{Salem Academy} MAGAZINE 2009 SALEM ACADEMY Magazine Susan E. Pauly SALEM ACADEMY President Karl J. Sjolund Head of School Vicki Williams Sheppard C’82 ALUMNAE: Vice President of Institutional Advancement Alumnae Office ONLINE Megan Ratley C’06, Director of Academy Alumnae Relations COMMUNITY Published by the Office of Communications and Public Relations In the coming months we will be implementing Jacqueline McBride, Director Ellen Schuette, Associate Director an online community for all Academy Contributing Writers: Karl Sjolund, Lucia Uldrick, Wynne Overton, alumnae to use through the school website: Megan Ratley, Lorie Howard, . Rose Simon, Ellen Schuette and www.salemacademy.com Mary Lorick Thompson After logging in with a unique username and Designer: Carrie Leigh Dickey C’00 Photography: Alan Calhoun, Allen password, alumnae will be able to submit and Aycock. Class reunion photos by read class notes, submit bio updates, register Snyder Photography. for reunion weekend and other events, as The Salem Academy Magazine is pub- well as many other exciting things. lished by Salem Academy, 500 East Salem Avenue, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101. Please check back often and contact the Alumnae This publication is mailed to alumnae, Office with any questions or comments! faculty, staff, parents and friends of Salem. Salem Academy welcomes qualified Megan Ratley C’06 students regardless of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, religion or dis- Salem Academy ability to all the rights, privileges, pro- Director of Alumnae Relations grams and activities of this institution. 336/721-2664 For additional information about any programs or events mentioned in this publications, please write, call, email or visit: Alumnae Office Salem Academy SAVE THE DATE: 500 East Salem Avenue Winston-Salem, NC 27101 336/721-2664 REUNION Email: [email protected] Website: www.salemacademy.com WEEKEND On the cover: The Salem Academy graduating class of 2009. APRIL 23-25, 2010 Commencement 2009 ............................4 Girls School Graduates ............................7 Tag Room Tidings ...................................8 DADs Meet at the Academy ..................15 New Website .........................................16 Celebrate International Day ..................16 Suscessful Theatrical Productions...........17 An Update on Admissions .....................18 Sisters Merit Scholarship Program .........19 Margaret Driscoll Townsend A’81 ..........20 Alumnae Board Lunch ..........................21 Annual Fund News ...............................21 Alumnae News ......................................22 Emily Cathey A’95 ................................24 Capital Campaign .................................25 Burkette Receives Comenius Award .......25 Jaqui Moore Sherrill A’98 ......................26 Salem Trivia Challenge ..........................27 Amber Gruner A’08 ...............................28 Reunion Photos .....................................30 Legacy Photos .......................................36 {Salem Academy} MAGAZINE 2009 As I write this letter, we are the public restrooms in the Bahnson and Carolina Shaffner celebrating the arrival of our new wings. and returning students to Salem Even as we celebrate goals achieved, we are already A Messa�eAcademy. It’s an exhilarating �rom time hard at workthe on year-two President of the strategic plan. Just a few of year here at Salem – full of objectives during 2009-2010 that we are addressing include beloved traditions, new academic designing a Jan Term trip option that is service-oriented and challenges and blossoming friend- more affordable; instituting a seated-lunch program for at ships – and we look forward to it least one day each week in addition to the existing weekly all summer. It’s particularly gratify- advisor luncheon; establishing an herb garden to provide ing that we’ve seen a 9.4 percent fresh seasonings for meals served to students, faculty, staff increase in the number of boarding and guests; and completing the initial design phase for reno- students over last year, an exciting change that enhances vating the Shaffner and Bahnson residence halls. the educational experience of everyone on campus. Also All of these goals have been designed with our core exciting is that this past spring, we not only finished our values in mind. One of those values is “community.” Every combined campaign by raising $76 million (surpassing the day, in a hundred different ways, it manifests itself at the goal of $75 million) but also surpassed the annual-fund goal Academy. It can be heard in the dining room as students en- for the Academy. Thank you for your incredible support of joy Miss Shirley’s chocolatey good Hello Dollies with other this institution, and please see the insert elsewhere in this students and staff, or meet with their faculty advisors to talk magazine for more details. about how classes are going. It is visible on the playing fields I’m delighted to report that we accomplished many as girls pass the ball to each other in seamless synchroniza- other important goals during 2008-2009, the first year of tion. It is in the excited voices of new students as they find our five-year strategic plan for the Academy. We focused on out whether they are “Purple” or “Gold,” and it fills the four different areas – fostering academic distinction; estab- classroom when a student conveys her passion for a particu- lishing a presence as a center for women’s wellness; enhanc- lar subject through a thoughtful presentation to her peers. ing the boarding experience; and enhancing facilities – and The sense of sisterhood is not confined to the Academy I invite you to read more about these successes elsewhere in campus, however. It is present in the wider world, too, as our this magazine. Here is a brief recap: students complete Jan Term internships, take courses around To foster academic distinction, we held a very suc- the world and succeed at colleges and universities where cessful international day on March 18 with student pre- they become leaders and scholars. And, as always, sister- sentations, workshops on intercultural communications hood shines through our incredible alumnae, who support and guest speakers; dedicated a portion of our new website the Academy in so many ways and are role models for our to global initiatives; and hosted a delegation of Chinese students. • Magazine 2009 • Magazine 2 high-school administrators to explore a future Jan Term At Salem Academy, community has never meant unifor- exchange. To enrich the boarding experience, we expanded mity. Since our founding in 1772, each girl has brought her the weekly e-newsletter to parents; designed a section on unique gifts to our community. But the bonds of sisterhood the website just for parents; and modified the daily class connect everyone across differences and provide support as schedule to include weekly advisor/advisee time. To establish each young woman takes her own intellectual life journey, a presence as a center for women’s wellness, we conducted secure in the knowledge that her individuality will be cel- two Academy assemblies this year on wellness issues; began ebrated and her place in the community honored. regular group counseling and support groups to deal with life issues for our students; and created a DADs group (Dis- cussion Around Daughters) to help fathers better under- stand the life of the 21st century teenaged girl. And finally, we began a period of enhancing facilities by renovating two Dr. Susan E. Pauly faculty/staff apartments in Emma Bahnson dormitory and MESSAGE FROM THE Head of School, Karl Sjolund There was a time when I This is a warm and caring community, but there are no paths enjoyed retrieving my newspaper of least resistance on which to travel around here. It is a very from the front porch every morn- different world than the one most teenagers experience. ing. I’m afraid it hasn’t been much Rather than seeing their high school days through the so- fun lately. For over a year now, cial lens – boyfriends, cliques, cafeteria drama – our students about the only good financial news see their experience much more through the academic lens, as I’ve been receiving has come from in who’s the toughest teacher, what girl is a math wiz, I have the coupon section where I can another rewrite to do tonight, etc. We expect more from our save 50 cents on a jar of pasta sauce girls, and they deliver. at the local grocer. Of course, they As a result, I’m convinced they are far better prepared jacked up the price of the whole- for college and beyond than the vast majority of high school wheat fettuccini, so it’s basically a wash at this point. On the graduates out there. It’s not that they won’t be challenged; it’s bright side, at least I’m not losing any ground when it comes just that they’ve also been taught to face and embrace chal- to dinner. lenge rather than shy away from it. It is for all these reasons When it comes to the world of investments, however, it’s that every graduation day, rather than looking ahead to the difficult to find much in the way of good news these days. future for their first great accomplishment, our students will Between banks, insurance companies, auto companies and be able to look back and see the really big one they’ve just put the overall stock market, it seems that whatever appeared to in their pocket. • Salem Academy • Salem Every high school hands out diplomas, but not all high schools are created equal. – Sjolund be a good investment a year or so ago has gone into the tank. Aristotle said, “Education is the best provision for old And yet, regardless of how other investments are doing, I can age.” Indeed, the three things that we talk to our students assure you that there’s one that will continue to increase in about on a regular basis – the three things they truly “own” value: an Academy education. – are their faith, their honor and their education. When the Every high school hands out diplomas, but not all high values of all the other assets are heading south, the invest- schools are created equal.