EHS Pillars - Spring 2019

Before the Bell • Giving through Art • Athletics Review

Episcopal High School was founded in 1983 as a four‐year coeducational day school within the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. 

ACCREDITATION 

Independent Schools Association of the Southwest 

MEMBERSHIPS 

National Association of Independent Schools 

National Association of Episcopal Schools 

Council for the Advancement and Support of Education 

Educational Records Bureau 

College Board 

National Association for College Admission Counseling 

Texas Association for College Admission Counseling 

Southwest Preparatory Conference 

MISSION 

Episcopal High School is an institution of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas established for the purpose of providing a superior 

education in preparation for college and a significant life thereafter. Through a rich offering of academic, spiritual, artistic, and 

athletic programs, the School provides an opportunity for each student to reach his or her maximum spiritual, intellectual, 

social, and ethical potential. Operating as a Christian community within the beliefs and traditions of the Episcopal Church, EHS 

in its teaching philosophy emphasizes understanding and responding to the individual needs and capabilities of each student. 

In an effort to reflect the community we serve, EHS strives to maintain a student body that is diverse in its social, economic, 

ethnic, and academic backgrounds. 

ADMISSION 

Episcopal High School admits students of all races, colors, and national/ethnic origins to all the rights, privileges, programs, and 

activities accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or 

national/ethnic origin in the administration of its educational and admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic 

and other school‐administered programs. 

ALUMNI 

Please share your news with the EHS Alumni Association. Send information to: 

Margaret Young 

myoung@ehshouston.org 

713‐512‐3600 

Ashley Long 

along@ehshouston.org 

713‐512‐3478 

Episcopal High School 

P. O. Box 271299 

Houston, TX 77277‐1299 

b facebook.com/groups/EHSHoustonAlumni 

x instagram.com/ehs_alumni 

j linkedin.com/grps/Episcopal‐High‐School‐Houston‐Alumni‐1029617 

This publication is printed on FSC certified paper with soy‐based inks. 

2

The Episcopal High School Magazine, Spring 2019

IN THIS ISSUE 

From the Head of School 04 

#KnightsStandOut 06 

Bright Knights 14 

Note to my Freshman Self 20 

Before the Bell 22 

Alumni Weekend 46 

Pop Quiz 50 

Class Notes 54 

The Last Word 58 

ON THE COVER 

Lani McHenry '20 finds her inner artist 

and gives back to others along the way. 

Photo by Scott Cunningham.

SAVE THE DATE 

Commencement 05-19-19 

Alumni Leadership Day 11-5-19 

Auction Gala 02-21-20 

3

FROM THE 

HEAD OF SCHOOL 

Several years ago, Episcopal began its Senior Homilists Program, now one of the most 

popular of all the Chapel Ministry programs. No speaker captures the attention of the 

community better than a senior reflecting on a formative or transformative experience. We 

are lucky to have such a robust program in place, a program that reflects the diversity 

of background, appearance, and proficiency so important to EHS today and since our 

founding. Witness the advice that seniors offer to their freshman selves in the article on 

page 20, and you’ll see why the program is so important to the inclusive culture at EHS: 

“Take the opportunity to get to know people…All it takes is a little extra effort and being 

‘all in’ for EHS…Learn more about the people that you do not necessarily think you will 

like, because you have no idea who you could become friends with. Take the opportunity 

to get to know people.” What stands out as these seniors reflect on EHS is the spirit of 

inclusion that unites this diverse community. 

Within this issue of Pillars, you will find several illustrations of our community at work and 

at play, examples of the diversity that is one of our greatest strengths and the inclusive 

spirit that is one of our greatest blessings. Take, for instance, the work that Lani McHenry 

’20 does in the studio to benefit the children of St. Jude’s. McHenry came to us with lots 

of talent and a heart for service, and at EHS she found the perfect vehicle for extending 

and perfecting those talents and that heart, ETV being the latest expression of both. Read 

about the work that Elliott Jones ’19 created for her project “Child Detention Centers” or 

the work Jackson Williams ’19 accomplishes with his project “Super Program V5,” and 

you will know the richness and variety of interests and experiences across campus. 

The sense of belonging that ties this variety together doesn’t happen without the 

concentrated effort of students and faculty working together toward the common purpose 

that our founders envisioned: Students inspired to lives of significance in service to others. 

Scott Cunningham’s photo essay on page 22 illustrates that hard work, work that begins 

early in the morning and continues late into the evening, work that no one sees but that 

makes all the difference, every day. 

It is our shared purpose, expressed in ways great and small, that unifies us, that allows us 

to take such a rich and varied group of freshmen and mold them into the coherent whole 

that is EHS. It is that shared purpose that continues to draw alumni back to campus for 

reunion events like the one on page 46 and that motivates them to chose EHS for their 

own children. 

If you haven’t been back in a while, make plans to visit. We look forward to welcoming 

you. 

Have a wonderful summer–and Go Knights! 

Ned Smith 

Head of School 

4

5

# KNIGHTS STAND OUT 

Students Earn National Scholastic Awards 

Four students who won local Scholastic 

Awards advanced to the national level 

to earn additional medals. Anna Moise 

'20 earned a national Silver Award for 

her flash fiction piece, "Where the 

Sun and Moon Meet." Collaborators 

Mea Ayers '19 and Austin Reppert '20 

earned a Gold Award for their film and 

animation work, "Shadows." In the 

category of journalism, Elliott Jones '19 

earned a Gold Award for her project, 

"Child Detention Centers." 

Teachers and students were elated with 

the recognition and eager to share their 

reactions: 

Flash Fiction – Anna Moise 

"I am very honored to receive a National 

Silver Medal for my piece Where the 

Sun and Moon Meet," says Moise. This 

piece was originally dedicated to a 

friend going through some hard times, 

so to see that it has been recognized at 

the regional and national levels makes 

me very happy and proud." 

Creative writing teacher Hillary Houle 

adds, "I am thrilled for Anna and 

her national Scholastic win. She has 

learned the power of her voice and the 

incredible value of revision. I imagine 

we'll be reading published pieces of her 

work on a larger scale one day." 

Film & Animation – Mea Ayers and 

Austin Reppert 

"This poem was originally very personal," 

says Reppert. "Sharing it has been a 

wonderful experience, and I think Mea 

has done a fantastic job turning my 

words into stunning visuals." 

Ayers says, "When I first read Austin's 

poem, I was immediately inspired by his 

tactful imagery covering a controversial 

yet relevant topic. I have enjoyed 

experimenting with cinematography and 

editing techniques to convey Austin's 

message and the exciting journey of 

watching the film come to life." 

Their teacher, Pejman Milani comments, 

"As an instructor, it's always rewarding 

to see the work my students create 

be recognized outside of the 

classroom. This marks an incredibly 

encouraging success for the program," 

he continues. "The film Shadows is 

personal and gorgeous, explorative 

and contemplative. It's a non-narrative 

piece that still manages to convey an 

emotional poignancy that resonates 

even after the film ends. The film 

explores mature themes like loneliness 

that can be tough. What's unique about 

the film is that it's executed so well 

that it can act as a catalyst to have 

conversations about its serious content." 

Elliott Jones - Journalism 

Jones describes her reporting about 

the child detention centers as an effort 

to seek—and to tell–the truth. "I wrote 

about the child detention centers 

holding Central and South American 

children all across the Southwest, 

because I wanted our community to 

know the harsh reality of our current 

immigration policies," she explains. "I 

decided to approach this issue headon 

so people would understand what 

was, and is, happening to hundreds 

of children and families, not just as 

immigrants, but as human beings. I 

believe that the more hard facts we 

know about issues, the more willing we 

are to spark change in our policies that 

are violating basic human rights." 

Journalism teacher David Framel, 

impressed with Jones’s work and 

maturity says, "Elliott's award-winning 

editorial demonstrates her growth as a 

journalist over the last few years; she 

has learned to convey ideas in a quick 

and concise way and to think critically, 

while harnessing the most important 

trait she brings to her journalistic 

endeavors–empathy–a quality every 

news writer must possess and one that 

can't be taught." 

Amiri Scrutchin 

Wins Top Honor 

Out of the 20 talented high school 

artists and film programs represented 

in the South by Southwest Texas 

High School Shorts screening, Amiri 

Scrutchin's film "Double Cross" won the 

Special Jury Recognition award during 

the Film Awards Ceremony in March. 

ETV instructor Pejman Milani credits 

Scrutchin's creativity and work ethic 

for the strong results. "The level of 

competition was fierce," Milani explains. 

"It really speaks to both the talent and 

perseverance of Amiri, who put in a 

colossal number of hours outside of 

the class to create a polished, finished 

product." 

6

#KnightsStandOut 

Renovated Underwood Theatre Opens 

Doors with “Fiddler on the Roof” 

Opening night of EHS Onstage's 

Spring Musical "Fiddler on the Roof" 

celebrated the premiere performance 

in the newly renovated Underwood 

Theatre. An audience of more than 

800, including alumni, current 

students, families, and faculty filled 

the comfortable blue seats, and many 

attended the pre-show reception in 

Glassell Hall, courtesy of the Dads Club. 

Head of School Ned Smith began the 

evening with a message of gratitude 

for all attendees, cast, and crew. He 

thanked the donors, many of whom 

were present, for the resources 

committed to upgrading the theatre. 

The revamp includes increasing the 

number of seats to 944 and adding 

wing space to the main stage for 

set pieces and actors. Most useful, 

he noted, are three back-of-house 

dressing rooms that can accommodate 

13 actors and actresses in each room. 

"Some of you may remember running 

in your costumes from the Convent to 

the theatre during performances," he 

recalled with a smile, referring to the 

days prior to on-site dressing rooms. 

students take arts classes all four 

years of high school." To meet the 

demand, the school is launching a 

capital campaign for a new Visual and 

Performing Arts Complex that will 

feature flexible classroom spaces, a 

small theater for intimate performances, 

and a meeting space that can 

accommodate 200. 

George Brock, coordinator of EHS 

Onstage for 15 years, says the "Fiddler 

on the Roof" premiere represented a 

key moment in his career, where he 

remembered past productions and 

imagined future possibilities. 

"There is so much more space 

backstage now," Brock explains. "This 

gives us the opportunity to explore 

new ways of creating scenery and 

lighting. It also allows for larger casts 

and more interplay between all of the 

performing arts. That's how we were 

able to incorporate dancers from the 

dance program into 'Fiddler on the 

Roof.' We had the space for them! 

Large dressing rooms that function 

for the entire cast allow us to dress in 

the Underwood. In the past, we had to 

dress in the Convent and then move to 

the Underwood. This saves tons of time 

and makes all of our logistics much 

easier to manage. 

"More important," he continues, "is 

that when students see the school put 

resources toward the house renovation, 

it tells them that what they do as artists 

is valued and celebrated in a concrete 

way. You could see the lift in their 

energy and their approach to working 

on the show. They like being in the 

space and want to share it with others. 

"Showing the renovation to alums and 

their families has been a great joy," 

Brock adds. "You can feel a sense of 

pride coming from former students as 

they realize that all of this change has 

come about because of the work they 

did in sometimes difficult conditions. I 

tell our current students that they are 

standing on the shoulders of giants. 

It's the foundation laid by those past 

students who put the EHS theater 

program on the map. You can draw 

a straight line from their work and 

commitment to this beautiful renovated 

Underwood Theatre!" 

Smith noted that enrollment in arts 

courses and programs is so strong 

that "more than 80 percent of Episcopal 

Photo by Teagan Ashworth '19 

7


Athletics Shows How to Stand Out 

The 2018-2019 school year is one for 

the record books. The story of the year 

is certainly the efforts of the varsity 

boys soccer team as the Knights 

captured their fourth straight SPC 

title. The historic season was further 

validated when the Knights were 

crowned national champions by Top 

Drawer Soccer. The Knights outscored 

their opponents 73-3 in yet another 

undefeated season. 

The efforts of the girls cross country 

team may very well be the highlight of 

the fall season as each team member 

set personal-best times in surprising 

the SPC field and capturing the SPC 

runner-up trophy. The Knights were led 

by three freshmen who all finished in 

the top-20, earning all-SPC recognition. 

Katarzyna Kwiatkowski (3rd place), Ella 

Newman (8th place), and Kate Freeman 

(13th place) paced the Knight runners. 

Girls volleyball capped their historic 

season with an SPC runner-up trophy 

after falling to St. John's 3-1 in the 

final. The Knights finished the season 

with 39 wins. This year’s football team 

faced familiar foe Kinkaid in the SPC 

4A title game Saturday evening and lost 

41-21. The two teams played an exciting 

first half and entered the start of the 

second half tied at 14. Kinkaid made 

some incredible plays in the second 

half to take the lead and limit the Knight 

offensive opportunities. 

Boys volleyball saved their best for 

the SPC tournament as the Knights 

crushed Casady 3-0 in the opening 

round. The Knights dropped a 3-2 

heartbreaker to #1 seed Trinity Valley 

in the semifinals and finished fourth 

after losing to St. Stephens 3-1 in the 

consolation final. 

Field hockey started the tournament 

with a thrilling 2-1 victory over ESD 

on Thursday night. The win marked 

the first time in six seasons that the 

Knights opened SPC tournament play 

with a win. The Knights then faced #1 

seed Trinity Valley and gave the Trojans 

all they could handle before dropping 

at 1-0 decision. The Knights played 

Hockaday in an exciting fifth-place 

game and lost a heartbreaker 2-1 in 

sudden-death overtime. The sixth-place 

finish is the highest finish for the team in 

several seasons. 

In addition to the exploits of the boys 

soccer team in the winter season, the 

boys basketball team capped another 

outstanding season with a secondplace 

finish in the SPC tournament. The 

Knights fell 69-64 to a talented Houston 

Christian team in the title game. 

The wrestling team featured three SPC 

champions and three more finished 

as runners-up as the Knights held of 

Casady and St. Mark's for second 

place. 

The girls soccer team capped their 

strongest season in many years 

with a fourth-place finish in the SPC 

tournament. The Knights earned 

the #2 seed in the south zone on 

the strength of impressive wins over 

Kinkaid (4-0) and Houston Christian 

(2-0) and opened the tournament with a 

commanding 2-0 win over Trinity Valley. 

The girls basketball team earned big 

wins over Hockaday and Trinity Valley to 

place fifth in the SPC tournament. The 

Knights’ only loss in Fort Worth came 

against the eventual runner-up Greenhill 

School. 

The EHS swimming and diving teams 

finished eighth (boys) and ninth (girls) 

at the SPC Championship Meet. Sela 

Sanders finished 5th in girls diving and 

Sam Randall set a school record in the 

100 Free. The boys 200 Free and 400 

Free Relay teams set school records 

as well. 

As Pillars magazine goes to press, the 

spring season featured the return of 

Coach Mike Donnelly to the helm of the 

boys lacrosse program. The Knights 

capped an impressive season with a 

sixth-place finish in the SPC. 

The EHS softball team defeated Kinkaid 

5-3 in pre-SPC play, clinching another 

undefeated SPC season. They landed 

as the top seed in the south zone for 

the SPC tournament. The team went 

on to win the SPC Championship, 

defeating St. John’s 6-1. This is the 

third year in a row the softball team has 

brought home the trophy to EHS. 

Perennial top contenders varsity 

baseball clinched the #2 seed in the 

south zone and fought hard but fell to 

Kinkaid 1-0 to claim runners-up in SPC. 

Varsity girls lacrosse earned the #3 

seed in the south zone and persevered 

to win 6th in the SPC tournament. 

The girls tennis team earned the #5 

seed in the south zone and made much 

progress this year. 

EHS hosted the SPC track and field 

tournament on the resurfaced Candace 

Simmons Track and Field Complex. 

Both the boys and girls teams had 

impressive seasons, and Kwiatkowski 

(1600m), Julius Young (200m), and 

Donovan Jackson (discus and shot put) 

earned medals. 

-Jason Grove, Director of Athletics 

8


Photos by Mauro Gomez 

9


EHS Soccer Teams 

Embrace Technology 

Both the girls and boys varsity soccer 

teams enjoyed historic seasons this 

past winter. While the boys team 

captured their fourth consecutive SPC 

title and a national championship nod 

from Top Drawer Soccer, the girls 

squad earned impressive wins over 

Kinkaid and Trinity Valley and finished 

fourth in the SPC tournament. 

While many factors contributed to 

both teams' successes, the use of 

cutting-edge technology cannot be 

ignored. Thanks to the generosity of 

the Dads Club, both teams competed 

this season while sporting the Titan 2 

Realtime GPS sensor system. These 

devices, implanted on vests worn under 

the jersey, allowed the coaching staff 

to track over 150 metrics including 

sprint distance, total distance, top 

speed, and explosive accelerations. 

The system also gave coaches access 

to performance and fatigue scores 

and work rate indicators that allowed 

better postgame recovery and next-day 

practice plans. 

Titan sensors and similar systems have 

become commonplace at the highest 

levels of competitive soccer. After 

utilizing this innovative product for an 

entire season, EHS boys coach Travis 

Smith is a believer. “The sensors give us 

the ability to monitor players workload 

and make sure that their bodies are 

recovering properly. The biggest impact 

they had was how motivated the players 

were to perform in terms of physical 

effort because they wanted to put the 

most miles in or have the highest speed 

marks. 

For example, in a game that our players 

were not mentally focused on, our 

physical effort was low, and unlike years 

past, we could quantify this lack of 

effort and hold the players accountable. 

They absolutely responded.” 

EHS girls coach Baron Heinemann 

credits the Titan 2 sensor system 

with his team’s strong performances 

in key games down the stretch. “The 

data about distance traveled, sprint 

distance, sprints made at certain rates, 

area of the field covered the most (heat 

map) and even individual sprinting 

runs (straight vs. diagonal runs) was 

all extremely useful in tweaking or 

adjusting the playing style of our players. 

This data also helped us to find better 

ways to use players in different areas 

of the field based on their tendencies 

and strengths. We could use the data 

about distance traveled to decide which 

players to rest more when games were 

played in back-to-back days or even 48 

hours apart.” 

Due in large part to the success of 

both soccer teams, as well as the 

interesting and useful data provided by 

the sensors, several other EHS athletic 

programs are making plans to utilize 

this technology. 

Check Out the 

Underwood Library 

The Underwood Library has long been 

a central meeting place on campus, 

and even with the renovation of the 

Underwood Student Center, the library 

has kept its place as a study hub, as 

well as a venue for special events and 

guest speakers. 

In November, Dr. Dennis Huston from 

Rice University presented a program 

to English and Film classes on film 

history and technical effects used 

in the creative process. Dr. Huston 

showed clips from iconic films like 

“The Graduate” and “Dirty Dancing,” in 

addition to clips from Shakespearean 

adaptations, to illustrate how a 

filmmaker can uses his or her lens to 

help tell a story. 

That same month, Haley Streff, a 

genetic counselor with the Texas 

Children’s Hospital and Baylor 

University, spoke to all freshman 

biology classes. Her visit followed up 

the completion of the genetic disorder 

project. 

In December, a group of women 

scientists presented a program about 

engineering, technology, and minorities. 

They shared how they achieved the 

goals they had set out for themselves, 

offering a model of success stories for 

our STEM students and enterprising 

young women. 

Prior to Valentine’s Day, Science 

Department Chair John Flanagan gave 

two demonstrations on the history 

of famous pieces of jewelry and the 

science behind it using lasers. He 

also shared his extensive jewelry book 

collection in the library display case 

during the month of February. 

For Black History Month in February 

and Women’s History Month in March, 

the English Department and Diversity 

in Action co-hosted readings of 

diverse voices and women authors, 

respectively. Students and faculty 

chose their favorite pieces and not only 

read the text but also shared why it had 

meaning for them. 

EHS’s Underwood Library remains a 

center of scholarship, learning, and 

intellectual curiosity. We look forward to 

more events in the months to come. 

10


NASA Knights 

Nine students from the Science Club, 

along with the sponsor Justin Hickey 

and Science Department Chair John 

Flanagan, experienced an up-close, VIP 

Level 9 tour of NASA last month. 

The 5-hour tour included the Saturn 

V Rocket, the giant Vacuum Space 

Environment Simulator, the Aquatic 

Neutral Buoyancy Training Facility, 

the International Space Station (ISS) 

Mission Control, and the Robotics 

Development building. 

Part of the day included talks with 

several NASA officials, including 

Gordon Andrews, a Mission Control 

1992 flight coordinator, who discussed 

the discovery of natural anti-matter 

Helium through the Alpha Magnetic 

Spectrometer and answered students’ 

questions about black holes. 

The visual highlights were many, but 

Flanagan says the Vacuum Space 

Environment Simulator was particularly 

memorable for its massiveness and 

ability to replicate extremes of 302 

degrees Fahrenheit, or 387 degrees 

below Fahrenheit. The simulator is 

currently being used to test the James 

Webb Telescope—Hubble Telescope’s 

successor. 

Students also marveled at the Neutral 

Buoyancy center, where trainees don 

300-pound spacesuits and practice 

aquatics moves in a pool that mimics 

the microgravity of spaceflight. 

“Students watched as two astronauts 

and four safety and operational divers 

were practicing an extra-vehicular 

activity that will be performed on the 

International Space Station,” says 

Flanagan. 

While visiting Mission Control for the 

space station, the students were 

welcomed by Deputy Chief of the Space 

Exploration Division Vuong Pham, 

who is Dean of Faculty Nguyet Pham’s 

husband. They learned that EHS Class 

of 2009 Colin George works at NASA 

as an ISS flight controller. We got to visit 

his section of Mission Control, called 

CRONUS,” says Flanagan. CRONUS 

controls and monitors on-board data 

and command centers. 

Based on the enthusiasm and interest 

of the Science Club attendees, 

Flanagan expects more Knights to 

join the ranks at NASA in the coming 

decades. 

Derby Knight – An 

Unforgettable Race! 

On Friday, February 22, the EHS 

community “placed their bets” for an 

EHS win to celebrate Episcopal High 

School at Derby Knight. The 35th 

annual Auction, held on campus in the 

spectacular Hildebrand Athletic Center, 

raised necessary revenue for Episcopal 

High School. Co‐chairs Sabrina 

Espinosa, Patricia Hammond, and Lyria 

O’Brien, along with countless volunteers 

and generous donors, raised an 

astounding $1.1 million for the School's 

operating budget. 

Decorations Chairs Kameron Craft 

and Linda Elmer worked with City 

Kitchen to transform Alkek Gym into 

an elegant evening at the Derby. Upon 

arrival, guests were greeted with Oaks 

Lily cocktails and Mint Juleps, while 

donning exquisite wide-brimmed hats 

and fascinators. After a gourmet dinner, 

guests raised their bid cards high for the 

outstanding Live Auction. All “won big” 

while supporting EHS. 

During the Pillars Up portion of the Live 

Auction, EHS student Mark Nylund 

’19, illustrated how EHS has impacted 

his life. “No matter what my future 

holds, I can say with full assurance that 

Episcopal High School has equipped me 

with every tool necessary to enter the 

real world and live a significant life for 

others.” Mark’s testimony combined with 

the generous EHS community raised 

$187,000 for Episcopal. 

With our Kentucky Derby complete, 

EHS is gearing up for Auction 2020 

“Blue Knight Masquerade.” Co-chairs 

Elizabeth and Will Galtney, Aaron and 

Daryl Hoover, and Elizabeth and Gregg 

Thompson promise an unforgettable 

evening that can’t be missed! 

For the latest "Blue Knight Masquerade" 

news and updates, check the 

School's website and weekly Windows 

eNewsletter. If you would like to get 

involved, contact Debbie Kelley at 

dkelley@ehshouston.org or Mandy 

Malone Loper '98 at mloper@ 

ehshouston.org. 

11


Truly Divine – Performing Arts Interim Term Trip to London 

Garmon Ashby (front) and EHS Chorale (back) in Benitez Chapel at EHS 

This past Interim Term, two ensembles, 

the EHS Chorale, and the cast and 

crew of the winter play, “Twelve Angry 

Jurors,” performed overseas in London, 

England. They sang in an ancient 

cathedral and rehearsed and staged 

their play in a famous private school 

with connections to Shakespeare. 

For Garmon Ashby, Chair of Performing 

Arts, the trip marked a personal and 

professional high point that brought his 

family, old friends, and current students 

and colleagues under the same, 

soaring cathedral arches. 

“Throughout the week,” he says, “the 

EHS group visited classic tourist spots 

like Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s 

Cathedral, and the Tower of London.” 

But the remarkable moments, he 

explains, were the two days they 

produced “Twelve Angry Jurors” at 

the Alleyn’s School and performed 

evensong in Southwark Cathedral. 

The 300-year-old Alleyn’s School was 

founded by Edward Alleyn, one of 

the greatest actors of Shakespeare’s 

time. Located in the Theatre District, 

a neighborhood once traveled by 

Elizabethan actors–and even The Bard 

himself–the school has educated many 

of England’s renowned citizens. The 

EHS Onstage actors presented “Twelve 

Angry Jurors” to Alleyn’s students and 

spent downtime getting to know the 

Londoners, exchanging Instagram 

handles to stay in touch. 

Wednesday’s evensong performance, 

says Ashby, connected his years 

growing up in South Africa with his 

recent career in the United States. 

For the service of choral evensong, 

an Anglican tradition, the chorale 

performed music by two South African 

composers, Stephen Carletti and Peter 

Klatzow. Ashby’s sisters Ruth and Mary 

both attended, as well as his father, 

Godfrey Ashby, a retired Anglican 

bishop who had recently confirmed one 

of Ashby’s nephews in the cathedral. 

“The sound in that tall gothic building 

just rang around—the resonance 

was glorious. It was obvious the EHS 

students were moved by the sacred 

experience,” Ashby adds. 

Before flying home to Houston, the 

group made one last stop at the 

Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studios, 

where they explored iconic movie sets, 

toured sound stages, and discovered 

the special effects designed to create 

Hogwarts’ flying broomsticks and 

levitation spells. 

Says Ashby, “It was a perfect ending to 

an enchanting London tour.” 

12


EHS Chorale takes special journey to Southwark Cathedral 

EHS students after performance at the Alleyn's School 

“Singing in Southwark was a majestic feeling–as 

if we were all ascending into the sky. My favorite 

song was ‘We Three Kings.’” – Beder Edlibi '19 

“Getting to travel to and perform in 

London has been one of my favorite 

experiences at Episcopal. It was slightly 

nerve-wracking to share the show that 

we had been working on for so long 

with kids who we had never met before 

and would most likely never see again, 

but they loved the show and asked 

us a lot of questions afterward. They 

even added most of the people in the 

cast on Instagram which was really 

fun! I think it’s exciting that we can now 

say that EHS Onstage has performed 

internationally!” – Quinn Ogle '20 

“Singing in Southwark was a majestic 

feeling–as if we were all ascending 

into the sky. My favorite song was ‘We 

Three Kings.’” – Beder Edlibi '19 

“London was a dream come true that 

allowed me to express my inner-artist 

and explore my passion for choral 

music. The moment I walked into 

Southwark Cathedral, I loved getting 

the opportunity to explore the building 

before performing. We found these 

small chapels around the altar, set apart 

from the church, that were beautifully 

decorated with murals and sculptures; 

we even found the Shakespeare 

memorial (my favorite part). Eventually, 

we entered the choir stalls at the altar 

for evensong. As we sang our hearts 

out, I felt a rush of pure happiness. I 

realized that the bond between the 

group was special. In that very moment, 

we had become a true family.” 

– Gwendolyn Diaz '21 

“Everything came together: the music, 

the space, the people; we were all there, 

singing to the glory of God and sharing 

our gifts, while also having our spirits 

lifted by imagining all the people who 

have sung and worshiped in that space 

before us.” – Kate Teagarden '22 

“It’s not very often that you get a chance 

to perform in such a historical building 

with ties to all kinds of famous figures 

such as Dickens and Shakespeare. 

Southwark is the oldest Gothic church 

in London, and it was one of the most 

beautiful churches I have ever set foot 

in.” – Liam Griffin '20 

13

Bright Knights 

PROGRAMMED 

FOR SUCCESS 

Jackson Williams '19 

“You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So 

you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – 

your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.”–Steve Jobs 

Although only a high school senior, Jackson Williams ’19 can look back at his life and see the dots 

connect. As a preschooler, he loved to build Lego Star Wars sets and construct intricate loops 

of toy train tracks. The combination of imagination, logic, and problem solving–and the ability to 

create in solitude–set his mind on fire. 

In middle school he discovered video games. But unlike other preteens, he figured out how the 

games worked and taught himself to write code so that he could build a video game of his own. 

“By studying YouTube videos that taught how to program, I learned how to program basic video 

games,” Williams explains. 

By the time he reached age 16 and was a sophomore at EHS, Williams blended his programming 

abilities and a new interest in investing to create financial analysis software. “I read Robert 

Kiyosaki’s book ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad,’ which emphasizes the importance of investing to build 

wealth. I became fascinated by finance. I wondered–could I build an algorithm that identifies market 

trends and predicts smart stock buys?” 

Yes, he could. He named the software “Super Program,” which is now on its fifth update in two 

years. “I call it 'Super Program V5,'" he says. 

“The algorithm works really well for day trading and swing trading blue chip stocks,” he says. “I don’t 

like to sit through long cycles where sectors can be affected by viral news or current events.” The 

results of his strategy are measurable and impressive. Friends–and a few teachers–have asked 

when he can invest for them. “In college, I plan to take the Series 65 test and earn my securities 

license.” 

“The list of what I would like to do next is growing,” he adds with a smile. Most days he can be 

spotted wearing a business suit in preparation for afternoon meetings with local businesses, 

including a car dealership, who have contracted with him to create mobile apps. 

“Episcopal has given me the freedom to explore my passions,” says Williams. “I’ve completed 

coursework that challenged me but did not overwhelm. The Independent Study Program has 

allowed me to continue the development of Super Program and advance skills like public speaking 

and business planning.” 

Any stock trends he’d like to share? “The growth in artificial intelligence is booming, and I like 

chip makers who are focused on that sector.” With that bit of advice, he politely says goodbye, 

straightens his tie, and heads to a client conference. 

–Claire C. Fletcher 

14

15

16

Bright Knights 

GIVING BACK 

THROUGH ART 

AND FILM 

Lani McHenry '20 

Junior Lani McHenry’s passion for art ignited at a young age, when she learned how to paint with 

her grandmother. “Painting was a fun way to express myself,” McHenry recalls. She was an “art kid” 

from that moment on, but it wasn’t until age 9 or 10 that she was able to merge art with her desire 

to help others. “I was watching this commercial with my parents for St. Jude’s and cancer research, 

and I wanted to do something about it. My mom asked me how I could contribute and that’s 

when we got the idea for me to set up art shows that would benefit the organization.” Last year, 

McHenry’s artwork made $1,700 for St. Jude’s. She begins creating art during the holiday season, 

usually around 30 or 40 pieces. McHenry also takes orders for custom paintings or drawings. “After 

I sell my last painting, I put the money together and send it to St. Jude’s. The last few years, I’ve 

hosted my art show at Pottery Barn Kids. I did research and found out they also give to St. Jude’s, 

so it was a natural partnership,” she explains. “I’ve also put up artwork in art galleries and coffee 

shops in my neighborhood. I just like the feeling of giving back.” 

McHenry’s creativity isn’t limited to canvas. She also makes movies, sings, writes her own songs, 

writes poetry, and does musical theatre. Her love of performing started when she was 5 years old 

and did a year at the local Theatre Under the Stars Academy, where she learned how to act and 

sing. The classes taught her how to use her voice on stage. McHenry continued her training in 

theatre and also participated in the HITS program in the Heights. In high school she performs in the 

student-directed one act plays here at EHS. 

Recently, she’s expanded and begun making movies, which has included participating in the ETV 

program. “The film industry is such a difficult one to get into,” McHenry explains, “and you have to 

wait for someone to pick you. I decided my best bet was to make my own films.” She directs and 

stars in her own shorts, which are usually 1-5 minutes long. She produced her first movie instead 

of a holiday art show last year and donated her ticket sales to St. Jude’s, just as she had done with 

her art sales. 

McHenry’s dream is to attend NYU and study film, and then make movies for a living. This year, 

she’ll be going on full scholarship to a summer film program there. She’ll work on three separate 

projects during the summer and learn how to improve her skills in scripting, editing, and filming. 

McHenry credits her mother with inspiring and supporting her artistic ambitions. “‘You don’t have 

to be book smart,’ my mother always said. ‘Just be passionate about something.’ The advice I’d 

give anyone looking to become an artist is this: The best way to prove something of yourself is not 

by telling people but by showing people. Just do it. Take the risk. It would be easy to waste your 

time, telling people what you’re going to do, but it’s better to just do it. Even if the work is terrible, 

that’s how you learn.” 

–Emma Tsai 

17

MOMENTS 

To the right, a student snaps a photograph by 

the Crum Field House as her classmates are 

caught in joyful laughter during break.

19

NOTE TO MY 

FRESHMAN SELF 

Seniors provide words of wisdom to younger versions of themselves 

20

Contributors: Katy Davidson '19, Carter Bunk '19, Tyler Johnson '19, Sophia Casetta '19, and Emily West '19 

21

Before the Bell 

By Scott Cunningham 

22 

06:45:02 - Coach White works with varsity girls lacrosse defensive squad

Before The Bell 

Before the first bell, all is not quiet at EHS. 

Cars roar on Loop 610, while doves and wrens sing full throttle, chortling 

from the live oaks and magnolias between Bissonnet and Fournace 

streets. Food service staff arrive at 5:00 a.m. and begin brewing coffee for 

breakfast or chopping vegetables for lunch soups. Their chatter travels 

from the kitchen to Trinity Courtyard, mixed with aromas of sautéed onions 

and carrots and yeasty snacks being baked for Break. By 6:00 a.m., 

security unlocks the Bissonnet gates–signaling the new day. Darkness 

lifts, and the parking garage begins to fill. Expectancy permeates the air 

as sports teams practice on the fields, and faculty and staff log workouts 

alongside student athletes in the Hildebrand Athletic Center weight 

room. EHS grounds-keepers welcome cool morning temperatures, 

ideal for planting annuals like hibiscus and petunias, splashes of spring 

color that greet walkers on their daily treks from the Trotter Building to 

Benitez Chapel. By 7:00 a.m., campus traffic builds. Parents drop off 

underclassmen, and teachers arrive to attend meetings or tutor students 

on difficult math concepts and writing assignments. 

To prepare for a successful school day at Episcopal, much work needs to 

be done. Dedicated staff and faculty ensure that no detail is overlooked 

before the 8 o’clock bell. 

—Claire C. Fletcher 

23

05:49:30 - Mr. Argueta unlocks the front door to EHS 

06:03:13 - Mr. Trauba walks onto campus from his house on Bissonnet 

24


06:19:42 - The USC receives a delivery of food for the next few days 

06:24:15 - Mr. Davis plants flowers outside the USC 

25

26 

06:28:26 - Girls lacrosse does warm-up drills to start practice

06:30:02 - Mr. Chastain arrives to campus with work clothes in hand 27

06:34:56 - Ms. Nelson pulls ham, egg, and cheese biscuits from the oven 

06:39:22 - Ms. Benavidez sorts through pizza crusts for lunch 

28


06:39:58 - Girls lacrosse does burpees under the lights 

06:40:00 - Sweet treats are laid out before going into the oven 

29


30 

06:40:11 - Mr. Michael relaxes while waiting for runners to arrive


06:41:16 - Ms. Alexander helps with food prep for lunch 

06:41:43 - Ms. Ho starts her day in the Business Office 

31

06:41:46 - Mr. Randolph catches up on emails 

06:42:59 - Coach Adams goes over a play with the offensive squad 

32

06:48:41 - Things get interesting in the USC kitchen 

33

06:50:33 - Mr. Chastain deadlifts about 335 lbs. 

06:51:26 - Mr. Framel begins grading papers 

34 

06:54:39 - Ms. Kelly enters the Trotter building

06:57:35 - Tyler Johnson '19 enters Alkek gymnasium 

35

06:59:08 - Tyler Johnson '19 laces his shoes 

06:59:09 - Girls lacrosse runs a set play 

36 

07:00:55 - Mr. Avera arrives to prep for a meeting


07:03:08 - Mr. Schwarz caught unaware 

07:04:26 - Amiri Scrutchin '19 texting 

07:11:35 - Ms. Eisenberg and Tyler Donovan '19 in Trotter 07:16:04 - Ms. Arias preps greens for lunch 

37

38

07:19:34 - Ms. Arnold gives morning tutorial with LeAnn Dromgoole '21 

39

07:24:12 - Mr. Randolph speaks during a meeting 

07:29:54 - Liam Griffin '20 finishes his breakfast to-go 

40


07:38:43 - Mr. Hickey reviews assignments before class 

41

42 

07:48:36 - Ms. Owens gives a tutorial in Geometry


07:52:58 - Students gather in the library 

07:55:40 - Students crowd into the USC 

43

44

07:58:05 - The school day begins 

45

ALUMNI 

WEEKEND 2019 

1989•1994•1999•2004•2009•2014 

EHS alumni returned to campus to reminisce about the past and explore 

the renovations. A series of events filled the weekend of April 5-6, which 

provided alumni an opportunity to tour campus, explore the city of 

Houston and even hit the golf course. 

In the Alumni Chapel service, EHS students were able to hear from both 

of the Alumni Weekend award recipients. Katie Barnes ’92 and History 

Instructor and Coach Travis Smith both gave heartfelt talks about the 

impact of EHS on their lives. Barnes said “Value your friendships and 

family, follow your curiosity, even if it scares you, and always do a good 

job and finish it with a positive attitude.” 

Friday night alumni from decades of class years joined in the festivities 

and enjoyed an extraordinary food and spirit paring menu from Eloise 

Nichols Bar and Grill. In addition, the evening featured Barnes and 

Smith receiving their awards and a toast by Ned Smith, Head of School, 

including updates on EHS and alumni accomplishments. 

Saturday brought individual class year reunions held at homes and venues 

around the city. Capping a fun-filled weekend was Monday’s Dads Club 

and Alumni Golf Tournament. 

Thank you to this year’s host committee members. They did a remarkable 

job coordinating all the details and preparations. Attendees look forward 

to next year’s party and reunions. 

–Ashley Long 

Alumni Weekend 2020 is April 3-4. We hope to 

see you there! (Photos from milestone reunions to the right) 

46

Photos by Marc Nathan 

47

Stars at Knight Party 

Katie Barnes '92 –Bishops Award Winner 

Travis Smith – Hexagon Distinguished Faculty Award Winner 

48

Stars at Knight Party 

Photos by Chris Bailey Photography 

49

Q+A 

with EHS 

Teachers 

Pop Quiz turns the table on teachers and asks them 

to respond to 11 quick questions. Their enthusiastic 

responses reveal the values, quirks, and interests that 

make them so effective in leading EHS students. 

50

GEORGE BROCK 

Theatre Program Coordinator 

George Brock was born in Birmingham, Alabama. 

He attended St. Edward’s in Austin and 

Lamar University in Beaumont where 

he majored in Theatre. Brock says 

he was “distracted” by a career in 

morning radio but eventually went 

on to complete a B.F.A. in Theatre 

through Rocheville University’s 

online program. 

This is Brock’s 15th year at 

EHS. He started as a part-time 

director and theatre faculty 

member and moved to fulltime 

in 2010, finally becoming 

Theatre Program Coordinator 

in 2012. Besides directing 

plays and musicals, Brock 

is also a member of SEED 

Group 1 and the Choices Faculty 

Action Committee as well as the 

Calendar Committee. 

What’s on your playlist right 

now? 

Dave Matthews Band; Trent 

Reznor & Atticus Ross; The 

Temptations; Original Cast 

Recording Tuck Everlasting; 

Coldplay; Tupac; Beethoven’s 

Symphonies & Piano Concertos. 

What was the first concert you 

attended? 

Kansas for their “Point of Know 

Return Tour” at the Birmingham 

Jefferson County Civic Center. 

If you weren’t a teacher, what 

would you pick for a career? 

Write. I secretly want to write for 

a living. 

What is your proudest 

accomplishment? 

The Freedom Tour that we did a 

couple of years ago for Interim 

Term. We rehearsed “Godspell,” 

did performances of “A Piece of 

My Heart” and learned a lot about 

the Civil Rights movement as well 

as ourselves. It was amazing. 

Do 

you 

have a 

favorite app or 

tech gadget? 

Netflix. I love me some Netflix. 

Did you have a mentor 

growing up who inspired your 

career? 

Charles Ellis. He was my high 

school theatre teacher. I am 

a better person from having 

him as my mentor those four 

rollercoaster years. 

If you traveled back in time, 

what period would you 

choose? 

I would say 1564 to 1616–the time 

of Shakespeare. 

What trait do you most admire 

in your colleagues? 

Their commitment to their 

students, their willingness to go 

the extra mile, and their love of life 

and wonderful sense of humor. 


in your students? 

Their ability to rise to a challenge. 

Their openness to exploring ideas 

that they had never considered 

before. Their passion and zest for 

life. How kind and charitable they 

can be at times. 

Read any good books 

recently? 

“Artemis” by Andy Weir–he also 

wrote “The Martian.” I love his 

characters and his view of the 

future. 

If you could eat only one meal 

this week, what would it be? 

Breakfast–two eggs over easy, 

hash browns, grits and biscuits 

with red-eye gravy. 

51

ERIN RUSSE 

Science Teacher 

Erin Russe grew up in San Antonio and graduated 

from the University of Texas at Austin with a 

degree in Biology. This is Russe’s seventh year 

teaching and fourth year at EHS, teaching AP 

Environmental Science, Biology, Geology, 

and Marine Biology. Russe is also 

assistant registrar and co-chair of the 

Faculty Technology Mentors. 

For the last six years, she has been a 

teacher mentor for the Rice University 

IBB Girls’ STEM Initiative and is 

currently enrolled in a graduate course 

at Rice studying nanotechnologyenabled 

water treatment systems. In 

her spare time, she enjoys traveling, 

cooking, golfing, and spending time with 

her family. 

What’s on your playlist? 

I’ve been listening to more 

podcasts than music. I enjoy 

science, news, and true-crime 

podcasts. 


attended? 

Maroon 5 and John Mayer at the 

Woodlands Pavilion in 2004. 

If you weren’t a teacher, what 


Being a travel agent or travel 

blogger seems like a pretty good 

gig. 

Did you 

have a 

mentor growing 

up who inspired your 

career? 

I am still very close with my 8th 

grade Poetry/Creative Writing 

teacher, Mrs. Francis, and 

my Experimental Physiology 

professor from UT, Dr. English. 

It was Dr. English who helped 

me realize that by teaching 

high school science, I could 

experience the best of both 

worlds! 

There is always someone willing 

to help, lend support, and keep 

looking on the bright side. 



I respect my students’ motivation 

and self-advocacy. They ask good 

questions, and are unafraid to ask 

for help or guidance. 



I haven’t achieved it yet, but I set 

a goal to visit 30 countries by the 

time I turn 30. Currently, I am one 

year and five countries away from 

reaching my goal. 

Do you have a favorite app or 

tech gadget? 

I got an Amazon Alexa for my 

birthday last year and it’s a pretty 

cool gadget. 

If you could travel back in 

time, what period of history 

would you choose? 

The Mesozoic Era (Age of the 

Dinosaurs and Pangaea) to 

see how life and the earth has 

changed over the last 250 million 

years. 



I admire and appreciate my 

colleagues’ positivity. 


recently? 

"Sapiens: A Brief History of 

Humankind" and "The Red 

Queen." I made it my New Year’s 

resolution this year to read more, 

and it has been fun to explore 

genres I wouldn’t normally pick. 



Thai red curry. 

52

BOB MATTHEWS 

English Teacher 

Bob Matthews earned his undergraduate degree from 

University of Texas at Austin and is currently working on 

a collection of short stories to complete a masters 

from Rice University. This is his 15th year at EHS, 

where he teaches English II Honors and English 

III, directs the Independent Study Program, cochairs 

the Tech Mentor Program, and works on 

creating content for the school website. 

Matthews went to high school at Kinkaid, but 

as the brother of four EHS grads, he says 

with a smile, “At the end of this year–my 15th 

at EHS–I will have equaled their combined 

time on campus. I win!” 

What’s on your playlist? 

There are some bands that I listen 

to over and over–Of Montreal, 

Dirty Projectors, Talking Heads, 

The Beatles, The Magnetic Fields, 

and Sufjan Stevens–lately I can’t 

get enough of Big Red Machine. 


attended? 

In 1984, I attended the Michael 

Jackson Thriller tour. 

If you weren’t teaching, what 


When I graduated from high 

school, I was on my way to 

being an architect, but for some 

reason, I transferred out of the 

architecture school at UT without 

taking a class. I still love building 

things and tend to stare at and 

talk about buildings for longer 

than anyone around me wants. 



Sometimes former students will 

contact me randomly to say 

thanks. It gets me every time. 

Do you have a favorite app or 

tech gadget? 

I get lost for hours watching 

woodworking videos on 

Instagram. 

Did 

you have 

a mentor 

growing up 

who inspired your 

career? 

In a strange bit of scheduling, I 

only had two English teachers in 

high school. Kate Lambert–who 

is the current chair of the English 

Department at Kinkaid–taught 

me the first two years and was 

my advisor all four years of high 

school, and German Urioste 

taught me my last two years. 

Those two are profoundly 

responsible for my love of 

literature. 

If you could travel back in 

time, what period of history 

would you choose? 

I’d like to go back to the late 

1920s or ‘30s in Aracataca, 

Colombia, and befriend a young 

Gabriel Garcia Marquez so that 

I could hear the stories of his 

grandparents. 



People on this campus work really 

hard and give freely of their time. 



Like the faculty and staff, they 

achieve an absurd amount on 

a daily basis. They have my 

absolute respect. 


recently? 

I just finished and immediately 

started rereading Denis Johnson’s 

collection of short stories "The 

Largesse of the Sea Maiden." 

As far as I am concerned, it’s 

perfectly written. 



Maharaja Bhog: It’s an Indian 

vegetarian thali restaurant, and it 

is Houston’s best treasure. They 

have no menu. You sit down, and 

they bring you the food they have 

prepared for that day, and they 

don’t stop bringing it until you 

tell them you can’t possibly eat 

another bite. 

53

CLASS NOTES 

Send your updates to Director of Alumni and Annual Giving 

Margaret Young at myoung@ehshouston.org so that you can be 

featured here in the next issue of Pillars magazine! 

88 

Shannon Buggs '88 has been 

appointed by Mayor Sylvester Turner as 

the first director of the Mayor’s Office 

of Complete Communities, where she 

will focus her efforts on developing 

strong collaborative relationships 

with neighborhood residents, City 

of Houston departments, nonprofit 

organizations, and private donors. 

Libbie Masterson '88 became the 

proud mother of twins, Mariquita and 

Peter Masterson, on November 16, 

2018. 

89 

Dean of Faculty and EHS Math 

Instructor, Nguyet Pham, loved 

catching up with alumni Susan Bryan 

Jackson, Meghan Wallace Bailey, 

Beth Norris Stavinoha, and Kathy 

Smith Dupuy (photo above) during 

their recent class reunion. 

92 

On a Christmas break trip to Jerusalem, 

Elizabeth Toedt, Allison 

Bereswill, Jenny Childers, and Becky 

Bereswill (photo above) welcomed in the 

New Year on a rooftop in the Old City of 

Jerusalem! 

Roula Nassar Gerguis '92 and Steve 

Gerguis had a baby boy, Anthony Steven, 

on July 18, 2018. Jamil (Mullen) '92 and 

Carter Higley '97 became the proud 

parents of a baby boy, Jackson River, on 

March 3, 2019. Jamil and Carter have 

four children: Selah, Grace, Wilson (Bea 

Bea), and Jackson River. 

Meredith McCord '92 was recently 

featured on the Discovery Channel. Her 

episode of Silver Kings followed her 

to the Florida Keys to chase Tarpon 

and Triple Tail on fly with Captain Jared 

Raskob. Meredith McCord possesses 

over 150 IGFA World Records in Fishing 

(#2 Female in the world), has won fly 

fishing tournaments, and hosts fishermen 

and women all over the world in pursuit of 

fish on fly. Her adventures have taken her 

from Alaska and Argentina to the jungles 

of Bolivia and Brazil and to the rivers of 

Iceland, Russia, and Mongolia. Along 

with her passion for fishing, Meredith 

started and owned the Mad Potter 

Studios in Houston since 1998 and has 

led various mission trips around the world. 

Brandi and Josh Westheimer '92 

welcomed a baby girl, Lyla, on October 

4, 2018. 

96 

Lauren Levicki Courville '96 was 

recently tapped to be the new President 

of Dress for Success Houston. She 

is the second President in the 

organization’s 20-year history. 

97 

Allison (Blanton) '97 and Spencer 

Stasney joyfully announced the arrival 

of a baby girl, Carlyle Ann, on May 22, 

2018. 

98 

Krystina (Atkinson) '98 and Steven 

Cotton welcomed a baby boy, William 

"Bailey" James, on December 18, 2018. 

A.D. (Achilefu) '98 and Joseph 

Ebeniro became the proud parents of 

a baby boy, Jeremiah Obioma (photo 

below), on November 5, 2018. 

54

Katie and Will Miller '98 welcomed a 

baby boy, William F. Miller V “Liam,” on 

December 14, 2017. Big Sister Hannah 

loved coming to EHS to see the recent 

spring musical, “Fiddler on the Roof.” 

Nicole (Laurent) '98 and Joseph 

Romano had a baby boy, Oscar 

Laurent, on December 2, 2018. 

99 

Robin (Jones) '99 and Jason Begnaud 

welcomed a baby boy, Bryson Reece, 

on October 18, 2018. Kara Lampe '99 

joyfully announced the arrival of her 

baby girl, Davi Rose, in May 2018. Brae 

(Eberle) '99 and Donald Whitehead 

had a baby girl, Abigail Grace on April 

9, 2018. 

00 

Denise and Collier Crouch '00 

welcomed a baby girl, Cesley Francine, 

on May 15, 2018. 

Annina (Stefanelli) '04 and Jordon 

Emmott '00 became the proud parents 

of a baby boy, Charles Eli, on January 

8, 2019. Leah (Spann) '00 and Brad 

Lacy welcomed a baby boy, Pierce 

William, on October 22, 2018. Gina and 

Brad O'Neill '00 happily announce the 

arrival of a baby girl, Anne Bradley, on 

April 17, 2018. Blakely Richardson 

'00 and Daniel Soteldo have two 

children, Maybrie Ella (August 7, 2013) 

and Lynden Hollis (November 29, 2018). 

Jenny (Campo) '00 and Rusty Rogers 

had a baby boy, Tennyson Monroe, on 

May 25, 2018. Brooke (Forester) ’00 

and Clayton Wisian had a baby girl, 

Annabelle, on December 28, 2017. 

01 

Jordan (Buckalew) '01 and Hank 

Glasgow joyfully welcomed a baby boy, 

Carter Cline, on July 6, 2018. Lauren 

(Robinson) '01 and Clay Grasso 

became the proud parents of a baby 

boy, Owen David, on May 10, 2018. 

Sandra and Ryan Mendez '01 had 

a baby girl, Ava Delilah, on March 24, 

2018. Carrie (Blurton) '01 and Mike 

Pierson welcomed a baby girl, Madeline 

Virginia, on December 26, 2018. 

Carli and Daniel Slaton '01 happily 

announce the arrival of a baby boy, Max 

Isaac, on July 27, 2018. 

02 

Elizabeth (Burdett) '02 and Jose 

Zarate welcomed a baby girl, Annalise 

Victoria, on August 7, 2018. Courtney 

(Evans) '02 and Andrew Henke had a 

baby girl, Adeline Patricia, on January 

4, 2018. Kristen and George Jackson 

'02 announced the arrival of a baby 

girl, Leighton Maria, on May 25, 2018. 

Sarah (Lodowski) '02 and Ben 

Kitchen became the proud parents of a 

baby boy, Frederick Cameron, on July 

22, 2017. Maley (Thompson) '02 and 

Robert Passberger had a baby boy, 

Robert "Rob" Thompson, on January 

8, 2019. 

03 

Anne Louise (Conway) '03 and 

Brett Blanchard joyfully welcomed a 

baby boy, Robert Bookman "Bo," on 

January 25, 2019. Diana (Dunlap) 

'03 and Elliott Bridger became the 

proud parents of a baby boy, Benjamin 

Norman, on February 25, 2019. 

Cooper (Brown) '03 and Mike Lapoint 

had a baby boy, Everitt Jason Ellis, on 

July 10, 2018. Michelle and Kellan 

Caldwell '03 joyfully announced the 

arrival of a baby girl, Kinsey Ava, on 

April 1, 2018. Megan (Breitenwisher) 

’03 and Stephen Goldfarb welcomed 

their son, Robert Sanders, on April 

11, 2019. Jessica (Miranda) '03 and 

Howard Haryanto '03 had a baby 

girl, Ophelia "Lia" Miranda, on March 

22, 2018. Sarah (Craig) '03 and Chris 

Houston welcomed a baby girl, Natalie 

Catherine, on July 12, 2017. Jamie and 

Sonny Reil '03 became the proud 

parents of a baby boy, Carter James, 

on February 9, 2019. 

Kate McLean '03 (photo top right) is 

partnering with Brian Brossa on a new 

podcast called Pre-Shift. With Gow 

Media as their home, Kate and Brossa 

record their show each week and share 

a combined 35 years of experience 

in food and wine. Be sure to check 

out Pre-Shift on iTunes, Spotify, and 

AudioBoom. 

Will Neuhaus ’03 along with his wife, 

Jennifer, co-chaired the recent Neuhaus 

Education Center Luncheon with his 

sister and brother-in-law. Guest speaker, 

Sonia Manzano, otherwise known as 

Maria on “Sesame Street,” captivated 

the audience with her stories of over 40 

years on the show. 

04 

Lauren and Bryan Athon '04 

welcomed the arrival of a baby girl, 

Clarke Julianne, on September 16, 

2018. Annina (Stefanelli) '04 and 

Jordon Emmott '00 became the 

proud parents of a baby boy, Charles 

Eli, on January 8, 2019. Lindsey 

(Frachtman) '04 and Scott Friedman 

had a baby boy, Nathan Jarett, on 

December 14, 2018. Katie and Sam 

Miller '04 are the proud parents of two 

girls, Lucy Elizabeth (March 2, 2017) 

and Jane Samantha (November 28, 

2018). Amy Montgomery '04 and 

Mike Montgomery welcomed a baby 

boy, George Huguley, on May 7, 2018. 

Caroline (Schiller) '04 and Brendan 

Murphy have two children: Jack 

(September 17, 2013) and Evangeline 

Marie (March 27, 2019). Sara (Lyons) 

'04 and Reid Patten happily announced 

the arrival of a baby boy, James 

Webster, on February 18, 2019. Mary 

Plumb Senkel '04 shared that both 

Woody and Susie are well on their way 

to becoming future Knights! 

Leslie Rice '04 received her Ph.D. in 

Clinical Psychology from the University 

of Texas at Austin in May 2019. She is 

doing her postdoctoral fellowship in 

Clinical Neuropsychology at BCM/TIRR 

in Houston. 

55

Class Notes 

56 

05 

Spencer Evans '05 will join the 

faculty of the Rhode Island School of 

Design (RISD) as a professor starting 

fall 2019. You can follow Spencer’s 

art at www.spencerevansart.com. In 

addition, Spencer was recently married 

in January. We welcome his wife, Laila, 

to the EHS family. 

Caroline (Conway) '05 and Stephen 

Lipscomb welcomed a baby girl, Louise 

Francis, on September 7, 2018. 

Amanda and Juan Martinez '05 had a 

baby boy, Bane Alexander, on February 

2, 2019. Mindy (Wooldridge) '05 and 

Clark Samuelson became the proud 

parents of a baby girl, Clara Ann "Annie,” 

on May 3, 2018. 

06 

Lauren (Bricker) '06 and Jeffrey 

Hodge joyfully announced the arrival of 

a baby boy, George Henry, on October 

30, 2017. Jenny (Kean) '06 and 

David Morrison had a baby boy, Jack 

Campbell, on December 6, 2018. 

07 

Kate (McCarroll) '07 and John DeWitt 

became the proud parents of a baby 

girl, Charlotte Ann "Charlie," on June 

20, 2018. Katy (Odom) '07 and Patrick 

Sermas happily announced the arrival 

of a baby boy, James Wendell, on 

February 17, 2019. Heather (Scruggs) 

'07 and Matt Waters had a baby boy, 

Henry James, on March 10, 2018. 

08 

Phili (Van Tho) '08 and Austin 

Carden '08 welcomed a baby girl, 

Payton Van Tho, on August 17, 2018. 

Kelly (Mayorga) '08 and Anthony 

Chacon became the proud parents 

of a baby girl, Zaya Penelope, on 

November 27, 2018. Kellie (Nolen) 

'08 and Harrison Hastings had a baby 

boy, Wells Neuhaus, on September 

2, 2018. Emily (Brlansky) '08 and 

Connor Tamlyn joyfully announced the 

arrival of a baby boy, James Randall, on 

February 8, 2019. 

Chelsea Stavis '08 played Leah, the 

lead in the “Hooked” web series. The 

series won numerous awards including 

Best Web Series at Garden State Film 

Festival and Best TV Series at Los 

Angeles Independent Film Awards. 

Richard Campo '08 and Landi 

Lausen '09 both work in the Real 

Estate Investments division of Camden 

Property Trust. Richard is the Manager 

of Real Estate Investments and Landi 

is the Design Development Manager. 

The two EHS alumni love working for 

a company that has been ranked #19 

on FORTUNE’s 22nd Annual 100 Best 

Companies to Work For list. This marks 

the 12th consecutive year that Camden 

has been included on FORTUNE’s list. 

09 

Ben Estus '09 (photo top left) with his 

new wife, Amanda, pose with Ben’s 

father, Tom, and Steve Leisz at their 

recent wedding in December. 

Emily (Jaschke) '09 and Taylor Wells 

became the proud parents of twin 

girls, Olivia Ann and Grayson Carol, on 

November 8, 2017. 

Kyndall Krist '09 and Jailyn Marcel 

'10 (photo right) returned to campus for 

Alumni Leadership Day as participants 

on the Communications panel. 

10 

After teaching Religion at EHS the 

last five years, John Drexel '10 and 

wife Rebecca are moving to Honduras 

where they will be missionaries at The 

Micah Project. The Micah Project is a 

non-profit organization in Tegucigalpa, 

Honduras, with three group homes for 

young men and boys, an outreach to 

street children, and a variety of other 

ministries. 

In January, Katherine Kuntz '10 

launched her own travel company 

called Hope African Adventures. They 

offer personalized safaris and unique 

wilderness excursions throughout 

Southern and East Africa. Their mission 

is to make Africa travel accessible to 

everyone and inspire tourists to “be 

the change.” Katherine’s exciting 

launch of her company follows her 

2017 completion of a one-year program 

where she was immersed in life on 

game reserves throughout South Africa 

and Botswana and received her safari 

guide qualifications. 

Kyndall Krist '09 and Jailyn Marcel 

'10 shared their experiences in the 

Communications industry with seniors 

during the fall’s Alumni Leadership Day. 

15 

Georgia Wahl '15 won Section B of 

the triple jump for The University of 

Texas at Austin with a Personal Record 

of 12.91 meters.

Class Notes 

17 

Forrest Pressler '17 (photo below) 

was back on campus to celebrate the 

launch of Forrest Place Café. During 

his tenure at EHS, Forrest researched 

coffee, equipment, and operations to 

make his dream come true. 

18 

Harrison Hobbs '18 (photo bottom 

left) and mom Melissa enjoy cheering 

for The University of Texas at football 

games. Harrison is an active member of 

the Longhorns Band. 

Ford McCann '18, Blake Ogle '18, 

and Ryan Fulgham '18 welcomed 

the new school year as freshmen at 

Georgetown University. Sophie Allen 

'18 is also part of the EHS contingent at 

Georgetown. 

Former Knights reconnected in 

Florida when NESCAC rivals Tufts and 

Hamilton softball played opponents. 

Alexis Aboulafia '18 and Christian 

Cain '15 (photo below) share a special 

moment. 

Walker Little '17 played in twelve 

games and started all twelve at left 

tackle for Stanford University this Fall. 

Little was named to the All-Pac-12 

first team and Pac-12 All-Academic 

honorable mention during a standout 

year where he protected the blindside 

of K.J. Costello, who finished with 

second-most passing yards in a season 

in school history. 

On March 27, 2019, Abbie Wrather '17, 

sophomore at Sewanee, was named 

as a field hockey student-athlete on the 

Zag Sports/NFHCA Division III Scholars 

of Distinction. 

On April 6, 2019, Peter Geib '18 had 

his first collegiate hit for The University 

of Texas at Austin baseball team. 

57

The Last Word 

58

The Last Word 

FROM BOBA TEA TO 

CHICKEN FEET: EXPLORING 

ASIAN CULTURE IN HOUSTON 

by Chen-Yun Kate Liang 

Extending the classroom beyond the walls of Episcopal is 

a goal of mine in teaching Chinese. Each year, I create an 

experience that immerses my students in the rich and diverse 

Asian cultures that define Houston. In February, I took a group 

of 26 students, along with faculty members Krystal Irven and 

Mike Hodgson, to Houston’s Chinatown. We planned a day of 

activities that included a temple, a grocery store, a restaurant, 

and the Taiwanese Culture Center to celebrate the Chinese 

Lantern Festival. 

When we arrived at the Texas Teo Chew Temple, a traditional 

Daoism temple only 15 minutes away from school, students 

already felt like they had entered a foreign world. Inside the 

temple, my students made their way through the smoke and 

the fragrance of incense. They noted the otherworldliness 

of the statues of different gods, and I explained what each 

god represented in Chinese culture. Some students were 

practicing the Dao style of prayer to show their respect. 

Outside the temple, we stopped to take a group photo in front 

of a fountain that depicts all the animals represented in the 

Chinese calendar. I was pleased to see how excited the kids 

were when they recognized all the different animals! 

As we left the temple and drove to commercial Chinatown, 

the street signs were written in Chinese and Vietnamese. 

Small details like these make the students feel like they’re 

exploring a new city. At the corner of Bellaire and the Beltway, 

we shopped in a Chinese grocery store where I assigned 

students a scavenger hunt. Students had to find all the 

bizarre food items from the following list: cow tongue, dried 

herbs, pigs’ blood, chicken feet, lotus tea. They laughed at 

the unfamiliar choices. One student even purchased a black 

chicken wrapped in cellophane and brought it home to show 

his family. 

While the juniors and seniors were completing their scavenger 

hunt, the freshmen enjoyed lunch dishes at Fufu Café, 

savoring the aromas of chicken and pork. Rice was served 

in separate bowls; I stressed that sticking the chopsticks into 

the rice is forbidden and is a sign of disrespect. At this meal, 

we were served the traditional Chinese dishes on a Lazy 

Susan in the middle of the table, which is typical of a family 

meal. Students learned that the youngest one at the table 

pours the jasmine tea for everyone else. I requested that the 

restaurant distribute chopsticks and not forks, so that they 

had an opportunity to showcase their chopstick skills. Even 

with so many dietary restrictions and personal preferences, 

my students finished all of the dishes and told me that this 

was the best Chinese food they had ever eaten. For dessert, 

they tried a boba tea available in a variety of flavors and 

sugary intenseness. 

Touring the Taiwanese Culture Center was a highlight of the 

day. Volunteers at the center shared with us pictures and 

stories of various Lantern Festival traditions in many Asian 

countries. The students participated in making dessert 

balls consisting of rice flour that the volunteers cooked for 

us before we left the venue. These traditional treats were 

sweet and chewy—not what my students were expecting 

as a dessert! I was proud of them for being open-minded 

about trying this ethnic holiday treat. I remember eating these 

growing up in Taiwan; my mother would make the rice ball 

dessert soup on the last day of winter. The Chinese believe 

you should eat a sweet treat on the last day of winter to 

celebrate your life and the attainment of one more year of 

wisdom. 

We were honored to have the Taiwan Cultural Center director 

greet us and explain the history of various art pieces in the 

lobby before we returned to our buses and headed back to 

Episcopal. The director passed out calendars as gifts, to 

demonstrate the importance of gifts in Asian cultures. 

On the way back to school, students were chattering nonstop 

about their day in Houston’s Chinatown. The underclassmen 

eagerly anticipate next year’s field trip, when they will visit 

a different temple. In moments like these, I realize I am not 

only the students’ Chinese teacher, I am also the bridge that 

connects them to a new culture. 

Chen-Yun Kate Liang teaches Chinese I through Chinese AP. 

She received her B.A. at the Chinese Cultural University in 

Taipei, Taiwan, and her M.S. at Sam Houston State. Liang is 

the sponsor of the Chinese Honor Society and has taught at 

Episcopal for four years. 

59

60 

John Flanagan greets an alumnus at the alumni Christmas lunch

2018 ‐ 2019 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 

Chairman 

The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle 

Executive Chair 

Randa Duncan Williams 

Frances Alexander, Henrietta K. Alexander, Matthew K. Baird, Shelley Torian Barineau, J. Craig Chandler, W. Craig Childers, 

Greg Curran, Rod Cutsinger, William A. Edens Sr., J. Todd Frazier ‘88, The Rev. James M. L. Grace ‘94, Terri Havens, Elizabeth 

K. Howley, Jenna Junell, Alecia Lawyer, Clay Manley, George O. McDaniel III, Laurie N. Morian, Dis Netland, Townes G. Pressler 

Jr., Joe Pyne, A. Haag Sherman, Ned Smith, Trey Snider, Duncan K. Underwood ‘89 

Life Trustees 

John F. Austin III, Edward C. Becker, The Rt. Rev. Maurice M. Benitez † , W. Craig Childers, Lacy Crain, The Rev. Laurens A. Hall, 

Victor A. Kormeier Jr., Frederick R. McCord † , Laurence B. Neuhaus, The Rt. Rev. Claude E. Payne, Joel I. Shannon, Lynda 

Knapp Underwood, The Rt. Rev. Don A. Wimberly 

Executive Committee 

J. Craig Chandler, The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, William F. Galtney Jr., Melinda Budinger Hildebrand, Victor A. Kormeier Jr., 

George O. McDaniel III, Dis Netland, A. Haag Sherman, Ned Smith, Lynda Knapp Underwood, Randa Duncan Williams, Thomas 

M. Wright 

LEADERSHIP 

Head of School 

Ned Smith 

Associate Head of School 

Nancy Laufe Eisenberg 

Director of Finance 

and Operations 

Evelyn Cambria 

Principal 

Kim Randolph 

Dean of Faculty 

Nguyet Xuan Pham 

Director of Advancement 

Peggy Haney 

Dean of Spiritual Life 

The Rev. Beth Holden 

Dean of Arts and 

Innovation 

Jay Berckley 

Director of Athletics 

Jason Grove 

PILLARS MAGAZINE TEAM 

Director of Communications 

Claire Fletcher 

Graphic Design 

Scott Cunningham 

Photography 

Scott Cunningham 

Contributors 

Teagan Ashworth '19 

Emma Tsai 

Chris Bailey Photography 

Ashley Long 

Chen-Yun Kate Liang 

Mauro Gomez 

Marc Nathan 

61

4650 Bissonnet • Bellaire, Texas 77401 • 713‐512‐3400 • 713‐512‐3606 • www.ehshouston.org 

Non Profit Org. 

U.S. Postage 

PAID 

Houston, TX 

Permit No. 

10468

EHS Pillars - Spring 2019

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