TABOR TODAY
Real-World READINESS Tabor InvenTeam creates SeaBot REEF 2017 Service and Learning Abroad Encouraging Civil Discourse
spring 2017
Inspire a Seawolf! This year. Every year! Please support the Fund for Tabor PLEAS E GIVE TO DAY
WWW.TABORACADEMY.ORG/GIve
Tabor TODAY
spring 2017
features:
8 REEF 2017 Kerry Saltonstall, Editor
12 Invention Karl Kistler, Faculty
14 Service and Learning Abroad Steve Downes, Director of the Center for International Students
16 What Lives Between Us
D EPA RTMEN TS:
2 Along Front Street
Anika Walker-Johnson, Director of Multicultural Education and Community Life
Kerry Saltonstall, Editor
7 View from the Bridge John Quirk, Head of School 18 Making an Impact Community Profiles 26 Arts and Athletics 30 Alumni Connections 36 Class Notes 40 The Last Word David Gardner ’77
TO RECEIVE THIS M A G A ZIN E EL EC TR ON IC A L L Y, PL EA SE EM A IL A L U M N I@TA B OR A C A D EM Y.OR G
Head of School John Quirk Director of Advancement PJ O’Connell Director of Admissions Bobbi Krein Director of Communications Kerry Saltonstall
Editorial Staff Deb Cohen Chris Kasprak
Tabor Today is produced by the Office of Communications in September and April. Please direct your comments, ideas, letters or address changes to
Alumni News and Notes Deb Cohen alumni@taboracademy.org
Kerry Saltonstall at Tabor Academy, 66 Spring Street, Marion, MA 02738
Staff Photographer Chris Kasprak
www.taboracademy.org for timely campus and sports news or to send us
or call 508.291.8340 or e-mail ksaltonstall@taboracademy.org. Visit us at
news about you. We look forward to hearing from you! •
• Contact us: alumni@taboracademy.org
Visit our Web site: www.taboracademy.org
Cover photo: Chris Kasprak Geraldine Millham Design
3 1
reflections In the midst of a year full of growth and accomplishment, our community was dealt a devastating blow through the loss of one of our own. Tucker Francis ’16, while employed as our cook on Tabor Boy this winter, died in a snorkeling accident (see memorial on page 11). An avid inventor and tinkerer, Tucker would have been so proud to read each of the ensuing stories as he relished our community and took full advantage of the skillsbased education illustrated through these pages. I dedicate this issue to him. From our earliest days, when Walter Lillard started our school by the sea programming and international exchanges to help equip our students for a world at war, our school has been about preparation: preparation for a life of contribution…not just college. Our effort has always been aimed at providing our students with a relevant education that affords them a love of learning and achievement and an understanding of their responsibilities, not just as individuals, but as members of a caring and committed community. So what is the best preparation these days? In a world changed by technology, it is no longer about content learning; it is about skills: transferable skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, cultural competence, problem solving, and yes, the three Rs, too. The programs that you will read about in this issue have a common theme of relevance. We learn skills through working on real problems here at Tabor. For example, student researchers on REEF set out to assist the local government in the USVI to determine where water currents are least favorable to protective coral reef populations affected by poor water quality as they seek development of their islands for tourism. Creating “Sammy the SeaBot,” through our Lemelson-MIT grant, is an exercise in invention and collaboration as we seek to create a useful data collection tool for our marine science research. Finally, we have spent the year teaching students, during a political transition, to speak together about different points of view with courage, dignity, clarity, AND active listening and cultural competency skills.
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the calendar
!
April 27
Boston Reception
May 1
Science@Work Lecture
May 6
Alumni/ae Sailing Regatta
May 11-13 One Acts/Music Recital (12) May 18
Spring Dance Recital
May 19
Madrigals Concert
May 27
Alumni Lacrosse
May 29
Commencement
June 9-11
Reunion Weekend
www.taboracademy.org
Class of
1992
These transferable skills, combined with our usual focus throughout the Tabor experience on exploration, risk-taking and leadership development, help create individuals who know what it takes to bring a project to fruition, how to meet a deadline, how to listen to and lead others, how to contribute and learn, and also how to fail, get up, and start again! These are critical life skills that make us All-A-Taut-O: exceptionally ready. Your support of our students and faculty helps create the skilled, caring and committed citizens of the future who will lead families, businesses, communities, and our government. Thanks for being part of such a worthwhile endeavor! Read on, friends; there is so much to share. Kerry Saltonstall, Editor Director of Communications
25
Your
Send your comments or letters to the Editor at info@taboracademy.org
2
!
th is in June
Grab a friend and come join us
STAY CONNECTED: Share Your Favorite Books, Blogs and Ted Talks!
Ds E T alk
We
are very
so c i a l
T to Inspire send us your favorites >>
!
Mark Parsons ’86, “Making a Thing. Discovering a Space.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= FziJ95JRDO4
>>
Trina Currier ’87 recommends Bryan Stevenson: We need to talk about an injustice https://www. ted.com/talks/bryan_stevenson_we_need_to_ talk_about_an_injustice
>>
Laura Burgess, faculty, recommends Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/
frozen fenway Event
We-should-all-be-feminists-Chim
along front street
blogs
alumni
to enjoy
Join us every day on Social Media @taboracademy
TABORTALK Our website blog TaborTalk includes campus life and alumni stories. Enjoy these recommended blogs and share your favorites.
BLOGS TO ENJOY: • Steve Downes, faculty, recommends “Required Reading in 28 Countries”
http://bit.ly/2hqm3wV
•
we love
authors books
Lise Schickel Goddard ’88 Midland – From strong roots grows a mighty oak (Midland School, Los Olivos, CA, 2016) A book about the enduring educational model of Midland School Eric Almeida ’80 Crimean Seas, Kiev Skies (Cove Rock, 2016) An international political thriller
Frank Townsend, faculty, recommends Bessie Stringfield, Vol 2 of the “Tales of the Talented Tenth” series by Joel Christian Gill, 2016 (Graboys Leadership Symposium Speaker)
Peet Nourjian ’64 Hairbrained – The Unauthorized Interview with Donald Trump (available on Amazon) A Q&A from a seasoned comedy writer
Frank Townsend, faculty, recommends our Graboys Symposium Speaker, Joel Gill’s blog at
https://joelchristiangill.wordpress.com/ other-media/
Chris McEnroe, faculty, recommends The Internet of Us: Knowing More and Understanding Less in the Age of Big Data (New York: Liverite/W.W. Norton, March 2016). Find at http:// michael-lynch.philosophy.uconn. edu/books/
Gordon Carpenter ’59 Start Your Business…But Do It Right. A guide for budding entrepreneurs
Gary Sousa, faculty, recommends Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz
Share your work with us!
3
Trina Saltonstall Currier ’87 recommends, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Hannah Strom ’18
Two NE w england C hampionships
Football and Boys’ Cross Country were New England Champions this year, a remarkable end to a tremendous fall season of sports! Football won the Hugh Caldera Cup over St. George’s in an exciting game under the lights just before Thanksgiving Break. The weekend before, the Boys’ Cross Country team dominated the field at the NE Championship meet taking first and second and placing five finishers in the top 20! Aly Hussein (right) was the victor!
along front street Tr ustees E njoyed C lass
Tabor Plays D ivision 1
Our fall trustees meeting had
Three of our athletes signed early to D1 schools to compete in collegiate athletics: Jackie Leone (Girls’ Hockey at Colgate), Martha Peppes (Girls’ Hockey at UNH) and Jared Shuster (Baseball at Wake Forest). We will look forward to their final contributions to their teams this spring.
members all around campus speaking with students about housing, co-curriculars, and academics. They learned first hand what our students’ love most about Tabor and their lives here.
A rts & Science@Work Lectu res
We welcomed six lecturers to campus this fall and winter to expand student horizons across several topics. Marine and ecological scientists shared their research on whales and our watershed with students and the public. Four visiting artists spoke about music, photography, spoken word, and ceramics. Each shared technique and artistic expression, expanding our students experience beyond the classroom. Join us May 1 for our next lecture on stem cells.
Service D ay
Summer Hofeldt ’17
Service Day just keeps getting better. This fall, we returned to our community partners across the Southcoast serving meals, tutoring, cleaning and painting in parks, sorting clothing, removing invasive species and more. Known for jumping in quickly and working hard, our kids are sought after volunteers!
Laramie Project traveled to England
As part of an every other year drama exchange, the cast of the fall show, The Laramie Project, went to Ellesmere College in England to share their production. The Ellesmere students will visit Tabor in April, sharing a show with us.
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Beginning with our invitation into the ISL in September and the opening of our Athletic Hall of Fame in October, the Seawolves seem
Courtesy of Photopool
L ast H olderness Day E nds in Win
to have been riding a wave of enthusiasm that has brought them two New England Championships and a win at our final Holderness Day, bringing that record to 13-5-3.
along front street F ac u lty & S taff R ecognized for 1 0 and 2 5 Years of Service
We honored faculty and staff for reaching 10 and 25 years of service at an All School Meeting this fall. The 10-year list included Derek Arruda (Facilities), Liz West (Health Center), Conan Leary (Director of Athletics) and Elizabeth Leary (Marine Science Lab Manager). They were each given a personalized aerial landscape photo of Tabor Academy. Richard van Voris (Drama, Waterfront) and Kevin Whelan (Athletics) were recognized for their contributions to Tabor over 25 years. A member of the faculty shared memories and accolades for each before the men were given a Tabor Academy chair to rest and reflect in, whenever they get a minute! Season of G iving R eaps S uccess
Polar Plu nge!
Thank you to so many of you who gave during
Our Special Olympics Club went all out this year sponsoring a fundraising event for our friends at Special Olympics. The Tabor Community took the plunge on January 22 raising over $12K. The club continues their hearty support through the weekly young athletes program, the winter basketball tournament, and our spring morning of service! Busy bees.
our Season of Giving Campaign. We were able to attract well over 513 donors to inspire each and every student at Tabor! The effort really gave a boost to our participation goal this year.
For all the news, go to www.taboracademy.org.
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GREASE photos: Cailyn Garber ’17
M usical G r e a s e !
Kids had a great time with this classic! So fun!
along front street
Head of the C harles
Over 75 alumni parents and friends turned out to cheer on the two Tabor boats participating in the Head of the Charles for the first time in recent memory. Our boys’ four placed 17th out of 85 boats! Unfortunately, due to some heavy winds, our girls’ 8 collided with another boat causing a delay, but no injuries, pushing them back in the fleet to 70th of 85. Great effort by all rowers and our fans!
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view from the bridge
going deep by John H. Quirk, Head of School
I find it endlessly inspiring to imagine the import of a few scant years at Tabor, and the potential consequence of the quality of this time stretching out across the lifetimes of our students. Our vision calls for us to be committed to transformative personal growth. We understand that the seeds of a passion for life-long learning (from our mission), often scattered during the precious planting seasons of a Tabor career, may not grow to abundance for years. The alchemy of turning an adolescent into a Tabor graduate, gifted with preparation for college and (more importantly) replete with the skills to live in and navigate the world beyond, has always been at the core of the Tabor Experience. Today, however, the premise is truer than ever. As you thumb through this edition of Tabor Today, you will see the educational evolution of our school. Going back to Tabor’s most formative years and Walter Lillard’s move to the sea, it has long been true that our maritime spirit has fostered real-world readiness, familiar skills that will transfer time and again to novel circumstances. The personal responsibility and accountability of a Tabor Boy crewmember are just two of the myriad life-lessons made manifest in that exceptional learning opportunity. Our REEF Program, for another ocean-oriented example, highlights the value of preparation, the need to be flexible and adaptable to the real world tests that so often challenge, and must somehow transcend, the generally predictable content of the classroom experience. And of course, we have also known and recognized this in other essential parts of the Tabor Experience: in athletics, the commitment to team goals, or to competitive maturity; on the stage, the uncertain thrill of a risky character, played out in front of hundreds;
the empathy of community service; in the dorm, collaboration and the give-and-take of learning from living together. None of these life habits are discrete to the activities, all of which remind our students of the critical importance and creative necessity of learning to contribute to something bigger than self —in a lifetime reality that asks all of us, and especially tomorrow’s adults, to be exceptionally adept at just that. Building on our past, the Tabor I imagine (and which I’ve talked about with so many of you over the past year) is emerging in the settings of our classrooms. In intellectual terms, the relevance question has most often asked “what” it is that someone needs to know; that is, what’s the information a person should have at hand, or be able to draw upon in his or her life. This has led to curricula that are in some ways a mile wide and an inch deep, to paraphrase Sir Kenneth Robinson. Today, though, the relevance question means something wholly different, and far more aspirational. The question of today’s student (and the school itself, I’d argue) and of the value of the experience is one of “how.” How will a young adult apply his or her well-honed skills to the many different experiences that make up the future? This is in many ways a deeper intellectual endeavor, the full immersion in a curriculum of skills and character, and requires different and more interesting approaches than ever before. It also moves us significantly towards a learning experience that is more balanced in depth and breadth, and therefore more relevant to our graduates. This approach—increasingly pervasive in all we do—is so exciting to me, and I witness it every day. Enjoy the view I get, as you see the Tabor of today through the stories and pictures portrayed for you here.
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Photos by Emily Chandler ’05, Faculty
REEF
2017
by Kerry Saltonstall, Editor
In November, Tabor Boy headed down to the Caribbean for the winter months to act as home and research vessel during seven planned week-long voyages for our student researchers participating on our ongoing collaborative project to protect the coral reefs of the US Virgin Islands.
series of successes in this story. Improving our research methods each year, and setting new standards for observation by square meter (rather than a general location survey), their excellent data collection has created a historic database, marked by specific way points and accessible to all on Google Earth, which has helped scientists to put Elkhorn coral on the threatened species list and later the endangered species list.
Tabor has been sending students to the Caribbean since 2004. Formerly called Caribbean Studies, we have renamed the program REEF to better reflect its purpose: Research and Environmental Education “Happily, there has been recent improvement in the coral,” says Dr. John Crosby. “Tabor’s largeFocus, in this case on coral reefs. scale and quantitative study of coral health around the island of St. John has provided strong evidence, Every three years, students have prepared in the fall with coursework in order to work in the winter for the first time in over three decades, that recovery of these reef systems is possible.” to monitor the deteriorating health of the Elkhorn coral population in hopes of finding out why As always, interest was high for this effort this year it is dying off. We are there in service to the and the school made a few changes to increase the National Parks Service and the US Geological number of available spaces: increased financial aid, Survey who are partners with our faculty member, and an extra week in the Caribbean. In the future, Dr. John Crosby, on shared research goals. Our we plan to run the program every other year, rather students, through their youthful physical abilities than every third, exposing more students to this and their careful skill and understanding of their hands-on research project. role, have been critically important players in a 8
This year, our research continued the monitoring project, but also added a new component: current mapping. As we sailed along in past years, we were able to collect water quality readings up and down the Sir Francis Drake Channel. This revealed areas where wastewater dumping was occurring. This year, we set out to study the currents to determine where and how that activity might limit reef recovery due to currents contributing to the concentration of coral pathogens within the bays and on the reefs. During our last visit to the park in 2014, we tracked currents within the bays using a natural florescent dye released in the water, and marked the currents using swimming students with GPS monitors. This year, we added a bit of advanced technology to make things more efficient: flow meters. A tilt/drag device created by James Cook University in Queensland, Australia (a new partner in our work) was deployed to measure the direction and speed of the currents. Students ensured the devices were properly transmitting and kept track of the readouts onboard. The data will help
researchers determine if the movement of water within the bays actually excludes the entry of “fresh” water from the adjacent channel. With dredging plans to make room for new marinas, this data is critically important to be sure development will not make the situation worse. The local government, the National Park Service, and the developers are counting on our data to make an informed and objective decision about next steps, recognizing that healthy coral populations are critical barriers to erosion of their island home, and valuable attractions for tourists as well. We were able to collect a good set of readings during the first two cruises before tragedy hit in the middle of our third week: one of our crew, Tucker Francis ’16, drowned as a result of “shallow water blackout” while snorkeling. (See memorial page).
“Ta bo r’s REEF p ro g ra m e n a bl e d lea rn i n g t o t a ke p l a c e i n a fasci n a t i n g s e t t i n g . I n t h e ni n e-d a y t ri p , w e t u rn e d t h e Ca ri bbean S e a i n t o a c l a s s ro o m, w h e re w e n o t o n l y ac q u i red s c i e n t i f i c kn o w l e d g e , experi enc e d t h e l o c a l c u l t u re , but also l e a rn e d h o w t o c o n tri bu te t h ro u g h l e a d i n g a n d co o pera t i o n . O f f e ri n g a c o m bi na ti o n o f f u n , l e a rn i n g , a n d servi ce to t h e g l o ba l c o m m u ni ty, REEF re p re s e n t s m y c o n -
After a time of mourning, and with Tucker’s parents urging us forward, we worked hard to resume the program. We all felt it was right and important for our school, our students and crew, and even to honor Tucker’s memory by showing our resilience, but it just wasn’t to be. Logistics, and other 9
cepti o n o f a n i d e a l e d u c a t i o n pro g ra m . I t h a s a rg u a bl y l e d me to di s c o ve r t h e t ru e s p i ri t o f a Sea w o l f .” — Ch ri s X u e ’17
practical concerns were simply too complicated to sort through thoughtfully and carefully in such a short time frame. We had to make the difficult decision to abandon REEF 2017. We continue to be committed to this program for the unique opportunity of real field research it holds for our students. In this endeavor, students witness the power of collaboration and teamwork at work. They learn the importance of asking questions, being rigorous about methods, and seeking efficiencies through technology, and perhaps most of all, that their actions matter. Chris Xue ’17 remarked, “Tabor’s REEF program enabled learning to take place in a fascinating setting. In the nine-day trip, we turned the Caribbean Sea into a classroom, where we not only acquired scientific knowledge and experienced the local culture, but also learned how to contribute through leading and cooperation. Offering a combination of fun, learning, and service to the global community, REEF represents my conception of an ideal education program. It has arguably led me to discover the true spirit of a Seawolf.” 10
Indeed, this year, we all learned how much our actions matter. As we mourned the loss of our dear friend Tucker, so many in the Tabor community reached out to embrace Tucker’s friends and family, the crew, and indeed our whole community. Over 100 alumni returned to campus the week of Tucker’s death to support one another and our current students and faculty. The powerful, loving acts of so many gave us each the courage to carry on. Just one of many results of that support: it won’t be long before we begin planning our next REEF exploration.
Remembering Tucker Francis ’16, Crew SSV TABOR BOY On January 31, we lost our friend and crew member, Tucker Francis ’16, when he died in a snorkeling accident in the Virgin Islands. It was determined that Tucker lost consciousness while free diving, a condition called “shallow water blackout.” He was enjoying a gap year before starting college, working as the cook on Tabor Boy during the 2017 REEF program. In the fall, he was headed to Santa Clara University to study engineering. The obituary written by his family read, “Tucker was a joyous, kind young man with twinkling blue eyes and an infectious smile. He was happiest when doing anything with family and friends, and loved to ride his Ninja motorcycle, build a drone, whack a golf ball, fix anything mechanical, create a cool new gizmo out of carbon fiber, gobble a huge plate of sushi at Turks, kite board, scuba dive, ski, play lacrosse, or work out to the thump of loud rap. On a moment’s notice he could whip up a mean pan of fried rice or stir-fried pasta, perfectly grill a platter of flat-iron steak, or bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies for a gang of his friends.” “The new Maker Lab at Tabor was one of his favorite places, where he learned to weld, use a 3D printer, design electrical circuits, build electronics, and teach younger students his new-found passions. During two summers he was employed as the cook on the Tabor Boy for orientation cruises around Buzzards Bay, where his love deepened for the vessel, its crew, and Marion’s home waters. This past November, he crewed on the schooner as it sailed from Marion to Bermuda and on to the Virgin Islands, delighted to be part of the team that included some of his best friends and most respected mentors.” Days after his death over 200 of Tucker’s friends and faculty, along with his parents and sister Holly ’14 (former XO of Tabor Boy), gathered at Tabor to grieve together. The gathering was a beautiful expression of the healing power of enduring friendship, binding us together in good times and in bad. Together we shared stories and wrote cards to express our love for Tucker and our support for his family who have been so involved with so many Tabor students through their own support of Tabor Boy programs. At the time of his death, the Francis family asked friends to consider a donation in Tucker’s memory, in lieu of flowers, to the Tabor Boy Deckhouse Fund, “as this space on the schooner is at the heart of crew life aboard, and it will need to be replaced in the near future. The image of Tabor Boy crews gathering for decades to come in the new deckhouse that Tucker helped ‘build’ is a happy one and would make him proud.” Rest in peace, dear friend. To contribute in Tucker’s memory, visit www.taboracademy.org/deckhouse your gift to be allocated to the Tabor Boy Deckhouse Fund.
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Invention! by Dr. Karl Kistler, Faculty
T abor was one of 1 5 high schools
awarded a $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 grant by the
L emelson - M I T F o u ndation .
At the beginning of this school year, a group of Tabor seniors and I embarked on a new course, Advanced Engineering Design. We are diving deep into a yearlong project, quite literally, as we invent a device to help monitor the health of Sippican Harbor. Our work this year has been partially funded by an award from the Lemelson-MIT (LMIT) program, and our group has been dubbed the Tabor InvenTeam. The process began last spring with an initial application for the LMIT grant. The LMIT InvenTeams program provides funding of up to $10,000 for groups of students to invent a solution to a real-world problem. We wanted to propose an invention that would be unique, challenge our students, and serve the community. As engineers at the School by the Sea, it seemed a natural choice to develop a device that could move through the water and measure water temperature, salinity, turbidity, and other quantities that help assess the health of the ecosystem. The data our invention would gather could be shared with Tabor faculty and students as well as researchers at organizations such as the Buzzards Bay Coalition and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI). Our process and device could serve as prototypes for other coastal schools and communities.
We began our class with the first steps of the design process: identifying and researching the problem. The students studied marine science and reached out to local and regional experts to learn about the environmental issues and monitoring needs. We prepared a detailed description of the problem we hoped to solve and developed, then refined, our initial ideas for the device. By November, it was time to prototype.
The students bring a variety of skills, experience, and interests to the project. Some have taken marine and nautical science classes and help us stay focused on the environment and the problem we are trying to solve. Others have advanced physics and/or chemistry backgrounds to help give our The LMIT program invited Tabor to submit a final work a firm theoretical base. Some have basic proposal for the award based on the strength of the computer programming experience, either selfinitial application, and in October, soon after the taught or from our computer engineering class. class began, we found out that our team had won an Most have taken either mechanical or electrical LMIT grant. The funds would allow us to “dream engineering electives and thus have some exposure bigger” with our design, and the structure of the to building prototypes. They need to work together grant provided additional learning opportunities as an “InvenTeam” to complete the project. related to communications, funds management, and collegial professional exchange. 12
The structure and curriculum of the class are unique and flexible. For the most part, there are no lectures or fixed homework assignments. Although I guide the students through the design process, they set the direction of the project. Each day, they come to the Maker Lab and dive into the day’s work. With no bell to mark the end of the period, I often need to usher the students out when it is time to move on to the next event. Their interest, effort, and accomplishments have impressed me throughout the year. Along the way, the kids are learning a variety of skills. They are programming and soldering electronic components to control the sensors that will measure water quality and the motors that will propel the craft. They use traditional hand and power tools for construction and computer-aided design (CAD) software to model components. They’ve learned to use 3D printers and the Maker Lab laser cutter to produce both small parts and the larger watertight enclosure to keep their sensitive electronic components safe in seawater. In addition to the engineering design process and technical skills, we have needed to learn how to work in a large group on a long-term endeavor. The students have divided themselves into five teams working on different aspects of the project. Each team needs to make progress in its own area while communicating and coordinating with the other groups. The kids designing the sensor enclosure need to work with the sensor team to make sure the sensor array fits in the watertight container. The sensor team needs to communicate with the propulsion team to make sure that that same sensor array is light enough to be carried by the vehicle. No project like this is without setbacks. Things don’t always work the first time; in fact, things usually don’t work the first time. This can be frustrating. As one of the kids put it, “Some days
you feel like the Brain, and some days you feel like Pinky.” Rather than getting frustrated, I hope that they view each setback as a challenge and an opportunity to learn more about how each part of the project works. They are developing good troubleshooting skills and a persistent tinkering mindset. As we move toward spring, we are close to a working prototype that we can put into the water for evaluation and testing. A fundamental part of the design process is iterative improvement. Once their prototype works, they’ll turn to the challenge of seeing how they can make it work better. We plan to bring this best version of our invention, “Sammy the Seabot,” to show off at EurekaFest, the showcase of the InvenTeams program at MIT in June. I have been fortunate to work with such a great group of students in this course. Whether or not they continue on to a career in engineering, they’ve gained an understanding of the field and a set of 21st century skills, from teamwork to troubleshooting, that will serve them well in their future endeavors. They are setting the bar high for future Tabor makers. 13
The above prototype was chosen as the best option after preliminary water testing was completed.
Service and Learning Abroad by Steve Downes, Director of the Center for International Students Cu rrent national debates in America about race , diversity, fairness, and identity have stirred passions and debates in the past year , but on the world stage, we are only 4% of the world’s popu lation and 22% of its economy. A s a nation and as a school, we ignore learning the skills of commu nicating, collaborating , negotiating, and befriending people different from ou rselves at ou r peril. S E R VIC E in an international setting provides
LEA RN IN G shou ld not only be associated
global engagement lik e no other.
with schools, classrooms, and lesson plans.
When I saw the results of the stays I arranged at an orphanage in Thailand during the summers of 2008 and 2010, I knew Tabor needed to expand its offerings to provide more opportunities for students to experience world cultures through service. We began by offering spring break service trips to the Dominican Republic in 2013 and then Peru in 2014. When we moved to offer more distant trips in June, the interest doubled. Our latest trips to Vietnam and Cambodia have seen 35 students taking time to travel and serve. For ten days in rural Cambodia last summer, students helped to build houses, engineer bridges, dig wells, teach English, and experience the world through friendship and combined effort. Tabor students taught English to local children, learned construction skills from local craftspeople, joined village meetings and ceremonies, and found their lives unexpectedly transformed as they met people and left preconceptions and assumptions behind. This June, students and faculty will travel to do construction and reforestation work with local groups on the island of Nusa Penida near Bali, Indonesia. Many students on these international service programs have commented, “These days have changed how I see myself and the world.”
While classroom learning has the virtue of clarity of goals, methods, and measurable outcomes, there are also the valuable lessons to learn on our own through observing the world around us and drawing our own conclusions. Learning through service is driven by individual initiative and problem solving and guided and supported by a balance between leadership and autonomy. We see student initiative every day on the service program trips, and even months before as they participate in planning and orientation programs to prepare for their journey. Faculty lead these trips to insure safety, encourage initiative, model participation, and respond to unexpected group challenges, but the day-to-day decisions that lead to the most successful learning are mostly in the hands of students. “How do you lay bricks?” “How much of a load will this bridge be able to carry?” “How many people do we need to lift that house section?” “Do the people in this village understand the same language as our local guide?” “Why do these kids learn English faster than I learn Spanish?” “What is the best use of the money we raised to support the people in this village?” “The people here have so little; why are they so generous to us?” These moments create self-directed learning and reflection, complementing the good work that goes on every day in Tabor’s classrooms. Both types of learning are needed for a 21st century education.
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Photos by Gary Sousa, Faculty
ABROAD is the operative theater for “Service”
N EX T STEPS: Propelling ou r global ou treach
and “L earning ” and brings them to life.
and engagement programs
Tabor’s current diversity and inclusion program has created positive momentum for our understanding as a community of each other as individuals and friends rather than as abstractions that fall into pre-determined categories of race, faith, or political belief. The essence of diversity and inclusion is an attitude of openness, tolerance, and outreach. In the 1930s, also an era of international conflict, Headmaster Walter Lillard led a group of New England prep schools to initiate exchange programs with schools in Germany, France, and England. Regardless of what the future might bring, he knew that having Tabor students meet and live with students from other cultures and people from other backgrounds with understanding and respect were the keys to a better future world. Whether for friendship and collaboration, or even for competition and conflict, human cooperation and friendship can break down barriers of misunderstanding and mistrust. “Abroad” brings “Service” and “Learning” to life.
Tabor’s service trips have pointed the way toward formalizing educational experiences that go beyond visiting/language homestays. The next steps will be to use cultural competencies (and perhaps language) to engage in sharing ideas and projects with students from other cultures. In 2013, Tabor partnered with a school in Beijing China, RDFZ Xishan School, where faculty exchanged to learn philosophy and teaching methods. Last year, was our first RDFZ student exchange, similarly structured as exchanges we have enjoyed for years with partner schools in France and Spain, but with more academic focus. Today, new opportunities are emerging to focus on programmatic strengths of partner schools abroad, such as art, technology, or marine science, to share ideas, methods, and concerns, expanding student engagement in areas of their interest. Tabor’s longest-running school exchange is so modeled, sending actors between Tabor and Ellesmere College in the United Kingdom to share a show and discuss its merits and potential social impact. Today’s emerging educational partnerships recognize the power of global outreach as essential to a 21st century education, enhancing cooperation and engagement.
15
Students traveled to Cambodia last summer where they engaged in a number of building projects, including this house!
And it would seem that in many ways that the “bright day of justice” did emerge through the passing of legislation that followed: •
What Lives Between Us
•
by Anika Walker-Johnson, Director of Multicultural Education and Community Life
This past December, I traveled with a delegation of six students and five faculty members to attend the National Association for Independent Schools’ conferences for People of Color and Student Diversity Leadership. The theme of those conferences, which ran concurrently, was “Advancing Human and Civil Rights: Fulfilling the Dream Together.” In preparation for the conference, I thought about the conference’s theme and its reference to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1963 March on Washington speech. More than 50 years ago, Dr. King stood at the podium in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial to declare, among many things, that blacks in America had arrived in Washington to “cash [a] check, a check that will give [blacks] upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.”1 Many who are familiar with King’s speech have focused so much on his vision of Americans united in brotherhood that they have forgotten or ignored his demands in that speech for civil rights justice or there would be “neither rest nor tranquility” in this country. Long before he shared, at the behest of Mahalia Jackson, his dream, King spoke about the “…whirlwinds of revolt [continuing] to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerge[d].” 16
•
•
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Equal Pay Act (1963) – Federal law that required employers to pay all employees for equal work, regardless of whether the employees are male or female.2 Civil Rights Act (1964) – Law that prohibits discrimination in voting, public accommodations, public facilities, public education, federally assisted programs, and employment. The Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was also established under this act. Voting Rights Act (1965) – Law that prohibits the denial of the right to vote and forbids discriminatory voting practices nationwide. Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) – Law that protects persons with disabilities from discrimination, especially in employment, education, and access to public accommodations. Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) – Supreme Court declares same sex marriage legal in all 50 U.S. states.3
Nevertheless, the past 18 to 24 months have shown that despite King’s urging for all Americans (regardless of race, gender, socio-economic status, ability, etc.) to “always march ahead” and to remember the importance of marching forward together, our country finds itself in the midst of “the winter of our discontent.”4 Regardless of what political side one falls on, I do not think that anyone would disagree that Americans are spending a lot of time talking at one another rather than talking with one another.
Because we are a community whose inhabitants represent varied backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, it is not surprising that even here at Tabor, we have seen the impact of a deeply divided country. Students, especially, are paying close attention to the world outside of the Tabor bubble, and as such, are expressing concerns that directly or indirectly impact them: fears of deportation, widening socio-economic gaps, and rollbacks in women’s and LGBTQ rights. The expression of these concerns has drawn further attention to the necessity for continued and consistent dialogue in which any and everyone in our community can come together with a goal toward meaningful understanding of the intersectionalities of all our identities. Jane Goodall, primatologist and anthropologist, once stated that, “Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don’t believe is right.” But how can we engage in dialogue that challenges our own biases and further enlightens each of us about our shared humanity? How do we move from the scripted noise of politics to engagement in dialogue that shifts from transactional to relational? What a rich and complicated learning opportunity. John Quirk, Tabor’s Head of School, suggests that we begin first by THINK-ing. Engaging in difficult conversations can be healthy conversations if we first consider the following: T Is what we have to say to one another both thoughtful and true? Is what we have to say honest and helpful? H I Is what we have to say inclusive of others’ perspectives, opinions, and experiences? Is what we have to say necessary? N Is what we have to say kind? K
Here at Tabor we are learning to fill our dialogical toolboxes and to practice our thinking skills using the tools we have acquired along the way. Recent speakers Kip Bordelon, Rosetta Lee, and Dr. Derreck Kayongo have each spoken to members of our community about sharing our stories with one other, affirming our relationships to and with each other, and suspending our judgment of each other as we dialogue. Students continue to design and host monthly cultural conversations about issues that directly impact them. Lunch and Learns provide both an education about global topics and an opportunity to commune as we break bread together. These ongoing programs offer instructive practice in respectful listening and sharing of differing points of view in an effort to acquire new information and perspective on difficult problems we face together. It is these skills we seek to instill in our students in hopes of shaping empathetic and adaptable leaders who can apply these skills in all aspects of their lives, not just civics.
Our Lunch and Learn and Cultural
So, as King says, “even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow,” we can move forward with hope for the future of our school community, our country, and the world around us if we recognize that advancing ideas, including those as important as human and civil rights, is not about a focus on one’s individual journey but a focus on the interconnection of all of our journeys. 17
4. John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our
Conversation gatherings, like the one pictured here, offer students an opportunity to discuss issues and different points of view, practicing listening and speaking with care, and encouraging civil discourse.
1. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/ speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm 2. http://civilrights.findlaw.com/civilrights-overview/civil-rights-timelineof-events.html 3. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwoway/2015/06/26/417717613/supremecourt-rules-all-states-must-allow-samesex-marriages
Discontent
ma k ing an impact
’13
Gia Doonan
Gia Doonan and her team won G old at Rotterdam in the U23 Rowing World Championships .
by Maddy LaCasse ’18
Gia Doonan and her teammates in the United States National U23 4- boat made history as they crossed the finish line in Rotterdam at the Rowing World Championships in August of 2016. Not only did they win gold with a time of 6:27.28, but they shattered the previous global time by 7.13 seconds, a time that hadn’t been broken since Germany set it in 2011. She and her teammates also won gold in the 8+ race as well, dominating the competition. Her amazing accomplishments and her passion for rowing can be traced right back to Tabor where she picked up an oar for the very first time. Gia had no intentions of rowing at Tabor until Mr. Bentz, the head coach of the girls’ crew program, approached her about the spring training trip to Texas that summer. She remembers him saying “she was tall” and had the potential “to be really good at it.” His encouragement was enough to motivate her to “give it a shot.” Little did she know that the water she would row on for the very first time as a novice at Tabor would be the same water she rows on now as an experienced and wildly successful rower at the University of Texas, Austin, where she helped her varsity 8+ place fourth in the NCAA Championships. Last summer, Gia trained for Rotterdam and the World Championships in Princeton, New Jersey, three times a day, six days a week with her teammates. All the hours and hard work over the summer were clearly worth it. Gia shared, “it was not just the victories of the team, but also an honor to be a part of such an amazing experience.” She cherished the fact that “though the rowers hailed from different nations and all spoke different languages, they all shared a common rowing language that brought them together.” 18
Although she has raced at arguably one of the biggest global rowing events, second only to the Olympics, she still remembers how awestricken she was to race at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association Championships for the first time at Tabor. She remembers the eye opening experience first seeing all the boats and oars giving her a glimpse into an amazing new world she did not yet know much about. She expressed how Mr. Bentz’s passion and commitment to the sport taught her what it meant to be a great athlete during her time at Tabor. “He used every resource to get across to us what he wanted to teach us,” she stated, adding that his dedication to his rowers motivated her to be as committed and passionate as he was. Gia’s successes and her passion for rowing were fostered not only within the girls’ crew program, but also through all her teachers, each of whom, she states “always gave 100%, which made me want to give 100%.” Gia’s amazing accomplishments and her commitment to her sport are an inspiration to all current Tabor athletes as to what is possible. During a recent visit to campus to meet with the girls’ crew team, Gia shared her reflections on her time at Tabor. We left feeling grateful for the amazing coaches, teachers, and faculty who motivate and inspire us daily to push ourselves and to achieve great things. Maddy LaCasse ’18 is a Tabor rower and Editor of the Arts & Features section of The Tabor Log.
beau outteridge
’13
M a c ke n z i e C o o p e r
M ac k enzie is training as helmsman for T eam Bermu da in the A C45F Catamaran Class of the You th A merica ’s Cu p in J u ne .
Mackenzie Cooper began sailing at the age of seven in the optimist class at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. After sailing with Tabor, Mackenzie went on to St. Mary’s College to sail Division One. His next big opportunity: The Youth America’s Cup with Team Bermuda taking place this June. Sailing AC45F catamarans, capable of going at least 37 knots (43 mph), demands exceptional levels of skill, fitness, and team coordination. Taking a year off to prepare for the regatta, Mackenzie is training full time, going to the gym five times a week and sailing as many days as the team can. In order to progress to the final series of the regatta, a sailor has to be in the top half of his/her group. Teams are comprised of 15 sailors between 19 and 24 years of age who are nationals of the country they represent. Incredibly excited to have made the team, Mackenzie is in training for helmsman and main trimmer. He shared, “This entire experience has been challenging trying to grasp how foiling catamarans work and how to sail them well having no experience in them before.” While no one individual inspired him to sail in this prestigious race, he heartily recognized that his Tabor coaches influenced his abilities and career. Mackenzie’s first taste of being on a team was his freshmen year. “I came in thinking I was a hotshot,” but quickly concedes he was completely mistaken. Initially, he struggled to prove his mettle among more experienced sailors and “…gave Mr. Hurd his fair share of headaches.” But with guidance from his team mates and coaches, Mackenzie became more seasoned and got his first chance to start as a skipper at the New England’s, a role rarely given to freshmen. Mr. Hurd considers that regatta, which Tabor won, a defining moment allowing Mackenzie to realize what he was capable of.
Mackenzie reflected that though he found the most winning success his freshman and sophomore years, he grew most as a sailor his senior year. Being a senior and captain, he was thrust into his first position of leadership. With a large group of young sailors, it became really important to learn how to lead and motivate a less experienced team to success. When the team did not qualify for Nationals, Mr. Hurd recalls Mackenzie saying, “I am sorry, Mr. Hurd, for letting you down;” so far from the truth in Mr. Hurd’s view. In fact, Mr. Hurd credits Mackenzie for passing on his natural talents and confidence to the younger sailors who now make up today’s experienced team. Thankful for all the experiences and lessons learned at Tabor, Mackenzie credits his coaches for success both on and off the water. “My Tabor coaches were some of the best I have had.” Though Mr. Hurd was tough on him at the start, he helped Mackenzie to learn his place and to settle down. Mrs. Muther offset Mr. Hurd’s style acting as a calming force against Mackenzie’s competitive temper, helping him take a step back and breathe. “She helped my sailing immensely.” Finally, he appreciated Mr. Conley for always having a “funny comment or piece of advice that kept the mood light.” In closing, Mr. Hurd said it best, “We were proud of Mackenzie when he was here, and we are proud of what he is doing now.” We wish Mackenzie luck as he pursues his dream knowing that we are all rooting for his success in Bermuda in June! Hannah Frisch ’18 is a fellow sailor and a writer for The Tabor Log.
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by Hannah Frisch ’18
Bryn Jacobs ’17
ma k ing an impact
’O6
D r . Wh i t n e y Gr eene by Danielle Plunkett ’18
Since her graduation from Tabor Academy, Whitney Greene has found her way to the position of Buttonwood Park Zoo Veterinarian where she leads all of the zoo’s veterinary activities ranging from general veterinary care to wildlife rehabilitation to developing conservation tactics for the zoo’s endangered species. Whitney has ended up exactly where she wants to be, but the path she took to get here was replete with incredible detours that helped to develop her love for animals and her passion for healthcare.
Instead, Whitney had spent her time in college studying animal training, nutrition, and behavior which gave her an edge among her peers. “In animals,” Whitney said, “behavior is everything. Having knowledge of an animal’s behavior helps you see when things are wrong.” All of the skills and knowledge she had acquired in her previous jobs as a marine animal trainer helped her to quickly understand and form bonds with the animals under her care, which is certainly helpful when your patients can’t tell you where it hurts.
Pictured above left with
Whitney discovered an interest in marine science during her time at Tabor, and her many hours in the then-new Marine and Nautical Science Center led her to volunteer as a marine mammal trainer at Mystic Aquarium. Whitney worked with a variety of marine mammals at the aquarium, including sea lions and beluga whales, while earning her degree in Biology from Connecticut College. Soon after, Whitney got the opportunity to intern in an aquatic veterinary position at the Living Seas in Epcot at Disney World. This was her first experience with veterinary medicine, and she fell in love with it. In fact, she turned down a job at Discovery Cove in Orlando as a dolphin trainer, a position she had always dreamed of having, to complete the requirements she needed to apply to veterinary school.
While in veterinary school, Whitney spent time in several zoos working with many different types of animals. She found her way to Buttonwood after she graduated. “There are so many benefits to being at a small zoo,” she said as she explained how working in a small setting with a manageable schedule has allowed her to pursue her other interests outside of being a veterinarian. In January, for instance, Whitney and some other veterinarians started a college class for students interested in zoological science to satisfy her desire to teach. Whitney also gets to spend a lot of time doing what she loves most: research. Currently, she is in collaboration with other doctors and researchers around the country on four research projects.
Whitney are Bryn ’17 and Izzy ’18, our photographers, and the author, Danielle.
Above right, Whitney feeding grapes to her favorite Asian elephant, Ruth, at the Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, MA.
Whitney earned a Masters of Science in comparative immunology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth before attending the Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine in California, where she had a rather different background from most of her classmates. “All of my other classmates had the story of ‘When I saw Fluffy get hit by a car when I was twelve and the vet saved him I decided I wanted to be a vet,’ and that just wasn’t me,” she said. 20
Whitney says that her time at Tabor instilled in her a love for learning that is still a very large part of her life, and her current job has given her the opportunity to pursue that love. “Being a vet has allowed me to do everything I love in one job,” she said, and while it took time to travel the path to that job, the skills she learned and the experiences she had along the way are invaluable to her now. Danielle Plunkett ’18 s the Managing Editor of The Tabor Log.
Photo@marianneleephoto
’O7 ’O9
James McCarthy
+ Mia Smith
M ia and J ames are farming in Westport , MA, offering their first CSA shares this spring to sou thcoast residents .
Mia Smith ’09 and I run a small, diversified farm in Westport, MA. That’s right, we’re farmers. We grow 1.5 acres of vegetables and raise laying hens, meat goats, and meat ducks. Many of the images you might dream up are real: we work long days outside in the cold and the heat; we are often covered in dirt (and less often, but sometimes, manure); we have callused hands and sun-kissed faces; we enjoy eating big meals, talking about the weather, and watching the birds; we brag about our cabbages and tomatoes; we curse the groundhogs and the deer; we wear clothes until they are ripped and tattered. Sorry, we don’t listen to country music. Most people first react to our lifestyle by asking, “That’s a lot of work, isn’t it?” Yes, of course it is, but it is meaningful work that we enjoy. For us, the farm is a place of immense possibility, a blank canvas for the expression of our particular passions and tendencies. Some things we grow because they sell well, others because we simply like to grow them. When you run your own business, you can make those decisions. On the farm, we combine our love for the environment with our love for food and community. Friends and family visit us often to share meals and to visit our animals. We visit other farmers and they visit us, happy to share their wisdom, their good cheer, their pastured pork, and their full-cream yogurt. The farm is also a place of both known and unexpected pleasures. For example, late summer watermelons are a muchanticipated indulgence, but they taste even better enjoyed with friends (fellow Seawolves!) who volunteered their time to help us build our chicken coop. What’s so bad about hard work if these are the rewards?
The next question we are asked is, “How in the world did you get into farming?” Mia and I both found agriculture through academic and extracurricular experiences in college. Mia majored in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Food, Land, and Community at the University of Vermont. As a senior capstone project, she developed curriculum for the USDA farm to school program. From there she found her way to The Farm School, a nonprofit educational farm in central MA. I studied Geosciences at Williams College with a thesis focused on Soil Geomorphology. I then earned a Master’s Degree in Earth Science at the University of Toronto. After my M.Sc., I wanted to apply my skills in a more tangible way at which point Mia suggested I visit the Farm School. Once together, we did some farming in California (pigs and avocados!) and Vermont (apples and goats!), but the rest, as they say, is history. Sometimes we get a follow up question, “Did you grow up expecting to be farmers?” to which we say “No, not at all.” Coming out of Tabor, we felt a (perhaps false) expectation that we should pursue a “white collar” career. But life on the farm is a running exercise in environmental science, geology, chemistry, biology, economics, psychology, art, mathematics, physics, statistics, and even Spanish and Latin. We manage our own business while simultaneously caring for the community and the environment, some of the exact values we learned at Tabor. It’s a supremely rewarding and exciting challenge, and we hope that our fellow Seawolves out there realize that there are many ways to apply a TA education and alternative metrics for success. If any of you have interests in farming or just want to hang out with some nice hens, come visit us at Nest and Song Farm! 21
by James McCarthy ‘07
ma k ing an impact
C e l e b r a t i n g our Par ent Class Volunteer s
Each spring, as prospective students receive their acceptance letters from Tabor, relationships begin between their families and the school. Every parent at Tabor is a member of the Tabor Parent Association and welcome to be involved on and off campus in events of interest. Opportunities range from cheering on teams, attending drama, music, and arts events, hosting a dinner or reception near or far from campus, baking goodies for various occasions, helping at Tabor Community Appreciation Day and much more. Some parents choose to be dedicated Fund for Tabor volunteers who contact fellow parents in support of the annual fund. This year began a new tradition: a Class Chair for each class to lead fellow volunteers in 1.
friendly competition to build parent participation. We caught up with the Class Chairs to find out what inspires them to volunteer.
1. Chair of the Senior Class, Nancy Marshall (David
2.
’15, Kate ’17, Jack ’20), Cazenovia, NY
’16, Grace ’19), Marion, MA
I was worried that Tabor would mean the end of my involvement in my children’s school. Then I met many at Tabor who welcomed me, and I have been volunteering ever since. I am incredibly grateful for all the opportunities Tabor has provided our family, and volunteering allows me to demonstrate my support of Tabor’s mission. There are opportunities for everyone near or far, and I encourage everyone to get involved.
I volunteer because I believe in the school’s mission, and I know Tabor needs all types of parent involvement to help Tabor give our children the best experience possible. The rewards of volunteering are feeling more welcome, connected, and involved. The Parent Association meetings are informative in helping understand what is happening at Tabor. The best advice received our first year was to “make sure you attend as much as possible on campus.” We have done so, and we feel very connected to the school.
2. Chair of the Junior Class, Jeanne Wolff (Jack ’15, 3.
3. Chair of the Sophomore Class, Beth Ryan (Michael
Leah ’18), Duxbury, MA
Volunteering makes me feel connected and part of the Tabor community. It’s fun to meet new people and give back to Tabor. The high school years are gone before you know it. Attend games, plays, and concerts, sign-up to bake, help on photo day or help with fund raising. Tabor is a welcoming community and you will always feel rewarded by the people you meet. 4. Photos 1, 3 & 4 by Kayla Aimone ’17
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4. Chair of the Freshman Class, Sally Earley (Lilly ’20),
Duxbury, MA
When you participate in volunteer activities, you are helping to support our wonderful school. In the fast-paced teen years, it is worthwhile to find opportunities to stay connected to our children. With many exciting initiatives in progress, it is a great time to be involved in Tabor’s journey. Tabor is an inclusive community that welcomes and values parental involvement. Take advantage of this opportunity to connect and contribute. From the smallest gesture, our participation expands the thriving community at Tabor.
W e n d e l l an d Le s l ie B ro wn P ’ O 2 DON O R P R O F I L E
My husband, Wendell and I were so pleased to be able to offer the opportunity of a Tabor education to our son Tyler ’02 his junior year of high school. Changing schools wasn’t easy, but Tyler’s reluctance changed when he went out for football in early September. From there, making friends easily, Ty engaged thoroughly, next taking part in the winter musical Fiddler on the Roof as Fyedka. He loved Tabor and engaged in the classroom as well, enjoying math, science, and writing best. The highlight of his senior year, after his acceptance in December into Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering, was his REEF trip to the Caribbean in 2002. In the refreshing sunshine and warm waters of the Caribbean, conducting real research, collecting data that would be used for the good of the environment, Tyler began to see practical applications of science and perhaps a future role for himself and his own skill set. He called the program a trip to “one of the most beautiful places in the world.” At Duke, where he majored in biomedical and mechanical engineering, he participated in Duke’s Engineers Without Borders after the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia. The experience of working with the native people on resurrecting their shrimp hatcheries and living among them in August of 2005 changed Tyler’s life. More determined than ever to make a difference in the world, he was determined to join the Peace Corps after graduation.
At Tabor, we focused on REEF as a program that seemed to set Tyler alight. Cap Geil shared, “Tyler’s enthusiasm, genuine concern for the reefs and hard work aboard the Tabor Boy helped the program to become what it is today. He set examples and standards for other students to follow and inspired them to put forth their best effort toward achieving the goals necessary for success. It is fitting that a permanent REEF scholarship be named in Tyler’s memory.” The process of working with the Advancement Office at Tabor was helpful to us as we set out to remember Tyler at Tabor. Our interactions over the years with Dr. John Crosby, REEF Director, have kept us in touch with the school and his work. Mostly, we have been impressed by the caliber of the student applicants we have had the pleasure of meeting on paper through the application process. We began by offering one scholarship and eagerly increased our gift when we were able in order to provide a second opportunity, knowing the need is increasing.
It is fun to remain involved in a school that meant so much to our son. It is also gratifying to hear the real appreciation the applicants express for Tabor Tragically, that could never come to be. In the fall of 2005, Tyler was killed, struck by a drunk driver and the sacrifices their families make to send them. when the cab he was travelling in was stopped at an We enjoy the opportunity to facilitate a student’s intersection. The only way we could respond to this experience to take advantage of something our son loved: the wonder of creating science in the devastation was by creating scholarships in Tyler’s Caribbean Sea onboard Tabor Boy. Mostly, we are memory at Tabor and Duke so his spirit would happy to support a legacy at Tabor in Tyler’s name, live on. knowing that he would have been more than proud to share similar support for our School by the Sea. 23
ma k ing an impact
R eco g ni z i ng L eg a c y a n d Ex c elle nce Attracting, supporting, and ultimately retaining excellent faculty are among the most important jobs of any school administration. We know the programs our students most appreciate are the legacy of a dedicated career teacher pursing their academic interests, and pushing their own creativity and curiosity. Pictured above are our Faculty Chairs: Steve Downes, John Crosby, Kelli McSweeny and David Pierce
Influential teachers challenge students and change their trajectory. Consider the legacy of just a couple of Tabor icons retiring in June. Paul White’s dedication to math students across his 43-year career has helped our top achieving math students make sense of college level courses like Multivariable Calculus, Probability Theory, Differential Equations and Linear Algebra, advancing their options at the next level. Chris Cunningham ’69 built a professional photography program that is unmatched among independent schools. His students have regularly gone on to attend art or photography programs leading them to successful careers after Tabor. The student run co-curricular photography program he leaves behind greatly enhances and supports the marketing function of the school, and is a model for student engagement and responsibility in any subject. 24
Faculty role models of life long learning and achievement are the lifeblood of our school, and recognizing their contributions inspires students and adults alike. Faculty Chairs, established by generous donors and alums, recognize the core values of excellence in teaching and the broad array of skills required of the most exceptional boarding school faculty members. They are the ultimate recognition of influential teachers at schools and colleges. These substantial named endowed gifts typically provide funding for a specific position and have travel or research stipends associated with them that help further the recipient’s area of study. While Tabor has secured four such chairs over the years, we are actively seeking more to increase support across more departments and to recognize more of the excellent work of our dedicated faculty.
EN JOY V ID EO OF TH E facu lty chair presentations A T: www.taboracademy.org/magazine
Cu rrent F ac u lty C hair Holders
has held the Edward P. Jaeger Chair in Marine Science since its inception in 2005 for his excellent work in developing the REEF Program, piloting the Ocean’s First curriculum, and expanding the department offerings after the construction of the Marine and Nautical Science Center in 2005. Dr. John Crosby
is the second holder of the Rudolph W. Driscoll Chair in History, endowed in 1986. He was awarded the chair in 1990 due to his outstanding scholarship in World History and his devotion to Asian History. The stipend has allowed Tabor to support Steve in his desire to master the Chinese language and create invaluable academic and cultural connections for Tabor over the years. He brings these talents and knowledge to his role as a teacher and advisor, past department chair, and since 2001, as the Director of the Center for International Students.
Steve Downes
career. One of David’s peers said, “Mr. Pierce is a scholar of a high order and his academic and personal standards are similarly high. As a result, he tolerates nothing slipshod, indeed nothing less than the best in his department.”
Fac u lty and staff Recognized for 10 and 25 Years of Service 10 Years:
Derek Arruda Facilities
Other Recognition Programs
Liz West
We have recently begun to publicly recognize years of service, as well as great teaching, in order to increase the visibility of faculty contributions. The Seawolf Faculty Awards and the Torch Award, which honors the contributions of a newcomer to the field, are now given annually in front of the entire school community. These awards are prized because they are peer nominated. With a faculty as dedicated and committed as Tabor’s, an award from one’s peers is a high honor indeed.
Health Center Conan Leary Director of Athletics Elizabeth Leary Marine Science Lab Manager 25 Years
Richard van Voris Drama, Waterfront Kevin Whelan Athletics
2016 Seawolf Fac u lty A ward Winners Torch Award
Anne Gardiner, History Department Chair
Anne was acknowledged for her devoted service Kelli McSweeny was awarded the Gowing Chair in to others. She does all with unabashed enthusiasm English this fall due to her dedication and mastery and with a mindfulness that makes one feel they of the craft of teaching. She began in 1990 teaching have her complete attention, even while there is a Russian, but now English and expository writing line outside her door of those awaiting her excellent are her pursuits. It is fitting that she is also an advice. excellent cross-country coach as Mr. Gowing so loved track and field. One of her colleagues Roxie Bratton, History described Kelli in this way, “She has the innate Roxie’s peers noted his expertise in the subject of ability to be both tough and understanding; she US History as well as his leadership in curriculum is a real friend and a true mentor. She has a sense development. His obvious passion for teaching ideas and developing student skills is an inspiration of humor, a ready wit, and a capacity for both to his fellow teachers. empathy and accurate judgment when it comes to her students. This is the unfeigned source of great teaching.” Helene Sughrue, English Helene was honored for her commitment to exploring ideas of moral courage and bringing David Pierce was named the first holder of the that philosophy forward and weaving it into our David Pierce Chair for Physics, recently founded sophomore English curriculum. Noted was her and named by trustee Jack B. Smith, Jr. ’76. Jack extensive service to our community and her wanted to recognize the influence David had on regular pursuit of excellence in all she does. him and so many other students over his 44-year 25
Jonathan Sirois, Spanish, was the first recipient of the Torch Award as reported in the Fall 2016 issue of Tabor Today
arts
Authentic Expression by Lucy Saltonstall ’17
On October 12, 1998, Matthew Shepard, a 21 year old University of Wyoming student from Laramie, WY, died after being beaten and tortured to death by two Laramie residents who had discovered that Matthew was homosexual.The beating as well as the events following resulted in an incredible amount of support for Matthew. But there was also a lot of anger that often seems, in instances like these, to remain behind the scenes. However, The Laramie Project, our choice for our fall drama production, composed from the live interviews of the residents of Laramie, brings the emotion to center stage. One of the most enticing things about the script is that the interviews give voice to all sides from homophobia, to sin, to pity, to activism. When Mr. Howland, the director, asked that I compose live music to accompany Tabor’s performance of The Laramie Project, I was a bit nervous. My experience has only been to be an actor, interpreting and acting out someone else’s words and intention, typically fictional stories. It was the challenge of my life to take the hundreds of voices and words from the residents of Laramie and interpret them, creating my own expression in the language of music. To decide what mood to express, what lyrics and what chords to use, was all dependent on my processing and understanding of what each of the characters believed, and whether or not I agreed with those beliefs. I was absolutely stumped.
inset Photos by Summer Hofeldt ’17
Initially, I took a research approach. I looked up Matthew’s life story, and the stories of his family and friends before and after his murder. I knew every family member he had, every friend, their careers, and how their lives changed. But, it was not until my director asked me to audition for the role of Matthew’s mother, a role with one singular monologue and the most powerful lines I’ve ever spoken in my acting career, that I found the path to the music I wanted to play. I should have known: while the facts were important, music is not about facts; it is about expressing emotion.
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After putting myself in the shoes of Matthew’s mother, and soon after the residents of Laramie, the music flowed out of me continuously and constantly. And as the music flowed, I found my own beliefs expressed: my anger, sadness, fear, and happiness as I experienced it through every word my cast mates spoke. The emotions I played through my guitar were the ones that I hoped the audience would feel as they listened. My final song in the show channels the emotions of Matthew’s parents. Perhaps my favorite original composition, the song is composed from the point of view of Matthew Shepard’s mother. It follows the lengthy monologue I delivered as Matthew’s mother; written from the original court statement that Matthew’s parents made. For that moment, I’m a mother, whose son has passed away, picturing his final breaths, and what has become of this world since his death.
For a moment, I’m Romaine Patterson, Matthew’s close friend turned political activist. For a moment, I’m Aaron Kreifels, a young college student who first discovered Matthew after the beating, and Dr. Cantoway, who received Matthew in the emergency room. I am grateful for this opportunity because of what I gained through the writing and performance of the piece. The music connected me to the emotionality of the entire experience and allowed me to not only stage my best acting performance to date, but more importantly to gain a much deeper insight into my own heart and understanding of humanity itself. As I complete my senior year, with four years of musicals, dramas, and many musical performances and classes under my belt, I realize that Laramie stands out as perhaps the most complex artistic challenge I have experienced at Tabor. It represents a true capstone project that required me to use my whole being to create an authentic and complex expression that challenged me to push my creativity and to test my limits. Editor’s Note: Tabor’s excellent cast brought The Laramie Project to Ellesmere College in England over spring break as part of our biennial drama exchange. In April, the English students will arrive at Tabor to live in our dorms, among our students, sharing their show with us. The exchange is yet another opportunity for our students to learn from students around the world, and exchange ideas and customs.
LYRICS I look at the stars The same ones he saw The ones that we looked at When he was young
He died with the wind That Wyoming sound Tied to that fence No one around
He’s not a sinner; he’s not a saint He’s just a boy who was trying to find his way Sons of yours, sons of mine Praying to God that he’s safe and sound up there
Friends grabbing hands Devoting their lives Saying living broken lifestyles Don’t mean making thousands cry
He’s not a sinner; he’s not a saint He’s just a boy who was trying to find his way Sons of yours, sons of mine Praying to God that he’s safe and sound up there
He looked at the stars When he lay there that night Laramie sparkles Those blue city lights
Laramie, Laramie What will your children become? Sons of yours, sons of mine Praying to God that he’s safe and sound up there
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Kayla Aimone ’17
Stuart Wemple ’20
athletics
What a great six months!
Julia Pardo ’18
Mallak Albusaidi ’17
Bryn Jacobs ’17
The fall saw Tabor’s acceptance into the ISL, the opening of Tabor’s Athletic Hall of Fame, girls’ and boys’ crew returning to the Head of the Charles and two New England Championships— boys’ cross country captured a Division II title and football a Class B Bowl. The momentum carried into the winter as our boys’ hockey team was selected to play in Frozen Fenway, girls’ squash took 2nd place at the Class C NE Championship, boys’ squash placed 10th at the Class A NE Championship, and produced a Class A NE Champ—Aly Hussein ’19. Isaiah Bailey ’18 also earned a wrestling NE Championship and was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler. Our girls’ hockey and basketball teams qualified for the New England Tournament—hockey #6 and basketball #3. There is no doubt that the success of our programs is due in large part to our teamoriented and dedicated student-athletes and the awesome support of the Tabor super fans!
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Once the word spread of an opening in the ISL, we quickly got to work to produce a strong application and prepared well for the interview process. Tabor, along with six other schools, competed for just one spot. We feel extremely fortunate to have been chosen to join such a prestigious league and are very excited to kick off our inaugural season in fall 2017. On the practical side, this acceptance comes with a bit more consistency and rhythm to the lives of our student-athletes and coaches. Our ISL opponents are in much closer proximity than the majority of the schools on our current schedule, which will greatly cut down on travel time and time away from campus. In addition, with the exception of just a few games, we can now adhere to a more routine Wednesday/Saturday competition schedule. Normalizing both the daily schedule and travel will give our students more time to focus on schoolwork, togetherness, and personal reflection. From a community point of view, the ISL will
Our boys and girls who rowed
Izzy Reid ’18
Izzy Reid ’18
at Head of the Charles.
by Conan Leary ’97, Director of Athletics
Continuing with community and camaraderie, the opening of Tabor’s Athletic Hall of Fame was a significant step in bringing generations of talented Seawolves together to celebrate the past, present, and future of Tabor athletics. Over 300 alums, family, and friends rallied behind the 28 inductees ranging from individuals, coaches, and teams from the classes of 1938 to 1994. There were many powerful stories shared from over the years that produced both laughter and tears. The personal connections and growth so many experienced during their time at Tabor were truly inspirational. The commitment by the players, coaches, faculty, and staff then and now is one of the many features that I believe sets Tabor apart from so many other places. We want to hear more and want more of you to come back to campus as often as possible to reminisce, share, and relive your experiences fighting for dear old Tabor. Plans for this fall’s ceremony are already in the works; we look forward to keeping this new tradition going strong. Since the start of this school year, our teams have been working hard and the Seawolf community has been extremely supportive. Moving forward, we will look to strengthen our co-curricular programing by focusing on each level of involvement. Our goal will be to offer the proper balance of coaching and guidance to our student-athletes at each stage of their development. It has been an absolute privilege to be in this role and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together.
For Team Res u lts : Julianna Brewer ’17
Summer Hofeldt ’17
naturally increase the camaraderie among our students. Our ISL fall and spring schedules allow for just about all of our teams to compete against the same school on the same day. Each Saturday and Wednesday is designated as an ISL date. Having an ISL event twice a week creates “mini-rivalries” that will bring our community closer together.
Please visit A thletics at www.taboracademy .org
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al u mni connections
athletic Hall of Fame
The Inaugural Class of 2016
Joby Branion ’81, inductee, with Rich Roller
On October 15, 2016, we enjoyed quite the
Travis Roy ’95, inductee
celebration of Tabor Athletics. We inducted 15 individuals, 6 teams and 7 coaches into the Athletic Hall of Fame. We spent an afternoon filled with memories and accolades, and enjoyed old friendships their special guests. After, many joined the throng of alumni and parents for the football game at Tabor Day!
Dick Duffy ’56, inductee
W atch the opening video at: info.taboracademy .org / hof
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izzy reid ’18
Bryn Jacobs ’18
and accomplishments with over 350 athletes and
Izzy Reid ’18 Izzy Reid ’18
Jack Braitmayer ’48, inductee
1988 Varsity Girls’ Crew Team
1961 Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team
Dick Duffy ’56 Cuts the Ribbon!
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al u mni connections
Welcome our New Advancement Staff E liza Kennedy ’1 0
A ndrew McCain ’84
Young Alumni P rograms
D irector of A lu mni Relations
Eliza returns to Tabor to expand on the excellent foundation that was built by Sara Yeransian who left Tabor for a new life in Denver last summer. We are thrilled to attract another alumnus to the office (four total including Kate Howard Marvel ’87 and Dick Duffy ’56) and know she and Andrew will work closely to be sure the young alumni continue to lead the way toward the future of alumni engagement.
Andrew McCain ’84 has served Tabor as Director of Admissions for 20 years. His knowledge of our alumni base is perhaps unmatched, and his interest in bringing his fellow alumni into stronger community with Tabor was something we couldn’t pass up. With his years of experience in Admissions, Andrew knows our school and traditions better than most, and as an alumnus, has a few stories of his own to share as he hits the road on behalf of Tabor. We know Andrew will use his creativity and good humor to great advantage in this new role, and we can’t wait to see how he will work to propel Tabor’s alumni body forward.
P J O’C onnell Director of Advancement
P.J. O’Connell comes to Tabor after spending 25 years in fundraising consulting. For most of his career, both in senior leadership positions with two major national firms and, most recently, as a sole practitioner, P.J. has directed and managed major fundraising campaigns for clients across the philanthropic spectrum. He has also advised board leaders at numerous organizations and trained hundreds of volunteers. His proficiency in working with a variety of institutions will be very valuable as we seek to continue to build the strength of our advancement program.
“My work has allowed me the privilege of offering to thousands of students the opportunity to join the Tabor community. I know how fortunate I am to be part of this dynamic, interesting, and supportive community. My experience is the motivating force behind my work in Alumni Relations. I believe the power of the Tabor community is an underutilized opportunity for our alumni. Indeed, there is no reason why what we have going on here can’t extend to our alumni around the globe. My experience tells me we would all be better off with a greater level of engagement with this remarkable community. I look forward to chatting with as many of you as I can in the years to come, and making my pitch for the value to you of remaining engaged in your great school.”
“I am excited and honored to work with John Quirk and the Tabor community at this important time in the school’s history. Fulfillment of the ambitious strategic plan will require that we foster and maintain deep, meaningful relationships with the school’s various constituencies. I look forward to the Advancement team playing an important role Editor’s note: As we went to print, Bobbi Krein was hired as our next Director of Admissions effective in Tabor’s growth.” 4.10.17. 32
Stuart Wemple ’20
Stuart Wemple ’20
Frozen Fenway Frozen Fenway was our largest alumni event in history! Attracting over 650 alumni, parent, student, faculty, and past parent fans, we won the night in terms of our numbers and our fans’ enthusiasm for Tabor. It was such a thrill to take the ice at Fenway and enjoy the energy of the city and the huge crowd. The pre-party at Boston Beer Works was a great way to kick-off the celebration. Thanks to all who came out; let’s do it again next year!
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al u mni connections
alumni events
Alumni and parents enjoyed events near and far! A pizza party in Boston for college age al ums , Tabor Day, Head of the Charles, receptions and more . Enjoy the photos !
Tabor day
tabor at tia’s, boston
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boston event
frozen fenway
A lu mni Hock ey
A small but mighty group came back for the alumni hockey game in February. Smiles all around from these skaters who enjoyed ice time in the Travis Roy rink followed by a luncheon. They were a great, enthusiastic, and slightly winded group!
MOMs’ LUNC HE on
senior parent dinner
A lu mnae H ock ey
The ladies and their parents laced up their skates and played in the Travis Roy Rink in the Alumnae Hockey Game on Saturday, February 11th. They all brought their skills and their smiles, making for a fun afternoon. We had 18 players made up of a mom, a dad, 2 coaches, a former faculty member and 13 alums including 2016 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, Colleen Coyne ’89. A luncheon followed with great conversation and reminiscing. Thanks ladies and gents, for coming out to play! new parent reception
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class notes
class notes
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10s
Binjo Emmanuel ’16 (3)
In October 2016, Hobart College firstyear Binjo Emmanuel was named the Liberty League Men’s Soccer Rookie of the Week. Jennifer Joung ’16
Jennifer is enjoying RISD describing it as “D1 Art.” It is challenging and engaging and she enjoys getting back to Marion now and then for a visit. She and Jason Ma ’16 returned to see Grease in February. She sees Bob Han ’13, Katie Solien ’15 at RISD. Bob is finishing up in the Industrial Design department, while Katie is in her second year of Architecture.
bib notes Heather Fournier Truscinski ’93, girl, Eliza, Summer 2016
Molly Little ’16
Michael Fawcett ’95, boy, Isaac, September 2016 Ian Patrick ’84, boy, Finnian, October 2016 Cory Heselton ’03, boy, Brian Craig “Skip”, January 2017 Sarah Madison Pennington ’06, girl, Vivienne Leigh, January 2017
Molly Little was named a US Lacrosse High School All-American her senior spring at Tabor, and she now plays at the University of Vermont. Recently, she scored two goals and had four draw controls vs. Ohio State as the only freshman starter for the Catamounts. She received America East honors as Rookie of the Week for her performance in that game. Follow her progress at www.uvmathletics. com and read about the America East honors here: http://bit.ly/2m9gzsH
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to Hanover for spring racing season. Read his interview in row2k: http://bit.ly/2lVQktO
00s
Class of 2007: 10th Reunion in June! Grace Emmons ’08 & Ryan Carroll ’07 (2)
Sara Kourtesis ’15
I graduated from Tabor in 2015. I currently row at the University of Alabama and made the SEC (South Eastern Conference) Academic Honor Roll with the completion of my freshman year. Gia Doonan ’13 (1)
Gia Doonan and teammates set a new under-23 World Best Time for the United States. Dougherty, Slamons, Doonan and Brewer now own the new time. They had broken the time set five years ago by Germany. Read more about Gia in this issue of Tabor Today in the Making an Impact department.
Grace Emmons and Ryan Carroll got married in June 2016 in Newport, RI. They’ve been together since meeting in 2005 at Tabor! Justin Nichols ’07
After 4 years of working on the hit musical Hamilton, Justin Nichols has branched out to form his own theatrical production company, 31 Tanager Productions. The mission of 31 Tanager is to build new musicals that last, with passion, creativity, and kindness. Justin’s current projects in development include The Crazy Ones, a musical about the life of Steve Jobs, and a pop-rock reimagining of Anne of Green Gables.
Jessie Stowell ’13
Jessie Stowell has been named an Assistant Captain for the Trinity College Women’s Ice Hockey Team. She was named to the NESCAC All Academic Team in 2015 and 2016. The Bantams won their first NESCAC Championship in 2015. Class of 2012: 5th Reunion in June!
Lizi Barba ’06
I recently moved from Santa Cruz, CA, to Washington, DC, to work for the USDA-funded Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program as a communications associate. My position is hosted at the University of Maryland, College Park campus—just about 9 miles outside of DC. I’d be happy to meet up with any fellow alumni in the city!
Alexandra Karambelas ’11 Theo Warren ’16
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Theo is a freshman studying engineering at BU where he was recruited for their crew team. A fall highlight was rowing in the Head of the Charles in October and his team’s third place finish. He regularly sees Charlie Clipstone (Suffolk), Luke Mannory (BU), and occassionally David “Fudge” Eyler who transferred to BU in the fall from University of Oregon. Wyatt Genasci-Smith ’15
Send your NOTES to Alumni@taboracademy.org
Wyatt was the featured interview in row2K magazine. The Dartmouth College sophomore began his rowing career here at Tabor under Coach Taylor Washburn and hasn’t looked back since. Wyatt did a fall term in Cambodia and has returned
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Alexandra graduated in 2015 from the University of Vermont. Most recently, she was a field organizer with Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Presidential campaign and lives in Vermont as a field organizer, social worker, and poet. Devin Karambelas ’11
Devin Karambelas recently graduated with an MSc in Film, Curation and Exhibition from the University of Edinburgh with First Class Honors with Distinction. She has worked with film festivals in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Tuscany, Cambridge, and in Rhode Island. Devin is a 2015 Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Vermont.
Sarah Madison Pennington ’06 (3)
Our family welcomed Vivienne Leigh on January 5, 2017. She joins big brother Grayson who is 3.5 years old. Additionally, the Penningtons will be relocating from Oklahoma to the Fort Collins, CO, area this summer and would love to reconnect with any alumni in the area! Alaska Burr Elia ’05 (4)
I got married in September 2016. Fellow Tabor alums celebrating with me, from left to right: Thomas “Tat” Tarrant ’76, Thomas Tarrant ’12, Lauren Folino ’04, Tucker Burr ’02, Ann Koch Davis ’05, Alaska Burr Elia ’05, Kara Boon ’05, Nick Keches ’05, Josh Darwin ’87, and Tom Brownell ’67.
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Molly Malone ’05 & Garrett Curran ’04 (5)
Hye Bin Joo ’01 (7)
Ellie Osborn ’93
After arriving in Zagreb, Croatia for holiday, Garrett and I were directed by hotel staff to have dinner at Vinodal. Imagine our surprise when someone walks up to the table and says, “Excuse me, you are Molly and Garrett?” What a great day to be a Seawolf! Minji Kang ’04 was randomly at the SAME restaurant! Small world indeed! Minji is in the film industry and was in Croatia working on a movie. We had just landed in the capital for a 12-day vacation and had only been in the country for a mere 2 hours!
Hye Bin Joo, husband Yoon, and twoyear old son Ian spent a week rekindling old friendships and memories in Marion. Says Tinker Saltonstall, “Hye Bin was one of my advisees and an outstanding student and musician while at Tabor. She went on to Brown before returning to Seoul to work for the family business. She and Yoon hope that Ian will one day attend Tabor!”
Ellie Osborn and business partner, Dave Santillo, have started a new company, Venture Outside, based in Maine. The husband and wife team have created Maine (and international) retreats, which combine physical and holistic activities in natural settings around the world.
90s
Class of 1997: 20th Reunion in June! Anusia Hirsch Gillespie ’04
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve been asked to join Harvard Law School Executive Education (HLSEE) in a position at the intersection of client-facing marketing strategy and business development, and internally working with the HLSEE team and Harvard Law School professors to create and deliver programs designed to “develop lawyers into leaders.” The position at HLSEE incorporates everything I’ve been working towards. I began on March 6th. Corey Heselton ’03 (6)
My wife, Jenny Wang, and I are happy to announce the birth of Brian Craig “Skip” Heselton II (named after my father, Brian Heselton a Tabor employee since the late 1980s) on Jan 6, 2017. Class of 2002: 15th Reunion in June!
Heather Fournier Truscinski ’93 (8)
Heather and her husband, Mark, brought home their new daughter, Eliza, from China this past summer. Eliza, age 3, joins big brother, Gabriel at home in New Jersey. They were thrilled to welcome her into their family!
Holley Tyng ’97
Holley Tyng, an associate head coach at Dartmouth College and a former player at Providence College, has been named interim head coach of the Colby College women’s hockey program. Prior to Dartmouth, Tyng was the head coach of girls’ hockey at Tabor Academy, where she had a 23-10-5 record in two years.
Class of 1992: 25th Reunion in June!
80s
Kyle Richards ’89
Kyle Richards wrote Towson University’s Alma Mater which was recently performed at the inauguration of Towson’s new President.
Michael Fawcett ’95
My wife, Jaime, and I just welcomed Baby Isaac into our family. He was adopted into our family in September, and we are absolutely overjoyed! We are currently living just north of Richmond, VA, where Jaime is the Executive Director of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, and I continue to teach fourth grade. We’d love to catch up with any Seawolves passing through the area!
Marvin Pierre ’02
Chip Kakas ’94
Marvin is one of The New Teacher Project’s (TNTP’s) inaugural Bridge Fellows. A former school administrator, Marvin is spending his fellowship year developing an alternative education and workforce development program for formerly incarcerated young men. In January, that program, known as Eight Million Stories, officially launched in Houston. Read a blog post at http://bit.ly/2kMaHtc
Chip Kakas, while rowing at the University of Wisconsin, won a combined 6 medals at the Eastern Sprints and IRAs and was a member of the Under 23 National team at the World Championships in Milan, Italy in 1997. Among many other athletic endeavors over the years, he finished 5th in the over 40 Clydesdale division at the New York City Triathlon this fall.
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Amy Richards ’88 (9)
Amy wrote: “Happy to report that Woman, the series I produced for Viceland, was nominated for an Emmy. Alas, we didn’t win but the honor will hopefully at least get us a second season. Also, just spent time curating talks in Milan, Frankfurt and New York City for Annie Leibovitz’s exhibit, Woman. “Living in NYC with my family, but happy also to be traveling the world, including orchestrating a June 2017 trip to Zambia exploring projects supporting women and girls there. The trip is for high school students, anyone interested can learn more here: http://bit.ly/2kjVn79”
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JOIN OUR ALUMNI NETWORK
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www. tabor academy .org /alumni -directory
class notes
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70s
Lise Schickel Goddard ’88 (1)
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I n M emoriam The Alumni Office has recently received news that the alumni
Lise Schickel Goddard shares news of her most recent publication, The Enduring Educational Model of Midland School. It was published by Midland School to celebrate and describe Midland’s relevance in today’s world as they live out their mission to promote life-long learning, responsibility to community and to the environment. Lise describes her book in the foreword as “part history, part investigation and part reflection on living a timeless mission in a changing world.” Class of 1987: 30th Reunion in June!
listed below have died. The Tabor community extends condolences to the family and friends of those listed.
William A. Berry ’38 Robert G. Scully ’44 Stephen Warsaw ’45 David Barker ’46 Roy Perkins ’46 Irving “Sandy” Taylor ’47 Robert Ganem ’50 Byron Wiswell ’50 Richard Cox ’52 Laurence H. Margolis ’53 David S. Thomas ’54 Gary Reitzas ’55 Gerald Barrington ’56 Bruce Kosman ’56 William Antulonis ’58 Glenn R. Howe ’60 Steven Hartley ’67 Michael C. Phillips ’67 Nicholas Tragakes ’67 Thomas Garland ’69 Spencer Willliam ’75 Tucker Francis ’16
Former Faculty/Staff: Sally Buffinton Richard Marr Ginny Oliver William McCluskey Former Trustee: Frank Harrington Jr. P ’76
David DeFilippo ’84 (2)
David DeFilippo, Ed.D., Chief Learning Officer for Suffolk Construction, had a busy fall. David and his wife, Lisa, co-wrote “A Day in the Life of a Learning Objective” http://bit.ly/2lW0kmV for the October 2016 issue of Chief Learning Officer magazine. David also gave a keynote address entitled, “Learning Science, Structure & Solutions” at the Human Capital Institute conference in Boston. Lastly, David and his team also won a Bronze Medal at the annual Chief Learning Officer magazine awards for their “We Are Suffolk” culture program. Andy Zildjian ’83
Andy Zildjian was inducted into the Hall of Heavy Metal History on January 18, 2017 along with some major heavy metal icons. We need to hear more about that, Andy! Class of 1982: 35th Reunion in June! Peter van Colen ’82
In March of 2016, I retired from the VP of R&D position with a New England medical device manufacturer. I thank my lovely wife, Steph, for helping make this life change possible. Retirement has made it possible for me to spend more time with her and our daughter as well as volunteer my time to worthy causes. We all had a great summer cruising and racing our Cal 33-2, Cable Car.
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Class of 1977: 40th Reunion in June! David Gardner ’77
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True retirement only lasted 6 months though, as this past August I accepted a part-time broker position with New Wave Yachts. I’m now representing two of the best designed / constructed boats from Europe, Hanse & Dehler. I have also accepted the Team Racing Head Sailing Coach position with Dartmouth High School starting spring of 2017. See you on the water! Will Saltonstall ’82 (3)
Will entered the Watershed Ride, a 75 mile bike ride along the Southcoast in support of the Coalition for Buzzards Bay. This was his 9th riding of the event and over the years has encouraged many other riders to join him. Here is a group of Tabor alumni and faculty who rode in the fall event. Will is helping to chair his Reunion in June and hopes to see many of his classmates there. Eric Almeida ’80
Eric Almeida released his third novel Crimean Seas, Kiev Skies (Cove Rock, 2016) in November. The book is an international political thriller. The story unfolds in Ukraine in the year 2013 and plumbs the social and intellectual discontents that yielded the “Maidan” revolution of the ensuing winter. Please visit www. ericalmeida.com for more details.
I retired on October 15, 2016 after 38 years of service in the Navy and Coast Guard. My wife Bridget and I, and sons Ben Gardner, BM3, USCG, and Nate Gardner, Senior Airman, USAF, attended the ceremony at the Coast Guard Base in Boston. It was also great to see my old Tabor friend, Dave Dion ’77, and his wife Ellen. Still enjoying my “other” job as VP for Academic Affairs at Maine Maritime Academy. Charlie Clapp ’76 (4)
I came upon this great little town while biking in the Czech Republic. Jack Hawkins ’74 (5)
Jack Hawkins and grandson, Jackson Hawkins ’17, were visiting family on Long Island and ran into another Tabor alum, Ed Luke ’52. Paul Cole ’73 (6)
Three Tabor boys who still get together every now and then to fish on Paul Cole’s 63ft Bertram Sport fish in the Florida Keys. Pictured are Fritz Mueller ’73, me, and Gary Sprague ’76. Fritz did his recycle thing by catching the blue net. The rest of us caught fish for dinner! Class of 1972: 45th Reunion in June! John “Jack” Stanton ’71
In January of 2016, I released my first CD, entitled Almost Never There (you can’t rush these things). It has a lot of Marion in it. A very fun process. Hope to see you all soon! Robert Malm ’70
My daughter, Lindsey Malm ’01, was married at St. Philip’s Church in Mattapoisett, MA, in October 2016. My friends John Dooley ’69 and Freddie Cicerrchia ’70, along with Coach Tim Walsh, attended.
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60s Class of 1967: 50th Reunion in June! Joe Murphy ’67
Hello 67ers! My wife, Frances, and I recently relocated to Colorado to be closer to our daughter and new grandchild. We moved from Michigan where I was a public affairs officer for the VA National Center for Patient Safety in Ann Arbor. In 2009, I retired from the Navy as a Commander, after 14 years of active duty and 16 spent in the reserves. Looking forward to our 50th Reunion in June. Go Seawolves! Go Cal Bears! John Blake ’65 (7)
I just returned from a month long trip to Easter Island and my last continent, Antarctica. We made 14 landings seeing spectacular views of snow, glaciers, icebergs, and penguins. Drake passage lived up to its reputation with waves up to 30 to 45 feet on the beam. Easter Island was equally enjoyable and we spent 5 days with an America archeologist who took us around explaining Moi. Also spent time in Chile and Argentina.
(7) Peter Nourjian ’64
Peet recently released his book, Hairbrained: The Unauthorized Interview with Donald Trump. Peet states, “It’s the perfect read for the Democrat, Republican or Independent who needs an unlimited source of one-liners around the water cooler, or a political zinger to cut through the partisan tension around the dinner table.” Copies of this Q&A spoof can be purchased on Amazon. Marty Hackel ’61
I have finally semi-retired. I will still be writing for Golf Digest as well as becoming an Ambassador for them, but will eliminate the day to day (commuting etc). This should be a welcome change and will enable me to spend more time with family and on the golf course! Pete Jaeger ’60 (8)
On Veterans Day, November 11, 2016, Pete Jaeger was recognized as “Legionnaire of the Year” during the UNC Hospital’s annual ceremony, which gives tribute to their employee veterans and all US servicemen and women who have served their country. Ted Kakas ’60
Robby Robinson ’65
Robby Robinson who has switched gears some with sports was named the Volunteer of the Year for the Delaware Youth Soccer Association. John is on the Board of Directors for the Henlopen Soccer Club and Secretary of the Delaware State Soccer Officials Association for High Schools in Delaware. He lives with his wife, Sheila, and their all white cat, Lacey, on the Delaware Bay at Prime Hook Beach. William Kerin ’64
Happy to report I’m still upright and taking nourishment (more nourishment than I need). I recently moved from NH to FL to avoid snow shoveling. Enjoying my semi-retirement and the time I get to spend with my wife, Diana. I’m playing a lot of golf and traveling to all corners of the globe, and love spending time in New Orleans with my son, daughter-in-law, and grandson.
I just completed my 25th year of masters rowing competition by winning 4 gold medals at the FISA World Masters Regatta in September in Copenhagen, Denmark. Over the 25 years, I have won 68 medals at the World Masters Regatta and will compete this year at the FISA masters in Bled Slovenia in September 2017. Along the way, I was Chairman of the US Rowing Masters Committee for 9 years. I was awarded the John Carlson Award for “Significant Contributions to the Sport of Rowing”. I am also a member of the Syracuse University Rowing Hall of Fame and a Letter Winner of Distinction at Syracuse. My son Chip Kakas ’94, while rowing at the University of Wisconsin, won a combined 6 medals at the Eastern Sprints and IRAs and was a member of the Under 23 National team at the World Championships in Milan, Italy in 1997.
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50s Gordon Carpenter ’59
After 50 years of practice as a business attorney and counselor, I took pen to paper to capture my experience and wisdom representing budding entrepreneurs with clear, impactful, and practical advice. As a result I am now a published author. The book, Start Your Business…But Do It Right, is now available on Amazon. My Tabor experience stood me in good stead throughout my career and I continue to be licensed by the RI and MA Bars. I now reside on Cape Cod near my childhood summer home.
Summer Programs Sailing, Marine Science, Sports, Swimming, Theater Arts, Drones, Photography, Art, and so much more!
Come explore a summer by the sea, filled with
Peter Glaubitz ’58
I’m heading to Antarctica this winter to join a Shackleton Centenary Voyage Expedition. Sure would be even more amazing if it were on TABOR BOY!
friendship, activities, enrichment, and fun!
Co-ed, Ages 6-17 Day, Residential, CIT
Robert O’Brien ’57
Our 2 (of 9) oldest grandchildren are now freshman at Georgetown, my alma mater. In January 2017, Amy and I went on a cruise from California to Florida through the Panama Canal. One of my avocations is the environment of the Caribbean, so we spend a lot of time there, particularly Jamaica. We typically live in Charlottesville, VA, except July & August when we live at my beloved Mt. Riga in NW Connecticut. My other cause is trying to help people in Cuba, my wife’s interesting and beautiful but oppressed homeland.
www. taboracademy.org/ summer 508.291.8342
Follow Tabor A cademy on Facebook and join o u r Friends of Tabor A cademy Group. send us a classnote
Lincoln Spaulding ’52
for o u r next iss u e at
Lincoln is CEO of Sheppard Envelope Manufacturing Company, which is in its 95th year of business and still going strong! Recently, Sheppard Envelope Manufacturing Company was selected to participate in a virtual presentation presented by the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, and the company’s 95-year history will be chronicled on the brand-new Smithsonian Postal Museum website. A formal opening took place at the museum in Washington, DC, and the virtual exhibition launched on September 13, 2016.
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www.taboracademy .org/ classnotes .
For more news, please see o u r W eb Site
w w w. taboracademy. org
A Desire to Serve: David Gardner ’77 by Billy Sims
When David Gardner graduated from Tabor in 1977, he didn’t have a plan. “I wasn’t ready for college, which is where most of my classmates were headed. I was an average student, an average athlete. I loved the sea, and I wanted to travel.” What he did have, looking back, was, “a pretty good toolbox from the things I’d learned during my four years at Tabor. Some important life skills had taken root, like self-sufficiency, a work ethic, and a curiosity for the world.” There were also individuals in whom he had found guidance and inspiration. They included his biology teacher Gil Stokes, Landfall skipper Randy Jones, and coach Ridge White.
Service Flag Project To honor our Tabor veterans we hung a Service Flag in
H
Wickenden Chapel on Veterans’ Day 2016.
To be represented on the Tabor Academy Service Flag, share your service history on our survey at: http://bit.ly/2hQEB9A
Thus armed with a Tabor education, Gardner enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October of 1977 as a Seaman Recruit. What ensued was a combination of active duty and reserve service in the Navy and Coast Guard that spanned almost 39 years, culminating in a retirement ceremony this past October 15 at Coast Guard Base Boston. “So much for not having a plan,” he says wryly.
Gardner earned a B.S. from Trinity College, a Ph.D. from Duke University, and completed coursework at several other schools including the U.S. Joint Forces Staff College and U.S. Naval War College. He was an Associate Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at Roanoke College, and later Dean of Pre-Medical Programs for Mount Holyoke College. Since 2014, he has been the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Maine Maritime Academy. Looking back on the school he graduated from 40 years ago, Gardner says, “I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but Tabor prepared me exceptionally well. I got a solid, classic education, learned to sail and navigate, and developed a desire to serve my country. The values and affinity for naval tradition that Tabor imparted to me are as important now as they were back then.”
At his retirement ceremony, Gardner reflected on his career, saying, “If I have accomplished anything it is because I have had good role models and been entrusted with mentoring the smart, enthusiastic shipmates who were assigned with me. I’ve emulated He accrued eight years of enlisted service, first in great leaders and learned from true professionals. the Navy and later in the Coast Guard, promoting I’ve been privileged by unfailing support from my up to Quartermaster First Class. Aboard the USS employers, my colleagues and most importantly, Dwight D. Eisenhower, he became the only enlisted my family. There were times it was really tough on man in the Navy at the time to qualify as a conning my family to have me away, or to have me here, officer on an aircraft carrier. Gardner then earned but still gone, my mind somewhere else, on watch.” a commission and served 30 additional years, Gardner’s sons, Nathan and Benjamin, both in finishing as the most senior Captain in the Coast military services, closed the ceremony by reading Guard Reserve. Ultimately, he served as a deck the poem The Watch, ending with, “Today we watch officer on five ships over 12 years, plus shore respectfully gather here to say: Shipmate, the watch duty which included Search and Rescue Mission stands relieved. Relieved by those you have led, Controller, Atlantic Area Chief of International guided, and trained. Captain Gardner, you stand Operations, Reserve Chief of Staff for the First relieved. We have the watch.” District in Boston, and other assignments.
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Tr ustees and emeriti 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7
Chair
Mr. Carmine A. Martignetti ’71 Officers
Mr. Paul J. Murphy ’75 Vice-Chair Mr. David A. Barrett ’70 Treasurerr Mrs. Elizabeth Welsh Eyler ’87, P ’15 ’17 Secretary
Mr. Clement C. Benenson ’00 Mr. Stephen Daniel P ’18 Mr. Anthony G. Featherston IV ’80 Mr. Peter T. Francis P ’14 ’16 Mrs. Kristiane C. Graham P ’16 Mr. Angus H. Leary ’95 Mr. Kenzo Matsumura P ’17 Mrs. Jennifer C. Noering McIntire ’84, P ’16 ’19 Mr. John H. Quirk P ’20 (ex-officio) Mr. Travis Roy ’95 Mr. Garrard K. Schaefer ’72 Ms. Regina Shakin P ’15 ’17 ’19 Mr. Jack B. Smith Jr. ’76 Mr. Phillips G. Smith ’65 Mr. James A. Tomlinson ’83 Mr. Sumner J. Waring III ’87, P ’13 Mr. Louis S. Wolfe ’68 Mr. Geoffrey H. Worrell P ’01 ’03 ’10 Trustee Emeriti
Mr. R. William Blasdale ’61, P ’85 ’90 Chair 1991-2006 Mr. Keith N. Browning ’79, P ’06 ’10 ’11 Chair 2006-2014 Mrs. Deborah C. Clark P ’95 ’97 Mr. John F. Fish ’78, P ’15 Mr. Albert Fried, Jr. ’48 Mrs. Susan S. Grosart P ’00 ’03 Mr. William T. Hurley III ’57, P ’91 ’97 Mr. Edward P. Jaeger P ’94 Mr. Lee Pokoik ’63 Mr. John F. Swope ’56, P ’88
Bryn Jacobs ’17
Trustees
Your Legacy. Their Future. “The same desire to give to the Fund for Tabor throughout my life is the same as the desire to provide for Tabor in my estate…I think it’s natural for people to want to say thank you for being on the receiving end of something positive. It is also natural to want to see the school that helped me so much, continue to be able to do so, to get better at what they do just like we, as people, want to get better at what we do each day. Including Tabor in my estate plans is just my small way of expressing my appreciation and gratitude to all the many teachers, staff, and students at Tabor who contribute so much to creating an extraordinary set of opportunities.” —Ted Whitaker ’69 Tabor has long been a school committed to excellence, responsibility, and to building strong relationships that create a vibrant, supportive community. Students today benefit from the generations before them who have provided for Tabor through their estate plans. These gifts have created scholarships, endowed programs, and provided for faculty support. Your will is a testament to what you value and cherish. Consider including Tabor in your estate plans to honor your past at the school, invest in its future, and secure tax benefits that are reserved for people who include charity in their legacies.
What will your legacy be?
T o learn more abou t the benefits of planned giving, please contact :
Amy Duffell, Director of Planned Giving 508.291.8583 or aduffell@taboracademy.org
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage
Tabor Academy 66 Spring Street, Marion, Massachusetts 02738
PAID Signature Group
Parents of Alumni:
In the interest of sustainability, we are now sending one issue per household. If this magazine is addressed to a son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address with you, please e-mail us at alumni@taboracademy.org with a new address. Thank you! Please recycle this magazine or pass it on to a friend
Rally your gang and enjoy a beautiful weekend at Tabor for Reunion Weekend 2017! Classes ending in
2
’s and
7
’s are
June 9-11
celebrating
this year.