St. Andrew's Alumni Magazine 2015 by St. Andrew's Episcopal School

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Breaking Ground on the New Student Center Boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Basketball Wins First MAC Championship From Students to Parents: Role Reversal for Growing Group of Alums

Table of Contents Welcome • 3 New Student Center • 4 School Updates • 6 Alumni Features • 13 Alumni Events • 23 Class of 2015 • 26 Class Notes • 29 Mystery Alums • 44 Reunion Weekend • 45

Head of School: Robert Kosasky Director of Alumni Affairs: Madeline (Wallace) O’Brien ’05 Graphic Designer: Claire (Matlack) Carucci ’06 Editor: Richard Coco Contributors: David Brant, Richard Coco, Danielle Collins, Michelle Serry, Madeline O’Brien Photography: Richard Coco, Danielle Collins, Stacie Crawford, Joseph Phelan Jr., John Troha Published June 2015

Welcome Dear Lions, If you like big yellow machines, this is a great time to visit St. Andrew’s! We recently broke ground on our long-awaited Student Center, which will transform the Postoak Campus and our students’ lives in wonderful ways. As you will see in the drawings on the following pages, the Student Center will include beautiful and much needed space for athletics, visual and performing arts, fitness, and community life. It will also complete our new central quadrangle, with grass and trees replacing cars and parking spaces between our main buildings. Our Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning, which has connected our faculty and students to the best universitylevel research and has trained faculty from dozens of area public and private schools, will finally have its own home and space to

grow. I look forward to showing you the building rise in the fall, and to welcoming you to the completed Student Center in the fall of 2016. This has been a great year for St. Andrew’s in many other ways as well. Enrollment is robust and growing, with our most diverse student body in school history. Our Lower School “cubs” have formed close relationships with their Upper School “lion” buddies. Many athletic teams recorded historically successful seasons, led by the boys’ basketball team’s first league championship since St. Andrew’s joined the highly competitive MAC league in 1999. And just last month, St. Andrew’s was one of four schools nationwide awarded an E.E. Ford Foundation Educational Leadership grant, recognizing our success and promise in training teachers to use research to improve student learning.

It has been a busy year here on Postoak Road and I hope you are as excited as us on campus for the new additions to come. As you’ve heard, and will read in this magazine, St. Andrew’s is embarking upon an exciting,

yet challenging, task of building The Student Center—a place for students to gather, participate and cheer on our athletics teams, artists to display work, and the CTTL to expand. What does this mean for the alumni community? It’s a place to gather for reunion events, homecoming, celebrations and athletic games; a quad to bring your friends and family back to visit and experience the next phase in St. Andrew’s journey. It’s also a place to continue to grow the pride and connection within our community through

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

All of these accomplishments and positive energy flow from the spirit and philanthropic leadership of our community, including our alumni. I’m sure you share my pride in being part of St. Andrew’s, and I thank you for your enduring support of your alma mater. Warmly,

Robert Kosasky Head of School seeing memories from past years displayed and marvel at the current students accomplishments. In the meantime, I encourage you to come back to campus to see the progress and know that while the buildings will change, the same St. Andrew’s mission and spirit remain alive. Best, Madeline O’Brien Director of Alumni Affairs

Student Center

Breaking New Ground

On May 8, St. Andrew’s officially broke ground on a 43,000square-foot Student Center, the largest building project at the school in nearly 20 years. This state-of-the-art building that will transform the Postoak Campus will include a brand new gymnasium as well as a complete renovation of our current gymnasium, a beautiful fitness center, multiple locker rooms, and a new athletic training space. Connecting the new gyms will be a bright, airy Commons with comfortable seating, a café, and multiple gallery spaces to display student art. A large multipurpose studio will house our dance and wrestling programs and provide additional space for meetings, workshops, and physical education classes. The Student Center will provide a true home for our expanding Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning, allowing us to deepen our research partnerships with faculty from Johns Hopkins and Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and offer even more professional development opportunities to our own teachers and students as well as educators from peer schools. As part of the Student Center project, new parking areas will be added at the front and back of campus, allowing the current Middle School traffic circle to be converted into a grassy pedestrian quadrangle that will provide daily enjoyment for our students and a true outside center for our campus. At the groundbreaking, current students representing the three divisions on the Postoak Campus, Irene Walsh (the longesttenured member of the faculty), members 4 ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Student Center

Top left, the new space for the Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning. Top right, an overhead view of the new quad. Facing page, bottom, groundbreaking on the new Student Center. Facing page, top, a rendering of the new gym during a volleyball match.

of the school’s Board of Trustees, and administration used shovels made by students in 1996 for the groundbreaking of the Postoak Campus. The Student Center will be built in carefully sequenced phases so that school can operate smoothly and academic and extracurricular programs will not be compromised. Ring Road, which connects the front of campus to the Intermediate and Middle School, will be widened to facilitate summer construction and to improve traffic flow and parking when the project is complete. The tennis courts will temporarily be converted into parking to ensure sufficient access to the campus. During construction we will use the adjacent tennis courts at Hoover Middle School. The Student Center is expected to be completed by the fall of 2016. During construction, the Student Center project will provide special “real-world” learning opportunities for students in areas ranging from architecture to engineering to environmental science. Excitement about the Student Center is matched by gratitude to the trustees, colleagues, and donors who have worked for years to make this transformative project possible. The School’s Master Planning Committee has planned each square foot of the Student Center and the new quadrangle with care and inspiration to benefit every student, and welcome alumni back to campus. Dramatic endowment growth and excellent fiscal management over the past twelve years, made possible by the school’s Finance Committee and administration, have given St. Andrew’s the strength to finance this project. And thanks to the philanthropic leadership of the Board of Trustees and many other early donors, during the past two years St. Andrew’s has raised nearly $10,000,000 in the “Students at the Center” Campaign, representing nearly two-thirds of the cost of the Student Center project. ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015 5

School Updates

St. Andrew’s and CTTL Awarded $250,000 E.E. Ford Educational Leadership Grant The Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning has been doing tremendous work since it was founded in the spring of 2011. In late April, it was recognized when St. Andrew’s Episcopal School and The CTTL were awarded a $250,000 E.E. Ford Educational Leadership Grant. This $250,000 grant is the largest one the E.E. Ford Foundation awards and it gives out an average of only four per year to independent schools across the country. The grant will be used by The CTTL to initiate a week-long Science of Teaching and School Leadership Academy that will train hundreds of exceptional public and independent school educators in Mind, Brain, and Education (MBE) Science and excite them about continuing their careers in education. The CTTL, in partnership with Johns Hopkins and Harvard University faculty, will design and deliver the week-long academy while also measuring the efficacy of the program. “We are thrilled to receive the E.E. Ford Educational Leadership Grant, which affirms the distinctive strength of St. Andrew’s faculty and the CTTL’s success in improving teaching and learning for students here and in dozens of other schools,” said Head of School Robert Kosasky. “We are equally excited that our new Student Center will enable the CTTL to expand its research and teacher training programs, including the Science of Teaching and School Leadership Academy.” The E.E. Ford Educational Leadership Grants address the question “What is the public purpose of private education?” Each year, they ask a more specific question for schools seeking a grant. This year, the question was “How might independent schools, working alone or in partnership with each other or with other organizations, better address the need to attract and retain the best teachers and administrators possible, help these individuals see for themselves a future in independent education, and support the development of the future leadership that will be critical in the years ahead?” Fresh off hosting the Ideas in Education Festival in mid-April, The CTTL continues to be a national leader in utilizing MBE Science in the classroom. Educators and panelists from around the country were on campus to identify, collaborate, and exchange ideas that are currently working in classrooms and schools. St. Andrew’s students and faculty have benefited greatly from The CTTL as has recruitment of faculty and the Academy will have the same impact on the school. 6

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

School Updates

All E.E. Ford Leadership Grants are matching grants meaning St. Andrew’s will raise $350,000 from like-minded foundations and individuals to match the award. This is the fourth time St. Andrew’s has won a grant from the E.E. Ford Foundation, but neither of the previous three were Leadership Grants, which were first handed out in 2008. The previous times St. Andrew’s won was 1986 (professional development), 1999 (faculty laptop), and 2005 (service learning). The first Science of Teaching and School Leadership Academy will be held at St. Andrew’s in the summer of 2017 and is scheduled to take place in the new Student Center.

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Boys’ Basketball Wins First-Ever MAC Title It came down to the final seconds but the St. Andrew’s boys’ basketball team was able to hold off Flint Hill to win the first-ever boys’ basketball MAC title in school history, 60-54. Tyler Stewart, George Muresan, Marcus Adkinson and Jacob White all hit free throws in the final 10 seconds to turn a narrow lead into a championship banner. The Lions were the home team in the contest despite the fact that it was played at Flint Hill. The host school upset top-seeded Maret to get to the championship game. The third-seeded Lions earned their spot in the finals by defeating second-seeded St. James. Adkinson, a senior, led St. Andrew’s with 15 points while Stewart, a junior, and Myles Law, a senior, each had 11. White and Muresan each added seven. The Lions led for nearly the entire game but Tyler Femi’s layup with about two minutes to play put Flint Hill ahead 54-53. But Stewart answered just seconds later with a jumper as St. Andrew’s scored the final seven points of the game to take home the MAC title. A highlight video of the game can be seen by visiting http://www.saes.org/page/SAES? - video/260326.

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

School Updates

Language Department Shines at SAES Junior Earns Travel Award St. Andrew’s junior Gabrielle (Gabi) Gedo earned the 2015 Junior Travel Award this past April for her achievement on the National Spanish Examination and excellent Spanish language skills. The award is given each year to twenty-four students from across the United States who become eligible by earning high scores on the National Spanish Examination and then submitting samples of their written and oral work in Spanish to a selection committee.

The Junior Travel award is a national honor, valued at more than $2,500. In July, Gabi will travel to Puerto Rico with the 23 other winners. St. Andrew’s Episcopal School has a long tradition of excellence in teaching foreign languages and a dedicated commitment to multicultural education. Congratulations to Gabi and her Spanish teacher, Ms. Maria R. Diaz!

Teachers Share What Makes Language Learning at St. Andrew’s Special Over the past eight years, Maria Diaz and Chantal Cassan-Moudoud (pictured right) have slowly worked to transform the manner in which language is taught at St. Andrew’s. In early April, they had the opportunity to speak about their work to a group of language teachers at the Greater Washington Association of Teachers of Foreign Language. Originally from Spain and France, respectively, Diaz and Cassan-Moudoud have each taught on this continent for 20 years. Led by The Center for

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Transformative Teaching and Learning at St. Andrew’s, they have spearheaded a revolution in the way world languages are taught at St. Andrew’s, changing the curriculum from a traditional grammar-driven one to a program that favors communicative competence and cultural understanding. The workshop that Diaz and Cassan-Moudoud led was titled “How to construct a language unit using backward design and a communicative understanding of language teaching and learning.”

School Updates

MLK Day of Service Once Again Makes an Impact

It’s always a busy MLK weekend at St. Andrew’s, but this year it was even busier. The weekend began with the Haiti Art Show, which more than met its goal of raising $6,000 for the solar panel project for our partner school, Christ Roi in Civol, Haiti. The next morning saw a spirited and well-attended MLK Day of Service. The morning began with the Bokomoso Youth leading the group in song. From there, 20,000 meals, 200 snack bags, and 200 toiletry kits for Bethesda Cares and Samaritan Ministry, respectively, were put together by St. Andrew’s students from the preschool through to Grade 12. This year, for the first-time ever, the MLK Day of Service was held on the Potomac Village Campus. 10

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

School Updates

Sending our Best Wishes On Friday, May 8, the school celebrated Mrs. Peggy Best upon her retirement from St. Andrew’s. Alums may remember her if they attended St. Francis Episcopal Day School before it merged with St. Andrew’s to become the Lower School Campus. Peggy taught preschool for an incredible 28 years and made an impact on many St. Andrew’s alums. Peter Shand ‘04 and Amy Bachman ‘06 shared stories and thanks with their heartfelt speeches at the event. We honored Peggy with the dedication of a new outdoor classroom, “Best Garden,” at the Lower School campus. It will serve as a space for hands-on learning and play.

Cheerio! Dr. Weber’s Retirement After 21 inspiring years of service, Liz Weber retired at the end of the 2014-2015 school year. Liz has taught a generation of alumni with great passion and knowledge. She taught a variety of History classes ranging from AP Art History and U.S./Euro History. Since her arrival to St. Andrew’s in 1994, Liz inspired students with her love of anything British and it’s history. We feted Liz with a English Tea Party as she looks forward to many travels across the pond in her retirement! ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

School Updates

Departing Faculty and Staff Natalie Adams Head of Intermediate School Natalie will move to California, and in July 2015, she will become the Director of Lower Elementary at the Center for Early Education in Los Angeles. Natalie joined St. Andrew’s as a founding fourth grade teacher in 2009. Michael Chapper History Department Lacrosse Coach After 7 years at St. Andrew’s working in the Middle School and on the lacrosse field with many alums, Michael will be leaving to attend law school in the fall. Julie Jameson Head of Admissions Julie left St. Andrew’s at the end of May to begin a new position at the Lupus Foundation. Julie has spent 18 great years at St. Andrew’s, and is excited for the next stage of her career. Gillian (Ellsworth) Messer ‘09 Associate Lower School Teacher Gillian served as the inaugural Association Teacher on the Village Campus for two years. She will leave St. Andrew’s at the end of this school year to move with her husband to Durham, North Carolina as he pursues his advanced degree in Theology at Duke University. Kris Mohlman Science Department Mohlman joined the faculty in the fall of 2005. By that time, tennis and basketball players already knew him as a St. Andrew’s coach. Kris taught sixth-grade science and environmental science, and coached varsity tennis teams. Kris moved at the end of this school year to Vermont with his family. 12

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Alumni Features

For a Group of Alumni, Connection to St. Andrew’s Crosses Generations By David Brandt

Above: Liz Regan Kiingi ‘87 with sons Baraka ‘18 and Mukisa ‘20.

Deciding where to enroll their child for high school is a huge decision for parents. For many St. Andrew’s graduates, their alma mater is the top choice on the list for their child’s secondary education. The lessons learned and bonds formed while they were students at the school are the ones they carry with them for a lifetime. They are the ones they hope to give to their own children. One of the amazing things about St. Andrew’s is the number of people who attended the school and who choose to send their children there as well. There’s a tremendous sense of community among St. Andrew’s alumni, and a real pride among alumni parents who send their children to the same school they attended. All those factors make for a very supportive and active ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

community that enhances the learning opportunities for students. There are five alumni who currently have their children enrolled at St. Andrew’s: Tom Graves ’83, Liz Regan Kiingi ’87, Kim Hartinger ’88, Dana Drescher Harrison ’92, and Chanele Smith Clark ’96. They recognize the value of a St. Andrew’s education and are thankful for the opportunity to send their children to the school. For Graves, who entered St. Andrew’s as a sophomore in the fall of 1980, meeting founding Head of School Dr. Jess Borg was a major reason his parents decided to enroll him at St. Andrew’s. “Visiting with Dr. Borg and getting to know his philosophy of knowing every student was a big factor for my parents sending me to St. Andrew’s,” Graves said. “My parents thought 13

Alumni Features

Dana Drescher Harrison ’92 and daughter Hope ‘17.

the smaller class size would be better for me as a student.” Citing former head of Upper School Joanne Beach as a major influence on his life, Graves credits St. Andrew’s with teaching him “leadership and organizational skills,” skills which served him well at the United States Naval Academy and beyond as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Based on his own experience, a critical factor in deciding to send his four children Michael ‘09, Matthew ‘10, Caroline ‘15, and Camille ‘21 to St. Andrew’s was “the small classroom size and attention given to each individual child” and that “every child is mentored and challenged.” Kiingi, who is now an English teacher at St. Andrew’s, began at the school in 1981 as a 7th grader having spent her elementary school years at St. Patrick’s in Washington. Her contact with great teachers helped not only shape her future direction as an educator, but was a significant contributing factor for sending her own children to the school. She credits Dr. Lenore Abraham for helping her “become a good writer” and many other St. Andrew’s teachers and coaches with having a big influence. “Scott Smith, my soccer coach, developed in me a love of soccer,” Kiingi said. “Vicki Roose taught me how to be a tough basketball player, 14

especially when it came to posting up under the hoop. Warren Marcus made me see, really see, the dark side of the world through his course on The Holocaust, Vietnam, and Nuclear Weapons. So, I suppose, it was the teachers and coaches who really shaped my experience. They gave me the skills and exposure—academic, athletic, and emotional—to be better and think more deeply.” Following graduation, Kiingi earned a B.A. in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College and an M.F.A. in Public Policy and Women’s Studies from George Washington University. She used her writing skills as an administrator for USAID for more than a decade in Uganda before returning to St. Andrew’s to teach in 2007. After working at St. Andrew’s for a couple of years and seeing the amazing teachers at work, “I wanted my kids to get that experience,” Kiingi said. “I also appreciate that the community at St. Andrew’s is very caring and embraces diversity.” Her sons, Baraka ’18, and Mukisa ’20, are rising 10th and 8th graders, respectively. The “caring” community of which Kiingi speaks is what Harrison remembers most fondly about St. Andrew’s. “The school provided me with a challenging education, yet within an atmosphere that fostered independence, creativity, and warmth,” Harrison said. “(When) I went on to college, I felt confident and prepared for my future. The teachers at St. Andrew’s were a pivotal factor in allowing me to become a strong student, which enabled me to continue my path and explore new opportunities.” Entering St. Andrew’s in 1989 as a sophomore, she and her parents were drawn to the school “because of the flexibility the school allowed me to have in my pursuit of a dance career. St. Andrew’s was extremely accommodating to my needs and I was able to take all of the courses I needed in the mornings.” Harrison also found that the school allowed “each student to feel autonomous and gain strength in becoming a self-advocate. The school has an inclusive community that encourages and helps enable students to reach their potential ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Alumni Features and exceed beyond personal goals.” Upon graduating from St. Andrew’s, Harrison attended George Washington University and received a B.A. in Psychology and then earned a M.S.W. from Catholic University. She worked with D.C. Foster Care as well as at the National Institutes for Health with pediatric oncology patients and their families. Now a mother of three children, Harrison’s memories of St. Andrew’s welcoming nature immediately made her think that her daughter, Hope ’17, would benefit from such an environment. She continues to be impressed by how the St. Andrew’s of 2015 is “very cutting edge and staying right on top of current studies and initiatives.” “Looking at The Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning, one can feel and see the passion the school has for making sure each student gets the most out of their education,” Harrison said. “Not only is the focus on the student, but how to teach teachers to be more aware and up-to-date on the skills and techniques to empower their students for success. This is an integral part of what makes St. Andrew’s a unique and phenomenal school.” St. Andrew’s unique and empowering environment is what struck Clark both as a student and as a parent. She still marvels at how “St. Andrew’s was a place where, as students, we were free to be who we wanted to be. If I woke up one day and wanted to be a wrestler instead of a dancer, or run track instead of playing soccer, it would have been okay with the faculty and my decisions would have been encouraged. That experience definitely helped develop my confidence and positively affects the way I approach my son, Trevor’s, decisions. “My husband and I decided that St. Andrew’s was the right place for Trevor because of its academics, but also because we knew that St. Andrew’s was a place where he could be free to be himself.” Today, Clark, a graduate of Spelman College with a B.A. in Mathematics, works in the Human Resources Information Systems field building custom HR and Payroll systems for companies ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Chanele Smith Clark ’96 with son Trevor ‘17.

nationwide. Clark, like the other alumni profiled, believes that, at heart, the value of a St. Andrew’s education “is being fully prepared for college, a career, and life.” Kiingi notes that while the school’s campus has relocated from Bethesda to its current Potomac campus, “the intention of the school, one that embraces diversity and individual expression” has not changed. Harrison sums up the alumni parent experience well and the motivation to send one’s child to St. Andrew’s. “The look of St. Andrew’s has changed but the pride and mission of the school has endured. Aesthetically, the new location at the Postoak campus is beautiful and has enhanced the campus with many more opportunities than when I had attended. The spirit of St. Andrew’s and the community that reaches out to help those in need remains the same, if not stronger. “St. Andrew’s taught me about who I wanted to become and how I want to be remembered, and I am proud that my daughter has experienced these same valuable life lessons from the teachers and the community.” 15

Alumni Features

From Postoak to Nashville A rising star in country music By David Brandt Kelly Tillotson always dreamed of becoming a singer. The 2008 graduate of St. Andrew’s is making a lot of noise in the music industry, and the country artist can trace the realization that a career in music could be possible to her time at St. Andrew’s. “It had always been a dream of mine to become a singer, but it wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I realized it could be a real possibility,” Tillotson said. “I think it was a combination of my parents and teachers like Dr. Amy Wooley who opened my eyes to the fact that I could study music in college. I never knew I could also consider that as a ‘real’ career path.” Seven years later, Tillotson has broken into the music business in a significant way having recorded a solo album as well as one with her band MamaDear. MamaDear, in fact, was named “Best Up-and-Comer” by Rolling Stone magazine at the 2014 Country Music Association Festival. Such accolades have opened many doors for Tillotson and her band, including deals with Morris Higham Management and the Creative Artists Agency. This spring MamaDear played at the famed Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, which Tillotson called “a bucket list moment.” She also has had the opportunity to write a song with Nashville-based songwriter Tom Douglas, who has written Top Ten hits for country artists like Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum, and Miranda Lambert. Tillotson, who enrolled at St. Andrew’s as a sophomore, claims that it was in high school that she began her first foray into contemplating music as a possible career. “The first song I wrote was in high school,” she said. “And it was definitely inspired by my life in Potomac. It was about the classic teenage love that many high ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

school girls feel. The song was called ‘Unlock My Heart,’ and it was about a boy at St. Andrew’s I was head over heels about. Even though the songs I write now may not be overtly about Potomac, you always carry a part of your hometown with you.” “Every experience I had growing up in Potomac, and the people I grew up around, play a role in shaping your perspective going forward. Not only that, your hometown friends and family are always there for you, especially in careers like this. I couldn’t do what I do without the support of my hometown family, friends, and supporters,” Tillotson said. Tillotson credits her grandmother for introducing her to a love of country music. “My grandmother, who was originally from Tennessee, was very involved in our lives, and when she occasionally drove us around to school, soccer practices, and things like that, she would always have country music blaring on the radio. I would be serenaded by Garth Brooks, George Strait, and Reba McEntire, so that began my love for country music. As I grew older, I admired Martina McBride, Faith Hill, and Shania Twain,” she said. It was at St. Andrew’s, a community that Tillotson remembers fondly as “warm and welcoming,” that she began to gain the confidence to believe that making music a career was a possibility. “Given my career path, my best memories understandably revolve around the music classes that I took,” Tillotson said. “Amy Wooley and Roy Barber were always incredibly supportive of my music. Mr. Barber would give me keyboard lessons so I could learn to play the songs I was singing, and Dr. Wooley would do the same thing 17

Alumni Features for me on guitar. Dr. Wooley was also instrumental in encouraging me to begin writing my own songs, and always went above and beyond to help me find opportunities to perform. She took the time to help me figure out how music could play a role in my future.” Although she contemplated majoring in Neuroscience in college, the lure of making a career in the music industry proved too powerful for Tillotson. “Once I decided to pursue a career as a country music artist, I knew that I had to be in Nashville, and my mom and I had heard great things about Belmont University’s music program,” she said. “They had a wonderful Commercial Voice program that I majored in my freshman year, and in my sophomore year I switched my major to Songwriting. Belmont also gave me the opportunity to intern in different roles in Nashville’s music industry, which allowed me to grow my network in the industry, even before I graduated. I’m so thankful for the relationships I formed, and they have been instrumental in my band’s continued growth and success.” Since graduating from Belmont in 2012, Tillotson and MamaDear, which include her husband Parker Bradway and Daniel Wilson, have been writing songs, recording, and touring. This year should be an exciting one for the band as it plans to go into the studio to record their second album. The band, which is influenced by groups like the Dixie Chicks, Alabama, the Eagles, and other harmony-driven vocal groups, will also be touring a great deal and playing in exotic destinations like Key West, Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Mexico, not to mention shows in Nashville, Atlanta, Greenville, S.C., and Washington, D.C. “We just played the one in 18

Washington, D.C. for my ‘hometown,’ and it was such a treat to see so many great friends from St. Andrew’s there,” Tillotson said. Despite the challenges of having “an unpredictable schedule and income, and getting worn out from traveling so much,” Tillotson would not have it any other way. “Some of the most rewarding moments are hearing fans say how much our music means to them,” Tillotson said. “When you see someone tearing up at a song because it hits home for them, or having fun and singing along to a song, that makes your day.” While 2015 is proving to be a busy and fruitful one for Tillotson and MamaDear, her long-term goals are to “make music that means something to people. I would love to use the platform of music to make a positive impact on the world. I’m thankful God has given me the gift of music and I want to use it well. It also wouldn’t hurt to win a Grammy or two along the way!” For further information on Tillotson and MamaDear, check out MamaDear.com. Any news, music, or touring information can be found there. The band is also on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @mamadearmusic.

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Alumni Features

Style with a Wink

How one alum is keeping things happy and chic By David Brandt Growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, Paige Speyer ’96 was always interested in fashion, but it was not until college that she realized that she could make a career of it. It was an internship the summer after her sophomore year of college in New York City at Hermès, the French fashion giant, convinced her to follow her passion. Less than ten years after graduating from St. Andrew’s, Speyer made her dream a reality when she opened up Wink, now one of Washington, D.C.’s hippest and most successful clothing boutiques. The fastest growing independent fashion and style website in the United States, Refinery 29, hails Wink as “Georgetown’s haven for of-themoment brand” while Washingtonian Magazine considers it a “fashion-forward boutique” with its “meticulously curated selection of the latest styles from brands such as Clover Canyon, Joie, Rebecca Taylor, Theory, Tibi, Mara Hoffman, and more.” Since opening her store in 2004, Speyer has worked hard to make Wink live up to its motto: “A Buzzing Georgetown Boutique For All Things Happy and Chic.” Following trends, carrying unique brands, holding trunk shows, and being forward thinking has allowed her to help set fashion trends in Washington while making her business a successful and respected one. “Washington, D.C. has it’s own style,” Speyer said. “It is a fashionable city, obviously on the more conservative side, but there are still lots of people who desire to step out of the box and be daring with their wardrobes. I love being out and seeing a woman wearing a Wink item—it gives me so much joy and satisfaction. I have really ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

tried to stray from ‘trendy’ and select pieces that have a longer shelf life so nothing feels out of style for years to come. It’s a great feeling when customers confirm how much use they get out of an item.” Speyer, who enrolled at St. Andrew’s in 1990 as a 7th grader, believes that the school “helped give me the confidence to pursue my goals and start my own business at a young age. “I have great memories from St. Andrew’s, and I am still close to all of my friends from that time in my life. I remember good times on the softball field after school. Mrs. Stevens was my advisor and math teacher for many years; I admired how she was all business during class yet fun and accessible after.” Following St. Andrew’s, Speyer earned a B.A. in Psychology from Boston University and then moved to London to do public relations work for Giorgio Armani. She later moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming where her mother owned a store. She worked there for a year and a half and opened a second store for her mother before opening Wink. Only 26 years old, Speyer was motivated to open 19

Alumni Features

up her own store by what she saw as a dearth of high end clothing shops in Washington, D.C. “I grew up in the D.C area and felt there weren’t any boutiques,” she says. “I saw there was a need to fill this gap in Georgetown. We lived in Georgetown when I was younger and I had always been drawn to its charm. It was also one of the only places to shop in 2004, as other parts of D.C. had not been fully developed at that point. Being between two college campuses was also a huge draw.” Speyer’s original vision for Wink was “to create a space where women could feel comfortable shopping, as if they were shopping in their best friend’s closet.” As she states, “I hope someone shopping at Wink feels comfortable and leaves feeling satisfied. I also hope that they feel a little pushed—so many customers leave with a new dress and say they would have never picked it for themselves, but they now wear it all the time. That’s a good feeling.” Despite the challenges of the downturn in the economy a few years ago and Wink being damaged in a fire earlier this year, Speyer’s ability to make adjustments to her business model when needed, hiring “amazing sales associates,” and “keeping the merchandise unique and fresh” have been integral reasons, in her opinion, that Wink “stands apart from the rest” of its competitors. With more than a decade of experience working 20

in fashion and being a business owner, Speyer is not ready to rest on her laurels. Besides hoping to make beautifully crafted jewelry from Africa or leather from Argentina more accessible to women who are not able to depart from their busy lives, Speyer believes “there is a unique way for me to partner with women artisans in developing countries and provide them with a sustainable source of income.” In addition, she wants to take what she has learned about fashion over the past ten years and share her insights and tips with other women. “I hope to expand Wink into helping customers edit their wardrobes, similar to fashion consulting.’ I want to help women with busy schedules feel and look their best while shopping in their own closets, providing advice on how to edit and wear things they already have,” Speyer says. “There’s nothing more empowering than being comfortable and confident in your outfit, and that’s what I hope to instill in my clients.” Wink is located at 3109 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. To learn more about Paige Speyer and Wink, check out the store’s website: http://www.shopwinkdc.com/ and like them on Facebook.

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Alumni Features

Living the Dream

From prom dates to a family-owned business By Richard Coco

It’s probably safe to say that few St. Andrew’s students grew up with skunks or swans or snakes in the kitchen. But for a pair of St Andrew’s graduates, Stacia (McMahon) Gilbert ’89 and Bruce Gilbert ’89, that’s exactly how their children are growing up. Stacia and Bruce met at St. Andrew’s 30 years ago. Stacia came to the school as a seventh grader in 1983 when her parents were look for a small co-ed independent school. Two years later, Bruce joined the school in ninth grade. He and his parents were looking for a school that had a balanced program focused on more than just academics. Now, three decades later, the pair find themselves as the owners of two animal clinics in Central Pennsylvania—Alpine Animal Clinic is in Danville, Pa. and St. Francis Animal Clinic is in Coal Township, Pa. Both can be found at www.alpineanimalclinic.net. “I already knew I wanted to be a veterinarian,” said Stacia, of her time at St. Andrew’s. “I think the great science teachers I had helped solidify my plans. I remember science classes with Mrs. Beach and Mr. Hodgewicz being really exciting. Math is crucial to my line of work. I remember poor Mr. Williams putting in a lot of extra effort to get me through Calculus.” ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Stacia and Bruce dated in high school but they weren’t together when they were applying and making their college decisions. It was coincidence that they both got into and went to Denison University. Once there, they agreed that “academically, we both felt well prepared for college.” While Stacia may have had her sights set on becoming a veterinarian early on, Bruce was much less focused on the future. “As a teenager, I didn’t think past the weekend,” Bruce said. While at Denison, he “majored in many different things for a little while. Finally, I settled on a B.A. in Psychology.” After earning a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry, Stacia went to graduate school. Bruce, meanwhile, worked a number of different jobs before going to “diesel engine school. After that, I worked rebuilding and repairing diesel engines for about 10 years.” 21

Alumni Features While Bruce was trying to find his calling, Stacia had long been settled on her career goals. “I have always wanted to work with animals,” Stacia said. “We got a cat when I was five, Shadow. I followed her everywhere trying to figure out what she was thinking. My mom says when I was six, I briefly wanted to be a singing ice skater. After that, it was always my plan to become a veterinarian. I was in love with every animal I met. I enjoyed a good mystery and figuring out how things work, so veterinary medicine was a great fit.” Stacia began her veterinary career working in rural Pennsylvania as a mixed animal practitioner. She spent three years working there gaining a lot of varied experience. “It was such a different life than the way we grew up,” Stacia said. “I did farm calls and visited a lot of Amish dairy farms. On emergency calls, Bruce was my best technician! I could count on him to wrestle a hog, carry buckets of water to tube a horse, or be my surgical tech for a Csection on a poodle. I remember the first time I was called on to geld a horse. It was, of course, a draft horse named Big Dan. Being from the suburbs, I had no idea that a gelding was cause for a community to get together and picnic! There was a crowd of people to watch the new veterinarian at work I was so nervous, I almost fainted. Luckily, Dan and I got through the experience just fine.” In 2000, while looking for less strenuous work, the opportunity arose for the Gilberts to buy two small animal clinics. The decision to buy them ultimately led to Stacia and Bruce working together. “As a business owner, it is important to have people you completely trust,” Stacia said. “Bruce became my emergency technician and bookkeeper. It helped that I did not have to pay him much!” “The first time we visited Central Pennsylvania, we knew we were home,” Bruce said. “Immediately, we fell in love with country living. We live on a small farm about 10 minutes outside of town with lots of animals for the children to play with, which was always our dream. Plus, Pennsylvania has two professional 22

football teams. You can’t beat that!” With two children, Jacob, 11, and Darby, 10, the Gilberts find themselves living a life that is nothing like what they experienced growing up. “Owning a business certainly has its ups and downs,” Stacia said. “It is great to have Bruce to take care of some of the ‘business,’ so I can concentrate on practicing medicine, which is a lot more fun! It is truly a team effort and we balance each other really well. I am definitely a type A personality and get stressed if things are not going perfectly. Bruce is laid back and can put my whole week in perspective with just a few words. “Owning our own business allows a lot of flexibility. We feel so blessed that Bruce can be a full time dad to our two children. Besides Jacob and Darby, we share our farm with a flock of chickens, two dogs, 10 cats, two guinea pigs, two lizards, a snake, turtle and a goose. Occasionally, work comes home too. Bruce is a master at bottle-feeding orphan baby animals. The kids are used to helping treat whatever I bring home. At any given time there may be a constipated skunk, a seizing swan, or a post op python in the kitchen.”

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Regional Events

We met up with alums across the US this school year, but we’re aiming for more in 2015-16! California (Los Angeles area): A quick trip allowed for small get-togethers with the Alumni Director and Steven Levenson ‘02, Joe Peterson ‘07, and Steve Bensinger ‘85. We’ll be back on the west coast soon, so make sure your contact information is up to date so you can join us. Boston: We traveled to Boston with Joanne Beach to gather before the snow arrived on September 4, 2014 at Anthem Bar + Kitchen. Thanks to Rebecca Cobbs ‘04, Tim Finn ‘96, Gevry Fontaine ‘90, Paul Iribe ‘05, Lisa Rokoff ‘08, and Abbey Wallace ‘08 who attended. Washington, DC: The annual Alumni Holiday party was hosted on December 18, 2014 at Blackfinn downtown.

Elise Lang ‘06, Madeline O’Brien ‘05, Larissa Levine ‘06, Amy Bachman ‘06, Abby Olson ‘06, and Laila Salimi ‘05.

Peter Stuart ‘04, Advancement Service Manager Jay Louvis, Jake Wallace ‘04, Graham O’Brien, Mike Rizzo ‘93, Chase Felker ‘08, and Michael DiPaula-Coyle ‘98.

If you’re hosting or would like to host a St. Andrew’s Alumni gathering in your area, the alumni office would be happy to help. Contact Madeline O’Brien ‘05 at mobrien@saes.org. ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Alumni Volunteers

Admissions office staff - Ana Naab, Jennifer Robertson, Kevin Jones, outgoing Director of Admission Julie Jameson, Spring Swinehart and Aileen Moodie.

Lending a hand A huge thank you to everyone who helped welcome our newly accepted students to St. Andrew’s by volunteering to make congratulations calls on behalf of the admissions office. Zach Atchinson ‘09 Lane Brenner ‘05 Kyle Brown ‘85 Heather Brugger ‘88 Olga Chistyakova ‘99 Dylan Connelly ‘04 Alexis Doyle ‘13

John Dunn ‘86 Alex George ‘95 Francisco Gonzalez ‘82 Lauren Heywood ‘10 David Ikels ‘89 Robin Kahn ‘92 Molly Kelly-Yahner ‘07

Melissa Levin ‘99 Carlos Ortiz Mena ‘85 Jonah Orr ‘10 Tammy Stone ‘87 Tom Taylor ‘00 Kevin Vendt ‘90 Billy Weber ‘14

If you are interested in making phone calls next year, please let us know (alumni@saes.org). We will provide a script and contact information. Calls can be made from home at your convenience in February 2016.

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Alumni Events

Young Alumni Day The classes of 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011 came back to campus in January to visit with friends and help answer questions from the senior class about college life. For the first time this year, we kicked off the day with a free seminar led by Career Path Partners (www.careerpathdc.org). Alums learned about the job seeking process, tips about LinkedIn, and their resume. The alums also met with current faculty and staff to give feedback about the curriculum and how prepared they felt for college. Thanks to everyone who came back to campus!

Alums share their wisdom with the senior class.

Ashkahn Alikhani, Louay Youseff and Michael McMillen.

Brian Bies, Aaron Sibarium, Russell Brunner and Michael McShane.

Alumni Lacrosse Game: May 16, 2015 A note from Dane Smith, Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach: After finishing the 2015 Season with the most wins since 2001, the St. Andrew’s Lacrosse team welcomed former SAES Lacrosse players to campus for an Alumni game on May 16. The game featured players from several different graduating classes and the game was competitive from start to finish. I want to thank everyone that attended the event and I look forward to next year’s game. I am in the process of building an lacrosse alumni database and would love to hear from ALL lacrosse alumni from SAES. If you have not already contacted me be sure to email me at dsmith@saes.org so I can add you to the lacrosse database and make sure you receive information about next year’s alumni lacrosse game. Thanks again making this year’s alumni lacrosse game a success and GO LIONS!

Above center: Coach Dane Smith, Jason Klippel ‘92, Jared Kassoff ‘13, Jasseim Shabazz ‘13, Bobby Banks ‘13, Andrew Bubes ‘14 and Assistant Coach Sam Futrovsky (missing - William Duvall ‘14 and Ken Vendt ‘90).

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Class of 2015

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2015

College Counseling by the Numbers: The 64 SENIORS in the Class of 2015 submitted an average 7 APPLICATIONS per student. | Our seniors applied to 209 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS and were admitted to 161 DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS. | 30% of the class FILED EARLY DECISION applications. | The LARGEST NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS to any school (TIE= Elon University, University of Vermont) WAS 11 and the LARGEST NUMBER OF STUDENTS ADMITTED to any one school (University of Vermont) WAS 10. | The Class of 2015 will attend 52 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS next year. | There are 9 SCHOOLS that will enroll 2 OR MORE OF OUR GRADUATES: American University, Clemson University, Elon University, Ithaca College, James Madison University, University of Miami, University of Pittsburgh, University of Richmond, and Tulane University. | LARGEST NUMBER OF GRADUATES CHOOSING TO ATTEND ONE SCHOOLâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;(4) James Madison University. | The Class of 2015 will attend college in 22 different states. 4 students will attend college IN D.C. The states with the largest number of students attending are: VIRGINIA (7), PENNSYLVANIA (7), AND NEW YORK (6). 26

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Class of 2015

American University (2) Boston University Carleton College Clemson University (2) Coastal Carolina University Colby College Dartmouth College Denison University Dickinson College Elon University (2) Georgetown University Gettysburg College Goucher College Hamilton College - NY High Point University Hollins University Ithaca College (2) James Madison University (4) Lafayette College Lewis & Clark College ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Maryland Institute College of Art Mount Holyoke College Northeastern University Northwestern University Ohio Wesleyan University Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University Regis University Rochester Institute of Technology Saint Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University Savannah College of Art and Design Shepherd University Stevenson University SUNY College at Cortland Syracuse University The Catholic University of America The University of Tampa

Towson University Tulane University (2) University of Colorado at Boulder University of Dayton University of Denver University of Miami (3) University of Michigan University of Pittsburgh (2) University of Richmond (2) University of San Francisco University of Southern California University of St. Andrews University of Wisconsin, Madison West Virginia Wesleyan College Wheaton College IL Widener University 27

SAES ALUMNI ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

We are seeking volunteers from each class to help enhance the Alumni Association

Class Agent

Class Correspondent

Class Agents provide leadership for the fundraising efforts of his or her class each year, promoting participation and the importance of giving back.

Serve as the liaison between St. Andrew’s and your classmates by keeping them engaged and fostering class connections:

1. By soliciting classmates through various forms of communication: letter/mail, email and social media.

1. By gathering information, news, and pictures from your classmates for annual Online Alumni Magazine’s class notes section.

2. Participate in two phon-a-thons every fiscal year (can be done remotely). 3. Promote Reunion Giving.

2. By helping to promote alumni events, regional area events, alumni weekend, holiday party, etc.

How? Sending out emails periodically, reaching out through social media and personal connections. Interested? Please contact alumni@saes.org.

NEW EMAIL, PHONE NUMBER OR ADDRESS? Updating your information couldn’t be easier. Simply fill out the form online and submit your contact information: www.saes.org/alumni.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! We share school updates, alumni news and more. Don’t miss out on events or news as they happen!

Are your fellow classmates missing out? Forward them this magazine so they can update their contact information. 28

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Class Notes

Class Notes Class Correspondents are listed beside Class Year. Thank you to our class volunteers for their efforts in obtaining class notes.

‘83

Tom Graves thomas.graves2@ va.gov

Leigh Crawford Palmer ‘83 and Jeff Palmer ‘83 shared “We are still living in Steinwenden, Germany where I am the senior legal counsel for the US Air Forces in Europe/US Air Forces Africa. Our life in the Air Force spans over 24-years now and we still love seeing the world and serving our great nation. Our children, Sam (21) & John (19), are full-time college students at University of Southern California and University of Chicago, respectively. We expect to be here in Europe at least until summer 2016 and then who knows—we go where the Air Force sends us! Hope everyone is well.”

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

‘84

John Lennon ‘84 writes, “Have had an active year thus far with our three children. Our son Preston (16) is a high school junior and narrowing down his college selection and just finished an awesome season of track. Avery (15) just got her learner’s permit and we flip a coin to see who rides with her. Whitley (11) is loving the 5th grade and getting ready to make the transition to middle school. Beth and I are busy in the estate world and with my work on the North Carolina Board of Transportation and as Chairman of the Governor’s Aviation Development Task Force.”

REUNION

‘85

Kyle (Beth Axelrod) Brown ‘85 shared, “I resigned from my teaching job at St. John’s Nursery School in June after 8 years. I decided to switch my teaching gears and go into fitness. I am currently an indoor cycling instructor with Equinox Fitness. Additionally, our eldest son will be graduating high school this June and attending the Fisher School of Business in the Scholars Program at The Ohio State University. Wendy Fitzgerlad ‘85 writes, “I am still working at the Childrens’ National Health System at the main hospital as a Nurse Practitioner in the Oncology department and I still love my job! I have been back in the area for 11 years now. My daughter Clare, who was 3 when we moved back here from New York CIty, is starting high school in the fall, which blows my mind. Hope to see everyone at the 30th reunion.”

Class Notes

‘89 ‘87

Allyson Riggs ‘87 writes, “I currently live in Bel Air, MD. I have worked for 22 years for Wells Fargo. I just started a new position in October of 2014 with the company on the Regional Leadership team. My children are Diana (13) and Connor (14). I recently went on a ‘music’ cruise and ran into Tracy Keller ‘87 on the boat!”

‘88

Heather Certner Brugger ‘88 (right) and Kristen Friedman Venit ‘88 (left) visited Amy Understein Strahan ‘88 (center) in Atlanta to celebrate Amy’s 45th birthday.

Alexandra F. Portner abportner@aol.com Kiki Weingarten Condon ‘89 shared, “Last October I fulfilled a wish on my ‘bucket list’ and completed the 39th Marine Corps Marathon—my first! I was fortunate enough to have Janna Hopkins ‘89 cheer me on at various locations!” REUNION

‘90

Colin Kao ‘90 is living in the suburbs of Chicago as a family practice doctor with his wife and 19 month old son.

Zola Solemente ‘90 shared, “In the fall of 2014 I traveled to La Paz, Bolivia to serve as a Sports Envoy with US State Department and US Soccer. I coached soccer to children ages 5-18 in several different cities and experienced a variety of climates and conditions...from deep in the jungle to the highest and driest elevation in South America. Very rewarding and fun. This winter my husband and I purchased Arden Gallery in Boston, MA. I have been Directing the gallery for the last 16 years. It’s a big leap, but perfect timing for us to have a new project since our one and only daughter headed off to college in Los Angeles this year. She is pursuing a degree in screenwriting. If you are on Newbury Street, pop in and take a look at our art (attached photo is me in La Paz, Bolivia with my new friend a llama).”

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Class Notes

‘91

Stacy Smith stacy.smith@ burkeschool.org

In the last year Jen Cartland ‘91 has begun a new career as an RN in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a local hospital. And in the next year she will be sending her youngest child off to high school and her eldest child off to college. Concurrently, Jen and her partner Lyn will begin playing the lottery.

‘93

In early 2013, Susana Crespo ‘93, Pablo, and Julia (6) moved to Redlands, California to be near the corporate HQ of Esri, a geospatial mapping company, where Susana works on supporting the global Agriculture Industry with spatial technology to optimize production and increase sustainability.

‘92

Jennifer Bobys ‘92, “Hi! Not much new to report here. Still living in Damascus with my husband and 3 kids (Zach, 13, Alexa, 9, and Jason, 7). This year we added 8 chickens to our family (when Mommy is allergic to EVERYTHING, you have to get creative when it comes to pets). So, on top of my growing garden, we also get lots of fresh eggs. Got to spend a fantastic evening with Jen McZier a couple months agwhile in NYC for one of my daughter’s dance competitions (they kicked ass and took home a TON of trophies, BTW ;) ). SO great to see her and catch up on the past 22 years! Hope everyone is doing well!”

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Amy Eisenstein ‘93 published her 3rd book on fundraising last year and re-launched her website www.tripointfundraising.com. She shared that her family got a puppy for the kids last year, but is happy to say, she loves her as much as they do!

Kevin Finn ‘93 shared, “Home down on the range would be my current lifestyle. My wife and I recently completed a barn in Florida for the winter equestrian season. She does all the horse stuff—it’s her profession—and I fix an occasional fence...We still consider Maryland our home, but trips to Florida aren’t terrible. My hobbies of martial arts and shooting have evolved into teaching (of the former) and competing (in the latter). These combined with a life with horses seems to indicate that the path from St. Andrew’s though college and graduate school to employment with the Federal government has been completely altered! I am still coming to terms with what this means. This past March I joined the Afanasenko family for a snowboard/ski trip in Vermont. Nico Afanasenko ‘93 and I had a profound ‘look-how-farwe-have-come’ moment at the summit.”

Class Notes

‘94

Caroline Palmer ‘94 had her second daughter in October. Alice joins big sister Claire. Caroline, her husband, and children live in New York City.

‘96

Erin Wright-Gandhi emwerin@gmail.com

Catharine (Miller) Wray ‘94 has been married to Jonathan Wray, a software engineer for Google, for 15 years. They have 2 children—Madeline and Alexander. Aaron Maier ‘93 is a Certified Ecologist with the Ecological Society of America and leads the natural resources program at Trihydro Corporation, which is a mid-sized engineering firm headquartered in Laramie, Wyoming with offices throughout the United States. Aaron has a M.S. degree in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management from the University of Wyoming and a B.S. degree in Forestry from the University of Montana. Aaron is married and they have a 13 year old son. They live in Boulder, Colorado. They spend their free time fly fishing, skiing, and skateboarding. Aaron still plays guitar in a band and recently recorded a CD.

REUNION

‘95

Marriah Bibby ‘95 is living in downtown Bethesda and currently working as a substitute assistant teacher at Academy Child Development Center, Inc. Anne Linder ‘96 shared, “In the last few years, we traded Alex George ‘95 moved with Washington, D.C. for Michigan, his fiancé, Luke, to Los Angeles and in 2012 moved to a small from New York City last Fall. farm north of Ann Arbor. We are learning as we go and having fun with sheep, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and other farm animals. This summer, I took another big leap, opening my own law practice in Milford, Michigan, focusing on business and real estate law (www.anneelinderpc.com). I’m thankful to keep up with so many Trey Taylor ‘95 shared a photo of St. Andrew’s friends through his family including his three Facebook, and encourage boys—Zac (7), Alex (5), and any alums in the Detroit/Ann Thomas (3)—and wife Dominique. Arbor area to come by for a visit!

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Class Notes

Alice Astarita ‘97 shared, “On May 14, 2015, I successfully defended my dissertation on social class and foreign language learning to earn a PhD in Second Language Acquisition with a minor in Italian from The University of Wisconsin-Madison. I would love to connect with other St. Andrew’s alums who work in higher education and/or those living in San Diego: aliceastarita@gmail.com.” Nick Nadel ‘96 recently wrote for the comedy/how-to series “Hack My Life,” which is currently airing its first season on the TruTV cable channel. He is also now a proud member of the Writers Guild of America, East and served as a writer for the 2015 WGA Awards hosted by Larry Wilmore of “The Nightly Show.” Currently Nick is working as a writer and producer at the Tara Evans ‘97 IFC channel, creating comedic writes, “My two content for the Web. You can daughters (Emily-16 check out his work at nicknadel. com and follow him on Twitter and Natalie-14) and I bought a house that we love in Walkersville! @nicknadel. I bought a car for my 16 year old who is driving! Next year I will have two girls in high school! (one senior and one freshman).”

‘97

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Michael Jennings-Offen ‘97 shared, “Our daughter Zoe Jennings Gibson was born Sept 23, 2014, and of course, we think she’s generally amazing... and objectively cute... We also bought a home in Silver Spring just before Zoe’s birth; needless to say, the last few months have been the pretty amazing.”’ Susanne Fogt Paul ‘97 writes, “My husband and I welcomed a little girl last May 2014— Caroline White Paul, nicknamed Charlie after my husband’s late father. It’s been quite a year. She is wonderful! I am still working for the Montgomery County Parks Department as a Park and Trail Planner and enjoying time outside as much as possible.”

Class Notes

‘98

Michael DiPaula-Coyle michael.dipaula. coyle@gmail.com

Sara Rosenblatt ‘98, her husband Asa, and their son, five-year old Max, welcomed the newest addition to their family on January 9, 2015, Sid Eugene. Sara continues to live in Greensboro, NC working for the State with clients with special needs and their families. Sara is currently finishing classes to apply to a graduate program for a Masters in Occupational Therapy. Sara plays soccer with Ben Fishel ‘01 two adult leagues, coaching her married Andrew Brady oldest son’s soccer team and in Lake George, NY in enjoys running when there’s September 2014. They currently extra time in the day. live in the U street area of Washington, D.C. Pictured are REUNION some fellow alumni in attendance Thomas Taylor including Tommy Williams ‘01, thomasetaylor@ Beth Lavin ‘01, Ben Fishel ‘01, gmail.com Andrew Brady, PJ Hart ‘01, and Justin Fishel ‘97. Sarah Melby ‘00 became the Director of Catering and Special Events at the Sulgrave Club in Dupont Circle in September, 2013. When she is not busy planning events she is keeping up with her running. She just completed the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in March and is signed up for the Parks Half Jen (Cantwell) Thomson ‘01 Marathon this coming September. and her husband welcomed their second son, Matthew Francis Tom Taylor ‘00 and his wife Cantwell Thomson, on December 23rd. Sara welcomed Elsie Gray Taylor on April 21, 2014. Elsie joins big brother Linus who turns 5 in May. Tom is enjoying his role as Upper School Director at the Breck School in Minnesota.

‘01

Ken Babby ‘98, owner of the Akron RubberDucks, a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, recently bought the Double-A Jacksonville Suns, the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. Ann Nash ‘98 and her husband, Adrian Buxeda, welcomed a daughter, Sylvia, on November 21, 2014.

Rob Reiter ‘98 lives in Fairfax, VA with wife Elizabeth and kids Alexis (age 4), Caleb (age 2), and Emma (4 months). Rob is VP of Commercial Lending at BB&T. 34

‘00

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Class Notes

‘02

Emily Williams emily.mo.williams@ gmail.com

Meghan Ball ‘02 writes, “I am now living in Paso Robles, California working as the assistant winemaker at Linne Calodo Cellars. If anyone finds themselves on the central coast and feels like wine tasting, let me know!”

Michael Green ‘02, Justin Ross ‘02 and Jeff Gross ‘02 opened up The Big Stick, a sports bar serving craft beer and sausages one block from the Washington National’s stadium. They encourage all fellow alumni to come down and check them out!

Heather (Babby) Rimsky ‘02 shared, “I live in New York City and work at Saks Fifth Avenue as the Director of Advertising. My husband Eric and I had a baby boy, Dylan, in October and he is just amazing!”

Playwright Steven Levenson ‘02, an Outer Critics Circle Award winner will debut his next creation, the upcoming musical, “Dear Evan Hansen” starring Ben Platt (of Pitch Perfect and The Book of Mormon fame), directed by Tony nominee Michael Greif, and features a score by Tony-nominated composing duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dogfight, A Christmas Story) at Washington, D.C.’s Arena Stage. Performances will run from July 10-August 23 in the Kreeger Theater. ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Emily (Clark) Williams ‘02 writes, “I’m excited to be our Class Correspondent! I’ve been happily living in the Boston area for the past 8 years although I miss the climate of the midAtlantic, especially after this winter. It was not a good winter to be a first-time homeowner with record breaking snowfall! This summer, my son will be turning THREE years old! I was pregnant with him at our 10 year reunion. Please reach out if you’re in the Boston area and want to connect!” She also shared, “I’m starting a new job as of June 1, I will be Assistant Director, Alumni Relations and Annual Giving at MIT’s Sloan School of Management. I’ll be primarily involved in student and recent alumni engagement. After eight years in the travel industry, I’m really excited to be moving into my new role in Higher Education.”

Class Notes

Christina McDowell ‘03 (formerly Prousalis) is thrilled to announce the publication of her first book with Simon & Schuster (released to bookstores June 2nd) called AFTER PERFECT: A Daughter’s Memoir. AFTER PERFECT was recently listed in O The Oprah Magazine on its annual top summer reading list.

Nicole Zarafonetis ‘02 recently received her PhD in international women’s rights from the University of York in England. Her passion for women’s rights and time spent working in Shanghai, China influenced her original research on the current status of Chinese women. A longtime traveller, Nicole studied abroad for both her undergraduate and master’s degrees at the University of St Andrews and London School of Economics, respectively. She hopes to continue her work in the gender and international development arena. She is also engaged to be married to Olivier Parreau, a software developer from Lyon, France. Their wedding will be held in May 2015 in the Beaujolais region of France.

‘03

‘04

Marian (Goddard) Juliana Converse ‘04 Carpenter ‘03 shared, won first prize for “It’s been an exciting her short story in year. I transitioned into a new the 2014 F. Scott Fitzgerald job at my school as a college Literary Festival in 2014. counselor and Adam and I are expecting our first child in July..” Jake Wallace ‘04 took the Maryland State PE Exam and is anxiously anticipating earning his Professional Engineering License.

Sarah Taylor ‘03 and Doug Bower ‘03, who met at St. Andrew’s in 7th grade, recently got engaged in Hawaii. Here’s a before and after shot of the two—circa 1997 to 2015. A wedding is planned for September. ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Class Notes REUNION

‘05

Madeline O’Brien mobrien@saes.org

Madeline (Wallace) O’Brien ‘05 married Graham O’Brien on October 25, 2014 at St. Francis Episcopal Church (the church of the lower school campus) with a reception in Georgetown. Bridesmaids include fellow Mike Bryan ‘05 and Kirstin alums Abbey Wallace ‘08, (Kinney) Bryan ‘05 were Della Williams ‘05, Laila married on June 14, 2014. Salimi ‘05, Gillian Kline ‘05, Members of the class of 2005 in Cara Skubel ‘05, former teacher attendance were Mariel Fox Caroline (Secor) Masterson, and (Maid of Honor), Michele Peters, current teacher Molly Magner. Alex Freeman, Sara Kline, Christopher McKelvy ‘05 Rob Greenberg, Andrew served as an usher. It was truly a Renison, Charlie Pfiefer, and St. Andrew’s affair as the guests David Gottesman. were treated to transportation by St. Andrew’s School buses to Alex Freeman ‘05 writes, “I and from the event. Madeline started a new job in September. and Graham currently live in I am now working at Capitol Hill Bethesda, MD. Day School as a teacher in the Early Childhood. I also recently David Sanders ‘05 has been began working as Executive living in Austria for the past two Director of All Star Aquatics, a years with his fiancé, Jana, while non-profit swim team based out working for a Swiss reinsurance company. of Bethesda and Potomac.”

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

‘06

Larissa Levine larissalevine@ gmail.com

Amy Bachman ‘06, Larissa Levine ‘06, and Abby Olson ‘06 have enjoyed living together in Washington, D.C. for the last two years. J. Lindsay Brown ‘06 shared, “I’m getting married in June and in Chicago since I graduated from the University of Michigan MFA program. I am the artistic director of J. Lindsay Brown Dance, and more info about that can be found on www.jlindsaybrowndance.com.” Claire (Matlack) Carucci ‘06 and her husband, Brian, are expecting their first child in September. Elise Lang ‘06 shared, “I graduated with my Masters in Public Health in January 2014 and moved back to the DC area. I now work for a global health consulting company. My husband, Sergio, and I got married in January 2015 in Baton Rouge, LA where we first met.” Elizabeth Terry ‘06 is currently finishing her two year Teach For America commitment, completing her Masters Degree in Special Education, and planning for a summer wedding to her partner of 4 years, Erin. She plans to continue teaching in Northeast DC while Erin works on cell cultures at NIH. 37

Class Notes

‘07

Nora Goddard noragoddard@ gmail.com

Alex Azzara ‘07 shared, “I have been living in New York City for the past 4 years since graduating from Wake Forest University. I am loving working at Birchbox (the beauty subscription and e-commerce company), where I am doing Campaign Strategy for the Beauty Partnerships team.” Ashleigh Bradshaw ‘07 is living in D.C. and working as an interior designer at OTJ Architects.

Hilary Eisenberg ‘07 writes, “I received my Juris Doctorate from Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law back in May 2014. I was sworn into the Maryland bar in last December, after passing the July 2014 exam. I am really enjoying being an attorney, and I love working in downtown D.C. Currently, I am an associate at Alvarez & Marsal in the tax practice group, where I focus on corporate and partnership tax.”

Julia Greco ‘07 shared, “After three years doing Editorial Public Relations for Dolce&Gabbana in New York, I left my position and New York to spent a few months backpacking through Southeast Asia. While there, I travelled through the Golden Triangle region; an area once plagued by opium production, where I met various hilltribe artisans who now use ancient techniques and traditional textiles in production of handcrafted goods. In an effort to support these artisans and share their extraordinary crafts, I decided to launch Gold Triangle upon my return to the States; an ecommerce site offering globally inspired, handcrafted handbags. I partnered with a Fair Trade organization whom with I collaborate to design the bags that are then handmade by local hilltribe artisans. All levels of their production are environmentally friendly and promote safe working conditions and sustainable income.” More information on the bags can be found here: www.goldtrianglebags.com. 38

Kelsey Freeman ‘07 shared, “After working for three years at the National Confectioners Association, I have recently started as Manager of Government Relations for Nestlé in their Washington, D.C. office. In this role, I will be managing the company’s relationship with key policymakers in the federal and executive branches, as well as engaging with key stakeholders within the beltway and outside.” Michaela Friedman ‘07 notes, “I am currently getting my masters in social work at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. I am on the clinical track with a concentration in children and families. I will be graduating December 2015 through the advanced standing expedited program. I recently accepted a part time position with Synergy Family Services in Langley Park and will be providing outpatient services to children and families. Looking forward to a meaningful career in social work.” Nora Goddard ‘07 shared, “Having recently completed my MA in School Counseling at Boston College, I now work in Boston at an independent school as the Next Schools and Community Relations Coordinator. I am thrilled to also reconnect with St. Andrew’s and my former classmates as the Class of 2007 Correspondent.” ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Class Notes Lexi Heywood ‘07 is enjoying life in Tysons Corner, and is excited to have her sister Lauren ‘10 living with her while working in the D.C. area for the summer. Lexi currently works at the U.S. Department of State and sings in the St. Francis Episcopal Church choir. Emma James ‘07 notes, “After working as a gallery educator at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, I am now pursuing my masters degree at the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College. This summer, I will be a curatorial fellow at the HenieOnstad Kunstsenter in Oslo.”

Stephen Lanpher ‘07 shared, “My wife, Lacey, and I are currently living outside of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. I am a First Lieutenant logistics officer serving as a Company Commander with the 2d Marine Ligistics Group. We have a dog and a great life in North Carolina and we are excited for future opportunities and adventures.” ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Jeffrey Michel ‘07 shared, “After finishing my bachelors at Lafayette College, I worked for a year in DC before enrolling in graduate school at Texas A&M University. I finished my MS degree in structural engineering in 2015 and currently work as a engineer in training at Walter P Moore in Dallas, Texas.”

Marisa Rheem ‘07 graduated with a BFA in Studio Arts in 2014. She is currently a manager at Caldwell Snyder Gallery in San Francisco, CA working in her field. Her website is www.marisarheem.com.

Kaytee Nesmith ‘07 recently left her job as the lead user experience designer for Marriott International’s mobile app to work for National Public Radio. She is currently the senior product designer in charge of the user experience for their new listening app, NPR One— and loving every minute of it! Outside of work, Kaytee has been working with the Open Technology Institute to make cryptography tools easier to use, speaking at nerdy conferences, and hanging out Tim Rogan ‘07 is just about to conclude his second national with her pet hedgehog. tour with “Camelot.” Last year Joe Peterson ‘07 shared, “After he was on the road with graduating from the University “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” of Notre Dame with a Bachelor and this summer he is looking in Architecture, Joe moved out forward to doing a production to Long Beach, CA. He married of “Billy Elliot” in Oklahoma City. Tiffany Tran, a Notre Dame Andrew Rubin ‘07 shared, architecture grad in 2013. After “Finishing up a 4 year job as a getting a good serving of the database designer at the World Southern California lifestyle Joe Bank. Starting in July of this moved back to the east coast year I am taking on a new job and currently reside in Manhattan in Philadelphia as a mobile working for a prestigious platform developer for twitch.tv architecture firm.” (an exciting job for a nerd like me). I got the cutest dachshund puppy named Zola.” 39

Class Notes

‘08

Hannah Davis hdavis08@ gmail.com

Thea Klein-Mayer ‘08 is living in rural Virginia working as the Local Foods Coordinator at a community and economic development non-profit called the Highland Center. She teaches gardening in the local public school system and cooks, farms, and keeps bees in her spare time. Drew Singer ‘08 graduated from Cornell Law School in May 2015. He will begin clerking for Judge Florence Pan of DC Superior Court after taking the New York Bar in late July. Drew will be moving to DC for the long haul.

Call for Correspondents! Thank you to all of our correspondents who help us stay in touch. If you are in any of the classes without a correspondent listed within the notes, and are interested in volunteering, please contact alumni@saes.org.

Toyota’s youngest managers. He just became a homeowner and is busy traveling with his position at Toyota. Since graduating from The George Washington University in 2013, Dannie Moore ‘09 has been teaching 3rd grade in Atlanta, GA as a Teach For Kelly Tillotson ‘08 married America Corps Member. Next Parker Bradway in November in year, Dannie will continue her Nashville, TN. Fellow classmates education at Harvard University’s AJ Schuessler, Leili Doerr, Ben Graduate School of Education, Chernow, Victoria Bodner, pursuing her Master of Education Hannah Davis, Remick Smothers, in School Leadership. Teresa Nolan, Ari Kleinman, and Tom McMackin attended. Abbey Wallace ‘08 is earning a Master’s degree in International Education Management at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. She is enjoying the California landscape and hopes to pursue a career in study abroad.

‘09

Michael Boyland mboyland13@ gmail.com

‘10

Alex Facciobene a.c.facciobene@ gmail.com Elliott Silverman em.silverman@outlook.com Jonah Orr ‘10 shared, “For the past year, I have been working in clinical research in New York City at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in the Pediatric Emergency Department. In August, I will be moving to Durham, North Carolina to attend the Duke University School of Medicine. In January of this year, I got engaged to Natalie Crane, also a member of the class of ‘14 at Vassar College.”

Michael Boyland ‘09 was recently featured in Gettysburg College’s alumni news as he landed a position among ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Class Notes

‘11

Amy Sharfman ‘11 writes, “I’m graduating from Stevenson University on May 21, 2015 with a B.S. in Business Communication. I was hired to be a Graduate Assistant at Stevenson University after I graduate, and will be working towards a masters in Communication Studies there. I am currently living in Baltimore.”

‘12

Tommy Finton nutbuck@gmail.com

Masha Edmondson ‘12 shared, “I am currently majoring in Environmental Science with a concentration in organismal biology and ecology with a minor in wildlife conservation and fine art at the University of Delaware. Last summer I completed research in Iceland with experts leading the field in renewable energy. This winter I

studied marine biology unique to New Zealand for one month. Currently I am doing research at the University of Delaware studying the effect of water droplets on the surface of the ocean. I also had the privilege of being on the executive board for UDance, the largest student run philanthropy on campus to fight childhood cancer. This year we raised a record breaking total of $1,282,103.03 for the kids!”

Sam Wallace ‘12 spent his spring semester in Sólheimar, Iceland, a small eco-village focusing on environmental studies.

Cole Greenspan ‘12 is working for the Green Bay Packers this summer as an athletic training intern. Hannah Hastings ‘12 has been doing research at Bryn Mawr College in quantum physics and optics for the past year and will be doing more physics research at NIST this summer.

Tommy Finton ‘12 has been spending his junior year at Middlebury College off campus, studying abroad in Florence, Italy. Having been there since September, he has enjoyed experiencing all facets of Italian culture, namely the amazing food and beautiful, ancient cities. A double History and Italian Language major, Florence has been the perfect location to combine his love of art and culture. At the end of the academic year, he plans on remaining in country for just a little bit longer, interning at the American Embassy in Rome. Despite being away from the United States for so long, Tommy sees being abroad as a once in a lifetime opportunity that will shape the person he becomes. ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Class Notes

‘13

Bobby Banks ‘13 transferred last year to Loyola University in New Orleans, LA and is spending the summer there taking classes. Robert Blume ‘13 finished his second year at Widener University, and is transferring to Towson University in the fall. He became a sworn police officer in addition to continuing degree pursuit. He is working in the State of Delaware and hopes to work as officer in D.C. or MD upon graduation. Emma Davey ‘13 continues to pursue her biology major at Wellesley College and plans on going to veterinary school. She competes in archery at both the local and national levels, having recently earned several podium finishes and Collegiate All-East Honors. Jared Kassoff ‘13 is working for the Washington Nationals baseball team this summer in promotions and marketing. Jasseim Shabazz ‘13 is interning this summer at Cornerstone Montgomery, a non-profit organization that provides mental health services and therapy in the DC area.

‘14

Brian Bies ‘14 writes, “I just completed my freshman year at Georgetown. In the fall, I performed in Rangila, an Indian Dance festival, at the Kennedy Center. In early spring, I was inducted into The Philodemic Society, Georgetown’s 185year-old debate society. Building on skills I learned as a St. Andrew’s peer leader, I will be a mentor in Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business first year pre-orientation program, McDonough School of Business’ first year academic ambassador, orientation program, and also the freshman Jesuit retreat program. This summer, I will be an intern at the Peace Corps. In addition, I will be studying global entrepreneurship and marketing at ESADE in Barcelona.”

Ethan Lockshin ‘14 shared, “I have had a wonderful freshman year at Regis University in Denver, Colorado! I got almost 30 ski days in and made some wonderful friends. I am traveling to Haiti, Israel, and Canada this summer and I am beyond excited. This spring, I partnered up to be a coFounder of a new start up company called Whear! (www.WhearAmI.com) I look forward to this summer and seeing all of my St. Andrew’s friends!”

Alexis Doyle ‘14 writes, “I have been busy this year as I joined the American University Ambassadors Program, which is a lot like the student ambassadors program at St. Andrew’s. It’s been a lot of fun and I love getting to talk to prospective students and take them around my school! I am working as a camp counselor at the Lower School this summer and could not be more excited as I am planning on majoring in elementary education!”

Aaron Sibarium ‘14 became a staff columnist for the Yale Daily News December of last year. His column. The Moderator, runs on Mondays. Recently, he was also named Editor in Chief of Yale’s Light and Truth magazine. In addition to these activities, he is an active member of the Yale Political Union.

Christopher Quintero ‘14 writes, “In the fall, I made the Dartmouth Club Soccer team and this spring we made it to the final of the Ivy League Championship, which was held at Dartmouth this year.”

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

LION’S FUND Small change

EQUALS

BIG CHANGES

Even if you think “it’s only pocket change”, your gift to St. Andrew’s makes a BIG difference - now more than ever. For more information on how your gift and participation impacts our school, visit www.saes.org/lionsfund.

MYSTERY ALUMS Can you identify the people in these photos? Email your answers to alumni@saes.org by August 1. The first person to answer correctly will win a prize from the Alumni Office.

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2015 October 17, 2015 Celebrating the classes ending in 0 and 5 Celebrate your reunion! Whether it’s your 5th or 25th, it’s time to reminisce with fellow classmates, catch up with former teachers and celebrate St. Andrew’s. Class Reunion Chairs Thank you to our Class Reunion Chairs for volunteering. More information regarding the reunion events will be coming soon.

Class of 1985: Chairs Needed

Class of 1990: Kevin Vendt and Graham Johnston

Class of 1995: Sam Speier and Alex George

Class of 2000: Tom Taylor

Class of 2005: Alex Freeman, Alisa Kaswell and Madeline O’Brien

Class of 2010: Alex Facciobene and Elliot Silverman

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2015

ALUMNI CALENDAR 2015 - 16 MARK YOUR CALENDARS! UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS Homecoming - October 17 Postoak Campus

Come back to campus! Play in the Alumni soccer game, enjoy food, fun and activities (teacher dunk tank!) with your families, and see what’s new...and what remains the same!! Reunion events will also take place that night for classes celebrating their reunion. Mr. Ponitch gets “dunked” at Homecoming 2014.

Alumni Holiday Party - December 17 Washington, DC - location TBD

Get a jump start on your holiday plans by marking the Alumni Holiday Party on your calendar—don’t miss this festive gathering for ALL alums.

Young Alumni Day - January 8, 2016 Calling all alums from the Class of 2012- 2015! Come back to campus for lunch with friends and faculty and then stay to answer questions from the Class of 2016 about post SAES and College life.

Alumni Lacrosse Game - May 21, 2016