Perspective Fall 2015 by Kent Denver School

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Kent Denver School

PERSPECTIVE Fall 2015

A We ek i n P I C T U R ES Student photographers help chronicle life at Kent Denver p.28

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Go where you want to go: Members of the Middle School cross-country team paddle canoes across the upper reservoir on a clear September day. Photo: J. Todd

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IN THIS ISSUE

Fall Perspective advisors Lesley Brophy, Eric Chandler, Miya Dickman ’94, Holly Downs ’00, Phil Klein, Sara Lawrence, Genevieve Marcelino Editor Jan Thomas ’76 Associate editor Jack Todd ’09 Design & layout Andi Todaro Contributing photographers Katherine Addy ’16 Wasim Ayesh Maddie Bragg ’16 Justin Coopersmith ’16 Sofia Daley ’16 Trevor Davis Corky Dean Sabra Dewey ’16 Carol MacKay Claire Orr ’17 Clare Rady ’17 Jordan Solich ’16 Jan Thomas ’76 Jack Todd ’09 Caitlin Vickers ’17 Doug Wells Madison White ’16 Contributing writers Mark Bautista ’16 Lisa Mortell Jan Thomas ’76 Jack Todd ’09 Cover photo: Eau de science: Students in Michael Burnham’s class experience one of the smellier results of scientific pursuit. Cover photo: C. Rady

Kent Denver School

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Features 20 The best job in the world

Alumni and faculty find their life’s work in education

26 Making the team

After 14 seniors graduate, KDS volleyball begins a new era

28 Photo week!

Why KDS crowdsourced the 2015 photo library

Departments 4 Tribute

5 From the Head of School 6 Campus News

12 Commencement 14 Continuation

15 Alumni News

19 Stay in Touch!

CONNECT

2015-16 Board of Trustees Dr. Rand Harrington, Head of School

Whenever you see one of these icons after an article, visit Kent Denver social media for enhanced content.

John Zimmerman, President Bruce Rifkin ’75, Vice President Mary Kelly, Secretary Tom McGonagle ’77, Treasurer

facebook.com/kentdenverschool twitter.com/KDSsundevil vimeo.com/kentdenverschool instagram.com/kentdenverschool

Tully Bragg Jeff Caulfield, Faculty Rep Kathy Safford Coors ’90 Navin Dimond Julia Sayre Donnelly ’98, Alumni Rep

Kevin V. Duncan ’81 Ann Ellis Parker Evans ’16, Student Rep Jeremy Flug Ann Gail, Parents Association Rep Ken Gart Doug Henston Sunhee Hodges Jeff Howard Sarah Anschutz Hunt ’89 Michanda Lindsey

Lisa Love Bruce McGrath ’72 Karen Padgett Caroline Kurtz Rassenfoss ’78 Lisa Robinson Ramsay Stabler Keith Warner Jennifer McIntosh Waters ’88 Terry Whitney ’80

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TRIBUTE

“I just like creating something out of nothing.” - Judy Graese

Tribute

Judy Graese came to Kent Denver in 1969 as a dance teacher. Forty-six years and a couple of job descriptions later, Ms. Graese is still going strong. These days, she focuses her full energy designing costumes for the Upper School’s many plays. In her time at Kent Denver, Ms. Graese has influenced the lives of countless alumni through her love of the arts and her willingness to create beauty from scratch.

KEN TT DDEN V EVRE RS CSHCOHOO LO PE KEN EN L RPSEPRESCPT E ICVTEI V E

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

From the Head of School T h e h e art o f o u r school

Not long ago, someone asked me to explain my philosophy of world-class teaching. As I pondered how best to describe a perspective honed during decades in the classroom and in education administration, I realized the first step was to explain what, in my opinion, excellent teaching is not.

What makes them exemplary is their passion to understand what’s going on inside each student’s head. They are extremely curious about how students think and what students are truly learning.

One model of teaching defines teaching as telling and learning as remembering. It’s purely transactional: In exchange for students’ attention, teachers provide data. They recite information; students write it down. Although this approach fulfills the basic definition of teaching, it does not come close to exemplifying world-class teaching.

I’m thrilled this issue of the Perspective honors Judy Graese, who this year celebrates 46 years at Kent Denver. This issue also celebrates alumni who work in education and explores the joys and the challenges of the teaching profession.

Excellent teaching is, at its foundation, relational. It’s about a relationship between a teacher and a student, and between that student and her or his peers in the classroom. Excellent teaching leads to transformative learning. Simply put, it changes the way students perceive the world. Whether the road to that change is called “math” or “science” or “athletics” or “art,” the net result is that students leave a class taught by an excellent teacher profoundly different than they were when class began.

Exceptional teachers abound at Kent Denver. They are the heart and the lifeblood of our school. What’s more, they have inspired many alumni to become great teachers themselves.

In this issue, we also bid farewell to beloved Math Chair Kristin Brown, who passed away on Oct. 9, 2015. Kristin was an extraordinarily gifted and dedicated teacher, a highly sought-after college counselor, an invaluable colleague and, most important, a mother to her dear children, Trevor Shaw Brown III and Luke Andrew Brown. The Kent Denver School community will be forever grateful to have known her. Warm regards,

Rand Harrington, Ph.D. Head of School

Certainly, the best teachers I’ve known excel at the mechanics of teaching. They understand how to manage a classroom. They understand the logistics of creating a lesson plan and monitoring student learning. They have rich, deep knowledge of the content they teach and they know how to guide students toward greater understanding. This is what makes them good.

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Campus News I n M e m o r iam K r is t i n B r o w n Kristin Brown, Kent Denver School’s Math Department Chair, passed away on Oct. 9, 2015. She died at home, peacefully in her sleep, of natural causes. Ms. Brown joined Kent Denver as a math teacher in 2005, became department chair in 2014, and led the department through its most exciting and transformative year. Additionally, she was one of our School’s most requested college counselors and served as Kent Denver’s Advanced Placement coordinator. She was a brilliant and dedicated teacher whose calm manner and unwavering confidence in their potential inspired Kent Denver students to challenge—and shatter—perceived limits. Ms. Brown graduated from the University of Colorado in Denver in 2006 with a master’s degree in mathematics. She leaves behind her husband, Trevor Brown ’96, and her sons, Trevor Shaw Brown III and Luke Andrew Brown. Without question, her heart belonged to her children. She filled her office with their photos and often shared videos of Shaw and Luke with her colleagues. The entire Kent Denver community was devastated by her loss, but we are certain her legacy will live on. Photo: D. Wells

Fa c u l t y a n d S taff U p dat e s

Yay, M at h !

Sara Lawrence, Gift Records Administrator, and her husband, Jeremey, welcomed their second child, Declan Rhys Lawrence, on May 8, 2015. Congratulations!

They hoot. They clap. They debate. They theorize. They analyze and solve problems more complex than many imagined tackling just a few months ago. They’re doing math, Kent Denver style. The School’s enhanced, learner-centric approach has students engaging with the subject, with teachers—and with each other—more than ever before. The net result is that students leave class with much more than the ability to recite formulae and theorems from memory. They understand the essence of mathematical concepts and they’ve mastered the art of mathematical problemsolving. These skills will serve them well during SAT, ACT and AP tests and throughout life. “This approach encourages an even deeper appreciation for mathematics and helps students mature into successful problem solvers who can work both individually and collectively,” says Dr. Eric Chandler, Director of Kent Denver’s Upper School. “Our successful transition to this teaching model is a testament to the

KEN T D EN V E R S C H O O L P E R S P E C T I V E

exceptional vision, leadership and hard work of our late Department Chair, Kristin Brown.” In-class discussions and collaboration allow students to have an active role in structuring learning. “We want them to feel confident enough to take risks, feel appropriately challenged and to have a robust mathematics foundation that will enable them to succeed,” Chandler says. The concept of learner-centric or

Photo: C. Vickers

Krista Sahrbeck, Dean of the Class of 2017 (and Dean of our most recent alumni, the Class of 2015) and Jack Pearman, KDS athletics trainer, married in June 2015.

CAMPUS NEWS

“problem-based” math is not new. “I am a firm believer that we want students to thrive in mathematics—to gain procedural fluency/skill mastery, conceptual understanding and the ability to apply what they learn in new circumstances and situations,” says math teacher Mindy Adair. “I also have a bias. I am a mathematician at heart. I LOVE the precision and the beauty of mathematical language as well as the theory.” What does a learner-centric approach look like in the classroom? Certainly not like an old-style class where the teacher stood in front of the room and read from a textbook. For instance, See Kent’s problemAlgebra II Honors class begins based approach in with students—every one of action on Facebook, them—racing to whiteboards facebook.com/ kentdenverschool to confront a problem. Different teachers may use different approaches, but every class crackles with energy. These days, students talk. They debate solutions. They move around and discuss challenges. The era of students of being able to sit in class and remain silent is over.

Photo: C. MacKay

Don’t wait for Alumni Weekend to come back and visit. Our arts schedule is jam-packed with events, and we love to see our alumni in attendance! This year’s highlights include band concerts, classical music recitals, one-act plays and, of course, Coffee House and the Upper and Middle School musicals. Last year, Kent Denver’s Quincy Ave. Rhythm Band was named the top High School R&B performance group in the nation for the sixth time, and The Azucartones, our Latin ensemble, was named top High School Latin Jazz group. For a full list of arts Don’t miss what the bands have to offer events on campus, this year! You can see The Azucartones please visit www. play on campus alongside the Blackmer Big kentdenver.org/ Band on Mon., Nov. 23, as well as several calendar times throughout the spring. The Quincy Ave. Rhythm Band will perform Thurs., April 28 with

the Blackmer Big Band and Middle School R&B Band. This year’s Upper School musical is “Man of La Mancha,” an adaptation of “Don Quixote” written by Dale Wasserman, with music and lyrics by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion. It’s a can’t-miss show that you can see on campus from Thurs., Feb. 4 through Sat., Feb. 6. Be sure to buy tickets at the box office as soon as they’re available because this show will sell out! The Middle School musical, “Aladdin,” will run Thurs. and Fri., Feb. 18 and 19.

Photo: T. Davis

K D S Play bill … B e H e r e

U p p e r r e s e r v o i r ta p p e d f o r science—and fun!

Over the summer, Kent Denver acquired six new canoes, along with paddles and life vests, to allow students greater access to the upper reservoir. Several student groups, including the Middle School reservoir club and the cross-country team, have used the canoes to explore the upper reservoir and master the teamwork required to navigate under paddle power. The canoes are also playing a role in the science program. Seventh grade earth science classes taught by Steve Newman and Mark Bosick have recently begun an ambitious project to measure and map the upper reservoir. Using stakes and string, students run guidelines across the entire reservoir at ten-meter intervals. Other classmates are using the canoes to access the lines, take depth measurements using a PVC sounding cont. on next page FA L L 2 0 1 5

CAMPUS NEWS

Upper Reservoir cont. pole and record these data. The data students collect will be contoured to create bathymetric charts. Students will print large format versions of these charts in the digital arts lab. Using CAD software and the School’s 3D printer, students will then be able to create a 3D scale model of the reservoir that can be filled with water and scaled up to estimate the total volume of water the reservoir holds. At the same time, students in Peter Ellis’ AP Calculus class will use the seventhgraders’ data to calculate the reservoir’s water volume and will compare their results to those generated by using the 3D model. Seventh-graders will also compare their data to a similar project conducted by Dr. Kathleen Jones’ Senior Biology class more than 35 years ago. According to Newman, “preliminary indications are that the depth of the upper reservoir is significantly shallower than the time at which the old data was collected, which is not surprising.” While the project is an exemplary model of 21st century education, Newman jokes, “it is more like 17th century ... or 18th century at best. Our process is similar to a couple deckhands on a British frigate sounding and mapping a bay so they don’t run aground.” If only those deckhands had access to a 3D printer!

KDS Board Welcomes New Trustees The board of trustees develops and approves the School’s vision statement, strategic goals, general policies and institutional bylaws. The board of trustees and individual board members follow the NAIS principles of good practice and act in good faith to help Kent Denver School to thrive. Seven new members joined the board for the 2015-16 school year: Tully Bragg has two children at Kent Denver, Madeline ’16 and Charlie ’19. He serves on the marketing and communications committee. Julia Sayre Donnelly ’98 is the current President of the Kent Denver Alumni Board.

She serves on the finance and development committees. Ann Gail has two children at Kent Denver, Julia ’16 and Mark ’16, and alumna Caroline ’14. She is the current President of the Parents Association and serves on the development committee and on the marketing and communications committee. Jeff Howard has two children at Kent Denver, Jacque ’16 and Jacob ’20, and one recent KDS graduate, Justin ’15. He serves on the marketing and communications committee and on the education committee. Sarah Anschutz Hunt ’89 has three children at Kent Denver, William ’17, Madeleine ’19 and Eleanor ’21. She serves on the building and grounds committee and on the

development committee. Lisa Love has two children at Kent Denver, Maya ’16 and TJ ’18. She has coached girls’ basketball at Kent Denver for the last four years and also participates in teaching and mentoring youth in the local community. She serves on the education and enterprise risk management committees. Keith Warner came to Kent Denver School in 1979 (then Kent Denver Country Day) where he taught math and served as Dean of Students from 1980 until he retired in 2003. Keith has tutored many Kent Denver students in math and filled in part of a year for a teacher on medical leave. He serves on the building and grounds committee and on the enterprise risk management committee.

O h , t h e Pla c e s W e W e n t

Kent Denver offers a variety of great trips for our students during summer. This year, students were able to travel to France and China, where they immersed themselves in language and culture. Fifteen students traveled to France with teachers Maud Sullivan and Allison Cain. They visited many of the sites in Paris, stayed with host families in in the medieval city of Carcassonne, swam in the Pont du Gard and much more. Another 15 students traveled with Michelle Tai, a Kent Denver

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< “I think the students got a lot out of it. I think it was a confidence builder for all of them to see that they can really function with the French they learned ... I think they also really appreciated how incredible it was to be swimming at the Pont du Gard under a 2000-year-old Roman aqueduct still standing strong.” - Maud Sullivan

CAMPUS NEWS

Fall S p o r t s Off t o G r e at S ta r t At press time, football was undefeated; boys’ soccer was 14-0-1 heading into the CHSAA State Tournament; tennis won the 4A state championship, golf took second in state, and field hockey was 5-5-5.

Here are this year’s team captains: Cross-country Jarrek Holmes ’16, Julia Jaschke ’16, Noah Naiman ’16, Sam Schaffer ’17, Erica Seff ’16, Aidan Thomas ’16

Photo: J. Solich

View KDS Sports action on Instagram, instagram.com/ kentdenverschool

Football Wyatt Autterson ’16, Tommy Boatman ’16, Rob Casey ’16, Conor Dooley ’16, Niyi Kelani ’16, Will McKissick ’16, Ben Melvin ’16, Ian Navarro ’16, Justin Schatz ’16, Carl Schmidt ’16, Grant Spofford ’16, Jerrad Voboril ’16, Matt Wells ’16, Luke Wilson ’16, Jack Woodhull ’16, Jake Zane ’16

Field Hockey Devyn Haecker ’16, Erin O’Shaughnessy ’16, Paula Petit-Molina ’16 Boys Golf Mark Hillary ’16 Boys Soccer Robby Dunn ’16, Davis Oudet ’16, Quinn Wagner ’16

< “From sampling truffle oil, to hiking around and restoring chateaux, to roaming around the best of Provence ... our group tasted, shared and participated in all with full gusto.” - Allison Cain

Mandarin teacher, to China for two weeks. In addition to community service with the children of migrant workers in Beijing, the students visited the Longmen Grottoes, Buddhist statues carved into the side of a mountain in the Henan Province. These trips provide a fantastic way for students to not only experience the world, but to better understand it. “It’s just eye-opening for them because it’s a completely different culture,” says Tai.

Boys Tennis Kevin Adams ’16, Willie Gold ’16, Drew Parsons ’16, Blake Parsons ’16 Volleyball Christine Anderson ’16, Mallory Garner ’17, Mary Kate Highum ’17

“This is my third time taking students to China, and this was the best trip ever. I had a great time with the kids. Everyone bonded really well as a group, and I just really enjoyed the experience with them, and seeing them live that experience.” - Michelle Tai

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CAMPUS NEWS

Boys Basketball | Record: 14-9

• Competed in CHSAA State Tournament • Finished fifth in Metro League Tournament • Rob Casey ’16 and Max Mehlman ’17 named to 2nd Team All-Conference

Baseball | Record: 15-6

• Won the Metro League for the first time since 1995 • Competed in the CHSAA District Tournament • Cole Whitaker ’15 and Will McKissick ’16 named to 1st Team All-Conference • Alex Yoshida ’16 and Rob Casey ’16 named to 2nd Team All-Conference • Kevin Qualman ’16 received AllConference Honorable Mention • Cole Whitaker ’15 and Will McKissick ’16 named to All-State

Girls Basketball | Record: 11-11

• Finished seventh in Metro League • Maya Love ’16 named to 1st Team AllConference

Girls Golf

• Marin Halvorsen ’17 competed in CHSAA State Tournament and received All-Conference Honorable Mention

2014-2015 Sports Recap Our athletics program had much to be proud of in the 2014-15 winter and spring seasons. KDS students won both individual and team championships, and several of our athletes were named to All-Conference, All-State and AllAmerican teams. Here is a recap:

Ice Hockey | Record: 2-15 Girls Lacrosse | Record: 9-7

• Competed in CHSAA State Quarterfinals • Erin O’Shaughnessy ’16 and Dani Murray ’16 named to 1st Team AllConference • Madi Wifall ’17 and Grace Chao ’15 named to 2nd Team All-Conference • Lacey Rifkin ’16 and Ali Koff ’15 given All-Conference Honorable Mention

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CAMPUS NEWS

• Competed in CHSAA State Semifinals • Joe Rassenfoss ’15, Zander Ellis ’15, Jaden Franklin ’15, Jack Ammons ’15 and Alex Lippitt ’15 named to 1st Team AllConference • Charlie Highum ’15, Gunnar Sveen ’15, Nick Johnston ’15 and Kyle Nalen ’17 named to 2nd Team All-Conference • Wyatt Autterson ’16 and Markus Bosick ’17 given All-Conference Honorable Mention

Swimming | Record: 5-1 in head-tohead meets • Won the Tri-Peaks League Meet • Finished 13th in CHSAA 4A State Meet • Finished third among 3A teams at State • Kendall Crawford ’15 took second at State in 100m breaststroke, setting a school record, and named All-American Girls Tennis

• Won Regional Tournament

• Joe Rassenfoss ’15 and Zander Ellis ’15 named to 1st Team AllState

• Finished second in State Tournament, to which all seven positions advanced

• Jaden Franklin ’15, Jack Ammons ’15 and Alex Lippitt ’15 named to 2nd Team All-State

• Caroline Kawula ’16 won Individual State Championship for #2 Singles

• Joe Rassenfoss ’15 named Player of the Year in the South Suburban Conference and named AllAmerican

• Maeve Kearney ’17 won Individual State Championship for #3 Singles

• Joe Rassenfoss ’15, Zander Ellis ’15, Jaden Franklin ’15, Jack Ammons ’15, Alex Lippitt ’15 and Charlie Highum ’15 competed in Froelicher-Toll All-State game • Charlie Highum ’15 named Academic All-American Girls Soccer | Record: 12-4-1

• Competed in CHSAA State Semifinals • Audrey Payne ’16 named to 1st Team All-Conference • Sage Digiulio ’17, Madeleine Billings ’16, Emma Billings ’18 and Sydnee Naylor ’15 named to 2nd Team All-Conference • Darcy Neureiter ’15 given AllConference Honorable Mention • Audrey Payne ’16 named to 1st Team All-State

• Caroline Kawula ’16 and Maeve Kearney ’17 named to All-State Track and Field

• Spencer Serumaga ’17, Julia Jaschke ’16, Sam Schaffer ’17, Erica Seff ’16 and Anna Newman ’15 competed in the State Meet • Spencer Serumaga ’17 took fifth in State boys Triple Jump • Julia Jaschke ’16, Sam Schaffer ’17, Erica Seff ’16 and Anna Newman ’15 took fourth in State girls 4x800m relay • Julia Jaschke ’16 took third place in State girls 3200m and third in State girls 1600m • Julia Jaschke ’16 and the 4x800m relay team named to 1st Team AllConference • Spencer Serumaga ’17 and Sam Schaffer ’17 named to 2nd Team All-Conference Photos: C. MacKay

Boys Lacrosse | Record: 12-6

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Photo: C. MacKay

Photo: J. Thomas

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Photo: J. Thomas

Photo: C. MacKay

Photo: J. Thomas

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

COMMENCEMENT

Commencement Awards THE POLLA WATKINS SPALDING AWARD (English Department Award) ELLA MASSARO TIEZE THE KARL EPPICH AWARD IN ENGLISH (English Department Award) NATALIE WELD JUHON HODGES THE BOOTHMAN HISTORY CUP (History Department Award) GRACE MARIE CHAO THE MARY ADAMS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS (Mathematics Department Award) LENA ESTELLE RUTHERFORD

CAPTAIN MARTIN A. SHELLABARGER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS (Athletic Department Award) JADEN ALAN FRANKLIN THE HERBERT MOORE STUDENT ASSEMBLY AWARD (Deans Award) ELLA MASSARO TIEZE THE TAYLOR FRIENDSHIP RING (Selected by the senior class) MADELEINE LOUISE BRAGG THE CLASS OF 1975 RING (Selected by the senior class) JAMES BRISTOW GILTNER

THE ANNE SAYRE TAGGART ’72 AWARD (Science Department Award) SMARANDA ILINCA BIRLEA

THE JOHN U. CARLSON SENIOR ESSAY AWARD 1st Prize TUCKER JENSON SMIDT 2nd Prize CHANDLER RAPHAEL TOFFA

THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MICHAEL JOHN OLSON

THE MARY A. BOGUE TROPHY (College Counselors select nominees, faculty vote) VICTORIA ISABEL CLARK

THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE (Computer Science Department Award) JEREMY MARTIN MICHAEL POLEY

THE HILARY H. CARLSON PRIZE FOR SCHOLARSHIP NATALIE WELD JUHON HODGES

THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE STUDY OF A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (Foreign Language Department Award) French HUGH DAVID GRIER Spanish ASHLIN NICOLE CROSS Mandarin NATALIE WELD JUHON HODGES THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DRAMA (Drama Department Award) JUSTIN CHRISTOPHER HOWARD THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC (Music Department Award) PERRIN ELISABETH YORK THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ART (Art Department Award) BRYNNE VICTORIA CARLETON CHRISTINE D. BULLARD ATHLETIC AWARD (Athletic Department Award) DARCY HOSKINS NEUREITER

THE AILEEN P. NELSON AWARD DARCY HOSKINS NEUREITER THE CHUCK BOOTHBY MEMORIAL AWARD SAMUEL ALYN PETRE THE GERALD D. BULLARD TROPHY JEREMY MARTIN MICHAEL POLEY THE DENVER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL PRIZE FOR SCHOLARSHIP HUGH DAVID GRIER THE CLASS OF 1956 CUP REILLY SPENCER RASTELLO THE HELEN YEAGER CUP JUSTIN CHRISTOPHER HOWARD THE DCD CHARACTER SCHOLAR AWARD MARK WILLIAM HILLARY THE BRIAN TRICE AWARD SABRA CLAIRE DEWEY DICK DREW AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING TEACHING NEIL BATT FA L L 2 0 1 5

C O N T I N U AT I O N

Photos: C. MacKay

Continuation Awards

Outdoor Ed Award (Connection to the outdoors; positively contributes to Middle School trips, interim, outdoor class work and/or community service) Matthew Klein Blair Jenkins Award (Benefited most from middle school experience, most progress as a person) Seth Lindsey Maggie Mulvihill Nicholas Gates Memorial Award (Open, caring, honest affection for fellow students, willingness to take risks, true role model for ideals of KD MS) James Dahlen Ella Newcomb Directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cup (Highest degree of intellectual integrity, true interest in learning, taken initiative to explore full range of potential in classroom) Max Lewis Jenny Weiske Head of School Cup (Consistent diligence in classroom, good sportsmanship, high standards of character, loyalty to school, strongest affirmative influence on Middle School students) Will Morland Alice Noble

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Helen Yeager Literary Award 8th Caroline Casey Matthew Klein 7th Jeremy Gart Grace Regnier 6th David Laney Sydney Toffa Individual Discipline Award Nominations Sports Anna Hall Augustine Kim

Drama Chloe Howard Art Elsie Halvorsen Music Bella Kemp

English Rachel Zobolas French Tate Schmergel

History Jackson Christman Spanish Izzy Hurley Math Uly Atkeson

Science Danielle Norris Mandarin Daniel Chao

ALUMNI NEWS

Lessons Taught and Taken A n A L U M NI P R O FI L E By Jack Todd ’09

Photo: W. Ayesh

really, really fulfilling experience.” Procknow’s Kent Denver experiences continue to resonate today. Many KDS teachers inspired him, but he thinks he took the most from his four years of Latin with Hildegarde Roberts. “She really impacted me a lot, both personally and professionally,” says Procknow. “In terms of teaching, I think what she did so well was holding high expectations. “Latin was always the hardest. It was always the class with the most homework. It was always the class I spent the most time on, but it was always my favorite,” he continues. “I think if a teacher can really push you hard and can still inspire you and create passion and inspiration in a classroom, then she’s doing a great job.” He also noted the influence of English teachers Loni DesJardin and Neil Batt—for their creativity, spontaneity and thoughtfulness— on his classroom technique. Procknow sought to recreate at King’s Academy the tight-knit community that he found at Kent Denver. For him, community can make or break a student’s experience. What’s important is “knowing that your peers, your teachers, the administration and staff and everyone involved in the school is there for you when you need it,” says Procknow. “Just knowing that the

whole community is rallying around something and watching out for you, I think, is really important.” As he found at Kent Denver, teaching is about more than just education. It’s about the students, the community and the overall experience. With that in mind, Procknow struggles to pick one image that defines his career teaching so far. “I don’t know if I can really pinpoint one specific moment because I think every day has at least one instance where I feel really thankful to have gone into this profession,” he says. As he was at Kent Denver, Procknow is involved in many aspects of life at King’s Academy. In addition to being an English teacher, he acts as a college RA with the freshmen boys and also coaches the tennis team. “In two years I’ve led my team to an astounding record of 0-1,” Procknow jokes.

Photo: W. Ayesh

Chase Procknow ’09 may not have realized it when he graduated from Kent Denver, but the path to a teaching career was already wellestablished. In school, Procknow was a varsity tennis player, a Kent Denver Westerra Credit Union teller, a peer mentor and a volunteer at Breakthrough Kent Denver, where he was heavily involved in teaching everything from writing to science, history to Arabic. After graduation, Procknow attended Emory University, where he studied English and Arabic. Each summer, he returned to Breakthrough to teach and, according to Procknow, it was this involvement that inspired him to pursue a career in education. Currently, Procknow is in his third year teaching at King’s Academy in Madaba, Jordan, not far from the country’s capital, Amman. He loves it. “Everything about teaching has been wonderful for me so far,” he says. “I like that it’s challenging. It’s difficult. I’m always being pushed to teach better, to teach more.” But why did he choose Jordan? An interest in the Middle East and Arabic language piqued in college made Jordan an obvious choice, and the move across the globe has paid off. “The students I work with are really inspirational,” Procknow says. “Hearing their stories, hearing what they want to do and seeing what can get them to improve more is a

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ALUMNI NEWS

Class Notes, Fall 2015 ’70s

Tom Taplin ’71 died in Nepal in April. Tom was at the base of Everest making a documentary film when the earthquake struck. He was one of the thousands killed in the tragedy. Bruce Daley ’76 attended Tufts after graduation. Bruce says, “I briefly considered becoming a lawyer but decided what I really wanted to do was computer programming, so I started to work with computers almost, now, 35 years ago. Since then I’ve done almost everything you can do with computers. I’ve coded them, been a project manager, database administrator and pre-sales and sales manager. I’ve been a consultant. I’ve raised funds for companies. I’ve had a pretty complete experience in software. In that time, what I’ve really seen is that software has become more and more important. I never would have been able to have a career in computers if I hadn’t been able to use the computers Kent invested in during the mid-seventies.” Bruce worked for several big companies before starting his own venture about 15 years ago. He soon discovered that corporate America didn’t really prepare him for being an entrepreneur. “Big companies measure you on input. Being an entrepreneur, you’re measured on output,” Bruce says. Bruce recently authored the book, “Where Knowledge is Power, Data is Wealth.” “When I started writing the book, I really fell in love with the topic,” Bruce says. “Initially I was going to self-publish but then I received encouragement to find a publisher.” As this magazine went to press, Bruce was in the final stages of copyediting his book for his publisher.

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’80s

Stephanie Genster Eppich ’81 and Karl Eppich ’81, are pictured with their daughter, Lauren ’18, outside the Black Field House. Karl’s uncle was Andrews Black, one of the founders of Denver Country Day.

Duke Beardsley ’88 recently launched a new website for his artwork, dukebeardsleystudio.com

’90s

Dan Gutrich ’91 and Becky Woodard Gutrich ’93 are making Kent Denver a family affair. Their daughter, Isabel, is now a KDS sixth-grader and a member of the Class of 2022.

Mike Larkin ’91 is a marketing communications manager at DaVita Healthcare Partners in Denver. Mike says, “after graduation, I went to Lehigh University and thought I would follow an engineer career path. I learned very quickly that I was not cut out to be an engineer. Some people are made of engineer cloth, but I was not one of them. After that, I went back to school at Metropolitan State University, earned a journalism degree and moved to Vail where I worked for both the daily and the weekly newspapers up there. I started my own newspaper that my wife, Maia, and I eventually sold to Vail’s daily paper. My paper had a brief run, but it was interesting. I learned a lot. One of the main things I learned was that I had some gaps in my business knowledge. I

A Call f o r N o mi n at i o n s The Kent Denver Alumni Association is seeking nominations for this year’s Distinguished Alumni Awards, which will be presented on Ethics Day in April 2015. The Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of exceptional Kent Denver alumni who represent, “extraordinary distinction and success in fields of endeavor, commitment to community service, and/or exceptional leadership in one’s community while successfully carrying forward ‘excellence in scholarship and character.’” Nominations can be made by emailing Holly Downs ’00 in the Alumni office at hdowns@ kentdenver.org with the name of the alum that you feel should be recognized as well as a brief description of his or her accomplishments. Nominators may be contacted to provide supporting materials about their candidate(s). This may include résumés, letters of support and biographical materials.

ALUMNI NEWS

decided to fill those, so my wife and I moved from Vail back to Denver so I could go to graduate school at the University of Denver. In Denver, we could also begin the adoption process and have more work opportunities.” Mike worked at Fox 31 while earning his MBA from DU. He learned of the position at DaVita while at Fox and “jumped at it.” “I find it very rewarding to work in the marketing communications department of a Fortune 500 company,” he adds.

’00s

Gretchen Murray McLaughlin ’00 and her husband, Chris, have moved back to Denver from Steamboat with their two children, James (2) and Agatha (6 months).

Henry Clark ’08 joined the Kent Denver faculty as an Upper School history teacher and basketball coach. He will also assist with Model UN. Henry graduated from Middlebury College with bachelor’s degrees in history and Spanish. Nick Kelley ’08 is working as an associate online editor at Outside Magazine and taking some amazing shots as a photographer. To see his work, check out his website, nickgkelley.com Maia Chavez Larkin, Qiu Qiu Flynn Larkin, Mike Larkin ’91

Seth Chused ’98 and Lucy Stookesberry Chused ’02 welcomed a son, William, this year.

Jack Todd ’09 joined the Kent Denver staff as a communications and marketing fellow. He returns to KDS with a bachelor’s degree in English writing, rhetoric and culture, and a bachelor’s degree in communication studies, both from the University of Puget Sound.

Jackie Plowshay ’11 writes, “Since graduating Villanova University in the spring as a marketing and international business major, I moved to Manhattan where I work at US Trust as a trust administrative officer. Before the end of the year, I will be taking the GMAT as well as getting involved in a philanthropy organization in the city. I have many friends from college living in NYC but, honestly, it has been many of my Kent Denver friends who are also living here who have helped make this transition so easy. New York City is obviously very different than Denver, so having many close high school friends here with me has helped my adjustment to Manhattan.” Tunde Kelani ’12 is now a senior at Northwestern University in Chicago. He recently completed an internship with Goldman-Sachs in New York City and plans to return to the company after graduating. John Payne ’13 is a basketball manager at Duke University and got to shake President Obama’s hand as a part of the 2015 Duke Basketball team during the National Championship Awards Official White House visit and presentation on Sept. 15, 2015.

’10s

Amy Tsuei ’10 graduated from Cornell University in 2014 and is now living in Chicago and working for a real estate private equity firm. Alyssa Rodriguez Baker ’11 is a KDS sixth-grade teaching fellow. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Northern Colorado.

John Payne ’13 (third from the right) at the White House.

Share with us! Send Class Notes to Holly Downs ’00, hdowns@ kentdenver.org

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ALUMNI NEWS

It’s a trend! Kent Denver alumni married each other in record numbers this year and last. Here are the highlights and photos.

Kyle Lewis ’07 and Aly Lamb ’07 were married in Vail, CO on Sept. 6, 2015. Among those attending as guests were Todd Schayes, Kyle’s high school basketball coach .

Shannon Cudahy ’07 and Graham Ely ’07 were married on June 27, 2015 in Vail, CO. Shannon and Graham were high school sweethearts who dated for 11 years before getting married this summer. They had at least 30 Kent friends in attendance at the wedding—several of whom served in the bridal party.

Sarah Peay ’99 and Damon Judd ’94 were married on Oct. 11, 2014 in Avon, Colorado at Bachelor’s Gulch.

Graham Ely ’07 and Shannon Cudahy ’07 at their wedding in Vail and at their Eighth Grade Continuation ceremony.

Alumni Weekend On-campus reunions are a great way to reconnect with former classmates. Here’s who attended in 2015. Remember, Kent Denver’s Facebook page is a great way to stay in touch between on-campus get-togethers.

Class o f 1 9 6 5

Legacy Lunch Our annual Legacy Lunch was held in May 2015 to honor graduating seniors who have a parent and/or grandparent who are alumni. During this special event, each attendee reminisces about her or his Kent Denver (or Kent School, DCD or KDCD) experiences.

Class o f 1 9 8 0 Class o f 1 9 9 5

Congratulations to all of the alumni who attended.

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Kirk Petre ’85, Becky Fouts Petre ’85, Sam Petre ’15, Harry Trueblood, Jack Trueblood ’15, Joe Rassenfoss ’15, Caroline Kurtz Rassenfoss ’78, Tim Connors ’78, Jan Smedley ’75, Nina Beardsley Itin ’79, Elizabeth Smedley ’15, Wyatt Itin ’15, Pamela Davis Beardsley ’54, Tim Loiseau ’15, Meegan Carey ’77, Tom Kourlis ’15, Becky Love Kourlis ’70 > 18

KEN T D EN V E R S C H O O L P E R S P E C T I V E

ALUMNI NEWS

Moses Taylor ’08 married Ali Smith (a former KDS sixth grade teaching fellow) on Aug. 15, 2015 in Steamboat Springs.

Heather Fowler ’03 and Patrick Jobin ’04 were married at Cherry Hills Country Club on June 27, 2015. The couple reside New York City where Heather is Vice President/Client Strategy Director at Christie’s and Patrick does equity research at Credit Suisse.

Did we miss you? If so, contact Alumni Programs Director Holly Downs ’00 at hdowns@kentdenver.org and share the good news!

Left to right: Alex Trautman ’04, Lizza Piper ’04, Rashni Grant ’04, Stephen Julia ’04, Charles Jobin ’97, Heather Fowler Jobin ’03, Patrick Jobin ’04, Nancy Holt Fowler ’65, Elaine Holt West ’64, Andy Fowler ’02, Liz Gerhold Brauer ’02

S UN D EV I L F OR L I F E !

A gift in your will or trust is an easy way to support Kent Denver A gift to us in your will or living trust, called a charitable bequest, is a simple way to make a big difference in the lives of Kent Denver students. Bequests are: SIMPLE Just a few sentences in your will or trust is all that is needed. We can give you the correct wording to use. FLEXIBLE Because you are not actually making a gift until after your lifetime, you can change your mind at any time. VERSATILE You can structure your bequest to leave a specific item or amount of money, make the gift contingent upon certain events or leave a percentage of your estate to the school. Your gift, large or small, helps us sustain our mission of delivering excellence in scholarship and character for future generations of Kent Denver students. Thank You! For more information, please contact Phil Klein, Director of Development pklein@kentdenver.org or 303-770-7660 x526 FA L L 2 0 1 5

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

KEN T D EN V E R S C H O O L P E R S P E C T I V E

T he Best Job in the W orld KDS alumni and faculty make our world better, one student at a time

Photo: C. MacKay

By Jan Thomas â&#x20AC;&#x2122;76

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Photo: T. Davis

“I’m just so tired,” Kent Denver

“I don’t think a lot of people realize how terrifying it is to stand in front of a group of kids. Even though they were third-graders, it was scary ...”

KEN T D EN V E R S C H O O L P E R S P E C T I V E

alumna Annie Bacon ’04, recalls the second-grader saying. “I think my heart stopped beating because I’m so tired. Is my heart still beating?” This was not a conversation most people would be prepared to handle, but as one of America’s 3.5 million full-time teachers, Bacon not only had to handle it, she had to do so quickly, calmly and using language a 6- or 7-year-old would understand. “I didn’t know why he was so tired,” Bacon says. “Did he stay up too late or not sleep well? “I didn’t know what the cause was. But I had to take a breath, collect myself and think of a response that would make sense to him.” She began by assuring the child he’d been heard. “I said, ‘I understand you’re really tired and it’s really hard to do your best work when you’re really tired, but we still have a job to do. That’s why we are here. Your heart is OK. Your heart is still beating even though you’re tired,’” Bacon says. Situations such as this, where learning and emotion collide dramatically, have the potential to affect students’ lives in obvious ways—but there are many more subtle moments where teachers’ actions have lifelong impact. “Nothing beats seeing kids have a light bulb moment. All of a sudden they just understand what you’re saying. It’s a terrific feeling knowing that, together, we came up with a way to make sense of something complicated,” Bacon says.

“It’s so energizing to see learning through their eyes. That keeps me going even on a tough day.” Dr. Rand Harrington, Kent Denver’s Head of School, takes great pride in the contributions alumni make to the education profession. “We’re in this business because we truly believe that not only is education a great way to change the world and make it a better place, it may be the only way to make the world a better place,” Harrington says. “For me, being in this field is a moral imperative. We have a responsibility to impact our children in such a way that the world they inherit and the world they live in will be better than the world we live in today. It’s an important thing we’re doing as educators ... It’s the most important thing in the world.”

Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.

Harold “Hal” Bruff ’61 followed a circuitous path to teaching. After graduating from boys-only Denver Country Day, Bruff attended and graduated from Williams College, earned a law degree from Harvard then entered the Coast Guard, where he served as a legal officer. He began his teaching career as an Arizona State University law professor in 1971 and clearly remembers his first day in front of the class. “I even remember whom I called on first. It was a student named Anderson,” Bruff says. “I’d scripted everything out the way I’d hoped it would all go. I was tremendously

THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD

“As you mature into a field, your understanding becomes good enough that you can go in many different directions. You don’t just have one path to explain things.”

Photo: J. Todd

over-prepared. I asked the first question and the student, who was very bright, answered about the first four questions. And I thought, ‘Well, I think I need to adjust.’ “Over the years, I’ve learned to be much less scripted,” he adds. “As you mature into a field, your understanding becomes good enough that you can go in many different directions. You don’t just have one path to explain things.” Becoming a teacher was not on the career short list for Hillary Hoffman ’04 either. “I did not formally study education or have the intention of teaching long-term after college,” Hoffman says. Memories of Kent Denversponsored summer trips to the Dominican Republic prompted a change of heart. “The trips were led by a Kent teacher who’d served in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic and still had really strong connections to a town there,” she says. “A group of Kent students spent about a month living with Dominican Republic

host families. We ran programs for village kids in the morning and did various community service projects in the afternoon. This was something I’d loved, loved, loved; it was just amazing! I felt like I was doing some good positively impacting other people. I was also greatly impacted. Those trips spurred me to major in Spanish, and they were a big reason behind my decision to join Teach for America.” Nonetheless, Hoffman didn’t expect to make education a permanent vocation. “I truly thought I would be one of the people who committed to Teach for America’s two-year requirement then went on to something different, like marketing or business school or something like that,” Hoffman says. “But that did not happen. I absolutely loved teaching and just kind of got hooked with many aspects

of it, including the challenges.” She was assigned to an elementary school in Denver’s Globeville neighborhood, roughly 25 miles from the Kent Denver campus. “It was eye-opening to get to know a part of the city that I’d had no exposure to when I was growing up or when I was at Kent,” Hoffman says. “It was really great to be able to come back to my hometown and do Teach for America. Not many people have that experience.” Like Bruff, Hoffman prepared heavily for her first day of teaching solo. Unknowingly, she replicated the process her fellow alumnus followed decades before. “I think I had everything I was going to say completely scripted out,” Hoffman says. “Looking back, it’s hilarious—and not at all time efficient—because you’re teaching for almost the entire day. It definitely

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F E AT U R E

makes me laugh to think about how intimidated I was and how I felt I needed to have every word I said and everything that was going to happen planned out.” Why the extensive preparation? “I don’t think a lot of people realize how terrifying it is to stand in front of a group of kids. Even though they were third-graders, it was scary,” Hoffman says. “I’m sure they sensed my fear. A huge challenge of that whole year and beyond was convincing them that I wasn’t afraid, that I was in control, that I had it together and they needed to respect me and do what I said because I knew what I was doing.” Although his parents are educators, David Elbot ’03 echoes Hoffman and Bruff’s memories of first-day preparation. “I was definitely nervous when I first went into the classroom,” Elbot says. “I felt pressure to perform in front of 7- and 8-year-olds.” As a teacher in a Title I, lowincome school, Elbot says his desire to support his students extends beyond education basics. “I feel the need to help them out socially, emotionally and academically,” Elbot says. “There’s definitely a lot of pressure.”

A world away from Kent

Currently, Kent Denver’s Middle School classes average 16 students and Upper School classes average 14 students, both significantly smaller than Hoffman experienced when she began teaching. “I had around 30 kids in my thirdgrade class every year I taught third grade. That’s a lot,” says Hoffman. “It was very, very crowded.” Faculty hunting for supplies, furniture and other essentials was not something she observed as a Kent Denver student. It was a skill she had to master when she became a public school teacher, however. “I remember walking into my school and, within a very short period of time, realizing that there was an every man for himself mentality among the teachers,” Hoffman says. “The resources were very limited, down to chairs and desks. You had to claim what you needed. I found that to be very surprising. “I had a wonderful staff,” she adds quickly. “This was not a case of working with people who were out to get you or make your job harder. It was just the situation of, when you’re working in a low-income school with limited resources, you have to get scrappy because there isn’t necessarily enough to go around.”

Photo: S. Daley

Making a mark

KEN T D EN V E R S C H O O L P E R S P E C T I V E

As he ruminates on both his high school education and on a teaching career that spans more than 30 years, Bruff is able to pinpoint certain qualities he feels make exceptional teachers. “All of the great teachers I’ve known really cared about teaching,” he says. “I started at Denver Country Day in the fall of 1958, in 10th grade, and graduated in June 1961. It was that

experience that really got me going academically. There were some great teachers. I especially remember Walter Rosenberry and Cepe Smith as being just tremendous, but everybody was good. Throughout college and law school, I certainly expected teachers to expect a lot out of me. That’s what happened at DCD.” Bruff jokes that his DCD experience ultimately became part of his DNA, but he turns serious when he discusses finding his own path as an educator. “What makes exceptional teachers, I think, is that you have to teach out of your personality and not try to be somebody who was a great teacher to you,” he says. “You have to figure out your own way through. Law students are pretty serious. They’re paying a lot. I tell them, ‘We’re in this together.’ I want them to learn. They want to learn. It’s a cooperative enterprise.” For Bacon, helping students find effective ways to relate to diverse people is one of the best attributes of her job. Bacon teaches in a dualimmersion program in Jackson Hole, Wyoming where students learn core reading, math and writing content in both English and

THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD

A legacy in education, in the classroom or not

Photo: S. Daley

Each of the alumni interviewed for this article is at a different stage in her or his career. Between his first teaching job in Arizona and his current role as the Nicholas Rosenbaum Professor of Law at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU-Boulder), Bruff has been senior attorney and advisor for the Office of Legal Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice, a law professor at George Washington University law school and at CU-Boulder’s law school, a visiting professor at numerous law schools and Dean of CU-Boulder’s law school from 19962003. He plans to retire next year. After teaching third grade for Spanish. She estimates her class is four years, Hoffman worked at 40-50% native Spanish-speakers. STRIVE Preparatory Schools “In the classroom, you have in Denver first as a sixth-grade students coming from all different teacher and instructional coach backgrounds,” she says. “It’s a and then as an assistant principal. wonderful opportunity to get to know She’s currently pursuing a master’s another culture and get to see how, in degree in public policy at Duke. a town so small, “I was an there are many assistant kinds of families principal and different because I “I’m able to share what I know socioeconomic wanted to have about the world with these kids and, a little bit more levels. One of the things control over the even though they’re young, I love about decisions being I can start to open their eyes ...” my classroom made at the is finding school level and a common because I wanted ground with a bigger role all of my students and having them in influencing schoolwide culture. It feel like my classroom is a place they was an amazing experience. It made want to be and a place where they me a much better teacher because I feel accepted and valued. That, and was coaching and evaluating teachers trying to bridge diverse communities, and in classes observing all the time,” are core foundations for me.” Hoffman says. “Ultimately, those same motivations persisted. I wanted to step out even further. I wanted to figure out how I could effect change at a broader level. As an assistant principal, I became pretty familiar with the seemingly crippling problems

that affect a lot of low-income schools, so I decided to apply to graduate school and study education policy. That’s where I am now.” Elbot is pondering his next steps. “Will I be a teacher 10 years from now? I’ve had that conversation a fair amount, and the answer is I don’t know,” Elbot says. “It’s not a negative thing about teaching, it’s that I’ve always had a hard time envisioning myself doing the same thing forever. I think I’ll always be involved in some way, shape or form under the umbrella of education. I may be a teacher in five, 10 or 20 years … but I can’t say for sure.” And Bacon is looking forward to many more years in the classroom. “I love teaching!” she says. “I think it’s such a great way to connect with other people. Since I teach second grade, I’m able to share what I know about the world with these kids and, even though they’re young, I can start to open their eyes to stuff they might not be aware of. “The people you get to work with, the students you teach and the people you get to meet in the world of education ... you can’t beat that,” she adds. “It’s so much fun to get to know new people and see what makes us different and what we all have in common. I love it!”

Hal Bruff cheered the KDS football team to victory during Homecoming. Visit the KDS Vimeo page to see a short video of Hal.

Excellent teaching is the norm at Kent Denver, the photos in this feature are of, in order: Christina Fakharzadeh ’94, Margaret NeJame, Steve Holley, Dan Gilden, Arty Smith and Raquel Sherman.

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Making the Team Volleyball Rebuilds after Departure of Seniors

Photo: J. Todd

By Jack Todd â&#x20AC;&#x2122;09

KEN T D EN V E R S C H O O L P E R S P E C T I V E

MAKING THE TEAM

For Emily Danitz, head coach of the volleyball team, and

Due to strong underclassman, seven seniors did not make varsity. As opposed to managing the team or choosing a different sport, all seven chose to stay in the program and play on junior varsity because of the strong sense of community.

Five members of this year’s varsity squad were on varsity last year, along with seven members of the class of 2015. One of this year’s captains, Mallory Garner, has been on varsity since her freshman year, and these returning players bring leadership and experience to a team that has relatively little.

“They said ‘No, we want to play. We’re excited it’s not just one senior going to JV, there are [seven] of us, and so it’ll be like our little team,’” says Kyser. “They embraced it. They loved the sport and wanted to stay active, and they were okay staying in the program even if they couldn’t compete at the highest level.”

Stephanie Kyser, Assistant Athletic Director and the varsity assistant coach for the volleyball team, this year is a rebuilding year. At press time, the varsity team has gone 9-9, and is made up of one senior, six juniors and four sophomores.

“They really have an understanding of what it means to play at the varsity level, and they bring that leadership to the team, which is really important, especially from the setter [Garner],” says Danitz.

For them, the volleyball team was its own, small community.

“The group of girls was absolutely a huge part of why I decided to stay on JV as a senior,” says Ashlin Cross ’15. “I Alongside the five returning varsity members, there had gotten to play with most of them are three players who have moved for two or three years already, and the up from junior varsity, and three fun, light-hearted and unique energy sophomores new to the school. “... at the end of the season, they can of this group of girls was something But according to Scott Yates, that I couldn’t say no to.” Director of Athletics, the leadership look back and say ‘that was a great “I don’t think any of them stayed that the returning girls bring, experience … I’m really happy I was because they needed the sports credit, combined with the competitive I think they just genuinely loved to attitude that the team has as a whole, a part of that program. That was a big play,” says Danitz. indicates the ingredients are there for part of my high school life.’” a very successful volleyball program And for Yates, this is how it should in the coming years. He credits Annie be. He believes athletics shouldn’t Hansen, the former head coach, with take precedence for a student at Kent fostering enthusiasm for the sport at Denver, but rather that it should Kent Denver, and looks forward to where Danitz can take enhance a student’s time here. the program. “We work hard to maintain that focus [on both “Emily is in a position now to move this team to where academics and athletics] here at the School,” says Yates. they’re not just a great program—a great place for the kids “We really want to make sure we provide programs that to be and want to be—but also to become competitive,” says are healthy, that the students are learning from and that, Yates. “We should start realizing some neat things with that hopefully at the end of the season, they can look back and program in the next few years.” say ‘that was a great experience … I’m really happy I was a part of that program. That was a big part of my high school But more than just developing a competitive program, life.’” Danitz, Kyser and Hansen have created a strong community in the volleyball program, which is part of the reason this Such is the volleyball program headed by Danitz. Without year is considered one to rebuild—last year, the volleyball the guarantee of a varsity letter, but with the promise of a program had 14 seniors on the roster. tight-knit community with common aspirations to build a team capable of competing at any level, the girls keep on playing.

Photo: C. MacKay

“Traditionally, seniors always make varsity, but there was just no way that was going to be feasible to keep the [volleyball] program competitive,” says Kyser of last year’s team.

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Photo: M. White

Photo: J. Coop ersmith

F E AT U R E

Photo: C. Dean

P hoto Week: The Project Worth Five Million Words

If they were observant enough, Kent Denver students may

have noticed almost a dozen people snapping pictures of them amidst the vibrant buzz of their daily activities. While DSLR cameras are anything but a novelty at Kent, the plethora of students, staff and professional photographers were on a mission to effectively convey life at the school not only as the students know it, but as the teachers, faculty and alumni regard it as well. Their mission was dubbed Photo Week. Sept. 14, 2015 marked the commencement of the fiveday project as part of an initiative led by Director of Communications, Jan Thomas ’76. According to Thomas, the initial goal of Photo Week was to “... create a database that shows Kent Denver School from different points of view.” Through Photo Week, teachers and students alike would be able to recall pictures from the week from an online pool, potentially utilizing them in presentations. Thomas also states that the project evolved into an opportunity to showcase the study of neuroaesthetics in Kent’s daily life. Neuroaesthetics is a recent scientific field in which researchers attempt to discern how people process different visceral experiences; in the context of Photo Week, students and faculty alike consider their surroundings in varying ways. Photo Week was meant to present those different perspectives.

KEN T D EN V E R S C H O O L P E R S P E C T I V E

Photo: K. Addy

Photo: S. Dewey

Photo: C. Orr

Photo: M

. Bragg

by Mark Bautista ’16

What exactly did that entail? Kent Denver students Katherine Addy ’16, Maddie Bragg ’16, Justin Coopersmith ’16, Sofia Daley ’16, Sabra Dewey ’16, Claire Orr ’17, Clare Rady ’17, Jordan Solich ’16, Caitlin Vickers ’17 and Madison White ’16 joined Thomas, Breakthrough KDS Director of Communications, Kyle Bobrick, Visual Arts Teacher, Corky Dean, Head of School, Rand Harrington, Director of Development, Phil Klein, Communications Fellow, Jack Todd ’09, Information and Innovation Technology Support Specialist, Denise Wylde and professional photographers Carol MacKay, Trevor Davis and Tamara Banks in chronicling a week in the life of our school. Every distinct idiosyncrasy, every significant nook, every breath of life that makes Kent Denver special finally culminated into more than 5,000 pictures and over eight hours of video by Friday. Enjoy more student photos on Of course, such an undertaking does KDS’ Facebook not go without its share of downfalls, & Instagram especially in its inaugural year. Thomas notes that, “Looking ahead, there are many opportunities to create a better system [and] handle logistics more robustly.”

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College Matriculation MIDWEST

NORTHEAST

Illinois: Northwestern University, University of Chicago Indiana: Indiana University, Notre Dame University, Purdue University Iowa: University of Iowa, Wittenberg University Michigan: University of Michigan Missouri: Washington University in St. Louis Ohio: Denison University, Kenyon College, Miami University Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma

Maine: Bates College New Hampshire: Dartmouth College Massachusetts: Babson University, Brandeis University, Harvard University, Tufts University Connecticut: Trinity College, Wesleyan University, Yale University Rhode Island: Brown University, Bryant University New York: Barnard College, Cornell University, New York University, Syracuse University, University of Rochester

MID-ATLANTIC

Pennsylvania: Bucknell University, Dickinson College, Lehigh University, University of Pennsylvania Maryland: University of Maryland Washington, D.C.: American University, Georgetown University

COLORADO

Colorado College, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, University of Colorado - Boulder, University of Colorado - Denver, University of Denver WEST

California: Chapman University, Pitzer College, Santa Clara University, Scripps College, St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of California, Stanford University, University of California - Berkeley, University of San Diego, University of Southern California, University of the Pacific Washington: Gonzaga University, University of Puget Sound

SOUTH

Virginia: College of William and Mary, Richmond University North Carolina: Duke University, Wake Forest University Tennessee: Vanderbilt University Florida: University of Tampa Georgia: Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology Louisiana: Tulane University Texas: Rice University, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M, Texas Christian University, University of Texas - Austin, Trinity University