A PROCTOR ACADEMY PUBLICATION | FALL 2016
Featured Articles Why We Study Off-Campus
Nearly 80% of Proctor students study off-campus during their high school career. Why do these programs matter? Read more to find out! (Page 40 )
Catching Up With Chopper
This year we had the chance to catch up with David Fowler at his home in New Mexico. Read what Chopper is up to as he enters his 80s and reflects on his time at Proctor. (Page 30 )
Alumni in the Arts
Proctor’s commitment to the arts has shaped countless alumni lives, including these twenty-two alums who have made art their livelihood. Check out their work! (Page 26)
The Campaign for Proctor
The Campaign for Proctor has raised $11 million over the past two years to transform Proctor’s aging infrastructure. Read about the most recent developments and opening of the Proctor Dining Commons! (Page 46)
EDITOR AND WRITER Scott Allenby CONTRIBUTORS Mike Henriques P ’11,’15 Natasha Langsdorf Knox Turner ’67 DESIGN Becky Cassidy INTERNAL PHOTOGRAPHY Lindsey Allenby COVER PHOTOGRAPHY John Ruskey
DEPARTMENTS 02 Message from the Head of School 04 Celebrating the Class of 2016 10 Reunion 2016 Recap 26 Alumni in the Arts, Food & Beverage 30 Catching up with Chopper 40 Why We Study Off-Campus 46 The Campaign for Proctor
Proctor’s magazine is published by Proctor Academy. Letters and comments are welcomed and can be sent to Scott Allenby, Proctor Academy, P.O.Box 500, Andover, NH 03216; (603)735-6681; communications@proctoracademy.org. Our Motto “Live to Learn. Learn to Live.” Our Mission Taking inspiration from our motto, Proctor Academy creates a diverse learning and living community: one that values the individual and recognizes the potential of each member to stretch beyond what had been thought possible. Balancing academic rigor, structure, and support with the freedom for students to explore, create and define themselves, Proctor encourages students to achieve their optimal growth. A deep commitment to a learning skills program and a strong emphasis on experiential learning is interwoven throughout Proctor’s academic, athletic, artistic, and environmentally conscious programs both on and off campus. Proctor students graduate understanding the values of honesty, compassion, respect, and responsibility, proceeding with confidence and with strategies to become life-long learners and thoughtful contributors to their communities. For more information about the school, please visit our website at www.proctoracademy.org.
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A Note from the Head of School The Art of the Living Community This last year has given reason to pause and reflect on the nature of community – what creates it, what allows it to flourish, what makes it resilient, and what makes it fragile. There are moments – locally, nationally, and globally – that challenge community. We had one of those moments this summer when we witnessed fire and the loss of a storied dormitory – Thoreau House. And yet in the aftermath some of the best of community emerged: outreach, compassion, and support for the school. Again and again we come to marvel at the latent strength within the Proctor family, whether to support a student in crisis, a faculty member battling a life-threatening illness, or a community after a fire. Proctor’s sum total of its moving pieces operates in conjunction with community aspirations. We are a global school operating in four different countries around the world: France, Spain, Costa Rica, and China; we are a floating school, voyaging each fall from Gloucester, MA to San Juan, Puerto Rico; we are a rolling school, traveling with ten students through the Southwest and West in pursuit of answers to essential questions around water, big agriculture, border issues, and community; and we are a rock-ribbed New Hampshire school with commitment to core values and meeting each student where they are. One might think that this far-flung educational landscape dissipates community, makes it harder to hold together. Not so. Maybe it is because we hire, support, and believe in faculty and staff who can contribute not only in the teaching of their respective disciplines and the needed skill sets to successfully maintain and run a campus, but who contribute to the making of a healthy community. It requires flexibility. It requires an acceptance of the other. It requires tolerance. It requires being able to look objectively at one’s bias. It requires a sense of humor. And it requires a belief that community matters. In a world growing more complex and challenging, the art of teaching community by living community is an essential component, we believe, of a healthy living and learning school. We hope you see this play out in the following pages, and more importantly we hope that you see this when you step onto our campus.
Mike Henriques, P ’11,’15 Head of School
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Legacies
Enrolled at Proctor for the 2016-17 academic year:
Kali Brown ’17 | Wendy Chambers Brown ’86 Lucien Bryan ’19 | Beckner Bryan ’87 Andrew Childs ’17 | Kay Beyer Childs ’85 Logan Dunne ’19 | Joshua Dunne ’91 Sage Fletcher ’18 | Dana Fletcher ’86 Rhyanne Foster ’18 | Trevor Foster ’87 Chad Hildner ’19 | Katie Kidder ’91 Lilah Hilliard ’19 | James Hilliard ’80 Carl Hubbard ’17 | Jane Lockwood Hubbard ’88 Annika Johnson ’17 | Eric Johnson ’88 Britta Johnson ’19 | Eric Johnson ’88
Cope Makechnie ’17 | Gregor Makechnie ’90 Nelson Makechnie ’19 | Gregor Makechnie ’90 Chloe Methven ’18 | Diane Fowler ’80 Ryan Methven ’19 | Diane Fowler ’80 Myles Powers ’19 | David Powers ’77 Caitlyn Reid ’20 | John Reid ’80 Meredith Rowe ’17 | Parker Rowe ’85 Liam Shanahan ’20 | Laura Shanahan ’85 Ben Warren ’19 | Travis Warren ’91 Siri Warren ’18 | Travis Warren ’91 Alex Wyckoff ’18 | Tripp Wyckoff ’86
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Celebrating The Class of 2016 Proctor’s 168th Commencement
Proctor Academy observed its 168th Commencement as 95 members of the Class of 2016 received diplomas in front of family, friends, faculty, staff, and alumni. Each graduating class has a unique personality, with this group evolving since the fall of 2012 when they first packed their bags for Wilderness Orientation. Every Proctor graduation takes on a personality to match its graduates, meaning this year’s celebration of the senior class was one to remember!
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We Asked Seniors: What was the highlight of your Proctor experience? “The countless hours spent in Slocumb with friends and music creating something.” - Grace Hovem ’16
“Spending three days in the Black Hills during my solo on mountain classroom.”
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“The work I put into building my own bike and conducting my Senior Project that resulted in a layered GIS map of the Proctor Woodlands that now lives on Proctor’s website” - Daniel Cook ’16
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“Having a dance party in my room with my roommate after we beat Tilton School 5-1 in soccer on Fall Family Weekend!” - Wari Isaac ’16
“Playing ice hockey during my junior and senior year even though I’d never played before was so much fun, and so exciting.” - Cassie Cote ’16 6
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- Riley Anderson ’16
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Commencement | Awards and Recognition
C A A DE R L EAR Established in Scott’s memory in 1993 and is presented to a member of the Proctor community who best exemplifies his sense of adventure, intellectual curiosity, and passion for life.
Renaissance Teacher Award Awarded to Wells “Buzz” Morison, P ’12, ’14
Recognizes a Proctor faculty or staff member who has gone above and beyond to make the experiences of students at Proctor more meaningful through their encouragement and support.
Most outstanding male and female athlete in the graduating class.
Citizenship Award Awarded to Riley Anderson and Daisy Bewley Best all-around male and female citizens in the graduating class.
Allan S. Bursaw ’67 Award Awarded to Annie Sedoric High Effort and Citizenship.
Carl B. Wetherell Award Awarded to Princess Blamoh
This award recognizes extra-ordinary service to the Proctor Community by a non-faculty member and heightens awareness of the dedication, hard work, and loyalty of all its employees which makes possible the smooth operation of this institution.
Faithful and willing performance of all extra curricular responsibilities.
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Fred Elroy Emerson 1886 Award Awarded to Maxwell Barrett A student who, during the junior and senior years, has shown the greatest development in attaining the ideals of Proctor.
Robert J. Livingston Community Service Award Awarded to Grace Hovem
Alumni two and five years out of Proctor vote for the individual among the current faculty who in their opinion is most deserving of this Excellence in Teaching Award.
Alice S. Fowler Award Awarded to Taylor Methven
A student who has made outstanding contributions to the community through volunteer service to others.
Lyle H. Farrell Award Awarded to Talbot Burke Hildner
A student in the graduating class who best exemplifies strength of character, personal dedication, and commitment to the Proctor community.
Charles Levy Award Awarded to Margaret Royal
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John O’Connor ’79 Award for Excellence in Teaching Awarded to Peter Southworth, P ’09, ’11, ‘14 English Department
A senior who has performed outstanding service to the school and to his/her fellow students.
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Nance Patten Barrett Staff Award Awarded to Alex Estin ‘83, Alumni President
Charles A. Jones Outstanding Athlete Award Awarded to Jack Hall and Annie Sheehy
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Philip H. Savage Award Awarded to Maxwell Kaesshaefer
Class valedictorian.
Outstanding leadership qualities.
For a complete list of Senior Award Winners visit : www.proctoracademy.org/classof2016
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Allegheny College Bates College California College of the Arts Colby College College of the Holy Cross Colorado College Connecticut College Delaware Valley University Denison University Dickinson College Drexel University Earlham College Eckerd College Elon University Fordham University George Washington University
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Class of 2016 | College Decisions and Matriculation Georgia Institute of Technology Institudo de Empresa - Spain Juniata College Loyola Marymount University Marist College Nazareth College New York University Pepperdine University Plymouth State University Purdue University Quest University Canada Rhodes College Sacred Heart University San Diego State University Santa Clara University Skidmore College
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Scott Pond Prize Awarded to Seth Currier ‘95
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Southern Methodist University St. Lawrence University St. Olaf College Stonehill College Suffolk University Syracuse University The College of Saint Rose UCLA UCLL in Lueven, Belgium UNC - Wilmington Unity College U. of California, Berkeley U. of Colorado - Boulder U. of Denver U. of Illinois U. of Maine
U. of Massachusetts U. of Miami U. of Montana U. of New Hampshire U. of Puget Sound U. of Rhode Island U. of Rochester U. of South Carolina U. of Southern California U. of Southern Maine U. of Vermont U. of Wisconsin Vancouver Film School Willamette University WPI Yale University
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A Mile in My Shoes Annie Sedoric ‘16 Rye, NH / Bates College Go out into this world not knowing a thing and come back with not one thing see: where you go how you do what you do and who you become. you are innocent until proven guilty you are fresh until bruised by the twists and turns of life you are inexperienced until you take risks and you are lost until found. we take steps that add up to miles, which lead to lifetimes and each moment is a factor of this life we are fortunate to live. there is this apartment, down a side street alley where the walls are thin and the laughs are loud. where they share the same words as one would at home but in a different “tone.” every time residents pass with an acknowledgement or purpose like they have all had some of the same potion, or maybe it’s just the cigarette smoke that encompasses the paths that give that notion. we are meant to travel to learn some things but never meant to stay because who’s to know what the future holds, day after day. so here’s to an adventure and here’s to traveling here’s to finding ourselves in a greater way than just what’s on the bookshelves.
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Leaving large footprints entails not walking on your tiptoes. People who walk on their tiptoes, never leave an impact. Walk boldly, be kind, and leave an impact wherever you go.
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Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Leymah Gwobee P’16 Addresses Class of 2016 Proctor’s 168th Commencement welcomed Princess Blamoh ‘16’s mother, Ms. Leymah Gbowee, to campus to not only watch her daughter graduate, but to share powerful words with all in attendance. Now the president of Gbowee Peace Foundation, Ms. Gbowee earned the 2011 Nobel Peace for her work leading a nonviolent women’s peace movement that brought an end to the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003, chronicled in her book, Mighty Be Our Powers. A speaker around the world on peace initiatives and women’s justice, Ms. Gbowee asked to speak at Proctor’s graduation because of the impact Proctor had on her daughter during her four years as a student. Throughout her spirited message to the Class of 2016, she recounted her own life experiences helping negotiate violence in a bloody civil war in Liberia, and bearing witness to both the worst and best of humanity. She asked the Class of 2016 to follow four simple rules as they matriculate into the University of Life: be kind, be bold, make an impact, and leave a large footprint wherever you step.
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Reunion RECAP
Reunion 2016 brought a record number of alumni back to campus to reconnect with each other, faculty and staff, and the campus they called home during their time at Proctor. Alums from all over the world (including Japan, Spain, and Peru) made the trek back to Andover. Howard Bleakie ‘66 and Neils Olsen ‘66 celebrated their 50th Reunion, and Mike Nash ‘56 was the lone member of the Class of 1956 celebrating his 60th! The Class of 1991 had the best turnout with 26 members returning! Over the course of the weekend, alums chose from a full slate of activities led by current faculty and alumni, including: a student panel conversation, a hike in the woodlands with Dave Pilla P’19, a walking tour of campus with Keith Barrett ‘80, P’14 ‘16, mountain biking with Drew Donaldson ‘92, Josh Norris ‘92, & Chris Rogers ‘95, fly fishing with Hunter Churchill ‘01, swimming at Elbow Pond with Annie Mackenzie, Coco Loehr ‘07, and Gordon Bassett ‘96, studio art with Kate Austin ‘01, rock climbing with Brooks Bicknell ‘77, and a photoshop lesson led by Brenda Godwin.
Save the date for Reunion 2017!
PROCTOR
REUNI 10
N2017 JUNE 2-4 | ANDOVER, NH
JUNE 3-5, 2016 | ANDOVER, NH 11
Class of ’86 - (top row) Josh Brink, Stephanie Nichols, Erin Hogle Taylor, Vicky Thurston, (bottom row) Kym Brown O’Brien, Mitzy Wood Laidlaw, Pam Gruen Sullivan, Jen Ballou Vogt, Wendy Brown Chambers
Class of ’71 - Andy Verven, Greg Samaha, George Kaknes, Peter Rolfe
Jen Ballou Vogt ’86 and Vicky Thurston ’87
Chris Hadley ’81, Scott Dow ’81, David Eberhart ’81, Diane Fowler ’80, Charlie Hatfield ’81
Drew Donaldson ’92 and Ben Naylor ’91
Class of ’91: (back row) Terence Reaves, Josh Dunne, Erik Mayo, Oliver Pruess, Tony Hadzima, Mark Schwartz, (front row) Caroline Heatley, Brad Courts, Nathaniel Leach, Meaghan McSheffrey, Jen Allen Bryant, Kate Ferris Carter, Wade Albright, Jen Putney, Kate Shaughnessy Smith, Suzanne Rapp Troyer, Katie Kidder, Kim Eason Nubel, Liz Green Web, Travis Warren, Gretchen Hemberger, Ben Naylor
Mark Schwartz ’91 and Gretchen Hemberger ’91
Mike Nash ’56, Kevin Sleeper ’76, Kati Olsen, Niels Olson ’66, Anne Rolfe, Peter Rolfe ’71, Keith Barrett ’80, Kym Brown O’Brien ’86, Ellen Masten ’76, Tom Hunt, Howard Bleakie ’66, Greg Samaha ’71
Alumni Reunion Giving Challenge Update Alums in their reunion years shattered this year’s Alumni Reunion Giving Challenge by supporting Proctor with over $121,804.02! Learn more about alumni giving on page 53!
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Doug Houston and Travis Warren ’91
Tucker Prudden and Morgan Prudden ’11
Class of ’01 - Jared Mostue, Hunter Churchill, Laura Mason, Greg Gagne, Jessie Rives, Taylor Cullen, Graham Cullen, Christine Barkowski Hartman, Lindsay Brown, Lori Patriacca, Lyndsey DeVore, Jared Minton
Class of ’06 - Alex Kelley, Regina Wilson, Emma Tautkus, Jack Kiernan, Jenny Schermerhorn, Abby Isaac, Laura LeBourdais,Bill Powers, Brittany King, James Terrill, Erin Davey, Chris Bishop, Evan Cross, Ty Morris
Kate Ferris Carter ’91, Suzanne Rapp Troyer ’91, Caroline Heatley ’91
Mike Nash’56 and Alex Estin’83
Carolyn Peach ’81, Brenda Godwin P ’84, Bill Peach
(back row) Carolyn Peach ’81, Debbie Kirshway ’81, Diane Fowler ’80, Chris Hadley ’81, David Eberhart ’81, Keith Barrett ’80, Liz Blodgett Smith ’81, Richie Sears ’81, (front row) Charlie Hatfield ’81, Scott Dow ’81, Tim Sullivan
Class of ’96: Abby Usen Berner, Nikki Ramian, Erin Hinkley ’97, Sparky Brooks, Greg Mickle, Kelsey Loomer, Lindsey Schust, Adam Nelson, Chihiro Takeuchi, Zander Damp, Julie Parenteau, Andy Klein, Kyle Parsons, Josh Russell, Brian Clark
Visit Our Flickr Page For Lots More! Chris Rogers ’95 and Greg Mickle ’96
www.flickr.com/proctoracademy
Caliegh Erickson ’11, Frankie McCormick ’11, Lindsay Hoar ’11
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Alumni Stories
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Photo Credit: Michael Thompson
Robert Merriam ‘41 A Life Dedicated to Learning
This winter, Proctor’s European Art Classroom took a trip to Normandy and toured the museums that honor the Allied soldiers of World War II. One of the those soldiers was Robert Merriam ‘41. As one of the oldest living Proctor alumni and the only surviving member of the Class of 1941, Bob’s story provides a window into a Proctor Academy of yesteryear. The impact of his Proctor experience was remarkably similar to recent alums, as it nurtured his passions and unlocked his potential. Growing up sailing on the Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, Bob was destined to be on the water. He brought his passion for sailing to Proctor Academy in the fall of 1939. Over the next two years, Bob captained the sailing team, became a member of the Ski Club, Cabin Club, and Proctor Players, was President of the Senior class, the Green Lantern editor, and gave the valedictory speech at Proctor’s 1941 Commencement. Perhaps most importantly, he was able to explore a newfound love: amateur radio. Bob’s love for radio and electronics, which he developed alongside his cousin, Richard Day, Jr. ‘42, launched him into his career in the US Army. Immediately after his graduation from Proctor, he enrolled at Harvard University, but soon enlisted in the US Army Signal Corp. After basic training, Bob was stationed in Liege, Belgium during the Battle of Bulge. He served in highly technical jobs coordinating marine radio communications while hidden in a castle. His cousin, Richard, recalls one time he connected with Bob over the radio from his own outpost on the other side of Europe. Following his service with the US Army, Bob finished his degree at Harvard, earning both a Mechanical Engineering degree and a Master’s in Electrical Engineering. He taught electrical engineering at Swarthmore College for several years before moving back to Rhode Island. While teaching at Brown University, Bob met his future wife, Nancy, a textile designer with a degree from Rhode Island School of Design who would go on to start the textile arts department at UMass - Dartmouth. The couple married on December 21, 1954 and immediately set sail for a honeymoon in Bermuda - in a blizzard!
One of his most reliable customers was a man named Thomas J. Watson, the founder of IBM computers. Watson hired Bob to equip all of his yachts with his technology, flying him to Europe and Asia to oversee construction of the technology in his new vessels. Their business relationship turned into a close friendship, and both Bob and Nancy reflect fondly on their time sailing around the world with the Watsons. Despite a career that allowed him to travel the world, Bob and Nancy found stability in their home in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. They have lived in the same antique cape since 1956, where they raised their two children, and have been integral members of their community for the past sixty years. On top of running his own business, Bob was an assistant professor of electrical engineering at the University of Rhode Island, a registered professional engineer, a land surveyor, a recipient of US patents in radio electronics, and founded the National Marine Electronics Association. Despite this, he still found time to start the New England Museum of Wireless and Steam (NEMWS) in 1964, which houses one of the finest collections of its kind in the world. In 2001, Bob was awarded the General Tools Award for his lifetime of work in the field of electronics by the Society of Industrial Archeology. Bob’s list of achievements, honors, and society memberships is a mile long, reflecting his deep passion and a lifelong commitment to understanding, preserving, and sharing the joys of engineering with others. If you happen to be in East Greenwich, Rhode Island on October 1st, be sure to stop by the Yankee Steam-Up at Bob’s museum and mention to him that you are part of the Proctor family. His eyes will light up almost as much as they do when he’s teaching others about early electronics and steam engines.
It was this sense of adventure, love of the water, and highly technical training that set the course for the remainder of Bob’s career in marine electronics. He developed the first fish-finder device, and started a business that serviced the commercial fishing fleet of Montauk. His business, Merriam Instruments, grew to encompass other marine navigation devices, outfitting the finest sailing yachts around the world.
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Karen Hoskin ‘86 A Spirited Life
Karen Hoskin ‘86 took a huge risk when she left the comforts of her rural Maine milltown in the fall of 1985 and arrived on Proctor’s campus as a first year senior. Familiar friends, coaches, and family, were replaced by countless unknowns, but she was confident the journey on which she was about to embark would change her life. She was right. Her journey since Proctor led her to Williams College, to working in an enlightening, albeit unsuccessful, political campaign, to living off the grid with her husband for ten years, to a successful career as a brand builder and serial entrepreneur, and most recently, to starting her own craft distillery in Crested Butte. In 2008, Karen and her husband, Brice, decided to take a chance starting a craft distillery. Brice had already started his own business, highly successful Mountain Boy Sledworks, and their instincts told them the time was right for Karen to make her vision of starting a craft distillery a reality. “Everything we felt instinctively right about the craft distillery world has come to fruition.” Her company, Montanya Distillers, was an early player in this space and one of the first craft distilleries in Colorado. Their award winning rum (her white rum was recently named the “World’s Best Rum”) has experienced a remarkable 35% growth each year in a traditionally slow growth market and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and Outside Magazine, among other publications. Montanya Distillers is comprised of 80% women, has two locations in Crested Butte, and distributes to 42 states and seven countries around the world. Taking this type of leap of faith took incredible confidence and courage, two traits Karen acknowledges blossomed during her year at Proctor. As she entered her final year of high school, the path that lay before her was filled with unknowns, and this was the power of her Proctor experience, “There were so many risks I took that year. Coming into a new school as a senior, going on Mountain Classroom, living in a dorm with underclassmen. There were so many moments during one year that I pushed myself outside my comfort zone, and a byproduct of that mindset was to not
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allow myself to be invested in popularity and other superficial issues that hold so many teenagers back.” Expanding her academic resume was a key driver in her decision to attend Proctor, however, as her year unfolded, she began to appreciate the whole of the Proctor experience. Karen was elected a captain on Bert Carvalho’s girls’ basketball team and played the alto saxophone in the Jazz/Rock Band under the guidance of Paul Silverman. “I genuinely appreciated a group of teachers and classmates who welcomed me, a potential outsider as a first year senior, with open arms and gave me the confidence to share who I was with the community.” In the spring of her senior year, Karen embarked on Mountain Classroom led by Peter Southworth and Annie Woodard. “Our Mountain Classroom trip was epic in so many ways. Canoeing the San Juan River, doing a solo in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, I realized how few people were able to have those experiences we were having.” The mentors who entered Karen’s life at Proctor proved as transformational as the experiences. “Peter Southworth has provided me with a massive amount of inspiration in my life, both then and now. He introduced me to the west both on Mountain Classroom and on Project Period when we backcountry skied in Colorado. Mountain Classroom, through Peter’s guidance, pushed every comfort zone I had. I loved that and have craved it ever since.” It has been this refusal to live within her comfort zone and a constant hunger for ‘what’s next’ that has inspired Karen to live life in pursuit of her passions. Her appreciation for Proctor’s approach to learning continues to grow as she watches her own children navigate adolescence, “We spend so much time trying to package ourselves for colleges that we forget to live passionately. Putting yourself together as a human being, as a passionate human being, is so much more important than all of those numbers. Those numbers flow once you discover your passions. We have to help young people feel the freedom to discover, and opportunity to pursue, their passions.”
Photo Credit: Montanya Distillery
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A Message to Class of 1967 June 2017 marks 50 years since we threw our caps up in the air. I would never suggest that evaluating the role of this school in our lives over half a century will be easy, but if we come back to where important stories began, along with a Proctor that has grown in reputation and reach right along with us, life gets richer. And who wouldn’t want to sign up for that? I hope to see you at Reunion 2017!
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Photo Credit: Knox Turner
Knox Turner ‘67 The Lessons Learned
Knox Turner ‘67 contributed the following piece for this year’s magazine as he gets ready to celebrate his 50th Alumni Reunion in June 2017. Knox has been a lifelong educator in the arts, languages, and cultural identity at the high school and collegiate level. He currently lives in Northwood, NH and Bajo La Paz de San Ramón, Alajuela, Costa Rica, where he is adjunct faculty with the Universidad de Costa Rica, Sede de Occidente. Percentages tell so little of a story. I went to Proctor for my four years of high school, which represents only 5.9% of my lifetime. The longer I live, that number will keep getting smaller. It’s true percentages tell a story, but not the whole story, not the one about the 94.1%, and certainly not the story that matters most. Proctor altered my DNA for living. It gave me a self-replicating formula that transcended both my personal and professional life. It gave me the happiness that comes from being part of a community where you are recognized for who you are, and where you can grow cumulatively by embracing new communities. Proctor would guide me on two powerful tracks: a love for the power of the English language, written and spoken, and the power of language where English has no power. But where to begin to make sense of the 94.1% from that humble 5.9% in a small town in Andover, New Hampshire? I trace back to four lessons learned at Proctor. 1. It’s more important to have great questions than a lot of answers. Three memorable English teachers allowed me to run with the English language beyond any class assignments: Russell Griffin, John Kirk, and Donald Burke. They could have asked students to stick to the requirements of given assignments, but instead they led by asking big questions which would lead someone like me to a bigger idea or a more powerful structure for an idea. Writing, for the first time in my life, had allies. As is so often the case with teachers, they transmitted confidence through a style of teaching. Proctor taught me that questions are more powerful than answers. In life, that would open doors. 2. Don’t block a great opportunity with historic doubt. Since I was a bit of a loner, Spence Wright was concerned that I had never become involved in any team sport. Spence suggested Cross Country, a relatively new sport for the school. Nancy, his wife, knew that I was a guy who liked to run with ideas, so just maybe – and of course I’ll never know her influence – I was a guy who could just run. In the end it was the coach who convinced me to join Cross Country – Gilberto
Suárez. For the first time I was part of a supportive team in a physically-demanding sport. Soft-spoken and with the wisdom of a distant world, he taught me endurance and pacing on Proctor trails at the same time he was introducing me to Spanish in the classroom. Spence Wright and Gilberto Suárez put me in touch with something inside me that demanded pushing a physical boundary, a valuable lesson in the middle of my 5.9% that led to a lifetime love of running and appreciation for the role of sport in straddling cultural boundaries. 3. Life on planet earth is not always available in translation. Fifty years ago, Proctor had no international programming, but it did have Gilberto Suárez who gave me the confidence to enroll in a 1966 summer program in Saltillo, México. I travelled alone arriving in the dead of night to meet a family I did not know in a land I had only read about where the power of English was marginal at best. Spanish opened a second front for me and I escaped the protected world of school and family, and entered a kind of parallel universe – different, mysterious, and yet accepting of me in an entirely new way. Gilberto Suárez didn’t so much teach me Spanish as how to suspend English. That single concept has guided almost all my work in second language acquisition. 4. The world is larger than any one person’s notion of it. Knowing the school now, it is sobering to know that Proctor had virtually no ethnic or functional language diversity in the sixties. Proctor was a protected world. Beyond Proctor there would be much less protection. As students, we had a sense that change and turmoil were part of the country with growing frequency. But we had papers to write and games to play, and at night the lights went out at 11:00 pm. Each morning we were somehow protected by Ragged, Kearsarge, and a caring community. Through this turmoil, it was my teachers who asked me to keep the big questions front and center, and who gave me the privilege to see the rest of the world through its own means of expression that makes it clear that Proctor has always kept its motto Live to Learn. Learn to Live alive in this community.
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Jessica Sarkisian ‘91 Letting Your Dreams Take Flight
When Jessica Sarkisian ‘91 was ten years old she was asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” She replied an airline pilot. Three years later Top Gun hit the theaters and that dream evolved into wanting to fly an F-14. She began reading about military aircraft and took her first hours of flight instruction during her senior year at Proctor Academy. Twenty-six years later, Jessica is an eleven year veteran captain flying for Frontier Airlines based in Colorado, her self-proclaimed dream job. Jessica knows as well as anyone that her dream did not just ‘come true’, but rather was earned. After graduating from Proctor, Jessica attended Daniel Webster College to study Aviation Management and Flight Operations where she continued to gain hours flying, eventually propelling her into a job as a flight instructor. During this time, Proctor alum and United Airlines pilot, Laurie Cannon ‘60 reached out to Jessica when he learned of her desire to fly for a major airline. Laurie was a longtime pilot himself, and his words of wisdom encouraged her to continue to pursue her goal.
about myself and my work.” She adds, “The biggest challenge in my job is the fact that all the responsibility lies on my shoulders. Paperwork, weather, maintenance issues, everything has a checklist and I must pay attention to every detail. I have learned to be meticulous in everything I do, and to never cut corners. It is an important lesson for everyone to take into their own lives.” While her interests at Proctor were varied, ranging from jewelry classes to computer classes on “those boxy little Apples” to playing on the soccer and tennis teams, Proctor’s influence on her life was uniformly consistent. “I’ve always been a people pleaser, but I have learned how to balance that personality trait with self-advocacy skills and a willingness to ask for help when I need it.” She credits this growth to people like Yunus Peer (dorm parent) and Charlene Doran (Learning Skills Specialist and jewelry teacher), “Without a doubt, Proctor gave me the tools to get through life, to learn how to work with different types of people, to take care of Mother Earth, and to better understand myself as a learner. At Proctor, you are surrounded by support, and if you are smart, you learn how to ask for help when you need it. This is not a sign of weakness, but rather strength and self-awareness.”
“Chase your dreams, find something you love to do, and make it your career. If you can go to work every day and love what you do, your life will be that much more enjoyable.”
After flying for Business Express for three years, Jessica shifted to fly with American Eagle where she flew as a Captain in San Juan, Puerto Rico for two more years. Her most recent transition saw her move to Frontier Airlines, and in February 2015 became a Captain with over 13,000 hours to her name. In a male dominated industry (95% of all pilots are male), Jessica’s hard work and determination to achieve her goals are impressive.
Jessica’s journey is one of perseverance and self-advocacy, traits we hope all Proctor graduates take with them upon graduation. She notes, “I feel strongly you need to earn your position in life through hard work. My journey took me from flight instructor, to commuter planes, and eventually to commercial planes. I have worked with so many different people during my career as a pilot, and from each of them I have learned much
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When asked to give advice to current Proctor students based on her life experience, Jessica pleads, “Chase your dreams, find something you love to do, and make it your career. If you can go to work every day and love what you do, your life will be that much more enjoyable. This type of life isn’t just going to fall into your lap, though. You need to study hard and put the time, energy, and work into making it happen. I’ve also learned to not take anything for granted, to own your mistakes and apologize when needed. Most of all, I’ve come to realize there is always more to learn and areas to grow, but if you are able to live life in a way that is true to yourself and true to others, dreams do come true.”
Photo Credit: Jessica Sarkisian
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Joe Hoagland feeds Grace, one of Island Dolphin Care’s Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins, and continues to work for the organization his parents founded after he suffered a stroke at the age of three.
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“To the Proctor community: you each are blessed with the opportunity to be connected to the best school of its kind. Down the road (which will most likely be rocky at some point), the knowledge, skills, and friendships you developed at Proctor prove to be solid gold and will never leave you.” Photo Credit: Peter and Deena Hoagland
Peter Hoagland ‘70
Turning Tragedy into Triumph One Child at a Time The way you respond to challenges in your life says a lot about your character. Do you allow yourself to fall victim to circumstances, or do you leverage your situation to make a positive impact on others? When Peter Hoagland’s (‘70) three year old son, Joe, had a major stroke and was left in a coma after his third open-heart surgery, he and his wife, Deena, were faced with this exact question. Their positive response impacted not only their own family, but allowed them to help other families facing similar challenges. Peter and Deena’s story began long before their son’s illness. In 1965, after a challenging junior boarding school experience, Peter enrolled at Proctor Academy. Throughout his years at Proctor Peter witnessed firsthand Proctor’s transformation as a school as social pressures challenged the traditional boys’ school culture. He reflects fondly on the patience and perseverance of his teachers (George Emeny, Spence Wright, the Norris’, among others), but notes, “The friends I made at Proctor were the real treasure I took with me upon graduation. Proctor was slowly changing in response to outside pressure and it was the friendships formed on campus that helped us navigate this challenging time.” ` While in Colorado, he became friends with a young woman named Deena, which eventually blossomed into something more serious. It was through Deena’s encouragement and his friends’ support that Peter would eventually earn his masters from Oregon State University. He and Deena married in 1976 and moved back to Colorado where she earned a master’s degree in social work. Their life on five acres of land in the mountains of Colorado was beautiful, and they welcomed their daughter, Kate, into the world in 1983. In 1986, the proverbial curveball was thrown when their son, Joe, was born with a severe congenital heart defect. During Joe’s third open-heart surgery, he suffered a massive stroke that left him in a coma with little use of the right side of his body. Doctors gave a grim prognosis, and Deena and Peter moved to Florida in order to be at sea
level and aid Joe’s breathing. Typical therapies were not working for Joe, and finally, Deena took Joe to swim at a pool at Dolphins Plus as a last ditch effort to use water as a rehabilitation tool. As soon as Joe saw Fonzi, a dolphin, he giggled, something he hadn’t done for a long time. Over the next year, as he worked regularly with Fonzi, Joe began to laugh, smile, and regain motion in the right side of his body, and within the next few years, recovered fully to the point of no noticeable impact of his stroke. Peter and Deena were amazed with their son’s recovery and the intuitive relationship formed with Fonzi. Deena told herself, “If this is the gift I get for my son, I have to give it to everyone else who needs it.” As a result of Joe’s remarkable recovery, Peter and Deena started Island Dolphin Care, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people dealing with a number of different challenges, including disabilities and mental and physical illnesses. Since 1997, their organization has run a five day therapy program which combines in-water therapy sessions, with the team’s seven Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphins, and classroom therapy sessions. Peter and Deena recognize, based on their first hand experience, that parents of children with disabilities become disabled as well, “Our goal is to provide families the opportunity to spend time with their children away from the challenges day-to-day life puts on them. Before parents leave they get to hold their child in the water with the dolphins and be the parent they want to be. We get to help be the glue that keeps families together, and it is an honor.” For the past twenty years, Peter and Deena have poured their heart and soul into Island Dolphin Care. With Joe now by their sides as a key partner helping the business run smoothly, they look back at their decision to meet the challenges they faced head on, and to make the conscious decision to turn tragedy into a triumph - not only for their family, but for countless others. To learn more about Island Dolphin Care and how you can help Peter, Deena, and Joe continue to impact families in need, visit their website: www.islanddolphincare.org.
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Joanna de Pena ‘08 Completing the Circle
Joanna de Pena made the difficult decision to leave home in Lawrence, Massachusetts for the opportunities Proctor Academy afforded her after eighth grade. While small in stature, Joanna’s passion, confidence, and wisdom beyond her years commands the attention of others whether she’s serving as the emotional and spiritual leader of her basketball team at Proctor or speaking to an auditorium of inner-city youth about investing in their future. Joanna will become the youngest member of Proctor’s Board of Trustees this fall, and we were excited to ask her about her story. Tell me a little about your life before Proctor? After my father had his second stroke when I was nine years old, he was left nonverbal and paralyzed. Life became really challenging, but my mother worked hard in multiple jobs and remained positive as she struggled to raise my brother and me in low-income housing. I grew up on one of the most dangerous streets in Lawrence, MA and our schools were a mess, but my involvement in the Lawrence Boys and Girls club kept me focused and out of trouble. How did Proctor get on the map as you thought about high school opportunities? During 8th grade, my Boys and Girls Club coach, Steve Kelly, who was far more than just a coach to us, but a real mentor, sat me down to talk about my potential and opportunities outside of Lawrence. I didn’t know where to start, but before graduating 8th grade Proctor’s Gregor Makechnie visited the Club. We had a great conversation about academics, sports, my interests, and my future, but I would have to repeat 8th grade since I had missed the application deadline. This was not appealing to me, and my mother wasn’t sold on the idea since it was such a foreign concept for our family and our culture. But after my first three days at Lawrence High as a freshman, I ran into Steve Kelly and told him I didn’t want to go back, and he helped me enroll for a repeat 8th grade year so I could then apply to Proctor. At that point, I lost all of my school “friends” because they didn’t understand my decision to invest in my future. I went through with the process, though, because I trusted the Club and Steve and the opportunities that lay ahead of me at Proctor. What are your top three moments from your four years at Proctor? • Our historic championship for girls’ varsity basketball • Traveling abroad to Costa Rica, Spain, and France • Wilderness Orientation because it rained so much that nothing went as planned but we bonded and started the year off strong
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Who were the most influential people you met during your years at Proctor? Everyone at Proctor was influential in my life in one way or another. My advisor Alejandra Young, my basketball coaches Noreen Fifield and Megan (Lytle) Hardie, Gregor, my basketball team, Lisa Scarry, Mike Henriques, and Terry Stoecker all come to mind. Proctor prepared me for life after high school by experiencing this ‘new world’ full of positivity, community love, opportunities, professionalism, structure and the constant reminder of goal setting. Tell us about the work you’re doing today with Top Notch Scholars? I returned to Lawrence to found a non-profit in 2014 called Top Notch Scholars. We are a Leadership Development Organization for youth and provide motivational speaking engagements and leadership workshops to schools and youth organizations focusing on self-confidence, self-advocacy, overcoming adversity and developing successful habits. We also host our own youth leadership conferences and I am putting together a regional youth leadership conference through Merrimack College. My goal is to host a youth leadership conference at TD Garden in the next three years! Lastly, we are in the process of creating an after school program that will allow students to intern for us and learn skills such as marketing, graphic design, coding, public speaking, and business development. We already have over 150 interested youth and counting and a location that we are looking into as a host site! What inspires you to reach out to young people with a message of hope and opportunity? I have the ability to help remove mental barriers prohibiting young people from being their best selves. I feel I have an obligation to share the knowledge and life skills that I have gained through being mentored at the Lawrence Boys’ and Girls’ Club and at Proctor. So many young people lack a positive role model and guidance. To be able to provide this to youth is such a gift.
Photo Credit: Vaughn Winchell Photography
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Heather Moore ’87 Heather B. Moore Custom Hand Stamped Jewelry Cleveland Heights, OH www.heathermoorejewelry.com Breck Armstrong ’87 Moss Studios Industrial Modern Salvage Furniture Fowlerville, MI www.mossstudiosinc.com Natasha Egan ’88 Museum of Contemporary Photography Executive Director Chicago, IL www.mocp.org Andrea Boccaletti ’89 One Love Unified Socially Conscious Fashion Venice, CA www.oneloveunified.com Roth Martin ’91 Rothy’s Sustainable Fashion Technology San Francisco, CA www.rothys.com Matt Nathanson ’91 Matt Nathanson Musician San Francisco, CA www.mattnathanson.com Cristof Eigelberger ’92 Eigelberger Architecture & Design Architect Sausalito, CA www.eigelberger.com Eben Wight ’95 Matchstick Productions Graphic Arts, Film, and Photography Crested Butte, CO www.mspfilms.com Reece Carter ’95 Reece Camp Carter Sculptor Venice, CA www.reececamp.com Carter Beckworth ’05 Carter Beckworth Musician Austin, TX www.carterbeckworth.com Taylor Mickle ’74 The Lux Farm Digital Photography: Macro and Minature Dioramas Copake, NY www.theluxfarm.com
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Alumni ACROSS THE USA IN
The Arts
Stephanie Nichols ’86 Stephanie Nichols Studio Lighting Designer and Sculptor Bratteboro, VT www.stephanienicholsstudio.com Christopher Spitzmiller ’90 Christopher Spitzmiller, Inc. Clay Lamps, Dishes and Accessories Millbrook & Manhattan, NY www.christopherspitzmiller.com Corby Leith ’92 Corbett B. Leith Oil on Canvas Andover, NH www.corbettleith.com Kelcey Loomer ’96 Seed and Sky Designs Wearable Art Ashville, NC www.seedandsky.com Emily Kalina ’96 Kalina Designs Painting and Digital Art Portsmouth, NH www.emilykalina.com Abbi Stern ’00 Brooklyn Heavy Metal Avant-Garde Jewelry Brooklyn, NY www.brooklynheavymetal.com Parker Hatfield ’00 Phatfield Designs Industrial Designer Fairfield, CT www.phatfielddesign.com
Sharing a Passion for the Arts
As we criss-crossed the country connecting with alums over the past year, we were reminded of the number of alumni engaged in the arts professionally. Hundreds of alumni who have turned a passion first explored in Slobumb Hall, the Alan Shepherd Boathouse, the recording studio, the forge, or on the stage of the Norris Family Theater into a career. We know this list is far from comprehensive, and the twenty-two artists showcased in this piece represent a sampling of Proctor Alumni Artist network that we hope to grow and share with our current students. Please let us know if you are an alum engaged in the arts by emailing communications@proctoracademy.org.
Andrew Will ’00 Emerson College Sound Design Boston, MA www.emerson.edu/performing-arts Phoebe Dwight ’04 Turkey Bag Designs Greeting Cards Brooklyn, NY www.turkeybagdesigns.com Kyler Taustin ’05 Brown Box Theatre Project Traveling Theater Ocean City, MD www.brownboxtheatre.org Jared Coffin ’06 New England Scenic Set Design/Production Boston, MA www.newenglandscenic.com
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Food
Sarena Stern ’02 Harvey and Thistle
Sonoma County/ Bay Area, CA www.harveyandthistle.com Harvey and Thistle is a casual yet elegant pop-up restaurant. From lush vineyards, cozy homes and quaint farms, diners will find refined food in a relaxed and approachable setting.
Corinne Cline ’08 Tarte Cafe and Bakery
Andover, NH www.tartecafeandbakery.com Corinne opened Tarte Café and Bakery in 2014 after gaining an appreciation for European pastry during her Proctor abroad program in France. Tarte specializes in classic French pastries and espresso drinks.
Katie Kidder ’91 The Chappy Kitchen
Edgartown, MA www.thechappykitchen.com Founded by Katie Kidder in 2015, The Chappy Kitchen offers farm fresh and home-cooked gourmet meals for delivery and catering. They deliver home-cooked meals to Proctor students.
Marc Murphy ’88 Benchmarc Restaurants & Events
New York City, NY www.marc-murphy.com Marc is executive chef and owner of Benchmarc Restaurants, which operates 4 restaurants and a catering company. He is a regular judge on Chopped, and he released a cookbook last spring.
Robert Ittner Jr. ’89 Cooking School of Aspen & Rustique Bistro
Aspen, CO www.rustiquebistro.com Rob owns Rustique Bistro, a cozy, Provençal style restaurant. He also owns the Cooking School of Aspen, which offers cooking classes, catering, and a large event venue.
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Alumni ACROSS THE USA IN
Food&Beverage
Malcolm de Sieyes ’01 Silverado Cooking School
Napa, CA www.silveradocookingschool.com Malcolm de Sieyes started Silverado Cooking School in 2012, which specializes in interactive classes designed to make cooking social and fun. They use seasonal produce harvested from their own farm.
Drink Will Hamill ’83 Uinta Brewing Company
Salt Lake City, UT www.uintabrewing.com Uinta brewing is a craft brewery that Will Hamill founded in 1993. Today they employ over 100 people and are the 38th largest craft brewer out of 4200. Their beer is distributed in 35 states.
Sean Venus ’95 Venus Spirits
Santa Cruz, CA www.venusspirits.com Founded in 2013 by Sean Venus, the West Coast distillery currently produces certified organic, small-batch Wayward Whiskey, Venus Spirits Gin and Aquavit, and El Ladrón Blue Agave Spirit.
Karen Hoskin ’86 Montanya Distillers
Creating an Alumni Network
The paths our alumni take after graduation are as diverse as their Proctor journey’s themselves. The Proctor model provides students a self-confidence and willingness to take risks that results in a strong entrepreneurial spirit in many of our alumni. This independence has fueled the ten alumni listed on these pages to pursue careers in the food and beverage industry. They are chefs, brewers, restaurant owners, and distillers who have remained connected to Proctor, and represent the start of an alumni network in the food and beverage industry that will span the globe. Are you involved in this industry as well? We would love to hear from you and connect you to other alums in a similar field of work. Email us at communications@proctoracademy.org!
Crested Butte, CO www.montanyarum.com Karen and Brice Hoskins founded Montanya Distillers in 2008. Their rum is made by hand, from scratch, with non-GMO sugarcane. Montanya places a high value on their traditional craft distilling values.
Ethan Vandermark ’04 Nourish Juice Bar and Wellness Cafe
Northhampton, MA www.nourishnoho.com Ethan and Ashley Vandermark started Nourish Juice Bar in 2015, and expanded to a Wellness Cafe in 2016. All of their food and beverages are 100% organic and locally sourced when possible.
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
In November of 2015, Director of Development Keith Barrett ’80 and Head of School Mike Henriques had the opportunity to visit former Head of School, David Fowler at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. “Chopper” shared about his life since retiring from Proctor, his new artistic pursuits, and his sustained belief in the educational model he helped build at Proctor during his thirty years as a faculty member and Head of School. Check out more from our interview with David on The Buzz at blogs.proctoracademy.org.
Catching up with
CHOPPER
“
...that’s what education is about anyways: lifelong learning and staying
hungry for knowledge. 30
”
Tell us a little about your life today, since retiring from Proctor and moving to Santa Fe. Following Proctor, I moved west to Santa Fe, New Mexico. My wife, Polly, and I have five acres out here where I’ve tried everything from planting different varieties of apple trees, apricots, figs, and other fruits. I’ve raised chickens, and I have a tractor which is my toy. It’s actually my responsibility to grade the road here with my tractor. Soon after I moved out here, I was fortunate to link up with an environmental group based out of Vermont that was helping the Pueblo environmental office measure the health of the water flowing in their rivers. It was very exciting, because right away I was thrown into the thing I came out here for. Reflecting on your legacy at Proctor, your commitment to experiential learning stands out. Where did you first develop these beliefs? Many of my beliefs about experiential learning came out of my experience through an Outward Bound program for educators in which Tim Norris and I took part in 1969 or 1970 in the Allagash Wilderness. I came away from that experience really rejuvenated, and renewed in a sense, that there were other ways to educate people. Everything at Proctor evolved from that experience; Wilderness Orientation, Mountain Classroom, language immersion programs, small advisory groups, small dorm groups. They all had their roots in this Outward Bound philosophy. It was never a question about ‘if’ we should be doing it, nor was it ever a question about not doing it. It was just always a question about ‘how’ we could do it and then exploring ways we could make it happen in different ways. You were also instrumental in establishing Proctor’s commitment to environmental sustainability. What are your thoughts on Proctor’s continued commitment to environmental stewardship? The Cary House Fire in 1977 forced us to look at how we would rebuild dormitories on campus. We said, let’s face the new dorms we
were building south, have thermal windows, and have them heated with wood furnaces utilizing wood from our woodlot. The idea of greater energy independence came out of that tragedy. It was all part of the makeup right from the very beginning. What other way can you go? I mean, there are other ways to go, but they don’t make much sense this day and age. I’m really happy the school has come so far environmentally; woodchip powered steam plant, solar panels, geothermal heated dormitory and new dining hall. I’m really pleased that legacy has broadened and carried on. It’s been terrific to see. As a school, we often talk about lifelong learning. Your retirement epitomizes this philosophy. How have you stayed hungry to learn? I’ve spent much of my time out here writing and painting. Out of my experience working with the Pueblos studying water quality came the premise for my first novel, Cloud Swallower. It was based on a Zuni legend about twins who go out and try to slay a monster, and my former colleague Tom Eslick was a key part of the whole writing and publishing process. My second novel, Descent, came after. Both books are set in the northern New Mexico area and have the same protagonist. My background is history, and I love this part of the country. It all fit for me, the research, the history, the writing, the story telling. I have also started writing poetry again as well. I first started writing poetry during Project Period. We used to head out to California with a group of students, and travel along the Big Sur and then come back in the evenings to write poetry. I have been so impacted by the visual here in New Mexico, that I felt compelled to put the pen back on paper and start writing again. The poetry, the murder mysteries, and the painting I’ve done are the three areas that have kept me learning. I don’t know why I’ve focused on art, but something inside me has propelled me in that direction. They are lifelong, and that’s what education is about anyways: lifelong learning and staying hungry for knowledge.
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Nancy and John Schoeller
Proctor Faculty Members (1977-2008) (1973-2002) It’s now been eight years since you retired, Nancy, from teaching in the English Department at Proctor, and fourteen years since you retired, John, from serving as Chair of the Learning Skills Department and teaching in the Math Department. How have you been spending your retirement thus far? John automatically turned into a farmer for his retirement since that’s what he did during every vacation. It was harder for me since I never wanted to retire, but got burned out and needed a change. Now I’m volunteering at Concord Hospital and the Red Cross and
Chris Noll
Proctor Faculty Member (1981-1996) Tell us a little about your journey since moving on from Proctor in 1996? Where are you now? How is your family? Linda and I left Proctor and moved to Connecticut to teach at Miss Porter’s School, a girls’ day and boarding school in Farmington, Connecticut in 1996. Linda continued teaching English until she became Dean of Students the following year. I split between English and Technology, eventually shifting entirely to teaching technology classes, but continuing to coach basketball and soccer for years. I eventually moved into the Communications department and managed the website, took photos, and oversaw various digital initiatives. During that first year at Miss Porter’s, we welcomed Connor, our son, as Katie, our daughter, turned 6. Katie graduated from Miss Porter’s, and is now teaching elementary ed in Washington D.C. at a KIPP school. Connor will be a senior in high school and is a sponsored skate boarder! Reflecting on your 16 years at Proctor, and career since, what advice would you give young faculty members today about working at a boarding school? I’ve stayed in education for all these years because it always offers the opportunity to learn. I always felt that I would leave when I stopped learning - which obviously hasn’t happened. As a classroom teacher, it was important to challenge myself both with content and teaching techniques, but I also looked to colleagues and my students as people from whom I could learn. Changing roles within a school also offers new challenges.
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going to Planet Fitness. We definitely miss the kids and the family/social life we had at Proctor, and of course miss the hilarious dining hall conversations we used to have with all of our colleagues. Reflecting on your career at Proctor, what advice would you give young faculty members today? Try to have your significant other work at Proctor, too, so you both understand the level of commitment needed to do your job. Make sure you make good use of your nights off and get out of town! Try not to let yourself get used up and worn out. It can creep up on you! Could you each share one memory of your time at Proctor that still makes you smile, laugh, or cry? One memory is almost impossible! I guess mine (Nancy) would be when David Pilla, Sarah Will, Susan Eslick, Nancy Begin, and I sang oldies in assembly. We were backed by Paul Silverman, Chuck Will, and Keith Barrett. John’s favorite memory was when his Proctor football team came back from 14 points down with 4:00 to play against Holderness and miraculously won the game!
Going from English, to Technology, to Communications has allowed me to continually grow and learn. Can you share one memory of your time at Proctor that still makes you laugh today? I’m not sure I can pick one specific memory because I have so many. It still fascinates me what an impact Proctor had on me (what an impact the people had on me). Whether it’s someone like John Schoeller, Dave Pilla or Karl Methven, who were important mentors, peers, and friends, or students and advisees who helped me understand what teaching and learning really meant, I find myself constantly referencing my experiences at Proctor, whether it’s when offering guidance to a current student or in my own day-to-day interactions. A lot of how I see the world and what I value was impacted by my experiences at Proctor.
Celebrating Retiring Faculty and Staff
Marie began her career at Proctor in 1983 when she joined the community as a librarian with a recent Master’s in Library Science from the University of Rhode Island. Over the next 34 years, Marie helped evolve Proctor’s library services during a time of incredible technological development. She would see her three children (Krysta ‘93, Mike ‘97, and Anthony ‘05) graduate from Proctor while she dedicated her entire career to the development of a dynamic, agile library able to serve Proctor’s students and faculty incredibly well. Marie helped Proctor’s Lovejoy Library evolve into a center for learning on campus when it moved from Shirley Hall to the Fowler Learning Center in 1995, and confidently shared her knowledge of print and online resources with countless students over the years. She has proofread and checked citations on an estimated 2,000 U.S. History research papers during her career.
Marie Montivirdi, P’93,’97,’05
34 Years Providing Vision for the Lovejoy Library
Marie’s partner in the library for 26 years, Judy Preston P’94,’97, shared the following thoughts on Marie’s impact on Proctor: When Marie came to Proctor Academy, Lovejoy Library was located in a double classroom in the northeast corner of Shirley Hall, a tiny space with no room for growth. Marie was determined to change that and in 1992, her preparation paid off when then Head of School David Fowler announced a generous gift from an anonymous donor for building a new, stand-alone library and learning center. Marie’s legacy at Proctor Academy is embodied in the now 22 year-old Lovejoy Library on the main floor of Fowler Learning Center. Under her stewardship, the library went from being that quiet double classroom in Shirley Hall to this two level, light-filled, post and beam structure inspired by Shaker architecture that continues to astound visitors and meet the needs of the Proctor community. With rapidly changing technology, Marie has shepherded the library program from one room with stacks to a multipurpose space with a variety of study options, small conference rooms for group collaboration, a green room for video projects, a makerspace, an amazing online reference collection and an information literacy curriculum to help students navigate the vast ocean of information. Through all these changes, Marie remained focused on her vision and quietly steered the Library through to fruition.
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Celebrating Retiring Faculty and Staff
Lida Beaudoin, P’96
32 Years of Service to Proctor’s Bookstore Lida joined the Proctor dining services team in 1985 before eventually moving to manage the bookstore in 1988. Throughout her entire career, Lida’s impact on the Proctor community transcended her title, as she developed remarkable relationships with the student body through her work. In her roles as book store manager, field hockey coach, Proctor parent (James ‘96), and ardent supporter of Proctor athletics in general, Lida made an enormous impact on the Proctor community during her career. She rarely missed a home basketball game, and the echos of Lida screaming “REBOUND!” from her front row seat on the bleachers will be dearly missed by basketball teams next year. Boys’ basketball coach Gregor Makechnie ‘90 adds, “Lida remained as committed to her basketball players off the court as she did on it. She welcomed them warmly in the school bookstore, offering words of encouragement in the days leading up to games and congratulations or comfort (and occasionally some pointed suggestions) following games. After graduation, she continued to track players because, of course, she cared about a lot more than basketball. Proctor Basketball wishes Lida well as she retires. She will remain Number 1 in our hearts.” Lida’s colleague in the bookstore, Alex Estin ‘83 notes, “Lida has touched so many people in her time at Proctor. She would do anything for any student, and for some of her special ones she would bake goodies for them occasionally. She has touched the heart of so many students in her time here, and will be so missed!”
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Ed Barkowski, P’99, ’01
Three Decades of Shaping Student Lives Through Tough Love Since 1987, Ed has been an integral part of the Proctor community, first joining Art Makechnie’s kitchen staff as a cook before shifting to manage the Wise Center in 2005. Through the relationships he built with students both in the kitchen and in the Wise Center, Ed taught incredibly valuable life lessons centered on hard work, responsibility, and integrity to countless Proctor students. We often say there are no walls to classrooms at Proctor, and Ed epitomized this by viewing his role managing the Wise Center with as much focus on educating students as making the facility run smoothly; often these two goals were one in the same. Dean of Faculty Karl Methven reflects, “Ed is an incredibly caring person who understood the value of teaching young people how to work hard, while remaining patient with their ‘not yet development’.” Ed’s two children (Ed ‘99 and Christine ‘01) graduated from Proctor, and his commitment to this place over the past 30 years has been remarkable. Student Life Coordinator Lisa Scarry notes, “He showered the students with tough love and they respected and loved him for that. He was a mentor, strong role model and teacher for all the students and lived by our core values every day. Assistant Head of School Karin Clough adds, “You don’t want to be on Ed’s bad side. Nobody wants to disappoint Ed, and yet, he is warm, funny, kind, and incredibly compassionate---but don’t forget to be on time, work hard, wipe all the counters, and have integrity in every interaction and action each and every day!”
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Academic Lens | The Changing Classroom
Proctor is Innovation A national trend to build centers of innovation, or makerspaces, that afford students the opportunity to experiment, tinker, and develop prototypes of ideas has forced the question: do we need to build a makerspace on campus to adequately serve our students? We agree makerspaces are critical to learning. We just have a slightly different approach to teaching innovation than most schools. Robotics and Engineering teacher, Josh Norris ‘92, points out that “Proctor IS Innovation.” The term ‘makerspace’ (a space for students to experiment, tinker, and develop prototypes of ideas) may be trending in schools around the country, but it is not a new idea at Proctor. In fact, it is a concept that has been central to Proctor’s educational model since the 1930s. During these trying years of the Great Depression, Proctor leaned heavily on its student body to create innovative solutions to common problems. If students wanted to race sailboats, and buying boats was not an option, students had to figure solve the problem themselves. Their solution? Build a fleet of boats in the woodshop to race at regattas around New England. When rations drove increases in food prices during World War II students planted and maintained victory gardens to supply the dining services team with food. Today, makerspaces abound on Proctor’s campus. Last year, 95% of students were enrolled in an arts course at some point during the year. These courses took place in a place specifi-
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cally designed to brainstorm, experiment, and fail repeatedly. The art studio, darkroom, woodshop, metal shop, forge, recording studio, and ceramics studio are all makerspaces that afford students the opportunity to collaborate and problem solve with each other. These exploratory environments are not limited to the arts, however. Three dimensional scanners and printers are the focus of specific courses in the technology department on the first floor of the Fowler Learning Center, while robotics students have access to the tools, components, and freedom necessary to create, test, and alter their own robots as they prepare for interscholastic competitions. These programs, alongside many other academic courses, share a common belief that student-centered, project based learning across disciplines serve as a catalyst for creativity and innovation. Students discover their passions while at Proctor, and, consequently, often have the self-confidence, determination, and risk tolerance to pursue that passion as a vocation. Innovation and creativity are not a program at Proctor, they are Proctor. It is on this foundation of a time-tested pedagogy that Proctor continues to explore exciting new learning spaces on-campus as a part of The Campaign for Proctor to further support budding entrepreneurship and innovative learning program offerings.
JAC FINS A PROCTOR BORN BUSINESS
Last fall in Proctor’s social entrepreneurship course, Jack Hall ‘16, Andrew Edwards ‘16, and Connor Simpson ‘16 developed a business plan for their new company, JAC Fins. Their idea sought to produce a dual bottom line of reducing plastic waste in the oceans while providing a high quality surfboard fin to consumers. After presenting their idea to the school community during Proctor’s fall Innovation Night, Andrew Edwards ‘16 decided to continue development of the product during the winter and spring terms. Borrowing his parents toaster oven, Andrew melted cut-up plastic bottles gathered from recycling bins around campus and hand cut fins based on a template he designed. During his Senior Project, Andrew refined his business plan and production technique and hopes to get JAC Fins to market in the future!
Fall and Spring Innovation Nights In an on-going effort to celebrate innovation at Proctor, we hosted our first Innovation Night during the final week of the Fall Term. Students from robotics, psychology, studio art, and social entrepreneurship classes shared their projects in an openhouse format before giving detailed presentations in Maxwell Savage’s English classrooms. Guests were provided ‘money’ to invest in the projects they felt were most innovative. A Spring Term Innovation Night followed the similar format as students in Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and AP Environmental Science courses presented their work to a packed house. We hope you are able to join us for this fall’s Innovation Night!
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Academic Lens | OUR 2500 ACRE CLASSROOM
PROCTOR WOODLANDS The Best Classroom on Campus:
The Proctor Woodlands provide an invaluable resource as a living classroom. Forestry and Wildlife Science teacher Dave Pilla P’19 notes, “I’m a wildlife biologist and a forester who is lucky enough to teach classes that are pure joy for me. Collectively, my students and I work to best understand ecological principles, study contemporary issues through research applications, and actively engage in active land management practices. When we know brain worm is an issue for the deer and moose population in our area, we have the ability to put a specimen on the table, dissect it, and research the impact of the disease on the surrounding habitats. Learning doesn’t get more real than that.” Proctor’s Woodlands also serve as a perfect laboratory for Environmental Science, Biology, and Zoology classes, and serve as a learning platform for courses beyond the sciences, like Surveying, Environmental Literature, and Visual Arts electives. Students who elect Woods Team as their afternoon activity help manage the land by maintaining trails, building bridges, controlling erosion, maple sugaring, tending Proctor’s Christmas tree plantation, and cutting and splitting firewood for dorm furnaces. Proctor’s environmental philosophy has long been driven by the value of community, of which natural resources play a critical role. Our 2,500 acres (which have twice been named New Hampshire Tree Farm of the Year) serve as an unparalleled educational, recreational, and community asset that must continue to be stewarded responsibly into the future. As Pilla acknowledges, “I don’t expect all of my students to go on to be wildlife biologists, but I do know we are graduating students who understand their connection to the natural world, and what it means to steward the environment around them.”
History of the Proctor Woodlands 1891: Head of School James Francis Morton builds extensive trail network behind his residence (Morton House).
1953
1936: Improvement Squad started by Roland Burbank to conduct gardening, forestry, and maintenance projects on campus and throughout woodlands. 1937: Cabin Club organized by Roland Burbank. 1947: Forest Fire Fighters Club started by Roland Burbank. Fights massive fire on Mount Sunapee for four straight days. Boys miss much anticipated co-ed dance. 1950s: Outing Club, Hunting Club, Fishing Club, and Forestry Activity started.
1984
1962: Donation of Carr Family Farm property doubles size of Proctor’s campus. 1966: Wilson Wonder Trail cut into woodlands on south slope of Ragged Mountain.
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2015
Late 1960s: Three major land acquisitions (including Fiddler/Edgar property at Elbow Pond) give Proctor total of 1,500 acres.
1975: Bob Wilson helps start forestry program at Proctor when Dave Erker is hired as forester. 1980: Forestry teacher Mike Hague works with wildlife science teacher David Pilla to write woodland management plan for Proctor. 1982: David Pilla hired as Woodland Manager. 1980s: Horse Logging offered as winter activity by Bert Hinkley along with his horses Sugar and Clyde. 1987: Wyeth Property (202 acres) acquired on west side of campus (includes cornfield and Proctor Ski Area woodland areas). 1992: Baxter/Clough Property (808 acres) acquired on Ragged Mountain (Balanced Rock and The Bulkhead) bringing Proctor’s land holdings to 2,500 acres. 2009: Field and Stream activity (bowhunting, fishing, tracking) started by Dave Kenney. 2016: Forestry workshops hosted at Proctor in conjunction with UNH, the NH Timberland Owners Association (NHTOA), NH Division of Forests and Lands.
The Very Best of Proctor
Sugar House The Johnson Family
When Proctor’s Woodland Manager David Pilla began thinking about a renovation to the Proctor Sugarhouse during the summer of 2015, Brooks Bicknell ‘77 realized it was a perfect opportunity for his Architectural Design class to take on the project. What better way to learn about architecture and building than through actually deconstructing and rebuilding a structure with your own hands? Through the support of the Johnson Family, whose journey with Proctor began when their son Eric ’88 started as a student in the fall of 1985, the Proctor Sugarhouse would transform from a little red structure with a dirt floor and rotting sills to the beautiful building it is today. Students in Brooks’ class led the charge, but the project required a team effort including significant time given to the project by Proctor’s maintenance department, industrial arts teacher Greg Allen, and David Pilla. On a frigid Tuesday afternoon in early January, more than a hundred members of the Proctor family (including alumni, former faculty and staff, and friends of the Johnson family) gathered outside the newly renovated sugarhouse to dedicate it to the Johnson family. Head of School Mike Henriques shared, “This project represents the very best of Proctor; experiential learning, teamwork, family. It is a soul corner of this campus where relationships are built and sustained through learning.”
in the hard conversations between advisors and advisees after assembly, on the long bus rides home after a tough defeat, and betweem dorm parent and student in the common room late at night. And it most definitely happens when we watch alumni and faculty members like Eric ’88 and his wife Heide dedicate their lives to sharing their passion for natural resources with others. Thank you to the Johnson Family for sharing their journey with all of us, and for providing a physical place for the very best of Proctor to happen each day during sugaring season. Afterall, as Eric ’88 attests, all of the world’s problems can be solved talking around evaporating sap in late March.
Senior Project: GIS Map of Proctor’s Woodlands Daniel Cook ‘16 completed a comprehensive GIS layered map of the Proctor Woodlands and resources available on the land during his Senior Project this past spring. Over the course of his three week project, Daniel spent considerable time on Proctor’s land mapping trails, soil types, and different ecosystems within Proctor’s 2,500 acres. Check out Daniel’s map on our Woodlands Management page at www.proctoracademy.org!
The very best of Proctor. That short phrase may seem cliche, but when Mike shared those words, there wasn’t a person present who did not know what he meant. The very best of Proctor occurs each day, sometimes in public moments like the sugarhouse dedication, but most often in the quiet, uncelebrated moments that serve as the foundation of a Proctor education. It happens
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Academic Lens | Off-Campus Programs
• You Become a Leader
• You Gain Valuable Perspective on the World
“I have many fears, mostly irrational, which have always prevented me from trying new things. This adventure taught me to be more independent and less afraid of the world. I also came to the realization that famous artists aren’t gods, they are just people, and I’m also a person. So I already have the potential to become as great as they were just by the fact that I am a person. I just need to paint more and more, and even more than that!” -Ceilidh ’16
“The calendar slides from left to right with the rocking of the boat. Noodles and soup get cold; upset tummies get emptied and filled. Nerve and anxiety wrack every bone. It comes in waves as if rolling with the ones beneath. And yet sitting on the plastery, sunny cabin top while listening to the ukulele, hearing shouts of joy and watching sprays of salt water, it is the happiest she’s been in a long time; the most whole she believes she could possibly be.” -Pudu ’16
Why We Study 40
• You Develop Personal Strength and Self-Reliance
• You Develop Cross-Cultural Communication Skills
“Coming into this term abroad, I had my worries: do my host brothers practice the drums and trombone at home? Will I miss my flight? Will I get along with everyone? Will I get lost? The answers are: no, almost, yes, and yes. Being at Proctor, sometimes it feels like everyone goes off campus so it isn’t a big deal or special. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Every day I am experiencing things I never could in a classroom, lessons I will carry with me for life. I guess that’s why Proctor is all about experiential learning.” - Grace ’16
“I have seen and done more in my first month at the Cloud Forest School than I would have ever hoped. This country is so beautiful and I learn and discover something new everyday. It’s the little things like spending time with friends, bonding with my host family, meeting new people, seeing monkeys, staring in awe at the remarkable countryside, and watching the sunset each evening that makes this term abroad so powerful.” -Liva ’18
Off-Campus... • You Become an Expert in Collaboration “During the last 72 hours we cooked, scheduled, and functioned completely on our own, without instructors. The cohesiveness that we have is undeniable, for we are truly a family now. I can say that I love the other seven lunatics here on this great adventure and that there is no way I would rather spend my final week of high school than in the woods with Mountain Classroom Spring 2016.” -Hal ’16
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Arts
Sometimes it can be a challenge to articulate who we are as a school based solely on the programs we offer. Over the course of each academic year, we are reminded that it is our students and their experiences that define us. Proctor’s commitment to the arts empowers students to share their talents, discover new passions, see the reward of hard work and practice, and step out of their comfort zones on a regular basis. The arts at Proctor continue to evolve with the talents of our faculty members, and remain an important medium through which student transformation takes place.
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“I grew up in a big city where everything is sped up. The environment inevitably forces you to focus on the end result. From an early age, being #1 is the expectation, but Proctor helped me realize being #1 shouldn’t be my only goal. I’ve learned that academics are not everything, and that I can be an artist, even if it is just splattering paint or learning to throw a ceramic pot.” - Nick ’16
95
%
of all students took
an art class in 2015-2016 43
2015-2016
ACHIEVEMENTS NEPSAC Class C Champions -Girls’ Varsity Basketball NEPSAC Quarterfinalists -Girls’ and Boys’ Varsity Hockey Lakes Region Championship - Varsity Golf Proctor USSA/FIS Skiers make over 500 starts at more than 25 race venues in 10 states and 5 countries around the globe
SKI AREA Update PROCTOR SKI AREA
Fun Facts
120 kWh of electricity produced by solar panels at the Proctor Ski Area 7,500 feet of snow-making on two alpine trails and Nordic loop
The Proctor Ski Area bustled with activity throughout the 20152016 school year, serving as the home to Proctor’s mountain biking, cross country running, and ski teams. This past fall, the venue hosted multiple Northern New England Mountain Biking races and Lakes Region Cross Country meets before the ski season began in late November.
15+ days of alpine races held 7 Nordic races held 2 Ski Jumping meets 75,000 Gates set 50+ Teams trained at the Proctor Ski Area 100+ Proctor snow sport athletes regularly used the Proctor Ski Area 1 Crash pad and freeski training system installed for the 2016-2017 season
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Over the next four months, Garry George ‘78 and the Proctor Ski Area crew overcame one of the worst snow years in recent memory to create the finest Nordic and Alpine race conditions in New England right here on Proctor’s campus. Ski teams from Dartmouth College, Boston College, Colby-Sawyer College, Plymouth State University and more than 50 other local ski clubs, high schools, and ski teams trained on Proctor’s facility throughout the winter months. Additionally, US Ski team members Nolan Kasper, AJ Ginnis, Julia Ford, and Will Brandenberg trained on Proctor’s hill this winter marveling at the quality of conditions available to Proctor’s snow sport athletes.
Save the Date! Annual Ski Area Event
SATURDAY | 2.11.17
Nick Fairall ‘07
Ski Jumping | Boys’ Soccer | Cycling USA Ski Jumping Team, US Olympic Team (Sochi ‘14)
Jed Hinkley ‘99
Nordic Combined | Boys’ Soccer | Cycling US Nordic Combined Ski Team, US Olympic Team (Salt Lake City ‘02)
PROCTOR ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME We received dozens of worthy nominations from our extended Proctor family for the first induction class to the Proctor Athletics Hall of Fame. Congratulations to this fall’s nominees who will be recognized at a ceremony during Reunion 2017 on June 3, 2017 along with eleven more selections announced in the Spring of 2017!
www.proctoracademy.org/halloffame Sanford White ‘61 Football | Hockey | Baseball
Carl Van Loan ‘98
Nordic Combined | Boys’ Soccer | Cycling US Nordic Combined Ski Team, US Olympic Team (Salt Lake City ‘02, Torino ‘06)
Caroline Heatley ‘91
Field Hockey | Hockey | Lacrosse Boston University Women’s Hockey
Diane Fowler ‘80
Soccer | Lacrosse University of New Hampshire Women’s Soccer
Bruce Van Ness ‘65
Football | Hockey | Baseball | Lacrosse Rutgers University Football and Hockey Montreal Alouettes of the CFL
s e t E e l G th E L DA L COOUN B
016 2 f ss o a l C
Field Hockey: Lexi Tilton | Holy Cross University Boys’ Soccer: Max Barrett | Dickinson College Wari Isaac | College of St. Rose - Albany Girls’ Soccer: Jamie Dee | St. Lawrence University
Bob Livingston | Coach 1970-2005 Lacrosse, Football, and Basketball Coach Social Science Instructor Director of Athletics Tim Norris | Coach 1966-2011 Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, and Soccer Coach English Instructor Director of College Counseling Girls’ Hockey | 1982-1983 Proctor’s first girls’ hockey team coached by Tom Eslick and David Fowler
Each year approximately 20% of the Proctor Academy’s graduating class goes on to compete in NCAA athletics at the collegiate level. The Class of 2016 is no exception with 24 of 95 graduates pursuing careers at the collegiate level, including a remarkable eight NCAA Division 1 athletes! Boys’ Basketball: Julian Roche | Santa Clara University
Football: Chris Agyemang | Sacred Heart University Tristan Moulton | Simon Fraser University
Spence Wright | Coach 1951-1970 Football, Hockey, and Baseball Coach Math Instructor Director of Athletics
Girls’ Basketball: Amber Wilson | TBD Boys’ Hockey: Jack Hall | Stonehill College Owen Kuhns | Nazareth College Jake Pappalardo | University of Maine Jack Scannell | Stonehill College Connor Simpson | Connecticut College Girls’ Hockey: Alexis Fagan | Plymouth State University Taylor Methven | Colby College
Skiing: Alexandra Clarke | St. Olaf University Noah Drummond | Plymouth State University Anjelica Nella | St. Lawrence University Boys’ Lacrosse: Owen Kuhns | Nazareth College Girls’ Lacrosse: Paris Healey | Denison University Avery Melville | Colorado College Annie Sedoric | Bates College Annie Sheehy | Marist College Golf Andrew Edwards | Roanoke College
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The Campaign for Proctor is about creating spaces that facilitate the development of relationships necessary for effective learning to take place. It is about investing in the infrastructure and endowment necessary for our students, faculty, and staff to engage fully in Proctor’s educational model, a model that serves as a leader for schools around the globe in its integration of experiential learning, academic support, and study abroad programs rooted in personal relationships.
Phase 1A Includes: • Entry tower and stairs added to southeast side of building including elevator shaft • Three new classrooms added to second floor including Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship • Temporary athletic training and fitness center space • New public restrooms added on both first and second floors • New locker room space Phase 1B Includes: • New climbing wall on north end of building • Courtyard space • Expanded gymnasium space • New basketball court Phase 2 Includes: • Visitor entrance on the north west side • Two new classrooms • Completed fitness area including new weight and cardio spaces • Completed athletic training space • New home and visitor locker rooms • New officials locker room • New HVAC system for building
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Field House Renovation Project: Rethinking Learning Spaces on Campus
With the Dining Commons project complete and the construction of a new dormitory on the west end of campus underway, The Campaign for Proctor shifts its focus firmly to the renovation of the Field House and vacant space in the former Cannon Dining Hall. This project will occur in three distinct phases, and when complete will provide: • Flexible classroom spaces to allow for the future renovation of Maxwell Savage Hall • Enhanced fitness and wellness spaces • Community meeting spaces for student groups, teams, and classes • A space for innovation and entrepreneurship
A $30 Million Commitment to Capital Initiatives and Endowment
$11M Raised! $19M
AL INITIATI T I P V A C
$16M
$9.8M Raised!
Investing in Proctor’s endowment expands access to a diverse student body and provides ongoing professional development for faculty and staff, securing the future of the Proctor experience we all know and love. Wari ‘16 speaks to the power of investment in Proctor’s endowment when he shared with a current donor, “Proctor gave me the opportunity to become who I want to be in life, and for that I am forever grateful.” Learn how you can invest in Proctor’s endowment and unlock the Proctor experience for others by visiting: www.proctoracademy.org/campaignforproctor
$1.2M
Raised!
$3M
OWMENT END
ES
Endowment | $4.2M Goal Why Should I Invest?
Capital Initiatives | $25.8M GOAL Dining Commons New Dormitory • Field House
• Maxwell Savage Hall • Dormitory Renovations • Campus Gateway Project 47
Proctor Dining Commons The Heart of Community
When its doors opened at the start of the 2016-2017 school year, the Proctor Dining Commons became the first dedicated dining facility at Proctor since Cary House burned to the ground in 1977. The first completed project in The Campaign for Proctor, the Dining Commons anchors the west end of campus with stunning architectural lines consistent with other iconic buildings on campus like the Fowler Learning Center and the Wilkins Meeting House. Its exposed beams and expansive eating area offer a welcoming atmosphere with beautiful views across Carr Field to the Proctor Ski Area. Join us to celebrate the completion of the Proctor Dining Commons on October 14th.
Investing in Proctor’s Environmental Mission The Proctor Dining Commons is the ‘greenest’ building ever built on campus. In 2008, Proctor’s Board of Trustees adopted an Environmental Mission Statement drafted by a group of students from Proctor Environmental Action (PEA). Our commitment to this environmental mission is seen in the 320,000 kwh of solar capacity installed over the past three years on campus and in the establishment of a socially responsible endowment fund in 2015. This commitment is also seen throughout new construction on campus. 48
The 16,100 square feet of kitchen, servery, dining, meeting, and support spaces in the Proctor Dining Commons: • Is Net Zero Ready • Includes rain gardens to eliminate adding water to an older drainage system • Used low- and zero-VOC emitting materials used in construction • Features skylights to allow for natural lighting and LED lightsthroughout to reduce energy consumption • Incorporates internal separate metering capability to monitor energy consumption • Utilizes geothermal heating/cooling system • Involved the conversion to all electrical kitchen equipment eliminating use of fossil fuels(all of Proctor’s electrical energy is either produced through solar or is purchased from renewable energy sources)
History of Dining Services at Proctor: 1848-2016 Throughout its history as a boarding school, Proctor’s food service team has taken great pride in preparing and serving quality food to the school community. The Proctor Dining Commons represents a longtime dream of having a dedicated food service and dining facility for the school that will further cultivate healthy eating habits and a place to gather as a school community. 1906 Drawings for Cary House are completed by H. Langford Warren, founder of Harvard University’s Architecture School. Cary House would eventually house the school’s first kitchen and dining hall facilities. 1920s Cary House expands its kitchen and dining facility to accommodate a growing student population. 1920s-1930s Proctor’s early cooks utilized the basement of Mary Lowell Stone House as a root cellar for crops grown on the Fenton Farm (now the Farrell Field Complex). 1941-1945 Victory Gardens planted, maintained, and harvested by students during summer sessions helped cut costs and allow boys to speed up graduation requirements in order to enlist in World War II.
1950s Charles Jones serves as chef and steward, even serving the boys at Winslow State Park after an all-school hike up Kearsarge Mountain in 1951.
1978 The Cannon Dining Hall opens after the ski room and volleyball court is transformed into a kitchen and dish room serving Proctor’s 200 student population.
1950s-1963 Alpha Powers serves as chef and steward.
1982 A first round of renovations to the Cannon Dining Hall improves seating and builds greenhouses on the south side of the building to grow produce for the kitchen.
1963-1974 Donald Cooper serves as chef and steward. 1974-1981 Chuck Severance serves as Director of Food Services under SAGA Food Management, and was also engaged with the Proctor Fire Department. 1977 Cary House burns to the ground in an electrical fire taking with it Proctor’s dining facility.
1985 Art Makechnie takes over as Director of Food Service (for 29 years) after Proctor goes independent from corporate food service company, SAGA. Art ushers in an era of unparalleled craftsmanship and quality in food service at Proctor including fresh baked rolls and bread each evening.
1998 A second round of renovations to the Cannon Dining Hall removes the greenhouses on the south side of the building and encloses space to add seating and servery space for the school’s growing population. 2014 Barbara Major takes over as Director of Food Services from Art Makechnie, continuing Art’s tradition of home cooked meals, breads, and wide variety of dietary options.
2016
Proctor Dining Commons serves its first meal to the student body!
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’73 ’83
’10 ’91
’00 ’11
’01 ’74
’84 ’92
’75
’85
’12
’02
’93
’13
’03
’76
’77
’86
’94
’95
’78
’16
’96
’79 ’89
’88
’07
’98
’82
’06
’97
’81 ’76
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’05
’87
’80
’15
’04
’90 ’99
’14
’08
’09
Rebuilding After Thoreau House
Construction is underway
on a new dormitory to house the boys displaced by Thoreau House. Thank you to all of the donors who stepped up in our time of need and made this new dormitory a reality for our students. New Dormitory Details: Location: West End of Campus next to Farr Cottage, eventually connecting to Cortland House Number of Students: 11 Students and 1 Faculty apartment Square Footage: 5,000 square feet on two floors Timeline: Planned to be ready for December 2016 Total Project Cost: $2,000,000 To learn how you can join our efforts to rebuild after Thoreau, please contact Jenny Fisher at fisherje@proctoracademy.org or 603-735-6218.
On Saturday, June 25, a structure fire broke out in the Thoreau House barn just before 3:00 pm. The fire quickly spread to the faculty apartment and the rest of the dormitory. The Town of Andover Fire and Rescue squads, along with fourteen other town fire departments, responded to the fire within minutes. Unfortunately, the entire dorm and faculty apartment were a loss and had to be demolished after the fire. Thoreau House became a dormitory when girls first enrolled at Proctor in 1972-1973. Over the next five decades, the quirky little dorm on Lawrence Street was home to hundreds of students and dozens of different faculty families. Tucked away beyond Proctor Block between two private residences, Thoreau House may not have been the most desirable housing option for students, but those who lived there took great pride in their dorm community. When tragedy strikes, the power of the Proctor community rises to the occasion. A remarkable outpouring of love and support has helped faculty members Craig Leaman and Katherine Goller (who resided in Thoreau House at the time of the fire and lost all their possessions and their beloved dog, Keo) navigate a challenging summer. Additionally, current families have embraced the housing shortage on campus this fall with a positive attitude and willingness to remain flexible until our new dormitory is ready for the Winter Term!
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61% 9.6% Current Parent
PARTICIPATION
$558,383 213 DONORS
PARTICIPATION
Who’s
Giving?
$515,669 410 DONORS
IENDS FR $49,468
41 DONORS
$1,645,751
P GRANDP
$1,648
32 DONORS
7.5%
Represented by The Proctor Fund
Unrestricted Goal: $1,350,000
MS LU
60 DONORS
ND STAFF YA
$49,435
FACULT
OPERATING BUDGET
Exceeding Our Goals!
1025 TOTAL DONORS
ENT OF A AR
ENTS AR
$18,766,307
ALUM
NI
CURRE
TS
PAREN NT
ALUMNI
2015-2016
Results $1,405,546
$471,148
269 DONORS
917 Donors
Restricted Goal: $100,000
Results $240,205
167 Donors
Grand Goal: $1,450,000
Results $1,645,751 1025 Donors
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$50k: 2016 Reunion giving
Challenge
18.6% $121,804.02 PARTICIPATION
INCREASED FROM 12.9% REUNION 2015
GIVING OF $78,163
23% OF PROCTOR FUND TOTAL
Top 3 Participating Reunion Classes
’91 - 31.3% | ’96 - 29.7% | ’06 - 26.6%
’91
’96
’06
740.75 You PAPA!
THE GIFT OF TIME
Thank
VOLUNTEER HOURS
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Alumni Giving | The Hornet’s Nest Thank you to the 430 alumni who gave back financially to Proctor during the 2015-2016 fiscal year. Your support of Proctor’s educational mission is critical to our continued success as a school! 1940 John Merriam 1942 Dave Colt Dick Day 1944 Stu Brewster Bruce Nicholas 1945 John Pearson 1947 Mel Levine 1949 Jim Dunbar Ed Hawley Walt Wright 1950 Mark Claff 1951 King Davis Kip Snow 1953 David Coffin Peter Elbow Jesse Putney 1954 John German Jerry Lester Dean Perron Jack Reading 1955 Ed Darna Larry Jones Quin Munson Driz Prior 1956 Toby Farrel Paul Haus Spence Jackson Mike Nash Tim Purdy
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1957 Everett Jones 1958 Mike Boyd Dick Clemence Robert Kvalnes David Norman 19569 Dudley Clark Jim Levy John Neubauer Paul Rogers 1960 Laurie Cannon Ken Lindquist George Morosani Dave Norris Keith Pratt 1961 Len Elden Dino Giamatti David Walters Chris Whittaker 1962 Dave Lunger Geoff Morris Frank Robinson 1963 Dana Bent Nat Cheney Charles Hall Scott Hughes Peter Terkuile 1964 Bob Becker Jim Putnam Mike Rosenthal 1965 Anonymous Art Cox Tom Geibel Ed Hinkley Bill Hood Stu Lipp Bob Martin Steve Stoner
1966 Howard Bleakie Gerry Coleman Niels Olsen Kirby Whyte
1974 Tom Bigony John Deas Henry Vaughan David Weeks
1967 Scott Bartlett Joel Becker Bob Bristol Tomp Litchfield Jim Morris Knox Turner
1975 AJ Johnstone Andrew Sheppe Jean Tarrant
1968 Bruce Bartlett Dave Biddle John Gary 1969 Doug Armstrong Bill Bolton Gordie Harper Jim Hoyt Ted Levering Alan McLean Steve Shapiro Ed Smith John Van Sclen 1970 David Moulton John Welsh 1971 Tim Brown Frank Gibney Kevin Gillespie George Kaknes Pete Rolfe Greg Samaha Andy Verven Doug Windsor 1972 Jay Fisher Doug Rendall 1973 John Hellman Bob Johnson Bill Wightman
1976 Rusty Deas Jim Fraylick Ellen Masten Pedro Ponce-Palomeque Steve Pope Kevin Sleeper Mac Spencer 1977 Brooks Bicknell KC Church Scott Osgood Charlie Willauer 1978 Allan Johnson Dan Murphy 1979 Eric Benoit Amy Bowen Ken Lifton John O’Connor 1980 Keith Barrett Diane Fowler John Halsted Jamie Hilliard John Reid 1981 Liz Blodgett Smith Argelia Darbouze Scott Dow David Eberhart Chris Hadley Charlie Hatfield Deb Kirchwey Carolyn Peach JJ Pirtle Richie Sears
Ann Thayer Liz Tompkins Birdie Walker 1982 Tom Colby Hilary Gans Win Marine Grinnell More Andrew Parker Bredt Stanley Ayres Stockly Emily Vaughan 1983 Chris Edwards Alex Estin Will Hamill Edward Johnson Travis Mathis Kassie McCamic Dan Mori Gina Pettengill Sam Reeves 1984 Elizabeth Bauman Tom Gittleman Bob Logan Phil Pastan 1985 Kay Childs Ann Luskey John Pendleton 1986 Chris Bartlett Debbie Bellefeuille Josh Brink Wendy Brown Johnny Buck Dana Fletcher Cole Horn Mitzie Laidlaw Stephanie Nichols Kym O’Brien Will Peabody Greg Stroh Pam Sullivan Erin Taylor Jen Vogt Tripp Wyckoff
1987 Beckner Bryan Malon Courts Jed Dickman Liam Donoghue John Duke Trevor Foster Scott Goodman Jennifer Wilson 1988 Nicole Bagley Beth Bartlett Rhys Brooks Tash Egan Eric Johnson Will McCurtin David Morgan Joe Pellerin Tom Spang 1989 Cam Clark Richard Courts Chad Jackson Bob Kaynor Karyn Lamb David Lapham Adam Rohner Matlock Schlumberger Tricia Smith Lans Taylor Brett Wagenbach Patrick Wilmerding Jeff Ziter 1990 Bill Feinberg John Hurkala Shana Hurkala Rob Hutchins Mollie Keith Gregor Makechnie Sarah McIntyre Allan Porter Chelsea Taylor John Turner 1991 Wade Albright Jennifer Bryant Erica Calder Kate Carter Brad Courts David Dempsey Josh Dunne Julia Elliott Jim Gautreau Liz Green Tony Hadzima Eric Haven Caroline Heatley
Katie Kidder Nathaniel Leach Brian Levy Katie Lorentzen Roth Martin John Matthews Erik Mayo Meghan McSheffrey Matt Nathanson Eugenie Niven Kim Nubel Oliver Preuss Jen Putney Terence Reaves Jess Sarkisian Mark Schwartz Jason Silva Kate Smith Kitter Spater Andy Taylor Mario Triay Suzanne Troyer Travis Warren 1992 Drew Donaldson Holley East Ayize Jama-Everett Josh Norris Derek Plank Whit Sowles Jeremy Stowe Sam Thompson Chris Todd 1993 Clay Courts Tom Dodge Jin Hayashida 1994 Tom Lytle Kat Roski Pearl 1995 Lindsay Brock Seth Currier Mike Freeman Jordan Matheson Becca Newhall 1996 James Beaudoin Abby Berner Sparky Brooks Brian Clark Zander Damp Danielle Dunn Sara Gott Jeremy Gould Emily Kalina Adam Klaucke
Andy Klein Steve Kohn Kelcey Loomer Sarah Maione Greg Mickle Adam Nelson Lorna Newman Jeff Nowlan Julie Parenteau Kyle Parsons Booth Platt Nikki Ramian Josh Russell Katherine Schneider Lindsey Schust Chihiro Takeuchi Bonnie Thaler Mitzi Tolino 1997 Heather Beveridge Simon Etherington Erin Hinkley Shaffer Carla Isaacson Mark Johnson John Kiaer Chris Knapp Cam Monteiro 1998 Rana Abodeely Mike Dow Rachel Golden Kirscht David Lejuez Andrew Sandler 1999 Ali Davis Christiana Makinde 2000 Laura Anker Lindsay Cross Hanson Dan Jacobs Abbi Stern Melissa Tuckerman 2001 Andrew Abendshein Lindsay Brown Hunter Churchill Graham Cullen Taylor Cullen Malcolm de Sieyes Lyndsay Devore Justin Donaldson Greg Gagne Chris Hartman Laura Mason Jared Minton Jared Mostue Doug Park
Lori Patriacca Jessie Rives Ben Willsea 2002 Anonymous Robin Bartlett Rissi Brad Cabot Lily Ellis Ben Hoglund Jed Prescott Oliver Schwab Sarena Stern Nick Wilkins 2003 Zach Zimmerman 2004 Whit Ellis Tracy Westcott 2005 Carolina Gonzalez Perry Hardy Dave Schleyer Regina Wilson 2006 Eddy Benoit Jeremy Carter Evan Cross Erin Davey Abby Isaac Alex Kelley Jack Kiernan Brittany King Kate Lanphier Laura Lebourdais Jeff Malfitano Sean Mann Ty Morris Ian Nevins Bill Powers Evan Procknow Scott Robator Forrest Schwab Ben Shepard Emma Tautkus James Terrill Merry Yasek 2007 Matt Milley Daniel Pendleton Sara Whipple
2009 Saam Aiken Chris Ruez Kristen Turpin 2010 Anonymous Chris Dale Tuckerman Ferris Jennifer Galligan Tyler McKenzie Abbie Webb William Whipple 2011 Sam Brown Meredith Cline Caleigh Erickson Jonathan Felteau Will Henriques Jake Hines Lindsay Hoar John Howard Maggie Hull Madison Koenig Jessy Lee Frankie McCormick Morgan Prudden Stephen Sample Spencer Schwenk Story Southworth Hillary Wight 2012 Eli Clare Peter Durkin Brad Prevel 2013 Jake Dombroski Jack MacClarence 2014 Sam Barrett Gerry Craig Eli Pier Meaghan Sheehy 2015 Daniel Qiu 2016 Pudu Blamoh Annie Sheehy
2008 Alex Milley Becca O’Connor Britt Plante
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P.O. Box 500 204 Main Street Andover, NH 03216 Return service requested.
UPCOMING PROCTOR EVENTS
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Friday | September 23rd Ocean Classroom Sendoff Gloucester, MA
Thursday | December 8th Holiday Reception New London, NH
Questions? Contact Debbie Krebs at (603)735-6215 or events@proctoracademy.org
Thursday | October 13th Annual Invitational Golf Tournament New London, NH
Tuesday | December 13th Alumni Toast the Holidays Event Portland, ME
Stay up to date on the latest event information! facebook.com/proctoracademy facebook.com/proctoracademyalumni
Friday | October 14th Dining Commons Ribbon Cutting Andover, NH
Thursday | December 15th Alumni Toast the Holidays Event Brooklyn, NY
Want to receive our Alumni Newsletter? Email communications@proctoracademy.org
Tuesday | October 25th Cocktail Reception in Chicago, IL hosted by Ann and David Kurtz P’18
Saturday | February 11th Annual Proctor Ski Area Event Andover, NH
Thursday | December 1st Holiday Reception Seaport Hotel - Boston, MA
Saturday | May 27th Commencement Andover, NH
Tuesday | December 6th Alumni Toast the Holidays Event Portsmouth, NH
Friday | June 2nd – Sunday | June 4th Reunion Andover, NH
PROCTOR
REUNI
N2017 JUNE 2-4 | ANDOVER, NH
Reunion 2017 Interested in helping organize or spreading the word to your classmates about your next Reunion? Email us today at alumni@proctoracademy.org!