The Shelton School Parents’ Association (SPA) marked a milestone April 11, welcoming approximately 900 attendees to the Fairmont Hotel for the 50th anniversary Stampede benefit auction — an evening filled with celebration, reflection and support for Shelton’s mission.

Guests, dressed in cowboy chic, enjoyed a cocktail reception, seated dinner, live auction and a special performance by Little Big Town. Attendees also had the opportunity to walk through a hallway of Shelton memorabilia and historic photos, offering a meaningful look back at the school’s 50-year legacy. The Shelton community also viewed a video featuring students sharing their own stories, highlighting the impact of a Shelton education.

Funds raised from the auction reached a record-breaking total and will support a wide range of initiatives at Shelton, including academics, curriculum programs, fine arts, athletics, technology, professional development for teachers, the wellness program, security enhancements and tuition assistance. Proceeds also benefit the Shelton Endowment Fund and the Shelton Scholarship Fund.

Among the evening’s highlights were several premier auction packages, including the Ultimate Cowboys experience — featuring travel on the team-chartered plane and tickets to an away game — an Eagles concert experience at Globe Life Field, Del Mar Race Week and naming rights to a glass installation in Shelton’s main hall created by alumna and artist Carlyn Ray.

The 2026 Stampede Auction was co-chaired by Mandy Evans and JoAnna Sudbeck. Shelly Lloyd is Shelton’s director of volunteer relations and events. Kimberly Kahn and Leigh Erin Lundy serve as co-presidents of the 2025–2026 Shelton Parents’ Association, which sponsored the event. Francie Moody-Dahlberg, Shelton parent and executive director and chairman of the Moody Foundation, served as honorary chairman.

Executive Director Suzanne Stell thanked parents, volunteers, longtime Shelton leaders, sponsors, underwriters and staff for their support, including members of the 50 for 50 Club — donors who contributed $50,000 in honor of Shelton’s 50th anniversary. She also expressed gratitude to Shelton parents Renee and Scott Jansen of Goody Goody, who donated all beverages for the fifth consecutive year.

In her remarks, Suzanne noted that Shelton students have earned more than $80 million in merit scholarships between 2004 and 2026. “We are here to celebrate the past, the present and the future,” she said. “What we’ve accomplished together is extraordinary. Shelton’s story is one of perseverance, passion and purpose.”

The program also featured remarks from Shelton parent and alumnus Patrick Wallace, whose mother, Diane Wallace, chaired the Stampede Auction in 1991–92. Wallace attended Shelton’s Lovers Lane campus from 1987 to 1993.

“I came to Shelton broken — my confidence and self-esteem were so low. But here, it was like I found my people. The teachers understood me, my confidence grew year by year and it truly changed the trajectory of my life,” he said. “I would not be where I am today without the foundation I received at Shelton. It changed my life — and now I’m seeing it do the same for my children.” Wallace is now a financial advisor at Gardner Wallace, a financial planning and management company.

Attendees viewed a video message from Charlotte Jones, executive vice president and chief brand officer of the Dallas Cowboys and a former Shelton parent.

“No family anticipates needing a school for learning differences, but when you find Shelton, you discover hope,” she said. “You discover answers. You discover people who understand your child at a level few others ever have. Shelton restores confidence. It reshapes a child’s future. It’s not just a school — it’s a family.

“The next 50 years begin tonight. We have both the opportunity and the responsibility to ensure Shelton continues to transform lives. Through our generosity, our leadership and our engagement, we chart the path forward.”

See photos and videos from Shelton's 2026 50th Stampede Auction at this link.

Photography by Kate White.

Shelton hosted the 24th annual Shelton Ethics Symposium: “Doing the Right Thing in a Changing World” on Friday, Jan. 23, welcoming juniors and seniors to Shelton’s Moody Fine Arts Center for a day of thoughtful conversation, real-world perspectives and ethical reflection.

This year’s symposium explored how ethics shapes decision-making across business, health care and the aerospace industry — fields where innovation, safety and accountability continue to challenge what it means to act responsibly and with integrity.

Students heard the Charge for the Day from Maggie Thomas (Shelton Class of 2013), co-founder and creative director of Parachute Studio, a Dallas-based creative studio specializing in branding, creative strategy and web development. Thomas earned her Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Sewanee: The University of the South, where she studied ethics. “We live in a very complex world and every decision we make has complex consequences,” Thomas said. “The time to start building your ethical compass is not someday. It’s right now.”

Keynote speaker Lynn McBee, Dallas’ workforce czar, CEO of the Young Women’s Preparatory Network and a longtime Dallas civic leader focused on workforce development, education and public-private partnerships, challenged students to think of ethics as something built through daily choices, not dramatic moments.

“Ethical practices are not simply about checking a box,” McBee said. “They’re about protecting your credibility. And credibility is what makes long-term success possible.” She explained that many ethical dilemmas do not present themselves as obvious right-or-wrong decisions, but rather as small moments where someone may be tempted to take shortcuts.

McBee encouraged students to focus on consistency and character, emphasizing that trust is earned over time. “Trust isn’t built in big moments, it’s built in ordinary ones,” she said. “When you keep your word and you do what you say you’re going to do, that’s how you earn loyalty, develop your reputation and your character.” 

Following the keynote and Charge for the Day, students rotated through three panel discussions, hearing from leaders about how ethics guides decision-making in their industries.

Healthcare Ethics Panel

A discussion focused on integrity, compassion and fairness in patient care and medical innovation.

• Fred Grinnell, Ph.D., Robert McLemore Professor of Medical Science, UT Southwestern Medical Center
• Reenu S. Eapen Rose, MD, board-certified pediatric cardiologist; mother of Shelton senior Evan Rose
• Jennifer Wimberly, MD, MA, chair of the Institutional Ethics Committee and medical director of Clinical Ethics and Resiliency, Parkland Health

Business Ethics Panel

A conversation on how integrity and accountability guide decision-making in business, innovation and community leadership.

• Jorge Baldor, chairman of After8toEducate
• Jennifer Chandler, managing director and president of Bank of America Dallas; head of Philanthropic Solutions; mother of Shelton ninth-grader Harper Chandler 
• Madison Carrier Perry (Shelton Class of 2011), financial advisor, Northwestern Mutual

Aerospace Ethics Panel

A panel exploring how integrity, safety and accountability guide decision-making in one of the world’s most complex and high-stakes industries.

• Brittany Dinsmore, associate director and chief flight instructor, Texas Woman's University Doswell School of Aeronautical Sciences
• Ernest Huffman, program manager for congestion management and aviation planning, North Central Texas Council of Governments
• Will Kresl (Shelton Class of 2017), stress engineer, Boeing

After lunch, students delved into ethical dilemmas and participated in group discussions, fostering critical thinking and collaboration. The symposium concluded with a final charge to carry forward the day’s lessons and make integrity a cornerstone of their future.

Shelton’s 50th anniversary Homecoming on Sept. 26 turned into a show-stopping celebration when the skies lit up with a dazzling drone show capped by the reveal that Grammy Award-winning country group Little Big Town will headline Shelton’s Stampede Auction on April 11, 2026. The halftime celebration also announced that Shelton’s Varsity football team will play Covenant on Nov. 8, 2025, at The Star in Frisco, home of the Dallas Cowboys, as part of the school’s 50th anniversary festivities.

As the largest independent school for intelligent students with learning differences, Shelton marked its 50th year of transforming students’ lives with a celebration that reflected both school pride and community spirit. The evening began with a lively Shelton Parents’ Association tailgate on Charger Plaza featuring food trucks, BBQ by Shelton parent John Lynch, a dunk tank and bounce houses. Alumni gathered for a happy hour at La Hacienda Ranch before heading to campus for the big game.

Before kickoff, longtime Shelton leader Gary Webb was honored as the evening’s honorary captain in celebration of the school’s 50th anniversary. Webb has served as a Shelton board member since 1998 and as chairman of the board from 2010 to 2024. During his time as Board Chair, he was instrumental in leading the way for Shelton’s new campus. He was joined on the field by his family: son Adam Webb (Shelton Class of 2000) with wife Tiffany and granddaughter Birdie; daughter Samantha Wynne (Shelton Class of 2004) with husband Beau and grandchildren Caden and Presley; and daughter Malley Armstrong with husband TJ and grandchildren Ella and Amelia. Webb participated in the coin toss to officially open the game.

The Varsity Chargers football team, led by Head Coach Ed Barry, then took the field against Newman International Academy at 7 p.m., following a Middle School football game at 4:30 p.m. The Varsity team won 49-14, and the Middle School team earned a 33-6 victory.

At halftime, the Shelton Parents’ Association delivered a show unlike any other. The Shelton Drumline teed off the show with a drumroll before the skies above the scoreboard came alive with a choreographed drone show created by Antonio Liska of Robota. Images of Shelton’s blue and white, the Charger logo and the school’s 50th anniversary emblem lit up the night, all set to the music of Little Big Town.

The Chargerettes then took the field, each holding a letter to spell out the band’s name, as Nate Nelson of LeForce coordinated the lights and sound: Little Big Town will perform live at the Stampede Auction on April 11. Parents JoAnna Sudbeck and Mandy Evans, co-chairs of the Stampede Auction, and Shelton Director of Volunteer Relations & Events Shelly Lloyd helped coordinate the reveal.

“Once we were told we’d be announcing the entertainment at the Homecoming game, we knew we had to go big,” said Evans. “Shelton is known for thinking outside the box and embracing new technologies, so the drone show felt like the perfect way to surprise our Shelton families.”

Also announced at halftime was another milestone event for Shelton’s 50th celebrations. On Saturday, Nov. 8, Shelton’s Varsity football team will face Covenant at 4 p.m. at The Star in Frisco, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The game will also serve as Senior Night. More details on tailgating will be shared soon. Special thanks to the Dallas Cowboys and the Gene and Jerry Jones family for making this opportunity possible.

After the announcements, Shelton’s cheerleaders, Chargerettes and Drumline performed before the presentation of the Homecoming Court:

• Seniors: Heston Dios, Hudson Ramsey, Brock Rogers, Elinor David, Stevie Hickman, Effie Maguire
   
• Juniors: Tanner Smith, Kate White
   
• Sophomores: Joe Moody, Adelynn Andras
   
• Freshmen: DeShawn McClelland, Chace Smith

The Homecoming King and Queen are seniors Hudson Ramsey and Stevie Hickman.

Shelton Homecoming Week also featured Upper School dress-out days, two pep rallies, a ninth-grade Homecoming dinner and the Upper School Homecoming dance on Sept. 27. In addition, alumni planned to gather for the Sept. 27 Alumni Football Breakfast hosted by Coach Chuck Locke, former Middle School and Upper School football coach and Shelton’s former director of alumni relations.

Homecoming and the halftime show offered alumni and guests a glimpse of the spectacular year ahead, capturing Shelton’s spirit of community and 50th anniversary celebration that unites students, families, staff and alumni.

“Little Big Town built their success on four-part harmony, which felt like the perfect complement to Shelton’s four stars in our logo — the school, the Evaluation Center, the Outreach & Training programs and the Speech Center,” Evans said. “It’s such a meaningful connection.”

View Shelton Homecoming video at this link. For information about the Stampede auction, including sponsorship opportunities and ticket sales, go to this link. Information about Shelton’s 50th anniversary is at this link.

As part of Shelton’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the school — the largest independent school worldwide for intelligent children with learning differences — will host the Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) MobilePack on September 5–7. This traveling event, organized by the nonprofit that provides nutritionally complete meals to children worldwide, will bring together more than 4,900 volunteers in shifts to pack more than 750,000 single-serving meals specially formulated to fight malnutrition and delivered to children in greatest need.

On Friday, September 5, Shelton staff and fifth- through twelfth-grade students will pack meals in the Main Gym. Third- and fourth-grade students may participate if accompanied by a parent volunteer.

On Saturday and Sunday, September 6–7, the MobilePack opens to the wider community. You are invited to volunteer for weekend shifts and to help recruit friends, neighbors and groups such as book clubs, scout troops, sports teams, faith group and teens seeking service hours. The event will take place indoors with air conditioning and music. It’s a wonderful opportunity for service, teamwork and fun.

Together, Shelton students, families and community members will turn hunger into hope — packing life-saving meals and celebrating 50 years of learning without limits through service.

Sign up for a weekend shift and share the link with your family and friends. Let’s fill every shift and make a global and local impact!

Shelton, the largest independent school for students with learning differences, honored the Class of 2025 at graduation on Saturday, May 17, at 8:00 p.m. in the Browning Family Gym.

Shelton Executive Director Suzanne Stell told the graduates, “The level of talent and the amount of dedication in this senior class are truly impressive. You took advantage of the opportunity your parents provided. Each of you overcame obstacles, and here you are. We know that many wonderful opportunities lie ahead for you.”

Valedictorian Ford Myers, who started at Shelton School in Pre-Primary, spoke at the graduation about overcoming challenges. Ford will major in Business at the University of Texas in Austin. “I’m proud to say that as a class, we have yet to back down from any challenge,” he said. He went on to say, “Those challenges make us fighters, so don’t ever stop fighting.”

Shelton was honored to welcome William L. Holmes as this year’s graduation speaker. Mr. Holmes is a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of several ventures in the oil and gas industry.  He is also the father of beloved Shelton student Will Holmes, who passed away in 2021 during his ninth-grade year. Will, remembered for his bright mind and kind spirit, left a lasting impact on the Shelton community and will always be remembered as part of the Class of 2025. 

Mr. Holmes organized his speech around fun facts, inspired by his son Will, who was known for sharing them. He concluded by saying, “Young men and women of Shelton, you have proven you are overcomers. I want you to move on to the next phase of your life, confident that you can overcome any obstacle that might come your way.”

The Class of 2025 is Shelton’s largest. It is made up of 101 graduating seniors who received 506 college acceptances, are headed to 54 different colleges across 21 states and have been awarded $12.6 million in merit scholarships. Acceptances span from Oklahoma State University, the University of Arkansas and Hofstra University to Southern Methodist University, Baylor University, the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Wake Forest University, the Savannah College of Art and Design and more. One senior earned a composite ACT score of 35, and two seniors earned a 36 on the ACT Reading section. The highest ACT Math, Science and English scores in the class are 35.

Four Shelton seniors signed to play sports in college:

• Jack Conger: Sewanee, University of the South, Cross Country and Track

• Grayson Henegar: Golf, Lubbock Christian University

• Grayson Metz: Carnegie Mellon University, Football and Track

• Peyton Yammarino: Rhodes College, Football

In addition, the following students will pursue Fine Arts in college:

• Liam Christensen: the Dodge Film School at Chapman University in Orange, California, to study film and television production

• Nate Milhizer: Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., for a degree in music performance

• Kate Williams: Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., for a degree in visual art

Enzo Ampolini received the $253,808 Singer Scholarship at the University of Miami, and Ethan Gulden has been accepted into The Hilltop Scholars Program at SMU.

Together, the Shelton Class of 2025 completed 10,052 community service hours this year to help others.

Shelton’s Top 10 graduates include: 

• Ford Myers — Valedictorian; college plans: University of Texas, majoring in Business

• Kathryn Guerra —Salutatorian; college plans: Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, majoring in Biology or Biochemistry

• Enzo Ampolini — college plans: University of Miami, majoring in Mechanical Engineering 

• Makena Bice — college plans: University of Texas, majoring in Psychology

•  Jen Jen Dayton — college plans: Hofstra University, majoring in Creative Writing and Publishing Studies

• Ryan Kollinger — college plans: University of Maryland, majoring in Real Estate Development

• Jake Osborn — college plans: Kansas State University, majoring in Personal Finance Planning

• Josh Prescott — college plans: Baylor University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering

• Sean Sipes — college plans: Texas A&M University, majoring in Engineering

• Ella Trevino — college plans: Louisiana State University, majoring in Philosophy — Law, Ethics, and Social Justice

Stell praised the graduates, saying, “Today we celebrate you — your commitment, your resilience and perseverance and the community you have built.”