EA Personally Speaking - Fall 2016

Personally SPEAKING

THE Elgin Acad em y Mag a z i ne FALL 2016

Chasing My White Whale Technology on the Hill The Gift of an EA Education

Fall 2016

Personally Speaking, the magazine of Elgin Academy, is published by the Office of Strategic Marketing & Communications for the Elgin Academy community.

Its mission is to tell the school’s remarkable taking learning personally stories and capture the history, values, and culture of Elgin Academy through objective coverage.

Editor Lynn Martin Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications Head of School Seth Hanford Assistant Head for Institutional Advancement Shannon Howell Director of Development Contributors Bonita Deering Harry Gould Sandy Revek

350 PARK STREET ELGIN, IL 60120 848.695.0300 elginacademy.org

Photographer Carolyn Rikje Designer Kristin Brown

IN this

issue

2 Head of School Message 3 The Promise Statement 4 Feature Story: Chasing My White Whale 6 Empowering Students with Project Based Learning 7 EA is All About Collaboration 8 Technology on the Hill 12 It’s Not Just a Program... It’s a Way of Life 14 Feature Story: The Gift of an EA Education 16 Reflections: The In-Between Spaces 17 Banner Year for Sports 18 Celebrating Student Achievement Nationally 19 Taking Learning Personally Merit Scholarships 20 Celebrating Our Community: The Elgin Academy Faculty Memorial Garden Meet the Redekers A Plethora of Legacies

23 Class Notes 28 News from the Development Office:

Fall 2016

Each Year, Teaching Actively A Very Important Gift from John B. McDonald Thank you to our 2015-2016 Donors elgin academy

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Welcome

From our head of school

Dear Elgin Academy Friends:

We are so excited to share our new magazine with you! In these pages you will see evidence of our commitment to taking learning personally. It encapsulates our newly developed promise statement, a testament to what all students can expect from their experience at Elgin Academy.

If you have been associated with Elgin Academy for a substantial period of time, much of the language and graphics herein might seem new. And while this is true in the most literal sense of the word, what makes us the proudest is how old it all really is. Whether about a current student’s dedicated efforts, a family’s long-term commitment to the benefits of this education, or a faculty member’s passion for his students’ active learning, what you see in this magazine represents what has made us all love this place for so many years.

While the colors might be freshened and the language honed, what we do here everyday is what we have done for years and years: prepare students to use the knowledge and skills they learn on this campus for the broader good.

While the colors might be freshened and the language honed, what we do here everyday is what we have done for years and years.

For over a century, EA has stood for the learning that can only happen with the foundation provided by small classes. This foundation, and the resulting relationships, set the stage for the risk taking from which we really learn.

In fact, we know that this is the only way we learn. In this personal context, students obtain the basic knowledge necessary to understand even the most complex ideas, and they gain the even more crucial ability to know what they don’t know and to seek it out. In short, they learn how to learn. Armed with that most essential of skills, and imbued with the compassion inherent in a place that places such an emphasis on serving others, our students are ready to understand our complicated world and to make a difference in it.

In each of these stories you will see how this special place makes that happen.

I am privileged enough to see it everyday, and I hope you get a small taste of it in these pages.

Please let this magazine serve as the catalyst that brings you to campus. As good as these stories look in print, the real live versions are even better– and it will be my pleasure to share them with you!

Until we see each other in person,

Seth Hanford, Head of School

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is the Fox River Valley’s preschool through grade 12 independent school where taking learning personally defines the collective ethos and covenant that unites all students and teachers, parents and staff members, administrators and trustees.

Within intentionally small-scaled classrooms, Elgin Academy students learn to be secure in themselves,

disciplined in their thinking, creative in their collaboration, compassionate toward others, and dedicated in their efforts as they contribute as thinkers and doers in school and the community.

Families from across Chicago’s northwestern suburbs and exurbs find at Elgin Academy a cherished oasis from the perceived impersonality and over-scaled local public schools.

Elgin Academy students in every division pursue active learning, testing new ideas and securing trust with each other and their teachers as they try out new pursuits, assume leadership roles, and take calculated intellectual risks to see what resonates and moves them toward mastery.

Elgin Academy graduates make discerning college choices based on not only prestige, but also personal fit, and enroll at a diverse array of colleges and universities nationwide and worldwide, equipped with the know-how and self-confidence that stems from coming of age in this individually attuned community.

They go forth as productive, conscientious, and mindful young people who continue to hone their understanding of world and self— a lifelong process that stands as the abiding gift of their Elgin Academy education.

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Feature Story

Chasing My White

whale

Daniel Ethan Basa, a senior, talks about his love for marine science, his summer program experiences through Shedd Aquarium, and how his Elgin Academy education positioned him for success.

When did you first become interested in marine biology?

When I was little I really liked animals. My heroes weren’t super heroes but Jack Hanna, Steve Irwin, and Jeff Corwin. I wanted to be a zookeeper, but I discovered that I’m allergic to many animals so that ended that.

Instead, I became interested in marine animals and marine science. My parents played a big role in helping that interest. We traveled to places, like Hawaii, with great marine life. They pushed outdoor experiences for me and took me to Brookfield Zoo and Shedd Aquarium at least once a month when I was younger.

How did your interest in marine biology grow, as you got older?

By upper school, I began to look for summer programs where I could get hands-on experiences with marine life. After my freshman year, I went to Seaworld-Busch Gardens in Florida. Another EA student had been there, and she told me about it. SeaWorld was a very valuable experience for me. I discovered that there is controversy over the morals and ethics of keeping animals in aquariums. But, SeaWorld and other zoological institutions believe if kids come nose to nose with an endangered species then they are likely to want to actually do something to save that species.

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Fall 2016

Does Shedd Aquarium have that same philosophy?

Shedd was founded back in 1924, and its mission has always been about education and scientific purposes.

Shedd is about being better stewards of nature, and it wants to find the next generation of marine scientists. In fact, when I got into Shedd’s summer programs, I began to realize I could have a career in marine science.

What summer learning programs at Shedd did you participate in?

I did two: High School Marine Biology (HSMB) and High School Lake Ecology (HSLE). I call HSMB my ‘White Whale,” because I dreamed of it for years. It’s eight days aboard a Shedd research ship in the waters of the Bahamas. I applied after my sophomore year. It is highly selective, taking only twenty kids, and I didn’t get in then. Shedd asked me instead to do their Lake Ecology program in the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin. I didn’t want to do it, but my mom talked me into it.

Did you end up enjoying the lake ecology program?

It went beyond enjoyment; it was life-changing. After a three-day crash course in lake ecology at Shedd, I spent eight days kayaking around the Apostle Islands and gathering data. The great thing about the Shedd programs is that you do actual fieldwork for researchers, and then you go back to Shedd and present to scientists.

I was selected to be the spokesperson, and I was hooked on the role of educating. Part of my presentation was a video I put together. Shedd particularly liked that the video showed the humanity behind the science--kids taking joy at being in nature while gathering data.

So you applied to the marine biology program in 2016 during your junior year and finally caught your White Whale?

Yes, I did. Besides the ecology video, I had a couple of other things working in my favor the second go around.

My videography skills expanded my junior year because EA got me involved in making videos for local business.

Not only did I improve technically, but I also had to do formal presentations to clients. That helped my communication skills and gave me a better interview with Shedd. Secondly, as part of my application, I put together another video called Nature that showed the inter-connectedness of nature and how I personally fit in.

Shedd really liked my message. And, here’s the best part: Shedd was going to send their own filmmaking crew to the Bahamas to do a documentary. With my interest in videography, I guess I was a good fit.

Are there other components of your Elgin Academy education that helped you get in the marine biology program?

In sophomore English, I discovered journaling. When Shedd had us keep a journal in the lake ecology program, I was comfortable not only with recording data, but with writing poetically about nature. That kind of descriptive language helped make my video (and any presentations I would give later) something that touched the hearts of the scientists.

Did Elgin Academy’s taking learning personally approach make a difference for you?

Absolutely, my teachers all have had a way of pushing me to be my best--not letting me settle when something was hard. Mr. Hilsabeck, my advisor and “school dad,” has always been there to help me face challenges. All this support built up my confidence.

When you finally made it to the Bahamas, was it everything you dreamed it would be?

It went beyond what I had dreamed. The whole experience from beginning to end was intense and incredible. We spent five pre-trip days at the Shedd in a crash course on marine biology and water safety, eight days in the waters of the Bahamas on a Shedd research ship, and three post-trip days debriefing and presenting our findings to Shedd researchers. Out of the baseline data we collected, Shedd will possibly have future HSMB participants study the effects of coastal lighting on coral ecosystems.

My teachers have a way of pushing me to be my best– not letting me settle when something is hard.

What is your main take away from your Shedd summer experiences?

Well, it is nothing to do with ecology or marine biology.

What I discovered was that working together in a shared experience, sometimes with hardship--sore muscles from kayaking, mosquito bites, and rough weather--creates a family like bond. With Shedd, I had an overwhelming sense of belonging--of being part of something special because of the people I was with. Those people are family to me. It is much like that at EA too.

What do you see yourself doing in the future?

I want a college degree in public relations and communications and maybe a minor in marine science.

I don’t want to be a scientist but an educator. I want to be part of the next generation that helps kids make a personal connection to some aspect of nature and then inspire them to be good stewards.

What was the best part about the Marine Biology trip?

There are a lot of highlights. Just being followed around by a film crew while on a research vessel in the Bahamas was amazing. Snorkeling in the water at night and using glow sticks to attract fish was another incredible experience.

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Empowering students

with Project Based Learning

Project/problem based learning…what is it? PBL actively engages students, empowering them to be self-directed, independent learners. While developing skills requiring critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving and self-efficacy, students are preparing themselves not only for Upper School and college, but also ultimately for careers and life.

Students are thinkers, creators, planners, and doers. For three weeks in the late winter/early spring, students are grouped in teams of five to six students of mixed grade levels. They are presented with a problem and tasked with solving it by producing a “real world,” tangible outcome. Students assume roles relevant to job positions (project managers, content experts, analysts, etc.) existing in a business environment. As part of the process, students present to a panel of adult experts who evaluate their final work. Success is never assured; required self-reflection reinforces for the students that much can be learned from projects that did not produce the desired results.

Middle School students participate in Seed to Salad, the 2016 Project Based Learning.

Our Middle School students have made architectural and design plans to renovate classroom-learning spaces. They have created innovative products from product inception and design to manufactured items, which were sold to the EA community and resulted in profits given as loans to budding entrepreneurs around the world. Most recently, they designed and planted our EA garden, creating a sustainable distribution plan that resulted in summer produce donated to homeless shelters and fall harvests consumed by our students in our EA dining hall.

Project based learning gives our students a broader knowledge of a variety of career roles and business processes, as well as an understanding of the challenges and rewards of functioning as a team. Resolving conflicts, holding one another accountable for outcomes, encouraging positive team interaction and keeping focused on the end goal are lessons that aid in the development of compassionate thinkers and doers as adults. Our PBLs develop Middle School students’ learning and also their social consciousness as the good work they do directly impacts other lives, locally as well as globally.

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Fall 2016

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1

3 EA is all about collaboration...because meaningful work almost never happens in isolation.

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1 Learning and play go hand-in-hand for preschool students.

2 Cooking lessons delight these young chefs.

3 Environmental Science students study river ecology.

4 Cup stacking in the Lower School teaches the fundements of building.

Fall 2016

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Technology

on the hill

by Jim Kidston, Senior Faculty Member

When Elgin Academy students, teachers, administrators, and staff come to school, they interact with technology in a wide variety of ways. There are five computer labs on campus, plus at least one desktop computer in every classroom, for a total of over 200. The Lower and Middle Schools have more than a hundred iPads, and the Upper School has two sets of Chromebooks. There are nearly forty black or color laser printers on campus, and two 3-D printers. Every classroom has a data projector, and several Middle School rooms have SMART Boards.

All of the desktop computers and most of the printers are connected to a mostly-gigabit wired Ethernet network, and to the Internet. There is also a campuswide wireless network used by the iPads, student-owned laptops and tablets, and the miniature computers (i.e. smartphones) that everyone has in their pockets.

Students in all divisions use technology every day to enhance and deepen their learning. For example: • Fourth graders used Google Slides to create presentations for their National Parks projects.

• A.P. Psychology students used Google Forms to gather data for their research projects.

• Some Middle School classes are “flipped”: instead of listening to lectures during the school day, students watch teacher-created videos at home so that they can spend more class time interacting with each other and the teacher.

• Students in the Upper School Early Childhood class write and respond to blog posts about their experiences in Lower School classes.

• Students in all divisions will soon be using our newlyinstalled language lab software. EA is the first school in 8

Fall 2016

the country to have access to this software.

• Upper School students can choose to take two elective computer science courses, plus an independent study. Even Lower School students are learning about computers, algorithms, and programs.

Needless to say, it hasn’t always been this way.

When Dinosaurs Roamed the Earth When I was hired to teach math in August of 1980, the Academy had no computers, not a single one. Our very first was donated by a parent in about 1981.

It was a Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I, with 16K RAM, a 1.77 MHz processor, and a cassette tape recorder for storage. (By way of comparison, some of our current computers have 8 GB of RAM (500,000 times as much) and processors that run more than 1,000 times as fast. You already know what’s happened to cassette recorders.)

Needless to say, all of the Academy’s recordkeeping was done by hand at that time. However, the TRS80s, like all personal computers then, came with a programming language called BASIC. The head of the Math Department at that time was Jim Bohan, and the school paid him to write some programs to keep track of grades and print report cards. That was our first foray into electronic data processing. I’d had a bit of an

introduction to programming while in grad school at the University of Chicago, and I volunteered to learn BASIC and teach a programming course.

The computers that my first students used were TRS-80 Model IIIs, with the same processor as the Model I, but more RAM and 5.25 inch floppy disk drives. We gave the tape recorders to the language department.

In 1989, Candi Bone, the mother of two students, was killed in a car accident. Her family wanted to sponsor some sort of memorial, and since Mrs. Bone had been interested in technology, they agreed to help build and equip a computer lab. Selden Edwards, the Head of School, wanted it to be a showpiece for the Academy, so the lab was moved upstairs from the basement of Edwards Hall, and the math classroom (Mr. Fletcher’s) that had been in room 16 was remodeled with large glass windows and custom-built computer tables. Some EA parents who were in the construction business generously donated the materials and labor, so all the money in the Bone fund was used to buy EA’s first Macintosh computers.

The Internet as we know it did not exist back then, and these first computers were not networked, so they couldn’t have connected to it anyway, but they did allow students to type, save (on floppy disks), and print papers, and to run programs (anyone remember Cosmic Osmo?).

It was several years before we tried connecting to the outside world. I remember setting up one computer in the lab with a dial-up connection. That seemed to go all right, so we went ahead and wired the entire lab so that all the computers could share that one 1,200 bps connection.

The Dawning of the Age of Technarius At about that time, we formed the first incarnation of the Technology Committee. Then, as now, the committee was concerned with both hardware and what we were going to do with the hardware. One of the first projects the committee wanted to work on was networking all the classrooms. This would help us in several ways. Users could save their documents on the network, where they would be regularly backed up, and then access them from any computer on campus. Students could turn papers in electronically, using drop boxes built into the network. And, of course, we could share an Internet connection throughout the school.

the ceiling of Edwards Hall, throwing coils of wire back and forth. It was hard, sweaty, dirty work, and Edwards Hall was the easy building. In Sears Hall and North Hall, there were no dropped ceilings, so conduit had to be installed in the corridors and holes drilled through the walls into the classrooms.

Since Edwards Hall was not designed with computer networks in mind, we had a bit of trouble deciding where to put the server. We ultimately decided that the only place large enough for the cabinet was in a storage room in the basement. We had a hole drilled in the floor of the Learning Center, and ran all the wires from the main floor down through the hole into the server storage room.

I did most of the work in Sears Hall myself, during the summer. I bought, assembled, and installed the conduit that runs down the second- and third- floor hallways.

The head of maintenance at the time, taught me how to bend electrical conduit, and so the only things I needed help with were the complicated, two-way bends and the actual pulling of the wires.

To save time, we paid a small tech company to install the conduit in North Hall, and to pull the wires.

Wiring the buildings was a big part of the project, but we also had to connect them to the file server in Edwards Hall. We used fiber optic cable for these runs, even though it’s much more expensive than ordinary copper wire. Fiber can carry more data than copper, can transmit data much faster and over longer distances than copper, and isn’t susceptible to water damage. The last two factors were important because the run from Edwards Hall to Sears Hall was a long one—too long for copper—and had to go underground.

I was really worried about how to get the fiber from Edwards Hall under Academy Place and over to the gym.

We couldn’t dig up the street because it’s owned by the

Several members of the committee worked in the technology industry, and they helped do the design.

We did all the wiring for the networking ourselves. I remember spending several evenings with a parent volunteer on ladders with our heads and shoulders up in elgin academy

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city of Elgin, and drilling under it would have been very expensive. Fortunately, we found an existing conduit that ran from the south wall of Edwards Hall all the way to the manhole just outside the gym. It had some old wires in it, but none of them was being used, so we just pulled them out and reused the conduit. I never found out what those old wires were for or when they’d been run, but I’ll be forever grateful to whoever put that conduit in.

To get the cable from the gym to Sears Hall, we had a couple of options. There was an existing steam tunnel under the sidewalk, and the easiest (and cheapest) option was to run the cable in it. The tunnel hadn’t been used in many years, however, so we decided not to use it for safety reasons. That turned out to be a good decision, since the tunnel was not in very good shape. If we had run the fiber in it, it would have been broken a few years later when a portion of the roof collapsed.

The other option was to dig a trench for the cable beside the sidewalk. Fortunately, another Academy family was in the landscaping business, and sent a crew and a trenching machine out to dig a 370 foot trench from outside the gym along the sidewalk down to Sears Hall.

To be more economical, we decided to use a daisy chain arrangement, with Edwards Hall connected to Sears Hall, and Sears connected to North Hall.

The fiber backbone connected Edwards Hall, Sears Hall, and North Hall, but not any of the other buildings, so in 2002 we made our first foray into wireless communication. The goal was to bring the Coaches’ Office (in the gym), the Business Office (in Raymond House), and the Admissions and Development Offices (both in Penney House at that time) into the network.

We didn’t have the resources to install a full-fledged wifi network, so instead we put wireless network cards into the computers that needed to be connected, and mounted antennas on the north, south, and east sides of Edwards Hall. This worked “kinda sorta” OK, but it was clear that it wasn’t a permanent solution.

Building Toward the Present In 2008, the Rider Center was built, and marked a milestone in the development of technology at the Academy. For the first time, we had a building that was built with computers and networks in mind. Every room was wired; there was a real server room on the third floor, and another on the second floor; the behind-thescenes equipment was up to date and enterprise-quality; there was a whole area dedicated to videography. It was a wonderful, exciting time.

My goal all along had been to make technology moreor-less ubiquitous, at least to the point that it blended into the background and became just another tool to 10

Fall 2016

help students learn, like chalkboards or overhead projectors. The Rider Center was a big step in that direction, but there were still problems. All the networking equipment not in the Rider Center was old and mostly consumer-grade. The network ran slowly, and teachers were reluctant to use it in class because they could not rely on it to work properly. Also, the new building blocked the north-facing antenna on Edwards Hall, which meant that the Business Office was cut off from the network.

For these reasons and more, we began to plan a major upgrade to our technology infrastructure. The project began in 2014 and was finished just last summer. We installed a total of 58 wireless access points, which gave us wireless access to the network and the Internet in all the buildings on campus, even the classroom in Old Main. At the same time, we replaced nearly all of the old consumer-grade networking equipment, installed a new server, and upgraded the firewall and Internet bandwidth.

A major cause of the slowness of the network was the daisy chain topology we’d used to connect the main buildings. The only way for network traffic to get from North Hall to the Rider Center was to run through Sears Hall and Edwards Hall. This not only caused congestion, it also meant that a problem in one building could affect service in others. For example, if the main switch in Sears Hall failed, North Hall (and Raymond House) would also be cut off.

To address this issue, we switched from a daisy chain topology to a star. Now there is a separate fiber run from the main closet in the Rider Center (the center of the star) to each of the other major buildings, so if there is a problem with the connection to Sears Hall or Edwards Hall, the other buildings are unaffected.

To Infinity, and Beyond Even before the network was upgraded, the Technology Committee (in its second incarnation) was thinking about how we wanted to use technology. Once we had wireless access and a reliable wired network, the Committee asked teachers what they wanted for their classrooms. Based on their recommendations, we bought and installed data projectors in every classroom. We also bought iPads for all the teachers in the Lower and Middle Schools, and several sets for classroom use. We bought a set (now two sets) of Chromebooks for the Upper School, and we are about to buy each Upper School teacher a laptop.

Another Technology Committee initiative was last spring’s first-ever Mini Maker Faire. Although cold and windy weather put a damper on many of the outdoor activities (but fortunately not the potato cannon), several hundred people showed up to watch and participate.

Many—but by no means all—of the exhibits were technology-related, and overall the event was a great success. We’re also planning to install a maker space or idea lab in each division. These will be places with flexible seating, lots of white board space, computers, projectors, and printers, perfect places for students and teachers to work on creative and collaborative projects.

The Technology Committee has also focused on curriculum and professional development, since without them we wouldn’t be able to make the most of our investment in hardware and software. Teachers have attended conferences like ICE (Illinois Computing Educators) and IDEA:TE (Innovation, Design, Engineering, and Art: Transforming Education). Last school year, for the first time, we had a person whose job (in part) was to help teachers integrate technology into their classes.

Mrs. Lau has done a wonderful job, so much so that this

year her tech role has expanded, and now Mrs. Veltri has joined the team. The days when I could hold a Technology Department meeting as I drove home are over.

One of Mrs. Lau’s first projects was to get all the iPads set up. Another was to sign us up with Google Apps for Education. Now students can easily collaborate on projects, and teachers are assigning more and more group work. Another part of the move to Google was going from a faculty-only email system to one in which (at least potentially) every teacher and student would have an “@elginacademy.org” email address. Even though Google hosts the domain, we control who has access to it, and what kind they have. Middle School students, for example, can only email other members of the EA community.

Where did the money to do all these things come from?

Both our administration and our parent and alumni communities have always been—and continue to be— very supportive and generous with both time and money.

I mentioned the Bone fund, and the parents who serve on the Technology Committee, and those who donated the labor and materials to build our first computer lab and wire the campus. We’ve also done technology fundraising several times at Extravaganza, and in the last few years have received very significant support from the Parent Association. Thanks to all of you. We wouldn’t be where we are without your help.

We’ve certainly come a long way since the days when our only technology was a half dozen stand-alone TRS-80s. One of the Technology Committee’s goals is to “position Elgin Academy to be the regional school leader in educational technology and innovation.” We’re not there yet, but we’re on our way.

Our administration and our parent and alumni communities have always been—and continue to be— very supportive and generous with both time and money. We wouldn’t be where we are without your help.

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It’s Not Just a Program...

It’s a Way of

by Harry Gould, Lower School Director

l ife The Big Brother / Big Sister program at Elgin Academy must be listed among those features that distinguish EA from other schools. This is not simply because Lower School students and Upper School students find themselves together on the same campus, while at most other schools they do not. As a PS – 12 school, we certainly do have the opportunity to operate a Big Brother / Big Sister program, but the scope and nature of the relationships between our Upper School and Lower School students go far beyond anything a regular program of this nature could hope to achieve.

In its simplest form, our Big Brother / Big Sister program brings the Upper School and Lower School students together about once a month for fifteen minutes.

Introductions for students new to the program take place before Homecoming, while for returning students, it is a case of catching up after the long summer recess. And so it continues throughout the year, sometimes students getting together in the Lower School classrooms, sometimes outdoors in the quad for active fun, and, here and there, an extended get-together occurs such as the Upper School Carnival Day.

The Big Brother / Big Sister Program fosters relationships between our Upper School and Lower School students.

Over time, however, a very special relationship develops between our Upper School and Lower School students. This is by no means inevitable. Many teenagers, for example, simply would not consider it cool to be seen associating with little kids. The bonds are strengthened further by the interactions that take place as students go back and forth between classes on a daily basis, calling to one another or waving from afar, while up close opportunities for high fives and hugs are seldom missed. Special occasions are celebrated, too, including birthdays and graduation. There are countless occasions like these when the Upper School students are not officially “on the job,” when their true character shines through, and it is a joy to see.

Recently, as part of school-wide support for athletics, many of our Lower School students attended an after-school volleyball match in the gym. Interaction between Lower School and Upper School students was on full display. Before the

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match, Upper School students could be seen coaching Lower School students outside on the quad, all in a natural and comfortable manner, with commitment and real sensitivity towards the little ones. Later, inside the gym, the Upper School students made sure the Lower School students were cared for by distributing popcorn and lollipops, along with cheering for the volleyball team at appropriate times and staying quiet when players were about to serve. A visitor with the opposing team asked me: “What is this with the older students and the little kids together?” When I explained about our Big Brother / Big Sister program and the concept of school wide support for athletics, his reaction was priceless.

“Wow, that’s amazing,” he said.

And it was true, because he had just seen what I had seen, except I see things like that happening all the time.

40

save the date

MARCH 11, 2017 | PEARL BANQUETS, ROSELLE

Join us for Extravaganza 40 a fabulous evening to benefit Elgin Academy students.

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Feature Story

The gift of an EA

education

On June 3, 2016 the youngest of Sharyn and Tony Romano’s three children graduated from Elgin Academy, drawing to a close one phase of a 13-year relationship with the school. Sharyn and her family reflect on those years and the significance of an Elgin Academy education.

Sharyn and Antonino (Tony) Romano of Wayne began their thirteen-year relationship with Elgin Academy in 2003 when they enrolled their three children to avoid overcrowded public schools. Encouraged by a friend and alumnus, they came to campus for an interview. The Romanos liked what they saw so much that within the week they enrolled eldest daughter Siena in sixth grade, second daughter, Isabella, in third grade, and son, Julian, in kindergarten.

Having all three children on one campus had tremendous appeal for Sharyn who wanted her children to share a common educational experience.

The Romanos soon discovered, however, that Elgin Academy offered more than just an escape from overscaled public schools. EA offered the Romano children personalized instruction and a strong academic program.

“Siena was faced with having to catch up to her classmates who had gone to the Lower School,” said Sharyn, “But without thirty-plus kids in her class, if she didn’t understand something, her teachers were there by her side and on top of it.”

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Although Siena started attending Elgin Academy in sixth grade, the other two Romano children had the advantage of a fifth grade middle school experience at EA. Sharyn sees this extra year in middle school as a major strength of an EA education. She saw her children emerge as “individual thinkers” at a young age, because they had to adhere to middle school standards a year or even two years earlier than public school students.

Sharyn believes that each division at Elgin Academy prepared her children to be successful at the next level.

Julian concurred with his mother’s opinion. He added that he observed a gradual increase in expectations and workload as he made his way through the divisions.

“As a lifer, I felt I was always ready to handle the challenges at the next level, but I observed that a lot of students who came to EA later were surprised by the teachers’ standards and requirements and depth of assignments,” said Julian.

Elgin Academy was able to meet the social and academic interests of each Romano child. Siena was a reader with a preference for the sciences; Isabella liked to serve and was bent towards the humanities; Julian was sports oriented and gravitated towards videography and photography.

These proclivities resulted in a college placement that was satisfying to each. Siena, a 2010 graduate, went to The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. where she was a pre-med major, with a minor in

Italian. She has her future sights set on dental school.

Future attorney Isabella, a 2013 graduate, is majoring in political science and sociology at Boston University.

Julian graduated last June and is a freshman studying digital cinematography at DePaul University in Chicago.

For Isabella Romano, finding her voice in the intentionally small-scaled classrooms at EA was invaluable to her success in college.

“It was very difficult to hide in EA’s small classes with the chairs arranged in circle formations. I’m grateful for that now because it taught me to be an active participant and contributor in every aspect of my life whether in a classroom or a community.”

Sharyn praises Elgin Academy for it’s family-like environment. She and Tony forged steadfast friendships with other parents within EA’s close-knit community.

“We developed a habit of having dinner with a group of parents before or after school events or games, and we got to know one another very well. I always thought it was such an advantage to really know the parents of your children’s friends,” said Sharyn.

Sharyn’s friendships with other parents were solidified as she threw herself into volunteerism. Multiple times, she was a lunchroom mom, room parent, division parent, field trip chaperone, and post-prom and commencement volunteer.

Tony did his part too, going on outreach service trips and serving on the board of trustees for six years. A full time periodontist and part-time artist, Tony staged a visiting artist show this past spring featuring several of his large metal sculptures.

When Sharyn looks back over her children’s years at Elgin Academy, her fondest memories are reserved for her children’s athletic endeavors. One memory centers on a Homecoming Field Hockey game against Woodlands Academy. A win on that special day had eluded the team for several years. Senior Siena was playing defense and freshman Isabella was on offense.

Isabella scored a hat trick--three goals--to secure the coveted win!

Julian’s long-term relationship with EA soccer also rates high on Sharyn’s list of significant memories. A core group of boys had played soccer together since lower school. They were best friends as well as teammates, and that camaraderie helped them go undefeated as a middle school team. Even better, during Julian’s senior year, they won the IHSA Class 1A Regional Division, a first for Elgin Academy.

The Romano Family (Tony, Siena, Julian, Isabella, and Sharyn) on the morning of Julian’s graduation.

Siena had this to say: “As challenging as the coursework was, I knew I always had the support of my peers, my teachers, and my advisor. The EA community is not only a learning environment, but also an encouraging family— a web of compassionate people, dedicated to one another’s success and personal development.”

Isabella added thoughts in a similar vein: “EA taught me the power of relationships. I grew up with so many of my classmates, and throughout the years we continue to support one another as we struggle to determine our place in the world. This support includes the incredible faculty whom I carry with me always. So much of who I am is the product of their knowledge, dedication, and passion.”

And, Julian continued with praise of his own: “Almost every teacher knew me as the little brother, but it was never a burden. Instead, it was an asset, because the teachers were actually excited to finally have me as a student. They knew my sisters and my parents, but they expected me to be unique--to have my own strengths. I got nothing but encouragement and support, and that made it easy to succeed.”

June 3, 2016 was a special day for the Romano family, with Siena and Isabella flying in for Julian’s graduation.

Adorning the center of campus, where walkways to all buildings intersect, was one of Tony’s graceful sculptures of iron and rock. Only days before commencement, Tony donated this beautiful work of art to Elgin Academy where it stands as a fitting legacy to the Romano Family.

The Romano offspring all speak highly of their Elgin Academy experience, almost to the point of waxing poetically. elgin academy

15

Reflection

The In-between

by Steve Hilsabeck

spaces

The bell rang. The beginning of third period. I wasn’t teaching third so I thought I’d get some photocopying done for the next day. I walked out my classroom door and was headed for the copy room when I ran into one of my advisees.

“Hey Mr. H, do you want to hang out for awhile?”

“Sure thing,” I said, so we ducked back into my room and spent the next half hour talking. About what, I don’t remember; I just remember thinking afterwards, “That was such an EA thing.”

If I had to describe one unique quality of this place it would be the student – faculty relationship.

It’s true… One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about my years at the Academy are the in-between spaces during the day, the time outside the confines of the daily class schedule. These are the parts of the day that make the EA community so remarkable. If I had to describe one unique quality of this place it would be the student – faculty relationship. I have been struck, since my first days here, by our students’ comfortable and confident manner around adults. They understand appropriate boundaries, but they also develop easygoing, self-possessed interactions with their teachers, coaches, advisers, and staff. This gives students a comfort level in the classroom that I’m not sure is common elsewhere; it also enables teachers to connect with our students in ways that transcend the disciplines. Our empathetic relationship with one another is an important component helping achieve both student and faculty academic goals. But it may be even more important in and of itself. Generosity of spirit and an attentive ear would be worthwhile whether or not they promoted academic success. And it’s in those in-between spaces during the day where that spirit most often germinates.

I could talk about what it’s like to be with students in class everyday discussing history. That would be a conventional way to think about schooling and learning. But, for me, it’s the in-between spaces that give each day its own special joy. American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson said that each moment of the year has its own beauty. I find that every day at the Academy.

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Fall 2016

2015-2016 Was a Banner Year for

sports

Elgin Academy IHSA CLASS 1A Varsity Boys Soccer Regional Champions 2015

IHSA CLASS 1A Varsity Boys Baseball Regional Champions 2016 Fall 2016

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2016 Advanced Placement

scholars

We salute the students from the Classes of 2016 and 2017 whose performance on last spring’s AP exams earned them the designation of AP Scholar or higher in recognition.

AP Scholars with Honor (an average score of at least 3.25 on all exams taken scores of 3 or higher on 4 or more exams).

Class of 2016: Isabella Richardson and Victoria Teik.

Class of 2017: Nicholas Kathrein.

AP Scholars Award (3 or more exams with scores of 3 or higher).

AP Scholars with Distinction (an average score of at least 3.5 on all exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on 5 or more exams).

Class of 2016: Emma May, Valerie Scimeca, Sarah Summers, Melissa Trudrung, and Devin Uner.

Class of 2017: Amelia Deering, Maisy Feeley, Henry Stone and William Wang.

Class of 2016: Frankie Bisconti, Elizabeth Clements, Olivia Oberdorf, Karl Rauschenberger, and Jonathan Shen.

Class of 2017: Helen Borchart, Sophie Borchart, Kalia Higa, Nadine Kademoglou, Leila Li, Catherine Palmer, Stephanie Pierson, Jenny Vernon, and Elliott Wittmeyer.

National Awards for Academic Amelia Deering ‘17 is a 2017 National Merit Semifinalist. She scored in the top 1 percent of U.S. high school students who took the Preliminary SAT test during their junior year.

She is one of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 62nd annual National Merit Scholarship program that will have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth about $33 million that will be offered next spring.

Maisy Feeley ‘17 is a Commended Scholar in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program.

About 34,000 Commended Scholars throughout the nation are recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Commended Scholars placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition by taking the Preliminary SAT test their junior year.

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Fall 2016

excellence Sarah Summers ‘16 and JinJing “William” Wang ‘17 are National Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars. This designation is granted to students in the United States who received an average score of at least 4 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on 8 or more of these exams.

Taking learning Merit-Based Scholarships

p ersonally

Elgin Academy now offers Taking Learning Personally (TLP) renewable, merit scholarships to a select number of students who personify the mission and principles of Elgin Academy.

Rising 9th through 10th graders were considered for the inaugural year of the scholarship. In the spring of 2016 the names of the six students who received the meritbased tuition assistance were released.

From the Class of 2019: Neha Karna and Leeann Rao. From the Class of 2020: Nona Guvenoz, Arman Pabani, Elizabeth Sporina, and Jaden Tabak.

“It was a challenge to select the Taking Learning Personally merit scholars, because there were so many qualified participants,” said Diane Schael, Director of Admission. “The applicants were all students who contribute as thinkers and doers in school and the community.”

The Elgin Academy Board of Trustees has approved a limited number of merit-based scholarships for the 2017-2018 school year. Applicants must be entering ninth grade, and awards will be either $7,500 or $5,000.

Recipients who maintain at least a 3.5 GPA and are contributing students to the Elgin Academy community will continue to be awarded the Taking Learning Personally scholarship each year until their graduation.

How to Apply To be considered for the TLP scholarship: • Candidates must be either current 8th grade Elgin Academy students, or have completed the admission process and have been officially accepted for 9th grade admission into Elgin Academy for Fall 2017.

• Candidates and at least one parent/guardian are required to attend the TLP Workshop on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. During the workshop, parents will attend their own session and candidates will complete the scholarship essay (What does ‘taking learning personally’ mean to me?).

• Candidates must obtain a letter of recommendation stating why they should receive the TLP Scholarship.

• Candidates must complete the TLP Scholarship application which includes activities, accomplishments, and recognitions no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, January 23, 2017.

The recipients of the awarded scholarships will be notified by January 27, 2017. Enrollment contracts and deposits need to be submitted by March 1, 2017 to secure a space in the class and to have the scholarship applied.

Our TLP scholars who personify the mission and principles of Elgin Academy.

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Remembering

Our Colleagues

The Elgin Academy Faculty Memorial Garden, tucked along the east side of North Hall under a graceful stand of maple trees, is a visible legacy to the remarkable teachers who so generously shared their knowledge and talents with the Academy community over the years and have since passed away. Since the creation of the garden in 2012, sixteen memorial stones have been installed. The stones honor the following esteemed colleagues: Jo Ann Benight - Kindergarten/First Grade Joanne Buck - Lower School Director Chris Campbell - Middle School Language Arts/Social Studies Letty Erickson - Librarian David Fulmer - Upper School Social Studies/Psychology Tom Gazzola - Upper School Director Thomas Kracht - Lower/Middle School Director Debbie Kuzyk - Preschool Frank Limacher - Upper School Math Shirley Novak - Upper School Visual Art Julie Anne Nelson - Middle/Upper School Theatre, Upper School English Richard Sollenberger - Upper School Director Lotte Swartz - Upper School German Katherine Trezevant - Middle/Upper School Classics Dennis Willan - Lower/Middle/Upper School Music Jerry Zank - Upper School Director 20

Fall 2016

memory lane

Strolling Down with Carol ’33 and Bill ’36 Redeker In 1933, the Great Depression was entering its worst year, Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, the chocolate chip cookie was invented, the first drive in theatre opened in New Jersey and the board game Monopoly was invented.

At Elgin Academy in 1933, all classes were held in Old Main, only boys were allowed to participate in sports (which included a football team) and there was a pool in the basement of the gym.

1933 was also the year that Carol Gilbert Redeker graduated from Elgin Academy. Carol and her husband Bill (Class of ’36) recently sat down with their daughter Martha to share their memories of Elgin Academy.

Carol lived west of Elgin on what is now Randall Road and used to commute to school by taking the Belvidere trolley or the milk train into downtown.

Bill lived on Highland Avenue and either walked to school or caught a ride.

Both took French and Latin, Geometry, Algebra, Trigonometry, physiography (physical geography), English, Ancient History, US and World History, chemistry and Civics/Economics. They also remember attending class on Saturday mornings!

Carol and Bill celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in 2016 and Carol’s 100 birthday.

Carol was friends with Alice Janet Stauffer, the daughter of the Headmaster at the time, and during study hall the girls were allowed to take Alice’s old car for a drive. Students also enjoyed Homecoming festivities as much in the 1930’s as they do now. Bill and Carol remember that Homecoming was a big event with a bonfire, signing and cheers the night before the game and a dance. One year there was a Homecoming parade through downtown and Carol and a friend, Betty Sawyer, lead the parade riding on horses. There were always pep rallies before the football games and once Elgin Academy beat Elgin High School (a school three times EA’s size) 13 to 10!

Carol was continuing a legacy by attending Elgin Academy. Her aunt, Beryl Gilbert, her uncle, Will Gilbert and her father Albert (Carey) Gilbert (class of 1910) all attended Elgin Academy as did her brother Craig who graduated with Bill in 1936. It was through his friendship with Craig that Bill was introduced to Carol. Post graduation, Carol first attended Elgin Academy’s Junior College then went on to become a teacher at a one room school west of Elgin at age 18. Bill attended Amherst College and later became a banker. Bill came home from college and would visit Craig. Since Carol was still living at home, their paths continued to cross. Bill proposed in the spring of 1941, and they were married in July of 1941 with brother, Craig, serving as best man and Jane Runge (’34) and Margaret Redeker (’39), Bill’s sister, serving as two of Carol’s attendants. Bill and Carol celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary this year.

Carol celebrated her 100th birthday on November 18th. Happy birthday, Carol, and thank you to Carol and Bill for sharing their memories of Elgin Academy.

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A Plethora of

legacies

Elgin Academy has a long and distinguished heritage and a proud tradition of attracting siblings and even multiple generations from the same family. The legacy students from the Class of 2016 gathered on the steps of the Sears Gallery prior to commencement on June 3rd for a photo with their family members. What a grand occasion!

Madison Garrett: Sister of Michael Garrett ‘14 Carolyn Ginder: Sister of Liana Ginder ‘13 Roma Hameed: Cousin of Rana Rehan Zaid ‘07 Bennett Larsen: Brother of Eleanor Larsen ‘12 Michael Lucas: Brother of John Lucas ‘11 Laura Masnato: Sister of Christina Masnato ‘11 and David Masnato ‘07 Emma May: Sister of Rebecca May ‘14 Olivia Oberdorf: Sister of Jonathan Oberdorf ‘13 Nataly Pérez: Sister of Brandon Pérez ‘13 Karl Rauschenberger: Brother of Kacy Rauschenberger ‘11 Julian Romano: Brother of Isabella Romano ‘13 and Siena Romano ‘10 Fahad Siddique: Brother of Faiz Siddique ‘11 Armin Ward: Brother of Colin Ward ‘13 and Caitlin Ward ‘11 Drew Wilmington: Brother of Jessica Wilmington ‘13

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Fall 2016

Class

notes

Submit notes and photos to elginacademy.org/alumns/events

Class of 1939 Fred A. Fairbanks reported in 2015 that at age 94, he has no aches, no pains, no medicines, is into his 83rd year of playing bridge and is now writing a book on how to bid. He says he has never watched the “boob tube,” but does lots of crossword puzzles.

Class of 1955 Tom Mann has recently written his memoirs, which have taken into account his days at Elgin Academy, along with his years at Aberdeen University. The memoirs are published with Balboa Press and titled Launching out from Scotland: Journeys, Challenges and Encounters. Tom writes that his memoirs may be of interest to students engaged in migration studies from the North-East of Scotland to Australia or to those with an interest in developing countries.

Class of 1961 Dr. Ken Sandock has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Pima County Medical Society in Tucson, Arizona.

Class of 1977 On September 11, 2001, Andrew King was killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

On Sunday September 11, 2016, the town of West Dundee held a tribute to all those who lost their lives that day, and they displayed 2,976 American flags in Randall Oaks Park. Sharon Shatkus, Middle School Administrative Assistant, retrieved the flag dedicated to Andrew. Elgin Academy proudly placed the flag next to the memorial that was erected for Andrew in 2002.

Fall 2016

(

Class of 1983 Barrington Hills Village President, Martin J. McLaughlin, (pictured above with village trustee Colleen Konicek ‘84) welcomed Foxman and the Elgin Academy Admission team to the Village’s “The Hills are Alive” Fall Festival in October.

Class of 1984 Colleen Konicek (pictured right) returned to campus in September to meet with the EA field hockey team.

The former Field Hockey stand-out challenged the Lady Hilltoppers to complete 22 push ups for 22 days to raise awareness for veteran and first responder suicides. (22 is the average daily number of veteran suicides in the U.S.) The team accepted the challenge, and prior

to their game they counted off 22 push-ups and then promptly passed the challenge on to their coach, Jeff Swegler (father of Bianca ’10). They also invited Colleen out on the field for their warm up drills where she proved she still knows how to handle a field hockey stick.

Class of 1989 Eric Jentsch is the deputy chair for the Division of Culture and the Arts at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. He is the curator of an exhibit featuring memorabilia from The Wizard of Oz.

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David Masnato is a graphic designer at Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago.

Class of 2005 Tony Flannigan (pictured above) is a working model in Chicago and has been a “fit” model for the Mark Anthony’s clothing line for the past six years. Tony uses his MBA degree by managing the Corona Beer marketing campaign nationally.

Tony is engaged to be married, with no date set yet.

Class of 2006 Dr. Ridhi Mehta is a podiatry resident at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago. She married her Illinois Wesleyan University classmate, John Kratzmeyer, last May. Class of 2007 Ashley Gray is an archivist for two performing arts organizations in Boston. She works in the Boston Symphony Orchestra Archives, assisting in a project to digitize their complete collection of Boston Pops programs (dating back to the premiere season in 1885) and in making all the performance history data available in an onlineaccessible database. She is also the archivist for the Handel and Haydn Society, a period orchestra and chorus founded in 1815 (predating the BSO!). She is responsible for preserving, organizing, and providing access to their records of historic and enduring value, both physical and digital. She is also steering the Society’s movements toward a formal digital asset management program and an improved performance history database.

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Fall 2016

Class of 2008 Bethany Boyle and Daniel Vecchiolla (pictured below) started dating their freshman year at Elgin Academy.

After graduation, they both went to college in New York City. Bethany walked on to the Division I tennis team at Fordham University and played all four years. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. degree in Psychology from Fordham in 2012.

Dan graduated cum laude with a Ph.D in Chemical Engineering and a Materials Science minor from Columbia University in 2012. A month later, Bethany and Dan were married after being together for eight years. They moved to Houston in 2013, and Dan is currently attending Rice University in pursuit of his PhD in Chemical Engineering.

He is specializing in foam rheology in microfluidics. They have two beautiful daughters, Isabella and Evelyn, born February 2014 and April 2016.

Sara Ebert Photography

Miami University (Ohio) graduate Natalie Cokic has completed an MBA at DePaul University.

Henna Khemani recently completed a stint as Sales Coordinator and Meeting Concierge at Homewood Suites by Hilton, Chicago Downtown. She is now working on a Master’s in Hospitality and Tourism Management at Roosevelt University.

Joe Kozlowicz (pictured below) has been living in Denver since 2011. He married Molly Snook last July, and classmates Turner Wadington, Steve Farbota, and Alex Osinga were in attendance.

Amani Memon married Hamad Nawaz last spring and they make their home in Chicago. Amani graduated from Midwestern University with a pharmacy degree.

Soha Zahir married Farhan Rafi in July. Soha is doing an optometric residency in primary eye care and ocular disease.

Class of 2009 Amanda Flannigan married Rene Gomez, Jr. in September, Kristin Cella ‘09 and Bianca Swegler ‘10 were bridesmaids at the ceremony.

Amanda and Rene have a beautiful son, Jayden. In addition to being a mom, Amanda works full-time as a marketing consultant from her home.

Sara Kokkelenberg (pictured right) is the Stewardship Coordinator for Eastern Sierra Land Trust, a conservation non-profit that is located in the tiny town of Bishop, California (pop. 3500). She currently lives with family, dairy goats, and chickens. Previously, Sara was the Member/Education Coordinator with AmeriCorps and was there when they won California’s 2015 Governor’s Volunteering and Service Award.

Josh Leong graduated from the University of Notre Dame Law School and is engaged to Colleen Johnston.

Desiree Dussard graduated last spring with a Master’s in Public Administration from Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School. She works for a non-profit agency, managing a residence program for mentally and physically handicapped clients and supervising a staff of 12. Desiree earned her undergraduate degree from Eastern Illinois University.

co-producing and starring in the production. Katie will also be starting festival submissions on a short film that she wrote, co-directed, and filmed in Elgin last spring called The Snow Factory. She plays the main role of a young woman who runs her own assisted suicide business.

Lawrence University graduate, Andrew Stuart is working towards a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Policy at American University.

Elizabeth Murray (pictured above) graduated with distinction in Trial & Appellate Advocacy from Suffolk University Law School in May of 2016. She was an executive member of the Moot Court Honor Board as well as the Associate Managing Editor of the Suffolk Journal of Trial and Appellate Advocacy during her time in law school. She sat for the bar exams in Massachusetts and New York, and passed both during her first attempt. Currently, she works as an associate attorney at Hamel, Marcin, Dunn, Reardon & Shea, P.C. in Boston, MA in the areas of general liability, products liability, construction, real estate litigation, recreational liability, and toxic tort litigation. Her undergraduate degree is from Franklin & Marshall College.

Katie Royer continues to hone her acting talent. Her current project is a reality show about the funeral industry in Los Angeles. She is Fall 2016

J.R. Vanko is currently the Men’s Team Head Coach, Director of All Star Cheer and Tumbling, and Marketing Director at Huntley Gymnastics Academy & Academy of Cheer. He is a Lawrence University graduate and is pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration.

Class of 2010 Raynette Bierman graduated in early November from Oxford University with a Master’s in Evidencebased Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation. Her thesis was specifically focused on exploring the effectiveness of mental health education for adolescents and how to ideally structure such education programs. She will be working for Ipsos MORI in their Edinburgh/ London offices, in the evaluation unit within the social research division.

Raynette’s undergraduate degree is from St. Andrew’s University in Scotland.

Bradley University graduate Matt Farbota is a research analyst at the Ipsos, a global market research and consulting firm. He lives in Chicago.

Rachel Krueger works for Pepper Construction Company as a Virtual Construction Engineer. Rachel is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Olivia Lafrenz Smith (pictured below) was married to Zach Smith in July, and they are currently making their home in Yuma, Arizona. Rachel Krueger ‘10 was a bridesmaid, and several members of the EA community attended the wedding.

A dance major at the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music, Olivia danced professionally following her graduation in 2014.

She plans to eventually work towards advanced degrees in Occupational Therapy.

Timothy Whaley Photography

Morgan Lanier graduated with highest distinction from Swansea University in the UK with a degree in Political Communications.

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Sarah Parker is a Software Engineer at Google and lives in San Francisco, CA. She graduated from Brown University with a degree in neuroscience.

Lauren Steimle is a Ph.D. candidate in Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan. She recently received a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship which supports outstanding graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. Her research combines ideas from mathematical optimization, computer science, and biostatistics to better understand sequential decision-making under uncertainty with application to problems in medicine. In particular, Lauren is focusing on optimizing the management of cholesterol and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes to prevent major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. Lauren obtained her undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

Madeline Stone, a 2014 Macalester College graduate, specializes in helping hospitals install software to support organ transplant teams in her work for Epic Healthcare. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with two cats and her soon-to-be husband Mitchell. They will celebrate together with family in a small ceremony in a brewery in Michigan in January.

Bianca Swegler graduated from the University of North Texas, Mayborn School of Journalism with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Advertising. She currently lives in Dallas, Texas.

Gizem Tunca, a graduate of The George Washington University, is a second year law student at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. She will be working in competition law for Hunton & Williams LLP in their Washington, D.C. office after graduation.

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Fall 2016

Class of 2011 Derrick DeMay is the Lead Mechanical Application Engineer for Continental ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems). He works on the development of radars and cameras for automatic driving features in cars. Derrick is a graduate of Kettering University.

Aly Oriold (pictured below) is a first year student at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.

After graduating from Vassar College, Meaghan Hughes took a position at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York as a health information specialist. She is applying to graduate schools with the goal of becoming a licensed mental health counselor.

Villanova University graduate, John Lucas, is a second year law student at DePaul University with a focus in patent law. He also works part-time as a Student Associate at Global IP in Chicago, a patent law firm that focuses on patent monetization.

Kacy Rauschenberger is completing a year in Malaysia where she has been a Fulbright Teaching Scholar.

Emma Stone, 2015 University of Chicago graduate, has settled into her first year of law school at Yale, including starting a Euchre card group. After working for Judge Richard Posner for a year, Emma has set her sights on a career in legal academia and plans to complete a Ph.D. in addition to her law degree.

During 2016, Aaron Thomas worked on Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Campaign for the North Carolina Democratic Party.

Christina Masnato (pictured above left with siblings Laura ‘16 and David ‘07) is a production coordinator at Good Sense & Company in New York City. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music.

John Oremus is working towards a Master’s degree in Media and Organizational Communications at DePaul University. He also hosts a podcast and is in the early stages of writing a comic history book called A History of White Men.

Caitlin Ward, a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, is currently a Clinical Research Coordinator at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She will be attending a yet to be determined medical school next fall.

Class of 2012 Veronica Alix graduated from Boston University with a degree in Architectural Studies and International Relations. She is employed at the Consortium for Energy Efficiency.

Kappa National Honor Society, and President’s List of Distinguished Students. The former EA soccer standout left her mark on the Roanoke program too. She played 71 matches in 4 years, scoring 22 goals and added 3 assists for 69 career points which is the 14th highest point total in the school’s history. Ashley is now working on a Doctorate in Physical Therapy at The Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Ashley is the daughter of Caryl Stumpp Barnes ‘84.

Lauren Ficken graduated with a degree in marketing from the Farmer School of Business at Miami University in Ohio.

Ashley Barnes (pictured above) graduated magna cum laude from Roanoke, College in Salem, Virginia with a degree in biology. Ashley’s other academic accolades include Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta

Shang Li graduated from Lawrence University in Wisconsin. She majored in Government & History and minored in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. She is currently at Columbia University in New York where she is working towards an M.S. in Social Work (specializing in either Policy Practice or Social Enterprise Administration).

Dana Lindenberg was an honor graduate from Grinnell College with a B.A. in psychology and political science. She currently lives in Boulder Colorado, is applying to graduate school, and works as an office manager at an accounting firm.

Larisa Sica graduated last May from Kansas State University with a degree in Animal Science and Industry and a minor in Feed Science and Management. She works as a Regulatory Compliance Manager for Belstra Milling Company in DeMotte, Indiana. She is engaged to Josh Bontrager.

Tom Tunca graduated from The George Washington University with a degree in computer science and he now works for Infosys as a software consultant.

The 2016 Alumni Reunion at Pinstripes in Barrington was a hit!

Save the date for Homecoming 2017, September 29th and 30th.

Pictured above, left to right: Alexandra Voutiritsas ‘91 Noon, Angela Mruz ‘91 Fleming, David Gallo ‘91, Matthew Bruno ‘96, Diane Benkendorf-Neville ‘91.

Left: Dawn Anderson ‘86 Allcroft and Lara Liautaud ‘86 Berry show their Elgin Academy spirit at the 2016 reunion.

Fall 2016

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27

ANNUAL FUND

ch year

teaching actively

Elgin Academy is an oasis of learning, a place committed to academic excellence and developing the full potential of each and every student. It is a place of active teaching and active learning, where our faculty take learning personally. Each year, Elgin Academy families, alumni, and friends donate to Annual Fund to support Elgin Academy.

Our faculty are creative in engaging our students in the learning process.

Classroom discussions, oral presentations, and hands-on exercises are examples of active learning. The faculty of Elgin Academy take it a step further by teaching actively. From the Early Childhood classroom where students perform experiments to see how different materials affect tooth enamel, to Lower School Immersion where students experience Italian opera music firsthand as sung and explained by their teacher, to the Middle School flipped classroom where the teachers record a lecture for students to review at home in order to have the class period for discussions and activities, to the Upper School classroom that holds a trial of Oedipus. Teaching actively happens each day and each year.

Thank you for your support in this and each year.

Each year, contributions to the Annual Fund make an immediate and enriching impact on the educational experience for every student. Your gift supplements the resources of the operating budget. It also provides the margin of excellence in three particular areas that best enable active teaching; curriculum enhancements, faculty professional development, and technology for the classrooms.

Each year, your gift to Annual Fund, no matter the size, makes an immediate impact. We are pleased to announce that 100% of our Faculty and Staff and 100% of the Board of Trustees, and 100% of the Class of 2017 have made gifts to the 2016-2017 Annual Fund. We are also proud that for the two previous years, we had 100% participation from our Faculty and Staff as well as 100% from our graduating class.

Make a donation today. Use the enclosed envelope or visit elginacademy.org.

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Fall 2016

Thank you

John Mcdonald ’43

In spring 2016, Elgin Academy was honored to be the recipient of a planned gift of $400,000 from John B. McDonald ’43. Mr. McDonald was a loyal Hilltopper who cherished his time at Elgin Academy. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army paratroops during World War II. Mr. McDonald was a tinkerer and entrepreneur by nature who owned the Ridgewood Drive-In Theater and Jack’s Radio and TV Service. For a time, he was also employed as a telemetry technician, as a manager, and even as an instructor in the RCA Missile Test Project.

This past May, Mr. McDonald’s son, Nelson McDonald, visited the Elgin Academy campus his father held so dear and presented the Academy with the gift. During his time on campus, Nelson met some of our students and got to know the school his father loved.

Elgin Academy plans to utilize $200,000 of the donation for our newly established Taking Learning Personally Merit Scholarship Program. The remaining $200,000 will be applied to the campus master plan. We thank Mr. McDonald and the McDonald family for this exceedingly generous gift and for their support of Elgin Academy.

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to our donors who generously supported Elgin Academy during the 2015-2016 Fiscal Year.

Mary and George P. Lord Society $100,000.00 + John B. McDonald 1943 Kimball Society $25,000.00 + Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Gorman Barbara Smith 1988 Cupola Society $10,000.00 + Anonymous (2) First American Bank Lloyd “Chip” Fry III ‘71 and the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation Mr. and Dr. Arthur Lawrence Mr. and Mrs. William Padula III Mr. and Mrs. Byung Jun Park Dr. Cindy R. Rauschenberger and Mr. Keith W. Rauschenberger Wanxiang America Corporation World Richman Corporation Mr. and Mrs. A. John Yavari Old Main Group $5,000.00 + Lara Liautaud ‘86 and Robert Berry ‘86 Mr. Robert Caldwell Dellora A. and Lester J. Norris Foundation Mr. Robert Driscoll EFS Foundation Elgin Academy Parent Association Major General (Ret) James E Freeze and Mrs. Dorothy J. Freeze GE Foundation The Green Family Hamill Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Seth L. Hanford Mr. David Huang and Ms. Diana Qiu Alan and Sandy Kirk Ken and Carolyn Kuykendall Mr. and Mrs. Fred Masnato Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Oberdorf Jennifer Bellini and Scott Richardson Susan Sehnert ‘61 and Harold Rider, Sr. The Scimeca Family The Coffman Foundation Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Ward The Wilmington Family Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Woltz Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Yost 30

Fall 2016

Headmaster’s Club $2,500.00 + Aladdin Food Management Services CBRE, Inc. DLA Piper LLP (US) Patrick and Shannon Ford Mark Garrett Mr. Spencer Heinz and Mrs. Farveh Momayezzadeh Mr. and Mrs. Adam D. Jaworski Margaret Williams and K. Eric Larson Dr. Mary Lee Fugina and Mr. Joseph Lucas Mr. and Mrs. Scott Purdy Mr. and Mrs. Gregg Revak Hugh Rider 1986 Mr. William Rudnick Dawn and Phillip Rudolph The Schaefer/Leahy Family Simon Sohn Family Mr. and Mrs. Antonis Theodorou Founders Society $1,000.00 + Mr. and Mrs. Lee Anderson Anonymous Caryl Stumpp 1984 Barnes and Daniel Barnes Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bauer Mr. and Mrs. Peter Bazos Donna A. Bolz Mr. Edward Bosowski Dr. and Mrs. Timothy Brown Mr. and Mrs. Donald Buckner Mr. and Mrs. Pete Burt Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Davis Digital Benefit Advisors Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dwyer Frederick A. Fletcher Mr. and Mrs. Peter A. Georgescu Mr. and Mrs. Gene Hare Hickey Foundation Mr. Steve Hilsabeck and Dr. Alison Hilsabeck Michelle and Jason Hughes Mr. and Mrs. Ellias Kademoglou Mr. and Mrs. George Karas Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Koch Mr. & Mrs. Steven Kut Lauderdale Electric, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Paul LeBlanc Legat Architects Miller Cooper & Co., LTD. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Milone

Mr. and Mrs. Regis A. Moore Joanna and Kurt Palmer Helen and Rosario Perrelli The Private Bank Mr. and Mrs. Dion Richetti Dr. Antonino & Sharyn Romano Carolyn Hardy 1977 Selke Doug and Andrea Sept Archibald C. Sheldon 1947 Mr. and Mrs. George Smiley Smith and Richardson Manufacturing Co. Mr. and Mrs. David B. Smith Josh and Carla Summers Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Swegler and the Sidney A. Swensrud Foundation TCF Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Teik The Alben F. Bates & Clara G. Bates Foundation The Corwith Fund Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Wadington Mr. and Mrs. Michael Warren Academy Associates $500.00 + Anonymous Ms. Danielle Arnold Avondale Custom Homes Inc. Bee Line Building Service and Supply Mr. James M. Benkendorf Mr. and Mrs. Edward Berlin Mr. and Mrs. John Bohenick Ms. Joan Brown Ms. Lynda Brown Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Brown Mr. Gannon S. Cottone Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Domres Harry Gould Mr. and Mrs. Shannon Howell Mr. and Mrs. Sean Hughes Hurley & Volk Orthodontics, PC Mr. and Mrs. Edward P. Joyce Judson University Kampai Japanese Steakhouse Mr. and Mrs. Anoop Karna Dr. and Mrs. Irvin Lau Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Londergan Mr. and Mrs. William Madden Rob and Kim Matusiak Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Mead Microsoft Mr. and Mrs. Ricardo Navarette Mr. and Mrs. Keenan Newby Mr. and Mrs. Frank Oriold

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Pawlisch Realty & Mortgage Co. John H. Rexford 1975 Harold Rider, Jr. 1984 Meghan and Stephen 1990 Rider Rieke Office Interiors Mrs. Kim M. DeWitt and Mr. Paul Rogers Dr. and Mrs. Mobeen Shirazi Mr. and Mrs. David Sporina Sport Court Midwest Sprint Foundation Syn-Tech Target The Village Squire North, Inc. Wintrust Financial Corporation Mr. and Mrs. Jay Wittmeyer O & B $100.00 + Sam Allen 1974 Rene and Marilyn Alvarado Animal Eye Consultants Anonymous (4) Ariano, Hardy, Ritt, Nyuli, Richmond, Lytle & Goettel, P.C. Associated Equipment Distributors Baird and Warner Real Estate Mr. and Mrs. Erik Balisi Mr. and Mrs. Roger Basa Mary and Steve Bayer Bazos, Freeman, Kramer, Schuster & Braithwhite, LLC Chandler Benton 1949 Mr. and Mrs. James M. Boborci Mr. and Mrs. Scott Borchart Sherri and John Breckenfelder The Brickman Group Leah Bruno 1992 Burger King Mrs. Heather Cannon Mrs. and Dr. Gretchen Carlson Car-Mon Products, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Brian Ceci Celebrating Smiles Mr. and Mrs. Garett Chun Mr. Kevin Connolly Beth Hogan 1982 Corley Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cottone Mr. Mark Culp Curves - West Dundee Jane Danielson 1960 Mr. Lou Del Percio Mr. Luiigi Del Percio Dave Dorgan Ms. Elizabeth Downing Mr. and Mrs. Kiran Dronamraju Ms. Melissa J. Dugan Dutton & Casey P.C. Dynamic Door Service, Inc. Mr. Steve Eikenberry Elgin Academy Athletic Booster Club Elgin Academy Patrons of the Arts Mr. and Mrs. David Ellis Fall 2016

Mrs. Michelle Erickson Mr. and Mrs. Bob Esposito Mr. and Mrs. Adel A. Fadel Steve and Jill Flexman Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. Floyd Fox Valley Endodontic Specialists Mr. Brian Frase Mr. and Mrs. Josh Gadlewski Mr. Larry Gage Amy Edwards 1983 Galloway General Mills Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Gephart Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Giebs Mr. and Mrs. Martin Gonzalez Edward T. Gordon 1960 Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Gordon Mr. Theodore R. Gordon ‘65 and Mrs. Betty Gordon Green Side Up Lawn Maintenance INC. Groups Exclusively H.E. Wisdom & Sons Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Halterman Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Hanfling Ms. Diana Hanford Dr. and Mrs. Pankaj Haridas David L. Hartigan 1987 Mr. and Mrs. Steve Heinz Mr. and Mrs. Michael E. Heisley, Jr. Pamela De Larme 1963 Hicks Ms. Ivonne Hopkins Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Howell David F. Hoy 1944 Ryan Hurley (‘98) and Tonya Volk IDEX Corporation Matching Gift Program Wigberto and Amy Ingente Richard A. Jablonowski 1995 Jerome M. Johnson 1971

Michael Craft Johnson ‘68 Dr. Warren Kammerer and Dr. Lorraine Novas Mr. Bob Kennedy Ms. Susan Kennedy Nancy Davies Kenney Jim Kidston Mr. and Mrs. Ken Kietzmann Mr. and Mrs. Colin Kihnke Mr. Jim Kolba Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Kurlek The Lafrenz Family Eugene Lamp 1952 Mr. and Mrs. Dick Lanier Mr. Robert Lanton and Mrs. Colette Givens-Lanton Harry G. Lehr Jr. ‘58 Mr. Rick Levin Sue Morton ‘66 Lloyd Mark Ludwig 1978 Mr. James Lyons Dr. Donna Maier Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey C. Malecek Edward A. Manuel 1950 John X. Maritote 1977 Mr. Wayne F. ‘65 and Mrs. Kathleen Marshall Lynn and Steve Martin Dr. Denise Lindley and Mr. Steve Martines Mr. Brandon J. Masukawa Lisa Mays and John Peterson Michael and Jessica McCormick McNally Group, LLC Annette and Patrick ‘88 McNulty Mercedes-Benz of St. Charles Deanne Miller and Nichole Junge elgin academy

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Miss Adeline Moon Ray and Trish Muffler Music Education Services Paul and Roberta Nabor Mrs. Mariam Fadel A. Nasser and Mr. Ihab Nasser Network for Good Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Neuman Mr. and Mrs. Simon Niu Novas, Dohr & Coll OB/GYN Associates, S.C. Gerald W. O’Keeffe Ann O’Neill Mr. and Mrs. Justin Onwochei Mr. James Perkins Mr. Dewayne Peterson Prose Orthodontics Mr. Bruce Purvis Mr. Mark Pusateri Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Raess Ms. Robin Randall Karen and Anand Rao Rauschenberger Financial Advisors Carol Gilbert 1933 and William E. 1936 Redeker Mr. Todd Reimer and Ms. Diane Solone Samuel Pearce Rider 1990 and Joan Rider David Rogers PhD 1960 Gene and Howard Royer John Ruark 1982 Kathleen Rusniak Mr. and Dr. Thomas Schael Mr. and Mrs. Bill Schafer Dr. Mark and Mrs. Isabel Schiffer Carl Schott 1954 Ms. Mary Ann Schumacher Mr. Kevin Serafin Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Seyl Mr. and Mrs. Mark Shanahan Mr. and Mrs. William Shatkus Thomas W. Shera ‘67 Signs By Tommorrow The Skiouris Family Mr. Ajinth Sreedharan and Ms. Divya Ajinth Christine and Jim Stone Stonegate Conference & Banquet Centre Mr. Joseph Stuart Mr. and Mrs. Richard Sturgeon Mr. and Mrs. Fred Suevel Mrs. Melinda Taylor Tessendorf Mechanical Services Mr. Sundaram Thamilavel The Little Traveler, Inc. Paul Thomas Vince Thomas and Marie Cinquemani Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Mark Towers Mr. Reginald Townsend and Mrs. Shea McDaniel-Townsend Mr. and Mrs. Eric Uner Sabiha and Faheem Uraizee 32

Fall 2016

Mr. Jordan VanBeek Mr. Steve Vanzandt The Veltri Family Roger and Wendy Vernon Ms. Terese Vincent Peter, Erin, Johnathan, and Hailey Vogt Mr. and Mrs. Tom Wagner Douglas A. Wainscott 1956 Mr. Colin Ward ‘13 Murray A. Webster Jr. ‘59 Diane and John 1973 Weck Carissa Benedik ‘90 and Andrew Wendt ‘90 Mr. and Mrs. Scott Whitlock Rich Wicklein 2002 and Courtney Weck 2003 Mr. and Mrs. John J. Wiedemann Mr. and Mrs. David Wigstone Wireline Inc. York Educational Services, LLC Mr. Jeff Ziaja Friend Mrs. Marilyn Bauer Bob Bender Mr. and Mrs. Brian and Debora Biskup and Ms. Genevieve DiPaolo 2013 Box Tops for Education Mrs. Paulette Braccio Mr. Patrick Carmody Ms. Linley Collins The Crist Family Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Deering David M. Dickens 1983 Discover Financial Services Elgin Academy Class of 2016 Ms. Evonne Elsenbroek Mr. Dan Ferris Mr. John Fleener Ms. Marsha L. Flood Mr. and Mrs. John Fluegel Jody Wine 1974 Forni Mr. and Mrs. Larry Frank Funding Factory Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Galvin Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Giebel Mr. Andy Gilla Pamela Gomez Ms. Janice Haeflinger James R. Hall 1956 Mr. Bill Harris Ann Uhlemann 1951 Hartman Brown Dr. and Mrs. Frank G. Hering Mr. Robert Hurst Mr. and Mrs. Jay Ikezoe Mr. and Mrs. Eric Jacobson Julie Janik Ms. Erica Jenkins Mr. and Mrs. David Kathrein Mr. and Mrs. Nathan R. King Mr. Andrew Kolba

Mrs. Jill Kowalyszyn Mr. and Mrs. James Kuzyk Mr. Jim LaBee Jean Lawton 1959 Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Manning Todd Martin and Babette Colburn Lee T. Moyen 1975 Randy Olszewski Mr. Dan Raffety Ms. Stacy Rago Mr. Ryan Randolph Kacy R. Rauschenberger 2011 Mr. and Mrs. Donald A. Reed Ms. Felicite “Flicka” Hill 1966 Regan and Mr. John Regan Mr. Dewayne Robinson Mr. Suresh Kumar Sai and Ms. Gita Sai Mr. Jorge Sanchez and Ms. Elizabeth Wetmore Ms. Lynne Schick Mrs. Dawn M. Schmidt A. Jane Schock Schoola Arlene Stach Ms. Elizabeth K. Stemn Ms. Elaine Suitts Imran Uraizee ‘05 Courtney Heston 1998 Vuturo Mr. Turner G. Wadington Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wedel Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Westerhoff Mr. John Wiedermann Ms. Christina Wilke Mr. Rick Williams Carolyn Lawton 1957 Workman

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Want to hear about the lastest campus news, see fun field trips, watch a video of our students in action, get a glimpse into how we learn, or read a blog from one of our community members? You’ll find all this and more on Elgin Academy’s social media sites. Here are just a few of our most popular social media posts this school year…

Facebook: . 4th graders use math skills to make string art. . Upper School students named Merit Scholars. . Middle School students challenge faculty to volleyball game.

Twitter: . Athletes named to Daily Herald All-Conference Team. . Creative collaboration showcased at Elgin Academy’s 1st 24-Hour Play Festival. . EA teachers go back to school on in-service day.

Instagram: . Alumni visit campus. . Baseball team named 2016 Regional Champs. . Admission Office hosts Chinese delegation.

Blog: . Making Connections with Distance Learning. . Reading Buddies: Collaboration in the Lower School. . EA Grads are Equipped for Success.

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