Spring 2010

Stuart Hall Middle School

Outstanding Achievement: Named Top School
Three National Merit Finalists The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth has named
Stuart Hall’s Cochran Middle School as one of the top 100 schools in
Three members of the Stuart Hall Virginia, based
Class of 2010 have earned the distinction on our students’
of National
superlative
Merit Finalist:
performance on
Gregory Ranzini,
the SATs. The
who was also
awarded a Merit Johns Hopkins
Scholarship; University
Charlie Eckman, Talent Search is
and Reed a research-based
Woodrum. organization
This is a that identifies,
phenomenal assesses, and
National Merit Scholarship achievement recognizes
recipient Gregory Ranzini ’10 students with
for a class of 34
will be attending the College
of William and Mary in the fall. students. To put
exceptional
From the left: Simon Willard ’15 and
this in perspective, academic
Hannah Call ’16, daughter of
more than 1.5 million students qualify to ability. Students are identified Barbie McClung Call ’77, received
compete for this honor, but only 15,000 for participation in the Talent exceptional recognition as a result of
become finalists (one tenth of one percent). Search by scoring at or above the their performance on the SATs and
Stuart Hall boasts three of those students— 97th percentile on a standardized SCATs. As a result of her high scores
ten percent of the senior class. Established in on a proficiency test, Hannah Dahl
aptitude or achievement test. Each
1955, the National Merit Scholar Program is ’16, right, was invited to compete
year, almost 100,000 6th, 7th, and in the statewide geography bee,
for high school students with exceptionally 8th graders are chosen to take the sponsored by National Geographic.
high PSAT scores. SATs for a special competition.

College Acceptances and Honors

Over $2M in merit scholarships awarded class of 34 seniors
With external measures of achievement being the best non-biased
indicators of program quality, the Class of 2010 has blown the lid off of
measures of excellence. The thirty-four members of the senior class have been
offered a combined total of $2M in merit-based scholarships. Their list of college
acceptances and honors rival those of the top independent schools in the nation:

Princeton University University of Virginia Rodman and Echols Scholars

Senior class president Jane Jongeward
’10 with Chair of the Board of Governors
and Distinguished Alumna Annette Smith
Parker ’69. Ms. Parker will be Stuart
Hall’s graduation speaker this year.
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Honors Program
Washington and Lee University College of William & Mary Monroe Scholars
Davidson College Kenyon College Dickinson College
Elon University Honors Fellowship Virginia Tech Honors Program in Engineering

For a complete list of college acceptances, visit our web site at www.stuart-hall.org.
Participating in the Forum,
http://stuarthallalumni.ning.com/
from the left, are
Glennie Smith Forbes ’60, Holly Miller ’75 responded to a
Margaret Hall Hornbaker ’55, need for alums to connect, engage,
Holly Miller ’75, Sally Balch and receive timely information about
Hurme ’64 (standing), Denise the School by developing a new web
Wooldrige ’76 and Liza Hynes site, the Stuart Hall Alumni Forum.
Tillson ’75 The site was created with the input of
several fellow alums, including
Liz Lewis ’75, Virginia Munce
Bertholet ’75, Denise Wooldridge ’76,
and Elizabeth White Baker ’88.
The mission of the Forum is
State of the School Forum

D
to advance alum engagement and
advocacy to support the School. The
uring Alumnae/i Weekend on Friday, April 9, about two dozen members layout of the site is clean, spirited, and
of five key leadership groups from our School gathered for a three-hour easy to navigate, with news of current
workshop designed to provide information on the state of our school and to events at the School as well as news
of alums. There are places to add and
brainstorm ways alums could support initiatives to advance our School in the future.
read class notes, upload photos and
Among attendees were members of the Alumnae/i Council, the Alumni Forum, the videos, participate in surveys and
Board of Governors, the Foundation Board, and key Stuart Hall staff. Sessions view results, engage in discussions,
focused on Recruitment and Retention, Raising Money, Communications, and invite new members, and post and
Finances. plan Stuart Hall events.
Holly is clearly no tech neophyte.
On Saturday, April 10, many more alums gathered for a reprise of Friday’s Although she lives in a 17th century
workshop’s outcomes. This session, too, was incredibly helpful in engaging stone house in Pennsylvania’s
alums in the life of our School today and planning for a sustainable future for Brandywine Valley, her skills are
many years to come. Alums expressed their concerns, their frustrations, and their firmly rooted in the 21st century.
About 18 months ago, Holly started
support; asked questions about the State of the School; and committed to significant
her own firm providing strategic,
engagement in Stuart Hall School today and tomorrow. operational and IT consulting to
investment managers and hedge
If you were not able to attend either of these sessions, all of us who participated funds.
would like to share with you a summary of the conversations. An easy way to do With humor, grace, and
this is to join the Alumni Forum social network, where you can review materials intelligence, in true Stuart Hall style,
from the weekend sessions and can engage these issues with other Stuart Hall Holly helped to organize and lead the
alums. If you would like to do this, just go to http://stuarthallalumni.ning.com/ to Alumni Forum on Alum Weekend
join the Stuart Hall Alumni Forum. When you get to the Forum’s landing page, look and created all the graphs and charts
down the left side for “What’s New” and you’ll find all of the presentations and the used by the other participants, greatly
aiding comprehension. Furthermore,
summaries from the weekend workshops.
she brought her significant other,
Milton Ezrati, who added his
We hope you will take some time to review the excellent dialogue from the expertise in finance to the weekend’s
weekend. I’ll look forward to hearing more from you. discussions, thus earning the title of
“honorary alum!” Thanks to Holly’s
Cordially, great effort in support of her Alma
Annette Smith Parker ’69 Mater, Stuart Hall alums now have a
Chair, Stuart Hall Board of Governors better way to interact with each other
and support the mission of the School.
Mark Eastham, Head of School, addresses the Forum on Saturday morning.
 Young Alums Chefs, Chapagne, & Chocolate

The first all-school gala was a resounding success! Over

Getting together over the Christmas holidays is an annual
tradition for Stuart Hall Young Alums. Pictured here (top):
Alexey Debrot ’09, Tori Botkin ’09, Robin Kresge ’09, and
Emily Laser ’09. Below: Sam Sheridan ’05, Robin Day ’06,
Blair Krusz ’04, Lizzie Barnette ’04, and Winsor Wood ’04
300 alums, parents, faculty, and friends enjoyed the musical
stylings of Kathy Lafon and the jazz group, S.P.L.A.A.A.T. The
incredible food was prepared by 30 guest chefs, including (from
the left) Barbie McClung Call ’77, Sarah Finley Harrison ’85,
and Katie Campbell Spurlock ’88. (Barbie and Katie are also
proud parents of Stuart Hall students.) The Auctions were very
successful, bringing in over $30,000. Special thanks to parent
Laura Nordstrom and Board of Governors member Emily
Cochran for chairing this night to remember!
Gala photos courtesy of George Fairlamb SMA ’60

AMA Alumni Medal

Bruce Higginbotham Hemp ’72 received an award of the

highest distinction from the AMA Alumni Association for
her incredible work with her students creating and mailing
care packages for our troops and civilians in Afghanistan.
Pictured with Bruce are (left) Jorge Rovirosa, President of
the AMA Alumni Association, and Brigadier General
Larry Nicholson during AMA’s April reunion. Bruce is the
only woman to have received this honor.

Gathering for 17 years, alums

in and around Naples became
First Alum Chapter Naples
members of the first official
Stuart Hall Alumnae/i Chapter
on January 24, 2010. Bonnie
Fontenot Nielson ’64 presented
the chapter charter to Emilie
Van Petten Merritt ’46, who has
hosted the annual Naples Brunch
for many years. Seated, from the
left: Georgine Hill Mendillo ’41,
Martha Cheek Rudd ’45, Emilie
Van Petten Merritt ’46, Laura
Lee Buchanan Rush ’46, and
Mary Agnes Amick Melton ’46.
Standing: Susan Lambert Yates
’73, Dr. Julia East ’79, Bonnie
Fontenot Nielson ’64, Betsy Fuller
Davis ’51, Charmaine Powers ’75,
and Winsor Wood ’04.
 1945
Alumnae/i Weekend
~ by Bonnie Fontenot Nielson ’64

Alumnae/i Weekend 2010 was a huge success!

Stuart Hall’s lovely campus is at its best in early April, and the
weather cooperated. Reunion classes gathered; traditions were
remembered and honored; stories and laughter were shared;
friendships were renewed and strengthened. It was a joyous time.
The new format of events was very popular. Alums were
given opportunities to learn about the School; to offer input and
suggestions; to mingle casually in more events with less structure
than in the past.
Most of the alums are aware of and concerned about the
financial crisis Stuart Hall is facing. In response to that concern,
a new tradition was begun: the State of the School Forum, with
a follow-up presentation Saturday morning for those who were
not able to attend Friday. A hardworking group of staff, alums,
1950 and members of the Board of Governors spoke with complete
transparency about the very difficult past year. Smaller focus groups
discussed how to best help the School. The Friday Forum provided
information, sharing, and an opportunity for alums of different years
to work together. It was an exhilarating experience.

2004 & 2005

1964 & 1965

1994 & 1995

1960 50th Reunion!

 Sugie Sproul Battin ’68 and Jane Pollock Mellen ’48 (front) were named
Distinguished Alumnae
this year’s Distinguished Alumnae. Pictured are Distinguished Alumnae
Mary Beirne Kerr Nutt ’57 (left) and Brooke Canada Golden ’64 (right)
and Distinguished Honorary Alumna Connie Davis (center).

Over the past few years, alums have voiced the desire for more time spent
on campus. After all, that’s where our memories were created. This year, we
all gathered for “Fine Wines and Fine Friendships” in Old Main. This lovely and
relaxing social event was well-attended, with the rooms comfortably crowded
by reunion classes and groups of friends. Inlooks were available to help when
memory failed. We wandered throughout all floors of Old Main, with pictures
of reunion class members hung everywhere. A few “old boys” from SMA and
AMA added to the fun. The evening was wonderful.
Saturday began with registration in the Arcade and tours of the School, along
with a recap of the Friday Forum. The Alumnae/i Association meeting began 1980
with a performance by the Upper School Chorus. We were warmly welcomed by
Glennie Smith Forbes ’60, past president of the Alumnae/i Council and member
of the Board of Governors, and Head of School Mark Eastham. Reunion classes,
former faculty, and distinguished guests were honored.
Top class gifts to the Annual Fund, critical to the well-being of the School,
were recognized. The class with the greatest participation in the Annual Fund was
the Class of 1978 with 73% of its members supporting the School. The Classes of
1945 and 1960 had the greatest class gifts; $5,925 and $8,610, respectively.
The Distinguished Alumna Award was presented to two outstanding alumnae

Parlor photos courtesy of Beth Valentine www.bethvalentine.com to order

who have greatly supported the School: Sugie Sproul Battin ’68, presented by
Annette Smith Parker ’69, and Jane Pollock Mellen ’48, presented by Bonnie
Fontenot Nielson ’64. Jane’s granddaughter Terrell was also among the 34 seniors
who were inducted into the Alumnae/i Association during the meeting.
Following the luncheon, Carroll House was open for tea and sherry and 1978
relaxed visiting among alums, faculty and staff, and friends. Dinner that night was
a delicious buffet at Worthington House, home of Kathy and Mark Eastham. As
the evening chilled, a comfortably crowded group shared memories and made new
friends. After dinner, those who weren’t too exhausted attended the performance
of Othello in the King Theater, formerly the old gym, now transformed into a
theater named for Mrs. Constance Cody King, whom many of us remember as our
beloved music teacher.
Sunday was the day for attending church at Emmanuel, if one wished, and for
saying goodbye to special friends. Another successful Alumnae/i Weekend had
come to an end.

1970

1975 & 1976

1985 & Friends

 Mark and Kathy Eastham
(center) and daughters
Caroline ’17 and
Katherine ’11 host the
Saturday evening dinner on
Alumnae/i Weekend at their
home, Worthington House.
They visit here with
Distinguished Alumna
Elaine Elder McCarrick ’61.

Brad Arnold and Robin

Day ’06 enjoy a laugh on
Alumnae/i Weekend.

Mary Ann Shaver Llewellyn ’41 and Helen Gravatt Watt ’40 visit
with Stuart Hall Business Director Katie Huntley McConnel.

Winsor Wood ’04, Sylvia

Matthis Gibson ’53, and
Susan Lambert Yates
’73 had lunch together
in Athens, Georgia in
January.
Robert Whitehurst
’03 and Mike Smith
’03 stopped by the
School this spring.

Members of the Class of 1972 celebrated Kentucky Derby in true style by wearing their Lifelong friends from the Class of 1950: LizBet Baker Hopkins,
hats and feasting on shrimp! From the left: Tonia (Sugar) Bryan Glasgow, Barbara Burton Margot Walker Humphries, and Betty Shewmake Johannssen.
Crowson, Anne Bryan, Kathrin Koonce, and Bruce Higginbotham Hemp.
 Class of 2021

Annual Fund Soars!

76% Increase in Giving
With unprecedented strength, alums, parents, faculty, students,
and friends are giving generously to the Annual Fund this year. With
775 donors, 251 of whom are first-time contributors, gifts to the
Annual Fund now stand at $615,000, representing a 76% increase
in gifts and a 40% increase in donors over last year—a phenomenal
accomplishment for any school at any time.
The Annual Fund is an essential part of the annual operating budget, contributing to all areas of operations,
including faculty salaries and professional development, athletics, fine arts, technology, and financial aid. It has a
direct impact on every student and every program at the School. It is the most important source of revenue other
than student tuition.
The entire Stuart Hall community has stepped forward to ensure that the programs that make Stuart Hall
distinctive endure—from sixth grader Katie Laser who secured 100% Annual Fund giving from her classmates
to the Parent Annual Fund chairs who appealed to fellow parents to the tireless work of members of the Board
of Governors and Alumnae/i Council. Their spirited efforts have propelled us to greater financial health and
sustainability.
All sectors of the Stuart Hall community increased their Annual Fund support. Alumnae/i participation rates
jumped to 23%, with an average gift size of $762—a 30% increase over last year. Parent participation increased
47% over last year, while grandparent participation increased a stunning 83%. The percent of faculty and staff
who give to the Annual Fund—79%—is well above the national average of 61%.
The economic crisis energized all of those parents, grandparents, alums, and friends who believe in the
mission of the School and who want to ensure that current and future generations of students will continue
to reap the benefits of its successful programs and remarkable community. This is a place where students are
known, loved, and encouraged to be their best selves. This year clearly demonstrates that alums cherish their
memories and friendships made at Stuart Hall and will work to continue to have a place, a home to which they
can always return.

Class of 1945
Mission of the School
Stuart Hall School offers a rigorous and supportive
coeducational academic program in the liberal arts and
sciences for students from pre-kindergarten through
grade 12. With respect for the development of each
individual, the School is a community anchored in a
multi-faceted core value:

• Educating the Mind

• Strengthening the Body
• Renewing the Heart
• Nurturing the Spirit

In the context of its Episcopal tradition, Stuart

Hall School prepares boys and girls of all faiths for
success in colleges and universities worldwide and
for engaged lives of intellectual curiosity, responsible
citizenship, creative expression, ethical leadership,
and compassionate service.
 Martha Dabney Jones
Headmistress of Stuart Hall, 1955-1972
Miss Jones celebrated her 100th birthday on
January 15, and reported that she was quite humbled by all
the cards and flowers she received and the donations made to
the School in her honor by her former students and faculty. A
Distinguished Honorary Alumna, she visited recently with two
Distinguished Alumnae, Susan Lambert Yates ’73 and Bonnie
Fontenot Nielson ’64, and with Margaret Wood, Alumnae/i
and Development Director, at Westminster Canterbury in
Charlottesville. As Bonnie so accurately observed, Miss Jones
is “quick on her feet and still quicker in her mind.”
With great animation Miss Jones shared her memories
of her Williamsburg childhood, dances she attended in
graduate school, her service in France during World War II,
her students and faculty, and life at Stuart Hall. She recalled a
surprise visitor she received in the late 1950s. Miss Jones was
in her office at the School when she heard someone come up
the front steps of Old Main, walk through the front door, and
knock on her office door. It was Mrs. Ada A. Hills, principal
of the School from 1918-1933, who had stopped by for a visit.
She was 100 years old.
Miss Jones welcomes letters and visits from her former
students and faculty, whom she remembers with great
fondness. Those wishing to contact her may do so at 250
Pantops Mountain Road, Apartment CL 2103, Charlottesville, Susan Lambert Yates ’73, Miss Martha Dabney Jones, and Bonnie Fontenot Nielson ’64
Virginia 22911.
This newsletter is a publication of Stuart Hall School, Margaret Stanley Wood editor, mwood@stuart-hall.org.

P.O. Box 210

Staunton, VA 24402-0210
www.stuart-hall.org
(540) 885-0356

M IND B ODY H EART SPIRIT