SPRING/SUMMER 2014 Lessons in Leadership 2014 Outstanding Alumna Suzanne Hollis Apple ’76 and alumnae reflect on learning and leading Remembering Mary Davis Inside: Special Graduation Section - Celebrating The Class of 2014 I love data, and I spend a lot of time keeping up with the latest research in education. I have noticed a recent batch of articles that has tried to conclude that there is little to no advantage to single gender education. I think the flaw in these studies is that many virtues of girls schools can’t be measured. Nowhere is that more true than when you are talking about leadership. Any objective observer in Memphis who knows St. Mary’s will tell you they recognize and admire the leadership qualities they see in St. Mary’s alumnae. The lives and stories represented by our annual Outstanding Alumna winners, including this year’s honoree, Suzanne Hollis Apple ’76, demonstrate the significance and the subtlety of leadership. You would expect to hear from a school that is “old and improved” that leadership remains an impor- tant educational goal but that the means of arriving there is changing. As Head, I see that in two ways. First, we are encouraging a growth mindset that sees risk and failure as part of learning. More and more, we hear students talk about how they grow because they are not afraid of making a mistake. In just one example, our school-wide STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) curriculum teaches the girls, even in 1st grade, that the process of making things means finding what works after discovering what doesn’t. Second, an atmosphere that celebrates creativity naturally fosters leadership. Creativity is the realm of the possible, of saying “yes” instead of “I can’t.” The voice that students find in art, music, drama, and writing is a voice that becomes stronger, more willing to risk an opinion, and more willing to lead others. I have also seen this atmosphere flourish among the adults on campus. Giving teachers and staff the freedom to use their talents without anxiety has led to innovations that are keeping St. Mary’s on the forefront of what is good for girls. This intersection of a growth mindset and creativity produces a liberating environment for leadership development. I hope you will enjoy reading about our student leaders and our leading alumnae. In this issue, we also remember the legacy of Mary Davis’s leadership and introduce you to a new and refreshing leader on campus, the Rev. Sandy Webb [the second most popular man on campus!]. As you read, I hope you will reflect on your own experience and lessons in leadership and consider sharing them. We love your stories—they are the light and life we celebrate. Head of School (L-R) Chair of the Board of Trustees Santiago Arbelaez, 2014 Outstanding Alumna Suzanne Hollis Apple ’76, and Head of School Albert Throckmorton. Spring/Summer 2014 The magazine of St. Mary’s Episcopal School is published twice a year as a service to all alumnae, students, In This Issue parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the school. Head of School Lessons in Leadership Albert L. Throckmorton 2 Leadership lessons learned at St. Mary’s and beyond. Director of Admission & Financial Aid Nicole Hernandez 6 Leader of the Flock Director of Advancement Leanne Kleinmann Rev. Sandy Webb joins CHC Assistant Director of Advancement Alumnae & Special Events 7 A Blessing to Generations Gigi Gould ’70 Mary McClintock Davis, 1911 – 2014 Director of Communication / Editor Sally Walker Davies 8 Campus News Photography Lisa Buser 14 Spring Athletics Round-up Graduation day photos by Mike Brown Contributors Kathryn Carpenter Swords ’83 Lee Davidson Holt ’95 Alumnae Leanne Kleinmann Zina Kumok ’07 Owen McGuire Outstanding Alumna 2014 Sally Walker Davies 16 Suzanne Hollis Apple ’76 Letters to the Editor: Please address all correspondence to: 18 Alumnae Weekend Sally Walker Davies St. Mary’s Episcopal School 60 Perkins Extended 22 A Lifetime of Memories Memphis, TN 38117 Jan Cone Davis ’68 retires after 23 years. [email protected] 901.537.1489 Unless otherwise noted, all photos, with the exception of 23 Ensuring a Bright Future select photos in Class Notes, are by Lisa Buser. Catherine Dailey Berger ’71 On the Cover: Class Notes 2014 Outstanding Alumna Suzanne Hollis Apple ’76. 24 Milestones ————————— 55 Parents of Alumnae: If your daughter no longer maintains an address at your home, please notify Alumnae Coordinator Gigi Gould at 901.537.1424 or [email protected]. /St.MarysEpiscopalSchool The mission of St. Mary’s Episcopal School is to provide a superior educational experience for girls which will encourage and @StMarysMemphis enable each student to reach her individual potential. St. Mary’s Episcopal School does not discriminate on the basis of /StMarysTV race, religion, or national origin in the administration of its admission, financial aid, educational, athletic, extracurricular, or other policies. @stmarysepiscopalschool SPRING/SUMMER 2014 | 1 Lessons In LeadershipBy Leanne Kleinmann tepping up. Speaking out. Working hard. Taking risks. Messing up. SAsking for help. Trying again. All of those things have something in common: they’re what leaders do. They are also what St. Mary’s students, alumnae, faculty, and staff challenge themselves to do every day. In this issue of the St. Mary’s magazine, we take a look at the leadership lessons learned at school and beyond. You’ll meet alumnae, students, faculty, and staff who have forged their own definitions of leadership and are literally changing the world. There is not one kind of leader at St. Mary’s, just as our students don’t have a singular way of looking at the world. The school mission statement tells why: St. Mary’s encourages and enables individual potential. We don’t march in lock- step, and we sometimes disagree. As a school full of unique leaders, we wouldn’t have it any other way. Sims Munn ’10: sorority member had been denied consideration for A Passion for Justice rush because she was black, Munn moved out of her sorority and eventually resigned “ It was the hardest time of her membership. She pressed my life.” first sorority officials and then Sims Munn ’10 is talking the president of the university about a life-changing few to change the policy. The presi- months during the fall of 2013, dent took action, the policy was her senior year at the University reversed, and the Greek system at of Alabama, when she decided Alabama pledged its first African- she no longer could stay silent Americans. The story broke first in about the exclusion of African- the campus paper but was picked Americans from up later by CNN and The New York her sorority. Times, among others. What she did next eventu- Throughout this process, the ally made national news: pressure was intense. “Every single after learning that a potential day I had to come to some sort of Sims Munn ’10 2 | ST. MARY’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL decision or have a hard conversation. I was constantly “It was cool to see that how while I was doing trying to think critically and ethically.” something risky and costly, God provided for me.” Her rock-solid faith was both her motivator and Does she ever regret what she did? “No. There’s her source of strength, she says. As she wrote in a blog never been a moment I regret it. Some of my friend- post for The Gospel Coalition, “…as a Christian attend- ships were damaged, and I have had to have hard con- ing college in the middle of the Bible Belt, where racism versations with people. I’m not a very confrontational is often viewed as a bad habit rather than grievous sin, person, so pushing a conversation and disagreeing I had to ask God for wisdom about what it meant for with a friend was hard for me. But lots of my friends Jesus to be Lord of my life in this area.” supported me.” She leaned on several mentors, including Rev. Munn has begun a yearlong fellowship at Second Sandy Willson, Senior Minister of Second Presbyterian Presbyterian and hopes to work in urban ministry. Church in Memphis, for both practical and spiritual How will what happened at Alabama inform her life support. “I was incredibly intimidated,” she said. “It to come? was tempting to feel like I was “It will always be a big part of being dramatic or radical. But my life. But I am not a hero. This he said no, go right to the top was never about me. It was about with this.” a girl who was wronged.” She also relied on what she’d learned in her years at Ariel Mason ’08: St. Mary’s, including the ability Finding Her Voice to think for herself. “We were encouraged to ask questions. I When Ariel Mason ’08 came to had been exposed to different St. Mary’s from Snowden Middle ways of thinking. School in the 9th grade, she had a “Because St. Mary’s is lot of adjustments to make. diverse in its own way, it “I was used to being first in informed how I thought of the my class, and at St. Mary’s I was whole issue (of race). I knew challenged academically,” she said. Ariel Mason ’08 my peers at St. Mary’s would be “It was a whole new learning shocked” by the situation at her process. But I learned not to be afraid not to get some- sorority at Alabama. thing right the first time.” Now that she has graduated and has a little Taking risks took on a more practical form when distance on her tumultuous year, she says, “I feel like Mason tried out for the mock trial team that year as I’ve grown in my leadership ability.