Ron Alvey, Emily Fernback, Glady Hill ’25, Tami McMann, Elizabeth (Walter) Maringer ’89, Xavier Mellon, Kathy (Hilsinger) Penote ’93, Audrey Shisler ’25, Joe Simon, Leigh Taylor and Tony Tribble
CONTRIBUTORS
Lauren (Brinkmeyer) Goebel ’96, Assistant Head of School, Advancement and Community Engagement; Nancy Berlier, Emily Fernback, Kevin Johnson Jr. ’13, Tracy Law ’85 , Ph.D., Tami McMann and Xavier Mellon
SPECIAL THANKS
Lauren Flowers-Neal, Laura Wulker, Andrea Bennett, Laura Denneman, Kevin Johnson Jr. ’13, Brandon Lorentz ’13, Jen Szakal
The Summit Country Day School, Cincinnati, OH.The Summit Magazine is published by the Communications Department of The Summit Country Day School. Direct address changes to 2161 Grandin Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208.
The Summit Country Day School is a Catholic independent school minutes from downtown Cincinnati. Affiliated with The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, we offer a coeducational experience for students from 18 months through grade 12. Our mission is to educate leaders of character across five pillars – spiritually, academically, physically, socially and artistically.
Strategic Planning Process
“The body of this strategic plan work reflects the vision that Saint Julie had for her schools; It truly represents the charism of the Sisters.”
– Sr. Donna Jurick, SNDdeN and Summit Board of Trustee.
These inspirational words fueled unanimous approval of the strategic plan by the Board of Trustees at their final meeting of the 2023-24 school year on May 8, 2024.
The Summit launched the strategic planning process in August of 2023. In addition, we aligned the campus master planning process concurrently. We did so from a position of great strength thanks to our highly engaged community of students, faculty, staff, board members, parents and alumni. Decades of effective stewardship have given The Summit an opportunity and a responsibility to think boldly about our future.
Under the affiliation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, the guidance and governance of the Board of Trustees and the leadership of the Administration, the strategic and campus master planning work leverage our earlier sustainability planning to allow for a set of priorities which are aspirational while also being responsible. Importantly, we believe these priorities are achievable and will inspire The Summit community to bring them to life.
Our Strategic Priorities
The Summit People: Reimagining the employee journey. Our faculty, staff and administration are central to delivering our mission. Investing in attracting, retaining and ensuring The Summit is the premiere place to work in Cincinnati for educators is paramount.
The Summit Program: The Summit Program will focus on experiential and personalized learning with
connections to real world impact and a formalized tool to capture each student’s journey. This includes all aspects of a Summit education that directly affect students, across our five pillars: spiritually, academically, physically, socially and artistically
Our Community, Our Faith, Our Identity: The way we engage, the way we create belonging and the pathways we create to connect and impact our communities is not only a part of our mission, but a strength to leverage and extend further.
Our Spaces: Our campus is rich in history and tradition. Designing a campus master plan that enhances educational delivery for the future and connects community in a joyful learning environment is critical.
Our approach to the strategic planning process was intentional and inclusive of many voices. We began by exploring educational trends, thinking like a futurist and examining The Summit culture and mission. We then took an indepth look at the motivations and behaviors of Summit families by conducting more than 60 empathy interviews with current parents from Montessori through Upper School. Community “think tank” sessions led by our strategic planning consultants at Leadership and Design were offered at The Summit with over 100 faculty, staff, parents and alumni participating. The inquiry phase culminated with our January Community Design Day in which over 80 community members, including parents, parents of alumni, grandparents, Trustees, faculty and staff reflected on our current state and collaborated on The
Summit’s future opportunities and vulnerabilities.
Engagement in the campus master planning process with students, faculty, parents, neighbors, parents of alumni, board, past board members and alumni was strong. The results of the process reflect the community’s values and needs. Additionally, considering the school’s mission and strategic goals, the campus master plan will guide decisions to create a campus that supports Summit’s educational philosophy and longterm vision. The campus master plan addresses challenges with athletic facilities, traditional classrooms, lack of community gathering spaces, limited performing arts spaces, Lower School building challenges with enrollment growth and operational challenges with dining spaces.
Through this strategic plan, there is a tremendous opportunity to formalize local and regional partnerships that provide uniquely experiential, personalized and impactful learning for our students. These will lead our community to live our Catholic faith more intentionally by centering on service learning. That orientation leads us to invest and transform physical spaces and resources to align and support the strategic priorities and community needs; investments in hiring and retaining preeminent faculty and staff will bring this to life.
Inspired by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, The Summit looks to the future with great confidence. The Sisters charism compels us to think more boldly about who we are as an institution and our role as leaders of character in improving and impacting the Greater Cincinnati community and beyond.
Our school has a long history of honoring tradition while embracing change. We will continue to do both as we implement the next strategic plan. This strategic plan affirms what we all value about The Summit while providing an aspirational vision for our future. It is designed to provide the compass—our “North Star” that will guide The Summit’s educational approach.
I hope you are energized by the strategic plan’s direction. I believe the opportunities in this plan for our students, faculty and staff are inspirational and aspirational. Our faculty, staff and board committees will be working diligently on the plan this year. I look forward to our collaboration as we move forward on this journey.
Students and families choose The Summit for a strong academic program rooted in a Catholic, faithbased community where character and leadership are explicitly taught by highly trained, dedicated, faculty and staff, in a culture of extraordinary care. It is now time to reshape our curriculum and our campus for the future. In addition, we will carefully examine our school schedule and focus on expanding community engagement through partnerships in the greater Cincinnati area and beyond. 4
We present the class of 2024, which includes three graduates who started attending The Summit at just 24 months old in the first toddler class.
The Summit honors the hallmarks of a Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Learning Community through service every year.
Students at The Summit have opportunities for unique classroom experiences that are not offered everywhere else.
At the end of every school year, we shine a light on the highly trained and motivated faculty and staff to make The Summit distinctive. This year, the Schilderink Family Faculty Chair for Distinguished Teaching went to Upper School Religion Teacher Kurtis Smith. We also recognize the recipients of the Leaders of Character and Summit Way awards as well as our retirees.
Three new directors take the reins this fall in the Upper School, Montessori School and Communications Office.
We tell the stories of four young alumni who are living The Summit’s mission in diverse careers.
As we keep our affiliation with the Sisters of Notre Dame De Namur (SNDdeN) a vital part of our day-today activities, we offer a Q&A about recent changes made in the Hallmarks of a Notre Dame de Namur Learning Community.
Highlights
29 Student Spotlight
35 Faculty Spotlight
51 Alumni Events
55 Remembering Mary (Foss) Brinkmeyer ’67
Grow in Grace and Wisdom, Kelley Schiess HEAD OF SCHOOL
On the Cover: Middle School Religion Teacher
Laura Dennemann led students on a gardening project at Tikkun Farms as part of her It’s Cool 2B
Kind Summer Service Camp. L to R: Nikhil Jain ’29, Amber Kuehnel ’29, Mabel Hartmann ’29, Alaina Williams ’29 and J.J. Castellini ’29.
Class of 2024
Students are identified left to right by row of photos. Top left photo, back row: Nate Borman, T.J. LaMacchia, Chris Reuter, Jack Riley, Pete Sherman, Owen Kohlhepp, Tarek Hasan and Caden Charville. Front row: Lily Martin, Haley Potter, Kelsey Foley, Julia Daniher, Meg Witzeman. Second photo: Twins Chris and Alex Davies with sister Taylor Davies. Third photo: McKinley Kramer, Sarah Stewart, Katy O’Neill, Laura Matos, Sofia Ramirez and Vanessa Carrington. Fourth photo: Graham Hodge sits with the Johns Hopkins University chalk drawing on the driveway during Senior Day.
Middle left: Wes Brokamp, Catie Workman and Grant Desch pose with the Indiana University. All three will attend the Kelley School of Business. Second photo: Teresa Tarnowski, Davis Sang, Hamilton Uhl, Paul Kreuzer, Charlie Bridge and Lily Mitchell. Right: Jack Stewart ’21 takes a selfie with his graduating sister Sarah Stewart.
Bottom left: Changfan ‘Charles’ Li, Kaixuan ‘Kelly’ Qiu and Jue ‘Jack’ Wang. Second photo: Benny Penote and Kyle Lauckner. Third photo: Giulia Genung, Marina (Jemail) Rolfes ’12, Grace Sabath, Mia Cavallo and Maddie Sumnar. Fourth photo: Jalen Dandridge, sitting, Gavin Smith, Ethan Lam, Lorenzo Rose, Joey Driggers, Abby Replogle, Ashley Claff, Meg Witezman, Vivi Bohmer and Grace Sabbath pose for one last advisement class photo.
Lessons from Preschool Still Resonate
By Nancy Berlier
Many of this year’s graduates have something in common with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, actor George Clooney and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. They all went to Montessori schools.
Three graduates in particular, Nick Bergeron, Max Jambor and Owen Kohlhepp, were members of The Summit’s inaugural toddler class in 2008-09. When it began, The Summit’s preschool Montessori program was the only school in Greater Cincinnati offering the Montessori method of instruction to 24-month-olds.
Expanded in 2017-18 to include 18-month-olds, the program continues to differentiate The Summit.
Nick, Max and Owen entered an environment in which the curriculum was prepared especially for their developmental needs, where they would get their hands on Montessori learning materials. They learned in airy and bright modern classrooms with light-sized furniture designed for the Montessori model. Teachers trained in the Montessori method guided and encouraged them to be curious, experiment and develop a joy of learning.
Brain research conducted since 2008 backs up the beliefs former Montessori School Director Phyllis Schueler held about early childhood development when she started the toddler program. She believed the years before age 6 are critical periods when children’s knowledge grows exponentially. “If given the opportunity, young toddlers are capable of learning more skills than most people assume,” she said in a Spring 2008 Summit Magazine article on the new program. “Their minds are constantly absorbing huge amounts of information.
As products of that early childhood learning environment, Nick, Max and Owen offer their own reflections of what their Montessori journey means to them.
“Being a Summit lifer, the very core of who I am was molded by my experience at the Summit, starting with my time as a toddler at the Montessori,” says Owen, who is attending Miami University this fall. With difficulty remembering what his toddler self recalled, Owen says the teachers in the Montessori, specifically the late Michele Kaegi and retired teacher
Owen Kohlhepp, Max Jambor and Nick Bergeron, on the front steps, started The Summit together in the first toddler class.
Noreen Petry had a profound impact on his development. “I can recall the specific feelings I felt towards them,” he says. “I remember Mrs. Kaegi being extremely patient and her care for us was unlimited. Mrs. Petry was an extremely loving and thoughtful person who could help with anything and was extremely fun with getting everyone through the school day. Montessori is a fond memory of my Summit career, and I will always remember the impact it has had on me.”
Max, who is attending University of Colorado Boulder this fall, has taken Summit’s most accelerated math courses, and he believes he developed his love for math in the Montessori School. “It was very tactile learning, which I think is the best way to teach, especially with young children,” he says. “You learn as you are doing something. You choose what activity you were able to do. I remember each day we would do one math thing, one English thing, something fun. My mom told me that I always came home with math cards. I also remember they’d also teach us very simple life skills, things you wouldn’t really think about. But it’s important for a little kid to know how to button a shirt, put on a jacket or tie their shoes. Those little things made us more independent.”
Nick was the poster child for The Summit magazine announcing the program and is attending Miami University this fall. He recalls his teachers being positive and caring. “I remember painting beautiful pictures using easels, playing with my friends at recess, and making what I think was called blubber,” he says. “I think I can pull countless lessons that I learned in Montessori and see how they relate to my life today. For example, I feel that Montessori allows for each of the students to be creative in their work. This helps us grow up with a sense of identity which is useful when writing papers for classes in later grades. Another thing I took from Montessori was a sense of self. All the teachers welcome everyone into the classroom and allow students to become who they choose to be.”
The Montessori also created a community for the toddlers, Max says. “The whole time you’re just like working together and it’s a community. It is the best way to build empathy, just connecting with other people. That’s what you do all day. You’re connecting and existing together and that
builds bonds. Everybody cares about each other.”
While the toddlers were building community, they were also developing a joy of learning that lasted through senior year, Nick says. “I believe that Montessori creates an environment in which all students can enjoy their learning and have fun while at school. I find this to be important because in such a bright environment it is easy to bond with your classmates and make new friends. With this sense of community school becomes less daunting and rather something people look forward to. Even if you receive a tough assignment or do bad on a test Summit’s sense of community allows for the growth of self through others, and that all begins with the atmosphere created in the Montessori.”
The Montessori School is full for 2024-25 and applications are being taken for 2025-26. Families are strongly encouraged to submit their applications early. Toddlers must be 18 months by September 30 of the year they enter the program. Contact Elaine Pearl, Montessori School Associate Director of Admission, pearl_e@summitcds.org.
Nick Bergeron and Owen Kohlhepp return to the Montessori rooftop playground. Grant Desch, in the background, was in the 3- to 6-year-old program in 2008-2009 when the year the toddler program began. Then, the program enrolled 24-month olds. Enrollment for 18-month-olds began in the fall of 2017.
Salutatorian Kyle Lauckner: Treasure the Memories
Four years ago, the Class of 2024 started their freshman year wearing face masks. Circular stickers on the floors of the Upper School reminded them where the six-foot separation mark was. Plexiglass walls separated them in their classrooms. Only two sat together at a table at lunchtime and many lunches were carried upstairs in order to accommodate so many students having lunch at the same time. When the weather allowed, their teachers took them outside on the football field to collaborate in groups. At times when small groups of students were exposed to the COVID-19 virus, they were sent home to participate virtually in the classroom.
As Salutatorian of the Class of 2024, Kyle Lauckner had the opportunity to remind his classmates of the many experiences they have in common in a speech he gave during graduation.
“Our shared experiences began at a time when sixfeet apart and plexiglass were the norm, but soon evolved into us nervously participating in speednetworking on Williams Field and shyly guessing who the imposter in the game was ‘Among Us’, Kyle says.
As the years went by, Kyle remembers how students became closer, especially and literally when an impromptu mosh-pit formed at the Homecoming dance their sophomore year. “At Camp Joy, we deepened bonds and created
‘We have become proud Leaders of Character who have a desire to build community, a passion to grow in oneself and a dedication to serving God – these Summit domains will act as a moral foundation for our thoughts, words, deeds and actions in the years to come.’
- Kyle Lauckner
lasting memories on the rope courses, laughing and learning how to avoid falling into ‘lava’ and staying upright as we balanced precariously on the giant seesaw. As upperclassmen, we found unity in the chant ‘Let’s go blue and white’ and swayed together to ‘Oh SCD’ during pep rallies. Our shared experiences, from dodgeball tournaments to cheering at the state championship for girls’ soccer, are cherished moments we will carry in our hearts forever.”
Noting that graduation may be the last time the Class of 2024 gathers, Kyle likened this shared experience to a time just before Moses, before his people entered the promised land. Quoting Moses from the Book of Deuteronomy: “Watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live.”
The message, Kyle says, “encourages us to treasure the shared memories and experiences that have shaped us over the last four years and carry them as a source of inspiration.”
As Kyle is preparing to launch his college career at the University of Notre Dame this fall, he called on his classmates to look to the left and to the right to see the faces of friends and peers who shared “unforgettable” high school experiences. He concludes: “As we bid goodbye to the past, we, like those in the Book of Deuteronomy, are now inspired to enter a future … full of promise.”
Valedictorian Lorenzo Rose, left, and Salutatorian Kyle Lauckner are photographed on graduation day.
Valedictorian Lorenzo Rose: In Pursuit of Truth
“As students in a school, as parishioners in a church, as neighbors in a neighborhood, and as citizens in a state or country, Summit’s newest graduates have certain duties that are expected of us,” says Valedictorian Lorenzo Rose.
In his speech at graduation, Lorenzo invoked the passage from Luke as a reminder: To whom much is given, much is expected. “We are expected to give our time, talents and treasures to these communities, to give back to them for what they have blessed us with,” Lorenzo says. But the greatest duty the Class of 2024 faces in giving back to humanity is the duty to pursue the truth in an era when truth is hard to find.
“In a world inundated with misinformation, skepticism and moral relativism, the pursuit of truth has never been more vital,” Lorenzo says. “As Catholic school students, we are called to be beacons of truth in an increasingly secular society.”
With references to lessons learned in Upper School classrooms on literature, history and philosophy, Lorenzo reminded his peers of a novel many of them read, 1984. With obvious parallels to 2024, George Orwell’s novel, which was published in 1949, addresses the dangers of totalitarianism and the manipulation of truth for political gain and shedding light on why it is important to seek the truth.
Pursuit of truth goes far beyond acquisition of knowledge, Lorenzo says. “It is a lifelong journey of discovery and discernment—a journey that requires courage, humility and an unwavering commitment to intellectual integrity. We must not only pursue the truth but staunchly defend it.”
As Catholic school students, Lorenzo calls on his peers to unite the pursuit of intellectual truth with faith. “Seeking or attaining knowledge without virtue is dangerous.” Citing St. Thomas Aquinas, Lorenzo notes that faith provides access to truths that transcend human reason while reason plays a crucial role in understanding and articulating these truths in a rational manner. “Aquinas argued that truth should accurately reflect the way things are in the world,” Lorenzo says. “This seems like
‘We must take up the “sword of the Spirit” in the defense of truth. We, the Silver Knights, must be figurative knights fighting for the truth.’
- Lorenzo Rose
common sense, yet in a time when truth and facts are forsaken for delusion, we must realize the importance of fighting for our common sense. So, graduates, this is what is expected of us: to pursue what is good and true in order to grow in moral character and civic virtue.”
As Lorenzo prepares for a college career at the University of Notre Dame, his graduation speech conclusion reminded the Class of 2024 about their lifelong duty to pursue truth.
“Because of how much we have learned and grown in our last four years together, we have a united duty to search for, defend and profess the truth,” he says. “In a world plagued by division, injustice and suffering, truth offers hope, healing and reconciliation. In 10 to 20 years, this is what will separate a Summit graduate from others: being virtuous, seeking the good and living the truth.”
Both of Summit’s top graduates are attending Notre Dame this fall. Lorenzo Rose, left, and Kyle Lauckner sit above a Notre Dame icon chalked onto the front driveway on Senior Day when the Class of 2024 celebrated their college placements.
Special Awards
Four awards are presented at graduation to outstanding seniors who are nominated by their teachers and coaches for special recognition. From left to right, the awards were given to:
Grant Desch and Kyle Lauckner received the Archbishop McNicholas Award. This award is given to seniors who maintain high ideals of academic achievement, Christian awareness, responsibility, service and loyalty to The Summit.
Mia Cavallo and Caden Charville received the St. Julie Billiart Award. This award honors students with the ability to love and bring love to others through their selfless nature, joyful disposition and dedication to The Summit community.
Addison Johnson and Teresa Longano received the Arts Excellence Award. This award recognizes graduating seniors who best exhibit excellence, dedication and leadership in the visual/ performing arts.
Lily Martin and Nate Borman received the Bud O’Connor Memorial Award. This award is given annually by the Summit Boosters Association to honor graduates who demonstrate excellence, dedication and Christian leadership in athletics on an interscholastic team, club or individual basis.
Summit Lifers
Front row: Lyla Soper, Sarah Stewart, Mia Cavallo, Maddie Sumnar, Lily Mitchell; Middle row: Brett Maples, Izzy Rawlings, Owen Kohlhepp, Nick Bergeron, Jude Gerhardt, Ethan Lam; Back row: Grant Desch, Tarek Hasan, Joaquin Beatty, Benny Penote, Max Jambor; Not pictured: Drew Hinton
Sammy Vibberts and Catie Workman.
Ethan Lam sits in the Georgia Tech chalk logo on the front driveway, wearing his college shirt.
Collegiate Athletes
The following members of the Class of 2024 signed with National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, Division II and NAIA teams or committed to play with Division III teams:
Back Row L to R:
Izzy Rawlings, soccer, Ohio Wesleyan University
Jalen Dandridge, basketball, Heidelberg University
Graham Hodge, football, Johns Hopkins University
Thomas DeRoussel, soccer; George Mason University
Joaquin Beatty, soccer, DePauw University
Nate Borman, football and lacrosse, Walsh University
Sumner Shroyer, football, Wittenberg University
Front Row L to R:
Lily Mitchell, swimming, College of the Holy Cross
Lily Martin, soccer, Thomas More University
Sammy Vibberts, soccer, Western Carolina University
Maggie McDowell, soccer, Trine University
Elise Alexander, soccer, University of Rio Grande
Maddie Sumnar, rowing, Villanova University
Not pictured: Drew Hinton, rowing, Wesleyan University
Mia Cavallo, former Upper School Director Kelly Cronin and Jack Wang stand behind the logo of Northwestern University where Ms. Cronin received her bachelor’s degree.
Brandon Lorentz ’13 joins his cousin, Caleb Malone, and father, Chris Nieto, after graduation.
Abby Replogle and Ella Thompson hold their roses as they wait for the graduation ceremony to begin.
Head of School Kelley Schiess poses with a group of graduates in the chapel lobby.
Class of 2024
Front row: Caroline Senes, Bella Desmond, Alex McDulin, Avery Smythe, Olivia Ellerman, Lily Mitchell, Sammy Vibberts
Row 2: Eden Benavides Orta, Giulia Genung, Elise Alexander, Taylor Davies, Teresa Longano, Vivi Bohmer, Lily Martin, Maggie McDowell
Row 3: Brett Maples, Grey Bryant, Kaitlyn Zimmerman, Kelsey Foley, Abigail Replogle, Ashley Class, Kelly Qiu, Elizabeth Fager, Meg Witzeman, Catie Workman, Caden Charville, Quin Zawaly
Row 5: Drew Fletcher, Caleb Malone, Sarah Stewart, Sofia Ramirez, McKinley Kramer, Ella Thompson, Addie Johnson, Lily Stout, Maddie Sumnar, Jack Wang, Tim Deng
Row 6: Teresa Tarnowski, Haley Potter, Julia Daniher
Row 8: Sumner Shroyer, Grant Desch, Drew Hinton, Paul Kreuzer, Tarek Hasan, Owen Kohlhepp, Jude Gerhardt, Ethan Lam, Pete Sherman, Max Jambor
Row 9: Charlie Bridge, Jack Riley, Chris Reuter, Donovan Mathews, Thomas DeRoussel, Charles Li, Lorenzo Rose, Joey Driggers
Row 10: Davis Sang, Hamilton Uhl, Graham Hodge, Benny Penote, Gavin Smith, Izzy Rawlings, Nick Bergeron
Back row: Joaquin Beatty, Alex Davies, Chris Davies, Nate Borman
Not pictured: Cole Hiller, Madison Metzner
Class of 2024
Leaders of Character Prepared for Service and Success
Total number of scholarship dollars offered Over $16M
60%
Will attend colleges out-of-state 86% Of seniors participated in one sport this year
Percent of students who will attend Catholic College & Universities 20%
American University
Anderson University
Appalachian State University
Arizona State University
Ashland University
Auburn University
Ball State University
Baylor University
Bellarmine University
Belmont University
Benedictine College
Bluffton University
Boston College
Bowling Green State University
Butler University
Cal Poly Humboldt
Calvin University
Case Western Reserve University
Catholic University of America
Central Michigan University
Central State University
Centre College
Clemson University
Coastal Carolina University
College of Charleston
College of the Holy Cross
Colorado State University
Columbia College
Denison University
DePaul University
DePauw University
Drexel University
Elizabeth City State University
Elon University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Fisk University
Fordham University
Furman University
George Mason University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Hampton University
Heidelberg University
98%
Of class took Advanced Placement classes
10%
Of the class recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation
14
Student athletes signed to NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III or NAIA teams
6,968
Total number of service hours performed
Average number of service hours performed EIGHTY ONE
86 graduates 492 acceptances from 166 institutions. The 55 colleges and universities they attend will be coast-to-coast in 25 states, District of Columbia, and Scotland.
ACCEPTANCES
Our graduates were accepted into these instiutions. Bold face denotes the ones they will attend.
High Point University
Hillsdale College
Indiana University
Jackson State University
John Carroll University
Johns Hopkins University
Kentucky State University
Lake Forest College
Liberty University
Lipscomb University
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Maryland
Loyola University New Orleans
Marquette University
Marshall University
Marymount Manhattan College
Miami University
Michigan State University
Miles College
Missouri State University
Montana State University
Montclair State University
Morgan State University
Mount Saint Joseph University
New York University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina State University
Northern Kentucky University
Northwestern University
Oberlin College
Ohio Northern University
Ohio University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Oregon State University
Pace University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Penn State University
Point Loma Nazarene University
Point Park University
Purdue University
Queens University of Charlotte
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rider University
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rutgers University
Saint Louis University
Savannah College of Art and Design
Shaw University
Shenandoah University
South Carolina State University
Spelman College
Stetson University
Syracuse University
Talladega College
Temple University
Tennessee State University
The College of Wooster
The Ohio State University
The University of Alabama
The University of Tampa
The University of Tennessee
Thomas More University
Tiffin University
Trine University
United States Air Force Academy
University of Aberdeen
University of Arizona
University of British Columbia
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of Cincinnati
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Connecticut
University of Dayton
University of Denver
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Gloucestershire
University of Greenwich
University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Kentucky
University of Lincoln
University of Louisville
University of Maine
University of Maryland
University of Massachusetts
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
University of Mississippi
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of Notre Dame
University of Oregon
University of Pittsburgh
University of Rio Grande
University of South Carolina
University of Tennessee
University of Toledo
University of Utah
University of Vermont
University of Virginia
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin
Villanova University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia State University
Voorhees University
Wake Forest University
Walsh University
Washington State University
Wesleyan University
West Virginia University
Western Carolina University
Western Michigan University
Westmont College
Wichita State University
William & Mary
Wittenberg University
Wright State University
Xavier University
Top: L to R: Elizabeth (Walter) Maringer’89 and her daughter, Mamie Maringer ’27, make rosaries with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur during Day of Service. Middle left: Nia Neal ‘25 makes T-shirt bags for St. Vincent de Paul during Day of Service. Boy Scouts place new wraps around young trees during a conservation project at Camp Friedlander. Bottom left, Clemente Volk ’26, Teresa Longano ’24 and John Bacca ’26, carry a mattress destined for a needy family during A Good Knight’s Sleep. Bottom Right. Girl Scouts Charlotte Honhera ’33 and Addison Parker ’33 take part in a service project.
Devotion to Community Service Honors Hallmarks of the Sisters
By Emily Fernback, Xavier Mellon and Nancy Berlier
Each student who graduates from The Summit’s Upper School is required to have completed 48 hours of community service. Most of them do much more than is expected. The Class of 2024 completed 6,968 hours during their four years at the school. One of them, Caden Charville, had personally accrued more than 700 hours of service.
“Coming from a strong Catholic upbringing, serving others has always been an important part of my life,” Caden says. “I was always surrounded by kind, dedicated people who inspired me to serve others.” Most of Caden’s hours were spent as a volunteer at Camp River Ridge, a local Catholic summer camp. Recently, he began volunteering with the Warren County Youth Court program.
Caden’s experiences exemplify what Summit hopes students will take away from their service work.
“Community service is important to our school because it directly relates to the life work of the Sisters of Notre Dame,” says Stephanie Duggan, Upper School Campus Minister. “We honor their hallmarks and their history of living and serving in their communities. It’s a good way to expose students to immediate community needs they can address. It shows kids that small acts make huge impacts, and we firmly believe our students should improve the world they inherit. We hope they take away a lifelong commitment to honoring the dignity and of others.
Religion is also the foundation for service in Middle School. “Religion class is about exploring faith in a way that each student develops a moral compass to help navigate life,” says Laura Dennemann. “We do not study religion as a history class, but rather as a foundation of how to live today. My goal for service in the Middle School is for students to see that faith is something to be lived through action.”
“There is no need to wait for students to become adults to make a positive mark on the community,”Laura says. “Strong communities are built on lifting each other up when we can, and service allows us to put the teachings of Jesus into action. This is why service is important. It helps us be a part of something bigger than ourselves and helps build stronger relationships.”
This fall, Martha Rich takes up a new position as Coordinator of Religious Education and Community Service in the Lower School, a move that LS Director Mike Johnson hopes will enhance the school’s alignment to the Hallmarks of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and support the various faith journeys of the students.
“We have the chance to ignite a flame of compassion for serving each child here at The Summit, and I am so excited to focus on this in my new role,” Martha says. “Our Leaders of Character attributes of Building Community, Serving God and Growing Self provide the perfect opportunity to tie our efforts here at school into our community service work beyond the classroom walls. Our goal is to illuminate a path towards a life of service where each child finds purpose in uplifting others. We aim to provide every lower school student the chance to be out in the community so that it’s embedded in them that they can make a difference starting at a young age.”
With the support of their parents and teachers, Summit’s students participated in a wide variety of service projects in Greater Cincinnati last year. Here is a summary of many of them:
A Good Knight’s Sleep
The Summit hosted A Good Knight’s Sleep, partnering with Corryville Catholic and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) in April to provide 50 kids with new beds. Through the Bob and Sylvia Rahe Mattress Fund, SVDP’s Beds Program provides a mattress, box spring and frames to families who might otherwise be
sleeping on the floor. This is the first year that The Summit has hosted this event.
Beds were delivered to Summit’s athletic complex by Morris Furniture and were unloaded by Summit student and parent volunteers at Summit’s athletic complex. Each bed frame received a mattress, box spring and a bag containing linens, a pillow and a duvet. Every bed was topped with a nametag, teddy bear, goody bag of school supplies, journal and a prayer, and were assembled by Summit volunteers.
On the next morning, recipients arrived for an hour of breakfast and games. “Our goal was to make sure everyone feels welcome and included during the entire event,” says Summit parent and lead volunteer Rebecca Bohmer. The Summit had close to 100 volunteers for the event. Children of the families played games with Summit students before the unveiling of the beds.
After everyone got to their beds, a group of volunteers from the Mighty Men ministry aided Summit volunteers in strategically disassembling the beds and moving them with all the supplies to their trucks to be delivered to their new homes. “Life presents people with moments of both needing help and offering it,” says Mrs. Bohmer. “An event like A Good Knight’s Sleep allows our community to come together to satisfy both. And we can have some fun getting to know each other along the way.”
Shantytown
Drawing from the hallmarks of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, which promotes compassionin-action service as a response to the suffering of others, eighth graders took part in a practice of simplicity in response to the poverty of others through the Shantytown Experience. Leading up to Shantytown, participants packed lunches for Tender Mercies, an organization that provides housing and supportive services for homeless adults with histories of severe mental illness.
Students dropped bags off at Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen and Tender Mercies before meeting the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition at Nast Trinity Church for an immersion tour. This outing gave eighth graders the opportunity to experience OTR through a new lens and share kindness mission opportunities.
A blessing was performed over the Shantytown shelters built by the eighth graders. In their shelters, they experienced limited access to amenities such as running water, electricity and comfortable sleeping arrangements. A guest speaker from Greater Cincinnati’s Homeless Coalition shared a story of homelessness and students were called to reflect on personal values and the importance of community support. One night was spent outside with teachers on the Middle School playground to help students experience part of the lived realities of many in Cincinnati and around the world.
Vivi Bohmer ’24 has fun with members of the community at A Good Night’s Sleep.
Liam Wiltshire ’32, Sterling Allen ’32 and Hudson Druffel ’34 drop off bags that they prepared in classrooms for Operation Give Back.
Operation Give Back
In March, Summit fourth graders took a field trip for the Lower School’s Spring service project to Operation Give Back, a local organization in Blue Ash that serves families and children with tutoring, counseling, a place to go after school and a food pantry. Students filled more than 200 bags at school with various items to provide the children served by Operation Give Back. Each bag was intentionally decorated by students in the Lower School to make those who receive them feel more special.
When Executive Director Sheila Lichtenberg gave them a tour of the tutoring space, students were also shown the pantry. Operation Give Back works with organizations like Last Mile Food Rescue to rescue food that would otherwise be thrown away. The food that is saved is brought to Operation Give Back to distribute to families in need. Teachers Kristin (Hausladen) Baker ’96 and Megan Druffel brought 12 students with them on this field trip for their project.
Hands Across the Water
Hands Across the Water is The Summit’s biggest service-learning project every year, involving students, faculty, staff and the community in support of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN) Clean Water for Life Project.
The annual project entered its 15th year in 202324. The Summit community raised more than $10,000 in this year’s campaign and $187,000 since its inception. Funds support the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN) Clean Water for Life Project.
To put a new spin on it this year, Baer Huttenbauer ’28, Malcolm Moore ’28 and Jack Roberts ‘28 created a Middle School capstone project, a crosscurricular, action-research based experience which focuses on one of the domains of the schools Leaders of Character program.
“We wanted to reinvent the walk-a-thon and create a greater sense of community and excitement
Stopping in front of a large mural in Over-the-Rhine, eighth grade religion teacher Laurie Huff led students on a visit with several charities downtown during a Shantytown experience.
around the initiative,” says Baer. “We created a relay race for the Middle School. Fifth and eighth graders paired up, as did sixth and seventh graders. Two students from each group would carry a five-gallon jug of water across Thurner Field until every pair completed this race. This activity generated awareness about the struggles of other children in underdeveloped countries who are dealing with water scarcity. But, at the same time, it created a sense of togetherness and unity amongst the grades.”
The eighth graders also set a goal of raising $8 per student for the Clean Water for Life Project which provides water purification packets, drills boreholes for well water and provides supplies necessary for piping and equipment for electricity in the communities in Africa, South and Central America that the sisters serve.
“It is important to do something about water scarcity all around the world now because one day we may experience this water crisis ourselves,” says Baer. “In fact, there is a shortage of water in many areas right here in America. We need to understand the struggles of people without water and the challenges they face daily, as it motivates us to find a permanent solution to this problem. We should do everything in our power to encourage those in crisis to never lose hope and never give up. Each of us should contribute in any way we can, no matter how small it may seem. Every effort makes a difference. This also reminds us of how fortunate we are to live in a place where water is clean and abundant.”
SPA Day of Service
The Summit Parents Association organized their third school-wide Day of Service on March 9 which provided an opportunity for parents to work with their children to benefit the community. One group of volunteers made rosaries with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur which were sent to an emergency shelter for asylum-seekers in Phoenix, AZ. Another group of parents, some with their children, worked with Ault Park employees to mulch around trees and flower beds. St. Vincent DePaul benefited from T-shirt bags made for shoppers. Two other efforts benefited Meals on Wheels of Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. One group packaged and decorated donations
while Montessori and Lower School children packaged Easter treats for seniors into smaller bags. Children also made birthday cards and decorated birthday bags. “Our school-wide Day of Service projects not only allowed us to give back to our local community but also taught us invaluable lessons about empathy, teamwork and the power of collective action,” says Beth Bissmeyer, Coordinator of Parent Relations.
TED Talks/Magnified Giving
In May, Summit seventh graders took part in a ceremony celebrating students across the Greater Cincinnati area who strove to make an impact with their charitable efforts. The Summit has been an active participant in Magnified Giving over the years. The mission of the organization is to educate, inspire and engage students in philanthropy.
The religion education coordinator in the Middle School, Laura Dennemann, also oversees service in that division. In 2017, she participated in Magnified Giving with a small group of students in the Middle School Service Club. “The program was so amazing I immediately wanted to make sure every Middle School student had the opportunity to participate,” she says. “I have loved watching this grow into the seventh grade Capstone experience in which every seventh grader is allowed to explore what social cause pulls on their heartstrings and find their
A student participates in a cleanup of Ault Park during Day of Service.
voice to advocate for this cause through their TED ED Talks and Ad campaigns.”
Students have had a positive effect, Mrs. Dennemann says, as they campaign for their non-profits and recruit friends to volunteer with them. She says that this is “our faith in action, this is living sharing God’s love.”
Beckham Carrasquillo ‘29 raised $1,000 for Lucky Tales, an organization committed to saving and protecting unwanted animals.
Van Devendorf ‘29 raised $307 for Little Brothers –Friends of the Elderly (LBFE). LBFE’s mission is to relieve isolation and loneliness among the elderly. Van believes that everyone should get to exist “in a loving environment.”
Nikhil Jain ‘29 raised $1,307 for CISE, an organization that provides access to a valuesbased Catholic education in a safe, nurturing and
inclusive environment to children in Cincinnati’s inner-city.
Olivia Miele ‘29 raised $1,000 for The Cure Starts Now, a charity that is dedicated to not just fighting one cancer, but the elimination of all cancers.
Upper School students have been participating in Magnified Giving for 10 years. Each year, seniors research potential recipients of a $1,000 grant and visit selected non-profits that they research. The class votes on which organization should receive the grant. The goal is to engage students in community activism through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching and inspire in them the spirit of philanthropy.
It’s Cool 2B Kind
The Summit Country Day School hosted the Cool 2B Kind service camp in June, where students engaged in a variety of community service projects
Summit students participating in It’s Cool 2B Kind Summer Service Camp visit Baby Bear in Norwood where they sorted donations for infants and children.
focused on improving the lives of people and animals in their neighborhoods. Summit Summer campers traveled to different locations throughout the city to complete their service projects.
In addition to their service work, the camp provided opportunities for leadership and personal growth. Students who participated in the camp were able to earn service hours, with teachers tracking and signing forms at the end of the camp. The Cool 2B Kind camp emphasizes the importance of community service and promotes essential skills in leadership and empathy.
Habitat for Humanity
Summit freshmen took part in a day of community service with Habitat for Humanity on April 20 in Covington. This event was part of Habitat’s annual “Rock the Block” program, which focuses on revitalizing underserved neighborhoods. Alongside 300-400 volunteers, the students helped repair up to 30 homes, engaging in tasks such as external painting, minor repairs, deck building, bush trimming, yard cleanup and mulching.
The initiative provided all necessary tools and supplies, ensuring the students were wellequipped for the day’s work. Experienced Habitat team leaders were present at each home site to guide the volunteers.
Volunteers had the chance to make a tangible impact side-by-side with an underserved family selected for Habitat services. This day of service allowed the students to contribute to their community, reinforcing the values of teamwork and social responsibility. Engaging in these activities early in their high school journey emphasizes the importance of giving back and strengthens the commitment to community service.
Ronald McDonald House
The Ronald McDonald House in Cincinnati provides a home for critically ill children and their families while they get the life-saving medical care they need. As a charity that relies on volunteer support, there are always ways to get involved.
Rising Upper School students Lilly Yarnell ’28 and Molly Workman ’28 offered their time to set up a
popcorn bar with pretzels, sprinkles and other toppings for families in the Ronald McDonald House. This time was used to get familiar with the families and lend an ear to their experience in the House.
“I have personal experience with a family member receiving medical care after heart surgery and saw how difficult it was for her to stay positive,” Molly says. “I wanted to be a good support system for families and make a positive impact.”
Run for Chief
The Run for Chief 5K was held on June 15 in honor of Jaden “Jay Chief” Woodard, a 2018 Summit graduate who passed away in 2021 after complications with his heart transplant.
Born with a heart defect, Jaden underwent multiple open-heart surgeries by the age of two and eventually needed a heart transplant at the age of 13. Despite his health challenges, Jaden thrived as a member of the track and field team before attending Ohio State University as a finance major.
In honor of Jaden’s memory and the countless lives he touched, the Run for Chief race was established in 2023. The mission is twofold: to celebrate Jay Chief’s legacy and to raise funds for children and their families facing similar challenges at the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
Proceeds from the race are directed towards supporting families dealing with pediatric heart conditions. They work closely with the staff
Girl Scouts make t-shirt bags for St. Vincent DePaul.
at Children’s Hospital to provide meaningful experiences and alleviate a small portion of the financial burdens for these families. Examples of the initiatives include organizing all-inclusive outings to Kings Island, providing personalized sports jerseys for patients, and arranging Christmas gift donations for patients and their siblings.
Girl Scouts
The sixth grade Girl Scout troop, which has 22 members, has been doing service projects through the lens of St. Julie Billiart’s life. The troop completed several sessions at the Sisters’ nursing home reading a book about St. Julie and touring their museum. “We also completed activities along the way to walk in St. Julie’s footsteps by Living the Good she taught all of us,” says troop leader Christy Neyer. The scouts held their third annual book drive in grades K-4 where they collected more than 350 books that were donated to Queen City Book Bank. The first and third grade Girl Scout troops partnered with them to make t-shirt bags for St. Vincent de Paul. For the holidays, the troop made Christmas and New Year’s greeting cards for Meals on Wheels to pass out to seniors along with the meals.
Boy Scouts
Community service is also a commitment for the Boy Scouts. In the past few years, Summit’s Scouts have engaged in a variety of “good turns” for the community. They collected and delivered donated goods to Matthew 25: Ministries for flood victims in Kentucky, did conservation work at Spring Camporee Warren County Armaco Park, helped teach paracords at their Fall Festival booth, led the color guard for the naturalization ceremonies hosted by The Summit, provided maintenance conservation at Camp Friedlander by placing new wraps around young trees and this year set up a fire ring for the eighth graders participating in Shantytown at The Summit.
Other Ways Lower Schoolers Served: In addition to joining the rest of the school for Hands Across the Water, last year, Lower School students participated in a book drive, collected food and personal care items for the Center for Respite Care, collected food for the Bond Hill Food Pantry and made bags for Operation Give Back.
Other Ways Middle Schoolers Served: Middle School students also participated in a Thanksgiving food drive, Christmas Bake-off and “Pillow Fight,” collecting baking ingredients for Churches Active in Northside (CAIN) and pillows for New Life Furniture Bank, CSW Food Drive, Hands Across the Water. Seventh graders combined a day of service with their fall retreat. Half the class went to Meals on Wheels the other to work at Cincinnati Parks. The seventh graders went on retreat at Ozanam Center at St. Vincent de Paul. Also, the seventh grade spent a day to learn and serve at Mill Creek Alliance.
Other Ways Upper Schoolers Served: In addition to required community service hours, Upper Schoolers participated in service during their religious retreats. Working in groups, students completed a day of service at various locations in Cincinnati including Dress for Success, Washington United Church of Christ, Freestore Foodbank, Lesotho Nutrition Initiative, Meals on Wheels, Be Concerned, Garden of Eat’n, Welcome House NKY and St. Savior Church in Deer Park. “These sites were food insecurity related, sorting of clothes and toys, making and serving food, building hoop houses for gardens,” Stephanie Duggan says. “It ran the gamut.”
A troop of Summit Boy Scouts led the color guard during a procession that kicked off a naturalization service in Flannery Gym.
Reviving Middle School House Teams
By Tracy Law, Ph.D. ’85
Ask most graduates of the Boys Middle School about their strongest Summit memories and a majority will cite an experience with the house team program. “There is something special about The Summit Country Day School and its 130-year-old history,” says Michael DiPaola, Student Activities Coordinator for the Middle School. “While we want to be on the cutting edge in preparing our students for the future, it is important to acknowledge and celebrate our past. By reintroducing the House System to the Harold C. Schott Middle School, we are acknowledging a program that is fondly remembered by our middle school alumni.”
The first iteration of house teams came with the earliest version of the Boys School in 1924, under Sister Marie of the Purification. Designed to encourage discussion of ways to improve school morale, points were awarded for athletics, scholarship and deportment to also encourage individual responsibility.
When Henry Werner arrived as the first Head of the Summit Boys Middle School (BMS) in 1941, one of his primary innovations was requiring all boys, regardless of size or ability, to participate in all athletics – football, baseball and basketball, with the option of boxing as well. The program’s
goal was not winning but being part of a team and playing well. Werner’s philosophy of using athletics to boost enthusiasm and emphasizing hard work over raw physical and intellectual prowess, to encourage camaraderie, sportsmanship, initiative and discipline, became a foundational element of the BMS. Werner took the original house team names of Gibbons (Cardinal who founded Catholic University) and Newman (Victorian era Catholic writer) from the boys at The Summit in the 1920s. Lasance was added in 1943, honoring Summit’s well-known second Chaplain, and Fenwick followed in 1957 (first Bishop of Cincinnati). Being chosen to captain one of these teams was an honor, and the wooden plaques listing house team captains were maintained for decades.
In addition to Werner, perhaps the most important contributor to the success of the BMS house teams was Richard “Dick” Holmes, teacher and coach from 1952-1990. Time and again, men fondly remember Mr. Holmes with his blue hat, whistle and love of the fundamentals of sport. Upper School teacher Jerry Hilton ’91 believes he “set the standard for everyone and on the wall in the locker room was the word ‘PRIDE.’ It was instilled in all of us.”
While house teams were also a part of the Girls Middle and Upper Schools throughout the years, it was in the Boys School that the program
The Middle School’s Lasance House Team stands victorious with their trophy after the 2024 Field Day games.
excelled. Reflecting back Paul Schmerge BMS ’78 remembers the competitiveness, but also the community-building aspect. “House teams were competitive, but I recall that it was friendly and not bitter. In my experience, they were able to give you connections to boys in other grades, that you might not otherwise know. There was a common bond and even 40plus years later, I feel a connection to some of those people. I was maybe in my 40s when a younger man approached me and reminded me that I was his house team captain. I enjoyed having that conversation.”
“You can, of course, draw parallels to the Harry Potter novels and their houses at Hogwarts. It was also the original Fantasy League, except the House Team captains picked actual students,” Stephen Headley ’84 adds. “On a given day, we were given a list of all the students in the BMS, and we sat down and picked our team. You wanted boys who were going to do well in the boxing and wrestling tournaments. The big deal was Field Day. The house team captains entered their teammates in the various events, and again, everyone participated. The culmination was the Tug of War, and it was all very competitive and a great source of pride if your house won Field Day. For me being a house team captain was not only a very high honor but was also my first step into leadership.”
It was this spirit and dedication to community building that spurred Michael DiPaola to propose the initiative to reintroduce house teams to the Middle School. “Students from each grade level are found on every house team; this builds camaraderie and support for each other’s accomplishments – all contributing to the house team’s success. This allows students from each grade level to be recognized for their positive actions and develop them as Leaders of Character.”
Drawing upon psychological research on the key role of belonging in developing self-esteem and confidence in adolescents, Mr. DiPaola, along with Joy Parker, Cary Daniel ’93 and Jerry Hilton, has created a program where all five of The Summit’s pillars are included in the awarding of points. “This year’s House Cup was won by Team Lasance by just three points. Ultimately, it means that every accomplishment along the way mattered.”
When asked about his hope for the future, Mr. DiPaola’s responses echo the words of BMS alums. “My hope is, as this continues for years into the future, that students look back on their house and remember the accomplishments and competitions, hopefully recalling to which house they belonged and connect with former middle school classmates.”
The flags for the four house teams, Lasance, Gibbons, Billiart and Fenwick, include their colors and iconography.
Middle School students sport their team colors for Field Day. L to R: EJ Clements ’30, Alaina Williams ’29, teacher Michael DiPaola, Lucy Viveros Valdepena ’29 and Olivia Miele ’29.
Building a Global Bridge to Ukraine
By Tracy Law, Ph.D. ’85
Привіт, pronounced “pryvit,” is “hello” in Ukrainian. Дякую, pronounced “dyakuyo,” is “thank you.” As part of a class project in the Upper School this spring, students in Honors Global Issues participated in an innovative program where they learned the value of these words and the powerful impact of personal connections.
I developed the Honors Global Issues class in 200910. Using an inquiry-based approach, the onesemester course investigates regions of the world from a variety of perspectives, including historical, political, economic, cultural and geographic. Topics are fluid and may change relative to what is going on in the world or students’ own interests. Critical thinking, asking questions, storytelling, activities and presentations are the focus, rather than lectures and testing. It was due to the unique structure of the class that the KidsKonnectUkraine (KKU) program found its way to me.
Enter Madge Amann who works with the KKU program. Her husband, Bert Amann SBS ‘45 is part of a four-generation family of Summit attendees and graduates, extending from his parents, him and his five children to his granddaughter. According to Madge, “when we first learned about KKU, Bert immediately said it was a good fit for Summit.”
Madge’s enthusiasm when I first spoke with her was contagious. She explained the goals of the program connecting 12- to 17-year-old Ukrainians with US classrooms. As the KKU literature explains, “we help kids learn empathy, cross-cultural sharing and strong values by building a digital bridge between Ukraine and American youth.” The program also seeks to provide a level of normalcy for Ukrainian students, many of whom have been displaced by the war with Russia. Along with video calls, students would then be able to communicate directly with each other if they chose using the Slack platform.
Through the spring 2024 semester, my class enthusiastically participated in three Zoom calls. The primary KKU school is Kalush Lyceum 2, but several other schools from around the country also
participated. As Madge described, “The interaction between the Summit and Ukrainian students was one of interest, warmth and curiosity in one another.” My students were incredibly impressed by the fluency of the Ukrainian students’ English.
David Ray ’25 shared: “I liked how it wasn’t totally teacher-led. Obviously, the teachers helped with certain things but most of it was student-led with questions. I thought it was funny [at first] the questions we were asking each other as if we were aliens from another planet, like ‘What do you guys usually eat?’ But that got a lot better with time as we all realized that we were very similar.”
These feelings were echoed by Zack Carrico ’25, “I enjoyed learning about their day-to-day life, with things such as hobbies, sports and what they do with their friends. It was engaging to learn about how their classes and grades differ from ours, and how they get more breaks during the school day. This was one of the best things I’ve done in this building.”
Caitlyn Frodge ’25 added, “It was such an original and unique experience. It is so empowering to see them keep a smile on their faces even through the adversity of the war. I loved learning a little bit about a new language. This experience really
Audrey Shisler ’25 and Anneliese Brouwer ’25 participate in one of three KidsKonnectUkraine video calls with Ukrainian students.
opened my eyes, seeing real live faces that are experiencing the war. KKU is an amazing program to connect students around the world.”
Particularly insightful were the comments from Rebecca Cope, an assistant at KKU responsible for setting up the calls. As purely an observer she reflected, “It was an honor and privilege to witness firsthand the interactions between KKU and The Summit students this past year. What impressed me the most was how both groups wholeheartedly dove into each topic that was presented and participated in each challenge. Conversation flowed seamlessly and it was wonderful to see students from across the globe connecting on things that mattered to them. KKU members did speak about their hardships living in war, but the overall tone of the meetings was lighthearted and focused on interests, music, school life and hobbies.”
“There was one meeting where a KKU student showed a sewing project that he was working on and during one of the following meetings the Summit students asked him about it. The KKU student proudly showed the end result. It showed me that they were interested in, and most importantly, were taking note of the hobbies and interests of their fellow members.”
The war was rarely directly addressed, yet it permeated the conversations. The KKU students shared a short video showing the school’s air raid shelter that they often used midday. Sometimes they referenced fundraising for refugees, IDP’s or soldiers. Keller Minton ‘25 thoughtfully summarized our reaction, “It was a good reality check for us. They have lived and are living through an unprecedented time, and we had no clue what that is like.”
For the third call, we were challenged to participate in an online music challenge that became the highlight of the semester’s experience. Each school carefully discussed and chose a song from their own country for the other team to perform in a music video. We chose the ultimate American teen song, “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus for them. They sent us a more serious one, “incredibly sensitive that reflects our reality.” My class’ true challenge became not only learning a song in Ukrainian, but how to handle this as a group; using online pronunciation
resources, each student was responsible for one to two lines of a verse.
The words of the three Ukrainian teachers, Tania Duplei-Cholii, Ira Kostyk and Lesia Maksymiv, provide the best description of this experience. “The results? Pure magic! Both teams poured their hearts into learning and performing these songs, creating incredible videos that showcased their creativity and enthusiasm. These videos were then shared in a lively online meeting, where laughter, applause and cheers filled the virtual space. It was a fantastic way to connect, learn about each other’s cultures and have a blast in the process!” As English teachers they were very appreciative of the Summit students’ efforts adding “your video brought us joy. We got incredible pleasure from hearing you sing in Ukrainian.”
As the semester ended, Lennard Mellin ’25 shared: “The calls we have had with Ukraine were awesome. This was an extremely special opportunity and I hope you keep this going next year as well. The students we met through the call became classmates of our own; I felt extremely connected to some of them and am so proud because the confidence they have is unmeasured and is something I am only striving for. I wish I had the chance to meet them in person.”
This was not about politics but about the power of personal connections in a world where teenagers crave connection and belonging. It was about putting the faces of peers on news stories. It was about Eurovision, vacations, holiday celebrations, school lunches and the shared experience of being a 21st century adolescent.
As we plan future calls, whether it be sharing playlists or exchanging recipes, Rylee Drees ’25 captured the overarching feeling, “I think it really showed me how similar we are to other kids around the world despite our circumstances. It was really powerful to speak with them, especially during the war. It helped me to really see how badly the war is affecting others and now I pay extra attention to the news about it. It is also just amazing to have new friends in Ukraine, who I still keep in contact with even during this summer!”
If you are interested in finding out more about the KidsKonnectUkraine program, see https:// kidskonnectukraine.com.
Applying Geometry to Shape Zoo Habitats
By Emily Fernback
Geometry teachers Brooke Thomas and Lynette Grypp, along with their students from grades eight to 10, visited the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden in the spring to learn from the architects and zoo experts about designing habitat spaces. The project, in its third year, received national attention in March when Ms. Grypp shared their work at the Excellence in Teaching Conference at the University of Notre Dame as an example of one way teachers can network with local experts to develop math-rich experiences.
In the project, geometry is used to optimize space, ensuring that zoo enclosures are not only functional and comfortable for the animals but also engaging and educational for visitors. The project, developed in collaboration with Dean Violetta and Myranda Record from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s architecture and design team, tasks students with creating
innovative habitat site plans that integrate geometric calculations and prioritize animal excellence, visitor engagement and sustainability as the architects do at the zoo.
Ahead of their field trip, students were placed in groups and selected animal and plant species to research. Students were prepared to develop plans based on current projects underway at the zoo. Ms. Thomas’s students were asked to redesign the current giraffe space to be the future home for some of the African veldt animals. Ms. Grypp’s honors students were set to reimagine the African veldt space, creating new themes to unite the larger space with each group highlighting various species and aspects of the theme. One class, for example, focused on National Parks with each group selecting a specific park to design for.
During the day-long field trip, students were guided by the architecture and design team and other professionals at the zoo to learn the
Tim Martin ’26, Ben Helton ’26, Ava Dona ’26, Sarah Hunting ’26, Gabi McCauley ’26, Molly Anderson ’26 and Jayden Puryear ’26 take notes on an animal habitat at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.
fundamentals of the design process. Notably, the architects described the years-long journey to create the Elephant Trek habitat which opens this October. Before delving into calculations, students came to understand the necessity of starting with research, collaborating with other experts, and moving from general concepts to a finished design after many revisions. The architects provided topographical blueprints of the sites the students would later design so that students could begin to envision new possibilities for these sites while visiting the zoo.
Back in the classrooms and in Summit’s Exploratarium makerspace, these new lessons were brought to life as students created 2D site plans following the same process the design team utilizes at the zoo. Collaborating with and between groups, students integrated their animal research with geometric calculations to support their work. Perimeter, area, volume, trigonometry and a bonus geometry element grounded the plans in mathematical reasoning and allowed student to think creatively about how to enhance the experience for animals and visitors while considering ways to intentionally focus on sustainability. This included creating environmentally friendly landscaping and water filtration, as ours is the greenest zoo in the United States.
At the halfway mark of their designs, the architects visited the students at The Summit to offer feedback and answer questions. Each group presented multiple site plans for consideration,
explaining their rationale and focus. The energy from these exchanges was marked by great enthusiasm as the students’ work was critiqued and encouragement offered to explore some areas in greater depth.
The architects again returned for some of the final presentations, in which each student in the classroom was encouraged to provide feedback and ask questions about their peers’ projects. Three of Ms. Thomas’ students, Hana Conte ’26, Kaitlyn Rassi ’26 and Sophie Cheng ’26, researched okapis, also known as forest giraffes, and their native habitats. They visited Jungle Trails and Discovery Forest, the current habitat space of the okapis and the current giraffe sanctuary at the zoo.
“We were striving for animal excellence, making sure that they are happy in their space,” says Sophie on why they also investigated rainforestlike areas. “We wanted to think about the animals first.”
Their project, titled “The Congo,” began with their initial design, and through that they looked for the best ways to incorporate math. When it comes to visitor engagement, the students wanted to allow ways for humans to get close to the okapis without crossing the animals’ boundaries.
“Looking at the zoo from a math perspective was different than what I would usually do,” Hana says. “I started realizing that math is everywhere, and I never thought about it like that before.”
Dean Violetta, Director of Planning and Exhibit Design at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, meets with students at The Summit to offer feedback on animal habitats they designed. Students, from left, are Zezzie Imperial ’27, Skye Cutter ’27 and Emily Bolan ’26.
Anatomage Table Grows Scientific Comprehension
By Emily Fernback
In terms of technology, The Summit has personal access to the most advanced three-dimensional anatomy visualization and virtual dissection tool for anatomy and physiology education: a large, touchscreen Anatomage Table.
Offering a life-sized, digital, segmented anatomical representation of humans and animals, the Anatomage Table shows thorough, practical and educational images to simulate dissection. This kind of access opens a wide variety of learning opportunities across all divisions, especially in the Upper School. Its technology allows teachers and students to directly interact with comparative anatomy.
“Our young scientists can engage with hands-on educational technology that supplements the rigorous lab experience across the divisions,” says Karen Suder, Upper School biology teacher.
“Its application does not replace laboratory experiences but enhances our curriculum.”
The Anatomage Table amplifies critical thinking and student engagement. Utilizing spatial relationships and manipulation in 3D models encourages independent thinking, fostering career development from an early age. This table can be used as a resource for students age 18 months to 18 years and faculty seeking professional development to improve their knowledge in anatomy, histology and science processing.
The table can be found in US Room 101 and can be reserved for classes during the school day. Montessori classes, mentored by Mrs. Suder and Upper School students, have visited the Anatomage lab during the year during their initial study of the human body. Fourth grade science and eighth grade health classes visited to garner a deeper, more interactive understanding of anatomy and how it works. Upper School biology, anatomy, psychology and independent science studies utilize the table throughout the year in tandem with their course of studies.
The Anatomage Table is primarily purchased at the undergraduate and graduate level for programs in medicine. It is rare for high schools, let alone Montessori, elementary and middle school students, to have this advanced technological access. A donation from Linda and Harry Fath made the purchase of the Anatomage Table possible, unlocking new opportunities in the classroom.
Upper School biology teacher Karen Suder uses the Anatomage Table for a lesson on bones with a visiting Montessori School class.
Hayden Vanderstelt ’27, Madelyn Smith ’27 and Abigayle Penote ’27 explore the Anatomage Table.
Student Spotlight
Youth Leadership Day: Seven seventh graders participated in The Jacob G. Schmiddlapp Bystander to Upstander Youth Leadership Day at The Holocaust and Humanity Center on March 5. The conference is designed to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust inspire action and explore how one person can make a difference. Participating students were Marguerite Jackson, Nikhil Jain, Olivia Miele, Panika Pal, Alaina Williams, Eileen Bolan and Natalie Campbell. Students toured the museum and engaged in sessions focused on activating personal strengths for leadership, learning how to apply these lessons to foster positive change in their communities.
Ohio History Day: Three sophomores swept the top awards in a regional writing competition March 16 at Cincinnati Museum Center and qualified for Ohio History Day on April 20 at Capital University. Writing papers on the theme
“Turning Points in History,” students presented and answered questions on their papers in a 15-minute interview. Daniel Winhusen ’26 was awarded first place for “The Engine of Progress: The Rainhill Trials.” Kaitlyn Rassi ’26 was awarded second place for “The Hidden: How the System of Mental Institutions in the United States was used to hide those who were mentally and/or physically disabled.” Sophie Brouwer ’26 was awarded third place for “Drinking the Kool-Aid,” about the Jonestown tragedy and the beginnings of the anti-cult movement. Daniel, Kaitlyn and Sophie are students of Dr. Kristen Fleming.
Science Competitions: Zaina Kamran ’26 qualified for competition at Ohio’s science day on May 11 at The Ohio State University and received “superior” scores on her project. Zaina has been competing at a variety of science competitions with her Independent Study project entitled “Social Media Usage Does Not Impact Image Scrutiny.” She was invited to a poster presentation at the Ohio Junior Science and Humanities Symposium hosted by Capitol University in Columbus on March 1. She competed against 84 students at the Buckeye Science and Engineering Fair for one of six qualifying spots for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, hosted by Chemical Abstract Services in Columbus on March 2. Her work was shown at the Southwest Ohio Science and Engineering Expo hosted by the University of Cincinnati on March 9 where she qualified for state and received the American Statistical Association Award.
Zaina was one of three Upper School student scientists who traveled to San Antonio, TX to present their Modeling a Protein Story (MAPS) posters at Discover BMB 2024. This event is an international annual meeting of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Sophia Carazo ’26 and Meghana Curran ’26 worked with Zaina to model a protein story on the key interactions in CAR-T therapy for cancer as a part of their science curriculum in The Summit’s MAPS Team. The MAPS team additionally presented at the UC Science and Engineering Expo in early March along with a friends and family event hosted by The Summit. Students that participated include Iris Katz ’24, Ben Dobelhoff ’25, Sofia Ramirez ’24, McKinley Kramer ’24 and Lilly Sievering ’25. These Upper Schoolers
L to R: Sophie Brouwer ’26, Daniel Winhusen ’26 and Kaitlyn Rassi ’26.
modeled the black widow spider toxin, while Piper Cutforth ’27 modeled fast acting insulin, Lispro.
Aubrey Rose Scholarship: Abby Kroner ’28 was awarded the Aubrey Rose Foundation Scholarship, which recognizes students for their kindness and willingness to give back to the community. Abby’s compassion and dedication to community service made her a standout candidate for the award. Abby’s recognition highlights the importance of kindness, community involvement and the core values that The Summit strives to instill in its students.
National Merit: National Merit finalists are Grant Desch ’24, Ethan Lam ’24 and Christopher Reuter ’24. National Merit Commended Scholars are Jude Gerhardt ’24, Tarek Hasan ’24, Graham Hodge ’24, Iris Katz ’24, Kyle Lauckner ’24 and Jack Wang ’24. The College Board recognized Lilly Sievering ’25 and Zari Gillispie ’25 as National African American Recognition Scholars. Laura Matos ’24 and Sophia Nery ’25 were both recognized as National Hispanic Recognition Scholars.
Pottery Show: The ceramic artworks of five Summit Upper School students were included in the FORMATIVE show at Queen City Clay. Sydney Brinkman ’26 produced a blue and white vase. Claire Wiltshire ’26 created a pink box shaped like a cake. Gavin Smith ’24 made a black and beige bowl. Gabi McCauley ’26 turned out a Coca-Cola inspired vessel. Sydney Franer ’27 constructed an open-topped two-toned vessel. The works were created in Samantha England’s first semester pottery courses and fired in The Summit’s kiln.
Award-winning Chinese video: A video created by a group of Summit Chinese II language students continued to garner awards in the second half of the year. First selected for the American Academy of International Culture and Education 2023 National Chinese EXPO, the video went on to win awards in the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools (CLASS) 2024 National Chinese Talent Contest. Because it was made by students in both Middle and Upper School, it won second place in the middle school category and third place in the high school category. To make the video, the students created a stage and wrote a script in Chinese for LEGO characters. They made a voice-over as they manipulated the characters on the stage. The video was made by Lilly Yarnell ’28, Blake Johnson ’28, Brian Sullivan ’28, Mackenzie O’Dwyer ’28, Beckett Brinkman ’28, Bennett Fager ’28, Ama Karikari’ 27, Sophie Cheng ’26, Tessa Dennemann ’27, Aliviah McCarter ’27, Skye Cutter ’27, TJ Yarnell ’27, Katie Buckius ’26 and Lexi Cutter ’26. Additionally, four pieces of Chinese painting by Annabelle Schlotman ’25 won second place in the contest’s art category. Their teacher is Bonnie Pang.
Power of the Pen: Twelve Middle School writers traveled to Ashland University in May for the state Power of the Pen tournament. Kiersten Diaz ‘28 and Ben Hofmann ‘28 were among the top 500 writers in the state and Ben made it to the final round of 50 writers, placing in the state for eighth grade. At the end of the tournament, writer points were tallied and Summit’s combined seventh and eighth grade team took second place for excellence in writing. Language arts teacher Brendan McEachern coached the students.
This report was compiled by Xavier Mellon with contributions from Emily Fernback and Nancy Berlier.
Ben Hofmann ’28
Kiersten Diaz ’28
Abby Kroner ’28 and Middle School language arts teacher Brendan McEachern.
National Honor Society: The Summit inducted 50 new members of the National Honor Society. In a ceremony symbolizing the virtues of the National Honor Society, Laura Matos ’24 lit the candle of scholarship, Charles Li ’24 lit the candle of leadership, Hamilton Uhl ’24 lit the candle of service and Nick Bergeron ’24 lit the candle of service. Caden Charville ’24 introduced the initiates. The National Honor Society inductees are Joaquin Beatty ’24, Eden Benavides Orta ’24, Maggie Bissmeyer ’25, Olivia Bolan ’25, Johnathan Breazeale ’25, Annaliese Brouwer ’25, Alina Butcher ’25, Zack Carrico ’25, Ella Cary ’25, Lowry Cavanaugh ’25, Rovio Chen ’25, Lily de Lacy ’25, Joey DiPaola ’25, Ben Dobelhoff ’25, Daisy Doran ’25, Rylee Drees ’25 and Joey Driggers ’24. Also inducted were Lukas Fry ’25, Giulia Genung ’24, Zari Gillispie ’25, Addison Golden ’25, Esmé Gonyo ’25, Sophie Gray ’25, Brenden Hamilton ’25, Sadie Headley ’24, Ashton Jordan ’25, Delaney Kintner ’25, Jack Lain ’25, Annette LaLonde ’25, Jocelyn Lauckner ’25, Jordyn Lauckner ’25, Rowan Lavelle ’25, Maryn Mahoney ’25, Maggie Marburger ’25, Megan Marburger ’25, Kori McLane ’25, Owen McNeil ’25, Maddie Mescher ’25 and Mason Moyle ’25. Also inducted were Sophia Nery ’25, Elizabeth Pilon ’25, Garret Rahe ’25, Charles Rahner ’25, Maggie Razzano ’25, Gracie Sanders ’25, Annabelle Schlotman ’25, Lilly Sievering ’25, Sarah Stewart ’24, Elena Stone ’25 and Grace Tounge ’25.
State Art Exhibit: Art works created by six Summit students were displayed at the state capital in Youth Art Month shows in March and the critical writing of six other students was recognized. Art works were by: Drew Wilmot ’33 in the two-dimensional (2D) drawing/painting category, Emma Boyer ’32 for a threedimensional fiber weaving, Lily Fecher ’28 for a 2D watercolor, Elise Goebel ’30 for a 2D mixed media work, Mia Warden ’29 for a 2D colored pencil drawing and Anna Wiltshire ’28 for a 2D watercolor called “Runaway Bay.” The works of Lily and Anna were among 25 pieces statewide selected by the Ohio Department of Education to hang in the organization’s building. In the Jerry Tollifson Art Criticism Open, Division II, Luca Pancheri ’32 took first place, Quinn Wood ’32 took second place and Tory Plattner ’32 took third place. In Division I, Thomas Schmitt ’34, Sam Gehring ’35 and Blakely Lewis ’35 placed. These students are taught by Lower School Art Teacher Hilary Carvitti and Middle School art teachers Samantha England and Paula (Bien) Yarnell-Sundermann ’65.
Calendar of Events
2024-25
Booster Bash • Aug. 17
Opening Day of School for Grades 1-12 • Aug. 20
Montessori Phase-in Dates • Aug. 21-30
All School Opening Mass • Aug. 27
Labor Day, No School • Sept. 2
MS Confirmation • Sept. 19
Fall Festival • Oct. 4
Homecoming Weekend • Oct. 4-6
Fall Break, No School • Oct. 10-11
Start of Winter Uniforms • Oct. 14
In-Service Day, No School • Nov. 5
LS First Reconciliation • Nov. 12
Thanksgiving Break, No School • Nov. 27-29
A Festival of Lessons & Carols • Dec. 8
Christmas Break, No School • Dec. 23-Jan. 6
Christmas Eve Masses • Dec. 24
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School • Jan. 20
The Village Soirée • Feb. 1
Winter Break, No School • Feb. 14-17
One Night, All Knights • Mar. 15
Spring Break, No School • Mar. 24-28
Start of Warm Weather Uniforms • Mar. 31
First Annual Fish Fry • Apr. 11
Easter Break, No Schools • Apr. 18-22
Campus Day • Apr. 27
Drive for the Knights Golf Outing • May 4
May Crowning • May 5
LS First Communion • May 10
Montessori Last Day of School • May 20
Last Day of School • May 22
Divisional Conferences:
Montessori: Oct. 25*, Mar. 12*
Lower School: Oct. 24, Oct. 25*, Mar. 11, Mar. 12*
Middle School: Sept. 26, Sept. 27*, Feb. 7*
Upper School: Sept. 26, Sept. 27*, Feb. 7*
* = division has NO SCHOOL
Moving Up Milestones:
US Graduation: May 18
LS Grade 4 Sending Forth Mass: May 20
MS Grade 8 Graduation: May 21
Back row: Lily Fecher ’28, Mia Warden ’28, Anna Wiltshire ’28. Front row: Drew Wilmot ’33, Emma Boyer ‘32 and Elise Goebel ’30.
Kurtis Smith named Schilderink Family Faculty Chair for Distinguished Teaching
By Nancy Berlier
Sitting in Kurtis Smith’s religion classrooms is not always comfortable. He gives shy freshmen a writing assignment to answer the questions: “Who was I? Who am I? Who do I hope to become?” He has morality debates on hot topics, assigning students to argue a side whether they agree with it or not. He puts his juniors in the “hot seat” where they are peppered with questions from their classmates. And he asks the unthinkable from his freshman the Friday before final exam week: Turn in your cell phones.
“I think the biggest challenge for our young adults today is the fact that our young people do not know how to fail and are being taught that failure is this terrible thing,” he says. “Ultimately, I want my students to understand that setbacks and failure are paramount to personal growth.”
The “Why” project helps them grow and discover themselves and their classmates.
“I’m trying to show the kids that the basics of relationships, communication, virtues and living virtuously are principles that have lasted the test of time,” he says. “I’m trying to ground them. The hardest part is bringing them back in because they have been pulled so far away from that through their phones. And COVID obviously didn’t help. Communicating on a deeper level is something that they struggle with initially, but I feel like a class like mine, especially my junior morality class, which is completely discussion-based, forces them to have to look at themselves and their classmates in a deeper way. The challenge for me is helping them see how the ability to communicate with each other is human nature and it’s something that you have to have for the rest of your life.”
Kurtis’ personal life journey is an inspirational one.
Raised by a single mother who was working as a social worker, Kurtis received a scholarship from Catholic Inner-City Schools Education which allowed him to go to Elder High School. He received his bachelor’s in sociology and criminal
justice from Mount St. Joseph University before becoming a policeman. He went back to the Mount to get a master’s in theology and began teaching.
His high school coaches changed his life. One was his cross-country coach, Steve Spencer, who not only led him to be passionate about running but also became his father-in-law. And the other was his basketball coach, Joe Schoenfeld, who recommended him to Summit Chaplain Phil Seher when Summit needed a religion teacher. He joined The Summit in 2005. Coaching since 2006, he helped develop competitive running programs marked by a series of individual and team state championships and the endowment of his coaching position. Now, he and his wife, Ashley, have three children at The Summit, Madelyn ’27, Kayden ’29 and Reagan ’33. He teaches freshman and junior religion classes, a leadership class and, starting this fall, aviation.
When Head of School Kelley Schiess announced that Kurtis Smith had been awarded the Schilderink Family Chair for Distinguished Teaching, she pointed to his ability to make his classroom relevant to his students lives and faith development.
“He sees the unique gifts and talents in each student and brings out the best in them,” she says. “He requires his students to examine who they are so they can figure out what they want to become. The lessons he teaches resonate with them long after they leave.”
That is certainly the case with 2018 graduate Xavier Johnson, who was interviewed by ESPN about receiving the “0” jersey from Ohio State. In that interview, Xavier referenced his freshman year ‘What is My Why?’ project in Kurtis Smith’s classroom which spurred him at the young age of 14 to examine and reflect on his life.
Kurtis said he was humbled by the Schilderink award.
“When I think of all the people that have received that award, these are, in many ways, the Who’s Who at Summit,” he says. “I think of Bob Baechtold, Jerry Hilton ‘91, Karen Suder, Rosie Sansalone and the rest of the legends who’ve received it. For me to be included in that list is an honor. When I told my wife about it, I said of everything I’ve ever received in my life, this was the most impactful because I consider myself a teacher first and foremost. Even as a coach, I consider myself as a teacher.”
After 19 years of teaching at The Summit, Kurtis says his greatest challenge is convincing students to see how the ability to communicate with each other is a skill they will need for the rest of their lives. “I always joke that a freshman’s always 15 years old. It’s the same with the juniors. They’re always 16and 17-years old. I’m the only one who gets older. So, the challenge for me is, is kind of meeting them there.”
He does that by getting them to stop and think about how their decisions affect their lives. For sure, not every freshman has handed over their cell phone for finals week. But those who have made the sacrifice scored, on average, 7 to 12 percentage points higher on all their exams than those who didn’t. For a 15-year-old, that’s relevant.
The Summit Way Awards
The Summit Way Award recognizes a striving for excellence in all that one does. The winners of this award have a servant leader mentality and “can do” spirit of hard work. They believe in honesty and integrity. They treat everyone with kindness and respect. This year’s Summit Way Awards were given to Barb Bolender, Stephanie Duggan and Nisa Johnson.
Rarely, if ever, does Cook Barbara Bolender miss a day of work, and she begins every day well before sunrise. After 26 years of service, she can rattle off the Summit cookie recipe from her memory. “The quality and quantity of daily output is mind boggling,” says Head of School Kelley Schiess. “A ‘normal’ batch of homemade cookies makes 3035 cookies. A Summit batch makes about 1,500. Almost everything she prepares is from scratch. Soups, meatballs, pesto, casseroles, sliders, meatloaf, taco meat, you name it, it is made with tender-loving care.”
To get a sense of quantities per batch: 800 individually hand scooped meatballs. 80-100 pounds of beef for taco day and that is just the beef burritos and taco salads.
120 to 150 pounds of chicken per week for chicken and rice bowls.
42 gallons of soup made in the largest pots and divided up for the school week. That is over 700 orders of soup per week.
“She is known for clipping out recipes in the paper or magazines to test and keep new ideas coming,” Mrs. Schiess says. “The Summit is fortunate to have her dedication. She tried to retire once a few years ago but answered the call immediately when we needed her back. She is dedicated, hard-working,
kind and invested in the success and well-being of our students.”
Upper School Campus Minister Stephanie Duggan is a problem solver and consummate team player.
“She is someone I have always been able to count on no matter what needs to be done,” says former Upper School Director Kelly Cronin.
After 20 years on the job, you might think she has the process down pat, but she doesn’t rest on doing things the way they have always been done. “She is always looking for ways to improve her class and the retreat program to benefit students,” Ms. Cronin says. Her efforts to completely restructure both Kairos and the sophomore retreat this past year meant creating a program that required much more work on her part. But she always places the student at the center of her decision making. She looks for solutions to obstacles and deals with problems that come her way. Her ability to find joy, and laughter, in even the most difficult days has made her an invaluable part of the Upper School administrative team.”
Art teacher and colleague Carrie Barnett says: “She is constantly working to glorify God through our students.”
Barb Bolender: Dedicated and Passionate
Stephanie Duggan: Always Stays Positive
Nisa Johnson: Boosts Purchasing Power of School
Many faculty, staff and students wander past Purchasing Clerk Nisa Johnson’s door every day without knowing the importance of her job.
Chief Financial Officer Bernadette Lottman defines Nisa’s job lightheartedly as the person who “knows how to get things.”
While her job is behind the scenes and might be seen as unglamorous, it is extremely important to the education of students and the school’s operations, says Kelley Schiess.
Upper School biology teacher Karen Suder says: “She helps make what faculty do in the classroom possible. Her professional courtesy and approachable demeanor are truly appreciated.
Her nominators say she is dependable, kind, responsive and thorough. She takes the time to research and find just the right item at the best cost. After three years on the job, she has taken charge and works independently to navigate the complicated Cincinnati Public School (CPS) auxiliary purchases program patiently and diligently.
Kirstin McEachern, Assistant Head of School for Academics and Interim Upper School Director, praised her efficiency in moving the school into a more efficient system by creating Microsoft forms for the auxiliary ordering process. “She has been quick to register companies as vendors so that more orders can go through CPS than before. Navigating CPS’s bureaucracy is its own special challenge, and she does it beautifully and with a smile.”
Faculty Spotlight
Upper School Biology Teacher Kat Sickinger flew to Prescott College in Arizona in May to participate in graduation and present her Ph.D. dissertation in sustainability education. She graduated cum laude from Mount St. Joseph University with a bachelor’s degree in biology and has her master’s degree in biology from Miami University.
Head of School Kelley Schiess is among the Cincinnati executives who were selected to be in Ohio Business Magazine’s third annual “OHIO 500.” The Ohio 500 is a list of the most influential executives across the state and will be featured in the magazine’s fall issue. She has also been named a “2024 Rising Star” by Cincy Magazine. Rising Stars recognizes Cincinnati area business leaders who are making an impact within their organizations and community at-large. Rising Stars will be featured in a special edition of Cincy.
Upper School Science teacher Carrie Barnett was asked to participate in the 2024 For a Better World; Poems and Drawings on Peace and Justice by Greater Cincinnati Artists, edited by Saad Ghosen. Her illustration was created to accompany four poems. Her original drawing was displayed with the work of other artists featured in the book at the Annex Gallery downtown. She also had an article entitled “Visual Research” published in the Summer 2024 issue of SchoolArts, a national art education magazine which promotes excellence, advocacy and professional support for educators in the visual arts.
Leaders of Character Awards
Leaders of Character recognize opportunities, form a vision of what can be achieved and challenge themselves and others to get results. They consistently model what we seek to teach children. This year’s Leaders of Character Award winners are Chelsea Hahn ’07, Kristin (Hausladen) Baker ’96, Cooper Schreibeis ’12 and Lynette Grypp.
Chelsea Hahn: Cornerstone of Collaboration
Chelsea Hahn has spent the last five years teaching at the Montessori School. But she’s not a Summit newbie. She graduated from Summit in 2007. Committed to The Summit, she has two children attending the school, Lily ’28 and Oliver ’33.
“Now, Chelsea embodies the essence of a Montessori toddler teacher,” says Head of School Kelley Schiess. She embraces each day with a commitment to understanding that her needs are second to those of the children in her classroom.
“She is an excellent observer, noticing what each child needs and adjusting the materials in her classroom environment to meet them,” says Montessori teacher Genevieve Kenney. “She meets the needs of her colleagues so that all the adults on her team are working together to the best of their abilities for the common good of their students.”
Former Montessori director Lauren Guip says Chelsea meticulously crafts an environment where every child thrives. “She’s been a cornerstone of collaboration with her toddler faculty-mates, valuing teamwork as the essence of progress,” Lauren says. “Her interactions with children are always kind and gentle, and you can feel that being with children is beyond a profession for her, it is a calling.”
Lynette Grypp: Develops Leadership Skills
Upper School math teacher Lynette Grypp is a Leader of Character by every definition, says former Upper School director Kelly Cronin. But sees two aspects of her leadership as standing out.
“She is reflective and creative,” Ms. Cronin says. “She is always reflecting on ways to reach students by connecting the real world to her math classes. From the zoo project in geometry, to the astronomy for honors trigonometry, to the development of a new course for applied math concepts, she never stops reflecting on reaching her students in new ways.”
Upper School art teacher Carrie Barnett says Mrs. Grypp is a quiet leader. “She has worked to create a leadership program with seniors through our Leaders of Character program. She saw the opportunity and implemented it. As a result, our students are better leaders.”
Mrs. Grypp is also making sure her children get the benefits of the school’s Leaders of Character experiences. A teacher at The Summit for seven years, Mrs. Grypp has two children at the school, Marguerite ’29 and Nathan ’32.
Kristin Baker: Makes Students Feel Included
Kristin (Hausladen) Baker ’96 knows a lot about The Summit. An alum and parent volunteer for many years before she returned to teaching, she has three children attending the school, Anna ’30, Haley ’26 and Jack ’28.
Knowing the ins and outs of the school, one of the ways Kristin Baker has excelled is collaborating on student learning in order to ensure alignment between grades and divisions. And beyond the academic challenges, there are ever-changing social dynamics in the classroom, at lunch and recess and extracurriculars. “Being aware of this constellation of needs is not easy and requires a laser focus on the needs of each individual child,” says Head of School Kelley Schiess. “To come in daily and teach is one thing, but to teach in a way that supports our five-pillar mission and the learning of each unique human being in front of you, that is another thing.”
Lower School Director Mike Johnson says: “She knows her students inside and outside of her classroom and she understands how the outside of the classroom lives of her students show up in her classroom and often demands her attention. Without hesitation, she reaches out to her students, connects with them and ensures that they are known and loved. It takes tenacity, it takes time and it takes a profound respect for the lives of each student in her care.”
Educational Assistant Leslie Mueller says Kristin models inclusivity. “Her classroom is a place where all students feel welcome and included,” Mrs. Mueller says.
Cooper Schreibeis: Encouraging and Supportive
Middle School Social Studies and Religion teacher Cooper Schreibeis ’12 exemplifies the values Summit strives to teach students, says Head of School Kelley Schiess.
Middle School Director Kim Perlman says he is patient, understanding, compassionate and flexible, providing the right balance of encouragement and support to guide them through their transition to middle school.
“His positivity and creativity shine in his religion and social studies classes, where he engages students with dynamic activities and innovative teaching strategies tailored to meet the needs of each learner,” Mrs. Perlman says. “He connects with students by embracing their interests and supporting unique capstone projects, even taking on a cabinet renovation to support their dreams of a new video production studio.”
He extends his impact beyond the fifth grade by serving as a KORT advisor, facilitating a diplomacy club and leading a popular Harry Potter “Zactivity,” fostering leadership and supporting the interests of all Middle School students.
“After a day of directly impacting the lives of the middle school building, Cooper heads to the soccer field to interact and work with the Upper Schoolers,” says colleague Brendan McEachern. “He has consistently grown and evolved in his eight years in the Middle School. He brings joy to both students and adults on our campus.”
Mr. Schreibeis has two children enrolled at The Summit, Gemma ’37 and Jay ’36.
Retirees
Marianne Cramer
Head Librarian
Served The Summit from 1986-2024
For the past 38 years, Marianne Cramer has made sure our libraries are equipped with everything students and teachers need, coordinating practices across the four libraries on campus.
A lot has changed in her 38 years. When she arrived, she was challenged with automating the Upper School library. She assembled a large repository of full-text databases for student researchers. She advocated for upgrading library services as technology advanced. She designed the library’s web page to include databases few high schools can access. She has aided teachers and students in countless research papers.
An unforgettable moment happened in 2004 when a portion of the east wing of the main building collapsed. Technology Director Ken Uckotter called her at home. She rushed to the scene and parked her car on Convent Lane. “We had lost our entire film collection; our reading room and half the Montessori collection was in the reading room where it was being stored during construction of the new Lower School. The circulation desk area was gone. That was pretty devastating. It is something most librarians never experience. It was something that defined my career. No one I knew
had experienced this. There were no guidebooks on what to do.”
After the collapse, Marianne rallied to make library services not only functional but better than ever. A decade later in 2014, she led the design of the new Helen Williams Reading Room. Modeling the room on collegiate library spaces, she made sure students would have access to the internet wherever they sat. And she ensured a variety of seating would benefit students with different types of learning styles. The expanded space also provides a workroom to house the school’s large educational DVD collection and her office.
Like everyone in the Upper School faculty, she advises a small group of students. She developed close relationships with them over the course of four years and became their advocate. She checked their progress, wrote them notes on their successes and was a sounding board for their challenges. She helped them learn how to solve problems. Many of her advisees have kept in touch with her long after they graduated. She’s also chaperoned overnight trips, mentored new faculty and ridden spirit fan buses to state championships. For 20 years, she managed Unity Day, turning out more than a hundred tie-dye shirts each time. She was given the Leader of Character Award in 2018.
“The relationships she builds with her advisees are evident in the many alumni who still keep in touch and the number of advisee weddings that she has attended,” says former Upper School Director Kelly Cronin.”
Retired English teacher Pat Kelly says: “Marianne treats every student with respect and a maternal affection that gave her lucky advisees another home in the library where they could feel safe and joyous. Marianne’s calm affection extended to the faculty as well. We knew we could trust her with any woe or confidence; we knew she would help us through any problem and share with us every happiness.”
As you might expect, Marianne plans to spend more time reading in her retirement. She loves books on history and mysteries. She also has plans to see her grandsons in Columbus more frequently, knitting and spending time with friends.
Ceil Johnson
First Grade Teacher
Served The Summit from 1986-2024
When The Summit gave Ceil Johnson the Schilderink Faculty Chair for Distinguished teaching in 2016, her nominators said that after dealing with first graders for so many years, she must have the patience of Job.
“I’d say she is a student-centered master teacher and expert on the neurological development and needs of 6- and 7-year-olds,” says Head of School Kelley Schiess. “And before you ask, yes, we already have her on our substitute teacher list.”
Throughout her years, Ceil has developed a relationship with each child, helping them become independent learners. She used data to assess, reassess and drive instruction, continually adjusting to make sure children understood what she was teaching. She has been devoted to the teachings of St. Julie and the hallmarks of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
Ceil brings her whole self to the craft of teaching, says Lower School Director Mike Johnson. “If we say Summit is a five-pillar school, Ceil is a fivepillar teacher,” he says. “The many examples of her leading music and creating art with and for her students make it easy to see her embodiment of the artistic pillar. Her prayerful leadership and faith-filled discipleship make it easy to check the box of the spiritual pillar. Actually, it would be
hard to identify times when she is not putting her artistic and spiritual gifts at the service of our students. She engages the physical pillar through a concerted focus on doing — on taking action and serving. She is, at all times, calling forth the best from her students academically; and her very being is calling forth community among those with whom she works and serves. To be sure, she is the embodiment of those pillars.”
Friend and fellow teacher Kathleen Kane says Ceil was devoted to giving every child an extraordinary experience from her first day on the job. “Ceil would jump in to play the piano at religious events, have her husband be Santa, make every lesson exciting and fun, do whatever had to be done to make every child have a Summit experience,” she says.
Ceil says the aspect of The Summit she will always carry with her is the sense of community. “I think the friends I made my very first year here, 38 years ago, who taught me to be a better teacher, they were my best mentors,” she says.
It was community that helped Ceil through a defining event in her life. That was when her close friend and fellow teacher, Ann Thelen, died suddenly just before her husband, Ken, passed. Ceil and her husband, Mike, took in their daughter, Brigid ’12, and raised her alongside their own adopted daughter, Erin ’22.
“We did it with the support of this community and we suddenly became friends with so many more people,” Ceil says. “We were clueless about how to raise a 15-year-old daughter. We didn’t have a 15-year-old, and then suddenly we did. The basketball team rallied around us, and the families and people that Brigid was friendly with, and her parents were friendly with became our friends. It goes back to Summit’s community.”
Although she is retiring now, she is not leaving education entirely. She has her name on the substitute list and she’s planning to work a couple days a week at Guardian Angel School with students who need extra help. “The hardest part about saying goodbye is leaving this community of teachers and administrators and parents and, of course, the children.”
Kelly Cronin
Upper School Director
Serving The Summit since 1999
After 25 years of service to The Summit, Kelly Cronin stepped down from her job as Upper School Director. She has agreed to work part-time helping to manage student information and schedules. Her new title is Registrar Grades 5-12.
After studying two years in Russia, she began teaching World American History I at The Summit and was kind of tricked into being the varsity girls’ basketball coach for a couple of years. In her third year, she introduced Advanced Placement European History. Over time, she taught some of the most rigorous courses offered, introducing the Harkness method of seminar teaching. She was Dean of Students from 2011-2015. She was awarded the Schilderink Family Chair for Distinguished Teaching in 2014.
As a teacher, she was “one of the greats,” says fellow social studies teacher Jerry Hilton. “She has a great ability to meet students on their level and bring out the best in them.” She was the faculty moderator for years for award-winning Mock Trial and Model APEC teams. A champion of research writing, she mentored multiple students whose research was accepted in the Concord Review.
“She is all about Summit Country Day,” says Pat White. “Kelly lived the mission of the Sister of Notre
Dame de Namur in her dealings with the students and faculty. She has unsurpassed compassion and puts the needs of others before herself. She was a role model for all of us.” A constant cheerleader for her students, she started an Upper School Director Instagram page. “I was at all the events anyway,” she says.
As an administrator, she had vast reserves of patience, says retired English teacher Pat Kelly. “Kelly is a master of detail and one of the most intelligent people I know,” he says. “She knows how to solve any problem and is so far-seeing that she often anticipates what might happen and solves the problem before it even becomes a problem. Kelly has vast reserves of patience and will listen long and carefully to anyone who needs to talk with her. She steers people to the right path with immeasurable care and compassion.”
She has a reputation for straight talk, a sense of humor and absolute dedication to The Summit. “Kelly did not ask for demanding work of others without role modeling this ethical value herself,” says Laura Haas, Leadership and Student Activities Coordinator. “Her hours of dedication to her work, first as a teacher and later as an administrator, were endless and, at times, exhausting. But in every situation, she would rise to the occasion. During the COVID years, Kelly was instrumental in restructuring activities, education and the dayto-day structure of the school. Her efforts were a constant challenge with changing parts almost daily, but she was always directed by attempting to make education at The Summit Upper School as ‘normal’ as the pandemic would allow.”
Becoming a master of technology, like becoming basketball coach and becoming Dean of Students, was a bit of a walk-on too. Her memory of the summer of 2010 is vivid. The school decided to move away from an in-house database for grades and schedules to a comprehensive third-party information management system. Because of a death in the family, former technology director Ken Uckotter had to cancel a training conference so former Upper School director Pat White asked Kelly to attend at the last minute. She took copious notes and, on returning to Cincinnati, split the task of moving the records into the new system with Ken to get the work done in the two weeks remaining before school resumed. “So, I sat at
my kitchen table. I had two laptops. One was running the video for each thing and my other was following the directions setting up the Middle School and the Upper School while Ken did all the databases for the Montessori and the Lower School. After that, somehow, I never got rid of it and then I ended up running the Portal.”
Jane Schmerge
Lower & Middle School Assistant Director of Admission
Served The Summit from 2008-2024
Jane Schmerge is a person who “walks the talk.” For the last 16 years, she has given countless tours of the Lower and Middle Schools giving families an understanding of the five-pillar principles that underlie The Summit experience and helping them determine if the school is a good fit for their children. For sure, it was a good fit for her four Summit-educated children.
“Jane is passionate about The Summit and calls us to live up to the high ideals of the organization,” says Lower School Director Mike Johnson. “I listen to Jane speak and I frequently go back to my office to make a note and follow up on some aspect of what she spoke about. Are we differentiating for each student? Are we being the joyful community the Sisters call us to be? Are we maintaining focus on all five pillars? Jane knows us and calls us to be our best – not to sell the school but because she believes in our mission and our ability to achieve it together.”
Karen Schroeder
Resources and Intervention Specialist
Served The Summit from 2021-2024
Karen Schroeder joined the Summit three years ago highly credentialed, experienced and with a passion for showing students how they can turn challenges into strengths and see their own potential.
“Karen was absolutely perfect in her role as an intervention specialist,” says Upper School Counselor Mike Fee. “To balance the needs of the students in the program you have to manage diverse learning needs, communication with teachers and parents and support students when they are struggling academically and sometimes emotionally. You have to be a cheerleader, an organizer, an advocate and a work horse. Karen filled each of these roles and more with grace and kindness, with a firm hand and always with a smile on her face.”
She served as a mentor for Ed Buyniski when he was completing his Resident Educator Summative Assessment. “Karen is a wonderful supportive person of both her peers and students,” he says. “She was truly selfless when it came to helping me.”
Fellow retiree Marianne Cramer says: “Karen is an incredibly warm, caring and patient person. That translated into good things for kids in resources.”
Three New Leaders Step into Director Roles
By Xavier Mellon and Nancy Berlier
Three new directors are taking the reins this fall. Kirstin McEachern, Ph.D., Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs, is stepping into the role of interim Upper School Director for the 2024-25 school year. Montessori teacher Stephanie Hicks was appointed the new Montessori School Director. And Tina Tedesco has been named Marketing and Communications Director.
Upper School Director
Dr. McEachern replaces Kelly Cronin, who will continue working part-time in the area of student information management. A national search for a permanent Upper School Director is under way in hopes for the 2025-26 school year. Dr. McEachern will also continue as Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs.
“The Upper School will be in great hands next year,” said Head of School Kelley Schiess. “Dr. McEachern is a thought leader in education and has a depth of experience working with Upper School faculty, students and parents.”
Dr. McEachern has worked collaboratively with both the Senior Leadership and Educational Teams on developing and implementing the Leaders of Character Framework, professional development and curricular alignment across the school. She also has considerable research experience in educational methods, has presented
at national education conferences and has been published in educational journals.
Dr. McEachern’s husband, Brendan, is an eighth grade Language Arts teacher and team leader at The Summit. They have two children, Avery ’21, a student at Goucher College, and Owen ’23, who is attending Bentley University.
Mrs. Hicks succeeds Lauren Guip, who stepped down to spend more time with her family and pursue other opportunities. In addition to her role at The Summit, she is a course instructor and practicum coordinator for the Greater Cincinnati Center for Montessori Education during the summer, where she trains other teachers in the Montessori philosophy. She was given the Schilderink Family Faculty Chair for Distinguished Teaching in 2022-23.
“My educational philosophy is to create an interactive learning environment that inspires our youngest students to feel safe and confident expressing themselves, exploring academic materials, socializing with peers and teachers, contributing to the classroom community, and growing in independence,” she says. “Building trusting relationships with parents, collaborating and sharing about our approach to Montessori education also contributes to an optimal school experience.”
Montessori School Director
Kirstin McEachern, Ph.D.
Stephanie Hicks
Marketing and Communications Director
Tina Tedesco comes to The Summit from St. Francis Catholic High School in Sacramento, CA., where she served for the last four years as Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications. She has expertise in public relations, content development, brand oversight, project management, crisis communications and mentoring.
Mrs. Tedesco succeeded Tami McMann who is now Communications Manager of The Summit’s founding sisters, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Reading.
“I have two daughters who will be starting at The Summit in the fall, so I am a new parent as well,” she says. “I am so proud to be able to provide them with the opportunities and resources available at The Summit. Allowing them to explore the ways they can improve the world they inherit in a safe and supportive environment is one of the qualities that drew me to The Summit in the first place. And, not just in their academics, but who they are as individuals. I look forward to getting to know other devoted families, faculty and staff.
Tina’s husband, Chris, works for Assured Partners in Kenwood. Their daughters, Julia ’27 and Paige ’29, are enrolled at Summit. They also have two sons, Dominick, who will finish his Jesuit education as a senior at St. Xavier, and Michael, who is attending Sinclair College.
Consultant Facilitates Senior Leadership Team Retreat
By Lauren Goebel ’96
In her second year of Head of School, Kelley Schiess led a journey of self-discovery and team development for her Senior Leadership Team (SLT).
The SLT participated in development sessions throughout the year. This work culminated in a three-day retreat in French Lick and West Baden, Indiana, to focus on values, collaboration and communication.
“The SLT retreat could not have come at a more opportune time for me as an emerging leader,” says Stephanie Hicks, new Montessori Director. “Not only did I learn relevant strategies to implement in my new role as Montessori Director, but I also built new relationships with other team members. The team reflected on the values that influence each one of us as leaders, and where we find joy in our work.”
The team discussed challenges they are facing and received valuable feedback from their peers and lead facilitator, Michelle Bostian from Bostian Consulting. As Ms. Bostian explained, having a shared sense of individual values and biases ahead of working through specific projects and challenges is beneficial to achieving the results the team would like to see.
“The opportunity to spend time, share ideas and develop a better understanding of how we think as a team was powerful and will go a long way with communication going forward,” notes Athletic Director, Greg Dennis. The team gained skills in active listening and coaching of and connecting with their teams and peers.
Mrs. Schiess and her team say they look forward to practicing these techniques in the upcoming school year and expanding The Summit’s use of these efforts as part of the faculty and staff professional development journey.
Lauren (Brinkmeyer) Goebel ‘96 is the Assistant Head of School for Advancement and Community Engagement.
Tina Tedesco
Upper School Athletics: Year in Review
Another state championship with six other teams qualifying for state competition highlighted the 2023-24 school year for the Silver Knights. Here is a summary of the accomplishments of the teams, athletes and players in the Upper School.
State Champions
Girls’ Soccer
State Qualifying Events
Girls’ Track and Field, Boys’ Track and Field, Girls’ Soccer, Boys’ Soccer, Girls’ Cross Country, Girls’ Swimming, Boys’ Cross Country
Miami Valley Conference (MVC) Champions Girls’ Track and Field, Girls’ Tennis, Girls’ Soccer, Boys’ Soccer, Girls’ Cross Country, Boys’ Basketball
All-American
Bree Reder ’26 (Girls’ Soccer)
Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association
Team Academic Award
Girls’ Soccer
MVC Players of the Year
Nate Borman ’24 (Boys’ Lacrosse); Ama Karikari ’27 (Girls’ Track and Field)
City Players of the Year
Bree Reder ’26 (Girls’ Soccer DII Player of the Year); Kendall Northern ’26 (District 16 DIII Player of the Year)
MVC Coaches of the Year
Hannah McFeeters (Girls’ Lacrosse); Kevin Johnson Jr. ’13 (Boys’ Basketball), Kim Horning (Boys’ and Girls’ Track and Field); Karen Hess (Girls’ Volleyball); Scott McIntosh (Girls’ Tennis); Mike Fee (Girls’ Soccer); Scott Sievering (Boys’ Soccer)
SW Ohio Private School Coach of the Year
Scott Sievering (Boys’ Soccer)
Co-Coach of the Year
Pat Collura (Boys’ Lacrosse)
All Ohio DII Assistant Coach of the Year
Eric Unwin (Girls’ Soccer)
District 16 DIII Coach of the Year
Karen Hess (Girls’ Volleyball)
The track team poses for a photo on the front steps before their state sendoff. Front row, L to R: Zoe Jackson ’26, Muna Anusionwu ’27, Callie Fox ’26, Reddyn Cleaver ’27, Delaney Kintner ’25, Ama Karikari ’27 and Sasha Woodard ’26. Second Row: Coach Kim Horning, Jocelyn Lauckner ’25, Allie Reuter ’26, McKinley Kramer ’24, Vanessa Carrington ’24, Bree Reder ’26 and Coach Tyler Hannah ’18. Back Row: Coach Courtney Chamberlin ’18, Liam Woodward ’26, Chike Anusionwu ’25, Jayden Puryear ’26 and Zezzie Imperial ’27.
Grades 7-8 Year in Review
Cincinnati Youth Organization City Champions
MS Boys’ Track, MS Boys’ Golf
MS Girls’ Track; CYO City Runner-up
Miami Valley Conference (MVC) Winners
MS Girls’ Volleyball
MS Girls’ Basketball; MVC Runner-up
Additional Distinctions
These athletes distinguished themselves in teams outside The Summit.
Connor Schaaf ’26, gymnast, won state for the second year in a row
Drew Hinton ’24 and Sam Hinton ’26
Midwest Regional Championships, Cincinnati Junior Rowing Club
Gael Huguet ’28, invited to attend the U.S. Soccer Boys U-14 National Identification Camp
Riley Hardin ’27, gymnast, finished fifth nationally on the bars at the Level 10 national championships in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Kendall Northern ’26, Zari Gillispie ’25, Sofia Ramirez ’24, celebrate a score.
Allie Reuter ’26, Coach Kurtis Smith and Liam Woodward ’26.
Lily Mitchell ’24
Coach Scott Sievering
Brayden Wolujewicz ’25, Coach Kevin Johnson Jr . ’13 and LJ Stocks ’26.
Ryan MacDonald ’27, Nate Borman ’24, Henry Jones ’26 and John Sumnar ’27.
Silver Knights Forever
Paul Haffner ’86 Says Summit Helped Him Realize His Potential
By Nancy Berlier
When Paul Haffner ’86 came to The Summit as a 13-year-old freshman, he was under a lot of pressure from his dad to do well. An extrovert, Paul was more interested in his social game than his academics. So, when he received a poor grade on his first English paper, a teacher changed his life. That teacher was Carole Fultz.
Now retired, Carole was already a master teacher on her way to becoming the first recipient of the Schilderink Family Chair for Distinguished Teaching. “She wasn’t going to just let me sit at that level,” Paul says. “She was determined to pull the intelligence out of me. And she did. By the end of freshman year, I was clicking on all cylinders and doing really well. And my grades stayed really high. If I hadn’t gone to Summit, I would have gone to a much larger school. But I needed someone who helped me realize my potential. I wasn’t going to be allowed to flounder. The Summit challenged me when I desperately needed to be challenged.”
Paul also credits retired Summit music teacher Bruce Bowden, for influencing his love of music, coaches and teachers who gave him an opportunity to learn leadership skills as team captains and on the Student Senate and the school for developing what he calls the “seeds of spirituality” even if they didn’t take root until much later.
Paul left Summit to go to Dartmouth College, where he majored in government, and the University of Cincinnati where he received a law degree. He worked as a corporate lawyer with Great American Insurance Company and Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP until a restlessness settled over him.
Now as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lighthouse Youth Services, he is trying to keep other kids from floundering.
Lighthouse provides a range of services to about 4,000 youth annually from birth to age 24. Services include therapy, residential treatment, foster care, adoption, emergency shelter, housing, school-based services, outpatient behavioral health and “re-entry” support for youth leaving juvenile detention facilities.
He also has served on a number of other organizations serving Greater Cincinnati. Here is a partial list. He is on the board of Ohio Children’s Alliance and Spring Grove Cemetery and is a member of the Homeless Clearing House, National Network for Youth and Human Services Chamber of Commerce. He is a former board member of Cincinnati Nature Center, Hamilton County Developmental Disability Services and the Ohio chapter of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation. He is a former trustee of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati. “Reflecting back, I realize how much Summit instilled in me, and a lot of that is us caring for others —having empathy. I started realizing just how much more I can do for other people, for our communities. Mainly my role is to help other people here at Lighthouse do the
great work that helps the youth and families of Cincinnati, but I also love getting involved and hanging out with the kids. I think I had early encouragement that service was important, that you can’t do it all alone and there is Somebody upstairs who is providing a guiding hand. That was clear to me when I came to Lighthouse.”
Chloe Goodhart ’08 Appreciates Teachers Who Championed Writing
When Chloe Goodhart ’08 looks back at the ways The Summit steered her toward success, she remembers the rigorous curriculum challenged her to work hard while great teachers taught her how to write and gave her unique opportunities to engage in the world outside of the classroom.
Now a senior publishing manager at Penguin Young Readers in New York City, Chloe works with sales and marketing teams as a jack-of-all trades. “I do everything from business reviews and marketplace analysis to consumer products licensing.” She gets to work with some of the most popular series, Mad Libs, Bluey and Llama Llama. She also handles the company’s book donation program. “We donate hundreds of thousands of books a year,” she says. “It’s a lot
of working with the organizations to make sure we’re getting them books that will really serve the children that they serve.”
She says she got lucky in 2020 while doing market research. She mentioned to her editorial team that birding was trending. She recommended they create colors and numbers books for children based on birding. She pitched the idea so well that her editor asked her to write them. Now she has two books in a Birding for Babies series on the market, “Migrating Birds: A Colors Book” and “Backyard Birds: A Numbers Book.” A third book, “Birds Around the World: An Opposites Book,” will be released in January of 2025.
“I think one of the things that Summit really does well is teach hard work and dedication,” Chloe says. “It really instilled in me the belief that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. The coursework was always really challenging, but it showed me that just because something was hard, that didn’t mean that I couldn’t do it. The teachers were always there to push and support us in a way that I think built the confidence that I could do things on my own.”
She entered The Ohio State University’s honors program and graduated a semester early with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in business, thanks to the Advanced Placement classes she took at The Summit.
She appreciates how Mary Vetter and Pat Kelly taught her to express herself and write well. “They really prepared me well for writing in college. I was definitely a step ahead of some of my other classmates at Ohio State. In publishing, we certainly do deal with writing a lot. So much of everyone’s job these days is based on communicating clearly and writing. Summit really set me up well to do that.”
Chloe also considers Karen Suder a role model. “She was so dedicated to bringing biology to life, and that’s something that inspires me today. I’ve definitely ended up in a very different field, but I hope that that level of enthusiasm is something that I bring to my own work.”
Having unique experiences to engage in the world outside of the classroom at The Summit was a plus, she says. She co-edited the school
paper and literary magazine, founded a book club and a version of a gay-straight alliance group, played flute in the Spirit Band, watched a cadaver dissection at the Mount St. Joseph University, explored a veterinary clinic and had a shadow experience at Scholastic Books. Her favorite experience was getting to play the housekeeper in a theater production of “And Then There Were None” in which she had to scream and faint on cue.
The Summit’s five-pillar mission develops wellrounded people, she says. “The dedication to those pillars creates well-rounded and curious individuals who then spend their lives open and interested to the world around them.”
Guyton Mathews IV ’10 Is In Lifelong Pursuit of Empowering Authenticity
Guyton Mathews says the greatest gift The Summit gave him was the ability to connect with others.
“I would say that among all the pillars, the one that really sits with me is the social pillar of seeking character-based leadership in a coeducational environment. I think that’s really important. Stories and understanding people can help you really understand how you can change the world
and where your impact can be felt. You have to connect with others and listen to others and then figure out how you use your abilities, your gifts that you’re given to help others. Because everyone has them. It’s just a matter of using them in a way that is beneficial for all, and beneficial for yourself as far as like, what are you learning from others? We don’t really stop learning. We keep learning lifelong.”
Guyton works at Georgetown Day School in Washington D.C. as the Associate Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). In this role, he connects with people through programs, assemblies, heritage months, conferences, social justice work and policies related to equity and inclusion. He volunteers with an organization called SMYL which focuses on supporting LGBTQ youth in the D.C. community to ensure they have mental health services and housing resources. He also works as a fitness instructor and recently was chosen as Lululemon Athletica ambassador to raise awareness around marginalized communities and look for opportunities to give back. “I think that one thing that is dear to me is giving back and, seeing those who are struggling, giving them different opportunities to step into their power, step into their authenticity.”
Guyton had an opportunity this year to visit The Summit, reflect and reconnect with some of his teachers when he attended graduation for his brother, Donovan.
Looking back, he says there are three pivotal experiences at The Summit that channeled the direction of his life journey: Mock Trial, football and KAIROS.
He participated in Mock Trial all four years at The Summit when Kelly Cronin was the group’s mentor. “I loved her history classes. She was a teacher who pushed you while still showing she cared. I appreciated being pushed to the limits and her saying, ‘you can do more.’ Connecting with her on a different level in Mock Trial and connecting with my peers on a different level allowed me to lean into law or political science as something I wanted to do.” While he didn’t end up becoming a lawyer, his undergraduate degree from the University of Toledo is in communications and political science. His master’s degree is in liberal studies with concentrations in Diversity, Equity
and Inclusion and Business Management. In his Mock Trial experience, he did his best work in the role of witness. “I learned the importance of storytelling and how it can draw people in.”
Playing football with his cousin, David Pool ’10, made him more confident. “By my junior year, I became a lot more confident in my abilities and got decently good. I found a lot of my own strengths and leadership skills through football. Learning to collaborate with others and communicate clearly is important in sports. “Because, you know,” he says laughingly, “you can’t just run into each other.”
KAIROS helped him listen to other people’s stories. “That was pivotal for me as a leader in senior year and as a receiver in junior year. Obviously, you don’t know what to expect when you are going in, and you can’t say too much about it.” Parts of the KAIROS experience are kept private so that the upcoming classes of students have surprises. “But there’s special moments that happen at KAIROS that were really important to me, and I was glad that I was able to pass a special moment down to my brother during his KAIROS experience. That was very full circle”
Other favorite teachers, Tracy Law, PhD. ’85, Gail Rosero ’82 and Alice O’Dell ’85 helped fuel his interest in DEI. He was in the first group of students who, thanks to donors, went with teachers to the National Association of Independent Schools Student Diversity Leadership Conference. His group helped start the first Diversity and Inclusion Club at the school, but the experience had a longer lasting impact on his life.
“That’s what put me on my path of leaning into equity and inclusion work, understanding the impact of social justice, understanding the impact of authenticity and understanding your own identity and what that means and also representation,” he says. “That really sparked a fire around my passion for equity and inclusion, showing the importance of having mirrors of people that look like you in leadership roles and being successful for others to see the stories of people. And, you know, I think that my hope as I continue to move forward in the world, is that the work that I’m doing in education and in fitness can empower people and foster inclusive and
authentic environments where people can truly be themselves.”
Anna Albi ’10 Says Summit Teacher Helped Forge Her Leadership Skills
Anna Albi ’10 was probably destined for a life of leadership and service. Her dad is a former military officer who started his own business. Her mom was a public defender. Her brothers, Frank ’01 and Luke ’05, joined the U.S. Marine Corps and are now lawyers respectively for U.S. Customs in Chicago and U.S. Department of Justice in Washington D.C. Frank is still in the reserves.
A member of Cincinnati City Council since January, Anna believes a lesson learned from Upper School leadership teacher Laura Haas helped her become a more effective public servant. “Ms. Haas gave me feedback when I was serving on Student Senate,” she says. “It was the idea that if I had something I was passionate about, I was all in. But if it was something I didn’t really like or it wasn’t my idea, I just kind of laid back and said, ‘you do it.’ That’s something that fundamentally changed about me. There are things that come up with City Council now or,
even in my professional life before council where, maybe it wasn’t my idea, maybe I don’t agree with it 100 percent, but I have to get on board and be a good teammate and help get us over the finish line.”
Two other Summit experiences also influenced her. Thanks to the generosity of a Summit family, she had an opportunity to travel to Guatemala with the Cooperative for Education. “It was truly a life changing experience,” she says. “Being someone who comes from privilege, and then going to a country like Guatemala, had a tremendous impact on me. The roads out in the countryside are barely roads. The average school tenure there was fifth grade. They’ve got the equivalent of 15-year-olds teaching classes.” Back at The Summit, she arranged a fundraiser for Cooperative for Education and volunteered with the organization during college. “Having that trip, having that experience, it really moved me to do better for the world,” she says.
She also credits Summit’s academic rigor for giving her a head start at Carnegie Mellon University, where she received bachelor’s degrees in creative and professional writing and was captain of the varsity soccer team and chair of the Student Athletic Advisory Council. “Many of the required freshman year courses at my college felt like a breeze after just completing Advanced Placement (AP) classes at Summit,” she says. “In fact, with all the AP courses I took at Summit, I was able to walk into college on day one with over a semester worth of credits, which eventually enabled me to graduate a whole year early from undergrad. I can’t imagine any other high school setting its students up for success that way.”
On City Council, she serves on the Public Safety and Governance, Healthy Neighborhoods, Growth and Housing and Budget committees. Prior to her election, she was a strategic communications consultant for Aon and was involved in community leadership, activism and volunteerism. In addition to her roles in city, county and state Democratic Party organizations, she was a member of the Madisonville Community Council and Moms Demand Action.
She hopes she can help make a change in food insecurity and the increased rates of violence in
the city. Specifically, she is advocating for a pilot program to deliver food to people where there is little access to groceries. “If you’re a senior or maybe a single parent who has kids and you’re working third shift, it’s really hard to get to the grocery store,” she says. Cincinnati has areas called “food deserts” where there are no neighborhood grocery stores.
Advocacy for gun safety is another of her passions. “I lived in Chicago for some years and, in Chicago, waking up everyday hearing about mass shootings…I was just so full of this righteous anger. You know, how can we let this happen? I was looking for an outlet because, frankly, screaming on Facebook and Twitter wasn’t accomplishing anything.” In Chicago and Cincinnati, she became involved in Moms Demand Action, helping to drive their strategy and communication on gun violence. While serving on Madisonville Community Council, she helped distribute gun locks with information about secure firearm storage. “To me, gun violence is such an avoidable tragedy. Absolutely avoidable. And absolutely tragic.”
She has opportunities at City Hall from time to time to talk to young people who are taking tours. She tells them about the importance of giving back.
“You know, with great privilege comes great expectations. That’s something that was really instilled in me at The Summit. I got to go to a great school. I come from an amazing, wonderful, loving family. That is all privilege. And with that comes expectations. I think I need to give back to my community, in whatever way makes the most sense, in whatever way I’m able to. Today it looks very different. I’m in City Hall and I’m working on legislation. I’m working on cool things like food pilot programs and getting gun locks out through the library. That’s how I’m giving back now, along with the occasional trash cleanup or what have you, but I think it can be however anyone is called to give back.”
Upcoming Dates
Oct. 4
SPA Fall Festival and Homecoming game.
Summit v. Roger Bacon at 7 p.m.
Oct. 4-5
Athletic Hall of Fame. Inductees will be announced at halftime during the Oct. 4 football game and honored at a ceremony Oct. 5 from noon to 2 p.m. in St. Cecilia Hall.
Reunions for this year are the class years ending in 4 and 9. The reunion weekend will be Oct. 5. All alumni are invited. Contact your class rep and Kevin Johnson Jr. ’13 to plan your reunion.
Oct. 6
Campus tour at noon. Memorial Service for Alumni and The Summit Community at 1 p.m., Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel.
Oct. 23
Legacy Photo, Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel
Nov. 27
Thanksgiving Alumni Happy Hour
Dec. 8 Lessons and Carols
Alumni Contact Kevin Johnson, Jr. ‘13
Alumni Engagement and Gifts Officer
513.871.4700 ext. 240 johnson_k@summitcds.org
Alumni Athletic Spotlight
After being drafted into the Athletes Unlimited Pro Lacrosse league, Sydni Black ’20, right, was a National Collegiate Athletic Association Lacrosse top national player and a Tewaaraton Award finalist.
Xavier Johnson ’18, who graduated from The Ohio State University this year, signed with the Buffalo Bills as free agent.
Antonio Woods ’14, now in his fifth year as a professional basketball player after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, has signed to play with UMF Tindastoll Saudarkrokur in Iceland.
Class Notes
Alumni class notes are now published in the quarterly alumni e-newsletter. Please submit your updates on job promotions, marriages, babies, awards and other notable events online at www.summitcds.org/submityournews
The inaugural Summit Alumni Athletic Games in July gathered a large crowd. Top: Alumni gather with members of the Girls’ Field Hockey team. Bottom: Alumni and coaches get a snapshot at their alumni vs. current students competition.
Six Questions with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
For the first time in 20 years, the seven Hallmarks of a Notre Dame de Namur Learning Community have been refreshed. These Hallmarks are rooted in the Gospel and describe the essential characteristics, values and activities that differentiate a Notre Dame de Namur learning community. Tami McMann, communications manager for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN), interviewed key decision makers on the purpose and inspiration for the changes – Meg Sharp, director of mission integration, and Sister Donna M. Jurick, SNDdeN, province leader and Summit board member.
Who was involved in evaluating the Hallmarks?
Mrs. Sharp: The Hallmarks first emerged in the early 2000s in response to the question, “What makes our school a Notre Dame de Namur school?” Now embraced by all United States ministries of SNDdeN, including our health centers, the Hallmarks beautifully express the values of a Notre Dame de Namur Learning Community.
After 20 years, it was time for a refresh. A small committee of Sisters and sponsorship office staff members from two U.S. provinces began this conversation over two years ago. The discussion was informed by the faculty, staff and students at our learning communities as well as Associates and Sisters. This consultative process was essential to ensure we considered all perspectives of those who might be impacted by the decisions.
What changes were made?
Mrs. Sharp: Just as our foundress Saint Julie Billiart responded to the needs of her time, the refreshed Hallmarks call our attention to the realities of inequality, injustice and pain that need a faith and values-oriented response today. The most noticeable change to the Hallmarks is an addition to Hallmark No. 3 – “We educate for and act on behalf of justice, peace and care for all creation.”
Other language in subpoints was also updated to further explain the purpose and intent of each Hallmark. For example, under Hallmark No. 3, we changed one of the subpoints to add “restorative justice” and “peace-making” to the practices to which we are committed, along with dialogue and nonviolence.
How did Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ encyclical influence the discussion?
Mrs. Sharp: The Hallmarks reflect the current priorities articulated in the SNDdeN Chapter Calls, Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum in addition to insights shared by Notre Dame de Namur educators and partners in mission. Respecting the relationship between God, humans and the Earth, we are committed to caring for the natural environment and all people.
Were the Hallmarks considered during Summit’s recent strategic planning process?
Sister Donna: Throughout the strategic planning process, the Hallmarks were front and center to groundwork discussions about the Summit’s identity and future priorities. What’s most inspiring is the collaboration between the faculty, staff, administration and the board – everyone is aligned with living and articulating the Notre Dame de Namur Hallmarks.
How else do you see the Hallmarks being actualized at The Summit?
Sister Donna: I’m excited that a new subcommittee of the board will focus on the mission and the Hallmarks. The purpose is to provide advice and oversight that shapes Summit’s identity as a Catholic, independent school founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and rooted in the framework of the Hallmarks. Establishing a subcommittee with this responsibility indicates that the Hallmarks are a priority for Summit’s board of trustees. It also affirms the agreement among the leadership of where we want to go and who we want to be as a school community.
Any final thoughts?
Mrs. Sharp: The Hallmarks are a practical guide for setting goals and policies according to The Summit’s context and needs. They give values-based direction for decisions and activities as The Summit continues to express the spirituality and mission of the Sisters. The Hallmarks connect all our Notre Dame de Namur ministries in the United States and throughout the congregation. Through the Hallmarks, we engage current and future generations in the Notre Dame de Namur mission and charism of making known God’s goodness in the world. We trust and pray that the Hallmarks will continue to guide our ministries and those in mission with us.
“Only a profound change in our way of living, our values and attitudes, can bring new life to our world.”
- Sister Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN, martyred in 2005 for her work to protect the Amazon from deforestation
“We have to realize that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”
– Laudato Si’ 49
Hallmark 1
We proclaim by our lives even more than by our words that God is good.
Hallmark 2
We honor the dignity and sacredness of each person.
Hallmark 3
We educate for and act on behalf of justice, peace, and care for all creation.
Hallmark 4
We commit ourselves to community service.
Hallmark 5
We embrace the gift of diversity.
Hallmark 6
We create community among those with whom we work and with those we serve.
Hallmark 7
We develop holistic learning communities that educate for life.
Summit sophomores attended a multi-school retreat of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur during Days of Grace and Wisdom. R to L: Sophie Brouwer ’26, Carolyn Federle ’26, Sasha Woodard ’26, Ava Dona ’26, Allie Reuter ’26 and Piper Rowitz ’26.
Community Happenings
The community has many opportunities to celebrate together over the course of a year and celebrate life on campus. Here are a few memories from the last half of the year.
Hands Across the Water is an all-school, annual event aimed at increasing awareness of the water crisis for some areas of the global community, Dilly Homan ’34 and Julia Tranter ’24 carry jugs of water on Williams Field.
Davis Sang ’24, Cayleb Walters ’25, Brayden Wolujewicz ’25 participate in the annual water walk which this year raised more than $10,000 to support the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN) Clean Water for Life Project.
Above, left, Ryan Schaaf ’31 and Matti Hofmann ’31 visit the Campus Day art show.
Above, right, Middle and Upper Schoolers perform Seussical Jr. the musical during Campus Day.
Above, left: Mercer Reynold ’95, his son Mercer Reynolds Jr. ’25, Trey Lippert, III ’25 and Wayne Lippert Jr. ’89 participated in the Drive for the Knights Golf Outing in May. Above Right: Terry Bailey, Justin Fender, Kyle Miller and Corey Johnson.
A group of former Board of Trustee members gathered for the annual Sustainer Trustee luncheon. Front Row: John Steinman, Kelley Schiess, Paula Grulee, Tom Neyer, Rich Wilson, Sr. Mary Ann Barnhorn, SNDdeN Second Row: Fr. Terry Hamilton, Lauren (Brinkmeyer) Goebel ’96, Suzanne Tosolini, Allison (Hiltz) Kropp ’93, Kathryn (Stahl) Harsh ’84, Fr. Phil Seher, Cindi Cotton, Dr. Robin Cotton, Lisa Wintersheimer Michel, Tim Michel, Ty Moore ’02.
In Memoriam
Mary (Foss) Brinkmeyer ’67
Legend Made a Lasting Impact on
The Summit
By Nancy Berlier
Mary Brinkmeyer, mother, grandmother, retired educational leader and Cincinnati philanthropist, died peacefully at her home April 20 in the presence of her family. She was 74.
Mary and her husband, Joseph, were supporters of many Greater Cincinnati organizations including the Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, the YWCA, Catholic Charities and many others. But the focus of much of Mary’s philanthropy, leadership and energy was The Summit Country Day School, where Mary had been a member of the Board of Trustees and Assistant Head of School. She served in pivotal leadership roles at the school during the years after it became independent of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN).
Mary was born on Sept. 18, 1949, the daughter of Amelia (Hamburg) Foss ‘24 and Edward H. Foss Sr. Her mother was a 1924 graduate of The Summit and Mary was enrolled at The Summit at age 3. After graduating from The Summit in 1967, Mary went to Trinity Washington University in D.C. She married Joseph after college and received her master’s degree in Montessori education from Xavier University.
Mary joined The Summit faculty in 1974 as a Montessori teacher. Taking a break in 1978 to focus on raising her own children, Mary joined the Alumni Board, specializing in education, alumni relations and gender and diversity issues. As a parent, she served on the Booster Board and the Summit Parents Association. As a benefactor, she chaired the school’s Centennial celebration in 1990.
Serving on the school’s independent Board of Trustees from 1986 to 1992. Mary chaired the board committee charged with creating a strategic plan for the future of the school. In that process, she wrote the school’s mission statement.
She helped implement the school’s first strategic plan and oversaw the school’s signature character education program after she was appointed Assistant Head of School in 1992. She had a hand in every major curricular development, policy change, building renovation and construction project at the school until her retirement in 2009. She was honored with the McKenzieSargent Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009.
She and her husband, who served on the Board of Trustees from 2011 to 2017, helped build the school’s endowment. In 1989, they established the Amelia (Hamberg) Foss ’24 Scholarship in memory of Mary’s mother. During the Cornerstone
Campaign, they funded refurbishment of the Bishop’s Parlor in the main building. In 2003, they established the Brinkmeyer Fund for House and Grounds. In 2009, they established the Mary (Foss) Brinkmeyer ’67 Scholarship. She and Joe were given The Summit’s highest honor, the Ne Ultra Award, in 2019.
In addition to sending their own children to The Summit, they now have two grandchildren at the school. Their daughter, Lauren, is The Summit’s Assistant Head of School for Advancement and Community Engagement.
Preceded in death by her parents and brother, Edward H. Foss Jr., Mary leaves behind her son Joseph E. (Dana) Brinkmeyer III ’01; daughter Lauren (Wes) Goebel ’96 , grandchildren Deirdre and Bradley Brinkmeyer and Elise ’30 and Patrick Goebel ’32, sister-inlaw Mary Anne Foss, as well as nieces and nephews.
Her memorial service was held in a place that was near and dear to her heart, The Summit’s Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel.
