2018 Garrison Forest Magazine by Garrison Forest School

G arrison F orest 2018 MAGAZINE

“Breaking the Glass Ceiling” by Lizzie Bonsal ‘18

Garrison Forest 2018 MAGAZINE

14 Chris Hughes Feature 20 Garrison Forest In Color 24 Pathways to Purpose: Career Day at Garrison Forest 126 From the Archives: The Enchanted Forest—Then and Now D E PA R T M E N T S

2 Letter from Chris Hughes, Head of School

4 Lives of Purpose: Alumna, student and faculty accomplishments

Farewell to the Forest

Faculty at the Forest

Spirit of Giving

Class News

128

ords We Live By: Esse Quam Videri W Lila Boyce Lohr ‘63, Interim Head of School for 2017-18, reflects on her journey back to the Forest and a lifetime as a Garrison Girl.

>>> MORE ONLINE AT GFS.ORG/MAGAZINE ON THE COVER: Salad Days by Ati N’Diaye ‘18 Ati created her cover piece, Salad Days, to explore the beauty of art through the complexity of indifference. This piece is one of several that Ati created for her senior portfolio after taking History of Modern Africa taught by Upper School history teacher Catie Corbin ’00. Ati was inspired to create a series of artwork using African symbols and masks designed to capture the experience of African people during pre- and- post colonization periods. A GFS Dark Blue Spirit Captain during her senior year, Ati will attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago this fall.

E D I T O R I A L S TA F F

DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHY

Aja Jackson, Editor Director of Communications ajajackson@gfs.org

Mid-Atlantic Custom Media Jeni Mann, Director jmann@midatlanticmedia.com

Paul Galeone Photographers, MuYao “Selina” Ma ‘20, Tiffany Ogunwuyi, David Stuck

Tiffany Ogunwuyi, Class News Editor, Assistant Director of Communications tiffanyogunwuyi@gfs.org

Cortney Geare, Art Director Ebony Brown, Designer

Garrison Forest Magazine is published annually. Opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and/or interview subjects and not necessarily of Garrison Forest School. Garrison Forest reserves the right to edit Class News for clarity, length and content. Class News agents are responsible for the accuracy of their news. SEND ADDRESS CORRECTIONS TO: Garrison Forest School Alumnae Office 300 Garrison Forest Road • Owings Mills, MD 21117 • gfsalum@gfs.org • 410-559-3136

2018 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL

2 L ET T E R FR O M H E A D OF S CH OOL

DEAR GARRISON FOREST COMMUNITY,

It has been little more than a month since I have officially taken the reins as the new Head of School. My time at GFS over the summer, combined with the time spent on campus over the last year as part of the transition plan, has allowed me to do the vital—and truly enjoyable—work of getting to know the community and letting the community get to know me. As I prepare for the 2018-19 school year, I reflect back on my experiences during time spent at GFS over the previous year. I was invited back for social visits, business meetings and admissions events, and I had the chance to meet with members of the faculty and staff, current and prospective students and parents and alumnae—and even wedged in a wonderful evening watching the Upper School’s performance of Shrek the Musical. Reunion weekend 2018 was a fitting culmination of those transition visits. I joined a number of alumnae, particularly from the class of 1968, as we listened to an inspiring panel of current students; spent some time with Preschool and Lower School students and families at the Spring Fling; sat with members of the classes of ’48 and ’88 during lunch; attended a memorial dedication for a beloved alumna and a piano concert given by a cherished former teacher; and watched a brave group of alumnae compete against the current polo team—and that was just Saturday! What all of this drove home to me was how deeply the palpable spirit of Garrison Forest resides within everyone who is connected to the school. I had heard about this spirit, of course, throughout my earlier visits: I was even grilled on the question of how I would support and promote the spirit by the student committee that interviewed me. What I saw that weekend, though, was how that spirit plays out across 10, 40, even 70 years. Some of it came through in the cheers—and occasional jeers— connected to people’s devotion to Light Blue vs. Dark Blue, and watching alumnae rediscover some of their favorite spots on campus. Much more telling was watching that Garrison Forest Spirit come alive through the human connections that I observed

GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2018

between former classmates, current and former teachers and current students, and the joy in renewed or newly discovered connections across classes and even generations. I have seen this spirit remain constant through the interactions that I have had with members of the GFS community during my time on campus so far, and I can’t wait to experience it in abundance as the students arrive on campus this fall. The other truth that was driven home to me during that visit was the powerful impact of finding the right balance between tradition and progress. Garrison Forest is not the same school it was 70, 40 or even 10 years ago. Schools need to grow and develop just as the young people they serve need to grow and develop. There are programs at Garrison Forest that we wouldn’t have dreamed of when I graduated from school. We know immeasurably more today about how students learn and think and develop, and that knowledge informs our pedagogy and our understanding of “best practices” in education. At the same time, Garrison Forest maintains wonderful, impactful traditions and practices that stretch back across generations, which serve to link the students together and preserve the best elements of that Garrison Forest Spirit. The best schools—Garrison Forest among them—find a path that balances achievement and progress in ways that capture the best of their history while embracing the opportunities that exist in the world ahead. The power of this indomitable spirit and balance was reinforced when I had the chance to have a lovely dinner with former Head of School Peter O’Neill earlier in the year and in my very regular chats throughout the year with Interim Head of School for 2017-18 Lila Boyce Lohr ’63. Both of them, in their distinctive styles, have embraced, supported and lived this spirit (in Lila’s case as an alumna as well as former board chair and head of school), and it shines clearly in every interaction with them. It is my sincere hope to serve Garrison Forest as well as the school has been served by these two faithful stewards—and the countless others who have shaped and been shaped by Garrison Forest. It is an honor and a privilege to have been selected to take on this role, working to honor the powerful history of Garrison Forest while opening the doors to her great future.

Christopher A. Hughes Head of School

2018 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL

4 L IVE S O F P U R P OSE

Top left: the World Equestrian Horse Show. Bottom left: a visit with sports psychologist Marjorie Sugarman. Top right: a clinic with Olympian Melanie Smith Taylor.

Equestrian Institute: Year One In fall 2017, Garrison Forest expanded its renowned riding program by creating the Equestrian Institute designed for the school’s top riders in grades 6-12. Some of the Institute’s activities in its first year included: a clinic with Melanie Smith Taylor, World Cup finals winner and Olympic gold medalist; competing on the winter circuit at the World Equestrian Center in Ohio for two weeks; spectating at the Washington International Horse Show and the Devon Horse and Pony Show, two of the country’s top competitions; and lectures with a variety of equine professionals.

#BeSpirited

Varsity Tennis IAAM A Champions In October, Garrison Forest Varsity Tennis took home the IAAM A Conference Tournament Championship for the first time in nearly 20 years. The Grizzlies beat out season champions Bryn Mawr in the final day of competition to seal the win. Standing, from left: Coach Kim Marlor, Jane Askew ’21, Anna Rose Goldman ’20, Audrey Askew ’21, Josie Tidmore ’20, Samantha Richmond ’19, Madison Haywood ’19 and Coach Jenine Wilson. Kneeling: Co-captains Grace Cannon ’18 (left) and Caroline Askew ’18. Not pictured: Coach Lynn Taylor.

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L I V E S OF PURPOSE

CHRISTA RIEPE ‘91

Olympics Athletic Trainer Garrison Forest gave me a strong foundation

to jump from,” says Christa Riepe ’91 when reflecting on lessons learned from GFS. In 2018, Christa used that strong foundation to help others take a giant leap when she took her fifth turn at the Winter Olympics, in PyeongChang, South Korea as athletic trainer for the men’s tech team. Christa worked with Olympic skier Ted Ligety, who was returning to skiing after back surgery, during the Olympics and in the months leading up the Games by providing daily check-ins to help him train in order to perform at his peak. Christa’s winding road to PyeongChang began after she graduated from Colby College with a bachelor’s degree in education and American studies. She realized quickly during a year of teaching that the classroom wasn’t the place for her and took her experience to the slopes, teaching skiing to children. Her love of working with skiers led her back to school at Endicott College to earn her bachelor’s degree in athletic training before her Olympic debut in 2002, working as an Olympic intern in Salt Lake City.

Christa went on to work with the women’s alpine team in 2006, when team member Julie Mancuso won a gold medal, and returned in 2010 with the Vancouver men’s ski team with Bode Miller, who took home a silver medal and a bronze medal. In 2014, Ted Ligety pulled her out of a brief “retirement” to travel with him and return to the Olympics, which she did in both 2014 and 2018.

“Garrison Forest gave me a strong foundation to jump from.” — CHRISTA RIEPE ‘91

After five Olympic runs and plenty of World Cups and races in between, being part of the Olympics never becomes “routine,” but thinking of it in that way has, in part, led to Christa’s success. “Helping someone achieve their goal is an amazing experience, but what we do at a race doesn’t change

Christa Riepe ’91

whether it’s the Olympics or the week before at the World Cup or a race the week after. You’re a part of a team and you do the same thing you did the day of the World Cup as you did when you were qualifying. Athletes are under an enormous amount of pressure, and the most important part of our work is consistency.”

From left: Olympic skiers Ted Ligety and Ryan Cochran-Siegle with Christa Riepe ‘91 at the Olympics in Junsom, South Korea.

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LI VE S OF PURPOSE

#BeBrave JESSICA BENNETT ‘07

Photo Credit: Rob Clatterbuck

TAKING CENTER STAGE

Jessica Bennett ‘07 in The Wild Party

Last Fall, Jessica Bennett ’07 was one of two local dancers cast in Center Stage’s highly rated performance of Lookingglass Alice. The modern-day retelling of Lewis Carroll’s classic marked a warm welcome home for the quadruple-threat talent and a dream many years in the making. “It was a long journey to Center Stage,” Jessica said. “It took me to New York and international waters to come back.” After earning a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and musical theater from Ithaca College, Jessica, like many aspiring performers, moved to the Big Apple. A dancer, actor, singer and pianist, her talent landed her several roles including a part in the Off-Broadway production Honestly Abe, work as a backup singer for local artists and the leading role in the East Coast tour of We the People. But after a successful year in N.Y.C., Jessica heeded the call of the sea when she was hired as a lead vocalist for the Royal Caribbean. For three years, she traveled the world singing and performing on the cruise ship in an experience that she notes as integral to her artistic growth. “I learned a lot about myself as a performer on the ship,” says Jessica. “You have to sustain and be consistent as a vocalist. You can’t be rundown. You have to work out and stay active. It keeps you on your toes.” While she loved the experience, she also missed her family, friends and dancing on dry land, so in 2015, she returned to Baltimore and performed in regional productions before landing Lookingglass Alice as a dancer. Being skilled in so many areas has been a leg up on the often fierce entertainment competition. “I am a dancer to some, pianist to some and an actor to some, but whether it’s through movement, dance or keys, the point of every single medium is to tell a story. I’m an excellent storyteller, and I can do anything I’m needed to do.” Her storytelling and “can-do” spirit has continued to carry her into new roles after Lookingglass Alice. She has since played Velma Kelly in a Washington, D.C.production of Chicago, and at press time, she was wrapping up a local production of Smokey Joe’s Cafe and preparing for a role in Elf, The Musical. Next up, Jessica plans to return to N.Y.C. with her sights set on Broadway. We have no doubt that we will soon see this accomplished talent’s name in lights.

Lower School Entrepreneurs Launch Eggs & Herbs

With the guidance of Lower School science teacher Tracey Brocato, Fourth-Grade students combined sustainability with financial literacy last spring with the launch of

their new business: Eggs & Herbs. Starting in May, the girls were open for business selling eggs from Garrison Forest’s chickens and herbs grown in the school’s Outdoor Classroom. The students staffed the Eggs & Herbs shop, held on Manor House porch, twice a week. In addition to gaining valuable lessons about the entrepreneurial process, caring for the chickens and collecting herbs, the girls will use their profits to purchase chicken “treats” (mealworms) and possibly new chickens. Fourth-Grade students sold eggs and herbs on Manor House porch.

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L I V E S OF PURPOSE

Taking the Reins as Director of Polo FOR JENNY SCHWARTZ ‘11, polo and

Garrison Forest have never been far from her heart, and in Fall 2017, Jenny returned to her alma mater to be a part of both. Jenny was named director of polo after former director Cindy Halle—who also coached Jenny while she was a student at GFS—retired last year. Taking the reins, Jenny has continued to build on the success of the program that The Baltimore Sun labeled “a polo powerhouse” last fall. We caught up with Jenny to learn more about her plans for the GFS program— the only girls’ school to offer polo in the United States—the challenges and rewards of coaching, and her love for the sport that brought her back home.

HER AWARDS AND ACCOLADES ARE NUMEROUS: She helped lead GFS to win the Women’s Interscholastic National Championships in 2009 and 2011; received the Intercollegiate Female Player of the Year in 2015; won the Polo Development Individual Excellence Award in 2016; and is the youngest United States Polo Association Certified Polo Instructor in the country.

THE REWARDS AND THE CHALLENGES OF COACHING come from what happens both inside and outside of the ring. “Bringing the best out of every player can be challenging especially with high school girls at an age when they may be working through selfesteem or other issues outside of the arena. As a coach, my biggest challenge is trying to figure out how to make players see in themselves what I know that they can do.”

JENNY STARTED AS A RIDER AT AGE 5, but by middle school was drawn to polo and as a result, GFS. She began taking polo classes for outside students in sixth grade and started at GFS in ninth. “Polo was way more exciting to me. It is faster and the fact that it is a contact sport was appealing. I liked the team aspect of it—polo combined horses with a team sport.”

AFTER GRADUATION, Jenny went to Virginia Tech, which did not have a polo team—so she started one. With the help of the USPA, she was able to get equipment and horses, build a small practice arena and start Virginia Tech’s polo club. She coached all of the club’s students until she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing management in 2015.

EXPANDED POLO PROGRAMMING over the last year only marks the beginning of Jenny’s plans as she leads the program into the future. In 2017-18, she introduced a sports injury player performance analysis program in conjunction with the USPA. Players had an increased number of practices, traveled to places like Sarasota, Fla., Yale, Cornell and University of Virginia and even introduced a motherdaughter polo match.

2018 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL

LI VE S OF PURPOSE

#BeAuthentic THE LIFE SAVER: LIBBY SCHROEDER ’97 When mass shooting victim Matt Mika arrived at George Washington University Hospital in June 2017, Libby Schroeder ‘97 wasn’t the doctor on call. “I was wearing a dress and heels when he showed up,” Libby says, recalling the day. The doctor on call was triaging victims and called on Libby to treat Matt, one of four victims shot during a congressional baseball game in Alexandria, Va. In a harrowing story captured by The New York Times in January, Libby became one of Matt’s heroes, working tirelessly to repair his severe wounds and set him on the path to recovery. Last November, she was honored for her work at the hospital’s annual Trauma Survivor’s Day. These days, Libby is continuing to pursue her passion with a change of scenery. She relocated to New Brunswick, New Jersey in 2018 for a position at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she is focusing on global surgery and helping establish improved trauma care in lower-income countries in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. We were able to get Libby to step away from saving lives to share her insights and advice with GFS.

I always said I wanted to be a pediatrician and volunteered in pediatric clinics and foster homes for kids with special needs. At the end of my third year in medical school, my last rotation was surgery and I loved it. I made a 180-degree flip at the last minute and ended up applying to surgical residencies. I loved working in the ICU and getting to work with different subspecialties. There was always something to learn, and every day was different. I developed a love of critical care. Health care is changing. More and more hospitals are transitioning

to a model that utilizes acute care surgeons (such as myself ) as surgical hospitalists. We evaluate the patients in the ER who present with a surgical disease, take care of trauma patients from the moment they arrive until the time of their discharge and manage the ICUs. This allows the general surgeons to focus on their private practice and helps decrease hospital length of stay since we are available 24/7.

There are some patients who have good outcomes and some who

struggle, some whose stories affect me and vice versa. There are always people you connect with more than others. I have some long-term patients, some who have to come back and some who I see a lot, so for people like that, you do end up developing a relationship beyond the normal patient-doctor one.

Running is therapeutic for me. I don’t think you get numb to the work, but as surgeons, we have to normalize certain parts of our day so we don’t burn out. I think it’s important to have a life outside of what we do. If I define myself by my job only and have a bad day, I will go home feeling like a bad person. But I’m a wife, a mom, a friend, a daughter, a runner and a triathlete. I have other things in my life that I can turn to.

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“If you have something you’re passionate about and see the opportunity to apply for a unique experience, take advantage of it. All of your experiences help make you who you are later, even if you end up going into a different field, the perspective makes you a better person.” — LIBBY SCHROEDER ‘97 Take advantage of all the opportunities that come to you in high school and college. At that age, you have a tendency to overthink or think these opportunities will come up again in a few years. If you have something you’re passionate about and see the opportunity to apply for a unique experience, take advantage of it. All of your experiences help make you who you are later, even if you end up going into a different field, the perspective makes you a better person. When you’re living at an all-girls’ school, you know the reasons

why it’s great and why your parents sent you, but later in life, you realize the skills you pick up in an environment like GFS. Even as a single-sex school, it is very unique. It sets you up for success long-term, gives you self-confidence and comfort giving your opinion. It also gives you an amazing network of people you will cross paths with over and over throughout your life.

L I V E S OF PURPOSE

#BeCurious LUCY XIAO ’22

Nationally Ranked Math Competitor Lucy Xiao ’22 isn’t simply “up for a challenge,” she seeks out challenges and

welcomes them with open arms. “I like diving into hard problems so that I can think about them,” Lucy says. “Even if it’s something I don’t know how to solve, I just want to try.” Lucy, a boarder from Sichuan, China, put this spirit to the test in late 2017 when she tried, and succeeded, in the AMC 8, an international middle school math competition designed to promote the development of problem-solving skills. She joined five other members of the Middle School Math Club, led by Middle School math teacher Janet Blatchley, in participating in the competition and scored a 24 out of 25, earning her first place and placing her in the top 1% nationally. Her top score in the follow-up AMC 12 competition in February, an international event in with Upper School students, allowed her to qualify for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). She received a 6 on the AIME (the average score is a 5) and in May, along with classmate Vinia Li, came in third in the state of Maryland and 15th in the United States in the Purple Comet math competition. “Math has been an interest since I was really young. I just love it,” Lucy says. Along with her natural interest and aptitude, she chalks up her math success to diligent practice combined with Ms. Blatchley’s help and encouragement. “Ms. Blatchley helped me in Math Club and did a lot of practice with me,” said Lucy. “She taught me how not to make simple mistakes.” The desire to problem solve and try new things doesn’t just apply when Lucy is scoring high in math competitions. She brings the same vigor to her activities outside of the classroom, where she enjoys riding, polo and taking part in weekend boarding activities. And when she needs just a little more exercise for her mind, she relaxes with a little neuroscience. “I go onto a neuroscience website and look at videos about it. I do a lot of self-learning.”

Big Campus. Tiny House Garrison Forest’s campus joined the national movement to live small when the school launched a Tiny House project last spring. GFS parents P.J. and Helen Zinreich Shafer ’93 provided funding to GFS to design and build a sustainable tiny house for use as faculty housing for one or two faculty members. Led by Upper School science teacher Jim Audette and Dean of Special Programs Andrea Perry, students took part in a two-day Hackathon in April, where they brainstormed features, researched plans and heard from guest speakers about the build. The students will work on plans over the summer, and construction will begin during the 2018-19 school year. Upper School science teacher Jim Audette brainstorms with students during the Hackathon in April.

2018 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL

LIV ES OF PURPOSE

Attendees gathered in the Middle School Auditorium to hear from current parent and White House Correspondent April Ryan. Below: Panel members answered questions following the event.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities Night: A GFS First

On Tuesday, Oct. 17, more than 200 students and parents from Baltimore-area schools— including GFS—gathered in the G. Peter O’Neill Jr. Middle School Auditorium for the school's first Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Night. Moderated by White House Correspondent and GFS parent April Ryan, a panel made up of HBCU alumni, faculty and staff spoke to the audience about their experiences and the value of attending an HBCU for college. The school plans to continue to build on the event’s success with an expanded event this fall.

#BeCompassionate

GFS Supports the Baltimore Hunger Project

GFS families assembled nearly 200 bags for local children in need of food through the Baltimore Hunger Project.

GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2018

Led by the Parent Association, Middle School families came together in a new initiative to support the Baltimore Hunger Project, an organization devoted to eliminating childhood hunger. More than 75 Middle School students and family members gathered in Alumnae Hall on a Friday night in February to assemble bags of food to be delivered to children locally who are in need of food outside of school hours. Baltimore Hunger Project Executive Director Lynne Kahn joined the event, and led the group in an exercise that illustrated challenges for families trying to purchase healthy food on a limited budget.

L I V E S O F PURPOSE

A Half-Century of Service: Theresa Skinner, Dining Hall Staff THERESA SKINNER was not much older than Garrison Forest’s seniors when she arrived on campus for her first day of work in the GFS dining hall—then in Manor House—in 1968. In the 50 years that have elapsed since, Garrison Forest has erected several buildings and removed a few, added entire divisions, educated multiple generations of Garrison Girls and been led by several heads of school, and Ms. Skinner, who celebrated 50 years of service to GFS in 2018, has seen the school through it all. Through the tremendous change in the decades since Ms. Skinner first set foot on campus, the level of attention and care she brings to her work preparing and serving food for Garrison Forest’s students, faculty and staff each day has remained steadfast. When honored for her years of service at the school’s annual Milestone Luncheon for faculty and staff last spring, finding a way to honor Ms. Skinner was a bit of a feat; as the second-longest serving employee in the history of the school, there had been little precedent for recognizing such a milestone. This reality speaks to the fact that Ms. Skinner’s level of devotion is truly one of a kind. How did you come to GFS? I was 19 when I started. This was my first job. I’m from Virginia and would come to Baltimore to stay with my aunt during the summer. I had family that worked at Garrison Forest before I started here, and my cousin came to help me get the job. I got the job here and I just stayed. What has kept you at GFS for so long? I didn’t want to jump from job to job. I liked being able to establish myself in one place. And I’ve had very good, nice supervisors and managers. They connect with us, and we connect with them. I’ve probably stayed so long because of the people I’ve worked for. They always let us know they were human beings just like us.

What is your favorite dish to cook or serve? I like soul food, but I try to make any dish they put in front of me in case they’re testing me to see how good my work is! I like to try and mix it up for the kids so they have different dishes. What is your dream for when you leave Garrison Forest? I’m going to take a road trip with my husband, my cousin and his wife. My husband and I are going to rest and we’re going to travel. I’m just going to enjoy life because it’s too short, and relax with no worries.

What is your favorite part of being at GFS? The girls. I always have said I’m here for the girls because that’s our job. I care about them a lot. I’m always surprised at the Reunion because I see a lot of the girls that I knew. They always remember me and come back to the kitchen to say hello. I have seen a lot of girls come through the school and then come back and bring their own families to school here. What is the biggest change you’ve seen at GFS? When I started here, the kitchen was in Manor House and we didn’t have a Lower School or a Preschool. The school has expanded a lot since then. One of the biggest changes also is that there weren’t any black students when I started to work here. Back in 1969, Sheila Love ’74 and Greta McDonald Anderson ’74 were the first black students. That was the biggest change here during that time. A big change for the school and a big step. That was a good change to me.

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12 FAREWELL TO THE FOREST

GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2018

FA R E W E L L T O T HE F OREST

“I have no doubt that with time, you will have an even greater appreciation of the role your teachers played in maximizing your strengths and equipping you with strategies to minimize your challenges and always encouraging each of you to be your very best, authentic self.” — Lila Boyce Lohr ’63, Interim Head of School for 2017-18

2018 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL

GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2018

Welcome Home CHRIS HUGHES 12th Head of Garrison Forest School

Spirited. Transparent. Collaborative. Positive. Visible. Personable. A leader and team-builder. The position description for Garrison Forest’s 12th Head of School listed these qualities as essential for the school’s next leader to embody as the search for Garrison Forest’s next head got underway in the spring of 2017. The search was international and competitive, yielding an outstanding pool of talented, capable leaders who checked every box, and quite a few more, when it came to the ability to effectively lead a school.

hris Hughes was among this exceptional group. Even before he arrived at GFS for his campus visit last October, it was clear from his background alone that he was a highly qualified and dynamic leader. At the time, Mr. Hughes was in his 10th year as Upper School Principal at St. Paul Academy and Summit School, a coed, K-12 day school in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he led the school’s largest division. A lifelong educator, his independent school experience spans several decades and includes an extensive background in boarding and girls’ schools. He has chaired K-12 committees, led renovation projects, helped redesign curriculum, collaborated in increasing

enrollment, taught in the classroom and lived as a member of residential life. He had a proven track record of success and possessed the background and the skill to lead Garrison Forest into its next chapter. His background was impressive; yet, it was not simply this that allowed Mr. Hughes to stand out among the head-of-school search candidates. As he spoke to alumnae and parents during town halls, interacted with students on campus tours and got to know Garrison Forest’s faculty and staff, it became increasingly clear that there was something refreshingly different about Mr. Hughes. As he made his way around the campus, he seemed to connect with everything that

2018 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL

Chris and Farida Hughes

GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2018

makes the school uniquely GFS, and the school, as a result, connected with him. It was clear that Mr. Hughes was not just capable of leading Garrison Forest, he recognized the school’s spirit and energy; he understood the heartbeat of what has continued to be at the center of a GFS education and has allowed the school to remain a leader in girls’ education for more than 100 years. “Chris just gets it,” said Co-Chair of the head search committee Kim Gordon (Cammy ’16 and Mia ’18). “He understands who and what we are. His passion and energy, combined with his background and experience, have prepared him well to lead our school into what promises to be an exciting future.” This fact, this “getting it” that Mr. Hughes possesses, was immediately evident during the announcement of his selection as Head of School at an Upper School assembly last fall. At the end of his video addressing the Upper School students and sharing his excitement about becoming their next school head, the camera panned out to reveal that in addition to his GFS tie, his choice of wardrobe for the announcement included a pair of grizzly bear slippers. Cheers filled Garland Theater as the delighted students expressed their grateful enthusiasm for a leader who had recognized their spirit and, in turn, let them know that he was ready to dive in to their dynamic community. He brought the same level of connection and energy with him as he and wife Farida returned to GFS in February to get to know students, faculty and parents and again for Reunion Weekend in May to spend time with GFS alumnae who graduated from the school as recently as 2013 and 70 years ago in 1948. The sentiment held by alumnae of all ages was the same as the one held by the search committee half a year before. While his tenure will allow him the time and opportunity to immerse himself in the school and all that it offers, he grasps what is at the core of GFS and is more than ready to take on the challenge of holding true to those values while advancing the school to new heights. “It was a true pleasure getting to know Chris through the search process,” said Co-Chair of the search committee Helen Zinreich Shafer ’93 (Serena ’19). “Chris

embodies Garrison’s motto and core values. His strong belief and dedication to educating young women to find their passion and purpose is what makes him a natural fit for our community.”

In His Own Words Head of School Chris Hughes sat down for a Q&A to share in his own words the importance of girls’ education, the skills students need for today’s rapidly changing world and what he looks forward to as he begins his new adventure as Head of Garrison Forest. What are you most looking forward to about being in Maryland? Coming to GFS is coming back to Maryland for me. We lived in Maryland for the first seven years of our marriage, and both of our kids were born in Maryland, but this will be an opportunity to explore Baltimore in new ways. We will certainly be involved in the arts scene through my wife, a professional artist. There’s no question about that. What is one thing you are excited about as you prepare for GFS? I am excited to continue to get to know the people. The quality of the connections that I made during the visits I had were fabulous and I’m looking forward to getting myself immersed in the community and coming back into the world of girls’ boarding, which is something I’m so fond of.

Chris Hughes Quick Facts

He was most recently an Upper School principal at St. Paul Academy and Summit School, a coed, K-12 day school in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Prior to his position at St. Paul Academy, he served as an academic dean at Chatham Hall, a girls’ boarding school in Chatham Hall, Virginia and was dean of students at St. James School, a boarding school in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Chris holds a B.A. in history and education from Lafayette College and an M.A. in history and education from Lehigh University.

He has authored 12 books including a series on nations in conflict in the developing world.

Aurora and Koda, Chris and Farida’s mixed-breed rescue dogs.

He and wife Farida, an artist, have two children; Jordan, a senior at Washington University in St. Louis and Leah, a sophomore at Parsons School of Design in New York City.

Chris and Farida live on campus in Lochinvar with their two dogs, Aurora, 1, and Koda, 5.

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decisions that never wavered from that. I don’t come from a family of educators; there was nothing in my world that showed me that was the path to take, but it was absolutely the path that spoke to me. I went straight into it in college and grad school.

In your career, you’ve worked at coed schools and girls’ schools. What makes single-sex education and girls’ education, in particular, different? The level of empowerment, of course, is something that’s valuable. Every role on campus is filled by girls and young women. Being a girls’ school means that leadership is not just an opportunity, it’s a need that requires girls to step into those roles. My career as a whole has been helping students find their voices. Coming back into a girls’ school allows me to help girls and young women find their voices and figure out how to best use them. The value of that can’t be overestimated. I’ve seen in coed schools that despite the best of intentions, it can be harder for girls to fill all of those roles and really establish a powerful voice. At GFS you will return to being part of a boarding community, which you have done in the past. What are the benefits of being part of a residential community like this one? I often say that in the independent school world there are boarding-school people and nonboarding-school people. I am absolutely a boarding-school person. I spent 16 years in boarding schools and have been out of them for 10. I am happy to come back into it. The level of connection and community you build in a residential program is phenomenal. When you think about the entire program, it connects girls from different states, different countries and vastly different backgrounds and experiences and puts them together at GFS. It creates a mix across local day and boarding students. I am excited to come back into a world where I can be in a place with weekend activities and evening activities, where the student program and experience extends beyond the 8 a.m–4 p.m. school day. How did you come to decide on education as a career path? I don’t know the “how,” but since middle school, I knew I wanted to go into education. Around seventh grade I decided I wanted to a be a teacher and an educator, and I made GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2018

HUGHES IS “HEAD”ED YOUR WAY! Get to know Head of School Chris Hughes in your city! Chris will meet-and-greet alumnae in cities nationally and internationally during the 2018-19 school year. Look for gatherings in the following areas: California Colorado Florida Massachusetts New York Washington, DC This list will continue to be updated. Visit gfs.org/headofschool for the most up-to-date list.

join us for the Installation of Christopher A. Hughes as 12th Head of School Friday, September 21, 2018 10:00 a.m. Elizabeth B. Searle ’74 Athletic Center Livestream livestream.com/garrisonforest/installation

You continued to teach as upper school head. Why has that been important to you? I love teaching. I love the classroom connection with students. As an upper school head, it was helpful to be in the classroom to model what I was looking for from other teachers and to live their lives as we went through some changes in our approach to pedagogy. It allowed me to be out in front, and doing it myself gave me a different level of connection with the program and the students that was valuable. At GFS, I will always be happy to guest teach or to do something with a lesson. I love and value classroom time and will miss being in the classroom, but I’m looking forward to other opportunities to help our academic programs grow. You have published several books. What motivated you to become an author? What was that experience like? I started my career teaching history in Hagerstown, Maryland. I had done some writing in college and had some pieces published and worked with some professors. I had a friend in publishing who reached out to me knowing my background in history. They had a book on the Battle of Antietam in the Civil War and I was living up the street from Antietam at the time. The publisher wasn’t happy with where the book had gone and asked if I could fix the manuscript. I said no, I was not going to fix someone else’s work. So instead, they gave me a contract to write the book. From there, they pegged me as a Civil War scholar, which wasn’t really true, but I became enough of one to do the writing. After I had done several books, I went back and said that my primary area of study is the developing world and asked if they would do a series on nations in conflict. I ended up doing a book series on nations in conflict that

“Being a girls’ school means that leadership is not just an opportunity, it’s a need that requires girls to step into those roles. My career as a whole has been helping students find their voices. Coming into a girls’ school allows me to help girls and young women find their voices and figure out how to use them. The value of that can’t be overestimated.”

lasted for the rest of my time at St. James and into my time at Chatham Hall. In the end, I authored 12 books and had some parts in others as well. Students today are preparing for a future that is rapidly changing in terms of the types of careers that will be available to them as adults. For students in Preschool through 12th Grade right now, what skills do you think are most important for them to learn? One thing we know absolutely is that students have got to develop flexibility. We are not preparing them for fixed careers, so they will need a level of facility to make adjustments. In thinking about specific skills, one of them is creativity, and I use that not only in the sense of creating things, but also in creative problem solving: the ability to go after complex problems, develop empathy for where the problem is coming from and generate a series of different approaches to solve it.

The Hughes family: Farida, Jordan, Chris and Leah

To paint with a broad stroke, one skill that is still vital is literacy, not only in the classic sense, which remains important, but also digital literacy and understanding the electronic world in order to analyze, develop and read sources. This need is fundamentally different for students today than it was when people in my generation were growing up. Today’s students need to take massive amounts of information and be able to make decisions about what is useful and not useful. Interpersonal intelligence remains increasingly vital, as well. When you look at the world today, the need for the ability to read and understand others, develop empathy and communicate across broad lines far surpasses what was needed 20 years ago, and that need will continue to grow in ways that we will not be able to predict now. What types of activities do you enjoy outside of work and school life? I love to read. I enjoy athletics, which at this point in life includes biking and tennis.

At various points I’ve been an ultimate frisbee player, a volleyball player and a soccer coach and player for a long time. I like athletics at all levels, which includes participating and watching. I like the outdoors; my wife and I are campers and hikers. I also like drama, plays and going to concerts What is your favorite book? I would say the book I’ve been most inspired by is A Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela. What is something that people may not know or would be surprised to learn about you? I was the lead singer of a rock band called Red Shift in college. I don’t sing anymore in public, but I’m sure if people are close enough to Lochinvar, they will hear me singing if I think no one is around.

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G ARRI SO N FORES T

In Color

drive in through the colorful leaves that line the Garrison Forest Road entrance to campus in the fall, a gaze at the pond’s reflection of flowers blooming in spring or a glance in any direction to take in the lush greenery stretching across the school’s 110 acres will allow any observer to soon see that the Garrison Forest campus itself is a work of art. For the last three years, students in Upper School Art Department Chair Diane Yu’s Color Theory Class have used the school’s natural beauty as a backdrop, as they created art installations across campus inspired by theories learned in class and from statistical data.

“The purpose of the project is to show that art doesn’ t have to be on a wall or in a gallery space. Art can exist anywhere. The students have to think of a way for people to interact with color in a place where they normally wouldn’ t. It requires a very purposeful designing of the space.” — Diane Yu Working in groups of three to five, the students used both the indoor and outdoor environment and combined color theory and often social commentary to transform the school into a walking art museum starting in January. Pieces were installed in areas ranging from the front of Manor House to the inside of the F.E. White building and tackled topics from women’s empowerment to pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.

Women Empowerment Skirt Charlize Cramer ’20, Lindsey Gonzalez ’18, Annie Groner ’19, Lauren McEachin ’19 A skirt on the Attitude Croisée piece by Strerett Gittings Kelsey ‘60 outside of the Hathaway Fine and Performing Arts Center highlights the importance of women in the U.S. Senate from 1965 to 2017. This growth is depicted through the ribbon bar graph at the bottom where each one-and-a-half inches of ribbon represents 1% of women in the Senate. In more recent years, the percentage of women elected changed drastically, demonstrating women’s increasing political role and level of influence. Empowering descriptors surrounding the bar graph were chosen to place an emphasis on the amazing characteristics of women and lift the spirits of others. The students used contrasting colors to allow the words to stand out against the background.

Conversing Triangles Ellie Bossi ’20, Elizabeth McGee ’20, Jessi Nemec ’20, Riley Patro ’20 This installation in the Searle Athletic Center utilizes light and bright colors to transform the wintry mood to a brighter one. Installed during the dark season of winter and taking into account seasonal depression in some individuals, the artists hoped that the window would help brighten the days of passers-by. The students chose this design of triangles overlapping outside of the dining hall to demonstrate the conversations students have with overlapping interests within. GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2018

Under the Debris Devin Gorman ’19, Kelly Korzenewski ’20, Zoe Osgood ’20, Madeline Ward ’19 Under the Debris is a visual representation of the pollution that has accumulated in the Chesapeake Bay. Installed on the bridge between Marshall-Offutt Upper School Building and the Elinor Purves McLennan ‘56 Library, the students spray-painted all the bottle caps, plastic pieces and strips of fabric shades blue and green to represent the Chesapeake Bay. They then hung the bottle caps on pieces of fishing line to show how many plastic bottles polluted the Bay’s waters. The students used roughly 450 bottle caps in their installation, with each bottle cap representing 1,322 plastic bottles to capture the estimated 594,900 plastic bottles thrown into the Chesapeake Bay in 2017.

Oh, The Places You’ll Go! Ralston Finney ’19, Audrey Glose ’20, Julia Davis ’20, Rachel Zhong ’20 Oh, The Places You’ll Go!, installed in the Marshall-Offutt Upper School Building, is an interactive world map inspired by Garrison Forest’s diverse community. It showcases both the variety of nationalities within the school’s student body and common destinations the students have visited or aspire to visit. The intention of the piece is to ignite conversation about similarities and differences relating to the community’s origins, experiences and interests. The students incorporated color association by providing an assortment of string. The user is urged to pick a color that reminds them of home, and as they move the string around the map, they carry “home” with them wherever they go.

In February, GFS alumnae were invited to

campus to take part in an art walk. Ms. Yu guided the alumnae through the installations, providing a description of each piece.

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Relaxation Station Caroline Cohen ’18, Lexy Hall ’19, Claire Jones ’18, Leah Timpson ’18, Tiffany Yang ’20 Students created a swing adorned by opaquecolored plastic shapes hanging on a tree in front of Manor House. The concept was to create a relaxing area for the GFS community to relieve stress. The sheets of plastic around the tree created a radiant aura to contrast against the monotonous January scenery in which the piece was originally installed. At points throughout the day, the light streamed through the plastic demonstrating the theory of transparency, a topic explored in class. Overlapping, colorful circles also incorporated transparency into the design of the swing. The students primarily used bright colors in order to elicit positive feelings from those who interact with the installation. The God’s Eyes (Ojos de Dios) surrounding the swing are a traditional craft from the Huichol people of Mexico. They protect whatever they are hung near and the “eye” represents the ability to see what is otherwise unable to be seen. The swing provided a relaxation station for members of the GFS community of all ages throughout the winter and spring.

Building on Garrison Forest’s strong arts tradition, GFS held

an inaugural Arts Schools signing for graduating seniors attending arts colleges in the fall. A unique event among area independent schools, the signing was designed to celebrate GFS artists in the same way that college-bound athletes are honored. From left: • Sally Pfeiffer ‘18, Pratt Institute • Lizzie Bonsal ‘18, Maryland Institute College of Art • Kate Williams ‘18, School of the Art Institute of Chicago • Ati N’Diaye ‘18, School of the Art Institute of Chicago • Nia Tyson ‘18, Savannah College of Art and Design

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School of Color Lindsey Bowser ’20, Lillian Groysman ’20, Cailyn Tripp ’20 This piece, installed on the columns of the G. Peter O’Neill, Jr. Middle School, is a representation of Garrison Forest’s Core Values. Each decorated pillar and the doors represent the five Core Values: Be Curious, Be Compassionate, Be Authentic, Be Brave and Be Spirited (displayed left to right). The artists incorporated data into their work by determining the pillar colors through a survey where students associated a color with each Core Value. With the data collected, they created a gradient effect, one of the theories explored in class, for each pillar based on color association. They designed the triangles on the pillars at a variety of angles and sizes to demonstrate the individuality that exists within the common bond of being a member of the Garrison Forest community. As the gradients represent transition, the Middle School was also chosen as a location for the installation due to the students’ period of transition during this stage in their development. The installation was created using the vinyl cutter and transferred onto the pillars and door.

Brain Spillzzz Molly Douglas ’20, Anna Rose Goldman ’20, Macy Miller ’20, Haley Nickel ’20, Olivia Sorrentino ’20 Installed throughout the F.E. White and Marshall-Offutt buildings, Brain Spillzzz is an infographic demonstrating one of the first theories explored in the Color Theory class: how color can hold a wide array of psychological responses for different people. This project is a visual representation of how students associate color with different academic subjects—math, English, science, history, world languages and the arts. Through a survey, the artists determined the percentage of students who relate each subject with each color and created each of the six “paint spills” to consist of different colors based on those percentages. The artists created their installation pieces by painting on sheets of mylar, then cut them out and installed them in the school location where each subject’s classes are held.

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Pathways to Purpose:

C A R E E R DAY AT G A R R I S O N F O R E S T

hen Garrison Forest School opened its doors in 1910, women in the United States comprised less than 20% of the labor force. At the time, even that number was an indicator of an uptick in the number of women working outside the home, yet the career and education prospects for a young woman were still narrow for GFS graduates at the school’s beginnings. By 2016, women made up 47% of U.S. workers, 70% of women with children under the age of 18 were part of the labor force, and women were more likely than men to hold a college degree (34% of women hold bachelor’s degrees vs. 26% of men). While discrimination against women in the workforce and imbalances—particularly in areas like STEM—are battles yet to be won, the doors for Garrison Forest graduates today are open far wider than they were for their counterparts more than a century ago. Last spring, 32 GFS alumnae leading the way returned to the Forest for the school’s biannual Career Day to share their words of wisdom with the Upper School about walking, and often creating, their own career paths toward success.

2018 CAREER DAY PANELISTS • Katherine Meyers Bissett ’02, School Nurse Manager, Rales Health Center, KIPP Baltimore • Casey Canfield ’06, Science & Technology Policy Fellow, U.S. Department of Energy • Jami Diamond ’07, Clinical Nurse, Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center • Danielle “Dani” DiPietro ’10, Program Coordinator, 504 HealthNet • Katherine “Katie” Fink ’08, Business Development Manager, Lorax Partnership, LLC • Caroline “Lila” Gaines ’04, Clinical Social Worker, United Way of Central Maryland On Track 4 Success • Jenny Blumberg Graber ’00, Physician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Main Line Health, Riddle Memorial Hospital • Ghazaleh “Gigi” Hafizi ’78, CEO, Metropolitan Women’s Center

From left: Upper School history teacher Nick Burns, Nancy Freeman Thrush ‘86, Rachel Karceski Ravalico ‘94, Lila Gaines ‘04 and Katie Fink ‘08 speak to students as part of a career day panel.

• Tiffany Hill ’98, Magistrate, Cleveland Heights Juvenile Diversion Program; Assistant Law Director/ Chief Prosecutor, City of Cleveland Heights • E. Jane Albert Hubbard ’77, Professor, Cell Biology & Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine • Kimberly “Kim” Jones ’02, Director of Government Affairs and Communication for the Behavioral Health Administration, Maryland Department of Health • Tracey Knott ’08, Lead for Central and Southern Africa, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Security Assistance, U.S. Department of State • Carson Petty Maynard ’03, Physician, Rheumatology Fellow, University of Pennsylvania • Robyne McCullough ’07, News Producer, WBAL-TV • Elizabeth “Liz” McElvein ’10, Professional Staff, Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives • Molly Muedeking ’03, Veterinarian, Maryland Equine Center & Carmel Animal Hospital

GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2018

ON CONFIDENCE

ON NETWORKING

“ When you get hired, remember they hired you for what you bring to a position. Be able to speak up about what you know is valuable.” — Becca Proctor ’80, Chief Brand Officer/Creative Director, MacKenzie Childs

“ Looking to other people for advice is helpful, but try to avoid excessively comparing yourself.” — Carson Petty Maynard ’03, Physician, Rheumatology Fellow, University of Pennsylvania “ Mentorship can be amazing. Rely on your network when you have doubts.” — Liz McElvein ’10, Professional Staff, Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives

“ I can walk into any room and use my voice as a woman and as a minority in any situation. Don’t be afraid to be a force wherever you are.” — Robyne McCullough ’07, News Producer, WBAL TV

“ Put everyone on the same playing field. Treat everyone the same. If you treat everyone equally it will take you really far. Be yourself no matter who you’re dealing with.” — Jami Diamond ’07, Clinical Nurse, Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center

“ Having confidence in your skillset is very important. You have to know yourself and check yourself when you hear that voice asking if you’re equipped to be here.” — Marikate Taylor ’06, Development Manager, Strong Women, Strong Girls

ON BEING AND NOT SEEMING

ON MANAGING STRESS “ Don’t sweat many things right now. You’ll end up where you need to be.” — Rachel Karceski Ravalico ’94, Partner, Karceski and Karceski Law Offices “ Being deeply passionate about work is really important, but be able to create some calm for yourself in the midst of a storm.” — Lila Gaines ’04, Clinical Social Worker, United Way of Central Maryland On Track 4 Success

“ Be who you’re comfortable with being and do what you’re comfortable doing. Don’t let someone push you to be who you don’t want to be. You’re going to learn. You don’t have to be a perfect woman. There’s no such thing. You’re going to make mistakes.” — Tracey Knott ’08, Lead for Central and Southern Africa, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Security Assistance, U.S. Department of State “ GFS teaches you to be who you are and not to seem like whatever people expect you to be. Embrace where you are now. You are in an environment where you don’t have to worry about what people think. Take advantage of the opportunity to hone your skills.” — Nancy Freeman Thrush ’86, Administrative Director for Business Development and Customer Relations, Medstar Franklin Square Hospital “ You will leave GFS and you might not know right away, but you will have the confidence to go into any situation. Your intelligence will show them. Don’t feel like you have to morph into something that you’re not.” — Kamber Parker ’13, Professional Development Program Associate, Unum

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2018 CAREER DAY PANELISTS CONTINUED

• Courtney Mullin ’13, Investor Relations, Savano Capital Partners • Julie Nicholson ’03, Director of Communications/ Head of B2B, Oath

• Margaret Stick ’99, Pilot, U.S Army • Marikate Taylor ’06, Development Manager, Strong Women, Strong Girls

• Makeda Nock ’11, Financial Accountant, IZI Medical Products, LLC

• Nancy Freeman Thrush ’86, Administrative Director for Business Development and Customer Relations, Medstar Franklin Square Hospital

• Kamber Parker ’13, Professional Development Program Associate, Unum

• Hilles Horner Whedbee ’76, Nurse-Midwife, Carroll Health Group

• Charlotte Pinkard ’07, Merchant, ANN INC.

• Rosalie Whedbee ’05, Research Lead, Global Scientific Solutions for Health (GSSHealth)

• Rebecca “Becca” Proctor ’80, Chief Brand Officer/ Creative Director, MacKenzie Childs • Rachel E. Karceski Ravalico ’94, Partner, Karceski and Karceski Law Offices

• Monique Apollon Williams ’03, Instructor/Doctoral Student, George Mason University

• Molly Brooks Sapienza ’87, Group Head, Corporate Sponsorships, PNC Financial Services Group • Clare “Carlie” Williams Saval ’02, Biology Instructor, St. Petersburg (Florida) High School • Amy Kellerman Streator ’93, Executive Director, Ripley County Community Foundation

GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2018

From left: Gigi Hafizi ‘78, Casey Canfield ‘06, Katherine Meyers Bissett ‘02, Kim Jones ‘02, Monique Apollon Williams ‘03 and Molly Muedeking ‘03 pose for a photo after taking part in Career Day.

FACULTY 27

Faculty at the Forest AT THE HEART of all that Garrison Forest School has accomplished over the past 108 years are the

teachers, coaches and staff members, masters of their profession, nurturing mentors to their students and dedicated stewards of the school and its mission and community. her compassion for and support of her colleagues, has enhanced the school’s sense of community for the last 20 years and made Ms. Blatchley well deserving of the honor.

Traci Davis Director of Athletics

Lila Boyce Lohr ‘63 and Janet Snow Blatchley.

20-YEAR SERVICE PIN In 1992, Garrison Forest School established the tradition of honoring faculty and staff who have attained 20 years of service to the school, recognition of remarkable loyalty and commitment.

Janet Snow Blatchley, Middle School Mathematics

The level of dedication that Janet Snow Blatchley shows her Middle School math students has never wavered in the 20 years since she started teaching at Garrison Forest. Known to eat lunch at her desk in order to stay available for student questions, Ms. Blatchley is always willing and ready to help her Seventh- and Eighth-Graders sort through a math equation. With patience

and persistence, she motivates her students at every level, supporting girls in meeting math challenges and pushing them beyond their perceived boundaries to succeed. For the last two years, Ms. Blatchley has led Math Club and guided students to achieve high scores on national and international math competitions (see Lucy Xiao, page 9). A graduate of Allegheny College with a B.S. in mathematics and UMass Amherst with an M. Ed., Ms. Blatchley taught Upper School math at Lawrence Academy in Massachusetts and Gilman School in Baltimore prior to coming to Garrison Forest. In 2012, she received the Distinguished Teacher Award to recognize excellence in teaching. Her strong commitment to her students, in addition to

Traci Davis has had no shortage of accomplishments since she started at Garrison Forest in 1998. Varsity field hockey coach since 1999 and director of athletics since 2005, Ms. Davis has led Grizzly field hockey to seven IAAM Division championship wins and five IAAM Tournament championships. She was named the Baltimore Sun’s Coach of the Year in 2007 and Co-Coach of the Year in 2010 with Leigh McDonald Hall ’81. A testament to her dedication and expertise in running the GFS athletics program, Ms. Davis was elected to a two-year term in 2014 as president of the IAAM, where, in addition to GFS, she represented 30 independent and parochial schools. While her accolades as an athlete and coach are impressive, Ms. Davis leads the athletics department with the philosophy that the biggest wins come from the lessons that students take away from the field. She believes that the opportunity to play should be open to as many girls as possible and that the friendships, fun and occasional disappointments that come with team sports help provide a firm foundation for success in college and beyond. Known among her colleagues for her quick wit and infectious sense of humor, Ms. Davis has encouraged the entire campus to connect through movement and play, organizing wellness activities for faculty and staff and helping lead all school events such as the Tri-Division Adventure Race. In 2011, Ms. Davis’ daughter, Cody Magness, graduated

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Lila Boyce Lohr ‘63 and Traci Davis.

from GFS to join the generations of Garrison Girls that Traci continues to cheer on in college and all of their endeavors beyond. 2018 DISTINGUISHED TEACHER AWARD Elinor Purves McLennan ’56 and Courtney McLennan Myhrum ’79 created the Distinguished Teacher Award in 1980 to honor those faculty members whose teaching represents the highest standards of the profession. The recipient is chosen by a committee of parents, students and faculty.

Tracey Brocato Lower School Science

One cannot walk into Tracey Brocato’s science classroom without wandering and wondering. Her love and passion for the sciences are reflected in every square inch of her space with rocks, shells, skeletons, microscopes, models, tadpoles, button quails, a caterpillar, a tarantula and much more taking up residence and bringing joy to every child in the Lower School. Ms. Brocato’s approach to teaching science values exploration, self-discovery and

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the reality that true scientific breakthroughs often require making a mess along the way. She believes in teaching scientific concepts along with content. Students learn by doing and are guided and encouraged to practice sound, scientific thinking by developing the habit of testing the validity of certain beliefs or facts by their own independent Tracey Brocoto with daughter Kate and husband Rick.

observations and experimentation. While her classroom may be in the Lower School, Ms. Brocato makes use of the entire campus to teach her students. She exposes her students to every aspect of science, opening their eyes and minds to the fascinations and the importance of the symbiotic relationships found in nature. She demonstrates her consistent and dedicated passion for the environment by reminding students and faculty of the responsibility to protect these relationships and the delicate balance in which they exist. Ms. Brocato brings the same diligence to her own professional growth and development. She is often seen eating lunch in her classroom while researching the latest information, best instructional practices or new, innovative ideas for her lessons. As a colleague and GFS community member, Ms. Brocato’s dedication is unrivaled. She consistently volunteers to assist fellow teachers, cares for the campus chickens, helps the Fourth Grade sell eggs and herbs and runs after-school clubs and science camps. Ms. Brocato’s passion for teaching and science, her professionalism, her warm collegiality and her 17 years of dedication to the Garrison Forest community make her a truly deserving recipient of this award.

FA CULTY

Christine Herdson

RETIREES

Jenni Glose with daughters Audrey ‘20 and Hannah ‘20.

2017 IRVIN D. MCGREGOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD For 43 years, Irvin D. McGregor shared his talent, kindness and devotion to the Garrison Forest Dining Hall before retiring. In 2008, the school created the Irvin D. McGregor Distinguished Service Award to recognize annually a staff member for his or her exceptional service, tenure and dedication to Garrison Forest School.

Jenni Glose Lower School Administrative Assistant

Jennifer “Jenni” Glose first joined the Garrison Forest community as a parent in 2004, when her twin daughters, Audrey ‘20 and Hannah ‘20, started at GFS in the Threes program. Three years later, Ms. Glose joined the Lower Division staff and has been central to the Lower Division’s operations ever since. Ms. Glose has worked tirelessly, tending to every need and individual including the occasional bewildered student, anxious parent and technology-challenged teacher or staff member. Her work at the Livingston front desk is a control center from where she orders (and sometimes drives) buses,

organizes after-school club registrations, maintains calendars, schedules meetings and keeps student-information systems updated. She does this, and much, much more, all while greeting every visitor to the Lower School with a smile. While not a classroom teacher, Ms. Glose teaches and supports her colleagues in all divisions of the school. Faculty and staff seeking assistance, ranging from help with report cards, the website or Google, know they can rely on Ms. Glose to help with patience and compassion. Her humility and unassuming nature combined with her sense of humor and willingness to listen to anyone in need of an ear allow her to be truly a rock for all she serves. Prior to Garrison Forest, Ms. Glose worked at St. Paul’s School for Boys and in production on commercials, television and movies. Ms. Glose is selfless and undemanding, dedicated and committed, and brings to GFS a spirit of integrity, reliability and joy.

Christine Herdson

Assistant to the Head of School

It takes many moving parts coming together to make a school tick and for more than a decade, Christine Herdson was right at the center of them all, ensuring all the pieces fell into place. Supporting three heads of school during her 13-year tenure, Ms. Herdson’s diligence, competence and integrity were the glue that held the school together, her organization helping everyone to steer in the right direction and remain afloat. While her official title may have been Assistant to the Head of School, Ms. Herdson helped every faculty and staff member in immeasurable ways throughout all divisions of GFS. From organizing board meetings to helping out new hires, and from proofing school communications to managing the Head of School’s demanding schedule, Ms. Herdson’s fair, levelheaded devotion to her many tasks and those around her led her to be well loved and respected by all of her colleagues. Ms. Herdson is so well loved, in fact, that her first attempt at retirement was unsuccessful, as GFS was not truly ready to say goodbye. Initially planning to retire at the end of the 2016-17 academic year—a 2018 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL

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everyone at GFS, especially ‘her girls.’ Thank you Miss Tina for your hard work all these years. You will be missed!” —Scott Dignan, Director of Housekeeping

Dennis Machin

Director of Facilities

Tina Madden

year in which she was also awarded the Irvin D. McGregor Distinguished Service Award for her exceptional service to GFS—Interim Head of School Lila Boyce Lohr ’63 asked Ms. Herdson to bring her talents back to the Forest to aptly support GFS through the search for Head of School last fall. Her “official” retirement at the end of 2017 was also short-lived; she returned to her beloved GFS in the spring of 2018 to fill in and assist in finishing out the school year. Having worked for 23 years at the Rouse Company prior to her tenure at GFS, in spring 2018, Ms. Herdson said farewell to the Forest and made her retirement official. She plans to enjoy spending some muchdeserved time with her husband, John, three sons and six grandchildren. “Christine is a wonder: smart, efficient, discreet, in charge, funny and totally committed to doing anything and everything it takes to make Garrison Forest School the best place it can be. An incredible repository of everything you ever need to know about the school, Christine is respected, sought after and well liked by trustees, faculty, staff and administrators alike. She has been a real gift to Garrison Forest School.” —Lila Boyce Lohr ’63, Interim Head of School 2017-18

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Dennis Machin

Ella “Tina” Madden Housekeeping

Ella Madden joined the housekeeping staff in 2005 and worked diligently for more than a decade to keep the school’s buildings clean for all members of the GFS community. Known as Tina to her colleagues and friends, Ms. Madden helped to ensure that GFS put its best face forward to prospective families and visitors and provided a comfortable space for the students, parents, faculty, staff and alumnae who come to campus each day. With the exception of only the barn, Ms. Madden worked in every building on campus during her tenure at GFS. From Manor House to Middle School and from Alumnae Hall to the student residences, she tackled the daily large and small housekeeping tasks essential to the life of the school. Ms. Madden brought the same level of care and attention to the members of the GFS community, always ready with an ever-present smile and friendly greeting. A grandmother of 14 and great-grandmother of three, Ms. Madden looks forward to spending time with her husband, family and friends after a long career in housekeeping. “Tina is a wonderful employee who has a great sense of humor and a quick smile and laugh. She has a special place in her heart for

The fact that Garrison Forest has a beautiful campus is not lost on anyone who steps foot on the school’s 110 acres. Behind keeping all of those acres looking their best and every building on the well-kept grounds running is Dennis Machin, who served as Director of Facilities for more than a decade. Mr. Machin possesses a knowledge of and mastery over facilities that showed in every part of his work during his tenure at GFS. When he started at the school in 2006, Mr. Machin was looking for a place to utilize his 30-plus years of facility experience to lead work that he could be proud of before heading into retirement. Mr. Machin quickly found that place at Garrison Forest, and his love for the school was evident in the painstaking care that he used in taking care of it. From coordinating repairs to developing operating and capital budgets to ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations, Mr. Machin provided oversight for every project, both large and small, with the same level of thoughtfulness and deliberation. His years of experience before coming to GFS include working for schools: He spent several years at Goucher College and Gilman School in addition to working for organizations such as the Walters Art Museum and the Holiday Inn. As he set out to do when he started at GFS, Mr. Machin accomplished his mission, creating a school environment of which he and the many people who call Garrison Forest home can feel proud. “Dennis’ contributions to our community over the past 12 years are remarkable. His diligence, attention to detail and genuine concern for our campus has positioned us well for the future. We are very thankful for all that he has done and wish him the very best as he begins the next chapter of his life.”—Stacy Mohn, Director of Finance and Operation

FA CULTY

LouAnne Smith Upper School Latin

While some schools across the country questioned or re-evaluated the role of Latin in their curriculum, LouAnne Smith continued to bring a love of and passion for the language that made its value to a Garrison Forest education unquestionably real. Starting at GFS as an Upper School Latin teacher in 1986 and a Latin department chair since 1992, Ms. Smith led more than three decades of Garrison Girls in learning and exploring Latin, in turn providing them with a strong foundation for language and communication skills. In her piece, Why Latin?, Ms. Smith expands on the importance of Latin at GFS and in modern society. She writes: “At GFS we pride ourselves in striking a balance between the progressive and the traditional, and our Latin program reaches across this tension. Our Latin classrooms are vibrant places where you’ll find up-to-date pedagogy and technological tools ... whereas at some schools Latin is elitist, and at others it serves a remedial role, our goal has been to provide the benefits of Latin to all types of students.” (Read her entire article at gfs.org/magazine.) Prior to GFS, Ms. Smith taught at The Chapin School in New York City and at Friends Academy in Locust Valley, N.Y. Her love of the GFS community is felt strongly LouAnne Smith

by her students and colleagues and is shown through her dedicating most of her professional career to teaching at the school. “To witness the growth of passionate young scholars while working with a supportive team of talented, hard-working colleagues has been a gift,” Ms. Smith says. Alongside her work at Garrison Forest, Ms. Smith served the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education (CSEE) beginning in 2003 in the field of advising programs. Her calm, helpful and kind energy will be missed by everyone in the GFS community as she continues to spend time with her husband and son and take part in her many other pursuits—photography, outdoor recreation, music, literature, gardening and yoga and her membership in the Gunpowder Friends Meeting (Quakers). “At the heart of LouAnne’s work is her dedication to her students and a deep love of Latin. Her enthusiasm for Latin and dedication to the school has inspired many students and faculty. We will miss her dearly!” —Reema Khanchandani, Head of Upper School

Dipika “Dee” Vanodia Faculty/Staff Daycare

The first babies that Dipika Vanodia welcomed to the Garrison Forest faculty/ staff daycare in 2000 are now in college, but the most recent “graduates” of GFS daycare received the same love and care that the littlest Grizzlies experienced a generation ago. Affectionately known as Dee, Ms. Vanodia provided care for more than 100 children during her tenure and in turn allowed GFS faculty and staff the peace of mind that comes with leaving their little ones in great hands. For nearly 20 years, she approached every bubbly smile and teary eye with affection and grace and left each student at the end of the day with a hug. Ms. Vanodia brought her own perspective as a grandmother of two along with her years of childcare experience prior to GFS to her work, meeting the needs of children up to age 3—and their occasionally anxious parents—all while helping ensure that the daycare complied with the many state regulations.

Dee Vanodia

In 2016, Ms. Vanodia was awarded the Irvin D. McGregor Distinguished Service Award for her dedication. One need not look any further than the glowing recollections of faculty and staff who enjoyed the benefit of having their children in Ms. Vanodia’s care to understand the immense value her work has brought to the GFS community. “Dee not only partnered with my husband and me to guide our two daughters through all those early developmental milestones, but also gave them a head start in community and communication skills. It has been so special to be able to stay closely connected long after the ceremonial Daycare Graduation and for my daughters to continue to feel and return Dee’s love with warm embraces in the Dining Hall or gleeful cheers at the Halloween parade right through their Upper School years. Celebrating Maggie’s graduation, 17 years later, with that same first teacher reflects the amazing and enduring relationship.”—Katie Baughman, Dean of Academic Development and mother of GFS daycare graduates Maggie ’17 and Alice ’20

2018 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL

32 SPIRIT OF GIVING

Giving GFS

OVER 1,500 donors, volunteers and supporters gave back to GFS in 2017-18! Your support each year provides the gift of possibilities to the students of GFS. WE THANK YOU!

$1,300,946 raised for The Fund for Garrison Forest. 6% of the operating budget comes from The Fund.

$2,327 raised per student

ALUMNAE GIVING BY Spirit Team

55% Darks 45% Lights #LOVEGFS WEEK Feb. 12-16, 2018

269 donors $59,218 raised

5 days

$22,500 in matching funds from alumnae trustees

80%

current parent participation

100%

trustee participation PLEASE SUPPORT GARRISON FOREST THIS YEAR! Give or pledge online at gfs.org/give. Sign up for monthly installments. A Shriver Society gift of $1,000 over 12 months is about $84/month. On Sept. 1, go to gfs.org/reportongiving to read the 2017-18 Report on Giving (password: thankyou).

GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2018

26%

alumnae participation

raised $684,391.

98%

of faculty and staff supported The Fund.

S P I R I T OF GIV ING

AMANDA FRUMAN ‘18

Reflects on Gifts from GFS Recent graduate Amanda Fruman ‘18 started at Garrison Forest in Fifth Grade. Now a freshman at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, Amanda reflects on the value of the eight years she spent as a Garrison Forest student.

WHEN I BEGAN GFS in Fifth Grade, I didn’t realize the impact this school would have on me. I was given a family and a sisterhood and was provided opportunities that would not have been available anywhere else.

I LOVED being a Class Forum Representative (Student Government) in Ninth and 10th Grades, leading tours of the school’s campus for prospective families as a Grizzly Guide and exploring my passion for history by taking classes online at GFS.

AS A SENIOR, I was named Varsity Field Hockey captain and look forward to playing in college.

GFS HAS GIVEN ME CONFIDENCE, taught me how to speak publicly, to find my voice and to know the value of my worth. All of the skills and opportunities that GFS has provided have prepared me for success at Dickinson and beyond.

WORKING CLOSELY with science teacher Dr. Brian Blair, I successfully submitted grants to get hives and bees on campus in spring 2018. I created a beekeeping club that now has 30 members and spoke to Lower School students about the importance of bees in our society.

THROUGH THE WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) program, I assisted a Johns Hopkins doctor with neuroscience research specializing in a rare autoimmune disease. In my Small World Initiative class, I was able to learn about and develop antibiotics found in the soil at GFS.

2018 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL

S P IRIT OF GIVING

[

THE CLASS OF 2018 WILL BE ATTENDING THE FOLLOWING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES:

Gifts to Garrison Forest support every student and have helped to shape the future of the Class of 2018.

[

Appalachian State University

Pratt Institute

Babson College

Savannah College of Art and Design

Brandeis University

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2)

Bucknell University

Skidmore College

Case Western Reserve University

Southern Methodist University

Chapman University

Stevenson University

College of Charleston

Texas A&M University

Cornell University (2)

Texas Christian University (2)

Davidson College

The College of Wooster

Dickinson College

The University of Alabama

Elon University

Trinity College Dublin

Gettysburg College

Tuskegee University

High Point University

University of Delaware (3)

Howard University

University of Kentucky

James Madison University

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Johns Hopkins University

University of Maryland, College Park (9)

Johnson & Wales University (Charlotte)

University of Miami

Kenyon College

University of Pennsylvania

Louisiana State University

University of Rhode Island

Loyola University Maryland (2)

University of South Carolina (2)

Maryland Institute College of Art

University of Southern California

Miami University, Oxford (3)

Virginia Tech

Monmouth University

Washington University in St. Louis

New York University Visit gfs.org/collegelist for the full list of college acceptances. GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2018

S P I R I T OF GIV ING

Two Alumnae Launch Challenges to Raise Funds for GFS renovations, new lighting and significant enhancements of our science labs. Under the direction of the Upper School Renovation Task Force, chaired by alumna, current parent and trustee Kimberly Hubbard Cashman Rendering of the renovated library space. ’85, and with input from our resources: technology and traditional print. students, faculty, staff and The renovation provides easier access to books administrators, we have relocated the main and more natural light. Upper School entrance to the McLennan A second project which we are also very Library. The James Center and Admission excited about is the construction of a new Offices are now located on the ground level residence hall. Local developer Howard of the Library. This will offer our prospective Brown, who has contributed his immense families the very best introduction to our wonderful school and community and a peek time, talent and energy to innumerable projects on behalf of nonprofit organizations at programs that are part of The James throughout Baltimore County and beyond, has Center. In addition, we are renovating the graciously agreed to oversee the dorm project Library Lecture Hall to increase its in order to help the school keep expenses at a functionality, so it can be used both in minimum and below prevailing market rates. “lecture” and small group models. The new residence hall will be located In recent years, we have focused on between Garland Theater and Robinswood. transforming our traditional Library into It will consist of 12 two-bedroom student more of a learning commons with a variety suites, a large meeting space, two conference of furniture and study spaces to accommorooms, a cozy commons area, a communal date many individual study preferences. Our kitchen and three three-bedroom faculty renovations continued this mission with all apartments. Construction is slated to begin new energy-efficient LED lighting, the early in 2019 with the goal of opening in the addition of a state-of-the-art AV system and fall of 2019. flexible and moveable furniture that will allow us to use the central areas in three different modalities. On most days, it will function as a learning/study space; but, on occasion, it will serve as an auditorium. New Dorm We are especially enthusiastic about relocating our computer lab to the main floor Garland Theater Robinswood of the Library, which is an appropriate merging of our girls’ two primary information

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen

and enrich a Garrison Forest education, we are launching an important and exciting fundraising initiative. Our goals are to: • Renovate and breathe new life into the Upper School buildings and facilities. • Construct a new, 24-bed residence hall. • Increase faculty salaries to retain and attract the best and brightest educators. These projects help us fulfill three crucial objectives from our Strategic Plan, which was crafted and approved by the Board of Trustees in 2015. To jumpstart these efforts, in the spring of 2017, an alumna trustee launched a challenge – she would give us $2 million once we raised $4 million. In March 2018, we completed the challenge, raising $6 million. A second alumna has committed to give the school $4 million – $1 million for Faculty Support Endowment and an additional $3 million dollar-for-dollar match to support the construction projects. To date, we have raised $1.4 million toward the match. The timing of these projects will depend on securing the necessary funding. Since spring 2017, we have secured $8.4 million in funding. We are very grateful to these alumnae for their vision, leadership and dedication as well as to those who have stepped up to secure the matching funds thus far. Over the summer, we began the first of two phases to update our Upper School buildings. Phase One focused exclusively on the McLennan Library. Phase Two will address the F.E. White and Marshall-Offutt buildings. The second phase will include a new HVAC system, extensive classroom

Meadowood

2018 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL

ist

S P IRIT OF GIVING

Leadership at the Forest GARRISON FOREST CONGRATULATES this year’s award winners and new Board of Trustee members. 2018 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNAE AWARD

Sealy Hathaway Hopkinson ‘78 Established in 1981, the Distinguished Alumna Award annually honors an alumna whose leadership and service to the school merits special recognition and appreciation. For her work both within the GFS community and her service to the greater community, Sealy Hathaway Hopkinson ‘78 is the 2017 deserving recipient. Sealy, who served on the GFS Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2001, attended the University of Virginia, where she graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree in French. Her career in the arts and antiques world led her to Sotheby’s as vice president in business development. She also worked as director of marketing for Haughton International Fairs and as the international fine arts and antiques dealer for its New York shows. She is the former manager and consultant with the North Shore Land Alliance, whose mission is to protect precious natural resources on Long Island’s North Shore. Sealy recently embarked on a new venture: She is now the Mid-Atlantic States Associate for NYE & Company, a regional auction house in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Her board and volunteer work are equally as impressive. She is a secretary and trustee of the Middendorf Foundation in Baltimore, vice president of the Community Foundation of Oyster Bay and past trustee and chair of the buildings and grounds committee of the University of Virginia’s Jefferson Scholars Foundation. She has served as board chair of the East Woods School and as vice president of the North Country Garden Club of Long Island. Upon receiving the award last fall, Sealy reflected on the engaged faculty, supportive environment and warm community that were a part of her experience and that remain true of Garrison Forest today. “We were supplied with every key element to provide the best foundation possible for future success and lives of consequence.” Sealy Hathaway Hopkinson ‘78

GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2018

Steve Sarigianis (left) with Peter Korzenewski

H. BRIAN DEADY VOLUNTEER AWARD RECIPIENT

Steve Sarigianis Emma ‘18 Established in 2001 in memory of the late Brian Deady, parent of Anne ‘01, who served as a Garrison Forest volunteer for over a decade, the Deady Award honors the parent volunteer who emulates Brian’s extraordinary enthusiasm and commitment to Garrison Forest over his 13-year career as a Parent Fund Agent. Steve Sarigianis, 2017 H. Brian Deady Award recipient and father of Emma ’18, has been steadfast in his commitment to Garrison Forest throughout his daughter’s time at GFS, bringing an infectious dedication and excitement to his work that is evident throughout the GFS community. An active steward for The Fund for Garrison Forest since Emma was in Lower School, Steve served as Parent Fund Volunteer for many years, eventually stepping into leadership roles, including Vice-Chair and Chair of The Fund. During his introduction, Peter Korzenewski, who also served as Chair of the Fund remarked: “When I followed him [Steve] in the role as Chair, it was the solid foundation Steve had built that was an integral part of our success.” Indicative of his collaborative spirit, while receiving his award at the Leadership Recognition Dinner, Steve recognized the many parent volunteers who have become his close friends and have been vital to the success of The Fund each year. “I personally feel that ALL of the parents who give of themselves to our school are all worthy recipients of the Brian Deady Award,” Steve said.

S P I R I T OF GIV ING

NEW TRUSTEES Patricia “Paty” Autrey ’98 Garrison Forest’s first boarder from Mexico, Paty has been working at the Pinecrest Institute since 2010, first as an English teacher and, for the past three years, as an English coordinator for grades 1-6. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in family counseling from Universidad Anáhuac. While at the university, Paty was inducted into Vértice Anáhuac, an academic excellence program aimed at the comprehensive training of the highest performing students who were considered to be key agents in the positive transformation of society through their service. After earning her master’s, Paty worked for Consejo de la Comunicacion (Communication Council, a nonprofit organization specializing in social responsibility promotion) where she was in charge of promoting ad campaigns, press conferences and media relations. Crystal Lee ’96 Since 2014, Crystal has served as the director of advancement for the Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust (B.E.S.T.). After attending Garrison Forest as a B.E.S.T. scholar and earning a B.A. in English from Loyola College in Maryland, Crystal returned to GFS as Director of Alumnae Relations and later became Director of the Annual Fund, Associate Director of Development and Associate Director of Admission during her 14-year tenure. In 2016, she was named one of the Baltimore Business Journal’s “Top 40 under 40” for her leadership in the Greater Baltimore area. Crystal has served as a Class News Agent, Alumnae Board member, Class Fund Agent and Reunion Co-Chair and leads the GFS Alumnae of Color organization. Kristopher “Kip” Mallahan Drew ‘26 Kip is a partner with the law firm Weltchek Mallahan & Weltchek. A graduate of Washington State University with a B.A. in political science and government, Kip received his J.D. from the University of Maryland. He is a founding board member of the Make a Change

Foundation, a member of the Maryland State and D.C. Bar Associations, the Commonwealth of Virginia Bar, the Maryland Association for Justice and the American Association for Justice. He is also a member of the United States District Courts for Maryland and the District of Columbia. Kip serves on the enrollment marketing committee to the board.

Sarah Crosby Schweizer ‘84 Sarah is a highly accomplished architect and founder of SCS Ltd. Residential Architecture. She has worked in residential design since receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia School of Architecture. Sarah is a board member of St. Paul’s School, past board member of The Manor Conservancy and is past president of the board at Ladew Topiary Gardens. She has continued to serve GFS throughout the years, previously serving as a member of the Garrison Forest Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2014, a Class Reunion program chair and a Career Day participant.

Elizabeth “Beth” Warfield ’73 A member of the Senior Foreign Service with over 30 years of experience working in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, Beth is now the mission director for USAID in Mexico. Her decades-long work with USAID includes serving as the first Local Solutions Coordinator in the office of the Agency’s Counselor and completing four years as USAID/India’s deputy mission director, where she guided a $400 million program addressing key constraints in health, climate change, food security and education. Prior to USAID, Beth served in the Peace Corps in Africa’s Ivory Coast. She holds a B.A. in political science and government from Middlebury College and an M.A. in law and diplomacy in international economics/international politics/ international law from Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

2018-19 BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS OF THE BOARD

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Molly Mundy Hathaway ’61

Elizabeth B. Warfield ’73

TRUSTEES EMERITI

Catherine Y. Jackson ’83 President

Patricia G. Autrey ’98

Timothy W. Hathaway

William L. Yerman

Frank A. Bonsal, Jr.

Elisabeth Owen Hayes ’81

Jianguang Zhao

Mathias J. DeVito

Emily Gardner Baratta ’88

Sarah LeBrun Ingram ’84

Henry H. Hopkins

Carroll Dawbarn ’64

W. Bradley Bennett

Vice President

Cassandra Naylor Brooks ’85

Elizabeth R. Kokinis

EX-OFFICIO

Douglas A. McGregor

Helen Zinreich Shafer ’93

Kimberly Hubbard Cashman ’85

Peter J. Korzenewski

Deanna L. Gamber ’85

Elinor Purves McLennan ’56

Crystal A. Lee ’96

Anna Waters Gavin ’00

Francis G. Riggs

August J. Chiasera

Kristopher A. Mallahan

Christopher A. Hughes

Clare H. Springs ’62

Diana Warfield Daly ’74

Peter D. Maller

Blair Price Iodice ’83

Frederick W. Whitridge

David M. DiPietro

Robyne O. McCullough ’07

Katherine R. Williams

Robert S. Brennen

Gretta Gordy Gardner ’86

Frances Russell Rockwell ’68

Catherine Schroeder O’Neill ’93

Secretary

Stacy Garrett-Ray ’92

Sarah Crosby Schweizer ’84

Andrea R. Vespoint

Kimberly W. Gordon

Elizabeth B. Searle ’74

Vice President Amabel Boyce James ’70 Treasurer

2018 GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL

S P IRIT OF GIVING

M O

Elkin Alston ‘58 with her son and daughter.

Marshall-O ffutt Circ le

WE RECOMMEND that you seek professional advice before drawing up your will, and the following is a great option to share with your estate planner: I give and devise to Garrison Forest School, located in Owings Mills, MD., the sum of $_____ (or ___ percent of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal) to be used for its general support (or name the specific support or program, such as endowed scholarships). The Marshall-Offutt Circle is Garrison Forest’s legacy society for those who have named the school in his or her estate plan. We deeply appreciate the 222 people who have informed GFS of their planned giving intentions. If you’ve named the school in your will, retirement plan, trust, etc., and haven’t informed us, please let us know so we include you in the Circle and invite you to donor events and more.

GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL 2018

ELKIN ALSTON ‘58

Leaving a Living Legacy IN 2016, Elkin Alston ‘58 was jolted out of her sleep, but there was no bad dream behind the sleepless night; in fact, the reason for the early rising would be the spark to light a positive change in Elkin’s life and that of many others. “I woke up like a lightning bolt and thought about the five charities in my will,” says Elkin. “I realized it was ridiculous to save it all for later when I can’t enjoy watching the money at work.” A Garrison Forest Marshall-Offutt Circle member since 2001, Elkin had already planned to support GFS in her will. With GFS and four other organizations in mind, she got to work the next day setting her new plan in motion. After speaking with her children about her desire to use the money to support those organizations now instead of waiting, she contacted her lawyer, also a longtime family friend, to help her navigate the details of the gifts. Thrilled with her decision, Elkin’s lawyer was able to finalize those details within 10 days, and in April of that year, Elkin used the funds to establish the Elkin Alston ’58 Merit Scholarship. The Merit Scholarship Program was created to attract and recruit new Ninth Grade day or boarding students who fit the criteria of Garrison Forest’s Merit Scholarship Program.

“I woke up like a lightning bolt and thought about the five charities in my will, ” says Elkin. “I realized it was ridiculous to save it all for later when I can’t enjoy watching the money at work.” Elkin’s desire to continue to support GFS is born not only from her being impressed with the school today, but also the role it played in her upbringing and the foundation it provided for the rest of her life. As a boarder from Georgia, Garrison Forest became Elkin’s family, and she has been able to pass down the lessons she learned at the school to her own children. “My children believe they have been raised in the way that GFS raised me,” Elkin says. “They understand and appreciate my love of the school.” As for being able to see her legacy at work, Elkin sums up the feeling quite simply: “It’s the very best thing I’ve ever done.”

CLASS NEWS 39

Alumnae Class News The following was compiled through May 2018. Note: Due to space limitations, we cannot print all images received. For additional Class News photos, please visit gfs. org/alumnaegallery. Alumnae names are listed according to Garrison Forest’s records. To update names or other information, please visit the GFS Alumnae Portal at gfs.org/alumnae.

’17

CLASS NEWS AGENT Vasi Argeroplos

Chloe Keller writes: “I’m studying bioengineering at the University of Maryland, I joined a sorority and a professional engineering fraternity, and I still play club lacrosse.” Cammi Paladino writes: “I am attending Michigan State University, where I am majoring in psychology and have a minor in international development. I am involved in various clubs around campus, and I’m in the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma, serving on the secretary correspondents committee. I am involved in Hillel, and next year, I will be the out-of-towner chairperson on the Jewish Student Union. This

Alumnae, have you heard about GFSConnect — the new official networking platform for Garrison Forest Alumnae?

at GFS.ORG

GFSCONNECT ENABLES YOU TO: • Reconnect – Find and reminisce with classmates and other alumnae, see what they have been up to and stay in touch. • Give back – Introduce, employ and be a mentor to our graduating students. • Expand – Leverage your professional network to meet people you want to know. • Get ahead – Advance your career through inside connections and exclusive opportunities.

“Like” us on Facebook at Garrison Forest School

You can sign up in less than two minutes by

Download the Garrison Forest app in the Play store or App store

importing your LinkedIn or Facebook profile.

JOIN NOW AT GFSCONNECT.ORG.

CLASS OF 2018 COMMENCEMENT AWARD WINNERS

FACULTY AWARD

ALUMNAE AWARD

GEORGE M. SHRIVER AWARD

PHILIP J. JENSEN AWARD

Mia Gordon

Amanda Fruman

Alli Schimmel

Mattie English

2018 Garrison Forest Magazine

Articles inside

Chris Hughes, 12th Head of School