The Defender Dispatch - Alumni Newsletter - Spring 2022 |
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Andrew, Stephanie, Judah, Naomi, Isaiah, Elijah, Aaliyah, and Micaiah Russell |
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Andrew Russell ('07) has sent us a list of family happenings! He writes:
- Micaiah was born last year during the pandemic on St. Patrick’s Day.
- Between last year and this year, I’ve had COVID 2x.
- My oldest cousin on my mother’s side died last year at the age of 41.
- My grandfather died on February 4th, 2022 at the age of 102.
- Stephanie’s grandfather died on February 20, 2021 at the age of 86.
- I got ordained as a teaching elder in the PCA.
- My dad, Rev. Dr. Julian Russell preached the ordination message. This is the 2nd time a black PCA pastor has a son ordained to the pastorate in the PCA (Lance Lewis & Charles Lewis being the first).
- I got to speak at my grandfather’s funeral and the Prime Minister of the Bahamas spoke right after me. The funeral lasted 4 hours! I have attached the link for you to watch. Please take your time, it’s like watching the Lord of the Rings! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMU4oFMVMHE
God has been so good to me and my family despite the pandemic, deaths in both sides of our family, and having COVID. We have seen God provide us with a 6th child, Stephanie started an apologetics program through the Colson Fellows, and I got ordained as a TE (Teaching Elder). It’s amazing how much can change in 2 years. Pray that we remain faithful in the years to come and watch God sustain us through the ups and downs.
(Fun fact: Andrew wrote our school song!)
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Over spring break, these four alumni had the opportunity to go to Washington state and serve the Yakama Indian Reservation with Sacred Road Ministries as the RUF groups from Ole Miss, Mississippi State and the University of Kentucky joined together to serve this community. In the mornings the students fixed roofs, picked up trash, painted, chopped wood, sorted clothing donations and more. The afternoons were spent playing with the kids in the community at Kids Club and sharing the love of Christ. Here are Ginny Fisher ’21 (Mississippi State), Emma Gregory ’21 (Ole Miss), Nathan Jones ’21 (Ole Miss), and Hannah Newsome ’18 (Ole Miss) enjoying their reunion and flashing a WA handsign!
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Class of 2021 graduate, Caroline Carney, was recently one of only five students invited to participate in the Smokey Talks Speech Competition at the University of Tennessee and she won first place! She was asked to speak on an international business or organization that she researched. She shared with the audience that she chose her topic based upon her senior thesis on prison reform and expand on it and apply it internationally by researching and presenting about the organization, Penal Reform International. Way to go, Caroline!
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Katharine Allen ('07) graduated from fort Lewis college in 2011 as an Exercise Science Specialist. She is currently a swim lesson business owner and certified therapeutic riding instructor. Katharine loves riding horses, being outside, teaching swim lessons, and gardening.
Of her time at Westminster, Katharine says: "I always loved art class with Mr. Carter. He always had a way to make you feel seen and heard as well as helped us create art. Mrs. Behnke would always make us a birthday cake for our birthdays and we always got to pick from her extensive list of cakes. Ms. Perry always made reading and English class so interesting. I enjoyed the creative writing assignments she gave us or getting to watch the movie after we read the book. A. Smith was the best home room/first period teacher. He had the best jokes and I loved being in all his classes. All of these teachers shaped me and helped me become who I am today."
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Turner Peckham ('18) is starting medical school at the University of Tennessee in August. He is currently working at The Shea Clinic in Memphis.
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WA dads prepare to take on their sons in basketball (1999) |
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Enjoying Overnight Bus Rides |
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Saturdays were for ultimate frisbee at Shelby Farms (2004) |
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Finally Completing Your 5th Grade ABC Book |
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Dollie Jones and Debbie Barclay are Retiring! |
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We are all so thankful for their many years of loving service to our school! Dollie and Debbie will be dearly missed! If you'd like for us to pass on well-wishes or special memories to one of them, please either respond to this email or mail your note to:
Attn: Development Department
Westminster Academy
2520 Ridgeway Road
Memphis, TN 38119
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The Westminster Classic is Back! |
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We still have two team slots available for next Monday's Golf Tournament at Memphis National. Click the image above if you'd like to play! |
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Class of '22 Senior Spotlights |
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We have some amazing writing talent at Westminster!
Wordsmith is an annual writing competition hosted and judged by the University of Memphis English faculty. Students from the greater Memphis area competed this year in several events: a 40-word dash (descriptive write), a 120-word dash (persuasive write), and a 400-word dash (personal essay). Westminster English faculty were asked to select two students per grade (7th-12th) to take part. Here are the results:
8th grade:
Joelle Marino: first place 120
Ellie Pritchard: second place 120, 3rd place 40, honorable mention 400, silver medalist for 8th grade
*First Place Trophy for 8th grade
9th grade:
Lucy Spires: 3rd place 120
10th grade:
Catherine Williams: honorable mention 400
11th grade:
Avery Harris: 3rd place 120
12th grade:
Lainey Turner: 1st place 40, 1st place tie for 400, gold medalist for 12th grade
Molly Wallace: 2nd place 120, 1st place tie for 400, silver medalist for 12th grade
*First place trophy for 12th grade
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Students Sharpen Mock Trial Skills |
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Congratulations to Kaitlin Baker and Parker Stout who were accepted to the Rhodes College Mock Trial Academy this summer!
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Upcoming Dates to Remember |
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April 25-29 - Senior Thesis Speeches @ Riveroaks Presbyterian Church
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May 2 - Westminster Classic Golf Tournament
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May 17 - Spring Choir Concert
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May 17-20 - Senior Art Exhibit
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May 26 - Graduation - 7:00 PM @ Independent Presbyterian Church
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There are many ways to stay connected to Westminster Academy... |
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