THE ACCOLADE W I l S O n H A l l | J A n u A r y 2 0 2 1

EXPANDING OUR FOUNDAT ON

Capital Campaign Announced

Since the founding of the school in 1966, Wilson Hall has

been dedicated to providing a rigorous and well-balanced

education within an environment reflective of the Judeo-

Christian values laid out by the dedicated and visionary

members of the founding board.

To continue fulfilling the strategic master plan for the Wilson

Hall campus and to address emerging needs of our students

and faculty, the Board of Trustees is proposing 25,000 square

feet of new and renovated construction. The new facility (next

to the gym) will provide an important resource in today’s mod-

ern educational landscape by adding a chapel/gathering area

as well as a suite of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering,

Math) classroom spaces and other facilities which enhance the

whole person at every grade level: mind, body, and spirit.

This transformational new project will allow us to:

• Increase the number of classrooms for upper school which

will, in turn, free up space for enhancing educational op-

portunities in the lower and middle school;

• Allocate new space to emphasize STEM education at all

grade levels;

• Add a fitness/wellness center as well as completely reno-

vated and updated locker rooms adjacent to the gym;

• Create an appealing and attractive chapel/assembly space

that will strengthen the emphasis on the founding princi-

ples of character, ethics, morality, and faith; and

• Provide a unique rooftop gathering space overlooking the

athletic fields and green spaces.

We hope you will join us in advancing this portion of Wilson

Hall’s mission by supporting this important campaign.

Pledges may be paid over five years. All gifts to Wilson Hall

for the Expanding Our Foundation Campaign are tax de-

ductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. For further in-

formation, please contact Mrs. Laura Barr, Director of

Development, at laurabarr@wilsonhall.org or 803-469-3475

x111.

APGovernment

Class 2ndin State

CompetitionThe students in the Ad-

vanced Placement u.S.

Government & Politics

class taught by Mr. Tom

O’Hare placed second

overall in the state in the

We the People: The Citi-

zen and the Constitution

competition. Sponsored

by the South Carolina

Bar, the primary goal of

the program is to pro-

mote civic competence

and responsibility among

students through an in-

structional program that

enhances students' un-

derstanding of the insti-

tutions of American

constitutional democracy.

At the same time, stu-

dents discover the con-

temporary relevance of

the Constitution and Bill

of rights. The culminat-

ing activity is a simulated

congressional hearing in

which students "testify"

before a panel of judges.

Students demonstrate

their knowledge and un-

derstanding of constitu-

tional principles and

have opportunities to

evaluate, take and de-

fend positions on rele-

vant historical and

contemporary issues. 

Mr. Eddie Talley, head varsity boys basketball coach, earned his 600th career victory on

December 4. Mr. Talley has been coaching for 34 years, the last 27 at Wilson Hall. In

addition to serving as a coach, Mr. Talley is the Assistant Headmaster, lower School

Head, and economics teacher

Members of theClass of ‘34 sing“Baby Jesus, WeLove You” in theirmusic classtaught by Mrs.Julia Sims-Owensin the music stu-dio. Lower schoolstudents havespecial classes inart, computer sci-ence, library,music and physi-cal educationeach week. 

Mr. Eddie Talley, head varsity boys basketball coach, is presented the

game ball after earning his 600th victory as a coach. Celebrating with Mr.

Talley are his wife, Mrs. Carla Talley, two of his sons, Wesley ‘10 & Matt

‘07, and Matt’s daughter Anne Thomas. 

Wilson Hall’s Dance Marathon Committee set a record during the Day of

Miracles, a donation push day, raising $3,391. The school raised more on

this day than any other high school dance marathon in the nation.

The Dance Marathon Committee has raised over $11,000 from several first

semester events and online donations to benefit Prisma Health Children’s

Hospital. In partnership with the university of South Carolina Dance

Marathon which raises over half a million dollars every year through the Chil-

dren’s Miracle network, the money raised will go to support bettering the

lives of children at the hospital. A student-led organization, Emily Gray ‘21

serves as the Executive Director and Mrs. Liz McCabe is the faculty advisor. 

A drive-in movie night, featuring The Grinch, was held in the main parking

lot with two showings, one for upper school and one for lower school, and

generated over $800 in donations.

In December the committee raised over $1,300 through several events in

the upper school. By reaching the goal of $1,000, students were allowed to

wear sweatpants during midterm exams and faculty members were permit-

ted to wear jeans. Students were also able purchase candy grams to be sent

to fellow students and faculty members on the last day of class.

The main community service project the school sponsors, a total of $48,524

has been raised by Wilson Hall for the cause during the last four years. This

year’s mini-dance marathon, the fifth annual marathon the school has spon-

sored, will not be the traditional event held in the nash Student Center as

in the past but will be a variety of small events. The events and online do-

nations will continue until March. 

Abbie Beatson ‘21, the Dance Marathon Commit-

tee Internal Co-Director, delivers candy grams and

other treats that students purchased during the

organization’s fundraiser.  

Dance MarathonSets Record

The Junior Beta

Club collected

$260 to donate to

Sumter united

Ministries. Jane

McAdams ‘25

serves as the club’s

president and Mrs.

Dianne Sprott is

the club advisor.

The schoolsign at the

corner ofWilson Hall

Road andWise Drive is

decorated forChristmas by

the PTOLandscaping

Committeechaired by

Mrs. CarolineShook

Twenty-nine children in the Sumter community received Christ-

mas gifts from Wilson Hall’s lower school students through the annual

Angel Tree Project. Each of the lower school classes adopted a child or family

through one of the various Angel Tree projects in Sumter, and each class collected

money from its families to purchase items from a child’s wish list. The gifts, which included bicy-

cles, toys, educational items and clothing, were brought to the school by parent volunteers for the stu-

dents to see before being wrapped and delivered for distribution. The gifts were distributed to the deserving

children through the Department of Social Services foster care program, The Salvation Army, or Sumter united Ministries.

Angel TreeProject BenefitsL ocal Children

Members of the Class of ‘35

pose with the Christmas gifts

they purchased for two children

through the Angel Tree Project. 

AluMnI

1973Gifford Shaw was

elected to the

Sumter City Council

representing Ward

6. He and his wife

Marian have three

daughters, Caroline

Shaw Motley ‘00,

Margaret Shaw

Wright ‘02 and Wes-

ley Shaw ‘04, and

five grandchildren. 

GiffordShaw ‘73

Caroline Moorman ‘27 completes a circuit lab in her science class

taught by Mrs. Karen Jones. For the STEAM activity, students ex-

plored the basic physics of electricity by building and testing sev-

eral simple circuits including a lamp, a mechanical motor with a

fan, and a doorbell.

Keith Harvin is the Vice President of Parker Energy, an

electricity and gas consulting company. He graduated

from Clemson university with a Bachelor of Science in

economics. Keith and his wife Tracy live in Sumter and

have three children: Taylor ‘12, Mills ‘17 and Noah ‘18. 

Keith Harvin ‘81 with his wife Tracy after theClemson Ring Ceremony for his daughter, Mills ‘17.

1981

Aynsley Peel Eastman lives in Athens, Georgia, and

works as a global business manager for Beohringer

Ingelheim, an international research-driven pharma-

ceutical company with headquarters in Germany.

She graduated from the College of Charleston with

a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and chemistry and from

the university of Georgia with a Master of Science in biochem-

istry and molecular biology. 

1996Lynn James Galloway is the owner of J. James Interiors, a design

firm for new construction, renovations and interiors. She gradu-

ated from Converse College with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology.

Lynn and her husband Clint live in Sumter and have four children:

Brogdon ‘23, Milling ‘26, Kemper ‘29 and Mary Jac ‘32. 

1995

1998Lauren Davis Ronk is

the owner of land

Studio, a landscape

architecture and de-

sign firm. She gradu-

ated from Clemson

university with a

Bachelor of land-

scape Architecture.

Lauren and her hus-

band Travis live in

Mount Pleasant. 

Abbott Staggs is the Assistant Director of Accessibility learning

at Spartanburg Methodist College. A behavioral therapist, he is

also the regional Director of Behaviors A Go-Go, an applied be-

havioral analysis practice in Greenville that provides services for

children with developmental delays and behavioral challenges.

Abbott graduated from the university of South Carolina with a

Bachelor of Science in psychology and from the College of

Charleston with a Master of Arts in Teaching in secondary and

special education. He and his wife Emily live in Spartanburg and

have three children: Bray, Parker and Mason. 

1999

Abbott Staggs ‘99 with his family.

Varsity basketballplayers Vivian

Bryant ‘22 & BeccaCromer ‘21 con-

gratulate AndiGrae Wingate ‘20

for the last second,game-winning bas-

ket to defeatPinewood Prep inthe Baron Classic

Tournament. 

Missy Moulton Church is an organizer for the los

Angeles Community Fridges program which pro-

vides food and other items for those in need and

she appeared on the nBC nightly news during

a feature about the program. She is the founder

and owner of Process and Quality Specialists, Inc., a con-

sulting firm specializing in pharmaceutical manufacturing

automation and process engineering. Missy graduated

from Stanford university with a Bachelor of Science in

chemical engineering. She and her husband Brian have

a daughter, Blythe, and live in Glendale, California.

Erin Yates lives in Charleston where she is the

owner of lounge With us, an online boutique

offering luxurious loungewear. She graduated

from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor

of Science in communications. 

Alvin Butler, a chartered financial advisor, is the

director of landmark Partners, a venture capi-

tal and private equity firm in the greater new

york City area. He graduated from the univer-

sity of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in

business administration and finance and a Master of

Science in entrepreneurship. Alvin studied at the lon-

don Business School in london, England, and gradu-

ated from the new york university Stern School of

Business with a Master of Business Administration. Alvin

and his wife Michelle live in West Hartford, Connecticut,

with their son Dominic.

20002002

2003

Jordan Kinder Chestnut ‘04 and family.

Jordan Kinder Chestnut and her husband Michael announce the birth of their son, John

Michael Chestnut, on november 24. They have three other children: William, Mae and

Graham. Jordan is the daughter of Cristi Coker Kinder ‘83 and Scott Kinder ‘84. 

Sally Key Mahney and her husband Pat announce the birth of their daughter, Callahan

lane Mahney, on november 24. They have two other children, Colton and Carlyn.

2004

2005Charles Evenich is

the area sales man-

ager for western

South Carolina for

Flagship Credit Ac-

ceptance, an auto-

mobile financing

company. He grad-

uated from the uni-

versity of South

Carolina with a

Bachelor of Arts in

economics. Charles

and his wife lacy

live in Columbia

with their daugh-

ters, Elsie and

Emery. Charles Evenich ‘05 and family.

Ryan Hulme and his wife Mary

Katherine announce the birth of

their son, lollis Andrew Hulme, on

november 17. They have a daugh-

ter, Ava. 

Hughes Schwartz, a financial advi-

sor for northwestern Mutual, re-

ceived Certified Financial Planner

designation from The American

College of Financial Services. He

graduated from Clemson university

with a Bachelor of Science in busi-

ness management. Hughes and his

wife Jessica live in Greenville.

Lauren Shuler Turbeville is an assis-

tant professor of occupational ther-

apy at East Carolina university. She

graduated from the College of

Charleston with a Bachelor of Sci-

ence in special education, the

Medical university of South Car-

olina with a Master or rehabilita-

tion Science in occupational

therapy, and the university of St.

Augustine for Health Sciences with

a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Lau-

ren and her husband Matt live in

Greenville, north Carolina. 

Lauren Shuler Turbeville ‘06

2006

2007Kristen Sublette gradu-

ated from Francis Marion

university with a Master

of Science in nursing -

family nurse practitioner.

A registered nurse work-

ing at Prisma Health

Tuomey Hospital, she

graduated from Clemson

university with a Bache-

lor of Science in health

sciences and from Cen-

tral Carolina Technical

College with an associate

degree in nursing. Kris-

ten and her husband Ben

live in Sumter with their

sons, Griffin and Banks. Kristen Sublette Timmons ‘07 with her father, ShepSublette ‘74. 

Samantha Sherrill Avant and

her husband Eric announce

the birth of their son, War-

ren Knox Avant, on Decem-

ber 28. They have a

daughter, Isla Jane.

Tyler Goff, who is complet-

ing a residency in ophthal-

mology at Wake Forest

university School of Medi-

cine, will participate in a

cornea fellowship with the

Eye Consultants of Atlanta.

He graduated from Clem-

son university with a Bache-

lor of Science in biological

sciences and from the uni-

Left: Tyler Goff ‘08 and family. Right: Meredith Weinberg Sella ‘08 and her husband David wel-come their son, Max. 

2008

versity of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville with a Doctor of Medicine, and

he completed a general residency at Spartanburg regional Healthcare System. Tyler

and his wife Michelle have a son, landon. 

Tate Sistare ‘22 looks to pass toa teammate in a varsity game in

the Nash Student Center.

Mary Grace Dallery Brinson and her husband logan announce the

birth of their son, Baylor Scott Brinson, on november 23. Mary

Grace is the daughter of Robert Dallery ‘83. 

Chase Cross and natalie Chastain were married on December 19 at Southern Oaks

in Gilbert with a reception following. Emily Cross ‘15 was a bridesmaid and Michael

Brown ‘11 was among the groomsmen. 

Jordan Lay and Alisa Osipov were married on December 19. 

Hope Demer works as an assistant

public defender for the 5th Judicial

Circuit in Columbia. She graduated

from Winthrop university with a

Bachelor of Arts in English and

from the university of South Car-

olina School of law with a Juris

Doctor.

Caleb DuBose is pursuing a Ph.D.

at the Southern Baptist Theological

Seminary. He earned a Bachelor of

Arts in English from The Citadel

and a Master of Divinity from Co-

lumbia International university.

Caleb and his wife Heather live in

louisville, Kentucky. 

Anna Edmunds Lee and her hus-

band Hunter announce the birth of

their daughter, Addison Elaine lee,

on December 28. They have two

sons, Miller and Connor. Anna is the

daughter of Emilie Broadwell Ed-

munds ‘83 and Freddy Edmunds

‘83. 

Kate Turner lives in Central Greece

where she farms at a Greek Ortho-

dox Church monastery, St. John the

Forerunner, a monastic community

of over 30 nuns near larissa. She

works for World Wide Opportuni-

ties on Organic Farms, a worldwide

community that promotes aware-

ness of ecological farming practices

by providing visitors with the op-

portunity to live and farm on or-

ganic properties. It is one of the

world’s first voluntourism and eco-

tourism organizations and is in 132

countries. Kate graduated from the

university of South Carolina with a

Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and

religious studies. 

2009 Josh Jennings graduated from Coker College, where he was an Ex-cellence in Teaching Scholarship recipient, with a Master of Educa-tion in literacy studies. He works at lake City High School in Florence

County School District 3 where he teaches English, coaches the co-ed cross-country

and J.V. boys' soccer teams, and serves as the advisor for the newspaper and literary

magazine. Josh graduated from the university of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts

in history, Southern new Hampshire university with a Master of Arts in English, and

Francis Marion university with a Master of Education in instructional accommodation.

He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree at the university of South Car-

olina. Josh and his wife Sydney live in Scranton.

Anna Burns Richardson and her husband Stephen announce the birth of their daughter,

lucy Caruthers richardson, on December 6. Anna is the daughter of Alwin Burns ‘72. 

2011

2012

Nico Scherders ‘35 discovers how Christmas bells react to a magnet

during a STEAM activity in the class taught by Mrs. Valerie James. 

Michael High and Ashleigh Collins were married on

December 12 in Charleston at The Citadel Summerall

Chapel with a reception at The Citadel Holliday Alumni Center.

Matthew High ‘13 was the best man and the groomsmen included

the following members of the Class of ‘13: Edel Barrett, Jared Cot-

ton, Jimmy Latham, Clayton Meisner, Phillip Shuler, Hunter Young

and Will Young. Triz Smith ‘30 was the ring bearer.

Clayton Meisner and Eve Black were married on December 19. 

Savannah Palm is a senior marketing coordinator for Carahsoft, a

company in Reston, Virginia, that sells information technology hard-

ware, software and consulting services to federal, state and local

governments, and educational institutions. She graduated from the

University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in manage-

ment. 

Anna Crew Kinney Psomas earned a Master of Science in nursing

through the nurse-midwifery/women’s health nurse practitioner pro-

gram of Georgetown University. She graduated from the Medical

University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in nursing.

Anna Crew and her husband John have a daughter, Nellie, and live

in Columbia.

Lewis Warr is an attorney with the Young & Warr

Law Firm in Sumter. He graduated from The

Citadel with a Bachelor of Science in business ad-

ministration and from the University of South Car-

olina School of Law with a Juris Doctor. He and

his wife Mary Rachel have a daughter, Mary June. 

2013

Anna Crew Kinney Psomas ‘13 and family.

Christian Albertsen works as a life advisor for the Oliver Gospel Mis-

sion, the oldest rescue mission in the Southeast. Located in Colum-

bia, the mission assists those in need in our community by providing

food, shelter, clothing, chapel services, and addiction recovery and employment pro-

grams. He graduated from Columbia International University with a Bachelor of Science

in youth ministry and from Southeastern University with a Master of Arts in ministerial

leadership. Christian and his wife Rachel live in Lexington. 

Ken Ballard is a music teacher at Episcopal High

School in Houston, Texas. He graduated from the

University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Music in

jazz studies. Ken is the lead vocalist and keyboard

player for the most recent album, featuring a neo-

soul and jazz fusion sound, released by The Simeon

Davis Group on bandcamp.com. He has also re-

leased an album, Ball.ard, of original music, also on

bandcamp.com.

Will Barwick and Haleigh Anderson were married on

January 2 at The Johannah House in Sumter with a

reception following. Lake Kirven ‘14 was the best

man, Jay Goodson ‘14 and Blaze Robertson ‘14 were

groomsmen, and Leah Barwick ‘16 was a bridesmaid.

2014

Christian Albertsen ‘14

Teresa Deng is the supply

chain operations program

manager for Cepheid, an au-

tomated molecular diagnos-

tics company in Sunnyvale,

California. She earned a Bach-

elor of Science in industrial

engineering from California

Polytechnic State University. 

Clayton Lowder graduated

from Clemson University with

a Bachelor of Science in parks,

recreation and tourism man-

agement. 

Tia Richens graduated from

Anderson University with a

Bachelor of Science in biology

and an Accelerated Bachelor

of Science in nursing.

2015

Jake Reaves ‘16Brayden Fidler ‘16 with his father, Jamie Fidler ‘89.

Audrey Ann Atkinson graduated from Clemson

university with a Bachelor of Science in nursing.

Brent Carraway graduated from Clemson uni-

versity with a Bachelor of Science in psychology. 

Brayden Fidler graduated with a Bachelor of Sci-

ence in computer science from Clemson university.

Jake Reaves graduated from Clemson university

with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural mech-

anization and business. 

Chandler Stone works as an air and ocean ac-

count representative for Total Quality logistics in

Charleston, the nation’s second largest freight

brokerage firm. He graduated from The Citadel

with a Bachelor of Science in business adminis-

tration.

2016

While learning

about the letter

W, members of

the Class of ‘34

in Mrs. Pinkie

Armfield’s class

conduct a

STEAM experi-

ment to

watch the water

“walk” from

one cup to an

empty cup via a

paper towel. 

Becka Noyes, a marketing major at Clemson uni-

versity, was accepted into the Sales Innovation Pro-

gram which offers a sales certificate to students

who partake in real-world challenges, foundational

role-play exercises and leadership opportunities.

She was selected as a College of Business recruit-

ment Ambassador (COBrA) at Clemson’s new Pow-

ers College of Business. COBrAs represent the

business school in one-on-one information sessions

with prospective students and their families.

Megan Piasecki is an editor for the Hayes History

Journal at  St. Joseph’s university in Pennsylvania.

The student-run publication of the Department of

History allows students the opportunity to showcase their work in a profes-

sional publication and demonstrate their in-depth knowledge of history. She

is completing an internship with the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia

by participating in Global Smarts, a program for which she teaches Model

united nations to middle school students. Megan is a French and interna-

tional relations major at St. Joseph’s.  

2017Lauren Elizabeth Elmore graduated from

Clemson university with a Bachelor of Sci-

ence in parks, recreation and tourism man-

agement. 

Mills Harvin graduated from Clemson uni-

versity with a Bachelor of Science in criminal

justice.

Lane Herlong is completing a competitive

intelligence internship in Columbia with

Duck Creek Technologies, a computer soft-

ware company with a focus on property and

casualty insurers headquartered in Boston,

Massachusetts. She is an international busi-

ness major at the university of South Car-

olina Honors College. 

Ali Hilferty graduated from Mississippi State

university with a Bachelor of Business Ad-

ministration in finance. 

Campbell Mims, who expects to receive a

Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass

communications from the university of

South Carolina in May, has accepted a po-

sition with the South Carolina Public Charter

School District in the Department of Com-

munications and Policy. He is currently pur-

suing a Master of Mass Communications in

strategic communication management

through the accelerated program at the

university of South Carolina. 

McLendon Sears graduated from the Col-

lege of Charleston with a Bachelor of Sci-

ence in public health and is pursuing a

Master of Arts in communications at the col-

lege. He is a member of the college’s base-

ball team.

Sallie Spencer, who expects to receive a

Bachelor of Science in agribusiness from

Clemson university in May, is pursuing a

Master of Public Administration at Clemson.

2018

2020Gracen Dowling is participating in youth With a Mission (yWAM) in rio de

Janeiro, Brazil, for a gap year. yWAM, based in los Angeles, California, is a

global mission program with 18,000 employees in over 180 nations and has

a focus on evangelism, mercy missions, and discipleship training.

As a STEAM activity in their science class taught by Mrs. Laura Brogdon,

Risden Dunlap, Riley Hanson  Luke Bartlett, Class of ‘29, collaborate on a

group project displaying the different types of clouds.