| Message from Whitney Samuel Drennan ’94 | Alumni Athletic
Hall of Fame | In Memoriam | | Campus Headlines | Alumni Achievements | Call for Nominations: Martin de Tours | | Alumni Spotlight: G. Bruce Parkerson ’75 | Save the Date: Upcoming Events | Treasured Traditions:
Campus Candids | | |
A Message from the Head of School
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Dear Saints,
We have had a wonderful few weeks back on campus this month. Our school year began with a traditional all-school chapel service filled with that amazing feeling of connectedness that comes from being part of our strong community. I hope you all remember that special feeling!
The theme for this school year celebrates what so many in our community do without hesitation: Give Your All! Our goal is for this commitment to excellence, to each other, and to our greater St. Martin’s community to anchor us in our mission of Faith, Scholarship, and Service.
St. Martin’s has long been known for its tightly-knit and supportive community. Our teachers continue to foster a nurturing atmosphere that makes St. Martin’s a true family. This year, we will build on this commitment with specific language that helps to encapsulate the St. Martin’s experience that we all remember from our time as students. Our Advancement Office worked closely with alumni, faculty and staff, the Board of Trustees, and other constituent groups to develop what we call the five pillars of the StM experience. Throughout this process, many of the alumni we interviewed noted that, while this may be the first time we are articulating these ideals this way, the points they raise are nothing new to St. Martin’s. These values and characteristics have been at the core of what has made a St. Martin’s education so unique for more than 75 years.
Our Episcopal Tradition
We’re proud to be the only Episcopal school in the New Orleans area that serves students 8 weeks through 12th grade. Our commitment to guiding and shaping children through the development of strong moral and ethical values, compassion, and empathy in every student sets us apart.
Academic Excellence
Our emphasis on student-centered interdisciplinary learning, anchored in relevant connections to the real world, makes us a place of academic excellence. The result is that our graduates are critical thinkers prepared not only for college, but for leading lives of purpose and meaning.
A Love of Thinking and Learning
We inspire curiosity in our students, the first step to developing a love of learning. We believe in teaching students how to learn and how to think, not what to think. When they know how to think, they’re not just prepared for today’s test or tomorrow’s academic year, but prepared to grow as citizens who contribute to their broader community.
A Supportive and Diverse Community
Our supportive and diverse community allows us to truly know and value each and every student. We believe in welcoming children and families from all faiths, ethnicities, races, backgrounds, and perspectives. Our faculty and counselors provide the safety and support that allow our students to stretch themselves and become who they are meant to be.
A Campus of Opportunity
Finally, my favorite thing about a St. Martin’s education continues to be our campus of opportunity and the numerous possibilities for our students to thrive in so many ways. Students have access to the opportunities, tools, and support they need to uncover new interests and develop a variety of skills. With guidance from expert faculty, coaches, and mentors, students experience a wide range of resources that allow their curiosity and potential to be nurtured and realized.
I feel so fortunate to serve our community and my alma mater as Head of School. Now, Saints, I hope you get the chance to witness us Give Our All this school year. Your experiences and insights are so valuable for our current students. Whether it’s through mentoring, guest speaking, or helping with alumni events, your involvement this year would be greatly appreciated. I invite you to Give Your All by reconnecting with the school and with your classmates. I can’t wait to see you on campus.
Go Saints!
Sincerely,
Whitney Samuel Drennan ’94
Head of School
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Senior Harlem Berry named Amateur Athlete of the Year
During a special ceremony at the Caesars Superdome on August 3, senior Harlem Berry ’25 was presented with the Allstate Sugar Bowl Amateur Athlete of the Year Award by Sugar Bowl Committee President and St. Martin’s alumnus Walter Becker ’74. Berry was also the recipient of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Amateur Athlete of the Month Award for September, 2023.
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Photo by Wally Porter '76 | | |
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Students Attend Immersive Leadership Experience
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Senior Jeremy Hua Places
#1 in the Nation in
Data Science Challenge | |
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Alumni Spotlight - G. Bruce Parkerson ’75
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- Member of the 13 Year Club
- Married to Dr. Jennifer Moorhead Parkerson ’76
- Southern Methodist University, BBA 1979
- Southern Methodist University, JD 1982
- Partner, Plauché Maselli Parkerson LLP
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When you think back to the 13 years you spent as a St. Martin’s student, what first comes to mind?
The many great adventures of Lower School, whether it was Heavenly Days or just the wonderful, loving teachers, like Mrs. Shepherd and Miss Shilling, who encouraged and challenged us at the same time. They were all wonderful teachers who provided a compassionate challenge to learn and to be a better person.
In Upper School, I remember how great our science teachers were. It started with Belle Johnson in 8th grade, who patiently listened to our questions while teaching us the foundation that we needed to progress in school. Mrs. West was an incredible teacher of biology in 9th grade. Also, Mr. Graf for chemistry was fantastic. I also remember my math teachers, Ms. Bolles, Mr. Latham, and Ms. Saik. For English, Ms. Burkes was fantastic. Our longtime teacher Pedro Perez encouraged us to do well in Spanish. We had inspiring art teachers, Carolyn Boone and Mary Sue Nelson Roniger ’60. I loved the art classes upstairs in the old barn above the cafeteria, and they really planted the seed for my love of art.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at St. Martin’s. I feel a real sense of gratitude for the experiences of StM as well as for people, and coaches like Coach Flettrich, Coach Dike, Coach Rambis, and Coach Porter. Coach Flettrich especially instilled a sense of pride in us and challenged us to be better athletes and better people. He was an incredible coach.
"When I think back to my time at St. Martin’s, I really just think about how I had a lot of really good teachers who truly cared.’’
Of course, I’ll never forget sneaking off campus to run over to the “little store” on the corner for candy, when I was waiting for the Timberlane bus after school!
What impact do you think St. Martin’s had in shaping who you are as a person?
St. Martin’s instilled a sense of pride and a work ethic, and helped me find my path to success. It provided a foundation of Faith, Scholarship, and Service. I now realize how each of those is really grounded in the Episcopal tradition. It’s a reminder of those qualities we strive for in living our life.
Also, my graduating class was the largest class in St. Martin’s history; we had 94 people. We had a really broad spectrum of students attending St. Martin’s, from all neighborhoods in the greater New Orleans area, perhaps the broadest in those days, in comparison to other private schools. Besides the Episcopal identity and faith-based education, that’s one of the main reasons I continued to stay at St. Martin’s all the way through. Being around a broader group of people was really important, and the experience prepared me for life.
When you left St. Martin’s for college, how did you feel?
I felt prepared for the challenges of life, and my experience of being with friends and classmates from more walks of life than other private schools helped me with that. I felt that the challenges and encouragement from coaches and teachers allowed me to find a path to success.
What first attracted you to law? When did you know that was the path you wanted to take?
Who knows! In fact, I can remember taking government and history courses with Mr. Van Horn, Coach Porter, and Mrs. Porter, and I really struggled in those courses despite how good they were at teaching. I had more of a math and science brain. I really had no idea what I wanted to do in college, but fortunately I went to a university that allowed me to explore all of the options. The only history I really took in college was 18 hours of art history, because of how much of an impact my StM art teachers had in helping me appreciate art.
When I first started practicing law, I didn’t realize I would love it as much as I do, and respect it as much as I do. I actually told Coach Flettrich this in later years, after I had graduated. Those qualities that were instilled in us as student athletes, to be competitive, have a work ethic and take pride in what we do, carried over to my practicing law as a trial lawyer. You have to have a certain amount of competitiveness. And there’s a reason they call it “practicing” law. It takes a long time to find out how to do things right, and to do things well. I’m still learning better ways to do my job! That’s part of what St. Martin’s taught me - to continue to keep an open mind and to keep learning.
As an alum, what advice do you have for our current Saints?
Remember that you define success, success is not defined by others. Challenge yourself to find your success, whatever that may look like for you.
Talk about your goals as Chairman of the St. Martin’s Board of Trustees. What are you most excited about?
I’m eager to support the wonderful leadership we have in Whitney Samuel Drennan ’94. She’s dynamic, enthusiastic, and energetic, and she knows St. Martin’s so well, because she has been part of the culture and lived it. She loves connecting with Saints from all decades, and I encourage more alumni to visit campus to see her – and the school – in action. Hopefully, the entire Saints community of students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff will join us in supporting St. Martin’s with our time, talents, and resources. Strong communication is important to me, and our Board will be clear about the respective responsibilities of our entire StM community to each other and our school.
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Did You Get The Bell?
At the end of the summer, we mailed out a beautiful double issue of The Bell, covering the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. If you did not receive your copy in the mail, please contact the Alumni Office.
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On September 27 (Homecoming Friday) St. Martin’s Episcopal School will mark a momentous occasion as we welcome new members into the prestigious Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame, including State Champion swimmer Thea Casseri Papageorgopoulos ’84, the District Champion 1992-93 football team, and multi-sport athlete Nick DiMaggio ’09. This celebration of athletic excellence not only honors the remarkable achievements of these honorees, it also inspires current and future generations of Saints to strive for greatness. There will be a small coffee reception before the ceremony in Saints Hall for inductees and their families, but all alumni are welcome to attend the induction ceremony in the Solomon Theater at 9:00 a.m. | |
We invite you to send us your career triumphs and milestones with us so that we can share them with the community here and on our social media channels. Tag us on Instagram and Facebook, or email alumni@stmsaints.com to submit your news. #AlwaysASaint | |
Martin de Tours recipient and member of the St. Martin’s Board of Trustees J. Kelly Duncan ’72 has been recognized by Chambers USA, the world's leading legal data and analytics provider, as one of the world’s top Gaming & Gambling lawyers in the 2024 Chambers Global Guide. A partner and co-leader of Jones Walker’s Gaming Industry Team, which is the largest in the southeastern United States, Duncan also received an individual national ranking in the Gaming & Licensing category. | |
Daniel Becket Becnel ’83 was appointed in January to the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District Commission, which represents the state in the management of state assets, including the Caesars Superdome, the Smoothie King Center, the TPC Golf Course, the John Alario Center in Avondale, and the former Zephyr Stadium in Metairie. The Becnels currently own and operate the Becnel Law Firm, the oldest and largest law firm in St. John Parish. | |
Kathryn Weekley Becnel ’86 was appointed to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, which oversees all casinos, video poker machines, and bingo halls in the state. The nine-member commission is assisted by the Louisiana State Police as the policing agency. | |
Bryan Recile ’15 is an associate with Chehardy Sherman Williams, practicing in the field of personal injury law with a focus on premises liability. He has also assisted in class action litigation concerning property damage claims. | |
Bethany Black ’18 opened her own pottery studio, Artsy Edge, on Metairie Road in spring 2024. Her studio offers pottery wheel and pottery hand-building lessons for all ages, and has pottery creations available for glazing. | |
Benjamin Bone ’19 started medical school at LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine and is interested in pursuing surgery. | |
Sawyer Adriance ’24 earned his private pilot license, having completed 72 flight training hours. This fall, he is continuing his education at Louisiana Tech University, majoring in Professional Aviation, with plans to pursue a career in Commercial Aviation and possibly Air National Guard. | |
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St. Martin’s Episcopal School has appointed five new members to its board of trustees: Jennifer E. Adams ’92, Kate McCall Clarke ’79, Allison Johnston DeViney ’92, Barbara Farris ’94, and Alicia Vial ’89. These board members were elected to three-year terms, each beginning July 1, 2024, and are joined by incoming board chair Bruce Parkerson ’75, who will serve a two-year term as chair. The other Board of Trustees officers include alumni J. Kelly Duncan ’72 (vice chair), Elisabeth (Liz) Martin Armstrong ’78 (secretary), Michael Broxson ’87 (treasurer), and Michael F. Nicoladis ’78 (past chair).
Additionally, Allison Lewis ’82 is joining the George Cottage team in a Cottage Threes classroom.
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Join us for Fall Fellowship before the Homecoming game on Friday, September 27 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on the Lower School back playground. Then stick around as the Saints take on the McMain Mustangs. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. and alumni get a discounted ticket to the game! Purchase your tickets here and use passcode STMALUM for $5.00 off! | |
Join us Friday, November 8 for the annual golf tournament! We had so much fun on the course last year and can’t wait to see more familiar faces along the course. Register your team today! NEW! "Young Alumni" discounted tickets are available for Saints ages 35 and under. | |
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2025 DATES:
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March 29, 2025 - Annual Gala
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April 12, 2025 - Alumni Easter Egg Hunt
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May 9 - May 10, 2025 - Alumni Weekend
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Shop Like a Saint
By popular demand, StM spirit items are now online. Shop for men’s, women’s, and youth items. Classic Saints and Alumni designs are available. The store is only open for a limited time and will close on Tuesday, September 10. At that time, orders will be processed. Estimated processing time is approximately 3-4 weeks and items will be delivered to school for pick-up, or email the Alumni Office to arrange for domestic shipping.
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We understand that the loss of a classmate or beloved teacher is deeply felt by our alumni community. This year, we are adding an "in memoriam" section to our monthly newsletter to provide our community with more regular updates in between issues of The Bell. To ensure a Saint’s legacy is honored, we encourage you to submit obituaries to the Alumni Office so the school can pay tribute to their lives and contributions within our alumni network.
Please provide the obituary, along with any details or memories you would like to share. Submissions can be made through our Scattered Saints form or by emailing the Alumni Office directly. If you wish to establish a perpetual memorial fund in memory of a classmate or teacher, our Advancement Office can assist you.
Thank you for helping us keep our community connected and the memory of our Saints alive.
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Robin Baber Banks ’84 - Sister of Bonnie Baber Depoi ’83
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George Calhoun - Son of Drew Calhoun ’84
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Doug Johnson ’60 - Co-founder of the Belle Johnson Scholarship, along with his sister Glenn Johnson Brady ’65
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John Reinhold ’86
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Barbara Saik - Math teacher; mother of Judy Saik Cole ’67, Susie Saik Peebles ’74, and former students Clif Saik and Laurie Saik Wiesing; mother-in-law of Dr. Louise Harris Saik ’71; and grandmother of Walker Saik ’02
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Dr. Robert F. Sharp, Jr. - Father of Michael Sharp ’89
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Cheryl Washington - Mother of Erika Washington Wittich ’91 and mother-in-law of Andy Wittich ’89
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We invite you to nominate exceptional individuals for the Martin de Tours Award, the most prestigious alumni award at our school. Named after the patron saint of our school, this award recognizes individuals who embody our values of faith, scholarship, and service. Help us honor the legacy of Martin de Tours, and of previous recipients, by nominating deserving individuals for this prestigious award.
To submit your nomination of a St. Martin’s graduate whom you believe would make a strong candidate, print out this form and email it to alumni@stmsaints.com. Nominations are collected on a rolling basis, but for a candidate to be considered for the 2024-25 school year, their nomination must be submitted by Friday, September 13, 2024.
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What are some of your favorite memories from your time at St. Martin’s?
Email our Alumni Office to share your memories and photos!
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Some of our greatest StM memories come from life between the lessons. We remember games on the playground, conversations in the hallways, laughter along the breezeways, hangouts in the Quad, and cracking up in the classroom. Here are some of those everyday moments that have been captured over the years, that just might make you feel like a student again. #AlwaysASaint | |
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