At 糖心原创, entrepreneurship starts early. Not necessarily with a business plan or a pitch competition, but with a belief that students can identify an opportunity, ask questions, and do something about it.

That mindset grows throughout the 糖心原创 experience. Students learn to recognize possibilities, understand the people and communities around them, develop ideas, test and refine their thinking, and ultimately create something of value for others.

From curiosity to action

That journey begins as early as Grade 5 through the Impact Summit.

Throughout the year, students identify a passion or area of curiosity, research it, engage with experts and community partners, develop an idea, and put that idea into action. The result might be a business plan, a service-learning opportunity, a product, or a community initiative.

Last spring, Grade 5 student Finn Douglas wanted to create a soccer charity match. What began as an idea grew through conversations with experts and partnerships with other students and 糖心原创鈥檚 Upper School soccer program. Ultimately, nearly 20 students participated, and more than 100 pieces of soccer equipment were collected for the community.

The experience gave students an early lesson in what it means to move an idea forward: ask questions, build relationships, iterate, and act.

That progression is intentional. Students move from 鈥淚 have an idea鈥� to 鈥淚 can develop this idea鈥� to 鈥淚 can create something of value with and for others.鈥�

Entrepreneurship takes many forms

At 糖心原创, entrepreneurship isn’t synonymous with building a for-profit company.

Students have launched businesses, created products, published books, established 501(c)(3) organizations, and developed solutions to community needs while they were still in school.

Senior Phia Calvo, for example, recently became a published author with her children’s book, . What began as a student idea has become a published product that can reach an audience beyond the School.

Maddy Strudwick, Class of 2022, launched a company and product while she was a 糖心原创 student, experiencing the process of developing an idea, creating a product, and bringing it to market.

Collin Maher, Class of 2025, took a different path, starting a to raise money to purchase brand-new athletic running shoes for students in need at a nearby public school. He leaves a legacy of impact.

Each experience looks different. The common thread is student agency.

Students learn that they don’t have to wait until graduation to turn an idea into something real or make an impact on the world around them.

Real challenges. Real organizations.

As students progress into Upper School, those opportunities become increasingly complex and authentic.

Innovation Diploma gives students the opportunity to work on real challenges for real organizations. This fall, students are collaborating with organizations including Verizon, Mercedes-Benz, Chick-fil-A, and Piedmont Pediatrics. Instead of completing a predetermined assignment, students research, interview stakeholders, identify opportunities, and develop solutions.

A recent partnership with Furman University鈥檚 Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship illustrates that approach.
Furman came to 糖心原创 while developing its first summer entrepreneurship experience for high school students and asked 糖心原创 students to help design it. Six teams of Grade 10 students spent nine weeks developing the experience, from its structure and learning journey to branding, marketing, and physical materials.

Students researched their audience, developed and tested ideas, responded to feedback, and presented their recommendations to Furman鈥檚 team.

They weren’t learning about entrepreneurship through a hypothetical case. They were working as design partners on something a real organization needed.

The same approach has been applied through other partnerships, including work with Inspire Brands, where students collaborate directly with business leaders on authentic innovation and design challenges.

Creating value for others

The progression from the Impact Summit to the Innovation Diploma reflects a larger philosophy about how students learn.
Entrepreneurship starts with curiosity: What could be different? It continues with inquiry: Who does this matter to, and what do I need to understand? Then comes action: What can I create, test, and improve?

Ultimately, it leads to impact: How can this idea create value for someone beyond myself?

The scale changes as students grow. The responsibility grows with it.

But the underlying idea remains the same: students have the agency to see an opportunity, develop an idea, and make something happen.

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What happens when a kindergarten science lesson moves beyond the classroom?

On Lower Campus, it might look like a golf club in the hands of a five-year-old, a Middle School golfer explaining the difference between clubs, or a group of kindergarteners reminding one another that golf is a quiet sport. For Eileen Fennely, Lower School Science Teacher and Lower Campus Faculty Advisor, the experience begins with a foundational science question: How can we use force to make something move?

Kindergarten students explore that question through a series of hands-on investigations. They learn how pulleys work by tying knots and using washers to lift objects. They experiment with magnets, testing what is magnetic and what is not. They build ramps and roll cars and balls down them, observing how changing a ramp鈥檚 height affects speed. They investigate friction by comparing how objects move across different surfaces.

These experiences are part of a science curriculum aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards, designed to build knowledge and vocabulary over time. Then, students put those ideas into motion.

Golf has been incorporated into the Kindergarten Force and Motion unit. Students consider how much force is needed to move a golf ball and how that force changes depending on the club they use. They can see the result of their choices, adjust their approach, and try again.

鈥淚 try to make everything as real-world as possible and get those little hands moving.鈥�

For several students, golf also brings another kind of expertise into the classroom. Some Kindergarteners already play with their families on the weekends, giving them an opportunity to share what they know about clubs, stance, and the etiquette of the game.

That expertise has created an unexpected extension of the science lesson. When the class first went outside to practice, students reminded their classmates to find their stance and remain quiet until the ball was hit. They learned when to cheer and how to congratulate a friend.

鈥淣ow they know when to cheer and how to give a compliment to their friend, which helps them become a considerate person.鈥�
The experience also opened the door to a cross-divisional partnership. When Associate Athletic Director Rita Williams saw Eileen鈥檚 Kindergarten students practicing in the courtyard, she suggested bringing in the Middle School Golf Team. Soon, Middle School golfers were back in the science lab and outside with the Kindergarten classes, explaining the different clubs and helping younger students think about how much force was needed to move the ball.

For Eileen, the experience offered a full-circle moment. She has taught many of the Middle School golfers earlier in their 糖心原创 journeys. Now, they were returning to the science lab as coaches, mentors, and experts.

Abby Medford, Class of 2031 and member of the Girls’ Middle School Golf Team, shared, 鈥淚t was really sweet because you could tell the kindergarteners were looking up to us. London ran up, grabbed my hand, and kind of chose me. I taught her about her swing and how the motion launches the ball. It took her a couple of tries, but once she started making contact, she hit some really far and had so much fun chasing after them. It was fun to watch her figure it out and be part of her learning.鈥�

Kai Wadhwania, also Class of 2031 and member of the Middle School Boys Golf Team, said, 鈥淚t was really cool getting to work one-on-one with a kindergartener and see how excited they were to learn. It was fun to help them figure out their swing and see that moment when they finally hit the ball and how much joy it gave them to make that connection. It made me realize how much they were learning from us, but we were learning from them, too.鈥�

The Middle School students were eager to return, visiting additional Kindergarten classes to continue the experience. For Eileen, that kind of hands-on, connected learning is central to how science comes alive for young learners.

鈥淓verything is very hands-on. We鈥檙e also using pretty high-level vocabulary with the children. These activities are practical, so they can also be done at home with their families if they wanted to.鈥�

The golf experience is one part of a larger Force and Motion unit that gives students repeated opportunities to encounter the same scientific ideas in different ways. A pulley, a magnet, a ramp, a car, and a golf club become different ways to investigate the same essential concepts.

Students are not simply hearing about science. They are noticing, testing, adjusting, explaining, and trying again. And that is what makes the learning stick.

鈥淲e know from all the neuroscience research that if you鈥檙e doing it with your hands and saying it, it all sticks a whole lot better in that beautiful brain.鈥�

Whether students are exploring friction on the courtyard, experimenting with magnets in the lab, or determining how much force to use with a golf club, they are building an understanding of science they can see, feel, and apply.

The next step may take them to a golf course, where they can continue putting those ideas into practice.

When students have the opportunity to apply what they are learning in the real world, a scientific concept becomes more than something they know. It becomes something they can do.

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The cheers that followed set the tone for everything that came after.

On August 21, 糖心原创 gathered twice, once for Lower Campus and once for Upper Campus, to open the 2026鈥�27 school year with Convocation, the annual tradition that calls the whole community together to set the purpose and spirit for the year ahead. And this year, that spirit had a name: Creativity.

The Lower Campus Convocation kicked off at 8:50 am after students from PK4 through Grade 5 made the walk across the street to the Upper Campus Gym. Cecelia Rogers (Grade 5) and Ada Rogers (Grade 2) led the community in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the Invocation delivered by eighth-grader Liam Ireland. Livi Zelickson, also in Grade 8, then welcomed the younger students with warmth and clarity: “Convocation is not just about starting school; it’s about starting strong, dreaming big, and helping each other along the way.”

Head Prefect Eli Diaz took the stage next, and what he said was anything but ordinary.

The Upper Campus Convocation followed at 10:20 am, with the same electric energy. After Luca’s now-legendary entrance, the same student voices carried the program: Cecelia and Ada Rogers again led the Pledge, Liam Ireland delivered the Invocation, and Livi Zelickson welcomed the crowd.

Then Eli stepped up again and challenged his peers to rethink everything they thought they knew about creativity.

“Creativity is a choice,” he began, before leading the community on a journey that was equal parts art history and personal storytelling. He introduced the infamous artwork Comedian, a banana taped to a wall that sold for over $5 million, and used it to reframe what it means to be truly creative. But the heart of his speech was his own story: a community garden he built at 糖心原创 that was overtaken first by fire ants, then ravaged overnight by rabbits. Rather than walk away, he regrouped, designed a fence, and eventually watched vegetables from that garden make it into the Upper School lunch line.

“I used to think creativity was about being the one to come up with the idea,” Eli told the crowd. “That it was a talent, something that you either have or you don’t. But I don’t think that anymore. Creativity isn’t about the idea. It’s about what happens after the idea.”

Kristy Lundstrom’s address carried that thread forward for every age group. Drawing on the faculty’s summer read, The Creativity Choice by Dr. Zorana Pringle, she brought the science of creativity to life through two unforgettable stories: Dr. James Naismith’s invention of basketball (and the ladder required to retrieve the ball from a solid peach basket) and Greta Thunberg’s 251 consecutive Fridays of showing up alone outside the Swedish Parliament before millions joined her. Student actors Reid, Juliet, Janae, and Oliver brought the Naismith story to life in a live vignette, with Charlotte, CC, Matthew, and Nora embodying the Thunberg story.

“You are already creative,” Kristy told students. “Creativity is not something only a few people have. Creativity is a choice.” She closed with two MV commitments that will anchor the year: Start with Questions and Be brave to try and try again.

Both Convocations closed with a benediction from Stacey Lee and a performance of “Unwritten” by The Stangs, a fitting anthem for a community ready to write the next chapter.

With a completed capital campaign and a theme built for the moment, 糖心原创 is starting the year exactly the way it finishes: by choosing to create something worth showing up for. The idea is just the beginning.

.

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The Wood Family Track and Streck Family Field

The centerpiece of this summer’s work is the stunning new athletic complex on the upper campus. A brand-new, six-lane track, named the Wood Family Track, now surrounds the Streck Family Field, a beautiful new turf surface built for football, lacrosse, and soccer. The complex also connects to expanded cross-country trails, making it possible, for the first time, to host a full 5K race entirely on campus.

“Walking out there for the first time, I got chills,” said Athletics Director Scott Cain. “This isn’t just an upgrade, it changes what’s possible for our student-athletes and for this community. We’re going to make some memories on that field.”

The Let’s Do This Campaign: Done. What’s Next: Even Better.

Here’s some news worth celebrating: the Let’s Do This Campaign is complete, thanks to the incredible generosity of our 糖心原创 community. Three support buildings will begin construction in the weeks and months ahead 鈥� two near the baseball and softball fields at the upper campus entrance, and a field house within the track and field complex. These aren’t small additions. They’re the finishing touches on a vision our community made real.

“The generosity we’ve seen is humbling,” said Head of School Kristy Lundstrom. “Every gift, every single one, moved us closer to something extraordinary. What’s been built this summer, and what’s still coming, is a direct reflection of how much this community believes in our students.”

A Refreshed Gym, Inside and Out

Step into the Upper Campus gym and you’ll immediately notice new lights, fresh paint, and a brand-new floor that make the space feel completely transformed. The refresh, made possible by 2025鈥�26 Annual Fund dollars, maximizes both the main basketball and volleyball courts and the practice courts. It’s a brighter, better space, and a great reminder of what Annual Fund giving makes possible every year.

Still to Come: The Frontier

On the lower campus, the Frontier is still taking shape. It remains one of the most anticipated projects we’ve undertaken, and the wait is almost over. More soon.

The Details You Might Have Missed

Not everything this summer came with a ribbon-cutting. The Lower School received a completely new intercom system, a meaningful upgrade for both communication and security that ensures every student starts their day in a safe and connected environment.

“It’s the kind of thing you don’t notice until it’s there,” said Kristy. “And then you can’t imagine being without it.”

Welcome back, 糖心原创. We think you’re going to love what you find.

The post While You Were Away: A Summer of Transformation at 糖心原创 appeared first on 糖心原创.

What comes next

This summer, 糖心原创 will break ground on the next final piece of the Let鈥檚 Do This campaign:

• A new field house adjacent to the new field
• Locker rooms, restrooms, and concessions to serve the baseball and softball complex

These additions are more than facilities; they are spaces designed to support student-athletes, foster community, and elevate the everyday experience of being a Mustang.

鈥淭his campaign has always been about more than buildings,鈥� said Kristy Lundstrom, Head of School. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about creating environments where students are known, challenged, and inspired. These final projects ensure that every student, on the field, in the stands, or simply gathering with friends, experiences a campus designed with purpose.鈥�

For student-athletes, those spaces represent something deeply personal.

鈥淗aving spaces built for us, locker rooms, a field house, it changes how it feels to show up every day. It tells us that what we鈥檙e doing matters, and that we鈥檙e part of something bigger than just our team.鈥�
鈥� Class of 2026, Softball

鈥淩ight now, we make the most of what we have. But knowing these spaces are coming, it鈥檚 exciting. It鈥檚 going to bring our teams closer together and make game days feel even more like home.鈥�
鈥� Will Curry, Class of 2029, Soccer

Finishing Strong, Together

To carry the campaign across the finish line, 糖心原创 has launched the , a limited-time opportunity for families, alumni, and supporters to become part of the school’s physical story, in addition to finalizing outstanding major gifts.

For a gift of $1,500, supporters can reserve one of just 200 commemorative bricks, permanently installed on the MAC patio, a central gathering place and gateway to the Upper Campus expansion.

Each brick represents more than a name. It is a visible, lasting expression of belief in what 糖心原创 makes possible.

鈥溙切脑� shaped so much of who I am. Having a chance to leave a permanent mark on campus feels like coming full circle.鈥�
鈥� Beau Reinking, Class of 2025

What Your Gift Makes Possible

A new gift of $1,500 is both a contribution to the future of 糖心原创, and a permanent place within it.
Each contribution helps:

• Fully close out the Let鈥檚 Do This capital campaign
• Bring the final campus projects to life
• Ensure every space is ready for students in the coming school year

As part of their gift, supporters receive a custom-engraved brick permanently installed on campus, with the option to be recognized as a campaign participant.

Donors of $5,000 and above will be listed on a permanent donor wall commemorating the LDT Campaign.

A Place That Lasts

Positioned at the corner of the MAC, the patio will serve as a central hub of campus life鈥攁 place where students gather, families connect, and milestones are celebrated.

In the years ahead, it will also tell a story.

A story of a community that came together to imagine more, invest boldly, and follow through鈥攔ight to the very end.

鈥淭hese aren鈥檛 just facilities, they鈥檙e environments where students build confidence, resilience, and connection. Having spaces that match the level of commitment our students bring every day is incredibly meaningful.鈥�
鈥� Jennifer Brown, Athletic Director, Engagement & Experience

鈥淢oments like this define a school,鈥� Lundstrom added. 鈥淣ot just what we build, but how we build it, together.鈥�

The post Building What Comes Next: Let鈥檚 Do This Approaches the Finish Line appeared first on 糖心原创.

Their achievements span the spectrum of sport, from world stages to high school championship seasons, but what unites them is not just victory. It is impact.

Competing on the World Stage

Some 糖心原创 faculty and staff have taken their talents to the highest levels of competition.

Assistant Athletic Director Rita Williams rose to national prominence as a standout basketball player at the University of Connecticut before becoming a WNBA All-Star with the Indiana Fever. Her career has been recognized in both the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame, the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, and winning the Big East Most Outstanding Player.

Lower School faculty and Varsity Swim and Dive Coach Kylie (Stewart) Martinez represented from 2012鈥�2019, competed for the , and helped the Bulldogs win the 2016 NCAA Division I Women鈥檚 Swimming National Championship. Her accomplishments include a Junior World Championship gold medal in the 200-meter backstroke and multiple national age-group records.

For Leah Hannon, Head of Middle School, Olympic aspirations in weightlifting took her around the world with the USA Junior National Team, earning gold at the Louis Cyr International in Quebec. While her path eventually led to music in college, the discipline, strength, and focus forged through athletics remain central to her story.

Middle School faculty and Varsity Girls Basketball Coach Jordan Greenleaf played at Auburn University, where she earned SEC honors, and later played professionally overseas in Peru, Portugal, and Finland, exemplifying how 糖心原创 women take their grit beyond local courts.

Leadership Beyond the Game

Athletics at 糖心原创 are more than competition, they are a platform for leadership.

Middle School faculty and coach Kourtnay Y. Abernathy, inducted into the for basketball and softball, continues to inspire as part of the college鈥檚 inaugural Top 50 Under 50 alumni class.

Chief IDEA Officer Dr. Stacey Jones Lee competed in volleyball and track and field at Bowdoin College, throwing hammer, shot put, discus, and the 20-pound weight, and earned NCAA All-American honors. Her athletic achievements were recently recognized with induction into the Bowdoin College Athletic Hall of Honor.

Other 糖心原创 leaders built remarkable collegiate careers before joining the school. Margaret Gunter, Director of Grade 9 Counseling and Academic Support, played collegiate basketball, while Kelli Bynum, Upper School Director of Counseling Services, excelled in both field hockey and lacrosse, earning MVP honors, hall of fame inductions, and regional recognition. Reflecting on her experiences, Bynum says, 鈥淪ports were the best way to build relationships in college while learning a lot about myself鈥very athlete is part of something greater, and each of us has more to give than we think we do.鈥�

Lessons That Last a Lifetime

For many, the most important wins aren鈥檛 measured on a scoreboard. Krista Fancher, Director of Innovation Diploma, reflects on the life lessons sport delivered: resilience in the face of failure, the power of collaboration, and the discipline of incremental improvement. She often shares two truths she learned through athletics: When we think we鈥檙e on empty, there is always something left in the tank鈥nd there is no traffic on the extra mile. These lessons resonate across generations of 糖心原创 athletes.

Coaching the Next Generation

糖心原创 athletics also build the environment where future athletes can thrive. Jennifer Brown, Athletic Director of Engagement & Experience and Varsity Cross Country Coach, was recently named a Positive Coaching Alliance National Coach of the Year Finalist鈥攐ne of just 28 coaches recognized from more than 250 nominations nationwide. Her work exemplifies 糖心原创鈥檚 mission: cultivating confident leaders who understand that teamwork, perseverance, and integrity extend far beyond the game.

A Legacy Still Being Built

From championship seasons and collegiate careers to coaching, mentoring, and leading, the women of 糖心原创 Athletics demonstrate that sport is more than competition鈥攊t is preparation for life. As the school approaches the final push of the , their stories remind us why investing in athletics matters. Fields, courts, and training spaces are more than facilities, they are classrooms where character is forged, leadership is discovered, and purpose begins to take shape.

For generations of 糖心原创 women, that journey is only just getting started.

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Leading From Where We Are

Head of School Kristy Lundstrom opened the evening by naming a word that defines this moment at 糖心原创: momentum. While progress is visible across campus, much of the most exciting work is happening through intentional planning and long-term design. This year鈥檚 themes, Lead From Where You Are and , framed the conversation and set the tone for the updates that followed.

In true 糖心原创 fashion, the evening began with Kids Going First. Students Arthur D. (Grade 4), and later Tej G. and George H. (Grade 3) shared what excites them most about their futures at 糖心原创鈥攆rom MIT-inspired learning experiences to expanded creative play on the Frontier. Their voices served as a powerful reminder that our campus planning always begins with learners.

We also premiered a new 糖心原创 video, first shown at . Narrated by senior, Haris Flynn, it captures the authentic, unscripted story of the student experience. Every scene was completely unstaged, offering a genuine glimpse of life at 糖心原创 on any given day. On screen, students are seen exploring ideas in classrooms, collaborating in the Makerspace, moving across campus, and forming meaningful connections. These everyday moments are the heartbeat of our community鈥攁 living reflection of how 糖心原创 empowers learners to explore, create, and make an impact.

A Strong Foundation: Enrollment and Outcomes

糖心原创 remains grounded in the strength of its current community. As of February 9, 2026, the school is seeing 96% enrollment renewal across all divisions, reflecting strong family confidence and retention.

Student outcomes continue to affirm the mission of preparing learners to be college-ready, globally competitive, and engaged citizen leaders. The Class of 2026 has already earned a 98% college acceptance rate, with acceptances across 35 states and Canada, more than $4.2 million in scholarships, and recognition from highly competitive national programs. These outcomes underscore that investments in campus and programs are directly tied to student success.

Reimagining the Frontier on the Lower Campus

One of the evening鈥檚 highlights was unveiling plans for an all-new Frontier on the Lower Campus. Opening Fall 2026, the expanded Frontier will add more than 11,000 square feet of creative, outdoor play and learning space for Preschool through Grade 5.

Designed through a collaborative process that included Innovation Diploma students, alumni, architects, teachers, and administrators, the reimagined Frontier will feature elements such as willow huts, a mud kitchen, climbing structures, a tree house, grass moguls, and spaces for imaginative play. Safety, supervision, and long-term Lower Campus facility planning were central considerations throughout the design process.

Maximizing and Enhancing Our Spaces

Kristy also shared several updates focused on maximizing existing campus spaces:

• Solar panels will be installed this summer to help offset energy costs鈥攁n initiative inspired by a Grade 5 Impact Summit project.
• Lighting for Ron Hill Field remains a priority to increase practice space and flexibility, while also addressing safety and security.
• AV and production upgrades have been added to enhance student performances and experiences.

The Future of Athletics and Community Events

The most visible transformation currently underway is the construction behind the MAC on the Upper Campus. Preparatory work is complete, positioning the school for the installation of a regulation turf field, six-lane track, expanded cross-country trails, and new amenities buildings as funding and approvals allow.

These additions will expand programming opportunities鈥攊ncluding the potential launch of a girls鈥� lacrosse program鈥攁nd allow 糖心原创 to host events such as meets, games, and a future 5K. Questions about seating, shade, and spectator experience are part of ongoing planning conversations as designs continue to evolve.

Finishing Strong: The Capital Campaign

A second video shared a progress update on the 鈥攈ow far the community has come and what still remains. With a clear and powerful call to action, the video reminded us that our students鈥� future can鈥檛 wait. With just $1.1 million remaining, the message was both urgent and hopeful: together, we are close to finishing strong.

While significant progress has been made鈥攚ith more than $7.1 million raised and over $1 million in gifts-in-kind and reduced fees鈥攁pproximately remains to fully fund the field and auxiliary buildings and complete the campaign.

The Our Future: Campus Plan Update reaffirmed what makes 糖心原创 distinct: a community that plans boldly, listens deeply, and centers every decision on students. As momentum continues to build, we are grateful for the partnership, questions, and engagement of our families.

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That sense of connection was reflected most clearly in the historic season delivered by the Middle School Girls Blue Basketball team. “The MS Girls Blue Basketball team made history this season with an unforgettable run, finishing as runner-ups in the Metro 10 and posting a 10鈥�3 record, the best season the program has ever seen,” said Rita Williams, Assistant Athletic Director, Middle School. “What made this team special went far beyond the scoreboard. They built real camaraderie on and off the court, forming a bond rooted in trust, hard work, and belief in one another. In the Championship game, the girls fought with heart, grit, and determination until the final buzzer. They never quit, never backed down, and left everything on the floor. This season will be remembered not just for the wins, but for the passion, resilience, and unity that defined this incredible team.”

The momentum is part of a broader, program-wide vision that came to life during a recent girls’ basketball retreat to Auburn, Alabama. Traditionally reserved for Varsity athletes, this retreat brought together every level of the girls’ basketball program to experience competition, connection, and possibility side by side.

“The current state of girls’ basketball is flourishing,” said Varsity Head Coach Jordan Greenleaf. “To see growth across White, Blue, and Varsity shows where this program is headed.” Middle School Blue Head Coach Kourtnay Abernathy helped bring the experience together, aligning it with 糖心原创鈥檚 Impact Ready framework. “We wanted the girls to see that basketball is bigger than Middle School or Varsity,” Abernathy said. “This was about creating systems, relationships, and experiences that show them what鈥檚 possible.”

The Auburn weekend was layered with purpose. Middle school athletes watched Varsity compete, teams participated in bonding activities and reflections, and players created vision boards focused on identity and contribution. 鈥淓very role matters,鈥� Abernathy shared. “No matter how you contribute, you are part of the team.” A highlight for many was attending an Auburn women鈥檚 basketball game, an especially meaningful moment for Coach Greenleaf, a member of Auburn鈥檚 2008 SEC Championship team. “I want our girls to see what they can shoot for,” Greenleaf said. “The sky is the limit.”

That sense of possibility was not only modeled at the collegiate level but embodied within 糖心原创鈥檚 own program. Throughout the weekend, younger players saw what leadership looks like up close through senior Varsity player Bella Champney, whose journey reflects the very pathway the trip was designed to highlight. The only athlete to progress through the entire 糖心原创 Girls Basketball pipeline, Bella, a first-year Varsity senior, has embraced leadership across all levels.

“Bella has been a cornerstone for this program,” Greenleaf said. “She leads Varsity, supports Middle School, and models what leadership looks like.”

Reflecting on her Basketball journey at 糖心原创, Bella Champney, Varsity Senior, said, 鈥淲hen I was playing here in Middle School, I can remember being so excited that one day I would be on a Varsity basketball team. Only when I got to high school my dreams fell a little flat. There was no Varsity; there was barely a team, really. But when Coach Jay came, and more importantly stayed, the program actually started to take shape, and you can really see that through the Auburn trip. I got to see the entire program and just how healthy it’s become. When talking to the Middle School team, it was like looking into the past a little. I鈥檓 happy to see that those girls have the opportunity to play on a Varsity team when they get to high school.鈥�

Middle school players felt the impact as well. Kathryn Hollingsworth, Co-Captain with Kennedy Miles for the Blue team, said, “Watching varsity and spending time together on the trip helped me understand what I can work toward. It made me excited about continuing with this program. Throughout the season, I felt like I really belonged, and that is what makes this program so special.”

Middle School White team Grade 6 Player, Autumn McCalman, described as the team鈥檚 “hype girl,” said, 鈥淎t first I was nervous, but being part of this team helped me find my confidence. Everyone made me feel welcome. Basketball helped me come out of my shell and be myself.鈥�

That confidence has carried back to campus, in classrooms and on the court. Coaches credit the strength of the program to intentional staffing and relationships.

“Girls have to feel good to play good,鈥� Greenleaf said. 鈥淲e wanted coaches who care about them as people, not just athletes.鈥� Middle School White Coach Ashley Tabor echoed that focus. 鈥淥ur girls are navigating confidence, pressure, and identity,鈥� Tabor said. 鈥淲e build them up so they can play freely.”

Looking ahead, the message is consistent and confident.

“We鈥檙e up next,” Greenleaf said. With a strong group of eighth graders moving up and a culture rooted in belonging and belief, 糖心原创 Girls Basketball is building something lasting, together, a future shaped in part by the leadership and foundation Bella Champney helped establish.

At 糖心原创, the growth of Girls’ Basketball is not accidental. It is the result of intentional design, coaches who lead with care, and a culture where every athlete knows she belongs and matters. From Middle School to Varsity, the program is building more than skills and wins. It is building confidence, connection, and a shared belief in what is possible. As momentum continues to build and the next generation steps forward, the future of 糖心原创 Girls Basketball is not just something to anticipate. It is already taking shape, one relationship, one opportunity, and one team at a time.

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MIT was inspired by an earlier program Brad Dehem ran earlier in his career, as a football coach as a way to connect younger athletes with varsity players. When he came to 糖心原创, he saw an opportunity to expand on that idea and make it more intentional. Brad Dehem, Athletic Director, shares:

鈥淎t another school, I started a youth flag football program where older players coached the little ones. It was fun, but it made me realize that if we were in charge of the whole athletic experience, we could create something much bigger here鈥攕omething intentional from the very start in Lower School.鈥�

Today, MIT offers Lower School students exposure to a wide range of sports, including soccer, football, wrestling, cheer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, volleyball, track, cross-country, basketball, and agility and conditioning, each program tailored to the developmental stage of the children participating.

Unlike many youth leagues or one-off community sports programs, MIT is embedded in the fabric of the 糖心原创 experience. Brad explains:

鈥淥ur head coaches aren鈥檛 just responsible for one team鈥攖hey鈥檙e program directors from kindergarten through twelfth grade. MIT gives them a chance to build relationships early, so by the time a child is in seventh grade, they already feel like part of Coach Dungan鈥檚 Basketball program or Coach Edwards鈥� football program.鈥�

Rooted in Purpose

MIT reflects the core purpose of 糖心原创 Athletics: We are a relationship-driven athletic program empowering students to grow and excel through preparation, practice, and performance. Each session, drill, and game-day experience is carefully crafted to build confidence and connection鈥攏ot only with peers, but also with older Mustangs and the larger school community.

More Than Skills: A Sense of Belonging

From the beginning, MIT has been designed to do more than teach the rules of the game. Each season includes 鈥淓xperience Days,鈥� events where Lower School athletes join varsity teams on the field, court, or track. Rita Williams, Director of Mustangs In Training, Assistant Athletic Director & Middle School Athletic Director says:

鈥淓xperience Days are exciting, hands-on opportunities for MIT athletes to connect with varsity teams and be part of the action on game day. These special events are all about building school spirit, making memories, and forming real connections between younger students and our 糖心原创 athletes. It鈥檚 also a meaningful way for our older student-athletes to lead, mentor, and connect with younger Mustangs.鈥�

Parents have noticed, too. Stories circulate of children finding new role models, discovering new sports, and feeling inspired by seeing themselves reflected in varsity athletes. Brad shares:

鈥淎t a dads鈥� meeting last year, before I could even start talking, they wanted to talk about Mustangs in Training. One father shared how meaningful it was for his son to see a varsity baseball player who looked like him. Those moments stick鈥攖hey make kids believe,

鈥楾hat could be me one day.鈥�

鈥�

These moments underscore the deeper purpose of MIT: to cultivate a sense of belonging and identity, not just skills.

Exposure, Joy, and Growth

MIT is a Kindergarten through G5 program, and each sport varies in what is offered for each grade level. MIT鈥檚 structure ensures that young athletes get the right opportunities at the right time, with activities tailored to suit their developmental stage and skill level as they progress through Lower School. Brad emphasizes:

鈥淢IT is about giving kids permission to try everything. Even if baseball is your thing, go try wrestling or lacrosse. The goal isn鈥檛 specialization鈥攊t鈥檚 joy, confidence, and discovery.鈥�

Student Spotlights: MIT Athletes

MIT Agility & Conditioning 鈥揗ila Tabor, Grade 3, MIT Agiltiy & Conditioning
鈥淎gility and Conditioning was fun! I got to run, jump, and do things the big kids do. It made me feel strong!鈥�

Cross Country 鈥� Arthur Dreger , Grade 4, MIT Cross Country
鈥淩unning in MIT Cross Country is so much fun! I get to run with my friends, and the coaches make it really exciting. I even got to do a mile run with the middle school cross country team and parents cheering at the finish line, iit felt like a real race! I also wanted to participate in MIT Cross Country because I’m excited about being on the Middle School Cross Country team and want to get ready for it.!鈥�

MIT Cheer 鈥� Nadia Arriagada, Grade 1, MIT Cheer
鈥淚 loved cheer! Learning the cheers was fun, and cheering with the big girls at the game made me feel so happy.鈥�

Rita adds, 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about skill development, it鈥檚 about creating an environment where kids feel confident, curious, and excited to keep learning.鈥�

Guided by Commitment

MIT also embodies the commitment that defines 糖心原创 Athletics: to cultivate an athletic community built on a team-first culture and sustained through empathy, respect, integrity, resilience, excellence, and fun. Every practice is designed to balance skill-building with joy. Rita notes:

鈥淲e build skills, confidence, friendships, and a love for the game. Drills are age-appropriate by design, and every session is built around fun. Because when kids can鈥檛 wait to come back, that鈥檚 when we know we鈥檙e making a real impact.鈥�

Coaching With Purpose

Another hallmark of MIT is that it is led by many of the same passionate and masterful coaches who shape 糖心原创鈥檚 varsity and Middle School programs. This reflects the school鈥檚 approach to coaching and training: We design competitive programs led by growing, masterful, and passionate coaches who are focused on the skill development, health & well-being, and leadership growth of all student athletes.

Whether it鈥檚 varsity soccer coach Lamar Howard guiding Lower School players through a World Cup鈥搒tyle entrance or the cheer squad mentoring the youngest students, MIT ensures that children are learning from those who live and breathe Mustang culture.

Laying the Foundation for the Future

Even in just two years with a full schedule, MIT is already showing signs of long-term impact. Students who try lacrosse or wrestling for the first time in Lower School often carry that passion forward into Middle and Upper School athletics. The program is also helping 糖心原创 athletics strengthen its identity as a K鈥�12 community, where the sports family includes everyone, from five-year-olds to seniors preparing for their final varsity season.

Looking ahead, Brad envisions:

鈥淚鈥檇 love to see MIT include more opportunities to compete鈥攎aybe Saturday intramural games or quick exhibitions before varsity matches. It would give our younger Mustangs a chance to showcase their skills in front of the whole community.鈥�

Purpose Through Play

Ultimately, Mustangs in Training isn鈥檛 just about athletics. It鈥檚 about instilling courage to try new things, building meaningful relationships across grade levels, and cultivating a deep sense of belonging. Brad concludes:

鈥淎t the end of the day, MIT is about belonging. We want every child to feel like they鈥檙e part of the 糖心原创 sports family and confident enough to try new things. That鈥檚 how you build not just athletes, but resilient, joyful learners.鈥�

At 糖心原创, every Mustang鈥攚hether five or fifteen鈥攊s part of a sports family. MIT ensures that journey begins with joy.

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鈥淥ur goal isn鈥檛 just to develop students; it鈥檚 to cultivate individuals who think critically and engage meaningfully with the world,鈥� shares Coach Hawkins. 鈥淎t 糖心原创, we aim to shape well-rounded individuals who embody specific qualities鈥攚ho they are as people and what they can achieve. Our academics and athletics work hand in hand to help students reach this standard, preparing them for success in all areas of life.鈥�

This weekend, 糖心原创鈥檚 eSports team will compete in the 2024-2025 GHSA Fall Esports State Championships, powered by PlayVS, at the Bartow County eSports Arena. Representing the school in the Super Smash Bros. competition are Captain Callum Graham (鈥�25), Alan Maceyko (鈥�27), and Lucas Williams (鈥�27). The event, free for spectators, offers these players an opportunity to showcase their skills on a state-of-the-art competitive stage while also reflecting the growing recognition of eSports as a meaningful and legitimate platform for student achievement and growth.

More than just gameplay, 糖心原创鈥檚 eSports program serves as a laboratory for innovation. Students develop essential skills such as strategic thinking, adaptability, and collaboration, spending countless hours analyzing opponents, refining techniques, and practicing under game-like conditions. These experiences mirror the resilience and critical thinking needed for success in academic and professional pursuits. By fostering persistence, preparation, and teamwork, the program reinforces the importance of a growth mindset.

Members of last year鈥檚 esports teams joined Upper Campus Head of Learning and Innovation Jared Colley for an episode of the 糖心原创 Ventures podcast, where they shared personal stories of how eSports facilitated significant social connections and personal growth, underscoring the community and inclusiveness of their program. The conversation revealed how the skills acquired through eSports, like strategic thinking, handling pressure, and finding friendships, are valuable beyond gaming and applicable in real-world situations.

Aligned with the school鈥檚 strategic plan, which emphasizes leveraging emerging innovation in target 3, the eSports program is a clear example of 糖心原创鈥檚 forward-thinking approach. As the team prepares for the state playoffs, the excitement extends beyond winning鈥攊t鈥檚 about demonstrating how innovation in education creates confident, capable individuals ready to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Spectators are invited to witness this transformative program in action, as 糖心原创 continues to redefine athletic excellence and student development.

Former MV eSports team member and Class of 2022 alum Reed Garzon shares, 鈥淓sports as a concept forces collaboration and delegation. You have to work within your role and understand that it is building toward a greater purpose that can not be achieved by one individual. This prepared me for college by influencing my understanding of group and team dynamics while also allowing me to hone my skills in specific fields. As a designer this is an invaluable skill as I will not be the person manufacturing many of the things I make, and yet I have to trust that my team will carry my vision throughout the entire process.鈥� Reed is currently a student at University of South Carolina studying design with a double minor in product design and architecture.鈥�

James Shanks, Class of 2022, reflects on his days on the team, 鈥淏eing on the MV eSports team was such a worthwhile and enriching experience that taught me skills I鈥檝e already found useful in college. I learned to manage my time effectively, balancing schoolwork with team practices, and to value tight communication and collaboration with my teammates to adapt where necessary. The competitive nature fostered a strong work ethic and resilience, qualities that have helped me succeed in life so far. I鈥檓 really nostalgic for those days with my team.” James is currently a junior at the University of Georgia, studying computer science. He has developed a passion for rock climbing and enjoys playing volleyball.

Former MV eSports coach Cooper Fiscus van Rossum gives us a rundown of the , highlighting MV as undefeated.

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