The school saw significant administrative changes this year. Marion Glorioso-Kirby, a long-time drama instructor and Fine Arts Department Chair, was officially named Head of Lower School after serving in an acting capacity. Meanwhile, William Atkinson ‘95, a humanities instructor, was selected as Head of Upper School following a nationwide search. Atkinson replaced Colin Igoe, with Assistant Headmaster John Ashton having served as interim leader during the transition. Atkinson teaches ninth-grade English and has promised to bring discipline to his new role, drawing on his years of experience at the school and his background as a former student.
In April, a once-in-a-lifetime event took place. Dallas was the site of a total solar eclipse — the first one in the city since 1878. To celebrate the rare occurrence, the school distributed eclipse glasses and designated a special free period so that students, faculty and staff could go outside and witness the cosmic event. Full totality was only achieved for a handful of minutes, but cheers could be heard across the football field when the clouds cleared and the magnificent sight was visible.
In 2024, we lost some inspirational teachers to retirement. Both Dan Northcut ’81 and Marietta Johnson left the school after decades of service both in and out of the classroom. Northcut’s 37 years began just after his graduation from the school and never faltered in commitment. In his time here, Northcut led the greenhouse and helped develop the environmental science curriculum, as well as running the gardening club and being an earth science instructor for the Middle School. Similarly, Johnson contributed to the school community most recently as a substitute teacher in multiple departments and CML club, after serving as a math instructor for a number of years over her half-century career at the school.
St. Mark’s has been the home to many actors, celebrities and even some professional athletes. But, until last April, the school hadn’t had an NBA alumnus. That changed when, with the 47th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs selected Harrison Ingram ’21. Ingram played two years at Stanford before transferring to the University of North Carolina for his junior year, in which he averaged 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
In a heart-pounding football season finale, the Lions faced their bitter rival ESD in a home game that would become an instant classic. The Eagles dominated early, racing to a commanding 21-0 lead before halftime that seemed to crush the Lions’ spirits. However, a crucial touchdown just before the break injected life into the home team, narrowing the score to 21-7.
The second half transformed into an epic battle of resilience and strategy. Senior quarterback Lawrence Gardener emerged as the game’s hero, leading a remarkable comeback that electrified the stadium. His touchdown midway through the fourth quarter dramatically tied the game at 21, reigniting the crowd’s hope and momentum. With less than a minute remaining, Gardener connected with a receiver in the end zone, giving the Lions a dramatic 28-21 lead. The Eagles responded swiftly, scoring and attempting a two-point conversion for the win. In a moment of supreme defensive heroism, St. Mark’s made the critical stop, securing a thrilling 28-27 victory.
This wasn’t just a game—it was a historic triumph. The win marked the first time in 11 years the Lions had defeated their closest rival, concluding their season with a respectable 6-4 record.
This year, the American people elected the 47th president of the United States, Donald Trump. Trump’s victory was a battle against the current vice president, Kamala Harris, but his strong performance in the seven swing states helped him take home an electoral college victory of 312-226. Trump also took home the popular vote, marking the first time a Republican has won both since George W. Bush in 2004. Texas, voters chose Donald Trump, so he will carry the state’s 47 electoral votes when they are officially counted in January.
The Lions volleyball team entered the season with high aspirations after last year’s third-place finish, facing challenges from injuries and senior departures. As the first seed in SPC, they navigated a tough tournament with remarkable resilience. Their quarterfinal match against a formidable opponent went to five sets, which they narrowly won. The semifinals proved even more intense with the Lions trailing two sets to one before mounting a comeback victory in five sets. The gold-medal match was equally dramatic, with the Lions ultimately prevailing 15-13 in the final set. Their success hinged on fine margins and clutch play, with senior leadership playing a crucial role. Key contributors included John Householder, Jacob Lobdell, Charlie Gordy and Maddox Canham, whose experience and skill were instrumental in transforming challenging moments into a tournament championship. Their performance demonstrated not just athletic skill, but also remarkable mental toughness and team unity in the face of adversity. Throughout the tournament, the Lions showed that determination and teamwork could overcome significant obstacles.
