EHS Pillars - Fall 2018

FROM THE
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear EHS Family,
On October 17, Bishop Doyle blessed the new Underwood Student Center (USC), our
second new building in as many years! It is amazing to think back to the old USC now
that the new USC is in regular use, transforming the campus and our community. Open
not only for lunch, the student center, with a range of seating for 500, is busy throughout
the day. There is space for casual conversation and for the more serious business of
school; there is a coffee bar to sustain us outside of regular lunch hours; there is a large
art gallery for the display of student work; and there are innovation rooms for our classes
and independent use. And that is just what you can see on a casual visit!
What you cannot see are the contributions to the Arts Pillar that were included in the
USC project with the expansion of the Underwood Theatre. The theater house itself
received a major facelift, but most of the best work happened in the back of the house
with a new control center for lights and sound, increased wing spaces, new dressing
rooms, and a number of other facilities for both cast and crew in the performing arts.
These two buildings, nearly 100,000-square-feet for teaching, learning, and strengthening
community, represent the passion for EHS and its mission, what the School has been and
what the School will be. And all without one dollar of debt.
Of course, a building is just the frame; the art is what happens within as students like Tyler
Donovan '19 and Amiri Scrutchin '19, who have just published their first collaboration, Le
Prince Gâté (featured on page 10), work with amazing teachers like Kate Philbrick, Brad
Telford, Mark Mitchell, or any of the others featured on these pages. Our current students
and teachers are able to do this great work because of the commitment and dedication of
supporters and founders like current grandparent Joel Shannon, this year’s Ned Becker
Award winner, and Larry Neuhaus, this year’s Founders Day speaker, both pictured on
page 9.
We live today just as we did at our founding. We are a school where students discover
their inner genius, guided by talented teachers and the founders’ vision to live significant
lives in service to others. Founder Lynda Underwood—namesake of the USC for her
35 years of generosity and leadership—joined her son, Trustee Duncan '89, and her
grandson, Austin '22, for the blessing of our new facility, an occasion that symbolized
the bond between founders, alumni, and our current students and teachers. In that one
moment, our past and present came together to point to our very bright future.
Come visit the new USC if you have not yet done so, and marvel at the transformation of
our campus and in our students every day.
Thank you, and Go Knights!
Ned Smith
Head of School
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