RE Log Spring 2019

SPRING 2019 Ransom Everglades LOG 3 place. They succeeded, emerging as campus leaders and setting a course for decades. “It was nice having a group of like-minded people to relate to,” said Beverly Watson ’90 , who went on to Georgetown and Stanford Law School. “It wasn’t the whole experience at Ransom Everglades, but it was something that made my experience richer.” Our BSA pioneers love Ransom Everglades, but they are also watching their alma mater closely, pushing us to keep lifting the bar they helped raise. Said Patrick Range II ’95 : “I don’t think there are many things more important than diversity, particularly at a place like Ransom Everglades.” In Antonio Ardila ’75 , we see a successful businessman (see story on page 4) stepping out of his comfort zone to take on an exciting new challenge: Colombian ambassador to the United Kingdom. Antonio, who has elevated various companies and the Atlético Nacional soccer team in Colombia, sees the new job as part of his lifelong commitment to making various organizations – teams, if you will – better with his contributions. He learned about teamwork from his father and Jim Beverley ’62 , his soccer coach at RE. This transformation represents a highly personal one for Ardila; he promises to give it his best shot: “I hope I will be up to the task,” he told us when he was on campus last December. You will also learn about our drive toward sustainability, a cause championed by a number of passionate and engaged faculty, including Dr. Kelly Jackson, a Middle School science teacher who recently completed her PhD in marine geology. English teacher Danielle Ellis shares insight into the ways we seek to ease the transition to the Upper School for our freshmen, offering a mix of personal attention, peer assistance and special programs to help make their ninth-grade year a transformative one. Football coach and college counselor Roger Caron describes his safety-first approach, one that seems to be improving our players’ health and their performance. And don’t miss a special tribute to arguably the most transformational figure in our school’s history, Dan Leslie Bowden, who died Sept. 14, 2018, after 63 years at Ransom Everglades. I was particularly touched by this quote from Rama Hughes ’93 , a professional artist who was profoundly influenced by Dan: “My most treasured memory of Mr. Bowden is how he held my wrist when he spoke to other students. That firm grip communicated everything: ‘You are important to me. I will not let you go until we speak.’ The glorious thing is that he made most of this students – maybe even all of us? – feel that way.” What a beautiful description, and how relevant to this magazine. The power of that pause, the moment in between, that loaded, get- ready-for-this stillness. We, like Rama, are in the grip of something encouraging and empowering. It’s a pause, not a conclusion, and we can feel the energy building. We know the best is yet to come. Penny Townsend Head of School We’d love to hear from you! If you have comments about stories in this magazine, please submit your Letter to the Editor to REnews@ransomeverglades.org . “Purposeful evolution takes time. It also takes sweat, energy and inspired people who know how to make things happen... Our mission is transformative.”