Alumni

Dear Graland Alumni Community,

It has been an honor and pleasure to work with fellow Graland Alumni Board (GAB) members as well as the school leadership to represent, support, and engage with Graland alumni in such an unprecedented year. During the 2020-21 school year the Alumni Board’s continued focus on inclusivity while adopting new technologies and communication platforms to continue to draw more alumni back into the Graland family and connect with one another.

We are so proud of the strong connection so many alumni have to Graland and how so many of these alumni continue to stay involved and play critical roles at the school to this day. This includes: • 76 current parents are Graland alumni • 8 trustees are Graland alumni • 17 former trustees are Graland alumni • 9 grandparents are Graland alumni • 3 faculty/staff members are Graland alumni • 22 alumni board members During the pandemic, the GAB hosted several forums and speakers via Zoom that were fantastic and incredibly interesting: • Mr. Hickey’s lesson on Greek Heroes and Mythology • Dr. Anne Braun ’93 Zink and Dr. Beth Linas ’97 discussed their approach to the COVID-19 pandemic • Two forums dedicated to Graland Alumni of Color • Alumni discussion of Graland’s commitment to Equity and Inclusivity • Frances Newton ’96 Stacy discussed Navigating “Economic Volatility in 2021 & Being a Part of the Solution” • Dr. Brent Levy ’98, MD and Ali Levy ’00 discussed COVID-19 from the frontlines I am immensely grateful for the more than 200 alumni who attended the alumni annual events that were held virtually: • The fall cocktail party honoring retired Master Teachers’ Andrean Andrus and Coach Dick Kinney and • The winter young alumni trivia event • Annual Graland Reunion with the presentation of the Ruth Gorham Alumni Award to Max Caulkins ’87 and celebrating the milestone years ending in 0, 1, 5, and 6 • Our second Graland in the Making event, which includes all alumni from Graland’s first 50 years, was held virtually with more than 75 in attendance. These alumni shared incredible stories of Graland’s early years. Participants to all these various events joined in from throughout the United States and from around the world.

I am pleased to report that 233 alumni showed their support for Graland by making gifts to the school in 2020-21. Alumni gifts were directed to the Graland Annual Fund, financial aid, the school Archives, the Inspire Campaign for faculty compensation, the Nancy Nye ’39 Priest Memorial Fund, the Bradley Thomas Memorial Fund and the Robert Romero Scholarship Fund. It is affirming to see alumni “pay it forward” to support today’s students and teachers!

Due to the pandemic, I strongly believe the sense of community and acceptance is more important than ever. I couldn’t be prouder of the GAB members and their active engagement to be creative and problem-solve around the pandemic and continue to connect with the greater Graland alumni community. We meet regularly throughout the school year on various forms of outreach. Don’t let the passage of time or the fact that you may live outside of Denver be a hesitation to get reconnected with Graland. We have come a long way since the early days of COVID and now have the capability to welcome participation from anywhere in the world. I encourage you to reach out to me or to any board member listed here to learn more about the GAB. We would be happy to suggest ideas, events or volunteer opportunities to support Graland and its ever-growing alumni community. I encourage you to reach out and connect with each other, see challenges as just stepping stones to something greater, and venture out and learn something new and know the Graland alumni community is behind you and cheering you on.

2020-21 Graland Alumni Board

Executive Committee David Watts ’92 - President Japera Walker ’02 Wilkison - Secretary

Board Members Jaime Miller ’97 Altman Jim Arneill ’66 Ellie Atkeson ’03 Andrew Bourke ’01 Jason Cooper ’84 Sara Drucker ’89 Cooper Patrick Jobin ’01 Andrew Johnson ’84 Peter Johnson ’81 Marguerite Hitchens ’91 Korber Ali Levy ’00 Brent Levy ’98 Mimi Liedtke ’02 Amanda Poe ’00 Little Ed Murane ’78 Sean Offner ’09 Ann Ladd ’87 Ryan Kevin Schoelzel ’07 Jennifer Scholes ’95 Christina Freyer ’97 Walker

Ex Officio Members: Josh Cobb Jessica Goski Cathy Naughton Jeri Volpe

Alumni Board Mission Statement

The Alumni Board recognizes that our alumni are the main link to Graland’s past. Therefore, it is our responsibility to foster this unique relationship to enhance the present environment and help shape the future experiences of generations to come. We seek to achieve this by encouraging alumni involvement with the school, representing alumni interests and advocating lifelong learning in accordance with the missions and long-standing traditions of the school.

Graland Southwest Trip

- 50 Years Since Inception

With great preparation and many layers of health and safety precautions taken, Grade 6 students were able to once again attend the Southwest Trip, a hallmark of Graland’s historic experiential learning. This trip originated 50 years earlier, in 1971, and was the idea of teaching legend Nancy Nye ’39 Priest, who passed away in November 2020 at the age of 93.

Students still camp on the same property as they have for the past several decades and cook meals at the campsite using a chuckwagon. Students use Pancake Rock as their recess area and explore the ravines and ridges while relaxing with their classmates. New just this year: students worked with a traditional mason to learn about puebloan structures and even laid sandstone bricks at a building site. For decades into the future, visiting students will be able to add their brick in a cumulative effort to learn about the ancient architecture and further build up the site. In future decades, the students will build a multi-room dwelling and possibly dig out a kiva site.

Stay Connected with fellow Alumni Online!

Follow the Graland Alumni Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram pages.

Graland is grateful for its alumni community and those who contribute in recognition of the impact of their Graland education.

Class of ’52

William Sweet III

Class of ’54

Dick Hart

Class of ’58

Terry Richmond, Jr. Benjamin Stapleton III

Class of ’60

Brown Cannon, Jr. Craig Stapleton

Class of ’61

Skit Stapleton

Class of ’62

Stirling Puck

Class of ’63

Stephen Fitzpatrick John Freyer, Sr.

Class of ’64

Nancy Widmer Freeman Patty Kern Shelton Leli Sudler

Class of ’65

Warren Anderson Chuck Cannon Terce Dines John Page Stull John Wright

Class of ’66

Jim Arneill IV Vicki Emery Nancy Lamb Margaret Rawlinson Amy Wagner Stull

Class of ’67

Katherine Dines

Class of ’68

Catherine Coleman Winston Dines Ben Duke III

Class of ’69

Jill Cowperthwaite Marian Dines Valerie Gates Sean True Diane Gates Wallach

Class of ’70

Sara Looms Fitch

Class of ’71

Lorraine Higbie Fairmont Wendy Wolf Kaufman

Class of ’72

Bruce Rifkin

Class of ’74

Robin McGehee Charley Rosenberry II David Thomas

Class of ’75

Darwin Toll

Class of ’76

Missy Kintzele Eliot Samuel Marquis, Jr. Bill Vincent

Class of ’77

Elizabeth Anderson Steve Bain Ben Barocas Tony Mayer Ann Skartvedt

Class of ’78

Robert Bruhn, Jr. Edward Murane Edward Sweeney Christopher Toll

Class of ’79 Liza Grant

Class of ’80

George Caulkins John Corsello Gregory Kintzele, Sr. Amy Rosenberg Flip Rosenberry Patrick Shafroth

Class of ’81

Anonymous Larry Cohen Chris Godfrey Phil Hickey (H) Aleks Humeyumptewa Pete Johnson Karen Paul

Class of ’82

Joann Schauer Cole Scott Cowperthwaite Christopher Hatcher Erik Swanson

Class of ’83

Brian Barish David Caulkins Charles Owen Seth Terry

Class of ’84

Collis Chandler III Jason Cooper Dave Heller Andrew Johnson Kevin Mahoney Heather Falk Nolan J.J. Nora, Jr.

Class of ’85

Patrick Hatcher Richard Zimmerman

Class of ’86

Luke Beatty Megan Bee Betsy Cregger Barry Hirschfeld, Jr. Ryan Howsam Kim Fuller Jacoby Dave Kirkpatrick Kaia Borgen Moritz

Class of ’87

Max Caulkins Gregory Crichlow Julia Dobbins Ann Ladd Ryan Chris Sanchez Jennifer Watts

Class of ’88

Adam Averbach Taylor Kirkpatrick Sarah Buchanan Rose Ashley Johnson Rust Jordy Shaw Kristin Eklund Weber

(H) honorary classmate

Learning Together

In August 2020, Graland led two virtual forums for Alumni of Color to share their experiences and thoughts to better inform school initiatives with regard to diversity, equity and inclusivity.

Class of ’89

Libby Anschutz Aaron Burgamy Sara Drucker Cooper Molly Falk Jansen Julian Korber Jonathan Nash Josh Patt Rebecca Valdez Eric Vinton

Class of ’90

Catherine Wilhelm Austin Jennifer Daniel Collins Antonio Lucero JJ Eklund McGawn Evan Silverman Jordy Singer

Class of ’91

Harry Austin Adam Barkin Justin Borus Matthew Cheroutes Stephanie Frankel Hayden Hirschfeld Courtney Dorn Hughes Damon Judd Marguerite Hitchens Korber Hilary Decker Sinnamon Jeff Susman

Class of ’92

Jon-Erik Borgen Andy Dixon Adam Farver John Freyer, Jr. Ben Ladd Cintra Pollack David Watts Graham Williams

Class of ’93

Brian Abrams Michael Barkin Jeremy Barron Brewster Boyd, Jr. Dan Hamman Hisatake Kamori Brian Mankwitz Ryan O’Shaughnessy Jessica Perrill Jonathan Right

Class of ’94

Anonymous Jennifer Person Barker Paige Dorn Peter Eklund Josh Holman Yumiko Kamori Ryan Kirkpatrick David McMurtry Jennifer Pock Rob Susman Jill Stein Vishnitsky Ali Waggener Boyd

Class of ’95

Chase Boswell Ryan McGee Jennifer Scholes Bill Sinclair Sarah Martin Stettner Jeter Thomas David Thomson Anne Austin Zeckser

Class of ’96

Justin Boyd Libby Bourke Eberhardt Ashley Larrick Aaron Goldhamer Scott Hamman Alexander Hoover Emily Martin Jones Erin O’Shaughnessy Powell Alexis Wilson Weightman

Class of ’97

Jaime Miller Altman Christine Anneberg Peter Baer Hunter Dorn John Frey David Harbaugh IV Kabrielle McGee Elizabeth Right Reiss Betsy Wagner Christina Freyer Walker

Class of ’98

Makiko Kamori Brent Levy Blake O’Shaughnessy Liz Robinson Joe Shipley Maia Selinger

Class of ’99

Natalie Drucker Boscoe Dane Harbaugh Ben Lusher David Miller

Class of ’00

Ali Levy Amanda Poe Little Daniel Louis Kerry O’Shaughnessy Sheedy

Class of ’01

Andrew Bourke Kelsey Finch Patrick Jobin

Alumna Shares Financial Expertise

In February 2021,

Frances Newton ’96

Stacy led an educational financial presentation entitled “Navigating Economic Volatility in 2021 & Being a Part of the Solution” for the Graland community. As a part of her remarks she shared some advice: • Look at adversity as a gift • Work with people who are both intelligent and well-mannered. • Cultivate and maintain your sphere of connections • Love what you do, make an impact

Frances later shared, “This presentation was particularly meaningful for me as I have come so far since my Graland days. I remember Graland fondly and as truly my best educational experience. It is a very special place for students to be embraced for their individuality.”

Class of ’02

Charles Cavness III Mimi Liedtke Jennifer Ridder Japera Walker Wilkison

Class of ’03

Elizabeth Arkell Eleanor Atkeson Molly Louis Myers

Class of ’04

Hilly Schoelzel

Class of ’05

Elizabeth Marsico Ross

Class of ’06

Cole Hamilton Lark Liedtke Annie Scott

Class of ’07

Peter Arkell Caleb Cunningham Evan Gart Ash Hussain Kevin Schoelzel

Class of ’10

Abby Mayo

Class of ’13 Sackett Terry

Class of ’14 Kohl Terry

Class of ’15

Alexander Alijani

Class of ’16 Alden Alijani Wyatt Terry

Class of ’17

Maya Rutherford

Class of ’18 Stuart Terry

Class of ’19

Elliot Rutherford

Class of ’20

Sophie Alijani

Class of ’23 Bianca Morris

REUNION 2021 Honoring Max Caulkins ’87

Graland congratulates Max Caulkins ’87 as the 2021 recipient of the Ruth Gorham Award. This award is presented to a member of the alumni community whose dedication and service to Graland exemplify Mrs. Gorham’s lifelong commitment to the school.

“Max has always had the interests of the school as his top priority and I can think of no more deserving person for this wonderful honor. His contributions to Graland are remarkable and he should be recognized for an unparalleled commitment to an institution that he has held in such high regard.” - Jason Cooper ’84, Alumni Board Member

Spring Alumni Speakers

Thank you to the following alumni who virtually spoke with Graland students in the spring regarding their professional career paths through the Alumni Speaker Series and the Grade 7 & 8 Youth Purpose Summits, discussing the importance of finding and following one’s purpose:

Alumni Speaker Series Participants: Sarah Axelrod ’04 Cully Cavness ’02 Ali Frick ’00 Alexander Wamboldt ’03

Youth Purpose Summit Presenters: Olivia Cohen ’16 Caleb Cunningham ’07 Belen Pizarro ’17

Alumni Shares Experience From the Front Lines

Brent Levy, MD ’98 and Ali Levy ’00 led the conversation “Looking at COVID from the Front Lines” in June 2020, sharing their perspectives as an emergency department doctor in Denver, and the director of training for a company focused on the health of first responders, respectively. They cited Graland’s influence on their professional lives:

“Graland’s program - especially Service Learning - helped me recognize that I am a part of something bigger than ‘self.’ I have always wanted to ‘pay it forward,’ and not do a disservice to the teachers and coaches who supported me so greatly throughout my elementary education years,” Ali said. Brent continued “I too have always chosen to ‘pay it forward’ thanks to Graland. Graland also instilled in me a love of learning, an awareness of grit and an appreciation for critical thinking.”

ALUMNI NEWS ALUMNI The Passing of Graland’s Beloved Nancy Nye ’39 Priest

On November 20, 2020, Nancy Nye ’39 Priest passed away peacefully at her home.

A graduate of the Class of 1939, Nancy was also a former Graland teacher who retired in 1995 after 43 years as a faculty member. During her teaching time at Graland, Nancy carried on the tradition of medieval knighting started by Ruth Gorham, and added to it the Roman Museum, and the Mesa Verde trip for sixth graders. As shared by her daughter, Susan Priest ’69 Pierce, “she firmly believed we could improve the world through a better understanding of cultures and their history.”

As both a Graland alumna and teacher, Nancy epitomized the very soul and spirit of the school. Her tireless work with thousands of students, as well as her unselfish devotion to her community, made her a role model to many. At a Masters Teachers salute, John Caulkins ’81 stated about Nancy:

“She taught us that the past is something to relive, to experience, to let one’s imagination unfold. She knew that a fifth or sixth-grader has an even better sense of curiosity than an archaeologist, and just how important it is to kindle the imagination while teaching independence, self-discipline, and respect for others and the environment. Can you imagine a more hands-on approach to learning?

In building our Roman museum, making shields for knighting, or identifying Anasazi potsherds, we pushed ourselves to better understand and relive the past.”

Upon her retirement in 1995, Graland established an alumni award in her honor. For 25 years, the Nancy Nye Priest ’39 Alumni Award has honored alumni whose extraordinary contributions in their chosen field of endeavor are reflective of the exemplary qualities of the person, of Graland Country Day School, and of the global community in which we live. Graland has been pleased to recognize alumni who, through their work, commitment to community, and loyalty to the ideals nurtured at Graland, represented a fitting tribute to Nancy.

Outside of her time at Graland, Nancy was an artist, a dedicated student, an appreciator of Southwest Culture and an avid lover of animals. She had dogs, cats, pigs (including a piglet that used to visit Graland’s Pre-Kindergarten class each day), chickens and was also a Navajo Churro Sheep breeder.

Nancy was predeceased by her husband Ben G. M. Priest; her parents George M. and Ione F. Nye; her brother George M. Nye Jr ’44; and her niece Cathy Handwerk Rhodes. She is survived by her daughter Susan Priest ’69 Pierce of Houlton, Maine; Susan Handwerk ’42 (sister), Bayfield, CO; Camille Pierce, Hanover, NH; Ted Handwerk, Bayfield, CO; Carl Rhodes Newport, OR; Chris Rhodes and his children, Durango, CO; Ann Hunsaker ’61, Denver, CO; Nancy Hunsaker, Bradley Hunsaker, Debbie Spencer, Denver, CO; and good friends, Ted and Patty Tedesco, Karen and Gary Hansen, and Valerie Gates ’69.

As shared by her family, Nancy’s ashes were scattered by the windmill on her property.

Donations in her memory can be made to Graland’s Nancy Nye Priest Memorial Fund for student scholarship at graland.org/specialfunds.

Graland Archive Committee Says Thank You! The Alumni Board Archive Committee is grateful for the alumni, parents of alumni and former faculty and staff who have shared their Graland memorabilia and photos back with the school. If you have anything you would like to gift back to Graland, please email Anna Natassja Scheitler ’13 at ascheitler@graland.org or 303-398-3623. On a warm spring day, Grade 3 and 7 students got together outside to participate in a chalk drawing buddy activity.

FRIENDS AND STUDENTS

Graland is grateful for all community members - including students, neighbors, and more - who choose to support our school.

Anonymous Nate Fotheringham Dustin Hull Levi Morris ’21 Sabina Goski ’29

CORPORATION GIVING

Graland is grateful to the extended corporate community who recognizes and supports the value of a Graland education by matching donors’ gifts. Graland donors employed at the following companies doubled or tripled their donations with just a few simple clicks on their companies’ websites. These donors know that matching gifts are an easy way to make their donations go farther and deliver a bigger impact for our students, teachers and programs.

Anonymous 135 Adams Street LLC Adelante Capital Management LLC Artisan Partners Limited Partnership Baird Foundation, Inc. BlackRock, Inc. BP Corporation North America Inc. Brick Specialists Center Copy Printing Chapman Tax Solutions LLC Charles Schwab Foundation Matching Gift Program Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) D.A. Davidson & Co. Dudley Article 11th Trust HQ Architects Johns Manville L & S LLC LLB Corporation Otten Johnson Robinson Neff & Ragonetti PC Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts Program Salesforce Shell Oil Company Foundation Matching Gifts Syntrinsic Investment Counsel The Timken Company Charitable and Educational Fund Viewhouse Whitney Evans Ltd. Williams Companies Inc. Workday, Inc.

GIFTS IN KIND

Graland is grateful for all in-kind gifts the school received last year. From library books to health & safety supplies, each in-kind gift enhances the Graland experience and makes an impact on our students, teachers, and programs.

Graland Archive Committee Says Thank You!

The Alumni Board Archive Committee is grateful for the alumni, parents of alumni, and former faculty and staff who have shared their Graland memorabilia and photos back with the school. If you have anything you would like to gift back to Graland, please email Anna Natassja Scheitler ‘13 at ascheitler@graland.org or 303-398-3623.

Anonymous Anthony’s Pizza and Pasta Paul and Paige Kushner John and Shannon Le Bel Parisi Foods Inc Daniel Storch and Daphne Butler Edward White III ’73 and Nancy White Parthenia Williams Eugene Wolfel and Elizabeth Thilo Bob Young, Jr. and Chris Parisi