SUMMER 2014, Issue No

PURPOSESUMMER ’14 IT’S ALL THERE UNFOLDING CHARACTER AT PRINCIPIA 12 30 32 Painting to And the Grammy Meet a Few of “bless all mankind” Goes to . This Year’s Grads HIKING HADRIAN’S WALL JULY 10—19, 2015 Enjoy northern England’s beautiful and varied countryside, from rolling fields to rugged moorlands. Along the way, visit ancient forts and milecastles and learn about the Roman emperor behind this 84-mile wall. LOCATION: Northern England TRIP LEADER: Chuck Wilcoxen, Assistant Athletic Director, Principia College COST: $2,600/person for a double-occupancy (shared) room $2,900 for single occupancy Register for the England trip and learn about upcoming Principia Lifelong Learning trips to Alaska (2015), Paris, Prague, and Vienna (2016), and Peru (2016). www.principia.edu/trips PURPOSE From the Chief Executive SUMMER 2014, Issue No. 370 The mission of the Principia Purpose is to Dear Reader, build community among alumni and friends by sharing news, updates, accomplishments, and insights related to Principia, its alumni, and former faculty and staff. The Principia Sometimes the best way to move forward is to stay put— Purpose is published twice a year. figuratively, at least. That has been true for over 100 years Marketing and Communications Director now with regard to Principia’s focus on character educa- Laurel Shaper Walters (US’84) tion. When the school was just 10 years old, founder Associate Marketing Director Mary Kimball Morgan reminded her faculty of the Kathy Coyne (US’83, C’87) primary importance of developing students’ character, Editorial Director / Purpose Editor urging teachers to “bring out the real child, God’s child” Trudy Palmer (US’72) (Education at The Principia, p. 65). Today, that bringing Creative Director / Purpose Designer out, or unfolding, of each student’s God-given, innately Kamren Dearborn (US’95, C’00) good character is as central to Principia’s identity and operation as ever. Staff Writers Armin Sethna (C’84) Heather Shotwell (C’84) On the one hand, this focus puts us ahead of the rapidly growing pack of educational institutions either inventing or reinvigorating character education programs. Contributing Writers Ann C. Brown On the other, the uniqueness of our approach—with its emphasis on unfolding Anne Farley Gaines (C’76) students’ character instead of instilling it—places us outside of the pack altogether. Dr. Marie Jureit-Beamish Dr. Mike Rechlin In the cover story, you’ll get a clear picture of where Principia fits in today’s char- Phebe Telschow (US’87, C’91) acter education landscape and how we’re staying true to Mrs. Morgan’s primary Staff Designer focus. Wendy Rankin Contributing Photographers Also in this issue, you’ll meet another alum “off to a roaring start.” Following Stephen Allen Jamie Eichar (C’13) the strong positive feedback we received to the last issue’s focus on young alums’ Daren Huber (C’14) accomplishments, we’ve decided to make this a regular feature of each issue. Speak- Katie Stanley (C’05) ing of alumni, six of our newest alums—members of the Class of 2014 at the Address Changes School and College—are profiled here. Find out about their experiences at Prin- The Principia 13201 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63131 cipia, and learn where they’re headed next. E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 800.277.4648, ext. 2868 We’ve also included a peek into School students’ interest in engineering as well as a Submissions If you have an article idea for the Purpose, glimpse into the practical liberal arts learning—not to mention the fun—students please send a query to purpose@principia. take away from the College’s popular Sugarbush Management course. edu. The Purpose accepts no responsibility for unsolicited material, which will not be returned unless accompanied by a self- And that’s not all. This issue is packed with student and alumni adventures and addressed, stamped envelope. accomplishments. Dive in—and enjoy! Reprints Requests for permission to reprint any portion of the Principia Purpose should be sent to [email protected]. The ideas and opinions expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect those held by The Principia or by the writers and editors of the Purpose. © 2014 The Principia Jonathan W. Palmer (C’78) Chief Executive Contents 18 30 32 Features 18 It’s All There: Unfolding Character at Principia 30 And the Grammy Goes to . Departments 32 Meet a Few of This Year’s Graduates 01 From the Chief Executive 03 Letters and Notices 36 Liberal Arts at Work in the Woods 04 School News 05 College News 38 Doing What It Takes to Empower 06 Awards and Achievements and Transform Teens 09 Volunteer Highlight 10 Advancement 42 Robots and Racecars: STEM 12 My Principia Story Learning Speeds Up 16 Focus on Young Alumni 48 Christian Science in Action 44 Sharing Principia’s Collections 2 | PURPOSE Summer 2014 Letters and Notices I graduated from the college in 1997, and normally when I receive the magazine, I give it a cursory glance. I always give it a chance to surprise me—and it never ever does . until now! I was so moved and inspired by what my contemporaries are up to. More than that—HOW they are going about their lives, and the sort of “I didn’t just walk in the front door, I found my own route” sense that pervaded all of them. It reminded me in a very real way of what Principia sets out to do—and does. Essentially, the experience of Principia gets Photo Caption Contest you examining everything so much that unless your eyes and ears are totally closed Winner for four years, you end up leavening the career that you choose by virtue of having tasted how things could be. Honestly, it’s sad to say, but I almost forgot about that. “Does that door make my Thank you so much for putting forth the reminder in a big way. legs look fat?” Thank you for being so refreshing! — Emma Coyne (US’16) Heather Frederick Brown (C’97) Correction On page 10 of the Winter 2014 issue of the Purpose, Dr. Brian Roberts’ class year was listed incorrectly. He is a member of the College Class of 1988. Interested in teaching at Summer Session? For the next contest, submit We are now accepting course proposals for Summer Session 2015, which will be your caption for this photo to held on the College campus June 13–27, 2015. [email protected] by Novem- ber 1, 2014. The winner will be Submit your proposal at www.principia.edu/summersessionproposal. The announced in the Winter ’15 issue. deadline for submissions is September 30, 2014. All faculty must be Christian Scientists. PURPOSE Summer 2014 | 3 School News Principia to Welcome New Principal Travis Brantingham (US’94, C’98) will until 2008 and as athletics director be stepping into the newly created role from 2008 to 2013. He and his wife, of School principal on July 1. During Hannah (C’02), have three children. her eight-year tenure, outgoing Head of School Marilyn Wallace (C’72) Brantingham will work with a recon- brought significant changes to the figured team of administrators, includ- School, including Middle School reno- ing Dean of Students Lee Fletcher- vations, the introduction of one-to- McGookin, whose role has been one computing in Middle and Upper expanded from the Upper School to New School Principal Travis Brantingham School, greater curricular emphasis include the entire School, and three (US’94, C’98) on experiential learning, and a change assistant principals. Current Middle from trimesters to semesters. School and Lower School/Early Child- Dry has served as a teacher, coach, hood Directors Alyssa Henn (US’97, house parent, and administrator at Brantingham, who holds an MA in C’01) and Dorothy Halverson (C’85) schools in South Africa, England, educational leadership from Maryville will transition into the assistant princi- Japan, Norway, and Australia. He University in St. Louis, joined the pal roles at their respective levels, while will move to St. Louis with his wife, staff at Principia School in 2006, new hire Peter Dry will fill that post at Samantha, and their three children serving as assistant dean of students the Upper School. this summer. Upper School Artists Shine Each spring, the venerable St. Louis Artists’ Guild holds an exhibition of curated works in a range of media by high schoolers in the area. This year, seven of the 142 pieces accepted into the exhibition—just about 5 percent—were by Principia upper schoolers! In addition, senior Grace Buchanan’s oil pastel portrait, Tatyana (pictured here), won the $500 Frani Weinstock Scholarship Fund Prize. Club Lacrosse Added to Upper School Athletics Options 2014 Cum Laude Honors Gaining hugely in national popularity in the past decade, lacrosse has had a few devotees at the Upper School as well, most notably Matt Gilman, who graduated The following seniors were in May. A varsity football and basketball player at Principia, Gilman was also a key inducted into the Principia chap- member of the John Burroughs lacrosse team for four years and was named MVP ter of the Cum Laude Society at at Burroughs’ 2013 State Championship game. During this past spring semester, the traditional year-end chapel with the support of Athletics Director Brad Warrick (US’90, C’94), Gilman pulled the Monday before graduation: together about 20 athletes, organized the purchase of equipment and uniforms, and Robert Butler, Emilie Fredrikson, ran a tight practice schedule. It’s expected that lacrosse will continue to be offered at Nicole Gerber, Brewster Glascock, the club level in the coming academic year.

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