WINTER ’20 26 34 38 Rethinking Business Education Hearing Past Hate Leadership and Community at for Entrepreneurs Principia School Get to know Principia today. Across both campuses, we are preparing students to be future-ready leaders who use their education for the greater good—thinking fearlessly, living selflessly, and learning purposefully. As we challenge students to pursue innovation and embrace challenge, we, too, are looking ahead and envisioning new opportunities for Principia to fulfill its mission. We’re eager to welcome prospective students and families! Come for a visit and experience today’s Principia. See our updated facilities; discover fresh perspectives. Learn how we’re building on our founding principles to ensure a robust future. Our Travel Fund is available to help with a portion of transportation costs. MIDDLE / UPPER SCHOOL Visiting Weekends • January 25–27 • February 15–17 • February 29–March 2 • April 4–6 (Upper School only) • April 25–27 principiaschool.org/visit Families with younger children are welcome for day visits anytime during the school year. COLLEGE Visiting Weekends • February 27–March 1 • March 26–29 • April 9–12 • April 23–26 principiacollege.edu/visit Give us a call—we’d love to chat! School: 314.514.3188 | College: 618.374.5180 Or reach out to us at principia.edu/referastudent if you know someone we should invite to visit. From the Chief Executive Winter 2020, Issue No. 381 The mission of the Principia Purpose is to build Dear Reader, community among alumni and friends by shar- ing news, accomplishments, and insights related to Principia, its alumni, and faculty and staff. As I looked through this issue, I was struck by this pat- Content in the Purpose does not necessarily reflect the policies or views of Principia. The tern: Principians forging creative paths into the future. Principia Purpose is published twice a year. That’s what entrepreneurs do. You’ll learn about the Marketing and Communications Director College’s offerings for budding entrepreneurs (p. 26) Laurel Shaper Walters (US’84) and find a profile of an alum entrepreneur in the fashion Associate Marketing Director business (p. 14). In addition, a number of Upper School Kathy Coyne (US’83, C’87) students recently showcased their business ideas Shark Editorial Director / Purpose Editor Tank-style (p. 5). Trudy Palmer (US’72) Creative Director / Purpose Designer Our cover story—about the path Vince Gerardis (US’77) took to Hollywood—is Ben Schaberg (C’13) the tale of an entrepreneur, too. Here is a man who loves stories and who reinvent- Contributing Writers Kari (Wells, C’98) Bradley ed the role of literary agent. Whether you were a Game of Thrones watcher or not, Clara Germani I think you’ll find his journey to success interesting and his takeaways from the Jordan Jenkins Jim Moser (C’04) Upper School instructive. Cathleen Ouderkirk Connie (Alford, US’89, C’95) Sablan Dr. Philip M. Smith (C’72) You’ll also get a peek at the College’s new McVay Center for the Performing Arts (p. 30). This radical transformation of Morey Field House took a traditional May- Staff Designer Wendy Rankin beck landmark and brought it back to life as a stunning performance venue. Staff Photographer Bishoppe Kamusinga (US’11, C’16) Any path to the future needs to be inclusive. Three alums offer advice about how Contributing Photographers to talk—and listen—across political divides (p. 34). And we share insights into the Lessly Amwikato (US’18, C’22) way Principia School builds community among students (p. 38). We also com- Gracie Buchanan (US’14, C’18) Stephanie Case (US’99, C’03) memorate the five-year anniversary of Principia becoming more inclusive by open- Maya Dietz ing its doors to the LGBTQ+ community (p. 25). Carly Hendrickson (C’10) Address Changes Finally, be sure to check out the strategic planning article (p. 41) to get an update Email: [email protected] Phone: 800.277.4648, ext. 2868 on how we’re forging Principia’s own path to the future. We hope that, one way or another, our future includes you! Reprints Requests for permission to reprint any portion of the Principia Purpose should be sent to [email protected]. Marshall Ingwerson (C’79) Chief Executive Principia Board of Trustees Bruce Bond (HON’19) Charles W. Lindahl, EdD (HON’13) Patricia Sarkisian (C’80) Somers, New York Fullerton, California Valparaiso, Indiana Chestnut Booth (C’74) Robert J. Macdonald (C’79) Mindy Savides (C’00) Godfrey, Illinois Menlo Park, California Moraga, California Steve DeWindt (US’73, C’77) Allan W. Marquardt (C’82) Scott L. Schneberger, PhD (C’70) Laguna Niguel, California St. Louis, Missouri Austin, Texas John D. Friborg (HON’13) Dennis G. Marunde (C’82) Steve Shaper (US’54) Acton, Massachusetts McHenry, Illinois Houston, Texas Janna L. Hernholm (C’68) Meridee K. Olsen (C’79) San Diego, California Wilton, Connecticut © 2020 The Principia PURPOSE Winter 20192020 | 1 Contents 18 30 32 Features 18 Creating Opportunity: A Conversation with Vince Gerardis (US’77), Executive Producer of Game of Thrones 25 Commemorating a Five-Year Anniversary Departments 26 Rethinking Business Education 01 From the Chief Executive for Entrepreneurs 03 Letters 30 McVay Center for the Performing Arts 04 School News Opens in Grand Style 05 College News 08 Awards and Achievements 32 Student-Directed Learning in Early Childhood 10 My Principia Story 12 Focus on Faculty 34 Hearing Past Hate 14 Focus on Young Alumni 16 Christian Science in Action 38 Leadership and Community at Principia School: The Megazord Effect 44 Alumni News 46 Upper School Reunion 2019 41 Looking Ahead to Principia’s Next 48 Lovingly Remembered Strategic Plan 2 | PURPOSE Winter 2020 Letters and Survey Results From the Editor information shared, appreciating the “inspiring view of the work and experi- Many thanks to the nearly 500 readers ences of individual Principians.” who took the Purpose survey. Your feed- back gave us plenty to think about! As a genre, alumni magazines are, by nature, promotional, leaning more The most frequently received comment toward sharing successes than struggles. Enjoyed the story on the Bible concerned the lack of alumni news. To It’s true, however, that Principia stands curriculum you have. Fun to see its our surprise, many readers assume we at an important juncture—regarding rapid growth since 2012. Another great are publishing only a portion of the enrollment in particular. We have heard reason to attend Upper School. news we receive. On the contrary, we the call from readers to share more publish every bit of alumni news we openly about Principia’s plan for the David W. Holmes (US’69) get—we just don’t get much. Social future. It’s too soon to know exactly media can’t make up for keeping your what our path forward will look like, I am not an alum but a good friend of classmates updated through the Purpose. since development of our next strategic Principia and of a number of alumni Please share your news and photos plan is still underway. But the article on and current students. I receive the often at [email protected]! page 41 aims to inform readers about Purpose and read it avidly, but this the conversation taking place. latest issue had a special item I want to As with any survey, the responses thank you for. often contradicted one another. For Just over 67 percent of readers said example, some said there were “not they read most or all of the Purpose. The article by Dory Smith was great! enough Christian Science-related Others felt there were “too many items I have a granddaughter at Brandeis articles,” while others complained of crammed into the magazine.” Many University in Boston who has played “overly religious writing.” There was praised the design, while some wished soccer since she could kick a ball. considerable disagreement about the for simpler, easier-to-read layouts. She played varsity at Brandeis as a magazine’s tone as well. Many described freshman, and this year will be her it as “sugar-coated,” even as sounding We took particular note of how many last year. I scanned and sent her the like “Chamber of Commerce booster- asked for mini-courses from the faculty article (she is not a Christian Scientist), ism.” By contrast, others appreciated or at least for their course reading lists. and she texted back that she loved it the magazine’s “uplifting” tone and “the Clearly, there’s a desire for the Purpose and sent it to her coach. The coach brightness it reflects.” to provide continuing education. We loved it and told her that she (my are taking this suggestion to heart. granddaughter) would be in charge of Often, those who found the tone conveying its message to the team. overly positive also expressed a desire Most gratifying, perhaps, was the news to hear more about the institution’s that many of you share Purpose articles I also sent it to my daughter-in-law struggles, especially concerning enroll- and even entire issues. We’re grateful (my granddaughter’s mother) who ment. One respondent asked, “Where you’re finding material worth passing has her own business as a sports will students and faculty come from along. We will continue working to psychologist, thinking that she would with shrinking Sunday Schools, etc.? improve the Purpose—and we hope incorporate some of the ideas into her Why should I support Prin when they you’ll continue to share feedback about counseling. NEVER address the elephant in the it. Don’t wait for the next survey. Your room?” Others seemed satisfied with the feedback is welcome anytime.