Cate School 2020 Summer Bulletin

CATE Summer 2020

BULLETIN

CATE B U L L E T I N EDITOR

Avani Patel Shah CONTENT LEAD Matt McClenathen GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Schessa Garbutt Mya Cubero PHOTOGRAPHER

Aimee Stanchina ARCHIVIST

Judy Savage HEADMASTER

Benjamin D. Williams IV ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Charlotte Brownlee '85 COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

Avani Patel Shah Matt McClenathen Aimee Stanchina ADVANCEMENT OFFICE

Lindsay Newlove Evan Akers Katie Convoy Chris Giles Guille Gil-Reynoso Laura Jespersen Andrew MacDonnell Sarah Preston Elana Stone Tiarzha Taylor MISSION STATEMENT

Through commitment, scholarship, companionship, and service, each member of the Cate community contributes to what our founder called “... the spirit of this place ... all compounded of beauty and virtue, quiet study, vigorous play, and hard work.”

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

CATE SCHOOL

@CATE_SCHOOL

@CATESCHOOL

The Cate Bulletin is published three times a year by Cate School and is distributed free of charge to alumni, parents, and friends of the School. Send correspondence and address changes to: communications@cate.org The Cate Bulletin is printed by V3 on Topkote paper.

On the Cover: Lea De Vylder '20 Photo courtesy of Jung-Yoon Choi

1

In Every Issue 4 From the Headmaster 2

CAT E B ULLET IN / SUMMER 2020

56 Class Notes

62 In Memoriam

66 From the Archives

In This Issue 7 HEADMASTER’S REMARKS Benjamin D. Williams IV

8 FACULTY COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS Ivan Barry

12 STUDENT COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS Riley Swain '20

14 FACULTY GRATITUDE Cate faculty and staff give their well wishes to the Class of 2020.

16 2019-2020 AWARDS

22 A VERY SERVONS COMMENCEMENT Alumni Deliver Diplomas to Class of 2020 Charlotte Brownlee '85

26 THE CLASS OF 2020 Headmaster Ben Williams gathers observations, teacher and advisor comments, and campus lore to craft a “literary snapshot” of each senior.

45 DEPARTING FACULTY & STAFF We bid a fond farewell to four members of the Cate faculty and staff.

48 ENEDINA GARCIA 30 Years of Service at Cate

52 KARL WEIS 30 Years of Service at Cate

3

From the Headmaster There is no less emotion or feeling.

There might even be more. A look at the many images of Cate alumni delivering diplomas to members of the Class of 2020 is bound to put a lump in the throat of even the most curmudgeonly among us. The spectrum of sensation is broader, too, the character of those inevitable feelings of ending something more acute, and the joy and celebration of the milestone of graduation a bit restrained. Our emotional range has moved south, it seems, hopefully only temporarily.

I don’t usually write an introduction to the Summer Bulletin. The sensations, sentiments, and images of the rituals that accompany the end of the year at Cate render the story fully and forcefully. But this year, much is different.

It is a strange ending to a year that by every single measure coming into the Spring was extraordinary. The Class of 2020, whose equanimity and resilience were so remarkable in the final trimester of the year, had a profound impact on life at Cate in the first two as well. A visit to our Vimeo page and the many Servons Speeches attest to the character of the class’s leadership as well as the unique quality of their humanity.

This is a deeply accessible group – sincere, genuine, and unusually empathetic. It would be easy to say – as many have – that they deserved better: a better ending, a more personal culminating celebration, their public moment in the limelight.

They do. But if there is indeed a time for every season under heaven, then there is something to be gained and learned even from this tumultuous season, too. I trust the Class of 2020 at Cate and elsewhere understands that now, even if we are only still beginning to understand the meaning of this time.

4

CATE B ULLET IN / S F ALL UMMER 20182020

I was reading Tracy K. Smith’s wonderful poem recently called “Everything that Ever Was,” which is a poignant reminder that any moment in history – the current one included – coexists simultaneously with every other one. We make our home in the present, but there is more than just the present to inform and teach and guide us. The poem begins: Like a wide wake, rippling Infinitely into the distance, everything That ever was still is, somewhere, Floating near the surface, nursing Its hunger for you and me And the now we’ve named And made a place of.

It is no surprise, candidly, that the Class of 2020 would come of age in this moment. They strike those of us who have the good fortune to work with them as people and citizens capable of meeting this time – which contains within it past, present, and so much hope for the future – with the skills to know what to do with it. Having already been a part of history, they seem poised to make it, a responsibility that falls to all of us.

As one of our graduating seniors said to me upon earning his diploma, “Now it’s time to get to work on the world we need to make.” Historic, indeed.

Servons,

Benjamin D. Williams IV

5

COMMENCEMENT 2020

6

CAT E B ULLET IN / SUMMER 2020

Commencement

Remarks from Headmaster Ben Williams

Welcome, everyone, back to the Mesa and to the Johnson Library, a fitting place for this evening’s program.

It is the story of the year that we tell tonight, a year that has left us with plenty to talk about. You will recall when we gathered together as faculty and seniors in August, we were honoring the beginning of the beginning of the school year. Today it is the beginning of the end of the school year that we acknowledge. J.R.R. Tolkien’s wonderful Bilbo Baggins said of great stories, “Each of us must come and go in the telling.” But going is not ending. The tale goes on. We are students of some sort for life. And you, my friends, are great students. On that point – and a host of others – you have left no doubt.

Circumstances have dictated that our celebration of this moment is different this year than in the past. Many of the familiar trappings are gone. It is easy enough to know what has changed or what seems to have been lost. But we cannot go the way of Gatsby, dwelling on moments that might have been.

Better to savor the ones we are in, for there is richness and wonder in them, too. Our green light must not be any one moment in time but every moment in time.

“You have been magnificent in all the ways we need you to be, even amidst unprecedented challenges.”

And we have record of all the ones we have lived so far. Not simply our memories but our words, the very thing we shared last night, and that which our speakers will share in a moment. These, too, are the monuments to this journey, the center around which we orbit, our means of capturing what happened here and why.

within the words we use to share them.

You chose wisely, Class of 2020, for Riley Swain and Ivan Barry are wellsuited to such expression. Into their capable hands and words, I now commend you.

Class of 2020, tomorrow is your graduation day. You will note that we have deputized members of the Cate Family to see that you receive by hand the diplomas you have earned. Much like tonight, there is meaning in that gesture and a reminder. Cate is not a place only but an idea as profound as the words we heard tonight. And that idea is expressed through each of us, through our lives, our loves, our hopes, and our deeds. You have demonstrated already here your understanding of that truth and your acceptance of your responsibility to live it. You have been magnificent in all the ways we need you to be, even amidst unprecedented challenges. In due course we will have you all back together on this Mesa to celebrate all that has been accomplished.

But tomorrow we look forward, too, imagining the future that stretches out before us, the lives we will encounter and the adventures we will know. On that life-long journey ahead, you will take us all with you, just as we will keep you here with us. And so the place becomes the people and the people express the place.

Congratulations and godspeed. We will see you again soon.

Many of you studied Lincoln this trimester and his remarks at Gettysburg.

“The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here.” And yet he was wrong. His language transcends him just as ours transcends us. That is what we honor today – the endurance of the moments we have shared, held

7

COMMENCEMENT 2020

Commencement

Faculty Speaker Ivan Barry Humanities Department Chair

“And now, at last, a moment to celebrate all that you have done and accomplished; a moment to pause and cherish the memories of the last four years. But you know all that.

Hindsight is, after all, 2020.”

8

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

Seniors, members of the Cate community, Welcome. Here we are at the first and hopefully last virtual graduation in Cate’s one hundred and ten years.

Class of 2020, you have made it! Years of hard work, exploration, and growth.

And now, at last, a moment to celebrate all that you have done and accomplished; a moment to pause and cherish the memories of the last four years. But you know all that. Hindsight is, after all, 2020.

My guess is that, in the current context of the world, many of you are less focused on what was and instead are wondering: What’s next? What do I do?

Where will I be? In the coming months?

Next year? 5 years from now? In this moment of great uncertainty, we are all looking for answers, craving some sort of predictability. As one positive development of this pandemic, people are turning or perhaps returning in greater numbers to science for solutions.

And…simultaneously many are also looking to history for guidance. I will let others speak to the science, but as a student and teacher of history, my mind naturally turns to the past to seek answers.

Can we, for instance, use history to contextualize this moment and draw from it insight and direction? Do I compare it to the mumps cases, for example, that tore through Cate in 1932, canceling all of spring sports that year? Maybe, but it was a local event, small in scale and passed without much damage. Or how about the Spanish flu of 1918? Large and deadly for sure.

Then again, occurring in a smaller world, less globalized, less populated, and less medically knowledgeable. So, neither is an exact match, neither helps with that nagging question of: What’s next?

How is this all going to play out? Is our current situation more like the Great Wars then? Perhaps, in the sense of mass mobilization needed to counter the enemy. But who is the enemy? We can’t see it nor infer its plans – there is no

stated goal in its advance. It is chaotic, random.

So, if none of those historical examples quite work, where can we look for similarities from the past, for patterns that might provide us direction.

Well, that’s just it, there are none, not precisely. This is a novel event.

There is no exact parallel, and thus no playbook to dust off from the shelf providing direction on what to do. And in that, we come upon a realization: History as experienced is not history as told. History as lived is not history as recounted. They are not the same.

They differ in one fundamental way: Hindsight.

We can look back and say with certainty that, that chaos, that wrenching change had a beginning, a middle, and an end – it started here and finished there.

And, thankfully more often than not, we can say “And they made it!” But for the individuals actually living their story, they did not know that, they did not know where and how the chapter would conclude. To live history is to live uncertainty. And there is comfort as well as power in recognizing that.

In understanding that those who came before us, in confronting their own challenges and upheaval, similarly did not know what would happen next.

Take, for example, three defining events across three centuries: For Abraham Lincoln – it’s early in the Civil War, and his Union forces suffer a decisive loss at Bull Run (1861). Suddenly fear and worry – would the Confederates win? Would his bid to save the Union, and with it end slavery, perish? He did not know.

And two years later (1863), though Union victory was closer at hand, he remained consumed with doubt about the impact of his Gettysburg Address, seen today in hindsight as one of the most famous speeches in U.S. history.

On the train after the speech, Lincoln

9

COMMENCEMENT 2020

expressed outright disappointment: “It was a flat failure!” – he exclaimed. “I am distressed about it. I ought to have prepared it with more care.’’ So, here we have great history being made, the height of human idealism and hope attained, and yet at the time Lincoln himself could not see through the haze of the moment to be certain of his success, to be confident in the outcome.

Move to the 20th century, there is of course WWII, an apt reference, for just two weeks ago (May 8) the world celebrated the official surrender of Nazi Germany. But turn to the early years of the war, and it looked bleak indeed: British troops stranded at Dunkirk, France occupied by Germany, Singapore taken by Japan. From our vantage point today, we celebrate with confident knowledge that 1945 victorious ending.

But in those first few years, the Allied powers could not see it, did not know how the war would come to end More recently, the 21st century opened with 9/11 – America was blindsided, no one saw it coming. And let’s make it personal for a moment. Ms. Barry, then Rebekah Callard, literally didn’t see it coming as she sat working in the Pentagon when, but one angle of the building away, a plane smashed through the walls. What goes through one’s head when the unthinkable happens, what confidence can there be in the future when a plane drops from the sky and obliterates any sense of predictability?

So, where does this leave us? In none of these historic events did any have the power to know what would come next.

Once again, history as lived is not the same as history as recounted. And if that is the case, is there no guidance to be gleaned from the past telling us what to do? Is all we have, as John F. Kennedy once put it, that: “the one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable.” Admittedly this feel like little help. JFK a pessimist? JFK a 19th century French existentialist? Nothing to be done then, but blindly stumble from one uncertainty to the next? No, I don’t 10

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

think so. And nor did JFK. For in acknowledging the ever-presence of uncertainty, we can stop mining history for “what to do” and instead explore “how to do it.” And it is here that we find our guidebook. For what history shows us is that it is the qualities of mind and strength of character that allow us to move through uncertainty with grace and conviction For JFK, that quality was optimism, for what is so often left out in referencing his above quote is the pre-amble: That despite the constant of uncertainty inherent in great challenges, he says “Every area of trouble gives out a ray of hope.” His was a message of optimism, of seeing in our challenges and the unpredictability that confront us an opportunity, a moment of creativity, a call for agility. Indeed, optimism and hope are the foundation that sustain us amidst the fear and unknown. But how can we maintain and fuel that optimism itself ?

This is where the lessons of history speak loudest. We can look to HOW individuals and society reacted and HOW they maintained their belief in the future? Let’s return to those earlier examples: For Lincoln, though he couldn’t “see through the haze of

the moment,” it was his unrelenting perseverance that ultimately saved the union and ended a great moral scar on the body politic of the United States.

Whether we call it grit or commitment or resilience, the simple fact is that in the face of military setbacks, criticism of his leadership, and even personal depression, he kept going, continuing to lead despite the unknowns and challenges.

For the Allies in WWII, three years before their ultimate victory, nothing was certain. HOW did they counter what must have felt like a steady stream of fear and losses? – They did it through community and collective effort. In Churchill’s famous speech following the first major win over the Nazis in 1942, he warns. “This is not the end, not even the beginning of the end.” But he adds, …“WE mean to hold our own.” And that is precisely what the Allies did – From citizens across Europe and the US contributing to wartime efforts and sacrificing necessities, to soldiers from 10 countries uniting to fight on D-Day – The Allies, citizen and soldier alike, relied on and drew strength from one and other and in so doing, found a way through.

Lastly, what about 9/11. Here I’d liked to bring it back to the personal again and to

recognize that all challenging moments are faced by each of us as individuals as well. For Rebekah and I – though our generation began in the Cold War, Sept. 11th was our first ‘lived’ experience where a single event fundamentally reshaped the geopolitical world, and we had to ask ourselves the question “what’s next?” For Rebekah, 9/11 so dramatically shifted the national security landscape that she had to recalculate her own professional next steps. For me, Sept. 11th hastened my return from Turkey back to the United States.

What guided our next move? Well for each of us, it was a willingness to pivot, based on the unforeseen circumstances of 9/11, that opened up a new path.

Without knowing of the other, we both scrapped our original plans and ultimately changed course towards a graduate program in international studies. And in pivoting, a happy convergence – we met each other, and the rest is, as they say, history. Indeed, it was this same impulse, an openness to pivot and seek new opportunities, that brought us from Boston to Cate, and to shift from the world of government and international consulting to that of the classroom – a move that was a leap into the unknown at the time but which, in hindsight, we are so grateful for.

And this brings me to present day and to this shared moment. And most importantly, to you, Class of 2020. You more than almost any class in Cate’s history have experienced extra-ordinary, unpredictable circumstances, and you have responded time and again with the very qualities of mind and character that history has demonstrated are key.

Take your sophomore year where you had to contend with the largest fire in California’s history, followed by an evacuation, and then, upon your return, the region’s worse flood in living memory, a once-in-a-century event. Two years later, and here we are in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic.

These events are not your average

“You, more than almost any class in Cate’s history, have experienced extraordinary, unpredictable circumstances, and you have You, Senior Class President, though responded time encircled by coronavirus, have continued and again with to lead with the sort of grit and resilience that defines great leaders. the very qualities of mind and You, senior prefects and TA’s, though spread far afield, have found strength character that in each other and anchored your dorm history has mates through online activities, letter writing campaigns, pirate hunts and demonstrated more. are key.” disruptions; These are the events about which future generations will study the beginning, the middle, and the end.

But you are living through them. And in this sense, it is not hyperbole to say that fire, flood, and plague have quite literally tempered you, made you strong, yet flexible. Enabled you to handle the unknown. Indeed, Class of 2020, you have already proven that you know exactly how to move through this:

You, senior classmates, though each in your separate domain, have kept us connected with the power of your voices through engaging Assemblies, thoughtful Servons talks, and thought-provoking Inquiry presentations.

You, each and every one of our Seniors, have demonstrated your agility – that willingness to pivot – in navigating the paths of your lives after Cate, while still contributing in ways large and small to the vital bonds of community that strengthen us all – the very spirit of this place. And in so doing, you have generated that critical optimism that enables us all to look to the future with greater confidence So in finishing, remember this, you are always living history. And with it, uncertainty.

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens,” said Helen Keller.

What doors will you open in spite of the challenges ahead? Continue to push forward and work hard, continue to support and rely on each other, continue to seek new opportunities both now

and in the future, and as you do, acknowledge that you don’t know and can’t know what the future holds, and so embrace it, and welcome that uncertainty for what it is, a chance to act according to the best in your character.

And we know that you will do so with grace and kindness, with confidence and creativity. Class of 2020, you have been, and you will continue to be – in the words of Cate’s own William Shepard Biddle – “A steadfast light in a troubled world.” And that is one thing I am certain will not change.

On behalf of all those gathered today, we congratulate you on your graduation and cannot wait to see what your futures’ hold.

11

COMMENCEMENT 2020

Commencement

Student Speaker Riley Swain '20

“We began to thrive under this newfound boredom and we started using our time creatively.”

12

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

First of all, a huge congratulations to the Class of 2020. I’m so honored to be graduating alongside you and I look forward to seeing you all again, whenever or wherever that may be.

There are certain responsibilities that every senior class faces, and we have worked hard to fulfill these obligations.

We have striven to maintain our support of each other during the college process, to continue our campaign of connecting personally with faculty members with a single-minded obsession that at any other school would result in restraining orders, and most importantly, to become leaders. We ably ticked off those first two boxes, but we have been unable to fully accomplish that last goal to our satisfaction.

a stress-free, c’est la vie attitude we all aspire to and that has become more and more attainable as the acceptance letters rolled in. We were going to be more creative with our time by getting to know new people, organizing new activities, starting new hobbies, and exploring the Mesa with preemptive nostalgia. We expected to shine as the unencumbered versions of upperclassmen that we so looked up to early in our Cate careers, to glow under the light at the end of the tunnel. We would finally fully evolve from the hard-working but inexperienced protegees into the wise, old, perpetually unfazed mentors, modeling to the underclassmen that they can get through anything and that it will be worth it.

With the academic stress that characterized the first two trimesters of our senior year out of the way, we were ready to breeze into the third trimester victorious, modeling to the community

As our expectations for the remainder of the year shifted, though, the confidence, poise, and near invulnerability that we were planning to project throughout the third trimester was significantly

compromised, to say the least. It was evident in the first few minutes of every virtual class. As soon as most of the students had arrived, the teacher would inevitably, and somewhat nervously, ask something like, “How are you guys? How you holding up?” A silence always followed. Then a brave soul would unmute and say “Fine. Bored.”

“We adapted, and we will continue to adapt.”

Everyone else would nod or, if someone had an abundance of energy that day, smile and nod.

And that’s just it. We were all bored.

Worn out. I don’t mean to assert that boredom has been the overwhelming emotion for all of us these past weeks.

We are all in unique situations, but boredom has infiltrated all of our lives.

This is something we were, as a whole, not entirely expecting, because everyday boredom is a result of luxury. It is born of no responsibilities, of having read every book on your shelf, of having opened the kitchen cupboards an embarrassing amount of times. The way our generation tends to get rid of this garden-variety boredom is to drown it out with social media, gaming, and TV. Those solutions, though, quickly proved ineffective in the face of this new breed of boredom. This boredom was more profound, and it was certainly not born of luxury. It slowed us down at first, admittedly, as it did everyone, filling our skulls with sludge and our shoes with concrete.

backflips in the backyard, baked bread, participated in international book exchanges, tracked the sunset colors, learned how to do the splits, ventured to make 1,000 paper cranes, decorated cakes, started a worm-based compost bin, grown out their hair, tried to cut their own hair, learned to play bass, memorized a Calypso-music inspired Zumba routine, built skateboarding rails, drafted a James Bond screenplay, perfected their handstands, done community service, and countless other individual products of experimentation.

The third trimester care-free attitude we had envisioned definitely didn’t come to fruition, but we found a way to maintain the essence of it somehow: the reevaluation of priorities, the creativity, and with those, the leadership. We may not have been able to announce new club heads in assembly, make final impressions at the Harkness table, lounge around the dining hall with underclassmen, or make the last trimester of the year the best it could be for the whole school together. We

may not have been able to explicitly communicate the idea that it’s all worth it in the end, that you will emerge from Cate more accomplished and confident than when you entered. But I think we still epitomized that lesson with how we filled our time. Even though we weren’t together and we didn’t have the rest of the school as an audience for our innovative activities, we still did what we had previously set out to do: spend our time creatively and exemplify that particular payoff to the underclassmen.

Without really thinking about it, we have found a way to complete the last task, to evolve into the wise old mentors. The “new normal” everybody’s been talking about didn’t slow us down for long. We adapted, and we will continue to adapt.

That’s what we have learned at Cate, and that is what will stay with us. We will forever embody that third-trimester leadership: the kind that demonstrates the light at the end of the tunnel; and why wouldn’t we? After all, we’ve done it while living in, let’s face it, the darkest part of the tunnel.

Riley Swain with her parents John Swain and Linda Sommers.

Eventually, though, slowly but surely, we shook out the sludge and learned to walk with the concrete. In fact, we began to thrive under this newfound boredom and we started using our time creatively.

Members of the senior class have done

13

COMMENCEMENT 2020

so proud of you guys. ’m I at th is 0 2 0 2 ass of the world, My message to the cl d an y tr un co e th ss attered acro In spite of being sc d stay connected an k, or w , y ud st s, se o to clas you’ve managed to g ome stronger as ec b ve ha s ip sh d en ri haps your f with each other. Per h each other across it w es ti ep ke to t or eff you’ve had to make an d when we can se is m e b ly n ai rt ce es. You’ll distance and time zon ready to launch. I e ’r ou y ut b a, es M e on th eventually reconvene r journeys. ou y in e ag st t ex n e hes for th send all my best wis K

Dep rk, English ather yn Pa

artment Ch

air

all the best of I want to wish you on to your next luck as you move r all the hugs and chapter. Thanks fo brought to the highlights that you what I tell all my Mesa. I will tell you coached – If I can teams that I’ve ever r you down the ever do anything fo do is get at me. road all you have to ank you so much.

Best of luck and th Ben Soto, Athletics

n celebrating my 35th Cate reunio be to ed pos sup s wa I e, Jun s Thi miss that event, I know it pales at Camp Cate. While I’m sad to ncement. But, I want you to in comparison to missing Comme are what matters in the Cate know that neither of these things n when I’m walking to my office dow g, rnin mo ry eve ost m Al se. ver uni ret path between CHU and CHE, Woodworth Lane and up the sec te. That friendship is one of my I talk to my best friend from Ca t en this quarantine started the firs Wh s. sion ses pos ed rish che st mo te friends. Those women are my people I zoomed with were my Ca y have made my life richer for the the and se, cho I ily fam the ily, fam you will keep cultivating your Cate of l al t tha e hop I rs. yea 35 t pas e. by your side for decades to com re the be l wil y the as s, hip nds frie ,I you will be my colleague one day of e som ybe ma ws, kno o wh d An sure hope so.

5, Charlotte Brownlee '8 for External Affairs Assistant Head of School

Dear Senior Class, For two, three , or four years, you have been my coffee. You’v e been there in the mornings, and late into the night.

Your textured blend is from the world’s varietal s, each distinct yet interacting with and complemen ting each other so magically. For many of you it ha s been, shall I say, a grind. And yet, the pressure filled moments have extracted your essence individua lly and as a class; and, as any good flavor or aroma do es, yours will linger, reigniting memories long into the future. Cheers to you.

David Wood, Modern La

nguages Department

Department

r, it was an honor and a privilege ree ca te Ca r you of ns dow d an sion, Through all the ups together as a class to lead with pas your e com s ual ivid ind of up gro a as you take to watch you wonderful role models and I hope all are You e. nc ilie res d an e, lov , empathy . Good luck. it wherever your journey takes you re sha to ue tin con d an ns rvo Se gift of Br yan Rodriguez, Dean of Stu 14

CAT E B ULLET IN / SUMMER 2020

dents

Class of 2020, you made it. It was not a smooth journey but no great one ever is. Thank you for your hard work, your sense of humor, and for loving Easton and Kitt like they are part of your own family. You have taught me how to be a better dorm parent, advisor, and athletic trainer, and I thank you for that. We will miss you tremendously and I’m sad I won’t be able to say goodbye in person. I look forward to having a proper goodbye soon. I wish you all the luck in the world as you close this chapter, and move on to the next exciting one.

Shannon Drew, Head Athletic Trainer

your You each, in your own way, found you now voice here at Cate. My advice for r is to trust your voice, and share you n ever, voice far and wide. Now, more tha Cate the world needs the voices of the as you Class of 2020. And also, as much sly. can, try not to take life too seriou Alicia Hammond, English Depar tment

I feel as if I don’t have the exact words I want to use to convey all that I want to say to the Class of 2020. You all have been such an amazing group of students and it has been such an honor and a pleasure to watch you grow and develop over the last four years. We didn’t have the end to your Cate experience that we had hoped for, but there is no question that we are looking forward to celebrating each and every one of you in proper fashion. You have left an indelible mark on this community and your legacy is intact.

I wish you well and I can’t wait to see each and every one of you in person.

Tamar Adegbile, Director of College Counseling

Class of 202 0 you did so mething so special on th is campus.

You collecti decided to le vely ad and star t y our final ye with joy. Yo ar u are a posit iv e , p layful and intellectuall y distinguis h ed class. Yo showed every u one that you c a r e d about others, this place, and h o w the school year would start. From Outings We fall sports a ek to nd those spe c ia l Saturday morning cla sses, you gu ys really in the true spir fused it back into this place. M hope is that y you continu e to s h are that spirit, where ver you go a n d remember, y always have ou a home on th e M e s a. Peace and Godspe ed.

Craig Boum

a, Science De

partment Cha

ir

The Mesa feels most haunted to me in those early days of June, when the voices and shouts and l aughter of students fall silent, and the departure of our seniors fin ally settles. The haunting ca me earlier this year, and the many emotion s that accompany our partin g did too. I could blame that on the coron avirus, but blame is unhelpful . Perhaps you were ready earlier than your predecessors to make the transition to Cate alumna or alumnus. Yo ur leadership this year, your character and contribution, your spirit, and your service suggests you ha ve something special col ectively. Some ap titude or authority that has sustained us, even in this unprecedented time. If you hope to leave be hind something memorable and lasting, pleas e know that you did. That Ca te is a better community for your having be en a part. That you stood for something genuine and generous in yo ur tenure as students, and your year as seniors that matters still. Do n’t wonder if you somehow left a portion of your journey here unfinish ed. Life is long and your rela tionship with Cate is only beginning. In the years ahead as it deepens and grows, we will remember together these days we have spent, the sto ries we have told, and the friends we have made, and count ourselves fortunate.

Ben Williams, Head

master

15

2019/2020 AWARDS

Awards 2019/2020

All recipients are seniors unless otherwise indicated

ATHLETIC COUNCIL SPECIAL SENIOR AWARDS VARSITY LETTERS 6 Varsity Letters Tesfa Asmara Harrison Corman Mia Foster Grace Fuss Kenneth Bryce Jackson Theodore Mack Brandon Man Dalton Phillips Jackson Weinberger 7 Varsity Letters Grace Blankenhorn Clay Parker Bowlin Callum Casey Abubakar (Buba) Fofanah Charlie Heyman Neema Mugofwa Marissa Strauss 8 Varsity Letters Peter Buckley Armas Kenzie Davidson Lea De Vylder Dylan MacFarlane John Rigsby Shelburne 9 Varsity Letters Maya Blattberg Piper Brooks

16

CAT E B ULLET IN / SUMMER 2020

10 Varsity Letters James William Anderson Scott Holmes Khadimou Rassoul Pouye

Boys Basketball Thomas Nettesheim Kamnok (Ethan) Ng Khadimou Rassoul Pouye

11 Varsity Letters Thomas Nettesheim

Girls Basketball Maya Blattberg Piper Brooks

VARSITY SPORTS SENIOR CAPTAINS Girls Volleyball Grace Blankenhorn Maya Blattberg Girls Tennis Carolynn Cai Grace Fuss Boys Cross Country Tesfa Asmara Dylan MacFarlane Boys Water Polo Peter Bulkley Armas Ethan Ha Squash Brandon Man Football James William Anderson Scott Holmes Callum Casey

Boys Soccer Harrison Corman Abubakar (Buba) Fofanah Devin Pai Girls Soccer Grace Blankenhorn Neema Mugofwa Kimberly Rogers Girls Water Polo Marissa Strauss Boys Lacrosse James William Anderson Clay Parker Bowlin Peter Bulkley Armas Charlie Heyman John Rigsby Shelburne Girls Lacrosse Piper Brooks Baseball Pierce Thompson Dalton Phillips Scott Holmes

Boys Tennis Ethan Ha Kaifei (Phil) Xu

PETER CATE AWARD Maya Blattberg

Kenzie Davidson Khadimou Rassoul Pouye Zhengyuan (Jacob) Wu

Boys Track & Field Tesfa Asmara Carlo Jacobson Dylan MacFarlane

CLASS AGENTS

Human Development Award Hannah Biles

Boys Volleyball Theodore Mack Girls Swimming Isabella Dewell Marissa Strauss Boys Swimming Marcos Brasil Girls Track & Field Lea De Vylder Boys Ultimate Frisbee Kenneth Liou Tianye (Sunny) Zhao OUTDOOR PROGR AM Owen Jones Dana Huston-Chen REDDINGTON CUP Meena Baher '22 Mason Oetgen '22

James William Anderson Clay Parker Bowlin Emily Calkins Isabella Dewell Ethan Ha Ian Mabon Brandon Man Kamnok (Ethan) Ng Le (Alice) Qin Pierce Thompson Millie Todd Natasha Weiss

Joseph Knowles Foundation Arts Award Harry McAdam '23 Jae Hall-Collins '23 Tatiana Young '23 Fred Bradley '68 Prize: 3-Dimensional Scott Holmes

EXTR ACU RRICU L AR

James R. Feld '81 Ceramics Award Scott Holmes

Betty Woodworth Librarian's Award Elizabeth Borghesani

Tony Hooker '56 Sculpture Award Natasha Weiss

Mesan Award Isabella Dewell Marissa Strauss

Marion Wolsey Cate Acting Prize Elizabeth Borghesani Jackson Weinberger

El Batidor Award Millie Todd Kimberly Rogers Emme Wright

Drama Award Spencer Michaels Pierce Thompson

BEACH SOULÉ AWARD Abubakar (Buba) Fofanah

Public Service Award Ethan Ha

SPORTSMANSHIP Grace Blankenhorn Carolynn Cai Dalton Phillips

Noah W. Hotchkiss Memorial Award Theodore Mack

MOST INSPIR ATIONAL ATHLETE Piper Brooks Scott Holmes Mason Oetgen '22

ART DEPARTM ENT

Technology Prize Pierce Thompson Student Activities Award Hannah Biles Emily Calkins Harry Corman

Franklin Ellis Vocal Prize Emme Wright Carlo Jacobson Peter Folger '25 Music Cup Joshua Park Kamnok (Ethan) Ng Photography Prize Dylan MacFarlane Digital Imaging Award Harnaljia (Maya) Fenelon Dana Huston-Chen 17

2019/2020 AWARDS

Joseph Bradley Art Prize Emily Calkins Lok Man Megan Wong

ENGLISH DEPARTM ENT Philip Owen Poetry Prize Dalton Phillips

MATH EMATICS DEPARTM ENT

Physics Prize Owen Jones

Stanley M. Durrant Mathematics Prize Ophelia Ke '22 Jinming Wang '22

Pritzker Science Early Distinction Diamond Head '22

Colin Day Mathematics Award Carlo Jacobson Parker May

The Hans F. Summers Award Pierce Thompson

BOOK AWARDS (for rising seniors)

James C. Durham '02 Writing Prize Kimberly Rogers Natasha Weiss

Allan J. Gunther Mathematics Award Kaifei (Phil) Xu

English Department Prize Finnian Whelan

Rensselaer Polytechnic Medal Chu Xin (Cloris) Cheng '21

H ISTORY DEPARTM ENT

MODERN L ANGUAGES DEPARTM ENT

(Sponsored by Ivan & Rebekah Barry)

Chinese Prize Yejin (Jinny) Chung '22

Dartmouth College

University of Pennsylvania (Sponsored by Anne Hall)

Ryan Suh '21 Johns Hopkins University

The Frank B. Light Cup Diamond Head '22 Charlotte Weis '22 Edwin Hartzell United States History Annabella Lucente '21 The James Masker Global Studies Mark Huerta Maya Blattberg History Department Prize John Rigsby Shelburne Riley Swain

H U MAN ITI ES DEPARTM ENT

Peter Coors '21

(Sponsored by Eric C. Taylor '80)

Almira Bowo '21

French Prize Lina Infante Bryce Kim '21

Harvard University - Girl

Japanese Prize Sean Busse Ian Mabon

Harvard University - Boy

Spanish Prize Kenzie Davidson Riley Swain

Williams College

(Sponsored by: Harvard Club of Boston)

Annabella Lucente '21

(Sponsored by: Harvard Club of San Francisco)

Joshua Gabbay '21

(Sponsored by Williams College Alumni)

Jolea Moes '21 Brown University

SCI ENCE DEPARTM ENT

(Sponsored by Benjamin D. Williams IV)

Grace Johnson '21 Gaby Edwards and David Harbison '72 Humanities Award Harry McAdam '23 Myla van Lynde '23

Biology Prize Emme Wright Maya Blattberg Chemistry Prize Joshua Gabbay '21

18

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

Wellesley College (Sponsored by Linda Sommers)

Yuki Kobayashi '21

Centennial Book Prize Ned Sigler '21

COM M ENCEM ENT AWARDS William Shepard Biddle, Class of 1918 Cup Avery Ransom Jeffrey Sumner Pallette '88 Award Natasha Weiss Scholarship Cup Kimberly Rogers Ellis Cup Pierce Thompson Morgan Gwynne Temby '69 Award Ethan Ha Kimberly Rogers The Miramar Award Oscar Vasquez Dohrman Pischel '14 Medal (Bronze) Maya Blattberg Jessica Yang Nelson Jones '48 (Silver) Riley Swain Santa Barbara School Medal (Gold) Theodore Mack Natasha Weiss Headmaster's Award James William Anderson Lina Infante

COM M ENCEM ENT SPE AKERS

CU M L AU DE SOCI ET Y

Faculty Ivan Barry

2019 Initiate Dylan MacFarlane Parker May Le (Alice) Qin Kimberly Rogers

Student Riley Swain GR ADUATI NG WITH HONORS With Highest Honors Hannah Biles Parker May Kimberly Rogers Natasha Weiss With High Honors Maya Blattberg Mark Huerta Le (Alice) Qin Riley Swain Kaifei (Phil) Xu Emme Wright

(20% max of graduating class)

2020 Initiate Hannah Biles Maya Blattberg Sean Busse Mark Huerta Carlo Jacobson Kenneth Liou John Shelburne Riley Swain Pierce Thompson Natasha Weiss Emeline Wright Kaifei (Phil) Xu

With Honors Simon Burke Sean Busse Carlo Jacobson Owen Jones Kenneth Liou Dylan MacFarlane Theodore Mack Kamnok (Ethan) Ng Dalton Phillips John Rigsby Shelburne Pierce Thompson Millie Todd Finnian Whelan Zhengyuan (Jacob) Wu Vania Zhao Tianye (Sunny) Zhao

19

COMMENCEMENT AWARDS

WI LLIAM SH EPARD B I DDLE , CL ASS OF 19 1 8 CU P Avery Ransom Presented in memory of Major General William Shepard Biddle, a member of the class of 1918 and one of Cate's most distinguished alumni, this award recognizes that senior who best exemplifies and demonstrates the qualities of humanism, idealism and the desire to achieve that Cate seeks to teach its students. It is the School's highest award.

TH E J EFFREY SU M N ER PALLET TE ' 8 8 AWARD Natasha Weiss Presented by the graduating class to a classmate whose presence and character have inspired our class to laugh, question, and care for each other through a combination of honesty, kindness, and optimism.

SCHOL ARSH I P CU P Kimberly Rogers The faculty presents the Scholarship Cup to a senior who has demonstrated exceptional intellectual interest and achievement. This year, the award is given to the senior who has achieved the highest cumulative grade point average in the school.

TH E ELLIS CU P Pierce Thompson Originated in honor of Sandy Ellis, whose concern for others, deep interest in each student, and unselfish effort to organize, support, and implement so many activities have made Cate a happier and better school. This award recognizes a student whose spirit, energy, and unselfish concern for the community have had an unusually positive impact on the School.

MORGAN GW YN N E TEM BY AWARD Ethan Ha and Kimberly Rogers Presented by the parents of Morgan Gwynne Temby of the Class of 1969. Morgan, who died tragically shortly after completing his freshman year in college, cared immensely about his friends; his first interest was people. The Temby Award is appropriately given to that student who has demonstrated deep concern for the welfare of others.

20

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

TH E M I R AMAR AWARD Oscar Vasquez In honor of the founding name of Mr. Cate’s school and its transformation since 1910, The Miramar Award is presented to a senior who has demonstrated exceptional growth and progress, marked by productive citizenship and unselfish contributions to our community.

DOH RMAN N PISCH EL ' 14 M EDAL Maya Blattberg and Jessica Yang Awarded in honor of Cate's first Senior Prefect, this medal goes to a prefect whose commitment to the community, willingness to accept responsibility, and generous friendship has made him or her an outstanding role model.

N EL SON JON ES '4 8 M EDAL Riley Swain Awarded in honor of an Alumnus and Life Trustee whose contributions to Cate have enriched the School for over 60 years, this medal is given to a senior whose leadership by personal example demonstrates humility, integrity, and dedication.

SANTA BARBAR A SCHOOL M EDAL Theo Mack and Natasha Weiss Awarded to an outstanding member of the senior class for exceptional leadership and achievement in service to the School community.

TH E H E ADMASTER ' S AWARD James William Anderson and Lina Infante The Headmaster’s Award is presented each year at the discretion of the Headmaster to honor service to Cate. It is awarded this year to two seniors, each of whom has given something unique to the experience of this year and has made us proud to live in their company.

21

COMMENCEMENT 2020

Leone Price '02 with Ian Mabon (right).

Alumni Deliver Diplomas to Class of 2020 A Very Servons Commencement

By Charlotte Brownlee '85 Assistant Head for External Affairs Just mentioning Commencement to a Cate alum likely sparks images of the arches under Schoolhouse, the barnred stage with slightly shaky steps, and graduates standing awkwardly while their citation is read to the crowd. Last year, we had our first change to the usual Commencement when rain forced us to move the event to the Thayer Peck field.

While that new venue proved to be a beautiful improvement, we had no idea that the 2020 Commencement would require throwing out the entire playbook.

In Ben Williams’ 2011 Commencement speech, he focused on the six-word essay, made popular in the book, Not Quite What I Was Planning, a title that certainly describes 2020. We all, it seems, pay attention to milestones for they help us to mark time – something we need to do on occasion. Yet the diplomas we will soon issue in this centennial year are, in fact, no different from those awarded 22

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

before. They are relatively simple and straightforward documents, actually. No fluff or filler. Just the facts distilled down to one principle clause, “Cate School presents this diploma to …Six words that say far more than that.”

Delivering these six words in person became the guiding principle for how we might celebrate the Class of 2020: one Cate experience, yet each one unique.

The profound sadness in not being able to walk across the lawn and up those rickety steps is best understood by those who had that opportunity. By activating the goodwill of Cate alumni around the globe, we hoped to demonstrate to the Class of 2020 that they are entering a fellowship of people who share common experiences and believe in the spirit of Servons.

With members of the class of 2020 scattered from Moscow to Accra and Fairbanks to Taipei, the first question was whether we really had the alumni available to tackle this. Mix in a pandemic to limit travel and make even FedEx delivery a question, and the outcome seemed questionable.

We started with the most remote locations and adjusted a bit to include some current families in the delivery

mix, and quickly realized that our alumni were eager to serve. The speed and enthusiasm with which people responded was inspiring.

Our Servons Corps of diploma deliverers ranged from the Class of 1949 to an entering freshman in the class of 2024.

We attempted to find common ground for the matches, where possible looking for connections like college plans, family histories, and other points of familiarity.

From balloon displays to iPhones playing “Pomp and Circumstance,” alumni wanted to do whatever they could to make the moment special.

Miriam Weiss '15, a recent graduate of Tufts University, had been in contact with Harnaljia (Maya) Fenelon '20 as she was making her college decision during the early days of the pandemic. Maya will be entering Tufts this fall, so it made it even sweeter for Miriam to be the one delivering. Even the lack of a car didn’t deter Miriam, who hopped on her bike that Sunday morning for the journey from Porter Square to Maya’s house in Dorchester.

Jazmin Sherwood '11, a middle school math teacher at Riverdale Country School, also had to overcome transportation challenges by borrowing a

Elliot Tsai (left) with Jiselle Ooi '07.

car to drive from her home in New York City to Garfield in order to present Lina Infante '20 with her diploma.

Tackling two separate deliveries, Jazmin Esteves-Rosas '18 paired up with Abnner Olveres '19, and the two managed to share moving words along with diplomas to Jamie Morales '20 and Madeleine Gutierrez '20. “Even though you aren’t able to graduate with everyone, we want you to know that Cate is forever. All of the friendships we made at Cate have lasted a long time, and we are so glad to welcome you as a fellow alumnae.”

The different guidelines and restrictions around the pandemic certainly played a factor in the delivery experiences.

While Hong Kong had opened up considerably and the meetings there were mask-free, in other locations even meeting up proved challenging. Jiselle Ooi '07 made arrangements with Elliot Tsai to have a quick outdoor drop-off, mindful of severe local restrictions. She commented, “I wish I could have stayed longer and have a chat with him but it’s a tricky situation in Singapore as we aren’t allowed to visit others. The month leading up to the graduation was one of my most memorable parts of my life and I can only imagine how bummed Elliot is from not being able to see his friends and Cate campus before moving on to college.”

In Taipei, former classmates Teresa Hsu '95 and Mia Hsu '95 came together * Diploma delivery photos courtesy of alumni Theodore Mack (left) with Patrick Thomas '15.

with Teresa’s son, Dilan '24 (an entering freshman) to award Vania Zhao '20 her diploma. Mia wrote, “It was super meaningful for us two old Caties to be able to do this for the school, especially since we were not able to attend our 25th reunion this year!”

Closer to the Mesa, there were some lovely multi-generational deliveries. As Cord Pereira '83 delivered Kenneth Bryce Jackson '20’s diploma, he commented, “The best thing about Cate is not just the fantastic education, but some of the most important people in my life are from my days at Cate, like my wife and one of my closest friends and band mate, your dad. Congratulations, Bryce! I can’t wait to see what your future holds.”

Finnian Whelan '20 was surprised to see her former babysitter, Rob Dunton '79 appear with her diploma, and Stanford Soh sisters Jennifer '19 and Serena '16, were able to welcome future classmate Dylan MacFarlane '20, along with his Stanford brother, Ian '18.

Ethan Ha (left) with advisor David Soto '08.

We were hesitant to ask some of our more senior alumni to help out, given the risks of the pandemic, but Jim Crutcher '48 would not be deterred.

Cole Bryant '20’s grandfather, Ernie Bryant '49, was the best man in Jim’s wedding, and a life-long friend. Jim commented, “I’ve known Cole’s parents and it was just a logical and a wonderful opportunity for me to award that Tesfa Asmara with his mother, Gashe.

Madeleine Gutierrez (left) with Jazmin Estevez-Rosas '18 and Abnner Olivares '19.

23

Buba Fofanah (right) with Cydney Pierce '14.

diploma. I don’t think that the Bryant’s knew that I was going to be doing that – they knew someone was going to be coming – but it was fun for me to be the one to deliver it.”

In many cases, we are hopeful that these encounters might lead to on-going friendships. After Edward Hawkins '12, along with his mother, Patrice Lawton, delivered Callum Casey '20 his diploma, we received a call from Patrice wondering why we had not introduced them before. Both Edward and Callum were graduates of the New Jersey Seeds program, yet they had never met before.

In an example of truly coming around full circle, Chatom Arkin '01, the head of the English department at Harbor Day School in Newport Beach, not only started James William Anderson '20’s journey to the Mesa with his 8th grade letter of recommendation, but then got to close it out with the diploma delivery.

As one senior noted, whenever they meet anyone else who graduated in 2020, they will share a common bond and a shared understanding of what that means. So while they may not have experienced the view from the stage, the Cate class of 2020 will have each felt the love and reach of the Cate extended family, which will continue to be beside them for all time. 75 Cate diplomas. 75 Commencements. 75 new members of the Servons family.

24

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

Cole Bryant and his father, Peter, with Jim Crutcher '48.

Alumni Chatom Arkin '01 Chaka Jaliwa '05 Megan MacMurray '03 Christian Herman '17, Eva Herman '17, Victoria Herman '15, and Lucia Johnson '15 Kate Smith '17 Jack Deardorff '19 Bruce King '85 Izzy Montes de Oca '18 Jim Crutcher '48 Budi Sosrodjojo '11 Colin Browne '17 Ben Swain '14 Cloe Tarlton '19 Molly Dorion '18 Edward Hawkins '12 Ryan Borchardt '17 Jillian Rogers '16 Alexx Temena '11 Hal Burroughs '68 Miriam Weiss '15 Cydney Pierce '14 Izzy Montes de Oca '18 Julia Weis '08 Jazmin Estevez-Rosas '18 and Abnner Olivares '19 Dave Soto '08 Daniel Emmett '87 (with Roz Emmett '89, Tyler Emmett '01, and Kirk Watanabe '87) Jack Deardorff '19 Ian MacFarlane '18 Eliza Wilson '88

Natasha Weiss with her brother Elijah Weiss '17.

Class of 2020 James (Will) Anderson Tesfa Asmara Hannah Biles Grace Blankenhorn Maya Blattberg Elizabeth Borghesani Clay Parker Bowlin Marcos Henrique Brasil Piper Brooks Cole Bryant Peter Bulkley Armas Simon Burke Sean Busse Carolynn Cai Emily Calkins Callum Casey Harrison Corman Kenzie Davidson Lea De Vylder Isabella Dewell Harnaljia (Maya) Fenelon Abubakar (Buba) Fofanah Mia Foster Grace Fuss Madeleine Gutierrez Ethan Ha Charlie Heyman Scott Holmes Mark Huerta Dana Huston-Chen

Jaime Morales (right) with Jazmin Estevez-Rosas '18.

Alumni

Class of 2020

Jazmin Sherwood '10 Cord Pereira '83 Carson Williams '19 Paul Denison '79 Jennifer Soh '19 and Serena Soh '17 Jack Tarlton '16 Leone Price '02 Jennifer Soh '19 and Serena Soh '17 Patrick Thomas '15 Mimi Brown '92 Emily Burns '18 Julie, Eric, and Clayton Michaels '23 Jazmin Estevez-Rosas '18 and Abnner Olivares '19 Halie Straathof '17 John Kearney '00 Kate Bradley '19 The Nimako family (Kobby '22) Ryan Borchardt '17 Simon Parker '18 Christian Herman '17 Ryder Dinning '17 Cloe Tarlton '19 Michelle Fontaine '86 Eliza Giles '13 and George Luo '13 Charlotte Brownlee '85 John Kinnear '60 Paul Denison '79 Lydian Blossom '07 Lauren Suding '98 Georgia Thompson '17 Katrina Froman '84 Jiselle Ooi '07 Kathryn Antonatos '18 Wendy Cullitan '84 Kel Mitchel '12 Shelagh Morphy '18 Gabi Limon '16 Rob Dunton '79 Clementine (Fiona) King '99 Erika Noble '14 Lisa Stanson '92 Trey Massar '05 Adam Werksman '12 Lorie Liu and Ella Chen '23 Teresa Hsu '95 and Mia Hsu '95

Lina Infante Kenneth Bryce Jackson Carlo Jacobson Owen Jones Alex Kim Kenneth Liou Ian Mabon Dylan MacFarlane Theodore Mack Brandon Man Parker May Spencer Michaels Jamie Morales Neema Mugofwa Thomas Nettesheim Kamnok (Ethan) Ng Georgina Omaboe Devin Pai Joshua Park Dalton Phillips Khadimou Rassoul Pouye Le (Alice) Qin Alyssa Queensborough Avery Ransom Kimberly Rogers John Rigsby Shelburne Marissa Strauss Riley Swain Christian Tarafa Pierce Thompson Millie Todd Elliot Tsai Oscar Vasquez Ruth Wecker Jackson Weinberger Ava Weinstein Natasha Weiss Finnian Whelan Lok Man Megan Wong Emme Wright Zhengyuan (Jacob) Wu Kaifei (Phil) Xu Jessica Yang Tianye (Sunny) Zhao Vania Zhao

Vania Zhao (middle) with Teresa Hsu '95 and Mia Hsu '95.

Neema Mugofwa

Devin Pai (right) with Ryan Borchardt '17.

25

CLASS OF 2020

Class of 2020

Citations

By Benjamin D. Williams IV

James William Anderson Cornell University “Wandy” as many refer to him is a brilliant blend of aptitudes and interests, energy and expression, insight and art. His advisor calls Will “the quintessential Renaissance man … formidable and extraordinary … and seemingly without ego.” There is not an endeavor on our campus that Will has not distinguished with his own special energy and artistry. Our best athletes play three varsity sports. Will plays four. Our most accomplished musicians have mastered their instruments, while Will composes music he performs on seemingly any instrument. He sings, he studies, he tackles, he laughs, he smiles, he plays catcher. The only thing he doesn’t do with any discernible regularity is tame that mane of curly locks. But with Will it only enhances his charm, like Rapunzel or Samson, an exceptional character destined to go down in history (certainly Cate history) as one of the most remarkable students and citizens we have had the good fortune to know.

Tesfa Getnet Asmara Pomona College Tesfa may well be the best conversationalist the world has ever known. His gentle, easy-going, but intensely curious manner is complemented by an endearing ease with his fellow man and an insatiable capacity for mulling things over. Ideas, possibilities, arguments, and epiphanies all compel Tesfa. So it was no surprise in his Servons Speech that he spoke of an interaction he had with a rather bizarre character he met at the Avocado Festival in Carpinteria. And typical of Tesfa, he drew meaning from it, helping us understand not only his endless good humor but his compassion and his intellect. Said one of his teachers, “Tesfa inspires those who hear him or read his magnificent language to say, ‘I’ve never thought of it like that!’” He has taken us places, this young man from Somalia who made his home in Houston, Texas before coming to Cate.

And he will take himself somewhere, too, with the speed and stamina we have seen on the crosscountry course and the good will that endows his every stride with purpose and perspective.

Hannah Caroline Biles Vanderbilt University

with Highest Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020

Hannah led off our Servons Speeches this year with a delightfully vulnerable assessment of her own journey, of her doubts and discoveries, of her understanding ultimately of herself.

It set a standard of insight and humility for those who would follow, for following Hannah is what we all do. She is and has always been one of our most accomplished students, driven by a combination of practical aspiration and spiritual searching. She is wise and has been since she arrived on our Mesa as a freshman. As a senior she leads in every way imaginable – in the dormitory, in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in the day-to-day tone setting that make communities full and rich. This fall, in fact, she turned down a spot on our varsity volleyball team to serve as captain to a group of up-and-coming underclassmen on the junior varsity.

Said Hannah, “I felt I could make a bigger difference on that team and for those girls.” And so she does, with each fortunate soul she touches, making us better, our journey more joyful.

26

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

Grace Noel Blankenhorn Tulane University Grace is all that her name implies. One faculty member observed, “She brings positivity and poise to any situation.” Another called her, “our bright light.” Grace engages her life as if every moment has a certain generous and unselfish purpose. Service of one sort or another is her operating ethos, and she is relentless in her efforts to have impact on lives and experiences other than her own. She approaches her scholarship in the same way, curious always how the knowledge she gains can be useful beyond herself. For despite her individual power, Grace is all about the work of the many. Her impact at Cate as an athlete is hard to fully capture in words. Images are better, like those of her exhorting her teammates with the familiar, “We got this!” Or her diving on the floor to dig a ball that no other human being could have returned.

Grace is composure personified, but she is grit too, mettle and iron, resilient but unbreakable, our captain when we need her most, the steadfast light by which we steer.

Maya Anne Blattberg University of Virginia

with Highest Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020

Maya wrote last year, “I chose to come to Cate for the people.” So it was only fitting that those very folks asked Maya to lead as Head Prefect this year, and to marry her natural inclination to connect with our need for leadership and compassionate guidance. She was an easy choice really. Maya knows more people on this campus than anyone else, including every faculty child, every pet, and every critter who calls the Mesa home. She is placid eternally, friendly perpetually, community-minded and brilliant, one of those students who seeks true depth of understanding. Every enterprise she joins goes well, including every sport she plays or class she takes or rugrat she babysits. Maya may be one of the best multi-sport athletes to wear the royal and white, and yet she would never imagine such a truth. Maya is too busy thinking about all the virtue and talent she sees in others, all the possibilities ahead. A faculty member called her “near perfect” earlier this year. Sounds right.

Elizabeth Hope Borghesani Kenyon College Liza is a truly inspiring and inspired student, she dives in to the study of ideas with unusual energy and clarity. Our Harkness table discussions are where her distinctive insight finds expression. A lover of literature and thoughts, she is our Head Student Librarian as well as the leader of our Book Club.

The stage, too, compels her, perhaps as a means to render that understanding of the human condition she finds in her reading. She has been in every school production since she arrived as a freshman, blessed as our Theater Director notes, with “an amazing stage presence” full of life and energy and great comedic timing. Fittingly, this year she is co-leading our Servons Speech program, helping others find their pace and presence before a crowd. And her inquiry project, a one woman show that Liza wrote and performed, spoke not simply to her remarkable creative voice but to her access to emotion, her appreciation of the full range of human feeling, and her ever-present need to capture each and every sensation fully, authentically, and accurately. “I’m a stickler for the truth,” she says.

Clay Parker Bowlin Southern Methodist University Parker is a self-made man, the product of his own remarkable will and determination to find something worthwhile in every challenge. His talents are broad and impressively deep. He is a truly inspiring athlete, quick, agile, and endearingly tenacious, the kind no opposing player wants to encounter. He has been a mainstay of our soccer and lacrosse programs since his freshman year, even though at that time he was often the smallest player on the field. He is also gracious, principled, and exceedingly polite, blessed with a presence that one colleague called “magnetic.” It would be easy to assume that everything is easy for Parker, but that is simply because Parker makes the difficult look simple. Verbally precocious but challenged by reading, Parker learned just before his junior year why the letters weren’t aligning for him. And he did with that knowledge what we see him do with every other challenge, he used it, gained power and purpose and proved again his agility, this time cognitively. Life is all about momentum, and Parker has built his steadily and generously each day.

27

CLASS OF 2020

Marcos Henrique Palombo Brasil University of San Diego Not many of us do our best work while wearing a speedo, but Marcos isn’t like the rest of us. To watch him move through the water is to appreciate the convergence of strength and finesse. Marcos looks like he was meant to be aquatic, like a dolphin who was accidentally born with legs. And yet, Marcos did not begin life as a swimmer. He has become great simply by repetition and investment, thorough discipline and focus, by taking all his many virtues and directing them towards his optimization. He does that everywhere, actually. We see it in the classroom, where his energy, his curiosity, and his thoughtful nature combine to make him an outstanding collaborator and learner. Among his many interests is the study of languages, having mastered English and Portuguese and building fluency in Chinese and Spanish, and beyond that the understanding of culture. Born of Brazilian roots and raised in the States, Marcos is himself the embodiment of many cultures and surely the best of all.

Piper Barry Brooks University of Colorado Boulder Piper does everything well. Just ask her teachers, who universally laud her “even-tempered point of view” and her “sound judgment and tact.” One instructor confessed, “She’s absolutely outstanding.” We are used to that level of praise for Piper in more public pursuits, like athletics, where we can see it for ourselves. She is the center that holds so many of our teams together, not simply for her athleticism but for her composure and steady determination. A reporter from a local newspaper covering the Championship Lacrosse game last year called Piper “The General” after watching her lead and coordinate an attack that “decimated the competition.” Piper has even used sport as a means of service, teaching local elementary school girls the game as a leader of the Carpinteria Flames program. Who better than Piper, who has taken ownership in her education and invested herself fully in every endeavor of which she is a part, to teach youngsters what it means to believe in themselves and turn that belief into a future only they can build.

Cole Miguel Bryant University of St Andrews Cole’s many commitments speak to an earnest and sincere interest in people. It’s conspicuous in his gentle bearing which makes him immensely approachable and a thoughtful listener. It’s in his affection for service and his work in our Learning Center. Said a faculty member of the young people Cole works with in Carpinteria, “When some kids were pretty shy, Cole drew them out in a voice filled with genuine interest.” It’s in his scholarship and his preference for the Humanities, where he is a particularly gracious and inquisitive participant in class discussions. One teacher called Cole a “challenger of assumptions who fends off ‘group-think.’” It’s even in his commitment to hold down a job and earn his way in the world. Cole’s many accomplishments are indeed the product of his commitment, his effort, and his desire to learn and grow and give. And in all categories, if our experience is any indication, his generous potential is unbounded.

Peter Porcher Bulkley Armas Santa Clara University A letter about Peter written this fall ends with a reference to Peter’s “consequential substance.”

His every commitment, it seems, produces consequences. We noted that immediately in the fall of his first year on the Mesa when Peter led our water polo team. Strong, unsinkable and profoundly canny, Peter brought consequences for opponents that were most welcome for Cate. We see it in the classroom, too, where his inclination for measured and insightful analysis makes him an asset in every class and an impactful student in every discipline. In the orchestra, Peter’s bass clarinet adds richness to our sound. And on the Lacrosse field, he is our goaltender, tough, quick, determined and unselfish. One faculty member suggested that the combination of Peter’s work ethic and his enthusiasm are what make him most distinctive. There is an understated joy Peter derives from the work he puts in, and from the consequences of his effort. We have enjoyed being the beneficiary of such wholehearted commitments these last four years.

28

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

Simon Robert Burke Columbia University

with Honors

Simon’s passions surround the language of technology and the possibilities of the digital realm.

He is a masterful computer scientist already, innovative, able, multi-lingual. His problem solving is reasoned and elegant, even in domains beyond technology. “Moments of brilliance,” is an oftrepeated expression by faculty in reference to Simon. But Simon’s greatest gift may not be in those logical scripts of code or even in some remarkable quantitative solution, but in his inclination to take in all that he is studying or all that is happening around him. He listens well, watches carefully, and learns intuitively. And thankfully, he also engages generously, well-known for his quick wit and his affection for the game of basketball. An intellectual at heart, Simon still thrives on the human experience of being part of a team, of competing and improving. No doubt those very passions will serve him well as he builds technologies in the future with a distinctly human character.

Sean Bryan Busse University of Chicago

with Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020

“Sean sees things that others miss,” said one of his teachers. “His insight and acumen are unique in scale.” So is his work in the classroom or the breadth of his commitment to the community at large. Sean just loves to do good work, whether that means completing a difficult calculus problem, conjugating an obscure verb in Japanese, or helping the kids at Carpinteria Elementary School understand their math homework. Even his goal in his senior year fits. “I want to be remembered as someone who had a positive impact on the lives of others at Cate,” he said. There is no level of endeavor – intellectual or otherwise – that is beyond Sean. He has learned what he is capable of intellectually, but more important he has learned the value of community and he understands the relationship between personal endeavor and making a difference. And Sean’s trajectory suggests that his future is even brighter. And that’s saying something.

Carolynn Jinyi Cai Emory University Carol gave the first Servons Speech of the third trimester, on Zoom because of the pandemic, and she spoke of the many flavors of life. Leave it to Carol to find even in the most traumatic moments a means to put the diversity of experience of life into perspective. Carol knows something about adjusting to new places, new languages, even new areas of study, and yet she meets each challenge with exceptional energy and unflagging belief. She is one of our most able students, building mastery in every discipline towards what she hopes to be a career in medicine. And along the way she has become one of the schools most accomplished athletes, switching from badminton to tennis in 8th grade and becoming unstoppable. A faculty member in trying to capture Carol’s aptitude and her spirit likened her to J.K. Rowling’s Hermione Granger whose stated objective, “I’m hoping to do something good in the world,” seems to be Carol’s mantra.

Emily Diane Calkins Seton Hall University Emily Calkins drives around in a big orange jeep with oversized tires and no top; she never misses an opportunity to head into the backcountry and set the standard on the Kern trip by fixing everything the rest of the pod broke. And she was selected this Spring as the Junior Carpinterian of the Year, an honor that acknowledges not only her great work as a student at Cate but her unending interest in serving the Carpinteria community. And when Emily has a little free time, she’ll go out and take eye-dropping photographs which inevitably win competitions or are published in professional publications. It would be easy to think it is rather exhausting to be Emily, but she never seems to lack for anything—particularly energy. Her teachers, in fact, use expressions like “model student” and “unfailingly diligent.” Said one, “There is no other way to live,” for Emily, “than to be a force for good.”

29

CLASS OF 2020

Callum Mathew Casey Villanova University Callum has never missed a chance to overcome some challenge. He faced one just getting to Cate from his home in New Jersey, but achievement under the auspices of the New Jersey SEEDS program brought him to our attention. Shortly after he arrived, Callum suffered a serious injury on the football field, forcing him to go home for much of the fall, but he never lost hope nor did he stop working. Callum just keeps at it, using an impressive intellect and a strong but humble belief in himself to press ever forward. He is now the student we and he knew he would become, a prefect, and one of the best ambassadors for the school, a tour guide in our Admissions Office who offers families a unique and deeply informed introduction to our community. And he is one of the strongest athletes in the class, having overcome his injury to dominate opponents on the football field and the track. What a future lies ahead for this determined young man.

Harrison Brownlee Corman Bates College Among the many stories Harry can tell is a rather distinctive one about living in an igloo he and his peers constructed during an unprecedented winter storm that marooned them in the Colorado backcountry during his time at the High Mountain Institute. In moments that daunt and intimidate others, Harry finds much wanted challenge, opportunity, and inspiration. Perhaps that is why he so enjoys the game of soccer and has become such a capable player – he leaves us to compete at the college level – because it is a sport that tests athletes physically and cognitively.

Harry is not interested in a challenge that asks little of him. And he is especially galvanized by those that transcend the individual to involve classmates or teammates, moving in the words of his advisor at Cate from “fitting in to standing out.” Having literally grown up on this Mesa, Harry seems poised to have beneficial impact in what one of his teachers called “a new world with new people in it.” They are fortunate folks, indeed, to have the opportunity to know Harry.

Kenzie Elise Davidson New York University There is a Latin expression Mr. Cate allegedly considered as a motto for his school before opting for Servons. “Esse Quam Videri.” To be, not to seem. It might have been written with Kenzie Davidson in mind, for she is as authentically herself as anyone we have encountered on this Mesa.

Generous, inquisitive, thoughtful and purposeful, Kenzie can transform a class as a participant or this year as a Teaching Assistant. Said one teacher, “Kenzie is a wonderful role model because she is an excellent listener and is willing to genuinely share in connecting with others.” Another noted, “Kenzie can be counted on to get the conversation rolling. Her energy is contagious.” She is no less impactful as an athlete, leading several varsity teams not only with the quality of her play but with her spirit and unselfish commitment.” There is no shortage, it seems to the special moments she creates just by being Kenzie.

Lea Marie De Vylder Carnegie Mellon University

with Honors

Superlatives about Lea, her many remarkable aptitudes, and her ever-generous contributions to the Cate community aren’t hard to come by. Her prefectship this year is a reflection of the principled manner in which she conducts her own life and the gracious way in which she interacts with peers and faculty alike. Her scholarship is colored by a profound interest in engineering and design which, according to her Advanced Computer Science teacher, puts Lea in a “rare class of people who can bridge both Design and Software development.” And yet her visual art is just as stunning a reflection of Lea’s artistry and her uncanny eye for composition. Coaches laud her skill and her tenacity, particularly on the soccer field and our jazz band relies on her rhythmic leadership as a percussionist. Who but Lea would we want setting the pace for any performance? In music or sport or simply in community engagements on the Mesa, Lea establishes the tone, and all goes well.

30

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

Isabella Sommer Dewell University of Washington Izzy brightens every room she enters, energizes every conversation she joins, affirms every person she interacts with, and comforts anyone in need of a friend or a kind word or a listening ear.

Faculty universally acknowledge that every class is better with Izzy in it, and all note her inclination to take whatever topic under discussion with her when she leaves class, often engaging friends and lunchmates in the never-ending dialogue. But it isn’t simply the intellectual world she enriches.

She captains the swim team, is one of the lead vocalists for our rock band, serves as a Teaching Assistant for a group of sophomores, and is inclined to whip up a remarkable meal at a moment’s notice, a byproduct she says of many days and nights spent in the kitchen cooking with her Dad. The granddaughter of one of Cate’s most remarkable and notable alumni, Izzy seems poised to make a similar mark on the world. The one she has left on us is delightfully indelible.

Harnaljia (Maya) Fenelon Tufts University Asking Maya about adjusting to change is like querying Einstein on relativity. Not only does she understand the challenge better than most, but she has had to build the formula, make a home in a new country and then on a new coast, learn new languages and then become a remarkable student in those new languages. One of her teachers called her “a vivid writer … unafraid to ask tough questions or venture into difficult passages.” Challenge doesn’t daunt Maya. She has seen enough to know she has everything she needs to overcome whatever is placed in front of her. Just watch her run the ball up the field in lacrosse, her drive and pace in that venue matching all that we see from her cognitively. Strength of mind, strength of conviction, strength of character, and just plain strength have brought Maya to this moment, on the brink of a future she has built for herself and in which she has invested herself fully, poised as always to move on to a new place that she will quickly make hers.

Abubakar (Buba) Keifala Fofanah University of Portland Buba wrote in the fall about the game of soccer, a sport that he has totally mastered, and how it gave him purpose and structure as he grew up in Sierra Leone. The essay began as a description of his life but it evolved ultimately into a rendering of the game itself, of the art of it, and the discipline. It was as if Buba understood as he read his own writing, that he has taken on the character of the game he loves, has become his sport personified. How else might he navigate a world that has thrown an unusual number of impediments in his way than by using the very drive and pace and grace that he has learned playing the game of soccer? He has remained agile even as he has been forced to learn languages and work harder than his peers, to sacrifice what he must for the possibilities he imagines. He became a prefect at Cate for those same virtues and because his integrity is unimpeachable and his commitment total. And yet, because he loves this game he lives, Buba exudes the joy that comes with playing and living.

Mia Elizabeth Foster Georgetown University Mia picked up a lacrosse stick her freshman year at Cate, quickly mastered the game, and has spent the years since blowing by opponents with such speed that they look genuinely confounded. She likely didn’t notice, for Mia isn’t all that worried about what’s behind her. She likes the opportunity or the effort directly in front. Faculty often refer to Mia as a “roll up her sleeves kind of kid” eager to dig deep into a particular problem or challenge or project. Much like she does on the field, Mia has propelled herself forward academically, testing herself and revealing the depth of her talent.

She has also shared her commitments, as a teaching assistant in our Human Development program and a lacrosse coach for elementary school girls in Carpinteria. Not surprisingly, Mia’s ambitions lie in work on a global stage, in foreign policy and international relations, places where her old-school work ethic and insight might just yield new-world solutions.

31

CLASS OF 2020

Grace Elizabeth Fuss Hamilton College When the Central Coast faced the challenge of fire and flood two years ago, Grace was the first student to reach out and ask if there was some way that she could be helpful. It was a fitting gesture from a student whose unflappable good will we have come to rely on.

Never verbose or outspoken, Grace manages to speak volumes with her economical use of language and her profound actions. Analytical, insightful, and humbly wise, Grace offers much that teachers and classmates want to hear. And when she chooses to volunteer an observation, the room seems unusually attentive. The same is true for all of us who watch Grace on the tennis court, for she is a dominating player, strong, smart, and relentless.

Headed for collegiate play in the Fall, she leaves us as one of the leaders of arguably Cate’s most competitive team, the only one who competes in the State’s top division, a level to which Grace led us. Quietly and impactfully awesome, that’s Grace Fuss.

Madeleine Paulina Gutierrez University of Southern California A letter about Madeleine written this fall begins with a quote from Gandhi, “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” To watch Madeleine interact with peers or teachers, the young people she encounters in Mexicali under the auspices of our Los Niños program, even the actors she supports backstage as a member of the theater tech team is to understand the power of the soft touch. Madeleine seems to be driven by an interest in doing something genuine and meaningful for whomever she finds herself in contact, to make life just a little better every moment of every day. There is one notable exception, of course. Madeleine has become a pretty solid forward on the J.V. Basketball team and has even been known to fight for position on the boards. Her opponents in such situations might not see all of the unselfish virtue that we do, but we trust this otherwise gentle young woman will indeed give this world a much-needed shake.

Ethan Thomas Ha Westmont College Early on most mornings, Ethan is on the tennis court, working on a game that virtually every opponent he has faced would agree he has already perfected. All day he’ll be in class, always contributing, offering that distinctive blend of good-natured enthusiasm and meticulous attention to detail. Most evenings will find him doing something unselfish for another—playing Bingo at one of our foster homes with a group of folks who have come to rely on their time with Ethan, helping to guide the underclassmen he leads as a prefect, or telling the story of his parents’ journey to this country and the opportunities he has because of their courage. Ethan Ha just makes every endeavor better and richer and more meaningful, not simply because of his earnest charisma and self-effacing charm, but because of the sincerity of his intentions. He has a mantra that he will often quote on the tennis court, “I may not be the best, but the best won’t beat me.” Though we are loath to disagree with Ethan, we think he actually is the best.

Charles Philip Heyman University of Washington Charlie is our face-off man on the Lacrosse field, the guy we put on the ball when possession matters most. We do that not simply because he is quick and strong and agile, but because we trust Charlie to find a way in the heat of competition to make the right choices. His easygoing, unflappable nature off the field certainly gives us faith. Who better than this slowwalking, wildly maned, surfer dude to meet the weight of expectation with grace and resolve.

It took us a while, candidly, to truly get to know Charlie, but he grew with this place and into this community. His watershed moment may have been in the early winter when he told the story of his family and in particular of his siblings, whose commitments and sacrifices continue to inspire Charlie. A faculty member noted recently that a question of great interest to Charlie is what defines the self. It’s fitting, for in solving that riddle of identity, Charlie has quietly and gently enriched so many lives in addition to his own.

32

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

Scott William Holmes Boston College Scott Holmes isn’t all that interested in anything for which he doesn’t have to work. He likes the challenge of making himself great, a challenge he always answers with strength and resolve. We saw it first in the arts, when Scott sat before a potter’s wheel and found an endeavor worthy of his aesthetic eye and his inclination to shape something other than his future. Four years downstream of that moment, Scott is a ceramicist of rare vision and expertise, award winning and awe-inspiring. We could say the same about his achievements in sport, where he has become a standout athlete known as much for the work he has put into preparing to compete as for the remarkable quality of his play. And yet amidst all of this discipline and aspiration, Scott has retained what one faculty member called a distinctive Huck Finn quality of character, a sincerity of purpose, an affection for a little well-meaning mischief, and an innocent, endearing, bright-eyed view of the world and its possibilities.

Mark Alexander Leonidas Huerta Stanford University with Highest Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020 Mark is our resident expert. When political elections are approaching, he’s the first guy helping folks register to vote, often getting up in front of assembly in his distinctively preppy attire waxing poetic on the Constitution and our democratic system. He’s just as conspicuous, though, singing in Chorale and Camerata or performing in one of the school plays. It’s a fitting legacy for a guy who began his tenure at Cate—and essentially announced himself to the community—with a series of appearances as a video advice columnist aptly named “Dr. Love.” He is a remarkable student, too, with a brilliant mind, ideally suited to a seminar classroom. He can be carried away by his own ideas—he began his Servons Speech with a primer on international economics just because it fascinates him—but he is equally transfixed by the ideas of others. There is something about the genuineness of Mark’s scholarship—and especially the passion of it—that makes us think he is destined for some really groundbreaking insights. We’ve seen a few already, Dr. Love.

Dana Rae Huston-Chen The University of Texas at Austin A faculty member seeking to capture the wonderfully good-natured, ever thoughtful, uniquely productive demeanor of Dana Huston-Chen suggested it’s a byproduct of Dana’s sense of adventure. She seems to see the world as more interesting, more full of possibilities and discoveries, and more captivating than most of us. A brilliant digital artist known for massive, intricate graphics, Dana has married that creative sensibility with a growing affection for the wilderness and the outdoors that have become her muse. Said one teacher, “Dana approaches each day with a sense of wonder at the learning that lies ahead.” Thankfully, that sensibility is contagious and led to Dana’s selection as a prefect, for who better to model the virtue of living thoughtfully and gratefully. An athlete too, Dana has just discovered the sport of rowing, where the grace of her being and the power of her possibilities seem to find perfect union and contribute unmatched momentum.

Lina Marcela Infante Barnard College Lina has a special relationship with language. An avid reader since childhood, she has, as her scholarship has matured, become a master of written expression. Unbound by any particular genre or mode of communication, Lina builds her literature with the precision of a craftsman and the art of a poet. Already she has produced celebrated works in French, English, and Spanish, won awards for her analytical writing in history and national recognition for her poetry. She may be the embodiment of a line from one of her favorite books, The Alchemist, which reads, “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” A prefect, a scholar, a dreamer and an achiever, Lina has indeed lifted us all with the gentle touch of a natural storyteller. Her ever energetic soul, never entirely content, will surely propel Lina to ever more impactful expressions. For the world will listen to what Lina has to say, just as we have so happily these last four years.

33

CLASS OF 2020

Kenneth Bryce Jackson Southern Methodist University A faculty member said of Bryce earlier this year, “He is a young man who does all of the big things right. He works hard. He treats others well. He shows respect, is earnest and engaged.” Bryce has literally grown up at Cate, putting nearly a foot on that lanky frame and demonstrating with his every gesture an inclination to mature in every area of endeavor. His response to challenge, happily, has been ever greater commitment, resolve, and preparation. His teachers laud his work ethic and his curiosity, and they universally applaud the trajectory of Bryce’s scholarship. Said one, “Bryce’s star is on the rise.” Coaches, too, see similar levels of contribution in the varsity sports Bryce plays each year. Not only does he compete with remarkable vigor, but he is unflappable and undaunted.

Said one, “Very little seems to get under Bryce’s skin.” And so in his easy-going manner, Bryce has built a legacy of work and commitment, of good intentions and well-timed humor, and of understanding of his own great potential.

Carlo John Jacobson University of California, Berkeley

with Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020

When the pandemic wreaked economic devastation on his beloved Carpinteria, Carlo began looking for ways to help out, seeking opportunities to raise funds to keep people employed.

He is the guy who, in the words of one teacher, “Does the right thing when no one is looking.” Actually, he does the right thing when everybody’s looking, too. Among our most precise, incisive, and joyful scholars, Carlo is a difference maker in every classroom. He is the guy who keeps pulling on that string, following the argument or the inquiry all the way to its root. And yet he is elegant in his searching, energized but measured. One of our Head Tour Guides and a Teaching Assistant, he exudes nothing but humility as he educates those with whom he interacts. Even his musical expressions on his saxophone in our Jazz Band are the generously structured articulations of both Carlo’s remarkable talent and his insatiable hope. As a colleague concluded not long ago, “He’s as good as it gets.”

Owen Beckett Jones Emory University

with Honors

A freshman in our rock-climbing program best captured Owen in a revelation she offered this fall. “You’re like everyone’s big brother,” she said, “You’re always looking out for us.” Most every reference to Owen over the years incudes some mention of his kindness, his generosity, his thoughtfulness and his compassion. It is part of what has made this four-year journey with Owen so fulfilling and fun. But Owen is not just kind. He is an exceptional student, “committed,” in the words of one teacher, “to doing his best work and developing a deep understanding of the topics being investigated.” He is also a Teaching Assistant and an admissions ambassador, places where his remarkable sincerity contributes to the power of his interactions. And he has become increasingly enamored of outdoor sports—surfing, rock climbing, SCUBA—which seem to suit both Owen’s affection for enterprises that stretch him and yet also appeal to his contemplative nature. Wherever Owen goes, good things happen.

Alexander Joohyun Kim Grinnell College Alex is brilliant in so many areas of endeavor, we can mislead ourselves into thinking that his genius comes easily. We hear him play his violin and we watch him immerse himself in his performance, and we are so transfixed by the end we simply want him to keep going. We know his scholarship contains the same depth of creativity and insight, and we imagine he can produce the unprecedented at every moment. We see his empathy with his peers and his interest in being of service, and we wonder how he has the time. Alex seems to enjoy the diversity of his interests and engagements, and the opportunity to share life experiences with another. But Alex does not come by his gifts and associations by accident or happenstance.

He has honed his remarkable mind, mastered his musicality, broadened his perspective in powerful, intentional and tangible ways. His future, too, is Alex’s to build, which surely means it will be distinctive and meaningful and full of creativity.

34

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

Kenneth Bing-Shiao Liou Brown University

with Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020

There are patterns to the many comments on Kenneth over the years. He is “a genuine delight” with “refreshing energy.” He uses “creation as a means of exploration” so “it is a joy to hear him ideate.” Said another, “If he has limits, Kenneth himself doesn’t know them.” This ebullient, wellintended, unusually energetic young man just goes from engagement to engagement, adding insight and energy and good cheer at every stop. A prefect both by title and inclination, Kenneth just has a way of making the weight of the world somehow disappear. On the Kern trip he was known for jogging up and down the line of weary hiking comrades, stopping by whomever seemed to be flagging to offer a boost or some well-timed humor. And what is most fortuitous about Kenneth’s generosity is that there is so much behind it. He can offer what we need whether it is academic brilliance (Kenneth is overflowing with that) or consoling words or self-deprecating humor. Behind that omnipresent smile is everything we need.

Ian Stuart Mabon George Washington University Ian seems most at home when there are folks around, when a good conversation is underway or a little inspiration is needed. He is as gregarious as he is memorable, a “walking personality” as one peer put it. He became a prefect this year for that very virtue and for his clear commitment to improving the experience of others. Just ask the folks Ian visits every Wednesday as part of our public service program, who eagerly await an energizing game of cards. Ian conducts his academic life in the same manner, keeps it full of discussion and dialogue, talking his way to clarity. The arc of his scholarship has been impressive, in large part because Ian has taken responsibility for it, focused his considerable energy, maybe even inspired himself in the same way he does others. In so doing he has found momentum befitting his seemingly unending reservoir of energy and the kind of purpose that could well lead to a life of generous service.

Dylan James MacFarlane Stanford University

with Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020

Dylan is as self-aware as they come. His scholarship follows his own distinctive interests and is notable for its focus and the preparation that distinguishes it. A lover and maker of films, Dylan has built a level of technical expertise that complements a very deliberate artistic voice. Even in song, another of Dylan’s great interests, Dylan’s expressions are unusually lyrical and precise, evidence not simply of great ability but of forethought, discipline and understanding. He has demonstrated noteworthy scholarship throughout his tenure, while sharing too his love of the outdoors and for sport. A two year captain of our track team and the winner in one faculty member’s words of the Most Valuable Camper Award, Dylan seems particularly able to enhance the experience of others by introducing them to and sharing with them the very endeavors he loves. Perhaps a teacher at heart, he will surely find himself to be the one to whom others look in life for guidance.

Theodore James Mack Vassar College

with Honors

To watch Theo on the volleyball court, where his skill and power are unsurpassed, is to understand the scale of this young man’s commitment to the things he loves. There is no half-way in his lexicon, no dipping his toe in to test the waters. He’s all-in. That’s why when Theo began the study of chemistry and found himself captivated, he pushed beyond everyone else, earning an award for his efforts and understanding commensurate with his work. The same generous character is present in Theo’s leadership of the Food Committee and the many taste tests he helped to organize so that students could have a say in the options available to them in the dining hall. Said one faculty member, “Theo leads by example and without hypocrisy. He is trusted because he is real.” And he makes a difference, whether it’s in a Human Development class, on the volleyball court or in the dining hall. The strong and precise guidance of Theodore Mack always takes us where we need to go.

35

CLASS OF 2020

Brandon King-yiu Man Cornell University Brandon brings a combination of entrepreneurial spirit, pervasive inquiry, and unyielding diligence to everything he does. His scholarship he has honed and focused with ever greater precision and depth, spending his summers in labs furthering his understanding of engineering or medicine or physics. In the final trimester of his senior year he joined a team of physicians and researchers studying COVID-19, ultimately building a dashboard to consolidate and access the team’s findings.

But his energy is just as conspicuous in his launch of his Food Crate business to keep his peers well-nourished, or in his ever-growing competitiveness on the squash court. If there is something worth doing, then Brandon will do it well, often exceedingly so, somehow energized by the commitment required and undaunted by the challenge. In such fashion Brandon has become an archetype of sorts, the personification of focused and well-meaning aspiration.

Parker Alexander May University of California, Los Angeles

with Highest Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020

Parker is perpetually unhurried. He speaks with a measured and pleasantly paced cadence, as though he wants to savor what he has to say, just like everybody else will. A talented and dedicated athlete, he moves with agility and grace. And though he may well move quickly to make a volley or block a shot on the basketball court, the character of his competitive efforts is balanced and well-paced. It is as though Parker knows the journey of life is long and best taken in thoughtful stride. Such perspective, though, does not diminish his insight or his scholarship. Said one faculty member, “Parker is as capable and genuine a student as I have seen.” Another said, “He is the kind of smart that isn’t showy.” Perhaps that is why he has been so successful as a peer tutor and Teaching Assistant, because in the words of one student, “Parker turns every topic or activity into an enjoyable adventure.” Surely that is why our time with him seems to have flown by so quickly.

Spencer Austin Michaels Amherst College Spencer calls Moscow, London, and San Luis Obispo his “hometowns.” He speaks Russian, Spanish and English like a native, spends his summers on archeological digs in Siberia, takes online courses for fun, and is a brilliant photographer and videographer. In a discussion-based classroom, it is not unusual to see Spencer’s peers look his way when a teacher presents a particularly challenging idea. As his math teacher noted, “Spencer’s vocal role in discussions helped us to a deeper understanding of the material.” Volume of work and expectation are like oxygen to this young man. Spencer does the layout work for the school newspaper, helps run the tech booth in the theater, serves as our head tour guide, and takes photographs on behalf of the Marketing and Communications Office, all with that productive, curious, engaged posture that suggests he expects to discover something meaningful at every moment, His only real frustration, he says, “is that I can’t do more.” As if anyone could …

Jamie Delilah Morales Scripps College Jamie credits a Cate tour guide with convincing her parents to let her apply to Cate, a path she knew almost immediately upon visiting this campus was the one for her. She was compelled by the challenge of the experience and the possibilities of it. Undaunted by obstacle and unwavering in her focus, Jamie invests herself fully in every educational and community endeavor. Kind, observant, and contemplative by nature, she nevertheless demonstrates a remarkably thirsty scholarship, eager to find in an idea or an assignment some longer term truth. She has become a leader in areas of work that serve others, like our Public Service Program or even on the tech crew in the theater, and she is magnanimous with her friendship. It is a generous ambition that drives Jamie. She noted not long ago that she has been thinking about her dreams and where her education should take her beyond college. Our sense is that she should simply follow her instincts, for any choice that Jamie makes is the right one.

36

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

Neema Salu Mugofwa George Washington University Early this Fall, Neema took to the podium to talk about a daunting advanced bio class, focusing in particular on the concept of entropy or disorder. The speech was vintage Neema, thoughtful, funny, self-deprecating, insightful, and strikingly genuine. Despite her ever-present humility, Neema seems to have an uncanny knack to deliver on every promise, every hope, every possibility. Her affection for her fellow man comes from her profound appreciation for what each of us brings to a friendship. Which is likely why so many seek her out for what one faculty member called, “everything from chemistry to choreography.” She is a leader because she inspires people to join her. A scholar because she is willing to acknowledge what she doesn’t know. And a success because despite her easy-going manner, she always does the work needed to be prepared. A glimpse of her artistry on the soccer field shows that Neema is ready for every opponent, but few of them are ready for her. Disorder, indeed.

Thomas Patrick Nettesheim Bowdoin College Before he began his freshman year at Cate, Thomas wrote asking for a list of books he might read to prepare. Since we have known him, in fact, he has exuded genuine and profound levels of intellectual curiosity. Some teachers have called him a “voracious learner” and others a “delighted” one. And all note his presence in a classroom as having an inspiring effect. One even noted the way his eyes narrow and he leans forward when he is confronted with an especially provocative problem. He is no different on the athletic field, where he has become one of our most accomplished and impactful athletes, a teammate we can rely on for skill, savvy, and motivation. Thomas brings out everyone’s best, it seems. Even a daunting injury last winter on the basketball court could not slow Thomas down or dampen his resolve. Said one faculty member, “Thomas lives a deeply considered life,” and he is at the beginning of what will surely be a full and impactful one.

Kamnok (Ethan) Ng University of California, Los Angeles

with Honors

Were he to list the endeavors and aptitudes that matter to him, Ethan would likely put basketball at or near the top. He is a talented and athletic player, one who works hard on his game. But it is not simply the playing that Ethan loves. It is the responsibility.

He wants to do something important and meaningful for his teammates, to accomplish something for his school. It is a generous aspiration, to be sure. We might say the same about his music and his hard-earned mastery of the violin. Ethan is constantly advancing his craft and building his repertoire with his ensembles, becoming one of our most conspicuous musicians. And he is a remarkable academic talent, blessed with a great intellect that he has honed over the years. Ethan’s challenge may be that given all his diverse aptitudes he rightfully expects too much from himself. It is better perhaps not to judge our work but simply to do our best. Ethan’s best is remarkable indeed.

Georgina Shormeh Omaboe Amherst College Georgina has inspired a whole lot of generous assessments over the years. Faculty call her “the spirit of this place.” Classmates and friends call her “the mayor.” Everyone knows and admires Georgina. Her gregarious, un-self-conscious bearing combined with a distinctive and powerful sense of style make her ever-engaging, seemingly ever-present, and ever-memorable.

Her teachers find in her scholarship a distinctive and nuanced voice. Said one of her teachers, “Georgina is one of the most verbally effective communicators I’ve ever worked with.” A skilled dancer, she can express herself through movement as well, and in the last few years Georgina has distinguished herself with the quality of her service. The founder of a daycare center in Accra, Ghana for the children of working mothers, Georgina lives ever-mindful of that which she might accomplish for others. Surely that posture will lead her to new titles and ever larger impacts upon a deeply fortunate world.

37

CLASS OF 2020

Devin Ethan Pai University of St Andrews In attempting to capture the character of Devin’s reassuring presence, a faculty member explained, “He’s like the top doctor who relieves the patient’s anxieties just by entering the room.” There is an unusual air of extreme competence that Devin exudes, that is seemingly without ego. And he lives up to it constantly. His scholarship is colored by a deeply analytical mind and an understanding of complexity. His athleticism is remarkable, conspicuous in his agility, his competitive spirit and his courage. Just watch him at net in a tennis match or manning the goal on the soccer field, and you will understand the depth of Devin’s commitment. Coaches and teachers have called him a “glue kid,” the player or classmate that helps the group work well collectively, who leads when necessary and supports when it is helpful. Such adept citizenship has made Devin great at Cate and will surely have the same effect everywhere else he goes.

Joshua Jungsoo Park Carleton College A faculty member invoked Thoreau in a letter about Joshua, noting his inclination to follow his own unique path, to be compelled by what he sees or what he learns, and to let his many interests carry him to new places and discoveries. Music is one of those paths Joshua has travelled, becoming a truly accomplished trumpet player and a very capable performer on the French horn, and the drums, and the piano as well. Science compels him too, so much so that one of his teachers noted, “I have to slow him down, his mind is moving so fast.” Perhaps that very pace and his eagerness to construct understanding led Joshua to Computer Science and programming, a discipline he is investigating with the very depth Mr. Thoreau did Walden Pond. It is not unusual to see Joshua with a somewhat far-away look in his eye, or tapping out some rhythm on his desk, evidence that his perpetually active mind is creating even when his body is at rest, finding some new language or concept or melody to explore.

Dalton Frazier Phillips University of St Andrews

with Honors

Dalton arrived at Cate as a sophomore, but quickly became part of the fabric of this place. His skill on the football field accelerated his impact, as did his generous curiosity in the classroom and his natural penchant for contribution. He became a leader by example before he earned the many captaincies and the prefectship he has held in his senior year. In such appointments, teammates, classmates, and faculty find the most appropriate expression of Dalton’s natural inclination to make his work somehow benefit the entire community. Said one of Dalton’s teachers, “He wants to do something valuable with his talents, and to use them where they are most needed.” He has used them everywhere at Cate: to galvanize teammates on the gridiron, to win games on the mound in baseball, to energize class discussions with a well-articulated question, or to simply make life a little brighter with a gracious comment to a friend or classmate. Each small gesture from Dalton contains a multitude of good intentions.

Khadimou Rassoul Traore Pouye Santa Barbara City College Khadim has a knack for the incredible. We’ve seen it countless times on the football field or the basketball court—a sudden burst of speed, an insurmountable application of power, dizzying quickness. In some cases, it seems even Khadim didn’t know what he was capable of until he did it. That has been his story at Cate, one of growth and discovery, one of understanding and application, of learning how to bring his very best to bear on any endeavor of which he is a part.

He has become a musician in such fashion, applying increasing levels of discipline to propel the talent he always brings. His academic work, too, is revealing Khadim’s potential as a student, capable perhaps of the same extraordinary moments we recall from athletics. Wherever he chooses to devote his energy, we trust that Khadim will continue to push his own limits and will recognize in so doing how much impact his commitments have on the life he is building.

38

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

Le (Alice) Qin Pomona College

with Highest Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020

When Alice sings with the Camerata, her facial expressions reveal the meaning and purpose of each note or melody. She doesn’t just express the music, she becomes it. She is no different with a great idea in class or an interaction with a friend. Alice just seems to feel everything deeply and express herself with disarming sincerity and energy. She aspires to become Secretary General of the United Nations, a role perfectly suited to her pathological optimism, her uncanny insight, and her profound empathy. If there is a problem to be solved, Alice is the one you want to help solve it. Her teachers call her “animated and fervent,” and she writes with the grace of poet. Her essay published in the European Journal of Humanities was entitled, World Happiness and Social Economic Factors, a brilliant expression of the diverse and complementary aptitudes that make Alice and her scholarship so captivating. A teacher of sorts already, Alice reveals in her every generous act all that we still have to learn from this remarkable young woman.

Alyssa Kaylee Queensborough Lafayette College Alyssa wrote an essay in the fall about her inclination to organize other peoples’ closets. Aside from the rather unusual confession—Alyssa admits she has no interest in organizing her own closet—what stood out in the essay, and in general distinguishes every bit of her writing, is Alyssa’s unique voice. She is a storyteller and a muse, a lover of the human experience and an artist compelled to render it. Her expressions are not simply in the written or spoken word, but in dance, in song, even in ceramics. There her teacher notes Alyssa’s penchant to do things a little differently, to craft pieces that are intentionally uncentered, just to see how they come out. A Head Tour guide, Alyssa’s narrative has become, thankfully, a key part of our community story. And though our closets are not all organized, our lives are informed by Alyssa’s distinctive efforts to be of service to this place and our stories made richer by her part in each one.

Avery Zavay Ransom Columbia University Countless times this year faculty and students have offered some version of the same assessment, “This year would never have gone like this if it weren’t for Avery. She is amazing.” Her compassionate, clear-headed, generously minded leadership as Student Body President is one expression of her immense talent, one that has literally colored the experience of every member of this community in positive and powerful ways. But she is equally astute in the classroom, deeply thoughtful and empathic as an advisor, a gifted performer and a wonderful vocalist. The clear measured tones of her voice—however she uses it—conjure up Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison.

There is simply a richness to Avery, a kind of depth that is conspicuous in her every utterance, gesture, or affirming look. Any community that presumes to be great … or wants to be … needs Avery Ransom. She takes people places they never imagined they might go, and the journey in her company is life-changing.

Kimberly Jay Rogers Williams College

with Highest Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020

Said a faculty member familiar with the scale of Kimberly Rogers’ intellect and ability, “If there were a dream-team of all the greatest Cate students, Kimberly Rogers would be the captain.” This wonderfully humble, eager to laugh, kind-hearted young woman simply has a cognitive motor that will not quit. Her insights are as profound as the manner in which she expresses them, and when it comes to answering the most challenging questions, Kim has no equal. But Kim is compelled by far more than academic motives. She is first and foremost a lover of people and experiences. She builds friendships with disarming grace and admits she walks the campus sometimes just to see who she encounters. She holds responsibility with a graceful grip, as Editor of El Batidor, Teaching Assistant, or sweeper on the soccer team.

Choosing the last line of defense is easy, for nobody can get past Kim. That is her genius and the magnanimous way that she expresses it to a very appreciative community.

39

CLASS OF 2020

John Rigsby Aldredge Shelburne Stanford University

with Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020

John began his Servons Speech with a question, “Have you ever done something so stupid you wanted to go back in time and slap yourself repeatedly?” We have gotten used to John’s candor and his humor, his inclination to laugh at himself even when he backs his car into a classmate’s mother’s car on the Casitas Pass off ramp. But part of the genius of John is that he actually very rarely does the ill-advised thing. He is a brilliant young man, insightful, deeply curious, a voluminous reader and an outstanding student. He can disarm his classmates with the cogency of a discussion comment—one instructor called him “faster than Google”—and galvanize his teammates with equal facility. His athletic career might well have been as impactful as his academic one, but injuries sidelined John in portions of nearly every season. And yet that did not stop him from contributing. He is always there, where we need him, making the contributions he can with wisdom, wit, and the very occasional minor traffic accident.

Marissa Anne Strauss Southern Methodist University If there is an archetype on this campus for getting the job done, for responding with maturity and patience to even the most confounding situations, for being at her very best seemingly every moment of every day, surely that archetype is Marissa. She has made a career at Cate of maximizing her considerable talents, of living up to expectations, even when they are extraordinarily high (as they always are where Marissa is concerned). She is driven by an interest in being of service to people, and already eyes a career as a physician. Her volunteer work is focused on health care in the most needy areas of the world, including a stint assisting with eye surgeries in Central America.

Her selection as a prefect is simply confirmation of the manner in which Marissa commits to the community. Said one student, “She’s made a habit of being a role model for all of us.” It seems Marissa welcomes such opportunities, using her own conviction and purpose to inspire those of us who have the good fortune to learn something memorable from her.

Riley Sommers Swain Georgetown University

with High Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020

The many superlatives Riley inspires have a remarkable pattern, coalescing perpetually around not simply the scale of her intellect but the character of her cognition. She is Emerson’s poet, the lover of language with insight so profound she is liable to lead those who read her stuff to enlightenment. But it’s more joyful than the scholarship Emerson imagined, more light-hearted, more likely to be inspired by what Riley can learn than what she can teach. Even her leadership roles in the community speak to Riley’s interest in engagement: teaching assistant, Servons speech coordinator, head of the Women’s Forum. And this very inclination to listen thoughtfully has given Riley formidable capacity when confronted with the complex. Said one colleague, “Riley’s capacity for dissecting complicated historical problems will serve her well when she becomes Secretary of State.” There is no threshold of cognition or compassion that Riley cannot cross and no bounds to the good works she will enable in this world.

Christian Alexander Tarafa Southern Methodist University Chris has a gentle, unassuming way about him. Perpetually composed, exceedingly kind, and delightfully at ease, Chris goes from experience to experience with the gratitude of one who values every moment. His commitments on this campus are diverse; spanning everything from varsity football to thoughtful Harkness table discussion participant, to lead guitarist in the Rock Band. In all such endeavors, Chris is known as much for his thorough preparation and practiced execution as he is for his gentle posture. And even when he faces setbacks, like a serious shoulder injury on the gridiron which sidelined Chris athletically for a year, Chris responds with patient resolve, seeing in the adversity the opportunity to try something new or get better at something he loves. Said one of his teachers, “When Chris speaks, others listen,” for all seem to respect the perspective from which Chris’ thoughts emanate, and the insight they always contain.

40

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

Pierce Richard Thompson Gonzaga University

with Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020

Most mortals would not survive a week in Pierce Thompson’s shoes. We can’t do most of what he does, and we can’t do any of it as well as he does it. At some point every day it is likely the entire community is relying on Pierce. We may be in assembly waiting for something to magically appear on screen. It’s not magic, though; it’s Pierce. Maybe we are in the audience anticipating a jazz performance. It’s Pierce again on the keyboards. Or maybe we’re wondering what the right thing to do in a given moment is, have an ethical dilemma, or just need a compassionate shoulder to lean on. Pierce’s shoulder is just the right height. He is one of our Head Prefects because we know that in every moment he will deliver what we need, with grace, with unusual vigor, with unflappable resolve, and with a little bit of magic. “He is an inspiration,” said one member of the community, “to all who know him.” And he has set a standard for impact that few will ever reach.

Millie Violet Todd Tufts University

with Honors

Millie Todd … the name itself just begs to be expressed in a British accent, full of richness and inflection all wrapped up in three distinct, enunciated syllables. The first two suggest energy and hope, conspicuous parts of Millie’s notably humanist scholarship. Give her an opportunity to build a narrative in written or spoken form, and the results are always marvelous; “nuanced, precise, persuasive and thoughtful,” said one teacher. Her service interests are similarly optimistic, focused primarily on international collaborations like Round Square and Los Niños, and her artistic inclinations lean decidedly toward photography. Who better than Millie to capture images that also tell a story?

And then there is that assertive, more serious minded ending to her name, Todd. That captures Millie’s productivity, her tenacity, her willingness to fight through injury or take on the leadership of El Batidor. Millie can bring the work to fulfill her dynamic interests, to see that her expressions are not only lyric but lasting. They certainly have been here, from the one and only, Millie Todd.

Elliot Evan Tsai University of Pennsylvania Elliot spent much of his senior year in a knee brace, the product of an athletic injury that forced this impactful football and track athlete to dramatically adjust his expectations, something that at least for Elliott seemed strangely not all that daunting. Elliot likes a good challenge, especially if it asks a great deal of him, and he is totally unflappable even in the most intense moments. A trip with a group of volunteers to Senegal last summer seemed to fortify Elliot’s focus on service and engagement, prompting him to devote his energies to the International Club and the Asian Student Union. Said one faculty member, “It is clear that Elliot sees his responsibility for the well-being of others.” As his scholarship has matured, Elliot has intensified a focus on the study of other cultures and furthering his own skills as a linguist. He seems poised to be a connector of some sort between nations and peoples at a time when such efforts are sorely needed.

Oscar Vazquez III University of Pennsylvania The suffix on his name might suggest otherwise, but there is only one Oscar Vazquez. He is personality and purpose personified, a multi-faceted, widely engaged, distinctly insightful student of the human experience. Coming from his home in Chicago, Oscar faced the expected challenges of transition to a new space and culture, meeting the opportunity with a focus on belonging—his own and that of his peers. One faculty member called Oscar “the voice for the voiceless” in deference to the manner in which Oscar seeks out and engages those for whom Cate is especially unfamiliar. He became a prefect for that very commitment and for the maturity he has demonstrated throughout his remarkable tenure on the Mesa.

But also for his easy likability, the courage and compassion he shows in his candor, and his obvious investment in experiences other than his own. Leadership is expressed in all kinds of ways. From Oscar, it is personal, productive, playful, and profound.

41

CLASS OF 2020

Ruth Monica Dreyfus Wecker New York University It is hard to know what Ruth is thinking. But we know she is good at it. Her scholarship is impressive, filled with initiative, insight, and care. Said one faculty member, “It takes mere moments in conversation with Ruth to recognize her keen intellect, analytical and reflective skills, and boundless curiosity.” But Ruth is far from purely serious-minded. Her dry sense of humor is omnipresent, delivered with subtle grins or a slightly raised brow. “Openly hilarious and quietly powerful, that’s Ruth,” said one colleague. She has spent her time on the Mesa investing in the relationships that matter to her—with her friends, with her preferred sport of soccer, with the Women’s Forum, the SCUBA Club, and the Student Librarians. And she has become a generous teacher as well in the Human Development Program, an instructor whose inclination to listen makes her an especially helpful guide and mentor. Said one of her students, “You always get the truth from Ruth.”

Jackson Miles Weinberger Columbia University There is a quizzical quality to Jackson, as though in every moment he is sorting through all that is going on and learning something from it. He has ventured far and wide at Cate, testing each experience for what it offers—acting, dancing, teaching, leading. He is mesmerizing on stage, blessed with great comedic timing and an ability to become his character. Off stage he is no less genuine or engaging, committing his time to the things that matter to him: his studies, his interest in social justice, and his affection for those with whom he shares his journey. All note what one teacher called Jackson’s “brilliant mind and compelling voice.” But it is Jackson’s equanimity that stands out, his ability to marry conviction with poise and the inclination to make a difference with the patience and wisdom to know how. Just ask the students in his Seminar class or his peers in RRCE about the people who have had the greatest impact on their lives, and the full effect of Jackson Weinberger on this campus is revealed.

Ava Genae Weinstein Northeastern University Ava Weinstein makes everything better. Class discussions are more energetic when her voice is added. Service projects are more compelling when joined with her conviction.

Friendships are richer because of how much of herself she gives to them. And aspirations seem most genuine when they are expressed by Ava. She does everything with her full self—“a leader in class who works harder than anyone else,” said one teacher—always with a smile on her face, even when the going is tough, the work difficult, or the road steep. A lover of literature, Ava consumes audiobooks by the terabyte, sometimes listening in French, where her facility and fluency is truly impressive. This lover of words and thoughts, conversations and conscientious conservation will bring a unique and engaging spirit wherever she goes. Like the main characters of her favorite movies—The Incredibles 1 & 2—Ava has her own powers, and they will help her make a difference in this world.

Natasha Rose Weiss Yale University

with Highest Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020

The language that accompanies and renders Natasha’s journey through Cate is remarkably diverse.

We speak of her conspicuous leadership in serious weighty tones. She is a “cornerstone” of our student government: a stalwart voice for her peers, part of the foundation of every laudable effort, a Prefect, a Vice President, our “rock.” But descriptors of who she is or how she exercises her scholarship are full of light, contemplative energy, and vision. One teacher called Natasha “a true scientific thinker with all the expressiveness and sensitivity of a poet.” She is a lover of words and stories, honored last year for “modeling the intrepid spirit that leads to robust experience and discovery.” Perhaps most compelling, though, is that Natasha expresses all of this remarkable power and insight with the delicacy and care of a dancer, the leader with the lightest touch, the most enlightened perspective and the most profound, personal and lasting impact.

42

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

Finnian Grace Whelan University of California, Berkeley

with Honors

Said a faculty member earlier this year, “Finnian aims high and often achieves even higher.”

Another called her “a fierce academic, athletic, and artistic warrior who dedicates her free time to bettering the lives of those around her.” There is a fire that burns within Finnian that drives her and compels her, that invites her to seek ever greater challenges and a broader variety of opportunities. Vital and energetic though it is, Finnian’s aspiration is not expressed only with mettle. There is a softness to it as well, a byproduct of Finnian’s own unselfishness and humility. That’s why she works each week at a local non-profit dedicated to the care of injured animals, or travels regularly to one of our foster homes, or volunteers with the Stream Team. Finnian is determined in the best of ways to be helpful, to improve experiences other than her own, to bring her great drive and intelligence to bear on the problems that need solving. Fierce indeed, fun, forthright, fantastic … Finnian.

Lok Man Megan Wong Boston University Last year, after two of Megan’s pieces won National honors in the Scholastic Art Awards, several of her classmates congratulated her. Megan was typically gracious and self-effacing, ultimately confiding that she liked some of her other submissions better. There is a passion that drives Megan, an affection for beauty and expression in all of its forms, a wisdom born of an inclination to observe thoughtfully and listen carefully. Her scholarship is as iconic as her artwork, filled with purpose and intention and vision. One faculty member compared her to the “Hong Kong Orchid,” in deference to her hometown, a plant that blooms in the winter when others are dormant, bringing light and color and joy when we most need it. Said she in an Honors Biology Class, “To live on the Earth is to live as part of a giant network,” a network to which Megan herself contributes in wonderfully original and impactful ways.

Emeline Frances Wright University of Chicago

with High Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020

Emme is a seminar teacher’s dream, a student as insightful as she is facile and focused in conversation. “Words are Emme’s forte,” wrote one teacher, “whether she is writing an English paper, a newspaper article, or reciting a monologue on stage.” One of the Editors in Chief of El Batidor and an accomplished delegate to the Model United Nations, Emme has already earned honors and accolades for the quality and skill of her arguments. Should she pursue a career as a litigator, her success seems already assured. But Emme’s use of language is not restricted to argument. She has become an impressive vocalist in her time at Cate, honing her phrasing and tone so that her remarkable voice might render music. We have become accustomed to our unreasonably high expectations concerning Emme’s every expression, and yet she lives up to or exceeds them again and again. Such art and achievement are sure to be the story of Emme’s life.

Zhengyuan (Jacob) Wu University of California, Berkeley Jacob’s is an insatiable scholarship. Perpetually he is on the hunt for greater understanding, further context, new conclusions, and that is not simply with respect to those academic subjects he is responsible for at Cate. His view is far broader than that. Economics fascinates Jacob and in particular the manner in which it intersects with the subjective world of human behavior. In his free time he will explore mathematical models and try to use them in relationship to existing challenges or dynamics in the world. Argument, for the sake of testing another’s ideology or his own, is Jacob’s milieu, and he will happily invite disagreement. Though he holds fast to his own ideas and perspectives, he is remarkably composed in discourse and a steadily improving listener.

Said one colleague, equating Jacob to the character Maverick from the film Top Gun, “Jacob has buzzed the intellectual tower more than once.” In so doing, he may well push the bounds of our knowing, which would be a most fortunate result.

43

CLASS OF 2020

Kaifei (Phil) Xu University of California, Berkeley

with High Honors & Cum Laude Initiate 2020

A letter written on Phil’s behalf by a faculty member this fall begins with a series of descriptors, “Phil has the jolliest disposition, is most likely to succeed, most likely to engage complete strangers in conversation, will take the most APs, and will find the most ways to learn.” He is a student that a teacher cannot miss, so eager is Phil to immerse himself in his studies, to read beyond course expectations, to engage in dialogue and invest in outcomes. Said one teacher, “He is the gift that keeps on giving,” a magnanimous scholar who likes nothing more than sharing his thoughts and insight with a peer or a classmate or a stranger. That very inclination led Phil to his Teaching Assistantship this year, where his commitment to his students is as profound as that which he shows towards his studies. He is our own earnest Tom Sawyer, who makes work seem like play, and fun just part of the intellectual journey.

Jessica Yang Bowdoin College

with Honors

Jess accidentally turned her microphone on during an all-School Zoom gathering this spring.

When she realized that everyone was looking at and listening to her, she was mortified and blushed crimson as she apologized. Jess does not want people paying attention to her.

She wants to be devoting her attention to others. That is why she serves as a Prefect in our freshman girls’ dorm, why she is such a cornerstone of the tech crew in the theater, why she contributes to El Batidor or student government or Writing Dangerously, why she happily dives all over the court as a varsity basketball captain. Jess just wants to help.

And to that enterprise, one teacher said, “Jess brings her A-game every day.” Her energy, her commitment, her brilliant insight; these are unmatched at Cate, giving her the ability to impact lives in every area of endeavor. Even that moment on Zoom, unintentional though it was, made us all acknowledge how Jess’ presence in this community makes us all smile.

Tianye (Sunny) Zhao University of Chicago

with Honors

Said Sunny’s Advanced Spanish Literature teacher, noting his remarkable facility with language, “There is little doubt that Sunny is on his way to being a tri-lingual global citizen.” Sunny certainly knows his fair share about citizenship, for he has expressed his own quite artfully on this Mesa. Kind, unassuming, responsible, and fair-minded, Sunny is a prefect because his peers and the faculty trust him implicitly, want him to guide us and inspire us. His conviction to use his remarkable mind to effect change is already conspicuous. After a summer spent working at a desalination plant in China, Sunny has committed to studying water use and determining a better path for our care of that critical resource. Perhaps that is why several folks also note Sunny’s tendency to spend some contemplative time taking in the view of the Pacific from the Mesa. He is probably already working up solutions born of affection for preserving the things he loves.

Vania Haijia Zhao Dartmouth College

with Honors

Vania is an adventurer and explorer by nature. Her journey to Cate is evidence of that inclination, but it’s just as conspicuous in what she studies and the courageous character of her scholarship.

Having worked alongside the Mosuo people in China, an ethnic minority matriarchal community struggling to maintain its traditional culture, Vania has gravitated to the study of anthropology and how such studies might enhance her ability to support marginalized peoples. She is an artist, too, a coder, our CateNet master, an entrepreneur, and a brilliant student capable of connecting her diverse aptitudes into a distinctive and resonant scholarship. Even the families newest to Cate are introduced to the school by Vania in her capacity as a tour guide. And with each artful gesture and informed expression, Vania renders not only the vitality of this place but the distinct light she brings to her every engagement. No doubt that same light will illuminate the journey ahead, which will be another adventure entirely.

44

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

DEPARTING Faculty Tamar Adegbile Director of College Counseling A colleague noted recently that because of the intensity and scrutiny of the work associated with college counseling, time moves at a different rate inside the college office. It’s like orbiting a black hole, he said. They live at least seven years worth of life in a single journey around the sun. And yet Tamar has never seemed all that phased in her 35-year adjusted tenure at Cate by the constant demand for her time. Her guidance is always reasoned and thoughtful and true. She is both candid and politic, a rare and meaningful combination. Students know the generous character of her advocacy, parents trust her implicitly, and colleagues depend on her insight when it comes to supporting kids. How fitting that she leaves us for a role that allows her to manage and guide other college counselors, for her expertise and vision is unmistakably clear and reliable. It is certainly no accident that our seniors have distinguished themselves with the quality of their aspirations during Tamar’s tenure. She is a teacher as much as a counselor, one who has helped our young people know themselves well enough to make the right choices for their future. And she has been masterful in building opportunities for them in the many colleges and universities they attend after Cate. In a world looking for reliable voices and wisdom, Tamar stands out as a resource to be trusted and a guide to be followed. We will surely miss her thoughtful guidance here on the Mesa but wish her and Isaac and Aaron and Noah the best of luck in their journey to San Jose.

Elizabeth Bird

John MacFarlane

Sufen Yen

Assistant Athletic Trainer

Computer Science Instructor

Modern Languages Instructor

Elizabeth chose an eventful year to join the faculty at Cate, giving new meaning to the concept of a California adventure. But she has made the most of her time here, proving to be a remarkably skilled athletic trainer and an intuitive teacher. Having grown up in schools, she has a certain aptitude for the way places work and in particular what makes teenagers tick. It is fitting that she leaves us to advance her own education so that she might continue to support young people as they understand their capabilities both physically and emotionally. We are certainly pleased that she chose Cate as a stop along what will surely be a meaningful career path.

Following Jamie Kellogg in anything is hard to do, but to do so in the science of machine cognition is particularly brave. And yet John did just that, stepping into the driver’s seat of our computer science program and stretching the capabilities of the eager young people who joined his class. It is no accident either that the integration of computational thinking has gained momentum during John’s tenure or that the computer science program itself will broaden and deepen in the coming years. An innovative thinker and a thoughtful collaborator, John has pushed us in the same way he has inspired his students – with expertise, with candor, with patience, and with passion. Given our joyful experience with John, we might even go so far as to say he is as gracious and brilliant as his remarkable sons, which is saying something, indeed.

Sufen has demonstrated the very agility we all had to show this year since she arrived on the Mesa to take over the Chinese program from Zai Li. Her answer when asked to adjust or respond to the nuanced needs of new language learners or heritage speakers is always to find a way, to take on another class or tutorial, to give the students what they need when they need it.

Her pedagogy and technique are as remarkable as her agility, and she has trained more than her share of language teachers at Cate. Fittingly, Sufen leaves us for family in Taiwan, where her linguistic skills will no doubt help her settle into a new life in a vibrant culture. Her impact on our own culture has been gentle and profound, so we know well what she will contribute to her new home. We wish her well in her travels and thank her sincerely for the care and scholarship that distinguished her 10-year tenure at Cate.

45

Faculty AWARDS Laura Moore

conducts herself. She has served as a great example for all students.

On behalf of the Cate Class of 2020, we are honored to present the Stephen Spittler Cup to Dr. Laura Moore.

History Department W. BURLEIGH PATTEE FELLOWSHIP AWARD

STEPHEN SPITTLER '63 CUP “The Stephen Spittler Cup, Class of 1963, is awarded to a faculty member whose endeavors on the Mesa push their students to the limits of their capabilities, inspire the people around them to hold themselves to a higher standard, and who, each day, makes us laugh.” There are very few people who manage to do it all, much less do it all with grace. Although this faculty member has only been a part of the community for a short time, she has become an integral part of Cate life and has already achieved this impossible balance.

She first came to Cate three years ago under the title of assistant girls’ basketball coach, where she helped lead the team to a semifinal playoff run. Even in this part-time position, she proved to be passionate, spirited, and a fierce supporter of every girl on the team, on and off the court.

It was no surprise when she returned to campus the next year as a member of the history department after completing her Ph.D. This past school year, she has reached new

heights, taking on the dorm head role in Schoolhouse, teaching classes across almost all grade levels, and becoming head basketball coach, as well as working with the swim team.

But despite this lengthy and demanding list of responsibilities, she has not sacrificed the quality and care that she puts into her work.

This success speaks not only to her incredible time management skills, but also to the wellrounded and genuine nature with which she

The W. Burleigh Pattee Fellowship was established by friends of Mr. Pattee, to honor outstanding teaching at Cate. A student at Cate and the parent of an alumnus, Mr. Pattee served as a Cate trustee for 28 years. Known widely for his good sense and frugal lifestyle, Mr. Pattee was a stickler for value. At the Burlingame Country Club outside of San Francisco, to avoid the expense, Mr. Pattee built a small trailer that he could strap to his faithful Labrador retriever. The dog dutifully followed his master over the course, clubs in tow, requiring only a biscuit or two in the way of a tip. There were, however, things that Mr. Pattee was quite willing to pay for, and good teaching is at the top of the list. This particular fellowship comes with a $1,000 stipend. It is given this year to a faculty member who has taken on and met the challenge of being a truly great teacher in the classroom, in the gym, and in the dormitory. Whether her impact is measured by what she says or by what she does, the contributions of Laura Moore are remarkable indeed.

Mike Ferguson Director of Technology FELLOWSHIP AWARD: CENTENNIAL The Centennial Fellowship was conceived to honor thoughtful, purposeful, and innovative classroom teaching. Focused directly on pedagogy and practice, this award seeks to recognize an educator whose work this year has demonstrably advanced his or her own teaching skills, course design, and lesson planning and in so doing impacted productively the learning of his or her own students. In this particular year, our recipient’s students were we, the members of the faculty.

46

CATE B ULLET IN / S UMMER 2020

Beth Caylor Science Department FELLOWSHIP AWARD: CIRCUMSPICE The Circumspice Fellowship was designed to acknowledge the multiplicity of endeavors in which Cate faculty members are involved. This award recognizes excellence in teaching in the broadest application of that role, encompassing as we do at Cate, all that happens in the classroom, in the dormitories, on the stage or athletic fields, and in broad-based engagements with the community. This is an honor built on the actualization and exemplary achievement by a faculty member of the very same diverse commitments we ask our students to make. The Fellowship is awarded to Beth Caylor.

Frank Griffin Mathematics Department WILLIAM NEW, JR. (CLASS OF 1959) SERVONS AWARD The William New Jr. (Class of 1959) Servons Award was conceived to honor the legendary service to Cate of its namesake: an inventor, philanthropist, trustee, and friend. It is the most inclusive of Cate honors, given to acknowledge service of any sort to the community provided that service is sustained, generous, and ultimately impactful on the experience of others at Cate.

It is awarded this year to a faculty member whose length of service is commensurate with the scale of his contribution. A self-admitted Easterner, he brought with him to the Mesa 41 years ago all the virtues of a New Englander.

His energy and work ethic were conspicuous, his education and preparation exceptional, and his affection for the Boston Celtics absolute. A talented basketball player himself, our recipient became a remarkable coach at Cate, leading teams who learned well from their leader how the game is played, how the ball is distributed,

and how fundamentals are king. From this great teacher, players learned to do all the little things well, which as another famous New Englander once wrote, “Made all the difference.”

He is no less inspiring in the classroom, asking the best that students can give and always giving his best first. His ubiquitous flair pens, his always clever humor—usually delivered with a wry grin—and his willingness to be a student of teaching have made him not only a masterful instructor of mathematics but a teacher of teachers. A lover of geography and maps, he has taken his many skills beyond the math department, revealing to students and faculty alike the need to build knowledge and understanding across a range of aptitudes and disciplines. He even went so far in 1985, to marry a member of the Cate English Department, further evidence that mathematics and the humanities are a perfect match.

In a career that has seen him take on many roles – department chair, Director of Studies, Director of Athletics, Director of the Inquiry Collaborative, author of numerous self-studies, and all-around sage – this man has proven that gentle persistent application of force can move mountains. Indeed, in a career as smooth as

his jump shot, he has seemingly never missed his mark. Surely we could have no greater teammate or leader than this year’s winner of the Servons Award, Frank Griffin.

47

Enedina Garcia 48

CAT E B ULLET IN / SUMMER 2020

From Left: Joel Quezada, Teresa Mejia, Jose Vega, Fidencio Celio, Raul Fuerte, Esteban Samaguey and Enedina Garcia in 2015.

30 YEARS OF SERVICE AT CATE

By Matt McClenathen, Communications & Publications Specialist When describing Cate School and life on the Mesa, we often discuss “the spirit of this place,” and all that contributes to it. For the past 30 years, the spirit of this place would not be what it is today without the contributions of Enedina Garcia.

of us, she radiates joy. Enedina quickly makes friends with everybody she meets, and she manages to communicate in Spanish with people who don’t speak the language at all. In the faculty room, in the dormitories, and wherever else Enedina encounters people, she creates an immediate spark.”

From her first day on campus in June of 1990, Enedina – one of the first women in the facilities department – has graced the Mesa with her kindness, positivity, and hard-working nature.

Enedina looks forward to these daily encounters in the faculty room – her favorite place to be on the Mesa. It is here that she often becomes a teacher herself, interacting with new people and helping others learn Spanish one or two words at a time.

“For 30 years now, Enedina has brightened the Mesa with her legendary warmth and good cheer,” said Jeff Barton, an English instructor at Cate and longtime co-worker of Garcia. “Even as she works tirelessly to make our campus safer and more beautiful for all

Whether she is busy with one of her many responsibilities, making coffee, or helping new faculty members find their way around, Enedina is always there to help.

“For 30 years now, Enedina has brightened the Mesa with her legendary warmth and good cheer.”

JEFF BARTON, ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

49

“Cate School wouldn’t be quite such a wonderful place without Enedina.”

JEFF BARTON, ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

“Enedina has always been popular with the students for all the right reasons,” said Frank Griffin, another longtime colleague of Garcia’s. “She is kind, she works hard, she is genuine, and she cares.

Whatever her capacity or the chore, she serves as a mother to the female students when they need one.”

Outside of the faculty room, Enedina’s other favorite place on the Mesa is '25 house – the dorm for freshman girls – where she enjoys developing relationships and teaching valuable organizational and life skills. She finds comfort in the fact that many of the girls seek her out for advice and guidance.

The learning goes both ways. In her early years at Cate, she would communicate with students by writing simple letters to them. Students taught her words in English while she taught them Spanish.

The students would even frequently help

her children with homework.

When she looks back on her 30 years, she has many emotions, but most of all she remembers the many phases of life she has gone through on the Mesa. Her son, Francisco, is now following in her footsteps and recently began working at the Blue Ewe in January.

“For anyone who’s having a rough day, she’s like an angel sent from heaven: sympathetic, empathetic, and always able to say the right thing,” Barton continued.

“Often she shares some experience from her own life to make the situation better, and her willingness to do that is, in itself, both generous and therapeutic. Her smile and her laughter, and her ability to care so much, offer a model for the rest of us. She’s strong, wise, selfless, and – above all else – kind. Cate School wouldn’t be quite such a wonderful place without Enedina.”

From Left: Jose Vega, Rafael Trejo, Rafael Lopez, Enedina Garcia, Raul Fuerte, Adriana Rosales, and Jose Luis Estrada in 2003.

50

CAT E B ULLET IN / SUMMER 2020

Enedina Garcia with the facilities staff in 1992.

From Left: Raul Fuerte, Rafael Trejo, Esteban Samaguey, Adriana Rosales, Enedina Garcia, and Rafael Lopez in 2002.

51

Karl Weis 52

CAT E B ULLET IN / SUMMER 2020

30 YEARS OF SERVICE AT CATE

By Matt McClenathen, Communications & Publications Specialist

“Karl is one of my Cate heroes.

As a mentor, he had the ability to both guide and support me and let me find my own voice at Cate.”

LISA HOLMES, DIRECTOR OF STUDIES

Karl Weis first arrived on the Mesa in the fall of 1990 following six years of teaching at the Dalton School in New York City. With roots in California from earning his master’s degree at Stanford, Karl and his wife were looking to relocate to the West Coast after the birth of their first daughter.

Karl said upon his first visit to the School. “I was really impressed with the people that I met, and I liked the atmosphere from the start. Right away, I knew it was a great fit.”

The rest is history (literally).

On his way to visit a couple of day schools in Los Angeles, he received a call from longtime faculty member at Cate, Jeff Barton – at the time the Assistant Dean of Faculty in charge of hiring – and decided to make a last-minute pitstop in Carpinteria.

A man of many hats, Karl has served for years as the head of the History Department, teaching classes from AP U.S. History to Chinese History and everything in between. A successful cross country and track coach since he stepped foot on campus, Karl has also served on the Admission and Faculty Committees, led Spring Week, been a dorm head and faculty trustee, and he’s even the play-by-play voice of Cate football.

“It’s a cliché but it’s true, you know, you drive up the Mesa and just go ‘Wow,’”

“Cate’s a wonderful place as a faculty member for all kinds of reasons,” Weis

53

Weis in 1996.

54

CAT E B ULLET IN / SUMMER 2020

Weis has led the cross country program at Cate throughout his time on the Mesa. (2013)

“Cate’s a wonderful place as a faculty member for all kinds of reasons. One of the main reasons I’ve always loved it here is because you can truly grow.”

KARL WEIS, HISTORY INSTRUCTOR

said. “One of the main reasons I’ve always loved it here is because you can truly grow. You can do different things from leading outdoor trips to coaching, working with great kids, both athletically and academically. The School has been great about encouraging growth in the faculty, and that’s something I’ve certainly benefited from in my 30 years.”

Not only a place to work and develop, Karl and his wife, Kristen, raised their family on the Mesa, with all four daughters attending Cate. Julia ‘08, Evelyn ‘09, and Annie '12 have all left their mark while Charlotte '22, a rising junior, will add to the family legacy.

Through all of his personal growth over the years, the most critical thing to Karl has always been the students and facilitating growth in others.

“A big reason you’re a teacher is that you’re working with kids,” Weis said.

“Working in and outside the classroom

– and that’s one of the fun things about Cate: the different environments.

Working with the kids and seeing them learn, seeing them succeed, ultimately, that’s what it’s all about.”

When current History Department Chair Lauren Jared, arrived on the Mesa in 1991, Karl was one of the first to provide mentorship as he has done routinely during his time at Cate.

Director of Studies, Lisa Holmes, has worked side-by-side with Karl since she first came to Cate in 2001. From sharing an office space for years to coaching all four of his daughters, not many know him better on the Mesa.

“Karl is quite simply one of our best, most experienced teachers in the History Department, and at Cate,” Lauren said.

“Professional, confident, unflappable, and collegial, he brings with him a dedication not only to his craft but also to the students he so ably instructs and guides. Karl is an esteemed member of the History Department who contributes much to our community, whether he is planning classes with colleagues, acting as a mentor to new teachers, or taking on projects that impact the department as well as the whole school. Having the advantage of Karl’s long and extensive teaching experience is a benefit to us all.”

“Karl is one of my Cate heroes,” Lisa said. “As a mentor, he had the ability to both guide and support me and let me find my own voice at Cate.

Among students, Karl has a reputation for fairness, high standards, and a no nonsense approach to teaching and coaching. Among the faculty, he is known for his practical and thoughtful approach to the work, ability to listen, collaborate, and willingness to consider new ideas.”

55

From the

66

CAT E B ULLET IN / SUMMER 2020

Archives

67

Thank you for supporting the 2019-2020 Cate Fund!

Cate has always been a crowdfunded school. In good times and hard times, it is the donations of the many that add up to provide for the signature Cate experience on and off the Mesa. From your annual gifts of $5 to $50,000, you helped lead Cate to our most successful fundraising year yet!

OUR NEWEST ALUMNI :

The Class of 2020

Over $2,500,000

reached 100% class participation in the

raised for the Cate Fund -

Cate Fund in 56 minutes and 14 seconds -

MOST IN CATE HISTORY!

the fastest of any alumni class of all time!

443

20 alumni have given to Cate every year for

50+ Years

members of the Cate community INCREASED their gift from last year

68

CAT E B ULLET IN / SUMMER 2020

190 alumni have given consecutively to Cate for

20+ Years

BOARD of TRUSTEES 2019-20 Officers of the Board

Life Trustees

Monique F. Parsons '84 Chair, Co-Chair Campaign Glencoe, IL

Richard D. Baum '64 Kenwood, CA

J. Wyatt Gruber '93 Vice Chair, President San Francisco, CA Henry F. Burroughs '68 Vice President Jackson, WY

Dan A. Emmett '99 Santa Monica, CA Greg H. Kubicek '74 Life Trustee Vancouver, WA Trustees

The Honorable Eric C. Taylor '80 Vice President Los Angeles, CA

Suzan Anderson Santa Barbara, CA

David Tunnell Treasurer San Francisco, CA

Jessica Bowlin Pacific Palisades, CA

Benjamin D. Williams IV Secretary/Headmaster Carpinteria, CA

Calgary Avansino '93 San Francisco, CA

Mimi Brown '92 Hong Kong Rosalind Emmett Nieman '89 Pacific Palisades, CA

Kate C. Firestone Buellton, CA

Casey McCann '97 Santa Barbara, CA

Peter Given '99 Alumni Council President San Mateo, CA

Leone Price '02 Los Angeles, CA

Sheila Marmon Heuer '90 Culver City, CA Adam S. Horowitz '99 Irvine, CA David Horowitz Irvine, CA Frank A. Huerta '85 Santa Barbara, CA Ellis Jones '72 Los Angeles, CA

Marianne Sprague Santa Barbara, CA Lisa B. Stanson '92 Newport Beach, CA Brian Tom Hong Kong Faculty Advisory Trustees Anna Fortner English & Humanities Instructor Karl Weis History Instructor

Jenny C. Jones Santa Monica, CA Patricia MacFarlane Santa Barbara, CA

RE PORT ON P HI L A N THRO P Y

7

CATE SCHOOL 1960 Cate Mesa Road Post Office Box 5005 Carpinteria, CA 93014-5005

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID

Santa Barbara, CA Permit #1020