OES M A G A Z I N E
OREGON EPISCOPAL SCHOOL SUMMER 2015 • WWW.OES.EDU
The Future is Now A NEW LOWER SCHOOL BUILDING BEGINS
Saying Farewell
SIX LONGTIME EMPLOYEES RETIRE
143rd Commencement
80 GRADUATES REPRESENTED THE CLASS OF 2015
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ON OUR COVER A Lower School student stretches for the top of a young giant sequoia on the OES campus near Scott House. The tree has a circumference of 24 feet, with a diameter of about 7-1/2 feet, and towers above the buildings, people, and other trees.
FEATURES
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10
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The Future Is Now
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OES prepares for a new Lower School building
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Leaving a Legacy
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Senior Profiles
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Class of 2015 Graduation
Longtime employees celebrate their retirement
Six seniors pursue their passions
There is nothing these 80 graduates can’t do
DEPARTMENTS
Class of 1965
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Letter From Mo The Nicol Road campus expands our horizons
News Briefs Here’s what’s been happening around campus
Athletics Aardvarks shine at state tournaments
Alum Profile Emily Petroff ’08 is the first to record a fast radio burst live
Grapevine, Class Notes, We Remember Updates on alumni from SHH, BDH, and OES
Hallways Bishop Dagwell Hall endures in many ways
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2015 CASE Communications Award Winner Gold Award: Best Video “Finding OES” View this and other OES videos at youtube.com / OESTV
OES M A G A Z I N E
OREGON EPISCOPAL SCHOOL SUMMER 2015 • WWW.OES.EDU
OREGON EPISCOPAL SCHOOL Founded in 1869. Located in Portland, Oregon, between the Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, our Pre-K to grade 12 day and boarding programs give future global leaders the skills and confidence to succeed in college — and life.
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OES MAGAZINE Publisher: Martin C. Jones jonesma@oes.edu Editor: Casey Knopik Sr. Graphic Designer: Anne Marie Snyder Photography: Casey Knopik, John Holloran, and the OES community OES Magazine is published by Oregon Episcopal School 6300 SW Nicol Road • Portland, Oregon 97223. For more information on OES, please call 503-246-7771 or visit our website at www.oes.edu. Notice Of Nondiscrimination Policy OES admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
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facebook.com/oregon.episcopal twitter.com/oregonepiscopal youtube.com/OESTV
District VIII 2015 CASE C ommunications Award Winner SILVER AWARD: Best Magazine 2014 CASE Communications Award Winner GOLD AWARD: Most Improved Magazine
© 2015 Oregon Episcopal School. All rights reserved. Summe r 2015
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GOVERNANCE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2015–2016 The Rt. Rev. Michael Hanley Chairman of the Board Ms. Kate Lieber President
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT through fifth grade students in one beautiful new building. With the help of many of you, we have raised 80% of our $16.5 million fundraising goal. This is an incredible accomplishment about which the entire community can be proud.
Ms. Estelle Kelley ’78 Vice President Ms. Laurie Price Vice President Mr. Nate Schwalbach Treasurer Ms. Moira Buckley The Rev. Robert Bryant Mr. Dan Drinkward ’95 The Rev. Canon Sara Fischer Ms. Elizabeth Gewecke Ms. Mary Lou Green Ms. Pamela Hummelt Mr. Joe Kaliszewski Mr. Scott Keeney Mr. Adam Kobos ’91 Mr. Brad Lawliss Mr. Malcolm McIver ’82 Mr. Todd Prendergast Mr. Chris Riser Mr. Evan Roberts ’88 Mr. Liam Thornton Ms. Patricia Trunzo Ms. Heike von der Heyden Ms. Catherine Willmott
Ex Officio Members Ms. Mo Copeland Head of School
Mr. Lawrence W. Harris, III Chair of Endowment Investment Committee Ms. Courtney Fitzloff Chair of Parent Community Link Ms. Laura Cook Axon ’86 President of the Alumni Council
OES VISION Connecting people, ideas, and cultures to advance knowledge, create solutions, and enhance meaning. OES MISSION Oregon Episcopal School prepares students for higher education and lifelong learning by inspiring intellectual, physical, social, emotional, artistic, and spiritual growth so that they may realize their power for good as citizens of local and world communities.
Mo Copeland, Head of School
Dear Friends, On a beautiful Friday evening in June, we celebrated our 143rd commencement at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. I was particularly struck by how quickly four years can go by. These graduates began their high school careers the same year I began my tenure at OES. I was lucky to have six of them in my advisory, and delighted in watching them grow, discover their passions, and prepare for their next step. This group of seniors represents so well all that we value and aspire to be at OES. They are smart, articulate, thoughtful, and yes, quirky. Their recent senior prank was intelligent and satirical in all the right ways—truly funny and poignant, as well as well planned and executed. They exercise their power for good in all kinds of ways: through leadership and participation in service learning, athletics, high academic achievement, and most important, connection to and compassion for their peers, their families, and their teachers.
LOOKING FORWARD During the 2014–2015 school year, we made significant progress on a number of important goals—and we had a few surprises! In terms of goals, we are breaking ground this summer on our forward looking, thoughtfully designed, re-visioned Lower School that will house all prekindergarten
I am also pleased to report that our dedication to and focus on our intercultural competency work has resulted in a statistically significant improvement among our employees over the past four years—we are pushing the needle forward as we strive to ensure that OES is a welcoming place for our increasingly diverse community of children and adults. Finally, we are completing this summer a first draft of our next strategic plan which will guide our work into the future— including campus renewal, curricular innovation, and community diversity. More on our strategic plan later in 2015. As to the surprises, I am sad to bid farewell to Scott Hardister and his family. We will truly miss them. Scott was on the search committee that hired me, and I could always count on his keen ability to ground issues in the OES culture and ethos. We will need to learn to channel Scott when challenges arise. I will miss his wit and sense of humor and fun. Our loss is truly Marin Country Day’s gain as he joins them to become an associate head of school, and I wish them well in their next adventure. A true testament to Scott’s leadership is the way he has continually developed leaders in his division. His vision made it possible for us to find our next Middle School head from within our own ranks. I welcome the opportunity to work more closely with Ann Sulzer as she continues to nurture and expand the magic of our Middle School. The upcoming school year will also signal a transition in our athletics program from 40 years of growth, numerous state
championships, and scholar-athlete development under the innovative and watchful eye of Kris Van Hatcher BDH ’69. He will spend all of next year working with our new Athletic Director, Dennis Sullivan, who brings a remarkable commitment to student development on the field and in the classroom. Working with Dennis will be new assistant athletic director Missy Smith. The development of these future leaders is a wonderful Hardister legacy. In addition, I want to welcome Gretchen Reed, our new interim chief financial officer. Her impressive credentials, finance experience, deep background in independent schools, and an approachable, engaging style have quickly made her a crucial part of the team. Gretchen comes to us from Milken Community Schools in Los Angeles and from the National Business Officers Association (NBOA) where, since 2011, she served as senior director for professional development. Prior to that Gretchen was assistant head for finance and operations at Westridge School in Pasadena, where she served for 10 years. She has an MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a BA in diplomacy and world affairs from Occidental College. Gretchen, her husband Henry, and their whippet, Norman, have wanted to explore the Pacific Northwest for some time and are thrilled to have this opportunity. When families return to campus this fall, the building of the new Lower School—our most ambitious project in more than a decade—will be underway. We will no doubt experience both the thrills and frustrations that go along with a campus building project, but most importantly, we will be transforming a key building to reflect our incredible inquiry-based Lower School program and to support our wonderful teachers. The end result will be well worth the effort.
I interview each senior over the course of the school year. Here are a few of my favorite comments they shared with me: The connection with teachers makes all the difference — and you get it whether you want it or not. The faculty is stunning. The teachers built me into the student I aspired to be. I learned a lot of self-discipline at OES; I enjoy school more now that I am beginning to see results from more effort. You can be smart in a lot of different ways here. The school encourages you to think in your own way. There is no fear of doing something wrong or different. The people have surpassed all other great things about the school. I loved it—you make your experience. I am the person I am today because of OES.
I look forward to seeing everyone back at school in the fall. Warmly, Mo Copeland @MoCopelandOES
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The Future Is Now A New Building For Young Minds to Grow
Story by Marty Jones and Casey Knopik Design by Anne Marie Snyder
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NEW LOWER SCHOOL
onder, curiosity, and imagination are the special ingredients that fuel
the OES Beginning and Lower Schools. This magical combination is evident
everywhere—literally, everywhere. The teachers have filled every nook and
cranny with creativity and expression. The science program is wheeled around
on beige plastic carts and trays from classroom to classroom, hallways are
sprouting all manner of mixed media artwork in a wonderfully creative pop-up
art studio, and the early years Spanish program is based at an unassuming desk
in the corner of the technology office. Specialists, technology coordinators, and
small groups scurry about this anthill of activity inspiring their students with new
experiences and materials. Welcome to the soon-to-be-former OES Lower School.
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We asked our faculty to think about how we teach today, five years from now, and 20 years from now. Their big ideas defined our vision for the new Lower School. — David Lowell, head of Lower School
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A CHANGING CAMPUS
For more than 50 years, the Beginning and Lower Schools have occupied buildings that had to be dreamed up, planned, and built in less than two years when city officials ordered the students, faculty, and staff to say farewell to the stately Victorian schoolhouse in downtown Portland to make way for the I-405 interchange. Eminent domain made it necessary for the relocation of the school. At the time the buildings were built in the early 1960s, teaching and learning styles were very different: teacher at the blackboard… rows of desks facing the front…students learn. The dynamic and engaging education that would soon develop from Saint Helen’s Hall would welcome a brother school, Bishop Dagwell Hall, at the new site on Nicol Road. By the early 1970s the schools would merge and become Oregon Episcopal School. OES is always morphing, like a caterpillar on the shoot of a cattail in our nearby wetlands. The crystallization of programs and teaching has filled our cocoon, and now it’s bursting open to reveal a gorgeous new being: a fantastic, colorful, and majestic butterfly. OES has outgrown our 50-year-old cocoon, and now we are embarking on building a new combined Lower School.
DESIGN FEATURES
Visitors to OES are greeted by geese swimming in the wetlands, trees towering above the sidewalks, and rhododendrons and flowers bursting with their colorful blooms. Soon this welcoming gateway will also include the new Lower School building. The vision for how to have it enhance the entrance was made a priority by the architects. “We really wanted to highlight the openness of the building and the campus,” said David Keltner, principal at THA Architecture. “We wanted to show visitors what OES is all about. The natural environment is a unique treasure of the school and it had to be at the front of the design.” The students and their teachers were involved with every stage of the planning and designing of the building. The faculty was led in design thinking exercises by Cadwell Collaborative to create a building that reflects the pedagogy of OES. These guided discussions were a bridge to the collaborative design work with the lead architects where students presented their drawings and 3D models as they pitched their concepts for what they wanted to see in their new learning environment. The building footprint will feature dedicated outdoor space with access for teachers to move lesson plans
Opposite page: Lower School students present models and pitch their ideas for the new Lower School building with OES Director of Facilities Jon von Behren (top) and THA Architecture Principal David Keltner (bottom).
LEARN MORE: www.oes.edu/ campaign • Video and more
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outside, creating an extended experiential classroom for everything from science to art. There will be direct access to the outdoors from the science lab and art studio. The idea of open space was left not only to the outside of the building, but also embraced throughout the inside design as well. Amazing things can happen in an educational environment with open areas. “This isn’t the case of where you’re kind of trying to make space and hope that people will use it in a certain way. They’re already trying to do this work in space that is hard for them to do it in,” said Keltner. “We found that larger classrooms weren’t just a luxury, they were imperative.” The new combined Beginning and Lower School building will have much more space for our students to collaborate, think, and grow. The classrooms will also be adaptable to the teachers instead of the teachers adapting to the space. In addition to the added room of the classrooms, the location of the different grades was thought out and planned based on the students’ needs. For example, the library is located on the second floor, across from the
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We want students to experience that the learning process matters, that who they are and what they care about matters to others. — John Holloran, director of studies
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fifth-grade classrooms, allowing the older students easier access to resources when they are embarking on research projects, which they do more of than the lower grades. “We asked our faculty to think about how we teach today, five years from now, and 20 years from now. Their big ideas defined our vision for the new Lower School,” said David Lowell, the head of the Lower School. “This building will provide what we need to teach today and what we will need for tomorrow.”
A ROOM FOR EVERYONE
For the specialists at OES, gone will be the days of scurrying from room to room with baskets of materials, making do with a desk squeezed between the bathrooms and the back door. “This new space will allow more time to be dedicated to our curriculum by eliminating lost time walking up the hill to another building like we currently do,” said Kelola McCrary, the language department chair and Lower School Spanish teacher. The students will walk into another world when they enter the new language room because it will feature cultural accents from the Spanish-speaking nations around the globe. The new building will also include something that the old Lower School never had: a dedicated science lab
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and an art studio. These new rooms will allow students to explore, create, and discover in an area where they aren’t hindered by hallways and moving tables. For 24 years, Jane Kenney-Norberg has shared her mobile lab while teaching science to the children of OES. “I am excited to have my own room where I don’t have to prep on the fly, work around classroom content, and get into others’ way. It will be nice to have four sinks, lots of counter space, and moveable flat tables. I like the additional full sink I will have outside where I can do some of the messy experiments, and wash equipment that I currently take home to do in the driveway with the hose,” said Kenney-Norberg. “I am also looking forward to setting up a new water wheel project with Mr. Whitmore that is powered by rain, and installing a pulley system in the open rafter ceiling—it could be fun to have some crazy things going up and down, like my rubber chicken, when we teach simple mechanics.” Another stalwart of make-do spaces is art teacher Laura Foster-Flynn. When describing her future dedicated studio, she said, “Imagine fresh and lifting air spooling through a bright and lofty space, music
unfurling, misty shifting hills in the distance, rush of graying clouds across a broad and heavy sky…color, shape, form. What will the children see? What will they experience? What will they make? I can’t wait to find out!” Each of the four groups of classrooms will be arranged around a shared space called an Affinity Commons, where multiple grades can conduct small gatherings, share project displays, and work on special projects. Larger gatherings will take place in the library, and the dining hall will have a shared meeting space that can be opened into a larger room or partitioned for special performances. The entire Lower School will have an abundance of energy with all grades, prekindergarten through fifth, working together and separately in a dynamic new building full of both integrated and cozy spaces.
CURRICULUM CONNECTS LEARNING “The more students can see each other at work, see what students in other grades are doing, see the process of learning happening around them, the more they are able to connect what they are doing to what matters to them now and in the future—how they connect to the world, how they connect to other people, how they connect learning with community,” said Director of Studies John Holloran. “We want students to know
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that the learning process matters, that who they are and what they care about matters to others.” The new Lower School building was designed to support this OES approach to learning while creating spaces, proximities, and vistas to support the work that the teachers do every day to guide students. Through the layout and design of the building, Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School teachers, who work closely together in teams, departments, and learning groups, will be better positioned to see the continuum of learning that happens in the Lower School, and to see the bigger picture of the Pre-K to grade 12 curriculum at work. “We want to provide students with experiences that help them create new understanding. We want to encourage students to collaborate and connect with each other, across classes and even grades,” said Lowell. “We designed spaces for students to commit to a demonstration, presentation, performance, or exhibition of their understanding and wanted to give children a space that is intentionally designed for them.”
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GROUNDBREAKING: MAY 29, 2015
n front of a large crowd of students, parents, employees, alumni, and community members, Oregon Episcopal School broke ground on Friday, May 29 for the new Lower School building. The morning event kicked off with a welcome by Head of School Mo Copeland. “I feel honored to have been given the opportunity to lead this school at such a momentous time,” said Copeland. “For the past 50 years, students, teachers, parents, and friends created inspired educational moments in these buildings for our youngest students, which has been a wonderful gift. I am pleased to honor all those who have worked to create this amazing school, and make a new commitment to the future of Oregon Episcopal School.” Aardy, the school’s aardvark mascot, presented school leaders with ceremonial shovels to start the event officially. This building is one of the largest construction projects OES has undertaken in its 146-year history. Slated to open in September 2016, the 45,000-square-foot building will house 350 prekindergarten through fifth-grade students.
A well-designed program takes advantage of the permeability of a well-designed building to support the development of our students’ Essential Competencies: I Explore, I Create, I Connect, I Commit. Students learn by exploring the world around them and discover that knowledge seldom follows discrete boundaries among the disciplines. When they create, they realize that inspiration comes from making connections in unexpected ways; they learn that what they commit to matters in important ways to the people in their lives.
A VISION IN THE MAKING
For the past several years, the Board of Trustees and administrative team have been imagining a new Lower School, and working very hard to see it become a reality. The entire effort is one of the largest building projects in the school’s 146-year history. Current OES families are benefiting from the vision and philanthropy of generations who preceded them. Now we have an opportunity as a community of learners to imagine not only a new Lower School, but also work together to make it happen so the next generations of Aardvarks will be able to acquire a love of learning they will take with them into the world beyond OES. Summe r 2015
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Leaving a Legacy
With 146 years of experience at OES between them, six longtime employees celebrate their retirement.
MARTY EASTMAN-BROWN
JOAN LOWE
First Grade Teacher 13 years at OES
Summer Camp Director 17 years at OES
Marty has been in a school system all of her life as a teacher and a student. In addition to OES she has taught in the Head Start program, a public school system, and a private international school in Tokyo, Japan.
Joan joined OES at the encouragement of her son, Nathan ’98, who was a student here. Under her guidance the summer camp program has grown from one camp with 35 students in 1998 to 286 camps that will host around 3,500 students this summer.
Favorite OES memory? My favorite memories are
exploring with the children the magic of all the various habitats that the OES campus has to offer. My classes have observed changes due to seasons, weather, or growth cycles. They have discovered incredible plants, birds, and other wildlife that share our OES world. We always come away with a sense of wonder that can become an observation or a story.
What are your retirement plans? In the future I
look forward to traveling to see all of my international school friends who live all around the world. I also want to maintain a connection with OES by substitute teaching and volunteering. I hope I will always feel a part of the OES community.
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What kept you at OES for this time? The incredible
families and their children are what really make it a worthwhile experience. I also have loved OES’s commitment to excellence and quality programming. It has been such a pleasure to work in an environment where quality matters first and foremost.
What are your retirement plans? I am hoping to spend
some time painting and pursuing art. I am also looking forward to having more time to spend gardening and cooking. My only grandkids live in Kyrgyzstan and I have not been able to visit, as you need a few weeks since it is a two-day trip each way, so I will definitely be doing more travelling, especially visiting the grandkids.
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RETIREES JERI HASKINS
KATHY NARRAMORE
Middle School Music Teacher 17 years at OES
Fourth Grade Teacher 24 years at OES
Jeri’s career at OES started as a volunteer with the eighth grade musical. After a conversation with the Head of School about needing more performing groups on campus she has since taught the Middle School choir, the Upper School a cappella choir, started the Lower School band and string program, and turned the Middle School program from general music into choir and band classes. Both her daughter, Lauren ’03, and son, Craig ’07, attended OES.
Kathy loved OES from the moment she applied for a job, saying that “it felt like coming home just being here.” Aside from providing a unique educational experience for the students who came through her classes, she played a key role in the development of social studies and research units at OES including the Ology Convention, Salmonville, the Immigration and Revolutionary War units in fifth grade, and most recently the Peace Game for fourth graders.
What are your retirement plans? I plan to continue
What kept you at OES for this time? OES has always
my involvement in the Oregon Repertory Singers as board chair and singer. I will also work on my golf game and continue competing in tournaments in the area. I plan to travel more and visit my daughter, who is teaching in Japan.
Advice for a student? Make sure to include music in your life as you move through OES and beyond!
been a place that respects the professionalism of teachers. All of the administrators I’ve worked for have valued creativity, imagination, and new ideas that teachers bring to teaching. The kids are so happy here, and that shows when people come from the outside to visit.
What is one piece of advice that you would tell a student? Find something you’re passionate about, work really hard to be good at it, and enjoy what you’re doing.
ALLAN LEHMAN Facilities 35 years at OES The OES campus is known for its trees, flowers, and gardens—a large part of those are here because of the hard work of Allan, who worked over the years to transform the landscaping into the beautiful gardens the community enjoys today. He also has two daughters, Rebecca ’02, and Anna ’05, who were OES Lifers.
What is an interesting fact about you people might not know? I actually lived on campus for 16 years in a house that
used to be outside Morris House. There had been teachers living there, and I believe the house was supposed to be originally the Head’s house, but no Head ever lived there. In 1990 it became available and we lived there until my wife and I bought a house and moved out.
What is one of your greatest accomplishments at OES? Saving the big pear tree outside of Morris House. It was slated to be cut down, and I made one last plea to the Head of School and convinced him that the tree was historically significant. It was the last of the old pear trees from the Nicol Orchard back when this land was a ranch.
What are your retirement plans? We have a little five-acre farm so I’ll take care of that. I grow a lot of vegetables and garden and I’ll take care of my chickens and horse. My parents are aging and I want to spend some time with them and also my grandson. I record music in my home studio and really enjoy doing that.
What are your retirement plans? I’m planning to spend
more time with my grandchildren, of course, but I’ve also been taking a class for the past year on how to teach kids with reading disabilities how to read. I plan to do tutoring on a part-time basis. Then, I’ll be happy to have time to cook, read, exercise, and work in my yard.
LYNNE SADLER College Counseling 40 years at OES At one time or another Lynne has taught English at OES in each grade from six through 12, except for ninth. She served as the Chair of the Upper School English Department, before eventually moving into the College Counseling department, and over the last few years helped to develop the Discovery experience for students. Both of her children were OES lifers, Jane ’98 and Ben ’01.
What is your favorite memory during your time here? A former student who once said (many years later), “Mrs. Sadler never gave up on me.”
What are your retirement plans? I plan to spend more
time with family—from my 99-year-old father who lives on his own to my grandchildren, ages five, two, and one. I also have several writing projects that have been on the back burner, including the history of a ranch family from Sweetwater County, Wyoming and a scholarly edition of my great-great-grandmother’s autobiography. Gardening, travel in the American West, friends, and volunteering in my daughter’s classroom in Hillsboro are all attractive options.
If you would like to send a note of appreciation or get in contact with one of the retirees, email development@oes.edu or call 503-416-9153. To make a gift in their honor, go to www.oes.edu/retirees. Summe r 2015
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News Briefs SCIENCE EXPO INVENTION WILL IMPROVE LIVES
Christopher R. ’19 won “Best in Show” at the Aardvark Science Expo with his Magniglass entry, but his project had a much bigger purpose than just bringing home awards—it allowed his grandmother to see. Suffering from macular degeneration, his grandmother has no central vision and high-tech glasses to fix the problem were very expensive. Christopher took on the challenge and after a lot of research, and many trials and errors, he finally got the results he was looking for—his beloved grandmother could see much better. There is still work to be done to perfect and patent the product, but his goal is to mass produce Magniglass and make it affordable to others.
OES STUDENT WINS OREGON GEOGRAPHY BEE
The Kem Kem beds are in which country that borders Algeria? Ashwin S. ’22 knew the answer* and it helped him win the Oregon Geography Bee against more than 100 students in fourth through eighth grades, from across the state. His victory sent him to Washington, D.C. in May, where he represented Oregon at the National Geographic Bee. *Morocco
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FIRST ANNUAL LOU FERNANDEZ LITERARY FESTIVAL
OES hosted the first annual Lou Fernandez Literary Festival, presented by the Friends of the OES Libraries (FOESL). The event honors the memory of Lou Fernandez, who passed away in 2011. He was a stalwart OES volunteer and FOESL member for years, and a lover of books, stories, words, and ideas. The festival featured guest author visits, writing events, and celebrations in the various divisions. Funding for this and future festivals is made possible by a new endowment, The Lou Fernandez Library Fund, established this year by Lou’s wife, Linda Blakely. It contains contributions in Lou’s memory by many in our OES community.
HARMONY PROMOTED THROUGH CHOIR
High school and fourth grade students from OES, the Oregon Islamic Academy, and St. Mary’s Academy performed a joint concert this spring. The concert, which was titled “Creating Harmony,” was designed to promote peace and understanding between faith groups. The evening was organized by the Institute for Christian-Muslim Understanding and directed by OES Music Teacher Adam Steele as part of the Upper School Winterim program. www. o e s. e d u
ANN SULZER CHOSEN AS HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL Ann Sulzer has been named head of the Middle School and is already working to ensure the Middle School maintains the trajectory established under previous head Scott Hardister’s leadership. Ann has been teaching at independent schools for 17 years, 11 of those as an eighthgrade English and humanities teacher at OES. She has also served for the past seven years as an eighth-grade team leader. She holds a Masters of English Literature from Middlebury College Bread Loaf School of English and a BA in English with a Secondary Education certification from Northwestern University. The Middle School is a healthy, vibrant, forwardthinking community of teachers, students, and families, and Ann is excited to be working with them in new ways.
DENNIS SULLIVAN NAMED ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Dennis Sullivan has been selected as the new athletic director and will work the 2015–16 school year with current athletic director Kris Van Hatcher. Dennis has been a part of the OES community since 2003 when he was hired as assistant athletic director and a Middle School teacher. He worked as a dorm parent from 2006 until 2009 and has been the head boys’ lacrosse coach since 2008. In 2009, Dennis received the honor of being named the Oregon High School Lacrosse Coach of the Year. He has been involved with athletics since childhood and played four years of lacrosse at Brown University where he was an NCAA Honorable Mention All-American and graduated with a BA in International Relations.
NEW BOARD MEMBERS Mary Lou Green was most
recently Chief Operating Officer of Cover Oregon, where she led the transition of the health insurance exchange. She has previously served in a number of health care process improvement and strategic planning roles, including at Kaiser Permanente and Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. She earned a BS in Psychology and Human Development from Cornell University and a MA of Hospital and Health Care Administration from the University of Minnesota. Mary Lou and her husband, Trent, have two daughters at OES. She has volunteered as third grade PCL rep and was the 2014–15 Lower School PAL Chair.
Courtney Fitzloff is currently
a stay-at-home mom. She previously worked in advertising before teaching elementary school in the Bay Area and Lake Oswego. She earned her BA from the University of California at Berkeley. Courtney and her husband, Mark, have two children at OES. Her past volunteer activities include serving as seventh grade PCL rep, Giving Chapel co-chair, and Silent Auction co-chair. Courtney is the new PCL Chair.
W. Bradley “Brad” Lawliss is the Director of Sales for NWNGS, LLC, a subsidiary of NW Natural. He previously served in new business development positions for NW Natural, as a senior financial analyst for Gerding Edlen, and as an associate director at Bear Stearns. He attended The Lawrenceville School and earned his undergraduate degree from Lehigh University. Brad and his wife Carrie have three children at OES. He serves on the OES Finance and Endowment/Investment Committees and is a trustee for Oregon College of Art and Craft Foundation Board.
Christopher “Chris” Riser is a sixth through eighth grade humanities teacher for Portland Public Schools at Woodlawn School. He earned his BA in History and EdM from Portland State University. He is also a graduate of the Portland Teachers Program at Portland Community College, a program designed to recruit and help culturally competent teachers. Chris and his wife, Corie Murphy-Riser, have two daughters at OES. Chris previously served as the Primary PCL rep.
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Top row L-R: Matthew Sipowicz ’15 won the singles state championship for the third consecutive year. The boys’ tennis team placed first in state and the girls’ team placed second. Calvin Collins ’15 was named an All-American and earned First Team All-State. Middle row L-R: Catherine L. ’17 was Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) Player of the Year and named to the Honorable Mention All-American team. The girls’ lacrosse team won the PIL championship for the fourth year in a row. The boys’ golf team placed fifth in state. Bottom row L-R: The boys’ and girls’ ski teams qualified for state. James Graybeal ’15 placed third in the 300-meter hurdles at the state meet. Jane S. ’16 represented OES at the girls’ golf state tournament. The girls’ basketball team won the Riverdale Holiday Tournament.
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Athletics
Aardvarks Shine at State Tournaments
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he winter and spring sports seasons saw athletes from OES travel across the state to compete on grass, turf, snow, and hardwood. Aardvarks could be found racing down the slopes, scoring goals at tournaments, breaking records on the track, perfecting their swings from the tee box, and bringing home another state championship trophy in tennis. They challenged some of the best talent in Oregon and in many cases walked away victorious.
GOLF The boys’ golf team tied their all-time best
finish by placing fifth at the state tournament. Alden F. ’18 scored the only ace of the tournament, sinking it on the 172-yard 13th hole. Other members of the team who competed at state were Bradley Crislip ’15, Carl Felstiner ’15, Ryan S. ’16, and Josh W. ’16. Jane S. ’16 represented OES at the girls’ state tournament, taking home 11th place.
TRACK Seven athletes from OES competed at the
state track and field meet at Hayward Field in Eugene. The team was led by a pair of hurdlers, James Graybeal ’15 and Tess Oberholtzer ’15. James claimed third place in the 300-meter hurdles and Tess placed fourth in the 100-meter hurdles. Other Aardvarks competing in the meet were Alex B. ’16 (long jump), Brian G. ’18 (triple jump), Rory O. ’18 (800 meters), Will Rosch ’15 (discus), and Cameron S. ’16 (1500 meters).
TENNIS The boys’ tennis team won the state
championship for the fourth consecutive season. Leading the team was Matthew Sipowicz ’15 who was the boys’ singles state champion for the third consecutive year. Daniel L. ’17 placed third in boys’ singles. Also competing at state were Sam B.’17, Rushi Nagalla ’15, Alex O. ’17 and Pavan T. ’17. The girls’ team finished in second place at the state championships behind a solid effort from their doubles teams. The team of Natalie Berger ’15 and Rachael H. ’16 placed third in girls’ doubles and the team of Colette Au ’15 and Lauren Ninkovich ’15 placed fourth. Girls’ coach Coleen Davis was chosen as the State Coach of the Year. This is her eighth time being honored with this award.
SKI TEAM The girls’ ski team placed fourth in
the Metro League and the boys’ team placed fifth, earning both teams trips to the state championships. Skiing for the girls at state was Laura B. ’17, Kailin C. ’16, Nastassia G. ’18, Karina Hiroshige ’15, Lisa LeFeber ’15, and Emelyn R. ’16. Competing for the boys was Lewis B. ’18, Evan C. ’17, Alex F. ’17, Will J. ’18, Quattro M. ’18, and Cullen T. ’16.
LACROSSE The girls’ lacrosse team won the
Portland Interscholastic League championship for the fourth year in a row and advanced to the state semi-final playoff game for the second consecutive year. Alex Stendahl ’15, Hailey H. ’16, and Catherine L. ’17 earned First Team All-State and Lily Massaro ’15, Emilie Ogden-Fung ’15, and Sydney G. ’16 earned Second Team All-State. Catherine was also voted PIL Player of the Year and named to the Honorable Mention All-American team. The boys’ lacrosse team finished the season with a 13-6 record and earned a trip to the state playoffs. In the first round they upset the eighth-seeded Summit High School in the final minute of the game, and advanced to the quarterfinals where they eventually fell to the number one seed. Calvin Collins ’15 was named an All-American and earned First Team All-State. Adam N. ’16 earned Honorable Mention All-State.
BASKETBALL The girls’ basketball team
highlighted their season by winning the Riverdale Holiday Tournament. Rachael H. ’16 was named First Team All-League and Emilie Ogden-Fung ’15 was named Second Team All-League. The boys’ team had two players named to the Honorable Mention All-League team, Charlie Buker ’15 and James L. ’17.
MIDDLE SCHOOL The Middle School track and field team had 12 girls and four boys qualify for the District Meet. The girls’ team captured second place and the boys’ team finished in 12th. This was the most athletes OES has sent to the meet in recent years and the girls’ second place was highest finish by the team on record.
BY THE NUMBERS 41.24 Seconds it took James Graybeal ’15 to set a new OES record in the 300-meter hurdles. 41 & 39 Goals and assists this lacrosse season by Honorable Mention AllAmerican and Portland Interscholastic League Player of the Year Catherine L. ’17. 12 Skiers represented OES at the state championships. 4 Consecutive years the girls’ varsity lacrosse team has won the Portland Interscholastic League championship. 2 Times Calvin Collins ’15 was named a lacrosse AllAmerican. He will play next year at Williams College. 0 League losses by the girls’ tennis team who were undefeated at 14-0, the 4A Special District 1 champions, and finished second in state.
LEARN MORE: www.oes.edu/ magazine • Photo galleries
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T H E “For me and my values, I really value seniority. You should let the older people do the leadership, but when it’s your turn, you need to step up and do that.”
C L A S S
NUT CHEEPSONGSUK GROWING INTO A LEADER If you met Nut Cheepsongsuk during
his first few months at OES you might have gotten the impression that he was shy. Many around him thought that he was quiet and perhaps a little reserved. But that isn’t Nut. He was just trying to get an idea about his new home. “I was learning by listening and watching,” he said. “My English was really bad when I came here. We only had four Thai students my first year so I had to speak English to interact.” Nut, whose full name is Supanut, is a dorm student at OES from Bangkok, Thailand. He says that leaving your family can be hard and many students will experience homesickness. But the best way to deal with that is to embrace your new family. “The dorms have been like a really great big family,” said Nut. “I’m the oldest in my family so I never had older siblings before to look up to. Living in a dorm gave me that experience of having older siblings.” Many of the seniors became his role models, and Nut knew that one day he would want to be a role model to the younger students. “For me and my values, I really value seniority,” he said. “You should let the older people do the leadership, but when it’s your turn, you need to step up and do that.” Nut’s turn to be a leader came this year in a number of different opportunities, including serving as a floor monitor in
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the dorms, working as the dorm representative on the student leadership community board, serving as a class representative on the Alumni Council, and leading a group of 18 students on a Winterim trip to his home country of Thailand. Working as the student leader of the Super Magnificent Intercultural Learning Experience trip, or SMILE for short, Nut helped plan all the activities that the group participated in. And many of the places were ones he had never visited, despite growing up in Thailand. “It was really great to show Thailand to my classmates,” he said. “I didn’t value that stuff as much as I should have until I saw how much other people were impressed and valued it. It was great to go to places that I’d never been.” And his experience with the Winterim trip helped him realize another leadership opportunity he’d like to pursue. “In the future, if possible, I want to be an ambassador,” said Nut. “Which is really similar to this in a way. You show and represent your country to other people. This really could be the start of a journey for me!” Nut will attend The George Washington University next year. Nut’s younger brother will be attending OES in the fall and Nut is excited for him to be able to have the great experience that he has had on campus.
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O F V 1 5 I O N
STUDENT PROFILES
“ It was pretty much inevitable that I would end up playing an instrument of some sort while growing up.”
OLIVIA LANGLEY INGRAINED WITH HARMONY On a typical week Olivia Langley
will attend five hours of rehearsals with the Portland Youth Philharmonic orchestra and five hours of practice with the Pacific Youth Choir. She’ll practice on her own throughout the week, sometimes have an extra rehearsal later in the week, attend class to sing in the school choir, participate in the OES a cappella group, and perhaps perform in a concert or two. It sounds like a lot, but not for Olivia—she loves it. “I guess you could say that music is a big part of my life,” said Olivia. “It’s just a part of who I am.” Olivia’s interest in music began at an early age. Her mother played the flute through high school and college, and her father enjoys singing and listening to classical music. “It’s kind of ingrained through my family,” she said. “It was pretty much inevitable that I would end up playing an instrument of some sort while growing up.” The piano was the first instrument that Olivia started playing; she was only four years old! She now plays four different instruments and with each one, she’s also been able to learn new skills that she can apply to her schoolwork. “There are lots of skills that you learn through music that are applicable to other areas, such as the dedication to be able to sit and practice the same thing over and over every day to make it better,” said Olivia. “And also math is used in music a lot for rhythms so you’re constantly doing math as you’re playing even though you don’t realize it.”
Another skill that music has allowed her to develop is leadership. Olivia is the soprano section leader for the school choir and during first semester, the other three sopranos were each freshman and very new to singing in a choral setting. This gave Olivia the opportunity to mentor them and be a role model. She also had the opportunity to take on a leadership role this year during the Creating Harmony Winterim, which was a Chorale Ensemble with OES and Oregon Islamic Academy (OIA). Many of the students from OIA had never participated in a musical concert before. “Working with the students from the Oregon Islamic Academy was really fun,” said Olivia. “Getting to talk to and getting to know people from different schools with different musical backgrounds was wonderful. And just the message about peace, hope, and love was really inspiring to be part of.” Much of Olivia’s musical training has been off campus but she knows that she wouldn’t be where she was today if it wasn’t for the support of her teachers. “I’m really thankful that OES has given me the opportunity to pursue music, and I’m especially thankful for the music teachers that I have worked with over the years,” said Olivia. “They each have been very inspiring to me and I’m grateful for them.” Next year Olivia will be attending Brown University and hopes to have the opportunity to continue her musical career, perhaps through one of the 15 a cappella groups on campus. Summe r 2015
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T H E “There is something about film that speaks to me. I’ve felt that I was always going to be an artist and that there would be something that spoke to me.”
C L A S S
TED MORISSETTE DIRECTOR AT HEART The camera angle switches from
a group of teenagers working together to lift a wall of a building into place, to another angle where a student is drilling two boards together. They are laughing, smiling, and genuinely seem to be having a good time. This isn’t a movie, but instead it’s the latest scene that Ted Morissette has finished in his documentary about building a tiny house. “The film is about telling a story,” said Ted. “It’s a great and interesting way to inform and send a personal message to an audience. We are building this tiny house to help one homeless person, but if we can use this project to inform people and show them what we are capable of, they will feel inclined to do their part too.” Ted’s interest in making movies began at an early age when he would take his mom’s computer with its webcam, and put it on a rolling chair to move it around the house. “That’s when I started becoming interested in film,” he said. “There is something about film that speaks to me. I’ve felt that I was always going to be an artist and that there would be something that spoke to me. I wasn’t sure what it was going to be but film did that.” His latest project about the tiny house allowed him to take his directing skills from behind a camera to behind a hammer. This school year he helped lead a group of OES students and volunteers in the construction of a tiny house that
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was donated to Dignity Village in Portland in May. Since the idea was his, Ted was at the front of assisting with the project, asking for donations, organizing volunteers, and documenting the build with his camera. “I wanted to make sure that the whole OES community could feel involved with this project,” he said. “I wanted everyone to be a part of this. If you can get other people to believe in the cause that you believe in, then everything will work out.” While working on the tiny house, Ted noticed a lot of similarities between organizing a movie and a building project. “A lot of directing is making sure people are in the right places, at the right times,” he said. “Everyone comes together to make a film and everyone needed to work together to make this project possible.” With the success of this tiny house, he would love the opportunity to build another one in the future. “After finishing this project I’d like to take more of a leadership role in the building next time. I had a lot of guidance during this project but next time I’m ready to be more a part of the complete process. I want to be the director next time,” he said with a smile. In the fall Ted will attend Chapman University where he will study film production. His videos can be viewed on his YouTube channel at youtube.com/OESTed.
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O F V 1 5 I O N
“I’ve always been intrinsically motivated, always driven to do my best in school and on the soccer field.”
CAROLYN RUOFF EYE ON THE GOAL This fall, the OES girls’ soccer team
hoisted the state championship trophy for the third time in four years. For the seniors on the team that is a pretty amazing accomplishment. But for Carolyn Ruoff this championship was all the more special, because, unlike the other two championships she had been a part of, she got to share this one with her sister. “We’d been waiting for this opportunity for a long time,” said Carolyn. “I’d watched her on the field for years, and she had watched me. So to get the chance to play this season on the same team with her was a lot of fun. Not to mention the way we finished. And being a senior, winning was a good way to go out.” Carolyn’s interest in the sport started at an early age. Her dad had played soccer in college and she wanted to play too, joining her first team in kindergarten. After arriving at OES in sixth grade she naturally joined the Middle School team, figuring it would be a good way to meet people at her new school. “This team offered me the chance to make new friends and do something I enjoyed,” she said. Soccer has also taught her other skills that she has been able to apply to another interest of hers, engineering. “In soccer when you have a team you have to get the best out of everyone, while playing to everyone’s strengths,” she said. “Most of the engineering that I’ve done has been with other people, so being able to build off each other and use
the best ideas from the group is extremely important.” And like soccer, her interest in engineering also started at an early age. She first remembers really enjoying it while working with LEGO ® Robotics in grade school and that enjoyment has continued throughout her time at OES. She entered engineeringrelated projects for the science fairs and even tried to build a model merry-go-round that created energy while it spun. This project was accepted to the ISWEEEP Finals in Houston, Texas. “I’ve always been intrinsically motivated,” she said. “Always driven to do my best in school and on the soccer field.” Raising that third championship trophy was not the end to her successful soccer career, but rather just a chapter. In the fall she will head to Cornell University to play for their team and attend the School of Engineering. “I’ve always wanted to play Division I soccer,” said Carolyn. “Cornell provides the opportunity to combine a really great education while playing soccer at a high level.” Carolyn was named the 2014 All-State Soccer Player of the Year and finished her OES career with 44 goals and 28 assists.
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T H E C L A S S
“ It’s nice to give back to a program that helped me with so much. That’s how I got here. I like to help kids and work with them.”
HUGO RAMIREZ-PINEDA IN THE SPOTLIGHT The room is filled with a crowd
intently watching Hugo Ramirez-Pineda. Everyone in the group is waiting for him to speak. He has been preparing for this moment for a long time, through years of training and practice. And now that the day has finally arrived, it’s show time! It’s the first day of the Aardvarks Advocate Skills and Knowledge (AASK) Summer Camp and this year he’s a counselor. Hugo is no stranger to talking in front of groups of people. In fact, he loves it. For the past four years he’s been a staple in the Visual and Performing Arts Department, transforming into many different characters in a wide variety of plays. “I’d always been very charismatic in middle school because I like to talk to people and I like to have fun,” said Hugo. “But freshman year I had no desire whatsoever to go on the stage. I had stage fright at that time.” Thanks to a friend persuading him, he signed up for the fall play but he figured as a freshman he wouldn’t get cast. However, Hugo ended up being one of two freshmen cast in the play, and he even landed a lead role. “It was a lot of fun and I realized that having to learn all these lines and practice really challenged me,” he said. Wanting to challenge himself is how Hugo became involved with the AASK program when he was a student at Vose Elementary School. “My teacher in fourth grade told me that I could do AASK after school because she could tell I was bored,” said Hugo.
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“Normally she’d only recommend that to students who needed extra help, but for me it was because I wanted to do something else.” The AASK program is designed to bring students together to deepen language skills, inspire students to service learning, foster intercultural and family relationships, and have fun. Through the program Hugo learned a lot from the teachers and eventually decided to become a student at OES in sixth grade. “Once I came to OES as a student I knew that I wanted to still be a part of the AASK program but in a different way,” said Hugo. “I wanted to be a counselor, but found out you couldn’t until freshman year, so I said I’d wait until then.” Now each year Hugo helps out at the AASK summer camp. “The first time I was a counselor in training, but as the camps go on, I have been given more training and gained more experience,” he said. “It’s nice to give back to a program that helped me with so much. That’s how I got here and I like to help kids and work with them.” In the fall Hugo will attend the University of Oregon and he knows that he’s ready for college. “I’ve learned a lot here,” said Hugo. “I feel like I can take on any college work that I have to do. I’m ready and OES has prepared me well for that next step.” Hugo’s drama career at OES is bookended by roles in Shakespeare plays. His first performance was in Love’s Labours Lost and his final performance was in Much Ado About Nothing. www. o e s. e d u
O F V 1 5 I O N
“I think I would have found the path to a medical career wherever I went to school, but the path and growth that I found in diversity is something that I would have only found at OES.”
HOLLY LANGLEY HOME ON NICOL ROAD When Holly Langley arrived at OES
in the fifth grade she had already attended nine different schools in three different countries. These experiences set her up for a leadership role as her new school started taking an active approach with diversity topics. “Being a foreigner, and having moved a lot, I never realized how many facets and areas of diversity I could commit to, relate to, and be involved with,” said Holly. “In England we never had any discussions about diversity or any workshops so that was really eye-opening when I came here.” Holly attended her first diversity conference through the Northwest Association of Independent Schools in the eighth grade and after that she looked for ways to take on a leadership role with the school. The best way was through the annual Culture Shock day. Over the years she has seen great growth in the OES community around the event. “I feel proud of the community and I feel a sense of satisfaction because I know I have been a part of it,” she said. “But the feeling is more like a sense of reassurance that the community is still willing to learn and make the changes we are doing.” Traveling to a lot of different countries allowed Holly to become more aware of people who had different backgrounds and experiences than herself, and also set her on her future career path. During her sophomore year she was on a trip with her father to China as part of Little Hearts Medical. While there, she
watched as her father, a pediatric cardiac surgeon, performed a surgery with a Chinese surgeon on a two-year-old orphan boy. “I grew up wanting to be in the medical field,” said Holly. “But then I also want a family. I hit a period in my life where I didn’t know if I could have both. So I was beginning to think that maybe that career path wasn’t for me.” Holly had never seen a surgery before and during the procedure they had to stop the boy’s heart to repair it. “Here I was, standing right next to this little baby who was on a table,” she said. “I was not only able to witness a bridge between two places where medicine was very different, but also see this incredible medical procedure. It was moving and inspiring.” In that moment Holly knew that despite many years of training and challenges that would face her in the medical field, she wanted to be a doctor to help other people. In the fall she will be attending Dartmouth College and eventually will study pediatrics at medical school. “Being at OES for this long, it really feels like my home,” said Holly. “I think I would have found the path to a medical career wherever I went to school, but the path and growth that I found in diversity is something that I would have only found at OES.” During Holly’s time at OES she attended 10 diversity conferences in four cities, including the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Indianapolis. She also led a workshop during Winterim. Summe r 2015
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GRADUATION 2015
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It is an OES tradition for juniors to serve as acolytes during the graduation ceremony. Nathan C., Cyrus J., and Regina L. volunteered this year.
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TO THE CLASS OF 2015: “There is Nothing you Can’t Do” On June 12, 80 seniors graduated at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in the 143rd commencement ceremony for OES.
DR. JAN PINKAVA The keynote speaker at graduation was Dr. Jan Pinkava. Dr. Pinkava is an Oscar ®-winning writer and director, known for Ratatouille (2007), Geri’s Game (1997), and Toy Story 2 (1999). He has two children who attend OES, Thomas ’16 and Edward ’18, and he currently works with Google. The following is an excerpt from his speech. “Commencement speakers tell you that you are ready to ‘seize the day.’ Whatever life throws at you, you’re more than able to rise to the challenge. You’ll be just fine. There’s nothing to worry about…that sort of thing. They’re just trying to scare you! It’s like the dentist saying, ‘Open up. Relax. This won’t hurt a bit.’ But in your gut you’re scared, and all that reassurance really doesn’t help. Of course you’re not wrong. Life is, in fact, scary. And you can’t avoid the “F” word…Fear. Almost everything you see in the movies is about overcoming fear. Whether it’s Avengers 5 or Star Wars 11, the climax of the movie has the heroes facing their darkest fears; doing battle with a villain who represents those fears. It’s the same with love stories, except it’s fear of rejection: more personal and less violent. But it’s always about fear. Apparently, fear defines us. In life we have to take risks to achieve something significant. I mean reasonable risks, not foolish risks, like hang gliding. You know you’re doing something serious and important when you are afraid. So by all means be afraid. Be slightly afraid. It’s appropriate. But you also have every reason to be confident.”
LIAM WOGAN ’15 Senior Liam Wogan was selected by his classmates to speak on behalf of the Class of 2015. He told a story that compared their journey toward graduation to climbing a mountain. Here is an excerpt from his speech. “At certain points on this journey, I have felt like falling, felt like giving up. Along with being my inspiration, these people have been my carabiner, my support group, my Tom Handel, the smiling faces that I knew would be there when I got over each challenge, each hill. Going into the big world, you will all find new carabiners, new people that will be there for you through every challenge, but let’s not ever forget this incredible group of students who make up the Class of 2015. Generous and thoughtful, this tight-knit community that is my class will be a part of me through the rest of my life. And just because we don’t see each other every day anymore, we still have LEARN each other to fall back on when we MORE: find adversity climbing up this next www.oes.edu/ hill. Keep climbing, Class of 2015: magazine there is nothing you can’t do.”
Watch videos of: • Graduation speeches • Commencement highlights
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OES Class of 2015
Upper School Awards
College Choices
ATHLETIC AWARDS
ANDERSON, SOPHIA
Willamette University
LANGLEY, HOLLY
The Coaches’ Award for Boys’ Sports
University of Southern California
LANGLEY, OLIVIA
University of California, Santa Barbara
MATTHEW RICHARD SIPOWICZ
AU, COLETTE
The Coaches’ Award for Girls’ Sports
BERGER, NATALIE
LEE, CHRISTINA
University of Oregon
LAUREN KEALANI NINKOVICH EMILIE FRANCES OGDEN-FUNG
BRENNAN, SHANNON
LEE, JENNIFER PEI HSUAN
Brown University
BROK, IAN ALEXANDER
LEFEBER, LISA
Oregon State University
BUKER, CHARLIE
LEON, CATHERINE
Cornell University
CAULFIELD, SARAYU
LEON, PATRICK
University of San Francisco
CHEEPSONGSUK, SUPANUT
LIM, DONGYUN
Carnegie Mellon University
Oberlin College Conservatory of Music
CHEN, MENGBI
LOVESTRAND, CARL
SIPOWICZ, MATTHEW
Quest University Canada
Santa Clara University
Poetry
CHOI, HYUN JU
LOY, MEREDITH
SMITH-RODGERS, GABRIEL
PATRICK CURTIS MCVEE EMILY CATHERINE VENTHAM
University of Southern California/ Gap Year
LUND, WILLIAM C
SOLOMON, ZACHARY
DEPARTMENT AWARDS Art, Visual Arts
BYUNGMIN KANG AVA VOSSOUGHI Art, Ceramics
GREGORY ALEXANDER HEINONEN Art, Performing Arts
CARA ANNE DRINKWARD English
ROSALIND MARGARET SULLIVAN-LOVETT
Kenyon College/Gap Year Gonzaga University
University of Denver Gonzaga University
University of Southern California The George Washington University New York University
Brown University Syracuse University Brandeis University Bates College Davidson College Gonzaga University
RAJBORIRUG, PHARUJ
RAMIREZ-PINEDA, HUGO REICHMAN, MIRA ROSCH, WILLIAM RUOFF, CAROLYN SAMIEE, LILY
SCOGGINS, DANIEL
COLLINS, CALVIN
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
History
Williams College
BOHDAN THOMAS DAVID GOODRICH ZACHARY SASHA SOLOMON
CRISLIP, BRADLEY
Oxford College of Emory University
Occidental College
MALUEG, KATHERINE
SOLTI, DAVID
DIBENEDETTO, SCOTT
Santa Clara University
Wesleyan University
MASSARO, LILLIAN
STANION, SYDNEY
DRINKWARD, CARA
Middlebury College
Dickinson College
MCVEE, PATRICK
STENDAHL, ALEXANDRA M.
FAUST, NATHAN
Tufts University
Dartmouth College
MORISSETTE, THEODORE
SU, FANG
FELSTINER, CARL
Chapman University
Boston University
MOSSCROP, MADELINE
SULLIVAN-LOVETT, ROSALIND
GOODRICH, BOHDAN
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Haverford College
NAGALLA, RUSHI
Wake Forest University
NI, JIAWEI
Gap Year
NINKOVICH, LAUREN
University of Denver
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo University Honors Program
OBERHOLTZER, TESS
Stanford University
OGDEN-FUNG, EMILIE
GUO, MIANZHAO
Wesleyan University
Hult International Business School (London)
ORR, TYLER
VIBHAGOOL, NATALIE
Western Washington University
University of California, Berkeley
LISA LELAND LEFEBER
University Honors College at Oregon State University
PACKARD, JAKE
VOSSOUGHI, AVA
St. Olaf College
Rhode Island School of Design
ALL SCHOOL AWARDS
HIROSHIGE, KARINA
PARK, CHANG YONG
WAGNER, WHITNEY
Intercultural Student
NATHAN ISAIAH FISCHER FAUST Language
CHARLES EVAN BUKER Library
KRISTIN ANNE GRANT Mathematics
MEREDITH ANNE LOY Music, Vocal
EMILY KATHERINE KENNEDY JACOB CHRISTOPHER PACKARD Music, Instrumental
DONGYUN LIM Philosophy & Religion
HOLLY REBECCA LANGLEY Marion Horwell Residence Award
SUPANUT CHEEPSONGSUK Science
SARAYU GOPAL CAULFIELD PETER ROBERT GRAHAM ALEXANDRA CLARE RATHBONE ULMER Student Body Award
University of California, San Diego
Dartmouth College
Chapman University University of Colorado at Boulder Whitman College Loyola Marymount University Whitman College University of Washington, Honors Program
GRAHAM, PETER
Babson College
GRANT, KRISTIN
University of California, Irvine
GRAYBEAL, JAMES
Vassar College
University of California, Davis Rochester Institute of Technology
Northwestern University
HEINONEN, GREGORY
Patron’s Award
University of Rochester
LISA LELAND LEFEBER
KANG, BYUNGMIN
Susan Elizabeth McClave Award
Rhode Island School of Design
COLETTE MIN-YEN AU MIRA RUTH REICHMAN
KEENEY, ELIZABETH
J. Milne Manson Award
KENNEDY, EMILY
GREGORY ALEXANDER HEINONEN Head of School Award
COLETTE MIN-YEN AU MIRA RUTH REICHMAN CAROLYN ELIZABETH RUOFF
Barnard College
Swarthmore College
LAN, SZU-YAO
Indiana University at Bloomington
Haverford College
SUN, LICHENG TEBO, MARTIN
THOMAS, JACKSON
ULMER, ALEXANDRA VENTHAM, EMILY
Pennsylvania State University, University Park
Pitzer College
PERRY-FREER, GABRIEL
University of Portland
POPHET, WANFAH
University of Ottawa
Pitzer College
WOGAN, LIAM
YEN, MARCUS
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
PRENDERGAST, OWEN Gap Year
RAGURAM, MUKUND
University of California, Berkeley
Mary Rodney Award
ELIZABETH FRANCES KEENEY Bishop Dagwell Award
SUPANUT CHEEPSONGSUK Alumnae/i Award
HOLLY REBECCA LANGLEY
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Emily in front of the 64-metre Parkes radio telescope in Parkes, Australia. The Parkes radio telescope, in operation since 1961, is an icon of Australian science and continues to be at the forefront of astronomical discovery.
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Alum Profile
A DISCOVERY OF COSMIC PROPORTIONS Her passion for astronomy has taken Emily Petroff ’08 across the planet
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n May 2014 a gigantic, but fleeting, flash of radio waves known as a ‘fast radio burst’ or FRB, was recorded live for the first time in history. These FRBs have been documented many times, but always weeks, months, or even years after the fact. Viewing an FRB live was truly a historic event in the astronomy world, but for Emily Petroff ’08, whose research project captured the act, it was all in a day’s, or rather a night’s, work. “In and of itself it’s pretty cool to catch this happening, but it represents something bigger,” said Emily who is currently working on her PhD in astrophysics at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. “Up to where we are now in the field of fast radio bursts, we only know of about a dozen sources and that’s not very many,” she said. “We’re in the early stages of what we will eventually be able to do. Our discovery kind of sets the scene for a new era of discovery, the era of real time discovery.” Emily’s research in astronomy has taken her from the Aardvark Science Expo to the other side of the world. “One of the many positive things that I remember about OES was the ability to design my own research. That’s the part of astronomy that I really love, I love doing research,” she said. “I found that passion while I was at OES because they actually let me answer my own questions, pursue my own research, and try to figure stuff out on my own. But then be able to come back to really supportive mentors when I had questions or needed guidance.” When Emily was a student at OES, there wasn’t an astronomy program. But that didn’t hold her back. She worked with teachers like Rosa Hemphill and Bill Lamb, who helped her perform independent research and also put her in touch with astronomers to discuss opportunities and find out more about the career. During her junior year, she submitted an astronomy related project to the science fair that took her to the International Science and Engineering Fair competition where she won a prize. After graduation she headed to Carleton College in Minnesota where her OES science project was actually part of the reason that she was able to get into the research group that she wanted.
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“Because I had a research prize under my belt I was qualified to enter the research group,” she said. At Carleton, she investigated pulsar polarization with her research group, led by Dr. Joel Weisberg. This work was at the CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science (CASS) center in Sydney over the summers and during other school breaks. It was on one of these trips that she got in contact with Swinburne and they offered her their PhD position.
OES prepared me for my career better than college prepared me for my career. I think it all comes down to the habits you build in your teenage years and OES was great at developing those habits. — Emily Petroff ’08
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Emily is set to graduate in October and has already accepted a postdoctoral research position at ASTRON in the Netherlands where she will be working on a new telescope that is currently being built. Her hope is to use it to find more FRBs and discover more information about them. While there, she also hopes to develop her personal skill set. “I’m hoping that I will have the opportunity to supervise students,” said Emily. “I’ve had a lot of really great mentors over the years and hopefully I can be that for future students.”
LEARN MORE:
www.oes.edu/ magazine • Emily’s website • Video from Australian TV
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The Grapevine Sara Ritter Alumni and Donor Relations Manager
• Kirsten Midura ’04 helped install an electrical system in an orphanage in Jinotega, Nicaragua.
WHO YOU WERE ASKED TO BECOME
Kirsten explains that previous to this installation, the children were not able to stay up past 6 p.m.; they will now be able to study and spend quality time with one another in the evenings. “OES instilled in me an international mindset, one that has guided my life decisions ever since,” said Kirsten. “At OES, I learned to appreciate people as individuals with unique experiences, needs, and talents. And at OES, I developed a desire to help these individuals, and in doing so, leave a positive footprint on the world.” Today at OES, we teach students to use their “power for good.” It’s a catchphrase that nonetheless has teeth within the Pre-K to 12 curriculum and meaningful service opportunities abound across the school year. It’s clear from our alumni that this ethic has always been prominent in our educational philosophy as a school and marks a legacy of extraordinary individuals giving back. Thank you for putting your power to good use.
How often have I heard an OES alum say, “OES gave me a great education, but more than that, it made me who I am today.” This common refrain is a powerful testament to the culture of OES. Our alumni remember that OESians serve more than themselves. The ethic of service is deeply embedded in our Episcopal identity and our origin story as a school. It is also embedded in the cultural revolution of the 1960s and ’70s and the vision and mission work which resulted and continues to this day. Currently, service learning at OES stands alongside the best programs in the country. At this year’s Mt. Hood Climb Service Day, we invited alumni from around the world to engage in service wherever they were, however they could. A few examples of the projects reported back to us include: • Matt Clark ’90 planted 600 trees with the Miguel Angel Suarez School in Loja in the Ecuadorian Andes. • Alumni Council Chair, Laura Cook Axon ’86, visited the Providence Center for Medically Fragile Children here in Portland.
Please contact Sara Ritter at (503) 416-9369 or ritters@oes.edu, with any questions for the Alumni Office.
OES students participate in service learning projects in Portland.
Class Reps
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Nan Glover Brasmer ’56
Daniela Brod Cargill ’89
Elizabeth Cooper ’07
Austen Yeager ’11
Judy Carson Kauffman ’60
Kathryn H. Halton Rebagliati ’90
Anne Drinkward ’07
Niky Inskeep ’12
Julie Mack Penge ’60
Courtney Brown ’92
Lauren Eyler ’07
Aashna Tiruvallur ’12
Lynn Perryman Haye ’61
Tara Sorensen Witt ’92
Christopher Chapman ’08
Patrick King ’13
Joanne Dobson ’63
Eric Gebbie ’94
Lia Dawley ’08
Hannah Tooley ’13
Julie Krause Harriman ’64
Kelly Rossi ’95
Natasha Michalowsky ’08
Erica Massaro ’13
Ellen Wheeler Guest ’65
Jonathan Kowolik ’97
Maddy Duthie Apple ’09
Abbie Daigle ’14
Katherine Karafotias ’66
John Waskey ’98
Brady Haugh ’09
Harper Hayes ’14
Toni Webb ’70
Margot Feves ’01
Charlotte Lee ’09
Supanut “Nut” Cheepsongsuk ’15
Jyrki Koskinen ’76
Ashley Morganstern ’03
Annie Friar ’10
Dong Yun “Yunnie” Lim ’15
Neena Fromm Nuhring ’77
Kirsten Midura ’04
Harris Inskeep-Rosenfeld ’10
Meredith Loy ’15
Allison Root Roberts ’78
Tiiu Magi ’05
Leah Metcalf ’10
Gabe Smith-Rodgers ’15
Carrie Loar Cool ’80
Molly Morgan ’05
Austin Page ’11
Elizabeth Highet ’86
Bill Thanhouser ’05
Laurie Rumker ’11
Theresa Webster ’87
Jenny Wolochow ’06
Anshu Tirumali ’11
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Class Notes 1949 BONNIE DUNBAR HAHN I am still working at the NEST Shelter which is the Nome Emergency Shelter Team. It is a homeless shelter that takes care of those needing a warm and safe place to sleep. It is a very stressful job as we need to deal with lots of drama. I have been at this job for five years. It is an extremely interesting job and I enjoy all the guests very much.
1951 JOAN GORDON JAMES We are currently living in Depoe Bay and loving it. The weather changes every 10 minutes and the sunsets are spectacular. Walks on the beach, seafood dinners, and even some fishing are about it for excitement. We visited London, Paris, Barcelona, and NYC in 2014. Great trip as the weather was unseasonably dry (except in Barcelona where it poured), the British Museum is as fascinating as ever, Paris has to be the sexiest city in the world, and NYC was cold and gloomy (although we did get to see Cabaret with Alan Cumming at Studio 54). On another travel note, we just returned from Yuba City, California where we visited with my son, Ron, and his wife, Irene, for a few days.
1951 FLOY SENIOR I have received all kinds of awards this last year, including being named Woman of the Year by the Denver-Area Panhellenic, an alumnae association of 23 national sorority societies. Other awards I have received include the AARP Colorado Outstanding Driver Safety Volunteer, the AARP Colorado Driver Safety Award, Regional Driver Safety Volunteer of the Year,
National Volunteer for Driver Safety Volunteer Award, and the AARP Colorado Driver Safety Volunteer of the Year, an award voted upon by my peers in the state. I was also awarded the Ruth M. Callen Award for my years of volunteer and leadership service to the Alpha Xi Delta Denver Alumnae. I feel humble about these awards because so many other volunteers have also given of their time and talent to these organizations.
1961 MA’CARRY BUTLER CAIRO
Yet another phase of my life. The arrival of a greatgranddaughter. Beginning to feel old now. Here’s my photo as volunteer of the month at the animal shelter with Odette who was soon adopted. I am also active as a Master Gardener specializing in Adaptive Gardening which helps us all garden regardless of our physical or mental limitations.
gym, and the Riding Master was a Scotsman named ‘Mac’ who was incomprehensible to everyone except the horses. I remember how kind and decent everyone was, and those kindnesses I shall remember all my life. I was telephone pals with Mrs. Miles when she was living in her retirement home south of Milwaukie and, ultimately, spoke at her Services at a Presbyterian Church. Also, I was a pallbearer for Miss Landry at Mt. Scott in about 2007 or so.
1966 KATHERINE KARAFOTIAS
1962 BOBBI TORANGO SULLIVAN
I returned from my second 10-week teaching tour of India in mid-February. This year the itinerary was quite busy, with 12 cities and four states on the schedule. I was accompanied by my wife Sudevi, who hails from the state of Odisha. The photo was taken at an annual meeting held in New Delhi, India where I was invited to speak at a gathering of 1,000 people from 48 various sanghas, or devotional gatherings. It’s growing season now so we are back on the farm tending the orchards and gardens at our home in Sandy Ridge, North Carolina. It would be great to hear from old friends: sarvadrik@gmail.com. I graduated in 1970 and spent four great years at OES.
I’m still working for VSP and am a world-class customer service rep for the eighth year in a row. I recently had a great adventure in San Francisco. My husband and I went to see Dame Edna, who is one of the funniest persons we’ve seen, and we’ve seen many. She picks out people from the audience to talk to and ask questions. She picked me in the first act. In the second act, she had me and a male audience member come on stage. The antics that followed were outrageously funny. I had so much fun. It was great that people from the audience came up to me afterwards and complimented me on my performance. I may start a new career.
SAVE THE DATE —JUNE 2016—FOR OUR 50TH CLASS REUNION. I’m looking for ideas and some of you to help plan this milestone event. If you’re interested in helping, send me an email at karafotiask@gmail.com. Thanks!
1970 GREG CHURCH aka SARVA-DRIK DAS
1962 SCOT MACEWAN I was one of a relatively small number of boys who were admitted to the Lower School at the downtown St. Helen’s campus in the early 1950s. We boys could only attend through third grade. Our teachers were Mrs. Millie Foland, Mrs. Virginia Miles, and Miss Edith Landry. Mrs. Roy taught us Art, Madame Wolfson taught us French, ‘Dorrie’ taught
Greg Church aka Sarva-Drik Das ’70 speaking in New Delhi, India Summe r 2015
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Class Notes 1975 NEAL GOREN I am happy to be celebrating my 15th season at the helm of the company I founded: Gotham Chamber Opera in New York City (gothamchamberopera.org). I am also happy to be celebrating the third anniversary of my wedding to Lewis Jacobsen on May 20.
1979 BETH URSIN I am still working at Willamette University MBA, but am now the Assistant Dean and Director of Career Management. My team works with students in our fulltime and working professional programs in Salem and Portland to help them find successful employment. I also manage our internship for credit program and co-manage our international study trips. Still married to Mark (contract manager for Providence
in Oregon) after more than 30 years, have two grown children (Kristina, 28, working at Nike in business continuity and Alex, 26, an engineer working this year on consumer electronics production in China for Utensile). I look forward to reconnecting with my OES family.
1989 DANIELA BROD The class of 1989 gathered on October 4, 2014 in my back yard for dinner and laughing around the campfire as they shared memories from high school. In true OES form, we all learned something new as we heard stories—some for the first time. We think we broke a record with more than 40 in attendance. If you want to be in touch for the next one, find me on Facebook.
Harriet, daughter of Allison Winningstad ’97 Leina, front, and Étienne, children of Jordan Elliott ’97
KATHLEEN DEHEN MARTIN Life with a 10-year-old, Eleanor, and an eight-year-old, Victoria, is very busy but tons of fun and excitement. We continue to divide our time between Portland and Hood River. We spend a lot of time biking and skiing as a family. I am still at Charter Communications in Human Resources. And John is an engineer at Blount.
1991 ELIZABETH COOPER
Kathleen Dehen Martin ’89 and her family
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After 15 years as an architect in professional practice, 13 years with the same office and nine years as a partner, I have accepted a position as a research professor at the University of Idaho Integrated Design Lab (IDL) in Boise. I will also be taking on the role as the Interim Director during the search. The IDL is dedicated to the development of high performance energy efficient buildings through research, education, and outreach efforts with students, owners, and professional design and construction teams. I’m still enjoying Boise with all of the great running, skiing, and cool culture.
1994 TODD CRAWFORD After being detailed to the White House in 2014, where I worked in the European Affairs Directorate of the National Security Council, I returned to the State Department and depart in July for three years at the U.S. Embassy to Vatican City. I look forward to living in the Eternal City and experiencing first-hand the Italian way of life. Look me up if your travels take you through Rome!
1997 JORDAN ELLIOTT Leina, one-and-a-half, and Étienne, three, are the children of Chloé and Jordan Elliott ’97. As the picture above shows, they particularly enjoy time playing at the park and eating snacks on the go!
ALLISON WINNINGSTAD My husband Mike Dennis and I welcomed Harriet Iona Dennis on April 23. She’s beautiful and happy and healthy, and big brother Leif, two-and-a-half, just adores her!
Class of 1989 www. o e s. e d u
Walter Alexander, son of Jeff Gundle ’98
1998 JEFF GUNDLE Jeff Gundle and Vanessa Ellis welcomed their first child, Walter Alexander Gundle on September 18, 2014. Walter’s hobbies are crawling, making cute noises, and standing up. His favorite superhero is Dad and his goals are walking, talking, and going to school one day (at OES, of course!). They currently live in Maui, but are planning on relocating to Portland soon. Walter loves to visit his Grandma at work, so watch out for him around campus next year!
1999 NICOLE SEELEY READ Canby School District is pleased to announce the November Canby Area Recognition of Excellence (C.A.R.E.) Award recipient, Nicole Read, English Language Development Teacher at NinetyOne School. Mrs. Read was presented with the award at the November 20 Board Meeting and recognized for her exemplary work with students, their parents, and staff. Please join the Canby School District Board of Directors and Canby School District Staff in congratulating Mrs. Read for a job well done!
Quinn,daughter son of Devin Huseby ’00, and Harriet, of Allison WNicole Aila, daughter of Will Meade ’00
in transpersonal counseling psychology and running the Flat Irons. I have a private therapy practice in close-in South East (PortlandHolisticTherapy.com) and work part-time at the Bud Clark Commons counseling residents with a history of mental illness, addiction, and homelessness. I would love to connect with alums in the area.
2000 WILL MEADE and DEVIN HUSEBY Will and Devin have been great friends since fifth grade at OES, both were in each other’s weddings, and both had their first children within a few months of each other. Will Meade and Holly Smith’s daughter, Aila Meade, was born January 1 in Los Angeles, California. Shana and Devin Huseby’s son, Quinn, was born February 23 in Ashland, Oregon.
Robert Tyler, son of Kenny Gundle ’01
2001 KENNY GUNDLE
2005 ANDREW BENTON
Kenny Gundle and his wife Megan welcomed Robert Tyler Gundle on February 7, 2015. The family will be leaving Seattle this summer after Kenny finishes his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Washington and will spend a year in Toronto for a musculoskeletal oncology fellowship.
I am living in London, working as an Account Director for AppNexus, an Advertising Technology company headquartered in NYC. I split my work life between London and Paris and when not working, enjoy traveling throughout Europe.
2004 KIRSTEN MIDURA I was recently awarded a Fellowship to install small-scale renewable energy systems in rural Nicaragua. I will be working with the Portland-based nonprofit Green Empowerment, the local Nicaraguan non-profit AsoFenix, and HDR, Inc., a U.S.-based engineering firm. If you would like to follow my adventures in Central America, my Instagram and Twitter handles are @miduratravels. I am also starting a travel blog—you can follow it at www.miduratravels.com.
2006 KAHORI SUGIYAMA I went back to Japan after graduating from U of O and started working in a shipping company performing jobs related to seafarers. Though I enjoyed my job and living close to my family, I guess my passion for Spanish and Latin America never went away. Last year, I traveled to Peru, and it made me really want to live in a Spanish-speaking country. I took some exams for a job to work in a Japanese embassy, and was chosen for the Embassy of Japan in Chile! I’m not a diplomat but my job is to take care of visitors. I’m hoping to go back to Portland next year for the 10-year class reunion. I hope I have a chance to visit OES!
1999 RYAN ZAKOVICS I’m happily living back in PDX after four years in Boulder completing graduate school
Nicole Seeley Read ‘99
Kahori Sugiyama ‘06 with friends from cueca classes Summe r 2015
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Class Notes
Alex Truax ’07 in New York City with two of his former students
2007 ALEX TRUAX I’m ecstatic to be returning to Oregon this summer to carry on the work I started with Teach For America four years ago. After three years of teaching in low-income communities in New York City, I joined TFA’s Recruitment Team and spent the past year recruiting college students in upstate New York to enter the classroom. Once I move back to Portland, I will be managing TFA’s recruitment efforts at the University of Oregon and Brigham Young University.
graduating in July, I will study and sit for an exam that will certify me as a Behavior Analyst in November. Currently, I’m working as an in-home therapist doing early intervention ABA at a small agency called Sum of Learning. I’m very passionate about my work with the autism population. My husband Mike and I celebrated our two-year wedding anniversary this past January and are looking forward to traveling more once I’m done with school.
2008 CAITLIN DONOVAN FISH I am finishing up my one-year intensive graduate program at the University of Washington in the Special Education Department. I have been studying Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a therapy treatment for children with autism and other developmental delays. After
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Caitlin Donovan Fish ‘08
Colin MacLean ’08
2008 COLIN MACLEAN After completing my bachelor’s degree in Nanotechnology from the University of Leeds in England, I went on to earn my master’s degree in High Performance Computing at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. I wrote a program to search the human genome for indications of recent natural selection using supercomputers for my master’s thesis. I have continued to collaborate on this project with my former project supervisors after graduation. We have already published once based on my algorithm redesign and are now working toward a second publication. I graduated last November and have since moved back to Portland.
Meital Singer ’08 with Art Ward
2008 MEITAL SINGER Hello to all my OESian friends! After several years in public radio, including a one-year stint at a show in D.C. called Interfaith Voices, I’ve returned to another one of my passions: linguistics. I’m halfway through a master’s program at Brandeis University in computational linguistics, an area of computer science, and this summer I’m working at a startup in Boston and focusing on speech recognition. I would love to reconnect with other OESians in Boston! www. o e s. e d u
We Remember 2008 ROBYN WOLOCHOW After four years at Washington University in St. Louis, and three years of grad school at the University of Michigan, my architectural education is now, finally, coming to an end. At the end of April, I presented my final thesis project—a Hyperloop Transportation Hub in Cleveland, Ohio—before graduating the first weekend in May with my Master of Architecture. I am currently deciding between a few opportunities in either Chicago or Toronto, but am still hopeful that sometime in the future my career will bring me back to the Pacific Northwest. I’m looking forward to finally being finished with school and taking the next step!
2009 ROGER MILLER Facebook hired me as a content curator, meaning I will be tasked with writing headlines for trending stories and topics, and finding high-quality content to promote. While this job will be a departure from traditional reporting, I am excited to be in a position where I can help promote great journalism to millions of people around the world.
2011 CHARLY CHAMBERS I recently joined the William Morris Endeavor Entertainment (WME) team as a floater working in the mailroom and on desks when they need cover. Recently I worked on sports agent Jill Smoller’s desk. It’s a full-time job and I have been learning lots. There have been lots of hours spent in the basement mailroom so far. I’m done at UCSB, and I’m walking with my class in June.
1922 ELIZABETH ‘BETTY’ LEADBETTER MEIER Elizabeth “Betty” Leadbetter Meier passed away peacefully at home on December 2, 2014, in Portland, at the age of 110. She was the granddaughter of Henry L. Pittock. Betty, the youngest of four children, was born in Portland on July 26, 1904, to Caroline and Frederick Leadbetter. She grew up in Portland, attending Miss Catlin’s School, St. Helen’s Hall and, later, boarding school at The Santa Barbara Girls School, followed by two years in Paris. In 1928, she married Ambrose M. Cronin Jr. They had six children, Elizabeth Noyes, Ambrose Cronin III (Anne), Dorothy Schoonmaker, Frederick Cronin, Sally Pope (Guy) and Patrick Cronin (Pris). Ambrose Jr. was killed Dec. 21, 1947, in the Oregon Journal helicopter crash. In 1958, she married Jack L. Meier who passed away in 1988. Her stepson, Jim Meier (Mary) and family survive him. Betty is survived by her children; stepson; 24 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She was loved and adored by all who knew her. In the last years of her life, Betty would say, “I think God forgot me.” Lucky for us, he gave her 110 extraordinary years.
1928 ELIZABETH “BETTS” HAWKINS CUSTER Elizabeth “Betts” Hawkins Custer, age 104, passed away March 1, 2015. She was a prominent supporter of research in mental health and of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation since its inception. Elizabeth and her late husband, Rear Admiral Ben Scott Custer (USN retired)
were early leaders in the cause of improving life and prospects for people suffering from mental illness. She moved from her leadership in facilitating patient support at the New York State Psychiatric Institute which had begun in 1970, to playing a key role in forming the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill in 1979. She participated in the formation of the New York State Chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and served on its board of directors and committees until her retirement from these responsibilities at the age of 100 in 2010. Her leadership was honored by this organization on the occasion of her 100th birthday with a Lifetime Achievement Award presented at the Annual Gala Research Awards Dinner.
1941 JANE DEACON CURRY Jane Deacon Curry, age 92, of Tuscaloosa, passed away December 6, 2014, at Hospice of West Alabama. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walker Curry; sister, Nancy Keator; parents, Richard Victor Carleson and Mildred Ellis Deacon. Jane was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and moved to Oregon at an early age. She graduated high school in Portland, Oregon and then graduated from St. Helen’s Hall Junior College. She met her husband, Tuscaloosa native Lieutenant Commander Walker Curry, in 1946 and moved to Alabama with him. Jane was a dedicated mother and grandmother, accomplished bridge player, and avid tennis fan. She was a dedicated church leader at First United Methodist Church as well as an active volunteer in many activities which included: Girl Scouts, Children’s Hands on
Museum (CHOM), United Way, Adult Literacy Council, Tuscaloosa Music Guild, and soup kitchen. Jane was a founding member of The Muses Study Club as well an active Pilot Club member. Jane had a thirst for learning and particular passion for the English language. She maintained her lucidity and sense of humor throughout her final days.
1943 IRENE EDITH FEINSTEIN ARRON Irene, 92, was born in Portland, Oregon on July 17, 1922 and passed away, surrounded by her loving family, on January 15, 2015. Her parents, Israel and Leah Feinstein, were immigrants from Lithuania who settled in Portland and were so grateful to raise their daughter and son, Melvin, in this country. Irene attended Shattuck Elementary School, Lincoln High School, and St. Helen’s Hall Jr. College. Beautiful, witty, smart, and talented, she taught piano lessons during and after high school; designed and sewed apparel for herself, her children, and even her daughters’ dolls; was Sweetheart of AZA and nominated for Rose Festival Princess by her high school. After one year of college, she wanted to support the war effort and did administrative work at the shipyard and sold War Bonds at Meier & Frank. Irene married her sweetheart, Eugene Arron, from Seattle, in 1944. Irene’s greatest joy in life was her family. She was a member of Temple De Hirsch Sinai and a founding member of Temple B’nai Torah; a lifetime member of Hadassah; and a member of the Women’s University Club. She supported many charities throughout her life.
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We Remember 1944 JOAN C. MORRIS Born to Wilson B. and Marjorie (Campbell) Coffey in Eugene, Oregon, Joan was raised in Portland, Oregon and attended St. Helen’s Hall, Lincoln High School, and Oregon State University. She married Dr. David A. Morris III in March of 1946 in Eugene, Oregon and spent 16 years in Cottage Grove where Joan was active in the community and created a very successful Christmas store for the Episcopal Church. In 1966, Joan and David moved their family to Carmel Valley, California where David opened a medical office and Joan was active with Little League, sailing, and volunteered in numerous community organizations. She appreciated the many adventures and the extensive world travels she shared with family and friends. In 1978, Joan started her own business, The Holly Berry in The Barnyard, a well-known Christmas shop with loyal patrons from all over the world. Settling in Pacific Grove in 1980, Joan loved her community and worked civically to improve her city. For years she volunteered her creative talents to Operation Yellow Ribbon, making hundreds of cards included in the care packages for American troops overseas. Joan was a long-time, active member of Monterey Bay Republican Women Federated.
1945 PATRICIA WALKER ACKERMAN Patricia Walker Ackerman passed away peacefully at her home on January 15, 2015. Patty (or Pat) was born May 17, 1928 in Corvallis, Oregon. After graduating from St. Helen’s Hall in 1945, she moved to Seattle to attend
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the University of Washington. She joined the Tri-Delta sorority house where she met Wally Ackerman, the live-in houseboy. Patty and Wally were married on August 8, 1948. They had two sons, Mark born in 1954 and Scott in 1957. Sadly, Scott Paul succumbed to cancer in 1962. Heidi was adopted in 1963. Patty was very supportive of Wally when he decided to open his own photography studio in 1953. She helped him part-time while raising their children, then more full-time before they both retired in 1992. Patty was involved in the Children’s Orthopedic Hospital Guild, UW and Tri-Delta Alumnae associations, Seattle Yacht Club, and St. Stephens Parish. After their retirement Patty and Wally spent time traveling and going on road rallies in Wally’s Fiat Spyder.
1951 GERALDINE LEE SCHWAB Geraldine “Geri” Lee Schwab was born May 27, 1934, and passed away March 17, 2014. Geri was a caring Christian woman who loved the Lord and held fast to her morals and values. She was always kind to those less fortunate and quick to help those in need. Geri attended Roosevelt High School from 1948 to 1950 and graduated from St. Helen’s Hall the following year. In June 1953, she married Charles Schwab, who preceded her in death in 2002. Geri was baptized on March 15, 2005. She was a homemaker the majority of her life and is survived by her children, Charles Schwab Jr., Cynthia Tutt, Theresa Rodriguez, and Joseph Schwab; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
1956 MARCIA MONETTE OLSEN KINYON Marcia was born August 1, 1938, in Goldendale, Washington, the second daughter of Natalie Lawler and Gordon Olsen. She spent her earliest years there, later moving to Portland, where she was raised by her grandparents, George and Nell Lawler. She attended school at St. Helen’s Hall, and then went on to Portland State University where she met her husband of 55 years, John Kinyon. They were married in 1959 and resided in Portland, where they raised their five children. Marcia worked for both the Legacy and Providence health care systems. Marcia is survived by her husband, John; sister, Georgia Woods; daughters, Jodie Rhinevault and Wendy Porterfield (Loren); sons, David (Patty) and Russell (Kristina); and grandchildren, Sawyer and Gillian Rhinevault and Austin and Eli Porterfield. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Darcie; and grandson, Samuel.
1962 JANICE LYNN (PARKER) BARNETTE Janice Lynn (Parker) Barnette of Riverside, CA, passed away November 20, 2014, of complications from cancer. She conquered breast cancer 21 years ago and continued the fight for the last five years. Janice was born January 20, 1944 in Newport, Oregon to Gladys V. and Frank O. Parker. She spent her childhood in Newport until she left to go to high school at St. Helen’s Hall in Portland. Janice married her husband Phillip, also of Newport, while attending Oregon State University. She left school to take care of her husband and young son. Her husband’s career took
them from Washington to Cressona and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and finally to Rowland Heights, California. In 2000 they moved to Riverside to be closer to family. She actively cooked, crafted, scrapbooked, and explored her genealogy. Janice was also very active in P.E.O. in Oregon, Pennsylvania, and California. Janice was preceded in death by her brother, parents, and husband Phil. She is survived by son, Phil, and his wife Janet, and grandchildren Molly, Toby, and Ian of Utah; daughter, Lynne, and husband Scott, and grandchildren Rebecca, Ryan, and Sam of Riverside.
FACULTY DOROTHY JANE NESTELLE Dorothy Jane Nestelle, 93, passed away on Monday, April 28, 2014. She was born December 23, 1920, to the late Claude and Ellen Lilly in Portland, Oregon. She graduated from Grant High School and received her college degree from Oregon State University in 1943, where she met her true love, Frederick H. Nestelle. They married on May 20, 1944 in Fort Sill, Oklahoma where Fred was stationed with the Army. Dorothy taught school at St. Helens Hall and later at Providence Montessori School until her retirement in 1979. She was passionate about making a difference in the lives of her students and kept in contact with many of them after her retirement. She was an active member of the Enophelets Club from the Telephone Company, where she had previously worked and where she developed lifelong friends. Dorothy is survived by her three daughters, Claudia Scott, Laurie Gardner (Terry), Oregon, and Maradee Strong (Don). She is also survived by seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. www. o e s. e d u
FACULTY GERRI GENE HAYES Gerri Gene Hayes, age 73, passed away December 22, 2014, in Portland, surrounded by family. Gerri is survived by her brother, John Bartz; children, Thom Hayes ’84, Justin Hayes ’87 (Cyndi) and Courtney Hayes-Lattin ’89 (Brandon); and grandchildren, Thomas Cool ’09, Harper Hayes ’14, Madison and Bridger Hayes-Lattin and Riley and Kellan Hayes. Born July 10, 1941, in Pocatello, Idaho, to Helen and Bill Bartz, Gerri graduated from Pocatello High School with the Class of ’59, and attended Colorado College and the University of California at Berkeley before her marriage to T. David Hayes, MD in 1963. While he finished medical school, Gerri earned her baccalaureate degree from Sophie Newcomb College and taught English in New Orleans. She enjoyed three years living in Germany with David and their young children while he completed military service in the U.S. Army before returning to the Pacific Northwest. Gerri taught English to a generation of seventh and eighth graders at Oregon Episcopal School (tempus fugit). At the time of the Mt. Hood accident, Gerri was assigned to be the main contact person for the families of the climbers. She served in this critical role with characteristic sensitivity, understanding, and grace. Her contributions to OES over the years as a beloved faculty member as well as during this difficult time in the school’s history will not be forgotten.
TRUSTEE C. EDWARD “ED”TAYLOR An OES trustee from 2003–09, Ed Taylor passed away peacefully on May 11, 2015. The steady governance and philanthropic support that Ed provided made a difference to OES and he will be missed. He was a strong advocate for a well-balanced curriculum with a good foundation in science and technology. Ed’s beloved wife, Peggy, passed away in 2010. Ed was a member of the parish of St. John the Baptist and was active in the Episcopal Church since 1950. He and his wife Peggy had three children and many grandchildren. He served as an aviation navigator in World War II, then earned a master’s degree and doctorate from the Institute of Paper Science and Technology. Ed worked in various pulp, paper, and forest products industry positions from superintendent to corporate management before his retirement in 1991.
Later returning to school to complete a Master of Social Work degree at Portland State University, Gerri worked in grief counseling and with writing therapy groups. She and David divorced in 1996. In retirement, Gerri enjoyed writing and volunteering as a docent at the Portland Art Museum. A former student of Gerri’s, Chris Harris ’89, shared this remembrance in an online guestbook celebrating her life: “Gerri Hayes was an inspiration in my life, one of those rare teachers who brought out more in me than I thought I had, and taught me how much difference a caring, patient, loving educator can make in a life. I have tried to live up to her example in my own teaching life, and when I struggle to find the energy to keep going, I often think of the way she laughed off difficulty and kept moving forward. She made a difference in my life, and I am richer for knowing her.” Gerri devoted her life to her family, many dear friends, working with young people and to her love of the arts. Daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend, Gerri will be remembered by those she touched as a treasure of light, love, generosity and kindness. In memory of Gerri, her family asks that you “shower the people you love with love.”
LET’S GET SOCIAL •K eep up with OES Alumni. facebook.com/oes.alumni @OESalumni • Friend OES and get Facebook updates. facebook.com/oregon.episcopal • Follow on Twitter for news. @oregonepiscopal @MoCopelandOES @OESheadUS • Subscribe to OES videos. youtube.com/OESTV
OES SCHOOL STORE
Open Mon– Fri (during school year) • 2– 4 pm Now in Morris House, downstairs. Use Admissions entrance. Shop 24/7 at www.oes.edu/store Summe r 2015
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Hallways
Bishop Dagwell Hall Endures in History and Importance
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ifty years ago marked a historic time for the school in a the campus. In 1968 the two schools took on an umbrella number of ways. The St. Helen’s Hall Class of 1965 was name of “Oregon Episcopal Schools, St. Helen’s Hall, and the first group of students to graduate from the Nicol Bishop Dagwell Hall.” In 1970 it was decided the two would Road campus. St. Helen’s Hall was also busily preparing benefit more by becoming co-educational. They were still for a new companion school that would open in the fall, operated as separate schools until 1973 when diplomas began Bishop Dagwell Hall. Boys had always been a part bearing the OES moniker that we know today. of St. Helen’s Hall, but were only admitted to Lower The 1970s era mandate of co-education for DH•OES School. This new vision expanded boys’ education on male and female students forever changed •B H campus, and for the first time, male students in the school, but Bishop Dagwell Hall grades seven through 12 would also benefit from endures in small and big ways throughout the mission, history, and traditions of “The Hall.” OES: Along with the sustained impact and Bishop Dagwell Hall was named after support of our Bishop Dagwell Hall alumni Benjamin Dunlap Dagwell who was the fifth on the school, the main building structure YEARS Bishop of Oregon, a is still used as an academic building, the O O N key benefactor of the same boys’ dorms continue to support our R NICOL school, and a man who was school operations teams, and each year a senior renowned for his intelligence boy who has evidenced qualities befitting Bishop and life of service. From the beginning, Dagwell is honored with the Bishop Dagwell Hall award. Bishop Dagwell Hall and its relation Though the campus, curricula, and culture of a school to its sister school, St. Helen’s Hall, will change over time to meet the needs of the present called for coordinated rather than and safeguard the legacy of our future, it is important our co-educational education. It was past endures and continues to make an impact. To the intended that two Middle and Upper students, faculty, staff, and parents of Bishop Dagwell Hall, Schools would live side-by-side on we thank you for this important chapter in our history. Above: Benjamin Dunlap Dagwell, the fifth Bishop of Oregon Graduates of Bishop Dagwell Hall gathered for a ceremony outside Morris House on the Nicol Road campus.
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Open Up The Campaign for OES
“We asked our faculty to think about how we want to teach today, five years from now, and 20 years from now. Their big ideas define our vision for the new Lower School, and we couldn’t be more excited to see it realized.” —David Lowell, head of Lower School
Imagining a New Lower School
“Every gift makes a difference and counts as a positive vote for the future of OES and its students. For our alumni community, all gifts to the new Lower School will be matched by three alumni donors dollar for dollar.” — Evan Roberts ’88, Campaign Vice Chair
“Now we have everything in place to make this transformation happen… a great head of school, a strong board, fabulous faculty, and most importantly, curious students.” — Estelle Kelley ’78, Campaign Chair
Open Up The Campaign for OES
With a goal of $16.5 million, Open Up: The Campaign for OES is an opportunity for alumni, parents of alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends to support the first bold step in our campus master plan to open up possibilities in every area of the campus and to invest in exceptional students who, strengthened by their education, hold the promise to transform the world.
Help Us Open Up.
Make an investment in the kind of education that encourages curiosity and keeps minds open. Invest in OES. To learn more or to make a gift, please contact us:
(503) 416-9444 • campaign@oes.edu www.oes.edu/campaign
VIEW OF LIBRARY OPENING TO DIVISION COMMONS SCIENCE CLASSROOM
“This is the most ambitious school-wide fundraising effort in OES history. However, it’s not about a building. It’s about this community. It’s about the generations of people OES has educated in the past and the generations that OES will educate in the future,” says Board of Trustees President Kate Lieber. “It’s about what this school means to us, to the community at large, and most importantly, to our children.”
VIEW OF DINING SPACE DURING A REHEARSAL
VIEW OF 1ST AND 2ND GRADE AFFINITY COMMONS
VIEW OF A CLASSROOM SPACE
C OM I FA L NG 2016L
Please send OES the new mailing address if the addressee has established a new permanent residence. You may request an additional copy for yourself or for another person you think will enjoy it. Call 503-768-3153 or email development@oes.edu. Thank you.
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Permit No. 334 Portland, OR
open
PAID
OREGON EPISCOPAL SCHOOL 6300 SW Nicol Road Por tland, OR 97223 503-246-7771 • www.oes.edu
FALL OPEN HOUSES SAVE THE DATES
✓LOWER SCHOOL
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015 • 6–8 pm Grades Pre-Kindergarten–5 (Parents) Parents will enjoy many opportunities to engage classroom teachers, specialists, and administrators.
SCHOOL/UPPER SCHOOL ✓MIDDLE Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015 • 1–4 pm Grades 6–12 (Parents and Students) Families interested in Grades 6–12 will be treated to mini-classes, campus tours, and an opportunity to meet our faculty.
For more information, contact the Admissions Office • 503-768-3115 • admit@oes.edu