When Harding’s middle school community arrives for the 2013–14 school year, a buzz will be in the air—and in the airways. The

new facility, which officially opened April 2, reflects the school’s commitment to using advanced technology as a teaching tool. The latest technologies and digital tools were intentionally, meticulously designed into the new middle school building to facilitate positive interactions among teachers and students.

Math teacher Jake Madden gives a sense of the opportunities: “I think that the new facility is going to open the floodgates for teachers to embrace the technological advancements that have been made in recent years,” he said. “We

have painstakingly planned to make our new building the most connected place on campus, allowing students and teachers unfettered access to the internet and all of the amazing resources contained therein.”

As the 1:1 laptop and electronic textbook programs carry forward into the new year for middle schoolers, they are augmented by the attention to detail that was

S U M M E R 2 0 1 3

Kim Usher Profile . . . . . . . . . . 4

Awards and Graduation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5–8

Matthew Parker ’91 . . . . . . . . 9

I N S I D E

August 9 Opening Faculty Meeting

August 14 Orientation

August 15 First Day of Classes

August 20–23 Grade 7 to Camp Laney

August 20–22 Grade 8 to Hillmont

August 21–23 Grade 6 to Widjiwagan

August 23 Grade 8 Parent Breakfast

and Service Day

August 26 All School Picnic

C A L E N D A R

In addition to the construction of a new middle school, a wing was added to the Henderson Theater to provide dedicated space for the choral and band programs.

The new middle school provides Latin teacher Chris Chenery ‘00 with a space devoted entirely to his subject. He also has office

space in the room.

continued page 2

There are several ways to keep up-to-date with Harding happenings. If you subscribe to Twitter, you can follow tweets from the head of school @HardingAcademy and from the athletic director @HardingAthletix. If you are on Facebook, alums can request to join the group Harding Academy of Nashville Alumni. There are also group fan pages for Harding Academy; Harding Art Show; and Harding Academy Summer Programs, as well as the head of school blog.

Technology: A core TeAching Tool in The new Middle School

by Fran Scott

GENERAL NEWSHarding AcademyNurtur ing   the  Sp i r i t   •   Insp i r ing   the  Mind

Go to

for the most up-to-date and full schedule of events

Also follow us on

2 Harding Academy w w w. h a r d i n g a c a d e m y. o r g

Dear Harding Community,During the summer, the Office of Advancement and Alumni

Relations starts to plan for the upcoming school year. Part of this process is to reflect on the year we have just finished. As I look back over the past ten months, I note that there are some things that never change: the generosity of the Harding community, the dedication of its volunteers, and the commitment made by faculty, staff, parents, alumni, grandparents, and parents of alumni. All of these make Harding Academy a place where students comment time and again that it is their “best life experience.” There is a wonderful quote by Albert Camus that speaks to these enduring Harding community characteristics: “Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.” On behalf of the faculty and staff of Harding, thank you for giving your all to the present.

Behind the scenes of any great organization there is a group of people who are the driving force for the fundraising that supports the mission of the school. This year’s Annual Fund chairs have added a new depth of creativity to the process, and managed to have a lot of fun along the way. Our sincere gratitude goes to Mary Glenn and Dave Vreeland for their tireless effort to make this year a success. Preliminary numbers indicate that we will have raised more than $480,000 to fill the gap in the operating budget. Our middle school chairs, Caroline and Seth Scholer, and lower school chairs, Ashley and Jeff Heeren, and a host of grade-level chairs supported this effort. Jessica and Lee Woosley led the past parent effort, and Allen Huggins ’94, president of the Alumni Association, as well as our many class agents, engaged our alumni population.

In addition to our Annual Fund we have been extremely busy with our capital campaign. The fruits of the labor for this campaign can now be seen with the opening of the new middle school on April 2. Fundraising continues as we enjoy our new middle school and look forward to the opening of our new Pursuit building in the fall. We have also seen growth in our planned giving program with several Harding families including the school in their estate plans.

Alumni engagement continues to increase. We are delighted to see our alums on campus during the many planned alumni activities as well as “drop in” visits. We are so proud of what they are doing. This year’s Distinguished Alum,

Matt Parker ’91, exemplifies just how Harding has helped to lay a foundation for a wonderful career.

Stay tuned for another exciting year, but, in the meantime, enjoy a peaceful, restful, and fun summer.

Margaret HubbardDirector of Advancement

2012–13 Annual Fund Chairs Mary Glenn and

Dave Vreeland

LeadershipLeadership

given to technology resources in the facility. Every teacher has a classroom—no more roving—that includes carefully placed projectors and “smartboards” allowing two people to work on them at once, with two flanking white boards. Built-in speakers and controllers give teachers maximum flexibility. There’s a printer station for ease of access, and teachers have a conference room outfitted with a “smartboard” and Apple TV for faculty meetings with wireless projection capability. Of course, complete wireless Internet coverage is

available not just for the middle school but across campus now.

Already, teachers are embracing evolving technologies to enhance learning and student engagement:

• Jennifer Weinblatt, for example, projects an image of text that sixth grade English students are reading and then uses a “smartboard” to demonstrate how to take notes. “Being able to show what I want them to try as readers and model the process is very helpful,” she said.

• Middle school Spanish teacher Rebecca Ford notes she can have lab days any day of the week, with no lab cart to roll into the classroom and no signing carts out on a laptop calendar. She taps the e-textbook’s animated

Editors: Deb Anderson Faulkner and Leslie VirostekClass Notes: Katherine MillerContributors: Fran Scott, Lara Franck, and Leslie VirostekPhotography: Steve Lowry and Ben KrepsDesign: Tracy Alia

G E N E R A L N E W SWeb address: www.hardingacademy.org

For information or submissions contact: Deb Anderson Faulkner, 615-356-5510 x311

Technology, continued

The hallways of the new middle school are wide and spacious. Though many texts are now digital, some textbooks are required.

Students enter and depart the new middle school through the building’s main entrance, which is adjacent to the drop-off/pick-up area.

The week of April 15 through 19 was Green Week at Harding Academy. The eighth grade’s We Are Harding committee took the lead in a schedule of special events for the week that encouraged students to REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE, and to be good conservators of the Earth’s resources. In addition, Harding teachers

incorporated the effort’s daily themes in their lesson plans, made awareness posters out of things that often end up in the trash, and talked about ways the students could REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE both at school and home.

• Monday—All Harding students created beautiful reusable shopping bags made from recycled materials for use again and again at home.

• Tuesday—Eat Green Day emphasized a need to think about eating locally grown food and choosing foods with less packaging. Flik, the school’s lunch provider, offered a menu created from local foods that was served and eaten on biodegradable plates.

• Wednesday—Water Bottle Day asked students to bring their own containers and reduce waste by not drinking out of one-time-use plastic bottles.

• Thursday—A day to reduce consumption of fossil fuels by carpooling to school, or riding the bus, or even walking and biking.

• Friday—Harding’s teachers conserved electricity by turning off the lights and powering down computers, where possible.

w w w. h a r d i n g a c a d e m y. o r g Harding Academy 3

Focus on TechnologyFocus on Technology

grammar tutorials and is exploring Voice Boards and Garage Band that will allow students to record themselves so she can evaluate pronunciation.

• Anne Cron uses the Discovery Education website to incorporate short film clips on specific topics into her history lessons. “Having a visual representation adds to the conversation and brings the topic to life,” she explains.

• Braden Bell displays sheet music for his chorus students on a “smartboard” and shows them exactly how to sing their songs.

Other applications of technology abound, and a day-in-the-life of the new middle school facility demonstrates the ever-expanding teacher’s toolbox that technology makes possible. Head of School Ian Craig says the benefits to students are many: “Likely the most important parts of the technology are to keep

students’ materials current, alleviate their carrying around huge textbooks, help them manage their assignments and be able, through the use of a Google Drive, to keep all of their work in one, safe place that can be edited from home, school or any other area.”

Harding’s new middle school is a showcase for all that technology offers today. When paired with the best teachers anywhere, a superlative K–8 educational climate and program, administrators committed to continuous improvement, smart students eager to learn, supportive parents, and an extended Harding family that’s second to none, technology is just another tool—a handy tool that’s helping to inspire middle and lower school minds at Harding and make learning more fun for all. u

Rising fifth graders Will Meyer and Abby Moschel

Sixth grade English teacher Jennifer Wienblatt in her new classroom.

Harding’s school store has its own permanent space in the new middle school.

Lockers are located off the main corridor. Each grade level—sixth, seventh, eighth—has its own section.

Math teacher Mary Prue Ally in her new classroom.

Casual dress is allowed during final exams when students congregated in the new eighth grade sitting area to quiz one another and study.

their potential, both academically and socially, when they feel supported and valued by their classmates and teachers. In this kind of supportive environment, children are recognized and appreciated for their unique ideas and talents.”

The joy of working with children is still at the heart of Kim’s love of teaching. She says, “Their curiosity, creativity, and diligence, not to mention their senses of humor, are captivating, energizing, and inspiring.” Yet she also knows that she particularly loves teaching at Harding. She says, “The unflagging support and encouragement of my supervisors, the passion of my colleagues, and the

enthusiasm and kindness of the children and families who call Harding ‘home’ make Harding Academy an unparalleled environment in which to teach. I give thanks each day for being part of this amazing community.”

Kim also commends the Harding community—and the effects of a Harding education—from the perspective of a parent. Her daughter, Lucy, graduated from Harding in May. u

Harding HappeningsHarding Happenings

Back in the early 1990s, Kim Usher was quite happy working

in a physician’s office in California—but something was missing. Her roommate talked about her job as a teacher with a love and a level of enthusiasm to which Kim could not relate. So Kim, who had always loved children, applied to an assistant teacher program at a San Francisco school. The rest is history. She says, “I was assigned to a kindergarten classroom, and I can clearly recall my reaction on the very first day the kids entered the classroom: I had found my ‘calling.’”

Fast forward to today: Kim is a fourth grade teacher celebrating her tenth year at Harding. A conscientious educator, Kim strives to make topics relevant to 9- and 10-year-olds. Injecting humor where she can, Kim also employs various instructional techniques and activities so that lessons are appealing to all different kinds of learners. Underpinning the pedagogy is the philosophy she shares with the rest of the fourth grade team: “We believe that children have a better chance of reaching

Faculty Profile Kim Usher

• The 2013 Don Schwartz Distinguished Educator Program Speaker, Dr. James Wellborn, came to the Harding campus on April 4 to deliver his lecture, “Raising Kids in the Age of Social Media.” As the author of Raising Teens in the 21st Century: A Practical Guide to Effective Parenting, Wellborn, whose

clinical psychology private practice is located in Brentwood, Tennessee, helps parents understand and develop strategies for dealing with tweens and early teens and their use of the internet, cell phones, and social media. Wellborn’s characteristic humor and practical solutions for “reining in” the online social behavior of one’s children helped empower attendees of his lecture. Learn more about Dr. Wellborn or sign up for his monthly newsletter on parenting teens by visiting his website at www.DrJamesWellborn.com.

• Melissa Sweet, Kaleidoscope Author/Illustrator, spoke to students in grades kindergarten through eighth on April 11. Students visited the library throughout the day to listen to Sweet, who tailors her talks to each age group. She began by talking about her life as an artist and the process of writing and illustrating picture books. Her goal is to inspire kids of all ages to write and draw. The discussion on creating a book included her showing students how a book is developed, from dummy, to manuscript, to publication. “Which comes first?” she asked. “The words or images?” As the author of numerous titles, including A River of Words, Carmine: A Little More Red, and The Boy Who Drew Birds, Sweet is able to effectively get her points across. Each student received a small sketchbook to take home after learning simple techniques of cartooning during Sweet’s

presentation. For more information on this author, visit her website melissasweet.net.

Harding Hosted Two Speakers in April

Don Schwartz Distinguished Educator Dr. James Wellborn

Students learned simple cartooning techniques under the direction of visiting author Melissa Sweet.

The Office of Advancement hosted 13 of Harding Academy’s former presidents of the Parents Auxiliary for a luncheon on May 16 in the McPherson-Medwedeff Library when attendees discussed where the school has been, and where the school is headed.

Co-chair Charlotte Scott with Kaleidoscope Author/ Illustrator Melissa Sweet

4 Harding Academy w w w. h a r d i n g a c a d e m y. o r g

KIM USHER

Education:Kim earned a B.A. in

sociology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a

multiple subject teaching credential from Patten University in Oakland.

Experience:After several years in the field of health care, Kim

began her teaching career at two San Francisco-area schools: San Francisco Day

School and Calvary Presbyterian Nursery School.

u 2013u Winter/Spring

Athletic Awards

Patrick Andreen ’13 was the recipient of the Coaches Award in both boys basketball and boys lacrosse.

Isabel Grant ’13 was the recipient of the Hustle Award in track and field.

CheerleadingHead Coach—Sara SizemoreMost Valuable—Anna Barker ’13 Most Improved—Elizabeth Huffman ’15 Coaches Award—Caitlin Williamson ’13 and Catherine Disspayne ’13Spirit Award—Anne Earthman ’15

Girls BasketballHead Coach—Kelley Hubbard Assistant Coach—Amanda JankowskiMost Valuable—Susanna Andrews ’13Most Improved— Mary Yahnian ’13Coaches Award—Lauren Stringfield ’13Hustle Award—Lowery Nickels ’14

Boys BasketballHead Coach—Jason Embry Assistant Coach—Cain YarbroughMost Valuable—Montgomery Owen ’13Most Improved—Clint Blackwell ’14Coaches Award—Patrick Andreen ’13Hustle Award—Clay Close ’13

SwimmingHead Coach—Jake MaddenAssistant Coaches—Tandy Perkins and Libby FranckMost Valuable (Fall)—Kate Mabry ’14 Most Valuable (Winter)—Maggie Franck ’14Most Improved (Fall)—Emma Farrington ’14 Most Improved (Winter)—Jackson Long ’14Coaches Award (Fall)—Ashlyn Pacconi ’14Coaches Award (Winter)—David Brooks ’14Spirit Award (Fall)—Carter Smith ’14Spirit Award (Winter)—Annie Kyriakidis ’13Highest Point Total—Seth Kyriakidis ’13

BaseballCoach—Eric FruechtemeyerMost Valuable—Chandler Schultz ’13 and Riley McCormick ’13Most Improved—Clay Mudter ’14 Coaches Award—Scottie Koehner ’15

Girls LacrosseHead Coach—Clare GibsonAssistant Coach—Leslie EmbryMost Valuable—Emma Wise ’13Most Improved—Courtney Edington ’13Hustle Award—Emily Boone ’13Coaches Award—Lauren Stringfield ’13

Boys LacrosseHead Coach—Christopher CheneryAssistant Coach—George de RoziereMost Valuable Offensive—Connor Mulloy ’13Most Valuable Defensive—Addison Smith ’13Coaches Award—Patrick Andreen ’13Most Improved—Clem Smith ’13Hustle Award—Montgomery Owen ’13

Girls TennisHead Coach—Carol Macpherson CaldwellMost Valuable—Maggie Cannata ’15Most Improved—Tate Cox ’13Coaches Award—Lizzie Rohricht ’13 Hustle Award—Lucy Sohr ’13

Boys TennisHead Coach—Steven CarmanMost Valuable—Nathan Baulch ’13 Most Improved—Watson Dill ’14 Coaches Award—Carter Smith ’14 Spirit Award—Philip Scholer ’14

Track and FieldHead Coach—Sara NeussAssistant Coach—Kyle AndersonMost Valuable Runner—Emma Wuerth ’13Hustle Award—Zara Bracegirdle ’14Coaches Award—Rachael Johnson ’13Hustle Award—Isabel Grant ’13

uuu SPECIAL RECOGNITION uuu

Team2013 GNAC Boys Basketball Regular Season Champions2013 GNAC Boys Basketball Tournament Runners-Up2013 HVAC Boys Tennis “A” Division Team Champions

IndividualMaggie Cannata ’15, HVAC Girls Tennis Champion “Line 1”

David Brooks ’14, Baylor Invitational First Place 100 Freestyle

Annie Kyriakidis ’13, Baylor Invitational First Place 100 Back, 200 Free; Middle Tennessee Swimming Championships, First Place 200 IM, 100 Butterfly

Seth Kyriakidis ’13, Baylor Invitational First Place 200 IM, 500 Freestyle; Middle Tennessee Swimming Championships First Place 200 IM, 500 Freestyle

Philip Scholer ’14, HVAC Singles Champion “Line 3”

Ian MacDonald ’14 and Watson Dill ’14 HVAC Doubles Champions

All-Conference SelectionsSusanna Andrews ’13—Girls Basketball, First TeamLauren Stringfield ’13—Girls Basketball, Honorable MentionMontgomery Owen ’13—Boys Basketball, First TeamClay Close ’13—Boys Basketball, First TeamClint Blackwell ’14—Boys Basketball, Honorable MentionRiley McCormick ’13—Baseball, First TeamChandler Schultz ’13—Baseball, First Team

w w w. h a r d i n g a c a d e m y. o r g Harding Academy 5

AwardsAwards

6 Harding Academy w w w. h a r d i n g a c a d e m y. o r g

AwardsAwards

2013–2014 Calendar AwardsCalendar Cover Ben Ambrose, Mia Boero, Zara Bracegirdle, Danti Butler,

Jake Ferri, Ally Williams (7)August 2013 Madelina Huffman (4)September 2013 Ryan Van Mol (K) October 2013 Claire Nord, Jake Frazier and Stephanie Wilkinson (2) November 2013 McAllister Mason (6) December 2013 Cole Patterson and Sydney Strnad (1) January 2014 Maggie Cannata, Teagan McEver, and Sam Shipp (6) February 2014 Harrison Mabry (2)March 2014 Bianca Sass (6) April 2014 Ryan Estrin, Lillian Lewis, and Mary Holine Van Mol (3) May 2014 Olivia Hansen (7)June 2014 Charlie Bracegirdle (5)July 2014 Cooper Craig, Madeline Wall, and Lily Wilmoth (5)August 2014 William Myers and Rachel Westerfield (4)

2013 Holiday CardDavid Brooks (7)

2013 Grandparents Chocolate InvitationOlivia Morrison (3)

2014 Spring Arts Festival InvitationCarrie Lee Sullivan (7)

2013 Student Art Show & Awards InvitationZach Bell (4) Eva Anderson (K) Margaret Hayworth (8) Watson Dill (7)

Harding Family Connection CardCaroline Stanley (5)

Counseling Office Art BreAnna MacDougall (3) Evan Perrone (6)

Featured ArtistsKindergarten Sawyer Beckwith, Aiden Davis,

Henry Gatto, and Maia McCourt

First Grade Spencer DeCuir, Ellie Johnson, Howie Trotter, and Reese Turner

Second Grade Mary Morgan Haley, Quin Lewis, Lain Orndorff, and Ryan Piper

Third Grade Kendall Burch, Mallie Higgins, Jack Pacconi and Crissa Portis

Fourth Grade Archer Heeren, Jackson Miller, Kate Miller and William Vreeland

Fifth Grade Wilson Berry, Annie Griffin, Graeme Macdonald, Anne McPeak and Will Wheeler

Sixth Grade Ellie Hollahan, Clark Kaminsky, Zachary Nelson, and Anna Perrone

Seventh Grade Clint Blackwell, Meredith Miller, Jonathan Sink, and Emma Trichel

Eighth Grade Courtney Edington, Carter Hansen, Addison Smith, Emma Wise, and Amelia Young

AWARD RECIPIENTS2013 ARTS AWARDS

Annual Award—Weatherly Spence (4), Mola

Annual Award — Marie Weir (3), Matisse Collage

Annual Award — Savannah Gauthier (6), Dog Painting

Annual Award— Dylan Anderson (K), Robot

Purchase Award—Bella McKay (2), Pointillist Scene

Purchase Award— Eleanor Koch (8), Graphite Portrait

w w w. h a r d i n g a c a d e m y. o r g Harding Academy 7

AwardsAwards

Accelerated Reader7—Denee Stewart Freeman (387.7 first place); Meredith Miller (334.6 second place); Maya Patel (290.1 third place)

Artist Readings Awards4—Lainey Garside

Continental Math League Medal Winners

4—Greydon Franck; Certificates—Zachary Bell, Macy Gilmour, and William Myers5—Daniel McGuire; Certificates—Wilson Berry and Emma Mirnics; 6— Clark Kaminsky; Certificates— Jackson Buschmann, Grant Hollomon, MacAllister Mason, and Bianca Sass; 7—William Sell; Certificates—William Bradshaw, Jackson Long, Michael McGuire, Denee Stewart Freeman; 8—Eleanor Koch; Certificates—Rachael Johnson and Clem Smith

IXL Math Awards4—Certificates—C.H. Henry (26 hrs 24 mins—third place overall), Will Meyer (26 hrs 9 mins) and Luke Haley (21 hrs, 2 mins)5—Certificates—Ava Ryan (27 hrs, 50 mins—second place overall), Ingrid Ryan (24 hrs, 31 mins), Carla Cohen (21 hrs 48 mins)

Duke TIP Recognition— for achievement on SAT and ACT

in the Seventh Grade State Recognition Ben Ambrose, Betsy Beuter, Shayna Beyer, Mimi Bond, William Bradshaw, David Brooks, Owen Burns, Jake Ferri, Kate Mabry, Michael McGuire, John McKee, Clay Mudter, Eliza

Ossolinski, McClain Portis, William Sell, Carter Smith, and Emma Trichel

State and National Recognition Mia Boero, Jackson Long, Meredith Miller, and Denee Stewart Freeman

National French Exam 7—Owen Burns, Denee Stewart Freeman (18th in state); Ben Ambrose (19th in state); Betsy Beuter, Eliza Ossolinski (20th in state)

8—Rachael Johnson (2nd state, 7th nation); Clem Smith (3rd state, 8th nation); Riley McCormick (5th state, 10th nation); Jackson Arnold, Ames Mullendore (6th state, 11th nation); Taylor Farrington (9th state, 15th nation); Eleanor Koch, George Merhoff (10th state, 16th nation); Maddie Forbes, Margaret Hayworth (11th in state); Lizzie Rohricht (12th in state); Emmie Wade (13th in state); John Fioravanti, Caitlin Williamson (14th in state); Courtney Edington (16th in state); Emily Myers (17th in state); Ben Corwin, Emma Wise, Amelia Young (18th in state); Bailey Van Meter (20th in state)

National Spanish Exam 7— Premio de Oro (Gold Medal) Mia Boero; Mencion Honorifica (Honorable Mention) Emma Trichel

8— Premio de Oro (Gold Medal) Lucy Sohr; Premio de Bronce (Bronze Award) Lauren Stringfield; Mencion Honorifica (Honorable Mention) Edward LeMaster and Narissa McEver

National Latin Exam 7—Latin Perfect Paper Michael McGuire, Philip Scholer; Latin Outstanding Achievement

Denee Stewart Freeman (pictured with Edna Pearson) received the Accelerated Reader, Continental Math League, Chorus, and History/Social Studies awards, as well as national and state Duke TIP recognition, and state recognition on the National French exam.

Lainey Garside (pictured with Carol Chambers) received the Artist Reading, Physical Fitness, Spanish, and Outstanding Citizen awards.

Daniel McGuire (pictured with Sara Neuss) received the Continental Math League, President’s Award of Educational Excellence, and Math awards.

MacAllister Mason (pictured with Jay Taylor) received the Continental Math League, Band, and Science awards.

William Bradshaw, David Brooks, Rob Harvey, Jackson Long, Clay Mudter, Ashlyn Pacconi, Jack Smith; Certificate of Merit Shayna Beyer, Kate Mabry, Meredith Miller, Carter Smith

8—Summa Cum Laude Megan Rolapp; Maxima Cum Laude Patrick Andreen and Wilder Mason; Magna Cum Laude Camilla Caldwell and Emma Wuerth; Cum Laude Ava Boney and Isabel Grant

President’s Award of Educational Excellence

5—Meg Beuter, Hallie Brannick, Gabriel Bassin, Wilson Berry, Charlie Bracegirdle, Cole Cahoon, Cooper Mae Cavallo, Carrie Cohen, Ellie Frist, Mika Gothard, Annie Griffin, Ainsley Hanrahan, Will Higgins, Wesley Hirschman, Lila Hunt, Isabel Long, Daniel McGuire, Emma Mirnics, Haynes Owen, Merritt Smith, Madeline Wall, Cole Williamson, and Will Wheeler

8—Patrick Andreen, Jackson Arnold, Camilla Caldwell, Courtney Edington, Taylor Farrington, John Fioravanti, Maddie Forbes, Rachael Johnson, Eleanor Koch, Wilder Mason, Riley McCormick, Ames Mullendore, Megan Rolapp, Clem Smith, Lucy Sohr, Lauren Stringfield, Emmie Wade, and Emma Wuerth

President’s Academic Effort Award

5—Alston Aron, Lydia Beachum, and Sydney Fowlkes

8—Addison Smith and Caitlin Williamson

AWARD RECIPIENTS2013 AWARDS ASSEMBLY FOR GRADES 4–8

AwardsAwards

8 Harding Academy w w w. h a r d i n g a c a d e m y. o r g

Band5—Charlie Bracegirdle 6—MacAllister Mason 7—Shayna BeyerChorus5— Gabriel Bassin,

Cooper Mae Cavallo6—Bianca Sass 7—Denee Stewart FreemanMusic 4—Keaton BrightStrings6—Carter KochComputer4— Laura Grace Brothers,

Charlie Crumbo5—Lily WilmothPhysical Education4—Lainey Garside, William Stanley 5—Lila Hunt, Cole WilliamsonEnglish4—Will Meyer, Alice Scarpero 5—Meg Beuter 6—Elijah Beyer 7—Eliza OssolinskiWriting4— Allison Lindsey,

Mason McKee5—Isabel LongFrench7—Betsy BeuterLatin7—Philip ScholerSpanish4— Zachary Bell, Lainey Garside 5—Ava Ryan, William Tyrone 7—Emma TrichelHistory/Social Studies4—Isabelle Arnold, William Myers 5—Charlie Bracegirdle 6— Grant Hollomon 7—Denee Stewart FreemanMath4—William Myers, Natalie Wright 5—Daniel McGuire 6—Clark Kaminsky 7— Michael McGuire

Science4—Greydon Franck, Natalie Wright 5—Emma Mirnics 6—MacAllister Mason 7—Mia Boero

Outstanding Leadership4—Lainey Garside William Vreeland Outstanding Citizens5—Gabriel Bassin

Outstanding Student Awards

Lauren Stringfield accepted the Sportsmanship Award from Athletic Director Corby Lucas. She was also the recipient of the Spanish Award, Science Award, and a Nine-Year Award.

Harding Scholar Rachael Johnson accepted the Pam McKnight (pictured) French Award.

Rachael was also the recipient of the Geraldine Swystun English Award and a Nine-Year Award,

as well as the presenter of the Class of 2013 Fundraising Committee’s gift to the school—

the bench around the oak tree.

As president of Student Council, Riley McCormick delivered the student address at graduation. He was also the recipient of the History

Award, a Nine-Year Award, and the School Spirit Award.

The Class of 2013 and their families enjoyed a luncheon that was organized by Nancy Turner, the school’s receptionist, and prepared and served by parents of the Class of 2014.

Art AwardEleanor Koch

Band AwardNathan Baulch

Chorus Award John Fioravanti

DanceAnna Barker

Reese Witherspoon Drama Award

Lucy Sohr and Patrick Andreen

Andrew Potanin Creative Writing Award

Eleanor Koch

Geraldine Swystun English Award Rachael Johnson

Pam McKnight French Award Rachael Johnson

Latin Award Emma Wuerth

Spanish Award Lauren Stringfield

History Award Riley McCormick

Math Award Patrick Andreen

Science Award Lauren Stringfield

Yearbook Award Jackson Arnold

School Spirit Award Riley McCormick and

Emma Wise

Sportsmanship Award

Addison Smith and Lauren Stringfield

Alumni Citizenship Award

Jackson Arnold

Harding Scholar Rachael Johnson

Brentwood Academy

Nathan Baulch

Ensworth High School

Clarke Aron Emily Boone Clay Close Ben Corwin Tate Cox Bailey Cunningham Courtney Daddario Isabel Grant Carter Hansen Wilder Mason Riley McCormick Narissa McEver Megan Rolapp Chandler Schultz Mary Yahnian

Father RyanBailey Van Meter

Franklin Road Academy

Catherine Disspayne

Harpeth HallSusanna Andrews Ava Boney Sara Kennon Caldwell Taylor Farrington Maddie Forbes Margaret Hayworth Emily Myers Lucy Sohr Lauren Stringfield Emmie Wade Caitlin Williamson Emma Wise

Louisville Collegiate School

George Merhoff

Montgomery Bell Academy

Patrick Andreen John Fioravanti Connor Mulloy Montgomery Owen Addison Smith

Phillips Exeter Academy

Rachael Johnson

Pope John Paul II High School

Annie Kyriakidis Seth Kyriakidis

St. Andrew’s- Sewanee School

Nathan Johnson

St. Cecilia Academy

Anna Barker Lizzie Rohricht

The Webb SchoolClem Smith

USNJackson Arnold Camilla Caldwell Courtney Edington Eleanor Koch Edward LeMaster Ames Mullendore Emma Wuerth Amelia Young

CLASS OF 2013 HIGH SCHOOL CHOICES

AWARD RECIPIENTSGRADUATION

Nine Year Awards Patrick Andreen, Susanna Andrews, Jackson Arnold, Clarke Aron, Anna Barker, Nathan Baulch, Camilla Caldwell, Clay Close, Catherine Disspayne, Taylor Farrington, John Fioravanti, Maddie Forbes, Margaret Hayworth, Rachael Johnson, Eleanor Koch, Edward LeMaster, Wilder Mason, Riley McCormick, Narissa McEver, Ames Mullendore, Emily Myers, Montgomery Owen, Lizzie Rohricht, Chandler Schultz, Addison Smith, Clem Smith, Lucy Sohr, Lauren Stringfield, Bailey Van Meter, Emmie Wade, Caitlin Williamson, Mary Yahnian, and Amelia Young

w w w. h a r d i n g a c a d e m y. o r g Harding Academy 9

Independent film producer and Harding Distinguished Alumni Award winner Matt Parker ’91 has

made more than a dozen films, shorts, and documentaries in the past decade—projects with budgets ranging from $100,000 to $5 million. Matt has really made his mark, though, in narratives with non-traditional voices and perspectives that fall outside of the mainstream. His 2012 film Beasts of the Southern Wild explores the world and imagination of a six-year-old girl from a Louisiana bayou community. Winning the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, the film also garnered four Academy Award nominations. This year, Matt’s film Mother of George, the story of Nigerian immigrants living in Brooklyn, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and will be released in theaters September 13.

While storytelling is the driving force behind Matt’s films, he says the life of an independent film producer is very much about finding “a balance between art and commerce.” The trick is to seek stories worth telling that can also be financially viable. At any given time, Matt has about 10 projects in various stages of development. When production starts on a film, he addresses creative aspects of the script and hires the filmmaking crew. Then, on the set, he’s right there behind the director, overseeing artistic decisions and also making sure the production stays on budget and on schedule.

Matt also regularly attends film festivals, which are not merely glamorous schmooze-fests. “I always say that film festivals are like trade shows for another industry,” he says. In Cannes—where he traveled just before he returned to Harding for

graduation—Matt attended more than 30 business meetings in six days.

As Matt noted in his acceptance address, his Harding experiences have been formative. Harding was where he learned the importance of honor, trust, hard work, and loyalty—qualities that have shaped him as person and helped him professionally, he says.

Matt’s advice to students interested in filmmaking is to make inquiries with the Tennessee Film Commission about local opportunities. Matt himself is living proof that one can get to Hollywood via Nashville. After taking a two-month filmmaking course in New York after college, he came home and got a tip about The Last Castle, a Robert Redford film that was shooting in Nashville. Securing work as an unpaid intern, he later got a paid position, which led to further opportunities in New York.

His other career advice is to keep in touch with classmates and never underestimate the value of networking and “exploring every option.” He says, “Nobody is going to make an opportunity for you unless you ask—and you go after it.”

1988Andy Stoll and Marianne Stuart Stoll ’90 are the proud parents of Andrew (Drew) Edgar Stoll, born on Nov 4, 2012. The family resides in Nashville, where Andy is the owner/general manager of Truckers Lighthouse and Marianne works part-time from home.

1990Julie McDonald has developed Coastal Concierge in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., providing vacationers with concierge services such as grocery shopping before arrival, babysitting, and scheduling activities. She also provides a home watch and property maintenance service for absentee homeowners.

1993Allison Hodde is a graduate jeweler/gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America.

1994Marissa Moses Russ serves on the board of trustees for the Friends of Nashville Ballet, and she chaired the organization’s Spring Tea at Hillwood Country Club on April 21. Erin Hirsch Zagnoev served on the committee for this event.

1997Ann Stewart Banker Pendergrass has been promoted to producer for the Fox News Channel in New York City.

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Duke Announces TIP Winners

Duke University’s Talent Identification Program (TIP) Seventh Grade Talent Search is the largest program of its kind in the nation. More

than 64,000 seventh grade students took college entrance exams through the Duke Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) in late 2012 and early 2013. The Seventh Grade Talent Search identifies academically talented seventh graders based on standardized test scores achieved while attending elementary or middle school. Candidates are invited to take the ACT or the SAT college entrance exam. This allows them greater insight into their academic abilities. Participants also gain valuable benefits and have access to unique resources for gifted students.

In the spring of 2012, 33 Harding students qualified for the TIP and were given the option of taking either the SAT or the ACT. Of those who chose to participate in the testing, 21 qualified for state recognition putting them in the 36 percent of all talent search participants invited to attend a state recognition ceremony. Tennessee winners will attend a ceremony at Vanderbilt University. Twenty-one of these Harding students met the admission score criteria for Duke’s Summer Studies camps. Only three percent of all talent search students qualify for the Grand/National

recognition ceremony. Four Harding students qualified for this honor and they will be honored at the ceremony on the campus of Duke University.

To put the Harding student achievements in perspective with regard to national percentile rankings of juniors and seniors in high school taking the ACT and SAT, a state recognition puts a qualifier at approximately the 50 percent national percentile ranking, and a grand/national qualifier at approximately the 90 percent national percentile ranking.

In Tennessee, the average ACT score of high school graduates in 2012 was 19.7. The average score for those seventh grade Harding students taking the ACT in 2012–13 was 20.4.

STATEBen AmbroseBetsy BeuterShayna BeyerMimi BondWilliam BradshawDavid BrooksOwen Burns

Jake FerriKate MabryMichael McGuireJohn McKeeClay MudterEliza OssolinskiScott PortisWilliam Sell

Carter SmithEmma Trichel

STATE AND NATIONALMia BoeroJackson LongMeredith MillerDenee Stewart Freeman

Distinguished Alumni Award Winner Matt Parker ’91Class Notes

Class NotesClass Notes

1998Jamie Hirsch Brook, an occupational therapist at the pediatric rehabilitation clinic of Vanderbilt’s Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, has been nominated to serve a four-year term as a member of the board of trustees at Temple Congregation Ohbai Sholom.

2000Robotics engineer Gui Cavalcanti is a contestant on the Discovery Channel’s “The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius,” which is searching for

the country’s next top engineer. Contestants are placed on two teams, and tasked with solving scientific problems. The show premiered at the first of May, and airs Wednesday nights at 9:00 p.m. CST. Gui is the co-founder and president of the Artisan’s Asylum in Somerville, Mass. Drew Waugh married Andrew Urbain on May 4.

2001Corinne Hartong married Kevin Mattern on May 4, at Woodmont Christian Church, with a reception following at Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art. Sisters Graham ’03 and Mary Liza ’08 served as maids of honor, while Ellen Byrd, Ellen Hammer, and Annsley Miller served as bridesmaids.

After a honeymoon in Hawaii, the couple returned to Washington, D.C., where Corinne is a development associate at National Presbyterian School and Kevin is a nuclear engineer for the U.S. Department of Energy.

2002Krissie Binkley married Travis Self on May 4, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, with a reception following at Belle Meade Country Club. The rehearsal dinner was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Hermitage Hotel, and sister Beth ’04 served as maid of honor while Ellen Regan served as a bridesmaid. Ellen, a marketing associate with Deloitte Services LLP, attended the London Olympic Games as one of 24 Deloitte professionals who won a company blogging competition focusing on sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Maggie Diehl is currently residing in Singapore.

2003Mary Helen Crafton is the special events administrator at the NoMad Hotel in New York City. Kate Sangervasi is an account executive at Susan Becher & Associates, a public relations firm in New York City focused on interior design clients.

2005Avery Bond has been selected for Louisiana State University’s Holmes Master’s Program, where she will earn her master’s

degree in the art of teaching in one rigorous year of study and student teaching. She states that her love of teaching was encouraged and inspired by many of her Harding Academy teachers. Paige Cahill made the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-West/Midwest Region first team, selected to the All-Southeastern Conference second team, and Atlantic League Conference and Southeast Conference Academic Honor Rolls.

2009Kate Beuter has committed to swim at Washington University in St. Louis this fall, and Matt McPherson has committed to swim at George Washington University. Jack Bond has been accepted to Ohio State University’s Scholars and Honors Program, and he was awarded the Prominence Scholarship for

leadership and academic excellence. Marshall Gray (left) was honored as the Brentwood Home Page High School Athlete of the Week, and was a four-year letterman in varsity tennis. He has received both an academic

scholarship from Lipscomb University and the Hope Scholarship. Alex Floyd and Ellie Hitt,

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Class Notes

The Class of 2009 reunited on May 19 before their high school graduations, reminisced upon their time at Harding, and shared their college plans for the fall.

Class NotesClass Notes

10 Harding Academy w w w. h a r d i n g a c a d e m y. o r g

along with the cast of The Elephant Man produced by Montgomery Bell Academy, won first place in the Tennessee Theatre Association’s Annual One Act Competition in November 2012. In the same month, Ellie also attended the 2012 Vanderbilt University Model United Nations Conference, winning a verbal commendation award for her performance of Year 2020: Egyptian Defense Initiative. She was also recently inducted into the Harpeth Hall Cum Laude Society. Erissa Irani, in a program sponsored by Vanderbilt University, participated in a research experience focused on improving treatments for muscular dystrophy using muscle fiber tracking computer programs. These included ITK-SNAP and MIPAV. The goal was to discover which would be the most convenient for the lab members and which would provide the most accurate and useful results in the Institute of Imaging Science at the university.

2010Casey Close is traveling to Tanzania for a service trip and Mary Claire Smalley to the University of Texas at Austin for a musical theater intensive, both sponsored by Ensworth High School’s summer grant program. Chantal Striepe (right) has received national recognition as one of only 625 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarships for 2013–14, and will travel to China this summer for language study. Through her participation in the program, Chantal will serve as a citizen diplomat while developing the skills necessary to be a leader in the global community.

w w w. h a r d i n g a c a d e m y. o r g Harding Academy 11

2011Emma Alsup was named Harpeth Hall’s Athlete of the Week for May 13 for her accomplishments on the tennis team. On May 12, 2013, Will Bayliff was presented an Eagle Bronze Palm Award and Thomas Greiner received his Eagle Scout Rank. Both are Charter members of recently formed Boy Scout Venturing Crew 31. Maggie Collier has been inducted into St. Cecilia’s La Societe Honoraire de Francais. Leah Portis served as the sophomore class representative at Harpeth Hall’s 62nd Lady of the Hall ceremony, and rising first grader Margaret Rauth served as flower girl. Sara Shipp, a sophomore at Ensworth, placed 4th in the Division II state pentathlon competition at the Spring Fling state

Andrew Mark Stuart ’79, age 47 of Nashville,

beloved son of Phil and Eve Stuart, died suddenly March 21, 2013. He was born November 18, 1965, in New York City. In addition to parents, Andrew is survived by sister, Susan Oney ’83 (Todd) of Brentwood; brother, Greg Stuart ‘88 (Paula) of Nashville; nephew and nieces, Sam and Maya Oney and Annie Stuart; aunt, Jean Ayers of Lebanon; and many cousins, as well as his cat Oscar. Andrew attended Harding Academy, graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy and Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., where he was editor of the yearbook, and did graduate work at UNC Greensboro. He loved the outdoors, hiking, and nature, as evident in his photography. He had an intense appreciation of music, everything from classical, blues and rock, to Mozart and the Rolling Stones. He played both piano and guitar. He loved books and had a wide collection. He worked for many years for Borders Books & Music in Anchorage, Alaska, at the headquarters in Ann Arbor, Mich., and other locations. Memorial contributions may be made to Mental Health Association of Middle TN, Suite #201 295 Plus Park Blvd., Nashville, TN 37217 or Happy Tails, 230 Franklin Road, #1303, Franklin, TN 37064.

The following Harding alumni took a break from their University School of Nashville graduation practice to gather for a photo: Alexander Roaldsand, T.J. Caldwell, Sean Clark, Hank Powers, Joey Simon, Hayden Roche (cum laude), Larkin Johnson (cum laude), Bennet LeMaster, and Madi Hunt (cum laude).

The past presidents of the Alumni Board gathered together for a luncheon in the Tennessee Room on June 6 to discuss the accomplishments of the board since its inception in 2000. From left are Jennifer Mathews Smith ‘74, Lisa Cullum Brace ‘72, Allen Huggins ‘94, incoming president Jamie Kever ‘00, and Julie Colton Jones ‘88.

April 12 was a spectacular Career Day presentation for our eighth graders. Special thanks to event chair Ashley Weigel Henry ’82, and our speakers: veterinarian Dr. Hayley Phipps ’00 (with her sidekick Bridget) , DCXV founder Adrien Saporiti ’02, attorney Marissa Moses Russ ’94, and Alumni Board president Allen Huggins ’94, for making this a great morning for our students.

Class NotesClass Notes

meet in Murfreesboro on May 20. She is the top scoring athlete from the mid-state in the statewide event. Also, Sara was on Ensworth’s 4 x 800-meter relay team at the state track meet on May 23, in Murfreesboro. They finished 4th in the state for Division II.

In Memorium

Halfway through my junior year at Montgomery Bell

Academy, I was presented with the opportunity to study at Eton College in Windsor, England, for three months. Having been born in Cheltenham, England, I was eager to study at this prestigious school. While at Eton, I was able to absorb the culture of the school and of England, allowing me to foster an appreciation for a boys school outside of MBA. Since I was there for so long, I became a true part of the Eton community—I still get mail from them even now that I’m back in Nashville! Being at Eton also gave me the privilege of studying in the same halls as authors like Tennyson, Huxley, and Orwell (whose

grades I saw and were not very impressive!) allowing me to add depth and dimension to my interest in literature and the English language. While in England, I was also able to travel throughout the country, visiting almost every part of London and journeying in the countryside to towns such as Herefordshire and Stratford-

upon-Avon. Now that I’m home in Nashville again, I reflect on this experience as one that has given me a global perspective on almost everything that I do and would urge anyone who has the chance to travel abroad to do so.

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Sarah Abel University of RichmondAnna Ambrose Appalachian State UniversityMargaret Andrews University of TennesseeAnton Arnold Middle Tennessee State UniversityAubrey Ashworth Samford UniversityLauren Baulch Wittenberg UniversityChandler Beasley University of TennesseeKate Beuter Washington University in St. LouisJack Bond Ohio State UniversityAbbey Bounds University of Mississippi Honors

CollegeAnne Elise Cain Auburn UniversityT. J. Caldwell Kettering UniversitySean Clark Ursinus CollegeMakena Comolli Stanford UniversityMary Catherine St. Olaf College Davidson Haley Dunn University of MississippiAnthony Fahey Binghamton University/Watson

School of Computer ScienceAlex Floyd New York University/Tisch

School of DramaLibby Franck Appalachian State UniversityKynlie Freeman Berklee College of MusicMarshall Gray Lipscomb UniversityConner Griffin Furman UniversityCooper Hall University of TennesseeEllie Hitt Boston UniversityLillie Howell University of Colorado at BoulderMadi Hunt College of Wooster

College Choices Class of 2009Harding Alumni Win Awards at

Montgomery Bell Academy

Clay Andreen ’11: Junior Honor Society

Nick Boney ’10: International Exchange Award, Randolph College Book Award

Clay Cavallo ’11: Junior Honor Society

Harrison Davis ’10: Cum Laude, University of Virginia Book Award, Latin Vergil AP Medal, Physics Medal

Alex Floyd ’09: Rascoe Bond Davis Award for Creative Writing, Tisch Scholarship to

New York University

Connor Griffin ’09: Wieck Big Red Spirit Award, Bell Tower Scholarship to Furman University

Andrew Karpos ’09: Premier Orthopedics Book Award for AP Chemistry; Gentleman,

Scholar, Athlete Award

Ethan Long ’12: Geometry Medal

Bates O’Neal ’10: Warner International Exchange Scholarship

Grey Reames ’10: English III Medal

Ian Scholer ’11: Junior Honor Society

Jake Simons ’09: Latin V Medal, National Merit Scholarship to Harvard

Jack Thompson ’10: French II Medal

Curtis Turner ’11: Junior Honor Society, American History Medal

Jack Wagster ’09: Wieck Big Red Spirit Award

Nick in tux and tails—the school uniform worn every day at Eton, including Saturday

The 2013–14 General News newsletters will focus on the school’s K–8 curriculum. Harding Academy distinguishes itself by focusing on four pillars of learning through-out each student’s experience: academics, arts, athletics, and character education.

This series will highlight the steps taken at each grade level to achieve success.

Tr a v e l o g u eBy Nick Boney ’10

Class NotesClass Notes

Erissa Irani Cornell UniversitySara Jordan Jacobson University of MississippiLarkin Johnson Haverford CollegeJack Kinloch Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteBennet LeMaster The New SchoolEllen Jennings Matthews Centre CollegeBennett Maxwell University of MississippiMatthew McPherson George Washington UniversityMcKenna Monk University of AlabamaPatrick Moody Auburn UniversityRajiv Patel Vanderbilt UniversityHank Powers University of Wisconsin/College

of EngineeringAlexander Roaldsand Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteHayden Roche Washington University in St. LouisAbby Scanlan University of GeorgiaMartha Schull Wake Forest UniversityMatthew Schwartz University of TennesseeAmanda Shinn University of Tennessee at

ChattanoogaMcCall Shipp University of AlabamaJoey Simon Wake Forest UniversityJake Simons Harvard UniversityJ. Carlton Smith University of MississippiIsabella Sohr Texan Christian UniversityJeannie Sullivan University of AlabamaMackenzie Underwood Lipscomb UniversityJeremy Ward University of TennesseeCaroline Waters Auburn UniversityAlexandria White Texas Christian University