20 minute read
Highlights of Fall and Winter 2021
ON CAMPUS
Medical Professionals of the Future
Aspiring young medical professionals have created a space to explore future professions.
For aspiring medical professionals in the Upper School, the potential professional avenues a student can pursue sometimes seem endless. There’s cardiology and respiratory therapy, nursing and dermatology, dietitians and medical physicists. The list goes on, which is both daunting and encouraging. That’s why, during the latter half of the 2020-21 school year, Senior Anju Natarajan founded the Future
Medical Professionals Club, which, with the help of
Collegiate alumni, parents and other practicing medical professionals, provides a space for interested students to explore the various careers within the medical field.
“I wanted to create a club that would give students real-world experience in the medical field and expose aspiring medical professionals to a range of career options,” says Anju, who, in addition to organizing the
Future Medical Professionals Club, leads the Scientific
Research Club and the Epicurean Club. Through hands-on workshops and visits from guest speakers, the Future Medical Professionals Club both expands and specifies students’ focus. Guest speakers such as Dr. Paul Caldwell ’88, who spoke to students about his work as an orthopedic surgeon, and
Dr. Christine Rausch P ’26, who taught students how to create stitches using suture practice kits, give students particular details about what their work involves while simultaneously showing them medical work they might have been unfamiliar with before. “There are so many different avenues in the medical profession,” says Dave
Privasky, Upper School Science Teacher and supervisor of the Future Medical Professionals Club. “And the variety of speakers that collaborate with us provides a great spectrum to our students, who are really interested in pursuing all those different career paths and exploring those opportunities they might not have known about.” For students of the Club, working with guest speakers — many of whom, in one way or another, are members of the Collegiate community — personalizes the medical field; it offers a face to the sometimesdistant medical profession. “Working with and hearing from alumni is definitely an enlightening experience,” says Anju. “It’s very insightful to see where they ended up, and it’s a comfort to speak with them and learn of their own professional journey and the challenges they faced along the way.” The Club also presents more immediate professional opportunities for students as well with regard to potential internships and job-shadowing work. “When we have an alumni or parent come in to share a piece of themselves — well, it’s a huge benefit,” says Mr. Privasky. “Often, the speakers will invite our student body to come and see them in their own place of work, which extends a student’s learning. They’re so willing to share what they do, and I think that’s a great gift to give.” For alumni, engaging with the students is an opportunity to share their expertise and connect with the current students of Collegiate, some of whom are sure to become future medical experts. “It goes without saying that our students’ education is enhanced by our alumni, who are committed to giving our Cougars every possible opportunity,” says Anne Gray Siebert ’97, Director of Alumni Engagement. “They want our students to reach the same level of success they have been fortunate to reach. They love this place, and we continue to be grateful for how much they give back.”
MODELING FOR THE FUTURE
UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DAVID BANNARD’S MATH MODELING CLASS PARTICIPATE IN A MATHEMATICS COMPETITION WITH REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS.
Math, though sometimes seemingly abstract, is deeply woven into the fabric of the world.
Eight teams of Collegiate Upper School students, all of whom are enrolled in Upper School Math Teacher David Bannard’s Math Modeling class, are learning this valuable lesson as they participate in the High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM), an international high school contest in which roughly 1,000 teams participate.
“To me, math is not very useful unless it can be used,” Mr. Bannard says. “This contest gives students the chance to apply the mathematics that they’ve learned.”
The contest, organized by the Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications (COMAP), presents students with real-world mathematical problems that challenge them to utilize the skills they’ve learned in the classroom to develop a solution to a selected problem.
The two problems proposed to the students are serious and relevant, and students have the choice of solving one of them. The first, “Tackling the Drought,” asks students to study Lake Mead, the largest water reservoir in the United States, to evaluate drought impact on water reservoirs and the possible solutions to abate additional water shortages. The second problem, “Storing the Sun,” challenges teams to plan the use of solar power to provide electricity to a 1,600 square-foot home being built in a remote area.
“For me, one of the main benefits of the project is this: Upper School students have the opportunity to spend a condensed period of time working on a specific problem,” Mr. Bannard explains. The project, he continues, converges on a range of course topics. “There’s a lot of interplay with the science courses, physics and calculus, and all students combine their skills.”
To evaluate their chosen problem, students conduct original research, apply the necessary mathematics to approach the problem with diligence and rigor, integrate lessons they might have learned from other classes such as biology and statistics, and, finally, write an analysis detailing their research, which is then submitted to both Mr. Bannard and the contest director at COMAP.
Interactive and integrative projects such as this heighten students’ awareness of national and global problems and show them that what their education gives them is the potential to become part of the solution, a citizen of the broader world. “Had we not worked on this project, I never would have known about the water shortage problem in Lake Mead” one student, who worked on the “Tackling the Drought” project, says.
Intellectually challenging, the project illuminates the value of mathematics. “This is a unique opportunity students have,” Mr. Bannard says. “They get to work in groups that allow them to share their knowledge, develop technological skills that will suit them well in the future and solve significant problems students around the world are working on.”
Students Develop Valuable Skills Through Model UN
Thirty-five Model UN students participated in Collegiate’s mock conference in September. The two committees selected fun themes for the low-stakes practice session, where students had the chance to build upon their public speaking, debating, teamwork, researching and critical thinking skills. These sharpened skills will prepare the students for upcoming virtual conferences at William & Mary and American University.
BATTLE OF THE BRAINS DEMONSTRATES THE BRIGHT YOUNG MINDS AT COLLEGIATE
When your intellect is strong, it is always fun to engage in a friendly test of academic skill. In January, Collegiate School’s Battle of the Brains team did just that, competing against Granby High School in the exciting quiz bowl format, which aired on WTVR CBS 6. This year’s competitors were Mason Chapman Jr. ’22, Max McManus ’22, Vivian Sievers ’23 and Braden Felts ’24.
FIRST ROBOTICS PROGRAM SUPPORTS MENTOR-BASED EXPLORATION
In January, Upper School students gathered to watch FIRST Robotics reveal the theme and rules for their 2022 international competition. The competition, as well as FIRST Robotics in general, supports the global robotics community and allows for mentor-based exploration of science, engineering and technology. Following the announcement of this year’s competition, our Cougars started working right away to brainstorm, design and prototype. Team TORCH 5804 is getting ready for this first competition, which will be held in the spring.
Students Shine at Ethics Bowl
COLLEGIATE’S ETHICS BOWL PROMOTES RESPECTFUL DISCUSSION AMONG STUDENTS.
To be a citizen of the world means to engage in the problems of both local and global communities. By encouraging students to participate in morally serious discourse concerning real-world issues, Collegiate’s Ethics Bowl teaches students to think clearly when discussing service to the community. In this year’s 13th annual Ethics Bowl, Collegiate School Seniors presented thoughtful responses to questions regarding the intersection of ethics with economics and public policy decision-making.
SHARING EXPERTISE
Our faculty and staff are lifelong educators — both in the Collegiate community and beyond. We are proud of those who continue to further their love of learning and share excellence within their fields.
ERICA COFFEY
Director of Global Engagement and Inclusion, Erica Coffey recently presented at the INDEX DEI conference in Austin, Texas and served on the conference’s planning committee.
PENNY EVINS
Head of School Penny Evins served on a Women in Leadership Panel for Choate Rosemary Hall, her alma mater. She also serves on several boards.
KELSEY FELTON AND ANNE HOGGE
Kelsey Felton and Anne Hogge, counselors in the Lower School, recently presented at the Virginia School Counselor Association conference.
WESLEY HEDGEPETH
Wesley Hedgepeth, Upper School History Teacher, serves as the Vice President of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). Mr. Hedgepeth represented Collegiate and the NCSS at the Korean War Legacy World Congress in Washington, D.C.
PHYLLIS PALMIERO
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer, Phyllis Palmiero served as a guest speaker at S&P Global’s Credit Spotlight Series.
DAVID ROBINSON
David Robinson, a private music instructor at Collegiate and accomplished composer, recently performed in Virginia Commonwealth University’s guitar series with his wife, Kathy.
RVA SPORTS AWARDS
DEL HARRIS, Head Boys’ Basketball Coach and Program Leader, serves on the executive board of 804 Coaches for Change. In February, at the inaugural RVA Sports Awards ceremony, Mr. Harris and his 804 Coaches for Change colleagues received the Courage Story Award for their leadership in Richmond’s athletic community.
BOBBY UKROP, former Trustee and Cougar grandparent, was honored with the Community Champion Award at the same ceremony.
OUTDOOR EXPLORATION
Learning happens everywhere. Nature and the outdoors are an important part of fostering the unique creative spirit and curiosity that exists in each of our Cougars. With the reintegration of field trips and out-of-classroom projects, students’ educational journeys are able to extend beyond North Mooreland Road, combining curriculum with adventure. From Outdoor Collegiate excursions and nature walks through Robins Campus to retreat days and inspiring trips to Shalom Farms, our students are immersing themselves in challenging learning environments that are connected to the broader world — one of abundant opportunities and possibilities.
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1. Students explore The Lewis & Clark Corps of
Discovery Pavilion, a creative learning space made possible by a generous donation to
Outdoor Collegiate.
2. A group of Kindergarteners explore
Robins Campus.
3. 1st Grade students bound through Shalom
Farms learning about the fall harvest. 4. Middle Schoolers in the Envision Richmond
Capstone learn about Richmond’s environment and water system.
5. During an Upper School retreat, students build community through environmental service work. 6. 6th Graders visit Pocahontas State Park, where they participate in activities that inspire reflection, teamwork and class bonding.
7. Cougars traverse the Stephen P. Adamson,
Jr. ’92 Ropes Course.
8. Students make discoveries on the outdoor learning trails around Robins Campus. 9. The Envision Richmond Capstone takes students down the James River.
10. An adventurous Upper Schooler mountain bikes through the trails at Robins Campus.
11. Students in Outdoor Collegiate rock climb at
Triange Rock Club. In the spring, students in rockclimbing will practice outdoors.
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Golf Brings the Community Together During the Tom Farrell Memorial Pro-Am
Golf, for Tom Farrell, was everything. Not in the sense that golf took precedence over everything else in his life. That was certainly not the case. Golf was everything for Farrell in the sense that everything he loved in life — his family, his friends, his job as chairman of Dominion Energy, and the Richmond community — could be gathered together in one place for a round of golf. It’s the reason why, in 2016, Farrell helped begin the Dominion Energy Charity
Classic, a Pro-Am PGA TOUR Champions event with a significant charitable impact.
Through Farrell’s vision, dedication and charitable spirit, the Dominion Energy Charity
Classic has become a premiere event on the PGA TOUR Champions schedule. Since its debut, the event has helped generate more than $7 million for local charities. After Farrell’s passing in April 2021, the PGA TOUR and Dominion Energy announced that the Dominion Energy Charity Classic would be renamed the Tom Farrell
Memorial Pro-Am in Farrell’s memory. “Naming the Pro-Am in Tom’s memory was a fitting tribute,” says Carter M. Reid P ’16 ’18, Collegiate’s Board Chair, Dominion Energy executive vice president and longtime colleague of Tom Farrell. “He was the driving force behind the PGA TOUR bringing this playoff event to Richmond.” The Farrell family has been active in the Collegiate community, too, ever since
Farrell and his wife Anne sent their two sons Peter ’02 and Stuart ’03 to school here in 1992 — both of whom now have their own children at Collegiate. “Collegiate has been part of our lives for a long time now,” Farrell’s eldest son Peter says, “and we hope the
School is part of our life for a lot longer.” This year’s tournament was made particularly special, then, when Jere Williams, an Upper School Art Teacher at Collegiate, was chosen by Dominion and the Visual Arts Center of Richmond to design the trophy that would be awarded to the winner of the tournament. “It was a nice little God wink,” Peter says in reference to Mr. Williams’s involvement. “It just added another element to the family experience, because it meant a little more that somebody from Collegiate created the trophy.” An elegant wood sculpture crafted from maple, weeping cherry and walnut, the trophy captures the movement of a swinging golf club. “The quality of a golf shot is directly related to the quality of a player’s swing plane,” Mr. Williams explains. “A well-aligned swing shapes the shot and affords a greater degree of ball control. This abstraction has an implied beginning and ending — a golf ball.” The 2021 Tom Farrell Memorial Pro-Am was one of those moments in golf that Farrell used to cherish. Played between the contours of an expansive fairway, golf, as Farrell envisioned, had the capability of advancing and bringing together a community.
HONORING EXCELLENCE
Collegiate congratulates the 13 Seniors that were recognized for academic excellence at a special Upper School assembly in November. These students will be inducted into the Collegiate chapter of Cum Laude at a ceremony in the spring. Those students are: Cassie Buxbaum, Joshua Chilmaid, Ty Colina, Olivia Fairlamb, Zehma Herring (not pictured), Catherine Horner, Christian Mayr, Anju Natarajan, Will Neuner, Teddy Pollard, Will Porter, Charlotte Smith and Eliza Stone.
TEDxYouth@RVA Gives Seniors the Opportunity to Learn About the Greater Richmond Community
The eighth annual TEDxYouth@RVA event was held at Collegiate School’s Hershey Center for the Arts on Nov. 13, 2021. The innovative program, which serves as a hub of ideas for the Richmond community, featured Richmond-area speakers passionate about making a difference in the lives of others. A group of Collegiate Seniors, as part of their Senior Capstone class, were challenged with planning the event, which was open to the public. The students sought sponsorships and other support from local business owners, pitched local media reporters for more event coverage, collaborated with peers to select speakers, managed marketing and coached speakers. Part of that promotional challenge connected the students with Jasmine Turner ’11, who works as a reporter for WWBT NBC12. Dylan Robinson ’22 and Lotti Stefanovich ’22 spoke with Turner before the event to discuss TEDxYouth@RVA and the importance of doing work that benefits the whole community. “It feels like we’re putting on something monumental,” Lotti said during her conversation with Turner. “It feels really great to be the ones to put this on. Our voices feel heard.”
David A. Fahrenthold, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist working as an investigative reporter for The New York Times, spoke to a group of Upper School students in Vlastik Svab’s Writing for Publication class as part of the Sarah Portlock ’03 Speaker Series. The speaker series, generously made possible by a gift from Sarah’s parents Bill Portlock and Nancy Raybin, was created to promote journalism and education.
During her time at Collegiate, Sarah served as co-editorin-chief for The Match, which marked the first step of her successful journalism career. Sarah passed away suddenly on Nov. 6, 2017. Her classmates from the Class of 2003 dedicated a campus garden to her, Sarah’s Garden (next to the Reeves Center), during Homecoming weekend in 2018. Raybin and Portlock expressed their gratitude that this program will continue to keep Sarah’s memory alive through mentorship and education.
Collegiate Hosts 20th Annual Application Workshop
By spending time with admissions deans from across the country, Collegiate students are given an edge in the admission process.
A Collegiate School education prepares our Cougars for the future. Part of that preparation involves providing students with relationships that will set them on the path towards success. In February, when the School hosted 12 college and university deans of admission from around the country, Juniors had the opportunity to make some of those impactful connections. The deans began by holding a roundtable discussion with administrators and Trustees on preparing students for higher education and the professional world. Later that night, the 12 experts presented a special program to Upper School parents on the admission process. The following day, Juniors met with the deans to convene the School’s 20th Annual Application Workshop, which gives student the opportunity to make more personal connections with the deans while learning how admission committees read applications. “I think that the opportunity to meet with different college deans is invaluable,” says Lauryn Tolliver ’23. “Going in, I didn’t really have an idea of what a dean would be like, and they provided me with some really valuable insight that prepared me for the next steps.” Gathered in small groups with the deans, students were able to ask questions and get tips on writing application essays, discuss how applications are evaluated and discovered ways to distinguish themselves as applicants. Lauryn, who met with University of Richmond’s Associate Vice President and Dean of Admission Gil Villanueva, says the experience personalizes the sometimes daunting admission process. “My dean talked a lot about how everything leads back to character and values,” she explains. “We talked about how colleges take into account thetrajectory of your high school career and how deans look for progress throughout your education. Making connections with the deans really makes me feel more comfortable about the process.” Abby Dunn ’23, another Collegiate student that attended the Application Workshop, says that, after meeting with the deans to review mock applications, she is eager to begin writing some of her own. “Seeing some mock applications and discussing what deans are looking for has made me more confident,” she says. “I think the whole workshop gives us really good relationships with the deans. And it’s really nice to know that Collegiate offers this. It shows their commitment to our success.”
STUDENTS HONOR VETERANS DAY
Collegiate saluted veterans during division assemblies that featured Major Brian Riva P ’30 ’32, Vice Admiral Trey Whitworth ’85 and James Bandy, a former U.S. Marine and the School’s Director of Campus Safety and Security. In addition, a slideshow was presented with photos of more than 200 veterans who are family members of Collegiate students.
STUDENTS SHOWCASE CHINESE LANGUAGE PROGRAM DURING CHINESE NEW YEAR
This year marks Collegiate School’s ninth annual celebration of the Chinese New Year and our second virtual presentation. We are proud to showcase our students’ progress in the Chinese language program, and we are thankful for all that our students contributed to creating this celebration. We are so grateful to our Chinese language teachers — Xin-yi Fergusson, Yu Xiao, Daisy Hu, Zhangyi Shi and Dongmei Yuan — for their leadership and wonderful work with our students.
Students Participate in Poetry Out Loud
In December, eight Collegiate students in the Upper School participated in the annual Poetry Out Loud competition. The event gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their creativity by adding their own personality to poems they feel resonate with them. First place went to Charlie Loach ’23 for his recitation of D. Gilson’s “Where the Wild Things Go.” First runner-up was awarded to Olivia Fairlamb ’22, who recited Suzanne Buffam’s poem “Enough.”
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
In October, during Hispanic Heritage Month, Upper Schoolers explored Hispanic cuisine and learned to salsa dance, Middle Schoolers hung posters and made slides for the TV in the common area and Lower Schoolers studied leaders such as Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman to go to space.
COLLEGIATE CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH
In February, Collegiate students celebrated Black History Month in a number of engaging ways, including readings, art projects, assemblies and discussions. Lower Schoolers shared the legacies of famous Black leaders who have shown excellence and performed skits demonstrating that excellence in action; Middle Schoolers gathered for an assembly and presented their research on influential and impactful people throughout history from Black American communities; and Upper Schoolers discussed the importance of Black History Month and connected with members of the Virginia State University chapter of Phi Beta Sigma for a step show.
HOLIDAYS AT COLLEGIATE
