Keeping in Touch SENIOR EDITION Summer 2016, Volume 9:4

THE ROEPER SCHOOL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

Keeping In Touch

SENIOR EDITION VOLUME 9: 4 SUMMER 2016

WITH OUR APOLOGIES …

In the Spring 2016 edition of Keeping In Touch, there was an incorrect identification, and three names were omitted from the list of staff who weren’t present for the photo. Below is the corrected version of the caption. Many thanks to Carolyn Lett for sending the corrections.

k Roeper’s first staff SEED group: (Seated, L to R) Jennifer Evenson, Matresa Brooks, Pat Hochthanner, Lisa Baker, Dianne O’Connor, Linda Vernon, Ellen Hoppe. (Standing) Greg Goldberg, Suzanne Young, Colleen Shelton, Mary Windram, Sue Kaplan, Randall Dunn, Ismaria Medel, Michelle Lane, Cathy Sommerfeld, Scott Vartanian, Carolyn Lett, Elaina Holsey, Sue Williams, Cathy Wilmers, Susannah Nichols, Stacy Holloman, Kimberly Phillips and Wendy Mayer. (Missing from photo: Denita Banks-Sims, Michele Buttermore, Emery Pence, Sharon Pink, Jarie Ruddy and Susie Small.)

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

Contributors Lisa Baker Denita Banks-Sims Katie Buchmann Julia Eddy ’15 David Feldman Jake Flynn ’16 Andy Reed ’16 Tom Roeper ’61* Marcia Ruff

FEATURES

OPENING REMARKS: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 David Feldman, Head of School FOUNDERS’ FAMILY MESSAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Tom Roeper ’61* SENIOR CLASS FAREWELL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Andy Reed and Jake Flynn, co-Presidents – Class of 2016 INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST ALUMNI . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 THE GRADUATES & THEIR PRESENTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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SENIOR PROFILES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Katie Buchmann, Editor, and Julia Eddy ’15, Development Intern CLOSING REMARKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Lisa Baker, Upper School Director SENIOR PROJECTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 AWARDS & HONORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 PASSIONS AND PURSUITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

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

PARTING THOUGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Denita Banks-Sims, Director of Development

ON THE COVER Last Day by Anna Gillikin, Class of 2016

PHOTOGRAPHS Commencement photos by Mark Adrian Wright

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

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David Feldman Head of School

THE ROEPER BUBBLE I love to watch the faces of faculty during ceremonies like today. We each feel such a deep investment in our students; it’s what makes us good teachers. The relationships we have formed over the years will be clear to you as you witness this unique graduation ceremony. Originally, George Roeper would stand here and tell a story about each graduate. Over time that practice has transformed into graduates selecting an adult in our community to speak on their behalf — testament to the deep and powerful relationships that we form over a student’s journey through our school. It is this total investment in the academic, social and ethical development of our students that makes us so successful and so emotionally connected to celebrations like today.

To my colleagues — Thank you for your inspiring energy, your deep dedication to building strong relationships with students, and your meaningful development of our incredible academic program.

Most of all, thank you for providing a rich environment where, as George Roeper told us, Students find teachers who respect them as individuals, where they are able to make mistakes and learn from them, and where they search for the unknown and the unseen.

Family members, you are your child’s first teachers.

You are there for the first steps, the first words, and the first day of school. A milestone like today is only possible because of the care and nurture you provide. Thank you for sharing your children with us, and for the opportunity to be a part of your child’s story. This day is a celebration for your whole family!

Graduates, as gifted people you have seen the complexity of the real world every day and worked assiduously to understand your intensities and your place in that world. I hope you have come to understand that being gifted is not just about academics, it’s not something that you are during a particular class for a particular set of minutes.

Being gifted will not end when you leave school.

Being gifted is not about school — it’s not what you do — it’s who you are! As George reminded us, Giftedness is a blessing a child is born with and is not the product of any effort the child could be credited with. If a child is blessed with giftedness, it is also bound to an

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obligation to make use of it to nurture and develop it for the benefit of themselves and of society.

But how do you do this? How do you nurture and develop your giftedness? This takes time; this takes reflection; and this takes guidance. We have provided you with a philosophy of life; guidance to think through challenges, and most of all, the opportunity to have a voice. This environment is designed to help you become stronger, more reflective, and to have a deeper understanding of yourself.

As Annemarie reminded us, We provide students with the time and space to grow, develop, make mistakes, reflect and understand. I think we prepare children better, especially in the gifted movement, because we believe in self-actualization. We believe that your gift belongs to you. You are living in an interdependent world; therefore, you could and should be using your gift for others.

As we consider all that has gone into making today possible, there are those in our community who would say that today marks the moment in time when you leave “the Roeper Bubble.” The Bubble — that protected shell that separates our gifted youth from “the real world.” It kind of sounds like something Professor Xavier might have created for the X-men or a Harry Potter-like spell placed upon you as you began your tenure at George and Annemarie’s version of Hogwarts.

This notion of the Bubble is something that I’ve thought about a great deal. It’s not unusual for private schools to be portrayed as separate and protected. Yet I can’t help but find the characterization troubling. Its connotation of shelter suggests a lack of preparation and readiness for what is to come; it conveys a picture of separation and a lack of understanding for what awaits you — that somehow things have been kept from you — all of which cannot be the further from the truth nor the intentions of our founders.

There are incredible challenges that await you outside the Roeper Bubble, challenges the Roepers knew all too well. Conceived in the struggle to achieve human rights for all, to stand up to oppression, hatred, and voicelessness, the vision

“We provide students with the time and space to grow, develop, make mistakes, reflect and understand.”

Annemarie Roeper

that George and Annemarie Roeper constructed that became our School’s philosophy is rooted in the real world challenges they faced as refugees from World War II and the Holocaust.

That which is described as The Roeper School Bubble, you see, is a response to the real world’s attempt at taking away our humanity.

Within this Bubble you have developed your individual voice, where teachers and peers listen to what you have to say, value your ideas, theories and hypotheses — and interact with you as an equal.

Within this Bubble you have developed your individual voice, where teachers and peers listen to what you have to say, value your ideas, theories and hypotheses — and interact with you as an equal. Whether you are arguing about your theory of film, providing your insight for a teacher hiring committee, or serving as a member of our Board of Trustees, you have come to see in practice, that justice rather than power is a perspective worth striving to achieve.

Within this Bubble you are valued as an independent individual and not as part of some collective group. From the classes and programs you chose to how you were assessed, your teachers, coaches, and mentors have seen you for who you are, embraced your passions for music, theatre, sports, art, debate, performance, robotics, and so much more; we have engaged with you in your struggle to form your own unique identity. Here, you have been able to participate in the shaping of your own destiny. You have been part of the operations and governance of this School since you were a threeyear-old in Stage I, and we would have it no other way. How else do you become a good decision maker as an adult — in the real world — if you don’t have the chance to be heard and to practice making real decisions that have real consequences?

Within this Bubble, the concept of equal human rights for all, while an ideal in concept, is something we overtly discuss and work toward achieving.

Born of an era where human rights were taken because of what you believed, who you loved, where you were born or how you looked, this core tenet of our school reminds us of our commitment to social justice, and the work we have to do. You, my friends, are that future generation George and Annemarie described who we are working to prepare for the unknown!

George had a very clear set of expectations for Roeper graduates; he did not see your time in our school as sheltering, but rather as preparing you to

engage more deeply in this interdependent world.

He said, The gifted children of this school shall not consider themselves a privileged group; you are as human beings not better than others.

As persons you are equals. You are different as to your specific skills, abilities and talents but these faculties have no moral value attached to them. Moral values are related to character values and not intelligence and skills. Therefore, we try to instill in you that intelligence does not make you a better person. Your intelligence or talent is a gift which makes you feel passionate, happy and joyful. We try to develop a sense of responsibility within you to develop your gifts and talents for your own good and for the good of society.

A sense of responsibility to make society a better place — this is more than just intensity and passion. This is a call to action, a call to use your gifts to make a difference. As President Obama reminded Morehouse graduates: You have to go through life with more than just passion for change; you need a strategy.

I’ll repeat that. I want you to have passion, but you have to have a strategy. Not just awareness, but action. Not just hashtags, but votes.

How many of you will be 18 before our election in November? How many of you are registered to vote?

Your intensities have made you persuasive in debate, perceived by those around you as smart — but that is not enough. There have been many brilliant leaders in government and in the private sector who were smart and did not embrace the interdependent nature of our world — the humanistic needs of our global community.

Former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, said: There is an enormous difference between entering into an argument for the purpose of proving how smart you already are — and engaging in research and discussion for the purpose of stretching your mind and giving free rein to your conscience. continued on page 31

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Tom Roeper ’61*

Founders’ Elder Son

FOUNDERS’ FAMILY MESSAGE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ROEPER PHILOSOPHY, FREE WILL, AND MODERN COGNITIVE SCIENCE It is wonderful to speak to a new group of Roeper graduates. I feel very much a part of the Roeper community and continue to draw strength from it. I think you, too, will draw strength from your Roeper connection all of your lives.

I’d like to make a few remarks on how the Roeper philosophy — which I think all of you will carry forward — connects to modern Cognitive Science.

Long ago I had the strong sense that my parents and grandparents had a genuinely unique view of human nature and human relations. It is not fully captured by notions of humanism, nor is it simply a kind of moral rectitude, nor a strong desire to create community. It is a sense of unknowable human individuality, universal micro-creativity in our every gesture and glance, and the need to recognize every single human being as possessing an inalienable dignity.

My grandmother, Gertrud Bondy, once said, “One must have that last respect for every person,” whether they are accomplished or criminals. A story I have often told is of a 12-year-old boy who arrived in 1946 from Germany at my grandparents’ school, the Windsor Mountain School in Lenox, Massachusetts. He had been in a concentration camp. Within two weeks he had broken into the locked kitchen. The cook was furious and called him ungrateful. My grandmother simply said, “Give him a key so he can get food whenever he wants.” He was the only child with that privilege because she knew that concentration camp victims had terrible anxieties about food. What was truly remarkable about that school was the expectation from all the other students. As a matter of course, they accepted the idea that each person needs to be treated differently, even if it means rules are broken and some people have privileges everyone might want.

I believe the most hard-headed scientific approaches to human nature need to include the insights my parents and grandparents had. I made it my goal to seek it in modern Cognitive Science.

Their work was founded upon an appreciation of the unconscious which Freud introduced to my grandmother, who was his student, and to my mother Annemarie Roeper, who had been admitted to the Viennese Psychoanalytic Society

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just weeks before the Nazis arrived.

Modern linguistics, my field, is the core of Cognitive Science, based on Noam Chomsky’s great insights in how to represent human creativity with mathematical models. It is a logical extension of the European Rationalist view while still at home with the strong empirical commitments of modern science.

Modern Cognitive Science has three features that reflect the essence of human nature: creativity, infinity, and internal mental, not physical representations.

How can our minds be non-physical? They are physical, but we do not yet grasp the invisible principles they obey, which are explainable only with those mental models. Eye-hand coordination involves a 3D image in our eyes that is mapped onto an implicit 3D image in the organization of muscles. And the connection is innate. The abstract model is in there just like gravity is involved in all motion.

Creativity lies in our capacity to generate new actions every minute, each of which reflects our individual personalities. It can be captured with mental rules that entail infinity. That is, we possess, create and obey algorithms that are inherently infinite just like addition and multiplication are infinite. When a two-year-old runs across the room, she follows an abstract plan that allows her to summon both the energy to run and to anticipate stop before she hits a wall — a very complex calculation.

From those cognitive principles come unique human beings. We recognize that each of us has a unique face. But the neurology behind that face — perhap a thousand layers — has exactly the same kind of unique range of inter-connections found in our faces. We can draw them together, giving us an individualized capacity for judgment in art, sports, human relations. We can see the same “personality” that organizes our lifelong projects in our tones of voice, movements of an eyebrow, our step and gait.

Even children can see layers inside themselves.

I asked my seven-year-old son Tim why he was good at chess, and he said, “Because I use my brain instead of thinking.” And my six-year-old daughter Maria, when vexed, looked up and said, “My mind is very angry,” and then added, “and so

Long ago I had the strong sense that my parents and grandparents had a genuinely unique view of human nature and human relations.

am I.” They were grasping the difference between conscious reflection, the unconscious, and what it means to seek self-awareness. My mother, in the psychoanalytic tradition, carried the idea of children explaining themselves to themselves forward — always asking children why they do what they do, particularly if she saw any signs of aggression.

As you gather sophisticated scientific knowledge in college, it is vital that you realize that the most important biological insight is still missing: how to grasp the nature of free will.

Another story comes to mind. My father told me of a young teacher who was very angry at him. He had brought a troubled student to him to bawl him out for something. But instead of saying, “Why did you do that?,” my father asked, “What happened?”

The teacher was angry that my father didn’t just accept his version of events and re-enforce his role as a teacher. My father commented to me, “I just thought I should hear what the student’s opinion was,” even though he was 99% sure the teacher was right. Asking everyone’s opinion about everything is a way to honor the fact that each of has an opinion — and has responsibility for what it entails.

But Cognitive Science is radically incomplete.

It has failed to articulate the most important ingredient behind human behavior — a hidden engine, like gravity: it is free will. Chomsky recently pointed out that a neurologist stated that we can explain every part of our ability to move muscles, like those in our fingers, except one: the voluntary aspect. Likewise, I can model sentences with startling precision, using abstract principles, but I cannot state how I decide to speak, or even lift a finger, or type this sentence — much less decide what meaning it should contain.

So the essence of biology is still missing — since even animals also make voluntary moves. As you gather sophisticated scientific knowledge in college, it is vital that you realize that the most important biological insight is still missing: how to grasp the nature of free will.

And there is an intellectual demon out there, to be melodramatic, preaching the opposite.

It is imposed by much of society, seeking to reduce human nature to deterministic physical interactions, as if we are not the authors of our own destiny. Don’t believe it, even though you encounter it every day in “scientific explanations” from ads to offhand remarks by your parents, to explanations of social conditions. One hears casual sentences like, “He’s only upset because he is hungry.” This reduction of anger to a physical

condition is a kind of mini-insult to all human beings. A psychology student — when I asked him what he learned at college — said it was that “we are all determined by our environment.” I was disappointed: someone got a college education, and his main lesson was exactly wrong.

I would argue that free will is the implicit goal of evolution. All living things evolve toward freedom.

My claim is essentially that biology, evolutionary theory, has it all backwards. We do not evolve to fit a niche in the environment — we evolve to escape and remodel our environment. It is true that minimal compatibility with environment is necessary to start, but what evolution does is seek to avoid any physical constraints. That is what is significant about the capacity to move, run, jump, leap from tree to tree — and to imagine a world different from what is there, to have dreams and goals, as I think all of you have.

While it has long been a mystery why organisms tend to increase in complexity, free will — as the goal of evolution — offers an explanation. Animals are capable of not just movement, but assessing situations and making judgments, building new habitats, and using objects as tools to do so. Even plants escape their environment: plants have seeds in the ground, but they grow out of the ground to a totally new environment, then utilizing sunshine and rain to grow. They even have limited freedom: they may bend in the wind or toward the sun.

A student said to me recently — a freshman — which most of you will soon be — when I asked him what he learned in our class from my book The Prism of Grammar (MIT Press 2007). He said, “Most of my courses consider human beings to be defined by their actions and behavior. In your course, I understood that what you are is something inside you, not just what you do.” He said it better than I could have — and it was a version of the Roeper philosophy that I hope you all carry into your intellectual lives as well as your personal lives.

Every academic field has an implicit view of human nature — from history to psychology to physics. Many of them are implicitly denigrating to everyone. I hope you will go forth, your Roeper experience in hand, to challenge any view that presents human beings as less dignified, less mysterious, and less deserving of inalienable respect than they are. F

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Andy Reed & Jake Flynn co-Presidents, Class of 2016

SENIOR CLASS FAREWELL I am about to embark upon what I hope will be a successful career as an entrepreneur. One of the things that helped me to decide on this path was looking at the world of start-ups and business incubators. And as I thought about incubators, perhaps the best example I could come up with is the incubator we call Roeper.

An incubator is a place where people bring their talents, skills, and interests so that they can be developed, honed, and focused with the help of knowledgeable advisors. Each of us, whether we started in Stage I or later, has brought our special gifts and has benefitted from the instruction and nurturing of our teachers and our peers. An incubator is a safe haven, where people are encouraged to fail early and often, knowing there is a helping hand to pick you up and get you back on track.

Having polished our rough edges, we have each set our own goals and objectives and are ready to launch.

The other purpose of an incubator is to have its advisors and sponsors invest in the ideas and vision of the future entrepreneur. The Roeper faculty, coaches, parents, and alumni are our investors, staking their equity in us to go out and achieve. Just as we might ask who will be the next Elon Musk, Barbara Walters, Georgia O’Keeffe, Tim Howard, or Elizabeth Warren, we are just as likely in the future to ask who will be the next Jacob Scholl, Brielle Ashford, Hannah Miller, Calvin Lind, or Isabel Ivanescu. The measure of our success will not necessarily be in terms of money or fame, but the contributions we make to the many communities in our world, including Roeper.

ANDY REED, CO-PRESIDENT

Class of 2016, Roeper has given us all it can, and now it is our turn to make our mark.

Thank you.

From the Domes to the Quad Building to the Birmingham Campus, our grade has grown in many ways. I have known many of you for my whole life and some for only a few years. But one thing I can say for sure is that I would have never dreamed to have been so blessed as to be sitting with this group today. We’ve made it through many trials and tribulations, ranging from the harsh competition of the Toilet Bowl soccer tournament in Stage IV to the AP exams that we all worked so hard to do well on. Through each experience, we only grew closer as a grade, and at the same time, we each developed into our own people with our own personalities, beliefs, and interests.

There are many students here who have accomplished some truly astonishing feats. We have one who started a non-profit to help the homeless in Detroit, one who built a computer from scratch, the co-creator of The Roeper School app, and so many other incredible students that if I kept talking I could go on all day. No matter what the goal is, everybody up here is always supportive and helpful to make sure that it’s reached, and that’s what makes this grade so special.

The collaboration and support of one another is very strong. For example, when we were planning our senior trip, and we presented the idea of renting a house for a week, the idea was immediately shot down, which was understandable, but that didn’t stop the grade from rallying together to make it happen. There’s this group mindset that’s present within our grade that makes us work well together, even though we are different people.

That’s part of why it won’t be easy to say goodbye to you all when we all go to college. The biggest downside of knowing everybody so well is that leaving is difficult. So as we all sit here today, at the culmination of 17 or 18 years of extremely hard work, think about those times that we’ve had together.

Think about the hilarious memes we worked on to decorate the SLC or our incredible victory in Spirit Week. Think about each other, because even though you are your own person, you would not be where you are today without those sitting with you. So continue to grow, keep supporting those around you, and always remember where you came from.

Thank you. F

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JAKE FLYNN, CO-PRESIDENT

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INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST ALUMNI THE ROEPER SCHOOL

Class of 2016

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29 15

13

14

30 31 20

18

35

36

22

17 16

34

33

32

21

23

24

25

26

27

19 5

11

12

10

1 3 7

2 4

8

9

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1 Jacob Scholl. 2 Mikaila Singleton. 3 Sam Gendelman. 4 Brielle Ashford. 5 Ben Katzman.

6 Julia Morgan. 7 Maha Hashwi. 8 Daria Hurley. 9 Kelsey Walker. 10 Kyra Mettes. 11 Jordyn Wexler.

12 Hannah Miller. 13 Laurel Robinson. 14 Noah Gilman. 15 Matthew Uchno. 16 Justin Hamburger.

17 Chris Francu. 18 Kiara Atkins. 19 Isabel Ivanescu. 20 Natalie Siegel. 21 Anna Gillikin. 22 Calvin Lind.

23 Michelle Ratchford. 24 Aryn Myles. 25 Ben Goldberg. 26 Naomi Savas. 27 Meagan Schlaf.

28 Luke Steiger. 29 Jake Flynn. 30 Adwoa Tandoh. 31 Akwia Tilton. 32 David Gardner. 33 Andy Reed.

34 Josh Eisenman. 35 Justen Martyka. 36 Nick Popp.

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THE GRADUATES & THEIR PRESENTERS THE CLASS OF 2016 IN GRADUATION ORDER GRADUATE*

presenter

NATALIE ANN SIEGEL (20) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly McDowell LUKE JON STEIGER (28) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kelly Piontek

JUSTIN LOUIS HAMBURGER (16) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ttari Hellmer CHRIS ANDREI FRANCU (17) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hale Williams BENJAMIN SHEMER KATZMAN 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Panek JULIA ZAHAVA MORGAN (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Karen Johnson

ADWOA AKYAA TANDOH (30) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abha Dearing AKWIA SERWA-ALSTON TILTON (31) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ed Bergonzi, read by Ed Sack KELSEY ALY’SE WALKER (9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ttari Hellmer BENJAMIN AARON GOLDBERG (25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie Lyons-Eddy MAHA MUHAMMAD HASHWI (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Michal McConville

MICHELLE ELLISE RATCHFORD (23) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michelle Stamler JACOB WALTER SCHOLL (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Blechman DAVID REID GARDNER (32) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . linda Vernon SAMUEL AARON GENDELMAN (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brian Durst KIARA DEBOROAH ATKINS (18) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Panek NOAH ALEXANDER GILMAN (14) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Christina Miceli

LILIAN ISABEL IVANESCU (19) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Regis Carozza MEAGAN ASHLEY SCHLAF (27) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christina Miceli ANDREW KIRK REED (33) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michal McConville JUSTEN JAMES MARTYKA (35) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie Lyons-Eddy KYRA MORGAN METTES (10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ttari Hellmer HANNAH SARAH MILLER (12) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly McDowell NICHOLAS CHRISTOPHER-HASKIN POPP (36) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Karen Johnson

LAUREL SHADA ROBINSON (13) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Vernon MIKAILA MARIE SINGLETON (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Christina Miceli

MATTHEW STANLEY UCHNO (15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie Lyons-Eddy BRIELLE SYDNEY ALECIA ASHFORD (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Vernon JACOB CHRISTOPHER FLYNN (29) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Panek ANNA SHARON GILLIKIN (21) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Michal McConville

DARIA LATRESE HURLEY (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michal McConville CALVIN PHILLIP LIND (22) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Linda Vernon

WILLIAM JOSHUA JOHN EISENMAN (34) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hale Williams ARYN DANIELLE MYLES (24) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Janet Szeto NAOMI ANNE SAVAS (26) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Vernon JORDYN RACHEL WEXLER (11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shelley Fager-Bajorek

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* the numbers in parentheses correspond to the numbers in the class photo on the previous page

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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.

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Katie Buchmann KIT Editor

Julia Eddy ’15

Summer Intern Development Office

These student profiles are excerpts from speeches written by the presenters for commencement.

NATALIE … cultured, positive, intellectual

LUKE … skilled, idealistic, innovative

SENIOR PROFILES

NATALIE ANN SIEGEL,

LUKE JON STEIGER,

daughter of Jennifer Siegel of West Bloomfield and Brian Siegel of Bloomfield Hills is my go-to person for all things popular. Natalie does not simply know culture; she employs it — in highly creative, intelligent, and relevant ways. It is this knowledge and ability that inspired her epic senior project. When she was denied the rights to put on her own production of the Heathers musical, inspired by the ’80s cult film classic, she quickly regrouped and decided instead to direct a music video of the musical’s opening song for which she was also denied the rights.

son of Jon Steiger and Kelli Kerbawy of Ann Arbor, lives his life with verve and passion.

Music, philosophy, and environmentalism are passions he has shared with many of us during his two years at Roeper. In his spare time, Luke takes guitar and vocal lessons and considers songwriting to be one of his primary emotional outlets.

This would have been enough to throw anyone off course completely, but not Natalie. She soldiered on to produce a smart, inspired piece of visual work — a music video based on Heathers, an homage to the film with an updated, modern edge that only Natalie could provide. But anyone familiar with Heathers knows that it’s a satire, a searing commentary on the darker aspects of teen culture. Don’t be fooled by Natalie’s cheerful, optimistic demeanor; she is also completely unafraid to take on incredibly serious subjects.

Natalie is a voice of her generation in the best sense of the word because she combines a deep feel for the issues of her time with a great intellectual sense and creative ability. Natalie’s brand of intellectualism and creativity is the antidote to youth apathy. In work and in life, she issues a wake-up call — urging us to open our eyes to the world in which we live.

Natalie Siegel is a positive force, a force of change, and a force to be reckoned with! I look so forward to all of that she will continue to reveal and teach us as she embarks for DePaul University to study psychology and film. ~ Kelly McDowell Thank you for helping me realize my potential as a student and a person. My time here at the Roeper School was short but has made a lasting impression.

Luke is someone who strives to make an impact, who sees problems in the world and realizes that we can do something about them. He is particularly proud of the work he did last summer with the International Anti-Poaching Foundation Rangers, spending three weeks patrolling the bush in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Luke shared his experiences as one of this year’s Earth Day presenters, speaking not only to the importance of conservation, but also justice, the legality and fairness at issue.

Tuna Talk advisor Linda Vernon says, “Luke is not afraid to take on serious subjects that he feels strongly about — and that others should be thinking about as well.” Regarding his last assignment, “Being Healthy is Not a Requirement,” Luke said, “It’s always good to try to improve the community you are a part of.” One need look no further than Luke’s senior project — the Roeper App — to see him living this precept.

Luke is a skilled coder, and the app he created conveniently combines several resources that students and parents need, like NetClassroom and Edmodo. Thanks to Luke’s efforts, we can just open the app and access everything from there, including a live feed of the Roeper Record.

Luke developed the app with our Tech Department and with Roeper eighth grader Nick Hubbard.

This summer, Luke will be volunteering again with IAPF. In the fall, he’s moving to Portland to attend Reed College. ~ Kelly Piontek Peace out.

9

JUSTIN LOUIS HAMBURGER, son of Douglas and Wendy Hamburger of Bloomfield Hills, has many qualities that I admire in a person.

He has a great sense of humor that is often selfdeprecating. He has a tremendous sense of self, surprisingly so for someone his age. He is acutely aware of his strengths and his weaknesses and tirelessly works to improve his self-control. He has a strong sense of justice, and I have often witnessed him effectively advocate for himself and others. He is one of those rare people who know when and how to apologize, and he is highly sensitive.

That last one is a trait that we know all gifted students share. This year, during his Senior Project, Justin found another reason for his sensitivity: he realized that he is an artist. Anyone who saw the display of his work in the gallery during Senior Project nights would agree that he has a bright future as a painter. This summer, Justin will begin his art studies at CCS. Justin feels the world around him much more than most of us do. This makes some days difficult, but it also makes him highly creative. During his work on his senior project, Justin told me about an art project he was interested in that combined painting and gun control advocacy. That’s what I envision Justin doing someday — using his art to promote justice in the world. He’s just the right kind of guy to do it.

Justin has faced many obstacles in the short time I’ve known him, but, in doing so, he has shown me how hard work and self-control can overcome obstacles. I am inspired by his strength and determination, and I will always treasure the painting that he would not let me buy from him.

I am very proud to call him my friend. ~ Ttari Hellmer

CHRIS ANDREI FRANCU, son of Emil and Angelica Francu of Northville, lives by the code of his favorite word: Lavish. Lavish shoes, Lavish Hummer, Lavish attitude. His cool attitude and dedication are just a couple of the things that make him so universally liked in our community. I asked around, and not a single soul had something bad to say about him. The worst thing I heard was that people wanted to know him better! I believe this is just Chris’s keen eye for business leaking through to his social life. He’s simply doesn’t want to saturate the market and devalue the commodity that is Chris.

Chris uses summers to fly to Romania with his father and mother, keeping his family connections strong as well as interning at a hospital.

Chris started in 9th grade navigating through Roeper’s unusual classes with precision and poise.

It wasn’t until 11th grade that he left a lasting mark by adding his expert style to last year’s Junior/ Senior dinner held at a mock Apple store. Linda Vernon says that she hadn’t known him very well before that project, but ever since then, he makes a point to greet her every day with a smile. He’s so professional and put together, Linda says he “could walk out of here and get a job at a major corporation.”

Chris has been juggling his full class load, long commute, and running a successful business buying and selling shoes online all without breaking a sweat.

He carries a maturity that many people his age lack. This maturity is one of the many things sure to make him stand out next year at the University of Michigan LSA Honors program. I have no doubt that wherever else he travels next, he will do so calmly and lavishly. ~ Hale Williams I have jumped from school to school throughout my life, but Roeper was where I grew my roots, and it is the place I will always call home.

10

JUSTIN … strongwilled, sensitive, self-aware

CHRIS … poised, savvy, lavish

BEN … disciplined, laid-back, nice

BENJAMIN SHEMER KATZMAN, son of Lisa

JULIA ZAHAVA MORGAN, daughter

and Danny Katzman of Bloomfield Hills, is the greatest Canadian export.

Ben’s parents said, “He is really a nice person. He treats everyone very respectfully, and he doesn’t minimize people.”

Jake Flynn said, “He’s a nice guy; just an all-around great guy.” Ed Sack described him as “one of the nicest people in the world.” I think the data speaks loud and clear here. Ben Katzman is a nice guy.

of Janice and Alexander Morgan of Birmingham, sister of Abraham, has embraced the “call to adventure” for her time beyond Roeper.

Ben has involved himself in so many sports during his time at Roeper. From the day Todd Dunfield told him, “Hey, you are on the Cross Country team.” Ben has loved being part of a team and the camaraderie it gives.

JULIA … adventurous, sophisticated, conscientious

Ben is well known for being very, very funny.

Calvin Lind said, “If I didn’t have Ben in my life, I wouldn’t be as happy as I am.” Jamie Benigna wrote about Ben, “It is clear from his reactions in class that he has enjoyed the study of chemistry almost as much as he has enjoyed my litany of puns.”

Jamie Lyons-Eddy commented that, “Ben has shown signs of great discipline to go with his natural ability. I think there’s a huge intellectual potential in him that we have only begun to see.”

Susannah shared, “Ben is so affable and laidback that it’s easy to overlook what a hard worker he is.” Regis Carozza admires Ben’s intellectual humility and wonderful work ethic. Regis says, “[Ben] works extremely hard, performs amazingly well, and does so with exquisite grace.” I am most impressed by Ben’s open mindedness. In neurobiology he would contemplate the readings, carefully listen to the comments of others and often allowed himself to grow with his new understanding of the world.

In the fall Ben will be attending Davidson College in North Carolina. We will miss you, Ben! ~ Laura Panek Roeper has truly helped me grow as a person. I will remember the Roeper Community as caring, generous and welcoming, and it will always occupy a special place in my heart.

The “call to adventure” is something Julia happens to know quite a bit about: for her project in Anthropology this semester, Julia delved deeply into the subject of the hero archetype and how this is seen throughout folklore, mythology, religion, and general storytelling from across the world. Her study looked closely at those moments or events that occur with the hero figure time and again.

The “call to adventure” is that hint one receives of a previously unknown world or destiny, which becomes the catalyst for the ensuing bold enterprise.

The thing about Julia’s hint was that it was in itself heroically difficult to decipher. She adores chemistry, is a dedicated performer, and her writing is preternaturally sophisticated.

As Susannah Nichols observed, “Not only are you a serious student — conscientious of your responsibilities, attentive in discussion, and willing to make the most of any learning opportunity — you are also a great deal of fun to be around.” I would say that Julia’s intellect is so versatile and so eager for knowledge that it seemed like hints were coming from everywhere — she could literally pursue any one of her passions, and she would be blissfully successful. But this year, Julia has realized the key to her hint: it’s not about the “what” she does on her adventure, but rather the “how” of her approach.

If Julia’s name were a verb, “to Julia” would mean “to seize with considered determination.” It’s kind of like the Latin verb carpo, from which derives the immortal phrase, carpe diem — seize the day. This is the “how” approach to adventure that Julia has aligned with, and she will begin her bold undertaking at none other than Sarah Lawrence College. ~ Karen Johnson Farewell Roeper, I learned so much from you.

11

ADWOA AKYAA TANDOH, daughter of

AKWIA SERWAALSTON TILTON

Dorcas and Reuben Tandoh of Southfield, maintains integrity through dedicated learning and draws rational conclusions. Many of us at Roeper have noticed Adwoa’s dry, layered sense of humor. She keeps close ties with her friends in a loyal, caring way.

has re-written the record book at Roeper in the 200 and 400 meter distances and in the long jump.

She was State Runner-up in the long jump last year, and was voted league MVP in Track and Field last year. This year, Akwia Tilton became the first-ever Roeper athlete be crowned champion in the long jump event at the Oakland County Track and Field championships.

As an orchestra player, Adwoa plays the violin.

She has a wonderful ear, and when the opportunity to learn the cello arose, she volunteered quickly.

I have rarely seen a student pick up a new clef and instrument the way Adwoa did.

Roeper English Teacher Susannah Nichols says, “Adwoa has always been a bit enigmatic to me, in a good way. She is a very kind, genuine person, but she’s not easy to get to know, and I’ve always had the sense that even when she is quiet, there are layers of ruminations and ideas at work in her mind. In volleyball, she grew tremendously as an athlete over three years. There is a resilience to her that allows her to be strong — she can let drama and criticism just roll off her back to stay focused.”

Roeper Math Teacher Hale Williams says, “My first thought about Adwoa is ‘will this be up to her standards?’ In class, she is often the one carrying the discussion or the computational workload and keeping everyone else focused.”

From Ttari Hellmer, Theatre Director and Mentor, “Adwoa approached me at the beginning of the school year and in a very high, unsure voice, told me that she wanted to direct a play as her Senior Project. Adwoa wanted to know if she could take an idea, then delegate and direct others to completion. Throughout the year, I’ve seen Adwoa plan, organize, make choices and speak out for herself.”

Adwoa plans to attend Johns Hopkins University in the fall, majoring in Economics but eventually going into Medicine. ~ Abha Dearing Bye.

Akwia’s giftedness extends beyond the track and basketball court. Akwia’s greatest strength is her interpersonal skills. Fellow Roeper graduate and friend David Gardner says of Akwia, “She’s quiet but not shy. She’s a great person to be around. She brings your mood up.” Naomi Savas commented, “Akwia is almost always the funniest person in the room. Akwia’s a fun person to be around.

She’s a good person.” History teacher Mike Ruddy describes Akwia as “a great person who cares deeply about Roeper and the community.”

Photography teacher Michelle Stamler describes having “a soft spot in her heart” for Akwia and her wonderful family, who have had a long association with Roeper.

Michelle perhaps gets to the essence of this exceptional Roeper graduate when she describes Akwia’s “wonderful powers of observation enabling her to pull out heartfelt and emotional images from relatively simple situations … her approach (to photography) is so evolved and her thought process so different from what you would expect.”

She will be attending The College of Wooster and has signed a letter of intent to participate in basketball and track at that school. Being a twosport athlete in college is a singular achievement for a Roeper student. Akwia is thinking of majoring in Communication. She also is considering pursuing a liberal arts education, before she decides on a specialization. ~ Ed Bergonzi At graduation, presenter Ed Sack commented that after the speech was written, Akwia became a Track and Field State Champion at long jump at the MHSAA Division 4 State Finals.

Thanks for four great years, and many memories!

12

ADWOA … caring, resilient, focused

AKWIA … genuine, heartfelt, strong

KELSEY ALY’SE WALKER, daughter of Kelvin

KELSEY … quiet, peaceful, trustworthy

BEN … encouraging, persistent, serious

and Dianne Walker of Detroit, is always afraid that she is too quiet, but she’s not. She is the reason people say, “Actions speak louder than words.”

Kelsey doesn’t need to say a lot. She does a lot.

She helps everyone around her more than she knows. When Kelsey first came to me and asked if she could help with a show, I didn’t realize that she would soon be running the backstage. And when she asked if she could spend her free blocks in the booth, I didn’t realize how much I would soon come to count on her presence there to provide peace and stability when things got crazy.

Kelsey has done just about every job in the theater, from prop design to directing, and if you think she is too shy to ever get onstage, I have some hysterical footage of her performances in our tech parodies that prove her talent as a comic actress.

Although she may not stay in theatre, I have no doubt that Kelsey will put her experience and her creativity to good use. She dreams of writing — songs, or maybe plays, or maybe movies. Next year I am glad, just as I am sure that her other parents are, that she will not be far away, as she studies at Michigan State. That way, she can come home often, and maybe she’ll have time to catch a movie again with me and my other daughters, or maybe she’ll come see a play with me in Ferndale, or she might take some time to play another round of the Disney Princess’s board game with me while we grab an ice cream at Oberweiss. I’ll be happy if she just calls once in a while. ~ Ttari Hellmer Thank you for giving me a safe community to learn and grow in.

BENJAMIN AARON GOLDBERG, son of Andrew and Laura Goldberg of West Bloomfeild, is a very serious guy behind his characteristic grin.

He put in countless hours on our talent show “executive team,” and helped lead the homeroom to consensus on everything from T-shirt colors to the decision to benefit Syrian refugees this year. He also focused on service in his senior project — developing a soccer website which will eventually raise money for Grassroot Soccer, an organization working to curb the spread of HIV in Africa. His most notable Roeper contribution was on the Junior-Senior dinner “dream team.”

Biology teacher Laura Panek described Ben’s work ethic as “simply extraordinary.” He is most comfortable in analytical work, but doesn’t shy away from stretching himself intellectually; he chooses the most challenging classes he can and excels across the board. His friends say they didn’t buy Ben’s claim that he was hit by senioritis — he’s that student who “actually wants to learn,” this year as much as ever.

He brought this same serious approach to the soccer team, where he has set an example as an encouraging, resilient teammate for four years. He has played through challenge and pain, including years of tendonitis and a broken collarbone. Ed Sack says that Ben earned his place as a starting member of the State Champion Soccer team by being tough and persistent, by always learning and improving, and making the most of his experience on the team.

Long ago, Ben set his sights on Case Western Reserve University, and he’s thrilled to head there this fall to study Biology. After that, he plans to do graduate work in immunology, with the ultimate goal of developing vaccines. Ben has an ambitious goal and an organized plan, and his main focus is on making the world a better place. ~ Jamie Lyons-Eddy Thank you, Roeper for teaching valuable life skills.

Everyone has taught me so much, and I will miss this school.

13

MAHA MUHAMMAD HASHWI, daughter of Muhammad and Randa Hashwi of Dearborn, sister of Abrahim ’13, is a gentle soul. She is not only a “considerate, thoughtful, and true friend to all,” as Christina Miceli noted, but also a fierce advocate for her classmates and a vital citizen of the school.

Whether it’s helping a fellow student with a tough assignment, cheering her friends on from the stands, or guiding young students through mentoring programs, Maha is committed to giving back. Though her voice may be tiny, Maha has learned how to use it in a powerful way and works tirelessly to improve the student experience through her service in Student Government and her work with the Diversity committee.

When it comes to her role in sports, Maha is the little engine that could. Starting out as one of the smallest players on each team with the biggest dreams of them all, she actively sought out opportunities to gain strength and skills. Maha has succeeded in becoming one of the best players on every team, thanks to her determination and hard work. All of this while maintaining good spirits makes Maha the go-to player to motivate young athletes and to keep traditions alive.

Brothers Abe and Omar respectively commented that Maha is “truly blessed and brilliant,” but that she “has earned … everything she has accomplished.” Maha is one of the rare students who diligently works through the most difficult classes, taking time to consider teacher feedback and pushing herself to do better on each assignment.

Over the years, Maha has made an incredible transformation from a meek and mild middleschooler to a poised and confident student and a Gates Millenium Scholar.

I truly cannot wait for first time Maha returns from New York University to visit us, so I can hear about all of her amazing new accomplishments. ~ Michal McConville I would not be who I am today without Roeper.

I am grateful for this seven-year experience of growth and enlightenment. Thank you to my mentors, friends, and family. You will be missed.

14

MICHELLE ELLISE RATCHFORD, daughter of Gregory and René Ratchford, sister of Rachel ’09 and Briana ’12, never said she was a trending meme on Twitter or mentioned her prestigious photography award, and I’ve known her since before she was born and only learned last month that she rides a unicycle.

So, I guess it’s no surprise that I had to ferret out her extensive list of academic, sports, visual, and performing arts accomplishments as well.

At age 11, Michelle stated that she would be “a marine biologist, a plum gatherer, or the tooth fairy.” However, Punnett Squares in Middle School changed all that and set a course for the study of genetics and genomics.

Michelle commits 100% to what she loves, at the top of her list, photography, science, and Chinese.

Chinese teacher Lily Zhu and Michelle started at Roeper at the same time, and Michelle is the only student from that 6th grade class to stay with Chinese for the entire seven years. In her first report for Michelle, Lily states that Michelle “writes characters beautifully, and her notes are high quality. I look forward to having her for another great semester!” Little did Lily know that she would be seeing Michelle Ratchford every school day for her entire seven years at Roeper, that she would run out of classes for her to take, would see her climb Mount Tai in China and oversee an independent study that would evolve into one of the most intellectual and academically challenging Senior Projects I have ever seen ­— the study and translation of the Chinese Medical Compendium written in 1578 by travelling doctor Li ShurJen. Next year at Michigan State University, Michelle will continue to weave together all the things that are important to her as she majors in science and minors in Chinese as a Charles Drew scholar. ~ Michelle Stamler Thank you for providing me with an environment to grow and excel.

MAHA … gentle, active, purposeful

MICHELLE … funny, multitalented, sincere

JACOB WALTER SCHOLL, son of David

JACOB … independent, downto-earth, selfless

DAVID … independent, authentic, socially conscious

Scholl and Laura Lucas of Huntington Woods, brother of Adam ’14, has been described by many as completely selfless, whether he was helping his grandfather with walking, helping his disabled colleagues at his job at the grocery store last summer, taking time to teach the Middle School Robotics class how to use a drill press, or just helping his friends and fellow classmates with their homework.

Jeff Last, a family friend, told me that Jacob was never easily led by the crowd. For example, his senior project was to build a computer from scratch; he could have asked his brother or father for help, but he needed to figure it out for himself.

Jacob never lets anything get in the way of identifying and attempting to fix stupidity. At the bike shop where he recently started working, the boss told Jacob, newly joined to the staff, to move something, to which Jacob replied, “Why? That’s stupid!” Jacob then explained the right way to do it, and after a rather surprised glance, and much to everyone’s shock, the boss agreed with him and let him do it his way!

In Advanced Physics, Jacob and I have had more than one conversation about how the class was going, but not from his standpoint. He was much more concerned about his classmates. He was worried that they might not be understanding the topics and needed more help, and I should probably talk to them, or go over some problems that he was sure they did not understand.

Next year, Jacob will join the ranks of Green and White up in Lansing, where he will continue to pave his own road. I cannot imagine a more down-toearth, seriously (but not too seriously) minded young man, capable of making a real difference and doing right. ~ Andrew Blechman I will miss some of you. Not many though. Good luck to the few.

DAVID REID GARDNER, son of Harold and Bonita Gardner of Bingham Farms and brother of 9th grader Jonathan, was “a peaceful leader in our homeroom, greatly admired by his peers for his intelligence, kindness and sense of fun,” Stage IV teacher Elise Lind observed. Middle School P.E. teacher Ed Sack wrote that David’s football team nickname — Megatron — was truly a reflection of his awesome strength, fitness and skill. “He could clearly dominate the entire class if he chose to, but instead involves everyone, never complains, and is always working hard while having fun.”

“He takes school very seriously,” friend Kamaria Wilson says. “I found this truly admirable. When he really wants something, he will go after it, and that’s exactly why he will be successful in life.

“I think his drive is one of his best qualities,” friend Simon Roennecke says. “Even when working out with him after school, it is apparent how committed he gets to something once he starts it.”

While at Roeper, David showed himself to be a committed member of the Varsity Track team, the Prom Committee, and the Varsity Basketball team, where he served as Co-Captain.

Development Director Denita Banks-Sims describes him as a natural, authentic and extraordinary extension of the Roeper philosophy.

“His gentle leadership and unyielding quest to find meaning in all aspects of his life are readily evident; he has a strong sense of intrapersonal awareness and a finely tuned sense of ethical responsibility.”

As the Co-President of the Student Diversity Advisory Committee, David is most proud of “seeing a need to help get people talking” after the protests in Ferguson, that ultimately resulted in David and Armani Lee coordinating a project with students at Seaholm High School.

David is very excited to be joining the freshman class of University of Miami, where he will study Business Law. ~ Linda Vernon Thanks for the great memories, and helping me become the person I am today.

15

SAMUEL AARON GENDELMAN, son of Michael and Suzanne Gendelman, is a likeable guy. When he started working with the Tech Department, he quickly became “one of the guys” with his quick smile and quicker wit.

Jamie Lyons-Eddy said he “has a certain intense mental energy.” Sam’s friend Matthew Uchno said, “Sam knows how to do most [math] problems but he does the procedure in his head in different ways than we are taught. This confuses the rest of the class, but after explaining himself we realize that Sam had the right answer all along.”

Sam possesses what Ed Bergonzi called a “dogged determination.” For example, when he first joined the Roeper baseball team he didn’t get a lot of playing time. But through his hard work and determination, Sam became a starter and a leader on the team. Ed Sack said that is a “testimony to his willingness to grind it out and get rewarded in the end.”

When he visited Cesar Chavez elementary school on a community service day, he was placed in a class with fourth and fifth graders. Somehow the teacher disappeared for an hour and a half and Sam ended up teaching the class. He had no idea the teacher was going to leave, but he stepped up and took care of the kids.

He is also a member of the Leadership Committee on the Jewish Fund Teen Board, which is a group of teens that is put in charge of $50,000 to donate to non-profits in the area.

When I asked people where they thought Sam would be in 10 years, many said they thought that he would work with technology. Many said he would be involved in helping people in some way.

Ben Katzmann thinks that Sam “will be the best pound for pound weightlifter among metro Detroit accountants.”

Sam will be attending Michigan State University in the fall. ~ Brian Durst Goodbye, Roeper. ‘Twas fun while it lasted.

16

KIARA DEBOROAH “KIWI” ATKINS, daughter of Christian and Sandra K. Atkins of Southfield, walks.

Countless times have I seen her pass outside of the greenhouse windows heading along Adams, a smile on her face and purpose in her step. Kiwi has wanderlust. She brings herself fully to everything life has to offer and mindfully experiences everything that comes her way. Her friend Andrew Dietz commented, “Kiwi unfailingly pursues a sunny disposition with a persistence that is as admirable as it is terrifying.”

Kiwi came to Roeper in Stage IV, and she quickly made friends. Her advice for new students was to, “Be yourself, sit back and relax.” Kiwi has kept that strategy throughout her time at Roeper. In class she brings a lighthearted, calm disposition.

She sits down, relaxes and waits to see what she will learn. As a teacher, when I first taught Kiwi in Advanced Biology, I was concerned for her.

She didn’t seem very worried about learning the material or even taking notes. I found out quickly that I had no reason for alarm; Kiwi’s calm, relaxed demeanor masked the intensity of thought that goes on in her mind.

Kiwi also loves to create. Kelly Piontek shares that in Kiwi’s writing she takes risks, has a sharp sense of humor, and tells it as she sees it. She also loves to bake and creates amazing cupcakes that she doesn’t even like eating, but we are all grateful for.

Kiwi’s friends know that she is something special.

Cameron said, “There’s more to her than you realize. I’ve been good friends with her for three years, and I’m still discovering new interests she has, like gardening.” Kory appreciates Kiwi’s unfailing kindness, and he says that she is one of the most generous people he has ever met.

Kiwi will be attending Michigan State University in the fall. ~ Laura Panek Thanks to the school’s staff and students for doing so much for me.

SAM … witty, responsible, likeable

KIWI … mindful, generous, lighthearted

NOAH ALEXANDER GILMAN, son of Gerald

NOAH … cooperative, helpful, a team player

ISABEL … tough, tenacious, ambitious

and Susan Gilman of Bloomfield Hills, brother of Roeper freshman Jenna, is a State Champion in Soccer, hit the game winning shot in basketball, and was captain of both the Soccer and Basketball teams. Golf Digest reported the odds against a non-PGA player making a hole-in-one as 12,500 to 1. During Golf Regionals of his sophomore year, Noah made Roeper history when he became that one. Ed Sack said, “He’s had some unbelievable athletic moments in our school. He is the only senior boy to participate in three sports. He puts others first, takes on a role and takes pride in completing the role to the best of his abilities.”

While playing Gaga with Lower School students, the most striking aspect of his game was not his athleticism, but his ability to emphasize passing among the younger students, encourage teamwork, and ultimately sacrifice his own glory for the good of the group. Joe Allen said, “Noah takes a lot of responsibility for motivating a team that may otherwise be disorganized.”

Noah’s ability to connect with younger students has made a huge impact in our Math Clinic and Middle School Math classes, where he has done one-on-one tutoring. This year he co-chaired the third annual Roeper Charity Marathon where he helped lead the initiative to raise funds for children with disabilities.

Calvin Lind said, “People don’t realize Gilman is responsible for a lot of the big things that have made people new friends.” Noah organizes the schoolwide March Madness bracket, brings a taco feast for homeroom snack, and worked to create a Fantasy Football league.

Noah is Roeper’s ultimate competitor, fan, and team player. Next year he will take his passion to Michigan State, where he plans to study mechanical engineering. ~ Christina Miceli Thank you to all the faculty who have helped me be who I am today and also for helping me through all of my tough times at school.

LILIAN ISABEL IVANESCU, daughter of Alina and Cornel Ivanescu of Dearborn Heights, and sister of eighth grader Annelise, was participating, as a 7th grader, in a high school Model United Nations conference when an older delegate committed a grave breach of protocol: The girl had disagreed with Isabel. In the ensuing verbal beat down, Isabel actually pinned her much larger prey against the wall with a blistering barrage of facts and analysis. Isabel’s hapless victim ultimately froze, unable to respond. The silence only inflamed Isabel’s fury. For, to disagree with Isabel is a crime, but to do so without expressing a logical basis, buttressed with exhaustive research, is a mortal sin. Isabel, if you haven’t gathered, can argue.

Isabel’s recreational tastes are no nonsense; she reads Politico and The Economist; she took the LSAT for fun; and hosted a sleepover to watch the GOP debate. She also loves chick flicks and is a fashion maven. She is Roeper’s version, her friends say, of The Devil Wears Prada.

She created a slick crowdfunding campaign and website for her amazing senior project — to purchase and renovate housing for Detroit’s homeless.

She is tough. One classmate states bluntly: “If Isabel doesn’t like you, you should hide.” Case in point: In retaliation for a previous prank, Isabel served that same student a donut ingeniously filled, not with sweet, cream filling, but with mayonnaise.

She abhors anything that wastes her time, but she will always help a friend with homework or serve as a sounding board. Jordyn put it succinctly: “Isabel is the reason I survived high school.” Note that Jordyn said this before Isabel fed her that donut.

Isabel will study physics and political science at Duke University, where the halls surely will resound with the clicking of the heels of its new Blue Devil Wearing Prada. ~ Regis Carozza I loved living inside the “Roeper Bubble,” and I am really going to miss my teachers and classmates come next year. Thank you for everything!

17

MEAGAN ASHLEY SCHLAF, daughter of Tom and Susan Schlaf of Rochester Hills, brought cunning intelligence, a sharp sense of humor, and quick logic to Roeper. Andrew Blechman recognizes Meagan’s inherent aptitude for mastering difficult content, and Hale Williams said that Meagan is an exceptional student with strong retention and analytical skills.

Those who have coached or played with her in high school know that she has demonstrated year after year what it means to be wholeheartedly committed and determined to improve each season. Coaches call her one of Roeper’s most improved athletes of all time. Naomi Savas said, “You can notice that when she isn’t in the game things start to go bad, but she never takes the glory or attention.” This year Meagan earned All Conference recognition in Volleyball and was named captain of both the Soccer and Volleyball teams. Ed Sack said, “Meagan made All Academic in all three sports, was a reliable player that was counted on three different seasons.”

Meagan’s leadership and selflessness has been invaluable to the younger students whom she helps tutor in math. She is known for being funny and able to explain material in a very simple way. Regis Carozza said, “Meagan has a ‘voice of reason,’ capable of convincing and guiding others.”

Stage IV Meagan wrote that her greatest challenge was finding time for each friend. Jordyn Wexler called Meagan a true friend who is able to really take in whatever you tell her. Michal McConville says, “[Meagan] understands things very deeply, be it science, language, emotions, or personal stories.”

Brielle Ashford said, “Megan is mysterious — you can’t tell what’s going on past the freckles.” Next fall Meagan will attend the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering where I hope she continues to grow in confidence, embrace her brilliance, and maintain the mystifying persona that keeps everyone wondering what’s next. ~ Christina Miceli Thank you, Roeper, for being my second home these past nine years. I am really going to miss all the great teachers, coaches, and friends I have met here.

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When ANDREW KIRK “ANDY” REED, son of John and Julie Reed of Bloomfield Hills, brother of eighth grader Wesley, came to Roeper in Lower School, it was already clear what a talented and gifted student he was. Andrew Blechman simply states, “Andy is, of course, one of the best students in this school.”

From publishing a paper on the dangers of microbeads to creating independent studies in French and Math after exhausting the Roeper course offerings, Andy is an academic powerhouse, and as Jamie Lyons-Eddy says, “There are absolutely no limits to what he can do.”

But even more important to Andy than his studies are his friends and teammates. Ellie Moskowitz said that Andy is a “deeply loyal friend who would stick up for [her] in any situation.” His selfless and sensitive nature encourages dialogue, best seen when he presented a film called Reject to students, faculty, and community members to encourage us to evaluate our behavior and to find the beauty in others and celebrate our differences.

Andy’s dedication and commitment extend to the soccer field, where he was not only a member of the State Championship winning team, but assisted in two of the game-winning goals. Andy has been known to be competitive off the field as well, passionately engaging his friends and classmates in dialogue and debate. Rachel Keteyian explained, “I love Andy because he is so unfiltered, honest, observant, and supportive of his friends.”

But of course, Andy already knows and has always known all of this about himself. He is introspective and has taken time to plan all parts of his life, to improve. As insightful and observant as he is, he is critical in equal measure. The one thing he cannot see that everyone around him can is his intense passion and unparalleled potential in life.

Andy will attend the University of Michigan in the fall. ~ Michal McConville After almost 10 years at Roeper, I have only just had time to stop and realize how much the students, teachers, and environment have shaped my character. I will never forget the lessons I learned, the relationships I made, and the experiences I had in my time at Roeper.

MEAGAN … cunning, committed, mysterious

ANDY … academic, unfiltered, insightful

JUSTEN JAMES MARTYKA, son of Amy LoDico of West Bloomfield and Kevin Martyka of Livonia, brother of William ’13, is a lot like coffee. Coffee is an acquired taste. Coffee is strong, and it’s a source of energy and motivation.

Coffee is always there for you when you need it.

JUSTEN … pragmatic, respectful, capable

KYRA … courageous, hardworking, talented

Behind his somewhat laissez-faire attitude and self-deprecating sense of humor, Justen is a very accomplished student. Michal McConville says that Justen was “amazing” in French. Jamie Benigna says that “when something doesn’t really matter, Justen doesn’t really care,” but when he’s given authentic responsibility, he always rises to the occasion.

Teachers and friends alike are impressed by Justen’s strong moral compass and his willingness to sacrifice his own time to help others. Being comfortable with himself frees him to treat everyone he meets, as Joe Allen noted, with respect and kindness.

I suspect that Justen’s awareness and work ethic stem from working real jobs since he was a little kid, starting with his mom’s flower business.

Before his Starbucks job, Justen was ostensibly Tessa Stein’s assistant in her summer Clay Camp, although she says he was so great with the kids and so completely capable that she took a back seat to him by the end.

Justen assumed this same adult level of responsibility when he ran the stage for our homeroom talent show. He made a detailed plan and executed it flawlessly.

Everyone lights up when talking about Justen. He is greatly admired for his creative talent, his ability to persuade teachers to install fish tanks in their classrooms, and last but not least, for his pragmatic and responsible decision to live with William and begin his coursework at Lansing Community College before transferring to MSU to study engineering. As Colleen observed way back in 6th grade, “Justen’s energy, personality and mind seem almost inexhaustible.” ~ Jamie Lyons-Eddy

KYRA MORGAN METTES, daughter of Linda and Marc Mettes of Birmingham was once a shy, quirky, scared little girl who obviously wanted to be in the musical, but was terrified of opening her mouth. I gave her a small solo part to sing, and her mother and I prayed that she would have the courage to do it.

She did do it. She found her voice and since then, she has never stopped lifting it. Within a couple of years, Kyra was understudying every role in Once On This Island. By the time she was a freshman, she was holding her own with the much older kids as part of the ensemble of 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The next year, she wowed us in Company. By the time Kyra was a junior, we all realized that she had a beautiful voice and was pretty talented, but none of us was prepared for the ethereal beauty of her portrayal of Lily in The Secret Garden.

I was not surprised, then, to get an invitation to see Kyra perform at the Detroit Opera House. She was the perfect Gilbert & Sullivan heroine as she played the lead in HMS Pinafore.

Never one to be a diva, Kyra’s most impressive performance for the Roeper Theatre Company was just this past year as she shared the lead in an extremely challenging role as one of a pair of conjoined twins in Side Show. Kyra’s poignant portrayal of Violet will always be remembered as one of the best in RTC history.

Next year she will be studying at the University of Michigan. If I know Kyra, she will never be too far from a rehearsal room with a piano and accompanist. For her sake, and even more for ours, my hope for Kyra is that she always keeps singing. ~ Ttari Hellmer I’ll never forget the things I learned here.

It’s been a fun run, but now it’s at an end. Bye.

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HANNAH SARAH MILLER, daughter of Lynn and E. Powell Miller of Oakland Township, is no cynic. In fact, she has discovered the secret to life — which is having the ability to laugh at absurdity.

The ability to laugh at absurdity requires seeing the world a bit differently, and Hannah certainly does.

I would use the term nonconformist to describe her, but her kind of non-conformity is not typical; it is not brash or shocking. A better term for Hannah’s particular perspective may be non-normative, an intellectual term that suggests the innumerable possibilities that are allowed when one sees the world from a different angle.

When Hannah shared with me her newest interest, illustration, I was taken aback — only because I always see her first as a writer. But I am usually taken aback when Hannah shares something new with me, be it a complex idea that she is grappling with or some radical insight about a particular text. So I thought about it, and the more I did, the more I realized that it all makes perfect sense. Through any pursuit, Hannah is after deep, authentic meaning and refuses to have her project limited by artificial barriers of canon, field, genre, or medium. In this way, illustration seems a wonderful fit for her, and I can picture her someday producing some kind of avant-garde illustrated novel. Whatever it is, I am certain that it will be something truly new that will challenge and teach us.

Hannah will take her first steps in this direction as she enters The College for Creative Studies this fall.

While I will miss her wit, creativity, intelligence, and puns, I have no doubt that Hannah will continue to surprise, amaze, and teach those around her, in whatever community she inhabits. ~ Kelly McDowell Goodbye, I will always remember my experiences here fondly.

NICHOLAS CHRISTOPHERHASKIN “NICK” POPP, son of Chris Popp of Bloomfield Township and Cindy Haskin-Popp of Troy, brother of sophomore Phillip and eighth grader Grace, has gradually revealed himself to be one of those supernatural forces that sustain Roeper.

A Roeper idol should set standards and be the guardian of our ideals. Nick’s work ethic is difficult to rival and is one to admire and emulate. What is particularly remarkable is that his intellectual tenacity is not at all determined by outside forces; rather, Nick is internally motivated and engages with his learning because it is something worthwhile in and of itself.

A Roeper deity should also typify the ideas of loyalty and compassion. While others might list sports or volunteer work when asked about their extracurricular activities, Nick lists, first and foremost, spending time with his friends.

His goodwill towards others extends beyond the human sphere; Nick plans to go on to study Vet Tech at Oakland Community College.

It is not enough to have the qualities of a Roeper patron spirit to be one, it is equally important to be acknowledged and valued by the public — Roeper is not always an easy community to satisfy, so you’ve got to hit it off with the people. Two illustrations of this stand out to me. During the senior class karaoke performance at Spirit Week this past year, Nick connected with the crowd by “windmilling” — that is, spinning his hair around really fast — and he helped his grade onto victory.

He was also wheeled around in a wagon this year during the holiday season, beard adorned with ornaments, spreading cheer and candy to all.

These examples speak to Nick’s sense of humor, which includes a little bit of salt and a subtlety you could miss if you blink. That “Nick Popp spirit,” quite simply, inspires joy in others. ~ Karen Johnson Goodbye, Roeper. Thanks for being the place that I met my best friends at.

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HANNAH … original, inspired, nonnormative

NICK … benevolent, festive, internally motivated

LAUREL SHADA ROBINSON,

LAUREL … creative, observant, inspirational

MIKAILA … perceptive, grounded, eloquent

daughter of Renee and Barry Robinson of Sterling Heights, has a drive to create.

Any assignment that includes an “out of the box” approach engages her mind. The Leprechaun home she made in Stage II, the women’s clothing inspired by The Scarlett Letter she designed in Middle School, the “brain” cupcakes she shared with her Biology class, are but a few.

Laurel is generous with her talents, as well as her time — volunteering to design numerous posters for Middle and Upper School social events, and completing first-rate layouts for the Upper School literary magazine The Muse as well as the newspaper Tuna Talk. Her silk flower crowns were featured in Styleline magazine, and her unique jewelry, mini paintings and “saucy coloring books” can be purchased at “LaurelsShop” on Etsy. After writing to Fox News, Laurel confidently presented a live Style File segment about thrifting that featured friends modeling her outfits.

After a few yearbook classes in 6th grade, she remembers thinking, “I’m going to be the editor one day, and I want to design the cover.” Not surprisingly, Laurel not only reached those goals but also served as my assistant for the past two years, teaching Middle Schoolers layout and design techniques.

Laurel is the Concert Mistress of our school orchestra, has played with the Oakland Youth and DSO Civic Orchestras, and has received the highest recognition at state level. Last summer, Laurel was the youngest artist whose paintings were displayed — and ultimately sold — at the Tagent Gallery in Detroit. Recognizing that it is difficult for high school kids to get their art “out there,” her goal now — after earning a degree in Graphic Design at Michigan State University — is to own “a very classy gallery/café and vintage shop” and work as an art therapist. ~ Linda Vernon Roeper has been the biggest part of my life for the past 12 years — I honestly don’t know how I’m going to handle the change, but I know Roeper has gotten me ready for it.

MIKAILA MARIE SINGLETON, daughter of Latrese Singleton of Pontiac, sister of Stage IV student Amare McElwee, has always been a strong minded student willing to speak her mind. She is an eloquent, compassionate and perceptive individual capable of making others more aware.

These qualities are evident in Mikaila’s community service involvement. In Girls Mentoring Carolyn Lett said Mikaila is a quiet and confident leader whom the younger girls gravitate to. This year as president of the Black Student Union, Mikaila helped spearhead Roeper’s Flint water drive which collected over 500 gallons of water and $260 for the Flint Children’s Fund.

Mikaila strives to have a deeper understanding of new material and thus challenges and questions everything. In AP Statistics while reviewing a case study from an age discrimination lawsuit, Mikaila expanded our class dialogue to examples of discrimination based on race and sexual orientation and effectively used the new vocabulary to make statistically accurate arguments. Laura Panek said, “Her level of mastery was one of the highest I have seen in my 16 years of teaching.” Jamie Benigna recognizes her ability to assimilate new information rapidly and ask insightful questions and noted, “She is a very grounded individual, and she is able to analyze information for inconsistencies and implications.”

While teachers rave about her brilliance, Mikaila shrugs it off. Isabel Ivanescu says, “She’s just a persuasively ambivalent person.” Laura says, “Mikaila is humble almost to a fault. It is sometimes easy for people to overlook her and not realize the intellectual powerhouse in front of them. The great discovery I had with Mikaila is that she does care deeply, she does work extremely hard and she supports those around her.”

Next fall Mikaila will attend Brown University where she plans to study neuroscience and public health. ~ Christina Miceli Roeper — I can’t believe that this 12-year journey is coming to an end. Thank you so much for everything that you have taught me; I know I wouldn’t be the person I am today without you.

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MATTHEW STANLEY UCHNO, son of Nancy and Phil Uchno of Bloomfield Hills, brother of sophomore Charlie, told me that what he loves most about baseball is that there’s always a chance for redemption. “Even if you strike out four times,” he explained, “if you hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth, no one remembers what came before.”

No one would call Matthew’s freshman year a strikeout, but it wasn’t good enough for him, so he set himself on a path of quiet but unwavering determination to bring up his stats, to become a better student and to get the most from his high school experience. He made some decisions that Karen Johnson called “exceptionally mature,” choosing atypical paths in Latin and math that ultimately led to great success. He adjusted his work habits, formed study groups and put in whatever time it took to achieve his goals.

Matthew has grown into a leader, in part by taking ownership of our homeroom’s annual talent show.

For four years, I could relax knowing that Matthew took personal responsibility for making the talent show a success.

Matthew has been playing baseball since he was four, but he joined the Roeper Varsity team in his sophomore year. According to Calvin, “Matthew is the player (who) always supports his teammates.

No matter the situation … he always helps you along the way.” On and off the field, Matthew is known for being the kind of person who, as Joe Allen says, “… can make anyone fit in with a group,” and whose friendship, as Ryan described it, goes “beyond the passive,” including offering rides and inviting everyone over to hang out by the lake.

Matthew’s reputation as a “dank memer” seems to be universal among his friends. Ben Katzman explains that Matthew is “hilarious in a modern way.” ~ Jamie Lyons-Eddy Thank you to my parents, brother, teachers and friends. The relationships I’ve built with you here will last a lifetime. Go, Roep!

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BRIELLE SYDNEY ALECIA ASHFORD, daughter of Alecia and Michael Taylor of Bloomfield Hills and Jerry and Sharon Ashford of Auburn Hills, “is a true writer,” Stage III teacher Mary Windram observed. In Stage IV, Brielle would type up 20-page stories and hand them out to whoever wanted to read them. More recently, Co-Editor Brielle has been handing out copies of our school newspaper, Tuna Talk, for which she has contributed numerous thoughtprovoking articles on topics including students’ mental and emotional wellness, social cliques, academic dishonesty, and racism.

Brielle’s spoken words are equally powerful.

“Brielle kicked off one of the most stimulating debates any of my classes have ever had when she came into class with a topic that she was pretty steamed about,” teacher Dan Jacobs shared.

“She pretty much led a 40-minute, passionate, unstructured discussion/debate about whether or not adults’ ideas and opinions should be valued over those of children, simply because the adults are older.”

MATTHEW … mature, hilarious, dank

History teacher Max Collins says that Brielle’s “participation and questions helped maintain the momentum of the discussions and set a good example for her classmates.”

BRIELLE … expressive, passionate, inquisitive

Prior to 9th grade, Brielle participated in a tour of Spain, France and Italy. “… the turn of every corner brought a new wonder and excitement to Brielle,” teacher and fellow traveler Mike Ruddy remembers. “In her desire to learn more about every day’s history and culture, Brielle engaged chaperones, tour guides and local inhabitants.”

Given her interest in the world, it’s not surprising that Brielle has served as a respected delegate at a number of Model United Nations Conferences.

Brielle will be finding her way to the Honors College at Arizona State University this fall, where she will be a student in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication as she pursues her long-time career goal of becoming a broadcast journalist. ~ Linda Vernon Roeper has truly fostered some of the most beautiful aspects of my character. So grateful to all of the teachers, staff members and friends who made my 12 years here so incredible and meaningful.

JACOB “JAKE” CHRISTOPHER “ZER0 GRAVITY” FLYNN, son of Kris and David Flynn of Troy, brother of Alyssa ’14 and Nathan ’12, is a very curious person. As a student, Jake has brought the same curiosity and passion for learning to the classroom. His sister Alyssa says, “He is young at heart while somehow having the wisdom of a much older person.”

JAKE … loyal, curious, communityminded.

ANNA … introspective, deliberate, artistic

Jake has won the admiration and respect of his teachers. Christina Miceli said, “The thing that most impresses me about Jake is his unwavering moral compass. Jake never seems to struggle with ethical dilemmas but appears to always know the right thing to do and exhibits exceptional loyalty and decisions in all scenarios.” Susannah wrote about Jake, “I use no hyperbole when I say that I am profoundly impressed by the maturity, grace, and potential of Jake Flynn.” Ben Katzman said that Jake “is kind in everything he does, and he never feels sorry for himself.”

ANNA SHARON GILLIKIN, daughter of Julie and Craig Gillikin of Rochester Hills, sister of Connor ’14, is a ’90s It Girl. Like any good ’90s girl, Anna experienced her first existential crisis at a very young age and began to explore her identity.

Writing came naturally to her, and she became very skilled in both poetry and prose. This year, as the Content Editor of The Muse, Anna was able to continue her writing while also supporting her peers and encouraging them to create their own works of art.

Her creative expression has taken on visual and physical forms in photography and dance.

She surprised us with her most recent artistic expression, her senior project exploring anatomy through figure drawing, which was a perfect combination of her creativity and intelligence.

Connor explained, “Anna is able to think creatively and logically in equal measure.”

Ed recently told me, “When Jake couldn’t play this season, he didn’t have a pity party, he just looked for other ways to help the team succeed. He took on coaching roles and supported the team.”

She is also an incredibly supportive and dedicated friend. Ethan Silk says that “it makes him happy just to be in Anna’s presence,” and that she always knows the right thing to say. Julia Eddy ’15 adds that Anna “has always been deeply sensitive and aware of others’ feelings.” Anna’s sweet side is shown through her love for all things cuddly including dogs and babies. But don’t think that she’s too sappy; just ask Connor about the time he was upset as a child, and his three-year-old sister handed him a Gogurt and told him, “Now you can get on with your life!”

Jake has done so much during his time at Roeper.

In addition to being an incredibly successful student academically, he served in Student Government, as the Student Representative to the Board, hiring committees and breathed new life into the Spirit Squad. In the fall he will be joining his sister at Johns Hopkins University, where he will continue to pursue his love of science. ~ Laura Panek

All of Anna’s friends appreciate her perfect mix of sarcasm and sucrose, but their respect for her is truly overwhelming. It is hard to deny the power of her prolific work and her deliberate intent to reinvent herself. I am filled with excitement to see what she will discover in the coming years at the University of Michigan and how she will let herself be transformed. ~ Michal McConville

Many of us know that Jake loves to rap. His performances have spanned from raps about Darwin to assemblies and talent shows. He has worked very hard on his music, and it shows in the progress he has made. Jake is getting ready to drop his first album soon.

Thank you so much to everybody in this community for helping me become who I am today! I couldn’t have gotten here if it wasn’t for my family, friends, and teachers.

I began at this school 13 years ago, and I feel privileged to belong to a community that I Iove as much today as I did in kindergarten.

Goodbye, Roeper.

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DARIA LATRESE HURLEY, daughter of Daryl and LaTressa Hurley of Detroit, sister of Daryl ’14, might just be the most inviting, affable, easy-totalk-to person graduating today. Her friends adore hanging out with her because she refuses to accept drama, and she can easily maintain friendships with many different groups, sometimes even playing the role of peacekeeper by neutralizing conflict. Daria has sought out chances to form deep bonds with others through her travel with People to People, her work on the Diversity Committee, and her participation in various sports at Roeper.

Perhaps the ultimate portrayal of her connection with others was as her role of libero on the Volleyball team. Coach Christina praised Daria saying, “Daria doesn’t want any personal recognition. She is in it for the team.” Friends reflect that sentiment when describing another one of Daria’s many talents: singing. Maha Hashwi pointed out that “Daria has a beautiful voice, but most people don’t know that she can sing because she avoids the spotlight.” While this may be interpreted as being shy, it’s really a testament to how modest and measured Daria is, never wanting to steal the show, but only wishing to enhance the experience for those around her.

Her brother Daryl calls her an “out of the ordinary, sociable nerd.” While the sociable side is obvious when you see her laughing and joking with friends, what isn’t always evident from her calm, cool exterior is that Daria has some serious brainpower and a steady, consistent work ethic. Teachers note that Daria consistently sets high goals and, as Laura Panek put it, she “always follows through, even when the workload is very demanding.”

Combine her self-assurance with her even-keeled way of seeing the world, and it’s easy to see why she has chosen to go on to study Neuropsychology at the University of Michigan this fall. ~ Michal McConville Thanks, Roeper, for the 13 years you’ve spent educating me and helping me make friends that I hope will last a lifetime.

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CALVIN PHILLIP LIND, son of Elise and Steve Lind of Ortonville, brother of Alex ’10 and Gabe ’13, “considers others before himself at all times,” homeroom advisor Christina Miceli says.

“Calvin is a born leader,” Stage II teacher Janet Sensoli wrote. “He accepts people for who they are and forgives them when they make mistakes.

He is sweet, gentle and extremely well-mannered.”

Friend Trace Sheerin says, “Before I do anything I think, ‘What would Calvin do?’”

Students have elected him to serve as a Student Government Rep, as well as the “Head Funster” of the Fun Fun Fun Committee, while teachers nominated Calvin to receive an Optimist Award.

Mom Elise says, “He seeks happiness in all he does, and shares that joy with all he meets.”

With all of these attributes, Calvin remains amazingly modest. “He is one of the most humble people I know,” Simon Roennecke says. Simon, as well as Calvin’s other teammates and coaches, feels that Calvin embodies what it means to be a true student athlete. “He is the hardest worker,” Varsity Baseball Coach Todd Dunfield says about his four-year starter and Co-Captain. “He wants to do well, and doesn’t like to let anyone down.”

First Team All-State goalie Calvin played an integral role in helping the Varsity Boys’ Soccer team win the 2014 State Championship. “Everyone was happy as we were killing the other team, and Calvin is sitting in the goal crying,” teammate Logan Garlo shared. “He appreciates just how blessed he has been in life, and it shows.”

This fall, Calvin will play soccer and pursue his interests in math and business at Aquinas College.

When asked what he sees Calvin doing in 10 years, Jake Flynn says, “I could literally see him doing anything. I can picture him as an astronaut and see him smiling through his helmet.” ~ Linda Vernon I want to thank my teachers, coaches, and friends for being a part of my life. It was a blessing to be a part of this community.

DARIA … modest, inviting, self-assured

CALVIN … joyful, humble, appreciative

WILLIAM JOSHUA JOHN EISENMANN, son

JOSH … brave, friendly, trusting

ARYN … compassionate, driven, enthusiastic

of Bill Eisenman and Susan Guenther of Beverly Hills, came to Roeper when he was just three years old. In his time here, he has grown into a man with the trifecta of Roeper qualities.

All year I have been witness to his superb reasoning skills in class, his ability to trust in others when he is taking responsibility for a project, and his good intentions at all times. He has the brains necessary to be an engineer, the courage to trust in others, and the heart to lead him in the right direction. He’s a lot like Dorothy and her friends in The Wizard of Oz. My favorite story about Josh has to be from the start of the year. He and Justen Martyka gave his homeroom teacher a fully stocked fish tank. This fish tank brought a fun focal point to Christina Miceli’s room, and gave her a little company during her free blocks. When the time came to relocate them due to winter break, he made a plan and executed it. I love this story because it shows off his goodwill, logical attitude, and responsibility for what he started.

As Karen, his longtime Latin teacher said, Josh not only works well with, but “delights in cooperation with others.” This will continue to make him an indispensable partner for future adventures both in and out of school.

Josh is leaving us today to study Environmental Engineering at Michigan State University. He takes with him his reason, his morality, and his trust that he might sway the unreasonable, lead others to do the right thing, and trust that after he’s gone they will continue to do so. I hope that you remember that Roeper will always be a home that you can just click your heels to return to. ~ Hale Williams Thank you to all of the teachers who have helped me become the person I am today.

ARYN DANIELLE MYLES, daughter of Sylmara Chatman of West Bloomfield and David Myles of Los Angeles, has a fascination for all things Jeep that is widely known among her classmates. It seemed fitting, today, to highlight the qualities that she shares with them.

First, Jeeps are able to carry out an improbable assortment of missions. Aryn’s accomplishments as a talented writer, wonderful friend, (future) rebuilder of cars, and a most fashionable student are clear. Also, she is the only student I have had to have given herself a tattoo!

Second, Jeeps stand as symbols of endurance.

Aryn’s “… serious concern for others” was first noted in her Stage I reports. Her friends still choose words such as compassionate, kind, and empathetic to describe her. She shared with me once that Roeper’s message about “communal fairness and acceptance of everyone” was something she understood early on. Her commitment to these values shine through in the friendships she has made here.

And of course, her passion for cars, which began at age four, has not diminished. Instead it has expanded and developed into an unforgettable drive to learn more about car history and design, advertising, and car culture.

Jeeps are famously up for almost anything. Aryn’s friend Mikaila values in her this particular trait, and her favorite memories of you are associated with “the wild” things you’ve done together.

Aryn, I wish you the best as a student at DePaul University next year. I expect you’ll thrive on the independence of living in the city and starting a new life in Chicago. I am excited for all the things you will do. I know that whatever you do, you will do it your way and find success. Your friends, by the way, expect you will have quite the car collection one day, and we all look forward to seeing it! ~ Janet Szeto Roeper has given me the identity of being a Roeperian, and I will always love it for that.

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NAOMI ANNE SAVAS, daughter of Susan and Zachary Savas of Bloomfield, sister of Ian ’12 and Sophia ’15, made it her goal during freshman year to be the captain of the Varsity Volleyball, Basketball, and Soccer teams. “Being a leader is something that I don’t shy away from — it’s something that I look for,” Naomi says. “[Playing] sports has shown me that if I put my mind to something I can achieve it.” Naomi reached her goal this year. Teammate Melanie Wells says, “She is pushy as a leader should be, but encouraging and positive, as well.”

“Naomi developed into a very good player with a great work ethic and outstanding character and leadership,” former Athletic Director Ernie Righetti recently shared.

As the Assistant Editor of the Yearbook, Naomi put much thought and effort into all of her assignments, while being a positive and supportive leader of her staff. “Naomi is not one to back down from a challenge,” Chemistry teacher Jamie Benigna says. “There is no question in my mind that Naomi takes her studies seriously, but I have been most impressed that her intense focus is balanced nicely with a genuine desire to help other students out.”

One of Daria’s favorite memories is when she came to school on her birthday, each year Naomi would be at Daria’s decorated locker waiting with a hug and some type of gift that she’d picked out.

Audrey Barnes remembers panicking about something at 1:30am and calling Naomi. “She was asleep, but she woke up to talk to talk me down and tell me everything was going to be okay.

That’s a really good example of the kind of friend she is,” Audrey says.

This fall, Naomi will join the freshman class at U of M, where she will pursue her interest in marine biology. ~ Linda Vernon Thank you, Roeper, for allowing me to be who I am and instilling confidence in me that nobody else could. You will always be a part of home to me.

JORDYN RACHEL WEXLER, daughter of Sherry and Eric Wexler of West Bloomfield, sister of Austin ’11, has been determined from a young age. Teacher Deb Veillette recalls a time in Lower School when Jordyn began hula hooping during free time, continued through “meeting time” and homeroom, only stopping when school ended, about 1½ hours later.

Jordyn is not only determined, she is talented. She has always excelled in the arts: both visual and performing. I will never forget the first time I met Jordyn. She walked into the audition for Rumors as a freshman and blew me away with her natural ability. It was only after the fact that I found out not only was Rumors her first play, but that her parents made her audition! She was enchanting in her portrayal of Cassie, holding her own among veteran RTC performers, and she has grown with each role she takes on, delivering solid, captivating performances of characters so unlike herself.

Jordyn, unlike those characters, is full of energy and excitement about everything life has to offer.

One thing Jordyn gets really excited about is food.

In Stage III, Jordyn often answered questions with the response, “Pie,” which became synonymous with the sublime, according to Mary Windram.

Jordyn even designed her mole project around food. Upper School teacher Jamie Benigna writes, “She attempted to calculate how many times a mole of corn flakes will fill the Arctic Ocean … [and] presented a beautifully realistic version of “mole-ted milk balls,” themed after the packaging of Whoppers!”

Jordyn, I challenge you to continue to push yourself and achieve greatness, and I thank you for your encouragement to do the same. Jordyn, I am so thankful to get to know you over the last four years, because, in the words of Naomi Savas: “A life without Jordyn Wexler is a very dull life.” ~ Shelley Fager-Bajorek F

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NAOMI … athletic, thoughtful, leaderly

JORDYN … enchanting, fun, determined

KIT

Lisa Baker

Upper School Director

CLOSING REMARKS

[This class] embodies what George and Annemarie Roeper envisioned for our gifted students — they are not limited by what they see.

This year, I had the pleasure of being in two courses with members of the Class of 2016, and I can attest to the fact that they are a very strong class, filled with individuals who are not easily swayed. In fact, they are often quite sure of their own “rightness,” and, as I quickly learned as a classmate, they frequently have very good reason for this confidence and edge—especially if they’ve actually done the reading! This group does not let opportunity pass them by. Just yesterday Sam Gendelman, a four-year baseball player, made an inspired catch in right field that saved two runs from scoring, and Akwia Tilton brought home a State Championship in long jump!

This group does not wait for the crowd. They follow their own stars. So it’s not surprising that they will be attending 19 different colleges across 14 states in this country next year.

Over the course of their high school career the Class of 2016 has honed their personal skills and talents immensely. As each of the speeches we just heard demonstrated, we have no shortage of talent in this class — they are artists, scientists, athletes, linguists, researchers, software developers, philosophers and philanthropists. They are remarkable individuals ready to take their world by storm. However, what has impressed me most about this class is how they have developed an even greater sense of, dare I say, reliance on one another. They have learned to stand firm in their own beliefs and opinions while welcoming others to join them. Trust me … when this group puts their minds to something, especially something they want, it gets done, and they have fun doing it!

They embody what George and Annemarie Roeper envisioned for our gifted students — they are not limited by what they see.

There have been moments along the way that the Class of 2016 has felt just a little bit bitter about missing out on some of our newer programs or facility improvements that their peers in later classes have and will enjoy. However, what

you may not realize is that this gives you certain bragging rights — you were the last graduating class to have all four years in the “original Birmingham building.” You will know things and have experiences that other graduating classes will not have. At this point in our lives together, you all know that I am a somewhat hopeless optimist who tries to see the good in everything, so appease me as I share some hopes with you. My hope is that you will take your courage, tenacity, and critical eye into the world and stand firm while listening closely. My hope is that you will continue to take on issues and attempt things that others think are “too big” for you like singing Ave Maria when you’ve never sung publically in your life, connecting website development with professional soccer and philanthropy, translating ancient Chinese text, collaborating with younger people to create new products or programs, creating compositions for the ukulele, earning scholarships like the Gates Millennium Scholarship, or just maybe creating a 501(c)3 to end homelessness. My hope is that the fun-loving spirit that has brought us spooky volleyball and the Roeper spirit squad, class-to-class delivery of candy by “Santa and his reindeer,” and an awesome Senior trip on the beach in a house for 22 people will never ebb in any of you. My greatest hope, however, is that you will know in your hearts that Roeper is a part of you now. No matter how far you go or what adventure you take, we are with you — and you are with us. Please come back, continue our conversations and share your — be they adventures, conquests, or defeats — we want to know them all.

Finally, oh, fantastically confident Class of 2016, please remember what FDR said about confidence: it “thrives only on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection, on unselfish performance …” So be confident, be brave, be you!

It is my honor to present the Roeper Class of 2016.

F

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KIT

SENIOR PROJECTS 2016 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 2015 participants and their projects.

Anna Gillikin . . . . . . . . . . Anatomical Illustrations

Ben Goldberg . . . . . . . . . . Bringing Soccer to the World

Justin Hamburger . . . . . . . Landscape Studies

Isabel Ivanescu . . . . . . . . . houseDETROIT

Hannah Miller . . . . . . . . . . Oil Painting and Rendering the Human Figure

Michelle Ratchford . . . . . . Ben Cao Gang Mu

Jacob Scholl . . . . . . . . . . . . The Least Efficient Way to Build a Computer

Natalie Siegel . . . . . . . . . . A Victorious Girl Walking:

A Heathers- (the Musical) Inspired Music Video

Luke Steiger . . . . . . . . . . . . The Roeper Smartphone App

Adwoa Tandoh . . . . . . . . . Death, The Comedy

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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 2016/17 Fighting Tuna 23rd Knight of the Order Josh Eisenman appointed

The Order of The Roeperian Empire 2016 Recipients

RYAN MERSOL-BARG

24 nd Knight of the Order

JAKE FLYNN MAHA HASHWI CALVIN LIND

2016 Roeper Athletic Awards (left to right)

George A. Roeper Sportsmanship Award

maha hashwi noah gilman

Scholar-Athlete Award

Athletes of the Year Award

meagan schlaf naomi savas calvin lind jake flynn akwia tilton david gardner

(not pictured)

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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 2016 journey:

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Josh Eisenman Chris Francu Ben Katzman Nick Popp Mikaila Singleton

BLACK STUDENT UNION

Mikaila Singleton Adwoa Tandoh Akwia Tilton Kelsey Walker

GENDER BLENDER

THE MUSE

Kiara Atkins Anna Gillikin Julia Morgan

GIRLS’ MENTORING

Brielle Ashford Maha Hashwi Daria Hurley Michelle Ratchford Mikaila Singleton Adwoa Tandoh

Brielle Ashford Daria Hurley Naomi Savas Mikaila Singleton Kelsey Walker

FORENSICS

Josh Eisenman Jake Flynn Isabel Ivanescu Kyra Mettes Jordyn Wexler

FUN, FUN, FUN COMMITTEE

Josh Eisenmann Jake Flynn Chris Francu Samuel Gendelman Ben Goldberg Ben Katzman Calvin Lind Nick Popp Jacob Scholl Matthew Uchno

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ROEPER THEATRE COMPANY

Isabel Ivanescu Kyra Mettes Julia Morgan Nick Popp Natalie Siegel Adwoa Tandoh Matthew Uchno Kelsey Walker Jordyn Wexler

ROBOTICS INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

CHESS CLUB

Josh Eisenman Chris Francu Anna Gillikin Maha Hashwi Daria Hurley Hannah Miller Julia Morgan Michelle Ratchford Laurel Robinson Mikaila Singleton

Kiara Atkins Josh Eisenman Noah Gilman Calvin Lind Aryn Myles Michelle Ratchford Laurel Robinson Meagan Schlaf Jacob Scholl Adwoa Tandoh Akwia Tilton

LINGUISTICS CLUB Kiara Atkins Anna Gillikin Julia Morgan

Brielle Ashford Josh Eisenman Nick Popp Michelle Ratchford Andy Reed Jacob Scholl

ROEPER ART TRIP

Anna Gillikin Isabel Ivanescu Aron Myles Michelle Ratchford Jordyn Wexler

ROEPER BENEFIT TALENT SHOW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Ben Goldberg Matthew Uchno

SIERRA CLUB Maha Hashwi

SPIRIT SQUAD

Josh Eisenman Jake Flynn Anna Gillikin Noah Gilman Ben Goldberg Maha Hashwi Daria Hurley Ben Katzman Calvin Lind Justen Martyka Nick Popp Michelle Ratchford Andy Reed Naomi Savas Natalie Siegel Akwia Tilton Matthew Uchno

MODEL UNITED NATIONS

Brielle Ratchford Kiara Atkins Ben Goldberg Isabel Ivanescu Hannah Miller Michelle Ratchford Meagan Schlaff Luke Steiger Adwoa Tandoh

ROEPER DANCE ENSEMBLE Anna Gillikin Maha Hashwi Isabel Ivanescu

SPIRIT WEEK COMMITTEE Jake Flynn Maha Hashwi Matthew Uchno

Bold denotes a leadership role

STUDENT DIVERSITY ADVISORY COMMITEE

David Gardner Maha Hashwi Daria Hurley Michelle Ratchford Andy Reed Laurel Robinson Mikaila Singleton Adwoa Tandoh Akwia Tilton

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Jake Flynn Maha Hashwi Calvin Lind Laurel Robinson

VARSITY SPORTS BASEBALL

Josh Eisenman Jake Flynn Sam Gendelman Ben Katzman Calvin Lind Matthew Uchno

BASKETBALL

Jake Flynn David Gardner Noah Gilman Maha Hashwi Daria Hurley Ben Katzmann Calvin Lind Justen Martyka Naomi Savas Meagan Schlaf Akwia Tilton

TUNA TALK

CROSS COUNTRY

Brielle Ashford Calvin Lind Laurel Robinson Luke Steiger

Isabel Ivanescu Ben Katzman Akwia Tilton Kelsey Walker

SOCCER

VOCAL MUSIC

Brielle Ashford Jake Flynn Noah Gilman Ben Goldberg Maha Hashwi Daria Hurley Calvin Lind Michelle Ratchford Andy Reed Naomi Savas Meagan Schlaf Adwoa Tandoh

Anna Gillikin Daria Hurley Kyra Mettes Julia Morgan Aryn Myles Michelle Ratchford Laurel Robinson

WOMEN’S AFFINITY GROUP Daria Hurley Julia Morgan

TRACK

Kiara Atkins David Gardner Michelle Ratchford Akwia Tilton

VOLLEYBALL

Maha Hashwi Daria Hurley Kyra Mettes Michelle Ratchford Naomi Savas Meagan Schlaf Adwoa Tandoh Jordyn Wexler

YEARBOOK

Jake Flynn Hannah Miller Nick Popp Andy Reed Naomi Savas Adwoa Tandoh Jordyn Wexler

UMOJA Laurel Robinson

continued from page 3 One path may earn you a reputation for brilliance; but the other will lead you toward wisdom.

You graduate today and leave our Bubble having developed a set of skills — not just the academic skills that most entering college freshmen take with them to their first classes, but rather a set of life skills, an understanding of who you are, and the

role you play in the larger world. As citizens of the world, I ask you to put those skills to their fullest use.

And now, with the Head of School’s wand I break your Roeper Bubble: Dissolvit Bullam — and offer my congratulations to you — our Class of 2016! F

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COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES Albion College AQUINAS COLLEGE ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY Babson College Ball State University BROWN UNIVERSITY Capital University CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY Central Michigan University Clark University COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES

OAKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE Oakland University Ohio Dominican University Ohio Wesleyan University Pace University Pennsylvania State University Pratt Institute Purdue University REED COLLEGE Rice University Rose Hulman Institute of Technology

COLLEGE OF WOOSTER Columbia College Chicago Daemen University DAVIDSON COLLEGE DEPAUL UNIVERSITY (2) DUKE UNIVERSITY Earlham College Emory University Fordham University George Washington University Georgetown University GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY Heidelberg University Hillsdale College Hope College Indiana University JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY (2) Kalamazoo College LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE Lawrence Technological University Loyola University Chicago Loyola University New Orleans Maryland Institute of Creative Arts Marymount Manhattan College MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY (9) Muskingham University NEW YORK UNIVERSITY Northeastern University

Saginaw Valley State University School of the Art Institute of Chicago SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE SUNY Purchase Syracuse University The New School for Drama University of California Irvine University of Cincinnati University of Colorado Boulder University of Detroit Mercy University of Evansville University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana University of Kentucky UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI UNIVERSITY MICHIGAN (8) University of Michigan Dearborn University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Pittsburgh University of Rochester University of Southern California Valparaiso University Washington University in St. Louis Wayne State University Western Michigan University Wittenberg University Xavier University Xavier University of Louisiana

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Of the 36 members of the Class of 2016, all will go on to college immediately.

Two students were named National Merit Scholars.

One student received the University of Michigan Zatoff Scholarship.

Another student was named our second Gates Millennium Scholar.

One student received the OCC Chancelor Scholarship, and yet another was among the Comcast Leaders and Achievers.

The Class of 2016 was offered more than $1.8 million in scholarships.

Class members were admitted to the listed institutions and enrolled at colleges and universities in BOLD CAPS.

KIT

Denita Banks-Sims

Director of Development and Publications

PARTING THOUGHTS Kari Papadopoulos, Director of Communications and current Roeper parent, recently polled a few of us to ascertain our view of the most important and impactful Roeper traditions.

The responses were varied, and all seemed worthy reflections of events and/or customs that are most meaningful to the school — all “quintessential Roeper” and ran the gamut of Founder’s Day to Wolverine.

As for me, while I dutifully noted my top five, there was never a doubt about my #1 choice. From my first Roeper commencement experience in 1989, to this most recent 2016 presentation, I am a fixture for this compelling, inspiring and touching celebration. With the exception of the two years I commanded front row seats for my own graduates, I have set aside that prime sight line for a fabulous seat in the “back of house” and found that being able to view all of the contagious enthusiasm and glorious familial pride, also has its advantages.

The extraordinary breadth and depth of the lives of Roeper students never fades.

The extraordinary breadth and depth of the lives of Roeper students never fades, and I am filled up at each turn. CONGRATULATIONS to the Class of 2016, and thanks so much for your individual and collective contributions and influences on this community.

As I happily sat on my back seat perch this year, it occurred to me that there seemed to be a larger than usual percentage of the youngest siblings among the Class of 2016. (I might add that this observation was punctuated when Hale Williams ‘09 — the youngest of the Bob and Sue Williams offspring — was actually giving a speech, as he is now a highly respected and admired Math teacher in the Middle/Upper School Math Department.)

I think what struck me most, as was reaffirmed in their respective graduation remarks, was how splendidly distinct their journeys had been from their siblings. They were each ready for the next journey and confidently self-actualized Roeper alumni!

In 1987, George Roeper wrote: As a result of the community’s commitment to interdependence, students at Roeper are respected for what they are: individuals who are young and enfranchised, but those whose value to their families and to the Roeper community is inestimable and therefore empowering.

We thank the Class of 2016 for embodying George’s vision for them and us …

Yours, David Feldman joins Roeper Alumni Brianna Ratchford ’12 and her sister, Rachel Ratchford ’09, in wishing youngest sister Michelle Ratchford ’16, best wishes at Roeper commencement.

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Calling all Roeper Alumni …

Join the Celebration of our 75 th! Save these dates!

OCTOBER 14

ALUMNI SOCCER GAME

OCTOBER 15

ALUMNI VOLLEYBALL GAME

MAY 25 – 28

ALL-ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND beginning with “The Happening” — a celebration in Detroit