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Did you know? Found all over Teel Campus, the state flower of Maryland — the Black-Eyed Susan — represents justice, encouragement and motivation.
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THE BRIDGE is published for alumni, parents and friends by Severn School's communications office. We encourage all of our readers to respond with comments, questions and information. 201 Water Street, Severna Park, MD 21146 410.647.7700 or info@severnschool.com
ONLINE ACCESS: All issues of the Bridge can be found at Issuu.com for easy online reading bit.ly/summer2021bridge.
© 2021 Severn School. All Rights Reserved. Severn School does not discriminate against any person in admission, employment, or otherwise because of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or age. Severn School is accredited by the Association of Independent Schools (AIMS), and is approved by the Maryland State Board of Education.
MISSION STATEMENT Severn School challenges its students to pursue excellence in character, conduct, and scholarship, to marshal the courage to lead, and to develop the lasting desire to serve and achieve. We believe this is best realized in a community where adults model these qualities and where each student is known and valued.
Douglas Lagarde, HEAD OF SCHOOL Jim Murphy, BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR Nicole Anderson, EDITOR Erin Lewis, ASSOCIATE EDITOR Carrie MacVean Grimes '91, ALUMNI DIRECTOR Carolyn Campion, CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jessica Popham McDermott '97, ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
Please note that all photography included in this issue follows proper health and safety guidance. ON THE COVER: Severn School is celebrating 50 years of women for the 2021-2022 school year. Snapshot of Class of 2021 alumnae at Commencement 2021.
SEVERN NEW S FROM CAMP U S
EMBRACE CHANGE On March 13, 2020, the predictability of life which we came to expect fell away, leaving many anxious and upset, if not angry. As the pandemic persisted and uncertainty intensified through the fall, it gave rise to the question "When will this ever end?" The truth of the matter is that as much as we want to control the future, uncertainty is inevitable at all times in life, not just during a pandemic. In her most recent book, Uncharted: How to Navigate the Future, entrepreneur Margaret Heffernan writes, “The future is unknowable... [and] despite our best attempts to predict the future, it's futile...This leaves us uncomfortable and anxious and is why humans have always searched for ways to see what's coming: oracles, shamans, horoscopes.” Throughout history, we have sought to quell our anxiety through fortune-tellers of one type or another. Today's version might be the most cynical, and we are all too quick to turn our decision-making, our agency, over to this false prophet. The false prophet? Artificial intelligence and the supposed predictive power of data. Every industry today is working feverishly to harvest as much data as it can in order to predict everything from what we might want to buy, listen to and eat, to who we might want to date or where we might want to vacation. The underlying belief is that with enough data, the future is predictable, and therefore, uncertainty can be mastered. Are there times when Netflix or Amazon makes a suggestion that is spot on? Sure. But the idea that humans are just an aggregation of data and, with enough of it, life can be predicted and mastered is fundamentally wrong. Being human is so much more than surrendering to an algorithm. We as humans are nourished by being together, by person-to-person conversations, by having the ability to exercise agency and make our own decisions. A life worth living surrenders to things that take time, to the ambiguity of life, and embraces change. Last August, the Class of '21 and other student leaders chose "Embrace Change" as their adaptive challenge for the year. This human-centered theme, based on flexibility, empathy, and compassion, guided our interactions throughout the year. With our students leading the way, Severn thrived in what historians will come to document as
one of the most trying years in modern history. By embracing change, the Class of '21 enhanced their ability to solve problems creatively, to work adeptly in teams, to think carefully about the issues of the day, and to take an active interest in the affairs of this community and of communities at large. And by continuing to embrace change, they will emerge from the pandemic resilient enough, agile enough, and persistent enough to overcome whatever new challenges come their way. In the process of developing these agile skills and competencies, the Class of '21 has kindled a new mindset through which to view the future — a trust mindset. Trust is the means by which someone establishes confidence in something. In fact, the Latin root for confidence is to “have full trust.” At a time when the world is overly anxious, trust provides a way forward. Graduates, as you navigate the complexity of the world today, continue to trust in the power of presence, and the importance of being with each other. Continue to trust in the foundation you've forged during your time at Severn for it will allow you to be comfortable with ambiguity and patient with the important things in life that take time. Trust in your agency to act on your ideas without being asked, which is the key to having a life worth living. Make your own future. The number 21 symbolizes success and triumph. And this year, Severn's Class of 2021, you have certainly demonstrated that to be true. You have shown grit, patience, flexibility, and character beyond your years. You have inspired and led in all ways. You've embraced change for us here at Severn, and for that, I'm grateful. As you go forth, help other communities embrace change as well, for we do not educate to maintain the world as it is but to expand the trust and beauty in it.
Doug Lagarde, Head of School
To accommodate the Severn community, Severn livestreamed and recorded the 2021 Commencement ceremony. Watch the recording on YouTube: BIT.LY/2021SEVERNGRAD
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View more 2021 Commencement photos online at Flickr.com/SevernSchool
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Congratulations to our 106 Class of 2021 graduates! Find the class matriculation online at bit.ly/2021matriculation
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UPDATES FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Admiral Auction Home Edition Raises Over $150K For the Kids The annual APA auction brings together parents, alumni, staff, and friends for a special night of fun and fundraising — this single event funds all APA-sponsored extracurricular activities at Severn in addition to teacher wish list items at the end of the year. And like so many things this year, the 2021 auction was like no other in Severn's history. With a video showcase featuring an array of students, performances, and messages from faculty and staff, The Admiral Auction Home Edition was a reminder that as a community, we rise above
ONE DAY.
Forever Severn. April 29, 2021
Thank you, Admiral Family!
any challenge and come out stronger for it. No matter how close or how far, Severn School is our home.
We are overwhelmed with gratitude to everyone who
contributed to our efforts that resulted in over $150,000 in support of the APA's programs for students, faculty, and families. From our generous sponsors and advertisers to our class basket coordinators, amazing host AJ Gersh '15, and students and teachers who took time out of their day to connect us all with videos, music, and more, it was a tremendous collaborative effort. With friends and family
On April 29 we celebrated our first annual Severn Day of Giving,
joining us from across the country and around the world, we
where parents, alumni, faculty, and friends joined together to
could feel the Admiral energy buzzing through the screen.
support Every Admiral. You exceeded expectations with a combined total giving of over $120,000 to the Severn School Admiral Fund. Thank you!
Did you hear? Severn School won a CASE Gold Circle of Excellence Award
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A special thank you to our 20-21 Upper School Admiral Fund
in the Special Events and Online
Chairs, Ed and Elizabeth Hiller P '22, AP '18, for their generous
Fundraising category for the creative
$25,000 match and ensuring the day's success. Stay tuned for
and professional presentation of the
round two in Spring 2022!
virtual Auction. Go, Admirals!
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2020-2021 DEI Progress Report The 2020-2021 DEI Progress Report published in May 2021, shares the combined efforts of Severn's Board of Trustees, administrators, faculty and staff, students, parents and alumni to reach a common goal of greater understanding and belonging. As we add to and adjust our program in the coming years such that all members of our community feel a sense of belonging at Severn, we will update the community on a regular basis. If you have any questions or comments, please email DEI@severnschool.com. Thank you for being a part of our Severn community that strives to listen, to grow, and to provide the most dynamic, authentic, and inclusive educational environment possible for our students.
2021 Rolland M. Teel Distinguished Alumna Kate Orff '89 Severn School is pleased to announce the 2020-21 Rolland M. Teel Distinguished Alumni Award recipient is landscape architect and 2017 MacArthur Fellow, Kate Orff '89. This award, named for the founder of Severn School, is the highest honor the school bestows upon an alumnus/a. The award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated outstanding service to humanity, service to the community, professional achievement, or service to Severn School. Ms. Orff is the 40th individual member of the Severn community to be inducted. The annual reception will be held on November 11, 2021. Read more about Kate Orff '89 online at BIT.LY/2021_DISTINGUISHEDALUMNA
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SE VER N STORIES
SIGNS AND STORIES TO APPRECIATE OUR DIFFERENCES
As our first graders listened and laughed along with the story, the barriers of language and distance seem to disappear — a reminder that we often have much more in common with others than what you might see at first glance.
Through every part of our curriculum, Lower School teachers strive to expand their students' understanding of the many different ways of being in the world. For our youngest learners, real-life experience is a critical part of developing those understandings. In a recent Zoom visit with high school students from the Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind, first graders in Ms. Cowell and Ms. Wong's classes learned that while communication might not look the same for everyone, a shared love of stories and connection puts us on common ground. During their language arts unit about animals and people working together, first graders read "Koko and Penny," a story from Wonders Literature Anthology about a gorilla who learned sign language. Each class talked about different ways to communicate including verbally, with body language, facial expressions, and sign language. They had plenty of experience with the first three, but for most, sign language is a newer concept. Seeing an opportunity to make a memorable connection, Ms. Cowell reached out to her longtime friend and teacher of the Deaf and hard of hearing, Ms. Shellie Shipley, for a Zoom visit with three of her high school students. Before the visit, Ms. Cowell and Ms. Wong asked their classes to brainstorm questions they would like to ask. Our first graders' genuine curiosity brought smiles to the high schoolers' faces as they signed their responses to Ms. Jacque Fult, an interpreter, who then relayed their answers verbally. Much of what they said about learning and using sign language could be applied to any language — starting with simpler, more
gestural language at a young age followed by formal language development through school. "It's hard and takes effort, but if you are willing to put in the time, you can do it. It's a lifelong process of always learning new things." When 1st grader Keon '32 Zooming from home asked, "How can I say something to a person who is Deaf or hard of hearing if I don't know sign language?" several high schoolers were eager to answer. • "There are so many ways that you can use right now. You can use a piece of paper and write back and forth and communicate that way." • "You can use an interpreter and bring them with you to communicate back and forth. Or you can use a phone and text back and forth." • "You don't have to use [formal] sign language, you can use gestures back and forth and figure out what each other is saying." Our first graders also asked how to sign different words and phrases including "Fly Guy" (a favorite book character), "Arizona," and of course, "crab." The high schoolers demonstrated how to make each sign while our first graders followed along. Finally, the Arizona students signed a children's book, Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie, while Ms. Fult read their signs aloud and flipped through the pages on screen. As our first graders listened and laughed along with the story, the barriers of language and distance seem to disappear — a reminder that we often have much more in common with others than what you might see at first glance. Our teachers commit to incorporating diverse perspectives, materials, and experiences in and out of the classroom. They create unique opportunities for students to learn about and appreciate different cultures, combat bias, and promote genuine understanding and acceptance of others. From reading literature that celebrates diversity and exploring history from varied perspectives to experiences like our Zoom visitors from Arizona, we aim to make diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging part of the fabric of everyday learning at Severn.
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COMMUNITY LIFE ART AND ADVOCACY Community Life offers a platform for middle schoolers to both celebrate and improve student life at Severn. Students join the club to practice advocacy and leadership and to discuss what it means to be part of a community by exploring topics like civility, equality, inclusivity, and more. This year, the club took on two major initiatives to promote a culture of belonging in our Middle School through assessment and action: a DEI survey and a kidfriendly collection of DEI resources for their peers to easily access. With the support of faculty advisor Ms. Whitney Etchison, the club demonstrated that good leadership comes from asking thoughtful questions, listening with empathy, and acting with intention. The Community Life Committee created a survey for all middle schoolers with questions in six areas related to diversity, equity and inclusion: gender identity, mental health, neurodiversity, racial identity, religious identity, and sexual identity. The group followed an intentional process, from creating and editing the questions to administering the survey and presenting the results to their peers. In their Zoom presentation to the entire Middle School community, they shared statistics on knowledge, interest, and comfort level of these topics, along with data about the prevalence of inappropriate comments at Severn, the difference between a joke and an
insult, and anecdotes from students' experiences in code switching at school. "We had a lot of great conversations during that process about the needs of our community, what kinds of questions we thought were important, and how we could use the information we received. As a result of the survey, we decided the greatest current need in our community was helping people become more informed about, and more comfortable with, topics that can sometimes feel very tricky or potentially controversial." — Ms. Etchison Based on their survey results, the group took on their second big initiative, creating Topics pages in mySevern that would provide resources on the six DEI areas from the survey. The group gathered online resources for the pages, identified key vocabulary, and brainstormed different types of media (books,
webtoons, tv shows, and movies) that provide a positive representation of each topic. To include their peers even further, they ran an art contest in which the winning pieces became the cover photo for the accompanying topic. All submissions were included in an online photo album and the Community Life crew created a large library display of the artwork with books related to each topic. Although Ms. Etchison served as a facilitator and organizer, the students of Community Life led these initiatives from start to finish. Their energy represents a growing interest in advocacy and social responsibility among our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, a desire to address the real needs of our community, and the collective drive to make our Middle School the best it can be for each and every Admiral.
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View the Fellows websites and videos online at BIT.LY/2021SEVERNFELLOWS
COMMUNITY AND FELLOWSHIP DEFINED Through the Van Eney '09 Fellows Program, select seniors transcend our traditional curriculum with a year-long intellectual pursuit that reflects their growing interests and passions. To complete this year of independent study, our students must demonstrate genuine curiosity and a commitment to pushing past their academic boundaries. And with so many obstacles to overcome this year, we are reminded that mentorship and support are equally important to the program. In the spirit of true fellowship, our 20-21 Fellows hosted two events inviting all members of our community to share in their inspiration, challenges, and discoveries: a fair for their peers and an evening of presentations for families. With COVID guidelines in place, the Upper School was unable to gather as a whole for the annual presentation of Fellows projects; Zoom is limited in terms of interaction and connection for such a large gathering. Our innovative fellows crew met this challenge by staging the first ever Fellows Fair. With our Fellows presenting in different classrooms on a rotating schedule, upper schoolers could see all of the presentations in a more intimate setting, ask questions, watch films, listen to music, play games, and more.
"I think of community as a verb, not a noun. Community is more a shared call to compassionate action and understanding. In ideal circumstances, through fellowship — which defines community — we strive to share the best of who and what we are. We share our joys and our sorrows, our failures, our achievements. And through true community, we can become better and stronger." — Ms. Carsley
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We were beyond excited to welcome a limited number of family guests to Price Auditorium while also live-streaming for those at home. This was one of the first events this year that families were able to attend in person. Program director Ms. Mary Ellen Carsley began the evening with a heartfelt thanks to the Eney Family for their continued support of the program. Then reflecting on this past year, which in many ways reshaped our perspectives, she explored the meaning of community as formally defined and as she has come to understand it while mentoring the Fellows. Following her introduction, each Fellow took the stage, led the audience through their year of discovery, and thanked their faculty mentors for guidance and support. Although the pandemic presented many obstacles this year and last, it also opened doors to new traditions. Following in the footsteps of their 2020 predecessors, our Fellows again created short videos to highlight their findings and overall experience in the program. They also created websites documenting every step of the process from inspiration and initial meetings with mentors last summer to the completion of their work this spring.
FOR MORE SEVERN NEWS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM PAGES OR VISIT WWW.SEVERNSCHOOL.COM/NEWS-ARCHIVE.
Three Seniors Headed to Service Academies/ROTC this Fall Jacob Darrow, United States Naval Academy Caleb Morgan, Vanderbilt University ROTC Aislinn Murray, United States Coast Guard Academy
2021 Dillon Moran '09 Musician in Residence
22 Student-Athletes to Continue Athletics in College Check out the list of Severn's young alumni playing in college at www.severnschool.com/athletics/admirals-in-college
Our eighth annual Musician in Residence program looked a little different this year. Embracing remote artists in residence, we welcomed an amazing series of musicians and educators. Special thanks to John Dierker and Zack Branch, Dr. Marques Garrett, Ball in the House (repeat from 2018!)
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DOUBLE THE FUN IN 2021! Join us for an in-person celebration on campus on Saturday, October 9, 2021 and virtual events throughout the month of October. Alumni events for all ages and interests! Alumni with years ending in 0's/1's and 5's/6's will celebrate milestone reunions! A complete schedule and registration will be available in September at www.severnschool.com/alumni Questions? Email Carrie MacVean Grimes '91 at c.grimes@severnschool.com.
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Welcome to Severn's Director of Studies and Director of Enrollment and Outreach
Farewell and thank you, Molly Moore Green '83 Part of the Severn community for 43 years, Molly walked through our doors as a 7th grader in 1978. After graduating in 1983, she attended Salem College, led a musical career in New York City, and then returned to lead Severn's development team before transforming our admissions department as Director of Enrollment and Outreach. She played a significant role in elevating Teel Campus, raising support for the construction of McCleary Hall in 1999, Creeden Hall in 2002, the St. John Athletic Center in 2008, and Teel Hall in 2015, quite literally changing the shape of our school. Her energy and vision have been the driving force behind our incredible admissions program, filling our classrooms with outstanding students who exemplify Severn School values and welcoming every new family with warmth and thoughtful attention. Her list of accomplishments is long and impressive, but what we'll miss most about Molly is her passion and pride for all aspects of our school. She has led by example with a genuine connection to our curriculum, students, faculty, and community, and in countless ways has made Severn School what it is today. Her legacy lives on through the stories of every Admiral who has walked our halls during her tenure.
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Sidra Smith to the Admiral family. Dr. Smith has served a variety of independent schools and universities in both teaching and administrative capacities. “I have always loved working with and for young people who populate the campuses. In my endeavors to educate the whole child/ individual, I bring my whole self….The ultimate goal of my professional work is to realize the mission of our school and to support the intellectual, social and emotional health of our students, faculty and staff. At my core, I am a servant leader who prioritizes relationships and respects individuals and individuality within the context of community.”
Kim Slade comes to Severn with nearly 30 years of enrollment management experience, most recently at Saint Mary's School in Raleigh, NC. "I particularly value the opportunity to develop relationships with students and families. My approach with this constituency is two-pronged: First, to listen with the intent of understanding a family's goals, hopes and needs for their child. Second, to be the front-line storyteller, helping them see and desire the wonderful opportunities offered at my school. Successful relationship management is critical in attracting new families, retaining current families, and ultimately inspiring alumni to continue to support their school."
Curious what our faculty and staff are reading this summer? Add this to your booklist! "The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups" by Daniel Coyle
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SEVERN GIRLS BLAZING THE TRAIL ON CAMPUS AND IN THE WORLD B Y C A R O LY N C A M P I O N
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The 2021 - 2022 school year marks the 50th anniversary of Severn becoming coeducational. The decision to admit girls marked not only a historic departure from tradition but a commitment to intentional growth and change for the better. That first group of 57 girls, admitted in the fall of 1971, opened the door for so many to follow and fundamentally changed the course of Severn's future. Today, Severn is one of the top independent schools in our area, with a forward-thinking curriculum and students who care about making a difference in our community and the world beyond Water Street. That success wouldn't be possible without the generations of girls and women whose voices have made Severn School what it is today.
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How did it happen? How did a school that advertised itself as “a fine place for a boy to grow” and as a place where students “learn to be men” change course from tradition? And who were these women trailblazers in Severn's history? Any story about women at Severn must begin with Susan Teel, the wife of founder Rolland Teel. In 1914, Ms. Teel and her husband used a small family inheritance to open Severn's doors. While Mr. Teel and Mr. Albert Hawkins served as teachers and administrators, Ms. Teel was equally vital to the students' success. For half a century, she devoted her life to the social and emotional well-being of Severn students, making school feel like “home away from home." She cared for them when they were sick, cheered them on from the sidelines of every sporting event, “served [them] enough tea to float a battleship and enough chocolate cake to sink it” in her home on Sunday afternoons, and she offered them a listening ear with sound advice when they came to her with their problems. Establishing the roots from which Severn's focus on character and conduct has grown, she taught them how to be respectful, poised young men. Susan Teel left a strong impression on the community, fondly remembered as “gracious” and an “unfailing friend” who devoted much of her life to helping others. She passed away in February 1963 at age 77, only nine years before seeing girls attend the school she founded. Eight years before admitting girls, Severn began hiring women faculty. This was among the first steps toward creating a more inclusive environment and with that, a stronger community and academic program. The first was Ms. Carolyn Broaddus, the only woman faculty member during her tenure, who taught Latin from 1963-1965. Along with Latin, Broaddus was a gifted piano player and organist. The second, Madame Jeannie Iwanicki, arrived in 1965 and taught French at Severn until 1979. These two women blazed the trail for the multitude of women who have since taught at Severn. The announcement came on January 21, 1971: “Severn Goes Coed!” For readers of local papers, especially the Baltimore private school community, this was surprising news. Severn School, founded as a boarding school for
boys preparing to take the United States Naval Academy entrance exam, was going to admit girls. The Board of Trustees began a conversation about coeducation in the summer of 1970 as they endeavored to position Severn for future growth in a way that would enrich the lives of its students and surrounding community. The board solicited feedback from Severn's parent and student base and began a series of thoughtful discussions on whether to expand Severn's reach by enrolling girls. They had even received 30 unsolicited applications from girls by that fall. Although the feedback they received was mixed — 15% against coeducation, 6% neutral, and 69% in favor — it was clear that the community overall was ready for change. The board pushed forward with making this momentous and needed shift and put the decision to a vote. The motion was approved on January 21, 1971, by a 3:1 margin. According to history teacher Bob Gray in his A History of Severn School, 1914-1971, “No one [could] predict precisely how this decision [would] affect the quality of education at the School; all that [was] certain [was] that Severn [would] never be the same again.” And that it wasn't. This pivotal decision laid the groundwork for Severn to become a thriving school that responds to the changing needs of young people and society as a whole. In the fall of 1971, Severn opened its doors with 361 students; 304 boys and 57 girls. Severn hired three new faculty members to teach Ms. Carole Dean Salomone (French), Ms. Jodi Gossard (physical education), and Ms. Jane Schwarz (art), bringing the total number of women faculty members to six, which included longtime tennis coach Ms. Sheila Keifer. And that year, the Board of Trustees added a woman to their group, while also inviting two members of the Mother's Club to their regular meetings. According to Julian Domenech, Sr., who started his 27-year tenure as a Spanish teacher at Severn in 1967, “Even though it was a small group of girls, that group was very special . . . with strong personalities and a desire to get involved right away. We need to give credit to this group. For them to come into a school with mostly men — retired military officers — that could not have been easy. The girls were not afraid. And
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50 Y E A R S O F WO M E N AT S EV E RN they were highly qualified, academically top of the line. They changed the school forever.” Ruth Ansel, Suzanne Cheek, Cindy Donner Reiner, and Joan McDaniel were the first young women to graduate from Severn in the spring of 1972. Of these four, three graduated in the top 10 of their 47-student class. Reiner, who also won the French Award at graduation that year, recalls, “I was always proud to tell people that I went to a high school where I was one of only four girls. It was like a badge of honor.” Girls on campus most definitely elevated and broadened the academic perspective at Severn. Domenech recalled, “The dynamic of the classroom changed for the better. We didn't see any more discipline problems. Boys were behaving for the first time. Only one or two girls in a classroom of 15-20 boys made a big difference!” One of Domenech's students, Betty Waters Phipps '75, remembers Severn adding an advanced level class to the curriculum to accommodate her in Spanish: “I was interested in languages. At that time there was only an AP Spanish Literature exam but no class offered. Señor Domenech created a class just for me so that I could take the exam.” The positive impacts of this change extended beyond the classroom and onto the fields with new athletic teams for girls. Phipps remembers, “If you were the least bit athletic, they wanted you to participate in all the sports since there were so few of us. We were able to [have] field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse teams.” Her good friend and classmate Joan Adrian Morgan '75 explains, “The group of girls in my class quickly bonded, becoming friends and teammates on everything from the hockey, lacrosse, and basketball teams to the cheerleading squad. We would often run to the locker room from our own game, pulling off one uniform to change into our hand-made cheerleading outfits to get to the boys game.” Domenech, Head Coach of the Varsity Rifle Team, vividly remembers team member Claudia Clanton Woods '73. “We practiced 2-3 hours every day underneath the dormitory where I built the rifle range. Claudia joined the team at Severn as the only girl in a very male-dominated sport. She didn't think twice about it. That tells you something about her strong personality.” Although such essential and far-reaching change can often cause friction, many of the first young women at Severn said that their transition into the community was smooth. Julie Greenebaum Pfeifle '77, who remembers being given the title of “very first girl admitted to Severn” explained, “I feel like there were tons of efforts to make us feel like equals in the school.” Reiner agreed, “The boys were all respectful of the girls and the transition was seamless from my perspective.” Morgan added, “I never experienced anything but respect and support from the male students and teaching staff. I have treasured memories from those three years on campus. I didn't see [the transition to Severn] so much as a challenge, but as an opportunity to be a trailblazer.” Even the faculty agree that these changes presented fewer challenges than they would have expected. Ms. Carole Coss, a math teacher hired in the fall of 1973 who stayed at Severn for 27 years, remembers, “From
50 Y E A R S O F WO M E N AT S EV E RN the very beginning, it was a very positive, comfortable experience. I have always felt good about being a part of the group of women trailblazers at Severn. I only have good memories.“ It is important to note that there were some in the inaugural group of girls who didn't find Severn to be a good fit. According to Kemp Passano Hill, who was admitted to the 8th Grade in the fall of 1971 but left after two years to attend an all-girls boarding school in D.C., “While I do remember taking pleasure in being part of something special, and while I do wonder if my choice to attend Severn influenced my decision to attend UVA only four years into its switch to coeducation, ultimately I don't think Severn was a good match for me socially and academically.” Even so, she maintains an abiding appreciation for Mr. Don Wood, her 8th-grade earth science teacher, and Ms. Sarah Donnelly, the wife of Severn's 6th head of school. Donnelly recognized Hill's uneasiness adjusting to school and took extra care to make her feel valued and appreciated. Hill specifically recalls skipping to Ms. Donnelly's on-campus house after class to bake with her while her older siblings played sports. “I still have those treasured recipe cards!” In May 1972, nearing the end of Severn's first academic year as a coeducational school,
Head of School Alfred G. Ward was quoted in the school newspaper as saying, “As I have written to many of you, the school is having one of its best years; by far the best since I've been here. The coed students have made a difference, and for the better. The boys study harder to keep up with the female competition and they behave themselves better. School spirit is tremendous.” According to Admiral Ward and many others, Severn's leap of faith into coeducation was a success. According to Domenech, “To me, admitting girls was the best decision the school has made in 100+ years. No question about it.” And here we are, about to begin the 2021 – 2022 school year, celebrating 50 years of coeducation at Severn. Severn has grown to include 423 girl students, 109 woman faculty and staff, 12 woman board members, and 8,062 alumnae as of the 2020-21 school year. Among that group is an impressive array of scholars, athletes, leaders, innovators, and creators, who have significantly impacted the trajectory of Severn School and their communities at large. And to the women who blazed the trail for future generations, we say, thank you. You have forever changed Severn for the better. Congratulations on a remarkable 50-year legacy, and may your leadership inspire more trailblazers to come.
SPOTLIGHT ON NOTABLE ALUMNAE: ROLLAND M. TEEL DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD The 2020-21 Rolland M. Teel Distinguished Alumni Award, named for the founder of Severn School, is the highest honor the school bestows upon an alumnus/a. The award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated outstanding service to humanity, service to the community, professional achievement, or service to Severn School. Since the award was initiated in 1985, five alumnae have been recipients: Ms. Anne 'Sandy' Barbour '77, Ms. Catherine Merrill '87, Ms. Wendy Jones '83, Ms. Catherine Herrick '86, and Ms. Kate Orff '89. Collectively these women have achieved extraordinary success in the fields of collegiate athletics, publishing, technology, media, and landscape architecture.
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TOGETHER, WE ARE STRONGER. BY DR. CARRIE MACVEAN GRIMES '91
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Generations of alumnae have launched their futures from our Water Street campus, exemplifying the values of the Severn School community as artists, leaders, advocates, activists, and more. From seeds sown in our classrooms, their creativity, drive to serve and support others, and compassionate leadership make the world a more beautiful, meaningful, and just place for all.
CREATIVE CONNECTIONS
Friendships forged on Water Street often translate to connections in the working world. Those connections took one idea from creative inspiration to small business reality, showcasing the talents and creative perspectives of three inspiring alumnae artists.
It was Mother's Day. Matt Sarro '91's wife was flying home from a girl's weekend in Florida. “As usual, I had forgotten a card. I packed our three boys into the car and hit the grocery store. I couldn't find a single card that I was willing to buy, so I packed the boys into the backseat again and headed to the pharmacy. Still nothing.” Ultimately, he settled for a blank card and a plant from a local nursery. Matt spent the rest of the day thinking about how much he hated the process (and the card he ended up with!) and started brainstorming a better way to choose and send cards. The idea for Fluttr was born (www.sendfluttr. com). Fluttr, a disruptor in a static industry, is a unique card subscription service where customers can select, sign, schedule, and send high-quality, physical cards. Their goal is to make it as easy and convenient as possible to send a card in minutes from your phone, tablet, or computer. Customers can select from hundreds of cards created by a creative network of independent artists, including Admiral alumnae Kate Bouchard '14, Julia Deckman '03, and Missy Dunaway '06. Matt and his team discovered Kate, Julia, and Missy through the Severn alumni network, and were eager to invite them to contribute to the Fluttr's creative network of artists. “The Severn network has been tremendous through this entire process. specifically raising our angel round of funding during COVID. Ben Harries '93, Chris Accinelli '93,
Jim Gibbons '91, Matt Baker '91 and many others have helped with networking, introductions and support through the fundraising process. I've also met other alumni including Wendy Jones '83, Blake Nolan '95 and Liz Whitehead '95 who we hope are part of our growth in the years to come. Lastly, finding such wonderful artists from the Severn alumni network has been incredible. Missy and Kate are incredible talents and have a wonderful collection of cards. And Julia was the first artist we ever signed so she will always be a part of Fluttr's history.” Julia Deckman '03 describes herself as having been “an artist my whole life, but I didn't realize it until I was an unfulfilled adult. I finally recognized that painting and creating is my passion when I was about 27 years old and began pursuing my art career.” She is grateful for being able to live an authentic and rewarding life since shifting her professional focus to art. In her art, she aims to translate everyday instances into surprising moments of beauty. “I use color and proportions to compare and contrast reality and fantasy. I want to evoke positive and thoughtful emotions with my pieces.” And Julia recognizes how much she has been influenced by this past year. “2020 has resulted in so much reflection. I have become much more self aware; how I treat myself matters as much as I treat others. Our homes and environments matter and should be cultivated and cared for. I think many
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50 Y E A R S O F WO M E N AT S EV E RN other creatives are experiencing similar realizations and our process and approach to work is therefore evolving. I have found an abstract approach that is incredibly exciting and therapeutic to me. My work should speak to me first before it can speak to others.” Julia believes there are many ways to develop an artistic career and that the trick is being authentic to yourself, process, and values. “I have focused on constantly creating work while engaging in my local community. By continuing to create, I have found what process and approach work best for me; I have discovered new media and subject matters. I have been able to evolve and develop my work, thereby remaining perpetually inspired and excited about being in the studio.” By engaging in her local community Julia has built genuine relationships with other creatives as well as clients. She credits these relationships for breathing life into her career. While she claims Georgia O'Keefe as her “hero” in terms of artistic influence, she recalls that her early days of painting were in former Severn arts department chair Ms. Carol Duncan's art studio where she was first exposed to oil paints (as well as O'Keefe). “Because I didn't go to art school, I may never have been exposed to oil painting if I hadn't stumbled into Ms. Duncan's painting class. Thank goodness!” Throughout her career, Julia has learned the importance of perspective. “'Success isn't ever really attained, it evolves after each accomplishment. There is no finish line. When I am feeling stuck or frustrated, I remind myself of where I came from.” Partnering with Fluttr has been an exciting collaboration for Julia. “At this phase of my career, I truly enjoy collaborating with other artists. I am both a Fluttr artist and outreach contractor. I help sign up other Fluttr artists and it's a joy to see so many friends in the roster." You can learn more about Julia and her creative collaborations at www.juliadeckmanstudio.com. Kate Bouchard '14's art takes a spin on everyday objects. “I love drawing food, creatures, books, and people here and there. I think that I am very much still discovering my style so the work I create often changes along the way. Sometimes it is more sketch-like, and other times I spend a lot of time refining each subject.” Kate hopes her work encourages people to see the everyday in a fun or different way. “Maybe the next time you buy tomatoes at the grocery store you will realize that they are little works of art.” Kate loves drawing and painting because they encourage her to constantly look for new perspectives on what she sees in the world. “I draw a lot of food, animals, and everyday objects around the house, but like to distort them in ways that give them more of a personality and story. I used to draw a lot of still life objects and animated movie characters, and once I moved away from drawing things in a hyperrealistic style, I was able to develop my own way of seeing the world around me. Illustrating something new is a way of spending more time with it and making my appreciation more permanent.” Kate currently works in social media for children's book publishing and is constantly exposed to new artists and illustration techniques. “I make sure to always have my learning hat on because I think there are so many incredible artists illustrating picture books right now.” She
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describes her biggest source of current inspiration as the art community on Instagram. “I feel like I hit the 'bookmark' button at least 30 times a day because I see so many incredible works of art that I want to draw inspiration from in the future!” She believes the Instagram art community “is a really wonderful place for sparking creativity.” Reflecting upon those who've influenced her budding career, Kate recalls a great piece of advice she received from her animation professor her senior year of college. “Our homework for each semester was to draw every day in our sketchbooks. It didn't matter if it was for 30 seconds or 30 minutes, we just had to draw every day. This activity helped me to learn that creating is a process and it's not always about the end product. To this day I try to draw or make something every day.” Her persistence and practice have certainly begun to pay off, both as a creator for Fluttr and in her recent work as a freelance artist for Admiral alumna Claire Bowersox Vetter '03's family food business, Tessemae's, where Kate's art was featured in their new product line. “I think a big part of success is believing that you can continue doing what makes you happy or even scares you if you continue to put in the work.” Like many Severn artists, Missy Dunaway '06's relationship with Ms. Duncan was instrumental in her creative development. Ms. Duncan allowed Missy to spend extra hours in the art room while she built her portfolio for college. And she encouraged Missy to seek an education in a liberal arts program that would allow her to pursue several passions. This advice was invaluable, as Missy credits her undergraduate study at Carnegie Mellon University for laying the foundation for her artistic style. “As a student in the Bachelor's in Humanities and Arts (BHA) program, I was given dual admission into the College of Fine Arts and School of Humanities. After four years of studying painting and material & visual culture side by side, I strive to pair research with art and communicate findings through painting.” In 2013, Missy was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to research Anatolian textiles in Turkey. In 2019, she was awarded a New Student Scholarship to the Academy of Realist Art in Boston, where she is currently studying. This year she was awarded a Folger Shakespeare Library Fellowship and will be their artist in residence in November. Missy's debut book, The Traveling Artist: A Visual Journal, is an illustrated travelogue of eighty colorful paintings that documents her five-year international journey as a Fulbright Fellow, artist in residence, and solo traveler. Visit missydunaway.com to learn more. Through her partnership with Fluttr, Missy is donating a percentage of purchases of her designs to support the World Wildlife Fund. Her greeting cards feature critically endangered animals and she donates all illustrator royalties to environmental conservation. “I like to use painting as a learning tool, and my projects often explore new interests. Previous projects have investigated ornithology, Anatolian textiles, and English literature. This collection of greeting cards gave me an opportunity to look into critically endangered animals.” For Missy, having the chance to partner with fellow Severn alumni on this new business has been “a delightful walk down memory lane. It's been so uplifting to connect with the Severn community and support each other, especially after such an isolating year.”
50 Y E A R S O F WO M E N AT S EV E RN “As a child of immigrants, I grew up understanding the experience of being a stranger in a strange land. While working in the courts, it became apparent that many foreignborn victims needed advocates to walk them through the legal process and help them get to the other side.” UPLIFTING OTHERS THROUGH SERVICE
Since first arriving on campus in the fall of 1971, Severn's women have fostered connections across communities in service to others. In their lives and work, bring to life the words in our mission, "a lasting desire to serve."
— Gustava “Gusty” Taler '74
Gustava “Gusty” Taler '74 is the chief operating officer of Maryland Legal Aid, a private nonprofit organization that provides lifechanging, civil legal assistance to lowincome and marginalized individuals and communities, empowering them to overcome challenges, achieve stability, and independence, and enjoy an overall better life. In 1997, Gusty founded the MultiEthnic Domestic Violence (MEDOVI) Project, the first program in the Baltimore region aimed at serving the legal needs of foreign-born victims of domestic violence. In her previous work at the Women's Law Center of Maryland and the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Gusty saw firsthand that few foreign-born victims sought legal action against domestic violence. “As a child of immigrants, I grew up understanding the experience of being a stranger in a strange land. While working in the courts, it became apparent that many foreign-born victims needed advocates to walk them through the legal process and help them get to the other side.” Through a grant written under the aegis of the Women's Law Center, Gusty established the MEDOVI Project, which continues to this day. For more than 23 years, the project has helped thousands of immigrants and their children with domestic violence and immigration issues. Coming full
circle, Gusty continues her relationship with the MEDOVI Project through a Violence Against Women Act grant from the state, given to Maryland Legal Aid to work in partnership with the Women's Law Center. Reflecting upon her early career in social work and public relations followed by her transition to law, Gusty shared, “I've been all over the map ... I think to some extent that has enriched my career, has enriched my life, and has exposed me to many different perspectives. My work at Maryland Legal Aid has given me the opportunity to use my law degree for the good of the community, and it has also allowed me to help manage and grow a large, multifaceted, statewide organization.” In 2015, in response to the civil unrest in Baltimore, Gusty developed the “Lawyer in the Library” program to provide legal services to Baltimore's most vulnerable citizens in the communities in which they live; the first legal clinic was located in a West Baltimore library. Since then, the program has expanded to community centers, schools, places of worship, other nonprofits, and even hospital settings. More than 10,000 people statewide have been served through these legal clinics. “Lawyers, particularly those who serve the most vulnerable among us, need to be in the community. They need to go where the people are ... [Maryland Legal Aid] has held legal clinics in almost every library in the state ... and the library system in Baltimore County has retrofitted a bus to take lawyers around Baltimore County to serve the poor. Maryland Legal Aid helps thousands of people each year address their most basic needs and secure what
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is rightfully due to them. From a career standpoint, it doesn't get much more rewarding than that.” Psychologist Dr. Cheryl Helman Madden '91 always felt a calling to help others. She dedicated her studies to making that calling a career, pursuing a double major at Washington University in psychology and women's studies, a doctoral degree at Widener University, and ultimately licensure as a clinical psychologist and school psychologist in Pennsylvania. Early on, she worked at Green Tree School in Philadelphia, a school that provides education, therapeutic and clinical support to children with autism spectrum disorder and severe emotional disability. Their philosophy is rooted in the belief that every child should have the opportunity to learn the academic, social, emotional, and vocational, and life skills they need to achieve resiliency and succeed in their learning, living and working environments. Her subsequent years of private practice were rewarding and enabled her to provide individual, family, and group psychotherapy for clients aged six through adults. “My treatment approach is strengths-based and collaborative. I see the therapist's role as helping the clients to draw on their strengths to overcome challenges.” She also served as a consulting psychologist for Delaware County's Head Start program, which provides comprehensive services for low-income children from birth to entry into kindergarten. The program is child-centered, family-focused, comprehensive, and community-based. Head Start services are designed to address developmental goals for children, employment and self-sufficiency goals for adults, and support for parents in their work and child-caring roles. In 2012, Dr. Madden shifted her work to focus on supporting the mental health and wellness of the veteran community as a psychologist for the Veteran's Health Administration. The VHA is America's largest integrated health care system for veterans with services for posttraumatic stress disorder, psychological effects of military sexual trauma, depression, grief, anxiety, and other needs. Over her nine years with the VHA, Cheryl's work has incorporated a variety of responsibilities including patient intake evaluations and referrals for treatment and helping veterans and their families secure compensation and pension benefits. While
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rewarding, this work is also challenging. Many of the veterans she serves are in crisis situations and are initially “resistant to treatment before meeting with us ... so it's a unique opportunity to create a positive experience with a mental health provider to those who may be resistant beforehand.” Dominique Thompson Mann '09 is currently a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Maryland, but she has been committed to serving those in need for over a decade. After graduating from High Point University with a major in psychology and a minor in human relations, Dominique moved to Arizona to work as a child protective services specialist for the Arizona Department of Child Safety where she supported the most vulnerable young people in the state. Mann ensured and assessed child safety and well-being, oversaw case plans to reunify families, represented her department as the legal guardian for children in need, and connected families with services and resources to enhance safe environments for their children. This transformational boots-on-the-ground experience inspired her to seek her master's degree in social work at the University of Maryland. “I've always wanted to do social work or psychology ... I realized social work is very versatile and I feel like social work is a great way for me to put my talents to use in different ways.” Later in her career as a clinical social worker for The National Center for Children and Families, Dominique provided crisis support and early intervention techniques for youth and families, especially those with acute mental health needs or past trauma. Her professional training as a yoga instructor was instrumental in empowering her clients to increase mindfulness and alleviate anxiety in their lives. And in her work now as a child intervention behavior therapist with school children in the state of Maryland, Dominique strives to support children to become fully integrated into the school system, to succeed and flourish. When she talks about helping families and children, Dominique's eyes twinkle. “Seeing the improvement in a child and being able to help those families is just amazing to me.” She also takes great pride in having created a nonprofit with colleagues called Never Too Young, which is geared toward teaching underserved young people life skills through seminars and programs designed to empower and inspire
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"No matter what appears on the surface, everyone has a story that should be appreciated, processed, and shared. I want people to understand that they're not alone and that they are worthy." — Dominique Thompson Mann '09
them. When she considers how her chosen path has impacted her perspective, Dominique said "that no matter what appears on the surface, everyone has a story that should be appreciated, processed, and shared. I want people to understand that they're not alone and that they are worthy." When reflecting upon her time at Severn, Josie Cipriano '09 recalls being passionate about humanitarian issues. “I was the biggest nerd in Mr. Buckley's Global Studies class, and even chose to forego AP European History to take more global studies courses my senior year. If there was a student-led protest or day of awareness, I was either behind it or participating in it. So being a part of a nonprofit organization isn't really a surprise.” Salvavision, the organization Josie currently works with, is particularly close to her heart given its powerful mission to provide aid and support to asylum seekers, those being illegally detained at private detention centers, and returnees who have been deported. Salvavision is an organization which “works for those who are not able to speak out and stand up” by providing legal aid, basic hygiene items, food, clothing, shelter and many other resources to these individuals. Salvavision also provides access to programs for economic and community support for those who have been deported to their home country. Josie and her partner, poet and activist Javier Zamora, were called to this work in part due to Javier's personal experience immigrating to the U.S. by crossing the Sonoran Desert unaccompanied at age nine from El Salvador. Javier has achieved national acclaim for his poetry collections which retrace this harrowing journey. Salvavision was founded by Dora Rodriguez who immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador in the 1980's though the Sonoran Desert at age 18. She became a social worker and has dedicated her life to helping others who are forced to risk their lives crossing the Mexico– United States border. Although the work Josie and Javier do with Salvavision saves lives, Josie is clear to point out that people die in the desert every day. “One of the more difficult experiences I've had with Salvavision was participating in a memorial service for a 13-year-old girl named Josseline, who died trying to cross the desert. Her younger brother was forced to leave her behind by the group's coyote, who promised someone would be back for his big sister. Her parents were promised that she would make it across safely, and were lied to about which route she was going to take. Unfortunately, this story is not an uncommon one.” Together, Josie and Javier helped launch Salvavision's new resource center in Sasabe, Mexico in May. While enthusiastic about the progress this represents, Josie is passionate in her assertion that a commitment to serving those in need is everyone's responsibility. “Organizations like Salvavision are necessary. Even so people are suffering, being treated inhumanely, and are left to die as they try to protect themselves and their families. I work with Salvavision because I can't imagine not working with them. Anyone who has a child, parents, friends, people they love should care about this work.”
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“Leading through that kind of organization change gave me insight into strong leadership, change management, effective communication ... and how to stay true to who you are and your values." — Sherie Cornish Gordon '98
LEADERS FOR GOOD
Good leadership is about empowering and inspiring others. It's about making choices for the right reasons, exploring what matters, and acting toward the greater good. Through purpose and passion, these alumnae leaders are transforming our local and global communities making the kind of change that lasts.
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The eldest of four siblings, Sherie Cornish Gordon '98 was the first in her immediate family to graduate from college. From her experience at Severn, she recalls intimate class sessions with caring faculty and staff who were invested in her growth as a student. The array of opportunities, including field trips, arts, dance, sports, and special programs, also had a unique impact on her journey. Life after Severn included four years as a collegiate basketball player at HBCU Morgan State University, a pivotal chapter in her life. The Morgan State community “became like family to me ... outside of my experience as an athlete, it helped me gain perspective for the impact of higher education on a person's life ... there were professors who cared and advisors who helped guide me along the way.” During her senior year, Sherie met Jacqie McWilliams who is currently in her 9th year of serving as commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). “Jacqie was a mentor and champion; she took me under her wing and taught me the value of women leaders in higher education and intercollegiate athletics.” Sherie credits McWilliams for teaching her the importance of being prepared and building relationships, of learning the craft of the work, and of believing in her capacity for growth and leadership. “When I was twenty years old the associate vice president of Morgan State asked me to step into the role of interim business manager for the athletics department ... I was thrust into a leadership role and I was open to learning. I was like a sponge.” Following graduation from Morgan State, Sherie pursued her graduate degree at Temple University in Philadelphia with the goal of becoming a college basketball coach. After discovering that coaching wasn't her chosen path, she transitioned into administrative athletics roles at the University of Maryland, American University, and Norfolk State University. Her star rose dramatically at Norfolk State where she was promoted four times over her nine-year tenure to senior associate athletics director. Under her leadership, the university hosted external events including the Junior Olympics which had a multi-million dollar economic impact on the Hampton Roads community and helped to increase the academic performance and experience of youth in the area.
50 Y E A R S O F WO M E N AT S EV E RN Reflecting upon her time there Sherie shared, “We'd had success on the field and in the classroom. My tenure was incredible there, but I knew there was a ceiling.” As if on cue, her mentor and champion McWilliams came calling with an opportunity to work alongside her at the CIAA. This role was critical in providing quality championship experiences and scholarship dollars to support twelve member institutions. At CIAA, Sherie cultivated an outstanding reputation as a leader in higher education athletics. Universities took notice and recruited her for various opportunities. When then president of Albany State University in Georgia came calling, seeking an athletics director, she knew it was the right move. During this incredible opportunity, she managed the merger of Albany State with Darton State College amidst resistance from certain stakeholder groups. “Leading through that kind of organization change gave me insight into strong leadership, change management, effective communication ... and how to stay true to who you are and your values ... my guiding light as a leader was to stay student-centered.” Sherie became a skilled coalition builder and made significant contributions to merging the cultures of these two institutions. “This was when I realized my calling was greater than athletics ... I wanted a larger role building community relationships and partnerships.” Sherie was soon recruited by the president of Humboldt State University in Northern California for the leadership role she'd been hoping for, chief of staff of the northernmost campus of the 23-school California State University system. Since joining Humboldt State two years ago, Sherie has served as a front-line leader in emergency management, strategic planning, and enhancing the university's relationships. Most recently while serving as interim CFO, she played a critical role garnering
support from the governor in HSU's vision to ascend to the 3rd polytechnic institution in the state, including work in diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. “We've had some tough discussions on campus around what this means for our students and our workforce, and our ability to show up as who we are every day. This includes bridge building, meeting people where they are, having hard conversations, and inviting people into the conversation.” Throughout all of these roles, Sherie has focused on serving every student and doing what's best for the organization. She also honors the role which mentors, champions, and dreams have played in her career. “Dream big; there are so many pathways to what people dream. Don't get caught up in anyone else's journey. Be present in your own journey. And remember, you are never alone. You have your Severn community and your Severn alumni network there to support you.” Upon graduation from Severn, Rupal Kharod '99 set out to study medicine. But she was uninspired by her freshman chemistry course at the University of Maryland, and the lack of a spark gave her pause. Unsure of where to go from there, she harkened back to Highley Thompson's 10th-grade World Literature course that introduced her to Paolo Coelho's Bildungsroman, "The Alchemist," in which the young protagonist is guided to realize his true self. She re-read the story and had an awakening. It wasn't the science of a career in medicine that appealed to her, “it was the helping people part.” From there, she spent her undergraduate years exploring literature and developing expertise in several languages. A chance run-in with former Severn faculty member Jeff Hardy inspired her to apply as a parttime linguist for the FBI. Discouraged by the long application process that extended through her years at law
school, Rupal pivoted to work as an attorney, an interpreter for the courts in D.C., a volunteer for The Foreclosure Project, and a court mediator for Anne Arundel County. But after watching a terrorist siege in Mumbai on TV as her parents flew, unaware, into the city, Rupal reapplied to the FBI. She was determined to wait out the process and use her language skills for the greater good. In 2011, Rupal began her career as an FBI intelligence analyst, working on every major terrorist attack since the Boston bombing and preventing countless others. She built a reputation as a technology and communications expert and expanded the scope of her work beyond counterterrorism to investigations in counterintelligence, cyber, violent crime, and child exploitation. After several years with the FBI, she took a position at Capital One leading their operations and intelligence team; her expertise was a perfect match. Staying current on emerging technical trends was a challenge, "but it was necessary to improve how we find the criminals planning terrorist attacks, selling state secrets, running blackmarkets for drugs and weapons, or preying on children. And it's the same skillset, coupled with my national security background, that helps me lead a team that was created to prevent the next massive cyber attack or data breach at Capital One. If I had stayed in law enforcement with U.S. Intelligence, I would have worked on investigations after a breach. Here, I get to work on preventing the next breach and finding those threat actors before they succeed.” Rupal also contributes to the national security mission through engagement in the nonprofit space, serving as a founding member and vice president of marketing and communication for the FBI Association of Intelligence Analysts (launching September 11, 2021.) Rupal's passion for doing good drives
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50 Y E A R S O F WO M E N AT S EV E RN her career choices. “I didn't know where that career path would lead, and I still don't know what comes next, but it'll be guided by that singular purpose." Her avid thirst for learning is another guiding force, supported by the incredible mentors who recognized her intellect and drive. She says an interaction with one mentor nearly ten years ago “shaped the trajectory of my career. It gave me the confidence to lean into my instincts, to speak up even if my voice was shaking, to take on large challenges and difficult problems. And it all started because he had faith, before I did, that I could do great things.” So how does she stay sharp now that she's no longer engaged in daily tactical work? Self-awareness and a commitment to lifelong learning. “If you're always the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong rooms. It means that you're purposefully seeking out just the people that agree with you and the conversations where you already know the answers. To be better, you always have to be willing and wanting to learn.” Carrie Ponder Cousins '02 is an executive vice president at Burson Cohn & Wolfe, a global public relations and communications firm named PRovoke Media's 2020 Global Agency of the Year. She recalls the beginning of her career in New York City as a young Vanderbilt graduate interning in public relations. “I enjoyed helping a brand craft an interesting story that people would want to read about . . . and seeing that come to life in a publication. I parlayed that into working with bigger and bigger brands, and working with more and more senior executives.” She now works with Fortune 500 companies and their most senior leaders to help tell their stories through media, events, and other channels. She notes that “recent research out of the Business Roundtable (a collective of CEOs of major corporations) shows that citizens today are looking more toward corporate leaders than to political leaders for a path forward. What I care deeply about is making sure that there is diversity across corporate leading voices . . . [these voices] have a huge impact on
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“It is so critical for [these CEOs] to help shape society around questions like: How is your company responding to political and social unrest? How are you making your company more equitable? How are you providing more opportunities for women? Today it's more important than ever that corporate leaders take on that responsibility.” — Carrie Ponder Cousins '02
where society heads. I feel fortunate to be in a position where I can encourage brands to push women forward.” Carrie and her team work closely with CEOs to empower them to think critically about their public personas. “It is so critical for [these CEOs] to help shape society around questions like: How is your company responding to political and social unrest? How are you making your company more equitable? How are you providing more opportunities for women? Today it's more important than ever that corporate leaders take on that responsibility.” While Carrie has worked with figures ranging from Bill Gates to members of Michael Jackson's family, her most gratifying work involves coaching women as companies increasingly focus on equality and seek to spotlight female executives in their industries. Serving as a lead media trainer for Bloomberg's New Voices program, Carrie works with a diverse range of women to build their confidence and prepare them to appear on Bloomberg TV and other network platforms. In 2018, Bloomberg launched its New Voices initiative to increase the representation of women sources in both online and on-air content. The program has established a definitive global list of women experts in finance and business, a system to track diverse sourcing, and funding for media training for top women executives and other underrepresented voices. The goal is to advance the position of women in the news and increase the number of credible sources who are women. “It matters who assigns a story, who reports and writes it, and who edits and shapes it, as well as whose voices are drawn upon to tell it.” The New Voices program is working to improve gender balance and increase ethnic diversity at every level and holds managers accountable to making progress across these metrics. Since the program's inception in 2018, Cousins is immensely proud to say that she has helped Bloomberg more than triple its representation of women on TV. “What I'm doing is different from the nonprofit world... but I believe I'm helping shape society more from the top in terms of the opinions and
50 Y E A R S O F WO M E N AT S EV E RN voices that [people] are reading about in the news.” During her undergraduate days at Clemson University, Victoria Royer Coley '00 majored in communications studies and worked as a reporter for the university's television station. She was soon bitten by the media bug. “I spent my summers interning with various media companies, both local and national, building critical skills, networking, and getting a sense for opportunities within a career field that I was highly interested in.” Following graduation in 2004, Victoria pursued a career in news production and accepted a full-time position at Fox News Channel working in the D.C. Bureau with a focus on policy and political coverage. Working alongside news heavyweights as a producer, and later as the coordinator of the network's Washington booking unit, Victoria shaped the editorial direction of programming and research, and wrote and produced guest segments. “I landed interviews with political newsmakers and coordinated breaking news coverage both in the bureau and in the field.” Working for the number one cable news network came with a lot of joy, but also a lot of stress. For Victoria, there was never a dull moment or quiet day. “I always tell those interested in news that it never stops.” Her family's small business in the lifestyle magazine industry provided the next professional opportunity for Victoria. She learned several aspects of the business from advertising sales and design to editorial writing and subscriber circulation. During this time, while living and working in Annapolis, Victoria also joined a small group of young professionals in launching the Rotaract Club of Annapolis, a junior club sponsored by the Rotary Club. She served as the club's founding president and dedicated many nights and weekends to service activities and meetings. Although the family business was booming and she enjoyed both the niche market and people she met while traveling, the world of policy and politics called her back. But instead of producing the news, she transitioned into public relations as
a deputy communications director. “Our work focused on media coverage, earned and paid, for various education and awareness projects. Then, in 2012, I was approached to lead the communications department at Independent Women's Forum and Independent Women's Voice. I long admired the work of Independent Women to preserve and advance freedom.” She didn't hesitate to accept the opportunity and continues with IW today as their vice president of communications. As a member of executive leadership at IW, Victoria oversees a team of ten full-time professional women, as well as external freelancers and firms, including media, digital marketing, social media, creative design, video production, web development and design, copywriting, branding, campaign, and membership personnel. “Our spokeswomen are on TV an average of three times daily. Our opinion editorials are published in the top national newspapers like The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and USA Today, and we are frequently called upon to weigh in on public policy by media outlets. Just this week, we spoke to The Atlantic and CSPAN about alternative policy solutions to help more parents get access to child care. When I see the work I do making a difference in people's lives ... it makes the high-pressure, high-stakes environment all worth it.” Reflecting upon how Severn's mission is lived out in her work, Victoria emphasizes that Severn offers an unparalleled experience for students. “What I value most about Severn is when you study at Severn, you learn how to succeed. It is one of the many reasons that my husband and I are so excited to have our children starting at Severn's Chesapeake Campus this fall. With anything that I do — work in my career or volunteering within my community — I strive to do the right thing the right way. Within that, it encompasses several key practices introduced by my parents and elevated by my Severn experience: fairness, honesty, and humility.
SPOTLIGHT ON NOTABLE ALUMNAE: GRADUATES OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY Captain Cheryl Herrick Lauer '87 paved the way as the first alumna of Severn School to go on to graduate from the United States Naval Academy, joining over 1,200 Severn alumni midshipmen dating back to the school's founding in 1914. Other Severn alumnae who have carried on this proud tradition include Margaret Morton Jackson '06 and Mia Hencinski Stender '06. Samantha Stearns '16 and Julia Christie '20 are currently enrolled at the Naval Academy.
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ROTUNDA ROUNDUP Special thanks to PJ Kesmodel for sharing this historic photo of Severn's Alumni House found amongst his own family archives. Originally known as “The Boone Homestead” 116 Maple Avenue was built sometime before 1860 and Severn purchased the home in 1981. Prior to Severn's purchase of the property, it served as a rooming house for families,Severn students, and faculty.
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David Cobb swung by Severn's Alumni House in June with two of his brothers, Pete '58 and Mike '61. David and his wife Jane live in Belvedere, CA and remain tied to their California family business, Cobb Wines. The original seeds for Cobb Wines were planted in 1989, when David began cultivating pinot noir vines at his sustainably farmed Coastlands Vineyard. 1 9 4 7
A marine ecologist by trade, David spent years studying soils
Congratulations to Buzz Hall on being honored at
and climatological charts in his search for the ideal place to
the annual Sherwood Forest Century tennis tour-
found his vineyard. His search led him to the ridgetops of the
nament. A longtime resident and participant, the
Sonoma Coast, where he believed he would be able to grow
tournament has been renamed in his honor, The Buzz
grapes perfectly suited to a more complex and graceful style of
Hall Century Tournament.
California pinot noir. On weekends and summer breaks from college, David would be joined in the vineyard by his son Ross,
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who quickly grew to love the hands-on work of growing wine
Severn's Model U.N. was privileged to be joined by
grapes. Ross currently oversees the business, which specializes
Severn School Distinguished Alumnus Robin Pirie
in Sonoma Coast pinot noir. Pete '58 lives in Georgetown,
via Zoom earlier this year for a panel discussion about
Texas and still keeps up with a couple of classmates, including
careers in international relations. Robin was joined
John Eller and Wells Jackson. Mike '61 lives in Simsbury, CT
by fellow alumni Enid Williams '03 who Zoomed
with his wife Mary Lou Cobb. “My wife and I have continued
in from London, and they shared their experiences
interest in the private school world and have been watching
about their international travel and careers. Students
Severn develop for some time and have been impressed by
were captivated by Pirie's career of over fifty years ex-
all the progress [Severn has] made over the years. We moved
perience in defense-related work in the armed forces,
to Connecticut some 50+ years ago and almost no one knew
the civil service and in industry. During his career
about the school at that time. Now almost everyone we talk
he served as assistant secretary of defense, assistant
to in private school management knows exactly what Severn
secretary of the Navy, undersecretary of the Navy,
School is about. For us, it was a real positive experience to see
and acting secretary of the Navy. A USNA graduate
the total transformation of the old [school] into the beautiful
in the Class of 1955, he was also a Rhodes Scholar,
school it is today.”
and attended Oxford University from 1956 to 1959. He served 20 years as a naval officer, culminating his service with three years in command of a nuclear attack submarine. Reflecting upon his participation in the Zoom panel, Pirie remarked “I enjoyed participating in the panel, and always get a lift from interacting with students.”
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Members of the Class of 1959 enjoyed camaraderie at their traditional lunch in June. They were glad to be back together again! 1 9 7 2
Charles Peltosalo wrote in from from Ridgeland, South Carolina with an update: “Busting out of lockdown this summer with an upcoming trip to my hill, Noahvose, outside of Sturgis in the Black Hills in mid-June to 'see what condition my condition is in', sandwiching the summer with Sept 9th IRVA Conference at the Omega in Rhinebeck, NY to 'see what condition our condition is in.' In between, I'll relax locally and hang around experimenting with the three(3) different types of Chex cereal. Happy Trails!” 1 9 7 7
Dave Wooldridge wrote in with an update, “I'm still hanging around with Mike Cerny. Some people never learn...seems like yesterday, racing my green big against Cerny's orange Bug or Jim's Celica. I'm down in Naples, Florida for the winter, and Bay Ridge Annapolis in the summer. Flying Airbus 330s for Delta as a Captain after being there for 30 years. I have two boys —one College of Charleston and the other at South Carolina. I also remarried this year.”
"This photo of the 1960 lacrosse team features (seated top left to right) Coach Parker Lindsay, author and Severn Distinguished Alumnus Tom Peters (#23) and George Leydic (#28)." — PJ Kesmodel
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Dear Mr. Teel:
Severn School Distinguished Alumnus Steve Millard '51 sent us this treasure for the Severn School archives. He wrote this letter to Mr. Teel, shortly before Mr. Teel's death in 1978.
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Sever n exists a s a flash in my mind, it is both nothing, both m ever ything and aterial and im material. Frien events, victories d s, classes, Schoo and losses on th l e playing field Time blurs my melt into one a experiences. I b nother. ehold a face bu ponder an even t forget the nam t but forget the e. I people involved a few whose co . Naturally, th untenance and ere are voice I rememb a lunch or a S er clearly, as if chool meeting on before an autumn day. Sever n, I though When I attend t of the School ed as the sum of my early percep its sons.Time ch tion, something anged greater transcen Sever n itself. ded the people — Sever n I reli ve. I smell the green fields and on a darkening throw a lacros autumn night. se ball I walk down M able to discern aple Avenue, on the dark outlin ly es of other stud increasing dark ents moving th ness. ough the Spring return s with the scen t of mowed fiel on Rig gs Aven ds and bloomin ue. I unconscio g trees u sly recite Rober Gold Can Stay. t Frost's "Noth ..Nature's first ing green is gold," Stone, a beloved taught by Wilm English teacher er . Other teacher life and to whom s who shaped m I will always y be grateful wer Woods, Albert e Tom Peters, C Hawkins, Jon apt. ah Halstead, P Lindsay and of aul Kesmodel, course Mr. Tee Parker l. At 9:00 on gr aduation day, I walk the field for four years a s that were my nostalgic trip, I home remember the b and emotions th uildings, the fa at inspired this ces writing. I only name to realize have to think th that I love Sev e er n. Steve Millard
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Undefeated 1968 team from 1968 Navigator
Former faculty member, Richard “Dick” Webster passed away January 18, 2021. Dick was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Before her loss, he was married to Betty for 57 years and together they had four children. Dick devoted his life to the education of young people and the development of their character, in the classroom and on playing fields, courts, and mats across the country. A proud graduate of The Johns Hopkins University, where he served as captain of the varsity lacrosse team, he began his career as a teacher and coach and never stopped doing either. He worked with and for young men and women at the Severn School, Sewickley Academy, the Wroxeter School, Landon School, LaLumiere School, Montclair-Kimberly Academy, and The Boys' Latin School. In his later years he devoted himself to carefully helping students L-R: George Tolson, Tom Smith, Lee Curry, Dick Webster, Dave Wright at the 2018 AHOF Luncheon
to select colleges and universities that would best match their individual abilities and unique aspirations. The Class of 1968 recall Dick as “a great man,” “the best teacher I ever had,” “a good basketball coach,” “so much more than a teacher, coach and friend...he was an inspiration and a positive force.”
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Anne Sherwood made a visit to Annapolis this spring and
Rebecca Paul married Winston Kinard '84 on October 17, 2020 in
swung through campus for a walk down memory lane, catching
Annapolis. “We were able to have a small outdoor ceremony under COVID
the Admirals girls' lacrosse team practicing. Anne and her hus-
restrictions in our beautiful shared historic courtyard thanks to the blessing
band Otto and children Virginia and Everett continue to enjoy
of the county health commission. We were very grateful to all that were able
life in Southern California and Montana, and Anne has been
to attend under such circumstances, including friends from the Class of '94,
busy wowing on the equestrian circuit with her horse Cassito.
Michael Calabrese, Amy Hackman Hilliard, Dabney Boye Keith, Bridget Berger Jakovics and Chris Grizzell. It was a beautiful day
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We loved this recent photo of Severn sweethearts Robin and Pete Cotgreave from their 1990 prom. The Cotgreave's are enjoying a full circle moment as current parents of new Severn student Reagan '27.
and provided a much needed bit of optimism in a very dark time.”
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Ebony Flowers' work “Pandemic Provocations” appeared in The New York Times earlier this year, as part of their series, “The Diary Project." Ebony is working on a new book and her work has also been featured recently in The New Yorker and The Paris Review.
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Whitney Faust LeRoux, her husband Wayne, and 2 year old daughter Vivienne are living in Charleston, SC, enjoying being very near her sister Lauren Hanzel's '00 and family. Whitney works remotely as a director of procurement and contract compliance for the State of Maryland and looks forward to traveling back to Annapolis for work again soon. 2 0 0 0
Jane Friend married Nathan Gill in Annapolis in August 2020.
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Liz Cullen Whitehead was recently featured in Women's Enterprise Magazine as a top Women's Business Enterprises CEO of 2021! Congratulations to Liz, who shared as part of this honor, “I believe in being a go-giver. By mentoring and advising fellow women's business enterprises, you get tremendous satisfaction from seeing their successes. You know that their successes have exponential benefits on their businesses, employees, and the world.” Liz's business, 12pointfive.com, provides business development resources to leverage diversity and inclusion, and tools to expand your company's reach.
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ALU M NI CO NNEC T I O N S AC ROSS T H E COU NTRY A ND A RO UN D T H E WO R L D
Investment Club: Alumni finance experts Dolph Habeck '94, Roma
Admiral alumni are walking proof of the value of a Severn education; a large part of that value lies in relationships. Our alumni remain connected after graduation, with the support of friendship that can last a lifetime. Admirals build professional bonds once in the working world. And increasingly, our alumni stay connected
Patel '05 and Misi Simms '95 Zoomed into investment club to participate in a lively Q&A about their careers the many possible pathways for students who are interested in finance. Discussion included professional practices related to retirement portfolio investment, corporate real estate, and fintech and global sustainability. Supporting Women Across the Globe: In recognition of Women's History Month, three alumnae panelists, Dominique Thompson Mann '09, Carrie Ponder Cousins '02 and Gusty Taler '74 Zoomed into our student clubs that are focused upon women's rights and women's empowerment to share their stories and engage with students.
with Severn through mentorship programs with current students. Embracing the global switch to virtual connec-
learned about pursuing a career abroad, and engaged in Q&A with Robin Pirie '50 and Enid Williams '03 around international relations, building a resume and
tions this year, Director
professional network as an ex-pat, and
of Alumni Relations Dr.
professional pathways as a civil servant.
Carrie Grimes '91 has broadened that reach, inviting Admirals far and wide to share their time and expertise with our students. 38
Model UN: Students in our Model UN
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Honors Biology: Students in Kristin
Blanck's Honors Biology course had the opportunity to take a deep dive into orthopedics with Mike Anderson '11, a former student of Blanck's, who is pursuing a specialty in orthopedics as part of his medical degree. He also provided insight for students into how to forge a path from Severn to a career in medicine. AP Computer Science: Alumni Matt Mason '99 and Tim Harding '11 Zoomed into Linda Reichard's AP Computer Science classes to share their expertise about the ways in which they apply computer science knowledge to their work as a game designer and software engineer. Short Story Seminar: Severn seniors in Dr. Baugh's “The World's Greatest Short Stories” seminar had the opportunity to learn from alumnae guest lecturers Kat Coldiron '99 and Jenny Sledge '12. Students read selected works from Coldiron, a published author, and engaged in discussion about her writing process and career. Dr. Baugh remarked, "[Kat's] virtual visit added a spark to our usual Zoom instruction and gave the students a chance to have more of a real world experience. I thought she brought out the best in them and paced her answers so that each student's question was addressed — no easy feat!” Sledge, a PhD
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“I've felt a recurring desire to contribute to Severn in the form of making personal connections with students. Living in NC has made that difficult. And the pandemic has made it all the more challenging. These virtual meetings have removed those hurdles. I've been able to share my experiences, insights, and wisdom that I hope will benefit current students. It's a wonderful feeling to be so connected ... the most since graduating!” — Misi Simms '95
student in the department of Theater and Dance at the University of Kansas, led the students in a discussion of Flannery O'Connor's short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” Following Jenny's visit, Dr. Baugh remarked, Jenny “provided a 'college level' experience for the seniors. [Her] gifts of time, professionalism, and expertise provided a sound seminar experience.” Black Student Alliance: Student members of Severn's Black Student Alliance had the opportunity to engage with members of Severn's Black Alumni Network, Misi Simms '95, John Vereen '95, Sherie Cornish Gordon '98, and Phyllis Birckhead '95 to talk about their experiences, share wisdom, and ask questions. AP Environmental Science & Eco Club: Chris Hopkinson '92 Zoomed into Roche Lecture Hall this spring to share a screening of a new documentary film, “The Power of the Paddle,” which chronicled Hopkinson's physical and mental ambition as he traveled the 240-mile length of the Chesapeake Bay via paddleboard to raise funding and awareness for oyster restoration efforts along the Chesapeake. An underdog sports story, and a social impact film, students got to experience a unique view of Chesapeake Bay, and why oysters are the key to protecting it. After the film, Chris answered questions about his quest, the Bay, and future plans to bring others along for his next adventure. You can view the documentary on pbs.org.
American Public Address Projects: In Dr. Baugh's spring American Public Address course, students interviewed alumni to learn more about a career, and gain an understanding of the ways in which public speaking plays a role in the profession. The following alumni engaged with students in this collaboration: Kevin Crumrine '04 (Air Force reserves/biopharmaceuticals), Zachary Schneider '00 (pediatrics), Matt Mason '99 (software design/gaming), Erika Huebner Rollins '96 (marketing), Melissa White Morsberger '91 (nursing), James Duncan '91 (corporate real estate), Liz Renaut Stauffer '98 (physical therapy), Dan Grimm '01 (artificial intelligence/cybersecurity), Mike Calabrese '94 (finance), Court Williams '73 (business management), AJ Gersh '15 (television broadcasting), Christen Morrell '17 (music recording and producing). Learning about Careers: Alumni participated throughout the year in career curiosity conversations with students to network and share stories about how they pursued their passions to craft a career. Gabby Novello '21 and Gusty Taler '74 chatted social justice; Michaela Leikin '21 and Milford Marchant '92 chatted orthopedics; Brooks Stevens '21, Lucas Murray '21 and Will Gunhus '21 chatted fitness with Chris Pitkin '93.
Do you remember the Severn mentor who made the biggest impact on your life? Whether it was a teacher, coach, or advisor, they helped you become who you are today. We offer an array of opportunities, many virtual, for you to become a Severn mentor and keep the tradition strong. Email Carrie MacVean Grimes '91 at c.grimes@severnschool.com to get involved. S UM M ER 20 2 1 39
WEN DY JO N ES ' 83
All in a Day's Work Spotlight on Distinguished Alumna Wendy Jones '83
It was early April 2020 and Wendy Jones '83 was nestled into her home office in Los Gatos, California, illuminated by the glow of the iridescent blue eBay logo of her virtual Zoom background. Her dog barked jauntily in the background as we dove into a long-distance, coast-to-coast conversation. The Severn alumni team's original plans to visit Wendy at eBay's impressive San Jose headquarters took a sharp turn in March as all of our lives changed amidst the looming spread of COVID-19. Always generous in sharing her time with Severn despite a packed corporate executive's calendar, Wendy's inherent warmth and affable nature came clearly through the screen. She's so authentic and relatable. It's easy to forget that she has had an extraordinary career as a key leader at one of the world's largest online global marketplaces. A self-described “operator,” Wendy began her eBay career in 2003 as vice president of customer service for North America and Australia after being hired by former CEO Meg Whitman. She's held various other leadership roles at the firm in marketing, advertising, and operations, and has focused much of her career on growing eBay's global presence. Jones has worked in Europe, Canada, and the U.S., leading geographic expansion efforts, launching eBay into markets like Brazil, Russia, and Mexico, and spearheading eBay's cross-border trade efforts. During her time in Europe, she was responsible for leading marketing, operations, and advertising for eBay's European sites. A respected mentor and champion of eBay's Communities of Inclusion, Wendy is committed to furthering others' ambitions through personal mentoring and professional affiliations. In the early days of the pandemic, Jones focused on getting eBay's 12,000 employees from 95 offices worldwide transitioned to working from home. Despite the daunting nature of such an endeavor, Jones saw this as an
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opportunity to evolve. “If you're an operator, you love having big hairy problems to solve...I think the reality is that this situation is going to get people to rethink a lot of things. If you're in a global company, your immediate reaction is to jump on a plane and go see your colleagues in person. What you deem essential to be in the office for versus non-essential will change. When you're faced with these situations, you realize quickly that no matter how focused you are, and no matter how prioritized your roadmaps are, you get really clear on what you need to run a business, and what can fall to the cutting room floor. You also find out quickly where the holes are in your plans.” During the arc of her career at eBay, Jones recalls a handful of times when eBay has had to significantly rethink its operating model. In 2008, when Wendy was living and working in Zurich as eBay's COO of international business, she was responsible for leading major organizational changes to stabilize the firm during the great recession. In five months, eBay globalized numerous operational elements of the business, moving hundreds of people out of their smaller local markets into regional centers of excellence, pivoting structures to create more overall efficiencies for the business. In retrospect, she recalls that “we pivoted, but we focused. We realized we needed to support big businesses, but in a different way.” Another transformational moment was when eBay's board decided to separate eBay and PayPal, and Wendy was responsible for putting forth the “new eBay.” PayPal and eBay had been together for twelve years. They had to be separated in a mere six months. Jones reflected upon how high-pressure moments such as these force introspection: “How do you get creative, how do you use this as a moment in time to rethink structures that might need changing when you are under time constraints?” Another example of ingenuity in practice was Jones's redesign of eBay's customer service organization. Over 18-24 months, under her leadership, eBay changed their entire servicing model, taking 50% of the burden off of people, supplanting it into product and technology, and increasing customer satisfaction by 90%. So, where does Wendy draw inspiration in tackling such large-scale challenges? Her reliance upon her teams at eBay has been essential throughout her career. “I've always led big crossfunctional teams. Being able to galvanize a group of people to
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accomplish something that they never thought was possible is a pretty fun thing to do.” From these transformational corporate moments, Wendy has identified five key steps to motivating teams to achieve success: 1. Everybody on the team has to get aligned very quickly around what success looks like. 2. You have to liberate your teams to do the work once you've agreed upon the goal. 3. Ensure that you have the right quantitative and qualitative control metrics around the process to gauge performance. 4. On the journey, communicate as often as possible about what everyone is seeing, about what you like and don't like about what you're seeing, and about where you might need to course-correct. 5. Share and celebrate good results. The crisis management of COVID-19 positioned Jones in ways she and her fellow leaders at eBay never anticipated. From supporting eBay's team in Italy to shipping masks to offices in Shanghai, leadership conversations quickly changed from “How can our employees work?” to “How can our employees and their families stay safe?” Jones emphasized the importance of coalescing around community. “This once-in-a-generation time that we found ourselves in highlighted how we show up for our community ... so that our community members are able to focus on what they can do and not worry about what they can't do. Taking care of our community, especially small business owners, and looking out for buyers who may be critically dependent upon orders they are placing has been so important. Asking 'How can we help?' is key. We found ourselves creating jobs in the communities we operate in, while other firms were laying people off.” During her time at Severn, Wendy recalls a foundational community that nurtured her identity and imprinted lasting values. “At Severn, I was a pretty good athlete, but I wasn't as great of a student. At the end of my senior year, my AP calculus teacher Ms. Hruska wrote in my yearbook, 'Quadratic equations do work out. Apply yourself to solving them just like you apply yourself to athletics and you're going to be incredibly successful.' That message is something that I constantly come back to in my professional career. I know it's necessary to prepare and build skills and capabilities that I wouldn't have otherwise.” Talking to longtime friends from the Severn community has been a great source of comfort for Wendy amidst the challenges of COVID-19. Being able to step outside of the pressures of her professional identity and connect with alumni friends who have known her since she was twelve years old is something she describes as “powerful.” That feeling of community has been especially palpable for Wendy in 2021 when she decided to retire from eBay after seventeen years and return to her roots, relocating back to Maryland. “The vast and lasting nature of Severn's community is ever-present, even when you might not even realize it's there.”
“The vast and lasting nature of Severn's community is ever-present, even when you might not even realize it's there.” — Wendy Jones '83
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Scott MacMullan and Meredith Braden '98
Hayes Merkert welcomed their second child Margot Aline
welcomed son Warner 'Mac' MacMullan in May 2020.
in April 2021. "Big sister Peyton is enjoying her new best
Mac joined big sister Eve.
friend!"
Nichole Marks McGlinchy and her husband James
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welcomed a son, Graydon James McGlinchy, in April,
Anastacia Adam and husband Jeff Begin welcomed a
2020 in New York City. Big brother Ames, Nichole and
daughter, Elizabeth James Begin in June 2021.
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Remy Rose Roahen was born in September 2020 to Jamie and David Roahen. 2 0 0 2
Billy DeLancey, wife Callie, and daughter Ella welcomed Olivia Caldwell DeLancey to the family in April 2020. Sarah Jane Dunaway welcomed baby Cary Philip Silverman, in late February. Sarah Jane and her family are currently living in Amman, Jordan, where they plan to be for the next couple of years.
Becky Price Gilmor and Mack Gilmor welcomed a second daughter, Miller, this spring. Miller joins big sister Cahill at the family's home in Eastport. Abby Larkin and her husband Eric welcomed a baby girl, Callie Ann Mickey in February 2021. Maggie Pierce Andargie and husband Henock Andargie welcomed twins Zola and Ezana in September 2020. Elizabeth Henry Fisher welcomed a baby girl, Eliana Marie. Elizabeth, her husband Brian, and Eliana live in West Hartford, CT where Elizabeth is the Food and Nutrition Director for Vernon Public Schools.
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Carter Loetz and wife Esther are loving life with their first
After living in New York City for 10 years and Switzer-
child, Olivia Eve, “Livy”, who recently turned 1. The Loetz
land for 3 years, Schuyler Sutton Gavula is enjoying
family plans to spend some time on the Jersey shore and in
being back to Annapolis with her husband, Danny,
Annapolis this summer.
Oliver (4) Lola (3), and baby Richie! “We are so happy to be back in town near family and friends and look
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forward to raising our children in Annapolis. We hope
Stephanie Graves Mistretta and her husband Bill wel-
to be back on campus soon!”
comed their first child, Bruce Allan Mistretta, in March 2020.
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Kate Shoemaker and her wife Heather welcomed a son in
Kirby Douglas McAdoo and family welcomed a new baby girl, Scotland Marguerite on December 17, 2020. Big brother Garrett is enjoying life with little sister Scottie.
February 2020, James Patrick Shoemaker. “We are all healthy and so happy!” The Shoemaker family lives in Potomac, MD where Kate is an attorney at Foley & Lardner and Heather works at Bethesda Game Studios.
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Jen Presswood moderated a panel of local
Marvin Smith and family are all doing well and
leaders at the Baltimore magazine's The
recently moved back to Annapolis from northeast
Future is Female: The Many Faces of Perseverance
Pennsylvania. His wife Kortnee is in her second
virtual event. Panelists included Dr. Tam-
year of teaching, and Marvin is a manager at the
mira Lucas, a serial entrepreneur, philan-
new Dick's Sporting Goods in Annapolis. Chil-
thropist, and professor, Heather Darney,
dren Maddox and Mia are 5 and 2.
vice president of community relations at Baltimore Ravens, and Christina Block, product manager at T. Rowe Price. Jen is a senior communications consultant at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. 2 0 0 8
Brett Brawerman did two years of service in the Peace Corps and is now the head of People, Culture and Talent at a technology start-up in Los Angeles. We're looking forward to taking him up on his offer to be an alumni mentor.
Creatives everywhere seemed to emerge during quarantine. Alumni artist Zachary Lank was busy in his studio. Lank started this painting in the beginning of the US COVID-19 outbreak. At the time he reflected, "I packed the board and took it away with me as we fled south. It's complicated to try and create things these days- it can feel indulgent, unworthy, impractical- all while family and friends risk everything simply by showing up to work. But it is what I know how to do- and in all this uncertainty I wanted to create something I could rely on to tether myself to reality."
The Clinic, Oil on panel, 36” x 48"
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Ariel Mitchell's new play, created during COVID quarantine,"The Shower Principle: A New Parenting Podcast Party," is a fictional podcast play about the isolation of new parents, "inspired by people who quarantined before it was cool." The play explores the idea about how new parents navigate through life with their newborn. Liz, hungry for her own thoughts and career, struggles to step out of her “mom” responsibilities and allow herself space to step into her life again, for a few minutes. Mike, confronted with his tendency toward absence and the pesky little requirements of having a job, struggles to redefine deeply rooted habits and roles when his family needs him in the one place he can't always be: home. The Shower Principle: it's when you're simply living, going through the everyday process, like taking a shower, and then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, an idea sparks — and life becomes a little more clear. You can find it on Audible, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify! Fellow Severn alumna Tahni Pierzga '09 did the thumbnail design on the play's logo.
Katharine Riddle '09 recently launched a music theory blog, Riddle Me This katherineriddle.blogspot.com earlier this year, and also was teaching music theory for actors online. Katherine's blog focuses on everything music theory— how to make it accessible, simple, and useful to actors and musicians. In 2019, Katherine won the Marc Blitzstein Award in the prestigious Lotte Lenya Competition and was named a quarterfinalist in the American Traditions Competition. She is also a first place winner of the NSAL Musical Theatre Competition (DC), and a second-place winner of the Hal Leonard Musical Theatre Competition. You can also find her musical theater vocal performances on her YouTube channel. This summer, Riddle performed two concerts at Live Arts Maryland.
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Michelle Ponder finished her residency in Internal Medicine at University of Maryland Medicine Center in June 2020, and moved to Durham, NC to start her fellowship for specialization in Endocrinology at Duke University Hospital. Russell Buhrer has been flying high lately, as an aviation instructor! He is a certified flight instructor (CFI), instrument instructor (CFII), and multiengine instructor (MEI). Russell served as an alumni mentor for a student interested in a career in aviation. Katie Carroll is living in San Diego, CA, and is engaged to her sweetheart Phil. An April 2022 wedding in Maryland is planned. Katie '11, Mackenzie '10 and Elizabeth '14 recently enjoyed family time in southern California together with mom Holly Carroll, Severn School associate director of development. Wow! We caught sight of a photograph of this past spring's “super pink moon rise” over the Annapolis Harbor, by L.J. Urie '11 on the Visit Annapolis social media feed . You can find more of LJ's amazing photography @jluriephotography. 2 0 1 2
Grace Rudder married Danny Marland at St. Mary's Parish in Annapolis on September 12, 2020, followed by a reception at the Annapolis Yacht Club. Many Admiral Alumni were in attendance including Erin Littlepage '12, Maggie Johnson '12, Kendall Parrott '12. Miles Norris '12, Katherine Wilber Brothers '12. Jena Maseritz Aliff '12, John Aliff '12, Chloe Snow '12, Jai Lakhanpal '12, Julian Adams '12, Katie Rudder '12, Sander Beck '08, and David Littlepage '72.
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Maggie Sajak was recently appointed as the online media correspondent for the longest-running syndicated game show in American television,“Wheel of Fortune”. About her new role as Wheel's online media correspondent, Maggie says, “I'm excited about the opportunity to bring an insider's look at the show with new behind-the-scenes features, interviews, videos and insights. The Wheel of Fortune staff and crew have always been like an extended family, and I'm thrilled to be working with them.” The Class of 2014 just launched several lawyers out into the world including Cole Smith and David Jaklitsch (both University of Maryland School of Law), Kasia Jarosz (Campbell University School of Law) and Anthony Roccograndi (Charleston School of Law). Congrats, Juris Doctorates! 2 0 1 5
This year's Admiral Auction “Home Edition” was hosted by television broadcaster and Severn alumnus AJ Gersh '15 live from his television studio in Texas, where he has been working as a morning news anchor. This year's Home Edition was a one-day, online fundraising event which included a showcase the evening of the auction hosted by AJ. Thank you, AJ! 2 0 1 7
LinkedIn has been abuzz with all of the employment announcements for the Class of 2017 as they launch from their undergrad experiences! Connor Olson will be starting a new position as an associate sales representative at Zimmer Biomet, Kam Dey will be joining NBCUniversal Media as part of their ad sales associate program in New York, Rachel Sindler will be an investment banking analyst at Merrill lynch, and Julia Granitto will be a corps member at Teach for America. In addition, Kris Kahan graduated from Boston University with an economics degree this May, and is starting a new job as a global market operations analyst with Goldman Sachs in their Salt Lake City, Utah office.
USNA Tradition Continues This May, Connor Bayless '17, Tyler Perreten '16, and Jacob Mandish '16 all graduated as part of the United States Naval Academy Class of 2021. Mandish's service assignment is Navy Pilot; Perreten's service assignment is Navy Pilot; Bayless' service assignment is Nuclear Submarine Officer.
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Alumni News Spotlight: Severn Alumnus Honors the Memory of Doc Heslin with Prestigious Award
Jack Elstner '16 was selected this spring as Cornell
After transferring to Cornell University as a sophomore, Elstner
University's prestigious Merrill Presidential Scholar.
decided to follow his passion for the ways in which the human and
The prestigious award honors the most outstand-
environmental systems interact by majoring in Earth and Atmo-
ing graduating seniors, who are in the top 1% of
spheric Sciences with a minor in both marine biology and climate
their class, and interestingly was founded by the
change. During his junior year, Elstner was named an Ernest
family of Severn Distinguished Alumna and fellow
F. Hollings Scholar by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Cornell alum, Cathy Merrill '87. Recipients have
Administration (NOAA), which gave him the opportunity to com-
the opportunity to honor a high school teacher of
plete a summer research internship with NOAA's Earth System's
their choice who has inspired them, and contributed
Research Laboratories in Boulder, Colorado. At the Earth System's
to their academic development, for which Elstner
Research Laboratories, Elstner's research focused on assessing the
chose Doc Heslin. "This award is particularly
impact of COVID-19 on urban fossil fuel emissions in New York
meaningful to me because it allows recipients
City during the spring 2020 lockdown. At the end of his internship,
to honor a high school teacher who has made
Elstner presented his findings focused on communicating informa-
an especially big impact on the student's life.
tion about COVID-19 and climate change to broader audiences.
At the award ceremony this spring, I honored
The experience was impactful and led Elstner to realize that he
Doc Heslin. During my time at Severn, Doc
eventually would like to work for an organization like NOAA.
had such a profound influence on me and I was
crushed when he passed. Yet Doc's guidance
Chancellor's Award, which acknowledges outstanding student
and advice has continued to stick with me, and
achievements that demonstrate excellence in areas including aca-
I see this as an opportunity for not just me, but
demics, leadership, campus involvement, community service, or the
the entire Severn community to continue to
arts, according to SUNY. He was also selected to receive the CALS
honor his legacy."
Academic Excellence Award, which honors outstanding student
achievements in academics, chosen by Benjamin Z. Houlton, the
In March 2021, Elstner was selected to receive the SUNY
Ronald P. Lynch Dean of CALS.
Jack restored a Chesapeake Bay Deadrise workboat "Odyssey" as part of his Severn Fellows project, and dedicated the boat to Doc.
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Owura Berko completed his sophomore year at University of Maryland, where he is studying general biology and on the pre-medicine track. Owura plays football for the Terps as well, and is a defensive back. We were excited to welcome back Owura and classmates Annie Bennett, Danielle Drury, and Tate Taczak for a Q&A session with our seniors in the Class of 2021 about adjusting to college life and academics. They each had a different perspective to share on choosing a school, managing time, planning your schedule, and getting involved. Noah Lastner is headed to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, having been nominated by Senator Paul Sarbanes for the third year in a row. Upon his graduation from Severn, after being nominated by two members of Congress and a Senator for a spot at USMMA, USMMA offered him a spot at New Mexico Military Institute (a preparatory school) for the 20192020 academic year. He excelled there, but at spring break, he headed home and was not able to return due to the pandemic. In the Spring of 2020, he was nominated again for a spot at USMMA and received his acceptance letter to attend. However, in June of 2020-just weeks before he should have reported to USMMA, he suffered a broken ankle in a vehicle accident that would once again sideline his spot at USMMA. Noah attended Anne Arundel Community College and actively engaged in physical therapy to recover from his injury, while proceeding with his third application for USMMA. On March 30, 2021, Noah received his acceptance to USMMA for the 2021-2022 academic year. 2 0 2 0
We're so impressed with the ways in which our Admiral alumni mentor and support one another, and celebrate our rich history in military service. Severn and Naval Academy alumnae Mia Hencinski Stender '06 and Maggie Morton Jackson '06 Zoomed in from Florida and Tokyo with Julia Christie '20 who recently completed her first year at the Academy, share their experiences and insights.
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R EC E NTLY PUBLISHE D
Missy Dunaway '06's first book was
Sharita Manickam '97 took her book, Rad Girl Revolution,
released this May by G Editions. The
on the road to the US Capitol, where members of the House of
Traveling Artist: A Visual Journal is
Representatives received signed copies of her book. Featuring
an illustrated travelogue that documents
empowering images of girls in various careers, photos taken for
her five-year international journey as
the book four years ago seem prescient in their depictions of the
a Fulbright Fellow, artist-in-residence,
Oval Office! You can find Sharita's book, described as an em-
and solo traveler through eighty colorful
powering children's book for little girls with big dreams, at online
paintings. In 2019, Missy was named the
children's book retailer oakiebees.com.
inaugural Four Seasons Envoy, which she traveled to Hoi An, Vietnam. Later that year, she was awarded a New Student Scholarship to the Academy of Realist Art in Boston, where she is currently studying classical realism. She will be traveling to Kenya this summer for her next art residency at Olepangi Farm, and this fall will be a research fellow at the Folger Shakespeare Library in D.C. She lives in Cape Elizabeth, Maine with her husband, Joe Henrikson, and exhibits her artwork year-round at Portland Art Gallery. You can read more about Missy in the Alumnae Artists spotlight. Sarah Manvel '95's novel You Ruin It When You Talk was published late last year and was reviewed on Goodreads. com as “a series of anecdotes, passages, micro fictions that weave the tale of a bisexual American migrant in London, and the painfully funny, and far too often just painful experiences with would-be romantic partners. This brutal account of modern manners skewers the chicken fillets of romantic literature with stilettosharp heels.” Sarah currently lives in London where she is a film and book
SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES: We miss
critic, and was a recent guest on BBC
our alumni and want to hear all about your
Radio London's Robert Elms show “Birds
life after Severn. Recent trips, internships,
Eye London” where she talked about her novel.
research projects, stories with classmates, new job or address, babies, weddings, graduations — we want to know! Email Carrie at c.grimes@severnschool.com or drop us a note on Facebook.
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IN MEMORIAM
1937 Hugo Schmidt
1959 Thomas “Tom” Dawson
1945 Daniel Finch
1960 Matthew “Strohm” Evans Jr. John Goody John “Jack” Slawson
1946 Richard “Dick” Dean, USNR Presley “Pete” Rixey III 1947 Casimiro “Casey” Hernandez 1948 Donald “Don” Smith 1949 Frederick “Fred” Lewis Jr. Thomas A. Townsend
1964 Charles “Alan” Pastrana 1966 Richard Lazenby Jr. 1973 Terry Green IV
1950 John Giddings 1953 Neal Marks 1955 Michael Coxe 1957 Lee Curry 1958 James “Jay” Lewald
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IN MEMORIAM
Hugo Schmidt '37 passed away March 10, 2019. Hugo was born in Brooklyn, New York and moved to Tampa when he was eight years old. In December 1941, he graduated from the US Naval Academy and immediately began his World War II service in the Pacific Theater. He served for four years in the Pacific and for one year in China after the war. In 1947 Hugo retired from the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander and immediately returned to Tampa. In 1949 he married Louise Lake and they were married for over 70 years and had 4 children. In 1953, Hugo started a building material supply business and owned it for 35 years until it was sold in 1988. Hugo served on the School Board from 1967-1976 and in 2003, the School Board honored Hugo's community service by naming an elementary school for him. Hugo was involved in numerous community, civic organizations and his church and loved to read. Daniel Lawrence Finch '45 passed away June 16, 2020 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Dan was born in Flushing, Long Island, New York. After graduating Severn he entered the Navy where he served aboard the USS Enterprise for two years. He attended The University of Arizona, where he met his wife of 67 years, Janet. He was a member Of Phi Delta Theta, Alpha Zeta Honorary and she is a Kappa Alpha Theta and there are more than a few funny stories about their times at the U of A and the great lifelong friends they made there. Upon Graduation, they married, moved to Phoenix, and had two daughters. He worked at the family lumber yard on Central before becoming a Custom home builder and commercial builder. Dan enjoyed flying, sailing, horses and volunteering for numerous community, civic organizations and his church.
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Commander (ret.) Richard "Dick" Whittingham Dean '46, United States Navy passed away November 19, 2020. Dick was born on January 6, 1929 in Washington, DC. As a Navy brat, Dick was raised on east and west coast ports of the United States and graduated from the USNA, Class of 1951, with a bachelor of science in naval engineering. He attended Gunnery School and then was assigned to the destroyer, USS Porter (DD-800) as a gunnery officer and to the staff of the Seventh Fleet during the Korean War. After serving over five years on active duty, Dick transferred to the US Naval Reserves and continued serving for another 22 years, retiring from the Naval Air Wing at Andrews Air Force Base in 1979. He was awarded the China Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal. Dick enjoyed serving as a Red Cross and Boy Scouts volunteer, traveling around the world, and repair and home improvement projects. Casimiro Benigno "Casey" Hernandez '47 passed away Monday, June 1, 2020. Born in Tampa, Florida, Casey was the grandson of Casimiro Hernandez Sr., the founder of the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, founded in 1905. Casey's high school and college years were marked by his athletic prowess and accolades as a lacrosse player for both Severn and the University of Maryland. While at Severn, Casey lettered in wrestling,
All Class Notes included in this issue of the Bridge can also be read online at www.severnschool.com/rotundaroundup
lacrosse, and football, and was awarded the McCormack Unsung Hero of the Week award and played in the national All Star Game. Casey was a proud member of the ATO fraternity and it was during an ATO-Tri Delta mixer that he met his wife Ruth Kimball. Casey was drafted and served in the United States Army at Ft. Jackson, SC and Ft. Benning, GA. After selling his ownership in the restaurant to his uncle, Casey was involved in numerous business ventures, Rotary Club, Centro Asturiano, the Krewe of Venus, and the Krewe of San't Yago. Frederick “Fred” William Lewis Jr. '49 passed away on August 7, 2020 in Wilmington, NC. Fred attended and graduated from the Severn School where he excelled at sports, including football, baseball, and lacrosse. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the US Marines Corps and later attended the University of Maryland on the GI Bill of Rights. At Maryland, Fred majored in business and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. After graduating from Maryland, Fred began a long and successful career as an astute and independent businessman. He first went to work for the Minute Maid Company in Philadelphia and then, in 1960, he married and moved to Raleigh, NC. In the years that followed, Fred created and sold several successful businesses such as Manpower, Inc. and Champion Map Corp. He
was also civic-minded, active in the community, and willing to help others. John H. Giddings '50 passed away on January 18, 2021. Raised on the Chesapeake Bay, John spent his childhood crabbing and boating, when not working in his family's grocery store. John was a graduate of the USMA at West Point and served in the Special Forces as a Green Beret. John enjoyed his career in real estate as owner of Giddings & Associates, working alongside his wife and life partner, Sherry. He was known for his steady presence, quiet sense of humor, depth of integrity and kindness to all. Neal Davidson Marks '53 passed away January 28, 2021, in Charlottesville, VA. Neal attended Catonsville High School, then transferred to Severn School where he played lacrosse and football. He was named to the Baltimore Sun All-Maryland Lacrosse Prep School Team in 1952. Following his graduation from the University of Virginia, Neal lived in San Juan, Puerto Rico for a short period with his older brother and sister-in-law, assisting them with a small printing press. He worked for American Airlines, Servomation Mathias (later known as Service America), opened and managed the Four Seasons Sports and Racquet Club in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Pape & Company, Inc. Neal was an actively involved father to his children of whom he was so proud; attending every sports and school event, play and recital. Michael Paul Morgan Coxe '55 passed away May 25, 2021. He was born in Washington, DC and was the son of Rear Admiral Lewis C. Coxe and Nancy Lesh Coxe. Mr. Coxe, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, was a civil engineer with the Navy and later an executive director with Bell Atlantic when he retired.
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IN MEMORIAM
Lee Martin Curry '57 passed away February 1, 2021. Lee was an all-American lacrosse defenseman; he served as a teacher-coach at Severn in the 1960's and coached Severn's undefeated 1968 boys lacrosse team. Lee was born in Severna Park in 1938, and he lived in Maryland until his retirement from Key School in 2004, where he taught for over three decades. He loved being on the water, gliding on glass in his canoe, wife or dog or both in tow, binoculars around his neck to see the shape of the bird's bill or feet or wingtips. He loved camping, or a sun brewed ice tea, often on the porch with former students who would drop by to catch up with him. Curry coached Severn's undefeated '68 men's lacrosse team. The Class of 1968 alumni remember Lee as ”a coach and teacher...I learned a lot both on the field and in the classroom from Lee. He will be missed and remembered for his great achievements at both schools.” James “Jay” Tuttle Lewald '58 passed away July 26, 2020. Born in Baltimore, his family moved several times before his family claimed Sherwood Forest, MD as its home. Jay attended Severn School before his father's work took them to Ridgewood, NJ where he met his wife of 58 years, Marion Hornaday. Jay attended Paul Smith's College and SUNY Farmingdale before joining the U.S. Army and serving in Korea. Upon returning from Korea, Jay embarked on long a career in aviation before transitioning to commuter aircraft sales with Shorts Brothers, and finally store manager at West Marine. Jay will be remembered for his love of sailing, dancing, creativity, boating and football. Matthew Strohm Evans Jr. '60 passed away January 6, 2021. Strohm, as he was known to everyone, served as class president and was on the varsity lacrosse, football, and swimming teams at Severn. He was inducted into the Severn School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. In 1960, he entered the United
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States Naval Academy (USNA), where he lettered in lacrosse and was a member of the USNA swim team. Immediately after graduation and commissioning he attended flight school in Pensacola, Fla. He flew two tours of duty in Vietnam off of the USS Intrepid and served for Operation Just Cause and Operation Desert Storm. After completing his Naval service, he joined the Maryland Air National Guard and attended law school at the University of Baltimore. He retired in 1991 and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, the Vietnam Air Gallantry Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. From 1974 to 1987 he ran a general practice of law and in 1987, Strohm became the owner of United Title in Severna Park. John Goody '60 passed away September 15, 2020. After Severn, John attended Duke University where he met his wife Cheryl Swaringen. John served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 20 years, including a tour in Vietnam and 17 household moves, retiring in Hawaii in 1986 as a Lt. Col. He earned a masters degree in urban and regional planning and joined Belt Collins & Assoc., where he started a successful environmental planning dept. John was passionate about lacrosse, rugby, ocean kayak and canoe paddling, fishing, diving, hiking, and bicycling. John was a beloved husband and father, a waterman, a conservationist, a philanthropist and a patriot.
John “Jack” Slawson passed away on May 11, 2020. Jack loved being out in nature, riding the waves at the beach, savoring a good meal, and time spent with his family and friends in his beloved hometown of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He had a kind, gentle nature, and was an old soul of the 60's. Jack told great stories of his free spirited travel throughout Europe in his youth, of selling motorcycles in Barcelona, and of proudly serving his country in the naval family tradition. He was also expert in his knowledge of world history, particularly World War II. Above all, Jack was a devoted father to his daughters Emily and Jessica, who loved him dearly. Charles Alan Pastrana '64 passed away on April 8, 2021. After graduating from Annapolis high school as an accomplished athlete, he attended Severn School for a prep year where he could again be found on the gridiron throwing touchdowns. In 1964, he received a football scholarship to the University of Maryland. Upon graduation, Alan was drafted by the Denver Broncos. After two years in the NFL, he accepted a job at Anne Arundel Community College where he taught health and physical fitness and coached football and lacrosse. He received his masters degree
from George Washington University. Alan was an outstanding athlete, teacher and coach. He worked with Dr. Robert Graw Jr. and Headfirst/Righttime as a community advisor to educate students, parents and trainers on concussion awareness and safety on the field. Terry Saxon Green IV '73 passed away June 22, 2020. After graduating from Severn he attended Towson University and later obtained his masters degree from the University of Maryland. He married Janlyn Lint in 1980 and was employed as a culinary arts teacher at Western Technical High School in Baltimore County, where he also coached lacrosse. He later became one of the founders of the HCAT Program at Anne Arundel Community College and continued to teach culinary arts courses until his retirement in 2011. Terry enjoyed traveling with his family to their cabin in West Virginia, trailing riding, teaching, entertaining, cooking, and being around people. He was also an avid fan of the Baltimore Ravens. Former Severn Trustee, Priscilla “Pril” Alden Scudder passed away September 19, 2020 in Lewes, Dela. She was a proud graduate of Skidmore College and had been active in the Alumni Association. She was an unwavering volunteer for the American Red Cross, where she donated countless times to their blood bank over the years. Pril was an avid tennis player and could always be found reading a good book. During the time of raising her family in Annapolis, she was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church where she taught children's church. She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
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Make a difference through the act of giving. Gift planning can help you reach your charitable goals, and also help Severn fulfill its mission. Ask us about the
severn 1914 society Contact Holly Carroll at h.carroll@severnschool.com or 410.647.7700 ext 2259
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MILESTONE MOMENTS Your resilience, positivity, dedication to
learning and compassion for others have made Severn School a better place and will continue to do so for years to come.
We are proud of every student and grateful
to every family for giving their all and then a little bit more. We navigated the rocky path of this historic year and turned each roadblock into a stepping stone.
Together, we finished Severn strong.
Thank you for supporting us along the way. Contact Nicolle Teixeira about your
Admiral Fund gift for the 2021-2022 year. 410.647.7701 ext 2357 or
n.teixeira@severnschool.com View more milestone moments at BIT.LY/2021MILESTONEMOMENTS
201 WAT E R ST RE E T • SEVERN A PAR K, MD 2 1 1 4 6 WWW. SE VE RNSCH OOL.COM • 4 1 0 .64 7 .7 7 0 0 CHANG E SE RVICE REQU ESTED
The cicada sculptures our 5th graders made are amazing...they even make a rattling sound! Ms. Friedman was so excited to work on this project with the kids. "I thanked them for the opportunity to do this project for the third time in my teaching career. You should have seen their faces when I told them I would be eighty two the next time brood ten makes a visit. It was a classic moment!"
NON-PROFI T ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PA I D PERMI T # 8 1 MI LLERSVI LLE, MD
