and great people who could go out into the world and do great things. It wasn’t just built to be a really tough school, but it had a purpose behind it. I feel like that definitely translates, and that’s why we’re here.

PRESIDENT EVANS: I think that ability to see what the end of the story could look like, or a part of the story could look like, is important. And it’s a little bit why I think no matter how good our JanTerm speakers are, the alums make a bigger impression than anyone else.

As the hour wound down, Keith reminded the students that, at its conception, Westminster was essentially a civic project for the city, an incubator

AVA: I’ve been extra sentimental recently, now that graduation is around the corner. I came to Westminster when I was in third grade, and I can’t even point to a specific example, but all along the journey, the leadership skills have been ingrained in me that have prepared me for this moment. Even in Lower School, in third grade, there were opportunities to be on Student Council and then to be a leader on robotics, which I did. I guess I was 8 years old, first learning that, and now I’m 18. I've learned so much, and it just makes me so grateful.

KATE: I’m curious how you seniors feel about bringing your Westminster experience into college.

ELLE: What I’ve been hearing from a lot of peers is that it’s not about the best college you can

Gideon Zemedhun ’24 started at Westminster in sixth grade. As a junior, he was a WCAT lead and a member of the Innovation Fellows cohort while participating in cross country, swimming, and track and field.

Kate Harley ’24 started at Westminster in pre-first. As a junior, she was a WCAT lead, a member of the Student Alumni Council, and a member of the varsity basketball team.

get into but what you do there. And I think We stminster is really good at growing leaders who can go anywhere and make the best of it. You can challenge yourself as much as you want. Going into college, it’s all about how I can best use my time at this other school using what I’ve learned from Westminster to grow and change.

LIZZIE: I love that point. It’s not how smart you are but how you are smart. We’re all smart in different ways. You can do something great at any school you go to because of the foundation Westminster has laid.

GIDEON: I know I’ve talked about role models. We’re all juniors and seniors here—we’re kind of becoming the role models and that next generation of leaders. It’s kind of scary to think about.

ELLE: One thing I hope for next year is that Lizzie’s grade will feel comfortable to contact me if they reach out to people at different colleges to get a sense for what life is like there.

DANIEL: Going off of Elle’s point of talking to people older than you, I think one great example from JanTerm is Ms. [Jean] Cho—she was able to get jobs and opportunities through Westminster alumni. I think graduating from Westminster isn’t the end of the road. We’ll always bleed green. Being able to connect with people who have gone through similar experiences is a great thing.

LIZZIE: I only have a year left here, which is crazy. But in that year, it’s about fostering a community that leaders can thrive in and building up other leaders, whether that be through being a captain in my sport or in the classroom or in clubs—allowing other leaders to shine and passing it forward and helping my peers. Ava has done a great job of that with women’s empowerment. Her club is a very clear manifestation of that.

AVA: Being at Westminster has really helped me grow in confidence. Even coming into ninth grade, I was not confident, I didn’t join a single club because I was scared, and I hated public speaking. All three of those things have changed now. If ninth grade me was about to go to college, I’d be really, really scared. But now I’m excited to take advantage of the opportunities. I feel like you can go out there and change the world while you’re here at Westminster, but I’m looking forward to pursuing that even further in college.

KATE: People like [JanTerm guest speakers] Alex Anthopoulos and Brooke Baldwin ’97, who Ava and I got a chance to talk to, are such role models. As I’ve gotten involved with broadcasting, I’ve been in situations where I’m one of the only girls, and I look at people like Brooke Baldwin and I think they’re amazing. It would be a really cool thing if in 20 years, I’m like that for somebody else. Gideon, you’re talking about being a role model, and it’s intimidating. But I know how much I admire these people. If I can take the steps to have a little bit of that effect on somebody else, that would be a really, really special thing. And I think we all have the opportunity to do that because of the skills we’ve learned here at Westminster and the confidence Westminster has instilled in us.

LIZZIE: Frances mentioned how the people we heard from didn’t have easy or linear paths. Their stories have such significance and meaning because they weren’t easy—they found their true form of leadership through those hardships. I know that my future will have a lot of ups and downs, like we saw from pretty much everyone we talked to, but I’ll come out strong like these people have.

AVA: Westminster has so many catchy phrases that really stick with me, like leaders of conscience and leaders of tomorrow. I know that in my future path, I’m just going to remember those words, whatever I’m doing.

LIZZIE: Love, challenge, lead, change.

AVA: Yeah! Love, challenge, lead, change—I’ll be thinking it.

Lizzie Hunter ’24 came to Westminster in pre-first. As a junior, she was a member of the Christian Life Council, a Middle School Bible Study Leader, and a Civil Dialogue Fellow while participating in the Young Conservatives Club, leading a Middle School Bible study, and playing varsity tennis.

Each January, Westminster’s Upper School students get to step out of their usual school routine and dive into something different for an intensive, immersive three-week session called JanTerm. The offerings change from year to year, but one course that’s always in demand is President Keith Evans’ Leadership Encounter. In this course, students meet leaders representing a range of industries who are making their mark on Atlanta and the world through their professional lives and civic and philanthropic engagement. Keith lines up an impressive slate of speakers—many of whom are already part of the Westminster community—to interact with the students either on campus or out in the field.

When these guest speakers meet with the students, the prompt is always the same: “Tell us your story.” Wherever the session goes from there is up to the guest. Westminster Magazine spoke with some of the leaders who recently visited Keith’s JanTerm class to find out what shaped them, what drives them, what wisdom they’ve acquired along their leadership journeys, and what advice they have for Westminster’s up-and-coming leaders.

Jean Cho ’91 CEO, Mashburn LLC

Jean Cho ’91 is the CEO of Mashburn LLC, a premium apparel and lifestyle brand and retailer, where she leads a staff of more than 160 people supporting all aspects of the Sid Mashburn and Ann Mashburn brands. After graduating from Westminster, Jean attended Georgetown University, where she completed a BA in government with a minor in math; she later went to the Stanford Graduate School of Business to earn her MBA. Prior to joining Mashburn, Jean held merchandising leadership roles at Gap Inc. and Carter’s Inc. in both

domestic and international divisions. When Jean met with the JanTerm students, she led them on a tour through Mashburn’s Atlanta shops and offices, where they settled into a conference room to hear Jean’s leadership story.

“Right after college, I worked at Time Inc. in their digital division. Having had very little business experience, I wasn’t sure how to tell a good potential partner and opportunity from a bad one. I asked my manager how she was evaluating each deal. Ultimately, she said, the important question to ask was, ‘Do you like them?’ You need to like someone to want to work with them, and you need to want to work with them to make it work. I think about that a lot when I’m vetting different vendors and even when I’m hiring. It seems overly simplistic, but it covers a lot of ground. Many companies or people may have the competencies you’re looking for, but they need to be good to work with. You can call it by many names—cultural fit, shared values, etc.—but you need to trust their character because you’ll be spending a lot of time with them. Do you like them?

“There have been a few times in my career where my manager presented me with an opportunity I wasn’t sure I was ready for—they had more faith in me than I did. Each of these led to experiences that stand out in my development as a leader. As a c hannel leader for Time Inc.’s internet group, I had as my manager a strong, supportive female role model who invited me to every meeting, giving me exposure to strategic conversations, and gave me high-profile projects and a business education while coaching me through them. Another time, when I transitioned from managing one product department to managing a division of multiple departments at Old Navy, I wasn’t sure I had the capacity to take on the larger scope, but my director was confident I could. I learned to delegate, appreciate, and support the different leadership styles of my direct reports and focus on strategy more than the day-to-day.

“When I first started managing others, I spent most of my time s howing them how I would do the job, which may be typical when you first move from being an individual contributor to a manager. As I started leading larger teams across multiple areas, my responsibility shifted to providing a clear vision and goals and then giving them room to determine how to get there. It’s my job to help pave the way for them to succeed.”

Alex Anthopoulos P ’29

General Manager and President, Baseball Operations, Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves General Manager and President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos came to Atlanta from the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017. The Braves won the 2021 World Series under his leadership, and the team has won the National League East in each of his first five seasons running baseball operations. A native of Montreal, Quebec, Alex began his baseball career in 2000 as a media relations intern with the Montreal Expos. He then worked in scouting for the Expos and the Toronto Blue Jays before being named general manager of the Blue Jays in 2009; after six seasons in that role, he joined the Dodgers’ baseball operations team. A lex, a two-time JanTerm guest who hosted this year’s class in the Braves clubhouse, was recognized as Baseball America’s Executive of the Year for 2022.

“My father was an engineer, and he had a company that provided commercial heating and ventilation. I studied economics instead of engineering, but I assumed I would follow in his footsteps. He passed away 10 days before my 21st birthday, and all of a sudden my life accelerated. I started working at his company immediately, and two years into it, I realized I didn’t want to do that for the next 40 or 45 years of my life. I didn’t appreciate or even consider

the importance of enjoying what you do until I started to work and do something I didn’t love.

“I was determined to work in sports—in baseball, specifically. I wasn’t concerned with the salary or the job responsibilities; I just wanted to be in an industry that I felt strongly about. I’m a big believer that passion is key. Passion leads to energy, and energy leads to work ethic and so on. Being general manager was not even on my radar. I know it sounds pretty simplistic, but I really focused on staying in my lane and trying to dominate—that’s a strong word, but—the job I was given. Whatever the job was, I wanted to be the best at that one thing.

Garrett Langley ’05

Founder and CEO, Flock Safety

“I think passion and humility are key. There’s power in humility, and ‘thank you’ will get you a long way. Those factors are foundational for me. Obviously, you need to have content expertise and work ethic, but humility will allow you to learn and grow, and people will want to work with you.

“There’s so much to sports, and there are so many people that you’re exposed to who you can learn from. No one wins a World Series 10 years in a row, and no one makes the playoffs every single year. You will never get to the point that you stop learning because it’s so challenging, but that makes the field pretty exciting too.”

subscription service, and Experience, a live events mobile technology company. Outside of work, Garrett works to inspire future engineers to create technology that can make a positive impact on society. This year’s JanTerm students visited Garrett and Flock Safety for a tour of the facilities and discussed the early development process for new technology, the phases of building a company, and the impact of technology on society.

“There is a common debate around what is the most important variable early on for creating a successful company. Some argue the market, some the product, and others the team. Early in my career, a mentor showed me how critical the right team could be. With the right team, you build great products and you find big markets. The team is often the hardest thing to change, and it’s also the one thing that can stay the same from company to company, product to product, and market to market. So whenever I think about starting a new venture, I start with building the founding team.

Garrett Langley ’05 is founder and CEO of Flock Safety, a company that designs, manufactures, and services devices to help cities, businesses, schools, and law enforcement in thousands of communities work together to stop crime, protect privacy, and mitigate bias. As a technology entrepreneur, Garrett has more than a decade of experience in earlystage companies across the banking, automotive, live events, and sports sectors. Prior to Flock Safety, Garrett helped launch Clutch, a monthly car

“Today, over 700 people work at Flock Safety. These individuals span the spectrum of race, gender, age, and religious and political beliefs. But we share a common goal that our world should be safer. Bringing these people together, despite our differences, and making a significant impact on our country is my proudest accomplishment.

“I was genuinely blown away by the quality and thoughtfulness of questions from the JanTerm class. Our students are some of the smartest folks I have ever met, and at such a young age. It gave me hope that the next generation would be leading us in a great direction.”

Suja Katarya P ’27, ’29 Executive Chair and Co-Founder, Procure Analytics

the fear of darkness, but in life, it has helped me make all my decisions without the fear or anxiety of the outcome.

“As a co-founder of my company, we focused on customer value over company growth, celebrated best efforts over results, and created a win-winwin culture. The third win was for our suppliers, who also gained significant market share by partnering with us. Any arrangement that does not create winners for all the participants is eventually doomed to fail. The outcome was that we grew the company from an idea to $1.6 billion in sales in a decade. There is no greater pride than winning as a team a nd no greater joy than sharing the win with your team.

“I consider humility and the attitude to serve as the most important traits of a good leader. One way to develop humility is to believe in the power of yes. Always steer toward saying, ‘Yes, I can do it,’ ‘Yes, I will try,’ ‘Yes, I will help.’ It is very easy to hesitate, to say no, to say ‘That’s too hard,’ to be comfortable with the status quo, to take the path of convenience. Work at the point of difference and push yourself to be in the 20 percent of the people that do 80 percent of the work.

Originally from New Delhi, India, Suja Katarya is executive chair of Procure Analytics, a company she co-founded in 2013 to address the complex challenges of purchasing maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products. She came to the United States to pursue an MBA at Georgia Tech, after which she worked in investment banking at SunTrust, as a director at Unisource, and as vice president for mergers and acquisitions at Altium Packaging prior to launching Procure Analytics. Starting from just two employees, Procure Analytics has grown to have $1.6 billion in sales, about 125 employees, and 35,000 square feet of office space. The JanTerm students met with Suja at her company’s headquarters to hear her leadership story.

“My fourth grade teacher once explained to me that belief and fear are opposites of each other. If you have belief in yourself and faith in a higher universal power, there is no room for fear. As a fourth grader, this advice helped me overcome

“There are lots of leadership styles, from inclusive and nurturing to authoritative and demanding and everything in between, and in the right circumstance, any one of these can work. But the key to a consistently successful leader is to be true to yourself and your style. There is no substitute for genuineness.

“Like with every new generation, this generation of leaders will have many more tools and innovative technologies to be more efficient and productive. Their challenge will be to keep up the investment in people, to have effective human interactions, and enforce a collaborative and compassionate work environment.”

“Maintain your humility, stay rooted in your values, and believe in yourself and your potential.”

Suja Katarya

Alex Taylor P ’32, ’33 Chairman and CEO, Cox Enterprises

University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in science with a focus on human and organizational development.

“There are many types of leaders. I have found that the most effective ones are those who have a natural instinct for understanding what needs to be done and then staying focused on seeing it done. Those who are successful are those who focus first on the team around them and work to bring out the best in the members of that team. A great leader is one who can make a team hum together and accomplish great things.

“Students who hope to lead should develop a sense of understanding the impact they have on those around them. Accomplishing greatness isn’t just about you and your success. It’s about understanding how you impact the world and the people around you. You need to make sure that your accomplishments are done in a way that leaves things in better shape than you found them. Making 10 slam dunks in a basketball game is impressive; more i mpressive is making five dunks and five assists.

Alex Taylor, chairman and CEO of Cox Enterprises, began his career with Cox Media Group in 2000 as a reporter for the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel in Colorado and has held numerous positions with Cox through the years. Since becoming CEO in 2018, he has led the company’s core operating businesses in broadband, automotive services, and media through significant transformation. Alex is committed to innovation, sustainability, and empowering Cox’s nearly 50,000 employees to build a better future for the next generation. Outside of leading the company his great-grandfather founded in 1898, Alex has chaired the Atlanta Committee for Progress and American Rivers and serves on the boards of the Carter Center, the PATH Foundation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Vanderbilt

Want to hear more from these leaders?

“As humans, we spend most of our time thinking about the past and the future. We spend very little time being grateful for what we have in the present. It is important to look around you and be grateful and happy for everything you have: your family, your home, your school, your friends. Try to be happy in life, and that will make you a better leader, a better friend, a better parent, and a better teacher to others. Happiness is being content in the present moment.

“I loved my time with the JanTerm students because it reminded me how smart young people are. The questions they asked, the engagement they had, their c oncern for the world around them, and their sense of humor were all things that brightened my day. My door and my office is always open to Westminster students and faculty. Helping to talk about the world, discuss leadership, think about the future and how to solve problems together is why we are here.”

Read extended excerpts from our interviews at westminster.net/magazine.

Brooke Baldwin

’97

Journalist and Bestselling Author

the tripod or buying your photographer dinner or getting to know the crew.

“My other piece of advice is to listen. The art of listening is dying. We’re all tethered to our devices and prioritizing things like social media and what we think we should and shouldn’t look and act like, and we’re losing a sense of our true selves. Just shut up and listen. And then when there’s a pause and it’s awkward, don’t say anything. Let it hang. This is something I learned in journalism, but it’s true in life. Don’t fill the space. Just let the silence breathe, and wait, and then let the person continue. Don’t go into something thinking you’re going to have these five questions you’re going to ask and you’re not going to deviate. Life is about deviating; life is about listening, being present in the moment. And if you need to zig instead of zag, do it. I think that applies to journalism and to life.

Brooke Baldwin ’97 is a thought leader, bestselling author, and award-winning journalist. For more than a decade, Brooke hosted her own live daily news show on CNN, where she covered natural disasters, political campaigns, and other breaking news in addition to creating the digital series American Woman to elevate female voices and stories. In 2021, she released her debut book, Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power, and she recently shot and hosted a TV show that will air on a major streaming network. Prior to CNN, Brooke worked in local news for nearly a decade. At Westminster, Brooke was president of her senior class, and she went on to study journalism and Spanish at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She returned to Westminster in 2015 to give the commencement address for that year’s graduates and has since been an alumni CATtalks speaker and guest on WCAT.

“It’s so cliche, but my mom taught me kindness. There are so many people who are good at what they do—who are talented, who’ve read all the things, who’ve taken the extra classes—but I do think that there is an edge to being kind. As a young reporter, that was reflected in being willing to carry

“Even though we didn’t have JanTerm when I was at Westminster, these kids can look at me as someone who knows those hallways. I know some of those same teachers. I can say, ‘I was you. I had the same fears and trepidations and butterflies in my stomach and I also didn’t know what the heck I wanted to do sitting in your seat.’ All I could think about was what college I would get into, which class I was going to ace and which class I was going to office hours for—AP Calculus—and who I was going to hang out with later.

“I d idn’t know what I was going to do with the rest of my life or even the next few years when I was in high school. It took college and internships and talking to journalists for me to really solidify it. It wasn’t until my senior year of college that I thought I could give this whole on-air thing a go. I thought I was going to be a producer. So that’s how I think I’m able to give back as an alum. I can say, ‘I was you, I am you. Let me hold your hand and help light the path forward.’”

INSPIRING STUDENTS TO BECOME LEADERS OF CONSCIENCE

By Kathleen Poe Ross ’01

The student experience at Westminster is intentionally designed to help today’s Wildcats develop into leaders of conscience for Atlanta and the world. This requires having teachers and staff members who are themselves skilled and thoughtful leaders, able to help each student progress toward their greatest aspirations. In order to support this effort, the School actively works to cultivate leaders among faculty, staff, and even alumni alongside current students.

Much of that development happens on campus, reinforcing the concept that learning is an essential component of leadership at all levels. Rooted in this notion, the School offers continuing education, fosters connections among alumni, and taps into the expertise of the Board of Trustees and other accomplished friends of the School to create learning opportunities that extend across the Wildcat community. The following programs and experiences represent just a few of the ways in which Westminster’s focus on leadership development is flourishing on campus today.

Students converse with members of the Board of Trustees at the 2023 Board Retreat in Barge Commons.

DIALOGUE AND DEEPER CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY DEVELOPING LEADERS SERIES

Westminster’s Center for Teaching (CFT) was established in 2007 to be a resource center for teachers, helping them refine their craft through one-on-one coaching, on-campus seminars, curriculum development projects, and more. Guided by Executive Director Bob Ryshke, CFT launched an in-house program in 2019 called the Developing Leader Series. This endeavor called on the School’s senior leadership team to facilitate monthly workshops for fellow faculty and staff, each one offered both during and after school to increase accessibility. In this year’s iteration of the series, more and more teachers and staff members from all across the School raised their hands to share their ideas with colleagues.

risks and support their departments or students in really creative and innovative ways and feel enriched—that’s really good for their professional growth.”

Among the topics covered in the 2022–23 Developing Leader Series were navigating difficult conversations, led by division heads Lauren DuPriest, Danette Morton, and Chanley Small; how to grow as a leader, facilitated by President Keith Evans; and “Creating Community Through Charcuterie,” a session that explored building relationships through shared experiences— and food—led by Director of Enrollment Management Marjorie Mitchell and Glenn Institute Director Meghan James.

Sumana Moudgal joined the Westminster staff two years ago as an associate director of college counseling, and she attended several sessions in the yearlong series.

“The people who present embody this concept of being a leader. Part of that is the willingness to share and engage and do some public learning,” Bob says. “We want our faculty and staff to build confidence and capacity that they can take

“I’m still learning the culture and finding my way around, and this leadership series has been especially helpful for me to learn about what Westminster values are and where they choose to put their efforts,” Sumana says. “It has been really heartwarming to see that the School values the growth of the faculty that much.”

Trustee Liz Blake discusses philanthropy with Westminster students, staff, and faculty in the Parker Board Room.

Associate Director of College Counseling Anthea Economy, Upper School math teacher Sarah Latham, and Upper School art teacher Michael Reese work together to prepare a charcuterie board as part of a creative session on community building.

BLACK ALUMNI CONFERENCE

The first-ever Black Alumni Conference, held last fall, created another opportunity for personal and professional development within the Westminster community. Timed to coincide with Homecoming weekend, the Black Alumni Conference kicked off with a welcome social before the Homecoming game and brought together Black alums spanning the decades.

forward-looking. The weekend concluded with worship in the Barge Commons chapel, brunch, and a bell-ringing ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the School’s first five Black graduates: Isaac Clark, Michael McBay, Malcolm Ryder, Jannard Wade, and Wanda Ward, from the Class of 1972.

Throughout the weekend, alumni shared stories of their Westminster experiences, many of which had not been told before. The conference reinforced the importance of storytelling, listening, and elevating the spectrum of voices and viewpoints that exist on campus.

“The opportunity to gain perspective from other alums was encouraging because it underscored the commonality of our experiences at the School and our collective commitment to positive change, as well as the depth and breadth of our experiences,” says Andre Sulmers ’95, a founding BAC member who served on the planning committee and traveled from Brooklyn to attend this inaugural conference.

The three-day conference focused on the “five Rs” that guide the Black Alumni Council’s work—reconciliation, reengagement, representation, recruitment, and renewal—and set the stage for further dialogue and deeper connections across the School community. With panel discussions, a virtual keynote address from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson, small-group breakout sessions, and more, the conference was both reflective and

Corliss “Peaches” Blount Denman ’73 cochaired the conference committee, which she says was an enriching experience in and of itself. As she worked with committee members spanning several decades, she found it was a unique opportunity to expand her Westminster family and help forge a renewed sense of belonging among fellow Black alums. On the other side of the conference, Corliss feels even more strongly that such events are an essential part of cultivating future leaders.

“I truly believe that together, all Wildcat alumni can work toward even greater progress at the School and in the broader community as leaders of conscience,” Corliss says.

LEADERSHIPCULTIVATING SKILLS

Adrianne Prysock '98, Lisa Borders '75, and Nicholas Harvey '82 take part in a panel discussion at the inaugural Black Alumni Conference.

BOB RYSHKE

At the end of the 2022–23 school year, Bob Ryshke, founding executive director of the Center for Teaching, retired from Westminster, capping a 44year career in education. Bob taught Upper School biology and led the Center for Teaching for 17 years, during which time he established the center as an influential resource for the improvement of teaching both at Westminster and beyond. The Center for Teaching added a robust leadership development program under Bob’s direction while sustaining its focus on excellent classroom instruction throughout all divisions of the School. Look for another tribute to Bob and his role in shaping professional culture at Westminster in the next issue of Westminster Magazine.

2023 BOARD OF TRUSTEES RETREAT

The seasoned leaders who comprise Westminster’s Board of Trustees know that listening to others and being open to new ideas are essential. They not only applied these values to themselves but also modeled them for the larger Westminster community when they held their annual retreat on Westminster’s campus during JanTerm. This somewhat unconventional format encouraged participation from students, faculty, and staff, enhancing the board’s connection with the School. Board chair Katharine Kelley ’82 described it as an “un-retreat” right in the heart of campus.

“We wanted to go wide before we went narrow: engaging the wisdom of every single member of our board; engaging our faculty, staff, and students in our thinking; and fully immersing in the School before we prepare our strategic next steps,” Katharine says. “We decided to do our own JanTerm-style board retreat—with all the cross-disciplinary, hands-on engagement that our students were experiencing at that same time during JanTerm.”

Students were welcomed to sessions and invited into conversations with board members through Q&As, panel discussions, and more. Among the topics presented by the board were perspectives on Atlanta’s future, philanthropy and high-impact giving, the future of work, and discussing the importance of an inclusive Christian school.

“The best part of the retreat, hands down, was our engagement with the

students. Hearing their questions and insights during the panel sessions, having conversations with them throughout the day, and seeing how they are processing the world around them was incredibly inspiring. Our students are why we do what we do,” Katharine says.

Trustee, tech entrepreneur, and Westminster parent David Cummings gave a keynote on preparing students for the next decade of the digital revolution.

“The retreat created an opportunity to share experiences and spend time together [with the students]. A day like this is really important to building relationships and getting to know each other on a deeper level,” David says. “I hope they took away that the board is very serious about learning and understanding and doing what it thinks is best for the future of Westminster.”

Hosting an open retreat throughout Barge Commons and in the Carlyle Fraser Library’s Parker Board Room during the school day—and inviting those on campus to join in—was a powerful way for the board to lead by example and demonstrate the importance of dialogue

and listening. Trustee Natosha Reid Rice came away from the experience impressed by the thoughtfulness and dedication of the next generation of leaders coming through the School.

“As trustees, we are entrusted with caring for the whole student and creating a space for that student to grow, to thrive, and to be prepared for what happens when they graduate from here,” Natosha says. “I hope to be a part of helping students realize that there’s wonderful possibility and opportunity in the world—and there’s great agency in each of those students to be a part of creating an amazing tomorrow.”

Former Board of Trustees Chair Joel Murphy ’76 talks with Daniel Qiu ’24 during the board retreat.

Trustee Natosha Reid Rice speaks about Christian life at the School during the Board of Trustees retreat.

“AS TRUSTEES, WE ARE ENTRUSTED WITH CARING FOR THE WHOLE STUDENT AND CREATING A SPACE FOR THAT STUDENT TO NATOSHAGROW.” REID RICE

Thank You, Westminster Fund Volunteers!

At the heart of The Westminster Fund are the volunteers who commit time and effort to inspiring fellow parents and alumni to invest in today’s students. Every gift they help secure ensures our students have the opportunity to grow through robust academic offerings, leadership roles, DEI initiatives, student support programs, and financial aid. The collective generosity and outreach of these volunteers sends a strong signal of support for Westminster’s mission. Thank you! Together, we are a stronger community, thanks to the commitment of our volunteers and donors.

Campaign Leadership

Brand Morgan ’94

Trustee Chair

Preston Moister ’99

Alumni Giving Chair

Nigel Walker ’13

Young Alumni Giving Chair

Leslie and Keven Patterson

Parent Giving Chairs

Anne and Charlie ’91 Henn

Parent Giving Chairs-Elect

Linda and Mason Stephenson Grandparent Giving Chairs

Jay Jowers

Past Parent Giving Chair

Alumni Volunteers Leadership Giving Committee

Laura Rains Draper ’86

Michael Wallace ’91

Mary Dickinson Trammel ’95

Jeff Perry ’96

Jim Thompson ’97

Zibby Stokes Doob ’99

Kenneth Franklin ’00

Daisy Kraft Starr ’00

Ellen Persons ’01

Barclay Taylor ’01

Andrew Spears ’01

Zach Usilton ’01

Harrison Anthony ’04

Elizabeth Ezzell Perry ’04

Margaret Mansfield Ale ’06

Bennett Gillogly ’10

Khamal Brown ’11

Class of 1980

Henry Grady

Class of 1984

Class of 1994

Rob Lathan

Class of 1995

Hayden Temin

Class of 1996

Walt Plyler

Class of 1997

Joe Wheatley

Class of 1999

Esther Hong Kulp

David Alexander

Clinton McKellar

Class of 2000

Mitch Ermentrout

Smith Levenson

Spencer Boice

Class of 2001

Reid Childers

John P. Thornton Jr.

Class of 2002

Class of 2004

Mark Kaufman

Terrell Ussing

Will Andrews

Henry Bowden

Alex Bartko

Class of 2005

Laura Dopson Almquist

Marjorie Schwahn Armstrong

Brent Fraim

Class of 2006

Rishav Kohli

Class of 2007

Stephanie Newton Bedard

Class of 2009

Bill Schwartz

Austin McDonnell

Class of 2010

Caroline G. Monagle

Class of 2014

Maggie Wellborn

More than

3,000 emails sent

Jan Clary Gross

Class of 1990

John Wheeler

Blake Young

Alison Reed

Lee A. Peifer

Ellen W. Richter

Mark Alar

Adrienn Perkins

Class of 2015

Mallie Egan

“We are committed to being active parents within the Westminster community—it’s our responsibility to support Westminster with the necessary financial resources to enhance the student experience.”

– Leslie and Keven Patterson, P ’26, ’28, ’28

Parent Volunteers

Leadership Giving Committee

Lindsey and Richard Myung

Catherine Love Kraft ’03 and Kenny Kraft ’02

Bliss and Blake Campbell

Anjeli and Raj Laungani

Kat and Steve Harrigan

Amy and James Harrison

Jennifer and David Tetrick

Sarah and John ’94 Nastopoulos

Tinsley and Richard Hickson

Elizabeth and Tom Hawk

Susan and Christian Charnaux

Ash and Arif Alibhoy

Benton Routh

Jessica and Tyler Dempsey

Lilly Liang and Jason Yuan

Amy and Murray Reavis

Nina and Allen Sprinkle

Stephanie and Ross ’02 Kimbel

Liz Olmsted Griffith ’02 and Carter Griffith

Amy and Andy Kincheloe

Tarik Lalwani

Whitney Walters Woodward ’97 and Ted Woodward ’98

6th Grade (Class of 2029)

Emily and Rene Sauerteig

Maryna and Charles Murdock

Willson and David ’92 Overend

Heather and Tedd Sellers

Donatala and Matt Stubblefield

Mary Susan and John Wheeler

7th Grade (Class of 2028)

Ellen and Buck Wiley

Sarah Brannon Dozier ’92 and Martin Dozier

Dawn and Kevin Dwyer

Kristen and Lee ’90 Hunter

Huma and Syed Ishaqui

Tiffany and Rich Kent

Hamid Montazeri

Cindy and Michael Phelan

Jeannie and Bennett Sands

Meredith and Tim Schrader

Jennifer and Brian Schumacher

Nancy Dhue Suh ’95 and Chris Suh ’95

Dayton and Raul Velarde

Elizabeth and Pete Werdesheim

10th Grade (Class of 2025)

Henraya and Juan McGruder

Susan and Brian Banner

Tracy and Justin Bevington

Jennie and Ed Buckley

Jessica and Tyler Dempsey

Emi Shaffer Gragnani ’95 and Michael Gragnani

Mary Elizabeth and Louis Gump

Ashanti and Jonathan Hunt

106 Parent volunteers from households

Pre-First (Class of 2035)

Jen and Paul Bennecke

Jen and Ralph Alewine

Yoan and Luis de Mattos Almeida

Emily and Pierce Lancaster

1st Grade (Class of 2034)

Coogan and Chuck Perrin

Eleanor and Graham Jones

Natalie Bolch Morhous ’01 and Hunter Morhous

2nd Grade (Class of 2033)

Marni and Julian ’92 Mohr

Danielle and Jason Blake

3rd Grade (Class of 2032)

Michelle and Ryan Murphy

4th Grade (Class of 2031)

Betsy and David Metcalf

Julie and Jansen Bailey

5th Grade (Class of 2030)

Amy and Chris Lea

Rachel and Michaell Giampaolo

Elizabeth and Tom Hawk

Emily and Matthew Heimermann

Elizabeth and Brian Moore

Melissa and Allen Moseley

Maggie and Michael Wallace

Susannah Frost and Jeff Yost

8th Grade (Class of 2027)

Carolyn and Joe Patterson

Ashley and Shawn Hall

Denise and Vern ’80 Hendrix

Louise Hammer

Angel and Brian Parks

Shannon and Jeff ’91 Sugarman

9th Grade (Class of 2026)

Benton Routh

Kathy and Jonathan Harper

Windsor and Bo Adams

Ashley and Lloyd Bell

Millay and Bill Chappell

Laura Kibler Crim ’95 and Clay Crim

Shelly and Jason Cropper

Kappy Kellett deButts ’94 and William deButts

Urvashi and Omar Damji

Robin and Neale Fisher

Tossy and Adam ’93 Fogle

Gabriela Olivo-Goss and Ryan Goss

Whitney and Brian Hill

Wendy and Matt Miller

Isioma and Chukwuka Okumaubua

Rakhee and Shatul Parikh

Deanna and Marvin Shoyoye

11th Grade (Class of 2024)

Jenn and Boykin Robinson

Stephanie and Steve Barth

Shelly and Jason Cropper

Beth and Teague ’91 Hunter

Tiffany and Richard Kent

Lilly Liang and Jason Yuan

Marni and Julian ’92 Mohr

Lynn and Charlie Morgan

Jessie and Tim Xia

12th Grade (Class of 2023)

Liza Farley and Jeff Allen

Tamela and Reggie Synder

1,880 students supported

“During my time as a student, I felt important to the Westminster community, and I want Black students to know they are important too. I give so Black students can have a great experience like I did at Westminster.”

– Nigel Walker ’13

WILDCAT DEN

From the cross country trail to the wrestling mat to the squash court, our Wildcat athletes regularly trounced the competition in fall 2022 and winter 2023, adding two team state championship titles and one national championship title to the books and breaking long-standing School records. Go Cats!

FALL 2022 SPORTS

Cheerleading

Sideline cheer wowed the crowds with amazing pep rally and halftime routines for varsity and junior varsity football and basketball games in the fall and winter seasons. The CheerCats competition squad competed in region for the first time as a varsity squad; they fought hard and were recognized as regional runner-up.

Boys Cross Country

Boys varsity cross country won the 2022 GHSA 4A state title—the team’s 31st state championship in program history. The Wildcats had six runners place in the top 22, including third and fourth place finishes by Esfan Daya ’24 and Joseph Jacquot ’24, respectively.

Girls Cross Country

The Wildcats dominated the trails this season, making it all the way to the state championship. The team turned in a strong performance at state with an incredible first place finish by Palmer Walstad ’23, securing an individual state champion title.

Football

The Wildcats had a hard-fought season, making it to the playoffs with stellar wins against rivals Lovett and Holy Innocents. Punter Carson Wilkie ’24 was awarded all-state, all-region, and all-metro honors. Kicker Josh Brockman ’23 was awarded all-metro and allregion recognitions. Henry Chartrand ’23, Henry Douglass ’23, Jonny Fritz ’23, Henry Izlar ’23, and Armstrong Jones ’24 were named first team all-region.

Softball

The softball BatCats dominated this season and once again earned the title of region champions. The team secured win after win, going undefeated in the region. The big 15–7 win over Pace was a notable victory. Cece Schrader ’24 was named Region Player of the Year. Stella Chartrand ’24, McKenna Bekkers ’26, and Quinn Schaeffer ’23 were named first team all-region, and Grace Carabillo ’23, Helen Slawson ’24, and Kate McDonald ’26 were named all-region honorable mention.

Volleyball

The Wildcats had a great season on the court with a notable upset win over rival Lovett in the region semifinals to advance to the region championship game. Ellie Myers ’24 was named an all-state and allregion player; Sophia Jo ’25 and Lucy Shi ’25 were also recognized as all-region athletes. Lucy Shi reached the incredible milestone of 1,000 career assists.

TRACK THE CATS ON INSTAGRAM

Follow Wildcat athletics on Instagram at @westminsterwildcats all year long to keep up with the highlights between issues of Westminster Magazine!

@westminsterwildcats

WINTER 2023 SPORTS

Boys Basketball

The Cats fought hard this season and secured many wins, including an exciting 60–57 victory over Hapeville Charter. At the end of the season, Zeke Harpe ’23 and Tyler Harris ’23 were recognized by the region coaches. The boys are excited to work hard in the off-season and come back even stronger next year.

Girls Basketball

Girls varsity basketball had a record-breaking season, battling a tough region and an even more competitive GHSA classification. Courtney Ogden ’23 was named Region Player of the Year, Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year, and a McDonald’s All-American athlete. She broke the School’s single-season scoring record and is now the top all-time career scorer for girls and boys. Stella Chartrand ’24 also had a standout season, surpassing 1,000 career points and setting the school record for blocks in a game.

Boys Squash

The boys squash team are national champions! After a fiercely competitive season, the Wildcats secured their spot as the 2023 U.S. Squash High School Division V National Champion. Frank Blake ’23, Mark Mogos ’23, Caleb Coughlin ’24, and Nathan Musierowciz ’24 were all undefeated at nationals—and Nathan didn't lose a single game in any match throughout the tournament. The team won two tie-breaker matches in the final to claim the championship title.

Girls Squash

The Wildcats dominated this season, placing third at the MICDS Invitational and seventh at the U.S. Squash High School Division V Nationals in Philadelphia.

Wrestling

The MatCats had a stellar season, securing their first region championship since 2015. The team advanced to the Sweet 16, sending three wrestlers to state for the first time in 20 years. Sam Reavis ’23 placed fifth at 157 lbs., Cooper Thomas ’23 placed fourth at 190 lbs., and Robert Crim ’24 placed fourth at 126 lbs. in the state competition. Jackson Bailey ’26 also qualified for state at 132 lbs.

Boys Swimming and Diving

Boys varsity swimming and diving had a great season filled with personal records, team bonding, and a 10th-place finish at state. Led by captains Tommy Lariccia ’23 and Chase Hunsicker ’23, the team sent eight athletes to state, including two divers. Trevor Dempsey ’24 placed in the top 10 in the state diving meet, contributing strong points alongside top-10 state finishes in the 200-meter individual medley and 500-meter freestyle by Jake Scott ’24, the 100-meter backstroke by Alex Wa ’24, and the 400-meter freestyle relay.

Girls Swimming and Diving

Following a nearly undefeated season, our girls swimming and diving team had 20 state finals appearances and earned five gold, two silver, and two bronze medals on the way to their sixth consecutive state championship title. Among many great personal records, dive performances, and races from the entire team throughout the meet, highlights for the Cats included wins in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays, a 500 freestyle victory for team captain Sara Ketron ’23, and two individual event wins and three new school records by Katie Christopherson ’24. Congrats to these athletes on an incredible season!

A NEW CHALLENGE FOR TIM DOWNES

After eight years of leading Westminster’s nationally recognized athletics program, Tim Downes is departing to take on a new challenge.

Under Tim’s leadership, Westminster strengthened its focus on studentathlete development, expanded professional development opportunities for coaches, completed significant facilities improvements, and elevated many community-building gatherings like the Breithaupt Athletic Hall of Fame and Signing Day ceremonies.

Notably, Tim led the program to success through numerous challenges presented by the pandemic. Last fall, we congratulated Tim, our student-athletes, and our coaches and athletics staff on Westminster’s distinction as the MaxPreps No. 1 public or private school athletic program in the nation for 2021–22.

In his new role, Tim will be joining the leadership team of Hillbrook School in San Jose, California, to establish their athletics program as the school adds upper school grades to its K–8 divisions. Despite his cross-country move, Tim may still be spotted in the stands at Westminster during the next year; his wife, Upper School staffer Beth Downes, and son, Will ’24, will remain in Atlanta to finish out Will’s high school career at Westminster. We thank Tim for his many contributions to the School through the years and wish him all the best in his new role.

SPOTLIGHT ON… GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL

Coming off of a stellar 2021–22 season that included a trip to the state Final Four, Westminster’s varsity girls basketball team set their sights high for the 2022–23 season and made it one for the record books. The team notched its second regional title in two years under head coach Katie Argall—who also brought home her second consecutive recognition as Coach of the Year—and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs in a new and highly competitive GHSA classification.

“Last year taught the girls we can actually compete and win,” Katie says. “It’s these girls and who they are as a team—they’re really unselfish. Basketball is a long season and a very physical sport, and they’ve put in the time. We’re just really proud of them.”

“I think Courtney’s legacy is that she broke all these records and won all these awards, and in the process of doing that, she made it really cool to put in extra work, to get into the gym and bring your teammates with you,” Katie says. “She works exceptionally hard at everything she does. I’ve never coached anyone like her, nor will I again.”

Team captain Courtney Ogden ’23, unanimously chosen by her teammates, continued her run of outstanding leadership on the court. In her senior season, Courtney became Westminster's all-time scoring leader for both boys and girls basketball with 1,936 points, breaking a record held by Shani Boston ’03 for the past two decades. Courtney, who’s joining Stanford University’s storied basketball program, was honored as the AJC Player of the Year, MaxPreps Georgia High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Gatorade Georgia Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Atlanta Tipoff Club's Miss Georgia Basketball, and a 2023 McDonald’s All-American selection—the first athlete in School history to earn the latter two recognitions—among other superlatives.

Seniors Jada Bettis ’23, Kiera Staude ’23, and Courtney led the team as a trio of “tremendous athletes,” in Katie’s words, and they’re all looking forward to Division I athletic careers. Kiera, recognized as third-team all-region at the end of the basketball season, will join UGA’s soccer team, and Jada plans to walk on for track and field at Notre Dame. Showing the depth of the squad, Stella Chartrand ’24 earned first-team all-region honors and surpassed 1,000 career points this season, and freshman Julia Stallworth ’26 received an honorable mention nod.

As impressive as the team’s stats and accolades are, Katie points out that what the girls do together off the court truly sets them apart. Since 2018, the team has designated a home game as Play to Honor Night, where each player is able to publicly honor someone who has inspired and supported them throughout their life. The girls invite their honorees to a ceremony before the game, where each player speaks about the remarkable impact of these family members, teachers, coaches, trainers, and friends, and on the court they dedicate their play to their honoree.

Another special night for varsity girls basketball is the Play4Kay game, launched on campus in 2022 by Leah Black-Holmes ’24 to raise awareness and money for cancers affecting women. Leah saw how Play4Kay had become a meaningful tradition at colleges nationwide and wanted to contribute, along with her team, in support of cancer survivors like her mom, Westminster basketball alum Kelly Black-Holmes ’93. In just two years, Play4Kay at Westminster has raised more than $38,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

Courtney Ogden ’23

GIRLS BASKETBALL WINS PLAY4KAY HONOR

Weeks after the 2022–23 varsity girls basketball team had played its final game of the season, Leah Black-Holmes ’24 and head coach Katie Argall traveled together to the NCAA women’s Final Four in Dallas, Texas, for one final piece of basketball business. Leah and the Westminster girls basketball program were being honored as the nation’s top K–12 fundraiser for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund through Play4Kay, with more than $24,000 raised in only its second year participating.

female cancer survivors, thrivers, and warriors during the game, and raise money to donate to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Over time, Play4Kay has become the organization’s largest fundraiser and has awarded $8.18 million to date to support the fight against all cancers affecting women.

Leah was inspired to launch Play4Kay at Westminster in 2022 after watching her mother, Westminster alum and basketball hall-of-famer Kelly Black-Holmes ’93, battle breast cancer. With the support of her coaches, her team, her mom, and Westminster’s Glenn Institute for Philanthropy and Service Learning, Leah spearheaded the planning and launch of the Play4Kay game on campus. The result has been a community united for a cause far bigger than themselves. Leah’s efforts highlight the power of the next generation in the fight against cancer.

“Through Play4Kay I have been able to combine my passion for helping those with cancer and my love for basketball and my school community. I am thankful for the support of my coaches, teammates, and the greater Westminster community,” Leah told Play4Kay. “In just two years, we have raised more than $38,000 and honored many incredible women cancer survivors and thrivers.”

Play4Kay is a national program within the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, started by the late NC State women’s basketball coach Kay Yow in 2007. The premise is simple: Teams designate a Play4Kay game, celebrate

And this year, for the first time, the team launched its Catalyst program: six weeks of Saturday morning basketball skills sessions, open to all Lower School students and their siblings, coached by the girls. The players taught the younger kids basketball fundamentals, how to be a good teammate, and what it means to be a Wildcat; they also shared personal stories of sacrifice and perseverance on and off the floor. These sessions not only created connections across age groups in the School but also built up a passionate fan

“Leah and I had this moment in Dallas like, ‘How did we do that?’ because it's so much work, but it's successful because Leah cares deeply about it and has made her team care deeply about it,” Katie says. “It’s cool to know that we've had that impact beyond our campus. We’re so proud of her.”

base and laid the groundwork for developing future basketball talent on campus.

“It’s really amazing to see these girls grow in how they talk about other people [for Play to Honor], and the empathy they gain from coaching Lower Schoolers is incredible,” Katie says. “We just tell our girls, ‘You’re digging the well from which others will drink. Everything you do now matters in building this program’s culture of excellence with a culture of care and love.’”

Catching Up with Retired Faculty: Scoot Dimon ’70

by Jane Lauderdale Armstrong ’74

When Scoot Dimon arrived at Westminster in the fall of 1964 as a new seventh grade student, he could never have imagined that he was embarking on a relationship that would forever change his life. Likewise, it would also be a relationship that would forever change Westminster.

Transferring from James L. Riley Elementary School in Sandy Springs—now the site of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School—Scoot made lifelong friends seemingly within hours of stepping on campus.

“I loved Westminster from the getgo,” Scoot says. “The key to making friends that first week was getting invited to Tom Anderson’s birthday party. From then on it was pretty smooth sailing.”

His friendships spanned the Class of 1970, and they continue to this day. In his student years, Scoot could be found in the Hut with classmates David Gray, Danny Beard, or Comer Yates or on the tennis courts with Doug Hertz, Jimbo Howell, or John Lochridge, his state championship doubles partner.

Doug Hertz ’70 P ’98, ’01 remembers that, even then, Scoot’s positive attitude and charisma were a natural draw. “We were immediately the best of friends,” Doug says. “He was interested in everything—academics, sports, music. He was a Renaissance man at 12 years old!”

Those were very political years across the United States, and Westminster was no exception. Students were concerned about the Vietnam War and the possibility of being drafted upon turning 18. Many classmates participated in the war protest movement, and while Scoot was not actively involved, he admired

their passion. Scoot recalls the outstanding teachers and coaches he had at Westminster, who not only imparted their knowledge of their subjects but also offered their steady guidance. Among them were Frank Finsthwait, Charlie Breithaupt, Bob Nichols, and Leon Scott.

At the recommendation of his college counselor, Scoot enrolled at Davidson College upon graduation (“Thanks, Mr. Lauderdale!” Scoot notes) and afterward joined the Peace Corps, serving two years in Togo, West Africa.

“The greatest thing that happened to me in Africa was meeting Maggie Sutton, a fellow volunteer from Rochester, New York,” Scoot says. They fell in love, got married after they returned stateside, and had two sons, Philip ’99 and Ricky ’02. Over the years, Maggie and Scoot worked in schools in Clearwater, Florida; Princeton, New Jersey; Locust Valley, Long Island; and Winnetka, Illinois—Scoot served as a junior high principal and high school principal at the last two. In 1991, he felt a strong urge to leave school administration and get back into the classroom. He explored the idea of coming home to Westminster, and Charlie Breithaupt, then principal of the Upper School, welcomed him back.

Scoot and Maggie Dimon met up with former Westminster colleagues Eddie and Mary DuPriest for a Braves spring training game in February.

Wildcats Ricky Dimon ’02, Shelvis Smith-Mather ’97, Phil Dimon ’99, Maggie Dimon, and Scoot Dimon ’70 at Phil’s wedding in Kenya in 2021

Scoot taught seventh grade history, helped Wade Boggs coach boys varsity tennis, served as grade chair for the eighth grade boys, and became the PA announcer for Friday night varsity football games on campus. Returning to Westminster also meant that Scoot and Maggie were able to watch Philip and Ricky enjoy their Wildcat years—a time Scoot describes as “magic in so many ways, especially after we moved into a house on campus.”

History with Mr. Dimon was always an adventure, and his students thrived in his classes. Hartley Jeffries Glass ’02 had Scoot for seventh grade history, and she sees his influence in her current work as Middle School civic engagement coordinator with the Glenn Institute.

Scoot Dimon’s Top 5 Wildcat Experiences

Greeting kids every morning at Adams Gate

Teaching 7th grade history every year

Reading to 1st and 2nd graders every week—especially Dr. Seuss Coaching girls varsity tennis for 12 years and winning five state championships!

Announcing Friday night football games at Fritz Orr Field (with opportunities to help with volleyball and basketball too)

“Being in Scoot’s seventh grade U.S. history class was one of the most memorable experiences of middle school for me for so many reasons. Scoot started every class with the ‘Mission of the Day’ and then

proceeded to ask all of us about what was new in our lives outside of his class. Sports, drama, family—he cared about it all,” Hartley says. “He had a way of really making us each feel seen and known, and he taught me that what matters most in my teaching is how I connect with my students, not necessarily the content that I teach. Because of him, I also like to start my classes the way he did: by asking for weekend highlights, sports games outcomes, and funny stories the kids want to share. I hope this has the same inviting, relaxing effect on my students that it did on me. I’ll never forget how he always ended his classes with Luke 10:37, ‘Go and do likewise.’ I try to follow his example and do likewise in my own classes 25 years later.”

In 1996, then-President Bill Clarkson asked Scoot to become assistant headmaster with a focus on student life. The position paired him with longtime friend Jere Wells ’72, who served as assistant headmaster for academic affairs. The two alumni brought to their work their love for learning, love for their students, and love for Westminster. Scoot held this position for the next 20 years, working closely with both Bill and his successor, fellow Davidson grad Keith Evans.

“I learned so much from both of them, but I also took away some wisdom from both Dr. Pressly, my headmaster, and Donn Gaebelein, headmaster when my sisters were there,” Scoot says. “I always remember Dr. Pressly referring to Westminster as that metaphorical

‘city on a hill’ and his passion for others and leading a life of service. Bill and Keith reaffirmed that vision and worked hard to make sure that Westminster was inclusive and welcoming to all.”

When Scoot retired in 2017, he and Maggie decided to move to Naples, Florida, in order to be near her mother and quickly came to love the area. Scoot has become heavily involved in several clay-court tennis leagues, picked up pickleball (and won a few tournaments), and continues to toil away at what he calls the world’s most humbling game: golf. Maggie is an acclaimed artist and “yoga diva,” as Scoot describes her. Philip now lives in Zambia, where he works for the U.S. State Department; his marriage to Sheila Gabeya from Uganda took place on the beach in Kenya, and Shelvis Smith-Mather ’97 officiated. Ricky lives in Atlanta and still helps lead Westminster’s boys cross country team and girls tennis team to one state championship after another.

When asked about any final thoughts he has for Wildcat Nation, Scoot had but two: Go and do likewise, and Go Cats!

Jane Lauderdale Armstrong ’74 P ’07, ’10 is a lifelong Wildcat—alumna, teacher, and daughter of David Lauderdale, one of our School’s earliest faculty members. She combines her love for Westminster’s history and her penchant for the written word to write profiles about retired faculty members for each issue of Westminster Magazine.

School Days: Student Leadership in Community Service

Students at NAPS and Washington Seminary were encouraged to grow “in the qualities of leadership and cooperation which are demanded by every-day life,” as stated in the 1938–1939 Washington Seminary Catalog— and the same could be said of Westminster students from the 1950s until today. Community service has always been a big part of student life. It’s an area in which many people are able to take initiative and parlay their personal passions into leadership roles where they can make a difference in communities near and far.

By Pamela Nye, Director of Archives

North Avenue Presbyterian School

At North Avenue Presbyterian School, cultivating a sense of service was part of developing a well-rounded graduate. In the 1922–1923 catalog, in the “Nature of the School Life” section, the administrators wanted prospective families to know that “every effort is made to train the students in self-directed effort and in a sense of personal responsibility.” Student organizations at NAPS “provide training along executive lines and give opportunity for practice in the management of affairs,” according to the catalog. This often took the form of fundraising and giving to support various causes.

started a “Greater N.A.P.S.” fund. The story urged the student body to continue working on raising funds to build more facilities on campus, such as a swimming pool, tennis courts, showers, and a new assembly hall. The thencurrent building had been opened in September 1922.

Washington Seminary

Students at Washington Seminary were often either encouraged or required to belong to service organizations such as the Junior Red Cross and the Athletic Association Club, or “A” Club. Throughout the years, service organizations were added to provide ways for the students to take a leadership role in helping the community at large. In addition, students participated in forums with the faculty to discuss ways to help the community and to work toward a mindset of being a better citizen of the world.

On November 26, 1919, the NAPS Junior High presented a Thanksgiving service: “Everybody helped in the giving—$45 for Armenia and our city poor. In the picture are some Sophomores and friends as they looked when they started off.”

In the December 17, 1931, issue of Senior Reader, the staff reported that the previous two eighth grade classes

According to the 1936 Facts and Fancies yearbook, students in the “A” Club and on the basketball team were responsible for major upgrades in the gym: “Thanks to the ‘A’ club for the new gym floor. No more splinters! No more skidding! No more falls! This latest improvement in the gymnasium will add

greatly to the pleasure and comfort of everyone using it. The proceeds of last year’s basketball games as well as the selling profits of both the ‘A’ Club and the basketball squad were donated to the purchase of the special preparation used to cover the floor.”

Members of the Washington Seminary chapter of the Atlanta branch of the Needlework Guild were active each year creating and collecting clothes, shoes, and money for local charity. In 1944

Westminster

Like their predecessors at NAPS and Washington Seminary, students at Westminster have eagerly led engagement in service projects. In one of the earliest brochures describing Westminster, Dr. Pressly stated, "There are no social clubs, but groups which promote interests of the individual and his service to others.”

Through the years various student-led initiatives—and, indeed, clubs—have been established to carry on this tradition of service to the broader community.

In 1970, the Student Council sponsored the first-ever Christmas Banquet and Bazaar, an evening of food and music held in what is now Malone Dining Hall, to raise money for the “representative functions of the Girls School.” According to the December 1970 Bi-Line, the Chorale, Band and other music and theater groups from the Lower and Middle schools contributed entertainment throughout the evening. In this photo from the 1980 yearbook, the Service Council is hard at work on the December 1979 Bazaar. While it lasted, the Bazaar—an analog to today’s Alternative Gift Fair— was one of the students’ biggest fundraisers every year.

and 1945, the chapter raised $130 and created 391 garments for children in need to be distributed at Thanksgiving. Senior Florence Akers, junior Nellie Felix, and sophomore Olga Turner— the class vice presidents—are pictured here with guild members Barbara Watkins, junior, and Elizabeth Starr, eighth grade. Washington Seminary was one of the first schools in the United States to have a Needlework Guild, established by Miss Bessie Chandler in 1907.

The Service Prefects program began under Head of School Donn Gaebelein in the 1977–78 school year, with the Service Prefects Board beginning in 1979–80. These student leaders, spanning all classes of the high school and selected through an application process, helped to coordinate and spearhead the many service and community projects Westminster engaged in on and off campus. According to the 1990 Lynx , Service Prefects “perform some of the most important duties on campus” and “provide us with excellent opportunities to get involved.”

Habitat for Humanity has long been a favorite service project among Wildcats. The Class of 1993 chose Habitat as the beneficiary of its freshman fundraiser and saw the project through from beginning to end, raising $25,000 and working to build the home throughout their high school years. A Habitat Committee was formed to oversee the organization of the Class of 1993 project. Since the School's first Habitat home, completed in 1992, through the start of the pandemic, Westminster students have participated in 28 builds.

A Home for Your School Memories and Artifacts

The Lewis H. Beck Archives of The Westminster Schools now has an online wish list! You can help the School Archives fill in the gaps in our collection while you’re decluttering or doing seasonal cleaning. The Archives welcomes materials from NAPS, Washington Seminary, and Westminster to help expand the scope of the schools’ documented history. Scan the QR code to see if you might have what we’re looking for. Questions can be sent to archives@westminster.net.

Alumni News

As Dr. Pressly’s words make clear, leadership development has always been a very intentional hallmark of the Westminster experience. As students, we were afforded the advantage of an expansive curriculum brought to life by leading faculty as well as many diverse extracurricular opportunities at our disposal—all of which prepared us for our journeys beyond the gates of Westminster. While this laid the foundation and gave us the tools necessary to succeed in college and professionally, it is perhaps this responsibility to lead by example and positively impact society, instilled in our students since the school’s inception, that sets us apart as an alumni community. And, although Westminster alumni are recognized as being exceptional in virtually every field imaginable, leadership is not just about personal success; it is about using our skills, knowledge, and experience to inspire others to achieve their full potential.

As an Alumni Governing Board, we have been focusing on how we can add value to our alumni so that your continued interactions with Westminster are meaningful experiences. Our actions have been guided by a five-year strategic plan that is coming to its conclusion. That plan focused on several important concepts, including increasing alumni engagement, enhancing student-alumni interactions, and creating meaningful opportunities for networking and mentorship.

As part of this strategic plan, we have set up alumni chapters in New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, and laid the groundwork for

affinity groups within our Westminster alumni community. The Alumni Governing Board has hosted events to bring Atlanta-based alumni back to campus to experience the powerful transformation that has taken place with the addition of Barge Commons and other new construction. We also provided support to the Black Alumni Council, which held the first-ever Black Alumni Conference in October 2022. There, in addition to presenting a robust agenda, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Westminster’s first five Black graduates.

In addition to this targeted programming, we launched a social networking platform for alums of all ages, in any location, called WildcatsWork, to provide opportunities for alumni seeking employment to connect with other Westminster alumni who are looking to grow their workforces.

We look forward to identifying what is next for the Alumni Governing Board. To that end, we have been asking questions like, “What can and should we be doing as a board? How is our role different from that of other groups within the Westminster community? And how can we continue to add value to a vast and diverse alumni constituency?” The answers to these and other questions will be central to an alumni survey we are developing and plan to circulate this fall. As we put pen to paper, we were reminded that our alumni ranks are filled with preeminent leaders in their personal and professional lives, and we fully intend to explore that for the benefit of all.

Thank you all for being a part of the Westminster community and being supportive alumni. Although my tenure as president has now come to an end, I am excited to see the role the Alumni Governing Board will play in making our continued engagement as Westminster alumni an ever-improving experience.

Wab Kadaba ’87 President, Alumni Governing Board

“With discretion and guidance, undiscovered resources of achievement can be realized and brought to fruition. This student, too, will develop the poise and personality of leadership.”

– Dr. William Pressly Founder, The Westminster Schools

Alumni Events

Board and Councils Press Box Social

September 29, 2022

Last fall, members of the Alumni Governing Board, Black Alumni Council, and Young Alumni Council gathered in the McGahan Family Press Box to

Homecoming Weekend

October 14, 2022

We welcomed more than 500 alumni and their families back to campus for one of the School’s greatest traditions: Westminster’s signature fried chicken dinner! Returning alumni visited with former classmates, fellow alums, faculty, and staff on Schoen Dining Plaza and in Hawkins Hall. After a delicious meal and some spirit activities for the youngest Wildcats, attendees headed for the stadium to support the football team in the Homecoming game.

socialize and cheer the varsity football Wildcats to an exciting victory over the Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School Bears!

Black Alumni Conference

October 14–16, 2022

Westminster’s Black Alumni Council welcomed nearly 100 alumni to campus during Homecoming Weekend for the inaugural Black Alumni Conference. Attendees enjoyed opportunities to reconnect during meaningful panels, small-group discussions, and presentations,

NYC Regional Chapter Dinner with WCAT October 21, 2022

including a virtual keynote address from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson. The weekend culminated with a bell-ringing ceremony in Prickett Chapel in honor of Westminster’s first five Black graduates, from the Class of 1972.

Every fall, students involved in Westminster’s award-winning student-run broadcast and film programs, WCAT and StudioW, attend a high school film festival in New York City. Last October during their trip, the current Wildcats had dinner with New York City alumni chapter leaders and learned more about their careers and their lives in NYC.

Check out the WCAT channel

Young Alumni Council Happy Hour

October 27, 2022

Alumni Admissions Event

November 4, 2022

More than 100 alumni interested in applying their children to Westminster visited campus to get the “inside story” on how the admissions process—and campus—has changed since they were students. After an information session, representatives from the admissions team led alums on division-specific campus tours.

San Francisco Regional Chapter

Annual Reception

November 10, 2022

The Young Alumni Council hosted a happy hour for fellow young Wildcats—graduates between their five-year and 15-year reunions—in the Atlanta area. It was great to see alums from the classes of 2008 through 2018!

College Alumni Panel for Seniors

November 29, 2022

Bay Area alumni gathered in San Francisco for the regional chapter’s annual reception to celebrate their continued connection to Westminster.

President Keith Evans Zoomed in for a quick Q&A and to share the latest updates from campus with those in attendance.

The Student Alumni Council hosted a virtual panel for the Class of 2023 to hear from recent Wildcat alums in college about what to expect after graduation from Westminster. The panelists—Fer Juarez ’19, Ridings Bald ’20, Rosa Kim ’21, Campbelle Searcy ’22, and James Solomon ’22—shared advice on everything from making friends in a new place and choosing a major to finding internships and leveraging the Westminster alumni network.

Board and Councils Service Event

December 6, 2022

College Alumni Holiday Lunch

December 16, 2022

The Student Alumni Council welcomed more than 100 college-age alumni back to campus for an opportunity to catch up with classmates and former teachers and coaches. The lunch featured raffle items, a campus update from President Evans, and announcements about upcoming alumni events from the council.

Class of 2017 5th Reunion

December 16, 2022

More than 50 alumni from the Class of 2017 rang in the holidays by celebrating their 5th Reunion at Irby’s Tavern. The reunion committee worked to create a welcoming social event and lead fundraising efforts to support The Westminster Fund.

The Young Alumni Council hosted members of the Alumni Governing Board and the Black Alumni Council for an evening of connection and giving back around the holidays. Board and council members packed 100 sack lunches to benefit local charity Crossroads Community Ministries.

Shark Tank December 2, 2022

The Shark Tank experience is a component of the eighth grade Economics for Entrepreneurs elective. Students divide into teams to ideate and explore a challenge that needs to be solved, design a product that would support the resolution, and create a working prototype of that design. A panel of alumni judges—Paxton Griffin ’01, Caroline Burns Richmond ’01, and Fielding Kidd Jamieson ’07—observed the demonstrations and group presentations of the products, asked questions, and provided feedback from an expert perspective.

Black Alumni Council Holiday Pop-Up

December 18, 2022

All Black alumni were invited to attend a holiday gathering hosted by current parent Ronnie Mabra P '34 at the Mabra Law Firm. More than 40 alums came to connect with one another, learn more about the Black Alumni Council, and celebrate the holidays with fellow Wildcats.

NYC Regional Chapter Annual Reception

January 30, 2023

More than 100 alumni in New York City gathered for the chapter’s annual reception to hear from President Keith Evans, learn about campus happenings and programs like JanTerm, and meet other Westminster alums living in New York City who want to continue cultivating their connection to Westminster from afar.

Black Alumni Experience Panel: The ’00s

February 9, 2023

Westminster’s Black Alumni Council continued its Black Alumni Experience Panel series with a third installment featuring Black alumni from the 2000s. Each panelist shared their unique perspective on their time as a student at Westminster— the good and the challenging. The panel was moderated by Director of DEI and Community Engagement Frank Brown ’04 and featured Charles Mason ’01, Greg Payne Jr. ’02, and Princess Fuller ’09.

Class Notes

From travel to making connections to exciting career moves, Westminster alumni never sit still. Read on to find out what your fellow Wildcats have been up to! Visit westminster.net/classnews to join in and submit your updates for the next issue.

This issue reflects class news submitted by March 17, 2023.

NAPS 1941

Nancy Driskill, daughter of Elizabeth Almon Hamby, writes, “My mother, Elizabeth Almon Hamby NAPS ’41, turned 100 years old on January 9, 2023. Born and raised in Atlanta, Elizabeth went to Inman Elementary and O’Keefe Junior High and then to NAPS for high school. After my daddy retired from his dental practice (it was next to Wender & Roberts), they moved to Birmingham, Alabama, in 1991 to be closer to their children. Mother has four children, 10 grandchildren and 16 greatgrandchildren. One of her granddaughters and family live very close to Westminster.”

Washington Seminary 1953

In June 2022, Sheron Hallum Williams went to Oberammergau, Germany, with her daughter, Sherrie Pickett, to see the Passion Play. In August 2022, Sheron traveled to South Africa with her son, Ben Williams Jr., and his wife, Lisa, for three days in Cape Town and five days at Kleinhans Safaris, where she bagged a very nice nyala. Both trips were wonderful and beyond description!

Westminster 1958

Martha Morris Frech and Dr. Heinz Frech celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary on March 25! They have been living in Germany since 1972. Their children and grandchildren live in Germany and Switzerland.

Tony Askew and Slocum Howland are both retired and live in Highlands, North Carolina. They get together for lunch periodically. This photo shows them admiring Tony’s Ferrari. Slocum said, “I should have been an attorney.”

Slocum Howland, King Grant ’57, and Harry Ballance ’57 caught up at the recent Golden Wildcats brunch and shared lots of memories.

Patricia Ballance Mandes writes, “My husband Evans and I sold our farm in Clifton, Virgina, less than a year ago. Boo hoo ... no horses. But in our condo we have no more grass to mow or snow to plow. We took our grandson and his bride to Greece in April. We are also welcoming another great-grandchild to our family in September.

1959

Jill Pendergrast MacGlaflin writes, “Same old same old: almost-full-time substitute teaching when not traveling—with grandchildren on their rite-of-passage 12- and 14-year-old trips with Gramma (recently to Spain, Iceland, and Slovenia); just for fun (New Orleans, Myrtle Beach); to family reunions (last year in Niagaraon-the-Lake and the Berkshires); or an upcoming week in the Dominican Republic replacing hovels with better housing. Biking in suitable weather, walking dogs daily in the woods, swimming and paddle-boarding at Farm Pond with kids in the summer. Busy, lucky, grateful when I’m not giving up on the human race.”

1962

Tommy Hills writes, “Here is a photo of the Westminster alumni group that got together January 19 in Atlanta to celebrate the 60th year after our 1962 Westminster graduation. Those in photo are as follows: Front row: David Meriwether Jr., Guerry Morris Redmond, Bill Pressly, Lucy Scoville Westney, Sue Ferst Renfrow, Mary Mack Tharpe Hall, Lily Catherine Ford, Lindy Howell Bishop, and Elizabeth Mauldin. Second row: Gray Bethea, Kip Kirkpatrick, Susan Selman Whipple, Tommy Hills, Junie Waters Parker, Fred Neely, Alan Neely, and Jeff Yancey. Laura Dorsey, Benie Bruner Colvin, and Ann Skobba Barrett were part of the group but not present in this photo. We missed you!”

1965

Barbara Pendleton Jones has published a biography of her great-aunt, Tula Pendleton. The book, Tula Pendleton: The Life and Work of a Forgotten Southern Writer, traces Tula’s story from her birth in 1872 in a village in western Kentucky to her blossoming career as a writer in the 1910s and ultimately to the tragic and untimely deaths of both her and her husband. The daughter of a Confederate officer, Tula wrote sympathetically about Black people and adored Abraham Lincoln. The book includes all of Tula’s published short stories and was published in March 2023 by Butler Books.

Ted Mealor is pictured with grandson (and fellow Wildcat) Griggs Mealor ’29.

Support the Cats and Save

You can support Westminster and save on taxes when you support the School through your IRA.

There are new laws related to retirement savings that could impact the way you save and the way you give. These changes affect when you must take yearly distributions and the amount you can give annually from your IRA.

Westminster is grateful to our many donors who choose to direct funds from their IRAs in support of the Wildcat experience. If you have questions about how you can use your IRA to support Westminster, scan the QR code or contact Lauren Flores at 404-609-6438 or laurenflores@westminster.net

1968

Brad Hayes writes, “Writing books is fabulous fun, and it is thrilling to occasionally be featured in a magazine or newspaper. I was featured in the Historic Brookhaven edition of Stroll Magazine in March in an article titled “What Was Life Like for a Historic Brookhaven Kid in the 1950s?” Jimmy Hanger, Danny Yates, and Mac McKellar were also mentioned. In April, Cobb Life Magazine did an author’s Q&A piece on Bradsher Hayes (my pen and middle name). What an honor.”

1969

David O. Eldridge writes, “In the early part of February, I attended the funeral of our classmate and my good friend Mac Mackey, who died unexpectedly. I was fortunate enough to meet his children, Katherine, Emily, and Christopher, and some of his grandchildren and talk a little bit with his wife, Cindy, as well as his sister, Barbara, and his brother, David, both of whom also attended Westminster. Mac’s life had taken him to Boston and renown as an awarded vascular surgeon and teacher. He had recently retired and was looking forward to relaxation and reconnection. Our good times at Westminster on the swim team were recollected in a eulogy by Mac’s college roommate and now retired bishop, who remembered Mac’s references to Westminster swim coach Pete Higgins’ aphorism about swimming too slowly by staying in one place too long. Mac kept up his swimming throughout his life, and Pete would have been proud of his exceptional medical and teaching accomplishments. Not too slow there. Good swim.”

1972

Michael McBay released a new music video called “Hey, Goodbye” with his band, Circle the Earth, based in Los Angeles. Find it on YouTube!

Donna Henry Walker, Cynthia Gentry, Bitsy Martin, Roberta Little Head, Belle Schroder Voyles, Betty Fuller Case, Jane Dalrymple-Hollo, Meredith Staham Powers, Janet Dobbs Roach, Steppie Ortlip Beasley, Jane Barwick, and Rhonda Dawes Milner gathered for lunch at Boone’s in March. “We had a blast. ’72 ladies are lifelong friends!”

In January 2023, President Biden appointed Wanda Ward to a six-year term on the National Science Board (NSB). The NSB is the oversight board of the National Science Foundation and advises the president on the health of the U.S. scientific enterprise.

1973

Ken Bowles writes, “My wife, Cheri, and I celebrated our 25th anniversary last September with a tour of central Italy—Rome; the hill towns of Tuscany and Umbria; and Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, and Capri. In January, we checked off a bucket list item and completed the Milford Track on New Zealand’s South Island followed by a road trip through the rest of the

country to Auckland with Valentine’s Day in Fiji. It’s great being semi-retired and finally having all three kids off at college. Bula!"

Helen Smith-Casey Glover writes, “After almost 20 long years in Buckhead, we are finally looking at beach property! My son Preston graduated UGA in 2021 with an economics and French double major. My husband is still a director at Cushman & Wakefield, where he’s been for 36 years. I still do some commercial/voiceover work, allergies permitting. We travel as much as possible. Can’t believe, 50 years!”

1975

Pam Neal Fellows and Hank Fellows took a fun 40th anniversary trip to Rome, Italy, and a Mediterranean cruise in 2022.

Cynthia Newberry Martin writes, “Excited to share that I have a new novel, Love Like This, which came out April 4, 2023. ‘For the first time in a lifetime, Angelina and Will can choose again ...’ Text or email me—I’d love to come talk with your book club!”

1976

Billy Turk and his family are thrilled to announce the opening of Tallulah Adventures and The Edge Cafe & Bar as their newest family venture. Tallulah Adventures is an outdoor venue, cafe, and bar located next to the Tallulah Gorge State Park in Tallulah Falls, Georgia. Visitors and families can choose from the various weekly activities to create the ultimate family adventure experience. With a 2,000-square-foot pavilion, a stone fireplace, a cafe, a bar, a 120-foot bouldering wall, a sprawling, fun-filled backyard, and a stage, Tallulah Adventures is ready to host any event and celebrate milestones. Tallulah Adventures would love to help bring your event to life, from birthday parties and family reunions to corporate events. On your next visit to northeast Georgia, please stop by Tallulah Adventures!

1981

Eric Borders writes, “My daughter, Drew Borders ’16, was featured in the AJC Living section on Monday, March 6, 2023, for her mural work around the city of Atlanta. She has also been featured in Atlanta Magazine and Atlanta Intown and completed murals in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Charlotte, North Carolina.”

1982

David Ratonyi writes, “Excited to get a ‘dream job’ as a software engineer with Dematic, working from home and basically coding all day long, which I realized is not even work for me, so might as well do it! In the meantime, Paige, my wife, is running our PrideStaff office, kicking a** and taking names!”

Julie Sanford writes, “Starr Sanford Design is celebrating its 25th anniversary of designing custom homes

throughout Florida, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. We’re opening our flagship gallery, Starr Sanford Collection, in the Ponte Vedra area in May. Class of ’82 friends Julie Sanford and Daniel Popky work together to deliver finely crafted custom homes where we take pride in the distinct artistry of each project, rejoicing in the rich diversity of our clients’ needs and striving to create spaces for a life well-lived.”

1983

Leah Hinnefeld writes, “My husband, Mark, and I are still loving life in the desert in Scottsdale, Arizona, with three horses, two donkeys, and Roscoe the Aussie. If you are ever in the area, please let me know so we can give you a tour. We have both joined the great Sotheby’s team at Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty and would love to be your go-to for any real estate needs in Arizona or around the globe!”

1984

Eric Wieland writes, “After 25 years of catering in the Atlanta area, I now have a brick-and-mortar location called The Dinner Shoppe (thedinnershoppe.com). We just opened in February 2023. Check us out online for pickup or delivered family dinners. Better yet, come by to say hello and pick up a casserole for dinner tonight! We’re located near Decatur. I would love to see ya’ll on the east side of Peachtree!”

1985

Christina Pak Hanratty recently attended the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards, where her husband, Gene Hanratty, and Robert Earl Benson ’99 were honored as award recipients.

1987

Ann Baird is thrilled to announce that she recently joined the Association of National Advertisers as senior vice president, global program leader.

Tripp O’Connor and his daughter, Maggie O’Connor ’16 , hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim on September 25. The views were amazing on this 24mile hike that took them down to the Colorado River and back up a mile in elevation. Having run cross country with Amy Eubanks and Joe Tribble inspired them for this “bucket list” endeavor.

1990

In November Pete Candler released his first photography collection, The Road to Unforgetting, which features 175 black-and-white film photographs from 25 years of traveling the back roads of the American South. It is a companion to his forthcoming narrative, Prologue to the South, to be published later this year by the University of South Carolina Press. These two books are part of Pete’s larger study of national, regional, and personal memory and forgetfulness, called A Deeper South. He publishes regular photo essays from the project at adeepersouth.substack.com.

1991

Charlie Henn was recognized as an Atlanta Business Chronicle 2023 Leaders in Corporate Citizenship honoree. Charlie helped his firm host a law camp for underserved youth. Honorees have shown a strong commitment to corporate responsibility practices and are actively engaged in supporting and expanding those efforts in Georgia by integrating relevant societal concerns into their core operating strategies and embracing them as positive for businesses, customers, employees, and the metro Atlanta community.

1994

Will Becton recently started his own podcast production company after 12 years working at Team Coco and CONAN on TBS. From 2018 on, Will engineered the hit podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, and since leaving the company (which was acquired by Sirius XM for a reported $150 million) he has been building a fullservice podcast studio in his garage, which is now open for business. The new venture is called Jett Road Studios, which is named after the street Will grew up on in Atlanta. He will continue to specialize in making comedy.

2000

Katherine Thomas Jacques writes, “Our sweet miniature labradoodle had her first litter of puppies on November 8, 2022. She is likely to have one more litter this summer.”

2001

Noah Britton had a delicious breakfast this morning.

Shannon McIntyre Hooper has been appointed president of Unlock Health, a private equity-backed health care marketing and technology company focused on the hospital and digital health sector. She is responsible for driving go-to-market strategy and delivering on the vision for service and technology integration, overseeing the leadership and functions of acquired companies. She and her team are based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Peyten Dobbs Williams is working on her dream of becoming a published author. She recently finished her first book, The Paradoxes of Parenting, and is diving into the publishing process. Peyten is also consulting and running workshops to support parent education in the wider Atlanta community.

2003

Amanda Pearson completed her MBA at the University of Washington Foster School of Business in June 2022 and joined the McKinsey & Co. Seattle office as an associate consultant.

2004

In October 2022, Jonathan McColgan co-founded Immersive Solutions Group. ISG is an engineering

services firm focused on delivering innovative solutions to analysts and war fighters across the intelligence community and Department of Defense.

2005

Andrew Ray transported refugees from the border of Ukraine with Uzhhorod (near his house) to places they were staying in Slovakia at the beginning of the war; obtained urgently needed battlefield medical supplies for a Ukrainian friend for the soldiers; and most recently, with his wife’s NGO, donated to the Ukrainian Armed Forces their old cargo van, which is now being used around Kyiv to transport shoulder-fired missiles to their air defense units.

2007

Charles Buker recently relocated from Washington, DC, to Denver, where he now works as an in-house lawyer for York Space Systems LLC. He encourages any Wildcats living in or traveling through the area to say hello and to join him on a ski day or a hike.

2010

Tyler Gibson has been traveling around Australia for the past year. He bought a camper van and has worked as a critical care travel nurse throughout most of the major cities.

Bennett Gillogly had a Wildcat-packed wedding party with six out of eight groomsmen also being Westminster alumni: Alex Jordan ’10, Matthew Hawkins ’10, Trevor Gillogly ’16, Matt Payne ’10, Ross Erskine ’10, and Danny Reid ’06

Miray Seward recently graduated with her PhD in educational psychology: applied developmental science from the University of Virginia. During graduation, she was awarded the 2022 Edgar F. Shannon award from the Z Society for her outstanding contributions in academics, leadership, and service. Her dissertation was titled: “‘My Sport Was Something I Did. It’s Not Who I Am’: A Multi-Method Investigation of the Educational Experiences of Black Women Student Athletes.”

2012

Willy Xiao’s start-up, OfficeTogether, was acquired in August of 2022 by Envoy. OfficeTogether built tools to help make hybrid work delightful. He was the head of engineering at the company; now he is an engineering manager at Envoy, which brings people together through a flexible workplace platform.

2015

In January, Gevin Reynolds joined the Office of the Vice President as associate director of speechwriting to Vice President Kamala Harris. He recently had the opportunity to welcome his mother, Marlene, and sister, Telissa Reynolds ’20, for a tour of the West Wing.

2016

Drew Borders writes, “I started painting murals in 2020. The mediums I use are a combination of exterior paints and spray cans. Since I started this journey, I’ve painted a total of 13 murals in the city of Atlanta and two in Oklahoma. I’ve greatly enjoyed the experiences and all the connections I’ve made so far in the Atlanta art scene. It’s truly something special here.”

Catherine Christopher was recently promoted to manager, Financial Services–Strategy & Analytics at ArcBest, a logistics provider in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She leads a team of analysts who support a department of 200 employees by providing reporting and analysis to customers, carriers, and company leadership.

Pierson Klein is currently studying for a master’s degree in criminology at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. She is a member of Selwyn College, and she recently competed for the women’s university squash team in the varsity match against Oxford University. She earned a “full blue,” the highest honor to be awarded to a Cambridge sportsperson.

2019

Imani Bennett, a graduating senior at Spelman College, was featured in Vice President Kamala Harris’s video honoring the anniversary of Selma’s Bloody Sunday.

2020

Charlotte Brown recently starred as Belle in Rome Little Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast She is a current student at Berry College and loved being able to plug into the local theater community. They rehearsed for three months culminating in 14 total performances, making this show the highest-grossing box office production RLT has seen. This would not have been possible without the training she received from Westminster faculty Kate Guyton Morgens ’91, Chris Walters, and Jason Maynard.

2022

Alex Egoavil writes, “It was so exciting presenting our poster at the American College of Cardiology along with Emory cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Kim in New Orleans in March 2023.”

Marriages

Congratulations to all Wildcats celebrating recent marriages!

2002

Lauren Lipsey and James Perea

October 15, 2022

2007

Sarah DuPre and Charles Slick

November 19, 2022

2010

Julia Bailey and Bennett Gillogly

October 7, 2022

Robin Rolader and Eli Mlaver

September 30, 2022

2011

Maria Coyne and Drew Churchill

July 2, 2022

2012

Marguerite Spiotta (Upper School faculty) and Nicholas Booth (Upper School faculty)

February 25, 2023

2014

Rhett Alby and Robbie Blair

September 24, 2022

Julia Renner and Chase Evans

September 17, 2022

Ellie Hogan and Brendan Hill

June 4, 2022

2015

Mason Rooney and Casey Sutherland

December 10, 2022

Births and Adoptions

Welcome to the Wildcat family, new additions!

1999

Keaton Slone Watts, May 11, 2022

Son of Kathryn Mullen Watts and Blake Watts

2002

Georgia Elizabeth Constantine, January 9, 2023

Daughter of Lib Gray Constantine and Walter Constantine

2003

Frances Farley DiOrio, December 10, 2022

Daughter of Morgan Shaw DiOrio and Mike DiOrio

Julia Lee Nichols, January 20, 2022

Daughter of Jacqueline Eckert Nichols and John Nichols

2004

Ryder Lee Brown, December 19, 2022

Son of Jessica Hayes Brown and Matt Brown

Whitney “Whit” Scott Tiegs, July 20, 2022

Son of Ashley Wood Tiegs and Jake Tiegs

Mary Kellan Sugrue, November 9, 2022

Daughter of Bonnie Gibson Sugrue and Ryan Sugrue

2005

William Nicolas Harper, October 13, 2022

Son of Taryn and Nicolas Harper

Isabelle Juliet Littmann, October 2, 2022

Daughter of Katie Grien Littmann and Mark Littmann

2007

Bradford “Ford” Cassell Jamieson, February 2, 2023

Son of Fielding Kidd Jamieson and Stewart Jamieson

David Henry Menendez, January 11, 2023

Son of Amy and Steven Menendez

Mary Camp Montgomery, December 6, 2022

Daughter of Caroline Warren Montgomery and Rick Montgomery

Henry David Patrick, November 21, 2022

Son of Lynne and DJ Patrick

Emma Soraya Sedigh Haghighat, February 22, 2022

Daughter of Gillian Bach Sedigh Haghighat and Sepehr Sedigh Haghighat

2008

Thomas Graham Dixon, May 30, 2022

Son of Ali Graham Dixon and Joe Dixon

Luke Michael Gainer, August 16, 2022

Son of Katie Franchot Gainer and Sam Gainer

Lucy Elizabeth Sacha, January 21, 2023

Daughter of Elizabeth Sacha (Lower School Faculty) and Franklin Sacha

Cecilia Goizueta Strumph, October 7, 2022

Daughter of Caroline Rawls Strumph and Matt Strumph

Harris Emery Waddell, August 16, 2022

Son of Helen Harris Waddell and Emery Waddell

2009

Ann Carlisle Davis, August 30, 2022

Daughter of Mary Caroline Hunt Davis and Neal Davis

Malcolm “Mac” James Friddell, November 30, 2022

Son of Laura LeBow Friddell and Robert Friddell (Upper School athletics)

William “Houston” Hays, February 24, 2023

Son of Kelly York Hays and Lowell Hays

Mary Edwin Perez Moak, November 15, 2022

Daughter of Mary and Tom Moak

Reagan McKinley Westphal, September 20, 2022

Daughter of Caroline McKinley Westphal and Hastings Westphal

Miles Wesley Hrubik, September 27, 2022

Son of Paige Kimbel Hrubik and Brian Hrubik

2010

Piper Reid Morelli, October 16, 2022

Daughter of Hailey and Reid Morelli

Marguerite “Maggie” McIver York, November 25, 2022

Daughter of Kelsey and Jonathan York

Helen Elizabeth Portwood, March 3, 2023

Daughter of Carolyn Harris Portwood and Henry Portwood

2011

Corinne “Corrie” Pepper Collins, September 7, 2022

Daughter of Jaris Turner Collins and Luke Collins

Fletcher Thomas Jones, June 19, 2022

Son of CiCi Reid Jones and Robert Jones

Thomas McKellar “Mac” Walker Jr., February 10, 2023

Son of Clare Houk Walker and Thomas Walker

Matilda Alane Falconer, November 13, 2022

Daughter of Allison Capper Falconer and Wiley Falconer

2013

Elijah Akinsomisoye, December 15, 2022

Son of Mallory Lyles Akinsomisoye and Olamilekan Akinsomisoye

In Memoriam

We extend our deepest sympathies to the members of the Westminster community who have recently lost a loved one. Included in these listings are immediate family members of the deceased who graduated from or attended Washington Seminary, NAPS, or Westminster.

This issue reflects deaths reported or received by May 31, 2023. Family listings may not be comprehensive.

Washington Seminary Alumnae

1945

Barbara Montague Worrall, March 19, 2023

1949

Mary Elizabeth Baker Stuart , January 13, 2023

“Dodie” Owens Chapman, February 27, 2023

Mother of Owens Chapman ’73 and John Chapman ’76

1950

Elizabeth Morgan Heimburger, May 6, 2023

1951

Newell Bryan Tozzer (former faculty), March 12, 2023

Mother of Brent Tozzer ’81 and Ellen Tozzer Smith ’82

NAPS Alumnae

1951

Margaret Linch Jordan, December 19, 2022

Joan Christopher Quillen, May 19, 2023

Westminster Alumni

1959

Nancy Sibley Rempe, January 2023

Sister of Susie Sibley Traendly ’64

Paul Scoville, May 1, 2023

Brother of Lucile Scoville Westney ’62

1960

Peggy Reeves Foreman, February 27, 2023

1962

Dorsey Collins McInnis, August 5, 2022

Sister of Barksdale Collins ’56 and Jody Collins

Weatherly ’60

1963

Samuel “Sammy” Kellett , December 1, 2022

Brother of Stiles Kellett ’62; parent of Mari Varnado Smith ’91 and Samuel Kellett Jr.

1964

Jesse “Bill” Veatch, March 15, 2023

1965

Sue Sterne Mitchell, January 19, 2023

Sister of Nona Sterne ’59, Sis Sterne Blanchard ’60, and Taffy Sterne Dunlevie ’66

Ben Law, October 1, 2022

Father of Hart Law ’90

1968

Frank Walker, January 18, 2023

Husband of Kathy Chapman ’70; brother of Betsy Walker ’71

1969

William “Mac” Mackey, January 31, 2023

Brother of Barbara Mackey Seagle ’66 and David Mackey

1973

Chris Kimbel, March 25, 2023

Brother of Martha Kimbel Shadbolt ’75; father of Ross Kimbel ’02, Laura Kimbel Capps ’05, and Paige Kimbel Hubrik ’09

William Carpenter, March 18, 2023

1976

Ron McBay, May 2023

Brother of Michael McBay ’72

1978

Bill Christian, November 20, 2021

1986

Eric Myracle, March 2, 2023

Brother of Lauren Myracle ’87 and Susan White ’94

1990

Aimee Montemayor Speas, March 3, 2023

Lori Smith Morrow Rettig , August 8, 2022

Sister of Ted Smith ’83 and Kristi Smith Cavin ’87

1997

Allyn Horne, April 29, 2023

2013

Heather Yaniger, April 1, 2023

Daughter of Eden Thorpe Yaniger ’85

Westminster Community Members

Jim Balloun (emeritus trustee), February 25, 2023

Father of Mark Balloun ’84 and Jill Balloun Webb ’86; stepparent of Edi Lanier Wright ’91 and Whit Lanier ’93

Jerry Carnes (retired faculty), January 6, 2023

Father of Stephanie Carnes Young ’93

Everett Jeffery Couch, April 1, 2022

Father of Sarah Couch Davis ’93 and Abbey Couch Giordano ’98

Lavona Currie, February 7, 2023

Mother of Terry Currie Banta ’68, Andy Currie ’71, Martha Currie DeLuca ’73, and Lucy Currie Bush ’74

Bruce G. Dutcher, May 29, 2023

Father of Jessie Dutcher Williams ’06, Max Dutcher ’08, and Patce Dutcher Crowley ’11

Donna Egan, May 11, 2023

Mother of Moira Egan ’ 72, Mike Egan ’ 74, Cole Egan ’ 79, Roby Egan ’80, and John Egan ’84

Juan Egües (retired faculty), May 23, 2023

John Fry, April 30, 2023

Father of Adam Fry (Middle School faculty)

Betty Fuller, October 19, 2022

Mother of Elsie Fuller Barnhardt ’70, Betty Fuller Case ’72, and Drew R. Fuller Jr. ’76

Chase Allen Hall, December 23, 2022

Husband of Emma Hust Hall ’04

John Heaton III, July 2, 2022

Father of John Heaton IV ’03

Peggy Hedeman (retired faculty), March 5, 2023

Mother of Holly Hedeman ’88

Armand Hendee, January 5, 2023

Stepparent of Flo Monroe Hix ’79 and William Monroe ’82

Tony Ippolito, November 27, 2022

Father of Darcy McLean ’02

James Justice, January 20, 2023

Father of Jim Justice (Upper School faculty)

Thomas “Tom” McIntyre (former faculty), May 3, 2023

Bill Mosley (retired faculty), April 3, 2023

Lynn Neal, November 9, 2022

Mother of Pam Neal Fellows ’75

Gregory Paulette, December 1, 2022

Father of Caitlin Paulette Namnoum ’09 and Sam Paulette ’11

Benjamin Persons, January 14, 2023

Father of Donna Persons Gold ’67 and Robert Persons ’ 75

John Staton, June 26, 2022

Brother of Louise Staton Gunn ’58

Aubrey Garber Wasilewsky, January 6, 2023

Sister of Adam Garber ’01 and Arielle Garber Kohan

John Weatherford, May 26, 2023

Father of Jonathan Weatherford ’03 and Sarah Weatherford Millette ’07

Zoe May Williams, May 17, 2022

Mother of Bitsy Leach Bohac ’71

Libby Dowd Wood, May 2, 2023

Mother of Sally Wood ’01, Miller Wood ’04, and Jenner Wood IV

Edward Jenner Wood V, May 13, 2023

Son of Jenner Wood IV

Worth 1,000 Words

As we look forward to a reimagined Love Hall, we remember the earliest days of the Lower School on that site. This photo shows the renovated Irene and George Woodruff Hall, which served as the elementary school from 1981 to 1997. Prior to that, the building was a girls dormitory for boarding students known as McLarty Hall (1964–1977) and briefly housed the Girls Junior High School. Seen here are what is currently the entrance at Carpool B and the pre-first and first grade hallway. By fall 2024, a brand-new auditorium and front entrance will welcome our youngest learners as they begin their Westminster journeys.