Betsy Threefoot Kaston '72

St. Martin's Names 2011 MARTIN DE TOURS AWARD Recipient

St. Martin's Episcopal School will present the 17^th Martin de Tours Award to Betsy Threefoot Kaston ‘72, on Monday, November 7, 2011 at Upper School Assembly in the Solomon Theater. Betsy will also be honored at a private reception the evening prior to the award ceremony.

The Martin de Tours award, St. Martin's highest alumni honor, is named for the patron saint of the school, Martin of Tours, who exemplified the aspect of service that we value so highly at St. Martin's Episcopal School. Betsy's tireless service to her community makes her the obvious choice for this year's award.

After graduating from St. Martin's in 1972, Betsy received a B.A. from Emory University in 1976 and an M.A.T. from Emory in 1977. She returned to her alma mater that same year, where she taught until her retirement in 2008. Since 2009, she has served as a Professional Development Coach for Catapult Learning and she is the co-owner, with her husband Jeff, of BeJe Wholesale Diamonds.

During her teaching career at St. Martin's, Betsy taught Middle School Social Studies, Sixth-Eighth Grade, U.S. History, World Geography, Louisiana History, Middle School Life Skills, Civics, Middle School Art and Introduction to Film. She served as Middle School Service Project Coordinator for the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation Service Learning Grant, a new teacher mentor, lead advisor/teacher in sixth grade and Life Skills Coordinator. Betsy is still an active member of the school community, serving on the Board of Trustees and the Headmaster Search Committee, and previously serving on the Alumni Board (Director, Executive Committee and Vice-President).

Betsy has an extensive history of meaningful community service. She has served for the Jewish Children's Regional Service (present and past positions include Board of Directors, Co-Chair of Strategic Planning, Executive Committee, President and Education Chair); Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure (Race Committee and Advocacy Coordinator and Activist); New Orleans Council of Jewish Women (Consumer Advocate for WDSU and Fox 8; Moonlighters Board Member, and speaker for "Hello Israel"); Teen Life Counts (Instructor); Jefferson Twenty Five (President, Vice-President, Board Member and Advocate); Jefferson Parish League of Women Voters (Board Member, President, Nominating Committee); Louisiana Crafts Council (Board of Directors); and Temple Sinai (Religious School Teacher, Volunteer in Judaica Shop, Religious School Committee).

Betsy and her husband Jeff are the proud parents of Joshua (St. Martin's Episcopal School Class of 2000) and Stephanie (St. Martin's Class of 2001).

"There are volumes to be written about Betsy Kaston, her connections to St. Martin's and why she is so deserving of this award," states St. Martin's Interim Headmaster The Rev. Dr. Walter J. Baer. "Betsy is an outstanding example of the integration of faith, scholarship and service. Her faith and her scholarship are most evident in her amazing service to her family, the community and our school."

Prior recipients of the Martin de Tours Award are as follows:

1990 Robert L. Livingston, Jr. '60

1995 Sue Ruppel Laudeman '55

1996 Hans A. B. Jonassen '58

1997 Julie Hogue McCollam '52

1998 Gwynne Bowman '59

1999 W. Brooks Emory '60

2000 James O. Gundlach '54

2001 Robert W. Merrick '62

2002 S. Ford Rowan '61

2003 Patty Habeeb Muehlemann '65

2004 Carlos R. Zervigon '57

2006 John Girault '55

2007 Bobby Whann '57

2008 Antonio Cabrales '54

2009 Dr. John O. Gage '59

2010 Mrs. Peggy Higgins Sewell '68

For more information about the Martin de Tours Award, or to nominate a St. Martin's alum, please contact Julie Talbot at Julie.Talbot@stmsaints.com or (504) 736-9912.