By Patrick Prince
Media and Communications Editor
In a tradition that began in 1981, when she was 7, Amy Vargus completed another Tulsa Run last weekend with her dad. In the past, she ran the Fun Run while her dad, Larry Williams, competed in the 15K.
Now, they run the 15K together.
Usually, Ms. Vargus runs ahead of her dad, but this year, she wanted to stay with him during the 49th annual race.
“I really wanted us to cross the finish line together, because I’m grateful for his health at 78 years old and proud of him for adhering to his motto and sharing and creating a love and joy for running. As he always says, ‘Don’t let the old man in.’ There are always new adventures.”
For Ms. Vargus, an Upper School French teacher and assistant cross country coach, her love of running comes from an emotional place.
When she was 29, she lost a close friend to breast cancer. She said she didn’t know what to do with her grief, so, despite never having run before, she decided to enter the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, an annual 5K fundraising event to support the fight against breast cancer.
“I trained on a treadmill at the gym and hated every minute,” she said. “I got to the start line and I could feel with everything in me her presence to my right side for the whole race. I ran so fast that day. That’s when I fell in love.”
Since then, Ms. Vargus has completed half-marathons and full marathons and, of course, the Tulsa Run each year with her dad.
“It’s kept me healthy, mentally and physically,” she said. “I hope that I can still do the Tulsa Run when I’m 78!”
Sarah Smith
Holland Hall Chaplain Sarah Smith joined Holland Hall in 2023 after coaching at independent schools in Oklahoma City, then leading her own parish, before spending time at the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma.
She holds degrees from Notre Dame and Vanderbilt.
A sixth-generation Oklahoman who graduated from an independent school, she is uniquely qualified to teach religion courses and offer pastoral care at Holland Hall.
Christy Utter
Christy serves as the Middle School Chaplain in addition to her role as head field hockey coach. A 1992 graduate of Holland Hall, Utter coached at the University of Louisville and Brown before returning to Holland Hall.
She holds degrees from the University of North Carolina and the University of Louisville.
Her mission as a chaplain is simple: Helping students to understand the consequences of their choices, helping them to develop a strong moral compass, and guiding them as they lead of life of loving others with compassion, no judgment, and understanding and appreciating the differences in others.
Kristin Lees
Kristin serves as the Primary School Chaplain and is instrumental in teaching the Second Step curriculum, which promotes social and emotional skills in children. The program fosters and builds skills related to empathy, communication, problem-solving, and emotional regulation.
