Carolina Friends School
The Alumni Issue Where Are They And What Are They Doing?
Our Most Magical Issue Ever
Josh Lozoff (‘89) (pictured right) logged almost 200 magic performances in 2010, from Colorado to New York, and studied and performed magic in India earlier this year. Learn more at www.deep-magic.com. Flip through this W&T (looking in the upper right-hand corner) to see Josh performing a coin trick. You can watch it on video at www.cfsnc.org/Summer2011.
Issue II 2011
From The Principal
Welcome to the Alumni Issue
When I served as the Upper School college counselor here in the early 2000s, I loved talking with admission officers about who they would be getting when they accepted CFS applicants: young people who had been challenged to think critically; who had a sense of empowerment because their voices had been heard respectfully, in the classroom and out; who brought a genuine sense of engagement rather than entitlement to their interactions with other communities. What a gift to their colleges, what a gift to the world. This alumni-focused issue of We & Thee, our longest ever, gives you glimpses into just a handful of the amazing people who’ve called CFS home. Enjoy!
Anthony L. Clay, Editor
What Should We Expect? by Mike Hanas, Principal
In an essay titled “Character As the Aim of Education,” University of Missouri/St. Louis professor David Light Shields argues that “We have too often equated excellence of education with the quantity of the content learned, rather than with the quality of the character the person develops.” At CFS we should (and do!) expect much more. Shields goes on to say that “The goal of education is not acquiring knowledge alone, but developing the dispositions to see and use knowledge in effective and ethical ways. When we focus on the character of the learner . . . we address what’s likely to be sustained through time and circumstance.” He sees the true purpose of education as the development of intellectual, moral, civic, and performance character in students, and the collective character of the school. Specifically, he sees schools develop the necessary culture of character in four parts: • To develop intellectual character, a school needs a culture of thinking. • To develop moral character, it needs a
culture of love and justice. • To develop civic character, it needs a culture of service and engagement. • To develop performance character, it needs a culture of quality and excellence. “Together,” says Shields, “the four forms of personal character define what it means to be a competent, ethical, engaged, and effective adult member of society.” On the heels of our Meeting for Worship with Attention to the Graduating Class of 2011 and a Reunion of Alumni of the 1970s, I find myself both encouraged and inspired by our most recent and most experienced alums. They share experiences, even if across nearly 40 years, of a CFS culture distinguished by its—no, check that, by our—commitment to critical and creative thinking, to the pursuit of love and justice, to touchstone experiences of service, as well as a sense of ownership that amplifies engagement, and to the continuous revelation of truth that animates our attention to quality of performance and excellence in character. In this and the next issue of We & Thee, we’ll focus attention on CFS alums engaged in work and study in a wide range of fields. We hope you’ll join us in reading their stories and affirming the ways in which they are making manifest the CFS commitment to “Education for Action” in order to change the world. We should expect no less!
CFS Principal Mike Hanas, arriving in style, at this year’s Meeting for Graduation.
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Our Newest Future Alums by Kathleen Davidson, Director of Admission In the absence of a crystal ball (something that would be might handy in an Admission Office), it’s fun to imagine what paths our 97 newest students will explore when they depart as CFS alums in 2015, 2019, 2023, or even 2026. As for the youngest students, I won’t suggest that those joining us for Early and Lower School will take their passion for dinosaurs into paleontology, their love of Legos into architecture or engineering, their devotion to Mother Earth into environmental science, or their power of persuasion into government or law. But of course any of those things might occur. And rest assured that these young students are ready to engage actively, to ask questions, and to make their voices heard at their new school. In our interviews with prospective CFS parents, we hear a lot about energetic young students who love to inquire, explore, collaborate, and let their lights shine. Speculation becomes more intriguing when considering the interests and accomplishments of our new Middle and Upper School students, especially in light of what
has drawn them to Carolina Friends. What a talented group of students! What I probably hear most often is that these students are eager for a challenge. Many of them love to debate, so they’re looking forward to small classes that devote a lot of time to discussion. Several envision teaching classes themselves before they leave CFS. Two new Upper School students have participated in the Model United Nations program. Several love to travel and have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit other countries. At least two students are keenly interested in the history of protest movements. These students want to investigate and experiment, too. Several Middle and Upper School students are highly interested in scientific exploration, whether that means genetics, environmental science, biology, physical science, or horticulture. One student has participated in an archaeological dig; another has helped to build a greenhouse. We have a Ham radio aficionado and a couple of accomplished fishermen. A young letterboxer has hosted a conference for fans of
this hobby/quest that involves orienteering and artistry skills and that can take participants to other states and countries. Several artists will be joining us, and their media range from Manga to design to video production. We welcome many voracious readers and dedicated writers. There is plenty of dramatic and musical talent and ambition in this group, and our innovative dance program always draws students eager to explore this avenue during their time at CFS. Our newest students have already engaged in many kinds of service learning, which they’re glad to continue here. Many are interested in participating in interscholastic athletics. New families have moved from Arizona, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and South Africa. Some of our new students are originally from China, Denmark, Germany, India, and Sweden. So if it’s too soon to predict career paths, the time is just right to say that we’re delighted to welcome a wonderful group of students to Carolina Friends School this fall. We’re glad to have their parents too!
The Class of 2007, Four Years Out By Elise London, College Counselor
Many of the members of the CFS Class of 2007 recently graduated from college
Duke,
and
Guilford,
to
American
University, Smith, and Tufts.
off to graduate school, one to Duke Law, another to a PhD program in Cell Biology
with degrees from many disciplines, no
While many of these most recent col-
at the University of Pennsylvania, and
surprise given their work at Carolina
lege alums are still finalizing their future
another to a graduate program in Civil
Friends School. These alums have earned
plans, several have embarked on exciting
Engineering at Stanford. Regardless of
degrees in Biology, Civil Engineering,
internships (one at the Warner Music
whether their future careers are already
Comparative Literature, Design, History,
Group in LA) or are involved in volunteer
clear, we are certain that our graduates
International Studies, Performance, and
programs like CityYear. Several have
from the Class of 2007 are ready to
more, from schools ranging from the
already decided that their education will
embark on a life’s journey to change the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
not end with a Bachelor’s degree and are
world. We look forward to hearing more.
Carolina Friends School 3
Congratulations, Class of 2011!
The Members of the CFS Class of 2011 On Saturday, June 11, Carolina Friends School gathered in the gym for a Meeting for Worship with Attention to Graduation, centered on the 41 students in the Class of 2011. After the Meeting during which many meaningful mes sages were shared with the group, each student received a diploma and a hug from Principal Mike Hanas and Upper School Head Teacher Carrie Huff. After a standing ovation, hugs were exchanged all ‘round.
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Emma Louise Armstrong-Carter Sarah Ann Baldwin Joseph Matthew Bishop Rebecca Galen Wilson Bland Miles MacCaull Bonsignore Kathleen Tyler Clark Marnie Catherine Cozzens Brynna Arden Crockett Natalie Ann Davis Neal Patrick Dempsey Kathryn Nettie Diamant Lenore Marie Edwards Daniel Colm Fields Alison Paige Footman Samantha Dana Phillips Garlock Alexander Thomas Gilligan Molly Amelia Weston Halberstadt Tamsen Moriah Coyle Hall Catherine Elizabeth Peach Haviland Mariah McCoy Hayes Daniel Lee Jubelirer
Alexander Eugene Kenan Joseph Allyn MacPhail Courtney Afreya Munroe Micah John Papanikolas Robert Daniel Pungello Travis William Rexrode Reut Ringel Michael Kenneth Rozier Khalid Heru Hasheem Salim Christopher Jonathan StevensBrown Emma Lucia Trisolini Katharine Conrad Ventners Desmond Jerrod Watson Jonas Jeffrey Wells Alyssa Veronica Whitney Eric Nohl Whittier Ariel Rebecca Wolf Sarah Beth Yanuck Fareeda M. Zikry Julia Grace Zoltners
The Colleges that the Class of 2011 Are Attending Agnes Scott College American University (2) Bryn Mawr College Earlham College Eugene Lang College – The New School for the Liberal Arts Georgia Institute of Technology Goucher College (2) Hampshire College Kenyon College Macalester College
Maryland Institute College of Art McGill University Mt. Holyoke College New York University North Carolina State University Northwestern University Oberlin College Peace College Reed College TAAG Academy (postgraduate year) Tufts University
University of Cincinnati – Conservatory of Music University of Colorado (Boulder) University of Georgia (Athens) UNC – Asheville UNC – Chapel Hill (8) UNC – Wilmington Vassar College Warren Wilson College Winston-Salem State University
Other Colleges Offering Admission to Members of the Class of 2011 Appalachian State University Bard College Barry University Boston University Butler University Carleton College Carnegie Mellon University College of William and Mary College of Wooster Columbia College of Chicago Duke University Eastman School of Music Eckerd College Elon University Emerson College Emory & Henry College
Furman University George Washington University Gettysburg College Grinnell College Guilford College Hamilton College Haverford College Hendrix College Indiana University – Bloomington Ithaca College James Madison University Knox College Lewis & Clark College Marymount Manhattan College Montclair State University
The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music Northeastern University Occidental College Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University Rhodes College Ringling College of Art and Design Sarah Lawrence College School of the Museum of Fine Art (Boston) Smith College St Andrews Presbyterian College University of Kansas UNC – Greensboro
University of Puget Sound University of Rochester University of South Carolina – Columbia University of Southern California University of Vermont University of Washington – Seattle Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Wellesley College
Carolina Friends School 5
Absolutely Aubrey
An Interview with dancer and entrepreneur Aubrey Griffith-Zill (‘05)
When were you at CFS? I started at Durham Early School at age 3 and graduated from Upper School in 2005. What teacher(s) do you especially remember? Annie Dwyer and Carrie Huff will forever be significant teachers, mentors, friends, and second mothers to me. I feel very fortunate to have spent so many wonderful years with them. Annie was my introduction to dance, and she has been an inspiration to me. Her unique style of teaching allows students to truly express themselves. She encourages students to look within and explore through natural patterns and the cycle of life. She is a gentle, knowledgeable, kind, dedicated, loving teacher. Learning from a powerful woman and dance teacher like Annie gave me the courage to believe in myself as a dancer, and dance is now my profession. I was also lucky to have been in Carrie’s advisee group. She provided a comfortable safe space and was always willing to listen to me. She encouraged us to reach beyond limitations to see the best within ourselves. What CFS experiences stand out in your memory even now? I have countless joyous life-altering memories. The first that comes to mind was when, during my junior year, I was given the opportunity to teach my own Salsa Dance class, which was nerve wracking but super exciting! I remember the amazing sense of self-confidence, responsibility, and joy that rushed through me during the last day of class when 30+ of my peers danced enthusiastically alongside me. This was one of many CFS opportunities that helped me to deepen my understanding of myself and my place in my community. What is/was your favorite spot on the CFS campus? It’s hard to name only one. I greatly enjoyed the natural setting of the campus and the way nature is incorporated in the curriculum. A few 6 We&Thee/Issue II, 2011
locations that bring back great memories are the Center building, Upper School deck, darkroom, Carrie’s office, and the Middle School girls’ bathroom (aka girls social powwow spot). What educational/professional path have you followed since CFS? I continued my education at Greensboro College and at The University of Tampa. Since then, I have made my profession in dance and dance-related business. I became a certified dance instructor at Fred Astaire. I studied with the Cobo Brothers Dance Company, continuing my Latin dance training and performance skills. After moving to Florida, I worked with various dance groups such as Island Touch Dance Academy, Salsa Caliente, and Bachata Sensation. I also started a company, Arvore Events, with my business partners Aja Estro and Damian Martorana. We organize and co-host dance cruises and events from conception to completion, primarily in the Latin and Ballroom market. This has given me exciting opportunities to travel in the USA, Mexico, and Europe. My next business opportunity came when my current dance partner, Damian Martorana, and I developed RhythmFitness.tv. We have created a program, which we had the pleasure of offering at CFS in the spring, that fuses Ballroom and Latin Dance with cardio fitness—“from the gym floor to the dance floor.” What are you doing now? Currently, through Arvore Events we are involved with Latin and Ballroom dance events worldwide. We handle logistics, from site selection and contract negotiations to event management, and we teach and perform during the event. We’re also continuing to develop RhythmFitness.tv, which offers an exciting variety of programs that focus on the social, physical, mental, and emotional benefits available through experiencing the world of Ballroom and Latin Dance. We are taking our Dance and Wellness program to various
resorts, cruises, and spa destinations worldwide. Our next event will be in August in Boyne Falls, MI where we are co-hosting, with Life Coach Elizabeth Trinkus, The Solace Spa’s Summer Escape Retreat. This is very different from the fast-paced environment of a dance event. After three months of consecutive dance events, I’m sure we will need it! One of the advantages of my work and the structure of our companies is that I have the freedom to travel and don’t need to live in a specific location. I am excited to have started my journey back to NC and eager to dance with my community again. What about your work excites you? Dance teaches discipline, patience, appreciation, adaptation, control, balance, and drive. As a dancer, you are always learning, growing, evolving, transforming; your journey never ends. There is no stopping point, no final destination, only the moment, the movement that brings you bliss. Movement and the art of dance have been among the most significant driving forces in my life. Through dance I have experienced life and joy and have opened my spirit to unexplainable connections with other human beings. If you had 30 seconds to describe CFS what would you say? Friends School is a very special place, a school and community like no other. Imagine a school and community that encourage and make it safe to be yourself, and that give you a chance to explore what fuels your fire. A school where teachers authentically listen, support, and encourage each student, in and outside of the classroom. The structure and philosophy of the school provide a comfortable and non-judging space to be yourself, allowing for honest self-exploration and growth. It very special to hear folks talk about how their school is a place they call home, with a community they call family. To learn more, please visit arvoreevents.com or youtube.com/watch?v=Jl8ErOZ1fo.
Roberts’ Rules An Interview with New York City attorney Glen Roberts (‘86)
When were you at CFS? I was at CFS from kindergarten through high school, graduating in 1986. Fourteen glorious years. Are there teacher(s) whom you especially remember? I remember so many of them, even at my advanced age. I am really grateful to them all. The fact that we were all together on the same campus means that even after I left a particular classroom, the teachers were part of my life. That sense of community is something that I really think was unique. What CFS experiences stand out in your memory even now? Having a class on colonialism during my first year in Upper School was pretty heady stuff for a 14-year-old. That is truly college-level subject matter, and it was certainly a challenge as well as a treat to be able to dive deeply into the life of the late über-colonialist Cecil Rhodes. Also memorable was having gardening as a phys ed class with Henry Walker. Those are two things among many that stick out. More generally, the endless tolerance (or, forbearance) shown by teachers for my smart-aleck mouth and pen was and is much appreciated. What is/was your favorite spot on the CFS campus? Anywhere with pillows that I could sit down. What educational/professional path have you followed since CFS? I studied ancient civilization and religion after CFS at Brown University – in part as an antidote, I must say, to the absence of those sorts of topics from the 1970s-vintage CFS curriculum. I came back to Carolina for law school and then realized I was a yankee at heart and moved to New York City in 1996, where I have been working since. What are you doing now? I have known that I wanted to be a lawyer since I was nine years old (Heaven help me), and as I grew up my vision for professional
satisfaction evolved to conceive of that job as an international business counselor. In 2005, I resolved to “do work that interests me with people I like.” Most people with jobs will tell you that honoring such a mantra is a lot harder than it sounds. I have been lucky in doing so. My work involves finding clients who have interesting business ideas and enabling them to refine and then achieve those ideas. These people range from the proverbial “two dudes in a garage” to foreign governments and global financial institutions. What about your work excites you? Pretty much everything about my work excites, except the administrative part of the business. Helping clients do things that others have told them are not possible (usually because of underwhelming reasons like “that isn’t market practice”) is pretty exciting. What are sources of inspiration for the work you do? I know for a fact that being at a Quaker school for so long gave me a deep respect for faith. In college, I studied ancient religion, and as I progressed professionally, I found that many people I knew moved to the Middle East. I have managed to take my interest in religion and turn it into a nice little sub-specialty focused on advising people on how to comply with the restrictions in Islamic law on how money can be spent and earned. The fact that I can read religious texts you would likely find in a college bookstore while helping structure how an investment fund works with its investors is hard to imagine, but that is (a part of) what I do. What in your CFS experiences helped prepare you for your current work? Are there connections you draw between your experiences at CFS and your work or life today? How has your work/life been influenced/shaped by your time at CFS? The most important thing about my CFS experience was its inclusive environment. We had all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds. I learned so much from being
around people who were different than I was, even if (at the time I went to CFS) there was a relatively high percentage of people who were faculty brats like me. I cannot explain how important the emphasis on understanding the perspective of others has been to me. And not only their perspective, but their abilities. I think that has given me a tremendous advantage in life. Looking back now, what do you value most about your CFS education? During my time at CFS there were a number of students with significant educational and developmental challenges. Schools that are designed to support such students more fully have since sprouted locally, but at that time I expect that CFS was the very best place in the Triangle for them. Our teachers must have stretched themselves incredibly to include everyone in the classroom experience, but they certainly did it. I did not understand at the time how much the presence of those students in my learning community impacted me, but I can only hope that they found opportunities for learning and growth during our time together that were half as valuable as what they taught me. If you had 30 seconds to describe CFS, what would you say? The CFS I went to was long on permission, short on restriction. That has probably changed a bit, and some change probably isn’t a bad thing – but even so, CFS is a place where people are empowered to be themselves. And that empowerment allows people to find their true selves much earlier in life than I think most other schools would say they should. And CFS is right to do it the way they do.
Carolina Friends School 7
Biking the Backroads of the South Reflections from 2005 Alumnus Spencer Woodman
Dear moms of thes e boys: You’ve raised kind and thoughtful sons . . . you and they have much to be proud of. (A Facebook messag e from a South Carolinian who met the North Carolina travelers)
Last October, in my industrial Brooklyn neighborhood, I pedaled behind a girl as she was run over by a truck. An 18-wheeler had taken a right turn without looking, jackknifing its trailer over her. Having never before seen something like this, I spent the rest of my day preoccupied with strange new impressions on things. To save lives, people ought to bike less, I thought. Or at least to save my life, I won’t bike anymore. Easier to take mass transit, anyway. And just like that, I was scared of biking. This couldn’t have come at a worse time. I had just promised my brother, Thad, and my best friend, Sam Huff (‘05), that I’d participate in a 1,500-mile bike tour of the South the following spring. Already being a bluegrass trio, we planned to haul our instruments (guitar, banjo and mandolin) with us and play all along the way to New Orleans. There was no backing out of it for me. The trip was more than a commitment—it was a shared vision between us, something that felt invaluable and inviolable. I stayed off of my bike until March, when I returned to North Carolina to prepare for the trip. During the intervening months, I had spent hours planning and discussing the trip, often with excitement, always with some unvoiced distress. I wasn’t going to bring the whole trip down because of an illogical fear. Instead, I would not think too much about the biking aspect of the bike trip, and push on with the thing. In Hillsborough, to practice for the tour, I got on my bike and rode it around neighbor8 We&Thee/Issue II, 2011
hood streets. Not so bad. Then eased on to country roads. Soon, I was comfortable with a popular 18-mile road-bike loop from Hillsborough to Efland and back. To tame my bike-phobia, I told myself that the whole trip would be like these 18 miles of safe backcountry roads, as long I made the case to stay off major roads with bad truck traffic. For the first week of the trip, the roads were not so scary. North Carolina, it turns out, has pretty fancy country roads that are quite nice to bike on. Crossing into South Carolina, things changed. The state’s DOT budget relative to ours was clear at the border: our smooth pavement gave way to jagged, unlined tar-and-gravel. There was a “Leaving North Carolina” sign, but no sign to welcome us. Worse was the discovery that back roads in South Carolina do not cross rivers. Byways come to a dead end before hitting water, and start again on the opposite bank. To get across rivers in South Carolina, cyclists must ride on major roadways with heavy traffic, high speed limits, and lots of trucks – just the sort of roads I was determined to avoid. These bridge crossings were awful on my psyche, but when there wasn’t a river to cross, we managed to cling to the smallest, most out-of-the-way country roads. These roads, with their unmaintained pavement and incessant zigzags, were the least efficient way we could have travelled, but had few cars. We quickly discovered that it was easier to make friends on these backest-of-the-back
roads. People had to ask what the heck we were doing in their neck of the woods, and conversations started. People began to take us in. We played a show in a hunting lodge for a large family of farmers, the Darby family on Darby Road outside Chester, South Carolina. The Blair family of Blair, South Carolina, took us in and we played for their small community on a dogwood-lined front porch. We were served large Southern breakfasts and pressured into finishing every last bite. Further on, a family that ran a restaurant specializing in grits gave us room and lots of board. The tiny roads that followed in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana brought us countless more surprises, new friends, and instances of incredible hospitality. We would often scratch our heads and try to figure out how we were making so many friends in some of the least populated places we’d ever been. Looking back, a fear of cars, which I think all bikers have, can make biking a uniquely rich way to see a place. Taking roads less travelled becomes a matter of practical necessity, of survival. Straighter, bigger roads are frightening. And the smaller, roundabout byways offer refuge from fast-moving machinery and have much left undiscovered by travelers with more efficient means. Spencer graduated from Sarah Lawrence College, worked in China, has written for varied periodicals, and lives in New York.
A Mother’s Perspective by Elizabeth Woodman
There’s a wonderful quote I read years ago in a Graham Greene novel that goes something like this: “He traveled that he might come home.” I thought about that as I watched my sons Thad and Spencer and our friend Sam pedal out of the driveway one bright spring morning. Their bikes were laden with paniers. They pulled child trailers full of camping equipment and instruments. The moment they hit the street, home is far behind and weeks of adventure lay ahead. The logistics of pulling off this biking and busking trip from North Carolina to New Orleans were impressive. Three young men in three different cities, with busy lives—at least ten jobs between them, friends, bands, rent, roommates, and all the stuff that happens in life—dreamed of a six-week trip to experience the South, its country roads and small towns, at a pace at which you really see. As the mother of two of the three, I got involved. That is, I asked a lot of questions. My first question: what is busking? Playing music on the street. Great! Second question, and most others that followed concerned safety, which I’d ask in a breezy tone to disguise my anxiety. My casual inquiries fooled no one, and I was told, Trust. As the departure date approached, a name was chosen for the traveling bluegrass band—the Woodman Brothers & Sam. They converged on Hillsborough. Bikes were tuned up, routes plotted out, gear hunted down on Craigslist. Packing began, then repacking, then jerry-rigging trailers to bikes. April 1, the Woodman brothers and Sam pedaled out of Hillsborough, young musicians on an excellent adventure. They looked strong, capable, and eager to experience the unknown, the journey. They were wearing their helmets. The unknown proved to be as enriching and challenging as a journey can be. Miles—many, many hundreds of miles—were covered. Doors opened, friendships were made, songs were sung, meals were offered, towns were explored. The weather for those six weeks proved to be biblical. Yet they took cover when they needed to and reached New Orleans on Mother’s Day. It was a gift. A month later, it’s hot as blazes. And in the back of a grocery and bait shop in Orange County, the Woodman Brothers & Sam play for friends and family. Their songs are road-tested, confident, in perfect harmony, beautiful. They‘re home, for now. Elizabeth Woodman founded Eno Publishers, a nonprofit publisher dedicated to producing high-quality books about the Carolinas and the South. Its 27 Views of Hillsborough was the 2011 CFS ParentStaff Association Community Read selection.
Ten Million Steps
For his ninth-grade end-of-year internship, Jake Stewart (’04) spent two weeks with his family on the Appalachian Trail in the Shenandoah National Park of Virginia. “It was a brilliant experience,” he says, “and it changed my life.” Jake and “best friend and life-partner” (and now fiancée) Krista—self-described as “a math nerd and a scientist”—recently completed a six-month hike of the AT, from Georgia to Maine! Learn more at http://tenmillionsteps2011.wordpress.com. Carolina Friends School 9
Then and Now 1
2
3
Sadie Bauer (‘93) 4
5
6
Tim Wells (‘86) 7
8
9
Dylan Pendergrast (‘94)
Just a few of our alums who are now CFS parents. Can you match the Thens with the Nows? 1) ______________________________________________ 2) ______________________________________________ 3) ______________________________________________ 4) ______________________________________________
York Phelps (‘78) [brother Kent (‘76), right]
5) ______________________________________________ 6) ______________________________________________ 7) ______________________________________________ 8) ______________________________________________ 9) ______________________________________________ Lisa Crabtree Hess (‘89) 10 We&Thee/Issue II, 2011
Alumni Updates 1970s
Carly Baker Chapman (‘94)
Brian Whittier (‘79)
Ariel Rogers (‘91)
Eli Kovick (‘95)
Elizabeth (Edgerton) Albright (‘76) and her husband Alex, Director of Creative Writing at East Carolina University, operate a weekend music venue in an old general store (RAFountain.com). She leads an aerobics class, works at the town library, and since 1989 has had a part-time secretarial position at ECU’s Brody School of Medicine. Elizabeth also stays busy with son Silas, receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award at his middle school. Sandy Altshuller Hughes (’74) ~ My husband Scott and I moved to Collingswood, New Jersey. We continue to work at Elementar Americas, a sales, service, and support office covering North and South America for a 100year-old German scientific company. Chris Carter (’76) ~ Still catching snakes and critters, now with the Haw River Assembly’s 4th-grade nature education program. Living “off-grid” on a solar and wind-powered farm in Saxapahaw. Sculpting and performing with Paperhand Puppet Intervention. MFA in Tech Theater Production at UNC-Chapel Hill. Worked at The Arts Center of Carrboro as Tech Director and Resident Designer. Founded the Solar Village Institute and as “Solar Jim” host the weekly The Home Power Hour show about energy issues on Carrboro’s WCOM radio station and on the People’s Channel TV station. Nandani Lynton (‘74), in China since 1993, is a management professor at the China Europe International Business School in Shanghai. A Ph.D. in cultural anthropology, she has applied anthropological insights to business consulting with Fortune 500 multinationals and governmental organizations. She says, “Sometimes I feel like a translator of what I see around the world, especially in Asia, to help others get a feel for the impact these value shifts are having on us through writing and speaking and in the classroom.” Nandani loves to hike and to travel. “At my ripe old age,” she adds, “I have learned to
ski and it brings me more joy than I could have imagined.” Her daughter Mirea is a lawyer in London. April Netzer (‘75) lives in Richmond, California and works primarily with children and families as a marriage family therapist and as an art therapist. She also serves as a mental health consultant for Oakland Head Start. She and husband Jim, who works in publishing, are both visual artists, and their 13-year-old son Gabriel has his own artistic interests, from photography and filmmaking to animation and theatre. Susy Pollitt (‘75) was an Assistant Public Defender in Charlotte and then for 15 years a prisoner-rights attorney. She now serves as a lawyer with Disability Rights North Carolina, protecting against abuse and neglect of people with disabilities and advocating for their rights. She and husband Bill Rowe, married since 1989 and living in Raleigh, have two sons: Willy is a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill and Henry is at Syracuse University. Jessice Thompson Eustice (‘79) is a student in the master’s program in history at North Carolina Central University. She also teaches and tutors part-time at Durham Technical Community College. She is married to David Eustice, a graduate of Sandy Springs Friends School. Jamey Tippens (’74) lives in Hillsborough and works as a home inspector. He enjoyed working on the Reunion for the 40th anniversary of the Upper School—it was great to be back in touch with all the former classmates. Stephen Zunes (‘75) is Professor of Politics and International Studies and Chair of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of San Francisco. He’s authored three books and hunCarolina Friends School 11
dreds of articles on Middle Eastern politics, U.S. foreign policy, international terrorism, nuclear nonproliferation, strategic nonviolent action, and human rights. Stephen has spoken at over 120 colleges and universities and appears frequently on National Public Radio, Pacifica Radio, PBS, BBC, MSNBC and other media outlets for analysis on breaking world events. He enjoys hiking, mountain biking, skiing, music, and travel (having visited all 50 states and more than 60 countries). Stephen and wife Nanlouise Wolfe have three children, ages 17 to 23.
1980s
Michael (Misi) Polgar (‘80) lives and works in Northeastern Pennsylvania with his wife Michele and three daughters. A 1995 Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, he was recently tenured as an associate professor, teaching sociology and continuing research on health care, homelessness, families, and disabilities. Misi is grateful to have been raised, praised, and supported by ‘villages’ including the CFS community. He is grateful for help from CFS teachers, Chapel Hill neighbors, and lifelong friends. Misi still spends a lot of his time and energy practicing things he first learned about with CFS, including writing (especially research papers, essays, and sometimes poems), bicycling, reflecting, encouraging and coaching young people, cleaning up, taking individual and social responsibilities, and participating in community action with a variety of diverse and idealistic nonprofit organizations. Misi is currently board chair for Jewish Family Services of Wilkes-Barre, PA. His daughters include Sophia (11, a level-seven gymnast), Isabelle (8), and Rebecca (5). Michael Rankow (‘83) ~ For over two decades after graduation I was a songwriter and rock and roll guitar player (under the name Michael Rank). With songs 12 We&Thee/Issue II, 2011
in movies and television, over a dozen albums (with the bands Snatches of Pink, Clarissa, and Marat) and opening shows for the likes of Iggy Pop, The Ramones, Johnny Thunders, Soundgarden, and The Cramps. In 2005 I began competitively drag racing. At present I am a single Chapel Hill parent of my beautiful four-yearold pirate son, Bowie Ryder. Jonas Rembert (Phil) (‘88) I spent 20 years in the Asheville area, founding my first brewery in 1997. My second and current brewery, French Broad Brewing Company, is still flourishing. In 2007, I decided to return to school as a teacher. By summertime, I’d decided to move to Mainland China, to teach and see the world. I’d always been a risk taker, and despite knowing only glimpses of Chinese culture, I went ahead and did it. I got into ESL teaching and have been doing it professionally for four years, for the last three in Taiwan. Ai Ping and I have a son, named Yue Jia En (Music with divine grace) also known as Jonas Chevalier Rembert. Jonas shared a longer “Dear CFS” letter that includes more about his professional and personal experiences. Please visit cfsnc.org/Summer2011 to read the complete text and enjoy other extra materials related to this issue of We & Thee. Dmitri Resnik (‘84) graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 1988 and spent 12 years in New Orleans working as a musician, touring and recording as sideman and with his own group. He has six critically acclaimed CD’s to his credit and has won numerous Real Blues Magazine Awards, including Best Blues Guitarist New Orleans (1999, 2000). An accomplished carpenter, he moved back to Chatham County in 2001 and designed and built his house using lumber harvested and milled on site. He also
designed and built three wooden boats, including a 14 ft. sailboat and a 20 ft. cabin cruiser. Resnik also studied Glass Blowing at the School of Glass in New Orleans and is a member of the Chatham County Artists Guild. His Blown Glass work is available at a number of shops and crafts fairs he attends. He and his wife Kristin (a labor and delivery nurse at UNC Hospital) had their own delivery, a son named Samuel, in 2009. Resnik and his father formed a duo in 2009 called Chatham County Slim and Papa Mike to play Piedmont Blues, Roots, and Old-Time Music and released a CD in April 2011 featuring their own songs about Dogs, Donkeys, Pick-up trucks, and more. You can check out some music and press at myspace.com/dmitriresnik and reverbnation.com/chathamcountyslimandpapamike.
1990s Ryan Gwyther (‘90) ~ I live in A m h e r s t , Massachusetts with my wife and two daughters (13 and 9). I am working as a firefighter/paramedic, which is fun and keeps me out of trouble. I am involved with our Technical Rescue Team and instruct with our Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) program with area fourthgraders. Amherst is just like Chapel Hill, just colder and with more snow. Clair Jenne (‘94) ~ Jim Halle (uncle of CFS alums Tom and Sophie Suberman) and I got married in a small family ceremony at home in Baltimore, Maryland on January 15, 2011 (after nearly four years of engagement). Laurie Kennington (‘96) ~ I moved to New Haven to start Yale University in 1996. While I learned a lot in college (the most fun was travelling to Moscow to
delve in the Comintern archive), I never really felt at home. I dropped out twice, travelling in Jordan, winning a blue-ribbon for my apple pie at the North Carolina State Fair (Bees and Honey division), and riding a motorcycle to Texas. Back in school, I became an on-call banquet server at the Omni Hotel during the fight for a union contract. It was an incredible experience and prompted me to get involved in the union of University workers. I was delighted to find people who not only shared the values I learned at Friends School, but put them into action. After graduation I became an organizer for that union, UNITE HERE Local 34, and won a successful strike against Yale in 2003. I have been organizing happily ever since, from clerical workers at the University, to tribal casino workers in California and later, hotel workers in Pittsburgh with my husband Mark. The members of Local 34 voted me President last September. It will be an honor and a challenge, especially since I gave birth to our son Hank three weeks later. Looking forward to another adventure. Marissa Konell (‘99) received her Master’s Degree in Religion, Culture, and World Values from George Mason University. She and her husband, Jafar Ali, announced the birth of their daughter in July. They reside in the D.C. metropolitan area. Evian Patterson (‘98) is a Program Manager for the Iraq Legislative Strengthening Program, a U.S. Agency for International Development project developed to build administrative and IT systems along with training Members of Parliament and staff in Iraq’s Council of Representatives as part of the country-led democratic reform initiative. He recently traveled to Egypt and Libya to lead an assessment of similar programs to strengthen government and civil society capacity following recent events in the Middle East. A Fulbright Scholarship recipient,
Evian was interviewed in the Spring 2009 We & Thee as he worked on his master’s degree at New York University. Alex Protzman (‘95) ~ I finished my bachelor’s degree from Antioch College with a Major in Education and a minor in Communications. Travelled a lot, saw the world, had a great time and did some good! Found that working with children and adolescents with emotional/behavioral issues was a good fit and decided I wanted to be a therapist/social worker. Went to NYU School of Social Work. Worked in New York City for a couple of years and met the woman who would become my wife, Alys Stephens Protzman. Got married, travelled some more, and now we’ve settled back in Chapel Hill. I’m currently a therapist working with children, adolescents, and their families in Durham! I credit CFS with my ideological foundations in social justice and community service. Although I imagine I wouldn’t have admitted it while I was there! Kirsten Stajich (’99) recently completed her Master’s in International Education from The George Washington University. She is excited to use her degree in her new position as Special Assistant to the Dean of the School of Business at GW. She will be working on initiatives to support the school’s goal to internationalize the business school curriculum. In addition to getting her Master’s and a new job, Kirsten and her long-time boyfriend Alex were engaged during a May trip to Belize. (They met at Wheaton College, where she received her BA in ‘03.) Pictured is Kirsten at her May graduation from GW with her mother, Chris Firpo, Director of CFS Summer Programs.
2000s Austin Campion (’01) moved to Chicago after graduating from Brown in ‘06(.5). He has found intermittent work and consistent satisfaction in acting, writing, and improvisation, having appeared on the stages of iO Chicago, Apple Tree Theatre, the Silk Road Theatre Project, Two Pence Shakespeare, and numerous others. His ongoing projects include improv and sketch with pH Productions and serving as Artistic Director of the collaborative revue Cabaret Vagabond. Austin also works in Customer Support for Groupon.com - a role which he finds ‘more exciting than you would think.’ A young innovative company called the fastest-growing of all time by Forbes, Groupon has provided work and paychecks to a large portion of Chicago’s formerly-destitute art community, and Austin is grateful for the challenges and dental insurance it offers him. (Learn more at whatisph.com and cabaretvagabond.com.) Will Gordon (’01) ~ In June, Will, a graduate of Wesleyan College, welcomed family and friends to Lithuania for his wedding. After five years of working as a baseball player and coach in Lithuania, Will and Viktorija, his new wife, have moved back to the U.S. and settled in Durham. Will finished his graduate studies this past June in Lithuania, receiving an MA in Social Anthropology from Vytautas Magnus University in his ‘home’ town of Kaunas, Lithuania. Will is looking forward to reconnecting with friends and the CFS community! Tristan Green (‘09) ~ Tristan was in Guatemala again this summer to work with Safe Passage and is studying in the Galapagos Islands this fall. This
UNC-Chapel Hill student keeps a blog at http://ttanlatinamericantravels.blogspot.com. He was pictured in Prensa Libre, the Guatemalan national newspaper, playing his guitar. Ben Harris (‘09) ~ I just got back from Division 1 College nationals for Ultimate Frisbee. Whitman College made it to D1 for the first time in school history, finishing 19th overall in the nation at the end of the regular season, the only D3 school in the top 20. We broke seed in the tournament, eventually tying for 15th place after barely losing the game to go to the championship bracket 1513 to the University of British Columbia, which was ranked third overall at the end of the regular season. Not bad for our first trip to nationals! Ian Hayes (‘06) ~ I’m about to finish my studies in New Media and Mass Communications at UNC-Asheville. Outside of school, I spend my time working closely with the music industry within the city—designing posters, planning events, doing promotion, providing hospitality, and performing. In 2010, I was voted #2 DJ (as DJ A.D.D.ict) in Western North Carolina by the MountainXpress. I spend my time these days in Asheville studying pre-cal, cutting footage, and creating cover art for a record label located in London. Meagan Hensley (‘02) ~ I received my BA from the University of Arizona, and my MSW from UNCWilmington. In January of this year, I left North Carolina for Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas where I completed training to become an Officer in the United States Army. I am now stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. My Area of Concentration
(AOC) is Social Work, and I do counseling with soldiers and their families. So far, I am loving my new career as an Army Social Worker! Ian Kibbe (‘01) is the Engagement Coordinator and webmaster for The Calling, a PBS documentary series on young religious leaders’ faith journeys, and the related What’s Your Calling? project. He’s also the engagement coordinator for the Emmy Award-nominated film Typeface and the associate producer for the upcoming film Phunny Business. Ian is a freelance filmmaker and musician whose work has appeared on PBS, CNN, G4, The Health Care Blog, and the Huffington Post. He earned a BA in Communications from UNC-Chapel Hill and spent a year after graduating working and volunteering in Latin America. He enjoyed travelling to Lithuania with Hart Griffith-Zill (’01) and Clay Neigher (’01) for Will Gordon’s wedding. Mallory Konell (‘04) is a Teacher Assistant for the 3rd Grade at Greene Street Friends School in Philadelphia. She began a Master’s program in Elementary Education at the University of Pennsylvania this summer. Caitlin Linney (’07) spent her last semester at Emerson College living in Los Angeles and interning at Warner Music Group in the Music Licensing department at Rhino. While in L.A., she Carolina Friends School 13
met her music producer, Kush Mody, and the two began performing with a band and structuring her first fulllength album. This summer she traveled to Greece to film a music video for her new song Bones, which is included in the free EP she released in August. Caitlin returned to complete the album and to pursue songwriting and acting in film. To learn more, please visit CaitlinLinney.com. Annalisa Mickelson (‘00), after graduating from UNC-G with a BFA in Theatrical Technical Production in 2004, worked at Barrington Stage Company (in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts) and the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park as a stage manager before moving to New York City in 2005. In June 2011, Annalisa graduated from Brooklyn College with her MFA in Performing Arts Management. She has worked in marketing at Soho Rep Theatre and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and just started a new job as an Account Associate at Allied Live, an entertainment marketing agency (working on shows like Mamma Mia!, Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil, and the new OffBroadway production of RENT). She is thrilled to be working in
theatre and feels incredibly lucky to have called New York home for the last six years. Jason Hopkins Parker (‘05) ~ I was recently promoted to Director of Strategic Partnerships and College Strategy at Brazen Careerist, a community of highachieving students and youngprofessionals. We provide virtual networking solutions for membership organizations and universities, as well as run Virtual Career Expos that place talented candidates into direct conversations with recruiters from the nation’s top employers. I broker strategic relationships, manage our internal-community events, and oversee our entire University and College Division. I still continue to be highly involved in a variety of volunteer leadership positions here in Washington, DC and at my alma mater, Gettysburg College, where I serve as Chair of our Young Alumni Council and a member of the Leadership Development Council. [Jason also serves on the Alumni Outreach Subcommittee of the CFS Advancement Committee.] Scott Quarles (‘04) ~ I am beginning my second year as the Major League Soccer account manager and web coordinator at Sports Endeavors, Inc (Euro Sport) here at the marketing office in Birmingham, Alabama. I
have a two-year-old red merle Australian Shepherd who herds me through life and I still continue to play competitive paintball on the national professional circuit. I look forward to making it back to CFS soon to see all of the teachers who made me who I am today. Matthew Rubin (‘06) ~ I recently graduated from the Colorado College with a degree in political science and am now embarking upon the dubious post-graduate search for work and thrills. For the summer, I live and play music with a few fellow CFS grads in Chicago. Tim Scales (‘03) ~ A life in the arts often means a life on the move, and so after graduating from Guilford College in 2007 I have spent the past few years working at various theaters on the East Coast and in England. As of 2011 I’m back in Chapel Hill to be closer to family, and working at PlayMakers Repertory Company on the UNC campus as well as maintaining freelance projects in New York City. Zach Strom (‘06) ~ For the last year, I’ve been working for a local nonprofit organization, The
Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED). It’s a hands-on job; we work closely with entrepreneurs to link them to the community and help them launch their businesses. CED is a relationship-driven organization, and I attribute my success in this field to my well-rounded academic background at CFS and the focus on my growth as an individual, not just a student. Jessica (Clarke) Volk (‘02) ~ After graduating from S m i t h College in 2006, I moved to Washington DC to take a job in public health. While there, I met my husband Torsten. We got married in November 2008 and moved to Denver in February 2009. I am still working in public health communications, though I am currently on maternity leave; our son Callum was born in January 2011. Thanks to all the alumni who shared updates. Please keep them coming by sending news to aclay@cfsnc.org!
An Expression of My Values by Logan Carter (‘84)
Tuition aid made it possible for me to attend CFS. The education and careful attention I benefitted from there were really extraordinary, something most people don’t get. Why We Included CFS in Our Wills My wife and I included CFS in our wills to make sure there is tuition aid so CFS can be accessible to more students, so they can get what I did. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized how extraordinary CFS was. It wasn’t all perfect, of course, but CFS provided an incredible context for me to become who I am today. Giving back to CFS as adult is an expression of who I am, part of what I learned at the School. This is a way for me to make a larger gift that becomes a part of my legacy. Our gift 14 We&Thee/Issue II, 2011
will hopefully be of some significance, more than we can give annually. Including CFS in my will is an easy way to do that. Unexpected Benefits Including CFS in my will has had an unexpected and wonderful impact on me. It is grat-
ifying to shift from being someone taken care of by the School to someone who cares for it. It always feels good to do something that aligns with my values. It’s a kind of selfexpression. For me, having a will and knowing that I was taking care of my wife and my daughter made me feel like I was honoring myself by providing for the people in my life that were most important to me. That is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. Including CFS in my will is a natural expression of the gratitude I have for CFS, and a way to share that with future generations. What comes to CFS from my will probably won’t get a building named after me, but it’s meaningful to me to give back to the school.
CFS Alumni:
Where Are They Now?
This map shows the distribution of our alumni across the country. It was made by CFS Middle Schoolers in a 2011 end-of-year Map Making Exploratorium co-led by Randall Williams (husband of teacher Lisa Joyner) and a student, with support from Justine L.E. Allpress from RTI International. We know we also have alumni living in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, and Sweden.
Stay updated on Twitter at CarolinaFriends and on Facebook at Quaker Dome. Carolina Friends School 15
Images From This Year’s
Alumni Events
Attention, Alumni: Are you interested in being part of an Alumni Theatrical Project over winter break? If so, please contact Kiernan McGowan at kmcgowan@cfsnc.org.
Want to see additional photos of the Alumni Basketball Games, the Alumni Theatrical Project, Life After CFS Panel, and the Alumni Luncheon for the CFS Classes of 2007 and 2010? Please visit the Summer 2011 We & Thee page at www.cfsnc.org/Summer2011.
16 We&Thee/Issue II, 2011
Thank You,Friends of Friends School! A BIG Thank You from Your Friends!
We are pleased to announce that we have officially exceeded another record fundraising goal of $360,000! Thank you to all who participated in the 201011 Friends of Friends School Campaign (FoFS), making this seemingly impossible feat possible, even during an economically challenged time for many. Why? We are often asked by parents and alums why we need to raise additional dollars for the School annually. Here are a few of the reasons your contributions to the Friends of Friends School campaign are so important and why we ask for them each year: The GAP No, not the clothing store, but the difference between what it costs per student to receive a CFS education each year and what tuition actually covers. Tuition covers 85% of the School’s annual budget: the other 15% comes from endowment income and interest, auxiliary services like Summer Programs, and the FoFS campaign. If we didn’t have these three sources of additional funding, tuition would need to increase by approximately $2,600 per student. Participation Rates The number of current families, alumni families, and alums
who give annually to CFS sends a message to prospective and new members of our School community. We are often asked about parent and alumni participation rates as a significant indicator of satisfaction with the CFS experience. Whether the donor gives $10 or $100 is not critical: what matters is the intention and desire to support the School’s mission. Doing More If you have been part of the CFS community for a few years, you may have noticed new technology finding its way into classrooms. And you may have also noticed a growing annual goal for the FoFS campaign. The two, though not directly related, go hand-inhand. With growing annual support, we can do more. Each gift gets us closer to our goal of making sure our students have all the resources they and their teachers need to do their best work. For the 2010-2011 school year, gifts to the FoFS campaign helped support a variety of different needs, everything from iPads and digital whiteboards to field trips and a new bus! Thank you for helping to make this and more possible. Our goal for 2011-12 is $370,000, and we are well on our way with over $100,000 in gifts and pledges already received! We invite you to join us at www.cfsnc.org/donate. Gifts of all sizes are appreciated.
Carolina Friends School 17
Friends of FriendsSchool
Honorary and Memorial Gifts Received between June 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011
At CFS we receive many gifts each year that help us meet our annual fundraising goal and are incredibly grateful for each and every one. Many of these gifts are made in honor or in memory of individuals, which we acknowledge here. Gifts in honor of . . . Kathryn M. Adams Allison Adams and Robert Allen Madeline Allen Kathryn M. Adams Tim Barco Susan and Dan Barco Joseph and Leah Bishop Mary Linardos Laura Blanton Ellen McCreery Norm Budnitz Jane Arndt The Class of 2011 Karen Garlock and Aaron Rittenhouse Larkin Coffey John Coffey and Ann Roth Zoe Cohen Jessica Cohen '96 Alie Covington Lucinda and Roland Harper Rachel Christine Cullen Ellie Bluestein Linda DiLorenzo Anonymous Lucy Dixon Saunders and Sallie Dixon Marybeth Dugan Kelli Dugan and John St. Clair Virginia Freedman '88 Sarah Freedman Ben Fuguet Jerry and Mary Jaffe Megan Granda and Farnum Brown Betsey Granda The Hayes Family Mary Hayes Arzelia Hicks Allison Adams and Robert Allen
18 We&Thee/Issue II, 2011
Pippin Ke-Lind Allan Lind The Klopfer Family Kristen Burkholder '78 Dr. Myron Liptzin Anonymous Betty and Benjamin Cone Michael Manning and Jason Manning Dina Anastasio Grace Martin Barbara and Robert Martin Craig W, Suzanne, and Amelia Perrin Craig Perrin and Ella Wilson Joan Rogers Sherri and Steve Baum Emma Rosenstein Anonymous Robert and Jan Hirsch William, Kezia, and Timothy Scales Allie and Ian Scales Amy Shmania Patricia Hendry Abby Westlund and the Welcoming Community Katie Gustafson and Ron Westlund The Whittier Family Annie and Mike Liptzin Kenan Yigit Wade and Ann Smith Lydia Scholl Youngblood and Paul Samuel Youngblood Curt Youngblood These current CFS staff members were also honored: All CFS staff (3) Carly Chapman The Center staff Chapel Hill Early School Teachers (4) Barbara Conger Kathleen Davidson Linda Dixon Annie Dwyer Mary Deborah Englund Mike Hanas Mary Harwood Mig Little Hayes (2) Francoise Heyden (2) Carrie Huff (2)
Susan Kincaid Debbie Kornegay Bryce Little (3) Elise London The Lower School Teachers Nancy Parsifal Dylan Pendergrast Carmen Raynor River Class Teachers (2) Tom Shewey (2) Laura Shmania The Upper School Teachers Henry Walker Tom Shewey
Gifts in memory of . . . John Alexander Miriam Alexander Al Bethel Anthony L. Clay Carolina Friends School Mike Hanas and Susan Gouchoe Rebecca Swartz and Marty Roupe Nancy Bullock Elaine Harris and Darryl Bullock Nickey Brown Edwin Brown Pamela Cohen Scott Teagarden Ed Cortina Chrissy Cortina and Jeff Crews Carl Dolan Julie Barnes Stoumbos ‘81 Cal Geiger Kathleen Davidson Bob Gwyn Edwin Brown Michael Hanas, Sr. Anthony L. Clay Haywood Cochrane Kelli Dugan and John St. Clair Alex and Ann Gordon Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Gouchoe Donald and Andrea Kubida Mark and Cindy Kuhn Rajesh Malik and Navjeet SidhuMalik Joel and Victoria MeyerArrivillaga Leslie Nydick
Catherine Harris Elaine Harris and Darryl Bullock Catherine C. Hayes Carolina Friends School Mike Hanas and Susan Gouchoe Rebecca Ikenberry ‘76 Lynn and Carolyn Ikenberry Allen L. Kincaid Carolina Friends School Anthony L. Clay Mike Hanas and Susan Gouchoe Donald Langlas Shirley and Marvin Block Kristy Manning Dina Anastasio Quaker Harmon and Mark Chilton Randall Lanier ‘82 and Amy Smoker Laura and Steve Shmania Jim and Virginia McLaughlin Stephen and Rebecca Neigher Jim Millar Claire Millar Sabrina Morris ‘04 Dianne Bertsch Shirley and Marvin Block Lisa Brachman and Robert Roubey Annie and Tom Caulkins Anthony L. Clay Jo and Marc Cohen Mike Hanas and Susan Gouchoe Deborah and Ed Hauser Dan and Eleanor Howe John Ladd Susi Lieff and Artie Axelbank Barbara Rochen Renner Nick Renner ‘03 Mae Margolis Marion L. McMorris Laura and Steve Shmania Elizabeth Taylor J.D. Pittman and Daisy Pittman Libby Pittman Pendergrast Daisy Helen Pittman Carolina Friends School Anthony L. Clay Mike Hanas and Susan Gouchoe Arthur and Mildred Ringwalt Roscoe and Mary Stuart Reeve Sharon and Chris Ringwalt Jeanne Robertson Jan RobertsonGildehaus and Ralph Gildehaus Charles Shoneman Mickey Jo Sorrell Joe and Lorena Snider Sharon and Chris Ringwalt David Stuart Fred Lindahl Sadie White Taylor Richard Taylor Margaret Mountjoy Trisolini Alison Abdu Joe Burton
Anthony L. Clay Jane Dallas Gabriel Desharnais Mike Hanas and Susan Gouchoe Harmon Jordan and Annette Koren Stephanie Kissam John Ladd Nancy McCall Marie Prendergrast RTI Aimee Tattersall Suzanne West Rocco Trisolini Hopie Fulkerson Mooney '97 Helen L. White Carolina Friends School Anthony L. Clay Mike Hanas and Susan Gouchoe John Ladd Laura and Steve Shmania Rebecca Swartz and Marty Roupe Lawrence Williamson Carolina Friends School Mike Hanas and Susan Gouchoe Jack Wilson Carolina Friends School Anthony L. Clay Mike Hanas and Susan Gouchoe Carrie and Greg Huff Libby Pittman Pendergrast and Terry Pendergrast Laura and Steve Shmania Rebecca Swartz and Marty Roupe Gloria Wilson Dr. K. S. Venkateswarlu Prasad Kasibhatla and Susan Dunlap We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this list and extend our apologies for any omission or error. We appreciate the opportunity to make corrections. If we missed something, please contact Annual Giving Coordinator Rebecca Swartz at 919.383.6602 x228 or rswartz@cfsnc.org. Any Friends of Friends School gift can be made in honor or memory of someone special to you and your family. Feel free to let us know if you would like to recognize someone with your next gift.
Want to save a tree? We & Thee is available online at www.cfsnc.org. If you would like to stop your paper copy and have a PDF emailed to you, please email: lshmania@cfsnc.org.
In Memoriam 2010-2011
Gabriel Thomas Bonsignore (‘07) died on July 10, 2011, surrounded by loved ones. Gabe’s indomitable spirit and resiliency inspired all who knew him. He was the son of longtime Lower School teacher Michael Bonsignore and Victoria Frisch, brother of Miles Bonsignore (‘11), and friend to all who were fortunate to know him. www.cfsnc.org/GabeBonsignore
We mourn the May passing of CFS Trustee Linda DiLorenzo, parent of Annie (‘12) and member of Chapel Hill Friends Meeting. A talented professional videographer, Linda shared her deep love of CFS by creating a series of video vignettes, Different by Design, to highlight distinctive aspects of a CFS education. www.cfsnc.org/DifferentByDesign Kimberly Lavonne Johnson (‘85) passed away on September 26, 2010. Daughter of Harold G. Johnson and the late Thomasine Couch Johnson, Kim attended CFS Early and Lower School, graduated from NC A&T, and taught at Chapel Hill Early School before leaving to direct a Head Start Program. www.cfsnc.org/KimberlyJohnson Sabrina Morris (‘04) died on December 10, 2010, in Asheville. Daughter of Susan Morris and Richard Morris and sister of Jonah Morris (‘99), Sabrina was a CFS “lifer” who then graduated from UNCAsheville and became a beloved preschool teacher. www.cfsnc.org/SabrinaMorris
Carolina Friends School 19
Celebrating Staff, Past and Present
See some familiar faces in these photos? Last summer, Lower School teacher Charlie Layman visited Connie Toverud, Upper School counselor from 1972 to 1994, at her home in Norway. At his invitation, she returned to CFS this past April to share her stories with current staff and students. With this opportunity, we were able to honor all staff, past and present, in a special celebration at Durham’s Historic Murphey School and then to bring together staff and alumni at a luncheon on campus.
Our Upper School College Counselors, past and present: (from left to right): Claire Millar, Connie Toverud, Anthony L. Clay, and Elise London.
20 We&Thee/Issue II, 2011
Above: The gathering at the Historic Murphey School. Below right: the brunch at the CFS Upper School Meeting Hall. No matter how long I’ve been away, I feel so much a part of CFS. I am proud to be part of a school that values every single child in such a real way. Former Lower School Head Teacher Shirley Block, pictured with her husband Melvin Block
Grandparents Day 2011
On April 1, we were glad to welcome grandparents and grandfriends of students in Early, Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. They shared stories, tackled some interesting challenges with their grandkids and their friends, and a great time was had by all.
Thanks to Our PSA Leaders! The Parent-Staff Association celebrated a year of community building at their final spring meeting. Thanks were expressed to all who participated, and in particular to Marybeth Dugan (left) for her two years as Co-Convener of the PSA, and to Amy Knight (center) and Jane Anderson (right), Co-Conveners for 2011-12. We are very grateful to these devoted parents and to all who have dedicated their efforts to community building at CFS.
Carolina Friends School 21
Sports Wrap-Up School year 2010-11 will be remembered as the first year one of our athletic teams ever played in a state championship game. The girls’ basketball team had a marvelous season, going undefeated again in the conference and finishing the regular season with a 24-4 record. Interest in athletics remained strong, as two thirds of Middle and Upper School students participated on interscholastic teams. Here’s a complete listing of athletic teams for the past school year, with season highlights for those teams that participate in a conference: FALL Middle School Girls’ and Boys’ Cross-Country Boys’ Soccer • All-Conference: Romeo L Girls’ Tennis Volleyball • All-Conference: Lillian G Upper School Girls’ and Boys’ Cross-Country • The girls’ team made its first trip to the state meet. • All-Conference (Boys): Alex G Alexander K Boys’ Soccer • The team earned a #8 seed in the state tournament. • All-Conference: Isaac D Dani M Girls’ Tennis • The team made its first trip to the state tournament • All-Conference: Ellie M Volleyball • The team earned a #15 seed in the state tournament. • All-Conference: Zoe V WINTER
Girls’ and Boys’ Swimming • Both teams participated in the state championship meet. • All-Conference: Gabe S SPRING Middle School Baseball • All-Conference: Mason D Darius H Girls’ Soccer • The team won the conference championship. • All-Conference: Anya B Jess C Anna K
Middle School
Boys’ Tennis
Girls’ Basketball • The team finished second in its conference. • All-Conference: Anna K
Baseball (Junior Varsity)
Boys’ Basketball (Junior Varsity and Varsity) • The team finished second in its conference. • All-Conference: Courtney M Ultimate Frisbee Upper School Girls’ Basketball (Junior Varsity and Varsity) • The team won the conference championship. • The team was runner-up for the state championship. • All-Conference: Anna M Zoe V (Player of the Year) Jamilah W • Conference Coach of the Year: Patience Vanderbush • All-State: Zoe V Jamilah W Boys’ Basketball (Junior Varsity and Varsity) • All-Conference: Jake W • Conference Co-Coach of the Year: David Vernon
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Upper School Girls’ Soccer • The team tied for the conference championship. • The team earned a #9 seed in the state tournament • All-Conference: Davi C Molly H Anna M Frances M • Conference Coach of the Year: Jim Mathewson • All-State: Anna M Boys’ Tennis • The team participated in the state championship tournament. • All-Conference: Tate G Ultimate Frisbee • The team participated in the state championship tournament.
Go Quakers!
Philip Gary Appointed to New Leadership Position Principal Mike Hanas recently shared “very exciting CFS staffing news”—the appointment of Philip Gary as our first Director for Cultural Mindfulness. The Board-approved 2011-12 CFS budget allowed for the creation of a new, part-time leadership role to advance our diversity and inclusivity efforts, as recommended in Meeting the Challenge, our most recently completed strategic plan. Philip Gary, who is also a CFS parent, has been serving for the past two years as a “visiting scholar” in the Upper School, where he has taught several courses in the Humanities, as well as the inaugural version of a capstone course, Senior Forum: Business, Society, and Leadership. He has brought to his work at CFS over ten years of university teaching and administrative experience and over twenty years of experience working as a U.S. Agency for International Development Foreign Service officer in more than 60 countries (from Kenya and Rwanda to Afghanistan and Iraq). Most importantly, however, the experiences that Philip has created for his students have been exceedingly well-received, and the competition for space in his classes borders on fierce. As a full-time staff member, Philip will continue to teach part-time in the Upper School in addition to working with students and staff
across the School in his part-time role as Director for Cultural Mindfulness. Philip’s office will be located in the Upper School, but he looks forward to spending time in each unit. Philip will become a member of the Friday Meeting administrative team, and he will work closely with Director of Admission Kathleen Davidson and Director of Advancement Anthony L. Clay in advancing our outreach efforts. Concluded Mike, “I am confident that Philip’s unique vision for inclusivity will engage us, that his commitment to preparing CFS students for impactful roles in the world will continue to win the deep respect and affection of his students, and that his graciousness will leave you delighted to come to know him. Please join me in welcoming him to this new role and in enriching this work.”
A Will to Protect Their Futures Protecting children’s financial and emotional futures with a carefully planned will was the topic of a well-attended gathering of CFS families on May 18. Larry Rocamora, a highly respected estate-planning lawyer, created a presentation and written materials for the CFS community. He explained that not having a will is virtually guaranteed to cause problems, from financial turmoil to emotional distress. Larry emphasized that a will is about much more than money. It’s a loving act of parenting. It provides those you love with emotional security by taking care of things that worry them. Your will is a model of good stewardship for your children to emulate. It expresses your values and beliefs by including the causes in which you believe. To receive the handouts and checklists from this presentation, please contact John Ladd at jladd@cfsnc.org or 919.383.6602 x270.
Peace Corps Director Speaks at CFS
Aaron S. Williams, Director of the Peace Corps, spoke in January to CFS students, staff, parents, alumni, and invited guests about global affairs and the role of the Peace Corps, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
We & Thee is published twice a year by
Carolina Friends School 4809 Friends School Road Durham, NC 27705 Mike Hanas, Principal Anthony L. Clay, Editor Kathleen Davidson, Assistant Editor Doug Johnston, Designer Laura Shmania, Staff Photographer Margy Campion, Editorial Assistant
Carolina Friends School 23
Art by a CFS Alumni
The above photograph, Sidewalk Graffito in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset Neighborhood, was captured by Pete Kiehart (‘04), At right is his Ocean Beach in February. After graduating from CFS, Pete attended Ohio University and Duke University. After working in Manhattan for three years as a photo editor, he recently relocated to San Francisco to continue his pursuit of photography and journalism, as well as to explore the West Coast. Pete has done freelance work for a variety of local and national publications; he is currently working at The San Francisco Chronicle as an iPad editor and photographer. To see more images, go to http://www.petekiehart.com.
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Bonus Photos from The Celebrating Staff, Past & Present Weekend
Above: Greg Garneau and Terry Pendergrast, Annie Dwyer, Martha Klopfer, Alica and Jim Keighton.
The next issue of We &Thee will focus on STEM studies. Learn about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) studies at CFS, and how our alumni and other community members are making a difference in these vital domains. Please share story ideas with Editor Anthony L. Clay at aclay@cfsnc.org or 919.383.6602 x268.
Above: David and Leon Ikenberry, Nancy Grebenkemper and John McGovern, Thomas Patterson and Kenny Dalsheimer, Joan and Henry Walker, Don Wells, Mark Goodwillie, Dee Dudley-Mayfield and Libby Pittman Pendergrast.