Several of our girls were among a select group of students who danced alongside Collage Dance Collective for this year’s RISE program at Germantown Performing Arts Center.
It’s a good thing Kaitlyn Johnson, ’27 has her “study notes dancing in her head.” This fifth grader has a lot on her plate! She is studying figurative language, diseases of the digestive system, the Civil Rights Movement, PLUS attending four hours of dance rehearsals every night this week.
Kaitlyn, Kylee Gleeton '29, Morgan Perry ’26, and Zoey Sisnett, ’29, are part of the Collage Dance Collective performing this weekend at GPAC. The girls say they are very excited about the opportunity to share the stage with Collage's esteemed group of professional dancers, the only international touring dance company in Memphis. But they also appreciate the hard work required.
“I am balancing my RISE rehearsals with my school assignments by writing my RISE and my school schedules on my whiteboard at home so that l’ll know how my week will be,” says Zoey, who is currently working on comparing fractions in math, learning about nonfiction writing, and studying Memphis history.
Kaitlyn says she uses all her so called “support devices” to keep things in order. “I use my brain, laptop, and my written calendar,” says Kaitlyn.” Oftentimes study notes travel with me on stage while I am dancing. The study notes are dancing in my head!”
Morgan and her classmates are studying plate tectonics (earthquakes and volcanoes) and Greek mythology. Morgan also stays busy with volleyball. “I’m excited about the performance and looking forward to it...just ready for it happen,” she says.
With this sort of discipline and determination, we are confident all four of these girls will “rise” to the occasion beautifully this weekend.
Hutchison has hosted the Collage Dance Collective’s summer workshop for more than six years. The RISE program will showcase the company’s “trademark style of juxtaposing innovation and tradition.”
We asked Kristen Farmer Davis ’99 about some of her past experiences, how those influence her work with Hutchison students today, and what she’s excited about in her new role.
Congratulations to the 18 middle and upper school girls who won Scholastic Writing Awards in the recent Alliance for Young Artists & Writers competition!
If there’s one thing Elizabeth Blankenship-Singh ’08 knows about, it’s pivoting. It’s something she has done successfully several times and something she believes Hutchison prepared her well for.
The best coaches teach you lessons that last long after the final buzzer. Ten alumnae hope to impart what they learned through Hutchison athletics by coaching girls in sports such as soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and volleyball.
Hutchison Now highlights graduates early in their careers who embody how a Hutchison education can lead anywhere you can imagine. We spoke with Hannah Freeman ’20, a trade and investment officer for healthcare and life sciences at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C.
While studying dinosaurs, Anne Willson’s pre-kindergarten class became interested in volcanoes. They worked together to build their own and joyfully watched their creation erupt.
Hutchison Now highlights recent graduates early in their careers who embody how a Hutchison education can lead anywhere you can imagine. We spoke with Kelley Guinn McArtor ’12, a brand marketing director at PepsiCo in New York.
Molly, a nationally recognized midfielder, signed her National Letter of Intent to play Division I soccer. She credits Hutchison with helping her build a strong work ethic and providing training and recovery opportunities in the Crain Center.
How does Hutchison support student well-being? During an Independent Schools Management webinar on school leadership, Head of School Dr. Kristen Ring shared with educators how Hutchison is responding to evolving student needs with clarity, consistency, and care.
Since joining Hutchison in 2020, Chief Financial Officer Melissa Baker has exemplified what it means to be a mission-driven, forward-thinking financial leader. She was a finalist for the 2025 CFO of the Year award from the Memphis Business Journal and was featured in its October 24, 2025, edition and online.
One of the best ways to narrow down career interests is through experience, and the Institute for Responsible Citizenship provided our freshmen and sophomores with a closer look at the possibilities.