Episcopal’s value can be measured in many ways. We believe the excellence of this education is best expressed in who our students become.

Maybe your success is measured in how you lead, maybe it is measured by your artistic talents, or maybe it is fulfilling your purpose by serving others.  Our alumni’s remarkable identities and accomplishments are what make them true Knights.  Here, we share the accomplishments of some of our alumni who have shown they are Notable Knights in each of their important worlds and beyond.

Scott Berg '94

We’re proud to recognize Scott Berg ’94, Co-President of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, for his leadership, integrity, and commitment to excellence.

Under Scott’s guidance, Lee Michaels continues to thrive as one of the region’s most respected family-owned businesses—known for quality, service, and community.

Beyond his work, Scott lives out Episcopal’s values by giving back through his past service as board chairs for several non-profit organizations in Baton Rouge, including United Way of Baton Rouge, the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, and Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge.

Scott exemplifies what it means to pursue excellence, build community, and lead with purpose.

 

Lear deBessonet '98

Lear attended the University of Virginia as a Jefferson Scholar.  Her career has been an unbelievable journey that has led her to be involved in remarkable projects and productions.  Most recently she directed Grammy award-winning "Into the Woods" on Broadway, "Annie Live" for NBC and "Hercules" (Disney Theatricals/Public Works).  She is the artistic director of Encores! at New York City Center, and she previously founded the acclaimed Public Works program at The Public Theater.  Her directing work has received an Obie Award, Lortel Award, Lilly Award, and multiple Drama Desk nominations. Lear received the Founders Award of Excellence in Directing at the 89th Annual Drama League Awards and was nominated for two Tony awards at the 76th Tony Awards.  Her career accolades are equally matched by the work she does in her community and beyond as well as within her faith. 

 

Fran Teeter Flory ’80

Coach Fran Flory, a proud alumna of Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, has dedicated her life to excellence in athletics and leadership. A standout athlete during her time at Episcopal, she went on to build an extraordinary career in collegiate volleyball, most notably as the longtime head coach at LSU. Over her decades of coaching, she became the winningest volleyball coach in LSU history, mentoring countless student-athletes and earning national recognition. Coach Flory is known not only for her competitive spirit but also for her unwavering commitment to character, teamwork, and personal growth. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations of Episcopal students to pursue greatness with integrity and passion.

 

Brace B. “Trey” Godfrey, III '97

Trey serves as the senior vice president of policy at Baton Rouge Area Chamber. In this role, he drives regional and state-level initiatives to create a more competitive region for business growth and talent development, particularly through the organization’s public policy and government affairs activity.

Trey is a two-time Tulane University graduate.  Prior to his current role at BRAC, Trey served as the executive director of 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge. At the 100 Black Men, Trey expanded its membership and mission, including launching programs related to economic development, mentoring, entrepreneurship, and education.

 

Todd Graves '90

Todd is the Founder, CEO, Fry Cook and Cashier of Raising Cane's restaurant.  In 24 years Raising Canes has grown from a single restaurant outside the North Gate of LSU to 550 restaurants in 29 U.S states and the Middle East.  Todd has received countless awards and recognitions including 2019's #28 in the Top 100 CEO's in the US by Glassdoor and Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young.  Todd is also extremely passionate about supporting the community and showing appreciation to the people who made his dream a reality.  Graves and Raising Cane's provided $40 million in support to the communities where Raising Cane's restaurants operate and in 2021 will add another $13 million of support.

Todd is married to Episcopal alumn Gwen Graves '88 and they have two children who have also attended Episcopal.  

 

Kaylee Hartung '03

Kaylee Hartung is a Correspondent for ABC News based in Los Angeles. She reports for all ABC News broadcasts and platforms, including “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight with David Muir,” “Nightline,” and “ABC News Live.” Before joining ABC, Hartung was a correspondent for CNN and previously, Hartung was an award-winning sports reporter for ESPN. She appeared regularly on “SportsCenter” and contributed to the network’s coverage of the biggest college sporting events in the country.

Hartung began her career in CBS News’ Washington bureau as an associate producer for “Face the Nation” and assistant to the program's then-host Bob Schieffer. Hartung is a graduate of Washington and Lee University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism and politics.

 

Van Hiles '93

We are proud to recognize Van Hiles, Class of 1993. A Baton Rouge native, he built his foundation at Episcopal as a student-athlete before playing college football at Kentucky and continuing to the NFL with the Chicago Bears.

As proud father of Jayden (Class of 2024) and Makyla (Class of 2028), Van serves as Principal Engineer of Hiles Design, Inc. while also giving back to the next generation of knights as an Assistant Episcopal football and track and field coach. His leadership continues on campus where he was inducted into the Episcopal Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of his accomplishments and lasting impact on our athletics program.

His journey reflects dedication, leadership, and a lifelong connection to the Episcopal community.

 

Luke Hill '22

Episcopal alum Luke Hill ’22 has shown how hard work pays off. Luke was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the 2025 MLB Draft! A standout shortstop and versatile infielder, Luke excelled at both Arizona State and Ole Miss, earning All-Pac-12 honors and All-SEC Second Team recognition. In his final season at Ole Miss, he posted a .336 batting average with eight home runs, 40 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases, showcasing his impressive plate discipline and defensive versatility. We’re incredibly proud of Luke’s journey from Episcopal to the big leagues—your hard work and dedication inspire us all!

 

Miguel Jiron '02

Miguel Jiron ’02 is a director at Sony Pictures Animation currently developing a new project at the studio. He previously served as head of story artist on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and contributed to the Oscar®-winning Into the Spider-Verse, also directing the short Spider-Ham: Caught in a Ham. His award-winning work has screened at major festivals worldwide, and he’s been recognized as one of Variety’s Top Animators to Watch and one of Animation Magazine’s Rising Stars. 

 

Ashley Atiyeh Miles '01

Meet Ashley Atiyeh Miles ’01, Founder & CEO of Franklyn West, an award-winning business growth advisory, helping global brands and C-suite leaders accelerate billion-dollar growth and scale through the firms growing roster of liquid MVP talent and technology.

An award-winning business innovation and growth-enablement expert, recognized by Forbes, Inc Magazine, and, Business Insider, Ashley is also the host of The Impossible Podcast, where she shares insights from global leaders shaping the future of work.

As a mother of two young girls, Ashley is a proud former President of New York Women In Communications and launched the #WomenHeard initiative addressing the dramatic departure of women from the workforce due to COVID 19. 

Her drive, creativity, and purpose-driven leadership reflect the spirit of Episcopal and what it means to lead with excellence.

 

Zachary Miller '94

Brigadier General Zachary Miller commands the South Atlantic Division of the US Army Corps of Engineers, overseeing a multi-billion program of military and water-resources design, construction, and operation in the Southeast US, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.  

After graduation he attended West Point and embarked on a military career that now spans 28 years. During that time General Miller deployed five times to Iraq and Afghanistan and earned numerous honors, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. From the front lines to service in the Pentagon, he credits his time at Episcopal—with its strong academics, athletics, and mentorship—with preparing him for West Point and a lifetime of service. He now mentors young leaders and seeks to help others be “better than I am.”

 

Meghan O’Leary '03

Meghan O’Leary is a 2016 and 2020 Olympian, athlete activist and entrepreneur. She is a two-time World Championship medalist, five-time World Cup medalist and seven-time National Team member with the United States Rowing Team. For eight years she has represented the team as the Athlete Director on the USRowing Board of Directors, and was elected as the Fan's Choice Athlete of the Year in 2017.  Meghan was inducted into the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

O'Leary was a two-sport Division I athlete in volleyball and softball at the University of Virginia where she obtained her Bachelor's and Master's degrees.  Prior to her rowing career, she worked for ESPN for five years until she decided to pursue her Olympic rowing career full-time.  Meghan has co-founded Turazo, a software platform that helps companies recruit and hire more inclusively. She is a professional speaker and advocate for women in sports and equality, serving as an ambassador for the Women’s Sports Foundation.

 

Rubin Patel '90

Episcopal School of Baton Rouge alum Dr. Rubin Patel ’90, has gone from Knight scholar-athlete to a trailblazer in healthcare as the Founder & CEO of Patient Plus Urgent Care. After competing in cross country and track at the University of North Carolina, Rubin pursued a career in medicine and entrepreneurship, bringing his passion for service back to his home state. Under his leadership, Patient Plus has expanded rapidly across Greater Baton Rouge, earning a reputation for fast, modern, and patient-centered care.

He’s also at the forefront of healthcare innovation, incorporating AI-driven tools to improve diagnostics and streamline clinic operations. Whether on the track or in the clinic, Dr. Patel continues to lead with vision, compassion, and excellence. We’re incredibly proud to call him a Knight!

 

Jeannie Frey Rhodes ‘77

Meet Jeannie Frey Rhodes ’77 — professional photographer, business owner, and lifelong Baton Rouge creative.

From capturing the spirit of our community through her lens by giving back to organizations such as Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital and the Fur Ball benefitting Companion Animal Alliance, Jeannie shows what it means to live a life of purpose.  Her artistry and generosity reflect the Episcopal values of excellence, leadership, and community.

 

Holden Spaht ‘92

Holden Spaht, Class of '92, is a Managing Partner at Thoma Bravo — the world's largest software-focused investment firm, with more than $183 billion in assets under management. Since joining the firm in 2005, he has risen to lead some of the most consequential technology deals in private equity.Beyond the boardroom, he and his wife Claire founded the Spaht Family Foundation, a philanthropic organization supporting mental health, environmental conservation, and the arts. Among its flagship commitments is the Lindley Center at Washington & Lee University, named in loving honor of his late sister, Dr. Lindley Spaht Dodson (Class of '95). His ties to Baton Rouge and Episcopal remain close to his heart, and he continues to invest in the next generation of Knights.

 

Kirsten Vaughn Watson ‘98

Kirsten Watson, graduate of Episcopal, the Class of 1999,  is a mom of seven, speaker, author of Sis, Take a Breath a book of encouragement to women, and wife of retired NFL player Benjamin Watson. After graduating from the University of Georgia with a marketing and Spanish degree, Kirsten worked for a Fortune 500 company and then in the nonprofit sector, aspiring to one day run her own company. Now she’s the CEO of a family of nine, NFL Director (along side Benjamin) for Pro Athletes Outreach, and a LifePlan Guide for the Paterson Group. With Benjamin, she founded the Watson Seven Foundation and together they speak on topics of marriage, parenting, and Christian living. 

 

Jimmy Williams ‘97

Jimmy was a four-year letterman in four sports at EHS. He earned 15 varsity letters and was The Advocate Boys Athlete of the Year in 1996.

He was a three-year starter at Vanderbilt who finished his career with 29 passes blocked, 10 interceptions, and 187 tackles. He ranks 3rd in university history for kickoff return yards with 1,677 and was nominated for the 2001 Thorpe Award (Best Collegiate Defensive Back). The Buffalo Bills originally drafted him to the NFL in 2001. He played in the 2006 Super Bowl as a Seattle Seahawk. He was honored as one of the Southeastern Conference Legends in Football in 2013. Jimmy returned to Baton Rouge after retiring from Football where he became part of the Faculty and Football Coaching staff at Episcopal for several years.

 

We are excited to grow this alumni project with your help.  To recommend someone, please email [email protected].  We look forward to recognizing all of the notable alumni in our community.

REUKNIGHTED