UMS-Wright 2019 Arts Hall of Fame

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

INDUCTEES Michael Dent Boykin ‘82 John Gregory Saad ‘00 Bronwyn Coffeen-Mercer ‘01 Clayton Carter Omainsky ‘06

Laura Wilson Roberts graduated from UMS in 1982. Those who Dent Boykin know him can attest to the fact that he possesses a love of life, a love of fellow man, and a natural curiosity about a myriad of subjects. Such qualities help explain his enthusiasm and devotion to theatre and his commitment to doing good for others. At UMS, Dent was a member of the chorus, the theater, the newspaper staff, the yearbook staff, the pep band, and the wrestling team. Like so many students from schools with small student bodies, he developed a wide range of talents out of necessity. His acting career at UMS was launched with roles in Oliver, Captain Fantastic, and The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. During these high school years, Dent was the backbone of UMS Theatre and was one of the “happy few” who helped revitalize the UMS Arts Department. Not only a stage performer, this classic thespian built sets and even moved props as a member of the stage crew during the physically demanding production of M.A.S.H. Not at all surprising is the fact that Dent was a trusted member of the student body who worked in the supply store and received an Alumni Spirit Award. After graduating from UMS, Dent attended the University of Alabama and received his Bachelor of Science. Dent continued his acting career after high school and went on to perform at local theatres such as the Mobile Theatre Guild, Joe Jefferson Playhouse, Chickasaw Civic Theatre, Firehouse Theatre, The Mobile Ballet, Melange Dance Company, and many independent productions. He was the winner of the 2013 Nappie Award for Best Local Actor for the lead in “Don’t Frack with Society Shell.” While in college, Dent worked as an actor in many commercials. Dent has appeared in many local film movies, such asMission of the Shark, Under Siege, and many by producer David Pryor. He has worked alongside actors such as Stephen Seagal, Tommy Lee Jones, and Kathy Bates. He was also the stand-in for Phillip Seymour Hoffman. He was the Executive Producer for Studio 213 horror film, Hayride, with Richard Tyson. He was a founding member of the Mobile Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. Dent resides in Mobile where he is the President of Boykin Management, Inc., and the Vice President of Tensaw Land Company. He has served on the boards of the American Lung Association, Compass Bank, National Wild Turkey Federation, United States National Reserve Corps, FBI Citizen’s Academy, Velocity Fastpitch Organization, Mobile Theatre Guild, and The Olde Tavern Museum. Helping others is Dent’s mantra. Whether it is building sets, helping coach softball, or working with the National Guard, Dent is in the business of responding to need. He and his wife Aimee are the proud parents of two alumnae, Jessica Boykin Hill ‘10 and Jasmine Boykin ‘12 and grandparents of Jonah who is in the second grade at UMS-Wright.

John Saad, Class of 2000, is an outstanding example John Saad of a UMS-Wright student who internalized the love of the arts he was exposed to at our school and went on to share this love and enrich the lives of others. At UMS-Wright, John encouraged and supported the efforts of fellow students and fellow artists through his words and deeds. John was most notably an active member of the UMS-Wright Theatre Guild and served as President of this talented group during his senior year. In particular, he was the leader of the theatre troupe’s tech crew before current generation technology made a sound and lighting specialist’s task less stressful and less demanding. His skill and dedication allowed the students on stage and the directors to focus on their responsibilities as John managed the essential elements of sound and lighting During four major productions, this devoted thespian was a vital cast member. Final Dress Rehearsal, The Complete Works of Shakespeare, Father Knows Best, and The Mouse that Roared were all ambitious efforts for a high school acting company who needed quality contributions from every student involved and each time, John rose to the occasion. For his skill and dedication, he received the Thespian Award, chosen by the Arts Department faculty, his senior year. Today, John can eloquently describe the exhilarating experience of live theatre and rehearsals for major performances that will draw others to this inspiring co-curricular. Upon graduation, John continued his education at the University of Alabama. He graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Finance; however, his academic pursuits would eventually lead him back to the world of the written and spoken word which he enjoyed so much as a part of the UMS- Wright Theatre Guild. In 2014, John earned a Masters in English/ Creative Writing From UAB. Not surprisingly, his passion and talent enabled him to earn success in this new area of his professional life. Beginning in 2015, he has taught literature as an adjunct instructor at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He was a 2015 contributor at the Sewanee Wright’s conference in Sewanee, Tennessee. He has published poems, essays, and book reviews in various journals and magazines such at Kudzu House Quarterly, ISLE, Steel Toe Review, The Progressive, AL.com, Birmingham Poetry Review and Alabama’s River Heritage (art exhibit). A member of the International English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta, John is also a recipient of the Hackney Literary Award, 1st Place State Poetry. His debut publication of poetry, Longleaf, was the winner of the 2016 Hopper Poetry Prize and was published in 2017 through Green Writers Press. John is blessed with varied talents and as many or more interests. He still works closely with his brother, James (Class of 2001), in real estate at Saad Development Corporation. A devoted outdoorsman, who loves our natural world; John is a fly fisherman and gardener as well as being a writer, teacher, and land developer. His literary skill and business acumen make John a remarkable person and a community asset. He and his wife Alyson live outside Birmingham with their two dogs and a cat.

began her UMS-Wright education in grade 6. She Bronwyn studied art through the years under Ms. Ainsley McNeely and credits McNeely as one of her biggest influencers and supporters. Art projects included Coffeen- painting the library mural, designing the Class of 2001 t-shirt, and the senior prom mural. She also Mercer received a Gulf State Fair art award. She received the Middle School Art Award, Certificate of Art Achievement, and Upper School Art Award. In preparation for attending art school after graduation, she completed AP Art. She was also active in other clubs in high school, including Safe Club, Interact Club, Ethnos, Spanish Club, UMS- Wright Mountain Biking Association and Upper School U.S. Science Olympiad. She was repeatedly recognized on the Dean’s List and President’s List. Following her 2001 graduation, she attended Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. Besides learning more about traditional media and figure drawing, she fell in love with digital art painting and graphic design. She was a committee co-chairman for the campus’s career conference where keynote speakers and guest artists interacted with students. In 2004, she created her company, ‘Bron Art’ and illustrated an insect diagram for a Ringling professor’s textbook. When Hallmark card company came to campus, she was chosen to participate in their Cute Illustration Workshop. She received President’s List, National Dean’s List, and in her senior year was a recipient of a ‘Best of Ringling Illustration’ award. During the summers from college, she interned at Dogwood Studios advertising agency, WKRG TV-5, and Red Square Agency. She earned a degree in Illustration with Honors in May 2005. Bronwyn returned home to Mobile and was recognized in Monthly for her arts participation in downtown Mobile’s Arts Alive!, as well as in the Mobile Press-Register. She started her career in the newspaper industry at the Mobile Press-Register as a Graphic Artist. She built spotter maps, bar graphs, hurricane maps, and special section covers including for the area’s beloved Mardi Gras. Her infographics combined her love of illustration and graphic design, and this led her to being recognized in state and regional competitions, including the Alabama Associated Press Managing Editors, The Green Eyeshade, Alabama AP, and the Alabama Press Association. In 2012, Bronwyn began working with ACCESS Magazine. As senior creative director, she redesigned the magazine’s look and the magazine received a 2013 Lagniappe’s “Nappie” second place in Best Magazine. She then started working at Citronelle’s Call News newspaper as a paginator. She moved to Georgia in 2015. This move found her at the Newnan Times-Herald in Newnan, Georgia. She started as an advertisement artist, and then was promoted to lead paginator a few months later. In 2017, she helped launch the newspaper’s redesign. As part of the newspaper’s involvement with the downtown art walks, she displayed and sold her traditional works. She has continued her Bron Art company by creating traditional works on paper and canvas, portraits, children’s books, and CD package designs. The current Mobile County Public School System’s style guide was a collaboration between Bronwyn and a friend from the Mobile Press-Register days. One of The United Mobile brochure designs was a collaboration with another friend. Bronwyn has sold work in galleries, including the Mobile Arts Council, the Lyon’s Share and the Fairhope Inn in Fairhope, Alabama. She was a Mobile Arts Council member, Mobile Area Young Professionals Alliance member, Mobile Shibui Chapter of Sumi-e member, and is a moderator to the Plein Air South painting group. She was an honorary judge for the Watercolor & Graphic Arts Society of Mobile. As of 2018, Bronwyn works at home on her Bron Art projects and as an archive graphic artist with USA TODAY Sports Images. She lives with her husband, John David and their baby son, Wyatt.

graduated from UMS-Wright in 2006 and was active Clay in numerous arts and other co-curricular activities. He was actively involved in the Theatre Guild serving as president his senior year. He reinstated Omainsky the school’s Book Club and was also involved in the French Club, Scholar’s Bowl, Youth Judicial, and Science Olympiad. A member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Quill & Scroll, the National French Honor Society, and the Cum Laude Society, he received the prestigious Benjamin Harte Harris Spirit and Leadership Award, the French III & French IV Awards, the U.S. Government Award, the Rotary Club’s Youth Merit Award, the Senior Thespian Award, and the Alumni Spirit Award. Under the direction of Laura Roberts, Clay participated in numerous dramatic arts competitions and won second place at the state level at the Walter Trumbauer Theatre Festival for his “Humorous Interpretation” of a poetic parody of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. In high school, Clay played Harvey Johnson in Bye Bye Birdie; Jonathan Harker in Dracula; and Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His most memorable on-stage roles included Linus van Pelt in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Inspector Jacques Clouseau in The Pink Panther Strikes Again. As a senior, he directed the Theatre Guild’s one act play, A Typically Atypical Day. He played small roles and assisted the tech crew in local theater productions outside of UMS-Wright, too — first at Playhouse- in-the-Park and later at the Joe Jefferson Playhouse in midtown Mobile and Theater 98 in Fairhope. His involvement in the arts extended beyond the stage as well; he led many tours of the newly built Fine Arts facility. He also played the trumpet and French horn in the band and was instrumental in advocating for, securing, and selecting marching band uniforms for the Marching Bulldogs. Clay contributed his work regularly both to the school’s newspaper, Crimson & Grey, and yearbook, The Cadet. He served as co-editor of The Mind’s Eye literary magazine, and worked alongside Ms. Pier Hardin to oversee and publish the school’s first full-color edition ofThe Mind’s Eye in 2006. Clay attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received a bachelor of arts degree in American Studies and Economics. He went on to teach middle school drama as an interim substitute teacher at UMS-Wright and was later selected as a teaching intern at the prestigious Choate Rosemary Hall school in Connecticut. In 2011, he was offered a graduate teaching assistantship by Auburn University’s Department of English. While at Auburn, Clay taught undergraduate literature and composition courses and worked as an editorial assistant in the marketing office of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. Clay spent the summer in New York City as a publishing intern at the Library of America. He later earned the Auburn English Department’s award for “Best Graduate Student Paper” for his essay on the hit Broadway musical The Book of Mormon, and he graduated from Auburn with a master of arts in English. Clay now enjoys the unique opportunity of working for his family’s business, Wintzell’s Oyster House, as the Communications & HR manager. Since Clay joined the business, the iconic Wintzell’s restaurant brand has been featured in Nation’s Restaurant News, Garden & Gun, USA Today, and on national television programs including NBC Nightly News and on the Travel Channel’s hit show Man v. Food Nation. Clay serves on the Board of Directors for Distinguished Young Women program. He also supports the Joe Jefferson Players by serving on its marketing committee and serves on the Vintage Affair Gala committee benefitting the American Cancer Society and for Visit Mobile. In 2015, he was part of the inaugural class of Mobile United’s Connect Mobile leadership program. He also loves spending time with his two French bulldogs. In 1988, Laura Roberts joined the faculty of the Laura newly merged UMS-Wright after having taught Language Arts and sponsored the Drama Club at Little Flower School. Prior to entering the teaching Roberts profession, she graduated from McGill-Toolen and the University of Dallas before completing a Master’s of Literature and Art at and participating in postgraduate study in art history through Mansfield University. Even though Mrs. Roberts has completed extensive professional preparation at colleges and universities, her inspiring instruction is enhanced by personal inquiry, in-depth study, and theatrical experience as both an actress and director. Few individuals can match the breadth and depth of Laura Roberts’ combination of professional training and personal experience in the artistic categories of writing, drama, and art. Her passion for and love of art, literature, and theater has enabled her to enrich the lives of generations of students through her participation and leadership within the UMS-Wright Arts Department. The gifted educator, Laura Roberts is currently a highly successful AP Art History teacher who has also taught students in grades K5-12 through the years. UMS-Wright students have been the recipients of her outstanding instruction in drama, art appreciation, acting, production, and speech classes. Prior to becoming the Arts Department Chairperson and the manager of the UMS- Wright Art Center, Mrs. Roberts was an extremely successful director of the UMS-Wright Theatre Guild. Her students’ productions won two 1st Place Best of Show Awards and one 2nd Place Best of Show Awards from the Alabama Conference of Theatre, while fourteen one-act plays advanced to the state finals. Solo and duet performances, as well as tech crews, also earned impressive awards through the years. As a teacher and director, Mrs. Roberts has earned numerous professional accolades and has served in leadership roles for the Alabama Conference of Theatre. Probably her most memorable experience took place in 1997 when the UMS-Wright Theatre Guild was chosen to perform at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. This continues to be an event which launched the Arts and Theatre specifically to new heights at UMS-Wright. Under Laura Roberts’ leadership, UMS-Wright’s Arts programs have improved yearly and now provide student performers and audiences with experiences few elementary and secondary schools can match. Her devotion to the UMS-Wright Mission and her innate high standards have made her an effective, passionate standard bearer for UMS-Wright Arts. Even though all programs in the UMS- Wright Arts Department mirror the professional skill and leadership of Laura Roberts, her influence is visible in other beloved traditions at our school. To begin each school day, students and staff join in the Student Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance as a result of Mrs. Roberts suggestion. The inspiring tradition of the football team, cheerleaders, student body, and UMS-Wright Marching Band join in performing the Alma Mater is yet another product of the creative thinking of Laura Roberts. Each May, she directs one of the school’s most beloved traditions, the Baccalaureate Ceremony which is performed entirely by the senior class. From student speeches to musical performances, these inspiring experiences project the personal touch of Laura Roberts. She is a singular asset of UMS-Wright. Arts Hall of Fame Members

2008 ~ Howard M. Fortney Honorary 2009 ~ H. Ainsley McNeely ‘78 2009 ~ Fred D. Baldwin ‘66 2010 ~ Nicholas H. Holmes, III ‘70 2011 ~ Eugenia Cameron Foster ‘62 2011 ~ Howard M. Schramm, Jr. ‘60 2012 ~ Cammie East Cowan ‘63 2012 ~ M. Richard Hirsch ‘64 2012 ~ Julie Hall Friedman ‘77 2012 ~ Ellen Goldberg Fishpaw ‘97 2013 ~ Bradley S. Handwerger ‘99 2013 ~ W. Frye Gaillard , Jr. ‘64 2013 ~ Eugenia Barney Lanaux ‘73 2013 ~ Jacqueline Alford Ward ‘96 2013 ~ Linda D. Pereira Honorary 2014 ~ Walter B. Edgar ‘61 2014 ~ M. Gay Outlaw ‘77 2014 ~ H. Jody Powell ‘77 2014 ~ Demetri N. Ravanos ‘99 2015 ~ Joy Ogburn Gardner ‘78 2015 ~ C. Matthew Vinson ‘98 2015 ~ J. Douglas Waterman ‘98 2015 ~ Liz Stokes Terry ‘75 2015 ~ Kathy W. Thompson Honorary 2016 ~ E. Russell “Barney” March ‘85 2016 ~ Pier Peterson Hardin ‘70 2016 ~ Roy Bernard Hoffman ‘71 2016 ~ Peyton Sumerlyn Trueblood ‘12 2017 ~ Mary-Lacey Rogers Zeiders ‘05 2017 ~ J. Russell Goodloe, Jr. ‘55 2017 ~ F. Randy deCelle ‘85 2017 ~ Janey Miller Honorary 2018 ~ Kim Bancroft Wood ‘68 2018 ~ Margaret Thurber Delaney ‘98 2018 ~ Eden Walker Flora ‘02 2018 ~ John William Hayes, Jr. ‘05 UMS-Wright www.ums-wright.org