SSSAS SUMMER 2016 k the MAGAZINE of
St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School
PROUD TO BE A SAINT SSSAS Named #1 Midsize Workplace by The Washington Post
The Top Workplaces program was created by WorkplaceDynamics in 2006, because they believed that "the most sucessful companies are the ones that employees believe in." The award is based solely on feedback from employees. Today they partner with 30 prestigious publications to discover the country's "top workplaces," and more than one million people complete their surveys each year. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes is very grateful to the SSSAS community for their support, for making our school such a tremendous place to be, and for ensuring that every day is a great day to be a Saint. Read more on page 36.
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SSSAS St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School SUMMER 2016 MAGAZINE www.SSSAS.org
HEAD OF SCHOOL Kirsten Prettyman Adams EDITOR Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76 Director of Design & Production CONTENT EDITOR Jen Desautels Communications Director DESIGN & LAYOUT Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76 Jameson Bloom '13 STAFF WRITERS Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76 Mandi Sapp ALUMNI NEWS Tyler Burr Director of Alumni Relations Meredith Fifer '06 Assistant Director of Alumni Relations PHOTOGRAPHY Advancement Office Susan Hamon Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76 Jen Milbrett Photography Connor Ortman '14 Mark Regan Photography PRINTING Masterprint QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS Melissa Maas '76 at mmaas@sssas.org TO UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION OR MAILING PREFERENCES Please email mfifer@sssas.org or call 703-212-2720. The SSSAS Magazine is provided solely as a community publication and is sent to alumni, current parents, friends, and other regularly supportive members of the school community. For more information contact the Advancement Office at 703-212-2720. © 2016 St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
CONTENTS 6
FUTURES Made of MOMENTS
8
MEET the SPEAKER
Commencement 2016
Carson Lee Fifer '61
10
CONGRATULATIONS
12
SNAPSHOTS: Commencement 2016
16
Our RETIRING FACULTY Doug Adams, Sherley Keith, and Jerry Mirliani
20
The DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI SERVICE Award Reynaldo (Rey) Decerega '91
24
SAINTS Go GLOBAL
30
Upper School PRIZE DAY
32
Middle School AWARDS DAY
33
SNAPSHOTS: Eighth Grade Graduation,
Grandparents' Day, Fifth Grade Recognition
36
SSSAS Named #1 MIDSIZE WORKPLACE
to the Class of 2016
The Upper School Spring Trips
DEPARTMENTS 4 37 40 45 53 55
Letter From the Head Saints in Action Spring Athletics Alumni Connections Milestones In Memoriam
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LETTER FROM THE HEAD
Celebrating Together Many friends who are not educators have asked in different ways whether my life in a school feels a bit like the movie "Groundhog Day." For those who have not enjoyed this film, it is about a weatherman who relives the same day over and over again. To the outside world, life in a school may appear to be repetitive, as though each year rolls into the next without much change. But the reality of our work couldn't be more different. We find great joy in the annual beginnings and endings, and we love the fact that everything in between the first and last days of school is never the same as any other school year. As we approached Commencement, a senior asked me, "Mrs. Adams, the Class of 2016 is the best senior class ever, right?" I gave a smile and a chuckle, and began thinking about the 20 or so senior classes I have known during my career. While the senior class represents only a small fraction of the enrollment at any school, their impact is disproportionate. The tone they set trickles from the Upper School all of the way down to the youngest students, and even impacts the teachers. Our kindergarteners look up to the seniors like they are rock stars. All the students look at them as role models and leaders—in the classrooms, on the athletic fields and courts, and on the CPAC stage—and dream about what it will be like when they are seniors. While I certainly cannot choose a favorite senior class, I can recall the strengths each class brought to the community, as well as a few quirks. For me, the Class of 2016 stood out as being exceptionally good at celebrating the successes of their peers. They viewed the successes of their classmates not as something to compare themselves to, but rather as something for the class as a whole to rejoice in. They brought many other wonderful leadership qualities and talents to our community, but their support of each other will be the special attribute I remember for years to come. Their demonstrated bonds of friendship and unity made it easy for the adults to cheer them on along the way. The pages of this magazine highlight many individual and collective achievements from 20152016. Whether you are like me and walk the halls every day on our three campuses or you have not been back in 30 years, I hope you celebrate them with us. As we turn our focus from the ending of 2015-2016 to the beginning 2016-2017, I am eager to continue sharing our accomplishments as a community. Whether we are thanking you for supporting The Saints Fund and helping us exceed our goals, recognizing being named the No. 1 Mid-Sized Workplace by The Washington Post, or sharing the completion of an inclusive strategic plan this fall—there is much for each and every one of us to celebrate together. As September approaches, we look forward to the repetitive and familiar aspects of school life, but we happily anticipate the unique, unknown surprises, challenges, and celebrations that come with each new school year. Warmly,
Kirsten Prettyman Adams
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THE SAINTS FUND
Your gifts give our Saints so many opportunities. We are immensely grateful to you for your support. With your gifts to the 2015-2016 Saints Fund we raised $1,725,217, surpassing our goal of $1,700,000 by more than $25,000. None of our goals would have been met without members of our community stepping up and choosing to "give a Saint an opportunity." To learn more about The Saints Fund or make a gift, please visit www.SSSAS.org/give, or contact Lauren Enlow, Director of Annual Giving: 703-212-2715, lenlow@sssas.org www.SSSAS.org | 5
COMMENCEMENT 2016 St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School celebrated the Commencement of the Class of 2016 on Saturday, June 11 on the grounds of Virginia Theological Seminary. The ceremony included remarks from speaker Lee Fifer '61 and Valedictorian Isabel Shaw. Commencement also featured the traditional performance by the Senior Chorale and bagpipe recessional before the annual reception for graduates, family, friends, and faculty at the Upper School.
Futures Made of Moments By David Yee, Upper School English Teacher & Global Studies Coordinator I'm browsing through my Google Drive right now and I'm in awe of it. It's not because of its immense size; rather, it's because most of its size is in videos of various St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School events from the past four years capturing moments like multicultural night, documentary projects, drama productions, chapel talks, and performances. Furthermore, it's an awe borne of the knowledge that even these folders are incomplete. For every moment successfully captured, there are two, four, or even ten moments that I missed. They're never going to be part of my trip down Google Drive Lane, but it doesn't mean I'll forget them. One such moment is the first I had with the Class of 2016. Four years ago I sat in the dining hall with my new advisory, a group of seven incoming freshmen. That day we'd be tasked with going to Carpenter's Shelter to sort through donated toiletries, but the group seated at the table didn't know that yet. Thinking back, I'm not sure what they did know coming in that day. I was only in my third official day at the school, so they didn't know me. We all certainly didn't know what to expect of each other, and so beyond the pleasantries of peerleader induced icebreaking endeavors, there was only one thing we definitely knew: silence, and the awkwardness that accompanied it. We sorted toiletries, not knowing which bottle of shampoo would burst on us. As the day came to an end, we didn't know what the next day would bring. Thankfully, the silence ended quickly, but the subsequent four years would offer many more unknowns we would face together. The unknowns of new classes each year. The unknowns of meets and tournaments, of quiz bowls taped in front of live audiences of familiar faces, and greeting new faces on mission trips. The unknowns of a new head of school. The unknowns of our accidents, our losses. It's not because I feel any awkwardness that I remember my first advisory meeting. I remember it because I find it incredible that this class moved beyond that initial hesitance so quickly and grew so much as a community. It was much before graduation day that these students learned to embrace the unknown. Valedictorian Isabel Shaw '16, an advisee and former student of mine, said in her Commencement address, "What's special about this school is how it challenges us in every way while also making sure we are loved and encouraged." I witnessed members of this class puzzle over the true challenges of our world today, like water scarcity or inclusion. Not because they had to, but because they wanted to. I watched them fashion materials to create new worlds on the CPAC stage, and I saw them they discover new worlds abroad and bring their experiences back to the school to share. Isabel mentioned many of their contributions, large and small, from raising $5,000 for our partner school in Haiti to "[painting] the sky white with baby powder" as a
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show of spirit and solidarity at the traditional under-the-lights football game at Episcopal. They supported each other in all of these things and so many other ways I don't have the space to recount. They faced many unknowns—even the unknown in each other—with openness, and their openness made the school a better place to be. I carry all of these moments with me, even though many escaped my Google Drive. Isabel talked about the great love in our community and Commencement Speaker Lee Fifer '61 drove the point deeper. "Look around you," he said. "Many of you will be lifelong friends." The Class of 2016 demonstrated that love and friendship as they stood and applauded John Voorhees '16, who spent the year recovering from an accident, as his advisor, Laura Ambrose, helped him to the podium to receive his diploma. How can I forget the moments in this community that have changed me, inexorably, into the person and teacher I am now? There are so many more moments I could share, moments I fondly remember. But there are also moments that I can't yet tell. They lie in the next steps to which both speakers alluded— in a future these graduates are prepared to change for the better. Mr. Fifer warned the graduates to the "avoid the shortterm thinking" that has created ecological, economical, and political problems they will now have to solve. They will use the strength that this community has given them to push past the short term and towards those solutions. That strength will enable them to see that the beauty of the world around them comes in what is complicated, not in what is easy. They've learned in small ways to bring this community with them, to find and shape their home in the world. They will heed Mr. Fifer's advice that "polite persistence, with a touch of humility, will win many things" because they "have the tools to lead a satisfactory and rewarding life." Their futures will bring the most exciting moments of all. Towards the end of her address, Isabel said, "Our time here doesn't go away." But she quickly pivoted back to the future, saying, "Now we're ready for the next chapter." I'm optimistic that this graduation is not the end of our stories with the Class of 2016. This Commencement is a license to go out and write those next chapters on their own, away from the reach of my overstuffed Google Drive. Whatever chapters they write, I hope they'll look back fondly on the moments that helped make them, exploding shampoo bottles and all. Magazine Cover: David Yee and Nicole Gray '16 by Connor Ortman '14 Photos on opposite page: Second row left: Valedictorian Isabel Shaw '16 Second row center: Commencement Speaker Lee Fifer '61 See more Commencement photos on www.flickr.com/saintsphotos and video at www.livestream.com/sssas
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COMMENCEMENT 2016
"To be chosen as the Commencement speaker is an honor and an opportunity to show why the school is so important to me."
Meet the Speaker: Carson Lee Fifer '61 By Mandi Sapp
SSSAS was pleased to welcome Lee Fifer '61 as our Commencement speaker on June 11, as he addressed the Class of 2016 about their alma mater and gave sound advice for college and beyond. "Life is often hard. There will be difficult times. Approach it as a challenge. Change your approach and grow from it. You are beautifully educated. You have the tools to lead a satisfactory and rewarding life. You have confidence whether you realize it or not. The school has given you that." Mr. Fifer has had a very successful career as an attorney, while also having a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of Alexandrians through his work with affordable housing and Carpenter's Shelter.
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While maintaining a practice focused on land use and environmental law, real estate law, affordable housing and sports law, Lee managed numerous residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional projects including regional malls, corporate parks and planned communities and guided projects that produced thousands of residential units. He co-authored the first affordable housing ordinance in Virginia and has authored subsequent enabling legislation. Lee spent almost 20 years as the general counsel for the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance and is a life member of the board. Lee has made significant contributions to many areas of the Alexandria community. He has been chairman of
the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and served on the vestry and strategic planning committee of historic Christ Church Episcopal in Old Town. Lee's greatest area of impact has been on housing. He is a founder and former chair of AHOME (Affordable Housing Opportunity Means Everyone) and the AHOME Foundation. Lee has been a champion for the homeless, serving on the board of HomeAid for four years and leading a very successful fundraising campaign for Carpenter's Shelter in 1994 that allowed them to move into new and improved facilities. He was chairman of that board for ten years and is still serving on it to this day. Additionally, he served on the board of the George Mason Foundation. Mr. Fifer was chosen as a Living Legend of Alexandria in 2014. A member of the undefeated 1960 football team, student council president and class president, Lee was one of our first "lifers" having attended the school for ten years. His class was one of the first to spend all four of its high school years at the current Upper School location. Throughout his career he has remained an active and involved alumnus of our school, as well as chairman of the board of governors of St. Stephen's. Lee attended Brown University, received his MBA at George Washington and his law degree at the University of Virginia. His sisters Margie '63 and Marilie '58 attended St. Agnes. He and his wife, Sarah, live in Alexandria and are proud parents of Saints Daniel '03 and Meredith '06.
Q
. You have done a great deal of charity and volunteer work in Northern Virginia. What work do you hold dear to your heart?
A
. I hold all my volunteer work dearly, but would single out SSSAS, affordable housing, and Carpenter's Shelter. For Carpenter's Shelter the goals were bringing in useful programs, such as educational programs. The real mission of Carpenter's Shelter is educating people out of homelessness. Affordable housing is about figuring out how to do it legally, effectively, and in close cooperation with the business community.
Q. When your children attended SSSAS, you realized
some members of the faculty were traveling long distances to work. Share how this inspired some of your efforts in Alexandria.
A
. Yes, their teachers were quite influential in my work for affordable housing. It seems to me to be bad policy to have a society that causes teachers to drive great distances to prepare for and teach our children, those
whom we love most and want well prepared for life. It's also a sound business investment to enable teachers, nurses, firefighters, police, secretaries, and others who work in our community to also live in our community.
Q
. What skills did you take away from your St. Stephen's education and how have they played a role in your life experiences?
A
. The skills I have noticed most are a serious effort to do well, a good command of English--both spoken and written—an understanding of teamwork, cooperation, and self confidence.
Q
. What does it mean to you to be an alumnus of SSSAS?
A
. Many of my classmates have been lifelong friends. I value SSSAS and what it stands for. The school provides a demanding schedule academically, which is excellent for preparing young people not only for college but for life. I think SSSAS is a school that accents character and integrity with the honor system, which is excellent preparation for taking responsibility and realizing your actions have consequences.
Q. What plans do you have in retirement? A. I am still involved in different charities to some
degree but not as active as I used to be. I enjoy playing golf and guitar, fishing, and traveling with family and friends. I just got two basset hound puppies named Tulip and Sammy, who have kept me busy but are wonderful fun.
Q
. What is the most important piece of advice you would give our students as they prepare for our complex and changing world?
A. Four pieces of advice:
1) Stay close to your friends' parents because they may help you get a job. 2) Polite Persistence helps one achieve many goals. 3) Always pay yourself first. Either into a savings account or alternative means (mortgage—paying additional principal,etc.) 4) You will spend most of your waking hours for a good number of years concerning your job, so it's important to like what you do, the people who you are you doing it with, and the place you do it.
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COMMENCEMENT 2016
We salute our 115 graduates and their accomplishments. Some highlights include: F Accepted by more than 160 colleges and universities. F More than one-third of the class was offered college scholarships or merit aid.
F Two National Merit finalists, two semi-finalists, and 15 commended scholars.
F Led our varsity mathletes to a first-place season finish and the robotics team to the state semi-finals.
F Prepared thousands of sandwiches for Martha's Table; collected food items and volunteered at local food banks. Led supply drives for local agencies and our partner school in Haiti. Volunteered thousands of hours with local non-profits. Participated in international causes in Romania and Haiti. F Won eight Gold Keys, nine Silver Keys, and 16
Honorable Mentions in the regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and one Silver Key at the national level. Awards for photography, painting, drawing, ceramic creations, poetry, and personal essays. Won top awards at the Alexandria All City High School Visual Art Exhibit.
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F A Cappies award and nomination for "The 39
Steps." Performed in all of our drama and musical productions, Evening of the Arts, Multicultural Night, and the Pit Orchestra; directed the One-Act Plays.
F Performed in the Virginia District 10 Music Festivals and invited to sing Evensong at the National Cathedral.
F Thirty-three to play collegiate athletics next year, representing ten sports.
F Led the boys and girls lacrosse teams to VISAA
state championships and won three individual state championships in boys swimming, girls indoor track relay, and wrestling. ISL championships in field hockey, girls lacrosse, girls soccer, and softball. Participated in league finals or state tournaments in boys basketball, cross country, field hockey, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, boys soccer, girls soccer, softball, swimming & diving, boys tennis, track & field, and wrestling.
The Class of 2016 will be attending the following colleges and universities this fall: F University of Alabama F American University F Boston University F Bowdoin College F Brown University F University of California at Los Angeles F College of Charleston F University of Chicago F Coastal Carolina University F Colgate University F Columbia University F Cornell University F Dartmouth College F University of Delaware F Denison University F University of Denver F Drexel University F Duke University F Elon University F Fordham University F Furman University F George Mason University F George Washington University F Georgetown University F University of Georgia F Hamilton College
F Hobart and William Smith Colleges F College of the Holy Cross F University of Illinois F James Madison University F Kenyon College F Louisiana State University F Loyola University (MD) F Macalester College F Marquette University F University of Mary Washington F University of Maryland at College Park F Marymount University F Massachusetts Institute of Technology F Miami University (OH) F Middlebury College F Morehouse College F University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill F Northeastern University F Northwestern University F Oberlin College F University of Pennsylvania F Pennsylvania State University F University of Pittsburgh F Princeton University F Rhodes College F Rollins College
F St. Francis University F St. Joseph's University F St. Louis University F University of San Diego F Santa Clara University F Savannah College of Art & Design F Shenandoah University F University of South Carolina F University of Southern California F Southern Methodist University F Susquehanna University F Syracuse University F Texas Christian University F Trinity College (CT) F Tufts University F Tulane University F U.S. Military Academy F U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School F Vanderbilt University F University of Virginia F Virginia Commonwealth University F Virginia Military Institute F Virginia Tech F Wake Forest University F Washington & Lee University F College of William & Mary F College of Wooster
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CLASS OF 2016 COMMENCEMENT
Snapshots...
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Our Retiring Faculty After 90 years of combined service teaching more than 1,000 Saints , Doug Adams, Sherley Keith, and Jerry Mirliani announced their retirements this past spring. The SSSAS community celebrated their extraordinary dedication to teaching at a reception in May. Finding adequate words of thanks has been incredibly difficult and saying goodbye, near to impossible. Mr. Adams, Mrs. Keith, and Mr. Mirliani have left indelible marks on our school history that will live on in our classrooms, in the press box, on the CPAC stage, and in the hearts and minds of the many lives they touched. So hopefully, we say to them, "Until we meet again!"
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"The most important part to Doug—throughout everything he has done at SSSAS—has been the time in the classroom teaching. It was making connections with kids and helping them wrap their heads around everything that makes up geometry and life in general." ~Marsha Way, P.E. Teacher
Doug Adams Upper School Math Teacher After a distinguished career of nearly five decades, St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School says farewell to Upper School Math Teacher Doug Adams who is retiring from the profession. His dedication to academic excellence, sincere interest in the welfare of his students, and good humor will be greatly missed. Doug joined St. Stephen's School in 1977 as an Upper School math teacher after teaching middle school math for several years in local schools. Throughout the years, he has played an integral role in campus life by serving as the math department chair, athletic director, director of summer programs, facility rentals manager, and an Upper and Middle School coach to many sports. Additionally, he has served on the strategic planning committee, chaired the search committee for our current dean of students, and most recently served on the search committee for our new head of Upper School. Many refer to Doug as "The Voice of the Saints" as he is the sports announcer at countless Saints football games and basketball tournaments. On May 23 colleagues, alumni, family, and friends gathered to surprise Doug with the dedication of The Douglas B. Adams Press Box at Moss football field, which was officially named in his honor as a tribute to his four decades of service to our school. The dedication included remarks from Head of School Kirsten Adams and blessings and prayers led by The Rev. Sean Cavanaugh and The Rev. Christopher Miller '05. Doug's colleague and friend Physical Education Teacher Marsha Way said, "Doug's contributions cut through all aspects of the school and he has been a leader in all of those areas. His loyalty to the school, willingness to step up and help out where he can, as well as serving as a good friend and mentor to hundreds is unparalleled. Doug truly exemplifies the qualities that we hope to help our students acquire. All of this is done with an understated demeanor and the ability to bring humor to a situation that might have been unpleasant without the smiles he could bring to people's faces."
In his final convocation speech to the Upper School, we got some valuable advice from "Uncle Doug." He encouraged us to embrace the "pinball machine of life," with all of its twists and turns. And he reminded us that it's important to have hobbies. For him, it's been his music. He and his band, New Mode Grass, have entertained audiences for many years, including here at school, and Doug has written original songs to celebrate school milestones. Despite his long tenure, respect in the community, and remarkable teaching experience, Doug has always been humble in his demeanor. His humility is accompanied by a large sense of gratitude for those teachers and coaches who were "Saints" before him, and he is quick to say he stands on the shoulders of those people. He always has stories of those who mentored him, were colleagues or former students. He loves regaling tales of the "good ol' days" but also embraces the present day fun with every new teacher and student. His energetic, witty approach can make even the most reluctant Geometry or Algebra 2 student love coming to class. Sophomore Jadyn Chandler shared, "My favorite memories of Mr. Adams are any time he made jokes. My favorite one was, 'What do you call a dead parrot? A polygon!'" Doug's own family has been a lasting part of the Saints community. He and his wife, Tina, have three daughters who are alumnae: Beth (Class of '96), Jenny (Class of '94), and Katie (Class of '99). Being able to present them with their diplomas at Commencement is among Doug's fondest memories. During the spring Retirement/Farewell Reception, Mrs. Adams concluded her remarks by giving thanks to the beloved teacher. "Being a 'Saint' is an experience that is linked across decades because of individuals like Doug Adams. Thank you, Doug, for making us smarter, sillier, and Saints for life. We will miss you dearly. We wish you and your family all the best in retirement."
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"Sherley Keith has had an enormous impact on generations of students, colleagues, and families; she is the teacher they remember for a lifetime." ~Gail Wolf, retired Middle School English Teacher
Sherley Keith Middle School English Teacher & Department Coordinator St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School says farewell to Middle School English Teacher and Department Coordinator Sherley Keith, a beloved and integral member of our faculty for 36 years and a member of the community for 45. Her inspirational teaching, deep care for students and families, and academic leadership have helped shape our school culture for generations of Saints. Mrs. Keith joined the faculty of St. Agnes School in 1971, teaching English for ten years. Between 1981 and 1990 while raising her family full-time, she served as an adjunct English instructor at George Mason University and stayed connected to St. Agnes by writing the first admissions view book, chairing Grandparents' Day, and writing most of SAS's history (which she hopes to finish in retirement). She joined the faculty at St. Stephen's School in 1990 and has remained with SSSAS ever since. Mrs. Keith's love for teaching is felt by both students and her colleagues. In addition to serving as Middle School English Department Coordinator, she co-founded the New Faculty and Administrators Workshop in 1995, which she leads with the Head of School. To honor her commitment to faculty, The Sherley Osgood Keith New Faculty Workshop was officially dedicated and blessed in a surprise ceremony on May 19 that included remarks from Head of School Kirsten Adams, and blessings and prayers led by The Rev. Michael Hinson, Middle School Religion Teacher and Chaplain. It was particularly meaningful for all of the guests to participate in the dedication, as many in attendance had been a student of hers at one point in the last several decades. Several alumni, current and former faculty and staff, parents of alumni, and friends were all there to share in this special occasion. Her joy of the classroom is contagious. Her students learn to read critically and thoughtfully; to write well-crafted, insightful prose and poetry; and to contribute meaningfully to the class conversation. She particularly enjoys introducing students to Shakespeare as well as teaching empathy and social justice through works like To Kill a Mockingbird. She cherishes working with her advisories, building close bonds and celebrating much-loved traditions. Their pictures line the walls and windowsills of her classroom. Mrs. Keith has served as an advisor to many student endeavors, including the yearbook, senior class, student council, and the school's first environmental club. In 1994, she received the prestigious Alexandria Award of Excellence in Education from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.
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Gail Wolf, retired SSSAS Middle School English Teacher and longtime colleague, says: "Sherley is an educator par excellence. A master English teacher, advisor, and mentor, she has devoted her entire career to our beloved school. Sherley is an integral part of the culture and the very foundation of our Middle School, and her exemplary reputation is well-known. A strong believer in supporting new teachers, Sherley generously shares her wisdom and experience with incoming faculty each year, and even veteran teachers learn and grow from her inspiring example. Sherley has had an enormous impact on generations of students and colleagues; she is the teacher they remember for a lifetime." Middle School Spanish Teacher Josh Bauman shared: "I admire Sherley's devotion to nurturing meaningful relationships. She is compassionate, thoughtful, and lovingly strikes a balance between providing unfailing support while challenging you to be your absolute best. Above all else, Sherley genuinely desires that those around her grow and find happiness, which has made her a valued and trusted teacher, mentor, and friend to countless members of our community." Joe Wenger, Upper School English Teacher and Department Chair, said: "I feel that I too have been a student in Mrs. Keith's class. While that statement was literally true for me as a participant in her New Faculty Workshop, it is true in another sense in the way her students carry what they learned with them into the Upper School. Her graduates are just as likely to write their twelfth grade AP English essay on To Kill A Mockingbird four years later as they are to share their expertise with Shakespeare in the ninth grade. In fact, her impact on their lives has been so meaningful that students new to our school in the ninth grade seem to know Mrs. Keith and the lessons she imparts on her eighth grade English class. As long as I teach, I will be forever grateful to her as my mentor, colleague, friend, and teacher." For Mrs. Keith and her husband, Craig, being a Saint is an essential part of their family story. Their sons, Harrison '99 and Rob '03, are proud alumni of our school, and their family's friendships extend across generations. Susy Wanamaker, Middle School English Teacher, shared fond remarks about her longtime colleague and friend who she will miss seeing daily. "Sherley demonstrates the finest attributes of a teacher and mentor: intellectual strength, moral rigor, compassion, and deep thoughtfulness. She devotes careful thought to all of her work as well as to her relationships. She will be dearly missed by our community!"
"Jerry was the best fun a lot of our students ever had. He made a lot of kids happy, but more importantly he gave them joy. He gave them the joy that Einstein felt when he listened to Mozart." ~Robert Davis, Middle School Science Teacher
"The most important part to Doug—throughout everything he has done at SSSAS—has been the time in the classroom teaching. It was making connections with kids and helping them wrap their heads around everything that makes up geometry and life in general." ~Marsha Way, P.E. Teacher
Jerry Mirliani Upper School Music Teacher After 15 years of service to St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School and 27 years in the profession, the community says farewell to Upper School Music Teacher Jerry Mirliani as he retires from teaching. When Jerry joined St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School in 2001, he brought more than 12 years of teaching experience with him. He had been a teacher in public schools in Massachusetts and California, and at Berklee College of Music in Boston. At Berklee, he was part of the Music Education Department teaching ear training, analysis, conducting, music theory, and various ensembles. Prior to teaching, he was a professional musician for four years, traveling with groups out of the New York City area, most notably as the lead trumpet for the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and a multi-instrument performer with the group "Free Spirit." In 2001 he began teaching at SSSAS as the Middle School orchestra director and the band director for sixth and seventh grades. He was responsible for the Performing Arts Showcase, which he created and supervised. After seven years in the Middle School, he moved to the Upper School as the director of the Jazz Ensemble, instructor for AP Music Theory, and director of Wind Ensemble. In his eight years at the Upper School, he has enjoyed directing the Pep Band and the Pit Orchestra. In addition, he served as a coach for the JV baseball team for six years. Friend and colleague Middle School Science Department Coordinator Robert Davis said, "Jerry is such a remarkable teacher, mentor, colleague, and friend. His students look up to him with glowing admiration because he is so much more than a gifted musician and talented teacher. He is a kind and sensitive soul who connects with each of his students in a deeply personal way. Though his official title may be 'teacher,' his students see him as an inspiration, a mentor, a muse, and a respected friend. Countless times I have seen him speaking face-to-face with one of his students, warm and encouraging, like a father with a loving child. With his colleagues Jerry knows only two tempos: jovial and fun-loving or serious and positively
engaged. When he is seriously addressing a matter of importance, he pours his energy into it the same way he conducts: both with intellect and heart. When he is joking around, Jerry can be outlandish, hilarious, and silly. I hate to see Jerry leave as he has brought so much beautiful music into the lives of the students, the faculty, and all who knew him. I can only hope and pray that in retirement Jerry will strike up a great encore." During the spring Retirement/Farewell Reception, Head of School Kirsten Adams said, "Jerry loves teaching our students to understand the way music works and helping them to develop a more refined 'ear.' For eight years, he has skillfully led the Pit Orchestra for the musicals, bringing together students from all parts of the campus for one spectacular show after another. But above all, his greatest passion has been leading the Jazz Ensemble. Jazz is all about taking risks—doing something new every time you play. He has taught our students so much about lifelong learning and the thrill of taking risks—and succeeding!" Jerry and his wife, Norma, are excited to move this summer to be close to their daughter, Lorraine, and granddaughter, Jissel, who live in Charlotte, North Carolina. They also look forward to spending more time with their son, Matthew '12, who graduated from Dartmouth College in June. At the Retirement/Farewell Reception Mr. Davis shared, "Jerry told me that one of the greatest pleasures of his job was to see his students 'get completely immersed in the beauty of the music.' And why not? This is what Jerry has done his entire life. His love of playing, conducting, and listening is limitless...The man who spoke with his hands, and thus made music in all of our hearts, making us laugh, and bringing to life his love and passion for music and living, leaves us with this lesson: life is beautiful."
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THE 2016 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD
Reynaldo (Rey) Decerega '91
“
“
Through service, one realizes the power and riches of giving and how it can positively impact others. ~ Rey Decerega
BY MANDI SAPP
"My message is a simple one and one that many already know to be true—You have the power to make a difference," Rey Decerega '91 said. Rey
lives this mission every day as the Director of Programs at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington, D.C. He is passionate about providing leadership programs and career training for the young professionals there, so they can become leaders in their community. On a global scale, he has developed basketball camps in his native Panama by bringing coaches from the U.S. to teach the fundamentals of the game. "My journey in making a difference started at St. Stephen's," Rey said with heartfelt emotion. "I had teachers and coaches that took an interest in my life and I am forever thankful to them. The example set by these teachers and coaches guides much of the work that I do today." To honor his devotion and commitment to service, St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School proudly recognized Rey as the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Service Award recipient during an Upper School chapel service on May 11. "Receiving this award is a humbling moment in my life," said Rey. "For others to view my life in the context of a life of service has to be one of the highest compliments that I can receive. I am so impressed by the trajectories of those that have previously received this award and what they have done to serve others. More than anything, this award is a reflection of those
20 | SSSAS
that gave me great examples of service—teachers, coaches, professors, and my parents." Rey began his career working with students in college as a case manager for a summer youth employment program in Fairfax County. After teaching for six years he attended graduate school where he landed the opportunity to work for the nonprofit, The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, engaging college students from all over the world. Rey has continued to work with college students and young adults in a professional capacity for the past ten years, including in his current role at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Their mission is to develop the next generation of Latino leaders. Rey specifically oversees the participation of college students and young adults that come to Washington, D.C. for professional and leadership training. During their time in D.C., Rey works to ensure that they have a powerful experience throughout their placement and community service activities, and that they actively think about civic engagement, self-empowerment, community, and public policy. Bottom left photo: Head of School Kirsten Adams presenting Rey with the Distinguished Alumni Service Award. Bottom right photo left to right: Friend Melody Gonzales, Rey, and his sister, Mirey Comes.
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HISTORY OF THE AWARD Recipents: 2014: Randy Hollerith '82 2012: Elizabeth Bellino '94 2010: Maxwell Ramsey '81 Established in 2010, the biennial award honors an alumnus or alumna who through service, leadership, and achievement has distinguished him/herself at SSSAS and the community at large. The recipient should, through the quality of his/her life, spirit, and service, exemplify the ideals of the SSSAS mission: a commitment to service, the pursuit of goodness as well as knowledge, and the honoring of each person as a child of God in a caring community. Any member of the school community may nominate an alumna or alumnus for the award. The executive committee of the Alumni Association Board selects the recipient in consultation with the head of school and alumni relations staff. 22 | SSSAS
While managing a busy professional career, Rey has also devoted countless hours to his alma mater serving as a member of the SSSAS Alumni Association Board, an Admission Office Volunteer, and a Reunion Committee Member. During his time at St. Stephen's, Rey played several different sports including football, soccer, and baseball, but his primary sport was basketball. He was part of the 1989 and 1990 Sleepy Thompson Championship teams and his love of basketball continues to play a major role in his life today. Rey finished his St. Stephen's education with distinction, earning the Emmet H. Hoy Jr. Scholarship, the Model Athlete Award, and a St. Stephen's Medal. "Today is a special day in the life of our school as we recognize Rey for his commitment to service," Head of School Kirsten Adams said at the chapel service honoring him in May. During her introduction, Mrs. Adams shared a message from Rey's former geometry teacher and coach, Doug Adams: "I remember that Rey was a solid math student but, more importantly, he was a solid member of our community and a fine young man. He was a model athlete, and he always handled himself with character and class." Rey then addressed the entire Upper School with an insightful and heartfelt speech about
his service-related work. "Working with young Latinos, who often times are the first in their families to go to college, proves to be extremely rewarding. These young people come from communities that do not have resources readily available and school districts that do not always have the best learning environments. They come from families that are trying to get a piece of the American dream. By the end of the leadership program, they have a better sense of themselves and of the opportunities that they might be able to pursue in the future." Family, friends, current and former faculty, classmates, and other members of the alumni community gathered in support of Rey, attending a breakfast and the chapel service. Rey received a silver tray engraved with the Distinguished Alumni Service Award logo; names of our recipients are also inscribed on a plaque in the hallway of the Upper School. "My advice to young people who have an interest in service-related work is to align one's personal mission with that of an organization's or a cause—whether it be social, health, environmental, or anything else that one has a passion for in life," Rey said. "Furthermore, knowing one's strengths and weaknesses and how one can be an asset to the work of an organization proves important as well. The mission of whatever entity should be put at the forefront of their work and advancing that mission should guide them. Having a passion and a reason to wake up every morning to go
to work must be in place to be successful in anything that you do in life, and being passionate about service is no different." To watch a video of Rey's chapel address, visit: www.livestream.com/SSSAS. Photo on opposite page: Rey working with special needs children in Panama. Photo above: Rey with St. Stephen's classmates and friends at the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Service Award ceremony.
SERVICE AT SSSAS At Stephen's & St. Agnes School, service learning is a key part of the multidimensional JK-12 curriculum. Service and learning objectives are combined with the intent that the activity changes both the recipient and the provider of the service. Service tasks are combined with structured opportunities that lead to self-reflection, self-discovery, and the acquisition and comprehension of values, skills, and knowledge content. www.SSSAS.org | 23
Saints Go Global
...And blog about it!
This spring 90 Upper School students and 16 faculty members traveled as far as 7,500 miles on global explorations.
Six groups left Virginia bound for cultural adventures in China and Greece, the 26th Annual Normandy exchange, to celebrate 10 years working with the Pro Vita orphanage in Romania, to lend a hand making and laying adobe bricks in Nicaragua, and hosting a summer camp at our partner school in Haiti, St. Paul's. Each year they blog about their trips on SaintsGoGlobal.blogspot.com. Here are some highlights!
CHINA: Rich
Blessings & Friendship
KATERINA SILIS, '17: This has been a beautiful experience and I was blessed to have the opportunity to go on this trip. I have learned about the rich history and culture and developed strong friendships with people along the way. I know I will cultivate these friendships and that this trip is something I will always treasure.
Duck & So Much More
JACK BROWN '16: I had authentic
Peking Duck for the first time ever today. It was radical.
ROB SUTHERLAND '16: So much
new food in my short time here! I've had three different meals, and all have been delicious. I never knew that there were so many kinds of Chinese food, each with a unique flavor and textures.
Culture, Amazing Food, Surprising Architecture The Wall is Great
JOSIAH MACAY '16: On our bus ride
to the Great Wall I had great expectations. The sheer length of the wall amazed me. It was quite a hike, but I enjoyed every second of the journey.
Sensory Overload
NICKI GRAY '16: I LOVE plants and gardens, so I was kind of disappointed when the Forbidden City was all buildings and open brick yards. I expected the emperor's residence to be more serene and not so governmental...THEN we found our way to the garden in the residential section and the rock structures, trees, and pavilion/gazebos were absolutely gorgeous! I also loved seeing a traditional time-keeping drum performance and catching some jaw-dropping panoramic views of Beijing from the ancient drum
s g n i t ree ...
G
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From
tower...I was very pleasantly surprised by Xi'an. The Muslim quarter was a sensory overload. Vivid colors, strong-smelling spices, and hundreds of people crowded the space and made for a memorable experience.
could be made for a single man. I can't explain how amazing this trip has been, and I've learned so much in a short time. I am truly blessed.
Who Let the Dogs Out?
Shanghai tomorrow will be hard. The city feels international, has beautiful architecture, and good food. We finished off the trip by touring a Ming garden, participating in a Chinese tea ceremony, visiting the more modern metropolis and going to the top of China's tallest building, and then taking the ferry for some shopping at Shanghai's many luxurious malls. Shanghai is definitely a city I want to return to someday, whether for business or leisure. It capped an eventful week in China that was a life-changing experience.
JOCELYN HAWKINS '16: Had fun
in the more "trendy" Beijing hutongs (narrow streets). There was a Mexican restaurant, a cat-petting cafe, and plenty of very cute dogs. People here don't keep their dogs on leashes!
All for One Man
ROB SUTHERLAND '16: One Terracotta
warrior is three times older than our entire country. It's hard to imagine that all of that
T HE G
CHIN
A
RE
AT
W ALL
Shanghai's in My Future JACOB REINSDORF '17: Leaving
GREECE: Philosophy,
Ingenuity, Living Ruins, and Hospitality
Falling in Love
Time Travel
in Athens, I saw a city filled with lights, people from all over the world, music, dancing, delicious food, beautiful vegetation, and of course, numerous beautiful ruins. If I maintain the same level of awe I had on the first day of the trip, I'm sure I'll fall in love with this beautiful country.
same steps as ancient Greek philosophers provided me with a spiritual ou-of-body experience.
FRANKIE CORTES '17: When I arrived
We Could See for Miles
CHRISTOPHER RAINEY '18: We hiked a mountain yesterday where we could see a quarter of Greece. When we arrived at the top the view was spectacular. The mountain was surrounded by other hills and water on both sides (the Ionian and Aegean Seas). We could see a few villages.
Pleased to Meet You
MEREDITH LIAN '16: Our first day in Greece was very long. We did a lot of walking and I was still pretty jet-lagged, but it was still awesome to go see the Parthenon. The Parthenon was like a celebrity and the Agora was like a really cool person who you get to know well.
JOHN SWEENEY '16: Walking the
WILLIAM MOORE '16: There are
few ancient cities that have attained the historic standing of Corinth. From the Bema where St. Paul was tried to the Temple of Apollo and an enormous Roman forum, the history of the city was popping out of the ground. Coupled with the extensive knowledge of our fearless guide, there was hardly a fact or stone in the ancient city left unturned.
Engineering Marvels
OLIVIA GILLIAM '17: Athens was
unexpectedly expansive. Thinking I was looking at the entirety of the city, I would turn around and see more of the same density in all directions. Even though it is so large, all the buildings are seven stories at most, so wherever you are in the city you can see the Parthenon, the Athenians' "Old Lady," and several other hills with an assortment of ancient structures. Given that they see these structures pretty much
every day, the value the Athenians still hold to their antiquities was impressive. Climbing to the top of the 1,700-foot Acrocorinth was a very eye-opening experience. Even though we drove a significant portion up the mountain, the hike to the very top was steep and nothing short of a workout. After about 20 minutes of preseason-caliber panting and burning legs, we walked into a grassy clearing and I felt as though I had truly reached the sky. Even with mountains looming in all directions you could see for miles and miles. It was legitimately breathtaking. After a picnic lunch at the top, we walked back down the mountain and I began to marvel at what at logistical feat the fort was. Thinking about transporting all the materials and the effort needed to create it made my head spin, and once the materials were on site they had to actually build the fort. Climbing to the summit provided a completely newfound appreciation for the abilities of Ancient Greeks.
Greetings From...
Greek Hospitality
WILL STIERS '18: The people we
have met along the way this week have contributed greatly to our experiences. Our tour guides have been very patient with us and have taught us so much about Greek culture and Greece's ancient ruins. This trip has been made much better because of the people that have helped us.
JOHN SWEENEY '16: We left Nafplio this morning, and one of the owners of our hotel took us to his orange grove and home. He and his wife graciously invited us to pick fresh oranges and make authentic Greek cookies with them. While eating juicy oranges, listening to the chickens quibble outside, freshly shaping our cookies, and receiving a heavy dose of Greek hospitality, we could not have gotten our day off to a better start.
Athens , Greece
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ROMANIA: Secret Castles, Axes, & Snow
AUDREY SHAW '18: Today we went to this really old fort. It was super cold, but seeing the amazing views from the top of the fort was worth it! We threw axes and Lily and A.C. proved they were the strongest and the most precise and accurate! After the fort, we drove to the last monarch's palace and took a tour. It was beyond extravagant and the opulence was astounding. The snow in the mountains turned to rain as we descended to lower altitudes on the beautiful drive back to Pro Vita. Before arriving at Casa Tyrol, we made one final stop at Carrefore. Imagine Walmart, Target, Pentagon City Mall, and a movie theater wrapped into one and that is Carrefour, in the middle of miles of nothing but farming fields.
The Black Church
HUDSON ASHLEY '18: Today, we
visited the Black Church in Brasov. The church is an intimidating stone structure that towers over any building near it. There is one steeple that holds a huge bronze bell. Upon entering the
Passages and Pleasant Surprises
church through a ten-foot tall wooden door, you are greeted by vaulted ceilings and intricate stone carvings along the wall. I was stunned by the immense space. Your eyes point straight to an altar that has three beautifully drawn panels of the Holy Trinity. There is a fantastic mural of two saints and the Duchess of Aragon painted in 1476. The mural was to commemorate the royal marriage of the house of Hungary to the house of Arragon, as shown by the crests in both corners. Finally, a massive organ sits a floor above the entrance. I cannot possibly tell how long the pipes were! Romania has been full of pleasant surprises and I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.
staircase. One staircase would lead you to a roof, where you could look out over Transylvania and some remains of the fortifying wall. The tour finished in a courtyard with a well, a gong, and a medieval torturing device. After we left the castle, we had 20 minutes to explore Bran. On the way to our hotel, the party bus was filled with theological questions instead of DJ Rev's jams. The drive was beautiful, especially when it started to snow. The snow-capped mountains made a perfect picture. We had a great dinner with different types of meats. But the best part was the postdinner entertainment! All I'm going to say is that you should ask the teachers to sing when we get back.
Bran: Dracula's Secrets
On Being a Chef...and Saying Goodbye
A.C. VEITH '18: On the road to Bran
in Transylvania, the party can was LIT! Once we got there, we walked up a short hill to Dracula's Castle. The castle looked big from the outside but nothing extravagant...until you go inside! Just when you think a room doesn't have an outlet, it'll have a secret
Greetmin..g. s Fro
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LILY SMITH '18: This afternoon, we
went to help make doughnuts in the big kitchen that supplies all of the food for Pro Vita. Marta was asked to mix a huge bowl of oil and flour with her hands. After mixing the dough up in a giant bowl, we let it rise, rolled it out, cut
Roma
nia
that into strips, and then cut that into squares. Just one-eighth of the dough made over 100 doughnuts! At dinner that night, we had the doughnuts for dessert. They were so good! Following the dessert of the delicious doughnuts, it was time to finish packing and say our goodbyes to the people who had quickly became part of our lives. There were many hugs, sharing of emails, and a few tears as we said goodbye to our new friends. This was an incredible week filled with incredible experiences and definitely opened all of our eyes to a different culture halfway around the world. No matter the language we speak, the food we eat, or the religion we follow we were all able to make friends and memories with different people by smiling, playing, and laughing together.
NICARAGUA: Serving Discovering Heritage
STEPHANY GUADALUPE '17: This trip is very special for me because not only is it the first time that I've ever left the United States, but it is also my first time visiting my mom's home country. Just being in the same country where my mother grew up has already started giving me an insight into my heritage. The people, the food, and the culture are things that I've experienced my entire life, but now to see it all around me makes me feel at home somehow. I found myself awestruck by the sheer beauty of my Bella Nicaragua.
Lessons from a 6-year-old
GRACE HILLKIRK '17: The heat hit us more than we thought. The first day of working was completely brutal. The next day at work seemed even worse... However, when one of the worker's sons, Kendall, showed up, it became fun. He would run around trying to help us even when his small six-year-old body wouldn't allow it...Kendall opened our eyes to life in a poverty stricken area. We noticed his small shirt and very large pants, which were tied by a plastic bag in order to keep them from falling
and Eye-opening Experiences
down. But most of all, I noticed how happy he was. I think this is what I have learned most on the trip. Happiness is not solely based on what you have in life, rather how much you enjoy the things you have.
they have happiness, and they have each other. Seeing this today reminded me why we are here and all that our group had to offer them.
So Many Activities
The Meaning of Happiness
ISABELLE BROCATO '18: As our bus drives through the narrow dust covered roads of the small town right outside of Granada, we set out to do our last day of work. I begin to look out the window to catch a gust of wind to cool our stuffy bus and one house in particular catches my eye. The house is simply made of scraps of metal held together with barbed wire and old planks of wood. Outside this house there is an older man sitting in a half-broken plastic chair and gripped in between his tired hands, worn out by the many struggles he has endured in his life, is a baby girl. Her giggle echoes through the air and into the bus. He pulls her close and muffles her laugh as he pulls her into his chest. The way he lifts her into the air and looks at her and the smiles on their faces, fill me with joy. These people who have close to nothing have the things that they truly need. They have love,
PATRICK FULLEM '17: We have gone to a volcano, painted at a gallery, kayaked through a giant lake, and now we are headed to a market place in Masaya. I feel fortunate to be able to go on a trip like this to help a community. I can see that they get few opportunities. Here I am complaining about the heat and how much I'm sweating, when so many people here are worrying about where their next meal is coming from. We live lives that are full of opportunities and I am grateful for every one of them.
Breaking the Ice
MAGGIE BELL '17: Never before have I thoroughly engaged with the people of a different country. The experience is something larger than words. I started off the trip terrified to confront native Spanish speakers with my broken Spanish...After breaking the ice, it was easier to speak...The six kids in our
house were so interested in spending time with us and knowing what we had to say that by the end of the first day, I was able to play soccer and later talk about my life with them...It's crazy to go from one day, receiving glazed over and confused looks, to the next day, being greeted with a cheerful "Hola, Maggie! Maggie! Maggie!"
Lifetime Bonds
KOBE ADOLPH '17: The best parts of this trip have been the food and bonding with my classmates. I have become closer to everyone on this trip and as I enjoy these times now I will also enjoy looking back on them as memories.
Thanks to Mom & Dad
HARIEL KING '18: Saying goodbye to my parents was by far one of the hardest things I've had to do in my life. This trip caused me to realize how much I appreciate having my parents around, as well as to appreciate how much they have taught me.
Greetings From...
Laguna de
Apoyo, N
icaragua
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NORMANDY: Foie Où est le grand café?
(Where is the large coffee?) BOBBIE BENJAMIN '17: Everything is quainter/smaller/petite. The cars, the houses, the coffee. My French family finds it very funny every time I struggle to order a coffee that is larger at the coffee shops. But alas, even le grand café is tiny.
Une journée à l'école! (A day at school!)
STERLING GILLIAM '17: My first class was Geography. The lesson was on maritime trade, disputes, etc. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of the material I was able to understand. After a break, during which it seemed the entire school squeezed into their lounge/cafeteria area, I had two hours of Philosophy, in which my French comprehension skills were greatly humbled. Then it was another period of Geography. Since my correspondent, Chris, has chosen the "Literature" track of high school, he studies only the humanities. His classes are French, Italian, English, Philosophy, and Geography/History. Unlike in the U.S. where high school students study both the sciences and the liberal arts,
gras, classes, et beaucoup de marche
students specialize during high school in France. Chris hopes to study history at university and one day to become an archaeologist.
Un délice gothique (A gothic delicacy)
KATIE CONNOR '16: My strategy to be a good guest is just to say yes to everything they offer me, and so far it is working out pretty well. For example, last night I had foie gras for the first time, and it was GOOD. Today we went to Mont St-Michel. It is truly a beautiful place. Even from a distance, it is a sight to see because it appears to rise out of the sand. The abbey is massive, mostly constructed in the Gothic style. As a student of Ms. Hunt's Art History class and Ms. Nadler's Gothic Novel Seminar, I was in heaven. After climbing up and down the approximately 9,000 stairs (a guesstimation), we had lunch at a creperie and then walked around the island some more. The "grand rue" of Mont St-Michel is filled with food stands, restaurants, and gift stores. There are also many nooks, crannies, and passages not included in the abbey tour that we explored.
Greetmin..g. s Fro
Normandy,
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France
Une fin douce-amère? (A bittersweet end?)
FRANKIE CIAVARELLA '17: After
six wonderful days in Bayeux, we left our French families and departed for Paris. The morning began at school. First period I attended an English class, where all the French kids wanted to hear our thoughts on Donald Trump, gun control, and the American healthcare system. Not quite the culture I was interested in discussing. After that, the Americans left to explore the town of Bayeux. We indulged in café, eclairs, and un peu de shopping, then returned to the school for a final lunch with our French correspondents. One definite thing I've noticed about French social culture is the difference in expectations between the genders. For instance, at lunch the boys like to play sports while the girls stand along the side and watch. Catie, Margaret, and I decided to break this invisible barrier. Both the French boys and girls were a little thrown off when we joined the game of soccer being played...and Catie and I both scored!
Nous devons marcher?
(We have to walk?) BIT BROWN '17: Paris. 37,615 steps. It took 16.43 miles to reach dinner today. 44 staircases (thanks Louvre), and 3,030 calories burned later, I can finally sit down and enjoy an overflow of bread, cheese, and hopefully tons of chocolate, without any remorse at all. And yet, even though my feet still hurt and my hands ache from clicking a small silver button all day, I find it was completely worth it. I was worried about the inability to use the metro (due to the attack in Belgium) and not being able to see all the sights—but we kind of did. Yes, it took longer, but it was also beautiful. We walked, and I saw so much more than I would've had I been in a four-walled steel rectangle rushing to each and every site. It made the view of the Eiffel Tower more magnificent, and the sculptures in the Arc du Triomphe more special. France has been amazing, and I loved Paris and the newfound ability to make others believe I'm truly French. It's been great, and I'm sad to leave. Good thing the teachers totally had this all planned so we'd be too tired tomorrow to do anything but sleepwalk all the way on to the plane. Au revoir, Paris, et tu me manques.
HAITI: Planning A Different Beginning
OLIVIA GILLIAM '17 & KAT HARDING '18: After a full day of
traveling, we landed in the small and humid Port-au-Prince airport. Once through customs, we were greeted by Father Walin and Madame Serena from our partner school, St. Paul's. After we loaded all the bags, we piled into the vehicles to begin our two-hour journey to Montrouis. This bumpy ride provided us our first glimpse into Haitian life and the opportunity to bond with each other before the work really began. The next morning we awoke to a seaside view, and ate a delicious Haitian breakfast by the water. Shortly thereafter, we departed, supplies in hand, for the seminary and the first day of camp. After months of planning, our ideas were finally materializing. Upon arrival, we organized the supplies and proceeded to introduce ourselves to the kids. Our introductions quickly became playing games of soccer, keep-away, passing, and music making. One girl in our group started singing the Macarena and our group, along with several others, joined in. Something that stood out to us was how welcoming the children were. Minutes after we arrived kids were holding our hands, braiding our hair,
and Running a Summer Camp at St. Paul's and asking us to join in their games. On the way back to the hotel, we finally had a quiet moment to reflect on the first day. The day's activities did not quite follow the schedule we had planned at home, but nonetheless it was an eye-opening day full of fun activities and new friendships.
Inspired by Smiles
TAYLOR BORDES '17 & MATTHEW MAY '17: We were greeted
with warm hugs and familiar smiles. All the kids knew their groups and held on tightly to our hands, arms, and torsos when called. Our morning activities included soccer and the ball tossing game "taps." Halfway through playtime, we stopped for an English lesson, in which we taught food, animals, and family members vocabulary. Then we made T-shirt bags and tie-dye shirts. The bags quickly became a group project for us to bond with the kids. The tie-dye shirts were a little messy, but we had lots of fun decorating them. The warm greetings of the children on day two inspired us to have more energy throughout the day and cherish each moment we had with the children. This trip has become a great learning experience that has given us all a new perspective we will take from Montrouis to D.C.
A Special Birthday
The Best Goodbye
made today special for me was James' birthday. James is an eleven-year-old Haitian. After a day of soccer and reading, James grabbed my hand and called out his signature "Hey!" to whisper "aujourd'hui est mon annivairsaire." As important as any eleventh birthday is, James' really stood out not because of what it meant for him, but rather what it meant to me. I remember my own birthdays as a child and how excited I felt, so James' happiness really drove home the fact the he and the other Haitians are kids, just like I was and everyone has been. Even more than the hours spent kicking soccer balls, this experience showed me the humanity that we share with the Haitians. I'll remember what is the same in Haiti and the U.S. more than what is different.
day of camp, we made sure to leave an everlasting bond between us and the kids and us, and we succeeded. Our day began with sports, bracelet making, and face painting. At first, we were worried that the concept of paint and kids would turn into chaos, but we were surprised to find out otherwise. The kids would sit in front of us and allow us to draw whatever design we felt suitable. They were delighted with anything we drew on them. However, the main event of the day was swimming with the kids in the ocean. During that half hour swim, we were treated as family. We would be standing in the water, and out of nowhere a kid would come and hold our hand. This affection shows how close the campers bonded with us within a four-day period. On the first day, we were all timid and unsure of what to expect from the kids, but by the last day we were family. The concept of us being strangers vanished, and they considered us one of them. It was the best goodbye we could ask for.
DARIUS PHILLIPS'17 & MALCOLM REYNOLDS '17: What
Also, today we introduced the kids to the musical instruments we brought, including recorders, kazoos, and tambourines. The children seemed to have had an innate ability to play these instruments. They picked them up and started making music. Some sang gospel songs while others played.
Greetings From...
KENDALL DAVIS '19 & ANDREW KIAMA '19: For the final
MO N HA TROU ITI IS,
www.SSSAS.org | 29
UPPER SCHOOL PRIZE DAY
Math, Science, and Technology Awards back: Eric Karsten, Sterling Gilliam '17, Nolan Thompson, Sam Dubke '17 front: Emma Somer '17, Jessica Edwards '17, Sammy Archer, Anne Henshaw
Religion Prizes: Taheeb Sonekan, Anne Bailey
Athletics and Sportsmanship Awards back: Harrison Bluestein, Andrew Trainer, Ja'Von Price, Charlie O'Brien front: Adrienne Atkins, Sarah Griswold, Ellie Carson, Olivia Pugh '17, Giddings Harrison
The Faculty Excellence Award
The O'Connor History Prize
The Yearbook Dedication
The Marjorie M. Norris Award
St. Stephen's & St. Agnes 12-, 13-, & 14-Year Veterans
The Karig Writing Prize
Lower School Art Teacher Anne Ross Upper School Art History Teacher Kara Sandoval Seniors Starting in Junior Kindergarten Logan Akey, Adrienne Atkins, Caroline Curran, Anna Godek, Alex Keefe, Isabel Shaw, Annakate Shepherdson Seniors Starting in Kindergarten Justin Alexandre, Sammy Archer, Ann Bailey, Emily Baldridge, Harrison Bluestein, Nancy Brooks, Sam Burke, Ellie Carson, Camryn Collette, Mary Elizabeth Cordia, Molly Dougherty, Serena Gillian, Stafford Grayson, Sarah Griswold, Giddings Harrison, Haley Hassell, Erin Jacob, Charlotte Jones, David Karol, Sarah Lowe, Holden Mauk, Bennett Miller, Zachary Miller, Jordan Randle, John Repetti, Rebecca Smith, Eden Solomon, Ben Stevens, Kelsey Van Horne, Palmer Voorhees Seniors Starting in First Grade Helen Cunningham, Matthew Fisher, Jocelyn Hawkins, William Moore, Turner Schmidt The following recognitions and awards were presented to seniors unless otherwise noted.
The Leslie Jones Latin Prize Ann Whitfield Bailey
The Michalot Cup
Nancy Robinson Brooks
The Medal of Excellence in Spanish Helen Elise Cunningham
The Mathematics Award
Eric Thomas Karsten and Samantha Rebecca Archer
The Technology Prize
Nolan Francis Thompson
The Courtenay Marshall Cochran Award for Science Katherine Ann Henshaw
The Roy Edward Byrd Award Eric Thomas Karsten
Anna Sophia Godek
Caroline Barrett Curran Isabel LeMaster Shaw
The Charles James Shell Memorial Prize for English John Marshall Sweeney
The Ann G. Lindsey Poetry Prize Haley Ann Hassell
The Montgomery Award for Humanities
Kathleen Mary Winifred Connor
The Frank Niepold Arts Prize Adrienne Virginia Atkins
The Visual Arts Award Nicholas Miller Gerson
The Michael Holt Award Magdeline Erin Bell
The Performing Arts Awards
Instrumental Arts: John Marshall Sweeney Vocal Arts: Samuel Anderton Burke Dramatic Arts: Eric Thomas Karsten
The Edward E. Tate Senior Religion Prize Ann Whitfield Bailey
The Perkins Cup
Taheeb Olatayo Sonekan
The Helen Arny Macan Scholarship Award Samuel Gardner Dubke '17
The Salutatorian
Ann Whitfield Bailey
The Valedictorian
Isabel LeMaster Shaw
The Farewell Address Ja'Von Akiel Price
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Visual & Performing Arts Awards John Sweeney, Sam Burke, Adrienne Atkins, Nick Gerson, Eric Karsten
The SSSAS Medals The St. Agnes Cup & The Emmett H. back: Taheeb Sonekan, Juan-Pablo Martinez, Dokken Shapero, Charlie O'Brien Hoy Jr. Citizenship Award front: Adrienne Atkins, Caroline Curran, Sarah Lowe, Anna Godek Eric Karsten & Isabel Shaw
Governor's School Appointments
French – Alex David Malikyar '17 Humanities – Matthew Goodrich Li May '17, Gwendolyn Grace Rak '18, Jacob Patrick Reinsdorf '17, Malcolm Tucker Reynolds '17 Latin – James Paul Wilusz '17 Spanish – Katherine Stephanie Silis '17
The Hoy Scholars
Christian Alexander Corpening '18, Gabrielle Marie Sullivan '18, Jorge Hernan Arrate '17, Kara Grace Campbell '17
The Donald Gayle Scholarship Mathematics Prize
Samuel Gardner Dubke '17, Jessica Shannon Edwards '17, and Emma Alexandra Somer '17
The George Washington University Applied Science Prize Sterling Gary Gilliam '17
The John Morrow Stanton Memorial Athletic Award Olivia Ann Lopez Pugh '17
The Esther Carroll Murphy Award for Creativity Afua Sekyere Nyantakyi '18
Harrison Clark Bluestein
The Outstanding Athlete Awards
Eloise Beaupre Carson, Andrew Dayton Trainer
The Sportsmanship Awards
Sarah Giddings Harrison, Ja'Von Akiel Price
Recognition of Military Appointments/Scholarships
Maxwell Redmond Gallahan – Virginia Military Institute, Naval ROTC Charles O'Brien – U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School Austin Melik Talbert-Loving – U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School
The Jane Lywood Cup Nancy Robinson Brooks
The Macondray Trophy Ja'Von Akiel Price
The Howard Cup
Sarah Elizabeth Lowe
The Senior Class Award Sean Michael Dowling '17
The Athletic Council Silver Bowl Participation Awards
10 Seasons: Logan Blair Akey, Camryn June Collette, Caroline Barrett Curran, Emmett Lafayette Dunn, Samuel John Dyson, Bennett Mallette Miller, Zachary Mallette Miller, Anna Leigh Pusey, William Christopher Revers, Jasmine Janae Walker, Katherine Ruth Wood 11 Seasons: Madison Jean Garrett, Isobel Anne Paoletta, Ja'Von Akiel Price, Jordan Ahmad Randle 12 Seasons: Adrienne Virginia Atkins, Matthew Clinton Fisher, Mary Grace Gately, Sarah Meade Griswold, Andrew Dayton Trainer
The Helene Haskin Krause Award Adrienne Virginia Atkins
The Scholar Athlete Award for Boys Charles O'Brien
The Daingerfield Ashton Model Athlete Award Sarah Meade Griswold
The Model Athlete for Boys Award
The Fathers' Club Award
Ann Whitfield Bailey, Ja'Von Akeil Price
The Association of Parents and Teachers Award Samantha Rebecca Archer
The Carroll Lastelic Award Nicole Annette Gray
The St. Stephen's & St. Agnes Medals
Adrienne Virginia Atkins, Caroline Barrett Curran, Anna Sophia Godek, Sarah Elizabeth Lowe, Juan-Pablo Martinez, Charles O'Brien, Dokken Alexander Shapero, Taheeb Olatayo Sonekan
The St. Agnes Cup
Isabel LeMaster Shaw
The Emmett H. Hoy Jr. Citizenship Award Eric Thomas Karsten
See more photos of our year-end events on www.flickr.com/saintsphotos/sets
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MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARDS DAY
The St. Stephen's & St. Agnes Cup Ryan Vuono
The Richard P. Babyak Awards for Eighth Grade Lex Long, Florence Kane, Liliana Dowling, Tim Keefe
The Richard P. Babyak Awards
The faculty confers these awards upon students who have, by their actions throughout the year, made our school and community a better place. Sixth Grade: Noah Cummings, Joan O'Connell, Noah Potholm, Jordan Resnick Seventh Grade: John Fontham, Elle Krese, Skye Schofield-Saba, Bo Siegel Eighth Grade: Liliana Dowling, Florence Kane, Tim Keefe, Lex Long
The Athletic "Saint" Awards
The coaches confer this award upon the boy and girl in each grade who exemplify sportsmanship, cooperation, and a positive attitude. Sixth Grade: Maggie Gately, Ryan Osinksi Seventh Grade: Sam Bjarnason, Caitlin Bucceri Eighth Grade: Simone Holland, Ben Wayer
The Brooks Math Award
The seventh grade math faculty presents this award to the seventh grade boy and girl with the greatest achievement and interest in math. Adrienne Lai, Will Matia
The Director's Award
The Director's Award for Eighth Grade: Nick Griepentrog & Sylvie Weiman
Department Excellence Awards
Presented by their teachers to the eighth grade boy and girl who have best demonstrated strong scholarship and interest in a particular subject. The Band Award Fred Gelholff, Karlee Whetstone The Chorus Award Nick Griepentrog, Maggie Traverse The Drama Award Abbie Henshaw, Lex Long The English Award Jack Garland, Florence Kane The French Award Jessica Lopez, Brian Maddox The History Award Claire Fergusson, Nick Siracuse The Latin Award Jay Cunningham, Simone Holland
The faculty confers this award upon the boy and girl in each grade who has made the most of his or her gifts of character and intellect. Sixth Grade: Finn Jensen, Birukti Sullivan Seventh Grade: Tripp Pratt, Katie Whalen Eighth Grade: Nick Griepentrog, Sylvie Weiman
The Math Award Charlotte Gehrs, Killian Vetter
The Sinclair Cup
The Religion Award Alice Hurley, Derek Johnson
The seventh grade faculty confers this award upon the seventh grade boy and girl who exemplify loyalty, integrity, leadership, cooperation, and scholastic endeavor. Callie Heimbach, Jack Pessaud
The Stebbins Cup
The sixth grade faculty confers this award upon the sixth grade boy and girl who best exemplify community spirit, compassion, and consideration of others. Ellie Hanley, Sam Tampubulon
The Fellowship Prize
The eighth grade class confers this award upon the boy and girl in the eighth grade who possess the best qualities of a true friend. Derek Johnson, Florence Kane
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The Orchestra Award Charlotte Gehrs, Patrick Lavayen
The Science Award Abbie Henshaw, Ben Wayer The Spanish Award Florence Kane, Ryan Vuono The Visual Arts Award Andrew Knops, Bateman Solms
The St. Stephen's & St. Agnes Cup
Presented to the eighth grade student who exemplifies scholarship, character, leadership, and citizenship. Ryan Vuono
CLASS OF 2020 GRADUATION
Snapshots...
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LOWER SCHOOL GRANDPARENTS' DAY
Snapshots...
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CLASS OF 2023 RECOGNITION
Snapshots...
www.SSSAS.org | 35
Accepting the award at the June ceremony (left to right): Associate Head of School for Strategic Initiatives Bob Weiman, Business Manager Beth Chase, Head of School Kirsten Adams, Director of Advancement Valerie Burke, and former Communications Director Linda Stratton.
SSSAS Named #1 Midsize Workplace SSSAS IS PLEASED TO BE NAMED THE WASHINGTON POST'S #1 MIDSIZE WORKPLACE in the greater Washington area for 2016. More than 3,100 employers were invited to participate in the thirdannual Top Workplaces program this year, and 150 were selected. Evaluation for Top Workplaces was based solely upon feedback from an employee survey conducted this winter by WorkplaceDynamics, LLC, a leading research firm on organizational health and employee engagement. In 2015, the school's first year participating, SSSAS was honored to be named the #2 midsize workplace.
"We are thrilled to be recognized for this award, which reflects our outstanding faculty, staff, and administrators," said Head of School Kirsten Adams. "Their passion, professionalism, and dedication to our students and each other is remarkable. From the moment you step on campus, you find a deep commitment to our mission—from every person, in every part of the school. I am proud and grateful to be part of this extraordinary community of first-rate educators and lifelong learners." The rankings were published on www.WashingtonPost.com and in a special Washington Post Magazine on June 19. In addition to the award, SSSAS was highlighted in two articles, one featuring SSSAS faculty innovation and technology programs and the other including a Q&A with Mrs. Adams about school culture and leadership. In the survey, SSSAS employees pointed to our mission and the school's direction, leadership, innovative atmosphere, professional development, resources, and collaborative support from both colleagues and parents as some of the important factors in making our school a rewarding place to work.
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"We are thrilled to be recognized for this award, which reflects our outstanding faculty, staff, and administrators."
Our Mission To help our students succeed in a complex and changing world, we seek to inspire a passion for learning, an enthusiasm for athletic and artistic endeavor, a striving for excellence, a celebration of diversity, and a commitment to service. Our mission is to pursue goodness as well as knowledge and to honor the unique value of each of our members as a child of God in a caring community.
Saints in Action
Randy Hollerith '82 Named Dean THE REV. RANDOLPH "RANDY" MARSHALL HOLLERITH '82 HAS BEEN NAMED THE 11TH DEAN OF THE WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL. Randy is an Episcopal priest with 25
years of leadership experience, most recently serving 16 of those as Rector of St. James's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia. "This Cathedral is a holy place that calls our city, our country, and all people of faith to work for justice, peace and compassion," Randy said. "I am honored to be called to serve as the Dean of the Cathedral and thrilled to be part of this beloved national institution." As Dean, Randy will oversee an institution that functions as a national church dedicated to serving the country and its many faith traditions; a national treasure, serving worshipers and visitors; the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington; and a convener, dedicated to bringing people together in conversation and partnership. The National Cathedral is the seat of both the presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church and the Bishop of the Diocese of Washington. Randy is the 2014 recipient of the St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School Distinguished Alumni Service Award, recognizing his leadership in the growth of the largest mission program in the Diocese of Virginia and dramatically expanding programs and participation in St. James's outreach ministries, both locally and globally. Congratulations to Randy on this appointment, as he leads the Cathedral in its mission to be a spiritual home for the nation and a house of prayer for all people. He will be formally installed later this year.
Top photo: Elliot Karsten '18, Evelyn Perfall '19, Zach Morris '18 Bottom photo: Sammy Archer '16, Eric Karsten '16, Ann Bailey '16
"Mathletes" Conquer in Competitions UPPER SCHOOL MATH TEAMS CONTINUED TO EXCEL IN LOCAL COMPETITIONS THIS YEAR. The ninth and tenth grade Honors Geometry and Honors Algebra 2/Trigonometry team won the 2015-2016 Independent School Division (Fibonacci Division) of the Junior Math League (JML), sponsored by the Northern Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The team competed in six contests over the course of the year and finished in first place. The team also tied for second place out of all the 21 public and independent high schools that competed this year. This is the highest our team has ever finished. Students placing were: First Place: Elliot Karsten '18; Second Place Tie: Zach Morris '18 and Evelyn Perfall '19. In addition to placing first in the JML, our varsity team of Advanced Precalculus and AP Calculus students finished first in the Alexandria and Arlington Division of the Virginia Math League. The students participated in six contests over the course of the school year. Students placing in the 2015-2016 Alexandria and Arlington Division of the Virginia Math League competition are: First Place: Sammy Archer '16; Second Place: Eric Karsten '16; Third Place: Ann Bailey '16.
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SAINTS IN ACTION
Front row, left to right: Johnny Rivera, Lara Schwoebel, Colleen McNeil, Valerie Burke, Jeanne Bullock, Deb Pollak, Emily Geiger, Susan Hamon, Matt Williams; back row: Mairead Viegas, Michael Hinson, Melanie Streed, Smitty Smith, Rebecca Gehlhoff, Laura Walker, Jim Supple
SSSAS Anniversary Milestones THE FOLLOWING FACULTY AND STAFF WERE RECOGNIZED for their years of service this June: 10 YEARS: Emily Geiger, Upper School Math Teacher Anete Lopez, Transportation Bus Driver Johnny Rivera, Director of Security/ Assistant Plant Manager
Lara Schwoebel,Lower School Admistrative Assistant
Jim Supple, Upper School Associate Dean of Students/ Director of Summer Programs Mairead Viegas, Upper School Spanish Teacher Matt Williams, Technical Support Specialist 20 YEARS: Rebecca Gehlhoff, Lower School Music Teacher Susan Hamon, Admissions Data Entry/ Communications Photographer
Colleen McNeil, Director of Information Technology Melanie Streed, Middle School Latin Teacher
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25 YEARS: Jeanne Bullock, Lower School Nurse
Valerie Burke, Director of Advancement
Tim Doyle, Associate Director of College Counseling
Michael Hinson, Middle School Chaplain/Religion Teacher
Theodore "Smitty" Smith, Lower School Maintenance Supervisor Laura Walker, Lower & Middle School French 30 YEARS: Deb Pollak, Lower School Art Teacher 45 YEARS: Kathy Jenkins, Lower School P.E. Teacher/ Head Girls Lacrosse Coach
SAINTS IN ACTION
Students Create Exciting New Campus Enhancements! STRIVING TO EARN THEIR EAGLE SCOUT MERIT BADGES, TWO STUDENTS PUT THEIR DESIGN-THINKING SKILLS TO THE TEST when they created and built innovative enhancements on our Upper and Middle School campuses! At the Upper school, senior Eric Karsten created an outdoor classroom to give students and faculty the opportuity to combine studying hard with the beautiful outdoors. The classroom is equipped with a chalkboard, Wi-Fi access, and six benches in an arch. Eric designed the classroom and researched the needs of the faculty to ensure the best possible use of the space. At the Middle School, eighth grader Andrew Knops was inspired in a different direction—something for recess! He designed and built a gaga ball court. Similar to dodgeball, gaga is a fast-paced, high-energy sport played with one ball in an octagonal pit. The project involved fundraising, designing, and construction of the court.
Saints Win a Cappie Award THE SSSAS STAGE ONE PLAYERS WERE HONORED WITH TWO CAPPIES NOMINATIONS FOR THE FALL PRODUCTION OF "THE 39 STEPS." Zach Gaydos '19, Katie Henshaw '16, Alex Kramer '18, and Dokken Shapero '16 took home the Cappie for Sound in a drama production at the Cappies Gala on June 12 at the Kennedy Center. The second nomination was in the Special Effects and/or Technology category, which recognized Eric Karsten '16 and Nolan Thompson '16. The Cappies (Critics and Awards Program) is a program through which high school theatre and journalism students are trained as critics, attend shows at other schools, write reviews, and publish those reviews in local newspapers like The Washington Post. At the end of the year, the student critics vote for awards that are presented at a formal Cappies Gala.
A VERTICAL GARDEN? GREAT IDEA! PETER BEHREND '17 AND DUSTY RILES '17 CREATED A MOVEABLE VERTICAL GARDEN that withstands frigid rain as well as blistering heat. Located in the Upper School Perkins Courtyard, it's home to strawberries, mint, and borage, and made of repurposed materials. Notice the used soda bottles?
Looking for more news?
Visit ourMedia Mashup page to stay up-to-date! www.SSSAS.org www.SSSAS.org | 39
SAINTS IN ACTION
SPRING ATHLETICS GOLF
Overall Record: 3-5-1 Senior Class earned first conference win in five seasons with victory over St. Albans. Turner Gray '17 qualified for the VISAA State Golf Tournament. IAC All-League: Turner Gray '17 Outstanding Athlete: Turner Gray '17 Saint Award: Miller DeLancey '17 Alexandria Sportsman's Club Athlete of the Year: Turner Gray '17
Turner Gray '17
BOYS TENNIS
Overall Record: 13-6 Advanced to both the IAC Conference Championship and the VISAA State Championship matches IAC All-League: Cam Cohen '16, Chase Cohen '19, William Clark '19 VISAA All-State First Team: Chase Cohen '19 VISAA All-State Second Team: Cam Cohen '16, William Clark '19 All-Met Honorable Mention: Chase Cohen '19 All-Met Tennis Coach of the Year: Coach Kinde Taye Outstanding Athlete(s): Chase Cohen '19, William Clark '19 Saint Award: Cam Cohen '16 JV Coach's Award: Chris Collins '17
Cam Cohen '16 Photography on this page: Jocelyn Hawkins '16 and Jo Herget '17 Photography on opposite page: Jameson Bloom '13
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GIRLS LACROSSE
Record: 25-1 ISL AA Division Regular Season and Tournament Champions. VISAA Division 1 State Champions ISL All-League: Zoe Belodeau '17, Ellie Carson '16, Mollie Miller '17, Posie Paoletta '16, Olivia Pugh '17, Anna Pusey '16, Caroline Wiseman '17 (honorable mention) VISAA Division 1 Player of the Year: Ellie Carson '16 VISAA All-State First Team: Zoe Belodeau '17, Mollie Miller '17, Posie Paoletta '16, Caroline Wiseman '17 VISAA All-State Second Team: Elena Ricci '17 VISAA Division 1 Coach of the Year: Coach Kathy Jenkins All-Met First Team: Zoe Belodeau '17, Ellie Carson '16 All-Met Second Team: Mollie Miller '17 All-Met Honorable Mention: Grayson Offutt '18, Anna Pusey '16 Outstanding Athlete(s): Ellie Carson '16, Posie Paoletta '16 Saint Award(s): Molly Dougherty '16, Palmer Voorhees '16 JV Coach's Award: Emma Day '18 Alexandria Sportsman's Club Athlete of the Year: Ellie Carson '16
BOYS LACROSSE
Record: 21-4 Winningest team in program history with 21 wins. Advanced to IAC Championship. VISAA Division 1 State Champions IAC All-League: Justin Alexandre '16, Chase Goree '16, Sam Dyson '16, Ben Martin '16, Wade Shervin '16 VISAA Division 1 Player of the Year: Harrison Bluestein '16 VISAA All-State First Team: Justin Alexandre '16, Chase Goree '16, Sam Dyson '16, Ben Martin '16, Wade Shervin '16 VISAA All-State Second Team: Garrison Kedda '16 VISAA Division 1 Coach of the Year: Coach Andy Taibl All-Met Second Team: Sam Dyson '16 All-Met Honorable Mention: Chase Goree '16, Ben Martin '16 Outstanding Athlete(s): Sam Dyson '16, Wade Shervin '16 Saint Award: Will Molster '16 JV Coach's Award: Jackson Reynolds '19 Academic All-American: Ben Martin '16 Alexandria Sportsman's Club Athlete of the Year: Sam Dyson '16 Alexandria Sportsman's Club Coach of the Year: Coach Andy Taibl
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Katie Henshaw '16
SOFTBALL Will Salmon '16
Overall Record: 7-5 ISL A Division Tournament Champions Regular Season ISL A Co Champions ISL All-League: Katie Henshaw '16, Maya Tumiwa '18 Outstanding Athlete: Katie Henshaw '16 Saint Award: Ann Bailey '16 JV Coach's Award: Katie Manzo '18
BASEBALL
Overall Record: 7-11 Final IAC Conference Standing: 4th Advanced to IAC Semifinals IAC All-League: Connor Campbell '18, Tommy Cloud '16, Will Salmon '16 Outstanding Athlete: Will Salmon '16 Saint Award: Jorge Arrate '17 JV Coach's Award: Connor Becton '18
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Photography: Jameson Bloom '13, Jocelyn Hawkins '16, Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76
Jordan Walker '18
BOYS TRACK
Final IAC Conference Standing: 5th Final VISAA State Standing: 7th The Relay Team of Khalil Osman '16, Ja'Von Price '16, Jordan Walker '18, and Curtis Borden '19 won the 4X200 Relay and set a new record at the Draper Invitational. Jordan Walker '18 was also IAC Champion in the High Jump. IAC All-League: Jordan Walker '18 Outstanding Athlete: Jordan Walker '18 Saint Award: Ja'Von Price '16 JV Coach's Award: Andrew Buckman '19
Jeannine Walker '18
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD
Final ISL Conference Standing: 13th Final VISAA State Standing: 10th The Relay Team of Ellie Garland '17, Caroline Sweet '17, Audrey Androus '18 and Jeannine Walker '18 placed 3rd in the 4X400 Relay at the VISAA State Championship Outstanding Athlete: Audrey Androus '18 Saint Award: Adrienne Atkins '16 JV Coach's Award: Katharina Harding '18
Jordan Walker '18, Curtis Borden '19, Coach Scott McLeod, Ja'Von Price '16, Khalil Osman '16
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Saints and a Coach Honored by Alexandria Sportsman's Club Solms Sisters Win Gold in Rowing In a three-week span Emerson '16 and Phoebe Solms '17 won gold in the Girls Senior Double at the largest high school rowing competition in the world, the Stotesbury Cup Regatta. Next they won the Women's Varsity Double Scull event at the Scholastic Rowing Assocation of America's 2016 National Championship Regatta. The sisters were named to the All-Met First Team.
Nine Saints athletes were each named a 2015-2016 Athlete of the Year for their outstanding athletic accomplishments and were recognized at the 61st Annual Alexandria Sportsman's Club banquet. Boys Lacrosse Coach Andy Taibl was also honored as Coach of the Year. As pictured above, the Athletes of the Year are: (front row) Ellie Carson '16 - lacrosse, Alec Coackley '17 - ice hockey, Emerson Solms '16 - rowing, Max Gallahan '16 wrestling; back row: Turner Gray '17 - golf, Ian Thompson '16 - swimming, Cam Cohen '16 - tennis, Taheeb Sonekan '16 (pictured for winning a scholarship, see below), Sam Dyson '16 - lacrosse; and not pictured: Frankie Cortes-Inchauspe '17 - diving. The ASC awarded Taheeb Sonekan a $2,000 college scholarship. Taheeb was chosen from a competitive pool of applicants based on his athletic and academic achievements.
35 Saints to Play at Collegiate Level Harrison Bluestein, Lacrosse Sidney Mattern Burnett, Lacrosse Eloise Carson, Lacrosse Camron Cohen, Tennis Camryn Collette, Lacrosse Mary Elizabeth Cordia, Riding Molly Dougherty, Lacrosse Sam Dyson, Lacrosse Matthew Fisher, Lacrosse 44 | SSSAS
Fionnuala Fortune, Soccer Max Gallahan, Wrestling Mary Grace Gately, Lacrosse Chase Goree, Lacrosse Sarah Griswold, Lacrosse Sarah Giddings Harrison, Lacrosse Haley Hassell, Lacrosse Erin Jacob , Lacrosse Garrison Kedda, Lacrosse
Ben Martin, Lacrosse Bennett Miller, Lacrosse Zachary Miller, Lacrosse Khalil Osman, Football Isobel "Posie" Paoletta, Lacrosse Kobe Pinkney, Football Chauncey Pittman, Basketball Anna Pusey, Lacrosse Wade Shervin, Lacrosse
Emerson Solms, Rowing Taheeb Sonekan, Football Austin Talbert-Loving, Football Ian Thompson, Swimming Andrew Trainer, Football Palmer Voorhees, Lacrosse Jasmine Walker, Lacrosse Katherine Wood, Lacrosse
alumni connections Inaugural SSSAS Affinity Group Hits Five Year Mark BY ZACH TERWILLIGER '99 This fall will mark the five-year anniversary of the founding of the Saints Legal Affinity and Public Policy Group ("Affinity Group"). For those not yet familiar with the Affinity Group, it is a community of alumni, current parents, parents of alumni, faculty, and friends of SSSAS who either toil in the fields of law or public policy or are simply interested in the subject matter, programming, or connecting with other members. What began as an idea hatched by an alumnus, steadfastly supported by an initial founding membership, the school, and the Alumni Association Board, has flourished into a thriving network of saints that extends beyond SSSAS's three campuses.
2013
2014
2016
Parent of alumni George Terwilliger, Eric Holder, and current parents Alice Fisher and Ken Wainstein
Montez Anderson '93 and the late Justice Anton Scalia
Alumni Board member Zach Terwilliger '99 listens to John Moran '03 address an SSSAS AP Government class.
We have grown from approximately eight original members to a membership of 200 strong. Our cohort includes senior law firm partners, government officials, lobbyists, investigative reporters, political strategists, business owners, agents, elected politicians, judges, real estate developers and brokers, prosecutors, law clerks, teachers, and many more. Our mission and founding principle is to strengthen the SSSAS community amongst alumni, parents, and parents of alumni, and to bring each of these groups together to benefit the school, the current students, and one another. We have striven to provide opportunities for camaraderie, fellowship, networking, enrichment, and most importantly, connection back to SSSAS. How have we sought to accomplish this lofty goal? For the past five years, we have continued to recruit and retain new Affinity Group members. In addition, we have hosted five events that would leave most prestigious universities green with envy. Our keynote addresses have been delivered by individuals typically found on the collegiate commencement circuit, yet we were blessed to host them in boardrooms with approximately 150 attendees. These speakers have included retired U.S. Senator John Warner; an extremely decorated member of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, better known as Seal Team 6; former Attorney General Eric Holder; the late Justice Antonin Scalia; and former Attorney General Michael Mukasey. It is a testament to SSSAS and its community members that these incredibly busy and sought after individuals would readily agree to meet and address the Affinity Group. We have been incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to engage with these titans in an intimate, off-the-record gathering where we can most benefit from their experience, guidance, and wit. Both prior to and following the remarks of our headline speakers, members of the Affinity Group have had the opportunity to meet and reconnect with a diverse cross section of SSSAS community members. More recently, we have begun to take additional steps toward advancing the Affinity Group even farther. This has taken two forms. First, we have begun more direct interaction with the current student body through guest lectures, mentoring calls, and lunches. Second, we have also taken steps to achieve greater formalization and communication of the Affinity Group. This has taken the form of the creation of an official directory of members, the creation of a LinkedIn group, a Twitter account, and the commissioning of an official logo. The Affinity Group is a joint venture between the Alumni Association Board and the Alumni Office, and we are always looking to bring new members into the fold and are greatly appreciative of any individuals who are interested in getting more involved and playing a more active role in the growth and governance of the group. There is no fee or qualifications to be included and if you would like to join the Affinity Group or are already a member that is interested in taking a more active role, please email Affinity Group Chair Zach Terwilliger '99 (terwilliger.zachary@gmail.com) or Alumni Director Tyler Burr (tburr@sssas.org). www.SSSAS.org | 45
St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School HOMECOMING & REUNION WEEKEND 2016 OCTOBER 21-22
KEEP THE SPIRIT ALIVE! INFORMATION & REGISTRATION: WWW.SSSAS.ORG/REUNION 46 | SSSAS
alumni connections FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD PRESIDENT As the 2015-2016 school year comes to a close, I am proud to say that the Alumni Association celebrated one of its most rewarding years. Our 25th Annual Sleepy Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament, held at Belle Haven Country Club, once again was a phenomenal event that welcomed over 120 golfers. Alumni, members of the Saints community, and friends enjoyed a round of golf, lunch, dinner, contests and prizes! We were fortunate to accept several new sponsors and look forward to another successful tournament next year. The Alumni Board is proud to have been engaged in some of the great programming at SSSAS throughout the year, namely, the APT's annual fundraising Gala, "A Night in Napa," our "Senior Welcome Day" where we receive our soon to be graduates into the Alumni Association, the honoring of SSSAS faculty/staff members at the farewell/retirement reception, and, of course, supporting our "Saints" sports teams and productions. As a Board we are heartfelt in our belief that our continued participation fulfills our mission of increasing our presence and involvement in the fabric of SSSAS.
Alumni Association Board President Montez Anderson '93 presenting Lower School Art Teacher Anne Kling Ross '73 with the Faculty Excellence Award at Upper School Prize Day.
As I conclude my four years as Alumni Association President, I would like to congratulate our incoming president Glenn Archer, Class of 1982. I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve the SSSAS community and look forward to remaining involved in our school. We have a diverse group of alumni, parents of alumni, current parents, and friends of SSSAS who continue to affirm the value of the strong school that we can all call our own. Thank you for your support and participation, and we look forward to continuing to attract and retain support and involvement from even more alumni from St. Agnes, St. Stephen's, and St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School.
Mark Your Calendar! HOMECOMING & REUNION WEEKEND
MORE UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, October 21:
Wednesday, November 2: New York Alumni Saintsgiving Happy Hour Details coming soon!
Classic Saints Society Alumni Luncheon 12-1:30 p.m., Lower School Lloyd House Alumni Reception (Classes 1931-2011) 6:30-8:30 p.m., Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, Virginia Saturday, October 22: NEW! Saints at Play 10 a.m., Lower School Playground Open playground session for alumni and their children (ages 5+) NEW! Alumni of Color Brunch 11 a.m., Upper School Wills Library Join Director of Multicultural Education, Diversity, and Equity Initiatives KiKi Davis for brunch and conversation. Annual Robert M. Lamond '67 Memorial Alumni Soccer Game 11 a.m., Upper School Field Hockey & Lacrosse Field APT Fall Family Festival 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Upper School Campus
Thursday, November 10: Washington, D.C. Alumni Reception Details coming soon! Wednesday, November 23: Saintsgiving Sandwich-Making 9-11 a.m., Upper School Dining Hall SSSAS all-school service event, making sandwiches for Martha's Table. It is a casual, festive way to give thanks and serve others before Thanksgiving. Please bring your whole family! Tuesday, November 29: Saints Giving Day! Help us make this one day of giving a success. Make your gift online at www.sssas.org/give. November 29 & 30: 22nd Annual Saints Invitational Girls Basketball Tournament
December 1-3: 61st Annual Sleepy Thompson Basketball Tournament Thursday, December 15: Young Alumni Holiday Party Classes of 2006-2013 Details coming soon! Tuesday, December 20: 40th Annual Holiday Classic Wrestling Tournament
Looking for more Information? Check out the alumni section of our website at www.sssas.org/alumni Do you have questions? Contact your Alumni Relations Office: Tyler Burr, Director tburr@sssas.org, 703-212-2718 Meredith Fifer '06, Assistant Director mfifer@sssas.org, 703-212-2719
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alumni happenings BOSTON ALUMNI RECEPTION April 7th at the Harvard Club
Heather Kenvin '79 and Head of School Kirsten Adams
Hunter Mims '06, Abigail Holden '07, Laura Sauls '03
Alison Rafloski Furcinito '84, Bob Fitzpatrick, Amy O'Connor Fitzpatrick '85
Gant Redmon '84, Molly Jenkins Huddleston '00, Joy Carosi McDonald '95, Huascar Gomez-Garcia '99
David Eddy '65 and Doug Hotchkiss '62
Huascar Gomez-Garcia '99, Danielle Gomez-Garcia, Kirsten Adams
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APRIL COLLEGE VISITS
Visit to the University of Virginia: (L to R) Sibet Partee '14, Caroline Secrest '14, Izzy Franklin '15, Katie Coulter '14, Will Rainey '14, Kiki Konopnicki '15, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Meredith Fifer '06, Assistant Director of Annual Giving Sarah Kaplan, and Alex D'Elia '14
Visit to James Madison University: (L to R) Riley Flynn '15, Aimee Guidry '15, Director of Annual Giving Lauren Enlow, Julia Lindsey '15, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Meredith Fifer '06, Monika Dammann '13, and Paula Dammann '15
DAVID HOOPER HALL OF FAME INDUCTION Saints from near and far gathered to honor the late David Hooper, former teacher and wrestling coach, as he was posthumously inducted into the Virginia Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Herb Soles, Mike Ingrao, Mary Ann Barbee, Roger Barbee
Steve Castle and Charlie Fairchild '78
Rob Reed '00, Tack Richardson '99, Brendan Noonan '93
Tom Finnigan, Dave Liss, John Freeman '84
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25TH ANNUAL SLEEPY THOMPSON MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Thank you to our golf tournament co-chairs and Alumni Association Board members, Tommy Croker '97 and Nick Gregorios '01, and everyone else who helped make the tournament a success! Hosted by the SSSAS Alumni Association, this year more than 120 players enjoyed lunch, a day on the Belle Haven Country Club course, and dinner with friends and family featuring live music by Practically Einstein.
Craig Dyson '81, Jon Peterson '82, Charlie Whitley, Chris Dyson '84
Alumni Association Board President Montez Anderson '93, John Chapman '99, Scott Price
Bruce Pasfield, Paul Abramson '69, Tam Murray, Steve Perkins
Middle School Director Charlotte Riggs and retired math teacher, Doug Adams
Co-Chairs Tommy Croker '97 and Nick Gregorios '01
Renny Griffith, Greg Desautels, Head of School Kirsten Adams, Randall Baugh, Dan Lynn
Alumni Association Board members Cecile Lastelic Phillips '87, Katherine Cooper Hoffman '87, Dick Flynt '64
Craig Dyson '81, Dave Cogar '87, Kirsten Adams, parent and Board of Governors member Michael Chiaramonte
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TOURNAMENT SPONSORS The SSSAS Alumni Association thanks our 2016 sponsors for making the tournament possible! TOURNAMENT SPONSOR: Passport Auto (Cameron Hellmuth '03)
Michael Schwimer '04, Cullen Malone '03, Michael Burke , Salman Cheema '01, Nick Gregorios '01
FOUR SAINTS SPONSORS: Arlington Heating & Air Conditioning (Tommy Croker '97) Avison Young (Nick Gregorios '01) C & W Services Dr. John D. Kling II, D.D.S. '75 Matchbox O'Donovan Strategies, LLC Sweet Grass Low Country Cooking SCORECARD SPONSOR: Five Guys
Brian Knutson, Tommy Croker '97, Bob Thomas, Mike Reinke
HOLE SPONSORS: Apex Systems, Inc. Brush Hero (Glenn Archer '82) CCA Floors and Interiors Colonial Parking, Inc. (Andrew Blair '78) Elizabeth Lucchesi and The Liz Luke Team The Goodhart Group Grand Trunk Restaurant (Salman Cheema '01)
Justin Hallock, Ian Lawyer, Cameron Hellmuth '03, Richard Stenzel
The Habliston Family (Ann Morton '78, Caroline '06, Chazzo '09, Bennet '13) Jan Reinheimer '65 & Dick Flynt '64 in Memory of Casey Pace '64 Lincoln Property Company (Chris Dyson '84) Mannington Commercial Simpson Development Company SSSAS Association of Parents and Teachers Thank You Coach Taibl Wired Score
Thank you to our 2016 tournament sponsor Passport Auto!
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CLASSIC SAINTS SOCIETY When you celebrate your 50th Reunion, you will be welcomed into the Classic Saints Society. We hope you will take advantage of the programs and events offered for your Classic Saints Society affinity group!
Ellen Tabb '60 and Courtney Mallinson '64 visited with Upper School Science Teacher Nina Tyree's physics class.
Anne Hoskot Kreutzer '65, Courtney Mallinson '64, Ann Bailey '16
Members of the Classic Saints Society enjoyed participating in a technology class in the Robotics Lab.
SSSAS Archivist Anne Bolen and John Marshall '56
JUNE 4TH ALUMNI LACROSSE GAME Alumni lacrosse players teamed up to organize and play an alumni game, where they caught up with each other and sent Coach Andy Taibl off with their well wishes!
STAY CONNECTED! FACEBOOK Join the SSSAS Alumni Office Group Like our school page: Facebook.com/SSSAS LINKEDIN Join the St. Stephen's & St. Agnes Alumni Group INSTAGRAM @SSSASAlumni FLICKR flickr.com/sssasalumni
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milestones: middle aisle Alumni Joe Pessa '73, and Neil Lang, February 4, 2016
Caroline Edsall '02 and Judd Littleton, May 7, 2016
Tucker Foote '98 and Gina Santucci, May 28, 2016
Mary Stewart Malone '03 and Brian Schneider June 18, 2016
Glenn Spitler '00 and Mollye Crowell, March 19, 2016
Cailyn Reilly '03 and Terry Knapp, May 14, 2016
Michael Dziuban '04 and Allison Hutchings, May 21, 2016
Thomas Newhouse '07 and Lauren Zeitler, May 7, 2016
Alison Murray '04 and Thomas Winkler June 4, 2016
Lauren Thomas '07 and Robert Poteat May 28, 2016
Katherine Denkler '07 and Michael White '07, May 28, 2016
Faculty
Joey Wade and Jennifer Noda March 26, 2016
ALUMNI COUPLE Joe Pessa '73 & Neil Lang
Abbey Grace Photography
Katherine Denkler '07 & Michael White '07
Judd Littleton & Caroline Edsall '02
Brian Schneider & Mary Stewart Malone '03
Alison Murray '04 & Thomas Winkler
Cailyn Reilly '03 & Terry Knapp
Allison Hutchings & Michael Dziuban '04
Jennifer Noda & Joey Wade with The Rev. Chris Miller '05
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milestones: new additions Alumni Jason Fura '89 and Suzanne, a son, Charles "Charlie" Carsten Fura, June 1, 2016
Michael Patterson '01 and Satsuki Sokol, a son Micah Zen Patterson, May 10, 2016
Christian Martin '05 and Stephanie, a son, Bryce Andrew Martin, May 16, 2016
Gill Diercks '99 and David Wing, a daughter, Penelope Jane Diercks-Wing, February 10, 2016
Nathan Pollard '01 and Avery, a son, Theodore "Theo" William Pollard, May 19, 2016
Mandy Roberts Shealy '05 and Ben, a son, Andrew Holden Shealy, April 1, 2016
Porter Jones '00 and Kacie, a son, Benjamin Nicklas Jones, June 20, 2016
Jiffy Bennett Vermylen '01 and John, a daughter, Audrey June Vermylen, May 26, 2016
Faculty & Staff
Julie Obermiller Byrnes '01 and Creighton, a son, Duke Jeffry Byrnes, April 25, 2016
Margaret Reed Millar '02 and Tom, a son, Reed Dorsey Millar, June 1, 2016
Tyler Burr and William, a daughter, Mary Lyde Burr, March 2, 2016
Matthew Fuller '01, and Brooke Fuller, former faculty, a daughter, Laura Anne Fuller, June 8, 2016
Ashley Holden Wilson '02 and Tim, a daughter, Summer Avery Wilson, March 18, 2016
Jill McElroy and Tyler, a son, Theodore "Theo" Michael McElroy, March 4, 2016
Nick Gregorios '01, Alumni Board Member, and Victoria, a son, James Spyros Gregorios, May 27, 2016
Daniel Richmond '04 and Sarah, a daughter, Sylvia Juliette Richmond, May 18, 2016
Kendall White and Rachel, a son, Patrick Morgan White, April 8, 2016
Charles Carsten Fura
Audrey June Vermylen
Bryce Andrew Martin
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Duke Jeffry Byrnes
Reed Dorsey Millar
Mary Lyde Burr
Micah Zen Patterson
Summer Avery Wilson
Theodore Michael McElroy
Theodore William Pollard
Sylvia Juliette Richmond
Patrick Morgan White
in memoriam Alumni
Family, Faculty, and Staff
Faith Gowen Magoun '48
David Burke
June 2, 2016
Roberta "Bobbye" Stearns Davis '53 May 4, 2016
Anne Anderson Pursley '53 October 23, 2015
Florence Griffith Kassel '57
June 3, 2016
Deborah Hirst Nager '57 sister of Tom Hirst '60 and Robin Hirst Moore '67,
daughter of the late Omer Hirst, former Board of Governors, February 25, 2016
Mikkah Coleman '67 January 15, 2016
Arthur Bryant '61 father of Arthur Bryant '82, April 2, 2016
former Board of Governors member, father of Ann Burke Brogan '75, and Ginger Lee Burke Koloszyc '85, former Alumni Board member, uncle of Governor Burke '74, former Alumni Board member, Julian Burke '77, former Alumni Board member, and Marney Burke Cooney '77, May 10, 2016
Dr. Frank A. Carroll
father of David Carroll '77 and Gail Carroll Graham '78, step-father of Cheryl Shaw Barnes '71, former Board of Governors member, Steve Shaw '75, former Alumni Board, Board of Governors member, and Foundation Board member, Martha Shaw Peterson '83, grandfather of Jennie Cooper '97, step-grandfather of Maggie Jerde Joyce '98, Kate Jerde Cole '01, Stephen '06, Malcolm '07, Armour Shaw '12, Chase '13, Shaw '13, Wyatt '13, Davis '17, Wynne Whitley '17, June 15, 2016
George William Fix, Jr.
grandfather of Charlie '15 and Virginia Fix '19, June 5, 2016
Virgil Smith
father of Pat Smith '81, father-in-law of Susan Blanton Smith '80, grandfather of Chris Smith '02, Kim Smith Rickards '06, Nick '10, Sara '13, and Rebecca Smith '16, June 2, 2016
Dale St. Denis
husband of Doug Mustin St. Denis '55, May 18, 2016
Eugene Comey
father of Mairtin '01, Aedan '04, and Caelinn Comey '08, April 22, 2016
Kay Neer 1927-2016 On April 1, the St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School community lost cherished former art teacher and friend Kay Neer, St. Stephen's Lower School Art Teacher from 19661985. She died at the age of 89 at her home in Goodwin House, in Alexandria, Virginia. Throughout her 19 years at St. Stephen's, she brought her artistic and writing talent to the art program. A lifelong learner, Kay pursued courses at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Penland School of Crafts. For many years, she provided graphic designs for the "Why Not?" shop in Old Town. Inspired by her father and brother, both accomplished writers, she penned poignant memoirs and humorous, eclectic vignettes that were published in The Washington Post and Virginia Living magazine. Kay was predeceased by her husband in 1981. She is survived by a brother, Chiles Thomas Adams Larson; four children: Michael Chiles Gardner Neer '66, Sally Brooke Neer '68, Thomas Morgan Neer '70, and John Adams Neer '74; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
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St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School Seminary Post Office Alexandria, Virginia 22304 If the addressee no longer lives at this address, please contact the school: 703-212-2720 or mtucker@sssas.org
Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Alexandria, Virginia Permit No. 10