The Seven Hills School Fall/Winter Magazine 2025

Rick

New

New

One

Academic Honors and Scholars

Finding Matt

Social-Emotional

School News: Arts

School

Developing Empathetic

Alumni News: Profiles

Alumni Board

Alumni Speaker

Alumni

WHY DOES THE ANNUAL FUND MATTER?

BRIDGE ENRICH

THE SEVEN HILLS ANNUAL FUND PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOL'S ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET.

The funds are raised through a yearly fundraising campaign. While tuition covers approximately 80% of our expenses, the Annual Fund helps bridge the gap between tuition and the true cost of educating each student. Your contributions ensure we uphold our commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience for all Seven Hills students.

THE ANNUAL FUND IMPACTS EVERY STUDENT.

Your support helps enrich every student’s journey. Enhancing learning through access to expert teachers, exciting field trips, advanced lab and studio equipment, costumes and uniforms, and vital educational resources. Every donation makes a difference, helping to create a well-rounded education for each child.

ENGAGE

THE ANNUAL FUND FUELS PARTICIPATION.

Annual Giving supports no-cut athletics, fine and performing arts, engaging workshops, and a variety of experiential learning opportunities. Your generosity ensures that every student can participate in enriching activities that ignite their passions and foster growth.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN ANNUAL GIVING REFLECTS THE STRENGTH OF A GREAT SCHOOL. The unique spirit of Seven Hills thrives thanks to the generosity of our Annual Fund supporters.

THANK YOU

TO EVERYONE WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED SINCE JULY 1 TO THE 2024-25 ANNUAL FUND. IF YOU HAVEN’T YET MADE YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFT, WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US BEFORE JUNE 30.

WITH $400,000 REMAINING TO REACH OUR $1.4 MILLION GOAL, YOUR CONTRIBUTION CAN TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. EVERY GIFT, NO MATTER THE SIZE, CREATES A MEANINGFUL IMPACT. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A GIFT ONLINE, VISIT 7HILLS.ORG/ANNUALFUND.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: NUPUR ANAND

There are many ways to volunteer at Seven Hills, and even more reasons to do so! Former parent Nupur Anand has been a dedicated volunteer for various causes at Seven Hills and has volunteered for the Seven Hills Annual Fund for 11 years. As the parent of two Seven Hills Lifers, Aanya ’22 and Aanvi ’24, we asked Nupur why she chooses and continues to give back to Seven Hills.

Q: Why do you give to the Seven Hills Annual Fund?

A: I gave my first gift when Aanya started in 2007 because it’s an important part of making Seven Hills the wonderful school it is and I realized the importance

of that. Participation is essential. It does not matter if it is $10 or $10 million — being a part of the community and helping to build the community are key.

Q: Why do you volunteer for Seven Hills?

A: Participation and community are my main reasons. It is important to participate where you are, however you can do it. There is no action too big or too small, I truly believe that. Anytime someone asks me if they should volunteer, I always tell them “just do it.”

The more people who get involved the better. Many of my friendships started because I volunteered at Seven Hills. It is a part of being a member of the community.

Q: Why do you continue to volunteer as a former parent?

A: I feel the school gave a lot to my children. It is a piece of who they became and that is so important. I do not feel that stopped once they graduated. It made them the individuals they are today, so it makes sense to give back. My daughters are still thinking about what they learned at Seven Hills even now when they are in college. Seven Hills gave them the

confidence to know they can survive, both academically and socially. I don’t forget that easily.

WE’RE THANKFUL FOR VOLUNTEER SUPPORT

The Development Office is grateful for the support we get from our volunteers. If you’d like to join our team of volunteers, we’d be very happy to have you!

HELPING HANDS

Join fellow parents, alumni, former parents, and grandparents of Seven Hills who assist with Development Office mailings.

ANNUAL GIVING COMMITTEES

Help support the Annual Fund by writing notes or making calls to encourage Seven Hills families and friends to make a gift.

CLASS & REUNION REPRESENTATIVES

Help keep your classmates connected to each other and to the school with information about upcoming events, sharing classmates’ news, and encouraging Annual Fund support.

To volunteer, please contact the Development Office at 513.728.2430 or development@7hills.org

As we look ahead to the unification of the Doherty and Lotspeich programs on the Hillsdale Campus, I find myself thinking about our school's past, present, and future.

Most of us know that Seven Hills, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, was formed through the merger of three schools: Miss Doherty's College Preparatory School for Girls, Mrs. Lotspeich's Clifton Open-Air School, and the Hillsdale School. But to truly understand our legacy, we must look back even further, taking in the bold vision of those three schools' founders.

The Legacy and Future of Seven Hills

A FEW THOUGHTS ON CAMPUS UNIFICATION*

From

Matthew Bolton, Ph.D. HEAD OF SCHOOL

students of many backgrounds, but the languages and cultures of their homes had to be left at the schoolhouse door. Uniformity was the watchword.

conformity for the open air and individuality, as Mrs. Lotspeich did.

The announcement declaring the opening of the Hillsdale School, one of the three schools that would merge to become Seven Hills, reads "Shaping of Personality as Important as Scholasticism" and "Education to Be More Joyous Thing." That's 1927, nearly 100 years ago, but linking education to joy sounds bold even today.

In 19th century America, schools looked a lot like factories. Children sat in their places while the teacher stood over them, ensuring that everyone was doing the same things at the same times. Students were taught in a single way and were measured against the same benchmarks. They completed identical primers and copybooks, whether the work was excruciatingly hard or stultifyingly easy.

In many parts of the country, segregation ensured that the students even looked the same. In other parts of the country, schools were open to

After all, Victorian schools were modeled on that paragon of uniformity, the factory floor. Nineteenth-century schools were in a very real sense producing workers to staff these factories and workhouses. Instead of sitting at a desk and writing on a slate, you would graduate to sitting at a loom and weaving, or standing at a workbench and riveting.

In this context, it was audacious to make a higher claim for education. Imagine opening a school that would prepare girls for college, as Miss Doherty did. Imagine trading the classroom and

The schools that would eventually come together to form Seven Hills were at the vanguard of the progressive educational reform movement that swept through the country in the early 20th century.

Revolutionary educators like John Dewey were committed to reaching the individual learner, rather than creating an educational assembly line.

This student-centered, academically ambitious, and joyous approach to teaching is entwined in our cultural DNA as a school. And it jumps out from our mission statement today:

Seven Hills engages hearts and minds, guiding students to cultivate their unique capabilities and preparing each for a meaningful role in a rapidly changing world.

Campus unification will call on us all to hone in on our mission and our sense of identity as a school. Over the next three years, we will engage teachers, students, and parents in an ongoing design process to identify the best and most beloved aspects of Doherty and Lotspeich's respective cultures, traditions, programs, and spirits. This is likewise an opportunity for us to incorporate into our new Lower School some of the best practices and innovations in the field of early childhood and elementary education. Our Lower School teachers and administrators are already planning a series of educational road trips, in which we will visit and learn from some of the best elementary schools in the country. This is time for us to look within and

without, to be at once introspective and exploratory.

Unlike many of the school's previous projects and decisions, there is a sense of loss associated with this one. Families, teachers, alumni, and students who love the Doherty program may be understandably saddened or upset by the news of our campus and Lower School unification. Lotspeich community members might also be concerned about what this will mean for aspects of the division that they know and value. I imagine this was the reaction 50 years ago as well,

when our forerunners merged into one school. In light of the unification, I hope that we can think of Doherty and Lotspeich alike not just as a place, but as a culture, a spirit, and a community that we will carry forward into the new Lower School. As we look ahead to the next few years, we must channel the bold vision of educators like Miss Doherty and Mrs. Lotspeich, building a new Lower School program that honors our past and looks to our future.

*A previous version of this article originally appeared in the school’s digital newsletter, Buzzworthy, in October 2024.

NEW FACES AT SEVEN HILLS:

WE ARE PLEASED TO WELCOME

HEATHER A R REDONDO

Heather Arredondo

Lotspeich Kindergarten Teacher

Heather has an M.Ed. from the University of Minnesota and an M.A. in teaching elementary education from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City. She had previously been a substitute teacher for Comprehensive Substitute Solutions and a kindergarten teacher at Bethany School in Glendale, Ohio. She completed her student teaching as a third grade teacher for Madeira City Schools.

Tess Cohan

Director of Alumni Engagement

Tess started at Seven Hills in January 2024. She has a B.A. in sociology and Jewish studies from the University of Kansas. She was most recently the young adult division development officer for the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and previously worked at University of Iowa Hillel.

LAUR E N F ISHER

Lauren Fisher

Lotspeich Science Teacher

Lauren has a B.S. in middle childhood education from the University of Cincinnati and is currently working on her M.Ed. at Xavier University. She was most recently a fifth grade science and language arts teacher at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati and a grants policy intern for the U.S. Department of Education. She has also taught science and language arts at North Avondale Montessori School, Dater Montessori School, and Holt Crossing Intermediate School in Grove City, Ohio.

Brenda Hartman

Middle and Upper Choral Accompanist

Brenda has a B.A. in music/piano from Messiah College. She has worked as an accompanist for various schools and churches in the area since 1993. She has most recently worked with Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Mason High School, Wyoming City Schools, the School for Creative and Performing Arts, and Northminster Presbyterian Church.

ALLISO N L E E HILLS

Allison Lee Hills

Doherty Unit III Teacher

Allison has a B.A. in history from DePauw University and an M.Ed. in early childhood education from Xavier University. She was previously a fourth grade math, science, and language arts teacher at Cardinal Pacelli School and student taught at Hyde Park Elementary School and Hopewell Early Childhood School. While studying at Xavier, she did field work at Seven Hills in kindergarten and first grade and was previously a camp counselor for the Summer Program.

Meghan Hudepohl

Lotspeich Learning Specialist

Meghan earned a B.S. in elementary education from the University of Cincinnati in 2024. She has worked as a third grade student teacher at the Clifton Area Neighborhood School, a substitute teacher for Cincinnati Public Schools, and as a summer program coordinator and extended day teacher for Summit Country Day School.

NEW SEVEN HILLS FACULTY AND STAFF!

Sarah Hyland

Lotspeich Art Teacher

Sarah has a B.F.A. in integrated design from the Parsons School of Design in New York City and an M.A. in art education from the Savannah College of Art & Design. She was most recently the art guide and curriculum developer at Alpha School in Austin, Texas. In addition to being the creative director of Sarah Hyland Studio in Austin since 2009, Sarah has also worked as an art guide, curriculum director, and design educator for schools and summer camps in California, Colorado, and Ohio.

Michele Laude

Upper School French Teacher

Michele has an M.S. in physical chemistry of bio-products from University of Science in Nantes, France. She worked as a laboratory analyst and report writer before she began tutoring middle and high school students in math, science, French, and English in 2002. She has worked as a French teacher, tutor, and interpreter for various schools and organizations. She was most recently the freshman French teacher at Lakota East High School.

MICH E L E L AUDE

Jessica Max

Admissions Experience Coordinator

Jessica earned a B.A. in international affairs from George Washington University and an M.Ed. in behavior analysis from the University of Cincinnati. Jessica was most recently the assistant director of enrollment services and one stop student services at UC’s main campus. She has also worked in student services and enrollment services at UC’s Clermont and Blue Ash campuses. She has been a lead admissions representative for ECPI College of Technology and Antonelli College.

Hannah O’Toole

Upper School History Teacher

Hannah earned a B.S. in education from Miami University and an M.Ed. in educational administration from Xavier University. She has been a social studies teacher at West Clermont Middle and High Schools teaching ancient European history, government, and American history and was the chair of the high school’s social studies department. Hannah is a member of the Seven Hills Class of 2014.

JESS I C A MAX HANN A H O ’TOOLE

JACLY N P R ESTON

Jaclyn Preston

Lotspeich Kindergarten Teacher

Jaclyn has a B.S. in early childhood education from the University of Cincinnati, an M.Ed. in education/ reading specialist from Xavier University, and a master’s certificate in early childhood administration from Ball State University. She has worked as a preschool teacher at Madeira Preschool and as a unit leader with the Seven Hills Summer Program. She has also taught English in Israel, dance at the Deer Park Dance Program, and Sunday school at Isaac M. Wise Temple in Cincinnati.

Mallory Rager

Lotspeich Pre-Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

Mallory has a B.S. in education from Bowling Green State University. She has worked as a student teacher and substitute teacher for the St. Marys City Schools in St. Marys, Ohio. She was most recently a summer STEM teacher for Cincinnati Country Day, where she encouraged creative and collaborative learning through STEM based projects.

Continued on page 8

SARA H H Y LAND

NEW FACES AT SEVEN HILLS , CONT.

Alison Roberson

Upper School English Teacher

Alison has a B.A. in English and an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She worked as an English teacher at St. Xavier High School for 23 years, teaching core and elective English courses. She chaperoned numerous international trips to Spain, Great Britain, France, Germany, and Peru, has hosted traveling teachers, and went on teacher exchanges to Argentina and Peru.

Terrell Samuels

Hillsdale Campus Maintenance Staff

Terrell started with Seven Hills in March 2024. He has an extensive career in landscaping, having most recently worked as a crew member for Egbert Mowing. He has also been a groundsman for Tree Images, a foreman for Greenskeepers Turf Management, and a groundskeeper for 4 Seasons Landscaping & Lawn Care.

Samantha Smith

Lotspeich Pre-Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

Samantha has an A.A.B. in photography from Antonelli College and a B.S. in visual arts K-12 from the University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne. She was most recently a lead pre-kindergarten and lead toddler teacher at Bright Path in Madisonville. In addition to working as a freelance photographer, she has been a substitute teacher for Fort Wayne Community Schools, Cincinnati Public Schools, Sycamore Community Schools, and Indian Hill Exempted Village School District.

Keith Topmiller Culinary Specialist

Keith is a new member of the Hillsdale Campus kitchen staff. He has previously worked as a cook at Jewish Hospital and as a personal trainer and manager for Terry Bryans Fitness. He has been a Seven Hills Middle School baseball and basketball coach since 2018 and was previously a study hall and lunch line monitor for the Middle School.

Kari Weinheimer

Lotspeich Pre-Kindergarten for 2-yearolds Teacher

Kari has a B.S. in education from Bowling Green State University. She was most recently an intervention specialist for the Princeton City School District and Northwest Local School District. She has also worked as a preschool education assistant at Blue Ash Elementary School and a teacher of the deaf, listening and spoken language provider at Ohio Valley Voices in Loveland.

Jodi Wiley

Lotspeich Pre-Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

Jodi has a B.S. in merchandising and a minor in business from Lipscomb University in Nashville. She worked as a buyer, assistant manager, and account manager in the merchandise and retail industries before she began working as a second grade kids club team member for Crossroads Kids Club in 2017. She has previously been an educational aide and special education aide for the Madeira City Schools and a counselor for the Seven Hills Summer Program.

SAMAN T H A SMITH

KEITH T O P MILLER

KARI W E I N HEIMER

JO D I W ILEY

TERRE L L S AMUELS

ALISON R O BERSON

RICK TATE IS THE NEW HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL

A few months into the 2024-25 school year, new Head of Upper School Rick Tate was impressed with the super supportive faculty and the great students.

“It is a really exciting time in education. We were all moving in a good direction before COVID, but COVID really made us think about the purpose of schools. We have to nurture the original thinkers, producers, and creators. That is the mission of schools,” Tate said.

Tate was named the Head of Upper School in late 2023 and began with Seven Hills in the summer of 2024.

“We have to nurture the original thinkers, producers, and creators. That is the mission of schools.”

Tate comes to Seven Hills with 27 years of experience in education and was most recently the assistant director of upper school for teaching and learning at Hawken School in Gates Mills, Ohio.

“

“Seven Hills felt like a community that was a really good fit for me and my own family.”

~ Rick Tate

Tate had been at Hawken for 15 years, serving as a Spanish teacher, chair of the modern and classical languages department, and a global studies coordinator. He had toyed with the idea of moving into a more leadership position. Seven Hills’ student-

centered approach and community feel caught his attention.

“It felt like a community that was a really good fit for me and my own family,” said Tate, who is also a Middle School parent.

He commended the Upper School’s signature programs, like Challenge Experiences and May Term, and the drive from the students to increase community engagement and school spirit with Stinger Days and all-school assemblies. Tate has already competed in a student vs. teachers tug-o-war and cheered on the Halloween costume contest, dressed as a bear.

“There is a lot to learn when you transition into a new system. People have a lot of questions and I don’t know the answer to many of them, but there is always someone who is willing to work with me and help. And that is great to see,” Tate said.

38 TH ANNUAL

SEVEN HILLS

SEVEN HILLS FOR

LUNCH

FRIDAY, FEB 7 • 2025

YOU’RE INVITED TO THE 38TH ANNUAL BOOKS FOR LUNCH!

JOIN US ON FRIDAY, FEB. 7, 2025 AND SPEND A DELIGHTFUL AFTERNOON WITH INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR COLM TÓIBÍN.

COLM TÓIBÍN

Tóibín grew up in a home where, he once said, there was “a great deal of silence.” He has since made a career of talking to the world through his many volumes of fiction and non-fiction, drama, and poetry.

The newest of Tóibín’s 11 novels is “Long Island,” a sequel to “Brooklyn.” “Long Island,” The New York Times bestseller and Oprah’s Book Club pick, revisits the life of Eilis Lacey, now in her 40s and a mother of two teenagers. “Brooklyn” was adapted into a 2015 Oscar-nominated film by the same name.

EVENT DETAILS:

Friday, Feb. 7, 2025

The Summit Hotel , in the Madisonville Ballroom 5345 Medpace Way, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227

11 a.m. Cash bar opens

12-1:30 p.m. Luncheon and Author Lecture

1:30 p.m. Book signing

Join us on Feb. 7, 2025, in the Madisonville Ballroom at The Summit Hotel for lunch, community, and an engaging address from Tóibín. The annual luncheon is hosted by the Upper School Parent Community.

Visit 7hills.org/BFL to learn more about the author and his work and to purchase your ticket today!

About Books for Lunch

For nearly four decades, Books for Lunch has been a cornerstone of literary engagement, bringing renowned authors to the Hillsdale Campus for insightful mornings with Upper School students and memorable luncheons with educators, parents, and the wider Cincinnati community.

Over the years, this Books for Lunch has included visits from literary luminaries such as Min Jin Lee, Barbara Kingsolver, Andrew Sean Greer, Tom Wolfe, Christina Baker Kline, Jennifer Egan, and Curtis Sittenfeld (a former Seven Hills student), among many others.

Seven Hills welcomes four new Board of Trustees members: David Maxwell, Max Schimberg ’09,

Priya Shahani, Erin Snelting, and Anna Topalidis WELCOME NEW BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBERS

DAVID MAXWELL

As a Board member, David Maxwell seeks to support Seven Hills as it evolves as an institution and develops the next generation of leaders.

“With three children enrolled at Seven Hills, I am very invested in their education. I look forward to working with the other Board members to ensure Seven Hills continues to grow as a school and community,” Maxwell said.

Maxwell also looks forward to collaborating with the other members of the Board to strengthen or expand the school’s strategic goals and plans for the next couple of years.

MAX SCHIMBERG ’09

Max Schimberg’s ’09 main goal while he serves on the Board is to help Seven Hills with facilities and infrastructure as it unifies to become one campus.

“I intend to bring my skills from a decade plus in construction and real estate development to help Seven Hills set themselves up for the next generation of students,” Schimberg said.

Schimberg began attending Seven Hills in Middle School. He’s excited to learn more about Seven Hills as a whole. His experiences with early childhood and the Lower Schools have already been enlightening, he said.

During his time as a student, Seven Hills gave him countless opportunities which inspired his desire to give back to the institution by serving on the Board.

“In addition to the amazing education, it is also where I met my beautiful wife!” Schimberg exclaimed.

PRIYA SHAHANI

Priya Shahani said she also looks forward to serving on the Board during the campus unification process.

“I feel that my background in real estate and construction is valuable to the project. I'm also excited for the opportunity to learn how I can best serve the community,” Shahani said.

Shahani explained that she wanted to serve on the Board because she believes her experience can make a positive impact on the community and can help the future success of Seven Hills.

“My goal is to support the Board's vision for growth and development by actively contributing to strategic decision-making, advocating for the school's mission, developing leadership skills, and building meaningful relationships in the community and within the Board of Trustees,” Shahani said.

ERIN

SNELTING

While serving as president of the Parent Community and the PC representative to the Board, Erin Snelting is excited for the opportunity to learn more about the school’s goals, functions, and how it connects with the Parent Community’s work.

“I hope to learn more about many of the great current programs and future plans for educating our students. I have had a variety of other roles as a parent volunteer at Seven Hills, and I hope to contribute helpful ideas inspired by those experiences. Our school's leaders have often described an unofficial motto of ‘being the best at getting better,’ and I aspire to be a part of that pursuit,” Snelting said.

Additionally, Snelting is anticipating meeting more of Seven Hills’ talented faculty and staff.

“I am looking forward to hearing about their successes, concerns, goals, and dreams and to help find ways to support them in their roles,” Snelting said.

ANNA TOPALIDIS

Anna Topalidis said she is honored to serve as a Board member on Seven Hills’ Board of Trustees as the school has been an important part of her children’s development.

"I am looking forward to working with this talented group and assisting with the new strategic plan,” Topalidis said. "I hope to bring some insight from my past experiences as a health educator when collaborating with the Board and faculty.”

According to Topalidis, her goals for this year and beyond are to listen, learn, and be a voice for current students and families in the areas of physical, social, and emotional well-being.

NEW LEADERSHIP IN COLLEGE COUNSELING CARRYING ON SUSAN MARRS’ LEGACY

UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF NEW CO-DIRECTORS OF COLLEGE COUNSELING ALEX CATALAN AND JULIE DIROMA , THE SEVEN HILLS COUNSELING DEPARTMENT IS CONTINUING LONG-TIME DIRECTOR SUSAN MARRS’ LEGACY THROUGHOUT THE HALLS OF THE UPPER SCHOOL BUILDING THAT NOW BEARS HER NAME.

“The department will continue to provide the wonderful caring and individualized, intentional approach that we always wanted it to manifest in the past because that seems to work so well for our kids,” said Marrs, who retired at the end of the 2023-24 school year after 53 years at Seven Hills. “The department will continue to be responsive to parents who have questions and to partner with parents in helping kids go through the college admissions process as successfully and calmly as possible.”

Marrs, Catalan, DiRoma, and Assistant Director of College Counseling Cheryl Dixon spent most of the 2023-24 school year preparing for the transition.

“It has been a seamless transition,” Marrs added. “Alex and Julie have been part of every aspect of the office’s operations.”

The department hit the ground running in the 2024-25 school year. Seven Hills was ranked #1 College Prep Private High School in the Cincinnati Area by Niche. Twenty-four students were honored by the National Merit Scholarship Program and College Board. The AP School Honor Roll honored Seven Hills with a platinum school distinction for creating a college-going culture, providing

opportunities to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.

Catalan and DiRoma have 15 years combined experience in the Seven Hills college counseling department and have both previously worked on the college side of the admissions process. Catalan worked at the University of Pennsylvania and Beloit College, and DiRoma worked at Skidmore College and Hamilton College.

Both came to Seven Hills to work more closely with high school students.

“I was looking for a high school that had a supportive, relaxed, yet challenging community that was really vibrant and felt like a small college campus. I actually

1 Junior Daniela Alper, Co-Director of College Counseling Alex Catalan, senior William Huguenin-Virchaux, and Co-Director of College Counseling Julie DiRoma

described that environment to a friend in the college admissions world who recruited in Ohio. And she said, ‘there is a school, The Seven Hills School in Cincinnati, that sounds just like that,’” Catalan said.

What the department does is so much more than come up with a list of colleges, DiRoma said, especially in an increasingly multifaceted college admissions environment.

“The admissions process becomes more complex each year, as colleges add new systems that require even more management and initiative from the students. Between multiple applications, college-specific portals with multiple usernames and passcodes, various modes

Seven Hills uses a four-year approach to college counseling and Upper Schoolers are paired with a college counselor as freshmen. Early on, it is about encouraging students to experience all the Upper School has to offer and learn about their own academic strengths and study habits.

of test reporting, new ways of selfreporting the entire transcript, we look forward to reducing stress as we guide students through the management of all the new technology,” DiRoma said.

As the students progress through the Upper School, the college counselors help them navigate admissions testing, understand their dreams for the future, and guide them through the application process.

Catalan added that the Seven Hills environment gives him, DiRoma, and the rest of the college counseling department the power to advocate for each of our students.

“That is something that is unique about Seven Hills. We really can advocate with

- Susan Marrs “

“The college counseling department will continue to provide the wonderful caring and individualized, intentional approach that we always wanted it to manifest in the past because that seems to work so well for our kids.”

the students to put them in the best place possible in the process and find the right place for them. The on-the-ground learning is not something you get at most high schools,” he said.

O NE CAMPUS

“By being both introspective and exploratory, we can build a program that honors our past and looks to our future.”

MATTHEW BOLTON, P H .D.,HEAD OF SCHOOL

SEVEN HILLS’ UNIFICATION PLAN BEGINS

SEVEN HILLS’ UNIFICATION PLAN IS UNDERWAY WITH COMMITTEES FORMED, SITE VISITS PLANNED AND CONDUCTED, AND INPUT FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS COLLECTED.

Seven Hills is unifying the Lower Schools, improving the educational experience while maintaining the best aspects of Doherty and Lotspeich into one Lower School. The unification will create a reimagining of Seven Hills as one community on one campus.

“Much of our focus this year is on engaging members of the community in the unification process, so that we develop a shared vision of the future. In these past few months, we've organized parent and teacher committees around key aspects of unification,” Head of School Matthew Bolton said.

Each committee is co-chaired by a parent and a Lower School teacher. Teachers also have a parallel set of committees.

The Identity, Culture, and Traditions Committee is working to identify the most beloved aspects of Doherty and Lotspeich’s respective cultures and traditions with the goal of incorporating them into the new Lower School.

“This is truly a unification,” Head of Doherty Tracy Murch said. “It is not a case that Doherty is moving in with Lotspeich or Lotspeich is moving in with Doherty. It is really about bringing the two programs together.”

The Social Committee is an opportunity for parents and students from the two divisions to come together to build relationships and make connections.

The Doherty Experience Committee/Lotspeich Experience Committee will ensure that during the unification process the experiences on both campuses are engaging and fulfilling for all students, teachers, and families.

O NE COMMUNITY

“I want alumni and the community to know that we are looking to honor the legacy of Mrs. Lotspeich and Miss Doherty as we bring our campuses together. The heart of a school is its people and our people aren’t changing,” said Head of Lotspeich Susan Miller.

She and Murch have been meeting with all Lower School teachers individually.

“We are fortunate to have two highly qualified, passionate faculties,” Miller said. “They started working together even before we knew this process was going to begin. Our goal over the next three years is to continue to build those relationships.”

During the 2024-25 school year, administrators and teachers have been going on a series of site visits to other cities to observe how some of the best schools in the country are approaching early childhood and elementary education.

“The kids are truly at the center of all of this,” Murch said. “As we move through this process, we have to continue to make decisions that are student-centered and work to make this transition happen smoothly and positively for the students.”

In December, Murch, Miller, Bolton, and a team of Lower School teachers visited two highly regarded peer schools in Cleveland

to learn about their experiences designing new lower school programs and facilities.

“By looking within and without, by being both introspective and exploratory, we can build a Lower School program that honors our past and looks to our future. Each new conversation helps us to better understand what is important to our community members and how we can move forward together,” Bolton said.

A capital campaign will be funding the unification. The plan is to sell the current Doherty Campus with the proceeds going toward the cost of the unification. Tuition will not be raised to cover the costs.

The unification will bring great changes to the Hillsdale Campus with the current Lotspeich, Briggs, and Meckel buildings being replaced by a state-of-the-art, twostory Lower School building. The Taft Early Childhood Center will be expanded, and renovations will be made to the dining facilities in Founders Hall.

The transition process will take three years, with the goal of full unification by the 2027-28 school year. The expansion of the Taft Early Childhood Center is projected to be completed by the 2026-27 school year, and the new Lower School building by the 2027-28 school year.

ONE SEVEN HILLS

In this aerial rendering of the north side of campus, the brand-new Lower School building is in the foreground and the expanded Taft Early Childhood Center can be seen in the background, beyond the Red Barn. The new Lower School building will be in the footprint of what is now the Lotspeich Lower School building and the Briggs administration building.

PRELIMINARY AERIAL CAMPUS VIEW

In the Taft Early Childhood Center expansion, five additional classrooms will be added in a separate wing, retaining the key elements of the existing classrooms. Access to nature and the outdoors will continue to be at the doorstep of each classroom. Purposeful space, like an art gallery, will be added for students to interact in between transitions throughout the day.

EARLY

PRELIMINARY

CHILDHOOD ART GALLERY

“The kids are truly at the center of all of this . . . ”

TRACY MURCH, HEAD OF DOHERTY LOWER SCHOOL

PRELIMINARY EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPANSION

In this aerial rendering of the expanded Taft Early Childhood Center, the left side of the rendering shows the addition that is slated to open during the 2026-27 school year. The existing Taft ECC, which opened in 2015, was designed to be expanded, so this addition seamlessly integrates with the current facility.

ONE SEVEN HILLS

This rendering offers the perspective as parents enter the circular drive near the main entrance off Red Bank Road. The brand-new Lower School entrance, with a covered walkway, mirrors the Upper School building to its right. Bringing the building closer to the drive allows us to maximize greenspace on the other side of the building, giving all our Lower School students access to a beautiful courtyard throughout their school day.

PRELIMINARY LOWER SCHOOL ENTRY

ONE SEVEN HILLS

In addition to state-of-theart classrooms, the new Lower School building will provide students in kindergarten through fifth grade with purpose-built spaces, like a creation or maker space; a library brimming with books; and a courtyard right outside the classrooms. These inspiring auxiliary spaces enable our teachers to design powerful lessons that encourage students to explore and move throughout the day.

PRELIMINARY

PRELIMINARY FOUNDERS HALL

PRELIMINARY FOUNDERS HALL

PRELIMINARY FOUNDERS

HALL

“Each new conversation helps us to better understand what is important to our community and how we can move forward together.”

Founders Hall, situated in the heart of campus, is a perfect hub for students and teachers across divisions. A redesign of this space will enable us to truly make it a student center, where all students can enjoy healthy options from a renovated and expanded kitchen, and Upper School students can find time to socialize and relax during free time.

ONE SEVEN HILLS

NATIONAL MERIT AND COLLEGE BOARD HONORS

Seven Hills Congratulates 24 Students Honored by National Merit and College Board

Seven Hills continues its tradition of excellence with more than 20 students receiving recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Program and College Board. Twelve students were named Semifinalists and eight students were named Commended Scholars in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. Four students received National Recognition Awards from College Board.

National Merit Semifinalists

Seven Hills National Merit Semifinalists are Adi Duggal, Anna Kunkel, Ahalya Nambiar, Nick Patel, Evelyn Quint, Nicholas Roblyer, Sydney Schneider, Sophia Schuermeyer, Kyle Wang, Brett Woffington, Keliang Yao, and Andrew Zhou.

National Merit

Commended

National Merit Commended Students are Michaela Atkinson, Daniel Choi, Abby Deimling, Evie Ferguson, Ethan Hu, Everett Rinaldi, Josie Schneider, and Tony Wang.

College Board National Recognition Awards

Rhys Ceron and Victoria Rodriguez received the National Hispanic Recognition Award. Erin Jackson and Roman Russo received the National African American Recognition Award.

First row, L to R: Evelyn Quint, Sophia Schuermeyer, Kyle Wang, Andrew Zhou. Back row, L to R: Nick Patel, Anna Kunkel, Ahalya Nambiar, Sydney Schneider, Brett Woffington, Nicholas Roblyer, Adi Duggal. Inset Photo: Keliang Yao

L to R: Rhys Ceron, Victoria Rodriguez, Erin Jackson, Roman Russo

First Row, L to R Michaela Atkinson, Abby Deimling Middle Row: Josie Schneider, Everett Rinaldi Third Row: Daniel Choi, Ethan Hu, Tony Wang Inset Photo: Evie Ferguson

ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCHOLARS

105 Students Named AP Scholars in college

The AP Program recognizes 105 Upper School students who have shown outstanding college-level achievement based on their performance on multiple AP exams.

The following current students received AP Scholar with Distinction Awards for average scores of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of at least 3 or higher on four or more exams: Sammy Chaudhary, Daniel Choi, Evie Ferguson, Caleb Hamon, Jackson Hamon, Ethan Hu, Anna Kunkel, Ahalya Nambiar, Elena Pohl, Josie Schneider, Sydney Schneider, Sophia Schuermeyer, Katie Stevens, Kyle Wang, Tony Wang, Brett Woffington, Keliang Yao, and Andrew Zhou. Class of 2024 graduates who received AP Scholar with Distinction Awards are Rithvik Allamaneni, Jameel Almuti, Isabelle Anthony, Alice Bachelder, Dhanush Bearelly, Harvey Chen, Eli Cogan, Nick Cohen, Grace Dunson, Magnolia Fan, Megha Gaitonde, Evelyn Gao, Arjun Gupta, Michelle Hu, Gavin Isakov, Julie Jiang, Timothy Jordan, Alexa Kecman, Laila Kerr, Ed Li, Elan Little, Avi Mahajan, Rishi Mittal, Kyler Pang, Kaiya Park, Anish Patil, Frances Schlueter, Rex Shaffer, Carter Stevens, Oliver Szabo, Celine Tan, Lidya Tesfaye, Gabrielle Walker, Nathan Walker, Nathan Wang, Leo Weller, Mikul Wyer, Julia Zeng, Diana Zhang, and Lauren Zhang.

SEVEN HILLS NAMED TO AP SCHOOL HONOR ROLL AS A PLATINUM SCHOOL

The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP Programs are delivering results for students while broadening their access to AP courses by increasing a college-going culture and the opportunities to earn college credit and maximizing college readiness. The AP School Honor Roll offers four levels of distinction with Platinum being the highest. The Upper School exceeded the requirements in all three criteria for Platinum distinction.

Receiving AP Scholar with Honor Awards for an average score of at least 3.25 on all exams and a score of 3 or higher on four or more exams are current students Obaidah Alshami, Areej Arif, Michaela Atkinson, Abby Deimling, Annie Katuska, Claire Liu, Chinmay Machavaram, Parth Mehta, Shlok Mehta, Brady O’Connor, Charlotte Quint, Evelyn Quint, Everett Rinaldi, Roman Russo, Nicholas Stein, Kavan Vadivelu, and Lauren VordemEsche. Class of 2024 graduates who received AP Scholar with Honor Awards are Kailyn Brown, Max Brown, Alex Burke, Nora Donovan, Kaeden Iyoha, Leon Li, Ria Mittal, Abby Robinson, Siddha Shah, Susie Stahl, and Julia Zhu.

Receiving AP Scholar Awards for earning scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams are current students Ethan Avera, Vikasni Bandinani, Jasper Burroughs, Audrey Cors, Adi Duggal, Billy Good, David Haas, William Huguenin-Virchaux, Evy LaBare, Fiona O’Driscoll, Nick Patel, Nicholas Roblyer, and Dougie Schecter. Class of 2024 graduates who received AP Scholar Awards are Lina Asfaw, Leila Blackshaw-Brown, Ronan Blair, Natalia Butler, Shravan Sekhar, and Margaret Tenney.

HOMECOMIN G 2024

On Sept. 20, 2024, Seven Hills families began Homecoming weekend with friendly competition, delicious food, and showstopping fireworks.

Homecoming weekend was jam-packed with celebration, community, and competition. Friends new and old enjoyed the family cookout. Varsity athletes led younger Stingers through the sports clinics. The soccer teams entertained the Homecoming crowd with the shootout. Coaches competed against varsity captains in kickball. Finally, a beautiful fireworks display capped off the exciting evening.

1. Teammates and friends overlook the evening’s festivities.

2. Friends smile for a photo.

3. Students practice their soccer skills.

4. The cheerleading clinic teaches students some of their favorite Seven Hills cheers.

5. Who doesn’t love a delicious snow cone?

6. The coaches vs. captains kickball game kept people on the edge of their seats.

7. Fireworks lit up the night sky and marked the end of a wonderful evening.

8. Students learn how to serve during the tennis clinic.

9. The varsity soccer shootout showed off the athletes' skills.

10. Head of School Matt Bolton hands out glow sticks.

THE FREDERICK A. HAUCK FACULTY CHAIR – Marcus Twyford

THE FREDERICK A. HAUCK FACULTY CHAIR IS AWARDED EVERY FOUR YEARS TO A DISTINGUISHED TEACHER OF MATH OR SCIENCE. THE SEVEN HILLS SCHOOL HAS AWARDED ONE OF ITS HIGHEST FACULTY HONORS TO MARCUS TWYFORD IN RECOGNITION OF HIS EXCELLENT TEACHING.

In his remarks upon honoring Twyford with the chair, Head of School Matt Bolton, then Head of Upper School, said Twyford cracked the code for powerful teaching.

“Like the 0s and 1s of old-school binary code, Marcus's program alternates between the two

“Above all else, Marcus encourages his students to work together, to teach and learn from each other, and, in the process, to develop a profound respect for the talents of other people.”

- Head of School Matthew Bolton, Ph.D. “

poles of fascinating subject matter and an abiding concern for the individual student.

While Marcus possesses a formidable depth of knowledge about computer science, engineering, robotics, and so many other topics, his approach is not to download this knowledge onto the students' hard drives. Rather, he poses questions and presents challenges that call on students to actively construct and apply knowledge on their own,” Bolton continued.

THE CLASS OF 1956 AWARD – Kylie Utah

THE HILLSDALE CLASS OF 1956 AWARD IS PRESENTED TO A MEMBER OF SEVEN HILLS UPPER SCHOOL FACULTY WHO FOSTERS A LOVE OF AND EXCITEMENT ABOUT LEARNING AMONG SEVEN HILLS STUDENTS.

During a faculty and staff meeting in the spring of 2024, former Head of School Chris Garten announced the recipient of the Class of 1956

Fund for Excellence in Teaching award, recognizing Kylie Utah.

“At his core, Marcus is a passionate advocate for what is often called inquiry-based learning. Whether he is teaching students to code or working with them on design projects in one of our maker spaces, Marcus encourages each of his students to develop — and ultimately to trust — their own problem-solving instincts. Under his care, beginning computer science students rapidly acquire familiarity with the basic vocabulary and syntax of various computer languages. But, as his students develop their linguistic skills, he encourages them to use their own creativity, to find new, more efficient, more elegant ways to accomplish the desired results. Above all else, he encourages his students to work together, to teach and learn from each other, and, in the process, to develop a profound respect for the talents of other people,” Bolton concluded.

and projects that capitalize on the inherently social nature of teens – such as designing and launching hot air balloons – Kylie makes the study of chemistry fun and engaging. These kinds of positive experiences prepare students not just to succeed in future science courses, but to grow up to become citizens who see science as a valuable and important part of life,” Bolton continued.

- Head of School Matthew Bolton, Ph.D. “

“Kylie designs her chemistry classes to appeal to adolescents and to tap into the ways that they learn best. A natural at differentiation, Kylie finds ways to make difficult concepts accessible to all kinds of learners. ”

In his remarks honoring Utah, Head of School Matt Bolton, when he was Head of Upper School, said, “In a very real sense, all great teachers serve as catalysts for student learning and growth, and Kylie plays just such an essential – and catalytic role – in the lives of her students.

“Kylie designs her chemistry classes to appeal to adolescents and to tap into the ways that they learn best. A natural at differentiation, Kylie finds ways to make difficult concepts accessible to all kinds of learners. By emphasizing lab work

During her six years at Seven Hills, Utah has diversified her courses to include chemistry honors, psychology, and more and led different May Terms, such as Adventuring.

“Through her role as student government moderator, she has guided and empowered teams of Upper Schoolers to act with responsibility, to raise school spirit, and to give back to the community. In whatever class or club they encounter her, students will find in Kylie Utah a champion for their learning and a catalyst for their development as students, citizens, and people,” Bolton concluded.

BRODIE GRANTS HONOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE

Middle School learning support specialist Marisa Shubert and Doherty Unit I teacher Amy Kulhavik were recipients of Brodie Grants for Excellence in Teaching from the Brodie Family Betterment Fund. The Brodie Fund is an endowed trust that provides professional development opportunities for faculty and recognizes outstanding teachers at the early and later stages of their careers.

The Brodie, Sr.

Award –

Marisa Shubert

Middle School learning support specialist

Marisa Shubert demonstrates an exemplary ability to break down complex educational concepts for students and colleagues alike on a daily basis. She imbues each class period with patience, creativity, and determination, as she emboldens students with carefully crafted lessons to strengthen their knowledge and deepen their confidence.

“It was an honor and a total surprise to win the award,” Shubert said. “It was a wonderful way to be appreciated for the work that I’ve put into my position.”

When presenting the award in spring 2024, Head of Middle School Bill Waskowitz commended Shubert for her passion and ability to help students reach new heights in their academic careers.

“With her training as a school psychologist and her deep understanding of teaching and learning, Marisa has had a significant impact on instruction at Seven Hills. As one of the architects of the 2023-24 school year's professional development on differentiation, Marisa has helped us all better serve the wide neurodiversity of our student population. By introducing us to paradigms like the Universal Design for Learning and backward design, she has helped shift our thinking and prepared us all to remodel our lessons around clear learning objectives that make learning more accessible for all of our students,” Waskowitz said.

Shubert helped broaden the scope of accommodations students have access to while simultaneously providing specialized feedback for teachers to help individual students, Waskowitz continued.

“A self-professed ‘data geek,’ Marisa wades through detailed psycho-educational evaluations to distill them into actionable strategies for her fellow teachers. In her meetings with parents, Marisa can synthesize complex — and often emotionally difficult observations — into strategies that feel compassionate, supportive, and reassuring. In short, Marisa's efforts have helped us all — teachers, parents, and students — create a learning environment that is more informed and more responsive to our students’ needs,” Waskowitz said.

The Brodie, Jr. Award –Amy Kulhavik

Doherty Unit I teacher Amy Kulhavik’s classroom is a launchpad for students to excel and soar to new heights. Her warmth and

guidance create a nurturing environment that inspires students’ creativity and enriches their social-emotional development.

“I was honored to receive this award, because of all the incredible people who have been chosen before me. It’s easy for me to put my best efforts into my classroom because the students are incredible and I love my colleagues,” Kulhavik said.

When Head of Doherty Tracy Murch presented the Brodie Jr. award to Kulhavik in spring 2024, she said it was a joy to have a chance to express her admiration for the exceptionally dedicated and passionate teacher.

“From the moment students enter her classroom, it is evident that they are met with not only educational guidance but also genuine love and care. Her ability to make each child feel valued and appreciated is truly remarkable,” Murch said.

“Her kindness, patience, and understanding create a space where students feel safe to express themselves, take risks, and embrace the joy of learning. The positive impact she has on their lives extends beyond academics, influencing their overall well-being and shaping their character. Amy has an uncanny knack for making each student feel like the MVP of the classroom. If there were a gold medal for fostering self-esteem, she'd have an entire trophy case. Her personalized interactions and encouraging words are like confidence boosters on steroids — kids leave her class feeling like they can conquer the world and know they are loved,” Murch continued.

In addition to captivating her students’ hearts, Murch credited Kulhavik’s enthusiasm for professional development for positively impacting the community beyond her classroom.

“Amy never backs down from a challenge and is on a constant quest to learn and improve herself. Her enthusiasm for learning isn’t just for her benefit; it spills over into her classroom, allowing her to be certain her students are engaged and learning. For all of these reasons, and so many more, thank you, for being a beacon of inspiration and for making a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of our students,” Murch said.

FINDING MATT BOLTON

INSIDE A CLASSROOM AT SEVEN HILLS, YOU’LL BE IMMERSED IN AN ENVIRONMENT ALIVE WITH CHILDREN’S LAUGHTER, IMPASSIONED DISCUSSIONS, HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES, AND STUDENTS ACHIEVING NEW PERSONAL BESTS.

This hands-on approach is his way of building a stronger community while gaining an intimate understanding of Seven Hills' vibrant educational environment.

So far, Bolton has joined pre-kindergartners for storytime, shared in the excitement of Lotspeich's inaugural Hives celebration, and co-taught a lesson about the election day process to engaged seventh graders. He has also joined Doherty Unit III and sixth grade students for science experiments, served lunch to the entire student body, and so much more. These experiences give him a rich perspective on the diverse educational strategies that Seven Hills educators use to reach their students.

Alongside them stands Head of School Matt Bolton, applauding their efforts, supporting their growth, and sharing in their excitement as they reach new heights.

Bolton’s commitment to the students and staff extends well beyond traditional administrative duties. He actively participates in the everyday experiences of students across all age groups, regularly visiting classrooms, co-teaching on a range of topics, and learning alongside students.

“My goal is to step into as many roles and classes as possible — from helping in the cafeteria to reading to pre-kindergarten classes — in order to understand the Seven Hills community better,” Bolton said.

“Teaching and learning are at the center of our mission, and it's been a privilege and a

“My goal is to step into as many roles and classes as possible — from helping in the cafeteria to reading to pre-kindergarten classes — in order to understand the Seven Hills community better.”

-Matt Bolton “

joy to spend time with our faculty, staff, and students and to witness their incredible work firsthand."

Bolton relishes every opportunity to engage with the broader Seven Hills community after serving as Head of Upper School for 10 years. Each interaction offers him new insights into the unique strengths and talents that drive Seven Hills forward, enriching his perspective and enhancing his commitment to the school’s mission.

With Seven Hills offering countless opportunities for students to explore nearly any subject they can imagine, Bolton's classroom appearances provide an ongoing chance to deepen student engagement and foster curiosity.

Each time he joins a lesson or his colleagues, both students and the broader Seven Hills community ask themselves:

“Where in the world is Matt Bolton, and where will he be next?”

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC LEARNING GO HAND-IN-HAND

Middle School can be a difficult time for many students, with new academic challenges, changing social dynamics, and physical changes.

For Head of Middle School Bill Waskowitz, emotional health is as important as academics for Middle Schoolers. That is why he and the rest of the Middle School faculty and staff champion socialemotional learning.

“Social-emotional learning is an understanding of how kids develop behaviors and how we can intentionally teach those behaviors, teach that awareness, so kids can learn to manage their behaviors on their own,” Waskowitz said.

The term “social-emotional learning” was coined by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), a Chicago-based nonprofit, more than 20 years ago.

“It is a way to teach skills that help kids socially navigate the world, regulate their emotions, and equip them for life,” said

“It is a way to teach skills that help kids socially navigate the world, regulate their emotions, and equip them for life.”

- Angie Bielecki, counseling department chair “

The efforts begin with the youngest students. At Doherty, Bielecki meets weekly with students in pre-kindergarten through second grade for social-emotional learning time. She talks about feelings and feelings vocabulary.

“I want the students to have those words, to not only identify their own feelings but to identify those feelings in their friends and figure out ways to manage them in a healthy way,” Bielecki said.

CASEL defines five domains of socialemotional learning: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision

making. The frameworks are at the heart of how the Middle School teaches socialemotional learning.

“The five domains are seen as what a healthy child needs to develop competently. And those domains need to be taught. Without intentionally teaching them, everything else that you try do to in terms of academics or behavior falls apart,” Waskowitz said.

Waskowitz began at the Middle School 15 years ago and remembers when the school

Angie Bielecki, counseling department chair and Doherty Lower School counselor.

Students pose for a photo during a retreat.

1 History teacher Andy McGarvey speaks with students during class.

Head of Middle School Bill Waskowitz addresses students in the Sixth Grade Commons.

began to incorporate social-emotional learning.

“In middle school, kids are really beginning to do two things. They are beginning to individualize and are really seeking a sense of identity, but at the same time they want to conform and they don’t want to stand out,” Waskowitz explained.

Some social-emotional interventions in Middle are simple, like signs in the hallway and bathrooms reminding students of appropriate behavior. Others, like learning how to talk to someone who intimidates you or understanding how to handle conflict, are more difficult. Middle School counselor Dayna Sargent meets with groups of sixth graders about how to manage shifting friendships, a common issue for students moving from fifth to sixth grade. The sixth graders are in a new environment with new rules and new expectations for them. Students learn the expected behaviors through the Middle School’s CARES program. CARES, which stands for Cultivating Accountability, Respect,

Empathy, and Safety, outlines the behavioral expectations and rules for the students.

“All of the rules we have in the Middle School are built around social-emotional learning,” Waskowitz explained. “We are teaching those behaviors. We are teaching those expectations.

Our teachers need to develop a close relationship with their students. If a child is talking over another one in class, it is handled with a careful, thoughtful approach.”

Another tool the Middle School uses is the Terrace Metrics testing, a research-based mental health screening instrument that measures a student’s wellbeing and mental health using 15 resiliency indicators. The assessment is given to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students in the fall.

“We are assessing our kids on things like grit, hope, determination, and resiliency, but we are also looking for things such as depression,

anxiety, suicidal ideations, and trauma,” Waskowitz said.

Although it is an assessment and not a diagnostic tool, it helps provide feedback to see if students should see Sargent and if additional help might be needed. Thanks to Seven Hills’ partnership with Best Point’s Behavioral Health, a program of Children’s Home of Cincinnati, there are two licensed mental health counselors on campus. The partnership, which began during the 2021-22 school year, was made possible by MindPeace, a nonprofit that helps schools better understand their mental health needs and connects them with providers.

“We are building in the therapeutic emotional support systems right into what we do here in the academic day,” Waskowitz said, adding the approach has been working.

The Middle School began giving the Terrace Metrics assessment three years ago and the results have shown students’ resiliency factors have increased, while at-risk behaviors has dropped. The success has led to Terrace Metrics expanding and it is now given to freshmen at the Upper School.

As Bielecki said, social-emotional skills — like all skills taught in schools — improve with practice.

“Just like you gain skills in math and you need to practice that over the course of your academic career, these are skills that students need and they need ways to practice them,” she said. “It is a way to talk about that and to learn and grow in those skills so they can apply them to their daily lives.”

Waskowitz echoed her statement.

“We try to really surround the kids with as much social-emotional knowledge as we can because their social-emotional health is just as important as their academics,” he said.

SCHOOLHOUSE SYMPHONY VISITS LOWER SCHOOLS

During the fall, Doherty and Lotspeich students had the wonderful opportunity to meet six professional musicians and learned about their travels and playing methods, all without leaving their school.

When students step into Doherty music teacher Jon Newlie’s or Lotspeich music teacher Robin Wilson’s classroom, they embark on a musical adventure. From playing a boomwacker or a recorder, to learning how to make sound on a woodwind versus a brass instrument, to learning choreography to their new favorite song, each class is a journey.

As part of their curriculum, Newlie and Wilson invite the Schoolhouse Symphony to visit multiple times throughout the year. Since 1976, the symphonic ensemble has traveled across the Cincinnati area performing for students and inspiring their love for music. Today, the ensemble is comprised of six professional musicians with a deep passion for music.

The Schoolhouse Symphony helps support the music curriculum in so many ways, Wilson said.

“First, the students get to experience up close and personal six different

instruments played by professional musicians: violin, cello, flute, clarinet, french horn, and trombone. The musicians demonstrate how the instrument is played and how the sound works. Also, the instrumentalist will integrate the elements of music into their performance. Furthermore, the music played includes a variety of genres from the classics to jazz to movie themes,” Wilson said.

During one of their visits, Schoolhouse Symphony discussed how different regions around the world create and play folk music. From Texas to England, students learned some of the nuances behind folk music, and how artists keep the genre thriving.

The group pointed to the 1942 ballet “Rodeo,” choreographed by Agnes de

“The students get to experience up close and personal six different instruments played by professional musicians: violin, cello, flute, clarinet, french horn, and trombone. The musicians demonstrate how the instrument is played and how the sound works.”

- Robin Wilson Lotspeich music teacher

Mille and arranged by Aaron Copland, as a prime example of how artists can

incorporate the heart of folk music into other mediums to perform it for new audiences.

“Learning from Schoolhouse Symphony enriches the musical education they receive from Robin and me, by sharing music in a different way,” Newlie said. “Witnessing the professional musicians perform and hearing about their travels and methods from a couple of feet away is an incredible opportunity for students to continue to ask themselves, ‘What about music inspires me?’ Is it how instruments are constructed, how music varies around the world, how it tells stories, its history, or something else? It’s a way for students to reflect on their passions, and how music can be a part of them if it isn’t already.”

Through hands-on lessons and close interactions with professional

musicians, students gain a multifaceted understanding of music's role in storytelling, culture, and personal expression. These encounters not only reinforce the skills taught by their teachers but also broaden students' perspectives on the potential paths within music. Ultimately, the combination of classroom learning and professional exposure empowers students to explore how music resonates with them individually, sparking curiosity and fostering a lifelong love for the arts.

drama music visual art drama

MIRIAM TITCOMB MEMORIAL FUND

Grants for Enrichment

Since 1978, the Miriam Titcomb Fund, an endowed enrichment fund established by alums, has made it possible for more than 100 Seven Hills faculty and staff to have meaningful travel and study experiences. These adventures are personally and professionally inspiring for our faculty and staff. Their increased scholarship and enthusiasm enrich the entire school community. We are pleased to share the stories of grant recipients Tricia Hoar and Elissa Donovan.

TRICIA HOAR

UPPER SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER, 2024 RECIPIENT

Tricia Hoar received a Titcomb grant for her experience "A Love Affair with Books and Their Purveyors.”

In 2024, Hoar visited Parnassus Books in Nashville and Birchbark Books and Native Arts in Minneapolis, the independent bookstores owned and operated by two of her favorite authors, Ann Patchett and Louise Erdrich respectively.

“I’ve had a love affair with books for as long as I can remember,” Hoar wrote in her Titcomb application. “In my adult years, wherever I travel, I search for the local independent bookstores to visit and choose a book or two to bring home as souvenirs. It’s become my favorite part of traveling.”

Hoar visited Parnassus Books over Spring Break and Birchbark Books and Native Arts during the summer. As Hoar and her husband Mark traveled,

they stopped and visited other local bookstores along the way.

“Though I didn’t get to meet Ann Patchett at her bookstore, Parnassus Books in Nashville, as I had hoped and my husband had planned (as it turns out, she was in Washington, D.C., receiving the National Humanities Medal that day), I did get to meet and pet the shop dogs!” Hoar exclaimed.

“Going to Birchbark Books in Minneapolis, owned by Louise Erdrich, an important and beloved Native American writer whose novels I have taught over the years, was a sort of pilgrimage for me. I actually cried

walking up to the bookstore and seeing the iconic blue awnings. Birchbark Books was featured prominently in my imagination for many years and is actually the setting for Erdrich’s

recent novel ‘The Sentence,’ which I read with my AP seniors. Though I didn’t get to meet Ms. Erdrich when I was there, just being in her bookstore was reward enough.”

ELISSA DONOVAN MIDDLE SCHOOL ART TEACHER, 2023 RECIPIENT

Elissa Donovan received a Titcomb grant for her experience abroad, “Exploring the Amalfi Coast.”

In June 2023, Donovan traveled to Italy’s Amalfi coastline and documented her experiences through social media posts to share with the community.

“The Amalfi Coast in Italy is said to be one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world,” Donovan wrote in her application. “Artists flock there to paint land and seascapes. I would use my time to explore the coast and be inspired by the beauty.”

Donovan said one of her favorite parts of her adventure was exploring the coast by water. The ease and convenience of hiring a water taxi, combined with discovering

hidden coves and beaches tucked away between cliffs, made for a visually stunning experience.

UPPER SCHOOL PERSONAL CHALLENGE EXPERIENCES

Four Stories of Discovery

Each Upper School student designs an original Challenge Experience that helps define their interests, explore their passions, and stretches them beyond their comfort zones. The Challenge Experience embodies the spirit of Seven Hills’ dedication to experiential learning.

Created an Esca pe Room

Senior ABBY DEIMLING

Experience Description : Abby created an escape room and used the proceeds to raise money for Camp Ernst scholarships.

Experience Process: “I really like doing escape rooms and I always thought it would be interesting to try to make one,” Abby said. She began by interviewing the manager of an escape room in

Cincinnati to learn how many puzzles she should have for a 60-minute room and how difficult they should be. She wrote the backstory for her room about

a mad scientist who created a poison that was poisoning the entire world. “He accidentally poisoned himself and you had to find the antidote to stop it,” Abby said.

The antidote was found through a series of logic, science, and trial-and-error puzzles, like determining the correct sequence to pour liquid into test tubes to reveal the code for a lock that contained the next clue. “Figuring out how to make all the puzzles connect to each other was the hardest part. I had a lot of ideas for puzzles, but organizing them in the right way was challenging,” she said.

Abby designed the room as the mad scientist’s lab, and once completed came the business aspect. Abby worked to get the word out and learned how to use a software to book times for participants, including some of her Seven Hills teachers, to go through the escape room.

Abby: “I had teams run through it and charged $20 to raise money for Camp Ernst scholarships. I work at Camp Ernst, and they raise money

PERSONAL

every year for camper scholarships so kids who can’t afford the camp can go.”

Concentration in Public Health

Senior AHALYA

NAMBIAR

Experience Description : Ahalya earned a Concentration in public health. Seven Hills students can graduate with a Concentration for a topic they study

on a deeper level. For Ahalya’s in public health, she took coursework in the biology of infectious diseases and created a training resource for Buddy Up for Life, a national Down syndrome organization.

Experience Process: I’ve been interested in public health since my freshman year when I read Richard Preston’s ‘The Hot Zone’ in honors biology with Mr. [Brian] Berning,” Ahalya said. After spending a month reading about various diseases,

CHALLENGE PROJECTS ARE A REQUIREMENT FOR ALL UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS. EACH STUDENT DESIGNS AN ORIGINAL PROJECT THAT HELPS DEFINE THEIR INTERESTS AND

Ahalya Nambiar

Abby Deimling

she enrolled in Contagion: Infectious Agents & Diseases, a course in the University of Chicago’s summer program, to expand her knowledge on infectious diseases.

Ahalya has been working on her public health Concentration throughout her four years at the Upper School, and it has led her to various aspects of public health. Since her freshman year, she has been volunteering with Buddy Up for Life, a national organization dedicated to empowering people with Down syndrome. Ahalya volunteered as a coach through Buddy Up Tennis, among many other duties.

“I’ve really benefited from my experience with people with Down syndrome, and I wanted to encourage more people in my community to engage with them as well,” Ahalya said.

Realizing the siblings of people with Down syndrome had a unique perspective, Ahalya interviewed 26 people and used their insight to write a report about how to create a more inclusive environment for people with Down syndrome. She now uses the report when training new volunteers for Buddy Up Tennis and Fitness sessions and is working with leadership to adapt the report for recruitment and volunteer training.

Ahalya: “I was fascinated by not only the biology of infectious diseases, but also the stories of public health professionals working behind the scenes to solve seemingly intractable crises. I’ve found that public health is the perfect intersection of my diverse interests — harnessing the power of biology, public policy, and advocacy to make a difference in the world.

Held a Benefit Rock Concert Senior DOUGIE SCHECTER

Experience Description: Dougie planned, organized, performed in, and hosted a benefit concert called “Dougie and Friends Rock Cancer” at The Redmoor, with the proceeds going to Cancer Family Care.

Experience Process: “My grandmother passed from breast cancer in 2021, which is something I still grapple with. I wanted to use my passion for music to make a difference, as I am not alone.

STRETCHES THEM BEYOND THEIR COMFORT ZONES. PERSONAL CHALLENGE EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF SEVEN HILLS’ DEDICATION TO EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.

Cancer has touched nearly everyone in some way,” Dougie said.

Dougie has been a musician for more than 10 years and said learning songs was nothing new for him. But, he had to learn about 30 songs in five months and coordinate practices with 22 musicians, including Seven Hills students, alumni, parents, and his uncle, who flew in from Arizona to take part. The songs were carefully selected to develop the story Dougie wanted the event to tell.

“It turned out well, but there were certainly times when I considered rearranging the set list considerably,

Dougie Schecter

PERSONAL CHALLENGE EXPERIENCES, Continued . . .

Four Stories of Discovery

simply because it was difficult to practice many of our songs,” he said.

In addition to learning the songs, planning the event was another challenge. Dougie created the advertising, reached out to sponsors, proposed ticket prices, arranged the merchandising and raffle baskets, and promoted the event.

In the end, more than 200 people attended the concert, and it raised about $18,500 for Cancer Family Care.

Dougie: “The message of the event was that everyone is going through something, everybody faces hardships, just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Everyone should love, respect, and look out for each other.”

Concentration in Classica l and Ancient History

Senior LAUREN VORDEMESCHE

Experience Description: Lauren earned a Concentration in classical and ancient history. She completed an independent study in Ancient Greek, took part in an archaeology summer program, and went on an archaeological expedition to Italy.

Experience Process: Lauren’s passion from the classics and ancient history began at Seven Hills, in Brian Wabler’s history classes and Katie Swinford’s and Marcie Handler’s Latin classes.

Lauren worked with Swinford to begin learning Ancient Greek. Lauren began taking Latin in the sixth grade, but

VordemEsche

learning the basics of Ancient Greek was a challenge and its similarities to Latin sometimes caused confusion.

It was during the Seven Hills Latin trip to Italy that Lauren’s interest in archaeology was sparked at sites like Herculaneum and Pompeii.

“It was so interesting to me to think that there could be such life and a story buried underneath the ground,” Lauren said. “I was inspired by the fact that there are people who passionately commit themselves to preserving these last bits of ancient humanity.”

She took a summer program at the Archaeological Research Institute in Indiana, which taught her the basics of archaeology, like digging shovel test pits. She then went on an EarthWatch Archaeological Expedition to Tuscany, where she worked with volunteers and two Italian archaeologists on the site of Poggio Del Molino. The youngest volunteer, she learned how to clean, dig for, label, and categorize artifacts.

Lauren: “Seeing the two brilliant archaeologists in the field made me

feel like it was something I could do in my future. While I may have been the youngest, I felt seen, valued, and impactful. I would not trade the experience for anything, and I feel endless gratitude for having the opportunity.”

Lauren

SEVEN HILLS H OSTED DANISH STUDENTS During Election Week

During the week of the 2024 Presidential Election, the Upper School hosted 10 students and two of their history teachers from Denmark, who were looking to witness history.

“When the two Danish teachers contacted me, they very much wanted to come visit specifically because it was during the election. It was going to be a historic moment,” said Upper School English teacher Dr. Caleb Paull.

The Danish students and teachers from Høje-Taastrup Gymnasium in Taastrup, outside of Copenhagen, Denmark had the opportunity to come and witness history thanks to Paull’s friendship with Ida Diemar, the school’s

“

“When the two Danish teachers contacted me, they very much wanted to come visit specifically because it was during the election. It was going to be a historic moment.”

- Upper School English teacher Dr. Caleb Paull

principal. The two met about 30 years ago when Paull was studying in Denmark during college.

This is the second time the Upper School has run the exchange program; students from Denmark last visited during the 2022-23 school year.

The Danish students stayed with Upper Schoolers and attended classes with them during the week. On their first day at school, they were welcomed during the all-school assembly and shared their first impressions of the United States. Most said Ohio looked similar to Denmark but everything, including the cars, roads, and buildings, was much bigger.

On Election Day, the Danish students visited a polling location with their teachers Jonas Bastkjær and Christian Paulin to witness what voting looks like in the United States. The day after the election, they took part in the Post Election Day International Discussion with a group of Seven Hills students and the Upper School history department.

The students shared the type of media coverage of the election they saw on social media and talked about changing politics around the world. Bastkjær shared the result of a YouGov Eurotrack survey of voters in Denmark that found if they could vote in the

“It was definitely an interesting opportunity for our students and the students from Denmark to share perspectives,” Paull said.

With it being a shortened week of classes due to parent-teacher conferences, the Danish students and their Seven Hills counterparts had extra time to explore Cincinnati, visiting Findlay Market and Fountain Square, spending time with their host families, trying local cuisine, going to the American Sign Museum, and attending a Cyclones game.

American election 81% would have voted Democratic, the highest in Europe.

FALL SPORTS HONORS

Talented teams, competitive players, and great matchups

There were several highlights of the Seven Hills fall sports season. Student athletes traveled to state tournaments, reached new personal bests, and had stellar matchups. Congratulations to our athletes and coaches who made the fall 2024 sports season successful!

The boys varsity golf team reached the state tournament for the fifth consecutive year. The team finished fifth overall with senior Billy Good finishing in the top 20. The Stingers finished second at the district tournament and were sectional champions with sophomore Matia Kastner winning the tournament and senior William Hartmann finishing third.

The boys varsity soccer team ended the regular season with a record of 12-51, finishing second in the Miami Valley Conference scarlet division. The Stingers had an impressive run in the postseason becoming district champions after defeating Williamsburg 6-0 and Troy Christian 1-0. The Stingers beat Botkins 2-0 and reached the finals of the regional tournament.

The boys and girls varsity cross country teams had numerous standout performances this year. Both running personal bests and earning a spot at the regional tournament, senior Nicholas Roblyer finished eighth overall in the boys race and sophomore Campbell Coyne finished seventh in the girls race at districts. The girls team finished fourth overall at districts and earned a spot at the regional tournament.

The girls varsity tennis team dominated the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Coaches Association Coaches Classic winning the top two spots, with the varsity A team being

crowned champions and the varsity B team coming in second. Multiple Stingers had a strong run into the postseason and junior Daniela Alper reached the district tournament.

The girls varsity golf team took second at the MVC tournament with senior Lucie Pease finishing in fourth place. Pease had another stellar performance at the sectional tournament and qualified for districts.

The girls varsity volleyball team finished second in the MVC gray division with an in conference record of 10-2. Senior Annie Katuska led the league in aces with 89 and was also fifth in kills and passing average.

The girls varsity soccer team ended the season with a 13-6 record.

Sophomore goalkeeper Ava Deimling was second in the league with nine shutouts and freshman Justine Woods was fourth in the league with 11 assists.

DEVELOPING EMPATHIC CITIZENS

THROUGH

EXPLORING DIVERSE STORIES

EMPATHY IS OFTEN

UNDERSTAND AND SHARE THE FEELINGS AND TAKE ON THE PERSPECTIVE OF OTHERS.

THE IDEA IS ENGRAINED IN THE SEVEN HILLS METHODS AND VALUES. AND ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL WAYS IT’S TAUGHT IS THROUGH READING. NOVELS, MEMOIRS, GRAPHIC NOVELS, AND EVEN SONG LYRICS CAN BE A WINDOW INTO A DIFFERENT WORLD OR A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

And the story can come from anyone and any place.

2024 Between the Pages author Leah Johnson highlighted the point during her talk for Middle and Upper School students by showing a quote and having the students guess if it was written by William Shakespeare or a contemporary musical artist.

Growing up as a queer Black girl in Indiana, Johnson explained she didn’t

think she could be a writer because she

“It doesn’t matter where you come from, who in your family has had access to stories before, who in your lineage has written and cataloged their narrative. You have the ability to tell stories that are worthy of time and attention and study by virtue of the fact that you are a human with something to say,” Johnson said.

The idea carried through the studentled effort to increase the scope of

the Upper School’s Summer Reading

Upper Schoolers read one of 10 books, including memoirs, novels, essay collections, and a graphic novel, by multiracial authors about their lived experiences. The program culminated in two days in September filled with workshops and a panel discussion.

Seniors Everett Rinaldi, Sammy Chaudhary, and Evie Ferguson moderated a panel discussion with guests Letisha Engracia Cardoso Brown,

JOHNSON

an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Cincinnati; Dr. Rekha Chaudhary, a hematologist and oncologist at UC Health and a Seven Hills parent; and Upper School science teacher Dr. Bryce Carlson.

The panelists talked about their experiences navigating multicultural identities and how it has impacted their childhoods and adult lives, explaining the different elements of multiculturalism, how identities can change overtime, and the negatives and positives of being multicultural

“Multiculturalism is a really different experience for everyone, and it is hard

SCIENCE TEACHER BRYCE CARLSON EXPLAINS THE CONSTRUCTION OF RACE TO A WORKSHOP DURING THE MULTICULTURAL SUMMER READING PROGRAM

to navigate. I think that a lot of the books really speak to those issues. I hope you were able to glean a glimpse into the world of biracialism and multiculturalism,” Brown said.

The senior leaders thanked their classmates for participating and having meaningful and empathic discussions about what they read and what they learned.

SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR LETISHA ENGRACIA CARDOSO BROWN ADDRESSES UPPER SCHOOL DURING THE PANEL DISCUSSION THAT WAS PART OF THE MULTICULTURAL SUMMER READING PROGRAM.

STUDENTS DISCUSS THE BOOKS THEY READ FOR THE MULTICULTURAL SUMMER READING PROGRAM WITH ENGLISH TEACHER NATE GLEINER.

STUDENTS DISCUSS THE BOOKS WRITTEN BY MULTICULTURAL AUTHORS THEY READ FOR THE MULTICULTURAL SUMMER READING PROGRAM IN STUDENT-LED WORKSHOPS.

SUMMER READING

SEVEN HILLS RECEIVES TOP RANKINGS for 2025, including #1 Best

Private K-12 School in Cincinnati

Seven Hills is pleased to announce Niche has ranked Seven Hills #1 Best Private K-12 School, #1 Best Private High School, #1 Best College Prep Private High School, and #1 Best High School for STEM in the Cincinnati Area for 2025.

Statewide, Seven Hills was ranked #2 Best Private K-12 School and #3 Best Private High School in Ohio.

“I am proud of our incredibly hardworking and talented faculty who create an environment where students

“I am proud of our incredibly hardworking and talented faculty who create an environment where students can

nurture their passions, excel as academics, and develop as people.

~ Head of Sch ool Matthew Bolton, Ph.D. “

can nurture their passions, excel as academics, and develop as people,” Head of School Matthew Bolton,Ph.D. said. “Being named a top Cincinnati school and one of the best schools in the state by Niche is both an honor and a recognition of the kind of community our faculty and staff ensure our students enjoy every day of the year.”

Niche is a website for researching and ranking K-12 schools in national, state, and local categories using parent and student reviews and data from the U.S. Department of Education.

ALUMNI PROFILE: CAROLINE ROUTH ’21

“Seven Hills taught me to never be afraid to use my voice, ask for help, and how to be confident in every aspect of my life.”

Director of Alumni Engagement

Tess Cohan caught up with Caroline Routh ’21 after she interned at the Summer Olympics in Paris.

Caroline is a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a double major in media and journalism and psychology with a minor in history. During her sophomore year, she took a sports broadcasting course called Xtra, where students produce their own version of ESPN’s SportsCenter for UNC.

Her professor was so impressed by her work that he encouraged her to apply for a program, which led to an incredible opportunity: interning at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Through the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, this prestigious internship pairs UNC students with various North Carolina news outlets.

Caroline was thrilled to be assigned to WRAL, Raleigh’s NBC affiliate, where she covered and interviewed Olympic athletes from the region.

Before the Olympics, Caroline also had the unique chance to cover the USA Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where she interviewed several top swimmers.

Reflecting on my time at Seven Hills, I have two experiences I vividly remember that influenced my career path. I would always conduct post-game player interviews after soccer games, which sparked my love for storytelling. I was the student body president and made daily announcements over the loudspeaker, which helped my public speaking skills. These two experiences gave me the foundation of my passion for broadcasting and sharing stories.

I took AP U.S. history and AP English classes with Mrs. [Tricia] Hoar and Mrs. [Beth] Driehaus during my junior year. The combination of these two classes gave me excellent writing and communication

skills, both essential in broadcasting. I also appreciate taking psychology with Dr. [Bryce] Carlson, which deepened my understanding of human behavior, and that is important insight to have while connecting with different audiences.

Looking back, I am so grateful for my close-knit community at Seven Hills. The smaller environment allowed me to be a big voice, and I truly learned how to lead and connect with others. Seven Hills allowed me to be a big fish in a small pond: I am so thankful for that.

What is your favorite memory from Seven Hills?

My favorite memory is Homecoming! I loved being at the Upper School with students from all divisions, watching the Middle School soccer teams, and participating in the clinics. Moments like these made me realize I am a part of something much more than a school.

What is your advice to a current Upper School student?

Take full advantage of the entire Seven Hills community. Participate in different clubs and school activities and get excited about school programs. Seven Hills does an incredible job preparing you for college by offering many opportunities. You'll gain valuable life skills by being an active student in everything.

What from Seven Hills influenced your career?

ALUMNI PROFILE: ASHLEIGH LYONS MARABLE ’04

“Quickly

after graduating from Seven Hills, I realized how lucky and privileged I was to attend school there. I had endless opportunities to learn and grow both in and out of the classroom, had teachers that cared about me, amazing memories,

and I made lifelong friends.”

Director of Alumni Engagement

Tess Cohan caught up recently with Ashleigh Lyons Marable ’04

After graduating from Seven Hills in 2004, Ashleigh attended Hampton University, where she studied political science. After college, she successfully worked in human resources and development roles at Accenture and Macy’s.

Her academic journey continued at the University of Southern California, where she earned a master’s degree in human resources. This accomplishment paved the way for her to focus on her true passion: diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ashleigh’s first professional role in this field began as a senior diversity, equity, and inclusion manager at Warby Parker. In 2022, she furthered her career by joining BrownForman, a wine and spirits company, as the director of diversity and inclusion.

After spending years in various cities, Ashleigh returned to Cincinnati in 2014, where she now resides with her husband Ryan and their two children, Fox, age 6, and Drew, age 4.

What skills did you learn at Seven Hills that you still use today?

I was a captain of the lacrosse and cheerleading teams in my senior year. That experience taught me invaluable

transferable skills that I continue to use in my daily life. Leading a team helped me develop a keen ability to recognize individual strengths and weaknesses and to support others in achieving their best. I’ve always admired the importance of understanding and valuing people’s diverse backgrounds. As a leader, I strive to create an environment where my peers feel that understanding. The leadership skills I honed as a captain are directly parallel to my work in diversity and inclusion today.

Seven Hills prepared me academically for college and equipped me with essential life skills. By the time I entered college, I already knew how to manage my time effectively, thanks to my active involvement in various extracurricular

activities. Seven Hills provided me with the foundational skills necessary to transition smoothly from high school to college and eventually into young adulthood.

I believe in the importance of nurturing long-lasting relationships. My closest friends to this day are those I made as a student at Seven Hills. It's wonderful to be in this phase of life where many of us have returned to Cincinnati, raising children around the same age. We’re creating a second generation of built-in friendships.

Seven Hills also taught me the importance of being a good global citizen. It taught me how to learn with curiosity, how to be open-minded, and that a willingness to learn from others who are different are crucial to thriving in life. Embracing these qualities enriches your experience and helps you contribute positively to the world around you.

What is your favorite memory from Seven Hills?

Whether I was hanging out with friends in the senior lounge or cheering at the basketball games, those moments were always special. We always had great crowds, and one of the highlights was leading the cheer “Red Hot,” with everyone in the stands participating.

ALUMNI BOARD UPDATES

By Gabe Davis ’03 , Seven Hills Alumni Association Board Chair

THE ALUMNI BOARD IS THRILLED TO HELP BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE SEVEN HILLS COMMUNITY, STRENGTHEN ENGAGEMENT, AND REPRESENT OUR ALUMNI.

As I enter the final season of my tenure as the Seven Hills Alumni Association Board Chair, I am pleased to report that the Alumni Association continues to serve in the proud tradition of those who came before us. We work to develop and maintain a strong relationship between members of the alumni community — and between alumni and Seven Hills. We also aim to promote the wellbeing of the school we love.

Our project is always ongoing, but we have had much success already this year.

For starters, the Board welcomed a terrific new member to our ranks this fall! We’re thrilled Jennifer Frey ’99 has joined us, and we look forward to working with Jennifer to enrich our community.

This fall, the Alumni Board also maintained our focus on coordinating activities designed to build connection in accessible ways. We planned a trip to TQL Stadium, and we invited alumni of all classes to cheer FC Cincinnati as the team took on Orlando City. Weeks earlier, alumni participated in

Homecoming festivities on the Hillsdale Campus. Finally, in early October, the Alumni Board hosted what has recently become one of our marquee events – the biennial Seven Hills Alumni BLINK Happy Hour. As expected, the BLINK Happy Hour was a crowd-pleaser and an excellent opportunity for new and old friends to come together to experience the opening night of the nation’s largest art and light festival.

The rest of the 2024-25 calendar is equally promising. Among other things, alumni can look forward to Books for Lunch this winter, featuring bestselling author Colm Tóibín at The Summit Hotel. Reunion Weekend this April is sure to provide a meaningful opportunity to reconnect with classmates. And we are excited to welcome the newest members of the Alumni Association this summer when the Class of 2025 joins the Alumni Association upon graduation!

Above all, I am confident and optimistic that our Seven Hills alumni are ready to make the most of the opportunities that 2025 will provide and to do so in every arena. The presence and engagement of our alumni in our respective spheres of influence makes a difference in our world.

As 2025 unfolds, I ask that you keep this community updated on your many successes and endeavors. We would also love it if you would share pictures and stories with us from your own gatherings with alumni throughout the year. And as always, please watch for more opportunities to connect in your inbox, on the Seven Hills Alumni Page on Facebook, in the Seven Hills LinkedIn alumni group, and @SevenHillsAlumni on Instagram. Onward.

has served the community in many ways, and Seven Hills is fortunate to have his guidance as the Alumni Association President. A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, Davis has held positions at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, Frost Brown Todd, and, in 2020, was appointed as Executive Director of the Cincinnati Citizen Complaint Authority, where he oversaw investigations of reports of police misconduct. In 2023, Davis became CEO of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center, a non-profit law firm and advocacy organization.

STAY CONNECTED!

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Seven Hills School Alumni group on LinkedIn

Seven Hills Alumni Association Board Chair Gabe Davis ’03

Gabe Davis ’03

Reunion 2025 April 4 &5

We look f orward to welcoming back our alumni celebrating their reunions!

Are you interested in helping to make this a special weekend for your class? Please contact Director of Alumni Engagement Tess Cohan at tess.cohan@7hills.org or call 513.728.2432 to volunteer.

REUNION CLASSES

CPS & H ILLSDALE classes of 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, and 1970

LOTSPEICH classes of 1944, 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, and 1974

SEVEN HILLS classes of 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005

All events are provided at no cost, thanks to the generosity of your Alumni Association and the Development Office. Spouses, guests, and families are welcome to attend all events except for the Classics Luncheon.

Please visit www.7hills.org/reunion for hotel information, transportation, and the full schedule of events, as well as any updates for the weekend.

SEVEN HILLS

REUNION SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2025

11:30 a.m. -1 p.m.

Classics Luncheon & State of the School by Head of School Matthew Bolton, Ph.D. for the Seven Hills Class of 1975, CPS and Hillsdale classes of 1938-1974, Lotspeich alumni from 1937-1969.

Cincinnati Country Club 2348 Grandin Road, 45208

1:30-2:30 p.m.

CPS Tour of Doherty Campus with Head of Doherty Lower School Tracy Murch 2726 Johnstone Place, 45206

5-6 p.m.

Tours of Hillsdale Campus 5400 Red Bank Road, 45227

6-7:30 p.m.

Reunion and Local Alumni Cocktail Reception

Hillsdale Campus

5400 Red Bank Road, 45227

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2025

Individual Class Reunion Celebrations

Details to come from your Class Reunion Representatives

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SEVEN HILLS CLASS OF 1975 ON YOUR 50TH REUNION!

SEVEN HILLS

Special thanks to our hosts, the Alumni Board: President Gabe Davis ’03, John Bloch ’03, Jennifer Frey ’99, Kathryne Gardette ’79, Max Gollobin ’09, Brandon Hydrick ’92, Amy Bulger Kattman ’89, Ashley Ackerman Kohn ’05, and Laura Hoguet Leonard ’06.

ALUMNI GATHER TO CELEBRATE BLINK

BLINK , THE FOUR-DAY FESTIVAL SHOWCASING STUNNING LIGHTS, MUSIC, AND MURALS, MADE ITS MUCH-ANTICIPATED RETURN TO CINCINNATI!

ON OCT. 17, ALUMNI GATHERED FOR A LIVELY HAPPY HOUR AT THE PITCH CINCY IN DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI. THE ROOM BUZZED WITH CONVERSATION AS ALUMS AND THEIR SPOUSES RECONNECTED AND SHARED MEMORIES. GUESTS ENJOYED FOOD AND DRINKS BEFORE HEADING OUT TO EXPLORE THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT AND ART.

YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD WINNER TSHIUNZA DANIEL KALUBI ’02

Established in 2 018, the Young Alumni Award is given to an alum under the age of 4 0 who has made outstanding contributions in their area of endeavor or community, exemplified the Seven Hills values in a well-rounded life, demonstrated the value of a Seven Hills education, and shown leadership among peers.

Tshiunza Daniel Kalubi has done all of those things since graduating in 2002 through his work and dedication to affordable housing and philanthropy.

“Seven Hills made me the person I am today. The lessons I learned within these walls about hard work, resilience, and compassion have carried me through life's many challenges and have allowed me to make a difference in areas I care about,”

- Tshiunza Daniel Kalubi ’02 “

“ Each step forward reminds me that change takes time but being part of the solution is what really matters. ”

Kalubi said during the speech he gave to current Upper School students in honor of winning the award.

Kalubi earned a B.A. in urban planning and political science from Miami University and an M.A. in urban planning

SHS 2 00 2

and real estate development from Saint Louis University. He began his career for the City of Cincinnati as a senior community development analyst and also served on the board of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless.

While in Cincinnati, he volunteered with People Working Cooperatively, focusing on repairing homes for low-income families.

After relocating to Texas, he was the area redevelopment manager for the City of Dallas, served as a co-hort for the Communities Foundation of Texas Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy, and was

part of the planning committee for the Congolese Diaspora Impact Summit.

He currently resides in Houston, Texas, where he is the project leader for National Church Residences, a national affordable housing developer. He dedicates his free time to philanthropy with Leja Bulela, an organization he has worked with for more than 10 years and is currently the deputy executive director.

Leja Bulela was founded in 1993 and supports internally displaced people in Tshibomo Tshimuangi and the Kasai region in Congo with healthcare, educational and agricultural opportunities, and access to clean water. Kalubi has led multiple trips to install solar panels and provide medical supplies at a rural hospital. Seven Hills students have supported Leja Bulela through fundraisers and the Middle School’s annual Walk-a-Thon.

“The journey has been frustrating but inspiring. We have faced a lot of obstacles but we have also built incredible partnerships, like the one with Seven Hills. We are slowly but surely making progress. Each step forward reminds me that change takes time but being part of the solution is what really matters,” Kalubi said.

SEVEN HILLS ALUMNI CHEER ON FC CINCINNATI

On Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, a group of alumni gathered at TQL Stadium to watch FC Cincinnati take on Orlando City SC. The evening was filled with fun and memories, from cheering on the home team to reconnecting with old friends to making new ones.

Seven Hills was recognized with a special “Welcome to Seven Hills

Alumni” message displayed on the jumbotron, and everyone received a custom Seven Hills stadium bag. Despite FC Cincinnati's 1-3 loss to Orlando City, it was a great game and even better time.

ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS CAROL ANDRESS ’76 AND TSHIUNZA DANIEL KALUBI ’02 RETURN TO CAMPUS

CAROL ANDRESS ’76

Carol Andress ’76 returned to the Upper School to speak about her career fighting for environmental causes in Washington, D.C., with the Environmental Defense Fund, or EDF. Andress recently received the Goodall Distinguished Alumni award from Seven Hills after being nominated for her environmental work.

Andress shared with the students that going to college during the energy crisis sparked her interest in energy and environmental issues. During her time with the EDF, Andress crafted legislation, consulted on environmental issues, and shaped the Democratic Party’s messaging and policy around climate change.

She encouraged the Upper Schoolers to get involved in issues they are passionate about and research opportunities to work on environmental issues in other fields, like engineering.

TSHIUNZA DANIEL KALUBI ’02

carried me through life’s many challenges and have allowed me to make a difference in areas I care about, both affordable housing and mission work in Congo,” Kalubi said.

“

“If we don’t solve that problem (the environment), everything else is irrelevant.”

- Carol Andress ’76 “

In addition to her environmental policy advocacy, Andress also worked with companies like McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, and FedEx on environmental issues regarding their packaging, lighting, and supply chain.

Though she worked on many different issues throughout her career, she told the students her work always seemed to drift back to the environment. “If we don’t solve that problem, everything else is irrelevant.”

Tshiunza Daniel Kalubi ’02 received the 2023 Young Alumnus Award, which is for alums under the age of 40 who have shown excellence in their chosen pursuits since graduating. Kalubi returned to the Upper School to give a speech to students at an all-school assembly.

“Seven Hills made me the person I am today. The lessons I learned within these walls about hard work, resilience, and compassion have

“Seven Hills made me the person I am today. The lessons I learned within these walls about hard work, resilience, and compassion have carried me through life’s many challenges and have allowed me to make a difference in areas I care about, both affordable housing and mission work in Congo."

- Tshiunza Daniel Kalubi ’02

He currently lives in Houston and works as a project leader for National Church Residences, a national housing developer, and is the deputy executive director of Leja Bulela, which supports internally displaced people in Congo. Seven Hills has supported Leja Bulela through fundraisers, like the Middle School Walk-A-Thon.

“I consider Seven Hills students to be the brightest and the best. And I am not just saying that because I went here. I understand the demands that are put on you to succeed and the expectations that are put on you. And so, for you all to take your time to raise money for people halfway around the world means so much,” Kalubi said.

DOES THE SCHOOL STILL . . . CELEB RATE PUMPKIN DAY IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL?

Alumni often ask whether Seven Hills still upholds the beloved traditions, events, and activities they cherished as students. And we’re delighted to answer, “Yes! We still do that!”

AMID THE BUSYNESS OF PUMPKIN DAY DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, HEAD OF SCHOOL MATT BOLTON MINGLED WITH CLIPBOARDCARRYING MEMBERS OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL. THEY WERE TASKED WITH THE IMPORTANT JOB OF JUDGING THE SPORTS-THEMED PUMPKIN DISPLAYS ALL MIDDLE SCHOOLERS HELPED CREATE.

Though the theme of Pumpkin Day and the traditions have changed over the years, the celebration has remained uniquely Middle School.

“It was tricky at Middle School to find things that are fun, festive, and appropriate for Middle Schoolers,” said Carolyn Fox, who taught at the Middle School before she became the Head of Lotspeich and retired in 2021.

Fox says Pumpkin Day was a beloved tradition from the start. In the 1980s and 90s, Middle Schoolers joined the Lotspeich parade in the morning, cheering on younger students with waves and high-fives. Then the day would pivot to pumpkin carving.

“The students could create their own or work as a team. Then the pumpkins would be on

“

“The activities fulfilled the Middle School desire to celebrate Halloween together creatively while fulfilling the fun factor for our ‘middle kids.’ It has always been highly anticipated and fun for all.”

display for all to enjoy. Many faculty, including myself, would grab a pumpkin for their Halloween night,” Fox said.

Eventually, faculty recognized that carving was often too messy and challenging, so students now decorate pumpkins with art supplies, like tissue paper, paint, and glitter.

Today the students receive pumpkins to design around a surprise theme, with past

- Former Middle School Teacher and former Head of Lotspeich Carolyn Fox

themes including sports, music, Cincinnati, superheroes, decades, and Disney.

Working collaboratively with their SWARMS, multigrade buddy groups, the students decorate the pumpkins, which are then displayed on the Middle School patio, creating a festive gallery of creativity and teamwork.

And, as it has for decades, the Pumpkin Day festivities conclude with the highly anticipated Middle School Halloween dance, where students celebrate with friends and music, wrapping up a day full of fun and tradition.

“The activities fulfilled the Middle School desire to celebrate Halloween together creatively while fulfilling the

“Pumpkin Day was one of many fun traditions that made Middle School memorable. Our eighth grade fairy tale theme still stands out as an exciting and unforgettable part of the Seven Hills experience,” said Micheal Heldman ’16.

Once the pumpkin judging is complete, Middle Schoolers race off to a series of sports competitions, like tug-o-war, capture the flag, and more.

“Playing capture the flag with those mixed-grade advisory groups let us connect across grades in a cool way,” Heldman said.

fun factor for our ‘middle kids.’ It has always been highly anticipated and fun for all,” Fox said.

CLASS NOTES

News from Our Alumni

1972

Helen Asbury (H) (Cincinnati) attended the wedding of Cullen Deimer '13 and Hannah Dion in Boston. She explored Boston Harbor with other Seven Hills alumni before the wedding festivities. Pictured, Helen Asbury, John Rowe ’13, Kyle Patel ’13, and Chris Baggott ’13.

1979

Kathryne Gardette (Cincinnati) was honored at the Talbert House 59th Annual Luncheon in September.

Kathryne is the community relations manager at Prestige AV & Creative Services. She received the Agnes Seasongood Award for her dedication to the Walnut Hills community, advocating for inclusivity and supporting local schools, arts, and social services.

Congratulations, Kathryne!

Doug VanDerzee (Cincinnati) recently purchased the “Blue Book of Cincinnati” with two business partners — his wife, Carrie, and brother-in-law, William Knoop. He is excited to be co-publisher and co-editor of the iconic Cincinnati directory, which started in 1879. Doug and his partners worked on the upcoming 2024 edition, which will mark 145 years in business. They are planning many enhancements, including a digital version, a Blue Book Life feature section, and in-person social events.

1985

Manuel Viana (Amsterdam) and Hans Jacobsen ’86 (Sunnyvale, CA) reunited in

2006

Erin Harbaugh Reese (Scottsdale, AZ) started a new role as director of digital marketing at Mattamy Homes. Erin also volunteers on two boards: She is on the executive board for Sky Crossing Elementary PTO in the Scottsdale/North Phoenix area and is a capital improvement board member on her HOA.

Amsterdam this summer. The last time they saw each other was in the summer of 1988.

1991

Peter Edward Matthews (Cincinnati) was promoted to pastor at Ohio New Visions Methodist. He is now the youngest pastor of Ohio's largest historically African American United Methodist Church. Congratulations, Pete!

2010

Liza Krasner Zimmerman (Cincinnati) started a new role as a senior client leader at Hyperquake, an independent strategy and design agency.

Sheva Serota Guy (Cincinnati) was promoted to manager at Huron, a management consulting firm. Sheva focuses on organizational change management in higher education transformative projects. Sheva also started her own business, BAT (Bold Accountability and Transformation) Consulting, where she offers accountability coaching and culture consulting.

IN MEMORIAM

Our condolences to the families and friends who have lost loved ones.

2011

Ari Shifman (Denver) works as an associate manager for brand and partnership marketing at DoorDash. He lives in Denver with his wife, Kayla, and their son, Simon.

2013

Cullen Deimer (Boston) married Hannah Dion in Boston on July 14, 2024. Katie Shen, Chris Baggott, Jay Panandiker, Kyle Patel, and John Rowe from the Class of 2013 were all in attendance.

2015

Carl Compton (Pasadena, CA) works as a product associate at DoubleLine Capital, an investment management firm. He recently obtained a new certificate as a chartered financial analyst.

Sydney Jones (Cincinnati) started a new role as performance media manager at Infinite Roar, a full-service, brandbuilding, modern media powerhouse.

Tucker Robinson (Cincinnati) was promoted to system manager, North America at Machinio, a technology company that works with new/used machinery and equipment dealers. He manages and sells personalized websites and built-in customer/inventory management software designs in this new role.

2017

Chase Byington (Pittsburgh) accepted a new McKinsey & Company consulting firm role. Chase specifically does integrative consulting with a focus on healthcare projects.

Our condolences to family and friends who lost loved ones as reported in this issue.

Grace McVey (Cincinnati) started a new role as a BIM coordinator at Double L Management. BIM modeling is a digital coordination tool used in construction to allow coordination between the field and design. It enables clients, designers, and construction workers to see their projects

Continued on page 60

1959

Susan Tietig Covatta L’53 C’59 (Cincinnati) passed away on Dec. 4, 2024.

1960

Natalie (Nan) Pattenburg Hauck (C) (Cincinnati) passed away on June 24, 2024.

1964

Stephen Lotspeich (L) (Berlin, VT) passed away on April 24, 2024.

Hallie Roger Rugg (Queenstown, MD) attendee of Hillsdale, passed away on July 11, 2024.

1965

Sharon Steman Kahle (H) (Palm Beach, FL) passed away on Dec. 4, 2024.

1966

Angelina (Angie) Harmon (H) (Lakeland, FL) passed away on April 14, 2023.

1976

Marcy Wydman (Cincinnati) passed away on Jan. 5, 2025.

1978

Daniel Mechem (Cincinnati) passed away on Oct. 26, 2024.

Friends of the School

Linda Guminey (Cleveland), grandparent, passed away on April 13, 2024.

Lawrence Leser (Cincinnati), former parent, passed away on Oct. 21, 2024.

Karen Mandel (Cincinnati), former employee, passed away on April 29, 2024.

Barry Randman (Cincinnati), former parent, passed away on Jan. 05, 2025.

Ranjan SenGupta (Cincinnati), former parent and trustee, passed away on Aug. 23, 2024.

David Theobald (Ketchum, ID and Phoenix, AZ), former parent, passed away on April 4, 2024.

CLASS NOTES, Continued . . .

News from Our Alumni

in a 3D visual. McVey also got engaged to Dylan Couch in September. Congratulations, Dylan and Grace!

2018

Elyse Bullen (Cincinnati) got engaged to Nicholas Bowling at the top of Clingman Dome in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee. Congratulations, Elyse and Nicholas!

Sophie Janidlo (Chicago) got engaged to Nick Boyle at a Vampire Weekend concert this summer. The lead singer, Ezra Koenig, congratulated them and gave his blessing. Congratulations, Sophie and Nick!

Matthew Kreines (Cincinnati) was promoted to regulatory submissions coordinator at Medpace. He works in clinical operations, site activation, and maintenance departments to ensure the clinical sites can run smoothly during their trials.

2019

Amy Bushman (Atlanta) recently took on a new role as a dailies assist at Light Iron, a Panavision Company. Light Iron offers a full spectrum of postproduction services, including dailies, VFX, color grading, finishing, and

mastering. In her role on the dailies team, Amy is responsible for ensuring a seamless process by transferring, processing, and reviewing the raw footage shot each day during production. She also syncs sound, adjusts color, and meticulously labels all media to support a smooth workflow for the production team.

Michael Karamanoukian (Cincinnati) started a new role as an associate marketing manager at Curiosity. Michael is on the business development team, where he creates content for all of Curiosity's social media pages and

New job? Recently married? Written a book? If you have stories to share, please don’t hesitate! Go to www.7hills.org/alumniupdates. Drop us a line and send high resolution photos (.jpeg format) to tess.cohan@7hills.org

newsletters for their clients. He also helps them produce their podcast by researching and writing questions for their guests. One highlight during his time with Curiosity was pulling off an epic Coney eating challenge on opening day at the Reds stadium.

2020

Krish Gupta (Austin, TX) entered the Ph.D. program in material science and engineering at the University of Texas after graduating from Purdue University in May 2024. Congratulations, Krish!

Courtney Hammonds (Cincinnati) began her M.A./MBA program at the University of Cincinnati, a dual degree that blends arts and business education. Courtney graduated with an undergraduate degree in computer science; she has always loved the arts. Congratulations, Courtney!

Hannah Kelly (London) graduated from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland in May 2024. Following graduation, she moved to London to work in the Bishopsgate Financial District for a financial technology company called Symphony. She works in policy writing in the communications and corporate affairs team, focusing on sustainability efforts.

Naail Sajjad (Cincinnati) interned as a cybersecurity internal audit intern at Kroger this summer. Naail ensured proper user access to Kroger applications and websites. He helped identify cybersecurity risks and how to mitigate them.

Andrea Stancescu (Raleigh, NC) started her Ph.D. at North Carolina State University following her undergraduate studies, where she received her B.S. in applied math and statistics. She is interested in exploring Bayesian statistics, biostatistics, and machine learning. Andrea is currently a research assistant on a National Lung, Heart, and Blood Institute grant, a partnership between the North Carolina State Department of Statistics, Duke Department of Biostatistics, and Duke Clinical Research Institution, where her role is to help with ongoing cardiovascular biostatistics research projects. Before returning to North Carolina State, Andrea volunteered as a "sweeper" for the Indiana Mammoth March, a 20-mile hike through Versailles State Park.

2021

Daniel Goldfeder (Chicago) spent the summer interning in Boston at L.E.K. He was placed on a team that worked on strategy cases for industrial manufacturers. L.E.K. helps companies understand the market, forecasting where it will go, and what that means for expansion opportunities. While at the University of Chicago, Daniel has been interning at Hestia Housing Company as a data analyst. He looks at government websites and speaks with housing development specialists to learn about soft funding opportunities, which vary from state to state, and incentives for affordable housing developments.

Audrey Howard (Gambler, OH) is a senior at Kenyon College studying art history. She spent her summer interning at the Merchant’s House Museum in New York City. She learned about public engagement and the importance of historic preservation and conducted research.

Catherine Kogan (Columbus, OH) spent her summer in Bloomfield, Connecticut, interning at The Cigna Group, a healthcare company. Catherine's internship focused on refreshing and optimizing models by comparing Cigna's products to their competitors.

Nandini Likki (Poughkeepsie, NY) interned remotely at Advanced Energy Group this past summer. AEG is an environmental business that sponsors stakeholder engagement platforms for energy companies and programs. As a media fellow, she filed and edited footage of the stakeholders' challenges to promote and showcase the work that AEG provides for their companies.

Our condolences to family and friends who lost loved ones as reported in this issue.

Dhruv Mahajan (Baltimore) spent his summer in Denver interning at FTI Consulting, a global Fortune 1000 firm specializing in business advising, transformation, and restructuring. Dhruv focused on quantifying damages and valuing the assets of a company when a dispute between two entities occurs.

Continued on page 62

CLASS NOTES,

News from Our Alumni

2022

Ahmed Abass (Cincinnati) started a new role at Greenway Asphalt LLC as a sales operation manager. Greenway is a small rejuvenation start-up that preserves asphalt for longer with its veritas green non-hazmat product. Ahmed works with them to generate new clientele and grow the business.

Mackenzie Hartman (Durham, NC) spent the summer as a human resources acquisition intern at Fidelity Investments. Mackenzie learned about the complete recruiting cycle by assisting with technical roles. She collaborated with hiring managers, identified candidate requirements, and managed the selection process while enhancing candidate sourcing, screening, and onboarding skills.

Jenny Hu (Providence, RI) spent her summer interning at Bracewell LLP in Washington, D.C. Bracewell is a national law firm that specializes in lobbying. Jenny got the opportunity to learn about policy making from the private sector and representing the interests of various clients.

Jacob Joffe (Bloomington, IN) spent the summer interning in New York City as a research assistant for BASE Equity Partners. Jacob learned and assisted in the company’s day-to-day functions, working to provide a new, secure home base for outside companies/divisions undergoing transitions to grow.

Engineering Center. NREC is a robotics company that develops robotic technology and solutions for various industries. Sebastian is interested in the aerospace and robotics industries.

Our condolences to family and friends who lost loved ones as reported in this issue.

2023

Mia Mason (Madison, WI) is a student engineering ambassador at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She takes prospective students on tours, answers questions about the engineering school, and shares her experiences.

New job? Recently married? Written a book? If you have stories to share, please don’t hesitate! Go to www.7hills.org/alumniupdates. Drop us a line and send high resolution photos (.jpeg format) to tess.cohan@7hills.org.

Julia Moser (Oxford, OH) became an orientation student coordinator at Miami University this summer. Julia facilitated small orientation groups to share information, answer questions, and ease any nerves about the transition to college.

Sebastian Rodriguez (Pittsburgh) spent his summer interning as a mechanical engineer at the National Robotics

2025 Alumni Calendar

We hope to see you at one of our alumni events in the coming year! Please check our website www.7hills.org/alumni/alumni-events for updates and more details.

Thursday, March 6, 2025

Seven Hills Roadshow – Washington D.C.

Hosted by Chris Wyant ’01 and Nancy Hogan Dutton H’56

5:30-8 p.m

Home of Nancy Hogan Dutton

Friday & Saturday, April 4 & 5, 2025 REUNION WEEKEND

Friday, April 4, 2025

11:30 a.m. Classics Luncheon* at the Cincinnati Country Club for the Seven Hills Class of 1975, CPS and Hillsdale classes of 1938-1974, and Lotspeich alumni from 1937-1969.

1:30 p.m. Tour of Doherty Campus

5 p.m. Tour of Hillsdale Campus

6 p.m. Reunion and Local Alumni Cocktail Reception**

Saturday, April 5, 2025

Individual Class Reunion Celebrations

Details to come from your Class Reunion Representatives

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Seven Hills Roadshow – New York City

6-8 p.m.

The Cosmopolitan Club 122 East 66th St. New York, NY 10065

Recently moved? New job? Just got married? New email? Go to www.7hills.org/alumniupdates to update your information or send to development@7hills.org

* All local alumni who graduated 1975 or earlier are invited to the Classics Luncheon.

** All local alumni are invited to the cocktail reception even if you are not celebrating a reunion this year.

The Seven Hills School

Hillsdale Campus

5400 Red Bank Road

Cincinnati, Ohio 45227

Front row left to right: Amy Dewitt, current Upper School parent

David Maxwell, current Lower & Middle School parent

Kelli Stein, current Upper School parent

Heather Vecellio ’92, current Upper School parent

Matthew Bolton, Head of School

Lair Kennedy, chair and current Middle & Upper School parent

Laurent Huguenin, current Middle & Upper School parent

Meredith Ficks ’98, current Lower & Middle School parent

Erin Snelting, Parent

Community representative and current Lower School parent

Back row left to right:

Priya Shahani, current Lower & Middle School parent

Angie Apple, current Middle School parent

Thomas Charles Garber ’96

Samir Kulkarni, current Middle & Upper School parent

James Lee, current Upper School parent

John Atkinson, current Lower & Middle School parent

Rachael Rowe, current Middle School parent

Josh Martin, current Lower School parent

Max Schimberg ’09

Anna Topalidis, current Lower & Middle School parent

Not pictured: Nolan Bean, current Middle School parent

Peter S. Cha, current Middle School parent

Kimberly Jackson, current Upper School parent

Chuck Mingo, current Lower, Middle, & Upper School parent

Alana Pepper, current Lower School parent

Terrence J. Porter, parent of alum

Samir Shah, current Middle & Upper School parent

Gabe Davis ’03, Alumni Board representative