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Special Summer Edition Summer 2013 1
Brooks School Board of Trustees 2013–2014* President William N. Booth ’67 Chestnut Hill, MA Vice President W. J. Patrick Curley III ’69 New York, NY Paul L. Hallingby ’65 New York, NY Secretary Charles E. Bascom ’60 Marion, MA Treasurer Donald R. Peck Lexington, MA
Pamela W. Albright Topsfield, MA John R. Barker ’87 Wellesley, MA Lammot Copeland, Jr. ’50 Wilmington, DE Anthony H. Everets ’93 New York, NY Carol W. Geremia Sherborn, MA Steven R. Gorham ’85 Andover, MA Booth Kyle ’89 Seattle, WA John R. Packard, Jr. Head of School North Andover, MA Ginger Pearson ’99 Lowell, MA Charles C. Platt ’71 New York, NY Belisario A. Rosas Andover, MA Lynne A. Sawyer ’83 New York, NY Letitia Wightman Scott ’84 Manchester, MA Thomas E. Shirley Beverly, MA Isabella Speakman Timon ’92 Montchanin, DE Ramakrishna Sudireddy Andover, MA Joseph F. Trustey III Wenham, MA
* as of aug. 1, 2013
Alumni Trustee Elizabeth C. Donohue ’12 Andover, MA Trustees Emeriti Lucius A. D. Andrew ’57 Seattle, WA Henry M. Buhl ’48 New York, NY Steve Forbes ’66 Bedminster, NJ James G. Hellmuth Lawrence, NY H. Anthony Ittleson ’56 Green Pond, SC Michael B. Keating ’58 Boston, MA Frank A. Kissel ’69 Far Hills, NJ Peter A. Nadosy ’64 New York, NY Peter W. Nash ’51 Nantucket, MA Cera B. Robbins New York, NY Eleanor R. Seaman Hobe Sound, FL David R. Williams III ’67 Beverly Farms, MA
f e at u r e s 20 30
Graduation 2013 After four years of homework, athletic contests, adviser meetings, exams and a lot of hard work, the class of 2013 celebrated its accomplishments during Graduation Weekend. Boo-Hoo Chapel offered a chance to say good-bye and good luck, while Lawn Ceremony and Prize Day were full of praise for the graduates.
Together Again One day saw torrential downpours and the next was bright and sunny, but despite wacky weather, both days of Alumni Weekend 2013 were full of happy events. Friends from long ago reconnected around dinner tables and at their favorite spots on campus — down by the boathouses, in the Wilder Dining Hall, in the Danforth Room and elsewhere.
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Back On Campus
departments 2
| Head of School’s Message
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| News & Notes
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| Spring Sports Report
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| Athletics: Year in Review
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| The Arts: Year in Review
Alumni wrote in to share details of their Alumni Weekend experiences, and talk about why these two days every five years are so special, as they reflect on their time at Brooks. Read their firsthand accounts of what made this year’s reunion so meaningful.
on the cover: on this page:
Ian Leefmans ’13 and his classmates celebrate during Prize Day. Members of the class of 1982 pose for a photo during their Alumni Weekend class dinner in the Athletic Center.
Head of school’s message
Mission Intersections As the summer winds down and we gradually turn our attention to the school year soon to begin, we also bring with us fond memories of the Lawn Ceremony, Prize Day and Alumni Weekend, all of which are fresh in mind despite the few months that have elapsed since then. Our hope with this issue of the Brooks Bulletin is to capture some of what was so enjoyable and meaningful during that late-May and early-June stretch of time. When May 1 hits, the school moves from what is already an aggressive pace into a full sprint carrying us through the end of the year. Advanced Placement exams come and go, final college destinations are determined for the sixth form, spring trustee meetings are held, and we all set our sights on finishing well. I have noted before that this final stretch of the year brings a great deal to the surface. As we finish with a graduating class whose members Head of School John R. Packard
are so embedded in the school, their classmates and experiences that they have had on this campus, we become increasingly mindful of the time that slips away so quickly in the spring. This class made good use of the dwindling days in May, I think, and the many accolades and accomplishments we celebrated with them during Memorial Day weekend were well deserved. I shared the following with those in attendance on Prize Day itself in an effort to convey what had been on my mind as the class of 2013 approached the finish line: “In my final Chapel address of this year at the beginning of the month, I found myself with two distinct feelings heading into it: The first was a desire to have these soon-to-be graduates feel that the school has been true to its word. That we have met and exceeded expectations. That we have reached them in ways that have taken deep root. The second was a sense of time ticking away at what always feels like record speed in May. I wanted them to embrace what they had left; to know that it is fleeting and to make the most of it; to leave with no regrets. There is a part of me that just wants to stop the clock from ticking and allow them to be so wonderfully immersed in one another’s lives — so together, so known to one another, so confident in relationships they have here and in themselves on this campus.” Although the clock cannot and should not stop as our graduates head for what’s next in their lives, we do hold our collective breath when students walk across the stage, accept a diploma from the school and leave this phase of their Brooks School life. How well have we done? I wondered about this question on Prize Day, as well. Have we achieved some of what our goals were when we started out with them? Namely, I asked with this graduating class in front of me: did they face challenges in and out of the classroom unlike any they had confronted before; gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of what rigor really is; develop friendships here that they are absolutely certain will be with them for the rest of their lives; been taught by teachers whose lessons never go away; and leave here with fun and laughter under their belts that will always return to the surface when they do find time for one another in the future? The truth is that we do not know in the moment, as that diploma is being handed off, how we did, and there is no prescribed or pre-ordained point at which all Brooks School graduates come to realize the full meaning of this experience.
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Yet, there we all were just 11 days
this sentiment with current students –
later at Alumni Weekend, gathering with
attempting to bridge the time between those
graduates spanning more than 60 years —
having this experience in the moment and
back on campus because there is something
those who have found deeper meaning in
about this school that tugs at their hearts
this experience through the years. I doubt
and heads. I believe that great schools earn
that I succeed in any profound way, but
the right to make such a claim by finding
what we experience when we gather with
permanent places in kids’ hearts and in their
graduates spanning the better part of the
heads. Great schools continue to inspire
school’s history is worth sharing with those
with lessons that echo well beyond time
who are here in the moment. Indeed, the
spent on this campus as a student. The
juxtaposition of Prize Day and reunions
times when a younger alumna or alumnus
shortly thereafter brings the school’s
remarks on the beauty of all that surrounds
mission into prominent view for all of us.
us, or an older graduate speaks about
These events remind those of us serving and
feeling a tangible sense of where he is when
stewarding this school at this point in time
returning to this 251-acre place, are simply
what it is we are really after with students.
too many to count. Thus, it is so gratifying
We are proud of the class of 2013,
to be in the midst of Brooks School
confident about what its members will
graduates recalling the time spent here. To
become, and hopeful that their Brooks
hear them remembering that time in ways
experience will resonate in ways that will
that resemble what I wonder about when
lead them to return to this beautiful place
we graduate students in the spring fills all
in five years. In time, members of this
of us who work here with a profound sense
class will earn their way into the Athletic
that we are part of a meaningful continuum
Hall of Fame, or will be celebrated for the
— a great school that aspires to deliver the
ongoing care they have for this school and
most meaningful educational experience
all they have achieved in their lives. Clearly,
our students will have in their lives. If Prize
alumni award-winners Jim Lee ’48, Peter
Day poses the questions, surely Alumni
deMenocal ’78, Ann Lee Grimstad ’88, and
Weekend provides the answers.
Cliff Irons ’63 have cared deeply about
A particularly moving and fulfilling
Brooks School and have led lives we are
part of Alumni Weekend is the Memorial
all proud of. The fact that a day will come
Service and Convocation. In so many ways,
when some from this year’s graduating class
the tributes that are paid to alumni and
will return to be so honored is a wonderful
alumnae who have passed since the previous
thought to bear in mind between the school
Alumni Weekend reveal how the school’s
years.
mission has been realized for those many years removed from their own Prize Day. I must say that I have hoped on many
I wish all of you a pleasant finish to your summer and a smooth beginning to whatever awaits you in September.
occasions that years from now the young men and women currently in our charge
John R. Packard has served as head of school
will recall one another in the same rich
at Brooks since 2008, and has been a faculty
and powerful ways. With mixed success,
member since 1990. You can reach him at
I have tried on a few occasions to share
jpackard@brooksschool.org.
BROOKS B U L L E T I N
Head of School John R. Packard Associate Head for External Affairs Jim Hamilton Director of Development Gage Dobbins Director of Alumni Programs Emily French ’03 Director of Communications and Marketing Dan Callahan Editor/Writer Michelle Morrissey Associate Director of Communications Writer Emily Williams Alumni Communications Manager Photography Dan Callahan Michelle Morrissey Mike Sperling Emily Williams Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome. Opinions expressed in the Bulletin are those of the authors and not necessarily of Brooks School. Correspondence concerning the Bulletin should be addressed to: Bulletin Editor, Brooks School 1160 Great Pond Road North Andover, MA 01845 (978) 725-6244 or send your comments via e-mail to: editor@brooksschool.org Copyright © 2013 Brooks School, North Andover, MA
Summer 2013 5
Campus scene
From left, members of the class of 2013 Jack Slye, Lauren Zoppo and Pauline Zenker lead their classmates to the graduation tent on Prize Day.
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Summer Spring 2013 7
News&Notes
Unplugged After participating in the Green Cup Challenge (a nationwide competition to reduce electricity consumption) for seven years, last year Brooks School struck out on its own with St. Paul’s School and Phillips Exeter to start something new: a dorm-to-dorm, school-to-school challenge that enables students to make energy-use changes and see the results of their behavior modifications at the dorm level on a daily basis. Brooks proved victorious in the contest against Governor’s Academy and Exeter this spring, due largely to the daily tips from contest leaders Alastair Chang ’13 and Austin Cheng ’13. Students became more conscious of turning off an Xbox 360 when not in use, switching incandescent lights to LED lights and unplugging all electrical appliances for long weekends. The best part, Chang said, is that the habit-changing effects of the contest will last long after the energy-consumption glory has faded.
Arty Awards Jayde Gordon-Dawson ’13 and Thalia Garcia-Lakongpheng ’13.
All Decked Out for Prom It was all about brightly colored gowns and traditional tuxes for this year’s prom. Students posed for photos behind Head of School John Packard’s house for about an hour before boarding buses taking them to the Haverhill Country Club, where they enjoyed a sit-down dinner and some dancing. Parents of prom-goers also attended a reception that evening, and were asked to bring their own prom photos from their high school days. The fashions of yesteryear — anyone remember blue ruffle tuxedos? — brought a lot of laughs.
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Lauren Zoppo ’13 and Jeff Shin ’13.
Three students earned kudos this spring for their photography in the prestigious Boston Globe Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition. For Delaney Blatchly ’14, it started just by noticing something while on vacation in Gibraltar — a monkey on a wall. “It was a beautiful day and this monkey was casually sitting on the wall overlooking the city. I think the photograph I shot is an incredible mash-up of wild and urban,” said Delaney, who won a Silver Key award. Lidiana Lantigua ’15 and Morgan Dunn ’15 received honorable mentions in the contest, now in its 90th year. “Having your work chosen out of more than 13,000 works of art is an accomplishment in itself. Knowing that a panel of judges picked their work out of so many images will, I hope, inspire them to create more,” said Shelley Zatsky, photography teacher.
Ben Shirley ’13, left, and organizer Jack Slye ’13 make an announcement during the Relay for Life.
More Than 100 Students Walk Laps for Life Students raised $24,000 for the American Cancer Society this spring through a Relay for Life event held in the school’s gym. Organized by Jack Slye ’13 and Community Service Director Shaunielle McDonald ’94, students walked laps around the basketball courts in relay teams between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. during one weekend. The all-night fund-raiser also featured a number of fun activities — a soccer tournament, ZUMBA classes, a limbo contest, dodge ball games, a hula-hoop contest — as well as a somber luminaria ceremony. Students decorated paper bags with special messages for loved ones affected by cancer. The bags were then placed around the walking track, and students eventually placed a lit glow stick in each to create a reflective mood in the gym. Andrew Lee ’13
and Jill Gerson ’13 shared their stories about losing their mothers to cancer; Ren Robinson ’13 talked about losing a close friend to the disease. McDonald and fellow faculty member Geoff Sahs ’94 performed two songs, followed by students walking silent laps around the track lit only by the glow of the memory bags.
“Walking the survivor lap, I got to reflect a lot on family. Plus, you think of everyone around you going through the same thing,” said Thalia Garcia-Lakongpheng ’13. She took part to honor her grandmother, who’s been fighting cancer for several years, and other family members who died from the disease.
LEFT: Students decorated luminaria bags in honor of loved ones affected by cancer. RIGHT: From left, Ren Robinson ’13, Jill Gerson ’13, Nick Flannery ’13 and Jack Vailas ’13 strike a silly pose during one of the relay races. The object was to carry a Ping-Pong ball across the finish line on a spoon using only one’s mouth.
Summer 2013 9
News&Notes
Almost at the finish line, a group braves the mud pit.
Good, Not-Exactly-Clean Fun It was hot, it was muddy and it was a pretty great time. The Phillips Brooks Society hosted a “mud run” fund-raiser, that had students and faculty making their way through a military-style obstacle course. The event raised $1,019 for The Mission Continues, a nonprofit that helps returning veterans by matching them with community-service projects. The organization was founded by former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens, who visited campus earlier this year. “It was an awesome day and seeing
TOP LEFT: Olivia Papapetros ’16 and Anna Trustey ’16 laugh after washing off in the giant slip-and-slide after the mud run. BOTTOM LEFT: Harry Page ’16 and Dan Smith ’13 dive deep for a good cause.
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everyone running through the course dirty and smiling made all the work worth it,” said Tyler Britt ’13, one of the event organizers. Students and faculty members — including Leigh Perkins ’81 and Willie Waters ’02 — ran a course that started in front of Blake House and ended behind Peabody House. They then navigated a mud pit and several obstacles — tangled ropes and giant tree trunks were just a few of the challenges that awaited them before they could cross the finish line. Britt and fellow organizer Caroline Trustey ’13 lauded the work of Grounds Supervisor Bill St. Cyr, P’13, P’14, for setting up the course. “I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out and we’re hoping it will become an annual event,” said Britt.
Sibling Alums Pay a Visit Sisters Megan Russell ’03 and Jenn Russell ’06 spoke in the Ashburn Chapel, explaining how the skills they developed through Brooks athletics have helped them in their professional lives. The guests were here to mark Kippy Liddle Day, in honor of Kippy Liddle, a Brooks history teacher, assistant crew coach and dorm parent who died during a boating accident in 1984 in Pennsylvania. Megan, an account executive at the Boston-based financial-services firm FactSet, played on Brooks’ 1st soccer, basketball and crew teams all four years, in addition to captaining the basketball and crew teams. She rowed in the first boat of Holy Cross’ Division I varsity crew team all four years, captaining it her senior year. She said Brooks crew is where she learned about team leadership, when the sixth-formers stayed with the younger kids in the erg, lifted weights with them and designed additional captains’ practices. Megan also talked about injuries suffered. “I was cheering and motivating . . . while sitting on the bench,” she said of one particular soccer season. While still in a leg brace, former coach Bob Morahan called her up to ‘play’ in one of the final games. He did pass along strict instructions before she took the field: Do not touch the ball. “Even though my foot never touched the ball that day ... I was so moved that coach and the team cared enough about me as a player and a teammate to put me in the
Megan Russell ’03, left, and Jenn Russell ’06 visited the Ashburn Chapel for Kippy Liddle Day.
game. They embodied what it meant to be part of a team.” Jenn Russell ’06, a frontline fund-raiser at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, played on Brooks’ 1st soccer, basketball and lacrosse teams all four years and was tri-captain her senior year. She played Division I lacrosse at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where she was a four-year starter, a senior captain, a two-time 1st team All-America and twotime All-ACC. Jenn has been a member of the U.S. Lacrosse Team since her sophomore year of college and brought home the gold medal in the World Cup earlier this summer for Team USA. “As many of my teammates on the national team can attest, as you get older
and reach a certain level, everyone is good. But I know that I was privy to a unique high school experience. At Brooks, I learned how to be a leader and how to be a teammate and the value of developing both of those skills,” Jenn said. She credited her Brooks coaches with being the foundation of her continued athletic success. “The teams I played on at Brooks were successful because of the strong leadership of our coaches, who did not only care about winning, but were also invested in the future of their student-athletes. “This leadership facilitated a focus on teamwork and the value and strength that lie in a collective effort,” she said.
Student Highlights the International Side of Brooks Life Rachel Loh ’14 wants an online journal she started to help share Brooks School’s international voices with the world. Loh organized “Stories Without Borders,” a collection of pieces from classmates in different languages, as a way to highlight the stories that are being told as part of world-language class assignments. The writing can be found on the Brooks School website, www. brooksschool.org. The idea first came to her during the middle of her fourth-form year.
The collection is the first of what she hopes will be a regular feature on the Brooks School website. Her goal is for Stories Without Borders to become the bridge between the international culture on campus and those who aren’t yet Brooks students. “By sharing these stories, the public will not only have a greater sense of the topics being discussed within each class — be it Spanish, French or Mandarin — but they will also gain exposure to alternative perspectives of the outside world,” said Rachel.
Summer 2013 11
sports: spring season wrap-up
Season Highlights boys tennis 5-11-0 Although tennis is in many ways an individual sport, the students at Brooks come together each spring to form a tight-knit team. That support is especially valuable in seasons when winning doesn’t come easy. In 2013, the tennis team fought hard, came up on the short end of the score sheet more often than not and proved to be tenacious and proud. The team was led by sixth-formers Nick Flannery, Josh Lee, Nick Papantonis and Ian Leefmans. New to the squad but significant contributors were Dylan Rathbone ’15, Matt Nightingale ’16 and Gardner Crary ’16. Those younger players, along with Andrew Swapp ’14 and Ricardo Kim ’15, will form the nucleus of what should be a competitive squad in 2014. Matt Nightingale ’16
girls lacrosse 9-5-1 Girls lacrosse at Brooks has developed into one of the top programs in New England. During the last nine years, the team amassed a combined record of 105-13-3, earning three ISL titles and five second-place ISL finishes. Coming into 2013, expectations were as high as ever. However, after the first six games, hopes began to fade. By the end of April, the team had already recorded three losses. In two of those games Brooks came up two goals short, and against league power St. Mark’s they fell by a single goal. Despite this rough start, the lacrosse team never lost its fighting spirit. The team finished the season on a 6-2-1 run that included a four-game winning streak, an overtime loss to Thayer and an exciting 13-13 tie against Andover.
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Jill Doherty ’13
golf 2-12-3 The golf team entered its second season with realistic expectations. Many of the players only had one year of competitive golf under their belts, so the goal was to show steady improvement through the spring. Led by captain Johnny Gratton ’13, the league’s reigning MVP, Brooks got off to a solid start, earning a win over St. Mark’s. The squad had an unfortunate streak of being on the losing end of four 4-3 matches before breaking through again with a 6.5-.5 win over Rivers. Along the way, Brooks earned ties with Governor’s, Thayer and Dexter. By the end of the season, Brooks finished ahead of Lawrence, St. George’s and BB&N. At the Kingman Tournament, which was hosted by Concord Country Club, Brooks finished in a tie with Middlesex for eighth and ahead of St. George’s, St. Mark’s, Lawrence and Rivers. On the individual side, Gratton continued to excel. He had a match-play record of 11-3-2. At the Kingman, which consists of the top five players from 13 ISL schools, he came in fourth. In his three years competing in the Kingman, Gratton never finished outside of the top five. The Boston Globe All-Scholastic League MVP award is voted by the coaches and takes into consideration both matchplay record and Kingman result. Gratton had more match-play wins than anyone else in the league, and his fourth place in the Kingman made him the unanimous MVP choice for the second consecutive year.
Richard Goldstein ’15
baseball 1-17-0 It was a difficult spring for Brooks baseball, but the team could take many positives from the season, including a never-quit attitude that was present from the start and kept Brooks close in many tight games. Leading the way offensively were Andrew Bruno ’13, Luke Hajdukiewicz ’15 and Zach St. Pierre ’15. On the mound, Cole Goodman ’15 recorded a number of solid starts. With many key contributors returning next year, Brooks is looking forward to a competitive 2014.
Zach St. Pierre ’14
Summer 2013 13
sports: spring season wrap-up
Girls 1st tennis team
girls tennis 10-5-0 The girls 1st tennis team had a very good year, finishing in fifth place in the ISL. The team had an exciting 8-7 win over Middlesex and was very close to beating the top ISL team, Thayer Academy. Brooks was invited to play in the New England
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Preparatory School Athletic Conference B Division tournament. Chongchong Liu ’13 and Lyndsay Domoracki ’13 cocaptained this year’s squad. Abby Skinner ’14 faced the challenge of playing No. 1 singles for each match and received the Girls Varsity Tennis Coach’s Award. Molly Alvino
’15 was selected for ISL Honorable Mention Honors. Jordan Katz ’14 and Abby Skinner ’14 were elected co-captains for 2014. The team’s success was based on its depth and tough doubles play; Rachel Ulian ’15, Anna Worcester ’14 and Charlotte McCoy ’14 made great contributions.
boys lacrosse 9-9-0 The boys lacrosse team got off to a hot start, winning nine of the first 13 games. A string of injuries to key players in midseason was difficult to overcome, however. Even so, Brooks fought valiantly against ISL power Middlesex before dropping a 6-5 decision that went to triple overtime. Brooks also earned a 10-7 win against Thayer, a team that Brooks hadn’t defeated in many years. Leading the way for Brooks was goaltender Tommy Connelly ’14, who proved to be one of the top netminders in the league. Newcomers Ian Speliotis ’14 and PJ Kelleher ’15 also provided a spark. Senior leaders Willie Platt, Eliot Heher and Jory Makin were solid all season long and kept the team focused and upbeat. At the end of the season, the team was excited to learn that Tim Benson had been named ISL assistant coach of the year. In addition, Connelly and Kelleher were All-ISL and Speliotis and Geoff Fulgione ’14 were honorable mention All-ISL. Willie Platt ’13
girls softball 6-16-0 It was one of the smallest teams in recent years for softball, but what it lacked in numbers it made up for with character. Pitchers Sam Nestor ’13 (co-captain) and Cassandra Hunt ’14 did a great job keeping Brooks in games and giving the team the opportunity to win. Some of the highlights from the season were a 5-1 win over St. Paul’s in extra innings and Hunt’s no-hitter against Middlesex. She was one walk shy of a perfect game. It was a veteran team, as three of the four sixth-formers, including co-captain Amelia Hulshult, were four-year starters. Additionally, Lauren Bishop ’13 led the team and was among the top in the league in batting average. Hulshult and Jill D’Arrigo ’13 were also among league leaders. Sixth-formers Amelia Hulshult (left) and Lauren Bishop
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sports: spring season wrap-up
From left, Nate Leeson ’14, Sawyer Rogers ’13, coxswain Jill Gerson ’13 (in front), Nate Gibeley ’14 and Guillaume Harmange ’14
boys crew The boys varsity crew team finished up the 2013 season in May at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association Championships. The squad had made tremendous progress since the early days in March: stronger, fitter and more technically sound. By the end of the season, they had moved into contention at the top of the league, certainly with potential to finish in the top six in each boat. At NEIRAs, temperatures maxed out in the mid-40s and a stiff tailwind blew down the course at 15 to 20 mph, making for challenging conditions. Fourth boat started the day with a
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third-place finish, moving comfortably into the afternoon finals, where they would finish fifth. Third boat had struggled all year with consistency, and this young group did its best in the morning heats but finished fourth, one place out of an invitation to the finals. Second boat never settled down in the tailwind but was able to earn a second-place finish in its heat, enough to get through to the afternoon finals. The boys would be challenged in one of the windier lanes and would come in sixth. First boat had come the farthest during the season and had developed into one of the fastest boats that Brooks has seen in recent years. They raced a perfect race in the prelims, putting the higher-
ranked Nobles out of contention early on. Chase Collegiate and Gunnery held tough with Brooks through 1,000 meters before Brooks was able to pull away from Gunnery, leaving only Chase to row down in the final 300 meters, which they did. Unfortunately, the conditions got the better of the crew — when a second-place finish looked certain, a missed stroked caused a wobble and Chase moved back through Brooks to take second and earn a spot in the final with Belmont Hill. First boat would race well in the petites and earned a tight fourth place.
From left, Kate Haslett ’13, Cata Robert ’14, Savannah Stockly ’13, Suki Smith ’13 and Naomi Nelson ’14. In front, Lilly Carey ’15
girls crew Led by captain Kate Haslett ’13, this year’s group of rowers pushed each other to get faster each week. On the curves of the Charles and the chop of Lake Cochichewick, they competed well as many returned from injuries in other sports and time abroad with the Brooks Exchange Program. With an early scrimmage in eights at Exeter behind them, the team began to gel as they took on Noble and Greenough (with two exciting wins by the 1st and 4th boats) followed by a tough day against St. Mark’s and Winsor. The girls quickly learned how stiff the competition would be this season, and they redoubled
their training efforts during the week. In the following week, the team won three out of four races against Middlesex and Lincoln and got acquainted with the regatta-style racing of heats and finals at the WaylandWeston Invitational Regatta. Rowing against some of the best competition in New England (Groton, Deerfield, Winsor, WaylandWeston High School, Community Rowing, Nobles and Cambridge R&L) proved challenging for this year’s squad, but they picked themselves up and raced hard the following weekend away at Groton. One last time on the Charles racing in picture-perfect conditions against BB&N and Thayer set the girls up for the NEIRA Regatta. Fourth boat, third
boat, and second boat all came in sixth in their morning heat, while first boat battled it out amongst the fastest crews in the country and came in fifth place. The girls benefited greatly from the return of Geoffrey Sahs ’94 to the Brooks rowing program and new coaches Peter Miller and Justine Rooney. Parents were also an ever-present support for the girls, organizing snacks and cheering on the rowers, especially the Hasletts and the Pecks, parents of captain Kate and next year’s captain, Amanda Peck ’14, respectively.
Spring 2013 17
sports: YEAR IN REVIEW
A Banner Year for Brooks Athletes The 2012–2013 school year brought home three New England championship banners for Brooks athletics, and countless unforgettable winning moments for Brooks athletes. Even on Prize Day, student-athletes continued to talk about what being part of those championship teams meant to them, and the memories they made on the field and on the court. Here are some of the highlights of Brooks athletics from this year.
Girls 1st soccer team
Seif Abou Eleinen and Tyler Britt with their teammates
Girls Soccer Takes Class A Title
Boys Squash New England Champs
Ride 18-2-1 record to title
Consistent play garners Class B championship
Participating in the toughest prep school division, Brooks entered the New England tournament as the second seed. In the first two rounds, Brooks faced larger schools Choate and Hotchkiss, but the girls fought to 2-0 victories in both contests. The championship game featured a rematch with ISL powerhouse Nobles. Scoreless in regulation, the game went to overtime, when Sarah Bresette ’13 ’1 scored the game-winner in the final 30 seconds to give the Class A title to Brooks. Emma Goff ’14 won the Amy E. Broadhead Award, which is given to a member of the team who demonstrates a love for the game, a commitment to excellence and enthusiasm for success. Sydney Brackett ’16 and Bella Papapetros ’13 received ISL AllLeague honorable mentions, and Abby Hammerl ’13, Emilie Klein ’13 and Bresette earned All-League awards. Klein and Bresette also earned All-State honors, and Bresette earned All-New England honors. “It was amazing to be able to experience the heart and passion our team had this season. I’ve never felt anything like it,” said Hammerl.
At the end of February, boys squash traveled to Connecticut and came home with the New England Class B championship. The team was unable to win a single divisional draw, but because of its consistency, the team managed to win the 15-team tournament. Along the way, they bested St. Paul’s and Groton — two teams they had lost to during the season. No. 1 Seif Abou Eleinen ’14 (second place) was tested by a very talented U.S. National Team player from the Hopkins School. In the semifinal, Seif won 3-1. No. 2 Josh Lee ’13 (fifth place) beat his St. Mark’s opponent 3-0 to avenge a 0-3 loss just two weeks earlier. No. 3 Seve Elkin ’14 (third place) had a critical win on Sunday against a St. Luke’s opponent. After winning just 7 points total in the second and third games, Elkin responded with unparalleled determination, winning 11-4 in the fifth. Elkin received the team’s Douglas G. Burbank Squash Prize, Eleinen was named ISL All-League, and Lee was named ISL Honorable Mention. Lee also received the team’s Baird E. Haney Memorial Squash Prize.
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Boys 1st hockey team
Boys Hockey Tops in New England
Nylen Named All-Scholastic
First-ever hockey championship for Brooks
Senior leader helped turn program around
The boys 1st hockey team thrilled students, faculty, family and friends with two weeks of inspired play before March break. Brooks entered the New England Small School tournament as the third seed and promptly knocked off Middlesex, 4-0. In the semifinals, Brooks faced a very strong team from Tilton. In a close, hard-hitting contest, Brooks prevailed, 2-1, to earn a spot in the finals against top-seeded Kents Hill. Despite being the lower seed, Brooks dominated the game from the opening faceoff and finished with a 4-1 victory and the school’s first hockey title. Andrew Bruno ’13 won the team’s David N. Hadad Memorial Hockey Award, given to the player who continuously performed to his maximum ability, exemplifying team spirit, character and sportsmanship, and Greg Conrad ’13 received the William S. Barr Trophy for outstanding performance and contributions to Brooks hockey.
In his first year at Brooks, the boys hockey team barely broke .500 at 9-7-3. However, Georgia native Mitch Nylen ’13 pushed the team to get better, and the players responded. As co-captain in 2012-13, Nylen was a force along the blue line, anchoring a defense that helped produce a 16-7-3 record, a secondconsecutive ISL-Eberhart title and a New England championship. For his solid play, Nylen was named league MVP.
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THE ARTS: YEAR IN REVIEW
Artistic Pursuits The thing about highlights, as arts teacher Amy Graham discovered when looking back on the past academic year, is that they don’t always come in the form of biggest or brightest. Sometimes a highlight is buried in the everyday, which can make it even more meaningful. “I love it when kids come to classes when they’re not even enrolled,” Graham cited as a highlight of her work, adding, “I like hearing kids asking and answering questions about each other’s work.” The academic year did feature a string of big, bright moments in the arts: Director of Music Claudia Keller loved the variety of music presented during the annual Spring Concert. Audio-visual Director Matt Grant was thrilled by the first outdoor performance of Room X Presents, the artistic showcase he initiated three years ago that is now run exclusively by students, for students.
From the ‘arts alfresco’ of Room X outdoors to the shared laughs in the Vanoff Black Box Theater, this year featured numerous highlights of artistic talents.
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But there were also countless small moments that revealed the true importance of the arts on campus — like when the entire Girls 1st Lacrosse Team joined the afternoon dance program for a day, hoping to learn a few moves just for the fun of it, noted Graham, who led the inaugural program alongside French teacher Elizabeth Ford. Whether the moment is big or small, Director of Theater Rob Lazar is always impressed with the humanity present when a person opens herself or himself to others, becoming incredibly vulnerable and yet incredibly giving. “It’s that moment when an artist, and one could argue it is even more pronounced for student artists, performs a courageous act and presents [his or her] gift of art to the world,” Lazar said. “The part that makes it truly special, and why it is my favorite moment, is when the audience, be it a full house of the theater performance or a single person viewing a painting, accepts that gift with gratitude and appreciation. That moment happens over and over again during the year and each time it is special, it is unique, it brings us together as a community.” Lazar spent considerable time this past year preparing for his new role this fall: taking over as Arts Department chair from Graham. Graham will continue her work as a visual arts teacher, dance instructor and director of the Robert Lehman Art Center, which she calls a terrific resource for students. For example, on the Friday before graduation weekend, cellist Dane Kim ’14 and choir director Roderick Phipps-Kettlewell performed two works by Camille Saint-Saëns and Johannes Brahms in the Lehman gallery. Later in the evening, audiences in the Vanoff Black Box Theater were treated to a series of comical one-act plays by playwright David Ives, directed and performed by students and faculty alike. “Sitting in the Lehman gallery, surrounded by student work created over the course of the year, and being enveloped by the emotionally imbued performance of (cellist) Dane Kim was a truly connective and fulfilling moment,” said coordinator of the Robert Lehman Art Center Heather Lazar. “A bonus was walking just a few hundred yards and getting to see and experience a light, wonderfully crafted evening of theater. It was a night when all the pieces fit just perfectly.”
Artistic Highlights of 2012–2013 Fall Play Learning their lines, marks and choreography was relatively easy for students in the fall play, Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan, set in 1934 off the west coast of Ireland. It was mastering that Irish accent that proved the biggest challenge. Zack McCabe ’15 played the lead role, Cripple Billy, a young man with a withered hand and foot. Just eight others rounded out the small cast, who did a fair share of experimenting in order to delve emotionally deeper into the characters.
Art Installation Students enrolled in the Winter Term course, “From Idea to Installation with Anthropologie,” worked with two designers from the national clothing retailer to create an installation in the Robert Lehman Art Center. They also helped create a display in the retailer’s window on Boston’s posh Newbury Street, working with shape, color and texture while creating a series of reptilian scales. The focus of the student installation centered on the theme of tapestry as a metaphor for life journeys. Students made numerous multimedia pieces that came together through a unified color palette of natural creams, blues and earthy reds.
Spring Concert For students like Suzanne Egertson ’15, the Spring Concert is a chance to try out something new. Braving the stage with the co-ed a cappella group in May, Suzanne showed off her newfound rapping skills during the group’s rendition of Macklemore’s Thrift Shop. Six musical groups rehearsed for months to get ready for the annual event. Each group had its own method of formulating a short set — anywhere from one to four songs — to perform in front of the packed house. Gospel Choir Director Shaunielle McDonald ’94 chose songs that were accessible both to the students in the choir and to the general audience. For example, she chose the song Peace especially because it is a simple song, so easy to learn, and also very “thematically approachable” in its message, she said.
TOP: Lauren Zoppo ’13 (background), Coral Sabino ’13 and Zack McCabe ’15 rehearse a scene from the fall play, The Cripple of Inishmaan. BOTTOM: Suzanne Egertson ’15 sported a thrift-store find for the a cappella group’s performance of Thrift Shop at the Spring Concert.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Alex Quintana, display coordinator for Anthropologie, based in Dedham, Mass., works with Isha Singhal ’13 on materials that were eventually part of the retailer’s Newbury Street display window.
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All of us are going to do something unique to leave our mark on this planet we inhabit. Just know that if you fall, you will always have 99 pairs of hands to pick you back up.
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Sixth-form speaker Connor Hannough ’13
Student speeches, more photos and more Prize Day details are available at www.brooksschool.org/classof2013.
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Hail & Farewell
Through a series of traditions, Brooks community members celebrated the 100 sixth-formers during Graduation Weekend 2013. The traditions started with Lawn Ceremony and Boo-Hoo Chapel on May 25, when prizes were awarded, hugs were shared and tears were shed. “All of the people here have changed my life,” said Savannah Stockly ’13, who wasn’t embarrassed in the slightest to be emotional after Boo-Hoo Chapel. “This makes you realize that no matter what grade anyone is in, they’ve all impacted my life. That’s the beauty of a small school like Brooks.” The next day, Prize Day commenced at Head of School John Packard’s home, where a few faculty members pinned rosettes on the students’ white dresses and blue blazers. The sixth form then enjoyed a final Chapel before proceeding — some seriously, some comically — down the aisle of the ceremonial tent. As it was a day of traditions, after receiving his or her diploma, each sixth-former handed a small present to Packard as a farewell gag. One year the gag gift was a weekend slip, the next year it was a rubber duck. This
year it was a single-serve K-cup of coffee, many of which featured messages written on the sides. The day was also full of words of wisdom, from faculty to graduates as well as from graduates and younger Brooksians. At the annual rosette pinning, outgoing senior prefect Ani Bilazarian ’13 said to incoming senior prefect Jordan Katz ’14, “You were chosen for a reason, so be yourself. Be prideful in what you can do, because it’s sure to be great.” It was similar to the advice that sixthform speaker Connor Hannough ’13 gave his fellow classmates during the ceremony. He admitted that although there is no telling where everyone in the class of 2013 will end up, there’s bound to be greatness. “All of us are going to do something unique to leave our mark on this planet we inhabit,” he said. “Just know that if you fall, you will always have 99 pairs of hands to pick you back up.”
Ravi Shah’s fellow graduates are reflected in his sunglasses just before the Prize Day ceremony.
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David Berroa ’13 accepts the Trustees Prize from Head of School John Packard. Each year the prize is awarded by the faculty to a member of the school community who has served beyond the call of duty.
Praise & Prizes
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My only regret about my time here at Brooks is not the mistakes that I have made; it is the times I took for granted.
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Sixth-form speaker Connor Hannough ’13
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The Kilborn Bowl: given by Mr. And Mrs. John W. Kilborn for the greatest all-around improvement. Thalia Garcia-Lakongpheng ’13 The George B. Blake Prize: awarded in recognition of extended voluntary and generous service to others. Jack Slye ’13 The William R. Ferris, Jr. Prize: given by Howell van Gerbig in honor of William R. Ferris ’60 and awarded to a sixth-form student who stands out among his peers on account of the depth and range of his intellectual curiosity, energy and creativity. Jeff Shin ’13
The Malcolm G. Chace III Prize: awarded to a third-, fourth- and fifth-former who, in the judgment of the head of school, has made the most personal progress during the year. Omarina Cabrera ’16 Nicholas Lambert ’15 Sheila O’Neill ’14 The St. Lawrence University Prize: awarded to a fifth-former who has displayed a significant commitment to community service. Alesandra Miller ’14 The Leonard S. Perkins Prize: awarded by the faculty to that member of the fifth form who makes an outstanding contribution to the life of the school. Rebecca Holt ’14
The Harvey P. Hood Prize: awarded in recognition of special interests such as working with young children, making things with one’s hands, and in memory of a lively, gentle view of life. Lauren Zoppo ’13 The Dunnell Prize: given by the faculty in honor of Jacob Dunnell and William W. Dunnell III to a sixth-former who has worked without fanfare to better the school. Isabel Hancock ’13 The Headmaster Emeritus Prize: given by the faculty for any reason it considers appropriate. Patrick Gordon ’13 The Allen Ashburn Prize: given by the late James D. Regan and awarded each year by the head of school for any purpose that he deems suitable. Colin Langham ’13 The Reverend George F. Vought Prize: awarded by the head of school to honor a member of the faculty in his or her first few years of teaching who has made special contributions to the school and has exhibited notable professional growth. Kihak Nam ’99 The Thomas Perkins Brooks, Jr. Prize: given in memory of Ensign Brooks, who was lost in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and awarded annually by the head of school to a member of the sixth form who, during his career at Brooks, has met certain requirements of development, leadership and responsibility. Gregory Conrad ’13 The Trustees Prize: awarded by the faculty to any member of the school community who has served beyond the call of duty. David Berroa ’13 The Russell Prize: given by the late Richard S. Russell for an outstanding single contribution to the life of the community during the year. Coral Sabino ’13
The Faculty Prize: given by George C. Haas and awarded annually to a student who has made outstanding contributions to the life of the school. Kate Haslett ’13 The Headmaster’s Prize: given in memory of George B. Case, Jr. Ani Bilazarian ’13
ART AWARDS The George A. Tirone Prize: awarded by Mrs. Rudolph Muto, in memory of her father, to middle-school students who show unusual promise in the visual arts. Steven Ives ’15 Serena Nickson ’16 The Buhl Photography Prize Delaney Blatchly ’14 The Russell Morse Prize: awarded to upperschool students who have made distinguished contributions to the visual arts at Brooks. Coral Sabino ’13 Holly St. Cyr ’13 The Parkman Prize in Drama: given in memory of Terry Parkman to a student who has worked long and hard backstage with no thought of any reward. Isabel Hancock ’13 The Knowlton Drama Prize: given in memory of Warren Knowlton, of the class of 1967, and awarded to a member of the Brooks community who has shown those qualities of loyalty and devotion to drama and versatility and enthusiasm in work before and behind the scenes that were typified by Warren Knowlton. Lauren Zoppo ’13 The Music Prize: awarded in recognition of dedicated, long-term study of an instrument or voice that has resulted in the highest level of musical performance in the graduating class. Ben Shirley ’13
TOP: Connor Hannough ’13, sixth-form speaker. MIDDLE: Sam Nestor ’13 celebrates with her family. ABOVE: Phil Chang ’13 poses for a picture with faculty member Deb Davies.
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The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal: for excellence in mathematics and science. Zach St. Pierre ’14 The John J. Cabral Prize: given to the Brooks student who has shown a high degree of interest in physics and for the depth of involvement in the subject. Chandler Dunn ’13 The Nicholas J. Evangelos Science Prize Kevin Chang ’13
Ryan Miles ’13 gets a hug from his mom at the conclusion of Prize Day.
ATHLETIC AWARDS
ACADEMIC AWARDS
The Athletic Prizes: an annual award to two sixth-formers who, in the opinion of coaches, have distinguished themselves in sportsmanship and athletic ability and whose achievements have demonstrated an outstanding record in the athletic life at Brooks. Andrew Bruno ’13 Jill Doherty ’13
The Edmund Samuel Carr Prizes in Beginning Latin Isabelle Quarrier ’16
The Kerri Ann Kattar Prize: awarded annually by the faculty to members of the graduating class who, by their warmth and generosity of spirit to others, by their outstanding contribution to Brooks athletics, by their presence alone has added that precious quality of kindness for which we remember Kerri Ann Kattar. Emilie Klein ’13 Kate Haslett ’13 The Frank D. Ashburn Athletics Award: given by the Cogswell family to honor an outstanding individual or team performance in which intangible, extra qualities have added a special flavor for the school. Joshua Jacobo ’13
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The Classics Prize in Latin Chongchong Liu ’13 The Spanish Prize Dan Smith ’13 The Rene Champollion French Prize Kate Haslett ’13 The Charles C. Cottingham Class of 2008 Chinese Prize: awarded annually to a student who has exhibited an enthusiasm and appreciation for the Chinese language and culture. Jeff Shin ’13 The John B. Melvin Computer Prize Tom Li ’13 The A.G. Davis Philip Prize: given by the Science Department to an individual who has demonstrated an interest in and who also shows considerable promise in science. Songruo Xie ’15
The Oscar Root Prize: given by Morgan H. Harris, Jr., to a member of the Brooks community who has exemplified certain characteristics by which Oscar M. Root for many years enriched the life at Brooks. These characteristics include excellence in the sciences, devotion to nature study and a sense of humor that provided a rare overview of life. Emilie Klein ’13 The Mathematics Prize Tom Li ’13 The Michael W. McCahill Prize in History: awarded to a sixth-form student who has demonstrated a love for the discipline by taking a wide and rigorous program in history, mastery of analytical thinking and writing, enthusiasm for the craft of historical research, delight in the exploration and exchange of ideas, and empathy for the human condition. Michael Schelzi ’13 The Phillips Brooks Prize: donated by the Phillips Brooks Society and awarded by the school minister in memory of the Reverend George Frederick Vought to a sixth-former who, during his or her time at the school, has followed in the path of Phillips Brooks by offering constant love, exemplary service and good humor to the community and by setting a high standard for others. Toys Koomplee ’13
The E. Graham Ward English Prize: awarded to a student who has demonstrated a love of literature in all of its forms. This student is a talented reader and writer gifted with the ability to respond to literature both analytically and creatively. Isabel Hancock ’13 The Denison University Book Award: awarded to an outstanding fifth-former with a proven record of academic achievement and an interest in pursuing the study of English literature, creative writing or poetry at the college level. Emma Gordon ’14 The Publications Prize: awarded to a student whose diligence, devotion and skill have contributed significantly to the successful production of a Brooks publication. Nick Papantonis ’13 The Columbia University Club of New England Prize: awarded to a fifth-former who has demonstrated an ability to combine academic achievement, personal character, extracurricular contribution to the school and accomplishment in and dedication to a field of interest meriting personal recognition. Seif Abou Eleinen ’14 The Wellesley College Book Award: awarded by the Haverhill-Andover Wellesley Club to a fifth-former nominated by the faculty for her outstanding contributions to her school in leadership, citizenship, and scholastic achievement. Zoe Gates ’14 The Harvard Club of Andover Prize: awarded by the Harvard Club of Andover to a fifthformer nominated by the faculty for high academic achievement, leadership and active participation in school affairs. Dane Kim ’14
COLLEGE MATRICULATIONS This fall, members of the class of 2013 are heading as far as St. Andrews in Scotland and as close as Tufts: Bates College (3) Boston College (2)
St. Edward’s University St. Lawrence University
Boston University Bowdoin College
Syracuse University The George Washington University Trinity College (3)
Brandeis University (2) Brown University Bucknell University Colby College (4) Colgate University College of Charleston Columbia University Connecticut College Cornell University (4) Elon University (2) Emmanuel College Fairleigh Dickinson University Gettysburg College Hobart and William Smith Colleges Indiana University at Bloomington (2) Johns Hopkins University Kenyon College Lafayette College (3) Lake Forest College Lehigh University Massachusetts Maritime Academy Michigan State University Middlebury College (2) Northeastern University (3) Northwestern University (2) Providence College (2) Queens University Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Sacred Heart University Skidmore College Southern New Hampshire University
Tufts University Union College United States Naval Academy University of California Merced University of Chicago University of Colorado Boulder (3) University of Delaware University of Denver University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Miami University of New Hampshire (2) University of North Carolina Chapel Hill University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Rhode Island University of Richmond (2) University of Southern California (4) University of St. Andrews University of the Pacific Vanderbilt University Villanova University (2) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Wake Forest University Washington and Lee University Wesleyan University Williams College Worcester Polytechnic Institute
The Jolene and Stephen C. Eyre Prize for Scholarly Achievement: awarded each year to the ranking scholar in the sixth form. Isabel Hancock ’13
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1. Sixth-former Theo Papapetros inscribes a message to Head of School John Packard as classmate Wilton Hayward looks on. Each year the senior class gives something to Packard as members accept their diplomas. One year it was rubber duckies; this year, single-serve coffee cups. 2. Sixth-former Michael Schelzi’s sunglasses reflect a crowd of happy soon-to-be-graduates. 3. Jack Slye ’13 poses for a snapshot. 4. Sixth-formers Ian Leefmans, Tyler Britt, Malachy Burke, Clarke Shipley and Nick Gates share a laugh. 5. David Berroa ’13 catches up with friend Chad Rogers ’12. 6. Holly St. Cyr ’13, Jeffrey Shin ’13 and Lauren Zoppo ’13 stop to get their photo taken. 7. Madison Smith ’13 and Suki Smith ’13 congratulate each other after receiving diplomas. 8. Sixth-formers Phil Chang, Andrew Lee and Matt Thomas strike a silly pose for the camera. 9. Sixth-formers Eliot Lamb, Allie Barry and Jack Slye strike a pose, with Hadley Barlow ’13 and Michael Sciascia ’13 popping into the background.
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10. Holly St. Cyr, Lauren Zoppo, Zitlaly Sanchez, Vicky Kim, Isabel Hancock, Coral Sabino, Chongchong Liu, Bee Nirundonpruk, Isha Singhal and Ashley Chang show off the traditional white dresses of Prize Day.
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1. Toys Koomplee ’13 gives a tearful good-bye hug to Katie Davies ’15, while behind him Lauren Zoppo ’13 says a happy hello to a family member across the Chapel walkway at Boo-Hoo Chapel. 2. Sixth-formers Ani Bilazarian, Lyndsay Domoracki, Allie Barry and Hadley Barlow pose for a picture after having their rosettes pinned on at the Packards’ home. 3. While Mitch Nylen ’13, left, looks to see who is coming next in the Boo-Hoo Chapel line, his classmates Ravi Shah, Gavin Ugone, Dan Smith and Alex Meyers pose for a photo. 4. Sixth-formers Bee Nirundonpruk, Isha Singhal, Lauren Zoppo, Holly St. Cyr, Zitlaly Sanchez and Coral Sabino take a break during the rosette pinning. 5. Sixth-formers Isha Singhal, Ashley Chang and Chongchong Liu lead the charge as the class of 2013 makes its way to the Ashburn Chapel for one last time. 6. Caroline Trustey ’13 and Ellie Olsen ’13 proudly raise the House Cup trophy, which their dorm, Hett East, won. 7. Sixth-former Johnny Gratton inscribes a final message to Head of School John Packard on his K-cup. 8. Ben Shirley ’13, is congratulated by Head of School John Packard and President of the Board of Trustees Nick Booth ’67.
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REUNION
Together Again
JUNE 2013
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As alums, we’re always proud of our Brooks experiences, but this event gives us a chance to revel in all that we’ve accomplished, and all we learned at Brooks to help us do it.
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Director of Alumni Programs emily french ’03
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Alumni spanning eight decades returned to campus to celebrate memories and all they’ve accomplished in their years since graduating from Brooks. The class of 2008 may have won the award for highest attendance at Alumni Weekend 2013, but surely the rowers from the class of 1963 won for most dedicated to their sport. Members of that class braved the pouring rain on Friday to carry on with their original plan of climbing into Brooks boats and heading out on the waters of Lake Cochichewick for a 50th-reunion row. “We had one classmate who could only be here on Friday, so we had arranged a special row with boys rowing coach Brian Palm,” said Jim Saltonstall ’63. When the weather took a bad turn, Saltonstall and Brian talked, and decided it was still a go. It didn’t even matter that the boat they were in was rigged for a starboard stroke. “As it turned out, we all rowed on the wrong side, but again, that was OK, because all of us had experience sculling, so we coped OK,” said Saltonstall. Twelve classes brought more than 300 alumni back to the Brooks campus, some for the first time since their own Prize Days.
The weekend started with that stormy Friday, but by noon on Saturday the weather had cleared and the crowds that had huddled together at class dinners around campus the previous night were free to bask in the earlysummer sunshine. “The best part of Alumni Weekend, for me, is seeing people smiling and laughing when they see each other again after a long time,” said Director of Alumni Programs Emily French ’03. “You see it at any given point throughout the two days, all around campus, people reconnecting with each other and reliving their Brooks glory days.” French said her favorite aspect of the weekend is Convocation, when alumni awards are handed out. “It’s an opportunity for everyone in the audience to feel an even stronger sense of pride in their school as we celebrate specific alumni achievements,” said French. “As alums, we’re always proud of our Brooks experiences, but this event gives us a chance to revel in all that we’ve accomplished, and all we learned at Brooks to help us do it.”
From left, Townsend Lathrop ’68, Ando Hixon ’68, Gene Clapp ’68 and Bob Hall ’68 check out the display of Brooks memorabilia in the Frick Dining Room during Alumni Weekend. With them are tour guides Natalie Hartel ’15 and James Donohue ’14.
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1. Members of the class of 2008 gather near the flagpole to enjoy the sun. 2. Rowers reunite on Lake Cochichewick: from front to back are Russ Bingham ’63, Simon Bingham ’93, Josh Bingham ’88 and Bill Endicott ‘63. 3. They never forget their team-photo stance: Left to right are Jim Rousmaniere ’63, Peter Cross ’63, Dick Viall ’62 and Jim Saltonstall ‘63. 4. Bill Gahagan ’48 and Rob Walker ‘53 chat at a reception at the residence of Head of School John Packard and Kim O’Neill Packard ’87. 5. Members of the class of 1968 Gene Clapp, Jay Stack, Ando Hixon, Paul Welch and Allen Schirmer take a break on the steps of the auditorium. 6. Rob MacColl ’63 and Jim Saltonstall ’63 share a laugh over lunch in the Frick. 7. Allen Schirmer ’68 and Bill Archibald ’68 check out old yearbooks in the Frick. 8. Kate Lombard ’03, Delia Rissmiller ’03 and Abby Scully ‘03 pose at the all-alumni reception. 9. Members of the class of 2008 Nupur Sutaria, Ellen Beauchamp and Lauren Chiang enjoy lunch at Wilder Dining Hall.
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1. Peter Cross ‘63 speaks about his work in Afghanistan. 2. Members of the class of 2008 Dorian Sierra, Richard Curtin, Alex Skinner and Austin Smith catch up with each other at the Alumni Tent. 3. Simon Bingham ’93, Russ Bingham ’63 and Josh Bingham ‘88. 4. Members of the class of 1988 and their spouses and guests pose for their class photo. 5. Rain can’t deter these athletes (back to front) Peter Cross ’63, Jim Rousmaniere ’63, Dick Viall ’62 and Jim Saltonstall ‘63. 6. The Children’s Program offered face-painting, games and arts-and-crafts activities. 7. Catching up at the All-Alumni Reception are ’08ers Alex Hooven, Jen Hyslip, Samantha Post and James Hamilton. 8. Blake Auchincloss ’78 and David Jay ’78 laugh during Director of Sustainability Brian Palm’s talk about environmental-impact projects at Brooks. 9. Tom Swithenbank ’63, Toby Fairbank ’63 and Susan Davis, wife of Robert Davis ’63 chat at the champagne lunch honoring those in and beyond their 50th-reunion celebration.
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Highest Honors Sitting at the front of the Chapel, taking in the crowd offering him a standing ovation, Cliff Irons ’63 clearly couldn’t speak. The few rogue tears rolling down his cheeks said it all, though. Head of School John Packard concluded Convocation this year with a surprise honor, gifting Irons with a chair for his dedication to the school during his 21 years in the admission office, as well as his ongoing volunteer work. “It was totally unexpected and greatly appreciated,” Irons said. “I’m grateful to both John and Brooks School.” The accolade was quite personal for
Alumni are lauded for their hard work and inspiring lives since graduating from Brooks.
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Packard, as he lived in Blake House with the Irons family as a 22-year-old History Department intern. And among the thousands of prospective students whom Irons interviewed during his tenure, he (fortunately for Packard) recommended that the school admit Kim O’Neill to the class of 1987. Kim returned to the Brooks campus in 1994 to speak to Packard’s class about her policy work at the White House. It was love at first sight and the couple were soon engaged. Several other annual awards were announced during the event, for which the alumni awards committee was by no means short on nominees. In fact, the list of names is getting longer and stronger, as the school boasts so many impressive graduates, committee co-chair Rob Walker ’53 said.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Alumni Bowl Award winner James Lee, Jr. ’48 with Head of School John Packard. ABOVE: From left to right: Athletics Hall of Fame inductee James Saltonstall ’63. Cliff Irons ’63 received a chair for his years of service to the school. Distinguished Brooksian Award winner Peter deMenocal ’78 with Packard.
“It’s very important that the school take pride in and recognize the achievements of its alumni that go beyond the school,” Walker said. “It shows that giving back is terribly important. Founding Headmaster Frank Ashburn felt that way and subsequent heads have felt so, too.” distinguished brooksian award
Peter deMenocal ’78 Given to a member of the Brooks community whose life and contributions to society exemplify the nobility of character and usefulness to humanity embodied in the spirit of the school. As one of the country’s most esteemed climate scientists, deMenocal produces unbiased, scientifically sound research on climate change and its impact on our world. The paleoclimatologist tries to predict the climate’s future by understanding its past. Through his current research, he is making connections between climate change and turning points in human evolution. He earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from St. Lawrence University, a master’s degree in oceanography from the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography and a Ph.D. in geology from Columbia University. Currently, deMenocal chairs the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia and works on some of the world’s most challenging problems with
numerous affiliated institutions through the university’s Earth Institute. “The intellectual plane Peter operates on is remarkable, yet his unassuming demeanor lends to his collaborative approach and has earned him great respect among his peers,” Packard said. “He feels a sense of duty as it relates to communicating the changes that we are seeing to a larger audience, and to promoting action. His passion and commitment are undeniable. He even finds time to consult with Brooks School’s Environmental Stewardship Director Brian Palm on environmental and energy matters concerning Brooks.” deMenocal said he was “taken aback” when he learned he would be given the Distinguished Brooksian Award. “This is really the most meaningful award I’ve ever received,” he said. He said while he was a bit of a “wayward kid” during his years at Brooks, he still maintains a strong sense of identity with the school. “I think this is a remarkable foraging place for people who want to go on and make a difference in the world,” he said. alumni bowl award
James Lee, Jr. ’48 Given to a Brooks alumnus or alumna for years of dedicated and thoughtful service to the school. Upon receiving the Allen Ashburn Prize on Prize Day 1948, given by the headmas-
ter for any purpose he deems suitable, Lee was praised by then-headmaster Frank D. Ashburn for fulfilling his duty to a singular degree. Ashburn described Lee as “a reliable leader and a devoted servant of the school.” Lee has remained a devoted servant as a long-standing class correspondent and reunion chair. He is also the voice of Brooks in his hometown of Manchester, Vt., keeping Brooks people in the state in contact with one another. “Jim exemplifies the best of the old and the new for Brooks,” Head of School John Packard said. “He is steadfast and reliable in his work while embracing today’s technologies to keep in regular contact with his classmates and our alumni office.” alumni shield award
Ann Lee Grimstad ’88 Given to an alumnus or alumna who has graduated within the last 25 years and who has made significant contributions in the field of his or her endeavor. Grimstad is a humanities teacher at Los Angeles’ Oakwood School and a FulbrightHays Doctoral Dissertation Research fellow studying African history. Her passion for global studies can be traced back to Brooks’ Exchange Program, through which she became fast friends with many Kenyans and South Africans visiting the school. Grimstad holds a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from the University of
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REUNION Alumni Shield Award winner Ann Lee Grimstad ’88 with Head of School John Packard. JUNE 2013
Virginia and a master’s degree in African studies from Ohio University. For 10 years she supervised the African studies program for the World Learning Organization’s School for International Training. She oversaw the academic and administrative components of 25 field-based studyabroad programs in 14 countries, developed curricula and opened many new office branches. She subsequently worked for the National Association of Foreign Student Advisors in addition to teaching a wide range of humanities, history and religious courses in the states and abroad during the past 15 years. “Ann Lee values not just education, but experiential education,” Packard said. “Upon the completion of her doctoral degree, she plans to impact the lives of young people through further teaching, researching and writing. It seems it is more than just a
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Brooks Bulletin
happy coincidence that Ann Lee is living and promoting our school’s mission of meaningful education.” Grimstad said her path in education was heavily influenced by the ever-present members of the Brooks faculty who would come out to watch her perform in the a cappella group or play in a field hockey game. “We talk about how people should do what they’re passionate about, and I feel I had wonderful role models in showing me how to do that, how to honor that passion,” she said. athletics hall of fame
Taryn King ’03 and James Saltonstall ’63 Honoring those individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the quality and tradition of athletics here at Brooks. King played on the girls 1st field hockey, ice hockey and lacrosse teams dur-
ing all three of her years on campus and served as the field hockey and ice hockey co-captain during her sixth form. King’s fighting spirit and tenacious work ethic earned her All-ISL in field hockey in 2000, 2001 and 2002. While playing field hockey for Bowdoin College, she quickly turned heads as NESCAC Rookie of the Year. In the fall of 2003, she was NESCAC Player of the Year and a first-team All-American in 2005. “Taryn was an intense competitor and always put the team’s needs before her own,” Packard said. “Among very competitive teammates, she was the first to remember that high school sports are as much about spending time with your friends and making memories as it is about winning and losing.” Sadly, King passed away while studying abroad in 2006. Upon hearing the tragic news, her teammates were united in their grief. Her Bowdoin team played on with the fire and determination of the leader they had lost and in 2007 brought home the school’s first national championship. Her parents, Paul and Janice King, were on hand to accept the award in Taryn’s memory. Her father spoke of her gifts that she maximized at Brooks and carried on with her to Bowdoin. Taryn’s classmates also banded together in recent years to create the Taryn King Scholarship for future Brooksians, and a memorial bench bearing one of her favorite quotes sits perched at a perfect viewing spot near the girls field hockey field. Saltonstall was a starting 1st team soccer player for three years, which he captained his sixth form and in 1961 helped produce the team’s first undefeated soccer season in school history. He went on to play three years on Harvard’s varsity soccer team and was named First Team All-Ivy his freshman year; his nine goals ranked him second in league statistics. Saltonstall also earned two varsity letters, in ice hockey and crew. He finished
Rob Walker ’53
his athletic career at Brooks on a high note, stroking the first boat to an undefeated season and winning the Interscholastic Championship. The boat was considered the best Brooks had ever had at the time, having broken the school’s course record by more than four seconds. “Jim was all about leadership, character and commitment in his athletic endeavors at Brooks, and was a model of good sportsman-
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It’s very important that the school take pride in and recognize the achievements of its alumni that go beyond the school. It shows that giving back is terribly important. Former Headmaster Frank Ashburn felt that way and subsequent heads have felt so, too.
ship,” Packard said. Jim was also a member of the Ski Club and the Athletic Council. “He was highly respected by all who knew him, even beyond the playing fields.” Saltonstall has coached soccer, hockey and crew during his career at Middlesex School, and said he’s learned from those years and especially his Brooks years that “no one person makes a team’s success.”
The Participation Award: for the highest percentage of classmates who made gifts to Brooks. Class of 1963 76 percent participation Highest Number of Donors Class of 2008 38 donors Reunion Attendance Award: for the highest percentage of classmates attending reunion. Class of 1963 73 percent attendance Most Classmates at Reunion Class of 2008 47 members Farthest Traveler Award: goes to that alumna or alumnus who traveled the longest distance to return to campus. Patrick Kaye ’83, from Hong Kong
John Packard with the family of Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Taryn Lindsay King ’03 (left to right): parents Paul and Janice, siblings Liv ’10, Max and Pierce.
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