Fall 2012 - Memphis University School

was somehow able to encourage me to
work harder, which in turn improved my
classroom performance and grades – all of
which gave me more confidence in myself
and developed [in me] a passion for math.”
Lewin shares similar sentiments about
MUS – the academic, athletic, personal, and
interpersonal confidence it instilled in him.
He also speaks of the powerful influence a
masterful instructor had on him.
“MUS truly defined what a preparatory
experience should be,” Lewin said. “I was
very fortunate to have been given the
opportunity to attend the school and still
thank my parents to this day for making that
decision for me. MUS instilled values in me
that simply can’t be learned in your everyday
classroom. Not only that, the relationships
I developed as well as the experiences I had
while there are things I cherish to this day.”
One such experience for Lewin took
place his senior year in Norman Thompson’s
English class, when one grade on one
assignment would make or break his grade
point average.
“I had a lot of great teachers in my time at
MUS,” Lewin said. “I’d have to say that Mr.
Thompson stands out. He was notoriously
tough, but also fair. We were being given
back our final papers one day. I needed a B
in order to have a 4.0 for the semester. My
entire class knew that I needed a B – including
Mr. Thompson – as I had announced this
to him and my class on many occasions in
hopes that he would maybe feel bullied into
giving me the B.
“He kept my paper as the last one, and
he slowly approached me. At this point
everyone had kind of gathered around me,
as they knew he would not give me a B if
I had not deserved it. He turned the paper
over face down, and he walked away. As he
walked away he let me know that he would
not give me any other grade than the one that
I deserved. I slowly turned it over to see a B+
at the top. The class erupted in cheers, and
I could not have been happier. Amidst the
high-fives I turned to look at Mr. Thompson
only to see a smiling face that clearly let me
know that I had deserved the grade. Those
are memories that you keep. For the record,
I still would like to think that my bullying
tactics might have given me the extra plus.”
Though at MUS during two different
eras, Aur and Lewin have a common bond
upon which they have built a professional
relationship.
“Paulo and I talk about it all the time,”
Lewin said. “We have a lot of school pride.
It often comes out when [we’re] meeting
with John Jerit, APO’s CEO, who graduated
from CBHS. Paulo and I stay current with
MUS athletics and often talk about our
own individual highlights. The older we
get, the better we were.”
While their high school athletic careers
in days past may improve with time, the
here-and-now in their professional fields of
play needs no embellishment. Their list of
clients includes Coca-Cola, McDonald’s,
DreamWorks, NBC, Warner Brothers,
Sports Illustrated, Target, and now Memphis
University School – APO designed,
produced, and donated the 3D eyewear
included in this issue of MUS Today.
Though they temporarily traded in their
customary business attire for Jake and
Elwood’s skinny neckties and fedoras,
these MUS red-and-blues brothers will
continue to make multidimensional music
together while landing some of the biggest
gigs in town.
“MUS gave Me confidence
and inStilled principleS i
live by today, which inclUde
treating otherS with
reSpect, being a gentleMan,
having good MannerS, and
being accepting of otherS.”
–paUlo aUr
Owls NOw
Claim a
Hall-Of-famer
COaCH
Former All-State lacrosse player for
the Owls’ 1998 state championship
team, Jason Lewin has returned to
MUS as a volunteer assistant coach
for the Lower School team.
“When MUS asked if I would be
part of the coaching staff, it was
kind of a no-brainer for me,” he
said. “What the Big 3 [Coach Elliott Dent,
Coach Pat DiMento, and Coach David
Gearhardt] have done for MUS and lacrosse
has been absolutely amazing. I felt that it was
my time to be part of what they were doing.”
In addition to Lewin’s recent contributions
to the MUS lacrosse program, the former
Owls standout was honored this spring with
induction into the SouthEastern Lacrosse
Conference Hall of Fame. The inductees
were selected by a panel of current and past
coaches, players, and administrators of the
conference. This was the inaugural class of
honorees, and it was made up of six former
players and one contributor. The induction
ceremony took place at halftime of the
Division I championship game in Atlanta,
GA, on April 29.
Jason Lewin played his high school
lacrosse at MUS from 1996-1998,
receiving All-State honors three times.
His senior year the Owls won the state
title, and he earned first-team, All-
American recognition.
His arrival at the University of Tennessee,
Knoxville, in 1999 marked the beginning
of strong success for the Vols program. An
attackman, Lewin was All-Conference and a
first-team All-American three years. Tennessee
won back-to-back SELC championships his
freshman and sophomore seasons, and he
was the recipient of the Horn Award as the
conference Offensive Player of the Year his
freshman and junior seasons. He still holds
the Tennessee single-season points record with
94 points, a record he set in 1999. He also
holds the all-time scoring record for the Vols.
Still active in lacrosse, Lewin plays for
Team Music City as well as The Flying Elvis,
in addition to his volunteer coaching for the
MUS Lower School team.
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