children of the MILLENNIUM

he Class of 2020 had no problem making a name for themselves. From infamously low averages to high detention counts, this year’s seniors started their four years of high school with the uphill battle of overcoming preconceived notions about them. As graduation day arrived, the seniors enrolled in top-notch colleges with astonishing achievements under their belts. These self-made hard workers have reinvented themselves as exemplary scholars, athletes and service leaders, exceeding the expectations of even their most hopeful mentors.

children of the MILLENIUM

by carly breland

President Stuart Gulley witnessed the impact of the Class of 2020 “I connected with new people,” Mitchell said. “It really made the on our community. world smaller.” “I have been quite impressed with the level of commitment Spencer Smith ‘20 took global immersion a step further and spent to service and to giving back to the larger world, not just to the his entire junior year studying abroad in Spain. Woodward community, but for their attempts to try to make a “It wasn’t hard to transfer from Woodward to Spain because difference both locally and globally,” Dr. Gulley said. everything felt so new,” Smith said. “It was harder coming back Dr. Chato Hendrix, the Class of 2020’s school counselor, worked because I felt like I had so many experiences to share, but at the same with them since their junior year. Her front row seat to the class time, I felt like I missed a lot of everyone else’s experiences. So I was dynamic, both socially and academically, allowed her to watch as the [kind] of having to catch up.” group grew and matured as students and as people. The worldwide reach that the seniors grasped during their four “I can honestly say, individually and as a class, it’s just a dynamic years built character, making them into the people they are today. group of students,” said Dr. Hendrix. “They will continue to do Whether in Zambia or Spain, seniors left their mark on the map exceptional things, make history. I see them continuing to make their while learning about themselves and new cultures. mark on the world.” What truly makes the seniors unique is not their well-traveled Larger-scale involvement became a theme within the Class of 2020, backpacks, however. Student leaders within the class have augmented extending to many corners of the world. Some students developed by former rules, represented their school publicly and closed the gap choosing to fully immerse themselves in countries thousands of miles between students and administration. Their unyielding determination away from their comfort to ignite change on campus zones. Many seniors spent has paid off, leaving a time abroad, engaging in learning on a global scale, “We did not let a rumor become the norm legacy. Matthew O’Stricker, while international students found a home here. for us–we created a new norm instead.” student body president, said he did not take his The Director of International and Global Matthew O'Stricker leadership role lightly. “I think I’ve become Connections on campus, more cognizant of real Mr. Stéphane Allagnon, world issues and have a worked with all of the better understanding of seniors who expressed interest in global studies. how to address and understand individuals that are around me, “This is the largest class of graduating [international] students that both old and young,” O’Stricker said. “The history that [seniors] have we have had,” Allagnon said. “The impact is also probably the most made here at the Academy, I think, is pretty profound, and it’s going diverse that we have had because we have a big variety of students to set a good precedent for future grades.” from different countries.” Uniform regulations were altered this year with the help of Many seniors got involved in service abroad and immersed students who wanted more inclusive requirements. Gender-neutral themselves in other cultures. and racially-conscious adjustments have been made. These alterations “I’ve also found better support from our Woodward students to included allowing natural styles of hair for Black boys, many of protect or mentor our international students,” said Allagnon. whom previously had to alter their natural hair due to dress code Many students traveled to one of our sister schools, the Terranova restrictions. School in Zambia, the summer before senior year in order to help the Michael Taylor White ‘20 brought the issue to Dr. Gulley’s local community and school. Maya Mitchell ‘20 journeyed to Zambia attention. for a life-changing experience. “When he came to me to talk about the dress code, I was able to

share his thoughts with the people who were working on [updating high school with the reputation for having the lowest GPA average the dress code,]” Dr. Gulley said. “I think [Michael Taylor White] is in school history, the Class of 2020 was also no stranger to the emblematic of the kind of growth and maturity that has come in the disciplinary system on campus. According to many seniors, they class.” remember spending Saturdays serving time for demerits. However, Student leaders influenced everyone, from the basketball team as they advanced through high school, they learned self-discipline to the performing arts department. Their character has not gone and respect. unnoticed by the adults who worked with them, especially the college Prompted either by consequences or maturity, many seniors counselors who spent hours preparing seniors for the admissions admitted that they noticed their attitude adjust from freshman to process. Mr. Bryan Rutledge, the Director of College Counseling, senior year. The malleable years of high school lay the foundations said he witnessed ambition and a sense of community blossom of character, and respect for authority is an essential tool in both within these students. higher education and employment. “I’ve noticed the positive energy of the class and the determination “I’ve learned so much more about the world just by being here and to be their best and do their best through this process,” said Mr. interacting with all of the students,” said Mitchell. Rutledge. “Across scientists and fine artists and humanities, there The social lessons that many learn in adolescence shape our is a sense of contributing to a larger cultural perception, but growth community of a social consciousness, a comes in staggered waves. social responsibility to make things better Mr. Luke Underwood, the locally as well as in larger communities Associate Dean of Students, too.” said that though he has worked with Sports have always been a crucial many graduating classes, they are not easy part of student life, but with the ‘all- to compare. in’ campaign, school spirit intensified “All classes that come through share at every game. The senior section was some basic similarities in regards to often full of students cheering on their discipline,” Dean Underwood said. “As peers, solidifying a collective feeling of each class matures, learns to use free school community. If the seniors were time wisely and become invested in selfnot dressed out and hollering in the The Vintage Eagles of the Class of 2020 gather in the Gallups interests, their productivity increases and stands, they represented school pride with Atrium for a group shot for the Phoenix yearbook. behavioral issues decrease.” record-breaking achievements. The boy’s Some students changed their ways, varsity basketball team won the state championship for the first time realizing that they needed to grow up and better apply themselves to in school history, senior players beginning their final term in high their work. For example, Calvin “Tre” Williams ‘20 shifted his focus school with a full support team in the stands. to bettering himself and preparing for the next step in his academic “We just won our first ever state championship basketball game, journey. thanks to the seniors on the team,” Dr. Gulley said. “Woodward has given me a lot of the resources to be able to get Michael Whitmore ‘20, the starting point guard, said he credited where I want to be,” said Williams. “At the end of the day, [discipline] his success to the athletic department’s discipline during practice. is all for good causes because they don’t want me to not be the best “A lot of the values that I’ve been taught in the classroom and that I can.” practice has made me feel ready for the real world,” Whitmore said. Many seniors credited their success to the mentors who helped Maddy Cronin ‘20 said she planned to continue her soccer career them along the way. Influential faculty motivated students to pursue at the University of Vermont, bringing the skills and discipline that their passions. Leah Greer ‘20 said she planned to continue her art she learned during high school to a new team. career at an arts-based college. The visual arts department helped her “Woodward provided me a path for my future,” Cronin said. “I discover new talents and look into the future. know that I can accomplish anything and go after anything; it’s made “Mr. Greenway, Mr. Cunningham and Ms. Knox were some of the me the person I am.” most influential people in my entire life,” Greer said. “They helped Nick Masters ‘20 has always been known for his school spirit, me develop not only my art, but who I am as a person and how I whether painted head-to-toe for a football game or dominating on the think.” wrestling mat. Masters said he planned to attend Princeton University Every senior interviewed agreed that Woodward changed the way to pursue his wrestling career, and his teammates Vince Mannella that they think, both in and out of the classroom. ‘20 and Malachi Wiley ‘20 committed to University of Pennsylvania “[Woodward] has made me the person I am,” Cronin said. “It’s while McCoy Pace ‘20 committed to Columbia University’s wrestling made me open to new experiences and to trying new things.” team. The Class of 2020 turned their early reputation on its head, leaving Masters reflected on the impressive transformation that his class quite the large footsteps to follow. No matter where they end up––an went through and his pride in being a part of their legacy. Ivy League school or an international service project––these students “When I take a second and look back, I’m like, ‘wow,’” Masters will have no trouble expanding their impact to all circles of society. said. “We’ve made such a large jump, and we’ve all matured in our The seniors’ growth has also not gone unnoticed within their own own ways. It’s really cool to see how we’ve all grown. Our focus peer group, as many remarked at how far they have come in four shifted towards college, and that motivated us more. I feel like the short years. From varsity athletes to passionate artists, the Class of turnaround we had is amazing.” 2020 comes from all walks of life; yet, they have grown in important The seniors also transformed their initial disciplinary issues ways together. into a learning experience about integrity and authority. Starting