REMEMBERING
2019 - 2020 REPORT OF GIVING
David Drewek | P. 44 John Kirt | P. 50 Tracy Waters | P. 48
A TIMELESS PRODUCTION MUCH LIKE THE UPPER SCHOOL’S PERFORMANCE OF INTO THE WOODS, 2019-20 REQUIRED GREAT PLANNING AND PRECISION
FALL 2020
Contents —
03 from the head of school 04 leadership 05 from the board chair 14 from the prairie fund chair 26 donor profile: barbara little earnest ’74 28 alumni notes 30 year in review:
primary school parade
boys’ basketball repeats (again)
in memory
veterans’ day
disney’s lion king jr.
32 lessons learned: prairie navigates the pandemic 34 reasons to be proud: class of 2020 36 a night to remember: premiere 2020 goes virtual 39 baseball, dj yaya, and red oak trees 42 faculty notes 44 it’s in the details: remembering dave drewek 48 forever grateful: remembering tracy waters 49 donor profile: matt and abby (gaertig) adamczyk ’10 50 serving humbly: remembering john kirt 51 the last word: 2020 vision
DONOR RECOGNITION 06 donor honor roll 12 faculty 13 endowment 15 the prairie fund 20 jack mitchell society 21 parents
23 grandparents 25 alumni
27 golf classic & dinner 37 premiere
40 2019-2020 financials 41 the trifecta
CONTRIBUTORS Editor: Brendan J. O’Brien Designer: Austin D. Gundlach Photographers: Jeff Wilson/Varitay Studios Authors: Nat Coffman, Sarah Gesner ’20, Helen Johnson2 | prairieschool.com Leipold ’74, Lyndsay Knoell, Maggie McDonough, Everett McKinney, Brendan J. O’Brien, Aliya Pitts, Rachel Shuster
Fast Friends Collaborating on a project, holding hands while going for a walk, playing cards – these are just a few of the ways Prairie’s buddies spend an afternoon. The Buddy Program, purposefully driving friendships and interaction across divisions, is a long-standing tradition at Prairie. We’ve missed it this fall, and can’t wait for it to return.
From the Head of School —
Dear Prairie Families, It is impossible to sum up the 2019-20 school year in one letter. So much has happened in our school community, our state, our nation, and around the world over the last twelve months. It is a stretch to remember back to last fall, when alumnus Kanwar Singh ’86 addressed the entire community at convocation, playfully and passionately urging another generation of Hawks to tackle the year and “be a verb.” Calling them to action, effort, and adventure — it was an inspiring start to our 55th year. The first half of the year was a blur of normalcy, with another trip to the state soccer finals and two glorious performances of “Into the Woods” before our campus closed in March.
“Amidst uncertainty and unforeseen new challenges, our students and faculty showed strength, collaboration, tenacity, and most of all resilience.”
Amidst uncertainty and unforeseen new challenges, our students and faculty showed strength, collaboration, tenacity, and most of all resilience, which allowed us to successfully pivot to virtual learning and find new ways to strengthen the fabric of our community. We learned that this is one tough group. Collectively, we have not let anything stand in the way of continuing our mission. As you’ll read in this issue, this past year we accomplished what we set out to do every year and then some. The Class of 2020 finished their Prairie careers with poise and class, and carry that with them as they leave for some of the finest colleges and universities in the country. A record number of students took Advanced Placement exams, and together they achieved our second highest average score in the last seven years. Across all classes, students maintained outstanding virtual attendance and finished the academic year with grit, grace, and in many cases, improved final grades. The first virtual versions of both Primary School Field Day and the Prairie Premiere proved rousing successes thanks to many of you reading this right now. In June, we broke ground on a new Early School building, set to open in 2021, and we reopened campus on July 6th to host five weeks of summer camps, serving over 300 campers. Success as a result of resilience has long been the norm at Prairie, and this spring, through tremendous effort, our tradition continued, manifesting itself in new and unique ways. As we dive into the fall, I know our faculty and students will be able to navigate whatever comes our way this school year — and that we will be able to count on our fellow Prairie families, alumni, and friends. The past six months have shown that we are #BetterTogether and that collectively, we will find a way to move Prairie’s mission forward in the years ahead. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Nathaniel W. Coffman, Ed.D. Head of School & President
Leadership —
2020-21 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Darryl Babu ’88 John Batten ’83 Nathaniel W. Coffman, Ed.D. – Head of School & President Joe Fallico Amy Giles-Maurer Dave Johnson Helen Johnson-Leipold ’74 – Chair Steven Joost – Assistant Secretary/Assistant Treasurer Brian Ketterer Lyndsay Knoell, D.D.S. Shakila Manogaran Shimp ’86 Gregory Mueller Jill Osiecki Pat Penman John Rowland II ’75 Richard Ruffo ’83 – Secretary Christopher Ruud ’89 Christine Shields Kann Joe Veranth ’80 – Treasurer Lisa Wolf, M.D.
2020-21 ADVISORS TO THE BOARD Shay Borzynski ’00 Christin Gould Skye Johnson Amy Karegeannes ’95 Khalaf Khalaf Tom King ’78 Jim Ladwig Jim Lynott, M.D. Roberta Puntillo-Jorgensen Kanwar Singh ’85
2020-21 SCHOOL LEADERSHIP Nathaniel W. Coffman, Ed.D. Head of School & President Kathryn Boero Associate Head of School & Middle School Head Aliya Pitts Chief Advancement Officer Steven Joost Assistant Head of School for Finance – CFO/COO Susan Holum Primary School Head Sophie Michaud Upper School Head Lisa Koleske, SHRM-CP Director of Human Resources
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From the Board Chair —
Dear Prairie Families,
“Prairie is an exceptional place, not only because of the people inside the building every day, but also our friends far and wide.”
As we all know, this has been an unbelievable year in many ways. Our whole Prairie community — students, faculty, and families — has been working together to address challenges that would otherwise disrupt the educational progress and lives of our children. Our collective commitment to the well-being of our children is quite amazing. This united focus, combined with the strength and leadership of our faculty, is the reason our children are able to be together, learning and growing in person. I am so proud to be part of a community that continues to put our children’s education and health as a priority, no matter what the circumstances. Our dedication to Prairie’s mission ties us together and moves us forward. We are certainly grateful for our faculty as they continue to lead us through these challenging times. I thought you would appreciate knowing that, in addition to their time, energy, and expertise, every single member of the faculty gives back to the school through the Prairie Fund, and has done so every year for the past seven years. What an incredibly unique accomplishment, and one that reflects their devotion to this school. We are all proud and truly inspired by their motivation. Prairie is an exceptional place, not only because of the people inside the building every day, but also our friends far and wide. I am so honored to be part of this incredible, caring community of supporters and contributors — you are the reason we exist. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Helen Johnson Leipold Chairman of the Board
Every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of the following lists. We regret any oversights or errors that may have occurred.
Donor Honor Roll
The Prairie School is deeply grateful to all of our supporters. Below is a list of donors at their cumulative giving levels across all areas, excluding the IIT and Bigger, Better, Together Campaigns, for the 2019-2020 school year. Thank you for your support.
— LEADERSHIP CIRCLE ($25,000 +)
Richard C. Gorton ’78
Peter and Karen Jansson
David C. Hoogendoorn Charitable Giving
Bob and Sally Henzl
Molly Lofquist Johnson and Steve Johnson
Johnson Family Foundation
Johnson Financial Group
Craig Leipold and Helen Johnson-Leipold ’74
Joseph Kann and Christine Shields Kann
Mr. George Karegeannes and
The Osiecki Family
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Ketterer
Kenosha Kingfish
Richard Ruffo ’83 and Diane Ruffo
Steve Maurer and Amy Giles-Maurer
Dr. Lyndsay N. Knoell and Dr. Wendy M. Knoell
Al and Patty Ruud
Racine Community Foundation -
SC Johnson
Dr. Rafi and Mrs. June Rafiullah
SU Group LLC
Mr. Douglas Shimp and
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Fallico
Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth L. Gould
The Estate of Imogene Powers Johnson
Horizon Retail Construction
H. Fisk Johnson, Ph.D. ’75
Pam Johnson ’73
Mrs. Dorothy MacVicar
Mr. and Mrs. H. William Keland ’73
The Ruffo Family Foundation, Inc.
Marlo, Incorporated
Ruud Family Foundation
Patricia Penman
Chris Ruud ’89 and Chantil Ruud SC Johnson Giving, Inc.
1965 SOCIETY ($10,000 +) Andis Corporation
Matt K. and Lisa M. Andis Rob and Laura Bishop
Dick and Jo Carpenter
Rowland Family Fund
RSM US LLP
Mrs. Shakila Manogaran Shimp ’86
Steve and Karen Smith
Truck Country of Wisconsin - Oak Creek Tony and Ann Yeung
LIGHTHOUSE CIRCLE ($2,000 +)
Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
Anonymous (1)
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas King ’78
Dr. Andrew C. Alexander ’87
Racine Community Foundation - Richard M. and
Michael and Kathryn Boero and Family
Racine Community Foundation - Sam and
Constance and John Boticki
Mrs. Julianne F. Rowland
Kevin Campbell ’76 and Mary Campbell
Twin Disc, Inc.
Coffman Family Scholarship Fund
Mr. S. Curtis Johnson ’73
AbbVie, Inc.
Mary Lou Moeller
Arch W. Shaw Foundation
Josephine C. Carpenter Scholarship Fund
Michael ’99 and Shay ’00 Borzynski
Gene Johnson Fund
Bukacek Construction Group
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Siudak
Mr. Alan Clark and Ms. Andrea Bukacek ’03
Mr. and Mrs. J. Joseph Veranth ’80
Nat and Laura Coffman
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE ($5,000 +) Anonymous (1)
Matt and Rita Andis
Dana Investment Advisors, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Brett Davis
Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home Dr. Barbara Little Earnest ’74 and Mr. Royce Earnest
Dr. Manoj Babu and Dr. Sheryn Abraham
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas D. Eberle
Julie and Jim Coffman
Mr. Bennett Harris ’10
John ’83 and Jane Batten
Kevin and Noel Cookman Rick and Jana Fiegel
First American Bank
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Gould Dentistry, LLC
Mr. and Mrs. David Hecker Jane and Stephen Hogan Mrs. Jennifer Jacobson
Dave and Chris Johnson Skye Johnson
Mrs. Winifred Johnson-Marquart ’77 and Mr. Michael Marquart
Mrs. Amy Karegeannes ’94
Knoell Family Dentistry
Dennis and Sandy Kontra Brian Langendorf
Dr. James Lynott and Mrs. Jessica Lynott Mr. Terence S. Malone Jack and Dottie Moll
Greg and Sheryl Mueller
Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation O & H Danish Bakery
Patrick and Betsie O’Brien
Dr. Kimberly Rybicki Olesen ’05 and Mr. Peter Olesen ’05
William and Catherine Perez Nick and Aliya Pitts
PNC Financial Services Group
Roberta Puntillo-Jorgensen and Kurt Jorgensen Quarles & Brady LLP
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, S.C. Robertson Ryan and Associates Sandra R. Rogers ’82
Melissa and Daniel Ropiak John S. Rowland II ’75
State Farm Companies Foundation
State Farm Insurance - Brian Ketterer Mr. and Mrs. Brian Steffen
Mr. Nicholas and Dr. Christina Sullivan TG3 Electronics, Inc.
Thrivent Financial - Vantage Financial Partners Daniel and Dawn Vaccaro Armen A. Vidian ’88
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Winnen
Mr. Jeffrey Wolf and Dr. Lisa Wolf
Zimmerman Architectural Studios, Inc.
HEADMASTER’S CIRCLE ($1,000 +) Anonymous (3)
7 Mile Fair, Inc.
Mr. Matthew Adamczyk ’10 and
Mrs. Abby Gaertig Adamczyk ’10
Mr. and Mrs. Akil I. Ajmeri
Mr. Christopher Antonneau
Mr. and Mrs. Gus Antonneau Ascension Healthcare
Graham and Jennifer Ault
Akemi and Darryl Babu ’88
Michael Banco and Hope Heaster Lisa and Tom Bolger
Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Brandt Mr. and Mrs. Corey Brandt
Mr. Rocco Castellano and Dr. Irina Ciubotaru Sarah and Andrew Chadwick
Mr. Patrick Christensen and Dr. Nichole Elcano Mark Chulew ’72 and Stacey Chulew
Bryan Clarke ’89 and Adrienne Clarke Mr. and Mrs. David P. Cook CRB Insurance Agency
Jennifer and Joseph Cronin
Kanwal Dhar and Shally Chogtu
Dr. Mary Ellis and Mr. Garry Ellis Robert and Marilyn Fransway G+F Excavating
Chad and Julie Giles
Mike and Jessica Greb
Mari and Jason Grobschmidt
Scott Harlan and Maureen Kennedy-Harlan Collin and Krystyn Hirsch
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Isaacson ’96 Majed and Reem Jandali Randy and Anthi Jerow Charles Jorgensen
Josephine P. and John J. Louis Foundation Kelso-Burnett Co.
Dr. Matthew Larsen and
Mrs. Jenny Antonneau Larsen
The Law Office of Terry Chapko
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond C. Leffler Lenz Orthodontics
Lincoln Churchill Advisors Majic Productions
John and Becky Mamalakis
Brian & Georgia (Bruch) McDonough ’78 Carolyn McNeil
Mr. and Mrs. Eric A. Olesen Patina Solutions Group, Inc.
Mr. Tristan Pearson ’99 and Dr. Amy Pearson Mr. and Mrs. Chris Peery
Robin and Scott Posnanski
Racine Community Foundation Eric and Lisa Olesen Fund
Racine Community Foundation Robert and Beth Taylor Fund
Racine Community Foundation -
William and Jeanne Rayne Family Fund
Racine Country Club
Mr. and Mrs. William F. Rayne
Jason and Destiny Johnson
Rocco Castellano Design Studio
Cymbria Jung ’98
Mr. and Mrs. Peter R. Reynolds
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick E. Rooney Russ Darrow Group
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Schaefer
Katleen Speelman and Dries Meuleman Ronald and Audreyan Springer Mr. and Mrs. Ron Steimle
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stohler Stowell Associates Tabak Law, LLC TAG
Robert F. Taylor
Dr. James Tierney and Mrs. Deborah Tierney Dr. and Mrs. Vahag Vartanian Andrew and Ali Wassweiler
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare All Saints Foundation
Mary and Jerry Wolf
Fred Young and Sandra Harrisson Young ’70
PRAIRIE CIRCLE ($500 +) Anonymous (7)
Mr. Tony Arnone and Mrs. Casie Arnone Associated Bank
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Atanasoff Pat Badger
John Baker, Jr. and Mary Baker Mr. and Mrs. Jason L. Barrett
Dr. Robert and Mrs. Natalie Bissegger Andrea and Jorge Bravo
Carlson Racine Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. Richard Coates ’72
John Dykema and Lisa Cool-Dykema ’80 Carolyn Gittings Edwards ’75 Bill and Renee Elworthy Dr. Julie Ericson ’83
Rick and Nikki Farbo
Paul Fiegel and Dr. Therese Fellner Ms. Abigail Fiegel ’12
Ms. Alexandra Fiegel ’07 Michael and Ann Flegel Jerry and Lynn Franke
Foremost Advisors, Inc.
Scott and Susan Gaertig Paul and Heidi Gaylord The GE Foundation
Van and Janet Gegas
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Gelhaus
Mr. Brian Glines ’08 and Mrs. Sarah Glines Godin Geraghty Puntillo Camilli, SC
Sara Luther Hagerman and Dan Hagerman James Herre ’82
Matthew and Alyson Horton Mr. and Mrs. David Horvath
Holly and Andrew Isaacson ’95
Steve and Cindy Joost The Kane Family
The Kirsten and Emily Maki Foundation Drs. Piotr and Joanna Kolanowski Mr. and Mrs. Peter G. Koleske Mr. and Mrs. James Ladwig
Mr. and Mrs. Dean Lameer, Jr. Amy S. Larsen ’73
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Marz David and Betsy McPhee
Meadowbrook Country Club Blaine and Mary Metzger Microsoft Corporation
Guy and Mona Milinski
Mr. and Mrs. Mark A. Modesto Jason and Kari Morgan Mr. Robert Morocco Ken Mould
Mrs. Audrey H. Mulhollen
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Mark H. Murphy Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Nelson Jr Jill S. Neubauer ’78
Northwestern Mutual
Paul Nowak and Elizabeth Spalla David Park ’96
Mr. W. David Perez ’91 and Mrs. Nicole Perez Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Perry Jeff and Kris Philippi The Polzin Family
Amanda and Greg Pulda
Racine Dental Group, S.C.
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce L. Renquist Judith and Norris Richardson
Adrian Rivas and Jennifer Zeni Robert W. Baird & Co.
Rockwell Automation Matching Gift Program Wendie Rose S&P Global
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Schaefer
Timothy and Elizabeth Schram Mr. and Mrs. Klay Shannon
Harold and Kathryn Swanson Mr. and Mrs. David J. Turek
Jennifer Van Dinter ’93 and Dave Lefaive Ryan and Jamie VanDeLoo Vrakas CPAs and Advisors
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Wagner ’87 Jennifer and Steve Waite Mr. Nathan S. Ward
Jennifer Perez Warren ’94
Dr. AnnMarie Sundareson West Ben and Katie White
Todd and Suzanne Yde
Aneta and Brian Zafonte
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Zlevor
HAWK CIRCLE ($200 +)
Marc and Tracey Frosch
Brendan and Lisa O’Brien
Robert P. Gardetto ’79 and Barbara Gardetto
Dr. Joshua and Mrs. Christa Pessin
Anonymous (14)
Mateo Garcia-Novelli ’15
AmazonSmile
Luis Garduño de la Cruz and
Dr. Michael and Mrs. Benoite Angeline
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Glines
Apple, Inc.
Mr. Jogrim Grotmol and
Bernoli Baello
Jill and Scott Gundy
Carlen T. Baran ’17
Mario and Claudia Gvuzd
Tressa and Michael Bates
Kevin S. Hall ’85
The Berkey Family
Mary and Owen Heath
Tom and Theresie Bode
Ms. Jeanette A. Hoffman
Joan Bolewski
Mr. and Mrs. David Holland
Dr. Michael A. Boticki
The Holum Family
Shawn and Angie Burwell
Susan Inbusch
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Chambers
Steve and Terri Jenkins
Susan and Ferdinand Chiappetta
Mr. Thomas V. and Lucy T. Kandathil
Kirsten Cousin
Drs. Marc and Debbie Kennedy
Mr. Gregory Davis ’82
Bozena and Richard Konecko
Roslyn Davis
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Kranen ’77
Ms. Melissa Dixon
Mr. and Mrs. Steve LaLonde
Sam and Emily Duchac
Matthew R. Leffler ’06
Jennifer Eastman
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Leinweber
Lois Alexander
Andis Foundation Inc.
Sever and Andreea Anton Kathryn Axelson ’07
Silvia Miranda Hernández
Jason Green and Gwen E. Farley Green ’76 Mrs. Lisa Piché Grotmol
Mr. Andres Baptista and Mrs. Zaida Puy Arena
Dr. and Mrs. David M. Gustitus
Joyce Ramos Barnes ’93 and Jonathan Barnes
Al and Jan Hagopian
Faye Becker
TJ and Amber Hearn
BMO Harris Bank
Ethan and Elizabeth Hoff
Mr. Ben Boilek and Mrs. Jeanette Dutton-Boilek
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hoffman
Boston Consulting Group, Inc.
Ed and Jody Holle
Ms. Kristine Braun ’06
Nancy and Warren Icke
John and Terie Carpenter
Tom and Pat Isaacson
Jenni and Rich Chiapete
Pat and Katie Johnson
Dr. and Mrs. David Clark
Mr. David Kane
Dr. Marshall Cushman
Mr. and Mrs. Khalaf Khalaf
Jane Davis
Mr. and Mrs. Ragnar H. Korthase
Rhonda Deneka
Ashley and Laura Labarber
Tom and Melissa Dreifuerst
Gary and Mary Sue Langendorf
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Dues
Cathie and John Lehman
Kevin and Lisa Eaton
Conrad Werner Leipold ’10 and
Educators Credit Union
Mike Lewis and Pamela Short-Lewis ’80
Adam ’93 and Allison Emery
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Linstroth
Peter Farruggia and
Joe and Christina Manley
John and Holly Feather
Sara and Joe Marshall
Dave and Julie Feiler
Patrick McGuire and
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Foltz
Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. McManmon
Scott and Charmaine Foster
Suchang Mei and Jing Wen Mei
Matthew Frankovis ’99 and Megan Frankovis
Susan and Lawrence Mielke
Dave and Kathy Eberle
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Eitel
Mr. and Mrs. Dave Engstrom Michelle Boero Farruggia ’03
Sharon and William Feather Jose Nogueira Filho and Gabriela Martins
Veronica Leipold
Mr. and Mrs. Don Libby
Becky and Mark Madsen Dan Mares
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel May Megan Rowland McGuire ’02
Richard Fortune and Laura Narten & Family
Mr. and Mrs. Deepak Mehra
Nate Franke ’99
Mr. Matthew Meyer ’99
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Mrs. Karen Murillo ’78 and Mr. Jorge Murillo
Diane and John Oakland Jeff and Missy Peterson
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Praefke Red Onion Cafe
Scott and Kara Reske
Kellen Ribeiro and Julierme Diniz Dr. Sudip and Amrita Ringwala
Dr. Eric and Mrs. Mary Ringwalt
Robert W. Baird & Co. Foundation, Inc. The Rossi Family
Mr. and Mrs. David H. Saaski Raana C. Saric ’81
John and Ellen Schmidt Mr. Brian H Short ’88
Dr. and Mrs. Howard W. Short
Mark Scholzen and Lisa Short-Scholzen ’82 Gregg and Johanna Spino
Andrew and Valerie Sprunger Judy and Steve Stead Jason Strmsek
Tim and Mary Jo Sullivan
Kenneth Swanson and Barbara Hoppa Swanson Wei Tao and Jing Wu
Patrick Tews and Elizabeth Morack Ms. Allison Thornbrugh Thrivent Financial
Paul and Jennifer Ulrich
Mr. and Mrs. Tim Ulrich U.S. Bank Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Venn
Mr. Brian and Mrs. Kimberly Warner Mr. and Mrs. Brian C. Weaver
Drs. Jean Weaver and Francis Peterson Bill and Suzi Wertz
John and Jenifer Wietfeldt Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Will
Mr. and Mrs. Peter G. Wilson In Memory of Dan Wrensch Ms. Michelle A. York Mr. Jim Zielinski
RED & BLUE CIRCLE ($5 +) Anonymous (46)
Jean Carlson Adams
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Ahlensdorf, Sr. Sofia Alvarez Villa and
Manuel Fernandez de Castro Munoz
Mona Archibald
Dr. Helen Arkema ’83 and Mr. Garry Arkema Mr. Gil Atanasoff
Mr. and Mrs. Karl Atanasoff Mike and Debbie Ault
Rodney and Barb Baerbock Ms. Afton Baier
Ms. Shirley J. Bailey
Mr. and Mrs. Luke Baird
Paul and Lisa Chilsen
Kim and Dave Forsman
Jane Baldassi
Kylie Christensen
Beverly Francois
Carol Baker
Dan and Ann Bankenbush
Drs. Roger and Mette Baran Rebecca Barker
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Barth Mr. and Mrs. Don Bates Mrs. Gloria S. Batten
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Baumgardt Mary Jane Baumgardt
The Baxter International Foundation Amparo Beatriz and Pedro Garcia Paul Bemis and Amy Van Ermen Diana and David Benavides
Stephanie and Steve Benner Jerome and Judy Berens
Steve Berlin and Debbie Smith Berlin John and Janice Bernez Ms. Wendy Bishop Bill Black
Patricia Black
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Blenke Frank and Sharon Boerner
Mr. and Mrs. Paul S. Boese Courtney and Travis Brady
Mr. and Mrs. Duane Brasch Ms. Judy Braun
Tony Braun and Kathy Hart-Braun Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Breiwick Thomas Bresnehan
Dr. Lenora Brockman
Mr. James Broetzmann
MaryLynn Broughman Tom and Sally Brown
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Brzezinski
Raymond and Barbara Buckley
Mr. Thang Bui and Ms. Polly Doan Izzi Buikus
Lynn Bukacek
Mr. Clarence Burch
Mr. and Mrs. John Burgess Mr. Mark L. Burwell
Mr. and Mrs. Orey R. Buzzelli Mr. Connor Cain ’14
Steve and Anne Callaghan
Mr. Alvaro Campos and Mrs. Karen Alvardo Karen Carbajal and Luis Marquez David and Wallapa Carlson
Reverend Erik Carlson and Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson
Ms. Kelsey Cassidy
Mr. and Mrs. David Castaneda Mr. and Mrs. Tony Castellano Mr. Alexander Chay ’14
Tony Chen and Crystal Chiu Cheng-ta Chien and Jing Yu
Kevin and Kelly Christensen Kevin and Andrea Chuc Shelly and Joe Clayton
Ms. Gretchen Coffman
Shawn and Samantha Comaris ’95 Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cookman Mr. and Mrs. John Corcoran Craig Cortez
Ms. Jessica M. Cortez
Mr. Jonathan Cushman and Ms. Jennifer Cobb Marjorie Czop
Mr. and Mrs. R. David Foster Mrs. Sarah Friday Fredrickson ’91 John and Abigail French Ms. Bonnie B. Friday Liz Gabriel ’86
Geoff and Melissa Gallert Mr. Ali Ganjian ’97
Donna and Jim Garard
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Garchek
Dr. Eduardo Garcia-Novelli and Dr. Maria Fiocchi
Frank and Lisa D’Acquisto
Gene and Jana Gasiorkiewicz
Mrs. Susan Gesner Danziger
Margaret and Mark Gesner
Mr. and Mrs. John Dana
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel W. Davies Ms. Elizabeth Davis
Jeffrey and Erin Decker
Michael J. Degenhart ’80
Jack and Patricia Derhovsepian Sheetal and Ratnang Desai
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Devine Mr. and Mrs. Jurgen Dinges
Theresa and Timothy Dixon
Jennifer Dooley-Hogan and John Hogan J.D. Dreifuerst ’19 Luann Dreifuerst
Jackie and Dal Drummer Mr. and Mrs. Ken Dues Gee Dujua
Lois Dunbar
Hortense Dupin de Saint Cyr
Rachel Ehlers and Johrie Dyess, Sr. Tim and Julie Eckert Jason Eickmeyer
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Elcano, Sr.
Mark Ellena and Susan Birdsall ’78 Mrs. Loretta J. Ellis
Bob and Kathy Emery
Norm and Mari Erickson Mary Ericson
Mr. and Mrs. Aldo Fallico
Frederick and Lesley Farbo Brian and Nancy Farr
Lessia and Robert Fasshauer Maria Feiler ’14
Grazyna and Glen Feld
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Fenkl
Massi and Alison Ferrentino
James Fiers II and Cathy Fiers Kodakara Fletcher ’18
Mr. and Mrs. Yazi Fletcher Melissa G. Flynn Nancy Flynn
Mr. Craig Ford and Mrs. Nancy Witkofski-Ford Dr. and Mrs. Robin Ford
Charles and Alicia Gasser Ms. Kristina Gile
Mr. Marcelo F. Ginestel and Ms. Alice Place Giving Assistant, Inc
Dennis and Judith Guiliani
Genoveva and Jason Glassman Jenni and Ted Goad
Ms. Alline Goeke ’14 Barb Gold
Helga and Bob Gold
Rachel and Steve Gold Joann Goodyear
Grace Gould ’17
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Grauwels Virginija Greblikiene
Dennis and Sandra Grinde
Steven Grinde and Rachel Burton-Grinde Scott and Pat Grobschmidt
Ed Guion and Camille Jensen-Guion Dr. Jolyn and Mr. Austin Gundlach Dorothy Gutenkunst
George and Monique Gutenkunst Jeffrey and Donna Hands Nancy Harper
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Hartig ’76 Sonja and Doug Haske
Chad and Wendi Hawkins Harry M. Hawkins, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Laverne Hays
Edward and Donna Heidemann Therese Heller
Mr. and Mrs. James E. Henderson Ms. Emily A. Henkel
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hetland Mr. and Mrs. Roger Higgs Elizabeth Hokanson ’19
Kevin and Beth Hokanson David and Virginia Holle Mr. Eric Hollow ’11
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel E. Horton Charles and Erin Housiaux
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Huebsch
Scott and Kathryn Huggins
Dustin Leitheiser ’14
Mr. Zachary Nacev and Ms. Erin Curtis Nacev
Mr. and Mrs. Kurt E. Ignasiak
Susan Lescher
Donna Nash
Mr. Fred Humphreys
Toni Alicia Jackson Smith ’84 Abigail and Lee Jaramillo James and Janet Jedlicka Pete and Paula Jedlicka
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Jensen
Johnson Keland Management, Inc. Cynthia Johnson
Deanere Johnson-Shelton and Larry Johnson Jerome Jones
Mr. Michael Joost ’03 and Mrs. Anna Joost Jeff and Katie Jorgenson Caroline Jung ’01
Mr. Zachary Kant ’14
Dominic and Susan Kegel The Kelly Family
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce J. Kelly Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kelly
Mr. and Ms. Kevin J. Kiesig
Dr. Stephen and Linda King Jaimie M. Kirkwood John and Jacki Kirt
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Knier Ms. Emma Knoell ’20
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Kocjan Gerald and Helen Kocourek
Mr. and Mrs. Scott A. Kocourek Lucas Koenen ’14
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford J. Kogutkiewicz Jeremy and Valencia Koker
Tiffany and Robert Konecko Maureen and Kurt Konkel Wolf Korndoerfer Joan Kozlowicz
Mr. and Mrs. Carl M. Krejcha, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Mark H. Krekling
Dr. Rebecca Lescher and Mr. James Lescher Jeffrey and Jamie Lewiston Janice Limperis
Marcus and Daina Lind Mr. Al Lindsey
Connie and Joseph Lipari Mr. Jacob Lipor Elizabeth Long
Alfred and Kelly Longoria John and Jodi Lopez
Jason E. Louttit and Abigail King Mr. and Mrs. Jim Lubach Mick and Missy Lucareli
Christopher and Kimberly Maksimik Kathleen Malone ’81
Catherine M. Marbach and James S. Symanski Lee and Mary Martin
Richard and Tanya Larsen
Carly Larson-Rondeau and Shane Rondeau Amanda and Ivan Lawler
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lazzeroni Ms. Diann Lebow
Stephanie Ledvina and Lisa Luchun Mr. Art Leinweber
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Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Norton Mr. and Mrs. John Novy Robyn O’Brien
Mrs. Kara Metzger Ohmstead ’03 and Mr. Mike Ohmstead
Jordanne L. Orlowski ’19
Mr. and Mrs. George Oteman Mr. and Mrs. Torben Ovesen Keith and Melody Owsley
Amanda Cosgrove Paffrath ’85 and Mark Paffrath
Kathy Palmen
Cathy and Dennis McCombs
Rev. Mark and Mrs. Margaret McDonough Mr. and Mrs. Wayne McGuire Andrew and Gail McIntosh
Mr. Everett McKinney and Dr. John Magerus Jane and Ronald Means
Anthony and Abbey Mente Steve and Sue Mente
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Menzhuber Rick and Karen Mews
Mrs. Alexis Mikaelian-Maag ’09 and Mr. Peter Maag
Alan and Melissa Mills Michael Minasian and
Edith Soghomonian-Minasian
Mr. James Momberg ’75
Dennis and Leslie Lantz
Ryan and Sarah Nichols
Mr. and Mrs. Mark J. McCleary
Tom and Veronica Maurer
Diana Lamberton
Mr. and Mrs. Ian Lang
Mr. Michael Nelson and Ms. Sharon Kellogg
Mr. and Mrs. Mike Palazzola
Thomas and Dorothy Miner
Ms. Hannah Lane and Dr. Peter Sattler
Mr. Zane Navratil ’14
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Marz
Steve and Carmen Kutsch
Ahmad T. Landrum
John F. Navratil ’78
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew R. Oscarson
Mr. David Maki and Mrs. Susan Buhler-Maki
Nicholas and Cheryl Milo
Jacinta Lagos and Juan Cubas Matheu
Denis Navratil ’83 and Dimple Navratil
Francis and Constance Mahsem
Bree Mahone
Richard and Patricia Kubis Ms. Brianna Kunstman
Paul and Liz Nass
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Olson
Shazia Miller ’85 and Sam Miller
Kristine Kulig-Doss and Christopher Doss
Ilir and Gen Nasi
Mr. and Mrs. Duane Luick
Bernadette and Ray Krivsky Jessica and Brian Krivsky
Dr. Tawfiq Nadi and Mrs. Hoda Matariyeh-Nadi
Ms. Barbara D. Mitchell Carlos A. Monge III ’78 Mr. James Moore
Paul and Sheena Moore Ms. Sally Moore
William and Peggy Moore Mr. and Mrs. Bud Morack
Jim Mueller and Christine Henke Mueller Ms. Arooj Mukarram
Ansa Munawar and Imran Warrich Mrs. JoAnn Drewek Murtha and Mr. Robert Murtha
Jon and Suzanne Palmen
Mark and Dori Panthofer
David and Judy Parmentier Mr. Fletcher Paulsen
Linda and Mark Pawlak
Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Payes Ms. Kierstyn Payne ’14
Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Pehlivanian Jose and Susan Pena
Rachel Pena and Ryan Chadek Sophia and Joseph Penkala
Walter and Cynthia Penkala Zach and Cassie Perkins
Bruce and Kathleen Pessin Ms. Patty Petersen Ms. Amy Peterson Carole Peterson
Mr. and Mrs. Greg Peterson Ron and Dawn Peterson Evan Piekara
Mr. and Mrs. James A. Pitts Sarah Plachinski ’14 Mrs. Sheila Polzin Ms. Karen Poppy
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Portz
Robert and Carolyn Rashleger Jim and Jane Raufus Phil Ray
Hugh and Jeanne Rayburn Kevin Reardon
Pula and Sabitha Reddy
William Reid ’73 and Nicole Reid
Jason and Brittany Reuwer
Dr. Elizabeth Nicole Steffensen ’04 and
Eleane and Paul Wokwicz
Carol and John Rezmer
Galen and Michelle Steig
Holly Wolf-Mattick
Owen J. Rice ’77
Robert and Dawn Stepien
Michelle McPherson Reyes and Ricardo Reyes Jessica and Steve Rezmer Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rice
Sandy and Robert Richter
Brian Riley and Christina Carrington-Riley ’80 Nikunj and Kirti Ringwala David and Becky Roehl Scott Roehl
Ms. Dena Roncone
Darryl and Jill Ronning Shari Ronning
Lindsay Roskovensky ’02 and Mathieu Roskovensky
Nicholas and Kelly Rozzoni
Nickolas and Jennifer Ruetz
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ruetz Robert Russell
Marissa Rutkowski
Mr. and Mrs. Guilherme Saboia Mauricio and Elizabeth Salazar Mr. and Mrs. David Santalucia Helen Schaefer
Brad and Suzie Schafer
Nich and Shannon Schafer Ms. Jennifer Schmidt ’14 Vicki and Ted Schmitz
Mr. Nicholas Schneider ’14 Eric and Catherine Scholz
Gary and Sharon Schonert
Mr. Ryan Schowalter ’05 and Ms. Kim Braun ’05 Lisa Schumacher
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schwalbe
Gardner and Jessica Seawright John Seiber
JoAnn and Don Selmo
Dennis Shaw and Elizabeth Pehlivanian Shaw ’86
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Shipe
Mr. Ryan Mattsen
Jane and Randall Stein Jeff and Cindi Stewart
Dr. Rebecca Stohler ’90
David and Suzanne Stoltenberg Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stoner Paul Suprak
Rich and Victoria Svejcar
Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Svoboda
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Swanson ’76 Michael and Janice Swanson The Swedberg Family
Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Tennant Tom Tousis
Karen Tradewell
Alida and Bob Trocke
Mr. Stephen Truckey ’14 Jane and Joe Truka Daniel Turek
Mrs. Karen Turek
Marcey Uday-Riley Jenny Ulbricht
Sharon Vaccaro Sabrina Vajda
Larry and Karen Van De Loo
Michael and Mary Vandegriffe Michael and Carrie Vanko
Mr. Jim Vass and Mrs. Marion Dow-Vass Frederick Vetter
Dan and Christina Wade The Wadhwani Family Benjamin Wagner Helmut Wagner
Mr. and Mrs. David Wait
Wakanda Elementary School Karen and Jim Walker Ms. Eileen Walter
and Mr. Gregg Baumann
Bob and Sue Siegert
Andrea and Thomas Ware
Mr. and Mrs. Skorski
Wells Fargo
Carlo and Aline Sisto Bill and Ali Sluis
Helen and Joost Sluis
Allyson and Eric Smalley Jim and Joyce Smith Ms. Kathleen Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Chad Solodio Sue and Bob Spitz
Kathy and George Sretenovich Mr. and Mrs. Brent R. Stache Patricia and Glenn Stalker Alesha and Corbin Stam
Darryl Stang and Allison Attonito
Mr. Thomas Ware ’13
Wells Fargo Educational Matching Gift Program Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Westerfield Ms. Victoria Westman ’14 Dr. Rebecca L. Wheeler John and Jodi White
Michael and Rebecca Wienke Trent D. Wiesner ’19
Donald and Sandra Wilde Eric and Marcia Wilks Emma Will ’14
Kathryn Winnen
Ms. Alison Wojahn
Jacqueline Wojtanowski
Ms. Megan Wolf ’14
Hannah and Rich Wosilait Chao-Ying Yan
Mr. Luke H. Yehlen
Congzhang Yu and Fanny Mao Gary and Ann Zander
Ms. Margaret Zimmermann ’14 Lynn Zobel
Faculty
For the sixth consecutive year, 100% of Prairie’s full-time faculty made a charitable gift to the Prairie Fund –– yet another reminder of their extraordinary commitment to their students.
— Joy and Jon Aragones
Mr. Marcelo F. Ginestel and Ms. Alice Place
Brendan and Lisa O’Brien
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis R. Axelson
Jenni and Ted Goad
Keith and Melody Owsley
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Atanasoff Pat Badger
Bernoli Baello
Mr. Mark Baker and Ms. Sylvie Travard Dan and Ann Bankenbush
Mr. and Mrs. Jason L. Barrett Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Barth The Berkey Family
Michael and Kathryn Boero and Family Joan Bolewski
Dr. Michael A. Boticki
Courtney and Travis Brady
Mr. and Mrs. Corey Brandt
Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Breiwick Thomas Bresnehan
Mr. James Broetzmann
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Brzezinski Izzi Buikus
Shawn and Angie Burwell John and Terie Carpenter Ms. Kelsey Cassidy
Jenni and Rich Chiapete
Kevin and Kelly Christensen Nat and Laura Coffman Kirsten Cousin
Mr. Jonathan Cushman and Ms. Jennifer Cobb Mr. and Mrs. Daniel W. Davies Ms. Elizabeth Davis
Hortense Dupin de Saint Cyr Kevin and Lisa Eaton
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Fenkl
James Fiers II and Cathy Fiers Melissa G. Flynn
Kim and Dave Forsman
John and Abigail French
Geoff and Melissa Gallert
Dr. Eduardo Garcia-Novelli and Dr. Maria Fiocchi
Charles and Alicia Gasser Ms. Kristina Gile
12 | prairieschool.com
Genoveva and Jason Glassman Mari and Jason Grobschmidt
Ed Guion and Camille Jensen-Guion Dr. Jolyn and Mr. Austin Gundlach Al and Jan Hagopian
TJ and Amber Hearn Ms. Emily A. Henkel
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hoffman Mr. Eric Hollow ’11 The Holum Family
Charles and Erin Housiaux
Scott and Kathryn Huggins Abigail and Lee Jaramillo
Molly Lofquist Johnson and Steve Johnson Jerome Jones
Steve and Cindy Joost
Dominic and Susan Kegel John and Jacki Kirt
Mr. and Mrs. Peter G. Koleske
Mr. and Mrs. Mark H. Krekling Ms. Brianna Kunstman
Mr. and Mrs. Steve LaLonde
Ms. Hannah Lane and Dr. Peter Sattler Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Leinweber Mr. Jacob Lipor Elizabeth Long
Jason E. Louttit and Abigail King Joe and Christina Manley
Mr. and Mrs. Mark J. McCleary
Rev. Mark and Mrs. Margaret McDonough Anthony and Abbey Mente
Sophie and Thomas Michaud Alan and Melissa Mills Michael Minasian and
Edith Soghomonian-Minasian
Paul and Sheena Moore
Jim Mueller and Christine Henke Mueller Ms. Arooj Mukarram
Mr. Zachary Nacev and Ms. Erin Curtis Nacev Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Nelson Jr
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew R. Oscarson Mark and Dori Panthofer Mr. Fletcher Paulsen
Sophia and Joseph Penkala Zach and Cassie Perkins Ms. Amy Peterson
Nick and Aliya Pitts Jim and Jane Raufus
William Reid ’73 and Nicole Reid Jason and Brittany Reuwer Ms. Dena Roncone
Mr. and Mrs. David Santalucia Nich and Shannon Schafer Vicki and Ted Schmitz
Gardner and Jessica Seawright Mr. and Mrs. Klay Shannon Rachel and Bill Shuster
Allyson and Eric Smalley
Andrew and Valerie Sprunger Alesha and Corbin Stam
Galen and Michelle Steig
Kenneth Swanson and Barbara Hoppa Swanson Mr. and Mrs. David J. Turek
Mr. Jim Vass and Mrs. Marion Dow-Vass Benjamin Wagner
Mr. and Mrs. Brian C. Weaver
Drs. Jean Weaver and Francis Peterson Dr. Rebecca L. Wheeler Ben and Katie White
Eric and Marcia Wilks
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Will
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Winnen Ms. Alison Wojahn
Holly Wolf-Mattick Chao-Ying Yan
Mr. Luke H. Yehlen Mr. Jim Zielinski Lynn Zobel
Endowment
Prairie’s endowment generates interest to fund the school’s annual operations as well as its scholarship and financial aid programs. We are grateful to all of our endowment donors, whose gifts will ensure our school’s financial health for years to come.
— Akemi and Darryl Babu ’88
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Isaacson ’96
Dr. Rafi and Mrs. June Rafiullah
Joyce Ramos Barnes ’93 and Jonathan Barnes
Molly Lofquist Johnson and Steve Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rice
Pat Badger
Faye Becker
Ms. Wendy Bishop
Dr. Robert and Mrs. Natalie Bissegger Ms. Judy Braun
Ms. Kristine Braun ’06
Raymond and Barbara Buckley Mr. Connor Cain ’14
Bryan Clarke ’89 and Adrienne Clarke Shawn and Samantha Comaris ’95 Mr. and Mrs. David P. Cook
Meg Rowland Daniels ’82 and John Daniels Jack and Patricia Derhovsepian
John Dykema and Lisa Cool-Dykema ’80 Mary Ericson
Gene and Jana Gasiorkiewicz Richard C. Gorton ’78
Jason Green and Gwen E. Farley Green ’76 Mr. and Mrs. David Hecker Bob and Sally Henzl Susan Inbusch
Tom and Pat Isaacson
The Estate of Imogene Powers Johnson Dennis and Sandy Kontra
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond C. Leffler
Mike Lewis and Pamela Short-Lewis ’80 Jeffrey and Jamie Lewiston
Francis and Constance Mahsem
Catherine M. Marbach and James S. Symanski Marlo, Incorporated
Cathy and Dennis McCombs
Brad Meyers ’98 and Lindsey Frank Meyers ’02 Thomas and Dorothy Miner Mary Lou Moeller
Mr. James Momberg ’75
Mrs. Karen Murillo ’78 and Mr. Jorge Murillo Paul and Liz Nass
Denis Navratil ’83 and Dimple Navratil
Mr. W. David Perez ’91 and Mrs. Nicole Perez William and Catherine Perez
Racine Community Foundation Rowland Family Fund
Phil Ray
Dr. Eric and Mrs. Mary Ringwalt John S. Rowland II ’75
Mrs. Julianne F. Rowland Robert Russell
SC Johnson Giving, Inc.
Nich and Shannon Schafer
Mr. Ryan Schowalter ’05 and Ms. Kim Braun ’05 Mr. Brian H Short ’88
Dr. and Mrs. Howard W. Short
Mark Scholzen and Lisa Short-Scholzen ’82 Mr. and Mrs. Ron Steimle
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Swanson ’76 Michael and Janice Swanson Frederick Vetter
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Wagner ’87 Jennifer Perez Warren ’94 Trent D. Wiesner ’19
Donald and Sandra Wilde Gary and Ann Zander
From the Prairie Fund Chair —
Dear Prairie Families, It’s that time again: the season of the “year in review.” Reflection can be a powerful tool, but it can also be overwhelming to think back over a full 12 months — especially during a year like this most recent one. It’s the reason we gravitate toward “Top 10” lists, and articles that help us break down and digest all that has happened, and how we can build on the good moving forward. As I thought back on the year in fundraising, I considered writing for you a list, “Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Give to Prairie.” But each one of us has one, two, three, or four reasons living right in our own homes.
“I ask that you keep every single one of your own personal reasons for supporting Prairie in mind as we move forward together.”
Mine are named Emma ’20, Wyatt ’22, and Gretta ’29. Each has had their own unique experience at Prairie, making it impossible for me to narrow down the list even for our own family. You’re holding this magazine in your hands, which I’m guessing means you feel much the same. Maybe your grandchild is the happiest they’ve ever been at Prairie; maybe your own personal experience in a certain teacher’s class changed the course of your career, or your life. Together, we could easily compile a top 10, 20, or even 100 reasons why this incredibly dynamic school is worth our continued support. For the last two years, I have reached out to you each fall, asking for your collaboration in growing the Prairie Fund, the annual fundraising drive that supports everything from curricular resources to faculty enrichment to athletic uniforms. You have answered in droves; your commitment has produced consecutive record-setting totals, providing funds for programs, people, and places on campus, old and new — giving us even more reasons to love this community. I ask that you keep every single one of your own personal reasons for supporting Prairie in mind as we move forward together, into a new year that already looks different than in the past. We have proven the power of collective action; now more than ever, it is incumbent on us to continue that charge to propel our students and our community forward. The countdown begins! Sincerely,
Lyndsay Knoell 2020-2021 Parent Prairie Fund Chair Prairie School Trustee 14 | prairieschool.com
The Prairie Fund
The Prairie Fund is our most critical fundraising endeavor, as it supports every facet of school life. Our entire community is grateful to the donors who contributed to the Prairie Fund in the 2019-20 year.
— Anonymous (5)
Mr. and Mrs. Don Bates
Mr. Mark L. Burwell
AbbVie, Inc.
John ’83 and Jane Batten
Mr. and Mrs. Orey R. Buzzelli
7 Mile Fair, Inc. Mr. Matthew Adamczyk ’10 and
Mrs. Abby Gaertig Adamczyk ’10
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Ahlensdorf, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Akil I. Ajmeri
Dr. Andrew C. Alexander ’87 Lois Alexander AmazonSmile
Matt and Rita Andis
Matt K. and Lisa M. Andis
Drs. Mihail and Anelia Andreeva Nijole and Julius Andriusis
Dr. Michael and Mrs. Benoite Angeline Akosua Aning and Alejandro Zavaleta Sever and Andreea Anton
Mr. and Mrs. Gus Antonneau Tom and Kirsten Antonneau Apple, Inc.
Joy and Jon Aragones
Arch W. Shaw Foundation Mona Archibald
Dr. Helen Arkema ’83 and Mr. Garry Arkema Mr. Tony Arnone and Mrs. Casie Arnone Mr. and Mrs. Jason Atanasoff Mr. and Mrs. Karl Atanasoff Mike and Debbie Ault Kathryn Axelson ’07
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis R. Axelson Akemi and Darryl Babu ’88
Dr. Manoj Babu and Dr. Sheryn Abraham Pat Badger
Bernoli Baello
Rodney and Barb Baerbock Ms. Shirley J. Bailey
Mr. and Mrs. Luke Baird Carol Baker
John Baker, Jr. and Mary Baker
Mr. Mark Baker and Ms. Sylvie Travard Rachel and Derek Baker Jane Baldassi
Michael Banco and Hope Heaster Dan and Ann Bankenbush
Mr. Andres Baptista and Mrs. Zaida Puy Arena Drs. Roger and Mette Baran Rebecca Barker
Mr. and Mrs. Jason L. Barrett Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Barth
Mrs. Gloria S. Batten
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Baumgardt Mary Jane Baumgardt
The Baxter International Foundation Amparo Beatriz and Pedro Garcia Tiffany and Jon Behrends
Paul Bemis and Amy Van Ermen Diana and David Benavides
Stephanie and Steve Benner Jerome and Judy Berens
Shawn and Angie Burwell Mr. Connor Cain ’14
Steve and Anne Callaghan
Kevin Campbell ’76 and Mary Campbell
Mr. Alvaro Campos and Mrs. Karen Alvardo Daniel and Lauren Carbajal
Karen Carbajal and Luis Marquez David and Wallapa Carlson Reverend Erik Carlson and
Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson
The Berkey Family
Jean Carlson Adams
John and Janice Bernez
John and Terie Carpenter
Steve Berlin and Debbie Smith Berlin Rob and Laura Bishop Bill Black
Patricia Black
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Blenke Tom and Theresie Bode
Frank and Sharon Boerner
Michael and Kathryn Boero and Family Mr. and Mrs. Paul S. Boese
Mr. Ben Boilek and Mrs. Jeanette Dutton-Boilek Joan Bolewski
Lisa and Tom Bolger
Michael ’99 and Shay ’00 Borzynski Boston Consulting Group, Inc. Constance and John Boticki Dr. Michael A. Boticki
Courtney and Travis Brady
Mr. and Mrs. Corey Brandt
Mr. and Mrs. Duane Brasch
Tony Braun and Kathy Hart-Braun Andrea and Jorge Bravo
Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Breiwick Thomas Bresnehan
Mr. James Broetzmann
MaryLynn Broughman Tom and Sally Brown
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Brzezinski
Mr. Thang Bui and Ms. Polly Doan Izzi Buikus
Bukacek Construction Group Lynn Bukacek
Mr. Clarence Burch
Michelle and Anthony Burch Mr. and Mrs. John Burgess Mr. William E. Burke
Dick and Jo Carpenter
Kristie and Brian Carpenter Ms. Kelsey Cassidy
Mr. and Mrs. David Castaneda
Mr. Rocco Castellano and Dr. Irina Ciubotaru Mr. and Mrs. Tony Castellano Sarah and Andrew Chadwick Mr. Alexander Chay ’14
Tony Chen and Crystal Chiu Jenni and Rich Chiapete Nick Chiappetta
Susan and Ferdinand Chiappetta Cheng-ta Chien and Jing Yu Paul and Lisa Chilsen
Kevin and Kelly Christensen Kylie Christensen
Mr. Patrick Christensen and Dr. Nichole Elcano Kevin and Andrea Chuc
Mark Chulew ’72 and Stacey Chulew
Mr. Alan Clark and Ms. Andrea Bukacek ’03 Dr. and Mrs. David Clark Shelly and Joe Clayton Richard Coates ’72
Ms. Gretchen Coffman
Nat and Laura Coffman
Shawn and Samantha Comaris ’95 Mr. and Mrs. David P. Cook Kevin and Noel Cookman
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cookman Mr. and Mrs. John Corcoran Craig Cortez
Ms. Jessica M. Cortez Kirsten Cousin
Jennifer and Joseph Cronin
Mr. Jonathan Cushman and Ms. Jennifer Cobb
Dr. Marshall Cushman
Sharon and William Feather
Ms. Alline Goeke ’14
Frank and Lisa D’Acquisto
Grazyna and Glen Feld
Helga and Bob Gold
Marjorie Czop
Mr. and Mrs. John Dana
Meg Rowland Daniels ’82 and John Daniels Mr. and Mrs. Daniel W. Davies Mr. and Mrs. Brett Davis Ms. Elizabeth Davis
Mr. Gregory Davis ’82 Jane Davis
Roslyn Davis
Mrs. Susan Gesner Danziger Jeffrey and Erin Decker
Michael J. Degenhart ’80
Denise and Ethan Denault Rhonda Deneka
Sheetal and Ratnang Desai
Kanwal Dhar and Shally Chogtu Amarjit and Tajdeep Dhindsa Mr. and Mrs. Jurgen Dinges Ms. Melissa Dixon
Theresa and Timothy Dixon
Cassie Doan and Tony Huynh Julia and Bastian Dreher J.D. Dreifuerst ’19 Luann Dreifuerst
Tom and Melissa Dreifuerst Jackie and Dal Drummer Sam and Emily Duchac Mr. and Mrs. Ken Dues Gee Dujua
Lois Dunbar
Hortense Dupin de Saint Cyr
Dr. Barbara Little Earnest ’74 and Mr. Royce Earnest
Jennifer Eastman
Kevin and Lisa Eaton
Dave and Kathy Eberle
Maria Feiler ’14
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Fenkl
Massi and Alison Ferrentino Ms. Abigail Fiegel ’12
Ms. Alexandra Fiegel ’07
Paul Fiegel and Dr. Therese Fellner Rick and Jana Fiegel
James Fiers II and Cathy Fiers Michael and Ann Flegel Kodakara Fletcher ’18
Mr. and Mrs. Yazi Fletcher Melissa G. Flynn Nancy Flynn
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Foltz
Erika Ford ’95 and Aaron Ford ’96 Dr. and Mrs. Robin Ford Foremost Advisors, Inc.
Kim and Dave Forsman
Richard Fortune and Laura Narten & Family Scott and Charmaine Foster Beverly Francois
Jerry and Lynn Franke Nate Franke ’99
Matthew Frankovis ’99 and Megan Frankovis Robert and Marilyn Fransway
Mrs. Sarah Friday Fredrickson ’91 John and Abigail French Ms. Bonnie B. Friday
Marc and Tracey Frosch Liz Gabriel ’86
Geoff and Melissa Gallert Mr. Ali Ganjian ’97
Donna and Jim Garard
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Garchek
Dr. Eduardo Garcia-Novelli and Dr. Maria Fiocchi
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas D. Eberle
Mateo Garcia-Novelli ’15
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Elcano, Sr.
Luis Garduño de la Cruz and
Rachel Ehlers and Johrie Dyess, Sr. Mark Ellena and Susan Birdsall ’78
Robert P. Gardetto ’79 and Barbara Gardetto Silvia Miranda Hernández
Mrs. Loretta J. Ellis
Charles and Alicia Gasser
Bill and Renee Elworthy
The GE Foundation
Dr. Mary Ellis and Mr. Garry Ellis Adam ’93 and Allison Emery Bob and Kathy Emery
Mr. and Mrs. Dave Engstrom Norm and Mari Erickson Dr. Julie Ericson ’83
Mr. and Mrs. Aldo Fallico Mr. and Mrs. Joe Fallico
Frederick and Lesley Farbo Rick and Nikki Farbo Brian and Nancy Farr
Lessia and Robert Fasshauer John and Holly Feather
16 | prairieschool.com
Paul and Heidi Gaylord Van and Janet Gegas
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Gelhaus Margaret and Mark Gesner Ms. Kristina Gile
Chad and Julie Giles
Mr. Marcelo F. Ginestel and Ms. Alice Place Dennis and Judith Giuliani Giving Assistant, Inc
Genoveva and Jason Glassman
Mr. Brian Glines ’08 and Mrs. Sarah Glines Mr. and Mrs. Michael Glines Jenni and Ted Goad
Barb Gold
Rachel and Steve Gold Joann Goodyear
Grace Gould ’17
Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth L. Gould Mr. and Mrs. Joe Grauwels Mike and Jessica Greb Virginija Greblikiene
Dennis and Sandra Grinde
Steven Grinde and Rachel Burton-Grinde Mari and Jason Grobschmidt Scott and Pat Grobschmidt
Ed Guion and Camille Jensen-Guion Dr. Jolyn and Mr. Austin Gundlach Jill and Scott Gundy
Dr. and Mrs. David M. Gustitus Dorothy Gutenkunst
George and Monique Gutenkunst Mario and Claudia Gvuzd Marie Haertel
Al and Jan Hagopian Kevin S. Hall ’85
Jeffrey and Donna Hands
Scott Harlan and Maureen Kennedy-Harlan Nancy Harper
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Hartig ’76 Sonja and Doug Haske
Chad and Wendi Hawkins Harry M. Hawkins, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Laverne Hays TJ and Amber Hearn Greg and Lisa Heath
Mary and Owen Heath
Edward and Donna Heidemann Therese Heller
Mr. and Mrs. James E. Henderson Ms. Emily A. Henkel Bob and Sally Henzl James Herre ’82
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hetland David and Nicole Higgs
Mr. and Mrs. Roger Higgs
Collin and Krystyn Hirsch Ms. Jeanette A. Hoffman
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hoffman Jane and Stephen Hogan
Kevin and Beth Hokanson
Mr. and Mrs. David Holland David and Virginia Holle Ed and Jody Holle
Mr. Eric Hollow ’11 The Holum Family
David C. Hoogendoorn Charitable Giving Mr. and Mrs. Daniel E. Horton Matthew and Alyson Horton
Mr. and Mrs. David Horvath
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Knier
Dr. Rebecca Lescher and Mr. James Lescher
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Huebsch
Dr. Lyndsay N. Knoell and Dr. Wendy M. Knoell
Mr. and Mrs. Don Libby
Charles and Erin Housiaux
Scott and Kathryn Huggins Mr. Fred Humphreys
Nancy and Warren Icke
Mr. and Mrs. Kurt E. Ignasiak Susan Inbusch
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Isaacson ’96 Tom and Pat Isaacson
Toni Alicia Jackson Smith ’84 Majed and Reem Jandali Peter and Karen Jansson
Abigail and Lee Jaramillo James and Janet Jedlicka Pete and Paula Jedlicka
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Jensen Randy and Anthi Jerow
Johnson Family Foundation
Johnson Keland Management, Inc. Cynthia Johnson
Dave and Chris Johnson
Deanere Johnson-Shelton and Larry Johnson H. Fisk Johnson, Ph.D. ’75
Jason and Destiny Johnson
Molly Lofquist Johnson and Steve Johnson Odinn Johnson ’93 and Lauren Wimmer Pam Johnson ’73
Pat and Katie Johnson
Mr. S. Curtis Johnson ’73 Skye Johnson Jerome Jones
Mr. Michael Joost ’03 and Mrs. Anna Joost Steve and Cindy Joost Charles Jorgensen
Jeff and Katie Jorgenson
Josephine P. and John J. Louis Foundation Caroline Jung ’01
Cymbria Jung ’98
Mr. Thomas V. and Lucy T. Kandathil The Kane Family
Joseph Kann and Christine Shields Kann Mr. Zachary Kant ’14
Mr. George Karegeannes and
Mrs. Amy Karegeannes ’94
Dominic and Susan Kegel
Mr. and Mrs. H. William Keland ’73 The Kelly Family
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce J. Kelly Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kelly
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Ketterer Chris Kettmann
Mr. and Mrs. Khalaf Khalaf
Dr. Stephen and Linda King
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas King ’78 Jaimie M. Kirkwood John and Jacki Kirt
Ms. Emma Knoell ’20
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Kocjan Gerald and Helen Kocourek
Mr. and Mrs. Scott A. Kocourek Lucas Koenen ’14
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford J. Kogutkiewicz Steve and Dana Kohl
Jeremy and Valencia Koker
Drs. Piotr and Joanna Kolanowski Mr. and Mrs. Peter G. Koleske Bozena and Richard Konecko Tiffany and Robert Konecko Maureen and Kurt Konkel Dennis and Sandy Kontra
Mr. and Mrs. Ragnar H. Korthase Thomas and Rebekah Kowalski Joan Kozlowicz
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Kranen ’77
Mr. and Mrs. Carl M. Krejcha, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Mark H. Krekling Bernadette and Ray Krivsky Jessica and Brian Krivsky
Richard and Patricia Kubis
Kristine Kulig-Doss and Christopher Doss Dr. Pradeep Kumar and Dr. Jaya Iyer Ms. Brianna Kunstman
Steve and Carmen Kutsch
Ashley and Laura Labarber
Denise Lacoste and Ezequiel Tvardek Mr. and Mrs. James Ladwig
Jacinta Lagos and Juan Cubas Matheu Lisa Laitinen and Andrew Fellner Mr. and Mrs. Steve LaLonde Diana Lamberton
Mr. and Mrs. Dean Lameer, Jr. Ahmad T. Landrum
Ms. Hannah Lane and Dr. Peter Sattler Mr. and Mrs. Ian Lang
Susan Lescher
Janice Limperis
Marcus and Daina Lind Mr. Al Lindsey
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Linstroth Connie and Joseph Lipari Mr. Jacob Lipor Elizabeth Long
Alfred and Kelly Longoria John and Jodi Lopez
Jason E. Louttit and Abigail King Mr. and Mrs. Jim Lubach Mick and Missy Lucareli
Mr. and Mrs. Duane Luick
Dr. James Lynott and Mrs. Jessica Lynott Mrs. Dorothy MacVicar
Becky and Mark Madsen
Mr. David Maki and Mrs. Susan Buhler-Maki Christopher and Kimberly Maksimik Carol and Robert Malik Kathleen Malone ’81
Mr. Terence S. Malone
John and Becky Mamalakis Joe and Christina Manley Lee and Mary Martin
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Marz Mr. and Mrs. Paul Marz
Joseph and Kate Maurer
Steve Maurer and Amy Giles-Maurer Tom and Veronica Maurer Mr. and Mrs. Daniel May
Luciano Mazon and Michelle Maiochi Mazon Mr. and Mrs. Mark J. McCleary Cathy and Dennis McCombs
Brian & Georgia (Bruch) McDonough ’78
Rev. Mark and Mrs. Margaret McDonough Patrick McGuire and
Megan Rowland McGuire ’02
Brian Langendorf
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne McGuire
Dennis and Leslie Lantz
Mr. Everett McKinney and Dr. John Magerus
Gary and Mary Sue Langendorf Amy S. Larsen ’73 Mary Larsen
Richard and Tanya Larsen
Carly Larson-Rondeau and Shane Rondeau Tiffany Larson
Ms. Diann Lebow
Stephanie Ledvina and Lisa Luchun Mr. and Mrs. Raymond C. Leffler Cathie and John Lehman Jennifer Lehner ’14
Craig Leipold and Helen Johnson-Leipold ’74 Mr. Art Leinweber
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Leinweber Dustin Leitheiser ’14
Andrew and Gail McIntosh
Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. McManmon Carolyn McNeil
David and Betsy McPhee Jane and Ronald Means
Mr. and Mrs. Deepak Mehra
Suchang Mei and Jing Wen Mei Michael Melzer ’02
Anthony and Abbey Mente Steve and Sue Mente
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Menzhuber Blaine and Mary Metzger Rick and Karen Mews
Mr. Matthew Meyer ’99
Garet and Kristin Mianecki
Sophie and Thomas Michaud
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew R. Oscarson
Racine Community Foundation -
Susan and Lawrence Mielke
Mr. and Mrs. George Oteman
Lucas Raimondi and Soledad Pasman
Keith and Melody Owsley
Jim and Jane Raufus
Microsoft Corporation
Mrs. Alexis Mikaelian-Maag ’09 and Mr. Peter Maag
Guy and Mona Milinski
Shazia Miller ’85 and Sam Miller
The Osiecki Family
Mr. and Mrs. Torben Ovesen
Amanda Cosgrove Paffrath ’85 and Mark Paffrath
Rusty and Dave Millin
Gustavo Pallordet and Mercedes Cutrini
Nicholas and Cheryl Milo
Kathy Palmen
Alan and Melissa Mills
Mark and Christina Milos Michael Minasian and
Edith Soghomonian-Minasian
Ms. Barbara D. Mitchell Mary Lou Moeller
Jack and Dottie Moll
Carlos A. Monge III ’78 Paul and Sheena Moore Ms. Sally Moore
William and Peggy Moore Mr. and Mrs. Bud Morack Jason and Kari Morgan Sara and Joe Marshall Mr. Robert Morocco Steve Mudroch ’06
Greg and Sheryl Mueller
Jim Mueller and Christine Henke Mueller Ms. Arooj Mukarram
Mrs. Audrey H. Mulhollen
Ansa Munawar and Imran Warrich Mrs. JoAnn Drewek Murtha and Mr. Robert Murtha
Mr. Zachary Nacev and Ms. Erin Curtis Nacev
Dr. Tawfiq Nadi and Mrs. Hoda Matariyeh-Nadi Donna Nash
Ilir and Gen Nasi
John F. Navratil ’78
Mr. Zane Navratil ’14
Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Nelson Jr
Mr. Michael Nelson and Ms. Sharon Kellogg Jill S. Neubauer ’78
Ryan and Sarah Nichols
Northwestern Mutual Life
Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Norton Mr. and Mrs. John Novy
Paul Nowak and Elizabeth Spalla Brendan and Lisa O’Brien
Patrick and Betsie O’Brien
Jon and Suzanne Palmen
Mark and Dori Panthofer David Park ’96
David and Judy Parmentier Mr. Fletcher Paulsen
Linda and Mark Pawlak Ms. Kierstyn Payne ’14
Kevin and Christine Pearson
Mr. Tristan Pearson ’99 and Dr. Amy Pearson Mr. and Mrs. Chris Peery
Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Pehlivanian Jose and Susan Pena
Rachel Pena and Ryan Chadek Sophia and Joseph Penkala
Walter and Cynthia Penkala Patricia Penman
Zach and Cassie Perkins
Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Perry
Bruce and Kathleen Pessin
Dr. Joshua and Mrs. Christa Pessin Ms. Amy Peterson Carole Peterson
Jeff and Missy Peterson
Ron and Dawn Peterson
Dr. John and Bridget Pettinger
Sarah Plachinski ’14 The Polzin Family
Mrs. Sheila Polzin Ms. Karen Poppy
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Portz Robin and Scott Posnanski Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Praefke Amanda and Greg Pulda
Roberta Puntillo-Jorgensen and Kurt Jorgensen Racine Community Foundation Eric and Lisa Olesen Fund
and Josephine C. Carpenter Scholarship Fund Robert and Beth Taylor Fund
Mr. Peter Olesen ’05
Racine Community Foundation -
Kristina and Rick Onyon
Racine Community Foundation -
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Red Onion Cafe
Pula and Sabitha Reddy
William Reid ’73 and Nicole Reid Russell and Sarah Reimann
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce L. Renquist Scott and Kara Reske
Jason and Brittany Reuwer
Michelle McPherson Reyes and Ricardo Reyes Carol and John Rezmer
Jessica and Steve Rezmer
Kellen Ribeiro and Julierme Diniz Owen J. Rice ’77
Judith and Norris Richardson Sandy and Robert Richter
Brian Riley and Christina Carrington-Riley ’80 Nikunj and Kirti Ringwala
Dr. Sudip and Amrita Ringwala Adrian Rivas and Jennifer Zeni
Rockwell Automation Matching Gift Program David and Becky Roehl Sandra R. Rogers ’82 Ms. Dena Roncone
Darryl and Jill Ronning Shari Ronning
Melissa and Daniel Ropiak
Lindsay Roskovensky ’02 and Mathieu Roskovensky
Mrs. Julianne F. Rowland
Nick and Aliya Pitts
Racine Community Foundation -
Cheryl and Kevin Orlowski
Mr. and Mrs. William F. Rayne
Mr. and Mrs. James A. Pitts
Rick and Teri Pias
Mr. and Mrs. Eric A. Olesen
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Olson
Hugh and Jeanne Rayburn
The Rossi Family
Racine Community Foundation - Richard M.
Dr. Kimberly Rybicki Olesen ’05 and
Robert and Carolyn Rashleger
Jeff and Kris Philippi
Robyn O’Brien
Diane and John Oakland
William and Jeanne Rayne Family Fund
Rowland Family Fund
Sam and Gene Johnson Fund
John S. Rowland II ’75
Nicholas and Kelly Rozzoni
Nickolas and Jennifer Ruetz
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ruetz
The Ruffo Family Foundation, Inc.
Richard Ruffo ’83 and Diane Ruffo Ruud Family Foundation Al and Patty Ruud
Chris Ruud ’89 and Chantil Ruud S&P Global
Mr. and Mrs. David H. Saaski
Mr. and Mrs. Guilherme Saboia Mauricio and Elizabeth Salazar Mr. and Mrs. David Santalucia Raana C. Saric ’81 SC Johnson
SC Johnson Giving, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Schaefer Helen Schaefer
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Schaefer Brad and Suzie Schafer
Nich and Shannon Schafer
Carmen Strmsek
Drs. Jean Weaver and Francis Peterson
John and Ellen Schmidt
Mr. Nicholas and Dr. Christina Sullivan
Wells Fargo Educational Matching Gift Program
Ms. Jennifer Schmidt ’14 Vicki and Ted Schmitz
Mr. Nicholas Schneider ’14 Eric and Catherine Scholz
Gary and Sharon Schonert
Timothy and Elizabeth Schram Lisa Schumacher
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schwalbe
Gardner and Jessica Seawright Mr. and Mrs. Klay Shannon John and Melissa Sharpe Dennis Shaw and
Elizabeth Pehlivanian Shaw ’86
Mr. Douglas Shimp and
Mrs. Shakila Manogaran Shimp ’86
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Shipe Rachel and Bill Shuster Bob and Sue Siegert Jayne Siler
Carlo and Aline Sisto
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Siudak Mr. and Mrs. Skorski Bill and Ali Sluis
Helen and Joost Sluis
Allyson and Eric Smalley
Brian Smith ’04 and Elaine Smith Brian and Heather Smith Jim and Joyce Smith Ms. Kathleen Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith Steve and Karen Smith
William Smith and Sandra Smith ’93 Mr. and Mrs. Chad Solodio
Katleen Speelman and Dries Meuleman Gregg and Johanna Spino Sue and Bob Spitz
Ronald and Audreyan Springer Andrew and Valerie Sprunger
Kathy and George Sretenovich Patricia and Glenn Stalker Alesha and Corbin Stam
Jason Strmsek Paul Suprak
Rich and Victoria Svejcar
Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Svoboda
Harold and Kathryn Swanson
Kenneth Swanson and Barbara Hoppa Swanson Wei Tao and Jing Wu Robert F. Taylor
Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Tennant
Patrick Tews and Elizabeth Morack Thrivent Financial
Galen and Michelle Steig
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Steimle Jane and Randall Stein
Robert and Dawn Stepien Jeff and Cindi Stewart
Dr. Rebecca Stohler ’90
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stohler
Anne and Richard Stoltenberg
David and Suzanne Stoltenberg Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stoner
Ms. Victoria Westman ’14 Dr. Rebecca L. Wheeler
Allevon and Tasia White Ben and Katie White John and Jodi White
Sandy Fredenburgh Whitman and Scott Whitman
Eric and Marcia Wilks
Karen Tradewell
Alida and Bob Trocke
Mr. Stephen Truckey ’14 Jane and Joe Truka Daniel Turek
Mr. and Mrs. David J. Turek Mrs. Karen Turek DeSario Turner Twin Disc, Inc. Jenny Ulbricht
Paul and Jennifer Ulrich
Mr. and Mrs. Tim Ulrich U.S. Bank Foundation
Daniel and Dawn Vaccaro Sharon Vaccaro Sabrina Vajda
Larry and Karen Van De Loo Ryan and Jamie VanDeLoo
Jennifer Van Dinter ’93 and Dave Lefaive Michael and Mary Vandegriffe Michael and Carrie Vanko
Dr. and Mrs. Vahag Vartanian
Mr. Jim Vass and Mrs. Marion Dow-Vass Mr. and Mrs. J. Joseph Veranth ’80 Armen A. Vidian ’88
Sofia Alvarez Villa and
Manuel Fernandez de Castro Munoz
Benjamin Wagner
Mr. Ryan Mattsen
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Westerfield
Tom Tousis
Erin and Ryan Tollaksen
State Farm Insurance - Brian Ketterer Dr. Elizabeth Nicole Steffensen ’04 and
Dr. AnnMarie Sundareson West
Michael and Rebecca Wienke
Dan and Christina Wade
Judy and Steve Stead
Bill and Suzi Wertz
Dr. James Tierney and Mrs. Deborah Tierney
Darryl Stang and Allison Attonito
State Farm Companies Foundation
Wells Fargo
The Wadhwani Family Helmut Wagner
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Wagner ’87 Mr. and Mrs. David Wait Jennifer and Steve Waite
Wakanda Elementary School Karen and Jim Walker
Ms. Eileen Walter and Mr. Gregg Baumann Mr. Nathan S. Ward Terri Ward
Brian Warner
Kimberly Warner
Andrew and Ali Wassweiler
Mr. and Mrs. Brian C. Weaver
John and Jenifer Wietfeldt Emma Will ’14
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Will
Mr. and Mrs. Peter G. Wilson Kathryn Winnen
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Winnen Ms. Alison Wojahn
Jacqueline Wojtanowski
Eleane and Paul Wokwicz Paula and Paul Wokwicz
Mr. Jeffrey Wolf and Dr. Lisa Wolf Mary and Jerry Wolf
Ms. Megan Wolf ’14 Holly Wolf-Mattick
Hannah and Rich Wosilait
In Memory of Dan Wrensch Chao-Ying Yan
Todd and Suzanne Yde Mr. Luke H. Yehlen
Tony and Ann Yeung
Fred Young and Sandra Harrisson Young ’70 Congzhang Yu and Fanny Mao Aneta and Brian Zafonte Mr. Jim Zielinski
Ms. Margaret Zimmermann ’14 Lynn Zobel
The Jack Mitchell Society
Named for The Prairie School’s first Headmaster, the Jack Mitchell Society honors those who have supported the Prairie Fund for five or more consecutive years. Our entire community appreciates the unwavering loyalty of these donors.
— Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Ahlensdorf, Sr.
John and Abigail French
Ms. Hannah Lane and Dr. Peter Sattler
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Atanasoff
Dr. Eduardo Garcia-Novelli and
Gary and Mary Sue Langendorf
Dr. Helen Arkema ’83 and Mr. Garry Arkema Mr. and Mrs. Dennis R. Axelson
Geoff and Melissa Gallert Dr. Maria Fiocchi
Akemi and Darryl Babu ’88
Charles and Alicia Gasser
Ms. Shirley J. Bailey
Ms. Kristina Gile
Pat Badger
John Baker, Jr. and Mary Baker
Michael Banco and Hope Heaster Dan and Ann Bankenbush Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Barth Mrs. Gloria S. Batten
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Blenke
Michael and Kathryn Boero and Family Mr. and Mrs. Paul S. Boese
Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Breiwick Mr. James Broetzmann
Bukacek Construction Group, Inc Mr. and Mrs. Orey R. Buzzelli
Mr. Alvaro Campos and Mrs. Karen Alvardo John and Terie Carpenter Jenni and Rich Chiapete
Mr. Alan Clark and Ms. Andrea Bukacek ’03 Dr. and Mrs. David Clark Richard Coates ’72
Ms. Gretchen Coffman
Nat and Laura Coffman
Kevin and Noel Cookman
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cookman Kirsten Cousin
Mr. Jonathan Cushman and Ms. Jennifer Cobb Dr. Marshall Cushman
Meg Rowland Daniels ’82 and John Daniels Ms. Elizabeth Davis
Mr. Gregory Davis ’82
Michael J. Degenhart ’80
Dr. Barbara Little Earnest ’74 and Mr. Royce Earnest
Kevin and Lisa Eaton
Dr. Mary Ellis and Mr. Garry Ellis Mrs. Loretta J. Ellis
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Gelhaus Mr. Marcelo F. Ginestel and Ms. Alice Place Mr. and Mrs. Michael Glines Mr. and Mrs. Joe Grauwels Mike and Jessica Greb
Mari and Jason Grobschmidt
Ed Guion and Camille Jensen-Guion Dr. Jolyn and Mr. Austin Gundlach Al and Jan Hagopian Kevin S. Hall ’85
Scott Harlan and Maureen Kennedy-Harlan Harry M. Hawkins, Jr. Bob and Sally Henzl James Herre ’82
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hoffman The Holum Family
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Huebsch Mr. Fred Humphreys
Nancy and Warren Icke Susan Inbusch
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Isaacson ’96 Tom and Pat Isaacson
Majed and Reem Jandali Peter and Karen Jansson Randy and Anthi Jerow
Johnson Family Foundation Dave and Chris Johnson
H. Fisk Johnson, Ph.D. ’75
Molly Lofquist Johnson and Steve Johnson Pam Johnson ’73
Steve and Cindy Joost
Mr. Thomas V. and Lucy T. Kandathil
Joseph Kann and Christine Shields Kann Mr. George Karegeannes and
Mrs. Amy Karegeannes ’94
Mr. and Mrs. Aldo Fallico
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Ketterer
Ms. Abigail Fiegel ’12
John and Jacki Kirt
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Fenkl Ms. Alexandra Fiegel ’07 Rick and Jana Fiegel
Dr. and Mrs. Robin Ford Kim and Dave Forsman Nate Franke ’99
Matthew Frankovis ’99 and Megan Frankovis Mrs. Sarah Friday Fredrickson ’91
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas King ’78 Dr. Lyndsay N. Knoell and Dr. Wendy M. Knoell Mr. and Mrs. Peter G. Koleske Dennis and Sandy Kontra
Mr. and Mrs. Mark H. Krekling Ms. Brianna Kunstman
Mr. and Mrs. James Ladwig
Mr. and Mrs. Steve LaLonde
Mr. and Mrs. Ian Lang Amy S. Larsen ’73
Ms. Diann Lebow
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond C. Leffler Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Leinweber
Craig Leipold and Helen Johnson-Leipold ’74 Mr. and Mrs. Don Libby Mr. Jacob Lipor Elizabeth Long
Dr. James Lynott and Mrs. Jessica Lynott Mrs. Dorothy MacVicar Mr. Terence S. Malone
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Marz
Steve Maurer and Amy Giles-Maurer Cathy and Dennis McCombs
Rev. Mark and Mrs. Margaret McDonough Mr. and Mrs. Wayne McGuire
Mr. Everett McKinney and Dr. John Magerus Anthony and Abbey Mente Blaine and Mary Metzger Rick and Karen Mews
Mr. Matthew Meyer ’99
Shazia Miller ’85 and Sam Miller Rusty and Dave Millin
Alan and Melissa Mills Mary Lou Moeller
Paul and Sheena Moore
Greg and Sheryl Mueller
Jim Mueller and Christine Henke Mueller Ms. Arooj Mukarram
Mr. Michael Nelson and Ms. Sharon Kellogg Patrick and Betsie O’Brien Diane and John Oakland
Mr. and Mrs. Eric A. Olesen Cheryl and Kevin Orlowski
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew R. Oscarson Mr. and Mrs. George Oteman Keith and Melody Owsley Kathy Palmen
Mark and Dori Panthofer Mr. Fletcher Paulsen
Kevin and Christine Pearson
Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Pehlivanian Patricia Penman
Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Perry
Mr. and Mrs. James A. Pitts Nick and Aliya Pitts Mrs. Sheila Polzin
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Praefke
Jim and Jane Raufus
Allyson and Eric Smalley
Helmut Wagner
Mr. and Mrs. William F. Rayne
Steve and Karen Smith
Ms. Eileen Walter and Mr. Gregg Baumann
Hugh and Jeanne Rayburn Sandy and Robert Richter
Rockwell Automation Matching Gift Program John S. Rowland II ’75
Richard Ruffo ’83 and Diane Ruffo Al and Patty Ruud
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith Toni Alicia Jackson Smith ’84 Gregg and Johanna Spino
Ronald and Audreyan Springer
Dr. Elizabeth Nicole Steffensen ’04 and Mr. Ryan Mattsen
Chris Ruud ’89 and Chantil Ruud
Galen and Michelle Steig
SC Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stoner
Mr. and Mrs. David Santalucia Helen Schaefer
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Schaefer Nich and Shannon Schafer John and Ellen Schmidt
Gary and Sharon Schonert
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schwalbe Mr. and Mrs. Klay Shannon Mr. Douglas Shimp and
Mrs. Shakila Manogaran Shimp ’86
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Steimle
Harold and Kathryn Swanson
Kenneth Swanson and Barbara Hoppa Swanson Robert F. Taylor
Dr. James Tierney and Mrs. Deborah Tierney Twin Disc, Inc.
Jennifer Van Dinter ’93 and Dave Lefaive Mr. Jim Vass and Mrs. Marion Dow-Vass Armen A. Vidian ’88
The Wadhwani Family
Mr. and Mrs. David Wait
Mr. and Mrs. Brian C. Weaver
Drs. Jean Weaver and Francis Peterson
Wells Fargo Educational Matching Gift Program Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Westerfield Dr. Rebecca L. Wheeler Ben and Katie White John and Jodi White
Michael and Rebecca Wienke Eric and Marcia Wilks
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Will Kathryn Winnen
Ms. Alison Wojahn Chao-Ying Yan
Fred Young and Sandra Harrisson Young ’70 Mr. Jim Zielinski
Ms. Margaret Zimmermann ’14 Lynn Zobel
Parents
Family partnerships are a cornerstone of the Prairie experience, and our community is grateful to the current parents who demonstrated their philanthropic commitment by making a gift to the school in 2019-20.
— Anonymous (3)
Tiffany and Jon Behrends
Kylie Christensen
Dr. Andrew C. Alexander ’87
Rob and Laura Bishop
Kevin and Andrea Chuc
Mr. and Mrs. Akil I. Ajmeri Matt K. and Lisa M. Andis
Drs. Mihail and Anelia Andreeva Nijole and Julius Andriusis
Dr. Michael and Mrs. Benoite Angeline Akosua Aning and Alejandro Zavaleta Sever and Andreea Anton
Tom and Kirsten Antonneau Joy and Jon Aragones
Mr. Tony Arnone and Mrs. Casie Arnone Mr. and Mrs. Jason Atanasoff
Darryl Stang and Allison Attonito Graham and Jennifer Ault
Akemi and Darryl Babu ’88
Dr. Manoj Babu and Dr. Sheryn Abraham
The Berkey Family
Tom and Theresie Bode
Mr. Ben Boilek and Mrs. Jeanette Dutton-Boilek Michael ’99 and Shay ’00 Borzynski Dr. Michael A. Boticki
Tony Braun and Kathy Hart-Braun Andrea and Jorge Bravo
Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Breiwick Mr. and Mrs. Jim Brzezinski
Mr. Thang Bui and Ms. Polly Doan Michelle and Anthony Burch Shawn and Angie Burwell
Daniel and Lauren Carbajal Reverend Erik Carlson and
Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson
Mr. and Mrs. Luke Baird
Kristie and Brian Carpenter
Rachel and Derek Baker
Sarah and Andrew Chadwick
Mr. Mark Baker and Ms. Sylvie Travad Mr. Andres Baptista and Mrs. Zaida Puy Arena Drs. Roger and Mette Baran
Mr. and Mrs. Jason L. Barrett Tressa and Michael Bates John ’83 and Jane Batten
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Baumgardt
Mr. Rocco Castellano and Dr. Irina Ciubotaru Mr. and Mrs. Tom Chambers Tony Chen and Crystal Chiu Cheng-ta Chien and Jing Yu Paul and Lisa Chilsen
Kanwal Dhar and Shally Chogtu Kevin and Kelly Christensen
Mr. Patrick Christensen and Dr. Nichole Elcano Mr. Alan Clark and Ms. Andrea Bukacek ’03 Dr. and Mrs. David Clark
Shawn and Samantha Comaris ’95 Kevin and Noel Cookman Craig Cortez
Ms. Jessica M. Cortez
Jennifer and Joseph Cronin
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel W. Davies Mr. and Mrs. Brett Davis Jeffrey and Erin Decker
Denise and Ethan Denault
Sheetal and Ratnang Desai
Amarjit and Tajdeep Dhindsa Mr. and Mrs. Jurgen Dinges
Theresa and Timothy Dixon
Cassie Doan and Tony Huynh Julia and Bastian Dreher
Tom and Melissa Dreifuerst Sam and Emily Duchac
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Dues
Hortense Dupin de Saint Cyr Jennifer Eastman
Kevin and Lisa Eaton
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas D. Eberle
Molly Lofquist Johnson and Steve Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Eitel
Skye Johnson
Rachel Ehlers and Johrie Dyess, Sr. Dr. Mary Ellis and Mr. Garry Ellis Adam ’93 and Allison Emery Mr. and Mrs. Joe Fallico Rick and Nikki Farbo Brian and Nancy Farr
John and Holly Feather
Pat and Katie Johnson
The Kane Family
Mr. and Mrs. Deepak Mehra
Jeff and Katie Jorgenson Mr. David Kane
Mr. George Karegeannes and
Mrs. Amy Karegeannes ’94
Jose Nogueira Filho and Gabriela Martins
Drs. Marc and Debbie Kennedy
Erika Ford ’95 and Aaron Ford ’96 Scott and Charmaine Foster
Mrs. Sarah Friday Fredrickson ’91 John and Abigail French Marc and Tracey Frosch
Luis Garduño de la Cruz and Silvia Miranda Hernández
Charles and Alicia Gasser Paul and Heidi Gaylord Van and Janet Gegas
Margaret and Mark Gesner Chad and Julie Giles
Mr. Marcelo F. Ginestel and Ms. Alice Place Jenni and Ted Goad
Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth L. Gould Mike and Jessica Greb
Steven Grinde and Rachel Burton-Grinde Mari and Jason Grobschmidt Mr. Jogrim Grotmol and
Mrs. Lisa Piché Grotmol
Dr. and Mrs. David M. Gustitus
George and Monique Gutenkunst Mario and Claudia Gvuzd Marie Haertel
Sara Luther Hagerman and Dan Hagerman
Scott Harlan and Maureen Kennedy-Harlan Chad and Wendi Hawkins Greg and Lisa Heath
David and Nicole Higgs
Collin and Krystyn Hirsch Ethan and Elizabeth Hoff
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hoffman Jane and Stephen Hogan
Kevin and Beth Hokanson
Mr. and Mrs. David Holland Ed and Jody Holle
The Holum Family
Matthew and Alyson Horton
Mr. and Mrs. Kurt E. Ignasiak
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Isaacson ’96 Mrs. Jennifer Jacobson
Abigail and Lee Jaramillo Pete and Paula Jedlicka
Jason and Destiny Johnson
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Megan Rowland McGuire ’02
Carolyn McNeil
Dominic and Susan Kegel
Mr. and Mrs. Yazi Fletcher
Patrick McGuire and
Mr. Michael Joost ’03 and Mrs. Anna Joost
Massi and Alison Ferrentino
Paul Fiegel and Dr. Therese Fellner
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel May
The Kelly Family
Mr. and Mrs. Khalaf Khalaf Jaimie M. Kirkwood
Dr. Lyndsay N. Knoell and Dr. Wendy M. Knoell Mr. and Mrs. Scott A. Kocourek Steve and Dana Kohl
Jeremy and Valencia Koker
Drs. Piotr and Joanna Kolanowski Tiffany and Robert Konecko
Mr. and Mrs. Ragnar H. Korthase Thomas and Rebekah Kowalski
Mr. and Mrs. Mark H. Krekling Jessica and Brian Krivsky
Kristine Kulig-Doss and Christopher Doss Dr. Pradeep Kumar and Dr. Jaya Iyer Steve and Carmen Kutsch
Ashley and Laura Labarber
Denise Lacoste and Ezequiel Tvardek
Jacinta Lagos and Juan Cubas Matheu
David and Betsy McPhee
Anthony and Abbey Mente
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Menzhuber Garet and Kristin Mianecki
Sophie and Thomas Michaud Guy and Mona Milinski Rusty and Dave Millin
Alan and Melissa Mills
Mark and Christina Milos Jason and Kari Morgan Mr. Robert Morocco
Ansa Munawar and Imran Warrich
Dr. Tawfiq Nadi and Mrs. Hoda Matariyeh-Nadi Ilir and Gen Nasi
Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Nelson Jr Ryan and Sarah Nichols
Paul Nowak and Elizabeth Spalla Brendan and Lisa O’Brien Mr. and Mrs. Eric Olson
Kristina and Rick Onyon
Cheryl and Kevin Orlowski
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew R. Oscarson Mr. and Mrs. Torben Ovesen
Amanda Cosgrove Paffrath ’85 and Mark Paffrath
Lisa Laitinen and Andrew Fellner
Gustavo Pallordet and Mercedes Cutrini
Mr. and Mrs. Dean Lameer, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Peery
Mr. and Mrs. Steve LaLonde Ahmad T. Landrum Brian Langendorf
Richard and Tanya Larsen
Carly Larson-Rondeau and Shane Rondeau Tiffany Larson
Amanda and Ivan Lawler
Stephanie Ledvina and Lisa Luchun Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Leinweber
Dr. Rebecca Lescher and Mr. James Lescher Marcus and Daina Lind
Alfred and Kelly Longoria John and Jodi Lopez
Jason E. Louttit and Abigail King Mick and Missy Lucareli
Dr. James Lynott and Mrs. Jessica Lynott Bree Mahone
Luciano Mazon and Michelle Maiochi Mazon Christopher and Kimberly Maksimik John and Becky Mamalakis Joe and Christina Manley Sara and Joe Marshall
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Marz Joseph and Kate Maurer
Steve Maurer and Amy Giles-Maurer
Jon and Suzanne Palmen
Rachel Pena and Ryan Chadek Sophia and Joseph Penkala
Dr. Joshua and Mrs. Christa Pessin Jeff and Missy Peterson
Mr. and Mrs. Greg Peterson Ron and Dawn Peterson
Dr. John and Bridget Pettinger Rick and Teri Pias
Nick and Aliya Pitts The Polzin Family
Robin and Scott Posnanski Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Praefke Amanda and Greg Pulda
Roberta Puntillo-Jorgensen and Kurt Jorgensen Lucas Raimondi and Soledad Pasman Pula and Sabitha Reddy
Russell and Sarah Reimann Scott and Kara Reske
Jason and Brittany Reuwer
Michelle McPherson Reyes and Ricardo Reyes Mr. and Mrs. Peter R. Reynolds Jessica and Steve Rezmer
Kellen Ribeiro and Julierme Diniz Dr. Sudip and Amrita Ringwala
Adrian Rivas and Jennifer Zeni
William Smith and Sandra Smith ’93
Melissa and Daniel Ropiak
Katleen Speelman and Dries Meuleman
Shari Ronning
The Rossi Family
Nicholas and Kelly Rozzoni
Nickolas and Jennifer Ruetz
Mr. and Mrs. David H. Saaski
Mr. and Mrs. Guilherme Saboia Mauricio and Elizabeth Salazar Mr. and Mrs. David Santalucia
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Schaefer
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Schaefer Nich and Shannon Schafer Vicki and Ted Schmitz
Eric and Catherine Scholz
Timothy and Elizabeth Schram Lisa Schumacher
Mr. and Mrs. Klay Shannon John and Melissa Sharpe Dennis Shaw and
Elizabeth Pehlivanian Shaw ’86
Mr. Douglas Shimp and Mrs. Shakila Manogaran Shimp ’86
Carlo and Aline Sisto
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Siudak Bill and Ali Sluis
Brian and Heather Smith Steve and Karen Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Chad Solodio
Mr. Jim Vass and Mrs. Marion Dow-Vass Sofia Alvarez Villa and
Manuel Fernandez de Castro Munoz
Gregg and Johanna Spino
Dan and Christina Wade
Alesha and Corbin Stam
Karen and Jim Walker
Mr. and Mrs. Brent R. Stache Anne and Richard Stoltenberg Carmen Strmsek Jason Strmsek
Mr. Nicholas and Dr. Christina Sullivan Rich and Victoria Svejcar
Kenneth Swanson and Barbara Hoppa Swanson The Swedberg Family
Wei Tao and Jing Wu
Patrick Tews and Elizabeth Morack Erin and Ryan Tollaksen Tom Tousis
Alida and Bob Trocke
Jennifer and Steve Waite Mr. Nathan S. Ward Terri Ward
Mr. Brian and Mrs. Kimberly Warner Andrew and Ali Wassweiler
Mr. and Mrs. Brian C. Weaver
Drs. Jean Weaver and Francis Peterson Bill and Suzi Wertz
Dr. AnnMarie Sundareson West Allevon and Tasia White Ben and Katie White
Sandy Fredenburgh Whitman and Scott Whitman
Mr. and Mrs. David J. Turek
Michael and Rebecca Wienke
Jenny Ulbricht
Paula and Paul Wokwicz
DeSario Turner
Paul and Jennifer Ulrich
Mr. and Mrs. Tim Ulrich
Daniel and Dawn Vaccaro Sabrina Vajda
Ryan and Jamie VanDeLoo Michael and Carrie Vanko
Dr. and Mrs. Vahag Vartanian
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Winnen Holly Wolf-Mattick Chao-Ying Yan
Todd and Suzanne Yde Tony and Ann Yeung
Ms. Michelle A. York
Aneta and Brian Zafonte
Grandparents
The Prairie community always appreciates the philanthropy of our grandparents. Those listed below made a charitable gift to our school in the 2019-20 year.
—
Anonymous
Amparo Beatriz and Pedro Garcia
Mr. and Mrs. John Burgess
Lois Alexander
Stephanie and Steve Benner
Mr. and Mrs. Orey R. Buzzelli
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Ahlensdorf, Sr. Matt and Rita Andis
Mr. and Mrs. Gus Antonneau Mona Archibald
Mr. and Mrs. Karl Atanasoff Mike and Debbie Ault Pat Badger
Rodney and Barb Baerbock Ms. Shirley J. Bailey Carol Baker
John Baker, Jr. and Mary Baker Jane Baldassi
Mr. and Mrs. Don Bates Mrs. Gloria S. Batten
Mary Jane Baumgardt
Diana and David Benavides Jerome and Judy Berens
Steve Berlin and Debbie Smith Berlin John and Janice Bernez Bill Black
Patricia Black
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Blenke Frank and Sharon Boerner
Michael and Kathryn Boero and Family Constance and John Boticki Mr. and Mrs. Duane Brasch MaryLynn Broughman Tom and Sally Brown Lynn Bukacek
Mr. Clarence Burch
Mr. Mark L. Burwell
Steve and Anne Callaghan
Karen Carbajal and Luis Marquez David and Wallapa Carlson Jean Carlson Adams
Mr. and Mrs. Tony Castellano
Susan and Ferdinand Chiappetta Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cookman Mr. and Mrs. John Corcoran Marjorie Czop
Frank and Lisa D’Acquisto Mr. and Mrs. John Dana Roslyn Davis
Rhonda Deneka
Luann Dreifuerst
Jackie and Dal Drummer
Charles Jorgensen
Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Pehlivanian
Gee Dujua
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kelly
Walter and Cynthia Penkala
Mr. and Mrs. Ken Dues Lois Dunbar
Dave and Kathy Eberle
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Elcano, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Larry Ellis
Bill and Renee Elworthy Bob and Kathy Emery
Mr. and Mrs. Dave Engstrom Norm and Mari Erickson
Mr. and Mrs. Aldo Fallico
Frederick and Lesley Farbo
Lessia and Robert Fasshauer Sharon and William Feather Grazyna and Glen Feld Nancy Flynn
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Foltz
Dr. and Mrs. Robin Ford Beverly Francois
Ms. Bonnie B. Friday
Donna and Jim Garard
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Garchek
Mrs. Susan Gesner Danziger Dennis and Judith Guiliani
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Glines Barb Gold
Helga and Bob Gold
Rachel and Steve Gold Joann Goodyear
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Grauwels Virginija Greblikiene
Dennis and Sandra Grinde
Scott and Pat Grobschmidt Dorothy Gutenkunst
Jeffrey and Donna Hands Nancy Harper
Sonja and Doug Haske Harry M. Hawkins, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Laverne Hays Mary and Owen Heath
Edward and Donna Heidemann Therese Heller
Mr. and Mrs. James E. Henderson Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hetland Mr. and Mrs. Roger Higgs Ms. Jeanette A. Hoffman
David and Virginia Holle
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel E. Horton Mr. and Mrs. David Horvath
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Huebsch Mr. Fred Humphreys
Tom and Pat Isaacson
James and Janet Jedlicka
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Jensen Cynthia Johnson
Deanere Johnson-Shelton and Larry Johnson Pam Johnson ’73
Mr. S. Curtis Johnson ’73 Steve and Cindy Joost
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Mr. and Mrs. Bruce J. Kelly Dr. Stephen and Linda King Mr. and Mrs. Ted Knier
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Kocjan Gerald and Helen Kocourek
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford J. Kogutkiewicz Bozena and Richard Konecko Maureen and Kurt Konkel Joan Kozlowicz
Mr. and Mrs. Carl M. Krejcha, Jr. Bernadette and Ray Krivsky Richard and Patricia Kubis
Gary and Mary Sue Langendorf Dennis and Leslie Lantz Ms. Diann Lebow
Cathie and John Lehman Mr. Art Leinweber Susan Lescher
Mr. and Mrs. Don Libby Janice Limperis Mr. Al Lindsey
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Linstroth Connie and Joseph Lipari Mr. and Mrs. Jim Lubach
Mr. and Mrs. Duane Luick Mrs. Dorothy MacVicar
Becky and Mark Madsen Carol and Robert Malik
Mr. David Maki and Mrs. Susan Buhler-Maki Lee and Mary Martin
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Marz
Tom and Veronica Maurer
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne McGuire Andrew and Gail McIntosh
Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. McManmon Jane and Ronald Means
Suchang Mei and Jing Wen Mei Steve and Sue Mente
Rick and Karen Mews
Susan and Lawrence Mielke Nicholas and Cheryl Milo Ms. Barbara D. Mitchell Ms. Sally Moore
William and Peggy Moore Mr. and Mrs. Bud Morack
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Mark H. Murphy Donna Nash
Mr. Michael Nelson and Ms. Sharon Kellogg Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Norton Mr. and Mrs. John Novy Robyn O’Brien
Diane and John Oakland
Mr. and Mrs. Eric A. Olesen
Mr. and Mrs. George Oteman Kathy Palmen
David and Judy Parmentier Linda and Mark Pawlak
Kevin and Christine Pearson
Jose and Susan Pena
Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Perry
Bruce and Kathleen Pessin Carole Peterson
Jeff and Kris Philippi
Mr. and Mrs. James A. Pitts Mrs. Sheila Polzin Ms. Karen Poppy
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Portz
Robert and Carolyn Rashleger Carol and John Rezmer
Judith and Norris Richardson Sandy and Robert Richter
Nikunj and Kirti Ringwala David and Becky Roehl
Darryl and Jill Ronning John S. Rowland II ’75
Mrs. Julianne F. Rowland
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ruetz Helen Schaefer
Brad and Suzie Schafer
Gary and Sharon Schonert
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schwalbe Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Shipe Mr. and Mrs. Skorski
Helen and Joost Sluis Jim and Joyce Smith Ms. Kathleen Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith Sue and Bob Spitz
Ronald and Audreyan Springer Kathy and George Sretenovich Patricia and Glenn Stalker Judy and Steve Stead
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Steimle Jane and Randall Stein
David and Suzanne Stoltenberg Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stoner Paul Suprak
Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Tennant Karen Tradewell
Jane and Joe Truka Daniel Turek
Mrs. Karen Turek Sharon Vaccaro
Larry and Karen Van De Loo
Michael and Mary Vandegriffe Helmut Wagner
Mr. and Mrs. David Wait
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Westerfield John and Jodi White Kathryn Winnen
Jacqueline Wojtanowski
Eleane and Paul Wokwicz Mary and Jerry Wolf
Hannah and Rich Wosilait
Congzhang Yu and Fanny Mao
Alumni
We appreciate the support of our alumni, who know firsthand the power of a Prairie education. Thank you for ensuring that today’s students continue to experience excellence both within and beyond the classroom.
—
1970 - 1979
Kevin S. Hall ’85
Brian Smith ’04
Mark Chulew ’72
Amanda Cosgrove Paffrath ’85
Kimberly Jo Braun ’05
Pam Johnson ’73
Elizabeth Pehlivanian Shaw ’86
H. William Keland ’73
Dr. Andrew C. Alexander ’87
William Reid ’73
Darryl Babu ’88
Helen Johnson-Leipold ’74
Armen A. Vidian ’88
H. Fisk Johnson ’75
Chris Ruud ’89
Sandra Harrisson Young ’70
Shazia Miller ’85
Richard Coates ’72
Liz Gabriel ’86
S. Curtis Johnson ’73
Shakila Manogaran Shimp ’86
Amy S. Larsen ’73
Patrick Wagner ’87
Barbara Little Earnest ’74
Brian H. Short ’88
Carolyn Gittings Edwards ’75
Bryan Clarke ’89
James Momberg ’75
1990 - 1999
2010 - 2019
Rebecca Stohler ’90
Abby Gaertig Adamczyk ’10
W. David Perez ’91
Bennett Harris ’10
John S. Rowland II ’75 Kevin Campbell ’76
Gwen E. Farley Green ’76 Stephen Hartig ’76
Thomas Swanson ’76 Kevin Kranen ’77
Winifred Johnson-Marquart ’77 Owen J. Rice ’77
Susan Birdsall ’78
Richard C. Gorton ’78 Thomas King ’78
Georgia McDonough ’78 Carlos A. Monge III ’78 Mrs. Karen Murillo ’78 John F. Navratil ’78 Jill S. Neubauer ’78
Robert P. Gardetto ’79
1980 - 1989
Sarah Friday Fredrickson ’91 Joyce Ramos Barnes ’93 Adam Emery ’93
Odinn Johnson ’93 Sandra Smith ’93
Jennifer Van Dinter ’93 Amy Karegeannes ’94
Jennifer Perez Warren ’94 Samantha Comaris ’95 Erika Ford ’95
Andrew Isaacson ’95 Aaron Ford ’96
Benjamin Isaacson ’96 David Park ’96
Ali Ganjian ’97
Cymbria Jung ’98
Christina Carrington-Riley ’80
Brad Meyers ’98
Michael J. Degenhart ’80
Nate Franke ’99
J. Joseph Veranth ’80
Matthew Meyer ’99
Raana C. Saric ’81
2000 - 2009
Lisa Cool-Dykema ’80
Michael Borzynski ’99
Pamela Short-Lewis ’80
Matthew Frankovis ’99
Kathleen Malone ’81
Tristan Pearson ’99
Meg Rowland Daniels ’82 Mr. Gregory Davis ’82 James Herre ’82
Sandra R. Rogers ’82
Lisa Short-Scholzen ’82 Helen Arkema ’83
John H. Batten ’83 Julie Ericson ’83
Denis Navratil ’83 Richard Ruffo ’83
Toni Alicia Jackson Smith ’84
Shay Borzynski ’00 Caroline Jung ’01
Megan Rowland McGuire ’02 Michael Melzer ’02
Lindsey Frank Meyers ’02 Lindsay Roskovensky ’02 Andrea Bukacek ’03
Michelle Boero Farruggia ’03 Michael Joost ’03
Kara Metzger Ohmstead ’03 Meg Richardson ’03
Elizabeth Nicole Steffensen ’04 Kimberly Rybicki Olesen ’05 Mr. Peter Olesen ’05 Ryan Schowalter ’05 Kristine Braun ’06
Matthew R. Leffler ’06 Steve Mudroch ’06
Kathryn Axelson ’07 Alexandra Fiegel ’07 Brian Glines ’08
Alexis Mikaelian-Maag ’09
Matthew Adamczyk ’10
Conrad Werner Leipold ’10 Eric Hollow ’11
Samuel Curtis Johnson Leipold ’11 Abigail Fiegel ’12 Thomas Ware ’13 Connor Cain ’14
Alexander Chay ’14 Maria Feiler ’14
Alline Goeke ’14
Zachary Kant ’14
Lucas Koenen ’14
Jennifer Lehner ’14
Dustin Leitheiser ’14 Zane Navratil ’14
Kierstyn Payne ’14
Sarah Plachinski ’14
Jennifer Schmidt ’14
Nicholas Schneider ’14 Stephen Truckey ’14
Victoria Westman ’14 Emma Will ’14
Megan Wolf ’14
Margaret Zimmermann ’14 Mateo Garcia-Novelli ’15
Bradford Powers Leipold ’15 Carlen T. Baran ’17 Grace Gould ’17
Kodakara Fletcher ’18 J.D. Dreifuerst ’19
Elizabeth Hokanson ’19
Jordanne L. Orlowski ’19 Trent D. Wiesner ’19 Emma Knoell ’20
Donor Profile: Barbara Little Earnest ’74 SEEKING ANSWERS
— Aliya Pitts, Chief Advancement Officer Barbara Little Earnest ’74 is used to having an experimental mindset. It’s somewhat of a prerequisite in her work as a pathologist. Throughout her career, she has partnered with doctors to analyze patient information and arrive at a diagnosis, often when the correct answer is not necessarily the obvious one. Barbara grew her ability to look at things differently early on, thanks in part to her Prairie experience. She arrived in sixth grade — just a few years after Prairie opened its doors — and found the fledgling school had an experimental mindset of its own. New curricula, young adventurous teachers, and a “try-anything” culture presented her with a unique blend of hands-on instruction across a range of subjects. Among her diverse academic interests, Barbara loved History (her eventual major at Stanford), as well as Science and Music. In Upper School, she worked with three other classmates under the tutelage of Pat Badger to construct and build a harpsichord from scratch. Although none of them had ever tackled such a project, they worked together to measure, cut, and drill their way to a finished instrument. “Barb can ask the probing questions, but she can also intuit how to find the answers,” remembers Pat. “That skill transfers directly to the work she does now.” Those abilities also served her well as the lab aide in Peter Benson’s Chemistry class. One of Benson’s most memorable phrases, “Let us try the brute force and ignorance method,” nudged his students, including Barbara, to have the guts to test a wild hypothesis, to learn from failure as well as success. “He was hugely influential in helping me define a process for problem-solving,” she recalls.
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Diversity of thought proved a rich and powerful part of Barbara’s academic tenure at Prairie, as well as her experience of student life – best exemplified by the events of Vietnam Moratorium Day, held on October 16, 1969. A portion of the student body stayed out of class and spent the day in the library to protest the war and hold a teachin. Barbara remembers this day of learning and discussion involving students, parents, and faculty, with expressions of opinion both for and against the war, a “remarkable experience to have at such a young age.” This same commitment to diverse viewpoints continues to fuel Barbara and her family in their long-standing philanthropy to Prairie. “It’s a great school that is at its best when it can be accessible to a wide swath of the community,” she explains. Her family – including her husband Royce and alumni sons Mike ’09 and Tom ’12 – have been donors for twenty-four consecutive years. Her reasons for giving back are simple. “I know I was privileged to attend Prairie, and I’m driven to support the school in order to help others who might not be able to afford it.” Like most things she’s tackled in life, Barbara approaches philanthropy with an experimental mindset: let’s see what we can do. Supported by friends like her, Prairie students are living proof of the results that happen when you seek the answers. Pictured: The Earnest family Prairie alumni pose for a photo.
The 23rd Annual Golf Classic & Dinner Prairie’s Golf Classic & Dinner is a long-standing tradition that, over the past two decades, has raised over $1.5 million for the school’s financial aid
program. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers and donors, the 2019 event netted over $120,000 in support of deserving students who would otherwise be unable to afford the full cost of tuition.
—
2019 COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Jason Eickmeyer
Steve Maurer and Amy Giles-Maurer
Kevin Cookman
Adam ’93 and Allison Emery
David and Betsy McPhee
Brian Glines ’08 Chair
Dave Johnson
Brian Langendorf Alan Mills
Gregory Mueller Peter Olesen ’05
Richard Ruffo ’83 Chris Ruud ’89 Jeff Wolf
EVENT SPONSORS & DONORS Anonymous (2)
Mr. and Mrs. Akil I. Ajmeri Andis Corporation
Andis Foundation Inc. Matt and Rita Andis
Nijole and Julius Andriusis
Mr. Christopher Antonneau Associated Bank
Mr. Gil Atanasoff
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Atanasoff Mr. and Mrs. Karl Atanasoff Akemi and Darryl Babu ’88
Dr. Manoj Babu and Dr. Sheryn Abraham Ms. Afton Baier
Ms. Wendy Bishop BMO Harris Bank
Tom and Theresie Bode
Michael ’99 and Shay ’00 Borzynski Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Brandt Andrea and Jorge Bravo Dr. Lenora Brockman
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Brzezinski
Bukacek Construction Group
Carlson Racine Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. Kristie and Brian Carpenter
Coffman Family Scholarship Fund Julie and Jim Coffman
Nat and Laura Coffman
Kevin and Noel Cookman CRB Insurance Agency
Mr. and Mrs. Brett Davis
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Devine
Jennifer Dooley-Hogan and John Hogan
Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home, Inc. Sam and Emily Duchac Tim and Julie Eckert
Educators Credit Union
Carolyn Gittings Edwards ’75
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Eitel Mr. and Mrs. Joe Fallico Dave and Julie Feiler Rick and Jana Fiegel
First American Bank Mr. Craig Ford and
Mrs. Nancy Witkofski-Ford
Mr. and Mrs. R. David Foster
Godin Geraghty Puntillo Camilli, SC Gould Dentistry, LLC
Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth L. Gould
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel May
Meadowbrook Country Club
Mr. and Mrs. Mark A. Modesto Mary Lou Moeller Mr. James Moore
Greg and Sheryl Mueller Newport Builders, Inc.
O & H Danish Bakery
Patrick and Betsie O’Brien
Mrs. Kara Metzger Ohmstead ’03 and Mr. Mike Ohmstead
Green Bay Packers
Cheryl and Kevin Orlowski
Elizabeth Hokanson ’19
The Osiecki Family
Mr. Bennett Harris ’10
Horizon Retail Construction
Holly and Andrew Isaacson ’95 Abigail and Lee Jaramillo Steve and Terri Jenkins
Johnson Financial Group Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
Dave and Chris Johnson
H. Fisk Johnson, Ph.D. ’75 Pam Johnson ’73
Pat and Katie Johnson
Mr. S. Curtis Johnson ’73
Mrs. Winifred Johnson-Marquart ’77 and Mr. Michael Marquart
Joseph Kann and Christine Shields Kann Mr. George Karegeannes and
Mrs. Amy Karegeannes ’94
Kenosha Kingfish
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Ketterer
The Kirsten and Emily Maki Foundation Knoell Family Dentistry
Dr. Lyndsay N. Knoell and Dr. Wendy M. Knoell Wolf Korndoerfer Brian Langendorf
The Law Office of Terry Chapko Amanda and Ivan Lawler
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lazzeroni
Craig Leipold and Helen Johnson-Leipold ’74 Lincoln Churchill Advisors Marcus and Daina Lind
Dr. James Lynott and Mrs. Jessica Lynott Majic Productions
Marlo, Incorporated
Jordanne L. Orlowski ’19
Mr. and Mrs. Mike Palazzola Jon and Suzanne Palmen Kathy Palmen
Patina Solutions Group, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Payes Patricia Penman
Ms. Patty Petersen
Jeff and Kris Philippi Evan Piekara
Nick and Aliya Pitts
PNC Financial Services Group The Polzin Family
PRP Wine International
Roberta Puntillo-Jorgensen and Kurt Jorgensen Quarles & Brady LLP Racine Country Club
Racine Dental Group, S.C. Rasmussen Diamonds
The Rathi Singh Private Wealth Group Kevin Reardon
William Reid ’73 and Nicole Reid
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, S.C. Mr. and Mrs. Peter R. Reynolds Robert W. Baird & Co.
Robertson Ryan and Associates Scott Roehl
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick E. Rooney John S. Rowland II ’75 RSM US LLP
The Ruffo Family Foundation, Inc.
Richard Ruffo ’83 and Diane Ruffo Marissa Rutkowski
Ruud Family Foundation
State Farm Insurance - Brian Ketterer
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Wagner ’87
Chris Ruud ’89 and Chantil Ruud
Wei Tao and Jing Wu
Mr. Thomas Ware ’13
Al and Patty Ruud SC Johnson
SC Johnson Giving, Inc. John Seiber
JoAnn and Don Selmo
Mr. Douglas Shimp and
Mrs. Shakila Manogaran Shimp ’86
Shorewest Realtors
Specialty Underwriters LLC Tim and Mary Jo Sullivan
The Swedberg Family
Ms. Allison Thornbrugh
Thrivent Financial - Vantage Financial Partners Truck Country of Wisconsin - Oak Creek Twin Disc, Inc.
Marcey Uday-Riley Varitay Studios
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Venn
Andrea and Thomas Ware Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Will Paula and Paul Wokwicz
Mr. Jeffrey Wolf and Dr. Lisa Wolf Aneta and Brian Zafonte
Zimmerman Architectural Studios, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Zlevor
Mr. and Mrs. J. Joseph Veranth ’80 Vrakas CPAs and Advisors
Alumni Notes —
1990s
2000s
Denise (Shadrick) Olskinke ’90 was honored by the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents with an Academic Staff Excellence Award from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Given annually to non-instructional staff members at UW System schools in recognition of exceptional service, she was recognized for her “Continuous and unflagging support” of Parkside, including her work in directing the Parkside Access to College Credit program, collaborating with the Army ROTC, and helping to secure a 3-year grant from the Department of Education. [B]
After competing in the American Ninja Warrior Seattle Qualifier in Season 11 (2019), Brittany Holterman ’04 was recruited to again participate in Season 12 of NBC’s popular competition series. She is the owner of Legacy Gym in Milwaukee where she serves her clients as a MovNat (MCT) and American Council on Exercise (ACE) certified trainer. [C]
Released this summer, Suzanne Jamieson Selmo ’98’s new kids’ album Bounce was co-written and produced by the triple Grammy-nominated children’s band, The Pop Ups. “As my kids grew over the last few years I was challenged with how to teach them tools for happiness and success I picked up in life and in my study of yoga philosophy,” Jamieson says on her website, www.suzannejamiesonsings.com. “Practices like grit, resilience, optimism, thought stopping, gratitude, looking for the good, and following intuition are researched and proven markers for self-esteem, success, and happiness. I knew for this new album, the music had to be current, fun, buoyant. Straight Bops. So, I sought out The Pop Ups. We honed the lyrics, re-wrote the music, and came up with this album.” [A]
2010s
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Lauren Bernstein ’08 is a voiceover actor living in New York City. She has appeared in commercials for Garnier Fructis, Movado, and many more. Visit her online at www.thelaurenberstein.com. [D]
Lauren Chars ’14 earned her Doctorate in Pharmacy this spring from Butler University, graduating with High Achievement with Distinction. Zane Navratil ’14, winner of three straight WIAA singles tennis championships at Prairie, is an emerging pickleball star. Currently ranked No. 6 in the world (Gentleman’s Singles) by Pickleball Global, he has earned sponsorships and recently quit his office job to become a traveling instructor while competing nationally. Navratil’s professional highlights this far include winning the Midwest Regional tournament in both singles and doubles in 2018 and 2019, and taking home the
bronze in mixed doubles and a sixth-place finish in men’s singles at the 2019 U.S. Open. This summer, David Reske ’16 was hired to teach 4th Grade at his alma mater: The Prairie School. Reske earned his Education Degree from Marquette University. Last spring, he student-taught in Prairie’s 3rd Grade with Kathryn LaLonde and Sophia Penkala. What is it like being back at TPS? “Honestly, it’s as if I never really left,” he says. “During college I stayed in touch with many of the teachers at Prairie and was able to use them as valuable mentors as I was starting my classroom teacher training. During my student teaching experience, I observed and taught for some of the best teachers Prairie has to offer. It has been a fantastic place to begin my career, with dedicated teachers and a supportive group of parents that together make Prairie so special. I was very blessed to be able to attend Prairie as a student, and now hope to give my students the same excellent experience I received.” [E] Felipe Ramos ’17 recently released a single, Bright, with Sony Music under the name Ipe [ee-pay]. Originally from Rio De Janiero, Brazil, Ramos is currently studying Music Business at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.
Madeline DeCheck ’17 graduated from Madison Area Technical College this spring with a degree in Interior Design. Her work was recently featured on the school’s Facebook page. She hopes to pursue a career in residential or commercial design.
STAY IN TOUCH AND SHARE YOUR NEWS You, our Prairie School alumni, are an inspiration to all of us. We would love to hear from you! Share your special news with us, whether it is a
BIRTHS
new job, a promotion, a special award you have
Michelle (Boero) Farruggia ’03 and husband Peter welcomed Alexander Robert Farruggia on April 20th, 2020. [F]
received or some other accomplishment –– we would love share it with others. Please take a minute to fill us in on what is happening in your life so we can print it in the
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Class Notes section of our alumni publication. Items of interest include. •
A degree earned
•
A move to a new city
•
A marriage (please include exact wedding date and the full name of your new spouse)
•
A new family member (please include child’s full name and date of birth)
•
An honor received
•
Your volunteer work
•
Other news about you or your life
Class notes are published as space permits. The editors of this magazine reserve the right to revise
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and rewrite items for content and length. Update your address, phone number, email address, profession, family information and anything else you would like to share. To do so, email Brendan O’Brien, Director of Communication, at bobrien@prairieschool.com or use the Update Your Information form in the Alumni section of our website.
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A YEAR IN RE PRIMARY SCHOOL PARADE
Everyone loves a parade. Unfortunately,
for the most part those – along with the
majority of summertime activities – were postponed this year. But in the interest
of celebrating the teachers, students, and
parents who made this spring so successful, the Primary School closed the academic
year with its own festive, socially-distanced parade. After some initial stormy weather,
the clouds cleared and a brilliant, beautiful
sun was out to stay. Pictured: Former Early School and current 1st grade Teacher
Kelsey Cassidy wishes Rose Svecjar ’34 a happy summer.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL While the pandemic would ultimately
rob high school athletes of a spring season, there was a bit of fortuity
involved with the timing of the local
and national shutdowns: Prairie’s Boys’ Basketball team (15-10) won their
fourth consecutive WIAA Division 4
Regional Championship with a 76-71
victory over Brookfield Academy on
March 8th, four days before Governor Tony Evers declared a Public Health
Emergency in the State of Wisconsin.
IN MEMORY He loved teaching, he loved tennis, and he loved
spending time with his students. For almost fifty years, these pursuits intersected in Wind Point as Harold
Swanson became one of the most beloved educators
in Prairie School history before his passing in March.
The school community was also deeply saddened by the loss of Tracy Waters (p. 48), Dave Drewek (p. 44), and John Kirt (p.50) this past year. All of these individuals
dedicated much of their lives to helping Prairie become the place it is today.
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EVIEW
ROBOT RECEPTION
You’ve never seen so many repurposed toilet paper rolls. When 40+ kindergarteners and their
families filled the Student Research Center in
late February to unveil their creations at the
annual Kindergarten Robot Reception, no one yet knew this would be one of the final large group
gatherings on campus. Fitting, then, that it was an
event centered around some of the things Prairie
does best: brainstorming, thinking critically, creating, and collaborating.
“DISNEY’S THE LION KING JR.” The buzz building in the
Performing Arts Circle before the show. The spotlight cutting across the dark Jack Mitchell Theater. The brilliant, mind-blowing
costumes. The performances
of students eager to follow in the longstanding tradition of
captivating theatrical productions here on campus. Over 70 Middle School students and their
audiences had the opportunity to experience all of these elements
during last fall’s performance of “Disney’s The Lion King JR.”
VETERANS DAY Whether it’s a school-wide gathering with traditional
food and dance for Diwali, a reflection on Yom Kippur, or the celebration of Kwanzaa, it’s important to Prairie
that we stop to learn and consider during these days of
great meaning. Following an early Wisconsin snowstorm that saw several inches fall on Halloween weekend, the
Middle School gathered around the campus flagpole for a
Veterans Day tribute.
Lessons Learned
PRAIRIE COMMUNITY LOOKS FOR POSITIVE TAKEAWAYS FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
— Rachel Shuster, Communication Manager The curtain had only just been raised when it was forced to lower again. It was Friday, March 13th. Prairie’s Jerry Award-winning Performing Arts Department was poised to put on its first public production of “Into the Woods,” the Upper School spring musical. Then word came: it would also be their last. States were slowly closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Wisconsin was next. “We were in the dressing room getting ready for the show when we saw that [Governor] Tony Evers had given the order to close schools down,” says Alexander Raskin ’21. Raskin had one of many starring roles in the ensemble cast — as a matter of fact, it was his second role in the production. Directors asked him to swap scripts midway through rehearsals, meaning he learned an entirely new part — new songs, new lines, all new stage direction — with only a few weeks left until showtime. He only performed the role once, determined to make the most of it. “I think everyone knew we were performing our last show,” he reflects. “I remember thinking, I want to make it as good as I can.” COVID-19 prompted Prairie to close its doors on March 13, transitioning students and faculty into distance learning and — like many other schools in Wisconsin and across the nation — putting a hold or an end to many of the activities and traditions our community holds so dear. The spring musical. State tournaments. Playdates. Prom. And much more. But with the disappointment came some hard-earned lessons, and Prairie is nothing if not a place that looks on the bright side.
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1. RUN EVERY RACE AS HARD AS YOU CAN. With less than a week of practice under their belts, spring sport athletes had barely kicked off their seasons when COVID-19 hit. Sprinter Camden Perry ’22 had just laced up her running shoes for the first time in a year; after an injury had left her sidelined for much of the previous track season, she was very much looking forward to getting out of the blocks again. When that excitement was dampened, she looked around — and realized she still had a race to run. Others would not. “So many of my teammates were seniors,” Perry says. “They were emotional, and I get it. I’m sure it was very hard for them. It was hard for me, too, but then I have two more years” The day their season ended, practice looked different. Instead of running sprints, the athletes came together to share memories, funny stories. Coaches joined in, too. Members of the track team would end up getting together for socially-distanced workouts during quarantine, and several will go on to run in college. Those who remain at Prairie will certainly use the memory of this time as fuel for their competitive fire. “Nothing is guaranteed, so you should play every game like it’s your last,” Perry says. “Go all out in practice, give it your all in games. Live life to its fullest, because you never know what will happen next.”
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2. LOSING TOGETHER IS BETTER THAN WINNING ALONE. In mid-March, Prairie’s massively successful Science Olympiad team was weeks away from the state championship, where a top finish could have qualified them for the national championship meet. Both competitions were cancelled. “No one could believe what was happening,” says Jean Weaver, Prairie Science teacher and Science Olympiad Advisor. “Just like that, everything the kids had been studying for, all their hard work, the contraptions they had made, the plants they had been growing, their thick binders of info – all of that was now for nothing.” Until the students themselves rallied together to make something out of nothing. The team’s seniors arranged for a Saturday night party on Zoom. They played games and organized trivia. Alumni showed up, siblings poked their heads onscreen — even a few former teachers dropped in as a surprise. Weaver says it gave the kids time to share in their sadness at the end of the season, but also to celebrate together all the fun they did have. [A] Looking forward, traditional Science Olympiad meets won’t work well with COVID: a few dozen kids from twenty different schools descending upon one building for a Saturday doesn’t sound like a social distancing dream. Fortunately, the overseeing body has modified their “rules of engagement” to permit virtual meets this year. When they start, Prairie’s team will be ready. “The students will have to figure out how to collaborate with their partner if they’re both on Zoom in different locations — there are a ton of logistics to think about,” Weaver says. “But the teams who can figure it out will have a distinct advantage.”
3. PERSPECTIVE IS EVERYTHING. Despite a bitter end to his hard-fought performance, student-actor Alexander Raskin says he is grateful the premiere weekend was cut short for a good reason. [B] “I found some solace in the fact that we were canceling our show to help other people,” he says. “We got to do some shows, some people didn’t even have a show or a season.” “There’s always a good side to every situation, you just have to look for it.” Raskin is now a senior. It’s his last year at Prairie, and it would have been regardless of the pandemic. He says he’ll approach the year differently, savoring every experience, because he knows now how it feels to only get one shot to do it the best way he can. “Don’t wait around for the second chance to make things better later, do it well the first time. You never know what you have until it’s gone.” B
reasons to be proud HOW DO YOU PLAN FOR THE FUTURE DURING A PANDEMIC? WITH A REMARKABLE ABILITY TO ADAPT AND PERSIST. — Margaret McDonough, Co-Director of College Counseling As memorable senior years go, this one is hard to beat. For the Class of 2020, the pandemic crisis means their senior year may go down as more infamous than famous. Challenges abounded, cancellations and reconfigurations of traditional events were the norm, and uncertainty about what “going to college” meant, and means, still hangs in the air. Yet, despite these circumstances, a cost-benefit analysis of their effects on our newly-graduated Hawks tips distinctly toward points of pride. First, the costs must be acknowledged. Canceled and much modified events included, most notably, Senior Sendoff, Commencement, and Prom. Rewritten, reformatted,
34 | prairieschool.com
rescheduled AP exams, linked to college credit, challenged students’ ability to shift gears in both what and how they prepared and to manage technical platforms and issues alone at home. Plans for college orientations and matriculation fell into limbo as colleges scrambled to respond to enrollment and financial crises, pressure to both close and open campuses, and the critical need to connect with their newest students. Students and parents weighed the value of sticking with their original college choice vs. going to the college down the road for now or taking a year off until the pandemic passes. And, of course, the gamut of emotions that first-year college students feel under normal conditions became only more complex and mercurial.
And yet‌ What did we see in Prairie students? A remarkable ability to adapt and persist. Disappointments and genuine grief notwithstanding, the seniors found new ways to celebrate and embraced opportunities, however modified, to mark their successful completion of high school. Initiative was readily apparent and the results were creative and mature. AP scores were remarkably consistent with those of past graduating classes. With game pragmatism, students rolled with colleges’ evolving plans for orientation, registration, and matriculation. More impressive still, almost to a person, they have stuck with their college choices, keeping their eyes on the prize and recognizing that college is
a four-year adventure that will outlive the pandemic. And now we are watching them pack up and head off to campuses around the country, hunker down at home for virtual learning, or something in between.
Aspiration. Resilience. Long-term thinking. Adaptability. Growth mindset. This is Prairie. And that is something to be proud of. Maggie McDonough and Jim Zielinski, Prairie’s Co-Directors of College Counseling, begin working with students in their Freshman year to help them understand the many factors involved in the college search process.
A Night to Remember PREMIERE 2020 GOES VIRTUAL
— Rachel Shuster, Communication Manager Even a global pandemic can’t get in Prairie’s way when it comes to joining forces for the good of its students.
In light of health concerns due to COVID-19, 2020 marked the first-ever virtual version of Premiere, Prairie’s most anticipated community event to raise funds for scholarships. A night that usually includes a cocktail hour,
The hallmark silent auction took place with the help of online bidding
software, with participants tracking items on their phones, tablets, and home
computers. The live auction, featuring the highest-value items and experiences of the night, morphed into the “Super Silent” auction, a high-speed, raceagainst-the-clock round of bidding on the same virtual platform.
games, silent and live auctions, dancing to live music, and a seated dinner
Thanks to the partnership of several sponsors and individual donors, numerous
celebrating everything the school stands for, all for the purpose of helping a
owned businesses. Prairie also worked with several local restaurants to offer
looked very different. But it felt very much the same: the people of Prairie new generation of students experience this special place.
It’s hard to replicate the palpable excitement of such a well-loved in-person
packages offered items and experiences that supported local and Prairie familyspecial curbside or delivery menus for Premiere-goers, giving participants a way to dine in style from their homes.
event, but those across Prairie’s networks showed support in numerous ways
Party-goers concluded the night by watching a thank-you video featuring
participants from twelve different states joined in the fun from the comfort of
hello from afar.
to infuse the night with its signature community feel. It seemed to work: their own homes.
Parents, alumni, teachers, and friends logged in to virtual cocktail parties
hosted via Zoom. Some had themes, like the tropical bash where attendees
wore Hawaiian-print tops and leis. Some touted surprise visits from faculty
favorites. Some even erupted in song, in the instance of a gathering graced by Head of School (and birthday boy) Dr. Nat Coffman.
students, alumni, parents, trustees, and faculty, sharing their thanks and saying
By the end of the night, Premiere 2020 surpassed its goal by raising roughly
$250,000 for student scholarships. At a time when many have a lot on their plates, the philanthropy demonstrated by those who organized, participated, and donated during this (hopefully) once-in-a-lifetime event was awe-
inspiring. A true testament to the power of the people who make Prairie, Prairie — and hope to continue to do so for years to come.
Pictured: A group of Prairie parents met online for a Hawaiian-themed virtual cocktail party in celebration of Premiere 2020.
36 | prairieschool.com 32 | prairieschool.com
Prairie Premiere 2020
First as a rummage sale and now as a gala auction, the Prairie Premiere has always raised significant funds for student scholarships and financial aid. Forever a
labor of love, Premiere’s success has always been tied to its extraordinary volunteers, donors, and all of the guests that make each event so unique. In 2020, over 315 bidders supported the online auction raising $252,000 to afford even more students access to a Prairie education.
— 2020 PREMIERE LEADERSHIP TEAM Lisa Andis
Jane Batten
Shay Borzynski ’00 Raquel Fallico
Christin Gould
Amy Giles-Maurer Mona Milinski
EVENT SPONSORS AND DONORS 88 Nine Radio Milwaukee
Mr. Matthew Adamczyk ’10 and
Mrs. Abby Gaertig Adamczyk ’10
Mr. and Mrs. Akil I. Ajmeri Amos Los Tacos
Andis Corporation
Matt and Rita Andis
Matt K. and Lisa M. Andis Nijole and Julius Andriusis Sever and Andreea Anton Joy and Jon Aragones
Mr. Tony Arnone and Mrs. Casie Arnone Mr. and Mrs. Jason Atanasoff Graham and Jennifer Ault
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis R. Axelson Akemi and Darryl Babu ’88
Dr. Manoj Babu and Dr. Sheryn Abraham Carlen T. Baran ’17
Drs. Roger and Mette Baran
Mr. and Mrs. Jason L. Barrett Tressa and Michael Bates John ’83 and Jane Batten Beaute Aveda Salon Bei Capelli Studio
Rob and Laura Bishop
Dr. Robert and Mrs. Natalie Bissegger Blue Bear
Michael and Kathryn Boero and Family Joan Bolewski
Michael ’99 and Shay ’00 Borzynski Constance and John Boticki Dr. Michael A. Boticki
Bradford Renaissance Portraits Ms. Kristine Braun ’06
Marisa and Christopher Brown Mr. and Mrs. Jim Brzezinski
Bukacek Construction Group Shawn and Angie Burwell
Butcher & Barrel Gastropub
Mr. Brian Glines ’08 and Mrs. Sarah Glines
Steve and Anne Callaghan
Good City Brewing
Caledonia Fire Department
Kristie and Brian Carpenter Casa Capri
Sarah and Andrew Chadwick Mr. and Mrs. Tom Chambers Jenni and Rich Chiapete Christin Gould Flowers
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Glines Gould Dentistry, LLC
Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth L. Gould Mike and Jessica Greb
Mari and Jason Grobschmidt Mr. Jogrim Grotmol and
Mrs. Lisa Piché Grotmol
Kevin and Kelly Christensen
Gundlach Graphics
Mr. Alan Clark and Ms. Andrea Bukacek ’03
George and Monique Gutenkunst
CityTins
Julie and Jim Coffman
Nat and Laura Coffman
Shawn and Samantha Comaris ’95 Kevin and Noel Cookman CRB Insurance Agency
Jennifer and Joseph Cronin
Dana Investment Advisors, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Brett Davis Delta Hotels by Marriott Ms. Melissa Dixon
Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Dues
Dr. Barbara Little Earnest ’74 and Mr. Royce Earnest
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas D. Eberle Mr. and Mrs. Peter Eitel
Dr. Mary Ellis and Mr. Garry Ellis Mr. and Mrs. Joe Fallico Peter Farruggia and
Michelle Boero Farruggia ’03
Paul Fiegel and Dr. Therese Fellner Rick and Jana Fiegel
Jose Nogueira Filho and Gabriela Martins First American Bank
Scott and Charmaine Foster
Mrs. Sarah Friday Fredrickson ’91 G+F Excavating
Scott and Susan Gaertig
Charles and Alicia Gasser Paul and Heidi Gaylord Van and Janet Gegas
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Gelhaus
Mr. Marcelo F. Ginestel and Ms. Alice Place Genoveva and Jason Glassman
Dr. Jolyn and Mr. Austin Gundlach Scott Harlan and Maureen Kennedy-Harlan Mr. Bennett Harris ’10
Michael and Peggy Harris TJ and Amber Hearn
Collin and Krystyn Hirsch Ethan and Elizabeth Hoff
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hoffman Jane and Stephen Hogan
Mr. and Mrs. David Holland Ed and Jody Holle
The Holum Family
Horizon Retail Construction
Matthew and Alyson Horton Charles and Erin Housiaux Ives Grove Golf Links
Mrs. Jennifer Jacobson Jane Hogan Designs Jerry Smith Farm
Johnson Financial Group Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
Dave and Chris Johnson
Jason and Destiny Johnson
Molly Lofquist Johnson and Steve Johnson Odinn Johnson ’93 and Lauren Wimmer Pat and Katie Johnson Skye Johnson
Steve and Cindy Joost Cymbria Jung ’98 The Kane Family Mr. David Kane
Joseph Kann and Christine Shields Kann Mr. George Karegeannes and
Mrs. Amy Karegeannes ’94
Kelso-Burnett Co.
Drs. Marc and Debbie Kennedy Kenosha Country Club
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Ketterer
Patrick and Betsie O’Brien
Dr. Kimberly Rybicki Olesen ’05 and Mr. Peter Olesen ’05
Mr. and Mrs. Khalaf Khalaf
Kristina and Rick Onyon
Knoell Family Dentistry
Mark and Dori Panthofer
Mr. and Ms. Kevin J. Kiesig
Dr. Lyndsay N. Knoell and Dr. Wendy M. Knoell Steve and Dana Kohl
Mr. and Mrs. Peter G. Koleske Dennis and Sandy Kontra
Mr. and Mrs. Ragnar H. Korthase Thomas and Rebekah Kowalski Ashley and Laura LaBarber Lake Geneva Cruise Lines
Mr. and Mrs. Steve LaLonde Brian Langendorf
Ms. Camela Langendorf
Dr. Matthew Larsen and
Mrs. Jenny Antonneau Larsen
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Larsen Matthew R. Leffler ’06
Conrad Werner Leipold ’10 and Veronica Leipold
Craig Leipold and Helen Johnson-Leipold ’74 Lenz Orthodontics Mr. Jacob Lipor
Sara Luther Hagerman and Dan Hagerman Dr. James Lynott and Mrs. Jessica Lynott Bree Mahone
Joe and Christina Manley Dan Mares
Marlo, Incorporated
Steve Maurer and Amy Giles-Maurer Carolyn McNeil
David and Betsy McPhee
Meadowbrook Country Club
Sophie and Thomas Michaud Microsoft Corporation
Guy and Mona Milinski
Mark and Christina Milos Milwaukee Admirals
Milwaukee Food & City Tours
Sylvia Minnis-Woelbing and Eric Woelbing Moles and Ferri Orthodontic Specialists Monat Global
Jason and Kari Morgan Ken Mould
Greg and Sheryl Mueller
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Mark H. Murphy Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Nelson Jr Nonna Wells Pizzeria
Paul Nowak and Elizabeth Spalla O & H Danish Bakery
Brendan and Lisa O’Brien
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The Osiecki Family
Lucas Raimondi and Soledad Pasman Mr. and Mrs. Chris Peery Patricia Penman
Mr. and Mrs. Greg Peterson Jeff and Missy Peterson Nick and Aliya Pitts Plumb Gold Ltd.
Robin and Scott Posnanski Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Praefke Amanda and Greg Pulda
Roberta Puntillo-Jorgensen and Kurt Jorgensen Racine Country Club
Racine County Sheriff ’s Office Racine Gymnastics Center Racine Yacht Club Racine Zoo
Rasmussen Diamonds
William Reid ’73 and Nicole Reid The Resonant Voice, LLC
Mr. and Mrs. Peter R. Reynolds Adrian Rivas and Jennifer Zeni Robert W. Baird & Co.
Robert W. Baird & Co. Foundation, Inc. Rocco Castellano Design Studio, Inc. Rock Snowpark
Sandra R. Rogers ’82
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick E. Rooney Wendie Rose
Mr. and Mrs. Rossi
John S. Rowland II ’75
The Ruffo Family Foundation, Inc.
Richard Ruffo ’83 and Diane Ruffo Russ Darrow Group Al and Patty Ruud
Chris Ruud ’89 and Chantil Ruud Mr. and Mrs. David H. Saaski
Mr. and Mrs. David Santalucia SC Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Schaefer
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Schaefer Vicki and Ted Schmitz
Eric and Catherine Scholz
Timothy and Elizabeth Schram Shedd Aquarium
Mr. Douglas Shimp and Mrs. Shakila Manogaran Shimp ’86
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Siudak
Brian Smith ’04 and Elaine Smith
Brian and Heather Smith
Somers Fire and Rescue Department Specialty Underwriters LLC
Mr. and Mrs. Brent R. Stache Alesha and Corbin Stam
State Farm Insurance - Brian Ketterer Mr. and Mrs. Brian Steffen Stowell Associates
Mr. Nicholas and Dr. Christina Sullivan
Kenneth Swanson and Barbara Hoppa Swanson Tabak Law, LLC TAG
Patrick Tews and Elizabeth Morack TG3 Electronics, Inc.
Erin and Ryan Tollaksen
Mr. and Mrs. David J. Turek Jenny Ulbricht
Paul and Jennifer Ulrich
Mr. and Mrs. Tim Ulrich
Daniel and Dawn Vaccaro
Ryan and Jamie VanDeLoo Varitay Studios
Dr. and Mrs. Vahag Vartanian
Mr. and Mrs. J. Joseph Veranth ’80 Armen A. Vidian ’88
Dan and Christina Wade
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Wagner ’87 Jennifer and Steve Waite
Andrew and Ali Wassweiler
Drs. Jean Weaver and Francis Peterson Mr. and Mrs. Brian C. Weaver Wheel of Fortune
Ben and Katie White
Paula and Paul Wokwicz
Mr. Jeffrey Wolf and Dr. Lisa Wolf Mary and Jerry Wolf Holly Wolf-Mattick
World Class Outdoor Lighting Todd and Suzanne Yde Ms. Michelle A. York
Zimmerman Architectural Studios, Inc. Lynn Zobel
Baseball, DJ Yaya, and Red Oak Trees
PRAIRIE STUDENTS FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO BOND WITH FRIENDS AND CLASSMATES DURING QUARANTINE.
— Brendan J. O’Brien, Director of Communication The son of a Prairie School art teacher, Leo Schmitz ’29 understands the most important lesson of creativity: take the chance. Start. Once you begin, there’s no telling what kind of beauty and magic might emerge.
On a dreary, monotonous day last spring filled with its fair share of drear and
monotony, Leo, a student in Kathryn LaLonde’s 3rd grade class, had a thought: what would happen if he took his new normal – distance learning – but swapped out school for baseball?
Armed with his great idea, he did what generations of great idea-havers have done before him: he checked with his mom.
“Students began realizing that an important component missing from their
lives were the casual conversations that happen at school between teachers and students,” said Vicki Schmitz, Chair of Prairie’s Visual Art Department. “So Leo asked if he could have the call with the Reske boys to talk baseball. No academics.”
The Reske video chat was a Zoom call featuring the following lineup: Leo,
the aforementioned creative, dynamic third grader; David Reske ’16, current Marquette University senior and club baseball player who had been student
teaching in Leo’s classroom that semester; and David’s brother, Elliott ’21, a
member of both Vicki Schmitz’s Advisory and the TPS Varsity Baseball Team. “Through Leo’s check-ins with David and Mrs. LaLonde, and my check-
ins with Elliott for advisory, it became apparent they were all really missing baseball,” said Schmitz.
During a tough spring when COVID-19 was king and social distancing
transformed kitchens and living rooms into science labs and reading spaces, Prairie, a community committed to creativity and collaboration ever since
Imogene P. Johnson opened the doors in 1965, operated with a simple hashtag as its modus operandi: We are #BetterTogether.
And with the administration and teachers and parents communicating often about how to ensure learning and social interaction could continue with as much normalcy as possible, students were afforded opportunities to build
4th grade students, tasked with thinking about their role in restoring
the environment, held a virtual day of tree planting after their teachers –
Christine Henke Mueller, Abby Mente, Abby Jaramillo, and Mark Winnen – coordinated, bagged, and delivered each student’s choice of tree to their home.
Studying under the direction of Prairie’s Instrumental Music teacher and jazz musician Jamie Breiwick, Flynn Baker ’20, Michael Batten ’23, and
Alec Minkevych ’20 completed a passion project they had started before
the pandemic hit: an original arrangement of the music from Disney’s “The Mandalorian,” produced as an electronically-rendered version of the visual score.
A third grade student talked baseball with his much older buddies. “The Reske video chat was a very cool moment for us,” said Schmitz. “Honestly, it warmed my heart.”
On a sunny afternoon in early May, a Cubs fan in elementary school,
armed with his 2019 Year-in-Review magazine, logged onto Zoom and
met up with some Brewers fans in high school and college to talk about the National Pastime. They discussed offseason trades and what a shortened
season might mean for pennant races. They talked about this year’s trade deadline and what that might mean for Milwaukee and Chicago.
During a spring where so much of what we hold dear was lost, three friends, united because of Prairie and baseball and the desire to connect, found an afternoon to bond over something they love.
relationships even while apart.
All because a baseball-missing boy took a chance.
Upper School students produced a Live at 5 virtual talent show, emceed
A version of this article appeared in the July 8th edition of The Racine Journal
by Ayanna Crenshaw ’20 – DJ Yaya in the house – and featuring students performing songs and reciting original poetry.
Times.
2019-2020 Financials —
REVENUE Tuition and Fees
$10,551,221
Endowment Income
$2,142,168
Prairie Fund
$846,364
Special Events
$376,227
Other Total
$86,960 $14,002,940
EXPENSES Salaries and Benefits
$8,740,103
Financial Aid
$2,749,885
Instructional & Administrative
$1,053,199
Plant
$976,883
Capital
$196,814
Other
$213,753
Total
$13,930,637
2019-2020 ANNUAL FUNDRAISING SUMMARY Below shows a breakdown of Prairie's advancement income by purpose and source, not including the Bigger, Better, Together campaigns.
FUNDRAISING SOURCES Golf Classic & Dinner
$123,958
Prairie Premiere
$252,269
Prairie Fund
$846,364
Restricted
$95,367
Imagine-Inspire-Transform
$95,000
Total
$1,412,958
FUNDRAISING BY CONSTITUENCY Foundations and Corporations
41%
Current Families
14%
Current Grandparents Alumni Alumni Families
3% 32% 7%
Friends
2.8%
Faculty
0.2%
The Trifecta: Support of The Prairie Fund, Golf Classic, and Premiere
Prairie’s three annual fundraising effors – The Golf Classic & Dinner, the Prairie Fund, and Premiere –constitue the majority of the school’s philanthropic outreach. The individuals below made a financial contribution to each of these initiatives, and we are grateful for their all-encompassing support.
— Mr. and Mrs. Akil I. Ajmeri
Pat and Katie Johnson
William Reid ’73 and Nicole Reid
Nijole and Julius Andriusis
Mr. George Karegeannes and
The Ruffo Family Foundation, Inc.
Matt and Rita Andis
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Atanasoff
Joseph Kann and Christine Shields Kann Mrs. Amy Karegeannes ’94
Akemi and Darryl Babu ’88
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Ketterer
Michael ’99 and Shay ’00 Borzynski
Brian Langendorf
Dr. Manoj Babu and Dr. Sheryn Abraham Mr. and Mrs. Jim Brzezinski
Bukacek Construction Group Kristie and Brian Carpenter Nat and Laura Coffman
Kevin and Noel Cookman Mr. and Mrs. Brett Davis Mr. and Mrs. Joe Fallico Rick and Jana Fiegel
Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth L. Gould Dave and Chris Johnson
Dr. Lyndsay N. Knoell and Dr. Wendy M. Knoell Craig Leipold and Helen Johnson-Leipold ’74
John S. Rowland II ’75
Richard Ruffo ’83 and Diane Ruffo Al and Patty Ruud
Chris Ruud ’89 and Chantil Ruud Mr. Douglas Shimp and
Mrs. Shakila Manogaran Shimp ’86
Dr. James Lynott and Mrs. Jessica Lynott
State Farm Insurance - Brian Ketterer
David and Betsy McPhee
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Wagner ’87
Steve Maurer and Amy Giles-Maurer Greg and Sheryl Mueller
Patrick and Betsie O’Brien The Osiecki Family
Mr. and Mrs. J. Joseph Veranth ’80 Paula and Paul Wokwicz
Mr. Jeffrey Wolf and Dr. Lisa Wolf
Patricia Penman
Nick and Aliya Pitts
Roberta Puntillo-Jorgensen and Kurt Jorgensen
COMMITTED, ENGAGED, DETERMINED. This fall, for the seventh consecutive year,
every member of Prairie’s full-time faculty has made a gift to the Faculty Prairie Fund. Rare is such philanthropy at other schools — but not here.
Like our teachers, you understand the
powerful role you can play in furthering
Prairie’s mission to inspire students to explore, question, and create.
We are so glad you’re part of the Prairie family. Thank you for your continued philanthropic support.
Faculty Notes
TEACHERS PERSIST IN THEIR ENDEAVORS TO CREATE, CULTIVATE, AND EDUCATE
— Over the past several months, US Instrumental Music Teacher
JAMIE BREIWICK has worked to start a record label to release his own recordings. B Side Recordings will function as an independent music label to support original material, regardless of style or genre and — in Jamie’s words — ”Without concern for the hustle and bustle of the modern music industry...B Side is simply a musician sharing his ideas with the world.” Grade 4 teacher CHRISTINE HENKE MUELLER participated in a summer institute on transformative education to kick off the final year of coursework toward earning her Ph.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service. “It was a wonderful meeting with leaders and educators who are devoted to creating transformative learning experiences for our children,” Christine says.
A
In her “spare” time, Christine has been working outside as a follow-up to the math lessons her students engaged in this past spring — which resulted in her raising chickens [A] and maintaining a home garden. [B, C] “Both of these endeavors have been fruitful (all the puns intended) and I look forward to what the upcoming 4th graders bring to my personal life!” she says. This summer, US Humanities teacher SCOTT HUGGINS was named this year’s winner of the Baen Fantasy Adventure Award, an honor that recognizes stories exemplifying the spirit of adventure, imagination, and storytelling in the style of fantasy greats like Elizabeth Moon, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Andre Norton. Publisher Baen Books sponsors this annual national contest, where stories are judged anonymously. As author of the Grand Prize story, “Humanslayer,” Scott received a trophy and his piece will be published electronically.
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B C
G
H As part of her graduate coursework, Chief Advancement Officer ALIYA PITTS fulfilled the criteria for Northwestern University’s Leading Equity & Inclusion in Organizations (LEIO) Certificate earlier this summer. In this program, students explore their own individual-level identities and lived or witnessed experiences with inclusion, exclusion, belonging, bias, harassment, ally support, and bystander actions/inactions, with the goal of applying their learnings to themselves and their teams in order to facilitate diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in the workplace. Aliya is on track to graduate with her MS in Learning & Organizational Change in 2022. Fine Arts faculty members VICKI SCHMITZ and KATIE WHITE turned to their favorite mediums this year, and several local and national groups have taken notice of the art they produced. Both had worked on a display through the Racine Art Museum’s “From the Heart” virtual community art show, which ran through October 4th. Artists were able to submit images of artwork addressing any subject, as long as it was created in the first part of 2020. Both Prairie artists chose embroidery — Katie’s, selected as an Audience Favorite, depicted a series of “Words of the Year,” [D, E, F] and Vicki created visuals inspired by farm and field views. [G] Another set of Vicki’s artwork was accepted to the annual juried exhibition held by the National Art Education Association, a virtual showcase for professional visual arts educators worldwide. This exhibit will be on display through the end of 2020. [H]
D
E
F
It’s In The Details Spreading his wings on a school trip to Italy.
SPREADING JOY. UNDERSTANDING THE HUMOR INHERENT IN LIFE. BEING THERE FOR SOMEONE IN NEED. THESE WERE THINGS AT WHICH DAVID DREWEK, PRAIRIE’S FIRST ART TEACHER, EXCELLED. 44 | prairieschool.com
— Brendan J. O’Brien, Director of Communication
Look at the aging man’s slender build and balding scalp. The blue suit. The spectacles dangling from curled fingers. The look on his face, a distant gaze slowly succumbing to the grin growing beneath the surface. And those eyes. That blue. A hint greyer than the suit, like cold steel or a piece of wet slate you might rescue from the Lake Michigan shore on a perfect summer day. This meticulousness is what makes the portrait so profound. If life is in the details, then it’s best to apply the little ones liberally, enhancing our existences, and our paintings, with style and class and individuality. The picture of John Mitchell, Prairie’s first Headmaster, hangs in the Performing Arts Circle on a red brick wall just outside – you guessed it – the John Mitchell Theater. Displayed here since 1978, you’ve almost certainly walked past it. However, have you ever stopped for a closer look? Ever leaned in close, nose inches from the glass, to study the intricate brushstrokes used to create Mr. Mitchell’s hands and face? Chances are, probably not. But this is how it sometimes goes with art. No matter how brilliant a piece, no matter how captivating, it can blend into the background if we’re not intentional about noticing its beauty. “Dave’s style was like the old masters,” says Kevin Pearson, longtime Prairie art teacher. “He used these small brush strokes, did these layers. If you look at the John Mitchell – and I would look every time I passed – you can see it on the face and the hands. He did fifteen, sixteen layers, and that’s what Raphael and any of them would do. Tiny, tiny strokes.” David Drewek, 1978. That’s the inscription at the bottom of the painting. As Prairie’s first art teacher and department chair, Drewek taught, inspired, and delighted TPS students from 1965-2001. In July, he passed away at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, following a series of heart issues. He was 78. He was also, without a doubt, a man who enhanced his life with remarkable details.
Drewek’s “John Mitchell” has hung across from the Head of School’s office since its unveiling in 1978, the year Mitchell retired.
AS LEGEND HAS IT They tell the one about how he turned the art room into a magnificent haunted house every October, Prairie’s seniors scouring the city for the cardboard boxes they would use in its construction. They tell stories about the school trips he would take with students to visit the famous glass blowing studio in Florence, Italy (more on this later). There’s one about him showing up to a faculty meeting in his bathrobe and one about Dave’s Dating Service, the table he would set up in the Dining Room or SRC prior to a big dance to help match kids who wanted to attend but didn’t have a date. At the risk of relying on an obvious and simplistic art pun in a piece about a beloved and complex art teacher, there are countless stories to help paint the picture of Dave Drewek. In early August, Vicki Schmitz, Prairie’s current Art Department Chair, arranged a Zoom meeting to help collect some of those stories. Unable to gather for drinks and hugs and handshakes, Everett McKinney, Pat Badger, and Kevin and Chris Pearson met in cyberspace to remember a man who filled this place, and their hearts, with immense joy. Consider it catharsis in the time of a pandemic.
“I talked about this with Pat last summer, I thought: I should really fly out and meet this Dave fella,” said Schmitz. “And I’m sorry I never got that chance. But the memories I’ve heard of him are so fantastic, and I feel like it’s important he’s honored appropriately and that I know his legacy so we can maintain it and pass it along. It makes me sad when things get lost to history.” Stories and laughter and lessons: this is how we should all judge the richness of our days. For an hour they come nonstop. Many of them emerging from the memory of a reverent-yet-eager Kevin Pearson. Listening to him talk, it’s obvious he’s a man who clearly understands how lucky he was to have known such a friend, mentor, and colleague. He shares the one about the time when Tony Fruhauf, former Headmaster, questioned Dave about his attire, telling him he needed to wear a shirt and tie when visiting him in his office. “Dave said, ‘Well that’s fine, but then you need to wear a t-shirt and jeans when visiting me in the art room.’” Next is the one about how, uninterested in patronizing the soda machine someone installed in the faculty lounge – the funds of which went towards new athletic uniforms – Dave called up a different beverage company, had another machine installed in the art room, and began using the money for art supplies. His idea didn’t last long. “I don’t think he asked anyone,” said Pearson. “He just did it. That was Dave.” There is a great Seinfeld scene where George Costanza is describing the zany stories of his life to a group of people tasked with assessing said level of zaniness. In closing, he says, “These stories are not embellished, because they need no embellishment.” That was Dave Drewek. Authentic. Fearless. At complete comfort in his own skin. “He was probably the only pied piper I know,” said Pearson. “He just drew people to him. He was friends with the Prairie parents. He was friends with their children. It was absolutely amazing to watch.”
Back in the day when dances were formal, Drewek was there to help pair up students looking for a plus one.
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“Dave was one of those rare people able to strike the balance between being an adult, and letting the child in him loose,” said Badger. “I think that’s what really drew kids to him. He could be funny, but he could also just really be there for you if you needed someone.” And need him they did. The co-workers. The kids. They needed his wit and his humor. His compassion. His originality. They needed his trust.
A PLACE TO DREAM Call it a safe haven. A place to escape Prairie’s rigorous academic demands. On any given day, Schmitz and her fellow art teachers welcome hundreds of students into their classrooms. And whether it’s blowing glass in the David M. Drewek Glassblowing Studio, or working on a still life in the upper level, art – and the places and spaces where it’s created – have always offered Prairie’s students a place to feel safe, to express themselves. Drewek was integral in helping redesign the art room following Prairie’s fire in 1975.
MAKING THINGS RIGHT There are two more stories important to tell. In 2015, Prairie hosted a variety of events in celebration of the school’s 5oth anniversary. One of those was a reception at Fortaleza Hall in downtown Racine. “It was probably the last time I saw him,” remembered Everett McKinney. “And I recall a young man approaching me, he was in the seventh grade when I came to Prairie in 1989, and we began chatting. He said, ‘I really came back to see Mr. Drewek.’ I asked him why, and he said, ‘When I was in Upper School, I really, really wanted to go on the trip to Italy, but I didn’t have the means to do so. I raised some of the funds, but for the most part Mr. Drewek took care of my trip. It’s the only time I’ve been out of the country. He made that possible.’ I’m sure there are other kids with stories like that, of Dave making things right for a kid if they were wrong, but I was just really touched by that.”
“Certainly, the art room has always been a place where kids find refuge,” said Badger. “And that’s still true today.” True today, just as it was in 1965, when a man born and raised in Racine, WI, a man with a passion for Scandinavian furniture and freshly popped popcorn, was given the opportunity to build an art department, to dream. When painting with oils, the technique of layering is used to enrich depth and deepen atmosphere, the extra detail adding texture and providing nuance. It’s done to bring a piece to life. Whether painting or blowing glass or helping students build a haunted house, Dave Drewek was a man of nuance, of layers, and all of them worked harmoniously to form a beautiful, unforgettable existence, one worth remembering, one worth leaning in for a closer look every chance we get.
In fact, there is another story like that. On the evening of January 17th, 1975, Prairie was ravaged by a fire. The inferno destroyed not just the Primary School classrooms, but also the art room, Dave’s beloved space, the place where he created and connected. PRAIRIE SCHOOL BURNS, was the headline the next morning in The Journal Times. “It was devastating,” remembered Pat Badger. “It destroyed the Primary School. It destroyed the art room. It started there with some kind of hot pot someone forgot to unplug. There was an investigation, of course. And I believe Dave had an idea about who forgot, but that was just not something we talked about. It wasn’t mentioned. I don’t ever recall a lot of attention being put on ‘Who did this?!’ We just rebuilt and we went on. And I think a lot of that was Dave.”
Classrooms, commons, hallways: no Prairie space was safe from Drewek’s antics.
Forever Grateful
MADAME WATERS GOT THE BEST FROM EVERY STUDENT SHE TAUGHT
— Everett McKinney, Associate Head of School Emeritus It is rare indeed to have a friend or colleague of many years with whom one never had a cross word or negative interaction. For me, however, Tracy Waters was such a friend and colleague. Tracy and I were teaching partners for close to thirty years at TPS. She was truly a master teacher or a “teacher’s teacher,” some might say. She had the unique talent for knowing the exact number of demands to make in order to get the best from a student. She rarely failed to accomplish her instructional goals in a reasonable, sensitive, yet effective way. Tracy’s native-like fluency in French was quite impressive, but what I and many of her former students will remember most is her kindness as a teacher. Tracy never failed to give a student the benefit of the doubt and to see her students as people first. In his book, The Courage to Teach, Parker J. Palmer asserts that in the end it is rarely the content of our discipline that our students learn from us. For Palmer, what students in our classes are really learning is HOW we teach them our subject, especially the ways we interact with them when the content we teach is challenging. Working from this premise of providing thoughtful, caring instruction, Tracy excelled. The passion and joy she had for sharing her knowledge of the French language, its literature and its culture, were contagious. Her goal always seemed to be to make the experience of being in her class one of the most positive a student could have. That way, if a student later decided to continue or return to French studies, one had the positive experience with her as a benchmark. The meticulous preparation Tracy took to prepare five different lesson plans weekly is well known by the World Language Department members, and it is a testament to her lifelong dedication as a teacher. In her role as the Chair of World Languages, she conducted timely, effective, goal-oriented meetings; she was also a fair and supportive evaluator of those in her department. For 20 years, Tracy coordinated Racine’s Sister City exchange program with Chabrillan, an independent school similar to TPS, in Montélimar, France. Every other year she traveled with juniors and seniors to France during Spring Break. Fortunately for me, when the group size required two chaperones, I would have the 48 | prairieschool.com
opportunity to travel with them. One time I asked Tracy if she didn’t get tired of doing this trip biennially. She shared that it delighted her to no end to see the reaction of her students when they visited the places, ate the food, and experienced first-hand the culture they had read about and studied in the abstract. Some of our friendship’s most memorable moments occurred on these travels. She and I developed a ritual of finding, within forty-eight hours of our arrival in France, a café or brasserie where we would order a croque-monsieur (a simple grilled ham and cheese sandwich). The cherished, accommodating friend that she was, she always indulged me in this little ritual, and for that and so much more I will be forever grateful.
Donor Profile: Matt ’10 and Abby ’10 Adamczyk — Rachel Shuster, Communication Manager
THEN
NOW
Matt Adamczyk ’10 is a numbers guy. So naturally, he can measure his Prairie experience in several important figures.
on Lighthouse Drive, the Adamczyks still feel as much a part of the community as ever.
Six: The grade Matt moved to Prairie, as a Hilpert Scholar.
They stay connected as donors — regular, committed supporters, a rarity among couples their age. Matt and Abby have consistently participated in the Prairie Fund since 2015, which was also the year they began donating to Premiere. Matt works for Microsoft, a company who has continued to match his product donations for the silent auction. The Adamczyks were planning to attend Premiere in person in the spring of 2020; they kept their commitment when the event turned virtual, even getting all dolled up for a Microsoft Teams video chat gathering with their families (also full of Prairie alumni).
Named for one of Prairie’s co-founders, the Hilpert Memorial Scholarship is a merit-based program funded by the school’s endowment as well as by gifts from individual friends of Prairie. The honor is awarded to motivated young people who exhibit academic and creative excellence, strong leadership skills, and a concern for the well-being of others, along with a demonstrated financial need. That description fit preteen Matt, a self-described “technology geek” who left the local public school system to join the TPS community. Seven: The number of years Matt spent as a Prairie Hawk. During his time in Wind Point, math-minded Matt took advantage of every opportunity he could to hone his skills and abilities. A/V projects, sound engineering for Theatre productions, math competitions: in his words, “total nerd things.” Those “nerd things” fueled interests in computer science and technology that would eventually lead to a career. His status as a Hilpert Scholar was never far from Matt’s mind. As students joined his class, he would make himself their buddy, able to relate to the experience of joining Prairie as a new addition. Along the way, he made lifelong friends; one of those new students ended up as the best man in Matt’s wedding. Oh, and he met his future wife, Abby (Gaertig) Adamczyk ’10. It also ingrained in him a sense of giving back. “I was afforded a Prairie education through that program, which wouldn’t have been possible otherwise,” he reflects. “I attribute a lot of my success back to Prairie and all of the experiences it brought along the way, and having that success pretty early in my career afforded me the opportunity to give back.” Which brings us to ten: the number of years it has been since Matt and Abby roamed the halls as Prairie students. The pair (who began dating their junior year) graduated in 2010. Even a decade removed from their time in a classroom
They also stay connected as friends, reaching out when their favorite faculty members have retired. “Reconnecting with people brings us back into the world we were a part of, but also allows us to see how it’s evolved,” Abby explains. It’s that evolution that keeps them connected, too. Matt visited Prairie’s campus last school year, to learn about the various ways TPS integrates technology education from devices in Primary School to AP Computer Science classes in the Upper School, from the SRC to the Wonder Lab. In his role with Microsoft, Matt is working at TitletownTech to build up the “tech economy” in Wisconsin — including inside school buildings. He holds Prairie up as an example, while still dreaming up ways to use the connections he’s established to bring the school even further ahead of the curve. “Prairie is at the point that we’re trying to get a lot of the public schools to, so the question is, how do we push Prairie to act as a model for how other schools should be thinking about it? How do we benefit some of the current students?” he asks. “It’s good to reflect back on where you’ve come and how those experiences have built up to where you are. It’s really the foundation everything is built on top of.” You can’t quantify that kind of impact.
Serving Humbly
FROM CARPENTRY TO KINDNESS, JOHN KIRT’S HANDIWORK REMAINS PRESENT ALL ACROSS CAMPUS.
— Brendan J. O’Brien, Director of Communication To describe him as willing, or hardworking, wouldn’t be working hard enough to articulate the innate selflessness of a man who spent the last two-plus decades doing everything possible to ensure his Prairie School colleagues were cared for. This past March, John Kirt, beloved member of Prairie’s Facilities Team for the last 25 years, passed away with his family by his side. John’s desire to serve – whether it be his coworkers, his community, or his church – was relentless. Calm and kind-hearted, happy and humble, he was the kind of guy who made an impression, the kind you were lucky to be around. And boy were we ever. Whether receiving a hearty “Hello!” while passing him as he hurriedly pushed a metal dolly across campus, watching him eagerly build a custom cabinet for a home or office, or sitting down to share a bowl of soup in the Dining Room, we were so very lucky to be around him. Having helped take Prairie from tile to carpet, having been a part of campus additions such as the Upper School, the JAC, and the Ruud Family Soccer Complex (just to name a few), John’s work regularly involved blueprints. How fitting, then, that the way he went about his craft, the way he treated others and cared for his family, the way he lived his life, offers all of us a perfect plan to follow as we strive to be our best selves.
Sarah Gesner and her dad, Mark, pose for snapshot after the author was awarded her diploma in July.
The Last Word 2020 VISION
Prairie’s Head of School Award winner reflects on an unforgettable semester.
— Sarah Gesner ’20 This past spring, I finished out my high school classes, decided on a college, and spent time with friends and family. To a member of a different graduating class, these events would likely sound familiar. It’s the addition of words like “Zoom” in front of high school classes, “virtual tours” in front of college names, and “socially distant” in front of visits with family and friends that set the Class of 2020 apart.
The fact that all of our classes were taught over Zoom was — I’ll admit, rather surprisingly — more of an inconvenience that a deterrent from learning. Through individual check-ins and Fun Friday activities (like a murder mystery game and even trivia with Dr. Coffman!), my teachers worked hard and worked creatively to provide a sense of continuity and calmness. The result was some semblance of “ordinary” amidst an otherwise chaotic time.
Yet rather than focus on all of the shifts and changes of the spring, it seems more noteworthy to recognize how everything stayed the same as usual. In Mr. Paulsen’s choir class, we still practiced our harmonies and learned new music (which some might argue is easier when everyone is muted); in Ms. Davis’ AP English class, we were still provided with thoughtful and engaging activities to help us prepare for the AP Exam; and in Mr. Nacev’s Modern Latin American Studies class, we still shared each day how we were doing before moving on to the material.
While it’s true I was still upset about being robbed of a traditional senior spring, I know there is a silver lining. When my classmates and I enter college, whether in person or virtually, we’ll be approaching the experience with a different lens. We’ll be able to apply 2020 vision to all we see, and have the foresight to know when to press mute and when to leave our microphones on.
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