SANFORD Magazine-Winter/Spring 2012

V O L U M E 2 1 . N U M B E R 1 . W i n t er / S p r i n g 2 0 1 2

www. s a n f or d s c h ool . or g

Head of School, Home at School The story of Arunchala, the home of Sanford’s Head of School

A Message from the Head of School:

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

February 2012

One of Sanford’s attributes that I deeply appreciate is the school’s

Contents 1 Arunchala—Head of School, Home at School 8 Meet the newest members of our Board of Trustees 10 Remembering Homecoming 2011 14 On Campus 19 Home & School News 20 The Arts at Sanford 22 Spotlight on Athletics 24 Catching up with the Alumni & Development Office 26 Alumni Notes 31 In Memoriam

Staff Editor Cheryl Fleming Contributing Editor Theresa Medoff Contributors Cecilia Baum Merrilee Mose Jackie Pitts ’55 Karen Riordan Joan Samonisky Nita Stevenson Paris Waterman Loren Yates h

Photography Jared Castaldi Brian Ferreira Doug Filak Jim Graham Photography Herff Jones Photography Bud Keegan Images Patrick Martin Anne McWalter Jen Nightengale ’82 Yvonne Sanders Gina Sykora Stan Sykora Sanford Yearbook Staff Graphic Design Kedash Design h

Communications Office Sanford School P.O. Box 888 Hockessin, DE 19707-0888 302.239.5263

appreciation of our history and tradition. From our all-school events like Convocation, Founder’s Day, and MLK Day of Service to our unique curricular offerings like the third grade Pioneer Campout, the Middle School week-long trips, and Pumpkin Chunkin’, the Sanford calendar is packed with learning experiences that have engaged generations of Sanford students. Similarly, our buildings and campus have markings and reminders of students and teachers in whose footsteps we are walking. Take a walking tour of our campus, read the plaques on our walls, walkways, and trees, and it becomes a Sanford history lesson.

When I became head of school, I wanted to learn as much about Sanford as I could. I began reading the writings of previous heads, from Chip MacKelcan all the way to Sanford’s founder, Ellen Q. Sawin.

I also asked our unofficial school historian, Jackie Pitts ’55, to help decorate the head of school’s office and conference room in Kidder Hall with historical Sanford photos.

Jackie found and hung several pieces that show the life of the school’s last 80 years. In addition to original artist renderings of the Ashton T. Geipel Memorial Gymnasium (circa 1950) and the Irene S. duPont Library (circa 1962), we found a drawing by former Head of School Nancy Sawin that shows the historical buildings on campus. Drawn in Nancy’s own hand, the buildings encircle a heart that represents the William L Aydelott Quadrangle—which over our 80+ year history has come to be the heart of our campus.

This fall, my family and I had the honor to follow in the footsteps of previous Sanford heads’ families when we moved in the head of school’s residence, Arunchala (see the article on page one). Built into the hillside, with our original building (Quigley Hall) on one side and the Kenneth D. Jones Memorial Chapel on the other, sitting in the home one can’t help but think of our school’s rich history.

Already, we have welcomed students, parents, and alumni to Arunchala to gather; what a great setting to talk about our school. I have often told people who ask about the home, “We are fortunate to be living here, but this is Sanford’s house. Arunchala really belongs to the Sanford community.” As such, Nicol and I look forward to continuing to open our doors to our students, families, alumni, and friends.

Lest one think that we are nostalgic and overly focused on the past, this issue of SANFORD magazine also features the amazing work of our current students and teachers. That should be the aim of every issue; rather than an alumni magazine or a magazine for our current families—SANFORD magazine is designed and written for all members of our community. For our alums, we hope to offer alumni updates and looks back at Sanford’s past that grab your attention as well as articles that show the vitality and strength your alma mater continues to demonstrate. For our current families and students, we will continue to promote our successes, showcase the health and breadth of the Sanford School experience, and give you opportunities to learn about the history and heritage of our Sanford alumni and predecessors.

My first six months here at Sanford have been exciting and busy as we are tackling conversations that will shape the future and create vision for our school’s program and success for several years. Our leadership team has rolled up its sleeves and created plans to address Sanford’s marketing efforts, teacher evaluations, the JK-12 technology program, and our school-wide daily schedule. Most exciting to me—our Board of Trustees will begin full efforts to create our next Strategic Plan which will help school leaders tackle Sanford’s challenges and seize opportunities for improvement.

Sanford School has a rich history, indeed. First Sunny Hills, a school in the country, to a vibrant boarding school, to the co-ed day school we are today, Sanford has always been a great place for children to learn and grow. We will always honor and celebrate our past and use Sanford’s history as a beacon to guide us as we continue our journey as a unique and exceptional school.

communications@sanfordschool.org www.sanfordschool.org On the cover: The Anderson family (clockwise, from left): Oliver, Nicol, Mark, Stella, and Finley

Mark Anderson, Head of School

h e a d o f s c h ool , h ome at s c h ool

1

Arunchala Head of School, Home at School Ever since Sanford’s founding, the Head of School has lived on campus.

Our new Head, Mark Anderson, is no different.

By Theresa Gawlas Medoff

F

rom the early 1940s and through the 1950s, the home of Sanford’s Head of School, then Ellen “Mother” Quigley Sawin, was like a nerve center of the Sanford campus, recalls Frank Bailey ’57. “Because of where it was located, the house itself was such a dominant feature in the minds of those of us who were boarding students,” he says. “It was an expected practice that we would go down to Mother’s house every night after study hall to talk about the day’s events and say good night before turning in.”

2

h e a d o f s c h ool , h ome at s c h ool

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

For students of the 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s the above photograph will ignite fond memories of Mother Sawin and Arunchala. At the end of each evening we would walk past Quigley Hall, through Mother’s rose garden, past the very tall U.S. flag pole, and onto the flagstone and brick terrace. As we approached the small circular fish pond and outdoor fireplace we would glance above the two sets of French doors at the beautiful wood carving: “God grant that all who pass this door find strength and heartsease evermore.” { memories of a 1950s graduate }

h e a d o f s c h ool , h ome at s c h ool

3

The Andersons moved into the home after renovations were completed in mid-October, and within about a week they had brought the fourth-grade boys to the patio at the front of the house to make s’mores over the outdoor hearth. Anderson decided the excursion would be a nice addition to the boys’ sleepover in the Lower School Library, a party purchased for the boys at the school’s annual auction that Anderson and Head of Lower School Libbie Zimmer chaperoned.

This fall the Andersons also hosted a reception at their home for Annual Fund leadership donors as well as a party for school administrators. In December, Bill Sawin ’45 and Marnie Sawin Langerak ’43, the younger children of Mr. and Mrs. Sawin, joined the Andersons for lunch to talk about the school’s history and particularly about Arunchala.

The Building

Arunchala

T

hat very same house where Mother Sawin used to gather regularly with upper school students is now home to new Head of School Mark Anderson, his wife, Nicol, and their three children (Stella, Sanford grade 2; Finley, Sanford kindergarten; and Oliver, age 3).

Now that Sanford is no longer a boarding school, evening discussions at the head of school’s house are no longer practical or necessary. Anderson, however, says that he values the many ways that Sanford School remains connected to its past, so he plans to once again make the Head of School’s home a place where the community is welcome.

When the school was founded in 1930, Mrs. Sawin and her husband, Sanford Sr., lived in Quigley Hall (now the music building) along with all the school’s boarding students. As enrollment increased, more space was needed in Quigley for dormitories and classrooms. A new home for the head of school was called for.

“For 10 years the family had lived in Quigley with a lot of students,” recalls Bill Sawin. “Mother and Dad wanted a home of their own.” It was 1940; Europe was at war and many hoped or feared that the U.S. was about to enter the hostilities as well. Anticipating scarcity of building materials, the Sawins prepared by having a foundation built and purchasing the supplies to build their new home. For the next year, until building could commence, the supplies were stored in the hayloft of the school’s barn, Sawin adds.

The home was completed in 1942 and the Sawins moved in—Mother and Dad, that is. Mother Sawin felt it important that her school-age children live in the dormitories with all the other boarding students, so Marnie and Bill spent school years living in the dorms and summers living with their parents.

Like the other buildings on campus, the head of school’s house was given a name—Arunchala. But unlike other campus buildings, it is not named for a person.

(See sidebar on page 5).

Left: Mark and Finley Anderson enjoy making s’mores with Middle School Head Eph Humphreys and fourth grader Aaron White.

Above: Cooperative fall weather made it possible for guests to enjoy Arunchala inside and out during a leadership donor gathering.

h e a d o f s c h ool , h ome at s c h ool

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

Arunchala sits just beside Hebb Hall, the art building, with the academic quad at the front and Chapel Valley to the rear. Built as it is on a hill, the front entrance is actually on the “second” floor of the home. The lower floor is at ground level on the Chapel Valley side.

Although it was built in 1942, the home is surprisingly modern in its layout, with an oversized living room serving as the center of the home. On one side of this room is the master bedroom and on the other, three smaller bedrooms where the Anderson children sleep.

Until recently, the lower level comprised a family room and kitchen. A dining room was added for the Andersons to make entertaining easier.

the early years

4

The Early Years

During Mother’s tenure as head of school until she became ill around 1960, she held court each evening in the living room. Jon Bjornson ’50, a retired MD, recalls the conversations that took place there during the 1940s.

“Mother Sawin would sit on her chair and students would sit on the floor around her. Occasionally she would read passages—anything from Mark Twain to the Bible,” he says. “But most of the time we talked. Usually it

The Andersons love living right in the heart of Sanford’s activities.

Mark and Nicol add that living in Arunchala definitely helps their family feel like they’re a part of the Sanford family.

was about daily happenings at Sanford and what was happening with the athletic teams, though I do remember the occasional talk about the news, and particularly about those from Sanford who were killed in World War II.” Linda Mills Siprelle ’52 spent her freshman and senior years at Sanford. Her parents were in the U.S. Foreign Service, and when Siprelle wasn’t at Sanford, she was living with them in Brazil. She says she enjoyed the camaraderie she had with her fellow Sanford students and the nightly contact with Mother Sawin, especially since her own parents were living so far away.

Adds Bailey, “A lot of us [boarding students] were from broken homes. The evening get-togethers were, to my way of thinking, trying to replace something that was missing from a lot of our lives. It was supposed to be a homelike atmosphere.”

As he recalls, the evening discussions were free-ranging conversations that could be about anything but that were, as in most families, about daily life. “I can remember times when there might be stretches of quiet or silence.”

Other than those nightly talks in the great room, students did not typically visit Arunchala, Bailey says, but Mother graciously opened her home when necessary. Bailey’s father worked in Washington, D.C., and he remembers that when his father visited Frank and his siblings (Justine

“There are many unique characteristics of Arunchala. The kitchen/living area built into the hillside is different and may sound unusual, but the sweeping views of Chapel Valley make it feel like a mountaintop getaway.” { Nicol Anderson }

h e a d o f s c h ool , h ome at s c h ool

5

origin of the name Although a devoted Christian Scientist, Mother Sawin also was interested in many other spiritual traditions, among them Hinduism.

She named her home “Arunchala,” a variation on the spelling of Arunachala, which is a holy hill in Tamil Nadu, India, and the site of a temple to Lord Shiva.

According to a website forum devoted to Arunachala and the teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, “Aruna” means “bright like fire” and “Achala” means “hill,” so the compound word means “Hill of Wisdom.”

Hindus from all over India make pilgrimages to the mountain of Arunachala. It is there, according to legend, that Lord Siva, also known as Lord Arunachala, appeared as a bright column of light stretching between earth and heaven to mediate a dispute between Brahma and Vishnu. Lord Siva asked the disputants to reach to find his root and crown. Brahma turned himself into a swan and flew toward the crown. He never reached it, but lied and said he did. Siva cursed Brahma for his falsehood.

Lord Vishnu, however, took the form of a pig and dug down to Siva’s foot. Siva was pleased with Vishnu’s humility. The moral: “to be blessed with knowledge, there should be a complete destruction of the ego.”

We do not know if Mother Sawin knew the full story of the legend, but it is probable that she at least knew that the term Arunachala referred to wisdom, and that she selected this inspiring name for the home from which she ran Sanford School.

h e a d o f s c h ool , h ome at s c h ool

Bailey Lynch ’54 and Carlos Bailey ’52, now deceased) he stayed in Arunchala on at least one occasion, since there were no hotels in the area.

Bjornson was probably the only student who took regular baths in Mother’s house. He injured himself seriously playing sports as an upper school student and was hospitalized in New York City for a lengthy period of time. When he returned he was supposed to have regular therapeutic soaks, but the dormitories had only showers, so he went to Arunchala for his aquatic therapy.

Arunchala today

6

During Sanford’s boarding school days, students had regular Saturday chores to do. One of those chores was to clean the head of school’s house, says Jackie Pitts ’55.

“Most of the girls waxed floors in Stephen May Hall (then both a dormitory and classroom building), but the older girls got to clean Mother’s house or wax her floors. That was a privilege, to be selected to clean Mother’s,” Pitts says.

The girls also contributed to the upkeep of the lush gardens around Mother’s house and the rose gardens that lined the path from Quigley Hall to Arunchala, Bailey says. The boys had their own gardening duties; they were responsible for mowing the steep hill behind Arunchala that goes down to Chapel Valley. “It was not our favorite job,” he says. “Back then we used reel-type manual mowers, and the hill was so steep we had to wear football cleats to keep our footing.”

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

After Mother became ill, students stopped going to her house in the evenings to chat or say good-night, and the tradition was never resuscitated by other heads of school, although the home or its exterior were used on occasion for school functions.

Pitts describes an annual candlelight service, sort of a “moving up day,” that the junior and senior girls celebrated near the end of the school year in the early to mid-1960s when Nancy Sawin was Head of School. The girls all walked down the stairs behind Arunchala to the Chapel, where the main ceremony was held. During a symbolic part of the ceremony, each senior girl passed along a lit candle to a younger girl. The girls then walked en masse to Beaver Dam to float the candles on the lake. “After that the girls all walked back to the patio in front of Arunchala where they ate strawberries and cream,” Pitts says.

Arunchala Today Mark Anderson finds living on campus to be more convenient for him—no more running back and forth from home to campus to catch evening events. It also suits his family well. “We enjoy being right here in the center of things,” Anderson says. He and his oldest daughter, Stella, sometimes go to the duPont (upper school) Library in the evenings to work. And on weekends the Anderson children love to play in the fields. “Stella and Finley especially love to play in the creek. We go down there and look for animals,” Anderson says.

Having the head of school living on campus benefits Sanford as well. Anderson notes: “People want to see me more often and get to know me better. I think they like to see me out of my suit and out and about with my children—to see that I’m a Sanford parent, too.”

Later this year the Andersons will host a cocktail party at Arunchala for the parents of the grade that first hits 100 percent participation in the Annual Fund. Anderson envisions perhaps donating a cookout at Arunchala as one of the items for the school auction. And, he especially would like to bring students to Arunchala “We are still thinking of more ideas,” he adds. “Opening up our home on occasion is important to Nicol and me because it helps to build community, and community is part of what makes Sanford special.”

The natural light that enters Arunchala enhances Finley Anderson’s coloring experience.

h e a d o f s c h ool , h ome at s c h ool

7

Nicol anderson’s perspective Like so many parts of campus, Arunchala holds much Sanford history and tradition. Living here, we are often reminded of those who came before us. That’s why Mark felt strongly that we decorate the main room with black and white photos of Arunchala’s past.

As a head of school, Mark believes in building community among all constituents. We feel there’s no better way to do that than to invite families to our home and break bread. During the past few months Mark and I have enjoyed hosting several families for a dinner party, second grade families for breakfast, and Mark’s leadership team for the holidays. Although we are currently living here, Arunchala belongs to Sanford, and we love opening our home and letting our families and students see this part of the school’s history.

One of the home’s features that we very much enjoy is the room that had originally been Mother Sawin’s sunroom, which is attached to the master bedroom. We have turned that into a playroom/reading room, which is great — until one of the kids wakes up early and wants to play.

Our kids love living on campus — what’s not to love, right? They play in the creek and ride their scooters on the Quad. We went sledding this winter in Chapel Valley. They get to walk to school and to their father’s office. The Anderson children are very happy here, and we all feel very fortunate to be part of this amazing community.

8

bo a r d o f t rus t ees

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

Meet the newest members of our Sanford’s Board of Trustees is comprised of a dynamic group of individuals who are committed to ensuring that Sanford remains a leader among independent schools.

The newest members of the Board of Trustees are profiled on the opposite page.

Sanford’s 2011–2012 Trustees: (first row): Marcus Thompson ’85, Bill Lafferty, Kathy Zabel, Guy Marcozzi, Craig Schroeder, Gregg M. Somerville; (second row): Bill Ward, Synthia Wong, Tom Roosevelt, Diane Kedash, Sharon Struthers, Sophia Fotakos, Betsy Yung, Nita Stevenson, Kathy Nachbar, Cheryl Kennedy; (back row) Preston Ayars, Stan Sykora, Tom Allingham, Mitch Hill ’73, Clifton Wise ’84, Jim Dalle Pazze, Fred Crowley, and Mark Anderson

What are a trustee’s responsibilities?

Sanford trustees bring a wealth of talent, expertise, and dedication to their governance roles. Their specific responsibilities include: • Supporting and promoting Sanford’s mission • Working together to set policy • Supporting Sanford and our head of school to demonstrate that support within the community • Contributing to Sanford’s development program, including financial support and active involvement in annual and capital giving • Contributing fiduciary responsibility to the school for sound financial management.

bo a r d o f t rus t ees

William E. “Bill” Ward: Bill Ward graduated from Emory University with a BA in history in 1978 and received his law degree from Duke University in 1981. A member of the Delaware and Georgia Bar Associations and the American Bar Association, Bill is a partner in the firm of Ward & Taylor, LLC, working primarily in the area of residential real estate. In addition to teaching real estate law for the Delaware School of Real Estate, Bill is a frequent lecturer at seminars and classes for realtors’ organizations throughout the state of Delaware.

In recognition of his accomplishments, Bill has received numerous awards from the New Castle County Board of Realtors, including the Affiliate of the Year in 2011. He served on the Education Subcommittee of the Delaware Real Estate Commission for eleven years, chairing the group in 1999. Bill is a board member of The Delaware Community Land Trust and The Delaware Housing Opportunity Fund, Inc., both of which are non-profit organizations promoting and providing housing opportunities in Delaware. He lives in Landenberg, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Susanne, and their two children, both Sanford students—Shelby in sixth grade and Elliot in eighth grade. In his spare time, Bill enjoys golf, tennis, and, most of all, Sanford and Duke basketball.

Diane Kedash: Diane Kedash was born and raised

Nita Stevenson: Nita Stevenson graduated from the

Stanley R. Sykora: Stan Sykora was born and raised in

College of William and Mary in 1991 with a BA in history and a degree in education. Following graduation, she worked for the Close-Up Foundation in Washington, DC., where she taught a government studies program focusing on legislative process and citizenship for students from around the world. In 1994, Nita and her husband, Stan, moved to Delaware where she accepted a position at George V. Kirk Middle School in the Christina School District. In addition to teaching eighth grade U.S. history, Nita also ran the student government program and worked with the school’s performing arts program, building sets and training animals. She was named chairman of the social studies department and initiated and ran an international studies program at the school, taking her students to Europe during spring break. In 2000, Nita resigned her position to remain at home with her children. Her daughter, Samantha (2015), and son, Zachary (2019), have been at Sanford since junior kindergarten. An active member of the Sanford community, Nita is the president of the Home & School Association and she also has been a grade representative, homeroom mother, chaperon, substitute teacher, in-class helper, seamstress, and auction volunteer. In her free time, Nita enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and relaxing at the beach.

in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. A graduate of the University of Delaware with a communications degree, Diane worked at MBNA America for 24 years where she met her husband, David. She held a variety of executive positions, primarily in the operating areas (e.g. customer satisfaction, credit, and fraud) and personnel. In 1994, Diane and David lived in Chester, England, working as part of the start up team of MBNA International. During that year, they had an opportunity to travel throughout Europe. Diane and David have been Sanford parents for five years and have four children. Matthew is in third grade and Andrew is in second grade. Their twins, Lauren and Miles, will attend Sanford beginning in the fall of 2012. They have lived in Landenberg for the past eight years. Diane enjoys spending time with family and friends, locally and at the beach, and she loves traveling, cooking and reading. From 1994 through 2002, she served on the board of directors at the Delaware Nature Society.

Diane recently returned to volunteering once the twins began preschool. She currently serves on Sanford’s Marketing Committee.

Pitman, NJ. He attended Widener University for engineering and business before moving to Delaware to expand and run his family’s business, Erco Ceilings & Interiors. Stan has actively volunteered in several business and community organizations over the years. While residing in Historic New Castle, he took on the role of chairman of the City of New Castle’s Planning Commission. During his term he lead charge and process for an updated comprehensive plan and encouraged neighboring community involvement by hosting traveling town meetings, a platform still used today. He has served on and chaired the Board of Directors for the DE chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors, an organization he is passionate about and continues to serve. Stan is vice president of Westminster Swim Club where you’ll find him Saturday mornings in July volunteering at his children’s swim meets. Some of Stan’s favorite activities include water and mountain sports such as sailing, boating, and water/snow skiing with his family and friends. He also enjoys camping and has many opportunities to do so as den leader for Cub Scout pack 959 in Hockessin. Stan, his wife, Gina, and their children (Julia, 6th grade and Charlie, 4th grade) value Sanford’s exceptional and unique community.

9

10

remember i n g h ome c om i n g 2 0 1 1

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

Remembering Homecoming 2011: A tribute from Delaware Governor Jack Markell… Sanford festivities for the entire community… and the annual Alumni Awards presentation were just a few highlights of this year’s event.

50th Reunion Dinner

Community Picnic

Above: Celebrating the Class of 1961 are (standing) Jackie Pitts ’55, Head of School Mark Anderson, Nicol Anderson, Ray Crossan ’59, Jim Alexander ’61, Tom Kennedy ’60, George Casson ’60, Cristina Cochran ’03, Bill Shaw ’50, Jen Nightengale ’82, and (seated) Linda Wilson ’61, Kathy Dillon ’61, Carolyn Alexander Crossan ’60, Rosemary McMullen Wilson ’60, and JoAnn Epps Beachum ’61AA.

Sanford’s Traditional Harvest Dinner has evolved into a community picnic. It is still a “bring your blanket to sit upon” affair, but added are about 20 fair-like activities such as a pie eating contest, ring toss, and face painting.

Picnickers included (from the top): Carson and Holly Kalish; Ava Pierson; and pie eating contestant Kimmie Riordan with Caroline Cook.

Above: Kathy Dillon ’61 and Jackie Pitts ’55 sing the Sanford Hymn as Cristina Cochran ’03 looks on.

Right: Bill Shaw ’50 (center), who was honored with a 2011 Alumni Award, joins his family at the 50th Reunion Dinner.

Family Fun Run Left: Donna O’Brian (center, mother of Kristy Patton) is flanked by Sanford faculty members Katherine Stafford, Trish Harmer, daughter Kristy, and Lisa Hutchinson.

Right: Participants in the Warrior Run/Walk enjoy Saturday Homecoming activities.

remember i n g h ome c om i n g 2 0 1 1

11

September 30 through October 1

Pep Rally

Alumni Athletic Events

Delaware Governor Jack Markell attended Friday evening’s annual Thelma Miller Memorial Alumni Basketball Game. His speech congratulated Sanford for being a great school and made special note of the girls’ and boys’ teams that won 2010 and 2011 state basketball championships. The extremely popular alumni game attracted five lineups of players who could have defeated all other alumni teams in Delaware.

Leading spirited students at a fall pep rally (in the photo at the top) are seniors Jessica Glass, Michael Brennan, and Corrie Struthers.

Many alums proved they haven’t missed a step as they display skill and camaraderie that defines Sanford.

A small, but mighty, group don the hockey pitch to honor Sanford’s oldest sport for girls.

Leading the group was Kathy Dillon ’61 (front row, second from right) who was celebrating her 50th Sanford reunion.

Unless otherwise noted, all of the people in the photographs are identified from left to right.

12

remember i n g h ome c om i n g 2 0 1 1

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

Remembering Homecoming 2011:

Achieving Excellence after Sanford During Homecoming, Head of School Mark Anderson honored our 2011 Alumni Award recipients. Check out the following profiles to learn more about these outstanding individuals.

Peter Fleischut ’96 Then: Peter attended Sanford from 6th through 12th grade.

Now: An MD, Peter practices anesthesiology in New York City, runs the Quality and Patient Safety program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, teaches at Weill Cornell Medical College, and researches, writes, and speaks about how to improve patient care and safety.

Sanford Pals: Peter says he especially valued how everyone in his class got along well. He had a large number of close friends at Sanford and remembers fondly their time spent hanging out at lunch or in the library in between classes and after school as well as going to basketball games, homecoming, and other events. He still keeps in touch with many of his Sanford friends.

Honors and Awards: The list goes on and on, but a few of the more recent highlights: • Board of Trustees Recognition Awards from

New York-Presbyterian Hospital • Department of Anesthesiology Research Award

from Weill Cornell Medical College • Quality Symposium Award from the

New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System • Resident Scholar Education Grant from Foundation

for Anesthesia Education and Research Free Time: Yes, he has some, which he enjoys spending with his wife, Megan, and their families. They spend most summer weekends at the beach in South Jersey.

Kenny Mitchell ’93 Then: Kenny attended Sanford from grades 9 to 12. He played four years of basketball on Sanford’s stellar early 1990s team. He was named All State his senior year and All Conference several times. He also ran cross country and played baseball. Kenny was president of his senior class.

Now: Kenny earned an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and has worked for PepsiCo since 2004. He is currently Director of Sports Marketing at The Gatorade Company, where he has charge of the advertising, marketing, and partnerships with sports leagues, teams, and athletes.

At Home: Kenny lives in Chicago with his wife, Heather, and 4-year-old daughter, Carter.

Of His Sanford Basketball Coach: “Stan Waterman had a greater impact on my life than he will ever know. I learned a lot from him about what it means to be a man and to be responsible. I modeled my life after what I saw him do and what he taught us.”

Sanford Pals: He remains close friends with Allan Algee ’93 and Dwayne Grey ’93. In fact, Kenny is godfather to Dwayne’s son and Dwayne is godfather to Kenny’s daughter.

Hall of Famer: Kenny was inducted into the Wearers of the Green, Dartmouth’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Charitable Involvement: Kenny volunteers with Junior Achievement and serves on the board for the Primo Center for Women and Children, a transitional homeless shelter located on the West Side of Chicago.

William Shaw ’50 Then: Bill attended Sanford for one year as a post-graduate before matriculating at the University of Delaware. He so impressed the faculty in that one year that he was honored with the Ellen Q. Sawin Award at graduation. He stayed on at Sanford for two more years and worked as a cottage counselor with young children while working toward his bachelor’s degree at UD. He received an honorary Gavel Pin by Mother Sawin for his work.

Now: Bill retired in 2005 after a career spanning five decades, during which he worked in Delaware schools as a teacher, counselor, and school psychologist, and in his own private practice as a psychologist specializing in children’s educational and developmental issues. An avid golfer, he volunteers with First Tee, a national initiative to help kids develop lifeenhancing values through instruction in golf and character development.

Trailblazer: Bill was the first elementary school counselor in Delaware and was a pioneer at using behavior modification with students who had disabilities as well as those of normal abilities who were struggling with social or academic issues. He developed the area’s first fathers-only parent training program, which he used in the Delaware schools and in his private practice.

remember i n g h ome c om i n g 2 0 1 1

13

September 30 through October 1

Brick by Brick, the Sanford Way: Bill was one of the students who built Geipel Gymnasium. He learned bricklaying and carpentry at Sanford under the tutelage of Yanko Cajnar, long-time director of maintenance. Bill put those skills to good use in life. In 1959, he built the home in Ardencroft where he still lives today. Along the way, Bill bought and restored a dozen old houses, included a horse farm that has a 1737 farmhouse with six fireplaces, one of the oldest buildings in Chester County, Pa. He is currently restoring a 1683 farmhouse in Delaware County, Pa.

Among Sanford’s many shining stars are this year’s awardees which include: a trailblazing psychologist, a research scientist in microbiology and immunology, an MD practicing in NYC who also teaches at a medical college, and a Dartmouth graduate who is now director of sports marketing at The Gatorade Company. The members of this esteemed group are: Bill Shaw ’50, Kenny Mitchell ’93, Mike Stadnisky ’01, Peter Fleischut ’96.

Family: Bill has three children and five grandchildren.

Mike Stadnisky ’01 Then: Mike attended Sanford Upper School and was involved in a host of activities here, including the Spanish Club, Project Beyond, and the Sanford Repertory Theatre Company. He also played soccer, lacrosse, and tennis.

Now: Mike, who just earned his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, is a research scientist at the University of Virginia studying the body’s very early immune response.

His ultimate goal is to create and market a biologic therapy that will reprogram immune cells to recognize and eradicate solid tumors.

Inventor: Mike has published four papers in three years and, with two colleagues, is applying for a patent on a drug discovery platform for immune-modulating drugs they developed from transgenic mice.

Honors: Mike’s honors, awards, and funding achievements have been many during his academic and professional career.

A few of the highlights over the years: • Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate

Research Grant (2004-2005) • University of Virginia Award for Excellence in

Scholarship in the Sciences and Engineering (2010) • Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies Awards for

Trainee Abstract (2011) and for Poster of Merit (2011)

On the Run: Mike and his wife, Heather, live in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are both endurance athletes.

Mike competed in Division 1 track while in graduate school and has run three marathons and seven ultra-marathons this year. He is preparing for a 100-miler this spring.

William N. Wingerd (Unfortunately, Bill was unable to attend the ceremony.)

Then: Bill Wingerd was a member of the academic administration at Sanford School from 1955 to 1966. His title was associate director and upper school principal and he was assigned nearly all functions that involved the male students. He also coached boys’ tennis.

Now: Bill left Sanford for a position at the Choate School (later Choate Rosemary Hall), where he worked for 25 years.

He retired in 1995. Now age 90, he lives in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

Accomplishments: Bill received his bachelor’s degree from Haverford College, served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and earned a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Penn State University. Bill enjoyed a 43-year career in secondary education, many of those years at private boarding schools, which, in addition to Sanford and Choate, included Mercersburg Academy and the Perkiomen School.

Sanford Memories: Bill worked closely with both Mother Sawin and Nancy Sawin, who was his counterpart and took charge of the female students until she later took over as head of school when Mother Sawin retired. Bill lived on campus in a cottage called The Haven with his wife and family. His sons attended Sunny Hills, then the name of Sanford’s lower school.

Unless otherwise noted, all of the people in the photographs are identified from left to right.

14

on c a m p us

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

On Campus Hundreds come to Sanford for The Incredible Back-to-School Wig Out M

ore than 400 people gathered in the Sanford Sports Center in September to take part in The Incredible Backto-School Wig Out, a fundraising event designed to support philanthropic efforts in our community. Sponsored by J. Christian Studio and hosted by Sanford, the event raised both money and hair for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, which uses donated hair to create and provide hairpieces to children with medically related hair loss. Locks of Love, an organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss, also received hair donations.

In addition to producing the show which featured entertainment, children’s activities, and more, J. Christian and his team donated their time and talent to cut and style hair and provide other services which included free haircuts for those who donated eight inches or more of hair to the benefiting organizations. Joining J. Christian Studio in this effort were local businesses and individuals who contributed products and services.

Above, clockwise: J. Christian and Laura Pellicano dazzle guests; stylist Masha Kohli snips a donation from Sanford teacher Brooke McLeod; Head of Lower School Libbie Zimmer (center) gets hugs from students Olivia Carswell and Laura Pellicano.

The hostess of the Wig Out was Laura Pellicano, a Sanford fifth grade student who has Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune skin disease that affects nearly 5 million people. Laura is healthy and chooses not to wear a hairpiece, however she and her family inspired J. Christian Studio and Sanford to support this servant leadership program designed to help the millions of people who are affected by Alopecia Areata and other conditions that result in hair loss.

Proceeds from the Wig Out included 16 donated ponytails totaling 168” of hair, and $3,200. J. Christian, owner of J. Christian Studio, said: “This event was electric! The salon’s philanthropic mission is focused on bettering our community by producing events that strengthen family, showcase our talents and raise funds for organizations that benefit local Delawareans. I’m proud to say we nailed it today.”

Head of School Mark Anderson was one of the supporters who had his hair cut during the event. The Wig Out was Mark’s first service project since joining Sanford last summer. “We’re proud to take part in the Wig Out and other service projects. Our students and staff members, many of whom were involved in the Wig Out, understand the importance of giving back to our community. This event gave them a chance to give back and have a great time connecting with our neighbors.”

on c a m p us

15

Sharon Struthers honored at Founder’s Day In September, longtime Sanford parent, volunteer, and trustee Sharon Struthers was honored for her outstanding

service to our school. Sharon’s dedication for nearly two decades has helped Sanford grow, improve, and move forward, while still maintaining the traditions and values of the school founded in 1930 by Ellen Q. Sawin. Head of School Mark Anderson presented Sharon’s award to her during Sanford’s annual Founder’s Day celebration.

“She’s a supporter, a worker, and the true Sanford warrior. Sharon has made a huge difference in the lives of Sanford students for many years.”

• Mark Anderson, Head of School

Sharon’s Exemplary Service to Sanford Sharon’s contributions of time and talent have improved and enriched our community and our campus. In addition to serving as a parent volunteer in numerous capacities for more than 20 years, Sharon, the trustee, has spearheaded major programs and initiatives since 1999.

Her board membership includes service as:

Founder’s Day honoree Sharon Struthers (second from right) is joined by members of her family following the award presentation.

Group above: Sanford employees and trustees, honored guests, and friends gathered in the Hammonds Library for a reception to honor Sharon.

• A trustee since 1999 • Finance and Endowment Committee member from 1999–2009 • Committee on Trustees member from 2001–2004 • Development Committee chairperson from 2003–2007 • Strategic Planning Committee member from 2003–04

and 2010–present • Marketing Committee chairperson from 2010–present • Executive Committee member from 2005–present

Unless otherwise noted, all of the people in the photographs are identified from left to right.

on c a m p us

16

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

On Campus Wizard Warrior Charlie Sykora

Lego event supports STEM experiences for young children I

Lower school students participate in Lego League Champion’s Tournament The Wizard Warriors, a group of ten fourth grade students, qualified to participate in the First State FLL Champion’s tournament at the University of Delaware in January. The team earned its spot following a regional competition at Oxford High School involving 44 teams from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. The competition was based on core values and teamwork, a research project, and a robotic design and competition section. This program, supported by our community of educators and parents, is one that enhances Sanford’s science, technology, and math programs, as well as teaching the true value of teamwork.

Ryan McWalter connects with team members during the regional competition.

n December, Sanford hosted a regional Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr.FLL®) Expo. Designed to build interest in science and engineering in children ages 6–9, Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr.FLL) is a (Clockwise from rear): Meg Macauley, Ethan Ferreira, Bryson Duff, Lindsay Kalish, hands-on program developed to capture and Henry Bachtle celebrate their success. young children’s inherent curiosity and direct it toward discovering the possibilities of improving the world around them. The program features a real-world challenge, to be solved by research, critical thinking, and imagination. Guided by adult coaches, students work with LEGO elements and moving parts to build ideas and concepts and present them for review.

From far left: Team members review the Sanford Snack Academy Show-Me poster; Matthew Sutty enjoys a quiet moment during the event.

During this year’s Snack Attack challenge, students were charged with mastering the science of safely preparing food. Fifteen teams, each comprised of approximately six children, represented five area schools. Every team presented a model constructed of LEGO elements with a motorized moving part.

In addition to building simple machines, each team created a Show-Me Poster to represent their Snack Attack findings. Educators and other professionals evaluated the models, and awards were presented to every team at the conclusion of the event.

Success of the Jr.FLL® program relies on the contribution of parent and faculty volunteers who provide guidance, leadership, meeting spaces, and field trip experiences. The expo is the culmination of months of work, collaboration, and creativity, resulting in student participants broadening their knowledge and acquiring lifelong team-building skills. Matthew Sutty, a Sanford second-grade student, said he learned that teamwork was important because it allowed his group to make a creation together, adding: “I really liked building stuff that I could draw from my imagination.”

Students aren’t the only ones who benefit from the program. Sanford parent Holly Kalish, one of the coaches of the Sanford Snack Academy team, said: “Junior First Lego League coaches are presented with a wonderful opportunity to work with a small group of children and encourage them to think creatively. Each child brings unique talents to the team and coaches assist the group brainstorming, researching a topic, and problem solving. It was wonderful to see the children react as they began to understand concepts and were able to translate this into a mechanical Lego project. The true reward was seeing how proud and confident the children were as they presented their project to other schools and judges.”

Sanford administrators, pleased with the outcome of this year’s event, say they hope to host future expos and other programs that enrich the community.

on c a m p us

17

Science and engineering club

featured in video

In October, Delawareonline visited Sanford to

learn more about the science and engineering club’s preparations for this year’s Punkin Chunkin competition. The club, whose formal name is Project Beyond, began participating in Punkin Chunkin in 2001—following a suggestion by then senior Chris Wilkens ’03 who went on to graduate from MIT and is now a grad student at Berkley majoring in computer science. Project Beyond gives students the opportunity to learn science, math, engineering, and technology in an informal setting by completing projects that go beyond the classroom.

Delawareonline videographer Damian Giletto (shown in the top photo) captures Project Beyond team members as they prepare for a test launch across from the Nancy C. Sawin Math/Science Center.

Third graders meet Kentucky Derby winner Third graders enjoyed an autumn class trip to Herringswell Stables and the Fair Hill Equine Therapy Center. During their journey, students

and teachers met Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom who is trained by Sanford parent Graham Motion. In addition to experiencing the thrill of meeting a world-class horse, the children learned lessons applicable to their study of the Oregon Trail.

Special thanks to the Motion family for enriching our students’ education with this experience.

Unless otherwise noted, all of the people in the photographs are identified from left to right.

on c a m p us

18

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

On Campus Sanford School Students Awarded AP Scholar Recognition

Athletic record holder Cindy Duan named National AP Scholar

Nineteen Sanford students and alumni have earned the

designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on college-level Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams. Students take AP Exams in May of each year, after completing college-level courses at Sanford.

Cindy Duan ’11, a Princeton University student who set a Delaware record last year in first singles’ tennis, was named a National AP Scholar, receiving an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight more exams. Cindy also qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award which is described in the next paragraph.

Students honored for service

A

dam Caulfield, Cheris Congo, and Mia Pastore have received Sanford’s first Jefferson Awards of this school year.

The Jefferson Awards are a prestigious national recognition system honoring community and public service in America.

The freshmen were selected as a result of their outstanding commitment to Sanford’s Empty Bowls Project, a grassroots program designed to fight hunger in America. Their efforts during the summer of 2011 resulted in the creation of 90 ceramic bowls that will be sold along with hundreds of other hand-crafted bowls at a Sanford ice cream social in May. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Food Bank of Delaware. Look for more information about Sanford’s Empty Bowls project in the summer issue of SANFORD.

Four students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on five or more exams.

The students are: Jasmine Caulfield ’11, Cindy Duan ’11, Josiah Hannon ’11, and Hannah Wagner ’11.

Seven students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more exams.

The students are: Stephanie Cramer ’11, Charles Frick ’12, Katherine Grant ’11, Joshua Katz ’12, Thaddeus Potter ’11, Emily Simonton ’11, and Chenyi Yang ’12.

Eight students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by receiving scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams. The AP Scholars are: Zhengyi Chen ’12, Ocean Gibson ’12, Phoebe Hering ’12, Jacqueline Kalil ’11, Nataliya Prokhnesvska ’12, Peter Walpole ’11, Ishani Winston ’11, and Madelyn Wojnisz ’12.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college–level courses while still in high school, and to receive college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 18 percent of the 1.7 million students worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level also earn an AP Scholar Award.

Adam Caulfield

Cheris Congo

Mia Pastore

Seniors receive National Merit honors

Two members of Sanford’s

graduating class are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Josh Katz (right) and Byron Lambrou (below) have been named commended students in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program, placing them among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2012 competition.

Congratulations to our All-State Musicians

Sanford hit a high note in this year’s All-State competition. Shannon Babcock, Olivia Blythe, Owen Davis, Asia DeShields,

Emma Heberton, Nick Madden, Chris Malafronti, Emily Malafronti, Erica McGaurn, Jack Mecca, Mary Mecca, Cristina Riegel, and Sophia Teixido were chosen for All-State Chorus. Three Sanford musicians—Adam Bubes, Chase Rapine, and Jessica Zbranak—were selected for All-State Band. And, high-scoring violinist Younsoo Park was selected for the orchestra.

Home & S c h ool news

Home &School News w i n t er / s p r i n g 2 0 1 2

t h a n k y ou f or y our su p p or t !

Howdy!

Home & School Association

T

he Home & School Association is busy with preparations for Boots & Bling, this year’s Spring Event fundraiser. This year we are featuring a Western theme. On Saturday, April 21, 2012, from 7 p.m.–11 p.m., the Sports Center is the place to be! Dust off your hats and boots and throw on some jeans or find your best J.R. Ewing suit and Cowboy Up! Invitations will be coming to you electronically this year, and tickets will be available online. Be sure to check your E-mail before Spring Break. You won’t want to miss this event!

Auction items are still needed. Gift baskets or gift cards, tickets to an event or donations of services are all welcome contributions. If you need ideas, we will be happy to help. Additional forms are available outside of the Home & School office (next to the Spirit Store) as well as on the Home & School website.

Thank you all for your generous donations. They benefit all of our children.

If you haven’t heard, Home & School meetings have been well attended.

At January’s meeting, Cheryl Fleming, Holly Kalish, and Mark Bosick introduced Sanford’s new website and we learned about the Empty Bowls project being led by Alex Ball. Our next meeting is Wednesday, April 4, 2012.

Mark Bosick will be discussing conceptual science and its progression from kindergarten to grade 12. As always, free child care will be provided.

Call Rita Dietrich to reserve your spot!

Boots & Bling Spring Event

Fundraiser Saturday

April 21, 2012

7 p.m.-11p.m. save the date!

Nita Stevenson President, Home & School Association

Thank You!

Thanks to all of you who contributed to our mitten tree during Caroling in the Quad 2011. Your contributions have been donated to a local day care center.

Far left: The Vocal Ensemble leads the 2011 caroling celebration.

Left: The mittens, gloves, scarves and hats that were donated by the community were donated to a local day care center.

Right: Steffi Cramer ’11 and Josiah Hannon ’11 returned to Sanford for the annual event.

Unless otherwise noted, all of the people in the photographs are identified from left to right.

19

20

t h e a r t s at s a n f or d

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

t h e a r t s at Congratulations to Sanford’s Scholastic Award Winners The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards identify and document

outstanding achievement of young artists and writers in the visual and literary arts. Each year, 250,000 students in grades 7 through 12 participate through regional programs and 50,000 students receive regional awards and exhibition opportunities. In addition, graduating high school seniors who submit portfolios of their work have the opportunity to compete for more than $1.5 million in scholarships from colleges and universities across the country.

This year, Delaware’s award recipients were recognized Saturday, February 11th, at Delaware State University in Dover.

During the ceremony, Sanford students were honored for outstanding work.

The tables below show Sanford’s Scholastic 2012 art and writing award winners.

Writing Award Winners–Upper & Middle Schools Name Silvana Alfieri Danny Coburn

Laura Davies William Landis Jack Mecca Peter Sabini

Category and Title of Work Short Story: “Unlucky” Personal Essay/Memoir: “Life’s Silhouettes” Personal Essay/Memoir: “September Bear” Poetry: “Death Steps” Personal Memoir: “Saturdays at Quest” Poetry: “When I Start to Laugh” and “Music Man” Short Story: “The Journal of Thomas A. Mauro” Short Story: “Leadership”

Award Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Gold Key Honorable Mention

Art Award Winners–Upper & Middle Schools

From the top: Nick Meehan, Vanishing Point; Tian Qiu, Microcosm; Maude Ceruso, Girl in Orange; Riley Wohlman, Figura en Blanco; Zach Jarome, The Lost Forest

Name Maude Ceruso Haley Dabkowski Zach Jarome Nick Meehan Guinevere Pitcher Tian Qiu Alexandra Rubin Craig Waegerle Emily Widdoes Riley Wohlman

Category and Title of Work Digital Art, Girl in Orange Photography Portfolio Digital Art, The Lost Forest Photography: Vanishing Point Art Portfolio Photography: Microcosm Drawing: Still as Could Be Art Portfolio Photography Portfolio Sculpture, Figura en Blanco

Award Silver Key Honorable Mention Silver Key Gold Key Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Silver Key Silver Key

t h e a r t s at s a n f or d

21

s a n f or d SRTC presents Lend Me a Tenor The Sanford Repertory Theatre Company delivered an outstanding performance of

Lend Me a Tenor November 4th and 5th in Geipel Auditorium. This hilarious comedy, which consisted of a chain-reaction of mistaken identity, farcical plot twists, and double entendres showcased the extraordinary talents of our performers and stage crew members. And, as always, parents, alumni, faculty members, and friends contributed their time and talent to create another Broadway at Sanford production.

From above, clockwise: Max (Gregory Wolf) and Tito (Nicholas Madden) share in the wonder of singing.

Maria (Cristina Riegel) recounts her frustration with her husband, Tito, and his philandering ways.

Maggie (Anna Filak) attempts to get her father, Saunders, (Christopher Malafronti) to take his pills.

The Bellhop (Benson Cook), Diana (Mary Mecca), Maggie (Anna Filak), and Saunders (Christopher Malafronti) are excited at the thought of meeting world-famous tenor Tito Merelli.

s p o t l i g h t on at h le t i c s

22

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

Spotlight on ATHLETICS 2011 Fall Honors Volleyball 1st Team All Conference: Holly Freeman 2nd Team All Conference: Mathilde Terrasse 3rd Team All Conference: Anneli Wingertz Senior All Star Game: Holly Freeman, Leah Todd, Anjie White

Soccer 1st Team All Conference: Jordan Poarch, Parker Landau 2nd Team All Conference: David den Ottolander, Danny Bloom, Jake Ruddy

“Considering our number of injuries and strength of schedule (7th toughest in Delaware) the boys’ soccer team had a very successful season. Several underclassmen stepped in and made significant contributions.

Everyone worked hard and we improved every day.”

–Dan Bloom, Head Boys’ Soccer Coach

boys’ soccer

Honorable Mention All Conference: Kevin DiMauro, Brett Humphreys 1st Team All State (Top 11 selection): Jordan Poarch 3rd Team All State (Rep Team): Parker Landau Regional All American: Jordan Poarch Senior All Star Game: Jordan Poarch, Parker Landau

Field Hockey 1st Team All Conference: Amira Hannon, Jaime Glass, McKenzie Frederick 2nd Team All Conference: Taylor Denham, Emily Bloom, Corrie Struthers, Samantha Noel Senior All Star Game: Taylor Denham

“The fall of 2011 cross country team took some significant strides this season! We had many Warrior athletes step up and run some impressive times, and these student athletes will only improve as they learn to discover their talents and abilities. I am really looking forward to working with this group in the upcoming season.”

–Mike Holloway, Head Cross Country Coach

cross country

s p o t l i g h t on at h le t i c s

23

“The team had a good balance of experience and fresh faces this year. The players really came together to give us a great season with some really exciting games; but we know that the best is still ahead.”

–Ben Lee, Head Volleyball Coach

volleyball

“Sanford sports are terrific. My family and I enjoy both the athleticism and the spirit that prevail at Warrior events.”

• Parent of a lower school student

“Another wonderful overall experience with the team. Within just one year, I’ve seen a change in attitude towards the sport. The girls showed up at every practice ready to take on another challenge, and although our game results may not show it, the growth that occurred will result in more wins to come. So far I already have 15 girls signed up for camp in 2012, and about 15 that are playing indoor together every Sunday. I was so pleased with our leadership this year; the season ran smoothly and we had a lot of laughs. I just wish I had the seniors for one, maybe two more years.”

–Megan McGuin, Head Field Hockey Coach

field hockey

24

c at c h i n g u p w i t h a lumn i a n d t h e d evelo p men t o f f i c e

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

Catching up with Alumni and the

Help Sanford Stay Strong

Support the Annual Fund 2011-2012 The percentage of families who participate in the Annual Fund is an important criterion used by foundations when awarding grant support to schools. As of March, 2012, current families have already reached 55% participation while overall alumni support is 8%. We are well on our way toward achieving our $400,000 goal, but we need everyone’s support!

Your tax deductible gift directly supports Sanford’s academics, arts, athletics and other exceptional educational experiences. Please keep Sanford strong and make your gift today or visit www.sanfordschool.org.

Save the Date

Homecoming 2012 Friday, September 28th & Saturday, September, 29th Homecoming & Reunion weekend featuring a celebration in honor of Chip Mayo and his 35 years of service as well as: Friday Night Picnic • 4th Annual Thelma Miller Memorial Alumni Basketball Game • Student Athletic Contests • Warrior 5K Fun Run & 1K Walk • Alumni Soccer, Field Hockey & Volleyball Games • Presentation of the Alumni Awards

Class Reunions The following classes are celebrating reunions!

If you are interested in helping the Alumni Office coordinate your reunion, please contact, alumni@sanfordschool.org, or call 302.239.5263, x 258. We would love to hear from you!

Class of 1962......................................50th Reunion Class of 1967......................................45th Reunion Class of 1972......................................40th Reunion Class of 1977......................................35th Reunion Class of 1982......................................30th Reunion Class of 1987......................................25th Reunion Class of 1992......................................20th Reunion Class of 1997......................................15th Reunion Class of 2002......................................10th Reunion Class of 2007........................................ 5th Reunion

c at c h i n g u p w i t h a lumn i a n d t h e d evelo p men t o f f i c e

25

Development Office

Special Events Bring Alumni Together Pre-Holiday Social in Downtown Wilmington O

ver the holidays, Sanford alumni were able to reconnect. In the first year of this event, more than 60 alumni from graduation classes spanning over the last 20 years came together for a pre-Thanksgiving holiday social at the Public House Wilmington. Alums were able to connect with their former Sanford classmates and teachers, meet other alums, and share many laughs and memories. It was an awesome event and another occasion where we were proud to be Sanford alumni.

Alex Carrington ’06 and Athletic Director Joan Samonisky reconnect at the event; Mike Iacono ’06 shares a moment with his former teacher, Jackie Pitts ’55; Paris Waterman ’07, Dan Senkler ’07, Nick Iacono ’07, Brandon Johnson ’05, and Cassandra Deitrick ’07 enjoy the tailgate.

Upper School Dean of Students Stan Waterman catches up with Mike Snow ’01; Class of 2008 members Olivia Murphy, Kailin Johnson, Becky Campbell, Nicole Dabkowski, Arielle Blackwell, and Loryn Green are reunited; Morgyn Demby ’06, Shadae Hicks ’06, and Rachel Denis ’07 share a laugh.

Pre-Game Tailgate in Philly Sanford alumnus Alex Carrington ’06, who works for the

Philadelphia Union, helped the alumni office coordinate an exciting event at the Philadelphia Union in September. The development office sponsored a pre-game tailgate for Sanford alumni who came out to the game. More than 30 alums came out to enjoy food, friends, fun, and some futbol!

Unless otherwise noted, all of the people in the photographs are identified from left to right.

26

a lumn i no t es

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

Sanford Alumni Notes Sanford Alumni Notes A recent note from Ray Olivere ’42 and his wife Kathryn Wakefield, said: “Our neighbors and fellow tenants asked us to beautify the empty retail space in our building with Ray’s paintings. In keeping with the current New York trend of pop-up galleries and alternative art viewing spaces—we agreed. The response has been quite favorable.

These are even more reasons why we think so highly of our neighbors and neighborhood.”

Jon Bjornson, MD ’50 has retired from practice of psychiatry with sub-specialty of forensics. He was associate clinical professor at Thomas Jefferson Medical School for over 20 years.

Bob Crawford ’54 recently said that in spite of his age he is now participating in Zumba classes at his local health club and surviving!

Kendrick Lee ’56 had this picture taken on a recent trip to Denali Park, with, as he said, “A sadly nearly invisible Denali Mountain [a.k.a. “Mt. McKinley”] in the right background. I’m about 2 miles west and slightly north of Wonder Lake; and about 35 mi. from Denali.”

Submit Alumni Notes to: Alumni Notes, Sanford School P.O. Box 888, Hockessin, DE 19707-0888

or email: alumni@sanfordschool.org

Stephanie Tramdack Cash ’68 is busy with her financial translation business and more and more volunteering for her church and the American Translator Association. However, she told us she is also focusing more on fun and get-togethers with friends.

Reconnecting with classmates was a special occasion for Bobbie Blake, Barbara Law White, Peter Jennings and Kathy Moon Hughes, all from the class of 1968, who gathered in Bethany Beach, Delaware for dinner on August 4th.

Before dinner, the four met at the summer home of Barbara Law White, in Ocean View, Delaware which was adjacent to a lot owned by Peter Jennings.

Peter and Barbara were astonished when they made this discovery. The group hopes that more of their classmates can join them next year as they hope to make it an annual summer gathering. They would love to hear from other 68ers who are in the Delmarva area.

Below: Bobbie Blake, Barbara Law White, Peter Jennings and Kathy Moon Hughes at Barbara’s summer home in Bethany Beach, Delaware.

a lumn i no t es

27

Sanford Alumni Notes Sanford Alumni Notes

Marci Peller Bakke ’69 recently said, “I am very happy to announce that on May 28, 2011 I was married to Russell Bakke at our home in Las Vegas, Nevada.

I met Russ in October, 2010.

He’s retired and originally from Wisconsin. He has a 19-year-old daughter named Kimberly who is currently going to International cooking school. Russ is past chairman of Mensa.”

Jo Anne Arning Martin ’70 cannot believe it has been 40+ years since graduation. She said, “My youngest son finished his freshmen year of college last spring and my youngest granddaughter started high school this fall.

How time flies? Hopefully, we can make a trip to Delaware this summer so that I can show everyone where I went to school and where their dad taught.”

Cynthia Cope Rasemas ’77 and her husband, Joe, are delighted to announce that their son, Jeremy (right), is attending kindergarten at Sanford! Jeremy’s grandmother is the former Upper School English Department Head Bea Cope, who is also very happy that her youngest grandchild will be going to Sanford.

Jaime Arruda ’94 and her husband, Kevin Scott, announce the birth of Vivienne Rachel Scott on October 27 in Denver, Colorado. Vivienne joins big brothers Charlie, 7 and Theo, 5.

Kelly McNutt Donahue ’86 (above) poses with a rally towel for a picture with her children, Phil Donahue ’16 and Patsy Donahue ’19, along with her nephew, Michael Kwiatkowski ’95AA. They were in San Diego for Michael’s wedding.

Laura Horn Dember ’86 wrote to say: “I haven’t seen any news from my 1986 class so I thought that I’d check in. I have been teaching art in a high school in Virginia Beach, Virginia for the past 16 years.

Last year I started graduate school to get my master’s in education degree in library media science.

My son is a junior at VCU, pre med, and my daughter attends a health sciences academy high school in Virginia Beach and wants to go into medicine as well. Sanford instilled in us the values that we have passed on to our children.”

Aaron Burgstein ’90 is a Lt Col, in the USAF and will be finishing up three years as the commander of the 1st Combat Camera Squadron, Joint Base in Charleston South Carolina this summer and will then head to DC as the Senior Air Force Fellow at the Atlantic Council, a DC-based think tank. www.acus.org.

Christine Pruitt Plasterer ’95 and husband, David, welcomed Jackson Thomas Plasterer on May 12, 2011. Jackson was born at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces.

He’s already an avid Phillies fan.

Brian Matthews ’96 and his wife, Susan, had their second child, Quinn Caleb Matthews, on October 20, 2011. Big sister Lila is very happy to have a baby brother.

Unless otherwise noted, all of the people in the photographs are identified from left to right.

28

a lumn i no t es

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

Sanford Alumni Notes Sanford Alumni Notes Katie Compton ’97 has just won her 8th USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championship elite national title! According to reports by Velo News, Katie made the slippery USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championships course outside Madison, Wisconsin look easy. Belowfreezing overnight temperatures and a partially rolled-flat course made for a very fast, frozen course for the collegiate men in the morning, who posted the fastest lap times of the week. But, by the time the women went at noon, the course was warmed up and rutted into a criss-cross of muddy trenches that sent most of America’s best to the ground at least once. Kudos to you, Katie!

Jake Mosberg ’99 and his wife, Lee Anna, welcomed Tess Elizabeth Mosberg. Tess was born on January 11, 2012 and weighted 5 lbs 14 oz.

Adeline Johnston Polisi was born on April 29th to Caroline Johnston Polisi ’00 and Ryan Polisi. She weighed 6 pounds 4 oz.

Rachel Andaloro ’02 recently said: “I graduated last May from my psychology doctoral program and received my degree (finally!) in August. I am now Dr. Andaloro :o) I started my residency in clinical neuropsychology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center,

Harvard Medical School in September and will hold that position for two years. Other than work, my husband, dog, and I have been thoroughly enjoying Boston and New England for the year that I have lived here.”

Ben Louchheim ’02 is teaching history at Hingham High School and coaching Lacrosse while working on his master’s degree.

Amy Pia ’02 was married on July 9, 2011 to Jamie Clark at the Hotel duPont. Other Sanford alumni who attended were: Lisa Pia ’99, Stacey Samonisky ’02, Elizabeth Miller Schaff ’02, Michelle Bretko Pullen ’02, Jaime Lareau Morgan ’02, Kim Pasquale ’02, and Danielle Ament DeCarlo ’99.

Chris Wilkens ’03 is currently a third year grad student at Berkley majoring in computer science.

Chris plans to be a professor.

Alex DeMarino ’04 recently told us: “I am currently a regional manager at Coyote Logistics, based in Chicago, Illinois. Coyote is the fastest growing company in the logistics industry and was recently selected as the number one place to work in the greater Chicago area. If you’re ever out in the windy city drop me a line.”

In December, Nick Cochran ’06 and his men made it out of Iraq safely and then landed in Kuwait for debriefing and such. He arrived at his base in Fort Hood, Texas on December 8th and was home for New Years!

a lumn i no t es

29

Sanford Alumni Notes Sanford Alumni Notes In May, Stephanie Moyer ’06 started teaching social studies at Pencader Charter High School.

After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Dickinson, Lilly Bieber-ham ’07 did a fourand-a-half month internship at the Wildlife Film Festival in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Nate Knisely ’07 graduated in May 2011 from Guilford College with a BS in physics and math. He started graduate school in August in the field of aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech.

In September, Ryan John ’08 performed at a concert in Central Park. Ryan said: “I was one of 100 members from the Westminster Symphonic Choir. The main performers, besides Andrea Bocelli included the New York Philharmonic, Bryn Terfel, Celine Dion, and Tony Bennett. It was a TON of fun, and it was really over the top, but it was a great night and I had a blast being involved! The concert was released in DVD format on November 15th and was broadcasted on PBS on December 2nd. ” Ryan went on to say, “I absolutely love school and I get to be involved in some pretty awesome projects now that I’m an upperclassman! I’m on a recording of the music of James Whitbourn that was just released called Living Voices (it’s on iTunes and Amazon). I also got to sing in a few other awesome concerts this semester, including, Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem, with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Verizon Hall, at The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, PA and Handel: Messiah with the New York Philharmonic Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center in New York, NY.”

When Ryan John travels and performs, he takes a piece of Sanford with him. Check out his Warrior rally towel.

Edwin Santiago ’07 was drafted in August to play professional basketball in the Super 25 league in Puerto Rico! His team is the Quebradillas Pirates.

In December 2011, Kelly Reynolds ’08 traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii courtesy of the National Science Foundation, to present her research paper at the International Conference on Machine Learning and

Applications 2011. Kelly, a senior math and computer science major at Ursinus College, will present her research on Using Machine Learning to Detect Cyber Bulling. Kelly’s invitation to participate in the computer science aspect of this project led her to a double major in computer science and she has also decided to pursue this research as an honors project.

Jamie Milliski ’08, now a senior at Elon University, shared this update: “I have grown so much thanks to Sanford preparing me very well for college. I became a selected member for the Periclean Scholars program, a unique program to Elon that is both academic enriching and service oriented. The program can best be described as bringing together diverse students, overseen by a faculty mentor that work together as a cohort of social entrepreneurs, to create a social development project in a country of focus that relates to a local project. The main theme here is global citizenship and partnerships. We do not just send checks to our partners. Please visit the website for more information (http://org.elon.edu/pericleanscholars2012/). My class has partnered with The Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP) in rural India. We have been very successful so far in raising over $20,000 as well as completing internship projects on the ground there last June. I was able to travel to India for a month and create database programs that increased the efficiency of their business practices. The money raised has specifically helped grow the Adolescent Girls Program at CRHP that aims to address the gender inequity in Indian society. Now, a main goal of our class is to keep our projects sustainable post graduation. Funding has become an issue for this organization, so our class is trying to be as creative as possible. In addition, we are trying to reach out and educate other communities about the issues young girls face in India. We have focused on the Adolescent Girls Program that empowers girls ages 13-19 through educational workshops and income generating activities. The program has been proved successful thus far and they are looking to expand.

I want to thank Mr. Wagner and Sanford for allowing a jeans day fundraiser and opportunity to speak to high school students during morning meeting about the Periclean Scholars Program I am involved with at Elon, CRHP, and how their jeans day money will be spent to help young girls their age create opportunities for themselves and overcome extreme gender discrimination. If anyone would like to read more about CRHP and their successful health care model which has been recognized by UNICEF, please visit http://jamkhed.org/.”

Unless otherwise noted, all of the people in the photographs are identified from left to right.

30

a lumn i no t es

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

Sanford Alumni Notes Sanford Alumni Notes Emily Stewart ’08 spent her summer in New Mexico with her mom. She wrote, “Every day in college and in my summer job at the Children’s Museum in Santa Fe I am always grateful for the many academic and life lessons my years at Sanford taught me, and I am so glad that I am a part of the Sanford Family.”

Chris Copeland ’09 is now in his junior year at Stanford majoring in electrical engineering. He is headed to Japan for a 5 month study abroad/internship experience in March 2012.

Sanford grads and former Sanford field hockey players Katie Zubrow ’10 and Morgan Ayars ’09 (shown at right) were members of the national championship University of Delaware Club Field Hockey Team this fall.

We want your

photos for

alumni notes Thank you for sending us photos for alumni notes. To help ensure that we can use the photos you send, please follow the guidelines below.

IF YOU’RE SENDING DIGITAL PHOTOS: Set your digital camera to a high-quality photo resolution.

Send JPEG or TIFF files.

Email your photos as attachments. If the file size prevents sending your images as attachments, send an email to communications@sanfordschool.org.

We will provide instructions for uploading your photos.

Identify everyone in the photo and include a caption.

Do not include your photos in the body of an email message.

Do not compress photos to a file size below 300K.

IF YOU’RE SENDING TRADITIONAL PRINTS: Send glossy prints.

Avoid matte or textured prints because they do not scan well.

During the annual Diamond State Classic hoops tournament in Wilmington in December, former Sanford players came out to support this year’s girls’ basketball team. The reunited Lady Warriors are: Megan Brown ’09, Danielle Fleming ’11, Jamie Milliski ’08, Olivia Peeke ’10, Jasmine Gibson ’08, and Alexa Webb ’10.

Unless otherwise noted, all of the people in the photographs are identified from left to right.

If you have questions about your photo submission, send an email to: communications@sanfordschool.org

i n memor i a m

31

In Memoriam We extend our deepest sympathy to families and friends of these members of the Sanford community.

John Squires ’ 67 “Besides John’s pursuit of excellence in sports and music, and eventually academics, I was always impressed with his kindness and thoughtfulness of others…not a selected few, but all others.” –Jackie Pitts

John Squires ’67, founder and co-owner of Home Helpers-Media Office, recently died at his home of lung cancer. After Sanford, John went on to the University of Delaware, graduating in 1971. Throughout his school years, he was actively involved in baseball, football, basketball and choir. John credited his Sanford experience and his algebra teacher, Jackie Pitts, for helping to mold him into the successful business owner and compassionate and ethical person he became. “Besides John’s pursuit of excellence in sports and music, and eventually academics, I was always impressed with his kindness and thoughtfulness of others…not a selected few, but all others,” said Pitts. John was presented a Sanford Alumni Award in 2009 and in the spring of 2011 expressed his appreciation of his experience at Sunny Hills by joining the Evergreen Society.

In 2002, John and his wife Janet purchased a Home Helpers franchise. Today, the company employs more than 220 caregivers and staff members providing non-medical, in-home care services to more than 250 clients throughout western Delaware County, eastern Chester County and the Main Line. “We are committed to maintaining the ethical and professional standards that John put into place,” said Tom Carroll, co-owner of Home Helpers Media Office. “His legacy will continue to inspire and challenge us to be the best we can be.” Over the years the Media Home Helpers Office has received many awards, but John was most proud of was winning “Best of Delco” two years in a row, and, most recently, the office was awarded the Home Helpers Pioneer Award by the corporate office. This award recognizes franchisees that have made a difference through innovation and great ideas, exemplifying exceptional creativity and utilizing creative approaches to positively grow their business.

John actively served on many committees. He was co-founder of the SE Chapter of the National Private Duty Association, past-president and current member of Home Helpers Philadelphia Marketing Co-Op and, most recently, a member of the Riddle Cancer Center Advisory Committee.

John’s love of the arts, music and sports continued throughout his adult years. He and Janet actively attended the Media Theatre and the DuPont Theatre. He was a bass singer with the Neumann University Concert Chorale and an avid fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and University of Delaware football team.

John was known as a devoted family man who was admired and respected by anyone who knew him. His profound sense of thoughtfulness and caring personally touched many lives. He will deeply be missed, but his memories will remain forever in our hearts. In addition to his wife Janet and daughter Ann, John is survived by two sisters, Kaye Raffensperger and Elizabeth Miller.

A memorial service for John took place at Christ Church in Media, PA. A special dedication service took place in the Kenneth D. Jones Memorial Chapel at Sanford School. Memorial donations can be made to the American Lung Association at www.lungusa.org/donate/ or to the Great Guys Group, a non-profit organization that financially supports families battling cancer. Checks should be made payable to Great Guys Group. Please include John’s name on the memo line and mail to: 940 West Valley Road, Suite 1602, Wayne, PA 19087. If you wish to send your condolences, please email Janet at JanetSquires@trustedhomecare.cc. continued to page 31

32

i n memor i a m

Sanford . Winter/Spring 2012

In Memoriam

continued from page 31

Susan Forman, a former teacher at Sanford from 1987 until 1997, passed away suddenly at her home in State College, PA. She was a gentle and loving fourth grade teacher. Susan was well traveled and loved sharing her knowledge of other lands and cultures with her students. Susan received her undergraduate degree from Penn State and was a huge Nittany Lions’ football fan. Susan had season tickets to all home games and was able to encourage her students to root for Penn State. If the Nittany Lions won their Saturday game, Susan’s fourth graders wouldn’t have homework the following Monday night! Susan had a great sense of fun and an infectious laugh. She was a wonderful teacher.

Lee Ann Hahn Head ’46 passed away in August 2011 in Keene New Hampshire. She was predeceased by her sister, Marylee Hahn Merritt ’46. While at Sanford, Lee was active in baseball, field hockey and lacrosse. In later years she had a dollhouse hobby.

The mother of Kara Lieberman ’74, Dianne Stage, passed away on April 21, 2011 at the age of 84. She had resided at Churchman’s Village since May 2008. Kara told us she visited her mother every week. She was grateful to her mother for enrolling her at Sanford which she enjoyed much more than public school.

Deborah Skinner Parks ’72, of Milford, DE, passed away Sunday, July 31, 2011, at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, surrounded by her family. She came to Sanford in the fourth grade. She became a terrific athlete and an accomplished rider.

The Cajnar sisters, Annie ’77 and Martina ’74, recall fond memories of horse riding through the local countryside with Debbie and her younger sister, Jackie. They told us Debbie was “adventure,” protection and high energy. They said, “We and so many others at Sanford will never forget Debbie and her kindness to younger Sanford students.” Cathy duPont Varacchi ’73 also had fond memories of Debbie and they remained close friends though the years. Cathy chose to honor Debbie with the planting of a tree in Chapel Valley.

Debbie was self employed for many years, the owner and operator of Parks Paint and Paper. She loved the outdoors and animals, especially enjoying her free time spent horse back riding and fishing. She was a member of the Cooch’s Bridge Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution. She is survived by her husband of 30 years, Peter J. Parks; her parents, Albert and Jacqueline Skinner of Hockessin, DE; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Jackie S. and Fredrick Ohrenschall of Bear, DE and Stephanie and B. Christopher Daney of Avondale, PA.

What’s New With You?

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the S.P.C.A., Sussex Chapter, 22918 DuPont Blvd, Georgetown, DE, 19947 or to Sarcoma Cancer Research (checks payable to John Hopkins Medicine), Johns Hopkins Hospital, 100 N. Charles St., Suite 234, Baltimore, MD, 21201.

Send us your news about your job, travels, weddings, births, schooling, visits with friends, etc., for the next issue of Sanford magazine. You may also use this form for any name or address changes. Please print the information below, then cut out the form, and mail it to Sanford School, P.O. Box 888, Hockessin, DE 19707-0888 Name:

Class of:

Your News:

Email address: Please include my email address in the Sanford email directory (www.sanfordschool.org).

Or email us today and let us know what’s new: alumni@sanfordschool.org

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID WILMINGTON, DE PERMIT NO. 1713

P.O. Box 888 Hockessin, DE 19707-0888 Forwarding address and correction requested