Academy Spring 2014

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Acade m y spring 2014

norfolk academy magazine

inside

Global Perspectives

Studio & Stage

In the Game

From the Classroom

china

a week on broadway

racing the wind

stem & root


Academy nor fol k academy m a g a z in e

table of [ CONTENTS ]

spring 2014 Headmaster

Chapel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2

Dennis G. Manning

— On Honor — An Overdue Thank You

Director of Communications

Betsy Wardell Guzik ’89

from the Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6

Associate Director of Communications

— Literacy Fellows — Program Updates

Kathy Finney Global Perspectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Editorial Board

Ruth Payne Acra ’86 Karen Del Vecchio ’05 Gary Laws Ron Newman Jay Rainey David Rezelman Toy Savage Aubrey Shinofield Gigi Cooke Tysinger ’87 Sean Wetmore ’86

— International Programs — The Argentina Exchange Program — China From the classroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

— iBiology? — STEM & Root — Design & Discovery in the Lower School Studio & stage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

— A Week on Broadway

Student Editors

Lives of Consequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Ben Klebanoff ’15 Banning Stiffler ’15 Deni Budman ’16 Wyatt Miller ’16 Cross Birdsong ’18 Patrick McElroy ’19 Sarah Yue ’19 Laura Read ’20 William Smythe ’20 Shrey Vachanni ’20 David Smythe ’22

— Tracy Gatewood Savage In the game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

— The Art of Racing the Wind Paw prints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

— Literally Blown Away — A Handy Math Tip — Are You Smarter Than a Bulldog? the Savage chronicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

— Royster Through the Looking Glass Photography

Tricia Affronti Bob Handelman Stephanie Oberlander Woody Poole Alumni and Staff Submissions

alumni highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

— Homecoming 2013 — Bulldog Bash — Class Reunions class notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Design

Andrea Hopkins, Cheney & Company

Visit norfolkacademy.org for the latest school news, sports scores and galleries of recent photos. You will also find direct links to all of our social networking communities.

— Class Notes — In Memoriam — The Garrett C. Laws Scholarship On the cover: Students board a traditional

dragon boat on the Kunming Lake at the Summer Palace, Beijing.

Norfolk Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, employment policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics, or other school-administered programs.


from the [ h e a d MASTER ]

... a liberal arts education, animated and made current by engagement in the world we inhabit, is not only the greatest gift we can give our children but also the soundest preparation for a life of consequence, purpose and meaning. Once again we find ourselves approaching the culmination of another school year. This spring feels especially poignant to many of us here at the school, as we bid an emotional farewell to Gary Laws, who retires from Norfolk Academy after forty-four years of remarkable service. Mr. Laws’s steadfast belief in the power of the 12-year program at Academy—along with his characteristic unflappability—has buoyed many a Bulldog over his career at the school. We also say goodbye to long-serving faculty Mrs. Mary Wick and Mr. Charlie Merriam, who have also made their own mark on our school and hundreds of students. They will all be deeply missed. Our school Philosophy states: “Norfolk Academy seeks to offer a coordinated program for students, building and expanding on knowledge and experience from grades one through twelve, encouraging responsible participation in a variety of school activities, providing opportunities for leadership training, and facilitating interaction with the community beyond the school.” A survey of student activities over the past months surely demonstrates our commitment to this core philosophy. While first graders discuss the life and work of Beatrix Potter, second graders are designing and testing windmills. Senior English students guide third graders in the creation “Fractured Fairy Tales”—a lesson for both the younger and older students in the art and mechanics of great storytelling. Teams of ninth graders investigate faculty-suspects for the Biology crime lab, racing against each other to crack a “mock” criminal case. Our leadership Fellows are preparing

to showcase their work in the second annual Fellows Symposium—projects you expect to see in graduate school! Upper School students have returned from international programs in Argentina, France and Italy, and Academy families have welcomed another group of friends from schools around the world. And students are busily preparing for summer internships, our Medical Scholars program, and trips abroad to Germany and China. Indeed, a coordinated program allows our students to explore the complicated connections that link subject matter to human experience, to social communities, and ultimately a larger sense of individual purpose. What strikes me so profoundly about all of our educational efforts is the mix of delight and diligence with which students and faculty throw themselves into these new and oblique ways to learn. I recall a parent retelling the observation of her young son, a brand new Bulldog, during the first days of school. “The days are shorter at Norfolk Academy!” he insisted. When we are fully engaged, when we love what we do, then time does seem to catapult us from one end of the day to the other, from the first day of first grade to commencement. What a happy blink twelve years can be! I hope you will enjoy the stories we present to you in this issue of Academy. In them you will find Norfolk Academy’s remarkable current bearings: a belief that a liberal arts education, animated and made current by engagement in the world we inhabit, is not only the greatest gift we can give our children but also the soundest preparation for a life of consequence, purpose and meaning.

Dennis G. Manning

Headmaster

Norfolk Academy magazine

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[ CHAPEL ]

On Honor On August 27, 2013, Mike Horstman delivered the S. Barron Segar address to Upper School students and faculty. This address is designed to highlight the qualities of honor and integrity which members of the Academy community hold most dear and to set the tone for the new school year. Seldom, if ever, has a speech been more impactful. Sitting in the balcony of the Johnson Theater and feeling the effect on the students of Mike’s words, I was taken with the notion that sometimes the messenger is as important as the message. Mike’s words, delivered in his personal and straightforward manner, are certainly elegant. But the message, one of strength, character and honor, might have been received differently had it not been delivered by a man who stands as such a visible example of all about which he spoke. —Gary Laws Mr. Manning, faculty, students. It is an honor to be able to address you today. I will attempt to emulate Winston’s Churchill’s guidance for public speaking: “Be sincere, be brief, be seated.” The installation of the honor council is a solemn and important event in the life of Norfolk Academy. I’d like to expand a bit on the concept of “honor” based on my experiences. First, to clarify my perception of the concept of honor, second, to link it to the values of respect and third, to apply those and other concepts to the “real world.” First, a bit of background. I was raised in a military family which emphasized honesty and “doing the right thing.” During my younger years I understood those values well enough, but actually applying them sometimes caused problems. Being really honest is hard. “Did you break the window?” my father asks. Of course I did… after all the baseball has “MH” in large letters on it… but isn’t there some way out of the horrible punishment that will result if I tell the truth? My brother and my friends were at the scene of the crime as well. Maybe if I bend the facts just a little? We have all been there. And so, while I comprehended the sense of honesty, I don’t think I had really internalized the concept through my junior high school years. Then my father was transferred and I was told that I would attend a small, struggling private school in Norfolk, Virginia. I was not overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the idea. After all, I would be one of only two new students in a sophomore class of 29.

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My attitude radically changed when I met my teachers and the administration on that first day of school. Mr. Massey, the headmaster, was one of the most impressive—and intimidating—people I had ever met. And the teachers… Ye Gods! Mr. Tucker, 6'8", Mr. Emerson Johnson, 6'7"… was there something different in the water in Norfolk? A formal, student-centered honor code was really fairly new when I arrived at NA from an Arlington, VA, public school in 1957. The code had been formalized in the early 1950s under Mr. Massey’s direction. However, it was quite plain to me that the faculty really meant it and expected the students to adhere to the code absolutely. I spent three years here, from 1957 to 1960. Those years began a change which molded my life forever. “I will not lie, cheat, steal or plagiarize” is obviously the essence of the code here at Norfolk Academy, but it is much more. In essence, the honor code admonishes us to tell the truth and further to do the “right thing.” That can sometimes be more than a bit challenging. Skeptics look at NA’s honor system and often say, “Fine, but what are the kids going to do when they get into the real world? Cheating is endemic in school and in business. Those that don’t take advantage don’t get ahead.” Thomas More said, “If honor were profitable, everybody would be honorable.” My response is that dishonorable behavior is inevitably self-destructive and that our school produces graduates who are the seed


corn for behavior modeling in those organizations to which they go. After my graduation from Norfolk Academy in 1960, I attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY. The concept of honor was hammered home again with a vengeance. The essence was summarized by Douglas MacArthur, a former superintendent of the USMA. “Duty, Honor, Country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be.” Failure to abide by the honor code resulted in an automatic expulsion from the academy. An NCO that I really respected told me that in combat, “You lie, you or others die.” I found that an idea linked to honor which I had noted at Norfolk Academy was reinforced at West Point. That idea is the concept of respect. Respect, like honor, is a two way street. Trust begets respect. Superiorsubordinate, teacher-student… the relationship depends on trust that all participants display. Respect does not necessarily mean liking someone. Some of the toughest, fire breathing officers I have ever known were not particularly likeable, but you could trust them with your life because they always behaved honorably and would tell the absolute truth no matter what the situation. After my graduation from USMA in 1964, my class attended Airborne and then Ranger training. We were not given artillery basic training, so when I was then assigned to the 4th Infantry Division in Ft. Lewis, Washington, as an artillery officer, I arrived in a state of almost total technical ignorance. I had entered the “real world”—or at least the “real Army.” On my second day in the Division, I was given a lesson I would never forget. The unit was doing maintenance in the motor pool and a private asked me a technical question about parts supply. Embarrassed by my ignorance, I replied “Private, I don’t know… go ask the motor sergeant.” Sgt. Thompson, a huge NCO who would later be my recon sergeant, pulled me aside. He said, “With respect, Lieutenant, don’t ever reply to a subordinate like that again. I said, “But I’m a new second lieutenant… I don’t know the answer to his question.” Sgt. Thompson said, “He respects you as an officer. You must respect him and his desire to learn. Reply to him, “Private, I don’t know, but I’ll get an answer for you.” I was embarrassed but that was a lesson in respect that I never forgot. As I matured in the Army I found, after a lot of stumbles, honor and respect are inextricably bound together. Socrates understood this well when he said, “The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.” In some infrequent cases, I was disappointed by the behavior of other officers and

soldiers in my unit. I noted however, that “shaving the truth” was an action which rapidly became common knowledge. Without exception, those who behaved less than honorably lost the respect of their subordinates and peers. Being honest is hard and may even be unprofitable professionally. Yet, difficult as it is, there is really no other alternative. In business as in the military, people who exhibit honesty, trust and respect to subordinates, peers and superiors draw around them teams which act with similar attributes. These are your true leaders. Their teams tend to be motivated, professional, loyal and overwhelmingly successful. After 20 years of service, I reluctantly decided to retire and enter teaching here at Norfolk Academy. I knew my wife and I would miss the Army community, and indeed we have. However, I entered another community at the Academy. That I have never regretted. When I have tried in the past to explain to some of my friends why I am teaching 9th graders at Norfolk Academy after 20 years in the Army, my reply is twofold. First, it is a blast challenging young people to investigate their beliefs and assumptions and explore those of others. Secondly, Norfolk Academy is a training ground for moral behavior and action. This training takes place in the classroom, on the athletic fields, in the arts and in the interpersonal interactions of students and teachers. Exemplary modeling is constantly done by faculty, staff and students. It is a privilege to walk into class every day and deal with bright, enthusiastic and honorable young people such as you. Ladies and Gentlemen, I have, in fact, been sincere… I hope I have been appropriately brief… and now I will be seated. ◆ Mike Horstman ’60 A graduate of Norfolk Academy, West Point Class ’64, with graduate degrees from Iowa State University and Long Island University, Mike’s service to his country (20 years in the Army including two tours in Vietnam) and to our students is evident in every facet of his bearing. To his students, past and present, he is a man of rigorous standards, endless patience, intellectual acumen and rocklike stability. All of them know that he loves them, respects them, protects them and expects the very best of them. Every member of the audience knew that he has lived the message he imparted. His words were a gift to all of us. So is he.

Norfolk Academy magazine

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[ CHAPEL ]

An Overdue

Thank You k

For the past few years in English class, I have been asking my students to take today to write an overdue thank you note to someone who has impacted their lives. Over the course of this time I, myself, have participated in this activity. Past overdue thank you notes have gone to my college field hockey and lacrosse coach, to a fellow teacher, to my sister, and even to a parent in this community. This year I want to share my overdue thank you with this community, as this person has had a big influence on the Bulldog I have become today.

by Patricia Hopkins

Patricia Hopkins Assistant Director of the Middle School and English teacher. Trish Hopkins delivered this chapel to the Middle School on the Wednesday before our Thanksgiving holiday in 2013.

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I can remember the first time I met you —it was in the spring of 1996 at William and Mary’s Education

Fair. Dropping off my resume, I had no idea that my two-minute encounter with a gray-haired big-glasses wearing man would change my life. I had no idea that I was meeting one of the best teachers of my life. And, trust me, I have spent a great deal of time in school and a great deal of time with many teachers in schools. I was a William Floyd Colonial as a high school student, a Longwood Lancer as an undergraduate, a James Madison Duke and then a member of the Tribe at William and Mary as a graduate student, and finally a Virginia Cavalier as a post-graduate student. At times I struggled with who I was; after all, I identified myself in so many ways. You, though, took me aside and turned me into the most important identity I could undertake—that of a Norfolk Academy Bulldog. Your classroom begins here on the grounds of Academy but extends much farther and further. My first lessons naturally came in your office—lessons about having someone else proofread my writing even though I am an English teacher, sending All-Faculty emails as sparingly as possible, using a softer tone with my students when upset or disappointed, calling parents rather than emailing them so that they can hear the tone of my voice rather than simply inferring tone from the words on a screen. I spent so much time in your office my first few years that I felt like a troubled student—and perhaps I was. Still, you kept me around and through your gentle “kid” boxing gloves and your soft words, I began my transformation from a loud New York teacher to the not-always-so-loud New York-ish teacher I am today. As time went on, though, your lessons were broader and your classroom broadened. We began talking about bigger issues. You reminded me, like we try to remind students today, that forgetting about something, like the canned food drive, is not an excuse for not doing something. You taught me it was okay to have things all over my desk—that a messy workspace is not the sign of a messy mind—and that lists and notes are okay—as long as you can find them among the clutter, even the clutter of my own mind. You told me never to start a fight unless I knew it was an important one to win. That lesson is particularly difficult for me, given my nature, but still I am trying. I work hard not to forget, I keep good lists, and I am not so quick to fight. Some of my favorite lessons, though, came away from the grounds of Norfolk Academy. They came at golf courses around the area—from Nansemond River to Bay Creek, from Heron’s Ridge to Stonehouse. And those lessons, too, were not completely golf related. For instance, you taught me to slow down—my swing—and you taught me to exhale—through that same swing. I learned to appreciate the muddy parts of a golf course and of life, and I found the sand not so bad if I would simply dig my feet in a little and then follow through. Of course, there was always danger up ahead, but that is when the lessons you imparted made so much sense. Just a few weeks ago I was lucky enough to play another round of golf with you. As I stood facing an unfamiliar hole with danger up ahead in the form of a marsh, you shared your estimate on yardage and some advice—“lay-up.” My style of play continues to be far too aggressive for that, as you know. Looking at me again, considering who I am, you changed your mind. You offered that I should just go for it. Not surprising, I muffed the shot. Your response, “Nice lay-up.” Through your humor, you applauded my effort to be the golfer and person I am meant to be, and you encouraged me by letting me know that I could still make the next shot and put my ball on the green in regulation. For sharing many laughs, a few tears and lesson #789, thank you. For your guidance, for your grace and for your willingness to teach, thank you. For helping me become an effective teacher, a skilled administrator and a better person, thank you. For all of the many ways you have helped me grow as a Bulldog, thank you. And to the middle school community, may you consider an opportunity this Thanksgiving holiday to send or say or give an overdue thank you. ◆

Norfolk Academy magazine

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from the [ CENTER ]

The Fellows program continues to grow and thrive. We are excited to add a fourth program for 2014–2015, the Literacy Fellows, under the leadership of David Kidd and Elizabeth Johnson. This year culminated in the 2014 Fellows Symposium, where each Fellow presented the progress of their investigations. What follows is an overview of each Fellow’s work.

Literacy Fellows The Center for Civic and Global Leadership launches the Literacy Fellows program.

The Literacy Fellows Program serves to advance literacy as a way to break cycles of poverty in Hampton Roads and beyond. Fellows will work alongside Norfolk Academy faculty to grow in their own writing aptitude, while collaborating with outside organizations and communities to gain firsthand knowledge of the far-reaching implications

Literacy Fellows Class of 2018 Kate Anderson Noa Greenspan Naomi Mitchell Tori Walker

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of literacy. Knowing that critical literacy can break recurring cycles of poverty in our communities, especially with early childhood education, Fellows will themselves become leading readers and writers who will instruct and empower other citizens to greater levels of literacy, education and economic opportunity. The inaugural class of Literacy Fellows will begin work this summer. The program will be led by Dr. David Kidd and Ms. Elizabeth Johnson. ◆


from the [ CENTER ]

Global Health Fellows Class of 2016

cancer far from the forefront

tive to charcoal and wood, I

populated Port-au-Prince. My

HIV/AIDS patients who are

Aneesh

of health crises. But in the

thought that the town of Clory

project focuses on encourag-

malnourished.

Dhawan

developing world—especially

might be interested in having

ing people to move out of the

Feed a Friend

in Haiti—cervical cancer runs

access to that fuel. I plan to

city because of job opportuni-

Helen

Feed a Friend

rampant, and the medical

look into giving them access

ties and improved healthcare.

Shaves

partners

infrastructure simply does not

to some of these biochar bri-

with local

exist to treat it. But low cost

quette kilns as a replacement

Nathalie

Fuel in Haiti:

businesses to provide a

screening (careHPV, VIAA)

to charcoal and wood in the

Danso

Reducing

simple way for people to help

and treatment (cryotherapy)

interest of lowering risk for

Managing

the community while also

have begun to alleviate the

many varieties of respiratory

Waste;

Disease in the Kitchen

enjoying an excellent meal.

global cervical cancer burden.

diseases caused by charcoal

Managing

Intrigued by Guypson

and wood combustion.

Disease

Catalis’s presentation last fall

Through social media marketing, Feed a Friend raises

Stuart

funds to further strengthen

Luter

food programs such as the

Clean Cooking

Respiratory

I will be exploring the

on biochar briquette fuel for

Brian

underappreciated benefits

cooking as a safer alterna-

Women’s

Peccie

of sufficient human waste

tive to charcoal and wood I

Food Bank and also to create

Empowerment

Treating

management and the positive

thought that the town of Clory

new programs throughout the

Curriculum

Malnutrition

effects it can have on control-

might be interested in having

Tidewater area.

Monitoring

in Haiti

ling disease.

access to that fuel. I plan to look into giving them access

This year my

and Evaluation Bridget

Last summer I implemented

focus is on malnutrition and

Ryan

to some of these biochar bri-

Dickinson

a Women’s Empowerment

I plan to look into the differ-

Fulmer

quette kilns as a replacement

Rapid Diag-

Curriculum in a rural vil-

ent solutions of this issue

Solar Panels

to charcoal and wood in the

nostic Tests

lage in Haiti. This past year

after concluding that it is the

for Haiti

interest of lowering risk for

Rapid

midwifery students taught the

most prevalent food-related

My goal is to

many varieties of respiratory

Diagnostic

curriculum every other week

illness in Haiti. Through the

find ways to

diseases caused by charcoal

Tests (RDTs) are used mainly

to young women in the com-

implementation of either

improve education in Haiti,

to diagnose malaria and

munity of Clory. I am looking

a fish farm, a chicken and

specifically at a school in

other diseases, and are an

at different ways to monitor

egg program, or a future

Hinche called the Flower of

Class of 2018

upcoming advancement in

and evaluate the curriculum.

fish silage program with the

Hope School. I plan to help

We are proud to recognize

third-world countries. I spoke

I will be discussing the suc-

help of Operation Blessing

this school by working to

the new Class of 2018 Global

about what RDTs are and

cesses and failures I have

International, I plan to treat

implement solar panels there,

Health Fellows:

their potential to change the

seen as well as the next steps I

malnutrition and at least

and helping with any future

Claire Cunningham

diagnostic practices in limited

will take to improve upon and

make a difference in one life,

projects.

Gabi Diskin

resource settings.

scale up the program.

one family or, hopefully, an entire community.

Elizabeth Heckard Justine

Lawson Montgomery

Kaskel

Olivia Newsome

Malnutrition,

Hunt Stockwell

Elizabeth

Wyatt

Lilly

Miller

Cost-Effective

Clean Cooking

Graham

HIV/AIDS

Cervical Can-

Fuel in Haiti:

Barbour

and... Peanut

cer Screening

Reducing

Decentraliza-

in Haiti: the

Respiratory

tion in Haiti

The goal of this project is to

Class of 2017

and wood combustion.

Butter?

careHPV Test and VIAA (Visual

Disease in the Kitchen

Due to the

introduce vitamin enriched

Inspection with Acetic Acid)

Intrigued by Guypson

lack of de-

products (such as Plumpy’nut

In the United States, the

Catalis’s presentation last fall

centralization in Haiti, there

peanut butter) in certain

availability and low cost of

on biochar briquette fuel for

is an increased chance of

hospitals in Haiti as part

Pap smears keep cervical

cooking as a safer alterna-

disease breakouts in densely

of the treatment plan for

Norfolk Academy magazine

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Chesapeake Bay Fellows Class of 2015

can inspire the next generation

shed of the Chesapeake Bay

to complete a transplanta-

Courtney

to be more environmentally

as a result of farming, as well

tion from the York River

Byler

and civically minded with each

as the various solutions that

into three locations on the

Aquaponics:

colorful and exciting page.

have been suggested to deal

Lynnhaven River next spring.

with them.

Also, in partnership with the

A Solution for the Future

Wilson

Over this

Ford

Class of 2017 Perry

Chesapeake Bay Foundation, I

Class of 2016

am monitoring an oyster spat

past school year, I have been

Fish Ladders:

Deni

catcher on the Eastern Branch

Clay Best and

researching the advantages

Are They Really

Budman

of the Elizabeth River to grow

Holly PoweR

of aquaponics—a system that

the Right

Birds of the

new oysters in the river.

Oyster Aquaculture

combines growing fish with

Solution?

Bay

We have researched the po-

watering plants. I have set up

My presentation detailed the

I have studied

Elise

tential benefits of oyster aqua-

a system of my own, where I

plight of the American Shad

the birds that

Turrietta

culture—the process through

have converted the waste of

along with other anadramous

live in, on and around the

Water

which oysters are farmed for

five goldfish to usable nitrates

and catadramous species that

Chesapeake Bay watershed,

Quality in the

human consumption while

to water plants. I am in the

have suffered because of the

their effects on the environ-

Lafayette River

filtering the Bay at the same

process of implementing my

construction of dams. After

ment, and the negative influ-

I researched

time—for the Bay ecosystem.

successful system into a larger

this overview I discussed

ences from the population.

background information

tank with bass in the Norfolk

modern day technology that is

I’ve also designed a website

about the pollutants and water

Academy Ecosystems room.

being used to combat this is-

to educate about the different

quality of the Bay, focusing on

sue and analyzed the benefits

birds in the area and how to

nitrogen and phosphorus, and

and problems with these

help in the future.

performed water quality tests

technological solutions.

Perry

during the winter and the Jeb

spring on the Lafayette River.

CHristopher

Cullipher

I’ve analyzed the results,

Perry Frazer and

Hornbuckle

Buffers and

looked for trends in the data,

Austin Rutter

A Tide of

Shoreline

and made conclusions about

A Keystone Species

Alana Davitt and

Change

Conversion

their impact on the Bay.

We investigated rockfish and

Ellie Randolph

I presented my

I am investi-

No More Mermaids

documentary

gating buffers, sea level rise

how removing a species from Alice Yang

the environment can cause an

Alana Davitt, an aspiring

film featuring the Chesapeake

predictions for our area, and

History of the

entire ecosystem to crash.

teacher and writer, and Ellie

Bay Fellows program. The

what happens to shorelines

Bay: Where

Randolph, an imaginative

film explores the importance

when the sea level rises.

the Modern

thinker and gifted art-

and impact of the program

ist, teamed up to create a

and the experience Fellows are

Quint

children’s e-book following a

gaining. I also explained how I

Heaton

I have investigated the history

mermaid’s journey throughout

went about creating the film.

Problems Stem From

Eelgrass

of the Bay from the 1600s

the Chesapeake Bay and its

and Oyster

to modern day to show the

tributaries. Entitled No More

Chris

Restoration in

evolution and deterioration of

Will Tysinger and

Mermaids, the book will be

McElroy

the Southeast

the Bay’s health. I have also

Julia Minder

able to educate young readers

Eating Our Bay

Tributaries of Chesapeake Bay

identified easy tips for people

Tributaries and Related Runoff

on the history of our Bay, the

I presented

After researching past eelgrass

to do at home or in their

We have analyzed pictures

issues facing it today, as well as

on how vari-

restorations and talking with

daily lives that could make an

from an experiment we

be able to show off many other

ous farming

VIMS and the Virginia Marine

impact on the Bay.

conducted on the Maury River

fellows’ past projects through

practices can affect the Bay.

Research Commission about

and explained the different as-

interactive links in each illus-

I focused on pollutants that

eelgrass growth cycles during

pects of the river as they relate

tration. We hope that this book

enter the airshed and water-

the fall, I am creating a plan

to river health and runoff.

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International Relations Fellows Class of 2018

Class of 2016

in Iraq, but not in Saudi Ara-

juxtaposed the benefits of a

and issues surrounding the

We are proud to

Thomas

bia; and finally, how it is all

two-state solution between

treaty, around which I based

introduce the new

Ferguson

explained by our need for oil.

Israel and Palestine and

my research. The major issue

Class of 2018

The Effects of

explored the possible conflicts

I discuss is the inability of the

Chesapeake Bay

Apartheid on

Hannah

this agreement might create.

treaty to deter proliferation,

Fellows:

South Africa’s

Wheaton

Hans Christofferson

Economy

Child, Not

Luke

and what can be done.

Finn Cochrane

As a result of my interest in

Bride: A

Cromwell

Chris

Katie Debbas

economics and the develop-

Cornerstone to

Democratic

Kazakis

William Dickinson

ment of Africa in the post-

the Advance-

Republic of

Economic

MacKenzi Mills

colonial era, I chose to study

ment of Women in Nigeria

the Congo:

Policy and

Christian Randolph

Africa’s most significant econ-

There are many pressing

Strengthening

Challenges of

omy: South Africa. In addition

issues straining the advance-

the Heart of Africa

to that, I have been studying

ment of young women in

The DRC’s current state is

I investigated the economy of

introductory microeconom-

sub-Saharan Africa and

one filled with corruption,

Brazil and the government of

ics and macroeconomics and

Nigeria, and one of the most

a barely existent economy,

Brazil’s approach to economic

hope to teach about these

challenging is the high rates

lack of security, and rampant

policy. I compared Brazil’s

topics in the Breakthrough at

of child marriage. Without the

genocide. In 2011, the United

economic state to similar na-

Norfolk Academy program.

completion of their education,

States alone dumped $2.3

tions, presented my own opin-

many young women have

billion in foreign aid into the

ion on how Brazil can better

Sophie Kidd

their childhood stolen and

country, and their situation

its economy, and talked about

Female Artists

lose opportunities to better

has only gotten worse. The

why I think Brazil might be

for Social

their lives and communities.

DRC’s future depends on

important to the U.S.

Brazil

foreign guidance now.

Change I am examin-

Jessica

ing the work

Williams

Alix

Moscoso

of a female punk band, visual

North Korea’s

Galumbeck

Chechnya:

artist and writer who all use

Information

Smack Down

Ending a 150-

their works to advocate for

Bubble

in Ukraine:

Year Struggle

social change. Through their

North Korea

East vs. West

Nico

I examined

revolutionary artistic advocacy,

has one of the most tightly

these artists changed the world

controlled medias in history.

a pivotal role in American-

its fight for independence

with their works and their abil-

Freedom of speech and press

Russian relations. Will these

from Russia. My project pres-

ity to promote activism.

is a human right that cannot

superpowers become fast

ents a solution that appeases

be ignored. I discussed the

friends or will another Cold

both sides and makes Chech-

Pablo

Hermit Kingdom’s isolated

War ensue? The answer lies

nya more independent.

Vazquez

information bubble and how

with Ukraine.

Our Best

we can reach the people

Friend in the

trapped inside.

Middle East: U.S. Ties

Class of 2017

Ukraine plays

the history of Chechnya and

Class of 2018 Hallie

We are proud to recognize

Griffiths

the new Class of 2018 Inter-

Why Aren’t We

national Relations Fellows: Sophia Burke

to Saudi Arabia in Recent

Jaden Baum

Taking Nuclear

Decades

Pros and Cons

Proliferation

Mila Colizza

I will be discussing Saudi

of a Two-State

Seriously?

Adavya Dhawan

Arabia and 9/11; Bush admin-

Solution

I have created five questions

Tai Jeffers

istration ties to Saudi Arabia;

My pre-

about nuclear proliferation,

Jimmy Peccie

U.S. championing democracy

sentation

the Nonproliferation Treaty,

Chase Yager

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[ GLOBAL ] perspectives

International Programs Norfolk Academy strives “to foster intellectual

curiosity, individual creativity, and personal responsibility so that education goes beyond the classroom and ultimately beyond the experience at this school,” as stated in our Philosophy and Objectives. International exchange programs with partner schools are primarily linked with the foreign language curriculum: Our German exchange has been running for 40 years, the French exchange for 10 years and the Argentinean exchange for 3 years. Globalization is making our world more interconnected than ever before and international experiential education helps equip our students to excel in it. As we look forward, we aim to integrate international programs with a greater portion of the curriculum, offering our talented faculty the opportunity to engage students in the field. Upper School students traveled to Italy over spring break to expand upon their science and art curricula, exploring the chemistry inherent in art conservation. We are already in the midst of planning an international opportunity integrated with the Middle School curriculum as well.

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International programs are designed to fuel the passions of all students—whether they’re interested in service learning offered through our trip to the Dominican Republic with Outreach360 or leadership development in China with Where There Be Dragons (a new component of the Chinese exchange). For our most independent students, we offer a junior year or summer abroad in France, Spain, Italy or China via the School Year Abroad program, or to Jordan via Arabic Year at King’s Academy. We encourage our students to share their transformative international experiences to enrich the Norfolk Academy community; an international symposium will bring representatives from our sister schools to campus in the coming years. Our vision is to make global education a touchstone of the Norfolk Academy experience for every student in the years to come. ◆ Price Massey ’02 In addition to teaching and coaching in the Middle School, Price directs the Global Health Fellows Program and is the new director of International Programs at Norfolk Academy.


The

Argentina Exchange Program In June of 2012 and March of 2013 and 2014,

Norfolk Academy students traveled to Argentina on an exchange program with Colegio SantĂ­sima Trinidad (or Holy Trinity College), a pre-K through 12 independent school located in the beautiful, coastal city of Mar del Plata. Students lived with host families, attended classes with their host students, and participated in Argentine culture and history classes given to them by Holy Trinity teachers. They also had the opportunity to experience various outdoor activities, such as deep-sea fishing and rock climbing. They caught and ate striped sea bass, got up close and personal with penguins and sea lions, and belayed down the side of a mountain. A highlight of the March trip was a surfing lesson with Martin Passeri, the five-time Argentine national

surfing champion! Another meaningful part of the exchange has been the community service component. Students have immersed themselves in leading Bingo games at a nursing home, tutoring at an elementary school, and cleaning, painting and landscaping a family center in an impoverished section of town. By the end of the trip, students, teachers and parents alike were in tears as they said goodbye to their new American family from Norfolk Academy. We look forward to hosting Holy Trinity again in January of 2015. â—† Brooke Fox, Upper School Spanish Teacher, coordinates the Argentina exchange program and chaperoned Norfolk Academy groups to Argentina in 2012 and 2013.

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ARGENTINA: Photos taken by Steven Goldberg during the March 2013 trip to Mar del Plata.

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[ GLOBAL ] perspectives

The Reluctant Fisherman I always hated fish. Tuna fish was the reason. The smell would send me across the room. Additionally, I also hate cold weather, and terribly enough, I was forced this summer into an activity involving both horrors: deep sea fishing in Mar del Plata, Argentina. I waddle in my umpteen layers with my alphabeti-

cally determined half of the exchange group onto a tiny boat. The boat is accompanied by two 20-something lifelong smokers who slur Argentinian Spanish at Señora Fox. My pinky toes are numb. My threshold for cold, already surpassed onshore, is now being lowered as the wind chill solidifies my earlobes. Worsening this inauspicious beginning, as we voyage to our frozen hell Señora informs us that hers is a queasy stomach. Her stomach will prove this declaration nine times today. I grimly shuffle inside, where Fate forces me to choose: Do I endure that cold so bitter stubbing your toe feels like an impromptu amputation? Or that special type of mortification one feels after vomiting inside a fishing boat due to the nauseating properties of Argentinian secondhand smoke? The cold wins. After spotting a penguin doing the backstroke, we drop anchor, I think. It doesn’t actually feel like we’ve stopped moving… at all. Despite my hatred for them, I catch the first two fish. They’re my only fish; afterwards, my hands are too frozen even to give a thumbsup to Erin as she catches her thirteenth. Her big haul reeled in, our captains oblige Señora’s request to head homeward. Those who have taken Dramamine return inside to the welcoming green pleather of the sofa, while Señora, Tabor and I remain outside. They shove their heads between their knees, while I prop myself up in the doorway. The man not driving the boat begins to debone the fish as I watch. Now at this point, I have accepted that this is the worst day of my life. Here I am, a penguin’s backstroke away from Antarctica wearing four pairs of socks, torn between throwing up or losing digits to frostbite. Then this man starts in on the catch: cutting out swim bladders and kidneys. I watch as he throws the scraps to the growing cloud of seagulls chasing us. He dumps the filets in the bucket where the whole fish had rested. As I study him, carving out these snowy white slabs with a cigarette dangling out of his mouth, his friend turns the radio on: Another One Bites the Dust. “Te gusta Freddie Mercury?” “Claro que si!” Duh nuh nuh. Another one bites the dust. Chop chop chop.

Squawk squawk squawk. I realize that he is ashing his cigarette into the fish bin. We flee to the nearest restaurant, where the man behind the counter points out the radiators so we may revive our limbs and melt our socks. Señora hobbles in with a plastic shopping bag of fish and in half an hour they are fried up with lemons, served with some big sodas with real sugar. Señora called it the most miserable she’s ever been. I agreed, although I think the whole experience gave me a new willingness to endure misery. They say it loves company, and I have discovered that the stories you share with the company after the misery are often pretty funny. Plus, it was the best fish I ever ate. And I’ve eaten a lot since then—turns out, I love fish. ◆ Harper Dodd ’13 shared a particularly memorable outing with the Norfolk Academy Argentina exchange group in 2012.

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[ GLOBAL ] perspectives

China Norfolk Academy and Beijing No. 101, one of the most prestigious schools in Beijing, began a cultural exchange partnership in 2013. Both schools are members of the WLSA (World Leading Schools Association), a highly selective group of the top schools worldwide, whose mission is to promote educational exchange and cooperation between leading secondary schools in China and the rest of the world. For the past two years, students from Beijing No. 101 were hosted by Norfolk Academy families in February. In June of 2013, sixteen Norfolk Academy students visited Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing, China. A summer 2014 trip to China is currently being planned. Here are some of the highlights from our 2013 visit.

Shanghai The ancient town of Zhujiajiao, built upon the canals of the local rivers, is the Venice of the East. We toured the town by boat, taking in ancient bridges, local stores and houses perched over the rivers. Cobblestone sidewalks line some of the canals, filled with locals selling their goods and artisan works. It was a beautiful and tranquil afternoon with a warm gentle breeze blowing across the rivers adding a sense of natural movement and serenity. Fudan-WLSA We spent one full day touring and attending classes at the Fudan-WLSA school, which offers an international curriculum for 48 Chinese students, half of whom board. They take a heavy course load of math, science, English language, literature and history. International WLSA instructors teach all but the math and science courses in English. We observed history, calculus and biology classes at Fudan-WLSA. Teaching English with Hope The sound of delighted children rang out across the courtyard, echoing forth from the windows and doors of over a dozen classrooms. This universal sound was the perfect tone and pitch to lift hearts and bring smiles to the faces of the NA students.

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The NA students and the Fudan-WLSA students visited the Hope School, a primary school for children of Chinese migrant workers. Each Norfolk Academy student was paired with a Chinese student, and they collaborated on the development of a 15- to 20-minute lesson plan to teach English to the children. The international pairs enhanced their lesson plans with PowerPoint presentations, pictures, enticing candy, songs and other visual aids. This was a life-changing moment for our students as they saw the power of a smile, the universal nature of good will, and the value of service in every society and culture.

Yanan Middle School At Yanan Middle School in Shanghai, a school of 1,500, we observed classes, learned how to sing and play traditional Chinese music and painted our own opera masks. Xi’an Our adventures took us to Xi’an for two days to take in the Wild Goose pagoda, the amazing Terra Cotta Warriors, one of the world’s oldest mosques outside of the Middle East, and the city wall, upon which we rode a fleet of bicycles. Beijing Our journey ended in Beijing, the home of Beijing No. 101, where we gazed upon the wonders of Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and of course the Great Wall. As our inaugural exchange came to a close we were thankful for the opportunity to share our culture and school with our friends from China and at the same time gain an invaluable insight into their history and culture. This superb friendship that spans the continents will last for generations to come! ◆ Bernie McMahon, Upper School Spanish Teacher and Chinese Program Coordinator. Excerpts taken from the blog written during the students’ travels to China.


We were thankful for the opportunity to share our culture and school with our friends from China and at the same time gain an invaluable insight into their history and culture.

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top left ( clockwise) Cal Neikirk

teaches English at the Hope School; the Great Wall of China; students point west on Xi’an’s ancient city wall; students mistake Mr. McMahon for an ancient Terra Cotta Warrior; a traditional lunch was hosted by Fudan-WLSA parents; eager young students at the Hope School were happy to have visitors.



from the [ CLASSROOM ]

iBiology? Biology is evolving. Over the past two years, we have made a subtle shift in the way we teach 9th grade biology—not what we teach, or why we teach, but how. In 2012, Scott Fowler and I started using iPads on a

shared platform in our classrooms. During the school day, all 9th graders have access to an iPad during Biology class and also during free bells (if they are not already being used by other students). We have replaced traditional hardbound textbooks with e-texts that can be accessed from any Internet-based device, as well as i-texts on the set of iPads designated for Biology classes. Making the switch to a digital textbook was a big decision. Would our students miss the ability to take notes in the margins? Would they be willing to take the time to learn a new format? Would they miss the security of having books in their backpacks? Some answers to those questions are yes, some are no—and as you might predict, we observed some variation across

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individuals. Overall, though, the consensus is that these new tools allow us to advance student learning in a way that far outweighs our initial apprehension about the new format. With embedded tutorials and graphics, flashcards for vocabulary, and the self-checking quizzes —these are definitely not your parents’ old biology textbooks! Evolving our textbook was only the tip of the iceberg of changes with which we are now able to experiment. iPads are not just tools for consumption: they are tools for creation and exploration. We’ve been able to move from a paper-and-pencil lab book to a digital portfolio for each learner. Students can take this compilation of work with them as they progress to the Upper School. As teachers, we are able to have our students


share their work easily, have individualized conferences to discuss data and conclusions, and follow up after any corrections are made. Through the art of “app smashing,” we can use multiple apps to create a final project that is shared within classes via Apple TV, with the entire 9th grade through shared Google docs, or even on a global scale through blogging (glassmanbiology. blogspot.com) and tweeting (@BiologyNA). Through my blog The Forever Student, a labor of love and a testament to our school’s Philosophy of “judicious experimentation with the new,” teachers, students and other interested readers can learn about projects like the crime lab “mockumentaries” that groups of students create to show understanding of blood typing, hair analysis, drug and DNA analysis. By replacing the traditional project report with movies created on iMovie, students engage their creative talents while showing that they understand the content. Thinking differently about the end product and the ultimate goal turns our lab space into a working lab that more closely resembles how real science is undertaken and advanced. Finally, we have broken the physical barrier of having only a tethered, hardwired computer in the classroom—we are free to move about and broadcast our work to the projector from any physical space in the classroom. When we broadcast work from iPad to projector, editing and peer review become a natural and organic part of our process. And we are able to tackle more long-term projects and gain a depth of understanding because we are no longer tied to the schedule of a computer lab—our tools and resources are at our fingertips whenever and wherever we need them. Here is the coolest part: our discovery as we have incorporated this technology into the curriculum. Students are realizing that science is not “done” just because the deadline has arrived. As they analyze more data and modify their conclusions, students are able to create multiple drafts of work. What once we would have marked as complete and well done isn’t good enough for our students anymore—they realize they can keep improving on the final product, and our new tools allow us to make these modifications and improvements without investing vast amounts of “do-over” time. The changes, you see, are not about the technology—but because of the technology we are finding better ways to teach and engage our students. What was once the most frightening aspect of adding technology is now what I embrace the most. I have forced myself to give up some of the control and

Thinking differently about the end product and the ultimate goal turns our lab space into a working lab that more closely resembles how real science is undertaken and advanced. to allow our students to take more of the responsibility for their own learning. Allowing our students to become “disruptive innovators” helps them become better problem solvers, communicators, creators and curators. The result is incredibly satisfying for teachers and students alike. After all, as Middle School Director Gary Laws has told us time and time again, “Middle School is where we grow children.” Through the use of the iPads, Twitter and other technology, we are helping our students understand the importance of positive digital citizenship. The physical space of our classrooms is changing to allow for more mobility and inquiry and questioning. Regardless of one’s beliefs or comfort with the advancements of technology, one goal should be consistent for all of us. We need to ready our students for their future, not ours. ◆ Elizabeth Glassman, Middle School Science Teacher

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from the [ CLASSROOM ]

STEM & Root It’s probably Tom Friedman’s fault.

In 1957, the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial Earth satellite, famously precipitated an era of redoubled emphasis on math and science instruction in American schools. In passing the National Defense Education Act of 1958, Congress declared, “The defense of this Nation depends upon the mastery of modern techniques developed from complex scientific principles.”1 Fast forward to 2005, and a new “Sputnik crisis” emerged in the pages of Friedman’s bestselling The World Is Flat. Like all good sequels, this one presented a familiar hero but fresh antagonists: now China and India, emboldened by globalization, were America’s competition. Friedman argued that free trade “must be accompanied by a focused domestic strategy aimed at upgrading the education of every American, so that he or she will be able to compete for the new jobs in a flat world”2—and the requisite components of “education” in Friedman’s analysis were clear. Although the now ubiquitous STEM acronym

He even teaches his students how to build an atomic bomb. (If you are wondering whether you should be impressed or disturbed by this revelation, the answer is “yes.”) appeared nowhere in the pages of The World Is Flat, the words “science,” “technology,” “engineering” and “mathematics,” STEM’s four constituent elements, together appeared 330 times. By contrast, “humanities,” “liberal arts,” “literacy” and “reading” received only 30 total mentions. (In the 1990s, the National Science Foundation coined “SMET,” an unbeautiful shorthand for science, mathematics, engineering and technology in use only by that organization until 2004, when Dr. Judith Ramaley applied the “STEM” makeover and a star was born.)3

The problem with STEM is one of nationalism and distraction, but the promise of STEM is one of rejuvenation and focus. Inextricably, as in The World Is Flat, STEM fields are linked with America’s global economic prospects—indeed, the home page of the STEM Education Coalition makes no mention of students, teachers or classrooms (you would hardly know it has anything to do with learning)—but many schools have nevertheless embraced the STEM movement as an inducement to curriculum examination and renewal. Xenophobia or no xenophobia, STEM intelligences and methods are integral to professional preparedness and “life readiness” in today’s world, and their federation in a single acronym models the value of cross-disciplinary approaches to instruction. At Norfolk Academy, where teachers have long understood themselves as joined in common purpose, content coverage in the humanities frequently extends “across the aisle” to STEM fields and vice versa. Mike Horstman, who teaches World Cultures to 9th-grade students, contends that “it is impossible to discuss societies without talking about technological change,” and several of Richard Oberdorfer’s lectures in Modern European History stress the importance of science and scientists in the rise of the West: the roles of Copernicus, Galileo and the scientific method in European expansion and commerce; the influence of scientific theory on social theory during the Enlightenment; the rise of Darwin and the “cult of science” in the latter half of the nineteenth century; and the impact of cybernetics on Western values after the Second World War. In his Alternate History course, too, Richard encourages his students to examine “technological turning points”— e.g., tubes, transistors and nanotechnology—through a “what if” historical lens. David Rezelman notes that in International Relations, “uranium enrichment, plutonium production and the operation of nuclear reactors are subjects of in-depth discussion in relation to nuclear weapons proliferation.” He even teaches his students

1. http://wwwedu.oulu.fi/tohtorikoulutus/jarjestettava_opetus/Troehler/NDEA_1958.pdf 2. Thomas L. Friedman, The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, 263. 3. http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/article_457afe3e-0db3-11e1-abe0-001cc4c03286.html

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The promise of STEM is one of rejuvenation and focus.

how to build an atomic bomb. (If you are wondering whether you should be impressed or disturbed by this revelation, the answer is “yes.”) Another Upper School social science course, Psychology, maps the intersection between STEM fields and the humanities. “We spend a lot of our time looking at the biological bases for sensation and perception, consciousness, learning and cognition, motivation and emotion, personality and abnormal behavior,” notes Graham Hudgins. “We also study brainwave patterns of various states of consciousness as well as neurochemicals, neurophysiology, a little psychopharmacology and the science of neurotransmission.”

Students learn about the overlap between STEM and the humanities in their science classes, too. When Witt Borum and Woody Poole teach their 8th-grade Physical Science classes about color and light, they highlight the work of set design and illumination in theater. “Knowledge of additive and subtractive color mixing is a critical skill for those in charge of lighting the stage and painting the sets,” notes Woody. “Students learn why shining a green light and a red light on a white prop makes the prop look yellow.” As important as the STEM movement has been for stimulating cross-disciplinary content coverage, it has been at least as important in stimulating pedagogical

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The national spotlight on STEM education and its attendant pedagogical priorities is ultimately a validation of longheld beliefs and practices—our

roots—at Norfolk Academy.

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borrowing among the faculty—such that the learning experiences in STEM disciplines and non-STEM disciplines are beginning to resemble one another in meaningful ways. At a November teacher roundtable event in Norfolk sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education and attended by several members of the Norfolk Academy faculty (Lew Affronti, Steven Goldburg, Charlie Merriam and me), Becky Jaramillo, a Senior Educator at the National Institute of Aerospace Center for Integrative STEM Education, identified six habits of mind that STEM fields should cultivate to foster a problem-solving mindset: collaboration, optimism, communication, creativity, ethical thinking and systems thinking. Susan Duquette targets several of these intelligences in the 5th-grade “dangerous substance” research project that entails independent research through Cooper Library and presentation design in the “Explain Everything” iPad app. In supporting the production of the annual winter musical, Rob Fleenor also emphasizes STEM acumens. “Students learn the art of microphone placement on individual performers, mixing sound levels during a live performance, using computers to generate and control sound, and placing speakers on stage for sound effects,” he notes. Perhaps more prevalently, Norfolk Academy’s math and science teachers have begun to emphasize skills traditionally associated with arts and humanities. In the 6th grade, Erika Newland has incorporated daily writing assignments and even a five-paragraph essay in her math classes, stressing “forced articulation” of observed mathematical phenomena as opposed to merely running calculations in a vacuum. Similarly, Witt Borum’s Algebra I students “do a lot of project-based writing about mathematics,” focusing on “being able to articulate how the math works in terms of real-world problems.” Such cross-disciplinary approaches challenge students and teachers alike (since “free-response” grading always consumes more time and energy than multiple-choice grading), but increasingly we believe that learning is less a matter of right versus wrong than of success intermixed with failure, of growth through iteration. STEM fields—the work of scientists on experiments, the work of programmers on coding and applications, the work of engineers on enhanced materials and products—model these distinctions. Two of our Lower School teachers, Patty Klewans and Alice Pleming, recently returned from an Engineering Is Elementary (EiE) conference in Boston. “The EiE approach,” says Patty, “involves five steps: asking questions; imagining solutions; making a plan with draw-

ings and materials; creating and testing the solution; and improving the solution. We are excited to implement EiE in the Lower School.” (Read more about this initiative in Design & Discovery in the Lower School on p. 24.) Work in the 2nd grade is already in progress. “One way that I’ve incorporated STEM in my classroom is through an ‘engineering/innovation’ center,” reports 2nd grade teacher Carlynn Monteaux. “As the students rotate to various centers, they have the opportunity to work on innovations with different materials. There are specific requirements for language arts innovations and math innovations. Students are required to imagine, plan, create, improve and redesign their creations. They are also encouraged to alter their innovations for other purposes.” I have titled this article “STEM and Root.” It may appear that I have neglected the latter half of that formulation, but I have not. What is the STEM movement’s emphasis on cross-disciplinary learning if not an affirmation of our time-honored Philosophy, which asserts that “Norfolk Academy seeks to offer a coordinated program for students”? As EiE emphasizes “asking questions,” “imagining solutions” and “improving the solution,” our Objectives have long emphasized “intellectual curiosity,” “creativity” and “failures as an opportunity for growth.” And as STEM enthusiasts like Becky Jaramillo promote “ethical thinking,” our Objectives have long promoted “personal responsibility.” The national spotlight on STEM education and its attendant pedagogical priorities is ultimately a validation of long-held beliefs and practices—our roots—at Norfolk Academy. It is also a catalyst for self-examination. We must always endeavor to “do what we say we do.” The STEM movement is not pushing us out of comfort zone; it is bringing us back to center. ◆ Jay Rainey, Assistant Headmaster for Academic Affairs

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from the [ CLASSROOM ]

Design & Discovery in the Lower School

“How much did your blade lift?” “I think we should put it more on an angle.” “When can we test ours?” “Don’t make it so heavy it won’t be able to spin.” Second graders are busy building a better

windmill! While some of the students are improving their design, others are drawing and planning, and a few are ready to test. Engagement is strong, focus is steady and excitement is palpable. Using a program created by Boston’s Museum of Science, “Engineering is Elementary,” our students truly practice thinking and working like a mechanical engineer. After researching turbines, students work in teams to explore materials and shapes to find the best combination to catch the wind. Failure is not in our vocabulary here! Each test yields great data and an

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opportunity to improve; each test sends our engineers back to their plans to redesign and try again. Not only does this design approach offer robust opportunities for creative and collaborative work, it is also strongly aligned with what we know about how children construct understanding. Learning is an active process. Children (and adults) need to engage with ideas, manipulate materials and actively make information and ideas their own. Windmill design isn’t the only outlet for our engineers. Here’s a brief look at selected design and discovery activities to date this school year.


Robotics Club On the model of FIRST LEGO League’s 2013 “Nature’s Fury Challenge,” a group of 6th grade boys and girls are finishing their discussion of how to create their version of a “Smart Home”—a home that will automatically regenerate after storm destruction. The group will soon move onto the second phase of the competition—and the real heart of the robotics challenge—building and programming a robot to maneuver around an obstacle course to do a specific job. Again, this is work that needs creativity, collaboration and a dedicated approach to improving with each iteration. Egg Drop After studying forces and motion, 5th grade students worked in small groups to design, create and improve a container that would protect an egg from a drop of 25–30 feet. Inspired by a design approach, with iterations and redesigns dominating the three-week unit, this was clearly not a linear project. During the first week, groups designed their protective container using only paper and string. Testing results informed two rounds of redesigns and more materials were introduced. While this approach defines success much more broadly, we are proud to report a strong egg survival rate! Destination Imagination After researching an extreme environment, can you design and create gear that would help you adapt to the hardships of this environment? Five teams, 33 students, and many teachers and parents spend their afternoons at school working on this and other challenges as part of our Destination Imagination program. Practicing and preparing for a regional competition in the winter, students must think quickly and creatively—and truly rely on each other to problem-solve. During the competition, they will be scored on creativity, clarity of communication, technical

design and innovation, and strength of their collaborative approach. Looking Ahead Design work will continue this year with our 4th graders building a better knee brace, our robotics club moving on to different programming languages, our computer classes beginning to experiment with computer coding, and a culminating “Design Week” in the spring with a boat-building theme. It is the final day of testing for our 2nd grade mechanical engineers. Again, with many improvements and redesigns, a group of two brings their final design to the testing spot. With the full class as an enthusiastic audience, the windmill blades slowly start to catch the fan wind, begin to spin and ultimately turn the turbine and lift an ever-increasing weight. Starting with 10 washers, and then 30… 35… 40… finally 57 washers are lifted! “We don’t want to stop!” “We want to do this every year until we leave the Lower School.” Ask. Imagine. Plan. Create. Improve. The approach could not be simpler. The process could not be more powerful. ◆ Patty McLaughlin, Director of the Lower School

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&

STUDIO

stage

A Week on

“Teachers define us. They often see in us more than we see in ourselves, more even than our families see and, as a result, help us to evolve into what we ultimately become… in directions we might not have gone.”—Stephen Sondheim This past summer I had the privilege of traveling to my second home, New York City, to participate in The Broadway Teachers Workshop. An inspiring opportunity for professional development and artistic renewal, the workshop included sixteen seminars with Broadway’s finest artists, four Broadway shows, three post-production talk-backs with the cast, and networking opportunities with nearly one hundred other theater professionals. On the first day, with “first day of school” excitement, I approached the Foxwoods Theatre on 43rd, home to the present Broadway production of Spiderman, and my home-base for the next four days. As I entered the theater through the cast-only entrance, I overheard tourists trying to figure out which famous Broadway actress I was. I’m still kicking myself for not offering to sign autographs! Day One was Tech Day, during which we focused on scenic design, makeup and costumes. The workshop brought together educators from around the country, and while some schools have generous budgets for the arts, many have to work with much less than the ideal. Well aware of our constraints, the leaders of my first seminar, Scenic Design, helped us explore the best ways to create stage environments that deliver big impact with minimal expenditure. We focused on paints, muslin use and care, and stencil work, and each of us worked on design techniques to bring back to our schools. And let me say, the satisfaction one gets from creating a good “brick” is startling.

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Makeup Design entailed hands-on demonstrations with special-effects makeup, prosthetics, scars, mustaches and beards. While I learned some new applications and practical solutions for the makeup design section of my 8th grade Drama class, I did not get chosen to have a full beard placed on my face. Sorry, kids—no photo op with this one! I finished Tech Day in the world of Costume Design. We had the rare opportunity to visit Parsons-Meares, one of Broadway’s biggest costume shops, where intricate pieces are created for shows like Spiderman, Lion King, Cats and the newest Broadway production, Aladdin. I was thrilled to meet head designer Sally Ann Parsons, who gave us a private tour of the facilities. It was an honor to walk through this warehouse with such history and secrets— not to mention dress boxes with labels such as “Bette Midler’s Mermaid Costume.” My diva-lovin’ jaw hit the floor! The second day covered directing, playwrighting and working with young actors. Directing, led by Broadway director John Rando (Urinetown, The Wedding Singer, A Christmas Story), was structured like a true Master Class. This is a working session where one observes as the director guides a performer through a chosen piece. Mr. Rando took scenes from well-known musicals and walked us through his process—how he breaks down scenes and analyzes them in order to tell a clear story. He also shared techniques on how to keep student performers focused and how to make best use of students’ strengths.


(L–R) Shradda Vachhani ’14, Alex Shammas ’14, Caroline Bisi and Jaden Baum ’17

In Playwrighting, award-winning playwright and Tony-nominated actor John Cariani, author of Almost, Maine, a play I’m looking to showcase at NA, led an energetic workshop that covered the fundamentals of playwrighting. He introduced exercises to help cultivate the inner playwright in our students—suitable for writers at all levels of experience—and armed us with central doctrines for creating new works. I have long wanted to include a section of playwrighting within our Drama curriculum, and he not only answered my questions, but provided the building blocks for lesson planning. I am excited to introduce this section to my classes this spring. I was really looking forward to Working With Young Actors: ‘Matilda.’ This workshop was led by Deborah Abramson, the children’s musical director for Matilda, and Tim Federle, a writer, dancer and Broadway choreographer who’s worked on Billy Elliot and Little House on the Prairie. We were treated to a visit from two 11-year-old Matilda lead cast members—a young actor named

Sawyer Nunes and a young actress named Madilyn Jaz Morrow, who plays one of the four Matilda’s in the cast. They performed a few pieces from the show, and were given direction throughout by Ms. Abramson, who further shared her process of working with younger children. Mr. Federle demonstrated how he teaches new choreography to his young cast, and finally, the children shared with us some of their own experiences. It was a delightful and insightful workshop which reaffirmed our approach here at Norfolk Academy—giving students permission to fail and encouraging them to take risks at each rehearsal. Day Three was jam-packed with lessons in stage management, the college-audition landscape, Gershwin and Shakespeare. Stage Management presented the organizational skills and methods used on Broadway for application to school productions. It was very helpful for me to explore the newest tricks of the trade, skills and secrets that make the job simpler and more accessible to our students—especially in our tech savvy world!

Norfolk Academy magazine

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College Prep: Musical Theatre Audition Skills

above: Even the boxes were

exciting at the ParsonsMeares costume shop!

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had my full attention because the audition process has become much more complex and competitive over the years. Selecting and delivering the best audition material is vital to even getting an audition slot at a top arts university. Holly Ann Ruggiero (Arts educator; Associate Director, Bring It On and Jersey Boys; Creative Development Director, Broadway Artists Alliance of New York City) shared her expertise on preparing high school juniors and seniors for the college audition process. She offered great insights on how to navigate through hundreds of musical theatre programs and how to choose the very best audition materials. A surprising workshop, Singing Gershwin— Musical Theatre Song Interpretation, delighted my inner theatre geek! Broadway Musical Director David Loud (Scottsboro Boys, Porgy And Bess, Sondheim On Sondheim) and a buffet of classic Broadway actors I grew up emulating sang classics from productions like Crazy For You, Of Thee I Sing, I Got Rhythm, My One and Only and Nice Work If You Can Get It. As someone who finds herself drawn to more contemporary musical theatre, I really enjoyed this opportunity to rediscover an appreciation of this rich and varied era of musicals. Covering song interpretation, vocal production, context, acting through song, and the importance of musical breaks within the actor’s process—it was a master class in singing a song to “express,” not “impress.” The day ended with some old-world chivalry: Teaching & Acting Shakespeare. While I’ve always had love for the Bard, this workshop brought that affection to an entirely new level. It was led by Producing Artistic Director and founding member of the American Globe Theatre Mr. John Basil. A quiet yet articulate man, Mr. Basil was a superb facilitator. I

found myself hanging onto every word as he described clues left by Shakespeare in the first folio versions of his plays—clues that gave insightful stage and character direction to his company of actors, and which, if recognized, are gifts to those reading or performing his works. Mr. Basil’s approach is believed to have been the original practice utilized by William Shakespeare and his company. Even Mr. Basil couldn’t help but become teary-eyed as he passionately spoke of his awe of Shakespeare’s genius—the way he would note the punctuation and misspelling in the language to indicate stage direction and intention, and his words that truly “suit the action to the word and the word to the action.” Not only will his insights be shared with our English department, but I believe I’m destined to become a Basil groupie… it’s real! I ended my professional development experience where my drama classes begin: with a Theatre Games & Improvisation session led by Broadway actress Sarah Saltzberg, most notably known as the co-creator and star of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She also performs with the late-night Broadway-themed improv show Don’t Quit Your Night Job, which she cocreated with a dear friend of mine. Sarah introduced us to some rousing new theatre games and improvisation exercises which I have since used to enhance class curriculum and play rehearsals. Improv games are wonderful group bonding activities and they keep students’ imaginations vivid, their acting fresh, and get them to think outside the box. I have to admit, it was fun to be the student in the acting games, being led by another teacher. What an enjoyable ending! The Broadway Teachers Workshop was an outstanding opportunity for me to experience the richness that great theatre artists and productions have to offer, while validating my profound appreciation for the facilities here at Norfolk Academy. I witnessed a diverse family of theatre artists excited, as I was, to try a new design technique, learn a fresh improvisation game or find a different approach to Shakespeare—so that when we all returned to our respective schools we could bring this knowledge directly into our theatres and classrooms. It renewed my own love of the professional world of theatre and brought me back to Virginia refreshed and full of new ideas for our productions, my curriculum and Guest Artists. ◆ Caroline Bisi, Middle and Upper School Drama


You can’t take part in a Broadway Workshop and not see a Broadway show. I was lucky to see four of them in three days! So if you’re heading to NYC, you might consider taking in one of these productions: Matilda, playing at The Shubert Theatre, was magnificent! It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen a show that took me by such surprise. The acting was superb, particularly from the young children, most of whom (ages 7–14) are making their Broadway debuts. The special effects were believable, the sets were creative and energetic, and the

The ParsonsMeares costume shop

adult community of actors supporting the children are outstanding. Run to this performance! Pippin, at The Music Box Theater: This 2013 Tony Award–winning production was one I was most jazzed to

dering when a stage production would be released. It finally

see—pun intended! It was the show’s composer, Stephen

happened, and this production went on to win the 2012 Tony

Schwartz, whose musical Godspell entranced me into

Award for Best Score & Best Choreography. While the book

the world of musical theatre. Mr. Schwartz has written

is a bit weak, the music is exciting and the choreography is

many Broadway hits, including Wicked. This Pippin revival

powerful—a real experience!

incorporates incredible circus acrobatics—effective in the

Cinderella, at the Broadway Theater: Having grown

re-telling of this tale. It features Broadway legends Terrence

up on this show and having worked on the production here

Mann (Broadway’s original Javert in Les Misérables),

at NA in 2008, I hadn’t expected anything new with this

Charlotte D’Amboise (A Chorus Line), and a scene-stealing

production. But I had read that this revival was well done,

cameo from Tony Award–winning comedian Andrea Martin.

so I settled in for a pleasant evening of a classic tale. Was

Witnessing their live performances made this show a

I surprised! They’ve re-written the book, giving depth and

lifelong fulfillment for this actress. Amazing! Extraordinary!

purpose to all of the characters while adding humor—there

A must see!

were even some new songs! I found myself laughing

Newsies, at The Nederlander Theatre: a long-awaited production on Broadway ever since the Disney movie

out loud at moments…during Cinderella! I was happily impressed by this lovely show.

premiered in 1992. I was one of those excited directors won-

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lives of [ CONSEQUENCE ]

Tracy Gatewood Savage As we reach adulthood , some of us finish our

education and fall into a lifelong rhythm that suits us and the communities we serve. For others, the path is a matter of more than a few forks in the road, and life in one decade may look absolutely unlike life in the next. Such is the case for Tracy Savage, whose career has seen an extraordinary number of twists and turns. And the most beautiful thing about her journey is that wherever she has been or whatever she has done, enhancing the lives of those around her has consistently been her main reason for being there. As such, her life has been one of real consequence to a striking variety of people, institutions, and communities across this country. Tracy graduated from the Madeira School in McLean, Virginia, in 1966, and from Sweet Briar College in 1970. In those days she was primarily identified as an artist and singer, always captain of the a capella group, always the lead in the musical play, and always persuading her friends to join her in those endeavors. At Sweet Briar she lead the school’s age-old singing ensemble, the Sweet Tones, and even cut an album, which was in those days highly unusual. As if that weren’t enough, she joined with classmates to form a new vocal group, the Thirteenth Floor, so that even more of her classmates might have the opportunity to sing. Of course she made sure that it was her friends, not she, that took the lead solos. The next few years saw a master’s in music from Southern Methodist University and on to Southern California for the first installment of a career teaching music and theater. By the way, she also had a stint as an artist manager in Hollywood trying to promote her students with talent, a turn as a stagehand on Happy Days and on the set of The Sting, and even a short time as a talent scout for A&M Records. One summer she was in the chorus of the now-defunct outdoor musical drama The Common Glory, which was for years a summer staple at Colonial Williamsburg. Notwithstanding her obvious musical talent, she found deeper meaning in teaching. Over many years in many classrooms

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she helped students discover and develop their artistic selves. Along the way she penned four Broadwayquality musicals, some still performed in high schools across the country. At some point, and perhaps because her brother was having a blast in law school, Tracy decided to pursue what she called in those days a “real career,” and enrolled at Washington & Lee University’s Law School. Soon she discovered that as fascinating as was the law itself, the practice of law held no appeal (get it?), and before long she had organized a singing group (the Law Revue) and performed her own one-woman musical show in the Lee Chapel. When awarding Tracy her J.D., Law School Dean Steinheimer noted, “Yours is a class that not only learned the law, but enriched us all as never before.” From there it was on to eight years as a development officer and Assistant Head at the Foxcroft School in Leesburg, Virginia, one year at an academy run by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and finally thirteen years as Assistant Head of School for Advancement at the National Cathedral School for Girls in Washington, D.C. She and longtime Headmistress Agnes Underwood made a formidable pair, and at last it looked as though Tracy’s life had come to rest. She became nationally known in her work supporting Nat Cat, and in fact in 1998 won the Robert Bell Crow Award as the nation’s best Development Officer from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. In her years on Mount St. Alban, her school prospered and expanded, including a doubled endowment, the construction of a four-story underground athletic facility and a new Lower School. She also became involved in the successful conclusion of the century of construction on the National Cathedral itself, serving, for example, on the planning committee for the founding of the Cathedral Girl Choristers. And don’t worry about her music—for many years she performed in John Langstaff’s production of the Christmas Revels at George Washington University, an annual ritual for many Washington area residents.


But was she finished? Of course not. Eventually Tracy left NCS to become a principal and senior consultant at Marts & Lundy, one the nation’s biggest and most renowned consulting firms. There she advises independent schools, colleges and other nonprofits in securing philanthropy. It is hardly a stretch to say that she has become the “go to” person for advice to schools across the nation. It would be impossible to calculate the number of students’ lives that were made better because their schools had the benefit of Tracy’s wisdom and experience. Here’s one way to quantify it —in her decade of consulting, her client schools have garnered more than one-half billion dollars! Of course our Board of Trustees turned to her to lead the sessions setting forth our most recent five-year plan. Every person there would testify that Tracy’s leadership was the sine qua non of a successful plan. The latest turn came with her move to upstate New York with her new husband, Jeremy Jones. Being a development guy himself, Jeremy had worked with Tracy for years, and, as we say, one thing led to another. She still travels as a consultant for Marts & Lundy, but the days of hundreds of thousands of frequent flyer points are gone. Time to slow down a bit and spread a little more music, perhaps. With all these changes, one constant is the most important—that Tracy has always thrown herself into

enterprises that were for the enjoyment or betterment of those around her. Whether it be working with peers and young people in the arts, helping this school or that better serve its students, or contributing in a myriad of ways to the governance of her alma mater Madeira and other schools (most notably, ours), her life has always been about others. Tracy Savage neither graduated from nor even attended Norfolk Academy. Her official connection with our school is only as old as her tenure on our Board of Trustees, some five years. But she has been connected to us by family (after all, her great-great-grandfather was Headmaster of Norfolk Academy from 1865–1888) and through her long acquaintances and working relationships with so many Board members and graduates. Happily, it seems as though she has been around here for a very long time. And Tracy, we’re counting on you to stick around for a very long time to come. ◆ Toy Savage ’71

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in the [ GAME ]

Norfolk Academy Sailing:

The Art of Racing

Norfolk Academy sailors aren’t your typical athletes. When the bell rings at the end of the school day, the team’s first exercise is to beat the NA traffic out of the school complex. Time is of the essence with a 20-minute commute to Norfolk Yacht & Country Club and the obligatory 15-minute rigging session before the sailors get on the water to start their practice. Finally on the water by 4:00 p.m., the sailors spend two hours racing on a buoyed course set up by Coach Charlie Knape. A former skipper on the Dartmouth sailing team, Coach Knape demands a tremendous amount from his athletes and works tirelessly to help them become better sailors and, more important, better racers. Nearly every day out on the water presents a unique opportunity for instruction. Once sailors understand the basics of boat handling, they face the

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even greater task of learning to look into the future and predict the wind. Good sailors do it and do it consistently, making it seem as though they can feel a weather change or gust of wind before it happens. They intuitively know their surroundings—not just the wind in their face but also the wind in the distance. Norfolk Academy’s best sailors have mastered this art, and still they continue to work year-round honing their skills in other important areas—efficiency of sail, boat position, and pitching and footing. On warm, sunny days in August and September, practice days on the water can only be described as glorious—unless of course there’s no wind. On those days, sailors learn valuable lessons in patience and frustration. During the season they race in almost any weather condition, so it is important for them to master the art of finding the wind and creating


Starting out as a club sport in 2001, sailing became a fall Varsity sport at Norfolk Academy largely due to the efforts of Bill Van Buren, President of the Board of Trustees, former NA parent and sailing enthusiast. Spring sailing is still classified as a club at NA but that doesn’t stop our current sailors from competing at the highest level. Spring 2014 sailors won the VISA Championship for the second consecutive year and also qualified for the prestigious Mallory Cup, the National Fleet Racing Championship.

the Wind artificial wind through boat maneuvering. This difficult skill is made even trickier by strict racing rules prohibiting certain maneuvers that move you forward. Once the blustery winds of fall descend, our sailors start to miss the warm, calmer air of high summer. On windy days, they learn that staying upright is key to their success. A battle against the elements can sometimes eclipse the art of racing. The team races two-person dinghies called Club Flying Juniors (FJs) that are 13 feet long and weigh just over 200 pounds. In strong winds, these small boats can flip easily, so sailors must learn to balance their weight and work their sails to avoid the waves and strong gusts of wind. This is mentally and physically challenging, especially if boats capsize and sailors must expend energy getting their boats upright again. But stiff winds also allow the sailors to show off their hiking skills. It’s not unusual to

see the back of a sailor’s head actually touch the water as they lean over the windward edge of the boat as far as possible with only their feet strapped in. The athletes end practice days like this wet, cold and exhausted. Every Thursday practice is unique because it is dedicated to varsity sailors who team race against other area high schools, including Norfolk Collegiate, Maury, St. Christopher’s and Christchurch School. Team racing uses a three-on-three format, where the goal is to finish with a better cohesive average as opposed to fleet racing where the goal is to have the best possible finish. Team racing provides a unique scenario in which a first place boat may circle back to help a teammate or to steal the wind from an opponent. Sailors no longer race solely against the course—strategy is key and only the best sailors are successful. It is mentally exhausting—like playing a two-hour game of chess and constantly trying to think five or six moves ahead. On team racing Thursdays, it’s not unusual for practice to extend to almost three hours and end just as the sun sets over the Lafayette River. Sailing competitions are held on Saturdays and usually last from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. As the season draws to an end, the best sailors are selected to compete in the MASSA (Mid Atlantic) Fall Fleet Championship, the MASSA Fall Team Championship and the ACC (Atlantic Coast) Championship. These regattas take our sailors as far as Oceanport, New Jersey, and Annapolis, Maryland, where they compete against the best sailors from all over the east coast. Our sailors consistently finish in the top ten in these competitive regattas, so it is no surprise that the Norfolk Academy Sailing Team captured the 2013 TCIS Championship! Day after day, the NA sailors are on the water rain or shine, in the blazing heat or the shivering cold, battling strong or weak winds. So the next time you’re driving over the Hampton Boulevard Bridge during the fall sports season, look to the west during any late weekday afternoon. Chances are, you’ll see a fleet of sailboats tacking and jibing along a race course. While their boats and colorful sails paint a beautiful panorama, NA skippers and crew are on the water working hard to perfect the art of racing the wind. It is indeed a sight to behold. ◆

Norfolk Academy magazine

Debra Grell is the Assistant Coach of the Norfolk Academy Sailing Team.

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paw PRI N TS

Literally

Blown Away This is the question I had asked myself over and

over again throughout my years in English class. I have enjoyed most of the books we have read at Norfolk Academy, but there have been a few that did not cut it for me. At first read, I decided to add The Scarlet Letter to that list of questionable books. Teachers tried to explain why we read novels like The Scarlet Letter, but I never understood. I began to believe the only reason they made us read these books was to challenge our work ethic with tedious literature—and trust me, it was a challenge. However, it all seemed to click once I learned to look closer and analyze a text in Dr. Kidd’s American Literature class. Suddenly, I could see the complexity

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with which Nathaniel Hawthorne and other renowned authors shaped their sentences, and finally I felt I gained some great new perspective of the universe! On a deeper level, there is so much that goes into a sentence: diction, tone, figurative language, allusion, listing, irony and syntax! It may seem that I am being a little dramatic—and I probably am—but this was my epiphany. I no longer dread sitting down and reading the classics; I even look forward to delving further into a passage and uncovering all the nuts and bolts that go into it. ◆ Ben Klebanoff ’15


4 4 5 5 3 3 6 6 2 27 7 18 81

9 A Handy Math Tip Thinking back on everything I’ve learned over

11 years at Norfolk Academy is almost overwhelming; it would be impossible to choose any one piece of information as the most important. However, there is one particular Lower School skill which I still use today: that is the trick of using your fingers to multiply any number by 9 (you would be surprised how often that comes up in everyday life). All you have to do is hold up all 10 fingers and bend down only the finger that corresponds to the number you want to multiply by 9. (Finger number 1 is the pinky on your left hand, finger number two is your left ring finger,

and so on.) The fingers on each side of the bent finger correspond to the tens and ones places of the answer. For example, if you need to know the product of 3 and 9, you would bend down your third finger, leaving you with 2 fingers on the left side and 7 on the right, thus, the answer is 27. While every 3rd-grader should know such a basic multiplication problem without using their fingers, this trick has always fascinated me and even helped me out on many a pre-calculus test. ◆ Banning Stiffler ’15 Illustrated by Sarah Yue ’19

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paw PRI N T S Are You Smarter than a Bulldog? For this issue of the Academy Magazine we decided to challenge our readers to a pop quiz. We’ve gathered questions considered “elementary” by students at each grade level. How much do you remember?

FIRST GRADE

1.

What is a runcible spoon (a term from Edward Lear’s Owl and the Pussycat)? a.

6.

a.

A spork

c.

c. Wrote The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher d. Was an author and an illustrator e.

All of the above

SECOND GRADE

3.

How long was Lewis and Clark’s famous trek? a.

e.

7.

What message did the Monroe doctrine give to Europe? a.

c.

d. It declared the acquisition of the Louisiana Territory from France. None of the above.

b. Robert Fulton c.

a.

John Quincy Adams

d. Captain Nemo

b.

John Tyler

e.

c.

Zachary Taylor

8.

Ben Franklin Augustus Jackson

d. Andrew Jackson THIRD GRADE

5.

Where is the Ob River? a. Brazil

a.

e.

Theodore Roosevelt

c.

e. Toltec

SIXTH GRADE

11. The atmosphere is made mostly of

________. a. Nitrogen b. Oxygen c. Argon d. Hydrogen e.

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Carbon Dioxide

12. What does obsequious mean? a. Obnoxious b. No longer produced or used, out of date c.

Narrow-minded; concerned only with local matters

d. Attempting to win favor from influential

d. Norway e. Niger

Huey Tlatoani

d. Olmec

b. Russia c. Jordan

Sapa Inca

b. Inca Grande

It declared joint occupation of the

Which U.S. president was a hero at the Battle of New Orleans?

of the Incas?

Oregon Country with Britain.

15 years

George Washington Carver

10. What is the title of the emperor

affairs of North and South America.

1.5 years

Parentheses, multiplication, exponents, division, addition, subtraction

It claimed fishing rights in the

Who built the first steamboat? a.

division, subtraction, addition e.

b. It told Europe not to interfere with the

e. 4.

division, addition, subtraction

Pacific Northwest.

2 weeks

Parentheses, exponents, multiplication,

d. Exponents, multiplication, parentheses,

None of the above

FOURTH GRADE

d. 4 years e.

multiplication, addition, subtraction c.

A meteorite is composed of mostly

b. 11 months c.

division, exponents, parentheses

d. All of the above

b. Had a rabbit named Benjamin Bouncer

Addition, subtraction, multiplication,

b. Exponents, parentheses, division,

ice, while a comet is mostly gas.

Was a naturalist and conservationist

What is the order of operations? a.

A comet orbits the sun, while a

does not.

Beatrix Potter a.

9.

b. A meteorite has a tail, while a comet

A spoon with a long handle

d. A very shiny spoon 2.

FIFTH GRADE

meteorite has collided with earth.

b. A small spoon c.

What is the difference between a meteorite and a comet?

people by flattery e.

Of doubtful origin


SEVENTH GRADE

NINTH GRADE

ELEVENTH GRADE

13. What bacteria was the first

17. What religion could the character

21. Who never actually signed the

recombinant DNA made with?

Declaration of Independence?

b. Lactobacillus acidophilus

Winnie the Pooh in the popular children’s book exemplify through his actions?

c. Salmonella

a. Daoism

c.

Thomas Jefferson

d. Penicillin

b. Buddhism

d.

George Washington

e.

c. Islam

e.

John Adams

a. Cyanobacteria

E. Coli

d. Christianity

14. Who had to push a boulder

up a hill for all eternity because it would roll back down before it reached the top?

e. Judaism

a.

b. Sisyphus

c.

c. Cerberus

d. ax 2 + bx + c = 0

d. Ixion

e.

15. What is the quadratic formula? a.

b. x c.

2

a +b =c 2

( b – 4ac) / 4a

( b 2 – 4ac) / 4a 2

TENTH GRADE

e. Confluence

TWELFTH GRADE

23. What does an integral express? a.

The area under a curve

a. Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities

c. 3.14159265359

b. John Donne’s Death Be Not Proud

d. The straight line that touches a curve at a particular point e.

The ratio of the lengths of the hypotenuse and side adjacent to the angle

20. What is the Holy Roman Empire’s

lapsus linguae mean?

affiliation with Ancient Rome?

a.

a.

Forbidden language

b. Dead language Leap of faith

d. Language is the mother Slip of the tongue

24. What is the smallest plankton

It includes all the areas that

in the Chesapeake Bay?

were conquered.

a. Picoplankton

b. It has no affiliation.

b. Microplankton

c.

These areas swore allegiance

c. Megaplankton

to the Roman Emperor.

d. Nanoplankton

of invention e.

d. Anachronism

end all” come from?

e. Bronte’s Wuthering Heights

2

16. What does the Latin phrase

c.

c. Aberration

b. The slope of a curve

d. Shakespeare’s Macbeth

d. ax + bx + c = 0 2

e.

b. Amalgam

c. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales

2

2

a. Panacea

a2 + b2 = c2

19. Where does the expression “be all,

ax + by = c

––––––– 2 = –b ± √ b – 4ac 2a

a mixture of many different things?

––––––– –b ± √ b 2– 4ac 2a

b. x =

EIGHTH GRADE

22. What vocabulary word means

ax + by = c

a. Tantalus

John Hancock

b. Benjamin Franklin

18. What is the Pythagorean Theorem?

e. Tartaros

a.

d. It was the Greek speaking

e. Femptoplankton

continuation of the Roman empire.

e.

It was forced to pay taxes to Rome.

Answers: 1 A, 2 E, 3 C, 4 B, 5 B, 6 A, 7 B, 8 D, 9 C, 10 A, 11 A, 12 D, 13 E, 14 B, 15 B, 16 E, 17 A, 18 C, 19 D, 20 B, 21 D, 22 B, 23 A, 24 E Norfolk Academy magazine

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THE

savage

CHRONICLES

Royster Through

the

Looking Glass Anyone who has had contact with the Middle School knows what a bizarre place it is. Young girls and boys, striving chrysalis-wise to become women and men, tend to go through some startling changes in the process. After years of trying to decide what the whole Royster “thing” reminded me of, it hit me. Wonderland. Once Lewis Carroll’s Alice is down the rabbit hole everything previously predictable becomes nonsense. All the certainties we have come to rely upon dissolve randomly. Like the readers of Lewis Carroll’s classics, Middle School parents cling to the vague hope that their Alice (or Alex, to be fair) will at some point return to a world in which water flows downhill and caterpillars don’t talk. But like those readers, watching Alice make the Wonderland tour fills them with confusion, frustration, occasional concern and also “wonder.” It’s not called “Wonderland” for nothing! The similarity is not coincidental. Lewis Carroll, whose real name was Charles Dodgson, conceived of the Alice stories while watching after Alice Liddell, the daughter of a fellow don at Oxford University. She would have been in an American 6th grade at the time. He told her of Alice’s encounters with the bizarre as a way to ease her worries about growing up. All truly great children’s literature, from Aesop’s Fables to Where the Wild Things Are, serves the purpose of alleviating childhood fears, in part by indulging and exploring them. And so Carroll, in his own inimitable way, made Alice’s future seem to her not frightening; but neither did he foretell that the future would be easy or even make sense in the short run. In other words, he was

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trying to put a humorous face on what we would call Middle School while not denying that the trip would grow “curiouser and curiouser.” Consider, as proof of the connection between Royster and Wonderland, the following parallels. Lunch and the Mad Hatter’s tea party. In both cases, no one ever sits down for long and no one stays on one conversational topic for more than two sentences. About the only difference is that in the refectory no one, not even the Mad Hatter himself, thinks that putting mustard in the chicken pot pie is at all silly. Growth spurts. Just like Alice with the cookie, Middle Schoolers, particularly boys, have been observed to grow 9 inches in a day. Unfortunately, we have no potion to make them shrink back to original size. The Caucus Race and Royster hallways at break. I

swear I heard some 8th-grader singing “Forward, backward, inward, outward, come and join the chase!” Nothing could be finer than a jolly Royster race. The Cheshire Cat. Has to be Gary Laws, with that knowing grin, sometimes visible, sometimes not, but always knowing everything and always a step ahead of the kids. The beauty of all of this is that Alice does grow up. She survives this topsy-turvy place and returns back to the river bank a little shaken but with much more appreciation for the predictability (and the demands) of life. Perhaps it is stretching the metaphor, but soon our Alices and Alexes will be hitting the Upper School, much less college. In a strange way, I think, a tour of a world in which nothing makes any sense may best prepare them for worlds that may


be a lot more serious, but sometimes make little sense themselves, even to adults. Mr. Laws tells all parents of entering 7th-graders two things. First, that the Middle School will be like the opening paragraph of A Tale of Two Cities—you know, the best of times, the worst of times, etc. That is probably a better way to define our Middle School, except for the fact that Dickens did not allow for utter randomness. But Mr. Laws also tells them to go home and take a picture of their child, hide it for three years, and then pull it out as the young man or woman departs the 9th grade. The kid in the photo will bear scarce resemblance to the individual standing before them, now so much more grown up. And that is as it should be. For their first six years here, our guys and girls learn the basics and get themselves into some working order. In their last three, they do the serious work of preparing for adulthood. Middle School is there to conclude the former and begin the latter. But it is also a time where one can indulge in pure, unabashed nonsense. Have to run now. I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date. ◆

Toy Savage ’71 This piece first appeared on Toy Savage’s blog, The Savage Chronicles. To see the latest posts, visit thesavagechronicles.org

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[ ALUMNI ] highlights

Homecoming 2013


homecoming 2013

41


[ ALUMNI ] highlights

Bulldog Bash Save the date! Homecoming/ Reunion Weekend October 10 & 11, 2014

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[ ALUMNI ] highlights

class reunions ’63

’63

’63

’73

’73

Class Reunion Planners and Hosts

’73 50th Class Reunion Class of 1963 William J. Grant Jr. Robert G. Hofheimer Jr. John O. Wynne 45th Class Reunion Class of 1968 A. Talbott Jordan Edward G. Lazaron

44

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’73 40th Class Reunion Class of 1973 J. Patrick Baker Melvin E. Cruser III William W. McDowell Michael A. Via

35th Class Reunion Class of 1978 Latané Ware Brown Stephanie Adler Calliott Mary Slingluff Ill

30th Class Reunion Class of 1983 Robert Griffith Jones Jr. Amy Moss Levy


1963

TOP ROW LEFT: The class of ’63 celebrates their 50th reunion at the home of Susan and Dubby Wynne.

SECOND ROW LEFT: Susan and Dubby Wynne enjoy the Bulldog Bash.

SECOND ROW SECOND: Members of the class of ’63 celebrated their reunion with former teacher Charlie Cumiskey, former Headmaster John Tucker and current Headmaster Dennis Manning.

1968

TOP ROW RIGHT: Everyone had a wonderful time reminiscing at the 1968 class party!

1973

THIRD ROW LEFT: Mel Cruser, George Compo, Saunders Compo, Armie Armstrong and Phil Stedfast catch up.

BOTTOM ROW LEFT: Woody McDowell, Hilton Oliver, Pat Baker and Michael Via enjoyed getting together over Homecoming weekend.

THIRD ROW SECOND: Debby Fink, Fred Fink,

’68

Debbie Rogers and John Rogers pose for the camera at the ’73 class party.

’78

THIRD ROW CENTER: The ladies of the class

of ’73—left to right, Karen Miller Armstrong, Dominique Dechesne, Elyse Sutton Lemaire, Susan Murray, Jane Anderson, Anne Thiele Blackerby and Saunders Ferebee Compo— gathered in loving memory of classmate Kit Miller Whitely.

’78

1978

SECOND ROW THIRD: Molly Slingluff Ill, Drew

Fennell and Kevin Hubbard catch up with former teacher Abby Baird ’61.

SECOND ROW RIGHT: Johnny Sancilio, Rozanne Olitsky Worrell and Tom Ritter catch up.

THIRD ROW THIRD: Martha Broecker, Tom

THIRD ROW RIGHT: Frank Auerbach, Wendy

BOTTOM ROW RIGHT: Lee Kanter, Janet Kanter,

Witherspoon and Chris Mast Witherspoon.

’78

’78

Juren Auerbach and Than Green. Molly Slingluff Ill and Courtney Crooks Many visit at the ’78 class party.

’78 25th Class Reunion Class of 1988 Michael J. Banvard, Courtney Howell Harbison, Gretchen Cocke Joyce, Alexis J. Karageorge, Laurie Heilig Marshall, Liz Eckert Sorrell

20th Class Reunion Class of 1993 Jenny Vinson Huelsberg, Paul A. Kelley, Liz Allen Long, Courtney Askew Martone, Lucky C. Peterson, Chantal Koppens Rose, Mary Carter Randolph Scott

15th Class Reunion Class of 1998 Anne Marie Burroughs, Mason White Carrington, Molly Sessoms Korte, Kara Mustin McCaa, Merrick Michaels McCabe, Tina Barrington McCarthy, John Michael O’Keefe, Emily McKnight Tafel

10th Class Reunion Class of 2003 Polly Pereos Gellman, Emily Steinhilber Hawkins, Ian Alexander Holder, Catherine Brown McFarland, James Barbour Rixey III, James Leggett Kitchin, Michael Ashby Via Jr., Wendall Lane Winn III

5th Class Reunion Class of 2008 Rhae Woodson Adams III, William Old Kitchin, Carra Mae Kramer, Margaret Jean Pritchard

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[ ALUMNI ] highlights

class reunions 1983

TOP ROW LEFT: Members of the class of ’83 get together for a photo at their reunion party.

SECOND ROW LEFT: Liza Ryan Copp, Alicia Scott Devine and Elizabeth Outland Branner pose for a photo.

SECOND ROW SECOND: A group of friends reminisce about their time at Norfolk Academy.

THIRD ROW LEFT: Thad Doumar, Stacey Smith, Elizabeth Dickenson Swartley, Jeff Countess and Rob Fine enjoy the music by InDecision and New Potato Caboose at the Homecoming Bulldog Bash.

THIRD ROW SECOND: Jack Moore, Ellen

’83

Jaffe Dickman and Thad Doumar visit with reunion party host Griff Jones.

1988

BOTTOM ROW LEFT: Annie Derrickson Burnside, Gretchen Cocke Joyce, Jessica Primm, Susannah Turner Wallenstrom, Alexis Karageorge and Cassandra Rowland Meagher enjoy seeing each other again.

TOP ROW SECOND: John Meek, Michael Rosenblum and Mike Hostutler visit at their reunion party.

SECOND ROW THIRD: Rich Meagher,

’83

’83

Cassandra Rowand Meagher and Alexis Karageorge swap stories.

THIRD ROW THIRD: Greg Campbell, Beth

Parker, Simon Scott and Blythe Scott pose for a picture.

’83

BOTTOM ROW SECOND: Jeff Parker,

Hallie Karotkin Segerman and Adam Rafal catch up.

1993

TOP ROW RIGHT: Sarah Joyner, Chantal Koppens Rose, Caroline Ritter Willis, Mary Carter Scott, Courtney Askew Martone and Jenny Vinson Huelsberg enjoy swapping stories.

SECOND ROW RIGHT: The class of ’93 had a great showing at their 20th reunion.

THIRD ROW RIGHT: Meighan Mills Stone,

Vivianne Hipol Gantous, Mary Carter Scott and Heather Eckhardt Armstrong catch up.

BOTTOM ROW THIRD: Pete Kotarides, Jenny Vinson Huelsberg and Jesse Karotkin are all smiles at their reunion party.

BOTTOM ROW RIGHT: Nataki Corneille, Ashley Dorroh Galler and John Galler pose for the camera.

’88 46

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’83


’88

’93

’93

’88

’88

’88

’93

’93

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[ ALUMNI ] highlights

’03

’98

’98

’98

’98

’03

’03

Save the date! Homecoming/ Reunion Weekend October 10 & 11, 2014 Reunion years: 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009

All new Massey Society Reunion for Classes of 1963 and earlier. Details to be announced! ’03 48

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’03


class reunions 1998

TOP ROW LEFT: A great group of ’98 alums gathered for their class party at Chamie ’95 and Anne Marie Nash Burroughs’ home.

SECOND ROW LEFT: Tina McCarthy (left) catches up with John Michael O’Keefe and his wife.

SECOND ROW SECOND: Melissa Archbell and Kara Mustin McCaa take a moment to pose for the camera.

THIRD ROW LEFT: Deepak Thomas and Mollie Sessoms Korte visit with Anne Marie Nash Burroughs (center).

2003

THIRD ROW SECOND: Katie Green Meyer,

’08

Emily Steinhilber Hawkins, Shelley Saunders and Emily Jonak Justesen enjoy swapping stories.

BOTTOM ROW LEFT: Rebecca Cohn, Catherine Brown McFarland, Katie Aladj, Melanie Alberico Martin and Zeinoun Kawwass catch up.

TOP ROW CENTER: Alex Bell, Andrew

O’Keefe, Wendall Winn, Chris Dickinson, Will Beasley, Michael Via and Jay Rixey pose for the camera.

SECOND ROW CENTER: The class of ’03

enjoyed getting together for their 10th reunion.

BOTTOM ROW CENTER: Leggett Kitchin and

Matt Timms catch up with their former teacher and coach Eric Acra (center).

’08

2008

TOP ROW RIGHT: Brian McCarthy, Dylan Denslow, Clark Reed, Sunny Yi, Brynne Burgess, Reilly Loflin and Brett Mon fill each other in on what’s been happening since graduation.

SECOND ROW FOURTH: Anthony

’08

Ciambrone, Katherine Mantz and Meg Pritchard are all smiles at their reunion party.

SECOND ROW RIGHT: Rachel Cohen and John David Quate catch up.

BOTTOM ROW RIGHT: Todd Talkington, Raymond Jackson and Ankit Javia enjoy getting together at Waterman’s.

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Your gift makes the difference.

Help prepare our future leaders by making your Annual Giving gift to Norfolk Academy. Visit norfolkacademy.org/annualgiving to learn about our family of funds for directed gifts. For questions please contact: Chris Dotolo, Director of Leadership Giving cdotolo@norfolkacademy.org

Make your gift to Norfolk Academy today! www.norfolkacademy.org/giving


class notes

Class notes or photos to share? Contact Karen Del Vecchio at kdelvecchio@norfolkacademy.org

Janis and Doug recently in Virginia

states that the editor and reviewers are

Blackstone, VA, to visit Jay Fyfe ’60

Beach. By chance, Martha and Richard

concerned. For the last year, his wife

and his lovely wife, Barrie. Coach Bill

Class Correspondents:

Glasser ’59, Barbara and Zack Glasser

(retired from Duke) has been collabo-

Harvie joined them and they had a

Ω Vacant ’53, ’54, ’57, ’58:

’59 and Esther and Nick Cohen ’60

rating with him on some experiments

great time playing golf at Jay’s club,

were at the next table. It almost quali-

on cartilage, which is aimed ultimately

the Nottoway River Course, which has

fied as a mini class reunion!

toward medical goals. They would

lots and lots of trees, most of which

1960s

like to produce a new kind of cure for

John writes that he was able to hit.

slipped disks. Albert reports that his

Barrie left them a great lunch back on their rural hacienda, beautiful and

1950s classnotes@norfolkacademy.org Ω Fielding Tyler ’51: ftylervb2@aol.com Ω The Garnett ’52: garnettwindsors@aol.com Ω George Webb ’55: jwebb47@cox.net

Class Correspondents:

own is completely cured now, as an

Ω Bill Spicuzza ’56:

Ω Vacant ’60, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’68, ’69:

unexpected side effect of treatment

secluded with lots of animal life and

for something entirely different. His

a well built and designed new log

Ω Ed Levin ’61: elevin@saul.com

courses and labs “closed out” early

cabin-type lodging. John’s one and

Ω Bob Cole ’62: ocole66@gmail.com

again this past fall, in the sense that

only grandson, Jack, is now just over 2,

Ω Mark Flaherty ’66:

more students were signing up than

and since his father, Sills O’Keefe ’89,

there were chairs to sit in and micro-

teaches at Norfolk Academy, they stay

scopes to look through. Apparently

in close touch with the school. John

they like the jokes he tells; he states

is also still practicing law and just got back from a surf-fishing tournament

billspicuzza@yahoo.com Ω Beau Walker ’59: bwalker@norfolkacademy.org

Fielding Tyler ’51 is continuing to give tours of Cape Henry and is working with television and local history groups to tell the fascinating stories of

classnotes@norfolkacademy.org

moflaherty1@cox.net Ω John Donahoe ’67: jondon007@verizon.net

the City of Virginia Beach. Betty and

In November Albert Harris ’61 was

that many times students have asked

Mike Smither ’59 visited Virginia earli-

lucky enough to celebrate the arrival of

if he has ever done stand-up comedy

in Hatteras.

er this year when they drove to Lexing-

his fifth grandchild, Lydia, on his 70th

professionally. His response: “When

ton for his 50th Reunion at VMI. They

birthday. This baby was the first for his

I get up in front of 100 or 200 or 400

1970

live in New Hampshire, where they

son Tom and she was born in Chapel

students, the adrenaline takes comic

Ω Anne Reed Harper ’70:

continue to ski at every opportunity.

Hill, where Albert lives. He and his

form. One time some students played

(As an aside, in September 1959, four

wife have recently bought a new (third)

me an Eddy Izzard DVD for the hour

Purnell Delly recently got married

Academy classmates, Mike Smither,

house, so they now own three small

right before a big lecture, and… well,

and will retire from the U.S. State

Wade Johnson, Tazewell Hubard and

houses down one side of a dead-end

it’s also not wise to listen to Robin Wil-

Department in January. Along with his

Beau Walker had taken the train to-

road. As Albert says, “If this were the

liams or Monty Python just before.”

wife, Julia, an ER pediatric physician,

gether from Norfolk to Lexington, VA,

game ‘Monopoly’ then we could build

Kenny Miller ’61 began playing golf

they will take a prolonged leave of

to matriculate at VMI.) Natalie and

a hotel.” Albert recently wrote a scien-

six years ago and reports that he “fell

absence and together they will begin

Joe Parker ’59 were very fortunate that

tific paper on cartilage and its physics

in love.” He now works part-time at

cruising on their sailboat Tigerlily early

their home was not seriously damaged

and how confused most scientists and

Redwing Golf Course, which he says

next year. Intensive preparations are

by the September torrential rains that

doctors are about how cartilage works

makes golf even sweeter as the reward

already underway. Until May 2014

ravaged many streets and homes in

and what goes wrong with it. His com-

for working for minimum wage is free

they are in Washington and would be

their neighborhood in Longmont,

ments are a little controversial, and he

golf. During the summer he took an

delighted to see any NA’ers in town!

CO. Flash flooding hit some homes

unforgettable trip when a granddaugh-

Degie Ferebee and his partner Bill

on their street and they were evacu-

ter of Billy McClanan ’61 got married

Cooke, who are enjoying their 33rd

ated as a precaution. “We were very

in Colorado. After meeting up with

year of unwedded bliss together, would

lucky,” commented Joe soon after the

Billy in Las Vegas, they began their

like to congratulate two alumni on re-

storm. Nancy and Bill Hofheimer ’59

cross-country journey back to the East

cently getting hitched: John Daughtrey

attended a Norfolk Academy reception

Coast. They went through nine states

’51 and Jeff Masters, whose marriage

in Richmond recently. They left soon

and saw the Grand Canyon (which

took place in New York City on May

afterward on a cruise in the Middle

Kenny says is the most mind-boggling

17, 2012, and Mike Blassingham and

East. Richard Tilghman ’58 attended

thing he’s ever seen), the St. Louis

Ray Cashow, who were married in

the same reception at the Country

Arch, an awe-inspiring movie about

San Francisco on September 21, 2013.

Club of Virginia, along with many

the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and

In another episode of “It’s a Small

other alumni. Janis and Doug Wood

the Great Plains of Kansas. Now all

World,” Degie and Jeff had spent

Kenny wants to do is see the rest of

several weeks on adjacent treadmills

America. John O’Keefe ’61 and Beau

at the gym in Wilton Manors, FL,

Walker ’59 went up to the outskirts of

chatting before they realized that not

’59 always check in with Beau Walker ’59 when they are in the area. Beau and his wife, Ghada, had dinner with

above Bill Miller ’62, Kent Crooks

’80 and Ran Randolph ’80 celebrate with Dave Lindhjem (far right) at his retirement party.

reunion year

Ω Class Correspondents

amrharper@gmail.com

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Top left Hough Johnson ’73 celebrated his 30th

above Michael Via ’73 would like to send

anniversary with his wife, Kirby, in September.

a special thanks to Michael Via ’03 and his fiancée, Sarah, for a perfectly planned, successfully surprising, and celebrity celebration of his 30th anniversary with his wife, Debbie, this past June. Planned at a local restaurant, Michael ’03 organized, made all the arrangements and invited approximately 40 friends and family members. Members of the class of 1973 attending: Sarah ’79 and Phil Stedfast, Armie and Karen Armstrong, Sara and Mel Cruser, and Kirby and Hough Johnson.

middle left Anne Reed Harper ’70 loves being a grandmother, as shown in this photo with her newest grandchild, Harper Kaye Garrison. below left Michael Via ’73, Mary Via Cuoco ’83

and Michael Via ’03 celebrated their 40th, 30th and 10th Norfolk Academy reunions this past fall. They enjoyed fine music by InDecision and New Potato Caboose, good food, adult beverages and great company at the Homecoming Bulldog Bash on Friday night.

only had they lived a block apart from

in southern Indiana. She loves the

one another in Norfolk, on Graydon

Granny gig! On April 1, 2013 (no fool-

1972

1973

Avenue in West Ghent, but that Degie

ing!), John Hollis retired after 35 years

Ω Heather Hollowell ’72:

Ω Michael Via ’73: laxstx@cox.net

and John were also Academy alumni.

(wishes he was fooling). He writes

Their family ties go back even further

that he did take a break along the way

David Moshier retired as a Department

medicine at Executive Internal Medi-

as John remembers visiting Degie’s

for a few years to become a registered

of the Army civilian in March 2013

cine, a concierge practice in Norfolk.

aunt in her Victorian farm house in

diagnostic cardiac sonographer (i.e.

from his last station as superintendent

She is looking at high schools for her

Larchmont on several occasions dur-

ultrasounds of hearts). He just moved

of the United States Soldiers’ and

son, who is 13. He is 5'11" and he loves

ing the 1940s. John is a retired interior

from Williamsburg, where he lived for

Airmen’s Home National Cemetery

basketball. Michael Via’s son Michael

designer and world traveler. Jeff works

20 years, to the western mountains of

in Washington and he was awarded

’03 is engaged to Sarah Galpern with

for Parlux Fragrances and has been

Craig County, VA (population about

the Department of the Army Com-

a wedding planned in D.C. on July 12,

involved in the launches of perfumes

5,000 and NO stoplights), on Johns

mander’s Medal for Civilian Service

2014. Kit Miller Whitely’s family would

for Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson,

Creek, surrounded by the Thomas Jef-

at retirement. In December, he was

like everyone to know how touched

Marc Ecko, Vince Camuto, Rihanna

ferson National Forest and wonderful

called by Greenbrier Baptist Church in

and grateful the Miller/Whitely family

and Jay Z. John Frazee and Joan Scholl

folks. Stan Young reports that he had

Arlington to be associate pastor, and at

is for everyone’s thoughts and prayers

traveled to the Virgin Islands on Alize

his hip replaced on May 30 and is do-

the same time, he joined the National

for Kit. She was an amazing person

in November on the first leg of their

ing fabulously.

Clergy Council in Washington, DC,

who really made a difference in the lives of so many. On October 30, the

chronicling their adventures at www.

1971

as vice president and chief operating officer. Peyton Via’s son Andy Via ’10

first anniversary of her passing, they

sailblogs.com/member/alize/. Anne

Ω Samuel Brown ’71:

is set to graduate from Washington

had a memorial service in the park

College next spring. Son Marshall ’14

near her home in Arlington, where her neighborhood association dedicated a beautiful bench in Kit’s memory.

sailing trip. Check out their blog

Reed Harper became a grandmother

classnotes@norfolkacademy.org

hollowell17@cox.net

for the second time on October 10.

Ann Sullivan is pleased to announce

was first-team All-TCIS football kicker

Harper Kaye Garrison was born to her

the formation of Sullivan Law Group

as a member of Norfolk Academy’s

younger daughter, Elizabeth, and her

PLC. Her practice will continue its

football team and 2nd team punter

son-in-law Dave. Anne’s older daugh-

emphasis on employment law and

and defensive lineman this past fall.

ter, Susan, and her husband, Seth

civil litigation and mediation.

He plans to attend Hampden-Sydney

Gray, are raising chickens and her first grandchild, Harmon Catherine Leigh,

52

academy

next fall to play lacrosse.

Stuart Shepheard is still practicing


1974

enjoying their summer at 95 degrees.

Ω Susan Lampert Smith ’74:

Jeff Sachs sends greetings to his

thesmithery@cox.net

classmates. He is working as a senior

Alex Bell’s wife, Andrea, has retired

deputy city attorney in Hampton, VA,

from 30 years of teaching, and she

and serves as the head of the litigation

is looking forward to a trip to Africa

section of that office. Ferd Salomon

with some other retired educators

is still in commercial real estate, but

in 2014. Daughter Maggie works at

market conditions are weak, at least

Farm Fresh and Animal Rescue, and

in his area. He still likes to kayak and

Maggie was recently featured in the

fish whenever he gets the chance. His

Beacon, where she and other young

wife, Monica, is teaching accounting

adults are part of a Sunday reading

at the University of West Florida, and

club. Son Alex Bell ’03 graduated from

the kids are doing great. Son Chris is

law school and passed the Virginia bar.

a Navy LT helicopter instructor pilot

Alex ’03 and wife Kelly have moved to

in Jacksonville. He lives there with

Virginia Beach, where he is working

his wife and Ferd’s two grandkids.

for Stackhouse Nexsen and Kelly is

Daughter Jenny is a tax attorney in

teaching with Virginia Beach Public

Miami and Rachel is an engineering

Schools. Liz Day Dalrymple is still

freshman at University of Florida.

working at the yarn shop in South-

Add two rescued golden retrievers

ern Pines. She finished yoga teacher

and that is about it! Susan Lampert

training in April and is now teaching

Smith continues to enjoy her role as

yoga several times a week, which she

class correspondent and loves hearing

loves. Her husband is getting ready

from her classmates. She notes that

to open a men’s store in Chapel Hill,

Susan Jaffe Miller and Bill Beaman

top Andrea Bostian Nelson ’74 sent a photo from her

and their daughter, Sumner, graduated

send greetings from Bethesda; Ellie

from Sewanee in May and is living

Moreland Warder sends a big hello

and working in Nashville, TN. They

from Arizona; Amy Ostrower sends

love that city and love visiting her

glad tidings from the west coast; and

trip to Colorado Springs, in the Garden of the Gods. Life has had its challenges this year, but they are so thankful for God’s faithfulness. They are excited about another grandchild, Samuel Stephen, who is due in the spring.

there. Their son, Jack, is a sophomore

Brian Strelitz is looking forward to

at Sewanee. Liz writes that if anyone

our 40th Reunion. Susan adds, “Last

is in the area, stop in! Mark Johnson is

year certainly had its ups and downs.

looking forward to the 40th Reunion.

I lost my dear husband, Tim, on our

David Kaufman’s kids, Carl and Kara,

26th wedding anniversary, 11/16/2012.

are providing much entertainment

My NA family, which includes many

value for him these days as they play

graduation years, has been amazingly

basketball for NA on 9th and 7th

supportive.” The circle of life was

grade teams. As a current parent and

quite evident this year as her family

former student, he finds that NA today

welcomed the births of Nathaniel

is a treasure. Brad Mahanes’ daughter

Lampert, son of nephew Zach Lampert

is a senior and they have wrapped up

’01, and Caroline Kessler, daughter of

the college selection process. Work is

niece Katie Lampert Kessler ’05. The

the same, except when he had to en-

proud grandfather is Ken Lampert

dure the October shutdown silliness.

’72, and their great-grandmother is

He’s looking forward to the reunion.

former NA teacher Virginia Lampert.

Richard Mattus’ oldest daughter, Sofia,

Susan’s twin boys, Daniel and Brian,

returned this summer to Sweden after

are both gainfully employed, and

and the second largest Hispanic-

1975

a fantastic year at good old NA, staying

daughter Ellen is a senior in the IB

serving institution in the country with

Ω Charlie Nusbaum ’75:

with the wonderful Stockwell family.

program at Granby High School. John

30,000-plus students. Jane Tucker and

So Richard’s American (host) sister

Trant is back in Texas serving as the

husband Phil are still doing the law

(from his year with the Morgans in

dean of the College of Science and

thing. Daughter Sarah is in graduate

’73–74) is now Sofia’s American mum.

Mathematics at The University of

school at ODU, son Andrew is doing

He keeps busy working to reduce

Texas-Pan American. UTPA will create

a year of City Year in Denver, son Ben

global emissions of the greenhouse

a medical school soon and will merge

is a sophomore at PA, and Scout the

gas methane. As of early December

with another institution to become

cat is his usual cat self. They are very

he was in Australia on a mission,

an ‘emerging research institution’

grateful for all the blessings they have!

reunion year

below left Madison Spencer ’74 and his wife, Brooke,

prosper in Charlottesville with nary a distraction but for their girls, Millicent (left) and Elsie (right). Their beagles are as old as he is, the chickens don’t care, and the horses enjoy a better retirement than he thinks he has in store. Therefore he continues to architect hither and yon, wherever the wind takes him. Brooke gardens up a storm. Their little hellions (pictured) keep him on his toes. Millicent is in her second year at St. Andrew’s and Elsie is in her first year at Sewanee. Her roommate is Celeste Vandeventer. Tommy Vandeventer ’74 and Madison are looking forward therefore to reliving their greatest moments from college and as roommates in New York. below right Susan Lampert Smith ’74 with Nathaniel Lampert, class of 2030.

Ω Class Correspondents

cnusbaum@nusbauminsurance.com

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alumnus profile

Dubby Wynne ’63 In honor of John O. “Dubby” Wynne’s

most recently celebrated his 50th Reunion with classmates by setting a

extraordinary efforts and skill in enhancing

new standard for reunion giving. Before joining the Board of Trustees in

economic opportunity in Hampton Roads, he

1980, Dubby served as president of the Alumni Association for Norfolk

was recently awarded the 2013 Darden Award for

Academy. He served as a trustee for 17 years and as president 1986–1990.

Regional Leadership by the CIVIC Leadership

During his tenure on the Board he served as vice president of education

Institute.

and finance and was a leading force in the efforts to create and grow the

John Wynne is the retired president and chief executive officer of Landmark Communications, Inc., but it is his work in education and regional initiatives that is reshaping and improving Hampton Roads. Dubby is one of the founding members of the Hampton Roads

school’s endowment. As lifetime Bulldogs, Dubby’s family has also been fully engaged in the life of the school. Susan Snodgrass Wynne ’68, a student at Country Day and Norfolk Academy and a former fifth grade teacher at Norfolk Academy,

Business Roundtable, a new regional organization seeking to improve

currently serves on the Board of Trustees. Their son Lee attended Norfolk

Hampton Roads’ competitive position in the global economy. The Business

Academy first grade with the Class of 1996 before his passing in 1984.

Roundtable is only the latest innovative initiative that has brought Dubby’s

Their sons John ’94 and Brad ’00 graduated from NA. John, his wife,

expertise and vision into the region, the state and the nation. He is also

Katherine, and their young children, Morgan and Oliver, live in Virginia

vice chair for the state-appointed Council on Virginia’s Future.

Beach, where John is active on the Academy’s Alumni Board. Brad taught

There are few institutions in Hampton Roads that have not benefitted from Dubby’s leadership. He co-chaired the Hampton Roads Partnership and the Board of the Virginia Business Council, and has led or served on a

and coached at Norfolk Academy before he and his wife, Katie, moved to Charlotte, NC, where they now live with their three daughters. With so many accomplishments under his belt, Dubby is not slowing

variety of volunteer boards including Colonial Williamsburg Foundation,

down. He has considered his “retirement” as “redirection.” In addition

the EVMS Foundation, Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, United

to his strong allegiance to his family, friends, Norfolk Academy and

Way of South Hampton Roads and Junior Achievement of Tidewater.

numerous other organizations, he is focusing his considerable skill on

Educational excellence and regional success have been the focus of much of Dubby’s public work. He sees the two as integrally linked and

Hampton Roads. It is in honor of these extraordinary efforts that the 2013 Darden Award for Regional Leadership was awarded to Dubby Wynne ’63.

throughout his career, he has lent his support to a variety of efforts, both public and private, to improve education and economic opportunity. He was appointed to the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia in 1990. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council and spearheaded, with others, the Grow by Degrees Initiative. Dubby served on the Governor’s Commission of Higher Education Reform, Innovation and Investment and serves on the Virginia Higher Education Advisory Council. He was formally a trustee and member of the Executive Committee of Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. Additionally, he is chairman of the Board of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. A 1967 graduate of Princeton University, Dubby has served as a charter trustee and member of the Executive Committee of the Princeton Board of Trustees, chair of the Academic Affairs Committee and as co-chair of several fundraising campaigns for the university. He continues to serve on the Princeton Board of Trustees. At the University of Virginia, he served as chairman of the University of Virginia Investment Management Company, as chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, as a board member and member of the Executive Committee of the University of Virginia Alumni Association, and as rector for the University of Virginia Board of Visitors. He is a 1971 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law. As you would expect, Dubby has remained engaged at Norfolk Academy—as an alumnus, a parent, parent of alumni and trustee. He

54

academy

Material for this article was provided by Inside Business, the CIVIC Leadership Institute and the Wynne family. Below Dubby Wynne joins other members of the class of 1963 for a great time at the Homecoming football game, where they were recognized at halftime for their successful reunion giving campaign. Kneeling, from left to right: Buzzy Hofheimer, Paul Rippey and Alex Bevernick. Standing, from left to right: Dubby, Bill Willett, Fenton Wilkinson, Marc Salzberg, Richard Mathews and Wayne Bowman.


1976

in his third year at UVA. They don’t

England with a couple of days at trip’s

offers their condolences to Reb Baker

Ω Meriwether Payne ’76:

run into each other in town… a good

end in Paris. Since leaving the nursery

on the loss of his dear wife, Vicky, who

thing. Julie teaches nursing part-time

industry in 2006, she has had several

bravely fought breast cancer for many

Harry Adler has lived in Minneapo-

and loves to work in her garden. They

very interesting part-time or seasonal

years. Everyone was glad to see him at

lis, MN, for over thirty years. After

have great friends and enjoy Charlot-

jobs, but she really put her nose to the

the reunion. Becky Winston Brewbaker

fourteen years in the business sector

tesville, but salt water still calls her,

books this past winter and passed sev-

says God has blessed her with an

and fifteen years in private school

and she hopes to live near some one

eral exhausting tests and got her 6-pak

awesome family. She is coming up on

education, he has spent the last few

of these days. She saw Bowie Collins

and master’s captain’s licenses. These

28 years of marriage that has kept her

years engaged in social causes and

Shields at a UVA baseball game, and

allow her to take fishing and sightsee-

in the Deep South, where tea is

nonprofit work. He is happily mar-

they met for a catch-up lunch. Julie’s

ing charters. In the past year she’s also

sweeter, drawls are thicker and the

ried to his wife, Leslie, who recently

husband, Jim, and Craig Slingluff work

had the great pleasure of reconnect-

Tide rolls stronger! (She now knows

published a book that is available on

together a little so they keep up with

ing with Margaret Reinhardt and

who Bear Bryant is and is dedicated to

Amazon, called Jewish Luck. He has

him. David Dunn-Rankin is living in

getting her out on the water. She won’t

SEC football.) Her husband, Bill,

two children, Isaac, age 26, who lives

Venice, FL, where he is working with

discuss a more recent trip where she

continues at the University of

and works in Chicago, and Maya, age

his family’s community newspaper

got a boatload of NA alums stuck on a

Alabama Law School, where he is

22, who lives and works in Minneapo-

business. David’s dad, Derek, was

mudflat… Craig Slingluff writes that life

serving as interim dean, and she is

lis. Visitors are welcome during the

once the president of the Virginian

is good in Charlottesville. He and his

home-schooling their last two children

winter! Amanda Jones Chambers and

Pilot-Ledger Star before moving in 1977

wife, Kristin, just celebrated their third

(Becca and Sam) while practicing

her husband live in Raleigh, NC. Her

to start his own newspaper company

anniversary, and she continues to work

pediatrics part-time. The oldest three

husband, David, is an estate planning

in Florida. The community newspaper

hard writing a trilogy of historical

have semi-launched: Catherine is

attorney. Their older son, David, 26,

part of the newspaper industry seems

fiction novels set in ancient Persia and

finishing up her internship with RUF

is in his third year of law school at

to be growing in most areas. A major

Babylon, as well as playwriting and

at UC-Berkeley, Mary Lansden is

Wake Forest. His journey has been

benefit of working in the community

writing short stories and some nonfic-

graduating in May from UVA, and

a difficult one as he deals with some

newspaper business is the ability to

tion. They have two wonderful dogs

Will has joined her as a first year

learning challenges—in case anyone

invest time and newspaper resources

who are always fun. Craig’s work is

Wahoo. As her friends begin to

else needs some encouragement. He

to help key civic groups be success-

good, as the field of cancer immunol-

succumb to disease, she is reminded

interned last summer for the U.S.

ful. David writes a local column every

ogy is very exciting, with several new

they have their hope in Jesus Christ

Attorney’s office in Raleigh. He is

week, “Why Does My Newspaper Do

effective therapies helping to push for-

and that He will never fail. Martha

6'6", having grown last year. Son Luke

That?”, and thinks Arthur MacCono-

ward new advances in the science and

Broecker shares that after ten years at

is a curly-headed 8th grader and is

chie would mark it up with a liberal

the treatment of melanoma and other

Fossil as vice president, brand

home-schooled. Amanda is relearn-

use of red ink. Courtenay Harrison

cancers. He just received a five-year

manager of Burberry, and Marc by

ing algebra and Latin and watching

writes that there’s nothing much

grant from the NIH/National Cancer

Marc watches worldwide, she has

a lot of basketball. David was on the

new or exciting in his family as long

Institute to explore combination

joined the competition: Timex Swiss

University of South Carolina team and

as they still have a couple in college.

therapies for melanoma combined

Luxury Group (Vertime, division based

Luke is playing for his home-school

Their oldest, Natalie, has finished

with a cancer vaccine approach they

in Lugano, Switzerland)! Her position

team and plays AAU in the spring.

undergrad at Tech and is applying to

developed at UVA. He sees old friends

is regional sales manager for Americas

They also have Buddy, a half Bijon/

nursing programs. Their 21-year-old

from NA in Charlottesville, including

and Travel Retail, and she’s excited

Shi tzu. He doesn’t shed or smell, but

son, Neil, is in his third year at UVA,

his namesake Craig Jones, who has

about the ability to travel and open up

he will growl if not included in a show

and their youngest, Catherine, is in

taken a new job right next to the UVA

distribution for Versace, Versus and

of affection. Amanda’s mother is at

her first year at UVA. Courtenay still

Grounds. Craig Slingluff continues to

Ferragamo watches in Canada,

Westminster Canterbury and was just

loves seeing and caring for patients in

work closely with Jim Patterson, who

Mexico, USA and South and Central

at their home for Thanksgiving, but is

his endocrinology practice in Virginia

is a great pathologist and is particu-

America. Her passions include yoga,

unsure whether she’ll be able to make

Beach. Meriwether Payne writes that in

larly notable for being married to Julie

Pilates and sailing. Having received

that trip again. Amanda is very happy

the past year she hasn’t moved or got-

Wyatt Patterson, whom he has been so

her sailing license in the BVI in 2010,

to have finished these last three years

ten married (again…). She’s still very

very happy to know much better over

she is headed to Thailand in

of life in which she learned a lot about

happily living by herself on the Seaside

these years in Charlottesville than he

December 2014 to join a flotilla for ten

law and people. If it wasn’t for Betsy

of the Eastern Shore near Wachap-

did at NA.

days. She says “If you’re ever in Dallas,

Hardy Parks, the experience would

reague, VA. Well, not completely by herself—she does have roommates:

1977

send me an email… I can meet you for

have cost a lot more of her sanity. Besides writing, one of Amanda’s joys is

her best friend Loose Lucy (golden re-

Ω Ray Sears ’77:

a Bible study she facilitates for 7th and

triever), her three kitties, and her latest

8th grade girls. Having raised boys, it

additions: five brown egg-laying hens

is fascinating to her that these young

and two roosters. The roosters were

1978

ladies have matching fingernails and

supposed to be hens, but since they

Ω Stephanie Alder Calliott ’78:

earrings. Julie Wyatt Patterson and her

already had names she couldn’t turn

husband, Jim, have been in Charlot-

them into coq au vin! She did take a

Jess Bacon lives in Berryville, VA, and

are doing well. Their daughter Annie

tesville 18 years. Their son, Wyatt, is

nice trip last winter to visit a friend in

has four children ages 8–21. The class

is a sophomore at University of South

wether33@verizon.net

Big Tex dining or, better yet (having learned gourmet cooking from my

randlsears@verizon.net

mother), it would be a treat to prepare a meal in my outdoor kitchen, fireside. I’ll trade it for Italian lessons! It was fun to see everyone at reunion.” Latané Ware Brown says she and Arch

SACinVA@aol.com

Norfolk Academy magazine

|

spring 2014

55


Carolina, and Walker and Molly still attend NA. She was glad to see everyone at the reunion. Joni Fink Burstein was amused and delighted to see the 40th anniversary book on the Loningen exchange program but was sorry she didn’t get to see everyone at the reunion. Maybe in 2018! She sends her best to all. Stephanie Adler Calliott married Don London in May 2013. Their three sons were in the wedding and Stephanie’s father, Beryl, and son David Calliott ’07 walked her down the aisle. After a honeymoon in Italy full of eating and walking, followed by more eating, they are settled and looking forward to a long life together. She enjoys her Development role at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. Her mother, the beloved “Mrs. Adler” the art teacher, is painting away in her studio and sends her hellos to everyone. Gail Roper Caltrider was sorry to miss the reunion but is happy to announce her son Mac arrived home safely from Afghanistan. She is

above Keith Bonney ’78 (far right, in Berlin) had always wanted to go backpacking in Europe for the

summer after graduating but never did—until this summer. With a bunch of buddies, he went over to Europe to follow the Neil Young & Crazy Horse Alchemy 2013 tour: three countries, four concerts, seven days. A bit of a blur, but lots of fun memories which they webcast live from each city. Must say Berlin and Paris were highlights. “Well, as they say, keep on rockin’ in the free world!”

thankful to everyone for their good wishes. She is still teaching at Baltimore’s Notre Dame Prep (where she has been since 1982) and is finally

School in Norfolk in June and is

and enjoyed living and working in

ODU, live together in West Ghent.

nearing the end of her 18-month

looking hard at NA for 9th grade. Julie

Charlottesville for 26 years. She’s

Tracy is still working for Bayer Health

treatment for breast cancer. She is

Cloud is an empty nester in Charlot-

currently a director with Sentara

in the oncology division and has a

delighted to report her hair is growing

tesville—her daughter Katherine is a

Healthcare system and has lived in

huge territory with a lot of travel. She

back, along with her waistline, so she

junior at Savannah College of Art and

Virginia Beach for the past nine years.

and her wonderful husband, Robert

is loving the side effects. Ann Baydush

Design; Logan is doing a post-graduate

She is pursuing her MBA from

Dagostino, just celebrated their third

Carew and her husband moved to

year at Exeter; and her youngest son,

Darden and has just returned from a

wedding anniversary. He loves being

Johns Island, SC, in May 2013. Ann is

John, is a freshman at Andover. Both

two-week study/tour of China. She’s

retired and taking care of the house

retired from the legal world and is

boys play varsity soccer for their

very humbled by going back to

and their two beautiful English setters

enjoying her free time. All five kids are

respective schools, taking sibling

academia! She will be seeking

(and occasionally being her chauffeur

doing well: Phillip Barger is in D.C.,

rivalry to a whole new level. She and

awesome job opportunities pending

for work). She missed seeing everyone

Libby Barger is in Charleston, Brian

her husband of 25 years, Doug, spent

May 2014 graduation. Blair Groh Ege

at the reunion. Brooks Flippen says

Carew is in Jackson Hole, Virginia

all fall traveling to New England to see

is director of the Citi Private Bank

all’s well in McKinney, TX, a suburb of

Carew is a senior at Alabama, and Ben

their games. As for Julie, since she

Ultra High Net Worth group in

Dallas, as he and his wife, Celeste,

Carew is a sophomore at College of

worked herself out of her old jobs as

Washington, DC. She is living in the

adjust to being empty-nesters. Their

Charleston. She was sorry to miss the

taxi driver, cook and tutor, she thinks

heart of Old Town (Alexandria, VA)

older daughter, Maya, is a junior at

reunion and hopes to see people

she probably should look at getting

and is active on the boards of the UVA

Duke University and younger

another time. John Chandler enjoyed

back into the work force. Judy Nettles

Art Museum and Arena Stage. Blair’s

daughter Emily is a freshman at New

attending the reunion party at Chuck’s

Cole says life is good. She has been

daughter, Margaret Ege ’09, a

York University in Shanghai, China.

house. He toured the NA campus with

married for 24 years and has two

paramedic, will also soon complete her

He was sorry to miss the reunion but

his younger daughters Virginia (11)

children: a daughter (age 20),

degree in nursing. Tracy Lustig

wishes everyone well. He remains

and Nancy (8) on Saturday morning of

attending the School of Architecture at

Feldman says her family is doing well.

busy as a history professor at

reunion weekend following a track

University of North Carolina Charlotte

Her daughter Hilary (24) graduated

Southeastern Oklahoma State

meet they attended. They were both

(Dean’s list) and a son (age 14) who is

from ODU in December 2012 and

University. Brent Harris has spent the

very impressed by the facilities. His

a 9th grader at Norfolk Academy and

works for Dominion Enterprises in

past year traveling the country—more

oldest daughter, Jane Carter (13), is

plays soccer and lacrosse. Profession-

Norfolk. Hilary and her sister Jessica

than 25 cities—playing the title role in

graduating from St. Patrick Catholic

ally, Judy attended UVA (BSN, MSN)

(21), a senior in sports management at

C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters.

56

academy

reunion year

Ω Class Correspondents


Before that, he was on the road with

They recently returned from a great

the national tour of The Lion King,

“virgin” visit to Vegas with friends,

playing Scar. The highlight of his year,

which included a fantastic trip to the

though, was a delightful lunch in July

Grand Canyon (a small plane,

with Stephanie Alder Calliott at Azar’s

helicopter and white water raft) two

on Colley Avenue. Based in NYC, he

days before the government

was sorry to miss the reunion but was

shutdown, so they really lucked out!

on stage at the Balboa Theatre in

Molly Slingluff Ill is enjoying working

beautiful San Diego. Jonnie Fry

on her daughter Hannah’s summer

Hunter Rawlings III ’62 is Princeton’s Madison Medal Winner

Helfrich and her husband, Aaron,

wedding. Their daughter Emmy is

Article courtesy of Karin Dienst, Princeton University;

celebrated their 20th wedding

living and working in NYC. She and

anniversary in July. Together they own

Peter enjoyed seeing everyone in

The Madison Medal, established by the Associa-

Helfrich Outfitter, a rafting and fishing

October. Amy Jonak is running a

tion of Princeton Graduate Alumni, is named for the fourth president of

business operating in Oregon and

public school foundation in San

the United States and the person considered to be Princeton’s first gradu-

Idaho. Their son, Garrett, worked with

Rafael, CA, where she lives with

ate student. It is presented each year to celebrate an alumnus or alumna

them this past summer, and their

partner Mary Herald and daughter

of the Graduate School who has had a distinguished career, advanced the

daughter, Leah, helped in the office

Sophie, who’s a high school

cause of graduate education or achieved an outstanding record of public

and kitchen when she wasn’t dancing

sophomore. Amy’s sorry to have

service.

or cheering. They live in a home that

missed the 35th, and hopes everyone’s

they spent two years resurrecting and

well and happy. Shireen Hayes Kirk

education. He became president of the Association of American Universi-

have deer and other wildlife

traveled to Northern Ireland to visit

ties (AAU) in 2011, a nonprofit association of 62 leading public and

wandering through their backyard.

family and even had the opportunity to

private research universities in the United States and Canada. Previously,

Their off seasons are relatively slow, so

play golf at Royal County Down. She

Rawlings served as president of Cornell University from 1995 to 2003,

Aaron stays busy working on home

was very sorry she missed the

and as interim president from 2005 to 2006. He served as president of

and yard projects, and Jonnie stays

Saturday night reunion party but

the University of Iowa from 1988 to 1995. He was a faculty member and

busy volunteering. Garrett is a senior

greatly enjoyed a mini-reunion with

administrator at the University of Colorado-Boulder for 18 years.

and plans to study criminal justice in

some of the ’78 NA girls earlier that

“Hunter is a well-known and respected leader in higher education,”

college with a slant toward fish and

weekend. George Kotarides recently

said Dean of the Graduate School William Russel, noting that Rawlings

game enforcement. His football team

opened a small wine shop at 33rd and

in particular is a “premier and long-standing leader” of public education.

was the third in his school’s history to

Atlantic in Virginia Beach, DB’s Wines

He added that the work Rawlings pursues—often through writings and

advance to the state quarterfinals.

To-Go, inside their newest Dough

speeches on public higher education—“articulates the crisis that exists

Baseball training will start as soon as

Boy’s restaurant. He said it’s been fun

and the desperate need for change within research universities and for

football ends; one college is already

tasting and sharing some great wines

support from the governments that created them.”

showing interest in him. Leah is a

with friends. Next up—gutting and

At the helm of the AAU, Rawlings works with other university and

sophomore. She is looking forward to

remodeling the 17th Street Dough

college leaders on issues that are important to research-intensive universi-

getting her driver’s license and

Boy’s in January. After that, updating

ties, including funding for research, education policy, and graduate and

purchasing her first car. She no longer

the 1980s interior of their house, a

undergraduate education.

dances, gave cheerleading a

process he and his wife, Stacy, dread

one-season try, and is ready to focus

but can’t wait to finish. Bruce Lindsey

concentrated on increasing student diversity and making Cornell’s need-

her attention on her shooting game.

was promoted to the rank of rear

blind admission policy permanent. He emphasized the importance of

She is the current lady state champion

admiral and promptly delegated to

undergraduate teaching and gave new priority to several fields of scientific

trap and sporting clays shooter and

work in the basement of the Pentagon.

research, including life sciences, nanoscience and information technolo-

will defend her titles in May. Jonnie’s

Nothing like starting at the bottom

gy. He also established a new campus of the Weill Cornell Medical College

mom, Rusty, lives nearby. She moved

once again. Linda Brown Lindsey has

in Qatar. He also oversaw changes to residential life, including housing all

to Oregon after her husband passed

been busy moving into their home in

freshmen together on campus.

away in May 2008. She’s active in her

Old Town Alexandria and traveling. It

church and is at every game possible

is great to be able to see Ben Lindsey

Group Presidents. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and

to cheer on her grandchildren. Kevin

’06 whenever they go by Richmond,

Sciences, and he serves on the boards of the American School of Classical

Hubbard says all is well in the

where he is in his third year of medical

Studies in Athens and the National Academy Foundation.

Hubbard household. Their son, Loren,

school at MCV. They were excited to

graduated from Hampden-Sydney

see Blair Lindsey ’08 when she

College in 1966 before receiving his PhD from Princeton. He is the

College and is heading to law school.

returned home in December after a

author of The Structure of Thucydides’ History, published by Princeton

Their daughter, Sarah, is a sophomore

year living in South Korea and five

University Press. Rawlings spoke at the recent installation of President

at East Carolina and has ultimate

months traveling. They thoroughly

Christopher L. Eisgruber, offering greetings on behalf of the worldwide

plans to attend grad school to become

enjoyed the reunion and reconnecting

higher education community.

a physical therapist. Kevin’s wife,

with so many classmates! Thank you

Missy, works part-time in his practice.

Steph, Chuck and Theresa! Courtney

alumnus profile

Hunter Rawlings III is known as a national spokesperson for higher

Among his many initiatives as president of Cornell, Rawlings

Rawlings has served as chair of both the AAU and the Council of Ivy

Rawlings received his bachelor’s degree in classics from Haverford

Photo courtesy of the Association of American Universities

Norfolk Academy magazine

|

spring 2014

57


Left In 2014, Lynn Polizos ’80 will be celebrating the 10th anniversary

of her public relations, advertising and interactive marketing firm, Polizos & Company Communications. Providing creative and effective marketing communications programs to businesses and organizations in the education, transportation, tourism, real estate and healthcare sectors, Lynn has recently earned more than 30 regional, national and international awards, including the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Commonwealth Award of Excellence for the Best Public Service Campaign in the state of Virginia; the PRSA National Bronze Anvil Award; the PRSA Best in Show Pinnacle Award; and the Gold Hermes Award for Communications Excellence. Lynn lives in Virginia Beach with her husband, Jack Carter, and their two mischievous dogs, Samson and Macallan.

Crooks Many lives with her husband,

family moved to southern California in

and working in New Orleans after

more jobs in Hampton Roads. In

Mark, and their two children, Radker

August, when he started with Nestlé

receiving her bachelor’s and master’s

between lobbying for economic

(15) and Margaret (14), in Virginia

USA as head of digital (leading a team

degrees from Tulane University. Susan

growth via the ports, tech innovation

Beach. She said it was wonderful to

to build brands with digital platforms

is hoping she will move back to

and real estate, Tuni loves playing

see everyone at the reunion and she

like Facebook, websites, Twitter), after

Virginia soon too! She enjoyed seeing

bridge and catching up with all of her

missed those who could not be there.

having worked at Nestlé Purina (St.

everyone at the reunion. Hank Rogers

friends in the area. Anyone coming to

Chuck McPhillips is still lawyering at

Louis) for 25 years. Their oldest son,

and his wife, Martha, are loving their

Miami, please make sure to call and

Kaufman and Canoles with classmate

Drew, a junior at Washington

move to Charleston, SC. Their oldest

say hello. Most of all anyone needing a

Steve Noona and has enjoyed serving

University in St. Louis, is pre-med and

daughter, Elizabeth (26), an RN in

bridge partner in Hampton Roads, let

on the Hampden-Sydney College

a Division III cross-country and

North Carolina, recently got engaged,

her know! Robert Slepin works for a

Board of Trustees with classmate John

long-distance track runner. Their

and their other daughter, Sarah (23), is

healthcare network in Scottsdale, AZ,

Gibson. Chuck is now serving as

second son, Tim, a freshman at the

moving back in with them, prior to

and invites fellow NA alums to stop by

president of Greater Norfolk

Eastman School of Music (University

joining the Peace Corps. Hank

and visit when traveling to the area for

Corporation as well as The Norfolk

of Rochester), is training to become a

published his e-book in July 2013 (My

business or leisure. Lyn Snodgrass and

Forum. He and Theresa were

symphonic percussionist. Their

Wife Has Multiple Sclerosis: What Do I

his wife are still in Alexandria near

delighted to host such a distin-

younger two boys, Matthew and

Do Now?) and invites everyone to take

Mount Vernon and just celebrated

guished—and fun—pack of Bulldogs

Jonathan, are going to La Canada High

a look. Tommy Semler is still living in

their 15th wedding anniversary (“I got

for the 35th class reunion. Leeny Kelly

School, outside of L.A. Chris’ wife,

Boones Mill, VA, and making the daily

married early when nearly 39!”). Their

Oberg was happy see everyone at the

Sandy, an attorney, is contemplating

commute up the mountain to Floyd,

daughter, Cole, is now in 7th grade at

reunion as it did her heart good,

taking the California bar so she can

VA, where he is the chief credit officer

St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes. (St.

especially since so many people there

practice there. They still have their

for Bank of Floyd. His wife, Mary,

Stephen’s is where Mr. David

knew her departed and beloved

house in Sandbridge and hope to get

teaches at North Cross School in

Checcino, renowned chemistry teacher

parents and brother Joe. She started

back soon. He was sorry to miss the

Roanoke, where headmasters over the

with lots of “chemical jokes,” went

her job as CFO for The Ritz-Carlton

reunion. Ione Vomvouras Permison is

years have included John Tucker and

after NA.) Cole hopes to play girls

Hotel Company (owned by Marriott

living in Short Hills and working in

Will Stacey. Their oldest son, Kiehl

lacrosse in high school there, which is

International) in the spring of 2013,

real estate private equity at Quilvest.

(29), is a UGA graduate and landscape

the best team in the Mid-Atlantic. They

which she says has been quite a switch

Her son, Alex, just started 9th grade at

architect in Miami Beach. Their sons

had planned to come to the reunion

from her prior corporate job. She’s

Millburn High School and is six feet

Hart (17) and Massey (14) are in the

but a minor emergency came up at the

really enjoying getting to visit their 80

tall! She and Mark (whom many of

11th and 9th grades at North Cross,

last minute; they hope to see

hotels and 35 residences around the

their classmates met a couple of

and their surprise (2-year-old daughter

everybody at the next one! John Stubbs

world. Her family is great—Colleen is

reunions ago) are getting ready to do

Steele) is in the 3-year-old program. He

has been with Unisys for the past two

a senior at Colgate and looking

an addition to their house for more

says, “If anyone is out this way, our

years, and he’s currently running their

forward to trying her hand in the

space for him and for his three girls

door is always open.” Tuni Singh and

worldwide channel sales efforts. He

advertising field; Curtis is a sopho-

when they visit. She was sorry to have

her husband, Allen Wykle, enjoyed

does lots of travel to cool places with

more running around the rugby field

missed the reunion this year and

catching up with everyone at the 35th

unfortunately very little time to enjoy

at Dartmouth; and Tim is playing on

hopes to see everyone next time!

Class Reunion. For ten years they have

the scenery. His last child (#4) is a

the DC United U-18 Academy soccer

Susan Edmondson Phillips and her

enjoyed living the good life on the

senior in high school. The first two are

team and is a high school junior.

husband, Jerry, returned to the area

beach in Miami. During the last two

conquering their own piece of the

Leeny’s husband, Keith, continues to

after 11 years in Cincinnati, OH. They

years they have been spending more

world and his third child is now a

support our country’s renewable

are very happy to be back home. Susan

time in Hampton Roads working with

marine. Semper Fi! Ralph Taber thanks

energy efforts doing wind and solar

is working as a genetic counselor at

like-minded people to attract industry

Chuck and Theresa for opening their

deals for AES. Chris Padgett and his

EVMS. Their daughter, Holly, is living

and manufacturing and hope to create

house for the class party. He enjoyed

58

academy

reunion year

Ω Class Correspondents


seeing everyone who attended. Chris

the liberal arts and sciences caucus for

play lacrosse in college, so Arch and

spread on a mountain on the east side

Mast Witherspoon reports she’s about

the faculty senate at Iowa State Uni-

Latané have been on the road with

of Santa Fe, including a guest house/

to hit the 25-year mark at the Virginia

versity, where he is professor of music.

Walker this past summer and fall

casita. So if you are ever in Santa Fe,

Aquarium, the last seven as education

First vice chair and interim chair of

looking at schools and watching him

let them know! Ran Randolph and his

director, and is enjoying a renewed

the Maryland Republican Party Diana

play. Walker, Trey Ritter (son of Tom

wife, Kristen, have three sons, all Bull-

tennis “career” as a senior player. She

Duffy Waterman was elected to fulfill

Ritter ’78) and Roy Standing (nephew

dogs. Ranny is a senior, Christian is in

and husband Tom still enjoy living

the remainder of former Senator Alex

of Jay Standing ’87) are all on the same

8th grade and Peyton is in 5th grade.

near the Chesapeake Bay in Baylake

X. Mooney’s term through the 2014

Virginia travel team, AMPED 2015.

Their entire extended family enjoys

Pines and had a great time catching up

elections. Diana joins an elite group of

Their AMPED team won the UVA

spending a great deal of time at 1585

with everyone at the reunion.

women—currently there are only six

team camp tournament in Charlottes-

Wesleyan Drive for games, speeches,

1979

women serving as state party chairs

ville this past summer. Their youngest,

performances, parent supervised

in the RNC. “I am proud to represent

the ‘unsinkable Molly Brown,’ is a

lunches, meetings, conferences and

our State on the Republican National

7th grader in the middle school at

Field Days, of course! Ran’s father,

Committee and look forward to work-

NA. Thank God Molly takes after

Ranny Randolph, Sr., has probably

ing with all of the members.”

Latané; she is a very dedicated student.

broken the record by now for having attended the most NA athletic events

at Virginia Wesleyan College with the

1980

Walker says that she will end up with a scholarship at Chapel Hill. Molly plays

in a lifetime. The Academy continues

Amara Piano Quartet on November

Ω Arch Brown ’80:

volleyball, swims and plays lacrosse

to be the hub of activity for their fam-

for NA. Bryan Phillips has relocated

ily, and they remain grateful for all that it is and all for which it stands.

Ω Vacant ’79: classnotes@norfolkacademy.org

Jonathan Sturm writes that he performed in the Familiar Faces Series

11, 2013. Music by Johannes Brahms

abrown@scottstringfellow.com

and William Walton were featured on

Latané ’78 and Arch Brown are both

his family from Arlington, VA, to

the program. Over the summer he

doing well. Their oldest daughter, An-

Santa Fe, NM. His law firm is allowing

produced two new CDs of his own live

nie, is a sophomore at the University

him to be a full-time telecommuter

1981

concerts and of the quartet’s live per-

of South Carolina. She has fallen in

since he doesn’t go to court anymore,

Ω Anne Fleder ’81: pbjanne@aol.com

forming, which will be available at the

love with SEC football. She is studying

and all he needs for his practice is a

There is lots of stuff happening in the

concert and through his and the quar-

retail with an emphasis in fashion,

phone, internet connection and quiet.

Greenspan household! Jeff Greens-

tet’s websites. In addition to perform-

and has landed an internship to work

It seemed like a good time to get their

pan’s son David graduated from Vir-

ing with the quartet and as concert-

at the 2014 Masters Tournament in

boys out of D.C.; they are 9 and 12.

ginia Tech with a degree in biological

master of the Des Moines Symphony,

Augusta in April. Their middle child,

Bryan is slowly dusting off his four

systems engineering; he is basically

Jonathan was recently elected chair of

Walker, is a junior at NA. He wants to

years of NA Spanish. They have a great

a civil engineer with a water focus. He’s working at Urban (www.urbanengineering.com) on the redevelopment of Landmark Mall into a towne center environment. Jeff’s daughter Jamie has three semesters remaining at George Mason University, and they expect her to get a BS in nursing. His wife, Cindy, has opened a counseling practice in Annandale (www. cindygreenspanlcsw.com), and Jeff has sold the services assets of his business and will be focusing on charitable pursuits, travel and learning how to relax. On the charitable side, he is currently chairman of the board of Wesley Housing, a local nonprofit whose mission is affordable housing. He has also created www.mygroupauctions.com, a website designed to allow nonprofits to run world-class local auctions. The site is currently free for nonprofits. After raising two children in southern California, Connie Chapin Iacovelli and

above A group of NA alums enjoyed their sixth annual guys’ weekend on the Eastern Shore this

fall. After a day spent outdoors fishing with their dogs, they all gathered for dinner at the home of local alumna Meriwether Payne ’76. Clockwise from bottom left: Keith Hope ’83, Eric Acra ’84, Chad Byler, Kevin Houley ’83, David Hope ’84, Hugh Addington ’84, Meriwether Payne ’76, Rich Crawford ’83 and Danny Dougherty.

her husband moved to Minnesota. They are having a blast learning new skills such as raking leaves, swatting mosquitoes, defending garden beds against deer and rabbits, shovel-

Norfolk Academy magazine

|

spring 2014

59


alumni profile

Chris Neikirk ’84 & Porter Hardy ’93, Owners of Smartmouth Brewing Co., Win at the Great American Beer Festival Smartmouth Brewing Co., owned by Chris Neikirk ’84

ing snow, and something called the

his friend David Best ’12 (Anita Best’s

Minnesota Shuffle. Okay, maybe that

son). Her son Nathan Levy ’13 did not

doesn’t sound like fun, but they assure

have to change his school colors and is

us they are enjoying themselves…

now a proud Wahoo. Their daughter,

but perhaps that has something to do

Sophie, is in 11th grade, and son Ben

with their recent promotion to empty

is in 8th grade at Norfolk Academy.

nester status? The class reunions have

Two down and two to go! She says it

reminded Ralph Sonenshine fondly of

was great catching up with so many

his Norfolk Academy experience. Also,

classmates at the 30th Reunion and

the education he got was priceless, as

wants those who missed this year’s

it has helped him pursue his passion

party to mark your calendar for 2018!

and become a professor of econom-

Anne Toewe announces that this past

ics, now with American University

spring she finished her PhD in theatre

in Washington, DC. Besides teaching

history and criticism at the University

he spends his time working with his

of Colorado at Boulder. She is now

wife and daughter on their various

beginning her 11th year of teaching

activities, pursuing long-distance

theatre design at the University of

biking events and traveling to some

Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO,

interesting venues. He hopes to see

where she is an associate professor

everyone soon.

and also serves as the head of the De-

1982

sign and Technology program in the School of Theatre Arts and Dance.

Ω Dudley Ware ’82: dware@norfolkdredging.com

brewery focused on brewing a wide variety of the highest quality

This year, Melissa Clarke released

beers. It aims to give beer lovers new tasting experiences to savor.

her new book, Excuse Me Doctor! I’ve

eacra@norfolkacademy.org

The beers are crisp, clean and smooth. Three flagship styles are

Got What?: Taking Ownership of Your

Beth King Antimarino now lives in

available year round—Alter Ego Saison, Murphy’s Law Amber

Health and Making Healthcare Reform

Doylestown, PA, just north of Phila-

Ale and Rule G IPA. Their brewers also create additional seasonal

Work for You, and is currently promot-

delphia, with her husband, Piper, who

and limited release batches throughout the year to showcase other

ing it on a book tour. In addition,

works in marketing/sales for Ortho

styles of beer.

she speaks on various health topics

Clinical Diagnostics, a Johnson &

that affect everyday people. Kirkwood

Johnson Company. Beth works part-

beers submitted by 732 breweries—they were evaluated by 201

LaCompte reports that his son Adam

time for a realtor handling marketing,

judges from 11 countries. The state of Virginia was represented by

LeCompte swept all three individual

volunteers at her girls’ schools, runs

several breweries, six of which earned medals.

diving titles for 13-year-old boys at the

them to all of their activities, and is

2013 AAU Diving National Champion-

starting a chapter of the National

ery to compete in the Great American Beer Festival in Denver,

ships in San Antonio, TX, in late July.

Charity League, along with keeping

CO. They won the bronze medal in the Imperial IPA Category

He took first place in 1 meter, 3 meter

the household running. They have two

for their Notch 9 Double IPA—a category with 149 entries from

and tower events. Kirk still remem-

daughters, Allegra (15) and Elise (12).

across the country. This is the first national medal for Smart-

bers his first jump off the board (18

They are glad to be back on the east

mouth Brewing Co., who started brewing less than a year ago.

months) and his first somersault

coast, but miss living in Austin, TX,

They received two medals in the Virginia Beer Cup in August—a

(age 4). Clair Lamb relocated from

by far the favorite place they have ever

silver for the Notch 9 and a bronze for the Alter Ego Saison. Six

central Maine to northern Virginia/the

lived! Doug Berman, his wife, Jodi, and

members from Smartmouth Brewing attended the event.

D.C. area in early December, having

their three boys, Zachary (14), Ethan

decided she can’t take another Maine

(13) and Charlie (10), still live in Miami

hood in the West Ghent section of Norfolk near the Midtown

winter. She is looking forward to see-

with their dog, Grover. During the

Tunnel. The large tasting room is open Thursdays and Fridays

ing more of Melissa Clarke and Ginger

summer (and other school vacations),

4:30–8 pm and Saturdays 12–7 pm. Pints, flights, growlers, kegs

Baskett Glenn ’81.

the whole family lives in their home in

1983

Park City, UT. Doug has been at H.I.G.

The Great American Beer Festival competition had 4,809

Smartmouth Brewing Co. was the only Hampton Roads brew-

Smartmouth Brewing Co. is located in the Chelsea neighbor-

and swag are available for purchase. Free tours of the brewery are offered every hour on Saturdays.

above From left to right: Greg Papp (head brewer,

wearing the medal), Kim Hardy, Chris Neikirk ’84, Chris Neikirk, Porter Hardy ’93 and Steve Papp

academy

Ω Eric Acra ’84:

Capital for the past 17 years and is now their executive managing director. The

Ω Alicia Devine ’83:

60

1984

and Porter Hardy ’93, opened in October 2012 and is a 20-barrel

aliciadevine@mac.com

Bermans get back to Norfolk fairly

Time is flying with Amy Levy’s four

frequently, as Doug’s parents still live

kids. Her oldest son, Jacob Levy ’12,

in the house where he was born. On

is enjoying his second year at the

their last trip, Doug showed his kids

University of Pennsylvania, along with

the original Norfolk Academy location,

reunion year

Ω Class Correspondents


1

2

3 4

as well as the cannon ball in the side

Neill” lacrosse game to show support

1986

1987

of St. Paul’s Church. They are looking

for Neill. From left to right: Thurmond

Ω Chris Dotolo ’86:

Ω Meredith Doxey ’87:

forward to seeing everyone at the 30th

Capps, Billy Liles, Scott Gorry, Scott

Reunion! David Hope is a managing

Price, Mike Moore, David Clark, Ches-

Pictured above: 2) Ruth Payne Acra

Will Browning lives in the Mount

partner at a new organization, H2H

ter Jones, Jeff Lawson and Coach Tom

completed her second New York

Pleasant area of Charleston, SC, with

Consulting Group. H2H is a web-

Duquette. Harry Hjardemaal reports

City Marathon on November 3 with

his wife, Jessica, and two boys, Wils

based network of acute care hospitals

that he is living happily in NYC with

good friend and coworker Nene

(10) and Fritz (6). His parents, Jane

partnering to minimize expired

his partner, Mattia Botturi, and their

Dougherty. She had a great time

and Wilson, still live in Norfolk. Will

medical device waste. They collaborate

French bulldog, Ugo Botturi. Danielle

visiting with NA alumni in the Big

works for a company called Kinder

with facility materials management,

Reiff Schweikert left Thomson Reuters

Apple! 3) Amy Shook-Perez, Amy Anton

Morgan as their commercial director

inventory personnel, patient care staff

at the end of September after almost

Gallagher, Catherine Baillio Werner

in the south east region, where he

and manufacturer’s representatives to

14 years to join Wells Fargo’s Market

and Kitty Drury Signorelli celebrated

oversees business with their large cus-

identify and transfer excess or time-

Data Compliance team. It has been

their biannual get-together, this

tomers at many of the company’s bulk

sensitive product to usable locations

a great change and she is gradually

time in Asheville, NC. They toured

port terminals from New York down

across the nation.

learning the ropes. She had a nice din-

the Biltmore (all decorated for the

to Tampa, FL. At the moment, Beth

1985

ner with Scott Gorry in New York in

holidays), visited downtown Asheville’s

Seltzer, MD, MPH, is a family practice

June when they were both in town for

eclectic shops and eateries, and even

and public health doctor on an Indian

business, and she is looking forward

went on a canopy zip-lining adventure

reservation in northwest Washington.

to lunch with Harry Hjardemaal in De-

in Pisgah National Forest. A great time

It is a very rural, remote place with lots

Thurmond Capps, Scott Gorry, Chester

cember when she heads to New York

was had by all! 4) Classmates from

of trees, whales, elk and whatnot, and

Jones, Kay Morgan, Mike Moore, Scott

for work. She hopes everyone is doing

the class of ’86 Kitty Drury Signorelli,

it’s amazing. She is still writing fiction

Price, Sam Steingold, Stefanie Trickler,

well and to please contact her if you

Stephanie Trickler Sheldon ’85, Chris

in her spare time, when she has some.

Derek Turrieta and Steve Zahn all

are ever heading through the Charlotte

Dotolo, Ruth Payne Acra, Dawn Wilson

She is about to start work on the sec-

enjoyed seeing Indecision and New

area. Sam Steingold, John Trant, Mike

Grunwald, Joanne Keenan Young, Kelly

ond edition of her book 101 Careers in

Potato Caboose play at Homecoming.

Moore and Steve Zahn had a good

Gomez Bimson, Jas Short and Ned Lilly

Public Health (on Amazon.com). She’s

Pictured above: 1) Classmates of Neill

time calling alumni and parents for

recently got together at Homecoming

taking a break from TV/documentary

Redfern joined together in a “Heel

the Annual Giving phonathon.

and the Bulldog Bash.

work these days, but you never know.

Ω Danielle Schweikert ’85: danielleschweikert@gmail.com

cdotolo@norfolkacademy.org

meredoxey@gmail.com

Norfolk Academy magazine

|

spring 2014

61


of Sciences in San Francisco, CA. One

on a massive clinical trial taking place

of the most enjoyable aspects of his

at Sentara Leigh Hospital. The trial is

job at Steinhart Aquarium has been

investigating whether copper-infused

the development of field conservation

surfaces will lower the rates of health

programs focused on sustaining wild

care–associated infections due to cop-

populations of a variety of animals.

per’s natural anti-microbial properties.

Over the past couple of years, this has taken him to South Africa to work with

1990

African penguins, to Curaçao to collect

Ω Curtis Romig ’90: cromig@pgfm.com

sperm and eggs from the critically endangered Caribbean elkhorn coral and

1991

to Hawaii to learn how to scuba dive on

Ω Jane Singleton Finney ’91:

a closed-circuit rebreather, with a goal

jane.s.finney@gmail.com

of diving to 100 meters deep to collect

Michelle Bass Adams and Hunter

new species of fish and invertebrates

Adams’ daughter Lizzie (7) is a second

for the aquarium displays. He has also

grader at NA this year. They’ve had a

traveled to the Philippines at least once

good time being back at school, this

a year since 2006—collecting animals

time as parents. Their younger daugh-

for research and conservation projects,

ter, Catherine (4), is still in preschool.

working with and training Filipino

Hunter continues to run Trindco, the

scientists and students, and assisting

counter-top company he bought eight

the Academy of Sciences’ efforts to

years ago, and Michelle will be manag-

work with local governments, universi-

ing its Virginia Beach showroom at the

ties and conservation organizations

Oceanfront after the holidays. After

to increase the number and size of

nine years of living in NYC and work-

marine protected areas in one of the

ing in advertising on Madison Avenue,

most biodiverse regions in the world.

Jane Finney decided it was time to head

Recently, Steinhart Aquarium became

back down south to be closer to her

the first public aquarium to display

brother, Harrison Finney, and his three

the coconut octopus, a species that

children. She moved to Greenville, SC,

Bart and colleagues collected in the

at the end of May and joined Infinity

1988

Philippines. There is a scientific paper

Marketing, a media solutions agency,

Rowan Meagher and Rich Meagher,

in press that documents this work.

as director of integrated marketing

Ω Helen Somers ’88:

Greg Campbell and Shelley Wetmore

He enjoyed seeing many classmates,

services in December. She is enjoying

Campbell ’91, Jules Abraham, Lance Or-

including Jeff Butts, Greg Campbell,

her new life in Greenville and looks

Annie Derrickson Burnside writes that

chid, Beth and Jeff Parker, Tracey and

Lance Orchid and Keith Economidis at

forward to putting down roots. Campe

it was really neat to spend some time at

Brad Martin, Adam Rafal, Blythe and

the recent 25th Reunion. It was his first

Goodman still lives in Boston’s South

Norfolk Academy’s beautiful campus

Simon Scott, Scott Simpson, Susannah

time back at Academy in almost 20

End neighborhood with his wife,

over reunion weekend. Dancing with

Turner Wallenstrom, Annie Derrickson

years—he was amazed at how things

Amanda, and daughter, Beya (1). As

old friends at the Bulldog Bash was

Burnside, Jessica Primm, Jennifer Mag-

have changed.

director of digital advertising and e-

the highlight of her experience. A big

poc Burroughs, Laurie Heilig Marshall and Chris McCarthy. Most of the eve-

1989

marketing for TD Ameritrade, Francie

shout out to Susannah Turner Wallenstrom, Laurie Heilig Marshall and so

ning was spent laughing and catching

Ω Eleanor DeMoors ’89:

many others whom she thoroughly en-

up in the Lesters’ backyard. Whitney

joyed seeing once again! Jennifer and

displayed photos and memorabilia

Beth Shepherd Buccini was featured

a program that honors excellence in

Whitney Lester were kind enough to

from his 12 years at Norfolk Academy,

in the August 2013 issue of Glamour

up-and-coming leaders in financial

host the 25th Reunion for the Class of

which his classmates and their guests

magazine in an article about her vaca-

services marketing.

1988 at their Lochhaven home. There

thoroughly enjoyed. He also provided a

tion to Capri. Dr. Carrie McCrudden

were a number of familiar faces in

hand-picked mix of ’80s music, which

Merscham is thrilled to be launching a

1992

attendance, including Gretchen Cocke

complemented the evening perfectly.

new business called www.thehabit-

Ω Jen White Heilig ’92:

Joyce, Alexis Karageorge, Helen Hamak-

There is no doubt that the 25th Re-

docs.com with a colleague. They use

er Somers and Rob Younce ’89, Hallie

union was a great success, but absent

the latest brain science to help people

Ryan Houfek married Callie Cole, also

Karotkin Segerman, Bobby McMichael,

classmates were sorely missed. Here’s

eliminate bad habits easily with a sim-

from Virginia Beach, in September

Nicole and Michael Rosenblum, John

to hoping even more 1988 graduates

ple formula for change. Ken Trinder,

2013. He also began a new job in 2013

Meek, Nicole and Mike Hostutler, Erin

are able to make it to the next one!

the CEO of EOS Surfaces, LLC, and

and is currently the associate vice

McGrew Herndon, Allison Knight,

Bart Shepherd is director of Steinhart

his company are currently collaborat-

president of marketing at CSX.

Annie Adams, Bill Hankel, Cassandra

Aquarium at the California Academy

ing with technology firm Cupron, Inc.,

above Matt and Carrie Foster Moore ’94 were married on the river in

September, steps from her childhood Portsmouth home. Carrie met Matt, a Nashville native, when she studied at Vanderbilt (MBA ’11). Carrie’s sister Stephanie Foster Cox ’89 was matron of honor. Four NA friends of 30 years and their husbands also celebrated: Billy and Cameron Reeves Poynter, Levi and Susanna Rice Thomson, Alex and Lauren Goldman Barkin, and Jeff and Katie White Cartwright. The newlyweds are thrilled that Missy Bass ’94 and Cheney Patrick Edmunds ’94 were on their March honeymoon, a weeklong Widespread “Panic en la Playa” concert in the Dominican. Carrie and Matt live in Bentonville, AR, where Carrie manages media relations for Sam’s Club and Matt works in merchandising for Walmart U.S. From left to right: Susanna Rice Thomson ’94, Lauren Goldman Barkin ’94, Carrie Foster Moore ’94, Cameron Reeves Poynter ’94 and Katie White Cartwright ’94. Photo by Charlie Gunter.

hsomers@norfolkacademy.org

62

academy

reunion year

edemoors@gmail.com

Ω Class Correspondents

Staub was recognized in October 2013 as one of Gramercy Institute’s “20 Rising Stars in Financial Marketing,”

beckjen2@aol.com


1993

two pregnancies. The second half of

They recently celebrated the birth of

diving in Fiji among the highlights.

Ω Sarah Joyner ’93: sej1@hotmail.com

the book centers on the unique and

their son, Randolph William Reed

Jordan M.S. Jacobs and his wife, Ma-

T Campbell has published a new book,

special brand of spirituality that took

III (aka Tripp), who was born in May

ria, welcomed a daughter, Luna Bianca

On Crosswords: Thoughts, Studies,

root in Hilary during her manic epi-

2013. They moved to Guam from the

Jacobs, in October 2013. They are

Facts and Snark About a 100-Year-Old

sodes. She is an advocate for mental

Seattle area in 2012 and will be there

living in Manhattan where Maria is ac-

Pastime, detailing the history of the

health awareness and education and

for one to three more years.

cessories director at Elle magazine and

crossword puzzle. Leslie Coker Crocker

presents the book as a resource for those suffering from mental illness

1996

Jordan is in private practice in plastic

and her husband, Randy, welcomed their fourth child, Miles Alexander,

and for the families that love them.

Ω Georgia Wainger Sussman ’96:

in September 2012. Big sisters Olivia

She offers a bare bones and honest

(6) and Paige Randolph (3) and big

look into both mania and depression,

Out on the west coast, Bryan Du-

co-founded, Voice of Haiti, is merging

brother Ashton (4) can’t wait for him

and offers tips and tools to cope with

quette’s musical festival Outside

with International Action with a goal

to get older so they can all play. Their

the sometimes debilitating disease.

Lands got rave reviews in Rolling

of providing clean water to 100,000

family has relocated back to Hampton

Her overriding message is that mental

Stone! Check out the articles online.

people in Haiti by the end of 2014

Roads after living in Savannah, GA,

illness is not a death sentence; one can

On October 31, 2013, Julie Finley

(they’re currently serving 67,000).

for the past three years, and Olivia

be a professional, spouse and parent

Liebler and her husband welcomed

Additionally, Luke still edits televi-

has joined the class of 2025 at Norfolk

with the proper treatment and perse-

a little girl, Laura Finley Liebler. At

sion shows in Washington, DC, and

Academy. In the fall of 2012 Tommy

verance. Hilary gives talks about her

the class of 1990’s 10th Reunion in

is working on a new reality series for

Dunn opened GreenLife Adventure

journey as Continuing Legal Educa-

2000, Jeremy Huff was preparing

National Geographic, which should air

Sports in Norfolk on 21st Street. They

tion (CLE) to attorneys, to psychology

for a move to Beijing, China. Now,

this spring. Garrett Weinberg, his wife,

are an outdoor-outfitter committed to

students and to support groups. Her

more than seven years later, he is still

Shannon, and their 6-year-old daugh-

getting Hampton Roads outdoors! The

book is for sale on Amazon.

living in Beijing, where he works for

ter, Maya, have relocated to sunny Santa Cruz, CA, for Garrett’s new job

community to take a break from city

1995

the National Basketball Association overseeing development of NBA-

as an interaction designer at Apple.

life and experience the water, woods

Ω Mary Garris ’95:

branded experiences in Greater China

They bought a house near UCSC and

(everything from NBA restaurants and

love their new west coast life, though

Catherine Rucker Krna and her hus-

kids’ playzones to NBA-branded sec-

they dearly miss friends and family

band, Matt, welcomed son Miles Leon

tions of theme parks). It has been an

back in Boston (and Virginia!). Eliza-

in April 2013. Miles joins big sisters

exciting path moving from New York

beth and Dave Walker, still in Seattle,

Zoe (3) and Alexandra (5). Catherine

corporate lawyer to developing the

welcomed their third child, Andrew

Hilary Chaney published her first book,

is in New York City trying to balance

NBA’s business in China, with plenty

Lyal Walker, in August 2013. He joins

Through the Open Door: A Bipolar Attor-

three children with her work as a

of adventures along the way (appear-

siblings Matthew (6) and Rosalie (3).

ney Talks Mania, Recovery, and Heaven

senior vice president at Hospital for

ing on a Chinese version of The X Fac-

Katrin Wilcox and her husband, David

on Earth, in June 2013. In the book,

Special Surgery. Erica Reece Reed is

tor, editing subtitles for major Chinese

Beath, send greetings from Singapore.

she chronicles her 13-year bout with

currently living in the lovely island

motion pictures) and being in Asia has

In September she had a little boy,

bipolar disorder, including the ups and

paradise of Guam with her husband,

afforded him the opportunity for some

David Wilcox “Will” Beath.

downs of law school, the bar exam and

Lieutenant Commander Randy Reed.

excellent travel—skiing in Japan and

mission at GreenLife is to inspire our

and mountains firsthand.

1994 Ω Sara Straeten Dailey ’94: ssdailey@gmail.com

mary_garris@yahoo.com

above left On November 2, 2013, John Bain ’00 married Alexandra Fulton at First Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach. middle LEFT Maggie Irby Freshman ’00 and her husband welcomed fraternal twin boys in June after her brother Walt Irby ’03 welcomed a daughter in May.

surgery. Luke Lindhjem and his wife, Kelli, welcomed a son, Max Curtis, in September 2013. The nonprofit Luke

georgiaw@gmail.com

MIDDLE right Sisters Mary ’01 and Jane Reynolds ’07 enjoyed catching up with Ruth Acra ’86 (center), Director of Alumni Relations at NA, while Ruth was in New York. right Michael Via ’03, Jay Rixey ’03, Eddie Carver ’03, Leggett Kitchin ’03 and Oliver Kawwass ’03 reunite over Thanksgiving to welcome Eddie home during a break from his service in the Peace Corps. Eddie has been living in a small village in Madagascar, promoting economic development.

Norfolk Academy magazine

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63


1997

1998

ery. In November, John Yuill and his

since their mother’s passing this past

Ω Lauren Reid ’97: laurena@gmail.com

Ω Anne Marie Burroughs ’98:

wife, Carrie Gerloff Yuill ’01, welcomed

summer at home. In October, Chazz

son John B. Yuill III.

Woodson and his lacrosse program, the Sankofa Lacrosse Alliance, held

Mary Faire Frazier Garnett had twins

Annemarie.burroughs@gmail.com

in December 2013. She and her

Sean Thompson sends an “Aloha!”

husband, Rob, are thrilled to introduce

from the Pacific. He was promoted to

2000

Lucy Weston Garnett and Robert

lieutenant commander last summer

Ω Blair Fine ’00: blairfine@gmail.com

help build bridges among all levels

Frazier Garnett. Charrise Hipol is

and is still stationed in Hawaii as part

Ω Maria Kitchin Moore ’00:

of lacrosse players, with a particular

enjoying Washington, DC, where she

of a counterdrug task force.

works as a psychologist for American

mmoore@norfolkacademy.org

their first event. The Alliance aims to

focus on connecting black lacrosse players, who are a distinct minority in

University, her alma mater. She has

1999

Ω Allison Cutchins Watson ’00:

a private practice in D.C. as well. She

Ω Jennifer Kawwass Thompson ’99:

Anna Chaplain Karkoon just moved to

Yuill and her husband, John Yuill ’99,

jennifer.kawwass@gmail.com

Los Angeles and passed the California

welcomed son John B. Yuill III.

enjoys meeting Hannah Wood, Mary

allison@olympiadevelopment.com

the sport. In November, Carrie Gerloff

Beth Polley and Sarah Rowe for dinner

Thomas Deal continues to reside in

bar exam. She and her family are

from time to time. This past fall Allen

Washington and to work as a specialist

loving life in California! Alex Stevens

2002

Lu produced a documentary, Linsanity:

with the District of Columbia Office of

married Benjamin Jeffers in April of

Ω Kathleen O’Bryant ’02:

The Movie, about the life of unlikely

Human Rights, investigating claims

2011, in Arlington, VA. They spent

kathleen.obryant@gmail.com

NBA star Jeremy Lin. Find out more

of discrimination in employment,

two years in Nairobi, Kenya, while

Eva Colen was recently named the

at www.linsanitythemovie.com. Molly

housing, public accommodation and

Alex was working at the U.S. Em-

managing director of community en-

Raney is engaged to Gregory Glasser,

education. He is in his eighth term as

bassy there. This past September, they

gagement for Teach for America (TFA)

both of whom reside in New York

president of the Virginia Glee Club

moved back to Arlington, VA.

Virginia. The Teach for America (TFA)

City. They have plans for a May 2014

Foundation, which recently completed a million-dollar capital campaign. He

2001

legislation passed the Virginia House

wedding in Virginia Beach. Tova Goldman Tritt’s daughter, Leighton, is

studies tenor solo voice with Thomas

Ω Jennifer Byrd ’01:

four and her miracle baby, Emerson,

Colohan, a local choral conductor, and

who was born at 25 weeks (preemie),

will deliver a recital this spring. Char-

is 16 months. She and her husband,

lotte Hudgins Zito and her husband,

Shawn, live in Atlanta where she has

Ari, both continue to enjoy working at

Tracy Rushing completed her residency

expenses for the first three years of the

worked as a preschool director for

Norfolk Academy. Charlotte recently

in pediatrics at Oregon Health Sci-

program which commences in fall of

almost 12 years. In 2013, Hannah

joined the Upper School faculty and

ences University at the end of May

2014. Elliott Hauser and his wife, Erin

Wood lived in France and Germany

has been teaching 10th grade British

2013, and she started an additional

Richardson, live in Durham, NC. He

and worked for a company developing

Literature. Their son Isaac hopes to

three-year residency in emergency

founded an open education business,

offshore wind farms. She was happy

join the NA Class of 2026 this fall.

medicine the first week of June. At

Coursefork, whose mission is to build

to have had Madame (Ginger) Baskett

Hosanna Marshall recently launched

the completion of the EM residency,

the world’s best instructor communi-

as her French teacher a long time

a video series and blog called OPEN

she will be dual board certified in

ties around customizable educational

ago! Mary Burroughs Yuill and her

(One Person’s Evolving Narrative),

pediatrics and EM. She still resides in

materials. Having raised investment

husband, Hal Yuill, welcomed Lillian

which follows people on their travels

Portland, OR. Austin Siegel and his

and built their initial product, they are

Pepper Yuill in May 2013.

and personal journeys of self-discov-

siblings appreciate everyone’s support

working to expand their team. He is

left Many NA alums gathered with Polly Pereos ’03 and John Gellman

’01 on May 25, 2013, to celebrate their wedding. The service was held at the Greek Orthodox cathedral with a reception following at Talbot Hall in Norfolk. A great time was had by all!

64

academy

reunion year

jennifer.m.byrd@gmail.com Ω Carrie Gerloff Yuill ’01: cgyuill@gmail.com

and Senate unanimously last spring. Eva will be working over the next few months to open the TFA Virginia office in Richmond. Part of her charge is to raise funds to cover the operating

right Neil Duffy, Sally Old Kitchin ’72, Maria Kitchin Moore ’00 and Preston Moore enjoyed seeing all of the NA alums who gathered for the wedding of Polly Pereos ’03 and John Gellman ’01.

Ω Class Correspondents


also teaching a class of open source

where John is pursuing an MBA at

programming at UNC every semester

NYU. Clarke Smith became engaged to

as a Royster teaching fellow. This fall,

Ilyssa McIntyre; they both live in New

he is flying to San Francisco to help

York City. Their wedding is planned

Bay McLaughlin and his fiancée, Becky

for April 26, 2014.

Carvatt, pack for a move to Hong Kong. This is the end of an era: Elliott

2004

drove cross-country with Bay when he

Ω Lindsay St. Clair Brown ’04:

first moved to San Francisco back in

lindsayb85@gmail.com

2006. That trip fulfilled a dream Sean

A great group of NA alums got

Wetmore ’86 instilled in all of them

together with Lindsay Brown, who’s

in 7th grade with the cross-country

currently living in New York, to

project he assigned.

celebrate her grandmother Perk

2003

Brown’s (former 2nd grade teacher)

Ω Catherine Brown McFarland ’03: catherine.b.mcfarland@gmail.com

90th birthday! In attendance were Cart Reilly ’00, Jay Rixey ’03, Tom Rixey ’08, Kirkland Brown ’04, Timmy Brown ’70,

Will Beasley has recently joined

Catherine McFarland ’03, Beau Brown

Tidewater Home Funding, LLC. He is

’05, Liza Brown ’07, Thomas Brown ’12,

excited to be working with one of our

Tip Brown ’01 and Townsend Brown

community’s most trusted home loan

’68. Corey Siegel and his siblings ap-

providers and looks forward to assist-

preciate everyone’s support since their

ing fellow alumni with their mortgage

mother’s passing this past summer

needs. MacKenzie Benton, who lives

at home. In October, Christie Kellam

near Katy Gerloff in Mt. Pleasant,

Snodgrass and her husband, Palmer,

SC, also started a new job this year.

welcomed a son, Parker Lee.

MacKenzie is an account manager for BenefitFocus in Charleston. Daryl

2005

Dawson is pursuing an MBA on the

Ω Katie Flippen ’05:

west coast at the Marshall School of

katieflippen@gmail.com

Business of the University of Southern

Allison Bernstein is currently working

top left Amiral Altia Robin Brown ’04 and Patrick Scott Ellis were

California. Polly Pereos Gellman is

in the Boston area as the speechwriter

excited to be back at Norfolk Academy

at a microfinance nonprofit. In the

teaching 2nd grade boys and helping

fall, Margaret Cox moved to Madrid,

married February 9, 2013, at the Lesner Inn in Virginia Beach, VA. They enjoyed a honeymoon in Placencia, Belize. The couple resides in Richmond, VA.

with the forensics program. She and

Spain, where she is teaching English.

her husband, Jon ’01, live in Norfolk.

Josh Diamonstein is currently in

Katy Gerloff received a master’s in

Washington, DC, getting an MA in

social work in May from the Univer-

international relations at Johns Hop-

sity of South Carolina. She recently

kins School of Advanced International

became the veteran housing services

Studies (SAIS). He will graduate this

case manager at Crisis Ministries, a

spring. Skylar Gallagher is currently

top right Ross Lumpkin ’05 married Brittany Williamson on September 21, 2013, at the Grand Atrium in Vienna, VA. They currently reside in Vienna. Ross is a systems analyst working as a government contractor at Fort Belvoir, and is pursuing a masters in telecommunications. John Crouch was a groomsman. Other ’05 NA alums in attendance were Adam Cohen, Stephen Dunford, Richard Higham-Kessler, Carlon Matthews Ocel and Arjun Sharath. A honeymoon trip to New Zealand and Australia is planned for January 2014.

local homeless shelter. Katy completed

working as a paralegal for Ann Sul-

bottom Carlon Matthews ’05 graduated from the University of

the Malibu Triathlon in September. In

livan ’71 at her newly formed Sullivan

October 2013 Oliver Kawwass and his

Law Group PLC. Alex Kassir and his

wife, Zeinoun, welcomed a son, Dono-

wife, Marissa, had a baby girl, Layla

van Owen Kawwass. Catherine Brown

Grace, last fall. Katie Lampert Kessler

McFarland and her husband, Nate, are

and her husband, Ben, welcomed

still living in Charlottesville. Catherine

daughter Caroline Mae in October

has recently taken a new position at

2013. Caroline Maddock Nachem and

The Covenant School, stepping out of

her husband, Jeff, had a baby girl,

the classroom and into the admissions

Eliana Lyla Nachem, in October. The

department. Greg Mulholland is a sec-

family lives in Virginia and is thrilled

ond year MBA student at the Stanford

with their new addition. Alli McKee is

Graduate School of Business and is

living in Johannesburg, South Africa,

living in Redwood City, CA. Austin

where she is teaching entrepreneurial

Richmond School of Law in May 2012 and was admitted to the Virginia State Bar in November 2012. She married Rob Ocel on April 13, 2013, at Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk. The couple met at Duke in 2006. Other alums in attendance included mother of the bride Linda Gibson Matthews ’72, bridesmaid Catherine Wilkes Jones ’05, Kim Paschall ’05, Katie Lampert Kessler ’05, Nadia Islam ’05, Meredith Guzman ’05, Margaret Cox ’05, Ross Lumpkin ’05, Richard HighamKessler ’05, Jamie Deal ’04, Brandon Woodard ’95, Sally Kellam ’72, Kirkland Molloy Kelley ’72 and Heather Hollowell ’72. Carlon and her husband live in Alexandria, where she is currently working for Legal Services of Northern Virginia. Carlon and her classmates posed for an NA photo at the wedding, from left to right: Meredith Guzman, Nadia Islam, Kim Paschall, Richard Higham-Kessler, Carlon Matthews Ocel, Katie Lampert Kessler, Ross Lumpkin, Margaret Cox and Catherine Wilkes Jones.

Brett Oelschlager and her husband,

leadership and creative arts at the

John, recently moved to New York City,

African Leadership Academy. She has

Norfolk Academy magazine

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65


alumni profile

What’s on Your Playlist? compiled by Frank Wakeham ’14

NorVa opened in 2000 with the legendary James Brown and of course I spent some time with him next to the “Hot Tub” (yes, The NorVa does have a jacuzzi as well as a full sauna, catering facility, a basketball court and a game room). Since The NorVa opened we have presented shows with literally the legends of music including Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, B.B. King, Willie Nelson and Elvis Costello, and have also hosted concerts with today’s superstars including Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, Blake Shelton and Kanye West.

Above left Rick Mersel with Donald Clark, Chris Dotolo and Tony Montagna right Rick Mersel with Adam Lambert

Rick Mersel ’86

Do you have any exciting events coming up? Upcoming shows at both The NorVa and The National include Queens of the Stone Age, Thirty Seconds to Mars with Jared Leto, The Pixies, comedian and Dancing with the Stars finalist Bill Engvall, and G. Love and Special Sauce.

Rick Mersel and his wife, Laura, live in Virginia Beach along with their two daughters, Layla ’21 and Lily ’22. Rick has been involved with the music industry

Mikey Marquart ’04

since he graduated from Norfolk Academy in 1986 and went to Tulane University,

Mikey Marquart plays drums in a Hollywood

where he first began working with radio and concerts. Here, Rick gives us a

rock and roll band called Ambrose. He likes

snapshot of what he’s been doing since and what’s coming up in the near future.

making music because it is something he feels like he was born to do and a necessary

What bands, events, or venues do you manage?

part of his life. Playing up on stage and

I am a partner of NorVa Productions LLC in Norfolk, VA, and a partner of

behind the drums is the one place where

R.I.C. Concerts and R.I.C. Capital Ventures in Richmond, VA. I am the booking

he can be his true authentic self. His band

and marketing director for The NorVa in Norfolk and The National in Richmond, and I was nominated by Pollstar magazine as Talent Buyer of The Year.

Above Mikey Marquart (left)

released their album Promise Land in February 2009, available on iTunes.

The NorVa was voted by readers of Rolling Stone magazine as the #1 Venue in America: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-best-music-venuesin-america-readers-choice-20130710/norva-in-norfolk-va-19691231 I also manage The Fighting Jamesons, a nationally touring Irish Rock Band.

William Carney ’12 William Carney makes music that can generally be categorized as electronic but has a lot of jazz, hip-hop and alternative influences. He has gotten into producing

How did you get involved in the music industry?

music and loves the challenges that come with making music and running a

Having worked at the radio station and concert department at Tulane

single-man “band” of sorts. He currently just goes by “William Carney” but has

University in the ’80s and early ’90s, producing concerts including dates with

plans to perhaps change that in the future. He released his debut album Interstate

The Ramones, Blues Traveler, Spin Doctors and Phish, I returned to Virginia

Radio on October 21, 2013. He hopes to use his current work as a stepping-stone

Beach and started a full entertainment company. Off The Record Entertainment

to a future career in music, touring around the country on weekends and breaks

focused on DJs and event services and I had procured contracts at Oceana Naval

playing live performances, while still attending Tulane University and learning

Air Station and the Norfolk Naval Base. In 1992 Cellar Door Entertainment

about the business side of things.

absorbed my company and I held the position of regional booking agent. The first two artists I booked were Hootie and the Blowfish and the Dave Matthews Band. In 1994 I left Cellar Door to create and operate The Bayou with the Strelitz family at their hotel on 19th Street. The Bayou was the #1 nightclub in the state of Virginia for three years; the live music component was instrumental in developing artists in the market, including Better Than Ezra, Edwin McCain, Vertical Horizon, Fighting Gravity and 2 Skinnee J’s. In 1998, I started Rising Tide Productions with the former president of Cellar Door, Bill Reid. Together we created The NorVa in Norfolk and The Harbor Center in Portsmouth. In 2008, we open The National in Richmond. The

66

academy

Above Interstate Radio artwork and William Carney


Talk a bit about your most recent album—what inspired it? We have released a few EPs and albums over the past few years, but we JUST released our first record label debut, called “What You’re Running From” back in May of this year on Little Heart Records. In a similar vein as many other poppunk and pop-rock artists, this record deals with many of the struggles of being an artist and (as you might have guessed) issues of heartbreak and the people who have come and gone in our lives as well. Much of the inspiration and lyrics have come partially from the personal experiences of my band-mates and me; but Above Audiostrobelight WYRF album art and band

we tried to make the record about more than just our personal lives. The whole record fits in a conceptual framework, but each song is meant to be able to stand alone as well. Basically the record deals with this idea of “What are you running

Adam Cohen ’05 and Audiostrobelight

from?” Many of our friends and listeners like to pop in the record when they

How did you end up in the music industry?

need to blow off some steam, when they need a pick-me-up, or when they go out

Ever since the end of my senior year at Norfolk Academy, I have been playing

for a run (so I’m told).

music with a group of guys under the name Audiostrobelight (https://www. facebook.com/audiostrobelight or http://teamstrobelight.com/). As you might imagine, we started out playing in our drummer’s garage and playing shows around the Hampton Roads area; it was a pretty causal thing. I played electric violin in the NA jazz band and participated in orchestra as well, but I had started going to shows here in the local music scene and really got into pop-rock and pop-punk. Although all of this started out casual, over the last four years we have really turned the band into a business, touring all over the United States, and really pushing our media and press presence all over the world.

What type of music do you play? So basically, the band is a “high-energy” pop-rock band with heavy pop-punk

Above The Cat Whisperers album artwork and studio

influences. I play electric violin and electric mandolin, and do backing vocals for the band which adds an interesting twist; but we also feature piano/synthesizer

Recent NA Alums—The Cat Whisperers

and two lead singers which bring big, two- and three-part harmonies into the

Bucky Henry ’13, who attends the University of Virginia, plays drums in a reggae/

mix. Every song has its own little twist and feel to it.

rock band composed of himself and fellow NA graduates Gray Layden ’11 (keys), Nick Cardelia ’11 (cello), Jackson Breit ’09 (vocals and lyrics), Tessa Boutwell ’09

What’s your favorite part of being in a band?

(vocals), Rebecca Nelson ’10 (vocals) and Victoria Cornetta ’13 (vocals), with guest

I like making music and playing in this band for a lot of reasons. I love

vocal appearances by Emily Leidy ’12. Tyler Cole ’11 and Will Schlegal ’11 collaborate

touring and being on the road. I love having an unconventional lifestyle and

on album artwork. It started when Bucky and Gray met an exchange student

sometimes being in a different state everyday. We meet a number of fascinating

from New Zealand at UVA named Antony Tarrant. He was a singer/songwriter

artists and people all over the U.S., and there is a great deal of satisfaction in

who played guitar, and from there, the band was formed. They are currently

bringing joy and fun into people’s lives. I get to do that every time we play a show.

working on an EP; the working title is Greasy When Wet—EP. They hope to

Whenever we get an email, Facebook message, etc., that lets us know we made

release it by next summer.

someone’s day better simply by doing something fun and creative, it just makes it all worth it.

Norfolk Academy magazine

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spring 2014

67


been traveling around the continent

Fort Hood, TX, in March 2014. While

working on scaling some of ALA’s en-

deployed she passed the promotion

trepreneurship education programs as

board to become a non-commissioned

well. She has been painting and writ-

officer and surprised her brother, Joe

ing about her experiences in Joburg

Sargent ’02, at his wedding during her

and abroad, which can be found on

mid-tour leave last summer. Edward

her blog: www.joburgliving.com. Dori

Barham has been working as a test en-

Rucker and Kevin Finger are engaged!

gineer at Newport News Shipyard, test-

An April 2014 wedding is planned.

ing equipment on aircraft carriers. He

Dori is the nutritional bar buyer for

recently had the opportunity to be part

Whole Foods Market in Virginia

of the re-delivery of the USS Theodore

Beach, and Kevin is the manager of

Roosevelt back to the U.S. Navy after a

service excellence at Maryview Medical

four-year reconstruction overhaul. In

Center in Portsmouth.

his spare time he likes to fish behind

2006

his house on the Elizabeth River. David Calliott moved back to Virginia

Ω Emmy Ill ’06: emmy.ill.8@gmail.com

Beach in July and is working for Dav-

Ω Eleanor Proctor ’06:

enport & Company LLC. He is living

eleanortproctor@gmail.com

with fellow Bulldog alumnus Vinny

Sutton Hirschler took a position as an

DeLalla and likes to spend his free

associate attorney at Wilcox Savage,

time on the water (when the weather

PC, in Norfolk, VA, after graduating

is nice) and playing with his dog, Tom.

from the University of Virginia School

He enjoyed seeing everyone back in

of Law in May 2013. Will Jenkins is

town over the holidays. Vinny DeLalla

working at Admiral Administration as

is studying for the LSATs and plans to

a specialist hedge fund administrator

apply to law schools. Eric Diamonstein

in Richmond, VA. Brandon Nexsen

is doing digital marketing in Sydney,

graduated from the University of

Australia. Fellow Bulldogs Nate Tipora,

Richmond’s School of Law in May

Pat Rice and Richard Whitaker Booth

2013, and he now works as an associ-

made the trek to visit him. Even down

ate attorney at Winslow & McCurry,

under, it is always a great day to be a

PLLC, in Richmond, VA. Eleanor

Bulldog. Amanda Fay recently moved

Proctor is an account coordinator

back to Virginia Beach and is working

at Royall & Company, a marketing

for Sentara. She and her fiancé, Miles

recruitment consultancy that works

Colley, are getting married this sum-

with colleges and universities across

mer. Adam Fisher has been fortunate

the country. She lives in Richmond,

to keep up with a group of other 2007

VA. Nick Szoke and Whitney Nexsen

Bulldog alumni via Fantasy Football

got engaged this August while in Italy

while living in Virginia Beach. In ad-

with their families. They are looking

dition to Adam, their league includes

bottom left David Colen ’05, Alyssa Jenkins ’05 and

forward to a September 2014 wed-

Eric Diamonstein, Nate Tipore, Ian

Cliff Cutchins ’05 all celebrated their graduation from UVA Medical School together in spring 2013.

ding. Shelley Wong graduated from

Smith, Tommy Pecsok, David Calliott,

Vanderbilt University Law School. She

Vinny DeLalla, Ryan Nero, Adam Fisher

bottom right The Flippen-Peccie family gathered

is an associate at Sutherland Asbill &

and Patrick Rice. Adam enjoyed seeing

at The Steward School in Richmond to watch Brian Peccie ’16 and the JV Bulldog basketball team take on the Spartans on his 16th birthday. Back row, from left to right: Katie Flippen ’05, fiancé Mike Kenerson ’05 and Mary Flippen Peccie ’83. Front row, from left to right: Brooke Peccie ’13, Jay Flippen ’07 and Barbara Flippen Merchant.

Brennan LLP in Washington, DC.

familiar faces at the Bulldog Bash

2007

last fall. Jason Forrest is working for

TOp A number of friends from the class of 2006 met

up in New York City recently. Back row, from left to right: Scott Lombart, Mack Kline, Caroline Huber, Cally Robertson Everett, Tripp McCrory and Patrick Kearns. Front: Emmy Ill and Katie Stiner.

68

academy

reunion year

Ω David Calliott ’07: dcalliott@gmail.com

Newswatch, a news program on History Channel, doing sales for company features. He is currently living in

Ω Alex Carney ’07: alc6a@virginia.edu

Arlington, VA. Erica Friedman is living

It has been quite the eventful year for

in New York City and working in mer-

Christine Sargent. She joined the U.S.

chandising at J.Crew. Aubrey Gordon is

Army as an air defense early warning

finishing up his last year of law school

operator in January 2012 and deployed

at Samford University’s Cumberland

to the United Arab Emirates in March

School of Law in Birmingham, AL.

2013. She is still deployed and will

This summer he plans to take the

be returning to her duty station at

Virginia bar. Derwin Gray is finishing

Ω Class Correspondents


above left New York area alums Hannah Ill ’08, Ginna Wilbanks ’09, Emmy Ill ’06, Jane Reynolds ’07 and Derek Melvin ’01 gathered at The Wren to catch up with Ruth Acra ’86 on her recent visit to New York. middle left DJ Covington ’10 and Brooke Peccie ’13 catch up in Lexington, VA.

middle right Kelly Luker ’10 is happy to announce her engagement to Justin Hill as of November 7, 2013, after five years together. Justin graduated from Virginia Tech this past May and Kelly will graduate in May 2014. They plan on a wedding in October 2014 in Virginia Beach.

right Freddie Fletcher ’10 got engaged to Mary DiGeronimo this past fall, and they will be married following graduation from Dartmouth in the spring. Following the wedding they will be moving to Boston, as Mary pursues post-graduate research and Freddie starts his job with a management consulting firm.

up his second year at EVMS and went

for the shows Parenthood and About a

days a week “work week” she had

Alex Kane. Sven Wijtmans is currently

on a medical mission to Peru this

Boy on NBC. Leigh Nusbaum writes

between March and November. Matt

in the process of getting his PhD in

past summer. He taught Spanish to

that if there’s one word to describe

Miller is midway through his second

condensed matter physics in Syracuse,

medical students and translated in the

her year, it’s “campaigns.” In late

year of law school at the University of

NY. Lauren Waldholtz and Derwin Gray

free clinic. Adam Jason is following in

January 2013 she took a job organizing

Richmond and enjoys seeing a lot of

both attend medical school at EVMS

the footsteps of Herr Nelson and Frau

petition signatures to get Sen. Ralph

his old classmates over holiday breaks

and are living in Norfolk.

Holmes and happily teaching German

Northam (D-Norfolk) on the ballot for

in Virginia Beach. Sarah Munford

at a boarding school in Pennsburg,

lieutenant governor in Virginia. She

recently moved from Boston to Denver

2008

PA. The population of Pennsburg is

stayed on after petitions, transitioning

and is working for a nonprofit. Chris

Ω William Kitchin ’08:

only 3,000, so he spends most of his

in March into a field staffer overseeing

Murphy is currently living in Arling-

free time with his son (dog) named

on-the-ground campaign efforts in

ton, VA. Ryan Nero is living and work-

Goose. Nick Hixon is living in Boulder,

Greater Northern Virginia (Alexandria,

ing in D.C. as a financial analyst for

CO, and is a brewer with Twisted

Arlington County, Fairfax County,

Combined Properties. Blake Rascoe

Meg Pritchard moved down to North

Pine Brewing Company. Alex Kane

Loudoun County and Prince William

lives in Los Angeles and is working

Carolina full time last year after gradu-

recently moved to Washington, DC,

County). After their win in the June

in development for Bunim Murray

ating from UVA in May 2012. She is

for a new job. Andrew Marr is working

Democratic primary, she moved to

productions (the producers of The Real

now living in Raleigh and working

for Oracle, doing technology sales in

Richmond and joined the combined

World, The Kardashians and Project

in Durham as a project coordinator/

Boston, MA. He has become a promi-

campaign for Governor (McAuliffe),

Runway). He is pursuing a career as

production coordinator at an advertis-

nent feature on the Jumbotron at

Lt. Governor (Northam) and Attorney

a television producer. Marnie Siegel

ing agency called McKinney (www.

Boston Bruins hockey games with his

General (Herring) overseeing field op-

and her brothers appreciate everyone’s

mckinney.com). It’s a very busy, but

patented “empty the quiver” signature

erations in Hanover County through

support since their mother’s passing

equally fulfilling job and there is never

move. Over the summer he enjoyed

the November elections. After a his-

this past summer at home. Ian Smith

a dull moment! She is acting as the

the company of fellow alums at several

toric, gratifying win, and, pending the

is currently living in Virginia Beach

link between creative art directors and

concerts, NASCAR races and profes-

recount, sweep of the three statewide

and applying to medical school. Brian

copywriters at the agency, as well as

sional networking events. He looks

offices, she jumped on as field director

Striffler is in the Navy working as a

assisting their producers. All of the

forward to having friends visit Boston

for former delegate Paula Miller’s cam-

surface warfare officer currently sta-

public speaking, communication and

in 2014. After finishing his master’s

paign for State Senate to fill now Lt.

tioned in Jacksonville, FL. Nate Tipora

writing skills from NA are certainly

degree in security studies from the

Governor-elect Northam’s soon-to-be

is working for SB Ballard Construction

getting put to good use! So far, North

University of Leeds last year, Keenan

vacant Senate seat. While the caucus

Company in Virginia Beach. He was

Carolina is a great place to live, and

Marshall now works for the Bureau of

for that Democratic nomination didn’t

able to reunite with some fellow 2007

she can certainly see herself settling

Diplomatic Security at the Depart-

work out in the campaign’s favor, it

Bulldogs this fall for some cards and

there if that’s what life has in store for

ment of State in Washington, DC.

was a wonderful learning experience.

drinks. He says it is always good to run

her. She has met many UVA alums in

Jimmy McNider currently resides in

As she wrote this update in December,

into old friends. Chester Tynes is living

the area but is still looking for some

Los Angeles, CA, and is lucky enough

she was an event director for Lt. Gover-

in Washington, DC, and works as an

NA connections down there.

to be roommates with Blake Rascoe.

nor-elect Northam’s inaugural fund,

IT consultant. He recently attended

He has been working as an assistant

which provides a more sleep-friendly

a Washington Redskins game with

on TV shows and is currently working

lifestyle than the 14–16 hour a day/7

other 2007 graduates Patrick Rice and

wokitchin@gmail.com Ω Angela Nelson ’08: arn8@georgetown.edu

Norfolk Academy magazine

|

spring 2014

69


above left Fellow NA alums and VMI cadets Liz Affronti ’11 and DJ Covington ’10 take some time to enjoy a football game on a gorgeous fall day in Lexington.

middle left This past summer Caryn Cobb ’11 was in Edinburgh, Scotland, doing research on music’s effects on dementia patients. middle right Ainsley Gill ’14 caught up with Riley Tata ’13 while she was in town for field hockey with UVA on September 8, 2013. UVA defeated ODU 5–3 in the match-up.

right Zoe Siegel ’13, Scout Duffy ’13 and Madison Acra ’14 enjoyed a weekend together in New York City while Madison was in town to support her mom, Ruth Payne Acra ’86, running the New York Marathon.

2009

School in Boston. Connor Marr was in

practicum while she worked with kids

north of the Alps and a quick train ride

Ω Annesley Berndt ’09:

the comedic production The Complete

who had learning disabilities, ADHD

from Stuttgart. He lived in the town of

Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged

and behavioral problems. During their

Tubingen and attended Eberhard-Karls

Ω Ryan LaRock ’09: rry0012@aol.com

in January 2014 at The Little Theater

time at SOAR, Kaki helped teach the

Universitat, where he studied German

Having graduated from Virginia Tech,

of Norfolk. After wrapping up a year

kids how to backpack, camp, rock

literature, the history of German

Geoff Cole is now working for Norfolk

of singing in the Yale Whiffenpoofs,

climb, cook and use strategies to help

literature and creative writing. All of

Southern in chemicals marketing.

including a three-month performing

them work on their behavior. Empha-

his courses were in German. He spent

Meagan Hoffman graduated from

world tour and a cameo on FOX’s

sis at the camp is placed on developing

the seven months greatly improving

Clemson University, where she

Glee, Michael Protacio is back at Yale to

self-confidence, social skills, problem-

his German, in addition to traveling to

majored in architecture and minored

complete his senior year as an English

solving techniques, and a willingness

France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland

in technical writing. During her junior

major. He serves as a freshman coun-

to attempt new challenges through

and Denmark. It was an unbelievable

year she spent five months living in

selor and is slated to appear in four

the motivation that comes through

time and he made a lot of good friends

Genoa, Italy, studying architectural

major musicals and operas this year.

successful goal orientation. Recently,

from all over the world. The exchange was especially interesting because he

she stayed at Clemson to begin her

2010

Kaki has been conducting two independent research studies through the

lived in a VG, which is a student-spon-

master’s of science in packaging sci-

Ω Jessica Smith ’10:

Psychology Department. One focused

sored dormitory similar to a fraternity.

on Facebook and whether or not the

Last spring Kiel was accepted into Pi Sigma Alpha, a national political

agb2pc@virginia.edu

design. Upon graduation in May 2013

ence. Her thesis focuses on packaging

jlsmith02@email.wm.edu

structural design and graphics. She

At the 88th Annual Conference for

amount and type of statuses and pho-

also accepted a position as a research

the Academy of Legal Studies in

tos on a Facebook profile affect the way

science honor fraternity. This coming

assistant in the Sonoco Institute in

Business, Carlin McCrory was awarded

we view someone’s personality. The

spring, he will finish his second major

Clemson and recently traveled to Las

the 2013 Outstanding Student Paper

second study is looking at disrespect

in political science. He is currently

Vegas for a week with Clemson to

Award. Carlin’s paper was one of three

and how it is fostered in groups. She is

applying to grad school for his MAT,

present at PackExpo, the largest pack-

submissions chosen nationwide for

currently applying to graduate schools

master of arts in teaching. After study-

aging exposition in the world. Ryan

presentation at the conference held in

for clinical psychology for fall 2014.

ing at Hampden-Sydney College these

LaRock is in his first year at Duke

Boston, MA, during the first week of

Lex Booth will be starting medical

past three and a half years, in a sort

Divinity School, where he is pursuing

August. Additionally, Wake Forest Uni-

school next fall at the University of Vir-

of ironic happenstance, he may be at-

a call to ordained ministry in the Vir-

versity has selected Carlin’s paper for

ginia. In the fall semester Kiel Powell

tending Sweet Briar, a nearby all-girls

ginia Conference of the United Meth-

publication in the spring issue of their

wrapped up his first major in German,

college, for his master’s studies. This

odist Church. He volunteers with a

Journal of Business and Intellectual Prop-

after having studied abroad for the

past fall, H-SC’s rugby, for which Kiel

local church’s youth program in Cary,

erty Law. Kathleen “Kaki” Kiger spent

spring semester of his junior year. He

is a prop, finished 6–1. They were the

sings/plays with the Divinity School

last summer in Dubois, WY, working

spent the month of February in Dus-

number one seed in their conference

band, and serves on the planning

for SOAR, a behavioral management

seldorf at an international language

and after winning the semi-finals they

team for United Methodist student

camp in the wilderness. From May 20

institute, the Goethe Institute, and

unfortunately fell in the finals 21–17.

initiatives. Josh Leibowitz has begun

to August 24 she did a summer psy-

then March through August studying

But rugby has definitely been one of

graduate school at Harvard Dental

chology internship/outdoor education

in southern Germany, just two hours

the better experiences he has had in

70

academy

reunion year

Ω Class Correspondents


college. It truly is a beastly and bril-

Category as well as Best in Show in the

the Davidson women’s soccer team,

liant sport. Jessica Smith is currently

Virginia Tech Education Abroad photo

Dani Johnson scored four goals for the

a senior at The College of William &

contest in 2013. She took her winning

Wildcats this season to tie for the lead-

Mary. She interned with Rent the Run-

photo of a storm approaching over the

ing scorer on the team despite being

way this past summer in NYC in their

cliffs of Cinque Terre while studying

a defender. Dani started all 21 games

Soho showroom. She has also worked

abroad in Siena, Italy. Rachel Protacio

this season and helped her team reach

with Serengetee, a cause-driven fash-

is majoring in computer science with

the Southern Conference Tournament

ion startup, as a campus representative

a particular interest in artificial intel-

for the 10th straight year.

leader for the east coast, leading over

ligence. She is currently planning on

200 university students. Jessica also

being a computer science professor.

2013

in memoriam

serves as the events and logistics chair

Her two main activities outside of

Ω Haley Loflin ’13:

Earl Timmons ’52

for the W&M Global Film Festival,

academics are tour managing for and

which held a successful fall launch

singing in the Yale Glee Club and

Annika Jenkins was named a Presiden-

featuring Michael Cera and Sebastian

researching in the Social Robotics

tial Scholar in the Arts in the spring of

Silva this past November. She intends

Laboratory. She writes that both are

2013, an honor bestowed upon twenty

Former Faculty

to move to NYC after graduation,

really exciting, but that since leaving

graduating seniors in the United

Nancy Diggs

hoping to work at a fast-paced startup.

Hampton Roads she’s been missing

States each year. Annika has decided

Katy Woods is in her fourth year at the

NA and fellow alums and is hoping

to pursue a joint program offered by

University of Virginia. She recently

to come visit soon! Caryn Cobb is a

Juilliard and Columbia University for

started working at Trump Winery as

junior at Brown University, where she

college. Emily Levin pledged the Chi

an event and marketing assistant.

is majoring in neuroscience. This past

Omega women’s fraternity at the Col-

2011

summer Caryn was in Edinburgh,

lege of Charleston. Emily also serves

Scotland, doing research on music’s

as a member on the honor board and

Ω Kylie Philbin ’11: kep2we@virginia.edu

effects on dementia patients, with the

participated in the College’s Greek

Sweet Briar lacrosse player Caroline

University of Edinburgh and the Scot-

Emerging Leaders program. Haley

Baker has been named to the 2013 All-

tish Chamber Orchestra. She found

Loflin pledged Gamma Phi Beta this

ODAC Third Team. With the accolade,

that music did have an effect on the

fall at the University of Alabama and

the sophomore net minder makes

behavioral and observational level, in

served as pledge class president. She

her first appearance on an All-ODAC

that it reduced agitation and anxiety in

is on the Dean’s List and was accepted

squad. Baker turned away 177 shots

the patients. Caryn also helped with re-

into Freshman Forum, a yearlong lead-

on her way to recording a 51% save

search that investigated the differences

ership program. Kelly Smith played in

percentage. Caroline is ranked 18th na-

in imagination and perception, using

all 24 matches for the women’s soccer

tionally in NCAA Division III women’s

fMRIs. At Brown Caryn is working in

team at Lynchburg College this fall,

lacrosse and traveled to Scotland in

a neuroscience lab that is interested in

scoring four goals and helping the

May as the goal keeper for the USAA

memory and language skills. She is a

Hornets reach the second round of the

Women’s Lacrosse Team. Holley Beas-

teaching assistant for a business class

NCAA Division III tournament.

ley was named to the Capital One Aca-

called Management of Industrial and

demic All-District Team for women’s

Nonprofit Organizations. Caryn is the

soccer for her performance this season

head of the Women in Science and

at Washington and Lee, which puts

Engineering program at Brown and

Class notes reflect notes received

her in contention for an Academic

is also the vice president of Brown’s

through December 15, 2013. Log on to

All-America Award. Holley, a team

Operation Smile Club. This coming

your class page to see the latest notes.

captain, helped take the Generals to

summer she plans to continue her

the ODAC finals and finished the

neuroscience research at Brown, as

season with a team-high eight goals

well as conduct orthopedic research on

and seven assists. Kelly Hall, a junior at

thumb osteoarthritis.

William & Mary, was recently elected president of the Beta Lambda chapter

2012

of Kappa Alpha Theta. She’s also the

Ω Mary Rives Dougherty ’12:

recruitment supervisor of the William

Bruce Melchor ’68

hloflin22@gmail.com

Shawn Sullivan ’76

mrdougherty@mail.roanoke.edu

& Mary Phonathon, a tour guide and a

William Carney released his debut

member of Order of Omega. This past

album, Interstate Radio, in October!

summer she interned in the Norfolk

You can check it out on his website,

Academy Development Office and

williamcarneymusic.com. Fellow NA

studied abroad at the University of

alum Schuyler Beecroft ’09 did the

Cambridge. Kelly Luker won the Places

artwork for Interstate Radio. As part of

Norfolk Academy magazine

|

spring 2014

71


The Garrett C. Laws Scholarship On April 23, 2014, faculty, trustees and friends gathered to honor Gary Laws and his 44 years of service to Norfolk Academy. President of the Board of Trustees Bill Van Buren thanked Gary for his dedication and the important role he played in the lives of so many Academy families. Trustee Adrienne Pruden Ashby ’91 shared her own poignant story of the impact Mr. Laws had on her life and education. She also recounted classmates’ favorite memories of Mr. Laws and his inimitable style, including a typically middle-school incident involving classroom shenanigans with balloons and static electricity, and the resulting Socratic discussion of the incident in Mr. Laws’ office. She reflected, “As his students, we knew that we counted with Mr. Laws, and we knew that he saw us and that he knew us.” The crowning moment of the event was the announcement of the newly created Garrett C. Laws Scholarship, endowed by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Luter IV and their children Joe V and Stuart Luter. The Scholarship will be awarded to a student or students demonstrating financial need. Stuart Luter ’16 spoke on behalf of her family: “The Gary Laws Scholarship is our way of honoring Mr. Laws for all he has done. We are simply getting the ball rolling, and we hope that other families who have also been impacted by Mr. Laws will contribute in the future. It is our hope that through this scholarship Gary will remain

72

academy

active at Norfolk Academy. The student awarded the Gary Laws Scholarship will carry out his legacy. “Mr. Laws, thank you so much for your incredible presence in all of our lives. You will never fully understand the immeasurable impact you have had. You will be greatly missed.” As Stuart hugged Mr. Laws and left the podium, there was not a dry eye in the room. Gracious, overwhelmed and nearly speechless, Mr. Laws addressed the Luter family, “I don’t know what to say. Thank you. Thank you.” And then he did what he always has—he surveyed the group of teary friends and loved ones, and steered them back in the right direction. “This is a happy time. It’s an emotional time, but it’s a happy time.” –––––––––––––––– Norfolk Academy would like to thank the Luter Family for their generous gift in honor of Mr. Laws. If you are interested in contributing to the Garrett C. Laws Scholarship Endowment, please contact Nene Dougherty, Director of Donor Relations, at ndougherty@norfolkacademy.org or 757.452.6769.


What is a Charitable Gift Annuity? A Charitable Gift Annuity is a legal contract in which Norfolk Academy, in return for a gift of cash or stock, commits to pay you, the donor, a specified sum every year for as long as you live. The annuity rate varies with age: the older you are, the higher the rate. If funded with appreciated securities, capital gains are spread out over your expected lifetime. Additionally, you receive a charitable deduction the year you make the gift. It is a great way to make a gift to Norfolk Academy and receive income for the rest of your life. Here’s an example:

John Q. Donor, age 70 Gift: $10,000 Annuity rate: 5.1% *** Charitable deduction: $3,582 Annual income: $510

single life gift Annuity Rates * Age

Rate

Payment **

60 65 70 75 80 85 90+

4.4% 4.7 5.1 5.8 6.8 7.8 9.0

$ 440 $ 470 $ 510 $ 580 $ 680 $ 780 $ 900

* Effective January 1, 2012 (subject to change) ** Based on a $10,000 gift

For information on how you can give a Charitable Gift Annuity to Norfolk Academy, please contact:

*** Based on age (see table)

Your gift provides for Norfolk Academy’s future and for your own. It will help ensure the quality of the Academy experience for future generations. Membership in The 1728 Society accompanies all planned gifts.

M.B. Walker III ’59 Director of Planned Giving Norfolk Academy 1585 Wesleyan Drive, Norfolk, VA 23502 Tel: 757.461.6236 • Fax: 757.455.3181 bwalker@norfolkacademy.org

Planned Gifts. Gifts that give back. www.norfolkacademy.org/giving


Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Burlington, VT Permit #19

1585 Wesleyan Drive Norfolk, VA 23502

Stay Connected! Like us, link to us, find us or follow us. Join the conversation and be in touch with us. facebook.com/NorfolkAcademyBulldogs @NorfolkAcademy @AthleticsNA @PMcLaughlinNA 757.461.6236 norfolkacademy.org thesavagechronicles.org mr-o-zone.org chesapeakebayfellows.org internationalrelationsfellows.org naglobalhealthfellows.org literacyfellows.org


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