Summer - Baylor School

Summer 2005
for alumni and friends of Baylor School
Senior Profiles
The seniors profiled in this issue share with us their
understanding of how individual contributions are
what make the difference in the life of a school, a
community, and the world at large.
Jack Parker
From the Headmaster
Prepared to Make a Positive Difference
At Baylor’s recent commencement we said farewell to l80 of
our students. It was a terrific class and I am so personally
grateful to them for their many courtesies to each other, to
our faculty, and, if I may say such a thing, their gracious
welcome of Sue and me to Baylor. I have grown to know and
love this class collectively and individually.
Commencement is a logical time for both looking back and
looking forward. Looking back, it’s worth noting that we
have talked a lot about leadership this year at Baylor. Probably
the most famous treatise on leadership is John Gardner’s l990’s
book, On Leadership. In it he describes leadership as “a
process of persuasion or example by which an individual – or
team – induces a group to pursue objectives held by the leader
or shared by the leader and his or her followers.” Baylor
students get it. They see with Gardner “…a great civilization
is a drama in the minds of a people. It is a shared vision; it is
shared norms, expectations, and purposes.”
Moreover, Baylor men and women recognize along with
Gardner that “…there must be a perpetual rebuilding. Each
generation must rediscover the living elements in their own
tradition and adapt them to present realities. To assist in that
rediscovery is a prime task of leadership.”
Looking forward, our challenge to the class of 2005 is to
spend their lives rediscovering the values, goals, aspirations,
and actions that exist in the minds of a great people. Our
confidence as a Baylor community is that these students can
do it. They are not just waiting until they are 50; they have
already begun making a positive difference in the world. After
months and years of asking them to build friendships, allegiances, teamwork, even devotion to Baylor, we declared them
prepared. But, it is not just prepared to leave, it is prepared
to begin again… prepared to know how and in whom to trust
… prepared to make a positive difference in the
world…prepared to lead.
And so we bid them farewell, and go about the task this
summer of assessing this past year as we prepare and look
ahead to another academic year that will soon be upon us.
It’s worth noting that this year’s day admissions was very
strong as we worked to bring in the best possible kids, balance
gender, and meet various objectives. Here are a few more
points worth noting:
• Our class of 2012 is made up of 108 students from 27
different schools.
• The number of legacy children remains very strong in the
day program, which illustrates confidence in the school.
We are working towards more legacy children in our
boarding program.
• We have a goal of continuing socioeconomic diversity within
the school, and we value those donors who have endowed
scholarships and other contributions to our financial aid
program. You should feel confident that we are good
stewards of your dollars and use your generous gifts as
effectively as we can.
• Our Distinguished Scholars program, which began only a
few years ago, is thriving. This year we admitted four new
students, bringing us to a healthy total of 12 top academic
achievers. These students had their choice among the country’s top boarding schools and selected us. Our Distinguished
Scholars are a geographically diverse group, coming from
Colorado, Missouri, North Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky,
Virginia, and Tennessee.
Finally, I want to take a moment to thank all of you who
helped us meet our Annual Fund goal. This year we enjoyed
75 percent parent participation and 28 percent participation
from alumni, which is an increase from last year’s totals.
Auction participation was also excellent, with 192 volunteers
coordinating an event that raised $303,463 for the Annual
Fund and Liz Aplin Fund.
In my first year as Baylor’s headmaster I have seen a strong
partnership among faculty, administrators, parents, and alumni.
This partnership is perhaps the most encouraging evidence
that we are all a part of something special indeed. As we send
our graduates out into the world prepared to make a positive
difference in the world, I am grateful to each of you for your
support in helping us make our mission a reality.
by Dr. Bill W. Stacy, President and Headmaster
for alumni and friends of Baylor School
Julie J. Van Valkenburg
volume fifteen • number three
2 Around Campus
News and perspectives from Baylor School and beyond.
4 Summer Reading Room
Although it’s not required, we highly recommend summer reading at any
age! To get you started we’ve asked some of our faculty for a list of
recommendations.
6 An Incredible Journey
Alex Copeland was intrigued by the service aspect of Round Square from
the time he first heard about Baylor’s affiliation with the international
organization. This spring break while most of his classmates were at the
beach or on the ski slopes, Alex spent two weeks doing service work in Peru
becoming the first Baylor student to participate in a Round Square international service project.
by Barbara Kennedy
7 Senior Profiles
Although 2005 graduates Jesse Bertke, Albernie Ferguson, Anne Lawrence,
Vishruth Reddy, Jason Son, Keely Stockett, Oliver Townsend and Armand
Willis have pursued different interests at Baylor, they have in common their
approach to attaining success. These eight students pushed themselves
beyond their perceived limits in order to get the most out of the Baylor
experience and are better for having done so.
by Rachel Schulson
11 Dear Alums
What do you think students in the class of 2005 need to know as they leave
Baylor to enter college? Alumni Paul Kelley ’45, Ellis Goodloe ’55, Larry
Roberts ‘65, Cameron Yarnell ‘75, Bob Bonner ’85, and Elaine Adams ’95
give advice to the class of 2005 (and fondly remember their favorite teachers
and mentors).
by Rachel Schulson
12 Raider Report
A roundup of class notes, kudos, athletics, and more.
27 Final Thoughts
Then and Now: Trustee Jack Stanford remembers what made Baylor special
during his years as a teacher and administrator from 1953 to 1972 and
looks at where the school is heading now. As he completes his one-year
commitment as senior consultant to the board and headmaster, Jack is
confident that the school is on the right course with Dr. Stacy at the helm.
by Jack Stanford
Baylor School admits students of any race, sex, color, religion, national or ethnic
origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made
available to students at the school. Baylor does not discriminate on the basis of sex,
race, color, religion or national origin in the administration of its educational policies,
admission policies, financial aid programs, athletic programs, and other school
administered programs.
Dr. Dan Kennedy’s annual tradition of recording college
destinations of Baylor seniors is pictured above.
(Cover photo by Jack Parker)
Editor
Rachel Schulson
Designer
Angela Rich
Writers & Contributors
Barbara Kennedy
Rachel Schulson
Photography
Alex Copeland
Med Dement
Barbara Kennedy
Acknowledgements
Susan Collins
Bill Cushman ’59
Dr. Bill W. Stacy
Jack Stanford
Jack Parker
Julie J. Van Valkenburg
Susan Miller
Velda Price
President and Headmaster
Dr. Bill W. Stacy
Associate Head/Vice President for Advancement
and External Affairs
Kathleen Hanson
Vice President of Finance and Operations
Dallas Joseph
Associate Head for Academic Affairs
Jim Stover
Associate Head for Student Affairs
Michael McBrien
Chairman, Board of Trustees
Jon Kinsey ’72
President, Alumni Association
Greg Wright ’64
Chairman, Parent Alliance
Ken Conner
The mission of Baylor School, a coeducational day and
boarding college preparatory school, is to instill in its
students both the desire and the ability to make a positive
difference in the world.
Baylor School
171 Baylor School Road; Chattanooga, TN 37405
Phone: (423) 267-8505 | Fax: (423) 757-2878
www.baylorschool.org | pr@baylorschool.org
Around Campus
News & Perspectives from Baylor School
The national spotlight was on Baylor’s
athletic program last
month after making
Sports Illustrated’s
list of top 25 high
school programs in
the country.
Overall, Baylor has
won state championships in 17 sports
in the last 10 years,
including boys’ and girls’ soccer, baseball and softball. Included
in a long legacy of athletic accomplishments are the girls’ golf
team, which has won 10 straight state titles, and the boys’ golf
squad which has claimed eight of the last 11.
Of the more than 38,000 high schools in the U.S., fewer
than one in 1,000 made the Top 25. According to Sports
Illustrated officials, criteria emphasized all-around excellence
during the last 10 years and included state titles won and
college athletes produced. The top ranked high school sports
program belongs to Long Beach Polytechnic High School, the
alma mater of notables such as Billie Jean King, Willie McGinest, and Gene Washington, among others. Baylor was also
ranked number one in the state of Tennessee.
Baylor School Athletic Director Austin Clark credits the
school’s coaches and student athletes for the honor. “Over
the years there have been a lot of student athletes and coaches
who have put in the work that has resulted in this accomplishment. All of them should feel proud about this significant
achievement and honor,” said Clark.
Jack Parker
Baylor Athletics Makes
Sports Illustrated List
New Entrance Completed
A number of improvements have been made to Baylor’s campus
this spring, most notably a new front entrance.
New inscriptions include the school motto: Amat victoria
curam, which means “Victory loves care.” On the opposite side
are the words, “To Prepare for the University and the Business
of Life.” This phrase, which represents Dr. John Roy Baylor’s
thoughts about the school's purpose, first appeared in a notice
when Baylor opened.
Also included is the word “magnanimitas” from the Latin
roots “magna,” meaning great, and “animus,” meaning spirit.
In the last speech Dr. Baylor wrote for the Baylor student body,
he ended with this statement: “if this was the last word that
God gave me the strength to say to you, and to give you as a
watchword for life, I do not know that I could find a better
one for you than that of the old Romans, magnanimitas.”
In an address to faculty earlier this year, Jim Stover, associate
head for academic affairs, gave his own observation. “This
definition connected Dr. Baylor’s aspirations for his students
to our aspirations for our students as represented by our
mission statement: to instill in students both the ability and
the desire to make a positive difference in the world — to
instill in them both the ability and the desire to be magnanimous
human beings.”
Baylor Almanac Significant events in the history of Baylor School
1917.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.26.27.28.29.30.31.32.33.34.35.36.37.38.39.40.41.42.1943.44.45.46.47.48.49.50.51.52.53.54.55.56.57.58.59.1930.61.62
88 years ago
62 years ago
45 years ago
The U.S. declares war on Germany and private schools
throughout the south come under heavy pressure to
introduce military training. Baylor becomes an accredited
school of the U.S. War Department, offering full military
training under the direction of Captain Frank Zea.
The first Baylor summer camp opens under the direction
of Herb Barks. Other directors in the camp’s formative
years include Carl Scheibe (1944-1948), Sibley Evans
(1949-1965), and Jack Stanford (1966-1970).
The new science, library, and study hall building is complete
and named Barks Hall to honor Dr. H.B. Barks for his
long years of service as headmaster of the school.
Merit Scholarships for Baylor Graduates Climb to $6.3 Million
113 (63%) seniors were offered 260 scholarships totaling
$6,487,660 in merit awards for excellence in academics, fine
arts, leadership, community service, and athletics. This is a
$2,000,000 increase from the class of 2004.
18 students will play Division I or II sports, with 16 students
receiving athletic scholarships totaling $550,350 in return.
56% of the Class of 2005 will matriculate at institutions in
the Most Competitive, Highly Competitive and Very Competitive
categories (According to Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges).
Specifically, 18 (10%) will attend institutions ranked in the
Most Competitive category, 22 (12.2%) will attend institutions
in the Highly Competitive category, and 42 students (23.4%)
will attend institutions in the Very Competitive category.
179 members of the class of 2005 will scatter among 82
different colleges in 24 states, Canada, and Europe. A total
of 77% will attend Southern institutions; 8.9% will attend
Northeastern institutions; 4.8% will venture to the Southwestern and Western regions of the U.S. Three additional students
will attend colleges in Canada, Italy, and England.
2 students earned scholarships totaling $140,260 in recognition of their commitment to community service. Scholarships
with a community service component added another $105,000
in offers.
Some of the scholarships offered to members of the Class of
2005: Carnegie Mellon University Scholarship, Capstone at
Caroline (C.J.) Enloe Elisabeth (Bess) Carter Mary (Molly) Roberts
Autumn Nelor
Four New Boarders are Named Distinguished Scholars
Four rising ninth graders have been selected to receive scholarships through the Distinguished Scholars Program. The
program seeks boarding candidates who are among the top
10 percent in national standardized testing, have grade point
averages of 3.7 or higher, have proven leadership in their
schools or organizations, and demonstrate involvement in
their schools and communities. The Distinguished Scholars
for 2005 are Caroline Joy (C.J.) Enloe, of Colorado Springs,
Colo.; Elisabeth Hill (Bess) Carter, Birmingham, Ala., Mary
Elizabeth (Molly) Roberts, also from Birmingham, Ala.; and
Autumn Jade Nelor, Mableton, Ga. These talented students
are the third group of Distinguished Scholars admitted to
Baylor since the program was launched in 2003.
the University of South Carolina, Catholic University Merit
Award, Centre College Colonel Scholarship, Clemson National
Scholar, College of Wooster Academic Achievement, Cornell
College Presidential, Vanderbilt University Ingram Scholarship,
Mercer University Scholar, University of Southern California
Trustee Scholarship, University of Alabama Presidential
Scholarship, Vanderbilt Top Tenn and Academic Achievement
Scholarships, Tulane Distinguished Scholars Award, University
of Miami George Edgar Merrick and Bowman Foster Ashe
Scholarships, Elon University Presidential Academic and
Fellows Program Scholarships, Furman University Achiever
Scholarship, Wofford College 1854 Scholarship, Depauw
University Merit Award, Transylvania University Founders
Scholarship, Ohio State University Buckeye Plus Scholarship,
Denison University Scholarship, Wake Forest University
Presidential Scholarship for Distinguished Achievement, University of the South Wilkins Scholarship, Emory University
Dean’s Achievement Scholarship, Duke University Scholarship,
Washington University Danforth Scholar, Worcester Polytechnic
Institute University Award, and the Toyota Scholarship.
63.64.65.66.67.68.69.70.71.72.73.74.75.1976.77.78.79.80.81.82.83.84.85.86.87.88.89.1990.91.92.93.94.95.96.97.98.99.00.01.2002.03.04.05
29 years ago
14 years ago
2 years ago
The Walkabout outdoor program, directed by Larry Roberts,
Dr. Chris Moore, and Bill Cushman begin the tradition of
taking seniors on a two-week climbing, rafting, and
backpacking trip in lieu of final exams.
Hunter Hall is renovated and converted to a girls dormitory.
Baylor is honored with an invitation to consider membership
in the elite Round Square Conference of Schools, a worldwide association of schools committed to the educational
philosophy of Kurt Hahn, a lifelong educator and founder
of Outward Bound. Well known and highly regarded in
Europe, Canada, and Australia, Round Square schools
subscribe to certain pillars of internationalism: democracy,
environmental concern, adventure, leadership, and service,
all built around academic excellence.
Round Square
Source: Jim Hitt’s It Never Rains After Three O’Clock, John Longwith’s Castle on a Cliff, and Baylor’s Office of Communications.
Summer Reading Room
Faculty Recommendations and Reviews
Jack Parker
Although it’s not required, we highly recommend summer reading at any age! To get
you started we’ve asked some of our faculty for a list of recommendations. A complete
list of faculty recommendations, as well as the Baylor summer reading list, is available
on our website at www.baylorschool.org
Penny Batt, English instructor
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Recommended for older students and adults, this novel of
historical fiction illuminates the royal court of Henry VIII just
prior to his split with the Catholic Church. Told through the
eyes of Mary Boleyn, Anne Boleyn’s younger sister, the story
meanders through the personal lives of those closest to the
king during 15 years of political turmoil. Six hundred pages
never flew by so fast!
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Amy Cohen, sixth grade humanities and Latin
When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Matsuko
This book tells the story, through a child’s voice, of his ordinary
Japanese-American family living a middle-class life in Berkeley
in 1942. Even though the War is underway, they think that
they have assimilated well into American culture until their
father is taken into custody and sent to a work camp in New
Mexico, where letters arrive only sporadically and under
obvious censorship. Believed to be a threat to “national
security” they are sent by train to an internment camp in Utah
for the remainder of the war. Their return home is not simple,
nor are they treated by friends and neighbors as they once
were. This story is lovely because it reveals a slice of our
country’s history in an unsentimental, yet beautiful way.
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Bill Cushman, history instructor
The Bible
Familiarity with the Bible is so critical to good reading of the
history and the literature of the United States, that this year
I’d like to recommend that students read some of the stories
that have resonated down through the years. Genesis, for
instance, contains not only the Garden of Eden but also Cain
and Abel, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel. Furthermore,
it features the stories of the Patriarchs, such as Abraham,
Jacob, and Joseph.
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Scott Dering, science department chair and physics instructor
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
The Scientists by John Gribbon
The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl
The Flander’s Panel by Arturo Perez-Reverte
The Murder Room by P.D. James
Bill Bryson’s A Short History of Nearly Everything is a brief,
yet comprehensive, summary of all scientific knowledge for
the non-scientist. And Bryson is a very witty guy. If you like
that book and want to delve a bit deeper, I recommend The
Scientists by John Gribbin. Suppose, however, you just can’t
bear to read a science book on the beach, no matter how
entertaining it is. Here are three excellent mysteries in which
the crimes resemble works of art. In Matthew Pearl’s The Dante
Club, several murders in 1880s Boston are patterned after the
punishments given out to mortal sinners in Dante’s Inferno. In
The Flanders Panel by Arturo Perez-Reverte, an art restorer in
Madrid must solve murders that seem to follow the moves in
a chess game portrayed in a famous painting. And finally,
murders in London mimic notorious crimes that are profiled
in a museum exhibit in The Murder Room by P.D. James.
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Kurt Emmanuele, math instructor
Everett Ruess: A Vagabond for Beauty by W.L. Rusho
Everett Ruess, a young poet and artist, spends almost four
years of his adolescent life traveling and contemplating wilderness areas of California, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah in
the early 1930s. His detailed and emotional letters to his family
and friends give the reader a memorable look at a part of the
country that is much intact to the present day. At the age of
20, he mysteriously vanishes in the Utah desert, and the reader
gets involved in his questionable disappearance.
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Bob Fazio, art instructor
Frank Lloyd Wright by Ada Louise Huxtable
At fewer than 250 pages, Huxtable reveals the arrogant
personality that drove the man at the center of American
architecture to create some of the most dynamic structures
seen to date while living a life on the edge of accepted cultural
norms. This biography follows his life of creativity in design
and includes stories of love, death, and even murder. I recommend that the reader keep a picture book of Wright’s designs
close at hand as reference in order to get a full impression of
his unique accomplishments.
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Fred Hubbs, geography instructor
Krakatoa by Simon Winchester
In Simon Winchester’s book, science, history, and geography
all come together to tell the story of this historic eruption in
1883. The fallout of this disaster had not only physical but
also “political, religious, social, economic, and psychological
consequences.”
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Dan Kennedy, math instructor
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
The sixth book in the Harry Potter series (out of an eventual
seven) will be released to the world on July 16. It will, of
course, be more than a book release; it will be an international
news story. Otherwise sane people will don black robes and
carry broomsticks to their local Barnes and Noble stores to
wait in line until midnight just so they can share in the frenzy
that will surround, for one glorious day across the civilized
world, a hard-bound book of English prose. Who says reading
is dead? Catch the excitement this summer.
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Judy Millener, language department chair, Spanish instructor
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
The story begins in Barcelona in 1945 and covers a period of
20 years. As a young boy, Daniel is brought to the Cemetery
of Forgotten books, where he is allowed to choose just one
book to take with him. He chooses The Shadow of the Wind
by Julián Carax. The book changes his life, and he spends the
next twenty years trying to discover why all the other books
by Carax have been destroyed. Mystery, murder, and madness
— The Shadow of the Wind encompasses them all. (Note:
The Shadow of the Wind was published in Spanish in 2001
and translated by Lucia Graves in 2004. It was chosen as one
of the best novels of the year by Time Magazine.)
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Bill Stacy, headmaster (reviews excerpted from Amazon.com)
Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose
American Caesar by William Manchester
Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Undaunted Courage is a biography of Meriwether Lewis that
relies heavily on the journals of both Lewis and Clark and
backed up by the author’s personal travels along their route
to the Pacific.
Manchester’s incisive writing in American Caesar make
this a compelling view of the life of 20th century icon General
Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964). No student of modern times
can ignore this vain, mercurial soldier whose battlefield
brilliance conserved the lives of his soldiers even as they cut
their opponents to ribbons.
In his debut novel, The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
provides an educational and eye-opening account of a country’s
political turmoil – in this case, Afghanistan – while also
developing characters whose heartbreaking struggles and
emotional triumphs resonate with readers.
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Sally Naylor, English instructor
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
The House of the Scorpion is a compelling anti-utopian novel
and coming-of-age story. It is replete with social commentary
and is relevant to many of the sociopolitical and ethical issues
we face today. It is a grim yet suspenseful tale, despite its
hopeful outcome. It is a National Book Award winner, an
ALA Honor Book and a Newberry Award winner. One of my
eighth grade male students who just finished it stated, “It’s
my all-time favorite.”
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Sue Ramsey, dean of the 9th and 10th grade
Plainsong and Eventide by Kent Haruff
Plainsong and its sequel Eventide deal with such a variety of
characters and issues that readers of all ages will find them
compelling. Plainsong features two families – a father and his
two sons whose wife/mother separates from the family because
of emotional issues and two unmarried brothers, cattle ranchers,
who take in an unwed pregnant teenager. Eventide picks up
the story of the ranchers, keeping many of the same characters,
as well as adding others in the small town of Holt, Colo.
These are by far the most engaging books I’ve read this year.
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Kathy Rupe, literature specialist, grades 6-8
The Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings
Thirteen years of close friendship has helped three lifelong
friends pass the time on Chesapeake Bay where crabbing and
fishing are the glue that binds their families together. Developers
and wealthy summer families moving into the area cause
resentment among the locals, especially when a couple and
their toddler son buy up land that was previously held by one
of the boys’ grandfather. In a mean spirited prank “gone bad,”
two of the boys drill holes in the couple’s red kayak. One of
the boys is a member of the rescue team that finds the toddler
when the kayak goes down. Recovery of the craft reveals the
terrible secret to the boy and he has to decide whether to betray
his friends.
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Jim Stover, associate head for academic affairs,
English instructor
Blessings by Anna Quindlen
This is a quiet, thoughtful novel about a teenage boy who
unexpectedly rises to the challenge of becoming a single parent.
Gilead by Marilynn Robinson
This novel, probably best suited for older students or adults,
is the poignant and eloquent letter a dying minister writes to
his young son as he reflects on his family and his life.
The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
This action-packed historical novel tells the story of Danes
fighting Anglo Saxons in the 800s — the time of King Alfred
the Great (though he’s not great yet).
The entire field will be flown to Miami via chartered jet to play on
one of the most challenging golf courses in the world – Doral’s
world famous Blue Monster. The Blue Monster is home to the PGA
Tour’s Ford Championship and its famous 18th hole was recently
voted one of Golf Magazine’s top 100 holes in the world.
We’ll take care of everything – from breakfast to lunch to dinner
to cocktails and home again the same day – all you have to
worry about is...
by Barbara Kennedy
A chapel announcement about Round Square
nearly three years ago was the beginning of
an incredible journey for Alex Copeland.
“I heard in an eighth grade assembly that
we had been named a Round Square school
and I’ve wanted to get involved ever since. I
thought it was a really good opportunity,” said
Alex, who just completed his sophomore year.
This March Alex boarded a plane and
headed for Peru, where he spent two weeks
doing service work in villages nestled in the
Andes Mountains. In doing so, he became
the first Baylor student to participate in a
Round Square international service project.
Alex joined other students from Round Square schools throughout the
world to build stoves for families in a region described by Alex as “very
rural.” According to Alex, open fire pits are used inside the homes for
cooking, which leads to health problems. Most of the work involved
replacing the open pits with brick stoves and installing chimneys to make
them functional.
The students also explored the region and hiked on local trails. In
another village, the students spruced up a school with a good cleaning and
new coat of paint. “Afterwards, the local people played a soccer game with
us. We were at an elevation of about 8,000 feet and it was hard to breath.
We lost 6-2, and the bad thing is we were playing against small children
International Understanding
and old men playing in their bare feet,” laughed Alex. Another project on
Democracy and Leadership
the trip involved cutting a new trail to a mountain stream where the local
Environmental Responsibility
villagers hope to draw more visitors.
Adventure
Along the way, Alex and his Round Square companions discovered that
Leadership
they were the constant object of curiosity. And with four years of Spanish
Service
under his belt, Alex was often called upon to translate. “In one of the
communities they had a festival for us and people hiked for hours to see
Baylor School is one of only four schools in the
us,” recalled Alex. “The people were very friendly and thankful that we
Unites States recognized as a member of the
were helping them. They were very nice to us and were always interested
Round Square Conference of Schools. Well
in what we were doing and wanted to talk to us.”
known in Canada and in Europe, the organizaEmma Williams, Baylor’s former Round Square coordinator, said Alex
tion includes over 30 schools on five continents,
came to her in his freshman year, but the first two trips they investigated
which are selected based on a commitment to
were full. “Alex had to wait a year before he could go. He worked hard
service, international education, and outdoor
at keeping his grades up until we found the right opportunity. He traveled
adventure. As a member school, our students
to a new country, with the full knowledge that the trip would be anything
have the opportunity to do domestic and interbut a vacation and that he would be the only Baylor student and one of
national exchanges with other member schools.
the only Americans on the trip,” said Emma.
A variety of service project opportunities
At times transportation was extremely primitive, the weather was rainy
are also available, ranging from four weeks to
and chilly, and the work exhausting. But Alex experienced a deep gratification
a year in length in the United States, Canada,
that comes from helping others. “It was nice not being just a tourist, but really
Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, and
exploring the area and actually making a difference in their lives,” he said.
Australia. In addition, a delegation of Baylor
Now that he’s experienced Round Square, it wouldn’t be surprising if
students and faculty attend an annual conference
Alex is the one igniting a spark for students at an assembly. “I would like
with other schools from around the world (this
more students who are committed volunteers to get involved and I’d like
year’s conference also has a service component).
to help keep the Round Square service projects going,” says Alex.
The cost for most exchanges is transportation
As Alex sets his sights on getting more people involved he offers advice
plus an incidental fee. If you are interested in
that comes from experience. “It’s fun and a good opportunity. Besides getting
learning more, contact Shayna Sutherin-Pou,
to visit a new place and try new things you get the gratification of helping
at (423) 267-8506, ext. 562, or e-mail her at
people out who really need it. But, make sure you’re committed.”
shayna_sutherin-pou@baylorschool.org
The Pillars of Round Square
Alex Copeland
an incredible journey...
Senior
Profiles
The seniors profiled on the following pages will
leave Baylor with an appreciation for what it takes
to make your mark. Each has balanced academics
with his or her personal talents and interests.
Through their extensive involvement in what Baylor
offers, these students learned to set their priorities
and to manage their time. They also came to understand that individual contributions are what
make the difference in the life of a school, a community, and the world at large.
by Rachel Schulson (photos by Med Dement)
Rachel Schulson is Communications Director of the
Jewish Federation and author of the children’s book,
Guns: What You Should Know. She and her husband,
Henry, are the parents of two Baylor students,
Michael ’08 and Leah ’10.
Jesse Bertke
Walkabout Student Instructor
Jim Pearce Leadership Trip
President of Honor Council
Head Prefect of Lowrance Dorm
Co-Captain of Varsity Crew Team
Tower Editor (Dorm Section)
Dorm Council
Liz Aplin Art Trip to Italy
Inner Circle
Jesse Bertke realized in
eighth grade that she
needed more than what
her high school in Anchorage, Alaska could
provide. Jesse conducted her
own search for a medium
sized, co-educational boarding
school with excellent outdoors
and art programs.
Although Chattanooga was
far from home (“of course,
anything would be far from
Alaska,” she notes), Jesse
was ready for new experiences. “I have really enjoyed
the South and I’ve gotten involved in almost everything here.”
After a successful four years at Baylor, Jesse again conducted a search
for a school with the right fit and begins classes at Stanford this fall.
Albernie Ferguson
Vervé (6 years)
Peer Tutor (1 year)
Writing Center (tutors 7 students, 2 years)
Red Circle (3 years)
Harambee (3 years, President ’05)
Tower editor (photographer/editor, organizations section, junior year;
photographer/editor, seniors section, senior year)
Jim Pearce Leadership Trip
Chattanooga Girls Choir
12th Grade Student Council Representative
Member of Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth
Student Representative in Curriculum SubCommittee
Concert Choir (3 years, Vocal Music Award)
Student Chauffeur of Baylor’s GEM vehicle
Concert Dance Collaboration with Orange Grove Dancers (2 years)
Staff Writer for Baylor Notes
Albernie Ferguson’s advice to a new student would be “prioritize
what you do and when you do it. Putting it off will not help ever
… ever!” Following her own advice has allowed Albernie to pursue
what she loved at Baylor.
“Tutoring at the writing center gave me confidence in my English
skills, and I learned how to teach. It was a very rewarding experience.”
Albernie is equally enthusiastic about dance which she took every
term. For the last two years, she also choreographed for other dancers.
Albernie will attend Rhodes College. She plans to study medicine
and wants to become a dermatologist.
Baylor Magazine 7
Vishruth Reddy
Valedictorian
National Merit Commended Student
Ingram Scholarship Recipient, Top Tenn Scholarship,
Toyota Scholarship, Best Buy Scholarship
Community Service Grant Writing Director/Grant Writer
Jamaica Service Trip, Asheville Service Trip
Jo-Conn Guild Award (’04)
Magna Cum Laude (’04)
National Honor Society (’04)
Baylor Notes Editor (’04)
Peer Tutor/Writing Center Tutor
Traveled to India and Volunteered in Hospital (’98)
French Club
1000 Hours of Community Service
Jim Pearce Leadership Trip
It is not surprising that Vishruth Reddy’s valedictory speech focused
on what he learned outside of the classroom. Although he excelled
in his studies, Vishruth’s involvement with the school’s community
service program defined the four years he spent at Baylor.
Vishruth, who will attend Vanderbilt on a community service/academic scholarship, says of Baylor “no other school would
have offered me so much.” He is equally impressed with Joli Anderson’s leadership of the community service program. “She is passionate
about what she does and is a person who leads by example.”
Vishruth plans to study pre-medicine at Vanderbilit and would
like to become a cardiologist.
Anne Lawrence
Softball (5 years on varsity, starting in 8th grade;
state championship team ’03, ’04, and ’05)
Basketball and Volleyball (4 years)
Writing Center Tutor
Peer Tutor
Red Circle
Peer Support Network Counselor
Habitat for Humanity
Round Table
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (president ’05, member 4 years)
Jim Pearce Leadership Trip
Although she played three sports and sampled other Baylor offerings,
Anne Lawrence always placed academics first. “You know what
has to be done and you do it.”
And do it she did. Anne played second base for Baylor’s 2003,
2004, and 2005 state championship softball teams. She also played
for a team that qualified for the 2004 American Softball Association
Gold Nationals. She was awarded a softball scholarship to Birmingham
Southern, where she plans to study medicine.
Anne cites as her Baylor role models coach Kelli Smith, Dr. Dan
Kennedy and Jim Stover. “I had a great experience at Baylor. I
wouldn’t give it up for anything.”
Keely Stockett
Co-Captain of the Cross-Country Team
Track Team
Peer Support Network Counselor
Peer Tutor
Red Circle
8th Grade Valedictorian
Jim Pearce Leadership Award
Morehead Scholarship Nominee
Ronald McDonald House Volunteer
Keely Stockett wasn’t sure she’d find her place at Baylor when she
arrived as a seventh grader. She credits her teachers with the smooth
transition and cross-country running for keeping her mind clear as
she pursued a particularly rigorous course of study.
Keely, who already enjoyed writing, decided to major in journalism
at UNC Chapel Hill after taking David Padilla’s English class. “He
really taught us to look at language differently and to love the
subject.”
Keely took chances at Baylor — such as rock climbing on the
Jim Pearce Leadership Trip in spite of a fear of heights. It’s what
“made my Baylor experience so good that now I find it hard to
think about leaving.”
Jason Son
Boarding Student (Daejun, Korea)
Community Service Site Leader
International Club President
Principal Oboe for Concert Band
Principal Chair in Chattanooga Youth Symphony
As a Sophomore, made UTC Tri State Honors Band
As a Junior, made Tennessee All-State Band and UTC Tri State Honors Band
Jason Son thanks his parents for selecting the instrument that has
shaped his life. He began playing the oboe in fourth grade at their
suggestion and will enter Pepperdine University on an oboe scholarship this fall. He plans to major in pre-dentistry while pursuing
his passion for music.
Jason chose to board at Baylor as a sophomore “because of its
impressive academic and music programs.” He credits music teacher
Tom Schow for bringing him to the next level by encouraging him
to audition for honors band and to compete for a spot in the
Tennessee All-State Band.
Oliver Townsend
Leader on Track and Cross-Country Teams
Ran in Penn Relays (only one of 16 high school students invited) and came in second in the
mile (second fastest mile time in the country so far this year) All South freshman team,
All City in ’02, ’03, and ’04, Tennessee Classic Individual and team Champion in ’03, Team
State Runner-Up in ’03, Track State Champions ’02, school records in 800m and 1600m,
1:53.7 and 4:10.7 respectively.
National Merit Commended Student
National Honor Society
Chemistry Award
Tennessee Math Teachers Association Math Award
Silver Medal on National Latin Exam
Peer Tutor
Cum Laude
Science Bowl
Roundtable
“You can train hard and sacrifice a lot but on race day when
you can’t train anymore, you just have to put it on the line.
You’ve really got to give 100%,” says Oliver Townsend.
Oliver also applied this philosophy with great success to all
the activities he took on during his Baylor career.
He plans to continue giving 100% when he begins classes
at Dartmouth this fall. Oliver chose Dartmouth for its bio-chemical
engineering department, which offers a five-year hands-on program.
He is interested in medical and pharmaceutical research and likens
the search for cures to “going on a crusade.”
Armond Willis
Football (four years, starting linebacker senior year)
National Honor Society
Red Circle
Played Saxophone in the Concert Band
Community Service
Track (high jump, took first place — best of prep)
Peer Tutor
Harambee (four years)
Teen President of local chapter of Jack and Jill of America (provides constructivee
educational, cultural, civic, recreational, social and service programs for children)
Competitive Cheerleading (outside of Baylor) through United (took third place nationally)
Armond Willis plans to study international business at Florida
International University but will explore all options. There are “so
many things I want to do” says Armond whose varied interests kept
him on Baylor’s campus so many hours a day that he was often
mistaken for a boarder.
In addition to football and concert band, Armond was active
with community service. In his first and only season on the track
team, Armond was named Best of Prep in the high jump. Above
all, though, Armond appreciates Baylor for making him a
reader. “It has made me more intelligent, more aware of things
and has improved my writing skills.”
ear Alums...some advice for the class of ’05
Our recent graduates join our alumni community and will forever be linked by the numbers ’05 beside their names. The number of course,
is strengthened by shared experiences, relationships with faculty and fellow classmates, and lasting memories. Some fellow alums recently
took a few moments to offer a bit of advice for the Class of ’05…
Paul Kelly ’45
Larry Roberts ’65
Bob Bonner ’85
Resides: Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
Resides: Signal Mountain, Tennessee
Resides: Hanover, New Hampshire
Profession: Retired from law firm of
Kelly and Kelly in Jasper, Tenn.
Profession: Teaches science/heads environmental community service program,
Baylor School
Profession: History Professor, Dartmouth College
Favorite Baylor Teachers: Football coach
Humpy Heywood, English teacher Jim
Hitt and chemistry teacher J.E. Bradley
Advice for Class of ’05: Don’t take anything for granted. You’re going to have
to stay dedicated to whatever you pursue.
Ellis Goodloe ’55
Resides: Nashville, Tennessee
Favorite Baylor Teachers: Algebra teacher/football coach Bryce Harris (remembers that Mr. Harris introduced AP calculus to Baylor; at the time the only
school in the South to offer it)
Favorite Baylor Teacher: Doug Hale
Advice for Class of ’05: Understand
that most of your best college experiences
will have nothing to do with your courses. But try to make sure that at least a
few of them happen inside the classroom.
Advice for Class of ’05: Choose a profession or job because you truly enjoy it
and not because of the money. (Larry
gave up a lucrative legal career to teach).
Profession: Retired from National Life
and Accident Insurance Company
Favorite Baylor Teachers: Football coach
Humpy Heywood and track coach Jim
Rike
Advice for Class of ’05: The older you
get the more you appreciate Baylor for its
sense of tradition and how well it prepares
you for the future. The lessons you learn
from competing — teamwork, pride, and
the importance of giving your best effort
— will stay with you all your life.
Elaine Adams ’95
Resides: Dallas, Texas
Cameron Yarnell ’75
Resides: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Profession: VP, SunTrust Bank
Baylor Alumni Board
Golf Tournament
Benefiting Faculty Renewal Grants
~
August 8 at Black Creek Club
~
Contact Rob Robinson, Director of
Alumni Affairs at (423) 267-8505
Favorite Baylor Teachers: Dr. Dan
Kennedy (Doc Kennedy), Fred Hubbs,
Gene Etter, Major Luke Worsham, and
Stan Lewis
Advice for Class of ’05: Get out and see
the world; look at the big picture. Work
hard, have fun and do something you enjoy.
Profession: Recreation Therapist, Baylor
University Rehab Hospital
Favorite Baylor Teacher: Soccer coach,
adviser, history teacher Priscilla Birdsall
Advice for Class of ’05: The friendships
I developed through my years at Baylor
are everlasting. “Can miles truly separate
you from friends? If you want to be with
someone you love, aren’t you already
there?”
Final Thoughts
Then, Now and the Future
In 1953, I taught economics and general science in the basement
of Trustee Hall. In those days, Baylor was an all boys, military,
day and boarding, college prep school encompassing grades
7-12. The emphasis on academics was strong and the work
was demanding. All teachers conducted classes on Saturday
from 9:00 a.m. until noon for extra help, make-up work, or
enrichment. A few boys claimed they did not know until they
graduated that every boy did not attend Saturday classes. It
took awhile for me to understand that every teacher in the
school business did not teach on Saturday morning.
At that time, Baylor earned a similar number of championships
in athletics in the old Mid-South Association as it presently
holds in the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association.
Every student had to participate in a sport or some form of
exercise in the afternoon. The choices were football in the fall;
basketball, wrestling, or soccer in the winter; and track, baseball,
golf, or tennis in the spring. There were no art classes. The music
program was limited to singing in the Glee Club, and the
Punchinello Players performed at a downtown auditorium.
Membership in the Round Table was highly respected. The
Honor Code was alive and well. Dr. George Taylor was a senior,
and Mr. Bill Cushman was Vice-President of the seventh grade.
I was fortunate to have been mentored by some outstanding
colleagues that first year. Some were already living legends.
We had only 23 full-time classroom teachers on the faculty.
A few of my mentors were Charlie Hawkins, Humpy Heywood,
Sib Evans, Luke Worsham, Bryce Harris, Jim Pennington,
Charlie Berryman, Stan Lewis, Jim Hitt, Doc Bock, Roy Ashley,
Dean Sterling, Frank Baker, Jimmy Rike, Bob Hill, and Andy
Anderson. They trained me well. I felt very confident and
comfortable when I left Baylor in 1972 to become headmaster
of a school in Memphis. My family and I have some great
stories and many fond memories of our 19 years at Baylor.
Now (2004-05)
It was a rare privilege to have served as Interim Head of Baylor
for three months and then to remain for the school year as
counsel to the board and to new headmaster, Dr. Bill Stacy.
Now Baylor is a coed, day and boarding, college prep school
encompassing grades 6 – 12. There are numerous colleges that
do not have campuses as attractive and expansive as Baylor’s.
There are so many activities from which to choose, I wonder
how a student narrows it down. There are living legends
teaching at Baylor now as in the past. The number of programs
in academics, athletics, and activities is equal to or more
numerous than at any other prep school I have visited in my
52 years working in independent schools.
A special pleasure I experienced this year was having as
colleagues some of “my boys” whom I taught, coached, or
Med Dement
Then (1953-1972)
had in summer camp. Meeting new faculty and staff members
and working with fellow administrators Mr. Jim Stover, Mrs.
Kathy Hanson, Mr. Dallas Joseph, and Mr. Michael McBrien
were highlights of my twentieth year at Baylor. Some of my
happiest moments this year, after being away for 33 years,
were observing the students as they endeavored to achieve
success in their many activities. The “Now” has been one of
my most rewarding years at Baylor.
The Future (2005-
)
Baylor is good hands with Dr. Stacy as its leader for the next
several years. I could write a lengthy article about our relationship this year, and all of it would be positive. I will keep
it simple. He is an outstanding educator and administrator.
He is a good man, strong in his faith, and he loves people.
Schools are people. Dr. Stacy and I were walking up the steps
of Hunter one day when I turned to him and asked, “What
do you think about Baylor?” He replied, “It is beyond my
greatest expectations.” Baylor does indeed have a bright future.
A final thought: One of the pleasures I have experienced
this year is seeing some of the alumni who graduated during
my years at Baylor. I could have predicted that many of them
would make a positive difference in the world as adults. They
were already exhibiting the kind of thoughtful behavior that
makes that positive difference when they were students. I am
pleased to see many of those same qualities in numerous
students in this graduating class of 2005.
GO BIG RED!
by Jack Stanford
Jack Stanford recently served as senior consultant to the board
and headmaster. He will join the board of trustees this fall.
BAYLOR Alumni Weekend | Sept. 30 – Oct. 2
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
GOLF TOURNAMENT
Black Creek Club at 11:00 a.m.
TAILGATE PARTY
First Tennessee Pavillion from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
BAYLOR vs. McCALLIE FOOTBALL GAME
Finley Stadium, Kickoff at 8:00 p.m.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1
ALUMNI ROUND ROBIN TENNIS TOURNEY
Baylor Tennis Center at 8:00 a.m.
SATURDAY SCHOOL
Old Chapel from 10:00 – Noon
THROW A POT
Ireland Art Studio from 10:00 a.m. – Noon
ALUMNI LEGACIES and the ADMISSION PROCESS
Ireland Lounge from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
HEADMASTER’S LUNCHEON and AWARDS BANQUET
Guerry Dining Hall from Noon – 2:00 p.m.
SATURDAY EVENING CLASS REUNIONS
for Class Years: 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975,
1980, 1985, 1990, 2000, Half Century Club
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2
ALUMNI MEMORIAL SERVICE
Old Chapel at 9:30 a.m.
BRUNCH
Guerry Dining Hall at 10:30 a.m.