Durham Academy Magazine - Summer 2019 by Durham Academy

Summer 2019

Watch the second episode of REEL DA, featuring Middle School Math Teacher Tyrone Gould, at bit.ly/ReelDAGould.

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FEATURES 20 — ANDY POGACH IS NAMED NEXT DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS His goal for DA athletics is to put the student-athlete experience at the center of every decision “whether they are on the bench for the green soccer team or the star of the varsity field hockey team headed for a Division I scholarship.”

22 — CLASS OF 2019 TAKES FLIGHT Duke University men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski offered words of advice to DA’s largest-ever graduating class, comprising 109 seniors. The newly minted alumni are headed off to adventures near and far, including more than 60 colleges and universities.

LONGER DAY, BETTER K

A full kindergarten school day, with dismissal at 2:30 p.m., will provide more time for academics, social-emotional learning and play — and will make life easier for working parents.

38 — PODCAST PAVES THE PATH TO ‘U-S-A’ GOOSEBUMPS With a goal of helping her fifth-graders to better understand the naturalization process, history teacher Virginia Hall created a design-thinking project that led to a fresh way for new Americans to prepare for the U.S. citizenship test.

40 — ASKING BIG QUESTIONS TO HELP STUDENTS FIND THEIR WAY In implementing Project Wayfinder as part of the eighth grade's advisory curriculum, math teacher Gib Fitzpatrick is working to give students opportunities to look inward.

On the Cover: Kindergartner Jaelle Gilmore plops down for a reading break. DA is moving to a full-day kindergarten beginning with the 2019–2020 school year. Photo by Sarah Jane Tart

Students in Christian Hairston-Randleman’s kindergarten class work to replicate designs on geoboards. Photo by Michael Branscom

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CONTENTS

Moral, Happy, Productive

8 — JOSEPH WALSTON ’19 An aspiring teacher, he is passionate about sharing his enthusiasm for bugs.

Faculty Spotlight: Middle School Theatre Teacher

10 — ELLEN BROWN She’s fascinated by the impact theatre can have on children.

After 28 Years as Director of Athletics

16 — STEVE ENGEBRETSEN STEPS DOWN He has grown DA’s athletics program to 20 sports and 47 teams.

28 — CAVS GO GREEN DURING WINTER SEMINAR

50 ALUMNI 52 — MARGARET JONES ’99 54 — SPRING ALUMNI RECEPTION HONORS MORAL, HAPPY, PRODUCTIVE FACULTY AND ALUMNI 56 — LAQUESA GAILLARD ’06 58 — WHITNEY ZIMMERMAN ’05 61 — CLASS NOTES

Photo by Sarah Jane Tart

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

In wake of climate change report, participating students are looking to reduce DA’s carbon footprint.

F. Robertson Hershey Distinguished Faculty Award Honors Jessica Whilden 0 ̓ 0

42 — PAYING IT FORWARD, ONE CHILD AT A TIME As a DA student, her classmates saw she was destined for the classroom.

48 — KATIE RYAN (AMICK) KANTZ ’98 Kantz has returned to her alma mater as new director of Summer Programs.

Featured Contributors

Summer 2019 Vol. 46 // No. 2 EDITORIAL Kathy McPherson // Editor Sarah Jane Tart // Art Director

COMMUNICATIONS communications@da.org

Leslie King // Director of Communications Kathy McPherson // Associate Director of Communications Melody Guyton Butts // Assistant Director of Communications Sarah Jane Tart // Multimedia Specialist

Tina Anderson Bessias ’78 Upper School English and Blended Learning Coach Bessias oversees the Upper School’s seminar program, which includes an ungraded, interdisciplinary student learning experience each semester. See page 28.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tina Anderson Bessias ’78, Upper School English; Andrea Caruso, Upper School Science; Ben Michelman, Middle School Language Arts and Community Engagement Coordinator; Gib Fitzpatrick, Middle School Math; Mike Spatola, retired Upper School teacher

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Branscom; Avery Goldstein, Middle School Language Arts; Stan Chambers Photography; Kim Walker; Ken Huth; Bob Karp; Mary Moore McLean; Bridget Daehler

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Theo Preston

PRODUCTION Theo Davis // Printer

LEADERSHIP Michael Ulku-Steiner // Head of School Karen Rabenau // Chair, Board of Trustees Garrett Putman ’94 // President, Alumni Board

Andrea Caruso Upper School Science In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she helps students with the Upper School garden and has helped to implement a robust composting program. See page 28.

DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI AFFAIRS

development@da.org

Leslie Holdsworth // Director of Development Tim McKenna // Director of Alumni Engagement Special thanks to StoryDriven, Cardinal Publishers Group and Simon & Schuster

Gib Fitzpatrick Middle School Math There’s no age group he’d rather teach than middle school, and he says his psychology degree was great preparation for working with them. See page 40.

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Photo by Michael Branscom

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Striving Ever Higher, Farther

“I

n times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” — Eric Hoffer Five years ago, a parent asked me what I saw as Durham Academy’s greatest threat. “Complacency,” I answered. I remember feeling grateful for a year of extraordinary records: the school’s largest-ever enrollment, our lowest student attrition, our highest number of applicants, our largest philanthropic totals and the most racially, economically and geographically diverse student body in our 80-year history. I worried we might be tempted to rest on our laurels, to imagine that the school as it existed at that moment would serve students and families forever and always. If it ain’t broke, why fix it? Luckily, ours is a school of strivers — people willing to plan and work to make tomorrow incrementally better than today. “Humble and hungry” is deep-set in the DNA of DA. You can see that hunger in our 2015 Strategic Plan, an unapologetically ambitious commitment to answer these questions: • How can we best support a faculty full of life-changers? • How can we hone a learning experience that is continuous, collaborative and cutting-edge? • How can we make the core values of selflessness and service pervasive across the school? • How can we help every student and family feel welcome, empowered, responsible and safe? • How should we invest to provide future generations the opportunity to enjoy the DA experience? This summer, we catch our breath between two of the most dynamic school years in our history. Much changed over the last year. There is more change to come — all of it borne of thoughtful planning, much of it happening simultaneously. Some examples: • We are extending the kindergarten day to expand the academic and social-emotional

learning of our students. More time will mean more math, literacy and free play and the preservation of the enrichments (Spanish, PE, music, art, cooking, science, technology and service learning) that our Preschool families treasure. • All 16 Lower School classes have adopted a new math curriculum that is more rigorous, coherent and engaging than ever before. We’re seeing deeper understanding and collaborative problem-solving among our students — and the very same things from a faculty eager to push from good to great, as a unified team. • The Middle School is on the edge of an entirely reimagined campus. Construction began in June for our fine arts and foreign language center. In each of the following six years, we’ll add a cutting-edge facility designed specifically for early adolescents. See details and timelines at da.org/DAcampusplan. • Next year, Upper Schoolers will fully settle into their new STEM & Humanities Center, a beautiful outdoor commons and a varied slate of Cavalier Capstone courses featuring international travel, interdisciplinary study, community engagement and lots of student choice. Amid these potentially dizzying changes, our eyes remain focused on the core of our mission: preparing students for moral, happy, productive lives. Our facilities, schedules and curricula will continue to evolve, but the beating heart of DA remains the daily experience of our students, the teachers who stretch them toward their best selves and the relationships that persist for decades. I taught my first class at DA nearly 27 years ago. Nine months earlier, in my job interview, Assistant Head of School Jim Speir described a community full of hungry learners, ambitious families and devoted teachers. As Jim prepares to retire after 40 years of dedicated service to Durham Academy, it is sweet and fitting to reflect on how much has changed in our school, and how little has changed about our fundamental purpose and passion.

Michael Ulku-Steiner Head of School @MrUlkuSteiner

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N.C. Governor’s School Durham Academy juniors Madeleine Genova and Esme Longley will attend Governor's School of North Carolina's 2019 program. Both will study French at the five-and-one-half-week program — the nation's oldest statewide summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students. Governor's School — which does not involve credit, tests or grades — integrates academic disciplines, the arts and unique courses on each of two campuses: Governor's School West at Salem College in Winston-Salem and Governor’s School East at Meredith College in Raleigh. The 2019 program runs from mid-June to late July. Governor's School is administered by the Public Schools of North Carolina, the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction through the Exceptional Children Division.

Ninth-grader MJ Rice has been ranked by ESPN as the nation’s 10th-best boys basketball player in the class of 2022. A 6-5 forward, he helped lead the Cavs to a 28–4 record in the 2018–2019 hoops season, concluding with an appearance in the semifinals of the state tournament. Rice was named All-State and All-Conference, as well as honorable mention for the MaxPreps freshman All-American team. The 2018–2019 school year was also marked by accomplishments outside Kirby Gym for Rice; he earned an invitation to compete in the USA Basketball minicamp in Colorado Springs in October and to USA Basketball’s Junior National Camp in Minneapolis in April.

Artwork by Theo Preston

MJ Rice

Theo Preston ’23 Eighth-grader Theo Preston won the grand prize in the middle school artwork category of ACIS Educational Tours’ 2019 scholarship contest. In describing his piece, he wrote: “I love books. To me they be portals into places I cannot access on my own. The monuments popping out of the book represent the different cultures that color my world.”

Speech and Debate In what coach Crawford Leavoy describes as “an amazing feat” that’s a first in the 15year history of the Durham Academy Speech and Debate program, the team was honored with the Kurt Earnest Award of Excellence in Speech at the Tarheel Forensic League State Championship Tournament in April. Overall, the team was named runner-up for the second consecutive year, coming in a mere 1.28 percentage points behind the winner. This season has been a successful one for the DA team, with 17 students qualifying to compete in the National Speech & Debate Association’s national tournament in Dallas in June, along with four alternates. In addition, eight students qualified to compete in the National Catholic Forensic League Grand National Tournament in Milwaukee in May.

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Fundraising With a Purpose

Photo by Avery Goldstein

DA student-athletes comprised the top fundraising team for the King of Spring lacrosse tournament in March, raising nearly $30,000 and contributing to a total of more than $79,000. The tournament — organized by DA varsity boys lacrosse coach Jon Lantzy — serves as a fundraiser for the Vs. Cancer Foundation, with teams competing to outraise all other teams and earn the right to direct proceeds to the hospital of their choice. For the DA athletes — the lacrosse team and baseball teams worked together — this year’s effort was particularly meaningful, as the Cavs worked to direct proceeds to UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, where DA eighth-grader Jack Goldstein is receiving treatment for leukemia. Jack — the son of fifth-grade language arts teacher Avery Goldstein and the brother of varsity baseball player Ethan ’22 — has long had connections to Vs. Cancer. He has competed in a Vs. Cancer baseball tournament each spring since he was 9 years old, and he is now on the receiving end of Vs. Cancer’s work. “I can’t tell you how much the support of Vs. Cancer has helped Jack …,” his mother wrote on his Caring Bridge webpage. “His first question upon diagnosis was, ‘Will I play baseball again?’ Within a week, Vs. Cancer had college coaches texting him about players on their roster who had had leukemia, Joe Madden reaching out with a personalized video to keep his spirits up, and a letter and picture from Anthony Rizzo, the Cubs player who was diagnosed with lymphoma when he was 18 in his first year as a Cub.”

Susan Ellis Varsity girls soccer coach Susan Ellis was inducted into the N.C. Soccer Hall of Fame on Jan. 26. She was introduced at the ceremony by longtime UNC women's soccer head coach Anson Dorrance and was inducted alongside Duke men's soccer coach John Kerr Jr. and National Women's Soccer League referee coach/assignor Sandra Serafini. Ellis, who also teaches Middle School PE and coaches JV girls tennis at DA, has quite an accomplished career on the pitch — including four national championships as part of UNC’s legendary program and a couple of years as a coach in the first women's professional soccer league.

It takes a lot of courage to take a cancer diagnosis and turn it into something positive. That can be even more challenging when you’re a teenager and the person diagnosed is your dad. Jake Zaas ’22 did just that, and he was recognized for his efforts by the Triangle Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), which named him its Triangle Student of the Year in March. High schoolers participating in the LLS Student of the Year campaign spend seven weeks raising funds to help find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients. Each chapter’s winner becomes a candidate for National Student of the Year. Together, the efforts of the 17 Triangle high school candidates raised $604,892. Zaas’ father, Dr. David Zaas, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2017. Jake played a pivotal role in his father’s fight vs. cancer, serving as a bone marrow donor for his dad.

Photo by Stan Chambers Photography

Watch a video from Duke Raleigh Hospital, of which Dr. Zaas is president, about the Zaas family’s journey at bit.ly/ZassFamilyJourney.

Image courtesy of Cardinal Publishers Group

Jake Zaas ’22

Ashu Saxena Assistant varsity girls soccer coach and Upper School math teacher Ashu Saxena recently celebrated the release of the second edition of his book, The Well-Rounded Soccer Coach. In the book, published by Cardinal Publishers Group, Saxena offers advice on longterm player development and team culture, drawing on his three decades of experience as a coach of competitive club and high school teams at the U9– U19 levels. On the book’s cover, you’ll see some familiar faces from the 2016–2017 DA varsity girls soccer team.

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MORAL HAPPY PRODUCTIVE At the Lower School, he’s “the bug guy.” At the Upper School, he’s “the recycling guy.” And those nicknames do nothing but put a smile on Durham Academy senior Joseph Walston’s face. After all, he is a guy with a passion for saving the smallest of creatures among us and the earth they inhabit — and the monikers are proof that his message is getting through. “I remember this one instance: This kid saw me downtown, and he was telling me that he loves bugs now and that he’s super interested in insects. And I was so excited because I want to see more people excited about bugs,” Walston said. “I think most people are trained from the beginning that cockroaches are gross and spiders must be killed, but we can change that if they're pretty young.” Each spring for the past four years, Walston and fellow DA senior Justin Cobb have taught a lesson on insects and arachnids to DA first-grade classes. In these lessons, the two — co-founders of the Upper School’s Operation Entomology Club — have explained how to identify different types of bugs, noted the primary body parts of different types of bugs and discussed some of the ways that these creatures are beneficial to our world. For the first-graders, a highlight has been the opportunity to get an up-close look at a few bugs from Operation Entomology’s collection. This spring, Walston and Cobb brought along a couple of blue death-feigning beetles and Madagascar hissing cockroaches, which one first-grader remarked were “actually really soft” after giving one a gentle pet with her finger. “If we let them hold the bugs and see the positive sides to them, then they're more comfortable with bugs later in life,” Walston said. “Like, if

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Joseph Walston ’19 Story and Photo by Melody Guyton Butts

there's a cockroach in the house, maybe they'll take it outside versus stepping on it.” DA teachers who have witnessed Walston co-leading these first-grade science lessons have remarked on his passion and knack for teaching. Indeed, he has had his eye on a career in education — specifically as a third-grade teacher — since he was a third-grader, himself. “You know how when teachers read to you in Lower School, they'll hold the book out and they'll turn the pages? So I would do that during independent reading time in kindergarten, even if there was nobody watching,” Walston recalled. “And when I played with my sister [Felicity Walston ’16] when I was little, I would be the teacher and she'd be a student. That has always been my thing.” Discussing his career goals with his college counselor, Walston said he’d always “wanted to be Mrs. Streck” — Lower School science teacher Lyn Streck — and he’s now well on his way. This fall, he’ll begin his studies at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where he plans to earn a teaching license while majoring in ecology, environmental science or a similar subject. Walston’s enthusiasm for education extends to multiple topics and age groups. He also serves as an Upper School peer educator, a role that includes teaching a ninth-grade class on health and wellness issues; spearheaded this year’s Science Fun Day, which involves Upper School Science Olympiad team members leading first-graders through chemistry, biology and physics experiments; and co-leads the Go Green Club, in which he works to teach his peers steps they can take to care for the environment.

Walston and fellow Go Green Club leader Sarah Farrin ’19 have headed up the Upper School’s recycling program and implemented a composting program; that program became much more robust this school year due to a partnership with local service Compost Now. “By the time the current first-graders are seniors, hopefully it's going to be completely normal,” Walston said. “You know, they wouldn't even think of throwing away their orange peels or their banana peels — they would always think of just composting first.” But what drives Walson more than anything else is his love of animals, big and small, and encouraging others to treat them with dignity. Over the years, his home menagerie has included chickens, bees (he’s in the process of earning his beekeeping certification), toy poodles, frogs, lizards, salamanders, fish, worms and butterflies. “Many of us don’t think about how our actions are affecting animals, including bugs, and I just hope to help people become more aware,” he said. “It's important for every person to step up however they can. “Plant some wildflower seeds, reduce your use of fertilizers and buy only local honey,” he suggested. “Just let dandelions and little weeds be — they're going to help the pollinators. And if you're so inclined, put out some sugar water, and that'll attract multiple pollinators. I think that’s a good way to start.”

Faculty Spotlight: Middle School Theatre Teacher

Ellen Brown Story by Kathy McPherson

When fourth-grader Ellen Brown auditioned for the role of a child in Greensboro Day School’s middle school play, it lit a spark for theatre that has taken her from Greensboro to New York and back to North Carolina as the theatre teacher at Durham Academy Middle School. “Greensboro Day had a really wonderful middle school musical theatre program. I got incredibly involved and found that’s where I felt I came alive more than any other space. I started devoting my energies pretty heavily toward singing, acting and dancing. When I wasn't in school, that's what I was doing, and when I was in school, any opportunity I had, I would jump on.” While musical theatre was new to Brown, music was not new. She had been singing since she was a little girl. “I think the first time I felt like ‘Oh, I'm good,’ I was singing to Little Mermaid, ‘Part of Your World,’ and my parents filmed me.” She is classically trained, having begun piano lessons at age 6 and voice lessons in sixth grade. Music

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

continues to be a big part of her life — “I am still a professional accompanist.” Brown performed in school and professionally in North Carolina while earning an International Baccalaureate diploma at Greensboro’s Grimsley High School. She graduated from the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, studying straight theatre, musical theatre and acting for film and television; worked professionally in New York; and toured nationally in a production of Aladdin for young audiences, where she discovered her passion for teaching and directing theatre. “I moved to New York as an 18-year-old. And it's funny, I wanted nothing to do with North Carolina. … I felt like North Carolina had given me everything I could possibly have and now I needed to move to the big city. “I still had this focus that professional theatre is where I had to be, that that was the only place I would ever be happy. During college I worked professionally in New York — I was really lucky to book jobs. They were mostly Off-Off Broadway. I did a lot of original works with new playwrights. It was exciting to get to meet young directors and young writers and be a part of the collaborative process. … I'd never been on the creating side, aside from creating a character. Getting involved in new works helped me understand how playwrights work and started whetting my appetite when it comes to producing theatre. But I still didn't know that's what I was going to end up wanting to do. … My first professional audition [Aladdin], I was really lucky to book right out of college.” Brown enjoyed being part of the Aladdin cast, a production she called a hybrid of Disney’s Aladdin and Arabian Nights, “but what struck me as I was performing for young children and I watched their faces as we came onstage, as we told jokes, as we sang — for the first time, I felt like I was interacting with an audience in a way that I hadn't before. When you're doing theatre that's in a proscenium arch — meaning the beautiful theatres we see — you can't see the audience. They're blacked out, the lights are on you. But when you're performing for kids in Ohio, you really see the way that they're affected by the theatre you're doing. Something came alive in me, even more than when I was performing, when I realized that I was fascinated by the impact that theatre was having on children. I started dabbling, while auditioning, with teaching and directing theatre and ended up finding that's what I was fascinated by. I got my master's in applied theatre [at City University of New York while simultaneously earning an M.A.T. from Relay Graduate School of Education],” learning how theatre can be used to support a community, an educational institution, a group of young children. “It was the most stellar education I could have ever received, and that's the influence I really bring to the classroom, which is working from the interests of the students as opposed to saying we are going to do Shakespeare because he's the best and this is what we're going to do. … Applied theatre taught me how to work with young

Photo by Michael Branscom

people, and from there, I started working in New York City public schools. I did performing and teaching at the same time. I would bring educational pieces of theatre that would be aimed toward looking at bullying, or sex ed, or all kinds of social-emotional well-being. Instead of just performing and leaving, we would perform and process them, and sometimes have students get on stage and try things out so that they could change an outcome and learn from our story. “New York was this incredible playground of learning, where I was able to bridge performance — this talent and passion I have for performance — and this wild interest in young people and their development and their thinking.” Working at Harlem Prep Academy in East Harlem, “I really learned the value of investing in a community and seeing what would happen when I poured all of my energies into one group of people and got to know young people really well. That's where I saw that life-changing relationship, where I saw the value in that.” But life in New York wasn’t easy. Before settling at Harlem Prep for a few years, Brown’s teaching would take her to the Bronx in the morning, Brooklyn in mid-morning, Queens in the afternoon “and then I would direct a

show in Manhattan. That was a commute of about 45 minutes each way. To Harlem, I was biking for 45 minutes to get there at 6 a.m.” North Carolina began to look good to Brown, who was now married and “wanted a lifestyle that would support the family that I hoped to grow one day.” Her husband was also from Greensboro, and they wanted to be closer to their families. “We wanted to move down to North Carolina eventually. I would only go for the right space, have to have the right situation.” The lucky ticket turned out to be teaching theatre at Durham Academy Middle School. Brown is in her third year at DA, lives 10 minutes from campus and has a daughter who is nearly 2. “[When I visited] I just had the sense, it was the joy I saw on our students’ faces, the way they seemed engaged in their learning. And in my interview, seeing how invested the faculty was and how committed everyone was to making this feel like our school. I could sense that everyone had so much pride — especially the faculty — in making the space a really intentional strong, wonderful school, a school where they'd want to send their kids, and that was what I was looking for. And I haven't been wrong.

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I've been fully supported since I've been here, and I am wildly happy.” Part of what makes her happy is working with middle school students. “It's my favorite place to be because I find that they are still playful, they want to have fun and play. Even eighth-graders — cynical, second-semester eighth-graders — want to play, but they have the cognitive development to handle deeper questions, and that's what I want. Truly, the work that I do, and I think I'm best at, is supporting people with the creation of original theatre that says something about this world and challenges the audience's thinking and their own thinking in the process of creating it. … “Theater helped me find my footing, and so I hope to be that for a lot of people. And if even if it's not theatre, I hope that as an advisor, I can just support young people. This is such a vulnerable, volatile time, and they grow so much and that's so fun to see.” Brown’s middle school experience was a turning point in her life and her favorite role, of all she has played, was Golda in the Greensboro Day middle school production of Fiddler on the Roof. “That was the first time I felt I had gotten into a character's skin. How old are you in eighth grade: 13, 14? You are a young person, and I have to be a woman who has children and who's frustrated by her children and having to say goodbye to her home and fighting with her husband. I didn't have any of those life experiences, and it was the first time that I had to learn what acting was. “I think prior to that — I was a singer first, and then an actor, then a dancer, I'm not a very good dancer — I was always placed in the roles that have me singing as the main feature, and this role is a much more acting-focused role. It was digging into the life of the person and trying to understand her. Doing that at an eighth-grade level, I was such a beginner, so it was magical to go, ‘Oh my gosh, I have to think about the way she would think about this,’ and that just excited me so much to understand acting for the first time.” The positive feedback she got from her school community was also important. “That's also something I try to do [as a theatre teacher]. I put on strong shows for the young people so they feel that their work has been valued by the community, because when someone says ‘That was fabulous,’ that can change the way they see themselves.” Brown’s parents and sister are medical professionals, and she often thought their dinner table discussions were boring. Her family had an appreciation of the arts and were always supportive and proud of her musical ability, but Brown functioned on a different side of the brain. “I didn't feel like I had a place until theatre.” But she soon brought theatre home. “I have a younger brother who has Down syndrome. He's such a wonderful human — he taught me so much about

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

“ Theatre helped me find my footing, and so I hope to be that for a lot of people.” — Ellen Brown empathy and love and joy. He was the star of all my first musicals as a director.” Theater, and particularly musical theatre, has had a huge impact on Brown’s life, and she is working to bring musical theatre back to the Middle School. (DA Middle School used to produce an annual musical, including productions of Annie, Les Misérables and Guys and Dolls.) “When I interviewed here, I asked, would you be interested in having a musical theatre program? I was looking for that space where I could be, because I'm this weird social justice, critical thinking, let's create theatre that says something [kind of person]. But then I also have a side of musical theatre and fun and entertainment for entertainment purposes. That's what I want to have here.” Brown offered an after-school enrichment class focused on musical theatre in the 2018–2019 school year, and next year, she and chorus teacher Karen Richardson will teach a musical theatre elective course for seventh- and eighth-graders, culminating in a spring showcase performance. The revival of the musical theatre program fits well with construction that begins this summer to re-imagine the Middle School campus. The first phase is a new Middle School performance/event center with fine arts and language classrooms, slated to open in 2020. Brown believes musical theatre will have an impact on the school, much like it had on her as a middle school student. “It just seems like such a valuable experience for everyone involved, for families to see their students and for us as a community to come together to put something on. I'm so excited about the day that we will able to make that happen as a school. “We'll start small and make it happen. What’s that quote: If you build it, they will come?”

$165,391

in donations

594 New gifts

26 states represented (plus the Netherlands and the UK!)

1,098 gifts

Total alumni dollars

$50,825 Thank you to everyone who helped make #DAGivingDay 2019 such an incredible success!

Total alumni participation

371 328

New alumni

donors da.org

PHOTO BY KIM WALKER

Rolling Along and Dazzling Audiences More than 80 Upper School students and two Lower Schoolers were part of the cast, crew, production team and pit band for the winter musical, Merrily We Roll Along. The show — with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth — is a Broadway fable about friendship, compromise and the high price of success, beginning in 1976 and moving backward to 1957.

Watch a behind-thescenes of the making of the musical at bit.ly/DAMusicalTheatre.

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After 28 Years as Director of Athletics

Steve Engebretsen Steps Down Story by Leslie King

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. If that popular adage holds true, then Steve Engebretsen’s 38 years at Durham Academy — a span marked by countless long hours and days, and shepherding the athletic careers of thousands of DA students and hundreds of coaches — truly represents a decades-long labor of love. Dedicating your life’s work to athletics at an independent school also means handling your fair share of a little blood, a lot of sweat and (sometimes) tears. And while he’d never say being DA’s athletic director wasn’t hard work, Steve will tell you that his job was easier as long as he kept one thing in mind.

“ Steve is quite simply the best student-athlete/ coach advocate I’ve ever been around.” — Jon Lantzy, assistant director of athletics “When I first became the AD, the head of school at the time said to me that schools are about kids, not about adults …meaning sometimes you have to upset adults, but if you’re doing it because you’re doing the right things for kids, then you’re doing the right thing,” he explains. “I never wanted to be the athletic director at a school where the athletic department kind of ran the school. …I think that’s mostly because I’m a teacher at heart. I just keep it kid-oriented and make decisions based on what’s best for kids, even if it’s just little things. Like we’ve got a conflict and we might have to cancel the game, but the kids don’t want to cancel — well, isn’t there anything I can do, even if it’s a pain in the butt for me, to keep that [game]?” In fall 2018, Engebretsen shared with DA faculty, staff and coaches that he had decided to step down from his role as director of athletics at the end of the school year. As DA’s longest-serving director of athletics, Engebretsen has grown DA’s athletics program to 20 sports and 47 teams, with 480 student-athletes in grades 7–12 mentored by 80 coaches. During his tenure, DA has won 44 state

championships. Although he will step down as director of athletics, Engebretsen will continue at DA — teaching Middle School physical education, working with alumni engagement and overseeing DA’s bus scheduling, maintenance and driver training. After 28 years as director of athletics, Engebretsen says he feels like the time is right for a new voice, a new face and a new leader for DA athletics. “I have mixed feelings about this, but I don’t have second thoughts,” he says. “I feel good — that this is a good time for me to step away from this job. I love Durham Academy, so I’m grateful that I can stay here for a few or a number of years in a different type of lower-level role. I love the school, and that’s part of why I think this is a good time for me. I feel really proud of what we’ve done and where we’ve come since I was named AD in 1990. It’s a different world and different challenges. I think it’s exciting for the school to have somebody come in and build on what I think I’ve helped create or build or establish.” Engebretsen began teaching and coaching at DA in 1981. As varsity boys basketball coach in the ’80s, ’90s and ’00s, he won 200 games and took DA to four NCISAA final fours. In 10 seasons as varsity softball coach, his teams won 131 games and four conference titles. Engebretsen has also served administratively at the state and conference level since assuming his current role. As he wraps up his career as director of athletics, Steve says he’s most proud of things he feels he had a direct hand in: the new Kirby Gym, DA’s upgraded outdoor athletic facilities, a strong and deep bench of teacher/coaches, and bringing DA’s athletic training program into the 21st century with three trainers dedicated to DA athletes’ health and wellness. But what he treasures most are the relationships he’s made along the way. “When I was young, I was hypercompetitive, I wanted to establish myself as a really good high school basketball coach,” he recalls. “But, luckily, I wasn’t over the top, because I developed a lot of really good relationships with the kids that I coached … which carries over to still keeping in touch and keeping up with a lot of them now. And that’s really the best part about it — the relationships and the time and the continued relationships with people. I mean, I had lunch last week with a 49-year-old former player of mine who graduated here in 1988, and it was the best part of my week.” Durham Academy is family for Engebretsen, both figuratively and literally. DA is where he met his wife, Teresa,

a revered French teacher at the Middle School, and their sons, Jake ’06 and Grant ’11, attended DA from Preschool through Upper School. Engebretsen, who was inducted into DA’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015, regularly shuns the spotlight. During the ceremony, Jake described his father’s signature traits: “The combination of passion, intensity and overall love of what he does is truly amazing. He never seeks any credit, and he really actually deserves it. And I’m honored to be a part of this day where not even he can deny how cool this is.” For his father, being appreciated feels good, “but I don’t like being behind a microphone, I don’t need that. And it plays out in how I do my job, I downplay a lot of stuff. …I’m not big on celebrations, and I don’t need a lot of attention, but if someone gives me good attention, I’ll enjoy it and appreciate it,” he says with a smile. In summer 2018, the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association put Engebretsen center stage as he became one of only five athletic directors in the state to be awarded the Charles N. Carter Athletic Director Cup, named for former the NCISAA executive director and 2010 NCISAA hall of famer. The award recognizes athletic directors who have served for an extended length of time in their position and embody NCISAA values. Engebretsen served the NCISAA and its member schools for over a decade as a member of the Board of Managers. In his remarks at the awards ceremony in Charlotte, Carter, who was athletic director at Asheville School from 1967 to 2007, said, “True to his Germanic forbearers, he [Engebretsen] is a man who pays attention to detail. He has been invaluable to the NCISAA over his many years of service. He could always be counted on to plan and host our events. He headed a group of coaches and represented a school that could always be counted on to do all things NCISAA according to both the spirit and the letter of our regulations. As a result, Durham Academy remains, in my mind, one of the best examples of sportsmanship, integrity and fair play in our association.” Engebretsen attributes some of his success to his ability to see the big picture, and that’s evident when he describes his overarching philosophy about athletics. “I’ve always thought, from back when I learned it in college and grad school, that athletics educationally is just as important in the total growth and the total development of kids as English and math and French,” he explains. “The things you learn, the things you learn to deal with,

the relationships, the disappointment, growing and handling all of those things. So that’s what I’ve always wanted to do, and I think we’ve mostly done that. I’ve told coaches nobody’s going to get fired because they didn’t win enough games. We are going to try to win and we are not going to apologize for that, but at the same time we’re trying include as many kids as we can and bring kids into the world of athletics that they may not have picked up until they were in eighth grade, and they may discover something.” After a national search for a new director of athletics, in February, DA hired Andy Pogach, then assistant director of athletics. Learn more about Pogach on page 20. “I’m looking forward to being a little bit more of a fan and a supporter,” Engebretsen says. “Because sometimes I feel like I don’t get a chance to be that because I’m the logistics guy, problem-solver, fire-putter-outer even when the action is fun to watch for everybody else. “I remember when I stopped coaching and people asked me if I missed it, and one of the things I miss, I miss having this group that I’m in charge of and I get to steer and move and mold and figure out how to be the best we can be. So there might be a little bit of that …but now I can see I’ll be fine without that. I’ll be fine behind the scenes, not the face of the program or not even one of the faces of the school.” To read thoughts and stories about “Mr. E” and his career at DA from various friends, colleagues, alumni, parents and former athletes, go to bit.ly/SteveEngebretsen.

Six Student-Athletes to Compete in College Story by Melody Guyton Butts

Spencer Sapir

Lacrosse Haverford College Sapir, a four-year member of DA’s varsity boys lacrosse team, earned All-Conference honors both his junior and senior years. “I chose Haverford because they have a great balance between academics and athletics,” Sapir said. “With that, I felt like I could focus on school while play-

Basketball High Point University

Randleman was twice named AllConference and earned the TISAC Player of the Year honor as a senior. He was named to the All-State team and HighSchoolOT’s All-East team in 2019 and won DA’s Kurt Meyer Senior Athlete Award.

ing a sport I love. I look forward to the

“I’m very excited about playing col-

opportunities and relationships lacrosse

lege basketball next year, as it’s been

will foster both on and off the field.”

a dream of mine since I was a kid to be

He’s grateful to DA varsity boys

able to play at this level,” Randleman

lacrosse coach Jon Lantzy, whom he

said. “I’m most looking forward to play-

described as “truly one of the most pas-

ing under legendary coach Tubby Smith

sionate, selfless people I have ever met.”

and being able help lead our team to a

“On the field, Coach Lantzy constantly

NCAA tournament appearance.”

pushes his players to be the best they

DA varsity boys basketball coach

can be,” Sapir said. “Off the field, Coach

Tim McKenna is looking forward to

Lantzy looks to develop strong relation-

watching Randleman put his work ethic

ships with his players that are built on

and talent to work at the next level.

trust and communication.” Lantzy said he’s proud of Sapir for

Bryant Randleman

“I am so happy for Bryant and his family,” McKenna said. “Bryant has worked

earning the opportunity to continue his

so hard to earn a Division I scholarship,

lacrosse career: “Spencer is a great ex-

and we couldn’t be more proud of him.

ample of setting lofty goals, putting in

He is going to do great things at High

the hard work and making them a reality.”

Point University.”

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Anna West

Lacrosse Davidson College West — twice named TISAC Player of the Year — is a four-time AllConference and three-time All-State honoree, and she earned All-America honors her junior year. Also a standout on the DA field hockey team, she was named All-Conference and earned the National Field Hockey Coaches Association’s Scholar of Distinction honor. “I love to compete, and I am beyond excited to be extending my athletic career at the Division I level,” West said. “I am looking forward to attending such a vigorous academic school, while still being able to pursue my passion of lacrosse.” Debbie Rebosa, coach of the DA varsity girls lacrosse team, said it’s been “a great pleasure” to coach West. “She is a role model for all student-athletes,” Rebosa continued. “She is hardworking, respectful and always leads by example. I am so proud of her and her accomplishments on and off the lacrosse field.”

“We are so proud of these student-athletes. Their hard work and skill lift the tide and profile of our athletic program, so we’re grateful for that and for how they have represented DA.” — Steve Engebretsen, director of athletics

Michael Jaffe

Baseball Johns Hopkins University Jaffe — a five-year member of the Cavs varsity baseball team — was named All-Conference twice and AllState his junior year. “I’m extremely excited to be playing baseball next year,” Jaffe said. “What I’m looking forward to the most is being on a team with players like myself that want to maximize their potential and compete every single day.” Tyrone Gould, DA’s varsity baseball coach, said it’s been a privilege to coach Jaffe. “He is a leader and true competitor, and takes great pride in dedicating countless hours to improving his skill set as a baseball player,” Gould said. “As a coach, it’s great to see a student-athlete maintain high standards both academically and athletically. Michael’s work ethic, both in the classroom and on the baseball field, has created a great opportunity for him as he continues his baseball career at Johns Hopkins University.”

Tyler Carpenter

Shaffer Woody

Lacrosse Duke University

Lacrosse Syracuse University

In a decorated career at DA, 2018 graduate Carpenter — who went on to complete a post-graduate year at Salisbury School in Connecticut — was named All-Conference all four years of Upper School and was twice named TISAC Conference Player of the Year. He was a three-year AllState player and earned All-America honors his junior and senior years. “Going to Duke has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, and I can’t wait to be able to be with the team and get to playing,” he said. For Jon Lantzy, DA boys lacrosse coach, Carpenter’s success means a great deal. “I’m so happy that Tyler’s lifelong journey to play at Duke University is finally a reality,” he said. “I can’t wait for him to be back in Durham living out his childhood dream as a Blue Devil. Tyler will go down as one of the all-time greats at Durham Academy, and we couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Woody — named TISAC Player of the Year and to the All-America team his senior year — is a three-time AllState and four-time-All-Conference lacrosse player. “It’s been a dream of mine ever since I was a little kid to play Division I lacrosse,” he said. “Now that it’s finally happening, I couldn’t be happier. I am really looking forward to experiencing the next level of competition and becoming a better player.” Woody expressed gratitude for DA varsity boys lacrosse coach Jon Lantzy’s support: “He’s the one who has been there since the beginning of my lacrosse career and he has guided me to where I am today.” For Lantzy, it’s terrific to see Woody go on to compete at “a storied lacrosse program” like Syracuse. “It is so exciting to see a kid dream big, have the ability and put in the hard work to make that dream a reality,” he said. “We are so proud of him and can’t wait to see what lies ahead for him.”

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Andy Pogach is Named Next Director of Athletics Story by Leslie King

Andy Pogach will serve as DA’s new director of athletics, beginning July 1, 2019. Durham Academy launched a national search in late fall after Steve Engebretsen, DA’s longest-serving director of athletics, announced his intention to step down. The school received more than 80 applications for the position. “As it turned out, the best candidate was in plain sight,” Head of School Michael Ulku-Steiner said.

“ DA is going to be in great hands under Andy’s leadership. … He’s a sincere champion of our kids and coaches, and I’m excited for DA — Go Cavs!” — Virginia Hall ’91 “I am honored and excited to be the next leader of DA athletics and build on the traditions and success during Steve’s tenure here,” Pogach said. “I want to thank Michael [Ulku-Steiner, head of school], Assistant Head of School Kristen Klein and the entire search committee for their support and hard work during this process. I am looking forward to working with our outstanding coaches, teachers and entire school community to make sure that our student-athletes have the best possible experience." Pogach currently serves as one of DA’s two assistant directors of athletics in addition to his roles as Middle School math and PE teacher, varsity girls tennis coach, JV boys basketball coach, varsity boys basketball assistant coach and DA’s sports information director. Pogach’s years as an

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

independent school student-athlete in Delaware, and his work in athletic programs at the University of Pennsylvania and UNC-Chapel Hill, laid the foundation for an 11-year career at DA. Pogach said his overall goal for DA athletics is to put the student-athlete experience at the center of every decision “whether they are on the bench for the green soccer team or the star of the varsity field hockey team headed for a Division I scholarship.” Support for DA’s coaching staff is “paramount because they give our students these experiences and life lessons. Life lessons learned on and off the field go hand-in-hand with our students’ experiences in the classroom and in the arts.” Pogach also believes a strong athletics program can connect an entire community. “Whether it is our young Lower Schoolers attending a basketball clinic hosted by members of our varsity team, our Middle School students cheering like crazy at our varsity ‘game of the week’ or a member of our faculty sitting on the bench with the soccer team, athletics can be used as a glue to bring the entire school together and create experiences beyond the classroom.” Engebretsen has witnessed Pogach’s growth and development firsthand and said DA athletics will benefit from Pogach’s approach, experience, energy and ideas. “I have been at Durham Academy for 38 years and been the athletic director for 28 years. In that time, no young coach or staff member has put as much time and energy into learning about and supporting the athletic program as Andy Pogach. I believe that he’ll work tirelessly to support and continue what we do well; plan and make strides to study and improve where improvement should be made; and with the support of coaches, parents and administration, provide a vision for the future of DA athletics. I have no doubt that Andy will grow and improve as an administrator as he steps into this role. I’m proud of him and will be his number one fan and supporter.” Groups involved in the search process — DA’s Administrative Team, teachers and coaches from

Photo by Ken Huth

all teams and levels, student and parent committees — have invested a substantial amount of time in the process to discern the best candidate for this role. The search committee was inspired by Pogach’s innovative ideas and impressed with his experience and personality. Comments about Pogach’s candidacy from students, teachers, coaches and parents at DA accentuated his great fit for the position “because he gets along so well with what seems like every student,” his “love for sports that extends beyond winning,” his skills as a relationship/community builder with “level of organization and professionalism [that] is second to none,” and his position as a respected member of conference and state organizations where he “is relied upon for advice, leadership and fairness within All-Conference, AllState and tournament selection committees.” Colleagues also noted Pogach’s drive to continually grow and develop DA’s athletics program. In his role as DA’s first sports information director, Pogach has been responsible for promoting DA athletics to prospective and current families, the community and local media by publicizing and

celebrating the accomplishments of DA studentathletes and teams. One coach called Pogach’s clear love of Durham Academy “the proverbial icing on the cake, as it comes through in all of the aforementioned qualities and achievements.” “DA is going to be in great hands under Andy’s leadership,” said Virginia Hall ’91, Middle School history teacher and JV boys and girls cross-country coach. “He has a true love and passion for the school. He is always eager to be involved and do what it takes to put our students first and to get to know them as people with potential and dreams. He genuinely ‘gets’ DA as we are now, yet has a vision for the role of athletics and how it can make a student’s experience at DA a memorable and positive one. I especially appreciate his views on representing DA in the best way possible by holding everyone to high standards and striving for excellence and creating a community where we value these experiences. He’s a sincere champion of our kids and coaches, and I’m excited for DA — Go Cavs!”

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Class of 2019 Takes Flight Krzyzewski Urges Grads to Surround Themselves with Good Teammates

In Mike Krzyzewski’s four decades as head coach of the Duke University men’s basketball team and his three terms at the helm of the USA Basketball men’s team, he has come across his fair share of powerful people. But, delivering the commencement address for Durham Academy’s Class of 2019, he suggested that the most influential person — the one whose advice has most often reverberated in his ears — is his mother. “Make sure that tomorrow, as you start another journey, that you get on the right bus. … the bus that you’re going to be on for your whole life and you're going to drive,” Krzyzewski recalled his mother, Emily, telling him as he prepared to begin his high school journey in inner-city Chicago, and then again as he prepared to leave for college at the U.S. Military Academy. “And when you drive that bus, only let good people on your bus. Good people will make you better. … And make sure they’re talented. Because as talented as you are, you're not going to be more talented unless you deal with talent.” Krzyzewski addressed the 109 graduates — DA’s largest-ever graduating

Photo by Bob Karp

Story by Melody Guyton Butts

class — directly, facing them as they sat on the stage of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Memorial Hall on May 24. The winningest coach in Division I college basketball history is also the father of two DA graduates, and eight of his grandchildren attend or have graduated from the school, including one in the Class of 2019. Krzyzewski congratulated the seniors on earning their way to universities in powerhouse Division I athletic conferences, like Purdue University and The Ohio State University in the Big Ten, and Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill in the ACC; Ivy League institutions like Princeton University and Yale

University; and a variety of other top colleges and universities, like Wellesley College and the University of Southern California. In all, the graduates are headed to 62 different colleges and universities — from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and Olin College of Engineering, to Parsons School of Design and the University of Chicago — as well as a gap-year experience. Also addressing the Class of 2019 was senior Nathan Dalva-Baird. He encouraged his classmates to use the milestone of commencement as an opportunity to take a look back and measure how they’ve grown over the years.

Photo by Bob Karp

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Photo by Kathy McPherson Photo by Melody Guyton Butts

Photo by Sarah Jane Tart

“Put simply, it’s hard to notice the steady kind of change. The steps that you only see when you scroll up in your camera roll and look at someone you know was once yourself, but who now seems so distant,” he said. “The leaps your great aunt saw, but you couldn’t.” The Class of 2019 “is incredible,” Dalva-Baird said, noting that the seniors have accomplished a variety of feats, including raising more than $5,000 for Urban Ministries of Durham as a class; establishing what has become a nationally ranked Upper School Ultimate Frisbee team that has, along the way, funded a

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

laptop program for the entire Durham Nativity School student body; and mounting impressive finishes in athletics, including a state semifinal berth for boys basketball and a second consecutive state championship for girls tennis. “Remember that change can be soft and quiet, and it can look like everything is the same. Continue to push,” Dalva-Baird said. “We’ve each come so far over the past four years, and the past 18 years, by doing just that. There won’t always be a great aunt there to remind us how we’ve grown, so we need to acknowledge our changes and make sure each iteration

is better than the last. Slow down and check in. Be happy, be proud and set the next goal.” Krzyzewski shared a bit of wisdom gleaned from his own college experience with the graduates. “I got knocked on my butt so much at West Point,” he said, “and I learned three very important things”: to get back up when you’re knocked down; to get involved with groups of talented people who will make you better and who will help to pick you up when you’re down; and to “be your best friend” by having confidence in yourself.

Photo by Sarah Jane Tart

The coach also encouraged the graduates to truly own whatever team or organization they represent. He recalled addressing the 2008 USA men’s Olympic basketball team — nicknamed the “Redeem Team” for its ultimately successful quest to reclaim gold medal glory for the nation — at the first meeting of the team prior to the Olympics: “I said, ‘In order to win that, in order to win that gold medal, you are USA Basketball. You’re not playing for — you are.’ Huge difference. … It won't be yours until you feel what you're doing. If you feel, where does it go? It goes right here — it goes into

your heart. And if you can hear and you can see and you can feel, then you can be as good as you can possibly be.” Krzyzewski said he sometimes leaves a piece of paper on the floor of the Duke team locker room early in the morning, just to see if one of his players picks it up over the course of the day. Usually, the paper is gone at the the end of the day, but sometimes it remains. So the next day at practice, the coach will grill his team about it. “And so I said, ‘I’ll tell you why you didn't pick it up. It wasn't your piece of paper. I came back later, and I picked it up. Do you know why I picked it up? Because it's my floor. And if you don't

pick it up ever, it’s not yours,’” he said. “And so as you move on to your journey — which is going to be exciting, all these amazing places — and you get knocked down, get up. Put good, talented people on your bus. Follow your heart and find your heart. And when the time comes, pick up that piece of paper.”

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Seniors Reflect on Years at DA

“My experience at Durham Academy begins and ends with the faculty members that have been a part of it. In the classroom, that means teachers like Mrs. Keene, who has taught me for four years in Latin and made me love her subject because I was so excited to come to her class every day. Outside of my classes, it means role models like Mr. Cullen who has been to every track and cross-country race I’ve ever run, despite the fact that he retired from coaching before I came to the Upper School. But mostly, it means faculty who are a little bit of both: Dr. Policelli, who taught me about Machiavelli’s The Prince in AP Euro, but amused me with long lunchtime conversations about it weeks after our unit was over; Dr. Thomas, who helped me understand the novels I read for his class, but also talked with me about how their themes related to my life; or, Dr. Garrett, who taught me about Western Literature, then helped me start a completely unrelated podcast club at the end of the year. I cannot imagine my high school experience without the fantastic relationships I’ve had with those teachers and countless other Durham Academy faculty members.” — Jack Anderson

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

“I don’t exaggerate when I say that the friends I’ve made at DA are my family. Over the past four years, we’ve laughed, learned and grown together, and I am the person I am today because of them. Whether it’s the far too energetic group in Dr. Thomas’ room before school, the always entertaining lunch bunch in Ms. Mattox’s room at tutorial and lunch, the talented and hilarious speech team after school, or the inspiring underclassmen in the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, I am so incredibly glad to call these people my family, to call these places and groups my home. I’ve encountered nothing but acceptance and support by everyone I’ve interacted with, and the teachers have taught me more than just academics; they’ve taught me how to be authentic. The community at DA has allowed me to grow into the confident, curious, passionate and kind young man I am today. I couldn’t have wished for a better family to have spent the last four years with, and I hope to spend many more years with them yet.” — Kiran Sundar

“When I came to Durham Academy as a sophomore, I was hopeful that I was making the right decision. I was leaving much behind at my old school, but what I found at DA made the change worth it. The teachers and extracurriculars at DA have transformed me. The language teachers have been exceptional, especially at improving my speaking ability. The English and history teachers have challenged me to broaden and deepen my understanding but were also entertaining. The science and math teachers have presented difficult material but have always been there to help. The ease of getting involved in extracurriculars at DA was also extraordinary. If I had not come here, I never would have had the chance to participate in the clubs that I have enjoyed so much. In terms of teachers and extracurriculars, the experiences of classes with Dr. Goyette and Dr. Thomas and starting my own club were especially memorable. Those are some of the outstanding aspects of DA, but there is so much more — Senior Challenge, advisory, CavDomes, assemblies, the superb college counseling, and everything else that has made these three years at DA amazing.” — Will Schwartz

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARY MOORE MCLEAN

“I have been lucky to find myself in such a variety of wonderful communities at Durham Academy. Whether it’s my close-knit Latin class where we can talk with no end about all things, past and present, that relate to classics, or my dance class where I got to push my fellow dancers’ limits as a student choreographer this spring, I am grateful for the opportunities for growth and leadership that these communities provided me. Outside my classes, I have been involved in four theater productions, each of which has been a unique and unforgettable experience, with a warm community fostered by faculty and student leaders. And I could always rely on finding a safe, familiar space in my advisory, the Mattox Meese, both in the physical room and with the people—especially my advisor Ms. Mattox, whom I could talk to about anything. Without teachers like Ms. Mattox, Dr. Thomas, and Mr. Adair who cared a great deal about my well-being and supported me through my creative and intellectual pursuits, I would not be where I am now.” — Sarah Kim

“My time at Durham Academy will truly be years that I will never forget. Even though I only spent two years here, I feel like I have been a part of this community for my entire life. Each teacher here is committed to ensuring that every student is learning and striving to their fullest potential. Their effort is inspiring, and it is something that I had never witnessed before in any of my prior schools. Yes, there is a lot of work at DA, but with this experience under my belt I feel that I am more than ready to tackle these next four years of college. Not only will I be leaving DA prepared for the academic rigors of college or with a better understanding of the value of education, but I will also be leaving with a sense of confidence in myself that I am not sure that I would have received from any other school.” — Donovan Herndon

“I appreciate most from my Durham Academy experience the strong relationships and bonds that I have formed with my friends and teachers. Academics at the Upper School aren’t easy; the classes are designed to challenge and prepare us for college. I managed to navigate these challenges with the help of my teachers, whom I have come to greatly respect over the years. The guidance that I have received from my teachers is something for which I will be forever grateful. I am also very appreciative of the amazing extracurricular opportunities that I have been given during my time at the Upper School. Anyone who knows me knows how dedicated I am to the growing sport of Ultimate Frisbee, and there was no team at DA when we were freshmen. Since that time, with support from the athletics department, we have become one of the top teams in the state and had incredible success against teams that have been around for 20-plus years. The members of my Ultimate team have become a family, through our hard work and (many) victories, and I am so grateful to have been able to contribute to a program that means so much to my life.” — Chris Walsh

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Cavs Go Green During Winter Seminar Story by Tina Anderson Bessias ’78 and Andrea Caruso // Photo by Melody Guyton Butts

“I study climate change and tell people depressing stories,” said Dr. Drew Shindell, Duke University Nicholas School professor of Earth Sciences and father of Olly ’20 and Leah ’26. He was the opening speaker for the Durham Academy Upper School’s winter seminar, and he was being modest. One of the foremost climate scientists in the United States, Shindell represented the country in the multiyear, global negotiating process that generated the October 2018 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He showed temperature graphs and images of melting glaciers but also outlined health benefits of reduced pollution and dietary changes. He gave examples of effective innovations reducing greenhouse gas emissions in far-flung places including Brazil, New Mexico, Germany and China. Shindell’s presentation was the opening event in a two-day seminar called “Climate Change and Sustainability in Our Community.” The seminar included students who, after the release of the IPCC report in October, were motivated to devise ways to reduce the carbon footprint of the DA school community. The student Climate Change Committee met weekly, kept a blog and began exploring ways to assess and reduce our energy use and waste generation. The February seminar gave committee members and several more of their classmates the opportunity to explore the topic of climate change more intensively. Students read parts of the IPCC report and the U.S. National Climate Assessment and then explored their own carbon footprints. They discovered that if everyone lived the way we do, it would take three, four or even more Earths

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

to support the world’s population. For example, Julie Kim ’22 learned how significantly frequent air travel contributes to her carbon footprint, noting, ”simple changes in my lifestyle can help reduce the impact [on] climate change.” On the second day, the seminar students were joined by students from Beijing No. 8 Middle and High School; they had been at DA for two weeks as part of the Upper School’s Chinese exchange program. The focus of this day was on action and inspiration. On a field trip to Duke’s campus, students visited the Duke

“I learned way more about climate change than any textbook or news article could have taught me.” — Jack Linger ’20 Smart Home (a living space for Duke students that demonstrates energy efficient and sustainable living) and learned about the Duke Campus Farm (a working farm that serves as a source of produce and food systems education), both of which began as student projects. As Kate Nichols ’21 observed, “Students have the ability to cause major change in their communities.” Her brother Will ’20 was impressed by a demonstration about soil restoration, noting, “The type of soil affects climate change in ways I would never have thought before.”

After a walk through Duke Gardens, the group toured student engineering projects in Gross Hall, including an award-winning hydrogen-powered vehicle. Brandon Caveney ’20 was impressed that such innovations “… serve as viable and realistic means of subduing climate change.” Back at DA, students began developing actionable plans to reduce the school’s carbon use. They met with Michael Smith, DA’s director of facilities, to talk about planting trees to fix carbon in the soil, and they met with Kelly Kilgore, manager of DA’s school store, about decreasing consumption of disposable water bottles. These conversations gave students a new and broader view of the school as a whole. Inspired by what Caveney described as a “message of urgency with a timeline,” the students are excited to join the work that citizens, students, researchers and government leaders are doing to foster sustainable living. Jack Linger ’20 said, “I learned way more about climate change than any textbook or news article could have taught me. I learned the ways great people are trying to stop it and how we can do our part to save our planet.” The efforts of the Climate Change Committee are ongoing, and under a reorganized student government, Caveney will serve as the Upper School’s sustainability leader. Composting, tree planting and encouraging use of reusable water bottles are among the projects to be continued, and new ones will doubtlessly emerge.

Check out the Climate Change Committee’s blog at labs.da.org/wordpress/climate.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELODY GUYTON BUTTS

Humanities Wing Opens in April, Adjacent to STEM “At first, it was a confusing change since we have been in the ‘double-decker’ for years, but as we have transitioned, I think we have all gotten more used to it and more excited about it.” — Jack Tendler ’20

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

“ For me, the Humanities wing is more than a nice new facility. It’s a space that gives my colleagues and me the chance to pick each others’ brains and support one another every single day.” — Dr. Lauren Garrett, English teacher

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STORY BY LESLIE KING // PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BRANSCOM

Longer Day, Better K Nemo: First day of school! First day of school! Wake up, wake up! C’mon, first day of school! Marlin: I don't wanna go to school. Five more minutes. Nemo: Not you, dad. Me! On Aug. 20, a very similar scene will play out in the households of more than 70 kindergartners and their parents. And they may not know it yet, but just like Nemo, these young students will navigate their new waters as explorers of a new, longer kindergarten day designed just for them. One of those explorers will be 5-year-old Alessandra Spransy, whose older sister, Lia, is a rising third-grader. Alessandra’s parents say they’re already sharing in the excitement, because as working parents, DA’s decision to move to a fullday kindergarten model with a dismissal at 2:30 p.m. will benefit their entire family. “When the parent survey came out last year asking about the upcoming kindergarten school year, I was really excited to see that email,” Staci Spransy said. “I was probably the first one to answer. The question was, would you want this and if so, what times would fit your schedule. I remember wishing Lia’s school day had been longer, and so I immediately responded.” When Lia was in kindergarten and her day ended at 1 p.m., the Spransys did what the majority of Preschool families with two working parents did: They enrolled her in Aftercare and Extended Day to bridge the gap between the end of the school day and the end of their work day. Staci and her husband, William, are enthusiastic about a longer day that provides more time for

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academics, social-emotional learning and play for Alessandra, but also a school day structure that is less challenging for working parents. “Obviously, with the fabulous teachers that we have here, any additional time in the classroom with them, learning from them and having the time to focus that much more, especially with that age group, I think is fabulous,” Staci said. “… There’s so much to learn. There's so much to absorb. I envision that they'll be able to get that much more in-depth with the topics that they haven't really been able to do in the past just because of time. That’s why I was excited for it more than anything. I just think it’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

“ With the fabulous teachers that we have here, any additional time in the classroom with them … I think is fabulous.” — Staci Spransy, parent For moms like Hadley Nixon — who doesn’t work outside the home and has a rising second-grade daughter, a son entering pre-kindergarten in the fall and a 2-year-old at home — a kindergarten day that ended at 1 p.m. presented its own set of challenges. “I think for parents who have multiple children and children in Lower School and Preschool, the longer kindergarten day is very helpful, because right now it’s just sort of an awkward amount of time for a lot of people,” Nixon said. “The Lower School dismisses at 2:45 p.m., and it’s like, do you have enough time to go home? As soon as you get home, you have to turn out and come back. What do you do in that time? And so I think it will be nice to have children that are on the same schedule.” And even though Nixon was initially on the fence about the longer day, she’s confident that when Chase (entering pre-k this fall) gets to that point, he’ll be ready for it. Prospective parents are ready for it, too. “We’re really lucky that our Preschool program is very strong and there is high demand for

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it,” Director of Enrollment Management Victoria Muradi explained. “But what we were seeing was more and more of our peer schools going to longer-day formats. Parents were asking, ‘What’s the philosophical reason behind this [1 p.m. Preschool dismissal]? How can you make sure my child is prepared and getting what they need to get in kindergarten in such a short day?’ In some cases, the families we admitted were choosing a longer kindergarten program [at another school].” When Alessandra and Chase arrive at DA on Aug. 20, they’ll shake hands with someone else having a first-day-of-school moment — newly minted full-time Preschool Director Christian HairstonRandleman. “I’m really looking forward to having more of an opportunity to form the same kinds of deep relationships that I’ve enjoyed with the students and parents in my class with all 110 Preschool students and their families,” she said. Greeting Preschool students at morning drop-off is a cherished routine that previously would have been challenging for Hairston-Randleman to pull off, but her transition from classroom teacher/division director into a full-time director role will make small shifts in routine and larger academic, social and instructional benefits possible. In particular, Hairston-Randleman will have more time to do the following: • Train, mentor, evaluate and support the professional development of Preschool faculty. • Visit Preschool classrooms and model instruction. • Support the diversity of Preschool learners through individualization and differentiation, supporting students on both ends of the spectrum. • Incorporate Responsive Classroom/Morning Meeting, a key social-emotional learning component in the Lower School. • Increase collaboration/vertical alignment between the Preschool and Lower School with schedules that allow for faculty in both divisions to meet. • Observe in first-grade classrooms. “Parents definitely see the benefit [of having a fulltime Preschool Director],” Nixon said. “I think any additional support is appreciated. Kindergarten is a huge year — learning to read and there are definitely some kids that benefit from some more one-on-one. If she can help to take some of the pressure off of teachers to give that, I think that’s great.” First-grade teacher Rosemary Nye ’93 says the first-grade team is looking forward to the

Kindergarten Schedule What’s New: • Morning Meeting/Closing Meeting: additional 30 minutes per week of socialemotional learning • Literacy: additional 1 to 2 hours per week • Math: additional 1 to 2 hours per week • Social Studies: additional 45 minutes per week • Spanish: additional 15 minutes per week • Recess: additional 30 minutes per week • Flex time similar to Genius Hour: additional 30 minutes per week • Computer Lab: scheduled on a flexible basis as needed

Students Will Continue: • Science: 1 hour per week • Building/STEM: 30 minutes per week • Math Enrichment: 30 minutes per week • PE: 1.5 hours per week • Art: 1 hour per week • Art Enrichment: 30 minutes per week • Cooking: 1 hour biweekly • Music: 1 hour per week

opportunity to become even more aligned with the Preschool in ways that ease kindergarten students’ transition to first grade. “It will give the first-grade teachers and kindergarten teachers opportunities to collaborate and compare and talk about the ways we teach phonics or writing or reading,” Nye said. “And even having meetings — from a teacher standpoint, it will be much easier to collaborate with each other and compare notes and make changes or modifications to what we’re doing based on what they’re saying and what we’re seeing.” There’s a social benefit for students as well. “Whether it’s in carpool or on the playground or just walking down the hall, it’s community-building,” first-grade teaching assistant Sarwat Husain said. “And that gets a little stronger when kindergartners are around older kids and makes them more

familiar with what’s going on in the Lower School. I think it will feel like a camaraderie with Lower School, just being here at the same time, having those interactions.” DA was deliberate and thoughtful about the change. The decision to have a Preschool director who is not also a full-time teacher and to extend the kindergarten day to 2:30 p.m. in 2019–2020 was almost five years in the making. “I really I respect the fact that Durham Academy is a school that is steeped in tradition and along the way keeps trying to evaluate,” Nye said. “Why is this a tradition, why are we continuing to do this and is it still benefiting our students in the way that their lives are changing, the world is changing and what we’re expecting of them? I love that we’re saying we’re going to do this because we feel like it’s best for our school community and it’s best for these students.” “This schedule is the product of almost a year of researching best practices, consulting peer schools, gathering feedback from our stakeholders and ultimately, aligning our beliefs about teaching and learning with the allocation of our time,” Hairston-Randleman said. “Our faculty articulated several priorities, including flexibility, an enhanced focus on social-emotional learning, additional time for students to engage in play, retention of our rich offering of enrichments and extended blocks of time for academic content. Those priorities guided our work, and the result is a schedule that supports the development of moral, happy, productive little people!” “I said to Christian, ‘I was really hoping you could teach for one more year so Chase could have you!’ because he adores her, he thinks he’s part of her family, he loves her boys,” Nixon said. “But I know she’ll be around a lot, so I’ll still see her. I think it’s good.” “We just had New Parents Night the other night. Everyone that I spoke to, I feel like has been very excited about this opportunity,” Spransy said. “… I believe that they know best what has to happen. I support that for sure. … I think it’s a great idea they're doing this, I really do.”

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Podcast Paves the Path to ‘U-S-A’ Goosebumps Fifth-Graders Use Design-Thinking to Help New Americans Prepare for Citizenship Test Story by Ben Michelman / Photo by Sarah Jane Tart

When Middle School teachers reconvened last August, there was no time to exchange summer stories. We immediately jumped into a workshop focused on incorporating design-thinking and service-learning projects into our curricula. During this brainstorming process — led by Kathy Fritz of CREATOMsetgo,

“ I learned a lot about people becoming a citizen … [and] that you can learn a lot from helping people.” — Kendall Manuel ’26 which offers teachers planning tools for STEAM and project-based learning — fifth-grade history teacher Virginia Hall ’91 thought of her civics unit. In the past, her students had taken the U.S. citizenship test because much of the exam focused on early American history, government and geography — the pillars of her fifthgrade history curriculum. On that

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day in August, Hall felt like there was an opportunity for her students to more deeply understand not only the content of the citizenship test, but also the naturalization process. She soon connected with InStepp, an organization that teaches citizenship classes in the Triangle and is headquartered only a few blocks away from the Durham Academy Middle School campus. The entire fifth-grade class Skyped with Ann Marie Tamayo, InStepp’s citizenship education coordinator. Hall told her students that they were going to help people study for the citizenship test. Originally, fifth-graders planned to make flashcards, but they soon realized that there were an abundance of flashcards and study guides already available online. At some point during Skype session, Tamayo revealed that her students would benefit from hearing the questions because part of the citizenship test takes place in an interview format and many of her students are still developing their English language skills. Immediately, a fifth-grade student knew what direction he wanted to go in: “A podcast!” he practically shouted. Over the next couple of weeks, students created short audio podcast episodes focused on groups of related questions from the citizenship test. They wrote scripts and recorded. Middle School Digital Learning Coordinator Karl Schaeffer compiled the episodes, and we shared them with InStepp’s students, who now use them to study. Fifth-grader Kendall Manuel said, “I thought the podcast

project was really fun. I learned a lot about people becoming a citizen … [and] that you can learn a lot from helping people.” The making of the podcast certainly made the learning more “sticky” for students, but Hall still hoped to provide greater context about the citizenship process. Though her class focuses on early American history, she often connects history with current events, and her students have read periodically about immigration. She feared that students were viewing immigrants as a policy issue, rather than people with their own individual stories. So Hall’s students heard from Daniela Harrell, DA fifthgrade advisor and Spanish teacher, who immigrated to the U.S. from Italy by way of Canada as a teenager. Next, Victoria Muradi, DA’s director of Enrollment Management, spoke to the fifth grade about her story of emigrating from Afghanistan as a child. All of this primed students to more fully appreciate and contextualize their visit to the Raleigh-Durham Field Office for a naturalization ceremony. Anne McNamara, DA’s director of community engagement, had connected with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) when Durham Academy hosted a naturalization ceremony in 2017. McNamara now worked with Rhonda Crump of USCIS to arrange the fifth-grade visit. Crump and her team worked incredibly hard to make our fifth-graders feel welcome. Each fifth-grader received a personalized invitation to the event, and upon arrival, they all found a small American flag in their seats. Students waved their flags as

Fifth-graders attended a naturalization ceremony at the Raleigh-Durham Field Office.

10 teenagers from around the world took their oath and officially became U.S. citizens. Crump led a U-S-A chant with DA students chanting the “U-S” and the group of new citizens finishing with the “A.” DA fifth-grader Anna Morris — whose mother, originally from Hungary, was naturalized as a U.S. citizen as a fifth-grader — led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Afterward, the field office director, Jay Wesselman, fielded questions from the students. He said that he has conducted hundreds of ceremonies and that it had been a long time since he had felt goosebumps, but that day’s ceremony had done the trick. The energy and warmth in the room reminded everyone how special America can be.

Hall said that the podcast, the speakers and the ceremony made history relevant to her students. It showed them that geography matters and impacts people in major ways. She views her fifth-grade history class as “an exploration of how America came to be.” This project, according to Hall, showed her students that America’s story is still evolving and that we all play a part in writing this story. InStepp now teaches one of its citizenship courses in a DA classroom over the weekend. A couple of Middle School advisories made hospitality bags for these students. Our fifth-graders have come to recognize that immigrants are far more than a policy issue. Our stories constantly

overlap and intertwine. At the beginning of the naturalization ceremony, an official turned to our students and asked anyone whose parents are immigrants to stand up. The 10 teenagers about to take the oath looked back at a sea of tiny American flags to see more than 20 fifth-graders standing proudly.

Listen to the fifth-graders’ podcast at middlevoices.podbean.com. Read Victoria Muradi’s immigration story at bit.ly/MuradiStory.

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Asking Big Questions to Help Students Find Their Way Story by Gib Fitzpatrick // Lettering by Sarah Jane Tart

Do you remember being asked any meaningful questions while you were in school? As a math teacher, I ask a lot of questions every day, but not many of them will be memorable or meaningful decades later. They’re important to learning algebra, but not necessarily to living a purposeful life. I was lucky to have one teacher/coach who did ask me a meaningful question. It wasn’t the first one he asked (“What kind of work do you think you want to do as an adult?”). That one was easy to answer — become a physician like my grandfather. He followed up with “Fine, but what would you want to do if every job had the same status and paycheck? What would you really WANT to do?” That was harder. And my answer was different. My goal in going to Project Wayfinder’s four-day Summer Institute was to try to bring more memorable, meaningful questions back to DA students. To me, their days seem crammed full of tasks, checklists, messages, worries and activities. Sometimes I see them as flat stones spinning and skipping across the surface of their days, trying not to sink, just hoping to get to dry land on the other side. But do they have opportunities to think and talk about what they hope waits for them there? If we don’t ask our students important questions, who will? Wayfinder’s curriculum is built around asking things like, “Who am I? How can I know myself better? What does society expect of me? What moves me? What needs do I care about? How can I take the answers to these questions and put them into action?” Those are tough questions, and kids can have a hard time answering them. But by asking them during adolescence, we can give them time to think and develop answers that are meaningful to them. This year’s implementation of Wayfinder was a grand experiment. My initial plan upon returning from last summer’s Institute was to take this school year to describe it to my colleagues, do some of

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Project Wayfinder was developed at Stanford University’s d.school using research from their Center for Adolescence. Its goal is to help students create lives of meaning and purpose. Entering its third year, the program has already been implemented by 64 schools and colleges in 17 states, 11 countries and across four continents. This summer, Durham Academy will host Project Wayfinder’s East Coast Summer Institute and welcome dozens of educators from around the world in the new Upper School STEM and Humanities Center. Learn more at www.projectwayfinder.com.

the activities, and try to figure out where it could fit the following year. But I have adventurous teammates with growth mindsets, and they were eager to dive right in. We made some modifications for our schedule and age group (eighth-graders), completed each activity ourselves before leading it with students, and gave it our best shot as a new advisory curriculum. We knew going in that resounding first-year success was unlikely. And that’s OK. We talk to our students all the time about taking risks and learning from mistakes, and that’s what we’re trying to model. Are eighth-graders too young to answer these questions? Is our current schedule too restrictive to do the activities in a cohesive way? Should we be doing this with older students instead? Or again years later as a follow up? As we plan for what’s next, we’ll be contemplating our answers to these meaningful questions. We hope our students will be doing the same with theirs.

F. Robertson Hershey Distinguished Faculty Award Honors Jessica Whilden ̓00

Paying it Forward, One Child at a Time

Peppermint Patty asks Charlie Brown, “I wonder what teachers make?” Charlie Brown answers, “A difference, Peppermint Patty, they make a difference!” Life-changing teachers make a difference. They ignite the fire that fuels a student’s thirst for knowledge, curiosity and wisdom. They are firm, sincere, kind, compassionate, thoughtful, creative and generous. They love what they do, and their passion nurtures, facilitates and inspires a zest for learning. They guide students and help them carve a path for moral, happy and productive lives. Jessica Whilden is the epitome of a life-changing teacher who makes a difference. Thus, it is fitting that she is honored with the 2019 F. Robertson Hershey Distinguished Faculty Award. Jessica’s journey as a true Durham Academy “lifer” has been a pleasure and inspiration to watch. Jessica entered DA as a kindergarten student and was taught by Sheppy Vann, a Durham Academy legend. Sheppy describes Jessica as a “wonderful student.” She was “kind, thoughtful, creative and fun to be around.” The two forged a lasting relationship. It was this relationship and her kindergarten experiences that helped formulate Jessica’s love and empathy

Photo by Michael Branscom

Story by Mike Spatola

for this age group. According to Sheppy, “Jessica was not eager to leave her mom each morning, and she would arrive at school with signs of tears she shed saying goodbye.” Notwithstanding, “true to the Jessica we know today, she wiped those tears away, steeled herself and sailed right into whatever the challenge was.” Her experiences with a mentor who

cared and knowing the travails of a preschool student have provided the impetus for Jessica to demonstrate sensitivity to the personal and academic needs of her students. They know she cares. She makes them feel safe and comfortable. As a result, she establishes relationships with her students that can be described as unique bonds.

Jessica was a member of the DA Class of 2000, and several of her classmates recognized her destiny. She possessed the temperament and skills to be an excellent teacher. One of her classmates recently shared that “she was amazing with children and wonderfully organized.” That same classmate, whose child has had Jessica as a teacher, also remarked, “all her binders and folders were neatly labeled the same way the bins and shelves are in her classroom now.” Organization and structure have been staples in her teaching, but not at the expense of inspiring enthusiasm in the classroom and encouraging academic aspiration. Several parents have complimented Jessica’s ability to create a positive learning atmosphere and make the classroom experience enjoyable. Universally, students who have had her say that Mrs. Whilden made them feel known, appreciated, comfortable and confident. Her journey continued when she became a teaching assistant in Leigh Ballou’s classroom in 2006. As a DA graduate, “giving back” inspired Jessica to apply for an opening when a kindergarten lead teacher position developed. Hired, she thrived and carved a niche worthy of praise. Her record and reputation as a master teacher speak for themselves. Durham Academy has never looked back, because DA hired a gem! This year’s Hershey Award recipient is a gifted teacher and exemplary role model. Sidney Hook, an American pragmatic philosopher and contributor to the philosophy of education, claimed that “everyone who remembers his own education remembers teachers, not methods and techniques. The teacher is the heart of the educational system.” In partial defiance of Hook, Jessica is fondly and rightfully known for both. She is an adept teacher and one who is well aware of “best practices.” Jessica stretches herself professionally. When it comes to methods and techniques, she is definitely on top of her game. She is unafraid to try new

approaches so each child has the best opportunity to succeed. For example, to enhance the unit she teaches on Kenya, she took a summer trip to Africa with fellow educators. This also provided her a unique opportunity to connect with peer teachers from all over the world. She knows each child individually and advocates for every single student in her class. A colleague, whose two children had Jessica as a teacher, says, “Units of instruction are fun, relevant and age-appropriate; she made learn-

Jessica Crowe, as a kindergartner in the 1988 yearbook.

“She is a treasure at DA, one of the ‘life-changers’ we hear about.” ing come to life, such as the Mexican fiesta, the play about the runaway tortilla, the tea party, … .” Her daughters thrived in her class, and both said they wanted to be kindergarten teachers after their positive experiences. Jessica is a transformative figure in the lives of her students. Jessica encourages the efforts of colleagues, supports the initiatives of DA, contributes to the greater school community and is a superb purveyor of information. She serves on

many school committees and task forces. An example of her service is the Strategic Plan group and the “Connecting” Task Force, which examined ways to foster and promote meaningful connections among faculty, staff and students. She is a staunch advocate for the Preschool and does an admirable job representing the Preschool division’s interests. Jessica knows and respects the pulse of her colleagues. In turn, they respect her for her fresh ideas, youthful energy and insightful perspectives. She is regarded as an effective collaborator, and a thoughtful, committed and forward-thinking educator by her colleagues. As a “lifer,” Jessica is determined to remain a very active and enthusiastic participant in alumni activities. She has served as a Preschool rep for the Durham Academy Fund. In addition, she has donated items to the auction and she has served on the Alumni Board. She is a wonderful ambassador for a school she genuinely loves. The educational experience is a collaborative and shared endeavor more than ever. The relationship between teacher and parents is pivotal to a successful experience for the children. Parents view Jessica as an “approachable authority for parents” and an excellent communicator. Common refrains you hear about her include: stays in touch with parents; goes the extra mile to accommodate the families with whom she works; not only on the ball, but thoughtful and dedicated to making sure parents are informed and comfortable; she takes charge. Jessica is an example of a teacher who aspires to make a difference. Her devotion to her students is undeniable. Her commitment to the wider Durham Academy community she serves is irrefutable. Jessica is truly a deserving recipient of this recognition and award. As one colleague put it, “She is a treasure at DA, one of the ‘life-changers’ we hear about.” She makes a difference.

Editor’s Note: Mike Spatola was the 2018 recipient of the F. Robertson Hershey Distinguished Faculty Award. He retired in June 2018.

New School Year Will Bring New Faces to DA Faculty and Staff Katie Ryan (Amick) Kantz ’98, Director of Summer Programs, Assistant JV Field Hockey Coach Kantz earned an undergraduate degree in political science from UNC-Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in social foundations of education from the University of Virginia Graduate School of Education. She has 15 years of experience at U.S. and international boarding schools, including roles as director of athletics, director of summer programs, dean of residential life, history teacher, wellness director, director of student activities and community service director. She is also a graduate of the National Association of Independent Schools School Leadership Institute and the Virginia Association of Independent Schools Aspiring Leaders Institute. Most recently, Kantz was the director of activities, trips and summer programs, history teacher, dorm head and field hockey coach at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. Dr. Aleksandra Kaplon-Schilis, Upper School, math Kaplon-Schilis graduated with honors from the School of Commerce and International Finance in Warsaw, Poland, with a B.A. in business economics. She has six years of experience and worked as an adjunct lecturer at CUNYCollege of Staten Island in New York, where she taught courses in math and science in early education, remedial mathematics and Pre-Calculus and graduate courses on how to integrate technology in math and science instruction. Kaplon-Schilis taught Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II, Precalculus and Calculus at the High School for Service and Learning in Brooklyn, New York. Most recently, she served as an International Baccalaureate math teacher and math department chair at The Clinton School in New York. Cassie Loch, Upper School, Spanish Loch is a graduate of Louisiana State University, where she earned a B.A. in Spanish. She earned an M.A. in Spanish language and literature from Loyola University Chicago and an Ed.S in educational leadership and administration from The George Washington University. Loch has 12 years of experience, 11 of those as a Spanish instructor, and has taught honors, AP and undergraduate-level Spanish. She has served in roles including upper school student advisor, student club sponsor, JV tennis coach and dance coach. Most recently, Loch taught Spanish 1, 2 and 3 and was a member of the school leadership team at City of Medicine Academy in Durham.

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Andrew Lovett, Middle School, band Lovett earned his undergraduate degree from UNCGreensboro, where he earned a B.Mus. in music education. He is currently a candidate for a master’s degree in music education at UNC-Greensboro. He has eight years of experience, serving as a woodwind instructor at the high school level in South Carolina and at C.E. Jordan High School in Durham, and he has taught band, orchestra and music literacy at the middle school level at Bruns Academy in Charlotte. Lovett is a member of the UNC-Chapel Hill Marching Tar Heels band staff; his duties include preparing shows for UNC football games. Most recently, Lovett served as director of bands and orchestra at Duke School in Durham. Courtney Monahan, Upper School, Latin Monahan graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in classical languages and a minor in Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology from Bryn Mawr College. She earned an M.A. in classical studies from Duke University, where she is also a candidate for a doctoral degree in classical studies. Monahan speaks Latin, ancient Greek, Spanish, Italian and German. She co-taught a study abroad course in Roman history, archaeology and art history for two summers (Duke in Rome) and co-founded and chaired an undergraduate Latin reading group as a graduate student at Duke. Monahan has eight years of experience, most recently as a Latin and art history/archaeology instructor at Duke University. Emily Walton, third grade Walton earned a B.A. in psychology from the University of Southern Maine and an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction (reading education) from the University of Virginia. Walton has taught language arts, language acquisition and reading at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Virginia, and has served as an elementary school reading tutor and interventionist and head coach for Girls on the Run. For the last six years, she has been a second grade teacher at St. Anne’s-Belfield School, a day and boarding school in Charlottesville, Virginia; for the last four years, she has also served as St. Anne’s-Belfield’s second grade team leader.

Farewell to Departing Faculty and Staff Those Saying Goodbye Have Devoted a Cumulative 305 Years of Service to DA

Randy Bryson

Dennis Cullen

Mary DelDuco

Debra Halabis

Dena Hanna

Middle School science 40 YEARS

Upper School math 43 YEARS

Fourth-grade teaching assistant 1 YEAR

Third-grade teaching assistant 18 YEARS

Kindergarten teaching assistant 16 YEARS

Daniela Harrell

Randee Haven-Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell

Edith Keene

Stephanie Pollard

Alison Mattox

Upper School Latin 39 YEARS

Third-grade teacher 5 YEARS

Upper School English 5 YEARS

Middle School Spanish 24 YEARS

Middle School science 22 YEARS

Isabel Rios-Torres

Jim Speir

Margarita Throop

Jeff Zentner

Upper School Spanish 4 YEARS

Upper School history 40 YEARS

Upper School Spanish 28 YEARS

Middle School instrumental music 20 YEARS

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Inaugural Security Team Bids Goodbye

Thanks to the many volunteers, attendees and bidders who made the 2019 auction such a success, netting $270,000!

Thirteen years ago, Durham Academy established its security team with a dedicated group of former Durham Police Department officers, led by Director of Security Larry Isaacs. With the conclusion of the 2018–2019 school year, the final five members of that inaugural security team are bidding DA goodbye. “In reflection, time has a remarkable ability to accrue a passing year in the virtual blink of an eye,” Isaacs said. “... All five were here from the very beginning with the graduating Class of 2007 and will be departing with the graduating Class of 2019. Their dedication and dependability has been directly responsible for the growth and development of Durham Academy's security department. DA Security is an extraordinary example of what a well-designed school security and safety initiative can become. The unwavering support of the entire DA community during this time has been a tremendous asset to this achievement.” All of us at Durham Academy will miss the founding security team members and are grateful to the dedicated officers who continue their work to keep students, faculty and staff safe.

Save the Date for the 2020 Online Auction April 1–4

Auction proceeds provide 85% or more of Parents Association’s budget each year, which is used to support outstanding teaching and exceptional student experiences. The auction is online-only in even-numbered years, and we host a gala event (with both a live auction and online bidding) in oddnumbered years.

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Larry Isaacs

Grant Christy

Terry Mangum

Director of Security 12 YEARS

Security Officer 12 YEARS

Bradley Ray

Dave Williamson

Security Officer 12 YEARS

New Trustees Join DA Board Paul Casey ’87 is the owner of French Broad River Brewery in Asheville. He spent 22 years with Quintiles, most recently serving as vice president and global head of Cardiac Safety Services. He serves on the boards of the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill and the YMCA of the Triangle. Casey also serves on Durham Academy’s Finance Committee. He is a graduate of the University of Richmond and is the father of Riley ’26, Tripp ’30 and Reese ’30.

Selena Keegan spent six years in magazine marketing at Time Inc. and three years in strategy development and website product management at Tribune Media Company. She is a graduate of Harvard University and earned an M.B.A. from Duke University Fuqua School of Business. She has been an active Durham Academy volunteer, serving as the Parents Association Lower School division representative and is incoming Parents Association secretary. Keegan has also served as a Durham Academy Fund volunteer and on the benefit auction acquisitions committee. She is the mother of Alex ’26 and Cameron ’29.

Nina King is the senior deputy director of athletics for legal affairs and serves as chief of staff of athletics at Duke University. In addition, she co-teaches a sports business course at Duke University Fuqua School of Business. She serves on Arizona State University’s College of Law Sports Law and Business Advisory Board and on the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and earned a J.D. from Tulane Law School. She serves as the Parents Association Preschool Caring Committee representative and served on the benefit auction acquisitions committee. She is the mother of Connor ’29 and Austin ’31.

Ann Leininger is a project manager at AECOM, where she works with environmental compliance projects and hazardous waste management. She holds a B.S. and M.S. from Stanford University and serves on the Board of Directors of Book Harvest. Leininger joins the DA Board of Trustees in an ex officio capacity as president of Parents Association. She has held multiple roles with Parents Association, and this will be her eighth year serving as a room parent. She is the mother of Jason Hugh ’24.

Nick Livengood ’08 is an attorney with Weatherspoon and Voltz, LLP in Raleigh, where he practices commercial real estate development, finance, investment and leasing. He is a graduate of Elon University and Elon University School of Law. He was an intern with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Regional Counsel in Winston-Salem; and the Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard JAG in Norfolk, Virginia. He joins the DA Board of Trustees in an ex officio capacity as president of the Alumni Board.

Garrett Putman ’94 has served in an ex officio capacity on the Durham Academy Board of Trustees for the last two years as president of the DA Alumni Board. He is the principal marketing consultant at SAS Institute and serves on the board of TROSA. Putman is a graduate of Wake Forest University and earned an M.B.A. from Duke University Fuqua School of Business. He serves on the Durham Academy Communications Committee and is a Durham Academy Fund volunteer. He is the father of Will ’25 and Wesley ’27.

da.org

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Photo courtesy of Katie Ryan (Amick) Kantz

Katie Ryan (Amick) Kantz ’98 DA Lifer Returns as New Director of Summer Programs Katie Ryan (Amick) Kantz ’98 was a “lifer” at Durham Academy, where she played field hockey and other sports passionately and was a student leader. After attending High Point University and the National Outdoor Leadership School, she transferred to UNC-Chapel Hill, where she earned her undergraduate degree and met her husband, Glenn. She went on to earn an M.Ed. from the University of Virginia. As head varsity field hockey coach at Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia, Kantz twice earned “Loudoun County Coach of the Year” honors. After spending three years as director of residential life at Leysin American School in Switzerland, and one year at St. Albans School, where she served on the admissions team, Kantz returned to Foxcroft, where she earned a Mindful Educator certification and helped develop a wellness curriculum. At Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, since 2016, Kantz has been director of Student Activities and Summer Programs, coordinated the school trip program and served as dorm head, teacher and coach. She has loved living in the D.C. area and enjoys sports, running, cooking and the outdoors. Kantz, her husband Glenn, daughters Caroline, Mackenzie and Charlie, dog Vevey and cat Caesar are thrilled to be moving to Durham to be back at the school she has always loved. “I feel grateful to be part of the DA community during this exciting time for Durham Academy.”

15 Things About Me 1 — I was born and raised a Duke fan. Then I saw the light (blue) — go Tar Heels! 2 — I loved DA Senior Challenge so much that I later took a semester off in college with a semester in the Rockies on NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School), then later led a NOLS Canyon expedition with my husband and 10 of our students through Utah’s Canyonlands.

3 — I’m the youngest of four siblings, all who attended DA, I was a “lifer” here and I am so glad to return and send my own children here — Caroline, grade 6, and Mackenzie, grade 1, and hopefully eventually Charlotte (Charlie) age 3! 4 — I was once on an episode of the David Letterman show when he prank-called a random phone booth in Baltimore harbor and videotaped me running over to pick up the phone. It was a hilarious conversation! 5 — I met my husband at UNC-Chapel Hill. My favorite class there that we took together was on the classical music of Bach and Handel. 6 — I am forever installed as a “Fox” at a school named Foxcroft in Virginia (my first teaching job), where you are either a Fox or a Hound for life (very Harry Potter, which I also love). I was the leader of the Foxes and got to hunt the other half of the school (the Hounds) at midnight before big sports competitions, to keep them awake! 7 — I chaperoned 18 students on a trip to Vietnam as my first school trip. I was so nervous I had to number them on their hands with a Sharpie and make them count off everywhere! 8 — I enhanced my North Carolina skiing skills in the Swiss Alps, where I accompanied students twice a week as part of our school day while working at a boarding school. 9 — My dog, Vevey, is named after my favorite Swiss town. He is a bernedoodle — half Bernese mountain dog/half standard poodle — how appropriate! 10 — I love to cook international food, the spicier the better, but I once got a nosebleed eating the spiciest chicken wing — I had to sign a waiver! 11 — My favorite book that has guided me in life is: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. I also enjoy studying and discussing philosophy. 12 — I once went parapenting and have it on videotape — there is a very special landing you have to see in-person to believe! 13 — In 2013 in Madrid, I completed a personal goal by running a full marathon. I still love to run competitively, and for fun. 14 — I practice mindfulness and am a mindful certified educator. 15 — I love a good, clean, witty prank (one of my favorite holidays is April Fool’s Day), and I’m always up for an adventure. Most of all, I love spreading laughter and joy!

da.org

Alumni Spotlight

Margaret Jones ’99

A Passion for Mending Lives

For Margaret Jones ’99, every day of work is “filled with promise” as she helps patients with neurologic injury to regain quality of life and independence. Her work has taken her to cities around the country, and along the way, she’s visited all 50 states.

Q — What have you been up to since graduating from Durham Academy?

Q — What DA experiences influenced you or helped you get where you are today?

A — Life after DA has been filled with travel, exploration, education and ongoing activities in the outdoors! I earned a B.A. in biology with minors in English and psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, where I was a four-year student-athlete on the varsity swim team. After a year back at Duke as a research assistant, I returned to Penn to complete a post-bac while I coached swimming as an assistant coach for my old team. I then left the Northeast to complete med school at Tulane. I spent four years in New Orleans, watching the city grow in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and then moved to Seattle to complete a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Washington. After that graduation, I left the West Coast for a quick year to complete a fellowship in spinal cord injury medicine at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, New Jersey, prior to moving back to Seattle. I recently moved to Nashville.

A — DA taught me to be a prepared, organized student at school and in life. Notebook checks in Mr. Seivold’s sixth grade showed me the importance of organization. Mr. Cullen showed me the beauty and value of cohesive teamwork and respected leadership. And in Mr. Sullivan’s AP Chem class, on day 1 he said he was coaching us to do well on our AP exam; that forward-thinking and goal-setting set the tone for my lifelong educational pursuits and the way I work with my patients and rehabilitation team. On top of all that, DA’s outdoor education programs opened my eyes and world to the beauty of hobbies in the outdoors!

Q — What are you doing now? A — I’m a traveler and just moved! After some wonderful years in the Pacific Northwest living and working in Seattle, I recently moved to Nashville and now work at Vanderbilt. I provide care as a doctor for people with spinal cord injury and other major neurologic injury, such as traumatic brain injury and stroke. Q — Why do you do what you do? A — The doctors in my specialty are called “physiatrists”; our goal is to impart improved function and independence to our patients with impairments. I’m lucky enough to provide care for a special group of patients as they work through catastrophic injury and devastating life changes to get back to a quality of life, independence and a “new normal.” My patients are sharp, goal-oriented and motivate me to come to work every day. Even better, I love that I get to work with an interdisciplinary team of therapists, nurses, psychologists and social workers to collaboratively provide for our patients. Every day is filled with promise, and no two days of work are the same.

Q — What are your interests away from work? A — I had to step away from some of my previous athletic pursuits in running and triathlon due to an injury and now am so lucky to spend a lot of free time exploring the beauty of where I live through hiking, getting outside with my dogs and taking road trips as much as I can. I’ve visited all 50 states, almost all of them since my time at DA, with visits to as many national parks as possible. Last year, I was lucky enough to take an amazing trip to Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, where I did a “multisport adventure” trip with REI. In a way, I felt like I was back on all my trips from the DA Upper School: one day spent kayaking, another biking, a few others hiking … all while camping! Or, I guess it was probably more “glamping”… but it was amazing! Q — What’s on the horizon for you? A — I look forward to continuing to expand my medical practice and learning while teaching medical students, residents and fellows in spinal cord injury medicine, to exploring the world around me and to making it back to Durham as often as I can to spend time with my family and friends who are still there!

Photo courtesy of Margaret Jones

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Spring Alumni Reception Honors Moral, Happy, Productive Faculty and Alumni Story by Leslie King // Photography by Sarah Jane Tart

Dr. Malinda Maynor Lowery ’91, the Rev. John Hage ’94 and first-grade teacher Debbie Suggs were honored with DA’s Distinguished Alumni Award, Alumni Service Award and the Faculty and Staff Legacy Award, respectively, at the Spring Alumni Reception on April 26. Alumni Board President Garrett Putman ’94 said the honorees “truly embody our school’s moral, happy and productive mission in genuinely unique ways.” Putman described Suggs, his former teacher, as “one of the absolute brightest beacons of joy and happiness that I know at DA.” He reminisced about classmate and close friend Hage, who pursued a life in the ministry, “striving to bring morality into [their] daily lives.” Putman assured the audience they would be impressed with “just how incredibly productive [Lowery] has been since graduating from Durham Academy,” citing her a career as a teacher, historian and documentary filmmaker in celebrating the heritage of the Lumbee Indians, North Carolina and the American South.

The Distinguished Alumni Award was first awarded in 1983; view a full list of recipients and view this year’s speeches at www.da.org/alumniawards.

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Distinguished Alumni Award: Dr. Malinda Maynor Lowery ’91 Dr. Malinda Maynor Lowery ’91 has spent most of her career trying to make sense of and find meaning in the world. As a professor, historian, author and documentary filmmaker, with degrees from Harvard, Stanford and UNC-Chapel Hill, her focus has centered on the communities she’s most closely tied to — North Carolina’s Lumbee Indians and the American South. According to brother Ben Maynor ’92, her curiosity about context began here at DA. “Malinda has applied all she has studied at DA, Harvard, Stanford and UNC to understanding and contextualizing the complex relationships between cultures, particularly with regard to the Lumbees in the American South,” he said. “How she does it all is a mystery to me … but I’m amazed. I can’t think of anyone else who is more deserving of this award.” Lowery says an AP English class helped her understand the world around her and her place in it when they read Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. Like the main character, she spent time trying to fit in, knowing she was always different. But she credits DA teachers with making a difference in her life. They helped her meet the expectations she set for herself and helped her find places and spaces where she could both fit in and stand out. “… Grades only stay with you for a moment, but you’ll need to ask for guidance for the rest of your life … I might not have been a whiz in physics or math but I gradually figured out that in theatre or music, I didn’t have to compare myself to anyone else … It was through the arts, and literature, that I learned at DA that I could find meaning in things that seemed meaningless.”

Alumni Service Award: The Rev. John Hage ’94

Faculty and Staff Legacy Award: Debbie Suggs

When the Rev. John Hage ’94 found out he was being honored with DA’s Alumni Service Award, he thought it was a mistake because of the distinguished company he was joining — previous recipients include the late Chris Rosati ’89 and Patrick Nevins ’03. But for Betsy Hage ’90, her brother’s recognition made total sense. “I love this award … because it shows the importance of taking time out to recognize unique and diverse individuals and the importance of education and community,” she said. “It takes time to highlight people who have the skills to communicate, collaborate and unify people through skills that were taught by amazing parents, unbelievable teachers and mentors at DA and beyond.” After graduating from Wake Forest University and an early career working in politics and with tech startups, he convinced his family of his desire to pursue a divinity degree. Hage’s four children recently got to revel in high school yearbook photos of their dad as an awkward, bespectacled teenager. And while those images may have faded, Hage’s feelings about his time at DA were still crystal clear — remembering joy and laughter with friends, gratitude for teachers who invested their time in helping him reach his full potential and who taught him selflessness and leadership. “I learned the skills here to bring a diverse group of people together for a cause greater than self. But even more importantly, I developed the confidence to believe that I, huge glasses and all, awkwardness, pimples and voice cracking, could lead a group toward a cause greater than self.”

Debbie Suggs joined DA’s Lower School faculty 24 years ago. If you do the math, that’s more than 400 alumni who became Fabulous First-Grade Explorers (FFGE’s), started their first-grade year with a hug and shared in Suggs’ many treasured traditions like her annual candle-lighting ceremony. “She has helped hundreds of students discover their personal strengths and find joy in learning math, reading and writing — foundations needed to be successful,” said Sterling Ingui ’97, before presenting Suggs with her award. “What makes her a legacy is how she continues to build an FFGE community of students, families and friends who share her love of learning, who seek to spread kindness and offer gratitude and respect.” For Suggs, first grade marks the beginning of a deep, forever connection with what she calls her “gift” family — a DA family of teachers, mentors, colleagues and friends and her DA students and families. Suggs’ desk is a living shrine to those connections, and during her speech, she shared anecdotes connected to the gifts, notes and artwork from students from decades past, symbolizing the love, affection and family that comes with being an FFGE. “My mom and dad taught me at a very early age that gratitude, kindness, service and giving of oneself are the keys to a happy life,” she said. “What a wonderful way it is to serve others by teaching, guiding, loving and caring for children and helping them learn the secret to a happy life that was instilled in me so long ago. I was born wanting to be a teacher … as long as I can remember, it’s all I ever wanted to be.”

da.org

Alumni Spotlight

LaQuesa Gaillard ’06

Renewed by the Power of Nature Q — What have you been up to since graduating from DA? A — I graduated from UNC in 2010 with my heart set on becoming a television producer. I stayed in the RDU area and worked in a few different places. At some point, I became underwhelmed and thus pretty unhappy with my life. And while expressing this to many of my besties (most from DA), one friend showed up and offered the idea of backpacking Southeast Asia for a few months. I was absolutely terrified, but I recognized it was the call I was looking for, so in June of 2015, I headed to the exact opposite end of the planet and basically came back an entirely renewed human. That trip created many different ripple effects, one of which led to me spending three months of the next year living in Ghana, West Africa. After I returned home from that experience, I moved to Atlanta, where I am currently working in broadcast public relations. Q — What DA experiences influenced you or helped you get where you are today? A — Reflecting back, I am forever grateful for my roots at DA. I will be the first to advocate for the insanely strong community that Durham Academy has created. But more important than community, is the connectivity. I still have incredible friends from DA. And there is also this cool thing where I see old classmates and people from other years whom I shared the campus with, and old teachers who knew me long ago — and every time I see them, it is like seeing family. While we share brief updates and new revelations, the connectivity is so clear.

LaQuesa Gaillard is passionate about exploring nature and different cultures, having returned from a months-long backpacking trip in Southeast Asia four years ago as “an entirely renewed human.” Now an Atlanta-based public relations professional, the 2006 Durham Academy graduate credits the school with showing her the importance of spending time in nature through outdoor education experiences like Senior Challenge — and “for allowing me to be my growing, developing self.”

I also thank DA for imprinting on me the power of nature. Seriously — I still remember Senior Challenge like it was yesterday. And nearly every class trip before it. And as I go through hectic days of adult life, I crave moments of nature and all the awkward, uncomfortable moments that it creates for growth and bonding. I would have never been able to zipline into the mouth of a cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam and spelunk into a pitch-black cave on a quest to find mud pools and swim through ice cold rivers, if DA had not shown me how amazing adventures in nature can be. But perhaps most specifically, I appreciate DA for allowing me to be my growing, developing self. Listen — most people grow up not loving school or the environments they were born into. That is a common passage of life. But if you’re going to live in that right, DA is a pretty safe and nurturing place to do that. Growing up was hard, DA was really hard at times, but I still have a deep sense of love and gratitude for this place as I understand how really special my experience was as compared to other people’s. Q — What’s on the horizon for you? A — In terms of the future — I have my heart set on helping people free themselves from their own limiting beliefs so that they can design the life of their dreams while also continuing to explore different places and cultures and the natural beauty of this planet. I think this world is a big, beautiful, fascinating place, and I am here to celebrate it!

Photo courtesy of LaQuesa Gaillard

da.org

Alumni Spotlight

Whitney Zimmerman ’05

Engineering a Life of Love and Travel Q — What have you been up to since graduating from Durham Academy? A — I studied Electrical Engineering and Economics at the RoseHulman Institute of Technology (go Fighting Engineers!). It was a long four years in a small Indiana town, but the education was world class, and I had an excellent fraternity experience as both a chapter president and an undergraduate member of our international Supreme Council. I was fortunate to get a job during the recession in an engineering management development program at BMW’s South Carolina factory. Greenville, S.C., was a great place for a recent grad. My two-and-a-half years at the factory culminated in a brutal 16 months on night shift leading a production team of 80 during the launch of the previous BMW X3. I moved to Munich, Germany, in 2012 for a three-year expat assignment at BMW'S headquarters. I learned German on the job in the first year and in late 2014 decided to stay indefinitely. The European-city environment within an hour of the Alps was tough to leave. Seeking a new challenge, I enrolled in the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business part-time MBA program for executives, which involved flying to London, Hong Kong and Chicago for a week of class roughly every six weeks from 2015–2017.

From planning and managing vehicle launches for BMW in South Carolina and in Germany, to serving as a management consultant in Munich, Whitney Zimmerman ’05 has spent the past decade learning how companies and industries work and helping them to function more efficiently. Along the way, he’s found love and plenty of adventures, from attending a silent meditation retreat in India to crewing a tall ship to the United Kingdom.

Q — What are you doing now? A — I have been a management consultant at McKinsey & Company’s Munich office since May. I split my weekends between Munich and Edinburgh, Scotland, where my fiancée recently moved to take a professorship in architectural history at the University of Edinburgh. Q — Why do you do what you do? A — Because I’ve always been passionate about understanding how industries and companies work, and consulting gives me opportunities to help them work better. Q — What DA experiences influenced you or helped you get where you are today? A — DA’s diversity influenced how I see the world. Its supportive balance between teaching hard and soft skills helped me become a lifelong learner. Its top-notch faculty set high standards for my future education choices. Q — What are your interests away from work? A — Mountain climbing, trail running, ice climbing, cooking, traveling, reading, chess, perfecting my pour-over coffee skills. Q — What’s on the horizon for you? A — I’m getting married in 2019.

At the end of 2017, after nearly six years planning and managing vehicle launches for BMW, I resigned. From January to April of 2018 I traveled once around the world, visited six continents and 16 countries, attended a 10-day silent meditation retreat in India and crewed a tall ship to the United Kingdom.

Photo courtesy of Whitney Zimmerman

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Photo courtesy of Teresa Bejan

Photo courtesy of Andy Kay

Teresa Bejan ’02

Andy Kay ’98 Andy Kay ’98 was inducted into the Missouri chapter of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame in February. Kay, an English teacher and varsity boys lacrosse coach at Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School in St. Louis, coached his team to its fifth consecutive state title in 2018. He has also earned accolades from U.S. Lacrosse including Missouri’s State Coach of the Year and Missouri’s “Man of the Year.”

Photo by Bridget Daehler

Becca North ’94 In December, Dr. Becca North ’94 published her book, Your Hidden Superpowers: How the Whole Truth of Failure Can Change Our Lives. North is a researcher and teacher in the field of psychology and is now a visiting assistant professor in psychology at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. Her research is in the area of happiness and well-being. A big question in her research: How can negative experiences foster positive psychological change?

A video of “Is Civility a Sham?” a TED Talk delivered by Dr. Teresa Bejan ’02 in October, has racked up more than 1.4 million views. In the 14-minute talk, Bejan explains how civility has been used as the foundation of tolerant societies, but also as a way for political partisans to silence opposition. Bejan — who is an associate professor of political theory at the University of Oxford — suggests that a better way is aiming for “mere civility” — disagreeing fundamentally, but doing so “without denying or destroying the possibility of a common life tomorrow with the people we think are standing in our way today.” View Bejan’s talk (warning: some mature language) at bit.ly/IsCivilityASham.

Molly Dektar ’08 celebrated the release of her debut novel, The Ash Family, on April 9. The novel, published by Simon & Schuster, is set near Asheville with some characters from Durham. The 19-year-old woman at the center of book joins an off-the-grid farm community that turns out to be a cult. In an interview with The News & Observer, Dektar, who now lives in New York, says that while the story is a thriller about a cult, it’s also about nature, so outdoor enthusiasts will also find something to appreciate within its pages. “There’s a lot of climate science in the book, because the cult leader likes to gather everyone around and tell them cult stories, and they’re all true,” she told the newspaper. “I loved writing about snowball earth and passenger pigeons and the way North Carolina used to be before settlers arrived from Europe.” Read more in The News & Observer: bit.ly/debutnovel.

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Image courtesy of Simon & Schuster

Molly Dektar ’08

Class Notes

Class Notes Save the Date

Homecoming 2019 Friday, Oct. 4

Homecoming Varsity Athletic Events 5 p.m. Alumni Pregame Social and Barbecue Saturday, Oct. 5 7 p.m. Reunion Parties for Classes Ending in 4s and 9s

For more information and to register for the reunion party, visit www.da.org/homecoming.

Class of 1978 Sherry Holtzclaw Camille Baynard Izlar: “Started working part time at UNC and moved into our new house last year between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough so now we are closer to my horse and I will have more time to ride and be a barn bum!” Laurie Holljes: “My husband, Christian, and I have moved to Rockport, MA, (outside Boston) and are enjoying living by the sea! Our three kids, in the band Delta Rae, are embarking on an exciting year with lots of new music coming out. And we have a little guy in the family now—grandson Leo! It was fun to be in the Raleigh-Durham area over the past five years, and reacquaint with old friends and my hometown. Come see us if you swing up North…” Kenny Randall: “I’m now in my 32nd year of public service, and with a 9-year-old at home, I may hit 40 years! In my spare time, I continue to exhibit photography. I'm close to completing a book about our courthouse and local history — even at DA, I enjoyed history. Today I serve on the

board of directors of our local historical society. I continue to coach baseball and football. In March, Cameron's football team — with the smallest players in the league — won the championship because of their speed. They’re pretty easy to coach. Our family continues to travel to national parks with a goal to see them all. This summer we'll go to Acadia. We also are trying to hit most of the baseball parks, so will go to a Red Sox game while we’re in Boston.” David Carr: “Denise and I sold our house in Durham and have moved to Blowing Rock, where I continue my investment work for my family. Denise is volunteering at the Western Youth Network which works to help at-risk students before they reach high school age. We look forward to a cool beautiful summer. Our oldest son, Wyche ’08, has left UnderArmour to join Carhartt as a materials technology manager. He loves Carhartt but is slow to love winters in Dearborn. Our youngest, Braxton ’12, married fellow DA alum Annie Giarla ’12, in a Memorial Day weekend 2018 wedding. Annie and Braxton

live in Charlotte, where he works as an investment banker associate and Annie works at Charlotte Country Day.” Evan Farris: “Susan and I still live in Northern VA with our three children. My oldest son is graduating from high school this fall. Along with Ken Randall (whose son was born the same year as my daughter), I probably have one of the youngest children of anyone in our class — my daughter is 9.” Liza Cohen is still living in Malibu: “Unfortunately, my house was one of the 643 homes that burned down in the worst fires Malibu has ever seen. We lost everything, every single memory, but look forward to making new ones in a new home two to three years from now. My twins are in college and will be studying in Florence this fall. I would love to see some of my former classmates from DA! If anyone is on the West Coast please DM me on Instagram @malibuliza.” Kay Alexander still lives in Durham and is working as a writer, editor and landscaper with various volunteer projects on the side. As for me, I am still in Savannah, living on the water in a historic neighborhood full of live oaks, Spanish moss, runners and kids on bikes! My oldest daughter just finished her first year of PA school and my younger daughter is graduating from USC.

Class of 1981 Valerie Kennedy Miller Following the amazing service and diligence of Jon Peter as our class recorder, I have agreed to assume this role and attempt to fill his very large footprints. As I take the baton from my classmate, fellow DA lifer and kindergarten mate Jon Peter, I am reminded of our early years. A few nights ago, I looked at our class photo from kindergarten — Jon, Kathy Bugg, Mark

Sanders, Vincent Quiett, Allyn Van Alystne and I were among the unworthy optic of classmates. I was struck by this joyful image of diversity and inclusion at what was a turbulent time in Durham. There we were — expectant of a new future. I’ve been moved by the many emails from you regarding diversity and race in America. That picture from all those years ago gives me hope that the way we were is possible yet again. Jon, from all of us, thank you keeping us connected all of these 20+ years and your awesome commitment to DA, as well as us. I accord you the honor of being our first update. All others will follow in alphabetical order. Now, let the games begin — I’ve got wonderful updates to share! Jon Peter

Check out this photo of Jon with his 3P sauce.

shares the distinctive title of being a DA alum/parent whose children Kellen ’12 and Dylan ’18 were “blessed to thrive at DA” per their father. His daughter, Kellen, graduated from Bucknell in 2017, returned to Durham, and works as a grants manager at Duke’s School of Medicine. This summer, she will start Duke’s Advanced Nursing School Program. Dylan is a freshman at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Studies. Jon retired from the Durham Police Department in

da.org

Class Notes

Stephen Barringer with fellow classmates Bill Bell, Vincent Quiett and Mark Anderson at an event honoring former Durham Mayor Bill Bell.

2014 after 30+ years. He rose to the rank of assistant police chief overseeing the Investigations Division and was a grad of the elite FBI National Academy. His equally accomplished wife, Donna, whom he refers to as his “smarter, better looking and harder working half” (husbands, take note!) serves as associate VP at Duke Network Service. For his encore career, Jon, whose family has kept their Orange County farm, has a brand new bag — pepper farmer, pepper sauce maker and bottler. His hot sauce, 3P-Peter’s Perfect Pepper Sauce, can be found at select restaurants and all Weaver Street Markets. He has kept in touch with Emily Carrington, Jenny Wainwright ’82, Courtney Bailey, Les Ottolenghi ’80, Robert Hallyburton ’82 and other DA pals. Mark Anderson is a DA alum/parent and partner at McGuireWoods, where he heads the national trial team, is super involved in the firm’s diversity efforts and a recognized NC Leader in Law with expertise ranging from product liability, toxic torts to commercial litigation. Mark notes that after starting at DA in 1969, his family will finally graduate from DA after 50 years. Wow! Son Jack ’19 will head to Princeton in the fall after finishing this year. Mark’s daughter, Lily ’15, will graduate this year from SMU. She’s accepted a fab marketing job in Dallas. Son Banks ’12, a Duke grad, works at Durham’s uber-cool start-up

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Union Member House, and Margaret ’09 has followed her father’s footsteps into the law. She is finishing a clerkship in the Fifth Circuit and will join New York’s Cravath, Swaine & Moore in the fall. Mark and Mary Eileen achieved another milestone this year — their 30th wedding anniversary. Travel remains a passion and hobby of theirs. Also, Mark still enjoys playing tennis and beating Stephen Barringer at golf! Stephen is not only a DA alum/parent, he is one of DA’s most popular substitute teachers in language arts and history, a passion of his since his days at DA. He writes: “I continue to love teaching at DA, whenever the opportunity presents itself. In the last month I have spent multiple days with fifth, seventh and eighth graders in both history and LA. While many of the teaching methods are different from our time at the school, the faculty remains top flight and the students are fantastic.” Stephen’s daughter Grace has finished law school, passed the SC Bar, and is now clerking with a District Court judge in SC. Youngest daughter Veronica ’12 just started working for the family business after years of traveling the world with the international show jumping circuit. Stephen adds “I love seeing Mark Anderson from time to time and wish it were more often.” Dona Bernard lives in Greensboro and is a master gardener. What began as a hobby, has grown into a true passion for her. She grows the most

Stephen Barringer with his newlyminted attorney daughter, Grace.

delectable vegetables you’d ever want to see — it’s a veritable farmers market! She grows kale, zucchini, mixed greens, snap peas and cucumbers, which she advises is the easiest vegetable to grow for first-timers. For mixed greens, she recommends large planters filled with MiracleGro. Dona and gentleman farmer Jon Peter are onto something! Dona is also a fitness devotee who is serious about weight lifting and cardio. If you need a fitness accountability partner, she’s the one to call! Kathy Bugg Riley has followed the footsteps of our beloved DA teacher, Mary Clyde Bugg, who passed away in 2015, by homeschooling her youngest son, Matt, age 11. She is also a home dispatcher and super involved in volunteering. Her other children have shown the family zest for education. Her oldest, Holly, 25, is getting her Ph.D. in ethnomusicology at FSU; daughter Katie, 23, graduated from WCU last year with degrees in criminal justice, Spanish and philosophy; son Luke is 21 and graduates in May with a degree in geomatics and CET, and already has a surveying job. Kathy’s husband, Duncan, works in IT at UNC. The whole family takes an annual road trip to Montana, a source of great memories! She and Natalia Castillo remain close friends and see other throughout the year. Emily Carrington is a professor at the University of Washington in marine biology, ecology and biomechanics who just completed a three-year tour

of duty at the National Science Foundation. She lives in Seattle with her husband, with whom she shares a blended bicoastal family. The girls, Courtney and Alison, are in Boston and NYC respectively. The boys, Stewart and Chip, are in Bellingham, WA, and LA respectively. Border collie Stella, “the child we never had,” still holds down the home fort. They enjoy puttering around the San Juan Islands by boat or kayak and last year went on a “bucket list” dive trip to Sulawesi, Indonesia. Emily also visits Durham once a year to see a Duke basketball game, eat Carolina BBQ and hang with Jenny Wainwright and Jon Peter, who in addition to gentleman farmer, can apparently, according to a little birdy (Emily), add terrific mixologist to his resume. Natalia Castillo is loving life in Charleston, SC. She is busy with her company, Escapada Living, a wonderful resort clothing line, and is actively involved in several nonprofit organizations. In her free time, she likes to travel, spend time at the beach and give back to the community.

Natalia Castillo (on the right) and friends in St. Kitts, wearing her designs, of course.

Anjani Chandra, whom we always knew would be a researcher or physician, is coming up on 28 years at the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. There since grad school, she works on the National Survey of Family Growth, a population-based survey that Anjani says has “G-rated, PG and R-rated topics.” She and husband, Mark Emerick, will celebrate a milestone 30th wedding anniversary in August.

Class Notes

They live in Columbia, MD. Their son is a sophomore at the University of Maryland and their daughter is a sophomore in high school. Anjani’s special highlight is returning to India to visit her birthplace five years ago — she was 12 on her last visit! She also reports that she and fellow DA alum/Yalie Sarah Oates, who lives in MD, are ladies who lunch, but not often enough. Anjani sent me a sweet shout out — “Mega props to VK who has taken on this class recorder job like a boss. She is persistent … and charming as ever!” Tad Deberry, who is the general partner in a family real estate investment partnership with commercial and resort properties in NC and SC, also shares the DA alum/parent distinction. His daughters, Kate, a “lifer” who graduated in 2016, and Eleanor ’14, both went to DA. They are now in college at UNC-W and NCCU. Tad’s success in real estate is matched by his dedicated community spirit — he serves on several non-profits, including the Durham Historic Preservation Commission. In addition to his volunteerism, Tad and his wife Barbara, also a businessperson, enjoy traveling and spending time in Europe, the Caribbean, New York and the American West. He and his family continue to reside in his lovely Hope Valley childhood home. Barry Draughon is also a successful player in the real estate arena. He has been in the industry for 22 years and is now the

broker-in-charge for the Wilkinson ERA Cornelius office in the Charlotte area. Barry wins the class prize for having been married the longest. Applause, applause. He and his wife Beth will be married 33 years in August and recently moved to Birkdale Village in Huntersville. Their three girls are all married and have children, a sixth grandchild was born this May. Two daughters live in the Charlotte area and their oldest lives in San Antonio, TX. Cliff Elam who is a sales manager in Naples, FL, shares the distinction, along with Kathy Bugg Riley, of having a mom who taught at DA. His mom, Amelia Matthews, taught French at the Middle School for 25 years before retiring and like Kathy’s mom, was a beloved faculty member. Cliff and wife, Amanda, have three children. They will be empty nesters when their youngest, who attained top honors in scouting this year as an Eagle Scout (like his older brother), graduates from high school. Cliff and his family enjoy lots of outside sports such as kayaking and biking in Florida’s great weather. He and Tom Farmer remain close pals and see each other throughout the year. Tom Farmer has been a radiologist at the Durham VA Medical Center for 10 years after moving back to NC in 2009 and loves it. He also enjoys teaching the Duke residents who come over to the VA. He and his wife, Shauna, are proud members of the 30-year plus wedding anniversary club and have three

Barry Draughon (right) and his Wilkinson ERA team.

daughters, two of whom are in the “real world” of work and one whom is still in college. Tom reports that in addition to his full work and family life, he also volunteers at his church and the NC Transportation Museum. David Garvin works for the Department of the Navy as a lead scientist in systems engineering. He and his wife, Carson, have two children — Michael who is at UNC-Charlotte studying computer science and French, and Megan, who graduated from Mary Washington University with a degree in psychology. She was a fourth generation legacy! Her proud papa took her on a cruise to the western Mediterranean as a graduation gift. She’s also engaged and is planning a May 2020 wedding. David was in the Triangle area last October following the passing of his father, Lt. Col. David W. Garvin, to inter him in the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery. David has followed his father’s public service by working by both working for the Navy and serving as a life member, pilot, amateur radio operator, advanced EMT, safety officer and firefighter for the King George Fire Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services. Valerie Fuller Gurney merits a warm congratulations on her recent remarriage. She and her new husband live in Northport, AL, and are planning a cruise to the Alaska in August. Laura Heyneman is a professor of radiology at Duke Medical School. Her sons, Ethan Astrachan ’17, a rising junior at Duke, and Adam Astrachan ’20, a rising senior at DA, are part of the family legacy. She notes that “It’s a little surreal for me to walk DA’s (outdoor) hallways in such a different capacity!” Laura and husband Owen Astrachan ran the 110-mile Tour de Mont Blanc trail in the Alps this past summer. Laura writes “I’d never been to the Swiss Alps before, and it totally fed my soul! It was like living in a fairy tale. As I rounded a curve in the trail and saw the snow-capped peak of Mt. Blanc towering over an alpine meadow before me, I thought: ‘If anyone ever tells me to ‘imagine

going to my happy place,’ this is it!” She and Owen are headed back this summer to run a different trail. She explains “Those Swiss mountain trails keep call-

Laura Heyneman in the Swiss mountains.

ing me back!” Malcom Isley lives in Greenville, SC, where he serves as the chief strategy officer for Prisma Health. He and his wife, Milly, celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary in April. Malcolm’s son graduates from Clemson this year and his daughter is a rising senior at Furman. John Klintworth and his wife, Birgit, live in Toronto, Canada, where John continues to head his NGO, Sportsworks International, which works with kids from under-represented communities to introduce them to sports and other character-building initiatives aimed at advancing academic, spiritual and personal success. John began that important work in Durham as an outgrowth of his lifelong involvement in tennis and strong interest in working with young people with marginal access to mentorship and organized sports. In February, John returned to Durham to visit his mom and sister, Susan Klintworth Van Fleet ’78. Julie Wagner Laun has relocated to Dallas, Texas, with her husband Pete after 28 years in Pittsburgh where they raised their family. Pete, a partner at Jones Day law firm, will be heading up the litigation practice in its Dallas office. The Launs have a second

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Class Notes

home in Santa Fe, so moving to Dallas is a plus. Susan Warner Nance sent a dispatch from the great state of Tennessee. Her husband Ben is an archaeologist for the state of TN who specializes in the Civil War period and Susan is an expert in healthcare performance and process quality improvement. Ben has worked on a history of the Rosenwald schools — the Pre-Civil Rights era schools built for black students by Sears CEO Julius Rosenwald — and gave a presentation in Durham a few years ago. Susan’s daughter Emily will be a senior at Transylvania University and their other daughter Sarah will be a sophomore at the University of Arkansas in the fall. Ward Nye reports that he and his family — wife Laura and their three children — relocated from Dallas back to the Triangle where they have lived for the last 13 years in Raleigh. Daughter Liza, an attorney in Raleigh, graduated from Wake Forest and UNC Law School. Ellie, the middle daughter also attended Wake Forest and puts her English degree to work in the communications arena. His son, James, is finishing his junior year at Duke and thinking seriously about law school. Ward continues in his role as the CEO of Martin Marietta and occasionally spars with James Cramer on CNBC’s Mad Money. Sarah Oates, our class world traveler and a professor at the University of Maryland since 2012, is now living in Silver Spring, MD, with her husband, David Cross, whom she’s been married to since 1990. They have two daughters; one is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland and the youngest is still a student there. Prior to returning to the States, Sarah and her family lived in Glasgow where she taught at the University of Glasgow. Sarah also has a Maine Coon cat grandly named Duchess Mike Krzyzewski. She writes “I definitely fulfilled my dreams of world travel, living in Russia and Scotland — but mostly Glasgow — for 17 years. … I’ve been on sabbatical all year and

am working on a book about Russian disinformation on Western news. Turns out studying Russian media for 25 years was a cunning plan, but I never thought it would be THIS relevant.” When she’s not writing or traveling, Sarah finds time to lunch with Anjani Chandra and hopes they will do more this year. Robbi Ballantyne Ott continues to live in Charlotte heading up the event and communications firm she founded, Madelli Communications, named after her twin daughters. She and her husband, Michael are true empty nesters. Their daughter Haelli got married a couple of years ago and completed her nursing degree, as did their other daughter, Madison. They are now both working nurses. Robbi travels for work, but still finds time for family, friends and Duke basketball games. Vincent Quiett and his wife Valerie have a new doctor in the house! Valencia Quiett ’11 graduated from Brody Medical School at ECU and will head to Washington, DC, to begin her Ob-Gyn residency. Vincent and Valerie have three daughters,

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Valencia Quiett ’11, daughter of Vincent Quiett, graduated from Brody Medical School at ECU.

have been married 29 years and still enjoy life in Durham. Vincent remains in touch with John Klintworth and occasionally bumps into Mark Anderson and Stephen Barringer around town. Mark Sanders has joined the faculty of Notre Dame’s Department of Africana Studies after more than 20 years at Emory University in Atlanta.

Robert (Colonel) Sidbury is happily living in Seattle, WA, where he works as pediatric dermatologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Colonel’s pedigree is pretty impressive: DA, Sidwell Friends, Duke, Duke School of Medicine and Harvard School of Public Health. Jacqueline Soltys, an Episcopal priest and former curate for Chicago’s St. James Cathedral, now serves as an assistant rector at Grace Episcopal in historic Yorktown, VA. She and her husband, Stuart, will celebrate their 27th wedding anniversary in June. They moved to Virginia two years ago, where they live on the bucolic shore of the James River in Williamsburg and are now closer Jackie’s dad who still lives in Chapel Hill. (She lost her mom in 2007.) Jackie and Stuart are nearly empty nesters. Their girls both graduate in May — one from high school, who will attend Fordham College in the fall, and one from college. Their oldest daughter will be interning with a federal judge this summer and applying to law school in the fall. Jackie and her husband are getting ready for this new chapter. Jackie plans to learn how to kayak this summer, they’ve joined a wine tasting society, and enjoy biking and swimming. Thomas Stith, a fellow at UNC’s Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise and a Durham City Council member, wrote in to say that he’s excited to reconnect with us and that he looks forward to our class updates. Elisabeth Davis Wharton joins the mother-of-the-bride club following the recent engagement of her daughter and namesake, Elisabeth, who works in fundraising at Duke’s Cancer Institute. Allyn Van Alstyne is the founder and CEO of Jumps West, an international supplier of equestrian gear and equipment. She recently won a contract with the UN to supply equipment for the Pan Am games, which she is extremely proud of. Condolences to Allyn, Marshall ’80 and Lisa ’83 upon the loss of their father, esteemed Duke law professor and Constitutional law scholar, William Van Alstyne. Mr.

Van Alstyne was a constant presence and engaged parent at DA who knew us all. The Van Alstynes were like family for me, so rest in peace in Mr. V, you will be sorely missed. As for me, Valerie Kennedy Miller, Fitz and I are still in New York City where

Valerie Kennedy Miller

I continue to practice law and Fitz is an investment advisor. We live in Harlem and are part of a large circle of Southern expats in New York. In the summer, we go to Martha’s Vineyard and the Hamptons to spend time with college and childhood friends. We are both politically active and I served as a senior advisor to the mayor and as the city’s first SVP of diversity at its Economic Development Corporation. I was also appointed by the City Council to a community board. I just started a free yoga program for teens in Harlem in partnership with the Mayor’s Office. I have also started blogging about race and diversity issues within the legal profession, which Mark Anderson and I are in frequent dialogue about. My brother, Duane ’84, lives in Shanghai as an oil commodity broker and my mom is doing well, though we all still miss Dad. Mom is super active in local politics, mentoring, church work and has a great social life. I still enjoy coming down every year for her birthday and NCCU’s homecoming. If there’s time, I drop by Stephen B’s house, which is close to my folks. I am in touch with many of you via email, text or FB and appreciate your wonderful response, even those

Class Notes

of you who didn’t want to publish your updates, but simply wanted to catch up with me. Hugs to you all. Have a great summer!

Class of 1982 Louise Few Rollins I was pleasantly surprised to hear back from about 10 classmates upon my plea to spill the tea! Sharad Apte reports from the farthest point in the world: “I’m still alive and well living in Bangkok, Thailand, and still working at Bain & Co., where I am a partner and head the Bangkok office and the regional healthcare practice. My oldest son, Casino, will be at Colorado College in the fall, and his younger brother Vegas, is in 10th grade. I see Bill Fleming a bit when I am coming through LA.” I enjoyed catching up with David Pfaff at our 35th reunion where we swapped stories of raising three children. His most recent update: “I am finishing my third year as Rector of Christ Church Glendale, an Episcopal parish in suburban Cincinnati. It is a lively parish that keeps me on my toes. Marti Tyor Schottelkotte ’83 lives in the next town south of me, and we have had fun reconnecting. Emily and I will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary in August, which is hard to believe. Our eldest, Andrew (25) lives in Madison, WI, with Josie, aka the ‘girlfriend-in-law,’ who is in law school there. Andrew teaches ninth and 10th grade English in Baraboo, WI. Our daughter, Helen (23) lives in Atlanta, and is a paralegal for a law firm there. She is preparing to take the LSAT, with an eye towards law school in the fall of 2020. Our youngest, Edward (almost 15) is finishing his freshman year at our local high school.” David Frothingham wrote in: “My wife Kelly and our two kids, Jake and Molly, and I have been happily living in Buffalo, NY, for the past 19 years. Kids are in 10th and ninth grade. Kelly’s associate dean of the school of Natural and Social Sciences at Buffalo State College. I’m the environmental branch chief at the

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District. Life is good and busy and we’re benefiting from the great renewal this city on the lake is experiencing.” Mary Margaret Bugg Connell has called Marietta, GA, home for quite some time now: “Judson and I are doing well, with one son (John) finishing up his sophomore year at Alabama and the other (Newsom) heading off to University of South Carolina in the fall. I’m working as the VP of development at Big Red Rooster, a brand experience agency in Atlanta, and Judson remains in sales. We make it back to NC several times a year and plan on retiring back in NC.” Rick Birgel reports: “I have been living in South Florida for 18 years. I have been together with my partner, Avi, for seven years. Still running Real Estate Executive Search. I get home to the Triangle frequently and was able to spend New Year's Eve with DA friends (Susan Lee Greenfield, Bonnie Boone, Anne Murray Lloyd and Louise Few Rollins) for the first time in a long time.” Anne Murray Lloyd and I see each other often and no one is surprised that our daughters (Sarah Rollins ’16 and Kate Lloyd ’17) are best friends. Anne continues the life of a banker in Durham and a very active community volunteer. Charlotte Erwin Morgan, mother of two boys under the age of six, reports: “We love living in Chapel Hill where we have a recruiting business focused on robotics and renewable energy. It is a bittersweet time as we watch our parents grow older and little ones grow up, but we are grateful to be a part of it all.” Roughly, on a semi-annual basis, I connect with Martha Trotter Pearson, who reports: “Right now, I am still living the glamorous life in Chatham, working in real estate and traveling around to watch my younger son, Forest, row. Older son, Ben, attends Western Carolina University. I have set my studio up again, and I’m making a little time to enjoy painting.” Bonnie Boone, gratefully thankful that I agreed to compile these class notes, delivered this news: “I live in the

Bull City with husband Nick. We are now empty nesters and have downsized to a smaller home. Having hung up my dancing shoes, I am busy managing the family real estate, following in my father's footsteps.” I (Louise Few Rollins) am completing my 17th year teaching middle school (someone has to do that job!) at Hill Learning Center (AKA Learning Development Center circa 1982). Steed ’78 and I have raised our three children with the help of DA, and we are now enjoying the empty nesters’ life. Our kids are scattered – Will ’09 lives in Steamboat Springs, CO, Carlton ’12 lives in Brooklyn, NY, and Sarah ’16 is a rising senior at UNC-CH. Life is happy and full.

Class of 1985 Juliellen Sarver I’m delighted to have made contact with quite a few of our classmates from 1985. Does anyone else find it strange that DA produces so many urban planners? There are three of us just in this little report! I’d like to start by acknowledging my fellow Virginians, as there seem to be a few of us in the Commonwealth these days. Andrew Leech, who splits his time between the Shenandoah and Washington, DC, writes, “I am still doing the same, living in northern Virginia, managing a French aerospace chemical company based in Texas. My wife of 30 years is a lawyer specializing in environmental law in Washington, DC. In May of this year, my son [Connor ’15] graduates from UNC, gets married and will be an officer in U.S. Army Tank Corps. My daughter [Quincy ’13] graduated from Bowdoin and is now an officer in a U.S.M.C. Infantry Regiment in California.” I am happy to welcome another DA-er to beautiful Virginia. Beth Anderson Strand writes, “After 20 years in Boston, our family moved to suburban Washington, DC, last summer. I seem to be slowly inching my way closer to North Carolina and happy to be nearer to family. My husband is the rector of the Episcopal church in Vienna,

2019 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees Lawrence Craige ’85 One of DA’s best ever tennis players. Multi-year All-Conference and All-State, and NCISAA individual champion. Cab Townsend ’87 Outstanding track athlete who holds the Durham Academy and NCISAA record in high jump at 6’10.” NCISAA individual and team champion. Tracy Hardaker Rankin ’91 A multi-sport athlete excelling in field hockey, basketball, soccer and track. One of DA’s all-time great women’s basketball players, earning All-Conference and All-State honors, and one of five girls with 1,000 career points. Brandon Henry ’95 Three-sport athlete, excelling in soccer, basketball and lacrosse. All-Conference and All-State in soccer and lacrosse. NCISAA lacrosse champion. Kristin Weinhold Weaver ’99 All-Conference in softball, and All-Conference, All-State and All-American in swimming. Still the DA record holder in the 50 meter freestyle. NCISAA swimming champion. Lauren Blazing ’11 Three-sport standout in field hockey, basketball and softball. All-Conference in each sport and multi-year All-State in field hockey and field hockey All-American. Had standout career in field hockey at Duke University and with USA field hockey. The induction will take place Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at Kirby Gym.

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Class Notes

VA, where we live, and I am continuing my work as a nurse practitioner in the Cancer Center at Georgetown. My office is just down the street from my oldest and dearest friend, Meriwether Beatty ’86. I also briefly saw Phil Oldham ’86 when he was in town not long ago.” Meanwhile, I (Juliellen Sarver) have somehow made Richmond my home after having landed here without a plan in 2007 from Washington, DC. After nearly four years with Stone Brewing as Richmond-based community engagement manager, I have taken a much-needed break from full-time work after the death of my mother last winter. I took a solo impromptu trip to Belgium and the Netherlands in February, and have been doing some consulting work in conservation landscaping and garden design this spring. I expect I’ll have to get back to full-time work soon and I will likely go back to my career in … you guessed it … urban planning! Richmond has become very cool, and y’all should come check it out. It’s like Durham with a river! Speaking of Durham, David Beischer writes, “I am running our family’s real estate business and also staying busy with our three boys: two DA grads, one of whom is at Williams College, and one junior at DA still. I think I have been to over 20 college tours with these guys so I am becoming an expert. As far as folks from ’85, I do see Duncan Isley around town and also Brendan Moylan over at DA sometimes because his kids go there.” Brendan Moylan writes that “not much changes in my world though everything is changing in Durham.” He has two kids at Durham Academy: a son in third grade and daughter in sixth grade. Duncan Isley writes from the perhaps only remaining rural spot with cows left in Durham: “Entering my 30th year at Duke Health System as a business analyst — only job I've known since graduating from N.C. State. My son, Angus, is finishing his sophomore year at N.C. State in sports management. I will have a new neighbor later this year

as my brother Nathan ’83 finishes building his house on our ‘compound.’ I will no doubt enjoy working more on outside pasture projects which may or may not necessarily need a tractor and its implements to complete the tasks!” I’ve had the deep pleasure of remaining close friends with Cheryl Ann Welsh, who lives in Durham with her two dogs and wife Rebecca, and has become quite the gardener. Cheryl Ann works for the East Coast Greenway Alliance, a bike route between Calais, Maine and the Florida Keys. It’s on my bucket list. In nearby Raleigh, Ken Bowers writes that he saw some big changes in the last year. “I married the wonderful Jeanna Cullinan. On November we welcomed a healthy baby Ethan into the family. So far this adventure into geezer parenthood has been quite a joy. Same job and same house, although we had to scramble to get some last minute renovations done before the baby arrived. Things are good.” Ken is the planning director of Raleigh. Urban planner! Lawrence Frank is alive and well in Atlanta and writes, “I’m kept very busy raising a 14-year-old girl, Sophie, with my wife, Laurie. Sophie is doing well in the eighth grade at Marist School and is an active participant in the Marist Arts program — both chorus and school musicals (she got that talent from her mother). I am managing a national planning practice for Atkins North America with staff in various offices from Las Vegas to Washington, DC. Our work ranges from helping communities rebuild after major disasters to urban design and downtown revitalization to master planning on military bases in the US and Europe. Laurie works for a financial investor.” Yep. urban planner. The Big Apple still has hold of Maria Deknatel, who writes, “I'm in NYC as I have been for the last 25 years or so (!) and am working as attorney in the NYS Attorney General's Office. I haven't been back to Chapel Hill or Durham in a while, but our elder daughter will be starting at Davidson in the fall, so I am looking

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

forward to many more visits in the near future. She loves N.C., and it's lovely to circle back to my childhood home.” Sara Levin Washburn and her husband Mark are in Jacksonville, FL, raising a crew of five — yes five — beautiful and talented kids, the oldest of whom is in law school! I hope to see some of you in person sometime in the coming year. It’s been too long.

Class of 1986 Jonathan Avery Rob Everett Salvete, omnes! With the international excitement surrounding the final episodes of Game of Thrones, it’s tempting to try to work Westeros-related themes through these notes, but something else has suggested itself, as you’ll discover when you reach the contributions of Tony Han et al. News from Terry Fraser-Reid, checking in from the furthest north: “I am alive and well (although maybe a little cold at times) in Montreal, where I've been living for the past 15 years. My wife of nearly 10 years, Carolyne, and I are busy with our 8-year-old son, Sam, and our 2-year-old Labradoodle, Charlie Brown. I made my way to Montreal after finishing an MBA at UC Berkeley and working in Minneapolis for a few years. I'm now working in real estate development for Cadillac Fairview, a Canadian commercial real estate company, while Carolyne heads a travel company. Things get a bit hairy during football and hoops season: I still cheer for (and suffer with) the Blue Devils (saw them play McGill up here in September), while Sam has (somehow?!) turned into the biggest Heels fan in Canada. We come together on baseball though — Sam is a big a Durham Bulls fan. I get back to the Triangle from time to time to visit my folks in Pittsboro. If any of you make it through Montreal, look me up!” Betsey Sparling Ervin provides an update on her peregrinations: “Hey all! So good to hear about everyone. We moved back from Barcelona

this past summer after being in Europe for three years for my husband’s job. Japan for a year before that. Moving to CLT this summer to live near my brother. Have two kids — 16-year-old girl, 14-year-old boy. All is well, silversmithing and starting to weld! Never thought I’d end up doing this, but here I am. All the best to you guys! Love the updates!” From the Lone Star State, Susan Behar Bonsell: “Hi all — Behar here. Living in Dallas (20 years now), still working on the hated Wall Street (25 years now) — but from my street. Office renovation sent me to my house ‘temporarily’ — which has been great. More time during the week with my two boys when they are home — breakfast and home when they get home from school (seventh and 10th). My husband, Shawn, is still doing triathlons/Iron Man — but we only tag along if in fun locations. Lubbock in June — passing on that one. In his spare time, he is still an orthopedic surgeon. All well here. I get back to Durham to see my parents periodically — headed there in July. Best to everyone — hope to see soon.” Anne Boat relates: “Made a move to Chicago after accepting a position as associate chief medical officer and director of fetal anesthesia at Lurie Children’s Hospital (located downtown on the Northwestern Medicine Campus). Survived my first Chicago winter and have quickly grown to love this city. It took my daughter (sophomore in high school) a little longer to adjust but she has really embraced the change and has a great group of new friends. My son graduates from college next month and then is off into the working world (I hope). If anyone is ever in Chicago, don’t hesitate to contact me.” Phil Oldham has many changes to report: “I left my job at Middlebury College a year ago and after four months as the interim director in Libya last year, I am now the interim director of business development at the International Rescue Committee based in New York. I lead a team of 25 in London, Berlin and New York

Class Notes

responsible for writing grants to governmental and inter-governmental donors to support the agency’s humanitarian and emergency relief programs around the world. I’d like the position to turn permanent and will know by the end of the summer. If anyone is in New York, I am there most M-F and then commute home to Vermont for the weekends so let me know if you are in town. My daughter Fiona will be at American University next year and since D.C. is a frequent destination for my IRC work, I am looking forward to seeing her often there. I hit the road Monday for a cross country tour with my son, Jess, who is a junior to look at a range of schools. My wife Jen is still the executive director of Vermont Works for Women which does vocational training for women in non-traditional fields like construction and electrical work … so life is busy with me in NY and the kids finishing high school, and Jen putting in 60+ hours a week, but it’s all good. Jen and I are both dealing with parental health issues which is probably a common theme for us all as well. And, I finished the Boston Marathon last Monday, April 15. It was 70 and sunny for the last 90 minutes so pretty brutal, but I just managed to re-qualify for next year … if I decide to do it! Hope to catch up with everyone in the coming year in N.C., N.Y. or elsewhere.” Alan Ellis reports from across the Bull City: “Life has been interesting lately. Genevieve and I separated in May 2017 and are now divorced. My dad died peacefully in June 2017 in Mammoth Cave, KY, near his childhood home. All three kids were with him, and we had just enjoyed a large family reunion together. Shortly after that, I was diagnosed with a desmoid tumor above the left clavicle. The tumor is ‘benign’ (non-metastatic) and doesn’t hurt; so far it has involved only some mildly annoying treatment and periodic MRI scans. These events were unexpected, and I find it strange to be single, parentless and experiencing any health problem other than the

occasional minor sports injury. Meanwhile, I’m still living in Durham and enjoying my job as assistant professor at the N.C. State Department of Social Work, where I teach and do research on mental health services, child well-being and research methods. I’ll be considered for promotion and tenure during the 2019–2020 academic year. I live with my seven-year-old boxer, Samantha, and I'm in frequent contact with my 26-year-old son, Cody, who lives nearby and works as a security guard. I'm still playing ultimate as often as possible and am traveling to multiple tournaments this year. Last August I clocked my worst time ever in the annual DA alumni cross-country meet, so this year I plan not to do a strenuous bike ride on the same day.” Lisa Tulchin writes: “No new news per se. I’m continuing with my teaching software classes around the world. (Lucky enough to travel on someone else’s dime.) This summer will be our biennial trip to Germany to visit my in-laws.” From Emma Fortney McCarty, whose photos of Colorado continue to amaze: “I am still in Colorado and loving it. Hoping to see some DA alums at JazzFest this year. My oldest daughter is starting the college application process soon which brought us back to N.C. this spring. Amazing to see the changes on DA campus. Still working too much and fantasizing about early retirement.” Brenda Smith, who regularly posts beautiful photos from Lake Gaston on Facebook, shares: All is well in my world! Still practicing at Duke in cardiac electrophysiology, and keeping busy with my wife and sweet beagle! Best to all of you.” In the Nutmeg State, Lisa Bradford Lee writes: “Hi all! Lisa (the other Lisa) here … my family and I are still in Madison, CT, an adorable town on the coast of CT, which is just perfect! We have lived in CT for almost 14 years now (before that we were in Manhattan for two years and Boston for nine) … we just gave up our season tickets to the Red Sox this year as it was just too hard to get

there with sports schedules … we have two kids Chris (Topher) who is 11 and Keelan who is 9 … two dogs and two fish. I stopped working three years ago and have been renovating our house and doing the PTO thing and loving it. We get back to Durham at least four x a year and our guys go to Camp Sea Gull and Camp Seafarer each summer (Chris for four weeks this year) … we try to go to a Duke basketball and football game each year, and hang out at my parents house who are still in the same house. I have enjoyed following everyone on Facebook!” Fellow educator Barbara Bossen contributes: Hi all, not a whole lot to report here. Life is busy as usual. I am living in Durham and still loving it. I live around the corner from my sister and down the street from my parents. How lucky is that? I work in the school system with young children, serving students in an outreach capacity and also as a member of a multi-disciplinary assessment team. My own two kids in college. My son is graduating in May after working hard with two majors and is headed to grad school in the fall (social work). My daughter is finishing up her freshman year and wants to become an educator. I am looking forward to having them both home over the summer!” Alec Bell checks in from near Sun Drop headquarters: “Kristi and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary and are still in Plano. Alan Ellis was here in 2017 for a conference and we got together, and we visit every now and then when we travel back to N.C. for family and OBX visits. I did see Misters Everett and Paletz at RDU last June. With a little more effort, I may randomly see everyone by age 103.” Rob Phay briefly updates: “News here: Sofia graduates in June; her parents are wondering what's next. My parents will be attending their third Williams graduation.” From furthest west, Tony Han, after learning of Phil Oldham’s contribution, indicates: “Unsavory … conventional wisdom tells me that it's never

easy to raise the bar on Phil, but I'm happy to share that I had lunch with Michael Loehr and his wife last week while passing thru Seattle (he looked older than our days back at DA) … am getting a haircut on Friday, need to catch up on a few loads of lights (low on underwear) and just ran out of allergy eye drops tonight … Would this make the cut, and if so, blow this out into a full report too?” Yes, Tony, that made the cut, though I feel like you’ve said it all. From down the road in the greater Raleigh-

2019–2020 Alumni Board Nick Livengood ’08 President Sterling Mah Ingui ’97 Vice President Steed Rollins ’78 Torsie Judkins ’91 Millie Long Barritt ’94 Adam Lang ’98 Sarah Graham Motsinger ’00 Lee Patterson ’00 Molly Kane Frommer ’01 Amelia Ashton Thorn ’01 Ben Mark ’03 Katye Proctor Freelon ’03 Kent Cheesborough ’05 Margie Gudaitis ’07 Margaret Anderson ’09 Kyle Mumma ’09

Durham area, Rob Everett weighs in: “Like Han, I am getting a haircut today and am catching up on laundry. Unlike Han, I have not seen Loehr recently. However, I am planning a trip to Seattle and the San Juan Islands this summer — so Loehr, I’ll call you, OK? Han, when are you visiting Durham next? … Sorry, I got off subject. Anyhow, life is good. My biggest disappointment is not getting to see Jon Avery this season at the Durham Academy-Ravenscroft

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Class Notes

JV baseball game. Which reminds me: I hope our wonderful classmates are all doing well and have undergone painless colonoscopies without complications.” As for me (Jonathan Avery), from North Raleigh: “I’m finishing my 20th year of teaching Latin and Ancient Greek at Ravenscroft (no chair yet, it’s awarded at 25). My oldest daughter is heading off to Chapel Hill next year, while her sisters are wrapping up 10th grade. My lovely wife, Kirsten, continues to enjoy seeing patients as a family physician at her practice near Rex Hospital. In March I had my annual haircut at a St. Baldrick’s event where I was knighted for seven years of having my head shaved. Vobis feliciter — the best to everyone! Though it’s not a major reunion for us, Homecoming this Fall (Oct. 4) will be a great chance to catch up!”

Class of 1991 Torsie Judkins Nicole Ramsdell: “Still living in Charlotte with hubby, working in the Belk legal department and trying to keep up with our daughter (11) and son (7). Malinda Maynor Lowery: “I am living in Durham and teaching in the history department at UNC-Chapel Hill. I published my second book in 2018, The Lumbee Indians: an American Struggle. My daughter Lydia attends the Hill Center and I recently had the chance to reconnect with DA as the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award winner(!).” Jonathan Tsipis: “Finished my third year at Wisconsin as head women’s basketball coach. I have a piece of the old DA court in my office that Coach E. gave me. Love watching my daughter play high school basketball and my son play basketball and baseball. Really enjoy having classmate Torsie Judkins and his family come visit Madison, meet our team and talk about DA. Was very proud of and followed closely the great season coach Tim McKenna and the [DA] boys team had this year.” Laura Ritchie Taliaferro: “I am

still living in Norfolk with my husband, Lloyd, and two boys. Lawson is a sophomore and Bo is in eighth grade. I am finishing up my 13th year as a speech pathologist at my neighborhood elementary school. Lloyd still runs a tugboat and barge company. We enjoy time on the water, both river and beach time. Laura Virkler: “We have three kids still at DA and we are very involved. If anyone ever wants to come by and see our new STEM and Humanities building at the Upper School or get a virtual tour of what we’re getting ready to build at the Middle School, please let me know. Chairing Building and Grounds, so very much involved in the day to day process of designing and building these new buildings! Can’t believe that we are now in college search mode as our oldest, Ella, is a junior at DA. Very scary since it doesn’t seem so long ago that all of us were doing that! Douglas Dicconson: “Still enjoying living in CT, launched Theorem Studios last year and this year very excited about launching an educational non-profit, Theorem Media, with fellow DA grads Torsie Judkins and Charlie Shipman ’92!” Allison McWilliams: “Still working at Wake Forest, leading mentoring programs and young professional development. The job lets me travel fun places, and living in Winston means I occasionally see Clint Acrey and Kathy Oakes. And every once in a while I get to catch up with folks like Laura Horton Virkler when they are over this way. Hope everyone is doing well!” Lee Sullivan: “Our big news last year was we moved to Canada; we are now living in Montreal. It only took a few weeks for our kids to ditch their English accents, they sound completely American now. Not sure how long we will stay here but it feels good to be living in North America again after 17 years across the pond.” Virginia Reves Hall: “Had a wonderful time Friday night honoring fellow Singdahlsen advisee Melinda Maynor Lowery and catching up with Beth Bruch and Christy

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Sporledor Roses at the DA Alumni Spring Reception! It’s so great to see what amazing work our fellow grads are doing! And always fun to reminisce. As our fearless reporter knows, I traveled to NYC for part of spring break and made sure to catch up with Torsie for a drink before seeing Hamilton with Conrad and the girls! I am currently teaching my fifth grader and coaching my seventh grader here at DA — definitely a memorable time! Wishing all of our classmates the best!” Torsie Judkins: “Still living in the suburbs of NYC and commuting out to Brooklyn. Enjoying my job as the director of admissions at the International School of Brooklyn. My twin girls are now eight and heading to third grade in the fall. I try to spend time with as many DA alumni as I can in the tri-state area including Doug Dicconson, Charlie Shipman ’92, Johnny Rosenthal ’90, Tyler Brodie ’92, Bryson Brodie ’96 and more. I take yearly trips to Madison, WI, to visit coach Jon Tsipis and the Wisconsin Badgers.

Class of 1993 Ryan Frost Eric Stamm: “I exist and live in Chapel Hill. That is all.” Kyle Maynard is living in Raleigh with his wife, Sarah, and two kids. They are doing great and life is good as always for Kyle and his family. Lots of time with the kids, Sarah, family time at the beach and hunting when he can. Eric Hagan is doing great living in Durham, selling rocks with his wife and two kids. Really he is just financing his time on the water with the rock sales. The group he works with does some amazing stuff with outdoor living spaces. Hilary Sparrow lives in Washington state with her husband and kids and seems to be outdoors in that beautiful part of the country all the time. She just recently completed a huge college tour with her oldest, taking tours through all of New England, New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. She was even able to get in some great live music in Nashvegas!

Arden Ward: “I live on Shelter Island — a small island between the north and south forks at the east end of Long Island. It's 100 miles from Manhattan, and you have to take a ferry to get there. I have been working in administration for New YorkPresbyterian Hospital since 2005 and am lucky enough to work from home. I commute a couple times a month to NYC, but am otherwise home with my husband, Andrew, and our two boys, Christopher (8) and Tucker (6). All are welcome to come visit!” Laura Dunn: “My husband Jef and I are still raising six boys (ages 3 to 13) in Austin, TX, and making documentary films. Our most recent work, Look & See: A Portrait of Wendell Berry, can now be viewed on Netflix. We’re in production on a new film about the denaturing of American childhood that takes us adventuring around the country exploring natural places. We are hoping to take an East Coast road trip this summer and reconnect with friends in Durham. Raymond Guiteras: “Mabel, Liliana and I welcomed Isabela Hortensia Guiteras to our home last January. ‘Isa-Isa’ narrowly lost the 5M front crawl to Colette Musante during Colette's recent visit to Raleigh, but had a decisive win in the Cranial Circumference Competition. Liliana is all in as a Wolfpack fan, and even expresses some affection for the local institution hosting the Lemur Center. We have enjoyed having Robert Tyler in the neighborhood — Rob is frequently seen dominating the pickup Sunday volleyball game at our local park. Mabel continues consulting work with local charter schools, and I continue to write papers and occasionally mumble at blackboards here at NC State.” Lauren Jacobi: “I live in Cambridge, MA, with my husband, a massage therapist. I'm on the faculty in the Department of Architecture at MIT where I research and teach Renaissance architectural history.” Mike Vann: “To give you an idea of what I've been up to, I returned to Durham after an exciting 15-year pursuit in

Class Notes

the feature film, television and motion picture industry. My focus was initially in the creative story-telling (i.e. picture editing) realm, but gradually shifted toward directing. Between ’99 and ’14 I had the great opportunity to volunteer on several Independent Film Festivals and contribute to movies directed and/or produced by Tony Goldwyn (Someone Like You), Cameron Crowe (Vanilla Sky), Spike Jonze (Adaptation) and Jerry Bruckheimer (Kangaroo Jack). I spent three years as a video editor (+ D.V. cameraman) on a young-hollywood paparazzi style reality show called The Red Carpet/V.I.P Access. And for several years I lived in the L.A. neighborhoods of Culver City, Santa Monica and the uber-bohemian town of Venice Beach, California. It was a great time. Since I've been back home (’14), I've let go of creative endeavors and have been catching up with old friends, exploring new interests and working as a Google Maps Street-View Driver. I've had the opportunity to travel all over the Carolina Piedmont area, as well as in Jacksonville, FL, and Charleston, SC. It’s been good times driving a cool James Bond car with a slick roof camera attached. Tyler lives in Brooklyn and Maine. Elijah lives in a town called Winchester, MA, with his wife and two kids. DA has gone through a lot of interesting transitions over the years. It’s still got the old-school feel of ’93, but there are several new buildings on campus as well. A few old-school faculty members remain but most have retired or moved on. I got involved with DA Summer Camps a few years ago, and have so far enjoyed the transition from student to instructor. Timur Akinli lives in Wilmington, NC, working from home as a adolescent psychiatrist via a telemedicine company he works for. He just recently purchased a house on the Intercoastal. He does not have the boat to go with it yet but it is coming. He lives there with his wife, Katie, and their two boys, Aydin and Tyler. David Cope moved to Alabama this fall with his wife

(Donna) and three children. The last I heard he was still a stay at home dad, farmer, hunter, gatherer and connoisseur of all life has to offer. I, Ryan Frost am living in Canaan, NH, with wife, Meredith, and three kids, Caroline (12), Natalie (11) and James (9). I’m working as the athletic director and lacrosse coach at Cardigan Mountain School, where I’ve been the AD for 12 years. In down time in the summer, I love making an annual trip to Topsail Island where I have often been able to catch up with David Cope and/or Timur Akinli over the years.

Class of 1994 Beverley Foulks McGuire Members of the class of ’94 report back that life is good. John Hage was awarded the DA Alumni Service Award on April 26, 2019, and several classmates, including Drew Taska, were able to celebrate with him in person. Garrett Putman and Ben Swain coached their two sons (both named Wesley — Wesley Swain ’27 and Wesley Putman ’27) and teammates to an undefeated season and a back-to-back Woodcroft Basketball Tournament Championship this winter! “My toughest assignment was making sure that Swain didn't get thrown out of any games,” reports Garrett. He is also coaching the Carolina Flyers, a sixth grade AAU basketball team made up of eight current DA students, together with Andy Pogach, DA's new Athletic Director. Alycia Levy Fortin moved back to Durham from New York City a few years ago, and her husband, Fabrice Fortin, is the fifth grade math teacher at Durham Academy. They had a big year as they welcomed their second child, daughter Alaina, on April 1. She is a silly, fun and sweet baby and they are so grateful she is here. Also, it turns out they’ll have another DA alumni in the family, as their son Avery, age 4, will start pre-k at Durham Academy in the fall, Class of

2033! Betsy Reves Sidebottom is still loving life in Charleston, SC. It’s hard to believe this year marks 16 years in Charleston, as well as living near her parents and sister, Christy Reves ’92. Betsy and Richard have 7-yearold twin girls, a 6-year old boy and two dogs (14 and 13.) Life is busy but fun. Drop Betsy a note if you're in the Charleston area! It was a stressful fall in Wilmington following the extensive flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Florence. Although there are still families displaced and businesses that have not re-opened, the city has definitely rallied together to help with recovery efforts. My 7-year old daughter and 5-year old son keep me busy between their swim practice and martial arts classes, and I continue to enjoy teaching Asian religions at UNC-W. In June I will finish a year-long training as a mindfulness teacher, and I am looking forward to incorporating mindfulness and yoga into my classes in the fall. I hope that everyone is doing well, and I look forward to seeing folks from the class of ’94 at our 25th reunion in the fall!

reports: “Since July 2018, we have provided close to 4,000 lbs. of non-perishable food items to our local partner organization, One Heart for Women and Children — all from donations from neighbors in my 32804 zip code. We make it easy for people to donate by delivering a BOGO bag to their home. When the bag is full, we pick it up and deliver it to the partner organization. My goal is to launch this in more communities. It has been so rewarding and the support behind it has been amazing!” I (Martha Rundles Palmer) was recently down in Durham with my two children and saw a bunch of DA alums. During a walk through the Duke Gardens, Summer Lowe Webbink and I ran into Caroline Helwig Dudley who was in town for her 20-year Duke college reunion.

Class of 1995 Martha Rundles Palmer We’ve got wonderful updates from our classmates this year! Charles Gery writes, “In 2006 I met a Swedish girl (Alexandra) visiting Chapel Hill, convinced her to stay and go to school in NC and we were married in 2010. I worked as a finance director for Mark Jacobson Toyota from 2006–2016 and she graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a doctorate in audiology. We moved to Sweden in 2016 and had a daughter (Kerstin) the same year. I learned Swedish, got permanent residence and am now working for a Swedish company called Seaflex as their global sales manager. We have an office in Huntington Beach, CA, so I travel there a few times a year.” Lindsay Couch Kilgore has started a non profit called BOGO32804 in Orlando. She

Caroline Helwig Dudley, Summer Lowe Webbink and Martha Rundles Palmer.

Caroline is managing director at Accenture, where she’s been for 19 years. She and her husband live in Charlotte and have four kids — Davis (12), Grayson (10), and twins, Will and Gus (3). Summer was recently promoted to associate director of compliance services at Duke. She’s married to fellow alum, Matt Webbink, and they have two boys attending DA — Jakob ’24 (13) and Joss ’26 (10). Amanda McCoy Sachs and I trekked into NYC for an afternoon this winter to see Ward Horton ’94 in TorchSong on Broadway! Before heading home that night, we grabbed a drink with Elizabeth Richey Thompson, who was in NYC on a girls trip. Elizabeth

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Class Notes

lives in Denver with her husband, Bennett, and two kids, Reeves (10) and Lane (8). Thanks for all the great submissions this year! It’s always so fun to see classmates and hear your news.

Class of 1996 Kimberly Judge Sandridge For this year’s notes section, our class is answering the question: Where have you traveled recently or where are you planning/ hoping to go in the near future? Aga Worniallo ChenFu writes, “Last summer we traveled to China! This summer we are exploring the Grand Canyon and Sedona.” Amanda Teer Lloyd writes, “I have always loved to travel and now our kids are old enough to start to experience some new and foreign destinations. We recently took a Caribbean cruise, which was a great way to travel with kids. Our favorite destination was Roatan, Honduras, where we took an amazing zip line tour overlooking the Caribbean. It had 12 lines on the tour, some of which were over 1000-feet long. We are all dreaming of our next cruise next year!” Eva Tayrose Novick writes, “Last summer, we went to both Alaska and Hawaii. We still hadn’t made it to either place in the 15 years we’ve been on the West Coast and decided to do both while my husband was on sabbatical. The best experience was the night snorkel with the manta rays on the Big Island; it was very cool and different than anything we’ve done before.” Heather Foulks Kolakowski writes, “I’m still in Ithaca, NY, teaching at the Hotel School at Cornell. I had the opportunity this past January to travel with my faculty colleagues to London to meet with alumni and industry professionals to discuss the European hospitality markets (Brexit anyone?). It was a nice trip, if jam-packed with site visits. Looking forward to vacationing at Emerald Isle with my family in June!” Jonathan Levy writes, “I am currently working as the lead maps designer at Facebook, and

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

recently traveled to Iceland. I’m also writing plays and films and recently had a play, Camping Out, produced by the Collective NY. I’m putting out a short film called Unleashed very soon!” Loren Clemens writes, “I'm still making my home in WinstonSalem, and last year I traveled to Charleston and nearby Folly Beach in SC to visit with friends and family. This summer my boyfriend and I hope to visit friends in San Diego and get some West Coast vibes in our life. Things are good!” Louella Hung writes, “The latest news is that my husband, Dan, and I have a new addition to our family. Baby

Clark, son of Louella Hung.

Clark joins our two-year-old son Blake.” Maria Marinos Barton writes, “Lance and I have been in NYC for almost 13 years now, and have two girls, Madeleine (5) and Nicole (2). Since we're not near family our travel usually revolves around family visits, which is a nice opportunity to get out of the city. Occasionally we venture out on our own, skiing in Montana, sunning in Anguilla and we've booked our first trip to Disney World in the fall!” Miriam Varner Walsh writes, “I celebrated my eighth year of working as the accounting manager at Kanuga Conferences last fall. My son Declan is 10 years old and finishing an amazing fourth-grade year. I am about to embark on a pilgrimage to Greece with 10 women from all over the world (France, Greece, Canada, Ireland, Australia and the U.S.)

to complete my training to be an instructor in a women's embodied movement class called Qoya. Qoya allows us to remember our essence as women as wise, wild and free, through the ancient traditions of yoga and meditation, dance, feminine movement and community.” Sean Curry writes, “We’re off to San Diego in June with our two kids — Isla (4) and Julia (18 months) and are looking forward to a break from the DC pace.” William vonReichbauer writes, “The new year marked the beginning of my sixth year in Houston, TX, where I live with my wife, Heather, and our two cats, Buffy and Dmitri. In August, I began a new job teaching middle school math and science at a small, private school. In October, I launched a new musical project, William and the Texas Starlight, with a group of truly exceptional musicians. In addition to my own band, I maintain a busy schedule playing for other artists. In June, I’ll be hitting the road for two weeks on a 12-stop tour, backing two amazing Texas songwriters, which will take us to Chicago, New York, DC, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Nashville, Memphis, Birmingham, Little Rock and a few more stops along the way.” Finally, I, Kimberly Judge Sandridge, traveled to San Diego in January with our 5-year-old daughter (Sibyl) for a conference my husband (Norman) was attending. It was my first trip to California. Sibyl and I loved the San Diego Zoo and, of course, swimming in the outdoor pool in the middle of January — 65-degree air isn’t really my idea of ideal pool weather, but Sibyl thought it was divine! This summer we’re again turning a work trip into a family adventure when we will go to the Greek island of Andros. I’m now a lead primary teacher at Evergreen School, which is a Montessori school in Silver Spring, MD, and loving it! Let me know if you’re ever visiting Washington, DC. We live just over the MD/DC line and see the DC sights mostly when we’re touring with friends from out-of-town.

Class of 1997 Kadi Thompson Megan Hansing McNabb and family reside in the Triangle area. In the past couple of years, Megan made a career change from the financial industry into IT, and although big career changes at this age can be a little risky and scary, it has been a great move. Her daughter, Olivia, just turned 8 and her step-daughter will be 20 this year. Megan’s mom’s illness has required her to take on more care of her recently, so between work and family, life is busy but she cannot complain! Ashley Horton Freedman lives in Durham with her husband and three children. Her daughter started Middle School at DA this year. Her son is in second grade and her third son will start pre-k next year. She is enjoying getting involved in DA and the community. She co-chaired the DA Annual Benefit Auction this spring and joined the board of Habitat for Humanity in Durham last summer. She loves getting out there and swinging a hammer. Ashley sees Morgan Edwards Whaley frequently at various DA events since Morgan also has a fifth grader. Morgan now works in the development office at DA. Alisha Beckum Eastwood lives in San Francisco with her family: her partner, Lucas, her three kids (Asher, 5; Carmen, 4; Aaliyah, 19 months) and her dog (Kobe, 1). Currently, she spends her days full-time parenting. Alisha loves lifting weights at the gym and wishes sleep was easier to come by. She says if you happen to be in the city, please reach out! It is always fun to run into fellow DA alum. I, Kadi Thompson, had the pleasure of meeting up with Alisha for lunch a few months ago. While the Bay Area is still home, I’m currently on four-month sabbatical travelling around the world. The trip began with an epic safari in Kenya, followed by a month adventuring in New Zealand, and a month be-bopping all over Asia. I’m currently headed to Costa Rica for the month of May. The last stop on the trip will ironically

Class Notes

be in Durham, NC, while I go cheer on my sister at the Duke Basketball Fantasy camp the first week of June. Then it’s back to reality … and back to work.

Class of 1999 Nina Jacobi Has it really been 20 years? Amar Goli and his wife moved to Charlotte in December after being in Los Angeles for the last nine years. Amar is a managing director for Sands Investment Group, were he is responsible for the formation, growth and management of the Charlotte office, which opened in March 2019. Sands Investment Group is a commercial real estate brokerage firm that specializes in the buying and selling of Net Lease Investment Properties for private investors and institutions across the United States. Margaret Jones just started a new job at Vanderbilt and is settling into life in Nashville after an awesome road trip from Seattle to NC this March. The move back to the Southeast will let her be closer to home. Margaret is enjoying travel, hiking, hanging out with her pups and seeing old friends when she can. Catherine Ward teaches biology and chemistry at Durham Technical Community College, where she is also the biology lab coordinator. For the past two years, she has had the privilege of coaching the DA Lower

Grant, Drew and Collin, sons of Mike Dolan.

School Science Olympiad team. Catherine’s daughter, Lindsey Carpenter ’30, is about to finish first grade at DA, where there are plenty of other DA alum kids in her class. Daniel Raimi and his wife, Kaitlin, are enjoying life in Ann Arbor, MI, with their 8-month old son, Julian. Daniel is working on a new book on the projected effects of climate change in the United States, and in his ever-diminishing free time is playing tennis and guitar as always. Mike Dolan and his family, Natasha, Grant (5), Drew (3) and Collin (18 months), moved from Louisiana to Bettendorf, IA, in December 2018. Natasha is a middle school counselor and Mike continues to work for John Deere in the crop harvesting platform. Erika Estrada Boden just celebrated her three-year work anniversary at NBCUniversal Telemundo

Siobhan Grant ’00 and Brian Dobbins were married on Dec. 1, 2018, in Durham, North Carolina.

Enterprises, where she is vice president of business and legal affairs. Erika writes, “My husband, Jeff, and I have our hands and hearts full thanks to our daughters Aria (almost 5) and Chiara (almost 3). Looking forward to seeing everyone at our 20-year reunion in October!”

Class of 2001

Photo by Jim Rogalski

Amelia Ashton Thorn Allison Kirkland

Jason Sholtz ’99 immediately ran to the scene of the downtown Durham explosion on April 10 to help people injured in the blast.

Wow, guys, 2018–2019 was a busy year — a record (get it?) number of new jobs, new cities, new houses and new babies. To start, Durham is now the home of both your DA recorders (by which we mean the folks who write this annual column, and not the vertical flutes we played horribly in fourth grade). Last October, Amelia Ashton Thorn and her family departed Alexandria, VA, to become official residents of Durham. Amelia is working as a fellow at her

alma mater, Duke Law, in the Bolch Judicial Institute, designing educational programs for state and federal judges and editing Judicature, a journal on judging and judicial administration. Just a few weeks before the move, she gave birth to her second child, Natalie. It was a busy time, to say the least. Natalie, Amelia’s two-year-old son Ashton and her husband, Evan, are enjoying their new, much calmer, lives, and the kids are fascinated by the concept of a yard. They love playing with the kids next door, whose mom is also a DA alum. To find out who, you’ll have to read on! The baby-girl, DC-to-Triangle move combo is apparently now trending. Ali Hershey and her husband, who recently welcomed their second child, a girl, and are leaving Washington for Raleigh in summer 2019. Maybe they will see you at Wrightsville Beach, where they plan on spending lots of time. Mike Munson also welcomed a daughter, Juliette, into the world

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Class Notes

in February. Mike recently took a job doing estate planning with Kennon Craver, a Durham firm with a long history with DA. He lives with his wife, Sophia, and two children in Briar Chapel. Mary Blair and her husband, Hoang, also welcomed a new baby — son Nam was born Nov. 30 in New York City. All are doing well, she reports. Mary is working as a research scientist at the American Museum of Natural History and also teaching at Columbia University, where she sometimes sees Hannah Farber and, she adds, benefits from her parenting advice! Soon joining Mary in the Empire State will be Marion Penning, who wrote to say that after 10 years of living and teaching in Baltimore, her family is moving to Ithaca, NY! Her husband got a job in the Cornell Libraries and they are all excited to journey north to the land of winter. The rest of our class will be enjoying warmer weather! Nick Lehman moved back to Durham in March to start a new job working in the admissions office at NCSSM. Chris Sizemore also took a new job nearby: manager at Eagle Rock Concrete. He lives in North Raleigh with his wife, 2-year-old son, and 6-year-old daughter. Also with a new job in the Triangle is Orla Buckley O’Hannaidh, who in late 2018 began a new role as an in-house data privacy and security attorney for Red Hat. She says she is really enjoying the new job and a new perspective, having spent the previous six years at a law firm. She has monthly dinners with some DA friends, including Amelia Ashton Thorn, Molly Kane Frommer, Caroline Mage and Allison Kirkland. Orla and Caroline recently took a trip to visit Anne Lacy Gialanella in DC. And Orla also recently welcomed Amelia as her next door neighbor! See? It was worth it to keep reading. Also in a new house is Caroline Mage, who moved with her husband and two children to another spot within Durham and is loving her new digs. Yet another new homeowner is Jessica Streck, who, together with her husband

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Nick, bought their first home in Durham. Both are running a trail marathon across Durham this winter, and Jessica reports that she recently attended and presented at the AISL conference in Boston, MA. Like Jessica, Katie Ballou has also been presenting lately, traveling globally as an Apple Distinguished Educator to speak about the ways she uses iPads to teach and support the learning of language and literacy skills of her kindergarten ESL students. She is happily married in Salisbury, NC, and still enjoys fishing and running races. Meredith Bradley Sharpe and her husband, Matt, send their hellos from New Orleans. She reports that, as of the time we write this, they are in “festival season.” (Only New Orleans would have such a season!) They and their two daughters, Samantha, 2-and-a-half, and Natalie, 1, love their city. Meredith continues to work as a music therapist in her own practice, Sharpe Notes Music Therapy, which works with children with special needs and adults with neurological disorders. She has also enjoyed supervising music therapy students from Loyola University. Our other fearless recorder, Allison Kirkland, continues to enjoy life in Durham with her husband Paul and cat Lyra. This year she watched the Oscars with Amelia and it was just like old times, except Titanic didn’t win anything.

Class of 2002 Corey Mansfield Craig Juer lives in Virginia Beach “with my wife, Abbe, a VBPS school psychologist; our two boys, Reed (3) and Bowe (1); and our two dogs. I'm a Navy contractor providing project management support at the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).” Win Chesson moved to NYC over a decade ago to work a for non-profit devoted to LGBT asylum seekers. “After we won the freedom to marry (and could sponsor our same-sex husbands and wives for green cards!), I left for grad school in

business and public policy. I’m now working at Goldman Sachs where I advise our partners, private clients and non-profit endowments on investing their financial assets. I’m still swimming for fun, which is how I met boyfriend Audie McRae eight years ago. We were competing against one another at the Gay World Swimming Championships in Hawaii and have been together ever since.” Lizzy Graham Gonzalez and her husband Roberto live in Cary with their two young children, Isla (age 5) and Dash (age 3). Lizzy is currently CEO of their family life while Roberto travels regularly with his position at Zagg, Inc. Emily Moore-Pleasant Mango is a VP of investments and asset management at Hawthorne Residential Partners in Greensboro. Her company buys, develops and manages investment real estate such as apartments and self-storage properties in the southeastern U.S. on behalf of high net worth investors. She is married to “the nicest and best dentist in Greensboro” and collectively Emily and Mike have three children: Ike (19), Ava (9) and Christian (3). This summer the entire family is traveling to Japan to visit Ike while he studies abroad. Stephanie Callaway Ellison moved back to the Raleigh area a couple years ago from NYC with her husband, Jason, and goldendoodle, Dr. Mutley. She has since had two children, Colin and Brynn. She's an account manager with Channel Advisor, where she helps fashion clients achieve their ecommerce goals, and volunteers with the Junior League of Raleigh as their website manager. She loves being able to see other DA alumni on a more regular basis now that she's closer to home! Andrew Moon writes: “I am living in Durham with my wife, Sarah; 2-year-old, Cate; and 12+-year-old yellow lab Belle (the linchpin of the family). I am currently at UNC for gastroenterology/hepatology fellowship with a plan to pursue a fellowship in transplant hepatology.” Joe Piscitello: “Living in

Hillsborough with my wife and two sons. I work as an anesthesiologist at Alamance Regional Hospital. Our oldest son will be starting at Durham Academy in kindergarten this year. Bryan Anna: “I am living in Chapel Hill and am working for the family business, Resolute Building Company. Engaged and getting married this summer.” Lindsay Speir Ambler and husband Jon are still loving Winston-Salem and are very happy to be back in North Carolina. “I am enjoying taking some time away from the classroom to spend time with our 2-year-old and have taken advantage of being able to volunteer at his preschool, as well as with the March of Dimes. I have also started teaching a mother and baby yoga class, which has combined three things I love: teaching, children and yoga! Teresa Bejan has been teaching as an associate professor of political theory and a Fellow of Oriel College at Oxford since 2015. “My first book, Mere Civility: Disagreement and the Limits of Toleration, came out in 2017, and it's coming out in (a very reasonably priced) paperback edition from Harvard University Press in October. I gave a TED talk on civility last autumn that's received about 1.4M views at this point, which suggests that other people are not as sick of talking about civility as I am. I've been really pleased to have occasional visitors from Durham visit me in Oxford, including Ingrid Smith and John Hammond's lovely parents — so please do get in touch if you're in the UK and fancy a cup of tea.” Andrew Dong can't believe it's almost May already “but it feels like I just got married even though that was last August. My amazing wife's name is Ju and believe it or not, we met through Tinder a little over three years ago. It actually works! I got a super cute dog out of the deal, too, so I consider myself very lucky! We live in NYC where I've been since I graduated from UNC. Around the time I met Ju, I left finance behind to do data strategy for an advertising agency and she

Class Notes

does product design for a very well known cosmetics company. We've been back to NC a few times but I still need to bring her back to the DA campus the next time we get a chance to visit! Simon Curtis is living in Cary “with my wife Despina and two kids, Arabella, 3, and Banks, 1. I've been working at Duke for the last eight years and am currently working for the PDC, Duke Health's faculty practice, as the vice president of ambulatory services. We're pretty boring but whenever we can, I throw it back to high school and hang out with Anje, Yarbs, PJ, Lizzy Graham, Cat Clark and Ben and Irene who all live close by. Kathleen Glaser Belknap lives “in Athens, GA, with my husband Sam, our daughter Claire (6) and twins Jack and Miller (2). We moved here about a year ago for Sam to start private practice urology after living in Lexington, KY, for five years for his residency. We spent part of spring break this year in Durham, including a visit with Rachel Croughwell Cocchiaro (who I still talk to weekly) and her family at their farm in Hillsborough. Julianna Tabor Rozycki lives in San Diego now, “missing that aloha life but happy to be closer to family and friends. Continuing to work for urban education by recruiting school leaders for Rocketship charter schools across the U.S. My boys are 5 and 3 and our third baby is due in late June! Lizzi Clark is doing well, “finished my OBGYN residency last June, and now am living in Atlanta with my husband (!) and finishing up my first year of fellowship in family planning. It’s been nice living so close to home!” Hunter Brooks: “I live in Manhattan with my partner and work on fraud investigations for an advertising company. In my spare time I make pottery and bake pies. I haven't gotten great at either of those hobbies yet, but life is long. I would love to see any DA folks who are up in New York. Brad Russell “moved back to the States from Okinawa, Japan, last summer after three years. My wife, Lauren, and I welcomed our second daughter,

Sally Preminger ’03 and Grant Kudert were married Nov. 17, 2018, in Chicago, Illinois. Back row: Effi Ekanem ’03, Seth Preminger ’03, Eric Healy ’03. Front row: Sara (Malenbaum) Kasten ’03, Sally (Preminger) Kudert ’03, Stuart Ramsey ’03.

Caroline, right before that. I don't recommend moving across the world with a 10-week-old and a 2-year-old if you can help it. We live in Dayton, OH, currently where I serve as the chief of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Wright-Patterson AFB. Katie Underhill lives in NYC and “I'm working as the senior director of marketing for a women's fashion brand called Tanya Taylor. I live with my boyfriend and our old English bulldog named Maybe.” Bryan Rahija got married last year and is living in Brooklyn. He works as a product manager at Etsy, where he helps a team of designers, engineers and researchers build tools for creative entrepreneurs. Brendan Walters joined Raleigh software startup Pendo.io in 2015 “when it fit into two offices in HQ Raleigh. Not quite four years and three office moves later, it has two floors in the Wells Fargo building, five offices in three countries, and has been quite a rocketship ride. Incidentally, we keep winning ‘Best Places to Work’ awards and are hiring!” After moving all up and down the East Coast, Jonathan Pas has been living in Atlanta for the past three years with his wife Laura. They have two kids, 4 and 2 years old, one

born in Boston and one in Atlanta. They have two French bulldogs, and stay busy with lots of kid activities, sports and trips to the beach. Their newest adventure has been raising chickens in the backyard, with two very eager egg collectors. Rob Koenig says all is well up in Massachusetts, “where I've been living for the better part of 16 years since leaving fair NC after DA. After college I spent five years working for the Clinton Foundation, and then I headed back to grad school for an MBA. Since then I've worked in state government, consulting and now at the Harvard Kennedy School, where I help run a program that provides technical assistance to state and local governments to improve the effectiveness of their health and human services programs. My wife, Reilly, recently finished grad school herself and is back at the same non profit consultancy where she was before school. We got married this past July in Boston — it was a totally joyous and blissfully mild summer day. Corey Mansfield moved to Pinehurst last year with her boyfriend, Glenn, and two dogs, Huck and Bandit. She’s been working at Captrust for the past

couple years where she’s part of an advisory team which was recently ranked in Barron’s top 50 Institutional Consultants for 2019. She enjoys filling her furniture consignment space, baking and is looking forward to taking some golf lessons.

Class of 2005 Andrew Weinhold The class of 2005 family has been busy taking on some new challenges and adventures across the country and world lately. Not only that, but the family has continued expanding, according to some exciting recent announcements. For a number of ’05 alums, their biggest update was actually quite little. Kylan Lamont Smith welcomed a little boy, Reynolds, last July. Reynolds and family live in Charlotte while mom continues to work in wealth management at Wells Fargo Private Bank. Ben Chambers and his wife had their first child, Charles Bennett Chambers, Jr., on Dec. 19. The new addition goes by Bennett, and Ben says the happy family of three is doing well in Fayetteville. Additionally, Laura Johnson Shelton and her husband, Les, welcomed son Leslie

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Class Notes

Reynolds, son of Kylan Lamont Smith ’05

Bennett, son of Ben Chambers ’05

Leslie, son of Laura (Johnson) Shelton ’05

Lucy, daughter of Chip McCorkle ’05

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Phillip Shelton V on Feb. 13. In baby girl news, Jenny Drucker Varner and her husband Luke were excited to meet daughter Lillian (Lily) Jane on Sept. 19. Jenny reports that Lily is “full of energy and smiles and has already figured out how to pull our dogs' (Hooch and HannahBanana) tails.” Jenny took an extra year of medical school at Duke to be a mom and to do research in medical education. She plans to graduate from Duke Med next year and will be applying to pediatrics residency programs. Chip McCorkle and his wife, Allison, welcomed Lucy in December 2017 and have been having a blast raising her in Brooklyn. Chip still tries to gather with Alyx Cullen, Andrew Wooden and Ryan Steele to watch Duke basketball games when Lucy allows! Meanwhile, Anne Stevens Cable and her husband, Andy, welcomed their third child in January, a baby girl named Elizabeth. The family lives in Chapel Hill, which Anne notes has been a great fit for them. In other exciting news, Jeff Speir married Jess Pezley on May 18 in Chapel Hill. The couple met while attending law school in Portland, Oregon. They live in Washington, DC, with their dog and cat, and pursue careers in environmental protection and civil justice. The wedding party included Teddy Denton and Jake Stein, and attendees included other members of the Class of 2005. Trevor Reuss reports that he is taking a job in Singapore for the next couple of years, working as a civilian contractor for the U.S. Navy. Trevor extends a friendly offer to any traveling Cavs out there: “If any fellow alumni find themselves over there, please let me know and I can show them around.” Back in Durham, Irene Pappas and her husband, Ben Rudnick ’02, are enjoying life with their bernedoodles Liesl and LouLou. After moving back to Durham in 2015 from New York City, Irene started her own public relations consulting firm, eyePR. Irene has led several high profile projects in the Triangle including the brand

refresh for the City of Durham. Other Durham clients you may recognize include Durham Food Hall (coming soon and brought to you by Adair Mueller ’07), Empower Personalized Fitness, BridgePoint, Duke Homecare and Hospice and The Center for Child and Family Health. Keep an eye out for these busy alums as they chase dreams and toddlers in a city near you!

Class of 2007 Becki Feinglos Planchard Hello from the class of 2007! Let’s kick things off celebrating the many new babies welcomed by ’07 parents this past year. Michelle Sutton Armenteros and Natalie Sutton Alvarez each moved back to the Triangle in time to grow their families. After spending four years in Texas, Michelle and her husband, Javier, moved to Chapel Hill in fall 2018, where Michelle is working for her family’s hotel company. Michelle and Javier welcomed their son, Perry, in April. Natalie and her husband, Mike, welcomed their son, Seth, in January. Alex Hearsey Barker is also a part of a growing family. She welcomed her second child, Milo, who joined his big sister, Dylan, in December 2018. Alex continues to live happily in Durham, and works in literacy research at UNC-CH. Taylor Diamond Anthony gave birth to a baby girl, Woodley, in October, and Christine Hardman Broad is her godmother. Taylor recently moved to a new law firm, Goldberg Segalla, in Raleigh. Christine and her husband have enjoyed being back in Washington, D.C. She loves spending time with her golden retriever, Banks, and she recently got a new job at Edelman on their Financial Services and Capital Markets team. To round out new ’07 Cavalier babies, Jamie Gutter and his wife welcomed their daughter, Sophie Louise, born October 2018 in Nashville. Jamie will soon finish his second full year as a school principal. There are also quite

Class Notes

Sophie Louise, daughter of Jamie Gutter ’07.

a few weddings to celebrate! Sam Mumma started a new job at Passport, Inc. last spring in Charlotte. You may already be consumers of Passport if you’ve used an app to pay for parking when you’re strapped for cash. Sam will be marrying Kevin Livingston this August in Durham, at the same venue as Margie Gudaitis on back-toback weekends, with the help of the same wedding planner. Margie and her fiancé, Taylor Hess, live in Tucson, Arizona, where Margie works at the University of Arizona. Clark Wiztleben also will be getting married in August. He’ll marry Katy Grein in Telluride, Colorado. Clark has recently transitioned to the foodservice supply and restaurant design industry in Denver, after five years of major gift fundraising for Denver Health. Also joining the married-club soon is Andrew Liebelt, who will marry his girlfriend of six years, Chandler, in June in Raleigh. While based in New York City, Andrew has traveled around the country working with municipal governments in cities like Boston, Austin, Charlotte and San Diego to go paperless and bring their services online. Nellie Snider lives in the Vermont countryside, where she works at a small animal general practice. She shares that she couldn't be more excited to be getting married in September! Rob Brazer was married over Memorial Day 2018 in Chapel Hill, with many Durham Academy friends in attendance. He and Sabrina enjoyed another year in Seattle, where Rob works as a technical product

manager for Amazon Web Services. He and Sabrina added another goldendoodle to the family, Franklin, who joins Teddy. A couple of our classmates shared that they’re loving life in the Big Apple. If you’ve read The New Yorker lately, you’ve likely seen Sarah Ransohoff’s regular contributions to their Daily Shouts, and she also published a cartoon. Sarah lives in Gowanus, Brooklyn, working at a peer-to-peer marketplace for second-hand clothing in Soho. Elisabeth Sloan recently relocated from Washington, DC, to Manhattan. Elisabeth is working in commercial real estate finance, where she enjoys visiting properties like new spaces for tech companies. She’ll be visiting Durham soon and hopes to stop by DA. Rounding out our U.S.-based classmates, Patrick McLendon continues his residency in internal medicine at Broward Health in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Patrick has several medical journal articles in the submission and editing process, in addition to having shared several academic posters and lectures at recent medical conferences. He plans to apply for a fellowship in pulmonary critical care in the next year. Three of our classmates shared their experiences internationally over the past year. Cora Lavin is in her first semester of a master’s degree of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. She is enjoying the learning opportunity along with meeting people from around the world, as she shares this experience abroad

with her partner, Juan, who is studying cello performance. Gracelee Lawrence had a busy year. She attended seven artist residencies in the U.S. and abroad; was a visiting artist at Syracuse University and the University of Washington; and opened her first solo show at Thierry Goldberg Gallery in New York City. This fall she will be teaching at Kenyon College as a visiting assistant professor of sculpture. Terry Hsieh has spent the year on a tour of Asia with pop singer Karen Mok, as well as working in television bands for Chinese singing competition reality shows. He also released a new album of jazz-inspired pop covers called Full Metal Spice Packet with his band The Spice Cabinet. As for me, Becki Feinglos Planchard, moving back to North Carolina a year ago with my husband, Sean, was the best personal and professional decision I’ve ever made. I serve as the senior early childhood policy advisor with the NC Department of Health and Human Services, where I lead our statewide Early Childhood Action Plan, focusing on changing outcomes in child health, welfare and early education. While living in downtown Durham means a long daily commute to Raleigh, it also means that I have the pleasure of running into ’07 classmates often in the area — shoutouts to Parker Preyer because we live in the same building; to Eleanor Wertman (who just got married!) because I ran into her in the street; to Brooke Hartley Moy because I spend time with her living it up as an MBA student at Fuqua; and to Kendall Bradley (who just matched in a sports medicine fellowship in San Francisco!) because I run into her getting coffee. Until next year, Cavaliers!

Class of 2008 Samantha Leder Cheers to another great year for the class of 2008! I loved seeing so many return for our 10-year reunion last fall. Here’s to the next 10 years! Caitlin Burk will

be finishing up her second year of residency at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. She will be applying for allergy/immunology fellowships. Leslie Ogden finished her MBA in DC and moved to Charleston, SC, with her fiancé. She continues her career in strategic communications and marketing with a focus on environmental risk and awareness. Daniel Goldstein: “Completed my ARE Exams so I am now a licensed architect. Working at CCY Architects doing high end residential work in Aspen and Telluride, CO. Live and work in Basalt, CO. Ashley Brasier graduated from Stanford's Graduate School of Business last June. She is living in San Francisco, where she's a partner in Lightspeed Venture Partners, a venture capital firm. She focuses on investing in early stage consumer startups. John Lindsey is engaged and getting married this October. John and his fiancée are opening a SHED Fitness in Nashville. Lindsey Self Storage Group recently expanded its business to Asia. Nicholas Livengood is working as a commercial real estate attorney with Weatherspoon & Voltz in Raleigh. Chris Koller is doing his urology residency at Tulane in New Orleans. He is interested in genitourinary reconstruction. Nick Drago graduated with his master's in regulatory affairs from Northeastern University. Alexandra Davidson-Palmer is finishing up her masters in counseling at UNC-G and looks forward to traveling this summer! Brennan Vail Higgins will be entering her final year of pediatric residency this July at UCSF. She is enjoying living with her husband in SF and having her whole family in the same city! Peter Larson is continuing his career at the world's largest Marriott in Orlando as an Elite Specialist at the front desk. Peter and his wife, Hillary Rosen ’09, recently won a gold medal at an international ballroom dance competition. Elsa Ohman passed the Virginia Bar last summer. This fall, she was part of the defense team on a capital murder trial. She is now working as an assistant

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Class Notes

public defender in Arlington, VA. Samantha Leder continues to work at Duke Hospital as an inpatient nurse in adult hematology oncology.

Class of 2009 Collin Burks Hello from the Class of ’09! It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since we graduated from Durham Academy. Hopefully we will have a great turnout Oct. 4-5 for our 10-year reunion. Here are updates from some members of the class. Alexis Noel received her Ph.D. in in mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech in May 2018. Since then, she has been working at the Georgia Tech Research Institute as a research engineer and bio-mechanist. Outside of work, she spends time with her significant other and 5 pets (2 cats, 2 dogs, 1 chameleon). Over the last year, they started a non-profit community makerspace called Roswell Firelabs (Roswellfirelabs.org),

where they teach students both young and old how to prototype and design using tools like 3D printers, woodshop tools and CNC equipment. Kyle Mumma graduated from Fuqua in May 2018 and lives in Durham’s new One City Center building downtown. After business school he started a company called NextPlay that provides comprehensive career development programs to college athletics teams. He sold NextPlay to another startup called Parallel in April 2019 and he is now a co-founder at Parallel doing similar work to what he was doing at NextPlay. He has a puppy, Jameson, who is five months old. Also in the area, Collin Burks is finishing up her first year as a resident in family medicine at UNC. David Hey got married in 2018 and moved to San Francisco after spending five years in NY. He is a data scientist at WeWork and stays busy hiking and biking around the Bay Area. Claire Burridge finished her Ph.D. at

Cambridge and will begin a postdoctoral fellowship in Rome in September. She says to let her know if you’re ever in the area, that she is always happy to be a tour guide. After two years in LA working on Netflix films, Peter Gudaitis moved to Amsterdam in September for a six-month stint. Despite learning only a few words of Dutch and experiencing his first winter in four years, he decided he didn’t want to leave. He moved there full-time in March to take advantage of easy European travel and thousands of miles of bicycle paths in the countryside. Carmen Augustine is living and working in NYC with her spirit animal, Tilda. This summer, she is going back to school to study nutrition. Also in New York, Gargi Bansal is working and getting her MBA at NYU Stern School of Business. Outside of work and school, she loves checking out shows around the city. Stephanie Roses is graduating from Duke University School of Medicine

and moving to Manhattan for her neurology residency with Cornell Medicine at New York Presbyterian and Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospitals. She is very much looking forward to Duke Basketball playing at Madison Square Garden and having a Second Ave Deli within walking distance! Noah Katz has continued to work hard at his business, but given the challenges of the industry it's been tough. He just finished and shipped a world-first 7GPUsingle-platform liquid cooled rendering supercomputer that will be used to make the amazing visually engaging backdrops used by world-famous electronic music artists. He has also started making a lot more traditional desktops and workstation computers for ordinary people, not just crypto enthusiasts. He continues to develop his abilities in industrial design and prototyping. He would also like to start a podcast/youtube channel talking about tech, life,

Twenty alumni returned to DA in January to join jazz-rock ensemble In The Pocket on stage for the annual Nicaragua benefit concert. • Class of 2007: Beth Browning • Class of 2011: Will Newman, Kristin Sundy • Class of 2012: Jared Anderson • Class of 2015: Ralitsa Kalfas, Ian Kirven, Alina Walling • Class of 2016: Christopher Camitta, Braden Saba, MacKenzi Simpson • Class of 2017: Evan Ballew, Chris Eck (guest lighting), Nikki Inocencio, Lydia Oakley, Niall Schroder, Addison West • Class of 2018: Scott Hallyburton, Lillia Larson, Eamon McKeever, Shane Smith

View a video of the entire show at bit.ly/ITP2019Reunion.

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

Photo by Sarah Jane Tart

In The Pocket Reunion Show

the world, philosophy and everything that's worth discussing out there.

Class of 2010 Caitlin Cleaver This past year Caitlin Cleaver settled in to a new house in Hyattsville, MD, with her husband, Greg, and 2 cats, Ivy and Okie. Caitlin has been with the same digital advertising agency since graduating from Duke, and continues to enjoy her work and living in the DC area. In December, Caitlin will serve as matron of honor at the wedding of her sister, Shannon Cleaver ’12. Sam Jones married to his longtime college sweetheart, Tayler Smith, in St. Helena, CA, in March and is finishing his MBA at Stanford this June. Sam will stay in the Bay Area. He and Tayler are moving back to San Francisco. Sam will continue to work at KKR, where he will be focused on the management of the private equity portfolio companies. Abby Schoenfeld will be starting a Ph.D. program in Near Eastern Studies at Princeton in September and continue her research on the history of Turkey and the Soviet Union. Maggie Ramsey lives in Alexandria, VA, where she serves as a client success manager at a career services company. She also sings with the group Sopranessence and continues to sing fully-staged operas. She is looking forward to becoming an aunt this spring. JT Derian is finishing his first year at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and is looking forward to spending a summer internship in Atlanta with Bain & Company. While he has enjoyed his time in the Northeast and in London before school, he is very excited to be back in the sunny Southeast. Most importantly, JT was honored to serve as best man for Sam Jones in March. Since last year, Ben Preston married and helped launch the first GPSIII satellite. He has moved from Colorado to Connecticut, still working for Lockheed Martin. His new

role supports procurement by identifying cost improvement opportunities in supplier proposals, mostly on the Black Hawk and CH-53K programs. Michelle Corea is working as a software developer in Cary. She will be attending UNC in the fall to pursue her Ph.D. in political science and is very excited to be returning to her alma mater. Tatum Pottenger serves as associate director of annual giving for her alma mater, Davidson College, and was recently engaged to fellow Davidson grad Amos McCandless.

Class of 2011 Kristin Sundy-Boyles David Sailer writes he is currently pursuing his MD at UNC “and living in Wilmington for my clinical year. It is the first time I've ever lived outside of Chapel Hill and it reminds me of how great my time was in undergrad at UNC and at DA. I went back with my sister (Christine Sailer '05) to visit the Upper School campus and had a great time chatting with Mrs. Newman, Mr. Wilson and loved seeing the new science building. We were truly in awe of how nice it was, a little jealous really, but happy for this new generation of DA students who get this incredible opportunity.” Emma Bick is finishing up her master’s of public health this spring and will graduate in 2020 with an MD/MPH. She hopes to match into residency in med-peds because she refuses to choose just one. She is also enjoying bringing her new corgi puppy to breweries in the area! Tanner Caplan is about to finish second year of law school at UNC. “Then I'm heading to Alaska to work in a public defenders’ office for the summer. I also have a baby niece now!” Francesca Tomasi lives in Boston now and is getting her Ph.D. at Harvard in Immunology and Infectious Diseases, studying new ways to treat tuberculosis. “I’m also training for the Chicago marathon in October so I’m excited about that!” Harrison Slomianyj purchased an apartment in

Karl VonZabern and Cameron Eck.

Chinatown, Washington, DC. He works as a purchasing analyst for German company — Lidl US. He invested in Carolina Ale House, is looking to invest in Taco Bamba (a Mexican-style eatery expanding on East Coast) and will be traveling to Beijing, Tokyo, Madrid and Barcelona this year. Susie Benson Young writes: “After graduating from the University of South Carolina, I decided to stay in Columbia where my husband Ryan and I live today with our two rescue dogs, Piper and Cooper. I currently work for Pricewaterhouse Coopers as an associate management consultant. I am also working towards my MBA at the University of South Carolina and expect to graduate in 2021. Leah Rocamora is getting married in June. She is working as a pediatric RN in Wilmington at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Kristin Sundy-Boyles married Glenn Boyles in March. They are both graduating from medical school at UNC this spring and will be moving to Ohio, where Kristin will start her residency in pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Glenn in obstetrics and gynecology at Ohio State. They recently adopted a rescue dog named Rizzo! Nathaniel Donahue is living in New Haven, getting a J.D.-Ph.D. in history at Yale. He says he has also learned to cook a pretty good Tuscan kale bean soup. Catherine Circeo “just celebrated my one year anniversary (on 04/30) at my job as a social

worker for the Alamance County Health Department with the care coordination for children program in Burlington. I also recently passed the clinical exam for social workers, as I am working toward my license as a clinical social worker. I am living in Durham!” Taylor Circeo recently started a new position as a program coordinator at a nonprofit in Denver, The Adoption Exchange. “The mission of The Adoption Exchange is to connect children who wait in foster care to families who want to adopt or provide relational permanence. The Adoption Exchange provides support, resources and expertise before, during and after the adoption process. Last year I completed a six-month nonprofit leadership training program called Elevate, a Program of Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Denver.”

Class of 2014 Amanda Schroeder Cameron Eck studied abroad in Santiago, Chile in the Fall of 2016 with our good friend Karl VonZabern. “We attended the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and took a class on Latin American 20th Century History together. Chile is the most beautiful, diverse country on the planet and we got to enjoy that splendor by traveling to the driest desert in the world, the Atacama Desert, in the northern reach of the country and also

da.org

Class Notes

to Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, about as far south as you can go without going to Antarctica. It was such a magical experience on its own but being able to experience it all with Karl by my side made it all the more near and dear to my heart.” Janae Best: “Since graduating from Durham Academy I went on to Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, to major in psychology with a minor in public health, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with departmental honors. A few of my favorite accomplishments from undergrad are having the opportunity to 1) meet Oprah and Stedman at Spelman’s commencement; 2) publish a scientific article in the Journal of Physiology and Behavior; and 3) intern at the Harvard School of Public Health. After graduating early from Spelman College in December 2017, I traveled to Israel for two weeks and then tutored Durham Public School students for a few months. I started graduate school in September 2018 at the University of Michigan School of Public Health (Kyle Bushick is here, too, but in a different program). By the end of next week, I will have completed my first year of graduate school as a master’s of public health student. I'll be traveling to Kumasi, Ghana for three months to work on a research project examining infant mortality among lowbirth-weight infants. Constance Leder: “After four amazing years at Clemson University, where I got my B.A. in Multi-Categorical Special Education, I am just now finishing my first year teaching. I am teaching kindergarten through third grade in South Carolina to students who have mild intellectual disabilities. In May, I started my M.Ed in Special Education Intervention and am feeling very excited to pursue my passion even more.” Ian Concannon: “Spent four good years in the quiet mountains of northwestern Massachusetts at Williams College. I ran XC and track and majored in history, writing a thesis on the college's complex relationship with the CIA and the role it played in

sheltering the Iranian Shah in the 1970s. Other than that, I worked or studied in South Africa, Morocco, Vietnam and Bolivia, and briefly considered moving to Egypt after graduation before finding myself in the Boston area. As of April 2019, I work for an education startup out of MIT and see Cameron Eck, Tom Fatkin, Emily Cotten, Kara Lopez-Lengowski and Spencer Hallyburton regularly.” Ian Stafford: “Recently accepted a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in Linz, Austria, for the coming school year. The goal is to be there for two years, then go to graduate school for journalism.” Amanda Schroeder: “While attending UNC-Chapel Hill, I thoroughly enjoyed my time both in class at KenanFlagler Business School and outside of class in Alpha Delta Pi sorority. After interning for Anheuser-Busch InBev, I decided to complete an honors thesis whereIconductedmarketresearchon consumer behavior in the emerging alcohol e-commerce industry. Since graduation, I began working at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in their rotational Future Leaders Program. Right now, I’m working to promote vaccines in the public health arena, specifically for children that are under or uninsured. As for the rest of the program, I hope to work in the oncology and HIV business units. Claire Collie: “After graduation, I enjoyed the fastest four years at College of Charleston by being an active member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and studying marketing and commercial real estate. In September, I moved to Washington, DC, to start a competitive sales job at CoStar Group, a commercial real estate data analytic firm. My interest in real estate started at DA by shadowing an agent during my senior project and hope to start a job at a commercial development company in DC in the near future. Lily Ronco: “After graduating from UNC-W in May of 2018, I was eager to begin my career as a teacher. In August, I began teaching first grade at a Wake County public school. My first year has been incredibly

Durham Academy // Summer 2019

amazing and trying at the same time. It has taught me so much about my profession and myself. The perseverance I learned from my time at DA has helped me grow as an educator and advocate. I love being able to show up every day to love my kids for exactly who they are, so we can learn and grow together. Emily Cotton: “Graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music with a degree in Vocal Performance and a minor in writing. I now work full time at the Boston Symphony Orchestra as a junior publicist — just downstairs from fellow DA alumna Kristie Chan ’11 — and sing in the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, the BSO’s choir. I live with fellow 2014 classmates Tom Fatkin and Cameron Eck, and I’m eight blocks away from Ian Concanon and Kara LopezLangowski.” Tara Nagar: “After graduating from DA five years ago, I spent four years around the corner at Duke University where I played club soccer and studied computer science and markets & management studies. After having spent my whole life in Durham, I moved across the country to San Francisco in July 2018 to start a job working as a software engineer at Fanatics, an online retailer of licensed sportswear and merchandise. Since starting, I have primarily worked on the Android mobile application, but I have recently been working on projects involving payments on the front-end web team (while also enjoying all the Bay Area has to offer).” In May 2018, Bernadette Cooper graduated from Elon University, cum laude, with a B.A. in psychology. During her time at Elon, she completed undergraduate research, an executive internship, studied abroad in Barbados and was vice president of the Omicron Iota chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Upon graduating, she made the difficult decision to defer admissions to North Carolina State University’s Masters of Social Work program in order to complete a one-year post-graduate fellowship at Alamance Achieves

through Elon University and Cone Health’s service year program. Alamance Achieves is an initiative a part of the national StriveTogether Network, which through communitydriven collective impact focuses on improving outcomes for all children in Alamance County. Bernadette has a passion for child and maternal health. This spring, she became a trained doula through DONA International. In the long term, she hopes to work in the human service field in order to reduce the racial disparities in birth outcomes for women of color. She will begin graduate school in the fall and has been offered a twoyear research assistantship from N.C. State. Her research will concentrate on developing an integrative approach to support and inform the Raleigh-Durham community of the social epigenetic factors that affect the health outcomes of pregnant moms and their babies. In the meantime, she is focused on preparing for her June 8 wedding to her college sweetheart, Derek Vereen. Tom Fatkin: “Since graduating from Tufts, I have been living in sunny Boston. I’m working at the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion — an interdisciplinary center focusing on mindfulness programs, research and healthcare. Specifically, I am helping to provide mindfulness-based interventions to patients in opioid use disorder recovery and people suffering from migraines. It’s been a great experience and I hope to continue into a clinical program in the future. I continue to be a huge Leeds fan, which probably isn’t surprising to anyone.”

Cavaliers in Every Corner

Los Angeles

Thanks to All Who Came Out for Our Spring Alumni Gatherings! Atlanta

San Francisco

Charlotte

Duke University

Elon University

New York City

da.org

In Memoriam Lisa Jeanne McElhaney ’88 died Aug. 16, 2018, at her home in Durham. She attended Loyola University in Baltimore and UNC-Chapel Hill. She enjoyed music and being outside, especially the beach, and above all she loved being with her son. She is survived by her son, James Zachary McElhaney; her parents, James H. McElhaney and Mary Eileen McElhaney; and sisters Amy McElhaney and Kathleen King.

James Duke Biddle Trent Semans ’76 of Chapel Hill died Dec. 17, 2018. He was a graduate of the Hill School and attended Oberlin College and New York University. He worked to restore the Duke family home, built in 1899 at 1009 Fifth Avenue in New York City. For their efforts, he and his mother were presented the 1985 Restoration Award by the Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts. He came home to Durham to assist with the care of his mother's houses and property in Forest Hills, as well as to serve on the board of the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation. Semans was the husband of Margaret W. Rich; son of the late Dr. James Husted Semans and Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans of Durham; and great-grandson of Benjamin Duke. He is predeceased by his sister, Jenny Koortbojian ’72, and survived by his sisters, Beth Semans Hubbard ’80, Mary Trent Jones ’58, Sarah Trent Harris ’59, Dr. Rebecca Trent Kirkland ’60 and Barbara Trent Kimbrell ’62. He was also a devoted stepfather to Gibson Rich and Mary Hill. Photo by Sarah Jane Tart

James R. Horner, 95, died on Dec. 26, 2018, in Vassalboro, Maine. He was a private school administrator for over 35 years, working at St. Paul School, Western Reserve Academy and Hinckley School and retiring in 1988 from Durham Academy. His dedication to the education of youth was deep. He was a loyal Rotarian with perfect attendance for 30 years, and a Master Mason at the Blazing Star Eureka Masonic Lodge #11 in Concord N.H. He attended Wake Forest University for a year before enlisting in World War II, where he served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. He returned and finished college at Case Western Reserve University. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Barbara; son, Stewart; daughter, Peggy; and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dr. Erik Donald France ’78 died Dec. 28, 2018, in Fort Worth, Texas, where he was being treated for cancer. He was a scholar, researcher, published writer, blogger, librarian and historian. His thought-provoking blog, Erik's Choice, which he began in February 2006, is still accessible. At age 17, he researched, designed and published a lauded Civil War game, "The Battle of Bentonville," which is still on museum display at Bentonville. He earned a bachelor's degree in peace, war and defense at UNC-Chapel Hill, a master’s degree in library and information science from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Ph.D. in history from Temple University. He was assistant director of library services, South Campus, Tarrant County College, Fort Worth. He is survived by his longtime partner, Dr. Michelle Brooks; his mother, Barbara Shaffer France; sisters, Victoria France Stavish and Dr. Linda France Stine; and brother, Jamie France ’88. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald D. France.

Proud Alumni and Their Graduating Seniors

Nine alumni had seniors graduating in the Class of 2019. The seniors, their alumni parents and grandmother are (from left) Joseph Walston with Joe Walston ’89 and Dee Robb Mason ’61; Vasili Claypoole with Chris Claypoole ’87 and Sophia Dorton Caudle ’88; Charlie Wilson with Charlie Wilson ’89; Jack Anderson with Mark Anderson ’81; Eleanor Robb with Sybil Rockwell Robb ’87; Kira Stith with Thomas Stith ’81; and Nathan Salley with Hilary Harris Salley ’83. Photo by Bob Karp

DA.org Gets a New Look If you’ve visited da.org recently, you’ll have noticed that Durham Academy’s mission — to prepare students for moral, happy, productive lives — is front and center. The redesigned site, which launched in April, is intended to give prospective parents and students a window into what makes DA such an exceptional place to learn. That includes a new section titled “The DA Experience,” which features relevant information for each individual school division all in one place. The new da.org also shines a spotlight on our alumni — the very embodiment of DA’s mission.

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3601 Ridge Road Durham, NC 27705-5599

Photo by Bob Karp

Congratulations, Durham Academy Class of 2019 American University Appalachian State University Barnard College Brandeis University Brown University Bryn Mawr College Carleton College Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University Claremont McKenna College College of William & Mary Columbia University Dartmouth College Davidson College Duke University East Carolina University Elon University Emory University Fordham University Furman University Gap Year Georgia Institute of Technology Haverford College High Point University

Johns Hopkins University Loyola Marymount University Middlebury College North Carolina State University Northwestern University Olin College of Engineering Pennsylvania State University Princeton University Purdue University Queens University of Charlotte Roanoke College Savannah College of Art and Design Seattle University Stanford University Syracuse University The New Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;-â&#x20AC;&#x2030;Parsons School of Design The Ohio State University Tufts University University of Chicago University of Maryland, College Park University of North Carolina at Asheville

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of North Carolina at Wilmington University of Notre Dame University of Oklahoma University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of South Carolina University of Southern California University of St. Andrews, Scotland University of Virginia Vanderbilt University Villanova University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Wake Forest University Wellesley College Xavier University Yale University