Inside: Semester at Sea A lifetime of helping others Talented, versatile, and groundbreaking Creating a great travel experience Doctor’s orders Class of 2016 Homecoming and Reunions
Winter 2017
Country Day girls soccer team celebrates a goal in the state championship finals. Story on page 21.
This award was created upon the retirement of “Mr. Pat� to honor teachers who emulate his commitment to students, colleagues, and Cincinnati Country Day School.
CONNECTIONS Winter 2017
THIS ISSUE
Volume 38, Issue 1
FEATURES
SECTIONS
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Semester at Sea
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A lifetime of helping others
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Talented, versatile, and groundbreaking
great a g n i t a e r C rience travel expe
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Class of
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Doctor’s orders
4 Leadership 18
Student News
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Faculty News Patterson-Strauss Travel Grant
32 Alumni 34 Reunions 37
News Notes
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In Memoriam
Y0u
Tube
33 Homeco
ming
Connections is published by the Development Office of Country Day. Photos by contributing alumni, students, parents, faculty, and staff. If you have questions or believe any information to be incorrect, please contact Ralph Javens at (513) 9790234 or javensr@CountryDay.net. Your classmates and the Country Day Community would like to hear from you. Please submit Class Notes to Paula Brock at brockp@CountryDay.net.
Parents of graduates: If you have been receiving CCDS mail for your graduate at your home address, and they have a permanent mailing address elsewhere, please let us know how to best reach them.
Cincinnati Country Day School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age (40 or over), national origin, ancestry, We want to stay in touch with our alumni or military service/veteran’s community, and save paper and postage. status in the administration of Please contact Alumni Director Paula Brock at its educational programs and brockp@CountryDay.net or 513-979-0282 with policies, admission decisions, updated information or send address changes tuition aid programs, employment to addresschanges@CountryDay.net. practices and benefits, athletic, or other school administered programs.
LEADERSHIP Dear Members of the Country Day Community, As I settle into my second year at Cincinnati Country Day School, I am struck by the word “home.” It is a word our alums use often when asked to describe their Country Day experience. I came to appreciate this description during a homecoming event that paired current students from our young alumni ambassador program with past students who were visiting their alma mater for reunion festivities. I also heard “home” frequently during my alumni visits to Chicago, Southern California, Boston, and New York. What is it about our school that prompts feelings of nostalgia? The common theme of stories shared with me centers on relationships between faculty and students. Teachers play instrumental roles in our students’ lives, in and out of the classroom, serving as mentors and resources for all aspects of their growth and development. As we plan for Country Day’s future, we will continue to emphasize strong student-teacher bonds and ensure that we create a nurturing environment for students and their families. A caring community is one in which children thrive, and CCDS is, and always will be, a home away from home for our students. In this edition of Connections, you can enjoy stories highlighting the successes of our students, past and present, our talented teachers, and events that celebrate our engaged and vibrant community. Since it is hard to capture the day-to-day magic in ink and on paper, we encourage you to visit your family on Given Road. We always welcome our alumni home and hope that all our former students, particularly the classes of ’2 and ’7, will join us for Homecoming 2017. We are “blue and white triumphant” as strongly today as in years past and would love to share our school, your “home,” with you. Sincerely,
Anthony Jaccaci Head of School Jennifer Aquino Head of Lower School Robert Baker Director of Technology Theresa Hirschauer Head of Middle School Aaron Kellenberger Director of Enrollment Management
Anthony T. T. Jaccaci Head of School
Stephanie Luebbers Head of Upper School
Follow Tony on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TonyJaccaci
State of the School
January 25, 2017 Community Dinner 5:30-6:15 p.m. State of the School 6:15-7 p.m. Dessert Reception Bortz Family Early Childhood Center 7 p.m.
Homecoming Weekend
September 22 & 23, 2017 Celebrating classes ending in 2 & 7. 4
Cabinet 2016-2017
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Christopher Milmoe Athletic Director Ashley Ward Assistant to the Head of School Wally Welch Director of Facilities Todd Witt Chief Financial Officer Christopher Woodside Director of Development
the top schools in Cincinnati for our daughters, and, with all bias set aside, decided that CCDS was clearly the best choice,” Briggs said. Molly and Katie have both attended CCDS since Pre-K I. Lori Smith attended California State University, Long Beach, before starting her career in marketing and public relations in Los Angeles in the financial sector for almost 10 years.
Board of Trustees 2016-2017 Jon Hall President of the Board of Trustees Christopher Bortz ’92 Joel Brant ’87 David Briggs ‘83 Kyle Brooks ’81 Marianne Castrucci Richard Durand ’73 Jason Fraley Jessica Hall Shailesh Jejurikar Thomas Langlois ‘77 Michael Leonard ’83 John Mackenzie Anne Maier Holly Mott ’95 Peter Niehoff ’05 Jeanne Parlin Nick Recker Lori Smith Todd Stegman Paul Stewart Chalky Thomas ‘80 Louise Vaughan Gordon Wright ’85 Rob Zimmerman ‘98
New Trustees The CCDS Board of Trustees has named three new trustees. David B. Briggs Jr. ’83 was born and raised in Cincinnati and was a “Lifer” at CCDS from Pre-K through 12th grade. He attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where he graduated with a B.A. in economics and minored in computational math. After DePauw, he spent four years in Chicago working for Northern Trust Bank in the Trust Department. Always intending to move back to Cincinnati, he began the commercial lending part of his career at, what was then, Star Bank. After a two-year transfer to Milwaukee, he returned to Cincinnati and, over the next 10 years, moved to several different banks, primarily lending to middle market businesses in and around Cincinnati. Six years ago, he left the mainstream banking world to start his own consulting company specializing in helping smaller community banks in the Greater Cincinnati area and also consulting with commercial businesses that need help structuring and monitoring their bank relationships. He and his wife, Kathy, and their two daughters, Molly ’19 and Katie ’20, live in Hyde Park. “Considering ourselves discerning parents, we looked at all
In 1998, she moved to Cincinnati and worked as an account executive for Deskey, where her sound leadership brought success to brands such as Charmin, Millstone and Prilosec. In 2003, Smith channeled her creativity and knowledge of design to launch a boutique business specializing in bespoke luxury invitations and event ideation. From the time her daughter, Nevie ’19, entered Kindergarten in 2006, Smith has been an active volunteer at CCDS. She served as co-chair for CountryDate and FallFest for three consecutive years, is the PA President, has been a PA Representative in every division and continues to lend her support in numerous ways throughout the school. Smith and her husband, Mark, reside in Miami Township and have been cheering on the Indians as a permanent fixture at almost every home football game for the last 10 years and will always be found opening night at CCDS musicals. Louise Vaughan, a native of London, UK, moved to Cincinnati seven years ago. She graduated from Imperial College, London, in 1995 with a BSc in mathematics & management studies. Vaughan spent more than 12 years in financial services, initially as a chartered accountant, similar to a CPA in the U.S., before moving into investment banking.
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LEADERSHIP The Leonard Athletic Center moving full steam ahead
Performing arts courtyard and amphitheater dedicated
The 358-seat Carey Family Amphitheater and the Sally Dwyer '05 and Tonya Grieb '10 Performing Arts Courtyard were dedicated during a cocktail reception Oct. 14, 2016. Signs for both settings were unveiled at the dedication.
The work to overhaul the North Gym into the Leonard Athletic Center continues. Demolition is complete and pool permits have been received. In March 2016, Athletic Director Chris Milmoe and the athletic department moved all supplies and equipment from the North Gym to allow construction crews to begin demolition. Since then, the athletic program has been working out of trailers and the maintenance facility to keep the full program running.
Among those attending were Sally Dwyer Hernandez '05, her husband Javi Hernandez, and her mother Mimi Rose. Her sister Tonya Grieb '10 was unable to attend because she was attending a Fulbright event in Washington, D.C. Mimi's husband, Stuart Rose, was also unable to attend.
Fall sports teams performed well in their temporary facilities. The larger challenge came with winter sports that were traditionally housed inside the North Gym. But with hard work from the athletic department and generosity from members of the community, a contingency plan was developed to keep all programs up and running at the high level to which we are accustomed.
Carey family members who attended were A.K. and Gibby Carey, their daughters Margaret DeMichelis '75 and Jenny Randolph '84, son George Carey '78; Deborah Floyd; and Jenny's children, Virgil and Margaret. After the dedication, the opening night of the fall play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was performed under an idyllic sky.
Excitement on campus is high for the change this project will bring to the Country Day athletic program.
The Neil K. Bortz Family Early Childhood Center (ECC) Dedication The Neil K. Bortz Family Early Childhood Center was dedicated on Dec. 7, 2016. In attendance were the Bortz family, other donors who helped to make the project possible, and people and organizations that worked on the project. ECC teachers from the Lower School also attended. A video and light show on the interior and exterior of the building enhanced the evening. Lower School Head, Jen Aquino kicked-off the evening by talking about the dream to make the ECC a reality. Head of School, Tony Jaccaci noted what the new ECC means to the campus and community and thanked all of those who helped make it happen. Jaccaci then invited Neil Bortz and the entire family to the front, where Bortz remarked about the importance of CCDS, including the new ECC, to the school and the community. The ceremonial part of the evening concluded with Neil and Susie Bortz,
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and Jaccaci cutting the ribbon. The new building is slated to open in early January. The Early Childhood program has a waiting list.
Pictured: Center-Neil and Susie Bortz cut the ribbon with Head of School Tony Jaccaci. Below - LS Head Jen Aquino with Shalini and Chet Gupta. Below - the entire Bortz family.
Louise Vaughan continued from page 5 She received her chartered accountancy training at Arthur Andersen, the multinational accountancy firm, and spent seven years in their audit and business advisory practice. More than 150 people showed their 'Commitment' to the CCDS community at Bonfire and Brews. The Carey Family Amphitheater was the perfect fall backdrop for everyone to congregate and enjoy delicious food from Mazunte, Ron's Roost and Dojo Gelato, while listening to live music by Cincy's own Charlie Millikin and Cincy's premier nightlife expert DJ Ice Cold Tony.
Her next move was to Credit Suisse, the multinational financial services company, where she was a vice president in the Corporate Broking team, part of Credit Suisse’s UK Investment Bank. She was later hired by UBS as a director and ultimately executive director on their UK Investment Banking team. Following her family’s move to the U.S., Vaughan opted to become a full-time mom and has been active at Country Day since enrolling their children. Vaughan and her husband, Jeremy, are this year’s Annual Fund chairs. She is the Parents’ Association lead representative for the Lower School and grade rep for Pre-K II, as well as a past PA treasurer. Vaughan and her husband live in Indian Hill with their four children, Zac ’25, Thea ’27, and Eli and Vanessa, both Pre-K II.
Pictured: Clockwise from top left - 1-Dr. Shimul and Dr. Aparna Shah, Louise & Jeremy Vaughan. 2- Chris Woodside, Tom Langlois ’77, and Theresa Hirschauer. 3-Guests gathered around one of the firepits eating and listening to the band. 4-CountryDate Chair Nick Recker, Lauren Hannan Shafer, Chip ’79 & Lisa Pettengil ’85.
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Semester at Sea Lauren Wiley ’14
Junior majoring in middle/ secondary education and math Butler University
During Lauren Wiley’s Semester at Sea, she got lost with friends in a Tokyo train station where no one spoke English, dodged motorcyclists as she walked across the harrowing streets of Ho Chi Minh City, and ate mystery meat in Morocco. And, she’d do it all again. Wiley grew up in Hong Kong from kindergarten to fifth grade. Since Middle School, she’s wanted to spend a Semester at Sea, which enables college students to earn credits while cruising the world. She realized her dream last January when she began a three-month trip, leaving from San Diego and traveling to Hawaii, Japan, China, Vietnam, Myanmar (Burma), India, Mauritius, South Africa, Ghana and Morocco, disembarking in England. Wiley chose the spring voyage, with primarily Asia and Africa destinations, because of her ties to Hong Kong. She and her family often traveled around Asia while living there. “I wanted to go back and experience it as an adult,” Wiley said.
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She spent two days in Hong Kong. “A lot of my friends aren’t there anymore, but it was cool to be back. I still knew where everything was. I was able to navigate the city, and I was the tour guide to my friends from the ship.”
Wiley said.
At each port, Semester at Sea brought on board a native, professor, or student from the next country on the itinerary. That person traveled with them until they reached their destination. “They wanted to make sure we were really prepared and we were really enriched in the culture when we got there so that it was less of a vacation and more of a learning experience,”
Two nights before landing at a port, Semester at Sea professors also held cultural and logistical
meetings to talk about the country, the culture, the norms, what students should wear, etc. “They definitely prepared us well. Because they’ve been doing this for so long, they know our tendencies as college students, and they also know the culture.” South Africa was her favorite country because of the eclectic mixture of city and nature to absorb. She enjoyed bustling Cape Town’s waterfront, horseback riding, a safari at Kruger
of attention I didn’t necessarily want, especially from the vendors who were trying to sell things. They say, ’Come over here,’ and they’d grab you and pull you away. A lot of them hung out outside the ship because they knew the kids would be buying stuff.”
National Park, and hiking up Table Mountain. “I never felt unsafe until we got to Ghana, and I think part of that was the culture. In our culture, we have a personal space bubble, and if someone enters that bubble we freak out. There, they are very much a contact culture so they’ll touch you, and that’s normal. They’ll give you a hug, and that’s normal.”
The situation improved by the fourth day. “I was able to barter with them, and we learned their handshake that they had.” Students had the freedom to travel anywhere as long as they didn’t leave the country while the ship was in port. They could venture out on an excursion planned with friends or sign up for a trip through Semester at Sea.
On longer trips, students rode a tour bus to see the sights or focused on community engagement or service learning. “That was cool to give back in another country,” Wiley said. “I got to visit an orphanage in Ghana. We went to a school in Myanmar and spent the day there.” In Shanghai, they visited an off the grid community. They went to a retirement home, where they played ping pong and danced with residents. They then went to a house where they had a home-cooked meal. After that, they visited the farmer’s market where the ingredients for the meal were obtained. The semester wasn’t just about sightseeing. Wiley earned 15 credit hours during the trip. If the 500 students were at sea, they were in class. They also had assignments to complete while visiting a country. While at sea, students could not use their phones and had no access to the internet, except for email. Wiley also learned valuable life lessons. She described herself as very organized and a bit of a control freak who likes to have everything planned. But things didn’t always go as planned on the trip, and it was OK. “You just have to be flexible,” she said. “I learned how to enjoy myself a little bit more and how to relax a little. It’s a lot easier for me to go with the flow now. I’m a lot more confident. I challenged myself. I ate so many random foods that I never would have tried otherwise, just because I had to.”
Those arranged trips were half day, full day or multiple days with overnight stays.
-Cindy Kranz
“I was getting a lot Photos from left to right: Mt. Fuji in Hakone National Park, Japan Nearing the end of a day in Tokyo, Japan. Wiley and friends explored the entire city and these temples were the last stop of sight seeing for the day. In the caves of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam The entire shipboard community on the back of the ship - the MV World Odyssey. This photo was taken in Ghana. The Taj Mahal, in India.
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A lifetime of helping others
Ross S. Barrett ’62
B.A. University of Cincinnati, psychology M.A. University of Cincinnati, speech pathology Speech pathologist, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA.
It wasn’t until third grade that Ross S. Barrett realized he was a stutterer – no thanks to a classmate who taunted him. “Somebody laughed at me and said, ’Ha, ha. You’re a stutterer.’ I can never forget that. It was a realization that, ’Oh my gosh, I’m a stutterer.’’’ He was 9 years old, the age when most people realize they might have a stuttering problem. “Usually, it starts when you begin to talk,” Barrett said. “My parents wrote in a baby book that I showed signs of stuttering at age 2, even though we stutterers don’t become aware of it until much older.” After years of searching for someone or something to alleviate his stuttering, he finally found it. Now, Barrett helps other stutterers who travel across the world to seek his expertise. They come from as far away as Afghanistan, Pakistan, France, Russia and Brazil. A speech pathologist at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Barrett is director of the EVMS Fluency Shaping Program, an intensive two-week therapy regimen to help people control their stuttering. It’s based on the same program that helped him at Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia. His own journey to find help was frustrating. When he grew up in the 50s and early 60s, stuttering was considered a psychologically- or emotionally-based problem.
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“I went to a hypnotherapist and traditional speech therapy, which back in my day was getting you to be comfortable with the fact that you’re a stutterer. The thought then, and it still happens today, is that if you’re less anxious about the fact that you stutter, it’s going to improve your speech, but that’s not necessarily the case.”
“I should have been retired years ago... I just don’t foresee losing interest in helping other people.” Ross Barrett
Barrett went to faith healers. He visited a palm reader. He was prescribed tranquilizers. “The thinking was stuttering is caused by anxiety and that stutterers are just anxious people who can’t control their speech, but all that did was make me a laid-back stutterer.”
Advances in medicine have given doctors and speech pathologists a greater understanding of the origins of stuttering. “We’ve come to realize, from the mid-70s to today, there’s much more of a genetic basis for stuttering. We know it’s on the 12th chromosome,” Barrett said. “We’re narrowing down the actual genes involved. That doesn’t mean stutterers don’t have some emotional or psychological problems dealing with their problem, but it didn’t cause it in the first place.” “It wasn’t until the late 60s and into the 70s era that we started to look upon stuttering therapy as something which is behaviorally oriented. Even though we’re not going to be able to do gene replacement therapy, at least we’ve come to the realization that it’s not an emotionally- or psychologicallybased problem, so taking tranquilizers or psychotherapy really wouldn’t help.” Barrett obtained an undergraduate degree in psychology and graduate degree in speech pathology at the University of Cincinnati. Between his undergraduate and graduate work, he worked as a stock broker at Bartlett and Company. He wasn’t there for long after hearing about a program at Hollins College that dealt with stuttering from a behavioral point of view.
“As soon as I could get in, I went,” Barrett said. “The minute I got back, I knew I was going to change my life and become a speech pathologist and help others as I had been helped.” Hollins worked with behavior modification, re-teaching him how to speak. “For the first time in my life, I felt there is a way to control this. Nobody is telling me I’m crazy or nobody is telling me to slow down. Nobody is telling me your mouth is working faster than your brain.” After getting his graduate degree in 1975, Barrett was hired at Hollins as their staff speech pathologist. He worked there from 1975-83. Barrett and his wife moved after she was hired as a TV news anchor in Norfolk. He began what has evolved into the EVMS Fluency Shaping Program at Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Transfer new speech – Lastly, participants talk on the phone, talk with people in a mall or give speeches. Over the 12 days, they practice 90-100 hours. “You have to make sure they know this is not a cure all. It’s just the beginning. A lot of their work is ahead of them.” The program guards against relapses by sending patients home with a thumb drive containing the entire program so they can continue to practice. “They’re pretty much given everything so they can work as their own speech pathologist at home,” Barrett said.
“When I think back on the leadership lessons I learned in the classroom, on the tennis team and as the school’s student photographer for the yearbook, I realize now how much that prepared me to help conquer my own stuttering and to run a successful practice helping other stutterers and their families. It’s lasted a lifetime.”
All photos courtesy of Bill Tiernan, The Virginian-Pilot. From left to right: Page 10: Ross Barrett
The program is divided into three parts:
Consolidation – They consolidate what they learned and reduce what is called “exaggeration.”
How CCDS prepared him for college and for life
-Cindy Kranz
Today, the program has a three- to fourmonth wait. Patients work with single purpose computers designed to measure vocal fold activity.
Target acquisition – Teaching patients the correct breathing pattern and how to phonate.
Retirement is not on his horizon. “I don’t know many people my age who love to come into work every day. At 72, I should have been retired years ago, although there’s no mandatory retirement age at the med school. I just don’t foresee losing interest in helping other people.”
Even Barrett still practices, but his own speech is mostly automatic now. “If I’m under extreme stress, like giving a national TV interview, I’ve got to concentrate a little bit more, because the natural underlying predisposition to stutter is still there. It’s just that I’ve overlearned what I’m doing.” Barrett never tires of seeing improved lives walk out the door. “I liken it to when I wanted to go to back to graduate school at UC. I almost looked upon it as a calling - that I needed to bring this to other people so they didn’t have to go through all these different kind of therapies that I went through with no success at all.”
A post-doctorate associate from Minnesota seeks help from Ross Barrett for his stuttering. The man was concerned that his stuttering would hold him back from obtaining a job researching and teaching inorganic chemistry. Barrett’s work was featured in a three-page story in The VirginianPilot last year. Speech pathologist Ross Barrett guides a group of his patients through a Norfolk, Virginia shopping mall where they went to practice speaking without stuttering. Page 11: An Afghanistan man who stutters shows Ross Barrett the results of his work talking with strangers at a shopping mall in Norfolk, Virginia. Part of the EVMS Fluency Shaping Program requires patients to test what they’ve learned by giving speeches, talking on the phone or conversing at the mall. Three patients discuss their successes with Barrett.
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Michael Anthony Williams ’78
B.A. Economics and sociology Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin Stage and screen actor
Talented, versatile, and groundbreaking At home on stage, screen, or behind the mic
All the world may be a stage, but for Michael Anthony Williams, there’s nothing like the sanctity of performing before a home audience that includes his 90-year-old father. Williams returned to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park this fall for the second time in his 30year acting career. He performed the role of Doub in August Wilson’s “Jitney.” “It was magical performing at Playhouse in the Park again,” Williams said. “Many members of my family who have never been able to see my work were able to come and enjoy. To be able to share with high school mates and their families is an opportunity that does not present itself too often. Having my father and my daughter in the audience at the same time was almost surreal.” Williams’s acting career has been eclectic. He’s appeared in 18 feature films, including five with Samuel L. Jackson. He’s also worked with Jodie Foster, Gene Hackman, Bruce Willis and other household names. Williams has worked on three television series, and has performed in more than 100 theater productions around the country and the world.
His penchant for acting took flight at Country Day. He was a star athlete, but a teacher kept hounding him to take
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the stage. “I was still convinced that I was going to be a professional athlete, so I didn’t have time for theater. But, my sophomore year, we did ’Around the World in 80 Days’ in French and Spanish and I played Phileas Fogg. During one of the performances, I realized this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” Williams attended Beloit College to major in theater. Dr. Obadiah and Edith Williams, both educators, wanted their son to be a lawyer, not an entertainer. They were so unhappy with his college major choice that his parents called the college to change their son’s major. Williams returned to school as an economics and sociology major with a minor in theater.
His penchant for acting took flight at Country Day. “...my sophomore year, we did ’Around the World in 80 Days’ in French and Spanish and I played Phileas Fogg. During one of the performances, I realized this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” Michael Anthony Williams
He described his career as a series of left turns. His first job out of college was in Cincinnati as a counselor at The Lighthouse Runaway Shelter in Clifton. He later moved to Boston with the idea of going to law school, but decided against it. He studied education at the graduate level at Harvard University, but did not complete a Master’s degree. Williams got a lucrative job as an education consultant in Boston, but he wasn’t happy. At age 28, he took a big risk. Williams quit his job and moved to Chicago with the goal of getting hired by The Second City.
He became only the fourth AfricanAmerican cast member to be hired in its then 47-year history. “That was a big get because that gave me the confidence to say, ’Hmm, I can do this.’’’ Williams, who was at Second City from 2001-03, became good friends with Tim Meadows and the late Chris Farley. His last year on stage was with Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Nia Vardalos, Amy Sedaris and the list goes on. “One reason I went to Second City is because I wanted to be trained in comedy, but I also wanted to make sure that I made my name in Hollywood first as a dramatic actor, because Hollywood doesn’t want black men to be dramatic stars. We have to be stereotyped. You know what? I don’t want to do that. I want to be the judge. I want to be the prosecutor. I want to be the father.” He stopped doing television and film because he took on a new unscripted role. “The most important moment in my life occurred when I became a father to an amazing young lady named Margarita.” “I’ve been concentrating on stage since she’s been born because that way I can be home at night to be a real dad. Fatherhood has enriched my work on stage and on camera. Raising a daughter is a huge endeavor, but also a wonderful blessing.” His love for theater surpasses the glitz of appearing on the big and little screens. “I have more fun on stage than I do on television and in film because, on stage, I can feel it. I can
see that reaction immediately. I can get that gratification, whereas when you’re working in front of a lens, you don’t get that back and forth.”
Acting Credits
Here’s a sample of Michael Anthony Williams’ work: Movies: The Brave One, Contact, Full Metal Jacket, Losing Isiah, The Red Violin, The Replacements, Rocky V, Shaft, Snakes on a Plane, Unbreakable
His favorite plays to perform are those penned by the late August Wilson, an African-American playwright who wrote the “decade plays” examining the 20th century African-American experience. Williams has performed seven of the 10 plays. “Jitney” is set in the 1970s and centers on a group of men who operate an unlicensed car service. The issues that African Americans faced getting transportation then still resonate today, Williams said. It’s not uncommon for him to be passed up by cabs in New York City in favor of white customers. When he’s not on stage, Williams pursues other endeavors. His deep voice is the ticket to his daughter’s post-secondary education. He’s done voice over work for HBO for more than 15 years. He can be heard doing interstitials, which announce upcoming programs. “I’ve made a killing with my voice.”
Television: The Wire (HBO), FBI Files (NBC), Homicide: Life on the Streets (NBC) Williams, who attended CCDS from second to 12th grade, dispensed valuable advice at a Middle School assembly. He encouraged students to stand out from the crowd. “I can’t tell you how many situations I’ve been in, because of my reading, because of my language, because of the socialization I had here at Country Day, I’ve been able to nab roles that other people couldn’t.” He told the story of waiting in a Chicago airport for a flight to Los Angeles. A French couple was trying to change their flights, but the airline representative didn’t understand their language. Williams, who speaks French, helped them navigate the flight change. A man later approached him to compliment him on this good deed. When the man learned Williams was an actor, he asked him to work on his next movie. The man was Robert Zemeckis, best known as the director of “Forrest Gump.” Williams went on to work with Zemeckis and Jodie Foster in two films.
He’s also parlayed his theater training into a consultant job. Williams designs theater-based training for corporations, non-profit organizations, and higher education institutions. He works on a contract basis and is in his second year designing initiatives in collaboration with Wright State University and its Department of Mathematics Science and Engineering. While in Cincinnati, Williams visited Country Day several times. He spoke about his career to an Upper School drama class, where he also provided students feedback on improving their performances. He also brought his daughter, a sixth grader, to spend a day in the Middle School.
Theater: Fences, Jesus Hopped the A Train, Jitney, Nomathemba with Ladysmith, Black Mambazo, Of Mice and Men, Starving, To Kill a Mockingbird, Two Trains Running
“So, because of my ability to speak French and my willingness to help someone, I got to do a feature film with Robert Zemeckis, which even if you audition and you are great, the odds of getting it are very low.” He urged students to be mindful of the quality education they’re receiving at CCDS. “I was one of the earliest African-American students at this school, and it was an interesting journey, but I’m ever so grateful for that journey, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. If ever this place and anybody here has frustrated you, let it go, because the gifts that you’re getting from this education, from this institution, are priceless.”
First photo, Michael Anthony Williams speaks to CCDS students during a MS assembly. Above, Michael, with daughter Margarita in the CCDS MS. All other photos courtesy of Mikki Schaffner.
How Country Day prepared him for college and life “I never could have done any of this without Country Day. I realized while doing a show my sophomore year here that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Near the end of my freshman year in college, it became evident to me that I had been given a gift by the school. I realized that I was prepared academically and socially for that next step in life, which was college. Country Day equipped me with my first foreign language, which was French. I am now fluent in French, Spanish and Zulu, but my love for foreign languages started here at Country Day.”
-Cindy Kranz
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Scott Tumolo ’96 Bachelor of Architecture, University of Kansas Terminal Planning Manager C&S, San Francisco
Creating a great
travel experience
Scott Tumolo loved to travel all over the country and around the world with his parents. He has always had a keen eye for design. So, when he graduated with a degree in architecture, it made sense that he’d gravitate toward airport terminal design. “It was pretty early on that I married my enjoyment of drawing and design with travel that we’ve done,” Tumolo said. In fact, the seed for doing some sort of terminal planning/design was planted in Middle School at CCDS. Today, Tumolo is considered a rising star in his field. He was featured as one of 14 of the world’s leading aviation consultants in Passenger Terminal World Annual Showcase, an industry publication, in 2016.
His last company was known as one of the top two or three aviation planning companies in the world. His new company is known in aviation, but not necessarily for aviation planning.
His first job out of college was in the Chicago area, where he worked in architecture and interior design at a five-person firm. “It was just after 9/11, so a lot of the architecture jobs had grinded to a halt.”
“We’re a little bit of planning but more on the engineering side, so I’m helping my new company grow their aviation planning group to be on par with my old company,” Tumolo said. “That’s the goal and why I took this job.”
In 2006, Tumolo moved to San Francisco, where he took a job with LeighFisher, a global aviation consulting firm. That’s where he made the switch from pure architecture to terminal planning. His recent projects there were at San Francisco, Guayaquil, Ecuador; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The airport terminal, the front door of the travel experience, creates the first impression for customers. Terminal planners must balance passenger
Tumolo spent more than 10 years with the company until May 2016 when he left to join C&S. As terminal planning manager, he leads the terminal planning group and is head of the San Francisco office.
...One terminal at a time
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He’s currently working on projects in Providence, Rhode Island, where he’s about to kick off the airport master plan, and at Portland International Airport. He is also focused on growing the terminal planning practice, including obtaining new clients. “This new position was an exciting jump for me. I went from being a member of a terminal planning team to now being the leader of a terminal planning team. That was a big goal for me, and now the big goal in the next three to five years is to grow the practice, and to hire two to three people.”
’In fact, the seed for doing some sort of terminal planning/design was planted in Middle School at CCDS.’ Scott Tumolo comfort, safety standards and airport budgets. Part of Tumolo’s job is to spot and react to trends in the airline industry. “One significant trend is there’s been a huge shift in the way concessions are treated at airports over the last 15 years, ever since 9/11. I’ve spent
most of my career converting all the concession opportunities, food and beverage or retail, from pre-security to post-security.” “Everyone is so nervous about getting through security on time now that they really bypass any retail or food opportunity, except for maybe a Starbucks, before they get through security.” Today’s trends in terminal planning are all about mobile technology, most noticeably the way passengers are processed, using smart phones. “Now, especially if you’re not checking bags, you don’t even see the check-in area,” Tumolo said. “Your boarding passes are on your cell phone. You can selftag your bag and just drop it off and go.” However, the airports that get it right, from a processing stand point, accommodate a wide variety of people, Tumolo said. “We talk a lot about how mobile technology is going to change the world, but there’s always 15 percent of passengers who are not as familiar with that.”
will likely see airports using biometrics to scan their retinas or thumbprints to identify them at various airport checkpoints, including self-service bag drops, security screening and immigration. Meanwhile, airlines found great ways to make money with bag fees and other revenue generators during the recession, Tumolo said. Now that they’ve done that, they’re focusing their attention back to customer service. “If you combine that with mobile technology, theoretically, the idea is to customize the passenger experience for every single passenger. So, if you like Starbucks or Nathan’s hot dogs or sitting on comfortable chairs or watching certain movies, the airline, the airport and even some concessionaires are going to try to work together to reach out to make your individual experience as customized and as exciting as possible.”
“Maybe they have special needs and take a lot more time getting through the airport. It’s pretty critical for airport to have facilities to accommodate all kinds of passengers.”
Another way to cater to customers is to ease their luggage burden. Many airports with constrained curbside check-ins are exploring alternative ways to check bags, relieving customers of their bags before they get to the airport terminal, Tumolo said.
In the near future, he said passengers
One idea is remote luggage check-ins,
manned by an airline representative or third party, where passengers return their rental cars. The luggage could be moved to the airport, and the passengers could hop a rental car shuttle without lugging suitcases. “One day, a company like Amazon may ship your bags and you never have to take a bag to the airport.” Tumolo also advocates for simple, but accurate way finding that tells passengers where they are or how many minutes to their gate. “You’d be surprised some of the older terminals how bad that is. I think this is critical.” From an architectural standpoint, he likes facilities that either have a lot of natural light or have an appealing or interesting interior design. “That one’s a bit more tricky because obviously the more eccentric you get, the more expensive it is, so airports are always trying to balance quality with the cost, but being an architect, it’s nice to see interesting design.” -Cindy Kranz
How Country Day prepared him for college and life “The rigor, the quality of education and what’s expected of you at Country Day pushed you to be the best that you can be. I think whether that was true in college or now in a job, it’s more about the process than that product. Having that drive expected of you at an early age certainly has carried me through most of my life, and it’s true today. I would definitely attribute that to Country Day.” 15
Doctor’s
Orders Healthy
Lifestyle Dr. Susan Wyler Andrews always says she took a few left turns in her medical career. Her first job was medical director at a county jail and house of correction. She never dreamed she would work in corrections. “I always used to say, just like the lawyers who don't wake up one day and want to be the best divorce lawyer around, doctors do not wake up one day and say they want to work in jail.” “I just stumbled into a great position, and it turned out to be a great job. I saw amazing things and really could help people. I gained a much better understanding of people, and how drugs and alcohol can affect people. I really think most people are truly good but that drugs and alcohol make them do bad things.” Her first job in the county jail was at Fall River/ New Bedford, two small fishing communities outside of Boston. “The way commercial fishing
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Dr. Susan Wyler Andrews ’85
B.S. Biology, University of Michigan M.D. Case Western Reserve University Residency Internal Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, affiliated with Brown University Chief Medical Resident, Rhode Island Hospital Site Medical Director, General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB), North Kingstown, Rhode Island
works is you come in and get a big pay day. Then it dries up, you go back out, you fish for a while, you come in, you get a big pay day. They potentially blow through their money until it happens again. There’s a lot of substance abuse in the area.”
medical services outside of jail. She’d help diabetics get their blood glucose numbers down, but when they were released, they’d return to their old habits. She’d see them again because of a large recidivism rate and the cycle repeated itself.
“...I saw amazing things and really could help people...”
One man with end stage diabetes needed his foot amputated because ulcers that wouldn’t heal would result in a serious infection. “He refused to get his foot amputated because he was homeless. He would not let us amputate the foot, because he had no other means to get where he needed to go besides walking,” Dr. Andrews said.
Dr. Susan Andrews
These aren’t bad people, she said. They’re just unable to break free from the addiction cycle. “If it were easy, any of us would do it. It’s not a personality flaw that somebody can’t quit smoking. It’s addictive. That’s what an addiction is. It doesn’t matter if it’s heroin, if it’s smoking or alcohol.” A significant part of the jail population suffered from end stage disease because they weren’t taking care of their health or taking advantage of
She has worked there just over 10 years. Her job is divided into three main areas occupational and environmental medicine, primary care, and preventive medicine/wellness.
“I ended up seeing far more end stage disease in today’s world than you should ever see in the U.S. This was an uninsured crowd, a high substance abuse crowd, a mental illness crowd, so the disease stages were further along than any of us would think could exist in this country.” Dr. Andrews spent 10 years on that job. From there, she took another left turn to become the site Medical Director for General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB), which designs, constructs and supports nuclear submarines for the United States Navy. The site has 3,600 employees.
“...I really had to work. CCDS gave me the confidence to get help and ask questions when I wasn’t totally sure I understood something.” Dr. Susan Andrews
Occupational medicine is the bread and butter of her job, which includes following OSHA surveillance guidelines, treating injured or ill workers, performing preemployment physical exams, working to rehabilitate employees and accommodating disabilities. She likes that she’s part of a team at work. She works on a minute by minute basis with safety, human resources, workers compensation, employment, security, and production. Her office is in the middle of the manufacturing facility. “I have a small clinic that covers three shifts a day of tradespeople who actually are building the boat,” Dr. Andrews said. “I get to put on hard hats, steel-toed shoes, and safety glasses to see exactly what the employees are describing and what I can do to help them feel better and work safely.” “What concerns me the most here is probably the same thing that concerns every doctor, which is obesity,” Dr. Andrews said. “It’s a huge problem at a national level. The population I mostly deal with here tends to be an older male population, and so a lot of folks are set in their ways. You have folks who do want to make changes and you have folks who don’t want to make changes.” Her favorite part of the job is preventive medicine and wellness. “I really try to practice what I preach about staying healthy by eating well and exercising. That is how I know just how hard it is to eat healthily and exercise while working and raising a family.” Dr. Andrews meets a group of working
moms at 4:45 a.m. daily to walk. “We are like the mail carriers. We go out in snow, sleet, rain, and heat. Every time I try to cheat and buy junk food at the store, I will run into someone from work who always reminds me of what a bad decision I am making.” She hopes what she does at work also makes an impact outside the plant doors. “Health issues, like obesity and substance abuse, not only affect a worker but the families, as well. I strive to make improvements both for the employees and the families, which will help the general community.” The biggest challenge is getting people to change their lifestyles and make healthy choices. “You want people to go to the grocery store and instead of buying Twinkies, they buy apples. I want the whole family to buy apples instead of Twinkies. So, that’s a cultural change. It’s not a one-time, ’Hey I bought apples. Yay, me!’ We really are working on getting folks to make it part of their lifestyle.” -Cindy Kranz
How CCDS prepared her for college and life “Country Day really set the stage for me to do what I want to do. I credit CCDS with teaching me how to learn and how to study. I was always one of those kids who had to be taught something and then had to study really hard. I was never a kid who just kind of showed up, took a test, and aced the test. I really had to work. CCDS gave me the confidence to get help and ask questions when I wasn't totally sure I understood something.” 17
STUDENTS Eight students recognized by National Merit
Country Day has four National Merit Semifinalists and four Commended students in the 62nd Annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The Semifinalists are: Elizabeth Johnson, Elizabeth Keller, Michael Masterson and Kenneth Wang. The four Commended students are: Jeremiah May, Vishaal Nalagatla, Hailey Spaeth and Kevin Yu. Semifinalists have the opportunity to compete for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $33 million, to be offered next spring. “This is such a great honor for these students who are so committed to scholarship and hard work. We are very proud of their achievement in being named by the National Merit program and of their engagement in all areas of our program. This is a wonderful group of students who will leave a lasting mark on our school,” said Head of Upper School Stephanie Luebbers. The four semifinalists scored in the top 1% of the nation’s high school seniors and are among 16,000 students named semifinalists nationwide. About half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship. The National Merit Commended Students. will receive a Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Commended Students placed among the top 5% of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2017 competition by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
Pictured: Top - Semifinalists Kenneth Wang, Elizabeth Keller, Elizabeth Johnson, and Mickey Masterson. Bottom - Commended Vishaal Nalagatla, Hailey Spaeth, Kevin Yu. and Jeremiah May
55 students receive Advanced Placement Scholar awards Cincinnati Country Day School has announced that 55 students have received AP Scholar Awards for exemplary work during the 2015-16 school year. The AP Program, administered by the College Board, recognizes high school students who have demonstrated outstanding college-level achievement through AP courses and exams. The AP Scholar Awards are academic distinctions that students may cite among their credentials on applications and resumes. The award is acknowledged on any AP score report that is sent to colleges. AP Scholar Awards are given in four categories. Scholars: Granted to students who receive grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams on full-year
courses. They are: Kyle Bannerman, Soham Basu, Abby Bryant, Kathryn Burress, George Crowley, Bradley Dick, Heman Duplechan, Tess Hoenemeyer, Myles Jackson, Elizabeth Johnson, Anna Karnes, Moya Ly, Monica Ma, Adam Peng, Nicole Rosiello, Emma Rust, Charlie Sukin, Will Swinton, Haven Watson, Tony Wen and David Yang. Scholars with Honor: Granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams on full-year courses. They are: Anna Beyette, Roshan Chandrakumar, Kayla Chisholm, Eric Christine, Kaylin Hoffman, Quinn Petre, Alan Rowe, Kendall Smith, Cameron Stewart, Jack Tereck and Kenneth Wang. Scholars with Distinction: Granted
to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams on full-year courses. They are: Christina Agostino, John Albrinck, Addison Bell, Margaret Bernish, Taylor Boggs, Nathan Grant, Ian Hayes, Margaret Hodson, Sidd Jejurikar, Sam Jenkins, Elizabeth Keller, Nicholas Krammer, Joe Lou, Max Luebbers, Jeremiah May, Kunal Minhas, Sean O’Brien, Grace Pettengill, Caroline Retzios, Emma Robitaille, Hailey Spaeth, J’Quaan Waite and Kevin Yu. National Scholars: Granted to students in the United States who receive an average grade of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. They are: Nathan Albrinck and Joe Lou.
Visit our website at www.CountryDay.net for all the great CCDS news. 18
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Job shadowing and internships Matching students with hosts for job shadow/internship experiences begins in January. Sarah Beyreis, along with Upper School teachers Paula Butler and Marcus Twyford and Director of Alumni Relations Paula Brock work together to make it happen.
Middle School an MSA
success story From an article in the Mission Skills Assessment newsletter: Casey Schnieber, Sixth Grade Science Teacher and Team Leader of Cincinnati Country Day School, shares his thoughts on why the MSA has been a driving force in the school’s delivery of mission and curriculum.
Twenty-seven Country Day students and recent graduates experienced the work world this summer through job shadows and internships with alumni, parents, past parents, and friends of the school. An article appeared in the Development Newsletter in October with details. You can read the story at www.CountryDay.net/go/Internship, as well as complete information on offering a job shadowing or internship experience.
Country Day
Seniors pictured making presentations for the CCDS Summer Showcase: Top left, Kevin Yu worked in a UC engineering lab with parent Dr. Fred Beyette developing a new portable helmet to detect EEG brain waves. Elizabeth Johnson worked at a UC biology lab focusing on microcystis, a genus of cyanobacteria that produces toxins, a common component of algal blooms, and Kyle Bannerman worked in the Image Guided Ultrasound Lab at UC focused on sonothrombolysis, specifically characterizing ultrasound contrast agents at physiological temperatures.
“Each spring, we use the data – along with teachers’ knowledge of the students – to plan activities for the final few months of school that will help enrich skills that need strengthening among the students in a particular class, or even among students of a particular gender in that class. We have also been able to pass the MSA data on to the seventh grade teachers to give them a head start on getting to know the incoming class.” Read the article at: https://enrollment. org/msa#cincinnati-country-dayschool
CCDS Kindergarten students plant “Lifer” tree
The CCDS Class of 2029 has planted a "Lifer" tree to help repopulate the campus tree canopy. A chinkapin oak was planted on a mound, in an area now known as Lifer Grove, south of the Alumni House. The chinkapin oak is considered both a shade and ornamental tree. Its acorns will draw a variety of wildlife. Many of the school's trees have been lost to disease, insects and non-native invasive plants. During the planting ceremony, Head of School Tony Jaccaci talked to the students about the importance of having healthy trees and told them they can watch their tree grow as they grow at Country Day. Each student helped plant the tree by shoveling soil around the tree's roots. Jaccaci established the tradition last year when the Class of 2028 planted a burr oak. Every year, the kindergarten class will choose a tree to plant in Lifer Grove. When the Class of 2029 graduates, their "Lifer" picture will be taken by the tree with the students who took part in its planting. "Lifers" are students who attend CCDS from kindergarten through 12th grade. This year's kindergarten students received a "Future Lifer" t-shirt, compliments of the CCDS Alumni Association.
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STUDENTS Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” debuts in new amphitheater The cast and crew of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" braved the elements to perform the first outdoor theater production in the new Carey Family Amphitheater at the Sally Dwyer '05 and Tanya Grieb '10 Performing Arts Courtyard. Their work paid off with rave reviews of their take on Shakespeare's comedy. Director of Drama Lisa Bodollo directed the play, adding some elements from the 60s and 70s to give it a contemporary twist. Technical Director Evan DiTullio worked with the crew to adapt to the outdoor setting. Both cast and crew were prepared to perform the show indoors or outside, depending on the weather.
Annual 8th grade play “Lion King Jr.”
Country Day's 69 eighth graders got great reviews for their rendition of "The Lion King Jr." musical. MS art teacher Ully Marin and eighth graders were also praised for making the masks for the play. The African savanna comes to life on stage with Simba, Rafiki and an unforgettable cast of characters as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle and back again, in this inspiring, coming-of-age tale.
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Lois Poe Rust, director and producer was assisted by Stephanie Wietmarschen, music director/ choreographer; Evan DiTullio, technical director; Ully Marin, puppet master and artistic design/ construction; Esther Kang Rose, choral director; Maddie Morales '18, student choreographer; Alice Andolina, and Samantha Schnee of Costume Castle, costume designers; and John Rapach of Love Harvest Art and Eliza Osborn '21, makeup.
William Messer ’66 Art Gallery features student, faculty exhibition
The William Messer ’66 Art Gallery began the art year with a student and faculty exhibition. Advanced Placement and Honors studio and photo students are given several extensive summer assignments designed to jump start their creativity and skills for the year.
It is an expectation that Upper School art faculty continue growth as working artists. Amy Brand’s figure image was influenced by attending Drawing from the Very Beginning at The Art Academy of Cincinnati and the AP Summer Institute for Studio Art at The University of South Florida. Carole Lichty-Smith’s images were produced at the Santa Fe Workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico with Kate Breakley.
Girls soccer team completes historic season The Country Day girls soccer program has been a force in the Miami Valley Conference (MVC) and in SW Ohio. Double digit winning seasons, MVC, sectional, and district championships are the norm. This year, the team won its first ever regional championship, advancing to state where they defeated Lynchburg-Clay in the semifinals. The team lost a heartbreaker, 2-1, in double overtime in the finals to finish the season as state runner-up. Coach Theresa Hirschauer, in her 27th year at CCDS, said that this was the first girls team, in any sport, to make it to the state final four. “This has been an historic run for the girls soccer program. The kids have represented the school and the community very well.�
Freshman qualifies for State Cross Country Championship Natalie de Beer '20 finished in 10th place in the OHSAA Regional Championship to qualify for the State Championship.
Soccer team: SENIORS - Olivia Brown, Natalie Choo, Sophie Hudson, Deidre Mohan, Olivia Robinson JUNIORS - Morgan Brown, Ayanna Kemp, Moya Ly SOPHOMORES - Lindsey Hoffman, Tori Keller, Mia Lutz, Abby Maggard, Alexandra Pohl, Emily Ram, Janie Reiring, Olivia Scheper, Katelynn Setters, Chloe Webb FRESHMAN - Katie Ashwell, Kate Brock, Sabrina Buechly, Natalie de Beer, Jenna Eitel, Lily Reisenfeld, Lawson Renie, Joely Virzi, Alexandra Vredeveld HEAD COACH - Theresa Hirschauer, ASSISTANT COACHES - Brady Brandt, Brittany Patterson Pictures from top: 1- Team 2- Senior Olivia Brown 3- Senior Natalie Choo
It was a very impressive run for the freshman. Head Coach Merle Black said, "A freshman qualifying for the state championship is a real rarity. It has never happened before in Country Day history." Congratulations, Natalie!
Boys golf team finishes 6th at State tournament
From historical records, this was the lowest score and highest finish ever for the boys golf team in the OHSAA Division III State Tournament. Five students shot a two-day team total of 334, 352 = 686 which placed them sixth out of the 12 teams. CCDS has had three teams make it to the State tournament since 2010, and before that it dates to the mid-70's since a team last qualified. Congratulations on a great accomplishment! State tournament scores: Name Jack Gardner
Rd 1
Rd 2
82
82
Hunter Folan
82
91
John Pettengill
84
94
Thomas Mactaggart
86
90
Joey Hodson
89
89
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FACULTY Four Country Day teachers and administrators presented at the ISACS (Independent School Association of the Central States) Conference.
Jennifer Aquino Head of Lower School Using Innovative Technology to Teach 21st Century Skills Jen presented with Natalya Seals who is the founder of Little Sponges, a bilingual immersion video program for children.
Jan French Science Lower and Middle School The process and logistics of incorporating engineering in the Lower School classroom
Greg Faulhaber Mathematics Department Chair, Upper School Connect Four! Linking graphical, numerical, algebraic, and written representations.
Dr. Jeremiah McCall History Upper School Crafting Simulated Worlds of Interactive Text: The Basics of Twine for History, English, and Language Teachers (See more on Dr. McCall on next page)
Dr. Jane Kairet, French teacher, Upper School continues her work with the AP French Language and Culture Test Development Committee. She was selected to begin her four-year appointment in the 2015-16 school year.
The committee is essential to the preparation of AP course curricula and exams. Committee members develop course curricula, determine the general content and ability level of each exam, determine requirements for course curricula and write and review exam questions.
The College Board selects only three high school and three college teachers in the country. Committee members must be recommended by other teachers, AP exam results at their schools are checked and they must pass an interview.
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In particular, they review the results of curriculum and standard-setting studies conducted at representative colleges to ensure alignment of courses and exams’ content and skills with parallel college courses. Exam questions are developed by the committee and content experts, in collaboration with assessment specialists. In addition to her work on the Development Committee, Dr. Kairet is
Marcus Twyford, Computer Science, Upper School has been named President of the Ohio Chapter of Computer Science Teacher Association (CSTA). The Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) is a membership organization that supports and promotes the teaching of computer science. CSTA provides opportunities for K–12 teachers and their students to better understand computer science and to more successfully prepare themselves to teach and learn. Membership consists of more than 23,000 members from more than 145 countries. These members include elementary, middle, and high school teachers; college and university faculty; supportive members of industry and government; school administrators; other non-profits; and parents. In addition, Twyford will be presenting at the Ohio Educational Technology Conference (OETC) held in Columbus, Ohio in February. He will make two presentations: Computer Science in the Classroom and Designing and Building Makerspaces.
involved in the scoring of AP exams. The scoring sessions are conducted in June at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati. Dr. Kairet serves as a Table Leader. She is then responsible for the selection of benchmarks with other Table Leaders, and coaches a group of readers, ensuring they apply the scoring rubrics correctly. In June of 2016, more than 24,000 French AP exams were scored by 250 high school teachers and college professors. Also Dr. Kairet’s session, “Preparing a Successful Oral Free Response on the AP French Language and Culture Exam,” has been selected for presentation at the 2017 Southern Conference on Language Teaching on March 16-18 in Orlando, Florida.
Dr. Jeremiah McCall also had a review article published on “Teaching History with Digital Historical Games: An Introduction to the Field and Best Practices.”Simulation & Gaming 47 (20016), 517-542.
Catching up with Sam Tumolo and Jean Corbus
Dr. McCall has also been working on his fifth book, scheduled for publication in early 2018, about the Fabius Maximus Family in the Republic, for Pen and Sword Publishing. In addition, he has been working with the Twine interactive text development tool, using it in classes, and writing about it for the Playthepast.org blog: www.playthepast.org/?p=5739 www.playthepast.org/?p=5752 www.playthepast.org/?p=5771 As mentioned on the previous page, Dr. McCall also presented at ISACS on “Interactive Text: Twine for History, English, & Languages” Twine is a freely available software that offers teachers an unparalleled opportunity to have students design interactive texts in any language - texts where the reader is given choices where to go next in the narrative. They allow for the creation of simple or complicated historical reconstructions, short stories, and simulations. The process of designing a Twine interactive text is an exercise that promotes collaborative work, emphasizes the importance of research, and results in the creation of a 21st century text. This session is for middle and upper school history, English or language teachers.
Attention Parents of Graduates If you have been receiving CCDS mail for your graduate at your home address and they have a permanent address, please let us know how to best reach them. We want to stay in touch with our alumni community. Please email CCDS Alumni Director Paula Brock, brockp@CountryDay.net or call 513-979-0282 with updated contact information. Thank you!
Sam and Jean’s CCDS Tree Picture Sam Tumolo and Jean Corbus may be retired, but they’re never far from a school. The former CCDS teachers now live in Tucson, Arizona, where they both volunteer at schools. Tumolo taught math at Country Day from 1973-2011, and Corbus taught mostly Montessori and several years of kindergarten from 1989-2011. They returned to CCDS last spring for math teacher Bob Plummer’s retirement dinner, where Tumolo spoke. These days, Tumolo volunteers 8-10 hours tutoring at a local community college. It took him awhile to adjust to an eclectic student body. “Some students are coming out of high school very well prepared and trying to get a couple years under their belt before they go to the University of Arizona. Then, there are students coming out of high school who don’t seem like they went to high school.” Mix in the non-traditional students, many of them veterans. “There’s a big Air Force base in Tucson, so there are people who have served their time in the military and use their benefits to take courses and improve their lives.” “There are people who are changing careers. The most amazing group is the single moms who have two kids working 30 hours a week, taking two classes. There’s not an abundance of
those, but those are the ones who are the most amazing to me. The places they work at are not high-paying jobs so they’re trying to improve their status from working at the local Target type of place or the local jewelry store.” Meanwhile, Corbus now tutors a couple mornings a week at a small Montessori school. “They’re kindergartners and first graders who are struggling to read.” She also volunteers one day a week at a local hospital and is a past member of the couple’s Homeowners’ Association Board. “Thank goodness, I’m not doing that anymore,” she said. “I call it legalized torture. Part of my three-year stint was as president one year. I said, ’But I’m a kindergarten teacher.’ They said, ’Well good, you’ll teach us all how to get along.’’’ Both Tumolo and Corbus have fond memories of CCDS, a school they described as having teachers and parents with high expectations. It’s a land of opportunity for all students, even if they aren’t the best singers or the best kickers. Everyone sings. Everyone plays. And, Corbus said, “It’s cool to be smart here.”
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PATTERSON-STRAUSS TRAVEL GRANT
Alaska Our trip to Alaska was truly remarkable. Our expectations were as high as Mt. Denali and our trip soared higher than its southern peak. It was an opportunity that we never would have been able to enjoy without the generosity of the Patterson-Strauss Travel Grant. My husband and I set out on our wilderness adventure in early June to try to avoid the rainy season and the mosquitoes that apparently can grow as large as small birds. We only had a few nibbles taken out of us but it was worth it.
We started off with the interior of Alaska, visiting Fairbanks where we developed a profound respect for the Athabascan people and how they survived for
Beth Langenbahn, MS Social Studies centuries under extreme conditions. We then traveled by train to Denali National Park and Preserve. Along the way we tried to soak in as much of the beautiful landscape as we could from our glass-domed rail car. We were able to spend a few days hiking and exploring this magnificent area, which is bigger than the state of Connecticut. We were fortunate enough to see moose, caribou, beavers, a mother and her two grizzly cubs, and a family of Dall sheep. The landscapes and vistas were spectacular in every direction. We threw caution to the wind and boarded a “small� plane that landed in glacier valley at the foot of Mt. Denali. We felt like we were on top of the world. There was too much to do and too little time although we did have about 22 hours of daylight each day. We next set out on our cruise from Anchorage. We arranged for adventures in every port of call. We went stream fishing for Dolly Varden and trout. We hiked then canoed to the base of Davidson Glacier. And we even piloted our own zodiac boat as a bald eagle flew straight from its huge nest towards us, swooped down with claws extended, and
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grabbed a fish right out of the water about five feet from our
boat. The eagle went so fast that when at the last second it flared out its wings you could hear
it like a gust of wind rustling the trees. It made our day, but ruined the fishes.
Photos: (L-R) Small plane ride to glacier valley at the foot of Mt. Denali. Dall Sheep Mt. Denali overlook (2) Hiking in Juneau
Italy
Laura Rue, LS Grade 1 Team Leader
I was honored to receive the Patterson-Strauss Travel Grant. It offered my husband, Kevin, and me the opportunity to travel to parts of the world we have always dreamed of being able to visit. We began our journey in Rome, Italy soaking in the history of the Colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon and so much more. I love history and to be able to walk where such people as Julius Caesar did was moving.
My husband’s passion is photography and Rome provided many beautiful shots. From Rome, we traveled north for a day trip to Orvieto. This small town in the Umbria region has a beautiful Duomo and many pottery shops. We enjoyed a winery tour here
and went into the wine cellars that date back to Etruscan times. We traveled on to Florence, where the history lesson continued. From the Duomo and Baptistry to The Academia and the home of the Medici, we learned a lot about the history and art of this incredible city. Now it was time to relax a bit in Cinque Terre. These five small towns along the Sea are so beautiful and incredibly fun. While only a few miles separate each village, the path that connects the towns, is quite a strenuous hike. We enjoyed making the trek from our village of Vernazza to Corniglia, then got on board the train for the rest of the cities. Our return route was by boat and that was beautiful to see each of these villages, nestled in the hillside, perched proudly on the coastline.
There are so many things I could say about this trip; so many ways it changed our views of the beauty of this earth over so many centurie. But suffice it to say that the incredible generosity of the Patterson-Strauss Travel Grant has rejuvenated my spirits and helped me certainly look forward to more opportunities to travel and learn. I’d like to thank Carole Patterson, Gerri Strauss and Cincinnati Country Day for this grant. It was an honor to be a colleague of Bob and Tony. I’m sure they are smiling knowing that their fellow colleagues are continuing to learn, explore and rejuvenate!
Next, we traveled by train to beautiful and mesmerizing Venice. We enjoyed watching the dizzying flurry of activity along the grand canal. Evening canal side meals were relaxing and delicious. We took a boat ride to explore the islands of Murano and Burano. Italy was incredible. We loved the people and could not get enough of the food and the beautiful country and cities. But we were not done yet! From Venice, we flew to Paris. Wow, what incredible museums! We enjoyed the art of the Musee d’Orsay, The Louvre, Musee de l’Orangerie, Versailles, Notre Dame, just to name a few of our stops in Paris. And though we would have to say we could die happy eating in Italy, the pastries in France were something to behold as well. Such fun!
Photos: (L-R) Dinner at Cinque Terre, Italy Night lights in Vernazza, Italy The Colosseum in Rome Duomo in Florence
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THE CLASS OF 2016
Seated first row – Missy Dieckman-Meyer, Megan Campbell, Taylor Boggs, Abby Bryant, Trisha Atluri, Katie Jamison, Emma Rust Seater second row – Anna Karnes, Margaret Hodson, Addison Bell, Maggie Bernish, Kady Abrahamson, Haven Watson, Kayla Chisholm Standing first row – Carmelita Mays, Tiara Atwater, Kathryn Burress, AJ Rowe, Yiguo Yu, Yiting Ma, Lauren Buczek, Lauren Pendery, Emma Robitaille, Kendall Smith, Astrid Gross-Hutton, Becca Wise, Caroline Retzios, Haley Felder Standing second row – Adam Katz, Joseph Vu, Joe Lou, Sam Jenkins, Max Luebbers, Sidd Jejurikar, Soham Basu, Nathan Albrinck, Darryn Jordan, Charlie Sukin, Kunal Minhas, Ian Hayes, JC Vogt, Eric Christine, Nathan Grant, Marius Lancaster Standing third row – Jake Mayeux, Ben Paff, Cameron Stewart, Jonah Ice, Cooper Ebersbach, Schuyler Snell, George Crowley, Rodney Bethea, Will Brady, Nick Sam, Bradley Dick Standing top row – J’Quaan Waite, Quinn Petre, Davis McMaster, Greg Foster, Kamal Apatira, Douglas Barnett, Malcolm Doepke, Xiaodi Yang, Sean O’Brien, Frank Grossi, Teja Atluri Not pictured – Li Wei Tan
MATRICULATION Kayla Chisholm University of Dayton
John Albrinck Dartmouth College
Eric Christine The Ohio State University
Kamal Apatira DePauw University
George Crowley Case Western Reserve University
Anna Karnes Bucknell University
Emma Rust Loyola Marymount University
Bradley Dick Miami University
Adam Katz University of Denver
Nicholas Sam Miami University
Missy Dieckman-Meyer Lake Forest College
Marius Lancaster Ohio University
Kendall Smith Hanover College
Malcolm Doepke Ashland University
Joe Lou Stanford University
Schuyler Snell Hillsdale College
Cooper Ebersbach The George Washington University
Max Luebbers Brown University
Cameron Stewart Ohio University
Yiting Ma University of Wisconsin
Charlie Sukin Dartmouth College
Jacob Mayeux Northeastern University
Liwei Tan Savannah College of Art and Design
Teja Atluri Miami University Trisha Atluri Wellesley College Tiara Atwater Northern Kentucky University Douglas Barnett Loyola University Chicago Soham Basu Dartmouth College Addison Bell Cornell University Margaret Bernish The University of North Carolina Rodney Bethea Lake Forest College Taylor Boggs Indiana University William Brady Denison University Abby Bryant University of Kentucky Lauren Buczek Xavier University Kathryn Burress Parsons School of Design Megan Campbell Skidmore College
Haley Felder University of Colorado Gregory Foster Bowling Green State University Nathan Grant Harvard University Astrid Gross-Hutton Elon University Francis Grossi Xavier University Ian Hayes Harvard University Margaret Hodson Georgetown University Jonah Ice Miami University Katherine Jamison Saint Louis University Siddharth Jejurikar Tufts University
Sam Jenkins Case Western Reserve University
Emma Robitaille Occidental College
Kathryn Abrahamson Jacksonville University
Darryn Jordan Marist College
Carmelita Mays Miami University Davis McMaster Miami University Kunal Minhas Miami University Sean O'Brien University of Notre Dame Benjamin Paff Earlham College Lauren Pendery Mount St. Joseph University Quinn Petre University of Cincinnati Caroline Retzios The Ohio State University
Alan Rowe West Virginia University
Jon Vogt Principia College Joseph Vu University of Cincinnati J'Quaan Waite Miami University Haven Watson Sewanee: University of the South Rebecca Wise The University of Arizona Xiaodi Yang Washington University in St. Louis Yiguo Yu University of Cincinnati
2016 COUNTRY DAY LIFERS
Cincinnati Country Day School’s Class of 2016, comprised of 67 seniors, included 11 “Lifers” who attended CCDS from Kindergarten through grade 12. Front row – Lauren Pendery, Bradley Dick, Eric Christine, Nathan Grant, Haley Felder. Back row – Ben Paff, Charlie Sukin, Davis McMaster, Nathan Albrinck, Megan Campbell, Kady Abrahamson.
CCDSenior Class Stats
67
Students in the Class of 2016.
8,400,000
Grant and scholarship dollars offered to seniors to attend college.
Seniors recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
100
Percent of seniors who matriculated at four-year colleges.
195
AP classes taken by seniors over the past three years.
10.5
Percent of seniors selected to “Ivy League” schools.
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CONNECTIONS
13
15
Seniors who received Gold and Silver Keys in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.
18,842
Number of service hours completed by seniors over the past four years.
11
Senior “lifers” who have attended Country Day since Kindergarten or earlier.
COMMENCEMENT 2016 Quotes from the remarks made by Head of School Tony Jaccaci during the Commencement Ceremony. You can read his remarks in their entirety at http://www.CountryDay.net/uploaded/FILES/HOS/Commencement_2016.pdf
“Indeed, the success of a school is best measured through its graduates. ”
“You served and donated your time, effort, and talents.”
“You sang, acted and performed beautifully, and created magnificent art.” “At Country Day, we define a person of character as someone who demonstrates compassion, courage, integrity, respect, and responsibility.”
“Your shared triumphs and failures helped you grow as a collective and learned that the development of character is not a solitary endeavor.” “You represented the school superbly on the fields, courts, pitches, diamonds, courses, and lanes.” 29
2016 COUNTRY DAY AWARDS UPPER SCHOOL Extracurricular
Joseph F. Hofmeister Scroll Award: Margaret Hodson Archive Award: Taylor Boggs, Skylar Boggs, Josie Rutherford InWords Award: Margaret Hodson and Emma Robitaille Patterson Prize for Poetry: Ben Paff Patterson Prize for Prose: Nicholas Krammer Thomas D. Gettler ’76 Creative Writing Award: Emma Robitaille
Athletic
Outstanding Female Underclassman: Clarissa Conner Outstanding Male Underclassman: Corey Lancaster James A. Wright Sportsmanship Awards: Katie Jamison and J’Quaan Waite Letterman Leadership Awards: Sean O’Brien and Haven Watson
Service and Community Awards
Tony Strauss Service Learning Award: Nathan Grant Fred Carey Memorial Award: Haven Watson
Fine Arts
Drama Award: Teja Atluri Music Award - Vocal: Taylor Boggs Music Award – Band: AJ Rowe Visual Arts Award: Kathryn Burress Messer Award: Erica Glosby William H. Chatfield Award: JC Vogt
Departmental
David E. Laird Computer Science Award: Moya Ly Robinson-Bye Award in English: Margaret Hodson Indian Hill Historical Society Outstanding Achievement in American History Award: Anna Beyette Lee S. Pattison History Award: Taylor Boggs and Sean O’Brien
Shirley Heinichen Outstanding Female Athlete: Missy Dieckman-Meyer
Ash Mathematics Award: Joe Lou
J. David McDaniel Outstanding Male Athlete: Darryn Jordan
Martha W. Burton Award for French: Nathan Grant
Head of Upper School Stephanie Luebbers presents the Mission Award to Grace Pettengill. Spanish Award: Margaret Hodson Bausch & Lomb Science Award: Kenny Wang Gordon R. Wright Science Award: Joe Lou
Scholastic
Clement L. Buenger FISC Award: Kayla Chisholm Cum Laude Society Class of 2016 inducted in their junior year: Nathan Albrinck, Trisha Atluri, Taylor Boggs, Nathan Grant, Ian Hayes, Margaret Hodson, Caroline Retzios Class of 2016 inducted this year: Soham Basu, Maggie Bernish, Sam Jenkins, Joe Lou, Max Luebbers, Sean O’Brien, Quinn Petre, David Yang Class of 2017 inducted this year: Kyle Bannerman, Elizabeth Keller, Nicholas Krammer, Grace Pettengill, Hailey Spaeth, Kenneth Wang, Kevin Yu National Merit National HIspanic Scholar: Ben Paff
Head of School Tony Jaccaci presents the Country Day Award to Margaret Hodson.
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CONNECTIONS
National Merit Commended Students: Trisha Atluri, Maggie Bernish, George Crowley, Nathan Grant, Ian Hayes, Sidd Jejurikar, Max Luebbers, Sean O’Brien, Ben Paff, Caroline Retzios, Kendall Smith, Charlie Sukin, J’Quaan Waite
National Merit Scholarship Finalists: Nathan Albrinck, Margaret Hodson, Cameron Stewart National Merit Corporate-Sponsored Scholarship Recipient: Sam Jenkins National Merit College-Sponsored Scholarship Recipient: Cameron Stewart National Merit Scholarship Recipient: Joe Lou Candidate for U.S. Presidential Scholarship: Joe Lou
Class Scholar Awards
Templeton Briggs Memorial Award: Samantha Brant, Molly Briggs, Nellie Shih
Charles F. Yeiser Scholar Award 5th Grade: Lizzy Stacy 6th Grade: Alistair Norwood 7th Grade: Gauri Midha 8th Grade: Elena Hammall Ramsey Runyon Wright Award The award is given annually to an eighth grader who exemplifies the humor and creativity of Ramsey Runyon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon R. Wright, who was born with a congenital heart defect. He attended CCDS from Montessori until he died during eighth-grade year. Will Beyreis (8th grade)
Joel Hager, MS history and Theresa Hirschauer, MS Head present the 8th grade history award to Anushka Nair. Middle School Alumni Writing Contest Jaiyenan English (8th grade) his
Departmental-8th Grade
Peter Levinson Memorial Award: Myles Jackson and Grace Pettengill
Gilmore Award The award is given to an eighth-grade boy or girl who has demonstrated an appreciation of the absurd and the ability to laugh at himself or herself, who strives to be the best he or she can be, and above all, cares deeply for others. The award was established in honor of Park Gilmore, who served as eighth-grade U.S. history and English teacher for 26 years. Josh Nixon (8th grade)
Country Day Award: Margaret Hodson
Class Scholar Awards
Alumni Award: Moya Ly and Tony Wen Herbert M. Davison Award: Kenny Wang and Kevin Yu Julius Fleischmann Memorial Award: Joe Lou
Country Day Mission Awards
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Richard O. Schwab Middle School Award is the highest honor for Middle School students. It recognizes the boy and girl in each grade who exemplify the following qualities: positive attitude, dedication to school work and school activities, leadership, respect for others and kindness to everyone. 5th Grade: Emil Hettich, Sami Hess 6th Grade: Zach Corbin, Mimi Liao 7th Grade: Jack Wright, Molly Taylor 8th Grade: Ammar D’Ambrosio, Renee Twyford Dr. Charles F. Clark Character Award 5th Grade: Luc Bonomo 6th Grade: Julia Recker 7th Grade: Wynton Jackson 8th Grade: Manav Patel
Herbert Snyder Award (8th) Will Beyreis, Natalie de Beer, Jaiyenan English, David Morales, Anushka Nair and Matthew O’Brien Bobby Pogue Prize (7th) Nora Brant, Sabrina DelBello, Celie Hudson, Michelle Riemann and Jack Wright. William H. Hopple, Jr. Award (6th) Isabella Belperio, Krithika Dama, Marissa Handler, Mimi Liao and Margaret SpriggDudley.
Mathematics Award Dylan Hacker
Science Award-8th Grade Matthew O’Brien
History Award-8th Grade Anushka Nair
National French Contest Will Beyreis, Nicholas Bulas, Brian Butler, Duncan Laird, Jaecar Ly, Riley Michalski, Anushka Nair, Renee Twyford National Spanish Exam Katie Briggs, Natalie de Beer, Jaiyenan English, Dylan Hacker, David Morales, Samuel Mota, Cader Rowe, Mona Sahney, Abby Smith
Fine Arts-8th Grade
Performing Art: Will Beyreis Visual Art: Marian Edmonson Beth Langenbahn, MS social studies and Theresa Hirschauer, MS Head present Josh Nixon with the Gilmore Award.
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ALUMNI ALUMNI COUNCIL Holly Mott '95 (President) Prithvi Bhaskar ’00 Jody Brant ’87 David Briggs ’83 Neil Fleischer ’93 JR Foster ’98 David Hornberger ’98
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Tom Langlois ’77 Steve Lazarus ’83 Pam Long ’01 Cadie Moore ’01 Anne Oblinger ’04 Brittany Patterson ’04 Arthur Richard ’83
Rob Roy ’84 Lee Strasser ’07 Matt Strauss ’88 Treigg Turner ’90 Trey Woeste ’08 Carla Zack ’89 Rob Zimmerman ’98
ALUMNI EVENTS
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WINTER 2017
Athletic Hall of Fame
Friday, January 20, 2017 5:30-7:30 p.m. CCDS Middle School Commons
Chicago
Thursday, January 26, 2017 Newberry Library 6-8 p.m.
CCDS Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Friday, January 20, 2017 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. CCDS Middle School Commons
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Please join us for dinner and drinks as we honor the 2016 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees. John Minturn ’72 Chris Bortz ’92 Laura Heinichen ’95 Brad Keiser ’03 John Graves ’06
Washington, D.C., Baltimore Wednesday, March 1 to Friday, March 3, 2017
SPRING 2017
Phoenix
Thursday, March 9 to Saturday, March 11, 2017
Varsity basketball game vs. Seven Hills immediately follows with halftime recognition of our honorees.
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CONNECTIONS
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RSVP by January 12 to Paula Brock brockp@CountryDay.net or (513) 979-0282
Attention Parents of Graduates
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HOMECOMING 2016
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Country Day's alumni were welcomed back for Homecoming during an Alumni Reception at the Tennis Complex before the football game. Classes returning for reunions were 1966, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996 and 2001. The Classes of 2006 and 2011 held reunions over Thanksgiving weekend. Homecoming festivities also included the traditional FallFest celebration, a pep rally on the football field, the Homecoming football game where retired coach Tim Dunn was honored by former players and presented a game ball by Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis. On Saturday morning, Bob Buechner ’65 was honored with the Chieftain Award at the Alumni Breakfast.
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ALUMNI
CHIEFTAIN AWARD
Bob Buechner ’65 Chieftain Award Bob Buechner '65 is this year's recipient of the Chieftain Award, given to an alumnus in recognition of volunteer community service. The honor goes to an alum who graduated at least 50 years ago. He received the award at the Alumni Brunch during Homecoming. Members of the Class of 1966 were also welcomed into the Chieftain Society.
Award for attorneys in 1995. In 1998, Buechner invited his wife, Angie, and three youngest children to participate in a reading program at Vine Elementary called "Books and Breakfast with the Buechners." This program, designed for first graders who were just learning to read, started every Thursday at 7 a.m. and continued for five years. With others, Buechner started Cincinnati Reads to connect caring adults with young children to help them become better readers. He helped engineer the merger into the Literacy Network of Cincinnati Reads in 2001 and Winners Walk Tall (a character building program) in 2011. Last year, there were over 1,700 volunteers in the Cincinnati Reads / Winners Walk Tall program promoted by the Literacy Network.
Buechner, a local attorney is the second recipient of the Chieftain Award. Buck Niehoff '65 received the award last year. Buechner's contributions to CCDS include serving as a trustee, board president, foundation board chair and basketball coach. His volunteer work also extends deep into the Cincinnati community. After years of doing one-onone mentoring with urban youth, Buechner started a mentoring program at People's Middle School with Hyde Park Community United Methodist church members. People's became John P. Parker and the mentoring program continued there with the addition of non-church volunteers. As a result of the success of this program, Buechner received the first John Warrington Community Service
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CONNECTIONS
For eight years, he was an assistant varsity basketball coach at CCDS. For three of the last four years, Buechner served as an assistant varsity basketball coach at Withrow High School. Three Withrow basketball coaches attended the
The book has served as an inspiration for others to get involved with public school students through an organization Buechner started in 2014 called "Champions for Urban Youth." Caring adults are recruited to fill assistant coaching vacancies in inner city schools to bring diversity, outside speakers and field trip opportunities. Also this organization has supported the start of a Summer Reading Camp program at OTR Community Church to help at risk children become good enough readers to pass the third grade reading proficiency exam. Recently, Buechner started a new venture called "Team Coaching for Winning at Life" that seeks to exploit the wisdom of people with lifelong experiences to help others achieve their life goals. One target audience for this service is individuals getting out of prison.
Alumni Brunch. Buechner found his Withrow experience immensely challenging and exciting - so much so that he wrote a book about his experience titled " My Winning Season - Becoming a Champion for Urban Youth."
Top: Bob Buechner ’65 poses with classmate and last years recipient of the Chieftain award, Buck Niehoff ’65. Right: Bob is introduced by Head of School Tony Jaccaci Bottom: Bob in front of his yearbook photo with daughter Julie and wife Angie.
ALUMNI REUNIONS 1966
The Class of 1966 celebrated its 50th reunion year over Homecoming Weekend October 7-8, 2016. They kicked off the celebration by attending the Alumni Reception at the Tennis Complex Friday evening. Joined by over 100 alumni from all years they enjoyed a beautiful evening reliving fond memories of their days at Country Day. Saturday morning, the group gathered again in the William Messer’66 Art Gallery for a special toast to their class and their new status as Chieftain Society members. At the alumni breakfast on Saturday, the Chieftain Award was presented to Bob Buechner ’65 for his volunteer service to the community. The day was capped off by student-led tours that included seeing all the new additions to campus. Among those attending was Tom Dunlap, Doug Maundrell, Steve Black, Jim Lazarus, William Messer, Taylor Simpson, Vic Strauss, Doug Thompson and Dudley Levick.
This rugged group weathered the perils of time, wrinkles and maybe a bit less hair to revel in merrymaking, memories, a few lies and of course to gossip about those who were not there to defend themselves.
1981
Enjoying the evening were Lissa Briggs Gosiger, George Callard, David and Melissa Carter, Steve and Julie Lazarus and Andy and Jackie Wilson. Safely escaping a night of political discussion, the tone was bright, food was amazing and Lissa’s laugh was as loud as ever. Gathering at the home of Andy Wilson for drinks and dinner, we toasted and chuckled about such a small group and we toasted to our classmates of whom only memories remain. Convinced that the harried schedules of our other classmates precluded them from attending, since it couldn’t possibly be apathy or lack of organizational skills/time management (we are, after all, CCDS grads), we decided to announce now that our 40th reunion will be held in fall, 2021. Mark your calendars.
1986
1996
19 of the 43 of us came from eight states and Japan to reconnect 30 years after moving our tassels to the left. In the intervening years we’ve collected almost two-dozen advanced degrees. We’ve become authors and artists, entrepreneurs and consultants, doctors and lawyers, bankers and farmers, as well as Country Day parents. Of those that returned, a third have become educators. In addition to the usual hometown visits to campus and former haunts, the highlight of the weekend came when several of our beloved faculty–Beth and Ken Bronsil, Wynne Curry, and Bob Plummer–joined us for cocktails, dinner and a party that went well into the night. Always a creative class, we added to the school swag with some of our own. Sandy Gross shared some of the same handmade pattern glass used in the all-CCDS tile project she led, and Andrea Sparks brought prints in Country Day blue from her “blueprint drawings” series.
Recreating the 1986 Senior Class Photo: Top row, L-R: David Cashion, John Horn; Cynthia Lazo Bertolini, Mark Schlesinger, Patrick Beers; David Frampton, Ann Cors Gimbert, Caryn Franklin, Sandy Gross, Sheri Malman, John Horn, Ashish Budev; Ken Bronsil, Beth Bronsil, Tracy Vincent Chambers, Merle Green Burse, Betsy Winchester, Stuart Beraha, Todd Alamin, Beth Whiting, Andrea Sparks, Nana Khodadad, Wynne Curry, Bob Plummer.
The Class of 1996 celebrated its 20th year reunion at China Gourmet in Hyde Park. It was a great time catching up with classmates and finding out what everyone was doing. Alumni in attendance included Trevor and Liz Baxter, Gautham Prasad, Ben Hardigg, Joe Tipton, Beth Spurlock (Jones), and Brandon Guttman.
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ALUMNI REUNIONS 2001
The Class of 2001 celebrated its 15-year reunion on Saturday, October 8 at 50 West Brewing Co. It was a wonderful evening of sharing wonderful high school memories! Alumni in attendance included Noah Allen, Mari Bower, Natalie Geier Cohen, Matt Cohen, Emily Colston Clark, Liz Murphy Dohrmann, Roman Duty, Katherine Hale Grambling, Dana Harmon, Yasmine Noujaim Kloth, Pam Koncius Long, Creigh Long, Cadie Moore, Brett Smith, Tyler Wright, Andrew Willis, and even a surprise FaceTime appearance by Rob Love!
2006 The Class of 2006 celebrated its 10-year reunion on November 25th at the downtown Cincinnati restaurant Nada. The alumni really enjoyed a fun night out together. Alumni in attendance included Kevin Dunn, Elyse Rowe, Robert Shively, Matt Barlow, Tyler Felous, John Graves, Samantha Van Denburgh (Oyler), Todd Curliss, Shamonique Jones, Monica Hitchcock (Foxx), Carter Woolsey, Chris Pierce, Farrah Edwards, Alex Ehrnschwender, Drew Tholke, John Bahl, Emma Lindner, Nabih David, John Gill, Laura Brainer, Sam Wilson, Keesh Edwards, Jeff Paley, Chris Peck, Elizabeth Oblinger, Bessie Taliaferro and Reed Seward. Not Pictured: Odin Tangvald.
2011
The Class of 2011 celebrated its 5-year reunion at 50 West Brewing Co. on Friday, November 25. It was wonderful to catch up with classmates (as well as Senora Robitaille and Mr. Carr!) and find out what everyone has been doing! Alumni in attendance included Mick Abrahamson, Dan Angus, Elizabeth Blackburn, Erica Brackett, Jules Cantor, Greg Dick, George Drew, Will Duncan, Jamie Fisher, Michael Fitzgerald, Lilly Fleischmann, Will Fritz, Ryan Galloway, Blythe Gross-Hutton, Emily Grupp, Alanah Hall, Claire Heinichen, Grant Hesser, Jamie Huelskamp, Jordan Komnick, Karis Kosar, Andrew McElhinney, Mac McKee, Kevin McSwiggen, Alex Meixner, Robbie Pierce, Devin Sutton, Baldur Tangvald, Alexis Victor and Gretchen Weigel.
Save the Date
Homecoming & Reunion Weekend Celebrating reunion classes ending in ’02 & ’07
September 22, 2017 36
CONNECTIONS
NEWSNOTES 1962
Tim and Cindy Wollaeger celebrated their 50th anniversary in New Hampshire this summer surrounded by their family, pictured right.
1966
Rick Arms writes; I am writing you from Cheshire, CA, having just spent yesterday visiting Crater Lake NP and today Lassen NP. As you see, I am far away indeed from Cincinnati. Susan and I are on our annual fall trip to the West to visit with our three sons and six grandchildren. One son is in Bozeman, MT, another is in Portland, OR, and the third is in El Paso, TX. This is an eight-week, circa 12,000mile drive. Susan and I had to leave Hopkinton, NH, just after Labor Day to be back in NH in early November in time to vote. I cannot tell you how many people I have told that it is my profound belief that the opportunity afforded me by fourteen years at CCDS has absolutely, completely, unequivocally and definitively made possible the rest of my very happy and very rewarding life. My wife Susan hears this from me at least once a month as the realization is prompted by some experience, some turn of events, or some blessing which I clearly understand to be fruits of my great good fortune to have been educated at CCDS. An integrally important component of that blessing is the many very fine, very supportive, and very generous fellow students whom I was privileged to have as classmates. Finally, it was a special blessing to have enjoyed the rigorous, sensitive, empathetic and capable teaching, as well as the emotional understanding and the encouragement, which was provided me in my high school years by my English teacher, Hamilton Brush. This was pivotal. Without my education at CCDS I would have lead a very different and surely far less happy and successful life. I owe a vast and incalculable debt of gratitude to CCDS!
Ron Ditmars writes: Dear Members of the 50th Reunion Class of 1966, October 3, 2016 I am sorry not to be able to attend the 50th Reunion and renew friendships due to other commitments, but I wanted to jot down a few notes about what made CCDS so unique and valuable to me. Country Day was my first independent school experience. After being tested the spring prior to enrolling, it was determined that I would enter the eighth grade again, having just completed the 8th grade at a public school. My parents enrolled me in the Tabor Academy summer school (in Marion, Mass.) to further prepare me for CCDS. In addition to tennis on clay courts and sailing, there was a healthy dose of English literature, history and composition classes, as well as mandatory 2-hour study hall every night. The environment at CCDS was magical; I couldn’t believe how stimulating and exhilarating it was to interact with persons who are so interested in your welfare. Teachers greet you in the halls, exemplify the seriousness and benefit of their subject matter in class, and compliment you on the sports field. I had never had the same teacher pointing out my skills in a math class and then my agility on the football field that afternoon. They did this no matter what your skill levels were.
“Doc” Holiday was the math teacher I recall in this regard. Country Day teachers and staff regularly comment about something positive in your character, which makes certain elements within you come to life as never before. Another teacher in this vein was Mr. Irwin. It is almost impossible to describe the depth and respect he engendered in us for the French language and its culture. He wasn’t strict, but you knew he wanted you to appreciate the beauty and the sound of the language. He equipped us with the means to communicate, but it was the love for the language conveyed in his gentle manner which, more than anything else, provided us the foundation to grow in the language. Another memorable (required) class was on Greek and Latin roots as building blocks for English vocabulary. I had no idea why we were learning these odd fragments of words, until years later in school when I noticed that more complicated words tended to have these roots, which could illuminate their meanings. I only feared bothering the teacher too much when dropping my pen on the table during our pen flipping contests in the back of the room with classmate Robert Ives. Points were awarded for flipping one’s pen into the air and catching it upon its return. Who knows – perhaps my taking Latin and Greek while studying in Germany, and later teaching Latin in school all derive from this mandatory class at CCDS.
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ALUMNI NEWSNOTES The reverse happened when my father was transferred in his business to Los Angeles in mid-year and our family had to move after three generations in Cincinnati. The education was so thorough at CCDS that the high school I transferred to in California allowed me to skip up a grade. Thus, I attended Country Day for only 1 1 years, but that time was more significant than any similar period in my life in terms of maturing, gaining confidence, and becoming committed to a more challenging academic education.
1983
Richard Genece writes: Enclosing a few family photos. Our newest addition is Savannah Marie, 3 months old but barely one month old in the picture and our oldest is Simon Alexander, 3 years old.
now married 11 years, live near Boston with their two sons and both are professors at Harvard Medical School - Melissa in palliative care and Ben in primary care and health policy. Sarah and her husband Chris moved from Philadelphia to Connecticut two years ago, where Sarah takes care of their three daughters after many years working as an engineer and supervisor at Sunoco. It was a great time and we had a lot of fun reminiscing and flipping through our old Archives. Maybe for our 25th we'll all get back to Cincinnati!"
I wish everyone at this Reunion, and especially the 50th Reunion class, the best, knowing that you have benefited immeasurably from your years at CCDS. It would be nice to hear from you.
1971
Tom Lee writes: Last May, six members of the Class of 1971 spent a fine week together in Sun River, Oregon. Biking, hiking, golf, music, laughter. "A guaranteed good time was had by all."
1992
Ryan Kirzner, '92, accepted an appointment as an United States Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration. He was sworn in on July 25, 2016, in the Shreveport, Louisiana Office of Disability Adjudication and Review.
Left to right, Tom Lee, Rod Geier, Bill Stulbarg, Henri Bouscaren, Ed Sawyer, and Dick Geier, who was at CCDS through grade 8.
1982
Wendy Drysdale was honored as an inductee to the 2016 Sports Hall of Fame at St. George’s School.
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CONNECTIONS
1996
Adam Koncius writes: "Having missed our 20th reunion, several of us on the East Coast got together for our own version. Adam Koncius, Melissa Wachterman, and Ben Sommers visited Sarah (Edwards) Johnson at her house near Hartford, Connecticut, for a fun and hectic weekend with 7 kids under the age of 6. Adam lives outside of Boston with his wife Kerri and two sons, where they run their own digital marketing company. Melissa and Ben,
James Shafor Harding, class of '96, married Christina Elizabeth Williams of Columbus, Ohio on September 5, 2015 at Stanford Memorial Church in Palo Alto, California. Christina graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. with honors in 2003 and M.S. in 2004, where she earned a full scholarship to play field hockey. She works for Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Jamie graduated from Hamilton College with a B.A. with honors in 2000, where he played on the golf team, and with a J.D. from University of Miami School of Law in 2005. He works for the Auditor of State. The happy couple resides in Hyde Park, Ohio.
picture on next page
a graduate of George Washington University and has a master's degree from Georgetown University. She is a Clinical Research Associate at Medpace. Gunnar graduated from Miami University and is trust officer and assistant Vice President at Fifth Third bank. Anne's sisters Holly Oblinger Mott '95 and Elizabeth Oblinger '06 served as matron and maid of honor, respectively. Jon Nielsen ’01 was a groomsman.
2000
Carey Herrlinger and his wife Haley welcomed their first child, a baby boy, Charlie Stone Herrlinger on June 21, 2016.
2006
Rodger Davis married Alyssa Chernicky on Saturday, July 30, 2016.
2007
Rudy Frank writes: Hello fellow Country Day Students and Faculty!
2004
Kyle Hynden married Lizzie Tiernan in the Fall of 2016. Anne Oblinger '04 was married to Gunnar Pohlman on September 24, 2016 at the Indian Hill Church in Cincinnati. A reception followed at Cincinnati Country Club. Anne is
American Taekwondo Association (ATA). During this time, I primarily became a mentor and advocate for youth development and personal growth. As a youth mentor, I loved to focus on the skills they needed to succeed academically and physically in the densely and continuously growing global community. My favorite thing about being a martial arts instructor was learning how to teach students integrity, loyalty, and trust. For me, teaching these three life skills was a blessing because I had the opportunity to help students understand the necessity of choosing right over wrong while also discovering their personal goals and then teaching them how to trust themselves within their community for support and encouragement. Being a martial arts instructor has led me to become a photo-philanthropist traveling around the world using my photography as a tool to help teach some of life’s most important lessons. Over the past year, I have traveled across most of the western United States and have found international opportunities to photograph in China, Hong Kong, and East Africa. Before returning to Cincinnati, I spent 6 weeks in Tanzania working with a startup non-profit organization called RENEW teaching students in secondary school the principles of self-love, personal development and growth, leading towards enlightened transformation. My next goal(s) in life is to bring these great skills I have acquired over the past 8 years to Cincinnati where I can help elevate youth advocacy programs to their greatest potential, especially in developing after school programs for secondary students.
I just moving back to the TriState area from Phoenix, Arizona. I’ve spent the past 8 consecutive years living in the beautiful community of Arizona State University, where I received my undergraduate degree in Photography followed by my master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership & Management. Also, while in Arizona, I received my 3* black belt in Taekwondo from the
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ALUMNI NEWSNOTES 2008
Becca Moura writes: After graduating from CCDS I went to Boston University and have lived in Boston since. I work at a tech company in sales-account management. Annie Racine writes: I recently-summer of 2016-got married and my PhD in neuroscience and Master of Public Affairs. I moved to Boston in August 2016. My partner is a pediatrician at Boston Children’s and I am a postdoctoral researcher at an aging institute. Loving Boston so far!
2011
Alexandra McInturf ’11 writes: I am pursuing a doctorate degree in animal behavior at the University of California-Davis. It’s been my dream to become a marine biologist, and I am now embarking on my career. Over the past year, I’ve had some incredible experiences working with sharks. For my dissertation I have the chance to help save an endangered species. I’ll be traveling over the next several years to Northern Ireland to study basking sharks that return every summer. Because I believe in the power of awareness to change our world, I want to include everyone in this process. I’ve set up a webpage on Experiment.com that explains the project. The page can be found at: https://experiment.com/projects/ does-basking-shark-diving-behavioraffect-our-population-estimates-ofthis-endangered-species. On the page, I also share a video that chronicles my experiences and explains why the project is important. Click on the image of the giant shark! It will give you a glimpse into the life of a shark scientist – a perspective that few have.
2016
Some updates from the class of 2016 Ian Hayes Harvard University School has been great! I don’t think that I could have been better prepared for such an academically rigorous environment. I can’t wait to come back to campus and see all the renovations. Soham Basu Dartmouth College Although I am no longer a student, CCDS friends, family and memories are always in my heart. Nathan Albrinck Dartmouth College I’m loving my college experience, but I miss Country Day. Keeping in touch with my CCDS friends and family, I’ve realized how great the community is. Trisha Atluri Wellesley College CCDS couldn’t have prepared me better for my transition to college. The memories and lessons I’ve gained during my years at Country day will last me a lifetime.
IN MEMORIAM Jordy Alsfelder ’08, passed away from a heart attack while in military service on May 8, 2016. He is survived by his parents Deborah and Robert, and by his sister Katherine ’17. Asia Nunez ’04 passed away November 2016. She is survived by her mother Cheryl ’78, father Dorien and sister Channing ’07. James R. Stafford, parent of alumni, passed away on November 8 at age 57. He is survived by his wife, Amy and sons Jacob ’13 and Jimmy ’10. Rick Steiner, past parent, passed away November 3, 2016 at age 69. He is survived by Jan Steiner, mother of sons Ace ’15 and Duke ’17 as well as Jan’s daughter Jacklyn, and brother Corky Steiner.
Malcolm Doepke: Ashland University In August 2016 I went on a service trip to the neighborhood of Nueva Prosperina in Guayaquil, Ecuador where I stayed with a non-English speaking host family for ten days. My service group, which consisted of 10 people, worked on several projects. We cleared a garbage filled and overgrown spot of land and turned it into a park for children to play in. Our group also began to renovate the community center in the middle of the town. The plan is to have the construction of the new building done in 3 years. The experience was very rewarding and humbling. I got to take part in something that benefits many people. I plan to return this summer to take part in the work again.
SAVE THE DATE!
Please join us as we honor
CJ Mitchell ’86 - Distinguished Alumnus 2016 Friday, April 28, Noon, Location TBD
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CONNECTIONS
Save the Date May 11
Match Day 2017
Match Day 2016 honored CCDS teachers and staff with special recognition to those who have worked at CCDS for 20 years or more. Match Day received tremendous support from the CCDS community, including teachers, parents, alumni, and grandparents. Due to this support, Match Day 2016 reached its goal of raising more than $200,000 in 24 hours! Help us make the upcoming Match Day a success on May 11, 2017. Your gift helps us fullfill our mission and reinforces the elements of a first class Country Day education listed below.
www.CountryDay.net/go/CCDS
ALUMNI CCDS & Bengals Across the Pond
Erin Rutherford Hascup ’97 writes: My family (including many alums, current students, and parents) and friends went to London in October and attended the Bengals game. Alums in the photos are Mike Leonard ’83 (and a CCDS Trustee), Katie Leonard ’12, and myself, Erin Rutherford Hascup ’97 Current students are Josie ’18 and Jessica ’21 Rutherford. Parents of students/alums are Mike and Susie Leonard, Katie Leonard, and Gary and Julie Rutherford. Also pictured are my husband, Kevin Hascup, my other brother, Robert Rutherford, and his girlfriend, Megan Hagerty, and friends Jeff and Lissa Meiners, and Trey Thier.
CCDS & Bengals Watch Party in Boston Nearly 20 CCDS Alumni and friends gathered at Kings Bowl in Boston to cheer on the Cincinnati Bengals in their game against the Patriots on Sunday, October 16. The evening before, several alumni and families had the chance to meet new Head of School Tony Jaccaci at a Country Day dinner at Catalyst Restaurant in Cambridge. Lots of shared Country Day memories and new friendships were at the center of this fun weekend! Among those attending were Xanni Brown '10, Rebecca Moura '08, Lynne Skilken, Soham Basu '16, Nathan Albrinck '16, Thane and Nancy Brown, Ian Hayes '16, Ben Sommers '96, Melissa Wachterman '96 with sons Joshua and Jonah, Trisha Atluri '16, Annie Racine '08, Tony Jaccaci, Chris Woodside and Paula Brock.
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CONNECTIONS
6905 Given Road Cincinnati, OH 45243-2989 Y0u
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Address Service Requested Parents of alumni: If this publication is addressed to your son or daughter, who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify CCDS of his or her new mailing address by emailing the change to alumniaddresschanges@CountryDay. net.
Retired CCDS football coach Tim Dunn is presented with a commemorative game ball from Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis during halftime ceremonies of the homecoming football game. Coach Dunn was also honored by former players who were in attendance.
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