Adjunct faculty member Dr. Robert Lippert received another St. Louis Theater Circle nomination this year for Superhero at Stray Dog Theater for the 2025 December awards. This is his eleventh nomination! 

 

Luke recently earned several 2026 Scholastic Writing Awards through the Missouri Writing Projects Network! For writing, Luke earned a Gold Key Award for his poem, "Holding This Room."  Luke also received Honorable Mention for four other pieces of writing. His work was selected from more than 700 submissions across Missouri and Kansas. This recognition speaks not only to the student’s talent and effort but also to the thoughtful instruction and encouragement they received along the way. Award-winning pieces will be published in Missouri Youth Write, an online publication available on the GKCWP website in June.

 

Students who earned a Gold Key will advance to the national level. Scholastic will notify those students in the coming months if their work receives national recognition. To celebrate our award-winning writers, we are pleased to host an Open House Reception for all student award recipients on Saturday, March 28th, from 1–3 PM. Excerpts of student writing will be displayed in the Montminy Gallery at the Boone County History and Culture Center (3801 Ponderosa Street, Columbia, MO 65201).

 

The Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development, University of Iowa, in partnership with the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, announced the following 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Award to Luke Tung, a Silver Key Award for his photography titled "The Story of a Whiteboard."  His work was reviewed and recognized by a panel of creative professionals and awarded for its outstanding merit in originality, skill, and the emergence of a personal voice and vision. Since 1923, the Awards have recognized some of the nation’s most celebrated artists and writers while they were teenagers, including Tschabalala Self, Stephen King, Kay WalkingStick, José Parlá, Amanda Gorman, Charles White, Joyce Carol Oates, and Andy Warhol. 

 

Josie Meehan '28 and Terry Lee '28 were both recognized this week by the Southwest Area Chamber of Commerce as Students of the Month for January! Dr. Miller nominated both of them for their exceptional dedication and hard work with our TJ publications, The Declaration and Yearbook.

Congratulations to the cast and crew of The Gods of Comedy. Productions like this let our students take creative risks in public, where the stakes feel real and the outcomes depend on collaboration and follow-through. The audiences got to see not just a performance but a community learning how to work, listen, and build meaning together.

 

Overheard leaving the theatre: "I laughed out loud!", "Fast-paced and lively," "All the actors were top-notch," "Technical crews took an amazing number of cues in stride." Thanks to Ms. McMackin and all family and staff for their support! 

The South St. Louis County News Publication, The Call, published an article titled "Thomas Jefferson School Student Shares How, Why Teenagers are Unexpected Economic Actors," by sophomore Roy Jang '28. Jang started a new student club this year, Business and Entrepreneurship, and serves as the group's leader.

 

Congratulations to faculty member Sam Rayburn for being awarded the Excellent Educator award by the Crestwood-Sunset Hills Kiwanis Club. Mr. Rayburn is one of those incredible TJ "unicorns." He teaches biology, computer science, and art—in fact, he chairs the Arts Department at TJ. We are grateful for all that Mr. Rayburn brings our students! 

 

Pictured: Marcello Alecci, Science Attache’ (Consulate General Chicago); Joseph Colagiovanni (Honorary Vice-Consul of Italy in St. Louis); Marina Lenza (Director of the Education Office, Consulate General  Chicago; Jane Roth (Head of School); Chiara Avanzato (Director of the Italian Cultural Institute Chicago); Jim Pesek (Director of Program Operations); Consul General Mario Alberto Bartoli (Consulate General Chicago)

Victor Li '28 attended the Great Lakes Short Track and Heartland #2 Speedskating Meet, finishing well and qualified for the 2026 Age Group National Championships in March.