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SUMMIT Winter 2013 - 2014
We Are the Champions Again!
THE SUMMIT The magazine of The Summit Country Day School WINTER 2013-14 EDITOR Nancy Berlier ALUMNI EDITOR Susan Maxwell ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Kathy (Hilsinger) Penote ’93 PHOTOGRAPHY Robert A. Flischel, Brian Ambs, Darren Weigl, Jolene Barton, Impact Action Sports Photography, Nancy Berlier, Elaine Pearl, Tony Tribble, Jeff Whitehead
CONTRIBUTORS Darren Weigl, Donna Paulin, Kathy Schwartz, Lisa Nicholson, Lauren Guip, Jackson Francois, Natalie Mazey, Emily Jolly, Nancy Snow PRINTING Arnold Printing ©
2013 The Summit Country Day School, Cincinnati, OH. The Summit magazine is published three times a year by the Communications Department of The Summit Country Day School, 2161 Grandin Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208. Please direct address changes or other correspondence to the above address.
Summit News Phone: (513) 871-4700 ext. 291 E-mail: communications@summitcds.org Alumni News Phone: (513) 871-4700 ext. 245 E-mail: maxwell_s@summitcds.org Summit Online View an archive of The Summit magazine online. www.summitcds.org/communications/Magazine.cfm
The Summit Country Day School serves students from age two through grade twelve in a coeducational setting. The Summit combines the academic excellence and one-on-one guidance of a top-tier independent school with the servant leadership and character building environment that are hallmarks of a Catholic education.
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ON THE COVER: The 2013 Division III state soccer champions have a hero’s welcome at The Summit, as the whole school turns out to watch them carry the trophy up the driveway. Leading the team are Matt De Jesus, left, and Christian Hay, right, followed by Isaiah Chapman. Photo: Darren Weigl. See story on page 24. ON THIS PAGE: As the Montessori celebrates its 50th year, we pay tribute to the faculty and staff who are experts in early childhood education. L to R, front row: Montessori Director Phyllis Schueler, Meg Sanders, Linda Moeggenberg, Becci Penker, Michele Kaegi, Anne Chambers, Ai Li Brown, Mary Schwietering, Kathy Scott, Jane Hackett, Karen Koch, Julie Ventura, Alexis Weaver, Barbie Powers, Mary Humpert. Back row: Amy Berger, Erin Satterwhite, Lauren Guip, Noreen Petry, Jill Puffer, Lavina Ambani, Brooke Byam, Barbara Tackett, Meredith Schiff, Amy Miller, Kim Bush, Lori Meier, Maggie Prinner, Amie Adkins. Photo: Darren Weigl. See more photos on page 17.
Head of School Message
WELL PREPARED The best judge of a Summit education is a graduate competing for grades in college. We recently heard from these judges, and the verdict is in: Well Prepared! We conducted a survey of Summit graduates in college to see how well prepared they felt they were for the rigors of higher education. This is a stern test since our graduates attend some of the best colleges and universities in the country. We used a survey instrument that other independent schools also use. That allowed us to compare what our graduates said about our school with what the graduates of other independent schools said about their schools. This is a tougher benchmark than comparisons to college students who come from public or non-public, mass education high schools. We aim high. The results exceeded my expectations: • In no attribute was Summit rated significantly below other independent schools. This surprised me because there are some terrific independent schools across this country. Usually, some weaknesses emerge from surveys like this, but in this one, no weaknesses were identified by our graduates. • 90% of our former students felt their preparation in English was stronger or much stronger than their peers. 74% of independent school graduates rated their preparation similarly. The results confirm what our returning alums tell us: The Summit Writing Program provides them an advantage in college. • 82% said their
preparation in History/Social Studies was stronger or much stronger than their peers. This compared to 68% at other independent schools. The research papers our students write each year from Grade 8 through 12 clearly pay off down the road. •
63% said their preparation in Science here was stronger or much stronger than their peers. 48% of independent school graduates said the same thing about their school.
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59% of our graduates said their preparation in math was stronger or much stronger than their peers, compared to 49% of graduates from other independent schools.
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In the area of Balanced Healthy Living (mind, body and spirit), 70% felt their preparation at Summit was stronger or significantly stronger than their peers. The comparable number for graduates of other independent schools was 55%.
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62% said their preparation in physical health (sports, exercise, fitness) was stronger or significantly stronger than their peers. 45% of independent school graduates rated their preparation similarly. The physical pillar of our mission stands strong.
The social pillar of our school is another area where The Summit shines. Building strong relationships isn’t something that is tested on college entrance exams, but we all know it is important to a happy and successful life. “Among friendships in life, rate those developed at the school,” 72% of Summit graduates said the friendships they developed here are stronger or much stronger compared to what 55% of other independent school graduates said. Another attribute is “peers you are still friends with.” 57% of Summit graduates in college are still friends with 10 or more of their Summit peers compared to 33% of independent school kids. “Among teachers or mentors, rate the faculty at the school.” 92% of Summit students in college rate their teachers here stronger or much
Contents stronger, compared to 73% of students from other independent schools. Educational research consistently cites teachers as the most important factor in advancing student learning. Our former students clearly believe our faculty is outstanding. In response to the question, “Faculty you are still in touch with,” 80% of Summit graduates are still in touch with two of more of their teachers here compared to 33% of other independent school graduates. We also wondered how well our college counselors guide seniors to colleges that prove to be a good fit, so we asked our own question about that: “Do you plan to graduate from the college you entered as a freshman.” Only 4% said no. Given that nationally 33% of all students in higher education transfer during their college years, it appears our college counselors know their students well and recommend colleges that fit them well. Another question we asked was how well we developed the student spiritually. I was a bit worried how college students would respond to this one, since many take a hiatus from practicing their faith during these years. However, 73% said the school did an excellent or good job in this aspect of their education. “If asked, I would recommend the school to a friend.” 89% of Summit graduates agreed or strongly agreed with 73% strongly agreeing. 46% of graduates from other independent schools strongly agree with this statement with regard to their high school. “Relative to local competition, the school is: ”70% of Summit graduates said much stronger compared to 57% of independent school graduates. In my career at Procter & Gamble, management asked us to benchmark ourselves to “best-in-class competition.” Schools should do the same. We can’t just say, “We think we do a good job.” We have to prove it. I’m pleased to see our graduates feel very well prepared for the rigors of college work. That’s The Summit Way.
Rich Wilson Head of School
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Features The new Science Research Institute provides students with advantages by giving them an education and experience in scientific research that is unique in Cincinnati. Robust new courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math help Middle School students connect skills learned in the classroom with hands-on applications. Lower School literacy experts have designed a one-of-a-kind Five Star Reading Program based on best practices and current research.
Adding Spanish to the Toddler curriculum means Summit’s signature World Language Program now spans continuously from age 2 through Grade 12. Two big events, the International Children’s Art Exhibition and the Early Childhood Education Symposium, bring visitors to campus. Clinching their second consecutive state championship, Boys’ soccer gives us a lesson in perseverance and strengthens the sense of community. We celebrate the 25th anniversary of our first named, endowed scholarship by remembering how Marc Gerard Fragge ’83 inspired us.
Honored alumni at Homecoming include a couple who met, married and raised their children here; four inductees into the Athletic Hall of Fame; and four Alumni Award recipients. Dr. Robert Woliver SBS ’61 is on an earthfriendly adventure, powered by the sun.
Dr. William D. Tobler Jr., SMS ’96, was one of the first doctors on the scene at Boston Medical Center following the Boston Marathon bombings.
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Montessori 50th Anniversary Photo Gallery Newsmakers Student-to-student Q&A Fall Athletic Roundup Bohlke Run by the Numbers Leaders of Character Society Photo Gallery Alumni Class Notes In Memorium
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Summit Launches Signature Science Research Institute 3 201 - 20
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Jessica Sakash Replogle, Ph.D.,left, head of the Science Research Institute, and senior Emily Haussler practice using equipment in The Summit’s biology lab for a process known as DNA electrophoresis.
By Nancy Berlier On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons this school year, senior Emily Haussler has driven to the University of Cincinnati (UC) to work in a molecular genetics laboratory. Some days, she splits and grows human cells to determine how small doses of arsenic in a water supply might affect human physiology. Emily is mastering protocols that protect research materials from being contaminated and developing specific lab skills. She’s beginning to understand the extraordinary lexicon used by medical researchers, learning how to conduct herself professionally in an authentic scientific laboratory, discussing ethics and learning how to scrutinize scientific publications. Emily is hopeful that this experience will boost her standing in applications at colleges which offer undergraduate research. “There are a lot of things college professors want you to have under your belt before you work in a laboratory,” she says. “This is something that would separate me from others if I walked into a college lab.” Peter Stambrook, Ph.D., a professor of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry & Microbiology at U.C., has given Emily her first realworld laboratory experience, and he has high hopes for his protégée. “Colleges are always looking for students who have the interest and the passion,” he says. “If they have skills, if they are already trained, they’ve got an edge.” Emily’s experience, and that of a select group of other Summit students this year, is the prototype for The Summit’s new Science Research Institute. Unique in Cincinnati, the program is designed for students who plan to seek degrees and careers in the sciences. Building on a strong foundation in the sciences, the program’s goal is to provide students research experience in a professional laboratory environment, increase scientific
literacy, train students to work in a lab and teach scientific writing. “I believe our program will give Summit graduates a huge leg up going into their undergraduate college years, and if they have a head start as undergraduates, they’ll be ahead of their peers when they enroll in graduate school and, again, when they apply for jobs,” says Jessica Sakash Replogle, Ph.D., who heads the Science Research Institute. “This early experience just pushes them higher every step of the way against the competition.” Best-in-City Experience The Science Research Institute is a strategic initiative to provide Summit students advantages by giving them experiences they cannot get anywhere else. “We set out to create a unique program that would be a best-in-city experience for students,” says Rich Wilson, Head of School. “Thanks to the extraordinary talent and experience of our Upper School faculty, many of our recent graduates have entered top-tier college programs that will prepare them for careers as engineers, scientists, researchers and doctors. Since we already provide a strong foundation through a rigorous curriculum, Advanced Placement courses and individually tailored independent studies, the Science Research Institute is the logical next step.” Leading up to the creation of the institute, Upper School Director Terrence Malone, Ed.D., headed a team of Summit administrators and faculty in an examination of high schools in Cleveland, Indianapolis, Philadelphia and other cities which have developed advanced science programs. “Top tier independent schools have these types of programs, so the Science Research Institute puts The Summit in the caliber of those other best schools,” says Dr. Malone. “In some ways, we hope Summit Magazine
Dr. Replogle and senior Marie Cossins stand by as senior Tino Delamerced peers through one of the science department’s new research-grade Nikon Eclipse E200-LED microscopes. These microscopes produce sharp images, come with camera accessories that enhance instruction and expose students to equipment they will encounter in post-secondary endeavors.
our program is going to be better than the others, because we saw what they were doing and are able to incorporate the best parts of them into what we offer.”
school level. At The Summit, Dr. Replogle will teach three sequentially tiered classes and help match Summit with research opportunities in Cincinnati laboratories.
Dr. Replogle’s specific background in research, publishing and teaching makes her distinctly qualified to teach science research classes and coordinate lab experiences. Dr. Replogle received her doctorate in biochemistry from Boston College and bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from University of New Hampshire. She has been published in numerous scientific journals through her work at Boston College and Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Most recently, Dr. Replogle has taught chemistry, biology and biochemistry at both the university and high
Early proponents of the institute include Steven Boyce, Ph.D., Summit parent, and professor in the Department of Surgery at the UC College of Medicine and G. James Sammarco, a retired Cincinnati orthopedic surgeon whose 63-page curriculum vitae includes teaching positions at Tulane University and U.C. medical schools.
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They cite studies that show the need for an emphasis on education in the sciences because the U.S. has fallen behind Asia and Europe in the global competition for knowledge, innovation and jobs
in the sciences. “The question in my mind,” says Dr. Sammarco, “is where do we stand if we’re not competing with the rest of the world?” Doctors Boyce and Sammarco say dynamic growth is happening globally in genetic engineering, biochemistry, miniaturization, space exploration, new medical therapies and electronic media. “All of these advances rest on a foundation of basic scientific aptitudes and an inherent curiosity to learn, discover, solve problems, and propose new ideas,” says Dr. Boyce. “I believe this is the foundation that can be provided by The Summit Science Research Institute.” Adds Dr. Sammarco: “Research is becoming a major part of our national economy. I think this city and this region can be right at the top because of the great hospitals that are here. The Summit is offering a great local response to a national issue. Private schools seem to be able to do this job better than public schools, so creating this program at The Summit seems like a perfect fit to me. This program is something that is not present elsewhere in the city, which makes Summit the first.”
component parts of a peer-reviewed journal article, how to read and constructively critique scientific writing, ethical behavior in science and the broad scope of scientific disciplines and research areas that could be available to them in college and in careers. “Research Methods and Design” will train students how to behave in a laboratory environment: how to keep a lab notebook, safety issues, use of the specific types of laboratory equipment, what to wear and how to communicate professionally in group meetings. During this class, students will seek a mentor in a local laboratory and will write a research proposal on a topic selected with their mentor. “Summer Laboratory Experience” places students in an authentic research laboratory in Cincinnati for a minimum of four weeks. Working with a professional, students will take part in laboratory experiments, develop technical and analytical skills, keep scientific notebooks and develop
Building the Program This is a program-building year for the Science Research Institute. Emily and two other students began independent studies with Dr. Replogle in the fall to lay the groundwork both at The Summit and in the scientific research community. A condensed version of the courses is being taught in the second semester to prepare the first “class” of students to work in labs over the summer. “Our students will experience how collaboration works and be part of efforts to solve a problem,” says Dr. Replogle. “They will participate first hand in the creation of scientific knowledge and experience the perseverance required to answer their scientific questions. They will learn how to communicate effectively with scientists and explore ethical questions at the core of creating and sharing knowledge. The future of pure and applied science depends on strong leaders.” “Introduction to Scientific Thinking” is the first of three seminar-style classes that Dr. Replogle will teach. This class will give students in-depth instruction about the scientific method, the Summit Magazine 9
Reviewing computer results in a biology lab are Junior Juliana Overbey, senior Emily Haussler, Dr. Replogle, senior Tino Delamerced and senior Marie Cossins.
communication skills relevant to scientific research. In the final class, “Scientific Communications,” students will write their results in a scientific, peer-reviewed journal format, create a poster presentation of their results, as well as a PowerPoint presentation that they will use for an oral presentation that will be shared with their peers and The Summit community. “These science research courses, the authentic laboratory experience and the critical-thinking skills fostered by our faculty in core science classes will prepare Summit students to be leaders in the sciences,” says Dr. Replogle. “Our students will be prepared to take science classes in college, because we have increased their scientific literacy.” “They will be ahead of their peers in conducting research and writing in a scientific format. Because
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they will know the variety of research opportunities available to them, they will be able to hone in on what interests them. And because they will already know how to behave in a laboratory setting, they will be more experienced than their peers in the competition for undergraduate laboratory research positions. In turn, experiences as an undergraduate will put them a step ahead in seeking research positions as graduate students and jobs in the real world.” The Science Research Institute at The Summit Country Day School seeks mentors who can provide our students with authentic experiences in research laboratories at regional hospitals, universities, government, industries and other research facilities. Contact Jessica Sakash Replogle, Ph.D., Science Research Institute, (513) 871-4700 x 360, replogle_j@summitcds.org.
At a Glance: Summit’s Science Building Blocks The new Science Research Institute aims to increase scientific literacy and allow for participation in authentic scientific research. This program builds on a strong foundation in the sciences. The Upper School Science Department already has put a significant number of recent graduates on the fast track to careers as engineers, scientists and doctors through Advanced Placement courses and individually tailored independent study opportunities. Upper School Award-winning faculty offer real-world science experience, advanced education and innovative educational practices in materials-rich science labs. Student participation is high in TAP MD and Biology Olympiad. Faculty teach a continuing education summer materials science course for area teachers.
Middle School STEM classes help seventh and eighth graders make a connection between science, technology, engineering and math. Students compete in Science Olympiad and architectural design.
Lower School Inquiry-based learning techniques in two state-of-the-art science labs foster discovery. Educational specialists visit from COSI, the Natural History Museum and the Cincinnati Zoo. Fourth graders research zoology in a cross-disciplinary capstone experience that culminates in “It’s a Zoo Night,” when students make their case for an animal to be included in the Cincinnati Zoo.
Montessori 3- to 6-year-olds explore astronomy, animal classification, nutrition, the human body, rocks and minerals, animals, planets and plants during in-depth, hands-on units of study.
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By Nancy Berlier Robust new courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) are helping Middle School students connect skills learned in the classroom with hands-on applications. Through this signature program, teachers are raising the Math and Science competencies of students to prepare them for the rigorous Upper School curriculum. At the same time, students are learning workplace social skills that they will need for the burgeoning tech-dependent jobs they will encounter after college. Employers want employees who can connect science with math in real-world applications and also work well in teams. “STEM fields are hugely important in the 21st Century marketplace,” says Carolyn Varick, who teaches Algebra I in the Middle School. “Students who learn the skills to work collaboratively and to explain their work and thought processes will have advantages as they go into the future.” 12 Winter 2013 - 2014
That certainly was the message Science Teacher Megan Rademacher received as a STEM Fellow at the Dayton Regional STEM Center. “We met with engineers and scientists,” says Mrs. Rademacher. “They said the most important skills that children need to have are the abilities to collaborate, cooperate, compromise and listen to each other’s ideas. They need to be able to take a risk and fail. They need to be able to learn from their failures and persist to find solutions. That’s how new ideas happen.” The Middle School’s new STEM classes are cotaught by Mrs. Varick, Mrs. Rademacher and Math Teacher Traci Nestheide. Seventh and eighth graders take the classes together – half in the fall and half in the spring. Lesson plans rotate in a two-year cycle to avoid repetition. In the classes, students work in teams of four to meet engineering design challenges. “I’ve been impressed about how these Above: Middle School students observe an operational test of one of the ball launchers they designed in an engineering challenge in STEM class. L to R: Christopher Guarasci, Caroline Kubicki, Jenna Eveslage, Robert Sims, Matthew Treadway, Mia Semler, Brigid Lawler and Gus Hartmann.
teachers are introducing the principles of design thinking to children so young,” says Rich Wilson, Head of School. For example, their first challenge asked students to develop a ball launcher that would enable a paraplegic with limited mobility to play fetch with a service dog. Teams worked through the engineering design process to plan, build and test a prototype. Among the skills they applied, students reviewed the potential and kinetic energy forces acting upon the ball and determined if different angles would create a math “function” so they could predict how far the ball would go. “From a math perspective the STEM classes are critical in that students learn how and when to apply the mathematics that they learn as ‘unconnected concepts’ in their stand-alone math classes,” says Mrs. Varick. “For example, in math class, students learn the Pythagorean Theorem (in a right triangle, the sum of the square of each leg is equal to the square of the hypotenuse). In STEM class, we USE the Pythagorean Theorem to find the distance between two points on a field or the point-to-point distance on a ramp. For my students, learning how and why the math connects in real world situations makes the mathematics both useful and memorable.” STEM emphasis in the Middle School has also been enhanced by hiring an additional math teacher, a focus on math sequencing that places students in classes according to their skill levels and alignment of content with the Upper School. This will enable advanced incoming fifth graders to be placed in the sixth grade math class when appropriate; reinforce math fundamentals for seventh and eighth graders who need more at-grade-level practice; and advance students gifted in math into the highschool level Algebra and Geometry sequence while they are still in Middle School.
“When my students construct roller coasters, they put theories of physics into practice,” says Mrs. Parker. “They must be able to explain how Newton’s Laws are at work in their design, identify potential and kinetic energy transformations, take measurements, perform calculations, and identify sources of error in their design, which they also must correct for consistent results.” Mr. DiPaola’s catapult project requires students to design a machine that can hit targets at different distances. “To be successful, students must demonstrate planning, design, communication and negotiation skills between partners. The lesson also develops their imagination and engineering skills to make the machine; problem-solving skills when trying to produce repeatable results at different distances from targets; and their technology and mathematics knowledge when recording results, completing data tables and creating graphs,” he says. An outcome of the STEM conferences that Middle School teachers have attended is the realization that the school has been in the forefront of STEM education “without calling it by that name,” says Mr. DiPaola. “The conferences gave us ideas that helped us expand what we are already doing and implement ideas where we did not realize we could utilize a STEM approach,” he says. “STEM is important because it empowers students to think for themselves, think creatively, think analytically, apply information and communicate effectively,” says Mr. DiPaola. “Can you think of a career – past, present or future – where those skills aren’t imperative?”
While the focal point of the STEM signature program is the STEM class, all the math and science teachers have had STEM training and incorporated elements of STEM into their regular curriculums. A roller coaster unit in Joy Parker’s seventh grade classes and catapult design in Michael DiPaola’s eighth grade science classes are examples of STEM instruction.
Students experiment with fan cars, a STEM activity a science 13 SummitinMagazine class. L to R: Bri Heverin, Robert Kerr and Mark Taylor.
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First graders read and sing, a rhyming book with Literacy Coach Patti Kenney. L to R: William Hartmann, Esme Gonyo, Mrs. Kenney, Madeline Schaefer, and Tanner Berry.
By Lisa Nicholson The setting is serene, yet there is activity, a gentle buzzing about the room. Young students are engaged, some are working alone and others are in pairs. Baskets are in front of students, which contain different pieces of literature. I am witnessing the process of intentional differentiation and Summit’s signature Five Star Reading Program in action. The program is one-of-a-kind, designed with many components of other successful programs and is unique to The Summit. The Five Stars – Phonics, the Daily Five, Reading Reflection, Frequent Assessments and Personalized Support – incorporate best practices and current research to help our Lower School students make the transition from “learning to read,” to “reading to learn.” Ultimately, this program will help our students to relate literature not only to themselves, but to others and the world surrounding them. 14 Winter 2013 - 2014
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What makes this program unique? Through a series of assessments, students are encouraged to select reading materials according to their ability to fully comprehend. The teachers utilize “The Daily Five” model that includes reading to oneself, reading to another student or teacher, listening to reading, reflective writing and word work including vocabulary and spelling practices. Successful independent reading comprehension is the goal for each student. “The Daily Five is very fun because you get to read, which is my favorite thing,” says second grader Barrett Wade. “You can become a better writer, reader and speller.” The Lower School has dedicated Literacy Coach Patti Kenney to help with this endeavor. She is specially trained to assist the students in their phonemic awareness, fluency and reading comprehension. “Assessments are done three times a year,” says Mrs. Kenney. “They are specifically used to note growth in both phonics and comprehension skills and to target any weak
areas for additional support. When we are able to measure improvement, we can evaluate our curriculum and reinforce those things we are doing well and continue to capitalize on those strengths. Assessments also enable the teacher to differentiate appropriately within the class.” Mrs. Kenney continues: “Our new program truly demonstrates the best practices approach to teaching. Teachers reflect on the purpose of their lesson so that the student develops thinking and problem-solving skills through both reading and writing integration and active learning. Much of this occurs when the students are motivated and engaged in their learning. Adding ‘The Daily Five’ to our program ensures that there is balance and integration in reading, writing and vocabulary development.” Second Grade Teacher Nancy Wojcik has totally embraced the Daily Five. “The children love it,” she says. “I love the fact that the program fosters literacy independence in my students. It also provides me with the opportunity to do meaningful work with the children. I can have small guided reading groups, writing conferences, take note of progress, discuss literature selections, coach struggling readers, enrich soaring readers,
give mini lessons on vocabulary, phonics, writing mechanics and on and on. The student selfdiscipline it inspires creates an atmosphere that focuses on the joys of reading and writing.” The reflective writing component was introduced based on findings from Columbia University Teacher’s College. Students are asked to reflect on their reading and to write a creative piece with a specific prompt from the teacher. For example, a student may be asked to rewrite the end of a story, to change a story’s character, or perhaps to relate the reading to a personal experience and share that in their own words. Extensive work in Spelling and Vocabulary round out the word work portion of “The Daily Five.” Each student has books selected for them that are just right for their individual level. They also receive help during library time to access books appropriately. The parent part of me takes great comfort in knowing the Five Star Reading Program will challenge and reinforce important language concepts for the students in our Lower School. Lisa Nicholson is the mother of Camille, grade 3; Graham, grade 5; and Eva, grade 8.
The Daily Five The Daily Five is one of the five components of the Five Star Reading Program. Components of the Daily Five include reading to self, reading to others, listening to reading, reflective writing and word work including vocabulary and spelling practices. Teacher Nancy Wojcik works with students at the table while Educational Assistant Barbara Brammer reads to a small group.
Reflective Writing Word Work
Read to Others
Read to Self
Listen to Reading
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Toddler Spanish Takes Root as Language Is Established 3 201 - 20
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By Lauren Guip On a gorgeous autumn morning while observing my class of toddlers on the playground, a child said to me, “Mrs. Guip, I need to go back to the classroom.” “Why do you need to do that?” I asked. “I need to go do my work,” she replied. I smiled and remembered that these children are eager to explore the world around them, to learn as much as they can. Not only do they learn naturally and simply by being in the world, they are fascinated by learning, by language, by everything felt and understood by the senses. So when I discovered Spanish was a new addition to the Toddler curriculum this year, I knew immediately that they would not only enjoy it, they would absorb it. Their minds are not like those of an adult. From 2-6 years of age, the child’s brain is designed to learn language. A growing body of research confirms that introducing foreign language to toddlers supports the part of the brain that controls executive functioning. Executive functioning includes important mental tasks like organizing, planning, classifying and strategizing. Summit Spanish Teacher Gayle Fiorenza, who has 30 years of experience in teaching Spanish, was thrilled to begin teaching toddlers at The Summit
this year. “There is a window of opportunity when children can learn to produce all sounds,” Senora Fiorenza says. “The foundations for language are established in the first three years of life.” As I have watched Senora Fiorenza work with the children, I have been impressed with her dedication to immersion learning. She speaks only Spanish during her teaching sessions and gets them involved through music, movement and hands-on activities. “I enjoy using music and movements as effective means for children to learn,” Senora says. “I also enjoy seeing them absorb new information while having fun at the same time. I have been surprised that their attention span is as long as it is. They watch me carefully and listen attentively.” While speaking with Senora Fiorenza about her experience here this year with toddlers, I found that she was having an experience not unlike my own on the playground. Just watching children learn and engaging with them reminded us both of their great potential and excitement for learning. So I speak for the toddlers, their teachers and their families when I say, “Gracias, Senora Fiorenza!” We are delighted to offer Spanish for toddlers this year. Lauren Guip is Lead Teacher in the toddler five-day class. Above: Gayle Fiorenza teaches Spanish to toddlers Liam Cornwall and Paityn McIntyre.
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Montessori students and their parents gather for a 50th anniversary picnic.
Commemorative tee-shirts carried the words “We’re Golden” on the back, underlined by classic Montessori beads.
This year’s opening Mass was held on Williams Field and included special guests to celebrate the anniversary. L to R: Sister Mary Motz and Sister Noreen Joyce, two principals of the Montessori Program in its early years; Dr. William Barrett BMS ’74, Director of the Barrett Cancer Center and Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Cincinnati, a member of the first Montessori class in 1963; and Montessori Director Phyllis Schueler.
Students and teachers join with Montessori students singing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” during the open-air Mass on Williams Field.
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Two Big Events Attrac Sixth Annual Symposium Attracts Educators, Parents By Nancy Berlier Two nationally notable speakers, experts from the University of Cincinnati, Children’s Hospital and The Summit attracted an enthusiastic crowd of visitors to the Sixth Annual Early Childhood Symposium in October. Among the attendees were nearly 50 teachers from other Catholic, public and private schools in Greater Cincinnati who earned Continuing Education Unit certification for their attendance. “The Summit symposium not only serves as a resource for parents but has become a quality training workshop for early childhood education teachers in the Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky area,” says Admission Director Kelley Schiess, who organizes the annual event. “The symposium offers a variety of sessions to help strengthen educators’ developmental understanding of young children.” In celebration of the Montessori’s 50th anniversary year, the keynote speaker was 2014 American Montessori Society Living Legacy Award winner John Chattin-McNichols, Ph.D. Dr. McNichols is Director of the E.M. Standing Center for Montessori Studies at Seattle University and a faculty member of Seton Montessori Institute’s Elementary Teacher Education Program. He shared research on the positive long-term effects of preschool experience on subsequent child development. “One of my purposes is to make people advocates of good early childhood education,” 18 Winter 2013 - 2014
Dr. Chattin-McNichols said. “We know from research that it works.” In a bonus breakout session, Dr. Chattin-McNichols helped parents understand how the layout of a room and materials are a strategic part of the Montessori experience. In the luncheon session, Rachel White, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, explained how development of the executive function of the brain – the set of cognitive skills that help us to control our impulses, behaviors and emotions – is a key piece of early school success. Other presenters included: Elizabeth Sluzewski Harman, a music therapist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC); Brenda Greenert Judd, an Early Childhood Specialist at the Arlitt Child and Family Research and Education Center at the University of Cincinnati; Dr. Erica Messer, a licensed clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics with CCHMC; Amy Reed, a dietitian at CCHMC; Lower School Director Helen Clark, Upper School Director Dr. Terrence Malone and Lower School Guidance Counselor Kendra Thornton. Read more online: Parenting resources and photo gallery. www.summitcds.org/symposium
American Montessori Society Living Legacy Award winner John Chattin-McNichols, Ph.D. and Rachel White, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, were featured speakers at the symposium.
ct Crowds to Campus Summit Hosts International Children’s Art Exhibition
Summit students who were award winners in the International Children’s Art Exhibition were, L to R, Johanna Huelsman, George Hartmann, Susie Stahl and Elise Becker.
By Nancy Berlier The 43rd International Children’s Art Exhibition made its American debut at The Summit in November attracting students and art teachers from area schools.
“We were thrilled that four of our own students won awards in an international art show and proud that we could host this exhibition because it emphasizes artistic creativity and global connectedness – two ideals that are part of our core mission and critical to 21st Century education,” says Head of School Rich Wilson. The emphasis on global citizenry was valuable because it showed Summit’s young students how much they had in common with children in other countries and how they are different, says Jan Wiesner, Lower School Art Teacher and curator of the show. “Art work has a way of showing a universal theme – losing a tooth, heating a home, bathing -- but in this show it would occasion something different in different countries,” she says. “My students learned, for example, that in Japan you sit on a stool, lather up and rinse before you get in a tub,” she says. “They thought that was really odd, and I said the students in Japan probably think what you do is really odd. Think about it. You get in the water and soap up, rinse off and then you sit in the water. You should have seen their faces.” Through discussions about other pieces, students learned that children in other countries got chocolate or presents, instead of money, when they lost a tooth or had to collect firewood to heat their homes, Mrs. Wiesner says. “The show really gave them something to think about.”
The Summit was the first leg of a seven-city U.S. tour of 130 children’s art works from around the world. The exhibit included four award-winning pieces of art produced by Summit students: second grader Susie Stahl, fourth graders George Hartmann and Johanna Huelsman and freshman Elise Becker. Art in the exhibit was selected from among tens of thousands worldwide submitted to a panel of judges from Biiku Bunka Kyokai, The Foundation of Art Education in Japan, as well as participating art professors and teachers. Lower School Art Teacher Jan Wiesner explores the detail of a Japanese art work in the art exhibition with first graders Holland Lippert and Katelyn Bastos. Summit Magazine 19
NEWSMAKERS
National Merit Semifinalists Six seniors who have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as semifinalists and two who received National Hispanic recognition are in the competition for National Merit scholarships. Semifinalists are, L to R, Tino Delamerced, Liz Eadie, Carter Hall, Kelly McBride, Michael Connerton and Emily Haussler. Carlos Garciamendez-Mijares and Marissa Ortiz received National Hispanic recognition. In addition to these students one senior was named an outstanding National Achievement Program participant and 9 students were named Commended Students. As a whole, 18 percent of Summit’s 2014 graduating class have received some form of National Merit recognition. The percentage of semifinalists is higher than any other Catholic or public school in Hamilton County.
Alex Marcellus ’12
Regina Merrill ’12
Jack Schroder ’12
Emily Hogya ’12
National AP Scholars The College Board awarded National Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar distinction to four members of the 2013 class: Emily Hogya, a Xavier University freshman who is considering a major in Economics, Mathematics or Finance; Alex Marcellus, who is pursuing a degree in computer and electrical engineering at Purdue University; Jack Schroder, who is at The Ohio State University where he intends to major in industrial engineering; and Regina Merrill, who is studying communications at Loyola University in Chicago. Altogether, 67 Summit students earned some kind of AP recognition from the College Board.
National Latin Awards Four students scored first place in five individual categories at the 60th Annual National Junior Classical League (NJCL) Convention in Las Vegas in July. The Latin Club also won third place nationally for community service hours. Individual top winners were seniors Tino Delamerced and Kelly McBride, junior Caroline Klette and eighth grader Joseph Delamerced. Tino is president of the Ohio Junior Classical League and Kelly is second vice president. Latin Teacher Larry Dean is in his fourth year as State Chair and 14th year as Ohio Certamen coach. More recently, The Summit hosted 35 Latin teams from 12 schools at the 17th Annual Certamen competition. First place finishes went to the Upper Level Team (sophomore Dustin Argo, juniors Kevin Boyce and Jesse Campbell and senior Tino Delamerced) as well as the Level 1 team (eighth graders Joseph Delamerced, Teo Fernandez, Caroline Klette and Michael Warden.) 20 Winter 2013 - 2014
Newsmakers
L to R: Natalie Pearl, Morgan Cavanaugh and Davis DeFoor.
Abby Semler
College Art Exhibit Senior Abby Semler received the top award in the College of Mount St. Joseph’s Selections 2013 Art Exhibition for a digital photograph taken as part of her Advanced Placement Studio Art class. Abby won a $5,000 scholarship which will be given should she choose to attend The Mount. A pencil drawing by Senior Katie Harrison from the AP Studio Art class also was accepted into the exhibition.
Benjamin Tolble
People to People Sixth grader Benjamin Tolble was among 40 Greater Cincinnati students who served as People to People ambassadors in an 11-day trip to Alaska this summer. Benjamin visited with government experts and gained leadership and team-building skills through guided
Hyde Park Square Art Show A drawing by Morgan Cavanaugh, a junior at The Summit Country Day School, has been chosen as the poster art that will represent next year’s Hyde Park Square Art Show. Morgan and 12 other Summit students received awards at the annual show held Sunday, Oct. 6. First place awards went to junior Natalie Pearl in the Grades 9-12 division and eighth grader Davis DeFoor in the Grades 7-8 division. Other awards also went to third grader Kate Stagnaro, fourth grader Natalie Mazey, sixth grader Charlie Crowther, sixth grader Kathryn Sullivan, eighth grader Maddie Hendrix, junior Alex Sigman and seniors Katie Harrison, Abby Semler and Clare Taylor. activities. Among the landmarks his group toured, students saw world recordholding vegetables growing in the 24-hour daylight in Matanuska Susitna Valley, held puppies in training at an Iditarod training facility and walked to Exit Glacier in the Kenai Fjords National Park. Children’s International Summer Village Ninth grader Caroline Walton travelled to Nova Gorica, Slovenia, in the summer for a Children’s International Summer Village program for 14-year-olds called “Step Up Camp.” Caroline met boys and girls from Brazil, England, Norway, Slovenia, Israel,
Japan, France, Columbia and Indonesia. The 21day program focuses on peace education through student-led activities on such things as human rights, democracy or environmental protection. Caroline’s delegation led a discussion of the integration of a Northern Virginia football team depicted in the Denzel Washington movie “Remember the Titans.” The entire camp also participated in a service project at a local Slovenia shelter.
Summit Magazine 21
Newsmakers
FACULTY AND STAFF
L to R: Sarah Weiss, Executive Director, The Center for Holocaust & Humanity Education; Summit Upper School History Teacher Jeff Stayton; Middle School Language Arts Teacher Rosie Sansalone Alway; Freshman Sam Wiser SMS’13; Rich Wilson, Head of School; Mike Johnson, Middle School Director.
The Summit was honored by The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education (CHHE) as a Voice for Humanity. At the August award ceremonies, Upper School History Teacher Jeff Stayton and Middle School Language Arts Teacher Rosie Sansalone Alway were singled out, along with Holocaust survivor Werner Coppel, for their pioneering voices in Cincinnati Holocaust education. “Summit has been an incredible partner to CHHE, embracing the alignment between its commitment to character education and teaching about the Holocaust and its lessons,” said Sarah Weiss, the organization’s Executive Director.
Jack Von Handorf, Upper School Math Teacher, left, completed a 4,230 mile cross country bicycle trip with his two older brothers, Jeff and Jerry. The trio followed the TransAmerica Trail beginning with their back tires emerging from the Pacific Ocean in Astoria, OR, on June 8. They trekked eight hours each day as the journey took them along National Parks such as Yellowstone and Grand Teton and through small towns across America. “It was a great way to experience the country,” says Mr. Von Handorf. “The people in the towns we passed through were amazing, and seeing the country at that pace was great.” The team finished by dipping their front tires in the Atlantic Ocean at Yorktown, VA on July 31. 22 Winter 2013 - 2014
Mike Fee receives his award from College Counseling Director Maureen Ferrell.
Mike Fee, Upper School Guidance Counselor, was awarded the 2013 Career Quest Excellent School Counselor award presented by Northern Kentucky University, the University of Cincinnati, Xavier University and IKRON Corp. He was nominated by former student Joseph Oakwood ’06 who was inspired by Mr. Fee to become a licensed professional counselor at IKRON. In his role as Girls’ Varsity Soccer Head Coach, Mr. Fee was appointed to a two-year term as President of the Southwest Ohio High School Soccer Coaches Association. His responsibilities include organizing and running the All-SW Ohio senior All-Star game and representing coaches at the state-level meetings. Kim Ashcraft, Middle and Upper School Latin Teacher, received her master’s degree in Learning Design and Technology from Purdue University on Dec 7. She was awarded her master’s with Summa Cum Laude distinction. She previously received her B.A. in Classics from the University of Cincinnati.
Please submit news about extracurricular accomplishments to www.summitcds.org/communications/ Submit-your-news.
Q&A
Q&A: What It Is Like Being the New Kid on the Block Fourth graders Jackson Francois and Natalie Mazey are new to The Summit this year. While Jackson is new to the area this year, having moved from Knoxville, Natalie is a Cincinnati native who transferred here from a public school. In this Q&A written by the students, Jackson asks Natalie what it is like to be the new kid on the block.
Q: Natalie, I came to Cincinnati because of my mom’s job. You are from this area. What type of school did you attend, and why did you switch to Summit? A: I attended a public school, and our district had a levy that failed which took away busing and limited the special classes we were able to have. Q: Because my former school was very small, I see a lot of differences here. For example, I knew everyone at my old school. What observations have you made that differ from the school you previously attended? A: Summit is smaller. In my old school, we had 200 kids per grade, 25 per class. My school was so big that I didn’t even know all the people in my grade. I pretty well know everyone in the fourth grade at Summit already. I really like having specials again, especially French. Q: I can’t imagine having so many students in one group. Were your classes loud? Did you feel challenged? A: Classes did tend to get a bit loud. We did not have as much one-on-one time with our teachers. I did feel challenged, but I feel more challenged here. We do more hands on activities – especially in science where we take part in experiments and have the opportunity to work in an organic garden as part of our science class. This (Garden for the Good) is also part of our service learning. All this, to me, makes it more challenging. I don’t think I learn as much with just textbooks, and the teachers here go beyond Jackson Francois
the textbooks with their teaching. Q: I am a shy person, but I was very comfortable at my old school. When I came here, I avoided starting conversations with other kids, so I let them come to me. How did you go about getting acquainted with the other students? A: I tried to talk to people, and a lot of people were friendly to me, but I still was a little shy being at a new school. Many people came up to me and asked what my name was and introduced themselves. During our Mix-It-Up Day, we had a chance to sit with people at lunch that we don’t usually sit with, and that gave me a chance to get to know even more people better. Q: Coming from the schools that we did, we never experienced attending religion class every day. How do you feel about the spiritual pillar being part of what we do every day? Have you had a chance to participate in any of the Masses and prayer services that we have? A: I like being part of prayer services and Masses. I had the opportunity to do a reading at one of our Lower School Masses about how I live the Mission Statement of The Summit. I have also been able to be a member of a special choir group to sing at Mass. I feel that the students have a great opportunity to show their faith here whether they are Catholic or not. Q: Would you recommend The Summit to a friend? A: I would. I love learning a new language and the teachers are all really nice. It’s really great to have specials, too.
Natalie Mazey Summit Magazine 23
Boys’ Soccer Team Clinches Second Consecutive State Championship
24 Winter 2013 - 2014
By Darren Weigl I…I believe…I believe that…I believe that we…I believe that we will win! This chant is believed to have started in the Navy over ten years ago and has since been made famous by the raucous student section of Utah State University, thanks to YouTube. ESPN’s Eamonn Brennan called it the “coolest” chant. “When I hear ‘believe,’ I hear less expectation than faith. That’s what sports fandom is. It’s a form of faith.” The Silver Knights heard the chant with less than 75 seconds left in their regional semifinal match as they trailed 2-1 to Seven Hills. But it was coming from the opposing sideline and Summit had their backs against the wall with the season on the line. That was a defining moment, says senior Carlos GarciamendezMijares. “That game shows what we were committed to all season long. Just never giving up. Even when it seemed impossible and the other team is chanting the ‘I believe we will win’ chant and all of their fans are going crazy,” says Carlos. “We just played as a family. We didn’t get on each other. It just motivated us. From
the guys on the bench, to the guys playing, to the coaches and our fans. Everybody just knew that we were going to do it.” Survival was the theme presented at the beginning of the season by Head Coach Barnard Baker as he asked the team to focus on one game at a time. After the Silver Knights’ state championship run a year ago, Coach Baker knew his many challenges, and he didn’t want to hear talk of “repeat champions.” Four of the senior starters on the 2012 team went to NCAA Division I programs upon graduation. Coach Baker scheduled demanding opponents for 2013, including the No. 1 team in the country which gave the Knights one of only two losses this year. “I was afraid of the word ‘repeat,’” says Coach Baker. “The word is ‘survival.’ So I purposely made our schedule impossible. If we can survive our schedule both physically and mentally, we’re going to be awesome come tournament time.” The team overachieved, he says, proving wrong his prediction of seven to eight losses in the regular season. In his eleven-year coaching career at The Summit, Coach Baker has typically been off by no more than one or two games when predicting the team’s outcome. No Cincinnati team had beaten Summit in 2013, but
Clockwise from top left: Austin Smythe zips by the Mansfield Christian defense during the state title game. L to R: Maverick Thurston, Mason Moore, Craig James, Eric Terry, Michael DeWine and Garrett Steele brave the elements to show their support for The Summit. Austin Smythe embraces Charlie Maciejewski after Charlie scores the first goal for the Knights in the championship game. L to R: Upper School students Maddie Kiley, Olivia Klosterman, Katie Ryan, Sophie Adams, Ellie Adams and Bryce Hueber cheer on the Silver Knights at Crew Stadium in Columbus. Summit Magazine
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rival Seven Hills had played them to a tie. The Knights now found themselves looking for a way to survive with 1:11 left to play in the regional semifinal. When junior Austin Smythe heard the Seven Hills sideline chanting “I believe,” he mustered the strength to focus on survival. That meant scoring now. “It was shocking to hear the chants” says Austin. Sophomore midfielder Charlie Maciejewski quickly found Austin open. “They had been man-marking me (a defensive strategy where the defender guards a specific player and not an area) all game long and then the defender just let me go suddenly. Charlie just set me up and the ball came over my head. I turned and my first touch was a shot with my left foot,” says Austin. “It happened so fast. I didn’t even know that I had scored until I saw our fans cheering.” A right-footed player, Austin scored off his left foot, sending the game into overtime and keeping Summit’s aspirations for a second-straight title alive. Eleven minutes into overtime, senior Isaiah Chapman split the defense and took the ball up the sideline. His shot on goal was saved, but Austin was there to put in the rebound, again with his left foot. He describes the moment as the best of his life, especially when he saw Coach Baker running across the field. Usually, the mild-mannered coach would be behind his team in celebration, but this being his final season at the helm, the emotions took hold. He was one of the first off the bench.
“When you love something, you always want to be a part of it,” says Coach Baker about the culture of The Summit soccer program. “For these guys, they’ll always remember it and want to be a part of it.” Coach Baker acknowledged the success that Summit soccer had before his arrival. The culture of the program was something that he wanted to galvanize by building a deeper sense of community. His first step was to actively engage Summit soccer alumni. He reached out to former players, some of whom he had never coached, and invited them to be actively involved through clinics, visits and outreach to players. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Many alumni said they had wanted to stay involved after graduation and were just waiting to be asked. Coach Baker no longer needs to ask. Throughout the season, many former players kept in touch with the team via text messages and email. Given the legendary status of players such as 2012 Major League Soccer Rookie of the Year Austin Berry ’07, current Notre Dame standout Alex Priede ’10, Jude Austin ’11, Jamal Shteiwi ’00 and current Louisville player Joey Kunkel ’13, so much enthusiasm and support for a high school program might have been surprising. But Alex Priede says The Summit instills a sense of pride upon its graduates. “I believe that the sense of community and belonging is what drew me not only to Summit, but to Notre Dame. What the two have in
Clockwise from top left: Keeper Nate Logan makes a diving save. Matt De Jesus pushes forward down field. David Judd grasps Ohio Division III Player of the Year Christian Hay. Defender Philip McHugh cracks a smile after Summit’s second goal. Head Coach Barnard Baker is in the spotlight at the all-school pep rally after the championship win. Taylor Jones, left, secures the ball from a Mansfield defender as Charlie Maciejewski heads in for help. Mary Frances Harsh, left, and Louise Zhou use handmade noisemakers to cheer on the Silver Knights. Christian Hay takes control of the ball 26 from Winter - 2014 the 2013 Mansfield attack and heads up field. 26
common is a sense of belonging to something bigger than yourself,” says Alex. “You are no longer just a student at the school, but you become part of the ‘family.’” “Family” is what the Silver Knights chant before every game. At the state final, they received extra encouragement from the many former Knights who were at Crew Stadium in Columbus. Coach Baker was surprised to see Robert Partin ’05, who had served in Afghanistan and, as Coach Baker puts it, “has more important things to do.” Many of the players from the 2012 state championship team were in the stands and in the locker room offering encouragement and guidance. “It was very cool,” says freshman goalkeeper Nate Logan. “Those are the kind of guys you want to be when you graduate.” Arguably the greatest player of all-time, Pele, once said, “Every kid around the world who plays soccer wants to be Pele. I have a great responsibility to show them not just how to be like a soccer player, but how to be like a man.” Alex Priede feels this same sense of responsibility. “You can tell how big of an impact you had based upon the successes of the team after you left,” he says. “The hope is that through your legacy, you can help make the team better for the future. I find great pride in knowing that the current Summit team is better than the team I played for.”
As this Summit team climbed to the top, each player acknowledged the support they had received from the entire Summit community, especially from the younger fans who looked up to them as role models. Coach Baker says support from the younger students was one of the greatest aspects of the season. Interaction with the Montessori and Lower School students during school activities and community service projects impressed him. “It’s really pretty neat to see how they look up to them. It’s a thing that I didn’t necessarily expect, and it’s more than just the game. To see them giving back is special.” Students and other fans provided a special spark to the players on the field heading into the championship game. For freshman keeper Nate Logan, it was a momentum changer. “The parents were so supportive the entire year,” Nate says. “They had the drums and horns going the entire tournament, and we wanted to win for them and bring hardware back to The Summit.” One of those fans was Gary De Jesus, father of senior midfielder Matt De Jesus. “The players always love having a strong student section,” he says. “They also loved having the plastic bucket drums in the stands.” Suzanne McHugh, mother of junior defender Phillip, was the instigator of this year’s drum section, bringing back a tradition that began in the 2012 title run. “The fans came to count on our intense beat and some
Clockwise from top left: Matt Meister dribbles the ball during the title game. Forward Brendan Jones slides to keep the ball in play; Brendan scored the second goal for the Silver Knights, which proved to be the game winner. Taylor Jones’ shirt tells the story (No. 1) as he celebrates the win with fans. Isaiah Chapman eyes the field ahead as he splits the defense in the championship game. Ethan Hay, left, and Carlos Garciamendez-Mijares acknowledge the fans in the stands after the Knights secured their second consecutive championship. Team members are Summit Magazine 27 27 jubilant as they first take hold of their trophy and show the fans.
The Silver Knights stand shoulder to shoulder in Flannery Gym in a welcome home rally. L to R: Alex Hertlein, Nick Carcieri, David Cook, Lundy Wright, Joshua Campbell, Cameron Belle, Craig Bond, Rielly Dowling, Chris Hudson, Ethan Hay, David Judd, Charlie Maciejewski, Christian Hay, Matt De Jesus, Isaiah Chapman, Austin Smythe, Brendan Jones, Ben Schloss, Taylor Jones, Matt Eustace, Philip McHugh, Nate Logan, Jacob Beardslee, Matt Meister and Rupert Domville.
asked to join,” says Mrs. McHugh. “We would gladly give them a bucket under the condition that they would stay on beat. Our strength was dependent on working together as the beat of the team.”
2014 season when their goal again will be survival. With a young group of star players returning next season, Coach Baker smiles when he is asked if he doesn’t have an itch to return just one more year.
After sophomore Brendan Jones scored the second goal in the championship game to put the Silver Knights ahead 2-0 over Mansfield Christian with six minutes remaining, Austin recalls looking into the stands and seeing the scoreboard. He began to realize that they were going to win the state crown again. “It was surreal to see all of our fans happy and together,” says Austin. When the final whistle blew, sealing a 2-1 victory, Carlos says it was unbelievable to see all of the fans screaming. “We were just so happy to do it for the school,” he says.
“Not so much for the three-peat, but I’m so excited about the program’s future,” he says. “Our two goal scorers in the finals were sophomores. A freshman goalie started in the state final as did a freshman outside back. Our leading scorer was a junior. All of those guys are coming back, but I keep saying in the back of my mind that I’m going to say that every year. You know, the coolest part about the celebration was seeing how proud my kids – Jack and Bella – were. That put things into perspective. I have goals that I want to set with myself and them as a parent. That’s really what I want to do now.”
Seeing current and former players celebrating under the lights of Crew Stadium was something Coach Baker had never imagined and it was the perfect setting for his final match. Maybe it is too soon to be thinking of a three-peat, as only one other team has in the history of the Ohio High School Athletic Association state tournament across all divisions. But for now, the team will continue to celebrate until they hit the field for workouts for the 28 Winter 2013 - 2014
Alex Priede offers his own advice to the players about winning back-to-back titles. “The team deserves to be commended for their achievements, but I would also challenge them to not yet be satisfied,” he says. “The one similarity that I have noticed from the greatest athletes and coaches of all time is that they never cease to want more. As you achieve one goal, set another one.”
Athletic Director Greg Dennis holds the trophy for Lower School students to touch before they walked through a spirit tunnel formed by the state champions. Summit Magazine 29
The 2013 Back-to-Back State Champions: Back Row, L to R: Athletic Trainer Amber Gerken, Cameron Belle, Craig Bond, Austin Smythe, Brendan Jones, Taylor Jones, Philip McHugh, Matt Eustace, Rupert Domville, Matt Meister, David Judd, Assistant Coach Zac Van Frank, Assistant Coach Ryan Johnson. Middle Row: Assistant Coach Dan Cosgrove, Rielly Dowling, Chris Hudson, Jacob Beardslee, Josh Campbell. Front Row: Assistant Coach and Upper School Director Dr. Terry Malone, Ben Schloss, Ethan Hay, Carlos Garciamendez-Mijares, Isaiah Chapman, Matt De Jesus, Charlie Maciejewski, Christian Hay, Nate Logan, Head Coach Barnard Baker, Jack Baker.
For the Record The Silver Knights brought the state trophy home to The Summit for a second consecutive season and the third time in the program’s history. The team rallied behind Head Coach Barnard Baker, who announced mid-season that 2013 would be his final year at the helm. En route to the state championship, Coach Baker earned his 100th victory at The Summit and was also named Ohio Division III Private School Coach of the Year as well as MVC Coach of the Year. Senior Christian Hay swept Player of the Year honors, earning the distinction at the MVC, city, district and state levels. Joining him on the All-District first team were Matt De Jesus and Austin Smythe. Christian was named to the All-State first team, while Matt earned second team All-State honors. 30 Winter 2013 - 2014
Honor In Action
Summit Sports For the Record: Fall Season Roundup Summit athletes continued rewriting the record books in the fall. The fall athletic season was capped with more hardware as the boys’ soccer team brought home another state championship. Both girls’ and boys’ cross country teams competed at state while the football team made its fourth consecutive playoff appearance. Summit achieved four MVC team championships, five MVC Players/Runners of the Year, three MVC Coaches of the Year and 32 first team AllMVC student athletes. Girls’ Soccer The team won its third-straight district championship, a first for the program. Senior Bryce Hueber was named the MVC, district and state Player of the Year and was also a named to the NSCAA AllRegion team. She was a first team All-State selection and senior teammate Meredith Schertzinger was second team. Joining them on the All-District first team were senior Mia Schreibeis and junior Emily Wiser. Head Coach Mike Fee earned MVC Coach of the Year honors for the sixth time.
Bryce Hueber
Cross Country The girls’ team earned their first-ever trip to the state meet. The boys’ team joined them at state for the second consecutive year as they ran to the team’s best-ever finish at fourth place. The girls finished tenth. Junior Mason Moore was the regional champion, as were the boys in the team competition. Both teams won their fourth consecutive MVC titles. The girls took the top seven out of eight spots in the MVC race and the boys six of the top eight. MVC Runner of the Year honors went to senior Ellie Adams and Mason Moore. Kurtis Smith won Coach of the Year for the fifth consecutive year. Ellie and Mason were named to the All-District first team, along with teammates senior Sophie Adams, sophomore Emily Ray, junior John Murdock and sophomore Will Mackey.
Mason Moore
Summit Magazine
Volleyball Under the leadership of first year head coach, Kat Roedig, the team finished their season 11-8, winning their first round playoff before losing to Williamsburg. Senior Dana Thomas was named to the All-MVC first team. Field Hockey Junior Caroline Currie was named first team All-MVC as the Silver Knights continued improvement before losing to the number one seed in the first round of the playoffs. Football The Silver Knights finished the regular season with a record of 8-2, earning a fourth-straight trip to the playoffs. The team earned its second playoff win in school history with a commanding road victory over previously unbeaten Cincinnati Country Day, 55-28, in the first round. A comeback attempt fell just short vs. West LibertySalem in the second round, and the Knights were defeated 21-13, finishing the season at 9-3. Seniors Antonio Woods and Michael Barwick were named, the District Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year for Division VI, respectively. Antonio was named the MVC Offensive Player of the Year. Junior C.J. Suggs was named to the first team All-District defense. Golf The boys’ varsity golf team won the sectional tournament for the second year in a row and their ninth sectional championship in school history. They advanced to the district tournament where they missed qualifying for state by just one shot and finished third. Senior Chris Lee posted a score of 78 in the sectional and 79 at districts. Tennis The team was coached by firstyear coach Kate Rippe and finished third in the MVC. Sophomores Haley Bosse and Sara Bissantz were first team All-MVC in doubles. 32 Winter 2013 - 2014
L to R: Kyle Schneider, Brennan Byrne, Michael Connerton, Coach Tim Jedding, Chris Lee, Alec Petrie and Mark Peterson.
Collegiate All-Stars These alumni currently play collegiate athletics:
Football Nate Goodhart ’12, Ohio Wesleyan University LaDon Laney ’12, Kentucky Wesleyan College Armand Walker ’13, Morehead State University
Soccer Tess Akgunduz ‘10, Eastern Kentucky Anna Albi ‘10, Carnegie Mellon University Liz Arnold ’11, Emory University Eddie de St. Aubin ’12, Franciscan University Ben Emery ’13, University of Dayton Ryan Hall ’13, Cincinnati State Caelan Hueber ’13, Adelphi University Joey Kunkel ’13, University of Louisville Brandon Lorentz ’13, Thomas More College Ayanna Parker ’13, University of Kentucky Alex Priede ‘10, University of Notre Dame Jake Rawlings ’13, DePaul University
Lacrosse Dana Thomas goes for a point that was set up by Jacki Noe.
Evan Albertson ‘11, College of Wooster Liz Edwards ‘10, Davidson College Nate Gustafson ‘10, United States Military Academy at West Point Lissie Russert ‘11, College of the Holy Cross David Smith ’13, Transylvania University Brianne Ward ‘10, Presbyterian College
Cross Country & Track Colin Cotton ‘11, Williams College Warren Hill ’13, Hampton University Charlie Michel ’12, Ashland University
Baseball Tommy Crowl ’13, Marietta College Jack Gustafson ’11, St. Thomas University Michael Jaeger’13. Thomas More College Jack Meininger ’13, College of Mount St. Joseph Gabe Scott ’12, George Washington University
Basketball
History of State Championships Teams 3 Boys’ Soccer (1999, 2012, 2013) 1 Boys’ Basketball (2012) 1 Girls’ Soccer (2011) 1 Boys’ Lacrosse (2006) 1 Baseball (1995)
Individuals Colin Cotton ’11 Cross Country, 2010 and Track, 2011
Gabby Steele ’09 Tennis, 2007
Amauria Campbell ’13, Ohio Northern University Izzie Englehart ’13, U.S. Air Force Academy Kevin Johnson ’13, University of Cincinnati Brittany Williams ‘11, West Virginia Wesleyan College
Cheerleading Andrea Bacho ’11, Denison University
Swimming Bryan Bedacht ‘09, Loyola University Maryland Summit Magazine 33
25th Anniversary
Marc Gerard Fragge ’83 Memorial Scho
Clockwise from left: Joey Kreyenhagen, Connor Shaw, Betty Fragge, Dr. Ronald Fragge, Philip McHugh, Georges Saba, Connor McMurray and Sydney Beckmeyer. 34 34 Winter 2013 - 2014
olarship
“All of these dedicated teachers and coaches taught us how to respect others as well as ourselves; how to show good sportsmanship; how to push ourselves beyond our comfort zones and what we thought we could do; how to not give up; and, in general, how to grow up to be responsible, creative and caring people. I believe Marc was a product of this same wonderful and caring faculty spirit. While I never knew Marc, in a way I met him every day I was lucky enough to be part of The Summit family.” — John O’Brien ’97, Fragge Scholar By Nancy Berlier Peter Saba ’83 and Gregg Becker ’83 remember the last game of their 1982-83 season like it was yesterday. The Silver Knights were having their winningest season ever. While they did not make the playoffs because of the nuances of the point system, they ended the season undefeated and ranked No. 1 in our division in Ohio. Cohesive from their early years as a Catholic Youth Organization squad, the football players became stronger and faster under the leadership of legendary Summit coach Farrell Ackley. But their can-do attitude was inspired by their captain, Marc Fragge ’83. “Marc was always about improving himself in every way – mentally, physically and spiritually,” says Gregg. “He was an inspiration to all of us.” Pete agrees: “Marc was an ‘aim high’ kind of guy before we had the ‘Aim High’ slogan. He pushed us all to aim high. He would drag you, push you, pull you -whatever it took -- to bring you with him.”
Summit Magazine 35
Ed Tyrrell, former Head of School, says Marc led by example. “He was well known, respected and liked. He pushed all his teammates to be better. When he started weightlifting, he worked at it like it was a science. When the younger players saw the results, they followed his example. There is nothing like success to build success.” Marc’s friends at The Summit and Dartmouth College, where he played football and earned an engineering degree, remember him as determined and patient, possessing a great laugh and an outward innocence that belied a penchant for being a bit of a jokester. He was also the strongest among them – once doing more weight lifting repetitions than a professional player who was showing players how to do squats. He maintained a strict fitness regimen and delighted in outdoor activities, like skiing and rock climbing. At the time of his death on Oct. 16, 1988, Marc was researching the effect of cold temperatures on metals in his quest to complete his master’s degree. On that unusually warm October afternoon, Marc and his college climbing buddy, Joel Sunshine, were making their descent from a peak in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, near a natural geologic effigy made famous by writer Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, “The Great Stone Face.” A cool front was moving in, prompting experts later to speculate that the moisture behind the face of 4,060-foot Cannon Mountain was expanding as the rock to which Marc and Joel were tethered began to cool and broke away. The time was tragically recorded on a smashed wristwatch: 3:38 p.m. Marc’s death at such a young age, when his life was so full of promise and potential, was a 36 Winter 2013 - 2014
shock to his parents, Dr. Ronald and Betty Fragge, older sister Michelle (Fragge) Freeman ’79 and classmates both at Summit and Dartmouth. “At that point in time, we were kids at the age of 23,” says Pete. “Marc symbolized this undefeatable attitude of ‘We can do whatever we want. All it takes is hard work.’ For all of us, it was our first taste of mortality – to lose someone so young, and someone so vital.” “To this day I miss Marc but much, much, much more, I can feel Dr. and Mrs. Fragge’s unimaginable pain,” says Dartmouth friend Rick Weiler. “As a parent, I am crazy about my three kids and can’t imagine going through such a tragedy at any age, certainly at the age he was – about to go on his own as a young man.” At The Summit and through the generosity of the Fragge family, the school’s first named, endowed scholarship was created to give other promising young students the advantage of Marc Gerard Fragge ’83 a Summit education. To mark the 25th anniversary of the scholarship, the community rallied again this year to grow the endowment. “I still feel his guidance to persevere, to keep moving forward,” says Gregg, who named his oldest son after Marc. “I still remember the last conversation I had with Marc. He said, ‘Gregg, we have to train for life now.’ ” Like Ernest, the hero in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s tale of the “Great Stone Face,” Marc’s character was an inspiration to others. Six current Summit students are “Fragge Scholars.” To date, the Marc Gerard Fragge ’83 Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to 35 students who exemplify Marc’s personal dedication to academic achievement, physical development and spiritual growth. Frank Albi ‘01 was one of them. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the U.S. Naval Academy before embarking on a career of service that
included two combat tours in Iraq. Now a private citizen pursuing a degree from DePaul University’s College of Law, he thanks the Fragges. “I still firmly believe that the foundation for my critical reading and persuasive writing skills, as well as my moral grounding, were laid at The Summit. In the practice of law, as in life, these things are always important, and I have the generosity of the Fragge family to thank.” Another Fragge Scholar is John O’Brien ‘97, a technical advisor for diesel-electric hybrid and engine electrification programs at Cummins who earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. “Only after many years have passed can I appreciate what a truly great education can do,” he says. “The Fragge family obviously appreciates and recognizes what The Summit represents.” Says Kelley Schiess, Director of Admission: “Through my work with this scholarship program, I have enjoyed getting to know the Fragge family, their love for Marc and his Summit experience. The Fragge Scholarship truly embodies The Summit mission and is awarded to students who exemplify Marc’s personal dedication to academic achievement, athletic involvement and spiritual growth. This scholarship allows us to attract and retain the best and brightest of students.” When Pete and Gregg began contacting former classmates about growing the scholarship, a group of 14 from all over the country – Tennessee, Georgia, Colorado, New York and Arizona – quickly rallied, intent on strengthening the endowment and expanding what the scholarship can do and keeping it vital. “Where we are now compared to where we were in our 20s is vastly different,” says Pete. “When the scholarship fund started and we were asked to give, we were still kids. We didn’t have that much. When we talked about renewing the fundraising effort for the scholarship, people were immediately interested. We want to be part of this scholarship moving forward.” If you would like to help celebrate Marc’s life, please donate to the Marc Gerard Fragge ’83 Scholarship. You may mail a check to The Summit, c/o The Development Office, 2161 Grandin Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208, or donate through a secure online portal at www.summitcds.org.
Fragge Scholars Christopher Kenney ‘94 John O’Brien ‘97 Adam Keslosky ‘98 Frank Albi ‘01 Chris Sheldon ‘01 Candice Smith ‘01 Brandon Sheckels ‘01 Steve Stickle ‘02 Megan Browder ‘02 Lauren Manning ‘02 Jeff Roth ‘02 Tim Keck ‘04 Lisa Cosgrove ‘04 Carrie Jantsch ‘05 Andrew Donovan ‘05 Stephanie Long ‘06 Melinda Curran ‘06 Mark Dato ‘06 Casey Jeffries ‘06 Michael Bruns ‘08 Catherine Bishop ‘08 Joseph Wernke ‘09 Alyssa Dunn ‘09 Elizabeth Edwards ‘10 Bradley Evans ‘10 Nicholas Pacitti ‘11 Elizabeth Meininger ‘11 Rachel Fladung ‘12 Max Williams ‘12 Joey Kreyenhagen ‘14 Georges Saba ‘14 Philip McHugh ‘15 Sydney Beckmeyer ‘16 Connor Shaw ‘16 Connor McMurray ‘17 Summit Magazine 37
By the Numbers: 2013 Bohlke 5K Run/Walk The fifth annual Marc Bohlke Memorial 5K Run/ Walk on Aug. 17 again benefitted the Marc Bohlke Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded every four years to a student entering the ninth grade who demonstrates leadership through commitment and passion for their interests and endeavors and who inspires others to do the same. Here is a snapshot of the race, by the numbers:
Gathering before the race, L to R, Cindi Fitton, Beth Jantsch, Anna Bohlke, Lizzie Edwards’10 and Becky Edwards.
1 Place earned by Jason Ordway, an Olympic Trials qualifier in 2008 who has won the race for the
last four years and holds the course record.
2 Place earned by Michael Perry. 3 Place earned by Derrick Butler, former All-American runner at Ohio State. 4 Place earned by Warren Hill ’13, in his debut in the Bohlke Run. He is now a freshman at
Hampton University in Virginia and is on the Division I cross country squad.
5 Years The Summit hosted the race. 5 Kilometers ran or walked. 6 Age in months of youngest participant. 7 Nations represented by sponsors (Austria, Canada, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Taiwan, U.S.). 14:58 Fastest time (4:50 per mile for 3.1 miles). 63 Sponsors. 85 Age of oldest participant. 100+ Volunteers. 500 Awards. 800 Pancakes consumed afterward. 1,850 Runners/walkers. 67,729 Dollars net for scholarship fund. To become a sponsor of the 5K Run/Walk or to donate to the scholarship fund, contact Sandy Champlin, Development Assistant, 513-871-4700 x 244 or e-mail champlin_s@summitcds.org. 38 Winter 2013 - 2014
Warren Hill ’13, a member of the cross country squad at Division I Hampton University in Virginia, crosses the finish line.
Leaders of Character Society Inaugural Reception Charter members of the Leaders of Character Society reception were treated to a breathtaking view of downtown Cincinnati from Devou Park on Sept. 4. The reception honored more than 200 donors who gave more than $1,000 in the 201213 Annual Fund for Excellence, Love Your School Auction, endowment and capital campaigns. The Leaders of Character Society was launched in 2012-13 to be the flagship of the Annual Fund.
L to R: Paul Wilson, Elizabeth (Lippert) Wilson ’92, Benjamin Helm, Mayra Muniz-Helm, Holly (Friesz) Seltman ‘86 and Stuart Seltman ‘86, Trustee.
L to R: Andrew and Nancy Hagerman, Head of School Rich Wilson, Sean Dwyer and Tara Hardin.
L to R: Tim Mathile, Trustee Peg Mathile, Mary (Foss) Brinkmeyer ‘67 and Trustee Joseph Brinkmeyer.
L to R: Deborah Lydon, Susan Beckert-Rager, Michael Meister and David Rager. L to R: R. Scott Sanders, Debra Anderson, Mamie (Walter) Schroder ‘78 and John Schroder ‘79.
Clarification The following names were inadvertently omitted or were incorrect on the list of donors for the 2012-2013 Annual Report. We offer our sincere apologies for this error and we thank them for their support of The Summit.
Kelly and Chris Lyle.
Leaders of Character Society - Julia & Louise’s Circle - Lisabeth and Kevin Shaw Head of School’s Circle - Sara and Claude Davis Director’s Circle - Jennifer and Jake Ragland BMS ‘87 and Gail and David Smith Drive for Knights Golf Outing - Primary Sponsor - Sara and Claude Davis Summit Magazine 39
Alumni 40 Winter 2013 - 2014
Members of the Seltman family include, standing L to R, Senior Stuart Seltman, Stuart ’86, Holly (Friesz) Seltman ’86, Elly ’12, Chester Sams, Stacey (Seltman) Sams, ’83, Brenda Seltman and sixth grader Martha Seltman. Seated, freshman Hank Seltman and Pat Friesz.
Alumni Association Honors Seltman Family Homecoming weekend at The Summit traditionally welcomes alumni back to campus to celebrate the Athletic Hall of Fame inductees and Alumni Award recipients – as you will see on the pages that follow. It is also a time when alumni come back to campus for reunions with their old friends and teachers and to enjoy the Homecoming football game.
a few years after college. They were married in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel.
Tradition also holds that we honor one family at a special all-community Sunday Mass sponsored by the Summit Alumni Association. This year, the honored family didn’t make a big comeback. This family has never left.
The roots of the Seltman family are not just limited to Stuart, Holly and their children. Both have siblings that attended or graduated from The Summit, including Stuart’s sister Stacey in 1983, who celebrated her 30th reunion this year.
Stuart ’86 & Holly (Friesz) Seltman ’86, their parents, siblings and children were honored during Homecoming this year. Stuart and Holly’s parents sent them to The Summit, where they met in primary school. They first became a couple during their sophomore year of high school and became engaged
“Stuart and Holly are a special and rare couple,” says Development Director Jim Jackson. “Not only did they meet here, marry here and raise their children here, but they have been involved in nearly every aspect of the school at one time or another. They are among our most fervent supporters. We were thrilled to pay tribute to them and their parents.”
As lifers, Stuart and Holly gifted all four of their children – Elly ’12, senior Stuart Jr., sophomore Hank and seventh grader Martha – with the advantage of a Summit education so they could be lifers too.
Summit Magazine 41
Alumni Recognized for Achievements, Service By Kathy Schwartz Four graduates were recognized for professional achievements and service during the Alumni Awards Luncheon held Oct. 5. Andy Huesing ’89, of San Diego, accepted The Meritorious Service Award, “for specific and meritorious service to The Summit, the community, state or nation.” Huesing says he is embarrassed, but adds, “It’s important for me to find a way to show my gratitude to The Summit. It’s a place and an experience that sticks with you for life.” After being approached by classmate Craig Rowitz ’89, a physical therapist in Cincinnati, Andy and Craig co-founded Tadpole Adaptive, an online retailer of equipment for children with special needs. “He should be getting an award,” Huesing says about his partner. But supplying the right gear to people with disabilities is Andy’s personal mission. At 17, he lost the use of his legs in a diving accident in Mexico. Andy says preparing to return for senior year was the hardest part of his recovery. “I wanted all of it to be over,” he explains. Summit’s response overwhelmed him. “Everyone went out of their way to support me and get me back to a sense of normalcy,” he says, singling out then-Headmaster Edward Tyrrell. “In 1989 Summit wasn’t very accessible, and we made it work.” Andy says limitations inspire him. A prior business, NeverLand Adventures, arranged accessible tours to Australia, New Zealand and other countries. He chooses to love the “3,000 things” he can still do out of the “10,000 things” he could have pursued as an able-bodied person but probably wouldn’t have. He forgets he’s in a wheelchair. “I can be feisty,” he says. Andy has used his business’ economic and social-media influence to sway others to accommodate the disabled. Now he’s building a site like Tadpole Adaptive for adults. Andy has mentored other adults with disabilities for years, and Tadpole just teamed with a nonprofit to establish Roll Models, pairing adults and children in wheelchairs. Andy, a professed geek, says young buddy Alessandro inspires him by playing baseball and other sports. Andy Huesing ’89 Winter 2013 - 2014
Andy marvels: “I love it when I mentor, and they end up doing way more stuff than I ever do!”
Lindsay Botsford ’98 has been part of Summit since entering the Montessori program at age 3. The Young Alumni Award, honoring the significant professional accomplishments of a graduate from the past 20 years, recognizes the skill that Lindsay’s teachers saw even then. “The chance for leadership during my experience at Summit fostered (my career),” says the former soccer standout and American Youth Foundation member. Lindsay teaches family medicine residents outside Houston, in addition to seeing patients herself and conducting diet and fitness research. In 2011 she added an MBA from the University of Houston to her medical degree from Baylor. The MBA, she says, perfectly blended her interests in both studying leadership and taking an active role. While an undergrad at Rice, she was awarded a Truman Scholarship and a fellowship with the Health and Human Services Department. “It gave focus to the broader purpose of my career – making the health system better,” she says.
Harold Moeller ’88
Harold Moeller ’88 says he wasn’t a class clown at Summit, but his circus skills are art forms worthy of The Artistic Achievement Award. “Physical Lindsay Botsford ’98 comedy has been in me as long as I can remember,” the New Yorker says. He calls a role in The Odd Couple during his sophomore year his start. Harold attended Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Clown College and toured with the circus for two years before earning an MFA in acting from the University of North Carolina. He still dons whiteface to publicize Ringling shows and visit hospitals. Harold now is a member of Svindelic Cyr Wheel Troupe, performing and teaching with a 30-pound metal hoop the user rolls from inside. He first saw a cyr while performing as a clown, juggler and unicyclist in Britney Spears’ Circus Tour. He’s also spinning a lasso and creating material for a solo “bluegrass, laugh-filled, rope-trick show.” Possible name: The Big Appleachian.
Dan Petrie ’03, recipient of The Spiritual-Christian Service Award, has spent six years on Capitol Hill as Associate Director, Congressional Relations for Habitat for Humanity, educating policymakers about shelter and other essentials. “(Habitat) turned out to be a good blend of politics with social purpose,” Dan says. As a housing policy advocate, he says, “you have the ability to have a tremendous impact beyond one building at a time.” He became interested in government while working for the mayor of Providence, R.I., during his years at Brown University. But his choice about his place in politics was shaped by volunteering at a Cape Town orphanage during a study-abroad program. He’s visited Haiti, Paraguay and Guatemala for Habitat. “The times I feel most connected to the organization and mission are when I’m hammering nails,” Dan says. Dan applauds Summit for instilling the importance of service. “Forcing people out of their comfort zone is all positive,” he says. To submit an award nomination for next year, go to www.summitcds.org/alumni/ Alumni-Awards-Nomination-Form.cfm.
Dan Petrie ’03 Summit Magazine 43
Inductees to the Athletic Hall of Fame were honored at halftime of the Homecoming Football game. They are, L to R: Nick Daniel ’98, Upper School Chemistry Teacher Ed Escudero, Julie (Baechtold) Alleman ’93 and Becky (Ackley) Christie ’93.
Three Alumni, Coach join Athletic Hall of Fame By Kathy Schwartz Three standouts from The Summit’s teams of the 1990s and one current coach were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame during the Homecoming reunion ceremonies Oct. 4-6. Julie (Baechtold) Alleman ’93 participated in soccer, basketball and track in each of her high school years, earning a total of 11 varsity letters. As a senior, she was captain or co-captain of each sport. In 1992, she was co-captain of the soccer team that won the first Miami Valley Conference title in 44 Winter 2013 - 2014
school history. She went on to play soccer at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, where she again was captain. Today she coaches daughter Taylor’s team. Julie succeeds her father and track coach, 2004 honoree and Upper School Spanish teacher Bob Baechtold, into the Hall of Fame. Julie says she had a natural affinity for soccer, but her calling has been helping people with disabilities. She began by volunteering at Stepping Stones. She is now Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Green Tree School in Philadelphia, which develops academic and socialskills programs for children with autism and behavioral disorders.
“Working in nonprofits requires me to be creative and innovative in a way that requires teamwork,” Julie says. She feels sports have helped her career “tremendously.” Whether a captain or a COO, “you can see right away if teammates will respond, so you have to figure a way to get the most productivity out of somebody,” she says. Being part of a team taught her patience and compromise. Sports and fitness are components in the programs that Green Tree develops for children who struggle with self-control and the ability to accept feedback. “They love to play basketball,” she says. “When they get angry, what better place to practice self-control?” Julie’s wish for her own two daughters is to have a positive sense of self. “And I hope playing sports helps derive that. I want Taylor (the soccer player) to be a good teammate and a good sport, but really to have fun.” The Summit’s no-cut policy meant that all of Julie’s friends got to play, though she thinks adults focused on the policy more than the athletes did. “To us, it didn’t matter what your skill level was. I loved that all my friends were on the team.” Summit memories, she says, “will be my favorite memories for life.” Like her classmate Julie, Becky (Ackley) Christie ’93, follows her father into the Hall of Fame. She is the daughter of 1987 inductee Farrell Ackley, the legendary Summit coach and teacher who died in 2010. Becky played on the tennis team four years and basketball squad for three, serving as a basketball captain her senior year. For three seasons, she qualified for the state tournament in tennis doubles with Beth (Tondow) Jones ’93, advancing to the finals her senior year. She excelled in the classroom, too, earning the Summit Boosters’ Maurice “Bud” O’Connor Award at commencement in 1993 for academics as well as Christian leadership in athletics. After working in the federal government, Becky is now a full-time mom to two daughters. She volunteers with church and school activities and still hits the tennis courts near her Chicago home.
Football player Nick Daniel ’98 broke the school’s career rushing record despite being sidelined by injury most of his senior season. The running back finished his Summit years with 2,425 yards rushing and 37 touchdowns. He was the Miami Valley Conference Player of the Year in 1996, when Summit was conference champ, and Nick won second-team allstate honors that season. Nick also brought his speed to track. His 4x100 relay team won the MVC title in 1997 and 1998, with the ’98 team breaking the school record in its first meet of the season. The team was a regional finalist during Nick’s junior and senior years, and he received first-team MVC honors both seasons. Nick played football at Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh. After college, he returned to Summit as running back/linebacker coach (2002) and defensive coordinator (2003). He now lives in Lemoore, Calif., serving as a Navy personnel specialist. He is the father of three children. Around seven years ago, Ed Escudero singlehandedly organized the school’s first bowling teams after the sport was sanctioned by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. As the head girls bowling coach, he embraces Summit’s commitment to lifelong physical development and promotes bowling as an enduring sport – one to engage in from childhood throughout adulthood, regardless of athletic ability. Since joining The Summit in 1987, the Upper School chemistry teacher also has been a valued member of the football filming crew. He records the home games for coach and player evaluation from his perch on the school’s fifth floor with a straight-on view of the end zones. “On my own, I taped the first game without telling any coaches. I gave them a copy of the VHS tape, and they went nuts. And that was it,” he says. He’s hardly missed a matchup in 27 seasons, and he’s never watched a game from the stands. He is the father of three Summit alumni, Jamie ’04, Mia ’06 and Marisa ’09. To submit a nomination for next year’s Hall of Fame, go to www.summitcds.org/alumni/Athletic-Hall-ofFame-Nomination-Form.cfm.
Summit Magazine 45
Enjoying the Alumni Reception are, L to R, Cary Daniel ‘93, Katherine Fry ’93, Becky (Ackley) Christie ’93, Nori (Shortt) Muro ’93, Julie (Baechtold) Alleman ’93, Janeen Snell ’93 and Elke Anderle ’93.
Hope Schmidt ’05 and Virginia Schmidt ’07. Nick Daniel ’98 speaks during Saturday’s Alumni Award Luncheon.
The Homecoming football game is a draw for alumni. This year’s Homecoming court, L to R: seniors Mary Frances Harsh and Gage Goodwin, juniors Rachel Wallace and Brooks Taylor, seniors Grace Berger and Mike Barwick, sophomores Maggie Fisk and Davi Laney and freshmen Caroline Walton and Jack Shannon.
46 Winter 2013 - 2014
Dr. Tom Monaco, former Upper School Director, addresses alumni.
Eighth graders Justin Zeilstra and Max Mosbacher battle it out at the SPA Fall Festival, an annual Friday afternoon event which sets the pace for Homecoming and Reunion weekend activities.
Becky (Ackley) Christie ’93, left, and Julie (Baechtold) Alleman ’93 are joined by former Upper School Administrative Assistant Wanda Artmeier at the alumni reception.
Jerry Hilton ’91, Andy Huesing ’89 and Craig Rowitz ’89.
Ed Escudero, Upper School Chemistry Teacher.
Summit Magazine 47
Dr. Robert Woliver SBS ’61 installed photovoltaic panels on the roof of his home in Oahu, Hawaii to turn solar radiation to electricity.
Dr. Robert Woliver SBS ’61 Takes Responsibility for His Carbon Footprint By Kathy Schwartz Dr. Robert Woliver SBS ’61, moved to Hawaii nearly 40 years ago on a sailboat he built himself, powered only by wind. Now the psychologist is on another earth-friendly adventure, powered by the sun. Both the environmental pleasures and economic pitfalls of residing on Oahu led Robert to green energy. Electricity costs two to three times more in Hawaii than on the U.S. mainland, and gasoline is currently more than $4 a gallon. So two years ago Robert had PV (photovoltaic) panels installed on his roof to convert Oahu’s ample solar radiation to electricity. Not long after, he purchased a Mitsubishi electric car. Robert pays $16 a month for his home to be connected to the electrical grid but otherwise saves $300 a month on electricity and $200 a month on gasoline. (He did keep his Honda Element, and his wife drives a Corolla.) The savings really add up. “More important, I’m taking responsibility for my own carbon footprint,”
48 Winter 2013 - 2014
Robert says. Plus, “a number of countries that have oil don’t like America,” he points out. “On so many levels, (going green) is a solution.” He concedes one drawback. The Mitsubishi has a range of just 65 miles. “It’s constantly like having a quarter tank of gas,” he says. Still, the vehicle is right for Oahu, which is approximately 30 miles by 40 miles. His home outlet can recharge the vehicle in four hours. Public charging stations on the island are busier than two years ago, but that’s kind of a good problem to see. Robert doesn’t consider that he’s done a lifestyle change – he still drives a car and uses electricity, but he does so for less. “You don’t have to be a mad scientist” to save fuel, he jokes. His sister in Florida and nephew in California have followed his lead and installed solar panels in their homes. Counting tax credits, Robert figures his PV panel system will pay for itself in three to four more years. From a roof with a 25-year life, he’ll be getting 20 years of free electricity. “My goal is never to leave the rock,” as he calls the island. After all, his move to Hawaii was like taking early retirement, then having a career.
After graduating from Georgetown, he headed to California in 1969, pursuing a master’s in education at Southern Cal while hanging out and working at boatyards. “Rather than finishing my training to be a teacher, teaching for 40 years and then buying a sailboat, I decided to cut out the middle part and build a boat,” he says. The full life that’s followed has included being a Club Med tennis pro, a college dean and an author (the novel The China Clones and the divorce guide Mango Season Doesn’t Last Forever). He’s since cut his psychology practice to about one patient a day. Staycations with the grandkids are now preferred over long-distance trips. “It gives me time to surf,” Robert says. And, of course, to soak up the sun.
Dr. Woliver figures he saves more than enough money on electricity to pay for the gasoline he consumes in his Honda Element, which is small but big enough to carry his surfboard.
Dr. William D. Tobler Jr., SMS ’96 Still Feels Magnitude of Boston Marathon Bombing By Kathy Schwartz Dr. William D. Tobler Jr., SMS ’96, says being a physician is what he always wanted, even in grade school as a thirdgeneration Summit student. He was one of the first individuals to meet ambulances at Boston Medical Center following the twin bombings near the finish of the 2013 Boston Marathon. The general surgery resident triaged patients prior to being sent to operating rooms to remove shrapnel and tissue. Twenty-three of the more than 260 injured were taken to Tobler’s hospital. The magnitude of the attack continues to sink in. He had treated similar injuries before. “But you never expect to be part of something so big,” he says. “I’d never seen so many severely injured and sick people all at one time.”
If there’s some good that came out of that April day, it’s the citizens’ “Boston Strong” resolve, he says. “In the aftermath, you’re able to see what tragic thing happened to the city, and I think the city responded very well,” he says. His residency ends in June. He’ll begin a three-year fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh in plastic surgery. But he’ll carry Boston’s experience with him. “No one’s trying to forget it. You can’t forget it,” he says. Summit Magazine 49
Class Notes
L to R: Mary, Emily, Fr. Phil and Conky.
60s
is a personal odyssey to spiritual manhood under a legendary Apache singer in the mountains and deserts of Arizona. Training Conky Greiwe ’61 with the descendants of (Assistant to the Chaplain Cochise and Geronimo, and SPA Coordinator), Jeffrey discovers that, Mary Foss Brinkmeyer though boys and girls are ’68, Emily Jolly (Assistant born, men and women to the Head of School) must be trained to the and Summit Chaplain Phil rigors of adulthood. He Seher traveled to Canada in learns that we are defined July, 2013 where they took by our duties to others. the Rocky Mountaineer The book can be ordered train across the Rocky online at http://www. Mountains from Banff, bluedolphinpublishing. Alberta, to Vancouver, BC. com/Initiation.html. Lake Louise, Lake Moraine, the Athabasca Glacier, the Icefields Parkway and the beautiful island of Victoria were among the many spectacular sites they visited.
70s
Jeffrey Prather SBS ’71 published Initiation: Boys Are Born, Men Are Trained: My Journey with an Apache Medicine Man. The book
50 Winter 2013 - 2014
The Class of 1973 celebrated their 40th reunion in June, 2013. They held a get-together at Jeanne (Tateman) Howe’s home on Friday evening. Nine former faculty members joined them for their celebration that evening. The following evening, the class gathered to reminisce with other 1973 graduates of St. X, Purcell and Ursuline high schools. (see photo below) Eileen (Steinle) Alexander ’76, a graduate student at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Department of Environmental Health, was awarded the Frank C. Woodside III, M.D., Dinsmore & Shohl Fellowship through the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s
L to R, front row: Karen (Wilton) Crane, Ellen (Adams) Hosty, Peggy (Howard) McDonnell, Peggy (Selzer) Gleason, Kathie (Nutting) Bunker, Karen (Uehlein) Crumley, Vickie Pohl, Jeanne (Tateman) Howe. Back row: Debbie (McCabe) Murphy, Diane (Huddle) White, Monica (Foy) Tuohy, Laurie (Rohan) Sylvester, Julie (Rebensdorf) Ahlquist, Holly (Glaser) Dimasi, Paula (Fey) O’Connor, Caye (Knue) Cooper, Sally Mercurio. Absent: Emily (Brose) Wilkins and Beth (Sweeney) Landy.
Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology. Eileen was a 2011 Center for Environmental Genetics New Investigator Scholar, which made her eligible for her successful 2012 CEG Pilot Project award to study genetic and environmental factors contributing to the development of eosinophilic esophagitis, a debilitating food allergy. After completing her studies in 2014, she will design, manage and analyze family-based genetic research to disentangle the effects of genetic susceptibility from environmental contributions to disease.
80s
Victor Walton ’83 has been named President of the Cincinnati Chapter of Children’s International Summer Village (CISV). CISV is a global community of volunteers who create opportunities for all ages to experience the enrichment of cultural diversity through educational programs. He will be directly responsible for supporting the programs managed by the board of directors, the Cincinnati Chapter, as well as supporting the “CISV Junior Branch” who largely run the annual programs and shape the experience for incoming 11-year-olds.
Class Notes appearance with a school choir. From 2000-2009, he was at south Austin’s Palm Elementary School, where he was inspired to move beyond the standard choral repertoire with original material, including some rockopera style mini-musicals. Grulee
L to R: Jan (Sable) Egner, Emily (Katz) Uhl, Gregg Becker, Janie (Dumler) Klare, Kim (Vollman) Wagner, Mark Wagner, Tim Talty, and Alissa (Sammarco) Magenheim.
The Class of 1983 gathered in Cincinnati this summer to celebrate their 30th Reunion. Julie (Kelley) Back ’87, Executive Sales Vice President with Sibcy Cline Realtors, Hyde Park, has been named the company’s No. 1 agent (Leader of the Year) for the second year in a row. The Ohio Association of Realtors recognized her as the No. 3 agent by volume in the state. A top-producing sales agent for over 19 years, she has been Sibcy Cline’s East Regional Sales Leader. Neil Schmidt ‘88, former English and Journalism teacher at Loveland High School, coached students who won scholastic journalism’s highest honor, the Quill & Scroll Honorary Society’s George H. Gallup Award, for the second consecutive year. The newspaper also won 32 awards in the 2013 Ohio Scholastic Media Association Awards.
90s
David Thies ’90, owner of Tvacom Film and TV LLC, shot a one-hour special called “Life Continued: Defeating Depression” that aired on MTV on World Mental Health Day. Created for Rainn Wilson (“The Office”) and his company, SoulPancake, the special looks at how two young college students from Indiana State University and Salem College in North Carolina “fought their way through severe mental health struggles, but found hope and a path to recovery by taking steps to feel better and drawing strength from those around them.” David has also worked on shows for Discovery, History, NBC, National Geographic, Spike, TBS, tru TV, A&E and Animal Planet. Dr. Meg Grulee ’92, an ophthalmologist, has joined Drs. Gary Carothers and Lindsay Bibler at Tri-State Centers for Sight in Kenwood. She welcomes new patients for comprehensive eye care as well as patients who
need cataract surgery. Meg is a graduate of Rice University, Houston, TX, and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She completed her residency in ophthalmology at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and is board-eligible in ophthalmology. Meg plans to continue doing clinical research to help advance knowledge about eye care. Gavin Tabone ’92, a teacher in the Austin, TX, Independent School District, led his school’s choir at October’s Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival. An annual threeday event, the festival brings together more than 150 acts worldwide to play rock, indie, country, folk, electronic and more on eight stages. Making their third appearance since 2009, the Barton Hills Elementary School Choir sang rock-and-roll songs, including material by the Flaming Lips, Wilco, Queen, the Beatles, and Daft Punk. Their set featured four songs by 2013 ACL headliners Muse, which means two of Gavin’s eleven-yearold soloists sang the same songs nine hours before Muse lead singer Matt Bellamy did. This was Gavin’s seventh ACL
Dr. Tim Welch ’94 has completed his fellowship training in pediatric anesthesiology and critical care and joined the faculty of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesia. His practice is in the operating rooms and cardiac ICU at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Tim is married to Angie, and has a son, Graham, who is one. Tim is looking forward to his 20-year reunion in 2014.
00s Sheldon
Topher Sheldon ’01 married his wife Ashley on June 8, 2013 in New York. Tate Yarnell ’01 served as best man. Ayrenne Adams ’06 is currently a second year medical student at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Summit Magazine 51
Class Notes
Ayrenne Adams ’06
While at Emory, Ayrenne has started a program in which medical students go to local elementary schools to teach about health-related topics. She also coordinated a successful community health fair at Emory. After graduating from Duke University in 2010, Ayrenne participated in the Teach For America Program for two years where she taught second and third grade students (shown in photo) in inner city Chicago, IL. Lauren (Johnson) Schlembach ’06 is a client service associate for The Ellis Group, part of UBS Private Wealth Management. She and her husband, Mike, honeymooned in Spain and live in Cincinnati.
Seidner
Sophie A. Seidner ’09 won a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English to university students in Turkey from September, 2013 to June, 2014. Sophie graduated from Ohio State
52 Winter 2013 - 2014
University in July with a Bachelor of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic Languages. She has recently spent time in Amman, Jordan, studying Arabic at the Qasid Institute. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for U.S. graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study abroad for one academic year. The Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships (ETA) Program, an element of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, places U.S. students as English teaching assistants in schools or universities overseas. Anna Albi ’10 played in her final home game of the season at Carnegie Mellon in October, 2013. The women’s soccer team defeated New York University 2-1 to move to 8-2-2 on the year and 2-1-1 in the University Athletic Association. On her Senior Day, Albi made a save in the final seconds as she stopped a shot to secure her 30th career win. She now holds the program’s all-time career record for wins. Summit women’s varsity Head Coach Mike Fee was in attendance.
Maria Temming ’12 received the Physics Department at Elon University Outstanding Freshman Physics Award for 2012-2013. She was presented the award at the Physics/Engineering end of semester banquet in May, 2013.
BIRTHS Allison (Hiltz) Kropp ’93 and her husband J.B. Kropp welcomed their daughter Piper Delaney Kropp on March 20, 2013. Her big brother, Finn, and big sister, Paige, are both Summit students.
Bruns
Eric Bruns ’96 and his wife Karina welcomed the birth of their son, Cooper on November 4, 2012. Eric and Karina live in Indianapolis, IN.
Shoemaker
Wiltshire
Tricia (O’Connor) ’94 and her husband Anthony Wiltshire welcomed their son Liam Ronald Wiltshire on August 20, 2013. They also have two daughters, Claire and Anna.
Klein
Kirstin (Fullen) Klein ’95 and her husband Keith welcomed son Christopher Keith Klein on August 29, 2013. Christopher joins big brother James (William James Klein, 3), who started Summit’s threeday Montessori program the day before his brother was born.
Rob Shoemaker ’00 and his wife Robin welcomed their daughter Katherine Ann Shoemaker on May 18, 2013. Katherine is the niece of Carrie Shoemaker ’96 and the granddaughter of Alane (Schloemer) Shoemaker ’68 and Hal Shoemaker. Laura Janneck ’01 and her husband Brandon Green welcomed the birth of their daughter Oriana Myrtle Green on March 18, 2013. The family resides in Boston, MA, where Laura is a resident emergency medicine physician.
Summit Archive Project Volunteers are starting to sort through and catalog many years of archival treasures in order to have displays made for our 125th anniversary in 2015. Please remember The Summit’s archive project when culling your treasures – newspapers, programs, awards, photos, Rostrums, report cards. We are happy to have anything from your days at The Summit. Contact Conky Greiwe at greiwe_c@ summitcds.org or (513) 871-4700 x239.
Class Notes
WEDDINGS IN MEMORY
FRIENDS
In the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel
Dick Alder, former Business Manager, April 4, 2013.
ALUMNI Patricia (LeBlond) Clasgens (att.), mother of Joseph Clasgens III SBS ’62, Marcia Anne Clasgens ’63, Truka Fisk ’66 and Cynthia Clasgens GMS ’66, March 25, 2013.
Fullen
Heather Fullen ’91 and Richard J. Lewis, Jr. April 14, 2012.
Louise (Murry) Adams ’42, March 31, 2013.
Lauren Grote ’00 and Stephen Linde, May 25.
Martha (Stenger) Burkhart ’44, July 15, 2013.
Johnson
Lauren Johnson ’06 and Michael Schlembach, June 8. Johanna Johnson ’03 and Andrew Brun, June 29. Jennifer Jack ’05 and David Mariani, July 6. Margaret Gurney and David Hertlein ’07, July 20. Lauren Evans SMS ’03 and Ryan Lillis, August 24. Jeannette Holm ’05 and Blaine McElroy, September 7. Meredith Schiff ’02 and John Borchers, September 21. Emily LaMond and Timothy O’Brien ’02, September 28. Emily Smith and Patrick Massa ’03, October 12. Laurie Williams SMS ’02 and Marty Bidwell, October 19.
William Reardon SBS ’44, stepfather of Kathleen (Williamson) Waters ’73 and Sally (Williamson) Kilcoyne ’78 and brother of Blasdel Reardon SBS ’50 and Andrew Reardon (att.), October 16, 2013. Mary Ann (Chambers) Denning ’45, June 6, 2013. Joan (Cody) Grimes ’49, August 21, 2013. Marianne (Bickmore) Dorger ’49, mother of Marguerite Dorger ’69, October 12, 2013. David Spitzmueller SBS ’62, June 2, 2013. Carol (Williams) Jodar ’64, daughter of Helen (DeCourcy) Williams ’38, sister of Mary “Sug” Clauder, Joe Williams SBS ’57, Sharon (Williams) Frisbie ’69 and Tom Williams SBS ’71, September 17, 2013.
Joseph Crowe, brother of Michelle Platz ’48 and Lois Jones ’50, July 8, 2013. N. Eusebio Gayol, father of Kathy Kelly ’88, Gene Gayol BMS ’86 and Bobby Gayol BMS ’88, October 7, 2013. John Glaser, father of Holly Dimasi ’73 and Hermina Glaser ’74 and father-in-law of Patsy (McFarland) Glaser ’74, July 3, 2013. Grace Halpin, mother of Catherine Teasdale ’75 and Antoinette Halsted ’78, December 14, 2012. Ruth Junker, mother of George Junker II ’76, October 26, 2012. Luke Leonard, brother of Harry Dornheggen SBS ’57 and David Dornheggen SBS ’62, June 11, 2013. Shirley McMurry, mother of King McMurry BMS ’72, Kyle McMurry BMS ’75, Ken McMurry ’81 and Kyndle McMurry ’82, July 25, 2013.
William Ryan, father of Maria Myron ’84 and Peggy Akey ’89, September 11, 2013. Richard Schweikert, father of Sue Kelly, Upper School Spanish Teacher and father-in-law of Pat Kelly, Upper School English Teacher, June 25, 2013. Viche Valencia, mother of Lucy Valencia ’73 and Louis Valencia BMS ’78, July 19, 2013.
Submit Your News To submit alumni news, call Alumni Relations Associate Susan Maxwell at 513.871.4700 ext. 245 or email her at maxwell_s@ summitcds.org. Or use our “Submit Your
Peggy Mercurio, mother of Patricia Rush ’62, Ronald Mercurio SBS ’60, Mark Mercurio SBS ’63, Scott Mercurio SBS ’65 and Sally Mercurio ’73, September 22, 2013.
News” form on
Joesph Mudd, father of Director of Human Resources Jolene Barton, Human Resources Director, May 17, 2013.
summitcds.org/
our News web page. www. communications/ submit-your-news. cfm.
Summit Magazine 53
In Memorium James J. Brockhoff (1934-2013)
John J. Gilligan (1921-2013) John J. Gilligan SBS ’35, Ohio’s 62nd governor, died Aug. 26 at his Cincinnati home at the age of 92 after a long illness.The decorated World War II hero was a six-time Cincinnati councilman, one-term congressman and former member of the Cincinnati Board of Education.
James “Jim” Brockhoff passed away on May 30 at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer. Jim was a passionate man known for many contributions to the Cincinnati community and beyond. Mr. Brockhoff began his career in education in 1957 and served as Headmaster of The Summit Boys School from 1965-1971. He was well-known for being a man for others with his compassion and zest for life. The chairman of the Philadelphia Phillies, Bill Giles, had called him the most inquisitive person he’d ever met as Mr. Brockhoff always wanted to learn more about the people around him. He was inducted into The Summit Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 and is also a member of the Xavier Athletic Hall of Fame, the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Association Hall of Fame, the Hamilton County Sports Hall of Fame and the Purcell Marian High School Hall of Fame. As a Hall of Fame athlete and coach, Mr. Brockhoff set the bar high both on and off the field of play on all different levels of competition, most notably on Cincinnati tennis courts. He retired in 2007 as Xavier University’s head tennis coach after 45 years with the men’s program and 34 years as women’s head coach. He became only the second coach in Division I history to win 1,000 matches and went on to serve as Xavier’s Director of Tennis Development after his coaching career. He was honored with the Paul L. O’Connor Leadership Award from Xavier in 2008. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary (Ackermann) Brockhoff ’54, with whom he was honored by his former players when they established the Jim and Mary Brockhoff Tennis Scholarship at Xavier in 2004. Jim is survived by five children: Elizabeth ’77, James BMS ’75, Brian ’82, Ann (Brockhoff) Lucas ’86, Maure (Brockhoff) Emminger (att.); and ten grandchildren.
During his term as Governor from 1971-75, Mr. Gilligan was a pioneer for mental health reform and supporter of education. A Democrat, Mr. Gilligan persuaded a Republican dominated state legislature to enact the state’s first personal income tax and to create the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. He was credited with amping up programming for public education and mental illness, as well as improving conditions in state prisons and mental health institutions. He established the state department of transportation. Upon leaving the Governor’s Office, Mr. Gilligan served as the administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. He then went back to his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, where he became assistant to the president before his role as Director of the Institute for International Peace Studies. Together with his daughter, Kathleen Sebelius, now U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, they became the first father-daughter team of governors in American history when she became Governor of Kansas in 2003. Mr. Gilligan was the seventh recipient of The Summit’s McKenzieSargent Distinguished Alumni Award in 1989. Upon his death, President Barack Obama praised Mr. Gilligan for his service to the public. “Jack Gilligan lived his life in service to his fellow Americans, especially those in his home state of Ohio and across the United States who were left out or left behind,” said President Obama. Mr. Gilligan was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Kathryn (Dixon) ’38 in 1996. He is survived by his widow, Dr. Susan Fremont, and four children, Donald D. SBS ’61, Kathleen (Gilligan) Sebelius ’66, John P. SBS ’63 and Ellen M. Gilligan ’71.
Frank X. Homan (1928-2013) Frank X. Homan died Aug. 24 at his home in Naples, FL. He was 85. The family patriarch, Mr. Homan was a devoted entrepreneur, philanthropist and loving husband and father. He was the owner of the largest global supplier of aftermarket automotive clips and fasteners, Auto-Vehicle Parts, Co., for nearly 60 years. A real estate investor and developer, he was responsible for numerous upscale renovations in Cincinnati, including the conversion of the city’s first high-rise apartment complex, The Madison House, into 175 luxury condominiums. He also renovated the historic Vernon Manor Hotel and River Terrace apartment complex. A devoted Catholic, he credited God with his fortuity and accomplishments. His generosity led to the establishment of The Homan Foundation in 1969, which he created with his wife of 56 years, Margo (Schott) Homan. Mr. Homan was also a dedicated golfer and his passion led him to gift Xavier University with an indoor golf facility, the Francis Xavier Homan Golf Complex. Both the Frank X. Homan and Margo S. Homan Scholarships were established at The Summit in 2004 and are awarded to a male and female student who embodies the spiritual values of The Summit, shows strength of character and is willing to work hard to achieve their goals. Mr. Homan is survived by his six children, Frank X. Homan Jr. SBS ’64, Walter “Chip” Homan ’66, Margi (Homan) Masters ’71, Sophia (Homan) Male ’77, Holly Homan-Witte ’81 and Christine A. Homan ’84; 14 grandchildren, ten of whom attended The Summit (Charles Male (att.), Jonathan Masters (att.), Kelly Masters ’03, Robert Bench SMS ’04, Josephine Male (att.), Kathleen O’Brien ’99, Matilda Ziegler, Maxwell Ziegler, Walter Homan ’02, Samuel Male SMS ’05), and 13 great-grandchildren. 54 Winter 2013 - 2014
Save The Date APRIL 29, 2014 Senior Induction Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel, 10:30 a.m. MAY 9, 2014 Fleur-De-Lis Mass and Luncheon (Celebrating alumni who have graduated 40+ years ago) Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel & St. Cecilia’s, 11 a.m. MAY 28, 2014 Senior Brunch Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel & St. Cecilia’s, 10 a.m. JUNE 1, 2014 McKenzie-Sargent Distinguished Alumni Reception, 12:30 p.m., Alumni Parlor Class of 2014 Graduation Chapel, 2 p.m. OCTOBER 17-19, 2014 Homecoming & Reunion Weekend All alumni are invited and welcome to attend the events on campus. Class years ending in “4” and “9” are encouraged to plan individual reunion gatherings on Saturday, Oct. 17. All School Reunion Cocktail Party Friday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m. Alumni Awards Luncheon Saturday, Oct. 18, 11:30 a.m. All Community Mass Sunday, Oct. 19, 11 a.m. If you are interested in helping organize your Class Year Reunion, please e-mail Susan Maxwell, at maxwell_s@ summitcds.org.
Dear Alumni/ae, This year, as you’ve read in Head of School Rich Wilson’s letter in the front of this magazine, we surveyed our young alumni from the Classes 2009-12. The survey showed us that an idea we’ve often thought of as subjective – that The Summit’s influence extends long after graduation – turns out to be a fact. The survey was overwhelmingly positive. In addition to what Rich has told you, I want to share a few of the responses to the open-ended survey question. • • • • • • •
[The Summit] helped me become motivated to reach my highest potential. Not only do the teachers teach about their subject, but about life. It helped make me who I am spiritually and prepared me academically for college. It exposed me to teachers who are truly passionate about what they do and my duty to give back to the world as someone blessed with opportunity. The Summit taught me the importance of building strong lasting relationships. Summit really did help properly prepare me for rigorous college academics. It taught me the importance and value of having close relationships with my teachers and helped me learn to challenge myself. The Summit instilled a positive and hardworking attitude towards work.
Clearly, The Summit is making an indelible impact on the lives of our students. We’ve recently concluded a survey of parents of recent alumni and will share that after we receive the results. This fall, we’ll launch a survey of all alumni to conclude our three-year survey process. We look forward to your participation and hearing from you. Meanwhile, our goal is to encourage and foster lifelong alumni participation, involvement and commitment. We strive to strengthen the bond between The Summit and you; to create programs that meet your needs; to cultivate positive relationships with you and to be your primary communication link with your school and each other. If you have questions or need more information about The Summit or any alumni happenings, have suggestions or new ideas, are interested in being a Class Agent or are interested in hosting an alumni gathering in your city, please feel free to contact me. Best regards,
Susan Maxwell Alumni Relations & Special Events Associate (513) 871-4700 ext. 245 • maxwell_s@summitcds.org
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LOVE YOUR SCHOOL AUCTION Exclusively Online February 19 - March 5, 2014
Go to www.summitcds.org/auction to register, view the catalog, bid and support The Summit!