FALL 2017
TVS Cultivates Leadership WITH THE NEW HOUSE SYSTEM
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LOYALTY CREATIVITY UMILITY H INTEG RITY DIGNI TY ITY C Y A C N TY FIDELIT N E E I T I L S I S O E I Y R HONESTY CUR
K-12, COED, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS USA
Partners in Learning. Experts in Education.
THE TVS MISSION Trinity Valley School has four main objectives for its students: fine scholarship with its fulfillment at college; the development of wide constructive interests; intelligent citizenship; and spiritual and moral development which promotes lasting values.
MANAGING EDITOR MARGARET KRAMER
CREATIVE DIRECTOR ASHLEY ROBINSON
CREATIVE PRODUCTION SARAH MORGAN
DESIGN SARAH RADICELLO RADICELLO CREATIVE
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS BLAKE AMOS SAM BARBER JANET CHAFFEE NICOLE FORBES SARAH MORGAN KIRSTEN MURPHY ASHLEY ROBINSON MICHAEL ROEMER MARCY ROTEN LINDA WHITEHEAD
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS BLAKE AMOS MANISH BHATT KATHRYN DAVIS NICOLE FORBES STACY GRAU CONNIE HOOKER BRIAN JOHNSTON TIM JONES MARGARET KRAMER SYDNEY MUNSON KIRSTEN MURPHY KIM PONDROM CLARE PRITCHETT ASHLEY ROBINSON MICHAEL ROEMER NATALIE TIMSON MARK WELLS
Our TVS Varsity football team is in the running to win a championship this year. The SPC 3-A Championship game will be played on Saturday, November 11 at Pennington Field. Learn more at tvs.org/athletics
Fall 2017 Volume XVIII Number I Trinity Valley School | 7500 Dutch Branch Road Fort Worth, TX 76132 | 817.321.0100 | tvs.org Trinity Valley School’s Trojan Voice is published twice a year. Please contact Ashley Robinson, Associate Director of Advancement, with any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding this publication at robinsona@trinityvalleyschool.org. Trinity Valley School is an independent, coed, college-preparatory, day school for students in kindergarten through grade 12. The school admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. © Copyright 2017 by Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX 76132-4110
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ACADEMICS
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IAN CRAIG ON CULTIVATING LEADERSHIP! | PAGE2 OH, THE JOYS OF KINDERGARTEN | PAGE5 MEET OUR NEW TVS LEADERSHIP | PAGE10 BUILDING CHARACTER ONE CHILD AT A TIME IN LOWER SCHOOL | PAGE14 MIDDLE SCHOOL SPANISH IMMERSION | PAGE18 UPPER SCHOOL ECONOMICS AND THE 21ST-CENTURY ECONOMY | PAGE20 COLLEGE COUNSELING TEAM | PAGE27 CLASS OF 2017 ACCOMPLISHMENTS | PAGE28 A STELLAR COLLABORATION | PAGE43
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XPLORE SUMMER AT TVS 2017 | PAGE46
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROGRAM 2017 | PAGE50 POETRY | PAGE70
ALUMNI
WHO’S NEW ON THE ALUMNI BOARD? | PAGE60 CLASS NOTES | PAGE62
THE ARTS
OBJECTS AND ARRANGEMENTS | PAGE56
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ATHLETICS
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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A TROJAN? | PAGE34
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION TOE IS NOT ABOUT CAMPING | PAGE30
GLOBAL INITIATIVES GOING GLOBAL WITH A PURPOSE | PAGE38
THE
INSIDE ARCHES
TVS CELEBRATES 58 YEARS | PAGE6 2017-2018 FACULTY & STAFF MILESTONES | PAGE7
HOUSES & SENIOR CAPTAINS 2017-2018
ANNUAL GIVING | PAGE22 PARENTS’ CLUB | PAGE24
LOYALTY HOUSE Emmala Alfaro Imran Khan
FIDELITY HOUSE Kate Hanley Luke Vasquez
INTEGRITY HOUSE Luke Bogle Brittany Masters
RESILIENCY HOUSE Ross Huck Brianna Hudson
HUMILITY HOUSE Sawyer Blackman Lesdy Torres
TENACITY HOUSE Tom Bosworth Michelle Nguimtsop
CREATIVITY HOUSE Daine Holsteen Maggie Shipman
HONESTY HOUSE Andrew Viola Adaje Williams
DIGNITY HOUSE Kamryn Dow Kevin James CURIOSITY HOUSE Erin Johnson Brock Rodriguez
WHY TVS? | PAGE24 THEATER ENHANCEMENTS & ATHLETIC MASTER PLAN | PAGE52 PLANNED GIVING | PAGE58
Partners in Learning. Experts in Education.
TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL tvs.org
M E S S A G E
F R O M
THE
TVS
HEAD
OF
S CHOOL
CULTIVATING
LEADERSHIP
IAN L. CRAIG Head of School
I once taught with a man who had played college football, and he relayed a funny story about his playing days. He was a cornerback, and therefore assigned to cover the opposing team’s receiver.
During the recent fifth-grade Trojan Outdoor Experience trip, one of my favorite aspects, as always, was watching the Upper School leaders take on the role of mentor and guide. Teaching
During one game, two receivers lined up opposite him, and when he looked over at his coach, as if to say, “What should I do?” his coach’s response was to yell across the field, “Be an athlete!”
fishing, introducing kayaking, or belaying a student as he or she climbs up a rock wall are the most natural moments. Talking to a younger student and putting an arm around him or her when he or she is homesick or doesn’t feel well or is navigating an issue with a friend is much more challenging, and less instinctual. Our Upper Schoolers do this with such grace, and we see it regularly.
It was an absurd response to a player at a time when what he really needed was coaching. Unfortunately, however, this is often the way we proceed with developing leadership in our young people. Rather than coach and teach them how to be leaders, we simply demand that they be leaders.
"One of our overt initiatives this year includes the continued development of our students as leaders through systematic and intentional experiences and learning opportunities." One of our overt initiatives this year includes the continued development of our students as leaders through systematic and intentional experiences and learning opportunities. These already happen every day, through a variety of traditional methods in arts, academics, and athletics, but we are pursuing even more opportunities.
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Seeking to capitalize on these relationships as a catalyst for teaching leadership, we introduced THE HOUSE
SYSTEM earlier this year. Based on the Old English/Australian boarding-school model, each student is placed in a House. Each of the 10 Houses is named after an important attribute such as Curiosity House, Integrity House, Loyalty House, Creativity House, and the like. Within each House, every K-5 student is paired with an older buddy. In sixth grade, students remain with their older buddy (now in 12th grade), but together they are also buddies for a kindergarten student in anticipation of the sixth grader being the sole buddy for that younger student the following year.
Tying in beautifully with the House system are the TROJAN SISTERHOOD AND TROJAN BROTHERS programs, the brainchild of seniors Pay Prostok and Tom Bosworth, in coordination with Upper School counselor, Kellie McLarty. Pay explains, “Senior volunteers will have the opportunity to mentor and befriend
One male and one female senior in each House were asked to serve as House Captains, and they responded with great enthusiasm. During our first House activity, our buddies were led through a series of fun activities intended for them to get to know one another and to become comfortable with their buddies and other House members before we headed to our Founders Day celebration (see page 6). At the end of their time together, the connection was palpable. At a recent Middle School football game, it was inspiring to see a second grader run up to his sweaty eigth-grade buddy to congratulate him on the win. In September, we hosted a competition among Houses to see which could collect the most money for hurricane relief. Thanks to the incredible efforts of the entire TVS community, we were able to raise $10,144.21. Creativity House led the way with $2,508.66 raised, followed by Fidelity House with $1,474.09 and Loyalty House with $1,419.59. We will continue to engage in these events throughout the year, and beyond.
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a freshman within the program. These ‘big sis/little sis’ pairs will ensure freshman girls have a smooth transition into high school while guaranteeing them a friend. Senior mentors will be responsible to encourage, spend time with, and volunteer with their little sis. Trojan Sisterhood’s close relationship with the school counselor secures that health and wellness will be a continuous topic.” Tom shares, “I am not far into senior year, yet I have already been saying ‘back when I was a freshman’ more often than I would like to admit. Soon, I think I am going to be shaking my fist and yelling at kids to get off my lawn, but back when I was a freshman, I was fortunate enough to have a lot of positive influence from upperclassmen. Shaun Dodson ’15 taught me most of what I know about volleyball, and Matthew Davis ’16 shared his vast knowledge of rhetoric and public policy as my debate partner. Both Shaun and Matt were great role models, and I am happy to say that we still stay in touch. “Unfortunately, it is unlikely that I would have been close with either 4
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of them if not for a mix of luck and extracurriculars. The goal of Trojan Brothers is to ensure that every freshman — if he wishes — has an opportunity to form a close bond with a senior. I am proud to be a part of a class of such academic prowess, athletic ability, and outstanding moral character. My hope is that Trojan Brothers provides another venue for seniors to positively and firmly impact Trinity Valley before they go on to impact the world.” An initiative designed to foster creativity and leadership within Middle School students is the brainchild of our new Middle School Head, Jeff Snyder. The Student Committees will be implemented in fifth through eigth grades, and in addition to our Middle School Student Council, they will help shape our Middle School program. These student-led groups will provide additional opportunities for intentional leadership and will focus student attention on shaping our recess area, planning our assemblies, and developing community-stewardship initiatives across campus. They will work closely with teachers and administrators toward creating positive change in our program. In such a rapidly evolving and changing world, it is sometimes difficult to imagine all of the skills that our graduates will need to be successful in college and beyond, but we are confident that a solid grounding in leadership will go a long way.
TVS LOWER
S C H OOL
OH, THE JOYS OF
CIRCUS DAY
Below from left to right: Kingergarten teachers Kate Monroe, Hallie Pritchett, Harriett Moore, Kim Pierce, Nancy Rea and Cristy Mayfield
TEDDY BEAR PICNIC
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TVS
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CELEBRATES 58 YEARS MARGARET KRAMER, DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT
On Friday, September 8, Trinity Valley School celebrated Founders Day. The day began with all students and faculty in the newly established TVS Houses for team-building activities. We also welcomed back Faculty Emeritus (retired faculty with 25 years or more of service to TVS) and the Head of School’s newly created Advisory Committee. Following House activities, the entire school community gathered in the central courtyard to celebrate the founding of TVS and acknowledge some milestones. Kelly Pumphrey, TVS Board of Trustees president, welcomed everyone and remarked that in 1959, we were founded as a school of six boys from the Texas Boys Choir and have grown to a school that today has 980 boys and girls, and alumni numbering 2,870. Ian Craig, Head of School, welcomed everyone and recognized founding Headmaster Mr. Stephen Seleny. Mr. Craig read the names of those faculty members, listed at right, celebrating milestones in years of employment at TVS this 2017-2018 school year. Mr. Craig also acknowledged faculty award recipients from the May 2017 milestone lunch: • CRYSTAL DOVER, Schumacher/Kyle Family Endowed Coach’s Award • ANDREA LUTTRELL, Kay Newton Distinguished Teacher’s Award • ANNA CARLSON, Gary Krahn Educator Award for Leadership and Creativity
Kay Newton, Harriett Moore, and Nancy Rea, kindergarten teachers who taught the current seniors, read the names of the seniors they had when they were in kindergarten and who will graduate as 13-year students.
2017-2018 FACULTY & STAFF MILESTONES
35 YEARS
15 YEARS
Judith Kinser
Sean Kenny
Stacie Adams Alan Buratto Mark Mullendore Nancy Rea
25 YEARS
10 YEARS
Scott Allen Don Carlson Kelly Dintino Bunny Riemitis
Pam Asher Melissa Burkhead Kathryn Davis Diane Kee Kate Monroe Susan Morris Gene Sessa Donna Weth
30 YEARS
20 YEARS Michael Butler Tina Clayton Michael Phelps Paul Price
5 YEARS Amanda Collins Abbie Cornelius Tawanna Flowers Myron Grunberg
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MEET OUR NEW
TVS LEADERSHIP! JULIE KNUDSEN Why Trinity Valley School?
JULIE KNUDSEN Assistant Head of Middle School
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I first learned of Trinity Valley when I was a student at TCU. I had become very close to a TVS family whose sons were students in the Upper School and Middle School at the time. As I learned of the boys' teachers, classes, and TVS programs, it became clear what a special place TVS was. The more I learned, the more respect I gained for what the school was providing its students. As an education major, I was particularly intrigued and began to identify TVS as the premier K-12 school in Fort Worth. Though I began my career in public education, I continued to hear of all the wonderful things that were happening at Trinity Valley. The opportunities the students had, the close connections they formed with their teachers, the preparedness with which they entered college after graduation, and the caliber of the students themselves were so impressive. When an opportunity became available to interview for the fifth-grade math position, I jumped at the chance. It was the right time to make a transition in my career, and Trinity Valley was just the place I wanted to be. In my first year as a Trojan, all the opinions I had formed of TVS from the outside were validated. The care and attention given to developing the whole child, the high academic standards, and the incredible people who make Trinity
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Valley a community stood out more than ever before. It is an honor to be a part of such a remarkable place! You have taught fifth-grade math. What would your students say that you have imparted to them? I believe my students would tell you they left my class with more confidence and courage in their math abilities than they had when they started. I would also say they developed a curiosity for math and a love for math games in my class! Tell us about your family. I am married to a wonderful man, Danny, and have a fun and energetic 3-year-old, Brady, who is already obsessed with sports! We’re also very excited to be adding a little girl to our family this December. What do you do for fun? I love to spend time with my family and always have fun no matter what we are doing together. We especially love to attend TCU football and baseball games, go for walks or bike rides on the Trinity River, and play family games of baseball in the front yard. If you were not in education, in what field would you work? In college, I considered changing my major to nursing so I could work in the Neonatal ICU caring for the smallest patients in the hospital. If I weren’t an educator, I would likely be a NICU nurse or a professional baby rocker!
Best piece of life advice you have received? This is not a single piece of advice but rather an attitude on life. My Papa lives his life every day with the most positive outlook. He sees the best in others, has never met a stranger, and is always the first to help someone in need. Papa sees the glass as half full and when asked how he is, he always responds with, “If I was any better I’d be twins.” He has always had this remarkable attitude, even through his battle with colon cancer. At 90 years old, Papa continues to inspire me every day to see the good in others and to be grateful for the many blessings in my life. All-time favorite book/movie? This is a tough one! I am not the type to reread books or rewatch movies very often, so it’s hard to pick a favorite. That being said, I have enjoyed many books by Jodi Picoult. I love how she takes the reader on a journey through many unexpected twists and turns.
JEFF SNYDER Why Trinity Valley School?
JEFF SNYDER Head of Middle School
Trinity Valley School is a community of faculty, students, parents, and alumni who are dedicated to developing leaders of strong intellect, deep compassion, and sincere concern for the world around them. After having the privilege of being a teacher and parent in this community, I cannot imagine pursuing educational leadership anywhere else. On a personal level, the TOE program makes Trinity Valley a place where my two life-passions, educating children and being outdoors, fit right in.
What is something you would like people to know about you that would not be on your resume? I love to go camping! I grew up camping with my family and even loved it so much that I took my friends camping for my birthday parties as a child. I love the simplicity of being outdoors, away from technology and enjoying nature. What are you most looking forward to in your new role at TVS? I am excited about many aspects of my new role this year, but there are two that really stand out at the top of the list. First, connecting with my students has always been my favorite part of teaching. In this new role, I will get to work with our Middle School students for four years rather than just one. Second, I am excited about the many opportunities to help others. As Assistant Head of Middle School, I look forward to being able to offer help and support to our Middle School students, parents, and teachers.
You have taught many subjects. What would your students say that you have imparted to them? Over the course of my career in education, I have taught English and Humanities to grades 7-11, Creative Writing to grades 10-12, and Skills for Tomorrow, a TVS Middle School course that I founded in 2013, to grades 5 and 6. Though my time has been split between upper- and middleschool teaching, I am most “at home” teaching middle schoolers. I hope my students would say that they learned to have a discerning eye that looks at a text, situation, event, or problem from a variety of perspectives. TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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Tell us about your family. Caryn and I will celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary in January, and between us, we share 25 years of teaching. Needless to say, our family dinner conversation often turns to education. We have two incredible children, Collin, a sixth grader at TVS and Callie, a second grader at TVS. What do you do for fun? Our family fun consists mostly of outdoor activities, primarily rock climbing, snowboarding, skiing, camping, hiking, and backpacking. All told, we have rock climbed in 12 states and skied and snowboarded at more than 10 different ski areas. As you might imagine, our family motto is “Go big or go home!” Over the years, I have also enjoyed dabbling in auto restoration (I still own my first car, a 1965 Chevrolet Nova), home remodeling, and vegetable gardening. If you were not in education, in what field would you work? Since I have worked in and remain connected to the outdoor industry, if I were not in K-12 education, I suspect I would be teaching and guiding rock climbing in the summer and working as a snowboarding instructor in the winter. This remains my “empty nest”/ retirement strategy. Upon sharing this plan with my son, he promptly replied, “Dad, is that why all my ski instructors have been ‘old guys?’” Best piece of life advice you have received? When I was 17 years old, my highschool English and Creative Writing teacher pulled a desk up to mine, looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Jeffrey, you should really consider being an educator.” From that moment on, I never looked back. In
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addition, his passion for the outdoors had a strong influence on my own interest in being in the wilderness. The impression he left on me is a constant reminder of the great responsibility we have as educators to inspire our students toward positive and lasting impacts on the world around us. All-time favorite book/movie? I love books and documentary films that focus on outdoor-adventure pursuits. I have read and seen too many to have a favorite. My favorite section of the family bookshelf includes an extensive collection of rock-climbing guidebooks to areas across the country. It is where I always start as we plan the next family trip. What is something you would like people to know about you that would not be on your resume? I have always been drawn to difficult physical challenges in the outdoors that inspire others (especially my own children) to realize they can always go a little further, dig a little deeper. During a period in my life, this included quite a few ultramarathon running events ranging in distance from 31 miles to over 100 miles. What are you most looking forward to in your new role at TVS? Every opportunity I have had at TVS has allowed me to broaden and deepen my impact on the School community. The transition to Head of Middle School is no different. Every day, I hope to help our students discover and embrace their best selves, empower our teachers to bring out the best in every one of our students, and guide parents to foster independence in their children. This is precisely what I love about my continued work at TVS.
MANISH BHATT Why Trinity Valley School?
MANISH BHATT Head of Upper School
TVS is a wonderful community with scholars and experts in education. In my opinion, TVS is a model school that truly values the pursuit of knowledge and the delivery of instruction. I have always enjoyed working, and learning, in environments that challenge me to be better. TVS is precisely this type of institution, and I am forever grateful to have the opportunity to develop within and contribute to this dynamic institution. You have taught many courses. What would your students say that you have imparted to them? I have had the privilege of instructing 7th-grade Spanish, AP Macroeconomics, and Honors Economics. I think my students would indicate that I strive to provide an environment that fosters practical knowledge and application. Tell us about your family. I am happily married to my wife, Meredith. We met as students at the George Washington University and have been together ever since. We are hoping to expand our family soon. We have a lovely goldendoodle named Rosslyn “Roz.” I grew up in Upstate New York and attended a boarding school in Pennsylvania. Meredith was born in Annapolis, MD, and raised on Cape Cod. What do you do for fun? Meredith and I are winter-sport enthusiasts. She grew up figure skating, and I began skiing at a very young age. We are frequent travelers to the mountains.
If you were not in education, in what field would you work? I have had the honor of serving in the United States Armed Forces, and the privilege of practicing as a corporate international tax attorney. I cannot think of anywhere that I would rather be than at TVS. I am far too happy here to think about any other opportunity. Best piece of life advice you have received? My high-school history teacher, the late Mr. Tom Ruth, once told me that in college I should “take professors, not classes.” This was wonderful advice that I now share with my students. What is something you would like people to know about you that would not be on your resume? I believe strongly in life-long learning and would note that my closest friends often refer to me as a “man with 101 hobbies.” Over the years, some of these hobbies have included: sailing, fly fishing, rowing, Bob Ross-style painting, singing, farming, and baking. Since moving to Texas, I have added horseback riding to my list. What are you most looking forward to in your new role at TVS? I most looking forward to finding new and creative ways to enhance the partnership between families and faculty to continue to provide a rigorous, innovative, and caring education designed to prepare students for college and the 21st-century economy.
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BUILDING
CHARACTER ONE CHILD AT A TIME SANDY MCNUTT, HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL
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TVS LOWER
S C H OOL
At Trinity Valley School, we believe that in order to make a profound, extraordinary difference in the world, we have to be profoundly and extraordinarily different from the world. Teaching our children to be people of character is embedded into every fiber of our teaching. We know that becoming people of character cannot be done in a vacuum, and it cannot be done in isolation. As a team, we are on this journey together. We help our children grow through the efforts of our faculty and staff,
His son said, “Our teacher said we should never forget to honor those whose lives were lost. We remember so that we can be different.” Wow, what a great exchange between father and son! Reverence and
who carefully and masterfully live and breathe strong character. Character is most definitely introduced, infused, developed, nurtured, and reflected in and through our teachings at TVS. We are aware that at our school, the foundation on which we stand is only as solid as the character values that are mixed into the fabric of our being. As such, our foundation is solid. When you have the opportunity to walk through the hallways at our school, you will be overwhelmed while observing our children. You will see the fruit of our teachings, which is to develop and nurture lives to be lived with encouragement, gratitude, integrity, and respect for all people. The best way to tell you of our children who live out the examples of character is to share the stories that reflect our purpose.
respect are demonstrated to our parents through the mouths of our children. Many watched and listened on September 11. RESPECT — our foundation became stronger on this day. ENCOURAGEMENT | During an all-school pep rally, a Middle School child had the
RESPECT | On Monday, September 11, our fourth-grade student leaders were reverently placing the flags at half-staff, in honor and memory of those lives lost 16 years ago. As the flags were lifted high and then brought down to half-staff, I heard a parent say to his child as they stopped and reflected during the event, “Son, do you know why everyone is being so quiet? Do you know why the flags are at half-staff?”
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leadership and strength of character modeled in our student body. ENCOURAGEMENT — our foundation became stronger on this day. courage and resiliency to stand in front of 1,000 K-12 students to perform a baton-twirling routine. The music that began the routine was all wrong, and the twirler stood frozen in place. Hundreds of Upper School students chanted her name while the music was restarted, giving her inspiration and strength. Then, her baton flew high into the air; she caught it with grace and poise. Now, the Middle School students joined with the Upper School students and cheered for her talents and accomplishments, encouraging her to continue. Next, a high-twirling baton fell to the ground, inches away from the twirler’s grasp. Cheering her on were 1,000 students, including our Upper School, Middle School, and now Lower School children. The kindness and encouragement first shown by our oldest Trojans became an infectious behavior all the way to our youngest. Remarkable behaviors were emulated. It began as a small ripple and ended in thunderous applause. Great people lead, and others will follow. On this day, we saw the character value of
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GRATITUDE | Each month, our counselor, Karen Peninger, orchestrates the greatest of Character Assemblies. Throughout the month, our teachers look for students who emulate the specific, targeted, character value. Then, at the monthly assembly, recipients are awarded a certificate of accomplishment, and are called upon to be recognized and celebrated in front of their peers. As names are called and students are celebrated, a host of applause radiates throughout the Great Hall for these phenomenal students. As one student shook the hand of the counselor last month, the child said, “Thank you for seeing good in me. Next time, will you notice my friend? She is a really grateful person, too.” As we teach the character value of gratitude, and see it lived out through our children, we know it is taking root. GRATITUDE — our foundation became stronger on this day. INTEGRITY | Earlier this year, our school collected money to give to the Red Cross to support those families
INTEGRITY — our foundation became stronger on this day.
who lost so much in Hurricane Harvey. We talked to the students about how our small gifts can add up to make a big difference. We discussed the importance of reaching into their own treasures and giving of their own talents to make a difference, as opposed to just requesting a donation from family and friends. The selfless stories told of how students collected money could fill this magazine. This story, in particular, showed that though life can look very dismal and dark at times, in our children we have hope. Here is an example, lived out in our children. Two students set up a lemonade stand one very hot, humid Saturday afternoon in September. Two hours into the sale, the children had collected $45, and the parents said to close it up. The children had raised money through their efforts, and it was time to go to the movies. Out of the mouths of babes….“We have both decided to pass on the movie. We haven’t raised enough for a family in Houston to buy a new house yet!” We teach integrity as one who has strong moral character and principles.
At this place, at this time, we are determined to make a difference. We are determined not only to reflect strong character but to infuse it in our children through our actions, our teachings, and intentional educational opportunities. We want our children to stand out as being markedly different in that they desire to be an influence and role model for good. We hope that as people see our children in the community, they will see a child of stellar character and say, “That child must go to TVS!” As the Head of Lower School at Trinity Valley School, I believe that because our children learn to be people of utmost character during their journey here, their lives will make a positive difference in our world.
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SPANISH
INMERSIÓN
IMMERSION ESPAÑOLA
SYDNEY MUNSON, BRIAN JOHNSTON, AND CONNIE HOOKER MIDDLE SCHOOL SPANISH TEACHERS Trinity Valley Middle School Spanish is heading in a new direction: no textbooks, no desks, brain breaks, and plenty of engaging interaction only in Spanish. Sra. Hooker, Sra. Munson, and Sr. Johnston are bringing an infectious zeal and energy to the classroom and encouraging our students to speak, read, write, and understand Spanish at a new level. According to the language-acquisition research of Bill Van Patten and Stephen Krashen, students are more likely to become
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proficient if teachers provide compelling, comprehensible input, a teaching method that uses the Spanish language in a way that is understandable to students and encourages them to learn other vocabulary and grammar through meaning-based interactions. Van Patten describes comprehensible input as understandable “language that learners hear or see in a communicative text. It is language that learners respond to for its message and content of meaning.”1 In order to recreate the environment in which students learned
TVS M IDDL E
their first language, the Middle School teachers are using comprehensible input techniques such as Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS), Total Physical Response (TPR), Movie Talk, Special Person, Picture Talk, and Personalized Questioning and Answering. So what does this look like in the classroom? In seventh and eighth grades, students have deskless classrooms. When students are allowed to easily get up and move around, their affective
"...research demonstrates the profound benefits of reading comprehensible and compelling stories, with measurable improvement on students’ vocabulary, grammar, and spelling capabilities." filters are lowered and they are more interactive and engaged. In all Middle School grade levels, lessons include explaining a short movie in Spanish, describing a meme picture, asking and answering questions about a classmate, or creating class stories using props. As a result, our students are having fun creating and acting out unique and outlandish stories, all while we are consciously providing them with repeated exposure to the specific linguistic pieces necessary for language acquisition. Furthermore, in order to ensure students are attentive and ready to absorb and retain the language, we provide brain breaks and brain bursts; these breaks capitalize on frequent but brief opportunities for movement while still engaging in Spanish.
S C H OOL
As Middle School Spanish teachers, we have also initiated a Silent Sustained Reading program. Each teacher provides a level-appropriate classroom library from which the students may choose a novel that interests them. Every week there is dedicated class time for individual silent reading. As a result, students read on average 4-5 Spanish novels throughout the year. Van Patten’s research demonstrates the profound benefits of reading comprehensible and compelling stories, with measurable improvement on students’ vocabulary, grammar, and spelling capabilities. These novels also provide cultural information about the products, practices, and perspectives of various Spanish-speaking countries. In addition, our students’ cultural awareness is further enhanced through the various exchanges in which they engage via Skype or the class Blog with middle schools in Mexico and Spain. In Middle School Spanish, our goals are to encourage the students to recognize connections and comparisons amongst the cultures, and to help them increase their proficiency in reading, listening, writing, and speaking Spanish. Through comprehensible input strategies, we continue to provide a fun, engaging environment where students excel on their path to proficiency.
Eighth-grade Spanish students Skype with Rivendell Colegio, a K-8 school in Toluca, Mexico, to practice their Spanish and learn more about Mexican Independence Day.
1 Van Patten, Bill. “While We’re on The Topic.” Principles of Contemporary Language Teaching, International Forum for Language Teachers Conference, 13 July 2017, Denver Public High School, Denver, CO. Information Session.
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ECONOMICS AND THE
21ST-CENTURY ECONOMY MANISH N. BHATT, HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL STACY GRAU, PH.D., PROFESSOR OF MARKETING PRACTICE, TCU
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TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
TVS UPP ER
At Trinity Valley School, we are proud of our tradition of fine scholarship which informs our work both in and out of the classroom. We dedicate ourselves as community members to providing and implementing the very best of educational opportunities for our students. TVS is an institution which finds room for traditional classes as well as innovative, nontraditional offerings. In this spirit, beginning with the 20172018 academic year, we have the privilege of coteaching a new economics course titled “Honors Economics.” This course blends project-based learning and traditional lecture into a yearlong course intended to prepare students for high-level university coursework, as well as the 21st-century economy. Our partnership blends our individual experiences as a corporate international tax attorney and a TCU business professor. We bring different skills to the classroom which we believe will provide our students with a true collegepreparatory class.
"We intend for this course to be rigorous for students and allow for the intersectionality of creativity and business." We started with a common purpose – to create a course that would be useful to students beyond just information access. We intend for this course to be rigorous for students and allow for the intersectionality of creativity and business. We have spent the past several months aligning our curriculum to ensure a class that flows from start to finish. We share teaching responsibilities each week, and our material, while different, complements our shared intentions and learning objectives. By the end of the year, our students will have gained significant knowledge of and experience in the following topics: microeconomics, macroeconomics, design thinking, the businessmodel canvas, human-centered design, business formation, entrepreneurship, innovation, finance, and financial literacy. This course is tailored to challenge the individual student to think beyond
S C H OOL
Economics class.
a test and work toward practical application within a real-world environment. Students will be asked to develop and use creative ideation and teamwork to problem solve and create value. In Honors Economics, students are not asked to memorize, but rather are tasked with developing both a strategy and an implementation plan for a variety of contexts. Through active learning, students are provided a true opportunity to pursue entrepreneurship in its many forms. Additionally, we host a monthly breakfast series where our students are given access to successful, local entrepreneurs. Despite the challenge of the course, our TVS seniors and juniors are proving that they always rise to meet any challenge. What this course offers that differs from economics offerings in the past is the true cultivation of nonacademic skills. In today’s economy, skills such as the ability to work in teams, receive feedback, learn from setbacks, and remaining resilient are as important as substantive and technical knowledge. With this in mind, Honors Economics is meant to be a safe space for our students to explore the economic and social world that awaits them upon graduation. Please reach out if you have any questions regarding this class or any suggestions on items that may help us continue to provide a rigorous and meaningful course.
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T V SAD VAN CE M EN T
ANNUAL GIVING LEADERSHIP TEAM
TVS: TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE ASHLEY ROBINSON, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT
Megan and Matt Deen chose to send their children, Molly and Thomas, to Trinity Valley School for a variety of reasons - primarily the academic excellence provided by the wise and caring teachers and the devoted staff. Their family loves TVS and its community spirit! We were delighted when they agreed to chair this year’s Annual Giving Campaign.
We are proud to announce the TVS Board of Trustees and Faculty & Staff are already at 100% participation in the annual fund. On behalf of the Deens, the Board of Trustees, the Leadership Team, and our Faculty/Staff, we invite you to partner with TVS by making a donation today. TRINITYVALLEYSCHOOL.ORG/GIVE-ONLINE
A TVS education teaches each child how to be a person of character, along with dedication, commitment, and compassion.
PARTICIPATION BY THE NUMBERS
100% 100% 100% BOARD of TRUSTEES
F A C U LT Y A N D S TA F F
ANnual giving leadership team
The Deen Family: Megan, Thomas (3rd Grade), Molly (4th Grade) and Matt
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TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
TVS ADVA NC EM ENT
THANK YOU
TO OUR ANNUAL GIVING LEADERSHIP TEAM!
EACH YEAR, TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL RUNS A VOLUNTEER-LED
ANNUAL
FUND
DRIVE.
YOUR
DONATION SUPPLEMENTS THE TUITION OF EVERY CURRENT TVS STUDENT. EACH DONATION HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE ONE STUDENT’S LIFE, AS WELL AS THE CUMULATIVE POWER TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY MANY TIMES OVER. OUR LOYAL PARENT VOLUNTEERS ARE THE KEY TO THE ANNUAL FUND’S SUCCESS. WE SINCERELY THANK THE FOLLOWING FAMILIES FOR THEIR SERVICE TO TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL.
DONATE ONLINE TODAY AT WWW.TRINITYVALLEYSCHOOL.ORG/GIVE-ONLINE CAMPAIGN CHAIRS:
Katie & Jeff Farmer ’87
Tracy ’84 & David Matheson ’83
Megan & Matt Deen
Sarah ’97 & Charlie Florsheim
Helen ’00 & Devin McPherson
Anjum & Josh George
Darcy ’00 & Steve Miller
LEADERSHIP TEAM:
Kristie ’94 & Brian Gibson ’93
Whitney & Jonathan Mock
Erin Aldrich
Kelly & Bill Hanley
Ashley & Monty Moncrief ’89
Holly & Jason Anderson
Mary & Jarry Ho
Kerensa & Shahram Naghshbandi
Kristin & Jeff Anderson
Suzy & Bill Holloway
Allison Poston
Erin & Brett Barnes
Melissa ’93 & Ben Hoskins ’93
Kelly & Drew Pumphrey ’77
Kim & Barrett Bartell
LaToyer & Willie Houston
Claire & Walt Reynolds
Erin ’96 & Charles Benson
Sarah & Jeremy Jackson
Rebecca & Clark Rucker
Ann Ranelle & Michael Boothby
Mandy & Fred Johnston
Stacey & Aaron Rumfelt
Courtney & Steven Burns
Julienne Greer & Gordon Jorgenson
Sheri & Joe Sears
Emily & Benton Cantey
Sarah & Chris Klein
Jude & Marc Sloter
Shannon & Mike Collins
Jennifer & David Kostohryz ’97
Kate & Chris Snow
Kim Berkowitz Cooke
Mary & Markus Kypreos ’96
Jill & Michael Unell
Sona & Virat Dave
Vanessa & Mike LaGatta
Susie & Robert Ursprung
Jenny & Steve Davis ’92
Alyssa & Field Lange ’86
Joanne Viola
Laurie & John Dickens
Alicia & Craig Lesok ’92
Carol & Stan Williams
Heather Breiter & Pat Dunne
Jamie & Darren Lewis
Angela & Bob Yonke
Melodi & George Faris
Beth & Rusty Looney
TRINITY TRINITYVALLEY VALLEYSCHOOL SCHOOL
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T V SPARE N T ' S
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Stella (5th grade), Sarah, Lane (7th Grade), Chris, and Maggie Klein with Sarah’s parents Paula and Tony Prater
TVS
PARENT'S CLUB “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” — John F. Kennedy These words are definitely true when speaking of Parents’ Club and the many volunteers Trinity Valley School is so fortunate to have. Each and every one of our chairs, committee members, and volunteers makes a difference in the lives of the TVS community. All of them “try” by sharing ideas or “try” by helping with an event or classroom party. This year, I encourage each of you to also “try.” For many of our Parents’ Club Chairs, this summer was a busy time of planning and creating fabulous programs and activities for the upcoming school year. A huge thank you to STEPHANIE ALLEN, who is helped this year by KERRY FISHER, for selecting and setting up the new volunteer website. Signup Genius has made signing up to volunteer for Parents’ Club programs and in your child’s classroom easier than ever before. JULIE TAYLOR, Cafeteria Volunteer Coordinator, worked tirelessly at recruiting returning and new volunteers to assist Chef ERIN NESBITT and her staff. This opportunity continues to be a favorite for parents, grandparents, and friends, and is an invaluable resource to TVS. Julie is always looking for new faces to help in the dining hall, so sign up any time! Link families help to welcome new families into TVS and make the transition easier. Our Link Coordinators, MARGARET LANE, LIBBY MOORE,
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TAMARA WILLMANN, and CARLA VOGEL helped to organize and plan activities before the start of school. Adding Kindergarten Links to the program this year provided additional resources to Kindergarten families. Uniform Resale Chairs, AYESHIA WHITE and HILARY BOWERMAN, oversaw successful summer sales raising over $10,000. The Kindergarten families were given the opportunity to shop early at an exclusive event and the “August Big Sale” was open to all TVS families. The store is open Mondays from 2-4 pm and is located off the hallway outside the North Gym. Every family received a complimentary Student Directory on behalf of the Parents’ Club. ERIN ALDRICH and MARTHA MATTOX worked diligently with the TVS administration to produce and distribute this publication. Additional copies may be purchased in Central Administration. AMY PURIFOY LOPEZ and HEATHER LUCAS co-chaired the secondannual Back to School Fair on Saturday, August 19. The fair was held in multiple locations throughout the campus and families enjoyed the “one-stop shop” experience. Volunteer opportunities, auxiliary groups, food, and entertainment were all part of this successful event!
TVS PARENT 'S
Before school began, school supplies were ordered and distributed to all Lower School classrooms. STACY GRAU coordinated this and provided an invaluable service for Lower School families. HEATHER BREITER, Upper School Lead Room Parent, organized an all-school Room Parent orientation. With the assistance of RACHEL SPENCE, Middle School Lead, and MANDY KIRWAN, Lower School Lead, breakout meetings were held within the respective divisions. Parents’ Club treated the entire faculty and staff to an appreciation luncheon on August 21. NOEL NOLET and COURTNEY BURNS are this year’s Faculty/Staff Appreciation Chairs. The luncheon coincided with the Solar Eclipse, so this was the theme for the event. Eclipse glasses were provided so everyone could enjoy the viewing in the TVS Courtyard. What a hit! MELISSA HOSKINS, Parents’ Club President-elect, hosted this year’s Back-to-School Coffee on the first day of school. Families were welcomed back at each division with a wonderful beverage bar. The arrival of fall brought with it excitement about all that Parents’ Club has to offer. This is always a fun, busy, time at TVS with many opportunities to get involved. The annual Fall Festival was chaired by the amazing and energetic team of MARY ELLEN BECKER, ASHLEY MONCRIEF, TELESA JONES, and ALICIA LESOK. This year’s theme, “Halloween Carnival,” afforded the perfect opportunity to make some great additions to the already incredible lineup of booths and activities. Once again, Parents’ Club was able to underwrite the cost of the event to make it an affordable evening for all Lower School families to attend and enjoy! JESSICA POOLE and HANNAH SMITHERMAN, Upper School Q&A Co-Chairs, organized informal yet informative meetings, where grade-level-specific questions for Upper School parents were addressed. These sessions were held during October and November and were led by MANISH BHATT, Head of Upper School. On Friday, November 17, we will honor TVS Grandparents and Special Friends with our annual Grandparents’ Day Celebration. This event is co-chaired by JENNIFER KOSTOHRYZ and ALLISON JONES and promises to be a day
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to remember, so be sure to invite your child’s grandparents or special friends! ANJUM GEORGE will present all faculty and staff with Thanksgiving gift cards from the Parents’ Club and holiday gift cards from all TVS students. These are given as a token of appreciation for all the faculty does, and also to wish them the happiest of holidays. As we look toward the second half of our year, please remember to continue clipping Box Tops from participating grocery items. JENNIFER MCALISTER is in charge of Box Tops and has placed collection boxes in all three division offices. This program enables us to continue to make fantastic purchases for our students and campus. Last year a new table saw was purchased for the theater department with Box Top funds. STEPHANIE BUMGARDNER and CYNTHIA MILLS are co-chairing TVS Cares, an ongoing service provided to families or faculty and staff who have a special need during the school year. If you are interested in volunteering, go to the volunteer website and sign up to provide a meal. Mark your calendars now! JENNIFER BRISCOE and JENNY DAVIS are hard at work planning the TVS Auction. The theme is “A Night at the Museum” and will be held at The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History on March 24, 2018. The Auction is the primary fundraiser for Parents’ Club and is held every two years. The proceeds raised provide funding for Grants for Greatness that are awarded each November. Grants are awarded to teachers for educational supplies, equipment, and special programs not covered under the School’s operating budget for the purpose of enhancing learning for students. SHELLEY KARPMAN is this year’s Grants for Greatness Chair. I am honored to serve as Parents’ Club President this year. Thank you to all of those who share of their time and talents. I am so fortunate to be surrounded by so many gifted chairs and supported by so many giving volunteers. I hope you will consider becoming involved in Parents’ Club and “try” volunteering for one of our many programs. With much gratitude, SARAH KLEIN | Parents’ Club President TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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WHY TVS?
WE ARE HELPING RAISE CHILDREN OF CHARACTER!
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“
TVS has been
a game changer for Charlie. He understands and appreciates his opportunity to have such an amazing education. His personal confidence and
an environment that focuses on kindness and compassion. You feel it the minute you step on campus.
” “
educational aptitude has increased exponentially. He even told me his kids will go to
ALLISON JONES
TVS! He has always loved to learn and now he is at a school where he loves his opportunities to learn.
TVS is a school
that recognizes the strengths of each child
Lauren is going to be your biggest ambassador! She has also increased her personal confidence. The education she has received so far has been the absolute best! She loves coming to school every day and cannot wait to see her teachers and friends. It is such a joy to see her spirit! ROCHELLE WHITE
“
TVS offers a
unique academic culture which promotes learning through challenging all students in a manner best suited for each student.
”
STACIE GOLDMAN
”
TVS provides
then teaches that child as an individual. My children are thriving at TVS.
”
VANESSA CHARETTE
“
We have not one regret insending Annaliess to TVS. In fact, our TVS experience has far EXCEEDED everything we could have expected. Annaliess amazes me each day with all the fun things she is teaching me (and everyone around her)! It is not just the academic aspect that has us so amazed – it is the character of the staff and
students who are so kind, trustworthy, joyful, and are truly invested in this community. From the bottom of my heart – thank you Sandy – for leading such a wonderful community! I know a lot of pure, hard work goes into it each and every day.
”
REBECCA GLEASON
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TVSCOLLE GE
COU NS EL ING
TOP 10 WAYS
THE TVS COLLEGE COUNSELING TEAM IS A RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS
KIM PONDROM, NATALIE TIMSON & MARK WELLS, COLLEGE COUNSELING OFFICE
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3.
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Here to Help: The TVS College Counselors’ main priority is to help you with your college search and application process. Please don’t hesitate to let us know how we can assist you! Essay Experts: The TVS College Counselors have read hundreds (maybe thousands) of college essays during their tenure as admissions counselors and as college counselors at TVS, and they can help you with your college application and scholarship essays. Letter Writers: The TVS College Counselors will write an awesome and detailed letter of recommendation for you. Get to know them so they know you well! Paying for College: The TVS College Counselors know of many different scholarship resources and can help you find scholarships and other sources of financial aid. Finding Fit: The TVS College Counselors are knowledgeable about a wide variety of colleges and universities, and they will help you find and choose colleges that are a good match for you.
6.
College Connections: The TVS College Counselors are able to connect you with college-admission representatives. We are lucky to have over 130 colleges visit TVS each year.
7.
Test Prep Options: The TVS College Counselors can provide you with information about college admission tests and test-prep resources.
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Course Advising: The TVS College Counselors can provide helpful advice about your class schedule to keep you on track to reach your goals.
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Moral Support: The TVS College Counselors know you may be overwhelmed, anxious, or nervous about the college admissions process, and can give you a pep talk when you need it.
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Professional Development: The TVS College Counselors attend and present at professional conferences all over the state and country, so they are up to date on important information and current trends in higher education.
KIM PONDROM, CO-DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING pondromk@trinityvalleyschool.org 817-321-0147 MARK WELLS, CO-DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING wellsm@trinityvalleyschool.org 817-321-0142 NATALIE TIMSON, COLLEGE COUNSELING COORDINATOR timsonn@trinityvalleyschool.org 817-321-1049 Follow us on and
@tvs_collegecounseling
@TVS_CollegeCounseling.
TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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CLASS OF 2017 87students
GRADUATING CLASS OF 2017
10,660
community service hours completed by the class of 2017
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
17 AP exams administered 529 % of exams scoring 81 a 3 or higher % of exams scoring 55 a 4 or higher % of students earning AP Scholar 47 distinction AP courses offered
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14%
SCHOLARSHIPS
National Merit Recognition
$14.5M
6
246 number of
National Merit Finalists
scholarship dollars awarded
scholarships awarded
6
National Merit Commended Scholars
2
National Merit Scholarship Recipients
406 145 54
Total college acceptances
Unique colleges that accepted students
Colleges where students are matriculating
CLASS OF 2017 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Auburn University Austin College Babson College Barnard College Bates College Baylor University Belmont University Boston University Carleton College Case Western Reserve University Clemson University College of William and Mary Colorado School of Mines Colorado State University Columbia University Cornell University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach Emory University Georgetown University Harvard University Louisiana State University Loyola Marymount University The New School - All Divisions New York University Reed College Santa Clara University Seattle University Sewanee: The University of the South Southern Methodist University
Stanford University Texas A&M University Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi Texas Christian University Texas Tech University Trinity University Tulane University United States Military Academy - Army The University of Alabama University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Santa Barbara University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Georgia University of Houston The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Notre Dame The University of Oklahoma University of Rochester The University of Texas, Arlington The University of Texas, Austin The University of Texas, San Antonio University of Tulsa University of Utah Vanderbilt University Villanova University
TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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T V ST O E
TOE
IS NOT ABOUT CAMPING BLAKE AMOS, DIRECTOR OF EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION
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T V ST OE
WHEN SOMEONE UNFAMILIAR WITH TOE ASKS ME WHAT I DO AT TVS, I TYPICALLY GIVE THEM THE SAME STOCK ANSWER: “I TEACH CAMPING.” IT’S JUST EASIER TO MOVE THE CONVERSATION ON WITHOUT SPENDING 30 MINUTES ACTUALLY TRYING TO DESCRIBE TOE. BUT LATELY I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE PERCEPTION OF TOE … OR MAYBE THE MISPERCEPTION OF TOE, EVEN AMONG THOSE OF OUR POPULATION WHO THINK THEY TRULY GET IT.
TOE is not about camping. Camping definitely happens on many of our events, but that is not the reason we have this program. In fact, camping is a very small part of what we do. Just as Trinity Valley is more than math or history, TOE fills a much bigger role than the outsider can comprehend. Many families and students start to feel uncomfortable when TOE comes up because they do not want to be “forced to camp.” They want to skip the trip because of what they perceive is going to be a focal point, but what they fail to understand is that camping is merely a means for us to get off campus with 100 people and experience amazing rewards together. TOE IS ABOUT CREATING COMMUNITY Stepping away from our normal daily routines, technology, and comforts allows us to peel back the layers and share a truly unique group experience. These opportunities put everyone, student and faculty alike, on equal ground and allow us to
share in the attachment that occurs when we go through something different. Many of the things we take away from these outings are the friendships we make or the bonds that become thicker because of shared timed together without distraction. Although we pack every event with tons of activity, many of our students tell us the best part was when we allowed them the time to “just hang out with my friends.” TOE IS ABOUT PERSONAL GROWTH It can be a student who has never spent the night away from home. Perhaps it is the faculty member who is afraid of heights, yet still rappels off the cliff. It is likely the person who prefers a nice hotel and bubble bath, but finds out that sharing a tent with friends can be just as rewarding and much more empowering. While it can be tough to send your homesick youngster on a trip with us, there is no better avenue for helping him or her overcome his or her fears while surrounded by so many people who care. Those
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apply to real life. Many faculty also turn our outdoor adventures into actual classroom lessons when the group returns that allow for deeper learning and stronger student engagement.
who get to go on a TOE event learn how to navigate and solve many small, uncomfortable moments that allow them to grow in self-confidence and personal fortitude, creating long-term benefits. TOE IS ABOUT SHAPING A CLASS Working with the faculty from each grade level, we can get a class off campus and focus on the needs of the group in a much more specific way. Trips are never identical because the goals of each group are usually different. TOE can quietly bring up topics and group challenges that focus on aspects where the class is strong, as well as those that may need some refining. TOE IS ABOUT CONTINUED LEARNING Many of our faculty build educational components into activities on TOE trips that accentuate what they are doing in the classroom. For example, having kids use math to solve a problem they are seeing in the field helps students understand how and when classroom learning can 32
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TOE IS ABOUT GIVING OUR FACULTY MORE TOOLS One of the unique things about our program is how many faculty attend our trips. This is by design, and it is very rare and special. First, we like that the entire group, not just the students, gets to share this experience. More importantly, we want the faculty to see our students outside the classroom. I can tell you so many stories of teachers who returned from an event with a much better understanding of a student, and that awareness truly benefited both parties back on campus. It also allows our students to view the faculty with a newfound respect and empathy by sharing such times with them. Everyone got wet, everyone slept through the storm, everyone did it together. We all shared the experience. TOE IS ABOUT SOLVING PROBLEMS I know many parents would love to be on our events, and I totally understand that. The reason we take just the students is to allow them to make decisions, solve problems, and learn from their actions without a parent there to do it for them. I am a parent too, and it can be so much easier to solve problems for my children because it is much quicker, and it is done correctly, since I have the abilities and perspective that they do not! However, we sometimes forget that if we do not ever give our kids the chance to make decisions and learn from the consequences, then they never gain any useful life skills. Deep down we know the best lessons in our life were learned through experience, and many times that came with negative outcomes, which we
ATTENTION TVS ALUMNI: Did you know this is the 40th anniversary of TOE? As we think about our history and journey as a program, we would like to hear from you. We want to hear the interesting, the crazy, or the just plain fun memories never forgot and probably use to this day. TOE allows this to happen in small ways on every event. TOE ALLOWS CREATIVITY TO GROW Removing technology from our kids can be traumatic, as I am sure you know. But once students get over the strange sensation of not having a phone in hand or an earbud dangling from their head, they start to have real conversations with each other. They start to create their own games. Regardless of their age, they start to play. The younger students come up with wild new and creative activities that fill the time. The older ones usually sit together and visit, without a digital interface. Many worry about the schedule, asking, “What’s next?” “What time?” ”When?” Once they realize that it is OK to have down time and interact with others, they visibly relax and begin to enjoy it. Then we hear different questions like, “So…how exactly do I skip a rock across the water?” TOE IS ABOUT EXPLORING NEW THINGS Many of us lament that our kids do not get outside and do the things we did as children. Our world today is quite
different than when we used to run the neighborhoods with our friends. Because our children spend so much time indoors with technology, many of them do not know that there are incredible lifetime activities they may love to do like fishing, hiking, or paddling. TOE allows students to experiment with new things to see if something resonates and sticks with them long term. It also gives them a chance to learn about and appreciate our natural world so they can advocate for it when they inherit the stewardship of this planet.
of your time in TOE. Send them to me at amosb@ trinityvalleyschool. org, and we will put many of them together for our Spring Trojan
Voice edition.
TOE is not about camping. TOE complements our many incredible programs here at TVS, while sharing in the workload of helping to develop our remarkable students into great citizens. Send your kids out with us even if you are happy you are not going! Tell them to try everything. Tell them to enjoy being a part of the group. And trust that they will come back better from the undertaking. In the meantime, I am working on my new stock answer to those who ask what I do for a living. I might just say, “It’s complicated, it’s unique, and it’s amazing.”
KEEP ADVENTURING! TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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WHAT DOES IT MEAN
TO BE A TROJAN? TIM JONES, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
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T V S ATHL E T IC S
Trinity Valley School is an outstanding institution rich in experiences and opportunities for its students. There are many shared lessons and principles rooted in participation in the TVS athletic, fine arts, experiential education, global initiatives, and community service programs. While these programs provide each participant with a shared experience, the true value and meaning of each student’s participation is keenly unique. This individualized significance is illuminated by some of our senior student-athletes who recently were prompted to explain what being a Trojan means to them.
BEING A TROJAN MEANS being part of a community filled with selflessness and constant curiosity. Each one of these characteristics extends to both the Trojan faculty and students. There is no shortage of selflessness when students walk into school with two identical notebooks and backpacks: one set for themselves, the other to donate to those less fortunate. Being a Trojan means constantly asking what you can do to best represent Trinity Valley School. Many find the answer diving into academics while some discover they shine on the stage. Being a Trojan means being your best self, whoever that may be. So, ask again, what does it mean to be a Trojan? Being a Trojan is about taking back a trophy that has been missing from our shelves for five years in the Battle of Bryant Irvin game. It’s about finally understanding that advanced math problem you never thought you could. It’s about perseverance and dedication and always, ALWAYS bleeding Trojan blue.
For the 13 years that I've been at Trinity Valley, I've learned what it means to be a Trojan. IT MEANS having intelligent citizenship and being engaged in your community. I've learned to lead by example and to always be respectful to everyone regardless of the situation. I'm proud to be a Trojan because it has taught me valuable lessons that I will carry with me throughout my life.
| BRIANNA HUDSON ’18
To me, BEING A TROJAN MEANS going all out. There is never a game I won't go 100% for my team. TVS athletics have made me compete harder than ever because I want our fans and alumni to be proud of our teams. Winning is great but losing is worse. Of course, being a Trojan means beating Country Day in football, which I'm so glad we did my senior year.
| SAWYER BLACKMAN ’18
| ADDIE GUINN ’18
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their activities is admirable. Whether it is staying after practice to perfect a skill, volunteering your Saturday to help Mrs. Carlson with the Middle School play, or studying for the history scholastic competition during T-period, there is never a moment when our campus is quiet. Yet, it takes passionate students to continue this tradition of success. The students that comprise TVS are diverse in their lifestyles and paradigms which allows for a wide variety of organizations to exist on campus, but one core characteristic that remains common within all Trojans is the shared passion to bring pride to their school and pursue excellence.
| MAGGIE SHIPMAN ’18
BEING A TROJAN MEANS that I am encouraged to excel off the field, in the classroom, and in the art studio. I am supported and mentored by the staff in all of my endeavors. Being a Trojan means I work hard and play to the best of my abilities in practice and in games. Being a Trojan means I represent my school to the best of my abilities wherever I go. Being a Trojan means I do not take the great opportunity that this school is lightly.
| ANNE CLEVELAND ’18
NOT EVERYONE CAN BE A TROJAN. It takes discipline and passion to be a part of the Trojan Family. Students at Trinity Valley are known to be involved in a wide variety of activities and initiatives; however, they always remain fully committed to their individual causes. The discipline practiced by students within
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To me, there’s a sense of pride associated with being a Trojan. BEING A TROJAN MEANS being part of a tight-knit community of strong-willed individuals who are dedicated both to their athletic and academic careers. When I joined TVS in my sophomore year, I immediately felt at home on the Cross Country team. This was a group of dedicated student athletes who really put a lot of effort into the sport. Every morning, we would come together and push ourselves as a team in order to become better runners, and then we would go to classes to become better students. Two years later, that hasn’t changed. We’re still putting in a great deal of effort, and I’m quite optimistic about my final season as a Trojan. I consider myself lucky to be part of this community. We put forth our best effort in all that we do, and to me, that’s what it means to be a Trojan.
| KEVIN JAMES ’18
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A TROJAN? It means...being a role-model ... being selfless I believe ONCE YOU ARE A TROJAN, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A TROJAN. It is a lifelong journey and reputation that one may be proud of and remember the rest of his or her life. Ever since I was in Lower School, I had role models in the Upper School whom I looked up to and wanted to be like. Now, that dream is almost complete. I now notice that certain individuals look up to me. It is a continuous cycle; younger athletes look up to their “heroes” then they become heroes for others. Trojan athletes are skilled in what they do, work diligently year-round, and possess integrity that is noticeable to those around them in the classroom and outside this gated community.
| BROCK RODRIGUEZ ’18
... being curious ... being engaged in the community ... being respectful ... being disciplined ... being passionate ... being proud
BEING A TROJAN MEANS that I get to wear the Trojan sword and Trojan head logo on my helmet every Friday night. A Trojan respects others and is always there to help fellow Trojans and the community. We wear the Trojan logo with pride, representing the school with our actions on and off campus. I am proud to be a Trojan and wear the Trojan logo on Friday nights performing at the highest level I can.
| PAYTON BENSON ’18
TO BE A TROJAN ATHLETE IS to seek a perfect mind and a perfect body. Teachers do not expect less of you because you have a game at 6:30 in Dallas, and teammates do not expect less of you because you have a 35-problem chemistry webassign to work through. My fellow athletes impress me daily with their work ethic on and off the court. I can always find some of the smartest students in the weight room, and the most talented players in the laboratory. If you are looking for a group of people that can calculate the width of an aluminum atom given some foil, and compete with the best in the conference, look no further than the Trojan boys’ volleyball team, or the field hockey team, the track team, the lacrosse team, or any subsection of the athletics program. Trojan athletes can tackle anything. Even literally.
... being dedicated ... working hard and going all out ... being a competitor ... pursuing intelligent citizenship It means so much more!!!
| TOM BOSWORTH ’18 TRINITY TRINITYVALLEY VALLEYSCHOOL SCHOOL
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TVS
GOING GLOBAL
WITH PURPOSE DR. MICHAEL ROEMER, DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL INITIATIVES
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TVS GLOBAL
IN IT IAT IVES
Making friends in Swaziland | March 2017
Since the Global Initiatives Program began in the summer of 2011, our students and faculty have connected in person and online with hundreds of children and adults from almost 60 countries and territories on all seven continents. But, we’re Trojans. We’re not just “going global;” we’re going global with a purpose.
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THE MISSION OF THE GLOBAL INITIATIVES PROGRAM AT TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL IS TO HELP OUR STUDENTS BECOME GLOBALLY CONNECTED, CONSCIENTIOUS LEADERS BY DEVELOPING THE FOUR GLOBAL COMPETENCIES OF SELF-AWARENESS, EMPATHY, CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION, AND CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING. THIS ARTICLE BREAKS DOWN WHAT WE MEAN BY “CONSCIENTIOUS” LEADERSHIP AND HOW THAT RELATES DIRECTLY TO THE GLOBAL COMPETENCIES THAT WE AIM FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP DURING THEIR TIME HERE AS TROJANS. GLOBALLY CONNECTED This part of our Mission is easy to see. For example, we have had repeated exchanges with students in England (Kindergarten), Indonesia (3rd grade), Taiwan (4th grade), Japan (6th grade), and Scotland (8th grade). Students and faculty in all three divisions also have benefitted from repeatedly hosting and being taught by student and adult guests from Australia, China, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Additionally, we offer a variety of Trojans Abroad and T.O.E. Beyond programs every year that take our students outside their comfort zones and into the world far beyond our gates. At graduation, a TVS student who has spent several years here is likely to have hosted, been hosted by, made friends with, learned from, and/or taught dozens of students and adults from at least a dozen countries from various regions of the world.
CONSCIENTIOUS LEADERS What requires a little more explanation, I believe, is how we are working to develop “conscientious leaders” through our Four Global
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Competencies. There are countless ways to define and foster leadership. For Global Initiatives, I have chosen to focus on five primary characteristics (resolve, responsibility, modesty, communication, and self-growth) that were developed by the students in the TVS “Global Leadership” course I taught in the fall of 2015. I believe that they summarize perfectly what it means to be a conscientious leader— one who constantly seeks to do what is right for others and for her/himself.
"At graduation, a TVS student who has spent several years here is likely to have hosted, been hosted by, made friends with, learned from, and/or taught dozens of students and adults from at least a dozen countries from various regions of the world." In the Fall 2016 Trojan Voice, I described our Four Global Competencies, so here I will focus on these characteristics of conscientious leadership and how they are linked back to these skills. RESOLVE: includes traits such as passion, drive, grit, steadfastness, perseverance, courage, ambition,
vision, and the ability to inspire others. Resolve is developed through Global Initiatives when we practice the competencies of self-awareness (discovering one’s passions), empathy and crosscultural understanding (including others’ ideas in the development and execution of those passions), and cross-cultural communication (the ability to communicate effectively one’s passions to people of diverse backgrounds). During our trip to Swaziland last spring, I witnessed our students foster resolve as they committed themselves to serving the children with whom we played and to whom we read books. They resolved to serve the children, despite not being able to speak their language and not knowing them at first.
fail in their goals. Thus, I believe that a conscientious leader listens carefully to and accepts the ideas of others (empathy), can be selfless and a follower at times (self-awareness — knowing when to share and when to listen), and sees herself as part of something greater (including aspects of culture that may not directly affect her — cross-cultural understanding). Traveling to a new country can be humbling, especially when we don’t speak the language fluently. We teach our students to accept and acknowledge their mistakes and shortcomings, apologize when they make mistakes, and embrace
Top: Presenting to students in Coleford, England | March 2017 Bottom: Guests from Mexico volunteering with TVS students | December 2013
RESPONSIBILITY: refers to a leader’s ethical thoughts and behavior and willingness to take ownership over a project or goal, for example. This can mean accepting the blame when things go wrong but may also include humbly accepting praise for accomplishments or successes. One example of responsible leadership occurs when students host an international student, and they actively work to dispel unhealthy stereotypes about us and them (self-awareness is also about one’s community and local culture, and — in this case — knowing enough about one’s culture to share in meaningful, healthy ways, which also reflects empathy and cross-cultural understanding, and requires successful cross-cultural communication). MODESTY: is the trait that keeps a great leader in check. Leaders who seek or demand praise without giving credit where credit is due are bound to lose their followers and, ultimately,
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those feelings of discomfort so that they can be transformed into growth. COMMUNICATION SKILLS: without them, an individual will struggle to carry out successfully the group’s, organization’s, or community’s goals. These skills include written, spoken, and nonverbal (body language) communication in both public and more intimate settings. A conscientious leader is able to evoke appropriate emotion to inspire or motivate (crosscultural communication) and listen carefully to others (selfawareness, empathy, and crosscultural understanding). When our Kindergarteners are asked to present to their new friends in England via Skype, we are asking them to be bold and clear in thought and speech. SELF-GROWTH: I believe that this is the “glue” that ties
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"As soon as we stop growing and improving, we begin to fail those around us because we are no longer challenging ourselves or our peers, colleagues, and family to be the best we can be." these four primary traits of a conscientious leader together. As soon as we stop growing and improving, we begin to fail those around us because we are no longer challenging ourselves or our peers, colleagues, and family to be the best we can be. For the past six years, our eighth graders have participated in online discussions with students in Edinburgh, Scotland (crosscultural communication), and they have been asked to think critically about who they are and what they believe in (selfawareness), and to read and respond to the opinions of the Scottish students (empathy and cross-cultural understanding) in
an effort to learn about topics such as Scottish and US poetry, immigration, and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We are all part of this great world, and we are increasingly interconnected. Thus, it is more urgent than ever that our students get training while they are young to become globally connected, globally competent, conscientious leaders—for now, for college, and for our future.
Left: Painting with a host “sister” in Costa Rica | June 2017 Right: Discussing life with students in Edinburgh, Scotland | April 2014
A STELLAR COL!BORATION NICOLE FORBES, DIRECTOR OF EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS Photo Credit: Sam Barber
Two key factors in making Xplore Summer Programs exceptional are the creative involvement of TVS staff and the commitment of students to school service. During the 2017 summer season, nearly 50 faculty and coaches led summer camps and classes, and over 80 Middle and Upper School students volunteered as student counselors for a whopping total of more than 2,100 service hours!
Science Department Chair Paul Price ’88 and TVS Junior Sam Barber took things up a notch when they teamed together to design and co-teach the Astronomical Imaging camp for Middle School students. Planning that began in January resulted in a truly out-ofthis-world experience for 10 campers in June 2017. Read on to learn more about the camp and this remarkable student-faculty collaboration.
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NICOLE FORBES | Describe the class that you and Sam co-taught this summer. PAUL PRICE | People are always fascinated by the amazing images that can be taken by ground- and space-based observatories. In Astronomical Imaging, we discussed
"In Astronomical Imaging, we discussed how these telescopes produced images with particular attention paid to the various types of light collected."
Below: Participants tested their eclipse glasses during Astronomical Imaging Camp.
how these telescopes produced images with particular attention paid to the various types of light collected. This is critically important because the “colors� of these images are false and have been modified to accentuate certain features. In class, Sam showed students what the original images looked like, and how, using Adobe Photoshop, one could process each image to show specific features in various colors. What is so exciting about this is that the original images themselves are in the public domain,
so once you learn these skills, you can download any image and apply what was learned in class to create a masterpiece. We also took some time to talk some general astronomy, focusing on the total solar eclipse that would occur on August 21st. FORBES | This camp was a unique program for Xplore in terms of both content and the co-teaching approach. What motivated you to pursue this collaboration with Mr. Price? SAM BARBER | I came to Mr. Price (who was my Honors Chemistry teacher at the time) with questions about spectra at the beginning of my sophomore year. This led to his discovery of my passion for astrophotography and the books I had been reading outside of school. He immediately recommended several books and projects to work on, and wanted me to come up with a way to share this hobby and knowledge with the student body. We eventually came to the resolution of a summer camp, where we would have more time to prepare and plenty of time to teach what we wanted to. It is a gift to be at a school like TVS with teachers comparable to Mr. Price who can provide opportunities like this; he made it all possible. FORBES | When and how did you become interested in astrophotography? BARBER | I have been a space geek since I could talk, and I received my first telescope when I was 8 or 9. This led to some cool views of the planets, but I wanted more and also wanted to share my observations with others (my mom always hated it when I dragged her outside in January). That was when I started to think about taking pictures of astronomical objects using either a smartphone or a DSLR camera
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students have this level of both passion and knowledge for subjects they love. Giving them that stage to share that love with others benefits everyone in the community, and hopefully the success of this class can act as a gateway for other student-led collaborations. FORBES | What was the most rewarding part of teaching this camp? What was the most challenging?
Photo Credit: Sam Barber
(the latter became my tool of choice for the next three years). The rest is history! FORBES | What inspired you to pursue this collaboration with Sam? PRICE | Once I saw the depth of Sam’s knowledge and his passion for capturing, creating, and optimizing images, it was a no-brainer to get him in front of students during Xplore. However, as “teaching” a class was novel for Sam, it was critical to mentor him throughout the process. Thus, my main role was to guide Sam as he created a proposal for the class and outlined each day so that we had a finished product at the end of the week. I was also the test student as he wrote handouts and explained concepts so that our students would best understand them. Sam learned quickly that one has to think on his feet and be prepared to patiently explain things multiple ways, which is terrific practice for Sam’s presentation skills. Many of our
BARBER | Easily the most rewarding part of the camp was seeing the variety of different images created at the end of the camp. While a large portion of the course was scientific learning, and every student was given identical data, the fun of processing images is that the end result is dependent on the preferences of the person behind the computer; even NASA’s images are created by a team of scientists and artists who show the object as they wish to! The most challenging thing about teaching this class was choosing the correct material. We had a set amount of time on our hands, and a certain level of knowledge of our students. This meant that we had to find a way to teach a tiny bit of basic quantum mechanics (which is just touched on in the AP sciences at TVS) to middle schoolers! Much was left out, but I think we got the information across that we originally intended. FORBES | What’s next…any ideas in the hopper for Xplore Summer 2018? PRICE | It would be great to do an encore of Astronomical Imaging, but I am also on the lookout for other students who would like to experience teaching in our community for a week. We have a few additional ideas percolating, and it would be tremendously rewarding to build on this experience and make it an annual occurrence with interested Upper School students.
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NICOLE FORBES, DIRECTOR OF EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS
2017 Summer Programs
65 11 weeks 132 CAMps& 699 classes
more than SCHOOLS represented
49 TVS
Faculty, coaches, &staff
UNIQUE PARTICIPANTS
84 tvs
STUdent counselor volunteers TRINITY TRINITYVALLEY VALLEYSCHOOL SCHOOL
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS
PROGRAM
KIRSTEN MURPHY, LOWER SCHOOL LIBARIAN AND CPP CO-FACILITATOR
AH, SUMMER! A TIME FOR ICE-CREAM ADVENTURES, DAYS AT THE POOL, TRIPS OUT OF TOWN, AND FUN IN THE SUN. SUMMER ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO BE PART OF THE AMAZING EXPERIENCES OF THE TVS COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROGRAM.
WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROGRAM? CPP provides students with opportunities to engage in philanthropic and community-service experiences that increase their awareness of community needs and enable them to be involved in the community in which they live. Our partnership with the Once Upon a Time Foundation and the Fash Foundation, as well as our partnerships with local non-profit organizations, makes it possible for students to experience directly the impact of philanthropic giving and service in Fort Worth.
“I was amazed by the group of students we had in our class this year and the willingness they showed to explore some tough issues affecting people in their local community of Fort Worth. These students are developing a passion for service, and the CPP program has helped this by exposing them to a wide variety of different organizations and having frank conversations about the needs in our community. I am proud to support this program and the leaders that emerge from the class.” Donna Weth, third-grade teacher and CPP Co-facilitator 50
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CPP 2017
BY THE NUMBERS
1 1 2
Distinguished Award from ACH Child & Family Services honoring the TVS Community Partners Program CPP RECEPTION where students recognized participating non-profits FOUNDATIONS THAT FUND ALLOCATION Once Upon a Time Foundation and Fash Foundation
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WEEKS IN JUNE
2
TVS teachers co-facilitating
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Kirsten Murphy & Donna Weth
LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING
IN THE SUMMER SESSION OF CPP
18 STUDENTS
FROM 7TH - 12TH GRADES Eilea Andrews, Wyatt Byrd, Ellie Grau, Tamam Haque, Chelsea Nnanyanzi, Zion Amutuhaire, Grayce Andrews, Kishan Kalaria, Raj Baweja, Julian Barretto, Emily Reynolds, Izzy Hoskins, John Bacon, Wisdom Choice, Jordan Sorokolit, Sarah Dodge, KayLynne Midgley, Emma Stack, and Vanessa Silva (FWCD)
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DONATION DRIVE of diapers and wipes for homeless families
HOURS OF LEARNING A N D S E RV IC E OPPORTUNITIES
ACH Child and Family Services, Justin’s Place, Wings of Hope Equitherapy, Project 4031, The Welman Project, Cuisine for Healing, Ronald McDonald House, Center for Transforming Lives, Educational First Steps, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
$11,000 FUNDING ALLOCATED BY TVS STUDENTS AMONG PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
PLUS COUNTLESS EXPERIENCES THAT STRENGTHENED OUR COMMUNITY, TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF EACH PARTICIPANT, AND CREATED RELATIONSHIPS THAT IMPACTED US ALL!
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T V SAD VAN CE M EN T
THEATER ENHANCEMENTS ATHLETIC MASTER PLAN Clare Pritchett ’89, Director of External Affairs and Major Gifts
In recognition of donors to the 2017 Theater Project for their generous support of our dressing room and scene shop The Adams-Gibson Charitable Fund Erin & Chris Andrews Amon G. Carter Foundation Kristy Ekleberry Carolyn & Dan Fauber Friends of the Trojan Arts Shannon & Mark Hart Adeline & George McQueen Foundation Ann L. & Carol Green Rhodes Trust Stephanie & Brian Allen Melissa & Jeff Applewhite Linda Kiraly & Brian Bormann Deb & Mike Cascino Vanessa & Robert Charette Conerly Family Foundation Kate Holliday & David Dibble Laurie & John Dickens Barbara & Randy Elston Sarah & David Evans Fifth Avenue Foundation Allison & Scott Fitzgerald Molly Gamades Krystle & Raj Gandhi
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Kelly & Lee Gendreau Vickie & Gary Gibson Sally & Tom Gooch Lauri & David Hadobas Tammy & Don Hayward Marti & Chad Herman Debbie Hucaby & David Hill Misti & John Jancosek Julienne Greer & Gordon Jorgenson Michelle & John Key Carolyn & Bill Lorimer Natalie & Brant Martin Kathy & Larry Matthews
Cynthia & Jeff Mills Lauren & Scott Norville Kristen, John & Ray Patterson Emily & Stuart Pickell Jessica & Phillip Poole Kathy & Michael Roemer Jeanette Rice & Jeff Roet Bill Shelton Katie & Hayne Shumate Emily & Rob Stephenson TVS Parents’ Club Monika & Ben Worsley
TVS ADVA NC EM ENT
T H E A T E R E N H A N C E M E N T U P D AT E
RENOVATION AND EXPANSION UNDERWAY! Renovation and expansion are sure signs of a thriving program, and both are taking place on the TVS campus this fall in the area just behind the Stephen Seleny Theater. After years of planning and eager anticipation, a much-needed scene shop is being built adjacent to the loading dock there. Nearby, the old dressing room/ makeup area is getting a complete remodel. Work on the combined project is being done by the Scott Tucker Construction Company of Fort Worth. With a total cost of just under $600,000, it is
scheduled for completion by midDecember. Funds were raised by the TVS Development Office especially for this project and came from a variety of donors. The new spaces were designed by professional architects with much input from TVS Technical Theatre Director Nate Davis. According to the author, the department has needed this expansion for a long while. “Once it is finished, it will greatly enhance our theatre program," says TVS Upper School Theatre Director Gene Sessa. "The number and scope of the shows
T V SAD VAN CE M EN T
we produce here each year has grown considerably since this facility was first constructed. We’ve simply outgrown it.” The Middle and Upper Schools at TVS together produce seven major shows each year (usually including three musicals), and the Lower School puts on another seven or more productions in that time. With such a busy schedule, the Black Box Theater and the Stephen Seleny Theater are in almost constant use. Most of these shows require specific scenery which, until now, had to be built either on one of the two stages or outside on the loading dock. Cutting machinery, including a large table saw, was constantly moved in and out of different spaces. Students were frequently forced to work in cramped or cluttered quarters, and as both actors and technicians had to share the same space, the loud sounds of sawing and hammering often interfered with rehearsals. All that will be different with the new addition. Having a designated area especially designed for set construction, where tools and lumber can be properly stored and cared for, will not only increase efficiency and organization, but improve safety and learning as well. Moreover, the new scene shop will provide a perfect place to have a woodworking class — something that has been discussed by faculty as a possible future endeavor. The costume/makeup area was originally a small room with lighted mirrors, in front of which was a narrow counter. At both ends of the space was a door to a restroom, each with
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a single sink and a toilet. The boys’ restroom was long ago turned into a paint room (although it was still used by male actors to change clothes), and the girls’ side was being used to store costumes, mainly footwear. Renovation crews knocked down the walls separating these three rooms, removed all the plumbing, and opened them up to become one large space. With mirrors on three sides, a sink in one corner, and no counters, the area will accommodate more actors and
"... once it is finished, it will greatly enhance our theatre program. The number and scope of the shows we produce here each year has grown considerably since this facility was first constructed. We’ve simply outgrown it." have the ability to be reconfigured as needed to fit individual productions. A new door cut in one corner will provide access to the restrooms already located at the back entrance to the cafeteria. Finally, a new paint sink will be located on the loading dock near the entrance to the new scene shop. With all these improvements to its theatre facilities, TVS is poised to provide an even better experience for those students who participate in the performing arts, both on stage and off.
AT H L E T I C M A S T E R P L A N U P D AT E
NORTH FIELD PROJECT UNDERWAY! LEAD GIFT FROM AMON G. CARTER FOUNDATION Thanks to a major gift of $750,000 from the Amon G. Carter Foundation, the North Field Project is underway with 120 new parking spaces under construction. This new parking will be located adjacent to the north field and will benefit our entire community on a daily basis. The Amon Carter Foundation thoughtfully and generously made this lead gift to kick off the North Field Project, and now we need all Trojans to help wrap it up! The the North Field Project fundraising goal is $1,800,000, and we are already more than halfway there. We aim to complete fundraising this school year in order to start construction on the concessions/restroom portion of the project in summer 2018. Please help us meet this goal! Gifts may be paid in full or pledged and paid out over two years.
$250,000 BOOSTER CLUB MATCH To encourage additional major gifts, the TVS Booster Club will contribute an additional $10,000 to the north field project for every gift or pledge of $10,000 or more through December 31, 2017 (up to $250,000). Please contact Clare Pritchett ’89 regarding gifts, ideas, and questions. pritchettc@trinityvalleyschool.org, 817-321-0113
ATHLETIC MASTER PLAN DONORS Holly and Jason Anderson C. B. Baird Foundation Hollie and Chad Barber Duff Blair ’97 Brillhart/Langford Families Katherine Brownlie ’09 Amon G. Carter Foundation Cummings Family Charitable Fund at NTCF Adrianne and Adam Deem Heather Breiter and Pat Dunne Kelly and Bill Hanley Laurie and Holman Harvey Mindy and Tom Hegi Shannon and Jay Kizer Karen Beck Lewis ’89* Bryan and Brian Lynch Erika and Dan McCarthy Amber Anderson Mostyn ’89* Jennifer and David Nickels Clare Pritchett ’89* Melanie and Ron Rosen Margaret Jones Rutter ’91* Caroline Dulle Smith ’89* Maria Capua and Brandon Teague TVS Booster Club Gloria and Tim Vasquez Nicole and Jeremy Watkins
*in honor of Ric Auger, retired teacher and coach TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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T V SF I N E
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AND JO-ANN MULROY, JANET CHAFFEE, AND MARCY ROTEN UPPER SCHOOL ART TEACHERS
“OBJECTS AND ARRANGEMENTS” IS NOW ON VIEW IN THE MS/US LIBRARY ART GALLERY. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT WAS TO TAKE AN OBJECT FROM THE PAST AND CREATE A DRAWING THAT DOCUMENTS THAT OBJECT, BUT ALSO CELEBRATES THE TIME PERIOD DURING WHICH THE OBJECT WAS CREATED. ALTERNATIVELY, STUDENTS COULD INVENT A STORY OR THEME WITH THEIR DRAWING OR PHOTOGRAPHS TO CREATE A DIALOGUE WITH THE VIEWER. THE EXHIBIT INCLUDES ART II, ART III, SENIOR PORTFOLIO AND ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENTS.
ERIN JOHNSON ’18
JORDAN SOROKOLIT ’19
HARRISON ELLIS ’18 ANNE CLEVELAND ’18 56
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KATE HANLEY ’18 MORGAN HURTADO ’19
MICHAEL MCAULEY ’20
MAYA KALARIA ’18
LUCAS LIPSCOMB ’18
EESHA MUDDASANI ’20
JAMES STUPFEL ’19
STUDENTS WITH WORK IN THE EXHIBIT Jack Allen Rachel Baker Evan Browne Avery Buchanan Anne Cleveland Emma Dalley Dacy Distler
Harper Dunne Harrison Ellis Brenna Flynn Kate Hanley Ross Huck Morgan Hurtado Erin Johnson
Maya Kalaria Michael McAuley Abigail McGowen Eesha Muddasani Brinkley Pauling Saleem Razack Brock Rodriguez
Jordan Sorokolit Sydney Srnka James Stupfel Sam Wong Dylan York
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Summer 2017
Two generations of Billy and Rozanne Rosenthal’s family have attended TVS. Today, they help make it possible for other families to experience the TVS “magic.”
Investing in the
FUTURE
Helping Others ‘Live the Dream’ By Billy and Rozanne Rosenthal
When we realized that we wanted our children to attend private school, we knew immediately that Trinity Valley School was best suited for our entire family. As soon as we stepped through the doors of TVS, the atmosphere evoked a safe, successful, special and diverse environment. It was obvious to us that the teachers and administration had then, and continue to have today, a keen interest in each and every student, which suggests their compassionate leadership. Mr. Seleny and the faculty and administration modeled and taught values and commitment that have remained with our children throughout their lives. To our delight, two of our children now make their homes in Fort
Your Support Matters By joining the Stephen Seleny Society, you help ensure that other families live the dream of a TVS education. To learn more or become a member, contact Margaret Kramer at 817.321.0100.
Worth, and a new generation of our family is able to experience the TVS magic. Our oldest granddaughter, Elanor, recently completed kindergarten. When asked her favorite thing about Trinity Valley School, she replied, “I love Mr. Seleny because he started the greatest school in the world and now we can go there!” The School’s endowment is more important than ever. To be able to sustain this wonderful institution, we knew early in our TVS involvement that we wanted to be part of the Stephen Seleny Society. Those who know our family well know that we have been abundantly blessed and are “living the dream.” Through the Stephen Seleny Society, we can help make it possible for future families of TVS to live the dream.
A Family-First Philosophy Take Care of Your Own and Then TVS
They say charity starts at home, and that can be especially true during uncertain economic times. If you’re worried that you won’t be able to provide for your family, you might overlook a gift to the organizations and causes that also need your support. Through gift planning, you can choose a method of giving that protects your family’s needs and offers greater tax savings. Here are a few ways you can support Trinity Valley School. • A gift in your will. You may find the flexibility of naming TVS in your will or living trust appealing because you can change your mind at any
Smart Giving Solutions CONTACT Margaret Kramer at
time. By leaving a percentage of your estate to us, gifts to family members and other loved ones remain proportional no matter how your estate fluctuates over the years. • Retirement plan assets. Because retirement plan assets can be heavily taxed when left to family, it can be tax-savvy to leave these assets to charity through beneficiary designations.
kramerm@trinityvalleyschool.org or 817.321.0100 to take your
• Life insurance. Life insurance is a simple way to help transform lives at TVS far into the future. You can leave all or a portion of your life
generosity to the next level to support future TVS students.
insurance policy to us. • Charitable gift annuity. Charitable gift annuities are a strong gift
RETURN the enclosed reply
option. Contact us to learn more about this giving option.
card to get your FREE guide Your Personal Guide to Gift Planning.
VISIT www.trinityvalleyschool.org
Looking for other ways to give to Trinity Valley School?
to learn more about how you can
Visit www.trinityvalleyschool.org or contact Margaret Kramer at 817.321.0100 to find a gift that
help us transform lives.
best fits your situation. We are happy to help!
Margaret Kramer, Director of Advancement 7500 Dutch Branch Road Fort Worth, TX 76132 817.321.0100 | kramerm@trinityvalleyschool.org www.trinityvalleyschool.org
© The Stelter Company | The information in this publication is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to estate and income taxes include federal taxes only. State income/estate taxes or state law may impact your results.
T V SAL U M NI
WHO'S NEW
ON THE ALUMNI BOARD? KATHRYN DAVIS '89, DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS THIS YEAR, THE ALUMNI BOARD WELCOMED SEVEN NEW MEMBERS. ALONGSIDE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SERVING ANYWHERE FROM ONE TO FIVE YEARS, THESE ADDITIONS FLESHED OUT OUR MEMBERSHIP BEAUTIFULLY.
2017-2018 TVS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD
FAMILY: wife, Rose; daughters Moira and Kate (7th grade, 12 years old), and Ann (3rd grade, 8 years old)
David Kostohryz ’97, President
EDUCATION: Hamilton and TCU (Undergrad); UT Austin (MBA)
Michael Appleman ’86
PROFESSION: Entrepreneur
Margaret Baird ’06
HOBBIES: Golf, cooking
Emily Scott Boydston ’04
TVS IN FIVE WORDS: Great teachers and good times
Kent Bradshaw ’88
PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT I… ran with the bulls in Pamplona
Amy Carson Brown ’79 Katherine Brownlie ’09
PET PEEVE: $2.50 iced tea at a restaurant
Holly Edwards ’95 Sarah Bessire Florsheim ’97 Lauren Grady ’08 Erin Finley Lee ’87
KENT BRADSHAW ’88
Tracy Redfearn Matheson ’84 George Mills ’90
FAMILY: wife, Karla; son Andrew (junior Poli Sci/History major at TCU); daughter Allison (7th grade at TVS)
Woei Ming ’01 Michael Nazarian ’98
EDUCATION: Texas A&M (BS); UTMB (MD); UVA (residency)
Brent Pierce ’82 Cristina Hindman Schneiderman ’94
PROFESSION: Anesthesiologist HOBBIES: Anything that my kids are doing
Brian Tucker ’05 Brandi Barrett Wubbena ’96
TVS IN FIVE WORDS: Inspires lifelong learning and curiosity
EX-OFFICIO Ian Craig, Head of School Joey Cascino, Class of 2018, Student Body President Kathryn Davis ’89, Director of Alumni Relations
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GEORGE MILLS ’90
PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT I… moved back to Fort Worth in May after a 27-year absence PET PEEVE: People who act superior
HOLLY EDWARDS ’95
FAMILY: spouse, Kelly Smith; dogs, Scout, Gus and Annie
FAMILY: mom, Lili; sisters Rachel ’99 and Rebekah ’01
EDUCATION: Texas Wesleyan University (BS, Psychology); Texas Woman’s University (Master of Library Science)
EDUCATION: Williams College (BA); UT Southwestern Medical School (MD)
PROFESSION: Restaurateur
PROFESSION: Cardiovascular Surgeon
HOBBIES: Running, reading, traveling and wines
HOBBIES: Volleyball, baseball, travel, and discovering new restaurants
TVS IN FIVE WORDS: Family/ integrity/growth/loyalty/curiosity
TVS IN FIVE WORDS: Teachers make all the difference
PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT I… ate lobster once upon a time with the then-poet laureate, Billy Collins
PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT I… once met Beyonce, and I have been a fan since then
PET PEEVE: Insincerity
MICHAEL NAZARIAN ’98
FAMILY: wife, Elizabeth; daughters Molly (4.5 years old) and Mary Elizabeth “M.E.” (3 years old); son George (1.5 years old)
FAMILY: husband, Michael; dogs, Stewart and Noah EDUCATION: Texas A&M (BBA, Finance)
EDUCATION: Texas A&M (BS, Business Management); UT Health Science Center San Antonio (MD)
PROFESSION: Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch HOBBIES: Cooking, reading, tennis, art/design
PROFESSION: Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon, Director of Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery John Peter Smith Hospital, Assistant Professor UNTHSC
TVS IN FIVE WORDS: Moors at Tours in 732
HOBBIES: Spending time with family, golf, photography
WOEI MING ’01
TVS IN FIVE WORDS: A consistent focus on excellence PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT I… am that kid who lost his pinkie in a football game at the old campus
PET PEEVE: Their, there, they're grammar. I have Mrs. Zobal to thank.
EMILY SCOTT BOYDSTON ’04
PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT I… am an avid reader – my book goal for 2017 is 75. On number 55 now. PET PEEVE: When people order food for me. Also, any food with raw onions or cilantro.
PET PEEVE: Intolerance
FAMILY: wife, Kristian; baby boy coming in November EDUCATION: University of Oklahoma (BBA, Finance); Boston University (Master’s degree, Insurance) PROFESSION: Property & Casualty Insurance Broker HOBBIES: Sports, wine and family TVS IN FIVE WORDS: Mentors who made me, me
BRIAN TUCKER ’05
PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT I… teach Insurance at TCU and coach football at TVS PET PEEVE: Whiners TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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1967
Rick Goggans......................................................... rickcg@aol.com
1998
Mary Hazelwood Barkley..................mbarkley@canteyhanger.com
1968
Barney Holland ............................ bholland@holland1928.com
1999
1969
Class Rep Needed
Beth Harwood ............................bethsharwood@hotmail.com Amar Tanna ...............................................ATanna@barbnet.com
1970
Class Rep Needed
2000
Sarah Murphey Davis ..............................sarahtdavis@me.com
1971
David Miley...................................................David@TheMileys.net
2001
Chris Handy ..............................................chris@thinkhandy.com
1972
Class Rep Needed
2002
1973
Class Rep Needed
Allison Motheral Blakewell ... allison.blakewell@gmail.com Jennifer Vigness Hurd .................jennifer.v.hurd@gmail.com Jennifer Teichelman Yack ...........jennifer.t.yack@gmail.com
1974
John Neyland .................................... john.neyland@yahoo.com
2003
Class Rep Needed
1975
Francie Richardson Allen ..................... frallen@aledotravel.com
2004
1976
Martha Harper.............................................martharents@sbcglobal.net
Erin McDonald ...........................erin.mcdonald86@gmail.com Maggie Pine Bellinger ...................... mpbellinger@gmail.com
1977
Class Rep Needed
2005
Maddie Dickerson .............maddie.m.dickerson@gmail.com
1978
Carol Stucker Carr ...............Carol.Carr@northhighland.com
2006
1979
Lori Hughes Eagleton ..................rlmeagleton@earthlink.net
Amber Finley ...............................................finleya14@gmail.com Margaret Baird ............................margaretkbaird@gmail.com
1980
Christine Stucker Klote ........................ christine@s-steel.com
2007
Kelley Clark ............................................. kelleylclark@gmail.com
1981
Walter Stucker ...............................walterstucker@yahoo.com
2008
Morgan Wade ................. morganmadisonwade@gmail.com
1982
Class Rep Needed
2009
Ellen Clarke ................................... ellenmclarke@sbcglobal.net Sean Gallagher ............................................ viking6119@aim.com
1983
Sandra Standefer ........................................... skshome@aol.com
2010
Rohail Premjee ........................ Rohail.Premjee@outlook.com
1984
Tracy Matheson .............................. tracymatheson@mac.com
2011
1985
Class Rep Needed
Claire Allen ........................................... allen.clairem@gmail.com Chris Morris........................................ cjmorris2015@yahoo.com
1986
Michael Appleman..........................mgappleman@utexas.edu
2012
Adrienne Gamez ......................adriennegamez4@gmail.com
1987
Class Rep Needed
2013
1988
Beth Borders Weese ................... mrsweese2@sbcglobal.net
Grace Hanley.............................................grace.hanley@tcu.edu Austin Henyon .............................. austinhenyon12@gmail.com Maggie Parrish .......................... maggieaparrish@prodigy.net
1989
Kathryn Davis ..............................kathryndavis@sbcglobal.net
2014
Madelon Allen................................... madelonallen@gmail.com
1990
Class Rep Needed
2015
Macy Clayton ........................................meclayton1@yahoo.com
1991
Derek Lou ............................................................ dekelou@aol.com
2016
1992
Melissa Minker Miller........................................ TXMink@aol.com
1993
Class Rep Needed
Ceileigh Holsteen ................................... ceileigh@holsteen.info Cannon Brumley...................................cannoneito@gmail.com Kailey Dow ............................................... kaileydow@yahoo.com
1994
Kristie Taliaferro Gibson .................Kristiegibson@sbcglobal.net
2017
Grace Beasley ...................................... gnb.beasley@gmail.com John Shipp .......................................... johntexas99@yahoo.com
1995
Class Rep Needed
1996
Brandi Barrett Wubben .................. bbwubbena@gmail.com
1997
Nancy Park Minkler ........................ nancyminkler@gmail.com
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If your email and home addresses are not current with TVS, please update them ASAP by emailing Kathryn Davis at davisks@trinityvalleyschool.org or calling 817-321-0107. Thank you for staying current with the School!
CLASS OF 1982 Lisa Barlow Nicholas reports that she and Tim sold their house in Burleson and are building a new home in Little Elm, TX. Lisa will retire from teaching at the end of December. They are moving closer to granddaughter Hadden, who will soon be a year old.
CLASS OF 1983 To the Classes of 1983 and 1984 - thank you for your quick response to support David and Tracy Matheson. With your generosity, we were able to provide dinner after the celebration of Molly's life and donate $1800 to the Molly Matheson Memorial Fund. Thank you and please continue to keep the Mathesons in your thoughts and prayers.
CLASS OF 1984 The Classes of 1983 and 1984 dedicate their columns to the memory of Molly Jane Matheson, daughter of David ’83 and Tracy Redfearn Matheson. Molly returned to heaven on April 10 at the age of 22. Molly’s joy-filled personality, engaging nature, quirky and compelling sense of humor, and kind heart were her parents’ delight, her family’s joy, her friends’ good Molly Jane Matheson fortune, and the world’s gift. To lose her tragically was unimaginable, and her family’s mission is to let Molly’s life continue to bless the world and those who have been unspeakably wronged. Molly remains a beacon for her family – Tracy, David, Nick and his wife Elizabeth, Ben, and Max (who is a TVS junior) – and for those who knew and loved her. Blessings to the Matheson family and to those who have been, and who will be, touched by Molly. From Tracy: There are not words to express the gratitude we feel for our TVS family. All of the support…the love, prayer, food, and presence
that have remained constant since our beloved daughter, Molly Jane, was taken from us on April 10…is overwhelming. No family should have to endure the loss of a child. To lose a child to violence is unthinkable, and we would not be standing without our precious community. Molly Jane is best described as a ray of light. Her light shined brightest when she would encounter someone who needed a little extra attention. She never met a stranger and made it her personal mission to make people laugh. Not a slight giggle. She wanted you to belly laugh. She never took herself too seriously and was willing to lend a helping hand to a friend or a stranger. It did not matter to Molly. Molly Jane was one of four children, second oldest, and our only daughter. She coveted this prized role in our family. Her brothers truly adored their sister… even when she was attempting to embarrass them in front of friends. She was their biggest cheerleader and loved them all with her whole heart. While we do not know how we will pick up the pieces and walk this journey without Molly Jane, we know we must; she was our world. Thank you, TVS, for loving us through this nightmare. We are committed to doing our part to see that what happened to Molly Jane does not happen again.
Tracy, Max, Ben, Nick, David and Molly Matheson
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CLASS OF 1985 Elizabeth Perez Azerad has finally achieved the goal of returning to Fort Worth. She is so happy to spend true time with her parents, sister and nephew. Her youngest, Raphael, is a 2nd grader at TVS while her older son, Zachary, is in 6th at Hill School. Professionally she continues to develop her Shamanic Energy Medicine practice, recently providing shamanic support to a women's retreat in the Scottish Highlands. She looks forward to reconnecting with classmates and other TVS alumni who are living in or visiting Cowtown.
CLASS OF 1987 Cyrena Lawrence Allen reports that her TVS grads, Bainbridge ’15 and Berkeley ’17, both attend TCU now. Cyrena is still at Trinity Valley occasionally, as she is in her sixth year of subbing at TVS also. She says, “It’s fun to see all the faculty and staff we all loved all the time.” Jon Engelke shares, “Lynette, Zander and I live in Arlington, and Devin ’15 currently lives in north Dallas. Devin graduated from TVS in 2015 and is studying Video Game Design and Creative Writing at UT Dallas. Zander is a sophomore at TVS. Lynette is Director of Marketing and Admissions at The Montessori Academy of Arlington. I am a Senior Vice President at AECOM, a global engineering and infrastructure company delivering large transportation projects across the Americas.” Mark Jones writes, “I am in my 20th year practicing pediatrics in Fort Worth. I have one son in college and another in high school. My wife, Elizabeth, and I have been married 22 years.”
CLASS OF 1988 Cleary Clarke Maly met up with fellow TVS alumna Amy Brachman ’93 at Cleary’s daughter's school during a vendor-fundraising event. Amy owns Super Fun Yoga Pants and lives in Richmond, so they had lunch together and went through the yearbook. Claire Langford Stevens is still living in Austin with her two sons and her two cats. She is working for the Health and Human Services Commission as a lawyer for the state mental hospitals, and loves all of it. Greg White is preparing to head to Yellowknife (Northwest Territories, Canada) with Doug "Hawk" Jackson for some Pike and Walleye fishing and to check out the Aurora Borealis. Go Steelers! As for myself (Beth Borders Weese), we are still living in Huntsville, AL.
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Our youngest is a senior in HS this year so we are knee deep in the college application process. I think it was less stressful going through this process as a student than a parent! Please mark your calendars for our 30th reunion on Saturday, April 14th in Fort Worth! The all-school reunion will be held on Friday, April 13th. More details to follow after the holidays. Hope to see many of you there!
CLASS OF 1989 The Class of 1989 dedicates this column to the memory of Austin Daniel Silva, son of our beloved classmate Suzanne Jack Silva and her husband David. Austin returned to heaven on June 15 at the age of 17. He was the son Suzanne, Austin and David Silva of any parent’s dreams, a loving brother, a devoted friend, a star student, and a fine athlete. He lived his life to the fullest, in the very best ways, and his legacy of love, inspiration, and a deep and abiding faith continues to light the way for his family and friends. Austin accomplished more in 17 years than many people do in a much longer life. Members of the Class of 1989 extend our ongoing love and support to Suzanne and David, along with their children Samantha (16) and Charlie (14). Rest in peace, dear Austin. We’ll see you again soon. From Suzanne: What do we miss about Austin? His smile, his happy, content spirit that put people at ease, his kindness and care of people and great sense of humor. His priorities were right. He worked hard when he needed to and relaxed on the rest. He was a loyal brother and friend. He had fun in life and wanted everyone around him to enjoy the ride too. Austin had a sincere faith in the Lord that was personal, and he shared it with others and led well. He was ranked in the top 10 of his class, was VP of National Honor Society, Varsity Tennis Captain, Secretary of Men’s Service League, Member of Lake Highlands (HS) Wranglers, a soccer referee for five years, and very active in our church (Watermark) with youth ministry and teaching preschool. Even after his death, he was named Commended National Merit Scholar and National Hispanic Scholar. For this year’s Homecoming, his friends had silver tennis rackets on their mums
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and armbands in his memory. The tennis team has uniforms and bumper stickers with their special emblem for him of “18 LOVE” and they have done countless sweet remembrances of him. The Wranglers dance with a special “A” on their uniforms and parents wear their A badges. This has been a hard year for Sam especially, as Austin and Sam’s lives overlapped a lot. They had planned to do Cross Country together this fall and run the Dallas Marathon in December. Sam did XC and added tennis to her schedule – a sweet and fun connection for her. Charlie stays busy with his select soccer and soccer reffing. In December, our family is running with a large group of friends in the Dallas Half Marathon, relay and maybe a couple of marathoners as Team Silva in his memory. We are so grateful for the amazing ways our friends and family have served, carried, and loved us. We know they are God’s provision. How Austin’s death happened still seems senseless to us. We struggle, but know there is no better place to be but to be home with the Lord. We live more expectantly of going to Heaven and being back together one day with Austin and then, we will have God’s perspective on it all.
CLASS OF 1992 Hutch Pine is attending Auburn for his MBA. Anyone interested in purchasing a car dealership, Hutch's Nissan dealership is for sale! Miles Wortham returned to KPMG and now heads the Search Administration for the firm. His daughter, Audrey, is 10 years old and is about to hit 4,000 subscribers on her Minecraft YouTube channel, “KittyRainbowFace.”
CLASS OF 1994 Johnathan Lively shares that his stepdaughter, Whitney (18) started college at Texas Tech this fall. Johnathan and his wife Amy and other children, JR (14), Grace (13), and John Robert (3) moved, but not far, recently. Amy and Johnathan also enjoyed a friend's birthday party in San Miguel. Thad Paul reports, “I started my own real estate investment firm, The Wardman Group, in 2016, and am focused on buying hotels and senior-housing properties. I’m definitely enjoying being on my own. Our kids, Henry and William, are 7 and 5 respectively and are both enjoying school. My wife (Jane), the boys and I are living in DC proper in a neighborhood called Cleveland Park.” Minh Quach and his wife Jennifer
live in Frisco, TX, along with their children Mindy 7, and Jenson, 6.
CLASS OF 1995 Erin Hendricks and family still live in Dallas. Her husband Taly Haffar is, like Erin, a solo criminal practitioner, and the two office together. They met at the DA's office years ago, then Taly went to the US Attorney’s office and finally joined Erin in the private world last year. Mila (9) and Lily (6) are at Hockaday, and son Zain turns 2 in December and brings lots of boy fun to their home. Lee Johnson writes, “My biggest news is that this summer, I married Leanna McLaughlin. She is at TVS, starting as a part-time history teacher last year teaching 10th grade. This year she accepted a full-time position and is now teaching both 9th and 10th grades. She is wrapping up her dissertation and will hopefully have her PhD before the 17/18 school year is out. We eloped to Scotland in June, taking Rohan with us on a 10-day trip. We got married on the slopes leading up to the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye. We held a reception for friends and family here in Fort Worth later in July. Rohan is now in 6th grade at TVS and continues to do well.”
CLASS OF 1996 Kate Harwood and Scott moved to Seattle in June, and their daughter was born in July. Kate writes, “The Seattle skies welcomed Genevieve Helene Williamson at 5:43pm PT on July 14, 2017. Her Bastille Day arrival was earlier than expected, but this strong-willed girl just wouldn’t have it any other way. ‘Evie’ was 4lbs, 4.4oz and 17.5 inches at the time of her birth.” Congratulations to Justin Jeter and wife Jamie, who welcomed their first child, Gabriel Joseph, on April 1st.
CLASS OF 1997 We had our 20-year reunion over Homecoming weekend in September. The Tannas hosted the first night and both alumni and their kids attended. The second night was on the patio at Press Café. A special thank you to Neel Tanna for hosting and planning. Many traveled in for the weekend. Duff Blair and family flew in from New York City. Duff is still working at Wells Fargo in its mortgagebacked securities department. His wife Rory is the head of marketing at Gap for the children and babies division. They have two little ones daughter Charley (3) and son Wes (1). They live in Greenwich Village near Adam Nemser. Adam still works at Southpoint Hedgefund, and his wife TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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1982 Hadden, granddaughter of Lisa Barlow Nicholas | 1985 Elizabeth Perez Azerad with Raphael | 1988 Cleary Clarke Maly with Amy Brachman ’93 | 1994 Amy and Johnathan Lively at a friend's birthday in San Miguel | John Robert Lively
1994 Thad and Jane Paul | William, Thad, and Henry Paul | Quach family | 1995 Haffar family
1995 Leanna, Lee, and Rohan Johnson | 1996 Gabriel Jeter | Evie Williamson | 1997 Penelope Adams, daughter of Erica Steele Adams, between cousins Zach and Brooke Desai, children of Angie Steele Desai ’89 | Florsheim family on the first day of school
1997 Avery, David, and Thomas Kostohryz on the first day of school | Eliot Minkler | Adam Nemser, Amar Tanna ’99, James Carroll ’98 and Neel Tanna | Mitch, Hudson, Heidi, and Jenny Wilkinson Salzberg | 1999 Charlie and Ann Chason Schell 66
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Kim works for Warby Parker. They have two kids – Milly (8) and Hayes (5). Daniel Hosler flew in from Chicago, where he works in private equity and lives with wife Shilpa and their two kids Laila and Kaian James. They are building a house in Lincoln Park. Andrika Sorokolit King flew in from California. She still lives in Manhattan Beach with husband Bill and their three kids – sons Tripp (8) and Blake (4) and daughter Patton (6). Andrika has her own interior design company – Andrika King Design – and Bill works for real estate investment fund Bancroft Capital. I, Nancy Park Minkler, also flew in from California. I still live in Arnold, which is a small town in the Sierra Mountains. I have my own law practice and my husband is the general manager of a water agency. Our son Eliot (2) loves running around in the trees up here. Gerry Reyelts and wife Amy drove in from Austin. Gerry is the website manager for Paul’s Home Fashions, and Amy works in fund development for the Jewish community. They welcomed their daughter Louisa on November 16, 2016. Gerry’s mom Bea, teacher to many TVS alumni, passed away in June. She was beloved and we were all sad for the loss. Gerry hangs out with Danny Schwartz and Rush Vann in Austin. Danny and wife Lillian have two girls – Myla and Elly. Rush and wife Rachel have a dog, Elvis. Rush is the Director of Operations at PreFix, which provides preventive home maintenance services. Kiley Grantges also drove up from Austin. Kiley lives in the Clarksville neighborhood of Austin and teaches at Ortega Elementary in East Austin. We also had good attendance for those who live in the area. Nick Goggans and his family are new additions; they moved from Austin to Fort Worth last year. Nick is the founder of Ex Vitruvian, an advisory firm for start-ups and digital sports media. His wife Brooke is a founding partner at Mosaic Strategy Partners (Brinton Payne ’92 being another founding partner). Mosaic Strategy Partners provides public affairs consultant services. Nick and Brooke are enjoying their new life in Fort Worth with daughter Eliza (4) and son Watson (2). After 11 years in Dallas, Hollin Shaw McWilliams, husband Matt, and daughter Hunter also moved back to Fort Worth. Hunter is in third grade at TVS. Lisa Murphy Mocek lives in Berkeley Place in Fort Worth with husband David and daughters Leah (7) and Alice (4). Leah is in second grade at Lily B. Clayton Elementary. Lisa works as a home health physical therapist and David works in finance in the healthcare industry. Justin Mund and his wife
Stacey just opened a new dental practice in Fort Worth – everyone loves the Smile Ninja! Their two girls are at TVS. Alexis is 14 and plays volleyball, soccer, and softball – she attended her first homecoming this year. Ever is seven and she loves gymnastics and Marble Slab. David Kostohryz also has his two kids at TVS – Avery is in second grade and Thomas is in first. David still has his oral surgery practice at Fort Worth Oral Surgery. His wife Jen is co-owner of Fort Design Studio, an interior design firm. She decorated their home, which was featured in Fort Worth magazine. Those who attended the reunion after-party got to see in person how lovely it was. Jen is helping Sarah Bessire Florsheim decorate her new home. Sarah and her family recently moved to Mira Vista, just a couple miles from her parents’ home. Sarah’s husband Charlie is an attorney at Winstead PC in their Corporate, Securities/Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group. Sarah is staying home with their girls, both of whom are at TVS – Raegan is in second grade and Lilly started kindergarten this year. Andy Lewis is still an attorney at Cotton Schmidt & Abbot, and, after many years working in fund development at the Fort Worth Zoo, his wife Amanda is now working in fund development at Cook’s Children’s Hospital. This year, she will help Cook’s celebrate its 100th anniversary. Andy and Amanda have two boys – Will (7) and Cole (2). Will is in first grade at TVS. Paige Paul is an elementary school art teacher for Fort Worth ISD. She has two boys – Reynaldo, who is in sixth grade, and Nickolas, who started kindergarten this year. Michael Victory lives in Cleburne with his family – wife Bevin and daughters Claire (5) and Genevieve (2). He runs Victory Investment Strategies, a financial planning firm, with his brother Matt. Haley Florsheim Byrne is still living in Dallas. She is a pediatric cardiology nurse and her husband Sean works in sales at Sewell Lexus. They have two girls – Conoly (3) and Carson (1). Neel Tanna is still working for Yost Funds in Fort Worth and living near downtown. Neel played in the Third Annual Madhu Saty ’99 Memorial Cup charity golf tournament at Alpine Country Club in New Jersey. Neel played on a team with Adam, James Carroll ’98, and Amar Tanna ’99 and they won the cup! Many of you couldn’t make the reunion and were missed. Alison Finley Cloud couldn’t make it because she lives in Katy and was recovering from Hurricane Harvey (although they were lucky and their house didn’t flood). Alison helped start TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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a new investment advisory firm in Katy last year and her husband Paul opened a private practice focusing on estate planning. Ethan (13) and twins Austin and Mason (7) keep them busy. Eloise Wiley Williams couldn’t make it because she was in Amsterdam with daughter Lindley (10) to visit Anne Frank’s house. Lindley is in fourth grade this year and is learning about Anne Frank. Sudeep Reddy is busy keeping up with the 24/7 news cycle. After almost a decade at the Wall Street Journal, he was appointed as the managing editor of Politico in January. Spivey Paup lives in Austin with his family. Spivey is the Director of Development for Recurrent Energy, a solar power plant development company. His wife Brooke is the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Office of the Comptroller. They have two children – Henry (7) and Heidi (3). Jenny Wilkinson Salzberg still lives in Dallas with husband Mitch and their two kids – Hudson (6) and Heidi (3). Jody Bohnsack Clark was named Texas School Counseling Association Middle School Counselor of the year in 2016, and her husband Brandon was promoted to Captain at the City of Lewisville Fire Department. Their two older girls – Emily and Taylor – attend the middle school where Jody works, and their youngest, Colbie, is in second grade. Corey Williams is an attorney at Hurr Law Office PC in Fort Worth. Although he couldn’t make it to the reunion, as counsel for Press Café, he helped arrange our night there. All those who could make it to the reunion, it was great to see you. Those who couldn’t make it this time, I hope to see you at the 25-year!
CLASS OF 1998 Haley Powell reports that 2017 has been a very busy year. She finished her MA in Arts Management at American University and began working as the Development Manager at Strathmore, a visual and performing arts center outside of Washington, D.C. This fall, she married Farrell Kelly, a middle-school teacher in Falls Church, Virginia. Best wishes to Haley and Farrell!
CLASS OF 1999 Ashli Rosenthal Blumenfeld’s daughter Elanor is in Mrs. Crumley’s first-grade class at TVS. Elanor LOVES her teacher, school, and her friends. Ashli’s son Will is 4 years old and goes to school at Kinderplatz. He also loves school. Ashli and her brother Ben ’01 work together in the food business and are working on a really cool cooked protein project. Her husband Todd is a partner at 68
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Friedman, Suder, and Cooke law firm. Clint and Lauren Kwedar Cockerell are expecting a baby boy in December! Their daughter, Belle, turned 3 in October. Ashley and Bryan Dahlberg live in San Antonio with their 2-year-old, Henry. They are expecting another boy in January! Congrats! Jessica Oei and her husband finally moved back to Texas last summer after 12 years of living in Boston. Jessica and her husband, Joe, live north of Austin. She kept her Boston web developer job, working remotely now, and her husband does freelance video producing. She would love to meet up with classmates in the Austin area! Emily and Austin Schell are still living in San Francisco with their two kids, Charlie (2½) and Ann Chason (almost 4)! Howard Schussler lives in New York where he has a boutique real estate private equity firm, a wife, two girls (ages 3 and 5) and now a new puppy! Sonya and Amar Tanna are enjoying time with their daughter, Neela, who is 20 months old. Jill Faries Williams and her husband, Michael, are still living in Austin with their two kids, Joey (5½) and Kate (1½). Jill has been growing her interior design business and is happy to report that Jill Williams Design is accepting new clients! Not in here? That’s because we didn’t hear from you! Please send us your updates - TVSClassof99@gmail.com
CLASS OF 2000 Congratulations to Matt Schmid and his wife, Lauren, who welcomed Walter Boone to the world on February 9, 2017, weighing 9lbs 1oz and measuring 21.5 inches.
CLASS OF 2001 Adam Blum married Brooke Elizabeth Ingber on May 28, 2017 at The Ritz-Carlton in Cleveland, Ohio. Brooke is a healthcare administration professional focused on telemedicine, healthcare information systems and healthcare technology. Adam is a private investor in Austin, after beginning his career at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in New York City. He serves on the American Enterprise Institute's Enterprise Club national board, as a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and as a member of several strategic and philanthropic boards affiliated with The University of Texas System. He holds the distinction of having attended every home and away UT football game since 2007. There were many TVS alumni at the wedding, including groomsman Chad Harkins and matron of honor Elizabeth Blum Savetsky ’04. Other TVS alumni in attendance were Will Clark,
1999 Schussler Girls | Neela Tanna | Williams Family | 2000 Walter Schmid
2001 Adam and Brooke Blum | Edie Pearce | 2003 Hunter and Lindsey Baird | TVS alumni at Baird wedding | Matthew Koons
2004 Ox Bellinger | 2006 Mary Frances, June, and Beatrice Bowling | Beatrice Bowling | Cason Jones
2006 Emery Jones | 2007 Sarah Schmidt marries Will Barlett | Ashlea Feezel, Sarah Schmidt Bartlett, Sara Bailey | Kellye Watson Snodgrass, Emily Allender Wilhoit, Ashlea Feezel, Sarah Schmidt Barlett, Sara Bailey, Alyssa Eliasen, Natalie Gamez Meyer | Kellye Watson Snodgrass and Emily Allender Wilhoit in NYC TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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Dr. Chaitanya Indukuri and Wade Malone, along with Sari Hochberger Bar ’03. Several former TVS parents and friends of the school were part of the happy day. The Blums honeymooned in Hawaii and make their home in Austin. Congrats to Steele and Claire Lawhon Pearce on the birth of their daughter, Edna Maye “Edie” Pearce, on October 14. She is named for a great-grandmother and a great-great-grandmother. Edie arrived four weeks early and was a hearty 6 pounds, 10 ounces and 19¾ inches long. After her birth, she hit a few bumps in the road but rallied like a champ – she is her mother’s child! – and went home only five days later. Her proud parents are crazy in love with her and grateful for the care she received and for the support from the community. Welcome Edie!
CLASS OF 2003 Hunter Baird married Lindsey Goodier in New Orleans on May 20th with many TVS alumni in attendance. The Bairds live in Fort Worth. Joel Hewett shares that he recently started working for the Department of Defense, at the Homeland Defense & Security Information Analysis Center, or HDIAC, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Mike Isaac continues to work as a technology reporter for The New York Times, covering Facebook, Uber and Twitter. He recently announced he is writing a book on the rise and fall of Travis Kalanick, the founder of Uber, and how the Silicon Valley company could serve as a cautionary tale for others in tech. The book, published by W.W. Norton, will be out in 2019. Mike lives in San Francisco with his wife and fellow journalist Sarah, as well as their three-yearold Bernese Mountain Dog, Bruna. Sarah Topham Koons and husband Jeff welcomed Matthew Ryan Koons on November 26, 2016. They still live in Fort Worth. Sarah works as a controller at an oil and gas company, Terrace Energy. The Koons family enjoys going to all sporting events and chasing after their cute little boy!
CLASS OF 2004 Maggie Pine Bellinger, husband David, and son Henry (2) welcomed Oxford "Ox" Pine Bellinger to the family on October 16th. Neale Clark passed the Pediatric Anesthesiology Board Examination and is now board-certified in Pediatric Anesthesiology. Congrats to Neale, and thanks to the little bird who shared this news of him!
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CLASS OF 2006 Ian and Mary Frances Norris Bowling, along with daughter June, welcomed their second baby girl, Beatrice Ellen Bowling, on March 19th. Craig and Tracey Mellina Grant celebrated their fifth anniversary on September 28th. Meredith Bratton Jones reports, “David and I celebrated our sevenyear anniversary this year. Cason and Emery are 21 months old, going on 5. They run so fast - in opposite directions. They also talk to each other in a language I do not understand.”
CLASS OF 2007 Laura Mitchell moved to Chicago and ran the Chicago Marathon (her first!) on October 8, 2017. Laura Leigh Reeves and Toby Adkins were engaged on July 23, 2017. Sarah Schmidt married Will Bartlett on August 19, 2017 in WaterColor, Florida. Bridesmaids included fellow '07 grads Sara Bailey and Ashlea Feezel.
CLASS OF 2009 Jillian Fenton is in Chicago starting her MBA at The University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. She also made the trip to Toronto to celebrate the wedding of her best friend of 22 years, Margalit! Katie Orth Seiken celebrated the first birthday of her twin girls, Harper and Scarlett, on June 25. Margalit Slovin earned her master’s degree in Film and Photographic Preservation and Collection Management, and is working at an art gallery in Toronto. She also married fellow Torontonian Jacob Bleakley on September 10! Claire Stanley married Colton Royle of Friendswood TX on May 27 in downtown Fort Worth. Colton teaches 10th-grade English in Fort Worth, where the couple lives with their dog. Laura Via and Georgia Fender were bridesmaids.
CLASS OF 2011 Larissa Bogle married Austin Marple of San Antonio on June 3, 2017. The ceremony was held at Robert Carr Chapel on the TCU campus, where the two met and were engaged on Larissa’s graduation day. Larissa and Austin now live in Oxford, OH, working with college students. Rebecca Leigh Brown, daughter of Amy Carson Brown ’79 and Ray Brown, is engaged to Matthew Ferguson from Austin, TX. Matt graduated from Westlake High School and the University of Texas, where the couple met. They are planning a wedding for June 2018 in Fort Worth. Will Cosgrove and wife Brynn welcomed Graham Lewis Cosgrove, 7lbs
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7oz, on August 31. Graham’s hobbies are eating, sleeping, and being bounced, and his favorite color is yet to be determined. Stephanie Culwell, PA-C, MPAS graduated as a master of physician assistant studies from the UT Medical Branch at Galveston this August. She is nationally certified and received her license to practice in Texas this September. Morgan Ferguson wed Josh Ford, an Army National Guardsman and civilian engineer from the DC area, this past spring. The couple met while Josh was a student at Virginia Military Institute and Morgan a student at William and Mary. The Fords now live in North Dallas, and Morgan works in marketing. Jeffrey Hoban married Kate this summer. Kate grew up in Chicago, IL, and the two met at TCU. Kate is a math teacher in Carrollton, and Jeffrey is a sports travel agent at Anthony Travel in Richardson. Lorraine James is in her third year of medical school at UT Southwestern and is trying to decide if she wants to be a pediatrician or a surgeon. She has an interest in congenital heart disease, medical education, and patient advocacy. Carson Marek got engaged to Robert Beckham over Spring Break and will be getting married in May of next year! Jenny Torres is engaged to Isaias Nelson Quintalla of Burleson. Jenny and Isaias met through Greek life during their undergrad years and are planning a wedding for next March. Jenny is working on a Master’s degree in Dispute Resolution at SMU. She also works for the university in their College Access Department managing a contract with DISD that provides counselor consulting to create a college-going culture on Dallas campuses. Vincent Vasquez is engaged to Selena Rangel. The two met and became friends in college at St. Mary’s. Selena is a 4th-grade teacher in Dallas ISD, and Vincent is a police officer in the Arlington Police Department. Michael Walton married his wife Taylor this past spring on the driving range at Mira Vista. TVS friends helped make the party a BLAST! Michael works for the Walton Group, mostly in technology, and Taylor is a labor and delivery nurse here in Fort Worth. The Waltons live in Fairmount, having fun and learning constantly!
CLASS OF 2013 Dayzjah Dorsey has a busy and exciting few months ahead. She is having a baby girl this December, will marry on April 28, 2018, and will join the FBI in May 2018. Mabry Jackson is doing flight training for the Navy in Corpus Christi.
CLASS OF 2014 Ricky Hiler proposed to Alyssa Jacobs on September 3, 2017, at their Aggie Wrangler performance. Ricky and Alyssa have been dating for three years now and will marry in May 2018.
CLASS OF 2015 Lauren Gillespie is currently a junior at Southwestern University in Georgetown where she is majoring in Computer Science and Chemistry. In the summer of 2016, she did a research internship at Southwestern, and the paper derived from their research was accepted for presentation at the GECCO conference in Berlin in July 2017 (http://gecco-2017.sigevo.org/ index.html/Accepted+Papers). This is quite an accomplishment, as participants come from all over the world for the conference. Additionally, she was accepted for a 10-week summer internship at Los Alamos National Laboratory in the summer of 2017. The program was called the 2017 Computer System, Cluster, and Networking Summer Institute (nmc-probe.org/summer-school).
CLASS OF 2016 Olivia Alland is taking this semester to study in East Africa. Cannon Brumley made the President’s List at the University of Alabama for the Spring 2017 semester and is now studying at Auburn University to pursue a major in Agricultural Business and Economics. Nina Ciancerelli pledged Pi Beta Phi at The University of Oklahoma. Kailey Dow made the University of Alabama’s Presidents List for the Spring 2017 semester by achieving a 4.0 and was asked to teach a class in Business Communications for the LIFT program through Culverhouse Business School. Brylyn Lea is playing baseball at Texas Wesleyan University. Rachel Mason is going to Lima, Peru over winter break to treat patients through Global Medical Training. Simone Mulroy pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma at Texas Christian University. Adison Ortenberg made Dean’s List at Auburn University for the Spring 2017 semester. Aniqa Premjee had an internship this summer with Uber as a financial analyst and studied at UC Berkeley, as well. Ashley Riemitis placed in the top 20 at the Cowtown Classic Invitational out of 53 girls. Lauren Sorokolit pledged Chi Omega at Texas Christian University this semester. She is also going to Lima, Peru over winter break to treat patients through Global Medical Training.
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2009 Margarlit Slovin Bleakley and Jillian Fenton | 2011 Larissa Bogle marries Austin Marple | Bogle family Eli ’10, Larissa, Jackson ’14, and Luke ’18 | 2011 Matthew Ferguson and Becca Leigh Brown | Graham Lewis Cosgrove
2011 Stephanie Culwell | Morgan Ferguson marries Josh Ford | Morgan Ferguson and TVS bridesmaids, Samantha Givens and LeRae Mueller | Kate and Jeffrey Hoban
2011 Jenny Torres gets engaged to Isaias Quintalla | Vincent Vasquez and Selena Rangel | Taylor and Michael Walton | 2014 Ricky Hiler proposes to Alyssa Jacobs | 2016 Lauren Sorokolit pledges Chi Omega at TCU
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TVS POETRY
TVS POETRY
ODE TO AN ARMADILLO BY SERENA GANDHI ’19 Blindness forces compensation by other senses, Ears like a child’s cupped hands grab At the southern breeze’s minute whistle,
The armadillo hobbles across, without a sense of urgency. To it, time stays still;
While the wet, uncut grass tickles the ankles of trees.
It roams alone.
Without sight to affirm life, provide security,
But tires still turn.
One cannot go defenseless.
The nightshift’s powerhouse wheels move without hesitation,
But such a still, silent night, Begs the beholder to unlock doors and safes, Take off the shroud of armor and lay down The curved swords beside the dusty road.
Playing across the pebbles, killing the silence, Not stopping for the cicadas or crickets, Scattering rocks, making beetles fly out of hiding,
At night, when nothing sings, save crickets and cicadas,
Making the armadillo its speed bump.
And the engine of a nightshift Ram truck, Humming and bleating like a black sheep.
Still, the armadillo will stay until morning, writhing, withering,
A walking fort beside the dusty road, finishes
By midday, everything will melt into hot concrete,
Wreaking chaos on an anthill, done Inhaling ants, points the pin across the road, So it might burrow up for the night. And slowly, not noting when grass becomes gravel,
Split by tire tracks, exposed like a broken egg. Save the armadillo’s shell, armor now useless, but never meant to fade, Like a dead pharaoh’s gold rings, laying on skinless fingers, Showing brief life, brief death, and the lone impression That stains the limitless roads.
THE ELEGANT SW IM BY TINA BAJRAMOVIC ’18 The waves boom as they hurl into the white soft sand, the salt spray in the air. The clear blue water makes it easy to see like a bird eye’s view of the city. The ocean a never-ending oasis for many creatures. Fishes swim by, the glittery scales and their white fins shimmer. One slides by touching my leg,
The tickling feeling of the elegant swim. The uncertainty caused, droplets of saltwater flying through the air by my urge to run away. The ocean a never-ending oasis for many creatures.