Summer 2015
Oasis The ESA Experience
Photo by Carter Broussard, ‘15
Congratulations, Class of 2015!
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ESA’s newest alumni are accepted to college and university programs
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Amherst College • Auburn University-Honors • Baylor University • Baylor University-Honors • Belmont University • Boston College-Honors • Catawba College • Centenary College of Louisiana • Christian Brothers University • Colorado School of Mines • Columbia University • Davis & Elkins College • Drexel University • Eckerd College • Emerson College • Emory University • Florida State University • Furman University • Georgia Institute of Technology • Green Mountain College • Grinnell College • Hartwick College • Hendrix College • High Point University • Ithaca College • LeTourneau University • Lewis & Clark College • Louisiana State University • Louisiana State University-Honors • Louisiana Tech • Loyola Marymount University • Loyola University Chicago • Macalaster College • Marymount Manhattan College • Mercer University • Millsaps College • Missouri University of Science & Technology • New York University • Ouachita Baptist University • Oxford College of Emory University • Pace University • Penn State University • Purdue University • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute • Rice University • Rollins College • Samford University • Sarah Lawrence College • Seattle University • Southern Methodist University • Southwestern University • Spring Hill College • St. Edward’s University • St. Mary’s College of California • Texas Christian University • Trinity University • Tulane University • Tulane University - Honors • United States Air Force Academy • University of Alabama • University of California-Berkeley • University of California-Davis • University of California-Irvine-Honors • University of California-Los Angeles • University of California-San Diego • University of Central Arkansas • University of Colorado-Colorado Springs • University of Louisiana-Lafayette • University of Miami • University of Mississippi • University of New Orleans • University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill • University of North Carolina-Charlotte • University of Redlands • University of South Carolina • University of Southern California • University of Texas at Austin • University of the South • University of Vermont • University of West Florida • Wake Forest University • Washington University in St. Louis • Yale University
$4.5
and have earned over million in scholarships, not including TOPS.
Paul Ahluwalia Victoria Andry Mateo Atwi Ajani Aubrey Jackson Beach Colby Bourg Evan Bramlet Carter Broussard Drake Broussard Seth Broussard Blythe Bull Jillian Chen Emma Cole Grant Collins Josh Dakin Marie Claire DeKeyzer Mallory Gaspard Tana Gauthier Robin Golan Audrey Gutierrez Carly Hebert Brayden Hernandez Daniel Holland Moses Kitakule Mary Katherine (MK) Loos Lily Lowry Heather Magann Sebastian Magann James McElligott John McElligott McCally Michot Alycee Moity Omar Munshi Swep Nelson Grace Pecoraro Drew Shenkan Adam Smith Ben Spears Anne-Marie Stokes Rivers Stokes Claire Storment Emmie Swize
The class of 2015 has the highest average ACT score in ESA’s history: and includes
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National Merit Commended students: Jillian Chen and Moses Kitakule
National Merit Finalist: Omar Munshi
National Achievement Semifinalist: Ajani Aubrey and National Achievement Scholarship Finalist: Moses Kitakule.
Commencement Awards
Bishop and Mrs. Henton Award Blythe Bull Tom Olverson Award Mallory Gaspard
Read about Drake (left), Moses (right) and other members of the Class of 2015 at ESAcadiana.com/ Students. See all Spring 2015 awards at ESAcadiana.com/Awards.
Faculty Award Grace Peroraro Bishop’s Medal Moses Kitakule Headmaster’s Award Drake Broussard
ESA’s Senior Trip
Cathedrals, Museums and Theatres as Classrooms
Art, history, language, literature, science, architecture, theatre, culture - The ESA Experience comes to life in England and France on the Senior Trip. Since the school’s early days, senior classes have traveled to Europe for the ultimate immersion lesson as they see, hear and explore so many of the places and events they studied throughout their years at ESA. Each year, the trip is a little different, as students choose where they spend their free time. This year, a group of students and teachers visited the Globe Theatre, where as part of the audience they actively participated in a performance of As You Like It. Another group took in a soccer match at Wembley Stadium. And Comic Con always draws a handful of students. In 2016, the entire class will visit Normandy, then take a ferry to England and explore Stonehenge before moving on to London.
I am so lucky that I got the chance to travel at this point in my life. It was an amazing experience and I can’t imagine sharing it with any other group. Heather Magann, ’15
Montmartre • Champs Elysees • Catacombs Latin Quarter • St. Chappelle • Versailles Chartres • Eiffel Tower • Musee D'Orsay Notre Dame • Louvre • Opera House Galleries Lafayette • Rodin Museum Les Invalides • Comic Con • National Gallery Victoria and Albert Museum • Canterbury Natural History Museum • British Museum Trafalgar Square • Jack the Ripper Tour Westminster Abbey • Globe Theatre Imperial War Museum • Wembley Stadium
Heather at Versailles Photo by Carter Broussard, ‘15
Driven as a student and an athlete, Samantha Withers capitalizes on her talents with hard work and high standards. Obstacles are challenges to Sam, and she doesn’t hesitate to meet them head on. Her success in cross country, soccer and track at the varsity level earned Sam the
Middle School Athlete of the Year Award.
But it was Sam’s leadership and support of her classmates and teammates that led the faculty to present her with the
Martha Annan Cooper Citizenship Award.
Sam leads by example, and celebrates and encourages others in the classroom, on the field and on the trails and ropes courses. She’s humble, generous, kind and always grateful.
Samantha Withers, ’19 Jake Sledge, ’19
Since coming to ESA in sixth grade, Jake Sledge has given to the school as much as he has gained. Not only is he a true academic, but Jake insists on taking his classmates along with him in pursuit of knowledge. He’s a leader as a class officer, a quiz bowl captain and a member of the cross country team. Jake is thrilled to be a part of the ESA community, does his best to make it better, and never fails to thank his teachers and coaches. The Middle School teachers selected Jake for the
Valerie Marsalis Cox Award
for his pride in the school, strength of character, service to ESA and the community, respect for his peers and his teachers, high academic standards and good sportsmanship.
Sam placed second in State in varsity Cross Country, and earned gold medals in the 800, 1600, 3200 and 4x400 relay in varsity Track & Field. But it’s soccer she loves because, “when you’re on the field, you have so much freedom to do what you want.“
The Middle School Citizenship Awards
are presented to students who care about ESA and their classmates. They work quietly behind the scenes to accomplish class goals and to help classmates be their best.
6th Grade Citizenship Award Luke LeGoullon 7th Grade Citizenship Award Michael delaRosa 8th Grade Citizenship Award Evan Jordan
Michael (left) with classmate Oliver Nickel on Field Day
Michael delaRosa, ’20
Citizenship Awards Luke LeGoullon, ‘21, (right) with friends Christian Herpin, ‘21, (left) and Greer Hernandez, ‘23
Despite a schedule that includes swimming two hours a day, six days a week and earning top grades in all of his courses, Color, form, lines, what you are drawn Michael delaRosa ran for, and won, the position of Middle School Student Council Co-President because he things knew in common. these it would be a good experience. “I wanted to set an example, to be a leader,” Michael says. Michael is already a leader in the classroom, around campus and in the pool. Chosen for
Middle School Athlete of the Year and Citizenship Awards,
Michael earned all-district honors as a varsity swimmer and placed 5th in State in the 200 IM and 2nd in the 100 breast, but he was most excited about a 3rd place finish in the 400 free relay with seniors Paul Ahluwalia and James McElligott. “It was their last swim,” Michael says. “They’ve set a good example for me – not intimidating, but friendly and supportive.” That sounds just like Michael!
to - all art forms have Grace Kerns, ’16
Seussical, Jr.
More than sixty Lower School students joined the cast of Seussical, Jr., this year’s Lower School musical. “The whole thing is taken from many Dr. Seuss books and is put together so it has different plots combined into one,” explained Ian Faul, ’22, who played Horton the elephant. It was the first starring role for Madelyn Carpenter, ’22, who performed as the Cat in the Hat. “It was awkward at first because I had to be loud and outgoing, and that is not my personality,” Madelyn said. “It took me out of my comfort level, but it was also exciting. Once I stepped onto the stage, I knew, ‘I’ve got this!’” Ian adds, “The musical was a big deal around school this year. Everyone put in a lot of effort, and it paid off.” Congratulations on a fantastic show, Seussical cast and crew!
Taylor Guillotte, Sydney Dawson, Caitlin Cotteleer and Ian Faul
Lower School Awards Headmaster’s Award Taylor Guillotte St. Barnabas Awards Sydney Dawson Ian Faul Letter of Commendation Caitlin Cotteleer For a complete listing of Lower School honors, visit ESAcadiana.com/Awards.
Taylor Guillotte, ’22, recipient of this year’s Headmaster’s Award, is known for her baked goods. If there’s an event to celebrate, a cause to support or a classmate in need of cheering up, Taylor takes to the kitchen to craft beautiful and delicious cupcakes. She’s an artist in an apron and she never misses a chance to gift others with her creations. Taylor’s generosity extends beyond cupcakes and into a variety of service projects. She volunteers in the library and makes scarves for Solomon House, an outreach program of Epiphany Church in New Iberia. This year she and a classmate planned and coordinated a game day as a fundraiser for Solomon House. She designed and donated a necklace for the Spring Fling auction. Service is simply a part of Taylor’s daily life. In between her baking, time on the soccer field and volunteer projects, Taylor works hard to meet the high academic goals she sets for herself. Her teachers says she’s an academic leader for her classmates, and sets an example by asking thoughtful questions and learning from critiques. Taylor is always up for a challenge!
“I like that the teachers at ESA understand you and give you second chances.”
Below: In April, the Lafayette campus hosted an exhibition of Lower School art. Every student, from PreK-3 through 5th grade, contributed to the exhibition. Artwork included drawing, painting, sculpture, 3D mixed media, weaving and more. The showcase included a preview of the musical and a performance of traditional Acadian round dances by the fifth grade French students.
Senior Art Show
Each year, seniors who have participated in art at ESA work with the Visual Arts faculty to put together an exhibit of their work. Held in the Henton Chapel in April, the exhibit showcases both 2D and 3D media and gives students a chance to experience the excitement and challenges of curating their own show. In 2015, Rod Parker, Director of the School of Art at LSU’s College of Art and Design, and Kitty Pheney, Director of New Initiatives at the LSU School of Art, visited to jury the exhibit. They walked through the show with the students and teachers and offered their critiques. “Your program really is a jewel and you are rightly proud of what your students have accomplished,” said Mr. Parker. “They exhibited a maturity and depth—both in their work and their ability to speak about it—that puts them among the very best!”
My ideas come from studying chemistry, the beauty in the campus, and life in general. My work doesn’t always come out as I planned and that reflects what life can give us; something unexpected but beautiful. Tana Gauthier, ‘15
The jurors were unable to select just one student to receive top honors in the exhibit. They chose Carter Broussard (whose photographs are on the cover and on page 5) and Tana Gauthier, who works in both 2D and in large-scale ceramics (above). Of Carter and Tana, the judges wrote: What really stood out with these two is their individual vision and their ability to recognize ‘mistakes’ and turn them into great successes. What also appealed to us was the sophisticated manner in which they addressed their work and the concepts underlying it, and the professional manner in which they made choices and articulated them as they presented their work.” Read more about ESA’s artists at ESAcadiana.com/VisualArts.
Hairspray, the Cade campus musical The spring musical, Hairspray, provided a showcase for an incredibly talented group of seniors. Adam Smith, Jackson Beach, Drake Broussard, Audrey Gutierrez, Heather Magann, Ajani Aubrey, Carly Hebert, Blythe Bull and Emma Cole, as well as crew members Carter Broussard, Mallory Gaspard, Tana Gauthier and John McElligott, have contributed on stage and behind the scenes to the growth of the Performing Arts program and to its continued success through their leadership and the example they have set for the students following in their footsteps. Many of the actors and crew members have participated in ESA musicals since arriving on the Cade campus in sixth grade, and some will continue their arts careers when they leave. Carly Hebert will enter the prestigious dance program at Marymount Manhattan College in New York. Jackson Beach will study theatre at Trinity University in San Antonio. Blythe Bull will major in music at Hendrix College in Arkansas. And Carter Broussard plans to study film and television production and communication with a minor in photography at the University of Central Arkansas. Read about their accomplishments, goals and ESA experiences at ESAcadiana.com/Students, along with the stories of other members of the Class of 2015.
The guys demonstrated humble confidence, resilience and talent this season. It took all three to win State. Coach J.P.
ESA Golf - State Champs! This spring, ESA Boys’ Golf brought home the 2015 Division IV State Championship. “It’s an individual sport, but these guys play as a team,” said J.P. Boullion, who led the boys this season along with Coach Stephen Nickel. The squad went into the State Championship with a goal of having four players shoot in the 80s. They met and surpassed their goal, with three players shooting in the 70s and two in the 80s on the first day. In windier conditions on the second day, four of the golfers still managed to score in the 80s. Through District, Regionals and State, every player’s efforts were necessary to the team’s success, especially after an unfortunate accident sidelined senior Evan Bramlet, a team leader and a consistent player who had finished in the top two for ESA throughout most of the season. The squad’s alternates stepped up and helped to carry the Falcons to a 14-stroke lead to win the championship. Members of the 2015 ESA boys’ golf squad: seniors Evan Bramlet and Omar Munshi, junior Riley Nickel, sophomores Ben Adams, Jacob Billeaud, Davis Curry and Ethan Thibodeaux, and freshmen Alex Billeaud and Cameron Baker.
Sidney Hebert Athletes of the Year Brayden Hernandez, ’15 and Claire Storment, ’15 Brayden Hernandez and Claire Storment have earned plenty of athletic accolades. This year, Brayden was named Best of the Teche and First Team All-District for soccer, as well as an alternate for the Louisiana All-Star boys’ soccer team. Co-Captain of the State Championship cross country team, he placed 1st in District and 11th at the State meet. And in baseball, he was named to the First Team All-District. Claire was named to the Louisiana All Star girls’ soccer team, the All-Acadiana team, and Best of the Teche. Named First Team All-District, she was also declared the District Offensive MVP. In cross country, Coach Laura Magann honored Claire as the team’s Runner of the Year. Claire placed 7th at District, and helped the girls’ team earn 5th place in State. Despite all of the awards, the two athletes received top athletic honors at ESA because of the example they set for other players. Brayden and Claire have worked hard from day one to improve their skills and knowledge of their sports. Faced with injuries, both refused to give up or sit back, and their perseverence paid off!
Field Day 2015
7th Grade Day of Service
Inspired by her kindergarten class’ study of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his advocacy efforts, Amelie Gomez, ’27, decided she wanted to champion a cause. Interested in animals and concerned about how the trash she saw in the community might affect their well-being, Amelie wrote to Mayor Joey Durel asking how she could get involved in Project Front Yard, the city’s program to clean up Lafayette’s public and private spaces. Katherine Moody McCormick, a representative from the mayor’s office, visited Ms. Sandy’s kindergarten classroom, where Amelie gave a special chapel about her concerns and asked her friends to help. After Amelie’s presentation, she met with Mrs. McCormick to share ideas, and their discussions led Amelie to propose making a video to spread awareness. Filming began in June on a video that will follow Amelie in her effort to find out how trash gets from the street to the river. Once produced, the video will be used in schools and museums, as well as online. Be sure to like ESA’s facebook page to stay updated on Amelie’s progress!
8th Grade Coastal Roots Project
The Middle School has launched a new service learning program that weaves lessons about a local, national or international issue into the curriculum and involves students in hands-on opportunities to make a difference. Seventh graders learned about hunger issues through income and poverty levels and water and food stress in geography class, Louisiana hunger rates and food insecurity challenges in math, poverty during the Great Depression and today in English, and energy conversion and nutritional guidelines in life science. The year-long study culminated in a day of service with two local organizations. The students began the day at FoodNet, where they learned about poverty rates and needs specific to Lafayette and prepared food and cleaning supplies for distribution. In the afternoon, the group traveled to Solomon House in New Iberia, where the students weeded and cleaned the Labyrinth garden, reorganized the outside storage building, moved boxed groceries into the facility from storage, weeded the flower bed, hauled debris, mopped and dusted the interior of the facility and washed exterior windows. As a follow-up and continuation of the learning that has occurred all year, English teacher Susan Doré asked the students to write about how the day of service affected them personally and what they would share with others about the experience. As one student observed, “it feels nice to know you’ve contributed to a greater good, and that you’ve made a difference.”
Amelie Spreads the Word
Over the course of the school year, ESA eighth graders teamed up with LSU’s Coastal Roots program to create a native plant nursery on the Cade campus. With the help of LSU professors Dr. Ed Bush and Dr. Pam Blanchard, and LSU student and Coastal Roots staffer Juliane Denis, the students cleared a site near Camelot, dug trenches, put together an irrigation system and built a fence to protect the nursery. They planted bald cypress and pumpkin ash seedlings that they will nurture throughout the summer. In the fall, the students will relocate the plants to a coastal restoration project along the Louisiana coast. As they complete the months-long service project, the eighth graders will write about their experiences participating in this project to protect Louisiana’s disappearing coastline. As part of the Coastal Roots program, ESA joins 45 other schools from 18 Louisiana parishes making an impact by protecting wetlands and habitats.
Design Foundations Problem-Solving in 3D
City planning, engineering, politics, art, digital design and teamwork all came together for the final project in the eighth grade Design Foundations course, a visual arts elective. Teacher Jennifer Graycheck challenged students to step into the roles of an urban designer, architect, landscape architect, community member and government official, to use a combination of media to design a city and to address the needs of various groups of citizens. Students designed buildings using Tinkercad software and printed them on the 3D printer in the new Design Lab.
“The aspect of the project I enjoyed the most was designing a military base with the Tinkercad program,” said Addison Chrysler, ’19, who took home his creation and continues to make adjustments using tools such as a Dremel to fine-tune the structure. Other elements of the city include a port, a lighthouse, a hospital, homes, bridges and a beach pavilion. Students collaborated to design the structures, and debated the needs of their community, considering everything from a military presence to outlets for the arts.
“I learned that they have to plan ahead before they build the actual buildings, to plan what else they are going to need and which things are more important than the others,” explained Landon Chrysler, ’19, Addison’s brother and a collaborator on the project. “After looking at our finished projects, I realized how empty our communities looked without small details like seating areas and gardens. Personally, I’d like to see more flowerbeds and gardens around, they give buildings more of a personality,” added Evan Jordan, ’19. Design Foundations is an introduction to the visual arts, providing the language and concepts necessary to understand and manipulate the elements and principles of design. Students develop the skills to critically analyze, discuss and evaluate work, both their own and others’. The final project asks them to use the skills they’ve learned throughout the semester to solve a real-world problem as part of a team. Their debates about what should be considered necessary in a community continued even after they formed a plan and began creating the structures, and turned their study of design principles into a much broader experience.
Does your chair affect your learning? Rising Fifth Graders Are Asking the School to Rethink a Basic Classroom Element.
As third graders, a group of students began to question the chairs they spent so much time sitting in throughout the day. Ender Ryan, ’23, found that with chairs of the height chosen for the third grade classrooms, his feet didn’t reach the floor. He distracted himself by constantly swinging his feet. Other students shook their legs to keep the blood flowing or tilted their chairs back to lean on the rear legs - an action that is not popular with the teachers. Deciding the standard classroom chairs were painful and distracting, the students began to research alternatives. What they discovered led to a two-year long study, and a presentation to their teachers, Lower School Head Anne Johnson and Headmaster Paul Baker.
Clockwise from bottom left: Ender Ryan, Elena Alvarado, Benjamin Krueger and Gisele Kellman
Active Sitting vs. Passive Sitting
What the students found out through their own observations, other researchers have studied at length - there’s a difference between the passive sitting that occurs in traditional classroom chairs and the active sitting that is encouraged by specially designed stools, with features such as concave bottoms, minimal or no backs and higher seats for more open hip angles and a more natural curve to the spine. They promote better posture, build core strength, and - a big selling point for the students - increased concentration.
The Study
Over the past two years, in addition to researching alternatives to traditional chairs, the students have conducted surveys of their classmates and teachers. This spring they presented their findings in a detailed PowerPoint presentation, and asked Mrs. Johnson and Dr. Baker to approve a pilot study. They would like to introduce Hokki stools (above) into third, fourth and fifth grade classrooms to observe and record the impacts the new seats have on learning and concentration. Dr. Baker, always a scientist, is challenging them to define the specifics of the study, the form of data collection and the teacher-approved guidelines for how the stools will be integrated into the classrooms. No doubt these students are ready to meet his challenge!
Trustees’ Award
In Recognition of Service to ESA
ESA Board of Trustees Chair Pat Stokes and the Board of Trustees presented the 2015 Trustees’ Award to Nadia Delahoussaye. The Trustees’ Award recognizes exemplary service to the ESA community. Mrs. Delahoussaye devoted both time and expertise to helping ESA navigate complex legal issues over the course of several years. A partner in one of Louisiana’s largest law firms, she dedicated a tremendous amount of time to serving the ESA community. In thanking her, Mr. Stokes commented, “Nadia was courageous in the position she took; dogged in her pursuit; thorough in her approach; and, at the end, victorious on behalf of the school. And all of this work took place without the fireworks of recognition.” Thank you!
Spring Fling X A Huge Success...
... and a great party! Thanks to Chair Jeanne Fitzgerald and all of the committee members, volunteers, donors, sponsors, and attendees of the 2015 Spring Fling. The event, held at La Marquise Ballroom on March 20th, brought in more than $182,000, funds that will support the Annual Fund, provide professional development for teachers, allow us to improve the wireless networks on both campuses, provide erosion mitigation and improvements to the Lafayette Campus courtyard and grounds, purchase physics-based playground equipment and water cooling misters for the Lower School playground, obtain bleachers for the outdoor chapel at the Cade campus, ensure much needed renovations of the Counseling building at the Cade Campus, which houses the College, Guidance and Chaplain offices, and install a new roof and replace flooring on two of the Cade campus’ original classrooms. We’re so grateful!
Thanks to our Grandparents ESA is blessed by the support of our commuity of grandparents. Thank you to all of you who attend Grandparents Day at the Lower School, plays and musicals, sporting events, art shows, concerts and awards ceremonies. Our students appreciate your support and so do the faculty and staff. We’d also like to express our thanks for your support of our Annual Fund, capital campaign and other events and fundraisers. Your contributions allow us to provide a wonderful ESA Experience for your grandchildren!
In March, Tibetan Monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery spent a week on the Lafayette campus. The monks travel to raise awareness and promote dialogue among religions, to share the endangered Tibetan culture through dance, chants and other arts, and to raise funds to support refugee monks and students in south India. While on campus, they spent much of their time constructing an intricate sand mandala, which they destroyed in a ceremony at the end of the week to highlight their teaching that nothing is permanent. When not working on the mandala, the monks visited classrooms, answered questions and led meditations. They performed a cultural pagaent for the community and visited the Cade campus to demonstrate chants and debating styles. Thanks to the PFG for helping to make this visit possible!
Alumni Notes 1985
Brenda Ahrabi Stelly, President of Oil Center Research International, LLC, headquartered in Lafayette, was presented with the President’s “E” Star Award for Exports in Washington, DC. This award is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.
1986
Mike Bryan became a tennis pro after playing tennis for Northeast Louisiana University (now UL-Monroe). He is the current pro at Goose Creek Club in Oxford, Mississippi, where he has been for just over a year. Prior to moving to Oxford, Mike was the head pro at the prestigious New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club.
1989
Dr. Peter Melman has been appointed the
Frank L. Babbott Chair of Literature and the Arts for 2015-17 at The Packer Collegiate Institute. Peter earned a BA in history at Tufts, and a Masters degree and PhD in English and Creative Writing from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He teaches 10th grade English and a few electives and is a published author. Molly Pritchard Hollis graduated from LSU in 1994 with a degree in Spanish, then earned an MBA from the University of Colorado in 2001. She’s married to Sean Hollis, and they live in Colorado with their two children, Katy, born in 2002, and Leila, born in 2006.
1991
As owner and Creative Director at DesignVision in Lafayette, Chris LeBlanc creates 3D visuals and animation for architecture clients. He is married to the former Sarah Hernandez, and they have two children,
Jolie and Ethan. Chris coaches his daughter’s soccer team, and he also enjoys rock climbing and bouldering with his son.
1992
Beth Hinchee Barnette owns a Town Planner franchise in Kingsport, Tennessee. Beth met up with Brent and Mandi Pooler (both ’92) at a Town Planner conference San Antonio, Texas. Beth was named Rookie of the Year for her first year in publishing.
1993
Chanda Rubin and Mireyou Hollier were married in April. Chanda is a licensed real estate agent and owner of Charen Properties in Lafayette. She received a BA in Economics from Harvard University.
1995
Gabe Camalo married Michelle Dupré
The 2015 ESA Alumni Association Crawfish Boil, left: Members of the Class of 2015, ESA’s newest alumni! Right: Annie Cormier, ’08, Marion Sparks, ‘08, and Walt Jamison, ‘07
in November, 2013. Gabe is a Petroleum Landman and project manager for BETA Land Services in Lafayette.
School. She is married to Stephen Myers, and they have a son, Grant, 2.
1997
Avery Alpha and Brad Belzak were married on May 9, 2015, in New Orleans. Avery earned a BA in Political Science from Columbia University in New York City. She served in Cairo, Egypt during the Arab Spring as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State, and is now working at The White House as Director of Counterterrorism at the National Security Council.
Jerome Moroux was named partner at Broussard and David in Lafayette. A member of the ESA Board of Trustees, Jerome has two children at the Lower School, and two more future Falcons.
1998
Matt Soulier is Director of Operations for Cimation, an engineering services company in Houston, where he moved in 2014. Matt earned a BS in Engineering Science from Trinity University in 2002. He is married to Katie Theard, and they have two children, Max, 4, Ethan, 2. Sarah Voorhies Myers holds a BA in English and Psychology from Loyola University, and a JD from Tulane University Law
1999
Effie Michot recently opened the Curious Oyster Company, housed in the newly renovated St. Roch Market in New Orleans. Chad Cosby competed in the stand-up comedy routine contest Carolina’s Funniest Comic in North Carolina. Out of 49 contestants, he was named one of the top two comedians and went on to compete
against the top two comedians from South Carolina. Chad won that competition as well and was named Carolina’s Funniest Comic 2015! Rien Fertel was one of the featured speakers at this year’s Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival held in March.
2001
As Vice-President of Operations for Berard Transportation, Inc., a family owned company founded in 1945 by his grandfather, Brett Berard accepted a 2014 Business Impact Award from The Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce. Brett received a Civil Engineering degree from LSU and joined the family business in 2006.
2002
Morgan Weiland graduated from Stanford Law School this June. Earlier this year, she attended oral arguments at the Supreme
Left: Tim Rinaldi, ‘07, with the newest Rinaldi, Luke Francis Right: Garrett Rosen, ‘97, Daisy Cunningham, ‘99 and Ben Trant, ‘04
Calais Hurst Waring, ’96 (right), and Hilary Hurst Landry, ’94 (left), hosted our ESA Alumni Gathering in New Orleans on
Sunday, March 1. Alumni from as early as 1985 and as recent as 2011 joined us to catch up with teachers and friends and to make new alumni acquaintances. Mr. Tutwiler, Dr. and Mrs. Tate and Dr. White and his wife Gail made the trip to visit with former students. Thanks for hosting a fantastic party, Calais and Hilary! We’ve almost met our $30,000 goal in year two of the Tates/Tutwiler Fund Matching Gift Challenge! Alumni gifts up to $1,000 will be matched by Class of 1986 alumni Clint Freeland, Jody Kochansky and Will McKinnon. Eighty percent of the interest from the Tates/Tutwiler Fund goes to work each year to provide financial aid for students who couldn’t attend ESA without it. Help us provide these students with their own ESA Experiences. Visit ESAcadiana.com/Donate!
Court for Ohio vs. Clark as part of the Stanford Law School’s Supreme Court Litigation Clinic. Morgan will continue working on her PhD, the first joint degree between the law school and Stanford’s Communication Department. John-Henry Trant is Science Department Chair at John Dibert Community School in New Orleans. Hunter Nezat is a Project Architect and Laboratory Planner for Perkins+Will in Houston. He attended Wentworth Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelors of Architecture in 2007 and a Masters of Architecture in 2010. He and his wife Jamie have a one-year-old daughter, Olivia (Livi). Hunter still plays rugby! Trey Miller married Kara Stephens on May 16, 2015. Trey received a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from Trinity University, and works as a General Field Professional at Halliburton Energy Services.
2003
Alexandra Hales, Executive Director of the Dallas/Fort Worth Teach for America, was named one of the Dallas Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Matt Kennedy is a geology consultant in Acadiana, representing oil and gas companies in legacy lawsuits.
2005
Margaret Nezat Harrelson holds a BSN from Baylor University. She and her husband Matt have two children, Claire, 2, and Aubrey, 6 months.
2006
Taylor Hise graduated from LSU Medical School in Shreveport.
2007
George Arceneaux IV received his Masters of Divinity from the University of Chicago.
Dr. Chris Savoy graduated from the LSU school of Dentistry in May. His brother-inlaw, Dr. Ross McCarron, ‘01, was a part of the LSU faculty who graduated him. Whitney Hales was part of a team from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey that took first place in a 24-team international MBA case-study competition sponsored by The Economist magazine. Marithe Gutierrez finished her rotations at LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport and has one more year left of medical school. She earned an undergraduate degree in religion at Amherst College.
2008
Aaron Brown received his Juris Doctorate from Tulane Law School.
2009
Abigail Feinberg performed in Feast and Crime at the Old Marquer Theatre in New Orleans in March. In May, she performed as Antigone, a role she first played at ESA during her senior year.
2010
Lucie Pyle is a Technical Project Assistant at Enersciences, a Lafayette company that develops innovative technologies and solutions for the energy industry. Lucie studied Biology and Chemistry at Emory University, earning her degree in 2014. And yes, she’s still a runner!
Cyone Batiste graduated from LSU and has moved to Houston, where she is the Public Relations and Marketing Manager for the April 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four. Brandon Taylor is studying Exercise Science in UL Lafayette’s School of Kinesiology and working toward a Personal Trainer license.
tration. While at LSU, she worked as a captain of the LSU tour guides, was an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, served on the Greek Board of Directors and the PanHellenic Executive Council, was a member of the Leadership LSU Class of 2015 and served on the Division of Student Life and Enrollment Advisory Board in her last two years on campus. Congratulations, Caroline!
2011
2012
Caroline Broussard was named one of LSU’s Tiger Twelve for the Class of 2015! Caroline majored in communication disorders and minored in business adminis-
Katherine Faul finished her third year at Texas A&M, where she is studying Biomedical Sciences and considering physical therapy school.
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Advice from the Class of 2022...
Seek joy in what you give, not in what you get. Ali
Be yourself – people like it more when you are yourself and not trying to be someone different. Ethan fiFinish strong and never give up. Cade
The birdwatching group explored a sage grouse lek during the 5th grade trip to the Teton Science Schools in Wyoming this May.