Hornet's Nest | May 24, 2022 | Vol. 7 | Issue 10

HORNET’S NEST Proctor Academy | May 24, 2022 | Vol. 7 | Issue 10

Graduation: Time to Celebrate

By Victoria Antar

Dear Seniors, the special day is almost here and you’ll gather one last time together, receive a diploma and think to yourself, “ I made it through high school.” Yet before this ceremony, you’ll spend two very special days with your classmates.

ceremony happens. It begins at 10:30 AM, all students and alumni are welcome, and the student speakers are Emily Charleston (valedictorian), Ada Gardner (salutatorian), and River Turnbull (elected by the senior class).

Have you thought about what you are wearing? We all know it’s a big ceremony, your family will be here, everyone will be watching you, maybe you’ll cry. You’ll be sad because you’re leaving and happy because you’re leaving.

According to an article from NationalGeographics.com, students who graduate have been wearing that same squared graduation cap also known as “mortarboard hat” since the 17th Century, “The square, tasseled graduation hat is a modern symbol of academic accomplishment, but has its roots in the fashion trends of medieval Europe.”

Seniors start their time together on Thursday. Karin Clough, the Assistant Head of School explained, “It’s special to only have the seniors on campus these [last] couple of days, the whole class does a lot of stuff together, so it’s a way to let them have their time.

They go on a boat cruise, they have a dress up, they get their photos taken.” This year, students and families of the class of 2020 are also having a Boston Harbor cruise as they missed theirs because of the pandemic.

Friday, they have a special breakfast at the Wise, followed by a graduation rehearsal, and at the end of Friday they have “Senior dinner” with friends and family. After moving to the big tent for awards & videos of the seniors, that last full day at Proctor ends with a dance in the Wise. Finally on Saturday, the graduation

That means in that moment when you throw that cap, you’ll be carrying tradition and creating history. Be ready to throw your caps up to the sky.

national outreach, qualitative research, writing, curriculum implementation, and evaluation with tribal nations and colleges using a capacity-building approach.

In 2015, Emily was recognized by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development as one of the “Native American 40 Under 40” award recipients.

Emily enjoys quilting, beading, horseback riding, and hot yoga.

Lori Patriacca with Emily in Lovejoy Library

Graduation Speaker Emily White Hat

By Campbell Lucey

This spring is finally bringing normalcy to graduation: no masks, students and guests can attend, and parents are able to fly in from anywhere. The 2022 graduation speaker is Emily White Hat. Brian Thomas shared some thoughts about Emily.

“She is an [alum] of Proctor as well as the aunt of Trin ‘22 and Yamni ‘24 White Hat. I think her career has been really impressive; for Native indigenous people, she’s a truth teller. One of the things she said about people of color, especially people of color in independent schools, is ‘They want us to be us until we are us.’

Which I think is so relevant to belonging to a school” What’s the one thing you hope students will receive out of her speech?

“So you want them [students] to be launched with some sort of nugget of wisdom and advice. …like how to see yourself (mainly) and others as you go off into this brand new journey, starting now.”

The Class of 2022 will be starting their journey with the help of the words of Emily White Hat. Read a Proctor profile on Emily ‘94 & current trustee, from March 2021.

From the Native American College Fund website: Emily R. White Hat, J.D., Nape Waste Win (Good Hand Woman) is a Sicangu Lakota, Aske Gluwipi Tiospaye from St. Francis, South Dakota. Her experience as a former firefighter, emergency medical technician, policy researcher, evaluator, and legal background have all been vital to her work in program development and implementation, strategic planning,

Bill Wightman Retires After Seventeen Years

By Jack Fickenscher

After seventeen years, Bill Wightman, Chairman of the Art Department, is ready to move on after sharing his talents and teaching music at Proctor. He reflected on his tenure.

What was a highlight of working at Proctor?

Just three years into teaching, sitting in assembly during the announcement of the yearbook dedication, he thought, “Wouldn’t it be wild to get that.” To his surprise, he was the one the students had chosen that year as the recipient.

“I was so surprised and overwhelmed, I had to take a drive around the block a few times just to calm my emotions.”

Related to your work, what do you hope continues at Proctor?

L to R: Emily White Hat, her son Mark PA ‘14, PA history teacher George Emeny, Albert White Hat Sr., Emily’s father.

“... The joy and adventure of discovery in students!” Bill’s motto was ‘Having fun is getting something done.’ The arts at Proctor Academy have created a community where students are passionate and have the eagerness to learn. I hope

that the love and passion for music at Proctor will continue to thrive.” On a more lighthearted note, Bill stated, “I hope that joke telling continues at assemblies, it always seems to lighten the mood across the school.”

How did Proctor change you?

“Prior to my career at Proctor, I was unaware that a school could provide me with this sense of community and passion for the arts. The students’ love and eagerness to learn reflected right back onto me, only growing my passion for music and teaching even more.”

the brain and body...and I may just take up a writer’s residency in the library, so please come say hello!

Final advice or comment?

What are your plans for the future?

“Since the 1990s and for the past 30 years, I have produced and performed in a music series called Jazz On a Sunday Afternoon or JOSA. With more time on my hands, I will continue to create work to perform in these weekly concerts.”

Bill noted it’s been quite an exciting run as teacher and Department Chair at Proctor and that it has given him a profound insight into education and its evolution over these past 17 years.

He says that what stands out for him is, “The importance and value that the performing arts can and should have as a contributor to a ‘complete’ high school education. One that prepares young people for learning and living beyond and for finding happiness and the joy of self-expression throughout life.”

Amy Makechnie Adds Writing to Her Curriculum

I like to tell my students that you only get one body - love it well and it will love you back. I feel the same way about Proctor thank you for being such an incredible, inspiring place.

Amy moves on from the Science Department to focus on her career as a published author.

What was a highlight of working at Proctor?

Anatomy and Physiology is a science elective, so I always felt lucky to have students who were so excited to learn about the body. I love teaching and learning about bones and muscles and lungs, etc., so this class was the perfect fit.

Related to the work you did, what do you hope continues at Proctor?

I hope there is continued focus on wellness at every grade level; that students know how their bodies work, what to eat, how to train for peak performance, and to feel confident walking into a doctor’s office, knowing what questions to ask.

Knowledge is a powerful tool.

What will you miss the most?

Ugh - everything! The faculty, staff, the wonderful science department. I’ll really miss working one on one with students; being a part of those “light bulb” moments is incredibly rewarding.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m going to write more books - which will likely continue to have connections to

Laura Ostrowsky Looks to Her Next Chapter

By Cameron McAuliffe

Laura Ostrowsky has contributed so much to Proctor’s woodland, forestry, and dendrology studies since she arrived at Proctor in 2019, and our community will miss her! She reflected on her time at Proctor.

What was a highlight of working at Proctor?

Going out into the woods with students is always a highlight. Any time I get to teach a class in the woods, do trail work

Adam Jones Is Moving On

with students, or collect data on the experimental plot grid with students in the Forest Research Crew, it absolutely makes my day. I love the energy and curiosity that Proctor students bring to woodlands work.

Best wishes, Adam!

In regard to the work you did, what do you hope continues at Proctor?

I have started a project to turn the Proctor Woodlands into an experimental forest for ecology research. I really hope this work can continue after I leave. So far, there are 150 permanent plots in the forest where we have taken careful inventory data. There are local researchers who are interested in using these plots to do forestry studies and several Proctor students have already done amazing research projects using this grid. I hope students can continue to collect data, design research projects, and use our inventory data to manage the Proctor Forest for many years in the future.

Brooke Haynes Bids Farewell Brooke will leave the Social Science department for North Carolina.

What was a highlight of working at Proctor?

What will you miss the most?

I will miss the community at Proctor and having a forest in my backyard.

The connections to faculty and students have been the most rewarding and something I will certainly miss as I move forward.

Did Proctor change you?

Are there any ways Proctor changed you?

My time at Proctor has pushed me to be a better teacher and advisor. It’s been amazing to see the growth and change in students and advisees over the last three years. Proctor has definitely changed my perspective on the role a teacher should play.

Proctor has afforded me a tremendous appreciation of the time and effort the effective stewardship of a community takes.

I am also leaving with considerably more gray hair than I arrived with.

What are your plans for the future?

SENIOR REFLECTIONS Brynne Makechnie As told to Lily Picotte

What are your plans for the future?

More time with family and traveling (safely)!

I am starting a PhD in plant physiology at the University of Minnesota this fall.

Do you have any final advice?

Trust your gut! Y’all are amazing!

“There are so many moments that have taken place at Proctor that I hope to carry with me for the rest of my life. Laughter with friends, meeting new people for the first time, trying hockey without ever having picked up a hockey stick before. There are an infinite number of hidden moments from so many years here- the feeling you get as you wait behind the curtain

on stage in the seconds before the musical begins, the bus rides home with your team after winning a soccer game, the hours spent quietly in the studio, an off campus program coming to an end, walking across Carr field on a perfect fall day.

I don’t know that I have only one specific memory to call my favorite, but perhaps the biggest thing I will take from Proctor are the relationships I have formed here with so many people.

The joy I have felt while playing chess with Anders and Zion, while talking to Angela and Caleb and Dara in the dining hall, while jumping into Elbow Pond in February with newly found friends, playing uno in tents and giggling in sleeping bags has been truly incomparable.”

Lucy Werner As told to Lily Picotte

Mitchell LaCamera As told to Jack Fickenscher:

“Wilderness Orientation was my favorite memory of Proctor, it was also my first memory here at school. This experience gave me the opportunity to meet lasting friends as soon as I got on campus and made a life changing experience for me. The Rulon-Miller dorm dynamic is something I will never forget. From the first night to now, our bond … was always strong and I always had someone I could count on when I needed it.”

Trey Chickering As told to Jack Fickenscher

“One of my favorite memories was my last field hockey game. The night before we had all slept together in sally b because we were in the playoffs and everyone else had left school. We had a big team dinner and just talked about our favorite memories over the past two years since the team had basically been the same group for the past two seasons. And this season was very special because I’ve never been on a team that felt so much like a family and I had all my best friends on a team with me. Although we didn’t win our last game, I’d never seen our team play so hard and so well and leave everything on the field. At the end of the day, despite the loss, I was leaving the season with a new family and memories, and friends that could last me a lifetime and that is greater than any win.”

Paul Scull As told to Victoria Antar

“Mountain Classroom completely changed the way that I go through life and how I see the world, being out there without technology and being able to interact with my peers that I never thought I would have. It’s a pretty crazy experience, I’m really thankful that Proctor gives us that opportunity and I highly recommend it if you’re a student or you’re new at Proctor to take that opportunity because it’s something that you’ll never regret, don’t be scared, take that chance and do something that pushes you out of your comfort zone because those are the times you’ll get to learn the most about yourself and others.”

Kate Ji As told to Victoria Antar

“My favorite memory at Proctor was definitely beating Kimball Union’s hockey powerhouse in 2020. Always being an underdog against Kimball Union made this game unforgettable and truly made my time at Proctor memorable knowing that I accomplished something that was never expected. Being a three sport varsity athlete, I will not only remember my achievements and the personal goals I met as an individual, but the coaches and teammates that supported me throughout these last few years is something that I will always cherish and love about my time at Proctor.”

“A memory I have of Proctor that I’ll never forget is the time my friends prepared a surprise for me after I won the Lakes Region Tournament. I texted them that I won in the group chat but nobody replied, only a friend told me to take a shower and come hang out with them. With doubts, I did as told and came to my friend’s dorm, where she swung the door open and came out with snacks. She said:

‘Congrats, now come with me.’ It was about 9pm so I wondered where she’s taking me, and then we stopped at Sally B where two of my friends sprinted to me, screamed, congrats! and hugged me. I will never forget that moment.

Later they told me they’ve been rehearsing for that scene, and they left me unread on purpose because they wanted to give me a surprise. I wouldn’t have met my wonderful friends if I didn’t come to Proctor, and only Proctor would have such a warm community. I’m grateful for this community and the memories I have here.”

ability to succeed, you just need to put the time and work into it, no matter how much it may feel like you’re not progressing or succeeding.

An aspect that I will never forget, is how close you can become to faculty members here, and how they are such an amazing support system when you need them the most.”

Katherine Flanagan As told to Juju Hoder

Allie Cimis As told to Reilly Desmond

Jackson Lalla As told to Jack Darov

What’s The biggest lesson you learned at Proctor?

“Don’t be afraid of failure. And to look at failure as a learning point to grow from instead of something to dwell on.”

Cassidy Joslin As told to Juju Hoder “My favorite memories have come from traveling to Saas-Fee, Switzerland with the Proctor alpine ski team. The biggest life lesson I’ve learned throughout my time at Proctor has been the importance of time management. I will never forget the relationships I made.”

“What does Proctor mean to me and how has it changed me as a person? Junior and senior year have been amazing and I genuinely have never loved a place more and people more. I love my friends and life at home too, but Proctor has become my home. The people I’ve met here have been amazing and everyone is just so full of energy and life. I am just gonna miss this place so much and would not trade it for anything and as my time here comes to an end it’s really hard for me to say goodbye. There is never a full day where it is just awful, there is always something or someone that makes a little part of my day better here. This community just helps people become better at everything and I’ve seen so many people grow their confidence here and I just think Proctor really brings out the best in everyone. I will miss this place so much next year.”

Annabelle Graziano As told to Reilly Desmond

Piper Sullivan As told to Jack Darov

“My favorite memory would probably be beating KUA in girl’s soccer for the first time in thirteen years. An important life lesson that I learned would be that you always have the

“My biggest take away from Proctor is that there is always somebody here that loves you and wants you to do the best that you can and they want to support you. Whenever you feel like there is no one, you just have to remember that there is someone here that loves you and wants you to be your happiest. You have to take advantage of those resources and you can’t take that for granted and you must remember how loved you are. It’s such a tight community and it’s built in a way where there is so much love and support in what you want to accomplish and you can’t let that fall through the cracks that there are people here that want the best for you.”

“The faculty are here to help you, they aren’t scary people, they were kids once too, they understand kid problems. They are there to help you and they want to help you.”

Natalie Daniels As told to Colin Kwak

Louisa Liddle As told to Campbell Lucey

Connor Pitera As told to Cam McAuliffe

“The biggest lesson I have learned is that being your true self will take you a lot farther than being anyone else. The special thing about Proctor is that there are so many different ways to express yourself while having the support of the whole community. Our harshest critics are ourselves and once you let that go, everything will fall into place!”

“I would have to say the people in Proctor’s community have made the most meaningful impact in my life. It’s clear that our teachers love what they do, and will drop anything to help in any way. At boarding school you make strong friendships quickly. My friends at Proctor have shifted the way I look at the world, and pushed me to be the most authentic version of myself everyday. I’m so grateful for our little community!”

Best memories? ”Fishing with Cam and Elijah on the Blackwater River with all the boys.

Ali Nye As told to Campbell Lucey

Jack Glowacki As told to Cal Wilby

“The aspect of Proctor I will never forget are the relationships that you make here which are unforgettable. The connections I’ve made with not only the students here, but the teachers as well will always be my favorite thing. I used to go to a public school and the population there was 1500 students. Although I had a ton of friends there that I still have presently, coming to Proctor was the best decision for me because the relationships I’ve made here will hopefully be relationships I can carry on. The lessons I’ve learned here compared to my old public school are mind blowing to me.”

What aspect of Proctor will you never forget?

Quinlan Kerr As told to Colin Kwak

“My favorite memory from my short time at Proctor Academy would have to be the winter dance. Let me set the scene; It was Saturday night on February twelfth and the hockey team had just played a home game and won eight-zero. I had a goal and two assists and ended up getting the hard hat. Right after that all of the boys rushed over in their fancy suits to go to this unbelievable dance at the Wise. All of the boys ended up showing up fashionably late and we immediately hopped into a mosh pit. Looking all around me I could see my friends turn into my family and see what was so magical about Proctor Academy.”

Proctor has taught me a lot about myself as a student as well as how important it is to stay on top of my work. This process hasn’t been easy but Proctor has helped me through it.

I will never forget the welcoming atmosphere and the teachers always by my side.

“How it has taught me perseverance, time management, and organizational skills that I will use in college and beyond.”

Biggest takeaway/life lesson from Proctor?

“The community and how much people care about one another.”

What aspect of Proctor will you never forget?

“I will never forget just hanging out in the dorm with all my buddies.”

Tate Matte As told to Cal Wilby

What aspect of Proctor will you never forget?

“The people that I’ve met and the relationships that will be with me for the rest of my life.”

Favorite memory?

“My sophomore year Holderness weekend we beat them in soccer and it was the last game of our season and it made our record 15-1 and the school stormed the field and I had a broken wrist so I couldn’t run but I watched the school come together as one.”

Biggest takeaway/life lesson from Proctor?

“When I moved to Proctor I moved away from home but I wasn’t a boarder and I had to learn how to take care of a car, had to wake up early, and gain a bunch of independence and learn new time management skills.”

What aspect of Proctor will you never forget?

“Before I came to Proctor I was shy and now I try to talk to a lot more people than I used to and Proctor broke me out of my shell.”

Congratulations Class of 2022!