The Darlington Podcast

Welcome to Episode 15 of The Darlington Podcast! 

In this episode we feature this year's speech from Darlington's 1953 Lectureship series with DeKalb County CEO Michael L. Thurmond. It was an incredible opportunity for our students to connect with someone who has had an outstanding career and has lived a life of service - and we hope that you will also be inspired by his message of service beyond self. 

Click here for Michael L. Thurmond's bio and complete show notes.

Welcome to Episode 12 of The Darlington Podcast!

In this Darlington Connects episode, Julie Lucas ('97), chief advancement officer, catches up with her classmate Dawit Lemma ('97), founder and CEO of Krimson Aviation – an aviation support services company based in Ethiopia and Switzerland since 2015. Julie and Dawit talk about their time at at Darlington and what he's been up to since leaving the Lakeside. 

Dawit is a Swiss citizen, but of Ethiopian origin, and has lived and worked all over the world; from Zambia to Afghanistan, the USA to Switzerland - making him a true global citizen. Dawit returned to Ethiopia in 2012, after almost 30 years abroad, as he recognized the thriving potential and opportunities being displayed by Ethiopia’s economic resurgence.He is a graduate of Purdue University, where he earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering & Flight Technology, followed by an MSc. degree in Aviation Management & Marketing from the Basel Business College in Switzerland. Dawit also holds an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic’s License (American FAA), Commercial Pilot’s License (American FAA, South African CAA, Swiss FOCA/EASA), and an EASA Frozen ATPL.

Click here for complete show notes.

Welcome to Episode 13 of The Darlington Podcast!

In this episode, Stefan Eady, assistant head of school for academic affairs, talks with Fine Arts Director Kim Tunnell and learning specialists Molly Jordan and Jennifer Luitwieler. They take a closer look into how the arts are integrated into Darlington's curriculum and what that looks like for students of all ages. 

Explore Darlington and see how the arts, technology, community involvement, and athletics are woven into the student experience. 

Click here for complete show notes.

Welcome to Episode 12 of The Darlington Podcast!

In this episode, Julie Lucas ('97), chief advancement officer, catches up with Helen (Davis) Hanavich ('02, LD '12) and Blake Segars ('99, LD '19), two outstanding Darlington School alumni who have been able to collaborate professionally with their interior design and architecture businesses. Helen and Blake have had very unique career paths since leaving the Lakeside but have managed to incorporate curiosity and fun into their professional experiences. 

About Helen: Helen Davis Interior Design is a full service residential and commercial interior design firm reflecting the unique lifestyle of each individual client. Helen works to find one-of-a-kind pieces, mixing modern and traditional elements to create fresh yet timeless spaces. 

About Blake: Blake Segars is the chief designer and founder of T. Blake Segars Architecture and Landscapes. Blake’s design style reflects his expertise in classical and traditional architecture and design philosophies and how they can be modernized to bring fresh perspective and greater function for today’s home and garden designs. 

Click here for full show notes.

Welcome to Episode 11 of The Darlington Podcast!

In this episode you will hear from four outstanding Darlington coaches as they reflect on the past year and share their philosophies around coaching and what got them into coaching to begin with.

• Tommy Atha, assistant athletic director and head football coach, has been at Darlington since 1993.
• Kelly McDurmon has taught Upper School history at Darlington since 2004 and serves as the JV football head coach, assistant coach for varsity football, and head wrestling coach.
• Melissa Smyly has taught Upper School English since 2017 and serves as assistant coach of varsity cheerleading and head coach of girls' lacrosse.
• Leigh Hadaway has served as Upper School history teacher and head swim coach since 2019.

Click here for complete show notes:

Welcome to Episode 10 of The Darlington Podcast! 

In this episode, Stefan Eady, assistant head of school for academic resources, chats with Julie Fine and Michael Natarella about Darlington's skills-based curriculum and the importance of active learning as part of Darlington's Cycle of Learning. 

Julie has taught at Darlington since 2010 and currently serves as a fifth grade teacher. Dr. Natarella has taught at Darlington since the fall of 2020 and serves as a fourth grade teacher.

Darlington's Cycle of Learning focuses on education for the whole child from start to finish so that our students graduate with the confidence, connections, and compassion they need to succeed in college and their career, guiding them towards being meaningful contributors to the greater good throughout their life. This cycle begins and ends with Darlington's Portrait of a Graduate, taking into consideration even our youngest students.

Check out these activities mentioned in today's podcast: Hatchet Day, Stranded Day, and the Invention Convention. 

Click here for complete show notes.

Welcome to Episode 9 of The Darlington Podcast!

In this episode, Tara Inman, dean of students for global education, catches up with William Feng ('22), a rising senior from Shanghai, China. William has spent the 2020-2021 school year learning virtually from home and was recently elected to serve as next year's student body president at Darlington, the first international boarding student ever elected to this position. He adjusted his sleep schedule to be completely present for all of his classes this year and received the Hanks Medal for the highest GPA in the entire Upper School as a result of his efforts at staying engaged and working hard. 

Check out our complete show notes on our website: www.darlingtonschool.org/5549636

Welcome to Episode 8 of The Darlington Podcast!

In this episode, Carson Raymond, director of major gifts, catches up with Mike Jones ('04, LD '16), a creative executive recruiter for Netflix Original Films. 

Since his days at Darlington, Mike Jones ('04, LD '16) has worked for some of the world's largest corporations, sharing his talents with teams at Verizon, ADP, AT&T, Facebook, and Google. Presently, he works as a creative executive recruiter for Netflix. Mike, an Atlanta, Georgia native, was a four-year boarding student at Darlington. Post-Darlington, he graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a B.S. in Marketing & Supply Chain Management. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Mike is an active volunteer with the Good City Mentors Program and has been a consistent volunteer for Darlington's biennial Career Day.  

Click here for show notes.

Welcome to Episode 7 of The Darlington Podcast!

In this episode, Matthew Peer, director of enrollment management, chats with two members of the Class of 2021 who have made the most of their boarding experience at Darlington. Grace Garlinghouse is a four-year boarding student from Fayetteville, Ark., who is president of the Discipline Committee and head residential prefect of Regester House. Jonathan Murphy is a four-year boarding student from Fayetteville, N.C. and is one of Darlington’s National Merit Scholarship Commended Students and a College Board National African American Scholar.

Click here for complete show notes and hear more about Grace and Jonathan.

Welcome to Episode 6 of The Darlington Podcast! 

In this episode, Shelley Daniel, theater director, chats with two members of the class of 2021 who have made a huge impact on the theater program during their time at Darlington. Daria Black is a four-year boarding student from Cinnaminson, N.J. and Siji Soetan is a two-year boarding student from Lagos, Nigeria. Both have held a number of roles as members of the Darlington Players and learned to pivot during their senior year with a transition in the fall to the Darlington Digital Players. Siji is a four-star member of the International Thespian Society and has been involved in six shows during his time at Darlington. Daria is a seven-star honor thespian in the International Thespian Society and has been involved in 10 shows during her four years by the Lakeside. 

Appropriately recorded at center stage of the Zelle Black Box Theater, this podcast is more like a chat among friends who have been through a whirlwind year of producing theater in a number of nontraditional mediums. With three digital productions in the fall, an adapted radio drama, and then an outdoor dinner theater production of "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon'' in The Cove this spring, these two seasoned actors and their fearless leader have had a year like no other. 

Click here for complete show notes.