M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 9
How Brian Aspinwall ’00 climbed the ladder from a mailroom to one of the most disruptive media companies in the world.
CONTENTS Board of Trustees 2019–2020 Mr. Richard J. Hendrix, Chair Ms. Lucia Anna Trigiani, Vice Chair Mr. Gary D. Rappaport, Treasurer Mr. John M. Thomas, Secretary Ms. Alex Bettius ’03 Mr. Taylor O. Chess Mr. Michael P. Corkery Mr. Harry Edward Dean III Mrs. Claudia Z. Fouty Mrs. Shawn W. Fraser Mrs. Linnie M. Haynesworth Mr. Edward H. Kennedy Mrs. Lisa R. Lisker Mr. Michael Mendler Mr. David W. Middleton Mr. Richard Moxley Mr. Terry Nelson Mr. Prem Pillai Mrs. Nicole Ricard Mrs. Liza Wright Renner Mr. Tim Rupli Mr. Hugh E. Taylor Mr. John M. Wasson Trustees Emeriti Mr. John T. Hazel Jr., Founding Chair Emeritus Sister Martha Carpenter, O.S.F. Mr. Edward R. Carr Mr. Otis D. Coston Jr. Mr. John M. Dowd The Honorable Johanna L. Fitzpatrick Mr. Paul C. Kincheloe Jr. Mr. Michael C. McCarey Mr. William N. Melton Mr. Norris E. Mitchell
2 | THE HILL 10 | 2018–2019 FLINT HILL SCHOOL PARENT SATISFACTION SURVEY FINDINGS 14 | ARTS ON THE HILL 20 | ATHLETICS 30 | FACULTY/STAFF NEWS 34 | FROM THE GROUND UP 38 | IN THE COMMUNITY 48 | ALUMNI EVENTS 50 | ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Editor Angela Brown, ambrown@flinthill.org Staff Contributor Jackie Viteri, jviteri@flinthill.org Magazine Designer Eve Shade, eshade@flinthill.org Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement Meredith Cook VanDuyne, mvanduyne@flinthill.org Director of Alumni Relations Maria Graceffa Taylor, mtaylor@flinthill.org Photo Contributors FREED Spirit Photography James Kegley Photography Jackie Viteri Flint Hill School 3320 Jermantown Road, Oakton, VA 22124 www.flinthill.org Flint Hill School is a Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12 independent school.
From the Ground Up See p. 34
LETTER FROM THE HEADMASTER Dear Flint Hill School Family, Lately, I feel I am constantly talking about our recent Momentum campaign, the construction of the beautiful Peterson Middle School, which is well underway, the constant enhancements to our curriculum, and our relentless drive for innovation at Flint Hill. It is what makes us who we are. But ultimately, it always comes down to the people. Our students, teachers, staff, parents and alumni make our experience what it is today and what it has been in the past. Our focus on relationships and the genuine, authentic nature in which they have become a valued part of our school experience is unique. We sincerely want to help our students grow and develop into fully engaged citizens who have reached their potential. In this great issue of the magazine, you will learn about people who have had and continue to have a powerful impact on all that is great at Flint Hill. Fran Casey, Flint Hill Prep’s last headmaster before the School reorganized in 1990, had a very special impact in laying a foundation of academic excellence. Her commitment to a broader, more effective program and a caring and compassionate individualized approach to teaching students made her a gentle, firm and inspirational leader. You will also learn about the results of our most recent Parent Satisfaction Survey. Every spring, our families have the opportunity to provide us with very important, constructive and transformative feedback, and I am pleased to share the most recent summary with you. You will also get to read about Brian Aspinwall ’00 and his unconventional yet inspiring career path to becoming a creative producer at Netflix. His willingness to move across the country, put himself out there in a difficult industry and ultimately thrive, is a testament to the resilience, self-advocacy and determination that we encourage among our students. His story is compelling and aspirational. Of course, you also will see lots of activities that our students and teachers have been engaged in. Flint Hill is a school in constant motion. But again, it will always come back to the people in our classrooms, studios, athletic fields and courts. The people who sit in those rooms, the people who lead discussions, and people who support us and make things possible due to their generosity and commitment. Enjoy this issue of the magazine. Enjoy being a part of something far bigger than ourselves. I look forward to seeing you on campus as we continue to charge through this year. Best wishes to you! Sincerely,
John M. Thomas Headmaster
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An Evening Devoted to Reading and Writing See p. 8
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THE HILL of which were far better than mine. I pretty much failed at my attempt to sketch out a monkey, but I had fun doing it and was quickly reminded why I am not an art teacher. But regardless of the activities they engaged in, the students were actively engaged in their learning. One of the highlights of the trip was a school visit, during which the Huskies communicated in both English and French with students in an English class. Their teacher, Danielle Simard, has been hosting Anglophone student groups for about 10 years since her students come from a predominantly French-speaking area and don’t have much of an opportunity to travel outside it. Simard organized a series of games and activities that not only fostered communication between both groups but allowed the students to get to
A Chaperone’s Perspective: Spring Break in Quebec by Upper School French Teacher Robin Goldstein WHILE SOME HUSKIES spent their spring break on a warm,
sunlit beach, one group of Huskies thawed out with a cup of hot chocolate after braving the elements with our neighbors to the north. But the bitter cold didn’t infringe on their exhilarating educational experience in Quebec this past March. In fact, it only enhanced it! Six beginning-level French students (four Middle School and two Upper School students) experienced Quebec City and Montreal, not just as tourists but as participants in a cultural and linguistic immersion experience, including a school visit and a host-family stay. Of course, the ability to use their French language skills and get out of their comfort zone was an added bonus. “It was really great to speak French and hear it all around you,” said Amelia Miller ’22. “I also learned some of the differences between Parisian French and Quebec French. I think that was really interesting and important for traveling to both places.” The Huskies visited cultural and historical sites such as the Chute Montmorency, the Plains of Abraham, a Native American village, and a copper museum. At the museum, the students were able to create their own “repoussé” copper souvenirs, all
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know each other better, learn about a different culture and hopefully foster lifelong friendships. “My students are a lot more motivated after this experience,” said Simard. “They understand why it is important to learn English. Although nervous at the beginning, they are happy and grateful at the end of the day.” Of course, no mid-March Quebec immersion experience would be complete without a little fun in the fluffy, white stuff. For many students, snow tubing down the beautiful hills outside Quebec City was one of the highlights of the trip. “It was remarkably fun and the experience is always better when there is a great view and piles of snow,” said Miller. Having chaperoned many student trips abroad in the past, I have never traveled with such a phenomenal group nor had as enriching an experience as we did during this trip. I know that when I look at the pictures of the breathtaking views atop Mont Royal, that I will be reminded of one of the most rewarding experiences that I have ever had — and it was with my fellow Huskies.
Appreciating Access to Education LAST SPRING, eighth grade students learned to appreciate
school from a new perspective, after working on a history project pertaining to access to education as a basic human right. They began the project with a class discussion about what they perceived a good education to be, and they created an initial list of factors involved, including textbooks, school buildings and family support. As their project evolved, their scope of understanding expanded beyond their own classroom. The research started with students watching stories about the educational experiences of specific children from around the world — four girls, each from different countries: Afghanistan, Benin, India, and Romania, as well as three boys: one from Brazil, one from China, and the other from Kenya — and they were able to see how each young person progressed, from age 8 to 12 to 16 to 21. “To see the wide variations of the children’s stories and outcomes was pretty impactful,” said Middle School History Teacher Katie Knicely. “After seeing the global experiences, we discussed what they believed was the greatest challenge for each student as well as the greatest indicator of success: gender, family/ community support, money, or something else. We also quickly started to realize that, while we often say ‘I have to go to school,’ there are many young people around the world who look at this human right completely differently.”
The students continued their research by exploring the differences in educational experiences within the United States — from small rural towns to large urban areas — and discovered that, even within the boundaries of their own country, there can be wide variations. The project culminated with students observing Lower School classrooms at Flint Hill, where they took into account the classroom environment, resources, and teacher and student engagement. During a class reflection period, the students evaluated the similarities and differences in people’s educational journeys and the eye-opening discoveries of hardships that prevent some from achieving their educational goals. “Ultimately, we discussed what really matters in making education impactful,” said Knicely. “Is it internet? Is it community? Is it passionate teachers? Is it friends? If education is truly a human right (as defined by the United Nations), are the most important things available? Typically, students realized that it is community and teachers who are the ones who make the education meaningful.”
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Literary Magazine Wins its First AllColumbian Award THE COLUMBIA SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION (CSPA) awarded the 2018–
2019 edition of Flint Hill’s student literary magazine, “The Rough Draft,” with a Gold Medalist Critique and, for the first time, the All-Columbian Award. In its overall comments, CSPA praised the 104-page publication and the students’ work. “You have a lot to be proud of in the latest edition of ‘The Rough Draft.’ The great cover design promises a lot of excitement inside, and you and your staff deliver. There is a nice variety of visual and verbal work, and the staff is again to be commended for incorporating nonfiction works.” Printed within the 18th volume of “The Rough Draft” is a letter from Editors-in-Chief Kate Nelson ’19 and Raven Pearson-Bobowick ’19 who explained the goal for the publication. “Flint Hill’s Rough Draft is designed with the intention of highlighting the creativity of the student body. As editors, our hope is to draw together various forms of art that rarely collide. While creative writing is the main focus of the literary magazine, the artwork and photography cultivated by the student body complements the writing with equal importance. Whether it be prose, poetry, or a short story, the talent, and skill of the Flint Hill student body is clear. However, what remains the most special about any and all forms of artistic work is that it carries a personal nature unique to
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each creator. Each work contains a story, whether it be immediately noticeable or more abstract. Each story contains insight into a person’s experience, into the message he, she, or they, are sending to a viewer.” The editors concluded by thanking the numerous students who contributed as writers, poets, photographers and artists as well as their faculty advisor, Upper School English Teacher Maia Schmidt, Ph.D.
Student Club Founders Advocate for Causes On and Off Campus palsy, Matsukas and other CCP members have given a presentation to 36,000 people at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. She explained the significance of taking the awareness campaign beyond Flint Hill’s campus. “There are people with CP who can do everyday things and have jobs, which is why it is important to keep an open mind about disabilities and to keep the workplace inclusive and free of discrimination against those with disabilities.” CHAMPIONS FOR CEREBRAL PALSY (CCP) and Supporting the
INOVA Children’s Hospital (STICH) are distinct Upper School student clubs with a common element — both were founded by students who have heartfelt, personal connections to their causes. Regan Lloyd ’22 started STICH to help teenage hospital patients like herself, and Isobel Matsukas ’21 launched CCP to honor the memory of her aunt, describing her as someone who “always saw the good in every situation, even though she had difficulties every day.” The two founders also have common ground in that they started their respective clubs as freshmen, and their advocacy work extends far beyond their efforts on campus. As CCP president, Matsukas leads the club in coordinating educational campaigns as well as fundraising efforts that benefit the nonprofit organization Cure CP. In addition to speaking at Upper School assemblies, holding regular discussions on campus, and creating a series of videos to provide a better understanding to others about cerebral
Her work to raise awareness and dispel myths about cerebral palsy contributed to Matsukas earning a Girl Scout Gold Award — the highest achievement within the organization. In May, she appeared on an NBC4 Washington news segment, along with other Gold Award Girl Scouts from the Greater Washington area who have also led dedicated projects with a positive impact on the community. Together, they discussed Girls the World Needs, a campaign spotlighting the leadership aspects of the Gold Award Girl Scouts program. For Regan Lloyd, being admitted to the ICU several times for her asthma was life changing in many ways. When the kindness of others touched her life, she was moved to pass it on. “I have spent several weeks in the hospital because of my asthma in middle school. It was a stressful and challenging time for me; I was also extremely bored,” she recounts. “I received a craft kit in the hospital from a volunteer, and, not only did it give me something to do, it meant a lot to me. It made me realize that
even small gestures can make a huge difference. I wanted to make the same impact on other kids, and Flint Hill supported me in starting this club. Last year, with the help of my two friends, Shelby [Berger ’22] and Natalie [Wasson ’22], we started the club. We made blankets, cards, and over 100 gift bags for kids at Fairfax Hospital. This year, we have had over 60 students sign up, and I am excited to see how much more we can accomplish.” She has also become an ambassador for the Allergy and Asthma Network; written articles for “Allergy and Asthma Today;” participated in congressional lobbying efforts; created educational videos with practical tips, such as backto-school reminders for communicating with school staff; and launched the “Adventures with Asthma” blog to document life as a teenager with asthma. Some of her blog topics include: “Prednisone and the 8th Grade Dance,” “Access to Great Doctors and Specialists is Important,” “Vacations with Asthma and Allergies,” and “Water Park to Wheezing.” “There have been times when, despite taking all my medications, I would end up in the hospital,” said Lloyd. “I wanted to share my story, not only to educate but to let others know they were not alone. Through my own advocacy, I also realized how many teens and children are at high risk because of poverty and a lack of insurance. I learned that I could help others through my blog and by going to Congress to speak for others and advocate for food allergy and asthma awareness. We all experience adversity, and while there is no cure for my asthma, I learned the importance of turning my struggles into something positive for someone else. I would like to encourage others to try to overcome their challenges and make a change/ drive a passion. Anyone can find a way to help others!”
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An Evening Devoted to Reading and Writing THE LOWER SCHOOL’S FAMILY LITERACY NIGHT,
on October 11, featured guest author Ann Marie Stephens, who read passages from her books and shared stories about what inspires her to write. Being familiar with her books, the students were happy to meet her and were especially excited about participating in a read-along to “Cy Makes a Friend.” Families were also able to take advantage of a book swap, in which they could bring their own books to trade with others. Additional books were earmarked for donation.
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As an elementary school teacher herself, Stephens established an instant connection with the students and involved them in her presentation about her recently-published book, “Arithmechicks Add Up.” “We see great value in published authors sharing the energy, wisdom, and experience that they bring to the writing process and the power of reading their story with an authentic audience,” said Director of the Lower School Sheena Hall. “We see every Lower School student as an author, and it is so important to us to foster a love of writing and reading in our students.”
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2018-2019 Flint Hill School Parent Satisfaction Survey Findings
I
n the spring of 2019, Flint Hill conducted its annual Parent Satisfaction Survey using an online survey administered by
Measuring Success. The purpose of the survey each year is to help our Leadership Team better understand how our families are experiencing the School by identifying areas of both strength and improvement. Thank you to the 742 families who contributed to our 60% response rate! Once again, the feedback and information gathered from the survey are being used to develop institutional and divisional priorities throughout the 2019–2020 academic year. Division directors shared in-depth results with our teachers at the beginning of the year, and the Leadership Team reviewed the results in depth during their spring retreat. Among the highlights for 2018–2019: • There is a continued strong foundation of parent satisfaction throughout the School; 86% of Flint Hill families would recommend the School to others. • Flint Hill is perceived to be very strong in the
86%
areas that are of highest importance to parents when selecting a private school. • The high level of divisional satisfaction remained constant from last year. The following pages summarize additional
of Flint Hill families would recommend the School to others.
key findings from the survey, which included opportunities for both qualitative and quantitative feedback. As part of our follow-up for the survey, School leaders are in the process of reaching out to respondents who asked to be contacted regarding their narrative comments.
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HERE IS A SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS FROM THE SURVEY.
Educational Background for Flint Hill Parents
75%
of Flint Hill households who responded to the survey had at least one parent attend public school for their K-12 education.1 Public School
75%
Independent School
37% 14%
Parochial
1%
Charter/Magnet
1
Because the question allowed respondents to select all applicable responses, the answers exceed 100%.
Academic Program Topics of greatest importance to Flint Hill families when selecting a school (of 13 provided):
Teacher attention to individual needs Size of classes Graduate placement and preparedness Strong math and science programs Child development (social, intellectual)
98% 97% 96% 96% 96% FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 11
85%
of parents believe that teachers understand students’ individual needs and use effective techniques to aid learning.
85%
of parents believe that Flint Hill graduates have access to multiple DESIRABLE COLLEGES.
87%
of parents believe that Flint Hill’s MATH program is good-excellent.
85%
of parents believe that Flint Hill’s SCIENCE program is good-excellent.
86%
of parents believe that Flint Hill graduates are academically WELLPREPARED for their next school environment.
INNOVATION, FINE ARTS AND LANGUAGE ARTS were rated particularly strong by parents among academic programs.
92% 92%
INNOVATION
91% 96% WELLNESS
Equity and Inclusion
79% and inclusion.
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of parents surveyed are satisfied with Flint Hill’s approach to equity
FINE ARTS
LANGUAGE ARTS
Why Parents Send Their Children to Private School Last year, the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) researched what parents are trying to accomplish by sending their children to private schools using former Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen’s “Jobs to be Done” theory1. In their research, NAIS determined that there are four “jobs” families hire private schools to do for their children. We incorporated NAIS’s research into the 2018–2019 survey to determine which jobs Flint Hill parents are “hiring” Flint Hill to perform.
53% 32% 8% 7%
Help me develop a well-rounded person who will impact the world. Help me fulfill my child’s potential in a values-aligned community.
Help me help my child overcome obstacles.
Help me realize my plan for my talented child.
The theory of Jobs to be Done is a framework for understanding customer behavior. Jobs Theory considers the functional, social, and emotional dimensions that explain why customers make the choices they do based on the notion that people “hire” products and services to perform specific “jobs” in their lives.
1
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A RTS O N TH E HIL L 14 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL
Arts Jam See p. 20
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ARTS ON THE HILL
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M
any notable moments in the spring of 2019 demonstrated how the Arts program at Flint Hill continues to thrive. Lower School concerts incorporated storytelling with instruments, including a major effort for Ghanaian drumming and dance matched with barred instruments and singing in third and fourth grade. In the Middle School, the spring music concerts — band, chorus, orchestra and percussion — showed the progression of skills that lay the foundation for music literacy, while entertaining appreciative audiences of family and friends. Middle School plays were another major highlight, featuring large and enthusiastic casts and crews; the fifth and sixth graders performed “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and the seventh and eighth graders performed “Tapestry.”
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ARTS ON THE HILL
Flint Hill brought the pops to the ninth annual Arts Jam! The “Hamilton” medley was a favorite, and the audience enjoyed Oscar-nominated and winning songs “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Shallow” as well as the orchestra’s rendition of Britney Spears’ “Toxic” and the latest hits from the Major Minors. A special dance choreographed to the music of Kennedy Center honoree Philip Glass, and some amazing classic jazz and symphonic music rounded out the program. The momentum built to the grand finale, with over 160 Flint Hill students on stage together, in a huge tribute to the legendary Aretha Franklin.
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In April, the Major Minors’ spring concert was offered in an intimate coffeehouse setting in the Upper School Commons. Empty Bowls once again raised over $10,000 for DC Central Kitchen and the entire campus was transformed by the Upper School Art Show, which included special exhibits and senior installations.
The wonderful Upper School production of “The Music Man” was performed in May by an energetic cast that delighted audiences with an updated version of the classic period-piece musical. The production contributed to the strongest year yet for musical theater at Flint Hill.
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ATH L E TIC S 20 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL
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ATHLETICS
Flint Hill’s Varsity Softball and Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse teams won conference championships and five teams qualified for state tournaments in an exciting 2019 spring sports season. We celebrate all of our spring 2019 athletes and coaches! 22 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL
BOYS’ TENNIS The Varsity Boys’ Tennis team finished the regular season in third place in the very tough and competitive Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference. Flint Hill enjoyed non-conference wins over Paul VI, St. Anne’s-Belfield School, Episcopal, and St. Albans. The Huskies qualified for the state tournament, making it to the quarterfinals before losing a tough match to Potomac. David Cohen ’19 was chosen as the 2019 Pigskin Club All-Metropolitan Boys’ Tennis Player of the Year and was honored at the Spring Awards Banquet in June.
Husky Awards Varsity: Anthony Bucci ’19 JV: Kyle Frank ’21 MVP Vinay Mummareddy ’19
All-State Vinay Mummareddy ’19 All-Conference Vinay Mummareddy ’19
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ATHLETICS
BASEBALL The Varsity Baseball team finished the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAC) regular season as the number two seed and again qualified for the state tournament. Playing one of the toughest schedules in the area, the team finished with a very respectable overall record of 16-11. The Huskies advanced to the conference championship game and lost to the number one seed, Saint James, by a score of 8-5. In the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association’s Division I State Tournament, the team traveled to St. Christopher’s, the number two seed, and despite a valiant effort, the Huskies lost 5-2. O’Kelly McWilliams ’19 led the team in pitching, which included an outstanding effort against Maret in the MAC tournament semifinal game, where he tossed a 6-0 shutout. Head Coach Tom Verbanic reached his 400th career victory milestone in baseball when the team defeated St. Andrew’s; he also accumulated more than 200 wins in football.
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Husky Awards Varsity: Clark Agnew ’19 JV: Isaac Grossman ’22
All-State First Team: O’Kelly McWilliams ’19 Second Team: Alex Walsh ’19
MVP O’Kelly McWilliams ’19 Alex Walsh ’19
All-Conference O’Kelly McWilliams ’19 Alex Walsh ’19
SOFTBALL The Varsity Girls’ Softball team defended its Independent School League title by winning the AA Division regular season championship, earning its fourth consecutive title. The team headed into the state tournament as the number three seed and hosted Trinity Episcopal in the quarterfinal game, where they defeated the Titans by a score of 9-3. They faced Bishop O’Connell, the number two seed, in the state tournament semifinals, where they lost by a score of 1-0. During the season, Natalie Plaut ’19 recorded her 300th strikeout against Paul VI, and Head Coach Andy Krug earned his 125th career victory in the team’s win over Bullis.
Husky Awards Varsity: Kathleen Boyce ’19 JV: Katya Wolf ’20 MVP Natalie Plaut ’19 All-State First Team: Kathleen Boyce ’19 First Team: Natalie Plaut ’19 Second Team: Grace Hausamann ’22
All-Conference Kathleen Boyce ’19 Ar’riyauna Fleming ’19 Grace Hausamann ’22 Natalie Plaut ’19 All-Met Washington Post Honorable Mention: Natalie Plaut ’19
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ATHLETICS
BOYS’ LACROSSE After losing several seniors on the previous year’s championship team, the Huskies began the season as a talented but young squad. The team battled and finished a respectable second in the tough Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAC). This included two thrilling overtime victories against rival Potomac — one at Springfest and the other in the MAC tournament semifinal game. In the tournament game, Andrew Carter ’19 scored the winning goal in overtime to give the Huskies the victory.
Husky Awards Brandon Allen ’19 Porter Hoel ’22 MVP Connor Bath ’19
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All-Conference Brandon Allen ’19 Connor Bath ’19 Danny Stone ’20 Brendan Wheeler ’20
GIRLS’ LACROSSE The Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse team won both the Independent School League’s Division A regular season and tournament championships. The Huskies’ overall record was an outstanding 15 wins and only 3 losses. In non-conference play, Flint Hill enjoyed victories over Bishop O’Connell, Paul VI and Robinson Secondary. The team qualified for the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association’s Division I State Tournament and hosted Potomac in the quarterfinals. In an exciting contest, the Huskies battled and lost a close one by a score of 11-10. Husky Awards Whitney Wiley ’19 Kerrie Schwartz ’22 MVP Alexia Lee ’19 All-State First Team: Alexia Lee ’19 Second Team: Sofia D’Angelo ’22 All-Conference Sofia D’Angelo ’22 Molly Finlay ’21 Alexia Lee ’19 Whitney Wiley ’19 All-Met Washington Post Honorable Mention: Molly Finlay ’21
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ATHLETICS
TRACK & FIELD At the Independent School League/Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships, Trenaj Mongo ’19 captured the individual championships in both the long jump and triple jump. Charles Stuart ’19, Quinn Griffith ’22, Calvin Lucido ’20 and Jack Magner ’19 placed second in the 4x800m. Calvin Lucido ’20 posted a new School record in the 1600m and came in third place. Catie Stack ’20 placed fourth in the 800m and broke the School record. Holly Fan ’21 broke the School record in the triple jump, while the relay team of Jessica Jarratt ’21, Barrett Harrington ’20, Kayla Moxley ’21 and Catie Stack ’20 posted a new School record in the 4x800m and came in fifth. At the State meet, Calvin Lucido ’20 continued his excellent running with a third place finish in the 1600m, bringing home the highest medal for the boys’ team.
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Husky Awards Girls: Bela Aguilar ’21 and Holly Fan ’21 Boys: Darren Dorvil ’20 MVP Girls: Catie Stack ’20 Boys: Trenaj Mongo ’19 All-Conference Trenaj Mongo ’19 All-State Second Team: Catie Stack ’20
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FAC U LT Y/ STAFF N E WS Middle and Upper School Art Teacher Nikki Brugnoli was recognized in a Washington Post article, “In the Galleries: Printmakers’ Works are Anything but Twodimensional,” in March. The article was a review of Ink It: Contemporary Print Practices, an exhibition at BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, Maryland. Journalist Mark Jenkins wrote, “Among the most potent pieces in this survey of recent work by Mid-Atlantic |artists is Nikki Brugnoli’s robustly blackened ‘Back Field #1,’ which adds freehand graphite and India-ink gestures to a silk-screen on Mylar.”
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In April, Brugnoli exhibited work in a group show called Alchemical Vessels, at the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery, in Washington. In October, at Seton Hill University’s Homecoming weekend, she was honored at a Hall of Fame dinner, after presenting a commissioned portrait to memorialize former Athletic Director John Fogle, who was also her soccer coach when she was a student there. The portrait is now permanently installed at the university in South Orange, New Jersey. She also presented a second portrait to his family. In addition to creating and exhibiting her art, Brugnoli was selected to serve on the Artist Advisory Committee at International Arts and Artists, at Hillyer, in Washington.
Director of Institutional Equity and Inclusion Mia Burton was selected to attend the 2019 Teachers in the Movement Institute through the University of Virginia’s (UVA) Curry School of Education. The Institute, held at UVA in June, “examines how recovering teachers’ stories inform contemporary teaching and schooling and impact teaching today. The summer project focuses on oral history interviews with elementary, secondary, and university teachers and educators about their participation in and efforts during the Civil Rights Movement. It embraces a multicultural mindset to conduct interviews with e ducators of different races, ethnic backgrounds, class, and social backgrounds.” Grades 7-12 English Department Chair and Middle/ Upper School English Teacher John Copenhaver was nominated for five national novel awards for his book, “Dodging and Burning.” Four of the award nominations — the Anthony, the Macavity, the Barry, the Strand Critics — are for best first mystery novel for 2018, and the fifth is the Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Mystery, 2018. Upper School Science Teacher Zita Gray successfully completed the Virginia Praxis Chemistry Exam in August. Upper School Technology Integration Specialist and Upper School Information Specialist Nate Green presented “How Every Class Should Embrace Social Media” at the International Society for Technology in Education conference, in Philadelphia, in July.
Director of the Lower School Sheena Hall co-led a learning group at the Project Zero Summer Institute at Washington International School and was also invited to co-lead the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington’s Emerging Leaders Institute this past summer. Director of Development Leslie Hutchens served on the faculty of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s Conference for Newcomers in Development as well as the “Making the Ask Workshop” in Seattle in September. Grades 6-12 Classics Department Chair and Upper School Classics Teacher Woojin Kim ’11 was invited to be a National Latin Exam (NLE) Reader as a special consultant for diversity, equity and inclusion. He explains, “My job will be to closely read the seven exams (Intro, Latin I, Latin II, Latin III, III-IV Prose, III-IV Poetry, and V-VI) with a lens towards equity. I will ensure that all passages and questions embrace and do not alienate any individual. Additionally, I will strive to remind test writers to present the diverse ideas and perspectives of the ancient world of Greece and Rome, especially those that historically have been excluded or underrepresented. The NLE will strive to provide questions and passages that affirm the worth and dignity of every student taking the exam.” Fifth/Sixth Grade Innovation Lab Teacher Sarah Magner and Grades JK-12 Innovation Department Chair, Lower School Innovation Specialist and Upper School Innovation Teacher Joey Starnes co-presented “Create Your Own Robot with the New Hummingbird Bit” at the Lausanne Learning conference, hosted at the National Cathedral School in Washington.
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FACULTY/STAFF NEWS
Director of Athletic Operations and Head Varsity Baseball Coach Tom Verbanic, who was also Flint Hill’s head football coach in 2018–2019, was honored as the Washington Metro High School Coach of the Year at the DC Touchdown Club 3M Awards Dinner in April. “At each step of his career, Coach Tom Verbanic has proven his ability to lead his players and mold them into fine young men,” said DC Touchdown Club Executive Director Steve Beck. Coach Verbanic joined a number of other distinguished honorees, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Darrell Green, longtime broadcaster Verne Lundquist, legendary coach Morgan Wootten, and the region’s top high school players. Director of Enrollment Management and Financial Aid Jennifer Webb co-chaired the Association for Graduate Enrollment Management’s Professional Development Institute: Core Competencies for the Graduate Enrollment Management Professional in Las Vegas in July. At the same event, she co-presented “Strategic Communication
32 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL
— Utilizing Digital Marketing to Enhance Brand Awareness and Conversion” and served as the marketing liaison on the Professional Development Committee.
Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS), Deep in the Heart of TECHness Conference Dallas — April 2019 • Upper School Technology Integration Specialist and Upper School Information Specialist Nate Green was a co-presenter in three presentations: “Making Media Literacy Matter,” “Transitioning from Tech Questions to Tech Transformations,” and “Upgrade! Using Fortnite for Engagement in Class and Professional Development.” • Fifth/Sixth Grade Innovation Lab Teacher Sarah Magner co-presented “Robotics Bootcamp” via Skype.
• Grades JK-12 Technology and Instruction Department Chair and Upper School English Teacher Jennifer McKain and Information Technology Manager Melissa Turner co-presented “Building Tech Leaders from within Your Community.” • Grades JK-12 Innovation Department Chair, Lower School Innovation Specialist and Upper School Innovation Teacher Joey Starnes presented “Digital Fabrication in Lower School: Yes They Can!”
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How Brian Aspinwall ’00 climbed the ladder from a mailroom to one of the most disruptive media companies in the world. 34 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL
A
ccording to Nielsen, young adults between the ages of 18-34 spend 43% of their time consuming media on digital platforms. Almost a third of their time spent with media (29%) comes from apps/web on a smartphone — the most of any measured generation. And between social media, email, news sites and streaming services, there is a wide range of sources competing for our time and attention. With so many options, how do we decide which messages to read, which notifications to check or which shows to binge-watch next? Behind the scenes are professionals who work hard developing strategies to ensure that their content rises to the top. Brian Aspinwall ’00 is one of those people. As a creative producer at Netflix, Brian develops marketing strategies to promote Netflix’s original titles on a global scale. He oversees a program’s entire lifespan, from its creative development to its deployment across multiple platforms for the streaming service, combining the company’s content, marketing, public relations, social campaign teams and product strategies to drive people to the service. “I get to travel the world and find ways to integrate our brand into partner campaigns,” he says. “India, for example, is a new market for us, and a lot of people there are unfamiliar with Netflix. Finding interesting, creative ways to enter those new markets is where I come in. I try to identify partners we can align with to help us enter a new market quickly. We found one partner called One Mobile, for example, which is a mobile phone service, to support our marketing campaign. I helped to develop both the relationship and the marketing assets that came into that campaign and drove acquisition for India.”
Brian is that rare breed of person who is adept at both “left-brained” and “right-brained” tasks. Extremely creative and passionate about the sciences, Brian earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from The George Washington University. With a plan to enter a career in cancer research, he started a series of internships in GW’s department of oncology and pharmacology. At that time, entertainment wasn’t on his radar. He says, “I didn’t even know what was possible in the entertainment industry apart from being an actor or a musician. Coming from Virginia, it just never occurred to me that you would do that as a kid. My parents were very supportive of the arts and my creative side, but everybody around me was following more traditional paths like becoming lawyers, doctors or working for the government.”
Brian’s journey to his position at Netflix sounds a lot like a plot for one of the company’s films. The beginning is fairly straightforward. As a student in Flint Hill’s Upper School, Brian could be found playing his guitar in the hallways and having intense conversations with his teachers. He recalls, “I just loved the elevated conversations we would have. In Mrs. Krugs’s class, for example, I remember I loved reading ‘Flowers for Algernon.’ I loved to read, and I loved to play my guitar. I remember I’d play my guitar quite a bit in the hallways because the acoustics were
Over time, Brian found that he was less passionate about medical research than he was about music and movies. It was his girlfriend at the time who convinced him to move to California, but with a small misstep along the way. He recalls, “I came out to California, kind of mad dash. Just packed the car up. I was dating my college girlfriend at the time who convinced me that we needed to move to California. The next day we were on the road across the country and we ended up in Fullerton. We quickly found out we weren’t really in the hub of the entertainment
fantastic.”
industry yet, so we drove an hour closer to get to LA.” FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 35
L
ike the majority of people who travel west hoping He recalls, “Two weeks later I had a full-time position for a big break, it took Brian some time to get working at DreamWorks Animation and supporting two started. When he first arrived in Los Angeles, Brian producers who ended up producing really big animated continued his medical research work with the films like ‘The Lego Movie.’ It was all very happenchance. University of Southern California. After taking a job I think with networking really, you can’t have any fear. You as an assistant at CAA, a premier talent agency, Brian’s can’t be afraid when you’re making new friends or get girlfriend planted the seed for him to explore a career in intimidated. You have to really make an effort to say hello entertainment. He pushed back at first. “I thought, ‘I don’t to people, and I think that really goes a long way.” have any background in entertainment. Brian’s career progressed rapidly I’m a scientist who loves movies and “I started to get a good sense from there. After a year and a half likes to play his guitar,’” Brian says. of how everything operated at DreamWorks, he developed an “But eventually I thought I might as for the production of a film interest in live-action film. Out of well just pique my interest and see the blue, he received a call from a ... how the careers of a lot what I could get my hands on.” live-action studio in search of an of these big moguls started. From there, Brian read every book assistant for two producers working All the big ones, like Jeffrey on independent films. By the age of he could find about the industry, but one, in particular, had the most direct Katzenberg, David Geffen, 25, Brian had become a development impact on where he is today. Written executive, and he was only getting they all started in the by David Rensin, “The Mailroom: started. Another book he read, mailroom.” Hollywood History from the Bottom “When Hollywood Had a King” by Up,” shares anecdotes from the Connie Bruck, introduced him to Lew trenches from upwardly mobile, aspiring stars based on Wasserman, former chairman and chief executive of the the premise that starting in a talent agency mailroom is Music Corporation of America, and Sid Sheinberg, former the first rung on the ladder to Hollywood success. Using President and CEO of MCA, Inc. and Universal Studios. his background in scientific research, Brian realized Rensin The two entertainment executives made a powerful and was onto something. Brain says, “I read this book and lasting impact on the industry from behind the scenes. started mapping out who the shakers and movers were in the industry. I was taking a real scientific approach to it and disassembling and then reassembling how these different talent agencies worked together, how management corporations worked together, how studios worked together. I started to get a good sense of how everything operated for the production of a film. How it was distributed and marketed, and then really getting into how the careers of a lot of these big moguls started. All the big ones, like Jeffrey Katzenberg, David Geffen, they all started in the mailroom.” After a recruiter from a temp agency adjusted his resume, Brian got a same-day call for a mailroom position at a management company called Industry Entertainment. Not long afterward, a chance meeting at a restaurant with the head of human resources at DreamWorks Animation led to a position with the major studio. Brian with his mentor and friend Sid Sheinberg.
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“I was so fascinated by these two men and loved their history,” Brian says. “I remember telling myself, ‘One day I’m going to work for Sid.’ Because Sid discovered [Steven] Spielberg and founded Universal Studios with Lew Wasserman. I remember circling it in my book. I knew that was the guy I needed to meet because he knew everybody.” Another moment of serendipity allowed Brian to do just that. He met Sheinberg at The Bubble Factory, the independent film company he founded with his sons, Jon and Bill, after leaving Universal. Brian would end up working at The Bubble Factory for eight years and remained close to Sheinberg until he passed away in March at the age of 84. His experience with Sheinberg was a pivotal time for Brian’s career. Sheinberg served as Brian’s mentor, setting the tone for the kind of executive Brian aspired to be, and imparting invaluable knowledge about the industry. Brian recalls, “He had seen everything and had worked with everybody. I got to work hand-in-hand with Sid on such incredible projects, including co-writing a screenplay together. He put a lot of faith in the younger generations. He took bets on people like Steven Spielberg, for example. No one knew who [he] was. He’d showed up out of nowhere and [Sid] bet on him. That’s one thing that really resonated with me was his ability to just take chances on people and see what happens. I didn’t have an entertainment background, but people just kept betting on me and giving me these incredible opportunities.” Sheinberg’s support continued even after Brian decided to leave The Bubble Factory to go out on his own. He allowed Brian to rent an office in his building, where Brian operated his own company for three years. He was ready to put all of the knowledge he learned from Sheinberg to work as an independent consultant. In another “happenchance” moment, Netflix came calling. Impressed by his overall background and “whole-brained” abilities, the company
called to ask him to consider a position on its partner marketing team. After a brief series of meetings, he was offered the job. Three years later, Brian is grateful to be working for one of the most disruptive companies in the U.S. and to have experienced first hand the significant changes that have occurred in media consumption in a short period of time. He recalls, “I remember when I was an assistant and [I told my boss] that one day I think we’re going to be watching movies on our computers. He laughed at me and said, ‘Why would you do that, Brian?’ In his mind, there was nothing that could challenge the experience of watching a movie in a theater, but I just didn’t believe that would be the case forever. Today, you see YouTube and Facebook exploding. You see all the social media companies forming and new distribution pipelines through the web. The reason Netflix got its name was because Reed [Hastings] wanted to distribute content over the internet.” When asked about what’s next, Brian predicts even more changes are in store for the way we consume media in the future. He says, “In terms of what the future holds, I think it’s going to have to do with gaming. It’s already huge in terms of revenue, but I think the way we consume it is going to be similar to Netflix — cloud-based so you don’t have to have a set-top box or a piece of equipment that you need. You just need your TV or another device, and you can play all the games that you can get your hands on. It will be really interesting to see how Netflix adapts the gaming world. I think [virtual reality] is there, but I don’t think consumers are ready for it yet. I also believe shortform content will always have a place. My old boss Jeffrey Katzenberg formed a company called Quibi, which is a short form content streaming platform. Steven Spielberg is producing one of the first pieces on that platform, and I think that’s where we’re headed. It’s a really beautiful, bright future with respect to how content is created and distributed.”
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I N T H E COM MUNITY 38 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL
FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 39
IN THE COMMUNITY
Springfest 2019: Beautiful weather, a bit of wind and ice cream! Members of the Flint Hill community gathered together for a full day of spring sports and outdoor fun on Saturday, April 27. The day began with the Parents’ Association Spring Tennis Social, a friendly round-robin tournament that was filled with laughs and a lot of great tennis despite the wind! Young Huskies enjoyed kick croquet, giant tic-tac-toe, sidewalk chalk and ice cream! But the biggest excitement for the day came from watching our spring athletes compete on the fields. Thanks to the Parents’ Association for keeping everyone fed and hydrated at the Husky Hut!
40 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL
Creating Amazing Memories at Grandparents and Special Friends Day The Lower and Middle School Campus was filled with excitement and energy on Friday, May 10, as over 300 grandparents and special friends joined their students for lunch and classroom visits. Thanks to Upper School parent Trina Lucido, our guests engaged in activities on a custom Flint Hill activity sheet while enjoying lunch with their students. Thank you to Fairfax Food Service for preparing lunch and to our wonderful Parents’ Association volunteers who served our families. The day ended in extraordinary fashion as our Lower and Middle School teachers hosted our guests in their classrooms for a glimpse into the educational experience at Flint Hill.
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IN THE COMMUNITY
20th Annual Golf Tournament On Thursday, May 23, at the Westfields Golf Club, the Flint Hill Golf Invitational began with a fun and informative skills clinic followed by a sold-out tournament, which included a record 30 alumni players, and ended with raffle prizes, a delicious dinner and awards and a surprise visit from the Moo-Thru Ice Cream truck! Even a brief rain delay could not dampen the mood! While the tournament raises funds to support needbased financial aid, it also brings together so many different members of our extended Flint Hill family like no other event — alumni, parents, parents of alumni, Trustees, grandparents and community partners. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and the collective enthusiasm and leadership of Co-chairs Andrew and Mary Ellen Bowman P’28, ’30, ’31, ’32; Preston Gray ’10; Ted Kramer P ’19, ’19; Karen Landwehr P ’22, ’27; Chris Miller P ’19; and Jon Peterson P ’09, ’10, ’14, the outing had incredible new perks, including
42 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL
a forecaddie for each foursome, an on-site car wash for every player and some of the best raffle prizes to date! The second annual Alumni Cup was awarded to the top-scoring all-alumni foursome. Congratulations to Jamie Agnew ’15, Jack Cruse ’15, Colin Farrell ’15 and Will Snyder ’15. Thank you to our generous sponsors — from hole sponsors to beverages, and more, they contributed to a fun day, and along with the 19 Husky and record 13 Clubhouse sponsors, their generosity allowed the Parents’ Association to make a meaningful contribution to its Endowment for Financial Aid in Honor of Sally Hazel. A special note of thanks to the Parents’ Association and the leadership of 2018–2019 President Doreen Kramer P’19, ’19 for partnering with the School and volunteer leaders to make this day a success. Save the date — this year’s tournament is May 21, 2020.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS GOLF SPONSORS HUSKY SPONSORS
David Brandt P ’18, P ’20
Chris and Catherine Miller Claire ’19
Sibel and Recep Unsal P ’22 The Community Bank of the Nation’s Capital
Jon and Anne Peterson, Chris ’09, Tim ’10 and Nick ’14 | The Young Family, Alex ’23 The Copeland Family, Lauren ’09 and Jeffery ’10 | The Taylor Family, Hugh, Tana, Jordan ’16 and Justin ’18 The Pabis Family | Double Wood Farm | The Rizzo Family
CLUBHOUSE SPONSORS
The Kramers, Ted, Doreen, Mardy ’19 and Nixon ’19 | Liz and Kevin Murray, Matthew ’17 Karen and John Landwehr, JT ’22 and Todd ’27 | Preston Gray ’10 | The Phillips Family | Michael Draughon
FORECADDIES
PLAYER G IFT AND WELCOM E BAG S
The Community Bank of the Nation’s Capital
LUNC H
DINNER
Jon and Anne Peterson Chris ’09, Tim ’10 and Nick ’14 Mary Ellen and Andrew Bowman P ’28, P ’30, P ’31, P ’32
$1 0,0 00 AND $5,000 HOLE CONT ESTS
CAR WAS H
Chris and Catherine Miller Claire ’19
BEVERAGES
AWA RDS PUT TING CONTEST SIG NAG E
Mark and Sherri Bredesen P ’22
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IN THE COMMUNITY
Sharing within the community: Another Successful Uniform Exchange Many thanks to our parent Volunteer Coordinators Peggy Oliva P’25, Rupa Gill P’25 and Melissa Willoby P’19, ’28 for organizing this opportunity for the Flint Hill community to exchange gently used uniforms and spirit wear. More than 20 volunteers sorted and sized donations so families could get their Huskies ready for the first day of school. The next opportunity to donate is in the spring, so keep that in mind as your Huskies are growing!
Giving back to the community through volunteerism: The 2019–2020 Parent Volunteer Fair Builds a Solid Foundation Parents’ Association Volunteer Liaison Sibel Unsal P’22 joined with the Parents’ Association Board and the Advancement Office to inform and recruit parent volunteers for various events throughout the year. Don’t worry if you missed the Volunteer Fair; there are always opportunities to get involved. Visit the Flint Hill website at www.flinthill.org/parents for more information.
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A Little Mist was no Match for the Parents’ Association Tennis Social! Building community is a top priority for the Parents’ Association and Friday, September 13 was a perfect example of Flint Hill’s amazing community in action. It took all hands on deck to prepare the Upper School tennis courts for the Parents’ Association Fall Tennis Social, but thanks to an amazing facilities staff and Coach Steve Spratt, everyone hit the courts for a morning of tennis fun! From gathering the prizes and managing the catering, to setting the pairings for the round-robin tournament, the event coordinators pulled all the pieces together beautifully. Thank you to Rick Frank P’21, ’25, Joanne Good P’28, ’31, ’31 and Jennifer Bishop P’19, ’21, ’26, along with PA Volunteer Liasion Sibel Unsal P’22, for setting the stage for a great event! Big thanks also to Riley King of Fairfax Racquet Club for providing a tennis clinic for the players. We heard a lot of laughter, witnessed fierce competition, and shared a nice lunch together with prizes and a message from Headmaster John Thomas. It truly was a wonderful day for our Flint Hill parent community.
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IN THE COMMUNITY
Homecoming 2019: Bigger and BRIGHTER than ever! In no small part due to the BIG FLAME burning bright at the bonfire and new lighting in the tents, Homecoming 2019 was a shining moment for the entire Flint Hill community! Winning on the field and in spirit, Huskies of all ages were on hand on October 18 and 19 for a full schedule of events. Face-painting and bubbles remained a fan favorite for our littlest Huskies, but Huskies young and old enjoyed spirit activities in the big white tent and cheering on our student-athletes. No one went hungry thanks to the Hut — there was plenty of food to keep us fueled for the big win over Maret!
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FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 47
ALUMNI EVENTS College-age alumni are invited to take a break from classes and homework and let Flint Hill take you to dinner! College Dinners kicked off in September with visits to Villanova University, James Madison University, Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia and D.C. universities. The invitation to your college dinner will come via email so make sure that the Alumni Office has your updated email address. You can contact Director of Alumni Relations Maria Taylor at mtaylor@flinthill.org to update your college and email information. Upcoming College Dinners: February 18 | Clemson University College Dinner February 19 | University of South Carolina and Wofford College Dinner February 20 | Atlanta Colleges Dinner (Emory University, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Morehouse College)
Villanova University (L-R): Raven Pearson-Bobowick ’19, Matthew McClements ’18, Caroline Britt ’18
San Diego Universities: Julianne Boulineaux ’16 and Benjamin Fybel ’16
Virginia Tech (L-R): Olivia Rice ’19, Lauren Dean ’19, Leslie Kim ’17, (back) Reid Johnson ’19, Tara Izadi ’17, Jack Wyant ’17, Chris Altreuter ’16, (back) Robert Fitzgerald ’17, Marali Harikar ’19, (back) Manav Gandhi ’17, Tori Herman ’17, Omar Talaksi ’17 48 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL
(Top) University of Virginia (L-R): Zain Zahir ’19, Lindsey Alloy ’18, Caroline Shevlin ’17, Rod Aryan ’18 (back), Charlie Breen ’18, Sabra McBride ’18, Leyla Ebrahimi ’18, Max Pilloff ’19 (sitting), Brett Briglia ’16, Will VanOrden ’16, Kathleen Boyce ’19 (Middle) James Madison University (L-R): Davis Blum ’19, L.A. Rice ’19, Philip Rivera ’19, Bianca Fiore ’19, Diana Simione ’17 (Bottom) D.C. Universities (Back Row, L-R): Josh Lisker ’16, Andi Kamyab ’16, Rohan Sindhwani ’18, Ananya Chowla ’18, Kayla Hewitt ’17, Seth Marumoto ’17, Sebastian Aguilar ’19, Henry Park ’18, Catherine Huber, Hart Mankin ’18 (Front Row, L-R): Hailey McDonnell ’17, Emily Park ’17
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ALUMNI C LASS NOTES 50 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL
To be included in Alumni Class Notes, email the Alumni Office at alumni@flinthill.org with news of a union, birth of a child, adoption, professional developments, travels, or anything you’d like to share with your classmates. If you would like to include a photo with your submission, please note that digital photographs must be high-resolution JPEG images (1MB+) to appear in print. Flint Hill Magazine editorial staff reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity and length.
1967 Eliot Brenner has been keeping very busy! He has returned to flying after nearly 30 years, and on his first flight out, on his 70th birthday, he wore his Flint Hill baseball hat. Eliot also plays in a band called Touch of Grey, which plays mostly ’60s and ’70s folk and country rock with a little bluegrass tossed in. His band played three gigs last summer and into September.
1973 Jim McCall writes, “I attended Flint Hill from 1969-1970 then moved to California for a couple of years and returned to Virginia where I graduated from Flint Hill in 1973. My dad was a Navy fighter pilot and we moved quite a bit, in fact from 1st through 12th grade I attended nine different schools. The best memories of all the schools I went to were from my two years at Flint Hill. Flint Hill was like a family and all the students respected each other and the faculty. There was no bullying or peer pressure or bad kids and school was fun. Coach Snyder was the best and my favorite teachers were Col. Warren, Dave Loenthal, who I later became great personal friends with (we were both drummers) and Col. Roth who was headmaster in 1973. Col. Roth taught [several of us] in his office and he was absolutely brilliant even though we didn’t agree on hairstyles. If you dig up the Varsity Football photo from the 1973 yearbook, I am the co-captain with the hairdo. In the modern-day, I’m not sure I agree with the hair. I have spent my entire adult life as a professional drummer and have had many wonderful experiences traveling all over the world and I now live in beautiful Lake Tahoe. I am enriched with incredible natural surroundings, skiing and my personal journey with music.”
1979
2000
Robyn Buckley Riebling writes, “My husband Peter and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary in July. Our daughter Jennifer completed her 2nd year at UCSD and our daughter Kimberly has one semester left in her 2nd year at UTK. I am approaching my three-year anniversary with Riebling IP, PLLC as their CFO and Peter’s new law firm is enjoying many opportunities! Looking back on my memories at Flint Hill, I remember fondly waiting for the school bus to arrive every September as we would embark on a new and exciting year ahead. To future Flint Hill Husky graduates — here’s wishing you a fantastic school year! And, to all of my former Flint Hill Prep Class of 1979 Falcon
Ricky Abu-Hussein Wasfy married Amber Marechal in a ceremony in the Alberta Mountains near their home in Calgary, Alberta, followed by a reception at their cabin on Lake Koocanusa.
colleagues — Wow! 40 years. Here’s to another milestone. But seriously, is this the image you dreamed of [for] retirement? I thought retirement was supposed to include endless ocean sounds and warm sands. LOL :)”
1980 Dwayne Allen was brought to Tokyo last July for the US-Japan Foundation’s celebration of its 20th Leadership Program class. Dwayne had been selected for the first leadership class and was brought back to represent that class and lead a discussion on the role USJLP can play in future global topics. The program has now grown to over 450 Fellows (alumni) with impressive roles in both countries, including CEOs, astronauts, academic/industry/government leaders, and award-winning journalists. Dwayne also checked out the Olympic Stadium while he was there. After Flint Hill, Dwayne graduated from the University of Virginia, got an MBA from The George Washington University and completed the Yale Leadership Program.
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ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
2005 Alicia Waller performed at Rockwood Music Hall in September. She also performed for “Dance for Venezuela,” which was a benefit for the country of Venezuela. Alicia writes, “Diplomacy and working across borders, so to speak, through music is something that is very important to me. I really believe in connecting with people whose backgrounds and experiences might be different from mine. I really believe in making an effort by learning the language of another, and I believe in the power of a simple gesture, which I try to make through song.”
2007 Olea Morris writes, “Since graduation, I have been living in Hungary and Germany, and am a Ph.D. candidate in environmental sciences and policy at Central European University. I have been living and working in Mexico for the last year, doing research on the Ecovillage Movement and studying sustainable agriculture projects for my doctoral dissertation. In 2018, I won a university award for the highest performance among first-year students.”
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Tenley Satre Shirley married Alex Shirley on May 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona at Silverleaf Club. The couple met in September of 2011 while they were both living in Chicago; they now reside in New York. Tenley celebrated with fellow Huskies Haley Schaufeld ’07 (bridesmaid), Sara Schlegel Schoenberg ’08 and Caroline Gray ’08.
2009 Alexander Kersten married Ashley Palmarozzo on June 9 in Andover, New Jersey. The two met during their freshman year at Villanova University in 2009 and started dating soon after that. Fellow Flint Hill alum Ricky Chan, who was Alex’s friend at Flint Hill, and one of his roommates throughout his time at Villanova, served as best man. Ricky and Alex first met at freshman field studies in 2005, and they have been friends ever since. Ashley and Alex now live just outside Boston, where Ashley is pursuing a Ph.D. at Harvard University, and Alex is completing his master’s degree at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
Jess Wisiackas married Lori Wampler on September 21, in Manteo, North Carolina. There were many Huskies there to celebrate the big day, including Preston Gray ’10, John Wisiackas ’10, James Shuler ’10, Chris Peterson ’09, Patrick Farrell ’10, Tim Peterson ’10, John Rehberger ’09, Jared Leader ’10, Jason Gannon ’08, Nick Peterson ’14, Christian Melton ’09 and John Stertzer ’09.
Right Middle (L-R): John Stertzer ’09, Luke Colbert, Chris Peterson ’09, Jess Wisiackas ’09, John Wisiackas ’10, Jared Leader ’10, John Rehberger ’09 Right Bottom, Back Row (L-R): Preston Gray ’10, John Wisiackas ’10, James Shuler ’10, Chris Peterson ’09, Patrick Farrell ’10, Tim Peterson ’10, John Rehberger ’09, Jared Leader ’10, Jason Gannon ’08, Nick Peterson ’14 Front Row (L-R): Christian Melton ’09, Jess Wisiackas ’09, John Stertzer ’09
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ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
2013 Joey Lane earned his first professional victory after being declared the 36-hole champion at the Dongguan Open in China this past July.
Marlo Sweatman played in the World Cup for the Jamaican National Team. She is also playing full-time professional soccer in the European first division Hungary.
2015 Sam Lisker writes, “Shortly after graduating from Ithaca College in May 2019, I began working as a News Assistant at Spectrum News in Washington. My job has taken me all over the District, from Capitol Hill to the White House. I’m learning every day, and having fun while doing it!”
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Dani Wallace writes, “I graduated from William & Mary in May with a BBA in marketing and have just begun an 11-month internship with the non-profit Love Thy Neighborhood! I am living in Louisville, KY with three other interns and will be doing graphic design pro-bono for various non-profits around the city who do not have the budget for marketing and promotional services to complement the great work they are doing. I will also be spending my free time getting to know the people in my neighborhood and serving them however I can. I am very excited for this opportunity to gain practical experience in my field while engaging in public service and learning from the stories of others!”
2018 Garrett Canterbury was certified as an EMT in April through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. He is continuing to volunteer for Emory EMS, a fully-accredited, student-run volunteer EMS agency that responds to 911 calls in and around Emory University’s campus in Atlanta. In October, he earned his Advanced EMT certification, expanding his scope of practice to starting IVs, inserting supraglottic airways, administering various medications and fluids, and other limited advanced skills. He credits Mr. Atwood’s Anatomy and Physiology course for giving him a solid foundation to earn these certifications!
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ALUMNI APP
Tenney Rosenblum writes, “Despite having always lived on the East Coast, I am now moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in television as a comedy writer. It’s a hard move, but I have a passion for writing and television. I feel this is something that I must do. I hope every one of you finds your passion and commit yourself to pursuing it.”
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ALUMNI CLASS NOTES L I F E C YC L E S
Marriages
In Memorium
Ricky Abu-Hussein Wasfy ’00 and Amber Marechal
Ms. Frances T. Casey Past headmaster September 28, 2019
Tenley Satre Shirley ’07 and Alex Shirley on May 4, 2019 Alexander Kersten ’09 and Ashley Palmarozzo on June 9, 2019 Jess Wisiackas ’09 and Lori Wampler on September 21, 2019
Births/Adoptions Zach Stottlemyer ’11 and his wife Lexi Stottlemyer Brooks Stottlemyer, September 10, 2019
Mr. Michael Draughon Friend of the School July 21, 2019 Mr. Gary Long ’80 July 13, 2019 Mr. Wedo F. Nutaitis Jr. ’70 November 22, 2016 Mr. Daniel A. O’Brien Jr. Parent of Rory O’Brien ’92 March 9, 2019
From the Archives: Do you know who these alumni are? This picture from the Flint Hill Archives is from the Falcon era. If you can identify any of the people in this picture, please contact Director of Alumni Relations Maria Taylor at mtaylor@flinthill.org or 703.584.2350. We are always looking for alumni and parents of alumni to visit the archives to identify pictures. If you are interested, please contact Maria Taylor using the information above.
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Mr. Gregory T. Tidwell ’86 April 22, 2019 Ms. Elizabeth Tomlinson Friend of the School September 2019 Dr. Connie A. Veillette Parent of Alex Veillette ’23 April 10, 2019
Remembering Former Headmaster Frances “Fran” Casey
I
n October, the Flint Hill community was saddened to hear about the loss of former headmaster and beloved faculty member, Frances Casey. Ms. Casey started at Flint Hill Preparatory School in the fall of 1977 as an English teacher. In the fall of 1978, Ms. Casey became headmaster, a position that she held until 1990. In April 2015, more than 100 alumni, friends and former faculty from the Classes of 1979–1996 gathered on campus to honor Ms. Casey. At “An Evening with Fran Casey,” alumni shared memories, stories and highlights from her tenure at Flint Hill and surprised her with a portrait of her, which currently hangs in the administrative hallway of the Upper School. To recognize Casey’s leadership, positive impact on so many lives and her remaining legacy at Flint Hill, remarks were shared by David Price ’79, who served as the evening’s master of ceremonies; by Headmaster John Thomas; and by Patti Rounsevell, daughter of the late Glenn Rounsevell, who at one time was the sole proprietor of Flint Hill Preparatory School. At Ms. Casey’s funeral on October 11, Chuck Papas ’81 and former Flint Hill Prep faculty member, Tim Doyle gave eulogies, some excerpts of their tributes to Fran are below. “How do you do justice to someone who has had such a lasting, profound impact on so many in only a few minutes? Fortunately, I didn’t have to find all the words; many come from fond memories expressed by scores of Fran’s students and colleagues ...
“I have been thinking a lot lately about what makes a head of school great. For me, a great head of school is a true leader and one who does so by example. One who makes the tough decisions because they are the right decisions, someone that as a faculty member, you would be willing to do whatever it took to get the job done, not because you had to but because you wanted to. Someone who holds you to the highest of expectations, but does so with kindness and an open heart. This is what Fran did, and she modeled these traits to every one of her faculty. Fran expected only the best from us, but she did so with such gentleness and care. Could she be tough, you bet she could. Remember she was a nun, but even in those times, we always knew that she had our backs. She showed us respect, which we were able to return ten-fold.
What strikes me most about Fran is a phrase I have heard from several schoolmates from across the decades — without any of them knowing another had said it, ‘She was the right person in my life, at the right time, when I needed her most.’”
As head, Fran had insight and vision, empathy and compassion. There was a revered reverence and grace that surrounded her. It took several years before I felt comfortable calling her Fran and not Miss Casey. Then there was the deliberate cadence of her voice, the way she held her glasses in her hand and moved them just so as she spoke. And there was that chuckle when she laughed. Today, I miss that chuckle.”
- C H U C K PA PA S ’ 8 1
- T I M D OY L E FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 57
REUNION 2020 SAVE THE DATES : APRIL 24–25, 2020
a w e a k l a T ow k d n memo
ry lane
ALL ABOUT THE S ’ IT FRI END S AN D FA C U LT Y.
TWO DAYS OF REUNIONS, RECEPTIONS AND ACTIVITIES Falcons and Huskies return to Flint Hill for Alumni Reunion Weekend 2020. Alumni celebrate their Reunion every five years, so whether you are celebrating your 50th Reunion or your 5th — or are somewhere in between — come to campus to reconnect with old friends and to make new ones. If you would like to help plan your Reunion, please contact Director of Alumni Relations Maria Taylor at mtaylor@flinthill.org. 58 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL
SATURDAY
FEBRUARY 1, 2020 UPPER SCHOOL CAMPUS
2020
Join the winter fun with the Flint Hill community! Watch basketball, enjoy family-friendly activities and show your school spirit!
VO LU N T E E R !
For more information or to sign up to volunteer throughout the year, visit www.flinthill.org/parentevents.
FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 59
Grandparents and Special Friends Day (for students in Grades JK-8)
Friday, May 8, 2020 Lower and Middle School Campus 10409 Academic Drive Oakton, VA 22124 For more information or to volunteer, please visit www.flinthill.org/parents or contact Alice Yates at ayates@flinthill.org or 703.584.2315.
Thursday, May 21, 2020 | 1 p.m. Westfields Golf Club, Clifton, VA
SAVE T HE DATE
Flint Hill Golf Invitational AND SKILLS CLINIC
Form your own team or we’ll place you in a foursome — all levels of golf ability are welcome. Stay for dinner, player awards and great raffle prizes. Alumni, compete for the Alumni Cup — bragging rights, free entry and a trophy! Not up for a full round? Register for the Skills Clinic to learn or freshen up your skills in a social atmosphere. Registration opens in January 2020. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Tiffany Parry at tparry@flinthill.org or 703.584.2364 60 | FLINT HILL SCHOOL
www.flinthill.org/golf
Teamwork matters.
Your gift to the Annual Fund ensures that collaboration takes place each and every day at Flint Hill in classrooms and innovation labs, on the stage and on athletic fields. When you join other members of our School family by supporting the Annual Fund, YOU make great things happen.
Your gift matters.
www.flinthill.org/support FLINT HILL MAGAZINE | 61
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