SEM Today 2022 by Buffalo Seminary

Spring 2022

TODAY Putting in the Work SEM Unveils Strategic Plan

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 10 12 17 18 19 20 21 26 29 30 32 34 36

SEM’s Strategic Plan Hornet/Jacket Day First Years at SEM All High Art Exhibition Hanging of the Greens DEI story History of SEM’s Additions Living @ SEM SEM Athletics Finding the Right College Fit Live Theatre Returns Alumnae in Action Speaker Series Class Notes In Memoriam

Annual magazine for the alumnae, friends, parents, and students of Buffalo Seminary

Spring 2022 Head of School Helen Ladds Marlette SEM Today Editor & Designer Janelle Harb, Computer Science Faculty & Creative Services Associate Contributors Carrie Brown Wick ’76 Tricia Butski, Art Teacher Carolyn Burke, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Janelle Harb Ann Leslie, Director of College Counseling Lauren Levy ’22 Helen Ladds Marlette Lindsay Mathias ’11, Admissions & Advancement Associate Amanda Melsby, Dean of Teaching and Learning Kacie Mills, Athletic Director Ashley Morlock, Annual Fund Manager Elle Noecker ’24 Martha Odhiambo ’22 Sia Oltramari ’23 Elizabeth Roach Katherine F. Rooney ’24 Katrina Seymour ’22 Kate Bowen Smith ’92 Natalie Stothart, Asst. Head of School Faith Wendel ’24 Inga Wooten-Forman ’25 Photography & Art Tricia Butski Janelle Harb Lindsay Mathias ’11 Kacie Mills Katherine F. Rooney ’24 Sara Schmidle ’14 Harry Scully Marianna Selma ’23 Nurse Kim Skomra Faith Wendel ’24

This fall, five SEM students were inducted into the Buffalo Seminary Chapter of the Cum Laude Society. Induction is based solely on academic achievement and is limited to no more than twenty percent of a senior class per year, and is the highest academic honor a SEM student can achieve. Congratulations to Abigail Anderson, Lauren Levy, Juno Min, Katarina Mueller, and Sasha Wittenbrink!

Cover Abigail Smith and Mia Johnson walk along the Buffalo Waterfront with their crew team. Photo by Sara Schmidle ’14

Letter from the Head of School By Helen L. Marlette

t is Spring in Buffalo. Our days are longer, and the crocuses are peeking through a dusting of snow. It is 20 degrees today, with a high in the mid-60s expected in two days. The predictability of the changing seasons coupled with the unpredictable weather reminds me of life at SEM this year. Spring athletes bundle up for practice on one day and are in T-shirts and shorts the next; the actors who began rehearsals for the play in the dark of winter and now open to sunny skies. Meanwhile, our juniors are fully engrossed in their Capstone projects and the college process; our seniors, recognizing their time at SEM is drawing to a close, are making the most of it; our sophomores are thinking about driver’s licenses and which electives they will choose for next year, and our 9th graders are coming into their own by wowing the whole school with their Arts Eye projects during Morning Meeting. As always, the change of seasons is welcome, just as is the transition to the third trimester. It is an exciting and refreshing time of year. There is light and laughter in our hallways; reunions will be on-campus, graduation will be celebrated with the whole school at Westminster, and school elections are being held, with many students running and articulating their dreams for the school. Last year at this time, I wrote about forging forward and not dwelling on what was behind us. That statement is unnecessary this year because that is what the SEM community did this year. We proved that we can adapt, and we are resilient. We are moving forward confidently with the direction set by our recently adopted Strategic Plan. SEM is poised to find new ways to fulfill our mission and remain true to our values. We will do so with the vision articulated in the Plan: • SEM is reimagining when, where, and how learning happens. • Our vision is to design personal,

challenging, and transformational experiences that serve all our community, at every age and stage. • Why is this our vision? We know that learning is a lifelong endeavor, and that pathways to learning will continue to expand. In this edition of SEM Today, we want to add life to this vision and the Strategic Plan. We chose to use the voices of many to tell the stories of SEM. The magazine features student writers, faculty contributors, trustee and alumnae voices. It represents the collective work of our entire

community, and reflects the many people who contributed to life at SEM. We gained comfort from the regular routine of school and strength by the whole community pulling together to address the unpredictable moments and events that came our way. Enjoy the stories and please make it a point to come to campus. The buildings are open. Welcome back we have missed you.

Putting in the work: SEM’s Strategic Plan

Crew photos by Sara Schmidle ’14

OUR MISSION Buffalo Seminary prepares a diverse group of young women to be engaged scholars and citizens, proud to shape society rather than be controlled by it, and ready to live and lead with honor, courage, and confidence. WHAT WE VALUE AT SEM These values are the core beliefs at SEM that shape our community, inform our decisions, and guide our actions. WOMEN AS SCHOLARS AND LEADERS COMMUNITY OF BELONGING INTEGRITY OF CHARACTER HEALTH AND RESILIENCE GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE Grounded in our values and mission, we see our school as a perpetual community of scholars, where women have the flexibility to pursue their interests in research, work, service, leadership, arts, and sport. With new approaches to how we use time, space, and technology to educate, we expand opportunities for women to pursue relevant, meaningful learning experiences as they explore their unique interests and talents. OUR VISION SEM is reimagining when, where, and how learning happens. Our vision is to design personal, challenging, and transformational experiences that serve all of our community, at every age and stage. SEM has the opportunity to develop programs with creativity, flexibility, and mentorship for women to access learning at different ages and stages. We believe this is the best way to fulfill our mission and ensure that SEM continues to lead as an inclusive, joyful, and pioneering community for young women of intellect and character. STRATEGIC CHOICES These choices are the core commitments that the school executes in combination, to achieve SEM’s vision and uphold its mission and values. FLEXIBLE LEARNING BY DESIGN, THRIVING COMMUNITY, CHALLENGING AND RELEVANT CURRICULUM

Students hard at work in the Buffalo Seminary Library.

the strategic planning committee

By Elizabeth Roach, Strategic Planning Commitee Lead & Board of Trustees Vice Chair

trategic Planning is always an invigorating and exciting process. It allows schools to study their missions carefully and to articulate their priorities and visions for the future. At the beginning of the 2020-21 school year, a committee consisting of members of the SEM administration, the Board of Trustees, and faculty worked with Greenwich Leadership Partners (GLP) to reimagine SEM’s mission statement and affirm the values that create our current school environment and culture. This process helped inspire new and different educational and cultural opportunities for our future. Over several months, the committee designed a mission statement and set of values which were then shared with faculty and staff for further comment and review. GLP conducted community surveys to help guide and inform the process. After reviewing all feedback, the committee revised the mission statement. Afterward, the committee again shared the document with faculty and staff for a final discussion. The committee then formalized the document which was voted on by the Board of Trustees in June 2021. It has been shared with the larger school community, thereby concluding the process at the end of the 2020-21 school year. As a whole, the Strategic Plan articulates the fundamental spirit of SEM and envisions a future that builds from and extends this mission to ensure SEM’s commitment to academic excellence, a collaborative and inclusive global community, and a culture of kindness and inclusivity. Historically, SEM has always prioritized the development of strong, confident, independent women who emerge from their years at SEM to make a distinctive impact on their communities and the world. The Strategic Plan deepens and sharpens SEM’s mission by focusing on the core elements needed to do this

work in the 21st century. Each part of the Strategic Plan works together seamlessly to celebrate and protect SEM’s values while also imagining an even more exciting future. In order to tackle the challenges in the current global landscape, students will need the essential skills of critical thinking, collaboration, and leadership; they will need to cultivate habits of mind, such as persistence, resilience, collaboration, curiosity, thinking with agility and flexibility, and the pursuit of complex questions with creativity, passion, and imagination. The Strategic Plan not only emphasizes these important skills and habits of mind but models them. SEM has always been forward thinking in its vision for the education of women—and the Strategic Plan, as a whole, ensures that the school will continue to grow in powerful and innovative ways. The Plan recognizes that our students need exciting opportunities for intensive, personalized, and transformational learning and that the faculty richly deserve the support and resources needed to do their important work as teachers, scholars, advisors, and residential leaders. We know, too, that the SEM extended network is strong and vibrant, filled with women who serve as exemplars to our current students. We want to make sure that this collective community of lifelong scholars, learners, and leaders remains connected with one another and to the current community at SEM. The alumnae, in short, remain critical to the flourishing of SEM. The Head of School, her administrative team, the faculty, and the Board of Trustees are working together to refine and implement all the components of the Strategic Plan. This process requires ongoing focus, commitment, energy, and collaboration. Because all constituents are fully invested in the plan, SEM is beautifully poised for a remarkable future.

Members of the crew team row along the Buffalo River, passing by the historic Buffalo lighthouse.

MISSION AND VALUES

By Natalie Stothart, Assistant Head of School

s spring arrives, the feeling of rejuvenation and growth fills the air at SEM! It is an exciting time as we move forward with a renewed sense of purpose derived from our newly developed strategic plan. A powerful plan built on the strong foundation established through 171 years of educating and preparing young women to serve as leaders of tomorrow. We serve everyday with the mission to prepare a diverse group of young women to be engaged scholars and citizens, proud to shape society rather than be controlled by it. We strive to fulfill this mission by instilling the values we believe best shape our community, inform our decisions, and guide our action. One such value is our Community of Belonging. At SEM we embrace the richness of diversity, as evidenced in our boarding program, representing seven foreign nations and highly integrated into our student community. Our advisory program embraces a diversity of ideas as we meet weekly to discuss those items of interest or concern within an open, honest and caring environment. I’m proud of our SEMinar program, specifically designed to maximize student interaction and engagement through various learning experiences. We also value the importance of a Global Perspective, with students from all over the world learning together, and a faculty able to communicate in seven different languages. Students are encouraged to explore the world with our foriegn language department or by studying abroad, which is supported by SEM’s flexible learning model. Each of these values, and our value in Women as Scholars and Leaders is reinforced through our comprehensive

capstone program. Capstone both informs and reflects SEM’s academic program, which intentionally scaffolds students’ growth in the collegepreparatory areas of research, academic writing, intellectual independence, and selfmanagement. Our Health and Resilience value is omnipresent in our students’ daily life, from our UGoSEM health and fitness program to our numerous athletic programs, encompassing over 67% of our student population. Our Health and Wellness team also supports our students in this area through our weekly meetings, which focus exclusively on maximizing their social, emotional, and academic growth. Finally, SEM’s focus on the value of Integrity of Character, is woven throughout our daily words and actions. SEM’s honor code fosters trust and respect by preparing girls for the rewards and responsibilities of college and the wider world. By promoting extraordinary autonomy, and embracing a high level of responsibility, SEM students learn the importance of truth and its impact on a community. All of these values are crucial in guiding our students’ actions everyday, and in providing a deeper focus for our faculty and staff. Personally, these values amplify my drive to provide the optimal climate for the growth of every student at SEM. Just as the spring showers and warm sun help the red tulips bloom bright across our campus, these values provide SEM students with the strength to grow and transform into brightly engaged citizens; ready to lead with honor, courage, and confidence. Thank you for your continued support of SEM - Together we are better!

Students are able to pursue their talents and passion through the SEM Flex program while graduating on time with their classmates.

FLEXIBLE LEARNING BY DESIGN By Amanda Melsby, Dean of Teaching and Learning

temming from the varied interests and wide talents of SEM students, our vision is focused on reimagining when, where and how learning happens in order to design a personalized, challenging and transformational learning environment. From the arts to athletics to specialized internships, students competing at a high level in their chosen field need the flexibility to access their academics in an alternative way. SEM Flex meets that need by a unique program that affords our students the most flexibility in their schedule while continuing to provide rigorous academic instruction that allows them to graduate with a SEM diploma. SEM Flex targets the student who has an outside commitment that prevents them from attending

classes in the traditional sense. Past students who have taken advantage of this opportunity include ballerinas working in Chicago and New York City and equestrians who compete for up to six weeks at a time in Florida. Our program provides structured independence and one-on-one instruction with a SEM Flex teacher. Students are enrolled in classes at SEM and assigned a SEM Flex teacher who is their direct contact and the liaison between the student and SEM. The SEM Flex teacher works closely with the SEM teachers to create a unique program for the student and works one-on-one with the student to ensure that the student understands the material, has the opportunity to ask questions and remains on track for graduation.

Learn more about SEM Flex in action by reading about current students and alumnae who participated in the program while pursuing their dreams.

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Whether it is through athletics, community service, or internships, there are more ways than ever to be involved at SEM.

Thriving Community ‚

By Kate Bowen Smith 92, Board of Trustees Chair

hile all of our SEM stories may be different, our shared experiences and commitment to SEM’s mission and values bring us together. Whether we are Hornets or Jackets, alumnae, parents, grandparents, trustees, faculty, staff, or friends of SEM, we are all a part of this small but mighty community. The strategic planning process began and ended during COVID. As we emerge from the pandemic, it is fitting that one of the Strategic Plan’s priorities is to foster a thriving community among all of our constituencies. What does a thriving community look like at SEM? As envisioned by the Strategic Plan, it includes integrating wellness, equity, and inclusivity into every aspect of life at 205 Bidwell Parkway and beyond. A thriving community is one that strives to be a community of belonging,

embracing diversity of people and ideas. It also has strong alumnae and parent communities, as well as an engaged wider community of mentors, advisors, and life-long learners. This is the vision, and we hope you will help us harness the power of our community to realize it. Over the past two years, the health and wellness of our community was more important than ever and was appropriately prioritized. Now, the Strategic Plan calls on us to engage our community in new and exciting ways. We are dedicated to creating partnerships that result in internships for our students, providing mentorship for our college students and recent graduates and beyond, cultivating a global perspective across our community, providing opportunities to engage in lifelong learning, and professional

development for our faculty and leaders to help ensure that excellence and innovation remain hallmarks of a SEM education. Alumnae engagement is a critical piece of SEM’s success. I often say that the world needs more SEM girls. Ultimately, what I mean is that I believe that the world needs more SEM alumnae. If you are an alumna, you probably know exactly how many students were in your graduating class. The fact that we are small is a strength, but just as when we were students, it means we all have roles to fill. When those of us who believe in the mission and values of SEM band together, the possibilities are endless. There is a place for you in this community. Please stay connected or get reconnected. I believe that the future is SEM, and together, we thrive.

Harkness table discussions are just one of the many ways that students are able to thrive in the classroom.

CHALLENGING AND RELEVANT CURRICULUM By Amanda Melsby, Dean of Teaching and Learning

EM prepares students to be engaged scholars who are ready to shape society and lead with honor and courage. The foundation of this begins with a rigorous curriculum that stretches students to not just learn but to think, to not just memorize but to be curious and to not just listen but to engage. To be successful in today’s world, students must be able to think critically, work collaboratively and creatively solve problems. SEM embraces these skills as part of a program built on academic excellence. Beginning in ninth grade students are engaged in Harkness discussions, a vital part of the learning experience. Harkness tables, found in English and History classes, allow for the discussion of ideas in an encouraging and open-minded environment. Teacher-student dynamics shift from expert-novice to a more egalitarian atmosphere where students develop their own ideas, built off of the ideas of their peers and expand their reasoning and discussion skills–all

with minimal teacher intervention. Rigorous graduation requirements ensure that students develop core competencies in all five of the major disciplines, providing a solid foundation in the humanities, math and sciences, and the arts. SEM offers approximately 15 AP classes per year and partners with outside institutions that allows students to take an additional five courses. Student interest coupled with a desire to stay abreast of current educational pedagogy and professional requirements guide our elective offerings. Advanced electives during junior and senior year cover a wide breadth of disciplines, and opportunities for independent study are arranged for self-motivated scholars. These electives allow for a deeper understanding of complex subjects such as a co-curricular Humanities course about the Harlem Renaissance, language courses that delve into French or Spanish culture and computer science courses that offer a four-year pathway. Because

of the expanding growth of our computer science courses, SEM was awarded the College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science A. This award is in recognition of our work in expanding girls’ access in AP computer science courses and is given to schools who have engaged more female students in computer science. The core beliefs of engagement, intellectual curiosity and depth of reasoning that begins in ninth grade continues into twelfth grade with a Capstone project. Capstone is a self-directed, independent research project culminating in a presentation to a wider audience of students, faculty and community members. At SEM we cultivate the intellect and independence of our students. Guided by dedicated and passionate faculty, SEM students grow and flourish as they see education as a life-long pursuit that can help them create and lead in a changing world.

Flexible learning enables students to pursue passions By Janelle Harb, SEMToday Editor

uffalo Seminary’s academic programme is ranked by Niche as the #1 Best College Prep and Best All-Girls High School in the Buffalo area. On campus, students are encouraged to pursue their passions with 14 athletic teams, over 25 student-run clubs, 19 AP classes and arts programs. However, sometimes opportunities arise that must include travel or long stints away from traditional schooling. Students are encouraged to balance rigorous academics with the pursuit of their own passions and opportunities through Flexible Learning by Design. This groundbreaking initiative allows students to complete their schoolwork remotely, while competing or traveling for special interests such as equestrian, music, figure skating and dance. In this program, students work one-on-one with their dedicated teacher liaison to create a specialized program that keeps them on track with their students and to graduate with their classmates. For aspiring equestrians, the Buffalo Equestrian Center, located five minutes from campus, allows riders to hone their skills, compete regionally and nationally, and volunteer. Professional equestrian Melissa Jacobs ’12 was one of the first pioneers of this flexible learning program. “This educational model was perfectly suited for [Melissa’s] personal and educational goals,” Alice Jacobs, her mother, said. “She was able to ride in competitions throughout the United States. while simultaneously completing her demanding academic coursework, being a part of the SEM community, and ultimately graduating alongside her classmates.” In addition to other students pursuing music and skiing at high levels, flexible learning has also helped senior Emmy Robin pursue the opportunity to join an intensive dance conservatory at the Joffrey Ballet School in Chicago. Robinson, the only high school student in her ballet program, is able to continue her SEM education and graduated in the spring alongside her classmates while pursuing her passion. She hopes to join a professional dance company full time and volunteers as an instructor with the Joffrey Academy of Dance’s Adaptive Dance Programme which allows students with diverse movement abilities to learn and enjoy the elements of dance. “SEM has opened so many doors for me. I’m seamlessly keeping up with my studies, while living on my own in Chicago dancing with the Joffrey Ballet,” Robinson said. SEM’s mission and vision celebrates this commitment to flexible learning, allowing students to continue their personal pursuits while receiving a SEM education and meaningful learning experience.

Emmy Robinson ’22 is able to pursue her passion for dance through SEM’s flexible learning.

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Hornet Jacket Day

Festivities were back in full swing this year, complete with dance battles, parade around the neighborhood, and the initiation slide for freshmen and new faculty/staff members.

Photos by Lindsay Mathias ’11

FIRST YEARS AT SEM

We welcomed a several new faces to SEM this year. Get to know our new faculty in the library, art, athletic and language departments.

The Joy of Painting for Your Community: Ms. Butski By Elle Noecker ‚24

ast year, Buffalo Seminary said farewell to our highly respected school art teacher of eight years, Ms. Caitlin Cass. Although we wish Ms. Cass the best of luck on her artistic journey as an Assistant Studio Art Professor at the University of Nebraska at Oklahoma, SEM knew that there were some big shoes to fill in the art department. And SEM found just the perfect person for the job. This year, our school enthusiastically welcomed Ms. Tricia Butski to the SEM community. Growing

up in Niagara Falls, Ms. Butski has lived in the Buffalo area her whole life. Her teaching experience is nothing short of expertise. In the past, she was a college professor at University at Buffalo, Niagara Community College, Erie Community College, and SUNY Fredonia. Her first artistic inspiration came from her childhood when she would watch Bob Ross on his show, “The Joy of Painting.” Art became a passion for Ms. Butski in high school when she realized that she wanted to pursue a

career with her creative interests in some way. Her top interests were artistic therapy and teaching. At SEM, she teaches: Intro to Drawing, Basic Painting, Mixed Media, Foundations and Abstractions, and the freshman ArtsEye Class alongside Ms. Drozd, chair of the Fine Arts Department and theatre teacher. In the words of Ms. Butski, “Artseye is awesome, I’ve never had the opportunity to teach a class like that before, so that’s totally new to me.” When she’s not in the

art gallery, Ms. Butski loves to collect plants, crochet, hike and spend time outside. When she creates art outside of school, she enjoys using charcoal and graphite in her work. One of the many things she loves about art is how it contributes to connecting with the greater community. In fact, Ms. Butski actively paints murals throughout the city of Buffalo as a way to share what she loves with others. “The most important way that I connect with the community is through public art,” she said. “Public

Ms. Butski paints her public mural, “Equally Distant,” on display at Albright-Knox Northland.

“I WANT TO SHOW STUDENTS THAT THROUGH TIME AND PRACTICE ANYONE CAN BE GOOD AT ART AND ART IS A WAY TO EXPRESS YOURSELF” art is an artist’s gift to their community, [a] way of telling the community that you care about them and that you see them and that they’re important. [Public] art is for everybody,” she exclaimed passionately. She also created several wall murals for the Albright Knox Art Gallery.

Ms. Butski feels that her mission is to help students to find their inner creativity and understand that “everybody is an artist.” She helps students to build confidence and find individuality in their work. “I want to show students that through time and practice anyone can be good at art

and art is a way to express yourself,” she said. In the words of Fiona M. ’24, a student in Ms. Butski’s Intro to Drawing class, “Ms. Butski is a great teacher and she helps everyone improve upon the skills they already have.” As a former student of a small private high school,

which had a dynamic similar to that of SEM, Ms. Butski felt a sense of familiarity in Buffalo Seminary. “I am just so excited to be here. One of the most wonderful things about SEM is that it feels like home, and that’s what I was looking for.”

Joining the Team: Alex Skomra By Elle Noecker ‚ 24

Alex and Nurse Kim are SEM’s latest mother/daughter duo.

lex Skomra was hired as the Summer At SEM Camp Director last year, but first had a connection to SEM as the school’s assistant track coach three years ago. Now, she is the beloved director of UGOSEM which is the in school fitness program for students who are not actively involved in a school sport. Many students would agree that UGOSEM with Alex is one of the highlights of simply being a student. From Just Dance (the popular favorite) to basketball, students (and Alex, of course) enjoy a variety of sports and games to be active during the day! But, how did Alex arrive at SEM? If you ask her, Alex will say, “My mom drew me to SEM.” Nurse Kim stated in an interview how she had always thought Alex would be a great fit to the SEM faculty, especially because she had always wanted to be a physical education teacher. It was just a matter of waiting for

the “in.” That “in” ended up being the Summer at SEM Camp Director position, which Alex recalls as being “collectively really fun.” She specifically loved getting to witness and be one of the reasons why girls choose to come to SEM for high school. Alex is enthusiastic about being the Camp Director again this upcoming summer and seeing herself continue for many years to come. Alex was also highly drawn to SEM by knowing her love for the small, all girls school experience from attending Sacred Heart Academy. As soon as there was a need for a UGOSEM director, Kim and Alex immediately felt as though it was meant to be. Now working together, they have quickly become SEM’s most iconic mother-daughter faculty duo. As a multi-sport athlete, Alex had always had a particular passion for swimming. As if working together today is not endearing enough, Nurse

Faith Wendel ’24

Kim and Alex shared a significant portion of their swimming careers together, where Alex was coached by her mom from ages six to 18. Following in similar footsteps, Alex became a swim coach “right out of high school,” she said,“I got a job at the Y which is where I swam.” For a while she coached younger kids, but always had an interest in the higher level, more competitive world of high school swimming. For the past four years, Alex has been the coach of Nardin’s swim team. She described how she took the position after it was turned down by a friend who recommended Alex for the job. Slightly uncertain about coaching a rival team to that of SEM’s, the result was an easy transition. “The atmosphere coaching at Nardin is very similar (to SEM) with great kids,” Alex claims. While coaching for opposing teams, Alex and her mom have experienced a sense of friendly competition that is more fun and exciting

than anything else. At SEM, Alex loves the familiarity of the school after attending a similar environment for high school. She enjoys working at the school and getting to share the fun of UGOSEM classes with the students. When asked what her favorite activity to do with her classes, she stated, “I love when we play Just Dance.” However, she is also always down for “a good game of Knock-Out if people want to play.” Additionally, she enjoys badminton, having played on a team in the past. Working together has undoubtedly been a unique and delightful experience for both SEM Skomra swimmers. Alex described working with her mom as “really cool.” The pair gets to eat lunch together everyday, visit one another, and help each other out often. Having a close relationship with her mom her whole life, Alex continued that, “we always got along so it is very fun.” Oftentimes, during her breaks, Alex will visit Nurse Kim in her office. And other times, Nurse Kim will visit Alex during her UGOSEM classes to say “hi.” SEM is so fortunate to have two such positive attributes to the community who are part of the reason students and faculty love coming to SEM. This mother-daughter duo is beyond appreciated at the school and simply fun to have around in the building. The story of SEM’s Skomra swimmers continues as they coach, work, and thrive side by side each day.

Learning to Love Language: Ms. Lyons

By Faith Wendel ‚ 24

e warmly welcomed Ms. Megan Lyons into the Buffalo Seminary community this year, and she has shared a few of her favorite aspects of working at SEM. “I love coming into a classroom full of students who want to learn and want to be here,” Ms Lyons said. She is grateful to all of the people who are a part of the community for creating such a “great team” of people who make the atmosphere of the building brighter each day. “I learned about linguistics and found out I was absolutely in love with it,” Ms. Lyons said when asked about her history before coming to teach at SEM. Teaching Spanish wasn’t always the main goal of her academic career. Initially, she wanted to go to school for the fine arts, but soon changed her mind and her major to Spanish with a minor in linguistics at the University at Buffalo. She was inspired by numerous teachers throughout high school and college including Shirley Melston, Linda Seitz, and Doctora Bárbara Ávila-Shah. Melston was a Spanish, French, and German teacher who first introduced Ms. Lyons to linguistics. Seitz was her German teacher that promoted language immersion in the classroom. Ávila-Shah was a Spanish professor who had a huge impact on Ms. Lyon’s teaching, not only because she taught how to teach a new language but also by “leading by example.” Ms. Lyons cited her professor’s classes as an excellent example of the impacts

Faith discusses Ms. Lyons’ journey to SEM and her experience so far in the Spanish classroom.

Katie Rooney ’24

“I LOVE COMING INTO A CLASSROOM FULL OF STUDENTS WHO WANT TO LEARN AND WANT TO BE HERE” of immersion in the target language, and she mirrors this by practicing that in her own classroom. Prior to SEM, she had many experiences teaching. While she studied abroad in Spain, she was a student teacher. She taught English as a second language to students in Costa Rica and online to students in China, and then went on to teach Spanish at UB. Ms. Lyons shared her reasoning as to why she believes learning a second language is important, “it’s more authentic sharing.” There is a great deal of culture, humor, and nuance that are lost when the other person has to switch to your language,

and conversation can be more fulfilling especially if both are bilingual. Learning Spanish, for example, can give an insight into Latin, which can be useful in math, sciences, and etymology of words. On top of the benefits in academics and social relationships, learning a new language can open up an entire world of new pop culture to enjoy. “It is more of an equal playing field,” Ms. Lyons said. Watching the progress from the beginning of the year up until now, she is both impressed by and proud of her students as a whole. She is happy that students seem to be becoming more

comfortable raising their hands to answer questions, as well as conversing in the target language to their peers in class. She hopes this trend will continue since practicing conversational skills will truly help in the long run. As a final note of encouragement, Ms. Lyons said, “it gets easier.” She acknowledges that learning a new language can be stressful or seem utterly impossible, but it will get better. As with most things in life, getting there is hard, but the final result is very rewarding.

Celebrate Fall @ SEM

Hitting the Books: Mrs. Scott

Annual All-School Picnic Friday, September 9 Don’t miss the annual allschool picnic presented by the Parent Association. Enjoy good food, pick up some new SEM gear, welcome new families, and catch up with old friends!

By Faith Wendel ‚ 24

Open House Saturday, September 17 Thursday, September 29 It’s our opportunity to show off what makes SEM so special! If you have a future SEM girl in your life, refer them to Director of Day Admission, Alexandra Tramposch at admission@ buffaloseminary.org.

Faith interviews Mrs. Scott in front of the fireplace at SEM’s library.

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I really want to build relationships with students, faculty, and staff at SEM,” says Mrs. Jackie Scott, the new librarian, when asked about her goals. Mrs. Scott started working at SEM in the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. She also works at SUNY Erie College on the days when she is not at SEM. She realizes that librarians are sometimes known for being serious and strict, but she welcomes students to ask questions. “It is our whole purpose for being here!” Mrs. Scott explains that “helping people” is of great importance to her, and she tends to choose jobs that allow her to do so. Coming out of college, she helped people find jobs. After that, she had numerous jobs all revolving around helping others. For example, she helped people learn to make jewelry, and she was a veterinary technician. However, she reveals

that she is happiest as a librarian. Since she has such a profound love for books, she shows interest in all genres. However, after years of reading, her longest standing favorite is “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. She found a liking for the genre of magical realism but doesn’t think she has a favorite. Mrs. Scott said, “I’ll read anything.” She shared that she’s always open to book recommendations and suggestions for what students would like to see in the library. Not only does she read books, but she also writes original short stories for fun, and wrote three novel length works of fanfiction. I think she gave a valuable life lesson when she disclosed that she won’t finish a book if it doesn’t spark her interest in the first fifty or so pages. Mrs. Scott’s top priority

Fiona Murphy ’24

at SEM is to make the library feel welcoming and inviting to students and staff. She describes the library as “the heart of the school.” She has successfully revived the Little Free Library where students can pick out a book (some are read in classes and others are simply for fun) to keep. Her plans are to have students help her decide what books to get, help make displays, and help plan events in the library. Student input has already started to be collected through a survey, and she still would like to see more responses because she believes the library is for everyone. She encourages students to help out in the library, participate in upcoming events, or just stop in and say hello! Book a trip to the library!

Fall Play October/November 2022 In Fall and Spring, family, friends, faculty, alumnae, and the public are invited to our all-girl production chosen and directed by SEM’s Theatre Director, Susan Drozd. Grandparents Day Tuesday, November 22 Grandparents get in on the fun as their granddaughters are able to show how much they love their school. Enjoy a Morning Meeting, cookies & coffee, and a family photo! Holiday Bazaar Saturday, December 3 A festive and fun holiday tradition with local merchants, artisans, and a spectacular basket raffle. Support SEM classes, clubs, and the Buffalo Seminary Alumnae Association when you stop by their booths as well! Revel Friday, December 16 A holiday concert performance by our Glee Club, Ensemble, SEMachords, and Faculty Glee Club! All Alumnae are invited to attend the concert and a reception that follows in the Colby room with cookies and hot chocolate. Share memories with your former teachers and classmates! Compiled by Lindsay Mathias ’11

Students selected for Daemen College All High Art Exhibition By Tricia Butski, Art Teacher

very year Daemen College hosts an annual juried art exhibition featuring the work of regional high school juniors and seniors. Art teachers from across Western New York are invited to submit a limited number of student works for consideration in the show. This year, we were excited to have four SEM students selected to display their work in the All High Art Exhibition titled, “Think Outside the Frame.” Rowan Brown represented our senior class and Lili Schmid, AJ Rieman, and Andrea Alave represented our juniors. These students were selected from among the large field of talented SEM students. Rowan, Lili, AJ, and Andrea have taken several art classes at SEM, and maintain active art practices outside of school as well. All four students bring their own unique perspectives to the artistic process, displaying individualism through a variety of styles and techniques. Rowan submitted her surreal photo collage, “Wrinkle in Mind,” which she created in the Mixed Media Mash-Up class during the fall of 2021. Her artwork is very detail-oriented, involving a meticulous process of selecting images from found magazines, and making intricate cuts to piece together dreamlike imagery. Rowan’s fascination with mushrooms is often apparent in the work she creates. Lili created her acrylic painting, “Jellyfish,” specifically for the All High Art Exhibition. She says about the work, “I wanted to step outside my comfort zone as an artist and work on a bigger scale with acrylic paint that I don’t use too often. I chose to do a jellyfish because it allowed me to have a lot of freedom in my brush strokes due to how swiftly a jellyfish moves.” AJ created her mixed media piece, “She Won’t Quit,” using acrylic paint, clay, and burnt cigarettes. She related that “One of my biggest fears is my mom dying. She kept her smoking secret from me for years. I always assumed the ashtray on the back

Clockwise from left: Andrea Alave ’23 with “Bread Boy,” Lili Schmid ’23 with “Jellyfish,” AJ Rieman ’23 with “She Won’t Quit,” Rowan Brown ’22 with “Wrinkle in Mind” porch was my stepdad’s and when she smelled like smoke I assumed one of her friends was smoking near her. I’ve always had an inkling but when I was certain, all I wanted to do was take a scrub brush and scrub her lungs myself.” Andrea was inspired by a found photo of an anonymous boy, dated around the early 1900’s. She created “Bread Boy” using acrylics and colored pencil on paper. Andrea says, “‘Bread Boy’ took about four days to complete altogether. At first, the portrait was going to be just toast and eggs but I found a black and white picture that showed a boy carrying a

basket of bread and took inspiration from the boy himself. When it comes to color, I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and attempt to use color, not just for the face but for the full body.” Andrea received exciting news that she was awarded an Honorable Mention for her piece and a $1,000 scholarship to Daemen College. We are so proud of our young artists for their persistence and enthusiasm. Rowan, Lili, AJ, and Andrea are all exemplary students with a strong dedication to their art practices.

Hanging of the Greens

Photos by Lindsay Mathias ’11 and Marianna Selma ’23

Students participated in a full day of activities celebrating holidays around the world. Per SEM tradition, the greens were passed along the parkway and strung around the school, followed by making class banners and decorating the Warmth Tree. Demonstrations on pomander-making, Diwali dancing, and celebrating Hanukkah were enjoyed by all. Hornets and Jackets also competed in the annual door-decorating contest.

Year 1: Learning and Growing

By Carolyn Burke. Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

hen I moved from Brooklyn to Buffalo last July, I had no idea what to expect initially. I knew that I would be entering into a new community and potentially new climate, but I also had a very strong feeling that I was about to have an experience, unlike anything I have had in my lifetime. I was drawn to SEM because of its incredible sense of welcome and belonging. I could tell immediately that it was the kind of place where a kid can freely grow into who they were truly meant to be. When I walked through these halls on my first day, even though masks were always on, staff, students, and anyone else I walked past went out of their way to introduce themselves to me and make sure I had everything I needed to get settled. Students stopped by my office unannounced to tell me about how excited they were that I was here and their vision for DEI in the future. They shared with me surveys and other resources that they had created and wanted to know all about my experience living in New York City. I felt at home almost instantly. Being a Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion can be challenging work. It requires a great deal of empathy, patience, and consideration from multiple sides of an argument. It requires someone to create a space where everyone can be heard as well as provide adequate room for people to grow. I have learned while doing this kind of work in schools that to begin that work and then do it well, one needs to first fully understand, embrace, and immerse themselves in the culture of the environment. I jumped into as many SEM traditions as I could right away like Hanging of the Greens, and I supported our Black Student Union in planning some of the events for Black History Month. My favorite event was our Black History Month Food Festival where students and their families made and shared food from the African Diaspora* with our community and subsequently, in

advisories, watched a documentary on Netflix entitled “High on the Hog” where they learned about the origins of these cultural foods and their significance to the communities they come from. Then I began to do some research. DEI Interviews: During my first couple of weeks at SEM, I had the privilege to sit down with all of the adults in our school community one-on-one. These informal conversations served multiple purposes. First, as a way for me to introduce myself to everyone but more importantly as a way for me to hear from every staff member about what they loved about SEM, their level of comfort with DEI work, and their dreams for the future of our school. Analyzing Climate Survey Data: I was able to get my hands on DEI climate surveys that have been distributed by Education Collaborative for the past couple of years. This helpful data gave me insight into what students and faculty were thinking and about issues revolving around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Alumnae of Color Conversation: At the end of February, I was able to meet and speak with alumnae of color via Zoom from all over the country. I hope to be able to meet with more alumnae in-person very soon. Rm 110’s Open Door Policy: As people got to know me and become more comfortable, they’ve been able to walk into my office and share with me concerns, ask me questions about curriculum, or general advice on how to handle DEI topics. It’s been wonderful to have so many inspiring conversations with staff, faculty, and students. DEI Office Hours: I have held several DEI Professional Development sessions for staff. They have been on Mindset Framing, Culturally Responsive Teaching, and Antiracism. The week following each session, I open up my Zoom room for folks to come and ask questions,

discuss how they are implementing the things they learn into their classroom or work at SEM and how to push their learning further. Anti-Racism Task Force: I am a member of the Anti-Racism Task Force, which seeks to educate, practice, and seek out ways to participate in anti-racism efforts in and outside of our school. The task force is made up of myself, members of the Board of Trustees, and faculty/ staff. DEI Working Group: I have created a smaller working group that is made up of faculty members and administrators. We meet once a cycle to read books, articles and have deep dive into discussions about how to make SEM a more inclusive environment. I have learned a lot about SEM in the last couple of months. The faculty is hard-working, passionate, and purposeful, and the administrative team is always seeking out ways to make the student experience a great and memorable one, but what has impacted me most of all in my time here so far has been the incredible student body. I have learned that graduates of Buffalo Seminary find ways to lead, innovate and transform spaces. One of the core pieces of my work moving forward will be finding ways to harness that power in our current students through the creation of a Student Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team. This team would empower their peers to educate, innovate and support each other while navigating this increasingly complicated and ever-evolving world. I look forward to learning and growing alongside the members of our SEM community in the years ahead. *The African diaspora is the worldwide collection of communities descended from native Africans or people from Africa, predominantly in the Americas. African diaspora populations include but are not limited to Africans, African Americans, AfroCaribbeans, Afro-Latin Americans, Black Canadians – descendants of enslaved West Africans brought to the United States, the Caribbean, and South America during the Atlantic slave trade.

The History of Buffalo Seminary’s Locations and Additions By Inga Wooten-Forman ‚25

Left: Evergreen Cottage, the first location of the school. Right: Goodell Hall, located behind the cottage. Below: SEM prior to the West-Chester addition.

uffalo Seminary has a complex history of various buildings and several additions. Upon the school’s founding, the Board of Trustees enlisted Dr. Charles E. West, SEM’s first head of school, to choose the location of the school. He picked Evergreen Cottage in Johnson Park, which was originally the school’s only building. SEM was able to grow thanks to the generous donations of Jabez Goodell, a teacher and settler of Buffalo. He donated ten acres to the school and around $15,000. With this money, they were able to build an academic building called “Goodell Hall’’ behind the cottage. Afterwards, the cottage was mostly used as a home for the head of school, some of the staff, and the residential students. In 1906, the Graduates Association announced plans to purchase land on Bidwell Parkway for construction of a

new school. This land was considered to be ideal as it was not in a bustling area, but it was close to the Elmwood Avenue streetcar line, which provided transportation for many students. Estimated costs of the new building were almost $100,000 so Goodell Hall and Evergreen Cottage were sold and the school took out a mortgage loan of $40,000. Because of the plot’s strange triangular shape, SEM had George F. Newton, a notable local architect, design a plan for the new building in what is known as a “Collegiate Gothic style”. In the 1920s, SEM experienced its first large addition. As SEM’s enrollment grew, Bley and Lyman were hired to plan an addition to the east side of the building on Bidwell Parkway. The new addition included several classrooms, a gym, an art studio, and West-Chester Hall, named

for Dr. Charles E. West and Albert T. Chester, the school’s first two heads of school. In 1953, Larkin Field and the property on it were donated to SEM by an alumna. SEMutilized the property considerably; the house became home to the head of school and the field was used for sports teams. As SEM continued to grow, another addition was constructed in the 1960s. Bley and Lyman’s subsequent firm, Duane Lyman and Associates, planned to add a science wing to the building. In 1984, the North Star Construction company constructed the Margaret L. Wendt Performing Arts Center. This new room would be used for theater, dance, and several other skills. Most recently, the school’s facilities were renovated in 2001. During this modernization, the courtyard was converted into an atrium.

LIVING @ SEM Home Away From Home: A Boarding Student & Her Host Family By Katherine F. Rooney ‚24

uffalo Seminary educates students from all around the world. Right now there are students from the Bahamas, Canada, China, Kenya, South Korea, and Vietnam. However, when the Covid-19 pandemic first struck many were unable to return to their home countries. While stranded in the United States, they were forced to stay with other families in possibly unfamiliar houses. Yet for one student, Phuong Ha ’21, that meant finding a home away from home in Buffalo and forming lifelong and lasting bonds with the Schmidt family. During her freshman year, Aubrey (Bre) Schmidt ’22 began talking to Phuong about her plans for spring break and discovered that she was looking for a place to stay. After asking her parents, the Schmidt family agreed to welcome Phuong into their home over the break. It is common for residential students to stay with generous host families for breaks if they are unable to return to their home countries. In the words of Bre, “I did not want her to be alone at the dorms with nowhere to go.” Phuong continued to stay with the Schmidts for all of her breaks beginning her sophomore year and Bre’s freshman year. However, when Covid-19 hit in the spring of her junior year she needed a place to stay for a longer period of time. She needed a home. Once again, the Schmidt family opened their doors to her and she stayed with them during quarantine and the summers of 2021 and 2022. Phuong has not been able to make it back to her home country of Vietnam since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, but luckily she now has a second family here in America. In her own words she says, “As a residential student, I had to adjust myself to life in America before I met the Schmidt family. However, since I have been staying with them for quite a while, I feel

Left: Phuong Ha ’21, Bre Schmidt ’22, and Julie Schmidt ‘83 going out to eat. Above: Phuong with the Schmidts. Photos courtesy of Bre Schmidt ’22

really connected to the family. They always try to introduce me to as many new things as possible, so I’m very familiar with American culture. It’s like I have a home in America now to go back after a tough time at school.” This feeling is mutual as Bre says, “For the first few times, we were still getting to know Phuong, what she liked, what she did not like, when she would talk to her family so we wouldn’t bother her, and so much more. Over time, we all warmed up with each other and she is now like another family member to us. To me, she’s like a sister, to my parents she’s like a daughter, and to my aunts and uncles, she’s like a niece. She is a part of our family.” This is a bond that was formed with countless shared memories. Now a student at Ithaca College, when Phuong was still looking at what schools to apply to and where to attend, the Schmidts took her on trips so that she could tour and make her decision. They celebrated Lunar New Year together so that Phuong could feel more comfortable and at home. When going on trips to Florida and to Canandaigua Lake, Phuong went along too and participated in various

activities such as fishing, kayaking with manatees, and of course, eating lots of ice cream. And finally when it was time to drop Phuong off at college, Bre’s mother Julie Schmidt ’83 says, “Moving Phuong into her dorm gave me the same anxious feeling as moving one of my own children into their dorms. The worry of ‘Will she be ok?’, ‘Will she find friends?’ I periodically check in with her and look forward to her breaks so she can come ‘home.’” Yet, even now that Phuong has moved out she continues to be a part of their family. She recalls when “they sent me a package full of pictures and snacks after I first moved into college. Everything about college was still new to me and I didn’t know a lot of people there, but when I received the package and the letter inside saying something like they missed me and that I could come back anytime I wanted, I just needed to tell them and they would come pick me up. It was really heart warming.” Phuong continues to stay with them over college breaks and now has a home away from home and a second family in America if she ever needs.

LIVING @ SEM From Kenya to Buffalo: What I’ve Learned By Martha Odhiambo ‚ 22

“

Are you ready for the cold?” This was it. This was the question that if someone ever asked me, then I definitely knew they weren’t American. Anytime I uttered the words “Buffalo Seminary,” most people seemed to be hearing snow blizzards and church. Part of me is convinced that one of the few reasons my dad was thrilled about me coming to America, besides it being America, was that I was going to a Seminary, at least that is the part he heard when I said “Buffalo Seminary.” I became an instrument of pity to most Americans, the Kenyan girl who had no idea how much cold she was in for. Were they right? Most definitely. Boy, was I scared. In my defense, they had no right to exaggerate it as much as they did. When I went to parties, I simply said, “I am looking forward to my first year in Buffalo Seminary,” which would result in a chain of conversations; from people preparing me for the cold, to them talking about their worst snow, which “was never to be compared to how bad the Buffalo snow could be,” their words, not mine. Have you ever seen something so surprising your mouth and eyes just won’t shut? Now take that expression and print it right on my face and there you have it, my first-timeseeing-SEM expression. This was no school, this was Hogwarts. Now let me not get ahead of myself. My first time in SEM was the dorms. I was warmly welcomed by my first

Residential activities have been a highlight of Martha’s experience at SEM.

prefect, Shanon, and my room was huge. I never had that much space to myself. My family and I live in a small one room house and so I learned to share every part of my space. I slept on the same bed as my sisters and we most definitely had blanket fights due to one of us pulling all of them all to ourselves. So having a whole room to myself with one roommate and not having to share my blanket with anyone? Sweet. Like every other teenager, I snapped pictures from every corner of my room, and definitely with me in it just to prove that this wasn’t from Google, this was real. Now back to Hogwarts, I mean the school building. I have never gotten lost in such a small space so quickly. I still don’t understand why the two staircases leading upstairs didn’t connect

and how somehow the same catwalk managed to drop me off at a different destination each time. I am sure that there are still rooms in this school that I have no idea about. It was in this Hogwarts building that I met some of the most beautiful people in my life. Inner and outer beauty. This building taught the freshman me what it meant to go outside of your box, let me rephrase that. This building kicked me out of my comfort zone. It was either you ask for directions or lose your way to Physics, and you didn’t wanna do that. So I chose to speak, and that is how the extroverted Martha was breathed to life. But before she was that Martha, she was the same girl who had so much to say but never sparked a conversation because most people seemed to nod to

Martha Odhiambo ’22

everything she said out of confusion. My accent limited me to what I could say in the classroom and in friend groups and I grew a fear of not being heard, and the easiest way out of this fear seemed like not talking. But then I met people who talked to me first, let me ask what they were saying about ten times in a row and were patient with me when they couldn’t understand me at all even after the twentieth time of saying the same thing. These Hogwarts walls taught the freshman me to go for the sports I very much feared. Soccer balls passed between my legs in most games and I wanted to quit out of embarrassment, but it was the people I met in these walls that promised not to laugh at me but instead let me be their

LIVING @ SEM

From community cleanups to athletics, Martha has been an active participant in both the SEM and outside community.

cheer person until I was able to play just fine. So if you are wondering where I got my loud voice from, blame soccer for letting me be their single-person cheer team since freshman year. These walls taught the sophomore me what it means to not quit and the junior me what it meant to take a leap of faith. I am definitely able to stand up in front of the people within these walls, be absolutely ridiculous and be okay with that. That is because the people within these walls have taught me what being accepted means, and just how far the right amount of faith and love from others can bring you. And then I have my residential walls. This is where I met my sisters, my mother literally calls Katrina, one of my best friends, her daughter, so

yes, family. This is where I learnt what responsibility meant. Coming to SEM meant I was away from home, and so I was no longer the middle child who had older siblings to look up to, I was the older sibling. And so these walls taught me how to be just that. I missed home, I missed my family and home sickness was not kind at all, it hit every time and anytime it felt like it. But these walls taught me that I could turn to 40 other residentials who felt the same and they were gonna be my family for me. These walls taught me that I had mothers who were more than willing to wake up in the middle of the night to tend to me. These walls taught me to be kind and loving to others because that is exactly what I was shown. And these walls taught me that it was okay

to feel, and not always be the tough Kenyan girl I came in as. From turning down a nomination of class president freshman year to voluntarily running and winning the HornetJacket chair, I believe that speaks a lot of how SEM has helped me grow. Living in SEM has not only given me an opportunity to not have to fight over the blanket with my sisters every night, but has given me the safest of spaces I could have asked for as I pursued my high school career. SEM taught me the phrases, “it’s okay,” “I need help,” “I am not okay,” “I can take a step back and then move forward,” and “I got this.” Initially I knew these phrases, but bluntly. They were just phrases without meaning, phrases I never knew I was going to be needing and using and

Martha Odhiambo ’22

being okay with. And SEM is one of the main reasons I get to go to college and have the promise of a hopeful future. Lastly, SEM taught the senior me to rise up to challenges because that’s how you learn and become strong mentally and internally. And it is currently teaching the senior me to go for the right pick for a graduation dress. So to those who just joined SEM, it is important that you not wish the days away. Be present in them, love the good ones, turn to your friends, advisors, teachers, faculty or staff on the bad ones, someone is always there for you. And make sure that when you are getting to the end of the high school race, you have memories because you took your time making them. I have an infinite page myself.

LIVING @ SEM Finishing the Chapter: My Four Years at SEM By Katrina Seymour ‚22

can still remember the butterflies in my stomach as I got on the flight to come to Buffalo. It was an eighthour flight from The Bahamas to Buffalo and a stop in between at Atlanta airport which is my favorite because of all the artwork that’s always on display. My first time in Buffalo was the summer before school started and my first thought was this place is so breathtaking. I was excited but nervous to show my mom the school that always looks way bigger the first time you see it. Ms. Stothart greeted us at the door and told us that we can unpack everything later. Later that day Christine Gillis helped us move into my room; little did I know Lipke was going to be my home for the next four years. Most people would say that the hardest part about coming to SEM would be saying goodbye to their parents. I do have to admit that it was sad watching my mom leave but so much was happening that I was more happy than sad, and my mom knew that I was going into good hands. As senior year is fastly coming to an end I often find myself looking back on the last four years. The person I was when I came and the person I am now made me realize that so much can change in the span of four years. Four years ago when I met the prefect of Lipke I thought she was so captivating and could never imagine myself in a leadership position. Now I’ve been a prefect of Lipke for two years and I can truly say that I love it. Through all the movie nights, cooking activities, and shopping trips I made so many friends. As I look back on the nights of Starbucks runs or eating noodles as we talked about everything but nothing at the same time. As I look back on the rainy days when we played board games or drank hot chocolate. As I look back on all the adventures like hiking in Niagara Falls or attempting to ride every ride at Six Flags. As I look back on the goodbyes and all the hellos I started to realize that the years at

Snapshots of some of Katrina’s favorite memories throughout her years at SEM.

SEM are the years that I will always keep with me. I learned so much about myself and others. I sat on the phone with my mom talking about how I would describe my four years at SEM and I drew a blank. Four years is a lot to summarize. 1,456 days, when put in that scale, seems so large, 1,456 memories, 1,456 days worth of conversations, 1,456 days of meeting new people and spending time with old ones. Out of 1,456 days, only two are truly important. One of those days was the day I arrived at SEM. That day made every other

Katrina Seymour ’22

day possible. That day allowed me to meet all of my friends that have become like sisters to me, it allowed me to meet wonderful teachers and staff that encourage me to be the best version of myself. That day, walking up to the doors of SEM made all of those memories possible. And the other day which will be the day I graduate can be best described from a quote from my mom “I arrived as a child and I’m leaving as an adult.” After all is said and done I’m grateful for my time at SEM and will take everything I learn as I start the new chapter in my life.

LIVING @ SEM Living Two Lives: My Experience Five-Day Boarding

By Sia Oltramari ‚23

Sia and her roommate Hannah on H/J Day.

awaken to total darkness on a Friday morning. Echoing throughout the large dorm room, my phone alarm blares to alert me to get ready for school. I roll out of bed and start my morning routine. I leave my room to walk to the school, my bags already set out on the bed for when I make the 45-50 minute trip back to my home in Batavia later that day. I enter the Atrium to eat some hot breakfast and idly chatter with my roommate and a few other friends that I sit with. Then, I go about my day like the rest of the students. After school ends, if I

don’t have any after school activities, I walk back to my dorm and watch TV shows with my roommate, or I finish some schoolwork that I need to get done. Other times, I practice guitar or learn Korean on Duolingo so I can learn enough to speak with my roommate. I eat dinner with the other residential students and then I pack up and leave to go home. As a five-day residential student, life at home and in the dorms are entirely different experiences. At the dorms, I’m entirely independent, and it almost feels like college life. I have a roommate, Hannah, who I share everything with. She is like family to me, and our routines often revolve around each other. At home, I have my own room and I wake up around 11. I take karate classes, babysit my neighbor’s two children, and work on my college classes at Genesee Community College. Even my hobbies are different. At the dorms, I play guitar, read, and write stories. In Batavia, I draw and play piano. It almost feels like I’m living a double life. I have two homes and two families, two toothbrushes, two schools and two sets of friends that have never met each other. The two

worlds that I split my time between feel entirely separate, bridged only by the drive from SEM to Batavia. Once I reach Batavia, my SEM responsibilities don’t return until I get back to the dorms on Sunday night, and I finish my weekend homework then. In Batavia, I’m a college student and daughter. At the dorms, I am an independent and responsible student. I am constantly shifting responsibilities and changing roles between the two people I am from week to week. Neither life affects each other. If I have a lot of responsibilities over the weekend at my home in Batavia, the stress doesn’t carry over to my SEM life because it’s for my other self to worry about. Ultimately, the two lives I live push me to be a better person. My double life taught me responsibility, time management, and how to pack all of my stuff into a suitcase in five minutes when I forget it’s a Friday. The constant switch between my two lives keeps me moving forward. Through boarding at SEM, I have two support systems that love and care for me.

Legacy Residential Scholarship Do you know a girl who would be a great SEM girl? A great Hornet or Jacket? She doesn’t have to be from Buffalo… Because whether she’s from around the block or around the world – SEM has a place for her in our 5- or 7-day boarding in the beautiful historic homes next door to the school. We are grateful for the generosity of the families and organizations that believe access to a SEM education can change a girl’s life, and the lives of those around her, and in 2017 a Legacy Scholarship was created for residential girls referred by a graduate, trustee of the school, or SEM family. The purpose of this scholarship is to build our SEM community with talented young women who have a connection to the school. To nominate a candidate, please call 716.885.6780 or email admission@buffaloseminary.org

SEM Athletics

Nora Collins ’22 won an honorable mention in soccer for All-WNY Scholar-Athletes.

Sara Schmidle ’14

SEM Athletics: Swim, Crew, Soccer, Golf, Track & Field By Kacie Mills, Director of Athletics

oming into the 2021-2022 school year, it was unknown what athletics would look like with the rapidly changing pandemic. Would our athletes find some normalcy this year? Or would we continue to put a spin on how we schedule games, prepare for practices, and compete? Well, it was a little bit of both, but regardless of what it was going to look like, I knew that SEM coaches and student-athletes would be able to handle whatever was thrown at them and come out on top.

SEM Athletics has a rich tradition of excellence, commitment, and participation, and even in the middle of a pandemic, this year was no exception. Across the board, SEM athletes excelled in all fall sports. But it is not the number of wins I am most proud of. Instead, it’s that 74 percent of SEM students play at least one interscholastic sport. I credit strong student interest in athletics to our knowledgeable coaching staff that has created a positive environment for our

athletes that provides them with a sense of belonging and encourages them to achieve their personal best as individuals and team members. This fall, the SEM swim team continued to dominate, capturing their third consecutive Monsignor Martin League and All-Catholic Championship. In addition, Lauren Levy ’22 received The Natalie Lewis Award for Most Outstanding Swimmer at the Monsignor Martin AllCatholic Championship. In November, several

swimmers traveled to Ithaca, NY, for the NYSPHAA State Championships. The 200-yard medley relay (Lauren Levy, Gretchen Gwitt, Elle Noecker, Sophia Noecker) finished 3rd, sophomore Elle Noecker took home 2nd in the 100 Breaststroke and 200 IM, and senior captain Lauren Levy finished 8th in the 100 freestyle. Our crew team also experienced success this fall. The 4+ boat (Lola Sperry ’24, Inga WootenForman ’25, Shayely Casey ’24, Makayla Hudson ’23,

SEM Athletics

Harry Scully

The swim team dominated this fall, capturing a third consecutive championship.

and Shannon Saccomando’ 24) finished 1st at the Head of the Niagara Regatta and 2nd at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta in Philadelphia, PA. Fiona Murphy ’22 of the SEM cross country team finished top 5 in the Monsignor Martin AllCatholic Championships and qualified for the NYSPHAA Federation State Championship in Wappinger Falls, NY. However, Fiona’s success didn’t stop at Cross Country. During the Indoor Track season, she finished 4th overall at the Catholic High School State Championship for Indoor Track & Field in the 3000-meter run. Nevaeh Parker ’22 also had a successful state

championship race, finishing 3rd in the 300-meter sprint. Soccer bounced back this season, finishing 2nd in the Monsignor Martin B Division. Eve Desjardins ’22, Clio Granville ’23, and Abigail Anderson ’22 received All-Catholic 1st Team Honors in the B Division. In addition, Nora Collins ’22, Aubrey Vaeth ’25, and Melaina Kompson ’24 received All-Catholic 2nd Team Honors. Senior captain Eve Desjardins was also selected to participate in the Medaille Sports Management Invitational, the girls’ version of the Exceptional Seniors Game. Lastly, senior golfer Aubrey Schmidt competed in her third All-Catholic Championship match of

her 4-year varsity career. She was ranked 2nd in the Monsignor Martin League heading into the Championships. SEM athletes excel not only in their sport but also in the classroom. We had two seniors named Section 6 All-WNY Scholar-Athlete Winners, and five received Honorable Mention. SEM athletes continued to be flexible and resilient throughout the pandemic. However, it’s been their commitment to excellence and their ability to care, encourage, and support each other through it all that has been truly remarkable. I look forward to another successful year for our teams and individuals in the 20222023 school year! #GOSEM

All-WNY Scholar-Athletes Winners Lauren Levy, Swimming Aubrey Schmidt, Golf Honorable Mentions Na’Mia Kelly, Field Hockey Nora Collins, Soccer Angelina Myles, Cross Country Martha Odhiambo, Soccer Abigail Anderson, Soccer

SEM Athletics Life Lessons from Around the Pool Deck By Lauren Levy ‚ 22

leven years. This lengthy amount of time captures the sheer quantity of my time club swimming, but fails to portray the person I have become along the way. At age six, I joined the YMCA Sharks swim team, where SEM’s very own Nurse Kim was my coach. Shortly after, I switched to a more competitive team, the Town of Tonawanda Titans, and I have been on that team ever since. Now that I compete at its highest level and am about to graduate high school, I cannot believe just how much time I have spent in a pool. It’s surprising I have not developed fins yet, though my feet are size 12. I have grown so much from my time at the YMCA to Titans to SEM, and I know I will carry the following valuable lessons with me forever, even off of the pool deck. Lesson #1: Do what makes you happy and be true to yourself. While my competitors donned parkas to battle the chill of the pool deck, I took it upon myself to purchase a robe. A pink, fluffy robe, with a picture of a cat on the back beneath the word Princess. Known as the “pink robe girl,” I confidently strode onto the pool deck at age eight wearing the robe as if it were an extension of my personality. I had no hesitations about it until I was twelve years old, an age when I stood taller than the average adult. I purchased a much-needed

Lauren’s swim journey throughout the years, including reconnecting with her now-coach, Nurse Kim.

new robe (still pink, no cat). I looked ridiculous, and became self-conscious in addition to feeling anxious before racing. However, I realized that wearing a pink garment in public was a small price to pay for my happiness. I finally understood that if what I do brings me joy, then I should not focus my valuable energy on what others may or may not think. To me, the robe will forever remind me to prioritize happiness. Lesson #2: Understand the importance and dynamic of a team. While swimming is an individual sport, we swimmers still train together as a team. A team cannot be composed of only one type of racer— then, nobody would swim the other events at a competition. During each high school season, our beloved SEM coaches strategized the best way to maximize the number

of points our team could score at a meet. They recognized that each swimmer was unique, which allowed for different swimmers to score points in every event. For the past three years, SEM has won the league championship, an incredible feat accomplished by the determination of a team. We worked to complement each others’ weaknesses, as what someone else might thrive in is not necessarily what you need to excel at. As with the other lessons I have learned, this goes beyond the pool. Being a member of many teams, I have learned that each person has their own value they add, so you must hone the strength that you alone bring to the table. Lesson #3: Life is hard. Leaving a comfortable bed in the dead of winter, trudging through the snow, and taking off warm clothes to dive into an ice block of a pool by 7 a.m. is not fun.

Lauren Levy

At some point along the journey of achieving a goal, we wonder: why am I here? Why am I investing so much time and effort into this? The answer: the greater purpose you are trying to reach requires the grit you are willing to invest, as anything great requires hard work and sacrifice. In my case, I knew I wanted to swim in college, and this goal has been driving me to improve for years. Swimming has taught me that while life is hard, we must enjoy the challenging path. These lessons have allowed me to discover pieces of myself, and I have swimming to thank for the lifelong friends and mentors I’ve made along the way. I feel immense gratitude for reconnecting with Kim, coming full circle from the YMCA to SEM. The swimming community holds a special place in my heart, and I will take these lessons with me to college and beyond.

Finding the Perfect Fit

By Ann Leslie, Director of College Counseling Outside the College Counseling office, students can find a roadmap to graduation and college acceptance.

Selections from this year’s matriculation list include University of Albany Amherst College Boston College Caltech Cornell University Loyola Chicago MIT SUNY Buffalo State, Fredonia, Geneseo, Oswego Trinity College Dublin University of Rochester

ith nearly 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States alone, picking the right school is a daunting task for any high school senior. There is a high level of anxiety among students and parents alike. The goal of our college counseling office is to demystify the application process. Our belief is that while there is no perfect college for anyone, there are very good schools that offer many opportunities for growth and satisfaction. At SEM we carefully counsel our students and help them discover which school is the right fit for them. From the moment a student enters SEM as freshman, she is guided and encouraged to become a lifelong scholar and leader. This past school year, we introduced a trimester-long “College Counseling Workshop” for juniors. Our curriculum was designed as an intentional approach to college applications and to help students identify their abilities, interests and achievements. We cover a wide range of topics including personality inventories, career and major exploration, academic goal setting, resume writing, building and enhancing activities lists, and

personal essay writing exercises. We also spend the following trimester working individually to create a balanced college list. Students and their college counselor work together to create a list which is meant to evolve over time. There are many factors which contribute to a student’s happiness in college: academic programs, campus environment, class size, location, and social life. A wellbalanced list includes reach, target and likely schools, and we stress the importance of only applying to colleges that a student will gladly attend, regardless of selectivity. Students with a balanced college list will be rewarded by numerous options for college. By emphasizing individual exploration and selfassessment, a student is able to identify the characteristics she likes about a college. It is this method which helps each student find her own “perfect” school. The class of 2022 includes budding scientists, artificial intelligence enthusiasts, musicians, artists, political enthusiasts, global activists, future teachers and lawyers and medical professionals. They have

received acceptances from many fine institutions and intend on studying all over the world. Some of their acceptances include: University of Albany, Amherst College, Bates College, Boston College, University at Buffalo Honors College, Caltech, Canisius, Chapman University, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cornell University, Dickinson College, Franklin & Marshall, Hamilton, Lewis & Clark, Loyola Chicago, MIT, University of Michigan, University of Pittsburgh, University of Puget Sound, University of Rochester, SUNY Buffalo State, Fredonia, Geneseo, New Paltz and Oswego, Trinity College Dublin, and Wellesley College. With time and effort, a student who reflects and clarifies educational goals, values and interests is more likely to find a school that allows her to grow, realize her potential, and enjoy her college experience. When a student is in an environment where she feels empowered, she’s more likely to be successful both academically and socially. Our students are thriving and succeeding because of SEM’s holistic approach to learning and self-discovery.

The Return of Live Theatre In December 2021, we welcomed back in-person theatre performances at Buffalo Seminary with our fall play, “Eurydice” by Sarah Ruhl. This play retells the classic Greek tragedy of Orpheus from the perspective of his wife, Eurydice. Was this love always doomed to succumb to the Underworld? Directed by Susan Drozd, the cast and crew worked with local theatre professionals for the costume and lighting design. Students worked together after school to rehearse, design the makeup, and paint set pieces and backdrops for the show.

Photos from Buffalo Seminary Theatre

Speaking From Experience and From the Heart: Alumnae in Action Speaker Series Sparks New Connections By Carrie Brown Wick ‚ 76

he breadth and depth of experience and expertise of SEM alumnae is astounding. The “Alumnae in Action Speaker Series,” sponsored by the Head’s Council on Alumnae Engagement (HCAE) and Buffalo Seminary Alumnae Association, is a lively online forum designed to showcase the contributions and insights of alumnae in diverse fields, and to encourage conversations and connections within the alumnae community. Each Speaker Series event centers on a timely topic for a broad alumnae audience. HCAE members serve as moderators, introducing the speakers and fielding questions. Alumnae guest speakers bring the topic to life with a combination of professional and personal perspectives in a conversational setting. Alumnae often recount the twists and turns in their educational and career path after SEM that led to their current position, with fondness and appreciation for SEM teachers who inspired them. Delivered as live Zoom sessions, audience participation is encouraged. There’s a Q&A opportunity, and the Zoom comments panel lets the audience embellish the sessions with thoughtful comments and questions, useful web links, shout-outs to classmates, and playful zingers exchanged between Hornets and Jackets. The inaugural Speaker Series session, “Civic Engagement & Advocacy,” was inspired by the atmosphere of the national election and held the evening of the October 22, 2020 presidential debate. The guest speakers were Darcy Hirsch ’98, Director of Government Affairs for the Jewish Federations of North America, and Sarah Buckley ’97, a Registered Nurse at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and Legislative Political Director for Communications Workers of America Local 1168. Alicia

“Pet Parade” brought together two Denver-based alumnae, Emily Insalaco ‘92 (left) and Simone Sidel ‘02 (right), to speak on pet health and behavior.

Saia ’86, Senior Director of Marketing at MarkLogic, a Silicon Valley software company, was moderator for the event which covered advocacy in all its forms, including educating, lobbying and campaigning, from the neighborhood to national level. Speakers and participants shared stories of their involvement addressing an array of issues: speeding vehicles in residential zones, an obscure tax affecting houses of worship, and imposition of eminent domain to establish a fracking operation. Speakers emphasized that effective advocates come armed with information and support their arguments with data - “Be the expert!” A ”Conversation on Covid” took place March 9, 2021, a year into the pandemic. The session’s speakers have been actively involved in combatting Covid in the areas of

vaccine development and patient care. Dr. Casey Perley ’04 shared her expertise in deadly pathogens, biodefense, and early-stage vaccine design, including her work on mRNA vaccines at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. She currently serves as Director of Insights & Analysis at the Army Applications Laboratory in Austin, TX. Dr. Suzanne Bradley ’73, a physician and expert in infectious diseases, is a Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan, and is the hospital epidemiologist in charge of the infection control Covid-19 response for the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System. The moderator, Carrie Brown Wick ’76, is VP of Marketing & Communications at Vivaldi Biosciences, a vaccine development company. All three panelists were budding biology

majors at SEM. The speakers eloquently explained the many knowns and unknowns about covid, and addressed wide-ranging questions from a rapt audience, including how mRNA vaccines for covid could be developed so quickly, how the vaccines work, and why the covid virus mutates so quickly. Dahlia Fetouh ’92, Deputy General Counsel at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, hosted a session on “Food Nostalgia” on September 14, 2021 with alumnae speakers Lisa Game Pritchard ’99 & Anna Van Valin ’00. A former SEM faculty member, Lisa teaches English at the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, including a course on cultural and societal impacts of food. Anna is an LA-based podcast producer and creator of the podcast “Every Day is a Food Day.” The pair’s comments on the role food plays in our identities and memories evoked a smorgasbord of vivid recollections of Buffalo wings and roast beef on weck, Elmwood Avenue hangouts, and beloved school chef John Richter, who served up carbloaded creations in the ’90s and ’00s. “Pet Parade” was the Speaker Series session on February 15, 2022. The event brought together two Denver-based alumnae unaware of each other before being invited as

speakers: Emily Insalaco ’92, General Curator at the Denver Zoo, whose background includes animal training and behavior, and Dr. Simone Sidel ’02, a veterinarian specializing in animal behavior issues. Emily and Simone spoke together from the zoo, with animal ambassador Jubilee, a corn snake. Ana Jasen McClendon ’00, Director of Community Outreach & Engagement at the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County, served as the moderator for the amusing and informative talks. Emily and Simone recounted how their early interests led to rewarding careers in caring for and training animals (and their humans). The audience learned how to go about finding help for their pet’s behavior problems, how an animal’s environment influences its health and behavior, and how pets and zoo animals have been affected by the pandemic. Leading up to the event, alumnae Hornets and Jackets competed to submit the most photos of themselves and their pets. (Hornets won by a whisker.) Intrigued? Alumnae in Action Speaker Series sessions are archived on the Alumnae Events page of SEM’s website. Suggestions for future sessions? Contact Development at development@buffaloseminary.org

Madame Let‚s Keep Claudine in Touch Kurtz Memorial Fund

Donate to our endowded fund to support students studying French beyond the classroom. Your donation will support exchange programs and field trips in honor of former SEM French teacher of 25 years, Madame Claudine Kurtz. For more information, email development@ buffaloseminary.org. On behalf of our students, thank you for your support.

“Food Nostalgia” led by Dahlia Fetouh ’92 discussed how food helps shape our identities and memories.

Class Notes

40 ‚s Joan K. Smith ’47

Joan recently died, leaving a large loving family and a lot of good friends. She was our class agent with me for over 40 years and helped with annual fund, class reunions, etc. Her 2 daughters - Elizabeth Smith Hitchcook and Nancy Smith Donovan were both SEM graduates. -Bibber Truscott Jebb

Alma Chapin Owen ’48

I now have five great grandchildren from Vermont, Amsterdam, NY, and Albany, NY. Busy families!

50 ‚s

Members of the class of 1982 celebrated the holdays together last year.

70 ‚s

Marci Melzer Wilf ’71

Hoping to see many classmates at our next reunion.

Barbara Smith Pierce ’55

My husband Tim died late last November. We moved into a retirement community north of Baltimore, and it is proving to be a happy and stimulating place.

Susan Reid Russell ’55

I moved in mid-2018 to Piper Shores. I am happy to be close to my husband, Cliff, who is in the Memory Care Unit.

‚ 60 s

Elizabeth Peo Armstrong ’62

My 75th surprise birthday included family and friends and the perfect entertainment for this 75 year old Tug of War, egg toss, a sack race and the limbo!

Ruth VanArsdale ’65

Retired and loving it, even staying at home. Fit in a trip to New Zealand before COVID hit.

Debra A. Reilly-Culver ’74

I am partly retired - this summer I had a great dinner in Boston with Elizabeth “Beth” Waagen ’75.

‚ 80 s

Class of ’82 Members

Nadine Matala-Kowalski, Maryanna Moskal, Wendy Gioia, Lynette Blacher, Lisa Abeyounis, Molly Wadsworth, Amy Benjamin and Sandy Marcy Martin from the class of 1982 celebrate the holidays in 2021!

‚ 90 s Andrea Longo Carter ’92

Our family lives in Needham, MA, a suburb of Boston, where I am marking my fifth year on the School

Committee. This fall, our older son started at Commonwealth School, an independent high school that reminds me so much of SEM. The school’s small size, city location and even its red and white logo make me think about the impact of my SEM experience - it was transformative in so many ways! It’s also been interesting to draw parallels between SEM, my children’s school experiences, and my work on the School Committee. I often think of my SEM teachers. I know Mr. Schooley would have loved our family’s trip to Napoleon’s tomb in Paris, and I thank Mrs. Magavern for forcing me to write my papers with pen and paper instead of at my computer.

10 ‚s

Tracy Kreppel ’11

Tracy married Jason Wiley on July 20, 2019 in Pittsburgh, PA. Tracy is a kindergarten teacher.

‚

Let s Keep in Touch

Keep up to date with the happening at SEM through our newsletter SEM Weekly! Each week, we highlight student achievements, current community happenings and opportunities to get involved. Email Ashley Morlock at amorlock@ buffaloseminary.org or call 716-885-6780 x208 to sign up today!

In Memoriam Jill Cornblum Alt ’50 Sister of Joan Cornblum Robins ’54, cousin of Randy Cole ’69 and Shelley Cole Drake ’66

Ladds Marlette, aunt of Elizabeth Marlette ’13, cousin of Suzanne Marlette Sears ’73, Rosemary Sears ’02, and Catherine Marlette Waddell ’71

Katherine “Kathy” Good Ford ’56 Margaret Reidpath Foster ’48 Mother of Elizabeth Holcombe Mudra ’74

Grace Marie Ange Grandmother of Anna Ange ’18

Eulis M. Cathey Brother of Patrice Cathey ’72

Sidney Anthone, Father of Marcia Anthone ’72 and Lauren Anthone ’76

Molly S. Cloutier

Robert A. Foster Former Buffalo Seminary Head of School, father of Laura A. Foster ’73 and Pamela Foster Harmon ’76

Steve Barnes Father of Rachael Barnes ’14

Susan Condon Step-mother of Diane McDade ’75 and Grace Babikian ’79

Gary J. Becker Father of Joy Kaminski ’94 Arlene Betz Benson ’40 Cousin of Marjorie Mollenberg Temple ’58 Nancy Gross Berkowitz ’51 Aunt of Marcie Anthone ’72 and Lauren Anthone ’76 Arthur Bloom Grandfather of Elizabeth “Betsy” Bloom ’08 Martha Zietlow Bowden ’65 Mary “Mollie” McKenna Bigler ’52 Sister of Eleanor McKenna Horton ’55 Sally Gorman Burns ’57 Sister of Marjory Gorman Stoller ’53 Salvatore J. Buscarino Father of Olivia Buscarino ’08 and Isabella Buscarino ’12 Susan J. Campbell ’48 James R. Caprio Father of Cheryl A. Caprio ’94 and the late Valerie J. Caprio ’92 Deborah Marlette Carbone ’63 Sister of Lissa Marlette Sullivan ’66, sister-in-law of Devon Parker Marlette ’71 and SEM Head of School Helen

Nancy Clucas ’59

RJ Connelly Father of Megan Connelly-White ’01 and Laura Connelly Hartley ’06, sonin-law of Joanne Rich Healy ’56 Elaine Cutting Sister of Elizabeth Cutting Brown ’53 Virginia Daniels ’58 Cynthia Adams Dauler ’64 Karen Cooley Doyle ’58 Sister of Nancy Cooley Polk ’59 and Joan Cooley May ’61 Anthony Dutton Former Buffalo Seminary trustee, father of Elizabeth Dutton-Bourne ’77 and Margaret Dutton Baglioni ’78, and step-grandfather of Megan Urbaniak ’18 Julia Mason Smith Dutton ’48 William B. Eagleson, Jr. Brother-in-law of Margaret McLean Caywood ’52 Joan Landy Erdman ’58 Sister of Susan Landy Lytle ’60 Betty Kleindinst Fierle ’44 Mother of Jane Hettrick, great-aunt of Rachel Pikus ’02

Vonnie Mae Gambrell Mother of Giovanna E. Gambrell ’88 Patricia L. Gannon Mother-in-law of Mary Fuentes Gannon ’96 Claire Gareleck Mother of Betsy Feuerstein, grandmother of Jami Feuerstein ’99 and Marni Feuerstein Turell ’96 Yvonne Gephardt-Popielski ’78 Ann O. Gebhard Grandmother of Clare Zweig ’08 Molly Glennie Gray Mother of Susan Gray Isaac ’91 Marritje VanArsdale Greene ’69 Sister of Pamela VanArsdale ’72 Gail Alford Gundlah ’57 Sister-in-law of Wende Adam Alford ’60, cousin of Katurah Nichols Cramer ’88, Heather Rumsey Gibson ’91, Pamela Kittinger-Fuller ’54, Pamela Nichols Marcucci ’81, Rebecca Nichols ’78, Karen Kittinger Rumsey ’62, Robin Rumsey Solboe ’89 Mark E. Hamister Former Buffalo Seminary trustee and chair, father of Kathryn Hamister ’97 Dr. Patricia Curtiss Hassakis Mary Joanne Healy ’49 Sister-in-law of Joanne Rich Healy ’56

In Memoriam Thomas B. Healy Husband of Joanne Rich Healy ’56, grandfather of Megan Connelly-White ’01 and Laura Connelly Hartley ’06 Hamilton “Tony” Holt Father of Buffalo Seminary health teacher Kyle Hopkins, father-in-law of Buffalo Seminary history department chair Doulas Hopkins, grandfather of Eliza Hopkins ’13 and Abigail Hopkins ’16 Isabel Vaughan James ’39 Mother of Phoebe James ’71 Mary “Bibber” Truscott Jebb ’47 Mother of Katie Jebb Norton ’76 Edwin Johnston Step-father of Abby Schoellkopf Stevenson ’87, step-grandfather of Athena Matthews ’19 and Krissy Borowiak ’19 Cynthia Adams Dauler Joyce ’64 Darrah Wright Karr ’58 Mother of Jennifer Karr Waterman ’83 Joan Waters Keesling ’44 Cynthia Klein Kelleran ’53 Mother of Jennifer Kelleran Biggane ’86, sister-in-law of Martha Ann Kelleran ’51 Diana Thoma Knox ’50 Aunt of Wendy Johnson Rapp ’63 Leslie Kramer Mother of Leah Kramer ’17, wife of Trustee James Kramer Robert J. Kresse Husband of former Buffalo Seminary trustee Mary Ann Kresse, father of Claire Kresse White ’87 Janet D. Lauer ’43 Joan Rogers Libby ’46

Mary “Estelle” Oshei Mahoney ’86 Niece of Honorary Trustee Mary E. B. “Memo” Oshei ’74 Howard Marshall Father of Elizabeth Marshall Metcalfe ’97, father-in-law of Jarrett Metcalfe ’96 Susie Irwin McWilliams Sister of Virginia Irwin Jenks ’61

Sharon Leak Reinhard ’67 Margaret Rice Rublee Rider ’40 Torrey W. Rogerson Brother of Ann Rogerson Bigelow’62 Gertrude “Trudy” Rautenberg Rossiter ’46

Robert Meloon Former SEM faculty member

Joanna F. Rowell Former Buffalo Seminary college placement advisor

Jacqueline Miller Melton ’40

Frances “Sandy” Chisholm Rumsey ’50

Virginia Radley Metzger ’42

William Schulz Father of Elizabeth Schulz ’87

Evelyn Gurney Miller ’46 Mother of Marion “Perky” Miller Matson ’70, sister-in-law of Claire Miller McGowan ’54, aunt of Susan McGowan ’88 and Felicia Miller Meyer ’80 Bruce J. Moden Brother of former SEM Director of Development Heather Moden Jones, father of Nancy Moden-Lambert ’81, Linda Moden Andrews ’82, and Karen Moden ’83, uncle of Martha Cole Cavender ’81, grandfather of Abigail Smith ’24 and Olivia Smith ’24 Amelia “Amy” Moebius de Brahe ’73 Sister of Dorothy Moebius de Brahe ’71 Lawrence Nussdorf Husband of former Buffalo Seminary trustee Melanie Franco Nussdorf ’67, brother-in-law of Nancy Franco Blum ’65 and Kim K. Franco ’72

Constance Scott, December 6, 2021 Mother of Karen Scott ’74, Kathleen Scott-Rugg ’76, and Nyla Scott Carlisle ’80 Brenda Kurtz Shelton ’49 Lorraine Simon ’83 Julie Magavern Smith ’54 William D. Smith Husband of former Buffalo Seminary librarian Patricia Smith David G. Strachan Former Buffalo Seminary trustee, husband of Joan Rieckelman Strachan ’51, father of Alice Strachan Barr ’74

Sheila More Ogden ’46

Anne Alford Surdam ’66 Niece of Janet Wendy Warner ’44, aunt of Abby Schoellkopf Stevenson ’87, great-aunt of Athena Mathews ’19 and Krissy Borowiak

Marian Coward Page ’47

Patricia Maxwell Sweeney ’44

Georgia Johnson Pooley ’47 Mother of Georgia “Gigi” Pooley Helliwell ’76, Leslie Pooley Heffernan ’78, grandmother of Esther “Tess” Helliwell Santiago ’11

Brenda Jacobsen Voorhis ’47 Elizabeth Daniels Wilkes ’46 More online at buffaloseminary.org

Save the date June 10 10-12, June & 11,2022 2022

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REUNION

2022! SEM

Class of 1972, it's your 50th! OrgNon-Profit

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Classes of 1942, 1947, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012 & 2017 - It’s especially for you! Classes of 1942, 194 7, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 199 7, 2002, 2007, 201 2 & 2017 - It’s especially

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Go to buffaloseminary.org/ reunion22 for activities, accommodations, and to get inspired! Contact Lindsay Mathias ’11 lmathias@buffaloseminary.org 716.885.6780 ext. 233

Do you know a future SEM girl? Join us for Open House September 17 & 29 buffaloseminary.org 716-885-6780 39

Board of Trustees 2021 - 2022 Volunteer Leadership 2021-2022 Chair: Kate Bowen Smith ’92, P’23 Vice-Chair: Elizabeth Montesano Roach Secretary: Cindy Levy P’22 Treasurer: Jennifer Gress

Members Mark Burlow P’17 Robert Carr P’09 Douglas Dreishpoon P’19 & ’22 Anaydia Catherine Earle P’17 Maureen Hays-Mitchell, PhD, ’74 Mary Kelkenberg P’21 & ’23 Kara Hornung Kerwin ’98 James Kramer P’17 Cindy Levy P’22 Patrick Long, Esq. P’18 Joanna Glauser Marymor ’00 Barbara Fischer McQueeney ’74 Erin K. O’Brien ’86 Jennifer D. Roberts ’92, PhD Alicia Saia ’86 Claire S. Schen, PhD, P’18 Suzanne Marlette Sears ’73, P’02 ex officio Helen L. Marlette P’13 ex officio Natalie Stothart ex officio Molly O’Connor Greene ’98

Life Trustees Marjorie E. Barney Margaret Brown ’72 Jane Hopkins Carey ’75 Frederick B. Cohen, Esq. Jody Douglass Shelley Cole Drake ’66

Joan Willard Gruen ’51 Amy J. Habib Barbara Cowan Hyde ’43 Luella Harder Johnson ’57, PhD Susan Lenahan Kimberly ’68 David Knauss Charles F. Kreiner, Jr. Madeline Ambrus Lillie ’68, MD, PhD Amy Martoche, ’88 Esq. Philip R. Niswander, MD Melanie Franco Nussdorf ’67, Esq. Kevin O’Leary William H. Pearce, Jr. Charles R. Rice Mary Ross Rice ’52 Amy Habib Rittling ’86, Esq. Janice Roberts Fretz ’49 Harry B. Schooley III Michal Wadsworth Deceased: Joan Kostick Andrews ’48 Francis S. Faust, Esq. Mark E. Hamister L. Nelson Hopkins, Jr. Murray S. Howland, MD Elaine F. James ’42 Paul Koessler Robin Simon Magavern ’52 Rosemary Smith Marlette ’41 Joseph H. Morey, Jr., Esq. M. Ruth Fowler Niswander ’43 Betty Lehman Oppenheimer ’37 Jean Reese Oshei ’32 William H. Pearce, Sr. Madeleine Breinig Reid ’33

Susan Rubenstein Schapiro ’48, PhD Thomas Stewart Annette Stevens Wilton ’52 David G. Strachan

Honorary Trustees Ansie Silverman Baird ’55 Geraldine Walsh Clauss ’47 Janie Urban Constantine ’66 Alice Sullivan Dillon ’51 Marritje VanArsdale Greene ’69 James L. Magavern, Esq. Mary E. B. Oshei ’74 Tara VanDerveer ’71 Rosemary Woodworth Whiting ’40 Deceased: Katherine Crandell Bassett ’50 Mary Henrich Botsford ’33, MD Betty Butzer Brown ’44 Melissa Reed Chudy ’78 Virginia Deuel ’33 Robert E. Dillon, Jr. Catherine McLean Eagleson ’53 Betty Duthie Kittinger ’30 Jean Wende McCarthy ’31 Marion Osborn ’40 Betty Johnson Ott ’40 Dorothy Doane Scott ’26 Gary R. Sutton Patricia Runk Sweeney ’56 Linda Kittinger Wadsworth ’56 June Seufert Walker ’39 Margaret L. Wendt 1903

Create Your Legacy

Since the very beginning, the vision of Buffalo Seminary has been to empower young women by providing an excellent learning environment. Planned gifts from SEM’s graduates and friends continue to provide the financial support to realize this vision.

Legacy Opportunities

Gifts that can provide income during your lifetime Establish a Charitable Gift Annuity or a Charitable Remainder Trust to provide for a steady stream of lifetime income for you and an ultimate gift for SEM. Gifts that yield immediate benefits Outright Gifts, Securities, Property Gifts that sustain SEM in the future Last Will and Testament, Life Insurance, Retirement Accounts Considering a planned gift to SEM? We look forward to welcoming you to the Elm Legacy Society. Please contact Annual Fund Manager Ashley Morlock, amorlock@buffaloseminary.org.

Your support powers SEM!

Donors Lead the Way Since we opened our doors in 1851, financial contributions have always been vital to the continuing success of the school. You can put a student in a SEM classroom who otherwise would not be able to attend. A gift to SEM will have an immediate impact on a student’s life. Annual Giving

By making a gift, you take a leading role in providing stellar learning opportunities for future influencers, humanitarians, and explorers. Annual Fund dollars go to work immediately, addressing our most pressing needs and seizing exciting opportunities for our students.

The Founders’ Society

The Founders’ Society is a special set of donors who give at least $1,000 to the Annual Fund each year. This elite group of alumnae, parents, friends, and faculty members takes an interest in the future of our girls, and makes a significant investment in their outcomes.

Leadership Reunion Giving

SEM has an established tradition of going above and beyond when celebrating class reunions every five years. In fact, many alumnae are proud to join the Reunion Club by giving an additional 50%-100% above their typical annual gift. Each year, alumnae celebrating reunion years have a tremendous impact on the Annual Fund.

Endowed Support

A healthy endowment is critical for the long-term viability of Buffalo Seminary. An endowed gift is invested and grows over time, while SEM uses the investment income to support student scholarships, building maintenance, equipment replacement, or any other project that requires long-term funding. Endowed gifts allow donors to support SEM in perpetuity.

Current Use Scholarships

Some donors prefer to make a large, short-term impact by covering half or all of a student’s tuition at SEM. These generous donors agree to provide the same level of support to their student(s) throughout their career at SEM. A current use scholarship helps bright and deserving girls access a top-notch education, and allows donors to witness the impact of their very special gift first-hand!

Elm Legacy Society

Planning ahead for a future gift allows you to achieve your charitable goals and can help provide a financially secure future for you, your loved ones, and Buffalo Seminary. When you make a planned gift to SEM, include SEM in your will, or name SEM as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, you become a member of the Elm Legacy Society.

Thank you!

Thank you for your support. Please contact Annual Fund Manager Ashley Morlock, amorlock@buffaloseminary.org for more information on donating.

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For daily SEM news and pictures, find us on social media

SEM Today 2022

Articles inside

DEI story

History of SEM’s Additions

All High Art Exhibition

First Years at SEM

Hanging of the Greens

Hornet/Jacket Day

Living @ SEM

SEM’s Strategic Plan