Student Leadership Trips 2018
The following leadership experiences are fully funded trips that provide the opportunity for self-discovery in a challenging environment.
JOE “SARGE” KEY AWARD
Twelve rising seniors have been selected for the Joe Key Award, a trip that recognizes selfless character and involves seven days of sea-kayaking, hiking, and camping on the islands in Acadia National park this July. The trip honors the late Joe Key, who worked at Baylor from 1961 to 1988 as a military instructor and study hall supervisor and was affectionately known as “Sarge.” The trip honors students of admirable character whose selfless efforts might otherwise go unrecognized by the school or their peers. Pictured are (front row, left to right) Nick Perlaky, Izzy Boyd, Elizabeth Hayslett, Jonyca Jiao, Nicholas Daniels, and Maddie Reap; (back row) Zach Taylor, Eric Shibata, Dillan Desai, Alex Robinson, Katherine Jefferson, and Mani Ross.
JAMAICA SERVANT LEADERSHIP TRIP
Nine Baylor students traveled to Jamaica for the 21st annual Jamaica Servant Leadership Trip. The group included (front row, left to right) seniors Aaliyah Henderson, Chloe Smith, Chaylan Ballard, Baylor Pillow, Stella McShan, Chris Chen, Julia Steck, Gracie Brogdon and junior Loni Lustig. The trip was led by (back row) community service director Joli Anderson; her husband, Yogi Anderson; and assistant community service director Elin Bunch ’09. In addition to their service work, the students delivered duffel bags stuffed with school supplies and raised thousands of dollars for the Jamaica Education Fund, established in 2002 to help children in Kingston attend school.
DAVID M. ABSHIRE CIVIC LEADERSHIP
Ten rising seniors were selected to travel to Washington, D.C., this summer on the David M. Abshire Civic Leadership trip for an intensive eight-day experiential course of study on national leadership, ethics, honor, and service. The program was created in partnership with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and the late Dr. David Abshire ’44, who served as president and CEO. Their itinerary included visiting U.S. Senators Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, touring the U.S. Supreme Court, participating in a media ethics class at the Newseum, and more. Pictured are (front row, left to right) Lily Zabel, Colette McMahon, Genna Ringler, Olivia Bettis, Izzy Boyd, and Elodie Nix; (back row) Mike Rouse, Kristopher Kennedy, Alec Coussoule, and Brinley Garrison.
Eleven Students to Participate in International Exchange Program
Eleven Baylor sophomores were selected to participate in exchange trips with schools in New Zealand, Australia, France, South Africa, Spain, and England. During their junior year, they will host students from the same schools. Pictured are (front row, left to right) Defne Bozbey, Otto-Han-Gymnasium in Dinslaken, Germany; Maggie Clark, Saint-Denis International School in Loches, France; Maddy Toledano, Colegio Sagrado Covazon in Pamplona, Spain; and Jade Liu, Saint-Denis International School in Loches, France; (back row) Ridley Browder, Kingham Hill School in Oxfordshire, England; Lea Hunter, Collegio San Fernando in Alviles, Spain; Maggie Kerley, St. Hilda’s on Australia’s Gold Coast; Sean Dougherty, Otto-Han-Gymnasium in Dinslaken, Germany; and Saad Mohammad, Bishops College in Cape Town, South Africa. Not pictured are Sophie Workinger, Colegio Sagrado Covazon in Pamplona, Spain; and Katy Waddell, Waikato Diocesan School for Girls in Hamilton, New Zealand.
Students Travel to India Over Spring Break
Ten Baylor students participated in the annual Walkabout spring break trip to India. The trip included trekking, rafting, staying at the Ralang Buddhist monastery, visiting girls at the Sikkim Happiness Home, and all the other adventures that come with the exploration of another culture. Pictured at the Legship Monastery in East Sikkim are (left to right) raft guides Debbie Sue Przybysz and Ryan Charbonneaum; trip leader Aaron Thomas ’15; seniors Josh Green, Lauren Moynihan, Isabelle Drayer, Avery Smith, and Bryson Schlenz; juniors Kit Turner, Joe Reilly, and Colette McMahon; and seniors Sam Govan and Grace McKenney.
Baylor Players Present Bye Bye Birdie
The Baylor Players’ spring production of Bye Bye Birdie included over 81 students as cast, crew, and orchestra members. Along with director Beth Gumnick, the production involved faculty members Tom Schow, musical director; Cathy Pettway and Karen Smith, choreographers; Garret Walsh, set and lighting designer; and Emily Walsh, costumes. Pictured above is the chorus with Riley Grove ’19 as Conrad Birdie.
Third Annual Science and Engineering Symposium Showcases Student Work
Nearly 200 people turned out for the third annual Science and Engineering symposium in May. Presented by the science department’s advanced research program, the event featured 35 student abstracts and demonstrated their collegiate-level work. Following a round of judging, the top winners of the evening were Eleanor Lee (left), best abstract; Connie Hui, best poster; Rose Dallimore (right), best presentation; and David Chen and Tarver Rolleston, best overall. According to science department faculty, training students to think like scientists is the mission of Baylor Research. “Science isn’t only about content or a body of facts but rather a process used to generate and confirm new knowledge,” says Dr. Dawn Richards, Baylor science department chair. This principle of experiential learning guides the Baylor Research program and is evident in laboratory spaces, particularly the molecular biology research lab and engineering research lab. “This event showcased student work and highlighted our approach to learning,” said Richards.
See a brief video promoting the event below
Vervé Presents Annual Concert
Baylor’s Vervé dance troupe featured two original works at its annual Vervé concert in Roddy Theater this winter. “Beauty of the Bodies,” a piece addressing positive body image, was choreographed and performed by junior Cecilia Rodriguez, along with senior Celeste Powers; sophomores Sorya Meyer, Maxime Werk, and Sophie Workinger; and freshman Emma Sofia Griffin. The jazz piece “Bing, Bang, Beat” was choreographed by Baylor dance director Cathy Pettway. The performance also featured new theater lighting provided by the Baylor Backers.
National Language Exam Winners
Ten Baylor students (seven pictured above) earned National Latin Exam awards. Silver Maxima Cum Laude winners were freshman Chase Post, Level I; junior Sophie Wisenbaker, Level IV; and junior Jeremy Brien, Level V. Magna Cum Laude winners were sophomore Ridley Browder, Level III; sophomore Justin Cao, Level III; freshman Jason Motley, Level III; senior Hayley Harwood, Level V; and junior Ryker von Klar, Level V. Cum Laude award winners were sophomore Alex Xuan, Level III; and junior Kate Padilla, Level V.
Baylor students also excelled in the National Spanish Exam. At Level 1, sophomore Sorya Meyer and freshmen Peyson Pearce and Erica Wu won Gold, sophomore Mary Grace Bourn and freshmen Gracie Lupas, Matthew An, Daniel Snyder, Margaret Webb, and Barry Yang won Silver, and freshmen Amos Du and Alexa McCarren won Bronze. At Level 3, junior Paulo Sa, sophomore Ellie Raughton, and freshman Rhiannon von Klar won Silver and senior Abby Smith, junior Jacky Li, and freshmen Elisabeth Lau and Paige Ryan won Bronze awards. At Level 4, sophomore Leah Kessler won Silver and junior Kit Turner and sophomores Natalie Lopez-Durel and Anika Iqbal won Bronze awards.
All Girls Backpack Celebrates 20 Years
The All Girls Back Pack celebrated 20 years in March with an overnight spring trip to Lula Lake. Former English instructor Sarah Patten Adcock ’93 started the trip in the fall of 1998, and groups of girls have been heading outdoors ever since for an overnight trip each fall and spring. The trip is led by faculty member Heather Biebel. Pictured (from left to right) are Lily Scott, Sierra Ross, Caroline Barker, Maxime Werk, Maggie Clark, Kate Padilla, Laney Baker, Maddy Toledano, Lea Hunter, Lucia Jackson, and Miriam Crouse.
Concert Choir and Middle School Choir News
The Baylor Concert Choir received all “superiors” on performance and sight reading at the J. B. Lyle Choral Festival in March, and also attended the State Choir Festival in April. The choir made its annual spring tour to Samford University, Huntingdon College, and the University of South Alabama. They also performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the sold-out season opener for the Chattanooga Lookouts baseball team in April. The Baylor Middle School choir earned “superior” rankings for performance and sight reading at the Middle School Choral Festival in April.
Eric Wu Receives Scholastic Art National Medal
Baylor senior Eric Wu has been awarded a silver medal Scholastic Art & Writing Award presented by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. Wu, a four-year boarding student from Jiaxing, China, has been accepted at the Rhode Island School of Design. The Art Portfolio category is for high school seniors only and requires a submission of eight pieces of art (shown above). Also awarded was Baylor sophomore Gracen Ford, who earned a Gold Key for her Poetry category entry, Turquoise, and a Silver Key for Wonder Woman in the Personal Essay and Memoir category. Her Gold Key work automatically advanced to national judging where it was reviewed by nationally renowned creative professionals from across the country. To view a gallery of Eric's work, click here.
Connie Hui ’18 Presents at Urban Development Conference
This spring senior Connie Hui traveled to her hometown of Zhengzhou, China, to attend an urban development conference where she presented her design for a public space that uses industrial materials to create a forest. “The upper branches would be replaced by solar panels that are arranged to provide shade, solar power, and additional features such as fans, mist machines, and charging stations for devices. The residual power could be stored in the grid and redistributed,” said Hui, who is attending Cornell in the fall as an environmental architecture major. To view a gallery of Connie's work, click here.
Rye Wins Best in Show at Chattanooga Youth Gallery Exhibit
Junior Zoe Rye won Best in Show at the Chattanooga Youth Gallery Exhibit art show in March. Senior Sara Beth Zeiser won third place, and honorable mentions went to seniors Hayden Hunneke, Claire Manning, and Gabrielle Poteet. Baylor seniors Connie Hui, Anthony Kranis, Eric Wu, Lilly Mooney, Sam Reynolds, Emma Campbell, and junior Catherine Cansler all entered works to be juried in the show.
Winter Players Perform for Area Children
Baylor’s traveling acting troupe, the Winter Players, performed two short plays for children at the Westside and Carver Youth and Family Development Centers this winter. The group presented an adaptation of Mark Twain’s classic, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, and an original musical, The Clearing, written and composed by Baylor junior Jonyca Jiao.
Drama Students Travel to NYC for Broadway Shows and Workshops
A group of 25 drama students headed to the Big Apple over winter break to enjoy sights of the city, Broadway shows, and workshops led by some of Broadway's top artists through the Broadway Teaching Group. A workshop highlight was an impromptu performance of “You’ll Be Back” by Euan Morton, who plays King George in the hit Broadway show Hamilton. The trip was organized and led by fine arts instructors Beth Gumnick, Allison Lamb, Cathy Pettway, and Garrett Walsh; and English instructor Chris Watkins. Pictured above are Rosa Anderson-Barerra ’21, Creighton Arrington ’21, Mary Alex Bachus ’21, Grace Bostock ’20, Andrew Butt ’18, Luis Campos ’21, Allison Cook ’18, Will Cromie ’21, Matthew Davis ’18, Emma Sofia Griffin ’21, Anika Iqbal ’20, Katherine Jefferson ’19, Kristopher Kennedy ’19, Leah Kessler ’20, Elisabeth Lau ’21, Sam Lustig ’20, Max Montague ’20, Peyton Anne Randolph ’19, Nick Skonberg ’21, Avery Smith ’18, Molly Stanfield ’21, Julia Steck ’18, Rhiannon von Klar ’21, Sophie Wisenbaker ’19, and Lily Zabel ’19.
More Student Kudos
Junior Jeremy Brien was selected to participate in the local screening exam for the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad and placed high enough for the national exam on April 21. The national exam involves three parts including a lab component.
Seniors Andrew Butt, Rose Dallimore, Matthew Davis, Sydney Anne Sutherland, and junior Monica Cheng represented Baylor at the National High School Model UN (NHSMUN) Conference in San Francisco in February.
Allison Cook claimed the first place prize among senior English students in this year’s Shakespeare recitation contest. Jack Tucker placed second, and Dane Hamilton came in third. Winners for the junior Poetry Out Loud contest were Jenna Azzouz, first place; Darya Bajestani, second; and Elizabeth Hayslett, third. In the sophomore TED TALK contest, Carson Brinn took first place, Zoe Ubamadu, second, and Kenny Zheng, third. The winners of the freshman “This I Believe” speech contest were Erica Wu, first place; Emma Sophia Griffin, second; and Zoe Xu, third.
Junior Sophie Wisenbaker was selected for a 2018 Achievement Award in Writing, given by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
Eighth graders Jack Dart, Lake Wheeler, and Alex Mefford have founded NoogaLax Co. (www.noogalax.com) providing customized stringing and dyeing for lacrosse sticks. According to the company website, they want to grow the game of lacrosse by providing customers with top of the line stringing and dyeing.
