Park Pioneer T H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E PA R K S C H O O L O F B U F FA L O
T H E PA R K S C H O O L’ S
S T R AT E G I C S TA N C E “RESPONSIBILITY TO EACH OTHER”
PA R K ’ S A D V I S O RY PROGRAM
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2017
Park Pioneer
LEGACY STUDENTS Park is proud to serve generations. Legacy students are the children and grandchildren of Park alumni. FRONT ROW:
Van Stevenson and Ella Stevenson ’28 (children of Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ’97), Mia Koessler ’26 (daughter of Lisa Gelman Koessler ’93, granddaughter of Patty Cohen Gelman ’66), Elliott George ’30 and Nadia George ’26 (children of Stephan George ’97), Talia Cerrato ’27 and Myles Cerrato ’25 (children of Marnie Benatovich Cerrato ’90), Ned Ortman ’27 (son of Holly Constantine Ortman ’96), Carter Sprague ’25 (son of Kody Sprague ’03), Finnegan Cook ’26 and Keeghan Cook ’29 (children of Collin Cook ’93), James Hitt ’29 (son of James Hitt), Kendra Dudley Toll Hill ’28 (daughter of Perry Hill), Erik Higgins ’23 and Calvin Higgins ’23 (children of Tripp Higgins ’90), Colton Sprague ’29 and Bristol Sprague ’27 (children of Kody Sprague ’03) BACK ROW: Holly Stevenson ’19 (daughter of Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ’97), Josephine Stevens ’19 (daughter of Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ’81), Maggie Parke ’17 (granddaughter of David Parke ’46), Sydney Pfeifer ’17 (daughter of Bill Pfeifer ’83), Oliver Powell ’19 (son of Steve Powell ’81), Will Derrick ’17 (son of Bill Derrick ’68), Summer Harris ’19 (daughter of Savannah Harris ’91) A B S E N T:
Joshua Latner ’25 (grandson of Judy Stein Chick ’60 [d.]), Penny Ortman ’31 (daughter of Holly Constantine Ortman ’96)
THE MAGAZINE OF
T H E PA R K S C H O O L O F B U F FA L O
WINTER 2017
2
The Park School of Buffalo Strategic Stance
6
The Board of Visitors, October 2016
7
The Park School Leadership
8
Advisory Program at Park
9
Daemen College Partnership
10
New Faculty and Staff
11
Getting to Know Athletic Director Marcus Hutchins
12
New French Exchange Program
13
Student News and Accomplishments
16
Development Update
W W W. T H E PA R K S C H O O L . O R G
18
1912 Legacy Society
The Park Pioneer is published by the Development Office of The Park School of Buffalo. Please send your comments to development@theparkschool.org.
19
The Knopp-Hailpern Center: Update
19
Upcoming Events
20
The Class of 2016
STAFF
CONTRIBUTORS
21
Commencement 2016
Christopher J. Lauricella Head of School
Andrea Berardi ’03 Jeremy Besch Greg Connors Katie Danieu-Schiess Chris Lauricella Tai Nixa Elizabeth Rakas Kim Ruppel Emma Schmitt ’06 Kennedy Schultz Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ’81
23
Reunion 2016
26
Fourth Annual Golf Outing
28
Remembering Paula Dean
29
In Memoriam
30
Class Notes
Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ’81 Director of Development Kim Ruppel Associate Director of Development Tai Nixa Event Coordinator
2 The Park community has developed a Strategic Plan to guide the School.
8 Middle and Upper School students benefit from a robust advisory program.
14 Upper School student introduces famous author at BABEL series.
PHOTOGRAPHERS DESIGN Flynn & Friends, Inc. www.flynnandfriends.com
Sean Dowdell kc kratt Tom Maynor Tai Nixa Nancy J. Parisi Steve Powell ’81 Elizabeth Rakas Kim Ruppel Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ’81 Suzanne Taylor ’84
31 Park alumni and friends are doing great things.
COVER: Park students in prekindergarten, Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School with faculty members on the boardwalk in the campus marsh. WINTER 2017 | 1
FIVE
P’s of Park School
The school community developed and embraces the following attributes, which make a Park School education unique and effective.
1. PURPOSE (What we do) Park prepares students to be passionate, caring, and creative learners who will thrive in college and in life.
2. PROMISE (What we will do for our students) The Park School of Buffalo empowers each student to realize his or her greatest potential. Students leave Park with the integrity, confidence, empathy, self-awareness, analytical skills, and creativity necessary to be productive and successful citizens in an ever-changing world.
3. PRINCIPLES (What we believe) Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, and Kindness inform all that we do at The Park School of Buffalo, including our teaching, coaching, curriculum and signature programs, the traditions that we share, and the attention we give to individual students and the larger community.
4. PRACTICE (How we do what we do) As a school founded in the Progressive tradition, Park teaches students to be active participants in their own education and provides unparalleled access to opportunities for independent exploration.
T H E
P A R K
S C H O O L
O F
B U F F A L O
Strategic Stance P’s Goals A strategic plan committee was formed in the 2015-2016 academic year tasked with engaging the Park School community in reflective thought about what the School currently does well and hoped to do even better over the next five years. The committee engaged external consultants as well as each of the School’s constituencies to help affirm Park’s unique role in the educational landscape of Western New York as well as tease out a series of strategic goals that, when realized, will strengthen and improve the School. 2 | PARK PIONEER
FIVE
FIVE
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
P urpose P romi se P ri nc i pl es P ra c ti c e P rofi l e
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
E nrol l ment E x c el l ent Pro gram E x c el l ent Place E x c el l ent Pe o ple Fi na nc es
A Park School education integrates the arts, the sciences, and athletics into a vigorous school culture that addresses the needs of the whole individual – body, mind, and spirit – as well as the needs of a family for a responsive and inclusive educational partner. Park couples a rigorous, college preparatory curriculum with a deliberate, diverse, and supportive community, and expects that all members of our community will seek to be of service at school and in the larger community. True to our Latin motto of Veritas et Gaudium (Truth and Joy) and our emphasis on “Active Learning for Life,” Park teachers inspire a lifelong love of learning by developing classes and projects that honor each student’s unique qualities, ways of learning, and contributions to the community, while challenging them to recognize and live into their potential. Park’s pedagogy sustains and rewards student curiosity through independent, experiential, and inquirybased learning that requires students to risk failure, develop analytical and problem-solving skills, and discover how to transform problems into opportunities. Park provides students with an education that is Green, Global, Kind, and Future-Focused. These four signature programs make a Park School education uniquely powerful and are aligned with our historical strengths:
Green represents our unique ability to connect students to the natural world through thoughtful curriculum and the use of our 34-acre campus as a hands-on teaching tool.
Global reflects the diversity of our community and a commitment to developing a global mindset and cross-cultural competencies in our students.
Kind refers to rigorous faculty training in social and emotional teaching and learning, and our
commitment to creating a community that lives our core values of respect, responsibility, honesty, and kindness.
Future-Focused reminds us that we should always be thinking about providing the 21st century skills that our graduates will need to be productive, successful, and joyful adults.
5. PROFILE (Who our students become) Thousands of successful alumni are living testaments to the fact that The Park School of Buffalo provides an exceptional foundation for meeting the rigors of higher education and living responsible, joyous, and productive lives. While few Park alumni are exactly the same, our conversations with hundreds of alumni suggest that they share the common traits of curiosity, confidence, and creativity. Graduates often speak of their time at Park as a seminal experience that provided the habits of mind and strength of character to boldly envision and passionately pursue both the personal and professional lives they wished to lead.
WINTER 2017 | 3
FIVE
Strategic Goals of Park School
The school community developed and embraces the following goals which, when realized, will strengthen and improve the School.
A NEW PR O CES S An interesting by-product of the strategic planning process has been the adoption of a new approach to tracking progress on the plan through a “balanced scorecard” approach that allows the board and administrative team to easily reflect progress made on goals and subgoals throughout the year. This approach borrows from similar protocols in the manufacturing field, but has been updated for use by non-profits. We are indebted to our friends at the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County for working with us to teach us this methodology, which they have used successfully for the last decade.
1. ENROLLMENT
3. EXCELLENT PLACE
Achieve a stable, predictable enrollment of students who embrace Park’s mission and generate tuition revenue that fully funds school operations and begins to create a surplus. We plan to do this by:
Improve Park’s campus buildings, hardscape, landscape, and IT infrastructure with an understanding of how the buildings and campus can best be used to support students and families. We plan to do this by:
• Building and budgeting to an enrollment that represents 90 percent of the School’s classroom capacity • Maintaining high retention of students by realizing our promise to students and families • Using a flexible tuition program to manage our tuition discounting and attract and retain students from families with a wide range of incomes
2. EXCELLENT PROGRAM Achieve excellence in operational support for student development in our classrooms, community, and curriculum. We plan to do this by:
Mr. Deitzer’s Middle School math students were tasked to model the proposed location of the new stream on campus. In order to do this, they had to figure out the slope of the hill by measuring right triangles going down the hill and using posts and strings to mark their path. With that in place, they used measuring sticks, plumb bobs, and levels to measure vertical and horizontal distance down the hill. By comparing the two as a ratio (vertical / horizontal), the students determined the slope of the hill. 4 | PARK PIONEER
• Continuing to value and create a joyful culture in which students love coming to school • Developing high, shared expectations for our students • Agreeing upon and delivering a shared Progressive teaching practice • Learning from the diversity of our student population • Developing demonstrably excellent student outcomes and continuously evaluating the School’s program to these expectations • Aligning the School’s curriculum to take advantage of our unique ability to serve students from prekindergarten to high school • Providing appropriate resources to support the program • Entering into partnerships with like-minded organizations
• Building The Knopp-Hailpern Science Center • Creating and then executing a Campus Master Plan that improves buildings, infrastructure, and landscape • Entering into partnerships that allow other institutions in Western New York to benefit from our unique campus setting
4. EXCELLENT PEOPLE Achieve excellence in our faculty, staff, administrative team, and trustees. We plan to do this by: • Continuing to value and create a joyful culture in which we love coming to work • Providing competitive compensation • Developing and following agreed-upon standards of excellence in our roles and holding each other accountable to these standards
5. FINANCES Strengthen financial stability in the form of: • Managing the budget to prevent debt and create cash reserves • Expanding non-tuition revenue • Growing the school’s endowment to provide more significant scholarship support and additional funds to provide more compensation and professional development for faculty and staff • Inspiring philanthropic giving for campus improvements
Head of School Jeremy Besch visits with two members of the Class of 2016 who came back to visit Park on their first college break. WINTER 2017 | 5
The Board of Visitors, October 2016
October 2016 Board of Visitors
The October Board of Visitors session featured classroom visits, our first Speed Mentoring Workshop, faculty presentations, the State of the School Address, and Country Fair. It was a fantastic few days on campus and we are grateful to everyone who participated!
A Visitor enjoys the 2nd grade garden.
Parent Cheri Carter at the Speed Mentoring session
Thank you to all who participated in Speed Mentoring! 6 | PARK PIONEER
Our first-ever Speed Mentoring Career Workshop was a huge success! Over 90 students and 23 mentors participated in this fastpaced networking event. The purpose of this workshop was to give our Upper School students the opportunity to learn from our wise and experienced community members, including our Board of Visitors. The event was a valuable learning experience for everyone involved and we look forward to having another Speed Mentoring Career Workshop in the Spring, 2017. The mentors who participated in our Speed Mentoring Workshop consisted of Board of Visitors, Board of Trustees, alumni, and current parents. Career backgrounds included chocolatier, engineer, radio personality, journalist, social worker, professor, veterinarian, and more!
PA R K S C HOOL BO AR D O F V I S I T OR S Pastor Frank Armstead Tina Ball ’70 Nancy Stone Barrett ’51 Melissa Baumgart Randall Benderson ’73 Dee Dee Danahy Booth ’65 W. Lawrence Buck ’65 David Bunis ’53 Ann P. Burns Charles Cheney ’59 The Hon. Alison H. Clarkson ’73 Deborah Bleichfeld Cohen ’55 Sarah Cohen ’75 Connie Constantine Leslie Fisher Curtiss ’59 Taddy Taylor Dann ’47 Kevin Eng ’01 Timothy Finnell ’58 Ann Provenzo Freedman ’72 Kate Peck Funk ’04 Seamus Gallivan ’96 The Hon. Debra L. Givens ’73 Arthur Glick ’75 Douglas Goldstein ’77 Hilary Harty ’61 Carol Hasegawa Nan Lipsitz Haynes ’73 Jud Heussler ’08 Tripp Higgins ’90 Susan Berryhill Hill ’59 Brian Horvath ’90 John H. Hoyt ’78 The Hon. Sam Hoyt ’80 David J. Hunter, Jr. Lucinda Ingalls Chip Johnston ’62 Cindy Smith Johnston ’63 Mark Karrer ’73 Mary F. Karrer Gerhard Lang ’64 Susan Lichtblau Jack MacKenzie ’48 Karen Seeberg Marshall ’63 Joel Moore ’99 Thomas L. Munschauer ’71, DVM James Obletz ’99 Nnenna K. Okereke ’87, MD Lt. Col. Spencer Patterson ’78 Rev. Lorene Heath Potter Eugene F. Provenzo, Jr. ’68, PhD Terri Cockrell Rich ’88 Donald C. Roberts ’59 Heather M. Roberts Cheryl Rosenberg Sara Schmitt ’02 J. Frederick Schoellkopf ’84 Lawrence Schreiber Maria Scrivani Barbara Sicherman ’51 Lisbeth L. Walls ’58 Paula M. Wardynski ’75 David Zeplowitz ’82 Steve Zillig
The Park School Leadership N E W BO A R D O F T R U S T E E S ME MBE R S KAREN SEEBERG MARSHALL ’63 Karen Seeberg Marshall ‘63 attended Park for grades 5-12, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Elementary Education. Karen also earned an M.Ed and Ed.S in Special Education at the University of Virginia. She taught in public schools for 15 years spanning grades K-12 and worked for 28 years as an adjunct professor in Special Education for the University of Virginia. She later opened a tutoring center for children with learning disabilities using technology. This business grew into a technology education company which she franchised in 1989, and eventually sold in 2003. Since retirement, Karen has been working as an educational consultant to parents of children with special needs.
TRUDY MOLLENBERG Trudy Mollenberg has been a member of the Science@Park Capital Campaign Committee since 2013. Trudy served for 26 years on the board of the Western New York Foundation including as president in 2010-12. She has been an active volunteer for many non-profit organizations including the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elmwood Franklin School, and the King Urban Life Center. She and her husband, Van, are parents of Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ‘97 and grandparents of Holly ‘19, Van ‘28, and Ella Stevenson ‘28.
THE PARK SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES F R O N T R O W: Gerald Cornish, Chris Lauricella, Alexis Smith ‘17 (student rep), Dorothy Hoffman Bergman ‘72, Jason Bird M ID D LE R O W: Joe McMahon ‘83 (alumni association president), Martin Berardi (president), Lisa Wood (faculty rep), John Hoskins, David Brock ‘63 (secretary), Jim Hanlon (faculty rep) BA C K R O W: Trini Ross, Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66, Carol Hasegawa, Cheri Carter (PPA co-president) N O T P IC T U R E D : Allison Sagraves Connors (vice president), Mariely Downey (PPA co-president), Susanne Francis (treasurer), Todd Levin ‘86, Karen Seeberg Marshall ‘63, Trudy Mollenberg, Teresa Miller, David Taylor
DAVID TAYLOR David Taylor is a senior business executive at Moog with over 30 years of leading manufacturing and engineering groups with highly technical aerospace and industrial servocontrol products. He has extensive international experience and knowledge in developing and producing products for complex critical performance applications. David and his wife, Anne, are parents of two Park graduates, Rebecca ‘03 and Allison ‘06.
PARK FOUNDATION BOARD F R O N T R O W: Gerald Cornish, Naniscah Koessler, W. Lawrence Buck ’65 (Chairman), Linda Angert Kahn ’62. BA C K R O W: David Brock ’63, Martin Berardi, Thomas Leed ’61, Eugene Setel ’46, Peter Dow ’50. N O T P IC T U R E D : Gordon Gross ’49, Donald Roberts ’59, David Rich ’63.
WINTER 2017 | 7
Daemen College Partnership
Advisory Program at Park BY JERE MY B E S CH, HE A D O F U P P E R S C HO O L
Responsibility to Each Other is an intentional theme for the 2016-17 school year, but did you know that it is also a regular part of our daily lives at Park? Dating back decades (to 1991!), our advisory program has long been an intentional way for Park adults to build genuine, valuable relationships with our students. Along with our small classes and community-focus, advisory is a significant way for Park adults to model for Park students what it means to care for others, invest in their well-being, and connect with your fellow human beings. In its current form, Upper School Advisory groups have between five and ten students per group, paired with an adult advisor. The program includes formal meetings on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and two 30-minute meetings per rotation in the schedule, backed up to lunch so that groups can (and often do) eat together and have a full hour. In grades seven and eight, students meet with their advisors just as often and in groups of similar sizes, starting the development of genuine relationships at a young age. Of course, as is the Park way, there are far more informal interactions between advisees and advisors whenever the opportunity arises, all day, every day.
Helping students become better students The guiding purpose of the advisory program, and what really allows us to focus on a goal like Responsibility to Each Other, is to form close bonds between the students and their adults. For the vast majority of Pioneers, advisory pairings last for all four years of Upper School. With their advisors, students are able to monitor and discuss pragmatic things like grades and academic progress. They get to practice accountability as they discuss what they have or haven’t done, and planning as they work together to think about what’s upcoming. There’s also focus on strategies for time and materials management, advice shared on managing self-advocacy and conversations with teachers, and reminders about upcoming responsibilities. There is frequent attention paid to reflective practice, goal setting, and how to self-assess and independently evaluate progress. In many ways, the advisory program helps students to become better students.
And helping them become better people Advisory is about much more than study skills and organization, though. Commonly, students will talk with their advisors (and each other) about more personal struggles, like social difficulties, troubles at home, or confusion over current events. Advisory groups are often able to tackle these things together, in supportive, small environments that make otherwise “risky” topics easier to discuss. The result is a school that feels more like a second home, where students are truly comfortable expressing their feelings and concerns. When we talk about how Park becomes more than just a school to so many of us, this is a
Upper School students enjoyed an advisory bonding day on the ropes course last fall.
foundational part of that conversation. As its most important function, advisory helps students to become better people.
One of the interesting experiences of the Fall was developing a partnership with our neighbors at Daemen College, which has a landlocked campus with very little room to expand. In need of playing fields for their soccer program, they approached us about entering into a partnership which we embraced enthusiastically. The result has been some wonderful upgrades to Karrer Field, including a new scoreboard, wider dimensions, and professional turf management. These improvements have been underwritten by Daemen in return for their use of the field for home soccer games. Future plans include a complete re-engineering of the playing surface and the possibility of installing lighting for evening games and field rental. Partnerships such as these allow Park to provide opportunities to students that we might not otherwise be able to offer or afford, such as playing on a much improved Karrer field and taking clinics from college-level players and coaches. With this in mind, we are looking at other areas, both athletic and academic, that might be mutually beneficial to both schools.
A new scoreboard on Karrer Field.
Building long-term relationships We routinely hear from alumni about the impact of their advisory relationships. Asher Havis-Walton, class of 2013, still has dinner with and talks to her former advisor, Ms. Kerry Reynolds. Asher says, “I was super lucky to have an awesome advisor who I can talk to about everything from sports to racism.” Current student Tyonna Acoff, class of 2018, talks about the relationship she started with Ms. Anna Scirri when she was just 12 years old: “I really miss being in Ms. Scirri’s advisory in 7th and 8th grade. We had a really strong bond and it was easy to talk to her.” Now a junior, Tyonna is still able to chat with Ms. Scirri whenever she wants to, building on the relationship they formed in Middle School. Buildng relationships with that kind of longevity and consistency gives our students skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives. These relationships are as rewarding for us adults as they are for the kids. I’m still friends with former students – now adults – whom I first had as advisees in my earliest years at Park. As Asher indicated, these ongoing relationships are meaningful and not at all atypical. Mr. Matt Johnson, a member of our History department and teacher in our Middle and Upper Schools, has been an Upper School advisor since joining our community in 2011. He says, “Advisory gives us extra time to understand the kids, which allows for the sharing of personal stories, ambitions, background, and more. It allows us to take off the teacher hat and just listen. We get to know the kids in a context that’s bigger than school.” Like so much else of the work we do here, the relationships we get to build with our advisees add meaning and weight to our daily lives, both during their time here at Park, and often for many years thereafter. The history of the program and our shared experiences as both teachers and as students allow for deeper, more fully human connections within our community. This intentional structure and its outcomes make Responsibility to Each Other a shared, daily experience, and a much easier goal than it would be otherwise.
Park students learned more about soccer from Daemen athletes during a clinic on campus late last fall.
We are excited that Auction 2017 highlights Park’s core value and signature program, Kindness.
ABOV E: Mrs. Miller and her senior advisees worked together to research colleges.
Auction 2017 Chairs: Daniel & Lori Trock, Cheri & Bruce Carter
R I G H T: Advisory groups participated in a town hall meeting in advance of the 2016 election.
8 | PARK PIONEER
WINTER 2017 | 9
Please join us in welcoming our new faculty and staff!
Getting to Know Athletic Director Marcus Hutchins BY G R EG C O NNO R S
JOELLE HILLER
TANJA ILIC
After teaching for fourteen years at a local public high school, Joelle worked for three years as an adjunct professor at both Buffalo State College and Niagara County Community College. She is committed to meaningful, student-centered learning and developing a thoughtful, relevant curriculum.
Tanja Ilic joined the Park community as our School Psychologist. She holds a BA in Psychology and a Master’s with a certificate of Advanced Study in School Psychology from Niagara University. She first came to Park as an intern for the 2011-12 school year and is excited to be back and serve Park’s students again this year. Tanja provides academic, behavioral, social and emotional supports, implements interventions and conducts psychoeducational evaluations.
Mathematics Teacher
Joelle holds a Master’s Degree in Mathematics Education from Buffalo State College, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics with a minor in Teacher Education from the University at Buffalo. Her career in education began in her undergraduate years when she worked as a Mentor and Grader for the Gifted Math Program at UB, following her own graduation from the program. Joelle is a lifelong resident of the Western New York area. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and two children. She ran the Buffalo Half-Marathon in 2015 and 2016, and recently began taking piano lessons. Mrs. Hiller is excited to join the Park School community because, “The Park School is unique among schools in this area. There is a focus on real learning and students are the true center of it all. The opportunities for individual growth are endless, for students as well as teachers. I am excited to be part of a community so passionate about its mission and so committed to excellence.”
BRAD LEMAISTRE
Chemistry Teacher and STEAM Coordinator Brad LeMaistre became a proud member of The Park School science team in August 2016. His role includes teaching chemistry and coordinating the STEAM programs. He recently earned a Master of Educational Leadership from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. His Master’s capstone thesis was researching factors that contribute to inspiring women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Physics, and a Bachelor of Education Degree majoring in Secondary Science, from the University of Calgary. Previously, Brad taught AP Chemistry, and senior Physics and Math at a charter school for gifted learners and a top private school in Calgary. He was also a member of the Alberta government audit teams that create the senior-level diploma exams for both Chemistry and Physics. Brad also worked overseas as a professor in the Faculty of Business Administration at a university where he independently created the curriculum and instructed several courses: Business Communication at the MBA and undergraduate levels, and Parliamentary Debate in Business. He authored the textbook for the Parliamentary Debate in Business course, and academic research entitled “The Research on a Parliamentary Debate Teaching Methodology for Enhancing Business Communication Education” published in a Business Education Journal. Mr. LeMaistre is excited to “help students this year, in partnership with the esteemed faculty at Park School, achieve excellence through progressive education.”
10 | PARK PIONEER
Olympic wrestler and coach Dan Gable once said that “Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.”
School Psychologist
That’s a good description of what propelled Marcus Hutchins to the highest level of collegiate wrestling when he attended the University at Buffalo in the mid 1990s. He qualified for the NCAA Division I championships three times and earned induction into the UB Athletics Hall of Fame. Today, Hutchins is in his second year as Park’s Director of Athletics. He describes his mission at Park as “building a bridge between athletics and academics.” And when someone with Hutchins’ record of achievement sets his mind on a goal, it’s not a good idea to bet against him.
Ms. Ilic is excited to join the Park School community because, “At Park School, students, parents, and faculty respect, value, and encourage diversity. Park teachers help students learn and embrace their own learning differences by highlighting and focusing on their strengths, but at the same time, providing support to them as they progress through Park’s rigorous curriculum.”
Understanding Park’s student-athletes One of Hutchins’ goals is to make sure that the school’s student-athletes can handle the demands placed on them and learn how to manage their time. “Everyone understands the reality of student-athletes is they’re just different from regular students,” Hutchins said. “The emphasis and the demands that are placed on them are greater. If we can help them balance their academics with
“Wrestlers train harder for their sport than any other athletes I’ve ever been around,” Samantha said. “It’s a physical and mental sport – and that’s why Marcus did well. He’s mentally tough. That’s the biggest part of sports and the one thing we are encouraging at Park. Kids need to have the will to win but also to be the best they can be – and that is winning, too.”
The Park-Daemen partnership If you visited campus this past fall you probably noticed the new electronic scoreboard facing Karrer Field. It’s the result of another Marcus Hutchins initiative, a new athletic partnership between Park School and Daemen College. “We are just in the infancy of this relationship,” Hutchins said. “They’re playing their home games at Park and contributing funds to enhance Karrer Field, put the scoreboard up, and to do some other things. But ultimately the relationship will be a lot larger. Because Daemen is a Division II school, it’ll create opportunities for their college coaches to work with some of our student-athletes and give them a leg up on expectations at the college level, both academically and athletically. “So Daemen College has access to a Pre-K through Grade 12 private school and we have access to a Division II college. You can even imagine a seamless Pre-K through post-baccalaureate degree as an option. Right now we’re doing soccer with them. We’re working on tennis and we’ll be working on golf shortly as well, along with academic collaborations.” “Branding” and “revenue” are as much a part of an athletic director’s vocabulary these days as talking about rebounds or corner kicks. Hutchins is on top of both. “One of the things we’ve done is to improve our revenue stream at the door and with concessions sales. I think we probably quadrupled what we made last year from the concessions standpoint. “We’re looking at creating another revenue stream from athletics apparel. This year with boys basketball, for example, we should draw a big crowd every game, and
BRITTON THOMAS Fourth Grade Teacher
Although not new to the Park community, Britton Thomas is the new Grade 4 teacher! She joined Park’s faculty in 2011 and first worked as a floating teacher in the Lower School, with students in grades 1-4. After her first year, she transitioned to the prekindergarten program as the third teacher in the Bungalow and worked there for 3 years. In 2015, she moved back to lower school where she taught in first grade. Britton holds a Master’s Degree in Literacy Education from the University at Buffalo. She has also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in EnglishCreative Writing, as well as NYS teacher certifications in Early Childhood Education, Childhood Education, and Special Education from The College at Brockport. Her professional experience includes scheduling, developing and implementing lessons and behavior management plans, collaboration and co-teaching, and tutoring. She is also actively involved in learning about and implementing Responsive Classroom practices. Outside of the school day, Britton coaches the Upper School girls lacrosse team, as well as works in Park’s Extended Day program. She also co-developed an after-school book club for Lower School students to further develop their love for reading! Mrs. Thomas is happy to continue teaching at Park, and is “especially excited to take on the adventures that fourth grade has to bring!”
“IF WE CAN HELP OUR STUDENT-ATHLETES BALANCE THEIR ACADEMICS WITH THEIR ATHLETICS, THEY WILL BE A LOT MORE SUCCESSFUL IN EVERYTHING THEY DO IN LIFE.” their athletics, they will be a lot more successful in everything they do in life.” One of the ways Hutchins does that is by helping Park’s athletes make creative connections between their sports and their classroom work. “One of my goals is to work with our faculty – as well as faculty from Daemen College and UB – to create labs that let students see their classroom work come alive in their sports. I have a friend working on his PhD in engineering and we talked about creating labs that show engineering in their sports. And physics, too.”
Habla basketball? Hutchins breaks into a smile as he drills deeper. “I had an idea to call out plays in Spanish. If everyone on the team knows the play – then the first three times we’re running it, the other team is trying to figure out why we’re speaking Spanish. Or, do we call out a mathematical equation that tells the team who’s going to get the ball or how the play is going to work. It’s really emphasizing the academic side and using brain power to enhance what you do on the field or on the court.” A tradition familiar to Parkies of all generations is that everyone gets to play. Hutchins sees a place for sports in the lives of all students. “It’s critical to help both students and student-athletes realize their potential,” he said. “Say a student doesn’t have great physical ability. If you help them gain a mental understanding of what they’re doing – like getting into the right spot on the court – it balances the need for physical ability. If I get in this spot, they’re going to pass me the ball and by using these angles, arcs, and rotation, I’m going to find some success.”
that’s an opportunity we can capitalize on. We created the Athletic Booster Club (ABC) last year and had approximately 30 members. Our goal is to get it to 50. “In the past Park has had an Athletics Advisory Board. We plan to reactivate that but with small, task-oriented committees. Right now we’re working on an academic committee, to make sure that all our student-athletes know what’s available, and what the expectations and standards are. It’s really giving them the information about what’s expected from a grade-point standard and from an SATACT standard. Student-athletes are going to have biweekly progress reports that they have to get filled out and turned in, to make sure they are staying on task.”
Looking back on his own high school days Hutchins was a state high school wrestling champion in downstate Monticello, NY. Samantha Hutchins said high school was a formative period for her husband. “He used to be a smart mouth, a kid who thought he knew everything,” she said. “But his high school coach had a huge part in helping him mature – and they still have an amazing relationship. He was an African-American boy coming into a school with many different cultures. He had to learn how to deal with people and discern who was for him and who was against him. The mental toughness he developed with his coach’s help has played a huge role in his development.
An athletic family
“He’s definitely an observer of people and a listener. I think that’s why kids at Park automatically respect him. He treats them not as little kids but as, ‘You’re a responsible person and if you want me to help you need to bring it. You need to pull your weight.”
Marcus’ wife, Samantha Hutchins, coaches the coed modified basketball team at Park. One of her players is their younger son, Caleb, an 8th-grader. Their other son, Noah, is in 10th grade and plays on the golf and basketball teams. Samantha played on the women’s basketball team at UB, where she met her future husband. Marcus was a graduate student at the time and was involved in coaching wrestlers.
Writer and editor Greg Connors is the father of a Park 12 th grade student, also named Greg Connors, as well as Park alumnae Maddie ’11 and Caroline ’15. WINTER 2017 | 11
New French Exchange Program at Park BY KE N NE DY S CH U LT Z , F R E N C H T E A C HE R
Student News and Accomplishments PA R K MI DDL E S C H O O L F I R S T LEGO ROB OTICS CLUB
Providing an immersive student-centered education is a hallmark of the Park School tradition. This past spring, Park School added a new educational experience to the mix, participating in our first French student exchange with Lycée Thérèse-D’Avila in Lille, France.
Park’s Middle School FIRST Lego Robotics Club, known as the Cosmic Carrot Coders (a team name that was voted on by the students!) recently completed their first season. The students met every Saturday for three hours to work on both a project and the robotic missions. The Cosmic Carrot Coders had a memorable showing at their first-ever robotics competition through First Lego League in November, winning two awards. First Lego League (FLL) releases an annual challenge based on a real-world scientific topic and teams are asked to develop a solution. They also must design, build, program a robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS® technology, and then compete on a table-top playing field. The 2016 Challenge asked the young innovators to help animals help themselves.
Starting an exchange program can be a daunting task. We were fortunate to connect with Lycée Thérèse-D’Avila, a high school of more than 1600 students with a rather unique international program. French students participating in the international program are required to spend 2-3 weeks abroad in an Englishspeaking country during their high school career. They have regularly visited Buffalo area high schools, and were looking for more school partners. We jumped at the chance to get involved in this one-to-one student exchange program!
Park’s team of nine sixth and seventh graders tackled the challenge of finding a better way to wash dogs. “Their goal was to devise a system that would improve the process and be less difficult for dog and owner,” said Jim Hanlon, a sixth-grade teacher at Park and one of the team’s moderators. “The missions in the robotics portion included moving a shark tank (with a shark inside), moving a pig into a pen, recovering a seal, and transporting a bee hive. The kids did a fantastic job.”
A two-part, one-to-one exchange For the first part of the exchange, Park French teachers Kennedy Schultz and Beth Jeswald traveled to Lille during spring break with eight Park students who are enrolled in our Upper School French program. Students lived with a French host student and their family, shadowing them in school and participating in family activities. The group took field trips to nearby Arras and Lewarde, learning about WWI and the region’s mining history, and explored local Lille sites, including a Zep exhibit at the Palais des Beaux-Arts. A donation by alumna Sara Schmitt ’02 helped provide Park students with many of these cultural experiences in Lille. We are very grateful for her generosity! Just three days after returning from Lille, our students welcomed their French counterparts into their homes for two weeks as the second part of the exchange! Besides participating in classes, the Lille students visited the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, took a downtown walking tour, caught the Bison’s baseball home opener, and visited the West Side Bazaar.
Learning through friendship and family The program was very successful on both sides! The Park students thought that the home stay with the French family was the best part of the trip. Many were surprised by the longer school days, later dinner hours, and popularity of American songs! The Lille students marveled at how friendly, welcoming, and independent the Park students were. They enjoyed the city’s architecture, Niagara Falls, and visiting Daemen College. Many students also participated in our lower and middle school French classes, teaching songs to our K-4th graders and letting our middle school students interview them in French.
Thanks to their effort, the Cosmic Carrot Coders took first place in the Robotics portion of the competition with 110 points and earned the Rising Star award for new teams. The team is mentored by current parents Lee Rosen and Dan Bartlo and Grade 6 teacher Jim Hanlon, whose role is to guide the students, but the work must be done by the students. The competition truly fosters teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, and a respect for each other and the other teams.
PARK W ENT B ALD FOR B UCKS IN JUNE
T O P: The eight Park students who visited Lille last spring. BO T T O M : French teachers Beth Jeswald (L) and Kennedy Schultz (R) led the exchange.
For the first time ever, Park went Bald for Bucks on Friday, June 3. Organized by Emma S. ’21, Park’s “Cancer Slayers” raised more than $6,000 for Roswell Park Cancer Institute! There were 15 students, faculty, parents, and friends who shaved their heads or donated eight inches of hair.
Our program ended with a family potluck and Kan-Jam game at Park. One of the French students showed a terrific video montage she had made of their trip, highlighting the discoveries and experiences that they shared with us. After hugs and tears, we parted ways at the Buffalo airport on April 16th. Plans are already in the works for the next exchange which will be offered in 2017-18, and the students themselves are planning visits to each other’s families! The exchange met all of our goals – helping our young French and American students learn more about each other’s language and culture through friendship and family!
Meghan Francis ‘16 and Wynn Xu ‘16
F O U R S E N I O R S L E A R N T O A N N O TAT E G E N E SEQUENCES THANKS TO UB PROGRAM
ABO V E : A French exchange student met the 2nd grade class turtle. R IGHT: Park’s exchange students with their French counterparts at Park last Spring.
Four members of the Class of 2016 who were in Dr. Margaret Diamond’s Biotechnology II class this spring presented their research at the University at Buffalo’s 3rd Annual ITEST Student Capstone Event at UB’s Center for Tomorrow in May. Meghan Francis, Mia Stevens, Gaby Baumgart, and Xiaoying (Wynn) Xu worked on their research projects in the class. “The students learned how to annotate a gene sequence using many of the tools commonly used in bioinformatics research,” said Dr. Diamond. “Depending on their findings, their research may be continued and ultimately published in the scientific literature.” “This experience offers high school students a rare opportunity to participate in cutting-edge scientific research and to learn techniques used in basic genome analysis and bioinformatics,” said Diamond.
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WINTER 2017 | 13
Student News and Accomplishments PARK STUD E N T I N TROD UCE S A U T H O R L OUI SE E HD RI CH AT B AB E L E V E N T In March 2016, Maggie Parke ’17 was invited to introduce author Louise Erdrich at Just Buffalo Literary Center’s BABEL Series. The series brings four internationally recognized authors to Buffalo each year since 2007. English teacher Charles Hartney accompanies students to the BABEL series each year, supported by a generous friend of Park. Just Buffalo Artistic Director Barbara Cole said, “As impressed as I am every single time, Maggie’s introduction for Louise Erdrich was simply jawdropping. Beautifully composed, thoroughly researched, and delivered with confidence and poise. I would have been thrilled to receive such a fine piece of writing from an undergraduate – or even graduate student – during my years of teaching. I couldn’t stop singing the Park students’ praises to everyone at the VIP reception – what a testament to The Park School to have such talented writers and thinkers representing Park.” Cole continued, “The students at Park are always phenomenal but Maggie’s introduction was truly extraordinary.” “It was an experience for which I am grateful,” said Maggie. “It was an exercise that truly does have real world applications, and being able to address my peers from a stance I truly believe in – within a larger literary context – was really powerful.” Erdrich is the author of 14 novels, numerous volumes of poetry, children’s books, and a memoir of early motherhood. She is a National Book Critics Circle awardwinner, and a Pulitzer Prize nominee. Her BABEL presentation focused on The Round House, winner of the 2012 National Book Award and a coming-of-age story about a young boy on a Native American reservation in the western United States. BABEL author and speaker Edna O’Brien will visit Park in March 2017.
C A U GH T BEING GOOD Last year, Park’s Lower School started a new way of recognizing students who were “caught being good.” Each week, during morning meeting, a student (or students) from each grade, K through 4, would be called out for their kind, generous, thoughtful, or helpful behavior. By recognizing kind behavior, all students understand what kindness looks like. A photo of these students along with a description of their kindness is displayed in the hallway of the Helen Long Building. These are just a few of the many Park School students who have been caught being good: Paden, Talia, Vivienne, Lily, and Kiara were caught being good when they spent recess picking up litter on the playground without being asked to. They were following through on their Earth Day pledges. The entire 2nd grade was recognized for being kind, respectful, and responsible while Mrs. Wood had a fractured foot. Students picked things up off the floor, carried things for her, and held doors open. Lara was caught being good when she helped her science partner catch up on their Saturn project after he had missed a day of school. Kindness is one of Park’s core values and we love to see it in action!
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PA R K S T U DE N T C L A I MS T O P P R I Z E AT N Y F I L M F E S T I VA L Noah C-W ’17 is making news as a creator of documentary films. He took top honors in May for best film in New York State at the New York Film Alliance Festival in New York City with his documentary, The Ebola Project - Examining an Epidemic. His was one of five films selected out of 30 entries to the festival, which showcases films created by students attending independent high schools in NYS. The Ebola Project is the result of an upper school pre-calculus class in which teacher William Fedirko asked students to chart various components of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Africa. Cross-disciplinary teaching is a hallmark of a Park School education, and using mathematics to chart real-world scientific data to project outcomes in real time caught the attention of media teacher Steve Powell ’81. “This was a project that Mr. Powell was invested in, and he asked me to work on it for him,” said Noah. “It highlights the opportunities that Park offers students.” Noah interviewed students who had participated in the pre-calculus class research, did two follow-up interviews with Mr. Fedirko, and shot B-roll of classes at Park. He edited video, found music, and wrote the titles that set up the film. “Noah is a terrific storyteller and I’m tremendously proud of him,” said Fedirko. “I believe our combined approach can serve to foster higher quality project work and that the model we used fits nicely within the spirit of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) initiatives.” “To have The Ebola Project win honors at two film festivals is extraordinary. There were 75 films submitted to the New York Film Alliance Festival and to be one of the five semifinalists is fantastic,” said Powell. “That is an accomplishment in itself.” In April, Noah received Honorable Mention at Nichols’ Flick Fest, which accepts entries by Middle and Upper School students from all over Western New York.
N I N T H G R A DE F O O D DR I V E E X C E E DS G O A L For the seventh consecutive year, Park’s freshman Service Learning class conducted a canned food drive. The class, led by teachers Matt Johnson and Chris Lauricella, set a goal to collect 2500 cans of food and decided to organize a bag drop in neighborhoods near the School. Each bag had a note attached to it asking for donations for the Buffalo City Mission. The class distributed bags the week before Thanksgiving and collected approximately 2000 items. Not happy with falling short of their goal, the students distributed more bags and notes to neighbors in Snyder, and after this second round, surpassed their goal with 2740 items. The Service Learning class looked at the national poverty line, $14,000, and simulated a budget for a family of four living off this yearly income.
WR I T E ME BA C K TO B LACK Students in Charles Wise’s African American History Class held an event called “Write Me Back to Black” that featured dance, poetry, and video. Conceived by Deja G. ’16, the program emphasized that there is no history without black history. Wholly designed, produced, and promoted by the students, it was a celebration of Black History Month and African American Culture. “I am still thinking about the presentation,” said Head of School Chris Lauricella. “I was transfixed by how the students helped the audience understand African American history and the construct of Black History month within both historical and contemporary contexts.” The presentation was divided into two parts. Part 1 reflected on the past, and included African storytelling with Buffalo storyteller-educator-author Karima Amin as well as dance, a reflection by the class – “What is Black History,” and the re-created Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech: “We Have a Dream.” Part 2 examined current events and included a look back at the past two years, a reflection on the Black Lives Matter movement, and a segment called “Let’s Talk.” “At Park we talk about student-centered learning. This was their show. They conceived it, they wrote it, they performed it,” said Head of Upper School Jeremy Besch. “I’m grateful for a bunch of kids who can stand up there with the courage to share their cultural heritage and address society about things that aren’t working. We are a microcosm of wider society and these kids did a great job.”
“We did this to understand why people are food insecure and how that connects to inequality, social justice, and poverty,” said Lauricella. It was concluded that food is costly and is one of the most important things needed to survive. The class visited the Buffalo City Mission and discovered that they are in constant need of more food to serve. The Service Learning Class wasn’t the only group of Parkies to collect food for the needy. The Lower School Student Government has conducted a food drive every November for many years and this year collected 300 pounds of food, also donated to the City Mission. And, middle schoolers participated in Coats For Kids through Colvin Cleaners. WINTER 2017 | 15
PLEASE
PA R K
W H AT D O Y O U R D O L L A R S D O F O R PA R K ?
SUPPORT
BY THE NUMBERS
THE
2015-16
2016 - 2017
17
ANNUAL
PERFORMING ARTS PRODUCTIONS and CONCERTS in a year
FUND CAMPAIGN
84
$75
600
SEEDS PLANTED on campus to create a sunflower garden on the site of the future Knopp-Hailpern Center (we hope you planted your seeds at home, too!)
LEADERSHIP DONORS (gifts of $1000 or more) provide 69% of unrestricted Annual Fund dollars
buys five new books for Park’s library.
567
OTHER DONORS provide 31% of unrestricted Annual Fund dollars
Since Park’s founding, thousands have benefitted from the charitable support of dedicated parents, alumni, and friends like you. Last year, we raised nearly $300,000 for
$50
$125
$300
pays for supplies for the kindergarten egg experiment.
pays for a varsity soccer uniform. Soccer starts as young as 1st grade at Park, and goes all the way through Upper School!
pays for the annual Dr. Raoul Hailpern Middle School Math Challenge.
Park’s Annual Fund and want to continue that
Number of Western New York ZIP CODES from which Park students come:
44
wonderful momentum this year. Your gift today will support
Dollars saved since installation in 2008 of the SOLAR PANELS on the Dining Hall and Rich Family Acitivity Center
4,225.4
$56,000
Hours of COMMUNITY SERVICE completed by the Class of 2016 during their four years of Upper School
programming and enhancements like the ones shown here while giving Park the resources to grow even stronger for tomorrow.
$1,000
$2,000
$5,000
purchases a subscription to Online Resources, a database used by students for research.
will buy gas for the year to power Park’s maintenance fleet of snowblowers, lawn mowers, tractors, and truck.
provides a semester’s worth of art supplies. All Park students, prekindergarten through Grade 12, participate in the visual and performing arts!
Show your love for Park today by making a gift or pledge online at
T H E PA R K S C H O O L . O R G . 16 | PARK PIONEER
THANK YOU!
4TH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING
AUCTION 2016 – MAD ABOUT SCIENCE!
$18,095 raised (gross)
$174,100 total dollars raised (gross) 432 items sold • 55 event sponsors $32,000 in Fund-a-Need dollars raised for
70 golfers – alumni, parents, grandparents, faculty, and friends
science equipment for The Knopp-Hailpern Center
1,000 Estimated volunteer hours
A full Annual Report for 2015-16 was published in January. If you did not receive one by email or mail and would like a copy, please contact the Development Office at development@theparkschool.org. WINTER 2017 | 17
THE KNOPP-HAILPERN Knopp Hailpern Center: Update C E N T E R : U P D AT E
1912 Legacy Society Named for the year The Park School of Buffalo was founded, the 1 9 1 2 L E G A CY S OC I E TY recognizes those individuals who have included The Park School in their will, trust, or other planned gift. We express our most sincere gratitude to the alumni, current and past parents, grandparents, and friends who have advised us that the School is included in their estate plans. Planned gifts are a significant way to demonstrate your belief in the mission and vision of Park and to help strengthen the School both now and in the future.
A major component of Park’s future facility plans is the construction of The Knopp-Hailpern Science Center. Our original timeline was thrown off last summer due to siting issues. The original proposed building site sits on the very durable bedrock that comprises the Onondaga Escarpment. This discovery has turned into an opportunity to revisit how the building will interact with the campus, and how we might use the campus’s unique geology as a learning experience for our students. The building’s architects, construction company, and building committee have decided that the costs of building on the original site did not justify any benefits derived from being on that site. Instead, the building is going to be constructed some eighty feet closer to the pond area, and our plans have resumed with construction slated to begin this spring. This modest site change is creating design and program opportunities that will make the project even more exciting and beneficial to our students and the community.
If you have made a provision for Park in your plans, please notify us so that we may thank you and recognize you as a member of the 1912 Legacy Society if you choose. For more information, please contact the Park School Development Office at (716) 839-1243 x104 or by email at development@theparkschool.org.
Class of 1925 Jane Balcom Perry (d.) Class of 1927 James G. Dyett (d.) Mary Louise Olmsted (d.) Class of 1931 Charles W. Walker (d.) Class of 1936 Judith A. Schoellkopf (d.) Class of 1937 Jane Plimpton Plakias (d.) Class of 1938 Norman Clement (d.) Leroy S. Wolfe, Jr. (d.) Class of 1940 Donald R. Hinkley (d.) Class of 1941 Grace Rammacher de la Plante Brady Mary Scheu Teach Class of 1942 Frederic Sanford Hubbard (d.) Class of 1943 Sylvia Lyman Whitcher Class of 1944 Margaret Taylor Phelps Esther Potter Thomas (d.) Class of 1945 Lois Farquharson Hayes Joy Grady Simpkins (d.) Alice Wadsworth Strong (d.) Class of 1946 Eugene M. Setel
Class of 1949 Gordon R. Gross John H. McDowell (d.) Marguerite Morey Zabriskie Class of 1950 Barbara Knauff Nicholas Class of 1951 Barbara Sicherman Class of 1953 David N. Bunis Amanda Fisk Hobart Gail W. Stumpf (d.) Class of 1954 Joanna Brizdle Lipking (d.) Velma F. Rice (d.) Class of 1955 H. Austin Hoyt Robert J. Wilson Class of 1958 Bruce T. Boehringer (d.) Gail Haddaway Bramer Timothy J. Finnell Guy W. Gunzberg Susan Womer Katzev Patricia Burns Richardson Class of 1959 Charles C. Cheney Leslie Fisher Curtiss Susan Berryhill Hill Donald C. & Heather Roberts Class of 1961 Barbara Brizdle Ann E. Campbell Margaret Walls Hamilton Hilary Piper Harty Scott Moss Elizabeth Walker Schroeder (d.)
Class of 1947 Taddy Taylor Dann Harold E. Tweeden (d.)
Class of 1962 Chip Johnston
Class of 1948 John P. MacKenzie
Class of 1963 David G. Brock
Class of 1965 W. Lawrence Buck Suzanne R. Hirsch Class of 1966 Patricia Cohen Gelman Gayle Pauly Susan Weissgerber Ann L. Wiley
Class of 1987 F. Dale Wettlaufer Class of 1993 Amos W. Marvel FRIENDS David K. Anderson (d.)
Class of 1983 William W. Pfeifer
Bruce T. & Patricia Barber Melissa G. Baumgart P. Jeffrey Birtch Mrs. Leonard Brizdle (d.) Kate Brown & Michael Halberstam Mr. & Mrs. William M.E. Clarkson D. Gregory & Allison Connors Omar L. & Susanne DeWitt Helga Doblin (d.) Mrs. John G. (Mary) Karrer Jacky (d.) & Eliane Knopp (d.) Holly W. Levy Mrs. John H. McDowell (d.) Dr. Winifred H. Morrison (d.) Cheryl M. Rosenberg Marian K. Shickler (d.) A. Warren (d.) & Gretchen Smith (d.) Cecelia Evans Taylor (d.) Eleanor Treiber (d.) Steven R. & Barbara Zillig
Class of 1984 Donald L. Katz
(d.) indicates that the individual is deceased
Class of 1967 Edward Michaels II Class of 1968 Dr. Steven R. Caprow Class of 1970 Frank Riforgiato Class of 1971 Thomas L. Munschauer, DVM Class of 1973 Mark W. Karrer Douglas L. Obletz Class of 1978 John H. Hoyt Class of 1981 David S. Knopp Carolyn Hoyt Stevens Class of 1982 Thomas A. Doran Wendy Newman Pratt
PAVE T H E PLA ZA ! With a new gift of $1,000, you can have a personalized paver! Each paver is approximately 8" by 8" and will be located in The Knopp-Hailpern Center entrance plaza. For more information, visit www.theparkschool.org or call 716.839.1243 x130. Thank you!
U PC O M I NG E V E NTS PARK SCHOOL ORCHESTRA PERFORMS AT BPO
SYLVIA GINSBERG MEMORIAL CONCERT
March 11, 2017, 7:00 PM Kleinhans, Mary Seaton Room
Thursday, May 18, 2017, 1:15 PM Rich Family Activity Center
PARK PLAYERS MUSICAL: ONCE ON THIS ISLAND
PARK PLAYERS SPRING PRODUCTIONS: PATCHWORK
Thursday, March 16, 2017, 5:30 PM Friday, March 17, 2017, 7:30 PM Saturday, March 18, 2017, 7:30 PM Sunday, March 19, 2017, 2:30 PM Theatre
COUNTDOWN TO COMMENCEMENT DINNER For the Class of 2017 Wednesday, March 22, 2017, 6:00 PM Dining Hall Alumni Welcome
PPA CHIAVETTA’S BBQ Friday, May 5, 2017 Rich Family Activity Center
18 | PARK PIONEER
Thursday, June 1, 2017, 5:30 PM Friday, June 2, 2017, 7:30 PM
COMMENCEMENT 2017 Friday, June 16, 2017, 10:30 AM Chapin Quad
REUNION 2017 Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17, 2017
5TH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING Monday, August 21, 2017 Arrowhead Golf Club WINTER 2017 | 19
Class of2016
the
Park School students are well prepared for the rigors of the college experience. Our graduates matriculate to colleges and universities that are among the most selective in the country. Following is a list of members of the Class of 2016, the colleges or universities they attend (brown), their senior theses (green), and senior projects (light brown).
Mariano Baldon
Paris Howell
Nicholas Rey
Impact of Rap Music on Today’s Youth Portrait of Park’s Basketball Team Winning the NYS Federation Championship
KKW: Contemporary Empowerment Cribbage: The Art and Sport
The Validity of Infinity in a Finite World Seven Days in the Adirondacks
Niagara University
Gabrielle Baumgart Wheaton College (MA)
Hypnosis: Past, Present, and Future Motorcycle Mania
Jamie Bommer
University of Buckingham (U.K.)
Nigel Jacobs
Kelly Rodgers
More Than Meets the Eye: Disproving the Myth of Absolute Negativity and Revealing Positivity in Divorce Aloma D. Johnson Field Day
Solitary Confinement: Human Heartlessness Photographic Journal of the City of Philadelphia
Morehouse College
Gap year
Sarah Kelly
Ethan Cottrell
What We’re Missing: Gender Equity Does Not Exist in Today’s Society Gender and Sexuality / Fluidity Experiment
Environmental Benefit of Veganism Yoga and Meditation
Gap year
Pay Up - College Athletes Should Be Paid Construct a Podium for Mr. Hartney
Taylor Erni
St. Bonaventure University
Pride or Prejudice? An Extensive Look at the Denigration of Native American Culture through Media Representation and Sports Logos/Mascots Exploring Clay and Candles
Meghan Francis SUNY Geneseo
The Infinitely Finite Universe Internship in Early Education
Rebecca Friedman
SUNY Fredonia
Flora Kraatz
SUNY Purchase College
Banning Conversion Therapies for Minors Foregoing the Freshman Fifteen
Xiuzhe Lang
Skidmore College
Technology Leads to Dystopia? Park School and Buffalo Handmade Introduction Brochure
Connor Levin
American University The Ukranian Crisis Buffalo Government
Gap year
Taylor Levine
Naomi Frisch
Why Music Therapy Should Be Covered by Insurance Video Addressing Misconceptions in Science
The Need for Zoos and Captivity The Perfect Room: Interior Design
Nazareth College
Consent is Not Enough Mixing Watercolors and Other Mediums
SUNY Fredonia
Seychelle Mikofsky University of Chicago
Emma Goldman
To End Rape Culture, We Must Create a Consent Culture Op-Docs
The Shores of Conscious Thought A Collection of Stories and Pieces of Writing That Could Ultimately Result in Something Much Bigger
Gabriel Montone
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Robert Gregg SUNY Geneseo
Journey to the Stars: Why Humanity Must Move Beyond Earth to Ensure Our Continued Survival The Walrus of Woe: Gaming at it’s Finest
Deja Griffin
Daemen College
The Importance of Marriage and the Effect it has on Children Black History Club: Plans and Designs for 2016-17 School Year
Kyle Harris
Medaille College
Do Cellphones Cause Cancer to the Brain? Construct a Podium for Mr. Hartney
Kenyon College Sacchidananda Song of Myself
Jordan Nwora
Vermont Academy (prep school)
Finger Lakes Community College
Axel Sack Gap year
Queered Fashion: An Analysis of Power, Gender, and How This is Informed by What We Wear Industry vs Craft
Emma Scumaci Nazareth College
Negative Effects of Social Media Guide for Self Help (Paintings)
Mia Stevens
College of Wooster
When in Enough, Enough? An Evaluation of Triclosan’s Effects and Efficiency An Exploration in Sheep Husbandry and Yarn Manufacturing
Eli Swing
Hobart College
National Prescription Pill Database The Ins and Outs of Non-Profit Organizations
Nnamdi Ugboma Daemen College
Social Media Contribution to Antisocial Behavior Drawing and Painting of Hamlin (View from the pond)
Christopher Wadsworth
The Class of 2016 chose Park English faculty member, Charles Hartney, as this year’s Commencement speaker to recognize the impact he has had on their class since he came to Park in 2010. And the feeling was mutual for Mr. Hartney who said in his remarks, “I realized very quickly that I wouldn’t be able to talk about you today. There was no way if I started talking about your class, my first class of 7th graders when I arrived at Park six years ago…that I would be able to make it through the speech.” Alumni Service Award winner David A. Rich ’63 was recognized as the driving force behind the campaign to name Park’s new science building after two former faculty members, Dr. Jacky Knopp and Dr. Raoul Hailpern. Rev. Rich believed that two such iconic members of the Park community could only properly be honored with their names on the building and thus led the effort to raise the funds to make this possible. Presenting the award to Rev. Rich, trustee and classmate David Brock ’63 said, “Someone recently described Park School as a way of life. That way of life is no more evident than in the effect that Park’s faculty has – and has always had – on our lives.”
Alumni Senior Award Recipient Seychelle Mikofsky ’16
Seychelle Mikofsky ’16 won the Alumni Senior Award. Seychelle was an active student, athlete, and community member during her 10 years at Park. In his remarks, Alumni Association President Joe McMahon ’83 said, “I think the most significant testament to how Seychelle is viewed at Park is through her service on the student-faculty Judiciary Board all four years of Upper School. This is an elected position that demonstrates the respect her peers and teachers have for her thoughtfulness, her compassion, and her good judgement.” The Class of 2016 was accepted to many wonderful colleges and universities around the world. We wish them well and encourage them to come back and visit Park often! Afterward – Seychelle Mikofsky is now a freshman at the University of Chicago. Based on her nomination, Mr. Hartney received the Outstanding Educator Award from the University, which honors educators who have challenged and helped students along their intellectual path. “I am very thankful for the time that I was fortunate enough to be able to spend learning and growing in Mr. Hartney’s classroom being engaged and challenged by his teaching,” said Seychelle.
Alumni Service Award Recipient David A. Rich ’63
Cornell University
Who’s the Fairest of Them All? Using Prevention to Reverse the Pandemic of Poor Body Image Cinnovations: Creating a New Flavor of Ice Cream
Runzhe Xu
University of California, Los Angeles
Xiaoying Xu
The Positive Impact of Athletics on High School Students Learning The Ins and Outs of a Marketing Company
Human Development: How the Environment Influences Human Personality Welcome to Park School
University of California, San Diego
An unintentional but rather poignant theme ran through the ceremony: the life-long impact of Park’s faculty. A faculty member was chosen to give the Commencement address, an alumnus received the Alumni Service award for his efforts to celebrate two beloved former faculty, and a graduating senior was selected by Park faculty and peers to receive the Alumni Senior Award.
Madeleine Welchoff
Stefano Occhiuto
Ziyan Ou
The Park School Class of 2016 graduated on June 17, 2016. Thirty-six students received diplomas at Park’s 94th Commencement.
The Existence of Ghostly Entities An Experience of the CAD Program
Evaluation on Contemporary Implementation of Affirmative Action Park School and Buffalo Handmade Introduction Brochure
SUNY University at Buffalo
BY K I M R UPPEL
SUNY Alfred
An Argument for Capital Punishment Drawing and Painting of Hamlin (View from the pond)
Electronic Sports Should Be Considered Real Sports Build a Model Wooden Ship 20 | PARK PIONEER
Northeastern University
2016 Commencement
Pennsylvania State University
Xiaofu Yu
Butler University
The Impact of Diet on Cardiovascular Disease Architecture of London Through Photography
The Park School of Buffalo Class of 2016.
WINTER 2017 | 21
See Park (S)PARK ! HAVEN’T BEEN ON CAMPUS FOR A WHILE?
Stop by one of our many Open Houses this school year to tour campus, meet our faculty and student ambassadors, and hear more about the progressive curriculum we have for Pre-K through grade 12.
We would love to see you, your family, and friends!
Reunion 2016 Reunion 2016 was a huge success! Park welcomed back more than 150 alumni on June 17-18, 2016. From The Knopp-Hailpern Center Groundbreaking Ceremony, to the Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, to our “Buffalo’s Best Bites & Brews” cocktail party, the entire weekend was fun and enjoyable for all. Alumni from the 1940’s through 2016 enjoyed the weekend with special acknowledgement to class years ending in 1 and 6, especially the Class of 1966 who celebrated their 50th reunion.
SP O RTS HA L L O F FA M E Christopher D. Moore ’96 has been inducted into the Park School Sports Hall of Fame. The School’s all-time leading scorer on the basketball court (he scored more than 2000 points and his jersey now hangs in the Rich Family Activity Center) brought family and friends to the ceremony. Chris is the 44th inductee to the Hall and joins legendary coaches and athletes spanning many years.
WEEKDAY OPEN HOUSES
“I’m proud to be an alumnus of The Park School,” said Chris. “I have so many great memories. I’m especially grateful to my mom who made a lot of sacrifices to send me to Park. I’m proud to represent Park when I wear my hats and T-shirts in Washington DC. I will always be ’Park’!” Chris went on to play basketball at Daemen College, where he is in the Sports Hall of Fame. He was a firefighter in Buffalo before joining the United States Secret Service.
Seamus Gallivan ’96 presented the Sports Hall of Fame award to his classmate, Chris Moore.
Thursday & Friday,
March 23 & 24
Thursday & Friday,
May 11 & 12
8:30 AM - 2:00 PM
A B OV E : Chris Moore addresses the crowd after receiving his Sports Hall of Fame award.
If you’re interested in learning more about The Park School or want to set up a visit on another day, please contact Marnie Benatovich Cerrato ’90 at 716-839-1243 x107 or admissions@theparkschool.org.
LEFT: Seamus Gallivan ’96, Chris Moore ’96, Chris Lauricella, and Joe McMahon ‘83
A LU MNI
B AS K E TB A L L GA M E We had a great time at the annual Park School Co-Ed Alumni Basketball Game on December 22, 2016. It was fun to watch the talent on the court and the enthusiastic fans. Bocce pizza and wings were enjoyed by all following the game. LEFT TO RIGHT: Referee, Joe McMahon ’83, Kevin Coppola ’03, Chris Berardi ’03, Derek Cheatom ’15, Seamus Gallivan ’96, Chris Moore ’96, Kody Sprague ’03, Ricco Jones ’00, Tripp Higgins ’90, Tony Ugboma ’16, Jordan Nwora ’16, Jeremy Besch, David Burgin ’11, Referee 22 | PARK PIONEER
S AV E T H E D AT E FOR
REUNION
Reunion 2017 will celebrate classes ending in 2 and 7.
2017
50 th Reunion for the Class of 1967!
June 16 & 17, 2017
All alumni and friends invited! WINTER 2017 | 23
REU NIO N 2016
1 9 4 0 s A L U M N I : Jack Mackenzie ’48, David Parke ’46, C. Allan Ryan ’46, Eugene Setel ’46, Gordon Gross ’49
1 9 8 0 s A LU M N I: Frank Soda (former faculty), Ayah Setel ’82, Cyrus Ardalan ’83, John Burns ’82, Thomas Doran ’82, Joe McMahon ’83, Steve Dombrowski (former faculty), Bill Pfeifer ’83
1 9 9 0 - 2 0 0 1 A LUM N I : Andrea Rivers ’01, Joel Moore ’99, Marnie Cerrato ’90, Eboney Dixon ’99
1950s A L U MNI: F RONT ROW: David Bunis ’53, Greta Benjamin Berkson ’55, Debby Bleichfield Cohen ’55 BACK ROW: Peter Dow ’50, Robert Montgomery ’55, Donald Roberts ’59
CL AS S O F 1 9 9 6 : Toussaint Careathers, Jeffrey Radlin, Ken Gellman, Christopher Moore, Craig Miles, Mary Fisher Murray, Preeti Shastri, Seamus Gallivan, Molly Gasbarrini, Justin Bailey, Jennifer Kasdin, Will Genrich, Dorothy McFarland, Robert Hunter
1 9 69- 70s A L U M N I : Michael Burns ’73, Melissa Banta ’71, John Lipsitz ’71, Frank Riforgiato ’70, Karel Hill ’69
CL A S S OF 1966 Richard Kleinschmidt, Larry Lewis, Allithea Lango Killeen , Frank Mecklenberg, Gayle Pauly, Steve Obletz, Susan Mols, Ellen Davis Smythe, Chana Smith Hays, April Dyett Norton, Sally Clough Hezel, John Nesbitt, Karen Vogel Nichols, Amy Greene, Patty Cohen Gelman, Susan Weissgerber, Max Evers, Nancy Idzik Durrenburger, Lou Irmish
CLASS O F 1976: Peter Wilson, Doug Doolittle, Candyce Costrine Rinaldo, Ann Beyer Vaughn, Spencer Allen, Jim Fink
C LASS O F 1981: FR ONT R OW: David Knopp, Dan Burns, Carolyn Hoyt Stevens, Pamela Nichols Marcucci S E COND R OW: Mary Preston, Sally Hatcher Obletz, Joel Van Liew, Holly Irish Ryan, Michael Jackman (former faculty), Philip Setel, Kerima Callahan Collier, Eugene Sorets, Barbara Hurley, Steve Powell, Andrew Morrison, Audrey Cohn, Frank Soda (former faculty), Rob Carroll, Paolo Reichlin, Tim Schreier
24 | PARK PIONEER
FOR M E R FACULT Y AN D S TAF F : Greta Benjamin Berkson ’55, Frank Soda, Diana Bower, Steve Dombrowski, Patty Cohen Gelman ’66, Peter Dow ’50, Michael Jackman, Heather Roberts, Ann Burns
C LA SS OF 2 0 1 6 : Maddie Welchoff, Mia Stevens, Susan Yu, Flora Kraatz, Jeremy Besch (faculty), Nigel Jacobs, Kelly Rodgers, Seychelle Mikofsky WINTER 2017 | 25
COMMON APP CAMP
SOCCER
SUMMER DAY CAMP
BASKETBALL
SUMMER SCHOLARS
FOURTH ANNUAL
PA R K S C H O O L G O L F O U T I N G Monday, August 15, 2016 Arrowhead Golf Club – Akron, New York
Stan and Karen Polaske and Joe and Patti Palgutt
M&T Bank Foursome: Paul Glaeser, Debbie DiMatteo, Sylvia Tokasz, John Vilardo
WINNIN G TEAM: Kody Sprague ’03, Marty Berardi, Evan Smith ’05, Chris Berardi ’03
A H U G E SU C C E SS! The Park School’s fourth annual golf outing was the most successful outing yet, netting over $10,000 that went directly to support the Athletics Department and rehabilitation of the Wyckoff Tennis Courts.
Park parents: Joseph Pecora, Tripp Higgins ’90, John Benzinger, Kevin Wiese
Held at Arrowhead Golf Club in Akron, NY, 17 foursomes consisting of alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the School came out for a beautiful and fun-filled day on the course. Marty Berardi, Chris Berardi ’03, Kody Sprague ’03, and Evan Smith ’05 won top honors as the winning foursome with a scramble score of 55. Other highlights of the event included a cookout lunch, giveaways, a 2-hour cocktail party inside Arrowhead’s beautiful Timberlodge, a basket raffle with over 30 items, and fun with friends to kick-off the 2016-17 school year.
S A V E T H E D AT E
Class of 1978 team: Chris Kary, David Wadsworth, Spencer Patterson
The Park School’s
Fifth Annual Golf Outing August 21, 2017 Chairs: Trevor & Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ‘97 Gary Grelick ’65, Warren Gelman, Greg Koessler, Head of School Chris Lauricella 26 | PARK PIONEER
T H E PA R K S C HO OL
Summer Camps Common App Camp
Co-Ed Soccer Camp
Basketball Camps
JUNE 26-29, 2017
JUNE 26-30, 2017
Get a head start on the college application process. Park’s creative and talented English teacher, Charles Hartney will guide students through the components of the Common Application, develop strategies for soliciting effective recommendations from teachers, and draft the written components of the application. Campers will finish the week with their Common Application well under way or complete! If students plan to apply to institutions that do not use the Common Application, we can help with those too. Space is limited; open to students entering their senior year of high school.
Learn new techniques and refine existing skills through fun drills and friendly competition. Campers are coached by players and coaches from Park’s neighbor and partner, Daemen College! All skill levels are welcome. Children ages 6-14.
BOYS: AUG 14-18, 2017 GIRLS: AUG 21-25, 2017
Have fun learning from the best! Athletes are invited to work with some of the best basketball coaches in WNY as they learn and perfect new and existing skills and fundamentals, make new friends, and compete daily. Children ages 6-14.
Summer Day Camp
Summer Scholars
JULY 3-AUG 11, 2017
SESSION 1: AUG 14-18, 2017 SESSION 2: AUG 21-25, 2017
The best summer day camp in WNY! Six fun-filled themed weeks playing and learning on our beautiful 34-acre campus! Activities include: swimming, tennis, athletics, soccer, dance, kayaking, canoeing, nature studies, arts and crafts, woodshop, ceramics, music, drama, and computers. Help us celebrate our 82nd season! Children ages 3-14.
Discover your passion! Whether it’s robotics, theatre, ceramics, tennis, cooking, exploring our 34-acre campus, or working with the 3D printer, you will learn new skills, make lots of friends, and have an unforgettable week. All campers will also be able to cool off and swim daily in Park’s pool. Children ages 3-14.
Visit theparkschool.org/summer or call 716-839-1242. WINTER 2017 | 27
Remembering Paula Dean
Paula Dean taught science at Park from 1999 to 2007. Sadly, she passed away on December 6, 2015. The following reflections were written by two of Mrs. Dean’s former students.
Mary Ann Adams
I am a research botanist specializing in botany and chemical ecology. I owe a lot of my inspiration to Paula Dean and the teaching and mentorship she gave me at Park. Not only did she provide me with an engaging and captivating introduction to biology, she also specifically encouraged me to seek out a career in biology, whether as a medical doctor or a botanist.
February 1, 2017 Parent of Chris ’83 Former Trustee
William Birkmayr
July 29, 2015 Father of Elizabeth ’84 Former Trustee
Mrs. Dean taught environmental sciences and biology while I was a student at Park, and was always a cheerful and engaging presence in her classroom. She had high expectations for all of us, and worked tirelessly to make sure her students achieved a high level of science literacy. She keenly felt the disconnect between the American public and the sciences, and worked to correct this issue with each class she taught. I recall many wondrous realizations in her classes: that “meat” was animal muscle, that opium came from poppies, and that syphilis slowly but persistently incapacitates your body if untreated (It only occurs to me now that Mrs. Dean’s relish for detail when describing STDs was both a sneaky PSA and as a biology lesson).
Douglass G. Boshkoff ’48
July 16, 2016 Father of Clayton ’74 and Linda ’77
Carol Connors
April 9, 2016 Grandmother of Madeline ’11, Caroline ’15, and Gregory ’17
Mrs. Dean had us mining the book to discuss the different scientific goals of the author, identify the stakeholders in each scenario, and uncover their differing agendas. She was also careful to point out the hardships of La Bastille’s vocation to illustrate that conservation work, while filled with rewards, wasn’t always adventure.
Fostering a love for science Some of my favorite memories go back to when I took two advanced courses Mrs. Dean offered us, Botany and Microbiology. At the time, Park did not offer AP-level biology courses, but Mrs. Dean was an instructor at Erie County Community College, and brought two of her courses to the Park campus so that we could enroll in college-level courses and receive ECC credit for them. It was in these classes that I developed my love for science, and biology in particular. Swabbing different surfaces around campus and growing and identifying the resulting bacteria was memorable – Mrs. Dean was just as excited to see the difference between the library door handle and a Stone Hall toilet seat as we were, excitedly pouring agar into Petri dishes. Mrs. Dean’s botany class was pivotal for me – I loved collecting and identifying plants, and learning about what makes them different and successful. Mrs. Dean also taught an ethnobotany section during this course, where we learned how plants make different types of chemicals that were used in historical medicine and also used in modern medicine.
“Keep at it and find more cures...” The last time we corresponded was in 2012, when I headed back to Park to talk to Middle and Upper School students about being a scientist. Mrs. Dean, who was no longer teaching at Park, wrote to say that she wasn’t able to attend, but was warm and encouraging. She wrote that she was so pleased that my career involved “the subject that is nearest and dearest to [her] own interests…plants!” Her email ended with: “I have ovarian cancer, and while that scares me ’a little’...guess what chemo drug is going to prolong my life? This will be on the quiz…Tsk!!! TAXOL...AND ONCE AGAIN A PLANT ALKALOID HAS COME TO THE RESCUE! Think about the significance of your career choice and how important your work is, Andrea. Keep at it and find more cures, okay?” Her words of encouragement came at a valuable time – I was writing my PhD dissertation, was questioning my career choice (as well as my sanity), and needed some serious positivity. Mrs. Dean’s email boosted my spirits, and reminded me that I needed to get a move on. I will always remember Mrs. Dean and her classes fondly – sitting in the seat that was the MOST covered by her prized passionflower plant, watching the seedling sequoias grow incredibly slowly, and thinking about getting ice cream after a long day in the field.
Annette Cravens
It’s hard to sum up my relationship with one of my favorite teachers to one or two memories. Do I focus on the resilience combined with the fun and passion for life? Or on the woman whose pride and belief in her students has continued to give me the courage to follow my dreams 10 years after leaving the school where she taught me?
February 5, 2017 Mother of Curtis ’78
During our immersion trip to Costa Rica, zip lining through the rainforest with a group of students; she broke her thumb. It was fairly early in the trip and she basically ignored it for the rest of the trip, taking on every adventure with the same ’jest for life, laughing and ensuring our experience was the best it could possibly be. This action forced her to have surgery after the break did not heal correctly, and those x-rays? Those became a teaching tool, taped to the window for the next few years.
Robert K. Doran
As my advisor senior year, consistent support and encouragement helped me to follow my dreams. Her confidence in what I would become and what I was capable of was unwavering. When she looked me in the eye and said I see a Doctor, I was a bit confused, medicine was not in my future, and not in my heart. But today I sit, writing my PhD proposal for art conservation, I am quietly thankful for the woman that clearly knew far more than I did, and thankful for her unwavering support that I have continued to feel no matter how far I have wandered from my hometown.
Henry Goldman
ANDREA BERARDI ’04
EMMA SCHMITT ’06
Colgate University ’08 PhD, University of Virginia ’14
The College of Wooster ’10 The University of Glasgow ’14
Janet Hoffman
January 15, 2017 Mother of Debbie ’67 and Dorothy ’72 Grandmother of Madeleine ’10
Roger W. Hooker, Jr. ’59
Nancy Jewett
Harry Stanton Cheyney
Former Faculty Glenna Korvne (L) with the late Paula Dean (R)
February 13, 2016 Father of Herbert ’88
Fred Carl ’49
September, 2016
So many young people are inspired by the idea of conservation of natural resources and spaces. This wonderful goal complements the ethos of Park – to raise socially responsible and ethically minded members of society. However, conservation in the “real world” is not easy, and Mrs. Dean knew that. To demonstrate this, she had us read Anne La Bastille’s memoir, Jaguar Totem, detailing La Bastille’s time as an ecological consultant in Central and South America.
Herbert J. Heimerl
December 8, 2015 Former faculty member and trustee
Anne Backus Cheney ’41
Mrs. Dean’s classes were never easy – but she also wanted us to have fun while learning. I distinctly remember her taking us to Zoar Valley for a Botany field trip. We spent a long day identifying plants and hiking, trying to absorb as much as possible from her while dodging poison ivy and stinging bugs. On our way back, she mischievously declared that we would detour for an ice cream stop. Spending time with Mrs. Dean that day was incredibly rewarding – not only did we get practical botanical knowledge and a taste of what it’s like to be a “real” scientist, but we also saw a playfulness that made her a friend as well as a teacher.
We extend our condolences to the friends and family of these alumni and friends of the School.
November 15, 2015 March 20, 2016
A tough teacher and a good friend
28 | PARK PIONEER
In Memoriam
Paula A. Dean
December 6, 2015 Former faculty member
Frank J. Dolce
June 1, 2016 Father of Michael and Samuel September 4, 2016 Father of Thomas ’82
Edward W. Duffy April 6, 2016 Father of Patricia ’77
Lynn Hapeman Emmons ’58 April 26, 2016
Thomas Flickinger
November 15, 2015 Husband of Phoebe ’52
January 22, 2016 Mother of Dean ’62, Nelson ’65, and Kent ’71
Evelyn Grunfeld Kahn ’63
August 14, 2016
Van Hall
December 15, 2015 Father of Greg ’77 and Doug ’82
Albert Sagraves
June 19, 2016 Grandfather of Madeline ’11, Caroline ’15, and Gregory ’17
Alexander Saldarriaga
January 3, 2017 Father of Esmeralda ’26 and Piero ’30
Ray Schiferle
Rose Scrivani
June 6, 2016 Mother of David ’81 and Julie ’73 Wife of Jacky (d.)
Byron Koekkoek November 28, 2015 Father of Peter ’75 Former Trustee
Charles F. Kreiner November 28, 2015 Father of Daniel ’75
Linda Boasberg Lasher ’58 June 30, 2015
Maurice Levy
November 22, 2015 Father of Jack ’85 and Jeff ’81
Stewart Levy
September 11, 2016 Grandfather of Adrian ’03
Trudy Marynowski
April 8, 2016 Grandmother of Joseph ’24, Charles ’26, and Adina
Kevin McCarthy
October 11, 2016 Husband of Jenny Wood ’70
Anne Meyer
Vincent Muffoletto
George Greene ’67
December 31, 2016 Parent of Melissa ’73 and Elizabeth ’79
Eliane Knopp
George Greenberger
September 25, 2016 Mother of Amy ’66, Stephen ’70, Eleanor ’74, and Constance ’77
Calvin Rand
February 12, 2016 Grandfather of Mark and Erik
February 13, 2016 Father of Barbara ’77
Edith Greene
June 12, 2016
November 16, 2015
December 16, 2016 Grandmother of Kody ’03 Great-grandmother of Carter ’25, Bristol ’27, and Colton ’29
December 7, 2015 Father of John ’64 Former Trustee
Bernard Mandelkern Phillips ’59
September 19, 2016 Father of Lisa ’83
John H. Napier March 2, 2016 Father of John ’78
Donald F. Newman December 11, 2015 Father of Robert ’78
Renzo Nylander
January 29, 2017 Grandfather of Amari ’28
Phyllis Wendt Pierce ’42
January 7, 2017 Grandmother of Emily ’00 and Kayla ’11
July 6, 2016 Grandmother of Devin ’02 and Harry ’10
Stella Shalumova
July 22, 2016 Mother of Mark Segal ’05
Joy Grady Simpkins ’45
May 24, 2016 Sister of Toby Grady Goodyear ’51 (d.)
David L. Singer ’47 August 13, 2015
Edwin Skuller
February 13, 2016 Father of Cheryl ’75 and Betsy ’78
Mark T. Smith ’81 February 17, 2016
William Sprague
November 28, 2016 Grandfather of Kody ’03 Great-grandfather of Carter ’25, Bristol ’27, and Colton ’29
Jean Adie Thompson ’36 November 14, 2015
David Tiftikjian
October 1, 2016 Husband of Betsy ’55
Tita Townsend
January 8, 2016 Wife of Corning ’60
Harold Tweeden ’47 January 31, 2016
H. Ward Wettlaufer March 31, 2016 Father of Dale ’87
Xavier Wimes ’12 January 1, 2017
Clara Yager
June 17, 2016 Mother of Maurie ’55 (d.), Patricia ’58, Katherine ’61 Grandmother of Conrad ’81
Suzanne Ziegler ’63 November 21, 2016
WINTER 2017 | 29
CLASS NOTES 1940 – Sally Keating Walsh made a chest of drawers in 1939 in Park woodshop class for her parents’ cottage in Canada and we’re pleased to see that it’s in good working order! 1950 – Charlotte Keeney Valaer writes, “I had Sally Keating Walsh ’40 a lovely four days in beautiful Lake Placid, NY with my daughter and son-in-law. We had a great time with Jean Bellanca ’50, her children, and grandchildren. Also, we saw Vera Monroe ’50 and her granddaughter, and Poppy Morey Pratt ’50 and her daughter.” REUNION 1952 – Joan Plumb Reeves is still teaching Scottish Country Dancing, and still active in environmental and political issues. Her oldest granddaughter (son of Eric ’82) graduated from high school in June and Joan attended the ceremony in Raleigh, NC. 1955 – Bob Wilson writes, “Still living at The Villages in central Florida and playing lots of golf. We have a Buffalo bar here and every Sunday about 200 of us from the Buffalo area and Western New York meet to cheer on the Buffalo Bills. Lots of beef on weck and Buffalo wings served.” REUNION 1957 – Dale English is happily retired and gradually sending his grandsons off to college – two down and two to go. 1960 – Corning Townsend was awarded the Island Marine Expo (IMX) Achievement Award in May 2016 recognizing his extraordinary contributions to the barge transportation industry. Corning Townsend ’60 Corning has spent 60+ years as a mariner and is credited with “the design of the majority of high-horsepower towboats on the river today,” according to Nelson Spencer Jr., The Waterways Journal publisher. 30 | PARK PIONEER
He recently retired and handed the reins of his company, CT Marine Inc. to his son Christian. In nearly four decades at CT Marine, Corning worked on more than 1,800 jobs. This award recognizes his enormous influence on the industry. Corning lives in Edgecomb, ME where he sails the Maine coast and does some consulting as well. REUNION 1962 – Marshall Fagin received a 2016 Community Leader Award in Healthcare from the National Federation of Just Communities (NFJC). Marshall is a Prosthodontist, specializing in cosmetic, implant Marshall Fagin ’62 and complex major crown and bridge cases. A leader and highly respected member of the WNY Dental Community, he has been an international lecturer and educator for over 35 years. He worked to increase awareness of his field resulting in Mayor Brown proclaiming a Prosthodontic Awareness Week. The citation read, “Marshall loves this region and works in many ways to extend dental health to our underserved and needy populations. In 2015, he coordinated the event “Dentistry Smiles on Veterans” day with the UB Dental School, the Eighth District Dental Society, and Dental Labs and Hygienists. On that day, almost 200 volunteers provided pro bono dental care for Veterans. He also works with the “Good Neighbors Dental Clinic”, recruiting his fellow dentists to provide free and complete dental care for those in need. Elected to OKU, an honorary dental society, and a fellow of the International College of Dentistry, Marshall serves as a mentor to young dentists, and has been recognized for his work to both provide services and raise funds for charity. A graduate of UB Dental School, he has helped to raise significant funds for Smiles for Life, Camp Good Days, and the Garth Brooks Foundation. 1963 – Attorney and Park trustee David Brock is now associated with the law firm of Kavinoky & Cook. The Buffalo Law Journal wrote last year about his move, “These days, many of David Brock’s friends and acquaintances of similar age and work experience talk about retirement or cutting back. Not Brock, however, a longtime Buffalo attorney who instead is consumed David Brock ’63
by new opportunities coming his way. What Brock enjoys most is the opportunity to mentor other attorneys.” He also enjoys his firm’s location in the exciting Larkinville neighborhood. Karen Seeburg Marshall was elected to the Park School Board of Trustees beginning in 2016-17. Karen became active at the School when she joined the Board of Visitors in 2013. REUNION 1967 – Joe Allen was named chairperson of the Greater Buffalo Recycling Alliance which promotes recycling programs in Western New York. Read Boeckel wrote recently that he is “playing hockey three nights a week. I think of Bill Hoyt, Park Hockey Coach, every time I take to the ice. I have had the pleasure of taking over 5,000 WWII vets to the Washington DC to see their memorial.” He’s looking forward to his 50th Reunion in June! Cathe Chapin Kobacker gave a TedX Talk in Columbus (OH) titled Talking About Death Will Not Kill You, based on her experiences with her mother, Jane’s, recent passing. Margaret Creighton’s new book, The Electrifying Fall of Rainbow City: Spectacle and Assassination at the 1901 World’s Fair (W. W. Norton & Company, 2016), is receiving much critical acclaim.
Margaret Creighton ’67
Peggy said, “I wouldn’t describe myself as a star history student at Park--I remember a piece of chalk flying in my direction when I was not paying attention in Mr. Hoyt’s class--but I do see my years at Park as delightfully inspiring. From playing YumYum in the Mikado opposite Joe Allen, to debating whether or not “Red China” should join the UN, to hearing Donald Delmar tell us that JFK had been shot, the experience was indelible. One of the reasons I wanted to write about Buffalo was to have an excuse to return to the old stomping grounds.” 1968 – David Carter was honored to receive the Champlain Islands (VT) Economic Community Service Award in 2016. In issuing this award, David’s legacy of giving back to his community was celebrated by fellow business and community leaders. After a long and notable legal career, David plans to retire after 38 years of practicing law in Vermont. He has had a lifelong commitment to community service, most often benefiting the
Champlain Islands. David has been a Rotarian since 1982, is a lifelong ski patroller, and has served in a leadership role on a number of local social service agency boards including the Champlain Islands Parent Child Center, United Way David Carter ’68 of Franklin – Grand Isle County, Champlain Islands Chamber of Commerce, and the Vermont Bar Association. He was the Chair of the Grand Isle Child Protection Team for over 13 years. 1969 – Richard Lipsitz is the president of New York Area Labor Foundation, AFL-CIO.
at the New York Times, “Making Data Visual.” Richard Ellis was hired as executive director of Amherst (NY) Meals on Wheels responsible for dayto-day management, staff development, fundraising, marketing and public relations. 1976 – Jim Fink won first place in the New York Press Association for a profile he wrote for Buffalo Business First about Delaware North chairman Jeremy Jacobs. 1978 – William Heussler, an associate broker with RealtyUSA’s Jim Fink ’76 Commercial Division, was elected President at New York State Commercial Association of Realtors (NYSCAR), WNY Chapter.
1973 – Architect Duo Dickinson was one of 5 honored for Habitat New Haven’s 30th Anniversary Bash with an “Award of Distinction”. Deborah Schwartz just celebrated her 10th anniversary as President and CEO of the Brooklyn Historical Society, in New York City. In September she was given a Leadership in History Award from the Azita Safaie ’81; photo by Nancy J. Parisi American Association of State and Local History, 1981 – Azita Safaie was recently profiled on Deborah Schwartz ’73 for an oral history project, the University at Buffalo’s website for her eclectic “Crossing Borders, and welcoming office at the college. Azita is an Bridging Generations,” undergraduate academic adviser for communication on behalf of the Historical students and feels her eclectic décor is welcoming to Society. Park alumni and new students and helps to alleviate student anxiety. friends are encouraged to Joel Van Liew played the role of Owen in “Home say hi when they visit the of the Brave” at the Merrimack Repertory Theatre museum! Alison Clarkson in Lowell, MA in the Spring of 2016. writes, “After 12 years in the House, I was elected REUNION to the Vermont State 1982 – Congratulations to Tom Doran who Senate in November.” graduated from the Master Screenwriting Program Senator Clarkson was in March 2016. sworn into office January 2017 and is serving on the 1984 – Congratulations to Sean Kline who Alison Clarkson ’73 Committee on Economic won the Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2016 Boston Development, Housing and General Affairs and the International Open and is presently ranked 5th in Committee on Government Operations. the world in his class. 1974 – Cynthia Bradley Crippen is still with Bank of America, working as a private mortgage consultant. She has eight grandchildren and lives in North Carolina. 1975 – Congratulations to Sarah Cohen for receiving a 2016 UCLA Gerald Loeb Award for Images/Graphics/Interactives Winner. The award, shared with colleagues, recognized Sarah’s work
REUNION 1987 – Tilton Mary Byrne was born to Marie Robshaw Byrne and her husband on May 6, 2016. She joins big brother McGregor in their home in Charleston SC. 1990 – Tripp Higgins was named President of Wirthwein, a marketing company focused on assisted living communities. Tripp’s twin boys are in grade 6 at Park. He was recently featured in a Park alumni video profile that can be found at theparkschool.org. REUNION 1992 – Benjamin Bensadon received a Master’s degree in education from Boston University and his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Florida in Gainesville. He is Associate Director of Internal Medicine Residency-Geriatrics & Palliative Care, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Biomedical Science, at Florida Atlantic University College of Medicine. He was recently named a National Leadership Scholar by the American Society of Geriatrics. His professional resource book, Psychology & Geriatrics: Integration for an Aging Population, was published in the US and internationally by Elsevier in April 2015. Ben’s work has been published extensively, and he is frequently invited to speak before professional and lay audiences about changing the face of medicine – by adding psychological knowledge and insights to the standard provision of healthcare. He has fans across the country who applaud his efforts to make their healthcare more compassionate, sensitive, and responsive to their individual needs – encompassing both biomedical and psychosocial aspects of health. 1993 – Greg Roberts and wife Monica welcomed baby girl Jordan Olivia on June 8, 2016. They recently relocated to Las Vegas where Greg is Vice President of Food & Beverage Analytics at MGM Resorts International Corp. Nicole Brown-Keller and husband Adam welcomed Emalee Simone on August 31, 2016. They also are new owners of the WNY franchise of E2 Young Engineers http://www.youngeng.net/
1985 – Bob Rich III’s company, ROAR Logistics Inc., recently signed on as the title sponsor of the Big Cats Exhibit at the Buffalo Zoo, giving three new lion cubs and the entire pride something to Seamus Gallivan ’96 “ROAR” about. “ROAR Logistics is proud to 1996 – Seamus Gallivan was recently included in sponsor the Big Cats exhibit; we believe linking Buffalo Spree magazine’s 2016 People of the Year our name to these majestic cats brings attention to listing, citing his community building work with the Zoo’s remarkable education and conservation Slow Roll Buffalo and at Larkinville, a burgeoning efforts,” said Rich. neighborhood east of downtown Buffalo. WINTER 2017 | 31
CLASS NOTES
Please continue to share your news and updates! alumni@theparkschool.org
2006 – Emma Schmitt is in her second year as Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in Textile Conservation at the Denver Art Museum. She reports, “I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to work with 18th century Tapestry, Anna Pavlova’s Tutu, and Native American Dance Regalia, both contemporary and historic. There have been a couple great Park reunions out here, and I so love finding my Park family, or having them find me wherever I am. I am looking forward to my return back east next year, and what the next adventure will bring!” John Coffee ’02 Preeti Shastri ’96 (far right)
Lindsey Ross ’00
Boston area alumni may have seen Preeti Shastri MD in an ad campaign for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the official hospital for the Boston Red Sox. Preeti and her colleagues in sports medicine were featured on busses and billboards last spring. Preeti reports, “As a side note, BIDMC is a Harvard affiliated teaching hospital and in addition to my clinical duties I am also an instructor of orthopedics for Harvard medical school and teach 2nd year medical students on how to examine different parts of the body such as shoulder, knee and back. It is one of my favorite parts of my job cause I get to give back and try to utilize the many wonderful teaching tactics that I was blessed to experience as a student from my Park teachers.” 1999 – Jamie Obletz was named VP of Corporate Business Development at Delaware North Corporation and is excited to be back in Buffalo. He spent 10 years in New York earning his MBA at Columbia and working in finance, most recently as Executive Director at JP Morgan. Jamie and wife Jacqueline welcomed Jamie Obletz ’99 their first child, son Keating, on September 21, 2016. He got together recently with classmate Maggie Gallivan Cechinni, who welcomed her 5th child, Savannah Carol, with husband Greg on September 1. 2000 – Emily Pierce-Delaney started Pop-Up Preservation in Buffalo in 2016. This “dining excursion” program combines good food and a love for historic preservation by holding dinners in historically significant locations throughout the city. For more information, email Emily at sameoldanticswny@gmail.com. Lindsey B. Ross was named one of sixteen 2016-17 White House Fellows and is serving in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. After Park School, Lindsey received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University and an M.D. from UCLA. For the fellowship, 32 | PARK PIONEER
Lindsey is taking leave from residency at CedarsSinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, where she is a senior neurosurgical resident physician studying the pathogenesis and surgical management of neurological disease. She wrote to Park, “I feel very blessed and am very excited about this exceptional opportunity to participate in public service, create healthcare policy and learn from our nation’s leaders. I am charged with assisting in the plight against the Zika pandemic and have already learned a great deal. Hope to make Park proud!” While in medical school, she served as a regional and national leader for the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and was selected as a Denzel and Pauletta Washington Gifted Scholar in Neuroscience. Lindsey spearheaded and coordinated a group of volunteers to help with the reaccreditation process at King/Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. She is the founder of the Women in Surgery Interest Group at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and currently serves as a House Staff Executive for her hospital. Author of a number of published scholarly articles and academic book chapters, she has spent an extensive amount of time in South Africa, Thailand, Mexico, and Guatemala for medical mission work. Lindsey received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University and an M.D. from UCLA. Read more about Lindsey in the 2014 issue of Park Profiles, found at theparkschool.org. Ricco Jones is still serving in the US Army and is in Los Angeles doing a fellowship at Kasier Permenente SoCal as part of his MBA-MHA program at Baylor.
Devin Lipsitz ’01
2011 – Dylan Ratigan works for Express Jet as a First Officer out of Newark welcoming passengers on United, Delta and American Airlines’ regional airplanes.
REUNION 2002 – John Coffee works in the Office of Chief Logistics Officer for the Office of Administration within the Executive Office of the President. His position is a career placement and will work at the White House complex no matter who is president. Here he is receiving thanks from former President Obama before his term ended. Jordan Garrow and wife Whitney Nephew welcomed baby girl Mira Luna on May 4, 2016. 2003 – Chris Berardi was named President and General Manager at Schutte-Buffalo Hammermill LLC having served as Vice President and General Manager since January 2016.
Jocelyn Bos-Fisher married Aaron Lilga on August 28, 2016. Several Park friends were in attendance including (L-R) Caitlin Size, Andrea Reese ’07, Sean Linehan and Allison Taylor.
2004 – Suhasini Sumithra recently became Musical Director of a local Indie pop choir (just for fun!), called Mixtape Chorus, in Canberra (Australia). She has been working for the Australian Department of Social Services for the last two-anda-half years and her current role involves developing government policy to reduce violence against women and their children. She welcomes visitors! Molly DeRose is a Licensed NYS Real Estate Agent with MJ Peterson in Buffalo NY. She would love to help Pioneers buy or sell a home! Samantha Friedman Olsen and her husband, Andrew, welcomed daughter Genevieve on December 18, 2016.
REUNION 2007 – Jennifer Dref recently relocated to Boulder, CO to work for a screen printing company, to hike, and to enjoy the Rocky Mountains.
2005 – Dalphne Buckley Bell is among the 2016 Buffalo Business First’s 30 Under 2001 – News from Devin Lipsitz in Brooklyn: Thirty honorees “I’m happy to announce that this past year I have — 30 Western completed my second master’s degree in early New Yorkers in the childhood education. I am early stages of their now New York State certified careers who are to teach special education achieving at high within an early childhood levels at work and setting. I currently teach in in the community. a small private preschool Dalphne is in the same Brooklyn supervisor of neighborhood that I live in mathematics for (best commute ever). When the Buffalo City Bobby Cabbagestalk ’05 I’m not in the classroom I School District. enjoy reading on my backyard Bobby Cabbagestalk graduated in 2016 from patio with my beautiful wife, USC’s Annenberg School with a master’s degree in Kayleigh, and my adorable Communication. Leslie Rosenberg received her shih tzu, Jackson.” MBA from Boston University in December.
and Dan Stevens from Downton Abby. I worked in the casting department and was tasked with casting all background, extras and stand-in actors locally, auditioning, scheduling and managing them throughout the production. I’ve learned much about filmmaking since graduating from Point Park University. Most recently I’ve worked on several short films and commercial shoots and just wrapped production working on a national television pilot that was shooting here in Buffalo, about the Buffalo Bills tailgaters.” Elizabeth Maxwell is a Communications Specialist at Liazon, a fast growing benefits company started in Buffalo.
2008 – Curtis Steed received his Master’s degree in Social Work from the University at Buffalo in May 2016. 2009 – Joe Jacobs was appointed Digital Marketing Specialist at PLS 3rd Learning in Buffalo. Will Brereton looks forward to graduating with a master’s degree in Art History and a graduate diploma in Curatorial Studies in Visual Culture from York University (Toronto, Canada) in 2017. His brother James is working as a Quality Assurance Analyst at a tech start-up called BuzzBuzzHome based in Toronto. 2010 – Hillary Konitsch reports, “I graduated from Xavier with my masters in occupational therapy in December and got a job in Waco, TX as an occupational therapist before I even graduated! I am currently working in pediatrics specifically children with cerebral palsy, prader willi syndrome, autism, and in the process of developing a therapeutic dance program with an influence of occupational therapy for kids with disabilities. I love my job and am so thankful for the start that Park gave me!” News from Harry Lipsitz: “Look for my name in the credits at the end of MARSHALL, shot in Buffalo last year, a major Hollywood movie detailing the early career of Justice Thurgood Marshall, played by Chadwick Boseman. The film, set for release in 2017, also stars Kate Hudson, Josh Gad, James Cromwell,
preschool on campus. With this fellowship, I teach a class of eight two year-olds presenting a range of abilities for twenty hours a week. It’s all quite a shift from my undergraduate studies, but I’m loving the challenge and new opportunities. The goal is to work my way into special education policy upon graduating in 2018. I hope all is well in the Park world! I’m forever sending my good wishes and love Park’s way!” Ted Laport is pursuing a PhD in Philosophy at Northwestern University. Ta’Ria Wideman graduated in May from Canisius College where she majored in Political Science. She was elected to the Erie County Democratic Committee and is now working at the Seneca-Babcock Boys & Girls Club as Assistant Director. Taylor Gillespie graduated in May from the University of Oklahoma where she majored in Environmental Sustainability and is now working for the US Department of Treasury in Buffalo. Alex Gould graduated from University at Buffalo in May having majored in Geography and Political Science. She is working for US Representative Chris Collins in his Western New York District Office.
REUNION 2012 – DJ Shoemaker graduated from Bard in May with a BA in physics and studio art and is now attending Washington University in St. Louis this fall for Master of Architecture. Daniel Kugler started at NYU School of Law in 2013 – Domonique Griffin the Fall of 2016 after graduating was named a Presidential Fellow from Reed College (OR) in May. He at Trinity College this year. Each plans to pursue public policy having department nominates one interned with Senator Schumer Presidential Fellow for his/her and a NYS Assemblymember outstanding achievement in the while in college. Logan Montone major. She will graduate in graduated from Goucher College May 2017. with an Economics major and Environmental studies minor. Soon 2015 – Congratulations after graduation, Logan wrote to to Kendal Smith who was the School, “Mr. Besch came to named to the Dean’s List Baltimore and we were able to meet at St. Lawrence University up and grab coffee, which was just Daniel Kugler ’12 both semesters of her first awesome. I’m not sure he knew year! Randy Golda has an what he signed up for as we sat e-commerce business called down and I initiated conversation Myaisle and is starting an with a frantic “What should I do internet marketing consulting with my life?!?! What does it all business called Com Consulting. mean!?!!”, but of course, being Mr. He’s also gotten his real Besch, he approached my quarterestate license. He’d love to life crisis with grace and intention hear from fellow Pioneers at and we managed to get through randygolda15@gmail.com. a conversation without another breakdown. The smaller Besch boys Faculty – Science faculty chimed in as well offering advice Adrienne DeGroat and husband such as, “Dad had a beer at lunch!”, Jason welcomed daughter Dylan and “I got a cramp when we were Jules on February 7, 2016. She walking here so we had to stop”.... A joins big sister Addisyn who is little while after, I realized what an in Park’s Pre-K program. Grade absolutely unique experience it is to 5 teacher Nicole Marchewka keep connected to anyone, let alone and husband Justin welcomed your Dean of Students, from high Kaduk Sherpa ’12 Logan Montone ’12 daughter Clare Nicole on June school, years after graduating and 1, 2016. She joins big sister Caroline who is also in on top of that, to have him give you life advice and Park’s Pre-K program. offer his most genuine support in your endeavors. I am extremely grateful to have come from that Former Faculty – David and Diana Bower sort of a community, because I certainly realize just would love to connect with Parkies living in or how rare it really is.” Lauren Blachowiak reports, traveling to the Portland, OR area or Chautauqua “I’m currently studying Early Childhood Special Institution. They write, “We’ll spend Christmas and Education at Vanderbilt for my MEd. In addition New years with (sons) Scott ’89 and Tim ’86 and to classes, I’m a Susan Gray Fellow at the Susan family in St. Helena, CA.” Gray School, which is the experimental inclusive WINTER 2017 | 33
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PARK’S MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM TOOK HOME TWO AWARDS IN THEIR FIRST-EVER LEGO ROBOTICS COMPETITION THIS FALL. LEARN MORE ON PAGE 13.