Sem Snippets SPRING 2012
Greetings from the Head of School It has been a busy few months here at Sem! As I write, faculty and students are preparing for a much-deserved spring vacation. Once we return, the end of the school year will arrive quickly, and we’ll be graduating another class of strong young women. I am pleased to announce that the Class of 2012 has chosen Lauren Belfer ’71 as this year’s Commencement speaker. I hope if you are in town on June 12, you’ll consider attending what promises to be another memorable ceremony. Thank you for your continued support of Buffalo Seminary. Happy Spring! Best wishes,
All-WNY Academic Team Honoree Congratulations to Sarah Shafik ’12, who qualified for the 2012 list of the 100 most outstanding high-school seniors in the eight-county region. She received Special Mention in the highly competitive program sponsored by Business First. Sarah is the co-president of Sem’s 20112012 Social Service Board, and is also an athlete on our varsity and squash tennis teams.
“Hamlet’s Newsfeed” at 2012 TWT On February 22, Lisa Game Pritchard ’99, a member of Sem’s English Department, was one of the many educators who presented at the 2012 Teaching With Technology (TWT) conference. Hosted by the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), the conference highlighted the use of technology in classroom instruction. Lisa’s presentation, entitled Hamlet's Newsfeed: Using Technology to Teach Narrative in the English Classroom, showed attendees how to use everyday media, including Facebook and text-messaging, to create unique student narratives for an upper-level reading and writing program. She used several examples of student work from her popular senior elective, Multimedia Lit.
Congratulations to the Cast and Crew of Chamber Music This year’s Marion McNulty Dillon ’22 Drama was Chamber Music by Arthur Kopit. Written in 1962, the one-act absurdist play is set in the late 1930s and centers on eight women staying in an insane asylum. The patients are convinced they are important figures from history – writer Gertrude Stein; martyr Joan of Arc; suffragist Susan B. Anthony; Queen Isabella I; Constanze Mozart, the composer’s wife; silent-film actress Pearl White; safari adventurer Osa Johnson; and aviator Amelia Earhart. Directed by Susan Drozd, the production ran the gamut of emotions, and included a surprise cameo by history teacher Dr. Ben Priest, who played the doctor. Throughout the play, the audience was led to wonder whether one of the women – “Amelia Earhart” – really was the famed aviator, given the time frame. For more about the play, go to BUFFALOSEMINARY.ORG/HEADLINENEWS (“Buffalo Seminary’s 2012 Production of Chamber Music to Open on International Women’s Day”)
The Holiday Bazaar at Sem ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2011, THE BSAA HOSTED THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY BAZAAR AT SEM. LOCAL VENDORS AND SEM STUDENTS OFFERED SHOPPERS A VARIETY OF UNIQUE GIFT ITEMS, JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
Holiday Party and Rowers’ Reunion On December 21, 2011, the Margaret Smith Mugel ‘38 Atrium was the setting for a Holiday Party and Rowers’ Reunion. Alumnae from class years 1995-2011 and their parents were invited to celebrate the holidays as well as honor Coach Bob Becht on his retirement.
WYNNE BARRON ’02, GRACE O’CONNOR ’02, COURTNEY HUNTER ’03, MEREDITH MILLER ‘04 MARIAH REINARD ‘15, NADINE ABDELLATIF ’15, LAUREN WILSON-MORROW ‘15 FRONT: EVELYN EZQUERRO ‘15, PAIGE USIAK ’15, MARIVI HOWELL-ARZA ‘15
CINDY POPE ‘78
ALLIE FRIEDMAN ’05, MOIRA GIAMMARESI ’05, JULIANNA GLAUSER ’05, ELIZABETH WILKENS ’05, ANGELA PISCITELLO ’05, EMILY O’LEARY ’05, HANNAH WADSWORTH ‘05
HANNAH PORTER ’15, NATALIE HARDEN ’15, TORY IGOE ‘15
REBEKAH FARRAR ‘09
EMMAL GIAMMARESI ‘08, LAUREN MOLONEY ‘08, MICHELE KUJAWA ‘08, BOB BECHT, CAROLYN HAYDEN ‘08, KYLE FRIEDMAN ‘08
REUNION 2012 JUNE 8 & 9 JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE CLASS YEARS ENDING IN 2 & 7!
ZHUONAN (SHAUNA) LIU ’15, XUANQI (WINNIE) LU, TIANYI ZHOU ’12, WAN YING (JASMINE) CHEN ‘12
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NADINE MATALA ’82 AND GABY DEROSE ‘74
Watch for updates on Sem’s website at www.BuffaloSeminary.org and on our alum Facebook page (Buffalo Seminary Alumnae)! For more information, contact Carolyn Clark at cclark@buffaloseminary.org or (716) 885-6780, ext. 221.
Our Thanks to All for a Tasteful Evening By Susan Beich, Associate Director of Development
More than 200 members of the Sem community gathered on March 3 to experience this friendly and tasty Hornet-Jacket competition. Faculty, parent and student teams created appetizers such as Mini-chicken Cordon Bleu, Crab Cake bites and Sweet Potato Pancakes. With Hornet-Jacket points at stake, honorary judges and guests had the opportunity to select three awardwinning teams. The Hornet Teams exhibited superior culinary skills, enabling them to win both Best Hornet Appetizer Team Award (Sophomore Hornets) and the grand prize, The People’s Choice Team Award (Freshman Hornets). Special thanks to our students, faculty and parent leaders who made Savory Soiree a night to remember!
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2012 NFJC Awards Two of our own were honored at this year’s National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York Awards Luncheon, held on January 19. Madison Paulk ’12 received a 2012 Youth Award, while Catherine Flickinger Schweitzer ‘71 was recognized along with cochair Robert Skerker for her work on the 2011 National Preservation Conference.
Edward Paulk, Anne Paulk, Maddie Paulk ’12, Community Service Coordinator Kyle Hopkins, Trustee Lori Bassett and Director of Admissions Carrie Lyons Auwarter ‘96
Celebrating #32! On Friday, January 27, Niagara University celebrated the college career of one of its most spectacular former student-athletes, Eva Cunningham. The former Purple Eagle was honored before a cheering crowd when her jersey number – number 32 – was officially retired. A 2005 Niagara graduate, Eva is the all-time leading scorer for the Purple Eagles women’s basketball program, and the first female student-athlete in Niagara’s history to have her jersey retired. Earlier this year, she was also inducted into the MAAC Honor Roll, and an exhibition is now in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Since 2009, Eva has served as the Head Basketball Coach at Sem, and in 2011, she became our Assistant Director of Athletics. Congratulations, Coach! LEFT: Eva as a Purple Eagle (Photo courtesy of Niagara University) FAR RIGHT: Coach Eva and Victoria Augello ‘15
A True Drama Queen On February 11, Eliza Hopkins ‘13 won first place at the 2012 High School Shakespeare Competition sponsored by the Niagara Frontier/Buffalo Branch of the English-Speaking Union (ESU). Eliza’s delivery of Sonnet 109 and a monologue from Richard III earned her the top honor. Eight students representing area high schools participated in the 2012 competition, which was held at the Buffalo Saturn Club. The judges for this year’s regional competition were arts advocate Audre Bunis, formerly with the Studio Arena Theatre; actor Vincent O’Neill, founder and creative director of the Irish Classical Theatre Company; and Daniel Shanahan, founder and artistic director of Tom Space Theater. Robert Swados, who served as the program coordinator for this year’s regional competition, said, “Eliza demonstrated style, understanding and diction at the highest level.” His daughter is awardwinning writer, composer and theatre director Elizabeth Swados ‘68. In April Eliza will compete against students from 60 schools from across the United States at the National Shakespeare Competition in New York City. We wish her the best!
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The Rose Dance
By Molly Armstrong ’15 and Paige Gannon ‘15 On January 21, the students of Buffalo Seminary welcomed their fathers and grandfathers to the annual Rose Dance, which this year was hosted at 205 Bidwell Parkway by the Sem Parent Association. The evening started off with a lovely candle-lit dinner in the Margaret S. Mugel Atrium and Hyde Dining Room, followed by some delicious dessert in Upper West-Chester, and then crazy dancing in the Margaret L. Wendt Performing Arts Center. The girls arrived looking their best alongside their dates. The girls could be seen twirling around the dance floor, while discovering that their dates actually had some funky moves! At the end of the night, each girl received a rose, a new tradition of the Rose Dance. Although the traditions of the Rose Dance have changed frequently, the memories and fun had by all will continue on for many years to come. TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS, GO TO HTTP://BIT.LY/GIQE2E
NATALIE ’12 AND KEN SCHOETZ
SAM AND BELLA BUSCARINO ’12
TORI ’12 AND JEFFRY LESTER
TESS ’13 AND KEVIN O’LEARY, JACI SMITH ‘13 AND PAUL BATCHELOR
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FRESHMAN FATHERS
NKIRU (KIKI) ‘12 AND OBI IFEDIGBO
JULIA ‘15, ERIKA ’12 AND DONALD DOUGLAS
Sports Shorts VARSITY BASKETBALL by Co-captains Eliza Kaye ‘12, Maddie Paulk ‘12 and Emily Cardullo ‘12 Overall, we as captains are proud of how the season turned out. Although we may not have had as many wins as we had initially hoped for, we stuck with it until the end despite some minor road bumps. Toward the end of the season, the team as a whole, and each girl individually, really pulled it together and shined. We would not have been able to come as far as we had without our amazing coaches, Eva and Johnny Cunningham. Leaving will be difficult, but we feel we will be leaving the team in good hands. Our hopes for next year are that the team will take what they have learned this year and previous years to progress and create an even stronger team, making an even greater name for Sem Basketball! JV BASKETBALL by Co-captain Julia Paulk ‘14 Buffalo Seminary’s Junior Varsity Basketball Team started off the season on a positive note. Along with co-captains Amber Chinn ’14 and Julia Paulk ‘14, the team kept a positive attitude throughout the whole season leading us to succeed in both of our scrimmages against Maryvale High School and Niagara Catholic High School. We started off a little timid, most of us lacking prior knowledge of how to play the sport, but we wholeheartedly jumped into the game and were able to come together as a team, acknowledge our talent, and win. With the patient coaching of Eva Cunningham and great efforts from the team as a whole, this season became one to be remembered. SQUASH by Catherine Sanderson ‘12 During the 2011-2012 winter season, the Sem Squash Team finished with overall statistics of 5-5! The determined girls all played hard and improved their skills impressively. Some of the girls had various comments on this past season: “Before matches, it’s a weird feeling of excitement and nervousness because you don’t know what’s going to happen, but you’re hoping all the work during practice will pay
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off.” – Varsity squash player Sarah Shafik ‘12 “Well, I thought we all bonded as a team and had a great time going to Yale, and I think we all improved tremendously.” – Varsity squash player Natalie Voos ‘14 “I came to the squash team not knowing how to play squash, and I was able to play in two tournaments and I won a match! I plan on continuing my squash career throughout my years at Sem.” – JV squash player Alexa Rosen ‘15 Some teammates on the varsity team also traveled to New Haven, Conn., for U.S. Squash National Championships and returned content with their performance and standing for the year: 2-2 in Division 4. With the help of Coach Phil Barth, Sem’s squash players represented Buffalo Seminary well at Yale. We are very proud, and the seniors – Da, Sukie, Sarah and I – will surely miss the Sem squash program. MVP: Liza Marlette ’13, MIP: Sarah Shafik ’12, Coaches’ Award: Cat Sanderson ‘12
Congratulations to Sarah Obletz ’14! Sarah documented the experience of her varsity team at New Haven, and Sem won the 2012 U.S. High School Team Squash Championships Video Contest sponsored by U.S. Squash! You can watch the award-winning video on YouTube (“Buff Sem Squash Nationals 2012”)
VARSITY FENCING by Head Coach Marika Woods-Frankenstein The Varsity Fencing Team's final competition for the season was held on February 25 at Sem. The tournament was well attended by both local and regional competitors, who traveled as far as Pennsylvania. Marivi Howell-Arza ‘15 (foil) went on to the quarter-finals and scored 15 points in her direct elimination. Erica Pellerite ’13 (foil) fenced well and made solid touches against tough competitors. Foilists Xuanqi (Winnie) Lu‘14, Yidi (Brenda) Zhang ‘14, Xiao Zhang ‘14 and Ji Eun Choi ’13 did their best at the competition. Junior Captain Angelina Buscaglia ‘13 fenced with skill as she competed for a second time this season in sabre. Co-Captain Kendall Priebe’12 competed in both sabre and epée. Kendall's perseverance and grit helped her win a third-place medal in epée! Thank you to the Sem Fencing Team for another great season!
and muscle strength, TBF provided a challenging workout for athletes of all skill levels. Our culminating activity was the first Sem Triathlon on March 3. In addition to Head Rowing Coach Rachel Heckl, the athletes worked with Abby Jones, our body weight circuit instructor; Jordan Marwin, our personal trainer; and Lizz Coffey, our yoga instructor. MMHSAA WNY GIRLS VARSITY ICE HOCKEY This was the second year that Sem participated in Western New York ice hockey for high-school girls. Dani Trolli ’12 proved herself to be the consummate goalkeeper and represented Sem well. In addition to Sem, the schools that made up the MMHSAA Girls Varsity team were Nardin, Immaculata, St. Mary’s of Lancaster, Mt. St. Mary’s, Sacred Heart and Holy Angels. Under the leadership of Coach Linda Mroz, the girls finished the season as Regular Season Champs and also won the Girls Varsity Federation Championship, 2 – 1, over West Seneca.
MVP: Erica Pellerite ‘13, MIP: Marivi Howell-Arza ‘15, Coaches' Award: Kendall Priebe ‘12 INDOOR BOWLING AND GOLF Fifteen Sem students took advantage of the firstever Indoor Bowling and Golf team at Sem. The weekly outings were a great way to relieve stress and prepare for next fall’s golf season. Coaches Jim and Edi Dref, as well as student-athlete Pam Rivas ’14, deserve credit for initiating this new team. TOTAL BODY FITNESS This was another new addition to our 2011-2012 Winter Sports Offering. Designed to keep girls conditioned during non-rowing months, as well as train anyone interested in increasing her cardio
On Saturday, February 11, Sem competed in the first Shamrock Row, an indoor “regatta” sponsored by the Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association (BSRA) and held at the Old First Ward Community Center. Congratulations to Samantha Barry ’14, who won the sophomore race; Bridget Haley ’13, who won the junior/senior race; and Marissa Olssen ’15, who won the freshman race!
2012 Buffalo Seminary Triathlon On Saturday, March 3, Sem held its first-ever Triathlon. Congratulations to the 30 intrepid competitors – including Sem girls, family members and friends – who rowed 750 meters in our gym and then braved 60 mph winds to run from 205 Bidwell Parkway to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. From there, the athletes ran up and down six flights of concrete steps before heading back to school. Thanks go to Director of Athletics Diana Bennett, Head Rowing Coach Rachel Heckl and our Sem volunteers for making the day a success. On to next year! MORE PHOTOS AT: HTTP://ON.FB.ME/GE3ESN
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Class Notes CLASS OF 1942 Jean Alvord Donohue: “I have moved to a retirement community just three blocks from another community where Judy Wilhelm Doerschuk lives. These are both busy places with lots of activities. We are near a downtown park built over the freeway. This is now my favorite walking place. I will miss the June reunion as I will be on a barge in France.” CLASS OF 1946 Joan Metzger Brisbin: “2011—a good year: third great-grandchild, granddaughters’ high school grads, summer in Maryland near daughter and family. Lots of tennis, especially in Florida, with a special trip to Turkey in October as a member of USTA Doris Hart Cup team. What an honor to represent my country! Best of all: good health for Lany and me!” Martha Carr Stisser: “Went on a three-week around-the-world trip in October with National Geographic on a 757. We crossed the equator four times and changed time zones back and forth often. Stopped at the Amazon, Easter Island, The Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Beijing and Xian in China, Jaipur, India, the Serengeti in Tanzania, Petra in Jordan and Istanbul, Turkey. Quite a trek. I made it!”
CLASS OF 1953 Adele Petrillo Smart: “Husband Burt and I spend half the year here in Lafayette, LA, and half at our beach home in Destin, FL. Also visit our daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters (15 and 12) in North Attleborough, MA, and our son, daughterin-law and four grandsons (15, 11, 9 and 6) in San Diego.” CLASS OF 1955 Carole Jordon Brown: “Bob and I had a house built here in Southport, NC, to get away from the snow. We will winter here. Love the area.” Nancy Marsh: “I frequently surprise myself when I go to work each day as an Occupational Therapist for Home Health and find how much I still enjoy helping people (an increasing number at my age!) remain independent and healthy. It’s nice to know we’re never too old to share our wisdom!” CLASS OF 1956 Phyllis Roberts Staplin: Phyllis and Carl Staplin celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 24th, 2011. They traveled to Hawaii and Bermuda with family.
CLASS OF 1947 Helene Holzworth Gephardt: “We are in our 62nd year of marriage, with four children, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren! Kudos to SEM for creativity and progress!”
Patricia Runk Sweeney: “Harold and I are happy in Tacoma! We’re pleased to make contact with Polly Marcy Spaulding ’60, who referred us to her excellent dentist. Nothing like those ‘old school’ connections!”
CLASS OF 1950 Maria Lenhoff Marcus: “I am a Professor (Joseph M. McLaughlin Professor of Law, Emeritus) at Fordham Law School, and at the May 2011 graduation I received the Dean’s Medal of Recognition. The biography in the program described my prior career as Chief of Litigation at the New York State Attorney General’s Office, my teaching awards and my current activities. My focus is on training future litigators by coaching them in moot court competitions, where student teams from Fordham compete with teams from other schools in arguing cuttingedge issues before panels of judges, professors and practitioners. I love the work, and our season got off to a good start when our team in the National Criminal Procedure Tournament won the championship and Best Oralist in the country. My three children and five grandchildren are flourishing. My best to all!”
CLASS OF 1964 Ann Walker Rice: “Saddened to hear of Trudi’s death. We now have 12 grandchildren and spend winters in Ft. Myers/Sanibel. Have a 2-bedroom, 2-bath Sanibel Island condo with new kitchen, Wi-Fi, sleeps 6, for rent. Three-night minimum. 77 steps from the beach! View it on VRBO.com listing #96791. Daughter, Allison, 26, getting Master’s degree in public health at UNC—Chapel Hill.”
Ethel Roblin Melzer: “Dear 1950 Classmates, Let’s all ‘hang in there.’ The year 2012 will be one of very ‘special birthdays’ for several of us! WOW! Where did the time go?” Ann Hopkins Nolan: “Delighted to have more
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Hopkinses [Ann’s nephew Doug, his wife Kyle, and their daughter Eliza ’13] at Sem!”
CLASS OF 1967 Caryl Fleischman Brent: “I recently retired after a wonderful career as a rehabilitation counselor. I love it! I still have a small private practice in my home and spend as much time as possible with my son, daughter-in-law, two grandchildren (third on the way) and my husband, who is still working (thank goodness).” Connie Schweitzer: “Hope many of the Class of 1967 are planning on attending reunion this summer.” CLASS OF 1968 Ann Quackenbush: “I see Susie Blaine here in Sarasota at the Buffalo Gals Luncheons. Still busy with Condo Board here at Crystal Beach and our new Presbyterian Church on Longboat Key, and enjoy
golf and kayaking.” CLASS OF 1974 Betsy Holcombe Mudra: “Happy in Texas—Sugarland to be exact. Retired teacher after 30 years and now active at church and in the community. Soon to be grandparent on April 1st, 2012—Zachary Scott Porter! We can’t wait!” CLASS OF 1977 Elizabeth Dutton Bourne: “Living in St. Louis with my husband Gordon Bourne and two children, MacGregor (who has autism) and Grace. Between involvement in Autism Awareness, Girl Scouts, politics and consulting, life is busy. For those who don’t know, my parents just remarried after 20 years apart. It’s complicated!” Holly Hahn-Baker: “I am so happy to be able to ring in 2012 by celebrating 14 years and counting with my new lungs. Hope to see lots of you in 2012 in our Renaissance City of Buffalo.” Kelly Swanson: “Hi, Classmates, Can’t wait to see everyone at our 35th reunion. I am sure we all still look the same!” CLASS OF 1978 Pamela Pozarny: “Hello, Friends! Still working incessantly throughout Africa with FAO/UN. Enjoying my challenges and could imagine doing nothing else. When at home in Rome, I maximize my time with cycling weekends and long treks. Last summer, loved Sardinia on two wheels.” CLASS OF 1979 Gwendolyn Yates Whittle: Congratulations to Gwen. On February 19, she was honored with a Golden Reel Award from the Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) Association for her work in sound editing. Gwen is a two-time Academy Award nominee and works at Skywalker Sound. CLASS OF 1980 Brenda A. Mattar: From The Buffalo News, December 11, 2011: “Magavern Magavern Grimm appointed Brenda A. Mattar special counsel to the firm. Mattar is a former court attorney with the Erie County Surrogate’s Court. Her experience also includes 17 years of general law practice with Mattar, D’Agostino & Gottlieb.” CLASS OF 1982 Dorothea “DeeDee” Reed Martel: “Class of 1982, Our 30th is this year! I’ll be coming from Florida for it. I’m hoping our class prez, Christine Dzongowski Boyle, will fly up with me. I hope to see a lot of you there.” CLASS OF 1984 Alice Slattery Kolasny: “Hi! My oldest daughter, Catherine, graduated from the U of MD with a Biology degree. She is in the process of applying to
CLASS OF 2006 Maggie A. Ovitt: Maggie graduated from Canisius College with a degree in communications and business with honors. She is currently employed at Seal & Design in Clarence, NY. CLASS OF 2008 Betsy Bloom: Betsy, while a junior at Colgate, spent her spring semester in London. She was visited by Kathryn Steffan, Clare Zweig and Heather Kimmins, all 2008 Sem classmates.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MAYOR BYRON BROWN'S OFFICE
dental school! My second daughter, Jacqueline, is a junior at U of MD, majoring in equine science. Nicholas, who is 13, is in seventh grade! I am teaching first grade full-time and love it. Would love to hear from you.” CLASS OF 1985 Barbara Ebling: “In February 2011, my husband Matthew, daughter Caledonia (now two years old) and I traveled to China to welcome 11-month-old twins, Amelia Baiyun and Olivia Lantian, into our family. Our lives are chaotic, but joyous—and full of sunshine, white clouds and blue sky.” Liz Markus: On February 16, Liz launched her fourth solo exhibition, The Look of Love, at NYC’s ZieherSmith Gallery. The show runs through March 17. Last year Liz came to Sem as our ColbyOishei Artist. CLASS OF 1987 Susan Henderson: Susan, who is an MD, has just arrived in Beijing, China, where she will be living for two to four years with her husband, who is also a doctor and will be working there. CLASS OF 1988 Tara A. Ellis has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of Meals on Wheels. Amy C. Martoche, current Chair of the Board of Trustees, was sworn in as a Buffalo City Court judge on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012. As The Buffalo News reported: Martoche “rose to the top of a very competitive search process” to fill a seat on the court that had become vacant in December 2011. A public search resulted in 18 individuals applying for the job. City attorneys interviewed all candidates and forwarded a short list of applicants to Mayor Brown, who said it was clear to him that Amy was the strongest candidate. He said, “She is a woman of strong ethics and a passion for the City
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of Buffalo.” At the swearing in were Amy’s parents, State Supreme Court Justice Salvatore R. Martoche and Mary Dee Martoche, husband, Timothy W. Hoover and daughter, Julianna. CLASS OF 2000 Jolie Roetter: From Jolie’s mother: “I love sharing good news. Jolie has accepted a position at American University in Washington, DC, and will be relocating in two weeks. She will be Director of Global Learning at the Kogod School of Business at AU. We are very excited for her. She was down in DC recently and has rented an apartment. She is excited about the new job and a little sad to leave the Adirondacks. Aside from having many Buffalo and college friends in DC, she is within walking distance to a Starbucks and a short drive to an IKEA store! What more can you ask for?” CLASS OF 2004 Emily Ovitt Kim: Emily was married to Master Hyeon Cheoh Kim on July 3, 2011. After graduating from Middlebury College, she presently is employed at Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. CLASS OF 2005 Julia Broman: From Julia’s mom, Candy Broman: “Just received the latest issue of Sem Snippets and it triggered me to send in an update on Julia Broman. She has had an eventful year! It started with graduating from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in May with a master’s degree. She was married to Michael Topper on June 18th, and they moved to the Washington, DC, area in August because Julie received a full scholarship and stipend to the University of Maryland to pursue a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology. Michael is a graduate of Canisius High School and University of Pittsburgh. He is a computer systems analyst with a consulting firm in Virginia.”
CLASS OF 2010 Marissa Bruno: From a letter Marissa sent to Janie Constantine: “I wanted to thank Sem’s teachers and staff for helping me prepare for college. As a part of our summer assignment my first year, all freshmen participated in an essay contest on the novel The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Out of my class of 514, I was chosen as one of the ten contest winners. I had the opportunity to meet the author of the book and get my essay published. I would not have written a winning essay without the English Department at Sem. As a journalism and communications major, I will be serving my third semester as the online editor of The BonaVenture (our school’s newspaper). I am a news reporter for the paper and serve as a broadcaster of the news. This semester, I move up to the position of Assistant News Director for my college radio station. I will soon be interning for the St. Bonaventure Bonnies basketball team assisting with broadcasts for the games. I attribute much of my success directly to Sem. I’m very blessed and thankful for my high-school experience. Sem will always be a part of me.”
We love to stay on top of the latest alumnae news! Send your updates to : gsutton@buffaloseminary.org for inclusion in the next issue of Sem Snippets. If you’re on Facebook, be sure to “like” the Buffalo Seminary Alumnae page, where you can share wall posts with old and new friends.
A Message from the BSAA
Three Months to Go!
Sem Shares Squash Courts With the Community
Gabrielle P. DeRose ‘74 President, Board of Directors Buffalo Seminary Alumnae Association Over the years, I have served on a number of boards for a variety of organizations. Recently it occurred to me that, whenever I’ve completed my terms of service, any further communication, for the most part, has involved a request for dollars. That got me thinking about the BSAA board and wondering: what do we do for our past directors who donated so much of their time and energy during their time in office? Sure, we invite them to our Fall Luncheon and Holiday Bazaar along with other local alumnae, and, if it’s a Reunion year, we invite them to attend along with their classmates. Sem itself may distinguish them for their individual gifts to the school. But do we as a board do anything just for them in recognition of their many contributions? I was hard-pressed to come up with a single occasion. Well, this year we’d like to change that. On Wednesday, May 16, the 20112012 BSAA Board of Directors will host a cocktail reception in honor of the many dedicated women who have so faithfully served the Alumnae Association since its inception in 1995.
LIZA MARLETTE ’12 WITH STUDENTS FROM KING CENTER CHARTER SCHOOL
*AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 2012
We’re down to the home stretch! Please make your 2011-2012 Annual Fund pledge and/or gifts by June 30. A remittance envelope has been enclosed for your convenience. You can also make a secure online contribution at: BUFFALOSEMINARY.ORG/DONATENOW
Thank you for supporting Sem and our mission to educate young women to become citizens of the world and leaders of their community. Your generosity is our foundation!
Sem’s City Squash Program runs each Saturday until the beginning of May, just before the end of the 2011-2012 school year. This year 18 students from King Center Charter School in grades 3-6 – all of them girls – are participating. The students are picked up and brought to Sem for a morning of fitness, either on the squash courts or using the cardio machines, as well as some academic mentoring. Sukie Cleary ’12 and Jordan Serotte ’13 coordinate the academic tutoring, while Liza Marlette ‘13, Emily Glick ’13 and Natalie Voos ‘14 coordinate the fitness activities. The adult staff members who run the program are Ryan Keating from King Center Charter School and Helen Marlette, Sem’s Assistant Head of School. Saturday City Squash at Sem was started in 2009 by Elizabeth Bassett ‘11. The Bassett Squash Courts also host the teams from Canisius High School and Tapestry Charter School. Student-athletes from both schools practice squash in our facility throughout the season.
As the world and lifestyles have changed and the role of women in the world has changed, the BSAA and its predecessor (the Graduates Association) has had to adapt and change as well. But the one constant has been the dedication of its board, arising from a shared passion for Sem and women’s education. Hopefully, this small gesture of our gratitude for those who have preceded us and, in many cases served with us, will be the beginning of a new tradition. To all former BSAA directors: watch your mail. More details to follow.
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Our 2011-2012 Exchange Program On March 17, five Sem girls traveled with Sophie Michaud, chair of the Foreign Language Department, to Paris, France. From there they continued on to LeHavre, to reunite with the French students who visited Sem in February. On March 25, a group of Sem students traveled with Spanish teacher Dr. Patrick Moore and Sem librarian Britt White to Madrid, Spain. From there they traveled to Oviedo and reunited with the Spanish students who visited Sem last December. You can check out all the adventures via the official blogs at SEMFRENCHEXCH2012.BLOGSPOT.COM and SEMSPAN201112.BLOGSPOT.COM
2012 Wilkinson Poet Visits Sem
On March 16, Dr. Ralph Black, the 2012 Elizabeth McNulty Wilkinson ’25 Poet, spent the day visiting English classes before giving a reading to Sem students, faculty and guests during an assembly in the chapel. Dr. Black is the co-director of the Writers Forum at SUNY Brockport, and his prize-winning work has been featured in a number of journals. Poet-in-Residence Ansie Silverman Baird ’55, who leads the annual sophomore poetry workshop, introduced Dr. Black to the school community.
Service Week is a Huge Success
In Memoriam* CELESTE ABBATE (November 23, 2011), mother of Alexis Abbate ‘94 JEAN D. ANDERSON (December 26, 2011), mother of Sarah Anderson DeVantier ’72 and Cathy Anderson Estes ‘76 JUDITH ANDERSON (January 24, 2012), grandmother of Isabella Dixon ‘12 ROBERT S. BAIN (February 29, 2012) father of Susan Bain ‘67 and April Bain Moran ‘71 MARY HENRICH BOTSFORD ’33 M.D. (December 1, 2011), Honorary Trustee, mother of Janet Botsford Thrush ‘67, grandmother of Hannah Thrush Magnolia ‘95 CONCETTA BUSCARINO (November 18, 2011), grandmother of Olivia Buscarino ’08 and Isabella Buscarino ‘12 JOAN FINCK CARROLL ’43 LOUISE “LIZ” ZELLER CURLEY ’54 (January 29, 2012), sister-in-law of Suzanne Church Zeller ’51, aunt of Suzanne “Annie” Zeller Bessett ‘74 SUZANNE BRAUTIGAN DAVIS ’51 (February 8, 2012) DAVID W. GOW (December 19, 2011), husband of Alice Roberts Gow ’45, brother-in-law of Susan Roberts Bean ’43, uncle of Emelie Bean Ventling ’76, Kristen Bean ’04 and Former Trustee Doug Bean NELSON M. GRAVES, JR. (January 7, 2012), husband of Germain Kenefick Graves WILLIAM G. HUMISTON (January 17, 2012), grandfather of Karson Humiston ‘11 DR. RICHARD JUDELSOHN (January 15, 2012), father of Alexandra Judelsohn ‘07
GISELLE BINETTE ‘13 ORGANIZES REFRESHMENTS AT THE Unyts BLOOD DRIVE.
Sem’s Social Service Board hosted Service Week from March 5-10. The initiative complemented the very successful Giving Week from last December, which encouraged donations of food, clothing, books and unwrapped gifts for several local organizations. For each day during Service Week, Sem students donated their time and
2012 Prince Family Lecture Series On March 6, world-renowned composer Caroline Mallonée spoke to Sem students and faculty about her career in music during a special all-school assembly. The 2012 Prince Family Lecturer returned to Sem on March 21 to speak at a reception just before a concert by the Buffalo Chamber Players. Entitled ‘Women in Music, ‘the concert featured works by female composers, including Ms. Mallonée’s 2010 composition, Shadow Rings.
energy by volunteering for a specific organization or event, including Vive La Casa, YWCA of WNY, Everywoman Opportunity Center, Hospice Buffalo and Ronald McDonald House. On March 9, Sem hosted a blood drive for Unyts in West-Chester Hall. We thank everyone who participated in Service Week!
Miss Representation On March 2, the Sem community gathered together in the chapel for a screening of “Miss Representation,” a documentary written, directed and produced by Jennifer Siebel Newsom. Premiering in 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival, the film explores how the portrayal of girls and women by the media contributes to the under representation of women in positions of leadership in the United States. Before and after the screening, Sem students participated in workshops and group discussions facilitated by faculty. It was a challenging and valuable way to kick off Women’s History Month. For more, go WWW.BUFFALOSEMINARY.ORG/HEADLINENEWS
SUZANNE PRESSLER LEHMAN ’41 (January 24, 2012) DR. JOSEPH MATALA (December 31, 2011), father of Nadine Matala-Kowalski ‘82, Dr. Maria Matala-Sullivan ’84, Michele Matala ’86, Dr. Kara Matala ’90 and grandfather of Meghan Sullivan ‘14 GERTRUDE TUCKER ODMARK ’32 (2011) MARTHA COPPESS RIETH ’45 (February 4, 2012) FANETTE SAWYER (January 16, 2012), mother of Sally Sawyer ’69 and Katherine Sawyer White ‘73 RUTH M. SEILER (November 23, 2011), mother of Susan Seiler ‘77 JOSEPH A. SELVA (November 30, 2011), father of Andrea Selva Steinberg ‘92 RUTH SETTERS (December 5, 2011), mother of Barbara Setters Fox ’53 and Susan Setters Jacobson ‘59 ROBERT W. SPENCER (January 14, 2012), father of Karen L. Spencer ’69, grandfather of Sarah Suozzi VanOstrand ‘00 MANLEY B. TILLOU II (February 11, 2012), husband of Deborah Matthews Tillou ’61, brother-in-law of Catherine Steele Tillou ’58, uncle of Amy Tillou Parks ’90 and Michelle Tillou ‘95 ANTHONY G. VONA (February 12, 2012), grandfather of Darrah Vona ‘06 NANCY W. WARNER (January 18, 2012), mother of Nancy-Gene Warner Morrison ‘59 RAYMOND PH. WEIL (February 6, 2012), uncle of Jennifer S. Montesano ‘89
*Based on information received through March 1, 2012
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Buffalo Seminary 205 Bidwell Parkway Buffalo, NY 14222-1295
Upcoming events APRIL 16
MAY 2
JUNE 8-9
• Colby-Oishei Artist Monica Angle - 2:30 p.m.
• Joan Kostick Andrews ’48 Spring Concert Sem Glee Club and Ensemble - 7 p.m.
• Reunion Weekend Classes ending in 2 & 7
APRIL 27
MAY 17
JUNE 12
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• Harriet McNulty Adsit ’26 • Lecture Series Roberta Rich ‘63 2:50 p.m.
Sandra P. Gilmor Scientist for Life Lecture Series Emily Constantine-Doren 12:30 p.m.
161st Commencement Honoring the Class of 2012 Westminster Church Speaker: Lauren Belfer ‘71 - 4 p.m.
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