Head of School Steve Hickman welcomes everyone to the All School Opening Meeting.
Board Chair John O'Neill addresses the crowd.
Several of the 10-year Collegiate faculty and staff members receive their chairs.
Beth Kondorossy receives the 2016 Class of 1977 Anne Jones Staff Award.
Jeff Dunnington looks at his 2016 Andrew Jackson Bren Award.
Christine Waldron receives the 2016 Craigie Endowment for Teaching Excellence Award.
Stew Williamson thanks Steve Hickman for the 2016 Ann Griffin Award for Excellence in Teaching.
LaNessa West poses with Steve Hickman and her 2016 Martha Elizabeth Schwarz Award.
Holly Smith receives the 2016 Oates Endowment for Creative and Innovative Teaching Award.
John O'Neill and Steve Hickman pose with Alex Smith and his Cougar football jersey.

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“Let’s Make This a Year to Remember”

8/23/2016

The morning of Aug. 23 broke cool and crisp with a hint of fall — and plenty of excitement — in the air. At the annual All School Opening Meeting, Head of School Steve Hickman welcomed 360 Collegiate School faculty and staff, including 24 new members, gathered in Centennial Hall. The energy was palpable.

Board Chair John O’Neill spoke about the strong sense of community found within Collegiate and how our teachers, through their talents, transfer those skills to our students as they head out into the larger community and world. Collegiate is committed to evolve, Mr. O’Neill said, yet just as committed to respect its history.

After thanking Mr. O’Neill for his service, passion and love for Collegiate, Mr. Hickman addressed the crowd, covering similar themes of community, responsible citizenship and student-centered learning.

“Our strong and caring relationships define who we are as we prepare our students to learn how to think, not what to think,” he said.

After introductions of the new faculty and staff, some humorous, others hilarious, Mr. Hickman acknowledged the following faculty and staff members with 10 years of service: Kim Ball, Melanie Barker, Tyler Boyd, Jamie Britto, Nicola Byford, Helen Markiewicz, Will O’Brien, Emily Randolph, Dave Sherman and Mironda Starke. Each received his or her own Collegiate chair.

Andrew Stanley was honored for 20 years of service, while Debbie Miller and Val Siff were lauded for 30 years of service.

Mr. Hickman then honored the following six faculty members with awards for their dedication and passion:

The 2016 Class of 1977 Anne Jones Staff Award: Beth Kondorossy
The 2016 Andrew Jackson Brent Award: Jeff Dunnington
The 2016 Craigie Endowment for Teaching Excellence Award: Christine Waldron
The 2016 Ann Griffin Award for Excellence in Teaching: Stew Williamson
The 2016 Martha Elizabeth Schwarz Award: LaNessa West
The 2016 Oates Endowment for Creative and Innovative Teaching Award: Holly Smith

To close the meeting, Mr. Hickman brought to the front of the room Alex Smith, Collegiate’s long-time Development Vice President, who is retiring on Aug. 31. Calling him a true example of the Cougar community and someone who has been flying the Cougar flag higher than anyone, Mr. Hickman presented Mr. Smith with a plaque acknowledging his 47 years at the School. He also received a framed football jersey with a photo of himself catching a pass against Woodberry in 1963.

“He loved his School,” Mr. Hickman said. “Well, Alex, your school loves you.”

With that, Mr. Hickman called the meeting to an end. “Let’s make this a year to remember,” he said.

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