The Defender Dispatch - Alumni Newsletter - Fall 2021 |
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(L-R) Trinity, Bethany, Virginia, Josiah, Hannah, Mia, Judah, Frank, Benjamin |
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Frank Roberts ('01) does not have what most would call a traditional path after a Classical Christian Education. While he did attend a four year college, he notes that he was disenchanted with the university teachers. “I think part of the problem was that I had such great, engaging teachers at Westminster, when I got to college I thought it would be next-level,” he says, “but my first two years of college, I was so uninspired, I kept thinking ‘Can I just go back to my high school classes? They were so much better’.” But he pressed on and finished his degree in civil engineering.
After graduation, Frank went on to work for his family business in residential water and gardenscapes, such as fountains and garden decor. After almost two decades, he was ready to be his own boss and he opened his own business, Memphis Water Gardens, which designs and maintains fountains, water features, and koi ponds.
Frank and his wife Virginia decided to add a few chickens to their small, midtown Memphis backyard. Then they sold their home and purchased a house on 16.5 acres outside of the city limits and now have chickens, turkeys, guinea hens, several pigs, five steers, a horse, cats, and a dog on the farm. In his dreams, Frank says they would farm full time, but farms (and animals and crops) need time to grow and mature. So for now, he is supporting the expansion of the farm with his work at Memphis Water Gardens.
In addition to growing the farm, Frank and Virginia felt called to grow their family. After having four biological children, the couple did not feel that their family was complete. Through help from the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home, they adopted their son Josiah, who turned two this year and is starting in a program for children with special needs in September, and has thrived with the help of movement therapy and alternative medical care. Also this year, the Roberts' have been blessed with the addition of teenage sisters Mia and Trinity to their family. The family has been working on the paperwork and hope the girls’ adoptions will be finalized in October before Mia turns 18. (This just in...The adoptions were finalized this week!)
The Roberts’ family has grown and their lives have changed in ways they couldn’t have imagined just a few years ago. “The big thing that God has laid on our hearts is that God does not call us to the systems (adoption, foster, farming), he calls us into relationships with him and others. He called us to these families, we’ve seen miracles, salvation, and lives changed, ours being the first!”
Frank says that he can honestly say that he wouldn’t be where he is without his Classical education. “I think the Holy Spirit uses what we give, Classical teaches us to think critically, and that training to think critically, God used that critical thinking to help me process and think through all of these decisions.”
The Roberts family includes: Frank and Virginia, Mia (17), Trinity (16), Benjamin (9), Hannah (7), Judah (5), Bethany (3) and Josiah (2).
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Katherine Hall Daniels ('04) lives in Nashville with her husband Blake and their beloved dog. She has a BA in Business from Mississippi State University and works as a VP at InsBank Commercial Construction.
Katherine is involved with the Junior League of Nashville and is a Board Member for the Sexual Assault Center. Her hobbies include traveling, scuba diving, and trying all the new restaurants in Nashville as they open.
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Clara Halford ('19) writes: "Currently I am a junior at the University of Tennessee studying advertising in the College of Communications and Information. With this degree, I hope to work in an advertising firm on the creative team and/or manage social media accounts. I am involved in a multitude of clubs and organizations on campus including RUF, Alpha Delta Pi, Ad Club, and much more. I am studying abroad in Florence next semester! I am excited to re-learn and visit what I saw during my Italy trip as a senior in high school!
I work part time in downtown Knoxville at Vow'd, a high end wedding dress store. Here, I style future brides and help choose their dress for the big day!
The Halford family has plagued Westminster for some time...My cousin was in the first graduating class, meaning there was a Halford at Westminster for almost 30 years. During this time, my dad served on the board for at least 15 years (the longest running time!). Currently, all of my direct family live in Memphis working in the medical field except John who is an architect at PKM. Our family has been blessed with two nephews and one niece who keep us on our toes. After college, I hope to move back to Memphis to be with my family back home.
During my spare time, I enjoy cooking, baking, and photographing my creations. When COVID hit, I dedicated all my time to learning how to cook. After a few months of this, I decided to create a food account that is called @cooking_by_clara. This hobby has taught me how to professionally run a social media account and I hope to use this skill in my future job!
My fondest memory at WA is performing at Senior Banquet as a junior. Hands down the best skit ever!"
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Amy Smith Wise ('09) is a General Surgery Resident at the University of Louisville. She graduated from Auburn University in 2013 and the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine. She is married to Harrison Wise, who works in data quality for an insurance company. They just had a baby, Cameron, in June of this year!
Amy's says that her best memories of Westminster are "the basketball games, both playing and watching, and the full WA community that they brought out."
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Early Defenders - Class of 2001 and 2002 |
(L-R) Adrianne Purselley Morgan, Michele Roberts Finfrock, Callie Milam, Jessica Watson Koenegstein, Emily Bernardini O'Dell, Bethan Holland-Raines, Lauren Vanderpool McLennan, Holley Halford Peters, Lauren Avila Spano, and Laura Kemp Love |
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Mark Fritchie ('05) and Jamie Nabors Schoen '(04) in Little Women
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Amy Maugans Callis ('03) and Josh Greenfield ('01) in The Ugly Duckling
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Dog Days and Student Council Speeches |
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(L-R) Will Holland ('07), Mary Claire Frazier Hargrove ('06), Will Correll ('08), Ashley Shaunak Sullivan ('07), Anna Halford Burton ('07), Nathan Strong ('07), and Sam Bouck ('08) |
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(L-R) Robin Reed, Deborah Perry, Mike Carter, Cynthia Behnke, Doug "Coach" Smith |
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Where there once was just a wall to lean on... |
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Now there are picnic tables! |
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Our beloved Cathy Boyd has been teaching at Westminster from the very beginning! |
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The Upper School attended a 9-11 Remembrance Assembly on Friday, September 10. It was a poignant and powerful time for the students, as they learned some 9-11 background history, heard teacher testimonials, and listened to Mr. Ted Trainor (Headmaster at Westminster Academy in 2001). Please click here to watch the recording.
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Congratulations to our National Merit Semi-Finalists and Commended Scholars! Julia Whitehead, Barrett Welchons, and Joyce Wang were named Semi-Finalists, and Will Bostic and Graham Hayes are Commended Scholars. Bravo to these students for their hard work and these tremendous results! |
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Westminster Men - Join us this Saturday!
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Check out our Annual Fund Giving Campaign! |
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From Defenders to Bulldogs! |
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Nathan Deacon ('21) and Mary Rachel Pang ('06/MSU '10) enjoy game day in the Junction. |
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A Bow Tie Day for the Entire School! |
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In celebration of Holt Hall's 65th birthday and his signature sense of style, students, faculty, and staff wore bow ties to school! |
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Upcoming Dates to Remember |
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- October 23 - Whole Hog Roast
- November 6 - Alumni Fun on the Farm
- November 19 - Tailgate Party
- December 16 - Christmas Choir Concert (Alumni choir members are invited to join in singing "Carol of the Bells.")
- May 2 - WA Golf Tournament
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There are many ways to stay connected to Westminster Academy... |
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