With enrollment up 22% in the past two years, a num- ber of exciting new pro- grams and initiatives, and as of this writing, an unde- feated football team, it‘s an exciting time at TA! We want you to be a part of it. After all, you will always be part of the TA family. Sincerely, Dr. Jeffrey L. Mitchell Headmaster Dear TA Alumni, It‘s been a number of years since TA has produced an alumni newsletter and we are proud to revive this tradition. Niccole Poole, our new Director of Ad- vancement and Alumni Relations, will ensure that our newsletter, and all else pertaining to alumni rela- tions, will be superbly done. With approximately 1200 TA Alumni making their mark on the world, it‘s time to create an even stronger bond with alumni Knights. TA wants to keep its alumni informed of the wonderful events and ac- tivities happening through- out the year. This year, the 2011-12 Annual Fund Campaign was in the month of October. We reached 100% par- ticipation from the Board of Trus- tees and faculty and staff. To add an element of friendly competition, this year we tracked participation by grade level on a special banner in front of the school. The top three grades with the highest participa- tion in the LS, MS, and US won a pizza party for their efforts. Let‘s congratulate our winners: LS— 3rd grade (97%), MS—5th grade (83%) and 9th grade (79%). Every gift—big and small—is valued and greatly appreciated by the TA family. There is a pledge card on page 6 … Can we count YOU in? From the Desk of the Headmaster... 2011-12 Annual Fund Campaign WINTER 2012 VOLUME XVII, ISSUE I “Annual giving is the custom of making a gift-a-year to an institution in which one has faith. It is a friendly, altogether happy custom … a perennial reunion in spirit … a pooling of hope and good wishes by those who wish the institution well.” ~ Benjamin Franklin
Transcript
With enrollment up 22% in
the past two years, a num-
ber of exciting new pro-
grams and initiatives, and
as of this writing, an unde-
feated football team, it‘s an
exciting time at TA! We
want you to be a part of it.
After all, you will always be
part of the TA family.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jeffrey L. Mitchell
Headmaster
Dear TA Alumni,
It‘s been a number of years
since TA has produced an
alumni newsletter and we
are proud to revive this
tradition. Niccole Poole,
our new Director of Ad-
vancement and Alumni
Relations, will ensure that
our newsletter, and all else
pertaining to alumni rela-
tions, will be superbly
done.
With approximately 1200
TA Alumni making their
mark on the world, it‘s
time to create an even
stronger bond with alumni
Knights. TA wants to keep
its alumni informed of the
wonderful events and ac-
tivities happening through-
out the year.
This year, the 2011-12 Annual Fund
Campaign was in the month of
October. We reached 100% par-
ticipation from the Board of Trus-
tees and faculty and staff. To add
an element of friendly competition,
this year we tracked participation
by grade level on a special banner in
front of the school. The top three
grades with the highest participa-
tion in the LS, MS, and US won a
pizza party for their efforts. Let‘s
congratulate our winners: LS—
3rd grade (97%), MS—5th grade
(83%) and 9th grade (79%).
Every gift—big and small—is
valued and greatly appreciated by
the TA family. There is a pledge
card on page 6 … Can we count
YOU in?
From the Desk of the Headmaster...
2011-12 Annual Fund Campaign
W I N T E R 2 0 1 2 V O L U M E X V I I , I S S U E I
“Annual giving is the custom of making a gift-a-year to an institution in which one has faith. It is a friendly, altogether happy custom … a perennial reunion in spirit … a pooling of hope and good wishes by those who wish the institution well.”
~ Benjamin Franklin
P A G E 2 V O L U M E X V I I , I S S U E I
Greetings, Alumni!
I am honored to serve as the President of the Board of Directors for the 2011 – 12
school year. This year has started off with a bang and we want you, the faithful
alumni, to be informed and engaged. A winning football season, a robust Annual Fund
campaign, improvements in classroom technology and academic excellence are just a
few of the positive accomplishments that have set the stage for a successful school
year.
In September, the Board of Directors participated in the annual retreat where we
discussed the future of TA. The Board has adopted the theme ―TA Tomorrow‖ to
shape our thinking and guide our discussions and decision-making. We are entering a
phase of strategic planning and evaluating the potential to improve our facilities and
poise ourselves for future growth. While remaining true to our mission and main-
taining a small faculty to student ratio, we want to maintain the stature of TA within
the greater Tuscaloosa community through excellent facilities, curriculum and student
experiences. We want to continue to produce well-rounded students, with a sense
of purpose and a passion for life-long learning. To accomplish that, we need your
support.
Quite simply, growth requires resources. While we will always need monetary re-
sources, each of you has more than that to give. Each positive word you say about
TA, each time you attend a school-related event, or visit our Facebook page to catch
up on the latest school news, you are staying an active and engaged member of the
TA family and we need that. Please take the time to fill out and return the alumni
contact card in the back of this newsletter and the online alumni survey. We want to
share your news and celebrate your successes with the rest of the TA family.
Together, we‘re defining the TA of Tomorrow. Won‘t you please join us on this
journey?
Elizabeth Davis McGiffert
Class of 1981
From the Desk of the President of the Board
"The mission of Tuscaloosa
Academy is to provide a
college-preparatory
education in a supportive
environment of intellectual
freedom, to cultivate a
love of learning, and to
maximize each student's
potential for academic
achievement, character
development and readiness
for life in a global
environment."
T H E K N I G H T L Y N E W S
P A G E 3
Meet new members of the TA Faculty & Staff
Robert Johnson
Athletic Director
Head Football Coach
Elizabeth Johnson
Physical Education
Athletic Director‘s Assistant
Karen Kneer
German
William Johnson
Math, History
Coach
Jacob Lyon
Biology
Jo Childers
Physical Education
Coach
Suzy Gatewood
1st Grade Niccole Poole
Director of Advancement and
Alumni Relations
V O L U M E X V I I , I S S U E I
Judy Espey
Business Manager
Athena Hubbert
Aide & Volleyball
Nikki Massey
Spanish
Kyle McCracken
Grounds
Elizabeth Summers
Aide
Sandra Schafer
German
P A G E 4
The
Tuscaloosa Amphiteatre is
located at
2710 Jack Warner Pkwy
Tuscaloosa, AL
Visit online at
tuscaloosaamphitheater.com
Located on the banks of the
Black Warrior River, this open
air venue is a true gem to
downtown Tuscaloosa and
features an array of artists
from Widespread Panic to
Patti LaBelle. There’s some-
thing for everyone!
Wendy Standeffer Riggs
Wendy Riggs has lived a life
among the stars. As Director
of the new Tuscaloosa Amphi-
theater, she‘s bringing her own
―star quality‖ to the town that
she grew up in. Wendy gradu-
ated from TA in 1978 and
admits that the one-on-one
attention she received at TA
and the drama curriculum is
what drew her into the world
of theatrical art. Needing to
―learn to be independent and
break outside of the mold‖,
she decided to pursue under-
graduate studies at Auburn
University. There, she discov-
ered that being in the spotlight
wasn‘t the best fit for her and
instead pursued a degree in
Theatre Technology and De-
sign. At the time, and even
now in some cases, females
were not encouraged to learn
the technological aspect of a
live production. But Wendy
wouldn‘t accept that. ―At the
Academy, I was taught I can do
whatever I want. I‘m not lim-
ited to having a male or female
dream. I didn‘t have to do
what I was supposed to be
doing. I could do anything.‖
This belief, coupled with talent
and hard work, took Wendy
to some pretty amazing jobs.
In 1982, she was the only
woman of 77 technicians hired
to work at the 1982 World‘s
Fair. Then, after moving back
home, she was the first female
manager of the Bama Theatre.
From there, she moved on to
Illinois to be the stage manager
for a dinner theatre. Next,
she worked at Disney for
seven years as a laser and pyro
-technician and project man-
ager, building sets and stages,
including the Indiana Jones set
and the new Theatre of the
Stars. One of her most fond
memories was on the set of
Indiana Jones when the cast
and crew were told to prepare
for a private show. ―We didn‘t
know who it was until we
looked out in the audience,
and there sat Michael Jackson.‖
At the opening of the Indiana
Jones show, Wendy got to
hang out with Harrison Ford,
Steven Spielberg, and George
Lucas, which she says was
― p r e t t y
c o o l . ‖
I n d e e d .
After Dis-
n e y ,
Wendy completed her Masters
in Theater Management and
Arts Administration at UA.
From there, she managed per-
forming arts centers in Vegas
and Atlanta, and served as
Assistant GM at the Fox Thea-
tre in Atlanta. She‘s also
worked as a consultant, a pro-
fessor at SCAD (Savannah
College of Art and Design,
Atlanta), and as the Executive
Director of ―True Colors
Theatre Company‖, Kenny
Leon‘s theatre in Atlanta.
Clearly, Wendy knows there‘s
no business like show business
… and nobody knows the
business like her. Tuscaloosa,
and the Amphitheater in par-
ticular, are lucky to have
Wendy back in her hometown
doing what she does best.
Wendy Riggs … a Tuscaloosa
star and a TA star. Welcome
back!
T H E K N I G H T L Y N E W S
In Memoriam P A G E 5 V O L U M E X V I I , I S S U E I
Honoring Conrad Wesselhoeft, Jr. Mr. Conrad Wesselhoeft, Jr. died July 24, 2011 at the age of 88. His family says his ―love of
building, making and doing‖ fueled his passion to launch nine companies, including Dixie
Steel and Supply Co. in Alberta and Wesselhoeft, Inc. in Moundville. He was involved in
almost every civic organization Tuscaloosa has to offer, and even founded a Tuscaloosa
wine club. Mr. Wesselhoeft studied metallurgy at Harvard, served in the Army, was fluent
in four languages, dabbled in a few others, played the piano and woodwind instru-
ments. He could sail and was an avid snow skier. He was vice chairman of a board
that founded Tuscaloosa Academy and helped hire the first headmaster. He was
instrumental in securing the land and the funds for the construction of TA. The TA
community appreciates his role in the founding of the school and his continued
support and presence at TA events throughout his life.
TA Football: Johnson Named AISA Coach of the Year
Gifts to the
2011-12 An-
nual Fund in
memory of
Conrad
Wesselhoeft
total
$2,355.00 Honoring Jimmy Hinton, Sr. Mr. James Hinton, Sr. died December 3, 2011 at the age of 88. Mr. Hin-
ton is known by his family, friends and colleagues as a passionate conser-
vationist and entrepreneur who understood the value of hard work and
appreciated the challenge of business ventures. He was the owner and
chairman of the R.L. Zeigler meat packing company, involved in the lum-
ber business, pallet business, was a real estate developer, owned an as-
phalt business and automobile business. In 1999, he was inducted into
the Alabama Business Hall of Fame. Mr. Hinton was passionate about
hunting and spent time on Sedgefield Plantation, his family land in Dallas
County. He generously shared Sedgefield with hundreds of others, most
notably, by helping people with disabilities and terminal illness hunt at the
Buckmasters American Deer Foundation Life Hunt, that began over 25
years ago. Mr. Hinton was a member of the Tuscaloosa Academy Board
of Trustees when it was founded in 1966.
Head football coach Robert Johnson was com-
mended at the Alabama Independent School Associa-
tion's Football All Star Classic in Prattville on Dec. 1.
Johnson, who ended his first season at Tuscaloosa
Academy with a 9-2 record, was named AISA Class
AAA Football Coach of the Year by his peers.
Coach Johnson and his staff led the TA Knights to
the first round of playoffs. Congratulations, Coach
Johnson!
P A G E 6
Class Notes
JESSE PRENTICE-DUNN
(C/O 2003) is currently serv-
ing as Associate Washington
Representative for the Sierra
Club in Washington, D.C.
working as a policy analyst on
federal transportation policy.
CAROLINE BURCHFIELD
and LAKE LASSITER (C/O
2002) were married February
26, 2011 at Christ Episcopal
Church. They currently reside
in Tuscaloosa where Lake
works for Alabama Truck and
Equipment and Caroline works
for Greene Beverage.
THE CLASS OF 2001 gave
a gift of $500 to the 2011-12
Annual Fund in memory of Bill
Jamison, III.
BEVERLY CORK (C/O
2000) was married to Mr.
Christian Williams, of Tusca-
loosa, on May 21, 2011 at
Christ Episcopal Church in
Tuscaloosa. The lovely recep-
tion was held at her parent‘s
home. The couple resides in
Tuscaloosa.
CHARLES RUSSELL
GAMBRELL (―RUSS‖) (C/
O 1998) is a Senior Financial
Analyst for C.R. Bard in At-
lanta, GA and is engaged to
Miss Lauren Barrette of Selma,
AL. The wedding will be in
Tuscaloosa on May 25, 2012.
MEGAN MCGIFFERT, MD
(C/O 1997) returned to Tus-
caloosa in 2008 after finishing
her residency in Pediatrics at
UAB. She is now a partner
ANNE WESSELHOEFT
SMALLEY (C/O 1979) is
President of Wesselhoeft, Inc.
and resides in Tuscaloosa
with her husband DR. JACK
SMALLEY (C/O 1979) and
two sons who attend TA:
Robey (10th grade) and Con-
rad (7th grade)
SCOTT DONALDSON
(C/O 1977), has been a Circuit
Judge in Tuscaloosa County
since 2003. His wife, Beth, is a
C l i n i c a l
D i e t i t i a n .
They have
two sons,
Alex, CPA
in Birming-
ham and
Rob, a jun-
ior at UA.
try Club and is the TA boys
and girls tennis coach.
ANN MCCORD GUCK (C/
O 1988) is married with three
children and living in Los Ange-
les, CA.
LT. COLONEL TARA L.
MORRISON (C/O 1987) has
been selected to serve as Chief
of Contracting for the U.S. Air
Force Special Operations
Command. Lt. Colonel Morri-
son is currently completing a
one year deployment in Bagh-
dad, Iraq as Commander, Con-
tracting Support Division, U.S.
Forces-Iraq. She previously
served as Deputy Chief, Instal-
lations and Sourcing Division,
Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
GREG GAMBRIL (C/O
1984) has recently moved back
to Tuscaloosa where he has
accepted a position as a Senior
Deputy District Attorney with
the Tuscaloosa County DA's
Office. He and his wife, Julie,
are living in Woodridge with
their children, Joseph (9),
Charlie (5), and Catey (11
months).
Josh Norris, co-owner of Norris
Limb & Brace, is pleased to an-
nounce the business has out-
grown it‘s location on Bryant
Drive and has relocated to
McFarland Blvd in Northport,
behind Mr. G‘s. Josh, EMILY
NORRIS (C/O 1996) and their
three children, Marion (TA 1st
grade), Ellen (TA Pre-K) and
Mark (joining his sisters at TA in
2012) are doing well and getting
settled at their new residence in
Covey Chase . CLETE
BROWDER (C/O 1997) is the
Tennis Pro at Indian Hills Coun-
T H E K N I G H T L Y N E W S
with Tuscaloosa Pediatrics.
Her favorite thing about
practicing pediatrics in Tus-
caloosa is that she is now
the doctor for many of the
children of her former TA
classmates! When she is
not working, Megan likes to
travel and she has visited
countries on six different
continents.
KIMBERLE BARTON (C/O
1983) is a mortgage banker in
Tuscaloosa and her two chil-
dren, TYLER (C/O 2008) and
J O R D A N
(C/O 2009)
attend UA.
Marion, Ellen and Mark Norris
Caroline Burchfield Lassiter
and Lake Lassiter
ASHLEY MCLEOD (C/O
‗ 0 2 ) a n d P A T R I C K
ANDRES (C/O ‗02) were
married at First Presbyterian
Church in Tuscaloosa on Sep-
tember 10, 2011. The lovely
reception was held at Indian
Hills Country Club. Patrick
passed the Bar Exam in Sep-
tember and is in practice with
his father at Andres, Lemley
& Springer. Ashley teaches
economics and statistics at
Shelton State Community
College. The happy couple
resides in Tuscaloosa.
Upper School News by Dr. Barry Peterson
P A G E 7 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1
The Upper School continues to
experience good results with our
AP test scores, and this past year
demonstrated fine growth. Many
students have also been taking ad-
vantage of the ACT/SAT prep
course, and experiencing increases
in their scores. This has produced
some written response from par-
ents thanking us for helping prepare
their children for the college of
their choice. The feedback we
continue to receive from our
alumni is most encouraging. On the
personal side, we are looking for-
ward to seeing many of our alumni
on our upcoming college tour this
February. The extracurricular pro-
gram continues to expand to meet
the interests of our students as
well. We now have a Model
United Nations program and we
have launched a start with the Na-
tional Forensic League competition
with assistance from key personal
at the University of Alabama coach-
ing our students. This is very excit-
ing for many of our students who
enjoy these new activities to Tusca-
loosa Academy.
Club, Book Club, Arts and
Crafts, Game Day, and Young
Yoga. They can also sign up for
other programs such as Musical
Beginnings, gymnastics, karate,
and Knight School, which is a
chess club.
They all stay very busy as they
continue the fun and education
into the afternoon.
This year we have also intro-
duced Science Fusion, a new
This year we have expanded
our after school activities to
Extended Explorations. The Pre-
schoolers have special activities
during the week such as arts
and crafts, popcorn and movies,
and game day. They also go to
the playground and have a great
afternoon until 5:30 when they
are picked up.
The Lower School children
have Homework Club, Walking
science curriculum that begins in kindergar-
ten and continues through the 8th grade.
This program is interac-
tive video based with the
use of our SMARTboards
that keep the students
engaged in learning sci-
ence with hands on sci-
ence experiments.
reputed programs will help our
students develop critical thinking
and analytical skills, as well as build
the necessary skills foundation for
the advanced classes they will take
in the future. Students also benefit
from the implementation of the
SkillsTutor program, a new online
standardized test prep program
provides individualized instruction
to reinforce math and reading
skills and help prepare our stu-
d e n t s f o r s t a n d a r d i z e d
tests. Other expansions include
new enrichment courses such as
Service Learning, Public Speaking,
KnightLife, MidKnight Scholars
Literary Enrichment, and Personal
Finance, as well as the continua-
tion of the lower school strings
program in middle school, Knight
School Chess Program, and Musi-
cal Beginnings offerings.
TA‘s middle school is off to a great
start! We have record numbers of
students this year and look forward
to continuing this trend. In addi-
tion, we have expanded our aca-
demic offerings to ensure that we
continue to be the premiere col-
lege preparatory school in west
Alabama. To this point, we have
adopted the inquiry based Science
Fusion and Singapore Math pro-
grams. These well-established and
Middle School News by Dean Heatherly Whiteside
Lower School News by Dean Mary Madge Crawford
Middle School Dance in the Atrium
Friends in Ms. White‘s Montessori Class
2010 Senior Homecoming Maids
From Left: Ashton Standeffer, Chazmin Whitfield
(Queen) , Ashley Shamblin, Elaina Plott
Merit Scholars 2010-11
From Left: Renita Daniels (National Achievement
Scholar),
Ashley Shamblin (National Commended Scholar),
Daniel Kendrick (National Merit Scholar), John David
Ryan (National Commended Scholar)
P A G E 8
T H E K N I G H T L Y N E W S
TA Football. Lovely decorations by Elizabeth McGiffert
Lower School Christmas Program directed
by Mrs. von Redlich
7th Grade trip to Camp McDowell
Homecoming Week 2011
Cross Country Champs Bannock Farrens (L) and Alston Thompson (R)
