Annika Iyer ’15
The senior class gift is an annual tradition at the Episcopal Academy. This act of giving back epitomizes the philosophies and values of the stripes. In the past, the senior class has voted to decide what gift would contribute best to the Episcopal campus. However, this past year, the senior gift fund will no longer be used for one large gift. Instead, students will be able to appoint where they want their gift to go. Past gifts have included the senior star from the Class of 2008, and the big “E” in the honor hall painted by Leo Sewell and donated by the Class of 2007. The newest addition is the clock on the campus green, donated by the Class of 2011. The clock was built at the East Bay Clock Company in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Cheryl McLauchlan, the former Class of 2011 Form dean, said, “We had to vote as to what we would like to give the school, and at first we thought that painting the silos with the letters E and A would be a great idea, but then we thought that it would begin to look crummy after a period of time. Seniors decided that it would be great if you could know what time it was when they were outside.” This is indeed the case, as many students and faculty alike find the clock an extremely useful item to have available to them when they are outside. “I love the way the clock looks when it is lit up at night. I like the mix of style with that of the modern day buildings of EA.” said McLauchlan. Some Episcopal students agree that the clock is a unique and positive attribute to the campus. “It looks like it came from the old campus!” said one student. However, not all students are as enthusiastic. Some felt that the clock, though nice, was a little old fashioned and out of place. “I think the clock is hideous and looks like it belongs at a train station in London,” said John Heil ’12. This year, instead of collecting money from the senior class to purchase one big gift, the Senior Gift Fund Committee has decided to have each senior specify exactly where they want their money donated on their donation envelope. Stephanie Ottone, a member of the Development Office, said, “The Senior class gets a committee together that tries to encourage the students to make their gifts to any number of things such as the track team or the Art Department and then that money will be directed to those things.” Heil, co-chair of the Senior Gift Fund Committee, said, “It is easier to do it this way because we couldn’t think of any one gift for everyone to donate to. It was hard to pick one thing that everyone would want, like the senior star or the clock.” The committee is promoting 100 percent participation in order to meet the precedent set by the past two classes.or everyone to donate to. It was hard to pick one thing that everyone would want, like the senior star or the clock.” The committee is promoting 100 percent participation in order to meet the precedent set by the past two classes.