Accolade The - Wilson Hall

Accolade
The
Wilson Hall
January 2015
Chess Team
Ties for First
}
deHoll Player
of the Week
Simmons deHoll '15, a member of the varsity volleyball team, was named the
The defending state champion high
WLTX News 19 Player of the Week.
school chess team, advised by Mrs. CarFor this program News 19 honors
men McCaffrey, tied for first place in the
exceptional high school seniors
S.C. Independent School Assoc. State
who participate in varsity sports,
Chess Tournament held at the Sumter
maintain a high GPA, and are outstandCounty Civic Center. Trey Davis '15 and
ing citizens in their community. Area
Raines Waggett '15 tied for second
coaches send letters to News 19 recomplace in individual competition in which
mending student athletes, and Simmons
103 students participated.
was nominated by her volleyball coach,
Mrs. Teresa O'Hare Alexander '98. News
19 Sports presents each winner with a letter
jacket and a plaque, and the student is then featured
in a 30-second promotional announcement that airs
for one week.
Field Trips
The preschool and
kindergarten classes
went to Patriot Hall
on November 21 to
watch the Columbia
City Ballet’s production of “Santa Claus
is Coming to Town.”
The kindergarten
classes visited the
residents of
Covenant Place on
November 25 to
present a Thanksgiving music program.
The first grade
classes visited the
residents of
Covenant Place on
December 17 to present a Christmas
music program.
SAT
Scores
Mrs. Teresa O’Hare Alexander ’98 & Simmons deHoll
’15 pose for a photo after Simmons was presented a
plaque and jacket for being named the WLTX TV 19
Player of the Week.
The top quartile of the senior class earned a combined average of 1393 on the
reading and math sections of the SAT, and the entire class earned a combined
average of 1209. Each of the 60 members of the senior class is required to
take the SAT at least once.
School Receives
Volunteer Award
Because of its service to the S.C. Independent School Association, Wilson Hall was presented the Charles J.
Beach Volunteer of the Year Award at the SCISA Fall
Heads’ Conference. Mr. Fred Moulton, headmaster, accepted the award on the school’s behalf. This is the second time Wilson Hall has received this award from SCISA
which has 110 member schools. Wilson Hall regularly
hosts regional and state competitions for drama, quiz
bowl and spelling bees, as well as state tournaments and
all-star games for basketball, football and volleyball. Faculty members and administrators assist with state chess
tournaments and math competitions and serve on SCISA
committees.
Mr. Fred Moulton, headmaster, displays the plaque for the
Charles J. Beach Volunteer of the Year Award that was presented
to the school by the S.C. Independent School Association.
Fifth Grade Colonial Day
Madison Smith, Margaret Briggs Kelly & Ellie Spencer, Class of ’22, proudly display the corncob dolls they made during
Colonial Day.
Editor and Primary
Photographer:
Mr. Sean Hoskins,
Director of Admissions &
Public Relations
Headmaster:
Mr. Fred Moulton
Additional photography:
Limelite Photography
As part of the “Why America is Free” curriculum used in their U.S. History class taught by Mrs. Frances
James, the fifth grade students participated in Colonial Day held on campus November 21. “Why America is Free” is a six-week program that offers a hands-on learning experience and covers the events,
times and heroes of the American Revolution. Dressed in period costume, the students participated in a
wide variety of activities including colonial cooking for the girls and a militia drill for the boys. Students
also learned how to make candles, cornhusk dolls, hand-painted floor cloths, string toys and silhouettes.
Boys attended the class “Education of Young Gentlemen” while the girls attended “Lady of Genteel Refinement.” Also dressed in period costume, parent volunteers and teachers led the ten different activities
throughout the day. For Patriot Night, an evening reception held at the McLeod-Prescott Plantation on
November 20, students, faculty and parents also dressed in period costume.
Owings Holler ’21 & Bella
Land ’21, as the narrators,
perform a scene from “A
Seussified Christmas
Carol.” Directed by
Ms. Hannah Leirmoe,
drama teacher, the
sixth grade drama
class performed the
one-act comedy by
Peter Bloedel on
the multipurpose
room stage.
From dozens of red-bowed wreaths adorning the doors to young
voices singing “Silent Night” filling the hallway, the sights and
sounds of the Christmas season were evident at Wilson Hall.
Christmas trees, such as the one in the chemistry lab
decorated with beakers and the one in the lower
school hallway decked with student created ornaments, could be seen throughout the campus. Adding
to the festive environment were hundreds of pieces
of student work, ranging from Christmas related
creative writing to holiday themed art, lining the
halls and classroom walls.
Barons participated in a wide variety of activities to celebrate the Christmas season beginning
with A Christmas Concert produced by the
Music Department. Featuring the middle school
and high school choirs directed by Dr. Laura
Ballard, the Afternoon Chorus directed by
Mrs. Frankie Eldridge, and the instrumental ensemble directed by Mr. Scott Warren, the
program was enjoyed by a standing-roomonly crowd at Wise Drive Baptist Church.
Music included contemporary numbers such
as Weston’s “Christmas in About Three
Minutes,” standards such as Rodgers’ “My
Favorite Things,” and traditional hymns
like “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” In true celebration of the holiday, the Christmas story was read from the
Book of Luke during the Lessons & Carols, the Advent wreath was lit
while students sang Mayo’s “Be a Candle of Hope,” and the audience
joined with the students in singing “Silent Night” by candlelight.
In a program entitled Merry Christmas!, students in 1st-5th grades
dressed in their best holiday attire sang 13 Christmas songs ranging
from Jacobson’s “Glee under the Tree” to Emerson’s “Santa’s Holiday
Playlist.” Choreographed by Mrs. Jennifer Alford Reimer ‘00, students dressed in costumes such as snowflakes, snowmen and Christmas trees danced to Jennings’ “Holiday Parade,” and dancing girls
with oversized candy canes performed a dance routine to Jacobson’s
“Broadway Lights.” The annual program, directed by Mrs. Frankie Eldridge and Mrs. Jeanne Shaw, was attended by a crowd of nearly
400 in the Nash Student Center.
Rhayne Owens
’24 & AlliReagan
Fidler ’24 wait in
the foyer of the
Nash Student
Center before
performing in the
annual Christmas
music program.
Cooper Hill ’26 is a dancing snowman in
the lower school’s annual Christmas music
program that was directed by Mrs. Frankie
Eldridge and Mrs. Jeanne Shaw.
The holiday performances continued with
two one-act comedies presented by the
Drama Department, directed by Ms. Hannah Leirmoe, on the multipurpose room stage. The sixth grade drama class performed Peter
Bloedel’s “A Seussified Christmas Carol,” a humorous take on the
Dickens classic with a Dr. Seuss spin, and the ninth grade drama class
presented Pat Cook’s “The One and Only Santa Claus” that featured
a series of hilarious and heart-warming sketches. Students in the set
design class, also taught by Ms. Leirmoe, created the props for the
plays.
A decades old tradition, the lower school students marked the final
day of the semester with the Singing in the Hall. For this event all students in grades 1-5 gathered in the hallway to sing Christmas carols
before being dismissed for Christmas break.
The following students received ribbons in the S.C. Independent
School Assoc. State Art and Photography Show:
Caroline Rogers '16…………second in photography
Savannah Stewart '15…………………………second in art
Lauren Yarbrough '17…………………third in photography
Receiving honorable mentions for their art work were Angelica
Agno '19, Allison Owens '15 and Andrik Rivera-Nesrala '17.
Brothers Robert Young ’15 & Greyson Young ’17 enter the Nash Student
Center for the high school’s fall semiformal. The Senior Class officers,
led by president Simmons deHoll ’15, decorated for the dance that was
sponsored by the Student Council which is advised by Mr. Sean Hoskins
& Mrs. Cheryl Landstrom.
Battle of the Books
State Art Awards
Both the middle school
and lower school Battle
of the Books teams
placed third in the S.C.
Independent School
Assoc. Regional Competition and will advance
to the state competition in March. The
middle school team
is advised by Mrs.
Katie Pink and the lower
school team is advised by
Mrs. Kathy Smith Coker '98
and Mrs. Susie Herlong.
America’s Battle of the
Books is a reading incentive program for students
3rd-12th grades. Students
read books and come together to demonstrate their
abilities and to test their
knowledge of the books
they have read. The teams
are given a list of 20
books to read prior to
the competition, and
then they are asked
specific questions
about the books to earn
points.
Community
SERVICE
The Hand-in-Hand Club, a
community service organization for students in grades one
through five sponsored by the PTO and
coordinated by Mrs. Mary Yarbrough,
collected 3,518 cans, boxes and bags of
non-perishable food items to donate to
Christian Ministries and United Ministries of
Sumter County.
Lower school students created homemade
Christmas bags for the Shower Shaw with
Cookies project, and the fourth grade students made Christmas cards to accompany
the bags.
The Student Council collected money to make
$100 donations to each the following organ-
izations during the first semester: Croswell
Children’s Home, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure,
and United Ministries of Sumter Gear up for
Learning project. The Student Council is led
by president Chase Belk '15 and is advised by
Ms. Heather Eldridge '93, Mr. Sean Hoskins
and Mrs. Cheryl Landstrom.
As part of the My Community
and Me program, fourth grade
students and their teachers, Mrs. Tammie Amick, Mrs. Laura Brogdon and
Mrs. Louise Shaw Dixon '78, visited five
Sumter community organizations on November 14. During the visits students also
delivered donated items to these agencies
that help others who are in need. The students donated canned food to Christian
Charities, Emmanuel Soup Kitchen and
United Ministries, clothing to The Crisis
Closet, and toiletries to Samaritan House.
The Junior Beta Club, led by president Eadon
Lee '18 and advised by Mrs. Dianne Sprott,
collected money to donate to United Ministries of Sumter.
The boys and girls cross-country teams,
coached by Mr. Tom O’Hare, delivered
Christmas gifts to pediatric patients at
Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Zacharias
Visits Wilson Hall
Dr. Ravi Zacharias spoke to a crowd of nearly 1,400 people for Wilson Hall’s fifth annual Mission Series held in the Nash Student Center on November 18. One of the foremost theologians of our time, he delivered a message titled “Atheism and Theism –
Differing Answers, Drastic Ramifications.” Dr. Zacharias, a renowned Christian apologist who speaks and lectures around the world, has authored or edited over 20
books which have been translated into numerous languages.
During his 42 years as a speaker he has been in high demand at scores of well-known
universities and colleges, such as Harvard University and Oxford University, but his
presentation at Wilson Hall was the first time he has ever spoken at a school. Prior to
his visit at Wilson Hall, Dr. Zacharias, who is a visiting scholar at Cambridge University, was at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics in Oxford, England, and his
next speaking engagement was in Kiev, Ukraine.
Following his presentation, he graciously met with the members of Wilson Hall’s Senior
Class to autograph copies of his most recent book, Why Suffering?
Dr. Ravi Zacharias poses for a photo with Carter Dwight ’15
Finding Meaning and Comfort When Life Doesn’t Make Sense. He also
after he spoke at the annual Mission Series program on campus.
posed with each student for a photo opportunity.
Dr. Zacharias has twice spoken at the Annual Prayer Breakfast at the United Nations in New York. He has also addressed the writers of the
peace accord in South Africa, the president’s cabinet and parliament in Peru, and military officers at the Center for Geopolitical Strategy in
Moscow. At the invitation of the president of Nigeria, he addressed delegates at the First Annual Prayer Breakfast for African Leaders held
in Mozambique. Dr. Zacharias has addressed The White House and The Pentagon, and he has appeared on national news broadcasts on
networks such as CNN and Fox.
Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, which is celebrating its 30th year, has offices in 12 countries spanning four continents.
In the fall of 2009, a family approached Wilson Hall with the idea of doing something for the community with a particular focus on young
people. The family was interested in something that would impact the lives of our young people for the better and for their future. From that
meeting was born the idea of bringing in a well-known, inspirational speaker who might offer to the local population a message of encouragement, a challenge to leadership, an invitation for the greater good. As a reflection of the desires of this community-minded family, the
event was named the Wilson Hall Mission Series.
Chandler Curtis ’18 sings
“Silent Night” by candlelight at
the conclusion of A Christmas
Concert presented by the
Music Department. Held at
Wise Drive Baptist Church, the
concert featured performances
by the members of the high
school and middle school
choirs, directed by Dr. Laura
Ballard, the Afternoon Chorus,
led by Mrs. Frankie Eldridge,
and the instrumental ensemble,
directed by Mr. Scott Warren.
Chosen for the All-Region Team, Julia Ladson
’17 runs in the crosscountry region meet at
Patriot Park. Coached
by Mr. Tom O’Hare, the
team (75-17) placed
fourth in the state meet
and won the Region
Championship.
Special Fall
Athletic Recognition
Boys Cross-Country
All-State Second Team
John Ballard '16
Robert James '16
Sam Watford '16
Will Watson '15
All-Region Team
Mackenzie Lecher '15
Mary Margaret Munn '16
Anna Louise Segars '15
Sallie Spencer '16
Volleyball
All-State Team
Madsion Elmore '20
Anna Lyles '16
North/South All-Star Team
Walker Ard '15
John Wells Baker '15
Cody Hoover '15
Thomas McGinnis '15
Girls Swimming
Region Runner of the Year
Anna Lyles '16
All-State Team
Olivia Hilferty '19
Lindsey Tisdale '15
North/South All-Star Team
Courtney Clark '18
Simmons deHoll '15
All-State Team
Andrik Rivera-Nesrala '17
All-Region Team
Brayden Fidler ‘16
Drew Reynolds '17
Matthew Tavarez '18
Girls Cross-Country
All-Region Team
Madison Elmore '20
Julia Ladson '17
Football
All-State First Team
John Wells Baker '15
Cody Hoover '15
Thomas McGinnis '15
McLendon Sears '17
Tennis
All-State Team
Zan Beasley '18
Mackenzie Lecher '15
Region Player of the Year
Zan Beasley '18
Region Coach of the Year
Mrs. Debby Williams
Georgia Independent School
Assoc./S.C. Independent
School Assoc. All-Star Team
Simmons deHoll '15
All-State Team
Simmons deHoll '15
Region Player of the Year
Simmons deHoll '15
All-Region Team
Courtney Clark '18
Caroline Clark '16
Fall Varsity Athletic Awards
Football
John Wells Baker '15
Front Seven
Defensive Award
John Ballard '16
I'm In Award
Robert James '16
Best Defensive Back
Jackson Matthews '16
Most Improved Player
Thomas McGinnis '15
Best Offensive Lineman
Dawson Price '17
Compete Every Day Award
McLendon Sears '17
Best Offensive Skill Player
Golf
Kelly Brady '18
Lowest Scoring Average
Claire Kirkley '21
Most Improved Player
Boys Swimming
John Ballard '16
High Point Swimmer
Girls Swimming
Olivia Hilferty '19
High Point Swimmer
Tennis
John Wells Baker ’15 is presented a football award by Mr. Kurt Wilson, an
assistant coach, at the Fall Athletic Banquet.
Boys Cross-Country
Girls Cross-Country
Brayden Fidler '16
Coach's Award
Amanda Dotseth '15
Coach's Award
Andrik Rivera-Nesrala '16
Most Outstanding Runner
Drew Reynolds '17
Most Valuable Runner
Julia Ladson '17
Most Dependable Runner
Anna Lyles '16
Most Valuable Runner
Sarena Clifton '15
Coach's Award
Mary Margaret Munn '16
Highest Winning Percentage
Volleyball
Courtney Clark '18
Best Offensive Player
Simmons deHoll '15
Most Valuable Player
Lauren Hill '16
Best Defensive Player
Delaney Johnson '16
Coach's Award
Buschor/deHoll Presented Britton Award
The Dr. and Mrs. John J. Britton Academic Award is presented to one female and
one male athlete who maintain the highest grade point average during an athletic
season. The fall recipients were Dex Buschor '15 (football) and Simmons deHoll '15
(volleyball) and they were presented the award at the Fall Athletic Banquet.
WATFORD
RECEIVES
BUDDY
STRANGE
AWARD
Sam Watford '16
received the Buddy
Strange Baron Award,
which was established
by the members of the
Class of 1973 in memory of their classmate.
The honor is bestowed
upon the varsity football player, who demonstrates through
enthusiasm, dedication
and leadership, a true
love of the game of
football. Sam was presented the award at the
Fall Athletic Banquet.
1998
Peter Wright lives in Columbia and is the owner & head coach of CrossFit Rivalry in Irmo. He
is also a logistics management officer for the SC National Guard at McEntire Joint National
Guard Base in Eastover. Peter graduated from The Citadel with a B.A. in history.
Alumni
News
1999
Lesley Kalish Gibson and
her husband, Andy, announce the birth of their
son, Andrew Wright Gibson II, on November 22.
2000
Kerry Ellett and William Lewis Glenn were married on September 6 at First Presbyterian
Church in Greenville. Rebecca Ellett Grunewald '02 was the matron of honor and the
bridesmaids included Meredith Moss Christenberry '00 & Elizabeth DuRant Pusser '00.
The rehearsal party was held at The Loft at Huguenot Mill and the reception at the Poinsett Club, both in
Greenville. Kerry, who graduated from Furman University with a B.S. in biology, is employed as a senior account
executive at Smoak Public Relations. Her husband graduated from Furman with a B.A. in history & political science and from Charleston School of Law with a juris doctor. He practices with the Leinster Law Firm. Following
a wedding trip to Italy, they made their home in Greenville.
Joe Pinilla is a senior prevention coordinator for the Spartanburg Alcohol & Drug Abuse Commission. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in public relations and a master of public health in health
promotion, education & behavior. Joe and his wife, Tara, live in Greenville with their daughter, Savannah.
Chad Drayton is a senior functions consultant for
Itineris, an international business and information technology consulting group, in Irmo. He graduated from the
University of South Carolina with a B.A. in history.
2001
Bill Harritt, who was ordained by the Presbyterian Church of American,
is the assistant pastor of
student ministries at The
Church of the Good
Shepherd in Durham,
North Carolina. He graduated from the University
of South Carolina with a
B.S. in marketing and management and from
Covenant Theological
Seminary in St. Louis with
a master of divinity. Bill
and his wife, Janet, make
their home in Durham with
their daughter, Janet.
Lauren Goodson ’16 holds Mary Margaret Munn ’16 in the Baron, Horse, Chariot pep rally held in the Nash Student
Center. Captain Carter Dwight ’15 coordinated the pep rally on behalf of the varsity cheerleading squad which is advised by Mrs. Frances James & Mrs. Ashley Lareau.
Emily Bland Keys and her husband, DuPre, announce the
birth of their son, Walker Bland Keys, on November 17.
Virginia Jones Witcher and
her husband, Will, announce
the birth of their daughter,
Katherine Virginia Witcher,
on December 31.
2002
Eric Moulton, who lives in Columbia, is
a research and development mechatronics engineer for Land-Mekra North
America in Blythewood. He graduated
from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in electrical
engineering. Eric and his wife, Ginny, make their home in Columbia with their daughters, Naomi and Rebekah.
2006
2003
Alix Pommerenke, who graduated from Clemson University with a B.S. in biology, is a third-year medical student
at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Carin Shuler Warren earned a B.S. in nursing from the
Medical University of South Carolina and a B.A. in
French and sociology from the College of Charleston.
She and her husband, Drew, live in Salt Lake City, Utah.
2004
Thomas Player is
a dentist with
Carolina Dental
Alliance in Spartanburg. He
earned a bachelor's degree from
Wofford College
and a doctor of
dental medicine
from the Medical
University of
South Carolina.
Mae Smith ’28 enjoys recess on the preschool
playground.
2011
Carly Jacoby, who will graduate from
Troy University in May, will enter the
Auburn University Harrison School of
Pharmacy in the fall to pursue a doctor
of pharmacy.
Grace Towery, Mason Payeur & Liza Lowder, Class of ’18, perform a scene from the 9th grade drama
production of “The One and Only Santa Claus.” Directed by Ms. Hannah Leirmoe, drama teacher, the
one-act comedy by Pat Cook was performed on the multipurpose room stage.
2010
Laura Trzcinski, who
lives in Charleston, is
an account representative for St. Jude
Farms which sells
seafood to Lowcountry restaurants. She
earned a bachelor’s
degree from the College of Charleston.
2009
2008
Josh England is an information systems supply coordinator of SystemTec, Inc., a company that provides information technology consulting services, in
Columbia. He earned a B.S. in criminal justice from the
University of South Carolina.
Caroline Powell is a sales agent for Liberty National Insurance Co. in Columbia. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in English language &
literature.
Tyler Sutton lives in Columbia and works as the media relations assistant for the Lexington Blowfish, a baseball
team in the Coastal Plains League. He graduated from the
University of South Carolina with a B.A. in public relations/image management.
Josh Jennings graduated from the University of South Carolina in December
and has accepted a teaching position
with Teach for America for the 20152016 school year. He is an assistant
coach for Wilson Hall's track & field
team.
2012
Julian Dixon, a computer science major
at Clemson University, is a teaching assistant for Computer Science 101. He is
a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Taylor Goodson is the executive vice
president of Alpha Delta Pi sorority at
Charleston Southern University.
Maddie Varn, who attends the College
of Charleston, spent part of her Christmas break volunteering in Panama with
Global Bridges, a non-profit health organization led by college students.
2014
2013
Lewis Warr is a
business administration major
at The Citadel.
Alex Wells is a
biology major at
the University of
South Carolina
Upstate where
she worked as a
teaching assistant for the Math
Department.
Kate McGrath is an
education/special education
major at Liberty University.
Drake Shadwell is a theater arts
and philosophy major at Furman
University. He performed in the
university’s first production of the
Main Stage season, Lanford Wilson’s Book of Days.
Devin Singleton was named to the
fall semester dean's list at The
Citadel.
Sydney Williams is majoring in
foreign language education
(Spanish) at the College of
Charleston where she is a member
of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
Ms. Julia Gee Muldrow ’85, a math
teacher, helps Samantha Wild ’15
study for her trigonometry
midterm exam during the Baron
Exam Study Time (BEST). Held in
the Nash Student Center after
school, BEST gave high school students the opportunity to study together and to ask faculty members
for additional help during exams.
Mrs. Tara Schumacher,
an art teacher, instructs Thomas Creech
’25, Ellie Hudson ’25,
Brian Crum ’23 &
Nathan Owens ’23 at
an after-school art
camp held in the lower
school art studio.
Top Left: Brave Dumrongkiate, Teresa Deng, Lindsey Tisdale & Taylor Hall, Class of ’15, listen to football players speak
during a pep rally about the upcoming state semifinal game. Top Right: Sanders Warrick ’26 displays her handiwork
during the Santa Claus Potato Parade through the hallways. Center Left: Cantey Jacocks ’17 represents her class in
the 3-Point Contest, a pep rally organized by the varsity cheerleading squad in December. Bottom Left: John Ballard
’16 runs for a touchdown in the Barons’ victory over Heathwood Hall in the state quarterfinal. Coached by Mr. Bruce
Lane, the team (8-4) advanced to the state semifinals for the 16th consecutive year. Bottom Center: Mary Paisley Belk
’16 performs in the varsity cheerleading squad’s annual Christmas routine during a pep rally. Bottom Right: Brayden
Fidler ’16, who was named to the All-Region Team, competes in a cross-country meet held at Patriot Park. The team, coached
by Mr. Tom O’Hare, earned a record of 81-22, finished fourth in the state meet, and won the Region Championship.