DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI OF THE YEAR
Lexi Mestas
Class of 2012
Lexi was born on September 13, 1993, in Gulfport, MS. Growing up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast made a lasting impact on Lexi throughout her life.
Lexi was exuberant, hilarious, ambitious, bold, opinionated, truthful, and generous from the time she was tiny – qualities her family celebrated through every season of her life.
As a child, Lexi enjoyed reading, soccer, and food, which influenced her adult life as a lifelong competitor, teacher, and food enthusiast. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, a 13-year-old Lexi and much of her family moved to Mobile, Alabama. In Mobile, she attended St. Paul's Episcopal School, where she made many lifelong friends, led her peers as junior and senior class president, and began dating her soulmate, David Martin Mayhall. While at St. Paul's, Lexi earned more service hours than any St. Paul's student to date and was awarded the Headmaster's award upon graduation for the student who best exhibits the spirit of St. Paul's and brings honor to the school.
She attributed the kindness of others to her family after Katrina to her passion toward service to others.
Lexi and David Martin attended Loyola University New Orleans, and they were married in New Orleans in the spring of 2016, during their senior year. Lexi majored in political science with a minor in Middle East Peace Studies. She earned high academic honors while working full time and making time to work with the homeless and teach English to new immigrants to New Orleans. Lexi and David Martin studied abroad in India for most of their junior year. David Martin's marriage proposal to Lexi was a fitting end to a semester abroad that proved to be a defining time in their lives and relationship. While traveling across the subcontinent, Lexi fell in love with Indian culture and reconnected with her childhood love for cooking. She was an avid fan of Anthony Bourdain, realizing the power of food in bringing people together. This informed her educational path as she studied food policy and food insecurity in Rome, Italy as a graduate student.
In 2016, Lexi pursued a Master's Degree in Sustainable Food Studies at the American University in Rome. While in Rome, Lexi made lifelong friends and learned from experts in sustainable food systems, which guided her career when returning to the states. Her master's thesis and field study were conducted in her beloved New Orleans and focused on food injustice. Lexi established deep friendships and traveled throughout Europe during her time in graduate school, arguably living more in her short life than many of those her senior.
After Lexi graduated from AUR in 2017, she and David Martin moved to Philadelphia. She began her postgraduate career applying her learnings from AUR directly in one of the country's most underserved communities, Camden, New Jersey. As a FoodCorps service member and later as the county supervisor of Rutger University's SNAP-Education program, Lexi taught children and adults practical ways to eat healthily, even while on government benefits. Ever entrepreneurial, Lexi devised innovative ways to assist the community, including a partnership with Google's Virtual Reality team and writing her own e-cookbook.
On February 15, 2021, Lexi was diagnosed with low-grade serous ovarian cancer. A rare subtype of ovarian cancer, low-grade serous disproportionately impacts younger women and is usually caught at a late stage.
After her diagnosis, Lexi leveraged her social media platform to inform thousands of the symptoms and signs of low-grade serous ovarian cancer. She raised not only awareness but nearly $100,000 in donations toward research to expand treatment options for these patients, met with congressional representatives, and was interviewed for multiple podcasts. Nonprofits dedicated to low-grade serous like STAAR and Cure Our Ovarian Cancer recognized Lexi's passion and sought her social media savvy and fundraising prowess. Lexi's activism was on display for the whole world when her beautiful face was shown on a billboard in Times Square honoring World Ovarian Cancer Day. Adopting Valentino (“Val”), an 11-year-old pit bull/terrier, was a bright spot in an otherwise challenging year.
After finishing chemotherapy, Lexi and David Martin moved back to Mobile, Alabama to be closer to family and spend more quality time on their beloved Gulf Coast. While in Mobile, Lexi continued to fundraise and be a source of strength for other ovarian cancer patients. She received care from low-grade serous expert Dr. David Gershenson in Houston, Texas, at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Lexi was feeling better. She returned to full-time work for Visit Mobile, decorated her and David Martin's beautiful midtown home, spent time at Fowl River with her in-laws, attended best friends' weddings, and participated in a camp for young adults with cancer in sunny Hawaii, where she learned to surf and got a tattoo showcasing a nickname one oncologist gave her: “Firecracker.”
In the summer of 2022, Lexi and David Martin felt ready to move to New York City, which had long been a goal for the young couple. They moved into an apartment in the East Village and jumped into NYC's bustling culture. Lexi quickly became a Broadway enthusiast and soaked up the city's diverse food scene. All the while, Lexi continued to fundraise and support other patients with comfort and clarity. She received care at Memorial Sloan Kettering, a renowned cancer hospital in Manhattan's Upper East Side.
Shortly after arriving in New York, Lexi's cancer began causing complications in her lungs, abdomen, and legs. She received highly attentive care from a team of doctors at MSK, led by Dr. Ying Liu. Ultimately, these complications compounded and disrupted Lexi's breathing and blood flow to the heart, which led to her passing in the early morning of June 4, 2023.
Lexi was a loving wife, a thoughtful and engaged daughter, a devoted sister, and a doting aunt. She is survived by her husband, David Martin Mayhall (Class of 2012), her parents, Pete and Lisa Mestas, her sisters, Heather Duffy, Liana Mestas (Class of 2008), Raven Mestas (Class of 2015), Rachel Mestas (Sterling), and Alina Christen, her maternal grandparents, Robert and Joy Dean, and paternal grandmother, Clarissa Avila Moore.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI IN THE ARTS
Jeni Herrera-Mullar
Class of 2001
Jeni Herrera-Mullar was a member and valedictorian of the Class of 2001 at St. Paul's Episcopal School. She pursued her undergraduate education at the University of Iowa as a Presidential scholar and music scholarship recipient, where she majored in violin performance. After completing her sophomore year, she transferred to the University of Memphis to continue her music studies as a scholarship recipient under Professor Timothy Shiu. During her college years, she achieved significant milestones, winning the University of Iowa Chamber Music competition and becoming a finalist in the University of Memphis Concerto Competition. She graduated summa cum laude as the valedictorian of the College of Fine Arts in 2005 and then moved to Baltimore, MD, to study with Violaine Melancon at the Peabody Conservatory. There, she earned a Master's degree in violin performance and pedagogy, followed by a Doctorate of Musical Arts in 2011.
In 2006, Jeni was selected as the sole recipient of the Peabody Preparatory Pedagogy Internship under Rebecca Henry. Subsequently, she became a faculty member of the Preparatory Institute in 2007, where she taught hundreds of violin students over eight years. During this period, Jeni also contributed to the community as a teacher with BRIDGES, an inner-city strings program, and developed a curriculum for group violin classes at the Odyssey School, which catered to children with dyslexia. Her passion for music extended to her involvement in various regional orchestras, including the Maryland Symphony, the Howard County Concert Orchestra, the Lancaster Symphony, and the York Symphony. She was a prominent advocate for contemporary music, regularly performing with Baltimore's Evolution Contemporary Music Series.
In 2009, Jeni assumed the role of an adjunct professor of violin and viola at York College of PA, a position she still holds. Her accomplishments include solo performances and guest appearances with multiple ensembles, such as the Mobile Youth Symphony, the York College Wind Ensemble, Garth Newel Music Center, and the Five Seasons Chamber Music festival. She is featured on albums with the Memphis Baroque Ensemble and singer-songwriter Cameron Blake. Jeni continues to be an active participant with the York Symphony and is a founding and current member of the York College Piano Trio, now known as the York Chamber Players.
Reflecting on her time at St. Paul's, Jeni said, “Eighth grade was a transformative time for me at St. Paul's. I think we all go through a little uncertainty during middle school, and this was the year Holly Compton called to ask me if I'd like to join a new chamber music class she was starting. I vividly remembered early lessons with Ms. Compton in the closet of Ms. Bailey's 1st-grade classroom. I'd continued to take private violin lessons for years with various teachers, and I was a member of the Youth Symphony, but never had the opportunity to play chamber music regularly at school. It was during this year that everything started for me. I fell in love with chamber music, and I made some of my closest friends as part of this program. My confidence as a musician soared, too. Getting to play almost daily in this class was incredible. Ms. Compton did an amazing job finding performance opportunities for us in those early years and challenging us. I'll never forget performing Vivaldi on the stage of Carnegie Hall my senior year. My five years in this program no doubt influenced my decision to study music in college and graduate school. To this day, chamber music holds a special place in my heart.”
Jeni also holds a Master's degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of Maryland Medical School and has been a board-certified genetic counselor since 2013. She credits her introduction to genetic counseling to Mr. Mutchnick's AP Biology course at St. Paul's. Currently, Jeni serves as a Principal Clinical Scientist for Ambry Genetics, where she researches genes associated with hereditary cancers. She reflects on the impact of her music education on her career, saying, “So much of what I have learned about being a performer and teacher – the discipline required, the attention to detail, the ability to accept criticism and change/better oneself, and especially the need for excellent time management – translates to all aspects of my life and has helped me succeed even as I pursued a second career path. Music is and will always be a central part of my life, and I am so lucky to have found two vocations that I can practice simultaneously.”
Jeni currently resides in Parkton, MD, with her husband Jason, their two sons Julian and Nicholas, and their dog Ruggles. When she's not making music, Jeni enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, running, hiking, and traveling with her family.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD
Justine Herlihy Bixler
Class of 2007
Justine Herlihy Bixler was born and raised in Mobile and has a deep passion for the city of her birth. She attended The University of Alabama and received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Sociology. After graduation, she returned home to work directly with the people and businesses that were impacted by the 2010 BP Oil Spill as a paralegal at Cunningham Bounds, LLC.
In 2015, Justine followed her passion for her city and became the Development Director at Mobile Baykeeper. She was responsible for fundraising efforts, including major donor development, membership cultivation, hosting special events, and building corporate partnerships to ensure future generations have clean water, clean air, and healthy communities.
In 2019, Justine joined the United Way of Southwest Alabama as the Vice President of Resource Development. She tackles current obstacles with health, education, financial stability, and the basic essentials our community members need to be successful by working to obtain the financial resources necessary to provide this critical support. She utilizes her background in Psychology and Sociology to build strategic partnerships to strengthen the communities they serve in Mobile, Clarke, Choctaw, and Washington Counties. Justine is proficient in revenue generation, strategic planning, and civic engagement, which enables her to mobilize resources that are the foundation for a better life. From an early age, she learned that by serving others first, she singlehandedly has the ability to improve the quality of life of the people and communities around her. She remains true to this tenet each day and consistently works to serve the community that she loves.
Justine has now been named as the CEO and president of United Way of Southwest Alabama. She is the youngest person ever to serve in this role. She has dedicated her life and career to public service.
Justine is very active in the community and has served as the Chair of the Alumni Council for St. Paul's Episcopal School, Secretary for the University of Alabama Alumni Chapter in Mobile, and a Big Sister mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters. She has also served on several local boards and committees for organizations, including Mobile United, Mobile Baykeeper, Mobile Arts Council, and James T. Strickland Youth Center. She is a graduate of the City of Mobile Citizens Police Academy, FBI Citizens Academy, Visit Mobile's Tourism Ambassador Program, Mobile Historic Development Commission's Preservation Leadership Class, Mobile United's Connect Mobile Class of 2016, and Leadership Mobile Class of 2018. She was recently one of 30 individuals selected out of 13,000 applicants to participate in United Way Worldwide's 2021 Fellowship Program. In her free time, Justine remains active in the community, spends quality time with family and friends, and enjoys boating, kayaking, hunting, and fishing.
ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
Carter Albrecht
Soccer | Basketball
Carter Albrecht, a member of the Class of 2013, participated in both soccer and basketball during his time at St. Paul's Episcopal School. He earned the St. Paul's Coach's Award and was named to the AL.com All- Region and Mobile County All-Academic soccer teams. His St. Paul's soccer team was the runner-up in the State Championship in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Carter excelled off the field. He served as the class president, achieved the status of an AP Scholar with Honors, and was a member of the National Honor Society and the French Honor Society. Afterward, Carter continued his academic and athletic pursuits, playing basketball at Macalester College and ultimately graduating from Metropolitan State University with a degree in History.
Presently, Carter resides in St. Paul, Minnesota, and holds the position of Boys' Technical Director at Lakeville Soccer Club, while also serving as the Men's Semipro Head Coach at the Blackhawks Soccer Club.
Alana Babington
Cross Country | Track and Field
Alana Babington, a member of the Class of 2013, was actively involved in cross country and track and field throughout her years at St. Paul's Episcopal School. She achieved numerous championships, including the Team Track State Championship from 2009 to 2013 and the Individual Cross Country State Championship in 2012. She also earned runner-up positions in the Individual Track Two Mile in 2012 and Team Indoor Track.
Subsequently, Alana received a scholarship from Washington and Lee University for cross country and continued to compete in track and field during her time there. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Economics, Studio Art, and Poverty Studies.
At present, Alana serves as the Director of Human Resources, Administration, and Backend Operations Director at Vessel Kitchen I in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Jeb Boudreaux
Football | Basketball
Jeb Boudreaux, a member of the Class of 2013, was an active participant in football and basketball during his years at St. Paul's Episcopal School. Jeb received the honor of Football All-District Honorable Mention and subsequently continued his football career at Stetson University.
During his college years, Jeb achieved the All-Conference 2016 2nd Team and the 2017 1st Team awards. He graduated with a degree in Sports Business. Today, Jeb is pursuing his dreams by working as an Assistant Football Coach at John Carroll University.
Cooper Brown
Swimming
Cooper Brown, Class of 2013, was a highly decorated swimmer at St. Paul's Episcopal School. Cooper swam from 2007 to 2013, serving as the team captain in 2012 and earning the MVP title from 2010 to 2012. During her time at St. Paul's, she was the State runner-up in 2011 and 2012. Additionally, the team secured the title of State runners-up in 2012. Throughout her school career, she was a member of the Spanish Club, Spanish NHS, Culinary Club, Philanthropy Club, and NHS.
After Cooper's time at St. Paul's, she continued her competitive swimming career at the University of South Carolina. She was on the SEC Academic Honor Roll from 2013 to 2017 and participated in the 2014, 2015, and 2016 SEC Championships. Cooper graduated from USC with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and went on to earn a PhD in Physical Therapy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
She currently works as the Clinical Director and Physical Therapist at Fyzical Therapy and Balance Center.
Jared Holloway
Football | Track and Field
Jared Holloway, Class of 2013, is a student-athlete who played both track and football at St. Paul's Episcopal School from 2009 to 2013. He earned recognition on both the All-State and All-Coastal Football Teams. In 2011 and 2013, Jared was part of championship track teams. He then attended Samford University, where he continued his football career and graduated with a degree in sociology.
Currently, Jared and his wife, Kelsi, reside in Mobile with their two children, Camille and Beckham. He serves as a coach and teacher at Cottage Hill Christian Academy.
Jordan Huff
Football
Jordan Huff, a member of the Class of 2013, was a highly decorated football player during his time at St. Paul's Episcopal School. He continued his football career at Northern Illinois University, where he earned recognition on both the Second and Third Team All-MAC. Jordan graduated with a bachelor's degree in science.
After college, he was signed by three different NFL teams: the Buccaneers, Seahawks, and Colts. Jordan currently resides in Mobile and serves as the Chairman and Lead Investor of Huff Industries, which invests in early and late-stage companies.
Chanel Krause
Track and Field
Chanel Krause, Class of 2013, was a decorated track and field athlete during her time at St. Paul's Episcopal School. She achieved All-County honors five times, became a State Champion five times, and her team won the State Track and Field Championship from 2006 to 2013. In addition to her athletic achievements, Chanel was a member of the National Honor Society (NHS), served as a class officer, and actively participated in both chorus and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).
Chanel went on to receive a scholarship for track and field at the University of Louisville, where she earned her degree in Sports Administration with a minor in Communications. During her college career, she garnered numerous awards, including All-American and 2nd Team All-American honors, Athlete of the Week recognition, an ACC Runner-up title, and 3rd place in the American Athletic Conference.
Currently, Chanel resides in Albany, New York, where she works for the City of Albany as their Grants Project Coordinator. She also volunteers for an NGO associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC), focusing on international aid, education, and emergency relief initiatives.
Lindsay Landry Hyland
Basketball | Soccer
Lindsay Landry Hyland, Class of 2013, was a varsity basketball and soccer player during her time at St. Paul's Episcopal School. Her accolades include receiving the St. Paul's Girls' Soccer Golden Boot Award for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons, being named to the 2012 Press Register's All-County Girls' Soccer 1st Team, earning a spot on the Birmingham News All-Star Team, and being selected for the South Alabama All-Star Team. She also served as the Varsity Soccer Team Captain.
Throughout her years at St. Paul's, Lindsay actively participated in numerous extracurricular activities, including the Interact Club and Sierra Club. Additionally, she held the role of Class Representative. She continued her education at Florida State University, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in Exercise Physiology. Lindsay then pursued her graduate studies at Samford, earning a doctorate in Physical Therapy.
Currently, Lindsay resides in Morris Plains, New Jersey, with her husband, Michael, and their one-month- old daughter, Annie. She works as a physical therapist.
Bradley Padgett
Football | Baseball
Bradley Padgett, Class of 2013, was a multi-sport athlete who played both football and baseball during his time at St. Paul's Episcopal School. In high school, he served as the quarterback and played a pivotal role in leading the Saints to a state semifinal appearance during his senior year. In baseball, he demonstrated versatility as both a catcher and a pitcher, leading the team in home runs during his junior and senior years.
Bradley garnered numerous awards, including the Press-Register All-Region Team, “UTV 44” - Player of the Week (twice), 1st and 10 Club Student-Athlete of the Week, the St. Paul's “The Mostellar Sportsmanship Award” in 2012 for football, and the “Outstanding Offensive Player” accolade. Among his other achievements, Bradley earned a spot in the St. Paul's Record Book for both season and career passing records (1512-1617). He also served as co-captain of the football and baseball teams.
After his time at St. Paul's, Bradley graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in accounting. He currently resides in Mobile and holds the position of Sales Manager at Davison Fuels and Oil.
Robby Shelton
Golf
Robby Shelton, Class of 2013, was an accomplished golfer during his time at St. Paul's Episcopal School. He lettered from 2009 to 2013 and won the Player of the Year award in 2012-2013. Additionally, he secured individual state championships in 2010, 2012, and 2013, with his team winning state championships from 2009 to 2013.
Robby earned a golf scholarship from the University of Alabama, where he garnered several other accolades. During his college career, he received the Phil Mickelson Award as National Freshman of the Year, was named the SEC 2014 Player of the Year, and was a Ben Hogan Semifinalist. He turned professional after his junior year and continues to play golf as a PGA professional.
Currently, Robby resides in Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife, Kelsie Shelton.
Bryan Slater
Football | Track and Field
Bryan Slater, Class of 2013, was actively involved in track and football during his time at St. Paul's Episcopal School. In 2012, he achieved the title of Indoor Shot-Put Champion. He was also a member of the St. Paul's Track Team when they secured state championships in 2010, 2011, and 2012.
Bryan went on to attend Troy University, where he played football. In 2017, the Trojans won the Sun Belt Conference Championship. He graduated from Troy with a major in Social Science and a minor in Business. His passion for sports persisted beyond college, and he currently works as a part-time sports trainer.
Bryan resides in Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife, Julisia, where he serves as a pharmaceutical representative.
Kylen Towner
Football | Baseball | Track and Field
Kylen Towner, Class of 2013, earned varsity letters in football, baseball, and track and field during his time at St. Paul's Episcopal School. In 2013, he received recognition as part of The Alabama Sports Writers Association's Super 12 and All-State Football teams. He was also honored by the Mobile Optimist Club for his outstanding performances in the Mobile Challenge of Champions and The Battle of Old Shell Road football events. Furthermore, he was selected as a First-Team All-Regional performer in 2013 by the Press-Register. Kylen also contributed to the Saints' success in Indoor Track and Field, winning state championships in the 60-meter, 4x100-meter, and 100-meter events. Notably, he held the 60-meter AHAA Record in 2012.
Kylen earned a football scholarship to Western Kentucky University, where he continued to excel in athletics. He set a single-season record in kickoff return yardage in 2016 and was named the Conference USA Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year in 2017. Kylen is one of only four Hilltoppers to have achieved a pair of kickoff return touchdowns. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, he graduated with a degree in Business Administration. Kylen and his wife, Lynesha, now reside in Calera, AL, with their sons Kysen (7) and Kyias (10 months). He is the proud owner and operator of Champion Express, LLC.
Mackensie Mosley Turner
Volleyball
Mackensie Turner, a member of the Class of 2013, was a standout volleyball player at St. Paul's Episcopal School from 2009 to 2013. Her numerous accolades include being a three-time All-Alabama Selection, a three-time All-State 1st Team member, a three-time All-County Selection, and a three-time Mobile Super-12 Team honoree. Notably, she earned All-State recognition as a freshman and participated in the North-South All-Star Match. Mackensie also amassed an impressive 3,986 assists, ranking second in school history. During her time with the varsity volleyball team, the Saints were state runners-up in 2009 and 2012 and secured state championships in 2010 and 2011. Beyond her athletic achievements, Mackensie was actively involved in the FCA, the West Florida Revolution Volleyball Club, and AAU Volleyball.
After high school, Mackensie earned volleyball scholarships to Flagler College, Pensacola State, and McNeese State University. In 2013, she led the season in assists and was named to the First-Team All- Panhandle Conference in 2014. She graduated from McNeese State University with a bachelor's degree in educational psychology. Today, she resides in Mobile with her husband, Samuel, and their children, Mary Mack (3) and Edward (7 months). She has returned to St. Paul's as a 6th-grade history teacher and coach of our JV volleyball team.
Mackensie Williams
Softball | Volleyball | Basketball
Mackensie Luster Williams, a member of the Class of 2013, excelled in softball, volleyball, and basketball during her time at St. Paul's Episcopal School. She garnered recognition as the athlete of the week in softball and earned spots on both the All-County and All-State softball teams. Notably, she holds the St. Paul's record for career wins as a pitcher. In volleyball, her contributions helped lead the Saints to state championships in 2010 and 2011, with a runner-up finish in 2012.
Subsequently, Mackensie earned a scholarship to play softball at the University of Mobile, where she graduated with a degree in Exercise Physiology. She furthered her education by obtaining a graduate degree in nursing from South University. Currently, she works as a registered nurse and is on the path to soon graduate as a family nurse practitioner. Mackensie and her wife, Allie, now reside in Mobile.