StM News

St. Martin’s to Honor Alumni and Community Service Leaders During Alumni Weekend

January 9th, 2026

St. Martin’s Episcopal School is proud to announce the recipients of its two highest honors—the Martin de Tours Award and the Dorothy Porter Service Award—to be presented during St. Martin’s Alumni Weekend, held April 17-18, 2026.

These awards represent the very heart of St. Martin’s mission, recognizing individuals whose lives reflect the enduring values of Faith, Scholarship, and Service, and whose commitment to others has left a lasting impact on both the school and the wider community.

Rev. Dr. Fred D. Devall IV ’87 Named Martin de Tours Award Recipient

The Rev. Dr. Fred D. Devall IV, a member of the Class of 1987 and part of a three-generation legacy at St. Martin’s, has been named the 2025–26 recipient of the Martin de Tours Award, the school’s highest alumni honor. The award is presented annually to an alumnus or alumna who exemplifies outstanding citizenship, consistent service to others, and excellence in their chosen profession.

A lifelong servant leader, Rev. Dr. Devall’s vocation reflects a deep commitment to faith, compassion, and community engagement. His work in ministry and leadership has touched countless lives, embodying the spirit of service symbolized by St. Martin of Tours – the school’s patron saint – whose legacy of generosity and humility remains central to the school’s identity.

“Fr. Devall’s life and work beautifully reflect the ideals we hope to instill in every St. Martin’s graduate,” said Head of School Whitney Samuel Drennan ’94. “From his steadfast presence on campus to his leadership in the wider church and his advocacy for environmental stewardship, Fred embodies the mission of Faith, Scholarship, and Service in every dimension of his life. He leads with integrity, faith, and a profound sense of responsibility to others. We are proud to honor him with this distinction.”

Rev. Dr. Devall serves as the rector of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church and is in his 22nd year of service as a member of the school’s Board of Trustees.

“Beyond the church in general, no single institution has had a greater impact on my family than St. Martin’s Episcopal School,” said Fr. Devall, upon receiving the exciting news. “My father was a member of the Class of 1956, and my sons graduated in 2018 and 2021. We all benefited from the excellent teachers, coaches, and friends who shaped our lives in formative years. My service to the school through the Board of Trustees, financial giving, and pastoral participation all flow from that deep gratitude. I love St. Martin’s and am honored to be named this year’s recipient.”

Past Martin de Tours Award recipients include: Robert L. Livingston, Jr. ’60 (1990), Sue Ruppel Laudeman ’55 (1995), Hans A.B. Jonassen ’58 (1996), Julie Hogue McCollam ’52 (1997), Gwynne Bowman ’59 (1998), W. Brooks Emory ’60 (1999), James O. Gundlach ’54 (2000), Robert W. Merrick ’62 (2001), S. Ford Rowan, Jr. ’61 (2002), Patty Habeeb Muehlemann ’65 (2003), Carlos Zervigon ’57 (2005), John M. Girault, Sr. ’55 (2007), Robert J. “Bobby” Whann III ’57 (2008), Antonio Cabrales ’54 (2009), John Gage ’59 (2010), Peggy Higgins Sewell ’68 (2011), Betsy Threefoot Kaston ’72 (2012), Walter E. Blessey, Jr. ’62 (2013), Donald K. Marshall ’68 (2014), Cynthia Phillips Schmidt ’74 (2015), William E. Wright Jr. ’67 (2016), John Eastman ’64 (2017), Charles Nelson ’65 (2018), Kelly Duncan ’72 (2019), Christy Brown ’78 (2022), Elizabeth “Libby” Sartain ’72 (2023), and James B. Robinson ’75 (2025).

Janis McCormick to be Honored with Dorothy Porter Service Award

St. Martin’s is also pleased to announce Janis McCormick as the 2025–26 recipient of the Dorothy Porter Service Award, honoring her extraordinary and sustained service to the school.

Established in honor of beloved longtime educator Dorothy Dorsa Porter, this award recognizes an exemplary St. Martin’s citizen who has given generously of their time, talent, and treasure, and who embodies the school’s mission and Episcopal values.

"Few individuals have shaped St. Martin’s more profoundly than Janis McCormick,” said Drennan. “She inspires students with her rigor, compassion, and unwavering belief in their potential. She lifts advanced learners to new heights and helps hesitant students build the confidence they need to succeed. A beloved faculty member and the mother of three St. Martin’s students, Janis represents the very best of what it means to serve this community with heart and purpose.”

Through years of faithful involvement and heartfelt dedication, Janis McCormick has strengthened the St. Martin’s community in meaningful and lasting ways. Her service reflects a deep love for the school and an unwavering belief in its mission. Janis, who earned her B.S. in Math Education from LSU, before receiving her Master's in Education from the University of Virginia, has been teaching Middle School Math and early Algebra since 1971. She first joined St. Martin’s in 1983 to teach 7th Grade Math and Algebra I (both regular and Honors classes) until 2015, and then she made her return to the StM classroom in 2024, where she continues to teach Algebra I and Algebra I Honors, plus pre-Algebra.

"As Whitney was telling me the news, I fell silent and just felt a sensation of warmth and comfort,” recalls Janis. “I felt God has me where He wants me to be, doing exactly what He wants me to be doing. It was clearly a confirmation of my return to St. Martin's, a place where I have been for 32 years, that has always felt like home."

Janis is the mother of three St. Martin’s students According to Janis’s nomination, her service to St. Martin’s is “not only extensive but deeply inspirational. She reflects the very best of St. Martin’s mission – fostering intellectual curiosity, nurturing moral character, and celebrating each child as a unique child of God. Her quiet faith in the potential of every student, and her steadfast love for this community, continue to touch the hearts of alumni, parents, faculty, and friends alike.”

Past recipients of the award are: Dorothy Porter (2002), Jim Marsalis ’62 (2003), Belle Johnson (2004), The Rev. Gedge Gayle (2005), Eileen Beckman (2006), Bill Rosenbaum (2007), Wally Porter ’76 (2008), Janet Russo (2009), The Rev. John Stone Jenkins (2010), Lynn Coatney (2011), Karen Sullivan (2012), Linda Trevino (2013), Marian and Larry Gibbs (2014), Julie Dieth (2015), Warren Lind (2016), Coach Chick McGeehan (2017), Pedro Perez (2018), Donna Lewis (2019), Perry Eastman ’62 (2022), Diane Greer (2023), Tootie Conway (2024), and Margaret Perret Budde (2025).

Celebrating Lives of Faith, Scholarship, and Service

Together, these two honorees tell a powerful story as community members who carry St. Martin’s values far beyond Green Acres and live them out daily through leadership, generosity, and service to others.

Both recipients will be honored during Alumni Chapel on Friday, April 17, at 10 a.m. and recognized throughout Alumni Weekend celebrations, including at the annual Spirits Party on Saturday, April 18, from 5-8 p.m. All alumni and members of the St. Martin’s community are warmly invited to join in celebrating Rev. Dr. Fred D. Devall IV ’87 and Janis McCormick as the school gives thanks for lives that so beautifully reflect the mission of St. Martin’s Episcopal School.