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Fall 2015Volume 20, Issue 2St. Mark’s School of TexasAlumni Magazine

DiscoveringNew Horizons:St. Mark’s connection to the year’s most historic discoveries

Sunday, January 3Alumni Games(Soccer and Basketball)

Thursday, January 21Alumni Leadership Speaker Series presents an Evening with Beck Weathers

See the full calendar of events at www.smtexas.org/AlumniEvents

Wednesday, February 3Alumni Leadership Speaker Series presents a breakfast with Dr. David Eagleman

Thursday–Saturday, April 14–16Alumni WeekendReunions for classes ending in 1 and 6

“I wonder what would happen if I put a

hard-boiled egg in the microwave.”

“I wonder what would happen if I injected

new DNA into a cancerous cell.”

“I wonder what the world will look like

when I have grown up?”

One of the best things about working at a school

is the constant exposure to the childhood wonder

that we so often lose sight of as we grow older.

It’s the wonder in the eyes of science students in

the planetarium who travel across the universe

without ever leaving their seats. It’s the wonder as

the Lower Schoolers stare across the Great Hall at

the giants in the blue shirts who they will one day

become. And, it’s the wonder you can catch in the

gaze of students crossing the quad as they pass

the Path to Manhood statue—two larger-than-life

Marksmen eternally frozen in time: the littlest one

contemplating growing so big and tall, and the

older boy thinking about what life has in store

after St. Mark’s.

I saw this childhood wonder again this year in the

eyes of Alan Stern ’75 and life sciences teacher

John Mead as they brought groundbreaking

scientific discoveries back to St. Mark’s.

I saw this in my youngest child’s eyes as I told him

about the St. Mark’s alumnus who was exploring

Pluto. I could see him wondering to himself:

“Could that be me one day?” This is the inspiration

we strive to instill in all of our Marksmen—the

hope that one day they will be as complete as our

iconic statue suggests.

At St. Mark’s, this kind of wonder is all around

us and makes each day on campus, well,

simply wonderful.

Best Wishes,

Katy B. Rubarth

Director of Communications

St. Mark’s School of Texas2 On Campus | THE PRIDE

from the editorOn Campus

Fall 2015 | On Campus 3

On Campus

campus snapshot

The 2015 Senior Class plays an impromptu game of Frisbee on

the Perot Quadrangle. Read more about their focus on inclusion

on p. 40.

St. Mark’s School of Texas

Photo by Rob Crow ’17

A Collection of Student Art

(above left)Joon Park ’17

(above)Joshua Goforth ’26

(left)Nick Chaiken ’17


On Campus



On Campus

state of the arts

(above)John Landry ’16

(immediate right)Tucker Ribman ’18

(far right)Luke Anderson ’24


On Campus


(immediate left)Whit Payne ’17

(far left) Zak Houillion ’16

(below)Alden James ’16


On Campus

sports news

Water PoloIn May, the varsity water polo team traveled to

Austin for the 2015 State Championship. As the

champions of the North Texas Region, the Lions

took on Alamo Heights, Lamar, and Jersey Village

before advancing to the championship game where

they defeated The Woodlands High School 6–5,

winning back-to-back State Championships.

This was the team’s fifth State Championship.

Tim Simenc ’15 was awarded State MVP and First

Team All-State. Nathan Ondracek ’15 and Mason

Smith ’15 were also selected as First Team All-State,

while George Lin ’15 was named to the Honorable

Mention All-State Team. The team was coached by

Mihai Oprea, Peter Hudak, and Spencer Dornin.

TennisThe varsity tennis team entered the SPC

Tournament as the #2 seed from the North

Zone. In the quarterfinals, the Lions defeated

St. Stephen’s 4–1. Moving on to the semifinals,

the Lions took on Kinkaid in a close match,

but lost 3-2. Winning points for the Lions were

Harris Wilson ’18 and Davis Bailey ’18 at #2 and

#3 singles respectively. The team showed great

sportsmanship, earning praise from opposing

coaches. The next day, the Lions bounced back and

defeated St. John’s in the third place match by a 3–2

score. Will Garden ’16 filled in at #3 singles to earn

the decisive victory. The team was coached by

Scott Palmer ’01 and Jerry Lacey.

(above)The varsity water polo team celebrates their

victory in the pool with Coach Mihai Oprea

(right)Will Hardage ’16 gets ready to serve during

the Spring 2015 SPC Tournament

at St. Stephen’s


BaseballThe varsity baseball team qualified for the SPC

tournament as the #1 seed in the SPC North Zone.

In the opening round of play, the Lions defeated

St. Stephen’s behind the pitching of Jackson

Cole ’16. In a repeat of last year’s second round

match, St. Mark’s played Houston Christian.

Rallying behind pitcher William Caldwell ’16, the

Lions won in an emotional victory. In the final

contest, the Lions met the #1 South Zone seed,

Kinkaid. Despite a valiant effort, St. Mark’s lost

5–3. The Lions earned a second place showing in

SPC and ended their remarkable year with a 10–5

record. The varsity baseball team was coached by

Johnny Hunter, Sam Carpenter, and Jim Perry.

CrewThe varsity crew qualified two boats for the Central

District Championships in Oklahoma City.

The varsity quad of Luke Hudspeth ’15,

Matt Woodberry ’15, Taylor Rohrich ’16, and

Alden James ’16 won the bronze medal for their

effort in the district varsity race. The JV quad of

Ian Fitzgerald ’17, Cameron Bossalini ’17, Parker

McWatters ’17, and Aiden Blinn ’17 also finished

third in their competition. The team was coached

by Pitts Yandell, Walt Miga, and Lisa Boyd.

Track & FieldThe varsity track and field team finished third

at the SPC Conference Meet. The Lions earned

81 points, 21 of which came from an outstanding

performance from Nick Buckenham ’15. The

highlight of the meet for the team was the 4 x 800

relay, which set a new School record with a time of

8:00.24. Of the 21 athletes on the squad, 16 equaled

or bettered a personal record. In all, four athletes

earned seven All-SPC awards, one relay team broke a

School record, and two athletes made the St. Mark’s

Top 5 All-Time List. The team was coached by John

Turek, Kevin Dilworth, and Ryan Hershner.

(top left)Jack Dayton ’15, takes a swing during the final SPC contest against Houston Kinkaid

(top right)The varsity crew team

(left)Shourya Kumar ’15 during the track and field competition

On Campus



On Campus

10 On Campus | THE PRIDE

24231

125,000

6

18

$5,000 10

58Debate teams defeated by Aakash Pattabi ’15,

Ammar Plumber ’16, and Darwin Yang ’15

to win the 14th Annual International Public

Policy Forums

Marksmen who earned gold medals at

the National Latin Exams in levels I–IV

Students who participated in the annual

WordMasters Challenge, for which the

Class of 2023 placed first in the national

Blue Division

High school students nationwide,

including Henry Goldberg ’16,

accepted to the UNICEF High School

National Council

Members from the Classes of 2015 and

2016 inducted into the Cum Laude

Society, joining the ten current members

(right)

Army Research Education Outreach

Program grant awarded to Sahitya

Senapathy ’20 and his teammates for their

emergency response smartphone app

Members of the Class of 2015 committed

to playing collegiate sports

Members of the Class of 2015 named

Semifinalists or Commended Students by

the National Merit Scholarship Program

3120Upper School students who advanced

to the Biology Olympiad Semifinals

Number of Dallas-area students

who attended Tera Byte, a computer

programming summer camp founded

by Jake Galant ’16

student accolades by the numbersFacts and Figures from Across Campus

Visit the St. Mark’s Student Store for apparel, athletic gear, accessories, and more.

Open Monday–Friday 7:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.


On Campus

Dean BairdThroughout the course of the last 39 years, Dean

Baird served as a leading member of the St. Mark’s

faculty. A veteran of multiple disciplines, subjects,

and grade levels, he did it all. While well known

for his proficiency in computer science, having

contributed greatly to the School’s advancement

in this area, Baird’s impact is far wider than just

campus technology.

Over four decades, Baird touched the lives of

thousands of Marksmen as a teacher, advisor,

coach, and mentor. He was the fifth-grade class

sponsor for most of those four decades and his

contributions will be felt for years to come.

“Mr. Baird was one of my favorite teachers because

of the fun environment and care he provided for

every student. He really taught me how valuable it

is to be a computer geek,” said Will Mallick ’20.

His energy, creativity, and intelligence kept

St. Mark’s on the cutting edge of technology.

From computer classes for second graders to his

role as fifth-grade sponsor, students grew not

only in their knowledge of technology, but in

their understanding of leadership, thanks to his

mentorship and guidance.

retiring faculty

St. Mark’s is blessed with some of the most loyal and

devoted teachers in the nation. This year, we honored three

teachers who together dedicated nearly a century of service

to the School community. They influenced generations of

Marksmen in virtually every aspect of campus life, from the

playing fields and theaters to the classrooms and computer

labs. Dean Baird, Rod Blaydes, and Bob Rozelle ’66 can truly

be considered St. Mark’s legends.

—David W. Dini, Eugene McDermott Headmaster


On Campus

Rod BlaydesDrama instructor Rod Blaydes began his career at

St. Mark’s over 35 years ago, and since then, has

had a profound impact on the lives of Marksmen.

Every year he directed several plays and musicals,

which always drew large crowds. Upon his arrival,

he began developing the dramatic arts and theater

program, teaching young thespians from both

Hockaday and St. Mark’s. Through his leadership

in countless performances of famous productions,

from The Sound of Music to The Tempest, he’s

inspired many Marksmen to move out of their

comfort zones and even pursue careers in the

creative arts.

As former student Kyle Weinstein ’15 said, “He

developed my character and helped me become a

more humble and compassionate person. Through

his encouragement, he instilled a solid work ethic

and a desire to always perform at my best.”

Over three decades leading the drama department,

Blaydes built a culture of excellence in the arts that

students have come to venerate.

Bob Rozelle ’66 After more than two decades teaching at his alma

mater, Bob Rozelle ’66 has decided to “hang up the

chalk.” A dedicated Marksman, Rozelle contributed

greatly to the Middle School Humanities program

and made a difference in the lives of his students.

Serving as a coach, advisor, mentor, and guide, he

set a positive course forward for Marksmen and

inspired them to develop into men of substance

and character. Having walked the halls of 10600

Preston Road as a student, Rozelle was able to

connect with his students and players when he

returned as a faculty member.

“From his urgent cries of ‘introductory dependent

clause’ to hanging out with his students in the

break between periods, Mr. Rozelle put fun in

education. He was a living example of how to

have fun and get work done simultaneously,

transforming the way I look at school and work,”

Andrew Lin ’17 said.

Whether leading the football team to an

undefeated season or simply talking about the

proper grammar of a sentence, his enthusiasm for

both St. Mark’s and learning touched the lives of

countless students. He has left a mark that will last

for years to come.

(left to right)Dean Baird preparing for Baccalaureate

Rod Blaydes surrounded by playbills from the productions he directed with St. Mark’s and Hockaday students

Humanities teacher and alumnus, Bob Rozelle ’66, with his students before retiring after 22 years in the spring of 2015



On Campus

Trevor Ahlberg ’86Trevor Ahlberg, a member of the Class of 1986,

retires from the Board after six years of dedicated

service. Trevor has been an active volunteer and

supporter of St. Mark’s since his graduation, and

his service on the Board includes involvement on

the Development, Education, Long Range Planning,

and Executive Committees. He also served on the

Alumni Board from 2003 to 2006.

Pallavi ChavdaPallavi Chavda, mother of Marksmen Kahan ’12

and Aarav ’13, joined the Board in 2006. During her

nine-year tenure, she was an active member of the

Education and Long Range Planning Committees.

Her commitment to the School has inspired and

touched many others on the Board.

Randall Fojtasek ’81Randall Fojtasek ’81 retires after 18 years on the

Board of Trustees. During his tenure, Randall

served on and chaired nearly every committee,

including the Executive Committee and the

Investment Committee. He served as President

of the Board of Trustees from 2012 to 2014.

Randall is the father of two Marksmen, Jack ’15

and Randall, Jr. ’20. He was awarded the Alumni

Service Medal in 2015.

Ken Hersh ’81Ken Hersh ’81 retires after 17 years on the Board

of Trustees. During his tenure on the Board, Ken

served on nearly every committee. He was a

member of the Executive Committee for 11 of his

17 years and played a critical role as Co-Chair of

the Head of School Search Committee. He also

served as Board President from 2010 to 2012. Ken is

the father of Marksman Daniel ’13.

retiring trustees

(clockwise from top left) Ken Hersh ’81 with his family: Rachel,

Daniel ’13, and wife Julie

Randall Fojtasek ’81 and his wife, Ola

Trevor Ahlberg ’86 and Bill Graue ’84

Pallavi Chavda and her husband

Deepak Chavda


On Campus

Patrick McGeePatrick McGee, father of Marksmen Patrick ’11

and William ’12, joined the Board in 2009.

During his six-year tenure, he faithfully served

as a longstanding member of the Investment

Committee. His enthusiasm for the School has

brought out the best in all of those around him.

Connie O’NeillConnie O’Neill, mother of Marksman Jack ’15,

joined the Board in 2012 as President-elect of the

Parents’ Association. During her tenure on the

Board, Connie was an active member on both

the Committee on Trustees and the Education

Committee, as well as the Headmaster

Transition Committee.

Amy WareAmy Ware, mother of Marksmen Elias ’17

and Orlin ’18, retires from the Board after six

years of dedicated service. Amy has been an

active volunteer and supporter of St. Mark’s for

many years. Her service on the Board includes

involvement on the Education, Development,

and Facilities Committees.

Randy Zisk ’77Randy Zisk, a member of the Class of 1977, retires

after three years of service on the Board of Trustees.

He was an important asset to the Board as one

of six regional members. He served on both the

Education Committee and the Development

Committee, laying the groundwork for the success

of future Marksmen.

New Trustees

Mary Beth V. Duffy

Amee M. Joshi

David R. McAtee ’87

Ryan K. Robinson ’86

Ryan T. Rogers ’95

Alan C. Schoellkopf, Jr. ’91

J. Carl Sewell III ’02

Heather H. Washburne

(clockwise from top left)Patrick McGee with his wife Suzanne and son Patrick ’11

Connie O’Neill poses with family members at the graduation of son Jack ’15

Kama Koudelka (left) with Les and Amy Ware

Randy Zisk ’77 at the West Coast Launch of The Centennial Challenge



On Campus

life trustee: charles e. nearburg ’68

When the St. Mark’s Board of Trustees elected

Charlie Nearburg ’68 as a Life Trustee it was no

surprise to those who had served with him for

21 years. He was a member of virtually every

committee during his tenure, and his involvement

demonstrated a level of loyalty and dedication

worthy of this honor.

Charlie conducted the first comprehensive audit

of the School’s campus facilities and helped to

establish the Facilities Committee of the Board,

on which he served for many years. Charlie was

an instrumental leader on both The Campaign

for St. Mark’s from 1996–2001 and The Centennial

Challenge from 2007–2013, which, combined,

raised more than $160 million for the School.

During The Campaign for St. Mark’s, Charlie and

his family donated funds to construct Nearburg

Hall, which now houses the Admission, Business,

and Development & Alumni offices as well as

classrooms and meeting spaces. In addition,

Nearburg Hall is home to the Industrial Arts facility,

where Middle School and Upper School students

first design artwork in the computer lab and then

bring their ideas to life in the adjoining workshop.

Charlie wanted to make sure that the Industrial

Arts program had a permanent home after years of

being spread over several buildings on campus.

His dedication, vision, commitment, and generosity

to the School are hallmarks of his service on the Board

of Trustees.

In 2005, St. Mark’s Alumni Association awarded Charlie

the Alumni Service Medal for his distinguished and

longstanding contributions to the School.

The official resolution naming Charles E. Nearburg ’68 a

Life Trustee states, “Mr. Nearburg clearly has exhibited

lengthy, outstanding, and meritorious service as a

Trustee, which is indicative of a lifetime of extraordinary

and substantive commitment to St. Mark’s School

of Texas and its programs, including important and

institution-shaping contributions of time, energy,

creativity, vision, and resources.”

(above) Charles Nearburg ’68

accepting the Life Trustee award at the

Trustee Dinner

(right)Nearburg and his family

Do you follow @SMTXathletics?

Follow the Lions on Twitter for the latest sports scores, updates, and news.

/SMTXathletics

Choir on the RoadLast summer, 28 boys brought the sound of St. Mark’s

to the East Coast and Canada during the Choir’s 15th

biennial international tour. Accompanied by Choirmaster

Tinsley Silcox, Organist and Assistant Choirmaster Glenn

Stroh, and three faculty chaperones, the Choir visited

and performed in Washington, D.C., New York City, and

Montréal. The biennial trip gave the boys a chance to share

their incredible talent with the nation and experience the

history and culture of three of the continent’s major cities.

The first stop on the tour was Washington, D.C., and the boys engaged the

nation’s capitol almost immediately. On the first evening, the boys put on an

impromptu performance inside the Lincoln Memorial. At the feet of the statue

of the 16th president, the choristers performed a rendition of the “Song for

Unsung Heroes.” The next morning, the group met up with Ike Crews ’08, a

member of Dallas Congressman Pete Sessions’ staff, who guided the Marksmen

through the U.S. Capitol. The Choir then visited the Library of Congress, where


On Campus

(above) Chaperone Jason Lange

snaps a photo of the St. Mark’s Choir standing

before the New York City skyline, with Tinsley Silcox, Glenn Stroh, and

choir-trip sponsors Karan Windham and Ann Dilday

(opposite)The Choir singing in

Christ Church Cathedral in Montréal

Choir on the Road

they received a special tour organized by

Nick Anderson ’61 and Ford Peatross, Founding

Director for the Library’s Center for Architecture,

Design and Engineering. The third day began at

Arlington National Cemetery, where the Choir

laid a wreath at the tomb of John F. Kennedy and

performed an a cappella concert in honor of

America’s fallen heroes. That same evening, the

boys sang a Choral Evensong service at Washington

National Cathedral. Among those listening in the

audience was St. Mark’s newly appointed Chaplain,

Reverend Stephen Arbogast.

From Washington, the Choir traveled to New York

City, where they performed at the United Nations

Headquarters. Throngs of international visitors

stopped to revel in the harmonic sounds that

filled the atrium. The boys sang a variety of songs,

including pieces like “Famine Song,” which seemed

to take on added significance and emotion at the

United Nations.

The Choir then headed north to the French-

Canadian city of Montréal. After a bit of sightseeing,

the boys performed a service at Christ Church

Cathedral. Their voices beautifully filled one of

Canada’s greatest houses of worship. The service

was heard across the country on Canadian

National Radio, which broadcast the event.

The choristers concluded their tour the next day

at the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal, where

they performed in front of their largest crowd.

Hundreds of parishioners, tourists, and guests sat

mesmerized while the boys sang.

On Campus


(below)Glenn Stroh directing the novice choristers


St. Mark’s School of Texas20 Alumni News | THE PRIDE

Alumni News

The Board, along with the Office of Development

and Alumni Relations, continues to measure the

success of our efforts by focusing on three primary

initiatives: (1) Dallas-based programming and

engagement, (2) the growth of the Alumni Network

through the expansion of regional activities, and (3)

maintaining our high standard of over 55 percent

alumni participation in the St. Mark’s Fund. With

record attendance at events in Dallas and across

the nation as well as record participation in the

St. Mark’s Fund, alumni engagement has never

been stronger.

Dallas Area ProgrammingAs families and friends gather for the holidays,

so do Marksmen. The annual Alumni Holiday

Luncheon in December 2014 welcomed seven

decades of alumni. More than 125 attendees

enjoyed a holiday meal together at Arlington Hall

at Lee Park while Eugene McDermott Headmaster

David W. Dini delivered an inspiring message

about the characteristics of ethical leadership.

Marksmen rang in the new year with the annual

Alumni Games, competing against the varsity

basketball and soccer teams. More than 50 alumni

athletes took to the court and field to enjoy

competition against their Upper School opponents.

The alumni defeated the soccer and basketball

teams, both by the narrowest of margins.

The Alumni Leadership Speaker Series (ALSS)

engaged alumni and community members with

several events throughout the year. In February,

members of the Alumni Association were granted

access to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas to

hear Richard W. Fisher, President and CEO of the

Dallas Fed. Mr. Fisher, father of Anders ’95 and

The Alumni Board is pleased to share a final report

summarizing the 2014–2015 school year. For our Alumni

Association, the past year has been one of camaraderie,

progress, and advancement of key objectives. The Board’s

aspirational vision remains at the forefront: to become the

premier independent school alumni association in

the country.

alumni programsBoard Report from David Campbell ’86

(above)The alumni and current

soccer team members after the alumni narrowly

beat the varsity soccer team in the annual

Alumni Games

(right)Enjoying a moment

at the annual Alumni Holiday Luncheon,

Jeff Hillier ’76, Bill Graue ’84, and

Brad Cope ’84

Alumni News

Fall 2015 | Alumni News 21

Miles ’02, presented a frank and relatable report

on the current condition of the national economic

climate. With more than 200 alumni and guests

in attendance, the evening concluded with a Q&A

session and a self-guided tour through the Fed’s

Economy in Action exhibit.

The ALSS also welcomed Robert E. Dennard

Visiting Scholar James O’Donnell, Organist and

Master of Choristers at Westminster Abbey in

London. O’Donnell performed for alumni during

a special evening recital on the newly dedicated

Roosevelt Family Pipe Organ.

Young Alumni engagement remains a focus as

St. Mark’s looks toward the future. More than 120

college-age alumni returned to campus last year

to reconnect with classmates and faculty at the

College-Age Holiday Luncheon and to share their

feedback at the annual Headmaster’s Roundtable.

The year concluded with the Young Alumni

Community Service event in June, where

young alumni volunteers served dinner at Austin

Street Center.

Alumni Weekend 2015 was another resounding

success, welcoming more than 1,100 alumni and

guests back on campus. The three-day celebration

continued to be the Alumni Association’s signature

event, with activities including the annual golf

tournament, classes taught by faculty members,

alumni speaker panels, the Spring Alumni Dinner,

the family barbecue, and Reunions for classes

ending in 0 and 5.

(clockwise from top left) Outgoing President and CEO of the Dallas Fed speaks about the state of the Texas economy

The Headmaster’s Roundtable provides college-age alumni the opportunity to give feedback to the administrators of St. Mark’s about their college experiences

Young Alumni and members of the St. Mark’s Blues Band at the Austin Street Center



Regional EventsWith more than half of the Alumni Association

members living outside of North Texas, the

Alumni Board continues to focus on strengthening

engagement through regional clubs and events.

This year, the Alumni Board and Alumni Office

hosted 18 events across the nation. More than 300

alumni attended their respective events from coast

to coast to reconnect with faculty members and

fellow Marksmen.

St. Mark’s Fund ParticipationThe Alumni Board measures the engagement of

our Association members through participation

in the St. Mark’s Fund, the School’s annual

giving priority. This year, our alumni exceeded

50 percent participation for the seventh year in a

row, achieving 57 percent overall participation – a

record high. Collectively, we raised more than $1.9

million – also a School record, representing more

than half of the total given to the St. Mark’s Fund.

As an Alumni Association, we take great pride in

ensuring the School has the necessary resources to

excel in every endeavor, and I want to thank you for

your ongoing generosity as we strive to strengthen

our school.

These results are made possible by the hard work

of many, but I would like to thank my 33 fellow

Alumni Board members for their tireless efforts.

In particular, I would like to recognize this past

year’s Executive Committee for their tireless

work on behalf of our Alumni Association: Alan

Schoellkopf ’91 (Vice President), Perch Nelson ’79

(Secretary), Ryan Bowles ’90, Seth Collins ’02,

Jesse Diaz ’04, Paul Genender ’87, and Mike

Mac Adams ’65. The Reunion Committees and

Class Agents also put in tremendous time and effort

on behalf of the School and their classmates.

A special recognition goes out to Alex

Eshelbrenner ’04, Director of Alumni Relations,

and the entire Development Office staff; our School

is blessed to have such a professional and capable

group focused entirely on advancing the mission

of St. Mark’s.

In conclusion, thank you to our alumni for

engagement and continued dedication to making

St. Mark’s a better place.

David Campbell ’86

President, 2013–2015

Alumni News

(above)Sloan Rudberg ’10,

Joe Milliet,Tomi Maxted ’07, and

Matthew Feldman ’05 at the New York event

(above right)Micah Levin ’95, Tu U ’95 and Taylor Hamra ’95 at

the Los Angeles event

22 Alumni News | THE PRIDE

Like us on Facebook for all of the latest news, photos, and videos.

/smtexas

Do you St. Mark’s?

Curtis Burch ’72Curtis Burch ’72 recently produced 5 Flights Up,

a movie featuring Diane Keaton and Morgan

Freeman. The movie recounts the story of an

elderly couple selling their fifth-floor apartment for

a more age-friendly home without stairs. Featuring

the story of both their past and current lives, the

film develops the couple’s beautiful relationship in

the midst of troubles, ranging from a pet’s medical

problems to the ability to purchase a new home

in Manhattan.

Alan Stern ’75Alan Stern ’75 led the historic New Horizons

Mission to research Pluto as the Principal

Investigator. His team captured high-definition

images of the dwarf planet and gathered data

as the probe flew by on July 14, 2015. His record-

breaking exploratory mission is the first of its

kind since Voyager in 1977. Read more about the

mission on p. 48.

alumni in the news

Jon Stein ’97Betterment, a company co-founded in 2008 by

Jon Stein ’97, was showcased on the Disruptor

50 list by CNBC News. The list “features private

companies in 16 industries whose innovations

are revolutionizing the business landscape.

These forward-thinking upstarts have identified

unexploited niches in the marketplace that have

the potential to become billion-dollar businesses.”

Betterment uses automated tools to maximize

returns and minimize taxes for business portfolios,

with no minimum investment.

Alumni News


(above) Alan Stern ’75 at a media

briefing following New Horizons’ historic flyby

(above right)Jon Stein ’97

Photo credit: NASA/B

ill Ingalls

Scott Jacobs ’05Recently, IBM launched a new reality show called

“A New Way to Start Up.” Starting with 10 millennial

startups, IBM narrowed the pool down to five

promising companies. One of these was Charity

Charge, a benefit corporation that Scott Jacobs ’05

co-founded. The company is launching a credit

card that allows cardholders to earn donations for

the nonprofit of their choice. The series features

eight episodes during which Scott lives in a house

with four other startup founders and competes for

a grand prize that may help take Charity Charge to

new heights.

Ty Montgomery ’11With the 94th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft,

the Green Bay Packers selected Ty Montgomery ’11

in the third round. An All-American and standout

wide receiver and kick returner for Stanford, Ty

is quickly earning the respect of his coaches and

teammates. Head Coach Mike McCarthy praises

him, saying, “I thought Ty looked excellent.”

Veteran teammate Randall Cobb adds, “He believes

in himself, and once he gets this offense down,

I think he’ll be pretty good.” On September 28,

during the Packers’ game against the Kansas City

Chiefs, Ty scored his first NFL touchdown, putting

the Packers on the scoreboard in the first quarter.

Alumni News


(left) Scott Jacobs ’05 and a co-founder, Stephen Garten, on the reality show highlighting their company Charity Charge

(above)Ty Montgomery ’11 of the Green Bay Packers

Photo credit: Green B

ay Packers and Matt B

ecker

Photo credit: IBM

Social Business


For the fifth consecutive year, Alumni Weekend broke attendance records,

welcoming more than 1,100 alumni and guests back to St. Mark’s. Generations

of Marksmen reconnected with one another, their former teachers and mentors,

and their alma mater for a weekend of celebrating Lion pride. On the golf

course, in the classroom, and over the dinner table, the St. Mark’s community

gathered together.

“This weekend, Marksmen have traveled from around

the globe to celebrate lifelong friendships, to recognize

teachers who helped shape their lives, and to celebrate

this School that has had such an impact on all of us.”

—David Campbell ’86

Alumni News


AlumniWeekend

Craig Budner ’83, and David Campbell ’86

present Ken Hersh ’81 with the Distinguished

Alumnus Award

Alumni News


40 Years of ServiceFor his 40 years of service to St. Mark’s, the

Alumni Association honored food services staff

member Steve Walker, better known to Marksmen

as “Hollywood.”

“Steve views the boys here as part of his family,”

Sally Stephens, Director of Food Services, said in

a special tribute video. “He feels a responsibility

to make sure that they are stepping up and doing

what they’re supposed to be doing.”

Ralph B. Rogers Alumni AwardThe Ralph B. Rogers Alumni Award honors the

legacy of Ralph B. Rogers, the Rogers family, and

the St. Mark’s faculty by honoring a teacher or staff

member who supports the School’s mission by

extending himself or herself beyond the confines

of the job description. At the Spring Alumni Dinner,

finalists Casey Gendason, Mihai Oprea, and Ken

Owens ’89 were honored. The following month,

at Upper School Final Assembly, Mihai Oprea

was announced as the winner of the 2015 Ralph B.

Rogers Alumni Award.

Young Alumni Service CitationEric Kusin ’00 received the Young Alumni Service

Citation, which recognizes the outstanding service

of an alumnus prior to his 15th Reunion.

Eric has been a devoted supporter of the Alumni

Association since the moment he graduated from

USC. An engaged alumnus and longtime Class

Agent, he helped launch and lead the Austin

Regional Committee. After moving back to Dallas,

Eric joined the Alumni Board in 2010 and has been

an active leader in the School community, serving

as Young Alumni Chair on the Board’s Executive

Committee and leading his class to a record-

breaking 10th Reunion gift. Eric and his brother

Ben ’97 gained national attention appearing on

ABC’s Shark Tank and securing an investment for

their company, Reviver. Eric brought the wisdom

and business sense he gained from his experience

back to St. Mark’s, speaking to current students just

a few weeks after the episode aired.

spring alumni dinner

On Friday night, hundreds of guests packed the W. W.

Browning, Jr., Great Hall for the 19th annual Spring

Alumni Dinner to recognize some of St. Mark’s most

devoted alumni, faculty, and staff members.

(above)The Alumni Association honors Steve Walker for

his 40 years of service

(right)David Campbell ’86, and David Dini with Eric Kusin ’00, who received the Young

Alumni Service Citation

(opposite top)Eugene McDermott

Headmaster David W. Dini giving his state-of-

the-school message

(opposite bottom)David Campbell ’86 and David Dini with Alumni Service Medal recipient

Randall Fojtasek ’81

Alumni Service MedalRandall Fojtasek ’81 received the Alumni Service

Medal, which is St. Mark’s highest volunteer

service award.

Randall has been one of the School’s most

stalwart supporters for decades. For the past 18

years, Randall was a member of the Board of

Trustees where he served on and chaired multiple

committees. During his tenure as Board President

from 2012–2014, Randall oversaw the retirement

of Arnie Holtberg and the transition of David Dini

as the School’s 18th Headmaster. As part of The

Centennial Challenge, Randall and his family

made a significant gift to name the Fojtasek Family

Lower School in honor of his father. Randall is

the managing partner of CenterOak Partners, an

investment team that has acquired and sold more

than $1.6 billion of investments. He and his wife

Ola have four children: Michael, Joe, Jack ’15, and

Randall, Jr. ’20.

Distinguished Alumnus Award At the Spring Alumni Dinner, Ken Hersh ’81 was honored as the

recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award. The Distinguished

Alumnus Award recognizes achievement of exceptional nature in

any field, vocation, or voluntary career. For the past three decades,

Ken has earned a reputation as a leader in the energy and natural

gas industry. As CEO of NGP Energy Capital Management, Ken

pioneered an investment model that has now become the industry

standard. His insights into the business make him a frequent guest

on CNBC and Fox News, as well as a contributor to numerous energy

and economic forums.

Ken and his wife Julie are heavily involved in the nonprofit world

through The Hersh Foundation. Ken served on the Board of Trustees

for the past 17 years and as Board President from 2010–2012. In 2006,

at the onset of The Centennial Challenge, Ken and Julie announced

a $5 million gift to support construction of the Robert K. Hoffman

Center, named in honor of his friend, mentor, and fellow ReMarker

editor-in-chief.

“St. Mark’s to me is home,” Ken said in accepting his award. “It’s an

honor to be part of this School, and I hope that I can live up to half

the example that St. Mark’s represents.”

Ken and Julie have two children, Rachel and Daniel ’13. Daniel, like

his father, served as editor-in-chief of The ReMarker his senior year.

Fall 2015 | Alumni News 29St. Mark’s School of Texas

alumni golf tournamentAs Alumni Weekend kicked off, Dallas’ uncharacteristically stormy spring

weather cleared just in time for Marksmen to hit the links. A record number

of alumni, faculty, trustees, and friends played at Brookhaven Country Club

before dinner and awards.

Alumni News


friday on campusOn Friday morning, hundreds of Marksmen arrived on campus for one more

chance to be students and to relive their days at 10600 Preston Road. Eugene

McDermott Headmaster David W. Dini welcomed alumni and their guests

before releasing them to class. Marksmen of all ages paid close attention as

Tom Adams, Master Teacher Emeritus, took the podium, delivering a history

lesson in his legendary style. Throughout the day, alumni were able to explore

the campus, observing the modern St. Mark’s classrooms and enjoying

impromptu reunions with their former teachers. Curtis Smith taught a special

alumni class exploring war and soldiers, from The Iliad to modern times.

With the help of some eager Middle Schoolers, Amy Reck explained how she

integrates leadership and ethics into her Middle School math lessons. The

school day ended with a special panel discussion for alumni and Upper School

students featuring Silicon Valley venture capitalist and 2005 Distinguished

Alumnus Steve Jurvetson ’85. Steve shared stories from his career investing in

technology companies, including SpaceX and Tesla.


Alumni News


saturday bbqAs the weekend began, alumni and their families returned to campus for a

morning of food and fun. St. Mark’s studio band provided the music for a

festive barbeque lunch, complete with clowns, face-painters, balloon artists,

and games with Doc Browning. Chemistry teacher Ken Owens ’89 entertained

and educated families with explosions and homemade root beer while

Steve Balog, Cecil H. and Ida Green Master Teaching Chair in Science, took

visitors on a tour of the stars in the planetarium.

Alumni News



Alumni News

(from top to bottom)

Class of 196550th Reunion




Alumni News






Alumni News


parents of alumniAs the Class of 2010 attended their 5th Reunion at The Ginger Man over Alumni

Weekend, their parents gathered at the home of Melinda and Jim Johnson for

an evening of food and fellowship with one another. Many parents have stayed

in touch, but for others, it was an opportunity to reconnect with those they had

developed special bonds with during their sons’ time at St. Mark’s. Nearly 50

parents attended the reunion at the Johnson’s. While their sons graduated five

years ago, their connection with the School community has remained strong.

(clockwise from top left)Barb Garcia and

Swanie Smith

Kurt Eichenwald ’79, Lori Watumull, Denton

Watumull, and Theresa Eichenwald

Jim Johnson, Melinda Johnson, Brian Miller,

and Vicki Miller

Your Gift Makes A Difference

At St. Mark’s School of Texas, our boys are given unlimited opportunities to learn

and excel. With the help of their teachers, coaches, and advisors, Marksmen will be

prepared to assume leadership and responsibility in an ever-changing world.

Through your gift to the St. Mark’s Fund, you are responsible for changing lives.

~ Last year, 57 percent of alumni and 95 percent of parents participated

in the St. Mark’s Fund, helping the School raise a record $3.43 million.

~ The St. Mark’s Fund accounts for more than 10 percent of the School’s yearly

operating budget and provides ongoing opportunities for students and faculty.

~ The St. Mark’s Fund is a critical component of the day-to-day life on campus,

securing the resources necessary for our boys to thrive.

To make your gift or pledge, please visit www.smtexas.org/makeagift

Thank you for being part of an extraordinary year at St. Mark’s.

During Alumni Weekend 2015, the Class of 1965

celebrated its 50th Reunion, and returned to

campus in record-breaking fashion. Fifty-two

of the 74 classmates attended the Reunion, and

73 percent contributed to the Class Gift, making

a significant impact and cementing their class

legacy of loyal support and inspiration to future

generations of Marksmen. Following the Reunion,

one classmate commented, “Whether it’s two guys

getting together for the first time, a new email

friendship between classmates in different cities,

or new energy put into an old friendship, the most

enduring part of our 50th Reunion will be the part

that we carry forward.”

The 22-person Reunion Committee led by Mike

Mac Adams ’65 began discussing plans and ideas

a year prior to their Reunion. Conference calls and

lunches at the School became a regular occasion.

The Committee members attempted to reach

out to each and every classmate and encourage

attendance in April. “It was really a team effort and

each Committee member was instrumental in the

Reunion’s success,” Mike noted. When excitement

began to build, they also saw an opportunity to

challenge the Class to consider joining a major

giving effort as part of their Reunion. This push

resulted in a Reunion gift of $95,830, a

record giving total for the Class of 1965.

Mike was not the first in his family to inspire

giving to the St. Mark’s Fund. In 1959, when

Mike was still in Middle School, his father,

Lewis MacAdams, led the St. Mark’s Dads’ Club

to initiate the first Annual Fund, raising $48,500

to supplement tuition revenue.

(above)A meeting of the

St. Mark’s Dad’s Club in the 1950s

St. Mark’s School of Texas38 Spotlight | THE PRIDE

Each year, Alumni Weekend provides a special time to

reconnect with classmates and return to campus. It also

provides an opportunity for Reunion classes to come

together in giving back to St. Mark’s, while strengthening

individual and class ties to the School. The enthusiasm and

spirit of these Reunion Classes serves as a crucial anchor

for the St. Mark’s Fund. Last year, alumni celebrating

Reunions contributed $634,806, accounting for more than

one-third of all alumni giving to the St. Mark’s Fund.

Spotlight

“We both loved St. Mark’s,” Mike said, “and wanted

to give back to this special place.”

In addition to the Reunion gift, the Class of 1965

compiled a self-published book in which each

classmate had the opportunity to share his journey

after St. Mark’s. Each page included a recent photo

and was accompanied by a senior photo. “Without

a doubt, the book was the main driving force

that connected people and brought them back to

campus,” Mike said.

In December, Mike hosted the first annual Class of

1965 Christmas Party at his home, continuing the

tradition of generosity his father started more than

a half-century ago.

While their 50th Reunion has passed, friendships

were rekindled and new bonds were formed.

A classmate echoed this sentiment, “Our 50th

Reunion was as much about our future as it was

about our past.”

(top)The Class of 1965 gather for their 50th Reunion

(middle) Classmates Robert Feldman, Tom Lively, Lee Smith, and Bob Moore

(bottom)Mike Mac Adams, host of the 50th Reunion, visits with classmates

Spotlight

Fall 2015 | Spotlight 39St. Mark’s School of Texas

St. Mark’s School of Texas40 Features | THE PRIDE

Features

It was Blue Shirt Day, and as the Class of 2015 stood linked arm-in-arm we realized that it was our time to give. From Pecos to the Sophomore Retreat to McDonald’s Week, teachers, faculty, and staff had poured care into our class, unifying us from a group of disparate athletes, scholars, and musicians into a team of brothers ninety-one strong. We had it all—brotherhood, drive, friendship—and we wanted to share it.

by Case Brabham ’15, Carrington Kyle ’15, and George Lin ’15

(above)The Class of 2015

Blue Shirt Day on May 30, 2014

We strived to make inclusion our legacy, to get the

entire school to experience the sense of belonging

that we shared when we got up early one Saturday

morning and ran a 5k as a class. We decided to

start this legacy by serving those who make our life

on campus possible. During the first month of our

senior year, the Class of 2015 arrived at 6:30 a.m.

to serve breakfast tacos and share a meal with the

maintenance, cafeteria, and security staff. It was a

testament to the fact that the Class was invested in

spreading involvement. We had a great time getting

to know and show appreciation to the people who

keep us safe and well-fed.

That first success stoked our fire. From hand-

delivering thank-you notes, chocolates, and roses

to members of the staff on Valentine’s Day to

tossing beads and handing out Baby-King Cake

to wide-eyed Middle and Lower Schoolers on

Mardi Gras, we let everyone know that they were

valued and part of our pride of Lions. Each one of

the these events not only knit the whole School

together but also brought our class even closer.

As we stood, linked arm-in-arm once again on

Commencement night, swaying as we belted out

the alma mater, we knew in our hearts that we

were brothers bound by the unbreakable bond of

St. Mark’s. We hope we helped unite faculty, staff,

students, and parents in our Marksmen pride as

we shared our joy that night and celebrated the

journey we had finished together.


Features

(top)For his Senior Exhibition Walter Johnson ’15 performs with his bluegrass band, Sally’s Fiddle Boys

(above left)Seniors share a laugh at Opening Convocation

(above right)A Senior greets a Lower Schooler at Spring Convocation

(left)Seniors enjoy a conversation over breakfast with Maintenance Engineer Stefen Glenn

Fall 2015 | Features 41St. Mark’s School of Texas


Features

Just as generations of Marksmen have done before, the Class of 2015 completed their St. Mark’s careers with a week of traditions that marked their passage from students to alumni.

On the Tuesday before Commencement, the senior class lined the walkway

outside of the Chapel to welcome their teachers into Baccalaureate. Sitting

together in Chapel for the last time as students, the Class of 2015 listened to

reflections from Corson Purnell ’15 and Dr. Martin Stegemoeller, Malcolm K.

and Minda Brachman Master Teaching Chair.

“As we grow older and continue to put the

community that we work for before ourselves, we

will always have the comfort of knowing that we

can rely on each other for wisdom, confidence, and

a friendship forever,” Corson told his classmates.

Dr. Stegemoeller thanked the boys for their hard

work over the years and challenged them to live out

the lessons they learned in class. “Don’t forget what

you have learned when you leave here. Carry it

with you, and use it to build thriving communities

wherever life takes you.”

Following the Baccalaureate service, faculty

and staff members filed out of the Chapel and

applauded the Senior Class as they recessed.

A few days later, the Class of 2015 donned the

familiar white dinner jackets and prepared to walk

across the Commencement stage as alumni. Senior

Class President Nathan Ondracek ’15 reminded his

classmates, “No matter how far away we get from

each other, the 91 members of the Class of 2015 will

share an unbreakable bond, forged from years of

proximity, love, care, and brotherhood.”

The Class selected fellow Marksman and

NFL Linebacker Sam Acho ’07 to deliver their

Commencement address. Sam spoke of his

personal journey through the NFL Draft, dealing

with success and failure.

“I remember being in your seats, not knowing

what college was going to look like, but there was

something inside of me, and it’s inside all of you,”

Sam said. “Each and every one of you has that Lion

spirit. There’s nothing and no one that can take that

away from you.”

Sam left the Class of 2015 with a challenge given

to his class by St. Mark’s 2007 Commencement

speaker, Tom Adams: “Go forth and conquer, men.”


Features

Fall 2015 | Features 43

(above left)Seniors reminisce at Baccalaureate

(above)Case Brabham ’15 takes a selfie with faculty member Lynn Steckler

(left)NFL Linebacker Sam Acho ’07 leads the Class of 2015 in a war cry during his Commencement Address



Features


learned we always get back up. We have the strength

and resilience that this School has implanted in us

to bounce back from anything. No student graduates

from St. Mark’s without becoming a man.

In summary, the Class of 2015 is full of community

builders. The men in this room have contributed to

neighborhoods here in Dallas, to churches, to teams,

and to many other organizations. Mostly, we

have helped build the St. Mark’s community. Our

contributions have made a difference here on which

future classes will continue to build. I know this

will continue at college campuses everywhere. We

know our work is not done. These guys in the Class

of 2015 will continue to be the leaders of their

new communities.

Yesterday, we took our first-grade little buddies to the

zoo. When lunchtime came, I noticed nothing was

different. Like always, our grade sat together at long

tables, but this time our little buddies joined us. Our

conversations stayed the same with contributions

from the first graders, and it felt like we were hanging

out with them instead of taking care of them. It

showed me how strong the St. Mark’s community is,

from seniors to first graders. As we grow older and

continue to put the community before ourselves, we

always have the comfort of knowing that we can rely

on each other for wisdom, confidence, and most of all,

a friendship forever.

When I think of St. Mark’s

and what we learned, what

we experienced, the people

we met, the things we did,

this is what I realized. Yes,

we became better writers,

better mathematicians, better

athletes, better musicians,

better artists…we improved at almost everything.

But what St. Mark’s really did for us was prepare us.

We are truly prepared for the challenges ahead—so

many times our St. Mark’s community was preparing

us, and we didn’t even realize it.

Always, my favorite part of the day is lunch. Not

only for the delicious food, but for the camaraderie

that takes place at the tables of the Great Hall. We

can sit with anybody and carry on a conversation.

The discussions are about political views, math tests,

sports, intense debates on St. Mark’s as an institution,

or recounting funny stories of our class throughout

the years. Regardless of what the topic of conversation

is, we all sit and look into each other’s eyes and listen

to what each other has to say. Why? Because we all

respect each other. Because we have all gone through

the same rigorous schedule that is St. Mark’s.

They push you here, sometimes to your breaking point.

Academically, athletically, or socially…St. Mark’s

has knocked all of us down at least once. But we have

baccalaureate addressCorson Purnell ’15

Features


from this amazing School. They are the very backbone

on which all of our achievement rests.

As we climb to new pinnacles in our future, never

forget whose shoulders we stand on. Our little legs

alone could never have carried us to the soaring

heights we will soon reach. Remember those truly

magical people who, although we knuckleheads did

nothing to deserve it, had the grace to stoop down

and give a little guy a leg up. They shared their God-

given talent, passion, drive, and wisdom with us to

help us along our journey. We are ever in their debt.

My favorite thing about the Path to Manhood statue

is that you know the little guy on the shoulders will

one day realize he has changed. The little fellow will

look down, and his legs won’t seem so short and his

books won’t seem so heavy, because, with time and

care, he too has become a giant. Well, guys, that’s

happened to us. The giants of our lives, the teachers,

coaches, mentors, and parents have lifted us up so

high that we grew big too. Our education, experience,

and brotherhood have turned us into a class of giants

ninety-one strong, giants who look out for each other

and the people around them. We are still getting used

to our new bodies and responsibilities, but, as we

know from the Christmas party when we filed in with

the little fellows on our shoulders, it’s our turn to start

lifting. Let’s go raise up the future.

These excerpts were taken from Corson Purnell’s Baccalaureate address and George Lin’s Valedictorian address. To view their full speeches and see more from both events, visit www.smtexas.org/classof2015

It’s breathtaking to be

lifted up with the honor of

valedictorian, but then I look

down and see my stubby

little legs swinging in their

Velcro shoes I can’t even do

up myself and my puny arms

that can barely hold the books

they are carrying. Then I realize that all I did was walk

up to the giant that is the St. Mark’s community and

ask for a lift. Most importantly, as I look down at the

smiling giant holding me, I realize that he doesn’t just

have one face, but all the faces of everyone who have

made my six years at St. Mark’s a joyride.

Brotherhood permeates this place, especially in the

classrooms. People will ask me, “Isn’t St. Mark’s super

competitive?” I’ll say, “sure it’s a competition, but it’s

a team sport, and I have ninety of the best teammates I

could wish for.” I didn’t do it, guys. We all did it.

You are my giants.

But for all the good we have going here, there is one

thing that can destroy the team of brothers. It is

academic dishonesty and lack of honor. To the classes

who come after us, make honor your touchstone. No

matter how great or small your success, you will be

able to say you succeeded well.

The broad shoulders of our coaches and mentors

bear the brunt of lifting us into manhood. And those

lessons on manhood, not mathematical proficiency or

inspired writing, are the most precious things we take

valedictorian addressGeorge Lin ’15


class of 2015 college matriculation

Texas A&M University ....................... Aditya Inaganti

Will Jaynes

Walter Johnson

Andrew McClain

Elton McIntosh

Albert Weng

University of Texas at Austin ............ Michael Fletcher

Harry Herz

Benjamin Wilner

Jacob Chernick (Plan II)

Matthew Co (Plan II)

Sam Dockery (Plan II)

Dartmouth College ............................ Luke Hudspeth

Nick Jelsma

Will Jelsma

Matt Woodberry

Georgetown University ..................... Cyrus Ganji

Rishi Kshatriya

Brody Ladd

Blake Spangler

Southern Methodist University ........ Weston Blair

Jack Fojtasek

Preston Hext

Jack O’Neill

University of Pennsylvania ............... Nick Buckenham

Raymond Chen

Carrington Kyle

Eric Rawot

University of Texas at Arlington ....... Matthew Meadows

Michael Milosevich

Miguel Plascencia

Hilario Vargas

Columbia University .......................... Kunal Dixit

William Su

William Sydney

Duke University .................................. Matthew Conley

Forest Cummings-Taylor

Shourya Kumar

Harvard University ............................ Case Brabham

Nathan Ondracek

Darwin Yang

Stanford University ............................ Aakash Pattabi

Vik Pattabi

Mason Smith

University of Texas at Dallas ............. Christian Cortés

Umer Nadir

Foster Stager

Washington University ...................... Rohan Pinto

in St. Louis Momin Siddiqui

Michael Windlinger

Emory University ............................... Timothy Cho

Karim Jooma

New York University .......................... Richard Jiang

Stephen Tan

Princeton University ......................... Raymond Guo

George Lin

Sewanee: University of the South .... Sam Daniels

Travis Nadalini

Tulane University ............................... Abeer Karim

Kyle Weinstein

Vanderbilt University ........................ Landon Montgomery

Conner Olson

American University .......................... Alex Kim

Austin Community College............... Kyle Campbell

Boston College .................................... Tommy Gudmundsson

Carnegie Mellon University .............. James Zhang

Case Western Reserve University .... Roland Baumann

Colby College ...................................... Adam Merchant

Colgate University .............................. Connor Mullen

Colorado State University ................. Alex Enthoven

Cornell University .............................. Jack Gordon

Georgia Institute of Technology ...... Christopher Carter

Indiana University ............................. Mike Mulholland

Louisiana State University ................ Justin Jones

Maryland Institute College of Art .... Zuyva Sevilla

Pepperdine University ...................... Wesley Cha

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ..... Vignesh Babu

Rhodes College ................................... Jack Dayton

Rice University ................................... Burke Garza

Tufts University .................................. Stuart Montgomery

United States Naval Academy ........... Jake Holder

University of Alabama ....................... Ben Naftalis

University of California — ................ Timothy Simenc

Berkeley

University of Chicago ........................ Purujit Chatterjee

University of Mississippi ................... Wyatt Martin

University of New Mexico ................. David Wikman

University of South Carolina ............ Andrew Patison

University of Southern California ... Connor Castilla

University of Virginia ........................ Daniel Wechsler

Washington & Lee University ........... Corson Purnell


Features


2011–2015 college matriculation

TEN OR MORE

Dartmouth College

Duke University

Harvard University

New York University

Princeton University

Southern Methodist University

Stanford University

Texas A&M University

University of Pennsylvania

University of Southern California

University of Texas at Austin

Vanderbilt University

Washington University in St. Louis

FIVE TO NINE

Columbia University

Georgetown University

Northwestern University

Rice University

Texas Christian University

University of Chicago

University of Texas at Arlington

University of Texas at Austin—Plan II

University of Texas at Dallas

University of Virginia

FOUR

Emory University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Texas Tech University

Washington and Lee University

Yale University

THREE

Baylor University

Brown University

Carnegie Mellon University

Colgate University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Purdue University

Rhodes College

United States Naval Academy

University of Miami

University of Michigan

University of Missouri Columbia

University of Notre Dame

University of Texas at Austin—PACE

TWO

Colby College

Colorado State University

Cornell University

Haverford College

Indiana University Bloomington

Pomona College

Sewanee: University of the South

St. Edward’s University

Trinity College

Trinity University

Tulane University

University of Alabama

University of Georgia

University of Oklahoma

Wake Forest University

ONE

American University

Amherst College

Arizona State University

Auburn University

Austin Community College

Bates College

Boston College

Boston University

Bowling Green State University

Bucknell University

California Institute of Technology

Case Western Reserve University

Chapman University

Clemson University

College of William and Mary

Franklin Olin College of Engineering

George Washington University

Gettysburg College

Hendrix College

Houston Baptist University

Howard University

Johns Hopkins University

Lehigh University

Louisiana State University

Marion Military Institute

Maryland Institute College of Art

Northeastern University

Oberlin Conservatory of Music

Pepperdine University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rhode Island School of Design

Rollins College

Schreiner University

St. John’s University

St. Lawrence University

Swarthmore College

Tufts University

United States Air Force Academy

United States Military Academy

University of California—Berkeley

University of California—Los Angeles

University of California—Santa Barbara

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Kansas

University of Minnesota

University of Mississippi

University of New Mexico

University of North Carolina

University of Oregon

University of Richmond

University of South Carolina

University of Texas at San Antonio

University of Wisconsin

Villanova University

Virginia Military Institute

Williams College

Features


From the farthest reaches of our solar system to the Cradle of Humankind, this summer brought two groundbreaking scientific explorations. Between these two discoveries lay a single link — a boys’ school in the heart of Dallas, where students and teachers dare to imagine the possibilities in the future of science education.

Features


Features


From St. Mark’s to PlutoOn July 14, 2015, the entire world looked to the sky as an historic event

transpired 3 billion miles away. At the Johns Hopkins University Applied

Physics Laboratory, Dr. Alan Stern ’75 and his team crowded around a

computer and waited for a transmission from across the solar system.

Just before 9 o’clock in the evening, a cheer rang out as confirmation arrived

that the New Horizons spacecraft had successfully completed mankind’s

first flyby of Pluto, coming within 7,800 miles of the dwarf planet’s surface.

“Following in the footsteps of planetary exploration missions such as Mariner,

Pioneer, and Voyager, New Horizons has triumphed at Pluto,” Alan said.

“The New Horizons flyby completes the first era of planetary reconnaissance, a

half century-long endeavor that will forever be a legacy of our time.”

Close-up images of Pluto and its moons soon appeared in newspapers and on

screens around the globe. The probe will spend more than a year transmitting

all of the data it collected, but the information NASA has already received has

rocked the scientific community.

“This summer, we ran the anchor leg to humanity’s 50-year exploration of the

planets,” Alan said.

Three scientists: one who cultivated his passion for astronomy at St. Marks, one who fosters wonder and curiosity in the minds of current Marksmen, and one who is just beginning to make his mark. These scientists connect the dots between historic, current, and future investments in campus infrastructure that give Marksmen an entrée into the ever-evolving world of science and technology.

(opposite)During the flyby,

New Horizons came within 7,750 miles of

Pluto’s surface.

St. Mark’s School of Texas50 Features | THE PRIDE St. Mark’s School of Texas

After the flyby, Alan and his team held up a giant

print of a 1991 postage stamp showing Pluto and

the words “Not Yet Explored.” The stamp had

served as a motivational image for Alan and his

team, and one was lovingly placed on the side

of the spacecraft itself. At the press conference

announcing the flyby’s success, Alan’s team had

crossed out the words “Not Yet.”

New Horizons shows no signs of slowing down

(in fact, thanks to physics, it can’t) and now the

team is setting its sights on the next frontier

of exploration: the Kuiper Belt. New Horizons

has become the first spacecraft to explore the

expanse beyond the planets of our solar system,

and course corrections have already been made

to point the craft toward its next target. In early

2019, pending NASA approval, New Horizons will

(above)Alan Stern ’75 and

members of the New Horizons team display an image of the 1991

Pluto stamp

(right)Alan shows off his New

Horizons bumper sticker

Features


intercept 2014 MU69, a 28-mile wide object that

may hold valuable clues to the earliest days of our

solar system.

“Exploring Kuiper Belt Objects is going to help us

connect the dots of accretion [or how planets form],”

Alan said. “Going to the Kuiper Belt is like

an archaeological dig into the history of the

solar system.”

More groundbreaking discoveries are expected in

the coming months and years as New Horizons

slowly beams back the gigabytes of photos and

data it collected from Pluto. There will certainly be

more than enough to keep Alan and his team busy

for years to come. But even with a packed schedule,

Alan found time to wish a happy new year to the

educators at his alma mater.

During the first full faculty/staff meeting in August,

Eugene McDermott Headmaster David W. Dini

reflected on the Marksman scientist who had made

history. Then, to everyone’s surprise, David placed

a Skype call to Dr. Stern, who appeared on screen

from his home in Colorado.

After greeting the teachers, Alan shared behind-

the-scenes details of the Pluto mission and his own

surprise at the public’s reaction.

“The day after we flew past Pluto, we were on the

front page of over 450 newspapers. NASA had its

biggest media sensation in a generation.”

From the beginning, the New Horizons mission

was fraught with political and budgetary hurdles,

but thanks in part to Alan’s strong leadership, the

mission was accomplished. Like a true Marksman,

Alan was quick to divert praise away from himself,

lauding the collaboration, cooperation, and

creativity of the many other scientists, engineers,

and colleagues.

“I give all the credit to the team. Over 2,500

Americans worked tirelessly for four years to build

New Horizons. Nights and weekends were the

norm, but my team stood up to the challenge.”


“Going to the Kuiper Belt is like

an archaeological dig into the history

of the solar system.”

—Alan Stern ’75

St. Mark’s School of Texas52 Features | THE PRIDE St. Mark’s School of Texas

Features

“I give a lot of credit to St. Mark’s for enabling my career

and making me the man I am today.”

—Alan Stern ’75

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Before signing off, Alan also took time to thank

the faculty and staff for continuing the tradition of

instilling a passion for excellence in their students.

As a boy, Alan was caught up in the Space

Race of the 1960s. One day, while driving down

Preston Road with his parents, Alan noticed

a private school with an observatory and

planetarium, and his interest was piqued.

That observatory and planetarium were part of

the newly dedicated, state-of-the-art

McDermott-Green Science Quadrangle.

“When my parents got me into St. Mark’s, it was

probably the best thing that ever happened to me,”

Alan said. “The School helped me toughen up

and become a much better student than I ever

knew I could be. I give a lot of credit to St. Mark’s

for enabling my career and making me the man I

am today.”

While Alan’s career has taken him across space,

he has always remained dedicated to 10600 Preston

Road, where his journey started. Since New

Horizons launched in 2006, Alan has returned

to campus multiple times. He was chosen as the

Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2008,

received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2009,

was a panelist in the inaugural STEM Conference

in 2013, and celebrated his 40th Reunion this past

April, just three months before the Pluto flyby.

“St. Mark’s is very much about making a man

out of a boy,” Alan said. “And I felt that even in

high school, I could feel I was on an escalator

going somewhere.”

Forty years after donning his white dinner jacket at

Commencement, Alan Stern is continuing to ride

that escalator into the farthest reaches of space.

(opposite)Alan gives a mission update at a NASA press conference

(above)The sun sets on Pluto as seen by New Horizons fifteen minutes after its closest approach

(left)Alan speaks at the first annual St. Mark’s STEM Conference

A Discovery Right Here on EarthIn September, the world looked underground, into a cave in an area of South

Africa known as the Cradle of Humankind. In front of the worldwide press,

paleoanthropologist Lee Berger and his team pulled the curtain back on a case

containing the remains of Homo naledi, a newly discovered species of hominin.

The remains are part of an anthropological treasure trove found in 2013 in the

Rising Star Cave in South Africa. After their initial discovery, Dr. Berger began

excavating the site with funding from the National Geographic Society. Berger

had already garnered international fame for his discovery of a 2 million-year-

old set of Australopithecus sediba skeletons in 2008. With these discoveries

under his belt, some referred to Lee as a real-life Indiana Jones.

He was just the sort of explorer who fascinated John Mead, Eugene McDermott

Master Teaching Chair in Science. A few years ago, John was following Lee’s

exploits and sent him a Facebook friend request. On a whim, John asked if

Lee would be interested in fielding a few questions from his Middle School

science class. Lee was able to do one better and spoke in person at St. Mark’s.

Since then, Lee has kept John’s classes up to date on their progress through

Skype and Twitter conversations. Lee also returned to campus last year, taking

students on an in-depth tour of his excavation site at the Rising Star Cave and

teasing a major upcoming announcement.

Last summer, with assistance from professional development funds, John

traveled to Africa to visit the dig site in person. On the way, he stopped by

nThambo Tree Camp for a week of safaris. He tracked and photographed wild

lions, hyenas, elephants, and other animals that he vividly discusses in his

sixth-grade life science classes.

As the new school year got underway, students and faculty were still buzzing about St. Mark’s connection to the historic Pluto mission. Less than two months after New Horizons flew past Pluto, another discovery would rock the scientific community and, yet again, St. Mark’s was connected to the story.

Dr. Lee Berger presents his findings at St. Mark’s


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finally able to share with his class and the St. Mark’s

community after the worldwide announcement.

“It’s a very exciting time for us because this is

a creature that no one thought we would ever

discover,” Lee told John during the interview.

“It’s a creature that looks very different than

any other member of the genus homo in many

surprising ways.”

One of the biggest questions Lee and his team

faced was how so many individual skeletons ended

up in an isolated cave. None of the remains showed

teeth marks or signs of injury, and they had not

all died together. Eventually, the team reached a

“Our vehicle was easily within 20 feet of lions, and

occasionally they were feeding on a kill,” John

recalls. “That’s something that makes you really

feel a part of the food web because you realize how

wimpy we as humans are just in our natural selves.”

After spending a week in the wild, John traveled

south to the Rising Star Cave, located about an

hour outside of Johannesburg, South Africa. There,

Lee gave John a personal tour of what was then a

top-secret discovery. Through a seven-inch-wide

passageway, two cavers had discovered the final

resting place of at least 15 individuals from a

previously unknown human species. To date,

Lee and his team have excavated 1,550 specimens

from the cave, representing one of the most diverse

discoveries of prehistoric human bones. During

his time at the Rising Star Cave site, John was

able to personally study and even hold some of

these fossils.

“I got to work with the researchers scanning over

200 teeth that were recovered,” John said. “We used

a Micro CT-scanner with a resolution of 30 microns,

and we could get the internal and the external

structure to compare to other species.”

During his time at Rising Star, John also filmed

interviews about Homo naledi with Lee and key

members of the research team, which he was

(opposite)Lee signs a book for a student during his

campus visit

“It’s a very exciting time for us because

this is a creature that no one thought

we would ever discover.”

—Dr. Lee Berger

Features


conclusion—one that might change the way we

view early hominins.

“We have reached the hypothesis that this is a

ritualized disposal of the dead by a non-human

animal,” Lee said. “None of the scientists who we

have consulted with around the world can come to

another conclusion other than that we were wrong

that this behavior was unique to humans.”

As with many major scientific discoveries, Homo

naledi poses more questions than it answers. The

excavation and examination of the Rising Star Cave

are just beginning, and scientists expect many

more exciting revelations to emerge in the

coming years.

(left)Lee and John at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site


Features


“I remember walking into school that day and

seeing Mr. Mead wearing his Rising Star hat,

and almost skipping down the path to the

Commons,” said Bret Honaker ’22, one of John’s

Life Science students. “I might even become a

paleoanthropologist myself.”

Just as St. Mark’s students are encouraged to go

beyond classroom learning, so too are faculty

encouraged to go beyond classroom teaching.

Professional development has always been a

top priority for the School and is also part of

what makes it so attractive to the nation’s finest

educators. Last year, more than $200,000 in

professional development grants were distributed,

allowing teachers like John to travel the world,

diving headfirst into their passions and bringing

those experiences back to the classroom.

“My trip to Africa ties directly back into my class

and allows me to share the story with my students

firsthand,” John said. “We’re not just reading

things out of a book. It makes me a part of the

science in a way that most teachers never get to

realize. It makes a big difference when students see

their teachers directly involved with what they’re

learning about.”

(opposite)Lee and John hold the skull of Homo naledi

(below left)John brings knowledge from his trip to Africa back to the classroom

“Who are these creatures?” Lee asks with boyish

enthusiasm. “They’re not humans. What did they

live like? That’s the exciting mystery that’s out

there. It’s a completely unexpected encounter with

another species with a complexity that we thought

was special to us.”

Just two weeks after the big reveal, Dr. Berger

returned to St. Mark’s to share his discovery with

the students. This time, he was joined by three

of the “cave astronauts,” researchers who had

crawled through narrow, dangerous tunnels to

reach the cave chamber containing Homo naledi.

Students were entranced watching footage of the

explorers shimmying through passageways and

navigating over deep chasms. In appreciation of his

long-standing relationship with St. Mark’s,

Dr. Berger presented the School with the first casts

of Homo naledi for students to study up close. After

the assembly, the boys crowded the stage to get

autographs from the explorers.

For both Lee and John, any discussion of Homo

naledi brings out an infectious excitement for the

sciences. This excitement was evident on the faces

of John’s Middle School science students the day he

was finally allowed to share his personal encounter

with the fossils and even wear the Rising Star hat

that Lee had given him.

“It makes a big difference when students

see their teachers directly involved with

what they’re learning about.”

—John Mead

Breaking Ground for a New GenerationFor Joshua Choe ’16, that dream is quickly becoming a reality. Armed with an

insatiable curiosity, as well as a firm foundation in biological study, Joshua has

volunteered the past two years performing graduate-level cancer research at

the University of Texas at Dallas.

“I was very interested in researching so I wrote a research proposal on bacteria

and the tumor microenvironment in relation to the progression of colorectal

cancer,” Joshua said. “I went online, found a professor doing similar research,

and met with him at UTD.”

Joshua spent the summer after his sophomore year learning the basics of

research techniques and how the lab ran. The next summer, he moved up

to work with a part of the core team on an interdisciplinary research project.

Joshua personally handled a majority of the in vitro experiments, treated

lung cancer cells with experimental drugs, and analyzed samples with

advanced tools and microscopes. With only a few years of Upper School

science education under his belt, Joshua was able to stay in step with

professional researchers.

It’s no coincidence that a St. Mark’s alumnus and a St. Mark’s faculty member were connected to the two most important scientific stories of the year. For more than a century, the School has instilled a passion for the sciences into generations of explorers and innovators. The same passion that inspired Alan Stern ’75 during the Space Race is now capturing the imaginations of young Marksmen who dream of changing the world through STEM careers.

60 Features | THE PRIDE

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Joshua Choe ’16 begins an experiment at a St. Mark’s

iGEM Team meeting


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with microscopes and incubators, under the

careful eye of world-class teachers.

“St. Mark’s prepared me very well in all aspects

from background knowledge and critical

thinking to scientific writing and exposure to

the field,” Joshua said. “The way of scientific

thinking encouraged by my teachers helped

me immediately begin interpreting results and

planning experiments.”

Joshua’s supervising professors were so impressed

with his contributions, he has been granted

co-first authorship on a paper that will be

submitted to a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Joshua will even contribute a section with

figures, summaries of his experiments, and

his own conclusions.

“Of all the students who have been involved in

summer programs, I can’t think of many who

have made the types of discoveries that Joshua

has,” said Steve Balog, Cecil H. and Ida Green

Master Teaching Chair, one of Joshua’s mentors

at St. Mark’s. “In the next ten years, I see Joshua

as a lead researcher in a cancer lab at one of the

top universities.”

For Joshua, and other students like him, St.

Mark’s science education programs are providing

a bedrock of knowledge, rivaling university

programs. Outside of the classroom, students

continue their education through nationally

ranked clubs and activities, encompassing

everything from robotics to genetic research. As

part of the iGEM team, Joshua spends hours each

week after school getting hands-on experience

(above)Joshua Choe ’16 performs

cancer research at UTD

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Fletcher Carron, Stephen M. Seay ’68 Science

Department Chair, and Doug Rummel, science

teacher and robotics coach, serve on the A&C

Committee, which oversees the project and makes

key decisions. In spring 2014, Fletch and Doug

joined John Mead, Trustees, and administrators

on a tour of top-rated science facilities at peer

schools in New England. To better advise the A&C

Committee, the science faculty has also formed

intradepartmental committees to research and

report on specific topics from technology and

classroom layout to public spaces and

LEED certification.

“This was a great way to do our homework and

establish consensus before meetings began with

the architects and lab planners,” Fletch said.

The team hopes to submit their paper before the

end of the year. Joshua hopes to pursue his passion

in medical school, eventually treating patients and

researching cancer.

“He has the potential to work through and earn his

Ph.D. in just a few years,” Dr. Balog said. “I believe

he could become the Alan Stern of biology.”

Last year, in announcing the Winn Family

Foundation’s $10 million anchor gift toward a new

science center, Steve Winn ’64 said that “the next

generation of great scientists and leaders will come

from St. Mark’s.” Today, that next generation is

evident in Joshua and the hundreds of Marksmen

students who foster a passion for science.

The Winn Family Science Center is still in the early

phases of development. Much work lies ahead;

additional funds must be raised and plans must

be approved. Over the next few years, hundreds

of individuals will dedicate countless hours to the

Winn Family Science Center. But, in the end, it

will be the dedicated educators who will bring the

Center’s purpose to life. Because of this, from the

very beginning, the Board of Trustees’ Architecture

and Construction Committee has included

the science faculty in each step of the process. (above)Dan Northcut ’81 shows curious Middle Schoolers a spider

(left)Marksmen study together in the McDermott-Green Math-Science Quadrangle


“The next generation of great scientists

and leaders will come from St. Mark’s.”

—Steve Winn ’64


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In the Winn Family Science Center, the science

faculty see a facility that combines Lower, Middle,

and Upper School science education, improves

the overall campus experience, and provides

enhanced learning environments and affinity

spaces that allow students to explore their passions.

In May 2015, Doug Rummel was invited to present

some of these ideas at the annual Trustee Dinner.

He began by paying tribute to two of the founders

of Texas Instruments who made a transformative

investment in St. Mark’s.

“The Science Department is preparing for

a flexible and aspirational space worthy

of the Winn Family’s commitment.”

—Doug Rummel

“The McDermotts and Greens shared a lifelong

passion and generosity aimed at improving the

quality of life for humankind around the world.

Within a year of the McDermott-Green Math-

Science Quadrangle’s opening, President Kennedy

delivered his famous speech at Rice University

challenging us to conquer the hazards of space

and land on the moon, not because it was easy, but

because it was hard. I feel like that speech captures

the energy and the challenge that the Winn Family

has now provided St. Mark’s in the form of our own

second moonshot.”

The topography of science and technology has

changed dramatically in the past 50 years. A

decade from now, the students of today will find

themselves in careers that probably don’t exist yet.

“In response,” Doug said, “the Science Department

is preparing for a flexible and aspirational space,

worthy of the Winn Family’s commitment.”

(above)Upper School

students perform a biology experiment

(opposite)Sixth graders use

a microscope and iPad to observe

single-celled species

St. Mark’s School of Texas66 Class Notes | THE PRIDE

1963KEN ARTHUR ’63 recently had a mini-reunion with

GEORGE BASHAM ’63, MARK BIERNER ’64, RICK GEYER ’66,

and Ted Whatley. Ken is retired from his architecture practice

and now has a website for his artwork. Ken resides in Austin with

his wife, Pamela.

AL HILL JR. ’63 was inducted into the Trinity University Athletic

Hall of Fame in 2015 for his tennis career. Al had a singles

winning percentage of .775 during his time at Trinity, and he

went on to become the president of World Championship Tennis

for 23 years. Al resides in Dallas.

1968 JERRY CARLSON ’68 traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina in June

2015 for a research trip. While in Argentina, Jerry met with fellow

classmate BART WADE ’68 and his wife, Mary Sue, who were

living in Buenos Aires for six months. Jerry is a professor of film

and comparative literature at The City College of New York.

1975 ROBERT M. EDSEL ’75 and Anna Bottinelli were married by

St. Mark’s Chaplain Douglas Carter on April 18, 2015.

1977 COURTNEY SUTTLE ’77 was awarded the 2nd runner-up prize

for best script in the annual Beverly Hills Film Festival in May

2015. His script, “Fire on Ice,” is based on the true story of world-

record-setting speed skater, Irving Jaffee, and his triumph over

racism, abuse, and poverty to become the first Jewish athlete in

history to win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics of 1928 and

1932. Courtney currently resides in Los Angeles.

1983JON LANGBERT ’83 and GLENN MAI ’83 reconnected while Jon

was in Washington, D.C. Glenn is an International Trade Analyst

living in the D.C. area. Jon resides in Dallas and is the parent

of a current Marksman.

1987 GREG FOMIN ’87 recently became Chief Operating Officer

of Warrington Asset Management, LLC, an alternative asset

management firm, founded by SCOTT KIMPLE ’84. Greg, his

wife Jennifer, and their daughter Aubrey, reside in Dallas.

1993MATT ELLIS ’93 and his wife Emily are excited to introduce their

baby boy, Jett Burnett Ellis, who arrived fashionably late on

May 4, 2015. Jett weighed 9 lbs. and measured 22 inches in

length. The Ellis family resides in Austin, and Matt works out of

Washington, D.C. as a partner in international anti-corruption

law at Miller & Chevalier.

1996 | 20th ReunionSTEVEN FEINBERG ’96 married Stacy Kaltenbach on

January 18, 2015, in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.

MATTHEW FULLER ’96 served as the officiant, and all five

groomsmen were Marksmen, including COULOMB CHANG ’96,

THOR HERRIN ’96, J.J. MCCARTHY ’96, DEAN PUNHONG ’96,

and PETER THOMPSON ’96. Steven and Stacy reside in Raleigh,

North Carolina.

1997 BRAD HIRSCH ’97, his wife Margaret (Hockaday ’97), and son

Jacob (2), were excited to welcome a baby girl, Charlotte Elise

Hirsch, on July 14, 2015. Charlotte weighed 8 lbs., 1 oz. Brad and

his family reside in Dallas, where Brad is a medical oncologist

and serves as Senior Medical Director at Flatiron Health.

VEERAL RATHOD ’97 was recognized by the Dallas Business

Journal as a 2015 “40 Under 40” honoree. Veeral is the CEO and

co-founder of J. Hilburn, a direct-to-consumer luxury menswear

brand, which he started without any previous experience in

retail, fashion, or entrepreneurship. Veeral and his wife, Priya,

reside in Dallas with their two daughters, Aria and Anya.

Remarks

Jerry Carlson ’68 with Bart Wade ’68 and his wife, Mary Sue Robert M. Edsel ’75 married Anna Bottinelli Courtney Suttle ’77 Jon Langbert ’83 and Glenn Mai ’83 Matt Ellis ’93, his wife Emily, and son Jett Burnett Ellis Steven Feinberg ’96 with his wife, Stacy, and members of the bridal party Brad Hirsch ’97, his wife Margaret, son Jacob, and daughter

Charlotte Elise Hirsch

Fall 2015 | Class Notes 67

Class Notes



MATT GRAY ’99 completed eight years of active duty in the

United States Navy as an Intelligence Specialist, and is currently

in the Navy Reserves based out of Naval Air Station Fort Worth.

Matt is also pursuing a Master of Arts in Christian Education

from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife Kathleen and

two daughters, Danica (3) and Lillian (1), reside in Allen, Texas.

JASON HINOJOSA ’99 and his wife, Dana, recently moved from

Los Angeles to Iowa City. Jason will be pursuing his Master of

Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing with a focus on fiction at the

Iowa Writers’ Workshop.

Laura and SEAN HUANG ’99 are excited to announce the arrival

of Felix Yee-Li Huang, born on May 22, 2015. Felix weighed 7 lbs.,

14 oz. and measured 20 inches long. Older brother Evan (2) also

welcomed Felix’s arrival. Sean and his family reside in Frisco.

Erin and SETH MAZOW ’99 welcomed their first child, Nora

Josephine Mazow, on August 9, 2015. Nora arrived weighing 7

lbs., 1 oz. and was 19.5 inches long. The happy family resides in

San Francisco.

ROBERT SCHNEIDER ’99 currently resides in Houston, and

is developing his company, Schneider Precision, to support his

amateur kart racing career.

ALEX SCHOENEBERGER ’99 and his wife, Marie, are thrilled to

announce the birth of their son, Edward Vincent Schoeneberger.

Edward was born on February 23, 2015, and weighed 9 lbs.,

9 oz. and was 21 inches long. Alex and his family reside in Dallas,

where he is a web product manager for Capital One.

COLIN STEWART ’99 completed his residency in San Francisco

and fellowship in Atlanta, and settled in Washington, D.C., where

he is the Associate Training Director for the Child & Adolescent

Psychiatry Fellowship at Georgetown University Hospital.

Colin will also be taking on the role of the Psychiatry Clerkship

Director for Georgetown School of Medicine. One of his

favorite parts of living in D.C. has been getting to see classmates

WRIGHT SIGMUND ’99 and BEN STEIN ’99 on a regular basis.

Class Notes

68 Class Notes | THE PRIDE

1998 PENN COLLINS ’98 was married to Jess Linn on March 21,

2015, in Jackson, Wyoming. Penn’s brother, SETH COLLINS ’02,

was the best man, and classmates in attendance included

DAVID BARTHOLOW ’98, HUNTER HILL ’98, and RYAN

KIRKHAM ’98. Penn and Jess spent their honeymoon in

Barcelona, Spain. The couple resides in Los Angeles, where

Penn works in hotel development.

JEFF RAY ’98 and his wife Ashley welcomed their third daughter,

Josephine Meredith Ray, on July 3, 2015. Jeff and Ashley, along

with big sisters, Emma and Vera, praise God for such a precious

blessing! The Ray family resides in Coppell.

Sarah and JIM BOB WOMACK ’98 are proud to announce

the birth of their fourth child (and second daughter) Sloane

Alice Womack. Sloane was welcomed by siblings BRAYDON ’18

(15), Bo (5), and Layne (3) on June 22, 2015. Sloane and mom

are happy and healthy, and the entire family is adjusting to the

craziness.

1999CHRISTIAN COUSINS ’99 and YUVAL WEBER ’00 graduated

from the University of Texas at Austin in May 2015 with their

PhDs. Christian earned his degree in contemporary Spanish

literature, and Yuval studied energy and Russian politics in the

Government Department. Christian will begin teaching upper

school this fall at Princeton Day School in Princeton, New Jersey,

and Yuval currently works at the Higher School of Economics -

National Research University in Moscow.

ERIC BARTA ’99 and his wife Tiffanie reside in San Antonio

with their two sons, Owen (4) and Jack (3), who are excited to

start Pre-Kindergarten this year. Eric is the son of former faculty

member Stephanie Barta.

CHUCK CUMMINGS ’99 and his wife Angie moved from

Houston to the Austin Hill Country, where he works as a

structural engineer in the energy industry.

Class Notes

Penn Collins ’98 married Jess Linn Emma, Vera, and Josephine Meredith Ray Sloane Alice Womack Christian Cousins ’99 and Yuval Weber ’00 Owen and Jack Barta Nora Josephine Mazow Robert Schneider ’99

Fall 2015 | Class Notes 69St. Mark’s School of Texas


Class Notes

Lucas Batzer ’01 married Megan Sobel Ned Price ’01 Michael Norman ’02 and his wife, Sarah, with Jonah and

Brendan Joseph Norman Carl Sewell ’02 married Josie McGray Michael Prentiss ’02 with his daughter, Isabella Louise Julius Jenkins ’03 married Pavielle Chriss Alex Eshelbrenner ’04 married Christy Tuohy (Ursuline ’05) Scott Jacobs ’05


Class Notes

2003JULIUS JENKINS ’03 was married to Pavielle Chriss on

May 30, 2015, at First United Methodist Church Richardson.

The ceremony was officiated by DR. CLAYTON OLIPHANT ’79,

the Senior Pastor at the church. A reception at the Renaissance

Dallas Hotel Richardson followed. The happy couple currently

resides in Garland.

2004ALEX ESHELBRENNER ’04 married Christy Tuohy

(Ursuline ’05) on July 11, 2015, in Dallas, Texas. His brother,

MATTHEW ESHELBRENNER ’01, served as best man,

and NICK MONIER ’04, STEPHEN UNTERBERG ’04,

BLAKELY THORNTON ’04, TRAVIS MORRISON ’04, and

NEIL FERRINI ’04 were all members of the wedding party.

Alex and Christy live in Dallas, where Alex is St. Mark’s Director

of Alumni Relations and Christy is a teacher at Preston Hollow

Presbyterian School.

2005SCOTT JACOBS ’05 is the co-founder of Charity Charge, and

was featured in IBM’s reality show, A New Way to Startup.

Charity Charge is launching a credit card that allows you to

earn donations to support any nonprofit of your choice. Scott is

currently an MBA candidate at Yale University.

DREW LASSITER ’05 was married to Brittani Luecke on

February 21, 2015, at the Perkins Chapel at SMU in Dallas,

followed by a reception at Brookhollow Golf Club. Marksmen

in the wedding party included DANIEL BRANCH ’05,

BARRY NEWELL ’05, and HILL PEROT ’05. Other Marksmen

in attendance were ALEX BROOKS ’05, JEFF FIJOLEK ’05, and

ROSS RUSCHHAUPT ’04. Following the wedding, Drew and

Brittani spent two weeks in Mexico for their honeymoon.

The couple resides in Dallas where Drew is an Associate for RBC

Real Estate Capital Partners.

MICHAEL PERRIN ’05 received his MBA from the Tuck School

of Business at Dartmouth College in May 2015, and accepted a

job with Walmart as Senior Manager in Corporate Strategy and

Finance. Michael will marry Kristy Huynh in Des Moines, Iowa,

in June 2016. Michael currently lives in Bentonville, Arkansas.


2000Heather and BARRETT LINBURG ’00 are thrilled to announce

the arrival of their first child, Natalie Niles Linburg, born on

January 20, 2015. Natalie weighed 5 lbs., 10 oz. Barrett and his

family reside in Dallas.

2001 | 15th ReunionLUCAS BATZER ’01 and Megan Sobel were happily married on

October 25, 2014, in New York City. Megan was able to convince

Lucas to move out of his prior inhabitance, which he shared

with five other Marksmen. The couple currently resides in New

York City.

In June 2015, the Obama Administration named NED PRICE ’01

the National Security Council (NSC) Spokesperson and Senior

Director for Strategic Communications. Previously, Ned

served as Assistant Press Secretary and Director of Strategic

Communications on the NSC.

2002MICHAEL NORMAN ’02 and his wife, Sarah, welcomed Brendan

Joseph Norman into their family on May 16, 2015. Big brother

Jonah, who is currently designing a red rocket to the moon, has

magnanimously agreed to build a purple one for Brendan as

well. Clara Ann Norman, grandmother and Upper School math

teacher, has enjoyed many opportunities to visit with the newest

member of the family over the summer. Michael and his family

reside in Reston, Virginia, where he is an engineer with the

Aerospace Corporation.

CARL SEWELL ’02 married Josie McGray on March 28,

2015, in Austin. Marksmen in the wedding party included

ALAN EBERSTEIN ’02, WILLIAM DECHERD ’96, MILES

FISHER ’02, ALEX HICKS ’02, PETER LYNCH ’02, HILL

PEROT ’05, MICHAEL PRENTISS ’02, BRIAN PRYOR ’02, and

WILLIAM WOLCOTT ’02. Carl and Josie reside in Dallas.

MICHAEL PRENTISS ’02 and his wife, Stefanie, were blessed

with a baby girl, Isabella Louise, born on February 18, 2015.

Isabella weighed 7 lbs., 5 oz. and was 21 inches in length. The

Prentiss family resides in Dallas where Michael works for the

private equity firm Argenta Partners and Stefanie manages her

luxury travel company, Posh Voyage.


Class Notes

SPENCER WILLIAMS ’12 is a senior at Northwestern University,

where he is majoring in Computer Engineering. During the

summer of 2015, Spencer completed an internship at Ford Motor

Company headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, working within

Information Technology. Spencer designed the electrical system

on the Solar Car team, and is currently the Project Manager and

Electrical Leader.

2013NOAH YONACK ’13 spent the summer in the Bay Area as a

web developer intern at LinkedIn. Noah is currently a junior at

Harvard University, where he is studying computer science.

2014After completing his freshman year at Harvard University,

RYAN O’MEARA ’14 spent his summer living and working for

the Ministry of Social Evaluation in Santiago, Chile. During his

first week in Chile, Ryan was introduced to KYLE WIGGINS ’04,

who happened to be in Harvard’s Santiago Office for a meeting

regarding his startup company, Keteka. After discovering their

St. Mark’s and Harvard connection, Kyle traveled with Ryan and

his group to the Mapuche Cultural Center in Santiago.

2008MARK BUTLER ’08 joined Goldman Sachs as a credit analyst

in the Exotic Loans Department in April 2015. Previously, Mark

earned his degree in finance, with a minor in economics, from

Southern Methodist University in 2012, and then spent three

years working for J.P. Morgan in the High Net Worth Department.

2011 | 5th ReunionDEAN BUTLER ’11 earned his degree in petroleum engineering

in four years from the University of Texas at Austin. Dean will begin

his career at Chevron in the five-year Horizons New Employee

Development Program. He will be based in Houston during his first

rotation as a drilling engineer with the Mid-Continent Business

Unit, but will work a two-weeks-on, two-weeks-off drilling schedule

in the Permian Basin.

MAX GENECOV ’11 graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta

Kappa from Brown University with a degree in physics and English

in May 2015. Max began a PhD program in astrophysics at Cal

Berkeley this fall.

SPENCER HEIM ’11 graduated in May 2015 with a degree in

linguistics and cognitive science from Pomona College. Spencer

was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to teach English in South

Korea. After he completes the Fulbright, Spencer plans to continue

teaching English in Asia.

ALEX MILES ’11 and his debate partner led the Northwestern

Debate Team to win the National Debate Tournament in April

2015. They were also awarded the Rex Copeland Award, given to

the best team in the nation during the regular season, and were

the first team in 10 years to win the Copeland Award and the

National Debate Tournament in the same year. Alex graduated

from Northwestern University in May, and is now working in

Washington, D.C. for IBM Global Business Services as a consultant.

2012ISAIAH HUERTA ’12 was named a Cleveland Golf/Srixon

All-America Scholar by the Golf Coaches Association of America

in July 2015. Isaiah qualified for every tournament and finished

with a 74.77 stroke average across 30 rounds, recording six par

and two under-par rounds. Isaiah is a senior at Houston Baptist

University and is studying finance.

Alex Miles ’11 and his debate partner

Ryan O’Meara ’14 and Kyle Wiggins ’04


Class Notes


FACULTY NOTESFormer faculty member DEAN BAIRD is pleased to announce

the arrival of his granddaughter, Jase Marie Young, born on April

24, 2015 to his daughter, Catherine, and her husband, Tyler.

Jase weighed 8 lbs., 2 oz. Dean was the former Chairman of the

Computer Science Department and retired in May 2015 after 39

years at St. Mark’s.

DUANE BARNHART married Gina Ottwell on May 23, 2015.

Duane was also blessed with a new granddaughter, Hannah

Grace Evans, born on July 22, 2015. Hannah weighed 6 lbs.,

1 oz. and measured 19.5 inches in length. Duane serves as the

Assistant Director of the Physical Plant.

Eugene McDermott Master Teaching Chair in Science

JOHN MEAD was featured in an exhibition at the Texas

Discovery Gardens in Fair Park. The exhibit featured John’s

wildlife, landscape, and macro photography, as well as his

digital paintings and selections of his Microsafari videos

on the large screen in the gallery.

Lower School teacher LAURA OWENS was married to

Dale Pigg on June 6, 2015, at Prestonwood Baptist Church in

Plano, Texas.

CHERAY WILLIAMS played the part of Doo-Wop Girl Chiffon

in the Vagabond Players production of the musical Little Shop

of Horrors. The Vagabond Players is a small theater company

based in Terrell, Texas, and their productions are held at the

black box theater Books and Crannies. Cheray enjoyed her first

performance in live theater. Cheray works in the Business Office

at St. Mark’s as the Accounts Payable Specialist.

Duane Barnhart married Gina Ottwell Laura Owens married Dale Pigg Cheray Williams in the musical Little Shop of Horrors

Faculty Notes

in memoriam

BETTYE JANE KING ADIN, July 2015, mother of Richard L. Adin ’70.

ROBERT WESSELMAN ARNOLD ’74, May 14, 2015, brother of

Stephen S. Arnold ’71 and brother-in-law of Stephen R. Young ’70.

PEPPER ARONOFF, August 2015, wife of Stephen Aronoff ’68,

mother of Jonathan Aronoff ’02.

JOSEPH L. BARTA, March 25, 2015, father of Jon Patrick Barta ’90.

RICHARD D. BASS ’46, July 26, 2015, Trustee Emeritus, father of

James E. Bass ’77 and Richard D. Bass, Jr. ’74, grandfather of

Kevin E. Bass ’13, and Mason P. Smith ’15.

LOUIS P. BICKEL, April 21, 2015, stepfather of James R. Wilson ’87.

THOMAS L. BOYLE ’51, August 3, 2015, father of Thomas L. Boyle, Jr. ’89.

DAVID S. BRACKER ’72, February 19, 2015, brother of

William J. Bracker ’73.

BILL CALY, April 17, 2015, brother of staff member Julious Connor.


FELIPE CASTILLO, February 3, 2015, father of staff member

Martha E. Castillo.

OWENS CASTELMAN ’63, September 1, 2015.

L.C. CHANDLER, JR. ’10, April 27, 2015.

FLORENCE R. COHEN, August 4, 2015, mother of Harlan P. Cohen ’66,

grandmother of David K. Cohen ’97, and Alan M. Cohen ’01.

CARR P. COLLINS III ’62, April 20, 2015, brother of

Richard H. Collins ’65.

PATRICIA INDA CORREA, April 13, 2015, wife of faculty member

Jorge C. Correa.

MARGARET ANNE CULLUM, September 1, 2015, sister of

Allen E. Cullum ’64 and William B. Cullum ’67, aunt of

Belton A. Cullum ’99 and Charles A. Cullum ’04, daughter of

A. Earl Cullum, Jr.

ELYSABETH KELLY DENENBERG, June 6, 2015, grandmother of

Gary H. Morchower ’97.

PAULA RUPE DENNARD, February 6, 2015, Trustee Emeritus, sister of

Dallas Gordon Rupe III ’53 (deceased), wife of Robert Edwin Dennard

(deceased), and mother of David B. Dennard ’68.

MELISSA A. ENGLEMAN, May 1, 2015, mother of

David H. Engleman ’18.

JUNE FELTMAN, mother of Allen M. Feltman ’71.

ROSE M. FULLER, February 21, 2015, grandmother of

Wyatt H. Awtrey ’20.

PORTER WILLIAM GIFFORD III ’64, May 9, 2015, brother of

Geoffrey B. Gifford ’71.

MARY LEE GRAY, July 7, 2014, grandmother of

William Kelan Nesbitt ’12.

IDA MAE GRESHEN, November 5, 2014, grandmother of

Wirt Jackson IV ’23.

HARRIET FLORENCE BERNSTEIN GROSS, May 4, 2015, mother of

Jonathan S. Gross ’77.

IRVING S. HACKER, August 21, 2015, father of Howard B. Hacker ’89.

ELISABETH SLAUGHTER HAMMACK, March 11, 2015, sister of

John A. Hammack, Jr. ’73.

LUCILLE BROWN HARRELL, February 8, 2015, grandmother of

Mack H. Hicks ’99, John A. Hicks ’02, Robert B. Hicks ’04, and

Will Hicks ’10.


Remarks

MAURICE EARL HERRING MD., February 25, 2015, father of

Michael T. Herring ’82.

JO ANN HICKS, July 17, 2015, mother of faculty member

Timothy S. Hicks and grandmother of Christopher D. Hicks ’13.

WILLIAM SHIELDS HUNSUCKER ’42, May 25, 2015.

DUDY HURST, July 23, 2015, former staff member.

GEORGE MAXIMILAN ILLES, June 8, 2015, father of

George M. Illes, Jr. ’67.

LEETE R. JACKSON IV ’90, July 13, 2015, brother of J. Brent Jackson ’93.

ALAN L. KAHN, April 4, 2015, father of Richard A. Kahn ’69 and

Gary L. Kahn ’72.

LESLIE S. KEMP, March 5, 2015, mother of David S. Kemp ’03.

ROBERT KENNEALY, July 2, 2015, father of staff member

Samantha F. Insel.

JAMES MICHAEL KLANCNIK, March 24, 2015, father of

James M. Klancnik, Jr. ’90, Gordon P. Klancnik ’95, and

William D. Klancnik ’97

GAIL F. KOPPMAN, July 15, 2015, mother of John S. Koppman ’91.

WINSTON K. C. LAM, June 25, 2015, father of Cuyler Lam ’12 and

Cameron Lam ’16.

EARL J. LAWRENCE, February 25, 2015, husband of former faculty

member Nancy Lawrence.

CHRISTOPHER M. LOAR ’73, MD., November 30, 2014.

HARRY B. LUCAS, JR. ’67, May 5, 2015.

DR. ALAIN J. MARENGO-ROWE, March 4, 2015, father of

Adrian J. Marengo-Rowe ’81, grandfather of Aidan J. Kirksey ’11

and Dylan S. Kirksey ’13.

ALFRED SOLFEST MAURSTAD, July 5, 2015, grandfather of

Aidan T. Maurstad ’16.

LOUISE MITTENTHAL, February 27, 2015, grandmother of

Nathan E. Wilhite ’98.

JOHNNYE LEWISE NANCE, January 10, 2014, grandmother of

Jonathan F. McSween ’23.

ELIZABETH GEORGE ORWIG, June 6, 2015, grandmother of

Richard R. Orwig III ’92.

RICHARD R. ORWIG III ’92, May 22, 2015.


MITZI PERRY-MILLER, June 27, 2015, grandmother of

Baxter B. Perry-Miller ’24.

PATTIE JEAN POWELL, March 10, 2015, grandmother of

Donald J. McNamara III ’10, Thomas P. McNamara ’13, and

Daniel W. McNamara ’14.

DUDLEY VINCENT POWELL, JR., April 19, 2015, brother of

Tyrone A. Powell ’77

REV. CARL D. REIMERS, JR. ’47, June 17, 2015.

ROSS A. REIMER ’55, April 25, 2014.

BRIAN L. SAM ’94, July 28, 2015.

EMILIE SCHEPPS, June 14, 2015, mother of Lee Schepps ’58.

JULES EDOUARD SCHNEIDER III ’48, June 11, 2015.

WILLIAM STEPHEN SNIDER, August 3, 2015, father of John C. Snider ’78

(deceased).

PHYLLIS HUGO STAGER, April 17, 2015, mother of James J. Stager,

Sr. ’80 and David Stager, Jr. ’83, grandmother of James J. Stager, Jr. ’09,

Jackson L. Stager ’12, Foster H. Stager ’15, and Hayden W. Stager ’22.

SYLVIA SUSSMAN, August 2, 2015, grandmother of Joshua S. Yudkin ’08

and Ross H. Yudkin ’11.

JACK RANDOLPH SWAIN, JR., June 10, 2015, father of

Jack R. Swain III ’75.

BRYANT TRENARY, March 12, 2015, father of Russell B. Trenary ’66.

HAROLD M. VAN SCHAIK, July 24, 2015, former faculty member and

father of Harold M. Van Schaik, Jr. ’80 and Thomas L. Van Schaik ’83.

ISRAEL M. VERVER, SR., August 4, 2015, father of

Israel M. Verver, Jr. ’90.

RICHARD CLAY WAGHORNE ’89, May 5, 2015, brother of

Michael R. Waghorne ’86.

ALEXANDER F. WEISBERG, JR. ’44, June 27, 2015.

DAN WEISER, June 20, 2015, grandfather of Leo E. Weiser ’17 and

Aaron I. Weiser ’20.

LUCILE WEST, April 26, 2015, grandmother of faculty member

GayMarie Vaughan.

ROBERT C. YOUNG ’47, February 22, 2015.

St. Mark’s School of Texas76 End Notes | THE PRIDE

ONLINE GIVINGThe St. Mark’s Fund is the School’s most important, ongoing

fundraising priority, providing more than 10% of its annual

operating budget. You may give online through our secure server

at www.smtexas.org/smfund. Every gift makes a difference.

ARCHIVESFrom the Terrill School, all the way to St. Mark’s School of Texas, ours is

a school with a long and rich history. If you have something that you

would like to donate to St. Mark’s to be preserved in our archives, please

contact the Office of Development & Alumni Relations at 214.346.8800.

SUBMISSIONSDo you have a great story you’d like to share with your fellow alumni?

Have you made any changes in your life such as a new job, new degree,

marriage, children, or other announcement? Please send your stories, along

with any photos, to the Office of Development & Alumni Relations

so we can include them in our next issue. Submissions may be made

in any of three ways:

• www.smtexas.org

Use our online form to send in your “Remarks.”

• Email | [email protected]

Send your information and high-resolution photos to Alex Eshelbrenner ’04

at [email protected].

• U.S. Mail

Send to St. Mark’s School of Texas,

Attn. Alex Eshelbrenner, 10600 Preston Road, Dallas, TX 75230-4047

Submissions received after September 1, 2015, will appear in the next issue of The Pride.

THE PRIDE is published twice annually by St. Mark’s School of Texas, Office of Development & Alumni Relations, 10600 Preston Road, Dallas, Texas 75230-4047, and is distributed to alumni, parents, and friends of the School.

In producing this magazine, every effort has been made to ensure that it is accurate. Please report any errors, or receipt of multiple copies, to the Office of Development & Alumni Relations, and accept our sincerest apologies.

St. Mark’s School of Texas does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.

©2015 St. Mark’s School of TexasAn Office of Development & Alumni Relations Publication

THE

PRIDESt. Mark’s School of Texas Alumni Magazine

Printed on paper containing 10% POST-CONSUMER WASTE.

EDITORKaty B. Rubarth

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATORSDavid CardenAlexandra George

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORSCase Brabham ’15Carrington Kyle ’15George Lin ’15

PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTRIBUTORSJason LangeNASA/Bill IngallsNASA/Joel Kowsky

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENTJim Bob Womack ’98

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONSAlex Eshelbrenner ’04

FPO

Endnotes

Gene and Alice Oltrogge became members of the Menter

B. Terrill Society when they recently made a planned gift to the

School. In deciding to make this gift, Gene and Alice looked to

the community they have been involved in for many years. “We

have had the pleasure of being associated with St. Mark’s for 50

years now. During that time, we have had the opportunity to

observe how special this School is.”

Gene joined the St. Mark’s community in 1964 when he

began teaching in the Math Department. In 1965, Gene introduced wrestling to young Marksmen

and coached wrestling from 1970 to 1976. Alice began teaching art in Lower and Middle School in

1965. After 13 years of teaching, Alice stepped away to raise their newly adopted sons from Vietnam,

Holme Oltrogge ’86 and Will Oltrogge, who came to live with them when they were 10 and 6 years

old. “We will always be grateful to the faculty for the way they welcomed our boys and helped them

adjust to their new country.” After Holme graduated, Alice returned to teaching at St. Mark’s and

retired in 2013, after the completion of her 40th year. “I realize how blessed I was to have been able

to work at a job that I loved for 40 years and to have taught so many special students who were

eager to learn and always enthusiastic,” said Alice reflecting on her time at St. Mark’s.

“St. Mark’s has been such a big part of our lives, we had the realization we wanted to give back

as generously as we could. Planned giving was the best way for us to do so,” said Alice.

Gene and Alice made their gift to the School through life insurance. Gene has been in the

insurance business for 40 years where he has witnessed the many advantages of making a gift

in this way. “Supporting a charity through life insurance provides an amplified gift and good tax

benefits,” he said.

As educators and as parents in the St. Mark’s community, Gene and Alice witnessed first-hand

the mission of the School. “We have been able to watch boys enter in first grade and grow into fine

young men ready to graduate with a wonderful education. They also leave with a strong sense of

right and wrong and an awareness that they need to serve and contribute to their community. With

that in mind, we wanted to give something back as our way of saying thank you because we believe

so strongly in the education St. Mark’s provides.”

Through their gift, Gene and Alice Oltrogge will make a lasting impact on the School, the

students, and the faculty of St. Mark’s. Life insurance as well as bequests, charitable remainder

trusts, retirement plans, and/or gifts of real estate are all options to be considered when making a

planned gift. For additional information on including St. Mark’s in your legacy plans, please contact

Scott Jolly in the Office of Development at 214.346.8132 or [email protected].

Gene & Alice Oltrogge: Menter B. Terrill Society

St. Mark’s School of Texas10600 Preston Road

Dallas, Texas 75230-4047214.346.8000 • www.smtexas.org

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Pluto, as seen by the New Horizons spacecraft on July 14, 2015, just before its historic flyby overseen by Alan Stern ’75.

discovering new horizons...pridet he st. mark’s school of te xas fall 2015 volume 20, issue 2 st....

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