Landon School is committed to the ethical, intellectual, and personal development of boys. We challenge and inspire them to think deeply, individually, and broadly; to live with respect and honor; and to grow into healthy, well-rounded men of integrity and character who seek to make a positive difference in the world around them.
Sorting Day welcomes New-toLandon students and faculty to their respective Bear Teams, with Upper School students taking the lead on greeting new teammates with spirited cheers. The Bruins Bear Team went on to win the Bear Games in May.
Hector Knox ’25, Joe Papalia ’26, Thavi Ponnamperuma ’25, and Makana Neverosky ’26 cross Miniter Quad on their way to sports. All four students lead campus tours as Bear Ambassadors.
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4 22 66 Brooke and Rosemary Seawell STEM Center Renew the Den 10 SECTIONS
Alumni in Medicine
School News On Campus
Class of 2024 Faculty, Staff, and Board
Athletics
Arts
Alumni News
Class Notes
In Memoriam
From the Head of School
Dear Landon Community,
As we reflect on the past school year in this edition of the Landon Magazine, I am sharing with you an excerpt from my Commencement remarks. I hope these reflections, developed in conjunction with parents of the Class of 2024, might resonate as we think about the lasting benefits of a Landon education.
“I may be the first Landon Head of School to have the honor of also being a parent of a graduating senior. I decided to play off of my role as a parent today and invite all of the Senior parents to contribute to this speech with words of collective, loving guidance.”
I asked your parents to share what they want to say to you at this moment of transition in your lives – just before you leave the Landon Den. I received a beautiful series of reflections. But because I can’t read all of them, and in a nod to the good side of technology, I fed them through Microsoft Copilot and distilled them down into a few basic themes:
• Be kind and helpful to others.
• Follow your passions and interests.
• Learn from your mistakes and failures.
• Be honest and courageous.
• Stay connected to your Landon family.
These are valuable pieces of advice, and notably consistent with what you have been hearing at Landon for years.
But there’s a big difference between what I read in your parents’ words and what AI told me they were saying. For there is nothing in the AI-generated summary that reflects the deep hope, love, and yes –worry – that I read in your parents’ words. While AI said, “Be kind and helpful,” your parents said, “Go
and be a blessing to others,” and “Remember how many people care about you. Reach out to them when times get tough.”
Nor could AI represent the sincere yearning they expressed for you to thrive – the beauty and feeling that were so potent in your parents’ words. While AI said flatly, “Follow your passions and be courageous,” your parents used a lot of exclamation marks and said things like, “Every person has a unique melody to them. Find yours and share it with the world,” and, “Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.”
Lastly, AI did not capture the good-natured humor or associated underlying messages in pithy parental advice like, “Drink more water” (i.e., “Take care of yourself”), or, “Never use public Wi-Fi without a VPN” (i.e., “Be careful”), or, finally, “Submit your assignments on time! I’m sorry for getting this in after the deadline” (i.e., “Don’t take yourself too seriously”).
My point here is that, as you go forward into a world that is
admittedly topsy turvy in many ways, may you not forget the importance of very human things, like relationships and expression of feeling, things like humor or irony or decency, the need for ethical character to undergird your actions especially in tough times, the need for forgiveness and grace, the need for real intelligence and not artificial intelligence.
You are good young men. You have so many gifts, and you have enjoyed tremendous privileges. Now go out and do great things. Make the world and those around you better. Then, come back and tell us about it, confirming that our unshakable belief in you was well placed.
In closing, allow me to share one final comment from a parent:
“Stand up straight, have a firm handshake, say thank you, and call your parents.”
Sincerely,
Jim Neill Head of School
RENEW THE DEN
This was the senior class motto for the 2023-24 school year, a phrase inspired by the renewal of our 75-acre campus. We hope you enjoy this photographic tour of our new academic core and how our students are thriving in the new and reimagined spaces.
The Forcione Sitting Steps, located at the heart of the Boehly Upper School, function as a gathering space for form meetings, robotics competitions, and musical performances. As students arrive at school, the Sitting Steps have become the place to greet friends and prepare for the day’s classes.
The design of the Boehly Upper School lends itself to organic Teacher-CoachMentor moments, whether it’s a check in with Bill Zaiser (pictured above) or benefiting from the wisdom of Steve Sorkin (pictured right).
The Shue Family Commons on the first floor of the Boehly Upper School, and the Gardner Commons on the second floor, invite students to engage in conversation and study together in a relaxed setting.
The new Boehly Upper School and the renovated Banfield Academic Center feature bright, light-filled classrooms, collaboration spaces, and offices.
The JVL Ellicott Middle School Library in the Banfield Academic Center is designed with preteen boys in mind, outfitted with bean bag chairs for casual reading and tables and chairs for book clubs and study sessions.
One of the perks of moving into the Freeman Family Lower School for our youngest Bears is the Pickle Library, which features aisles of exciting titles, lounge chairs, and the best view out onto Miniter Quad. The entire Freeman Family Lower School building underwent major renovations this past summer, including a new entrance onto Miniter Quad.
The Boehly Upper School, the Banfield Academic Center, and the Freeman Family Lower School bring together Landon’s academic core, sparking meaningful interactions among Bears of all ages as they develop connections that last for life.
One of the most exciting examples of Renewal at Landon is the Brooke and Rosemary Seawell STEM Center, located in the Boehly Upper School.
Home to our Upper School science courses, the Seawell STEM Center is designed to be adaptive as methods for studying science, technology, engineering, and math evolve. “How do we build a STEM center that can be flexible over time?” was among the guiding questions from Brooke Seawell ’65 and the late Rosemary Seawell (Holton-Arms ’65).
Enter through the doors adjacent to Andrews House, or turn the corner from the Forcione Sitting Steps, and you will be greeted by a central science forum awash with natural light. Interior windows invite students to observe their classmates working, while exterior windows connect the outdoors to classrooms; the chemistry and environmental science classrooms, for instance, overlook bioretention ponds that collect and filter stormwater runoff.
Each classroom is outfitted with cabinetry and equipment at the perimeter and has a dedicated lab prep space. Flexible furniture in the center of each classroom can be arranged to facilitate different types of activities. “Because we have a lot more storage space, it’s easier for us to start a lab, and students know where things are,” said David Calhoun, chemistry teacher and Form IV dean. “They have more autonomy and feel like they can conduct the lab themselves.”
STEP INSIDE THE SEAWELL STEM CENTER
“We would hope that for all of the students, the STEM Center inspires a lifelong appreciation for science and technology.”
BROOKE SEAWELL ’65
11,500
SQUARE FEET DEVOTED TO STEM EDUCATION
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CENTRAL SCIENCE FORUM GALLERY
Inspired by the renewal of their science classrooms, teachers like Calhoun are beginning to reimagine their lessons and the labs students conduct. This is all part of the strategic vision for a renewal of science education at Landon.
“The hope is that this enables the faculty not just to create new courses, but also to be able to do new things within the existing courses that were not previously possible,” Brooke Seawell said. “I want to feel like the faculty is enabled to teach in the best way possible.”
The following pages offer a glimpse into how our students experience the sciences in the Seawell STEM Center. Read on to learn how you can be part of this renewal through philanthropy (page 21). LAB CLASSROOMS
DAVID CALHOUN CHEMISTRY TEACHER
“The lab benches allow the boys to be a lot more collaborative. They are working on problems, they’re talking together. They’re engaging with the material in a way that will help transfer it to their long-term memory.”
MATT JOHNSON PHYSICS TEACHER
“I love the idea of students coming in and recognizing immediately that this is a physics lab. This is a science lab. I have a table with little demonstrations, and people pass by and wonder what is going on. I like the idea of getting the boys excited about physics.”
“
CONOR CASSIDY ’06 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE TEACHER
“To come into Boehly and have this new space is incredible. We have so much room and that provides great freedom and great flexibility to do whatever we want, however we want. Between storage, prep space, the footprint of the classroom itself, the lab materials, and the flexibility of the furniture, it’s an opportunity and a huge benefit.”
MATTHEW LYNN ’25
“I
want to reiterate how great the science program is at Landon. It has inspired me to want to do science as a career more than I have before, and Mr. Calhoun is a big part of that, and he’s a really great teacher.”
“ “
KALI PALMIOTTO BIOLOGY TEACHER
“I teach a freshman biology class and two forensic science classes in these newly designed classrooms, which offer ample room for project work. The flexibility to move desks and chairs into different configurations has been invaluable, whether we’re working in small groups, conducting labs, holding debates, watching presentations, or taking assessments.
“The large windows have allowed us to extend our classroom activities to the outdoors. For instance, we recently completed a decomposition project that took place right outside our window, enabling students to monitor the experiment daily. This hands-on, observational approach has greatly enriched their learning experience.”
CHRIS ROS SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CHAIR
“The Seawell STEM Center inspires! I now come to work every day with greater confidence in myself and in what we do. Just as the boys are motivated by the space, I, too, am motivated to help inspire the science faculty, including myself, to be the best at what we do. And in doing so, I believe that this will help prepare our students for the world outside the white rocks.”
ALUMNI IN MEDICINE
Dr. Aris Baras ’03 nurtured his curiosity about math and science at Landon, interests that he would ultimately combine with a business mindset in service of the transformational field of biotechnology.
“It was great that Landon could fuel that,” Dr. Baras said. “Having people who could be inspiring to you, in terms of making the sciences and the whole STEM field exciting – for me, that was Doc Brock and Steve Sorkin.”
Three degrees – a B.S., an M.D., and an MBA, all from Duke University – and close to two decades of research and development later, Dr. Baras is now contributing his own advances in genomic research and genetic medicines with Regeneron.
As the Head of the Regeneron Genetics Center (RGC), Dr. Baras leads a research team that conducts genetic sequencing and analysis to inform a collective understanding of human health, accelerating drug discovery and development. RGC is home to the largest
human genomic database in the world, with more than 2.4 million exomes linked to de-identified health records.
He is also Senior Vice President, Co-Head of Regeneron Genetic Medicines, where the team discovers and develops investigational medicines to treat multiple diseases, including hearing loss.
Patients like an 18-month-old girl with congenital deafness whose hearing was restored through a Regeneron clinical trial inspire Dr. Baras.
“I’m just really excited and motivated by that result,” Dr. Baras said.
“Yes, we’ve got some more patients to treat, a couple more years of work to do, but even that one patient story is just amazing.”
Dr. Baras lives in Connecticut with his wife, Lia, and four children.
Dr. Ali Al-Attar ’91 says his career as a plastic surgeon is sprinkled with opportunities to help people, from reconstructive procedures to operations that make burns and scars nearly invisible.
One of those opportunities – sealing a Z-shaped cut on a child’s cheek and, later, painstakingly removing the stitches – continues to inspire Dr. Al-Attar today.
“Two or three years later, the child showed up in my office, and I couldn’t tell what side the scar was on,” Dr. Al-Attar said. “Taking care of people, that’s the fun part. That’s the enjoyable part.”
Dr. Al-Attar attended Georgetown University for his bachelor’s degree and entered the combined M.D./Ph.D. program there upon graduation. Becoming a plastic surgeon was not always the plan – he spent five years conducting research before entering the training program at Georgetown University Hospital and completing fellowships with esteemed plastic surgeons in the areas of aesthetic surgery.
He established his own private practice, later welcoming more physicians to form Affiliates in Plastic Surgery. While plastic surgery tends to be perceived as a glamorous or luxury treatment, Dr. Al-Attar says it’s about much more.
“When you look behind those concerns, sometimes there is something more significant. Sometimes there is anxiety back there,” Dr. Al-Attar said. “There is always something I can do to help, no matter what you’re coming in with, something overt or something more self-conscious.”
Dr. Al-Attar, who is a current trustee and a former member of the Alumni Board, lives in Bethesda with his wife, Andrea, and two children – Adam ’32, who is in Grade 5 at Landon, and Amir.
ALUMNI IN MEDICINE
Dr. Cord Peters ’12 had just come off the 2010 IAC baseball championship –a thrilling 6-5 victory that the team secured against St. Albans – when he tore his ACL, an injury that sidelined him for the next spring season.
That injury, and his curiosity about it, set him on the path to becoming an orthopedic surgeon. He now works at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, where he helps service members and civilians alike recover from their injuries.
“They are active, they are healthy, and they want to get back to their activity level before the injury,” Dr. Peters said. “It’s a great population to take care of and learn from.”
His family inspired Dr. Peters to study medicine at the Uniformed Services University – his father, Capt. Andrew Peters, served 30 years in the Navy as a dentist, and his grandfathers served in the Navy and the Army. Dr. Peters was commissioned into the Navy in 2017.
As a resident, Dr. Peters fills his days with problemsolving, critical thinking, and working with his hands as he advocates for patients and assesses aches and pains in their bones and joints. He also draws on his studies of the Classics – a passion that Latin Teacher Dr. Antonio Leonardis instilled in him at Landon – as he connects with his patients.
“I do think Landon’s emphasis on the liberal arts definitely influenced me to not just do pre-med at Duke University (for undergraduate), but also Classics. It helped me be more well rounded,” Dr. Peters said.
Dr. Peters lives in Suffolk, Virginia, with his wife, Emily, a Naval physician, their daughter, Sophia Grace, and their dog Murphy. He visits often when his brother Marshall ’13 is in town to convene with their mother, Cindy, whom Dr. Peters credits with encouraging him to specialize in orthopedics.
For Dr. Mark Kovler ’05, the path to becoming a pediatric surgeon began at Landon, where he had the opportunity to shadow a doctor for a senior project.
The doctor – Marty Eichelberger, father of Todd Eichelberger ’93 – was a pediatric surgeon at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.
“Following him and his colleagues inspired me to pursue a career in medicine and pediatric surgery,” Dr. Kovler said. “What is really cool is that now, almost 20 years later, I am working with those same people. It has really come full circle.”
Dr. Kovler is one of the newest members of the pediatric surgery faculty at Children’s National Hospital, having just completed a two-year fellowship in pediatric general and thoracic surgery. After graduating from Princeton, he spent two years in Washington, D.C., doing surgical research and playing professional lacrosse. He attended The George Washington University for medical school, then began a seven-year general surgery residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
A typical day for Dr. Kovler begins at 5 a.m., when he visits as many as 40 patients recovering from surgery. Operations begin at 7:30 a.m. and continue through the late afternoon; procedures can range from routine appendectomies to emergency surgery for gunshot
wounds. His patients are as old as teenagers and as young as premature babies.
During the challenging moments of being a pediatric surgeon, Dr. Kovler said he thinks of Rob Bordley ’66, who was his advisor and lacrosse and football coach.
“He taught me everything about hard work, preparation, and more,”
Dr. Kovler said. “I think about Coach Bordley almost every day, especially when my professional life is particularly grueling. I can hear his voice echoing off the walls of the shed.”
Dr. Kovler lives in Washington with his wife and fellow Children’s National physician, Parisa, whom he credits with showing him “the joys of caring for pediatric patients” and inspiring him to specialize in pediatric surgery.
MEET BROOKE SEAWELL
The Brooke and Rosemary Seawell STEM Center was made possible by the generosity of a Landon alumnus –Brooke Seawell ’65 – and his late wife, Rosemary, a Holton alumna.
Seawell’s experiences at Landon, and his career in Silicon Valley, inspired his support for the Seawell STEM Center.
After graduating from Landon, Seawell “bucked the trend” of attending an East Coast school, graduating from Stanford University before heading to the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He ran a computer programming group in O’ahu, Hawaii, and, rather than head into the workforce, he was encouraged by a Stanford dean to return to Stanford for business school.
“Every time I come back to Landon, I ask, ‘What’s next?’” Seawell said. “I see the opportunity to take the program even further, and I hope we’ll be instrumental in making it happen.”
All these choices set him up for a fulfilling career in startups and venture capital; he has been directly involved in 12 IPOs and 13 strategic acquisitions. The portfolio of businesses he has supported as founder, officer, investor, or director include artificial intelligence computing leader NVIDIA, cybersecurity provider Tenable, data visualization company Tableau, and financial technology company GoodLeap, which assists homeowners with purchasing sustainable upgrades like solar panels and energy efficient windows.
Seawell, who serves on Landon’s Board of Trustees, described Landon as “world class” when it comes to teaching students liberal arts and communication skills and wanted to invest in STEM opportunities.
“In Silicon Valley I’ve learned that if you can put two things together, the ability to communicate and some sort of science or engineering background, it’s an exceptional combination,” Seawell said. “My desire is that the Landon STEM program and the Landon English and communication program be at the same level so that students come away with both.”
From here, Seawell said he is looking forward to conversations about ways to strengthen the program further through investments in faculty and curriculum support.
NAMING Opportunities
You can be part of this inspiring moment by naming one of our classroom lab spaces.
Gifts of $150,000 or more will contribute to the continued evolution of these spaces so that our boys and faculty have the tools they need to investigate and innovate in their studies of science, technology, engineering, and math. The following naming opportunities are available:
Chemistry Classroom
Environmental Science Classroom
Forensics Classroom
To begin planning your gift, email Director of Development
Peter J. Gallo, Ph.D., at peter_gallo@landon.net.
Additionally, there remain opportunities to fund endowments that support STEM programming.
We are grateful to George Wenchel ’65, Brooke’s classmate, who established the Wenchel Family Endowed Chair in STEM to support faculty professional development and recognize a faculty member for excellence in teaching in the STEM areas. Elizabeth and Gregory Boison, P ’29, have established the Boison Family Endowed Chair in Science to support teaching excellence and professional development in the sciences. Endowment gifts can support many areas of Landon School life and enhance the experience for all boys.
School News
HISTORY MEETS INNOVATION
Research skills, creativity, and teamwork combined as Grade 6 students transformed the Lower School Makerspace into a life-size Egyptian tomb.
“The tomb came out really amazing. We all did our jobs and I personally think it was a piece of art,” said Adam ’30. “It was really cool to see the transformation and what we can do as a group instead of a single person, and how much something can come together with a few weeks of work,” said Ben ’30.
The Makerspace Program in the Lower School allows for cross-curricular innovation and enables teachers to create bigger, more ambitious projects than they normally would be able to in their classrooms. Boys split the tasks and worked in teams to create the tomb, which included features like a sarcophagus and canopic jars. They worked alongside their teacher Kim Coletta and Applied Technology and Innovation Department member Sean Nolan. “I wanted them to understand that when you do research, it leads to something. It leads to an outcome,” said Coletta. “I have never seen the boys more motivated to do their research because, until the research was done, they weren’t allowed to do the making and building.”
“One of the great things about maker-centered learning is that the process becomes part of the product. A project like this is not instant gratification,” said Nolan. “You have to keep doing all these small little steps until it builds into something really large and exciting that they’re excited to be a part of.”
STUDENTS LEAD DEI CONVERSATIONS
TD Dematatis ’24, Mikael Fasihi ’24, Dylan Furbay ’24, Kamal Skeete Ridley ’24, and Kendall Skeete Ridley ’24 attended the three-day conference, where they participated in group sessions to develop cross-cultural communication skills. When they returned, the students led a workshop for the Landon faculty and staff, inspired by the discussions they had at SDLC.
“I believe parents send their children to Landon to shape them into reputable young men, which is why I believe exposure [to different perspectives] is important for our students, and that starts with the teachers,” Kendall Skeete Ridley said.
Furbay designed workshops for Form III and Form IV students that illuminated the cost of socioeconomic inequality in the United States. Guided by Form V students, groups of students were challenged to create a grocery budget based on different income levels.
“The more open conversations we can have about gender, race, sexuality, ability, and other identities, the greater an understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion will develop [at Landon],” Furbay said.
Five students represented Landon at the National Association of Independent Schools Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) in St. Louis, Missouri. They shared their takeaways during workshops that they led for faculty, staff, and students.
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ellice Hawkins said the workshops allowed students to exercise their leadership skills and “use their voices for good.”
“The roles need to be reversed sometimes, and the adults become the students and hear and learn from our students,” Hawkins said.
“When students hear from their peers, it lands very differently; they speak their language.”
BUILDING BONDS ACROSS DIVISIONS
The student experience at Landon is full, focusing on the intellect, well-being, and character of every boy. It’s an experience that is not complete without the close connections and bonds of brotherhood, which extend across divisions.
Invaluable opportunities for students across the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools to interact, bond, and learn from one another are essential to creating a unified and supportive community, building school spirit, and enhancing personal growth and character development in and out of the classroom.
One of the cornerstones of Landon’s cross-divisional initiatives is the Prefect program, where senior ethics leaders take on many responsibilities, including teaching ethics lessons to their younger peers in the Lower and Middle schools.
During these lessons, the student leaders guide the younger boys in understanding how to live by Landon’s Honor and Civility codes.
They are interactions that serve the older Bears perhaps as much as their younger counterparts.
“Getting to know kids across divisions is a big part of being a Prefect. Being able to teach them, hang out with them, and learn who they are as people is the most gratifying responsibility we have and is a huge part of making my day great,” Gavin Williams ’24, a Prefect and a ten-year Bear, said.
“I like how they come and teach us about right and wrong, and it’s very nice to know how to become good young men,” Alec ’33 said.
The prefects also organized a Spring Fling event in April where they invited everyone out to Miniter Quadrangle for games, lemonade, and snacks, and to watch a pie eating contest.
Inside the classroom, STEM challenges like the balsa wood bridge assignment for Upper School engineering students was an opportunity for Grade 5 boys to
visit as they prepared to build their own bridges out of spaghetti.
Lower School Science Teacher
George Mulligan brought his students to the Boehly Upper School to observe and learn from the way engineering students approached their bridge designs.
“It was pretty cool because we got to see how they learn,” Brayden ’31 said.
Middle School students also have opportunities to collaborate with Lower School Bears. In an assignment aimed at sparking curiosity and excitement about the world, Grade 7 world geography students wrote children’s books, getting feedback from Grade 3 boys along the way.
“Beyond the project, it offered a great opportunity for Grade 7 students to develop relationships with the third graders,” said Middle
School History Teacher Isaac Mensah-Yeboah. “Adding different divisions enriches the learning experience for everyone involved.”
These interactions across age groups help younger students understand they have older peers to turn to for guidance and support, while older boys develop a sense of responsibility and pride in their role as mentors and leaders.
In addition to concerts and community service opportunities, there are numerous community events that bring students together from all divisions. Annual traditions such as Bear Team Sorting Day, Bear Games, and the Azalea Festival help ensure every student feels connected to the Landon community.
“It really brings an extra umph to school spirit,” Jett Pederson ’24 said of Bear Games.
BEYOND WORDS: CULTURAL EXPERIENCES ENHANCE LANGUAGE LEARNING
Experiential lessons take language learning to the next level at Landon. From introducing students to popular games and festivals to tasting traditional foods, teachers incorporate cultural experiences to enhance learning. Lower and Middle School Chinese Teacher Alice Yang uses activities like Chinese tea lessons, Mahjong – a popular tile game in China – and yo-yo demonstrations to engage students and spark interest in Chinese culture.
“Compared with merely teaching language skills, providing a cultural experience is not only richer but also more enjoyable for students, especially for active, curious, and energetic boys,” said Yang. “Immersing them in cultural studies can foster a greater interest in language learning.”
“Learning about Chinese culture has inspired and helped me learn about Chinese tradition,” Kesi ’30 added.
Spanish Teachers Jeremy Norman ’92 and Mirian de Ossorno led this year’s Landon in Spain trip to the northern coastal city of Santander. From museum visits and beach days to surf lessons and cooking classes, this host family-based study abroad experience is abundant in immersive adventures.
Similarly, de Ossorno also immerses boys in cultural practices in the classroom. She and Yang agree that cultural understanding also fosters an inclusive community and helps students develop multicultural competence.
Her Grade 4 students researched a Spanish-speaking country and presented information on key historical events, customs, culinary traditions, and more. “It makes learning the language more practical and enjoyable for the boys,” said de Ossorno. “Doing these things helps the boys see how cool and interesting languages can be in real life.”
OPENING WEEK AND MINI-MESTER
MISSION-DRIVEN ADVENTURES INSPIRE COMMUNITY IMPACT
Bear Necessities – our fall Opening Week activities in the Middle School – establish expectations for the year and help boys see how they can have a positive impact on their communities through engaging lessons and off-campus excursions.
Boys participated in on-campus sessions led by Landon faculty and staff that focused on topics like ethics and community, wellness, and study skills. Students explored the nation’s capital and enjoyed a scavenger hunt-style museum exploration to identify Landon’s Core Values in action.
Advisory groups also participated in service-learning opportunities ranging from working with senior citizens at Byron House, to repairing bicycles with Bicycles for the World to volunteering with a park cleanup benefiting Montgomery County Parks.
During spring Mini-Mester, students delved into two-day, faculty-designed programs that explored a wide variety of interests and subjects. The 12 options ranged from making their own ice cream and repairing bicycles to visiting the United States Naval Academy and cleaning the shoreline of Terrapin State Park.
Head of Middle School Erin Duffy explained these trips give students an opportunity to learn more about the world around them and address real-world challenges in our area.
EMPOWERING TOMORROW’S ENGINEERS
A new robotics class in the Upper School blends hands-on technical skills with essential teamwork and problem-solving abilities.
The course covers topics like circuitry, coding, and 3D design. Unlike traditional kit-based courses, this class requires students to build everything from scratch, providing a deeper understanding of the fundamentals.
For Upper School Science Teacher Bryan Calloway, those skills are important but so are the soft skills boys pick up in the process.
“What it’s really about is teaching them how to work in engineering teams, how to manage design timelines, how to make decisions as a group and justify those decisions to a client or a boss for instance,” said Calloway.
The class featured two major design challenges. The first was a payload delivery challenge, where students must create a robot to transport barrels to the top of a tower. The second was a “battlebots” challenge, where the objective is to push other robots out of the arena and be the last one standing.
“I found a lot of stuff that I never really thought I would be good at that I’ve excelled in, and it has been a lot of fun for me,” said Ari Kalish ’24. “It teaches us a lot about people skills and how to work as a team, which is really valuable.”
FORGING CONNECTIONS ACROSS
GENERATIONS
Grade 9 English students were inspired by Landon’s history as they took on the role of journalists to create a digital newspaper.
Before they began writing, students read archived copies of the Landon News to see similarities and differences between their lives and past students’. Inspired by Landon News editions from the 1940s to 1990s, students wrote articles, ranging from comics to opinion columns, and designed a title page for the issue.
The project aimed to help students develop an authentic writing style and voice by learning from past students’ unfiltered voices. During their research, students found articles that relatives and current teachers wrote when they were Landon students, including one by French Teacher WT Miller ‘86. They also discovered articles written about teachers who are still at Landon, including longtime Math Teacher Steve Sorkin.
Students in Contemporary Global Issues, a class taught by Dr. Dimmy Herard, used primary sources from the Landon Archive to study the Cold War.
“I was stoked that they would get a taste for how historians actually do history: digging through old documents, photographs, records, and other items to piece together a narrative about a particular time and place,” Dr. Herard said.
CRITTER CREW
Lower School animal lovers unite! Boys with a passion for caring for the science classroom pets team up with Science Teacher Beth Hughes to make up the Critter Crew.
“They can bring out joy in you if you’re feeling a little sad. It’s special,” said Jake ’32.
The volunteer service group, formerly known as Animal Crew, was founded in 2000 by Hughes and then-Grade 4 student Nile Marquedant ’09.
The nearly 50 members take turns cleaning cages, feeding, observing, and petting the animals, which include a gecko and two chinchillas.
“The boys grow a lot from this experience. They develop responsibility, commitment, teamwork, leadership, time management, and communication skills, as well as deepening care and respect for living things,” said Hughes.
AZALEA FESTIVAL
Rain couldn’t get in the way of another great year of the Azalea Festival!
When the festival opened on Friday, May 3, the campus was brimming with decorated tents filled with flowers and plants, sweets and treats, and boutiques with new items as well as our well-curated Bearly Used sale in Riddleberger Gym. By noon, hundreds of Landon boys were enjoying the rides and games at Funland. Landon musical groups and local entertainers performed throughout the weekend. The campus was full of activity and excitement. A special shout-out to our ’Zalea Bash co-chairs, who beautifully executed our annual fundraiser for tuition assistance and professional development in the Perkins Gym.
A successful festival – rain or shine – requires hundreds of hours of volunteer time in the weeks and months leading up to the event and then during the three days of Azalea Festival weekend. We are especially grateful for the flexibility and energy of our volunteers as we moved food and entertainment out of the rain and into the Barton Alumni Athletic Center.
Thank you to every volunteer who made this year’s Azalea Festival possible and helped to raise funds to support Landon while having fun together as a community.
CAMPAIGN SUCCESS! HERE’S WHAT’S NEXT.
Thank you to everyone who supported The Campaign for Landon, which concluded on June 30, 2024, having raised nearly $54 million. Our transformed spaces, our improved endowment, and the ongoing support of The Landon Fund are a testament to the generosity of our Landon community.
This is the most successful capital campaign in the School’s history, and we have been fortunate to have a record number of gifts exceeding $1 million. Thank you to every donor who supported The Campaign for Landon and helped us achieve this vision for the future of Landon. This was a milestone achievement for our community, and we accomplished it together.
Work continued this summer to complete our renovations of the Freeman Family Lower School
A NEW TENNIS COMPLEX
Seven courts
A multi-use sport court
Improved areas for spectators
as well as the renovation of the Wilson Building, which will now be home to the Altman Family Center for the Studio Arts – Wilson Hall. Construction began on a new tennis complex that includes seven courts, a multiuse sport court, and improved areas for spectators, including a pavilion. The courts will still be collectively referred to as the Maclear Jacoby Tennis Courts, but there are several naming opportunities. Landon tennis has won 50 IAC titles – the most of any sport in school history –as well as national championships; the new facility will be a wonderful new home to continue this legacy.
We continue to seek the philanthropic support of our community for the tennis courts and other efforts across campus. There is always an opportunity to support endowment and The Landon Fund, and there are still naming opportunities available for a capital gift. Please reach out to Director of Development Peter J. Gallo at peter_gallo@landon.net or 301-320-1004 to discuss how you might support Landon with your gift.
Congratulations Class of 2024
Zachary Maddox Abramson
Jay Arthur Adams
Tucker Wallace Akridge
George Kitchener Allen III
Nicolas G. Alway Roza
Ashby Danford Anderson, Jr.
John Thomas Archer, Jr.
Dylan Koorosh Aryavand
Caden Frank Blazer
Theodore “Rex” Bondi
Winston Theodore Bradley
Jett Oneil Buchanan
Jack Alexander Burke
Zachary Lamar Cameron
James Thomas Chambers
Zirui Chen
Joseph David Coleman
Sean Edgar Curran
Christian G. Daymude
Nicholas J. Della Rocca
Theodore Thomas Dematatis
Khalil Souleymane Dembele
Jackson Graham Evans
Dean Paul Farber
Mikael Badarul Fasihi
Haris Fazlic
Reed James Fernandes
Alexander Raul Fernandez
Dylan Lee Furbay
Nathan Charles Furgeson
Junyuan Gao
Cooper Macmillan Gleason
Jacob Reese Gold
Masai S. Gordon
Benjamin Nicholas Groeschel
Graham David Haberl
Brannon Christopher Gonzaga Hamilton
James Kear Hanley
Nicholas Tiger Harazmus
Hunter Clint Heiden
William Avakian Heiss
Aristeides Hobson
Barrett E. Hoffman
Vincent Alexander Ingram
Manif Henri Jaffa, Jr.
Declan Joseph Jamberdino
Soren Christian Jensen
Olaoluwadeji Emmanuel Kolade Jones
Ari Scott Kalish
Benjamin McConnell Kehoe
Owen John Kelly
Lucas Li-Wah Knight
John Gardiner Lapham
Ian Tulloch Lever
William Jackson Levy
Ryan Loev
Griffin Mack Lugar
Alexander Philip MacMillan
Robert Steele Maddux
Henry Cabell Maddux V
Dominic Timothy Mangino
Seamus Oliger McNamara
Kevin Matthew Miller
Dhruv Narang
Hugh Patrick Neill
Elijah Paul Nokku
Carlos Ortiz-Cruz
Davis Chun Owens
Anthony Patrick Panetti
Nimai H. Patel
James William Pedas
Nathaniel Robert Poulin
Nathan Charles Quattrone
Juan Manuel Ramírez-Prada
Davis Reid Recker
Chase Steven Robertson
Sam Cody Rose
Rafae Akram Sandhu
Thomas Edward Shelton
James Frederick Shelton
Neel Anant Singh
Kendall N. Skeete Ridley
Kamal O. Skeete Ridley
William Thomas Stallmer
William Patterson Sanders Swift
Jackson Gardner Tewksbury
Yanni Jabik Tiimob
Troy Robert Ulisney
Caleb David Wade
Andrew Michael Walker III
Michael S. War
Gavin McLaughlin Williams
Ahmed ibn Abdul Mumin Zaid
Zack Tyler Zand
GRADUATES IN CLASS OF 2024
ATTENDING
82%
OF GRADUATES
attending where they submitted early or priority applications
131
colleges and universities where students were admitted
61
colleges and universities
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
SELECTED BY THE CLASS OF 2024
American University
Boston College (2)
Boston University
Bowdoin College (2)
Bucknell University (2)
Catholic University of America
Clemson University
Dartmouth College
Denison University
Dickinson College (2)
Drexel University (3)
Duke University
Felician University
Georgetown University (3)
Georgia Institute of Technology
Gettysburg College
Indiana University Bloomington (2)
Lafayette College (2)
Loyola University Maryland
Marist College
Michigan State University
Middlebury College
Morehouse College
New York University
North Carolina State University
Occidental College
Penn State University, University Park (4)
Pepperdine University
Purdue University (2)
Roger Williams University
Salisbury University
Seton Hall University
Southern Methodist University (5)
Swarthmore College (2)
Syracuse University (2)
Temple University
Texas Christian University
The George Washington University
The University of Texas at Austin
Tufts University
Tulane University of Louisiana
University of Arizona
University of California (San Diego)
University of Chicago (3)
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Delaware
University of Exeter
University of Maryland, College Park (2)
University of Miami (3)
University of Michigan (2)
University of Mississippi (2)
University of Pennsylvania
University of Richmond
University of St Andrews
University of Toronto
University of Utah
University of Virginia (4)
University of Wisconsin-Madison (2)
Virginia Military Institute
Wake Forest University (2)
Washington and Lee University
Xavier University
CUM LAUDE
CLASS OF 2024
Inducted 2023
Nicolas Alway Roza
Manif Jaffa
Alexander MacMillan
Dhruv Narang
Hugh Neill
Davis Owens
Nimai Patel
James Shelton
Thomas Shelton
Caleb Wade
Inducted 2024
Caden Blazer
Zirui Chen
Sean Curran
Junyuan Gao
Graham Haberl
Hunter Heiden
Aristeides Hobson
Benjamin Kehoe
Nathan Quattrone
CUM LAUDE
CLASS OF 2025
Inducted 2024
Noah Forrest
Drew Gabron
Matthew Guo
Asher Josef
Milan Matteis
Thavisha Ponnamperuma
Simon Schwartz
Eli Smink
Caden Southworth
Jonathan Willis
2024 BACCALAUREATE AND COMMENCEMENT AWARD WINNERS
Thomas Shelton
VALEDICTORIAN
To the student with the highest academic achievements in the class.
Thomas Shelton HEADMASTER’S AWARD
To the student who has demonstrated general excellence, citizenship, and participation.
Dylan Furbay
STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARD
To the student who has demonstrated by his unselfishness, integrity, courage, and spirit the highest type of school citizenship.
Juan Manuel Ramírez-Prada ELLIE JOHNSON AWARD
To the student who has demonstrated creativity, innovation, ingenuity, or artistic merit.
James Shelton
MALCOLM COATES STUDENT ACTIVITIES AWARD
To the student with constructive participation in nonathletic activities.
Nathan Furgeson
WILLIAM HARRISON TRIPLETT AWARD
To the Landon senior who not only has made significant contributions to the sports program, but who also has distinguished himself by displaying superior qualities of team dedication, respect for opponents, and regard for the spirit of the game.
Yanni Tiimob
CARROLL MERCER MARBURY AWARD
To the student who has a spirit of fearlessness, tenacity of purpose.
Kendall Skeete Ridley ALEXANDER AIKENS ’67 AWARD
To the student who has exemplary leadership in the areas of diversity and multiculturalism.
Cooper Gleason
PATRICK TANNER ’96 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
To the student who has demonstrated outstanding commitment, personal involvement, and leadership in community service.
Nicolas Alway Roza, Cooper Gleason, Jack Lapham, Griffin Lugar, and William Stallmer
ROTC SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
To the students who have demonstrated a love for service in many areas, including to our country. Five seniors will be participating in Army ROTC during their college years and have earned scholarships.
Kevin Miller and Hugh Neill
CARY MAGUIRE ’46 ETHICS SCHOLAR AWARD
To the students who have demonstrated the highest standards of ethical integrity through their expressions of honesty and respect, and their active cultivation of the virtues of perseverance, teamwork, honor, and fair play.
Jay Adams
STEPHEN J. SMITH ’01 SPIRIT AWARD
To the student who through his devotion to his fellow students, his unselfish behavior, his self-effacing sense of humor, his enthusiasm for Landon, and his ability to build bridges between those differing viewpoints and perspectives best personifies the unique bond that unites all Landon students and alumni.
Ricky Sears ’99
MARY LEE AND PAUL BANFIELD AWARD
To a member of the Landon faculty who has made a significant contribution to the life of the School.
Jun Choi
ALICE F. COSIMANO AWARD
To a member of the Landon administration or staff who has made a significant contribution to the life of the School.
Faculty, Staff, and Board
AS OF AUGUST 2024
BOARD LEADERSHIP
Chair: Bill Magruder ’92
Vice Chair: Nick Freeman ’09
Treasurer: Brien White
Secretary: Burnell Holland ’01
President: Jim Neill, P ’24
DEPARTING TRUSTEES
Jeff Ansary ’92, P ’28
Jean-Marie Fernandez, P ’24
Jeffrey Freed, P ’11, ’13, ’18
Beverly Hudnut, P ’11
Tom Scott ’85
Harmar Thompson ’90, P ’31, ’33
FACULTY AND STAFF MILESTONES
5 YEARS
Donato Bucci – Student Billing Specialist
Ryan Callahan – Upper School Math TeacherCoach-Mentor
Chris Chappelle – Lower School Music TeacherCoach-Mentor
Maria Femiano – Development & Events Associate
Griffin Gagnon – Upper School Spanish Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Liz Hudson – Assistant Director of Development for Analytics, Publications, and Endowment
Andrew Lacroix – Upper School English Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Shane McBride – Lower School Teacher-CoachMentor
Tara Montague – Assistant Head of School for Academics
Stefany Morales – Administrative Assistant for College Counseling and 3-12 Programmatic Administrators
Shannon Pristouris – Lower School TeacherCoach-Mentor
Wilfredo Romero – Buildings and Grounds Staff
Chris Ros – Upper School Science TeacherCoach-Mentor and Science Department Chair
10 YEARS
Julie Acebal – School Nurse
Case Anderson – Upper School English TeacherCoach-Mentor and Form V Dean
Thomas DiChiara – Upper School English Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Will McGettigan – Upper School History Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Ricky Sears – Upper School Art Teacher-CoachMentor and Studio Art Department Chair
Jamie Sorge – Middle School English TeacherCoach-Mentor
Colleen Tully – Director of Learning Support
15 YEARS
Stephanie Brown – Grade 3 Teacher-CoachMentor
Jamie Matthews – Middle School Math Teacher-Coach-Mentor and Mathematics Department Chair
20 YEARS
John Bellaschi – Director of Ethics, Service, and Leadership
Tré Johnson – Upper School History TeacherCoach-Mentor
NEW TRUSTEES
Lisa Hertzberg, P ’21
Kendall Jesmer, P ’25, ’29
Nii Amaah K. Ofosu-Amaah ’00
Adam Wenchel ’92, P ’29
25 YEARS
Mike Derwinski – Upper School Dean of Students
Bill Reed – Upper School History TeacherCoach-Mentor
30 YEARS
Andy Luther – Co-Director of College Counseling
Jose Moreno – Supervisor of Grounds and Vehicle Maintenance
Michael Wu – Middle and Upper School Music Teacher-Coach-Mentor – Choral
35 YEARS
George Mulligan – Lower School Science Teacher-Coach-Mentor
40 YEARS
Leonor Garcia – Buildings and Grounds Staff
BELOW (LEFT TO RIGHT)
Jose Moreno, Michael Wu, Bill Reed, John Bellaschi, Leonor Garcia, Tré Johnson, and George Mulligan
GRACE MORELLI FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Longtime Upper School Administrative Assistant Grace Morelli is now the inaugural Upper School Dean of Student Life. With a focus on the student experience and community service, she will curate experiences for the boys that align with Landon’s mission.
“I am thrilled to provide our students with opportunities to build meaningful relationships and selflessly serve their community,” said Morelli. “It’s an honor to support their growth as men of integrity and character.”
NEW AND RETURNING
FACULTY AND STAFF
Beth Appleton – Director of Special Events
Chris Bohlen – Upper School Teacher-Coach-Mentor, Head Varsity Basketball Coach
Julie Cannistra – Director of the Office of the Head of School
Matthew Dougherty – Interim Upper School English Teacher
Christine Heiler – Grade 6 English Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Steve King – Interim Chief Financial Officer
Bari Krug – Middle School Math Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Wendy Lindley – Grade 3 Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Arielle Markiewicz – Upper School Counselor
Danielle Maynard – Middle School Math Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Patrick McDonough – Middle School Science Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Grey McIntosh – Upper School Administrative Assistant
Brian O’Malley – College Counselor, Upper School Science Teacher
Max Peraza ’18 – Middle School English Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Taylor Perkins – Admissions Coordinator
Will Powell ’17 – Faculty, Teacher Development Program
Polina Protsenko – Upper School Art Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Thomas Reed – Faculty, Teacher Development Program
Harry Sullivan – Associate Director of Admissions – Middle School
Ben Thomas – Chief Operating Officer
DEPARTING
FACULTY AND STAFF
Dori Boyce – Grade 6 Art Teacher-Coach Mentor, Grade 6 Dean
Kalah Brown – Faculty, Teacher Development Program
Tracy Crittenberger – Assistant Director of Admissions
Richard Curtis – Upper School Counselor
Vicente Garcia – Building and Grounds Staff
Chris Harper – Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer
Kevin Hetzel – Upper School Art Teacher-Coach-Mentor, Form IV Dean
Emily Howe – Upper School Learning Specialist
Thomas Joyce – Middle School Math Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Oliver Macklin – Middle School Math Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Mark McConnon – Lower School English Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Dan Moorin – Upper School English Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Eden Odom – Faculty, Teacher Development Program
Cindy Peters – Director of Special Events
Jamie Sorge – Middle School English Teacher-Coach-Mentor
Margie Topf – Executive Assistant to the Head of School
Middle School students wrote thank-you notes for our Buildings and Grounds team, which they hand delivered as a division.
NEW ROLES
Every June, faculty and staff gather for a week of professional development, which includes workshops led by their peers.
Saima Ahmad – Lower School Administrative Assistant and Director of Parent Programming
Stephanie Brown – Lower School Teacher-Coach-Mentor and Instructional Coach
Brenda Chambers – Assistant Director of Auxiliary Programs and Community Service Coordinator
Michael Cooke – Upper and Middle School Teacher-Coach-Mentor –Woodworking
Adam Diaz – Director of Wellness and Lower & Middle School Counselor
Maria Femiano – Development Communications and Stewardship Manager
Liz Hudson – Associate Director of Development
Glen Johnson – Faculty, Teacher Development Program
Grace Morelli – Dean of Student Life
GLEN JOHNSON
After six years of connecting with students as a member of Landon’s security team, Glen Johnson is joining the Fine Arts Department as a member of the Teacher Development Program, which supports professionals looking to begin a career in education.
“I hope to bring a different perspective on the ways art can be applied and realized,” Johnson said. “My dreams of teaching, and the way I process life through creativity, will help students think about multiple ways of approaching their own thoughts and emotions through artistry.”
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
NEW BOARD MEMBERS 2024
Kendall Jesmer, P ’25, ’29
Kendall Jesmer, a native Texan, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Georgia. She worked at The White House under former President George W. Bush, serving in Operations and managing logistics for the White House Press Corps on domestic and international travel assignments. She worked briefly for a professional recruiting company in Atlanta and with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., then spent years with a former colleague growing Advanced Aviation Team, a private jet charter brokerage based in Arlington, Virginia. Kendall’s recent focus has been on family and community, spending time coaching, volunteering, and keeping an open door to friends and neighbors. Kendall and husband Rob live in Arlington with their children Jack ’25, Carson ’29, and Reaves (Holton-Arms ’27). Kendall looks forward to serving on the Landon Board.
Nii Amaah K. Ofosu-Amaah ’00
Nii Amaah K. Ofosu-Amaah ’00 is a proud member of the Landon Class of 2000 and a first-generation Ghanaian American. Following Landon, he graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Business School. He is currently a managing director at Berkshire Partners, a Boston-based investment firm. Since 2006, his role has spanned across sourcing, diligence, execution, capital formation, and investor relations. He has been involved with multiple Berkshire portfolio company investments including AmSafe, Bare Escentuals, Carter’s, EP Wealth, Telx, and TransDigm. Prior to joining Berkshire, Nii Amaah was an analyst in the investment banking division at Goldman Sachs. Outside of work, he has been the co-chair of the investment committee for the Mario St. George Boiardi Foundation, a member of the leadership board for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and the chair of the Ball Position Committee for the 2022 U.S. Open men’s golf championship. Nii Amaah is excited by the opportunity to volunteer for Landon and is immensely grateful for the
valuable lessons, lifelong friendships, and excellent education that Landon provided during his 10 years at the School. He is committed to giving back to an important institution that contributed to his success. Nii Amaah resides in Boston with his wife, Sara, and their three children.
Adam Wenchel ’92, P ’29
Adam Wenchel ’92 is the co-founder and CEO of Arthur, a venture-backed AI company that builds tools that enable businesses to leverage AI safely and effectively. After his father, George Wenchel ’65, was transferred by the Navy to the Washington, D.C. area in 1989, Adam joined the Landon Class of 1992 in Form IV. Adam went on to graduate from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He started his career at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) working on early AI research projects for the government. Around the time of the original dot-com boom, he was bitten by the startup bug and joined his first venture, which started him down the path of entrepreneurship. Adam’s previous company was acquired by Capital One in 2015, and after joining he started their AI team. Adam recently moved to Chevy Chase, Maryland, where he lives with his wife, Erin Heath, daughter Josephine (Holton–Arms ’25) and son Heath ’29.
Lisa Hertzberg, P ’21
Lisa Hertzberg graduated from Holton-Arms in 1989 and then attended the University of Virginia, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing in 1993. Lisa then returned to the Washington, D.C. area and attended The George Washington University Law School. Lisa is now Deputy General Counsel and Vice President at CGI, where she is responsible for managing the Legal and Contracts teams in the United States. Prior to joining CGI, Lisa worked at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and Freddie Mac. Lisa resides in Bethesda, Maryland, with her husband, Carter ’89, children Caroline (Stone Ridge ’20) and Graham ’21, and their two Labs, Millie and Cisco. Lisa’s family history at Landon includes her father, Bud Miller ’59, uncles J.B. Trew ’66 and Dwight Trew ’69, and her brother WT Miller ’86, who is also a current Teacher-Coach-Mentor.
Athletics 2023-24
FALL SPORTS FOOTBALL
IAC CO-CHAMPIONS
The Bears came together to prove that the sum is sometimes even greater than its parts, winning a share of the 2023 IAC championship with an overall record of 7-3 and an IAC record of 4-1 under captains Zach Cameron ’24, Nathan Furgeson ’24, Anthony Panetti ’24, and Ahmed Zaid ’24.The first three games of the season were all shutout victories: John Carroll 17-0, St. Paul’s School 24-0, and Potomac School 35-0. The victory over Episcopal High School was Episcopal’s first IAC loss since 2021. The season came to a close with decisive wins over St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes and St. Albans. Twelve players earned All-IAC honors: Cameron,
Furgeson, Barrett Hoffman ’24, Lucas Knight ’24 , Quinn MacIntyre ’25 , Panetti, Chase Robertson ’24 , Tiller Smith ’25 , Caden Southworth ’25 , Troy Ulisney ’24 , Zaid, and Ubie Zaid ’26 . Furgeson was named IAC Player of the Year and won the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club’s Player of the Week for his performance against St. Albans, while Robertson was recognized as Montgomery County Athlete of the Week as well as Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club’s Private School Player of the Week for his performance against Episcopal. Head Coach Paul Padalino noted Senior Speeches – in which each senior on the football team is given time to speak to the team and coaching staff about his
experience playing football at Landon – as a true highlight of the season.
CROSS COUNTRY
Under the leadership of Head Coach Tom DiChiara and captains Nicolas Alway Roza ’24, Dylan Furbay ’24, Brannon Hamilton ’24, and Ian Lever ’24, the Bears opened the season with a strong thirdplace finish at the 2023 Landon Mark Ferris Invitational, followed by a decisive tri-meet victory.
Led by tight pack running from Roza, Larry Franklin ’25, Jack Fucci ’25, Furbay, Hamilton, and Lever, the Bears finished fifth at the Montgomery County Private School Championships and sixth at the Maryland Private School State Championships. They also finished fifth at the IAC Championship.
SOCCER
Head Coach Bill Reed’s Bears finished the 2023 season with an overall 9-7-1 overall record, a 5-4-1 IAC record, and an appearance in their third straight IAC tournament championship game. Captains Nick Della Rocca ’24 , Vincent Ingram ’24 , and Hugh Neill ’24 led the team to an early season win over a Bishop McNamara High School team that was ranked #2 in The Washington Post at the time. They also won a shutout away at Georgetown Prep and had a come-from-behind victory away at Bullis. The most dramatic game, though, was the IAC tournament semifinal, in which the team beat St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, away, in an overtime penalty kick shoot-out; the goal scorers in that shoot-out were Kendall Buford ’26, Graham Haberl ’24 , Ingram, and Jackson Tewksbury ’24 , and goalie Luke Tegeris ’26 made two dramatic saves, including the game-winner. Della Rocca, Masai Gordon ’24 , Ingram, and Tewksbury were awarded All-IAC honors.
Reid Pehrkon ’25
Reid Pehrkon ’25 is widely recognized as one of the area’s most dominant ice hockey players, The Washington Post wrote. He earned the publication’s top honor as the All-Met boys’ hockey Player of the Year. He was also named IAC Player of the Year and MAPHL Player of the Year. Pehrkon scored 31 goals and had 27 assists as he led the Bears to their second consecutive IAC title. The forward also led off the ice; he partnered with Georgetown Prep hockey player Dylan Moneypenny to bring the Shoulder Check Initiative to the Landon-Prep hockey game. The initiative promotes mental health by encouraging studentathletes to “reach out, check in, make contact.”
VOLLEYBALL
This was the fifth year that volleyball has been a club sport at Landon. Head Coach Emily Howe led a team comprising freshman newcomers all the way up to four-year veteran players from the Class of 2024. Captains Jackson Evans ’24 (a two-year captain) and Haris Fazlic ’24 led the team to the program’s first official win, finishing 1-3. They look forward to continuing to improve their skills and competing more next year!
WATER POLO
The Bears recorded two outstanding victories under the leadership of Head Coach Dan Moorin and captains Benji Groeschel ’24 and James Shelton ’24 . The team beat Malvern Preparatory School in a thrilling overtime penalty shoot-out at the Gilman Challenge, where Luke Finnell ’25 scored the game-winner. Then, the Bears came out victorious in a back-and-forth match against McDonogh School at the Beast of the East tournament, the largest tournament on the East Coast, held at area high schools in the Philadelphia area.
WINTER SPORTS
ICE HOCKEY
IAC CHAMPIONS
Varsity ice hockey had another successful season, culminating in Head Coach Alex Parker’s second consecutive IAC championship.
Captains Caden Blazer ’24 , Graham Haberl ’24 , Reid Pehrkon ’25 , and Eli Smink ’25 led the team to an overall record of 14-3-3, a MAPHL (Mid-Atlantic Prep Hockey League) record of 7-1-2, and an undefeated 6-0 IAC record (4-0 in the regular season, and 2-0 in the tournament).
Pehrkon was named Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year, MAPHL Player of the Year, and IAC Co-Player of the Year (see page 48), while Haberl was named First Team MAPHL and earned All-IAC honors alongside
Christian Daymude ’24. Some highlights included winning against St. John’s in the regular-season finale, the first time the Bears defeated St. John’s since the MAPHL championship game in 2020, as well as coming back from a twogoal deficit to beat Bullis in the IAC tournament championship game. Along with all the on-ice success, the team was part of two games to raise awareness for causes that affect so many. The first LandonSt. John’s matchup of the season, which took place in December and ended in a tie, was part of Hockey Fights Cancer, with members of both teams sporting purple stick tape to bring more awareness to cancer research. Second, Pehrkon and Georgetown Prep hockey player Dylan Moneypenny brought the Shoulder Check Initiative to
the Landon-Prep hockey game to promote mental health by encouraging student-athletes to “reach out, check in, make contact.” Before the game, both teams and coaching staffs, as well as the entire crowd, took the Shoulder Check Pledge, and players from both teams donned patches on their uniforms for the cause.
SQUASH
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
The squash team, under the leadership of Head Coach WT Miller ’86, had a historic season. Captain Caleb Wade ’24 led the team to its first league championship in program history with a final overall record of 5-2 and league record of 5-0. The team also recorded its first win in program history against Walt Whitman High
School and its second win against Wakefield High School. With only two seniors on the team, Wade and Nicky Harazmus ’24, the future is looking bright on the squash courts!
WRESTLING
IAC CHAMPIONS
The wrestling team, under the leadership of Head Coach Andy Katz and captains Nathan Furgeson ’24, James Hanley ’24, Will Levy ’24, and Tiller Smith ’25, had another championship season. With an overall record of 18-3 and an undefeated IAC record of 5-0, the team won the IAC title for the fifth time in the past six seasons.
In the IAC tournament, Landon had four champions – Hanley, Max Murray ’27, Joe Papalia ’26, and DP Pope ’25. These four were named All-IAC, along with Furgeson, an IAC finalist given the at-large bid to the All-IAC squad. The team ranked #7 in the state
of Maryland and produced three state finalists in Furgeson, Hanley, and Smith – the most in program history. Furgeson and Hanley went on to become state champions, while Levy and Pope emerged as state place winners. All these wrestlers made it to the National Prep tournament. Of note, Hanley was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the state tournament, meaning that Landon wrestlers have earned this award in three consecutive seasons – Hanley in 2024, Joel Brown ’23 in 2023, and Levy in 2022.
BASKETBALL
The varsity basketball team, under interim Head Coach Larry Franklin and captains Joseph Coleman ’24, Ari Hobson ’24, and Frankie Mannino ’25, had a strong start to their season. The team won their winter break tournament, the 33rd Daytona Beach Sunshine
Classic, with Mannino earning MVP honors and Hobson and Ubie Zaid ’26 joining him on the all-tournament team. They also beat three of the four MAC (MidAtlantic Conference) teams that they played, including St. Andrew’s in the IAC/MAC Challenge when St. Andrew’s was ranked in the Washington Post Top 20. With injuries and illness sidelining almost every player at some point, the team
did not see the same success in IAC play and ended the season with an overall record of 10-15. Mannino’s strong performance all season long earned him All-IAC honors.
INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
For Head Coach Ryan Callahan’s small band of Bears, the indoor track and field season proved to be a fruitful one, energizing Landon’s track and field athletes for the upcoming spring season. Captains Ari Kalish ’24 and Milan Matteis ’25 led the team to a number of performances that will go in the record books as top-10 in Landon indoor history. The two biggest highlights came from Matteis, a thrower, and Larry Franklin ’25, a sprinter, at the Montgomery County Private School Championship meet. Matteis broke the Landon indoor shot put record early in the season and then went
on to break his own record with a 47´6.5˝ throw on his way to become the Montgomery County Private School champion in the event. At the same meet, Franklin clocked a 1:12.95 500-meter dash, becoming the Montgomery County runner-up.
RIFLERY
Head Coach Troy Prinkey and captain Ryan Loev ’24 led a young and inexperienced squad on the riflery team this season. The team, half of whom had no previous experience with the sport, improved their team score at every competition. From the first to the last competition, the team score improved by a whopping 15.4%, even while changing out the lineup for each competition. On the individual front, Peter Grandison ’25 was the team high scorer, with a team-best score of 342 out of a possible 400 points.
SWIMMING & DIVING
Captains Jackson Evans ’24, Deji Jones ’24, Nathan Poulin ’24, and Thomas Shelton ’24, with Head Coach Chris Ros, led the swimming and diving team to a third-place finish at the IAC championship meet, with Zachary Fayed ’25, Jones, Matthew Sonne ’25, and George Shannon ’26 being named All-IAC. Jones also broke the school record for the 100 breaststroke during the preliminary round of the Metro championships and then broke his own record later that day in the finals (59.53)!
In diving, Shannon won the IAC
championship and the WMPSSDL (Washington Metropolitan Private School Swim and Dive League) championship, finished fifth at the Metro championship, and took third at Easterns. He was named WMPSSDL Male Diver of the Year.
As a team, the Bears qualified 11 times for Metros, up from six last season, and the Middle School team won their championship, breaking three school records along the way!
SPRING SPORTS
LACROSSE
IAC CHAMPIONS
For the first time since 2017, the varsity lacrosse team won both the IAC regular season and tournament, led by Head Coach Will McGettigan and captains Nathan Furgeson ’24, Kevin Miller ’24, Davis Owens ’24, Anthony Panetti ’24, and Ahmed Zaid ’24. The team finished with an overall record of 17-2 and an undefeated IAC record of 7-0 (5-0 in the regular season and 2-0 in the tournament). After suffering its only two losses early in the season, the team built on its successful spring break trip to Texas, beating
perennially strong Highland Park High School and Episcopal School of Dallas, and never looked back, winning the remaining games on their schedule. In addition to these accomplishments, Coach McGettigan listed the comeback overtime win at Gonzaga as a highlight of the season, demonstrating the importance of keeping a cool head under pressure. The team kept its composure throughout the season, remaining true to the team standards –“Compete. Next play. Team.”
This attitude paid off through both the team’s accomplishments and individual accolades. Panetti was
the most decorated player on this team, earning the title of Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year (see page 55) and US Lacrosse All-American. Panetti was also recognized as the best high school player in Maryland by the Maryland State Lacrosse Coaches Association with the C. Markland Kelly Award, in addition to Maryland All-State First Team and IAC Player of the Year honors. Owens was named All-Met First Team, Academic All-American by US Lacrosse, All-State First Team, and All-IAC. Robertson earned All-Met First Team, All-State First Team, and All-IAC. Zach Abramson ’24 was named All-Met Honorable Mention, All-State First Team, and All-IAC. Miller and Troy Ulisney ’24 were named All-Met Honorable Mention, All-State Honorable Mention, and All-IAC.
Joining these players on All-State teams: Furgeson was named to the First Team, and Logan Cassidy ’25, Sean Murray ’25, and Caden Southworth ’25 were named Honorable Mention. Murray also earned All-IAC honors. Coach McGettigan was named Maryland State Lacrosse Coaches Association Coach of the Year and US Lacrosse – Potomac Chapter’s Coach of the Year.
Anthony Panetti ’24
In an outstanding season that got Landon lacrosse back in the winner’s circle, Anthony Panetti ’24 emerged as an undisputed star. The standout attacker was named Washington Post All-Met boys’ lacrosse Player of the Year, IAC Player of the Year, and All-American by US Lacrosse, and won the prestigious C. Markland Kelly Award, given by the Maryland State Lacrosse Coaches Association to the best lacrosse player in the state. He led the Bears to the team’s first IAC championship in seven years. Panetti, who will play at Bucknell University, finished the season with 36 goals and 41 assists, including three goals in the IAC championship game against Georgetown Prep.
RUGBY
MAVRC CHAMPIONS
Head Coach Sam Tyler and captains Dean Farber ’24, Barrett Hoffman ’24, and Hugh Neill ’24 led the varsity rugby team to an undefeated season – 6-0 in the regular season and 2-0 in the playoffs – and a MAVRC (Metro Area Varsity Rugby Conference) championship. In total, over the eight games, the team ended the season with 276 points for and 91 points against. Coach Tyler was particularly proud of the team’s resounding, hard-fought wins
against DeMatha and Gonzaga to end the regular season, as well as the veterans’ approach to mentoring the less experienced players. The few returning players helped the novices learn the nuances of the game, while the newer players remained coachable and put in the hard work to thrive in a new sport. At the conclusion of the season, Tucker Akridge ’24, Farber, Marshall Hyman ’25, Lucas Knight ’24, Jack Lapham ’24, and Neill were named All-MAVRC, while Graham Haberl ’24, Tiller Smith ’25, and Jonathan Willis ’25 earned
Honorable Mention. Even with so many seniors graduating from the program this year, 23 in total, the team looks to be in good hands in the coming year!
BASEBALL
Under its new head coach, Henry Martinez, and captains Jay Adams ’24, Reed Fernandes ’24, George Lee ’25, and James Pedas ’24, the varsity baseball team developed throughout the season and made an IAC championship series appearance, ultimately coming in second in the league. This playoff run, which Coach Martinez identified as a goal at the beginning of the season, was kept alive through Davis Recker ’24’s walkoff RBI in the 11th inning of the quarterfinal against Episcopal, followed by the team’s second road win of the season against St. Albans. Coach Martinez cited both of these feats as highlights of the season. In addition to these successes, Coach Martinez was proud of the boys’ comeback win against Riverdale Baptist early in the season, which provided a valuable opportunity for growth going into the IAC season. The team finished the year with an overall record of 13-15 and an IAC record of 7-7 (including going 2-2 in the IAC tournament). Sam Rosand ’25 earned Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention and All-IAC. Josh Burstein ’26 and Bo White ’26 were named All-IAC.
CREW
With head coaches Chris Ros and Kali Palmiotto at the helm, the crew team built on the program’s first season last year, adding more members to its ranks and naming the program’s first captain, Jett Pedersen ’25, mid-season. The novices progressed well over the season, with Leo Iacovelli ’26 qualifying for Mid-Atlantics, which took place in New Jersey in early May. Will Cate ’26, Liam Pilkington ’26, and Luke Yang ’27
also qualified in the U17 boat, and Pedersen qualified in the 2V boat. Due to Pedersen’s boat’s performance at Mid-Atlantics, he headed to Nationals, making him the first Landon rower to qualify. The team also competed closer to home at Thompson Boat House and Riley’s Lock, and its members look forward to having the program progress and grow.
FENCING
It is safe to say that Head Coach Matt Johnson’s goals at the beginning of fencing season were met this spring: the joint LandonHolton team improved in skill, competed well, and the veteran fencers – captain Ryan Loev ’24 along with Ryan Kramer ’25 and Holton-Arms’ Kira Bardin (Holton 2026) – did a great job mentoring the squad’s many novice fencers. The team had a final record of 2-3.
They managed to sweep St. Anselm’s, with Bardin and Abdu Dembele ’26 scoring match-winning points.
GOLF
The varsity golf team, led by Head Coach Andy Luther and captain Griffin Lugar ’24, navigated the young and inexperienced roster by achieving small, daily goals designed to build camaraderie as well as a competitive spirit. The lowest individual score of the season came against Georgetown Prep, when Will LeBlanc ’26 shot a 35 on the day. The team’s lowest score came against Loyola Blakefield, with a 187, and the overall record for the season was 8-5. The golfers rallied
at the IAC championship, finishing third. The season ended on a high note: the team won the Freeman Memorial Tournament, with Lugar, LeBlanc, and Owen Moore ’26 scoring a 77. On that same day, Mac Marshall ’25 scored a 78, and Nick Appleton ’26 – a first-year golfer for Landon – shot an 86. LeBlanc earned Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention.
OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Head Coach Griffin Gagnon credits the senior leadership of his team with the culture-building that the team worked toward this season, including captains Nicolas Alway Roza ’24, Brannon Hamilton ’24, Ari Kalish ’24, Ian Lever ’24, and Milan Mattheis ’25. Of note was Kalish’s performance at the Bishop McNamara Invitational, where he broke the school record for 400-meter hurdles. Additionally,
Anthony Akwara ’25 finished second in the pole vault in the IAC championship meet. Finally, Mattheis built on his impressive indoor throwing season. Having already broken the indoor shot put school record in the winter, he went for the outdoor discus record this season – and recorded the secondfarthest throw in school history. He also earned All-IAC honors, winning both the discus and shot put.
TENNIS
The varsity tennis team made it to its second consecutive IAC tournament final this season, ending the season with an overall record of 8-3 and a 4-1 IAC record, going 1-1 in the tournament. Captains Rex Bondi ’24 and Jeh-Lei Fan ’25 led a young but experienced team to a successful season, with another highlight being a second-place finish at the George Shaeffer Invitational in Philadelphia for the first time. Head
Coach WT Miller ’86 was proud of his team’s win over Gilman School and his players’ determination. This was especially true in the two close matches against St. Albans. At season’s end, Bondi, Fan, and Frank Wang ’26 were named All-IAC.
ULTIMATE FRISBEE
Head Coach Bryan Calloway’s Ultimate squad welcomed a number of new players to their senior-heavy squad. Captains Sean Curran ’24, Khalil Dembele ’24, Benji Groeschel ’24, and Christian Jensen ’24 brought spirit to the game and mentored newer and younger players to greater skill acquisition. A competitive highlight was a comeback win against Maret, overcoming a 2-7 deficit at the half.
16 SENIORS COMMIT TO PLAY NCAA COLLEGE SPORTS
Sixteen members of the Class of 2024 will play NCAA athletics in college. Landon has had 74 students in the past five graduating classes (2020-2024) commit to play NCAA sports at colleges and universities around the country. The 16 students this year represent 17% of the Class of 2024. They are:
Jay Adams
Baseball, Felician University
Dylan Aryavand
Football, Dickinson College
Rex Bondi
Tennis, Gettysburg College
Zach Cameron
Football, Marist College
Nathan Furgeson
Lacrosse, University of Delaware
Masai Gordon
Soccer, Bowdoin College
James Hanley
Wrestling, Roger Williams University
Ari Hobson
Basketball, Washington & Lee University
Barrett Hoffman
Football, Denison University
Deji Jones
Swimming, American University
Kevin Miller
Lacrosse, Georgetown University
Davis Owens
Lacrosse, Tufts University
Anthony Panetti
Lacrosse, Bucknell University
James Pedas
Baseball, Dickinson College
Chase Robertson
Lacrosse, University of Utah
Troy Ulisney
Lacrosse, Bowdoin College
Arts
2023-24
THEATER ARTS
From Disney and Shakespeare to ABBA and beyond, Landon student performers were inspired by both timeless tropes and modern tales in 2023-24. The plays and musicals included “The Aristocats” (Lower School), “The Addams Family” and “Death by Shakespeare” (Middle School), and “Mamma Mia,”the student-directed One-Acts and Improv Shows, and “The Play That Goes Wrong” (Upper School).
Student-directed One-Acts
“Mamma Mia”
“Mamma Mia”
“The Aristocats”
“The
“The Addams Family”
“The Aristocats”
Play That Goes Wrong”
MUSIC
Landon instrumental and choral ensembles presented concerts and performed during assemblies throughout the 2023-24 school year. Alumnus Zak Oehlerking ’22 returned to campus with his a cappella group, the Dartmouth Aires, and led workshops with the Upper School Chamber Singers, Clef Dwellers, and Bearitones, while our Lower School chorus was invited to perform at Washington National Cathedral.
The Strings Ensemble represented Landon at the State Large Ensemble Festival (see page 64), and Matthew Guo ’25 was accepted into the Maryland All-State Orchestra.
The Symphonic Band performed at several allschool assemblies, donning Landon jerseys during one assembly to reinforce how Landon students are both athletes and artists. The Jazz Ensemble gigged outside the school day, welcoming guests to the ’Zalea Bash with live music.
STUDIO ARTS
During the 2023-24 school year, student artists in all divisions illustrated, sculpted, and crafted in new dedicated art spaces, including the Wilson Building, soon to become home to the Altman Center for the Studio Arts. Upper School painting students welcomed visiting artist Monica Ikegwu, who shared her background as a painter and created a portrait of Akim Johnson ’27 in under an hour. Two student artists were recognized by the Scholastic Regional Art Awards and Representative Jamie Raskin’s 2024 Congressional Art Competition: Dhruv Narang ’24 and Oliver Bourne ’25 .
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Dhruv Narang
Oliver Bourne ’25
Oliver Bourne ’25
SUPERIOR STRINGS ORCHESTRA
The Upper School Strings Orchestra made Landon history by performing at the State Large Ensemble Festival. Their performances struck a chord with judges in every category.
The Upper School Strings Orchestra hit all the right notes at the 2024 State Large Ensemble Festival. The group earned a superior rating, the highest rating possible, in all categories at the festival. “It’s gratifying,” said principal second violinist James Shelton ’24 . “I think it’s pretty awesome to see us do so well, especially in my last year.”
The group advanced to the festival following an outstanding performance at the Montgomery County competition. It was the first time in school history the orchestra competed at this level. “When the students walked into Morgan State University, they were so excited to play in this giant hall,” said Director of Strings Stephen Czarkowski.
The boys performed “Arlington Sketches” by Elliot Del Borgo, “Agincourt” by Doug Spata, and “Battle” by Soon Hee Newbold during the state festival, which was held at Morgan State on May 1-3.
They also wowed the judges during the sight-reading portion of the competition. The judges assess tone quality, technique, intonation, interpretation, musical effect, and blend and balance.
“I was given a minute to look at the score and teach it to my students. There was a feeling of trust between the students,” Czarkowski added. “They played better than I could have imagined. The judge remarked many times on the sensitivity with which they played. I couldn’t agree more. I’m so proud of them all.”
“We’re all very proud of ourselves and proud of Mr. Czar. We’ve worked very hard all year,” said Fred Malek ’25, who plays the stand-up bass. “Mr. Czarkowski has done such a good job of leading us.”
LEGACY COLLECTION NEW STUDENT ART PROGRAM
Students across all divisions were invited to show their artistic creativity and originality for the inaugural Landon Legacy Collection Prize. The contest called for insightful interpretations of respect, one of Landon’s Core Values.
A new art contest has boys expressing themselves and exploring their interpretations of Landon’s Core Values.
Upper School Art Teacher
Kevin Hetzel launched the Landon Legacy Collection Prize at the start of the 2023-24 school year, inviting students to unleash their artistic talents in the new student art program.
“As we were looking at the new spaces and how we were going to lay out the student work, we decided that it was a really great opportunity for us to have a permanent collection that will showcase the Lower, Middle, and Upper School students’ artwork,” said Hetzel. “We want to show off their creativity, their originality, all the hard work they put in, as well as the diversity of our student body here.”
Open to all students, the contest allows for a variety of artistic mediums, from painting and sculpture to digital art and photography. Each submission must portray one of three aspects: the scenic beauty of the Landon campus, the rich academic experience, or the Core Values that shape the Landon community. The inaugural contest focused on respect.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for students to showcase their art and be proud of the things that we make in class,” said Talan Smith ’25.
After students made their submissions anonymously, the panel of judges, comprising all art teachers across divisions, made their selections. The winning artworks, by Isom ’30, Clausen ’29, James Shelton ’24, and Declan Jamberdino ’24, are on showcase in the Shue Family Commons.
Class Notes
1940s
Allen Rushton ’47 shared a heartfelt message about former Landon Trustee and late friend John LeMoyne Ellicott ’47, who passed away peacefully on January 15, 2024: “LeMoyne and I met the first day of second grade and quickly became close friends and remained such for the next 84 years. God blessed me by giving me such an outstanding, ethical friend for so many years. My heart goes out to Bea, his children, and all of his family for their loss. They have been greatly blessed by having him for a long time ... as has Landon. As cowboys are reputed to say, ‘See you later, old friend.’”
The late Gilbert “Gil” Bogley ’48 received the 2023 Distinguished Service Award from Traverse Connect, the lead economic development organization for the Grand Traverse region of Michigan. He served the region with his work in sales and newspaper publishing. He was a retired Traverse City Record-Eagle president and publisher, and a steadfast community volunteer with the
THANK YOU, CAM, AND WELCOME,
The Landon Alumni Board expresses its deep appreciation for outgoing President Cameron Coursen ’99 and his many years of leadership and passion for Landon. We welcome Andy Goldstein ’04 as the incoming president of the Landon Alumni Board, who is beginning his term after serving on the Board for the past five years.
The purpose of the Landon School Alumni Association is to engage the alumni in meaningful ways, provide opportunities for alumni to connect to Landon and one another, and invest broadly in Landon and its future.
Scan the QR code to learn more about the Landon Alumni Board and to nominate a fellow Bear for this leadership opportunity.
Traverse Rotary Club and the Munson Healthcare Board. The Distinguished Service Award is among the region’s oldest and most prestigious civic honors.
1950s
Timothy Temple ’54 stopped by for lunch and a tour of the Boehly Upper School. Welcome back, Tim! Go Bears!
Woody Chu ’55 passed away in January 2024. His daughter wrote, “Dad loved his years at Landon and treasured the lifelong friendships of many of his classmates. It is a testament to Landon’s welcoming environment that an immigrant boy of 12, who spoke very limited English, would find a warm home where he could flourish both academically and personally.”
On December 3, 2023, Claude Engle III ’56 passed away. He was an electrical engineer and a trailblazer in the field of lighting design. He designed the lighting for many iconic buildings and monuments around the world, but also locally, including lighting for the East Wing Gallery, the Canadian Chancery, the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean Memorial, the Japanese American Memorial, and CityCenterDC, among other projects. He developed his passion for lighting while working in the Landon theater, but his greatest Landon legacy was starting the Landon Bear Club.
1960s
Close to 150 alumni gathered on December 15 for the annual Alumni Holiday Luncheon, which was held on campus in the Barton Alumni Athletic Center. Landon proudly honored Robert E. Buchanan ’60, recipient of the Anthony E. Kupka ’64 Distinguished Alumnus Award, and Harmar Thompson ’90, recipient of the W. Landon Banfield ’50 Award for Outstanding Service to Landon.
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George Wenchel ’65 and his family gathered at the Navy Cyber Warfare Development Group (NCWDG) for a commemoration ceremony for his wife, Rosemary S. Wenchel. During the ceremony Capt.
Alumni Hockey Tournament
Current and former Landon hockey players came out to the Bear Den on December 23, 2023, for a fast-paced alumni hockey game! Many thanks to Robert Fogarty, Jr., ’00 and Landon ice hockey coach Alex Parker for their help organizing this event.
Michael Herlands, commanding officer of NCWDG, presented a portrait of Rosemary Wenchel to her family that will hang in the lobby of the NCWDG Cyber Foundry, a research and development command for some of the U.S. Navy’s cyber warfare capabilities. “Rosemary was an unsung pioneer of naval cryptology and a trailblazer for the cyber discipline within the U.S. National Security establishment,” said Herlands. “She was a prominent member of our NCWDG family for
decades and a true inspiration for many of us who continue carrying on her legacy.”
Family members pictured include Sarah, Seth ’98, Myles, George ’65, Adam ’92, Erin Heath, Josephine, and Heath Wenchel ’29.
Mayor of Cambridge, Maryland, Steve Rideout ’61 presented Landon seniors with a certificate thanking them for their efforts to better the Cambridge community. They are standing on the porch of one of the houses they worked on during a senior project trip with Habitat for Humanity in 2024.
Tom O’Bryon ’64 enjoyed celebrating the birthday of his grandson, Hudson Haas ’28, with some of the members of his class.
Bill (Francis) Sargent ’65 publishes a daily blog, “Notes From an Environmentalist,” on Substack. Each post includes interesting environmental findings, observations, and photographs.
Fred McNair ’69 and his family were featured in the October 2023 edition of Shipmate magazine, a publication of the U.S. Naval Academy. Fred wrote on LinkedIn: “Five generations, one unwavering commitment to duty, honor, and loyalty. From Civil War bravery to modern-day service, this story embodies the
true spirit of the Naval Academy. It has been an honor to serve and continue to watch my family follow in our footsteps!!”
1970s
David McConnaughey ’70 retired from his position as president/CEO of the ad agency PlowShare Group. He looks forward to spending more time with his grandson and granddaughter and catching up with his Landon classmates.
Meet Wesley Watson, grandson of Scott Watson ’70, born on February 6, 2024!
Bill Eacho ’72, Spence Chubb ’72,and Jim Duke ’72 visited at Spence’s home this spring.
Bill Oberdorfer ’73 shares: “It has been a year for me of reconnecting to Landon. I thoroughly enjoyed our 50th reunion with much appreciation for all the School did to celebrate and reconnect our class. I was a lifer (and also a member of Landon’s first varsity lacrosse team – when we were using wooden sticks) so I go way back. And 50 years later, for the first time, I have a relative at the School, my great nephew, Niklas Nyberg ’27.” Bill attended the Varsity Hockey IAC Championship-winning game and enjoyed supporting Niklas during his first Upper School season with the Bears.
Russ Gagarin ’77 and his son, Andy ’06, played eight rounds of golf over six days at Bandon Dunes in Oregon. While there, Russ had the pleasure of hiking the 1.8 mile trail named after Jamie McEwan ’70.
Eric Lindner ’77 wrote about his lifelong friend, Roger Blumenthal ’77, in his Substack blog, “Under the Hood: The Power of Principled Leadership.” “Our 50-year friendship has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life. I’m hardly alone. He’s salt-ofthe-earth: half Albert Schweitzer, half Forrest Gump. Spirits lift and days brighten whenever he just walks into a room.”
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The Class of 1973 celebrated their 50th reunion on November 3, 2023, with a reception and dinner hosted by Head of School Jim Neill in the Barton Alumni Room and Patio.
The Class of 1975
held a mini reunion in Bandol, France. Attendees included Judy and Tim Jenkins ’75, Mary and Stephen Gordon ’75, Tammy and John Gill ’75, Florence and Bob Doyle ’75, and Ann and Tom West ’75.
Dave Reeves ’76 ran into Andy Sommerville ’72 on a trail in Manarola, Italy, last summer. It was Andy’s Landon hat that made them recognize each other!
Chris Connor ’78 received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Class of 1978 reunited at the Chevy Chase Lounge in honor of their 45th reunion. Many thanks to Stephen Bou ’78, P ’19, Chris Connor ’78, and Allan Plumley ’78 for serving as reunion organizers.
1980s
On February 5, 2024, the United States Golf Association (USGA) announced Steve Block ’80 from Woodmont Country Club as one of the 10 honorees of the Ike Grainger Award, acknowledging his 25 years of service as a volunteer for the USGA. Alongside his quarter-century commitment to the USGA, Block has served as president of the Middle Atlantic Golf Association, and he continues to offer his volunteer services locally at their events and the U.S. Open Final Qualifying held at Woodmont Country Club.
Alumni Paddle Tennis Tournament
Landon alumni gathered at the Chevy Chase Club on January 6, 2024, to compete in the Alumni Paddle Tennis Tournament. Art Garrett ’83 and Nick Barquin ’97 took first place, while Penn Leachman ’94 and Jake Samperton ’05 took second place. Many thanks to Landon Alumni Board President Cameron Coursen ’99 for sponsoring and organizing this event.
Congratulations to Peter Arnold ’82 who was recently elected president of the Dartmouth Club of Washington.
Chip FitzGerald ’83, George Hani ’83, Arthur Garrett ’83, and Danny Weingold ’83 went golfing together in Ireland.
Chip FitzGerald ’83, Mason Holleman ’21, Billy Amoroso ’77, Steve Amitay ’83, Stoddie Nibley ’05, Michael Bednerek ’13, Vernon Holleman ’19, Billy Scott ’83, Graham Shue ’13, Seller Garrett ’12, and Arthur Garrett ’83 gathered at the wedding of Blair FitzGerald Jones.
Peter Weiss ’86 and Dan Berger ’86 recently visited campus and met up with teacher and classmate WT Miller ’86.
The Class of 1983
Thank you to Martha Blair and Chip FitzGerald ’83, P ’13, for hosting the 40th reunion at their home. Also, many thanks to Steve Amitay ’83, P ’18 ’20, for all his help organizing the event.
Billy Yancey ’87 released a memoir, “Free Bodies and Minds Held Captive,” in January 2024. The book is available for purchase on Amazon.
1990s
Andrew Goldman ’90 was named the Dave Tyler US Hockey League (USHL) Executive of the Year. Named president of the Youngstown Phantoms in 2018, Goldman helped lead Youngstown to its first Clark Cup Championship in 2022-23.
David Peikin ’90 and Scott Koonce ’90 successfully completed the Chicago Marathon, where both ran Boston Marathon qualifying times. Congratulations, David and Scott!
Adam Wenchel ’92 is the CEO of Arthur, an artificial intelligence performance company. Last summer, Wenchel was interviewed on “Bloomberg Technology” about Arthur Bench, a solution that helps businesses determine the best language learning model for the products and tools they’re developing.
Cellist-songwriter Okorie Johnson ’93 captivated our entire community at our allschool Black History Month assembly. Johnson weaved stories into his performance of original and improvised songs, even collaborating with the audience.
Longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers legal executive, Dan Malasky ’93, joined IMG Academy to serve as their new chief legal officer.
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The Class of 1993
Members of the Class of 1993 celebrated their 30th reunion at the Chevy Chase Lounge on November 4. Many thanks to Brooks Brown ’93 and Douglas Kiker ’83, P ’31 ’34, for serving as reunion organizers.
The Class of 1998
Members of the Class of 1998 gathered at the home of Laura and John Gantt ’98, P ’28, to celebrate their 25th reunion. They wish to extend their deepest gratitude to Ellen Watson, mother of the late George Watson ’98, for sponsoring their reunion. In addition to the Gantts, thanks to Billy Fort ’98, Brian Mathis ’98, and John Pinto ’98 for their efforts organizing the 25th reunion.
Brian Haney ’99 recently interviewed Erin Egan, Chief Privacy Officer at Meta and mother of Nicholas Biabani ’23 and Christopher Biabani ’25, on his podcast, “The Haney Company Financial Guy Podcast.”
Scott Hettermann ’99 served as the personal trainer for the Prime Minister of Qatar
from 2010-12, which led to him opening up F45 Training franchises in the Middle East and North Africa. He now has 20 studios under ownership in the United States (Los Angeles, Charleston, and Boston), Spain, Qatar, and Thailand. He spends most of his time living between Qatar and Thailand and loves having Landon alumni in his studios.
(Scott is pictured here with Mike Rutenberg ’99, linebackers coach for the New York Jets). You can reach out to him on Instagram at @scotth24.
Logan Circle Community Association Board of Directors has named Brigham Kiplinger ’99 their local hero. In just six years as the principal of Garrison Elementary School, he has transformed Garrison from a school facing closure due to poor test scores to being regarded as one of Washington, D.C.’s best-performing schools.
Mike Rutenberg ’99, linebackers coach for the New York Jets, returned to Landon to deliver the Nelson Leadership Lecture at an all-school assembly in April. The Christopher A. Nelson ’86 Leadership Program is a lecture series held in honor of Chris Nelson ’86, who lost his battle with leukemia in 1982.
2000s
Thank you to all the Texas Bears who joined us for an awesome evening in Austin! It was so great to reconnect and share stories about Landon. Among the Bears who attended, pictured left to right: Michael McCabe, James Langdon ’99, Brian Klapac ’89, Ana Dahlman Riotto, Andrew Riotto ’02, Peter Krogh ’79, Richard Huber ’12, Michael Hardie ’22, and Landon Board of Trustees member Dwaine Alleyne ’00.
Maj. David Peters ’01, USMCR, and Lt. Col. Geoff Hengerer ’95, USMCR, attended the Marine Corps Birthday Ball in New Orleans on November 10, 2023.
Drew Doggett ’02 recently spent time in a remote swath of Alaskan wilderness where record numbers of brown bears gather annually. He says of his recent adventure, “I came here to create images of brown bears, revealing their stories or telling you more about them through distinguishing details and nuance. The resulting works are a tribute to one of our enduring cultural symbols for strength, might, and power as they reign over an unconquerable swath of wilderness.” Visit drewdoggett.com to see more of Drew’s photography.
Joseph Morrison, Jr., ’02 joined Barnes & Thornburg LLP as a partner providing corporate and outside general counsel services to clients. He is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Los Angeles offices.
The Class of 2003
Many members of the Class of 2003 celebrated their 20th reunion on November 4, 2023. Thank you to Austin Bordley ’03, William Jolley ’03, and Alex Staffier ’03 for organizing the event.
Joe Comiskey ’04 started a company electrifying Land Rover Defenders. His brother Will ’07 (both are USNA and former Marines) works with him as well. He was featured on an episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage” in September 2023.
Brandon Goodwyn ’05 started a new position as Senior Director of Strategic Alliances at Fireblocks.
Xander Walker ’05, founder of EV Service Pros, announced the launch of a new platform connecting electric vehicle owners with a growing network of independent repair shops specializing in EV maintenance and service.
Ryan Kiernan ’06 and wife Marie welcomed twins, Peter and John, on February 15, 2024.
Landon faculty members
Jeremy Norman ’92 and J.R. Bordley ’00 led a two-day, off-campus Middle School experience called “Maryland: Seize the Day Off!” Cmdr. Mark Mhley ’92, Tim Winter ’91, J.T. Thomas III ’20, Bobby Rudzki ’22, and Preston Lugar ’22 led a tour of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis.
Conor Law ’08 was married to Colleen Renzi (Stone Ridge ’07) on October 14, 2023, in Bethany Beach. Pictured above back row (L-R): Charles Bakaly IV ’08, John Tiernan ’08, Austin Sanders ’04, Nicholas Rhoads ’08, Patrick Price ’08, and John Sanders ’80. Front row (L-R): William Ruppe ’08, Conor Law ’08, Colleen Renzi, and Nicholas Pohanka ’08.
Agustin Umanzor ’08 and Laura Romano welcomed their second son, Isaac, on March 10, 2024.
David Chakola ’09 assumed a new position as managing partner at Golden Bear International LLC.
Nick Vassos ’09 and Brooke Merchen were engaged while vacationing in Greece in August. It was a big month for Nick, who also received his MBA from University of Maryland Smith Business School.
2010s
Sam Anas ’11 and the Hershey Bears ice hockey team won the 2023 American Hockey League championship. He brought the Calder Cup to Landon and to the Rockville Ice Arena, where it shared his high school locker stall with the state championship he won as a Landon senior. Sam and his wife, Grace, were married in July 2023, and they now live in Minsk, Belarus, where he plays for the Dinamo.
Five years ago, Joe McDonald ’12 left the college basketball coaching world and pursued a profession in development and alumni relations. He is happy to share
that he has accepted the position as Associate Director of Development for the athletics program at The George Washington University.
Addison Sarter ’12 is running for the Washington, D.C., City Council. Addison is a case manager at Miriam’s Kitchen, where he works to connect individuals with vital resources such as housing, healthcare, and food assistance.
Woody Axelson ’13 married Ashton Caudle on May 11, 2024, in Palmetto Bluff, SC. The Bears in attendance, left to right: Adam Freed ’13, Michael Bednarek ’13, Taylor Bryan ’13, PJ FitzGerald ’13, Robby Dunigan ’13, Jason Murphy ’13, Woody Axelson ’13, Blake Shue ’09, Aidan Kelso ’13, Marshall Peters ’13, Graham Shue ’13, David Spiritos ’13, and Ben Spiritos ’11.
Nick Murray ’13 married Devon McCabe on October 21, 2023, in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, with many Bears in attendance!
Phil Peña ’13 joined JLL Technologies as a senior account executive.
Johari Johnson ’15 recently made a career change and became a fire fighter. “A defining moment that set the stage for many aspects of my life. Passion, values, and the impact I have on the world. Being a fire fighter has aided in me figuring out what I truly find meaningful in life. For this I am grateful.”
The Class of 2013
Members of the Class of 2013 celebrated their 10th reunion at the home of Martha Blair and Chip FitzGerald ’83 on November 3, 2023. Many thanks to PJ FitzGerald ’13, Aiden Kelso ’13, Jason Murphy ’13, Graham Shue ’13, and Matthew Underhill ’13 for organizing their event.
Ryan Curto ’14 graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is starting his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.
Garland Kennedy ’14 ran his third Sitka Alpine Adventure Run on July 15, 2023. He finished in 11th place out of 100 runners with a time of 1:22:44. Garland is a senior staff writer for the Daily Sitka Sentinel in Sitka, Alaska.
Drennan Greene ’16, member of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, earned his E3B badge. The E3B badge – The Expert Infantry/ Field Medical/Soldier Badges –was created in 1944 in order to honor the U.S. Army infantryman and serve as a symbol of their role in combat and proficiency in the Infantry arts.
Clayton Henschel ’16 is a client risk associate in the Structured Finance, Fund Finance Group at Santander Bank, N.A.
Five Landon Bears and subsequent Bucknell graduates/ students recently met in New York City for a real estate event. Attendees included John Paul ’23, John Slowinski ’16, Josh Hunter ’16, Max Kra ’12, and Jerimaha McClain ’22.
Cole Gibson ’17 is a senior legislative assistant for Rep. Troy E. Nehls (TX-22).
Brian Lossing ’17 was promoted to battle captain at the U.S. Army.
Conor Price ’15 is a commercial account executive with Invicti Security in Austin, Texas.
Amil Agarwal ’16 earned his M.D. from The George Washington Medical School and will start his residency in orthopedic surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore.
Noah Thomas ’16, a member of the band American Fraternity, dropped his new song, “FYN,” on Spotify.
Zach Wiener ’16 honored his sisters Jillian and Lindsay by competing in the Ironman Maryland competition in September 2023. His story is featured in a documentary on YouTube and during a segment on the “Today” show.
Mitchell Pan ’17 graduated from Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Class of 2018
Members of the Class of 2018 celebrated their fifth reunion at Death Punch Bar. Many thanks to Kyle Amitay ’18, Arihant Chadda ’18, and John DeNovio ’18 for organizing the event. Additional thanks to Beckett Norris ’18 for hosting his classmates at his family’s venue.
Miles Davis ’18 and Jacob Solomon ’18 recently launched their new joint ventures MYWEEKLY House Clean and ServiceNest. Good luck to Miles and Jacob with their new home cleaning and auto detailing businesses. Go Bears!
Mac Hollensteiner ’18 recently accepted an associate position at Cushman & Wakefield in Tysons Corner, Virginia.
Zachary Johnson ’18 is now an associate at Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group!
Nico Kenary ’18 recently started a new position as operations lead, working as the assistant to the CEO and COO of The Vanguard Network, which helps current and future senior leaders transform themselves and their organizations by building high-performance leadership.
Jonny Gherman ’19 is proud to be the new Head Wrestling Coach for Saint Francis Middle School.
Tobi Olaniyi ’19 was named a Venture For America fellow. The two-year fellowship is designed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with essential career skills and provide firsthand experience as a full-time employee at a start-up company. Tobi is currently an impact investment associate with Baltimore-based Ignite Capital.
Bears from the 2010s and early 2020s gathered at the Amitay’s Rehoboth Beach home for Memorial Day weekend 2024.
2020s
Matt Amitay ’20 (Columbia ’24) and Daniel Robinson ’22 (Penn ’26) faced each other at the Ivy League Rugby 7s tournament in Boston.
Tomás Kenary ’20 plays football at Middlebury College and was named the NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year. He was a semifinalist for Div. III Player of the Year, earned a spot on the New England Division II/ III All-New England Team, and was named a finalist for the NFF Williams V. Campbell Trophy.
Stuart Powell ’20 will be starting as a developmental analyst at Weller Development Partners in Bethesda, Maryland.
Canin Reynolds ’20 accepted the Enterprise Finance Internship position at Comcast/ NBCUniversal.
Evan Schwartz ’20 will be starting as a capital markets analyst at JLL in Washington, D.C.
Gavin Seasholes ’20 interned for Indiana Senator Mike Braun.
Andrew Gray ’21, currently attending Carnegie Mellon University, visited our Upper School Strings class. After playing two pieces, he conducted the ensemble. Many thanks to Andrew for inspiring our students in a way that engaged them and left them wanting more.
Jake Kreindler ’21 is thrilled to announce that he was elected as the student body vice president of the College of Charleston.
Jake Kreindler ’21 and Jordan Dinesman ’20 reunited and played a round of golf at River Course, Kiawah Island.
Kino Lilly, Jr., ’21 was the leading scorer in the Ivy League last season, averaging 19.0 points per game. He also led the Ivy League in 3 pointers made per game with 3.2.
Olutimi Olaniyi ’21 is studying economics at Villanova University and was invited to attend the National Association for Business Economics Conference in Washington, D.C.
Thomas Mearns ’21 was selected to speak at the Edinburgh University’s History Society Seminar Series on “Gore and Glory.” He said, “I am proud to have been able to share my presentation on the U.S. Civil War, a war that should be considered an archetype for embodying the concepts of ‘Gore and Glory.’ I am fortunate to have had a great foundation in U.S. history from excellent teachers like Emily Matthews, Ian Healy ’00, and Bill Reed.”
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The Class of 2021 reconnected at a Nationals baseball game in June. Members of the Class of 2022 were also in the ballpark and joined in on the fun. A great time was had by all.
Congratulations to Cullen Brown ’22 for winning the Ohio State University Student Organization Emerging Leader Award.
Charlie Bundy ’22 was awarded the CAA Golf Weekly (April 17) Award for the 2023-24 regular season.
Pierce Ryan ’22 was chosen to design the official 2023 University of Notre Dame football Shirt. More than 165,000 Notre Dame shirts sell every year raising more than $3.3 million dollars. The proceeds support financial aid and help students afford unexpected medical expenses.
Benny L. Starks III ’22 is a student at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and received a letter from the school commending him for his actions that saved the life of a fellow student. Here is an excerpt:
“I want to take a moment to recognize your exceptional actions on Monday, December 5, 2023. You demonstrated extraordinary courage and compassion by responding swiftly to a fellow distressed student. Your quick thinking and immediate action in seeking life-saving support for a friend and fellow Mānoa student are commendable. Your actions embody the community spirit and mutual care we strive to uphold at our Mānoa student community. Seeing students like you exemplify these values in critical need is heartening.”
Nico Biabani ’23 received the Congressional Award Gold Medal, the highest honor for youth, for his commitment to community service, personal development, physical fitness, and exploration. He is pictured here with Congressman Jamie Raskin.
Kristian Fletcher ’23 continues on the roster of D.C. United. Kristian is considered a top prospect in Major League Soccer, coming off of a brief but productive half-season loan with Swansea City’s U-21 side. Upon returning stateside, the 18-year-old D.C. United midfielder has become a regular in the lineup. He was recently loaned to Nottingham Forest to play another stint with their U-21 team in England.
Tyler Perkins ’23 had a standout freshman season at University of Pennsylvania. He received weekly honors from the Philadelphia Big Five and the Ivy League on multiple occasions and broke Penn’s freshman scoring record. At the end of the school year, Tyler made the decision to transfer to Villanova University, where he plays for the Wildcats.
In Memoriam
LANDON MOURNS THE LOSS OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED YET REMAIN A BELOVED PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
FROM JULY 2023–OCTOBER 2024
Margaret Jean Paseur, mother of John J. Paseur ’12. July 7, 2023.
Clayton W. Eisinger ’56. August 25, 2023.
Donald Ulisney, grandfather of Troy R. Ulisney ’24. August 26, 2023.
Henry M. Lowden ’64. September 2, 2023.
Leonard J. Norry, father of Douglas Norry ’90 and grandfather of William Norry ’20. September 2, 2023.
Hugh Lynch III, brother of Robert Lynch ’77 and former Landon faculty and coach. September 8, 2023.
Monty Burnham, mother of John S. Burnham ’95. September 18, 2023.
Francis J. Crilley III ’70, uncle of James Crilley, Jr., ’12 and Edward Crilley ’15. September 20, 2023.
Harriet Lindner Newbill, mother of E. Thomas Newbill ’69. September 26, 2023.
William F. Weber III ’59, father of Clayton Weber ’92 and grandfather of Christian Weber. September 26, 2023.
Karl William Corby IV, brother of Stephen Corby ’02. September 30, 2023.
Stanley B. Corey, Jr., grandfather of James “Jack” Juncker ’27. September 30, 2023.
Elizabeth “Betty” Halley Nicolson, mother of Charles Nicolson, Jr., ’79. October 18, 2023.
Lisa Wilkerson Williams, mother of Brody J. Williams ’26. October 18, 2023.
James W. Hanker, longtime Landon coach. October 26, 2023.
Michel Kane Etjeke, father of John E. Kane ’92. October 30, 2023.
John R. Katkish, father of Christopher Katkish ’11. November 5, 2023.
Harrison E. Ferris ’67. November 7, 2023.
Frederick T. Doane ’58. November 11, 2023.
Albert Lyman Warner, former Landon faculty/staff. November 30, 2023.
George S. Elmore, Jr., ’60. December 3, 2023.
Claude R. Engle III ’56, father of Claude ’82 and Douglas ’88 Engle. December 3, 2023.
Charles Gray Hurd, Jr., ’69. December 6, 2023.
Mary Catherine “Cay” Drury, former Landon faculty/staff. December 13, 2023.
Maxine Rizik Tanous, mother of Bruce S. Tanous ’73 and grandmother of Louis ’15 and Theodore ’15 Tanous. December 13, 2023.
Curtis R. Walker ’68. December 15, 2023.
Michael B. Clarke ’62. December 22, 2023.
Annette Gardner Lasley, former Landon Trustee and mother of Jonathan Lasley ’82. December 27, 2023.
Marie Chapin Plumley, mother of Allan R. Plumley III ’78 and Christopher W. Plumley ’83. January 2, 2024.
Dustin Victor Aschenbach ’05, brother of Conrad ’00 and William “Lawson” ’02 Aschenbach, cousin of Jason Aschenbach ’03 and Joshua Mendelson ’09, and second cousin of Gavin Aschenbach ’31. January 4, 2024.
Lois King Aschenbach, grandmother of Conrad ’00, William “Lawson” ’02, Jason ’03, Dustin ’05 Aschenbach, and Joshua Mendelson ’09, and greatgrandmother of Gavin Aschenbach ’31. January 4, 2024.
John Valcoulon LeMoyne Ellicott ’47, former Landon Trustee, brother of Donald G. Ellicott ’51 and father of Valcoulon L. Ellicott II ’74. January 15, 2024.
Sherwood C. Chu ’55. January 23, 2024.
William Bayfield III ’57. February 4, 2024.
Toby Kahn, mother of David A. Kahn ’97, mother-in-law of Landon faculty member Alexis Kahn. February 7, 2024.
Daniel J. McDermott ’72, uncle of Christopher McDermott ’03. February 8, 2024.
Matthew H. Struckmeyer, former Landon Lower School faculty. February 25, 2024.
Stephen H. Myers ’72, brother of Eric Myers ’74 and Robert Myers ’65, and uncle of Stuart Myers ’98. March 3, 2024.
Virginia A. Simpson, spouse of Edmund G. Simpson ’61, mother of Edmund G. Simpson, Jr., ’84 and Matthew W. Simpson ’89. March 4, 2024.
Thomas C. Hanks ’62, brother of John B. Hanks ’65. March 7, 2024.
Grady “Walter” Coker, father of Grady E. Coker ’25. March 17, 2024.
Heather Dawn Mansell Coxon, former Landon faculty/staff. March 23, 2024.
Lawrence G. Meyer, father of Travis Meyer ’02. March 27, 2024.
Judith Carr Evans, mother of Stephen Evans ’84 and grandmother of Mark Evans ’23. March 29, 2024.
Dennis “John” DeVany ’69. April 16, 2024.
John “Jack” R. Graham ’18, son of Landon Trustee Debra Graham and brother of Joseph Graham ’20. April 26, 2024.
Lewis S. Wiener, father of J. Zachary E. Wiener ’16. April 29, 2024.
Benedict George Ballman, father of George Ballman, Jr., ’87. May 3, 2024.
Juliet English Altemus, mother of Mark E. Altemus ’80. May 7, 2024.
William H. Rough ’57. May 26, 2024.
Joanne J. Nelson, mother of Peter ’90, John ’82, and the late Christopher ’86 Nelson. May 29, 2024.
Rosemary Walsh, mother of Mark ’08 and John ’10 Findaro. May 29, 2024.
Kimball C. Firestone, father of W. Curtis Firestone ’82. June 3, 2024.
John Paul Zawatsky ’12, brother of Charles “Nick” Zawatsky ’13. June 7, 2024.
Stephen S. Pappas, father of Stephen Pappas, Jr., ’81, grandfather of John ’17 and Mark ’20 Kalavritinos and Alexander Pappas ’21. July 4, 2024.
Franklin A. Josef, grandfather of Asher C. Josef ’25. August 9, 2024.
Runa Mithani, mother of Arhan Mithani ’30. August 22, 2024.
Juan David Eusse ’10, brother of Thomas Eusse ’23. September 5, 2024.
Donald Chamberlin Meek, father of Steven Meek ’78 and J. Emory Meek ’97, father-in-law of William Landon Banfield, IV ’81, grandfather of William ’19 and Bradley ’22 Banfield. September 15, 2024.
Richard W. Crenshaw ’55. September 15, 2024.
Clifton M. Mount ’79. September 26, 2024.
John B. Hanks ’65, brother of Thomas C. Hanks ’62. October 9, 2024.
Gilbert A. Bogley ’48. October 19, 2024.
Rosemary Warner Seawell, spouse of A. Brooke Seawell ’65, brother of Jonathan Warner ’79. October 22, 2024.
Phillip “Pip” Barton ’79, brother of Christopher Barton ’77. October 26, 2024.
W. LANDON BANFIELD ’50 AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO LANDON
Harmar Thompson ’90 received the 2023 W. Landon Banfield ’50 Award for Outstanding Service to Landon, which pays tribute to Banfield’s tireless dedication to the preservation of the Landon tradition and recognizes others who share his love for this School.
Thompson is the Executive Vice President and Principal of LCOR, Inc., which specializes in groundup core urban development and property management services. The company has developed more than $1.6 billion in investments over the past eight years.
So, it comes as no surprise that Thompson was tapped to bring his expertise to Landon as the School embarked on an ambitious vision for the future of the campus.
Thompson’s service to Landon began in 2016 with an invitation from Michael Banks ’92 to join the Buildings and Grounds Committee. Joe Kenary ’82 then invited him to join the Landon Board of Trustees in 2017.
For the next six years, under three board chairs, Thompson would lead the development and execution of the Campus Master Plan, a plan that would reshape
Landon’s footprint and provide mission flexibility for years to come. He worked internally with the school leadership and externally with the architect and construction teams to ensure that this transformational plan was done right. He is commended for his calm, intelligent leadership and dedication to the project; he spent so much time on campus, he was sometimes mistaken for a Landon employee!
Thompson credits Coach Rob Bordley ’66 and former Landon faculty and trustee Douglas Lagarde as major influences in his life. “They instilled in me discipline, character, perseverance, and how to lead by example. These are attributes I will always keep with me, and are things that my wife, Christie, and I try to teach our boys, Hurst, Grymes ’31, and Theiss ’33. I’m so happy to have two boys now at Landon learning many of the same things I was taught.”
ANTHONY EDWARD KUPKA
’64 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD
As the son of one of Landon’s first graduates, W. Evans Buchanan ’36, Buchanan has known Landon for his entire life and has dedicated significant service to the School, including serving on the Board of Trustees for several terms.
When Buchanan was nearing the end of his service in the U.S. Navy, he was uncertain of his immediate future. But then came a call from his mother that changed the course of his life. She put him on track to work for the family real estate business, and now Buchanan is one of the D.C. area’s most successful real estate developers.
The demand for commercial office space in Northern Virginia in the late 1970s inspired Buchanan to be involved in several public-private partnerships. He established Buchanan Companies in 1978 and then Buchanan Partners, LLC, in 1998, pioneering commercial and residential development in emerging markets throughout Maryland and Virginia and,
Bob Buchanan ’60 received the 2023
Anthony Edward Kupka ’64 Distinguished Alumnus Award, which is presented to an alumnus who has demonstrated the ideals for which Landon stands through service to Landon, his community, his profession, or his country.
through his firms, ultimately developing more than 7.5 million square feet of commercial space and more than $1.75 billion in total investments.
In 2008 Buchanan formed the 2030 Group to generate public awareness of the need for regionalism in the Washington area. The group found that the region would be much more marketable to corporations if all areas marketed themselves as a region rather than individual jurisdictions. This effort paid off with Amazon’s establishment of its HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia, in 2019.
When Buchanan is not focused on the commercial real estate business, he dedicates time as a devoted alumnus. He contributes annually to the Buchanan Family Scholarship, which supports Landon’s financial aid initiatives. Beginning in 1980, Buchanan and his wife, Shannon, hosted Saturday night dinners every five years with his classmates at their home, and for the 50th reunion, 33 of 42 classmates attended the dinner. He is the 2008 recipient of the W. Landon Banfield ’50 Award for Outstanding Service to Landon.
Outside of his service to Landon and his business, Buchanan enjoys gardening, bird watching with his wife, and spending time with his growing family, which includes two great-grandchildren.
HONORARY ALUMNUS AWARD
The Landon Alumni Association posthumously recognizes Earl Jackson with the title of Honorary Alumnus for his dedicated service to the moral and educational growth of students who attended Landon.
Earl Jackson, Landon’s former Director of Performing Arts, came to Landon in 1986 after a successful run, performing with the likes of Aretha Franklin and Earth, Wind, and Fire. During his decades here, he taught thousands of Landon boys to love music and to embrace the hard work necessary to create great ensembles. Earl was an iconic presence at Landon, having taught for 34 years before retiring in 2020.
He was a central player in making the performing arts at Landon a defining aspect of the Landon experience for all our boys. Earl’s balance of a warm personality and firm hand helped generations of boys live up not only to his appropriately high standards but also to their own potential, and his (and their) work did not go unnoticed regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Earl always put the boys first; as a testament to this, Landon alumni regularly came back to visit him and express their appreciation for his astute and nuanced way of teaching them and for the tough love he gave to them during their time as Landon Bears. Simply put, we are a better place because of Earl’s dedication to Landon, and our appreciation for Earl runs deep.
Earl’s wife, Cathie, and son, Christopher, accepted the Honorary Alumnus accolade on Earl’s behalf at the 2023 Alumni Holiday Luncheon.
6101 Wilson Lane
Bethesda, Maryland 20817
MEET OUR NEW BRONZE BEAR
An 8-foot-tall bronze grizzly bear statue now stands proudly at the end of Miniter Quad, serving as a central connecting point to academics, arts, and athletics. Bronze sculptor Raymond Gibby completed the statue in a foundry in Springville, Utah, then made the more than 2,000-mile drive to 6101 Wilson Lane to install it.
