Campus Connection

Dedicating Courage Garden

In November 2020, a group of devoted alumni led a Hotchkiss Alumni Reconciliation Gathering for an opportunity for open engagement and reflection on historical sexual misconduct. Out of this important virtual gathering came the idea to design an enduring space on campus that will provide comfort, beauty, and peace for those impacted by sexual abuse during their time at Hotchkiss and beyond.

As previously communicated, we will dedicate Courage Garden on Oct. 1. The event is open to all members of the Hotchkiss community.

Hotchkiss remains deeply remorseful for sexual abuse that occurred here. For those who were harmed as students, nothing can erase the past. In creating this garden in partnership with deeply dedicated alumni, the School honors the remarkable grace of the survivors and alumni who initiated this gift. The permanence of the garden and Hotchkiss’s commitment to tend it symbolize the School’s ongoing responsibility to do all we can to create a safe and healthy environment for all members of this community.

Construction of the garden has been underway throughout the summer. With extensive stonework completed and plantings in-place, the garden is truly coming to life.

There is an ongoing need to support Courage Garden care and maintenance. Please contact Ninette Enrique, chief advancement officer, at nenrique@hotchkiss.org, if you are interested in making a contribution to support this important and enduring enhancement to the School.

Join us for the Dedication Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 1 p.m.

Formal dedication event in Elfers Hall followed by a walk to Courage Garden and a reception

For survivors only: Optional community space available beginning at 5 p.m. at Fairfield Farm

Please scan the code for further information, including a registration link. The School is enduringly grateful to alumni who are committed to creating a space on campus for healing and contemplation. This event is being planned in close partnership among members of the survivor community, dedicated alumni, Learning Courage (a nonprofit organization that works with independent schools to reduce incidents, improve responses, and support healing from sexual misconduct and abuse), and the School.

Hotchkiss Salutes Graduating Bearcats at 130th Commencement Ceremony

BY CATHERINE CALAMÉ

THE 130TH COMMENCEMENT

Ceremony for the Class of 2022 took place under clear blue skies overlooking beautiful Lake Wononscopomuc on June 3 in front of hundreds of family members and friends. The event honored 158 senior Bearcats who prevailed through the pandemic, inspiring Head of School Craig Bradley to encourage them to learn from the experience.

“One of the many lessons of the pandemic is that of interdependence. A very important quality you will carry with you throughout your lives, and for which you will be valued and rewarded, is a fundamental understanding of what it means to be an integral part of something larger than yourself—to be part of a team, a community.”

Bradley encouraged the graduates in their days ahead to remember the words of Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist, neurologist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor. “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response,” Frankl said. “In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

Co-presidents of the Board Trustees Elizabeth G. Hines ’93 and Robert R. Gould ’77 introduced the presentation of diplomas, after which outgoing Dean of the

Senior Class Andrew D’Ambrosio (newly appointed dean of student life) invited each senior to the stage as diplomas were presented. The Hotchkiss Orchestra played music including an interlude on cello and piano, played respectively by seniors Noam Ginsparg ’22 and Kenny Zhang ’22, before, during, and after the ceremony.

Parting Words from Beloved All-School President Sydney Goldstein ’22

All-School President Sydney Goldstein ’22 was moved to point out how hard the last few years had been for her classmates yet said, “I am extremely proud of how far we’ve come.”

In her address, she expressed gratitude for having spent her high school years on “arguably one of the most, if not the most, beautiful high school campuses imaginable in the middle of a fantastically bucolic area.”

Knowing that challenging and easy times lie ahead for all the graduates, she went on to say, “Let us approach our next experiences with the values of resilience, determination, curiosity, and compassion that we learned as students here. Let’s never let go of the family that we found here, because even though we will all soon drive through the main gates for the last time as Hotchkiss students, we’ll never leave the Hotchkiss community.”

Sydney Goldstein ’22, All-School President

“Let us approach our next experiences with the values of resilience, determination, curiousity, and compassion that we learned as students here.”

—SYDNEY GOLDSTEIN ’22 “Fail Spectacularly!” Advised Keynote Speaker Adam Sharp ’96

The Commencement address offered by Adam Sharp ‘96, president and CEO of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, was equal parts nostalgia, humor, and valuable life advice.

Sharp began by recounting unvarnished memories from his own Hotchkiss experience. He talked about extensive work he did as a part of numerous clubs, which most notably included revitalizing Hotchkiss TV (HTV) in 1994—even as he nearly flunked out of school. He spoke of the Hotchkiss teachers, coaches, advisors, and others who helped put him back on track as he continued to recount experiences from his career.

“That year [at Hotchkiss] proved to be the most important and lasting of my education. It taught me how I could pivot from defeat to pursuing a new victory. And it continues to serve as a humbling reminder that climbing out of a hole is a lot easier when someone is there to lend a hand.”

In stressing the inevitability of stumbles in life, as well as the profound value of learning from them, he offered three pieces of advice: “First, seek out the fun failures. The failures of little consequence. Seize opportunities to experiment, to play.

To learn your craft in a safe space where mistakes provide more fodder for laughter and learning than fear and expense.

“Second, consider risk. Don’t avoid it. Ask yourself, if this is where I fail, what good can come from it? What new questions can it raise? What opportunities can it present?

“Last, when the unexpected failure sneaks up on you, be honest with yourself and others and candidly ask these same questions in retrospect. When I reflect on each career peak, I realize I wouldn’t have been in the position to even consider those opportunities had I not first been cast into the wilderness of the valleys below. The view from the summit helps salve the pain of the journey.”

The candor of Sharp’s reflections, punctuated by numerous moments of levity and a number of good laughs, invited the seniors in the audience to contemplate the value of failure. “The Hotchkiss education is not meant to tell you where to go, but rather to prepare you for a journey on a path of your own making. To negotiate the gravity of necessary failures to stay true to your own charted course.

“And so to the many congratulations and blessings for good luck and future success [that] you will receive in the days and months ahead, I add an equally important benediction: fail spectacularly!”

In their final moments as students of The Hotchkiss School, the senior class stood arm-in-arm for a rousing rendition of Fair Hotchkiss, joined by hundreds of family, friends, faculty, and staff in attendance. H

Adam Sharp ’96, CEO of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, gave the keynote speech at the ceremony.

“The Hotchkiss education is not meant to tell you where to go, but rather to prepare you for a journey on a path of your own making.”

—ADAM SHARP ’96

WATCH ADAM SHARP’S FULL SPEECH

2022 Senior Awards

ACADEMIC AWARDS

FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS:

THE PETER D’ALBERT ’70 MEMORIAL ART AWARD

Reka Ladanyi

THE ROBERT AND SANDY HAIKO PRIZE

Hongrui Qiao (Jerry)

THE JOHN HAMMOND ’29 MUSIC AWARD

Oliver Chen, Noam Ginsparg, and Kenny Zhang

THE EDWARD KOHNE KLINGELHOFER JR. ’43 AWARD

Kiki Henry

THE SARAH T. CRAIG MEMORIAL PRIZE

Keeilah Jewell

THE THOMAS P. BLAGDEN ’29 PRIZE

Yihan Ding

THE ADVANCED PORTFOLIO ART PRIZE

Luke Louchheim

THE ARCHITECTURE PRIZE

Charlie McLean

THE ART HISTORY PRIZE

Annie Xu

FOR EXCELLENCE IN CLASSICAL AND MODERN LANGUAGES:

THE HOEY SENIOR GREEK PRIZE

Kasen Mo

THE SENIOR LATIN PRIZE

Chase Vermeulen

THE KING TAK LAM CHINESE PRIZE

John Nicholson

THE DAVID DEMARAY SENIOR FRENCH PRIZE

Jack McGlinn

THE EMERSON BIGELOW ’13 AND JOHN EMERSON BIGELOW ’44 PRIZE FOR CONVERSATIONAL FRENCH

Billy Meneses

THE CHARLES E. BERRY GERMAN PRIZE

Noam Ginsparg

THE SENIOR SPANISH AWARD

Beatrice Conti

FOR EXCELLENCE IN ENGLISH:

THE THOMAS H. CHAPPELL ’24 PRIZE

Beatrice Conti and Annie Xu

THE TEAGLE ESSAY PRIZE

Ein Jun

FOR EXCELLENCE IN HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE:

THE PARSONS PRIZE

Keeilah Jewell

THE ECONOMICS AWARD

Margo Donohue

FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE:

THE GEORGE NORTON STONE SENIOR MATH PRIZE

Carter Levine

THE SENIOR COMPUTER SCIENCE AWARD

Leopold Dorilas

FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE:

THE ROBERT B. FLINT ’23 SCIENCE PRIZE

Keith Matanachai

THE VAN SANTVOORD ’08 ENVIRONMENTAL PRIZE

Eliza Ross

SCHOOL PRIZES

THE FIRST SCHOLAR PRIZE

Keith Matanachai

THE HEAD OF SCHOOL’S PRIZE

Carter Levine

THE FRANK A. SPROLE ’38 SOCIAL SERVICE PRIZE

Margo Donohue and Billy Meneses

MAJOR SCHOOL PRIZES

THE WALTER CLEVELAND ALLEN, JR. ’32 PRIZE

Margie Bowen, Billy Meneses, and Mitchell Riley

THE CENTENNIAL PRIZE

Kiki Henry, Jack Johnson, and Fati Salifu

THE ALBERT WILLIAM OLSEN ’13 PRIZE

Beatrice Conti, Margo Donohue, Hannah Goldberg, and Keith Matanachai

THE CHARLES E. LORD PRIZE

Grace Hennessy and Zachary Scrima

THE CHARLES DENTON TREADWAY MEMORIAL PRIZE

Sydney Goldstein

THE FACULTY PRIZE

Fatoumata Bah, Lydia Bullock, Carter Levine, Olivia Taylor, and Huck Whittemore CUM LAUDE

FALL INDUCTEES

Hannah Biccard Beatrice Conti Hannah Goldberg Stella Ren Annie Xu

SPRING INDUCTEES

Nate Brockington Lydia Bullock Aron Cha Madeline Chang Gigi Day Rahul Kalavagunta Carter Levine Allison Lin Luke Louchheim Keith Matanachai Billy Meneses Shannon Meng Elizabeth Oliver Ilene Park Cooper Roh Sada Schumann Lize Takoudes Huck Whittemore Mazie Witter Yuki Zhang SENIOR ATHLETIC AWARDS

Senior class athletes who earned at least six varsity letters in their career at Hotchkiss.

Kira Ackerman Thomas Bailey Jeb Bechtel Mackay Bommer Lydia Bullock Emily Bukowski Will Burke Caroline Corbett Molly Donegan Henry Emswiler Christain Gallaher Hannah Goldberg Duncan Griffin Jordyn Harrison Will Hedley Ben Johnson Meera Kasturi Carter Levine Zoe London Jami Macdonald Carlos Martinez Charlie McLean John Nicholson Rena Peng Mitchell Riley Kayla Robertson Fati Salifu Lize Takoudes Ellie Traggio Kayla Uzwiak Nani Veluchamy Huck Whittemore Piper Willinger Owen Zinn-Keane

THE JAMES T. BRYAN ’11 ATHLETIC AWARD

Huck Whittemore

THE GOSS ATHLETIC AWARD

Ellie Traggio

THE ANDREW KNOX DWYER ’01 AWARD

Eliza Dana and Henry Emswiler

CAMPUS CONNECTION

2022 Senior Awards Spring Athletic Awards

___________________________ BASEBALL

THE WILCOX AWARD

Henry Emswiler ’22 Average .352

THE ARNOLD C. SAUNDERS, JR. ’10 AWARD

Carlos Martinez ’22

THE BASEBALL TROPHY

Henry Emswiler ’22

Carlos Martinez ’22

___________________________ BOYS & GIRLS GOLF

THE BLOSSOM TROPHY

Nick Astorian ’22

THE GIRLS GOLF AWARD

Ilene Park ’22

THE PROBASCO TROPHY

Christian Waldron ’23 Eliza Dana ’22

THE DAVID S. BOWEN AWARD

Jackson Watson ’23

Eliza Dana ’22

___________________________ BOYS & GIRLS LACROSSE

THE ALEXANDER D. STUART ’68 LACROSSE AWARD

Nick George ’24

THE C. NELSON COREY II LACROSSE AWARD

Jack Morvillo ’22

THE KELLY STONE LACROSSE PRIZE

Ellie Traggio ’22 Jordyn Harrison ’22 Jami Macdonald ’22

Ellie Traggio ’22

___________________________ ULTIMATE FRISBEE

ULTIMATE FRISBEE AWARD

Emiliano Leal ’23

___________________________ BOYS & GIRLS TENNIS

THE HARTCORN AWARD

Leni Kontokosta ’25 Luke Louchheim ’22

THE ALBAN F. BARKER TENNIS AWARD

Luke Louchheim ’22 Keith Matanachai ’22

THE GIRLS TENNIS PRIZE

Rena Peng ’22

___________________________ BOYS & GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

THE WYCKOFF AWARD

Huck Whittemore ’22 Kwaku Agyapong ’22 Owen Zinn-Keane ’22

THE GIRLS TRACK AWARD

Sydney Jean ’23 Fati Salifu ’22 Kayla Uzwiak ’22

Kwaku Agyapong ’22

___________________________ SAILING

CLASS OF 1989 SAILING PRIZE

Oscar Emus ’23

THE NUNES SAILING TROPHY

Chapman Petersen ’22

___________________________ ROWING

THE ROWING PRIZE

Emily S. Bukowski ’22 Allison Lin ’22 Nani Veluchamy ’22

___________________________ FOUNDERS ALL-LEAGUE AWARD

Varsity Baseball Henry Emswiler ’22 & Quillan Oberto ’24 Boys Varsity Golf Cam Holland ’24 & Alex Zhang ’24 Girls Varsity Golf Eliza Dana ’22 Boys Varsity Lacrosse Teddy Kim ’23 & Wylie Warchol ’23 Girls Varsity Lacrosse Etta Coburn ’24 & Kathryn Wilson ’23 Boys Varsity Tennis Xander Farrington ’24 Girls Varsity Tennis Rena Peng ’22 & Eliza Muse ’23 Boys Varsity Track & Field Chase Dobson ’23 & Anish Reid ’23 Girls Varsity Track & Field Leanna Wells ’23 & Christa Prasertsintanah ’23

___________________________ THE COACHES AWARD

Boys JV Golf Shiyao (Marcus) Lam ’23 Boys 3rds Tennis Maadhavan Prasanna ’25, Alistair Taaffe ’25 & Spencer Humes ’24 Boys JV Lacrosse Logan Peloquin ’23 & Michael O’Brien ’23 Boys JV Lacrosse No Award Girls JV Lacrosse Bea Garvey ’24 Girls JV Tennis Giulia Hurlock ’23, Kate McCormick ’23 & Dasha Post ’23 Girls 3rds Tennis Sydney Goldstein ’22 & Juliet Koch ’24 Girls JV Track & Field Maddie Lykouretzos ’23 & Hanna Sun ’24 Boys JV Track & Field Oliver Johnson ’25, Axel Nzi ’24 & Eliott Hu ’25 JV Ultimate Ellis Burwell ’23 & Isaiah Stephens ’25 JV Sailing Cal Kinnear ’25

Huck Whittemore ’22

___________________________________________________ SCHOOL RECORDS/ALL-STAR RECOGNITIONS

BOYS & GIRLS GOLF

Founders League Champion: Eliza Dana ’22

BOYS LACROSSE

All-New England West Division 1: RJ Ihlefeld ’22, Jack Morvillo ’22, Andrew Preis ’22 US Lacrosse All-American: Andrew Preis ’22 New England West Division 1 Coach of the Year: Andrew D’Ambrosio

GIRLS LACROSSE

Western New England All-Stars: Zoe Bye ’24 & Avery Doran ’24 All NEPSAC: Jordyn Harrison ’22, Jordan Healy ’22, Jami Macdonald ’22 & Ellie Traggio ’22 All NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Zoe Bye ’24, Etta Coburn ’24, Avery Doran ’24 & Kathryn Wilson ’23 All-American: Jami Macdonald ’22 & Ellie Traggio ’22

BOYS & GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

Founders’ League Champions: High Jump: Paige Dzenutis ’23 200m, 400m: Christa Prasertsintanah ’23 Discus: Kristian Maxwell-Wimberly ’25 Shot Put: Leanna Wells ’23 1500m: Huck Whittemore ’22 Long Jump: Anish Reid ’23 Javelin: Brandon Ciccarello ’22 Girls’ 4x400m Relay: Christa Prasertsintanah ’23, Amber Bretz ’23, Anji Ashaye ’24 & Fati Salifu ’22

ULTIMATE

CT All-Star Team: Jack McGlinn ’22, Ian Marshall ’23 & Alejandro Zheng Zhou ’24

2022 Spring Season Wrap-Up

Henry Emswiler ’22 Henry Emswiler ’22

VARSITY TEAMS

VARSITY BASEBALL: 5-14

BOYS VARSITY GOLF: 3-5

5th New England Tournament (KIT)

GIRLS VARSITY GOLF: 7-3-3

3rd Founders League Tournament Eliza Dana ’22 Medalist, Founders League Champion

BOYS VARSITY LACROSSE: 10-6

3rd in Founders League Tournament

GIRLS VARSITY LACROSSE: 15-1

Founders League Champions

VARSITY ROWING:

USRowing Regionals: Boys Pair: 1st Place; Girls 4+: 3rd Place NEIRAs: Girls V8: 12th Place; Girls 2V8: 9th Place

VARSITY SAILING: 11-3

New England Team Racing Champions Connecticut State Champions 4th at Nationals (Baker Cup) 2nd at O’Day Championship Chapman Peterson ’22 NE Single Handed Champion (2018, 2019, 2021) Healy Trophy

BOYS VARSITY TENNIS: 10-3

2nd at Kingswood Invitational Tournament SNETL Champions

GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS: 9-2

BOYS VARSITY TRACK: 6-3

GIRLS VARSITY TRACK: 5-2

2nd Founders League Championship, 8th at NE

ULTIMATE FRISBEE: 17-7

4th at NEPSUL, 3rd Connecticut State Championship

Varsity Sailing Team, New England Team Racing Champions

Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team, Founders League Champions

JV AND THIRDS TEAMS

BOYS JV GOLF: 9-8 BOYS JV LACROSSE: 1-7 GIRLS JV LACROSSE: 11-1 BOYS JV TENNIS: 9-2 GIRLS JV TENNIS: 5-3 BOYS THIRDS TENNIS: 6-2 GIRLS THIRDS TENNIS: 1-3 JV ULTIMATE: 6-15

FOLLOW HOTCHKISS ATHLETICS!

@HotchkissAthletics @HotchkissSports News:

Hotchkiss.org/Athletics

Literature Comes Alive for Second MacLeish Scholars Cohort

BY DARRYL GANGLOFF

ATIGHT-KNIT GROUP from the Class of 2023 recently spent two weeks in New York City exploring the connection between research, creativity, and bookmaking as part of the MacLeish Scholars summer residency program. The students analyzed rare manuscripts, diaries, and letters of noteworthy authors in the archives of the city’s illustrious libraries and universities, and they were inspired to construct intricate handmade books filled with their own creative writing.

English Instructor Dr. Jeffrey Blevins established the program in honor of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Archibald MacLeish, Class of 1911, to “make literature come alive for students.” He said the members of the second MacLeish cohort had “enormous opportunities and profoundly rich experiences in the archives,” which in many cases were opened to young students for the first time.

The group resided at Manhattan College and took daily trips to the Berg and Pforzheimer Collections at the New York Public Library, the Morgan Library, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Columbia University, Barnard College, and New York University. Two classmates were granted access to the restricted diaries of Vladimir Nabokov, which “have only ever been seen by a small handful of researchers,” Blevins said.

Richie Mamam Nbiba ’23 explored Black female poets in the Harlem Renaissance and Black Arts Movement. She delved into the archives of Maya Angelou, Michele Wallace, and Ntozake Shange, and she was excited to discover the unpublished poems of Ann Petry. “As a Black female poet myself, I saw my research as an opportunity to uncover more about those that paved the way for girls like me,” she said.

“This project has increased my excitement for archival research and academia,” noted Amelie Zhang ’23, who focused on the links between literature, politics, and philosophy in the works of Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Aldous Huxley, and Lewis Carroll.

Boris Branis ’23 was fascinated to view the editing process of English Romantic poets like Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Percy Shelley. “By analyzing the original works rather than the polished and perfected versions we see in books, I feel like I have developed a far deeper understanding of and connection with these poets than otherwise possible,” he said.

The students worked on daily writing prompts with poet and Hotchkiss English Instructor Janan Alexandra, and they learned the intricate art of bookmaking with Neil Daigle Orians, who is joining the University of Cincinnati this fall as an assistant professor of art and art history. They experimented with binding and folding techniques as well as paper texture and quality. “This is a tangible form of critical thinking that can be applied to whatever careers or educational paths they may take in the future,” Orians said.

The group made time to visit a wealth of literary institutions and events, including a poetry slam at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Three Hotchkiss students competed, and Richie took home the top prize and received the only perfect score of the night.

The residency culminated with a reading of their handmade books on a balcony overlooking Manhattan College, the sun glowing on the buildings behind them. This fall, the MacLeish Scholars will return to Hotchkiss and continue their studies with Blevins during a yearlong honors English class. They will expand upon their research and write 40-page essays to “contribute something tangible to scholarship on their authors,” Blevins said. H

The 2022-23 MacLeish Scholars and their teachers enjoyed the program’s summer residency in June. Back row, from left: Boris Branis ’23, Amelia Kain ’23, Alex Cheng ’23, Amelie Zhang ’23, Amber Bretz ’23, Lucy Jervis ’23, bookmaker Neil Daigle Orians, Hotchkiss English Instructor Dr. Jeffrey Blevins. Front row, from left: Awa Sowe ’23, Lauren Sonneborn ’23, Richie Mamam Nbiba ’23, Celina Wang ’23, Hotchkiss English Instructor Janan Alexandra.

The MacLeish Scholars Program is free for all students through the generosity of Dr. Richard Bernstein ’64.

VIEW A VIDEO OF THE MACLEISH SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Scholars from left to right: Annie Dong ’23, Carrie Cao ’23, Jason Shan ’23, Taylor Hemelt ’23, Clara Ma ’23, Chase Dobson ’23, Jack Gross ’23, and Sydney Jean ’23

Becoming Archivists

Inaugural Hersey Scholars Complete Harvard Residency Program

BY NANCY SOMERA

EIGHT UPPER-MID HOTCHKISS

students took part in a two-week residency program at Harvard University this summer as part of the newly established John Hersey Scholars Program. The program, which is named after Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist John Hersey ’32, is co-led by Dr. Lisanne Norman ’94, co-director of diversity, equity, and inclusion and instructor in humanities and social sciences, and Dr. Thomas Fisher, instructor in history, philosophy and religion.

The Class of 2023 scholars—Sydney Jean, Chase Dobson, Clara Ma, Jack Gross, Taylor Hemelt, Jason Shan, Carrie Cao, and Leyao (Annie) Dong— were selected after a rigorous application and interview process that demonstrated each had strong writing skills, a passion for research, and the capability to be flexible and work independently on a self-selected scholastic research topic.

The scholars spent three Sundays in April getting tutored on what to expect as archival researchers at Harvard’s Houghton Library and the Schleisinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute. Friendly librarians who, according to Norman, “went above and beyond for our students,” welcomed the scholars to their respective libraries on the first day of the residency program for an orientation to help them get their bearings. Despite these preparations, the young scholars admitted they felt overwhelmed, intimidated, and a little lost when first stepping into the materials rooms. Chase shares, “My initial impression was the sheer amount of material would make any attempt to fully comprehend my subject futile. However, I was also excited; this was an opportunity to explore history that few people receive.”

As with everything, there is a learning curve to becoming an archival researcher. Although finding the process difficult at first, the scholars quickly settled into a routine. Jack, who is researching the U.S.’s counterculture movement around the drug LSD, admits that dealing with documents that had little to no context (e.g., people’s relations to other figures mentioned, the time period, the publisher, and other information not always made clear) was hard to get used to. “Once I got comfortable with not having a complete story and I got more used to the processes of the libraries

themselves, everything became much more predictable,” he explains.

As Annie recalls, “At first I thought: ‘There’s no way I can do this.’ Receiving my first box, I was so excited and freaking out with adrenaline. Then I just dug in, and I was overcome with a sense of true awe. Later, as we were leaving, one of the librarians referred to us as fellows; that was definitely one of my proudest moments.”

Despite initial challenges, there were pleasant surprises along the way. Carrie, whose topic is the gender barrier women face in various fields of science, says her mother’s experiences as a female scientist influenced her topic selection. She became increasingly passionate about her subject as she conducted her research. “I learned so much more about the history of women in science,” she says. “Being able to read about other women going through similar experiences as my mom gave me hope and a sense of connection to them.”

Chase, who is diving deep into the life of Richard Nixon, learned that archival treasure hunting doesn’t always lead to riches. “I requested a box that had letters between Nixon and a renowned psychologist,” he says. “I expected a possible window into Nixon’s psyche. However, the letters were simply formal correspondence relating to an awards ceremony,” proving dead ends are part of the process, too.

Norman and Fisher, who were impressed with how self-motivated and autonomous the students were, made sure to find time in the schedule for some unscholarly fun outside of the libraries. They took in a Red Sox game, tried new cuisines, visited the Isabella Gardner museum and gardens, and learned more about the history of Boston on the famously popular Boston Duck tour.

The two-week Harvard residency was just the first part of this yearlong program, and Norman could not have been happier with how smoothly it all went. “The students embraced this independent scholar experience,” she says. “I was prepared to do more hand-holding, and we had office hours set up, but they owned it, worked remarkably well as a group, and even shared things they found with each other if they thought it could be helpful to another’s topic.”

The scholars are spending the summer cataloging their foundational research and securing secondary sources. In the fall, they will take a Research Methods class with Dr. Jason Larson to further hone skills and refine their topics and sources before writing a 25-page paper in the spring.

Annie, whose topic is missionaries in China, is excited to incorporate theory and argumentation into her archival discoveries. She says, “I was on the verge of tears while reading letters from Mae Chapin, a Presbyterian missionary to Hainan, sent to her by her sister, informing Mae of her father’s death. This personal connection I’ve formed with my ‘subjects’ will push me to discover as much as I can about the topic—thankfully, I have a whole year to do just that.”

Fisher adds, “The research methods they are learning will be beneficial for the rest of their academic careers.” The plan is to bind the scholars’ work to produce permanent artifacts for future Hotchkiss students to see and learn from. “We are excited to see how this fits into future generations of scholars in this program,” says Fisher. H

“This was an opportunity to explore history that few people receive.”

—CHASE DOBSON ’23

The Inaugural Hersey Scholars and Topics

Sydney Jean ’23

Prison reform and mass incarceration

Chase Dobson ’23

Richard Nixon

Clara Ma ’23

Historical views of diseases and epidemics

Jack Gross ’23

LSD counterculture movement in the U.S.

Taylor Hemelt ’23

1900s religious perspectives’ influence on women’s rights

Jason Shan ’23

Women’s homelessness

Carrie Cao ’23

Gender barriers for women in science

Leyao (Annie) Dong ’23

Missionaries in China

Science Fair Showcases Student Ingenuity

Creative geniuses turned out for the 2022 Science Fair in June. From drones to bear trackers, and F1 simulators to customized vehicles for kids, Hotchkiss students delivered inspiration and ingenuity.

1.

NICK ASTORIAN ’22, Frankfurt, GR

Created an electric skateboard (foreground) as well as a mirror that greets you each day with a positive message in addition to the time and temperature, your Google calendar commitments, and alerts from your favorite news source.

2.

TREVOR NEEB ’23 AND JACKSON NEEB ’23, Washington, D.C.

Built a Formula 1 simulator to demonstrate what it’s like to drive a race car. The driver uses an Oculus Rift for real life experience combined with the movement of the simulator to feel the shifts and turns. Jackson focused on the frame of the simulator. Trevor focused on designing the building the actuators—the parts that make the simulator move.

3.

CHARLIE MACLEAN ’22, Flossmoor, IL Charlie designed and built a carbon fiber bicycle frame that is custom to his body type and riding style.

4.

ALEX REPIKOV ’23, Milwaukee, WI Alex built a drone that can lift 20 kilos and focused on coding the signals that control the movement of the drone.

5.

LIZE TAKOUDES ’22, Boston, MA Lize’s independent study in bear research and behaviors included mounting five cameras with motion detectors around campus to report back to the main database, where she compiled useful data points. She is pictured with Jennifer Rinehart, environmental science teacher.

1 2

4 5

7 8

6.

MARCUS LAM ’23, Dallas, TX AND BEN ELY ’24, Grantham, NH The duo placed in the first Tech Challenge for freight. Their robot includes parts they designed and built from the 3D printers located in the Class of 2017 Engineering, Fabrication, and Exploration Lab.

7.

NICOLE OCAMPO MONTOYA ’23,

Queens, NY

Built an accessibility vehicle for differently abled children to help improve their socialization opportunities. She modified a Fisher Price Power Wheels truck by simplifying the electronics for easier control, created a new seat for added head protection, and designed a roll cage from PVC tubing. Nicole worked with the group GoBabyGo to donate the car to a local family.

3

6

9

8.

ALEX CHEN ’22, Hong Kong Alex is showing his circuit board design for an electric guitar pedal to Mike Hickey, instructor in physics. He experimented with several different electronic circuits before designing and building a functional prototype.

9.

PAUL SHIN ’22, Seoul, South Korea Paul is demonstrating the unique characteristics of carbon fiber. This material was used in several projects in the EFX Lab, most notably on Charlie MacLean’s bike frame. This example is a test piece, used to determine how to correctly orient the material on the mold part for best adhesion.

“Crowds are not just seeing students on the stage, they’re seeing artists. That transformation is priceless.”

—FABIO WITKOWSKI

Making Music in Madrid

BY DARRYL GANGLOFF

FOR TWO LONG YEARS, the Hotchkiss Orchestra’s annual European trip was canceled due to the pandemic. The festival made its triumphant return this summer in Madrid, Spain, where more than 20 students honed their craft with world-class musicians, performed a series of concerts for large audiences, and explored the city’s rich culture. “It was our first time in Madrid with our largest group ever, and it went beyond our wildest expectations,” says Fabio Witkowski, head of the visual and performing arts department. “Crowds are not just seeing students on the stage, they’re seeing artists. That transformation is priceless.” The group participated in seven concerts at a variety of venues over two weeks, concluding with an outdoor performance that included John Williams’s beloved Star Wars scores. Clara Ma ’23 says the final concert was her favorite memory from the trip. “It was the culmination of all the time and effort we spent in the practice room and rehearsal,” says Clara, who found it enriching to participate in master classes with Aniela Frey, the principal flutist of the Royal Opera House. “I remember playing Georges Bizet as our encore piece and seeing the audience clapping along with Mr. Witkowski. At that moment, I felt joy.” Bill Wang ’25 was grateful for the opportunity to take the stage as a violin soloist. “These concerts were an unforgettable experience as it was my first time playing with orchestral accompaniment,” Bill says. “I was able to further develop my skills as a performer under the guidance of Mr. Witkowski and other professional musicians.” Violinist Boffi Lin ’24 agreed, noting she had the opportunity to look at her craft “on a detailed and complex level” and was reminded during her lessons to “return to the basics before tackling more challenging pieces.” As a Spanish student and history enthusiast, Kira Nickerson ’25 enjoyed “absorbing the culture” of Spain through its food, language, and architecture. Kira was the only trumpet player on the trip, and she was thrilled to receive advice from two professional trumpeters. “Getting to work with multiple instructors improved my playing dramatically, gave me new perspectives and ideas, and advanced my practice techniques,” she says. “I think some of my fondest memories from Hotchkiss will always be from this trip!” H

WATCH VIDEOS OF THE STUDENTS PERFORMING IN MADRID

New Bearcats!

THIS FALL, A GROUP OF 174 DIVERSE, broadly defined, and talented new students join Hotchkiss as freshly-minted Bearcats. From a lifeguard to a published writer to a breakdancer to several nonprofit founders—as well as a student who sees actual bearcats daily!—these newcomers are bringing ingenuity and enthusiasm to campus.

By the numbers, an unprecedented 41 percent of this year’s incoming students self-identify as students of color. Our new Bearcats hail from 27 states and 16 countries. They include low-income students, first-generation applicants, and families from across the U.S. and around the world. They are artists, musicians, writers, engineers, and athletes, to name just some of their passions, and Hotchkiss is thrilled to have them. Let us make a few introductions.

Madeleine (Maddie) Sada ’26

JAKARTA, INDONESIA

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

I started a social enterprise called Petite Souris to support an organization that prevents childhood stunting in Indonesia. I hope to break the poverty cycle in Indonesia by educating and empowering mothers. This will allow them to make the necessary choices to prevent childhood stunting because just one generation of wellnourished children will improve Indonesia’s economy.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself, or let us know what you like to do for fun.

Fun fact: Bearcats (binturong) are often spotted roaming around my housing complex in Indonesia. I have even heard them walking on the roof and scratching on the walls. Sometimes, I learn random things for fun, like speed rapping, memorizing flags of the world, and solving Rubik’s cubes.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

Experiencing independence and the traditions at boarding school are what I am most excited about. I am equally as thrilled to live in a dorm and to form bonds with new people through sharing my Indonesian culture with others.

Carter Cain Davis ’26

DECATUR, GA

How did you spend your summer?

I was selected for an international leadership development program called Ivy Leader. The first seven days we spent at Dartmouth College attending private lectures on journaling, creative writing, and South African history. For the remaining 20 days, we traveled to South Africa for a deeper orientation into the culture, history, and traditions. We also completed service work by teaching at a primary school, and then went on safari to observe wildlife and better understand conservation, survival skills, and communal living.

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

I support Books for Africa. Every year I collect hundreds of books and volunteer at their large distribution center in Atlanta. We collect, sort, and ship books, computers, tablets, and library enhancement materials to every country in Africa in collaboration with worldwide donors, publishers, and African partners.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

Becoming part of a new community of passionate learners and explorers. I am super excited about deep engagement with teachers and access to the facilities and resources at Hotchkiss.

Pahal Bhasin ’26

GURGAON, HARYANA, INDIA

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

In 2020, I co-founded the student-run global technology-focused registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization called STEAM Bloom (steambloom.com) to plant seeds of quality artificial intelligence (and other STEM fields) education and create awareness about AI ethics and AI alignment for students from underrepresented communities. We provide them with access to world-class resources and hosting outreach events for free. To date, we have impacted 2,000+ students from 25+ countries.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself, or let us know what you like to do for fun.

I enjoy singing, writing poems, drawing, and photography.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I am looking forward to making a lot of friends and being a part of an inclusive community.

Victoria (Vic) Fang ’25

BRONXVILLE, NY

How did you spend your summer?

I spent my summer with time for myself, writing my novel, learning a new instrument (the guitar!), trying to keep up with my piano practicing schedule, and preparing for summer camps! They included a writing camp where I stayed on a tall ship for a week and wrote/read literature, and a conducting camp where I conducted the Montclair orchestra. For the final concert I played with the orchestra as well as conducted.

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

I am the editor in the Back to Bach newspaper, which records the spreading of classical music for children around the world with little or no exposure to it with performances by formed groups in different areas.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I am looking forward to experiencing the strong and warm sense of community that Hotchkiss exudes.

Alláh-u-Abhá (Allahu) Rodrigues ’23

MAPUTO CITY – MOZAMBIQUE

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

Last year, nearly 62,000 people were displaced in Cabo Delgado due to terrorist attacks. To respond, I volunteered for the Plataforma Makobo’s Initiative and coded an interactive map displaying a network of volunteer and public health organizations.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself, or let us know what you like to do for fun.

Every week I receive a visit from a person I’ve never met, a person who technically doesn’t exist. Let me explain. When I started drawing, I came across In My Silence by Jono Dry. Art has taught me the freedom to express my feelings and thoughts, to let go of the need to always do things right, and to just enjoy the present moment. And in this world where everything else moves too fast, that’s exactly what I need.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I’m currently working on building a virtual platform that connects students with mental health conditions with teachers to support them academically and combat the stigmatization in countries like Mozambique, and contribute to the lower prevalence of mental illness and higher rates of access to care for youth in states like Connecticut. I’m looking forward to continuing my project at Hotchkiss and exploring new areas like engineering and robotics.

Emily Cho-Sayegh ’26

HOBOKEN, NJ

How did you spend your summer?

I participated in a one-month summer STEM program at NYU Tandon Engineering College, where I worked on smart cities and entrepreneurship. In August, I was part of the Bridge summer program and got to know my new peers!

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause

that you are supporting. I have worked with the Hoboken Public Library for more than a year since I created a math tutoring program for grammar school students as a part of an official children’s program.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I am invited to participate in the Math Prize for Girls competition at MIT this October. I am one of the top five female students in New Jersey for AMC10B and a recipient of the Two Sigma Certificate of Excellence.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

As a STEM addict, I am looking forward to working in the EFX Lab with Mr. Boone. I want to be a part of the Robotics Team, as I was the founder of the Robotics Club at my middle school. I am looking forward to learning photography and squash. I also want to continue sailing at Hotchkiss.

MADISON, CT

How did you spend your summer?

This summer I worked two jobs and lifeguarded in my free time. I also played soccer all summer and visited the beach.

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

I am in support of the protests after Roe v. Wade was overturned. I am devastated for the women who have just lost the fundamental right to control what happens to their own bodies. I post on various social media platforms in hopes of raising awareness, and I hope to further develop that activism in the future.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself, or let us know what you like to do for fun.

A fun fact about me is that I did contortion and hand balancing for three years. I can still do some of the tricks!

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I am looking forward to becoming a part of the Hotchkiss community! I’ve always dreamed of being in a diverse, accepting, and supportive environment, and I can’t wait for that dream to come true!

Juniper Rogers ’26

TULSA, OK

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

I know that I want to dedicate my career to helping our world, whether that’s working to prevent plastic pollution or global warming, helping protect endangered species or resources that are running out fast, or fighting the systems that discriminate against low-income communities. I’m often overwhelmed by how many problems humanity is facing, and during my time at Hotchkiss, I hope to find an issue to narrow in on.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I have lived in four states (almost five, if you count Connecticut) and two countries. In my free time, I like to make pie, bake bread, and read!

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I’m definitely excited by the academic challenges offered at Hotchkiss. I’m also looking forward to being part of a more diverse student body, experiencing the boarding aspect of boarding school, and trying new sports, clubs, and activities. I’m especially excited to be able to take both piano and orchestra at Hotchkiss. I’ll be able to take two piano lessons a week, something that will hopefully help me grow in the instrument!

Nabiha Rahim ’26

NEW YORK, NY

How did you spend your summer?

I started my summer with some conferences about AAPI issues regarding the StopAsianHate movement. I also attended meetings for the NYC Commission on Human Rights Council, which I’m a member of, along with going to many TEAK classes, including debate. Debate is something I am very passionate about as well; I have awards from state championship tournaments, too!

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

The abortion rights movement (pro-choice movement); After Roe v. Wade was overturned, the states now hold power to regulate abortion in a way they couldn’t before. In certain states, millions of women have already lost and will lose the abortion right that they had before. Our country has always been making sure men had rights, but when it comes to women’s abortion rights, that is something our country wants to control.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I am looking forward to gaining more independence and resilience, which I know Hotchkiss will help me with. I am excited to start living in a new environment and meet new people! I am a very social person as well, so I am looking forward to making new friends.

Arielle Sibley-Grice ’26

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

I support more restrictions on gun use. School shootings are a completely avoidable plague on our world. If everyone calls for change, future generations won’t have to worry about their safety in places like school, where they are supposed to feel safe.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I am a citizen in both the U.S. and Mexico.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I am looking forward to meeting new people and joining teams and extracurriculars.

POLSON, MT

How did you spend your summer?

I spent my summer honing my social media marketing skills and tried to improve my skills in Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro. Besides working on digital stuff, I also just tried to have fun during my summer vacation.

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

I donated to Feeding America this summer as a part of an awareness campaign.

Let us know what you like to do for fun.

For fun, I like to jet ski, play games with friends, and listen to music while playing with my dogs.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I look forward to meeting diverse and ambitious people at Hotchkiss. As a whole, I’m looking forward to having eye-opening experiences during my stay at Hotchkiss.

Jackson Powell ’26

PITTSFIELD, MA

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

An organization I am currently supporting is the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). I have been a member of this organization for more than two years. They actively do a lot to help try and make communities all over the country places of equality and free of prejudice.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I used to do competitive breakdancing!

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

At Hotchkiss I am most looking forward to meeting new people, joining the Hotchkiss community and everything it has to offer, along with being a member of the football and basketball teams.

Major Jackson’s Poetry with Purpose Brings Us Closer to Each Other

BY CATHERINE CALAMÉ

POET MAJOR JACKSON VISITED

Hotchkiss on May 9 through the Lambert Fund, established by the Lambert family in memory of their son, Christopher Lambert ’76, who had an abiding interest in poetry. Jackson’s poetry focuses on the Black experience and, more recently, the environment, and he frequently weaves the two topics together in his work. He treated the Hotchkiss community to a reading of many of his poems, including “Climate,” “Rethinking Bitcoin,” “Let Me Begin Again,” and “Of Wolves and Imagination.”

Jackson, who is the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair in the Humanities at Vanderbilt University and the poetry editor of The Harvard Review, didn’t plan to become a poet. Although he wrote frequently in his own “book of rhymes” while attending high school in North Philadelphia, he secretly dreamed of being a rapper. “I found poetry when I needed it, and from a young age I was enthralled by the mystery of existence,” he explains. “As a child I thought an answer, a meaning, was just around the corner. And poetry allowed me to participate in that making of meaning.”

Although he had always kept his work private, Jackson mistakenly handed his book of rhymes to a teacher who was collecting textbooks. Shocked when the teacher asked if he could read one of his poems in class, Jackson agreed and quickly became addicted to hearing his poetry read aloud. The teacher became a “champion for me, someone whose readings and valuing of poems would partially dictate my path in life.”

First working in finance after graduating from Temple University with a degree in accounting, Jackson became inspired by artists who used their art for activism. Slowly, he felt his ambitions change. He was soon back on the path to poetry, now with a purpose. He has written five books of poetry, the most recent of which is The Absurd Man (2020).

Honored to be editor of Best American Poetry 2019, Jackson discovered that he had a substantial deliverable: “I sought poems that braved human connection; poems that battle the inertia of our daily routines and fixed modes of thinking; poems that shaded in the outlines of contemporary life and generously extended us into a profound understanding of ourselves.” In the role of editor, he came to understand the task of those who serve as literary stewards of American literature. “We have a grand tradition of poetry here in America,” he said, “and it’s important that we have people who understand that history and are able to interweave it with the voices of today.”

Despite the interconnectedness of today’s world via social media, Jackson dug deep into his personal relationship with poetry and discovered that for him, it is the ultimate connector. “We are—without art, poetry and literature—incapable of taking in the full width and complexity of our humanity and are likely to overlook the miracles that are found there. Poetry brings us closer.”

Jackson is the recipient of numerous fellowships, awards, and prizes, including a Pushcart Prize and a Whiting Writers’ Award. He has been honored by the Pew Fellowship in the Arts and the Witter Bynner Foundation in conjunction with the Library of Congress. He lives in Nashville, TN, where he serves as professor of English and director of creative writing at Vanderbilt University. H

Beal Lecturer Dr. Tyrone Hayes:

From ‘A Boy Who Loves Frogs’ to a World-Renowned Biologist on a Mission

BY CATHERINE CALAMÉ

LIKE MANY CHILDREN growing up near the wetlands of Columbia, SC, Tyrone Hayes spent countless hours lost in nature, discovering and interacting with the flora and fauna near his modest home. The great-great-grandson of a slave, he was fascinated by life surrounding the magical pooled waters, from lizards and cranes to catfish and snakes. To him, the most intriguing aspect of life in the swamp was the metamorphosis of tadpoles into frogs. “I’m still just a boy who likes frogs,” said the professor of integrative biology and co-chair of the department of integrative biology at the University of California-Berkeley during the All-School lecture. “But my responsibility as a boy who just likes frogs is now much bigger.”

Hayes is a groundbreaking researcher whose work has exposed the substantial negative impact of herbicides, and particularly atrazine, on the natural world. He is an outspoken critic of Syngenta, the manufacturer of atrazine. The herbicide has been shown to cause reduced reproduction and spawning as well as tissue abnormalities in amphibians, fish, reptiles, birds, and land mammals— including people. His criticism further extends to the Environmental Protection Agency for what he describes as its failure to mitigate the damage atrazine has caused. Hayes holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in biology from Harvard and a Ph.D. in integrated biology from UC Berkeley.

He visited Hotchkiss on April 28 through the Beal Lecture Series, coordinated by Keith Moon P’13,’16,’20, the E. Carleton Granbery Teaching Chair, Instructor in English, History and Russian Language. The series was established in 1983 in honor of Thaddeus R. (Ted) Beal Jr. ’35 by his close friend, classmate, and former trustee John Shedd Reed ’35. Beal was the stepson of longtime and much revered headmaster George van Saantvoord ’08. Reed created the series because he believed that the Hotchkiss community would benefit from exposure to visiting speakers addressing issues of national or global concern.

During his lecture, Hayes touched upon the glandular impact of atrazine on frogs, which includes malformation of sexual organs and diminished fertility. In fact, everywhere Hayes and his team found atrazine in nature, they found altered frogs. Their findings transformed the way the world looks at the toxicity of synthetic herbicides. It was subsequently supported by other scientists around the globe who have identified similar patterns in fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals.

Hayes has conducted additional work that focuses on the ways in which humans interact with atrazine, from farm workers applying the herbicide to harvesters and ultimately consumers. The impact of the chemical on human beings disproportionately affects field workers, 95% of whom are Latinx. According to Hayes’s research, this group experiences a greater incidence of subsequent health effects, including breast and prostate cancers.

Due to COVID, the evening’s discussion was the first Beal Lecture in three years. In Moon’s opinion, Hayes was just the right person to get the series up and running once again.

“What I appreciate most about Tyrone’s work are the intense implications of his research on humanity as a whole,” he says. “This is diversity, equity, and inclusion work writ large. I know our students were able to infer broader meaning far beyond [Hayes’s] original interests in frogs and their biology. Tyrone delivers a powerful message of the personal importance of science in each of our lives without ever coming across as heavy-handed. This is a worldclass scientist with a human, down-to-earth way of speaking: our students listened to him with high interest and confidence.” Understanding the value of curiositybased research that has helped drive his career, Hayes stressed that this generation has the power to alter the curve. “We can change the paths, but only if we act now, while it is still the future,” he said. H

Keith Moon, left, instructor in Russian history and literature, and Bridget Dixon Moon, instructor in mathematics, welcome Dr. Tyrone Hayes as part of the Beal Lecture Series.

SCAN TO SEE A REPLAY OF THE LECTURE

Charlie Frankenbach Awarded the Lufkin Prize

BY HOPE REISINGER COBERA ’88, P’24

CHARLIE FRANKENBACH P’12,’16,

Russel Bigelow Chair and chair of the English Department, was awarded the 2021 Lufkin Prize during an all-School gathering in Katherine M. Elfers Hall on May 3.

In introducing Frankenbach, Dean of Faculty and Associate Head of School Merrilee Mardon noted that a member of the faculty described him as “wonderfully patient with his students, though he is pushing them all the time to understandings they perhaps thought beyond them. [He] has an intellect that should be given the freedom to roam. Students need him, colleagues need him, and the curriculum needs him.”

Another colleague observed that in Frankenbach’s classes, “there is sort of an aura … a magical invitation to be yourself, to take risks, to laugh, and to think. His classroom is not only safe, it is energetic. Charlie combines genuine substance, challenge, and difficult issues with warmth and fun.”

In accepting the award, Frankenbach demonstrated some of the very qualities for which he is known. The packed house responded with laughter and a few tears to his unique mix of provocative eloquence and humor.

“When I list the influential people [at Hotchkiss], my own personal Mount Rushmore grows each year, newer colleagues joining those long gone as influences, as tributary streams to the river of my time,” he said.

In remembering lessons learned, he harkened back to a colleague who taught him “that fun and humor had to be in the mix [of teaching], along with standards that allow students to discover themselves while, ideally, seeing rigor and the rigor of places like these schools not as mere weight, but as clean, good, combustible fuel for the self.”

Frankenbach read from the autobiography of John Hammond ’29, a jazz musician, record producer, civil rights activist, and music critic. While a Hotchkiss student during the 1920s, Hammond received permission from Headmaster George van Santvoord ’08 to study violin in New York City on weekends. During these days away from campus, Hammond immersed himself in live music played by jazz greats of the time.

“[Graduating] in June of 1929, I was a changed young man. I was convinced that there were no absolutes, that it was impossible for me as a human being to follow any line—a political line, religious line, or a philosophical line. I recognized that there would always be points of view based on others’ experiences which must be considered, and I had learned that dogmatism as a result of insecurity, intolerism, including my own, is always suspect.” Frankenbach used Hammond’s story to illustrate the manner in which he crafted his own Hotchkiss experience rather than waiting for Hotchkiss to “happen to him.” He encouraged students in the room to do the same.

Established in 2006 through the vision and generosity of Dan Lufkin ’49, P’80,’82,’88,’23, the Lufkin Prize is given in recognition of faculty members who make significant contributions to the Hotchkiss community and serve as role models for students. While the prize recognizes excellence in teaching, advising, coaching, and overall service to the Hotchkiss community, the constant demonstration of ethical character, moral leadership, and a commitment to these values are also critical considerations in selecting each year’s winner.

Past winners include Richard Kirby P’08,’09,’14,’15, David Bolmer ’73, Christy Cooper P’08,’11, Sarinda Parsons Wilson P’14,’17, Charlie Noyes ’78, P’03,’07, Letty Roberts P’12,’15, Brad Faus P’10, Ana Hermoso P’16, Keith Moon P’13,’16, and Ginny Faus P’10. H

Charlie Frankenbach, center, receives the 2021 Lufkin Prize accompanied by Dan Lufkin ’49, P’80,’82,’88,’23 and Head of School Craig Bradley.

FRANKENBACH’S ADVICE

n Never wait in line for lunch. n Sit down at a random table for a meal, and just meet someone you don’t know. n Wave to drivers who stop for you at the crosswalk on Route 41. n Go to stuff! Take advantage of the tremendous opportunities Hotchkiss offers. n Meet your obligations. Show up for classes, practice—and be on time. n Read poetry. Poetry is powerful.

It sounds out all those truths that we all know silently. And when we read it, we know we are in good company. n Celebrate daily the accomplishments and talents of those around you. n Match the brightness and abundant promise that Hotchkiss offers with your own. Go for it!

WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE AWARD PRESENTATION, including Charlie Frankenbach’s acceptance speech.

Hotchkiss Hosts Klingenstein Summer Institute

BY CATHERINE CALAMÉ

MORE THAN 80 DEDICATED teachers from 27 U.S. states and territories, as well as Australia, Colombia, India, Italy, and Nicaragua, came together at Hotchkiss for the 40th annual Klingenstein Summer Institute (KSI) in July. They join the worldwide network of Klingenstein alumni—including some Hotchkiss instructors—who span the globe, serving at schools in nearly every U.S. state and 70 countries on six continents.

KSI is a program of the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, and is a fully funded fellowship for early-career teachers who have between two and five years of teaching experience. Over the course of an intensive two weeks, participants hone their teaching practice at the intersection of current research in cognitive science, social-emotional learning, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Through these three lenses, they explore essential questions about their classrooms and their school communities. Participants learn from experts in their fields, and they also learn from each other as a cohort where each person brings unique experiences and insights to the whole. They return to their schools with new tools to teach more effectively and insights into how to nurture classroom environments where students thrive.

Samuel Somera, instructor of humanities and social sciences, was a member of the 2022 cohort. He enjoyed its immediate impact, as well as being equipped with tools to bring into the classroom this fall. “In many ways the program was as transformative as it was informative,” Somera says. “Learning alongside other passionate and thoughtful educators who were also navigating their first years of independent school teaching allowed me to explore new perspectives and develop new ideas.

“I left KSI with a better understanding of the purpose and possibilities of independent schools and a greater understanding of teaching and learning, but most importantly I left with a new network of fellow independent school educators. I am entering the 2022-23 school year eager to get into the swing of things and excited to make positive change in my classrooms, dorms, co-curriculars and among the faculty.”

According to Dr. Nicole Furlonge, professor and director of the Klingenstein Center, Hotchkiss was “the perfect new home” for the institute. “On this idyllic campus, we were able to offer KSI in its fullness—as a time and place for early career educators to learn intensely, soak in feedback, reflect deeply, connect meaningfully with others, and renew their purpose,” she says.

Another faculty member, Kristy Glasheen, instructor in Spanish, participated in KSI in 2017 while she was teaching at Kents Hill School in Maine. She is currently pursuing an M.Ed. in Independent School Leadership through the Klingenstein Center. “It is not an exaggeration to say that KSI was a truly transformational experience for me and the best professional development of my early career in education,” she says.

Claudia McGuigan, associate dean of faculty, assistant director of recruitment, Walter Crain Fellow, and instructor in mathematics, has extremely fond memories of her experience in KSI. “I cannot overstate the institute’s impact on my career. Without KSI, I would never have had the confidence to pursue the Walter Crain Fellowship at Hotchkiss,” says McGuigan. “What I learned in those two weeks profoundly changed my entire outlook on my role in education. I not only learned how to be a better teacher and role model for my students, but I also learned how to lead, regardless of my position. When I walked away from the two-week program, I left with a strong sense of my mission and purpose for working in independent schools. It may sound terribly cliché, but that fortnight I spent at KSI changed my life.”

Hotchkiss’s pastoral setting made a positive impression on our recent guests in many ways. “It is easy to get pulled into the beauty of Hotchkiss’s campus,” says Furlonge. “But the beauty I will remember from my time on campus this summer is participants studying together on patios in the evening, enjoying the quiet of the library, walking to think as they enjoyed the art around campus, socializing at and in the lake, gathering in the dining hall and at the farm for community meals, and learning in dynamic spaces every day. At every turn, I was witnessing learners at home while learning. What a gift!” H

When History Becomes the Present

Russian History and Literature Instructor Leads School’s Response to War in Ukraine

BY NANCY SOMERA

WHEN TENSIONS ROSE TO A

tipping point between Russia and Ukraine, Russian History and Literature Instructor Keith Moon took no time deciding to scrap his planned course lessons and shift the focus to current affairs and the imminent invasion. Typically, the semester unit would involve exploring the steady progression of leaders in Russia with a couple of weeks spent on current President Vladamir Putin at the end. Instead, Moon focused primarily on Putin, the only Russian leader during these students’ lifetimes, while exploring the question: How did we arrive at a point where a political figure like Putin could come into and maintain power?

Just days prior to the February invasion, Evgeny Danilin, a Ukrainian friend of Moon’s living in Kyiv, Ukraine, Zoomed into the classroom for the first of two live meetings during which he offered a firsthand account of the escalating situation. While he expressed concern over the growing hostilities, Danilin was relaxed while talking to the students. “He was in his car, a little Coca-Cola truck that he used for his job with that company, waiting to pick up his daughter from gymnastics,” shares Moon. Just a dad doing normal dad things.

Then, on Feb. 24, Russia invaded Ukraine, directly affecting seven Hotchkiss students who have or had family in Ukraine or Russia at the time. Anticipating these students’ needs, Moon—along with faculty members Tom Drake, Alex Ginzburg (who grew up in the Soviet Union), Marta Eso, David Thompson, and a few others— immediately set up a gathering with the seven students to provide a space for them to share their concerns and fears. They also held a broader meeting that attracted a

Left: Evgeny Danilin Below: Danilin’s wife Katya (on left) and daughters.

group of nearly 50 teachers and students, including some from other European countries. During the tension-filled opening days of the war, Moon says, “Many of the students’ questions centered around, ‘Why would Russia do this?’”

Place your phone over the QR code to view the twominute video message from Ukrainian Evgeny Danilin shown at the AllSchool assembly.

Keith Moon P’13,’16,’20, the E. Carleton Granbery Teaching Chair, Instructor in English, History and Russian Language.

“A student expressed afterward, ‘This is really intense.’ They needed time to digest the reality of being one-degree of separation from my friend.”

—KEITH MOON

Fast forward a few weeks to a second virtual session with Danilin and a stark difference was noticeable. Now visibly scared, he spoke in a hushed tone from a darkened room; no lights were allowed as a security measure to protect people from being targeted by the invading army. He shared that he had put his wife and two daughters, 7 and 3, on a train to Germany (they have since made their way to Kentucky) while he stayed back to care for his elderly in-laws.

Moon describes Hotchkiss students as “being jolted” by the change in his friend’s demeanor. “A student expressed afterward, ‘This is really intense.’ They needed time to digest the reality of being one-degree of separation from my friend.”

Connor Rowe ’23 says his initial reaction to seeing Danilin on-screen again was “one of shock and horror,” adding, “Seeing the struggles of someone in Ukraine rather than only hearing of them showed me that the conditions of the invasion were worse than I could imagine.”

In the months that followed, Hotchkiss’s Russian history class became, according to Moon, “a Russian-present class.” Students undertook reading projects, drawing connections to what was happening currently, and in the process became “teenage experts on Putin.” Rowe’s biggest takeaway from Moon’s class this semester was “that there have been and still are a lot of evil people in the world. From the likes of Lenin to Stalin, and now Putin, Russia has had numerous leaders who have been bad human beings. For countries to succeed, their leaders must act morally to uphold a standard for their people.”

On March 29, an All-School meeting led by Moon, which included a prerecorded video update from Danilin, was held in the Walker Auditorium, providing the full Hotchkiss community with deeper insight into the ongoing conflict. Along with acknowledging the many in the community who had made personal donations to support Danilin and his family, Moon also discussed Putin’s rule over the last 30 years and political positions that ultimately led to war.

Interestingly, it was Moon’s work as a lecturer at the nearby Noble Horizons senior living community that prepared him for the All-School assembly. The eight-week lecture series, coordinated by Caroline Kenny Burchfield ’77, began in March and marked Moon’s 10th year teaching a course at the center.

The 97 residents who participated— the largest attendance ever for one of his series—were well-informed on the history of the region and the significance of the toppling of the U.S.S.R. in the early ’90s. The class centered on The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin, by Steven Lee Myers, a New York Times correspondent who has covered Russia since 2002. Moon says these elder students peppered him with questions, and he’s “grateful for their in-depth questions that helped prepare him” for his Hotchkiss classes.

Moon traveled to Slovakia in August to support the groundbreaking of a new day care center that will aid Ukrainian refugee families (see next page), and he is making plans to bring a top expert to campus in the fall as part of the Beal Lecture series. H

“For countries to succeed, their leaders must act morally to uphold a standard for their people.”

—CONNOR ROWE ’23

Instructor Travels to Support ‘Symbol of Hope’ for Ukrainian Refugees

RUSSIAN HISTORY AND LITERATURE Instructor Keith Moon traveled to Slovakia this summer to support a new day care center that will aid Ukrainian refugee families who have children born with intellectual disabilities. Moon’s trip was inspired by his “two important passions”—helping the people of Ukraine and raising funds for Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT). For almost 30 years, Hotchkiss has supported the organization with a Swimathon, and Moon has served on its board of directors for nearly a decade. He went to Slovakia in August as a personal emissary for SOCT to present a $25,000 gift to Special Olympics Slovakia for the groundbreaking of the child care facility, which Moon says was “one of the great days and honors of my lifetime.” “The Dream Day Center is a symbol of hope for these refugee families,” Moon says. “The families being served often have overwhelming child care needs. The adults have struggled to find time to work, so the mission is to offer high-quality care for their children while they try to set their lives in some sort of order. Many of the refugees in places like Slovakia have few other resources to help them through a crisis not at all of their making.” H

Keith Moon P’13,’16,’20, the E. Carleton Granbery Teaching Chair, Instructor in English, History and Russian Language (fourth from left), joined four Ukrainian refugee families with their four Special Olympics athletes at the Special Olympics Youth Sports Camp in Vršatské Podhradie, Slovakia, from Aug. 15-18. In total, there were 39 athletes involved from Slovakia, Ukraine, and the U.S., as well as Roma children, in swimming, gymnastics, karate, and athletic training.

Showing Our Appreciation on Thank a Donor Day

THANK A DONOR DAY is an event to honor our donor community. After a two-year hiatus, Thank a Donor Day returned to the Dining Hall where students, faculty, and staff members sent hand-written notes to all those who ensure Hotchkiss remains an exceptional school. In addition to a social media takeover by the Blue and White Society, Thank a Donor Day received support throughout the campus with posters and signs as well as emails to the campus community.

To help continue Hotchkiss’s goal to provide an outstanding educational experience to a diverse student body, visit hotchkiss.org/donate. H

Chicago Principles Conference Headed to Hotchkiss in November

HOTCHKISS WILL HOST the Chicago Principles Conference on Nov. 4-5, bringing to campus delegates from peer schools, including the Eight Schools Association, a collaborative of eight independent boarding schools in New England. The event will explore ways to support free expression in a secondary school setting, and will also allow participants to hear from educators who are helping students develop the capacities for constructive and open dialogue.

The Chicago Principles emerged from the Report of the Committee on Freedom of Expression at the University of Chicago in 2014 “in light of recent events nationwide that have tested institutional commitments to free and open discourse.” According to the website, the committee’s charge was to draft a statement “articulating the university’s overarching commitment to free, robust, and uninhibited debate and deliberation among all members of the university’s community.” The resulting “Chicago Principles” have since been adopted by universities and colleges across the country and are now being explored for adaptation at the private boarding school level.

Rick Hazelton, director of the Center for Global Understanding and Independent Thinking and dean of summer programs, is looking forward to bringing these thought leaders to campus. “Critical inquiry into new ideas that often run counter to our political, religious, and cultural viewpoints is at the core of a liberal arts education,” he says. “Helping students and teachers engage collectively, openly, and constructively with difficult and challenging issues is not only the cornerstone of a strong education, but also essential in addressing the polarization and division in American life.”

As the agenda is finalized, proposed speakers include Dr. Leila Brammer, director of the Parrhesia Program for Public Discourse at the University of Chicago, Suzanne Nossel, CEO of Pen America, a leading human rights and free expression organization, and Dr. Denise Pope, founder of Challenge Success, which is affiliated with the Stanford Graduate School of Education. H

Clockwise from top left: T. Klacsmann ’01, Blue Swallows and Black Moths on Gray 2, 2022; Joy Curtis, Ghost Dance, 2020; Nancy Cohen, Bivalve at the Hinge Line, 2017

Tremaine Art Gallery Reopened to the Public with ‘Fragmentary Blue’ Exhibit

IN MAY, THE TREMAINE ART GALLERY presented an exhibit featuring the work of 17 artists that highlighted diverse responses to the color blue. It borrowed its title from “Fragmentary Blue,” a poem by Robert Frost that includes the lines:

Why make so much of fragmentary blue In here and there a bird, or butterfly, Or flower, or wearing-stone, or open eye, When heaven presents in sheets the solid hue?

The group show was curated by Joan Baldwin, curator of special collections at Hotchkiss, with Terri L. Moore, director of the Tremaine Art Gallery.

Exhibited work engaged with the color in a range of media while considering and exploring blue as an expression of mood, hue, or symbol. Artists explored how a color associated with bird’s eggs, the Madonna, with mourning, summer skies, Krishna, hyacinths, and the ocean deepens our understanding of color and mood. Selected work was displayed with a series of poems and text, echoed by a group of blue objects, both natural and fabricated, turning the Tremaine Art Gallery into a multimedia experience where images, objects, color, and words intersected.

Artists included Cynthia Alberto, Mandy Cano Villalobos, Rosa Chang, Nancy Cohen, Ann Conrad Stewart ’81, Joy Curtis, Beth Dary, Grace DeGennaro, Valerie Hammond, T. Klacsmann ’01, Jordana Munk Martin, Caitlin Parker, Sarah Pettitt, Beau Bree Rhee, Dora Somosi, Alyce Santoro, and Janis Stemmermann. H

Welcoming Hotchkiss VIPs During Grandparents Day

THE HOTCHKISS COMMUNITY extended a big Bearcat welcome to more than 180 VIP guests on April 23 during Grandparents Day, the first in-person celebration for this group in two years. Visitors arrived on a glorious, sunny day in Lakeville for one of Hotchkiss’s most beloved traditions—a chance for grandparents to come to campus and attend classes, musical performances, tours, and most importantly, special time with their grandchildren.

Grandparent Chairs Toni and James Goodale P’89, GP’21,’23 introduced Head of School Craig Bradley during afternoon tea, during which Bradley joked that all the hugs and love in the room had created “heightened levels of oxytocin” in the air. The School is grateful to the many grandparents who came to campus from near and far, including New York, Mexico, Florida, Colorado, and beyond. VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM The next Grandparents Day GRANDPARENTS DAY will be held in 2024. H

Steve McKibben, Letty Roberts, and John Cooper were honored during their retirement dinner in June.

A Fond Farewell for Three Retiring Teachers

BY HELEN O’NEILL ’23, ANTHONY HU ’25, AND KIRA NICKERSON ’25

PHOTOS BY CARRIE CAO ’23

Letty Roberts: Using Positive Psychology

When Letty Roberts P’12,’15 first stepped on campus in 1991 for her teaching interview, she didn’t see any students in class. Instead, she found them relaxing outside in the cool spring weather, running around the lawns and sauntering down to the lake. It was a Head of School Holiday, and that timing, Roberts recalls, helped solidify her decision to accept the job she had landed.

“The Holiday was in spring, everyone was so down-to-earth and friendly. It was a wonderful experience and just a

really cool vibe,” she says, adding that the dean of faculty at the time, Marilyn (Sam) Coughlin, was a woman, and “it was important that a woman was in charge.”

Roberts would go on to experience almost 100 more Head’s Holidays. She has retired after 31 years of service to the School as a George Norton and Jodie Stone Chair, Lufkin Prize recipient, and instructor in mathematics. An avid lover of nature, she led the Hiking & Exploration co-curricular and coached field hockey and lacrosse.

Roberts was born in Massachusetts and graduated from Colby College in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in math and psychology. After teaching at Holderness School for six years, she obtained a master’s degree in counseling from the University of New Hampshire.

She knew that she still wanted to teach math but stated her interest in psychology and a degree in counseling would equip her with the special ability to connect with students.

Throughout her 31 years of teaching at the School, Roberts’s desire to connect with students created a unique teaching style that revolved around the idea of positive psychology. One of her many mottos is, “Everything in life [is] a process, and even when you feel stagnant and stuck, you’re still moving forward in some way, even when you don’t have the perspective to see it.”

Another example of positivity is Roberts calling tests and quizzes Opportunities to Excel (OtEs), making the first question of each one based on positive psychology theories, such as, “What is something nice that someone you love has done for you?”

Paige Dzenutis ’23, a student of Roberts, says, “She has given me a new perspective on how to approach challenging work and that having a positive attitude throughout the learning process is often the most important. She has made me realize how much a teacher can be there for you in more ways than you could ever imagine.”

Another positive concept Roberts used during assessments was letting students take time to reflect before turning in an OtE, citing too many instances where students make careless mistakes. Her main goal has always been for her students to realize their potential so they can achieve as much success as possible.

Connie Cao ’21, a former student of Roberts, says, “Ms. Roberts was one of the most impactful teachers I had at Hotchkiss. She was always smiling and clearly loved teaching. She gave me the confidence to continue studying math and science in college and taught me to always be positive and have a smile on my face.”

For the next chapter of her life, Roberts is moving to Rennes, France, to work with the School Year Abroad program. She expressed excitement about her new journey but acknowledged that it will be difficult to leave her students and fellow faculty. “I’m ready for a different adventure,” she says. “I know I will stumble and fall on my face in France, but I’ve got to leave at some point, and I know it’s going to be hard whenever I do it.” When asked what she will miss most about the School, Roberts says, “It has been truly an honor and a privilege to have worked here for thirty-one years and to have been there for the high and low moments of all my students. Everything about Hotchkiss is the people.”

Roberts’s love for the community is reciprocated by her friend and fellow math instructor, Liz Dittmer, who says, “Letty is someone that other people want to be around. Her impact on me has been huge. She is always upbeat and positive, and that rubs off and helps make me feel happier.”

Letty Roberts

Steve McKibben: Overseer of Change

Stephen McKibben P’22, dean of community life and instructor in English, left Hotchkiss at the end of this academic year, representing an impactful career spanning more than 10 years at the School. McKibben had also served as a boys varsity basketball and lacrosse coach.

After graduating from Wesleyan University in 1984 with a B.A. in English language and literature, McKibben went on to earn an M.Ed. from Springfield College, an M.A. from Middlebury College, and an M.Ed. and Ed.D. from Columbia University.

McKibben came to Hotchkiss in 2011 to teach English after a friend introduced him to the School. He strove to make his classroom a safe and welcoming space for all students through his humorous demeanor. “That was my first goal coming

“Everything in life [is] a process, and even when you feel stagnant and stuck, you’re still moving forward in some way, even when you don’t have the perspective

to see it.” —LETTY ROBERTS

“Steve is known for his deep commitment to the well-being of our students.”

—DR. MERRILEE MARDEN, DEAN OF FACULTY

here; to build a culture of trust, respect, and love in the classroom.”

He also played an integral role as an advisor and a coach. Carlos Martinez ’22, one of his advisees, says, “Mr. McKibben is straight-up and doesn’t sugarcoat things. He maintains a strong connection with the people he’s close to. He’s an energetic person who loves basketball, and although he’s no longer the coach of boys varsity basketball, he’s still involved with the team and cares a lot about each of the players.”

In 2019, McKibben was appointed interim dean of community life. In this role, he made his three tenets of community a priority: goodwill, appreciating others, and “just being a good person.” Dr. Merrilee Marden, dean of faculty and associate head of school, said in the School announcement, “Steve is known for his deep commitment to the wellbeing of our students. [We] have no doubt that his professional experience, coupled with his knowledge of and dedication to Hotchkiss, will enable his success.”

Since then, with his colleagues, McKibben has undertaken major decisions regarding community safety and well-being, including helping to lead the School’s COVID-19 response and considering new initiatives for the School, including policy reform.

Amanda McClure, associate dean of community life, described the role: “What we do is a lot of School-keeping. It’s tending to the everyday, to the biggest and smallest problems on campus, making sure that everything functions for our community,” she says.

McKibben also played a critical role in reforming the Drug & Alcohol No Chance Policy, which has been in place for 40 years, to better align with the School’s values of respect, honesty, and compassion. Reforming the drug and alcohol policy was a goal that he had had since the beginning of his career. McClure adds, “He’s somebody who helped guide the process, invited people to participate, and coordinated what was going on. He really pushed us as a community to move beyond talking and actually enacting a new policy.”

McKibben devoted countless hours attending to students’ concerns and working to improve the student experience, meeting with All-School presidents on a weekly basis and regularly attending StuFac, a space for students to raise concerns and discuss important issues at school.

Sydney Goldstein ’22, All-School president, said, “He’s taught me to be a leader, and almost all of what I try to accomplish as All-School president goes through him.”

McKibben’s impact on the community extends beyond his role as a teacher and administrator to his interactions as a mentor, colleague, and friend. “I will sure miss his ability to bring the focus to the values of the School, but even more his laugh,” says McClure. “When we’re having difficult days, he helps all of us remember that there’s always things we can be grateful for and enjoy.”

John Cooper: Open-Armed Compassion

John Cooper P’08,’11, instructor in mathematics, retired after 34 years of teaching and service to the School. During his time at Hotchkiss, Cooper has taught all levels of math, coached girls varsity hockey and boys lacrosse, and served as a dorm parent in Buehler and Van Santvoord. His children, Corey Cooper ’08, who served as an instructor in English, and Brady Cooper ’11, were born and raised on campus. His decision to come to the School was due to the “blissful pace of life in the Northwest Corner, not to mention the glorious night sky that comes with it.”

Cooper earned a B.S. in psychology from St. Lawrence University and a B.A. in mathematics from the University of Hartford. In fall 1988, he and his wife, Christina Cooper, instructor in English, came to the School after teaching and coaching at The Rectory School and TASIS-England.

In the classroom, Cooper applied math to real-world situations and allowed for discussion and flexible class structure. He helped students explore further math concepts to foster excitement for the future. Sawyer Eaton ’25 says, “One of my favorite things about being in Mr. Cooper’s class is when he starts talking about other fields of mathematics that I don’t understand, like

Steve McKibben

how something can have infinite area in a finite perimeter, or calculus concepts.”

Jason Maier, head of the math department, described Cooper as a dedicated and patient teacher. “[Mr. Cooper] is really caring about each and every student, and he is always there and working with those who need help. He has a huge impact on me, and inspires me with his commitment in the classroom and philosophical insight. I will really miss having him as a colleague and mentor to look up to.”

On the ice, he made valuable contributions through his work in coaching the girls varsity hockey team. His care and love for the sport allowed him to connect with student athletes and fellow coaches. Robin Chandler ’87, former co-director of athletics and current communications project manager, says, “His impact on the girls program has been extraordinary, and our girls have been in his incredible care for the past 30 seasons. He is passionate about the game of hockey and has shared his love of the sport with hundreds of players over the years. I learned more from him about coaching a team, caring for individual players, and loving what you do than any other coach I have worked with in my career.”

Cooper is known for his effusive kindness, empathy, and care for others in all areas of School life. Leanna Wells ’23, one of his advisees, noted the strong bond they formed in just one year. “He would always take the opportunity to stop me in Main Hallway to spend time talking about how my week or sports or classes were going, which is something I’ll miss most about him,” she says.

More important, Wells is grateful for Cooper’s firm attitude in helping students foster independence and self-reliance, saying, “[Mr. Cooper] valued a laissez-faire attitude and believed that the only way that we would succeed in the things we did both on and off campus and life was if we learned how to fend for ourselves. He always showed a genuine interest in getting to know me and what I wanted to do with my life [after] Hotchkiss.”

In his 34 years at the School, he recounts great memories including friendships formed, listening to the jokes and conversations with students in the math classroom, chatting with students and fellow faculty members in the main building, and raising his children on campus. A few memories that particularly stick out to him are “a time when dogs ran free across campus and lounged in the classrooms, adopting the VS rabbit that had been living in an empty day student’s room, and of course, beating Loomis in hockey and lacrosse.”

Cooper added that he will miss watching students grow and discover themselves as they navigate their journey in Lakeville and that the School has taught him the value of others’ goodwill. He added that he hopes he has fostered “intellectual wonderment in the classroom as well as personal growth for student-athletes.”

Students and colleagues alike will miss his unwavering support as a teacher, colleague, and coach. Corey Cooper writes, “A math teacher by name, and a wordsmith, philosopher, psychology-nerd, and questioner of all things by nature, my dad represents what many of us hope to someday be able to call ourselves: someone who has positively changed the lives of a vast array of young people in myriad ways, and someone who carries himself with the grace and class that can only be achieved through patient, reflective, and passionate practice.”

After leaving Lakeville, Cooper looks forward to a new chapter in his life, including getting a non-Hotchkiss email account and “learning how to get by without the refined delicacy that is the dining hall’s famous Mulligatawny soup.”

To commemorate these faculty for their contributions to the School, colleagues and friends gathered at Fairfield Farm on June 4 for a celebration dinner and sharing of fond memories. H

“I learned more from him about coaching a team, caring for individual players, and loving what you do than any other coach I have worked with in my career.”

—ROBIN CHANDLER ’87, FORMER CO-DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS AND CURRENT COMMUNICATIONS PROJECT MANAGER

Editor’s note: this story was first published in The Record and was slightly updated.

John Cooper