SPRING 2019
OF TIMELESS EDUCATION PK-12, CO-ED, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS USA
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 & PRODUCTION ASHLEY ROBINSON
DESIGN SARAH RADICELLO RADICELLO CREATIVE
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS BLAKE AMOS DAN BRYANT JANET CHAFFEE GERRY CUMPIANO MACIE DANE JAKE FELTS NICOLE FORBES SHON HARDY BILL LORIMAR ’95 SARAH MASON CLARE PRITCHETT ’89 ASHLEY ROBINSON DR. MICHAEL ROEMER
GENE SESSA MARC SLOTER JEFF SNYDER TAMARA WILLMANN
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS BLAKE AMOS MANISH BHATT IAN CRAIG GERRY CUMPIANO KATHRYN DAVIS ’89 NICOLE FORBES SHON HARDY MELISSA HOSKINS ’93 MARGARET KRAMER DR. LEANNA MCLAUGHLIN SANDY MCNUTT CLARE PRITCHETT ’89 DR. MICHAEL ROEMER GENE SESSA JEFF SNYDER PATTY WRIGHT
Clockwise from top left: 3rd grade TOE practicing map-reading Kindergarten TOE with TOE-cones on their teddy bear scavenger hunt! 2nd grade TOE at the Fort Worth Nature Center 4th grade TOE on the TVS climbing wall
Spring 2019 Volume XIV Number II 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 pre-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 2019 by Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX 76132-4110
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ACADEMICS CLASS OF 2019 | PAGE4
MEET OUR PRE-K TROJANS | PAGE20
MIDDLE SCHOOL SELECTIVES | PAGE38
FEEDBACK: AN INTENTIONAL APPROACH | PAGE44 NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY | PAGE48
ALUMNI ALL-SCHOOL REUNION | PAGE60
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CLASS NOTES | PAGE63
THE ARTS SCHOLASTIC ART AWARD WINNERS | PAGE12
THE BENEFITS OF BREAKING OUT OF ONE’S COMFORT ZONE | PAGE34 OAKE CHOIR | PAGE59
ATHLETICS SHOWING OUR ATHLETIC PRIDE | PAGE22
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TVS SENIOR SIGNINGS | PAGE27
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS PRACTICING LEADERSHIP | PAGE14
GLOBAL INITIATIVES WANT YOUR KIDS TO BE MORE CREATIVE? | PAGE32
INSIDE THE ARCHES IAN CRAIG: A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR TVS | PAGE2 TIMELINE: CELEBRATING 60 YEARS | PAGE6
CALENDAR: 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS | PAGE8 XPLORE SUMMER AT TVS | PAGES9,43,55,62 RETIRING FACULTY & STAFF | PAGE10
THANK YOU TO OUR MANY ANGELS | PAGE28 ANNUAL GIVING | PAGE31
UNDERWRITERS’ CLUB | PAGE31 PLANNED GIVING | PAGE46 PARENTS’ CLUB | PAGE56
TOLLING OF THE BELLS | PAGE77
OF TIMELESS EDUCATION
Partners in Learning. Experts in Education.
TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL tvs.org
M E S S A G E
F R O M
THE
T VS
HEAD
OF
S CHOOL
FOR
A BRIGHT FUTURE
TVS
In such a rapidly changing world, it is challenging to predict the future, but since preparing students is the primary tenet of our mission, it is constantly our focus. As a result, we remain committed to our Strategic Plan as a guidestar as we make institutional decisions for the near future, while adapting and enhancing along the way. IAN L. CRAIG Head of School
Regarding our priority of academic and co-curricular excellence, there are many areas on which we focus. Recently, we dedicated in-service time with a representative from Atlas, an organization expert for curriculum planning and mapping. Faculty in all three divisions and athletics worked together toward mapping curricular particulars, goals, and outcomes. Relatedly, we have designated time for cross-divisional meetings not only to understand our strengths and nonnegotiables, but also to understand how to smooth transition points, and to see where we might fortify an already-strong curriculum in order to make it even more effective. As part of this ongoing pursuit of academic excellence, we also continue to define the role of technology and its relationship to great teaching and continue to implement current and innovative technological practices to enrich learning. We have formed
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a cross-divisional faculty and staff technology committee to investigate and address relevant pedagogy. We will utilize a number of different surveys to inform their work, in addition to professional-development opportunities directed at technology instruction. We will also take advantage of curriculum mapping and look at ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) standards when making related decisions. Enhancements are underway for the Lower and Middle School STEM/STEAM teaching spaces. It has been so wonderful to see the developments to date with students taking full advantage of the new laser cutter, for example. Whenever I speak to college representatives, it becomes clear that student health and wellness is a rising concern on their campuses. Consequently, we want to be sure that students are provided the resources and support to be mentally and physically healthy while at TVS and beyond. Programs such as the Lower School character themes, Skills for Tomorrow, Freedom from Chemical Dependency, and an expanded College 101 program are some of the many ways we accomplish this, and we also have extended the depth and breadth of the Community Education Series in order to help equip parents in these areas.
Investing in and increasing diversity at TVS is a priority, and the school Diversity Committee has been actively engaged this year. Some of our teachers attended the People of Color Conference that was hosted by the National Association of Independent Schools. Another student conference took place in the spring, and in June, we will take 11 teachers and students to a diversity conference at Vanderbilt University. We will count on these faculty and student leaders to improve current programming and increase focus in the year to come. The Global Education program certainly bolsters this aspect of school life with the myriad visitors Dr. Roemer brings to campus regularly. Â
Freshmen biology students continue the annual tradition of wearing brain caps.
The financial stability of independent schools remains a key area of focus for all of our schools. Consequently, we continue to work diligently on long-term planning, leveraging our campus facilities and seeking ways to augment ancillary income. Afterschool, vacation, or night programs are just a few ways to utilize the campus facilities and market TVS to the wider community. In terms of these marketing efforts, we continue to explore more ways to partner with local universities, whether though student-teachers, interns, or sharing best practices. We are also hosting events and engagements that draw the members of the larger community to our school. Additionally, we have promoted the ropes course as a way to get folks on campus who are not traditionally on campus, in addition to opening up speakers, presentations, productions, and professional development opportunities to the community. As we prepare for our all-school accreditation through ISAS (the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest) during the 2020-21 school year, we have begun the work to prepare the final report. Part of this will again include surveys to all of our constituents. We plan to use many of the same that we used for our Strategic Planning process, as they provided incredibly useful information, and will give us comparative data as we move forward. While we are proud of all that we have accomplished as a school, we will continue to work actively to position Trinity Valley to enjoy long-term success, as measured here in Fort Worth, and more importantly, among the best independent schools nationally.
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Congratulations
FIRST ROW (L-R) Mallory Whiteside Morgan Hurtado Misty Roten Evan Browne Sydney Srnka Ananya Vennam Ellie Anderson Olivia Hodnett
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Emily Applewhite Yojana Jagadish Allana Jerry Mariah Turner Sabra Belott
SECOND ROW Caroline Cooke Wisdom Choice Emma Spake
TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
Marina Prince Morgan Gallagher Kati Schlossnagle Maddie Pritchett Tori Anderson Shruti Sahu Gabby Biediger Maddi Williams Tate Rosen Jasvee Khakh
Gemma Goss Dulce Rojas Mae Herrera
THIRD ROW Corey Johnson Matthew Vories Chris Thornton Michael Collins John Strainick
Eme Nwoko Delaney Pavell Amelia Davenport Ben Hayward Alexander Roemer Derek MuĂąoz Noah Bogard Max Matheson David Ndungu
Class of 2019
FOURTH ROW Carter Cooke Beau Bass Zain Burney Luke Floyd Noah Phy Maya Alarcon Sarah Mason Kennedy Wainwright Harris To Samuel Levy
Alex Davis Zach Lutes Edward Lee Max Henshaw Isaiah Jackson
FIFTH ROW Robin Creel Aidan Carlock Will Sheffield Levi Howser
Paul Braymen Kate Liao Serena Gandhi Hayden Mock McKenzie Clemens Elizabeth Shapard Audra Alland Madison Briscoe Deniz Atay Chris Berzina Juan Dorado
John Bacon Hayden Harvey
BACK ROW Will Porter Jordan Sorokolit Kinh Pham Grant Farmer James Stupfel William Straub
Jay Trivedi Kingsley Ehiemua Tyler Wright Connor Higgins Cade Peveto Nicolas Gelvez Luc Zelissen Sam Barber Zihao Lin Isaac Espinal
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- TVS ENROLLMENT: AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE IN U.S.:
6 (ALL BOYS) (FIRST GRADUATING CLASS SHOWN)
$12,000
SPORTS PLAYED AT TVS:
MOVIE TICKET:
0
$1
GALLON OF GAS:
POPULAR SINGERS:
$0.25
Doris Day Ella Fitzgerald Frank Sinatra (SHOWN)
POPULAR MOVIES:
REIGNING WORLD SERIES CHAMPS:
New york yankees
PRESIDENT:
POPULATIONS:
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Fort Worth – 356,000 US – 177.8 million World – 2.97 billion
INVENTIONS: Xerox launched THE first commercial copier
OTHER MILESTONES:
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ALASKA BECAME THE 49TH STATE AND HAWAII BECAME THE 50TH STATE. NASA INTRODUCED THE 1ST ASTRONAUT TO THE WORLD. FIDEL CASTRO CAME IN TO POWER IN CUBA. SOUND OF MUSIC OPENS ON BROADWAY AND IS THE LAST MUSICAL PRODUCED BY RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN.
TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
TVS ENROLLMENT:
975
91 Seniors SPORTS PLAYED AT TVS: AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE IN U.S.:
$200,000 GALLON OF GAS:
$2.91 POPULAR MOVIES:
23 sports with 70 teams TVS UPPER SCHOOL DRAMA PRODUCTION:
Sound of Music MOVIE TICKET:
$10 - $13 POPULAR SINGERS:
PRESIDENT:
Donald Trump BEST TECH INVENTIONS OF THE 21ST CENTURY: mobile operating system Social networking touch screen (SHOWN) You Tube
OTHER MILESTONES:
THE GRAMMY AWARDS CELEBRATED 60 YEARS. BARBIE CELEBRATED 60 YEARS IN THE MIDST OF THE #METOO MOVEMENT.
Drake Arianna Grande (SHOWN) Lady Gaga Kacey Musgraves
REIGNING WORLD SERIES CHAMPS:
Boston Red Sox FORT WORTH POPULATION:
875,000 U.S. POPULATION:
327.16 million WORLD POPULATION:
7.7 billion TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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CO-CHAIRS JENNY KOSTOHRYZ ROSELL ’95 AND DAVID KOSTOHRYZ ’97
60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS FO U N D E RS DAY E VE NT Celebrated Friday, September 6
H O M ECO M I N G AC TIVITI E S October 11
G R AN D PAR E NT S' DAY November 22
R UTLE DG E LEC TU R E S P E AK E R S E R I E S Throughout the Year
GAL A DIAM O N D J U B I LE E CE LE B R ATI O N April 18
CL A SS O F 2020 G R AD UATI O N May 15
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TRINITY TRINITY VALLEY VALLEY SCHOOL SCHOOL
BE CREATIVE THIS SUMMER! ARCHITECTURE WORKSHOP BRIDGE BUILDERS CALLIGRAPHY AND HANDLETTERING CALLING ALL COOKIES! DIGNITY, DREAMS, AND DETERMINATION EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC LAB KNITTING STUDIO LET THE DRUMMING BEGIN MINI-MUSICAL: E-I-E-I OOPS! PRINTMAKING & COLLAGE STUDIO ROBOTICS STOP MOTION STUDIO
Find what strikes your fancy at TVS.org/summer and join us for an Xplore camp!
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RETIRING AND
FACULTY STAFF YEARS JUDITH KINSER ’76 DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS & FINANCIAL AID
Retiring from TVS this summer is certainly a bittersweet decision; working here for 36 years makes it hard to imagine not being here every day. On the other hand, Kevin and I have four parents who need our attention, and I am looking forward to pursuing some other interests and activities. I’m happy to
say that the Admissions Office will be in the very capable hands of Alice Pritchett as director. TVS has been an incredible place to have a career! "Please join me in congratulating Judith on this exciting new chapter, with tremendous thanks for the incredible role that she has played in developing the school as a whole, and in attracting and maintaining the best possible student body, which is, after all, the strength of any great school. "There is no more challenging role in an independent school, and she has done it with grace and humor and as much diplomacy as humanly possible." Head of School, Ian Craig
I plan to still be visible on campus in future years, as Trinity Valley School will always be my second home.
YEARS HARRIETT MOORE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
After 34 years of teaching with joy at TVS, plus 11 years elsewhere, I have decided the time has come for my retirement. This decision was reached following much soul searching and prayer. I do know that I will ALWAYS be a teacher. The fond memories of teaching at both the McCart and Dutch Branch campuses will forever be in my heart, and I am so honored to be part of the Trinity Valley School history. My colleagues, both past and present, have been instrumental in my life, and I am forever grateful for their support and friendships. 10
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It gives me great joy to know that I will be handing my kindergarten baton to Mrs. Kim Pierce. We have worked together for eight fabulous years, and I have no doubt that she is the perfect person to continue the goals and mission of our kindergarten program. "What will we do without Harriett Moore? This amazing, iconic, phenomenal teacher has chosen to retire, after 34 years of teaching generations of children at TVS. Harriett has such a love for life, a joy in her attitude, and more talents than we could begin to list, that I am most certain the word 'bored' will not be in her retirement vocabulary. We have all been blessed to have Harriett in our lives, and we are better human beings for having walked beside her." Head of Lower School, Sandy McNutt
YEARS PATTY WRIGHT SPANISH TEACHER
"For 42 years, Patty Wright has answered the call to teaching and learning. For 32 of those years, she has called Trinity Valley School her professional home. During this time, she has inspired students through her passion for the Spanish language and her dedication to young people. Beyond the classroom, Patty has served in many ways. Most notably, she served as the sponsor of our chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) and was responsible for forming the first NHS Faculty Council and instituted the formal NHS induction ceremony. In addition, Patty has served as the community service sponsor and helped inaugurate the annual eighth-grade Washington, DC trip.
"Patty has been a huge support to her colleagues and has provided valuable information when recalling important pieces of TVS history. Her commitment, her exceptional dedication, and her devoted allegiance to her students, peers, and the school will forever be treasured as she takes her place as a faculty emeritus. "At the end of this academic year, Patty will join the extraordinary association of TVS retirees. She leaves a legacy of excellence as a teacher and colleague. I certainly hope that she is able to spend time traveling, enjoying her precious grandchildren Charlotte and Shep, and pursuing her many passions. While we will miss her next year, Patty will forever be a member of the Trinity Valley School family. "Please join me in thanking Patty for her years of dedication to TVS and congratulating her on her retirement." Head of Upper School, Manish Bhatt
lives in Dallas with his wife, Tina. Jeff ’04 is living his aviation dream as captain at Envoy Airlines (American Eagle).'
YEARS KAREN ARRINGTON LOWER SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST
"Please join me in celebrating Karen Arrington for the dedication and love she has poured into Trinity Valley School. She has been a part of the TVS family for more than two decades. In her own words, 'Since 1996, there has been an Arrington at TVS. First, our boys, who came in sixth grade, then I joined the faculty in 2000. I’d like to thank the Middle and Upper School teachers who helped mold our boys into the fine young men they are today. David ’03 works in the medical staffing industry and
"For the past 19 years, Karen has served the children and families in the Lower School as third-grade teacher and as LS technology/ makerspace and ilab instructor. I have never worked with a person who desired to continually grow herself as did Karen. She shares, 'I’ve truly enjoyed working with Lower School faculty and their classes in finding ways to best use technology. And, it’s really been enjoyable and enlightening listening to and observing the students as they use our makerspace area.' "Karen is one of a kind and will be greatly missed at TVS. Health issues forced this decision sooner than Karen – or we! – had wanted or planned, and we are pleased to share that she is improving daily." Head of Lower School, Sandy McNutt TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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T VSFI N E
A RT S
SCHOLASTIC ART
2019 TVS AWARD WINNERS Announcing the TVS Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention award recipients of the 2019 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in Southwest Art Region-at-Large.
KIAN AMOS
KIAN AMOS
Honorable Mention Ceramics & Glass Shades of Autumn
Silver Key Ceramics & Glass | Underwater Web
KIAN AMOS Silver Key Ceramics & Glass | Grey and Confetti
EVAN BROWNE Honorable Mention Drawing and Illustration Draped In Wax
EVAN BROWNE Silver Key Drawing and Illustration A Moment In Time
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EVAN BROWNE Honorable Mention Painting Movement in Fabric
MAAIKE SOMMERS
SYDNEY SRNKA
Silver Key Drawing and Illustration Blue Blind Contour
Honorable Mention Drawing and Illustration The Garden
WILLIAM STRAUB Silver Key Ceramics & Glass Conscious Mind
TYLER WRIGHT
WILLIAM STRAUB
Silver Key Painting Euphoric
Gold Key Ceramics & Glass | Cracked figure
JAMES STUPFEL Honorable Mention Mixed Media | Motorskills 4
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T VST O E
STUDENTS PRACTICING
LEADERSHIP BLAKE AMOS, DIRECTOR OF EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION
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T VS T OE
SCHOOLS LIKE OURS TALK A LOT ABOUT CREATING LEADERS OF TOMORROW OR NURTURING LEADERSHIP TOOLS, BUT FINDING MEANINGFUL WAYS FOR STUDENTS TO ACTUALLY PRACTICE THESE SKILLS CAN BE DIFFICULT. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF THE TOE PROGRAM AND A BIG REASON I FEEL SO LUCKY TO BE INVOLVED IN IT. WE PROVIDE A VENUE FOR STUDENTS TO PRACTICE LEADING IN DIRECT AND SPECIFIC WAYS.
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I wanted to hear from our student leaders. What did they glean from these experiences? What are the tangible takeaways? I started soliciting feedback from those who have had the chance to serve on numerous student leadership teams. What I heard pushed me in a totally different direction. Overwhelmingly the comments kept coming back to how serving as leaders on these trips allowed them to create or deepen their sense of community. The more they brought it up, the more I started paying attention. We all know that our students are more connected than ever before...digitally. But we sometimes forget the power of real connectedness that only occurs from going through an experience together. To that end, I thought we should dig into what it means to our students to find community through TOE.
Instead of listening to me try to explain it, I want you to hear directly from a few of our current student leaders: “ One of the best parts about being a student leader on trips is the ability to connect with my peers in a setting outside of school. The trips create a sense of family because we all essentially live together for days at a time and are able to connect in ways that would be impossible in a school setting. Another amazing aspect of being a student leader on
"...trips create a sense of family because we all essentially live together for days at a time and are able to connect in ways that would be impossible in a school setting." trips is the sense of community that it creates on campus. Not only are we connected with our fellow student leaders more, but we are also getting to know the younger students around school. One of my favorite things about having been a leader is when a middle schooler comes up to me and remembers me from a trip I was on and how many fun times we had together.” Noah Bogard ’19
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T VS T OE
“ These trips served as a way to be myself. I never feel more like my true self than when I am on a TOE trip. The friendships formed on the trips carry on to school life as well. It gives students the chance to meet freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors who go on the trips. As a freshman, you have the chance to make friends in all grades, which makes the transition to high school better.” Jack Allen ’20 “ There aren’t a lot of ways to connect with the other grade levels of TVS since the high school has its own building. The TOE program connects high school leaders with the lower/ middle schoolers better than any other program.” Collin McGowen ’21 “ One of the most important and meaningful contributions I believe the student leadership program advances is the connections among all the levels of the school. An Upper School student who helps out with younger kids gets the chance to know more people throughout the entire school, and this works to help give the kids in the younger grades the chance to see a snippet of the life of an Upper School student and have a role model to follow. In this way the program truly makes our school feel more like a family and less like just a gathering of people.” Na’im Ahdieh ’21
“ TOE has been a place where I can be my true self without being afraid of judgement. I am able to connect with my classmates outside of the classroom without
"TOE has encouraged me to become more comfortable not only in the outdoors but also in my own skin. It creates a unique opportunity to connect with my high school peers and be a role model to younger students at TVS. " focusing on school work, stress, or anxiety I may have. TOE has encouraged me to become more comfortable not only in the outdoors but also in my own skin. It creates a unique opportunity to connect with my high school peers and be a role model to younger students at TVS. After I have led younger students on trips, I try to continue to grow my relationships with them by talking to them when I see them on campus. The TOE program has helped to connect students in a deeper way than ever before. I am grateful that I have been able to be a part of a program that focuses on strengthening my character and leadership skills while also teaching me how to impact others through my citizenship.” Alex Lange ’20
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“ Overall, I wouldn’t be the person I am today without learning how to lead through the TOE program as a student leader. I think a lot of kids who have gone somewhere with the school for TOE have grown as people and closer to their peers.” Emma DeHart ’21 “ The TOE experience helps connect students from all different grade levels in a really cool way. I started helping out on younger kids’ TOE trips during my eighth-grade year, and that’s when I really got the opportunity to start making new relationships with the younger kids. Starting my freshman year, I was able to go on more trips, and I was able to connect with many more kids. Not only has this created a connection between the younger kids and the upper schoolers, but it also creates new friendships among all the leaders. Now that I have become a bigger part of the TOE community, I have made many new friendships with upperclassmen that are involved as well as lowerclassmen. There is a certain group of TOE leaders that I have grown very close to through these trips and activities, and I could almost call them family now. TOE is a very great way to help kids in all different grade levels connect and create everlasting friendships.” Grayce Andrews ’21 “ One thing that’s amazing about being a student leader is that I’m able to connect and learn things about other students in my grade that I never knew about. I’ve gone on trips with 18
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T VS T OE
people in the high school that I’ve never spoken to, but when we get back from the trip we’re great friends. It’s a bond that is
"... I create a bond with the younger students on campus. I’ll be walking through campus and there will be kids from the Middle School coming and saying hi to me and telling me about their day." hard to understand and get unless you go on one of these trips with other people. Perhaps even more amazing is that I create a bond with the younger students on campus. I’ll be walking through campus and there will be kids from the Middle School coming and saying hi to me and telling me about their day. This
becomes even better if you are a freshman or sophomore doing the seventh-grade trip, because those kids come to high school already knowing somebody.” Alex Walraven ’20 So what did you hear in these comments? I heard that as humans we still yearn for real, face-to-face interactions that help solidify and build community. We all have an innate desire to be accepted into a group, and TOE is one of those places that allows students to find the group that best fits them. Heading off campus for a TOE trip breaks down barriers between existing groups and re-introduces students to each other through shared experience. Hearing these comments motivates me to work harder to create and shape environments that encourage deeper personal connections and meaningful interactions. Hopefully you can find ways to do the same in your tribe!
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SANDY MCNUTT, HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL
MEET OUR
PRE-K
TROJANS!
THE ADAGE, "IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME," PROVED TRUE AS WE LAUNCHED OUR MUCH-ANTICIPATED, PRE-K PROGRAM AT TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL. First, we offered two information sessions for parents to learn more about our plans, then we opened the application process for a limited number of applicants, knowing that we were only going to be able to accommodate one to two classes. We conducted smallgroup screenings involving almost as many TVS faculty with preschool experience as we had applicant children! After ageappropriate assessment, screening, and class observations, acceptance letters were
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extended to our inaugural pre-k students. Within hours, our two classes were almost at capacity. A robust wait list further verified the desire of families to be a part of the TVS experience. We believe the enormous success of this initial enrollment process is based on several factors, all of which make our program and our school a much-desired school of choice for children. Our students will be guided, nurtured, and inspired by two extraordinary educators. Mrs. Shannon Collins comes with a wealth of experience and insight from her years of teaching second through fourth grades, and
T VSLOWE R Pre-K educators Diane Kee (L) and Shannon Collins (R) with students from TVS's first pre-k class.
S C H OOL
studied various curricula, and visited and networked with stellar pre-k experts as they crafted their program. The result of their efforts is a partnership of learning that will individually meet the styles and abilities of our youngest Trojans in surprising ways. Being centrally located within a K-12 campus will afford myriad opportunities for our children. They will learn from experts in the
" We will guide our children and provide opportunities for them to grow in empathy, respect, integrity, and honor. We desire for them to stand out as children who will ultimately make a profound difference in our world, because strong values will have become a part of their social interactions..." fields of music, world languages, physical education, dance/movement, and science. Weekly visits with the librarian will pique their love for all kinds of literature, as they become readers and writers.
immediately prior to coming to TVS, serving as the director of Museum School for seven years. Mrs. Diane Kee has a strong background as a reading specialist, having taught first through third grades, as well as pre-k, prior to her position of lead first-grade teacher at TVS. Their combined pool of talent, wisdom, insight, and love for children makes them highly revered and respected educators in our community. The robust curriculum is designed to enrich, stimulate curiosity, and lay the path for continuous, pedagogically appropriate learning through interactive play. Our teachers have researched best practices,
Woven into every aspect of our days will be a strong character-development curriculum. We will guide our children and provide opportunities for them to grow in empathy, respect, integrity, and honor. We desire for them to stand out in the community as children who will ultimately make a profound difference in our world, because strong values will have become a part of their social interactions at a very young age. For all these reasons and more, we enthusiastically embrace a new and exciting chapter in the rich history of Trinity Valley School, with our first-ever pre-k program! Life at TVS will be dimensionally changed, and we will be an even better place with our newest and youngest Trojans joining the ranks of our K-12 Trojans!
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T VSAT H L E T I C S
OUR
SHOWING ATHLETIC
PRIDE As I conclude my first year as Director of Athletics, what an enjoyable first year it has been. There were many things that attracted me to the Trinity Valley School family, yet the thing that stood out most was the sense of pride exhibited from our students, families, administrators, and the people I work with most closely every day, our full time P.E. teacher-coaches. While I could only anticipate this to be true before I started the 2018-19 school year, I am grateful for the reality of this truth, which is on full display by these coaches every day. TVS is fortunate to have some of the most talented coaches in the Fort Worth area to guide and lead our student-athletes. The coaching experience of our full-time coaches ranges from nine years to almost 30 years, from
SHON HARDY, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
high school to collegiate ranks. This mirrors their own previous competitive experiences as well, with some playing beyond college. On a daily basis, our coaches demonstrate care and support of our student-athletes and work tirelessly to promote pride in TVS athletics. They have garnered TVS multiple SPC Championships, and we look forward to more in the future. If you had the opportunity to see them on the fields or in the gyms, you would witness caring, passion, humility, compassion, and a strong sense of community within our Athletic department. I find my spirit lifted in witnessing the sincerity of pride from them for our Trinity Valley School community. I feel privileged and am more than proud to work alongside these most talented and dedicated coaches.
List your past playing/coaching experience (HS, college, higher level) | I played volleyball, basketball, and track & field at Nolan Catholic HS; javelin thrower for TCU track & field team; participated in one season of spring volleyball for TCU while competing for the track & field team; assistant Varsity volleyball coach at Nolan Catholic HS; volleyball, basketball, and track & field coach at The Oakridge School; completing my eigth year as head girls' volleyball, Middle School basketball, and assistant Varsity track & field coach at TVS this season.
CRYSTAL DOVER 8 YEARS AT TVS
What makes you passionate about coaching? | I've loved sports and being active as long as I can remember. My passion for coaching is in the opportunity to share that love of health, fitness, and athletics with all of the kids I get to interact with every day, in hopes that they have a wonderful experience and want to continue what they've learned here throughout the rest of their lives. What do you love best about working/being at TVS? | The balance and the challenge. I love being able to teach K-6th grade P.E. during the day and then transition to Middle and Upper School athletics in the afternoon. Growing our students into healthy adults and athletes from day one, and watching them improve throughout their Lower, Middle, and Upper School lives is wonderful and rewarding, and I can't imagine doing it anyplace else.
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List your past playing/coaching experience (HS, college, higher level) | Four years of football and baseball at TCU; private instructor for football/baseball; 16 years at TVS. What makes you passionate about coaching? | I love working with kids, teaching the game, and building relationships that will last well beyond their playing days. What do you love best about working/being at TVS? | The family atmosphere with colleagues, and the community.
JEFF DOVER 16 YEARS AT TVS
List your past playing/coaching experience (HS, college, higher level) | Levelland High School four-year starter; Texas Tech University four-year letterman; head coach of Lady Dallas Diesel.
TAWANNA FLOWERS 6 YEARS AT TVS
MYRON GRUNBERG 7 YEARS AT TVS
What makes you passionate about coaching? | My passion for people is significant, but my passion for the game of basketball is immeasurable. The passion I have for teaching basketball to people surpasses both of those individually. It’s invigorating to see things finally make sense to those you have been teaching. You can witness their level of confidence starting to increase. They begin to coach themselves and each other, and they ask questions. Great questions. Coaching is an art, and I consider my season my canvas. It’s never the same, it’s forever changing, and you become a lifelong student of the game. Coaching is my calling. What do you love best about working/being at TVS? | There is a sense of family I have working here. There is so much love and support in this community.
List your past playing/coaching experience (HS, college, higher level) | Certifications and creditations: USPTA Elite Status; Tennis Canada Tennis Coaching Level 3; Tennis Canada Coaching Level 3 (physiology/psychology); Tennis Canada Course Conductor Level 3; Racquetfit Certified Level 1; Recipient of Provincial Achievement Award (coaching). Accomplishments: Under 18 national coach; Former Mexican Davis Cup coach (three years); former coach on Canadian Davis Cup team (Versus Belarus); former director of the Roddick/Lavalle Tennis Academy; former coach of four Under-18 Top 10 ITF players including winner of the Junior French Open Championships; former coach of Johanna Konta (Ranked 15 WTA); former coach of three players in the Top 100 ATP. Current coach of #3 Under-11 Player In Texas and Top 20 nationally. What makes you passionate about coaching? | I have been blessed with the courage, empathy, intellect, and insight to help kids and adults alike embrace and overcome the common stresses and hurdles of this very complex world. I love to see our kids smile, especially when you help them over-achieve. The feeling I then have is timeless! What do you love best about working/being at TVS? | This is truly an amazing place. Coming from a highly competitive environment, it has been a breath of fresh air working and giving back. TVS has made me a better person, teacher, and coach, for which I am forever grateful. TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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List your past playing/coaching experience (HS, college, higher level) | Threesport athlete at TVS, achieving All-SPC in last seven seasons (three track, two volleyball, two basketball). Ran for the University of Richmond, achieving AllConference twice in the 400-meter hurdles. Played professional beach in 2014 in the National Volleyball League. My coaching experience, mostly at TVS, includes 20 years of track & field, 20 years of basketball, and 25 years of volleyball. What makes you passionate about coaching? | I really love to see the athlete improve his/her mindset and sport skill.
KYLE KENNEDY
What do you love best about working/being at TVS? | I love the kids and the family environment.
19 YEARS AT TVS 12 as a student, 25 as a faculty member (6 part-time and 19 full-time)
List your past playing/coaching experience (HS, college, higher level) | I played football, baseball, track & field, and lacrosse in high school. I've coached at the University of Oklahoma and St. Mark's School of Texas. What makes you passionate about coaching? | I love the students. I also enjoy the mental game every week of formulating a game plan to try and defeat an opponent. Football has so many life lessons throughout its DNA, and I enjoy riding along with the kids on their journey and discovery.
AARON MATTOX 15 YEARS AT TVS
What do you love best about working/being at TVS? | I think the TVS community is outstanding! I feel blessed that I work at a school where my kids attend. The parents and administration are very supportive. Plus, the school is second to none in Fort Worth!
List your past playing/coaching experience (HS, college, higher level) | Dallas Baptist university – (Catcher) Baseball. What makes you passionate about coaching? | Helping kids reach their goals and expectations. What do you love best about working/being at TVS? | The TVS family value. Watching the kids go from K-12. I'm now coaching the children of TVS graduates that I have coached. Working with great teachers and coaches.
JOHNNY MILLER 29 YEARS AT TVS
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List your past playing/coaching experience (HS, college, higher level) | High school athletic trainer – 3.5 years; University of Florida bachelor's degree in athletic training 2002-2006 (worked with football team); University of Colorado – track & field 2006-2007; University of Florida – football; track & field 2007-2008; TCU grad school and football 2008-2010; Episcopal School of Dallas 2010-2014; TVS 2014-present.
CARRIE MORRISON 5 YEARS AT TVS
What do you like best about being a trainer? | Even 20 years later, I still love athletic training because of the unique impact you can have on someone's life. I am there through the highest of highs, the wins and championships and the peaks of someone's athletic career. I am there during the lowest of lows, the losses and injuries, both minor and season-ending. Fortunately, I have the ability to help bring you from one to the other, help motivate and push an athlete to get back toward the highs of athletic participation. The relationships you build in this career are truly unique, and I wouldn't trade it for anything! What do you love best about working/being at TVS? | TVS is an awesome place! The sense of family that exists here among our athletic staff truly makes the working environment a special place!
List your past playing/coaching experience (HS, college, higher level) | I played soccer for TVS 7th-12th grade; field hockey for TVS 7th-12th grade; ran track 9th11th grade; played field hockey for Wake Forest University from 2001-2005; began coaching for TVS straight out of college in 2005; helped with the Futures field hockey program as an assistant coach from 2005-2015. What makes you passionate about coaching? | Watching these kids fail, learn how to fail well, and then seeing the light bulb go off. Their reaction to the whole process of learning is priceless.
CLAIRE LAWHON PEARCE 27 YEARS AT TVS 13 as a student, 14 as a faculty member
ALAN REID
What do you love best about working/being at TVS? | It's a family. Hands down. May sound cliché but it's the darn truth. I treat these kids as if they were my own, and they trust me like I have known them all of their life. I learn from my colleagues as if they were my siblings. You never meet a stranger and help is always, ALWAYS available.
List your past playing/coaching experience (HS, college, higher level) | I played club and high school soccer growing up. I have covered a variety of sports through athletic training. While an athletic training student at TCU I worked with: M/W soccer, tennis (NCAA Finals), M/W track & field (NCAA Finals), baseball and football. While in grad school I was a GA for football and off-season volleyball at the DII level – California University of Pennsylvania. Professionally, I worked for Independent Minor League teams in hockey and baseball. I worked two-and-a-half seasons with the Fort Worth Cats of the American Association, helping the team win two league championships. To mirror the baseball seasons, I worked with the Fort Worth/Texas Brahmas of the Central Hockey League, for three seasons. Prior
5 YEARS AT TVS TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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to coming to TVS, I spent four seasons with FC Dallas of Major League Soccer, working with professional athletes from all over the world. Our best year was the 2010 season, eventually losing in overtime at the MLS Cup League Championship. Being employed by hospital systems, while working minor and major league sports, I have also had experience working in the private physical therapy setting. I do have one gap year of working for Georgetown County Hospital System as an outreach high school athletic trainer in South Carolina. What do you like best about being a trainer? | My passion is helping others in all stages of life. Of course athletic training provides a great platform to help athletes overcome adversities and return to their normal way of life. Not only do I treat the source of pain, but I try to dive deeper into the "why" behind the pain. To me, athletic training and coaching provides so many more opportunities to help others. It can be a simple as helping a co-worker with a sore shoulder, helping a young child master a new motor skill, or giving a word of encouragement to someone in need. Daily, athletic trainers have hundreds of interactions which can lead to positive outcomes for others. What do you love best about working/being at TVS? | The development and enrichment of kids from so many different angles. From athletics to TOE to science fairs to drama, I enjoy working and seeing these kids succeed in so many facets of education other than the typical classroom. I love being part of this community, watching kids grow up into young adults and becoming positive members of society. I truly cherish the opportunities I get to interact and help kids grow, specifically in TOE and athletics/PE.
List your past playing/coaching experience (HS, college, higher level) | HS varsity basketball – Detroit Catholic Central three years; HS varsity baseball – same three years; college baseball – Howard Junior College – pitcher two years; college baseball – University Texas/Arlington – pitcher two years: Coaching Experience: Cistercian Prep basketball/baseball/football four years; Trinity Valley School basketball/ baseball/football/softball 27 years.
DAVID RODRIGUEZ 27 YEARS AT TVS
What makes you passionate about coaching? | It's something I never really thought about during my college years. It was after, that I had the opportunity to get into coaching. Coming from a family of boys that played everything, why not give it a try. It gave me an opportunity to help kids learn and understand how to play the game. I was fortunate enough to learn the game from good high school and college coaches. As a younger coach, I was even more blessed to learn from some very good coaches. Why do I love coaching? Being able to help kids in every sport be the best they can be. Helping them have a high school athletic career where they will create memories that will last them a lifetime, like I had. What do you love best about working/being at TVS? | I am at a school that cares about every kid, athlete or not. Being in my 27th year, I have seen a lot. But one thing that stands out over the years, is the TVS faculty, and how they prepare kids for life after TVS. My first 12 years, I didn't really understand that. But now that I have one in college and another in high school, and witnessing them go through TVS, I wouldn’t want them at any other place. I probably speak for most families that have gone through Trinity Valley.
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List your past playing/coaching experience (HS, college, higher level) | High School – basketball, volleyball, track, softball; played basketball at TCU; coached at TVS-MS track, volleyball, field hockey, softball, basketball; JV basketball and volleyball; Varsity basketball, assistant. What makes you passionate about coaching? | I love when you are coaching and the light bulb goes off and they finally get it.
VALERIE UNDERWOOD
What do you love best about working/being at TVS? | This is my dream job. I love that you get to start with Kindergarteners and watch them develop into an amazing young adult. You get to watch them find their passion.
30 YEARS AT TVS
TVS SENIOR SIGNINGS CHRIS BERZINA
MADISON BRISCOE MARY HARDIN BAYLOR BASKETBALL
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY GOLF
KINGSLEY EHIEMUA
GRANT FARMER
ISAIAH JACKSON
SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN UNIVERSITY BASEBALL
SOUTHEASTERN FOOTBALL
MADDIE PRITCHETT TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EQUESTRIAN
TYLER WRIGHT MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
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CLARE PRITCHETT ’89, DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND MAJOR GIFTS
TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL HAS PROSPERED FOR 60 YEARS THROUGH THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO HAVE BELIEVED IN OUR MISSION. FOUNDING HEADMASTER STEPHEN SELENY HAS OFTEN RECOUNTED THAT “WE HAD AN ANGEL SITTING ON OUR SHOULDER.” I AM DELIGHTED TO SHARE THAT TVS CONTINUES TO BE SURROUNDED BY ANGELS, AND THE 2018-19 SCHOOL YEAR WAS A BANNER YEAR. TWO STORIES TO BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE!
SWIENTON FAMILY BASEBALL /SOFTBALL COMPLEX The newly dedicated baseball/softball complex was not anticipated to have funding until spring 2020; still, we thought we could potentially raise enough money to make a few updates for this spring. A call was put out to a handful of TVS friends this past August and within hours, we were surprised with an unexpected $1 million gift! The vibrations can still be heard from all the excitement. Suddenly, it was a whole new ball game, and we could see how our fundraising puzzle could potentially be solved much sooner. Other generous families and friends jumped on board and within a month, we had commitments close to $2 million. Within seven months, 70 donors came together to raise $2.8 million to support our students and fans. Improvements include a concession/restroom pavilion, stands with shade structures, dugouts, additional batting cages, netted backstops, and an artificial turf field on the Middle School/ practice field (which will be used by athletes from all seasons). We welcome you to come take a look! 28
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Top: New Pavilion with concessions, restrooms, and covered observation deck Bottom: Ian Craig (l) and incoming Board President Joe Gallagher ’85 stand with Greg and Jo Ann Swienton
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STEPHEN SELENY ENDOWMENT FUND While some gifts come quickly, others materialize after many, many years. A TVS family made a gift of land to the school in the 1970s, and little activity had taken place. A gentleman phoned in December 2018, saying he wanted to meet with Head of School Ian Craig. No details were shared in advance, which made it all the more exciting when the gentleman presented TVS with a check for $1.7 million! The land had sold, and we received the accompanying percentage that was agreed upon 40 years ago. Proceeds from this sale, in addition to earlier disbursements, brought the total gift to $2.5 million!! Also in the original agreement was that the gift be directed to our endowment, and an endowment fund has since been established in the name of Stephen Seleny, the inspiration for the gift so many years ago. Endowment gifts provide ongoing, yearly support — critical to the School’s long-term sustainability. These are extraordinary examples — rare and very exciting. Still, every day TVS advances through other small and large acts of kindness and love. YOU are an angel, too! Thank you for the time, talent, and treasure you share to make TVS a better place. We know we are very fortunate, and we remain most grateful.
DONORS TO SOUTH FIELDS Tosin Smith Adesanoye and Tayo Adesanoye Kristin and Jeff Anderson Hollie and Chad Barber Jennifer and Dan Bekish Sara Beth and Paul Bernardy Colleen and Bob Blair Duff Blair ’97 The Boothby Family Linda Kiraly and Brian Bormann Katherine Brownlie Broyles ’09 Stephanie and Brent Bumgardner Elizabeth and Brian Carlock James C. Carroll ’98 Amon G. Carter Foundation Lori and William Chaney Tina Clayton
(AS OF 3/28/19)
Lane and Joe Gallagher ’85
Karla and George Mills ’90
Stacie and Marc Goldman ’92
Stacey and Justin Mund ’97
Janet and Mike Greene
Carrie and Dan Murphy
Fanchon and Howard Hallam
Sophia Payne
Kelly and Bill Hanley Mindy and Tom Hegi Cecilia and Sam Henry Connie and Glen Hooker Mimi and David Howell Amy and Tim Howell Ann and Kirk Jefferies Carrie and Michael King Jennifer and David Kostohryz ’97 Kathy and Frank Kyle Vanessa and Mike LaGatta Kellie and Maxwell Lea
Christy and Clark Peveto Tracey and Doug Pritchard R4 Foundation/ Claire and Walt Reynolds Jenny ’95 and Andrew Rosell Ashli ’99 and Todd Blumenfeld, Madolin and Ben Rosenthal ’01, Madelyn Rosenthal ’02 Sharmila and Bishnu Sapkota Kami and Jim Schlossnagle Robert J. and Edith K. Schumacher Foundation Bill Shelton
Clare ’89 and Bill Lorimer ’95
Nancy, David ’07 and Samantha Spiegel
Katie and Jay Danzi
Bryan and Brian Lynch
Jo Ann and Greg Swienton
Laurie and John Dickens
Jamie and Marcus Mainord
Angela and Stephen Swienton
Kendall and David Draper
Lauren and Taylor Martin
Gloria and Tim Vasquez
Heather and Mark Drennan
Cristy and Matt Mayfield
Jade and Winston Williams
Kerry Fisher and Ken Duncan
Jennifer and Trey McAlister
Tamara and Steve Willmann
Suzanna and Craig Farmer
Melissa and Kevin McBroom
Katie and Jeff Farmer ’87
Elizabeth and Derick Mesch
Anna Boulware and Debbie Cooley
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Top row left: Kelly Kyle Cumpiano ’08 takes a photo with Varsity Softball after throwing out first pitch at dedication Top row right: Dr. Bobby Brown with TVS Athletic Director Shon Hardy Second row left: James Carroll ’98, Dr. Bobby Brown, Jim Schlossnagle Second row right: View to Softball Field from new pavilion
Third row left: Will Bailey ’10 after throwing first pitch to Coach Johnny Miller with Varsity Baseball Third row right: Greg Swienton with grandsons Thomas ’21 and Alex ‘24
Bottom row: Dr. Bobby Brown Field with artificial turf to serve athletes from all seasons
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VESTED SPIRED VOLVED
The TVS Fund GERRY CUMPIANO, ANNUAL GIVING MANAGER As the 2018-2019 Annual Giving campaign draws to a close, we want to thank all our donors who made this year a success. Every member of our community plays an integral role in providing our faculty, staff, and students with everything they need to teach and learn.
Much of what we do today is because of the generous donations of families and friends before us. This year’s donors continue the TVS tradition of philanthropic giving that has allowed our school to become the very best. Because of all our donors, no family at TVS pays the full cost of attendance. About eight percent of the operating budget is covered by Annual Giving contributions and allocations coming from our Endowment. This 8% equates to approximately $2,250 per child, which is how our Underwriters’ Club is determined. I want to take this opportunity to give a special thanks to this year’s Underwriters’ Club members who help “cover the gap” between tuition and the true cost of a TVS education.
2018-2019 UNDERWRITERS’ CLUB MEMBERS* Holly and Jason Anderson
Adrianne and Adam Deem
Amy and Jeffrey McGowen
Kristin and Jeffrey Anderson
Megan and Matt Deen
Sandy and Fred Mesch
Marianne Auld
Laurie and John Dickens
Karla and George Mills ’90
Sareena Gahunia and Blaine Bachim
Meredith Watts Dorris ’81 and Hank Dorris ’81
Pate Foundation
Kimberley and Barrett Bartell
Jill Driggers
Anne and Robert Bass
Carol and Jim Dunaway
Kelly and Drew Pumphrey ’77
Kathy and Royce Bedward
Heather Breiter and Pat Dunne
Rasha and Mike Bismar
Cynthia and Jeff Prostok
Lisa Gomez and Eric Rogers Jenny Kostohryz Rosell ’95 and Andrew Rosell
Anne Ranelle and Michael Boothby
Katie and Jeff Farmer ’87
Linda and Mike Bourland Theresa and Randy Brillhart
Sarah Bessire Florsheim ’97 and Charlie Florsheim
Daryl Chambers
Martha Fry
Jo Ann and Greg Swienton
Lori and William Chaney
Kristie Taliaferro Gibson ’94 and Brian Gibson ’93
Joanne Viola
Janis and Calvin Crider Cutrona Charitable Foundation
Ann and Charles Florsheim
Rani and Brad Grandstaff
Madolin and Ben Rosenthal ’01 Christy and Jason Smith
Katie Sternweis-Yang and Kenny Yang
Katie and Jay Danzi
Shannon and Mark Hart, III
Lexi Kypreos Yost ’99 and Carson Yost
Jenny and Steve Davis ’92
Vanessa and Mike LaGatta
Leah and Art Zavala
Lynsie and Dennis DeCet
Bryan and Brian Lynch
Elizabeth and Trey Hargrove
*as of 4/1/19
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HOST AN INTERNATIONAL GUEST! DR. MICHAEL ROEMER, DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL EDUCATION I was listening to NPR recently (as cliché as that may be), and a discussion caught my attention. Host Shankar Vedantam was talking with Dr. Adam Galinsky (Columbia University) about a recent study he and a number of colleagues had recently published in the Journal of Applied Psychology.1 The topic was intercultural relationships and creativity. More recently, I read an article in BBC News that referenced a different study by researchers at Durham University (UK) with similar conclusions: the more socially diverse our friendship group, the more creative we are likely to be.2 As director of Global Education at TVS and someone who has lived abroad, who travels abroad for work (with and without TVS
Australia 1:1 Exchange (You host, you travel).
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students), and who has friends in countries across the globe, I was intrigued by this research. It made me wonder, are our programs developing more creative kids? To answer that question, I went to the source. My PhD is in sociology, so it was refreshing to read the Applied Psychology article—it appealed to the Global Education and statistician sides of me! Basically, researchers conducted three separate studies, using different methodologies, to look for statistically significant relationships between “intercultural relationships” and creativity, workplace innovation, and entrepreneurship. For this article, I’m focusing only on creativity. As you can imagine (because the study was
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published in a highly prestigious peer-reviewed academic journal), their studies supported their hypotheses: making close friends with people from other cultures is strongly and positively associated with creativity. The BBC article (a simplified explanation of more complicated research) supported similar conclusions. The authors argue that the more time people spend with others who think and behave differently, “the better they become at producing complex and unexpected information themselves.” Consequently, they “look beyond the obvious – precisely the hallmark of creative thinking.” In other words, people who spend quality time with people from other cultures are much more likely than those who don’t to be creative, and that creativity can lead to greater success in life. So, how can you set your child up to become a more creative, more out-of-the-box thinker? Every year, TVS welcomes students (ages 13-18) and young adults studying to become teachers (early 20s-30s) for stays ranging from 13 days to six weeks. Each of these shortterm guests needs one or more TVS families to host him or her, and we currently have three full-time international students (grades 9, 10, and 11) who need host families each academic year. Opportunities are advertised in our weekly emails, on our website (bit.ly/ TVShosts), via TVS Facebook, @tvsglobal on Twitter, @tvsglobaled on Instagram, in email updates, and on TVS Signup Genius. Hosting is for students of all ages, regardless of the age of your guest.
EDU C AT ION
In the past seven years, more than 100 TVS students and teachers have home-hosted more than 100 teachers, students, and student teachers from Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. Not only is hosting fun, but the two studies referenced here provide solid evidence that these cross-cultural friendships have developmental benefits—including for our students. So, if you would like to boost your child’s creativity to see the world through new lenses, consider hosting a TVS international guest, and encourage your child to make friends with our guests in and out of the classroom and to take advantage of our online and in-person connections with people around the world. Here’s to global friendships and the creative mindsets they foster!
TVS hosts with German guest.
TVS students with friends in Mbabane, e-Swatini.
Older students (8th grade and up) also have opportunities to participate in Trojans Abroad programs, many of which include home-hosting, school visits, and other ways to make close friends here and in different parts of the world (for future trips, visit bit.ly/TVSresources). We now have some financial support so that more TVS students can take advantage of these opportunities. To contribute to the fund or to apply, visit http://bit.ly/tvsSSTE. 1 http://bit.ly/CultureNCreativity 2 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-47369648
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NEARLY 60 YEARS AFTER IT OPENED ON BROADWAY, A CLASSIC MUSICAL GRACES THE STEPHEN SELENY THEATER.
The Sound of Music opened on Broadway in October of 1959, just a few months before I was born. My mother was a huge fan of the music and so, just like the von Trapp children in the show, some of the first songs I ever learned were the tunes Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein wrote for the musical. Do-Re-Mi and My Favorite Things were a regular part of the repertoire in the Sessa household throughout the 1960s. Perhaps it is only natural then that six decades later I found myself directing what many consider to be the most beloved musical of all time. Natural, perhaps, but also a little surprising. You see, there are certain shows that I really cannot ever imagine myself choosing to direct, and this musical has always been one of them. I prefer to work on material that is a bit more edgy, new, and thought-provoking. I knew the music in this show was superb, but it is done so often and seemed to me somewhat old and vapid. There are so many other, more relevant and exciting musicals to work on, I thought. Yet, many of these other shows have rather mature language and themes, and some in our
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community were uncomfortable with there not being any TVS Upper School theatre productions that are suitable to be seen by people of all ages. So, at the nudging of the administration, I went out of my “comfort zone” and picked this classic to produce, knowing that everyone would be welcome as an audience member. And I’m really glad that I did. First, the great enthusiasm and excitement that was generated by just the announcement of the show took me by surprise. That was followed by a huge turnout at auditions (the largest number in my 11 years here), with 80 students trying out for roles. Then, as we progressed in our rehearsals and delved into the script and score, it became clear that this show was not void of meaningful themes. The littleknown song No Way to Stop It (not included in the film version) highlights the looming threat of the Nazi invasion, and picks up on an idea prevalent in our fall production, The Arsonists—the danger of not standing up to evil when it confronts you. And then there is Maria with her heart-felt struggle to discern how she is called to live her life and share
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know them, and I know how to get them to do what they need to on stage. Younger children are different. Would I have what it takes to work successfully with these little ones? It was a little scary!
her love, weighing options that are equally good and beautiful. What could be more thoughtprovoking and relevant than that? Perhaps there is a reason why this show is so beloved and so often produced. Another venture forth from my usual way of working was to open auditions to Lower and Middle School students. Again, this seemed natural as they are part of our TVS community, and we needed younger actors to play some of the von Trapp children. Still, I was unsure how it would go. I am used to dealing with high school students. I
Honestly, it was a delight to work with these younger students! They all took their roles very seriously and added a playfulness and joy to our rehearsals that subsequently (and delightfully) showed through in the performances. Their parents were great as well, being supportive in so many ways. And, as expected, our Upper School cast and crew were wonderful with them. There were a few tears along the way (that even happens at times with the older students), but they were far outweighed by the numerous moments of uproarious laughter that peppered our practice time. One more unusual thing about this production was the timing. Auditioning in mid-October and opening just eight days after returning from a second long break in rehearsals meant we had about seven non-consecutive weeks to put together what is a rather large production. I did not know how/if it would work, but with the magic of theatre (and the dedication of many students, parents, and faculty), the show really came together nicely. It was a production of which Trinity Valley School and all involved with it could be proud. There were a few more surprising effects of this show. One was the huge audience turnout. All
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six performances were very well attended, and a couple of them were nearly sold out! That has not happened with an Upper School musical at TVS in recent memory. Also, there were many Upper School students in the cast for whom this was the first time ever performing in a high school production. Some were obviously bitten by “the acting bug” and immediately got cast in the spring senior-directed one-act plays. Hopefully we have expanded the number of student actors we can expect to audition for future shows. And, every once in a while, I hear my name shouted out by a young voice across the TVS courtyard. I look up to see the smiling face of one of our former Middle School or Lower School cast members running up and waving to greet me. And it is then that I am reassured that not only were those little ones wonderful in the show, but they also had a great experience being part of it.
The nominations for the Betty Buckley Awards were announced April 15. Trinity Valley School received two nominations this year.
So here’s to getting out of one’s comfort zone! While I really doubt I will choose to direct Arsenic and Old Lace or You Can’t Take it With You any time soon, I have come to see the many benefits that spring from having the courage to do things differently.
The awards ceremony will be held at Casa Manana Theater in Fort Worth on Thursday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m.
The TVS production of The Sound of Music was truly a student-run production. Students headed up technical aspects of the show including costumes, makeup, set design, lighting, sound, choreography, and props. One student even played in the live orchestra.
Congratulations to both Emily and Sophie!
Senior Emily Applewhite was nominated for Best Female Actor in a Musical for her role as Maria in The Sound of Music, and sophomore Sophie Appel was nominated for Excellence in Sound Design for her work on The Sound of Music.
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JEFF SNYDER, HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
MIDDLE SCHOOL
SELECTIVES: SIX YEARS AND OVER SIXTY DIFFERENT COURSE OFFERINGS
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THE SEVENTH- AND EIGHTH-GRADE SELECTIVES PROGRAM BEGAN IN THE FALL OF 2013, AND AS WE CONCLUDE OUR SIXTH YEAR, OFFERING UP TO 15 UNIQUE ELECTIVE OPPORTUNITIES EACH SEMESTER, THE COURSES CONTINUE TO BE A FAVORITE OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ALIKE. WITH MORE THAN 60 DIFFERENT COURSE OPTIONS TO DATE, THE PROGRAM WAS BORN OUT OF TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL’S MISSION TO HELP STUDENTS “DEVELOP WIDE CONSTRUCTIVE INTERESTS.” IN ADDITION, THE CLASSES ARE DESIGNED TO CAPITALIZE ON OUR TEACHERS’ PASSIONS AND SKILL SETS (OUTSIDE OF THEIR TYPICAL ACADEMIC SUBJECT AREAS) IN ORDER TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN AUTHENTIC ENDEAVORS THAT FOSTER COLLABORATION, INNOVATION, CREATIVITY, AND A WILLINGNESS TO SHOW RESILIENCE THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR.
Selectives occur once in our six-day schedule cycle for a total of 15, 50-minute sessions each semester, and every January, at the conclusion of the first semester Selective, we host a Selectives Showcase to share our learning with the community. This year’s showcase was our biggest yet, with attendance from parents, grandparents, and our sixth-grade students. Our teachers continue to explore new Selectives offerings, and the eight courses below present a sampling of some of our most popular opportunities.
BEYOND THE SELFIE | DR. WOOD With the front-facing camera of today’s smartphones, the modern selfie was born. While these can be fun, your smartphone also has a rear-facing camera that looks out at a fascinating world that deserves your attention. Learn to use your smartphone, your iPad, or any other camera you have to take photos that are fun, creative, thought-provoking, action-packed, and beautiful. As you learn the art and science of digital photography, you’ll develop your “photographer’s eye” in ways that transform how you see all that surrounds you. What students say: “In Beyond the Selfie, I enjoyed the opportunity to be outside taking pictures as we learned to use our photographs to ‘tell a story.’” Jane Holloway
FROM POLYGONS TO POLYHEDRA | MS. HELLER Did you ever think a piece of paper could someday help save your life? Through the art of origami (ori - folding and gami – paper), scientific advances such as airbags have been created. Come join us as we explore the many wonders of this art. We will be creating and designing three-dimensional objects as well as creating projects to be shared within our school and neighborhood communities. Let’s get three-dimensional! What students say: “My favorite thing about my Selective so far is making a Hexahexaflexagon!” Sarah Willmann
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3D PRINTED ROBOT CARS | MRS. MONTGOMERY AND MRS. CORNELIUS
TOE LEADERSHIP | MR. AMOS AND MS. WILSON
Design and 3D print your own robot car! We will use Tinkercad software to design your robot car, and then learn how to wire it in such a way to successfully navigate a maze with no outside help or remote control! Along the way you will learn about circuits, electricity current, polarity, switches, soldering, and power tools!
In this Selective, you will not only get the chance to learn how to be a better leader, but you will also get the opportunity to lead. We will play fun games and learn the tips and tricks of leading a group of students as well as getting the opportunity to try out leadership on Lower School TOE trips. This Selective also provides the knowledge and experience that will put you at the top of the list when it comes time to sign up for TOE trip leadership as an Upper Schooler!
What students say: “I chose this Selective because I had previous coding experience, and I thought it would be fun to apply the coding to a 3-D printed car.” Ren Finley “I am enjoying the opportunity to learn how circuitry works, along with using tools like a soldering iron and power drills.” Sadie Leopold
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What students say: “I have really liked the different ways we have learned to work with a group on an experiential activity while also being resourceful with props and things around to create a group game.” Sabrina Mercer
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SWEET TOOTH | MS. MACNABB Did you know that research shows the average human makes over 200 food choices every day?! Most Middle School students recognize that fruits and vegetables are healthy choices but candy, cookies, and other sweets are not. Why? The Nutrition - "Sweet Tooth" Selective will allow students to use investigative questions to examine their own food choices, explore the importance of different types of foods, and develop a scientific understanding of what exactly we are consuming on a daily basis. By examining different types of food and drink each week, students will learn why we eat, how different foods provide different amounts of energy, and why certain nutrients are helpful in helping the body grow and stay healthy. Towards the end of the semester, students will be able to plan a nutritionally balanced meal/snack for the faculty and work with the TVS Executive Chef to plan a meal for the TVS student body. What students say: “After learning that much of our muscle is ‘made in the kitchen,’ I was really interested in learning more about nutrition. By the end of Sweet Tooth, I learned to ‘eat the rainbow.’ In other words, a variety of foods is most beneficial.” Macy Williams
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“READY, SET, ACTION” STOP MOTION ANIMATION STUDIOS | MS. HANSEN Jump into the world of animation - old school! Discover how to transform drawings into life, make objects move, and learn tricks of the trade for special effects. This course will focus on YOU being the producer, actor, special-effects coordinator, screenplay writer, wardrobe, and musical score as you produce your own stop motion movies or adapt current stories to the big screen. Students will learn about the history and famous productions that use(d) stop motion animation as they integrate the technology of today that makes their very own productions possible! Students will leave this course with a website portfolio of their creations. Of course, popcorn provided! What students say: “The most fun thing in my Selective was taking over 200 screenshots of each movement of a character to create a short film. I was able to make films with clay characters, drawings, and Lego characters!” Novyn Sek
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CLIMB ON | MR. SNYDER This course will focus on learning basic climbing skills, including harness and helmet safety, knot tying, belaying, climbing movement, rappelling, site safety, and toprope anchor principles. In addition to climbing on the TVS climbing wall, we will focus on efficient rope work and solving common anchor-building challenges when working within the natural constraints of certain rock types and climbing areas. This will include asking questions like: What knot should I use? What piece of equipment will work best for this application? At what angles should I construct this top-rope anchor? To put our skills to use, students have the opportunity to serve as student leaders at the rockclimbing stations on upcoming TOE trips. What students say: “Climbing was not something I had done before, but getting to the top of the climbing wall made me feel like I had accomplished something. I then wanted to keep trying with all the high ropes elements.” Alan Lin
“WORLD PEACE GAME” | DR. ROEMER AND MR. TIWARI Decide the name, symbol, and flag of your country. Buy weapons/arms from an international dealer. Work with the World Bank and United Nations to improve your economy and increase your influence… You might be the president of a powerful nation with a $500 billion budget and technologically advanced military, or you could be the Secretary of Defense in a small, poorer country. The world is filled with conflicts, and your country is under threat. Your leadership and influence are on the line. Will you work with your friends to win over the enemy and establish peace in the world? What students say: “I like the World Peace Game Selective, because we learn about and experience some of the ‘chaos’ behind the scenes as world powers work to come to agreements regarding peace and other negotiations.” Sam Bumgardner
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BE ACTIVE THIS SUMMER! BASEBALL • BASKETBALL BIKE CLUB • CHEERLEADING CLIMBING • CROSSFIT KIDS DANCE: BALLET, HIP HOP, JAZZ, LYRICAL, POINTE, AND TAP FIELD HOCKEY • FOOTBALL FUTSAL • FUTURE STARS LACROSSE • OLYMPIC FENCING SOCCER • SOFTBALL SPORTS PREP • TENNIS TROJAN POWER • VOLLEYBALL
Hustle on over to TVS.org/summer and join us for an Xplore camp!
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FEEDBACK: AN
INTENTIONAL APPROACH MANISH N. BHATT, HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL
“THE TWO WORDS ‘INFORMATION’ AND ‘COMMUNICATION’ ARE OFTEN USED INTERCHANGEABLY, BUT THEY SIGNIFY QUITE DIFFERENT THINGS. INFORMATION IS GIVING OUT; COMMUNICATION IS GETTING THROUGH.” SYDNEY J. HARRIS FORMER JOURNALIST, CHICAGO SUN TIMES At Trinity Valley School, we pride ourselves on the partnerships that we forge with our students and families. This cohesive bond enhances our teaching and learning, and provides an environment where we are able to truly meet our students where they find themselves. Throughout the academic day, students and teachers interact in a variety of formal and informal settings. Sometimes these interactions are in the context of a
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gripping lesson. At other times, relationships are fostered when a student seeks advice about university or life. No matter the circumstance, the relationships that we enjoy with each other are inextricably intertwined with empathy and communication. Sometimes, however, academics are translated for the student in a purely informational format (e.g., grades and
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assessment). To bridge the gap between information and communication, the Upper School has invested this year in increasing our partnership promise with our students and families. Chief among these efforts is our newly installed advisor conference days and written comments. Over the course of two days (one in the fall and one in the spring), each Upper School family was given a specially designated opportunity to meet with its student’s advisor to review comments written by that student’s teachers. These sessions were intended to provide context to grades received and provide the families with additional observations that might assist in growing our collaboration to support each TVS student. In addition, families were invited to share insights with our advisors about matters that might occur beyond the academic day and, as such, beyond our purview. For instance, it is helpful when we learn that a student is engaged in school but finding it challenging to balance extracurriculars. Armed with this information, faculty are able to engage with Dr. O’Reilly and me to assist in finding better balance for the student. In addition to teacher conferences, our Upper School faculty, by grade level, meet regularly with Mrs. Tina Harper and Mrs. Kellie McLarty to share ideas about how we may best support the academic growth of a student. This level of communication is intended to help us see beyond our 45-minute class and gradebook to serve each child individually and holistically. This is an initiative that began with Mrs. McLarty last year and one that the Upper School has warmly embraced. Adding in Mrs. Harper’s expertise is tremendously valuable, and we have seen positive gains for our students. I am confident that these meetings will continue to evolve so that
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we may find the best avenue to provide appropriate feedback and information. It is essential that we communicate with each other so that we have the full picture of each of our Upper School students. In classes, I have observed many of our faculty pausing to request and receive feedback beyond the annual student survey. This communication is "real-time" and allows our instructors to revisit content, scope,
" To bridge the gap between information and communication, the Upper School has invested this year in increasing our partnership promise with our students and families. Chief among these efforts is our newly installed advisor conference days and written comments." and/or approach in pursuit of a deeper level of comprehension and learning. This is a culture that we continue to build, and it is an important pursuit — particularly as we continue to provide best-in-class educational opportunities for our students and families. In the Upper School, we are committed to keeping parents informed, but more importantly, to keeping the lines of communication open. The partnership between TVS and its families could not be stronger, and as a result, directly and positively impacts our learning spaces and our students. This is a culture that I am dedicated to preserving and further developing. I look forward to joining with you as we find more ways to collaborate. Please know that my door is always open to your feedback and ideas.
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Investing in the Future SPRING 2019
When One Gift Rewards Many Others The late Jim Murray had a deep passion for Trinity Valley School. He and his wife, Suzie, were TVS parents. Their daughter, Kathleen, graduated in the Class of 1980. While they had only one child, they contributed to the education of many others through their generous gifts. Kathleen feels that Trinity Valley School was one of the best decisions they ever made. Jim was a former trustee of TVS and a member of the Stephen Seleny Society. He spent his career in Fort Worth banking and was a founder of Summit National Bank, now Frost Bank. Suzie was a community volunteer and former president of The Jewel Charity Ball. Kathleen is a physician practicing in Nashville, Tennessee. Jim and Suzie made provisions in their estate for TVS to be beneficiary of a charitable trust. Jim wrote when he joined the Stephen Seleny Society, “We choose to make a gift from our estate because Stephen Seleny and the faculty convinced our daughter and many other students that they could achieve lofty goals if they applied themselves. And they did and they have.”
Jim Murray believed deeply in the value of a TVS education. He and his wife, Suzie, created a planned gift by naming TVS as beneficiary of a charitable trust.
May others have the opportunity that Kathleen and other Trojans did.
ACHIEVE YOUR GIVING GOAL Your planned gift will enhance the TVS experience—and create opportunities—for future generations. To learn more or become a society member, contact Margaret Kramer at kramerm@trinityvalleyschool.org or 817.321.0100.
Extend Your Impact Large or small—every donation makes a difference. If you want to ensure that your support for Trinity Valley School continues even after you are gone, you may be interested in a gift in your will or trust.
Q. Why should I choose this approach? A. There are two key benefits in setting up a gift through your will or trust: 1. You can change your mind at any time. Since this type of gift does not go into effect until after your lifetime, you can update or revoke it at any time while you are alive. 2. You can be flexible in your commitment. Most people do not know what the exact size of their estate will be; therefore, making a gift to us by using a percentage amount can be a more appropriate way to divide your assets.
Q. How can I balance my commitment to family with a desire to support Trinity Valley School? A. A survey of American residents reveals that the majority welcome the idea of sharing a piece of their inheritance with a nonprofit.* Of the adults surveyed, 72 percent felt it was reasonable to designate 5–10 percent to charity. Please keep that in mind when you are making your plans for the future.
Q. What if I have already made this type of gift? A. Let us know by returning the enclosed reply card. That way we can ensure that your gift will be used exactly as you intend and thank you for your gift. 7500 Dutch Branch Road
*Source: “America Speaks: Scientific Research Reveals New Targets for Planned Giving”
Fort Worth, TX 76132 www.trinityvalleyschool.org Margaret Kramer Director of Advancement 817.321.0100 kramerm@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 any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results.
Maximize Your Giving Potential 1. CONTACT Margaret Kramer if you’d like to walk through your giving options in person and at no obligation. We would be happy to help you create your TVS legacy. 2. RETURN the enclosed reply card to request your copy of our new guide Creative Ways to Stretch Your Charitable Dollar to learn more about maximizing your donations and making the most impact with your charitable giving. 3. VISIT our website at www.trinityvalleyschool.org to learn how your gift will support TVS students.
NHS INDUCTS 52 NEW MEMBERS IN FORMAL CEREMONY
PATTY WRIGHT AND DR. LEANNA MCLAUGHLIN, CO-ADVISORS On February 20, the Stephen Seleny Theatre was the site of the 19th-annual induction ceremony for new members of the National Honor Society. Alex Davis, senior, was the lone member of his class to be inducted, while 51 members of the junior class were so honored, including Graham Lee, whose brother, Edward, warmly welcomed him to membership. One of the oldest campus organizations at TVS, The Albert M. Goggans Chapter, founded in 1965, recognizes the outstanding achievements of students in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. The ceremony itself was student-directed and -performed. It commenced with a somber procession led by flag bearers Max Henshaw and Cade Peveto. Sabra Belott led the Pledge of Allegiance. Senior speakers selected to represent the ideals about which they spoke were Ben Hayward, speaking on scholarship; Shruti Sahu on service; Michael Collins on leadership; and Serena Gandhi, character. Mrs. Wright administered the NHS oath of membership, followed by the studentled induction. Seniors Sarah Mason, Morgan Gallagher, and Juan Dorado directed the induction ceremony. In his address to the new members,
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Mr. Bhatt challenged them to become the leaders that they have trained to be and to stand up for those things in which they believe. Following closing remarks by Dr. Leanna McLaughlin, incoming NHS advisor, the audience of family, friends, and faculty joined old and new members at a reception in their honor, hosted by Seniors Tate Rosen, Kinh Pham and Senior NHS members.
TVS WELCOMES ONE SENIOR & 51 JUNIORS TO THE
A L BERT M . G O G GA N S CH A P T ER OF THE
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Catherine Anderson
Ryan Fisk
Amanda Mackenzie
Julian Barretto
Riley Hamilton
Michael McAuley
Taylor Grace Shipman
Yazzy Bazir
Taylor Henry
Catherine McCurdy
Sarah Smitherman
Emma Bedward
Tai Hoang
Eesha Muddasani
Jeffrey Sterling
Avery Buchanan
Bridget Houston
Emily Ng
Anna Stupfel
Austin Byrd
George Jefferies
Brinkley Pauling
Thor Truelson
Maddie Crisp
Ben Knight
Caroline Phelps
Hayden Ullmann
Caroline Cutrona
Meredith Lambert
Blake Poole
Jack Williams
Alex Davis
Alex Lange
Will Porter
Sam Wong
Matt Driggers
Anton Lee
Saleem Razack
Joshua Wu
Harper Dunne
Graham Lee
Duncan Reynolds
Lulu Wu
Adrienne Ekins
Clara Lewis
Preston Robertson
Emma Evans
Jule Lopez
Gema Rojas
David Fauber
Sydney Lynch
Nadia Selod
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WHEN I THINK OF SCHOLARSHIP, I often imagine wise old people dressed in robes reading in a library, and while reading is definitely scholarly, I don’t think it ends there.
BEN HAYWARD SCHOLARSHIP
My indecisiveness in the college application process led me to visit a few of my colleges again, before finishing their applications, and in the not-too-distant future, committing to one of them. I was about to enter one of their labs, and I was slightly curious, but tired from the day of touring the college. We went down a few flights of stairs, and I could smell traces of rust that rubbed on us from the handrails. The professor we visited was with a graduate student, and he explained the research they were doing, using technology we had studied in one of my science classes at TVS. When we saw the machine, I was immediately blown away by the sheer immensity of it. It took up about two basketball courts, and its largest component was a giant tank, of what we later learned was an extremely compressed gas, to keep electricity from arcing from the center to the outside. We ducked under a pipe to get to the other side of the beast. I don’t know whether it was the feat of engineering or the connections I could draw to my science class, but I was smiling ear to ear. This was the kind of thing I wanted to make and use if I could ever get the chance. I really like huge feats of engineering and physics. I mostly blame my parents for this, but I also blame the stars for being so interesting, Houston for being
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so close, and TVS for fostering what little passion I had as a young child. More recently, I decided I wanted to simulate a society that was separated over an entire solar system. TVS has a stellar program called the Senior Project, and through that, I’m able to get help and encouragement from teachers and other faculty. Since the end of last year, I’ve been struggling to learn some of the physics I want to include in the simulation, but it is exhilarating to struggle in something so interesting to me, and be required to push in the direction I want to go. These stories are what scholarship means to me. It isn’t forcing yourself to finish strong or learn something
"I really like huge feats of engineering and physics. I mostly blame my parents for this, but I also blame the stars for being so interesting, Houston for being so close, and TVS for fostering what little passion I had as a young child." you don’t want to; you can’t be a scholar in something you hate. Rather, scholarship is pursuing an intellectual passion through difficulty, and following where your curiosity leads you. Some of you invest in stocks, while others do research at nearby colleges. Some of you are passionate about theatre, while others prefer the
creative-writing process. I know no one is always a scholar, but when we push off or ignore the pressures of modern life, and let ourselves follow our passions and curiosities, we are engaging in scholarship. I also enjoy seeing what scholarship others are engaging in. I don’t know what everyone is doing, but I love talking about college with a peer. I ask them what they want to do after high school, or what they want to major in, and watch their face light up as they excitedly or nervously talk about the next chapter of their life. It’s how I know scholarship is human, and that when
AS THE CLOCK STRUCK 8, I watched the lady unlock the door to a sea of people who’d anxiously waited outside the building all night long. Ignoring her futile attempts to maintain a single-file line, the flood of people stormed across the cramped waiting room, towards the prize that awaited them on the counter — the sign-in sheet.
SHRUTI SAHU SERVICE
When I was 12 years old, I spent the day at Mission Arlington Medical Clinic with my sister. I witnessed how, after signing in, these uninsured and underprivileged patients who were in desperate need of medical attention waited another hour for the volunteer physician to arrive. My innocent, preconceived notions about an efficient healthcare system were shattered upon learning that only the first few people were guaranteed to
we deny ourselves the time and space to engage mentally in something we enjoy, we lose some part of us that is human. Everybody need breaks and rest time, and there might be times when we don’t have the resources to pursue our curiosities, but part of living is pursuing them to the best of our ability. Human development has been decided by the curiosity and scholarship of others, from smashing rocks together to the architecture and design of the room we stand in. I hope that you see the scholarship in yourself, and share your passions with the world.
see a doctor. When I left the clinic at the end of the day, I was appalled to see the waiting room filled with the same faces from the morning. It was this experience that first caused me to open my eyes to my surroundings and, ultimately, led me on a quest to learn more about the world around me. This endeavor has taught me that service is most effective when combined with passion and curiosity. As a result, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to frequently work alongside others who strive towards reaching a common goal for the greater good. I am happy to say that over my past eight years at TVS, I have seen this quality instilled in my peers, faculty, mentors, and especially in the inductees we are honoring here tonight. It is an honor to share the
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MICHAEL COLLINS LEADERSHIP
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stage with these fine students who have fostered these invaluable skills by integrating themselves into the community. I would like to recognize the impacts of the efforts of these individuals within the Trinity Valley campus and beyond. Whether it be donating canned goods, writing thank-you letters to those who protected our nation, or simply leaving the school better than they found it
— these students have continuously exhibited commitment to service and respect for one another.
WHEN I WAS CHOSEN TO SPEAK on the topic of leadership, I was kind of surprised and really had no idea which way to go with it. Whenever I think of a leader, the first thing that comes to my mind is some loud drill sergeant screaming their head off for absolutely no reason, which as most of you know, is the complete opposite of me. I am pretty calm and quiet, and most of the time you have to force words out of my mouth if you want any type of productive interaction with me. My parents would tell you that I speak more in groans than I do in common English. But, after much thought, I finally realized this very fact was what made leadership so special and unique. The fact that every human being has the opportunity to be a leader, no matter who they are or what their personality is like. I believe everyone is born with the opportunity to lead, and they can either grow to be a good leader, or a not-so-good leader. But it is impossible to not be a leader at all. You are either leading people in the right direction, or leading them in the wrong direction,
but you are always doing one of the two. All of the students on this stage proudly decided that we were going to use this free gift of leadership to make the people and world around us better. Being the effective leaders that we are, we are essentially killing two birds with one stone. What I mean by this is that being a good leader is not only healthy for those who are following you, but it is also healthy for you personally. For example, some common characteristics of good and effective leaders are trustworthiness, commitment, dedication, and honesty. Therefore, as you are leading others, you are repetitively practicing and perfecting important attributes like these without even realizing it. Furthermore, having a good leader present in a person's life can leave him or her with many positive effects. Some of these effects are a high morale, comfort, confidence, and appreciation. If everyone felt these effects, the world would be an even more magnificent place than it already is. My final thought on leadership and the major point that
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I look forward to watching you all continue to grow as intelligent and caring citizens while contributing back to the community. Congratulations to the Class of 2019 inductees; may you continue to let your curiosity and passion guide you.
SERENA GANDHI CHARACTER
I am trying to get to in this speech is that no matter who you are, how old you are, where you are from, what type of music you like, if you actually think Dak Prescott is the Cowboys’ franchise quarterback or not… anything, it doesn’t matter, you are and will always be a leader. It is a gift that we are all blessed with, and if it is used properly, it can be life-changing, not only for you, but for the people
around you. Lastly, you should be proud of all of these students for their hard work academically and what they have done for their communities. And to you inductees, thank you for everything you have done and your effort to leave a positive mark in our society. And always remember, never stop leading, because like you have always been told, someone is always watching.
I AM SERENA GANDHI, AND I WILL not be talking to you about character. I will be talking to you about HAIR-acter.
Personally, I am very interested in how technology can be creatively harnessed to promote global harmony. As we thrust ourselves into the digital realm, we see people developing ways to unite the world. With mobile applications, such as WhatsApp and FaceBook, my household is able to connect with our extended family in India and keep in touch with our close friends across the nation. We also see a world where people exhibit character by breaking the borders separating the passage of knowledge.
At the start of this year, my grandmother — everyone calls her Ba — made the choice to stop dyeing her hair. I’m very proud of that. Now, I see her hair, and I see platinum and silver. Now, Ba’s hair resembles her. The fact that she threw caution to the wind and said, “This is me. This is my hair. It’s all beautiful, and I know it,” speaks volumes. Hair is very personal and very telling. Just like everyone else, Ba’s hair is analogous of who she is. Similarly, the actions one takes are highly indicative of the aspects of her character. People exhibit character when they apply their virtues, knowledge, and skills to unite and aid others. They choose to embrace their quirks and share the best versions of themselves with the world.
Through the OpenSource movement, universal sharing is encouraged, as people make their personal research and educational tools open to the public. The OpenSource movement recognizes how diverse the world is, and how no individual can solve issues alone. I view the OpenSource movement as a parallel to hair donations, something I have partaken in several times before.
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The first time I donated my hair, Ba told me that there was no way to tell whether or not my eight inches of hair would end up in a South Carolina wig shop. Looking back, there really is no telling where my hair actually ended up. But I bet, even if my hair went straight to an exotic wig shop, some South Carolinian walked into that wig shop and left grateful for a new set of hair. People with strong character exhibit a blind desire to help others, not discriminating between people when they hold out a helpful hand. Anyone could use a metaphorical wig. The many other Locks of Love hair donors and I are proud, regardless of where our hair ends up, that someone can benefit from our collective contributions. The second time I donated my hair, when the hairdresser handed me my freshly-cut curls, I could see the consequences of my poor hair care. My cut hair was several shades lighter than my roots, riddled with split ends, coarse as old carpet, and brittle as thin strands of hay. I felt ashamed to be giving someone less-than-satisfactory hair when a bit of extra work would have made all the difference to them. Now, I use supplements, moisturize, and trim, so that when my hair musters up an additional eight inches, I can place stronger, healthier hair into a box to be shipped to who-knowswhere, knowing that this time, I am donating my best. Just as I work to maintain my hair, I also strive to propel my best, quirkiest, most genuine self into the world, so I can best help others.
Inductees, graduation is closer than you think, and soon enough, you will begin to fix the world. I urge you to continue practicing your strong set of morals now, keeping in mind that the eyes of younger boys and girls are watching you. Take care of yourself now, so that you can one day take care of others. Through passion and strong character, this superb group of students has outranked the labels that so often identify them. They exhibit character by supporting one another in all their meaningful endeavors, and they demonstrate sportsmanship on
"Inductees, graduation is closer than you think, and soon enough, you will begin to fix the world. I urge you to continue practicing your strong set of morals now, keeping in mind that the eyes of younger boys and girls are watching you. Take care of yourself now, so that you can one day take care of others." the field, curiosity in the classroom, selflessness during food drives, and spontaneity in the theater. Their passion for their studies, for helping others, and for holding themselves to high moral standards has earned them the honor of membership in the National Honor Society. Congratulations inductees! You all have beautiful hair.
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BE CONFIDENT THIS SUMMER!
ACT 1-DAY ACT/SAT PREP CAMP BABYSITTING & CHILD CARE COLLEGE ESSAY COURSE PSAT 1-DAY SAT 1-DAY STEP UP TO 5TH GRADE STEP UP TO 9TH GRADE
Prepare for success with a visit to TVS.org/summer and join us for an Xplore class! TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL 55
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PARENTS' CLUB MELISSA HOSKINS ’93, PARENTS' CLUB PRESIDENT What an honor it has been to serve Trinity Valley School as Parents’ Club Board president this year! We have an amazing group of talented parents who have led their committees with creativity, grace, and incredible organization. All of the parent volunteers who have committed your time and talents this year are truly the icing on the cake at TVS!
AUTUMN MCCARTHY oversaw a floor-toceiling (Really! The bags of spring donations actually stacked all the way up!) overhaul of the uniform resale store this year. She and her volunteers touched every piece of clothing and evaluated whether it was worthy to sell. The result is a much less crowded space, and quality items for sale each week. A huge thank you to all of those volunteers!
The Hoskins Family: Georgia (6 th grade), Ben ’93, Melissa ’93, Lily Kate (3 rd grade), and Isabella (11th grade)
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This spring has been a busy one, beginning with the Faculty and Staf f Appreciation luncheon arranged by STACIE GOLDMAN and KELLIE LEA. They provided delicious light “fiesta-ish” food catered by McKinley’s, and organized parent volunteers to bring a variety of tasty desserts to complete the meal. The desserts were a huge hit, so thank you to all who brought them! Middle School Bingo Game On! was a big hit, led by SONA DAVE, MICHELE WILLIAMS, AND TAMARA WILLMANN. Their team of volunteers transformed the north gym into a retro video game wonderland, and some very happy students went home with great prizes. Margaret Lane and Libby Moore secured some fantastic local art, including selections by alumni artists, to add to the always-fun Gallery Night in April! The trip Around the World with TVS offered all of the exciting class parties and special activities on which our kids beg us to bid. Congratulations to the big winners! We have slated another wonderful Parents’ Club Board for the 20192020 school year. I look forward to all of the exciting events already underway to celebrate Trinity Valley’s 60th anniversary. My family has been blessed to be part of the TVS family since 1987 when by a twist of fate, Ben and I both were brand new 7th graders in the same homeroom class. The 2019-2020 school year brings bittersweet excitement personally for us as we will graduate the first of our
daughters from our alma mater. We look forward to many more years of involvement at TVS, and many more opportunities to work with the stellar volunteers.
Top: Stacie Goldman and Kellie Lea. Bottom: Fun at Middle School Bingo.
As I prepare to hand the reins to the extremely capable CARLA VOGEL, I owe her my gratitude
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for being so wonderful to work with this year. Her shared love of TVS and her excellent organization made this year go so smoothly. Carla has an all-star board coming up, and I know she will lead us into our Diamond Jubilee year with great poise. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as president this year. I have learned a great deal, and I value the experience. This school is such a remarkable place, and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to work with and better get to know so many of you who help make it what it is. Enjoy your summer, and Go Trojans!! With gratitude, MELISSA HOSKINS '93 Parents’ Club President, 2018-2019
2 0 1 9 -2 02 0 PARENTS’ CLUB BOARD PRESIDENT............................................ Carla Vogel PRESIDENT-ELECT....................... Jennifer Briscoe SECRETARY................................... Tamara Willman TREASURER.................................................Jill Unell Annual Fund........................................ LaToyer Houston & Mindy Hegi Back-to-School Fair.......................Christina Hardman & Emily Strong Cafeteria....................................................Amy Buchanan & Stephanie Christopher Community Education........................ Heather Breiter Directory...........................................................Sarah Klein & Paige Bacon Faculty/Staff Appreciation..........Dana Quisenberry & Hilary Shipman Fall Festival.......................Jodi Sangalli & Leigh Good Field Day.........................................................Lea Thomas & Nicole Shipman Gala..................... Rachel Churchill, Shelby Crawford, Sarah Jackson, & Ashley Peeders
Top left: Uniform Resale Top right: Gallery Night 2019 Bottom: Pac-Man inspired Bingo decor
Gift Cards............................................ Mary Ellen Becker Grandparents' Day..................................... Alicia Lesok, Teresa Jones, & Mary Ho Grants for Greatness.....................................Noel Nolet Link Coordinator Kindergarten........................... Paige Charbonnet Link Coordinator LS............................... Martha Mattox Link Coordinator MS..............................Jamie Mainord Link Coordinator US................................ Deb Huckaby Middle School Social............................ Caroline Bailey & Emily Cantey Room Parent Coordinator LS.........Sarah Florsheim Room Parent Coordinator MS.................... Stephanie Bumgardner Room Parent Coordinator US..........Melissa Hoskins School Supplies.....................................Brandi Wubena & Katie Danzi TVS Cares.........................................................Julie Taylor & Megan Carrell Uniform Resale................................ Autumn McCarthy & Jenn Baker Volunteer Website..........................................Kate Snow & Shelly Eskue
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TVSFIN E
A RT S
TVS TAKES SWEEPSTAKES…
AGAIN!
ALAN BURATTO, CHOIR TEACHER
OAKE
TVS PLACED WINNERS IN ALL FOUR OAKE CHOIRS (CHILDREN’S, YOUTH, WOMEN’S, AND CHAMBER) THIS YEAR. AFTER THREE DAYS OF REHEARSAL, THEY PERFORMED A BRILLIANT CONCERT WITH 450 STUDENTS FROM ALL STATES, DIRECTED BY WORLD-RENOWNED CONDUCTORS, AT THE THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY’S GERSHON CONCERT HALL, COLUMBUS, OHIO.
AKE
Participants from bottom left: Jonathan Boothby, Anna Willmann, Dahlia Roberts, Meghan Clark, Brooklyn Weems, Gillian Young, Olivia Carey 2nd row: Marcy Everett, Benjamin Walker, Kate Demchuk, Grace Gibson, Mallory Turner, Ava Casto, Johanna Ivy, Kelton Finley, Zoe Davis
3rd row: Mrs. Owen, Mrs. Medlin, Abby Everett, Megha Duvvuri, Gaby Kremer, Eleanor Walker, Jillian Ivy, Sam Looney, Foster Good, Berkeley Moore Top row: Mr. Buratto, Lauren Kochan, Sophie Fine, Gage Brazell, Taylor Henry, Caroline Sloter, Molly Zimmerman
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3IN THE BOOKS
RD ALL-SCHOOL REUNION
ON FRIDAY, APRIL 26, THE TVS ALL-SCHOOL REUNION CELEBRATED ALUMNI, SPECIAL FRIENDS, FACULTY, AND THE BONDS THAT KEEP US A FAMILY.
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Golden Trojans Chris Richardson and Robert Secrest from the Class of 1969
Class of 1988
Class of 1970 Chris Stadler and Ken Mindell
Class of 2004
Class of 1987
Class of 2014
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Paul Andrews and grandson Thomas
Paul Andrews
Paul and Judy Andrews
2019 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARDS PAUL ANDREWS Honorary Alumnus DR. BILL SHELTON Distinguished Faculty
Bill Shelton
Shelton Family
Selod Family
DR. OMAR SELOD ’88 Distinguished Alumnus* * This award was renamed the Judith Sullivan Kinser ’76 Distinguished Alumnus Award in honor of the retirement of Judith Kinser
Omar Selod
THANKS TO OUR ALUMNI (AND OTHER) STARS
HIGH FIVE TO
TVS faculty and staff
Alumni Board members who served as liaisons, ran check-in, and provided preparty help: Margaret Baird ’06, Lauren Grady Brannon ’08, Holly Edwards ’95, Sarah Bessire Florsheim ’97, Erin Finley Lee ’87, Woei Ming ’01, Brent Pierce ’82, Brandi Barrett Wubbena ’96, and non-Board volunteers Melissa Williams Hoskins ’93, Ben Hoskins ’93, and Chip Ezell
Chefs Erin Nesbitt and Scott Stirling: culinary geniuses
LAST BUT NOT LEAST...
Robin Preston: emcee for the ages
The party would not have happened without the incredible leadership, planning, direction, and hard work of Reunion Chair Angie Elkins Ezell ’93 and Alumni President Cristina Hindman Schneiderman ’94. Job well done, ladies!
Bryan Lucas ’92 and his band: fantastic party music Markus Kypreos ’96: spirits from Blackland Distillery Katie Teichelman Price ’05: delicious TVS cookies Richard Brannon ’08: slide shows for the program
VanAnthony Williams: tech theater wizard Chester Wilson and crew: engineering pros
Barbara Tribble Bakich '72, Don Cosby '73, Paulie Ellen Wear Killgore '74
SPECIAL GUESTS Founding Headmaster Stephen Seleny and his wife Katherine. Class of 1972’s Barbara Tribble Backich (pictured above), who was among the school’s first three female graduates!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS Alumni Annual Dinner at Joe T’s | June 4 Homecoming 2019 | October 11 Diamond Jubilee Gala | April 18, 2020 TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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BE CURIOUS THIS SUMMER! ARCHAEOLOGY CREATIVE COMPUTING LAB DELIGHTFUL DISSECTIONS EXPERIENCE ESPANOL FANTASY GEOPOLITICS GAME OF LIFE MYTHBUSTERS STEM CHALLENGERS STRATEGY GAMES THINGS THAT FLY UNFOLDING MATHEMATICS WILDERNESS MEDICINE
Expand your world with a visit to TVS.org/ summer and join us for an Xplore camp!
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1967
Rick Goggans......................................................... rickcg@aol.com
1998
Mary Hazelwood Barkley...................mbarkley@canteyhanger.com
1968
Barney Holland............................. bholland@holland1928.com
1969
Class Rep Needed
1999
Beth Harwood.............................bethsharwood@hotmail.com Amar Tanna................................................ATanna@barbnet.com
1970
Chris Stadler......................................... diannstadler@gmail.com
1971
David Miley....................................................David@TheMileys.net
1972
Class Rep Needed
1973
Deborah Horan................................................ dlhoran@mac.com
2002 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
1976
Martha Harper.............................................martharents@sbcglobal.net
2004 Erin McDonald............................erin.mcdonald86@gmail.com Maggie Pine Bellinger....................... mpbellinger@gmail.com
1977
Class Rep Needed
1978
Carol Stucker Carr................Carol.Carr@northhighland.com
1979
Class Rep Needed
1980
Christine Stucker Klote......................... christine@s-steel.com
1981
Walter Stucker ................................walterstucker@yahoo.com
1982
Class Rep Needed
2009 Ellen Clarke.................................... ellenmclarke@sbcglobal.net Sean Gallagher............................................. viking6119@aim.com
2000 Sarah Murphey Davis...............................sarahtdavis@me.com 2001
Chris Handy...............................................chris@thinkhandy.com
2005 Maddie Dickerson..............maddie.m.dickerson@gmail.com 2006 Amber Finley................................................finleya14@gmail.com Margaret Baird .............................margaretkbaird@gmail.com 2007 Kelley Clark.............................................. kelleylclark@gmail.com 2008 Morgan Wade.................. morganmadisonwade@gmail.com
1983
Sandra Standefer............................................ skshome@aol.com
2010
Rohail Premjee......................... Rohail.Premjee@outlook.com
1984
Class Rep Needed
1985
Janet Kelly....................................................chafterall@gmail.com
2011
Claire Allen............................................ allen.clairem@gmail.com Chris Morris......................................... cjmorris2015@yahoo.com
1986
Michael Appleman..........................mgappleman@utexas.edu
2012
Adrienne Gamez.......................adriennegamez4@gmail.com
1987
Mark Jones..........................................markjonesmd@gmail.com
1988
Molly Guynn Jones....................mollymoonjones@gmail.com
2013
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
George Mills.......................................georgemills72@gmail.com
2015
Macy Clayton.........................................meclayton1@yahoo.com
1991
Class Rep Needed
1992
Melissa Minker Miller........................................ TXMink@aol.com
1993
Angie Elkins Ezell...................................... allezell@hotmail.com Melissa Williams Hoskins............... melissahoskins@me.com
2016
Celeigh Holsteen..................................... ceileigh@holsteen.info Cannon Brumley........................... csbrumley@crimson.ua.edu Kailey Dow................................................ kaileydow@yahoo.com
2017
John Shipp............................................ johntexas99@yahoo.com
1994
Kristie Taliaferro Gibson..................Kristiegibson@sbcglobal.net
1995
Patrick Pate.................................................... cppatejr@gmail.com
2018
Allison Byrd............................. AllisonByrd_Byrd1@baylor.edu Emma Stack.........................................emmaastack@gmail.com Luke Vasquez........................................vasquezluke@gmail.com
1996
Brandi Barrett Wubbena................. 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 1968
CLASS OF 1975
Harry Schiller shared the following about his late mother, Lory Goggans, who passed away last June at the age of 93. Two of her four sons, Jay ’67 and Harry ’68, were TVS grads. Rick Goggans ’67 was her stepson. IN MEMORIAM Lory Friedman Goggans | October 19, 1924 - June 29, 2018 Lory was an avid photographer, and she was, in fact, the first photographer for the Texas Boys Choir and for Trinity Valley School throughout the 1960s. She took virtually every photograph for every event involving the Texas Boys' Choir and Trinity Valley School during the 10 years that her four sons were involved in these two organizations. Her skill and compassion, her intellect and wit, and her beauty and her charm will be missed by all who knew and loved her – especially her four sons. RIP Lory Harry is fully enjoying his semi-retirement in Jomtien, Thailand where he lives on the beach, swims daily, and dances at dance clubs in Pattaya three hours every night. He is also working on his open water (scuba) diving certification. He is prepping for the big event of 2020: The US Masters Swimming Nationals to be held in Richmond, Virginia in August 2020. He says, if he is still alive, he plans to place in the 50m free and the 200-meter individual medley in the men's 70-74 division.
Our sympathies to the family of Francie Richardson Allen, whose mother, Virginia Richardson, passed away in March.
CLASS OF 1969 Our sympathies to the family of Chris Richardson, whose mother, Virginia Richardson, passed away in March.
CLASS OF 1972 Chris Grasher shares, “I will be starting with a new CPA firm on May 1, 2019. The name of the firm is Dixon Hughes Goodman. I will be working in both the Dallas and Fort Worth markets for DHG.” Rush Vann writes, “I’m still managing money and dealing with grandchildren (from Mary Boggess Vann ‘75). I have gotten more involved in Christian history and ministry over the years. Trying to keep a balance in my life. Rush III ’97 is living in Raleigh, NC. He is getting his MBA from Duke and commanding a Special Forces group. My second son, Stuart, who was part of the Class of 2000 for a few years, is a pilot with Southwest Airlines. Mary is doing fine being a grandmother. All in all, life is good.” 64
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CLASS OF 1978 SUPER GREAT CLASS 0F ’78!! The class of 1978 celebrated its 40-year reunion on October 20 at Cynthia Sampson Shipper’s mom’s house in Fort Worth. (Big thank you to Cynthia’s mom!) Snacks and adult beverages were enjoyed. A SUPER time was had by all. It was great catching up with everyone and to those who couldn’t make it – we missed you! We are planning to get together in the Spring of 2019 for a Happy Hour. We decided we didn’t need to wait another 10 years to catch up. Looking forward to seeing you all again! In group photo, front row: Michelle Wooten, Michelle Harding Streck, Cynthia Sampson Shipper, Margaret Clayton Shouse, Carol Weeman, Robin Cooper Frisbie. Back row: Mark Johnson, Carol Stucker Carr, Gerry Schwarz, Billy Robertson, Tommy Smerke, Mimi Ray Stephens, John Richmond.
CLASS OF 1980 Liz Minton Christian moved to a new home in April but, unfortunately, not in Fort Worth. She is staying in Kansas City. Chris Wilson shares, “In February I was appointed to serve on the board of the National Main Street Center (MainStreet.org), a subsidiary of the National Trust For Historic Preservation.” Ben Zivney says, “All is well with the Zivneys in College Station, Texas. Daniel and his teammate won the National Championship in free-fly parachuting this year as a member of the Air Force Wings of Blue. He will graduate from the Air Force Academy in May. Sue continues to be the ‘One Who Can Do It All’ as she manages family, her tax practice, and aging parents all at the same time. I left my private practice last year and began working as an OB/GYN hospitalist. I also accepted a commission as a medical officer in the US Army Reserves last June and will begin training in Georgia, Oklahoma, and San Antonio in the next several months.”
CLASS OF 1981 Cherrie Hamilton Ibbott reports, “Brad and I are both working and traveling as much as possible! Landon, our oldest, graduated from Texas Tech in May and is currently spending time in Australia. Cole ’14 graduated in May from Texas A&M and is now a freshman at A&M Law School
1968 Harry Schiller | Lory Goggans 1978 40-year reunion for the Class of 1978
1978 Bobby Gerrard and Billy Robertson | Paul Tullis, Cynthia Shipper, Mark Jones 1980 Ben Zivney commissioned as medical officer in US Army Reserves
1980 Daniel Zivney wins National Championship in free-fly parachuting 1981 Celia Smith McGrath '79 with Nikos Rigakis 1982 Heun family 1983 Kellie Hennigan and husband at Dragon Con
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1983 Sandra Standefer with Michael Coffman and family 1984 Ian '17 and Claire (rising TVS junior) Dacy | Matheson Family
1985 Stefanie Cooper Toppel with grandson Callahan 1989 Class of 1989 at the all-school reunion | Ellie Anderson
1989 Ella DeMott | 30-year Reunion for the Class of 1989
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in Fort Worth. Logan, the youngest, is a senior at Texas Tech and having a blast! Hard to believe we have college graduates — the time really has flown by!” Chandler Smith shares, “When Nikos Rigakis came as an AFS exchange student to Fort Worth in the summer of 1980, he had never been off his native island of Rhodes, Greece. Imagine going from that island in the Mediterranean to Cowtown via one's first ride in a jet! Nikos attended TVS and graduated in 1981, and, in the 37 years thereafter, he never returned to the United States, much less Fort Worth. That is, until this past December, when he and his daughter, Melina Rigakis, came back to visit his host family, the Emmet Smiths. He said people were still just as nice as he remembered them, and he loved seeing some of his favorite landmarks again. He even managed to get a spot for himself and Melina at the Rodeo Championships in Northside Coliseum one evening, thanks to the kindness of a Fort Worth police officer. He told Melina, this is just the way people are in Fort Worth — very kind and helpful. The Smiths gave a dessert reception at their house in honor of Nikos and Melina on December 28, and in attendance were Dr. Bobbye Wood (who had worked very closely with Nikos as a student to help him with his English), Dr. Bill Shelton, and Darlene Housewright (who hosted another AFS student from Belgium, Sergio Torres, that same year with Nikos). The Rigakises continued to Florida to visit relatives for another two weeks before flying home to Rhodes. It was the trip of a lifetime.” Walter Stucker says, “It's everything about school this year. Our youngest, Max ’18, is a freshman at DigiPen Institute of Technology. He is getting a BA in Video Game Design. Our daughter Elizabeth ’16 is in the third year of a fiveyear accounting master’s at Baylor. She is also getting am undergraduate in English. As for my wife, Ronda, she is in Carlsbad, California getting her Graduate Gemologist degree from the Gemology institute of America (GIA)!”
CLASS OF 1982 Daniel Heun shared photos of his gorgeous family in New England. “Go Patriots and Go Red Sox!”
CLASS OF 1983 Our condolences to Paul Grant on the loss of his father, Dr. Paul Grant Sr., in January. Kellie Murphy Hennigan and her husband recently attended Dragon Con in Atlanta and shared a photo! Mary Kathryn Bronson Kelly and Todd are still living in Fort Worth and are adjusting to an empty nest. Bryan will graduate from SMU law school in May, Hannah graduated from UT in December, and Christina is a freshman at UT. Sandra Standefer was in New York City for work in March and noticed on Facebook that Ami and Michael Coffman were there too. They met for dinner in Chinatown. Fun to catch up with Dallas friends while in NYC! She adds, “I am on a personal mission to have 100 people trained in CPR this year. If you are interested in a class, please let me know. I am organizing classes with a
certified American Heart Association CPR trainer in Dallas and Fort Worth. skshome@aol.com”
CLASS OF 1984 Tracy Redfearn Matheson reports that she and David ’83 “are loving having Nick and wife, Elizabeth, living in Fort Worth. Ben, 19, is taking classes at TCC and works at the FW Zoo. Max is about to graduate TVS and will head to Texas A&M in the fall. David remains busy with golf…for business and pleasure. Tracy is discovering nonprofit work is very time consuming and even more rewarding. Project Beloved is finding its place in the journey to change the conversation about sexual assault and empower survivors to find their voices.” Our condolences to Karen Grant Roberts on the loss of her father, Dr. Paul Grant Sr., in January. She has happy news to share, though: her daughter Danielle Shewmake ’14 is engaged to be married to Matthew Mathisen (FWCD ’13) on June 22, 2019.
CLASS OF 1985 Stefanie Cooper Toppel shared a photo of her and Steve with their adorable grandson, Callahan, on his first birthday last October.
CLASS OF 1989 Jennifer Lester Anderson says, “All is well on the East Coast…super bummed to have missed the reunion, but plan on making up for it with several trips to the Fort! Ellie has chosen to follow her Southern roots and attend TCU. She will be a fourth-generation Horned Frog and we are all thrilled! Her sister, Anna Claire, will complete her freshman year at Summit High School. She is equally excited for Ellie as she is beyond proud to say she is a Texan!” Marian Mayo DeMott is proud to report that her daughter Ella will continue the Longhorn legacy! Ella graduates from Arlington Heights in June and has been accepted into UT’s College of Natural Sciences as a biochemistry major. Congrats to Ella! Marian reports that her other children (Willing, 17; Turner, 14; Briggs, 12) and hubby Jason are doing well and gearing up for Willing’s senior year. Meggan Laird Duncan’s daughter Sarah Hadley is having a busy spring, graduating from the University of Arkansas in May and getting married in June! Huge thanks to Laura Manning High and husband Kirk for opening up their gorgeous home for the Class of 1989 30-year reunion on April 27. Many classmates enjoyed a beautiful evening and lavish (and extended) hospitality from the Highs. In addition to lots of local 89ers attending, we loved having folks come in town to celebrate with us – Pam Patrick Wurschmidt from Norway; Gelena Nayberg Weissman and husband Seth from Los Angeles; Jason Hayes and Jory Payne from Denver; Autumn Gray and husband Tim Edwards from Albuquerque; Amber Anderson Mostyn from Houston; Doreen Schussler Landrum, Kelli Montgomery, and TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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Kelli’s husband Bee May from Austin; and Suzanne Jack Silva and husband David from Dallas. The night before, Carter Crum attended the all-school reunion but had to jet back to California for his daughter’s prom. We all look wonderful and haven’t changed a bit! Karen Beck Lewis and her family – husband Kevin and daughters Saskia (15) and Anneke (13) – moved to Charlotte, NC for Kevin's new role with Circle K stores. Karen's enjoying her work as a pediatrician there, and they recently enjoyed celebrating Anneke's Bat Mitzvah.
CLASS OF 1990 As planned, Cameron Crum has opened his new business, Auto Hobby and Speed Shop in Hurst, TX. He describes it as an auto maker space / DIY Garage / co-working space. This brings me back to memories of Carter ’89 and Cameron’s high school roadster. Vying for the title of World’s Most Interesting Man is Joseph Greenslade. In between doing solo long-distance hiking trails in California and Florida, Joe has transitioned from being a Navy Air Test pilot to working as an officer for NASA and the Human Space Flight Support Operations. He has even done some zero-gravity work! Wow! Joe is making the rest of us look pretty boring. Eric Woodworth is still working the stock market in NY and playing some competitive tennis. His oldest child, Alex, is now a teenager, which we know we will accelerate Woody’s aging process. Unlike Joe, I (George Mills) am hoping for an uneventful 2019. We survived a year of cancer treatments for Karla, and our oldest, Andy, graduated from college in December. I look forward to continued news from my classmates about all of their adventures.
CLASS OF 1994 Earlier this spring, Barrett Blaschke sent an update while on vacation in Hawaii. The previous week and a half, his job with Mitsubishi UFJ Securities had taken him from Houston to Boston, New York, Seattle, and San Francisco. His daughter, MJ (pictured at the Houston Rodeo midway), just turned 10 and will enjoy some TVS Xplore camps this summer while in town visiting her grandparents. After graduating from South Carolina State University, Tonya English returned to Fort Worth and began her career in law enforcement as a police officer in Arlington, Texas. She is now in her 21st year in law enforcement, 11 as a Special Agent with a federal law enforcement agency. She is glad to be back in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area with family and friends after living in Phoenix, Arizona. Kristie Taliferro Gibson is now working as the Major Gifts Director at ACH Child and Family Services. Shari Husain lives in the Mission District of San Francisco and works as a designer at Facebook. Part of her job is hosting design workshops around the world, teaching people how to design their web and app interfaces with language so they are more human-friendly. She enjoys 68
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photography when she travels, and one of her Italy photos was recently chosen by the editors at Rick Steves to be on the cover of their Milan travel guide (see photo). Genny Gatmaitan Logie and husband Brent are both doctors in California at Kaiser. They have two children, Victor, age 9½and Katherine, age 2. After simultaneously balancing a career as a professional ballerina on the East Coast and graduating with honors from TCU, Nikkia Parish returned to Fort Worth in 2008 to work as a Contracting Officer with General Services Administration. She attained her Master of Science in Engineering Management from SMU in 2016 and currently works with Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control in Grand Prairie. Nikkia is glad to be back in the area with her family. Robert Rapfogel lives in Houston with his partner Sofia and rescue dog Jamie. He has a transactional corporate and securities legal practice. Through a nonprofit he and Sofia started, he is also working on an environmental documentary that will hopefully be completed and released later this year. Megha Satyanarayana has returned to Dallas and is working remotely for a national science magazine. You can find her on Twitter at @meghas.
CLASS OF 1995 After 10 years in Austin, Sean Fierke and wife, Anna, moved back home to Fort Worth three years ago. He reports they "have two wonderful (most of the time) children, Anna Cate (7) and Bode (4), just built a new house in west Fort Worth, and are enjoying being back home near both of our parents and the free babysitting that they so graciously provide!" Exciting news for Amanda Janney and Kary Johnson! Amanda is a newlywed, having married Walter Misselhorn in Bloomington, Indiana last year. And Kary is expecting a baby boy this summer! Mat Schuster, a celebrated chef in San Francisco, now also has a new podcast called Food, Wine & the Culinary Mind where he interviews other chefs and food and wine folk. Follow @ culinarymindcast on Instagram for more info.
CLASS OF 1996 Erin Kennedy Benson is doing great! Her son, Peyton ’18, is finishing up his freshman year at Ole Miss. Her daughters, Taylor and Ava Grace, are still at TVS enjoying all the drama that high school and middle school bring. Erin will be teaching my daughter, Wren, at Museum School in the fall. She’s my “easy one,” so Erin will be fine. Jon Bohnsack and his family still live in Kansas. He travels a lot with his job but still manages to run (a LOT) and stay ridiculously active. His children Lila and Palmer are super cute, and his wife Stacie is very nice. John Elliott, his wife, Carol, and their daughter, Adelaide, are doing great. They are building a new house around the corner from the Kypreos family. Adelaide is in first grade at TVS and is delightful! I recently ran into Kate Harwood’s mom. She caught me up on Kate’s life in Washington and showed
1989 Karen, Anneke, Saskia, and Kevin Lewis 1994 Logie family | MJ Blaschke | Shari Husain's photo on the cover of the Milan travel guide | Shari Husain
1995 Amanda Janney marries Walter Misselhorn | Fierke family 1996 Dayna Newell Kline, Barrett Van Zandt, Erin Kennedy Benson, Brandi Barrett Wubbena | John Elliott, Brandi Barrett Wubbena, John Bohnsack, Markus Kypreos
1996 John Elliott, Markus Kypreos, Brandi Barrett Wubbena, Dave Motheral | Maya Jhangiani and Brandi Barrett Wubbena 1999 20-year reunion for the Class of 1999 TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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1999 Munzie Kureshy and Lauren Kwedar Cockerell | Michael Williams, Todd Blumenfeld, Jill Faires Williams, Ashli Rosenthal Blumenfeld | Amar Tanna and Beth Harwood
1999 20-year reunion for the Class of 1999 2000 Schmid children 2002 Maren Elizabeth Yack
2005 Kathryn Egger marries Blake Whatley 2006 Brezik Family | Nate Brezik
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me cute pictures of Kate’s daughter, Evie. Markus Kypreos is living his best life. His daughter, Nikole, is about to finish second grade at TVS, and Max will start kindergarten at TVS in the fall. His new distillery, Blackland, where he makes vodka, gin, bourbon, and rye whiskey, has started out great. Culture Map has already named it the #1 tasting room in Fort Worth and as of this publication, he’s only had to ban one customer for being obnoxious. Speaking of Blackland, it has become the new gathering spot for many 96ers. Since its opening, I’ve shared drinks with John Elliott, Jon Bohnsack, Dave Motheral, Dayna Newell Kline, Erin Kennedy Benson, Barrett Van Zandt and Maya Jhangiani. When you are in Fort Worth, please stop by! I have already reserved it for our reunion in 2021! Maya Jhangiani has moved back to Fort Worth and works for TCU. She has an awesome loft and entertains frequently. She is still beautiful and gave me some great tips at reducing fine lines and wrinkles (she has NONE). Dayna Newell Kline is still in Dallas with her husband Jacob and their three children Reed, Parker, and Charlie. Dayna’s address is in Dallas, but she actually is never home and is always somewhere exciting on what she calls “just a little trip.” Jennifer Andrews Moore is still in Houston and would love to move back to Fort Worth. Her girls are not hip on the idea just yet. Tatum is in ninth grade at Episcopal High School and her younger two, Parker and Kimbell, go to St. Francis in Houston. They had fun going to Dallas in the fall for SPC and seeing some of our old coaches when Tatum played TVS in field hockey. Jennifer has already told the girls that they are going to watch the baseball team when SPC is in Houston this Spring! Jennifer’s dad, Paul, was honored as an Honorary Alumnus at the All-school Reunion on April 26, and Parker was there! Dave Motheral is moving from San Francisco to Fort Worth. He and his wife, Araceli, are currently looking for their perfect house. We are super excited that Dave is back! I also ran into Julie Link Steffen’s parents! Alice had just returned from visiting Julie in Germany and reports that Julie and her family are doing well. She has two boys that are handsome. Barrett Van Zandt is also in Dallas and still works at ESD. On the same day I saw Kate’s mom, I ran into Barrett’s dad, and we took a great selfie. Barrett is the best aunt ever and takes her niece and nephew to lots of fun places. As for me, Brandi Barrett Wubbena, I am fine. I’m still in Fort Worth with my family. My oldest daughter, Lark, is in second grade at TVS and my youngest, Wren, will be going to preschool at All Saints’ in the fall.
CLASS OF 1999 The Class of 1999 marked its 20-year reunion in April with a full weekend of celebrating friendship and reconnecting. Many members attended the All-school Reunion on Friday evening at TVS and a class lunch on Saturday with families (including pets). However, the main attraction and highlight of the weekend was clearly the reunion party for the Class
of 1999 that was held at Clay Pigeon in Fort Worth. The evening was filled with friendship, sharing memories, delicious food, wonderful drinks, and an incredible positive energy. The Class of 1999 attendees were the stars and included: Katie Adams, David Ahn, Ashli Rosenthal Blumenfeld, Lauren Kwedar Cockerell, Bryan Dahlberg, Drew Darsey, Katherine Harrington Dornin, Jeff Durand, Beth Harwood, Paige Hosler, Munzie Kureshy, Laura Maley, Coleman McDonald, John McMillen, Mark Mitchell, Vijay Muraliraj, Jessica Oei, Russell Oshman, Niti Vashisht Ross, Austin Schell, Amar Tanna, Matt Victory, Amanda Hollander Wagner, Bryan Walsh, Jill Faires Williams, and Lexi Kypreos Yost. Spouses that were present and graciously willing to entertain the Class of 1999’s antics were Sung-hee Ahn, Todd Blumenfeld, Joe Chan, Clint Cockerell, Ashley Dahlberg, Taylor Darsey, Tricia Durand, Kristen McDonald, Brad Ross, Emily Schell, Sonya Tanna, and Michael Williams.
CLASS OF 2000 Becky Murphy Schmid and Andrew Schmid welcomed their third child, Margaret Louise, on August 17, 2018. Their son, William, is in Kindergarten at TVS and their daughter, Anna, will begin Pre-K at TVS in Fall 2019.
CLASS OF 2002 Jennifer Teichelman Yack and husband Alex welcomed their second daughter, Maren Elizabeth, on October 30 in Lubbock. Maisie loves being a big sister. Jennifer is a stay-at-home mom, and Alex continues to work for Texas Tech athletics.
CLASS OF 2004 Condolences to the Schell family (including brother Austin ’99 and sister Sydney ’01) and the entire Class of 2004 on the death of Derek Schell on March 13.
CLASS OF 2005 Tony de Castro graduated from Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth for an MBA. He moved to New York to start a role in the Real Estate Investment Banking group at Citigroup. Kathryn Egger and Blake Whatley were married on March 30.
CLASS OF 2006 Mary Jensen Brezik and husband Daniel welcomed their second baby home on Halloween. Nathaniel Andrew "Nate" weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 21 inches long. Big sister, Katie Beth, is thrilled about the new family addition! Caroline Brownlie got engaged to Crawford Rodgers (FWCD ’03). She is living in Fort Worth and practicing law at Kelly Hart & Hallman. Dave Burkett and his wife welcomed their second child, James, in September 2018. This is two boys for them — Calvin is 2 years old. Dave did an occupational u-turn and will be attending University of Texas School of Dentistry starting in August TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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this year. The plan is to become a dentist! Tracey Mellina Grant and her husband Craig moved to Phoenix, AZ in October of 2018 for Craig's job. Tracey is now working full time in private practice as a registered dietitian nutritionist. They also adopted a dog in January of this year! Meredith Bratton Jones and her family had a big year by building a new house in Waxahachie! They love being out of traffic and having some land to play on. Twins Emery and Cason turned three in January. Laura Jo Clarke Klein and husband Bryce had their first baby, Charlie, in May 2018. They live in west Fort Worth, where Laura Jo works as an associate general dentist at a private dental practice. Richard Malone married his longtime partner Rick Ware in a private ceremony in Virginia Beach. The pair recently bought their first home in Spotsylvania, VA! Victoria Romberg Sides decided to pursue her dream of becoming a flight attendant and got her wings with American Airlines this past summer. Her travels have included Beijing, Toronto, and Cancun as well as many domestic destinations! Jennifer Stack married Andrew Rennie in Negril, Jamaica at Pattoo Castle in November 2018. Other Trojan alums in attendance were Caroline Disney and Emma Stack ’18. Jennifer finished her first year as Director of Social Media bootcamp at Miami Ad School chapter in Toronto where she developed the curriculum and sourced 12 instructors to teach 30 students over the semester. She spent a week back in Texas for SXSW with her coworkers at Anomaly where she is in her fourth year as Director of Social Media. She and James Michael Russell caught up in Austin during SXSW, and they shared a photo.
Kelley Clark married Matt Morris in Houston, Texas on September 22, 2018. TVS bridesmaids included Ashlea Feezel and Natalie Gamez Meyer. Congrats to the Morrises! Bryce Mueller and Kate Karper are engaged to be married! Bryce proposed in Scottsdale, AZ in November 2018, and shared a photo of the special moment.
Neighbors and her husband James welcomed Ryan Elizabeth Neighbors on November 19, 2018. She weighed in at 6 lbs, 15 oz and was 19 inches long. Kimberly also started her own law firm in November, The Neighbors Law Firm, PLLC in Aledo, Texas. Elisabeth Bussey Schneidinger and husband Alex welcomed daughter Frieda Maria on July 13, 2018, in Munich. Elisabeth reports, “Frieda is growing faster than I ever imagined. She is working hard on walking. Her toothless smile melts hearts, and her strong will keeps Alex and me on our toes. If she’s not tearing through her toy box, she’s turning pages in her books, climbing under and over furniture, playing the cooking pot drums, cleaning out any drawer, box or cabinet that happens to have been left open, or sitting in the back of her hiking backpack climbing up mountains with us and her cousins. Her red peach fuzz matches her personality. Her blue eyes have her dad wrapped tightly around her little finger. We split our time between Munich and Mayrhofen, Zillertal - my mother’s and Alex’s hometown in the Austrian Alps. Frieda and I are looking forward to flying to San Miguel, Mexico to see Mom and Dad in May.” Hillary Scott got engaged to Taylor Morgan on Christmas Day 2018. Hillary’s sister, Emily Scott Boydston ’04, planned an epic bachelorette trip to Vegas for all of Hillary’s best friends. Hillary and Taylor will be getting married in the summer of 2019. Morgan Sharpe has been promoted to director of operations for Warren Wildlife Gallery, a new natural history/wildlife museum in Austin, TX. If you’re in Austin, come check it out! Morgan Wade got engaged to Drew Shepard, of Dallas, on January 24. They celebrated their engagement with a two-week trip through France. Morgan and Drew will wed in Palm Springs, California in March 2020. Amy Watson married Jon Murray “Trey” Sullivan III on March 30, 2019 in Fort Worth. It was a beautiful ceremony at University Christian Church followed by a fabulous reception at the Fort Worth Zoo. Bridesmaids included Lizzy McNamara, Ali Kimberling Fescenmeyer, Bethany Suba Rainey, Christal Strong Miller, Kelly Kyle Cumpiano, and Amy’s sister, Kellye Watson Snodgrass ’07.
CLASS OF 2008
CLASS OF 2009
CLASS OF 2007
Meredith Rutledge Haas lives in Colorado Springs with her husband Ian and their two children, Hannah (2) and Simon (6 months). She works part time as a nurse for a certified nurse midwife practice, and throws a mean toddler tea party for all the resident stuffed animals. Matt Johns works at an advertising agency in Dallas and will finish his master’s degree in public administration in December. Lauren Menking was recently promoted to Station Relations Manager at KERA. You can catch her on 90.1 FM or Channel 13, unashamedly interrupting your favorite programs. Christal Strong Miller and Scott Miller welcomed Rexford “Ford” Thompson Miller on November 17, 2018. He weighed 7 lbs, 8 oz and was 20 inches. Kimberly Pearson 72
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Mikey Ayala will be getting deployed soon. Check out the Facebook page his team crated, “11th Marine Expeditionary Unit” to follow along for updates. Last year, Katie Brown started a community/gathering/event-planning business of sorts in Los Angeles and has created a Facebook and Instagram account for everyone to stay up to date. Check out her website atthelane.com. Katherine Brownlie married Ben Broyles on January 12 in Fort Worth. Bridesmaids included Erin Idleman, Katherine Kramer, and Jordan McCune, as well as Grace Sorenson ’10 and Katherine’s sister Caroline Brownlie ’06. Dave Emerson got engaged in March to his girlfriend Alycia. Jordan McCune married Collin Flathers on December 8 in Fort Worth. Bridesmaids
2006 Craig and Tracey Mellina Grant | Jak Grant | Cason and Emery Jones | Klein family
2006 Jennifer Stack marries Andrew Rennie | Jennifer Stack and Caroline Disney | Jennifer Stack and Emma Stack '18 | Jennifer Stack catches up with James Michael Russell in Austin 2007 Kelley Clark marries Matt Morris
2007 Laura Leigh Reeves Atkins, Sara Bailey Cardwell, Kelley Clark, Ashlea Feezel, and Esra Gumuser 2007 Mueller Engagment 2008 10-year Reunion for the Class of 2008 TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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2008 10-year Reunion for the Class of 2008 | Ryan Elizabeth Neighbors | Frieda Schneidinger
2008 Amy Watson marries Trey Sullivan
2009 Backtrack | Katherine Brownlie wedding
2009 Dave Emerson with fiancée Alycia | Jordan McCune wedding | Abbie Phillips with fiancé Ben 2011 Sam Murphy and Alexis Ramphul
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included Katherine Brownlie, Katherine Kramer and maids of honor, Delayne Phillips and Megan Shaw. Mallory Moser’s acapella group “Backtrack” won Season 6 of New York’s Got Talent! Abbie Phillips, currently living in Austin, got engaged in November to her boyfriend Ben. Katie Orth Seiken took daughters Harper and Scarlett, nearly 3, and son Miles, 1, to an event for young children at TVS in April. John Michael Sorokolit passed the Colorado Bar Exam in 2018. Cale Tyson’s album Narcissist hits over 300k streams on Spotify in just over one month.
CLASS OF 2011 Sam Murphy and Alexis Ramphul are celebrating their recent engagement! They live in Austin and will be married in 2020.
CLASS OF 2012 Xander Rodzinski co-produced the soundtrack for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. An amazing accomplishment!
CLASS OF 2013 Austin Henyon married Emma Knox on October 28, 2018 at the Brooks in Weatherford. Congratulations to the Henyons!
CLASS OF 2014 Leah Bell is still living in Amsterdam studying at VU doing her master’s in marketing. She’s starting her thesis right now and is moving back to Munich at the end of June. Kyle Davisson married Alexa Antrim ’15 on January 4, 2019. Madison Esenwein graduated from Louisiana State University with honors and received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a minor in psychology. Madison has been accepted into the 2019 Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Annie Jacobs is finishing her master’s program at Columbia University in International Security. Maggie Jorgenson shares, “I co-founded an all-female production company last year, Violent Pink Productions, and we're currently on our third project — a TV series aimed for HBO. Also, producing table reads for The Black List, the premiere script hub in Hollywood charting 53 Academy Awards, four of the last 10 Best Picture Oscars, and 10 of the last 22 Best Screenplay Oscars.” After graduating from Texas A&M, Mandy Miller moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to work in New Business Development and Marketing for the Adera Foundation. She will be staying in Ethiopia until mid-June, when she will come back to the states to get married in August. After that, she and her husband (Jason Young) will be moving to the San Francisco Bay area. Dani Shewmake is engaged to Matthew Mathisen (Country Day ’13). They were engaged on December 14 and will marry June 22, 2019.
CLASS OF 2015 Samsara Counts graduates this May with a Bachelor of Science in computer science and math and a minor in creative writing from George Washington University. She will spend the next year doing research in Saarbrücken, Germany, where she will collaborate with an expert in machine learning bias to formulate more fair algorithms. Her stay in Germany is funded by the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals fellowship, a cultural immersion and professional program funded by the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag. Last March, she traveled to Japan as a Tomodachi Kakehashi Inouye Scholar, a cultural exchange program organized by the Japanese government. Impressive achievements! Read more about Samsara’s experience on her website, https://samsaranc.github.io/. Lauren Gillespie is an amazing woman in computer science. She is a computer science and chemistry double major at Southwestern University. Lauren won the 2019 Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award from the Computing Research Association: https://cra.org/2019-outstandingundergraduate-researcher-award-winners/ and was awarded a Graduate Research Program Fellowship from the National Science Foundation to pursue graduate study in Computer Science. Here is an article on some of her research and journey at Southwestern: https://www.southwestern. edu/live/news/13087-patience-grit-and-an-open-mind. Congratulations to these two incredible alumnae!
CLASS OF 2016 Nicole Bergamini is traveling abroad to Sicily to help research at the CNR laboratory. Kailey Dow was elected the Director of Alumni Relations for the University of Alabama’s Student Alumni Association and was selected for the Business Honors Program at UA. Lucy Meador is getting married in 2020! Edan Meyer will be interning for Google this summer. Adison Ortenberg is a member of Cardinal Key National Honor Society and studying interior design at Auburn University. Aniqa Premjee will be working at the Macy’s Headquarters this summer doing corporate finance in NYC, and she was selected to be in the Honors Economics Program at Emory University and will be writing her honors thesis next year. Ashley Riemitis is playing golf for Hardin Simmons University, which won three out of their last four tournaments in the fall. During their first tournament in the Spring, Ashley won the individual award at the Linda Lowrey Invitational in Austin, TX. Abby Torres is the President of the Trinity University Latino Association and the poetry editor for an upcoming literary magazine known as High Noon.
CLASS OF 2018 Emmala Alfaro says, “Last semester, I was selected to be a ‘calculus fight club tutor’ which is hilarious because I did horribly in Candace Smalley’s AP AB Calc class!! I’ve TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
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2013 Austin Henyon marries Emma Knox | Kenneth McIntyre, Spencer Stanley '12, Grant Underwood '14, Austin Henyon, Thomas Kutzler, Charlie Parrish, Reuben Joseph 2014 Kyle Davisson marries Alexa Antrim '15
2014 Mandy Miller and Jason Young | Matthew Mathisen and Dani Shewmake
also gotten more involved with the ClemsonLIFE program which is a program designed for students with intellectual disabilities. Every Monday morning, I get to go to swing dance class with my ClemsonLIFE buddy. The last thing that I’m doing is training to be a site leader for the Clemson Alternative Break trip. My co-site leader and I are taking a group of participants to Nashville over spring break for a week-long service trip that will give us the opportunity to serve alongside two organizations. I pledged Alpha Phi. Rachel Baker joined Alpha Lambda Delta, which is an academic fraternity for students who have an outstanding Grade Point Average, at The University of Oklahoma. Allison Byrd is enjoying her Arabic and political science studies at Baylor as she continues to volunteer with UnBound, a local anti-trafficking organization. Joey Cascino was elected to the leadership of University Democrats, writes editorials for a campus publication, and works for a political consulting firm. He is enjoying his second semester at the University of Texas. Lauren Chiang became a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, a national honor society for first-year success. Anne
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Cleveland pledged Pi Kappa Epsilon at Sewanee. Kamryn Dow was initiated into Chi O at Villanova in the spring. She has officially declared a political science major and is thinking about adding a history major and theology minor. Daine Holsteen has written and directed eight short films, one of which won best production design, editing, and the audience choice award at a 24-Hour Film Festival. He is part of the USC climbing team, and his photographs are being published in a USC photography magazine. Jackson Key continues to study architecture at the University of Virginia and was recently elected as a representative to the University Judiciary Committee. He will be working as a carpenter/welder for the Heritage Theatre Festival this summer. Kerry Mackenzie was elected to be a University of Texas campus-wide representative and is currently interning for Senator Jane Nelson. Samer Majeed pledged Sig Ep at SMU. Piper Odom pledged Pi Beta Phi at SMU. Niral Patel pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma at Baylor and is on the social committee. Pay Prostok was selected to work on the 2019 UPC Diversity and Inclusion task force at the University of Texas. This task force works to ensure a more transparent, inclusive, and diverse sorority experience. Mollie Sloter pledged Phi Mu at Tulane. Emma Stack helped her sorority, Tri Delta, raise over $2000 for the Sexual Support Centre of Ottawa during Sigma Chi’s 2019 Derby Days and also choreographed a dance that led to Tri Delta winning the Derby. Emma and her Bumble Campus team have been the top performing team in both the US and Canada combined over the six-month period of time she has been working with the company. Reese Whitlock has decided to take off a semester of college due to having knee surgery, but is excited to be returning to TCU in fall of 2019! Madi Williams, who plays basketball for The University of Oklahoma, went to the Bahamas to play in a tournament during Thanksgiving of 2018, where she got selected for an All-Tournament team. Sophie Yuill pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma at SMU.
2018-2019
SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 Martin David "Dave" Pavell | grandfather of Whitney ’17 and Delaney Pavell (grade 12) SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 James B. Sheets | father of Patrick ’05 and Katie Sheets ’12 OCTOBER 5, 2018 Marion “Dean” Jordan | brother of Crystal Jordan Rife ’75 and former student Nikki Heinrichs OCTOBER 18, 2018 Tom Henry Munson | grandfather of Amelia Munson (grade 2); father-in-law of current faculty member Sydney Schell Munson ’01 NOVEMBER 2, 2018 Josephine Elizabeth "Jody" Aderhold | grandmother of Tyler ’06 and Byron Roberts ’08 NOVEMBER 9, 2018 Dr. Robert Julien Murchison | father of Colin Murchison ’98 JANUARY 11, 2019 Dr. Edward W. Guinn | grandfather of Avery ’12, Fletcher ’14, Tucker ’16, Addie Guinn ’18
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THE BELLS
JANUARY 18, 2019 Gerald Franz Cox, grandfather of Joel Cox ’01 JANUARY 25, 2019 Melvin Johnson | grandfather of Eric Johnson ’09 and former student Carin Johnson FEBRUARY 1, 2019 Joyce Kelley Rainwater | mother of Kelley ’85 and Kathy Rainwater ’87 FEBRUARY 8, 2019 Sallie Ann Olson Ditto | mother of Geoff ’98 and Shelly Ditto Dwyer ’00 FEBRUARY 15, 2019 Donna Riley | mother of Amy Riley Schumaker ’86 and Sally Riley ’88; mother-in-law of David Schumaker ’86 FEBRUARY 22, 2019 Dorothy Jean Brooks | grandmother of Ben ’17, Grant (grade 10), and Nolan Brooks (grade 3) MARCH 1, 2019 Jennie Beth Edwards | mother of Crawford Edwards ’76; motherin-law of Mary Jane Roberts Edwards ’77
MARCH 8, 2019 Judy Cooper | mother of Robin Cooper Frisbie ’78 and Stefanie Cooper Toppel ’85; aunt of Lisa Rapfogel ’88 and Robert Rapfogel ’94 MARCH 22, 2019 Jo Anne Williams DeTore | mother of John DeTore ’76 MARCH 29, 2019 Dee Solon Finley, Jr. | former trustee; father of Erin Finley Lee ’87, Ross Finley ’94, and former student Sarah Finley APRIL 12, 2019 Frank Lipper Dover | grandfather of Lori Katz Sturman ’01; father of Joan Katz, former trustee and honorary trustee APRIL 26, 2019 John Chapman Saunders, M.D. | grandfather of David Muckleroy ’06 and former student Alyson Muckleroy MAY 3, 2019 Sylvester "Sy" Conley | father of Sean Conley ’91
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TVS campuses through the years: clockwise from bottom left – St. Ignatius, Laneri, McCart and today at Dutch Branch & Bryant Irvin
