The Magazine UNIVERSITY SCHOOL of JACKSON

Fall 2012

Also inside…In the Classroom .............3-7

Fine Arts ........................4,10

Athletics ..........................8-9

Community Service ..........10

Why USJ? ..........................11

Staff Changes..............12-14

Mothers’ Club...................15

Achievements...................16

Annual Report .............17-24

Alumni News ...............25-27

Homecoming ....................28

Technology takes another leap …

USJ, The Magazine, is published by UniversitySchool of Jackson. Thenext issue is March 2013.

232/240 McClellan Rd.Jackson, TN 38305

731.664.0812usjbruins.org

Clay Lilienstern, Head of School

Scott Phillipps, Upper School Director

Courtney Burnette, Middle School Director

Debbie Ford, Lower School Director

Kay Shearin, Director ofAdmissions, 731.660.1692

Mary Reed, Editor and Designer, mary@reedmarketing.com

2

Technology takes another leap at USJ

From SMART projectors in every Lower School

classroom to teacher websites, this school year

sees several advances in USJ’s technology program.

n On the magazine cover:Thanks to a

gift from the Mothers’ Club, Lower School teachers

have new SMART interactive projectors in their

classrooms. With a projector that is mounted above

a white board and a pen controller that many stu-

dents may think looks like one of their video game

controllers, teachers will be able to move around

the class while teaching, and students will be able

to participate in interactive lessons from SMART’s

website. This SMART, teacher-friendly technology

wirelessly connects the teacher to the screen and

the computer. Teachers can create lessons with

SMART resource items or choose from SMART

notebook lessons with a variety of subject and

grade level material. (In the cover picture, Lower

School technology teacher Heidi McDaniel helps

fifth graders Will Cisco, Sarah Grace Callis, and

Brooke Baldwin do a lesson in Microsoft Word.)

n The Upper and Middle School building has

wireless Internet access. This opens up many possibil-

ities for integrating technology into the classroom.

n USJ has implemented a “bring your own de-

vice” system in which students are allowed to use

their Kindles, Nooks, iPads, laptops, and other hand-

held devices in class in their proper context by access-

ing sites through our wireless system. (All devices

connected to the Internet through the USJ wireless

network are subject to USJ security software.)

n New computers replace old models in labs and

other places throughout the school.

n Many teachers started the new school year with

their own websites, which mirror the professional

look of the redesigned USJ website. Programming al-

lows teachers to create and update their websites

through any computer using any Internet browser.

You can access a teacher’s website through the Faculty

link under About USJ at usjbruins.org.

For more information, visit the Technology sec-

tion under Academics on the school’s website.

31-F Wiley Parker Rd.731-664-4300

It's never too early to start shopping at

Vineyard’s Gifts

www.bankofjackson.com

The Bank of Jackson …

Community banking the way it should beThe best customer service in town

It’s time to change banks. And, we’ll make it easy.Your Community ¥ Your Bank ¥ Serving you for

420 Oil Well Rd.: 660-8000Mortgage: 410-8009

558 Carriage House: 660-8002132 W. University Pkwy: 660-8882

3

Merging her love for technology

with her experience in the

classroom, Heidi McDaniel

has taken the application of technology in

the Lower School well beyond the days of

just Accelerated Reading tests.

McDaniel, Lower School technology

teacher, began integrating technology into

her classroom well before she took over the

computer lab. “When I was teaching first

grade, the school got one computer for

everyone to use,” said McDaniel, who also

has taught kindergarten, third, and fourth

grades in her 20 years at USJ. “I wanted to

learn to use it. The more I used it, the

more I liked it.”

“As a third grade teacher, I used the

computer to expand the world for my stu-

dents beyond our classroom by emailing a

pen pal in the Peace Corps in Cape Verde.

In fourth grade, I had students researching

information on each state and eventually

putting together a PowerPoint for each

state. Computers in my classroom were

hooked to the Internet well before other

classrooms so my students could learn to

do research.”

When the technology position opened,

McDaniel knew it was the job for her.

“One of the benefits of my being in the

computer lab is that I know about most of

the curriculum in each grade level, which

helps me relate the computer lessons

to what is being taught in the classroom.”

Students start classes in the computer

lab in first grade. “With each grade level,

I increase what I expect them to do,”

McDaniel said. “Students learn many of

the programs they will use

throughout their educa-

tional careers, such as

Word, Excel, and Power-

Point. They also learn research

skills, formatting tools, and shortcuts.

We also spend one to two months talking

about online safety and responsibility. We

hope to add a workshop on Internet

safety for our parents.”

Innovation is a big part of McDaniel’s

role in the technology program, and sev-

eral of her practices in the classroom have

earned recognition for her and valuable

equipment for the school.

For example, through an online com-

petition on the “We are Teachers” website,

McDaniel submitted an entry about ways

she and her students keep germs at bay in

the computer lab. She received a $100

grant for classroom supplies and a flip

camera that is used throughout the Lower

School to make videos of events and field

trips.

After entering a contest sponsored by

one of the school’s network subscription

services every day, she was the monthly win-

ner of three digital signs worth $10,000-

$15,000, which are now in use on both

campuses.

Her quest to find innovative ways to help

teachers and students led McDaniel to rec-

ommend the new SMART interactive pro-

jectors that were installed in each Lower

School classroom. Besides training the

teachers to use the new interactive projec-

tors, she has been working with teachers as

they develop their own website.

“I tell everyone that I have the best job

in the Lower School,” said McDaniel. “We

all have such cool tools and toys in the

Lower School now — but I’m the one

who gets to use them all day, every day!

COUNT ON

Copiers wPrinters wScanners wSoftwarePrinting and Document Management

Penny Smith 731w697w7890

Teaching Technology with a Twist

Heidi McDaniel brings enthusiasm and innovation to her computer lab classes.

And the band plays on …

4

When Tom Grant took over the band program at USJ

12 years ago, he nearly started from scratch. The

band had four students and only met twice a week.

Today, he averages 25 students per grade in Middle School and

more than 35 Upper School students each year.

Ironically, he still

starts from scratch each

school year with new

band students — more

than 98 percent have

never played an instru-

ment before.

Like a great cake

homemade from

scratch, the band pro-

gram is turning out

some well-seasoned mu-

sicians as nearly every

senior who comes out

of the program is offered some sort of college

scholarship for band, Grant said. The program

also has a long list of accomplishments to its

credit, including consistently having the highest

number of students selected to the All-North-

west Honor Band each year.

Grant starts recruiting students for band in

fifth grade. He visits music classes and demon-

strates instruments with band members, who

also play for various Lower School events.

Grant first introduces new band students to

the various instruments so they can make a

choice on what they want to play. “It is all about exposing them to

the instruments in the first week and encouraging them to not just

play what their friends play,” said Grant, who has been teaching

band for more than 27 years. “We recommend renting the instru-

ment first, in case a student wants to change. I also can help the

student find a good used instrument that will take him or her a

long way and save the family some money.”

Grant says it just takes time to teach a student how to play an

instrument. “I begin instruction with students at their current level

and teach them through a mixture of playing with note reading and

theory. All students are playing the same exercises at the same time

so they hear the same sounds and rhythms, except for the percus-

sions which deviate slightly. I also provide sources for private les-

sons if a student wants more instruction. Nearly every Friday is

open mike day where students perform a selection of their choos-

ing. This gets them accustomed to playing in small groups and in

front of an audience in an environment where no one is judging,

and they can have fun.”

First year students have their first concert at Christmas. They

play four pieces and then one piece with all the

band members. “The pieces are in line with what

the students can do, but I do try to keep it a

notch above what they think they can play to

keep them challenged,” said Grant. “For the

group piece, we place the more experienced stu-

dents by the younger ones to help them feel com-

fortable and good about themselves.”

Band members have other opportunities to

perform on campus and in the community. “We

have jazz bands and concert bands for both

Upper and Middle School,” Grant said. “We

have a pep band and a percussion ensemble that

usually perform separately, but

can combine with other instru-

ments when needed. Band mem-

bers accompany the two Upper

School musicals each year. We

are a member of the interna-

tional Percussive Arts Society and

have students in the Jackson

Symphony’s youth orchestra,

church groups, and the Jackson

Area Community Band. This

spring we will join with mem-

bers of other high school bands

across the city to play on the USS Arizona in Hawaii.”

Grant considers competitions as a great way to reward students

for their hard work, a goal for them to pursue, and excellent expo-

sure for college scholarships. “Our students have the opportunity to

audition for many honor bands, including All-West, All-State, UT-

Martin, Quad State, Governor’s School, and the University of

Memphis,” said Grant.

The biggest achievement Grant sees over his 12 years at USJ is a

consistent program that has been built by exposing the students to

every style of music and performance medium.

“Students can’t get the experience they do here anywhere else,”

he said, “and this would not be possible without the support of the

administration and parents. Someday, we are going to march. We

are making progress towards that goal.”

From top, Tom Grant shows first Vincent Stanfieldand then Carson Nicola how the trombone works.

5

Anew guidance program for Middle

and Upper School students is de-

signed to build strong coping

skills and healthy attitudes.

The program, developed by Guidance

Counselor Debra Anton, seeks to instill the

confidence students need to make wise de-

cisions in a rapidly changing world. During

this period of great transition, adolescents begin to rely more on

their peers to establish their identities, and they need to be aware

that the decisions they make today can greatly impact their futures,

she said.

“A teen’s life can be challenging, given the pressures and distrac-

tions they face, and the bombardment of media messages that are

constantly undermining their self-image,” Anton said.

Young teens have a strong sense of urgency, she added. They

need information and guidance toward making healthy lifestyle and

behavioral choices. “During the adolescent years, students won’t al-

ways make those choices, but if they have enough factual informa-

tion and assistance in developing solid coping skills, they will be

better-equipped to rebound from any obstacle that comes along.”

Anton’s comprehensive approach to counseling includes indi-

vidual support and advocacy for all students, as well as parent out-

reach. The program will provide classroom guidance for Middle

School students and individ-

ual counseling and special

programming for Upper

School students.

Guidance services also in-

clude grief support, academic

counseling, referrals for edu-

cational evaluations, speakers

to address contemporary is-

sues, and consultation with

teachers regarding the needs

of diverse learners. She also

coordinates all standardized

testing and the Duke Talent

Identification Program in the

Middle School, co-sponsors

the Upper School SADD

club, and enlists community

resources for all mental health

concerns.

This is Anton’s second

year at USJ. She has been a

school counselor for 13 years and in the

mental health profession for more than 30

years. She also has K-12 certification in spe-

cial education. Her sons graduated from

USJ, so she knows well the students’ dedica-

tion to success and how the faculty nurtures

their talents and supports their aspirations.

“I love the family atmosphere,” Anton said.

“Parenting is not easy these days, and a teen’s lifestyle can be

overwhelming to them at times. Despite our technological ad-

vances, emotional challenges still abound, and the rate of addiction

in the United States is alarming. We must educate and support our

students so that they can make informed choices.”

Through the program, students will continue to receive educa-

tion about substance abuse and addiction, peer pressure, stress

management, problem solving, and general coping skills, and year-

round academic support. Anton also will address any issues impact-

ing students that arise. For example, a speaker from the U.S.

Attorney’s Office in Memphis will address our students this fall

about Internet safety.

“Engaging adolescents can be a challenge, but at this stage, it is

their adult life and not so much their childhood we are forming,”

Anton said. “It is incumbent upon the adults in their lives to pre-

pare them for what lies ahead and to support their emerging inde-

pendence with firm

boundaries, timely and rele-

vant information, a positive

attitude, and compassion.”

Anton particularly enjoys

her interaction with students

in the classroom. They have

amazing insights on the con-

temporary issues they face, she

said. “They are intelligent,

creative, and motivated to

excel. They have a strong

work ethic and a solid founda-

tion of moral virtues that will

take them far. It is a delight to

be a part of their lives.”

Upper/Middle School Guidance Counselor

Debra Anton shares her thoughts on raising

adolescents with columns on the USJ

website. You’ll find her posts, ÒRandom Acts

of Guidance,Óunder US/MS Guidance in the

Academics section of usjbruins.org.

Guidance Counselor DebraAnton does an activity oncommunication with MiddleSchool students; seated, fromleft are Patrick Evans, JamesGregory, and Ben Moore.

Program guides students through adolescence

Senior Akua Nuako accomplished something

that fewer than 0.1 percent of aspiring college

students were able to do last year. She scored a

perfect 36 on her ACT.

She thought she had performed well, but she said

she was amazed when she learned her score. She was

quick to point out that her success was the result of

her USJ education and preparation from teachers.

“It was validation that the school and teachers did

the best they possibly could to prepare me for stan-

dardized tests,” Akua said.

Akua is also the student body president, a role she

pursued because she said she wanted students’ voices

to be heard. Her brother Kuame Nuako, who is now

at the University of Notre Dame, also was student

body president when he was at USJ.

Academic leadership is a family tradition. Their

father, Kofi Nuako, said USJ is a school that encour-

ages students to excel in life. He said parents are in-

volved with their children’s education, and students

are surrounded by intelligent, ambitious, and hard-

working peers with a wide range of interests.

“I think it’s been a great institution for our

kids,” Nuako said. “It’s fertile ground for kids

who want to do more than average.” He

added that he is proud and humbled and

feels a strong sense of gratitude for the

school and its teachers.

Akua’s favorite subjects are math,

Spanish, and applied sciences. She said

she’s interested in engineering. For

college next year, she’s looking at Ivy

League schools, as well as Vander-

bilt University and Austin Peay

State University.

Meanwhile, she’s looking for-

ward to this year as a senior, she

said. “I feel really blessed to go to a

school that challenges me academi-

cally, and I feel I have a family here as well.”

Upper School English teacher Bridget Clark

led a group of USJ teachers and alums last

June on a literary tour of Dublin, London, and

the outskirts of both.

The three days in Dublin included a literary

tour of the city, a tour of Trinity College, an ad-

venture to Malahide Beach, a lesson in Gaelic

dancing, shopping on O’Connell Street, and a

day in Wicklow, which is the setting for scenes

from such movies as Saving Private Ryan and

Braveheart.

In Lon-

don, the trav-

elers began a

four-day tour

of the most

beloved sites

in and around

the city, in-

cluding a visit

to Westmin-

ster Abbey, the

Tower of London, and the National Gallery; a

cruise on the Thames; a peek at the Crown Jew-

els; a walk through Regents Park to watch a

modern production of A Midsummer Night’s

Dream at the open air theater; time to shop in

Covent Gardens and at Harrods; and a passing

glance at Buckingham Palace.

The group also took day trips to Oxford

where they saw Christ Church College (and the

ghost of Harry Potter) and Christ Church

Cathedral; Bath; Anne Hathaway’s home and

Holy Trinity Church in Stratford; and Stone-

henge.

“Overall, the nine-day trip was a great experi-

ence that was marked by excellent hotel accom-

modations; wonderful food, except for the fish

and chips; and great, great memories,” said

Clark.

The English Department is considering an-

other trip in 2013. If you are interested in travel-

ing to Dublin, Edinburgh, and London next

summer, contact Clark at bclark@usjbruins.org.

Akua Nuako

Student credits USJ for her success

At top, from left, Melissa Morrison, Bridget Clark, Chloe Meri-wether, Ruth Ann Morrison, Margaret Morrison, and Whitney Meri-wether, visit Big Ben. Above, Chloe and Whitney are at Stonehenge.

6

A literary trip to Ireland, England

Students in Judy Sanderson’s Advanced Placement physics

class have been performing exceptionally well on the impor-

tant, end-of-the-year, national exam.

Sanderson’s students had a 92

percent pass rate this past spring with

38 percent of her students receiving a

5.0 (on a 5.0 scale), 15 percent re-

ceiving a 4.0, and 39 percent receiv-

ing a 3.0. By comparison, the

national average was a 61 percent

pass rate.

Despite the achievements of last

year’s class on the AP test, she has

taught classes in recent years with

even better overall scores. Her stu-

dents’ pass rate was 100 percent from

2008-2010, and she has averaged a

94 percent pass rate in her five years

as a teacher at USJ.

Sanderson has taught AP classes

for 29 years. She attributes her stu-

dents’ success to their interest in the

subject. Students who sign up for AP

physics want to be in AP physics, she

said. Students are selected for enroll-

ment based on their desire to learn.

“We try to take people who are

interested, even if we aren’t sure

they’d pass the test because

we want them to learn

as much as they can,”

Sanderson said.

“They want to

understand

how things work rather than make a certain grade on a test.”

The vast majority of her students pass, however. “I love it when

the students do well and feel good about themselves,” Sanderson

said. “They feel like they’ve accomplished

something.”

Sanderson enjoys AP physics because the

material addresses subjects beyond what she

teaches in her regular and honors physics

courses. The problems are more challenging,

and they force students to think on a higher

level, she said. She added that many of her AP

physics students go on to pursue a college de-

gree in physics — a testament to their interest

in the subject.

Sanderson is quick to point out that other

AP teachers at USJ have students producing

even better results. “We’ve had some people

who did really, really well this year,” she said.

Success is part of the USJ culture, she said.

Students succeed academically, artistically, and

athletically. Many succeed in everything – they

are not limited by choices. “More is expected

of students, and they produce more. I love the

school. I’ve taught in many schools, and I

think USJ is the best.”

Students post impressive AP scores in physics

AP classes at USJUSJ offers 15 Advanced Placement

courses, all certified by the College

Board. This gives Upper School students the

opportunity to take one or more college-level

courses in their areas of interest.

“Our strong AP program sets us apart

from most other schools,” said Scott Phillipps,

Upper School Director. “By the end of their

first semester of college, many USJ graduates

are classified as sophomores or better because

of the AP credits earned in Upper School.”

Unlike some schools, USJ requires all stu-

dents who take AP courses to take the na-

tional exam in the spring. The College Board,

which oversees the AP program, recently

named 36 USJ students as AP scholars be-

cause of the scores they received

on AP exams. (See page 16.)

For a list of AP courses

and teachers, visit the Upper

School section under Ac-

ademics on the

USJ website:

usjbruins.org.

USJ’s physics lab is as advanced as manycollege physics labs. It offers “interfac-ing” with computers to record meas-urements like position, velocity,acceleration, force, and tempera-ture. The data can then be graphedand analyzed in different ways.

Working on a problem inthe lab are, from left,

Haley Daugherty, EricArnold, JudySanderson, andWill Cobb.

7

8

Being a Bruins fan was twice as sweet this past spring

when both the varsity softball and baseball teams

brought home state titles from the annual Spring Fling

State Tournament.

The softball win was the second state title in three years and a

bit of retribution as the team had finished as state runner-up in

2011.

Two out of three may have been the Lady Bruins tournament

mantra as it took two out of three wins over Davidson Academy

for them to take the title. The Lady Bruins entered Spring Fling

with a record of 26-4 for the season. They defeated their first op-

ponent, Donelson Christian Academy, 1-0. In the second round,

they defeated Davidson Academy, 3-0. In the third round of the

tournament, the Lady Bruins fell to Davidson Academy, 3-1. In

the final game of the tournament, the Lady Bruins prevailed,

beating Davidson Academy, 4-3, to claim the 2012 title.

“I was so proud of our team because of the hard work that

went into this championship,”

said Brian Dunn, varsity softball

coach. “We took nothing for

granted this year after falling

short in the state championship

game in 2011. We overcame ad-

versity and were able to show

perseverance by coming from

behind in several key games this

year, including the state final.

“This team really liked each

other and had a lot of fun,

which made the ride so much

sweeter. This was a team where

all 13 players contributed to the

success of our season, and five

of those were eighth graders. We return 11 of our 13 players

from the 2012 state champions and are already looking forward

to 2013.”

On an added note, three of the eighth graders were in the

final plays of the game to get the win. Lauren Riddell, a three-

time returning All-State player and the Jackson Sun 2012 All-

West Tennessee Pitcher of the Year, pitched in her third

consecutive state championship game.

For the varsity baseball team, it was a two-out-of-three scenario

as well. The Bruins entered the Spring Fling with a huge 13-0 win

over Harding Academy. In the second round of action, the Bruins

defeated Ezell-Harding 1-0. The championship game pitted USJ

against Harding Academy again, which Harding took 12-2.

Since the tournament is a double elimination, the Bruins still

had a chance, and in the second game of the day, came out on

top, 7-2, to take the 2012 state title.

“There is no better way to end the season than with a state

title,” said Brad Dyer, varsity

baseball coach. “This team

never gave up. The players

stepped up and made plays

when needed, which made a dif-

ference. I am so proud of the

hard work and perseverance

shown not only throughout the

tournament, but through the

whole season.”

“As the defending state

champions, we have some big

shoes to fill in the 2013 season.

We will have several key players

returning, and we look forward

to meeting that challenge.”

Softball, baseball hit Spring Fling home runs

Girls CrossCountrySamantha SullivanJessica Garland

Boys CrossCountryPatrick RichardsonSam Darnall

Boys SoccerMichael MysiewiczMichael Richards

FootballLee MayhallRyan GarnerChase RushingAdam BolingChase NelsonChase HensleyGrant Mansfield

Boys BasketballJohn Ross GloverLee Mayhall

Girls SoccerHoneye HeydariShelby JordanCarrie CobbShelby Williams

SoftballLauren RiddellHaley Hall

BaseballRyan GarnerLee Mayhall

2011-2012 All-State AthletesDuring the last school year, USJ athletes were named to All-State teams. Lee Mayhall was named to three All-State teams.

USJ students on All-State teams were …

9

For the first time, Middle School boys had the opportunity to

represent USJ on the baseball field. Last spring, seven eighth

graders and nine seventh graders became a part of the inau-

gural Middle School baseball team. It was the only varsity sport at

USJ that did not have a Middle School counterpart.

“Before Christmas last year, the

athletic committee discussed start-

ing a Middle School baseball program

at USJ,” said Jody Evans, Athletic Director. “We

had already heard from other schools that had such a

program, and we realized it was something we needed

to add. Having a team in Middle School helps the

students work on their skill set, become acclimated

to what is expected at the varsity level for that

sport, and helps them to be better prepared to

play at the varsity level.”

Once the decision to form the team

was made, filling the schedule was not an

issue. “We had several area schools that were interested in playing

us,” said Evans. “We ended up with about 20 games on the sched-

ule and a couple of tournaments. We played mostly double headers

so that we could rotate players.”

The upcoming 2013 season will follow the same format as the

inaugural season. Middle School teacher Rob Platt, who worked

with the Upper School program in 2012, has been named the

team’s head coach.

“Our goals for the first year were for the players to gain a higher

level of game experience, learn what the coaches expected, play for

the Bruins, and have fun,” said Evans. “Ending with a winning sea-

son was an added bonus.”

Members of the first Middle School baseball team were, from left, firstrow, Jack Tygart, Wesley Craig, Wells Smith, Landon Sellers, JP Boyd,Peyton Taylor, and Jordie Fesmire; and second row, Peyton Warren,Trevor Masterson, Tyler Terry, Seth Roland, Holland Hawks, Sean Reid,Elijah Moore, and Amir Kaveh. Not pictured is Alexander Peftoulidis.

Let’s Play Ball!After undergoing a rigorous review process with the

Southern Association of Independent Schools and the

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SAIS-SACS)

last spring, the University School of Jackson was unanimously

approved for accreditation.

“This voluntary accredi-

tation process is one of the

most important tasks we un-

dertake,” said Clay Lilien-

stern, Head of School. “It

prompts us to take a hard

look at every aspect of USJ’s

current operations and cul-

minates in a lengthy self-study document.”

“In February, a team of five educators from independent

schools across the Southeast spent the better part of four days

on campus reviewing documents and talking with board

members, parents, faculty, and students.”

To earn accreditation, schools must meet quality standards,

be evaluated by an outside group of peer professionals, and

implement a school plan focused on strategic improvement

and student performance.

The accreditation report is available for review on the

school’s website at usjbruins.org in the About section.

SAIS Accreditation

USJ’s Head of School search committee has been re-ceiving applications all summer long from those in-

terested in becoming USJ’s Head of School, starting withthe 2013-2014 school year. The application cut-off date isSeptember 15.

Head of School Clay Lilienstern notified the Board ofTrustees last spring that he will be leaving USJ at the end ofthe 2012-2013 school year to return to Houston and topursue other opportunities.

“It has always been my plan to return to Houston wheremy children and grandchildren live,” Lilienstern said. “Idecided to tell the board early to give it 14 months to planand implement a search for the next Head of School.”

Search committee members will spend the nextseveral months reviewing applications and then interview-ing the top candidates. Search committee members areRichard Ayers, Chairman; Steve Maroney; Camille Jones;Dale Thomas; Charlie Garrett; and John New.

Head of School search underway

Holland Hawks, at bat

For some aspiring artists, one USJ sum-

mer class gave them the chance to liter-

ally have their work carved in

stone.

Thanks to a gift from

BancorpSouth that paid for

the supplies and tools, 13 students got

hands-on instruction in alabaster stone

carving. Working with 10- to 15-pound

pieces of alabaster, the students hammered,

chiseled, grinded, filed, sanded, and waxed

their visions into works of art. Their sculp-

tures took on many forms, including a mer-

maid, a shell, and an owl.

Having taught stone carving for more

than eight years, instructors Lisa Wolff and

Kathy Slocum started the class by focusing

on the proper use of the tools, carving tech-

niques, and the steps of the process.

After developing the idea for their

sculpture, the students got right

to work on what turned out to be the most

physically demanding day of the week.

By using a hammer and a chisel, stu-

dents broke off excess stone to roughly out-

line their design. Students then used one of

six grinders with various shaped, diamond-

crusted tips to get more detail in the sculp-

ture, smooth rough areas, make cutouts,

and round out edges.

The final step was to file the sculptures

and hand sand them with progressively

finer grains of sandpaper to polish them.

The finishing touch was to add a wax to

seal the sculpture and prevent moisture

damage.

One student’s passion for children with special needs has

blossomed into a student organization that is giving

back in a special way.

The Down Syndrome Association Buddy Club was formed

last year by USJ students who wanted to raise funds to help fam-

ilies with affected children and also raise awareness of Down syn-

drome.

“We are not associated with any national organization; we

just want to serve the West Tennessee Down Syndrome Associa-

tion,” said Ally Glover, who brought the idea for the club to USJ

and serves as the club’s president. “We have meetings about rais-

ing awareness and the need to raise money. We also have partici-

pated in fundraising events such as the 5K Buddy Walk.”

One of the group’s largest service projects was to get student

volunteers for the carnival portion of the West Tennessee Special

Olympics held on the USJ campus in April. Nearly a dozen

Upper School students and several Middle School students spent

their school day serving area students with special needs by man-

ning booths of carnival-type games, like ring toss and basketball.

Students also manned the concessions stand for the day.

“We just showed up and said we are here to help,” said Ally.

We helped get things set up before the students arrived, ran the

games and concessions, and then helped pack and clean up at the

end of the day. Each participant was given a ticket to play each

game. It was really neat to see the kids’ faces light up as they

played the games. Even though we got community service hours

for the day, we all came away knowing we had been a part of

something special.”

The club’s main fundraising project for its inaugural year was

the “Dimes for Down” campaign that ran during the basketball sea-

son. Donors could pledge to give a dime for each free throw made

during the season. The first-time project raised more than $500.

“This year,” said Ally, “we will do lots of the same things, but ad-

vertise more and try to involve the Lower School in our efforts.”

Students find a special way to give back

At the Special Olympics, from left, Ally Glover and Govind Bindra react after a youngster gets a basket through a hoop, Claire Jaggers and AliGraham help another youngster toss tennis balls, and Marisa Mariencheck supports a tire as a child attempts to throw a football through it.

Carved in StoneCarved in Stone

Eighth graderRiley Koerner,works on heralabastersculpture.

10

Summer Ferguson, Parent & Teacher“I chose to make USJ a career goal because I want to bea part of the USJ spirit. The pursuitof excellence is shared by everyonehere. The cultivation of this spirit begins in our 2-year-old program,and it is strengthened with each additional grade level and opportu-nity at USJ.

Students and faculty share acommitment to learning, growing, and having funalong the way. I believe that USJ embodies thebalance for students that all parents want theirchildren to possess. USJ helps children pursue apersonal excellence in character and matches thatwith a commitment to academic success. As a parent,I want my girls to have a love for learning and school,

but more importantly, to be a person of strong characterand moral conviction. USJ is superior in cultivating thosequalities in each student.”

Don Roe, New Teacher“I am so impressed with USJ! It does not take long to getthe ‘feel’ for the mission of University School. My studentscome to class every day ready to learn. It is such a joy to be

around focused, respectful, young peoplewho are hungry to improve. The faculty isdedicated, professional, and, simply put, happy to be here.All of the staff are friendly, helpful, and willing to serve ourstudents and ensure that needs are met so things runsmoothly. Finally, as a classroom teacher, it is so evidentthat the administration's priority is instruction. Class timeis always protected, teachers are supported, and

leadership is provided to ensure a safe, challenging, and nurturing environ-ment. I feel so blessed and am excited to be a part of the USJ family!”

Why USJ?Shane Vargason, Valedictorian, Class of 2012

“USJ has played a significant role in shaping me as anindividual. I have been exposed to a rigorous academic course schedule and know that I am academically prepared for college. I have been taughtthe importance of leadership, character, and hardwork. The many opportunities here at USJ have mademe a well-rounded individual. Truly, USJ has providedme with an ‘education for a lifetime.’ My teachers

have prepared me to make the important choices and decisions that Iwill indeed face in the future.”

Ravi Kaur Bindra, Parent“USJ embodieseducation inthe true senseof the word. Inthis tight economy, it’s

money well spent — a greatvalue for your money.

USJ offers a nurturing environ-ment conducive to learning,along with great discipline. Mykids have been at USJ for thelast six years. We’ve had a greatexperience both in and out ofthe classroom. It offers a broad-based exposure outside of theclassroom, intense rigor, and asafe environment in the school.

USJ teaches children themeaning of personal responsibil-ity and collaboration — both ofwhich are so important as theystep out into the real world.”

Joyce Sanders, Grandmother“All four of my grand-children have been atUSJ since junior kinder-garten. I have been apart of the reading program at theLower School since my oldest grand-child was in kindergarten; she is nowin seventh grade.

Being involved at USJ, even just inthe reading program, I see so muchone-on-one instructional time for thekids that really pays off in their ability to learn and grasp concepts.The academics at the school are superior to any other school in thearea. I am amazed at what they arelearning and how fast they learn.

USJ is so far ahead of others in allaspects — academics, reading,music, art. USJ is a great school andcertainly is laying a strong academicfoundation for its students.”

James Kirkland, Parent & Alum “My wife and I believe it is our responsibility as par-

ents to put our daughter in anenvironment that encouragesexcellence. Whether spiritual,academic, service, the arts, orathletics, USJ has a provenhistory of helping studentsreach their maximum poten-

tial. At this early age, we do not know what her God-given talents and abilities may be, but we want to befaithful stewards of her potential. I know firsthandthat USJ will encourage her towards this excellence.”

To read more testimonials, visit usjbruins.org/about/testimonials

If you have a testimonial to share, send it to Kay Shearin: kshearin@usjbruins.org 11

12

Olivia BuffingtonDirector of College Advising

Becoming USJ’s Di-rector of College Advis-ing is a slight change inperspective for OliviaBuffington. For thepast five years, she hasbeen the Assistant Di-rector of Tennessee Re-cruitment for her alma mater, MississippiState University. Now on the other side ofthe desk at USJ, she is helping studentsmake what she calls one of the most impor-tant decisions in their lives.

“As a college recruiter, I developed won-derful relationships with faculty membersand students at USJ,” said Buffington, whohas a bachelor’s degree in psychology with aminor in marketing. “I look forward tobringing my knowledge of college admis-sions to the process of helping studentschoose the school that is truly the best fitfor them. It is a significant role to play in astudent’s life, because for most high schoolstudents, selecting a college home is one ofthe biggest decisions that they (with theirparents) will have made thus far.”

Spencer ConnatserMiddle School French

A native of Maryville, Spencer Con-natser has had a busysummer. He graduatedfrom Union Universityin May with a bache-lor’s degree in Chris-tian studies andFrench, got married inJune, moved into anew house, and was hired to teach MiddleSchool French at USJ.

Connatser, an avid soccer and tennisfan, knows that an important part oflearning French is to learn about the his-tory and culture of France and French-speaking countries. “Teaching at USJ isthe perfect opportunity for me,” he said.“I want to instill in the students a passionfor other languages and cultures.”

Hailey EldridgeJr. Kindergarten

Although she has taught kindergartenin the public school system for the past 12years, USJ is familiarterritory for Jacksonnative Hailey Eldridge.

She is married to analum, Michael (Classof 1995); her mother-in-law, Carolyn El-dridge, taught art atUSJ for 11 years; and her children, Gar-rett in first grade and Ella Hall in juniorkindergarten, are USJ students.

“Many positive things are happening atUSJ, and I am excited to be a part of it,”said Eldridge, who has a bachelor’s degreein elementary education from LambuthUniversity and a master’s degree in educa-tion from Cumberland University.

“My mother was a kindergartenteacher for 35 years and was a huge influ-ence on me. Being a part of a child’s earlydevelopment is an exciting part of the ed-ucational experience, and I want to be apositive influence at the start of eachchild’s education.”

Kimberly LarkinsFirst Grade

Ever since she wasin kindergarten, Kim-berly Larkins dreamedof being a teacher. Forthe past 22 years, shehas lived that dreamteaching third grade, sixth grade math andscience, and, for 19 of those years, firstgrade. The Huntingdon native holds abachelor’s degree in elementary educationfrom UT Knoxville and two master’s de-grees from Trevecca Nazarene University,one in curriculum and instruction and theother in educational leadership.

Teaching first grade at USJ will meanLarkins will be closer to her twins, whoalso are in first grade this year at USJ.“When the kids started Jr. K at USJ, Iloved what they were learning and experi-encing here,” said Larkins, who moved toJackson eight years ago with her husband,Randy.

“I knew this was where I wanted to be.The ability to educate children and instilla love and passion for learning, while hav-ing fun, is always my goal.” 

New faces at USJPaul Conway Lower School French, MiddleSchool P.E., Upper School SocialStudies, Varsity Soccer Coach

The second youngest of four siblingsborn and raised in Dublin, Ireland, PaulConway attributes his passion for teach-ing and coaching to his parents, who stilllive in Ireland near his siblings. Whilestudying communications at LambuthUniversity and playing soccer, Conwayhas the distinction of being the first Mid-dle School soccer coach at USJ.

Since then, he has earned a master’sdegree in communications at the Univer-sity of Memphis and has coached soccerat Memphis and Lambuth University.

“USJ has a rich academic tradition,and it’s a place I have always admired,”Conway said. “To become a member of

the exceptional faculty and excellent ath-letic program is exciting. I hope I canlearn from the already wonderful aca-demic tradition in place, while also im-printing my own passion for teaching.”

Conway and his wife, Holly, have a22-month old son, Jack.

Paul Conway gives some soccer instruc-tions to Nour Nabhan during practice.

13

Jessica MiloneSecond Grade

Jessica Milone is re-turning to her roots byjoining the teachingstaff at USJ. Hermother, Jane Ramer, is the Upper Schoolscience department head, and Milonestarted at USJ when she was 3. A 2001graduate, she looks forward to her 1-year-old son, Noah, becoming a Junior Cub.

“I have felt called to work with chil-dren since I was in high school,” Milonesaid. “Teaching is in my blood, and Ienjoy bringing to the classroom my lovefor the arts, fun, laughter, and helpingstudents be their best.”

Milone, who has taught for eight years,has a bachelor’s degree in elementary edu-cation from Millsaps College. “I find my-self implementing lessons and strategiesthat I remember my teachers at USJusing. I am honored to have the opportu-nity to work at such an incredible school.”

Leslie Scott may bea new face in themusic room, but notaround USJ. Herdaughter, Macy, is in sixth grade, and herson, Solomon, is in third grade. Scott alsohas taught both kindergarten and Cubs.

“My path to choosing teaching as a ca-reer began as a high school student whenmy literature teacher completely changedmy entire outlook and attitude aboutlearning,” said Scott, who has a degree inearly childhood education from the Uni-versity of North Alabama and a master’sin education from Union University.

“I figured if one teacher could changemy perspective on learningand life, I could, too.Teaching provides everydayopportunities to encour-age, motivate, and buildstrong foundations for lifesuccess. It’s a good feelingto know you are helpingchange the world a littleevery day.”

Adriana SubiaLS Spanish

Raised to speak bothSpanish and Englishfluently, Adriana Subiais a USJ graduate whospent four years in herfamily’s native country of Panama. Sheholds a degree in biology from UT Chat-tanooga, but it was when she started substi-tuting at USJ that she knew she wanted toteach.

“I began substituting in Lower Schooland enjoyed educating children not only inSpanish, but about my culture,” said Subia,who loves to cook. She is marrying WadeThomson III, a USJ alum, in December.

“What drew me in the most is getting toknow how each child has his or her ownunique personality. By making a connec-tion, each child will be more eager to learnfrom you. I am helping the child grow intoa successful student and person.”

Tony WinklerMiddle School Math

After four years as acoach and a mathteacher in USJ’s UpperSchool, Tony Winklertook a couple of yearsoff to work on his master’s degree in mathe-matics at the University of Illinois and tomarry his wife, Bridget. He’s back at USJteaching both Upper and Middle Schoolmath and coaching Middle School boysbasketball.

“My classroom is interactive with a lot ofdialogue,” said Winkler, who grew up inPeoria, Illinois, and has a bachelor’s degreein math from Union University. “I believemath education is crucial as math gives usrepetition in logical thinking and problemsolving. I want to instill in my students anappreciation for mathematics and a confi-dence in their ability to solve challengingproblems in the classroom and in life.”

After teaching in the public schoolsystem his entire 18-plus-year career,Don Roe is bringing his teaching talentsto U.S. and AP U.S. history at USJ.

The Jackson native and dedicatedKansas City Royals fan holds an under-graduate degree in history from LambuthUniversity and a master’s in history fromthe University of Memphis.

His classroom experience ranges fromMiddle School through college, havingtaught as an adjunct faculty member atUnion University, UT Martin, and Lam-buth. He coached the Madison HighSchool Academic Decathlon teams tofive state championships, two nationalchampionships, and three national run-

ner-up titles duringthe past five years.

“Teaching is nodoubt my calling,and I believe the teaching of history is anavenue to make a difference in the livesof the young people who enter my class-room daily,” said Roe.

“History gives real-world examples ofdecision-making, greatness, mistakes, andlife in general. While I am fortunate tobe able to teach people about their coun-try and prepare students for college, I amequally blessed to teach them aboutthemselves and prepare them with theskills and habits of successful citizens,employees, and family members.”

Don Roe, Upper School History

Leslie ScottJr. Cubs – 1st Music

Jan Wilms, Computer ProgrammingA fourth-generation college professor with 20 years of teaching experience,

Jan Wilms is teaching two computer programming classes at USJ. A native ofthe Flemish part of Belgium, Wilms has an undergraduate degree from theCatholic University of Louvain and a master’s degree in computer science fromthe University of Mississippi. His doctorate research in natural language process-ing combines his interests in linguistics and computation.

Wilms, the father of two USJ students, has been teaching a robotics Continued, next page …

14

Linda TruexJanice Baldwin“USJ has been a home I’m

going to miss,” said Mid-dle School math teacher JaniceBaldwin when she retired after 29years at USJ.

Baldwin began her career withthe USJ family in 1976 at Episco-pal Day School where she taughtmath, science, and computerclasses. In 1981, she and her hus-band, Charles, moved to Texaswhere she was the Science Depart-ment Chair for a school with 500sixth graders. They returned toJackson in 1988 in the fall of USJ’ssecond year.

At USJ, Baldwin taught studentsfrom sixth to the 10th grade. How-ever, she spent most of her timeteaching Middle School honorsmath. She said she enjoyed theclassroom interaction, and she re-ceived letters over the years fromformer students thanking her forpreparing them for the future. Be-sides a solid foundation in math,students thanked her for the orga-nizational and note-taking skills shetaught them.

“I felt like I had a part in theirjourney and what they were when

they grew up,”Baldwin said.

Baldwin re-mains a bigsupporter ofUSJ, and saidshe would wel-come the op-

portunity to help the school withspecial projects or other opportuni-ties. In fact, she’s already preparedbooks with notes, quizzes, andteaching materials for PeterBoedeker, who is teaching eighthgrade honors math, and Tony Win-kler, who is teaching honors mathto seventh graders.

Baldwin said she would miss hertime at USJ and her coworkers.

“It’s a home,” she said. “It’s acommunity. Everybody is rootingfor each child who’s there andwanting the best for them.”

The Baldwins will remain inJackson. They plan to travel fre-quently, starting with a trip to Lub-bock, Texas, in September to watchCharles’ alma mater, Texas Tech,play football. Beyond that, their op-tions are open.

“Whatever challenge or adven-ture that comes up, we just mighttry it,” Baldwin said.

For years, Linda Truex de-lighted in the joy on her stu-

dents’ faces when they learnedsomething new. She loved being ateacher.

Truex, USJ’s Middle and Upper School computerapplications teacher, has retired after 14 years. Her col-leagues at USJ are some of the finest people she hasever known, she said. “I always looked forward togoing to school every day and accepting the challengeto make a difference in students’ lives.”

Prior to teaching, Truex was active at USJ as a par-ent, serving as a Mothers’ Club board member andchairman of the Holiday Mart.

She said USJ is a small community of dedicatedpeople working together for a common goal, which isfound in its mission statement: “Seeking to instill apassion for academic excellence and lifelong learning soeach student will reach his or her maximum potential.”

“This is very true, and this is what I liked about theschool,” Truex said.

While at USJ, Truex helped transform the Com-puter Science Department into a well-rounded pro-gram that teaches students how to navigate personalcomputing applications and new technology. Now thatshe’s retired, she plans to spend time with her familyand keep busy with community service.

“I plan to take a few trips, visit my children andgrandchildren, and then donate my time and energy tovolunteerism in the Jackson area,” Truex said.

Longtime math and computer teachers retire

programming summer camp for Middle School studentsthat uses Lego Mindstorm; he will use some of that tech-nology in his classes at USJ. “My goal is to introduce thestudents to programming and engineering principlesthrough building moving robots that interact with their en-vironment,” said Wilms, who is Chairman of Union Uni-versity’s Computer Science Department.

“Most kids grew up playing with Legos. In 1998, thecompany combined its Technic sets with a programmablemicroprocessor that originated in the MIT labs. It is anideal platform to learn how to program since it providesimmediate feedback. Our introductory class for computerscience majors at Union uses this same approach to intro-duce them to algorithm design, but at USJ, we also will in-corporate best building practices.”

“We will follow a curriculum designed by Carnegie Mel-lon, which has a very strong robotics program.”

For many families, Kim Yelverton played a bigrole in their children’s experiences on the

Lower Campus. As Lower School counselor andcharacter education teacher for the past 10 years,“Miss Kim” knew all of the Lower School stu-dents.

Miss Kim was known for giving a hug whenit was needed and always having a smile on her face.

After a battle with pancreatic cancer, she died July 13. “Kim was always full of life and love,” said Debbie Ford, Lower

School Director. “She was such an integral part of our school. Herimpact on the lives of our students cannot be measured. Throughouther illness, she was a perfect example of courage and faith to us all.”

Kim’s devotion to students extended beyond her role as a teacher.She helped to form the Moms In Touch group at USJ. This groupmeets weekly to pray for the school and was instrumental in the de-velopment of the prayer garden located behind the Upper School.

A tribute to “Miss Kim”Jan Wilms, continued …

15

Shopping the Holiday Mart on its opening day has its ad-

vantages. As you walk in, the smell of fresh baked items in

the Bake Shop greets you. Its abundance of homemade

pies, cakes, and treats are wrapped and ready to go. The mer-

chant booths are filled to the brim with perfect items to help you

get a jump on your holiday shopping list. One of the best advan-

tages, however, is the chance to have lunch in one of the Mart’s

most treasured traditions, the Tea Room.

For as long as many can remember, the Tea Room has been a

favored lunch retreat from the bustle of the Mart. Located this

year on the third floor of the Civic Center, Friday’s Tea Room of-

fers patrons a seated meal served by Tea Room waitresses. Diners

are treated to a fashion show of items from Mart merchants.

Tea Room seating is limited to only one seating, which starts

at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $10 each or $100 for a reserved table of

eight and go on sale in October. Tickets to the Tea Room do not

include admission to the Mart.

“As always, the menu includes recipes from the USJ cook-

book, Southern Secrets, which will be on sale in the Tea Room,”

said Amy Koerner, Tea Room Chairman. “This year, we will be

serving grilled chicken tenderloins over a fall-mixed salad, con-

fetti orzo pasta, and orange juice mini muffins with a choice of

lemon apricot glazed cake, brownies with Mammaw’s icing, or

carrot cake for dessert. Beverages will be a choice of water, coffee,

or tea.”

Enjoy a Mart Tradition:The Tea Room

n Dates & Times: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, November 16, andSaturday, November 17, and noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, November 18.

n Admission: Tickets are $5 in advance for adults ($8 at thedoor) and $2 for students. Children under 6 are admitted free. Ticketsare good for three-day admission to the Mart. Advance tickets areavailable at USJ’s Lower Campus and area BancorpSouth locations.

n Preview Party: Invitations to the November 15 event will bemailed in October.

n Shopping: From Mart favorites to new and exciting vendors,the list of businesses attending this year’s Mart is growing. To seewho is coming, check out the vendor list on the Holiday Mart page inthe Parents section of the USJ website.

n Events: The Tea Room lunch and fashion show is Friday, No-vember 16. High Tea with My Doll and Me has two seatings on Satur-day, November 17. Magical Mart Extravaganza also is Saturday,November 17.

n Good Food: Stock up on home-baked goods and decadentdesserts at the Bake Shop on the main level. For a meal or mid-daysnack try the Junior Deli, Dad’s Sports Grille, or the Shopper’s Café. All are open daily on the lower level.

n Do Your Part:Volunteer to work three shifts. Contribute to theBake Shop. Sell tickets. Come to the Mart, and shop.For details, visit usjbruins.org/parents/holiday-mart. You can

sign up to volunteer online. Like us on Facebook!

The Fall Wee Exchange Sale is Septem-

ber 28-30, so it’s time to start cleaning

out those closets. Your participation in Jack-

son’s premier consignment sale will raise

money for USJ, and you’ll receive 65 per-

cent of the proceeds on your items that sell.

From clothes to furniture to toys to

household items, Wee Exchange is a great

place to shop for bargains on new and gen-

tly used items. For the real bargain hunters,

the half-price sale on Saturday and Sunday

afternoon has many items marked down.

Volunteers get early shopping privileges.

Participating in this huge sale could not

be easier with computer-generated bar

coded tags and online registration. You can

even schedule when you drop your items

off. For details on becoming a consigner,

volunteering to work the sale, or other de-

tails, visit usjweeexchange.com.

Wee Exchange, sponsored by the Moth-

ers’ Club, is in the USJ Middle School gym.

The sale is open to the public from 6-9

p.m. Friday, September 28, and 8 a.m. to

noon Saturday, September 29. The half

price sale is 2-4 p.m. that Saturday and

Sunday, September 30.

Clean out, shop, and help USJ!

In a picture taken several years ago, Catherine McKnight and Nancy

McMahon (partially hidden) serve Tea Room patrons.

Holiday Mart highlights …

16

Achievements … (Noted achievements announced since the printing

of the March 2012 school magazine)

Middle School math competition

USJ students captured top honors for sixth and seventh gradeteams at the 2012 Junior High School Mathematics Contest

at UT Martin last spring. n Sixth grader Griffin Lairdtook top honors for his grade,

Alden Cardwellplaced second, and Anjali Mahajanplacedtenth. Connor Jonesalso was on the sixth grade, first-placeteam.

n In seventh grade, Keyon Kazempourtook second place,Patrick Aherrreraplaced third, Micheal Villarrealtied forfourth, and Efia Nuakoplaced eighth.

n Eighth graders Aditya Thotaand Gray Northernplacedthird and fourth respectively in their grade level.

TMTA math contest

Upper School math students won the first-place team award inthe four divisions in which they competed at the Tennessee

Math Teachers Association regional math competition last April.The teams won first place in Advanced Topics and Calculus, Alge-bra II, Geometry, and Algebra I. Individual winners were …

n Calculus and Advanced Topics: Shane Vargason,firstplace; Jacob Cohenand Gray Magee, second; BethanyDietz,fourth; Aashray Singareddy,fifth; and BrandonSmith,sixth.

n Algebra II: Akua Nuakoand John Villarreal,first place(tie); Colton Little,third; Govind Bindra,fourth; and JamesRoland Markos,fifth.

n Geometry: Ben Coffman,first place; Zaid Baba,second;Hannah Russell,third; Leah Sanders,fourth; and GramNorthern,fifth.

n Algebra I: Matthew Smith,first place; Maryam Ahmad,second; Alan Wilms,third; Austin Wilms,fourth; and Pey-ton Antwine,eighth.

Upper School choirs win awardsn The USJ Concert Choir received a superior rating at the Ten-

nessee State Choral Festival. n The Concert Choir won the Grand Champion Award at the

Fiesta-Val Music Festival in Atlanta, Georgia. The choir accumu-lated the highest number of points of any performing group at thefestival, including bands and concert, show, and jazz choirs. Thechoir also won the Division Two sweepstakes trophy for scoring thehighest number of points with a superior rating in its division.

The Mixed Choir and the Women’s Choirs also earned firstplace honors. Hannah Aherreraand Ali Grahamreceivedoutstanding accompanist awards at the festival. Dian Eddleman,USJ Choral Director, received the Distinguished Director Award.

Robotics team in regional semi-finalsThe USJ robotics team qualified for the semi-finals in St. Louis

by winning at the quarterfinals held in Aberdeen, Mississippi.

Team members included Angad S. Bindra, Akua Nuako,Govind Bindra, Ben Coffman,and Efia Nuako.

AP Scholars

Thirty-six students earned recognition on college-level Ad-vanced Placement exams. Students, enrolled in USJ’s 15 AP

courses, took 166 AP exams last spring. Earning recognition were...National AP Scholar: Sarathi Sarkar,who had an average

score of 4.0 or higher on a 5.0 scale on all AP exams he took, withscores of 4.0 or higher on eight or more of the exams.

AP Scholars with Distinction: Angad Bindra, Nick Camp,Bethany Dietz, Gray Magee, Chloe Meriwether, AkuaNuako, Shane Vargason, Matt Wing,and Zuzanna Woj-tas.They earned an average of 3.5 or higher on all AP exams takenand scores of 3.0 or higher on five or more of those exams.

AP Scholars with Honor: Hannah Aherrera, GovindBindra, Carrie Cobb, Jacob Cohen, Kirstie Finch,James Roland Markos, Anthony Micetich, AshleyNkadi, Caleb Self, Habeeb Suara,and Clare Williams.They earned an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams takenand scores of 3.0 or higher on four or more of these exams.

AP Scholars: Zaid Baba, Olivia Baker, Jennifer Cate-rina, Francis Chandler, Katherine Cloar, AinsleyGompf, PhilipGriggs, SarahHoward, MinaJames-Gist, AnnElizabeth Lynch,Ryan Sanderson,Aashray Sin-gareddy, BrandonSmith, RossThomas,and JohnVillarreal.They had scores of 3.0 or more on at least three APexams.

Art contest

Grant Whitsittplaced first in Madison County in the Con-gressional Art Contest, and Katie Robertsonreceived an

honorable mention. Grant’s entry, above, was titled Supermajors.

2012 Governor’s Schools

Six Upper School students attended four different Governor’sSchools, a summer program for gifted and talented high school

students provided by the State of Tennessee. They were …n Hannah Woodward,School for the Visual Artsn Spencer Poole,School for the Musical Artsn Akua Nuako,School for Computational Physics n Govind Bindra, Ben Coffman,and Aisha Suara,

School of Emerging Technology

Cheerleaders place first at camp

2011-2012 Annual ReportDear Friends of University School of Jackson,

Once again, we are pleased to recognize USJ’s gener-ous donors and supporters for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.We received support from parents, alumni, faculty andstaff, grandparents, and friends of USJ. Your contributionshelp to bridge the gap between our tuition revenue andthe actual cost to educate our students, maintain our pro-grams, and care for our buildings and grounds.

USJ continues to be West Tennessee’s unmatched col-lege preparatory school. Last year’s 103 graduating seniorsare attending 36 different colleges and universities thisfall. We regularly receive reports that our graduates arewell prepared for the college experience.

We are grateful to those who contributed to the AnnualFund and to our support groups — Bruins Club, Fine ArtsGuild, and Mothers’ Club — that provide so much addi-tional support to our school. We are pleased that many ofyou decided to join the Legacy Society, which supports theAnnual Fund and our three support groups with one gift.

All activities at USJ, including fundraising activities, sup-port our mission to instill a passion for academic excel-lence and lifelong learning so each student can reach hisor her maximum potential. We strive to fulfill this missionthrough our four pillars: academics, athletics, fine arts, andcharacter education.

Thank you for your support. We are honored to recog-nize everyone in this report for helping USJ achieve its mis-sion. We’ve included a pledge form and an envelope in thecenterfold of this magazine so that you can convenientlymail your pledge or contribution for the 2012-2013 year.

Sincerely,

Clay Lilienstern, Head of School

IncomeTuition and Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$8,359,155.

Auxiliary (Buses, cafeteria, etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$108,100.

Annual Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$135,000.

Gifts to Operations (Budgeted $ from Support Groups) . . . . . . . . . . .$89,275.

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$8,691,530.

Donations to Support GroupsBruins Club Super Boosters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$62,668.

Fine Arts Guild Partners and Patrons of the Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$20,050.

Mothers’ Club Holiday Mart Sponsors and Patrons . . . . . . . . . . . . .$47,837.

Total Giving in 2011-2012Giving (Annual Fund & Designated) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$125,605.

Restricted Giving (Special gifts and projects) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4,321.

ExpensesSalaries & Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$6,461,471.

Debt & Capital Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$707,048.

Operational Expenses (Utilities, maintenance, grounds, insurance) . . .$799,500.

Educational Expenses (Books, classroom supplies, athletics, etc.) . . . .$667,500.

Operating Reserve & Contingency Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$56,011.

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$8,691,530.

Tuition & Fees

Annual Fund

Auxiliary

Gifts to Operations

Salaries & Benefits

Debt & Capital Expenses

OperationalExpenses

EducationalExpenses

Operating Reserve

2011-2012 Budget

An envelope for donations to USJ’s Annual Fund is included with this magazine for your convenience.

17

18

2011-2012 Annual FundTax-deductible gifts to the Annual Fund make up the difference between tuition income andoperational needs. Annual Fund gifts help USJ keep its tuition low. Our tuition is about twothirds of what other Southeastern independent schools in our peer group charge.

USJ Society: ($5,000+)BancorpSouthKay and Flint CoxDyersburg Pediatric DentistryJennifer and Joseph CrenshawCamille and Ralph JonesWest Tennessee ENT Clinic, P.A.

Legacy Society: ($2,500+)Tara and Trey AntwineTeresa and Richard AyersKelly and Tom ButlerMona and Jim CampbellMarnie and David CohenMary Ann and Chris GiampapaAnita and Steve HamiltonFiona and Jonathan HarlanB.J. and Ralph JonesMisty and James KirklandTaylor and David LairdMaria and Bill MariencheckHolly and Steve MaroneyStephanie and John MastersonChristina and Chad McGeeMary Jane and Mike McWherterJoyce Addo and Kofi NuakoSarah and Kelly PucekShannon and Charles RandolphElesha and John ReidMitzi and Bill RichardsonLesley and Samuel RickmanLisa and Kenny RogersCynthia and James RossJennifer and Jason SammonsLaura and Eric SieversBrenda and Bob SmithGina and Todd SmithPiper and Jackie TaylorJan and Patrick TeerJanet and Dale ThomasTanya and Archie Wright

Red & Blue Society:($1,000+)

Debbie and Michael AntonJanice and Charles BaldwinSylvia BellKay and Christian CulbreathEli Lilly and Company FoundationFirst TennesseeCathy and Charles GarrettShannon and Robert Gilroy

Tiffany and Ray HowardRebecca and Clay LiliensternAllison and Preston MillerPam and Joel PerchikMary and Tom ReedLee and Jim RussellTheresa and Paul SmithStallings ClinicBetty Ann and John Tanner

Leadership Society: ($500+)Carol and Brad AdkinsDenise and Don AllenFrances and Bobby CatesStephanie and Richard CapeTeresa CobbEast Crane ServiceLauri GorbetSherri and Kurt KilburnJoy and John MeriwetherCarolee and William MorrisKimberly and John NelsonBetty and Don NewmanWhitney and John OvertonShelly and Scott PhillippsMelinda and Frank PierceRegions BankHelen and Michael SaridakisAnamika and Shyamal SarkarCharlene and Larry ShafferSally and Billy SlackSally and Mike SmigielskiKakky and Ray TannerPaige and George Thomas

Bruin Society: ($250+)Judy and Lynn AdkinsAngie and Brad BoxPat and Don CoffeyAnn CotnerPaulette and Andy CoyBrenda DePriestLee and Todd DriverJennifer and Kenneth EdwardsLinda and Paul FisherConnie and David GareySumner GlasscoAdair and Jim HardegreeAmy and Robert HiteConnie and Eddie HockadayShirley and Larry JonesCatherine and Ron Kwasigroh

Melissa and Bill LoftonGena and Michael MandleMary and Peter MascoloMatt MedearisKemmie MitzellTwyla MorganLissa and Terry MullinsGinger and John NewMary Alice and Burruss NicholsElizabeth and Greg OrrLinda ReidKaren and Arnold RohlwingKathleen and Alan SalleeKay and Butch ShearinLetha SmithAngela and Nathan SpencerLisa and Steve SpurlinKay and Don ThomsonTruGreen ChemlawnBeth and Sam ViseWells FargoEllen and Ed WheelerSusan and Sandy WinstonKathy and Bob WoodLynn and Ed WoodsideMelissa and Matt Zerfoss

Support Partner: (<$250)Zeina AdamsAmber and Jason AndersonElizabeth and Kyle AtkinsLaurie and Kelly BallardKelly and David BarnesCindy and Larry BellMarillyn and Bill BoggsFarzaneh and Hamid BonakdarDanielle BoydSandra BoxellPam and Johnny BurlesonCourtney and Timothy BurnetteKarlene and Mark BurtonCarrie Brown and Nick CampbellJennifer and Jimmy CareyRachelle and John CarraherLisa and Robert CatesApril and Frank ChristieBridget and Danny ClarkNice CrockettKathy and Keith DavisKirsten and Jason DementBarbara DiggsEmily and Brian Dunn

Dian and Phillip EddlemanPaige and Jody EvansSummer and Barry FergusonFirst South BankDebbie and Jesse FordPhyllis and Bill GaytonMary Neal and Tom GlassJulie and Jimmy GlossonStacey and Jim GloverJennifer and Kirk GoehringChristie and Scott GoldenTammy and Tom GrantWillie Mae and Billy HarmonLinda and Mike HawksCarmen HernandezMax HippMary Beth and Mike HopperBeth and Buck HudsonKellie InmanAngela JohnsonZohreh KazempourRhonda and Wesley KlipfelDewana LatimerJo Ann LatimoreMarisa and Ray LincerPat LyerlyLibby and Shane LynchStarlet and Blake MansfieldClare and George MarkosLisa and Mickey MarleyJan and David MeltonSallie Jo and Chap MitzellLaura and Baker MooreKaren and Jace MorgantiRuth Ann MorrisonMalea MullinsBarbara and John NewJacque and Lawrence NicolaSarah and Dan PateRuth and Loren PattersonCarole and Hank PerchikJessica and David PinkertonAnna PowellMichelle and Ronnie PrinceJennie and Holt PritchettAshley and Heath RabunJane RamerEmily and Michael RichardsCarla and Eddie RoachCori and Jason RoseClare and James Royer

Continued, next page …

Annual Fund contributors

19

Cande and Tommy RussellJennifer and Robert SammonsJudy and Richard SandersonDiane SanfordNeal SellarsJackie and Bobbie SellersStephanie and Tony ShutesRegina and Eric SillsKaren and Ricky SkeltonKelly and Alex SmithMaida SmithTammy and Jeff SmithDorothea SpatesMarzette and Herman StallingsJodi SteenJennifer and Jerome Teel

Christie and Matt ThomsonKimberly and Gregory ThornburyLinda and Ben TruexShonda and Ben VargasonBrenda and Joseph VenableLinda and James WatsonRyan WernquistMarie WheelerShannon and Ron WhisenantJennifer and John WhybrewKim and Edgar WillisVicki and Greg WilsonMary Lou WoodsCindy and Steve WyattLinda and Boyce YatesKim and Johnny Yelverton

Annual Fund contributors, continued …

Judy and Lynn Adkins … • in honor of Conner, Jonathan,

Catherine, and Jacob AdkinsCindy and Larry Bell …

• in memory of Ray GardnerChris and Sherri Brauss …

• in memory of Ray GardnerPam and Johnny Burleson…

• in memory of George Morrison

Frances and Bobby Cates …• in honor of Carrie Cates

Lisa and Robert Cates …• in memory of George

Morrison, Ray Gardner, and Robert Atkins

Pat and Don Coffey …• in memory of Pat Wills, George

Morrison, Steven Threet,Barnett Scott, Robbie Glover, and Elizabeth Patterson

Kathy and Keith Davis …• in memory of Ray Gardner

Brenda DePriest … • in honor of Ally and John Ross

GloverBarbara Diggs …

• in honor of Joseph ReeceEmily and Brian Dunn …

• in honor of Cindy Bell

Jennifer and Kenneth Edwards …• in honor of Jack Edwards

Mary Neal and Tom Glass …• in honor of Frances, Nicole,

and John NewStacey and Jim Glover …

• in memory of Ray Gardnerand Dale Fisher

Cathy and William Jordan …• in memory of Troy Waldhoff

Carol and Ron Kirkland…• in memory of Joe Phillips, USJ

Class of 2002; and John Epps,father of Michael Epps

Catherine and Ron Kwasigroh …• in honor of Sydney and

Kaleigh KwasigrohDewana Latimer…

• in memory of George MorrisonPat Lyerly …

• in honor of Caroline and Virginia Williams

Erie Kate McCord …• in memory of Hudson Atkins

Ann and Sam McLemore …• in memory of Altona Harris

Yarbrough, Anne Mae Gregath, Margaret “Bitsy” Woodson, and Beulah Goodson Harris

Sallie Jo and Chap Mitzell …• in honor of Kemmie Mitzell,

USJ French TeacherCarolee and William Morris …

• in honor of Molly and Laura Lee Morris

Barbara and John New …• in honor of Frances, Nicole,

and John NewJacque and Lawrence Nicola …

• in honor of Lauren and CarsonNicola

Sarah and Dan Pate …• in honor of Beth Dye, Rachel

Morris, Paige Hays, and Allison Miller

Ruth and Loren Patterson …• in honor of Renee Bearb

Carole and Hank Perchik …• in honor of Madison Perchik

Linda Reid …• in honor of Grant Reid

Emily and Michael Richards …• in memory of Ray Gardner

Carla and Eddie Roach …• in memory of Anne Rochell

Karen and Arnold Rohlwing …• in honor of Kayla and Seth

Rohlwing

Diane Sanford …• in honor of Gracen and

Brittain RaineyNeal Sellars …

• in honor of Cole, Cade, and Curt Sammons

Karen and Ricky Skelton …• in memory of George Morrison

Marzette and Herman Stallings …• in honor of Caroline and

Sophie StallingsBetty Ann and John Tanner …

• in honor of Elizabeth Atkins, USJ Music Teacher

Kay and Don Thomson …• in memory of Toni Donahue

and George MorrisonBrenda and Joseph Venable …

• in honor of Will and Reid Venable

Linda and James Watson …• in honor of Savannah Head

Marie Wheeler …• in honor of Abby Wheeler

Kathy and Bob Wood …• in memory of Tyler Kirby,

George Morrison, and Robbie Glover

Mary Lou Woods …• in honor of Peyton and

Caroline Vaughan

Annual Fund Memorials and Honorariums

Emily Richards —USJ’s new Director of Development

Emily Bond Richards started the2012-2013 school year as USJ’s Di-

rector of Development. Emily, a 1985 USJ/Old Hickorygraduate, began working at USJ in 2003 as a classroomteacher. She has taught second and fifth grade at USJ.

Richards and her husband, Mike, have three children:two are USJ students and the oldest is a USJ graduate.She received a bachelor’s degree in education from UTKnoxville.

“I am excited about assuming the role of Director ofDevelopment,” said Richards. “As a former teacher, Iknow firsthand how well USJ prepares students for thenext step. Our school goes way beyond just academics.USJ educates the whole person by meeting each studentwherever his or her passion might be. It is up to the USJfamily to offer the financial support needed to strengthenthese programs and continue to move USJ forward.”

(erichards@usjbruins.org • 731.664.0812, ext. 21)

Restricted Gifts/Honorariums

20

Drug and Alcohol EducationCarol and Brad AdkinsDenise and Don AllenJan and David MeltonMelinda and Frank PierceLesley and Samuel RickmanPaige and George ThomasLynn and Ed Woodside

BandDebbie and Michael Anton

Boys BasketballBrenda Depriest

CheerleadingAnonymousBancorpSouthSandra BoxellKay and Christian CulbreathDyersburg Pediatric DentistryFirst South BankJoy and John MeriwetherStallings ClinicTorri and Karl StudtmannWest Tennessee ENT Clinic, P.A.

Community Arts WorkshopBancorpSouthShannon and Robert Gilroy

Fine ArtsCarol and Ron Kirkland

FootballCarol and Ron Kirkland

Lower SchoolFrances and Bobby CatesLisa and Robert CatesCathy and William Jordan

Lower School LibraryAmber Anderson, Ferry Kaveh,

and Carmen Hernandez… • in honor of Betsy Little and

Meredith WalkerTina Anderson…

• in honor of Marnie Cohen, Angie Box, and Joyce Speight

Elizabeth Atkins …• in honor of music and stage

volunteers, Michelle and Scott Tinker, Janet Thomas, Carol Adkins, Tara Antwine, Mary Ann Giampapa, and Heidi McDaniel

Cindy Bell, Sherri Brauss, KathyDavis, and Emily Richards… • in honor of Debbie Ford, Beth

Hudson, Lisa Cates, and Sylvia Bell

Sylvia Bell…• in honor of Anamika Sarkar

Pam Kovalic, and Barbara Bryant

• in memory of George Morrison, Tyler Kirby, Antoinette Marie Donahue, Gene Murray, Amelia Garcia, and Ray Gardner

Jenny Carey… • in honor of Paulette Coy and

Marda WallaceKathy Davis…

• in honor of Jennifer Sammons and Gail Reynolds

Jane Ferguson…• in memory of Elizabeth

Donna Patterson, mother of Donna Ellis

Debbie Ford… • in honor of Lower School

Faculty and StaffDebbie and Jay Ford…

• in memory of George Morrison, Gene Murray,Amelia Garcia, and Antoinette Marie Donahue

Phyllis Gayton … • in honor of Betsy Biggs,

Jennifer Hamm, Amy West, and Kristen Londe

Stacey and Jim Glover …• in honor of library volunteers,

Barbara Bryant, Anamika Sarkar, Pam Kovalic, Bobbie Clarke, Lisa Spurlin, Becky Baskin, Kathy Weiner, Holly Johnson, Trish Booher, HeidiMcDaniel, and Danielle Stanfill

Beth Hudson … • in honor of Lower School

Faculty and StaffAngela Johnson…

• in honor of Rachel Morris and Ginger Igou

Ranee Jones… • in honor of Jessica

Pinkerton and Amy WhiteSara Kazempour…

• in honor of Debbie Ford, Beth Hudson, Lisa Cates, and Sylvia Bell

Starlet Mansfield…• in honor of Janessa

Anderson and Karley BondLisa Marley…

• in honor of Leslie Scott, Carol Venable, and Rachel Morris

Laura Moore… • in honor of Anne Short, Gloria

Humphreys, and Suzanne BoydSarah Pate …

• in honor of Rachel Morris, Preston and Allison Miller, Beth Dye, Paige Hays, Janet Brown, and Lesley Buchanan

Cori Rose … • in honor of Tarsha Basham,

Jennifer Davenport, and Kim Melton

Jennifer Sammons…• in honor of Ginny Crenshaw,

Meredith Figueroa, Amy Hite, Traci Carney, Myra Krenis, Diane Johnson, and Ann Mayo

Darlene Tanner… • in honor of Peggy Mileham,

Amy Arnold, Kelly Wiggins, Nicholas Wiggins, and Marnie Cohen

Vicki Wilson, Jennifer Sammons,Sarah Pate, and Cori Rose… • in honor of Debbie Ford,

Beth Hudson, Lisa Cates, andSylvia Bell

Vicki and Greg Wilson…• in memory of George

Morrison and Antoinette Marie Donahue

MiscellaneousJanice and Charles BaldwinBest One TireMartha and Jonathan Campbell

Prayer GardenCindy and Larry BellSherri and Chris BraussKathy and Keith DavisLaurie and Larry DenbrockEmily and Brian DunnStacey and Jim GloverRhonda and Wesley KlipfelErie Kate McCordElizabeth and Greg OrrEmily and Michael RichardsUSJ Uniform Resale

Walkway BricksMiddle School Faculty and Staff …

• in memory of Dylan KirkCarilyn and David Jordan …

• in honor of Shelby Jordan

The strength of University School of Jackson lies in itssupport from school families and friends. University

School offers many opportunities for support …n Unrestricted Giving: Gifts to the Annual Fund offset

USJ’s greatest need for extra support. The Annual Fund’sunrestricted giving allows the school to decide how touse the money and keep school tuition affordable.

n Restricted Giving takes on many forms at USJ. This pastyear, for example, people donated to the library in mem-ory of a loved one, helped pay for upkeep of the prayergarden, and bought walkway bricks in honor of someonethey considered special. Restricted Giving also includesfunds to USJ’s several endowments, planned giving, andto our parent Support Groups.

Alumni AssociationAlexander Thompson Arnold, PLLCAnonymousByrd Southern RentsCarlock Automotive GroupThe Forked Vine Wine & SpiritsGary A. Taylor PartnersH & M Company, Inc.

Henson Construction Services, Inc.The Pig House, Inc.Signs First Brenda and Bob SmithTeel & Maroney, PLCTripp TuckerVineyard’s Gifts, Inc.

21

Bruins Club

Super BoostersCarol and Brad AdkinsJudy and Lynn AdkinsRob AllenDon and Denise Allen Norfleet AnthonyTara and Trey AntwineRhonda AristorenasTammy and Eric ArnoldShannon ArnoldDebbie and Keith AtkinsElizabeth and Kyle AtkinsTeresa and Richard AyersAngela and Michael BadgettBancorpSouthPearl and Harold BanksVickie and Ronald BarkerMaelene and Bill BarnesKelly and David BarnesShelly and Spencer BarnesTarsha and Kevin BashamClorana BassShelia and Allen BeechamJames G. BigfordJudy and Joe BigfordShannon and Rod BigfordDiane and David BolingEmma BondPatricia and Michael BooherSandra BoxellJeff BoydTammy and Julius BoydSuzanne BoydMichelle and Grant BoykinSherri and Chris BraussKaren and Andy BrittJanet and David BrownPaula BrownyardJoan and Jack BrummetLesley and Jason Buchanan Kelly and Tom ButlerAnita Jo and Joe ByrdBarbara Cain Marc Cain

Mona and Jim CampbellVickie and Timothy CampbellStephanie and Richard CapeCarlock Automotive GroupLou Anne CarlockTraci and Trey CarneyCynthia and Larry CarruthFrances and Bobby CatesKathy and Jason CaudleSarah and Lloyd ChampagneApril and Frank ChristieRussell T. ClarksonDavid Clifton Kristie CliftonLewis CobbTeresa CobbPat and Don CoffeyMarnie and David CohenNajanna and Wenton ColemanRita and Eddy ConawayAmy CotnerAnn CotnerPaulette and Andy CoyJennifer and David CraigBill CrawfordAmanda and Richard CrowleyKay and Christian CulbreathJennifer and Timothy DavenportLee and Brian DavisKathy and Keith DavisMelinda and Mike DavisMelanie and Dewitt Day Laurie and Larry DenbrockBrenda DePriest Dottie and Bruce DorrisAmy and Brian DouganLee and Todd DriverJudy and John EastChristina EdwardsLolly and Stephen EldridgeFlorence and Bob ElliottGinger and Adam EnglishTabatha and Donald Eubank

Alan Ewell Sharon EwellRhonda and Charles ExumDot and Clifton ExumSherry and Tom FendleyJessie FieldsFirst BankCindy and Bret FisherJulie and Chris FlemingPatricia and John FortnerAnita FosterMaria and Clay FullerMolly and Mike GardnerConnie and David Garey Kim and Robert GarlandPaige and Brad GarnerPatsy and Charles GarrettCathy and Charlie GarrettMary Ann and Chris GiampapaTonya and George GillikinSumner GlasscoLesa and Craig GlassmanLaura and Butch GloverJennifer and Kirk GoehringChristie and Scott GoldenJudy and Bob GraningAmanda and Tony GregoryCarolyn and Tom GrizzardLisa and Bill HallMandy and Jay HallBeverly and Sam HallDanice and John HaltomAnita and Steve HamiltonJeri and Clinton HarbinAdair and Jim HardegreeRosa and Charles HardinFiona and Jonathan HarlanPam and Ricky HarrisonCharlotte and David HatcherPaula and Kevin HatcherMark HawksChristi and Joel HaynesBettie Hensley

Paul HensleyTracey HensleyConnie and Eddie HockadayJill Holloway Evelyn and Timmy HooperKathy and Steve HornTiffany and Ray HowardAmy HowellMelissa and Jeff HowellLaDawn and Walter HudsonMarla and Chuck HughesMarigene and Matthew HughesDenise and Daniel HurstFachon IngramSandy JacocksGinger JaggersDiane and Mike JohnsonWendi and Terry JohnsonRanee and Brandon JonesCamille and Ralph JonesB.J. and Ralph JonesJody and Tom JonesShannon and Travis JonesAnna and Cody KailSherri and Kurt KilburnCindy and Scott KirkMisty and James KirklandDenise and Karl KramerRhonda and Brett KrasnerCatherine and Ron KwasigrohTaylor and David LairdJan and Christopher Lambert

IncomeSuper Boosters $62,668.Concessions $51,461.Signs $11,400.Sports Programs $11,875.Tournaments $9,976.Other Income $13,955.Total Income $161,335.

ExpensesOne-Time ExpensesReseal Track $30,815.PlayOn! Sports $4,800.

Recurring ExpensesUSJ General Fund $25,976.

Operating ExpensesSuper Boosters $14,909.Concessions $40,684.Banquets/Awards/Uniforms $1,991.Sports Programs $11,913.Field Maintenance $18,552.Tournaments $5,325.Equipment/Uniforms $4,160.General Supplies $4,079.Back to School Bash $1,300.Other Expenses $4,791.Total Expenses $133,919.

Net Income $27,416.

The Bruins Club supports the athletic programs at USJ through volunteer support andfinancial assistance. Our purpose is to provide supplemental funding not covered bythe general budget. The Bruins Club generates funds through the annual Super

Booster campaign, concessions, and special events, such as program ads, tournaments, andstadium sponsor signs.

The Bruins Club is committed to all USJ athletic programs, dedicating funds to a varietyof capital improvement projects over the past few years. We also contribute to the annualbudget and help with special projects.

Each family is urged to become a Super Booster and volunteer to help in the concessionsstands and with other projects. This kind of support helps our athletic programs, while keep-ing tuition costs as low as possible. Our regular meetings are at 5:15 p.m. the first Monday ofeach month, usually in the Upper School library.

Continued, next page

Kimberly and Randy LarkinsBethany and Peter LawrencePatricia and William LawrenceKimberly LaxCarrie and Chris LewisRebecca and Clay LiliensternMarisa and Ray LincerKristen and Alex LondeStarlet and Blake MansfieldMaria and Bill MariencheckHolly and Steve MaroneySallie and Jerry MartinPamela MartinLaura and Michael MartindaleMary and Peter MascoloStephanie and John MastersonMelissa and Ray MathisPenny and Shannon MayhallWanda and Charles McCallPatricia and John McCawErie Kate McCordMichelle and Jim McFarlandChristina and Chad McGeeMarie and Vincent McGee Peggy and Bill McGuireCatherine McKnightDon McKnightMary Jane and Mike McWherterJoy and John MeriwetherPeggy and Roger MilehamHeather and Mark MillerAllison and Preston MillerMichele and Tom MillerAmy and Gregg MitchellBetty and Bob MooreAdele and Bobby MooreDarla and Daniel MooreKent Moore

Rachel and Brent MorrisCarolee and William MorrisLinda and Lynn MountAmanda and Kurt MullenDolores and Johnny MullensLissa and Terry MullinsMona and Said NabhanSuzanne NelsonGinger and John New Betty and Don NewmanMary NewmanMary Alice and Burruss NicholsKimberly and Danny NolenKelle and Mark NorthernJoyce Addo and Kofi NuakoTammi and Will O’NealElizabeth and Greg Orr Whitney and John OvertonCindy and Sam OvertonJon Mark PateyDeborah and Charles PattersonNancy and Donnie PattersonRachel and Robert PaynePam and Joel PerchikShelly and Scott PhillippsMelinda and Frank Pierce Mary PierceJessica and David PinkertonLisa and Steve PitcairnSara and Ryan PorterRachel PowellRoberta and James PriceKim and Jim PriddySarah and Kelly PucekAshley and John RabunShannon and Charles RandolphTracy and Benjamin RasbachElesha and John Reid

Linda ReidGail and Robert Reynolds LeAnn and Kerry RialWayma and French RichardsNancy and Marty RichardsEmily and Michael RichardsMitzi and Bill RichardsonLesley and Samuel RickmanMartha and Eddie RiddellLaura and Ken RiddellRobinson ToyotaLisa and Kenny RogersHolly and Thomas RoolfKim and Don RossCynthia and James RossStaci and Casey RushingStacie and Brian RussellChana and Alan SalleeKathleen and Alan SalleeDeirdre SalleeJennifer and Jason SammonsLarry and Joyce SandersSandi and Mike SandersDottie and Robert ScottJennifer and Robert SealsMichelle and Andrew Sellers Shawn and Brian SellersChad A. Shankle Kelly and Danny SheffieldLaura and Eric SieversKim and Hunter SimmonsSally and Michael SmigielskiAnne and Adam SmithBrenda and Bob SmithJane and Brown SmithKelly and Mark Smith Theresa and Paul SmithGina and Todd Smith

Dorothea SpatesJoyce and Jeff SpeightVicki and Don SpencerJayme and Justin Spencer Angela and Nathan SpencerLisa and Steve SpurlinKelly and Phil StaffordLatricia and Ben StallingsSusan and Bob StephensonMary Ann and Lowell StonecipherMarie and Greg StreetMargaret Ann and Steve StropeDenise and Greg StuartTorri and Karl StudtmannYvette and Joe SumlerBetsy and Terry SwindellLinda and Jim SwopeShanna and Mike TaborJanet Lynn and Mike TankersleyBeth and Jack TaylorPiper and Jackie TaylorJerrie and Michael TaylorCyd and David TeagueNona and Carl TeelJennifer and Jerome TeelJan and Patrick TeerLisa and Randy TerryJanet and Dale ThomasLinda and Bill TimbesMichelle and Scott TinkerJo and Warren TinkerAnneva and James TisdaleAnn and Walker UhlhornBetty and James UpchurchAmy and Bas van BuurenShonda and Ben VargasonJane and Fred VinsonAnne and Billy Walker

Super Boosters, continued …

USJ promotes unity in giving in the school communitythrough the Legacy Society, which USJ started last year. Through a $2,500 or greater donation to the Annual

Fund, Legacy Society members play an integral role in promoting acohesive fundraising partnership that is in the best interest of theschool and offers several unique benefits to donors.

Legacy Society members automatically become a Super Booster,a Silver Level Fine Arts sponsor, and a Holiday Mart patron.Membership also supports the Annual Fund, which is the mostdirectly beneficial gift you can give to USJ as it helps keep tuitionreasonable and competitive, improves technology, helps ensureacademic excellence, and provides salary increases and continuingeducational opportunities for staff.

Legacy Society benefits …n A Super Booster membership, which provides free admission

for two to each regular home athletic event and a designatedparking pass.

n Holiday Mart Patron status, which includes two tickets to theMart’s Preview Party and 10 tickets to the Mart.

n A Silver level sponsorship for the Fine Arts Guild, whichincludes a quarter-page ad in the sponsor booklet and four ticketsto each production, with reserved seating at all Upper and MiddleSchool productions.

Legacy Society members also receive recognition and invitationsto special events. Gifts to the Legacy Society can be in the form ofcash or check, stock/other securities, matching gifts, or memorialsand honorariums. Donations can be made online through the USJwebsite. For more information or to join the Legacy Society, contactthe Development Department.

(Legacy Society members, Page 18.)

Legacy Society promotes a united way to give

Continued, next page22

The Fine Arts Guild supports USJ’s visual and performing arts. A steering committee administersthe operational affairs of the Guild and gives the Fine Arts Department financial resources and

volunteer support. Our main financial support is through families who become Patrons of the Artsand our Fine Arts Guild Corporate Partners. Our funds help pay for theater productions and otherfine arts events, provide scholarships for summer enrichment, buy supplies and equipment, andadvertise our productions and fine arts achievements.

All families and friends of the arts at USJ are invited to support the arts through Guild mem-bership by becoming a Patron of the Arts or corporate partner.

Platinum: ($1,000+)BancorpSouthSondra and Gregory BrunoEvans Clinic (Huntingdon), Pam

and Paul Evans, Nancy and JohnCaterina, Jerry Atkins

iDesign Architecture GroupRhonda and Brett KrasnerPlastic Surgery Clinic of Jackson,

Patricia and Marshall YellenWest Tennessee ConstructionWest Tennessee ENT Clinic, Torri

and Karl StudtmannWild Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

LLC, Marla and Chuck Hughes

Gold: ($500+)Tara and Trey AntwineJeff Boyd, Attorney at LawDermatology Associates, LLC,

Patricia and Michael BooherDermatology Clinic of Jackson, Jan

and Patrick TeerDutch Garden Center, Amy and

Bas van BuurenFirst South BankJoyce Addo and Kofi NuakoRadiation Oncology AssociatesSkyline Cardiovascular, Kathy and

Ron WeinerTeel & Maroney, PLC

Woman's Clinic & Pink RibbonMammography Center, Caroland Brad Adkins

Silver: ($300+)Allison Insurance Group, Inc.,

Suzanne and Chris AllisonTeresa and Richard AyersSylvia BellKelly and Tom ButlerMona and Jim CampbellMarnie and David CohenJennifer and Joseph CrenshawKay and Christian CulbreathDian and Phillip EddlemanFlippin & Atkins, P.C., Elizabeth

and Kyle AtkinsMary Ann and Chris GiampapaAnita and Steve HamiltonJennifer and Kreg HammFiona and Jonathan HarlanHunley Resources, LLCB.J. and Ralph JonesCamille and Ralph JonesMisty and James KirklandCatherine and Ron KwasigrohTaylor and David LairdMaria and Bill MariencheckHolly and Steve MaroneyStephanie and John MastersonChristina and Chap McGee

Marie and Vincent McGeeMary Jane and Mike McWherterHeather and Mark MillerSarah and Kelly PucekShannon and Charles RandolphElesha and John ReidMitzi and Bill RichardsonLesley and Samuel RickmanLisa and Kenny RogersCynthia and James RossJennifer and Jason SammonsAnamika and Shyamal SarkarMichelle and Andrew SellersLaura and Eric SieversBrenda and Bob SmithGina and Todd SmithPiper and Jackie TaylorJan and Patrick TeerThe Uniform SourceJanet and Dale ThomasWall Street Grill, Paula and

Georgios PeftoulidisNikki and Jeff WatlingtonTanya and Archie Wright

Patrons of the ArtsTarsha and Kevin BashamSylvia BellRavinder and Gurpal BindraTammy and Julius BoydKarlene and Mark BurtonPat and Don CoffeyJennifer and David CraigAmanda and Richard CrowleyLee and Brian DavisLee and Todd DriverJudy and John EastKarrie and Gregory GaldinoShannon and Robert GilroyJulie and Jimmy GlossonElizabeth and David HaileyTiffany and Ray HowardMelissa and Jeff HowellMyra and James KrenisRebecca and Clay LiliensternBetsy and Brad LittleDianne and Rick Matheny

Denise McCraryNeta and Bill McKnightDenise and David MillerCarolee and Bubba MorrisMona and Said NabhanJoyce Addo and Kofi NuakoKousalya and Brian OdomTammi and Will O'NealSusan and Franklin ParisShelly and Scott PhillippsJane and James PriceHolly and Thomas RoolfKathleen and Alan SalleeHelen and Michael SaridakisShawn and Brian SellersSally and Billy SlackScott SmithLisa and Steve SpurlinJeff StephensMary Ann and Lowell StonecipherStephanie and Scott StonecipherCheryl and Scott TaborJanet Lynn and Mike TankersleyChizoba and Feliz UgbajaKim and David VillarrealCynthia and Henry WestWest Tennessee Bone and JointKristy and William WillisCindy and Mike Wright

Fine Arts GuildIncome:US Chorus $8,911. MS Chorus $1,951.Middle School Plays $8,079.Upper School Plays $17,431.Corporate $15,550. Patrons $4,500. Legacy $9,900.Mothers Club $15,315.Total Income $81,637.

Expenses:US Chorus $11,901.MS Chorus $2,017.MS Plays $5,227US Plays $18,972.US Art $1,342.Miscellanous $2,636.Wish List $4,747.Curtain $22,115.Marketing $5,500.Acting Salary $8,000.Fashion Show $60.LS Plays $525.Scholarship $500.LS Art Receptions $209.Teacher Christmas $559Fine Arts Banquet $226MS Art Reception $500.Total $85,036.

Fine Arts Corporate Partners and Patrons

Super Boosters, continued …Meredith and Taylor WalkerJimmy WallaceToni and Jerry WarrenSandra and David WatlingtonNikki and Jeff WatlingtonKimberly and Timothy WehnerAmy and Benjamin WestCynthia and Henry West Nancy and George WhiteKim and William WhiteJennifer and John WhybrewHayley and Chris Wilkerson

Laura and Kyle WilliamsKristy and William WillisRusty WinslowLynn and Ed WoodsideDaphne and Lee WorkmanTanya and Archie WrightKevin WrightGeorgia and Melvin WrightCindy and Mike WrightVickie and Thomas YanceyJanice and Joe YarbroughCandace and Alan Yates

23

Star Sponsor ($7,500): BancorpSouth

Special Events Sponsors($3,000):

Cancer Care CenterFMY Orthodontics, P.C.West TN Bone & Joint Clinic

In Kind ($3,000):Den-Ray Sign Company, Inc.Gena and Mike Mandle Catering

Platinum Sponsors($1,500):

Regional Hospital of JacksonSpringer Medical Associates of

LexingtonWallace Company, (doing business

as) Hamilton Hills ShoppingCenter

In Kind ($1,500):At Home Tennessee MagazineThomas MediaVIP Magazine

Gold Sponsors ($1,000):First South BankFirst Tennessee BankHorne LLPJackson Surgical Associates, P.A.Jackson Urological Associates, P.C.,

Donald McKnight, M.D., andRaymond Howard, M.D.

JMS Russell Metals Corp.Printco Business Forms & Ad

SpecialtyThe Woman’s Clinic, P.A.

In Kind ($1,000):Coffman’sNew Wave ElectronicsThe Women’s Journal

Silver Sponsors ($500):AlphaMedBank of Jackson

Brownsville Family Medicine, P.A.The Children's ClinicDermatology Associates, LLCDermatology Clinic of Jackson,

Patrick Teer, M.D.First State BankGarrett Plumbing & Heating Co.Henson Construction Services, Inc.Jackson Clinic OB/GYN: Dr. Steve

Hammond, Dr. Lolly Eldridge, Dr.Frank Pierce, and Amy White,FNP

James Krenis, Attorney at LawKrasner Pawn & JewelryLeaders Credit UnionMark Powell EnterprisesPlastic Surgery Clinic of Jackson,

Dr. and Mrs. Marshall YellenRainey, Kizer, Reviere, & Bell, PLC

In Kind ($500):Forever CommunicationsHeavenly HamLamar AdvertisingWNWS News Talk 101.5

Bronze ($300):Advance Kidney Specialist, P.C.Allison Insurance GroupSandy Boxwell, M.D.Cape Surgery Center, LLCDr. and Mrs. Trey CarneyDr. and Mrs. Andy CoyDr. and Mrs. John CrowderDavidson Titles, Inc.Michelle and Dennis DeanDelta Designs & Jewelry, Mandy

NorsworthyDermatology & Skin Cancer

ConsultantsElements Salon & SpaFlippin, Atkins, and Crider, P.C.Dr. and Mrs. David GareyGolden Circle Ford, Lincoln,

MercuryGold's GymGreg Hooper Logging, LLC

Home Medical ProductsHudson WarehousesAmy and Chris LittleAmy and Gregg MitchellDebbie and James

NewmanOral Surgery Associates of

West Tennessee, Dr.Sam Rickman and Dr.Jason Sammons

Peggy Graves TeamDr. and Mrs. Brad PriesterR. Jones UndergroundSouthern Electric &

ControlsSmith's Floor CoveringStallings Dental ClinicDr. and Mrs. Karl StudtmannTeel and Maroney, PLC, Attorneys

at LawVaughan Associates ArchitectsDr. and Mrs. James Wilson

In Kind ($300):Butt's FoodsCentral DistributorsCoyote BluesGrace BroadcastingParker UniformsPig House

Patrons:Tara and Trey AntwineTeresa and Richard AyersBancorpSouthKelly and Tom ButlerMona and Jim CampbellPat and Don CoffeyMarnie and David CohenJennifer and Joseph CrenshawMandy and Richard CrowleyEli Lilly and Company FoundationFirst Tennessee BankMary Ann and Chris GiampapaAnita and Steve HamiltonFiona and Jonathan HarlanHi-Tech Printing/The Trophy Zone

Melba HomraRita and Larry HooperCamille and Ralph JonesB.J. and Ralph JonesMisty and James KirklandTaylor and David LairdMaria and Bill MariencheckHolly and Steve MaroneyChristina and Chad McGeeMary Jane and Mike McWherterJoyce Addo and Kofi NuakoPam and Joel PerchikSarah and Kelly PucekShannon and Charles RandolphRegions BankElesha and John ReidMitzi and Bill RichardsonLesley and Sam RickmanLisa and Kenny RogersCynthia and James RossJennifer and Jason SammonsSally and Billy SlackBrenda and Bob SmithGina and Todd SmithLisa and Steve SpurlinPiper and Jackie TaylorJan and Patrick TeerJanet and Dale ThomasTanya and Archie WrightAmy and Pierce White

IncomeHoliday Mart $208,423. Wee Exchange $138,601. Interest $778. Total Income $347,801.

ExpensesAnnual Giving $20,000. Technology Fund $83,303. Fine Arts Department $15,315.Holiday Mart $52,427.Awards $1,150. Boys/Girls State $1,950.Christmas Faculty Gifts $9,350.MCB Christmas Luncheon $250. Library $6,000.Teacher Appreciation $2,025. School Activities $2,594. Debt Retirement $12,000.Printing/Copying $1,000.Computer Equipment/Software $500.Wee Exch. Proceeds to USJ $20,630.Wee Exch. Proceeds to Band $2,422. Wee Exch. Freshman Class $2,343. Wee Exch. Sophomore Class $2,427. Wee Exch. Expenses $90,347. Teacher Supplies $8,800.General Expenses $15,262. Total Expenses $350,095.

Mothers’ Club

The USJ Mothers’ Club, an organization for all USJ parents, is primarily run by moth-ers. We provide volunteer and financial support to the school in many ways. Our two

fundraisers are Holiday Mart and the fall and spring Wee Exchange sales.Mothers’ Club promotes academic life, teacher support, parental involvement, volun-

teering time and talents, and raising funds. Thank you to all USJ parents for makingMothers’ Club a success!

Holiday Mart Sponsors and Patrons

24

n Camille Tanner Jones,Class of 1979,and her husband,Ralph, have two children, Margaret,18 years old, and William, 15 yearsold. Camille earned a bachelor’s de-gree in economics at UT Knoxville.Camille and her family live in Hum-boldt.

(camillejones6464@gmail.com)n Mary Beth Haltom, Class

of 1998,has been named a share-holder in the Nashville law office ofLewis, King, Krieg, and Waldrop,P.C. Mary Beth joined the firm inSeptember 2005 and concentratesher practice in the areas of commer-cial and business litigation with anemphasis in commercial transporta-tion litigation and franchise litiga-tion. She is the Middle Tennesseegovernor of the Young Lawyers’ Di-vision of the Tennessee Bar Associa-tion, a faculty member of ABA TIPSNational Trial Academy, assistantlegal counsel for the TennesseeSports Hall of Fame, and a memberof the American Bar Association’sTort Trial and Insurance PracticeSection and the Nashville Bar Asso-ciation.

n Andrew White, Class of1999,married Kristina Kelly onJuly 7 in Cordova. Andrew gradu-ated cum laude from the Universityof Mississippi with a bachelor’s de-gree in business administration andan emphasis in marketing. He alsohas an MBA from Ole Miss. Andrew

is a sales consultant with Ricoh USAin Memphis.

n Brooke Baudo Ott, Classof 2000,and her husband,Thomas, had their first child, SaraElise, on November 27, 2011.Brooke is a speech language pathol-ogist at Crawfordville Elementaryin Crawfordville, Florida. Brooke

received her master’s degree inspeech language pathology fromthe University of Memphis. Shealso earned a bachelor’s degree incommunication disorders from theUniversity ofMississippi.The family livesin Tallahassee,Florida. (brooke-

baudo@gmail.com)n Pamela Rizzuto Stanfield,

Class of 2000,and her husband,Daniel, had a daughter, Skylar Mae,on April 28. Pam is a designer withYounger Associates in Jackson. Shereceived a bachelor’s degree fromMemphis College of Art. (pamstan-field@younger-associates.com)

n Andy Metcalf, Class of2002,and his wife, Natalie, wel-comed their second child, AndrewJames Metcalf, Jr. (James) on Febru-ary 22. Big sister Ellie is 2 years old.Andy also was inducted into theMadison County Sports Hall ofFame on April 19. He received hisundergraduate degree from the Uni-versity of Memphis and an MBAfrom Union University. He works atMorgan Keegan & Company inMemphis and is coaching youthclub soccer for the Tennessee RushSoccer Club. (Metcalf@morgankeegan.com)

n Lauren Gardner Saliba,Class of 2003, married Greg Sal-iba on August 4 in Jackson. Laurengraduated in 2007 from UT

Knoxville, where she majored in nu-trition and adolescent health. She re-ceived a degree in respiratory caretechnology in 2010 from JacksonState Community College. Lauren isa pediatric respiratory therapist withMonroe-Carell Jr. Children’s Hospi-tal at Vanderbilt in Nashville, wherethe couple lives.

n Gary Blankenship, Classof 2005,graduated from theChattanooga Police Academy and isnow on patrol for the Chattanooga

1970-1989

1990-1999

Continued, next page

Alumni NewsNew baby in your family?

The USJ Alumni Association welcomes your child to the Bruin family. Send us yournews, and we’ll send you a “Baby Bruin” bib. Send us a picture, and we’ll put it on

our Baby Bruin page in the Alumni section of our website and include it in the nextnewsletter. Send your information to us at usjbruins.org/about/alumni. Send your digitalbaby picture to Mary Reed at mary@reedmarketing.com.

Keep up with USJ Alumni news on Facebook! Send us your news at usjbruins.org/about/alumni!

2000-2009

Michael Richards, who is majoring in pre-med studies at UT Knoxville this fall,

won the USJ Alumni Association Scholarshiplast spring.

A National Honor So-ciety member, Michaelmade the Upper Schoolhonor roll all four years.He also attended the Na-tional Leadership Forumin 2011 as one of onlytwo students invited fromMadison County.

He played football forthree years and made the All-District team.He played soccer for four years, making theAll-District, All-Region, and All-State teams.His extracurricular activities also includedSADD, Key Club, International Club, andSpanish Club. He is a member of FellowshipBible Church and Fellowship Student Min-istries.

Michael’s parents are Mike and EmilyRichards. Emily, a 1985 graduate of OldHickory Academy, is USJ’s Director of Devel-opment.

Scholarship winner

Skylar Stanfield

Michael Richards

25

26

Police Department. Gary received hisbachelor’s degree in history from UTChattanooga. He and his wife, Christi,live in Chattanooga.

n Haley Anderson Gerber,Class of 2007,married Max Gerberon June 30 at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Jackson. Haley,who received her elementary educationdegree from Freed-Hardeman University,teaches second grade at Lincoln Elemen-tary. Max is the finance manager at Car-lock Nissan of Jackson. They live inJackson. (haleylyn.anderson@gmail.com)

n Dane Beasley, Class of 2007,is an operations director for the NationalRepublican Senatorial Committee inWashington, D.C. Dane received a bache-lor’s degree in accounting from the Uni-versity of Mississippi.(beasleydane@gmail.com)

n Faith Hitchon, Class of

2007,has a daughter, India Ballinger.Faith is a producer for GreyTV.(fhitchon@gmail.com)

n Laura Burton Mosley, Class of2007, married Bryce Mosley on May 5.Laura received a bachelor’s degree in hu-manities from Brigham Young University.

They live in Tustin, California.n Megan Seals, Class of 2007,

is the communications coordinator forthe Jackson Area Chamber of Com-merce. Megan will graduate from thetwo-year Tennessee Chamber of Com-merce Executive Institute in May 2013.She also graduated from a Dale CarnegieTraining Course in May 2011. Meganearned her bachelor’s degree at UnionUniversity. (mseals@jacksontn.com)

n Zach Hall, Class of 2008,mar-ried Jessica Becker August 4 in Jackson.

Zach, a 2012 graduate of Nashville AutoDiesel College, works at Higher PowerPerformance in Alamo, Tennessee.

n Holly Osborne Hart, Class of2008, married Brandon Hart on May31 in Charleston, South Carolina. Hollyearned a bachelor’s degree in psychologyfrom the University of Memphis in

2011. She plans to pursue her master’sdegree in education for clinical andmental health at Clemson University inspring 2013 to obtain a counseling de-gree within three years. Meanwhile,Holly is a paralegal with McAngus,Goudelock, and Courie, LLC, inCharleston, where the couple resides.(holly112089@gmail.com)

n James Camp, Class of 2008,is the General Manager of the Regatta BarJazz Club in The Charles Hotel in Boston,Massachusetts. James received his degrees

Shayla Reaves, Class of 2002, creditsher time in high school as laying partof the foundation for her career in

broadcast journalism. Today, Shayla is giv-ing Columbus, Ohio, residents the latestovernight news in her job as a morning re-porter for CBS-affiliate WBNS-10TV.

“I always loved to write and was fortu-nate to have USJ teachers who encouragedme to explore creative writing and pursuewriting opportunities,” said Shayla, whoentered USJ as a kindergarten student.

She majored in broadcast journalism at

Northwestern University’s Medill Schoolof Journalism in Evanston, Illinois. “Ichose broadcasting as my focus because itwas a skill I felt I needed to learn,” Shaylasaid. “It not only requires effective writing,but also verbal communication. I wantedto be able to walk into any newsroom ortelevision station and understand how toperform and succeed.”

“With the way the media industry ischanging, people have options for news.It’s not just television or newspaper. It’s onyour computer and on your phone. Today,

reporters maywrite onestory for tele-vision and an-otherprint-styleversion for awebsite.”

Shaylawas namedthe topbroadcast stu-dent in hergraduatingclass at

Northwestern. While in college, she alsoreceived the university’s prestigious GaryCummings Award, was selected as anOutstanding Woman Journalism Studentby the Association of Women Journalistsin Chicago, and was recognized for herreporting by the Illinois News Broadcast-ers Association.

After graduation, Shayla worked as aproducer/reporter/special projects assistantat NBC-affiliate WAVE in Louisville and,within eight months, was promoted to afull-time reporting job. Her reportingearned her awards from the Society of Pro-fessional Journalists and the Kentucky As-sociated Press Broadcasters.

In 2010, Shayla moved to Columbus tojoin the staff at WBNS-10TV. “I am in by3 a.m. each day and cover breaking newshappening across central Ohio,” saidShayla, who will be getting married inearly September.

“I have to say that it has been an amaz-ing journey as I look back,” said Shayla,who also designs her own jewelry onesty.com under the name shaylamichelle.“It’s an honor to work with so many expe-rienced journalists every day.”

Alumni updates, CONTINUED

USJ graduate on the way up in broadcast journalism

Shayla Reaves is on the job for WBNS-10TV in Columbus, Ohio.

The Class of 2012 heads off to college

From Carnegie Mellon University in Pitts-burgh, to the University of Alabama, the 103members of USJ’s Class of 2012 are attend-

ing 36 colleges across the country. A large numberof the graduates received academic, leadership, finearts, and/or athletic scholarships.

The College Board selected five students for Na-tional Merit honors; two of them were named Na-tional Achievement finalists. Twenty-four membersof the class were named AP Scholars for scores theyreceived on their Advanced Placement tests.

The top quintile in the class had an average ACTscore of 31; the class average ACT score was 26.

Shane Vargason is Valedictorian, Kirstie Finch isSalutatorian, and Chloe Meriwether is Essayist.

Diplomas in hand, graduates were all smiles after commencement cere-monies. Above, from left, are, Jackson Teer, Lee Mayhall, Anthony Micetich,Ryan Weiss, Ashton McGuire, Chase Nelson, Cole Murray, MichaelRichards, and Chase Rushing.

wRachel Altfeld,Univ. of Arizonaw Sidney Anthony, IV,UT KnoxvillewKarrington Atkins,Univ. of New

EnglandwThomas Ballard, IV,Tennessee Tech wWeston Barrix,UT MartinwAngad Singh Bindra,Washington

University at St. LouiswAdam Boling,Bethel UniversitywAndrew Bosco,UT ChattanoogawDrew Brantley,Rockford College,

IllinoiswWestin Brantley, undecided at

graduationwWilliam Buckley,UT ChattanoogawThomas Butler, IV,UT Knoxvillew Jonathan Cain,UT KnoxvillewNicholas Camp,Northwestern Univ.wCourtney Campbell,UT MartinwFrancis Chandler,Rhodes CollegewTanner Chapman,UT Knoxville wCarrie Cobb,Rhodes College w Jacob Cohen,Wofford CollegewNathan Craig, UT ChattanoogawMargaret Crocker,Louisiana State w Jessica Crosnoe, UT Knoxville wWhitney Culbreath,Univ. of Alabamaw Jacob Daggett,Univ. of Arkansas wBethany Dietz,UT KnoxvillewKirstie Finch,UT KnoxvillewMorgan Galbraith, UT Knoxvillew John Ross Glover,Lipscomb Univ.wAinsley Gompf, High Point Univ. wKyle Gregory,UT KnoxvillewLogan Hall,Mississippi State Univ.w Jacob Hamilton,Austin Peay State

wCaroline Haynes,Rhodes CollegewHoneye Heydari,Mississippi StatewEdward Hockaday, III,UT Knoxville wDustin Hopper,Memphis College of

Artw Sarah Howard, Samford UniversitywCody Howell,UT Knoxvillew Stuart Howell,Murray State Univ.wOlivia Hughes,Univ. of Georgia wT.J. Ivy,UT KnoxvillewCallie Jaggers,UT KnoxvillewMina James-Gist,Univ. of MichiganwAdam Johnson,UT Knoxvillew Shelby Jordan,UT Chattanooga w Shelby Jordan,Mississippi StatewElizabeth Joyner,Union Univ.wPrabhjot Kaur,Union Univ.wOscar Leon,Mississippi StatewMichael Lindsey, Jackson State

Community CollegewAnn Elizabeth Lynch,Union Univ.wGray Magee, Union Univ.wGrant Mansfield,UT ChattanoogawMeredith Masterson,UT ChattanoogawLee Mayhall,Univ. of North AlabamawTrevor McGee,Union UniversitywAshton McGuire,Univ. of Arkansas wPrice McKnight,Univ. of ArkansaswChloe Meriwether, Rhodes CollegewAnthony Micetich,UT KnoxvillewEmily Mullins,UT ChattanoogawCole Murray, UT KnoxvillewChase Nelson, UT KnoxvillewYusuke Niimi, returned to JapanwAshley Nkadi,Univ. of CincinnatiwPriyesh Patel,Univ. of Memphis

wRoshni Patel,UT KnoxvillewBon Pinkley,Harding Univ.wGeorgia Poole,Univ. of Arkansasw Jordan Ragon,Tennessee Tech. w Lashlee Randolph,UT ChattanoogawAlexandra Revell,UT ChattanoogawMichael Richards, Jr.,UT KnoxvillewRebecca Rogers, Belmont Univ.wChase Rushing,Univ. of Mississippiw Sarathi Sarkar,Carnegie Mellon Univ.wCaleb Self,Lipscomb Univ.wBrigham Short, Univ. of Mississippi wAashray Singareddy,Rhodes CollegewNavjot Singh, Union Univ.wRanjodh Singh,Union Univ.w Sara Slack,Mississippi Statew Brandon Smith, Rhodes College wAnthony Spates,Univ. of MissouriwHaley Stafford,Union Univ.wBenjamin Stuart,Mississippi StatewHabeeb Suara, Univ. of Pennsylvaniaw Jackson Teer,UT KnoxvillewHannah Turcotte,UT Chattanoogaw Shane Vargason,Mississippi StatewTyler Wallace,UT Chattanooga wBillie Anne Ward,UT ChattanoogawRyan Weiss,UT KnoxvillewCaroline White,UT ChattanoogawGrant Whitsitt, Savannah College of

Art and DesignwClare Williams,Union Univ.wMatthew Wing, Belmont Univ.w John Wilson, II,UT ChattanoogawChase Winslow,UT ChattanoogawZuzanna Wojitas,UT Chattanooga wWilliam Wright,Union Univ.

27

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Jackson, TN

Permit #845UNIVERSITY SCHOOL of JACKSON

232 MCCLELLAN ROADJACKSON, TN 38305

Address Service Requested

West Tennessee’s College Preparatory Schoolwww.usjbruins.org

USJ Homecoming GameKirkland Football Field

Kickoff at 7 p.m.Come watch the Bruins play SBEC

5th QuarterFlatiron Grille

After the game until 11:30 p.m.Join us for food and fun

UNIVERSITY SCHOOL of JACKSONFIRST ANNUAL HOMECOMING WEEKEND EVENT!

Open to ALL Current and Alumni USJ Families!

Friday, September 21, 2012

Golf TournamentJackson National Golf ClubShotgun Start at 9 a.m.

Lunch & Awards at 1 p.m.Team: $300 or Individual: $75Registration deadline: Wednesday, Sept. 19

Ladies Luncheon & Fashion Show

Lower School Cafetorium11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cost per person: $20Childcare: $10 per child

RSVP online

Bruins Club Clambake

Jackson Country Club7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.Cost per ticket: $25

Music, food, & auctions!RSVP online

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Register online (www.usjbruins.org/athletics/homecoming) or mail in form and feeEvent Contact: Carrie Brown Campbell l 731-664-0812, ext. 51 l ccampbell@usjbruins.org

USJ