Arrow Creative held a special opening reception for Abby's gallery in April.
Abby is pictured here with her myExperience program mentor and photo essay subject Betsy Brackin Burch.
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Senior’s myExperience Project Displayed at Arrow Creative
Arrow Creative showcased a special gallery: a photo essay by Abby Martin ’24 about her myExperience program mentor.
For her myExperience capstone project, Abby explored the different ways art and life intersect for women artists by producing “In Between the Lines,” a photo essay on Betsy Brackin Burch, who also is her program mentor. The photo essay consists of images taken of Brackin at work in her studio and interacting with her daughter. A full-time artist whose artwork has been described as an ode to the natural world and its endless beauty, Brackin made an impact on Abby.
“She inspired me – not only in art but also the way I look at life,” Abby said. “She is always positive and loves her family so much along with all her friends and her supporters.”
Arrow Creative held a special opening for the gallery, and Hutchison teachers and friends attended to support Abby’s work. “I loved having all my teachers and friends come to see my gallery. It showed me how close and supportive the Hutchison community is,” she said.
Through the myExperience art and design cohort, Abby has expanded her knowledge and enjoyed many opportunities to deepen her love of art. myExperience is an intensive multi-year experiential learning opportunity for highly motivated students. Students in the art and design cohort explore the impact of the arts and elements of design on our communities. Girls in our myExperience program participate in thought-provoking peer discussions, attend regular meetings with an assigned mentor, and learn from program travel and internships. The program culminates in a college-level, self-directed research project. In April, Hutchison held its inaugural senior showcase and gave each student a chance to present their capstone projects to their families, mentors, and the Hutchison community.
Spring is a time of traditions at Hutchison. Some, like the celebration of May Day, have been around for a century or more. And some, like the Number Five Award, are brand new.
Empathy. Discomfort. Controversy. Curiosity. Perspective. Engagement. These six words encompass a wide range of emotional and intellectual ideas. In the fall of 2020, when the Class of 2024 were freshmen, they started attending sessions to learn about civil discourse. While the world was still navigating the pandemic, it was a great time to practice how to have constructive conversations about things we agree on… and things we disagree on.
Nine Hutchison upper school girls served the Memphis community during the Church Health Youth Service Council’s inaugural year and will continue to serve on the council next school year.
Hutchison Now highlights graduates early in their careers who embody how a Hutchison education can lead anywhere you can imagine. We spoke with Shelton Wittenberg ’14, an associate attorney at Baker Donelson who also coaches Hutchison middle school lacrosse.
Jordan Deupree ’24 and Bailey Wiener ’24 have been recognized for their leadership in their selection for the Next Gen program, which provides students with mentorship and opportunities to learn more about the Memphis business community.
Hutchison alumna Dr. Kelly Rodney Arnold ’96 had the honor of serving as the commencement speaker for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Arts and Sciences ceremony in May 2024.
At Hutchison, Zelia Cedeño-Avila ’24 stepped out of her comfort zone to try many different things and hone in on her interest in science and math, from serving as Technology Council president to creating a robotic scarecrow for her myExperience capstone project. A lifelong learner, she will bring her knowledge and skills to Vanderbilt University, where she plans to study mechanical engineering.
Three upper school students will participate in high-intensity summer programs in subjects including emerging technologies, international studies, and computational physics.
A discovery in one science class led Izzy Ellis ’24 to delve deeper into her interest in biology and map out a path for college and beyond. Along the way, she nurtured other interests, from athletics to civics. An aspiring oncologist, her dream is to find a new, innovative treatment that could help save lives.
Hutchison world language students participated in the 2024 U of M Language Fair, sponsored by The University of Memphis Department of World Languages and Literatures. Demonstrating their knowledge of Spanish, Hutchison had a total of 12 students win awards at the fair.
AP Scholar and National African American Recognition Program Scholar Lauren Coleman ’24 explored her interest in science and the environment at Hutchison. She hopes to make a difference through a career in sustainability.
J’oules Williams ’24 is a member of Memphis Parent magazine’s inaugural 10 under 20 class. The award celebrates youth who strive to make a difference in their community and change the lives of others for the better.
Adela Calzada ’24 has attended Hutchison since pre-K, and she said it allowed her to blossom into a leader who also makes Hutchison feel like home for her peers.
Our inaugural graduating class of the myExperience program presented their capstone projects with confidence, poise, and enthusiasm at our first myExperience Senior Showcase.