Ravenscroft Summer Magazine 2019 by Ravenscroft

Innovator Jeannine Benoit Adams ’01 8 Speech and Debate 12 Tom Abrahams ’89’s “Battle” 26

M A G A Z I N E

SUMMER 2019

Building a Strong and Welcoming Community Fulfills Our Mission

RAVENS REPLY Alumni Revisit the Fashions of Their Ravenscroft Years We asked our Ravenscroft Alumni Facebook friends: What was the best (or worst) fashion trend when you were a student at Ravenscroft?

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from the Ravenscroft Alumni Facebook page, May 14-16, 2019

WANT TO GET IN ON THE FUN OF RAVENS REPLY? VISIT OUR WEBSITE, www.ravenscroft.org/summermagazine2019, TO ADD COMMENTS TO THIS ALUMNI THREAD. FOLLOW OUR OFFICIAL SCHOOL SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS (www.ravenscroft.org/social-mashup) OR ALUMNI SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS (www.ravenscroft.org/alumni) FOR UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE.

RAVENS REPLY

1. NELLE MOSELEY SCHANTZ ’83 2. Lower School students kept it casual in 1983. 3. Preppy styles including girls’ fedoras made 1983 a memorable fashion year for Upper School students. 4. SAMMY JOYNER ’83 and CAROLINE DAY PLUMMER ’83 were voted “Best Dressed” by their classmates.

10 5. Orchestra students sport the 1991 trend of tight-rolled jeans. 6. Stirrup pants — perhaps foreshadowing the popularity of yoga pants today — were also hot among female students in 1991. 7. ANN BRADSHAW VARNUM ’94 and DAVID HUGHES ’94 were voted “Best Dressed” among members of the senior class.

11 8. KATY GEIL SMYTH ’96 9. AMANDA RAXLIN POWELL ’09 10. The 2009 Corvus staff paid tribute to the many styles of shoes and boots popular among students that year. 11. Other fashion trends from 2009 included Juicy jackets and pearl ribbon necklaces.

SUMMER 2019

CONTENTS INSIGHTS

We Build Community I

AM PROUD TO BE part of the Ravenscroft community. As a graduate of the Class of 1976, the parent of an alumnus and the director of the school’s admissions team, I’ve been privileged to watch our school grow and thrive in ways that pay homage to our solid foundations while staying ever-focused on the future. As Ravens, we cherish our community, from the youngest students in PreK to the 4,500 green-and-gold alumni, as well as our current and former faculty and staff, families and friends. We honor our community, from our roots in downtown Raleigh’s Christ Church and the beloved Tucker Street school to our ever-growing north Raleigh campus. We connect deeply with our bustling home city, reach out into the greater Triangle area — with its inspiring arts scene, distinctive neighborhoods,

award-winning restaurants and ACC rivalries — and even cross the oceans to do great things in remarkable places. We embrace the richness of diversity and global perspectives that are the hallmark of our 21st-century world. In this issue of Ravenscroft Magazine, our feature story explores the many ways we here at Ravenscroft build community. Read about the powerful connections that form between teachers and students in the classroom and how they are strengthened by schoolwide traditions and studentled efforts to be empathetic, inclusive and kind. Learn about the countless contributions our families and alumni make to build and sustain a community that makes us all proud. Then dig deeper and discover what community means to Ravens of all ages in “It Stuck With Me,” available exclusively as part of Ravenscroft Magazine’s digital content at www.ravenscroft. org/summermagazine2019. R

FEATURE

— MARGARET MAHOOD MILLS ’76, DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

ETHOS

14 A COMMUNITY FIRST Connections and Commitment to Our Mission Create a Stronger, More Inclusive Ravenscroft From exploration and discovery in the classroom to schoolwide traditions and events, Ravenscroft is defined by its sense of community. Learn how faculty and staff, students, parent-led groups and alumni work to create community — and fulfill the school’s commitment to greater inclusivity — across campus and beyond. Then read student and alumni reflections on being part of the Ravenscroft community, available exclusively on our website:

www.ravenscroft.org/summermagazine2019/ethos

ON THE COVER: Tucker Street alumnus (and former Raleigh mayor) SMEDES YORK ’59 joins GAVIN MATHAN ’21, ALICIA DAYE ’32, SAWYER PARKER ’26 and RYAN BRADFORD ’24 at Raleigh’s newest community gathering place, Dorothea Dix Park, with the iconic downtown skyline in the background. Photo by Simon Capell Photography

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ENJOY EXTENDED STORYTELLING, PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ON OUR WEBSITE: www.ravenscroft.org/summermagazine2019

CONTENTS

M A G A Z I N E

SUMMER 2019

HIGHLIGHTS

EXPRESSIONS 22 SPARK KELLY BAKER ’20 writes about gender disparity in sports 24 A THOUSAND WORDS Earth Day spirit

FIT: SPORTS AND WELLNESS

Lower School lays foundation for lifelong health and wellness

MAKERS: INNOVATION AND CREATION

JEANNINE BENOIT ADAMS ’01 fashions new career online

26 INSPIRED Author TOM ABRAHAMS ’89 shares an excerpt from "Battle" 28 3 TO WATCH Catch up with HEATHER FRIEDMAN

(née FIRTH) ’92, MEGAN MEYER ’99,

and CHLOE PACYNA ’15

DEPARTMENTS 1

RAVENS REPLY

NEW @RAVENSCROFTNC

30 RAVENS REWIND 32 CAMPUS NOTES 40 CAP & GOWN

10 ONE WORLD: GLOBAL PROGRAMS AND PERSPECTIVES WILLIAM MYERS '08 finds his niche as

FRAME: ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Three ways Speech and Debate builds better thinkers

Colombian brewmaster

3 THINGS YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS ISSUE: #1

How the Kindness Council generated 10,000 opportunities to change our world (p. 19)

Why the most important ingredient in 20Mission Cerveza’s brews is curiosity (p. 10)

What a change of caps at Commencement conveys (p. 44)

CORRECTION:Our deepest apologies to JACK MORTON ’96 and his mother, Pansy, for the errors in our Spring 2019 Ravenscroft Magazine story about the Hugh Morton Jr. Collection. The corrected story is on our website, along with a video exploring the impact the collection makes for our visual arts students and teachers: www.ravenscroft.org/springmagazine2019/frame Ravenscroft Magazine is printed three times a year. Please direct comments or suggestions to Karen Lewis Taylor, Marketing & Communications, at 919-847-0900, ext. 2812, or karen.taylor@ravenscroft.org. Design by M Creative | Photography by Mary Kornegay, Karen Lewis Taylor, Laura Bradford Photography, Bob Handelman Photography, Strawbridge Studios and Simon Capell Photography

Archival content appears courtesy of Ravenscroft unless otherwise noted.

SUMMER 2019

NEW @RAVENSCROFTNC

New Roles Announced on Leadership Team

Athletics Facilities Getting Summer Makeover

Updates to Lower School Reinforce Early Learning

H E A D O F S C H O O L Doreen Kelly has announced changes to Ravenscroft’s Leadership Team. Colleen Ramsden, who has served as assistant head of school for academic affairs since 2011, has been named associate head of school for academics and student life. Ramsden came to Ravenscroft in 2003 as a Lower School teacher and served as both assistant head and head of Lower School. Lisa Miller has been named assistant head of school for human resources and diversity & inclusion. In previous corporate roles, Miller led strategic planning, staff training and management of cross-functional teams in support of D&I initiatives. She has been director of human resources since 2016. Jennifer Davis, director of marketing and communications, joins the Leadership Team. She came to Ravenscroft in 2014, bringing more than 20 years of corporate experience in all aspects of communications and marketing, including customer-oriented and value-based messaging, positioning and crisis communications management. In addition, Aaron Sundstrom joins the Leadership Team as interim head of Upper School. Read more on p. 38.

TWO BIG PROJECTS are taking place in the A.E. Finley Activity Center over the summer. Roof replacement for the auxiliary gym got started as soon as classes wrapped up in June. This project follows the completion of earlier work to replace roofs for the classroom and administrative areas and the Main Arena. The final phase, for the aquatics facilities, is scheduled for 2020-21. In addition, a major renovation has transformed the weight room into a welcoming and functional space that will support and enhance fitness training for Ravenscroft’s student-athletes. The project includes new flooring, air-conditioning, glass entrances to enhance lighting and state-of-the-art Sorinex equipment. “The continued maintenance of the Finley Center will allow this important building to continue to serve the needs of the school for many more years,” Athletic Director Ned Gonet said. “In addition, our renovated fitness room will have an updated look as well as modern equipment for use by our Ravenscroft community.”

OTHER MAJOR FACILITY updates are underway in the Lower School. A new PreK Center is being created in the Lower School center closest to the carpool lanes between the Lower School and Richards Hall, with the Lower School fine arts classrooms moving to a new space as well. The PreK Learning Center will comprise three classrooms, a commons area, new bathrooms and a new “storefront” entrance facing Holden Circle that will ease the transition for the school’s youngest students (and their parents) as they enter and leave the building. Lower School music and art teachers will join other fine arts colleagues in the Richards Hall Annex. Both projects are expected to be completed before the start of the new school year. “As our Lower School community continues to grow and evolve, the school’s investment in facilities such as the new PreK Center means our youngest Ravens will be learning, sharing and growing in an environment that’s custom-made for their developmental needs,” Nicole Girvan, head of Lower School, said. “We look forward to sharing this new space with our students and their families.”

(above, clockwise from top left) Colleen Ramsden, Lisa Miller, Aaron Sundstrom and Jennifer Davis serve on the Leadership Team.

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(above) An illustration shows the renovated weight room in the A.E. Finley Activity Center.

(above) The new PreK Learning Center will enhance early childhood learning at Ravenscroft.

NEW @RAVENSCROFTNC

MAYNARD ’89 and HALL ’89 to Be Honored Oct. 11

All-Alumni Party at Pugh Pond Coming Oct. 12

Golf Tournament Oct. 14 Extends Alumni Weekend

T H E A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N will kick off 2019’s Alumni Celebration Weekend by honoring two outstanding alumni during its annual meeting on Friday, Oct. 11. EASTER MAYNARD ’89 will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. Maynard is executive director of the ChildTrust Foundation and director of charitable giving for Investors Management Corporation. She serves on the Ravenscroft Board of Trustees, currently as a vice-chair, and co-chaired the five-year, $15M Embrace Possibility campaign. Maynard has been recognized with the 2017 Triangle Community Foundation Catalyst Award for visionary philanthropy and the 2018 Vernon Malone Friend of Education Award. MICHAEL C. HALL ’89 will be inducted into the Fine Arts Hall of Fame. The star of television series including “Six Feet Under,” “Dexter” and “Safe” and numerous acclaimed theater productions, he has earned multiple Primetime Emmy nominations, three SAG Awards and a Golden Globe. Hall said in a 2017 Ravenscroft Magazine profile that he took early inspiration from Ravenscroft peers and alumni in the performing arts: “My imagination perked up thinking people who do this thing for a living aren’t from another planet. It really did crack open this whole new world.”

MINGLE WITH CLASSMATES, reminisce with retired faculty and staff, and make new friends at the All-Alumni Party taking place at Pugh Pond on Saturday, Oct. 12. All Ravenscroft alumni — those having class reunions and those just wanting to have fun — are invited to attend. Enjoy cocktails and an oyster roast, live music and the excitement of “coming home” to campus for a full weekend of events with fellow Ravens. “The All-Alumni Party will give Ravenscroft graduates from across the years the opportunity to get together and have fun in a place that’s special to so many of us,” said ANNA CLAIRE MURNICK PRICE ’03, president of the Alumni Association. “We’re hoping for a great turnout that showcases how loyal and connected our Ravens remain, even when it’s not their reunion year!” See the Alumni Celebration ad on the inside back cover of this magazine for more details and registration information. We hope to see you in October!

ONE OF THE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT’S biggest and longest-running fundraisers, the annual Ravenscroft Golf Tournament is getting a major makeover in its 24th year! Following an extensive renovation of the course at North Ridge Country Club, the tournament will now take place in the fall, on the Monday following Alumni Celebration Weekend, allowing local golfers and returning alumni to meet up on the redesigned greens and bunkers for a day of friendship, golf, good cheer and live music. Participation in the tournament is a great way to show appreciation for the extraordinary coaches, teachers and community who inspire our Ravens on and off the athletic fields. Proceeds directly benefit Ravenscroft’s student-athletes through the professional coaching development and program enhancements our Athletics Department provides. More details and registration are available at www.ravenscroft. org/golf. R

(above) The All-Alumni Party at Pugh Pond will bring Ravens of all classes together Oct. 12.

(above) Enjoy the newly renovated greens at North Ridge Country Club at the annual Golf Tournament Oct. 14.

(above) MAYNARD ’89 and HALL ’89 will be recognized at the Alumni Association’s annual luncheon Oct. 11.

SUMMER 2019

FIT

BY KAREN SHORE

1. Girls on the Run builds self-confidence and life skills through fun, engaging lessons, building toward a 5K that Coach Michelle Schulze says “validates goal-setting and gives them a sense of accomplishment.” 2. Lower Schoolers LIAM KING and AUSTIN SHORT have fun during the after-school program “Learn to Ride a Bike on Two Wheels.”

FUN, ENGAGING LESSONS Lower School Lays Foundation for Lifelong Health and Wellness “Girls on the Run taught me to be more confident and how to be comfortable with being myself. It helps girls look deeper inside themselves to find courage and strength.”

OW CAN SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT as health and wellness be taught to our youngest Ravens? The Lower School’s integrated approach — combining a fun and age-appropriate physical fitness curriculum and nutrition education with extracurricular opportunities, citizen leadership development and a foundation for social and emotional wellness — gives students the tools, knowledge and experience to make good choices for lifelong success.

—FIFTH-GRADER ALEXIANNE PLAYE

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ENJOY A VIDEO CLIP FROM THE MAY 2019 LOWER SCHOOL TREE TALK

FIT

ON OUR WEBSITE: www.ravenscroft.org/summermagazine2019

Nutrition

Social and Emotional Wellness

Guidance in making good choices: Third-graders learn about nutrition in the classroom and via the interactive website ChooseMyPlate.gov. As they master information on how to make healthy selections, they’re able to take advantage of “freechoice lunches” in the Dining Hall — giving them more independence in deciding how to fuel their bodies. 3

Physical Fitness > Building blocks in P.E.: The Physical Education Department’s curriculum for PreK through third grade develops and refines fundamental movements, basic manipulative skills, creative exploration and an awareness and appreciation for fitness and wellness. Fourth- and fifth-grade students participate in more sport-specific activities, incorporating skills into complex movements in a structured game setting. > Unstructured play: Lower School students enjoy recess, which Head of Lower School Nicole Girvan calls “an integral part of a child’s development,” every day and may visit the playground more often on days when they don’t have P.E. “It is a time to get physical exercise, be creative, learn and foster social development, giggle and laugh, and really just decompress,” Girvan said. > Extended fun and fitness: Before- and after-school programs such as “Jump Start” morning activities, Girls on the Run, Little LAXers, bicycle-riding instruction, yoga and others provide our youngest Ravens with even more opportunities to stay active the fun way.

> Lead From Here: Classroom teachers use “launch lessons” to introduce the competencies of the citizen leadership curriculum in age-appropriate ways. Competencies are reinforced throughout the school day, including during P.E. classes. David Myers, chair of the P.E. Department, noted that activities such as the Keypunch Challenge on the basketball court reinforce “problem solving, cooperation, conflict resolution and memory.” > Tree Talks: Quarterly gatherings called Tree Talks provide opportunities to strengthen the Lower School community through music, conversations and the exploration of LFH competencies such as self-awareness, resilience, empathy and resourcefulness. > Mental health support: The Lower School counselor, a licensed mental health clinician, supports healthy child development through direct work with students, faculty and staff consultation, and parent education. The counselor also maintains strong relationships with community partners for family referrals when needed. R

3. Then-Lower School student WILL EICHLER ’25 runs laps to warm up for P.E. class. 4. Building community across grades, younger students get the chance to high-five departing fifth-graders at the final Tree Talk of the school year.

SUMMER 2019

MAKERS

BY KAREN SHORE

A POWERHOUSE MARKETPLACE

Jeannine Benoit Adams ’01 Fashions New Career Online “My hope is that we help to support J

UST OVER THREE YEARS AGO, JEANNINE BENOIT ADAMS ’01

thousands of small boutiques and brands to grow and thrive online.”

said goodbye to her rewarding career as vice president of content marketing for a wildly successful Chicago advertising agency and, in her words, “bet on” herself instead — giving her full focus to her business idea, ReadyPretty.com, and, in the process, giving women a new way to shop boutique fashion from anywhere in the U.S.

—JEANNINE BENOIT ADAMS ’01

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READ ADAMS’ “TOP 5 LESSONS LEARNED” ON OUR WEBSITE: www.ravenscroft.org/summermagazine2019

MAKERS

As someone who would describe herself as “risk averse,” Adams took this step gradually, working evenings to get established in Chicago’s fashion industry, building relationships with both clients and independent boutiques who shared her philosophy that clothing is “about feeling confident, comfortable, empowered and pretty.” As her client list grew, the website evolved into a powerhouse marketplace offering women a curated online shopping experience from the best boutiques and brands across the country. Adams leaned on her marketing experience recently as her business made another leap forward: providing boutiques and brands with marketing support via web design and development, PR and social media, and content marketing as part of Ready Pretty’s Boutique Solutions program. Here are some highlights from a recent conversation with Adams about her entrepreneurial journey. WHAT PARTS OF STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS WERE THE HARDEST? I think hardest for me was determining what aspects of the business I needed to outsource versus what I could handle on my own. Letting go of certain tasks was difficult for me but also was necessary in order to really grow the business.

WHAT ARE YOU BETTER AT THAN YOU EVER THOUGHT YOU’D BE? Sales! When you own your own business, you have to be comfortable selling yourself and your business. Before Ready Pretty, I had never really been in a sales role — but this was and still is such a key aspect of running my business. Not only did I realize that I was good at sales, but I really do enjoy the challenge of doing it day in and day out. WHAT GOALS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE SITE? My hope is that we help to support thousands of small boutiques and brands to grow and thrive online. We’ve already been able to help so many, and I look forward to what our future holds. WHAT’S IN THE WORKS — WHAT ARE YOUR NEXT PLANS FOR THE BUSINESS? We just launched Boutique Solutions, which is our web design and development offering for our clients. This is really going to be a big focus for us this year in terms of growing that client roster and supporting our partners. In addition, we’re working on creating Chari-Tees. The thought is that we’ll design our very own T-shirt in-house and work with a few of our blogger and influencer friends to help us spread the word. A portion of all sales will go to a charity of our choosing. It’s important to me that Ready Pretty helps to support causes that matter.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WISH YOU’D DONE DIFFERENTLY IN READY PRETTY’S EARLY DAYS? Honestly, I feel like every single thing led me to the place I am with the business today. I’m thankful for every hiccup, every lesson, every roadblock — it’s helped me learn and grow as a business owner. R 1. JEANNINE BENOIT ADAMS ’01 2. Adams models clothing featured on ReadyPretty.com. 3. Adams, shown in her office in Chicago, launched Ready Pretty while she was still working full-time at a successful advertising agency. 4. ReadyPretty.com’s new Boutique Solutions supports small boutiques and brands across the country.

SUMMER 2019

ONE WORLD

BY DAVID KLEIN

CONTINUING TO LEARN

William Myers '08 Finds His Niche as Colombian Brewmaster “Even people in the industry for 30 years say they are continuing to learn all the time.” —WILLIAM MYERS '08

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UST AS A MASTER VIOLINIST dreams of making music on a Stradivarius,

WILLIAM MYERS ’08 dreams of making his craft beer with a centrifuge. “Rather than having to pass your beer through a filter, where you have material touching the beer and possibly stripping out aroma and flavor compounds, a centrifuge spins your beer at 5,000 rpm — so all the solids you don’t want in your final product are removed,” he explained. “The beer comes out super clear, and it’ll last longer on the shelf. But one of those machines right now is about 80 grand. I’m hoping that in five or six years it’ll come down enough that wherever I’ll be working will have one.”

ONE WORLD

A SELF-IMPOSED CHALLENGE That enthusiasm comes in handy in Myers’ line of work. As head brewer at 20Mission Cerveza in Medellin, Colombia, he created six beers before the combination brewery and restaurant opened its doors in September 2018: a pale ale, a porter, a saison, an IPA, a blonde and a witbier. “Nobody would tell you to launch a factory with six beers,” he said of his self-imposed challenge. “In the U.S., no one starts a brand with that many products. But there’s such a hole in the [Colombian] market that I felt like it was necessary to put out enough of a spectrum of flavors to show that we do a lot of different things.” Myers began to research and experiment with brewing as a communications major at Tulane University, and he hasn’t stopped since. Brewing feeds his passion to be constantly learning. “You don’t need a degree — you need experience, and to know what’s happening in different parts of the process,” he said, “whether it’s analyzing raw materials or

fermentation. Even people in the industry for 30 years say they are continuing to learn all the time.” SEIZING THE MOMENT Along with Myers’ hard work, his timing has paid off too. The artisanal movement — wanting to know the origins of what we consume and opting for higher quality food and drink — has boosted his business. So has the growing market for pale ales and IPAs with tropical fruit flavors. “Tourists from the U.S. or Europe come here and they enjoy our beers, and as the trend has gone away from bitterness, Colombians also enjoy our beers,” he said. “So we’ve had a little luck.” Despite his very full plate, Myers has branched out recently. The company has begun producing what he calls “a completely natural raw tonic water” using bark sourced from the Cinchona tree, which is native to Colombia and yields quinine extract, along with cardamom and other local spices. “When other people here have tried to do tonic,

they use quinine extract, most of which comes from China, and the extraction process is expensive. Having the product here was a huge boon to us,” he said. As busy as his brewing activities keep him, Myers finds time to enjoy the beauty of his adopted home, and he heartily recommends Colombia as a destination for fellow Ravens in search of an enriching, affordable getaway. “There is a lot to see here,” he said. “This is a beautiful country. I really like doing motorcycle touring. You can just hop on the bike and go to another region, and the landscapes are incredible.” R 1. WILLIAM MYERS ’08 is head brewer at 20Mission Cerveza in Medellin, Colombia. 2. The six new beers Myers developed before 20Mission’s opening in 2018 are popular with U.S. and European tourists as well as Colombians. 3. The combination restaurant and brewery has capitalized on the artisanal movement that connects consumers to the origins of their food and drinks.

SUMMER 2019

FRAME

BY STACY CALFO

TRANSFORM INTO VISIONARIES

Three Ways Speech and Debate Builds Better Thinkers W

ITH THE ROLL-OUT of two new Upper School courses this year,

Ravenscroft’s Speech and Debate program has developed into a rigorous series of electives that spur Middle and Upper School students to develop essential skills.

2 1. ALEX RICHMOND ’23 delivers a speech during Karen Westbrook’s Speech and Debate I class. 2. CONNOR KOWALCZYK ’23 and BRIAN FINK ’23 argue one side of a topic in Middle School Speech and Debate II. 3. TYLER HENDERSON ’23 and LANG LAW ’23 confer with teacher Karen Westbrook about their debate topics.

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3 4. Students in Upper School Speech and Debate included (first row) ALEXANDRA NICKOLAS ’19, TALIA GRANICK ’21, MARIANNA SCHANTZ ’19, MORGAN ROTH ’22; (second row) BEN RUSSELL ’21, NATE GUENARD ’21, CYNTHIA WOODWARD ’19, JOHN NICKOLAS ’22, DYLAN NORONA ’22, ETHAN ERICKSON ’22, ANTHONY FINK ’22, RYAN SLATTERY ’22, KENDALL JONES ’19 and CYNTHIA NI ’22.

WATCH DELANEY WASHINGTON '22 GIVE HER MIDDLE SCHOOL SPEECH AND DEBATE II SPEECH, "IF I RULED THE WORLD," ON OUR

FRAME

WEBSITE: www.ravenscroft.org/summermagazine2019

“Speech and Debate challenges students to lead with self, lead with others and change the world,” Social Studies teacher Melanie Spransy, who created the Upper School courses, said. “Students engage many of the Lead from Here competencies as they transform into visionaries, ready to address current problems and change our world for the better.” Here are three key proficiencies Ravenscroft students gain from Speech and Debate classes.

1. Self Confidence For many students, Speech and Debate is the first time they’ve presented information or made and defended an argument in such a formal manner. Learning to do it well has significant payoffs. “At the start of the year, I wasn’t very confident speaking in front of my peers, but as the year progressed, I noticed that I felt more comfortable speaking, both in front of the class and in everyday speech,” Upper School Speech and Debate student NICK FAY ’21 said of his experience. Language arts teacher Karen Westbrook, who introduced the Middle School’s Speech and Debate curriculum in 2015, agreed. “My students see that public speaking does not have to be scary or intimidating and that we all are constant students of how to be better speakers.”

2. Critical Thinking and Argumentation

3. Resilience and Determination

The courses also develop and reinforce strong critical thinking skills and more disciplined approaches to argumentation. “My biggest takeaway from the class was to consider and analyze others’ perspectives,” said GRACE PETROV ’24. “It allowed me to navigate debates, make assertions at the precise moments and articulate ideas that would either support or negate an argument.” For TALIA GRANICK ’21, the class served as meaningful preparation for facing real-life challenges headon. “Not only does it throw you into super-uncomfortable situations and force you to think on your feet, but also it teaches you so much about understanding multiple sides to every argument,” she said. And — particularly important in today’s fractured political climate — the discipline’s norms make a solid case for civil discourse. “I appreciate the recognition that debate does not mean raising one’s voice or name-calling but, rather, delivering assertions calmly, rationally and with support, logic and justification,” Westbrook said. “Developmentally, teenagers are challenged to see this. I believe Speech and Debate helps with their self-awareness.”

Another key takeaway is one that can be especially difficult for perfection-minded students: accepting criticism and moving on from failure. “As novice debaters, students are required to embrace a growthminded perspective,” Spransy said. “No student starts as a champion; instead they must learn to take in constructive feedback from coaches and judges in order to grow.” “We all provide and receive feedback from each other,” Westbrook said. “Collaboration and communication are essential. “Many middle schoolers feel that they don’t have a voice, but in this class they do,” she added. “I feel that students coming out of these classes can tell anyone how powerful the spoken word can be.” R

“My biggest takeaway from the class was to consider and analyze others’ perspectives.” —GRACE PETROV ’24

SUMMER 2019

ETHOS

BY KAREN LEWIS TAYLOR

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ENJOY MORE PHOTOS, EXPANDED STORYTELLING AND REFLECTIONS ON

ETHOS

COMMUNITY ON OUR WEBSITE: www.ravenscroft.org/summermagazine2019

Connections and Commitment to Our Mission Create a Stronger, More Inclusive Ravenscroft

UR MISSION STATEMENT READS: The Ravenscroft community, guided by our legacy of excellence, nurtures individual potential and prepares students

to thrive in a complex and interdependent world.

It’s significant, notes Head of School Doreen Kelly, that it begins with “the Ravenscroft community.” “Notice it’s not ‘Ravenscroft School,’” she says. “In the most significant expression of who we are and who we aspire to be, we conceive of ourselves as a community first.” As visionary as it was when the Board of Trustees approved it in 2006, this mission statement has come to mean even more since then. Thanks to advancements in neuroscience and a growing body of research on brain development, educators now know that a young person’s growth and success depends as much on their sense of security and belonging in the school environment as on their academic and extracurricular pursuits. Building and sustaining a strong and welcoming community for our students and their families, it turns out, is some of the most important work taking place on campus today. “It’s important to focus on what it means to us when we say community,” Kelly adds. “We have our Lead From Here framework to help guide how we work together as we consider how we can continue to be an even more welcoming educational community.” Here, we explore just a few of the many ways our faculty and staff, students, parent-led organizations and alumni nurture and support the Ravenscroft community of today in its many facets.

“Notice it’s not ‘Ravenscroft School.’ In the most significant expression of who we are and who we aspire to be, we conceive of ourselves as a community first.” —DOREEN KELLY, HEAD OF SCHOOL

Whether it’s in class, at a special event or honoring a longstanding tradition, Ravenscroft’s strong sense of community brings students, faculty and staff, alumni and families together. SUMMER 2019

ETHOS 1. Lower Schoolers enjoy a science lesson with teacher Patrick Knox. 2. Then-kindergartener MAX REIVES ’28 and curriculum specialist Ruth Thomas share Lead From Here with parents. 3. SHIRLEY YANG '25, LOTTA SCHACHT '25 and BROCK HOGGARD '25 collaborate on a Science 6 forensics project.

LEARNERS AND LEADERS: BUILDING THE FOUNDATION The foundation of Ravenscroft community is the classroom, where teachers and students spend their days sharing, learning and growing. From circle time in the PreK classroom to impassioned debates around Upper School seminar tables, connection and engagement among students, their classmates and their instructors is at the heart of Ravenscroft’s mission. “AS ONE COMMUNITY” With the implementation of a more collaborative approach to learning — in which teachers guide student exploration of new concepts and students often work together to develop greater understanding and solve problems — trust is an integral component of the classroom dynamic. “Student-centered classrooms allow for greater exploration of passions and better understanding of the material,” said Colleen Ramsden, associate head of school for academics and student life. “Our approach fosters connectedness between students and teachers, which is paramount to the teaching and learning process.”

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Middle School math teacher Scott Ringenbach said the benefits are worthwhile. “I am often surprised by the conversations that evolve as a result of one student sharing. Students really enjoy the idea that they can offer ideas to the class and respectfully get feedback from their peers, and they seem to realize that they’re all in this together,” he said. ANDREW ABBOT ’24 agreed. “It amazes me how much the members of the faculty care for students and want them to succeed,” he said. “It allows people to be more comfortable around each other, to bond as one community.” “A SPECIAL BOND” Students also relish opportunities to forge connections beyond those groups. Grade-level experiences, such as field trips and service projects, and regular divisionwide gatherings reinforce the broader sense of community on campus even as they reinforce learning. ZION EVANS ’20 said his recent experience on the Junior Mountain Trip reminded him that he and his classmates — even those he doesn’t spend time with at school — have much in common, something they enjoyed discussing around the campfire.

ETHOS

4. Teacher Kalista Richardson, her husband and sons — COLEMAN ’29, JAMES ’26 and WILLIAM ’23 — “rock the bald” at the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser. 5. SIMONE PROVENCHER ’19 and ZOË GLASGOW ’20 share their talent on Community Day.

“People tend to not go outside their friend group due to assuming other people are different, but everyone in my group had gone through the same things throughout the junior year,” he said. “This trip most definitely brought me and my group members closer together and is now a special bond that cannot be broken.” “GET COMFORTABLE THROUGH PRACTICE” With Lead From Here’s emphasis on fostering an inclusive community, division leaders continue to create opportunities to build community. Lower and Middle School students participate in “Mix-It-Up” lunches — where students are paired with peers outside their class or friend group and encouraged to get to know one another better — and students in all divisions are supported in having what school leaders call “courageous conversations.” “The Lower School spent time this year focusing on identity, using three questions: Who am I?, Who are you?, and Who are we together?,” first-grade teacher Bernardo Guzmán explained. “We used Tree Talks as our main approach to the topic, with each grade then exploring the questions with developmentally appropriate activities.”

“Morning Meeting was an important part of our efforts to encourage students to present diverse perspectives and cultures this year,” Upper School Spanish teacher Katie Barnwell said. “Not all students are comfortable with these kinds of conversations right away, and that’s OK. We get comfortable through practice.”

TRADITIONS AND NEW INITIATIVES: WIDENING THE CIRCLE Many students have embraced these opportunities to explore and, in some ways, redefine what community means in the complex and interdependent world of the 21st century. As Ravens continue to enjoy traditions such as Spirit Week, the MLK Day of Service and holiday chapels, student leaders and advocates are working to ensure that the Ravenscroft community fully lives its mission. “INCREASING UNDERSTANDING” When asked about their favorite traditions as Upper Schoolers, members of the Class of 2019 named

SUMMER 2019

ETHOS

“Some of my fondest memories at Ravenscroft have centered around mentorship and admiring my older Raven role models.” —KEMMIA GODHRAT ’19

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4 1. Upper Schoolers cheer on their teams in the Powderpuff game. 2. Tennis players give high-fives to PreK students at the Fall Pep Rally. 3. Ravens of all ages work together during the Kindness Council. 4. Homecoming provides fun for students as well as alumni.

ETHOS events ranging from Stark Raven Madness and the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser to Celebration Day, during which students share their talents and interests, and the festive Madrigal Dinner. Others brought up more recently created events that explore and celebrate the diversity of the Ravenscroft community, including the schoolwide Culture Festival and SPEAK (Students Pursuing Equity And Kindness), a half-day of performances and workshops for students in the Upper School. “SPEAK focuses on topics the student leadership team hopes will inspire students to increase their own awareness around the complex issues that impact our ability to connect with one another,” Upper School English teacher Shelley Torres, who serves as the event’s faculty coordinator, said. “Overall, SPEAK works to start conversations that can grow our community’s capacity for empathy.” Students were also instrumental in forming a Spiritual Task Force to help facilitate greater understanding and acceptance of different faith perspectives, building on a longstanding tradition of having faculty, staff and students from a variety of spiritual backgrounds share their families’ stories and celebrations in holiday chapels. ADAM SEIDENFRAU ’19, who was among the students who founded an Upper School affinity group for Jewish students, said, “When I first got to Ravenscroft, I don’t think people understood Judaism or the significance of any of our holidays. The creation of the affinity group parallels the increasing understanding of the Jewish faith tradition.” “THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SMALL ACTS” When school leaders held a “Kindness Council” one Saturday in March, more than 70 students from kindergarten through 12th grade attended. They spent the day getting to know one another and talking about what kindness means to them. In the Lower School’s resulting Kindness Challenge — inspired by the nonprofit Kindness 4 Kate, which honors former Ravenscroft teacher Kate Childrey — students aimed to record 10,000 acts of kindness in three weeks. “The most meaningful thing I learned in the Kindness Council was the impact of a small act of kindness on so many others, even yourself,” CARTER ANDERSON ’23 said of her involvement. “The first meeting, we learned the significance of small acts of kindness and how you could change the world with small acts. What an amazing idea, to encourage students throughout the school to spread kindness to everyone.” In many ways, nurturing community is a deeply personal commitment for Ravens. “Some of my fondest memories at Ravenscroft have centered around mentorship and admiring my older Raven role models,” KEMMIA GODHRAT ’19 said. “Upperclassmen I met through my involvement in the

fine arts helped me navigate my life as a high school student and as a future leader of the department — all while giving me friendship advice, support on my bad days and even help with math. Now I’ve repeated this cycle with two underclassmen.”

PARENTS AND ALUMNI: STRENGTHENING THE TIES As anyone who has been to a Homecoming dinner, an end-of-year party or a performing arts event can attest, Ravenscroft is more than just students and teachers. Current families and the more than 4,500 alumni and their families — many of whom count the years of their relationship with the institution in decades — are also indispensable members of the community. “OUR COMMUNITY SHOWS UP” Parent-led organizations such as the Parents’ Association, RAC (Ravenscroft Athletic Club) and the Fine Arts Association have proven to be community-building powerhouses over the years, organizing everything from grade-level parent meetings, athletics concessions sales and concert attire to major events including Fall Festival, the Golf Tournament and stage productions. Along the way, they’ve engaged countless families in volunteerism and philanthropy, two of the cornerstones of Ravenscroft’s success. “Community is at the heart of our mission statement,” Peggy Robbins, who served as 2018-19 PA co-president, said. “Creating those connections is what builds the foundation for a strong sense of belonging in our community.” “This past year Ravenscroft produced its largest musical to date with ‘Beauty and the Beast,’” said Fine Arts Association president Angie Crookenden. “Parents and grandparents worked to provide meals, put up headshots and posters, distribute tickets and keep up with costumes. It made my heart swell with pride for how our community showed up for the arts.” Families have also shown up for one another. Groups such as Global Parent Ambassadors and the PA’s Parents Supporting Diversity and Inclusion plan social events, host information sessions and advocate for students and families. “Our mind-set is one of inclusion,” said GPA’s Karen Taber. “We act as a springboard for international parents to participate in and contribute their rich diversity to our community.” “We’ve been a vocal advocate for additional affinity groups,” said PSDI’s Tijuana Crosby. “They’re essential in helping to establish a welcoming environment for minority families — which, in turn, helps to strengthen the larger Ravenscroft community.”

SUMMER 2019

ETHOS

“You’ve got guys spanning 25 years out there competing, becoming friends, catching up. It brings us back to the place that connects us all. —JEREMY BULL ’00, ON THE ANNUAL ALUMNI LACROSSE GAME

“THE PLACE THAT CONNECTS US ALL” Alumni, too, play an integral role in maintaining Ravenscroft’s strong sense of community. The Alumni Association is charged with keeping all alumni connected, from the school’s earliest students on the Tucker Street campus to the almost-graduated senior class. The association spearheads class reunions and other events that bring alumni back to campus, including the Legacy Lunch, athletics reunion games and visits from college-age alumni to talk about their experiences after Ravenscroft.

“It’s fun to be a part of,” JEREMY BULL ’00 said of the alumni lacrosse game, which takes place over Thanksgiving break. “You’ve got guys spanning 25 years out there competing, becoming friends, catching up. It brings us back to the place that connects us all.” Of course, many alumni are also current parents or grandparents. Their presence is felt in the day-to-day volunteer roles they play on campus and in the policyshaping work of groups such as the Alumni Council and Board of Trustees. JOHN PARHAM ’84, whose children JORDAN ’17 and RHETT ’20 are also Ravens, has served in both groups. “My alumni connections have deepened because of my involvement initially with the Alumni Council and then the Board of Trustees,” he said. “When I became president of the Alumni Council, I reconnected with my ’83-’85 classmates to ask for their involvement in Homecoming weekend and a variety of campus events. There are many Ravenscoft alumni serving on the board as well, and it has been fun getting to know them better since we are all from different time periods.” What connects them is their dedication to ensuring Ravenscroft continues to fulfill its mission for this — and the next — generation of leaders and learners. For parents and alumni, as for teachers and students, when it comes to the Ravenscroft community, they’re all in it together.

1 1. Seniors get in the spirit of the Powderpuff game. 2. LOGAN ALDRIDGE ’09, PHILLIP FAJGENBAUM ’09 and PARKE JONES ’09 enjoy the alumni lacrosse game in 2017.

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ETHOS

IS A PLACE, TOO

OR THE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS who have walked the bustling hallways and wide sidewalks of the north Raleigh campus that has been Ravenscroft’s home since the early 1970s, “the Ravenscroft community” evokes green metal roofs and bronze statues shining in the sun, bells tolling before chapel gatherings and roses blooming overhead at Commencement. Graduates of those early years may recall the textured green fabric of a pool table, the lattice walls of a courtyard gazebo or heat waves rising off a newly paved track. Those who came later may remember shaded trails on nature walks, the gleam of spotlights on the stage in Jones Theatre or the roughness of cardboard and Styrofoam in the MakerSpace. Of course, for an entire generation that came before them, Ravenscroft was a Gothic-Revival stone chapel with a small, close-knit grade school on Tucker Street downtown. Even as they cherish memories of the stairway leading to the church tower, where art lessons took

place, and the potbellied stove used to heat the World War II-era classroom expansion, many Tucker Street alumni loyally support today’s Ravenscroft community, serving over the years as trustees, fourth-grade pen pals and loyal donors — and making Ravens of their own children and grandchildren. CHARLES WINSTON SR. ’47 has said that the Ravenscroft of today reminds him of the Ravenscroft of his time, “from the aspect of what they tried to accomplish, which was a good student who would succeed in life. I’m a big salesman for Ravenscroft because of the results I see.” As the world changes and Ravenscroft grows and evolves with it, campus leaders continue to embrace our mission — developing a strategic plan that envisions the spaces where the next generation’s learning and leading will take place. Keeping community at its heart is certain to be a priority. R

SUMMER 2019

SPARK

1 1. KELLY BAKER ’20 2. Kelly has played varsity basketball for Ravenscroft as well as soccer. 3. Kelly (front row, center) and her varsity basketball teammates hold their trophy after taking second place in the 2019 NCISAA 4A Championship.

Same Game, Different Reputation Essay by Kelly Baker ’20

ELLY BAKER ’20 was a member of Ravenscroft’s varsity basketball and

soccer teams in the 2018-19 season. Her years of involvement in the Ravenscroft athletic community ultimately inspired her to choose the topic of gender disparity in athletics for an essay assignment in Kevin Flinn’s Advanced Placement Language course. Kelly says of her topic, “We had to compare and contrast two things and evaluate their similarities and differences. I chose to compare men's and women's basketball, as I knew I could achieve a unique perspective by incorporating statistics and personal experiences I've had as a member of the varsity girls basketball team to support my claims. Through writing the essay, I learned even more about the prominent divide between the two games and was enlightened as to how these divides mirror each other at all levels.” The following is a condensed version of Kelly’s essay.

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SPARK

On the surface, the game of basketball does not appear dramatically different for men and women — the game has the same rules, court and ultimate goal. Referees receive the same training for officiating all games. The only real difference between men’s and women’s basketball is the gender of the players participating. However, the differences in the atmospheres surrounding men’s and women’s basketball give each game a completely different reputation. In high schools, the difference in support between men’s and women’s games can be seen immediately as one enters the gym, or when the women’s team leaves. Students spill into the gym at 7:30 every Friday night, abiding to the unchanging schedule: varsity men after varsity women. The announcer asks everyone to “please rise as we honor our country with the singing of our national anthem,” a ritual consistently missing from the women’s game. Roaring crowds of student supporters fill the bleachers during the men’s games, but those same stands are too often quiet and empty just moments before the women’s game begins. We can only wonder if this difference in support stems from norms of the game at higher levels. Collegiately, men’s teams receive an abundance of press and attention, while the women’s games are scarcely noticed. Specifically, during the NCAA March Madness tournament, the women’s bracket remains practically nonexistent to society, and the talent and riveting outcomes are often ignored. Only 2.54 million people watched Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale hit two rushed, buzzerbeating, game-winning three-pointers in the final two games of the 2018 women’s tournament, while 17.8 million people watched the men’s championship game.1 2 Moreover, tickets to those final women’s games cost significantly less than those to the men’s game, reflecting a historical trend in which women’s college basketball tickets cost much less than men’s. Do people purposefully lower the price of women’s tickets to entice fans into buying the cheaper ticket and watching the girls?

Or do they feel the value of women’s games does not match that of men’s, resulting in tickets of intentionally lower value? The discrepancy between the men’s and women’s games exists at the professional level as well, amplified by staggering economic disparities. For doing essentially the same job, WNBA players get paid approximately 12% of the minimum NBA player’s salary. An NBA player who does not play at all earns a significantly higher salary than the best WNBA player. WNBA players’ low salaries undermine their hard work, talent and competitiveness and reflect only their gender. For two games otherwise so fundamentally similar, the attention given to the men’s game usurps that of the women’s game at all levels, and the gap has not diminished with time. How different it would be if all the social and economic disparities disappeared, leaving only the raw elements of the game available for comparison. R

"In high schools, the difference in support between men’s and women’s games can be seen immediately as one enters the gym, or when the women’s team leaves.” —KELLY BAKER ’20

1 Chew, Jonathan. “Viewership for Buzzer-Beating NCAA Title Game Was Down By 37%.” fortune.com, Fortune Media IP, 6 Apr. 2016, fortune.com/2016/04/06/ villanova-north-carolina-ratings/. Accessed 10 Feb. 2019. 2 “2018 Women’s Final Four Makes History in Columbus.” ncaa.com, Turner Sports Interactive Inc., 13 Apr. 2018, www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/ article/2018-04-13/2018-womens-final-four-makes-history-columbus. Accessed 10 Feb. 2019.

SUMMER 2019

A THOUSAND WORDS

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Earth Day spirit: Members of Colleen Girouard’s seventh-

grade advisory gather near the Character Tree sculpture during the Middle School’s Earth Day activities on April 22, 2019. Clockwise from top right are LEAH FINE-CARROLL ’24, MORGAN JELOVSEK ’24, DASH BLACK ’24, JOSH SHEPHERD ’24, SLADE GOLLER ’24, GRAYSON MARTY ’24, GREY DAVIDIAN ’24, AUTUMN CAMPBELL ’24 (partially hidden), KENNEDY LEE ’24, JEREMY MCGINNIS ’24 and CHLOE GOLDSTEIN ’24.

SUMMER 2019

INSPIRED

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HEAR MORE FROM TOM ABRAHAMS '89 AND HIS "THE TRAVELER" SERIES ON OUR WEBSITE: www.ravenscroft.org/summermagazine2019

INSPIRED

“Battle” Fiction by Tom Abrahams ’89

OM ABRAHAMS ’89’S dystopian series “The Traveler” has been described as “Mad Max” meets

“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and now comprises eight books. “Battle” is the series’ fifth installment.

“I’m getting too old for this,” Marcus Battle muttered under his breath. He wiggled his fingers above the grip of the Glock at his hip. His feet were shoulder width apart on the cracked, hole-riddled asphalt, and he straddled the faded single yellow line that ran through town. Despite the dry chill of a late West Texas winter, Marcus was in short sleeves. Sweat coated the back of his neck and under his arms. His muscles tensed and his focus sharpened on the target standing thirty yards from him in the street. He drew slow, even breaths. “You’re the one they used to call Mad Max,” sneered the target. “I heard tell of you all over the territory south of the wall.” Marcus positioned his shoulders over his toes. It was the best position from which to fire his weapon. “They say you ended the Cartel single-handedly,” said the target. “Turned your back on the Dwellers, got north of the wall, and came back to kill most of the Llano River Clan.” The target had the story mostly right. While there was a defiance in the man’s voice, there was also fear. Marcus could hear it as the man recounted the dime-store tales of Marcus Battle’s violent adventures. He was the most recent in a long succession of would-be sharks who’d circled Baird and dove into its waters in hopes of besting its legendary sheriff. Marcus wasn’t really the sheriff. There wasn’t such a thing south of the wall in the territory once known as Texas. But he’d found people to lead in the town of Baird. They’d wanted his help and he’d given it freely. For six months it had been easy. Until word got out. Things changed. Now, almost weekly, some young gun or guns came calling. They called out Marcus by name or reputation and demanded the chance to seek out glory. This one was tall and thin. His arms were comically long and his sleeves stopped short of his wrists. His baggy pants ended at his calves. “I also heard you ain’t got no family,” said the target, smiling. “You’re here ’cause your home is gone. They say you got nowhere to go and nobody to go to, so you’re here. That’s pathetic, if you ask me.” At first Marcus had tried to talk them out of their mission, to offer them refuge from the violence and unease that plagued the lawless, wild south. None of them accepted. One by one they’d failed in their quest and

Marcus had buried them himself a mile outside town. Marcus’s fingers had blistered then thickened with calluses from the frequency of the work. The target adjusted his stance. His hand still hovered above the holster at his side. “I used to believe what they say!” he shouted. “I used to believe the stories. I thought you were a giant full of muscles!” Another body to put in the ground, Marcus thought. ©2017 Piton Press LLC

About Tom Abrahams ’89 TOM IS A VETERAN TELEVISION JOURNALIST and author of more than 20 novels. He writes action adventure, political thrillers and dystopian science fiction. His Jackson Quick series is published by Post Hill Press. His series “The Traveler” is translated into German and published by Luzifer Verlag. He’s also contributed to Akashic Press’s Houston Noir with the short story “Tolerance.” His novel “Home” was a Kindle Unlimited All-Star in January 2016. His series “A Dark World: The Complete SpaceMan Chronicles” was an Audible Five Star Favorite in January 2019, and Tom recently sold the option for film and television rights for all three books in the trilogy. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication. He and his wife, Courtney, have two children; Samantha is a senior at UCLA and Luke is a junior in high school. R

SUMMER 2019

3 TO WATCH We caught up with three alumnae on very different journeys in STEM-related fields to learn about their work, how Ravenscroft helped prepare them and what advice they’d give to students preparing to join a diverse workforce.

BY STACY CALFO

HEATHER FRIEDMAN ’92

MEGAN MEYER ’99

CHLOE PACYNA ’15

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3 TO WATCH HEATHER FRIEDMAN (née FIRTH) ’92

MEGAN MEYER ’99

CHLOE PACYNA ’15

Senior Energy Specialist, World Bank

Marshall Scholar and incoming doctoral student at Cambridge University’s Wellcome Sanger Institute

I am a freelance medical editor/writer. I write and edit everything from medical journal manuscripts to patient education materials, but my biggest project is an annual written examination that OB-GYN residents in the U.S. and abroad take during each of their four years of residency training.

When I first joined World Bank, I was supporting developing countries’ climate-change mitigation projects to meet their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. Today, I work with governments in Latin America to finance clean-energy infrastructure investments, with a focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency.

I plan to pursue doctoral research on cancer genomics, particularly in childhood cancers. Building off my undergraduate research, I’ll develop and use computational tools to understand how healthy DNA can go awry and generate tumors and how cancer can be better treated.

Honestly, being a woman has not felt like a career hurdle to me, because the field of medical communications is actually overwhelmingly female, as are so many health care-related professions.

One of the challenges working at the World Bank is that it can involve a lot of international travel. This was very exciting when I was younger and didn’t have a family. However, once I had children, it was a whole new dynamic that meant embracing a different work/ life balance.

There have been times people have questioned my ambition and enthusiasm for science and medicine, and I do find myself stepping up and taking more assertive roles in discussions and classes because I feel I have to prove my competence on challenging material.

What advice would you give to students looking to enter a career field where they might be the minority?

If you have no idea what you want to do, remember that your future career may not be something you’ve ever heard of! In high school, college and even my early 20s, I had no idea the field of medical communications existed. Broaden your horizons before you start narrowing them down.

The world is changing and a lot of workplaces view diversity as an advantage to their business, so use your diversity to your advantage and identify the unique perspective you can bring to the institution. And, very importantly, find a mentor!

Seek out mentors who care about your success. It’s even better if you can find mentors who look like you! I’m very fortunate to have worked with brilliant woman who challenged me and made me confident in my ability to pursue a career in science.

What successes have you experienced?

Three years after earning my Master of Public Health in maternal and child health, I experienced a series of near-fatal obstetric complications, most of which could have been prevented through better clinician education. It’s no coincidence that I’ve since built a career that affords me substantial input into the education of future ob-gyns!

It’s been very rewarding to see the impact of the projects I work on in developing countries, particularly those that have a strong impact on climate change and the local communities. Learning and using Spanish and Portuguese in my work is also one of my personal successes. It was a steep learning curve.

I’m most proud of mentoring students through MERIT, a nonprofit organization that introduces disadvantaged Baltimore high school students to health care professions. Many of the students I’ve worked with have earned full-ride scholarships to prestigious schools.

President, Friedman Medical Communications, LLC

Tell us a little about your current role.

As a woman, have you faced any hurdles along your path?

KNOW A RAVENSCROFT GRAD WE SHOULD HAVE ON OUR WATCH LIST? SEND US THE DETAILS VIA “SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE” AT www.ravenscroft.org/alumni

SUMMER 2019

<<RAVENS REWIND

BY DAVID KLEIN

The Rise of Moonlight Math Fresh Ideas + Parent Involvement - Rote Activities + A Slumber Party = A Beloved Ravenscroft Tradition

1. Moonlight Math was the brainchild of Lower School faculty Mary Catherine Phelps, Carol Miedema, Carolyn Everett and Joyce Parker (photo courtesy of Carol Miedema). 2. Third-graders learn about money during an activity captured in the 1988 yearbook. 3. AMY BELL STRITZEL ’97 and ELIZABETH WARREN HAMILTON ’97, shown in their third-grade class photo (first row, first and third from left), have fond memories of Moonlight Math. 4. Parent Louise Conroy helps third-graders (clockwise from left) GRACE PARKER, TYLER BOGUE, SAVANNAH CONWAY and GRAY GOODWIN create electrical circuits with potatoes during 2019’s Moonlight Math, which had a “Ravenswood” movie theme.

SK ALUMNI IN CLASSES FROM THE MID-90S on to

name their favorite Lower School memory, and many of them will talk excitedly about the moment they learned to love math — by the light of the moon. It all started in 1985. Then-Lower School Director Carol Miedema was interested in invigorating the math curriculum when she heard about Math Around the Clock, a program math consultant Jeane Joyner had developed at another school that featured a day of math-related activities complete with movies, singing and a slumber party. Miedema loved the idea.

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READ OTHER RAVENS’ MEMORIES OF MOONLIGHT MATH AND SHARE YOUR OWN ON OUR WEBSITE: www.ravenscroft.org/summermagazine2019

“We wanted to think of ways to make math come alive, especially for girls,” said Miedema, who encouraged teachers Joyce Parker, Carolyn Everett and Mary Catherine Phelps to create a similar night of math fun for their thirdgraders. The team began developing a curriculum and met with parents to get them involved, brainstorming the ways math was useful to them at home and at work. One early feature of Moonlight Math made it especially enticing to the school’s third-graders: the prospect of spending the night at school. “The excitement of sleeping at school was killing me in the day leading up to it,” said AMY BELL STRITZEL ’97. “Spending the night at school was definitely the best part. It felt so weird and special to be there after hours,” added ELLEN MANN O’CONNOR ’98. After Friday classes, students went home and returned to school in the early evening — sleeping bags, pillows and toothbrushes in tow — and attended four or five self-selected workshops that reflected the diversity and ingenuity of parent organizers. They made small rockets or paper airplanes and then measured the distance and height of their flights. They weighed and measured Beanie Babies, the toy craze of the moment. A mini-Math Olympics took place in the gym. Not surprisingly, the most popular activities involved food. Students explored units of measurement and fractions by baking cookies and making smoothies, fruit pizza and ice cream. “My mom and DRAUGHN BISHOP WHITEHEAD ARBONA ’96’s mom manned the ice cream section,” ALEX HOPKINS RUDDER ’96 remembered. “Her awesome mom even made matching ice cream aprons for them to wear with little ice cream cones on them. That was the best experience. So fun to spend the night and actually look at math in a fun way.”

RAVENS REWIND

After parent guides made their exit, students enjoyed a snack and a movie. Then it was bedtime, with girls and boys occupying separate spaces. Phelps presided over her charges from the loft in her classroom, knowing it would take some time before the girls finally settled down. “I don’t remember actually going to sleep,” recalled ELIZABETH WARREN HAMILTON ’97.

In the morning, Miedema led a group of early risers on a jog around the still-locked school. (They measured the distance they ran, so there was morning math as well.) Participants remember Moonlight Math with fondness. KATIE PRESSEL GILLESPIE ’95, who took part in the inaugural event and has served as a parent volunteer for her sons’ Moonlight Math nights, remembers it as a true eye-opener. “It was the first time we got the idea that math was more than memorizing number facts,” she said. Even though it’s no longer an overnight event, Moonlight Math remains a beloved tradition that continues to

“The excitement of sleeping at school was killing me in the day leading up to it.” —AMY BELL STRITZEL ’97

spark excitement among Lower School students. That’s no surprise to the teachers who first brought it to life. “Every year there were children who spontaneously remarked, ‘This was the best night of my life!’” said Phelps. “We knew we had started something memorable.” R

SUMMER 2019

CAMPUS NOTES

Students Earn Honors on National Latin and Greek Exams

STUDENTS

An impressive 56% of Ravenscroft Latin students who sat for the National Latin Exam won recognition for their scores, including six gold medals and 15 silver medals; two Latin I students, BENNETT GILLESPIE ’23 and SOPHIE THOMAS ’23, earned a perfect score. Two Honors Greek I students, ISAAC LAMB ’19 (high honor) and ERIN PUGH ’19 (highest honor), were recognized by the National Greek Exam. Erin also earned a silver medal on the Medusa Mythology Exam. Among Middle School students taking the National Mythology Exam, silver medals went to LAU-

CAMPUSNOTES ACADEMICS

Speech and Debate Students Shine in Competitions Students enrolled in the Upper School’s new speech and debate classes came out strong at competitions this year. At the Dogwood Speech and Debate League Qualifier #2, which took place Oct. 20, 2018, TALIA GRANICK ’21 and EMMY REPLOGLE ’21 took first place in the Novice Forum Debate, and BRAD TABER ’20 and MARIANNA SCHANTZ ’19 took second place. NICK FAY ’21 took sixth place in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate. At the Dogwood Speech and Debate League Qualifier #4 on Nov. 10, 2018, CYNTHIA WOODWARD ’19 and COURTNEY REA ’19 placed fourth in Novice Public Forum Debate. Read about Ravenscroft’s speech and debate programs in Frame, p. 12.

Math Team Places in Top 15 at Duke Math Meet In Ravenscroft’s first appearance at the Duke Math Meet, six Upper School students — BRUCE ZHU ’21, MICHAEL RUTIGLIANO ’22, MARK LI ’20, team captain LUCY HAO ’20, JON LI ’19 and SEAN SHEN ’21 — finished among the

3 1. Speech and Debate students NICK FAY ’21, TALIA GRANICK ’21, EMMY REPLOGLE ’21, BRAD TABER ’20 and MARIANNA SCHANZ ’19 2. BRUCE ZHU ’21, MICHAEL RUTIGLIANO ’22, MARK LI ’20, LUCY HAO ’20, JON LI ’19

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and SEAN SHEN ’21 at the Duke Math Meet 3. MATTHEW HUNTER ’20, AMIR BRITTON ’21, CHARLES COOK ’21 and JAIRUS COOK ’22 with coaches Katie Barnwell and Shelley Torres at the African American History Awareness Competition

Top 15 teams. The event, which took place Nov. 3, 2018, drew approximately 40 six-person teams from several states and overseas to compete in five rounds.

REL CARTER ’23, MIKIE CREEDON ’25, MADDY GOLDSTEIN ’25, ELLIE LEAGUE ’24 and RANDI OGAN ’25, and a bronze medal went to DASH BLACK ’24.

Ravens Win African American History Competition Four students

— MATTHEW HUNTER ’20, AMIR BRITTON ’21, CHARLES COOK ’21 and JAIRUS COOK ’22 — won the high school

division of the regional 2019 African American History Awareness Competition, held Feb. 23 in Raleigh. While a scheduling change kept the team from being able to participate in the statewide competition held April 7, advisor Katie Barnwell said, “We are very proud of our team!”

Lower School Wins District and Regional Battle of the Books The Lower School’s Battle of the Books team took first place in both the district and regional competitions for students in elementary grades. The team, pictured on p. 33, included (first row) ADDISON DIENER ’26, MASON JELOVSEK ’26,

coach Jessica Ortolano, AUDREY KALORIN ’26; (second row) COURTNEY ANGE ’26, JACK CONWAY ’26, ALEXANDER ROUSKAS ’27, GRAYSON ZOLA ’26, GABRIEL LOYOLA ’27, KING BEASLEY ’27, CHARLOTTE STRINGER ’26, EVELYN WU ’27 and ARRAN BOYLE ’26 (not pictured).

CAMPUS NOTES

CITIZEN LEADERSHIP Student-Led Fundraising Efforts Support the Fight Against Cancer Continuing a long tradition of community engagement and fundraising to support cancer research, several student-led groups pulled out all the stops to meet their goals.

RAVENS IN THE HOOD

On Aug. 24-25, 2018, a team made up of Ravenscroft students participated in the Hood to Coast relay, a grueling 199-mile, nearly 30hour event. The youngest team, and the only high school team to participate, Ravens in the Hood raised more than $101,000 for the American Cancer Society, making them the highest overall fundraising team in the race. The 2018 team, pictured at right, comprised (first row) ELLA ROCKWELL ’19, CAROLINE SCHMALZ ’19, BROOKE BAKER ’20, COURTNEY REA ’19, ELISE PLAYE ’20, MIA RUSSO ’19; (second row) DAVIS MACNABB ’19, JACK BARNES ’19, JAKE SCHNEIDER ’19, BEN KERNER ’20, MAC NELSON ’19 and JUSTIN THOMPSON ’20.

A CRUCIAL CATCH

Ravens Fighting Against Cancer team members — DELANEY WASHINGTON ’22, BEA HOLDSTOCK ’22, GEORGIA WINSTON ’22, COLE STIEFEL ’20, ANDREW GOULD ’20, GAVIN MATHAN ’20, ZOË GLASGOW ’20, PRESTON BISHOP ’19, VAL EDWARDS ’19, CHARLIE WINSTON ’19 and leaders CLAIRE ZIPERSKI ’20 and BRYNLEY JONSON ’20 — organized fundraisers on campus and in partnership with local businesses to raise money for A Crucial Catch, a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the National Football League that funds cancer screenings, treatment and research. The team ultimately raised more than $30,000 to become the top fundraising high school in the nation. Team leaders accepted the group’s Pink Cleat Award

during the May 19, 2019, Varsity Sports Awards.

ST. BALDRICK’S

Led by ZACHARY SKUBIC ’19 and members of the Upper School Band Council, 147 “shavees” and volunteers came out for the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser at Saints and Scholars Pub, generously giving their hair and their money to support childhood cancer research. Scores of other participants opted for colored hairspray and “fairy hair.” The event, held March 16, 2019, surpassed organizers’ $100K goal, with totals exceeding $125,000 — one of the highest totals in the mid-Atlantic states. Participation across all divisions was also the best in the history of the event, with three of the top four fundraisers coming from Lower and Middle School.

Expanded Youth & Government Delegation Takes Top Honors The YMCA’s annual Youth & Government Conference, held in Raleigh Feb. 14-17, 2019, included the biggest and most successful Ravenscroft delegation to date. Ravenscroft’s participation was funded in part by a grant from the Pope Foundation. RHETT PARHAM ’20 served as a floor leader, a first for Ravenscroft’s delegation, and was selected as secretary of state for 2019-20. LAUREN SHAFFER ’20 was appointed senior lobbyist for next year as well. SIERRA RILEY ’21’s team won the Mock Trial All-Star Round, and ISABELLA BREDWELL ’19 and SKYLAR WISEMAN ’20’s Court of Appeals team was selected for the All-Star Court of Appeals Round. ERIN PUGH ’19, who served as Ravenscroft’s student delegation leader, was one of two attendees selected to represent North Carolina at the YMCA National Advocacy Days Program in Washington, D.C., in March 2019. The entire delegation is pictured at right.

4 1. Lower School Battle of the Book participants 2. Ravens in the Hood participants at the finish line 3. Ravens Fighting Against Cancer leaders BRYNLEY JONSON ’20 and CLAIRE ZIPERSKI ’20 with the Carolina Panthers’ Riley Fields

4. The Youth & Government delegation, Ravenscroft’s largest and most successful to date

SUMMER 2019

CAMPUS NOTES

FINE ARTS

The sixth-grade band and the Middle School ensembles (band, choir and strings) all earned “superior” ratings and took first place in their divisions at Musicale, a music festival held at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, on May 10, 2019. The Middle School band and choir were each awarded the champion trophy for earning the highest scores at the festival site.

Choir Upper School choir students LINDSEY

CARTER

’22,

SHAU-

RIK DESHPANDE ’20, SUNISHKA DESHPANDE ’22 and ZOE KING ’22 participated in All-State Choir,

held in Charlotte April 26-27, 2019, under the baton of worldrenowned clinicians.

Band

Four students were selected to attend All-District Band Jan. 2526, 2019, in Chapel Hill. Congratulations to HENRY ZHANG ’25, fifth chair clarinet, Middle School Concert Band; NICOLE FINNEY ’19, clarinet, High School Symphonic Band; ABBOTT TIMMONS ’19, sixth chair French horn, High School Symphonic Band; and TAYLOR HUBBARD ’19, fifth chair trumpet, High School Wind Ensemble. Taylor was also selected to the 2019 Honor Orchestra of America, one of the finest scholastic ensembles in America. He joined musicians from 23 states at the the Music for All National Festival, held March 15-16, 2019, in Indianapolis.

Strings

6 1. Upper School All-District Band participants NICOLE FINNEY ’19, ABBOTT TIMMONS ’19 and TAYLOR HUBBARD ’19 2. HENRY ZHANG ’25 3. All-State cellists DAVID DAEHYUN KIM ’20 and QUENTON BLACHE ’19 at a Ravenscroft strings performance

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4. SAMMY RIVAS ’19 as the court jester at Ravenscroft’s festive Madrigal Dinner 5. LYON DORAFSHAR ’20, DAVIS ANDERSON ’22 and ZOË NAGEL ’19 in “Moon Over Buffalo” 6. Villagers and Belle (ELLE SCHANTZ ’20) in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”

Middle School strings student BENYA WILFRET ’25 was named to the Triangle Youth Orchestra, and DAVID NAHM KIM ’23 was named to both the Triangle Youth Symphony and the N.C. Junior Eastern Regional All-State Orchestra. Upper School strings student DAVID DAEHYUN KIM ’20 was named to the Triangle Youth Philharmonic and joined

VARUN

ATREE

’19,

MELISSA

KONG ’19 and HEIDI SEGARS ’22 at the N.C. Eastern Regional

All-State Orchestra. In addition, David, Heidi and QUENTON BLACHE ’19 were accepted into the North Carolina Chamber Music Institute, and David and Quenton made the Honors AllState Orchestra. Quenton was named Finalist, From the Top Public Radio, and was selected to join the Carnegie Hall National Youth Orchestra in their U.S. residency and tour of Asia.

Visual Arts Six visual arts students — BEK CAMPBELL ’19, ZOË

GLASGOW

’20, SEBASTIAN RAZO ’20, NOELLE HILL ’21, ALEXANDRA BARBONE ’19 and WILLIAM RICHARDSON ’23 — won awards for their sub-

missions to the prestigious 2019 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Creative writing student NOELLE HILL ’21 received first place in the category of Writing a Memoir. JASMINE TRAN ’23, JAE RAMSEY ’23, OLIVIA RIVERA ’25 and OLIVIA MEYERS ’24 received high

honors in the district competition for the Junior Woman’s Club Student Arts Festival, with Olivia’s submission taking second place at the state level. In addition, Jasmine’s painting was featured on the cover of Fine Arts Magazine.

Theater Upper School theater standout SAMMY RIVAS ’19 was among the finalists at the 2019 DPAC Rising Stars, a regional competition for local high school musical theater students. Enjoy photos from the fall play, “Moon Over Buffalo”; the festive Madrigal Dinner; the spring musical, “Beauty and the Beast,” and other performing arts events on our Flickr page, www.flickr.com/ photos/ravenscroftnc/albums.

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ATHLETICS Ravens Take Numerous Conference and Individual Championships The trophy case is considerably heavier after a successful year of conference play in many sports. Girls golf, girls lacrosse and baseball all won their respective Triangle Independent Schools Athletic Conference championships. In addition:

> Boys soccer won the Ravenscroft Invitational on the way to their fourth TISAC Championship since 2011 and a second-place finish in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 4A Championship. > Swimmer BODE RINGENBACH ’21 broke both school and meet records in the 100 breaststroke to be named TISAC Co-Male Swimmer of the Meet. He went on to take first in the 500 freestyle and second in the 200 individual medley at the NCISAA championship meet. > Girls basketball dominated the conference with their fifth consecutive championship, a win at the Granville Central Holiday Invitational and a second-place finish in the state finals. MACY FREDERIKSEN ’20 was named GCHI’s Most Outstanding Player. > Wrestling took their sixth consecutive TISAC championship and a third-place finish at states. DAVIS MACNABB ’19 and JOEL BROWN ’23 won individual state championships, and Joel was voted Most Outstanding Wrestler. > Numerous track and field athletes placed in the Top 3 at the TISAC meet, including first-place scores by KIRSTEN DEBRAH ’20 in the long jump and ALEX MARCHI ’20 in triple jump. Alex went on to break the school record for the triple jump at states, taking fourth place, and placed third in the pole vault and in the 300-meter hurdles. TALIA GRANICK ’21 placed third in the shot put as well.

Senior Athletes Recognized CYNTHIA WOODWARD ’19, a 12-time letter winner in tennis, basketball and track and field, received a $2,000 scholarship from the Raleigh Sports Club. In addition, nine seniors are headed to collegiate play.

> PRESTON BISHOP ’19, a threetime letter winner in football and two-time letter winner in track and field, will play football at Campbell University in Buies Creek. > EMMANUEL PETROV ’19, a fourtime letter winner in soccer, will play at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. > VAL EDWARDS ’19, a six-time letter winner, will play football at UNC-Chapel Hill. > KENAN POOLE ’19, a two-time team captain and six-time letter winner in golf, will play at UNC-Chapel Hill. > DEREK HUGHES ’19, a four-time letter winner in baseball, will be pitching next spring for Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. > JAKE SCHNEIDER ’19, a sixtime letter winner in soccer and lacrosse, will play lacrosse for Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. > HANNAH PANGBORN ’19, a four-time letter winner in lacrosse and one-time letter winner in swimming, will play lacrosse at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. > JAKE VAN DER HEIJDEN ’19, a four-year letter winner in basketball and 2019 team captain, has signed with Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. > HAYDEN SWITZER ’19, a twotime letter winner in lacrosse and two-year starter in goal, will play lacrosse at Berry College in Mount Berry, Georgia.

RAC Honors Volunteers On Feb. 1, 2019, the Ravenscroft Athletic Club presented its annual RAC Service Award to longtime parent volunteers Tom and Larry Hines and Bob and Mary Brent Wright.

5 1. Varsity basketball team: (first row) KELLY BAKER ’20, ALIYA RICHMOND ’21, ALEXIS FENNER ’19, CAROLINE DAVIS ’21; (second row) head coach Mike Ramel, AUDREY HUGHES ’21, SCOTTIE DAWSON ’21, MACY FREDERIKSEN ’20, LAUREN HARRISON ’20, EMILY HAYMAN ’20, LINDSEY CARTER ’22 and assistant coach Kim van der Heijden 2. State championship wrestlers JOEL BROWN ’23 and DAVIS MACNABB ’19

3. CYNTHIA WOODWARD ’19 with her parents and Kevin Billerman at the Raleigh Sports Club's annual meeting 4. Seniors heading to play collegiate sports 5. RAC Service Award recipients Bob and Mary Brent Wright (center left) and Larry and Tom Hines (center right) with RAC’s Kim Mathan and Diane Alridge, Athletic Director Ned Gonet and Head of School Doreen Kelly SUMMER 2019

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Student Media: Covering Kindness

HESE TWO SPREADS (RIGHT) IN

THE 2019 Corvus, Ravenscroft's yearbook, explore how students in all three divisions showed kindness through acts both big and small. ANDREW GOULD ’21, who worked on this content with fellow staff members in the spring semester, said coverage of the Lower School’s commitment to kindness was meaningful “because it showed students taking initiative even though they are young. It shows that Ravenscroft cares. I took pictures of the kindness projects to show that all the grades are participating — not just one. The Lower School’s thermometer shows their overall success.”

1. AND 2. Yearbook photos from Middle School and Upper School document students' commitment to service and philanthropy throughout the 2018-19 school year.

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SUMMER 2019

CAMPUS NOTES

FACULTY & STAFF LEADERSHIP UPDATES Sundstrom Named Interim Head of Upper School

AARON SUNDSTROM has been named interim head of Upper School, effective July 1. He has served as associate head of Upper School since 2018 and before that was assistant head of Upper School for faculty development. He was hired in 2013 to lead the Upper School Math Department. COLLEEN RAMSDEN, associate head of school for academics and student life, noted that the hallmark of Sundstrom’s leadership is “creating a community built on mutual respect. Faculty, staff, students and parents feel known and supported by Aaron because of his positive attitude and ability to be present in the moment. He thrives on reading current research, collaborating with others and helping faculty be intentional and purposeful in their teaching.” Sundstrom said he has been inspired by the transformative impact of Lead from Here, the school’s citizen leadership framework. “It’s what brought me to Ravenscroft and continues to be the most passionate work I do,” he said. “It has informed my own view of education, and I deeply appreciate how it has shaped the institution’s priorities in terms of classroom instruction and the student experience.”

She also contributed a guest column, “Managing Polarities: The Potential of ‘Both/And’ for Education Leaders” to the Fall 2018 SAIS Magazine. Kelly and two colleagues attended the annual SAIS conference Oct. 14-16, 2018. PHIL HIGGINSON, associate head of school for philanthropy, led a development session with Independent School Management’s Herb Soles on “Converting the Reluctant Solicitor Into a Dynamic Fundraiser.” SARAH LOYOLA, director of educational technology, joined Laura Tierney and E.J. Proctor of The Social Institute in exploring “The Future of Social Media Education.”

Higginson Recognized by CASE PHIL HIGGINSON was awarded the 2019 Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence at the annual CASE/NAIS Independent School Conference in January 2019. This prestigious award recognizes CASE faculty members for their outstanding performance at 10 or more CASE international educational programs, attended by new and experienced independent school advancement professionals, heads of school and trustees. Higginson has recently presented on the critical role of strategic financial planning in advancing the school mission, multigenerational marketing for advancement and establishing a culture of giving through family philanthropy.

LEADERSHIP & ACCOLADES Baccus Co-Authors Article on Early Childhood Education

6 1. Aaron Sundstrom, named interim head of Upper School 2. Phil Higginson, recognized with CASE’s 2019 Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence 3. Doreen Kelly and Sarah Loyola (at center) at the SAIS conference with The Social Institute’s Laura Tierney (left) and E.J. Proctor

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4. Jen Baccus, assistant director of admissions 5. AND 6. Erin Stelling (above, in center) and Ned Gonet (below with his family) at their respective school’s Hall of Fame induction

Kelly Appointed to SAIS Board; Higginson and Loyola Present at Conference Head of School DOREEN KELLY has been appointed to the board of trustees for the Southern Association of Independent Schools. Kelly has maintained a long relationship with SAIS and has previously served as a trustee of the association’s Accreditation Committee, among other roles.

JEN BACCUS, assistant director of admissions, co-authored an article for the SAIS Spring 2019 Magazine, “An Investment for a Lifetime: The Value of Independent Education for the Youngest Learners,” that explores the strong and positive foundation independent schools establish for students in early childhood and elementary school programs. Baccus, who taught in the Lower School for 14 years before moving to the Admissions Office, collaborated

CAMPUS NOTES with former Head of Lower School Payton Hobbs, who is now associate director of admission at La Jolla Country Day School in La Jolla, California. The pair plan to present at the Enrollment Management Association’s 2019 conference on “Enrollment Management Through the Lens of an Educator,” examining how their teaching experience has shaped their approach to the early childhood and lower school admission process.

Charles Named RSC’s Coach of the Year Boys varsity soccer coach ALIX CHARLES was recognized as Raleigh Sports Club’s Coach of the Year on April 3, 2019. Charles has been in coaching for 39 years, the past 11 years as head coach of the Ravenscroft boys varsity team and assisting with the girls varsity team this year. He has taken the Ravens to the NCISAA state quarterfinals six times, the semifinals three times and the finals in 2018.

Stelling, Gonet Inducted into High School HOFs Middle and Upper School visual art teacher ERIN STELLING was inducted into St. Maria Goretti High School’s Hall of Fame in October 2018. As a varsity soccer player, she set a school record for goals scored, was an All-Area, All-County and All-Region honoree and was twice named Most Valuable Player when her team won the Maryland Independent School championships. She went on to play Division I soccer at Saint Joseph’s University. Athletic Director NED GONET was inducted into the first class of Oakton High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame in January 2019. Gonet was a tri-sport athlete who went on to play football and baseball for Duke University and was signed as a free agent by both the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants. Gonet was among 26 athletes, two coaches and three teams selected by the school’s committee following a review of 50 years of school history.

RETIREMENT & AWARDS Four employees — who have notched a combined 113 years of service to Ravenscroft — were honored at the 2018-19 faculty and staff recognition event as they prepared to retire. Congratulations and best wishes to IT specialist ALIX CHARLES (12 years), Middle School visual arts teacher ROZ COOPER (26 years), Upper School world language teacher STEVE SWAIM (33 years) and Middle School P.E. teacher and coach JIMMY COX (42 years). Congratulations as well to these faculty and staff members who were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the school: > Maintenance technician ORLANDO FENNER and IT specialist CHRIS MICHAEL were recognized with the Helton Award. This award, established by Charles and Barbara Helton in 1991, recognizes faculty and staff for excellence in teaching and distinguished service to the school. > Upper School world language teacher KATIE BARNWELL, Upper School math teacher KAREN CARROLL, Middle School math teacher SHAYLA COLEMAN, P.E. teacher and head athletic trainer TIM SAVAGE and Middle School language arts teacher AMY TOMBLINSON received the Qubain Award for Teaching Excellence, which recognizes and rewards outstanding fulltime teachers at Ravenscroft. Janet and Munther Qubain established the award in 2002. > Lower School music teacher and choir director KATIE O’NEILL was given the Parents’ Association Distinguished Faculty Award. Established by a special endowment in 2000, the award recognizes, encourages and rewards excellence in teaching. > Fourth-grade teacher CRYSTAL KEEFE received the O’Herron Distinguished Faculty Award, established by the O’Herron Foundation to honor exceptional educators.

5 1. Retiring faculty and staff Steve Swaim, Jimmy Cox and Alix Charles 2. Retiring visual arts teacher Roz Cooper 3. Helton Award recipients Orlando Fenner and Chris Michael

6 4. Qubain Award winners Tim Savage, Katie Barnwell, Amy Tomblinson and Karen Carroll (not pictured: Shayla Coleman) 5. Parents' Association Award winner Katie O’Neill 6. O’Herron Award winner Crystal Keefe

SUMMER 2019

CAP & GOWN

BY KAREN LEWIS TAYLOR

Beyond our years at

Ravenscroft

Senior Projects Provide Capstone Experience, Bridge to Future

N THE JAN. 31, 2019, NEW YORK TIMES GUIDE “How to Be More

Empathetic,” Claire Cain Miller wrote, “More and more, we live in bubbles. Most of us are surrounded by people who look like us, vote like us, earn like us, spend money like us, have educations like us and worship like us. The result is an empathy deficit, and it’s at the root of many of our biggest problems.” But, she added, “researchers have discovered that, far from being an immutable trait, empathy can be developed.”

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HELPING OUR STUDENTS avoid such “bubbles”— to be prepared to live and thrive in a complex and interdependent world — is precisely what school leaders had in mind when they created Lead From Here, Ravenscroft’s groundbreaking citizen leadership framework. A Ravenscroft education combines rigorous academics, competitive athletics and robust performing arts opportunities with a comprehensive curriculum that develops students’ potential as leaders and frames community engagement as essential. It seems fitting, then, that the institution’s last requirement of its seniors calls on them to engage in a communityfocused project or internship where they can flex their 21st-century competencies in a real-world setting. “The purpose of the senior project is to allow students to explore the citizen leadership framework in a practical manner by working with local nonprofits, governmental organizations and members in our community that work to improve the lives of constituents,” senior dean Kat Belk explained. “This

allows our seniors to demonstrate Leading Self, Leading Others and Changing Their Worlds.” Some students find a good fit at organizations aligned with their college or career interests, while others with a passion for a particular cause seek out a way to further it. For the last three weeks of their final semester at Ravenscroft, seniors dig into their projects, giving of their time and talent — and developing new skills and perspectives for a future that’s just around the corner. As we celebrate this outstanding class of Ravens, we asked seniors to reflect on their projects and the impact the program has had on them.

(left) JACLYN MCGHEE ’19 and classmates look on during their Commencement ceremony. 1. Valedictorian ERIN PUGH ’19 addresses seniors, faculty and staff, and families in attendance. 2. QUENTON BLACHE '19, PRESTON BISHOP '19 and JAKE BERGEN '19 head into the Main Arena for Commencement.

“Now more than ever, we should reflect upon what these people and this place have taught us.” — VALEDICTORIAN ERIN PUGH ’19

SUMMER 2019

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college and career preparation “MORE PREPARED TO WORK IN COLLEGE-LEVEL SETTINGS” The purpose of the K9/ Feline Oncology Diagnostic Lab is to test whether or not a dog or a cat has a type of cancer called lymphoma, and several extensive processes need to be completed to determine that. In simple terms, this process involves extracting DNA from tissue samples, multiplying this DNA using a special technique called PCR and then running the samples through specific gels to determine whether the cells are lymphoma positive or negative. During my first day at the lab, I was given a lot of new information about concepts with which I had no experience, so I tried to retain the information as best as I could by taking notes, staying focused and paying attention to detail. By the end of the two-week internship, I was able to learn both the theories and the executions of these processes. During my time at Ravenscroft, I took several STEMbased classes at the honors and AP level in which I established a level of precision and work ethic that I applied in the lab at NC State. Now that I have completed my internship, I feel more prepared to work in college-level settings where I can gain the essential hands-on experience necessary for accomplishing my goal of becoming a successful engineer. — VARUN ATREE ’19, K9/Feline Oncology Diagnostic Lab at the NC State Centennial Biomedical Campus

mentoring and building community “WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CITIZEN LEADER” As I reflect on my time at Ravenscroft, I am starting to glean the most valuable aspects of my school experience. Most memorably, I will value the care and mentorship I received from my teachers and advisors along with our strong sense of community. Being in an environment where respect between teachers and students is reciprocated and where students support each other prepared me for and paralleled my senior project experience with the Brentwood Boys & Girls Club. The staff and volunteers at the club worked tirelessly and reminded me of the good there is in the world. While we learn about lots of great men and women in our history classes, it is the lesser-mentioned, well-intentioned people in our community who have come to inspire and motivate me. Likewise, the students themselves, ranging in age from kindergarten to high school, showed a strong sense of community in their interactions and care for one another. While kids will always be kids, behind their cool facade lies a genuine concern and interest for their peers. Their unwavering empathy for those who cry after scraping their knee and their willingness to clean up after themselves, help younger kids with their homework and translate for their parents were the highlights of my senior project. My time at Ravenscroft has taught me to be a contributing member of my community. As I venture off into the world after graduation, my senior project and the people I met at the Boys & Girls Club will serve as a salient example of the impact people can have on their communities and what it means to be a citizen leader. — SAM TABET ’19, Brentwood Boys & Girls Club

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READ MORE STUDENTS’ REFLECTIONS ON THEIR SENIOR PROJECTS AND OTHER DIGITAL-ONLY CLASS OF 2019 STORIES: www.ravenscroft.org/summermagazine2019

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local service, global connections “A COMMUNITY WITH A STRONG MISSION”

“SMALL CONTRIBUTIONS MAKE A BIG IMPACT”

My senior project struck me as the perfect opportunity to learn more about health care and Curamericas Global’s mission of serving mothers and children in impoverished communities abroad. As my family is from Ecuador, I understand this struggle and have seen it myself. Curamericas also takes many service trips to reach out to communities in need in countries such as Guatemala, Bolivia, Liberia and Haiti. Traveling is one of the things I love most, so Curamericas’ service trips also attracted me to this nonprofit. As I’ve engaged in my project over the past few weeks, my leadership and communication skills have improved a lot. Many times we had meetings with the executive director, and if he was not there, we were to call him and take copious notes of the tasks that were assigned. We had to take initiative and prioritize among all the tasks and make sure to email the director back with what we did during the day. I also learned what it is like for nonprofits to reach out to people and convince them to get involved and donate money to support the group’s work. Connecting with people and effectively getting the message across is difficult, and I learned more about this important work in my project. My creative skills also improved, as I created brochures for a fundraising “marathon” Curamericas is planning. I am glad to have been a part of a community with a strong mission, even if for just a few weeks.

Dress for Success is a global nonprofit providing services in over 40 states and 27 countries. Volunteers include career counselors and personal stylists, marketing specialists and motivational speakers, and store managers and back-of-store volunteers. Dress for Success’ main goal is to provide the support that women need in order to kick off their careers and prepare for their futures. In its most organic form, it is women supporting women. We are both passionate about the work this organization is doing. The most beneficial thing that we learned from doing our senior project at Dress for Success is that you do not have to be on the frontlines to make an impact. Since our work was mostly in the back of the store, organizing and sorting clothing, jewelry, shoes and toiletries, we had no direct contact with clients. However, we made a difference by helping with the organization of the store, giving easier access to the items clients needed. This was an important lesson that we will take with us beyond our years at Ravenscroft as we make our own impact on the world. Dress for Success is definitely making strides in changing our world by practicing the leadership qualities of being resourceful and having a vision in support of the goal of giving all women equal opportunity to achieve their dreams. Volunteering with this organization taught us that small contributions make a big impact, teamwork is essential to success, we have to have empathy for all the different situations people come from and, no matter where we are in our career paths, we always have people in our corner supporting us.

— LAURA DUEÑAS-PINCAY ’19, Curamericas Global

“No matter where we are in our career paths, we always have people in our corner supporting us.” —CHARLOTTE JONES ’19 AND MADDY MEHR ’19

— CHARLOTTE JONES ’19 and MADDY MEHR ’19, Dress for Success

SUMMER 2019

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A SENIOR TRADITION

Hats Off (and On) A

SENIOR TRADITION THAT IS VERY POPULAR —

and visible — is the switching of caps at graduation. Once degrees are conferred and gold tassels are moved from right to left, the new Raven alumni toss the square green mortarboard of the graduate-to-be and replace it with the baseball cap or visor of the college-bound freshman, thereby announcing to the community which college or university they have chosen. The Class of 2019 is headed to nearly 60 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Europe, with three more pursuing gap-year plans. Here, new graduates share why they chose their school and what they’re most excited about there.

1. In the moments following Commencement, ISABELLA BREDWELL ’19 has traded the mortarboard and tassel of the graduate-to-be for the ball cap of her chosen college. 2. ALEXIS FENNER '19 proudly wears her cap from NC A&T University. 3. MICHAEL BODNER ’19 and ALEX BOGGIS ’19 don their college caps before the Commencement recessional begins. 4. The Class of 2019, now Ravenscroft alumni, toss their mortarboards with enthusiasm.

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HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WHERE OUR NEWEST ALUMNI WILL BE THIS FALL? TAKE OUR ONLINE QUIZ AND FIND OUT: www.ravenscroft.org/summermagazine2019

SARAH WOOD ’19: DICKINSON COLLEGE “They have a great environmental program.” MAKAYLA CRAWFORD ’19: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE, because of “the beautiful campus, the Southern hospitality and sports!” SIMONE PROVENCHER ’19: APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY (HONORS COLLEGE) “I got ‘the feeling’ as soon as I got on the campus. Plus the people and atmosphere seem so friendly and happy. I am most excited about meeting new people and skiing!” ALEXANDRA NICKOLAS ’19: NC STATE “I chose it because of the business analytics program, as I’m majoring in business. In general, I’m just really excited about college.”

SPENCE HUNTER ’19: CLEMSON UNIVERSITY “I will be attending Clemson University in the fall. I have pretty much wanted to go there since I was born. I love the location, football, the classes they offer — and it really just feels like home.” BRENDAN WALKER ’19: EMERSON COLLEGE “for its unique areas of study in journalism.” KYLER SULLIVAN ’19: BELMONT UNIVERSITY “because I fell in love with its music program and am excited to be living in Nashville, Tennessee.”

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“I have pretty much wanted to go there since I was born. ... It really just feels like home.” —SPENCE HUNTER ’19

ALEXIS FENNER ’19: NC A&T UNIVERSITY “The school will allow me to step out of my bubble, and it is a really good school for engineering.”

JON LI ’19: WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS “I really liked the size of the student body and the atmosphere there.”

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“We’ll never all be in the same place at the same time again, but there’s gonna be a little bit of all of us all over the world.” — STUDENT-ELECTED SPEAKER ISAAC LAMB ’19 1

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Senior Class Agents Introducing the Class of 2019’s Class Agents: KEMMIA GHODRAT (kghodrat@alumni.ravenscroft.org) MICHAEL SISSON (msisson2019@alumni.ravenscroft.org) MELISSA KONG (mkong@alumni.ravenscroft.org)

Senior Lifers Congratulations to the Class of 2019 Lifers (first row, seated or kneeling): EMMANUEL PETROV, KEMMIA GHODRAT, KENAN POOLE, MIA RUSSO; (second row, standing): NICOLE FINNEY, VIVIAN AVERY, MELISSA KONG, ERIN PUGH, DAVIS MACNABB, CHRISTIAN LEE, ABBOTT TIMMONS, SAM TABET, KATIE SHEARIN, CHARLIE WINSTON, VAL EDWARDS, CARSON JENKINS, SARAH VORHEES, EMILY REED; (third row, on equipment): ISAAC LAMB, AUSTIN KIRKBRIDE, BEK CAMPBELL, SARAH REPLOGLE, BRIDGET GLENN, JACKSON DAVIS, ALEXIS FENNER, JUSTIN ZACHERY, VARUN ATREE; (fourth row): ZACH SKUBIC, JOHN NEFF, SAMANTHA DOHERTY, ETHAN TAYLOR; (fifth row, at top): BRANDON PRETTER, ETHAN ASCHMAN, PATRICK JONES

1. KENDALL JONES ’19 and PATRICK JONES ’19 sit with their classmates. 2. ISAAC LAMB ’19 closes his speech with a call to "be excellent to each other." 3. DANI ROWE ’19 and SRITI DONTHI ’19 pose for pictures before they process into the Main Arena for graduation. 4. In keeping with a longstanding Commencement tradition, each senior selects a yellow rose to give to their mother or another special person. 5. DEVIN WILSON ’19 gives a yellow rose to her mother.

SUMMER 2019

CAP & GOWN

Ravens Reflect on Upper School Traditions

E ASKED MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2019 this question at

their Alumni Association Welcome Dinner May 30: “What Upper School event or tradition has been most meaningful to you and why?” Here’s what some of them had to say!

“Starting senior year by walking across campus. I remember seniors doing it in the past, and it was really neat to see the kids standing where I once was.” — VIVIAN AVERY ’19

“Stark Raven Madness, because it always sets a positive and exciting tone for the year to come.”

“I found this year’s and last year’s Culture Festival to be the most meaningful because it illustrates Ravenscroft’s efforts to become more diverse and inclusive.” — HANNAH PANGBORN ’19

“Junior Mountain Trip — which I’m still disappointed about missing!” — LIAM HORTON ’19

— DEVIN WILSON ’19

“I really enjoyed Community Day, when we get to work with kids from every grade.”

“Senior Study Hall. Some of my favorite memories this year were in that room.” — ANSLEY JACOBS ’19

— CHARLIE WINSTON ’19

“SPEAK. Other perspectives.” — ETHAN DILLO ’19

ENJOY MORE SENIOR REFLECTIONS AND A SLIDESHOW OF SENIOR CLASS EVENTS ON OUR WEBSITE: www.ravenscroft.org/summermagazine2019

48 RAVENSCROFT MAGAZINE

“Ravenscroft’s students’ ability to make their own traditions within our class. This makes countless memories I will hold throughout my life.“ — DAVIS MACNABB ’19

S AV E

THE

DAT E !

JOIN US FOR OUR

ALUMNI CELEBR ATION

WE E K E N D

O C T. 1 1 - O C T. 1 4

A fun-filled weekend with something for ALL alumni! FRIDAY, OCT. 11 Alumni Association Luncheon and Annual Meeting honoring alumni award recipients EASTER MAYNARD ’89 and MICHAEL C. HALL ’89 in the Keim Center for Innovation and Research Homecoming Dinner and Athletic Events on the campus green and athletic fields/facilities

SATURDAY, OCT. 12 Sandbox Party for alumni with young children on the Lower School playground ALL-ALUMNI PARTY: Join your fellow alumni and favorite faculty and staff for drinks, music, mingling and an oyster roast at Pugh Pond

MONDAY, OCT. 14 24th Annual Ravenscroft Golf Classic at North Ridge Country Club

Learn more at WWW.RAVENSCROFT.ORG/ALUMNI-WEEKEND

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OUR MISSION The Ravenscroft community, guided by our legacy of excellence, nurtures individual potential and prepares students to thrive in a complex and interdependent world.

Lead From Here

A Lead From Here Moment Culturally Inclusive: I build positive relationships with others by learning about, respecting and celebrating how we are all alike and different. Fourth-graders ALEXANDER ROUSKAS, PHILLIP SUGAR, EVELYN WU (at front with posters), JED CREEDON (at center back) and their classmates celebrate the arrival of Special Olympics athletes as part of Ravenscroftâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 28th year hosting the event.