On the way from Final Pass in Review to the campus tours portion of Alumni Day 2021, alumni and guests take April showers in their stride.
Uncertain weather didn't dampen Panther spirits at TMI Alumni Day on April 30! From mist to rain to sunshowers and ending with a spectacular rainbow, it was the first on-campus alumni event since March 2020 — and it was a beautiful day, no matter what was happening in the changeable skies over TMI Episcopal.
Around 90 alumni and their guests attended at least one of the afternoon's events, representing members of the classes of 1959 through 2020. Thanks to all who attended; in case you missed it, you can still participate through this recap and the links below!
At Final Pass in Review, Army Maj. Azizi Van Delden Wesmiller '01, center, was welcomed back to TMI by Texas Military Institute Corps of Cadets Commandant retired Army Maj. Joseph Claburn, Battalion Commander Joshua Thayil '21, Claire Rollwitz '22 and JROTC instructor retired Master Sgt. Chad Gooding. Azizi came all the way from Fort Knox, Kentucky, to serve as reviewing official for Final Pass in Review, where alumni were offered reserved seating on Howell Field and were recognized in the commentary.
Members of the class of 2020, including Brandon Collins, JJ Gonzalez, Boyd Meltzer, Stow Neilson, Nicholas Proffitt, Nicholas Tawil and Nick Van Steenberg attended to congratulate the senior cadets to whom they handed off during the previous year's end-of-year ceremony.
Dean of Innovation Justin Kutscherousky talks to alumni and their guests about the innovation and design program at TMI in the school’s new Walker Innovation Center.
Alumni and their guests had the opportunity to tour updated areas of the campus including the O.S. Petty Rifle Range, refurbished last year; Walker Innovation Center, completed last fall; and Frost Athletic Center, with championship trophies form 2020-2021; and they heard a talk on new developments in TMI's Residential Life program.
Head of School Father Scott Brown congratulates alumni inducted to the Hall of Fame 2020-2021, including (clockwise from left) Jeremy Bernard ‘81, Richard M. “Tres” Kleberg III ‘60, Vernon “Butch” Schimmel Jr. ‘60, Courtney Wiley Caldwell ‘97 and 1995-1997 championship swim team members Megan Clark ‘97, Nikolaus Newman ‘99, James Willmann ‘96 and Nicole Martinez De La Pena ‘96.
New members of the TMI Hall of Fame were inducted in an annual ceremony held during Alumni Day in All Saints Chapel. The honorary society, founded in 2015, recognizes outstanding alumni, with Distinguished Servant Leader awards for faculty, staff and friends of TMI. This year’s alumni inductees were author and former White House aide Jeremy Bernard ‘81, award-winning tech entrepreneur Courtney Wiley Caldwell, the championship swim teams of 1995-1997, longtime San Antonio Stock Show Chairman Richard M. “Tres” Kleberg III ‘60 and high-school and college All American swimmer Vernon “Butch” Schimmel Jr. ‘60.
At the request of the alumni swimmers, the late Betsy Carson Rupe, their assistant coach and former TMI science teacher, was made an honorary member of the team with a tribute read by James Willmann '96 (above), and she received a posthumous Distinguished Servant Leader award, accepted by her husband, Allan Rupe '80 (below), TMI art teacher and parent of Keith '18, Simon '21 and Isaac '24.
Also honored posthumously was Master Sgt. J.W. Bohner, a longtime TMI dorm parent with his wife Evelyn “Pete” Bohner, father of Jay Bohner ‘69 and Jack Bohner ‘72, and survivor of the Bataan Death March. He was nominated by Bill Thompson ‘72, who accepted the award on behalf of the family.
In case you missed it: To see a recording of the ceremony, click
Concluding the festivities, alumni and their guests got a chance to congratulate the honorees and catch up with classmates at an Alumni Welcome Back Reception catered by TMI's own Sage Dining food service, featuring a buffet of savory snacks and bite-size desserts.
To view an album of photos from Alumni Day 2021, please click
Events
