Kent Place FALL 2022 26 CLASSSPIRIT:UNBREAKABLETHEOF2022 32 “YOU REALIZE: WOW, AMAZING.”SOMETHINGDOINGWE’RE 38 A PROJECTTHECOURSE:CHANGINGLIFE-BIOETHICS 44 LEGACY 50CELEBRATESBCALEADERSHIP:&YEARS Mariana Do Carmo ’13, currently pursuing an MD-PhD at Yale, was a member of the first Bioethics Project cohort.
CONTENTS “Being at Kent Place brings back great memories of my four amazing years.” —NATASHA SCOTT ’07, RECIPIENT OF THE YOUNG ALUMNA AWARD
Alumnae Weekend welcomed more than 200 alumnae back to campus. 2 From Mabie House 3 In Her View 4 Commons Room 26 Unbreakable Spirit: The Class of 2022 32 “You realize: Wow, we’re doing something amazing.” 38 A Life-Changing Course: The Bioethics Project 44 Legacy & Leadership: Black Cultural Association Celebrates 50 Years 48 Keeping Pace 57 Class Notes 72 With Wisdom
PRINTING
ADVANCEMENT EDITOR
Editor
Yoursyear.for
Kent Place
Coral Butler Brooks Chief Advancement Officer
Aimee Bousquet Singer ’88 P ’25
Director of Communications
2 KENT PLACE FALL 2022 FROM MABIE HOUSE
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The 2022–2023 academic year is my sixth as leader of Kent Place. Our summer programs brought more than 2,000 children to our 26-acre campus. We’ve just welcomed 670 students, from Preschool to Grade 12, at Opening Convocation. And we recently celebrated a fundraising milestone: securing more than $1.8 million for the Kent Place Fund.
COVER ARTIST
Advancement Communications Manager
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Laura Barisonzi JC
EDITOR
CONTRIBUTORS
Kent Place School 42 Norwood Avenue Summit, NJ 07901 (908)
I speak a lot about the mission statement — Kent Place empowers girls to be confident, intellectual, and ethical leaders who advance the world — and how those 16 words inspire our students to grow into the people they most want to be, the women the world needs and who will create a brighter future.
Wekentplace.org273-0900welcomeyour communications@kentplace.orginput:
Prism Color Corporation
ALUMNAE EDITOR
The lists in the book were compiled with the help of students: “5 Moments When You Feel the Power of Community”; “6 Stories about Life-Changing Teachers”; “5 Classes That Are Challenging in the Best Way Possible”; and so on. As I flip through the pages, I begin to think more about numbers.
Rachel Naggar P ’25
In the spring, we unveiled our new admission viewbook. A bold number 16 in neon green fills almost the entire cover, followed by this: “Words that can change the world. A guide for brave and brilliant girls, in 16 words and 14 lists.”
Lydia Barovero Scott Butterworth Paige
MarkJohnWillPeterCareyChollickHauserO’BoyleWyville
The Power of Numbers Dr. Jennifer C. HeadGalambosofSchool
CREATIVE DIRECTION & DESIGN 2communiqué
Kent Place is the official magazine of Kent Place School and is published twice a year by the Communications Office, in partnership with the Advancement Office, for alumnae, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends of the school.
Here’s to more successful numbers as we begin our 128th
Laura Barisonzi
Kent Place,
In this issue, our number theme is strong. We celebrate 78 brave and brilliant members of the Class of 2022 as they embark on their years at 51 colleges. The Bioethics Project is turning 10. In this signature program of the Ethics Institute, students conduct scholarly research and present on a pertinent topic in bioethics. Two of our student leaders and two alumnae speak to the importance of leadership and legacy as our Black Cultural Association commemorates 50 years!
—JULIETTE NORRMÉN-SMITH ’13
“Representing Finland with other KPS classmates in the Model United Nations. I had a Finnish pen pal, and Pirjo and I keep in touch to this day. A few years ago, she showed my husband and me all over Helsinki. I’m forever grateful to KPS for bringing Pirjo into my life.”
“Without a doubt, the opening night of our production of Rent.”
—ANNE (HARDING) WOODWORTH ’61
“When I came to Kent Place as a junior and learned to read. Previously I was a voracious consumer of books but it wasn’t too long under the guidance of Miss Moulding that I realized I had been a content hound. She introduced me to the world of nuanced style . . . satire, foreshadowing. She revealed the riches of reading to me that I have relished throughout my life.”
“Time in art class with Marjan Nirou, my beautiful teacher and friend, who passed from breast cancer.”
—JULIE (ABRAMS) DUNBAR ’54
—LISA KRIEGER ’73
“Sitting in class with Miss Moulding when she talked about Pride and Prejudice, Miss Cocker reading from David Copperfield, Madame Morris as she told us about her family and Saint-Exupéry (of Le Petit Prince), Mrs. Ford’s biology class (I still save aluminum foil and think twice about driving anywhere because of her advice on the environment), Mr. Wrangham explaining American history with a British eye, Mrs. Davies’s Russian lit and Latin classes, Mrs. Connelly’s geometry class . . . ”
“When we won a field game.”hockey
“Walking in the line from the Upper School building to the Field House my senior year on a cold night on the way to my final STAR performance.”
IN HER VIEW KENT PLACE FALL 2022 3
—ANDREA DORY ’91
—MARCEY CARVER ’72
—CATHY (HOWE) GROSFILS ’58
“The time my mom, who was a president of the Parents’ Association, handed me my diploma. I was her fourth and final daughter to graduate from Kent Place and it was a very special moment for not only the two of us, but also my entire family.”
—TAYLOR (WORTHINGTON) WILLIAMS ’07
—SUE (SAVAGE) SPEERS ’47
“To relive one moment is difficult because my six years at KPS AMAZING.”were
—VIKKI (POLLOCK) UNDERWOOD ’82
—NIA (ELDRIDGE) EATON ’66
“Performing with classmate Mary Waterman on stage, with the two of us doing a dance to ‘Me and My Shadow.’ We had a marvelous time!”
IF YOU COULD RELIVE ONE MOMENT OR EXPERIENCE OF YOUR TIME AT KENT PLACE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
“I wish I had the benefit of hindsight and maturity to more fully understand our deeply confusing times of the late ’60s and early ’70s.”
BRILLIANT CONNECTIONS
(Back, l to r) Elizabeth Sorrino-Mancini, Selena Liu, Jennifer Sharp-Stilliard (Upper School Science Teacher), Cadence Rice, and Christina Jong; (front, l to r) Sabrina Skyers, Miranda Lorsbach, Kathryn Tucker, Charlotte McCann, and Kelsey Katt, representing “Sharp-Stilliard Advisory” on Sweatshirt Photo Day.
The Advisory Advantage
Little more than strangers when they first gathered as freshmen, the nine seniors pictured here, along with their faculty advisor, Jennifer Sharp-Stilliard, have become so much more. Called the “Sharp-Stilliard Advisory,” and affectionately nicknamed Sharp-Stilliards, they are one of eight unique Advisory groups that comprise the Class of 2022. Since the fall of 2018, each group, led by the same faculty member all four years, has spent countless hours together — woven into their class schedules and beyond — setting goals, challenging one another, caring for one another, playing cards, cracking jokes, and chatting about their lives in and outside the classroom, often over doughnuts and bagels. Confidantes, friends, peer counselors, and indefatigable supporters, Advisories — indeed, the entire Advisory Program — epitomizes Kent Place sisterhood. “Growing with my Advisory group has been an honor,” says Ellie Hegeman ’22, a member of the “Hanna Advisory.” Adds Leah Cohn ’22, “It allowed me to have a consistent support system that I was able to depend on during my entire time in the Upper School.” For Leah’s advisor, Judy Bianco, Upper School Computer Science & Engineering Teacher and advisor of 20 years, Advisory provides a treasured glimpse into the lives of students outside of academics. “I feel like I’m a cheerleader for them,” she says. “As an advisor, you’re not teaching a subject, you’re teaching students how to learn and grow.”
ROOMCOMMONS
“MyhaveallowedAdvisorymetoaconsistentsupportsystem.”
—LEAH COHN ’22
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NEWS AND VIEWS FROM KENT PLACE
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 5
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STAR. Pre-K concluded its space unit with a trip to the KPS Star Lab to view constellations. MUSICAL INTERLUDES. To coincide with the opening of the Kent Place Gallery’s Esperanza Mayobre exhibit, solo musicians Diana Reig ’24 and Annie Ge ’23 performed during the
Her Kent Place education has prepared her well for this path, she say. “We have an outstanding STEM program here — my classmates and I are proof of that — and we’re encouraged to be empathic. KPS is a competitive environment, but it’s also collab orative. We all care about one another, and we’ve learned to express ourselves fearlessly.”
COMMONS ROOM
“I’ve been exposed to many resources and opportunities during my years here,” Nupur says. She cites, for example, her participa-
Nupur says she’s always been extremely competitive, but quickly adds that she’s been taught never to put weight on outcomes. “I compare myself to my own potential rather than to others,” she says.
Such grace under pressure will surely prove helpful to Nupur: she plans to go on to medical school. “I’ve thought about a career in medicine and research. I just know I want to be a doctor like my mother — it’s something I’ve aspired to from a very young age.”
City. “Playing classical piano requires a lot of patience and discipline,” she says, “and I find it very rewarding.”
How does she maintain her equilibrium in the face of such a busy schedule? “I have a high degree of self-awareness, “ she says with quiet confidence, “and I know what I need at any given time.”
tion in the Biology Olympiad. “My biology teacher, Ms. Hall, introduced me to the Olympiad when I was a Middle Schooler, and I loved the anatomy and physiology,” she says. “Complexity excites me.”
artist’s reception. LIFTING SPIRITS. Students decorated Middle School lockers with kind notes on the final day of Ms. Hall’s Mindfulness and Meditation elective. A BYTE OF INFORMATION. This year’s student-driven Hackathon event included a number of alumnae speak-
Nupur Ballal is a “lifer” — that is, a KPS student since Kindergarten — and when she speaks, it’s immediately apparent that she’s the type of “brave and brilliant girl” the school seeks to cultivate. An outstanding achiever both in and out of the classroom, she follows a schedule of courses that address her passions, a balanced calendar of extracur riculars, and an unwavering desire to learn.
Nupur Ballal ’23
ers who talked about their jobs in tech and gave advice to young people interested in their fields. ETHICALLY SPEAKING. Congratulations to the Kent Place Middle School Ethics Bowl team, the 2022 champions of the National Middle School Ethics Bowl!
MORNING MEETING [continued on p. 8]
Her advisor, Upper School Math teacher Rich Biddulph, agrees. “What strikes me most about Nupur is how unflappable she is. She took AP Calcu lus BC as a ninth-grader, has continued with a robust course load — even by KPS standards — studies for the Biology Olym piad, practices piano several hours a day, and attends music pre-college in New York City all day every Saturday, yet never ever looks stressed or worried.”
A standout in STEM classes, Nupur has qualified as a national finalist in the Biology Olympiad several times and has also won numerous research awards. She participates in a pre-college program at the Manhattan School of Music as well, spending every Saturday for the past six years in New York
BRAVE & BRILLIANT
A HELPING HAND. Kent Place’s long-term partnership with Bridges Outreach continues: Our students make brown-bag lunches and go to various parts of New York City to offer toiletries, socks, soup, and conversation to those experiencing homelessness. WISH UPON A
MIDDLE INTHEATER:SCHOOLANEXERCISECOMMUNITYBUILDING
With Middle School dance instructor Ms. Hudson, students created several evocative movement sequences to represent memories of snow, sunshine, warfare, and courage.
Seventh- and eighth-graders — whether they’re actors on the stage, part of the behind-the scenes crew, or clapping enthusiastically in the audience — look forward to springtime and the Middle School play. Last year’s presentation, The Giver, lived up to all expectations. The play, with its cast of complex characters, was adapted from Lois Lowry’s award-winning novel of the same name. The result of everyone’s hard work was two stunning performances.
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 7
BEHIND-THE-SCENES ELECTIVE. In this course, led by Ms. Hall, Middle School Science teacher, students problemsolved how to design the set and used lights and sound to help create a dystopian community. The biggest challenge was to make a gray apple glow red on cue and then quickly turn back to gray. Their solution worked beautifully, and the glowing apple was featured in promotional materials.
STAGE MANAGEMENT. The crew of seven provided support to the director and actors. They kept track of stage directions and artfully moved set pieces without being seen by the audience. The crew was also in charge of creating the production logo and designing a T-shirt, along with the beautiful
Playbill.Margaux
Walter ’27 and Jingyi Han ’26 help bring The Giver to life on the Hyde and Watson Theater stage.
A MEMORY ENSEMBLE. As Jonas learns about the past, the Giver transfers to him an array of vivid memories. Posed with the challenge of depicting these memories on stage, it was decided to put together a “memory ensemble.”
BEAMING ON STAGE
ETHICS. The Giver explores some dark themes, and inspired discussions on Schoolershiseventualgoesdecision-makingthethatintoJonas’sescapefromcommunity.Middlewondered,Is the pursuit of perfection a reasonable request? Who decides what’s best for a community? Can we ignore pain in order to live a happier life?
TRADITIONS. Every Middle School theater production follows certain traditions. Among them are the weekend “tech day,” when students build and paint the scenery; the pre-show “circle up,” when eighthgraders talk about the theater memories they made as seventhgraders; and the Paper Plate Award ceremony, held during the cast party.
Every year, first-graders discover and explore their roots, a learning journey that culminates, in the spring, in the Heritage Festival celebra tion for parents, classmates, and teachers.
When a student brings that information back to class, she becomes the expert about it, so the children learn from one another.
highlighted a different woman in history on every day of the month of March. A HELPING HAND. KPS families contributed in a big way by collecting supplies to support those in need in Ukraine through a schoolwide community-service project coordinated by Be the Change NJ. BRINGING HER BOOK
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THERE’S NO TEAM STRONGER. Thanks to the generosity of our community, on this year’s Founders Day we raised more than $590,000 for the Kent Place Fund! VISIONARY WOMEN. To honor and recognize Women’s History Month, the Middle School created an online calendar called “Celebrating Women,” which
“Whatpancakes.”Ialways find so awesome about this age group is that different doesn’t mean ‘bad.’ There’s no negative association,” Ms. Lee says. “Different simply means I need to learn from you and you need to learn from me.”
COMMONS
Fourth- and fifth-graders worked with Upper School Spanish classes on a project about the characters in the [continued on p. 10]
“At the Heritage Festival, I learned about different religions, cultures, and the family traditions of my classmates," says first-grader Anna Obalde. "My favorite part was trying everyone’s food. The best were the chocolate chip
ROOM
The festival has a long tradition at Kent Place, extending more than two decades.
The celebration features homemade dishes that each student chooses, some thing special to her family and often representing her life story. Culturally significant decorations play a part, too, and the highlight is student presentations about family lore learned through research.
Eden Ferguson ’33 presents her family history in front of classmates, parents, and her family during the annual Heritage Festival.
First-grade teacher Jennison Lee says it prompts the children to ask family about their background. “It’s always interesting,” she says, “because students learn at least one thing they hadn’t known.”
TO LIFE. Local author Michelle Cam eron joined the Parent of Alumnae and Current Parent Book Group’s discussion of her Beyond the Ghetto Gate RAISING AWARENESS. Members of the Upper School Active Minds Club spoke to their fellow Upper Schoolers to present helpful information about the importance of
Where Dragons Come From
reducing the stigma associated with mental disorders and recognizing the need to have a strong foundation of knowledge about mental health. SISTERHOOD EN ESPAÑOL.
Last year, her 13 students spoke 10 different languages at home.
“We love to compare and contrast the things we have in common and the things that are different — fascinating information that doesn’t always come up in a classroom,” Ms. Lee says.
—DR. AMANDA BERRY, ENGLISH TEACHER
Which is just what she did during a mock Caldecott contest, the first ever in which Dr. Berry engaged her students. As part of a persuasive writ ing unit, she distributed 20 different picture books, thoughtfully selected for the variety of cultural contexts and perspectives they represented. Armed with the criteria actual Caldecott judges use, each student chose their favorite and crafted a speech convincing their peers of its excellence. (To aid in their analysis, Middle School art teacher Marie Mic chelli explained basic art terms and concepts, and how illustrations can enhance a text.) After breaking into groups to reach consensus on the top six, each of Dr. Berry’s three Grade 8 English classes voted on an ultimate victor.
In addition to delivering a compelling speech using supporting textual details and rhetorical devices,
LEARNING TO JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER — AND CONTENT
Dr. Berry’s English 8 class tackles the Caldecott Medal process in their own unique way.
2022 WINNERSCALDECOTT (as voted on by Dr. Berry’s Grade 8 English classes)
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 9
Wishes, by Mu’ọ’n Thị Văn, illustrated by Victo Ngai
How do you build the critical reading, writing, and persuasive skills in an eighth-grader? Turn them into judges, according to Middle School English teacher Dr. Amanda Berry.
Why picture books? “They not only allow us to analyze and compare a broad variety of texts in a limited timeframe, but they also provide students with choice and engaging ways to approach many topics,” says Dr. Berry, “and they supplement the work we do with longer, more complex texts.”
For Claire Cherill ’26, tasked with evaluating so many beautifully written and illustrated books made the assignment that much more challenging — and illuminating. “We had to look beyond the art and writing at things that are harder to quantify. Understanding how books impact readers, their role in telling important stories, how colors help to sway emotional reactions, and the connection between words and images were all things I learned. Then, we had to transfer our knowledge into writing and explain our opinion to our peers. Acting as a judge was something I really enjoyed.”
Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem, by Amanda Gorman, illustrated by Loren Long
Soul Food Sunday, by Winsome Bingham, illustrated by C. G. Esperanza
close reading and analytical skills, creative thinking, evidence-gathering, audience consideration, and small-group collaboration skills were all in play.
“The vote, while providing some excitement, was hardly the most important part of the project. The beauty of it was that each student found a book that resonated with her.”
Oscar-winning Encanto and discussed the talents and gifts they have in their own lives. SOAKING UP THE SUN. The return of our an nual Blanket Day during Earth Day was a success! If and when pos sible, students, faculty, and staff enjoyed the outdoors and spread their KPS blankets on the lawns to
French V students enrich their classtime by creating unique personas.
patients during the height of the pandemic. WALKING AS ONE. On a brisk but sunny morning, the lead ers of our Middle School Student DEIB Education Committee led all 152 students and some 30 faculty and staff members on a Peace Walk around campus in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
election, which led students to research voting rights in their respective countries.
The Ethics Institute and Atlantic Health Systems collaborated to present a community education event that featured healthcare professionals from AHS and members of the Upper School Ethics Bowl team. The participants discussed a complex case based on real-life experiences treating COVID-19
“This method of learning forced me out of my comfort zone — I learned a lot about the history and culture of Morocco and the francophone countries my peers’ characters were from through class presentations,” says Alexandra Grushkin ’23 (aka Menachem). It was the closest students could come to an immersive experience without traveling to another country, said Bridget Daab ’23 (Mimi). “I was out for a week, “ she said, “and when I came back, the class had developed an entire story for why I was gone under the circumstances of my character. It was funny and creative, and made for the use of so much French!”
CASES OF STOLEN IDENTITY . . . EN FRANÇAIS!
In Madame Moreau’s French V class, students don’t simply learn about francophone countries — they embody them. This past year, for example, there was Menachem, a Jewish archaeology student living in Marrakech, Morocco; Madeline was a québécoise teacher who just gave birth to twins; and Mimi, an etymology student from Madagascar, enjoyed long research treks through the rain forest.
These “personas” — characters her students created and personified over the duration of the year — immersed them in the language and culture of a few of the 40 French-speaking countries around the globe (France, well known to students, is intentionally excluded).
10 KENT PLACE FALL 2022 COMMONS ROOM
And it enabled her to seamlessly incorporate discussions of current events, such as the spring French presidential
After almost 35 years at Kent Place, Mme Moreau retired at the close of the 2021–22 academic year. However, the vivid francophone personas she nurtured — some 100 by her count — are sure to live on in her students’ memories.
As Mme Moreau found, it was a far more memorable teaching approach than lecturing.
At one time, Madame Moreau’s class was home to a moped-riding centenarian from Burkina Faso.
spend time in nature, learn, reflect, and chat! WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PI? The Middle School enjoyed a wonderful celebration in honor of a belated Pi Day, which included the traditional pi-digit-reciting contest and grade-level trivia contest. The top student recited a whopping 820 digits! A TRUE PARTNERSHIP.
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 11 FIVE THINGS ABOUT . . .
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The Cumulative Humanities Project (CHP) is a hallmark experience in for all students in their junior year. It provides English and history students with an opportunity to learn research skills unique to the study of literature (such as the selection, analysis, and synthesis of literary criticism); to learn historiography — utilizing and synthesizing journal articles and historians’ interpretations; to hone their skills specific to written argument; to enhance their understanding of the interconnectedness of much American literature and history; to practice oral-presentation skills; to integrate American literature and U.S. histo ry and practice an interdisciplinary approach to learning; and to understand the influence of this country’s history and culture on the literature of a specific time period.
5
THE HUMANITIESCUMULATIVEPROJECT
Part III, a new component meant to introduce another discipline, was added in 2012. For Part III, students are guided to return to a novel with new eyes to consider how their history research illuminates, complicates, informs, or raises questions about some aspect of their CHP text. Using their combined understanding of the CHP novel and the CHP history topic, students craft a new “essential question” that calls for them to construct an answer using both historical and literary sources.
All students deliver oral presentations on their CHP, with the option to participate in the June CHP Symposium, which the entire Upper School may listen in on. This year’s symposium included nine student presentations with titles ranging from, “‘Go Tell It on the Mountain’: Black American Music Dating Back to Slavery,” to “Huey Long versus FDR: The Fake Election of 1936,” to “Huddled Masses: The European Immigrant Experience at the Turn of the Century.” Their scholarship.andofexemplifypresentationsthewiderangestudents’intereststhedepthoftheir
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For the first time, members of the Class of 2024 selected their CHP texts before the start of the summer break and could read them before they began their junior year.
“I cannot express how gratifying it is to complete a project that is essentially your brainchild,” says Catherine Paris ’23. “This was interdisciplinary, which further highlighted to me the importance of connecting and applying different subjects. Also, I think it's fair to say by the end, I was an expert researcher.”
Updated in 2021, the CHP book list is composed of 113 options that represent a wide range of U.S. identities and time periods and the diversity of the American experience. Evaluating the list is an ongoing process, but each iteration of it seeks to explore various epochs of American history from several points of view. Texts are chosen, too, for level of difficulty, complexity, and intellectual challenge — in fact, many of these texts are commonly taught at the college level.
The CHP started in the 2010–2011 academic year and was designed by faculty members Julie Gentile (now Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning), Krystal Reddick, Rick Morey, and Vanessa Giles Sheehan. Before the advent of the CHP, students wrote independent papers (IPs) in both English and history.
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Hands-on learning in the Primary School took on a different shape in the spring, as World Language classes stepped outside to create their garden.
SYLLABUS
STUDENTSTURNING ANDCODE-MAKERSINTO—BREAKERS
Four beds just outside the Annex are devoted to plants connected to Spanish- and French-speaking countries.
This fall, says Primary School Spanish teacher Dora Gragg, the culinary harvest will go to the McDermott-Wight Dining Hall for a special addition to the school’s menu.
The Language Garden project has been a tradition for six years, which means Primary School students get to return to the beds year after year.
REQUIRED READING: The Code Book, which offers a history of different cryptographic methods and a language for students to use when working with them.
Spring and fall, students manage the gardens: “Some plant, some water, others do some signs,” says Sra. Gragg. “At some point, everyone participates.” This enables French and Spanish teachers to introduce the words for seeds (las semillas in Spanish; les grains in French), planting, and harvest, and to discuss the cultural significance of agriculture. The lessons extend into math and science classes, too, with units about measurements and plant biology.
TEACHER: Elena Iannuzzi, Upper School math teacher and Mathematics Department cochair
BACKGROUND: Number theory, the basis of cryptography — otherwise known as code-making and code-breaking — has long intrigued Ms. Iannuzzi. The recent explosion in online transactions, cryptocurrency, and NFTs has heightened her interest and her desire to expose students to the ever-evolving field. Last summer, she taught an online course, Modern Cryptography, through the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. Its success — and the fact that cryptography so neatly encapsulates many of KPS’s academic priorities, such as interdisciplinary study, real-world appli cation, and ethics — led her to propose it for KPS. The cutting-edge course launches in the fall as a cross-disciplinary collaboration between the Math and Computer Science Departments for students in Grades 10–12.
• After exposure to several manual encryption schemes, students will use their knowledge to design, implement, and analyze their own cryptosystem using Python.
The World Language Garden “sprouts” to life each spring.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: A trimester elective, the class surveys the mathematical and algorithmic methods of modern encryption and decryption tools, such as ElGamal, the Diffie-Hellman key exchange, and the RSA cryptosystem. Students learn about the historical roots of cryptography and also consider the future of code-making and code-breaking technologies. Underpinning their study will be discussion of the ethical considerations surrounding privacy and security — what constitutes secure communication, who gets to have it, and who doesn’t.
Last year, one grew marigolds, a flower with significance during Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations; another contained flowers that bloom in the tricolors of the French flag.
Language Lessons Take Root
COURSE TITLE: Introduction to Cryptography
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: “I want students to have a clearer understanding of what’s actually going on when they buy something online, to be more-mindful participants in the digital age. As they enter modern career fields with developing technologies, an understanding of cryptography as well as its weaknesses is important. They’re the ones who will be at the forefront of this technology in the future.”
The other beds tempted the tongue as well as the eye: Students grew tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and peppers in a salsa garden and zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, and herbs for a ratatouille garden.
• Partnering with classmates, they will share ideas and provide feedback to improve the efficiency of their cryptosystems.
“They love it,” says Sra. Gragg, “and, of course, they really look forward to the salsa.”
PREREQUISITES: Math 2 and Introduction to Computer Programming
Adeline Brugg and Addison Quinn (Within, scented scrubs)
Sekai is also a gifted writer, Improv Club co-founder, director, singer, and visual artist who dreams of one day being a film/play producer and playwright.
THE ART OF THE DEAL. Our sixth-graders created unique products, launched their own businesses, and sold their inventory to paying customers from the community at last year’s TREP$ Marketplace. Products ranged from jewelry to candles and from self-care items to pillows. Congratulations to our young businesswomen, ready to take on the world!
Each art form she embraces at KPS offers an opportunity to explore a different facet of her personality, Sekai continues. “When I sing in chorale, it provides me with a sense of unity because we all work together to create beautiful pieces of music, and when I draw, it forces me to think as an individual and consider how I wish to portray myself.”
decided to share her story with the Upper School community during Morning Meeting. “In my experience, people don’t always feel comfortable talking about mental health issues and neurodivergency, but it’s important,” she asserts. “I believe people who are neurodivergent should be able to be open about their experience and be comfortable advocating for a world that supports them.”
And Sekai insists that the lessons she has learned at KPS will allow her to move forward with greater agency and self-assurance.
BRAVE & BRILLIANT
“But acting at Kent Place allows me to express ideas and emotions I couldn’t otherwise convey — you have to bring a bit of yourself into the character to make it real.”
Since arriving at Kent Place in the ninth grade, Sekai Marques has been a creative force of nature. A gifted actor, she has participated in most every theater and Performance Company production mounted since her arrival. And she doesn’t stop there.
Sekai Marques ’23
“I believe that with time and experiences I will be able to discover that path for myself.”
Karina Bhatia, Ellora Roberts, and Bella Borde (BelKarE Selfcare, personal beauty products)
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 13
It comes as a surprise, therefore, to hear Sekai insist that she’s not normally emotive. In fact, she struggles with mental health challenges that would seem to make public performance anathema. “I’m an anxious person, so I realize it’s somewhat ironic that I do theater,” Sekai confesses with a laugh.
Nor does Sekai shy from opportunities to discuss the challenges she faces. For example, when Sekai’s classmate Lilly Fanelle helped to create the school’s first disability alliance, she felt she should be involved and
KPS faculty applaud Sekai’s efforts to cre ate greater awareness throughout the Upper School, and her advisor, Dr. Ralph Pantozzi, marvels at her innate drive to connect people and ideas. “Sekai is interested in exploring how writing, art, music, and theater can pro vide windows and bridges into her own mind and the thoughts of others,” he observes. “In a world full of people who always seem to have quick (and often shallow) answers and retorts, Sekai expresses herself intentionally.
As she moves into her senior year, Sekai continues to riff, exploring numerous ways she might integrate her many interests into a cohesive unit. “In the future, I’d like to get into directing, but right now, I’m focused on having new experiences in order to better define how to achieve my goals,” she shares.
“Every course I’ve taken here has impacted me differently. I’ve learned that you can try new things and if you fail, simply get back up and try again.” Kent Place teachers understand individual students’ needs and comfort levels, she continues, which gives everyone license to grow.
The two advisors begin each webinar with a presentation, then open the floor to a Q&A. “This gives parents a chance to discuss whatever’s on their mind and get to know us before the application process is in full swing,” says Ms. Simpson. “It’s a wonderful way for us to underscore our commitment to partnering with students and their families throughout the college advising journey.”
The conversations also enable the advi sors to temper the stress that students and families often experience by doing some myth-busting. “There are a lot of myths about the college acceptance process,” says Ms. Simpson, “but one of our favorites to debunk is the idea that colleges have a quota on the number of students they will accept from a particular school in a given year. It’s simply not true, and sharing that information with students can relieve so muchWhateverpressure.”the topic, offering students personalized guidance is key, the pair agree. “The human aspect of the application process is important,” says Ms. Simpson. “Our aim is to offer students and their families a hightouch experience that’s specific to them. We take great pride in getting to know students well so that we can assist them in preparing college applications that pop at the admis sions table. Every student brings particular strengths,” she says. “We help them tell their stories so that schools see that there isn’t a cookie-cutter student at KPS.”
No one can deny that the college application process is a complicated one, particularly in today’s environment, when competition is intense and requirements change frequently. But KPS Director of College Advising Jennifer Simpson and Associate Director of College Advising Anne Marie Ferriere are equipped with a combined 50 years of experience and a plethora of ways to meet the challenge.
“We’re excited about these conversations,” says Ms. Ferriere. “They allow us to be responsive to the needs of our community and give us a terrific way to get ahead of the narrative. The college process is ever present in the media, and it’s a target for a great deal of misinformation, so the ability to respond to questions and concerns in real time is invaluable.”
The pair pride themselves on offering KPS students and their families an individualized approach to the admissions process. Their most recent offering, “College Conversations,” is a perfect case in point.
Introduced this year, the monthly, hour long, noontime webinars address a host of
topics, from standardized testing to terminol ogy in the admissions process. “We seek to address current trends or issues of concern, and we’re open to parent suggestions,” says Ms. Simpson. And while Upper School parents are the target audience, Ms. Simpson and Ms. Ferriere welcome participation from everyone else in the KPS community.
Completing the college application process is stressful, Simpson says, but KPS does everything possible to ensure that it’s an affirming experience as well. “When our students submit their applications, we want that to be a ‘mic-drop moment,’” she says. “The students have completed a demanding process of self-discovery and we want them to feel good about it.”
Opening Up theCollege Conversation
14 KENT PLACE FALL 2022 COMMONS ROOM
Ms. Ferriere agrees: “We have amazing students — it’s a privilege and a pleasure to work with them.” KPS students are confi dent, curious, and ready to contribute to their college communities, she says. “Colleges are looking for authentic high school seniors who are ready to go to school and learn from the professors, not be the professors, and that’s exactly who our graduates are.”
STEERING AHEAD
A full third of the class chose one of these two new options. Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, the Stonewall Uprising, and the passage of both Title IX as well as the 19th amendment were just a few of the students’ selections.
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 15
—ALICE CARR
’24
More Than a Numbers Game
Which is why, in his second year at Kent Place, he put his own, interdisciplinary spin on a “Birthday Polynomial” project that Advanced Algebra students are typically assigned. In addition to using their birth date numbers to create a polynomial in factored form, whose features they analyze and then present to the class, students could select (1) the birthday of an important female or mathematician of color, or (2) a significant date in the history of racial and social justice.
A TOP FINISH. Congratulations to our Upper School Ethics Bowl team for finishing fourth in the National High School Ethics Bowl Championships at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Last year, more than 400 schools from 48 states participated in the competition, and 24 teams vied to win in the Nationals. Since 2017, KPS has consistently finished in the top six in the country. Last year’s fourth place maintained their stature as true champions and one of the most revered teams in the country.
As Upper School math teacher Rich Biddulph knows well, when students apply a mathematical concept to something that’s personal or important to them, their understanding truly takes root.
Advanced Algebra students admire each other's Polynomial""Birthdayproject.
“Kent Place faculty have inspired me to figure out ways to teach using a DEIB lens,” says Mr. Biddulph. “It’s because of their collective effort that I have the confidence to do so. I know how important and valued it is here.”
“The Birthday
uniquemathunderstandhelpedissues,socialpassionmathmymeprojectPolynomialallowedtoconnectloveforwithmyforjusticewhichmetotheinafun,way.”
Angelica Nwachuku ’24, who, in lieu of her birth date selected November 4, 2008 — the election of President Barack Obama — for her project, enjoyed the project’s additional dimension. “I thought about important dates in history and how they connected back to me as a Black individual,” she explains. “I enjoyed the project because it allowed me to look at math from a different perspective. Not only was I able to include a topic I am passionate about, but it all related back to math, so it really inspired me.”
ROOM SCORECARD
I’ve learned to roll with the punches and never say the word impossible. With determination, self-confidence, and consistent enthusiasm, anything is possible. Sometimes growth may not be visible in how you play, but shows in your personality and your outlook on life. Volleyball has been an outlet for me to develop as both an athlete and a person, and I’m grateful for the community that surrounds me.
You’re a three-sport athlete, and many student-athletes worry about the time and commitment that kind of schedule would take: What advice would you give to someone on the fence about playing three sports?
When you think back on your career as an athlete at KPS, what will be some of the highlights?
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from a coach or mentor?
I’ve always put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed and to stand out on the field or the court, but it would be unrealistic to say I’ve never had a bad practice or a bad game. My lacrosse coach instilled in all of us that it’s okay to make a mistake; it’s how we grow and respond to a mistake that has meaning. This advice has even helped me in my personal life.
Margo D’Angelo ’23 and Sabrina Skyers ’22
16 KENT PLACE FALL 2022
What I’ll take away is what matters most: the bond I share with my teammates. My teams are my family — each brings out a different part of my personality, and I love that. I’ll always remember the triple overtime wins and winning division championships, of course, but also the long bus rides filled with laughter as we headed to an away game.
It’s 100 percent possible, and you’ll learn the important skill of time management. Some of my tips would be to use your free periods, do your schoolwork ahead of time, get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water, and eat tons of food! It may seem obvious, but nurturing your body may be overlooked when you have other stuff on your mind.
You moved from soccer to volleyball and are now captain of the volleyball team. What did you learn about flexibility and challenging yourself when you made this change?
Margo D’Angelo, who came to Kent Place as a sixth-grader, plays volleyball, basketball, and lacrosse. Spend a few minutes getting to know why she's proud to be a dragon.
COMMONS
PROUD TO BE A DRAGON MARGO D’ANGELO ’23
5. The spring track team earned numerous accolades: Although Clara Schreibman ’23 did not PR this season, she has been a dedicated leader and role model for the younger athletes; Lindsay Hausman ’23 set a new personal and school record in the 1600m with a time of 4:52 and Christiana Nwachuku ’22 won the 100m, 200m, and 400m at the UCIAC Conference Championships.
7. The MS Volleyball team played in the inaugural MSAC (Middle School Athletic Conference) Championship, held at the Peck School, against a variety of prep school teams in our area. The tournament gave our players a taste of intense competition and an opportunity to hone their skills to prepare themselves for Upper School athletics.
8. The Middle School Softball team won the Middle School Athletic Conference Championship.
6. Caitlyn Quinn ’26, earned Middle School Basketball’s MVP. Coach Nivar-Rowe says the team’s main focus for the season was “to improve individual skills and learn the fundamentals of basketball, and Caitlyn demonstrates a strong commitment to her team. She possesses great skills, and performs at a very high level.”
After a legendary fall season, our winter and spring athletes pulled out some impressive stats, wins, and memorable moments. Congratulations to all of our teams!
Dragons Continue to Roar SuccessfulThroughSeasons
4. Coaches Marissa Broderick and Chris Fuentes look on as sophomore Taylor Sieg is introduced by junior captain Sophia Miller. Sophia and Taylor finished the season ranked as two of the top 40 Female High School Golfers in New Jersey.
Middle School
3.1.8. 7. 6. 2. 5.4.
Upper School
2. In the spring, our Varsity Lacrosse team won the NJIGLL Freedom South Division for the first time in many years. (l to r: seniors Claire Bugliari, Gabriella DePlasco, Arden Meyer, Abby Samson, and Sanjana Shaw, with Coach Ashley Quinn P ’24 ’26 ’28).
1. Lauren Rusas ’22 celebrated her 1,000-point milestone this winter season.
3. Varsity Softball finished the season as Skyland Division co-champions!
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 17
Afterward, over pizza, says Coach Baker, “we had a lot of socializing, which the girls probably enjoyed more than the playing. It’s just about the experience, which was fab.”
An International Game Years in the Making
On April 5, 2022, Pat Conley Field looked like the site of a championship lacrosse game. The stands were full of excited fans, with Chumley leading the cheering. The field itself was bedecked with colorful streamers and flags. Over the PA, each player was individually introduced, then came the national anthems.
18 KENT PLACE FALL 2022 COMMONS ROOM SCORECARD BRILLIANT CONNECTIONS
This was, after all, not a playoff game but rather an exhibition match between Kent Place and Berkhamsted, of Hertford shire, England. Kent Place was the last stop on the visitors’ tour, which also took them to Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; and New York BerkhamstedCity. first planned to visit Kent Place in March 2020, but COVID-19 put a halt to that trip. The idea never faded, though, and the teams finally came together on to play varsity, junior varsity, and Middle School games.
More than 100 athletes, coaches, faculty, staff, and parents made the arrangements, from Kent Place gifts for Dragon players to exchange with their guests to lots of hot choc olate on the unseasonably cold day. Nicole Rusas P ’17 ’22, president of the Dragon Athletic Club parent organization, provided particularly invaluable support by decorating the fields and printing rosters for the fans.
Kent Place even arranged to broadcast the matches online so parents in England could
watch their children compete across the Atlan tic. KPS won the varsity and Middle School games; Berkhamsted took the junior varsity.
“We’d do it again in a heartbeat,” says Coach Quinn. “Playing an international game helps us broaden our communities and see that a shared passion exists on and off the field.”
Kent Place and the Berkhamsted School are united by their passion for lacrosse.
On the field, Gabriella DePlasco ’22 noticed that the English players pursued a different game plan from what the Dragons typically see. “Their defense pressured us attackers a lot more than I was used to,” she says. During a break in play, Gabriella learned something from one of the visitors: “Their team practiced only about twice a week, compared to our six. I found it an interesting insight into how high school sports are con ducted in different countries,” she says.
Lacrosse Coach Ashley Quinn P ’24 ’26 ’28 called it “a great way to begin our 2022 season,” then said, “We set out to create a community event that would help our student-athletes understand the value of connecting through our passion for lacrosse and of being part of something much greater than ourselves.”
First, “God Save the Queen,” followed by “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“It was the best place we were hosted,” says Berkhamsted Coach Charlotte Baker. “We hadn’t experienced anything like that before. There was a real atmosphere to the day.”
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 19
Kelsey Katt swimming, William & Mary Nikki Kintiroglou tennis, Tufts
Quinn Sartorius
Arden Meyer lacrosse, Tufts
Miranda Lorsbach cross-country and track, Yale
Christiana Nwachuku track and field, University of Pennsylvania
The coach met the challenge by arranging practices so that veteran players led small groups, helping the newcomers build fundamental skills through practice. The setup, he says, “enabled everyone to get what she needed.
Elyseé “CC” Wolf field hockey, Yale
Last spring, for example, Middle School softball drew 30 players. “For some reason,” says Coach Philip Wolstenholme, laughing, “they all wanted to play.”
Charlotte McCann tennis, Middlebury
DRAGONS TAKE FLIGHT
Ariel Alleyne soccer, University of Chicago
As the time for games approached, the coach divided the big group into game-ready and practice squads. “Softball’s a game where you make a mistake and you could get really hurt,” he says, so new players were introduced to game situations slowly. By the end of the season, everybody had played for Kent Place in at least one game.
Claire Tratynek field hockey and track and field, Hamilton College
Not at all: KPS coaches blend those discovering the game with veteran players in a way that makes the experience fun and challenging for everyone.
’26
Lauren Rusas basketball, Franklin & Marshall Sabrina Skyer volleyball, Tulane
Pilar Torres field hockey, Williams College
BUILDING A SPORTS TEAM, FUNDAMENTALLY
Twelve members of the Class of 2022 have been recruited to play college sports.
Seventh grade is when our students first join a school athletic team. But if you haven’t been playing club sports since you were very young, is it too late, at the age of 12 or 13 to become an athlete?
“The club players in eighth grade work on their leadership skills, plus they’re getting their club-team practices during the week. And the seventh-graders get more hands-on training,” the coach says.
In early May, winners of the prestigious Princeton Prize for Distinguished Secondary School Teaching were announced, and Kent Place’s own Alicia Rodriguez — who arrived in 2017 as a Middle School math teacher following a 12-year career at Summit High School — was one of just four educators statewide to receive the award.
“Every unit of study I teach is accompanied by something hands-on. I believe wholehearted ly that if you’re only learning procedures and you don’t understand why, you’re just memorizing mathematics and will have nothing to lean on when you can’t recall the procedures. True understanding comes when applying mathematical models to real-life applications.
Alicia Rodriguez (second from left) stands with fellow Princeton Prize for Distinguished Secondary School Teaching recipients and Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber (center) at CommencementPrinceton'sinMay.
We’re all immensely proud of her wellearned achievement, a testament to her commitment to elevating and empowering female voices in mathematics. Heaps of praise for Ms. Rodriguez included gems such as: “To know Alicia is to know an unwavering champion of students who approaches teach ing and learning with a deep-seated belief that every child is worthy of admiration and capable of extraordinary things.”
Alicia PrincetonRecievesRodriguezPrize
“Ms. Rodriguez is undoubtedly the one person who has shaped my school experience the most. She has changed the way I view myself, my capabilities in asandmathematics,mypotentialaleader.”
Ms.exponentialdisplaysRodriguezanexampleofdecay.
20 KENT PLACE FALL 2022 COMMONS ROOM TRANSITIONS
PHOTOGRAPH: DENISE APPLEWHITE, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
—NAINA BHARDWAJ ’25
“I have students play with bouncy balls. When you drop one, it rebounds to a certain height and falls down again. Remarkably, the rebound height is almost always 60 percent of the previous bounce height — a perfect example of exponential decay.
“The students observe the bouncing, col lect data, look at the rate of decay, and come up with averages. So when they’re thinking about equations, they’re developing a sense of what they’re doing and why they’re doing it; they’re not simply plugging in numbers.”
—ALICIA RODRIGUEZ
Since Ms. Van Ry arrived at Kent Place, in 2001, new technologies have become ubiquitous — and even young students have access to Google, Alexa, YouTube, and DIY kits. These avenues provide instantaneous answers to their questions, but with little insight into the process of inquiry. Today, says Ms. Van Ry, our hands-on, exploratory science curriculum is more important than ever.
Max, a ball python, needs feeding; on the menu, a succulent mouse. The trout eggs are hatching and ready for examination with a microscope. Tomato seeds from the International Space Station — yes, space! — need planting. Beef liver, recently acquired from the supermarket, awaits a class dissection.
“Ms. Van Ry is a fabulous teacher,” says Joy Williams ’29. “What I like most is that she lets us be with partners a lot and she uses videos and games to help us understand.” As for the electricity challenge?
FAREWELL BUT NEVER GOODBYE
—JOHN WALZ, HEAD LIBRARIAN
DONNA GULINO, MIDDLE/UPPER SCHOOL LIBRARIAN
These tasks are all encountered in a year’s work for Primary School science teacher Rebecca Van Ry.
“A skilled orchestra conductor” — as Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning Julia Gentile calls her — is a fitting description for the veteran teacher of Grades 3–5. Ms. Van Ry, with fellow science teacher Leslie Jones-Wentz, is known for her multidisciplinary, experiential, just-plain-fun lessons. Oh, and a classroom full of critters.
To Donna Gulino (Middle/Upper School Librarian) and Françoise Moreau (Upper School French teacher), who are retiring: We’ll miss you, but we hope you’ll experience much joy in your next chapter. Come visit us often!
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 21
Example: For their unit on electricity, students receive one lightbulb, one wire, and one battery. Her directions: Make it work! “They look at me like I have asked the impossible,” says Ms. Van Ry, laughing. But what makes science fun, she tells them, is the challenge of figuring things out.
Françoise Moreau’s swan song took place during the last Morning Meeting the seniors attended. As Ms. Hager told everyone that Madame Moreau was retiring and invited her to make her entrance, there was thunderous applause and cheers from students and faculty alike.
—LEANN YANNELLI, MIDDLE/UPPER SCHOOL DANCE
It was readily apparent 18 years ago that Donna Gulino was the correct person to hire for the open position in the Middle and Upper School Library. Donna sat down at the cataloging workstation and opened the software as if she was sitting down for a conversation with an old friend — which, in a manner of speaking, she was, since she had been a cataloger at the New Providence Public Library before coming to Kent Place. Donna also brought her experience as an educator, her skills as a reference librarian, a keen eye for editing, and a native New Yorker’s sense of humor. She has guided many an eighth-grader to their graduation ceremony, organized Battle of the Books competitions, served up titles for eighth-grade book tastings, coached remote physical education classes, read the applications of countless potential Middle School students, advised the Chess Club, and been a valuable member of the eighth-grade team. For her colleagues, she has been an essential source of smart opinions, bracing wit, and treasured friendship. We send her off to retirement knowing that the school has given her a permanent, unfair advantage at winning her neighborhood’s door-decorating contests.
Rebecca Van Ry Brings Science to Life
FRANÇOISE MOREAU, UPPER SCHOOL FRENCH TEACHER
“I would say it was hard because we had to use the wires somehow,” Joy says, “but luckily we were able work with a partner.”
Françoise, as anticipated, jumped up from her seat, ran down the stairs, performed a pas de chat, bowed, and finished with her hands held in a heart shape, which she pumped toward the students, smiling and enjoying every moment. This is indicative of Françoise’s school spirit, but don’t be fooled by her humor. She is serious first and foremost about teaching her students and is quick to volunteer when needed. She seizes every opportunity to take part in workshops and classes to advance her knowledge, her awareness of diversity, and developments in secondary education overall. She’s a devoted teacher and uses her wit, charm, imagination, and creativity to enhance the student experience in her classroom. As a result, put simply, students learn from Françoise Moreau — and students love her for it. Her colleagues describe her as cheerful, upbeat, generous, sensitive, and a beloved member of the World Languages Department, whose knowledge of the language is unrivaled. It has been an honor and a privilege to have Françoise as a colleague and a friend for the past 34 years. Bonne retraite, Panchita!
Yes. I plan to compose many pieces and to branch out into more genres than before, such as opera and pop. I hope to continue composing even after Upper School.
THERESE TSANG ’26
What was the inspiration for the musical composition the Middle School Ensemble performed in the spring?
A LOVE FOR PERFORMING “Seeing the hard work we put in during class and at home come to life is youfulfilling.incrediblyOnstage,knowingworkedsohardwithyourchoirmatestomasterrhythmsandphrasing,you’reabletositbackandreallyenjoythemusic.Performancesarerarelyperfect,whichmakesthemuniqueexperienceswhereyoufeelconnectedwiththoseyousingbeside.”
—CLARA SCHREIBMAN ’23, MEMBER OF CHAMBER SINGERS
I composed an album containing four piano pieces when I was around 10 or 11 years old. I used the four seasons as an inspiration for my album and “Winter Snowstorm,” as you can tell, was inspired by winter. I wanted to compose a piece for the Middle School Or chestra and decided to arrange “Winter Snowstorm” (which was originally a piano piece) for an orchestra, because I wanted it to be played at the winter arts performance.
I usually first compose on a piano and notate it on a sheet of manuscript paper. Then, when I finish the piece, I think about how many and which instruments I want to include. After I decide on the type and number of instruments, I start writing parts. I write chunks of measures for each individual instrument, and after I reach the same amount of measures for all the instruments, I move on and repeat the process until I reach the end of my piece. Sometimes I’ll change parts of my piece or add parts to it to make it less repetitive/predictable or boring and more interesting and surprising.
22 KENT PLACE FALL 2022 COMMONS ROOM MARQUEE LEARN MORE ABOUT . . .
Do you have plans to continue with music composition through Upper School?
How do you begin to write a piece of music for so many instruments?
Throughout their Primary and Middle School years, Therese Tsang ’26 has shared their joy of music with all of us. As a pianist and a composer, they create imaginative soundscapes that reflect their engagement with the world around them. Their second album was released in 2019 on Apple Music and they are a writer member and a publisher member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. Therese also practices martial arts and enjoys playing volleyball.
Orchestra: Hitting the High Notes!
Some of the highlights last year were the premier performance of a composition by Therese Tsang ’26; “Baba Yetu,” with Emma Chan ’22 conducting; and several concerts featuring underrepresented compos ers, such as Ann Ronell, Arturo Marquez, and Florence Price.
There’s a well-developed throughline, from Primary School instrumental instructional classes, to Middle School Ensemble opportunities, to the Upper School Orchestra, which students enter in ninth grade and stay for four years.
abilities in mind, students further develop their instrumental and ensemble skills. Regularly each week, our adjunct faculty hold small sectional rehearsals, and the players thrive musically, whether or not they take private lessons.
Mr. T., as the students call him, attends their athletic games, advises the Black Cultural Association, and chaperones their trips. Fun fact about Mr. T.: The sought-after director can be found playing professionally in the Broadway show, Hadestown.
When they reach sixth grade, students who have the basic (or advanced) instrumental techniques can participate in the Middle School Ensemble. With an eclectic repertoire, selected with the girls’
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 23
The Orchestra Program at KPS — attuned to enrichment and community — has grown so much that the Upper School Orchestra no longer fits on our current stage!
The 96 members of the Upper School Orchestra attest to the strength of our program: They find multiple opportunities for performance — spring concerts in the theater, an Arts Festival in the Center for Innovation, and a host of pop-up concerts in the Great Room. There’s no stopping them!
In the Upper School, occupying center stage in the orchestra room is a giant, untidy mural of cartoon figures drawn by the students representing each player. Rehearsals generally start with a corny joke, then the work begins, with the tick-tick-tick of a metronome helping students with their timing.
Terrence Thornhill, who directs the orchestras in all three divisions, maintains a connection with each student beyond music.
Orchestra Director Terrence Thornhill
Classes at the primary level are taught by a team of adjunct artist-teachers who work with two or three girls at a time to learn the basics of instrumental technique and music-reading skills. This is a joyful time, and students do their learning during a recess period. As they progress, at whatever their pace, they go on to the next level of experience, one that leads them to the level after that.
With the foundation established in the earlier grades and the arrival of new, enthusiastic instrumentalists, the orchestra reaps its rewards with stellar performances. (Students who are more advanced also perform in smaller chamber groups.)
The
24 KENT PLACE FALL 2022 COMMONS ROOM MARQUEE
SchoolMiddleArtsShowcase
Upper EveningSchoolofDance
Kent Place community was thrilled to come back together again to enjoy, in person, the talent and creativity of our students. Here is just a sampling of events.
Kindergarten Art Show at the Kent Place Gallery
Ethics and Art: Art as Protest Gallery Show
The Hello Girls, Upper School Musical
Middle School Behind the Scenes elective for The Giver
VISUAL AND CREATIVE ARTS SHINE BRIGHT
How do you rehearse the opera as a collaborative effort?
Music, Dance, and Theater Collaborate to Create an Original Third-Grade Opera
How do you select a theme, a story, and the music?
Using the skit as a prompt, they created a village of characters and music to go along with the drama. Another year, they decided to use Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches as a basis for their opera, which included musical styles ranging from rap to Mozart.
Using “sleep” as a prompt in theater class, Keri Lesnik guided students in various improvisational activities, which culminated in the creation of the opera libretto, or script. Recounting the overall experience, Ms. Lesnik observed that students were really excited to sing the songs, dance the choreography, and create the drama.
Teaching music in the Primary School, I’ve discovered that third-graders are the most receptive to a comprehensive immersion in learning about opera.
Each year a different theme emerges. One year, students enjoyed an activity that integrated the old vaudeville skit “You Must Pay the Rent.”
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 25
First, I explain to students that opera might be compared to a big pot of soup that calls for four main ingredients. Opera, too, requires four ingredi ents: a story, some music, an orchestra, and singers. Subsequent lessons cover each of these four opera fundamentals. After students have learned about opera essentials, listened to, and even sung along with a variety of works, they’re ready to create and perform their own. Creating an opera follows a natural progression, because the scaffolding is student centered.
This year, the idea for the opera came from a fun dance routine, “Mr. Sandman,” which the girls were learning with Jenny Barbosa in Tap Ensemble. The music invoked the theme “Sleep,” and coinciden tally, some of the songs they were learning in music also centered on the idea of sleep (“The Dreams That Children Dream” and “Seeing Things at Night,” for example).
What was the inspiration behind an opera by young students?
Anya Gupta, Abbey Sieg, and Sophia Bai perform with their classmates.
“As a professional opera singer and music teacher,” says Lori Brown Mirabal, “I’ve been especially interested in making opera exciting and relevant to children. If we don’t introduce this art form to young audiences, it may become obsolete.”
Dr. Mirabal has been teaching music at Kent Place for 12 years. We wanted to know how such a grand project evolves.
ClassThe2022of
Through challenging and complex moments over the course of the last few years of their education at KPS, the Class of 2022 have proved to have an unbreakable spirit. On Saturday, June 4, we celebrated their sisterhood and look forward to seeing how each of them will advance the world in her own way.
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 27
The junior class presents the Daisy Chain.
28 KENT PLACE FALL 2022
“Class of 2022, I encourage you to build one another up wherever you go. At Kent Place, you have been empowered to grow as a leader grounded in an ethical framework, we’ve shown you how to believe in yourself, and you’ve developed an intellectual horsepower that some of you, in your senior exit interviews, said you never thought possible. You’ve learned to take up space unapologetically, you’ve been encouraged to be curious and to develop for yourself questions and answers. You have grappled with complex issues that have even more complex solutions. In turn, you have also asked us to grapple with our long and sometimes complicated history in changing times. We’ve enjoyed accompanying you as you progressed through your years on campus, and congratulations from all of us!”
—DR. JENNIFER C. GALAMBOS, HEAD OF SCHOOL, IN HER SALUTATION
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 29
Joy in KindnessCommunity
Citizenship Cup recipient Karla Perdomo with Board President Anne Grissinger P ’25 and Upper SchoolNicoleDirectorHager
Virtuous Passionate
30 KENT PLACE FALL 2022
Charlotte McCann receives her diploma from Board President Anne Grissinger P ’25 while Head of School Jennifer Galambos gives remarks.
Ellie
Integrity Helen andAnnabelSarikaPertsemlidis,Somaiya,Prunty,IsabelSmith,JulieFischer,AbbyCasamassina
Adaora Dadson and Nia Williams, Senior Class Representatives
PresidentSeniorHegeman,Class Lisa playgroundPrimary“Lifers”FacultyCohen,AddressontheSchool
“WOW,AMAZING.SOMETHINGWE’REDOINGYOUREALIZE:“YOUREALIZE:WOW,WE’REDOINGSOMETHINGAMAZING.
EVERY YEAR, Kent Place students of all ages volunteer for dozens of local organizations in their own time, outside of school hours.
PORTRAIT: JOHN O’BOYLE
In the pages that follow, they share those stories in their own words. We hope you will be as inspired and moved as we were. BY ERIN PETERSON | ILLUSTRATIONS BY JULIETTE BORDA
When Kent Place magazine asked students this past spring to describe what motivates them to give back this way, we were flooded with responses: powerful stories about the way these volunteer experiences have allowed them to learn new things, explore their identities, and make connections with others.
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 33
Diana Reig ’24 volunteers for the Latoya and Joe Dawkins Miracle Child Foundation.
“I KNOW THE HARD WORTHSCENESBEHINDWORKTHEISIT.”
The foundation I volunteer for provides support to those struggling with infertility, a topic that resonates with me because I’m an IVF baby. My parents have told me the stories of the mental and physical toll it took on them, and they still remember the pain of the bias and ignorance they experienced. As a volunteer intern, I spend a lot of my time researching and creating posts to spread information about infertility and increase awareness around the topic. I get satisfaction from putting out my finished product for people to see, and reminding people who are struggling with infertility that they’re not alone.”
34 KENT PLACE FALL 2022 “
I sell artwork and do commissions, but instead of asking for payment, I ask for proof of donation of any amount to any charity of the buyer’s choice. My favorite part of the process is seeing the happy reactions of people when they receive the artwork they “bought.”
JUSTI’MREMINDSVOLUNTEERINGMETHATAPERSON,NOTASTUDENT.”
Serena Zheng ’23 sells artwork through her own website, the Portraits Project (theportraitsproject.org), to support a variety of causes.
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 35
Currently, I’m raising Eleanor, a black Lab–golden cross. I received her when she was seven weeks old and will raise her until she’s around one and a half years. I work with her every day to make sure she’s obedient, attentive, and well behaved, and I attend bimonthly meetings with instructors and other puppy raisers and their puppies. We take excursions on trains into New York City and go to restaurants, sporting events, shops, and the mall. This gives the puppies exposure to different sounds, smells, and environments.
“YOU
THROUGH.”ISSOMEONEKNOWNEVERWHATGOING
Once, when I was in Boston with my family, I saw a woman being led by a black Lab just like Eleanor. The harness identified the dog as being from the Seeing Eye. I went over to the woman and introduced myself as a puppy raiser. She was so happy and thanked me for all I did. I watched her cross a busy street in downtown Boston with her friends and her guide dog. I knew that would be Eleanor one day, and I felt such pride.
SAW STRUGGLING.”WEREWORKERSHEALTHCAREMUCHHOW
For three years, Mira Nirula ’29 has sold jewelry and other items to support various charities.
Julia Messerman ’24 raises and trains dogs for blind and seeingimpaired individuals for the Seeing Eye puppy-raising program.
During COVID, I made maskholders and started to sell them by word of mouth. I was surprised by the interest so I made more and more, eventually reaching $500 in sales. I decided to make a donation to Feed the Frontline. My favorite part of the process was making the actual donation, because I like to imagine what the money will do or who it will benefit.
“PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK ME, ‘DO YOU HOPE SHE FAILS?’”
“I
Emilia Wheatley ’22 is a member of the Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad.
As EMTs, my crewmates and I respond to 911 calls requiring medical assistance. These calls range from lift assists (when someone falls and can’t get up) and simple transports to the hospital to stabilizing patients after a car accident and performing CPR. We never know what each day will bring, but I always try to remember that it can make the biggest difference in someone’s day to show kindness and respect, no matter what.
People always ask me, “Do you hope she fails?” I tell them, “If I wanted her to fail, I would’ve just gotten a pet dog.” I hope she goes out and changes someone’s life.
Karla Perdomo ’22 works at the New Jersey Food Bank.
I started out helping to distribute canned goods to people experienc ing food insecurity. Patrons have watched me grow from not being tall enough to see their faces as I handed them cans when I was nine years old to being able to remember their names when they walk through the door every Saturday and ask about their families and lives.
Sophia Gandhi ’25 is founder and president of the Campaign for Gender Inclusivity, an organization in the process of becoming a nonprofit entity.
As an individual who’s a member of the LGBTQ+ com munity in more ways than one, this activism feels per sonal to me. I’m very proud of one of the first fundraising events we held, selling handmade bracelets and earrings to raise money for a transgender individual to receive gender-affirming care. There was a great feeling of accom plishment with every sale we made and every donation dropped into the jar. Counting out the money we raised and sending in our donation was a feeling like no other. You realize: Wow, we’re doing something amazing.”
Ellora Roberts ’28 earns her own money to support different nonprofit organizations every year.
“ THIS IS WHERE I’ VE SPENT EVERY SATURDAY FOR ALMOST EIGHT YEARS.”
When I was in elementary school, we had a research proj ect to study a charity with a partner and give a presenta tion about it. My friend and I researched Feeding America. I instantly loved everything about it. Ever since I did that project, I’ve been interested in helping the community.
PORTRAIT: JOHN O’BOYLE
“IT ’S SUCH A HIGH WHEN YOU CAN SEE THE CHANGE YOU’RE MAKING IN REAL TIME.”
“I CAN’T SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS,WORLD’SBUT I CAN DEFINITELY HELP.”
I’ve sought advice from my advisor, Upper School Spanish teacher Dr. Medina, who told me, “Don’t focus on the technical; focus on the talking.” It’s a privilege to be bilingual, and I want to use this skill to help others.
*Apréndalo is a popular option among Kent Place students; other volunteers are Sophie Capone ’25, Sophia DiSarno ’25, Isabelle Embden ’23, Anna Gambuzza ’25, Aila Kennedy ’25, Maya Lalani ’25, Sophie Levin ’22, Cassie Miller ’24, Katie Tan ’24, and Kaitlyn Wang ’25.
“Community service has always been a critical component of the Kent Place experience,” says Upper School Community Service Leader Mary Carter ’23. “There’s never a shortage of opportunities to help others.”
Mary has supported student activities such as making and distributing meals for Bridges, an organization that helps those who are experiencing food and housing insecurity. Another popular activity is the cake sale; this year, proceeds benefited families in Ukraine. “We value our traditions, but we’re constantly adapting and changing to focus on the issues that matter to us,” Mary says.
“ FORTHATHASVOLUNTEERINGTAUGHTUSDANCEISEVERYONE.”
At the end of the year, the (dining) tables are turned as members of the faculty wait on student volunteers at the ThankYou Breakfast.
READY TO SERVE AT KENT PLACE
PHOTOGRAPH: GOLLYKIM/ISTOCK (BRACELET)
Julissa Beltran ’25 volunteers as an ESL tutor for the student-led nonprofit Apréndalo.
SONALI: Working with differently-abled kids and young adults has taught us how to navigate communication with many types of people. We all get to express ourselves through dance, no matter our physical abilities. AVA: For me, the best part is getting to perform, when I walk on stage and get to see my partner’s face light up. That shared joy is special.
“BEING BILINGUAL HAS OPENED MANY DOORS FOR ME.”
I consider myself a native Spanish speaker, having grown up in a Spanish-speaking house hold. I use my knowledge to teach English to students who live in Paraguay, Colombia, and Argentina through the organization Apréndalo.*
Sonali Kamilla ’24 and Ava Zinna ’24 volunteer with Envision Dance Exchange.
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KENT PLACE FALL 2022 39
To celebrate the transformative10thBioethicsProject’syear,wetakeacloserlookattheworkandimpactoftheprogram. BY ERIN ILLUSTRATIONPETERSONBYJASU HU
A LIFE-CHANGING COURSEA LIFE-CHANGING COURSE
Everyprogram.year,the Bioethics Project chooses a general topic to explore — examples are “The Genetic Self” and “Medical Decision-Making and the Human Lifespan” — and students use it as a starting point to ask difficult questions about personal freedom, privacy, access to health care, and fairness. The course pairs each student with a biomedical ethics mentor and scholar as they work on major papers and presentations.
The project has been a remarkable success, says Ethics Institute and Bioethics Project founding director Karen Rezach. “This is a distinctive program that we think could be a model for other schools across the country,” she says. “But even more than that, it’s changing students’ lives. They learn to think in a totally new way.”
In 2013, as one of the dozen members of the program’s first cohort, Do Carmo spent months learning the foundational principles of bioethics. With help from a bioethics expert, she wrote a paper on “savior siblings” — that is, the practice of families having a baby to provide blood, bone marrow, or organs to a terminally ill sibling — and she presented it at a symposium in front of the entire school, her mentor, and community guests.
Although Do Carmo represents perhaps the clearest example of the program’s long-term influence on participants, its broader impact is equally impressive: more than 100 students have completed the program since its inception, and thousands more have attended its annual symposia. Students’ research topics have addressed issues from the ethics of pharmaceutical pricing to the ethics of prison construction in highly polluted areas. The program’s website contains students’ abstracts and research papers so that anyone can access the work they’ve done.
Today, the Bioethics Program feels integral to the school’s DNA, yet a little more than a decade ago, it was nothing more than an ambitious idea percolating in two like minds.
AS DO CARMO THINKS ABOUT SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS ALONG THIS IMPRESSIVE JOURNEY, SHE POINTS TO ONE PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT INFLECTION POINT: KENT PLACE’S BIOETHICS PROJECT.
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THE IMPRESSIVE RÉSUMÉ OF MARIANA DO CARMO ’13 INCLUDES A BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN MOLECULAR, CELLULAR, AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY FROM YALE; LAB RESEARCH ON CANCER BIOLOGY; AND A STINT AS A RESEARCH ASSOCIATE AT THE PRESTIGIOUS BROAD INSTITUTE OF MIT AND HARVARD. SHE IS CURRENTLY PURSUING AN MD-PHD AT YALE.
At the time, she says, the work was as challenging as anything else she’d ever done, but she internalized the lessons she learned in meaningful ways. “One thing I remember is the idea that ethics is about ‘right versus right’ [rather than ‘right versus wrong’],” she says of the often-ambiguous ethical terrain covered in the program. “That stuck with me not just in my medical school courses, but also now when I’m in the hospital: How do you make the best decisions? How do you make sure patients are involved in their care so you can help them make their own best decisions?”
Since that first cohort a decade ago, a generation of students has participated in the Bioethics Project, the flagship experience within Kent Place’s Ethics Institute and a first-of-its-kind secondary school
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 41
It all started with a lunch meeting in Kent Place’s dining hall between Dr. Rezach and David Roscoe, the board chair for the Hastings Center, a highly respected bioethics research institute. Dr. Rezach, who founded the school’s Ethics Institute in 2008, had made significant headway building the ethics programming, but was eager to expand it. Roscoe, meanwhile, wanted to widen the pool of people exposed to bioethics principles and issues.
She was right. And with support from a generous donor, the Bioethics Project was launched.
And its reach continues to expand. Recently, for example, students have given their presentations at a local hospital, and a handful of them are in the process of producing a related podcast and expanding the project’s social-media presence.
Maura Crowe, the lead teacher for the Bioethics Project, says the lessons of the course are designed to apply well beyond the theme of the year or even the topic of bioethics itself. “This is a course about learning how to think,” she says. “It’s about learning to embrace the perspectives of others, and to think critically about not just specific decisions, but also the impact of those decisions.”
Dr. Rezach was emphatic: “I said, ‘I know they can do bioethics.’”
It will also continue to transform its participants, one student at a time. Says Ella Schestag ’23, who completed the program in spring 2022, “I remember walking into class on the first day of summer, and as soon as we started talking, I thought: This course is going to be life-changing. It’s going to change the way I am as a student. And it has.”
Themes change annually, and often focus on topics that are in the news. Recent themes, such as Global Bioethics and The Vision of Justice, for example, have opened up avenues for students to study bioethical issues linked to COVID-19 and social-justice efforts.
With just a dozen highly motivated students in the program each year, the Bioethics Project has a unique energy that participants notice from day one. “We’re all so invested in this class,” says Maddie Popolow ’24, who was part of the most recent cohort. “We talk, we disagree, and we dive deeper into every issue because we’re passionate about bioethics and the issues we’re discussing. The teachers love to say that our class is never quiet.”
PHOTOGRAPH: LAURA BARISONZI “TheThat’perspectives.mindyouProjectBioethicsteachestoopenyourtoothersbeenimportanttomeinmedicalschool,andit’salsobeenimportanttomeinlife.”—MARIANADOCARMO’13
As Dr. Rezach takes stock of the past 10 years, she also looks ahead with optimism: the program has become a jewel in the larger set of programs within the Ethics Institute.
Today, the project starts with a two-week fast-track summer intro duction to the principles of bioethics, followed by a class that spans a full academic year. Students hear from numerous guest experts, visit the Bioethics Research Library at Georgetown University, and present their work with a partner at an all-school symposium. Students also pair up with a researcher from Georgetown’s Kennedy Ethics Institute, who helps them develop and edit their papers.
The pairing seemed like a good fit, though Roscoe admitted some early uncertainty: Could high school students really do bioethics?
While not all students go on to pursue bioethics beyond the course, many say the discussions and the ideas they learned have deeply influenced their next steps. For example, when Sophie Huttner ’18, a senior at Yale, took the course, the theme was “Medical Decision Making & the Human Lifespan.” Her research topic, “Decision-making and Legal Autonomy for Alzhei mer’s Patients,” was both personally meaningful and professionally relevant: two of her grandparents struggled with dementia, and she hoped to make the law her career. “What interested me,” she says, “was the idea that there’s an ethical dimension to every professional realm.”
TRANSFORMATIONS FOR A LIFETIME Since its inception, 108 students have participated in the program. 1 3 4 5 2
10 things to know about the Bioethics Project
EXCEPTIONAL PARTNERS
EXTRAORDINARY RESOURCES
Students groundedarein the four principles of bioethics: respect for andnonmaleficence,beneficence,autonomy,justice.
Bioethics Project advisor Lisa Goldman, Maddie Popolow ‘24, Bioethics Lead Teacher Maura Crowe, and Director Dr. Karen Rezach
The first participantsSymposiumBioethicsin2013 10 FOR 10 10 FOR 10
During its first decade, the Bioethics Project partnered with two esteemed institutions to support its work: the Hastings Center and the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University. The Hastings Center is an independent, nonpartisan bioethics research institute and think tank in Garrison, New York. The Kennedy Institute of Ethics, established in 1971, is one of the oldest bioethics institutes in the world.
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PRINCIPLESESSENTIAL
Students can access more than 100,000 books and materials from the Bioethics Library at Georgetown University, the largest library of its kind in the world.
Students learn and apply major theories of ethics, such virtueethics,deontology,utilitarianism,ascareandethics.
GROUNDINGTHEORETICAL
Over the years, dozens of guest speakers have talked to students on such topics as disability rights, healthcare and finances, compassion fatigue, genetic counseling, organ health,sustainabletransplantation,living,maternalandreligion.
STUDENT INSIGHT: BUILDING CONFIDENCE Ella Schestag ’23 started in the Bioethics Project with some trepidation. “I wondered: Am I capable of doing this? Can I think like a bioethicist? Can I write this paper? And now that I’ve gone through it, I realized: I am. I can do this.”
STUDENT INSIGHT: EMBRACING AMBIGUITY
DEEP RELEVANCE/RELEVANT EXPERTISE
6 7
STUDENT INSIGHT: THINKING HOLISTICALLY For Keerthi Jaramayan ’19, a junior at the University of Pennsylvania, the Bioethics Project taught her to expand her vision. “The Bioethics Project forces you to think about all aspects of an issue, rather than homing in on the parts that most people know about it,” she says. “I still use that skill today as I’ve pursued research in college, and it’s a skill I trace back to my experience in that project.”
EXPERTISE FOR NUANCED LEARNING
Ruthie Laurence ’18, a recent graduate of Williams College, learned to accept the murkiness inherent not only in bioethics, but also in life. “In the Bioethics Project, you’re immersing yourself in the uncomfortable in-between of the world, she says. “We want things to be black and white, but that’s not reality. I think it’s a really good life skill to live in a space where things aren’t always obvious.”
The 10 themes since the Bioethics Project’s inception have been “Donors: The Value of the Human Body”; “The Genetic Self”; “Medical Decision-making & the Human Lifespan”; “Genetically Modified Life”; “Medical Innovation and Healthcare Technology”; “Environment and Health: The Ethics of People and Planet”; “Being Human in a Brave New World”; “The Vision of Justice: Preserving Human Dignity”; “Global Bioethics”; and “Gender and Bioethics.”
Visit bioethicsproject.org to learn more about the Ethics Institute and to read student research abstracts. To learn more about the Ethics Institute, please visit www.ethicsatkps.org.
8 10 9 ILLUSTRATION: YELYZAVETA MATIUSHENKO/ISTOCK; PHOTOGRAPH: THAWEESAK SAENGNGOEN/ISTOCK (EARTH)
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acy
Leadership KENT PLACE FALL 2022 45PHOTOGRAPH: BLACK STUDENT UNION, 1975 (PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: ANTHONY BOYD) ASSOCIATIONCULTURALBLACKCELEBRATES50YEARS
young girls and women from diverse backgrounds and enabling them to be who they are and who they choose to be inside and outside the KPS family.
What led you to join the Black roletowasAssociation,Culturalandwhyitimportanttoyouholdaleadershipwithinit?
As the Kent Place community honors the organization’s 50th anniversary — and the significant strides in equity and inclusion it has made possible — Nia and Adaora, two weeks shy of graduation when this interview was conducted, explained what it meant to lead such a historic campus group, what they’re most proud of having accomplished, and what work remains.
FOUNDING
I remember some of us had a discussion about forming a Black Student Union, and I agreed with my classmates that it would be a good idea because most of us really didn’t have time to socialize in school. It was a good idea to have such an organization so we could come together occasionally and play records and have discussions.
My statement to current leaders is to persevere. They can achieve their goals and dreams. Anything is possible. We currently have the first female, biracial Vice President, Kamala Harris, and the first female African American Supreme Court Justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson. There’s been a lot of progress. Young women need that encouragement. There’s a lot out here that’s discouraging, but persevering is the key.
IN THE SPRING OF 2020, just two weeks before George Floyd’s death and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement around the world, Nia Williams ’22 (pictured above right) and Adaora Dadson ’22 (left) — sophomores at the time — were elected leaders of the Upper School’s Black Cultural Association (BCA). They were eager to step into their roles and support the community.
NIA: Last summer, students were culling through the school archives, and that’s how we realized it was BCA’s 50th anniversary this year. We’re really grateful for their work. As we went through the archives, it was amazing to see the integrity of the Black students who were at KPS at the time. We saw students from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, when there were maybe four to seven Black students in a class. Now, in our graduating class, there’s 15 of us. To see that progress and change was really amazing and encouraged me even more to find ways KPS can serve its Black students.
ADAORA: I agree. Looking through the physical archives really made me understand just how important this group is and always has been. The BCA actually started because of discrimination from a Kent Place basketball coach against Black girls at the school, so the group started as a way to discuss and combat those issues. We have power in numbers now
Patrice A. Robinson ’75
I’m extremely proud that the BCA has stood the test of time. It’s a testament to Kent Place embracing
How does it feel to be part of a studentfounded and -led organization that marks its anniversary50ththis spring?
NIA: There was a vivid moment in my freshman year when I went to a BCA meeting. I remember looking around the room at only Black students — it felt good to be around people who looked like me, talking about issues that really relate to my circumstances and who I am in my identity. That pushed me to want to be a leader, so I could help other students feel the same way I felt.
I46 KENT PLACE FALL 2022
REFLECTIONS FROM MEMBERS
Almost 50 years earlier, in 1972, that same feeling of responsibility and agency propelled students of color on campus to unite and create the Black Student Union. Today, as one of Kent Place’s oldest student-led groups, the Black Cultural Association — its present name — stands as a powerful pillar of the school’s mission to educate girls and young women.
ADAORA: I actually wrote my college essay about joining the BCA and my journey through it. It’s been a really impactful experience for me. As a freshman, a senior I knew pushed me to be a part of the community. Ever since, I’ve loved that environment of being with people who look like me, learning about issues that pertain to me. I always thought of it as a really safe and welcoming space, and that encouraged me to take a leadership position when I could. I was so passionate about what the club stood for and I wanted to help make underclassmen feel the same way I did.
ADAORA: It's definitely a trend that people who are interested in diversity work are the same peo ple who go to the BCA events, the AAPI events, the Diversity Council events. They already have that inclusion mindset. Something I hope happens in the future is that everyone feels like they can go to a BCA meeting — anyone can come. I hope the whole school can feel comfortable going to these diversity events, even if they don’t identify with the group. At the end of the day, diversity is important for every body. If more of the community makes it normalized that advocat ing for these groups is important, that would be really powerful.
What are you looking forward to the BCA accomplishing in the future?
The friendships I made were with young women who, at the end of the day, shared the values, the dreams, the hopes that I had. I like to think they learned as much about my culture as I did about theirs. I left the school with beautiful memories and special friends. It’s my wish that the young women of KPS continue to learn from each other.
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 47
ADAORA: Tangibly, the thing I’m most proud of is that we made T-shirts last year that say BCA on the front, with the slogan BLACK LIVES MATTER TODAY, TOMORROW, EVERY DAY on the back. We sold it to students and teachers in the community and donated the money to different Black organizations in the area. We had a Spirit Day and everyone who bought a T-shirt wore it. That really made me happy — it showed not only the schoolwide support for the club but also our work to actually create something physical as a sort of memento.
NIA: What made me realize how influential we were this year was when a freshman came up and gave us a hug and said, “Thank you for all you’ve done.” It was really sweet. We had never really spoken to her directly, but she came to every meeting. She was very touched by our work. I told her I hoped in the next year or two she could be a leader of the BCA as well.
REFLECTIONS FROM FOUNDING MEMBERS
NIA: Besides the T-shirts, I would mention the BCA’s trip every two years to the National Museum African American His
ADAORA: It was really cool for her to say that to us. I felt like, “Wow, we’ve done our part.”
I feel good knowing that a half century after a few of us got together to make our voices heard and express pride in our people and ourselves, the Black Student Union has grown and become an integral part of Kent Place School. There weren't many Black students in the Upper School classes at the time. I don't think any of us knew our little group would become the Black Cultural Association it is today. Amazing!
I’m so proud and so honored to know that the current leaders have continued a mission that was such a small but important thing to us those many years ago. They're exposing the KPS community to the beauty, the grace, and the value of our heritage.
NIA: I’d like to see the organization create more ways to involve more Black students at Kent Place, to bring more Black culture in. And in unique ways, possibly through trips, guest speakers, and different ways to celebrate Black History Month. Maybe having all Black graduates, present and past, come together for a dinner or panel to talk about their experiences as Black students. Two years ago, the Black Graduate Luncheon was implemented, but I’d like to see an event with all alumnae. Those are things we look forward to for the next generation.
because there are a lot more Black students in the BCA. And it’s not just Black people; it’s any ally who wants to help. How the BCA began and how we’re still trying to advocate and push for racial equity measures in our school and community, that’s a value that has held true since its origin, and will continue to hold true in the future. We’re really grateful to be part of that legacy.
tory and Culture, in Washington, D.C., a tradition that started in 2018. It was amazing to have a day dedicated to everything Black — Black people, eating traditional Black foods, being around our Black peers as well as people who aren’t Black but are experiencing the museum.
Janice (Carter) Brown ’74
What are you most proud of the BCA having accomplished?
I loved my time at KPS. It was a profound experience. I entered KPS on a full scholarship in 1971 on the heels of the civil rights movement. I was nervous but excited about this new chapter in my life. I can't remember whose idea it was to start the group, but there were a lot of things going on in the early ’70s involving Blacks and our push for rights and racial equality, so we were motivated to make a stand and share our thoughts at KPS. Our bulletin board on the main floor was a source of pride. A small thing for sure, but it represented so much more. It was a start to making our presence known.
PACEKEEPINGPACEKEEPING CONNECTING THE KENT PLACE FAMILY
Biking in front of the former Main Classroom Building in the early 1950s
— and with it come high hopes, a clean slate, a chance to set another goal, an opportunity to learn something new. September has arrived — and with it come possibilities.
The young women I spoke with an swered my questions thoughtfully. When asked what advice they would give their ninth-grade selves, many of them paused, just for a second, and then said, in one way or another: Don’t be afraid to try it all. When asked what lesson they’d be bringing PACE SINCE LAST TIME
A few years ago, I decided to learn Italian. For 20 years, I’d been thinking about it, but it always remained just that: a thought. Then, shortly after coming to Kent Place, I took my first semester of Italian. All of a sudden, I was again a student. I was a bit anxious, but I had high hopes, I was starting with a clean slate, I set a goal, I learned something new — and I loved it! (I ended up taking three semesters.)
Coral Butler Books (center) speaks to alumna Josie (Debevoise) Davies ’72 (left) and Anne Grissinger P ’25, Chair of the Board of Trustees, during Alumnae Weekend.
As we strive to empower girls to be confident, intellectual, and ethical leaders who advance the world, we welcome you into our work. We welcome your advice, your lessons learned, your visions for what’s to come. Join us for dinner at one of our regional events, volunteer to speak to students on campus or via Zoom, serve as a mentor to a young woman facing the world as an adult for the first time.
50 KENT PLACE FALL 2022
What will you learn this year? What will you write? What will you build? What would you like your Kent Place community to know?
With warm regards (and ciao), Coral Butler Brooks Chief Advancement Officer
I welcome your calls, emails, notes — and I can’t wait to hear about what you’ve been doing.
to their freshman year of college, many came back to that same advice: I’m going to try it all. There’s nothing to be afraid of — even a failure will tell me more about myself and where to go next.
I credit this move to action to what I call the Kent Place effect. It’s something in the air, and it comes from our extraordinary alumnae. So many of you brush away fear, take the first step, learn something new. I felt the Kent Place effect clearly in the exit interviews of the Class of 2022.
Dear SeptemberAlumnae,ishere
KEEPING
Last year, during Engineers Week, a virtual panel of 2021 alumnae — Madeline Estey (computer science and applied mathematics and statistics, Johns Hopkins University), Natasha Wan (biomedical engineering, Tufts University), Sophia Famular (chemical engineering and engineering and policy, Carnegie Mellon University), and Alayo Oloko (mechanical engineering and computer science, MIT) — chatted with Middle Schoolers about majoring in engineering in college. We spoke more in depth with Madeline and Natasha after the event to learn about their hopes to inspire girls to pursue engineering.
Natasha: Women bring perspectives that might be missed in a male-dominated arena. For example, in my school’s Engineers Without Borders club — before my time — someone had the idea to use a bike-powered pump to bring clean water to a particular community. This sounded terrific, as a bike is much cheaper than wind- or solar power. The new pump was set up, but it was later discovered that this brand-new pump was never used: In this community, it was frowned on for women to ride bikes, and because it was mainly women who pumped water, no one used it. With more women involved in the data-gathering and building processes, a usable clean-water pump could have been designed with this issue in mind.
(right)WanNatasha(left)EsteyMadeline’21and’21
Role Models in Engineering
FAMILY ROOTS. At Kelsey’29(Merahn)NotSorvino-Manciniher(atHeidiBugliarigranddaughter’26BugliariElizabethCommencement,Budd’59GP’22celebratedherClaire’22(atleft)andSorvino’79P’22right)congratulateddaughterElizabeth’22.pictured:TracyKatt’92P’22andherdaughter,Katt’22.
Natasha: When you have a chance to try something new, take it — you never know where it might lead. Stepping into new adventures with an open mind can help you figure out what you care about. Even when you find something you don’t like, it can give you a perspective on, and often appreciation of, other fields.
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 51
Madeline: I was on the KPS Robotics team and it was awesome to explore different aspects of engineering with the support of like-minded students. I also loved that I could do an independent study to investigate various algorithms and data structures. In addition to preparing me for college computer science classes, I learned how to find resources and teach myself difficult concepts. These skills were helpful in the embedded security research I was involved in at Johns Hopkins this year.
How did KPS prepare you for this field?
Why is it important for more women to go into engineering?
What’s your best piece of advice?
Why do you think it’s important to talk to young students?
Natasha: KPS prepared me by ensuring that I was a curious learner who cared about the ethics behind every decision and wondered about the history of the community being helped. I learned to think first like a person and then like an engineer, because what is engineering other than finding solutions to problems that affect people? Engineering comes back to real lives that are affected by every decision. Making something just because it’s effective, without thinking about ethical, environmental, or humanitarian side effects, is not what good engineering is about.
Madeline: It’s important for students to understand just how expansive the field of engineering is. There’s a place for visual/performing arts, athletics, and more, along with the traditional subjects of math and science. Because of this, everyone should participate in an engineering project at least once.
Madeline: Engineering can be a daunting field to enter, so it’s helpful for younger girls to see women who were in their position not long ago and are thriving in the study of engineering.
We Celebrated Together
The celebration culminated in evening festivities, from cocktails, dinner, and dancing, to a band and food carts on the lawn, to a photo booth and slide show in Mabie House.
A special presentation took place on the lawn in front of Mabie House, acknowledging 50 years of strength, courage, and perseverance of Kent Place’s Black alumnae. (See the sidebar on page
52 KENT PLACE FALL 2022 KEEPING PACE REUNION ALUMNAE WEEKEND
In55.)the
afternoon, alumnae reconnected with classmates, had picnics on the lawn, toured campus, and took a walk down memory lane at the archives display. Many headed back to the classroom to learn from current Kent Place faculty: They launched rockets in physics with Mr. Largo, learned Zumba from Ms. Stevenson, had discussions of ethics with Dr. Rezach, and brushed up on economics with Ms. Schwartz. All the fun of learning — without the tests!
Stay tuned for information about next year’s Alumnae Weekend. We hope you’ll be able to come for two days of fun — and nostalgia — with your classmates!
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Alumnae were welcomed back on Friday night with a variety of events. Among the highlights were a cocktail reception and a 50th-reunion dinner hosted by Head of School Jennifer Galambos for the Classes of 1972, 1970, and 1971; the latter two classes had missed this milestone celebration because of COVID. In addition, alumnae attended the student Evening of Dance performance and others gathered for class dinners.
It was a long-awaited reunion when some 200 alumnae, from the Class of 1951 to the Class of 2017, returned to reminisce and to explore what’s new on campus, and — most important — to once again share smiles, laughter, and hugs.
Saturday — a beautiful spring day — began with updates on the tremendous work happening at Kent Place and the school’s plans for the future. New members of next year’s Alumnae Board were inducted, and all enjoyed the time-honored Reunion tradition of be stowing awards to alumnae in recognition of their contributions to their careers or to their communities. (See the sidebar on page 53.)
The Alumnae Association recognized three graduates for their exemplary contributions to their careers and communities. These women embody the Kent Place mission to empower girls who advance the world.
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 53 1. Selfie time: 1982 classmates Lisa (Brown) Langley and Ramelle Massey 2. Classes of 1970, 1971, and 1972 celebrate their 50th reunion. Shown: Julie (Jacobson) Bobrow ’72, Marlene Kurz ’72, and Harty (Platt) du Pont ’70
Natasha Scott ’07 accepted the Young Alumna Award in recognition of her dedication to leveling the playing field for youth from low-income, underserved communities. As executive director of Dorson Community Foundation, a nonprofit based in East Orange, N.J., Natasha works to advance the organization’s mission to provide college and career readiness and self-development enrichment to students from the inner cities of Essex County.
6.
7. Photo booth fun: (back) Stephanie Carson ’87, Ginny (Boyer) Losito ’87, Liz (Harrison) Kubany ’87, and Marcy (Meenan) Dean ’87; (front) Andrea Carson Tanner ’91, Liz Hines ’91, and Erika Amato ’87
Kathryn (Del Guercio) Walmsley ’00 received the Alumna Professional Achievement Award for her efforts to advance access to educational opportunity and equity in New Orleans. She’s now the chief financial officer for KIPP New Orleans Schools, the city’s largest network of open-enrollment public charter schools, serving 6,000 students — more than 10 percent of the city’s public school children.
Award winners Kelly (Mead) Leach ’90 and Natasha Scott ’07; Katie (Del Guercio) Walmsley ’00 joined on Zoom
4. Joy (Charles) Kay ’80 and Eloise Nicholl ’07 catching up at the Welcome Brunch Zumba class with Ms. Stevenson: Lizzy Miggins ’11, Sam Jakucionis ’12, and Amy Rowland ’12 Beautiful weather for a 2001 picnic on the Graduation Lawn: Dana Holland, Kassandra (Coronis) Samman P ’36, Lindsay (Williamson) Hill, and Jennifer (Melillo) Buurma P ’31
3. Josie (Debevoise) Davies ’72, Lynn (Daeschler) Magrane ’70 P ’00 ’02, and Joyce (Cudlipp) Wiggin ’51
Kelly (Mead) Leach ’90 was honored with the Barbara Wight Biddison ’30 Distinguished Alumna Award for her success with Cycle for Survival, the movement to beat rare cancers. Kelly launched Team Pedaling Sunshine on the day of her final radiation treatment for Ewing’s sarcoma, and the team has participated in events across the country, with more than 200 riders and thousands of donors. Together they’ve raised close to $2 million in just seven years.
ALUMNAE AWARD RECIPIENTS
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54 KENT PLACE FALL 2022 KEEPING PACE REUNION 8. Lots of laughs: 2000 classmates Sarah (Hammitt) Colasurdo and Ashley (Pinakiewicz) Smallwood 9. Lots of photos were taken: Natasha Scott ’07, Kenya Jacobs ’15, and Jachele Vélez ‘07 10. One of many hugs throughout the day 11. Maya Lobban ’12 launching a rocket in physics class with Mr. Largo 12. 2007 classmates Natalie Straughn and Khemi Cooper 13. Catching up with Ms. Clemens: Lili Hutchinson ’11, Hannah (Benn) Davis ’11, Olivia Donatelli ’12, Kim Lewis ’11, Logan Shanney ’09, and Courtney (Shanney) Kingsbery ’05 14. Head of School Jennifer Galambos and Chief Advancement Officer Coral Butler Brooks with outgoing Alumnae Board President Katherine (O’Donnell) Lynch ’06 15. The evening culminated in a dance off among the classes! 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 55
ACKNOWLEDGING 50 YEARS OF STRENGTH, COURAGE, AND PERSEVERANCE OF KENT PLACE’S BLACK ALUMS
They showed up — and today we show up — was the important message delivered during Alumnae Weekend in a presentation acknowledging 50 years of Black alumnae.
“Today I stand before you representing the many African American young ladies who showed up on this campus every day,” said April Bauknight ’95, Alumnae Board member and DEIB Alum Council Chair. “Every day they showed up not knowing what adversity they would face. They showed up not knowing whether they would be accepted by their peers. They showed up not knowing whether they would be accepted by their teachers. They showed up not certain how they would perform academically.
nized Ms. Justice for her leadership and partnership. She thanked the BCA, particularly presidents Adoara Dawson ’22 and Nia Williams ’22, for showing the way. “Most of all, I thank you, April Bauknight, for answering my call two years ago, in May 2020, when I asked you to serve as the inaugural chair of Kent Place’s DEIB Alum Council. You always show up for the students of Kent Place and honor your commitment to ensuring that at KPS, every little Black girl finds a welcome seat at the table. Today we recognize our past, we stand in our present, and, with our alumnae, current students, and faculty, we will build a future in which every student graduates as a confident, intellectually charged, ethical leader who is prepared to advance the world.”
girls, show up. Daily. To challenge the misconceptions and stereotypes we still encounter . . .”
Walidah Justice, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, talked about the importance of the changing face of Kent Place School, particularly in the last few years, as students of color are now the majority. She updated the audience on the work being done every day in support of our students and the efforts being made to build a more inclusive infrastructure. She concluded by thanking every Kent Place Black alumna for setting a standard of excellence and achievement: “I marvel at the possibilities for our current brave and brilliant Black girls,” she said. “They’re the next generation of Black excellence.”
Head of School Jennifer Galambos recog-
A bench now sits in front of Mabie House, a reminder of all those who showed up and honoring the strength, courage, and perseverance of the Black alumnae who helped pave the way for inclusion at Kent Place School.
But despite all of that, they showed up . . .
1. DEIB Alum Council Chair April Bauknight ’95 with Head of School Jennifer Galambos 2. BCA co-president Adoara Dawson ’22; Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Walidah Justice; Ramelle Massey ’82; DEIB Alum Council Chair April Bauknight ’95; and BCA co-president Nia Williams ’22 3. Unveiling of the new bench in front of Mabie House 3. 2. 1.
Alumna Ramelle Massey ’82 took the podium to commend the work being done at KPS and to announce her donation toward the continued efforts of the BCA.
“Today, we show up. We show up to acknowledge and honor every little Black girl who had the courage to show up. We show up to commemorate their journeys. We, as little Black
Following a year teaching English outside of Lyon, France, a master’s degree at Colum bia’s Mailman School of Public Health, and a séjour in Ethiopia, I packed my suitcases and headed to Yaoundé, Cameroon, to work with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).
Katherine Kalaris ’03 earned her BA at Dartmouth and her master’s at Columbia and has spent 10 years working in global health, nine of them in sub-Saharan Africa. In October 2020, she started a PhD program at the University of Oxford, researching how clinical networks may solve problems of poor service delivery in low- and middle-income country health systems, focusing on neonatal service delivery networks in Kenya. Katherine is a consultant for Maternal-Neonatal Health Networks of Care for the World Health Organization.
Mont Fébé, Cameroon,Yaoundé,2015
running an NGO country office in the Dem ocratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
’03
Colleagues have called me a pit bull and a bulldozer, and I always find a soap box to jump onto. It’s been anything but a straight path, but it’s been an amazing journey since that life-changing day at college orientation. Keep an open mind: You never know where you may land!
In Burkina Faso, I worked at a rural health clinic. Days started early with the crowing of roosters and the braying of donkeys. I spent mornings at the clinic, supporting vaccination and child nutrition programs, and my afternoons were filled with health education classes at the local schools or treks to neighboring villages.
Now armed with some field experience and technical knowledge, I jumped into working with the Ministry of Health to increase the availability and access to family-planning ser vices and improve the pharmaceutical supply chain. Most of the time, I shuffled between ministry and partner-organization meetings to push the program agendas.
So, I’m back in academia, trading the well-loved, dusty, sun-baked streets of Africa for the hallowed halls and dreaming spires of Oxford, where I’m in my second year of a DPhil (PhD) as a health systems researcher. I’ll soon head to Kenya for my thesis fieldwork in hospital neonatal wards.
56 KENT PLACE FALL 2022 KEEPING PACE IN HER WORDS
I planned to major in art history or math at Dartmouth, but during freshman orientation an upperclassman mentioned that she was a geography major. I didn’t know you could major in that subject, but soon I was sitting in my first geography class, and a new adventure began to unfold.
Kinshasa is a vibrant, chaotic city on the banks of the Congo River, notorious for its insane traffic jams and rhumba music. At first it was just me, running around the city with my laptop, but over time the program portfolio grew to include projects in family planning, HIV diagnostics and treatment, severe malaria treatment, and the pharmaceutical supply chain. Although I learned a great deal establishing and running an NGO country office, the technical and programmatic work I’m passionate about continued to call.
Katherine Kalaris
A few months after graduation, I arrived in the Sahelian country of Burkina Faso. Over the next 10 years, I went from a some what naive, very eager Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso, to an adventurous master’s candidate in Tigray, Ethiopia, to navigating the Ministry of Health in Cameroon, to
From Yaoundé, I went to Kinshasa, DRC, to establish the CHAI country office.
KEEPING PACE CLASS NOTES
Sally (Needles) Toffey and husband Jim arrived at their summer
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 57
It’s hard to believe we graduated 75 years ago. We’ve lost or misplaced many, but have about 14 of our class still with us. I know we all like to get news of our classmates and I love to hear from you.
I was very sorry to learn that Ruth (Mace) Prime died January 13, 2021, in her beloved house in Lake Placid, NY. She divided her time between there and Seattle. She leaves three children and three grandchildren. We send our sympathy to her family.
Kathanne (Harter) Webster says she lives “happily in a totally independent way.” She’s not very mobile, because of a compression fracture in her spine, but she takes short walks with her sit-down walker. She drives locally and often has dinner with friends in their dining room, where they can now have outside guests. Her daughter Lucy (#3) came from Brussels and plans to move here permanently. Kathy now has 12 great-grandchildren, 10 grandchildren, and four daughters. What a wonderful family.
Penny (Burley) Thomas mbtedt@gmail.com
Julie (Abrams) Dunbar: Bill and I are trying to keep our gray hair in place as we move between our two condos, one on Sanibel Island, FL, and the other in Old Saybrook, CT. We have the best of both worlds right now and can still walk, talk, read,
Evelyn (France) Kalagher lives in Bennington, VT. In spring her pond has ducks and geese and often ducklings. Evelyn is in good health. She has a plate in her leg where she broke it last year.
Ellen (Smith) Corbett: I wish I had something wonderful and excit ing to write but we lead pretty quiet lives. We haven’t traveled outside the country for three years and I miss it. On the other hand, I don’t want to go someplace and run into the virus, deal with quarantining, etc., so it’s easier to just stay home. We’re headed to New England to see my two sons and one of Bill’s daughters, so that will be a nice break. Other than that, we play lots of croquet and try to get to the gym regularly. Maybe that’s all the excitement I need in my old age?
Joan (Skelton) Holmes had a nice Easter with her son and granddaughter, who live in Boston, and her grandson, from North Carolina. She has a good driver who takes her when and where she wants to go. She gets around with a walker and plans to stay in her house in Heritage Village, CT.
Joyce (Cudlipp) Wiggin gets a star! She represented the class at Reunion in May, drove up from Maryland with daughter Darby, and was joined by daughter Dorian, who lives in Short Hills. They had cocktails at Beacon Hill, then a visit with Head of School Dr. Jennifer Galambos at her house and a quick tour of the campus. “The grounds are still beautiful and with several new buildings,” she reports. “All in all, a very nostalgic visit. So many fond memories.” Both she and husband Mitch had COVID when we spoke in late May, but otherwise is still perking along.
Please send any news you have. Mine is only that I play pickleball three times a week and haven’t traveled outside of the country in three years, but any news is better than none!
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Nan1946(Morris)
granddaughter each have two boys, so Nancy has four great-grandsons who live nearby, in Orlando. Nancy says there’s lots of COVID there, but most are not very sick and just need to stay in their rooms.
Yours truly just returned from three weeks in Spain with 18 of my theater group friends from Urban Stages, in New York City. Riding a wonderful train from Santiago Compostela along the northern coast to San Sebastian, we exited daily for walking tours in lovely old towns, and also to visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. At the end of the trip, in Madrid, 10 of us tested positive for COVID, which gave us an unscheduled week to recuperate and enjoy that great city. Luckily, no one was seriously ill. Just remember, if you wake up in the morning without any aches or pains, you’re probably dead. Cheers!
home in Kennebunk in late May. Despite numerous disabilities, Sally still keeps her spirits up. Her outlook on life? “We were so fortunate to go to school when we did. We got a great education without all the problems that present-day students face.” I second that. Kent Place gave us a great start in life.
Giovanna (Mancusi-Ungaro) Breu had a great family reunion in April 2022. Her sister, Diana ’66, and husband Nick came — they had lived in Provence for years — and Diana’s daughter, Laura, and children came from London. Giovanna’s brother, Mario, and family came from Wisconsin and their son, Christopher, came from teaching classes at Illinois State University. “It was so much fun,” Giovanna says.
Bobbie (MacWhinney) Schneide wind says, “Life is better this year at Canterbury. We’re back to exercise programs, lectures, and dinner with friends. I usually go to my daughter’s house each Sunday for a family get-together and dinner. My great-grandchildren, ages 4 and
Sue (Savage) Speers had a nice memory from about 75 years ago when we could finally lay aside our dreary winter uniforms and start wearing the pretty spring uniforms. “COVID seems more under control in my retirement community. We can eat in the dining room. I spend much time in the gym, after going to com mittee meetings. I walk with a rollator due to all my replaced joints (both hips and both knees).” Sue’s younger sister, KPS Class of 1955, died recent ly from Alzheimer’s — what a horrible disease. She was touched to receive flowers and a nice note from Head of School Dr. Galambos.
Helen (Preus) Mairs enjoyed a family get-together in April 2022 for daughter Julia’s birthday. Julia is a physical therapist and lives in Eagan, not far from Preusy. Daughter Heide came from Houston. Daughter Elizabeth, who lives near Preusy, hosted the party. Preusy’s son, Rob, and wife were away, visiting their son at Middlebury. Preusy looks forward to going to her cabin on Lake Superior this summer, hoping COVID stays low. It was nice to go to church “in person” on Easter Sunday, she said.
Mathey passed away peacefully at her Exeter, NH, residence on February 2, 2021. We extend our condolences to Nan’s family.
Anne1947 (Campbell) Dowell annedowell@triad.rr.com
Kent Place learned that Barbara (Hoffmann) Swan passed away peacefully on May 17, 2021. We extend our condolences to Bobbie’s daughters, Jacqueline (Van Cleve) Hinshaw ’66 and Kathryn (Van Cleve) Kuhns ’68, and to all of her family and friends.
Kent Place learned that Ann (Mascuch) Whitford passed away on April 13, 2022. Ann, a former pilot with the Civil Air Patrol, earned degrees in English and philosophy at Columbia University after living in Bermuda for a number of years working as a hotel manager. She went on to teach high school English in Plainfield, NJ, during the civil rights riots of the 1960s. There she began to volunteer with her local teachers union. In 1970, she became a union pioneer, the first female field representative/ negotiator in New Jersey. Ann worked with NJEA in that role for 15 years, and then served as NJEA’s associate director of research. When she retired, she and her sister, Joan Mascuch ’47, traveled the world. We extend our condolences to Ann’s family and friends.
Mary-Carey1951 (Bachmann) Churchill mcchurchill@gmail.com
She drives locally and enjoys frequent visits from her niece, who lives not far away. She plans to go on a cruise in August to the Bahamas — the ship leaves from New York.
Emily1942 (Churchill) Wood emily_wood46@hotmail.com
1½, often come. Their uncles try to teach them how to play baseball and tennis. We’re going for our annual week at Hilton Head Beach. We started in 1990 with four of us and this year we will be 18. Everyone loves the beach.”
Nancy (Vreeland) Waits and her husband are doing okay. Their daughter lives near them and often takes them to church and lunch on Sunday. Their grandson and
MJ (Cabrera) Shaw was in Florida for a family wedding in March, so we were able to have a good catchup. She looks great, always fun, and is looking forward to lots of golf in Vermont.
Marianna1954 (Ruprecht) Mitchell mariannarmitchell@gmail.com
Liz1950(Dun) Colten lizcolton@aol.com
Anne1960 (Sonnekalb) Iskrant anne@iskrant.com
Pat (Downs) Ramsay and Steve, in Yarmouth, ME, are moving to a nearby retirement community. To forget the dismal winter, Pat and her two daughters took a Civil Rights trip to Montgomery and Selma, AL. She describes the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice as being spectac ular. The complex is a creative and moving presentation of the legacy of slavery in this country, and she urges all to visit.
Nancy (Morris) Mathey ’46 February 2, 2021
Jeanne Goetz ’72 May 16, 2020
58 KENT PLACE FALL 2022
We heard from Bob Ballantine that his wife, Helen (Price) Ballantine, passed away on November 15, 2021. We extend our condolences to Bob and his family.
travel lately. I do miss it. Calm life. Haven’t seen any classmates in more years than I can count.
etc. We consider ourselves lucky! The last of our 14 grandchildren will graduate from high school in Ben Lomond, CA, this June. All the rest are out in the world working in their various fields, with one married and another just engaged. We’re waiting for the rest to follow suit shortly. We hope for peace and well-being for all, including our special KPS class.
Mary Jane (Stiles) Marvel ’57 May 28, 2022
Ricky (Kaplon) Adams: Not a lot of news from Milwaukee other than I’ve been immersed in dog activities for many years quite happily. My Clum ber Spaniel and I compete in different performance events and she (Lucia) has earned many titles. Since we’re both elderly, we’re slowing down, but not stopping. We have four Scent Work trials in a week. No foreign
I wrote to many of our classmates in the hopes that you would join me at Reunion. I ended up driving up alone for Saturday with husband John, my favorite chauffeur. KPS has changed physically, in its out look, its expanse, and the composi tion of its student body. I found in the school a supportive sisterhood. I sat with two great women, graduates of the early ’90s, and talked litera ture with a recent graduate. I went to an Ethics class and learned how ethical decision-making is integrated
Shirley (Conklin) Veale ’44 December 28, 2021
Margaret (Plumley) Stephenson ’58 May 27, 2022
Susan (Kent) Cakars, in Phil adelphia, writes, “We all hoped 2022 would be a better year, but between Omicron and Ukraine, it’s proving to be way worse than we could’ve imagined.” Susan had two eye operations, which left her with diminished sight. Her Christmas message in 2021 was a wonderful balance between the difficulties of COVID isolation and health issues and the joy of being near family and having a great Zoom birthday. She loves audiobooks, and when she couldn’t see, she listened to all the Louise Penny mysteries. She also recommends My Broken Language, by Quiara Alegría Hudes, and can now read large-print editions.
Laura Barrett ’66 June 12, 2020
Barbara (Hoffmann) Swan ’43 P ’66 ’68 May 17, 2021
Kent Place received word from Ann (Marshall) Searles that classmate Margaret (Plumley) Stephenson passed away on May 27, 2022, after battling her third breast cancer diagnosis, received in 2020. We extend our condolences to her sister Deborah Plumley ’56, her family and friends. We also learned that Debby (Haigh) Dluhy lost her husband, Bob, on May 25 after a year-long battle with cancer. We wish Debby and her family peace at this difficult time.
Liddy1959 (Morrison) Baker: These two octogenarians, my husband, John and I, are doing well — maybe not skiing anymore but certainly sailing and traveling. Our health is good, our family is good, and so is life!
Susan (Wight) Poinier is on the mend from what she refers to as a minor health battle. She reports on a whirlwind rolling birthday month with family and friends — a constant celebration.
June 3, 2022
former Assistant Head of School and Business Manager at Kent Place and later Director of Development, passed away peacefully at age 91 on October 22, 2021, after a well-lived life. His family and beloved wife of 64 years, Marcia P ’78 ’79 ’82, were by his side. We extend our condolences to Marcia and their three daughters, Jane Simonds-Sardeson ’78, Becky Simonds ’79, and Kate (Simonds) McKee ’82. Jon was an avid supporter of Kent Place and was known to call the Development Office to praise its work and share his ideas.
Molly1957 (Harding) Nye: Our biggest news is that we’ve left our house on the Lexington Battle Green and moved to a CCRC, Brookhaven at Lexington. We’ve never sold a house; we lived on the Battle Green for 57 years. We’re loving our new life at Brookhaven and continue to go to New Hampshire on weekends. We’ll spend the summer in Sandwich, NH, where we have a farm.
Ann (Mascuch) Whitford ’51 April 13, 2022
throughout the curriculum. We dis cussed some ethics cases, such as the nonmedical use of a drug to boost performance. I attended a physics class and launched a rocket. The physics teacher was from Colombia, where I lived in the ’60s. He wasn’t even born then! I have more notes on Reunion, so if you’re interested, please email me.
Jane (Rauscher) Elliott ’52 January 23, 2022
1956
Susan Cahill, former member of the English Department, passed away on April 25, 2022. Dr. Cahill had a 38-year career in public and private secondary schools, including four at Kent Place, 2006–2010. She inspired students with her energy, talent, and kindness. “Dr. Cahill was a mentor to me,” says Julie Gentile, Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning at KPS. “She was an incredible supportive spirit, full of grace, goodwill, and light.” We wish Dr. Cahill’s family peace during this difficult time.
Marjorie (Bley) Troutman ’49 January 9, 2022
Joan (Manchee) Jeffries ’49 February 15, 2022
Sue Hand, near Boston, writes that she was busy adjusting to her new retirement community. She mentions that without husband Jack, it’s been difficult. I loved this remark from her: “People here are nice but they’re all old! When did that happen?” Grandson Theo, 3, now takes over the phone and is a constant source of amusement and joy. Son Morgan sends videos and photos from New York. Sue is in touch with Meredith (Welsh) Parsons with FaceTime. Meredith lives in a retirement village in North Carolina, near her daughter and son.
Gina (Montrone) McCarthy ’01 April 17, 2022
Helen (Price) Ballantine ’56 November 15, 2021
Ann Boyer ’53 December 15, 2020
KEEPING PACE CLASS NOTES
1958
Paige L’Hommedieu P ’78 ’80 ’85, trustee emeritus, the husband of Nicky P ’78 ’80 ’85 and the father of Kate (L’Hommedieu) Mittnacht ’78, Anne (L’Hommedieu) Sanderson ’80, and Liz (L’Hommedieu) King ’85, passed away in Morristown, on November 3, 2021, at age 90, surrounded by his family. Paige was an active member of the Morristown community and a loyal supporter of Kent Place for almost 50 years. He will be greatly missed. We extend our condolences to his family and friends.
Jacqueline (Engel) Payer ’71 July 10, 2021
In HelenMemoriam(Hall)Hoyt ’41
In JonathanRemembranceSimondsP ’78 ’79 ’82,
Louise1963 (Hall) Grauer
Linda1966
Deborah Kooperstein: In December, I retired from being a town justice after almost 29 years, still affiliated with a law firm. Having free time is an adjustment. I’ll be able to spend almost three months at our place in Maine. My spouse, Jacqui, and I are traveling overseas in May again after the two-year COVID moratorium. I hope Jane K. will organize another Zoom with classmates.
Were you team green or gold? We’d love to hear your Field Day stories; please email them to communications@kentplace.org.
Dr.1965Janet B. W. Williams
Elizabeth (Early) Mortlock: After the intensity of COVID shutdowns, I’m happy to be active again with
“Lindy” (Burns) Jones finallylbj@gmail.com
gailgiblin29@gmail.com
Kris (Mellor) Conley: It's been nice to catch up both on our Zoom “social” and through email. Things are finally warming up in Maine and I’m eager to get my garden going and growing. I can’t claim a green thumb, but as time has gone by, with both my failures and my successes, my garden is quite pretty. My son Jeremy, wife Bathsheba, and grandsons Aidan, Owen, and Oliver came in late June for a visit for the first time in four years. We’ve gotten together on other occasions but not in Maine. In August, family gathered again in Hilton Head. My granddaughter Ruby is a senior in high school and looking to pursue art in college and my granddaughter Ivy is enjoying middle school.
THEN & NOW: FIELD DAY
side, on June 12, 2020, in Prescott, AZ, following a long struggle with Parkinson’s. Our condolences to Laura’s family and friends.
Last spring, we witnessed the return of not just Primary and Middle School Field Day, but Upper School Field Day as well. Typically held at the close of the academic year, divisions are split up in teams of Green and Gold. Once you have a color, it remains your color long after you’ve graduated and gets passed down if any relatives attend KPS. The archive image (left) is from 1997 and the one on the right is from 2022. What do they have in common? Kent Place Green and Gold Dragon Spirit, of course!
We learned that Laura Barrett passed away, with family members at her
Judy Small: In April, I helped my daughter, her husband, and their three little girls move from Berkeley (where we've all lived within walking distance for the past three years) to a beautiful, spacious house in Chapel Hill, NC. Bittersweet, for sure, for both Bob and me — but our son, his wife, and their daughter are all still here. I’m working on several engrossing writing and in terpreting projects, including assisting an asylum-seeker from Cameroon.
jbwwny@gmail.com
I’d love to know what you’re all up to theseThedays!pandemic enabled me to catch up on things I never had time to do when I was working full time, such as reading, hand spinning, and enjoying my Peloton bike. Living in a houseboat is a dream come true for me still, and I’ve enjoyed being president of my co-op these last two years. I also spend time volunteering with two mental-health-related pro grams: one works to prevent youth suicide in Montana and the other provides mentoring for disadvan taged kids who are struggling to stay in college. Also, I have two grand sons and two cats, and my youngest son is about to get married.
I’ve read two wonderful books, both nonfiction and neither by a woman, but in both women are heroes. The Premonition, by Michael Lewis, is about the pandemic and little-known people who contribut ed to fighting it. The Code Breaker, by Walter Isaacson, is about Jennifer Doudna, who was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in chemistry for her work on the CRISPR system of gene editing. I also read Ameri can Dirt, by Jeanine Cummins, a fictional story about the journey of a Mexican mother and her son who flee violence and escape to the United States.
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 59
I saw Sandy (Lee) Simmers in May at her husband Bob’s in urnment ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. It was good to see Sandy and her children and grandchildren as well as her soccer, tennis, paddle tennis, and pickleball partners at the reception. Sandy is a cattle farmer and a carpenter. She made the box for Bob’s ashes.
Jane (Kolarsey) Kusterer: Gene and I were vaccinated, boosted, and feeling strong until COVID got us both. Great news is that our son, Keith, and his wife, Christina, who live in Chicago, are expecting their first child, a son, in July. Her folks, in the Boston area, and my family, in North Carolina, had big baby-shower plans but COVID got in the way and plans were canceled. We were able to spend time with the family in Myrtle Beach for our preplanned vacation, which couldn’t have been more delightful. Shortly after, I tested positive and three days later Gene got it. We’re all fine now, and plan a week in the North Carolina mountains in June, then of course a trip to Chicago in mid-July to meet our new grandbaby!
Gail1964(Giblin) Flynn
volunteering and community activ ities — Meals on Wheels, tutoring and doing art projects with children, and art groups with friends. We spend the winter in Roanoke, VA, and summer in Camden, ME. David and I celebrated our 50th anniversary on September 9. Hi to everyone in our class!
louise.a.grauer@gmail.com
Greetings, everyone, and thank you for your responses. I feel lucky to know you all as we navigate the adven tures, misadventures, joys, challenges, and sorrows of celebrating 72 years.
Gail Shearer writes that year two of being largely homebound inspired her to ramp up her vegetable gardening and focus on some writing projects, such as a history of the “aging-in-place village” that keeps both Barbie Wiss and Gail busy. Gail also enjoys traveling to Boise and Denver to visit her daughters’ families and is grateful that her third daughter and family live in Bethesda.
Gay1969(Garth) Legg gaylegg@gmail.com
I’m still in Alexandria, VA, active in local politics, child advocacy efforts, and general good citizenship. If the weather’s cooperative, I’m usually outside gardening, and if not I’m poring over genealogy records. We’ve got three grandkids in New England, ages itty-bitty to 12, and are excited to take the eldest to Switzerland this summer to visit my sister, Debby (Peet) Riplinger ’73.
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Imagine her hosting 17 Swarthmore freshmen in her apartment for the weekend. Ever resourceful and full of
Ann (Hawley) Morgan writes from the headwaters of the Mississippi River that life is busy and good. She’ll be publishing her fifth romance story, continues making Secret Garden soup mixes, helps her son in his market garden, and declares that her grandkids “are a constant source of delight.”
Fran (Griffith) Laserson: After 42 years in my New York apartment, I said goodbye to living in New York City and all my brown furniture and moved to a villa in Vero Beach, FL. And not just any villa, but one across the street from Betsy Crosby! I’m enjoying golf, tennis, and croquet, and waking up to sunshine every day. Loving my new snowbird life.
As for me, I’ve so enjoyed hearing from everyone. I’m healthy, happy, hopeful, and aspiring to age gracefully. In the last year, I’ve taken a floristry fundamentals course from Philippa Craddock, in England, and a won derful wellness course titled PAVING the Path to Wellness, taught by Dr. Beth Frates, who is on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and was elected president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine in 2020. I’m also beginning to travel a bit. In March, I rented a house in Amesbury, MA, and gathered the Boston- and Portland-based members of the family to welcome baby Walker. Next, I’m traveling to Colorado to take care of Tucker, the blind rescue dog belonging to my niece Sommer and her fiancé, Ben. And in a burst of optimism, I committed to visiting Zanzibar and the Serengeti, where I’ll be living in a tent following the wilde beest migration. From there, I’ll toast all who are staying at the Château de Saint Paterne, in Normandy, with Patti (Rossiter) Ravenscroft, founder of Les Liaisons Délicieuses. Patti has arranged this fantastic trip as a belated 70th-birthday celebration.
Sissy1967 (Peet) Walker: I don’t want to miss the chance to remember classmate Martha (Gordon) Santiuste, who passed away in 2021. Mart was friend to many, hilarious carpool buddy, the best baker of Toll House cookies in the world, a brilliant educator, and a self-made woman.
As always, Addie (Bernheim) Firtel is busy, having just finished a yearlong renovation of and addition to a 1926 Spanish bungalow. Addie, Bobby, the dogs, and the birds moved in on April 28. Everyone is comfy and happy. Addie reports that her eldest grandson is in a Sotheby’s internship program in London and granddaughter Riley is in Portugal at a wellness seminar. The youngest grandchildren, Solomon and Rory, are, she says, “just precious.”
(8), and Clara (4). Graci and her husband, Marko Djuranovic, live in Old Greenwich and have two children, Nicky (8) and Maisie (6). Jim is chair of the board of the Bruce Museum and both Cricket and Jim are raising funds to double its size. Cricket is also involved with Greenwich United Way and the Garden Club.
There’s more happy news to report — three wedding celebra tions in 2021, one already in 2022, and another this fall. As I already mentioned, Nancy (Kaufman) Dal va’s son Adam was married in 2021. Marie (Orr) Perlet attended the wedding of Carla (Bauer) Rentrop’s daughter Emmy on the beach at Fire Island last August and sent a picture of the two KPS friends. Martha (O’Neill) Lindeman and husband Tom celebrated son Eric’s wedding to Ashley last fall.
Barbara1968 Wiss barbarawiss@gmail.com
imagination, Nancy ordered 17 L.L. Bean sleeping bags.
Ever the adventurer, Marie (Orr) Perlet writes, “Jerry and I returned to international travel. We enjoyed a nine-day cruise on a Windstar yacht from Lisbon along the Spanish coast, ending with a three-day stay in Barcelona. To celebrate our 50th anniversary, in June, we took our family of 12 to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park.”
been living in California for 10 years. They have, she says, “five wonderful grandkids whom we adore and with whom we spend a lot of time. They keep us young!” In August, the whole family went to Alaska. In addition to the many family activities, Betsy and John attended performances of Hamilton in Los Angeles and The Music Man in New York City. I agree with this statement of Betsy’s: “I can’t believe it’s been so many years since KPS. I really don’t feel that old!” As is often the case, now that we’re 72 or almost 72, we’re beginning to lose loved ones. Betsy, may your mother’s memory be a blessing.
Rick and Laura (Griffith) McDermott say they’re very excited: “Our daughter, Lauren, is getting married this fall in Vermont. It’s a family affair. One of her nephews will officiate and the other four will be bridesmen.”Congratulations to Jim and Cricket (Zoephel) Lockhart, who celebrated their 50th anniversary in June. Cricket says, “It’s unbelievable how time flies!” Cricket and Jim still live in Greenwich and are blessed to have their two children and families living within 15 minutes. J.B. and Virginia live in Riverside with their three children, James (10), Xander
Carla (Bauer) Rentrop, PhD, FIPA, concluded an email in 2021 about our delayed 70th-birthday celebration, saying, “Courage, everyone. Life is a challenge. We soldier on!” Words of wisdom still applicable today.
Nancy (Kaufman) Dalva, the Merce Cunningham Trust Scholar in Residence, responded first with news of her son Adam’s wedding to Alana Salguero on Halloween of 2021 in San Juan Capistrano, CA. One can’t have a conversation with Nancy without being entertained.
On May 7, in Napa Valley, Cathy (Stickney) Steck welcomed Katherine Porter to the family when Katherine (Kat) married Cathy’s son Will. Cathy reports that her daughter Emily served as emcee at the reception and showed the formidable entertainment skills she’s honed while studying and performing in London. Cathy says that as mother of the groom, “I shed tears of joy — and then continued to do so throughout the entire event, as the pollen count was off the charts!” Who besides me remembers Will as a babe in arms at our 25th reunion?
KEEPING PACE CLASS NOTES
Elizabeth (Wilson) Hetman: I’ve had several trips in the past year — Colorado for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and then back again in March for the birth of my first grandson. Next trip was to Ontario for my mother-in-law's 100th birthday and finally our Mabie Babie (COVID delayed) reunion trip to Ireland with Phyllis (Arbesman) Berger, Lianne (Gerhardt) LaVoy, Patty English, Pandora Jacoubs, and Jeanne (Hammond) Daraio.
Kathy (Van Cleve) Kuhns sent us a picture taken in Watch Hill, RI, where her blended family of 11 spends most of the summer. Son Casey is in software sales at Oracle and is applying to business school. Dylan is a lieutenant junior grade in the Naval Air Force stationed in Lemoore, CA. This means he has the rank of a second commissioned officer in the Navy, which is the equivalent to the rank of first lieutenant in the other branches of the Armed Services. Yes, Dylan flies jets. This fall, Kathy and John are traveling to Zanzibar and the Serengeti with a group of friends — including me.
Betsy Graft writes that she and husband John are retired and have
It feels like we’re all finally coming out of a long winter — I had to remind myself that our reunion was Ipre-COVID.haveanother granddaughter and one more due mid-June, which will make four grandgirls. I find them hilariously funny, thanks to FaceTime! My husband, Chris, and I are frequently booked months in advance to go to the Boston area to babysit, which we love doing — one
Harty (Platt) du Pont: I’m chair of the Arts for the Committee for Hon orary Degrees at Columbia University, as well as chair of the 1754 Society for the School of the Arts, also at Colum bia. I’m writing and riding daily, and recently designed the home page for a fashion company. I enjoy seeing Buff and Lynn for dinner.
is in Carlisle and another in Marblehead. My younger daughter, who lives in Greenwich Village, is engaged to a wonderful guy. In other news, to celebrate my big birthday, last September we went on a fabulous trip to Iceland, camping in a rooftop car tent that was terrific. Iceland is so vast that it’s hard to believe, and every turn in the road brings an OMG moment. You see at least five waterfalls a day. I’m still happily in Baltimore and in summer head to my house in Brewster, Cape Cod, if anyone wants to visit. I’m still running, doing floral design and various art projects, and working on a number of large civic projects for my GCA garden club, restoring several park areas in Baltimore. Also working on a photo project celebrating the 200th birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted.
Lucy Weiger and husband Bob traveled to Machu Picchu and the Galápagos in late February and March and found it pretty safe to travel, as the Peru and Ecuador airports required proof of COVID vaccinations to enter. “Now staying home in Sonoma, where as a small
Leigh (Campbell) Saulsbury sent a photo of herself looking pretty much the same! She’s still in Colorado Springs and is happy to connect.
Harty1970
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splashing. Amazingly enough, we hiked a slot canyon and picked strawberries in the area. Jim and I then babysat the four kids for a week while Kirk and Callie went on a business trip to Nashville. The combination of fun outings to parks, football games, and a trampoline park and at-home routines such as cooking, reading books, getting homework done, dinner discussions, and building a wood fence around a flatbed trailer was a wonderful gift that any grandparent would enjoy and cherish. As we did! We had a fun Kent Place alumnae dinner get-together here in Palo Alto with Head of School Jennifer Galambos. Lots of fun!
(Platt) du Pont hartleydupont@aol.com
Marnie (Rath) Carson wrote from the Palo Alto area: I’m sure it’s a surprise to get a response from me (it’s been years), but better late than never! I spent a month in Escondido, CA, in San Diego County, helping my son Kirk and daughter-in-love Callie with my four grandkids: Caleb (8), Connor (6), Corban (4), and Cana (2). I spent a week in Carlsbad near the beach. Even though some days were chilly and windy, it didn’t deter me from the fun of building sand roads and castles and the ocean
We embrace this time as we return to the freedom and joy of seeing one another. I know we all have a deeper appreciation, after the last few years, for what’s important in our lives, as well as a greater understanding of our health. I look forward, as do we all, to our enduring friendships and the memories we all have of Kent Place. We not only had the privilege of a great classical education, but we also made friends for life. Here's to friendship! Love, Harty
Maine in September and that will be a wonderful time to have a big group birthday celebration. Many thanks to class Mainers Kate Debevoise and Judy Chamberlain for making this possible. I’m finding it easier to say no to things I don’t want to do at this age and yes to the things I do want to do. My company, edWeb.net, has grown faster than ever during the pandemic. I’m enjoying the new stage of being a grandma and amazed at how fast grandchildren grow!
Patricia Williams and her wife are exploring travel options now that we’re able to do that. I’m convincing them that Iceland is a perfect destination!
town it feels safe,” she says. “Definitely a trip that required a lot of stamina and getting up early!” From the photo, it definitely looks like Lucy has the stamina!
Lisa Schmucki: It’s hard to believe that the Class of 70 is turning 70! We’re planning a class reunion in
Betzi (Ulrich) Powers: The Class of ’70 turned 70 and I’m now a resident of a “retirement community,” so I’m feeling 70! Taking care of a house is done, and the time can be spent simply relaxing and having fun. Living on a lake, so kayaking daily. Our first grandchild is heading to Bethany College, following his dad and grandma! I’m so looking forward to our reunion in Maine!
Emmy (Perina) Katz: Bruce and I traveled in Nepal for almost three weeks with a group of six other trekkers, three guides, and six porters to Mera Peak, elevation 21,246 feet. We could see many of the highest mountains in the world, Everest included. It was hard to hike to such a high elevation, but there was fantastic beauty all around. Now that we’re home, we have our gardens to prepare for planting.
2022 Kent Place School Athletic Hall of Fame INDUCTION CEREMONY Saturday, October 15, 2022 SAVE THE DATE!
Lisa Schmucki lisaschmucki@gmail.com
JANUARY2023 Green and Gold on the Road: Florida
23–27:
JUNE 8: NYC Rooftop
Gathering
62 KENT PLACE FALL 2022 KEEPING PACE CLASS NOTES KENT PLACE FOR LIFE ConnectionAlumnae Events Join Kent Place School Leadership and inspiring alumnae a gathering or program. SEPTEMBER2022 28: Green and Gold on the Road: Greenwich, CT SEPTEMBER 30: Current Parents Who are Alumnae Coffee OCTOBER 15: Athletic Hall of Fame Tailgate and Ceremony OCTOBER 19–21: Green and Gold on the Road: Washington, D.C. NOVEMBER 15: Green and Gold on the Road: Salt Lake City DECEMBER 8: NYC Gathering DECEMBER 14: STAR Reception 1. VirginiaLONDON(Reiner) Vanderbilt ’41 with Chief Advancement Officer Coral Butler Brooks 2. HOBE SOUND, FLORIDA Sarah Ward ’77, Pam (Pearce) Williams ’77, Nancy Van Duyne ’76, Mary (Lester) McCormack ’58, Lili (White) Durling ’72, Head of School Dr. Jennifer Galambos, and Chief Advancement Officer Coral Butler Brooks 3. PamMIAMI(Bradley) Egloff ’66, Nancy Van Duyne ’76, Head of School Dr. Jennifer Galambos, and Joan Mischo ’61 4. VERO BEACH, FLORIDA Chief Advancement Officer Coral Butler Brooks, Leslie and Jim Carson P ’87 ’91, Betsy (Busch) ’66 and John Crosby P ’93, Head of School Dr. Jennifer Galambos, Nancy Van Duyne ’76, Fran (Griffith) Lasserson ‘66, Pam Barefoot P ’90, Joan (Swenson) McIlwain ’48, former faculty member Kathy Faber, and Brian Barefoot P ’90 5. SAN FRANCISCO Katie (Feder) Lennon ’00, Head of School Dr. Jennifer Galambos, Tracy Chung ’04, Chief Advancement Officer Coral Butler Brooks, Natalie Kwan ’14, Nicole Elliott ’95, Anne (Heller) Morrissey ’86, and Melissa Heller ’91 6. PALO ALTO Chief Advancement Officer Coral Butler Brooks, Lori (Arthur) Stroud ’75, Marnie (Rath) Carson ’69, Head of School Dr. Jennifer Galambos, Deborah Plumley ’56, and Susan (Cleary) Garratt ’55 7. HeadPASADENAofSchool Dr. Jennifer Galambos, Beverlee Bickmore ’59, Jim Kelly, and Chief Advancement Officer Coral Butler Brooks 8. NEW YORK CITY Dr. Galambos enjoys lunch with Emeritus Trustee and alumna Emily Meschter ’60 1. 2. PACE For more information on these and other upcoming events, please visit www.kentplace.org/alumnae, or contact Lainey Segear, Senior Director of Community Engagement, at segearl@kentplace.org or (908) 273-0900, ext. 335. *Dates and locations are subject to change
MARCH 6: Alumnae Visiting Day
MARCH 13–17: Green and Gold on the Road: California 30: Alumnae on the Rise Virtual Panel
Weekend
APRIL 11: Green and Gold on the Road: Chicago, IL 28 AND 29: Alumnae
APRIL
MARCH
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Lili asked that I, Josie (Debevoise) Davies, tell everyone a little bit about our 50th Reunion weekend. Here goes: We celebrated with the Classes of ’71 and ’70, as their re union celebrations were postponed because of COVID. We had a won derful time at a dinner hosted by Head of School Jennifer Galambos at her home on Friday evening. Our class attendees were, in addition to me, Jeni (Smith) Mathisen, Julie (Jacobson) Bobrow, Marlene Kurz, and Katrina Azoy. We had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs.
lilidurling@gmail.com
Deborah1971 Besch
Lesley Norman: After two pandemic years in the city, I recently relocated to Raleigh, NC — family and friends here — and happily, I brought my job with me, so still working full time for WNET and I’ll be in New York City whenever necessary. And I’m seeing Stacy (Rogers) Golding next week. These high school ties run deep.
Lili1972(White) Durling
Cathy (Walbridge) Allen: Bob and I still live in Saratoga Springs, NY, where my two daughters, two stepdaughters, their families, and our grandchildren also live. We spend part of the winter in Ft. Myers. Our time is filled with family, friends, sports, sailing, and volunteering. Nothing exciting, but we’re content (most of the time). Feel free to visit us.
Barbara (Weiger) Lepke-Sims: My husband, Mike, and I went to Israel for three weeks in March. This summer, I attended all of the harp events that had been delayed because of COVID. I gave a presentation in June at the AHS National Conference, attended as a board member the USA International Harp Competition at Indiana University in July, and attended the World Harp Congress at the end of July and early August in Wales. I also just updated my professional picture for probably the last time in my career. I enjoy life as a grandmother of three and a therapeutic musician and coordinator at various Denver hospitals.
Patti1975Neale-Schulz
are the parents of five. They lost their son Jack in February 2022, and we extend condolences to Katie and her family.
pattischulz1919@gmail.com
travels both internationally and across the United States. Both kids are in Denver (Maria’s working for Amgen and Charles for Newmont Mining). Biggest joy is our little grandson, William (born August 2020 to Maria and her husband, Bryan). As you can imagine, we visit every chance we get!
Sarah McFarland Taylor: I’m coed itor of two books for Routledge Press. Selling the Sacred: From CrossFit to QAnon deals with the cultic aspects of marketing and consumerism. The oth er book is Religion and Outer Space
At the International Conference on Religion and Film, at the University
Clara1983 A. Porter claraportermaine@gmail.com
Julie (Jacobson) Bobrow is a custom er-service specialist with the Neiman Marcus Group and has no intention of slowing down. Julie and husband Warren (also in attendance) are a perfect team. As for Marlene Kurz, if ever there was a person who doesn’t change, it’s she. Still like an energizer bunny, Marlene is vice president of AK Stamping, in Mountainside.
debvettx@gmail.com
Cathy1974 Slichter cathy.slichter@gmail.com
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Kathryn1981 (McDaniel) Nenning kathryn@nenning.com
Kent Place heard from Katie (Fe ketie) Freeman, who has lived in Vero Beach for five years and is a managing director at Wilmington Trust. She’s a member and resident of John’s Island and serves on several local boards. She and husband Bill
Karen1985 Little rucr8tive@aol.com
That evening, Julie and Marlene hosted a super-fun dinner at Piatti no’s, in Summit. Joan Gralla came by train from New York City and she’s amazing — still working for Reuters and it doesn’t seem as if she has any plans to give that up. Liz (Wolcott) Dormer came with her husband, Dennis. Liz, now retired, is as lovely and kind and nice as we all remem ber her being 50 years ago. Jeni (Smith) Mathisen and Harold came with Katrina Azoy. After decades of commuting in and out of New York City, Katrina is now retired and
Lisa1973Krieger
Patricia1978 (Friedman) Marcus balibliss@yahoo.com
KEEPING PACE CLASS NOTES
: I moved to a little town next to Point Reyes National Seashore in Northern California, and am loving the slower and more rural lifestyle, as well as a stronger sense of community and easy access to wilderness. It’s been great to work remotely (thank you, COVID) and I’m only an hour’s drive from daughter Laura in San Francisco. Anyone else thinking about a KPS visit for the 50th?
Patsy (Stuhler) Crawford: My older daughter, Dylan, is a landscape architect with Land Morphology, in Seattle, and my younger daughter, Dana, is pursuing art-related jobs in Philadelphia. She really enjoys collage animation and her website is danacol lages.com. My husband, Stuart, is still enjoying architecture. He designed the Police Memorial in Battery Park City 30 years ago and is now involved in renovating it to include all of the names of people lost from exposure during the cleanup after 9/11. I’ve been listening to the feminist podcast by Kara Loewentheil and am finding it really helpful in getting my confi dence back to paint again. If anyone visits Denver, please let me know; I’d love to see you.
Our condolences to Pam Kapsimalis, whose father, Dr. Peter Kapsimalis, passed away on March, 28, 2022. Our thoughts are with her and her family.
Cathy (Ambrose) Smith: Retirement is good! I’m still working with mosaics and we plan to resume our
On Saturday, following the Alumnae Brunch, there was a ceremony acknowledging 50 years of strength, courage, and perseverance of Black alumnae. Karen Rowe was the first Black student to graduate from KPS, and I felt so proud to have been in her class and then to be able to honor her 50 years later.
1979
Vikki (Pollock) Underwood: Chris and I have been married for 29 years and have one son, Ryan, who is 23. Ryan has his master’s degree in divinity and is a minister and high school English teacher. We live near the beach in Georgia and I’m retired. I visited Carol Cronheim in New Jersey a few years ago, which was so much fun. I met up with Diana (Lynch) Hick ey in Savannah, also a few years ago, and we had a great reunion. I miss Kent Place and loved watching The STAR online last December.
As for me, I'm retired and Ralph and I have moved to Harpswell, ME, and love it. I live 15 minutes from Nan Hauser. Don’t get me started . . .
Tracey1982 (San Filippo) Henick tahenick@aol.com
Jennifer1984 Thomas meezertee@gmail.com
living in Chatham. Jeni, also retired and also living in Chatham, is a busy grandmother. Jeni and Katrina get to see a lot of each other and they’re both awesome. Anna (Wei) Kronthal was also able to attend. She is wonderful and looks exactly the same, only now with short hair. She lives in Greenwich and works in sales for a solar panel company.
Paige1986 (Seely) Longstreth: I wish I had made it in April! My health has been a challenge for the past six years with cancer but I’m surrounded by a caring, generous community, which includes Kathy Faber and Gail Jacobus I celebrated 30 years at Perkiomen School in 2021. I love the limited teaching schedule they crafted with me when I became ill and disabled. I have a wonderful family who willingly shoulder caretaking roles and a smart, dedicated service dog. Best wishes to everyone, especially Yolanda Wade. I’m remembering the snow-day sleepover at my house.
Peggy Plympton is still as hilarious as she was when we were at KPS, and despite an incredible physical challenge (broken leg the result of a biking accident) has continued her work as a principal at AGB Search.
Anne Bentley: Holly Mackay, Clarissa Wilmerding, and I recently met up in Cape May, NJ, to catch up after time apart because of the pandemic. We celebrated more than 50 years of friendship. I have photos of me, Holly, and Chizzy going back to my fourth-birthday party!
Sara Boyce: Greetings from Costa Rica! My fiancé and I (yup, we’re getting married, both of us for the first time. No time like the present for a 51- and a 61-year-old) are down in Nosara for the winter as we plan (fingers crossed) to build a house in Costa Rica. It’s pretty awesome down here. Kind of an upscale modern-day hippie vibe: vacation homes, working from afar, yoga, Full Moon Cacao Ceremonies, hot weather, beaches, and buzzing around on the dirt roads. (Current mode of transportation is by tuk-tuk. And yes, we get hailed as a taxi most days.) Gina Cramp is here, and in the last three years, pretty much every time we’ve come down, she and husband Ron are the first people we visit.
Jennifer Dorsey: Last spring, I was on sabbatical from teaching at Siena College, where I’m a professor of history. I used my free time to finish
Ginny1987 (Boyer) Losito glosito@me.com Marcy (Meenan) Dean: Hal and I still live in Chatham, NJ, and are empty-nesters with both of our boys at Lehigh University. Jack will be graduating from a master’s program in May and Nate is a rising senior. I returned to the office in March after two years of working from home. Although I’m enjoying getting out of my yoga pants, I’m certain the novelty will wear off quickly and the grind of commuting to and from the city will hit me like a brick. I still work at CIT, which is now a division of First Citizens Bank. I was recently promoted to the position of chief credit officer of commercial finance. I’m learning a lot and blessed to be working with great people.
Emily (Barton) Hopkins: In 2018, I was hired as a creative writing professor at Oberlin College. We moved to Ohio that summer and bought a house the next summer. My husband, Tom, is also teaching in the program. In 2021, I was promoted to tenure and became chair of the Creative Writing Program. (But thanks to the pandemic — and being trapped in the house for seemingly 40 years with two kids in Zoom school while we were also teaching Zoom school — we haven’t yet painted or hung anything up on the walls.) I’ve got my fingers crossed for this summer! I’m proud of the work we’re doing here to build a vibrant, community-minded, inclusive writing program. I’d encourage any Kent Place women with high school–
aged children interested in writing to consider bringing them here for a look around; and if any current Kent Place women are looking for such a program, please visit. If anyone is coming through town, please let me know! My sons are getting big: Tobias is now 14 and Emmett is 8½. This week, Tobias (aka “Trombone Toby”) won the Director’s Choice award for his middle school band — it's given to the musician and community member of the year. He works really hard on his music and for the band, and I think this is perhaps the first time he’s seen that kind of dedication pay off in an unexpected way; we’re all delighted for him. Emmett joined his school's junior jump rope club last spring and loved it; he’s starting to learn some neat tricks. In other news, like everyone else, we adopted a pandemic puppy in the summer of 2020. Ponyo is now 2 years old, sweet as can be, and very popular with college students happening past our yard. I hope everyone is well!
Daisies
Sloane Castleman(Albright)’88 DID YOU KNOW?
Today, the daisies that make up the Daisy Chain are purchased from a florist and assembled by junior class parents, but in years past, it was a tradition for the junior class to take a bus to a field and pick the flowers by hand. What remains the same is that 11th-graders form two lines holding daisy chains, symbolically guiding their older schoolmates as they process through the chain at Commencement.
Melissa1988 (McCarthy) Madden melissamccarthy@me.com Anne Savage: I’m still in Washington, D.C., after landing here post-college. I’m a real estate agent
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 65
and good enough at it to survive. I live in a house in Georgetown and my business partner lives in the attic. It’s not exactly a Jane Eyre situation, but not far from it.
up an overdue book project and then began a new research project. I’m also traveling! George and I went to California in January. I then partici pated in the New Orleans Mardi Gras shenanigans with a girlfriend. Went on a hiking trip in the Azores (sorry I missed the reunion). Now, I’m prepar ing for a study tour of Dakar, Senegal. In between travel I serve as a supply priest at two Episcopal parishes in the Albany region. My “adult children” (gulp!) are happy and healthy.
We built a house on Nantucket during COVID and I earned certification in two different breathwork modalities. I have an event-planning business on Nantucket, which is fun — it’s exciting to bring people together; and I’m also excited to work with clients as a conscious connection coach. I teach breathwork
Sara Boyce ’88 and Gina (Cramp) Zapata-Miks ’88
of Amsterdam, I analyzed Netflix’s climate-inaction satire, Don’t Look Up. My article arguing against Mars colonization and for the redirection of these resources to our own planet is forthcoming in the Journal of Religion, Media, and Digital Culture
Amy Allen: Over the past two years, as a side to my editing and writing business, I’ve been crafting quality poems with the hope of publication. I’m thrilled to report that I just had my fifth poem published in a literary journal, a process that’s been daunting at times but ultimately incredibly validating. My family and I have recently relocated to Shelburne, VT. Please get in touch if you’re ever in the Burlington area!
The podcast makes the case for books outside of your usual genre, and you can wander the aisles of your local bookstore with my dad and me to meet fascinating characters who will open your appetite for new categories.
KEEPING PACE CLASS NOTES
I consider Kent Place a big part of my identity and my heart. It made me who I am. I wouldn’t be doing a podcast about books without learning from former Kent Place faculty Edie Scher and Jane Cole. I wouldn’t have had the courage to put myself out there without the influence of Bob Pridham and James Culver. Thank you.
Bayne Gibby: I still live in Los Angeles, making a living as an actor and writer. Keep an eye out for me on your television. I tend to pop up when you least expect it!
all about writers and books; the lion’s share of time is spent interviewing authors, but we’ll also talk to booksellers and trendsetters about all things books (how does an audio book get made and who makes it? What is fan fic and why is it so huge?).
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Rachel1996 Platt racheldplatt@gmail.com
Amy (Zucker) Kohen amykohen@gmail.com
The Book Case, a weekly podcast from ABC Audio, launched May 2. I host with my father, Charlie Gibson, who is a former host of Good Morning America — and the husband of Arlene Gibson, Kent Place Head of School from 1987 to 1996. The podcast is
Courtney1993 (Mead) Nagle courtney.a.mead@gmail.com
Kate Gibson ’94 and her father, Charlie Gibson, host the podcast The Book Case.
Maren1990 (Eisenstat) Vitali mevitali@comcast.net
Christina1994 (Dughi) Tonzola ctonzola@gmail.com
Andrea1991 (Carson) Tanner acarsontanner@gmail.com
old son, had his First Communion. It was an exciting day for our family!
And special congratulations to Kelly (Mead) Leach for winning the Barbara Wight Biddison ’30 Distinguished Alumna Award, for all the work she’s done and the money she’s raised for research in rare cancers.
KC1998(Anthony) Artemenko kcartemenko@gmail.com
Wander the Book Aisles with Me
Nicole (Vane) Oehler: I just started a job in development at the nonprofit Self Help Africa and love it. My son is a high school sophomore. My daughter just finished her first year at Muhlenberg College. I don’t love living in Bergen County, but after five years, it’s feeling more like home.
Emily (Flynn) Lipnick: After seeing Beth Oliva ’97 post something on Facebook about the importance of singing our own praises, I decided to drop a note. I’m in Morristown and love running into alumnae around town, at the pool, or in the stands at our kids’ sports events. In December, I was named Governor’s Educator of the Year at Ridge High School, where I’ve been teaching for 16 years. Having my efforts both inside and outside of the classroom recognized was an honor. The Girl Scouts also gave me an award, for Volunteer of Excellence, this year. Overall, despite all the rocky patches, it’s been a good year and I consider myself very lucky.
Vanessa1989 E. King squamlake@gmail.com
—KATE GIBSON ’94
Hello, Class of 1993! I hope everyone is doing well! I had the pleasure of crashing the recent reunion to watch my sister, Kelly (Mead) Leach ’90, receive the Barbara Wight Biddison ’30 Distinguished Alumna Award not only for being a rock star cancer survivor, but also for her efforts in raising almost $2M (maybe more than $2M by the time this is published) for cancer research as part of Cycle for Survival and her team, Pedaling Sunshine. I’m a proud sister! Cherie Alcoff: Life is good here in New York City but hectic between work and family life. I started my 17th year at Avenue Capital, a private credit fund, and Gregory, my 8-year-
Although the circumstance for the delay of our reunion was awful, it enabled the Classes of ’90 and ’91 to come together this year at Marco Polo for a festive evening of gab, gossip, and memories. I’m pleased to tell you that both the restaurant and the women of these two classes look exactly the same! It was a fun night catching up with familiar faces, dear classmates, and new friends.
Maren (Eisenstat) Vitali: I continue to work as the library media specialist at an intermediate school in Bridgewater, NJ. My older son, Aidan, just finished his first year
You can find The Book Case on ABC Audio, Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, and anywhere else you find podcasts. I hope the Kent Place community will enjoy them, and I send my best to my home away from home.
at Gettysburg College, declaring biology as his major, and my younger son, Kelan, finished his freshman year playing on the varsity tennis team. I hope you’re all well and I look forward to seeing you in the near future!
Kerry Lee: I moved from San Francisco to Incline Village (on the north side of Lake Tahoe) in January 2021, and spent the recent winter season working as a child ski instructor at Diamond Peak. It was a fun job and I relished working outdoors. The 3–6-year-olds kept me on my toes! KPS sisters, please come out to Tahoe and visit us!
on Zoom, both group and individual appointments, and use guided hypnosis and regressions to help clients get deep and re-pattern behaviors.
cara.manket@gmail.com
Sara Pickett-Tucker saralizpickett@gmail.com
JessicaBirths West ’01
Dana Holland: I’m excited to announce that I’m transitioning from my career as a stenographer and advocate for the deaf and hard of
Collins2013
to Michael Favazza
Christine2000 Ryan ceryan@gmail.com
Nida2007Abdulla
Sara Santos sarajosantos@gmail.com
lkkleinbaum@gmail.com
Taylor (Worthington) Williams: My husband, Tyler, and I welcomed our second daughter, Palmer Elizabeth Williams, in December; she joins big sister Emerson. We live in New Jersey, and I’m very excited to be part of the Kent Place Alumnae Board this year.
CLASS NOTES DETAILS
Kimberly2001 (Frye) Alula kfrye05@gmail.com
Katie (Cummins) Dooley: My hus band, Will, and I welcomed our son, Edward Thomas (known as Teddy), this past September 15 in London. In early spring 2022, we moved back to the States and are settling into life in Hobo ken. Teddy has been lucky enough to meet several KPS alumnae already!
Lizzy2011 Miggins lizzymiggins@gmail.com Malina Welman malinawelman@gmail.com
Deanna2018 Hanchuk dchanchuk@gmail.com
Caitlin Black cblack@fandm.edu
Kate (Kendall) Green ’05 a daughter, Wren Green May 7, 2022
nida.11.abdulla@gmail.com
a daughter, Nora Jordan Webb
Sara2010Firkser
KatieMarriagesWoodall
Allison2008 Oberlander oberlander.allison@gmail.com
Nadja Yacker: I graduated from Berkeley Haas with an MBA in spring 2021 and have been working at Salesforce doing corporate devel opment and M&A integration. This spring, after a decade in the San Fran cisco Bay area, my husband (Connor Graham) and I moved to Boston. We’re excited to explore a new city and to spend more time with our East Coast friends and family.
Caroline2014 Lewis caroline.lewis915@gmail.com Isabella Smith Isabella.smith411@gmail.com
Katie (Cummins) Dooley ’09 a son, Edward "Teddy" Thomas Dooley September 15, 2021
• Editorial staff will edit, format, and select all content based on space constraints and will work to incorporate as many notes and photos as possible.
Sarah2015 Pavlak scp61@georgetown.edu
Katie Woodall: I got married in an inti mate ceremony in Gloucester, MA, on a gorgeous day in September. I started a new job at Lowell General as a CNM hospitalist and am loving it.
September 4, 2021
Cynthia Keenan cindy.keenan@gmail.com
ginaferraioli@gmail.com
Cara2005Manket
Allison Goldberg afg813@gmail.com
Allison Goldberg: I’m still living in Spain after five and a half years and loving it. I got to catch up with some alumnae in Texas when traveling this spring.
Erin2002Sauchelli e.sauchelli@gmail.com
Kiera McBride: After spending the entire ty of my life in New Jersey, at the end of March 2022 I moved to San Francisco, and am enjoying the challenge of put ting down roots in a new city.
• Notes will be collected via Google Form. You will receive a link to this form from your Class Secretary or, if your class doesn’t have a secretary, directly from the school.
Laura2004Kleinbaum
Juliette Norrmén-Smith: I’m living between Paris and New York City as a consultant on digital tech nology in education at UNESCO headquarters in the division of education policy. I’m involved in multiple research projects, with the University of Oxford, that explore hybrid learning, digital humanities, and student perceptions of expul sion and suspension.
October 15, 2021
Rachel Landau rachelroselandau@gmail.com
Courtney2009 (Alpaugh) Simmons courtney.simmons513@gmail.com
Iris1999Blasi
Taylor (Worthington) Williams ’07 a daughter, Palmer Elizabeth Williams December 16, 2021
(973) 379-5347
Julia2017McKay mckayjj11@gmail.com
Gina2003Ferraioli
We were very sad to learn that Gina (Montrone) McCarthy passed away in Stoneham, MA, surrounded by her loving family, on April 17, 2022. Gina was a senior registered associate with the Walden Pond Group at Morgan Stanley in Boston. On August 16, 2021, she married her longtime love, Keith Gerard McCarthy. Our condolences and thoughts are with Gina’s family and friends.
Kate (Kendall) Green: My husband, Dylan, and I, along with her siblings, Cooper and Nell, welcomed baby girl Wren Green to our crew on May 7, 2022, in San Francisco. Everyone is happy and healthy.
Victoria2012 Criscione victoriaacriscione@gmail.com
• Digital photos should be a high-resolution JPEG image (1M or larger) with a caption. We request that photos include alumnae (with the exception of newborn photos).
Nicole Coscolluela: I’ve started my beekeeping adventure with my first hive! If all goes well, I should have my first honey harvest next year.
Hilton: I currently teach theater in New York while working for my MSEd at Penn’s Graduate School of Education. I think about Mr. Pridham every day and have used monologues from Maggie with my middle school students.
Claire2016 Eckles cmeckles7@gmail.com Bailey Mikytuck bmikytuc@skidmore.edu
Lydia Deutsch lydia.deutsch@gmail.com
hearing community into the nonprofit world. For many years, I’ve worked across Essex, Union, and Middlesex Counties supporting initiatives that promote our social well-being through music appreciation. Now I’m doing so in earnest. In addition, I’m looking forward to becoming the roller skating DJ/producer I was always meant to be!
’08
Danielle2006 Auriemma dvauriemma@gmail.com
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 67
iris.blasi@gmail.com
Jessica West: My husband, Peter Webb, and I (along with our daughter Abigail) welcomed our second daughter, Nora, in October 2021 in Raleigh, NC.
68 KENT PLACE FALL 2022 KEEPING PACE CLASS NOTES 8. 7. 6. 5. 4.3. 2.1.1.MOMENTSThefivegrandchildren of Liddy (Morrison) Baker ’59 — all sailors, too 2. Jane (Kolarsey) Kusterer ’65 and family enjoying the North Carolina coast 3. 1966 classmates Fran (Griffith) Laserson and Betsy (Busch) Crosby P ’93 in Vero Beach 4. Lisa (Wilson) Hetman ’67 with grandson Odin Cash Wilson 5. Kathy (Van Cleve) Kuhns ’68 and sons Dylan and Casey in Watch Hill, RI 6. 1968 classmates Marie (Orr) Perlet and Carla (Bauer) Rentrop on Fire Island at the wedding of Carla’s daughter 7. Patti (Rossiter) Ravenscroft ’68 at Château de Saint Paterne, Normandy, France 8. Betsey Graft ’68 and family 9. Marie (Orr) Perlet ’68 on the Skywalk of Gibraltar 10. Gay (Garth) Legg ’69 with a niece, two granddaughters, and husband Chris 11. Marnie (Rath) Carson ’69 picking strawberries with grandchildren in Carlsbad, CA 12. Leigh (Campbell) Saulsbury ’69 13. Lucy Weiger ’69 and husband Bob at Machu Picchu 14. Betzi (Ulrich) Powers ’70 and John kayaking in St. Kitts 15. Emmy (Perina) Katz ’70 and Bruce on the summit of Nepal’s Mera Peak with Everest in the background 16. New professional photo of Barb (Weiger) Lepke-Sims daughter19.(Jacobsen)Durling,(Debevoise)18.andDurling,17.www.sacredspaceharp.com’71;1972classmatesLili(White)Peggy(Hiscano)McDermott,Josie(Debevoise)Davies1972classmatesJosieDavies,Lili(White)Jeni(Smith)Mathison,JulieBobrow,andSusanHoytLisaKrieger’73andLaura
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 69 19. 18.17. 16.15. 14. 13.12. 11. 10. 9.
70 KENT PLACE FALL 2022 KEEPING PACE CLASS NOTES 8.27. 26. 28. 25. 24. 23. 22. 21.20. Cathy (Ambrose) Smith ’75 at Christmas with family in Lake Tahoe 21. Recent painting by Patsy (Stuhler) Crawford ’75 22. Claire Davis ’75 with niece Josephine Claire Davis-Allen after Josephine’s pinning ceremony for her bachelor’s degree in nursing 23. Paige (Seely) Longstreth ’86 with service dog Dex 24. Marcy (Meenan) Dean ’87 and family during Easter 2022 25. Jenn Dorsey ’87 and George at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in November 2021 26 & 27. Emmett and Tobias, sons of Emily (Barton) Hopkins ’87 28. Cherie Alcoff ’93 with son Gregory at his First Communion, along with his godparents, Cherie’s brother and sister-in-law 29. Softball teammates Dabney, Fionna ’30, and Molly ’30, daughters of KC (Anthony) Artemenko ’98, Hallee (Branin) Dangler ’96 P ’26 ’28 ’30, and Maria (Fekete) Brugg ’98 P ’28 ’30, respectively 30. Nora (6 months) and Abigail (3½ years), daughters of Jessica West ’01 31. Nadja Yacker ’07 and her husband, Connor Graham, at her Berkeley Haas graduation in May 2021 32. Taylor (Worthington) Williams ’07, husband Tyler, and daughters Emerson and Palmer 33. Katie Woodall ’08, surrounded by love, with her new husband and her parents, along with siblings Mary ’18 and Annie ’23, and James 34. 2009 classmates Andrea Ruda, Caroline O’Neil, and Allison Goldberg in Austin 35. Teddy Dooley, son of Katie (Cummins) Dooley ’09 36. Susan Morgan '73 visited classmate Francine Lynch in Bridgehampton 20.
KENT PLACE FALL 2022 71 36. 35. 34. 33.32. 31. 30. 29.
What challenges did you face? When I began in government, there were no written sexual harassment policies. Women were definitely in the minority in the State House in Trenton and in Congress. As a young woman, I wasn’t always taken seriously, and progress in this area is still too slow.
72 KENT PLACE FALL 2022 WITH WISDOM PHOTOGRAPH: PETER CHOLLICK
How did you choose your career path? I didn’t really choose it; it chose me. Thanks to Kent Place faculty member Mr. Appleton, at Princeton I majored in Latin and Ancient Greek. After graduation, I had an offer to teach Latin at the Peck School, but in the same week I received an offer from New Jersey Governor Kean’s Office of Constituent Relations. I figured I’d do that for a year and then teach. I wound up staying in government and politics, and still serve on state and county boards.
What’s been the most fulfilling part of your career? Working with our arts and history communities to create vibrant downtowns, bring tourists to the state, and improve education for our students — it’s all been an honor. The creativity of our nonprofit sector and the professionalism I’ve seen in state government always impress me, no matter the hurdles that must be overcome. For example, New Jersey didn’t lose a single theater during the pandemic, and that didn’t happen by accident: It took hard work by advocates, government, and nonprofit leaders.
What achievement are you most proud of? Working 24/7 to help elect the first — and still only — woman governor of New Jersey. I started on Christie Whitman’s primary campaign as an intern in grad school and rolled over into paid staff for the general election. All along the way, the “experts” told me I was putting my money on the wrong horse. They were wrong, and I spent the next eight years in various positions in the Whitman administra tion, including speech writer, acting secretary of state, and deputy chief of policy and planning.
15 MINUTES WITH CAROL CRONHEIM ’82
Carol Cronheim ’82 enjoyed a long career in government, including four years as Assistant Secretary of State, focusing on the social and economic benefits of the arts and history to improving the quality of life for the people of New Jersey. Carol is now advisor to the Graduate Interclub Council at Princeton University. She earned her BA in the classics from Princeton, her MA in politics from Rutgers, and a PhD in planning and public policy, also from Rutgers.
What advice would you give today’s students? I’d say to be more thoughtful about what you want to do with your future, take more risks, and be more adventurous. A speaker at our KPS graduation said, “At eighteen, about a quarter of your life has already passed. How do you want to spend the rest of it?” That stuck with me.
What are three items you can’t live without? A cup of hot tea, my family, and the Jersey Shore.
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Please consider a gift to the Kent Place Fund today!
Make a gift online at www.kentplace.org/give, or contact Anna Fisher, Director of Annual Giving, at fishera@kentplace.org, or (908) 273-0900, ext. 227.
42 NORWOOD AVENUE SUMMIT, NJ WWW.KENTPLACE.ORG07901 NONPROFIT NEWPAIDU.S.POSTAGEORG.BRUNSWICK,NJPERMITNO.1 Kent Place School “ THESE PUPPIES WILL GROW UP TO BECOME DOGS THAT WILL CHANGE SOMEONE’S LIFE. I’M A SMALL PART OF THAT PROCESS, AND IT’S SO REWARDING.” —JULIA MESSERMAN ’24, A VOLUNTEER WITH THE SEEING EYE PUPPY-RAISING PROGRAM 42 NORWOOD AVENUE SUMMIT, NJ PleaseKENTPLACE.ORG07901forwardany address changes to the Kent Place School Advancement updateinfo@kentplace.orgOffice Julia is one of many students who volunteer outside of school hours. To read their stories, visit page 32.