Keeping in Touch - Senior Edition, Summer 2021

IN SENIOR EDITION VOLUME 14: 3 SUMMER 2021

TOUCH

THE ROEPER SCHOOL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

KEEPING

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TABLE OF CONTENTS David Feldman Head of School david.feldman@roeper.org Denita Banks-Sims Director of Development & Publications denita.banks-sims@roeper.org Keeping in Touch Editorial Committee Katie Buchmann Editor Bonnie Schemm Art Director

Contributors Francis Allen ’21 Denita Banks-Sims Katie Buchmann David Feldman Karen Johnson Juliette Olejnik Karen Roeper ’66* Marcia Ruff Cameron Schemm ’21

FEATURES

OPENING REMARKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 David Feldman, Head of School FOUNDERS’ FAMILY MESSAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Karen Roeper ’66*, Daughter of George & Annemarie Roeper

SENIOR CLASS FAREWELL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Francis Allen, President, Class of 2021 INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST ALUMNI . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 THE GRADUATES & THEIR PRESENTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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SENIOR PROFILES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Katie Buchmann, Editor & Cameron Schemm ’21, Copy Editor CLOSING REMARKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 SENIOR PROJECTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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AWARDS & HONORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 THE ROEPER SCHOOL 41190 Woodward Avenue Bloomfield Hills Michigan 48304 248/203.7300 www.roeper.org

The Roeper School is an independent coeducational day school for gifted and talented students preschool through grade 12 and an equal-opportunity institution

PASSIONS & PURSUITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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A WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST ALUMNI . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Juliette Olejnik, Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Fund PARTING THOUGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Denita Banks-Sims, Director of Development & Publications FACES IN THE CROWD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

FRONT COVER Pandemic Mural, Charlotte Silverstein ’21

EDUCATING AND INSPIRING GIFTED STUDENTS TO THINK AS INDIVIDUALS AND TO ENGAGE AS A COMMUNITY WITH COMPASSION FOR EACH OTHER AND THIS WORLD

I was inspired to create [the mural] to brighten the bedroom I found myself spending all my time in. The mural also became the perfect backdrop to add a little more color into countless Zoom meetings, forensics tournaments and band concerts. It was painted with a combination of paint samplers from the hardware store and acrylic paint.

COMMENCEMENT CANDID & CEREMONY PHOTOS Mark Adrian Photograhy

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David Feldman Head of School

OPENING REMARKS George Roeper told us, in this school …

Students find teachers who respect them as individuals, where students are able to make mistakes and learn from them, and where they search for the unknown and the unseen.

To my colleagues — thank you for your deep dedication, your love of teaching and learning, and your thoughtful commitment to our students.

This has been a year like no other, and you have shepherded our graduates through incredible national challenges that have stretched you personally and professionally. Our gratitude and respect for you is profound and our thanks immeasurable.

Family members, you are your child’s first teachers … and perhaps discovered some new teaching skills yourself this year as you hosted school in your homes. You were there for their first steps, their first words, and the first day of school. A milestone like today is only possible because of the care and nurture you provide. Today as we celebrate their journey to this milestone moment, it’s only natural to think about all the people who helped map their path. I invite you to take a moment and remember those people who made this day possible for our graduates and for you …

On days like today I think a lot about our founders.

While we think of George and Annemarie Roeper with reverence, they were not mythical beings; they were human, with human frailties, successes, and dreams. They experienced the hardship of prejudice, what it meant to be a religious refugee, and the challenge that comes with learning from the difficult times that come from war and hatred.

They had a love for children, a respect for thinking and learning, and a commitment to inclusion.

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The 1981 Philosophy that we have become so deeply connected to is a document written as George and Annemarie were completing their tenure at the school. As they prepared for retirement and their move to California, they wrote this version as guidance for when they would not be present. While there were many earlier versions of the philosophy, the 1981 edition has been embraced as the aspirational summary of their thoughts and ideas.

As I think about the document, I am always drawn to their tenet of “preparing students for an unknown future.” This year of pandemic has taught us a great deal about how unknown the future can be. At the same time, it has reminded us of the importance of valuing what we have today. The pandemic forced us to slow down, consider the importance of the moment we are in, and to care for the people closest to us. The future may be unknown, but the people in our lives whom we love and hold close provide us clarity and comfort to persevere.

George once described our work by sharing what he hoped our outcomes might be, he said, “Let us talk about our tasks. We prepare our youngsters for college. This is a matter of course. But I consider preparation for college as half of our job.

We also want to help our students to be amply prepared for this world in a social and human sense. We want our youth to have values, to understand their values, and to help them uphold their values …”

The future may be unknown, but the people in our lives whom we love and hold close provide us clarity and comfort to persevere.

I believe that the antidote to the fear and tribalism that is growing pervasively around us is engagement and hope.

World events continue to reshape our lives, refocusing priorities, and you now find yourself, like the Roepers in a shifting tide. You have spent your days at our School immersed in a humanistic community; you have developed certain habits of the heart that ground you and provide you with a moral compass. Words like community, compassion, and service are not empty terms, but rather life lessons you have experienced as you’ve worked with younger children, peers, and

I believe that the antidote to the fear and tribalism that is growing pervasively around us is engagement and hope. Class of 2021, you are a group made up of scientists, writers, mathematicians, historians, artists, athletes, and gifted problem solvers. You are deeply caring, highly complex, and profoundly curious — it is your turn to engage.

individuals outside the walls of our buildings.

intensity to bring compassion, hope, and change to this world. I am so proud of all that you have accomplished, and so excited to see all that you will do. You are amazing individuals and an inspiring group of leaders.

I have often thought that my generation was fortunate to have inherited the Roeper Philosophy.

We did not have to suffer the experiences of a World War or a genocide to learn the importance of justice rather than power or the essential value of equal human rights.

Today, however, I believe that we are being called upon to reaffirm these philosophical tenets and that you as the newest members of the Roeper alumni will be called upon to provide leadership and guidance to a world in desperate need of healing.

Within each of you is a fire that burns with

Now is the time for your moral engagement; now is the time to reaffirm the teachings of the Roeper Philosophy and bring its core values of responsibility, compassion, and hope to a world in desperate need of healing.

Now is your time to lead us forward!

Congratulations! F

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Karen Roeper ’66*

FOUNDERS’ FAMILY MESSAGE Hi. I’m Karen, and I’m the Roepers’ daughter. I want you to know how sad I am that I can’t be there in person with you today, especially this year, because I’ve met many of you who are about to be the graduating class of Roeper 2021. However, I’m glad to have this moment with you.

First of all, I want to acknowledge the entire Roeper Community for the incredible resourcefulness and creativity in which you have met this challenging and remarkable year of Covid. The Roeper Community has truly risen to the occasion, and my parents would be so proud of how you have come together to meet this challenge.

And speaking of my parents, one of the main tenets of their philosophy was developing students — people — who could engage in critical thinking and who could think on their own. As my mother says in her model, she sees human beings as independent decision makers — “decision makers drawn by the necessity to be true to themselves.”

I began wondering about whose voice am I listening to when I make a decision, and I put that question to you. Whose voice are you listening to when you make a decision? This is also inspired by the song, Hear My Voice by Celeste, which was sung in the Chicago Seven movie — which is all about having your voice be heard.

Close your eyes for a moment and just listen to the first phrase of this song: Hear my voice Hear my dreams Let us make a world in which I believe Powerful words! Connecting with your own voice is essential as you go on out into the world, but it’s not as easy or simple as it seems. We have lots of voices in our heads. We’ve got our parents’ voices, our grandparents’ voices, our friends’ voices, our teachers’ voices. And then we also have the cultural voices and the social media voices (which are all over the place), and the political voices.

There’s constant information coming in. So how do we discern what’s true … what resonates for

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us… what’s true for us? What decisions do we want to make based on what’s true for us? How do we find that out? And I feel that for me, I’ve discovered two ways.

One is to check in with my body, to listen to the body’s responses when I ask myself questions. Maybe it’s as simple as do I want chocolate ice cream or vanilla ice cream? Your body has that information.

The second question is for the sake of what am I making this choice, does it resonate with what I feel passionate about? Does it resonate with what I most value in my life? And does it resonate with my social values?

I’ll just give you a quick example. When I was about 20 or 30, I was going to start a particular type of therapy, and I went to a few sessions. After about the third session I walked out and thought, something doesn’t feel right. And then suddenly, I thought to myself — I’d rather be dancing … I’d rather be dancing right now. And my whole body just relaxed. And I knew that that was really true. And then I remembered that when I was 12, I wrote what I wanted to do with my life.

I said I wanted to be a social worker and I wanted to bring movement and dance into my work to help people feel more alive and connected with themselves. So that was the for the sake of what.

When I thought, “Oh, I want to be moving and dancing”, that voice was speaking to what became the trajectory of my life.

So as you move on out into the world. Consider when you’re making a decision, how do I discern what’s my true voice? Consider that you really listen to your body’s responses, and you ask yourself for the sake of what? Because we really need to hear your voice. We need to hear your dreams. Let’s make a better world that we can all believe in.

Thank you, and have fun. Have fun today! It’s a day to celebrate. I look forward to meeting you somewhere in the world. F

Connecting with your own voice is essential as you go on out into the world …

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Francis Allen President, Class of 2021

SENIOR CLASS FAREWELL Good afternoon graduates, faculty, and guests. To even be on this stage, in person, with the Class of 2021 is a tremendous honor.

Four years ago, I remember sitting before the Class of 2017 as my brother Joseph described how learning is a lifelong endeavor. Unfortunately, my eighth-grade self was too young to fully appreciate his wisdom. Three years later (and a COVID spring break that lasted slightly too long), I’m proud to say that the graduates sitting next to me have taken to heart my brother’s message about the importance of education and a love of learning. However, I now realize there was something missing in his speech. Being a part of this community has taught me that learning isn’t just confined to the four walls of a classroom, but that the world is full of lessons, waiting to be absorbed by brilliant minds like our own.

Founded by Holocaust survivors who sought to educate leaders who would prevent future injustice, this school reflects George and Annemarie’s vision for a better world. It has always been clear to me that my classmates embody their dream in word, deed, and spirit. As I look across the stage, I see my closest friends and lifelong classmates, for all of whom today marks the end of a chapter in our lives. I hope that we not only remain lifelong learners, but that we continue to be the leaders the Roepers always hoped we would be.

Our passion for learning knows no bounds.

Our work ethic, creativity, and perseverance are not just apparent when sitting behind a desk, but always. We collectively emerged from this past year stronger than anyone could have imagined.

After a devastating pandemic forced us to stay out of the classroom for a year, there’s nothing the Class of 2021 understands better than this. I’ll be the first to admit, when quarantine first began, I was pessimistic that we would continue to grow as individuals. Online learning was a new, frightening experience for us all. Yet, I’ve never been so happy to have been proven wrong by my classmates. We used the extra time to learn to invest, to launch businesses, to grow YouTube channels, and discover ways to volunteer through Zoom. Our passion for learning knows no bounds. Our work ethic, creativity, and perseverance are not just apparent when sitting behind a desk, but always. We collectively emerged from this past year stronger than anyone could have imagined.

I couldn’t write this speech without keeping a few people in mind. I owe a special thank you to all of our teachers, faculty, and staff who have devoted themselves to us the last four years. It feels like just yesterday that Matt Vallus was telling us about the good ole’ days, or Max Collins was demonstrating the prairie dog for World History. From getting lost in Chicago to nearly burning the school down, we know we’ve made it hard to love us sometimes. I’m filled with a sense of both privilege and humility to say that we could not have survived high school without your support. I would also like to extend my gratitude to all of our coaches here at Roeper. The lessons you’ve taught us about effort, discipline, and teamwork are ones that stretch far beyond the field and far beyond our time here at Roeper. Most importantly, to my parents, who I owe the world for the sacrifices they’ve made so that Roeper could always be a possibility for me. I love no one in the world more than you.

Graduates, when you step off this stage, never stop seeking knowledge, and never stop pursuing your passions. Remember that the world is not only your classroom, but your sandbox. No idea is too radical so as not to pursue it; no plan is too ambitious; and no challenge too great.

Thank You. F

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INTRODUCING THE CLASS OF 2021

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1. Emma Goldschmidt 2. Sydney Levy 3. Gina Galligan 4. Hannah Wise 5. Meredith Grekin 6. Jada Coburn 7. Olivia Gandee 8. Ayden Diomande 9. Emerson Murphy 10. Diego Garcia 11. Noah Newhard 12. Jack Manzo 13. Jack Lambert 14. Ellie Barron 15. Charlotte Silverstein 16. David Cornier-Bridgeforth 17. Lee Must 18. Alexa Dinneweth 19. Clayton Adams 20. Noah Leopold 21. Cameron Schemm 22. Brittany Hansen 23. Ryan Bensman 24. Lilly Richards 25. Zion Johnson 26. Nathan Schechter 27. Will Hoover 28. Miles Durst 29. Francis Allen 30. Griffin Huneke 31. Nolan Epps 32. Dylan Stafeil 33. Emily Wetherington 34. Pete Giftos 35. James Heath 36. Clyde Granzeier 37. Jonah Mougoué 38. Griffin Galligan 39. Sam Kramer 40. Ethan Fracasso 41. Jack Emerick 42. Andrew Albrecht

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THE GRADUATES & THEIR PRESENTERS Relationships are important at Roeper.

Each senior chooses an adult member of the Roeper community to present him or her at commencement.

Speeches are factual, humorous and poignant, with words drawn from student records, friends, family and staff members.

Historically, George Roeper spoke a few minutes about each graduate, and upon his retirement, the Upper School Director assumed that commitment.

As the classes grew larger, it became a daunting task for one person to undertake, so in the mid-’80s a group of five or six teachers was designated by each graduating class from which the seniors could choose. In the early ’90s the choice was widened to include any current or former staff member.

It is considered an honor to be invited to present.

Graduation order is determined by the student’s length of time at The Roeper School. The newest student to Roeper graduates first; and the student who has attended the longest is presented last.

THE CLASS OF 2021 IN GRADUATION ORDER graduate presenter

NOAH AIDEN NEWHARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . barb lasecki-webb RYAN SOLOMON BENSMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kelly mcdowell DAVID CORNIER-BRIDGEFORTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . max collins HANNAH RAYNE WISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . matt vallus MILES JOSEPH DURST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . max collins CLAYTON JOSEPH ADAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . karen johnson JADA MONICA-ANN COBURN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . andrea collins AYDEN JEAN-MOUTTI DIOMANDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . susannah nichols JAMES RANDOLPH HEATH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . brian hewitt JACK DYLAN LAMBERT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . matt vallus JACK CHRISTOPHER MANZO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . michelle stamler JACK ROBERT EMERICK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . eric ambrose CLYDE MICHAEL GRANZEIER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dan jacobs CAMERON GRAHAM SCHEMM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . andrew blechman ELLIE CAROLINE BARRON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .susannah nichols OLIVIA DOVE GANDEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kelly mcdowell LILLY THERESA RICHARDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . andrew blechman EMILY LAUREN WETHERINGTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .kelly mcdowell NATHAN LOCKS SCHECHTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dan jacobs ANDREW ALBRECHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . laddie andahazy NOLAN ANDREW EPPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hale williams ETHAN JAMES FRACASSO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . andrew blechman NOAH JACKSON LEOPOLD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . michelle stamler JONAH MOUGOUÉ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hale williams SYDNEY REESE LEVY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . emma hegel-kissinger PETER THOMAS GIFTOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kelly mcdowell DYLAN MAX STAFEIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . natalie abbott ZION EMMANUEL BOYD JOHNSON ������������������������������������������������������dan jacobs EMMA MARY GOLDSCHMIDT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . linda vernon WILLIAM JOHN HOOVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .susannah nichols LUCIE RUTH MUST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .kelly mcdowell DIEGO JUDE TAWENNAREN GARCIA ���������������������������������������������� ttari hellmer FRANCIS MARTIN ALLEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .susannah nichols ALEXA ELIZABETH DINNEWETH �������������������������������������������������������������lily zhu GINA MARIE GALLIGAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . eric ambrose GRIFFIN JAMES GALLIGAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . eulalia ferrer SAMUEL FRANKLIN KRAMER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . brian hewitt CHARLOTTE GRACE SILVERSTEIN �������������������������������������������������� eric ambrose MEREDITH ELLE GREKIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jen moore GRIFFIN THOMAS HUNEKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hale williams EMERSON KEITH MURPHY-BEHNKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . selected remarks BRITTANY MARIE HANSEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ttari hellmer

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Katie Buchmann KIT Editor

Cameron Schemm ’21

Copy Editor

SENIOR PROFILES NOAH AIDEN NEWHARD, son

of Jon Newhard and Evelyn Gerson of Birmingham and brother of Zelia ’23, attended Roeper for four years. “One of the main tenets of the Roeper Philosophy is ‘to prepare this future generation to deal with the unknown,’” said Barb Lasecki-Webb in her speech for Noah.

“To embody these skills and to bring life to this philosophy, one must practice the ability to pivot, something in which Noah has achieved mastery.

Noah originally came to Roeper in Stage III, year two. Only a year later, Noah had to pivot, leaving Roeper to join his family as they moved out of town. Changing schools can be challenging for any student. What is impressive about Noah is that he did so 10 separate times during his schooling.

Pivoting that many times is enough to get most dizzy. Yet, Noah doesn’t shy away from change — he welcomes it. As another academic year ends, Noah is ready to once again pivot toward the open horizon of opportunity, waiting for his unique way to tackle the challenges and celebrate the successes that lie just out of view. Hasan Humadi said, “Noah is a very mature, responsible young man with the capacity to plan for a bright and successful future.” Barb concurred, “I couldn’t agree more.” Noah will be attending Northeastern University after deferring for a year to travel and follow internship opportunities abroad.

Thanks to everyone who made my Roeper experience so wonderful! Special thanks to all the teachers that supported me and to all the friends I made! I’ll miss you all!

RYAN SOLOMON BENSMAN, son of Marcie

Goldsmith-Bensman and Daryl Bensman of Clarkston, attended Roeper for four years. In her speech for Ryan, Kelly McDowell says, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel provided an early bonding experience between Ryan and me. You see, Ryan and I are old souls... ok, I might be a little older.

But we would’ve done just fine having been born into a previous decade — perhaps cast in a

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delightful 1950’s comedy, like Maisel, or as a charmingly villainous duo in a classic noir thriller. We also know what any late 1950’s film starlet knows, what Midge Maisel knows: one can never have too many accessories — or good friends. Oh, that reminds me. Have I got some gossip for you! Do you know what Spanish teacher Eulalia Ferrer said about you? She said: ‘Ryan is wonderfully funny. I will miss his big energy!’ There’s also been some talk about you from your besties. Brittany Hansen said, ‘Ryan has a way of always making you smile. It’s impossible to stay in a bad mood around him.’ And here’s a bit of gossip from me. My dear Ryan, you have brightened my room and all of our lives for the past four years. And while my walls will be less decorated, without your seasonal craft creations, you leave an indelible mark on our minds and our hearts because you, my dear, are unforgettable — and marvelous! Ryan will be attending American University in the fall.

It has been an amazing journey. I’ve made many friends along the way. Thank you for believing in me. Now onward I go to a new adventure.

DAVID CORNIERBRIDGEFORTH, son of Arlene

Cornier and Craig Bridgeforth of Southfield and brother of Adam ‘22, attended Roeper for four years. “David is independent-minded,” says Max Collins in his speech for him. “He has strongly held preferences, and he acts on them. If he doesn’t care for something, he’ll accord it lower priority, doing what’s necessary to get by. But facing a project that strikes a

NOAH Resilient, responsible, welcoming of change

RYAN a caring friend, wonderfully funny, full of energy

DAVID A leader, dedicated, positive

HANNAH Tenacious, a dedicated, driven leader

MILES Confident, good at planning ahead

chord, he jumps in whole hog. His teachers in AP English, Epidemiology, and Debate were glowing about the quality and consistency of his work, [and] his positive energy. But even in courses not so much to his liking, David repeatedly proved himself able to hit the ball out of the park. I think this is because David just likes learning in general.

In fact, David told me that his classmates’ and teachers’ enthusiasm for learning for its own sake is one of his favorite things about Roeper. As to the future, longer term, David’s not sure what he’d like to do. He’s interested in politics, but would prefer a behind-the-scenes role such as campaign manager …perhaps he’ll go to law school. We’ll see. Whatever he does and wherever he goes, we all wish him the best and have enjoyed knowing him at Roeper.” David will be attending Oakland Community College in the fall.

interests, Hannah became laser-focused in order to meaningfully contribute to each group. Although it’s tempting to focus solely on her academic achievements and extracurricular successes, Hannah’s commitment extends to her friendships, too. Lily Kappa pointed out that ‘Hannah cares very deeply for her friends. She is a problemsolver. She will do everything to help you out.’

Hannah will be attending Boston University, beginning in January.

I love you guys. Please be well.

Durst of Rochester and Berkley and brother of Koen ’24 and Stage III student Jack, attended Roeper for five years. “Miles is a cheerful young man who gets along well with his peers and has a good head on his shoulders,” says Max Collins in his speech for Miles. “His teachers repeatedly remark on his able engagement in the classroom, something I’ve noticed and appreciated in Economics class.

I routinely put questions to Miles, knowing that I could expect a sensible response and that if Miles was at a loss, he possessed the confidence to work through a tricky problem with me. But enough of the past. What of the future? I think it’s bright. Like Miles. Miles Durst has a plan. Miles has two words: real estate. I noticed a spark in Miles in Economics: the spark of someone hoping to have his own business. Miles is already involved in real estate; with his Dad, and with Roeper. His senior project involves rehabbing distressed properties and then selling them. Eventually, Miles would like to put together some big projects and shepherd them all the way to reality. And I don’t see any reason why he can’t.” Miles will be attending Wayne State University in the fall.

HANNAH RAYNE WISE, daughter of

Adrienne Lenhoff and Bradley Wise of West Bloomfield, attended Roeper for four years.

In his speech for Hannah, Matt Vallus says, “Theodore Roosevelt’s approach to life is summed up in this statement: ‘Get action. Do things; be sane; don’t fritter away your time; create, act, take a place wherever you are and be somebody; get action.’ Similarly, as new students are entering Roeper in 9th grade, the first recommendation they often receive is ‘try everything’, ‘get involved’, and ‘take action’.

Hannah Wise has taken this recommendation to a level that few have dared attempt, and her fortitude, tenacity, and leadership have had an invaluable impact on the Roeper community. As Hannah’s Homeroom Advisor, at times I had mixed feelings about how much she was undertaking.

During her sophomore year she had a maxedout schedule, including three languages. She was actively involved in her youth group, playing soccer and basketball, participating in Forensics and Model United Nation, and establishing what would later become her true labor of love, UMatter week. Instead of being scattered with her myriad

Roeper has provided me a platform to learn about myself and flourish. I thank Roeper and the Roeper community for helping make me who I am.

MILES JOSEPH DURST, son of Brian

Farewell Roeper. I just hope ideologically diverse, critically thinking staff remain employed here for when I return to visit.

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CLAYTON JOSEPH ADAMS, son of Craig and

Cheryl Adams of Shelby Township, attended Roeper for five years. In her speech for Clayton, Karen Johnson says, “When I asked what his superpower would be if he had one, Clayton immediately replied with the ability to control time. Not the ability to fly or read minds or to have super-strength, but to control an elemental force in our experience of life. The thing about Clayton’s superpower, the pause button as it were, is that it’s actually a necessity, not just a parlor trick. I remember working with Clayton on an independent study project analyzing a spy novel. When we sat down one afternoon, Clayton just started talking through all of the connections that were being set up by the author and why the character traits were especially important to reveal in the sequence that they were. If this is all the stuff that’s running through Clayton’s head all the time, I can definitely see why a pause button would be critical. In preparation for this speech, I asked Clayton what his theme song would be if he had music that played every time he entered a room. He came back to me a few days later with a firm selection for his theme song: Time in A Bottle by Jim Croce. I was stunned. How old is this kid’s soul? I imagined Clayton as a retired superhero, no longer controlling time for a living, but collecting bottles of significant and treasured times to display and share with friends and family. One of those bottles will be his time at Roeper.”

Clayton will be taking a gap year.

JADA MONICA-ANN COBURN,

daughter of Cherwonda O’Neal of Oak Park and Jason Coburn of Auburn Hills, attended Roeper for five years. “Jada is a once-in-a-generation

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type of talent and person, to say the least,” says Andrea Collins in her speech for Jada.

“As a member of the Girls Basketball team, Jada was the team captain. When people often hear the word captain, they think that automatically means that the captain has to be the best player, but that it isn’t always true. While Jada was the best player, it wasn’t her talent that separated her, but it was her ability to lead.

More often than not, Jada was the first person in the gym and the last one to leave. Jada still being 100% committed to the team during a COVID year is a true testament to her character and spirit as both an individual and a leader. Jada, from the bottom of our heart, we will miss you, we appreciate the sacrifices and contributions that you have made to setting our program up for success in the near future, and we wish you nothing but the utmost success and happiness going forward with wherever your heart desires.”

Jada will be attending Winston-Salem State University in the fall.

I am forever grateful for Roeper and its students and staff. Thank you for helping me become the young woman I am today.

AYDEN JEAN-MOUTTI DIOMANDE, son of Ahlem and

Arnaud Diomande of West Bloomfield and brother of Stage III student Adam, attended Roeper for five years. In her speech for Ayden, Susannah Nichols says, “On a Thursday last March, in what would become our very last inperson class of the school year, we were scheduled to conduct a peer review of Ayden Diomande’s essay in Expository Writing. His piece, a celebration of pop music icon Arianna Grande, might have felt frivolous on a day when dread and uncertainty were

CLAYTON Timesensitive old soul with an expansive mind

JADA Dedicated, competitive, talented and kind

AYDEN Caring, with grace, good humor and heart

JAMES hardworking, respectful, motivated

JACK L Supportive, upbeat, gracious, with a flair for the dramatic

making it nearly impossible to conduct business as usual. But for 45 minutes, that class had a productive and at times hilarious discussion — not only because Ayden’s ode to Arianna reflected care and effort, but also because his effusiveness made it so easy to find our rhythm, even amid chaos. Like many of us, I’ll never forget that day — but I’m grateful that among those memories is Ayden’s grace and good humor. Ayden makes any situation a little more delightful. In an awkward class, he often breaks the tension by asking a random person about their ideal vacation or what vegetable they most relate to. Kelly McDowell encapsulates Ayden’s capacity: ‘He leads with the heart, combines the head and the heart in his work, and embodies the theory he studies.

Ayden could never be the detached intellectual.’” Ayden will be attending Pitzer College in the fall.

Thanks for the growing pains, I won’t forget them; lol.

JAMES RANDOLPH HEATH, son of James Heath

and Malika Ramsey-Heath of Detroit and brother of Karon ’22, attended Roeper for five years. In his speech for James, Brian Hewitt says, “I first met James as a new student to our 8th grade. The first time I ever had James as a student or athlete was during his first year at Roeper when he came out for the Middle School Baseball team. As his coach, the best part for me was watching James develop from a young man that would often take the easy way out, to the young man that is standing in front of me today that understands the value of hard work. This was never more evident than during one of our summer workouts. I had told James that he would be running the leg workout and was fully expecting him to take it easy on himself and teammates. (I was also completing the workout.) To my surprise, James put everyone through a taxing workout that included: barbell squats, dumbbell lunges, dumbbell step-ups, split leg squats, and weighted

duck walks. This showed me that he was actually starting to get “it”, he could’ve taken the easy way out, but understood that neither he, nor his teammates would have gotten anything out of the workout. He now understood, nothing replaces hard work.” James will be attending Middlebury College in the fall.

The Roeper School develops students better than any school I’ve attended. There is nowhere else I would’ve chosen to spend the last five years of my life.

JACK DYLAN LAMBERT, son

of Michael and Monica Lambert of Rochester Hills and brother of Caroline ’23, attended Roeper for five years. “Don’t let him fool you, there are definitely many sides to Jack Lambert,” says Matt Vallus in his speech for him. “Beyond his often brightly colored clothing, there is a more animated Jack, where his persona can seemingly change with the seasons. Then, he goes from having long-straight hair, to having braids, to having a perm. Maybe you remember WWE Jack … recently we met rapper Jack … As many personas as Jack has tried out, he has just as many good qualities to offer. Most apparently, Jack is consistently gracious and has a positive attitude. Max Collins states, ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jack in an ill-humored mood. It must happen sometimes, but I can’t, for the life of me, imagine it.’ Despite his many talents and occasional flair for the dramatic, Jack is incredibly grounded and the most centered person that I have taught. We need more people like Jack Lambert in positions of power, who will use their voices for good. Jack never hesitates to stand firmly behind what is right.

He has an unparalleled degree of integrity and is our true North; the unwavering voice of reason.”

Jack will be attending The Ohio State University in the fall.

To everyone at Roeper, I have enjoyed these past five years with you all, and I am sad to see them end. To all my classmates, friends, and faculty, thank you for helping shape who I am today.

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JACK CHRISTOPHER MANZO, son of

Chris and Sona Manzo, attended Roeper for six years. “Jack won’t miss Roeper,” says Michelle Stamler in her speech for him. “A harsh take on his years here? No, the exact opposite.

Jack believes his time here has been fulfilled. ‘I feel the faculty and everyone else has helped me the most they can to be the person I am today.’ So many sides to Jack.

Is he the student who was immersed in the Rubik’s cube that he tackled after he started at Roeper, the guy who solves the cube in eight seconds and attends competitions all over the country? Or have you been lucky enough to witness the wonder that is the rapper JZO? The ‘fantastic rapper who leads mosh pits,’ according to Noah Leopold. A calm demeanor, and a steady approach which has — and will continue — to take Jack far. So incredibly comfortable in his own skin; never trying to prove anything to anyone, just being himself. Jack says that ‘my go-to talent is of course the Rubik’s Cube, a broken record at this point. Since COVID I have been making content: videos, drawings, brainstorming ideas for stories. I enjoy trying new things that can expand my creativeness. Maybe one day I will find something I’m very talented at.’”

Jack will be attending Purdue University in the fall.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me in my years here at Roeper; I wish everyone the best.

JACK ROBERT EMERICK, son of Alison

and Robert Emerick of Beverly Hills, attended Roeper for eight years. In his speech for Jack, Eric Ambrose says, “Jack has always been a quiet student in class; he wasn’t one to talk or disrupt class, but that quietness didn’t mean he was unengaged. Jack has always had a passion for listening to and making

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music. Jack plays percussion, for those who don’t know, and he has always been a consistent player for us; one who younger students would look at to help keep their place while they played. Jack’s passion for music goes way beyond performing on practical instruments. His ability to compose beats and electronic music is highly refined and sophisticated. (Check him out on Spotify: just search Jack Emerick, you’ll find him.) Jack is an extremely personable and kind young man. Miles Durst says, ‘Jack is the kind of guy who can put a smile on your face even during the toughest days.’

And Emerson Murphy says, ‘When you need someone to talk to, he will listen, and demonstrate both genuine concern and sympathy; and on top of that, if you need help, he will go out of his way and give 100% to help you.’” Jack will be attending Wayne State University in the fall.

JACK M Kind, disciplined, creative, calm and steady

JACK E Kind, personable and practical, creative

Thanks for being such a caring community, I’ll see you guys around.

CLYDE MICHAEL GRANZEIER, son of

Michelle Blankenship and Mike Granzeier of Royal Oak, attended Roeper for six years. Dan Jacobs says in his speech for Clyde, “Clyde says that Roeper is central to his growth out into the world, giving him the means and encouragement to get more involved in his various communities. He has created Elephant Grams to fundraise for the Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee, and organized a mural of photographs highlighting positive aspects of Detroit, on display at the Detroit School of Digital Technology.”

Dan also says, “One of Clyde’s main ways of connecting with the world is through performing.”

Ellie Barron says that Clyde is “an entertainer down to his bones.” Dan says, “He has done years of Halloween cemetery performances where he and his parents play the ghosts of different occupants of the Wyandotte cemetery as part of a fundraiser for the Wyandotte Historical Museum.” Clyde describes his favorite Roeper memory as his performance in A Midsummer Night’s Dream: “It was great playing Thisby/Francis Flute while screaming a Shakespearean word salad in a pink dress and flower crown on stage.” Clyde will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall.

Thanks for putting up with me for six years! I’m really going to miss you all.

CLYDE Selfless, creative, with an extraordinary work ethic

CAMERON GRAHAM SCHEMM,

CAMERON Easy going, helpful, reliable

ELLIE A leader, dedicated, courageous

son of Jeremy Schemm ‘92 and Barbara Dornan of Troy, attended Roeper for six years. Andrew Blechman said in his speech for Cameron that, “When I asked him what he enjoyed most about being at Roeper, he gravitated toward his enjoyment at working with others … and it is precisely his outwardly calm and fun-loving attitude that makes him so good at this.” Brittany Hansen says, “Cameron is easily one of the most agreeable and sincere people I have ever known; he’s always been so reliable and considerate.” Ethan White says, “He doesn’t have drama; he doesn’t get himself into bad situations; he doesn’t blame others around him. He doesn’t take things too seriously; he knows how to have fun, how to make it fun for others … all around, a good guy to have a laugh with.” Andrew continues, “Besides Cameron’s gifts in science and mathematics, and an innate desire to help his fellow students, he is also a gifted musician.” Eric Ambrose says, “He’s an exceptional musician, always looking to improve and really challenge himself. He decided to learn tenor sax for Jazz Band, being a clarinetist by default, and he excels at both!” Cameron will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall.

I feel so lucky to have made my closest and best friends here, and I’ll miss all of the amazing, wonderful teachers I had!

ELLIE CAROLINE BARRON,

OLIVIA Creative, dedicated, professorial

daughter of Cassondra Winkelman Barron and Joshua Barron of Troy and sister of former Roeper student Lila, attended Roeper for seven years. In her speech for Ellie, Susannah Nichols says, “When Ellie Barron saw that the dwindling numbers for the women’s Varsity soccer team put the program at risk of elimination, she said ‘not on my watch, not even in the middle of a pandemic.’

Ellie connected with 72 girls, eventually recruiting

enough players to field a practice squad and save the program. Ellie’s leadership is so effective in part because of her keen awareness that teams, organizations, and projects, at their heart, are all about people. Kelly Piontek saw a similar sort of inclusion from Ellie in their D&D Creative Writing class: ‘When you were collaborating on a back story with others, yours was the shepherding voice of reason. You laughed and listened to your group’s wild ideas, but in the end, you were strong enough to speak up and say, “But is this really what we’re going to commit to and present?”’” Susannah concluded her speech, saying, “I have the privilege to leave you with the words of another changemaker, the exceptional young woman standing beside me today: “The big movements and laws and huge moments mean nothing if the substance of society has not changed. It is the everyday that matters, not just the once in a lifetime. Without the everyday, then the big moments are nothing but symbolism, a façade to pretend like change is being made. The everyday acts of people are the key to real, fundamental change in our society.”

Ellie will be attending Michigan State University in the fall.

Goodbye Roeper community! I will miss you all so much. It is really the people that have made my time at Roeper so special, thank you for that. Don’t lose your uniqueness!

OLIVIA DOVE GANDEE, daughter

of Nicole and Timothy Gandee of Washington Township, attended Roeper for seven years.

In her speech for Olivia, Kelly McDowell says, “When I write a senior speech, I like to start by asking myself a question.

There is a certain question that I typically begin with; so this is where I began with Olivia Gandee’s speech.

But here’s the thing — with Olivia, I was dealing with a master of words. With writing and speaking fluency in multiple languages — some entirely selftaught — how in the world would I, could I, even start with a single word with which to describe this

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language phenom? The best I could do, the word that kept coming to the surface was: professorial.

While it still feels reductive to attribute to Olivia a single word, this one definitely seems applicable.

Language is a construct. No one knows this better than Olivia, and this leads me to what I have had the pleasure of discovering over these past four years with Olivia. What motivates her razor-sharp skills and academic prowess is a deep, abiding creativity…AND a sense of play. Olivia Gandee, your intellectual feats shock and amaze us all!”

Olivia will be attending Bryn Mawr College in the fall.

I feel I was very fortunate to be able to pursue a Roeper education. I will miss the Roeper community, particularly my teachers, very much.

LILLY THERESA RICHARDS, daughter of

Anne Richards of Lathrup Village, attended Roeper for seven years. “Lilly has been described as a tour-de-force in the Roeper Middle-Upper School,” says Andrew Blechman in his speech for Lilly. “She arrived in the 6th grade, and immediately started making a name for herself. Lilly’s talents in STEM quickly emerged as she took her place on the Robotics Team under the watchful eye of Linda Pence, who Lilly later called a very important teacher in her life at Roeper.

Linda describes her as ‘thoughtful, all-in, creative, never-give-up student with a zany sense of humor that arose just at the right moment to push through an illusive problem and move herself and others ahead.’ As a novice, she took first place out of 30 teams for her float in the Robofest Autonomous Robot Parade. But never make the mistake of thinking of Lilly as a STEM-only kid! She is an accomplished violin player and has shown her talents both in and outside of Roeper. She finished the French program early at Roeper, and so put her efforts into learning Chinese.” Andrew finishes his speech: “I cannot wait to see how well she will apply her skills toward making this world a better place, and I am looking forward to seeing what she comes up with in the years ahead!” Lilly will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall.

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EMILY LAUREN WETHERINGTON,

daughter of Katharine Wetherington and Trevor Wetherington, both of Farmington hills, attended Roeper for seven years. “Emily Wetherington is complex, layered,” says Kelly McDowell in her speech for Emily. “With a wealth of talents and a breadth of interests, it takes a little while to get to know her. But when we do, we find a deep and rich humanity. And we discover that it is through a very unique combination of qualities and strengths that we have in our midst this delightful, engaging individual. Emily is smart, strong, funny and deeply empathetic. She is thoroughly human in the richest of ways. There is a lovely duality about you, Emily,” continues Kelly. “We hear words and phrases such as: ‘tough but sweet and adventurous but also introspective.’ Emily, I believe, and I think everyone would agree, that while these characteristics may seem like opposites, existing on two different sides of a duality, they are more like pairs, or individual parts of a whole. In fact, they are entirely connected and interdependent. The relationship between them is not “BUT” but “AND” because it is the totality of these wonderful qualities that adds up to our Emily.” Emily will be attending Kalamazoo College in the fall.

Roeper, you were truly my saving grace, even if I didn’t always show it. I will be forever grateful for the lessons I’ve learned here. Thank you for making me who I am today.

NATHAN LOCKS SCHECHTER, son

of Dan Schechter and Laura Castleman of Birmingham and brother of Liliana ’23, attended Roeper for eight years. In his speech for Nathan, Dan Jacobs says, “I just want to clear something up right off the top: Nathan Schechter is probably NOT a Terminator debate robot sent back in time from a post-

LILLY Zany, focused, a tour-deforce

EMILY Strong, adventurous, introspective

NATHAN A dedicated activist, empathetic, fights for justice

ANDREW Focused, tenacious, a great producer

NOLAN Quiet, discerning, agreeable, a “living legend”

apocalyptic future to tirelessly debate everyone he encounters. Now, you’re probably thinking, ‘I hadn’t thought that, but now that you mention it, maybe he is.’ In the spirit of dialectical discourse as a means to seek the truth, I’d like to present the pro and con sides of this argument. One: Command of facts. Nathan’s petabytes of knowledge helped clinch Roeper a solid first-in-the-nation victory with an undefeated record in Quiz Bowl this year. Two: Endurance. Nathan has, on numerous occasions, bemoaned the fact that structured debates are far too short to facilitate truth-seeking.

On con side, Nathan has a drive to engage and mutually grow with humans, not (usually) annihilate them. If Nathan is a debateinator, then he is a robot with a heart. He takes the love and care that he has for his family and friends and extends it out into the world to seek justice on a systemic level.

He not only understands that an injustice to one is an injustice to all; he acts on it.” Nathan will be attending Haverford College in the fall.

Save the environment!

ANDREW ALBRECHT, son

of Charles and Mary Albrecht of Birmingham and brother of Alison ’18, attended Roeper for eight years. In his speech for Andrew, Laddie Andahazy says, “As Andrew’s basketball coach, whether it was a great game or a game where he played poorly, he always came in to practice the next day focused and ready to work hard and improve. Being able to put your head down and work hard no matter the situation isn’t something everyone can do, but to Andrew it appears to be a natural instinct. While Andrew’s talent and passions go far beyond just basketball, he has personally provided me with some of my favorite moments coaching at Roeper.

Andrew’s gift for music is one such instance. Each year I let the boys create a 20-minute warm-up tape to play before each varsity home game. In my opinion, pretty much all the songs the kids pick are horrible. The first four warm-up songs of the 2020 season were no different — each one worse

than the last. Then I hear something that sounds pretty good. It took me another minute or so of listening to realize the voice in the song was Sam Kramer. I never told the boys this, but it was by far my favorite song of the season. In my opinion, if Andrew can make Sam’s voice so enjoyable that we all look forward to listening to it on full blast through the gym speakers, Andrew has a true gift for music.” Andrew will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall.

Thank you Roeper and all of the people there. I will always cherish my time at the school.

NOLAN ANDREW EPPS, son of Trayce Epps

of Southfield, attended Roeper for eight years.

In his speech for Nolan, Hale Williams says, “My strongest connection to Nolan came from a random tutoring session that I happened to interrupt. Brenda was working with Nolan to get him to organize his work in a planner. When she asked me how I keep track of things, I told the truth, I just keep things in my head. While this wasn’t the answer Brenda expected or wanted to hear, it solidified my connection with Nolan as a kindred spirit.

Nolan and I are not “show-your-work” people. We may miss the occasional step or assignment, but just think of all the money we’ll save on pens and pencils over our lifetimes, plus, no paper trail!”

Nolan has become something of a living legend among his friends, according to Cameron Schemm.

“He’s really good at video games, and once, when he wasn’t able to play games, we had a CPU stand in for him. This CPU was so good that we decided that Nolan must be using his godly powers to control it from afar. We’ve (jokingly) referred to him as a god ever since.” Hale continues, “He’s chosen to surround himself with only the most amazing people. His adventuring party is full of comrades who he can trust and who trust him. We could all stand to be as discerning as Nolan when it comes to the people and work that fill our lives.” Nolan will be attending Oakland University in the fall.

Going to Roeper has been a fun experience. I hope others also get to have a good experience in future years.

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ETHAN JAMES FRACASSO, son

of David Fracasso of Ferndale and Julie Fracasso of Lake Orion and brother of Alyssa ’24, attended Roeper for eight years. “A puppy-dog!

A golden retriever. A Labrador. This, more or less, is how most of his friends chose to describe him,” said Andrew Blechman in his speech for Ethan. “Loyalty, bravery, honesty, a certain innocence, and a keen desire — a NEED — to be everyone’s friend. To be supportive, friendly, and selfless. In short: what you most expect from Canis lupus familiaris is what those who know him have come to expect from Ethan Fracasso.” Clyde Granzeier says, “Ethan is one of the most cheerful and optimistic people I know, always trying to see the good in everything … he’s super creative and makes people happy with what he creates.” Ellie Barron says, “He’s always so cheerful and happy, and he’s such a sweet, loyal friend. I know he has my back, no matter what.” Susannah Nichols shared that she “loved having him in class — especially this semester — because he is so open, honest, and loving toward both his peers and the material ... it’s also worth noting that Ethan was a home-learner, and the fact that his kindness came through so palpably is really a testament to the strength of his character.” Ethan will be attending Oakland Community College in the fall.

My years at Roeper have been eye-opening and full of incredibly fond memories. I am going to miss everyone here and wish you all the best in the future.

NOAH JACKSON LEOPOLD, son of Simon Leopold and Sarah Winkler of Birmingham and brother of Middle School students Asher and Toby, attended Roeper for eight years.

“Try as I might to not use the phrase Renaissance man, there is no other way to talk about Noah Leopold,” says Michelle

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Stamler in her speech for Noah. “In my classes with Noah, I’ve seen him make the profound accessible, approachable, a part of him that he shares with everyone. Renaissance men should try to embrace all knowledge and develop their own capacities as fully as possible. That is Noah.

Colleen Potocki said, ‘Noah has a need to find the joy in assigned work; luckily, he does not expect the joy to come to him, but rather, he expects himself to find it or create it.’ In my Middle School Photography class, Noah’s willingness to push the boundaries when selecting subject matter veering away from conventional choice was impressive. In Intro Physics, Andrew was surprised when Noah pointed out that his explanation of General Relativity didn’t make sense, explaining why it didn’t work. Andrew told Noah he was onto something but didn’t acknowledge that Noah’s observation was the exact problem that Einstein worked on for 10 years. Noah said, ‘The critical thinking skills from Andrew’s class have changed the way I view the world — and given me confidence to tackle hard things.’” Noah will be attending Pitzer College in the fall.

ETHAN Supportive, friendly, optimistic, creative

NOAH A Renaissance man, unconventional, confident

Great knowing you, catch me on Mars.

JONAH MOUGOUÉ,

son of Deborah Kaplan of Birmingham, attended Roeper for eight years.

“Jonah, you are a total mystery to me,” began Hale Williams in his speech for Jonah. “After teaching you for a couple years, I thought I had a good idea of who you were, but I’ve come to realize that what I ‘knew’ didn’t begin to scratch the surface. Naturally brilliant, hard working in every class, always has a smile on his face, going to college for physics — 100%. Loves documentaries, history, politics, and music — I guess. Member of the Roeper Track and Cross-Country teams, member of the Jewish Fund Teen Board, and vegan? I’m definitely lost now. As if his academic and extracurricular skills weren’t already enough to confound me, he’s also an exceptional musician. As Herbie Hancock once said, ‘It’s not exclusive, but inclusive, which is the whole spirit of jazz.’ Jonah, your skills, hobbies,

JONAH Hard-working, mature, an exceptional musician

SYDNEY Passionate and driven, a leader

maturity, kindness, intellect, energy — everything, it all comes together to form this incredible — almost impossible — human. You have been so inclusive to the people and things in your life, that you’ve become just like your passion. And like jazz, we still appreciate how amazing you are even without fully understanding you.” Jonah will be attending Columbia University in the fall.

Thank you and farewell, Roeper community. You have taught me about my passions, prepared me for the future, and exposed me to new ideas that help shape who I am today.

SYDNEY REESE LEVY, daughter

PETE Relaxed, compassionate and funny

of Gina Adams of Farmington and Phil Levy of Birmingham and brother of Hayden ’23, attended Roeper for nine years. In her speech for Sydney, Emma Hegel-Kissinger says, “Designer Anne Klein once said, ‘Clothes are not going to change the world, the women who wear them will.’ I think we can all agree that Sydney is one of those women, and she has already begun to make waves. As Volleyball team captain and Student Body President, she is a natural leader and has worked hard to inspire those around her. As a budding fashion designer she has already begun to disrupt the environmentally devastating fast fashion industry by repurposing materials into brand new works of art. Sydney demonstrates that through determination and a touch of creativity, fashion can be sustainable, accessible, and still catwalk-worthy.

Along with her devotion towards sustainability and accessibility, Sydney is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Sydney’s mom describes her as having ‘an inner fire that drives her commitment and dedication to whatever she puts her mind to,’ and her dad describes her as driven, caring, and fabulous. Sydney, in between saving the environment and creating works of art, you are welcome in my gym forever and always. I, along with everyone at Roeper, can’t wait to see you shine your light and change the world.” Sydney will be attending Parsons School of Design/The New School in the fall.

Thanks to everyone who made my Roeper experience so great. I’m gonna miss you!

PETER THOMAS GIFTOS, son of Thomas

and Patricia Giftos and brother of Jimmy ‘20, attended Roeper for 10 years. In her speech for Peter, Kelly McDowell says, “We know by our Philosophy that we are more than a school. We are a community; we are a family. And Pete’s entire demeanor embodies this. When I think of Pete, I think of family. Not only because of his presence at school, but because of his own family. This materialized for me when I taught both Pete and his brother and bestie, Jimmy. There was a time when they would pass each other every day in my room, as one class ended and another began.

As Jimmy exited AP English, and Pete entered my room for Homeroom, the two of them would often exchange brotherly banter and a bit of friendly teasing. Their closeness was so apparent. I marveled at it. It made my room feel extra homey.

Jimmy calls Pete his ‘best friend for life’ and describes him this way: ‘Not only is he incredibly funny, he’s also smart, compassionate, creative, and unapologetically himself. He refuses to let anyone else determine what path he walks down. I don’t know yet what that path will be. But, whether he becomes some cyber security hotshot or moves to Russia to learn martial arts and wrestle bears, he will make his own way.’” Peter will be attending Oakland Community College in the fall.

Best of luck to my fellow graduates.

DYLAN MAX STAFEIL, son of Jeffery Stafeil of

Bloomfield Hills and Rachel Stafeil of Birmingham and brother of Ben ‘20 and Lily ’24, attended Roeper for 12 years. In her speech for Dylan, Natalie Abbott says, “Who is this reserved young man that stands before you? Chances are if you know Dylan only from a classroom setting, he is quiet, composed, and thoughtful. In a social setting with close friends, you’ll see a different type of Dylan: competitive, funny, driven. Of course, all of these are present in his classroom self as well. He is simply discreet. From adults who know him best, Dylan’s most salient quality is his silent resolve.

French teacher, Michal McConville gives a perfect analogy: ‘Dylan is an undercover super student. I think Dylan is like a duck, gliding smoothly across the pond, no feathers ruffled, but under the water,

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his feet are kicking furiously.’

Most importantly, Dylan has a strong moral compass. He is caring, kind, and considerate. Will Hoover states that, ‘One of the many reasons that we’ve been good friends for so long is because he is a downright good person. He has a deep sense of right and wrong, and though he’s a jokester, he would never say or do anything that would hurt anyone. Dylan will be your friend through thick and thin.’” Dylan will be attending Syracuse University in the fall.

My hunger is not for success, it is for excellence.

Because when you attain excellence, success just naturally follows. ~ Mike Krzyzewski ZION EMMANUEL BOYD JOHNSON,

son of Byron Johnson and Kimberli Boyd of Southfield, attended Roeper for 11 years.

“In Zion Johnson’s 11th grade report, Max Collins wrote, ‘In 10th grade, Zion seemed like a fundamentally nice but silly and rather disorganized boy. In contrast, I would describe Zion as a serious and detail-oriented, polite young man,’ began Dan Jacobs in his speech for Zion. “I have to admit that I had the same early impression, with a strong emphasis on ‘silly.’ Zion says, ‘I was a pretty impulsive kid, and I still am.” But his flow through life isn’t entirely the result of impulse.

Zion’s mom says: ‘He has such a strong sense of himself. He knows what he wants — when he’s all in, and when it’s time to put something down and move on to the next thing.’ These aren’t just whims; Zion invests himself fully in his commitments. And he has committed to nearly everything Roeper has to offer — chess, sports, theatre, choir, forensics, Student Government, and more. While his friends do see his talents and skills, what they talk about most is Zion as a funny, compassionate and caring

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human being.” Francis Allen, talking about Zion’s work as Student Government Moderator, says, “Even when he’s not making a change directly himself, he’s giving and showing people the tools and resources to make change themselves.” Zion will be attending Loyola Marymount University in the fall.

Roeper’s been my home for the past 11 years. I’m forever thankful.

EMMA MARY GOLDSCHMIDT,

daughter of David and Jamie Goldschmidt of Waterford, attended Roeper for 12 years.

“Many feel lucky to have spent any part of their day with Emma,” says Linda Vernon in her speech for Emma.

“Emma is a thoughtful and caring friend.

On an early Saturday morning last October, Emma drove 40 miles round trip to be one of the cars in a surprise parade that went past my house to help celebrate my COVID-lockdown birthday.

‘Emma is a pleasure to share class with — a little sassy with a great sense of humor,’ Kelly Piontek wrote. Friend Meredith Grekin says, ‘Emma is badass, super kind, and full of energy.’ The detailoriented, enthusiastic Emma seems to be attracted to things that can be a bit hectic. ‘I love chaos,’ she says. To that end, during her years at the Birmingham campus, Emma volunteered zillions of hours to help plan major events like Spirit Week and Homecoming. According to Roeper Theatre Company Co-Director Ttari Hellmer, ‘Since Middle School, Emma has been instrumental in managing the chaos of the RTC backstage.’ ‘Emma is curious about the world,’ Dance teacher Lisa LaMarre recently shared about her long-time student. ‘She wants to travel and embrace new experiences.

She has a passion for the stage, the lights, and dance. Now the world is her stage.’” Emma will be attending Pace University in the fall.

Thank you to all the teachers and faculty who have guided me through my 12 years at Roeper.

Your impact will be far reaching as I begin this next phase of my life.

DYLAN Laid back, competitive, dedicated

ZION Compassionate, caring, committed

EMMA Thoughtful, energetic, thrives in chaos

WILLIAM JOHN HOOVER, son of Allie and

WILL Determined, purposeful, loves helping others succeed LEE Witty, thoughtful, and an excellent baker DIEGO Strong, supportive, sensitive

Josh Hoover of West Bloomfield and brother of Julia ’23 and Stage III student Timothy, attended Roeper for 12 years. In her speech for Will, Susannah Nichols observed, “For years now, William Hoover has had an uncommonly good lay of the land. As a small child, a fascination with bus routes led William to pore over maps, learning every last road and intersection. It’s helpful, obviously, for someone who will go down as one of the greatest distance runners in Roeper’s history to know where roads go. But this ability of William’s to memorize minutiae in order to see the big picture, to marshal knowledge in order to gain a genuine understanding of things, is the very heart of how he’s navigated his time at Roeper. He learns science, and when Andrew Blechman mentions that proving ‘e=1 means energy is conserved,’ is possible but ‘pretty advanced,’ William shows up with a proof the next day. This intensity of purpose translates to everything William does. David Cornier-Bridgeforth, William’s co-captain in Track, shares ‘Will is crazy in my opinion, but the best kind of crazy. He’ll run the 4x800 relay, 800m, the 1600m and the 3200m and run his hardest in all of them.’ I double-checked that claim because, for those of you who don’t run, that actually is crazy, but as David continued, ‘He’s strikingly determined at whatever he puts his mind to.’” Will will be attending the Rochester Institute of Technology in the fall.

To my teachers, coaches, friends, and everybody else, thank you; I’m incredibly lucky to have known you. Don’t think you’ve seen the last of me.

LEE RUTH MUST, child of Leisl Must and Jay

Must of Bloomfield Hills and sibling of 7th grader Lila, attended Roeper for 12 years. In her speech for Lee, Kelly McDowell says, “When Lee Must and I met, we discovered a shared obsession. We are both note-takers. Life tends to be experienced differently for us note-takers. It’s not that we’re not fully present in each moment. It’s more that we feel the urge to record the moments, in their rich and complex detail, as best as we can because you never know just how useful a thought may be somewhere down the road, and you don’t want even a little one to escape. After all, the little thoughts can end up becoming the big, bombshell ideas. I think it’s this unique relationship — between the little thoughts and the enormous

ideas that best describes Lee. But those who know you best, have always known this. Charlotte Silverstein describes her friendship with Lee, saying, ‘Having a friendship with Lee is like having a friendship with a cat. It’s something you have to earn through time and trust, but once you have it, you feel like the most special person in the world.’

Lee will be attending Oberlin College in the fall.

Thank you to every member of the Roeper community for contributing to the wonderful, unique environment that has shaped me into who I am today.

DIEGO JUDE TAWENNAREN GARCIA , son of Rita

Garcia and Judeen Bartos of Ferndale, attended Roeper for 13 years. In her speech for Diego, Ttari Hellmer says, “When I gave birth to my son, my mother told me that one of the most important jobs a woman could have was to raise a good man. My mother would have been very proud of Judeen and Rita. Diego is one of the very best young men that I know. He exhibits the best qualities of men: strength, compassion and empathy. I believe that the most important role that he has had at the RTC for the last seven years, at least in my opinion, has to be my personal support system. It feels great when peers appreciate your work, but when a student sees your flaws, and in theatre, flaws are easily exposed, and still encourages you and has faith in you, the feeling is indescribable. Every once in a while, for me at least, I’ve found that there is a kid at Roeper that feels more like one of my own kids than a student. Recently, Diego told me that he considers me another mom, so I guess the feeling is mutual. And maybe that means that my mom would be proud of me, too, for contributing to the raising of this really good young man who is destined to become one of the best of men.” Diego will be attending Bowling Green State University in the fall.

Thanks for the great memories, and for helping me become the person I am today.

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FRANCIS MARTIN ALLEN, son of David

and Colleen Allen of Detroit and brother of Joseph ‘17 and Thomas ’13, attended Roeper for 13 years. Susannah Nichols, in her speech for Francis, shared that somewhere in the Allen family kitchen, there’s a piece of paper featuring typed lines and tons of margin notes in Francis’s precise writing. This is a pizza recipe that Francis has spent the past couple of years dialing in. The pizza he makes for his family each week is but one modest testament to the way Francis knows how to do a job right: observe a problem from all angles, consider the outcome, and give it his best shot, with his feet on the ground but his eyes on the horizon. If this all sounds like a thinly veiled metaphor for his academic success — it is.

Francis’s family is unflinchingly devoted to public service and the greater good. No one knows that better than Noah Leopold and James Heath.

One evening last summer, they found themselves stranded on a sailboat in the middle of Lake St. Clair. It was getting dark, and they weren’t sure what to do. Who did they call? Francis. “He had just gotten off of a long day of work, and he came to rescue us,” recounts Noah. “He towed us all the way back to the marina in his dinghy. The water was choppy, and his boat almost flipped over multiple times. It was heroic.” Francis will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall.

Thank you to my friends, teachers, and parents for 13 amazing years at Roeper! I can’t imagine a school and community more special than ours.

ALEXA ELIZABETH DINNEWETH, daughter

of Lauren Bishop of Auburn Hills and Daniel Dinneweth of Lake Orion and brother of Johnathan ’24, attended Roeper for 13 years. In her speech for Alexa, Lily Zhu says, “Alexa, I still remember the very first time when we met each other more than seven years ago.

Although you seemed so quiet and shy, I could already tell that you are a unique student, as your quiet demeanor could not hide your very thoughtful mind. You are observant, thoughtful,

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insightful and mindful. Nobody will ignore your perspectives when you start to share them, and you never hesitate to share. It is very clear that being a quiet person does not mean being a silent person for you at all. As all teachers know, teaching first block class especially during winter months is truly a challenge. However, Biology teacher Laura Panek mentioned, ‘Your passion for animals and your interest in biology made me more excited to teach first block Biology class.’ For those of you who did not have a chance to see her senior project, which is about her origami works, you have to look at some of the paper insects she made. This fall, Alexa is going to start her new journey at the University of Michigan. Alexa, I will not be surprised to run into you at the university’s gardens or along the walking trails. Alexa, we wish you all the best there.

FRANCIS Industrious, intelligent, diligent and accomplished ALEXA Quiet, insightful, observant

Roeper has taught me how to fly without wings.

GINA MARIE GALLIGAN, daughter of

Maribeth and Matthew Galligan and sister of Griffin ‘21 and Catherine ‘13, attended Roeper for 13 years. “Gina is that person who, when she asks, ‘How ya doing,’ she actually cares about the response,” says Eric Ambrose in his speech for Gina. “ As her friend Olivia Gandee puts it, ‘She is incredibly compassionate and cares deeply for others.’ I first met Gina during both of our first years at the Birmingham campus. She was an incoming 6th grader, and I had just been hired. I hope she won’t mind me saying, but percussion was a struggle and something that didn’t necessarily come naturally. But Gina is persistent, and she found that she really enjoyed it, so she came in during free blocks to get help and really put the effort in. When I asked those that know her to say some things about Gina for this speech, there were two main throughlines: kind/ compassionate and creative. Susannah Nichols writes, ‘When she studied Shakespeare plays with me in her sophomore year, she wrote essays that brought out the fangirl in me … she sees how all the small beats and asides and details add up to a spectacular dramatic moment.’ Kelly McDowell writes, ‘Gina is a wise, colorful, magical creature!

Like a cat who can write screenplays! I mean, “Noir Hamlet?” Who writes such a thing? Only Gina Galligan.’” Gina will be attending Northern Michigan University in the fall.

GINA Caring, persistent, an excellent critical thinker

Thank you, Roeper, for the memories that I have made these 13 years. I have learned a lot and made so many friends. I’m going to miss you guys.

GRIFFIN JAMES GALLIGAN,

GRIFFIN Calm under pressure, kind, humble

SAM Athletic, focused, driven and selfless

child of Matt and Maribeth Galligan of Clarkston and sibling of Gina ‘21 and Catherine ‘13, attended Roeper for 13 years. In her speech for Griffin, Eulalia said Griffin is “a wonderful superhero in disguise. Always with a smile, Griffin has a magical, powerful combination of intelligence, kindness, humor, work ethic, and humility. His uniform consists of shorts that he wears even during the Polar Vortex, which has earned him the nickname of ‘Polar Bear’ by his friends.” She continues, “Griffin’s combination of intelligence and work ethic are manifested in his thoughtfulness and leadership in class discussions. He is a role model of attentiveness and preparation.” His sister Gina says, “He knows what he likes, and he ends up helping people by doing the things he likes. He likes music, so he played in the Pit Orchestra. He liked a book from Russian literature, and he recorded himself reading it to help me.”

His parents and peers also admire his unflappable personality. Matt, his father, admires his quiet confidence. Cameron Schemm says, “I really admire his ability to stay calm. I don’t think I have ever seen him visibly stressed — he’s always as cool as a cucumber.” Griffin will be attending Michigan State University in the fall.

Bye y’all. Keep vibing.

SAMUEL FRANKLIN KRAMER, son of

David Kramer and Anessa Owen Kramer ‘89 of Bloomfield Hills, attended Roeper for 12 years. “I can still remember the first time I met Sam,” says Brian Hewitt in his speech for Sam. “I was in my first year teaching at Roeper and had just begun

my 7th grade Science class, when this lanky, disheveled-looking kid walks in five minutes late.

Papers scattered everywhere when he sat down and, come to find out, he was late because he was finishing up a game of two-ball in the gym. Fastforward six years and, although you can still see the resemblance to that lanky 7th grader, Sam has used his time at Roeper to grow both mentally and physically. In the classroom, I was able to see Sam mature using his learning experiences from Middle School. Sam was a four-year member of both the Basketball and Baseball programs and left both programs in better positions than they were when he arrived. During his junior year of basketball, we were going to have to ask a few juniors to rotate with the JV team to ensure we would even have a season. This is not something that any of them wanted to do, but Sam stepped up to the plate and led the JV team to the most successful season they’ve had in a number of years. This unselfishness just shows what kind of person Sam has become here at Roeper: a person that puts the betterment of others before himself.” Sam will be attending the Tulane University in the fall.

Thank you to all of the teachers who helped me throughout my 12 years at Roeper as well as my friends and classmates, You will be missed!

CHARLOTTE GRACE SILVERSTEIN, daughter

of Josh Silverstein ‘86 of Southfield and Sarah Fancsal of Farmington Hills and sister of 6th grader Fiona, attended Roeper for 14 years. In his speech for her, Eric Ambrose said that “three words spring to mind when thinking about Charlotte: dependable, hilarious, and tough.” Linda Pence writes, “I first met Charlotte as a timid, uncertain, overwhelmed 6th grader as she arrived early to school each morning with her younger siblings in tow. Finding my room open and animals present, the science room became a space for her to share her worries and joys, and became the morning waiting area for her siblings. Her duty to shepherd the kids was taken seriously. I admired her sense of responsibility and dedication to the care of her siblings, and her warm and caring presence.” Eric continued in his speech, “I can honestly say that if there was a day Charlotte didn’t make me laugh, it probably meant she wasn’t in class that day.

Charlotte’s dependability as a friend goes much deeper though. Lee Must noted that they and Charlotte have texted each other good night almost

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every day since 8th grade.

That kind of bond of friendship doesn’t occur without intense trust and kindness.”

Charlotte will be attending Denison University after deferring for a year.

After attending Roeper for 14 years, it’s hard for me to know where the Roeper philosophy ends and I start. I’m truly grateful that I got to be a part of this experience which shaped me forever.

MEREDITH ELLE GREKIN,

daughter of Steven and Tara Grekin of Bloomfield Hills and brother of former student Andrew, attended Roeper for 15 years. In her speech for Meredith, Jennifer Moore ‘03 says, “The first thing I ever heard about Meredith Grekin was that when she was in Stage I, she saw the maintenance staff shoveling snow, and she was so concerned that they were cold that she insisted to her mom that they had to do something to help, so they went and bought foot and hand warmers for the whole maintenance staff. Matthew Baker Grunza describes Meredith as one of the most ‘caring’ and ‘loyal’ friends he’s ever had. Even though she has struggled all of her life with both dyslexia and ADD, Mer presents a front to the world of a girl who has it all together, and because of that, it

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may appear that a lot comes easy to her. But she puts in the work. At the age of nine, she worked up a PowerPoint for her parents that explained why she should have her own cosmetics line. That childhood dream has since turned into a company that she has already been working on for years with her dad.” Jennifer ended her speech, “This is the part where teachers usually present the student to the world, but Meredith, I would like to present the world to you.” Meredith will be attending Southern Methodist University in the fall.

Dear Roeper Community, thank you for being a huge part of my life for the last 15 years. I will always cherish the memories and never forget my time at Roeper!

CHARLOTTE Tough, dependable, kind and hilarious MEREDITH Hardworking, caring and loyal

GRIFFIN THOMAS HUNEKE, son of Tricia

Ruby of Bloomfield Hills and Tom Huneke of Beverly Hills and brother of Cameron ‘19 and Adam ’23, attended Roeper for 15 years. “Reliable, forward thinking, unflappable in the face of chaos,” says Hale Williams in his speech for Griffin. “Not only does he rise to the occasion to help other students and teachers when we’re in need, but he elevates everyone around him to be their best. An unfortunate part of this past year has been losing so much time having him around. He was still as helpful as possible and he did amazing work for all of us, but despite our best efforts, it just wasn’t the same as having him physically with us in the building. He’s been like another set of eyes on the soccer field and baseball diamond…even another brain in my classroom. Griffin, you’ve always had so much enthusiasm and energy not just for your own benefit, but for the benefit of others. I am honored to have been your teacher over the past six years, and I’m eager to see what you do with the next six.” Griffin will be attending Boston University in the fall.

Thank you to all of my teachers and coaches for making my school experience so amazing and sticking with all of us for the past year and a half.

And thanks to all of my friends I’m going to miss you all while I’m in college.

GRIFFIN Helpful, reliable, energetic and unflappable

EMERSON KEITH MURPHY-BEHNKE, son

EMERSON Driven methodical, patient and straightforward

BRITTANY Extremely kind, supportive, and caring

of Kathleen Murphy-Aldrich of Troy, attended Roeper for 15 years. Patrick Ratliff wrote Emerson’s speech but, as he was unable to attend graduation, Kelly McDowell delivered the speech in his stead. Patrick says, “When I asked Emerson about any current hobbies, passions, or pastimes that brought him joy, he told me about his car — a 1999 Ford Ranger that he is methodically working to improve. When I, in a moment of deliberate foolishness, asked him if a ‘turbocharged engine’ was ‘anything like nitrous oxide’ (my understanding of cars is largely limited to a single Fast and Furious film), Emerson patiently and straightforwardly explained away my confusion in four or five sentences. He taught me an incredible amount about engines and exhaust and the effects of increased air feedback within a combustion system — all in about 90 seconds. In my opinion, this is perhaps Emerson’s greatest intellectual strength — the ability to render the complex and the complicated into the comprehensible.

This couples with what I see as Emerson’s greatest interpersonal strength — a genuine and empathetic openness — to produce a mind that is honest yet sensitive, insatiable yet sincere. When Emerson talks of his plans to pursue biomedical engineering, he speaks candidly of a desire to both fulfill his selfish need to acquire, synthesize, and apply information and simultaneously provide something useful and positive to the world. He is the very model of that most central of Roeperian dichotomies — the self-actualized individual in the interdependent world. Emerson, I wish you more than the best. I wish you the world.” Emerson will be attending Wayne State University in the fall.

I will sincerely miss the teachers, classmates, and values of the school that I loved. However, I would be remiss not to say that the direction the school has chosen to take recently is disheartening, and in my personal opinion, in violation of the standards set in place by George and Annemarie Roeper. So while I will, in fact, miss the school that I loved, the one that stands in its place now is simply not it. I hold no qualms with saying I won’t miss what it has become, and that breaks my heart.

BRITTANY MARIE HANSEN, daughter of Jean

Hansen of Bloomfield Hills, attended Roeper for 15 years. “Imagine being an injured animal, frightened and in pain and at the mercy of a human who wants to help” begins Ttari Hellmer in her speech for Brittany. “Your racing heartbeat slowly begins to calm down as you realize that the enormous creature who at first seemed like a threat is sitting still and does not seem that threatening at all.

A long while later when you are finally calm, a warm hand slowly reaches out and is comforting.

This is Brittany’s superpower: the ability to be still, cautiously decide on a course of action, make sure that she and everyone else around her is comfortable, and then — and only then — proceed. To me, especially over the last year and a half, Brittany has been a bright light in the darkness. In the scene shop, she will be quiet and still for long periods of time, then no matter how stressed, how sad or how tired, Brittany has never failed — not even one single day — to quietly turn to me and say, ‘I love you, Ttari.’ A warm hand of comfort. I love you, too. Brittany.” Brittany will be attending Oakland University in the fall.

Thank you for being my home for most of my life.

Though I’m sad to say farewell, I’m sure that I will cherish the memories and friendships that I made here forever.

F

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Karen Johnson

Upper School Director

CLOSING REMARKS Dearly beloved

We are gathered here today

To get through this thing called life

Electric word life

It means forever and that’s a mighty long time

But I’m here to tell you

There’s something else The afterworld I remember this song. I remember the impact it had on me. Summer of 1984. I had just finished 6th grade, and I was headed to Woodland Junior High in the fall. Not only that, I was going away to skating camp in Colorado Springs that summer … all by myself. No parents, no brother, no more feeling isolated at school, no more small-town Minnesota … I was about to embark on a solo kind of travel — not just geographically, but in terms of my identity, in terms of my points of reference and points of view. It was a big deal in my 11-year-old life.

From my perspective, the summer of ’84 was “the afterworld.”

That summer I was in the very definition of liminal space (and I know students from my Anthropology class know exactly what that means) — it felt like I was going through a rite of passage. I would come through a different person, in a different headspace, with a different orientation to the world, with different responsibilities.

Rites of passage are transformational events, but they’re not always pleasant experiences. And, I would argue, in our society they are not always planned or intentional. In other words, sometimes you don’t get a choice. Everything over this last year smacks of trauma. Everything. We are hurting in some very clear ways, and in many non-obvious ways, too. Enduring trauma is a ritual all on its own.

You’ll go through many rites of passage in your lives — think of them as “firsts.” First time you drive a car.

First time you rent a car. First time you submit an insurance claim on your own insurance on your car.

These examples may seem relatively forgettable, but some of your firsts won’t be.

First time your life is severely disrupted by a global pandemic? Yeah, that’s a first for nearly everyone on earth, and that fact makes this moment a particularly notorious one — these are the kinds of rites of passage that are unforgettable, even if you tried. Every one of you — everyone here today — will remember in much finer detail these past 15 months and the trepidation that still remains.

So, I want you to sharpen your focus even further, especially you, Class of 2021. Focus in on this very moment. Close your eyes if it helps. Take in the air, the heat, the sounds, the scents. Take a mental polaroid of the people here today to share in this moment — your classmates, your friends, your family, your elders, your teachers, your coaches, your mentors. The people you rely on to help you get through this thing called life.

Center on this moment and promise to use it as a tool, a reminder, for when you’re on the cusp of your next milestone, your next first, your next rite of passage. It’s a reminder of your endurance, that you can stick it through, that you have strengths you didn’t know were inside you.

As I opened with the beginning of Prince’s Let’s Go Crazy, so too will I end: Hang tough children.

Friends, family, colleagues, and community, please join me as I formally present to you, Roeper’s graduating class of 2021 — Congratulations!! F

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Center on this moment and promise to use it as a tool, a reminder, for when you’re on the cusp of your next milestone, your next first, your next rite of passage. It’s a reminder of your endurance, that you can stick it through, that you have strengths you didn’t know were inside you.

KIT

SENIOR PROJECTS

The George A. Roeper Senior Projects are designed to allow students to follow their personal passions and extend their learning beyond the classroom. These projects represent skill sets that students have developed over time. The students have managed at least one semester of independent, self-directed learning. They have been supported by mentors within our walls as well as professionals in their respective areas of interest outside the Roeper Community.

It would be easy to focus solely on the results these students have produced; however, the process they employed and relationships they developed are likely what will impact them most in the years to come.

Listed here are the Class of 2021 participants and the titles of their projects.

Ellie Barron . . . . . . . . . . . . . A VERY LONG CLIMATE PROJECT (AVLCP) Alexa Dinneweth . . . . . . . . . . . . DESIGNING AN ORIGAMI SWALLOW Miles Durst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BECOMING A LICENSED REALTOR Gina Galligan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HAMLET AS FILM NOIR Olivia Gandee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . KHARTARUM ZOGRETES ROSA: RESETTING A MANGA IN ANCIENT ROME Diego Garcia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WRITING A TELEVISION SERIES PILOT Clyde Granzeier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FANTASY NOVEL

Meredith Grekin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DETROITERM Sydney Levy . . . . . . TRASHION — AN EXPLORATION OF FASHION DESIGN THROUGH THE USE OF UNWANTED SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS Lee Must . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUILDING A BAKING BUSINESS Charlotte Silverstein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OCEAN ART CLASS Hannah Wise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PHASED MENTAL HEALTH PLAN F

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KIT

AWARDS & HONORS The Order of

The Roeperian Empire

The Fighting Tuna

In 1975, David Jaffe ’74 proposed the creation of a new award to recognize exceptional Upper School students.

George accepted the proposal, and each year since, the school has awarded individuals who, by virtue of their extraordinary sharing of time, effort and self, made outstanding contributions to the Upper School community.

Remarkable achievements alone do not qualify a student for the award. Contributing to the community is most important. Richard B. Morris ’72 coined the term “Order of the Roeperian Empire” for the award, and designed the official crest.

The Order of

Each year the reigning Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of the Fighting Tuna appoints a successor from the Junior Class. The Order of the Fighting Tuna was established in 1985 to “protect the honor of the members of the community of the Roeper City and Country School.” Each year, the new member of the Order is knighted during a ceremony befitting the mock-seriousness of the occasion.

The 2021/22 Fighting Tuna

The Order of The Roeperian Empire 2021 Recipients

MATTEO PAPADOPOULOS

30 th Knight of the Order

ELLIE BARRON CLYDE GRANZEIER HANNAH WISE

2021 Roeper Athletic Awards

George A. Roeper Sportsmanship Award

ANDREW ALBRECHT GRIFFIN HUNEKE SYDNEY LEVY

Scholar-Athlete Award

FRANCIS ALLEN JADA COBURN ELLIE BARRON DAVID CORNIER-BRIDGEFORTH WILL HOOVER WILL HOOVER

Iron Athlete JADA COBURN

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Athletes of the Year Award

Super Booster of the Year JOSH HOOVER

KIT

COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES Of the 42 members of the Class of 2021, 38 will go on to college immediately, and four students will participate in a gap year.

Four students were National Merit Finalists, and three students were Commended Scholars.

One student received recognition in the inaugural College Board Recognition Program as well as the UCT Heaston Scholarship and Donovan Xavier Baker Scholarship.

Two students were nominated to be Presidential Scholars.

Other students received valuable scholarship recognition from their chosen schools.

Class members from 2021 were admitted to the institutions listed and enrolled in the colleges and universities in BOLD.

Albion College Kenyon College SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY – COX Allegheny College Knox College SUNY College of AMERICAN UNIVERSITY Langston University Environmental Science & Forestry Arizona State University Lawrence University SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY Babson College Lewis & Clark College Temple University Bates College Loyola University Chicago Texas Southern University Bennington College LOYOLA MARYMOUNT TULANE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY Bentley University Tuskegee University Marymount Manhattan College (SUNY) Binghamton University University of Alabama McGill University BOSTON UNIVERSITY University of Arizona MIAMI UNIVERSITY BOWLING GREEN University of California-Davis STATE UNIVERSITY MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY University of California-Irvine Brandeis University MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE University of California-Riverside BRYN MAWR COLLEGE (The) New School University of California-Santa Cruz Butler University (THE) NEW SCHOOL – PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN University of Colorado Boulder Canasius College NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY University of Dayton Central State University NORTHERN MICHIGAN University of Detroit Mercy Clemson University UNIVERSITY University of Glasgow College of the Atlantic Northwood University University of Hawaii College of Wooster OAKLAND University of Kentucky Columbia College of Chicago COMMUNITY COLLEGE University of MassachusettsCOLUMBIA UNIVERSITY OAKLAND UNIVERSITY Amherst Cornell University OBERLIN COLLEGE University of Miami Delaware Valley State University OF ARTS AND SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN DENISON UNIVERSITY (THE) OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY — EGR — – FISHER DePaul University — LSA — Ohio Wesleyan University Dickinson University — ROSS — PACE UNIVERSITY Drexel University — STAMPS — Penn State University Eastern Michigan University University of Michigan Dearborn PITZER COLLEGE Elon University University of Missouri PURDUE UNIVERSITY (The) Evergreen State College University of Pittsburgh Reed College Fashion Institute of Technology University of Rochester (The) George Washington University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY ROCHESTER INSTITUTE Georgia State University OF TECHNOLOGY Western Michigan University HAVERFORD COLLEGE St. Lawrence University Wilberforce University Hawaii Pacific University Sarah Lawrence College (The College of) William & Mary Indiana University/ WINSTON-SALEM Kelley School of Business STATE UNIVERSITY KALAMAZOO COLLEGE I’m not sure if any high school graduating class since 1942 has had a more unexpectedly strange experience than the graduating class of 2021. Never in the history of the world has the entire planet been quarantined for months on end. Recent technology that has allowed us to communicate and learn virtually has given everyone a new learning experience; some loved virtual learning and some not so much. However, our graduating seniors survived and even thrived, and I believe we all are looking forward to the upcoming fall as a return to some kind of normalcy, or at least a “new normal.” True to our Roeper tradition, our graduating seniors are choosing as their future plans destinations as unique as our students themselves: our 42 seniors will be attending 28 completely different places, from Boston to LA, from New York to Dallas, from the UP to New Orleans! At least four students have chosen to take a gap year, both locally and globally. We are so proud of our seniors; they have proved to be resilient and empathic and will be well equipped to meet new challenges in the future. Congratulations to you all!

~ Patti Bostwick, College Counselor

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KIT

PASSIONS & PURSUITS Roeper students are not simply products of the curriculum; they are an integral part of the learning process and are encouraged to be fully engaged community participants by uncovering their passions in a myriad of venues. This important dimension allows students to experience the special rewards and self-awareness that come from exploration and mastering.

Here is a snapshot of the Class of 2021 journey:

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

FASHION CLUB

ASIAN CULTURE CLUB

FILM FESTIVAL

Nathan Schechter

Lilly Richards

BLACK STUDENT UNION

Jada Coburn David Cornier-Bridgeforth Ayden Diomande

BOOK CLUB Lee Must Ryan Bensman

BUSINESS CLUB Francis Allen Miles Durst James Heath

COMMUNITY SERVICE CLUB Francis Allen

DEBATE

Meredith Grekin Sydney Levy

Ryan Bensman Diego Garcia Zion Johnson Lee Must Charlotte Silverstein

FILM CLUB

Ryan Bensman

FORENSICS

Francis Allen Clyde Granzeier James Heath Zion Johnson Sydney Levy Lee Must Lilly Richards Charlotte Silverstein Hannah Wise

FRENCH CLUB Lilly Richards

FUN, FUN, FUN

MODEL UN

Lee Must

Francis Allen David Cornier-Bridgeforth Pete Giftos Clyde Granzeier Jack Lambert Sydney Levy Hannah Wise

IMPROV CLUB

MUSIC CLUB

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

Sam Kramer

Gina Galligan Diego Garcia Lee Must

GENDER BLENDER

Clyde Granzeier

Francis Allen Andrew Albrecht David Cornier-Bridgeforth Francis Allen Clyde Granzeier David Cornier-Bridgeforth Sam Kramer William Hoover Lilly Richards Nathan Schechter

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GAY/STRAIGHT ALLIANCE

Clayton Adams David Cornier-Bridgeforth Miles Durst Jack Emerick Nolan Epps Gina Galligan Griffin Galligan William Hoover Jonah Mougoué Noah Newhard Lilly Richards Cameron Schemm Charlotte Silverstein

JEWISH STUDENT UNION Ayden Diomande Emma Goldschmidt Merdith Grekin Sydney Levy Lee Must Noah Newhard Nathan Schechter Hannah Wise

Noah Leopold

NFL CLUB

PHYSICS CLUB

Ethan Fracasso Griffin Galligan William Hoover Jonah Mougoué Lilly Richards Cameron Schemm

PORTUGUESE CLUB Jada Coburn Meredith Grekin

PRO WRESTLING CLUB Jack Lambert

QUIZ BOWL

William Hoover Jack Lambert Lilly Richards Nathan Schechter

ROBOTICS

Lilly Richards Cameron Schemm

ROEPER DANCE ENSEMBLE Jada Coburn Meredith Grekin

ROEPER THEATRE COMPANY

Diego Garcia Emma Goldschmidt Clyde Granzeier Meredith Grekin Griffin Huneke Zion Johnson Lee Must Charlotte Silverstein Emily Wetherington

SIERRA CLUB

Ellie Barron Ryan Bensman David Cornier-Bridgeforth Ayden Diomande William Hoover Sydney Levy

SNOWBOARD CLUB Noah Leopold

SPIRIT WEEK COMMITTEE

Francis Allen Emma Goldschmidt Charlotte Silverstein Dylan Stafeil

STUDENT DIVERSITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Ryan Bensman Ayden Diomande Meredith Grekin Zion Johnson

STUDENT GOVERNMENT Francis Allen James Heath William Hoover Zion Johnson Sam Kramer Hannah Wise

VARSITY SPORTS BASEBALL

Jack Emerick Griffin Huneke Sam Kramer Emerson Murphy-Behnke

BASKETBALL

Andrew Albrecht Francis Allen Jada Coburn David Cornier-Bridgeforth James Heath Zion Johnson Sam Kramer Jack Lambert Hannah Wise

CROSS COUNTRY

TABLE TOP GAMING CLUB

Ryan Bensman Griffin Galligan Clyde Granzeier Cameron Schemm

THE MUSE

Ellie Barron Ryan Bensman Alexa Dinnewith Gina Galligan Olivia Gandee Lilly Richards

David Cornier-Bridgeforth Miles Durst Nolan Epps James Heath William Hoover Jack Lambert Jonah Mougoué

GOLF

Dylan Stafeil

SOCCER

Andrew Albrecht Francis Allen Ellie Barron David Cornier-Bridgeforth Jack Emerick Pete Giftos TUNA TALK Griffin Huneke David Cornier-Bridgeforth Emerson Murphy-Behnke Zion Johnson Lilly Richards Sam Kramer Dylan Stafeil Dylan Stafeil Hannah Wise

U MATTER

Francis Allen Andrew Albrecht Ayden Diomande Emma Goldschmidt Meredith Grekin Zion Johnson Jack Lambert Sydney Levy Hannah Wise

VOLLEYBALL Jada Coburn Sydney Levy

VOCAL MUSIC

Ethan Fracasso Gina Galligan Griffin Galligan Diego Garcia Clyde Granzeier Cameron Schemm Emily Wetherington

YEARBOOK

Andrew Albrecht Ethan Fracasso Emma Goldschmidt Sydney Levy Jack Manzo Dylan Stafeil

YOUNG DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS

Ryan Bensman David Cornier-Bridgeforth Ethan Fracasso Johan Mougoué Lilly Richards

TRACK

Jada Coburn David Cornier-Bridgeforth James Heath William Hoover Zion Johnson Noah Leopold Jonah Mougoué Emerson Murphy-Behnke

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KIT

Juliette Olejnik Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Fund

A WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST ALUMNI Hello, Class of 2021!

As the Alumni Director, it is my honor to welcome you into the Roeper ALUMNI community!

What a fantastic class. I just love seeing you all here and thinking back to the first time I met many of you on that snowy 9th grade trip to Washington, DC, three years ago, although I can hardly believe that it’s already been three years.

I’d like to congratulate you for completing your Roeper journey. You are now joining nearly 2,500 alumni who have come before you and have thrived in their post-Roeper lives. I know it’s exciting and maybe a bit scary for some of you, but you’re going to be fine. Actually, you’re going to be better than fine because you’re not setting out alone. You still have all of us here to lean on, and you also have a dedicated, ready and and willing community of alumni who are also eager to help you. It is not uncommon for Roeper alumni to help each other to make important connections, many of which have led them to where they are today.

Roeper alumni can be found in nearly every state and in many parts of the world. So keep in mind that wherever you’re headed, there is sure to be another Roeperian nearby. As alumni you will have access to Roeper’s online alumni directory, and I encourage you to use it. And don’t ever forget, you also have each other and the lifelong friendships you’ve made here.

Please know that all of us at Roeper want keep in touch with you. We invite you to come back and visit, and to let us celebrate milestones with you because you are, and always will be, a part of the Roeper family. And I promise to do my best as the Alumni Director to help keep you connected to the school.

As is tradition, the Alumni Office has included a small gift in the bags you are receiving today. A mug listing all of your classmates as well as a Roeper-branded laundry bag to remind you of us … and to remind you to do your laundry while you’re away.

Thank you for inviting me to join you in tonight’s celebration. I look forward to staying in touch and wish each of you the very best.

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We invite you to come back and visit, and to let us celebrate milestones with you because you are, and always will be, a part of the Roeper family.

KIT

A MESSAGE FROM RALC The Roeper Alumni Leadership Council (RALC) extends an enthusiastic welcome to the Class of 2021 to the proud rank of hundreds of Roeper alumni throughout the globe!

The Roeper Alumni Leadership Council (RALC) extends an enthusiastic welcome to the Class of 2021 to the proud rank of hundreds of Roeper alumni throughout the globe!

The mission of the Roeper Alumni Leadership Council is to develop, encourage, and grow alumni support for the School’s mission and to maintain and promote lasting and meaningful connections between the School and its alumni.

Organized in 2018, The Roeper School is grateful to the following alumni (some of whom are pictured in the Zoom meeting screen shot below) for their pioneering service: Aaron Appel ’12 Geoff Armstrong ‘84 Miranda Beebe ‘84 Cheryl Blau ’80 Roscoe Boyd II ’98 Alex Dickinson ’04 Arthur Ensroth ‘68 Alana Glass ‘97 David Golden ‘06 Tegan Jones ‘01 Lori Lutz ‘75 Herman Marable Jr ‘80

Victoria Moore ‘08 Anika Murphy-Wellere ‘93 Eric Peterson ‘95 Olacoy Robinson ‘95 Brad Rourke ‘83 Steve Scott ‘74 David Shapero ’71 Alex Sims ’06 Charlaé Washington ‘04 Charlie White ’05 Shani Yapa-Kimpson ‘08

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KIT

Denita Banks-Sims Director of Development & Publications

PARTING THOUGHTS As I sat near the top of the slope of the lovely amphitheatre that was serving as the site for the 2021 Roeper Commencement exercises, I thought back to the many venues that served this same purpose. Most venerably, of course, our own beloved Bloomfield Hills Campus.

While the settings have varied over the decades, the purpose and promise are evident. We are witnesses to a profound moment in time for our graduates and their families.

Of course, this year was clearly without equal, and too many aspects were beyond our control … with the notable exception of perspective.

Like our remarkable 2021 graduates, we can choose how we view the last 18 months. Do we lament the losses, or celebrate new beginnings, or do we revisit and fully appreciate George Roeper’s reflection in 1963 …

Maybe the most important thing we have to do with our children is to make them ready to adapt themselves to change.

Or, do we acknowledge that our view can be vast enough to hold both perspectives?

For students who embraced Home Learning and for those that designed an in-person or blended academic program, the constant was the commitment to make it happen, to look at this past year of adversity with resolve and unexpected opportunity.

The Class of 2021 is looking left, right and left again, and it is their individual and collective posture for pursuing that vision that is incredibly affirming.

Here’s to our brighter future!

Stay safe, and please keep in touch.

Yours,

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For students who embraced Home Learning and for those that designed an in-person or blended academic program, the constant was the commitment to make it happen, to look at this past year of adversity with resolve and unexpected opportunity.

KIT

FACES IN THE CROWD

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THE ROEPER SCHOOL

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT NO. 16 BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48304

41190 WOODWARD AVENUE BLOOMFIELD HILLS • MI 48304-5020 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

There’s a new way to order ROEPER SPIRIT WEAR online!

LAUNCHES AUGUST 2021 (LINK TO BE SHARED IN THE ALL-SCHOOL NEWSLETTER)

In addition, please visit us for our

FIRST IN-PERSON SALE of the year

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27TH 10AM – 2PM BLOOMFIELD HILLS CAMPUS

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THE SHOPS

ROEPER