M A G A Z I N E
SUMMER 2023
MAGAZINE
HEAD OF SCHOOL Jim Neill, P ’24 EDITOR Meredith Josef, P ’25 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Kirsten Petersen WRITERS Katrina Bush Danisa Ferrada Charles Franklin Ellice Hawkins Liz Hudson Michael McCabe Loretta Menzen Jim Neill Gavin Seasholes ’20 Joan Vassos PHOTOGRAPHY Katrina Bush Grant Gibson Denny Henry Victor O’Neill Studios Cory Royster D.C. United DESIGN Creosote Affects
Our Mission 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.
Can you believe it?! Nothing beats the pure joy on students’ faces. The varsity soccer team won the IAC tournament title in 2022 against St. Albans on their turf, and veteran sports photographer Cory Royster was there for the magical moment!
ON THE COVER Nate Rosner ’23 receives help with his boutoniere from Upper School Learning Specialist Emily Howe.
F E A T U R E S
4 Campus Master Plan SECTIONS
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School News
50
Alumni News
Achievements Athletics Arts
Alumni Spotlights Class Notes In Memoriam
From the Head of School Dear Landon Community,
FEATURES
The old adage that change is the only constant was certainly fitting for the 2022-23 school year at Landon, as we were witness to extraordinary change on campus. We entered our first full “new normal” year since the pandemic, and as such were able to turn back to, among other things, a real dedication to fulfilling major aspects of our Campus Master Plan, work that will benefit the school and our boys for years to come.
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The efforts of the last 18 months of campus revitalization have been not just massive and transformational but also needed. We began, quite literally, at the beginning – with the creation of a more beautiful and secure entrance named Harriet Warren Way, as well as a new loop road, expanding the pedestrian nature of our campus core. We lifted and moved the 1,100-ton Andrews House and began a full interior renovation. We built major additions to the Banfield Academic Center (BAC) and witnessed cranes, trucks, excavators, and the efforts of many skilled craftsmen working together to construct the new Boehly Upper School and enhance the beauty of the landscape. Our boys and faculty demonstrated perseverance and teamwork throughout, showing
that Landon is and always will be about relationships. And since the end of the school year, this work has picked up. We emptied our main academic buildings to make way for a fullscale renovation of the BAC and major upgrades to the Freeman Family Lower School (previously the Middle School); we have continued our efforts toward concluding the Boehly Upper School and Andrews House; and we have undertaken numerous large-scale site work and other renovations around campus. We were excited to see this work be completed in time to bring it to life with the start of the 2023-24 school year. You can read more in this issue about all these efforts on our Campus Master Plan.
The accompanying Campaign for Landon has continued apace as has the work it is supporting. My heartfelt thanks go out to the community for the millions of dollars that have been contributed and pledged to date as part of the Campaign — and not just to construction but also to endowment and operations. We have made excellent progress. But we are not done. If you have not already supported the current $50 million fundraising effort, please join in and help us exceed our goal. We need the engagement of the entire community as we seek to wrap up and indeed exceed the goals of the Campaign by the end of the 2023-24 school year. Truly, gifts of all size matter. Please contact our Director of Development, Peter Gallo, Ph.D.,
Strategic Plan Successes 2022-23 Landon’s 2018 Strategic Plan has six goals and 26 actions steps. A few highlights from the past year include:
GOAL: ACADEMICS • Moved Grade 6 back to Lower School • Upgraded technology infrastructure • Hired educational technology specialist and STEM coordinator
There are so many to thank for these efforts coming to pass, but I would like to single out our exceptional and outgoing Board Chair, Alex Baldwin, P ’18, who took the helm of the Board in the spring of 2020 as the pandemic was wreaking havoc on schools across the country and who concluded his term this spring as we neared the final stages on the incredible transformations described above. His selfless, dedicated, and tireless service to Landon has been nothing short of exceptional. I also would like to use this occasion to thank our new Board Chair, Bill Magruder ’92, for his service and leadership as he steps into the role.
Ours is a wonderful community, and the support of the mission and love of Landon have been clear and constant during this year of change. I hope you enjoy this 2023 issue of the Landon Magazine, as we look back at the many accomplishments of the past year and share the vision for the years ahead.
GOAL: FACULTY • Adopted and implemented updated school-wide evaluation system
GOAL: CAMPUS • See more on the following pages!
GOAL: RESOURCES
Sincerely,
• Continued efforts toward meeting $50 million Capital Campaign goal
Jim Neill Head of School
• Continued work on a long-term financial plan to emphasize institutional sustainability and broad accessibility to the Landon experience
GOAL: COMMUNITY • Restarted and broadened programming for parents, including a reconstituted Landon Parents Association
FEATURES
about any donations you would like to make or questions about the ongoing campaign.
SUMMER 2023
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FEATURES
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Construction began in February 2022, with a ceremonial ground breaking on June 1, 2022, on Landon’s Campus Master Plan. The project is led by architectural firm CGS Architects and construction partner Coakley & Williams.
A CAMPUS
TRANSFORMED
Our sincere appreciation to the students, faculty, and families who adapted and supported Landon throughout this exciting and extensive transformation – and our deepest gratitude to the generous donors who made it all possible.
SUMMER 2023
FEATURES
After a year of construction, Landon’s Campus Master Plan is becoming reality. A look back at the past year’s progress shows the significant work that has been done to fulfill the original vision for the School and prepare for the needs of the future.
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MINITER QUADRANGLE AND BEAR CIRCLE The pedestrian-friendly core of the campus takes shape.
FEATURES
ANDREWS HOUSE
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In September 2022 historic Andrews House, weighing 1,100 tons, was moved 250 feet. Its renovation includes the restoration of its iconic tudor-style stone work and renovated spaces for School administration.
The new Boehly Upper School overlooks Triplett Field and Bordley Stadium on one side and completes our academic core on the other.
BOEHLY UPPER SCHOOL
Before placing the last steel beam in the Boehly Upper School, the Coakley & Williams construction team painted it white and invited the entire school community to sign their names.
FEATURES
The building opened in fall 2023 with formal classrooms and stateof-the-art meeting and learning spaces, including the Brooke and Rosemary Seawell STEM Center, Forcione Sitting Steps, and Shue Family Commons.
SUMMER 2023
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BANFIELD ACADEMIC CENTER (BAC) The newly renovated building has an impressive entrance on the east side, features renovated classrooms, library space, and labs for the Middle School and classrooms and meeting space for the Upper School.
HARRIET WARREN WAY
FEATURES
Completed in Fall 2022, Landon’s new entrance added security and improved traffic flow.
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CAMPAIGN FOR LANDON CONTINUES
LEARN MORE AT
CAMPAIGN.LANDON.NET
The faculty and students are settling nicely into these new spaces. There are larger classrooms and more functional academic spaces along with smaller collaborative spaces that the boys use to work on projects together outside of the classroom. There are also new gathering spaces for faculty and students. This physical transformation supported the continued evolution of a Landon education.
The Campaign for Landon’s $50 million goal includes $30 million to support the Campus Master Plan, $10 million to grow the endowment, and $10 million for The Landon Fund – which supports the operating budget. We are grateful to more than 3,000 donors who have made a gift to The Campaign for Landon. While our leadership donors have helped us toward these significant dollar goals, the broad-based support of the Landon community through The Landon Fund has been equally important. Landon still needs to raise funds to reach The Campaign goals – we are not done yet. Our deepest thanks go to all the donors who have supported The Campaign for Landon. If you have been considering a gift, now is the time. If you would like to explore making a gift that is meaningful to you and the School, please contact Director of Development Peter J. Gallo, Ph.D., at peter_gallo@landon.net or 301-320-1004.
SUMMER 2023
FEATURES
The construction progress on Landon’s campus is significant – the Boehly Upper School with new classrooms and lab spaces in the Brooke and Rosemary Seawell STEM Center has taken shape. The emergence of the new academic core centered around Miniter Quad, and the renovations and additions to the existing buildings are ongoing. When students started school in September, they returned to new and renovated spaces and a transformed campus that is the new backdrop for the unparalleled educational experience Landon offers its students.
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School News A New Look for Lehrman Atrium The Lehrman Atrium has a brand-new look that honors the past and recognizes who Landon student-athletes are today. A new collage of images from across the years and sports, large video screens, and pictures of current varsity teams are three of the new elements with the twin goals of creating a timeless space intertwined with school spirit and tradition. “Many of the new images that wrap around the walls of the atrium are interchangeable so that future athletes can be featured that will periodically give the space new life,” said Athletic Director Bill Brady, P ’23.
SCHOOL NEWS
There are more than 25 pictures on the wall that include alumni such as current Northwestern University swimmer Jacob Rosner ’20, and professional soccer player Kris Fletcher ’23. Athletes from the past include wrestler Todd Boehly ’91 and tennis player Fred McNair ’69 and many more.
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The photos of current varsity teams are a feature Brady thought was particularly important to showcase to our current athletes. “It’s a way to remind people of our teacher-coach-mentors ... that we are a school that really leans into [the TCM model],” he added. Graphic design company Cloud Gehshan from Philadelphia led the design plans for the Atrium.
An Update on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ellice Hawkins, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), is heading into her third year at Landon, reflecting on the past two years and the work in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion. “I received a completed DEI Action Plan the first week I started at the school, a plan that all segments of our community had a voice in shaping and one which reaffirms our mission,” she said. “This year, I spent more time meeting parents and guardians. I held small-group introductory coffees, wanting to hear what families wanted and needed from us as a School and from the DEI office.” With the assistance of DEI coordinators Will Thayer and Adam Diaz, Hawkins held student and faculty DEI programming and training. They formed an Upper School Student Diversity Leadership Council of student club leaders who work to strengthen our community and foster agency among our students.
The entire student body meets in the Pielage Amphitheater for the 2022 Hispanic Heritage Month assembly, which featured student speakers and music by Sol y Rumba, an 11-piece Latin band.
SCHOOL NEWS
“I particularly enjoyed teaching a weeklong Form VI capstone experience titled ‘The Black Experience in the DMV’ in which we used the D.C. area as our classroom,” Hawkins said. “Next year, I plan to focus on faculty and staff training and parent programming while continuing to refine policies and student programs.” She added, “I encourage you all to take a look at our kind, compassionate, caring young men. The work we are doing in DEI is necessary, probably now more than ever, to help our boys become the best version of themselves. They have so many different messages coming at them, and it is essential for them to learn how to appreciate different perspectives and think for themselves.” SUMMER 2023
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SCHOOL NEWS
EXPANDING THE RIGHT TO VOTE
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Andreas Geffert ’23 took his passion for representative government and turned it into action. His push to encourage younger teens to vote proved successful when his town council amended its charter allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in the Town of Chevy Chase.
He shared his story in an interview with CBS News. In this Q&A, Andreas explains what motivated him and why he feels so strongly about teens participating in elections. Where did your passion for politics come from?
Throughout Middle School, I watched a show called “The West Wing,” and it got me interested. Especially with the kind of politically charged environment Washington, D.C., is, as well as the United States as a whole, I wanted to get involved and make change. You decided to act. Where did that motivation come from?
I was part of a program called Democracy Summer with U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and that inspired me. I was the youngest
person in that program so that inspired me to know that I can make change. I can step up no matter how young or old I am. I got the idea of lowering the voting age. It’s a great way to get teenagers involved as well as something I could do myself. How did you go about advocating for this change locally?
I brought it up with a town council member, and she helped me a lot with the process and organization. Over time, after meetings and presentations, it pushed to a final vote. It was passed in March of 2022, and I was able to vote in my first election in May of 2022. Why is it important for younger people to vote?
People say it’s a partisan issue, but the truth is, it’s not a partisan issue. It’s about civic responsibility, and
FIND YOUR PURPOSE Form II students participated in a Purpose Summit in preparation to write their capstone “This I Believe” speeches.
What has it been like to see the response to this movement?
It has been great. I’m glad this movement is getting some light. I think it’s an issue that really can be pushed and solve a lot of problems with regards to voter engagement and people taking pride in their civic responsibility. What about the argument that at 16, you’re not mature enough to vote. How do you respond?
I’d say I pay taxes, too. I work hard, and I feel like I have the right to have a say about things that affect my life. I’m a driver: a lot of traffic rules and regulations affect my life. I feel it’s a great way for people to get involved and care a lot more about the community. How has Landon supported this passion in you?
I think Landon has been supportive with the people around me. Whether that be my advisor, Mrs. (Emily) Matthews, or peers that will help talk me through different points. That has been really helpful.
“This is our second year hosting the event in partnership with the World Leadership School, and the boys are asked to think about what they value, what are their strengths, and how they can use those ideas to discover what their purpose is,” said Former Form II Dean and current Lower School Head Katie Lamade. Specifically, the students are asked to consider when they felt ‘areas of groove’ in their lives or moments when they did not feel that way. “The amount of pride and fulfillment that they feel when the speeches have concluded is awesome,” Lamade added. “They enjoyed the process, not only the experience of writing the speeches or being nervous about delivering them, but also learning so much about themselves and one another.” SUMMER 2023
SCHOOL NEWS
voting is very important. If you vote in your first election, you are 50 percent more likely to vote in your next election. It gets more people involved down the line.
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SCHOOL NEWS
The move to return Grade 6 to the Lower School will officially take place at the start of this school year, but preparations for the move have been in the works for years. Assistant Head of School and former Lower School Head Tara Montague and Middle School Head Erin Duffy have worked collaboratively to design capstone experiences so that Grade 6 boys will be able to develop and refine their leadership skills in the Lower School prior to heading off to Form I.
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GRADE 5 LEARNS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE Grade 5 students learned how to recognize and cope with different emotions during their community and ethics time. Lower and Middle School Counselor Adam Diaz worked with students weekly for an action research project in cooperation with the International Boys School Coalition that focused on emotional granularity, which means to connect with their innermost feelings in an authentic way. Diaz showed the boys clips from popular Disney or Pixar movies. “The boys have to see if they can recognize based on the film clips that we watch, what emotions those films represent and then have a conversation about it. It’s about understanding, on a deeper level, the differences between emotions.” Diaz explained. “I’ve definitely learned more about how different people feel about different things. For example, I never knew what schadenfreude means but I have always seen it in lots of movies,” PD Moore ’30 said. Diaz said the boys were excited to know they were part of a study. “I really hope that through this study the boys can take some coping skills and understand that in our lives ultimately, we’re the ones who are going to be responsible for how we practice good mental health and social and emotional wellness,” he said.
LI ’23 IS A NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR Lawrence Li ’23 is one of 8,000 students nationwide who won a National Merit Scholarship and will attend Vanderbilt University this fall.
For the 2023-24 school year, we introduce a new academic department: Applied Technology and Innovation (ATI). Courses in this new department will focus on creative thinking, hands-on learning, and advanced exploration. In addition to now being part of the Form III Foundations course via a technology and ethics curriculum, the ATI department will also coordinate several interdisciplinary initiatives for each Form in the Upper School. Boys in Forms IV-VI will be able to select Advanced Computer Programming and Coding as a yearlong course, and boys in Forms V and VI will be able to take Robotics and Automated Systems for a yearlong course as well. The creation of this new academic department, under the direction of Chief Technology Officer Fred Haller, is a strong recognition of Landon’s commitment to infusing ethics and critical-thinking skills into all coursework.
“I am immensely proud of the accomplishment Lawrence has achieved but not at all surprised based on the academic talent he exudes on a regular basis,” Upper School Science Teacher Matt Johnson said. Although he has not settled on a specific major, Li is extremely interested in stem cell research. Upper School Math Teacher Bill Zaiser describes Li, who is Zaiser’s advisee, as diligent and thorough in his daily preparation for class. Vincent Barahona-Levin ’23, Nico Biabani ’23, Bao Duong ’23, David LaPrade ’23, Caelan Lee ’23, Michael Ray ’23, Phil Strabo ’23, Roberto Wick ’23, and Alan Zhang ’23 were named National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students. SUMMER 2023
SCHOOL NEWS
AN UPDATE ON ACADEMICS AND TECHNOLOGY
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SCHOOL NEWS
GOING PRO BEFORE GRADUATION
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Kris Fletcher ’23 signed a homegrown contract with the Major League Soccer team D.C. United in September 2022. He then played for the team during the 2023 season. In this Q&A, Kris explains how he balanced his professional career with his final year at Landon.
A: I feel confident. I feel good. I feel happy because it’s kind of the first step in my professional journey, but the work just started, so I can’t get too ahead of myself yet. Q: Why did you make the decision to turn pro?
A: I wanted to go overseas when I was 18. When I started playing with Loudoun, which is D.C. United’s second team, I started getting a feel for wanting to play on a first team as early as possible. When D.C. United first offered me that contract, it was kind of set in my mind that I needed to start now. It made sense to sign. Also, because Wayne Rooney became the coach. There are players that I can learn from and take their advice to move my career forward.
Q: What impact do you think playing for the Bears had on you in preparing you for this moment?
A: The school has such a strong sense of brotherhood. Being on a team with all my friends, they were more than just teammates. They’re really like my brothers, so it really helped me gain a stronger love for the sport because I felt like I was playing with people that always had my back. That really strengthened my love for the sport, honestly. Q: How do you feel about being in the ten-year club at Landon and being able to graduate from here while you take this next step?
A: It feels so good to finish my time in high school at Landon because I’ve been here since third grade. There’s no other place I wanted to finish other than this school! Landon kind of raised me.
Q: How did you manage to balance playing on a professional team and focusing on your studies?
A: The help from my advisors and my teachers has made it a lot easier for me to manage that balance, between having training every morning and being in that professional environment and handling my schoolwork as well. I think the biggest piece is communication. It has made it very manageable. Q: What did you miss the most about playing on Landon’s soccer team your senior year?
A: I’m not going to lie, it was a little sad because I’ve been with this team since my freshman year, and it holds a special place in my heart. I was the manager, trying to help with coaching, and doing what I can. Q: What is your favorite memory from your time on the team?
A: Probably the Georgetown Prep game, the first one last year (2021) on our home field on Prindle Field when we won 3-1. That game was crazy.
SCHOOL NEWS
Q: How are you feeling about your move to the world of professional sports?
SUMMER 2023
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SCHOOL NEWS
Congratulations Class of 2023
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William Reed Abramson Kokotowa Sahr P. Ahmadu Zachary George Eaton Anderson Andrew Barlow Atkins Vincent Barahona John Morris Bates III Taylor Angus Best Nicholas E. Biabani Casper Thomas Bieglecki Dylan Bradford Conrad Björn Brady Joel C. Brown Connor Reid Brugger Charles Shepard Burr Owen Jenkins Calderone Luke Camphausen Lucas Cañedo Samuel Jacob Cohen William Cohen Quinn Xavier Coughlan Frederick Pinckernell Denecke Duong Gia Bao Ignacio Escribá Dos Santos Thomas Jeronimo Eusse Mark Owen Evans William Quinn Farland Mehdi Alam Firozvi Moses Lev Fishman Kristian G. Fletcher James Nicholas Gaeta Andreas Brian Josef Geffert William Kogan George James Benneville Haas, Jr. Asim Hakim-Florian Anthony T. Harrison, Jr. William Pierce Holley Spencer Ray Hotchkiss Gabriel Huaman Gabriel Silva Johnson Quinn Patrick Kelly Sebastián Bonanni Kenary Arthur Jerome Keys, Jr. Zaakir Jamal Khan Benjamin Avi Kreindler Seth Jacob Kurtzman
David Grey Stock LaPrade Nicolas Elliott Lebron Lee Chuang Rui Caelan Henry George Leggett Lawrence Weiran Li Thomas Sun-Min Luck Charles Mayo Lynn Colvin Lochlan Matheson Ryan Ethan Mattox Camden Joseph Miller Ethan Lee Ming James Emerson Moncur Henry Alexander Nichols Bayodele Ogunlade, Jr. Christos Palkogiannis Trevor Joseph Pendergast Rory Tyler Perkins Michael Samuel Perlmutter Damon Dashle Pirko William Humphrey Radcliffe Aaron Richard Ravitz Michael Patrick Ray Colin Devlin Redmond Willis Dyson Reed Ty Michael Reyes Nathan Thomas Rosner Samuel Davidson Rouse Anthony Dale Savoy Nicolas Carideo Schermer Philip Lockwood Lee Sears Grey Bear Small Arthur T. Smink Nathan Havens Spigel Amos Ehrenfest Steinglass Phillip Nicholas Strabo Dylan Nicholas Thiess Eugene Edward Tibbs III Thomas Richard Trowern Harrison Ming Suey Tun Ethan Joseph Udler Christopher Robin Wells Brian Allen White Roberto Javier Wick He Zhang Rutger Alexander Zuscin
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GRADUATES IN CLASS OF 2023
58
colleges and universities
5
79
%
STUDENTS
OF GRADUATES
playing professional athletics, fulfilling required military service, or enrolling in a postgraduate program
attending where they submitted early or priority applications
SUMMER 2023
SCHOOL NEWS
ATTENDING
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SCHOOL NEWS
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SELECTED BY THE CLASS OF 2023 Syracuse University The University of Alabama Trinity College (CT) Tufts University Tulane University (4) United States Military Academy at West Point University of California, Los Angeles University of Maryland (6) University of Miami University of Michigan University of Mississippi University of North Carolina University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of South Carolina University of Virginia (5) University of Wisconsin (2) Vanderbilt University (2) Villanova University Wake Forest University (2) Washington and Lee University (2) Wesleyan University Williams College Yale University
SCHOOL NEWS
Bates College Boston College (2) Bowdoin College Brown University Bucknell University (2) California Institute of Technology Carnegie Mellon University Catholic University of America Clemson University Colgate University (2) Columbia University Dartmouth College (2) Davidson College Denison University Dickinson College Emory University (2) George Mason University Georgetown University (3) High Point University Indiana University Bloomington James Madison University (2) Kenyon College Louisiana State University Northeastern University Northwestern University Ohio Wesleyan University Penn State University (4) Providence College Rhodes College Robert Morris University Santa Clara University Skidmore College Southern Methodist University (3) Swarthmore College
Other destinations for the Class of 2023: Phillips Andover Academy (Postgraduate) Soccer Academy, France Professional Soccer, MLS Required Military Service, Singapore
SUMMER 2023
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2023 BACCALAUREATE AND COMMENCEMENT AWARD WINNERS Phil Strabo
VALEDICTORIAN To the senior with the highest-grade-point average
Art Keys
HEADMASTER’S AWARD To the student who has demonstrated general excellence, citizenship and participation
James Moncur
ELEANOR ANN JOHNSON AWARD To the student who has demonstrated creativity, innovation, ingenuity, or artistic merit
Conrad Brady
MALCOLM COATES STUDENT ACTIVITIES AWARD To the student who has demonstrated constructive participation in non-athletic activities
Anthony Savoy
SCHOOL NEWS
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
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Ty Reyes
CARROLL MERCER MARBURY AWARD To the student who has spirit of fearlessness, tenacity of purpose
Koko Ahmadu
ALEXANDER AIKENS ’67 AWARD To the student who has exemplary leadership in the areas of diversity and multiculturalism
David LaPrade
STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARD To the student who has demonstrated by his unselfishness, integrity, courage, and spirit the highest type of school citizenship
Conrad Brady
PATRICK TANNER ’96 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD To the student who has demonstrated outstanding commitment, personal involvement, and leadership in community service
Will Abramson
CARY MAGUIRE ’46 ETHICS SCHOLAR AWARD To the student who has demonstrated the highest standards of ethical integrity through his expressions of honesty and respect, and his active cultivation of the virtues of perseverance, teamwork, honor, and fair play
Sebby Kenary
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 who best personifies the unique bond that unites all Landon students and alumni
Lenny Robinson
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
Meredith Josef
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
CUM LAUDE CLASS OF 2024
CUM LAUDE CLASS OF 2023 Inducted 2023 William Abramson Nicholas Biabani Dylan Bradford Connor Brugger Quinn Kelly Benjamin Kreindler Seth Kurtzman Charlie Lynn Christos Palkogiannis Grey Small
Inducted 2023 Nicolas Always Roza Manif Jaffa Alexander MacMillan Hugh Neill Dhruv Narang Davis Owens Nimai Patel James Shelton Thomas Shelton Caleb Wade
SCHOOL NEWS
Inducted 2022 Vincent Barahona-Levin Bao Duong David LaPrade Lawrence Li James Moncur Michael Ray Phillip Strabo Thomas Trowern Roberto Wick
SUMMER 2023
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“
SCHOOL NEWS
“It’s so much fun (to return to Landon). Anything that I’ve been able to do as an educator has happened because of this place... That people would welcome me and think well of my return and be so generous, it feels like coming home to a place that will always be important to me.”
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Botti said to the students and faculty present, “If we want to be the kind of people who make the world better in big ways, if we want to be heroic and significant and proud of the things we do for others – well, I think we can start by seeing the chances for inclusivity that are immediately in front of us. The risks for inclusion that you take locally will make global risks for inclusion more possible. Big doors, guys, swing on small hinges.” Botti, now Head of School at The Browning School (NY) and a current Landon trustee, explains the goal of his address and what it was like to return to Landon’s campus after six years in New York City. “I tried to share that I think inclusion is a big concept that can play out in lots of ways,” Botti said. “Sometimes we can think of inclusion as big structural efforts, and those are important, but there are also things we can do at the level of culture, at the level of individual relationships, and that if we’re willing to be curious about other people and engage, then we’re creating cultures of inclusivity that I think will ultimately serve larger efforts of justice and belonging.” SUMMER 2023
SCHOOL NEWS
BOTTI ADVOCATES FOR BELONGING
Dr. John Botti, a former Landon Associate Head of School, Ethics Chair, and teachercoach-mentor, returned to campus to deliver a speech on inclusivity for the annual Boiardi Forum for Ethical Reflection. The all-school assembly is held in memory of alumnus and lacrosse star George Boiardi ’00 who passed away in 2004. It celebrates the values Boiardi exhibited as a Bear at Landon and at Cornell University.
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Achievements BOARD LEADERSHIP 2023-24
DEPARTING TRUSTEES 2022-23
Chair: Bill Magruder ’92
Donald Dell ’56
Vice Chair: Harmar Thompson ’90, P ’31 ’33
Olivier Kamanda ’99
Treasurer: Jeffrey Freed, P ’11 ’13 ’18
Ted Prince ’84
President: Jim Neill, P ’24
Alex Baldwin, P ’18
NEW TRUSTEE EMERITUS
John “Jack” Leachman ’69, P ’94 ’95, GP ’30
NEW TRUSTEES 2023-24
Brien White, P ’26
Secretary: Burnell Holland ’01
Peter Ventimiglia, P ’26 Ali Al-Attar ’91, P ’32
FACULTY AND STAFF MILESTONES 5 YEARS
10 YEARS
20 YEARS
Dori Boyce, Grade 6 Dean and Middle School Art Teacher
John Aguilar, Buildings and Grounds Staff
Kim Coletta, Lower School Language Arts Teacher
Bill Brady, Director of Athletics
Laura John, Upper School Art Teacher
Chuck Fontana, Upper School Latin Teacher Monica Harrison, Registrar Glen Johnson, Security Guard Forbes Mann ’04, Associate Director of College Counseling
Elizabeth Coffey, Upper School Spanish Teacher Meredith Josef, Director of Communications Paul Miller ’92, Equipment Manager Rory Perkins, Upper School Math Teacher Tom Shuey, Buildings and Grounds Staff
Jeremy Norman ’92, Middle School Dean of Students David Smith, English Department Chair 25 YEARS Anastacio Romero, Buildings and Grounds Staff Xiaohong Herrle, Upper School Chinese Teacher
Adrienne Parker-Miller, Assistant to the Middle School Head
15 YEARS
John Rayburn ’02, Upper School World Language Teacher
Jun Choi, Coordinator of User Services Ardis Danon, Upper School Assistant Head
30 YEARS
Brian Reilly ’09, Middle School History Teacher
Tom Drescher, Middle School Latin Teacher
Clare Chambers, Upper School Spanish Teacher
Carlos Rubi, Buildings and Grounds Staff
Cindy Peters, Director of Special Events and Parent Programs
40 YEARS
Margie Topf, Assistant to the Head of School
Russ Gagarin ’77, Director of Financial Aid, Middle School Math Teacher
SCHOOL NEWS
15 YEARS
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20 YEARS
NEW AND RETURNING FACULTY AND STAFF 2023-24
DEPARTING FACULTY AND STAFF 2023-24
Michael Auerbach, Upper School Math Teacher
Jen Dunfee, Lower School Ethics, Service & Leadership Coordinator
Aaron Broadus, Director of Bands
Charles Franklin, Assistant Head of School
Kalah Brown, Teacher Development Program
Mary Lisa Geppert, Interim Director of Admissions and Enrollment
Jake Cahill, Upper School Math Teacher
Kathleen Lubin, Upper School Math Teacher
Ryan Callahan, Upper School Math Teacher
Forbes Mann ’04, Associate Director of College Counseling
Nora Cameron, Grade 5 Language Arts Teacher
Chris Moore, Controller
Quintin Cunningham, Middle School English
Brian Reilly ’09, Middle School History Teacher
Stephen Czarkowski, Director of Strings
Laura Richards, Associate Athletic Trainer
Phyllis Fagell, School Counselor
Lenny Robinson, Director of Bands
Katy Harvey, Director of Admissions, Outreach and Enrollment
Bob Spates, Director of Strings
Elizabeth Irving, Associate Athletic Trainer
Will Thayer, Upper School Math Teacher
Jamie Kirkpatrick, Interim Associate Director of College Counseling
Anna Vice, Upper School Math Teacher
Henry Martinez, Middle and Upper School Assistant Dean of Students
Jodi Zager, Administrative Assistant
Sean Nolan, Art and STEM Teacher Kirsten Petersen, Director of Communications and Marketing
NEW ROLES 2023-24
Bryan Placide, Teacher Development Program
Tom Drescher, Form II Dean
Woody Wiegemann ’06, Teacher Development Program
Meredith Josef, Upper School English Teacher Meg Klingelhofer, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications Katie Lamade, Head of Lower School Tara Montague, Assistant Head of School Kali Palmiotto, Form III Dean
Left to Right: Bob Spates, Anna Vice, Kathleen Lubin, Charles Franklin, Brian Reilly ’09, and Jim Neill
SUMMER 2023
SCHOOL NEWS
Russ Gagarin ’77 celebrates 40 years at Landon
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ROBINSON RETIRES Lenny Robinson has decided to retire from full-time teaching after 21 years of service to Landon.
SCHOOL NEWS
Lenny started as an adjunct music teacher, then became our Assistant Director of Bands, and most recently, our Director of Bands upon Earl Jackson’s retirement in 2020.
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Lenny, who has been a performer since he was 15 years old, is a renowned musician in his own right, having toured with famous acts nationally and internationally; and his transition will allow him to turn his focus back toward being a full-time performing/recording artist and jazz musician and his family.
He has had an enormous impact on music at Landon, particularly in jazz and orchestral music.
His work during the first stretch of the pandemic included a defining image of Landon perseverance: Lenny on the turf leading our band in chairs spread across the field. Whether the wind was scattering the music sheets or hints of rain threatened, Lenny was there with the boys, lugging heavy musical equipment on and off the field, (see above) so that his musicians could play on. We will miss him, but we are glad to know he will continue as an adjunct teacher and with Landon Summer.
Montague
Lamade
Assistant Head of School Charles Franklin moved on in July 2023 to become the Head of Hackley School in Tarrytown, NY after seven years at Landon, joining the long line of Landon faculty who have gone on to head schools around the country. Franklin, whose contributions in addition to his always steady leadership and wisdom, include major elements of steering the ship through COVID-19 and meaningful upgrades to curriculum, creative approaches to staffing, and rededication to the teacher-coach-mentor model. His departure led to two internal shifts in key administrative positions. Tara Montague, P ’27 has stepped into Franklin’s role as Landon’s new
Assistant Head of School. Montague has served as Head of Lower School for the last four years. Prior to that role, Montague’s background includes roles in various well-known independent schools across the country, ranging from teacher to learning specialist to director of studies. Montague earned her BA cum laude from Barnard College and holds her MS in Education from Bank Street College of Education. Katie Lamade is taking on the Head of Lower School as Montague transitions out of the role. Lamade has been at Landon for seven years, serving as Dean of both Form II and Grade 6, the latter being of particular note as that grade rejoins the Lower School this year. She has also served
as Landon’s Grades 3-12 Curriculum Manager and English teacher and lacrosse coach. Previously, Lamade was Athletics Director at the Madeira School in Virginia and taught at Center City Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. where she also helped oversee curriculum content and structure in both middle and elementary grades. She holds her BA from Duke University, where she captained the women’s lacrosse team, and her MA cum laude from Loyola University in Curriculum and Instruction, with a focus on Educational Leadership.
SUMMER 2023
SCHOOL NEWS
MONTAGUE, LAMADE STEP INTO NEW ROLES
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NEW BOARD LEADERSHIP Please join us in welcoming Bill Magruder ’92 as the new chair of the Landon Board of Trustees.
SCHOOL NEWS
A Landon class agent since he graduated and a member of the Board of Trustees since 2018, Bill Magruder ’92 begins his first term as board chair this year. He follows the capable leadership of Alex Baldwin, P ’18, who served as chair for the last four years.
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Magruder notes that Landon has been a significant part of his life since he began third grade at the School. “I remember being struck at graduation by the realization that I’d been at Landon over half of my life,” he says. Then as class agent, he organized reunions, made phonathon calls, and has kept in close touch with many in his class. He and his wife, Kary, have also made generous gifts to the School, including a major commitment to The Campaign for Landon. But it is more than the service and the friendships that have impacted his life. He asserts, “At Landon, I was taught how to lead, with a moral and ethical foundation
“Landon’s Honor Code remains essential; it’s a lesson on how to live your life. And the School’s teacher-coach-mentor philosophy is still as strong as when I was a student. It’s a key distinction, and we are united in supporting it so that Landon can continue to support our boys in every way.”
that has fostered the leadership roles I’ve had from college on through my career.” Magruder graduated from Southern Methodist University and in 1998 became a partner in The Magruder Companies, his family’s Maryland-based residential and commercial real estate business. After serving on Landon’s alumni board, he agreed to join the Board of Trustees in 2018 when the School announced its campus initiatives. “I am a big believer in Jim Neill’s vision and his abilities,” Magruder explains. In addition to implementing Landon’s Campus Master Plan, the Board during Magruder’s tenure has led efforts to update the School’s mission and philosophy statement; combine the Honor Code, Civility Code, and Core Values into a Character Pledge; and develop a new Portrait of a Graduate statement.
BALDWIN CONCLUDES BOARD CHAIR TENURE Alex Baldwin, P ’18 faced an unprecedented situation when he stepped into the role of Chair of the Landon Board of Trustees in July 2020. “[The pandemic] was a very challenging circumstance that the School responded to very well,” Baldwin said. Specifically, Baldwin said that the effort put forth by the faculty was “inspiring in being as creative as possible to returning to in-person instruction for the boys.” Baldwin also felt honored to work with Head of School Jim Neill and other trustees on the hallmark projects of his term including the Campus Master Plan and Campaign for Landon.
“The community has responded in a very powerful way with enormously generous support, and I think it’s something that will change the culture of philanthropy at Landon for generations to come,” Baldwin said. He believes one of the most valuable aspects of the Campus Master Plan is the creation of more community space with the Miniter Quad, which will foster connections between all three divisions. As a father, Alex quickly recognized the uniqueness of the Landon community: “My son, Tommy ’18, fell in love with Landon on day one, and it’s been a very important place in his life, and as a result, I feel a deep connection to the School.”
John P. Leachman ’69, P ’94 ’95, GP ’30 joins six other members of the Landon community as a Trustee Emeritus. The title is bestowed by the Board of Trustees to honor a former trustee for exemplary service.
About his experience at Landon, Jack remembers the quality of teachers that Landon selected, saying he felt “how much they cared.” Five faculty members from his time at the School attended his class’s 50th reunion.
Jack has served twice on the Board of Trustees, served as alumni class chair and board committee member, and chaired several major fundraising initiatives including the current Campaign for Landon. He has consistently given to Landon over the years as an alumnus, parent, uncle, and now grandparent. He describes his service for Landon as “a labor of love.”
“My fondest memories involve my Landon friends and their families,” he said.
Jack’s philanthropy started after college: “I wanted to get involved at Landon and called the alumni office and asked, ‘what can I do?’” He felt inspired to start his philanthropy by Lanny Banfield ’50, who Jack remembers being actively involved with the School as an alumnus.
Left to Right: Katie, P ’30, Holly, P ’94 ’95, GP ’30, Jack ’69, P ’94 ’95, GP ’30, and Penn ’94, P ’30 Leachman
SUMMER 2023
SCHOOL NEWS
LEACHMAN NAMED TRUSTEE EMERITUS
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AZALEA FESTIVAL Landon celebrated the 70th Azalea Festival on May 5-7 with hundreds of visitors in attendance each of the three days!
ABOVE Derek Reisfield, P ’28
The weekend included a full schedule of music, food vendors, azaleas, flowers and plants, bargains found at Bearly Used, and beautiful merchandise and gifts at the boutiques. Children were treated to carnival rides at Funland, magic shows, face painting, and cotton candy. Cinco de Mayo was the theme for the Friday evening ’Zalea Bash party with more than 225 in attendance to dine, dance, bid on auction items, and raise their paddles to fund special faculty programs.
BELOW Samir Turner ’30 Aiden Gulati ’30 Jon Singleton ’30 JW Well ’30
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Landon wishes to thank the Azalea Festival cochairs and all the weekend volunteers who gave so graciously of their time and talents to prepare and execute the weekend’s events. A special thank you as well to the Azalea Festival sponsors, ’Zalea Bash sponsors, and auction donors whose generous financial support made it possible for the Azalea Festival to raise more than $300,000 in profits for tuition assistance and faculty enrichment.
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Martha Marmo-Fernandes, P ’22 ’24 Tammy Durbin, P ’17 ’22
Kristen Best, P ’23 ’25 Amanda Farber, P ’22 ’24
Karen Johnson, P ’27 Robert Mitchell ’27
Karoline Shannon, P ’21 ’26 Lynn King, P ’23
Nan Renjel, P ’27 Clare Archer, P ’24 ’27, Jon Kling, P ’27, Allison Foster Kling, P ’27 Louis Renjel, P ’27
BELOW Roxanne Haltmeyer, P ’25 Danielle Lloyd, P ’29 Liza Byrd
SCHOOL NEWS
ABOVE Eileen Shelton, P ’24
Anne Hawkins, P ’27 Susan Eagle, P ’27 Rossana Rojas Rutledge, P ’26 ’27 Selam Tizan, P ’27 Chie Martin, P ’27 Susannah Alberino, P ’22 ’27
SUMMER 2023
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Athletics
FALL SPORTS
SCHOOL NEWS
CROSS COUNTRY
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Just four points separated second from fourth place in the team scoring at the 2022 IAC Cross Country Championships. Landon finished third. Head Coach Tom DiChiara said captains Sam Cohen ’23, Asim Hakim-Florian ’23, who received an honorable mention on The Washington Post’s 2022 boys’ cross country All-Met team, and
Phil Strabo ’23 led the charge for the Bears. The one-two punch of Hakim-Florian and Cohen who were both named All-IAC, All-county, and All-state, also paced Landon to third place in the Montgomery County Private School Championships and eighth in the Maryland Private School State Championships. In the latter race, Hakim-Florian finished third overall, the highest placement ever for a Landon runner.
FOOTBALL
Head Coach Paul Padalino pointed to great team and senior leadership as a highlight of the season as the Bears tied for third place in the IAC. The team went 4-6 overall and 2-3 in league play finishing strong with an impressive win over St. Albans in the final game of the season. On the All-IAC first team were: Taylor Best ’23, Ethan Ming ’23, and Chris Wells ’23.
Sam Cohen ’23
Second team selections include: Zach Cameron ’24, Ty Reyes ’23, Nate Rosner ’23, Anthony Savoy ’23, and Brian White ’23.
SOCCER
Ethan Ming ’23
SCHOOL NEWS
The Bears went 12-3-3 overall and 7-2-1 in league play on their way to the IAC tournament championship. Head Coach Bill Reed and captains Conrad Brady ’23, Moses Fishman ’23 and Nico Schermer ’23 led the team to a 3-1 victory in the championship game. Brady, Fishman, Andreas Geffert ’23, Art Keys ’23, and Amos Steinglass ’23 earned All-IAC honors. Brady was also named IAC Co-Player of the Year and won first team honors on The Washington Post’s 2022 boys’ soccer All-Met team. Keys received an honorable mention from The Washington Post. The team’s 12 overall wins were all shutouts. Conrad Brady ’23
SUMMER 2023
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VOLLEYBALL
This was the fourth year of volleyball as a club sport at Landon. Head Coach Emily Howe and captains Casper Bieglecki ’23, Jackson Evans ’24, and Henry Nichols ’23 led the team in their matches, including a scrimmage against Stone Ridge. Howe said players showed significant improvement, particularly in serving and their overall understanding of the rules of the game.
WATER POLO
The Bears went 4-14 overall led by Head Coach Dan Moorin and captains Cam Miller ’23 and Grey Small ’23. Coach Moorin said James Shelton ’24 earned the starting goalie spot and made big saves in every game. Benji Groeschel ’24 logged the most minutes on the team, backstopping a strong starting defensive unit that included Sean Curran ’24, Miller, Small, Gunnar Small ’25, and Roberto Wick ’23.
SCHOOL NEWS
Grey Small ’23
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WINTER SPORTS
BASKETBALL
Head Coach Hajj Turner and captains Tyler Perkins ’23, Joseph Coleman ’24, and Frankie Mannino ’25 led the team to a 19-10 overall record and a 7-3 league record. Perkins received first team All-Met honors, was named IAC Player of the Year, and he and Ari Hobson ’24 earned all-IAC honors. On their way to a second-place finish in the IAC, the Bears won five straight games. They swept Episcopal and St. Albans, and won on the road at Bullis, Georgetown Prep, and Episcopal.
ICE HOCKEY
SCHOOL NEWS
The team claimed the IAC regular season and tournament titles ending with an overall record of 13-3-3. Head coach Alex Parker, and team captains Quinn Farland ’23, Owen Calderone ’23, Sebby Kenary ’23, and Arthur Smink ’23 led the team to a come-from-behind, shootout win against Bullis to win the IAC post-season title. Reid Pehrkon ’25 received first team All-Mets honors, was named all-IAC Player of the Year, and Calderone, Graham Haberl ’24, and Smink earned allIAC honors. Calderone, Farland, and Smink received All-Met honorable mentions.
Tyler Perkins ’23
SUMMER 2023
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INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Head Coach Addison Hunt and captains Brian White ’23 and Asim Hakim-Florian ’23 led the team to a 24-19 overall record. Sam Cohen ’23 and Reed Phillips ’25 received all-county honors. Phillips received All-Met honorable mention. Cohen, HakimFlorian, and Phillips all broke school records. The Bears also finished in second place at the Montgomery County Private School Meet.
RIFLERY
Head Coach Troy Prinkey credited the leadership from returning players and new equipment with the team’s improvement this year. Captain Derick Denecke ’23 helped lead the team to a 4-2 overall record. Caelan Lee ’23 earned honorable mention for the All-Metro team. Reid Pehrkon ’25
SCHOOL NEWS
Deji Jones ’24
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Brian White ’23
SWIMMING AND DIVING
The team had a 3-4 overall record on the way to a third-place finish in the IAC. Head Coach Chris Ros and team captains Deji Jones ’24 and Harrison Tun ’23 led the team to a 10th place finish out of 22 teams at the Washington Metropolitan Prep School Swim Dive League Championships (WMPSSLs). George Shannon ’26 (diving) and Zach Fayed ’25 (swimming) earned all-IAC honors. Shannon won first place at WMPSSLs and third place at Easterns. Tun (100 Breaststroke) set a new school record as did the 200 medley relay team of Fayed, Jones, Tun, and Nathan Poulin ’24.
SQUASH
The Bears had their most successful season in history, including convincing wins over The Heights, Gonzaga and Whitman. Head Coach WT Miller ’86 and captain
Ethan Udler ’23 led the team to a second place IAC finish and a 6-3 overall record. Miller said Charlie Lynn ’23 was a standout, securing key wins against ranked opponents in multiple matches.
WRESTLING
The Bears repeated as IAC Championship winners with a 5-0 league record and a 14-2 overall record. Head coach Andy Katz led the team to a third-place finish at the state tournament and a 19th-place finish at nationals. Joel Brown ’23 was named All-Met Wrestler of the Year by The Washington Post. He won the state championship for the second year in a row and was voted outstanding wrestler at that tournament. Conrad Brady ’23, Brown, Nate Furgeson ’24, James Hanley ’24, David LaPrade ’23, Louis McNamara ’26, Ty Reyes ’23, Talan Smith ’25, and Tiller
Smith ’25 earned all-IAC honors. Brady, Brown, Furgeson, Hanley, LaPrade, Joe Papalia ’26, Reyes, Anthony Savoy ’23, and Tiller Smith ’25 earned all-state honors. Hanley was named to the All-Met second team, while Furgeson, LaPrade, and Tiller Smith were honorable mentions.
Joel Brown ’23
Anthony Savoy ’23
SUMMER 2023
SCHOOL NEWS
Ethan Udler ’23
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SPRING SPORTS
BASEBALL
Led by Head Coach Bill Reed, the Bears finished fourth in the league with a 5-5 record and an overall record of 8-13-1. Jay Adams ’24, Sam Rosand ’25 and Nate Rosner ’23 earned all-IAC honors. Rosand was an All-Met honorable mention from The Washington Post. Season highlights include Rosand striking out 16 batters in the league opener, Rosner with 30 strikeouts in 27 innings, and Colin Redmond ’23 leading the team with a .324 BA, 22 runs, and 22 hits.
SCHOOL NEWS
Nate Rosner ’23
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CREW
Ten boys joined Landon’s inaugural year of crew – Rayan Anvari ’25, Will Cate ’26, Arthur Deng ’26, Quinn Kelly ’23, Henry Messersmith ’25, James Moncur ’23, Jett Pedersen ’24, Liam Pilkington ’26, Grey Small ’23, and Zack Zand ’24. Landon joined forces with DC National Rowing Club and worked with their coaches to offer an exciting new spring sports option for Upper School boys at Landon.
FENCING
The Bears finished 0-2 after matches against Gonzaga and Georgetown Prep. Head Coach Matthew Johnson, coach David Ruskin, and captain Ryan Loev ’24 led a mix of returning and new athletes. Johnson said many of the new athletes improved tremendously and have committed to fencing during the off season.
Reed Phillips ’25
Charlie Lynn ’23, John Bates ’23, Charlie Burr ’23
Head Coach Andy Luther and team captains John Bates ’23, Charlie Burr ’23, and Charlie Lynn ’23 led the team to a 9-3-1 overall record and a 4-1 league record. The Bears finished the season tied for first place, the first time since 2017. Bates and Lynn earned all-IAC and second team All-Met honors. Lynn was a co-medalist at the Freeman Memorial Tournament to finish the season. Both Bates and Lynn finished the season with top 10 scoring averages all time for Landon Golf. Both boys shot 39 or lower for every nine holes they played for the entire season.
LACROSSE
Under the leadership of Head Coach Will McGettigan and captains Will Abramson ’23, Will Cohen ’23, Kevin Miller ’24, and Anthony Savoy ’23, the Bears finished 12-7 overall and went 3-2 in league play. The team competed in its first IAC championship game since 2018. Season highlights include beating St Albans twice and Bullis. Cohen, Anthony Panetti ’24, Davis Owens ’24, and Nico Schermer ’23 earned all-IAC honors. Cohen received first team All-Met honors from The Washington Post, while Owens received honorable mention.
Will Cohen ’23
Players of the Year Joel Brown ’23 was named The Washington Post’s All-Met Wrestler of the Year for 2022-23, the top area honor for the sport. Joel was also a Maryland state champion and the IAC Player of the Year. Several other student-athletes were also recognized as IAC Players of the Year: Conrad Brady ’23 (soccer), Reid Pehrkon ’25 (hockey), Tyler Perkins ’23 (basketball). Perkins was also named MVP of the Capital Classic, one of the country’s premier high school basketball showcases. Previous MVPs included LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.
SUMMER 2023
SCHOOL NEWS
GOLF
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Bao Duong ’23
OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Led by Head Coach Griffin Gagnon and team captains Sam Cohen ’23, Asim Hakim-Florian ’23, Ari Kalish ’24, Milan Matteis ’25, Bayo Ogunlade ’23, the Bears ended a nine-year last-place drought by finishing fourth at the IAC Championships. Reed Phillips ’25 earned all-IAC honors.
SCHOOL NEWS
RUGBY
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Head Coach Sam Tyler along with captains Koko Ahmadu ’23, David LaPrade ’23, Ty Reyes ’23 led the team to second consecutive Division II Metro Area Varsity Rugby Conference Championship title, and a first-place league finish with 6-0 league record and a 6-1 overall record. The team graduates 20 seniors including two who have committed to play rugby in college: Reyes (Penn State) and Ahmadu (UCLA).
Asim Hakim-Florian ’23
TENNIS
Led by Head Coach WT Miller ’86 and captains Thomas Eusse ’23 and Alan Zhang ’23, the Bears finished in second place in the league with a 5-1 record and 11-2 overall record. Rex Bondi ’24, Jeh-Lei Fan ’25, and Frank Wang ’26 earned all-IAC honors. The team defeated Sidwell Friends and Gilman for the first time in more than a decade, also beating Potomac for the first time in eight years.
ULTIMATE FRISBEE
Coaches Bryan Calloway, Kevin Hetzel, and Stephanie Wooten are proud of the team’s progress this year. Captains Bao Duong ’23 and Henry Nichols ’23 led the team to a 2-5 record, including several tight matches.
Koko Ahmadu ’23 and David LaPrade ’23
19 SENIORS COMMIT TO PLAY COLLEGE SPORTS Nineteen members of the Class of 2023 will play college athletics next year. Landon has had 106 students in the last six graduating classes (2018-2023) commit to play sports at colleges and universities around the country. The 19 students this year represent 20 percent of the class of 2023. They are: Will Abramson
Asim Hakim-Florian
Andrew Atkins
Art Keys
John Bates
David LaPrade
Taylor Best
Ethan Ming
Conrad Brady
Tyler Perkins
Joel Brown
Anthony Savoy
Sam Cohen
Nico Schermer
Lacrosse, Washington and Lee University Lacrosse, Dickinson College Golf, Rhodes College Football, University of Maryland Soccer, Penn State University Wrestling, U.S. Army, West Point Cross Country/Track and Field, Tulane University
Will Cohen
Lacrosse, Dartmouth College
Quinn Coughlan
Lacrosse, Ohio Wesleyan University
Cross Country/Track and Field, Colgate University Soccer, Swarthmore College Wrestling, Williams College Football, Carnegie Mellon University Basketball, University of Pennsylvania Lacrosse, Denison University Lacrosse, Bowdoin College
Amos Steinglass
Soccer, Trinity College (CT)
Harrison Tun
Swimming, Tufts University
Brian White
Football, Robert Morris University
SUMMER 2023
SCHOOL NEWS
Thomas Eusse ’23
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Arts
Treasure Island
THEATER ARTS Landon continued its stellar run of theatrical productions with HoltonArms in 2022-23. This year’s plays and musicals included: Schoolhouse Rock! (Lower School), Treasure Island and Fame (Middle School) and The Cowgirls of Pemberly Ranch, the student-directed One-Acts, and Shrek the Musical (Upper School).
Student-directed One-Acts
SCHOOL NEWS
Fame
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The Cowgirls of Pemberly Ranch
Shrek the Musical
Schoolhouse Rock!
Student-directed One-Acts
SCHOOL NEWS
Shrek the Musical
SUMMER 2023
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SCHOOL NEWS
MUSIC
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The 2022-23 music season included a memorable jazz concert featuring retiring Director of Bands Lenny Robinson along with season concerts for all three divisions in band, chorus, handbells, and strings. World-renowned composer Jim Papoulis visited with Middle School choral groups, while Lower School students experienced live opera on campus courtesy of the Maryland Lyric Opera. Read more about the resurgence of the Clef Dwellers, one of our longtime a capella groups, by scanning the QR code to the right.
SCHOOL NEWS
READ MORE ABOUT THE RESURGENCE OF THE CLEF DWELLERS
SUMMER 2023
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Amy Kaslow, the owner of Amy Kaslow Gallery, was the judge. “I haven’t seen anything like it. It is breathtaking work for its detail and sense of light. You have a very bright future,” she told Alan as she presented him with the award.
A GLIMPSE
SCHOOL NEWS
IN THE NIGHT
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Alan Zhang ’23 won first prize in the drawing category at the 2022 Stone Ridge Winter Independent Schools Juried Exhibition for his drawing called “A glimpse in the night.” “I was very shocked. There were quite a few other drawings that looked incredible, so I didn’t expect to win first place at all,” Alan said.
Studio Arts Department Chair and William F. Banks ’54 Family Chair Ricky Sears ’99 was not shocked at all. “Alan is a student that takes his work so seriously and to see how the judge acknowledged that craftsmanship and attention to detail should be something that he takes great pride in,” Sears said.
Zhang was one of 25, which was the largest group of Landon students ever to have their work on display at the Stone Ridge exhibition for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. “I know from watching them develop their ideas from a white sheet of paper or a ball of clay into something that looks so professionally finished, that it should be on display,” Sears said. “I’m really encouraged that this number of students had work available for them to enter, and I look forward to more students entering next year.”
HANDS-ON ART HISTORY
“This assignment allows the boys to discover a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the artist through research and the creative process by recreating the image,” Middle School Art Teacher Jared Miller said. “The boys also learned how to be resourceful and stretch their imagination by using found and household objects to upcycle for another purpose.” Henry Vaughan ’28 worked with his mother to recreate a 1660 self-portrait by Rembrandt. “The painting was cool. Your self-portrait isn’t just about you, it’s also about how you perceive yourself. That’s why I chose it,” he explained. James Jamison III ’29 worked
with his aunt to recreate “The Old Guitarist,” an oil painting by Pablo Picasso. Even though he chose a well-known piece, James said he learned about many artists during the process. “When I was searching, I found a lot of paintings I wouldn’t have seen. The assignment really did introduce me to a bunch of new artists,” he added. The challenge, issued by the Getty Museums in California, was inspired by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and an Instagram account called Between Art and Quarantine.
SUMMER 2023
SCHOOL NEWS
Middle School art students demonstrated creativity and attention to detail in the Getty Challenge: to find a painting they liked from a museum and use items in their home to recreate it.
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Alumni News SPOTLIGHT: MARTY WEST ’94
Finding Common Ground Dr. Marty West ’94 returned to Landon to deliver the Nelson Leadership Lecture at an all-school assembly in April 2023.
The Christopher A. Nelson ’86 Leadership Program is a lecture series held in honor of Landon student Chris Nelson, who lost his battle with leukemia in 1982. West serves as the Academic Dean at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he is also a professor. In this Q&A, West shares his reflections on his visit.
ALUMNI NEWS
Q: What message did you share with the boys?
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What I hope students will take away from the lecture is just how privileged they are, and I was, to experience an educational environment like Landon. I use that term privileged advisedly knowing that it’s a bit of a loaded term in K-12 education right now. I’m not using it to refer to an individual’s attributes like
their race or gender, but rather to capture the incredible investments that our community, our families, and our teachers make in students here. That should never be a source of guilt for students.
But I think it should give them a sense of responsibility to give back to their communities by trying to help solve important problems that they face.
It has been phenomenal. Obviously, the most noticeable thing on campus right now is the construction and the excitement about what that means for the future of the school. But I’m also struck by how familiar it feels, despite having been gone for a couple of decades now. And I think that epitomizes one of the things I appreciate about Landon, which is the balance between preserving and respecting tradition while continuing to move forward with changing times. Q: Before you delivered your remarks to the entire school, you spoke to the faculty and staff. What did you speak about?
prepared to engage in difficult conversations with those they disagree with politically. There are obviously a lot of concerns about the environment around free speech in higher education right now. One of the trends that we see is many students reporting self-censoring themselves in the classroom, out of fear for how their peers and potentially their professors will respond. I think schools like Landon can help make sure that students are prepared to express their views, to see the value of engaging across lines of political difference, and to do so in a civil manner.
ALUMNI NEWS
Q: How does it feel to be back on campus?
One of the areas I mentioned was students who are comfortable and SUMMER 2023
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SPOTLIGHT: ARUP BANERJEE ’03
ALUMNI NEWS
LANDON VALUES IN ACTION
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Left to Right: Alok (Age 3), Arup, EB, and Rohan (Age 1)
Arup Banerjee ’03 is CEO and co-founder of Windfall, a people intelligence and AI company based in San Francisco, but his roots in entrepreneurship date back to his Landon days when he started a website design agency.
Q: Tell us how you got started in the business world.
A: In 1998, when I first began coding and started my first web development company, I was so enamored with technology, but nobody in my family actually understood it. Even when I got to Duke, I told my parents I wanted to study computer science. And they were like, “Are you sure?” It was absolutely, 100% what I wanted to do. The marriage of tech and business was something that I was always attracted to. Q: But you started out in investment banking?
A: At the time, I had an offer from this little company called Google, and my parents didn’t think it was very stable, very secure. The alternative was investment banking, which my sister had done. Investment banking is one of the best professions for young people, but it wasn’t something I was passionate about.
Q: You pivoted to cloud computing pretty quickly. How did you see the growth opportunity of cloud based companies?
A: Yeah, so I was lucky. Back when cloud computing and software-asa-service (“SaaS”) was pretty new, I got bitten by the same bug that I had when I was 14. I decided to go to business school and started with side hustles to transition from investing in businesses to running one as an operator. Q: What did you learn from those side hustles as you were going through your MBA?
A: I learned that if you have too many side hustles, you’re not going to be super successful at any individual one. What you’re looking for is that inkling or that spark of something that might have some traction, and that’s when you want to pour all your energy and effort behind. Windfall was the spark that really gave me the drive to focus on one idea holistically. Q: So you mentioned Windfall. Can you explain to our readers who might not understand data science what Windfall does?
A: Sure. So data is a precious asset, and Windfall provides intelligence around people and data, so that organizations can use resources wisely. We provide AI-driven data insights and predictive modeling as our service to
make them more data-driven in their decision making. Q: I’m curious how you see the intersection of the work you do as it relates to privacy of the individual.
A: It’s incredibly important to use people’s data ethically, and Windfall’s terms and conditions require institutions to use the data in an appropriate manner. The more and more that folks lean into and use these technologies, we are going to have to have guardrails. With the rise of generative AI, we need some golden rules to be put into place. Ideally, it’s not from 50 different states, but rather at the federal level. Q: What lessons did you carry forward from your time at Landon?
A: I’m part of the 10-year club, so I was here from grades 3-12, and the Honor Code is something that I still live by every day when thinking about the ethical use of data at Windfall. It pervades the way that I operate. Also, my tennis coach, Mac Jacoby (we won multiple IAC titles back then), and my faculty sponsor for my senior project, Dr. Todd Barnett (who let me code for my senior project because he saw I really wanted to pursue it), both taught me the value of lifelong learning and working together as a team. SUMMER 2023
ALUMNI NEWS
As the head of a company that provides data-driven insights to nonprofits and businesses, Banerjee shared how Landon values inform his perspective on creating policies for the responsible, appropriate use of personal data. With degrees from Duke University in Computer Science and Economics and an MBA from University of California at Berkeley, Arup began by describing his start as an entrepreneur.
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SPOTLIGHT: ANDY MORSE ’92
A Leader in Journalism Andy Morse ’92 is now president and publisher of The Atlanta JournalConstitution after a long career in television news. Morse’s stint as editor-in-chief of The Landon News as well as The Cornell Daily Sun, was just the beginning of a career that included a stint at ABC News and leadership roles at Bloomberg Television and CNN. Q: Did you always plan to stick with journalism after Landon?
ALUMNI NEWS
A: It’s honestly all I’ve ever wanted to do, and I knew it even before Landon. You don’t really choose journalism. Journalism chooses you, and that was certainly what happened to me.
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Q: Are there any Landon teachers who were a big influence on your writing?
A: Landon’s English department was extraordinary. Mr. (Hans)
Farnstrom really taught me how to write, and Mr. (Fred) Mora sparked a love for language. Wow, and then Mrs. (Lora) Farnstrom was our advisor for the paper. She was the hardest teacher I probably ever had. As a senior, Mr. (Peter) Swinehart taught the best class I’ve ever taken in high school or college, which was “Hero Myths”. The four of them deserve a lot of credit for any writing ability I have. Q: You ran the gauntlet of excellence there. When you graduated college, how did you get started in journalism?
A: When I graduated from Cornell, I applied to more than 200 newspaper jobs and magazine jobs across the country, and I was rejected by every single one. I got a job at ABC News as a desk assistant, and I made copies, got the pens, and every other menial job.
Andy speaks at CNN in 2022.
Q: You were at ABC for a pretty long time.
A: Every two or three years I was able to find a new challenge. My second job was on the launch team for ABCNews.com. I worked in London, throughout Europe, the Middle East, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Hong Kong, and when I ran out of challenges, I decided to move on. But along the way I got to work with a lot of legends such as Peter Jennings, Ted Koppel, Diane Sawyer, and Charlie Gibson. Q: After ABC, you went on to run Bloomberg Television and then to CNN.
A: Yeah, I was really fortunate. It was a chance to step up and learn how to lead differently, learn new skills, and to make mistakes, frankly. I was learning as I went. A really big part of my job at CNN was trying to drive digital transformation and
Q: What does digital transformation really mean?
A: Ten years ago it meant just taking articles and putting them on the web. Now, The New York Times has really led the way, setting the example of transforming its business model and themselves into a true modern media company. It’s about shifting culture. Q: So you left CNN and television news for a return to a print powerhouse.
A: I took a little time off and started writing a book. It was the first time since I was 22 that I had the luxury of time! Atlanta right now is the center of so much – politics, music, movies, food.
My mission is to see if we can take this storied 155-year-old newspaper and transform it into a modern media company, not unlike what The New York Times has done. So for me, it was a no-brainer.
Q: What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in the business?
A: We live in a 24-7 world, where you’re able to access any information, any time, on any device. The digital transformation has been just remarkable. When I was growing up, people were reading The Washington Post in the morning, and rushing home to watch the local news at 5 or 6 p.m. Q: How can we create news literacy for kids and for ourselves?
A: I think there’s a place to reintroduce news in school, and it shouldn’t be political or partisan. I think understanding and
identifying unbiased news sources is really important. As for journalists, there is no substitute for original reporting with a commitment to fact-checking so we can have an authentic voice that people are really looking for. Q: And finally, what gets you excited for the future of news and of storytelling?
A: My kids are discovering news stories on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, but they know what’s real and what’s not. As long as we tell important stories and interesting stories that people naturally want to consume, I think we’ll be okay.
Andy (black jacket) with Diane Sawyer at the site of the tsunami and earthquake in Sendai, Japan.
Andy in the desert in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2001.
SUMMER 2023
ALUMNI NEWS
editorial coverage. I got there in 2013, and we had no idea just how dramatically the world would change.
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Shiffman
Zengerle
LANDON
MAKES THE NEWS Things have changed since John Shiffman ’83 used to gather with Landon’s newspaper staff in the smoking lounge, but one thing is for certain: Landon has given a number of esteemed journalists a foundation for distinguished careers.
Jaffe
John Shiffman ’83, an investigative reporter for Reuters, and fellow journalists Greg Jaffe ’87, national reporter for The Washington Post, and Jason Zengerle ’92, writer-at-large for The New York Times Magazine were brought together via Zoom. They discussed the current state of the news media and explained how their curiosity and appreciation for diverse perspectives is deeply rooted in their Landon experience.
ALUMNI NEWS
To begin, what got you hooked on journalism in the first place?
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Jason Zengerle: I started reading The Washington Post sports page from the time I could read, maybe five-years-old? I grew up reading the paper every day, following current events and the news, and even becoming co-editor of The Landon News, but I didn’t know if I would be a journalist per se.
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“When I was a Landon student, I couldn’t have imagined what journalism would look like today, and I suppose 30 years from now it will be equally unimaginable to me.” Greg Jaffe ’87
Greg Jaffe: I think it was always in my head a little bit. I thought it would be fun, and I did write for The Landon News as well. I don’t think I decided it was something I wanted to do until college. How has journalism changed since you began your career?
Jaffe: The biggest thing is that there seems to be more opinion than actual reporting. Reporting is time consuming and laborintensive and so I worry that with each passing year, there’s a little less reporting and a little more bloviating and opinion in the media.
I think that’s a bad trend for both our industry and our democracy. Zengerle: I agree, 100%. There are fewer places where you can actually get real reporting as news organizations and publications have disappeared, and lines are blurred between news and opinion. Shiffman: Agree, and many media outlets are owned by corporations with more interest in making money than producing news. With sources from TikTok to YouTube now vying for people’s attention, what can journalists do to further their craft and earn people’s trust?
Jaffe: The best thing we can do is leave our offices and spend time with people. I think John and Jason do an amazing job at this in their work to capture the world and all its complexity.
Zengerle: We need to work better and work smarter in this attention economy. People are complicated, and the longer you spend understanding them, the better your journalism will be. How can we as a society manage misinformation and disinformation to create our own news literacy?
Shiffman: First, turn off cable TV and second, read. Oh, and question everything. Absolutely question the police, the military, your government, and politicians. Jaffe: Also, fall back on your education. Use critical thinking. Think about what sources are credible and what seems logical and rational and keep an open mind. I think it’s incumbent on all of us to try and understand one another. SUMMER 2023
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John Shiffman: Oh I was similar. I read three or four papers every morning because that was a normal thing to do when your parents had papers delivered to our house. I learned a lot from the upperclassmen who taught us the way at The Landon News.
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All of you have written about the rising inequality in our country. What do you find most compelling about this issue?
Jaffe: I realize how stacked the deck seems against other people in this country. There seem like fewer ladders up for people who aren’t born of the privilege that we were, coming from a place like Landon. Shiffman: Absolutely. I recently moved to a rural area. When you leave Washington, you meet people who don’t have a car, a phone, a house, enough food to eat, or even reliable internet. Not having these basic things fuels division and discontent in the country. What Landon teachers had the biggest impact on your careers?
ALUMNI NEWS
Jaffe: I had a bunch of great English teachers. I can remember Mr. (Ed) Sundt and Mr. (Fred) Zirm. Landon gave me a love for novels and fiction.
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Zengerle: I had Fred Mora, who was terrific and definitely instilled a love of short stories and literature. Bernie Noe was a history teacher at the time, and he really made me interested in non-fiction writing. And then Steve Sorkin, who taught geometry, was extremely encouraging. Shiffman: Well, like Jason said, Steve Sorkin definitely. Ed Sundt taught a class called Black Voices,
which was a senior English seminar, and that really exposed me to all sorts of music and writing that I probably would not have picked up. Fred Zirm was an inspirational English teacher, and he was also my bus driver. Last question: What gives you hope for the future of journalism?
Shiffman: All the new technologies we now have, especially visual storytelling. It’s pretty exciting. Zengerle: I’m so amazed and impressed by young journalists who produce remarkable stories. The life-changing impact of their tireless reporting gives me optimism. There are still people who want to do that work, and so I keep on doing it. Jaffe: The ability to transmit information just feels limitless, and it’s such a messy and imperfect business that we’re in, but I feel like it’s never going away. When I was a Landon student, I couldn’t have imagined what journalism would look like today, and I suppose 30 years from now it will be equally unimaginable to me.
Do you have a story to share? Send class notes to alumni@landon.net.
“I believe creating a space where you can lead and show others your worth is something I learned at Landon.”
SPOTLIGHT: CHARLES BRANCHE ’16
A Passion Turned Into a Profession “Working for the hometown team is something only a few people can say they’ve done,” he said. As a player on the varsity soccer team at Landon and Ohio Wesleyan University, Charles says sports played a vital role in his life, so pursuing a career in the sports industry made sense. After he earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Ohio Wesleyan in 2020, Branche was accepted to George Washington University’s School of Business to pursue an MBA with
a concentration in sports business. Before working for the Wizards, Branche interned at several sportsrelated companies, including D.C. United, YMU Sports (a sports agency), and the United Soccer League. When asked how Landon prepared him for his current role, Branche credited the strong work ethic and longlasting relationships he fostered at Landon. “I believe creating a space where you can lead and show others your worth is something I learned at Landon which has helped me professionally as well,” he added. Branche says he is challenged by the Wizards organization every
day to put out the best possible product. “Working for a billiondollar company in the most revenue-generating league in the world is extremely tough but rewarding,” he said. In the future, Branche aspires to build a web-based system that connects young black men and employers in the sports and entertainment industry.
ALUMNI NEWS
Charles Branche ’16 has turned his passion for sports into a career after landing his first full-time job as a Washington Wizards marketing coordinator.
SUMMER 2023
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“Sometimes I have to pinch myself because sharing the world’s beauty is what I have the privilege to do for a living,” says Drew, an award-winning photographer. Drew has received more than 120 international awards, honors, and accreditations from worldrenowned institutions for both his photography and filmmaking work. His work is featured in private and public collections around the world, including the Smithsonian. “I choose subjects that inspire me and whose stories I want to share. Through my images, I aim to celebrate their most extraordinary qualities, whether it’s the Rendille and Samburu tribes in Kenya, the super
ALUMNI NEWS
ANDREW BRANDT ’78
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DREW DOGGETT ’02 tusk elephants in Africa (of which there are only 24 left) or the larger-than-life sand dunes in Namibia,” he says. Surprisingly, Drew’s most memorable times at Landon weren’t spent behind a camera but instead on the lacrosse field. “It was the energy on the field, playing with a group of friends that were giving 100% that made us want to be on that team.”
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to represent a superstar professional athlete in high-stakes contract negotiations, run an NFL team, or be the go-to source for journalists?
Andrew graduated from Stanford University and Georgetown University Law School before going to work for Donald Dell ’56 at ProServ, one of the largest sports marketing and athlete management firms. Andrew then ran operations for the Barcelona Dragons (of the now defunct NFL Europe) and the Green Bay Packers before joining ESPN as an analyst and as a columnist for Sports Illustrated. As the Director of the Jeffrey S. Moorad Center for Sports Law at Villanova University School of Law, he now develops the sports law curriculum, teaches select courses and seminars, and coordinates sports law internships for students. His advice to anyone interested in getting into the business of sports is “find a way to differentiate yourself...tell a story and...speak with passion.”
A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard University Law School, and a swimmer who competed in both the 2000 (Sydney) and 2004 (Athens) Summer Olympics, Juan is now on the litigation team for Uber. Before he worked for the ride-sharing company, Juan joined the law firm of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, of whom Jonathan Schiller ’65 is a founding partner and Joshua Schiller ’99 is a partner. “By nature, I am driven, and I think the mission of Landon and the values it instilled in me are important. It’s clear to me now, as a working professional, why my teachers and coaches emphasized all those values. I’m seeing it now at Uber,” he says. “There is an alignment between the values I learned at Landon and the values at Uber, which include ‘Doing the right thing, period.’”
JUAN VALDIVIESO ’99
READ MORE IN OUR ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS.
As the chief meteorologist at WUSA-TV (Channel 9), Topper has been forecasting the weather for 38 years.
His love of weather started when he was just eight-years-old, when he built his own weather station from scratch for fun. “I have always been a snow nut, and I used to call the National Weather Service number every hour as a young boy to check on the atmospheric pressure and temperature. I learned how to forecast the weather when I was just 10,” he says. It may come as a surprise to learn that he did not take a lot of science courses at Landon because his father pushed him toward law school. His path to becoming a broadcast meteorologist was circuitous, including running the teleprompter and cameras at CNN after college. He earned a chance one morning when the weather anchor did not show up for work. Upon finishing his stint later that morning, he received a standing ovation from the entire CNN newsroom. And the rest is history! SUMMER 2023
ALUMNI NEWS
TOPPER SHUTT ’77
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Class Notes 1 9 3 0 s
On January 13, 1942, Ensign Clarence Becker ’34 was assigned to the commissioning crew of destroyer USS Forrest (DD-461). The Forrest was assigned to the Atlantic fleet and saw action while escorting the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-4). She patrolled the Atlantic with the hunter-killer group, headed by the escort carrier USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60). Becker was lost when USS Longshaw (DD 559) ran aground near Naha, Okinawa, and was destroyed by enemy shore battery fire. He had been the commanding officer for less than a week according to Brian Koba, U.S. Army (retired).
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Gilbert Bogley ’48 is still fly fishing and playing nine holes of golf. He shot his age again this year!
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ALUMNI NEWS
Alfred Pasternak ’53 retired in 2016 from his law practice. He and his wife moved to Florida’s Treasure Coast where he plays pickle ball and “it’s yours” tennis several times a week.
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Skip Rideout ’55 stopped by to visit a group of Landon students at the Habitat For Humanity site in Cambridge where they built concrete floors for sheds. Veteran daytime talk show host Maury Povich ’57 retired, with the last original episodes of “Maury” broadcasted in September 2022 after 31 years on the air. In November, he was inducted into the Bender JCC (Jewish Community Center) of Greater
Washington Sports Hall of Fame. He was chosen for his success as a golfer. He won the Woodmont Country Club championship five times and was a regular on the celebrity golf circuit. Thomas Rideout ’59, along with some other alumni and concerned individuals from Washington and Lee University formed “The Generals Redoubt” to “empower alumni, students, and parents in the Washington and Lee University community to advance Washington and Lee University’s unique history and traditions of honor, civility, and classical liberal arts education.”
Becker
James Cavanaugh ’59 recently returned from Cuba where he became a member of the Hemingway International Yacht Club. He continues as an adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Northwestern University.
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Povich
Bennett
In a two-person election run-off, Judge Steve Rideout ’61 was elected Mayor of Cambridge, Maryland to fill out about two years of a prior mayor’s term. Steve previously served on the City Council for four years and began his service on September 26, 2022.
Buchanan
Rideout
Bob Buchanan ’60 was featured as the Federal City Council’s District Leader.
William Bennett ’64 happily retired with his wife Patty, to Lewes, DE, after three careers - Army Officer, Associate General Counsel at the U.S. Postal Service, and partner in Govt. Relations Consulting firm Alvarado and Bennett.
Daum and Williams
In Memoriam Earl F. “Coco” Junghans ’54. July 13, 2022. Harvey B. Gram III ’57. August 26, 2022. Robert G. Neal ’55. August 27, 2022.
Seawell
The Columbia Athletics department dedicated the center court in Levien Gymnasium to Jonathan D. Schiller ’65 in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding contributions to the University, the athletics department and the men’s basketball program. Schiller
Elliot Daum ’66 and Ralph Williams ’66 visit at Elliott’s hometown in California. Pictured here at Shelter Cove on the Lost Coast of Northern California Rob Bordley ’66 was honored again! This time he was inducted into the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame on December 4, 2022 for his achievements in lacrosse.
Rideout
Martin West ’67 was inducted into the 2022 Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in golf. Congratulations!
West
McNair
Bordley
Beverly E. Bennett, Former Landon Staff. September 2, 2022. Charles L. Briggs, grandfather of Christian Banks ’27. September 17, 2022. Dr. Stanton P. Nolan ’51, brother of Gaillard R. Nolan ’54 and great uncle of Parker R. Nolan ’22. September 19, 2022. Patricia Mannino, grandmother of Francis Mannino ’25. September 28, 2022. Charles A. Bowsher, father of Stephen C. Bowsher ’86. October 1, 2022. Caroljean Lehr, grandmother of Zachary D. Lesniewski ’28. October 13, 2022. George Voris, father of Michael Voris ’95. October 15, 2022. Linwood Barnes, Former Landon staff. October 18, 2022. Daniel V. Gsovski ’60. October 23, 2022.
Katie and David Dixon ’68 are still living in Portland, Oregon where he co-chairs a Downtown Neighborhood Association Committee that is addressing the humanitarian crisis of homelessness.
Ronald V. Coughlin, grandfather of Ramon Barquin ’32. October 28, 2022.
Frederick McNair ’69 was inducted into the 2022 Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in tennis. Congratulations!
Peter F. Worsley ’61. November 16, 2022.
Calvin Nophlin, grandfather of Gavin Williams ’24. November 2, 2022.
Catherine Lyla Coates Jones, mother of Franklin P. Jones ’73 (dec.) and John M. Jones ’77. December 22, 2022.
SUMMER 2023
ALUMNI NEWS
Rosemary and Brooke Seawell ’65 generously hosted Landon and HoltonArms alumni to reconnect at their home in Atherton, CA. Landon alumni heard from Head of School Jim Neill and Board Chair Alex Baldwin about all the exciting things happening at Landon.
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ALUMNI HOCKEY TOURNAMENT Seventeen alumni returned to the Bear’s Den to play in the Annual Alumni Holiday Ice Hockey Tournament on November 26, 2022. Ethan Weinstein ’20 and Jake Samperton ’05 each had three goals while Rob Fogarty ’00 and Riley Knebel ’22 each had two goals. The final score was white team 10 and dark team 4.
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Bethesda Big Train founders Bruce Adams ’66 and John Ourisman ’71 recently honored Skip Davis ’71 and David Povich ’54 (posthumously) with the Randy Schools Outstanding Service Award at the annual Big Train Base Ball & Holiday Auction. Pictured to the right are David Povich with his beloved Salty, Big Train mascot Homer, and friend George Solomon at Shirley Povich Field on June 13, 2016. Neal Nordlinger ’72 released his book The Right Rehab writing under his pen name Walter Wolf. It was awarded the GOLD Nonfiction Book Award by the Nonfiction Authors Association.
ALUMNI NEWS
Peter Stifel ’72 and his classmates gathered at Hank Dietle’s on April 8 for a night of music and fun to honor the memory of Tommy Osgood ’72. Peter is pictured in the lead guitar in his band, Pulp Fusion. Pictured in the photo are: Tom Korengold ’72, Noel Edison ’72, Laurie Taylor ’72, Peter Stifel ’72, David Laird ’73, Jim Collin ’72, Tom Leachman ’72, Andy Somerville ’72, Steve Eckstrom ’72, Bill Eacho ’72, Peter Craig ’72, John Ourisman ’71, and John Lynham ’71.
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In June 2022, Glenn Scoggins ’73 retired after 45 years as a history teacher and college counselor at Saint Maur International School in Yokohama. He is enjoying the flexibility of retired life, traveling around Japan at off-peak times, writing for a Yokohama-based bilingual magazine, and continuing with independent historical research. He hasn’t been in the U.S. since 2015, but this autumn he plans to visit the D.C. area and attend his 50th reunion with his classmates.
Kenny Jenkins ’78 was instrumental in getting hundreds of Black former NFL players financial compensation after bringing attention to the “race-norming” practices that were part of the NFL’s landmark concussion settlement. Pictured with Kenny are wife, Amy Lewis, and former NFL player Clarence Vaughn III as they approach the Federal Courthouse in Philadelphia. Kenny was the 2022 Anthony E. Kupka ’64 Distinguished Award recipient. Ryan and Kelly Elbin ’79 checked off a bucket list item when they attended the ArmyNavy football game in Philadelphia. Earlier in the year Kelly treated us to another “Musings on Sports” podcast with fellow Landon alumnus Donald Dell ’56, who shares stories about his days representing Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, Jimmy Connors, and Michael Jordan.
Povich
Scoggins
Nordlinger
Fraina and Chris Kingsley ’79, Hale Boggs ’79, Chip ’79 and Eliza Peter, and Bobby ’79 and Minina Johnston at a New York beach during US Open week. Stifel
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Mark Kovler ’05 and Bobby Manfuso ’80 were joined by many of their fellow Landon alumni at their induction into the Potomac Chapter of USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame on February 4. Congratulations Mark and Bobby! John Shiffman ’83 spoke to seniors about his investigative reporting for Reuters and gave each student a signed copy of his book, Hold the Line, written with Michael Fanone. The inscription is, “In memory of Lawrence K. Bou ’83.” Bou and Shiffman were classmates and dear friends.
Jenkins
Kovler and Manfuso
Elbin
In Memoriam CONT. Kenneth J. Tuggle ’58. December 23, 2022. Frank W. McConnell, grandfather of Benjamin Kehoe ’24. December 23, 2022. John T. Liipfert ’65. December 24, 2022.
Scott Harris ’84 visited with Landon seniors to share career advice and insight into his work as the Clerk of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Naegele Huguely
Derek Kober ’85, Dean Nordlinger ’87, Kurt Naegele ’87, Hunter Montgomery ’87, Tom Atherton ’87 celebrated at the Kurt’s wedding last summer. Geoff Huguely ’86, the founder of Panic Point in Youngsville, NC celebrated its 12th season of Halloween terror. “Twelve short years ago we found an unhallowed plot of land, planted our little seeds of panic, and gently nourished them with terror & dread until a full forest of fear emerged.”
Jaffe
Pulitzer Prize winner and Washington Post reporter Greg Jaffe ’87 spoke to seniors in their English class on “How News Writing changed U.S. History.” He discussed working with sources in government, covering low-income workers’ struggles during the pandemic, and the state of news media today.
Satlin Harris
Kraske, Jacobson, and Sant
Nicholas A. Kolb ’55. December 25, 2022. Hereward S. Cattell, father of Douglas ’83 and Todd ’86 Cattell. December 29, 2022. Charles W. Jeffress, spouse of Jean Jeffress, long-time Landon Faculty member, and father of Berkley Jeffress ’87. January 1, 2023. Earl Jackson, long-time faculty member and father of Christopher Jackson ’07. January 5, 2023. William W. Vance ’62. January 22, 2023. Thomas H. Osgood ’72. January 24, 2023. Lynne C. Astrich, mother of Harold H. Astrich ’91 and grandmother of Harold E. Astrich ’28. February 5, 2023. Marjorie Benedict, mother-in-law of Scott Leachman ’77, grandmother of Robert ’12 and Scott ’07 Leachman. February 9, 2023.
Classmates Paul Kraske ’88, Lou Jacobson ’88, and Lex Sant ’88 celebrated their daughters’ graduation from the Maret School in spring 2022.
Morris J. Amitay, father of Michael ’81 and Stephen ’83, grandfather of Kyle ’18 and Matthew ’20 Amitay. February 10, 2023.
Louis Jacobson ’88, Senior Correspondent at PolitiFact, appeared as a panelist at the Atlantic Festival this fall. The topic centered on “The Digital Veil: Misinformation and the Future of Democracy.”
Emily Charles Donohue, mother of Brian ’84, John ’83, and Kevin ’81 Charles. February 12, 2023.
David Satlin ’88 at the World Cup in Doha, Qatar.
Frank T. Shull III, father of Frank Shull IV ’86 and grandfather of Frank “Thomas” Shull ’17. February 14, 2023.
SUMMER 2023
ALUMNI NEWS
David Gellman ’84 released his new book Liberty’s Chain last spring which forges a new path for thinking about slavery and the nation’s founding.
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JACOBY CUP The winners of the tournament championship were Frank Wang ’26 and Caleb Wade ’24. The 2023 Jacoby Cup Tennis Tournament featured students, alumni, faculty, and former faculty competing in friendly matches in memory of Maclear “Mac” Jacoby. Mac was a Landon legend and the School’s longest serving employee. We remember Mac and celebrate his love of the sport and our school.
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Carl J. Bon Tempo ’90 published a new book, co-authored with Hasia Diner, called Immigration: An American History with Yale University Press in May 2022. Chris Winter ’90 is leading the Eastern North Carolina chapter of Make-A-Wish on a path to return to its pre-pandemic levels of funding and support. Adam Wenchel ’92 was featured in a Tech Crunch article about Arthur.ai machine learning monitoring. In February, Chase Cox ’92 started in a new role as VP & District Manager for Flatiron Construction. Josh Robbins ’92 visited with Steve Sorkin and Landon seniors to discuss his work covering the Washington Wizards for The Athletic.
ALUMNI NEWS
Jeremy Duffie ’96 reeled in a 77.5-pound white marlin winning Ocean City’s White Marlin Fishing Tournament while fishing on the boat, Billfisher, built and captained by his brother Jon Duffie ’97. They took home a world record prize of $4.4M! They are pictured here with family and crew.
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Eleanor and David Shepard ’96 have two daughters, Annie and Nell, and live in Bethesda not far from Landon. After over two decades of raising money for private schools, David joined the Fenstermaker Financial Group of Raymond James as a Financial Advisor in the downtown DC office.
Arvin Vohra ’97 co-authored Invitation to the Ivies, which debuted as the #1 New Release in College Guides on Kindle and was featured on Good Day Chicago and other major media. The book explains to students and parents the secret code of Ivy League admissions and is a resource for students, particularly for students whose parents did not attend an Ivy and don’t know the nuances of getting in. Dan Pinkham ’98 joined the clinical faculty at the University of Virginia as a medical physicist in the department of radiation oncology.
Cox
Duffie
Brian Haney ’99 spoke with Landon seniors about job skills and strategies in January, sharing his expertise on entrepreneurship, networking, and personal branding, among other topics. Johnny Gnall ’99 left his position as Head Chef at Korbel Winery after five years and now leads the kitchen at Saint in NYC as the Executive Sous Chef.
Gnall
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Alumni celebrating the wedding of Patrick Straub ’01 and Chelsea Joder in Nantucket this summer. Pictured from left to right, Teddy Lamade ’00, Mike Petrash ’01, Teddy Hayes ’01, Brian Adams ’00, Austin Flajser ’00, Steve Orr ’00, Jimmy Barter ’01, Richard Offen ’01, Matt Schiffman ’01, Patrick Straub ’01, Robert Fogarty ’00, Greg Matisoff ’01, Kevin Shooshan ’00, George Purcell ’01, Dave DiBianco ’01, Burnell Holland ’01, Gabe Bluestone ’01.
Winter
Shepard
Robbins
Haney
Anthony Marra ’03 is the New York Times bestselling author of The Tsar of Love and Techno and A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, and the newly released Mercury Pictures Presents. He is the winner of the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, and longlisted for the National Book Award. Raleigh Martin ’03 spoke to Landon seniors about his work at the National Science Foundation and lessons learned from a career in academia, government, and geoscience.
Straub
Martin
Smith
Scott Smith ’05 and Kara are excited to announce the birth of their little boy, Stephen Michael Smith. He was born on November 11, 2022 and weighed 8 lbs 7 oz. Magic Giant and its lead singer Austin Bisnow ’06 performed at the Black Cat on Friday, March 24. It’s Magic Giant’s first D.C. show since before the pandemic. After 10 years putting in his dues as a business strategy & data science consultant, Mike Ticehurst ’07 changed careers and co-founded Village Childcare Experts, focused on connecting parents with childcare experts.
Ticehurst Bisnow
Agustin “Gus” Umanzor ’08 and wife, Laura Romano welcome their son, Julián Romano. He was born on July 21, 2022 weighing in at 8.65 lbs. Sophia and Nick Freeman ’09 welcomed 7 lb 4 oz Ella Lucia on September 29, 2022. Congrats! Umanzor
In Memoriam CONT. Terence S. House, father of Cyrus ’12 and Zachary ’09 House. February 21, 2023. Margaret Page Eisinger, sister of Robert ’69 and Warren (dec) ’67 Eisinger, mother of John ’98 and Samuel ’00 Buis. February 22, 2023. Sheila N. Lockshin, long-time Lower School teacher, coach, mentor, mother of Benjamin ’93, and grandmother of Jeremy Lockshin ’18 and Michael Amsellem ’18. February 27, 2023. Jeff Mascott, father of Everett ’28, Elias ’30, and Augustine ’32 Mascott. February 28, 2023. Nemia Jessie Catherine Simone Robinson, daughter of long-time Landon Music and Band teacher Lenny Robinson. March 5, 2023. Vivian Briceland, mother of the late Nelson “Jim” Briceland ’77. March 8, 2023. Merle F. Guarnieri, mother of Patrick Guarnieri ’00. March 12, 2023. Diane L. Gibson, grandmother of Gavin Gibson ’29. March 15, 2023. Charles Bedell Monro Jr. ’57. April 21, 2023. Donald DeVeau ’58. May 7, 2023. Paula Davis, mother-in-law of Ali Al-Attar ’91 and grandmother of Adam Al-Attar ’32. May 24, 2023. Frances Hurst Ballman, mother of B. George Ballman ’87. May 28, 2023. Dianne Haney, mother of Brian ’99 and Scott ’02 Haney. June 1, 2023. Charles L. Baker ’43. June 2, 2023.
Freeman
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ALUMNI NEWS
Drew Doggett ’02 said, “In my mind, I had always imagined photographing elephants on the bare, sunbaked flats of Amboseli National Park.”
Doggett
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James A. Speight IV ’10 married Abigail Hahn on September 17, 2022 at the Noroton Yacht Club in Darien, Connecticut. Sara and Ben Huizinga ’10 welcomed their first baby, Cameron Richard Huizinga, to the world on September 29, 2022. Congratulations! Landon Alumni and Parents of Alumni gathered on February 15 at a reception in West Palm Beach to reconnect with one another and hear from Head of School Jim Neill. Alumni in attendance ranged from the classes of 1961 to 1979.
Nearly 50 alumni gathered at the home of Gillian and Syl
Miniter ’80 in New York City for the first of the “Landon on the Road’’ events.
The newest Landon bear, Baby Eli joined Lily and David Duber ’10 three weeks early, on March 3, 2023, weighing 6 lbs 10 oz.
Huizinga Duber
John Lynn ’11 and Morgan welcome their daughter, Remi who was born on June 20, 2022. Sam Anas ’11 had the honor of having his Springfield Thunderbirds jersey selected to be displayed in the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame in an AHL exhibit. It is an annual AHL tradition to have one jersey from each of the two final teams in the AHL championships to be displayed at the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto for a year.
Speight
Myles Allen ’13 made a career move and has become a Product Manager at PBS KIDS.
Allen
Alumni from the Class of 2014 gathered in NYC. Pictured are Leo Falcone ’14, Harry Laird ’14, Jack Bolen ’14, Nicky Talwar ’14, Aaron Zaimi ’14, Marcus Kindfuller ’14, Ramen Ananthanpillai ’14. Ed Wolins ’14 took the picture.
Flanagan
Seth Flanagan ’14 was a member of Landon’s rifle team and the love of the sport stayed with him in college. He is now the Head Coach of Wofford College’s NCAA Division I rifle team. In 2021, Seth was named Southern Conference (SoCon) Coach of the Year. Seth is also the Director of Inclusive Engagement at Wofford College.
ALUMNI NEWS
Class of 2014
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Many thanks to Debra and Dean Graham, P ’18 ’20 for
hosting Landon alumni and parents of alumni under the stars for a lovely gathering at the Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida on February 16.
Drew Hurley ’16 spoke to Landon seniors about job skills and career strategies, including networking and interviewing. Hurley works as a security coordinator for the Washington Nationals. In 2022, Eriksen Johansen ’16 completed a two-year graduate program at George Washington University, earning a Master of Science in Finance.
Hurley
Lynn
Maanik Lal ’17 was promoted to Senior Business Analyst at Accenture Federal Services. Antonio Cockrell ’17 attended the 2023 PAC-12 Health and Equity Summit: Race, Gender, Identity, and Accessibility Matters in Collegiate Athlete Health at UCLA. Antonio is the Assistant Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives for the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC).
Graham
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Joey Graham ’20 (Harvard ’25) played lacrosse with Felix Jones ’32. Harvard was in town playing in the Bob Kemp Classic against UNC at Georgetown Prep. Oscar Smink ’21, Nico Kenary ’18, Canin Reynolds ’20, and Nick Kopp ’21 participated on an Amherst college sports team last year.
Smink, Kenary, Reynolds, and Kopp
READ MORE IN OUR ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS.
In Memoriam CONT. Fulton R. Gordon, father of Stephen Gordon ’75 and Fulton “Sandy” Gordon ’71, grandfather of Stephen Gordon Jr. ’07, and grandfather-in-law of Christopher Katkish ’11. June 12, 2023. Donald E. Swagart Jr., former Landon faculty/staff member. June 29, 2023. John Richard Porter “Rick” Wilson ’83, brother of Christopher Wilson ’75, nephew of the late Charles ’46 and Allen ’50 Hobbs, cousin of Allen Hobbs ’87, second cousin of Logan ’16, Patrick ’18, and Ryan ’20 Giles. July 13, 2023. Talbot Spence Chubb ’72. July 17, 2023. Shirley Hooper Broyles, mother-in-law of Jack Leachman ’69, grandmother of Penn ’94 and Jamie ’95 Leachman, and great-grandmother of Jackson Leachman ’30. July 27, 2023. Kenneth J. Luchs, father of Jay Luchs ’90. July 29, 2023. Sherwood Andrew “Woody” Moulton ’67. August 2, 2023. Connor A. Jones ’10, brother of Ryan Jones ’05. August 8, 2023.
Kenny Jenkins ’78 was
invited by the Black Students Union (BSU) to speak at the
ALUMNI NEWS
All-School Assembly for Black History Month on Wednesday, February 23. Afterward, he joined the students for lunch.
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LEFT William Jolley ’03, Rob Bordley ’66, George Purcell ’01, Gregory Niang ’04, and Akshay Rustagi ’05
W. LANDON BANFIELD ’50 AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO LANDON: TODD L. BOEHLY ’91 The W. Landon Banfield ’50 Award for Outstanding Service to Landon was presented to Todd L. Boehly ’91, Co-founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Eldridge.
ALUMNI NEWS
Eldridge employs more than 3,000 people and has made investments in over 70 operating businesses, including Security Benefit, of which Mr. Boehly is Chairman, Dick Clark Productions, A24, Fulwell 73, and Penske Media, which includes The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Billboard, Rolling Stone, Vibe, Music Business Worldwide, Life is Beautiful, and the investment in South by Southwest.
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Mr. Boehly is Chairman of Chelsea Football Club and an owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Sparks, Cloud9, and DraftKings. He is on the boards of the Los Angeles Lakers, Flexjet, PayActiv, CAIS, Cain International, Kennedy
Wilson (NYSE: KW), Vivid Seats (NASDAQ: SEAT), and Horizon Acquisition Corporation II (NYSE: HZON). Mr. Boehly was formerly on the board of Truebill. Prior to founding Eldridge, Mr. Boehly was President of Guggenheim Partners and founded the credit business at Guggenheim. He received his B.B.A. from The College of William & Mary, where he later founded The Boehly Center for Excellence in Finance and studied at the London School of Economics. In addition to his dedication to Landon over the years, Mr. Boehly supports epilepsy research, Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Prostate Cancer Foundation, Brunswick School, and The College of William & Mary.
As a student, Mr. Boehly led the Landon wrestling team to back-to-back IAC championships in 1990 and 1991. He credits Steve Sorkin for encouraging him to attend the London School of Economics and is grateful to “Sork” for his mentorship. In 2021, Landon School announced a transformational gift made by Katie and Todd L. Boehly ’91 toward the construction of a new Upper School, which will formally be named the Boehly Upper School in honor of their generosity. The Boehlys’ contribution will expand facilities and help renew Landon’s 75 acres as part of a strategic Campus Master Plan.
HONORARY ALUMNI AWARDS
Cam Coursen ’99 and Hans Farnstrom
ANTHONY E. KUPKA ’64 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD RECIPIENT KENNETH W. JENKINS ’78 Kenneth W. Jenkins ’78 is a former NFL running back for the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, and Detroit Lions. He played college football at Bucknell University. He recently garnered headlines due to his civil rights work to eliminate race norming from the NFL’s concussion suit. Mr. Jenkins is an insurance executive with NFP in Bethesda, Maryland serving commercial, benefits, retirement, and individual clients. He has developed an especially strong clientele in the large non-profit and government contracting arenas in the DMV. He also leads the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging task force for NFP, both regionally and nationally. As a member of the Landon Board of Trustees, he participated as part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisory
committee and has been a featured guest and facilitator for the Greater Washington Board of Trade on the subject. Mr. Jenkins was co-captain of varsity football at Landon in Form VI. He earned All-IAC in Forms V and VI, All-Prep in Form VI, and received the T. Edward Barton M.V.P. Award in Form VI. He earned All-IAC and was co-captain of varsity baseball in Form VI. He also ran varsity winter track as a Form VI student. Mr. Jenkins and his wife, Amy, are empty nesters and golf enthusiasts residing in Mitchellville, Maryland.
Hans Farnstrom came to Landon in 1986 and taught Upper School English for 31 years. In that time, he launched the varsity hockey program in 1993 and guided the team to thirteen IAC championships and four MidAtlantic Prep Hockey League state titles. He also coached football and soccer for more than 25 years. Mr. Farnstrom headed the Landon Summer Program for 23 years, acted as Dean of Students, served as the Assistant Upper School Head, and was the Hiring Coordinator for approximately 20 years. Lora Farnstrom came to Landon in 1988 and taught English at Landon for 30 years. She held various teaching positions during her distinguished tenure. Mrs. Farnstrom was one of the founding members of our signature course in the Humanities, which she taught for more than 25 years. She was the first woman at Landon to hold a Department Chair position (English, beginning in 2000), was an academic advisor, and led The Landon News for 25 years. SUMMER 2023
ALUMNI NEWS
Knight Kiplinger ’65, Ottsie Cox ’65, Sandy Murdock ’65, and Quinn Hollomon ’65
The Landon Alumni Association proudly recognizes and honors these individuals as Honorary Alumni for their dedicated service to the moral and educational growth of students who attended Landon.
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ALUMNI NEWS
CLASS REUNIONS
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More than 300 alumni returned to campus for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, reconnecting with old friends, getting a glimpse of the campus transformation, and cheering on our teams. The weekend kicked off with the 50th reunion of the Class of 1972 on Thursday, October 13, 2022 when they announced their 50th Reunion gift to name a new art studio in honor of their classmate and friend, artist Tommy Osgood ’72. As part of the campus master plan, the newly renovated classroom will be part of Landon’s future Visual Arts Center in the Wilson Building. A heartfelt thank you is extended for the generosity of these alumni and the impact their donations will have on Landon.
ADMISSION OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES
Sunday, October 22, 2023 1–4 p.m. Grades 3–12
ONCE A BEAR, ALWAYS A BEAR Landon is committed to elevating the experience of every boy and challenging him to be the best version of himself. Gifts to The Landon Fund support every Bear, today and tomorrow.
MAKE YOUR GIFT WWW.LANDON.NET/GIVE
All donations to The Landon Fund are 100% tax-deductible.
LEAVING A LASTING LEGACY A planned gift allows your support of Landon to endure in perpetuity. • Give through a bequest. Your estate receives a charitable deduction for the full amount given.
SAVE THE DATE
MAY 3–5, 2024 Scan the co
de or
GET TH visit lan
• Establish a named fund for a scholarship or faculty professional development. Or make an unrestricted gift to Landon’s endowment.
E LATEST!
don.net/azale
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Please contact Director of Development Peter J. Gallo, Ph.D., at peter_gallo@landon.net or 301-320-1004. Always consult your legal and financial/tax advisors.
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ALUMNI NEWS
• Name Landon as the beneficiary of your retirement plan or life insurance policy.
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6101 Wilson Lane Bethesda, Maryland 20817
UPCOMING DATES Landon Golf Classic
October 20, 2023
Admissions Open House
October 22, 2023
Homecoming and Reunions
November 3–4, 2023 Azalea Festival
May 3–5, 2024
WE SAID GOODBYE TO TORREY HALL AS PART OF OUR CONSTRUCTION THIS SUMMER. Torrey Hall was named for Frederic Torrey, a faculty member who taught math and worked as an administrator at Landon from 1931-1942. Originally the Andrews estate garage, Torrey Hall served many roles during its time: Upper School classrooms, living quarters for faculty and boarding students, a library, the Head of School’s office, Lower School art room, the school store, the senior lounge, and much more. This awardwinning painting by James Moncur ’23 was completed during Mr. Michael Carter’s architecture class.