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Fall 2019
Dear Friends, highlight the power of those connections.
I am so honored and humbled to take on this new leadership role as the head of school at Wellington. To truly appreciate this privilege, it is important to think back to 1982 when a group of forward-thinking entrepreneurs in Columbus decided to build a school. They knew something better was possible and necessary. We can all celebrate with them, as we welcomed the largest group of students to campus this fall. It is a gift that I get to step into this important role, to help build on that legacy.
This year will focus on three main areas: Connections, Columbus, and Community. Connections: Having a campus with 3-year-olds and seniors in the same building is a benefit not to be taken lightly. Some of our most impactful moments that many of our graduates will remember, such as the Senior Adoption or Prom Pledge,
Columbus: The landscape of learning and work is constantly changing and Columbus is evolving. We will go beyond our walls and connect with our vibrant and growing city to ensure that students are ready to jump in. Many of the most popular professions right now did not even exist when I started working in independent schools. I doubt alumna Melissa Tidwell ‘95 had a course in “Social Media Law” or “Reddit 101” while in school here, but she has built a career focused on advising some of the most powerful social media companies in the world. Community: Foundational to all of the work we do is ensuring that each person in our Wellington family feels known and that their voice matters. We will continue to support our community through the meaningful cultivation of character, leadership, and equity. Essential to all of that important work, I am eager for you to get to know our outstanding new divisional leaders, Rachel Althof and Rishi Raghunathan, as they will undoubtedly elevate the already outstanding faculty in the middle and upper schools. The exciting college opportunities
for our graduates represent the diversity of talent and interests that our students bring to the table each day. From MIT to the University of Puget Sound, we are so excited to watch our graduates thrive at the next level. With that in mind, you’ll also see that Jags are, indeed, doing big things, as the profile of alumnus Ajit Chaudhari ’91 in biomechanical engineering research clearly demonstrates. We started the year with a new annual tradition at Wellington, the LEAP (did you know a gathering of jaguars is called a leap?), to identify and reaffirm our collective vision and purpose. We are also to be reminded that no two spots on a jaguar are identical. We will each bring our own perspective and unique talents to the community. As you peruse this issue of The Jag, you’ll see those unique spots on full display. Go Jags! Warm regards,
THE JAG is published by Wellington for all members of its community. Please send any comments to Yvonne Johnson at communications@ wellington.org.
EDITOR:
Yvonne Johnson P ’25 ’27 CONTRIBUTORS:
Yvonne Johnson P ’25 ‘27 Evan Manley ‘21 Laurie Beth Sweeney P ‘29 ‘33 Danielle Turkovich P ‘29 ‘33 COPYEDITORS:
Rachel Althof Christine Conkle Melanie Eggleton Brenda Porter P ‘12 ‘17 Johnny Riddle Laurie Beth Sweeney P ‘29 ‘33 Danielle Turkvovich P ‘29 ‘33 PHOTO CREDITS:
Dr. Jeff Terwin Head of School
Rodney Crimes Nick Fancher Carol Manley P ‘24 ‘21 Amanda Pierce Danielle Turkovich P ‘29 ‘33 Lindsey Smith P ‘26 ‘33 DESIGN:
Rodney Crimes Bluewave Creative
Warm regards,
TABLE OF CONTENTS
In research, every question we ask is a new one no one has ever answered before.” AJIT CHAUDHARI ‘91
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A Life in Motion ON THE COVER: Ajit Chaudhari ‘91 at The Ohio State University’s Martha Morehouse Medical Plaza on September 16, 2019.
FEATURES
GRADUATION
Jaguars Forge Their Own Path 14
A CLOSER LOOK
ATHLETICS
Rachel Althof: The Joy and Awe of Middle School
ALUMNI
Alumni Weekend 50
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Alumni News Listening as Leadership 10
Rishi Raghunathan: In Leadership, Service to Others Matters Most
Boys Tennis Back-toBack State Champs 38
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2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT
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Melissa Tidwell: The Reward of Risks and Resets 46
Sisters Beahm with Jag Pride Students Take Center Stage with Bohm Family Gift 35
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2018-19 Donors 58
Award Winners 44
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Digital Photo
WILL MILLER ’21
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FEATURE
Ajit Chaudhari: A Life in Motion
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As an engineer, researcher, and entrepreneur, Ajit Chaudhari ‘91 is endlessly fascinated by how the human body moves. He was one of the first students to attend Wellington, beginning in 1982, and his experience at a startup school inspired him to seek out a similar workplace culture where he has flourished from thinking outside the box. Currently an associate professor of physical therapy at The Ohio State University as well as founder and chief technical officer of Perfect Practice, Inc., Chaudhari was kind enough to give us a glimpse into how he is shaping the world.
You are a mechanical engineer working in the field of biomechanics at The Ohio State University. What exactly is biomechanics? Biomechanics is the study of how forces affect living things, and how living things create forces. One way to think about it is that we take tools developed by mechanical engineers, physicists, and others to design, analyze, and understand mechanical systems like cars, bridges, and airplanes, and then we apply those tools to analyze and understand the most complicated mechanical systems on earth - living things. By doing this with humans, we can get unique insights into why people get hurt, why the body breaks down, how to recover from injury or disease, and how to improve performance. What type of research are you doing? I am focused on how people move and how that relates to musculoskeletal and neurological injuries, risk of injuries, and treatment of those injuries. Whether we are examining how people stand and balance, how they walk, or how they play their sport, we stick little reflective dots on their bodies or put electricity-sensing electrodes over their muscles or use other types of sensors, and then have them do their activities, and from that information we can estimate how hard their muscles are working and how much force is acting at each joint. What are some of the devices you have designed? What are you most proud of? I have designed several pieces of software that help us do the analyses I mentioned above, but I have also developed new tools to make it easier for more people (especially nonengineers) to collect high-quality objective data on how
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people move in different environments. I’m most proud of developing those tools, because I think they are potentially going to have a huge impact if and when physicians, physical therapists, coaches, and people themselves use them broadly to stay healthier throughout their lives. How have curiosity, creative-thinking, and resiliency played a role in your career? I draw on those aspects of my personality every day. Every day! One of the biggest reasons I chose a career as a professor at a research-intensive university is that I love new challenges and asking new questions. In research, every question we ask is a new one no one has ever answered before, and curiosity is a big driver of those questions. When you’re trying to do things no one has done before, you’ve got to be creative because if the solution was obvious, someone else would have already found it. And if there’s one thing I have learned above all, it is to enjoy and learn from failure. There are so many possibilities out there that you should always be ready to jump from that failure to the next possible solution or the next possible question. You are the founder and chief technical officer of Perfect Practice, Inc. What are some of the rewards and challenges of being an entrepreneur? For me, the biggest reward so far has been learning a ton about things I never thought I’d ever be interested in learning. Business plans, filing taxes, how to get things manufactured, the list goes on and on. The biggest challenge of being an entrepreneur, I think, is figuring out how to turn your idea into something people actually want. We haven’t figured that out yet, but we are trying!
PICTURED Chaudhari works with Wellington alumna Aashika Katapadi ‘15 on analyzing data from their research.
You have played an important role in the lives of two Wellington alumnae, Andrea Wanamaker ‘08 and Aashika Katapadi ‘15, as a mentor. Both Andrea and Aashika have worked with you in your lab. What type of work were they doing, and what are they doing now? It has been really fun having other Wellington alumni work in the lab. Andrea got her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering with me, focused on understanding what the value of high-tech computer-controlled prostheses is to the people who have them and to the health care system. Andrea became a “Big Data” person in my lab working on a huge dataset from the Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation, and based on the skills she learned in the lab was able to get a job with JP Morgan Chase as a data scientist. Aashika has been in the lab since she was a junior in high school, and she’s worked on a number of projects from looking at how people who play asymmetric sports run and walk to validating some of our motion measurement tools so we can test research participants doing many more activities in the same visit to the lab. She’s applying to MD and DO schools now with the long-term goal of becoming a physician. In your role as director of diversity and inclusion at The Ohio State University School of Health and Rehabilitation Services, can you explain some of the work you have done and what you would like to accomplish next? Being a director of diversity and inclusion has been really rewarding because even though it is only a small part of my job I can see the impacts our efforts are having on a regular basis. The work I’m doing falls into three main categories: • • •
We want to make the culture of the school more inclusive. We want to make the student population of the school more diverse. Taking the recruiting a little farther, we want to increase outreach to the community, especially kids.
“In research, every question we ask is a new one no one has ever answered before, and curiosity is a big driver of those questions. When you’re trying to do things no one has done before, you’ve got to be creative because if the solution was obvious, someone else would have already found it.” AJIT CHAUDHARI ‘91
When Wellington first opened in 1982, you were a 4th grader. What do you remember from that first day or the first year? The hardwood floors in the old Fishinger Road building were beautiful - they had just been refinished in preparation for the new school opening, and they gleamed. In the dining room, every lunch was served family style, where we’d pass our plates up to the teacher at the head of the table and then pass the plates back. What sports or extracurricular activities did you participate in at Wellington that had the most profound impact on you? The three most profound activities I participated in were In The Know, varsity basketball, and Science Olympiad. In The Know with Mrs. Shimberg built many lifelong friendships and a greater appreciation for humanities. Basketball was WELLINGTON • THE JAG
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a never-ending exercise in character-building...it felt like an incredible accomplishment to have the first winning season in boys basketball history our senior year, and it was a very valuable experience knowing that I was not the most talented person on the team, but I could still find a way to meaningfully contribute to the team’s success. Science Olympiad ended up having an incredibly profound effect on my life trajectory by encouraging me to try mechanical engineering. How has your experience as a Wellington student influenced who you are today? One of the biggest influences on me was the fact that it was a new place, without any traditions or institutional memory. So we created it together - the teachers and the students built that culture from the ground up. Ever since, I have always gravitated to other “startup” types of environments where I have been able to shape culture rather than having to stay within someone else’s box. than having to stay within someone else’s box. You are very involved at Wellington to this day, visiting regularly to speak to students and share your story. What advice would you give young people who may be anxious about big life decisions, including their college choice? I think the best advice I can give to those who are anxious about big life decisions including their college choice is that you should do what feels right for you in terms of providing what you need to be successful and feel good about it. The fit is so much more important than the prestige.
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You have also talked to Wellington students about the importance of studying humanities, even if they are primarily interested in science. Can you explain why? When human resources professionals at the biggest companies in the world are asked what makes employees successful, even at tech companies like Google and Apple, they invariably say that it is those “soft skills” that separate the most successful from the others. Communication (oral and written), professionalism, teamwork, empathy, resilience, curiosity, things like that. Humanities is where you learn about other people, how they have struggled, and how they think. And you gain a better understanding of yourself too. You have two children, Asha and Casey, with your wife, Lise. What does a fun family day look like? A fun family day usually involves water of some kind, whether that is paddle boarding, kayaking, or swimming in the summer (especially in Maine), or snow in the winter for sledding and building snow-people. There’s probably some reading with a nice cup of tea or cold drink too, as all four of us are voracious readers. How can today’s Wellington students shape the world? Just be yourself, find your passions, and treat other people well every day, with respect and compassion. Acknowledge and appreciate your good fortune and privilege to be at Wellington, in Columbus, in the United States of America, and know that you can leverage that fortune, privilege, and passion to make the world a better place one kind word or hard effort at a time. We need more of that positive energy everywhere in the world.
En Plein Air Landscape BO HAUNG ’26
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FEATURE
Listening as Leadership Wellington’s new head of school, Dr. Jeff Terwin, will transform teaching and learning, one voice at a time. PICTURED Terwin has a lunchtime chat with middle school students Dottie Blackburn ‘27, Solomon Graham ‘27, Armaan Chaudhary ‘24 and Alexa Ray ‘25.
Music is a big deal to Head of School Dr. Jeff Terwin. A soundtrack follows him throughout the day, whether playing in his office at Wellington or at home as he does the dishes. Meticulouslycurated over a lifetime, his playlist is eclectic, expressive, and always relevant. Sometimes upbeat and humorous, other times impassioned and stirring, the songs that resonate the most with him tell authentic stories about what it is to be human. Music is important to him because of its stirring power to bring people together. And if his devout appreciation of music underscores a remarkable talent for listening, Terwin will tell you the most valuable voices at a school are those of the students. We just have to listen. At his induction ceremony in August, the music he personally selected for the occasion was fun but also inspirational. It set a clear tone for not just a new school year ahead but a new era at Wellington. Terwin addressed students with heartfelt gratitude for the energy and optimism they bring to school each day. To him, it truly is a gift to be a member of the Wellington community. A gift not be taken lightly, though, as Terwin also outlined the very important work they had ahead of them. “Students,” he said, “the world needs big, bold, and positive leadership. Now, more than ever.” As he begins his first year as head of school, deeply committed to further strengthening an open, inclusive community with children at the center, Terwin will model for them exactly what those words mean. From his first job, at the age of 12, helping his grandfather refinish the floors of school gymnasiums to now leading an education revolution focused on student
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autonomy, Terwin has dedicated his life’s work to creating dynamic, transformative learning experiences for all ages. His talent for collaboration and partnership was apparent at an early age. In 6th grade, he was the president of student council and sat in on meetings with school leaders to build a new playground. It landed him a picture in the local paper and a lifelong appreciation for the efficacy of student voice. Few of us in our youth have such a clarity of purpose, but college was a time of contemplation and selfreflection for Terwin. A born researcher with a naturally inquisitive mind, he methodically interviewed professors in the field of science before pursuing a strong interest for animals and aquatics. When offered the chance to live on remote Appledore Island off the coast of Maine with a small group of researchers, he dove right into his very own Walden moment without hesitation. Thoreau’s meditation on self-reliance and individualism, along with Melville’s epic, seafaring odyssey “Moby Dick,” were revelatory for the marine biologist pursuing his doctorate at the University of Maryland. The notion that having a close relationship to the natural world was sacred and profound left a powerful imprint on his worldview. It is in the conclusion to “Walden,” you will find his favorite quote, “Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.” While Thoreau relished retreating from the world to write his transcendentalist masterpiece, and Melville sequestered himself to a farm in rural Massachusetts, Terwin very quickly came to the realization that the company of others was vital for his own well-being. He continued to research while pursuing
“Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.” HENRY DAVID THOREAU
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his doctorate, studying the blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay - ask him anything about any animal and he will practically burst in excitement over regaling you with factoids - but it was his time as a teaching assistant that proved pivotal in helping him understand he preferred working with students over being isolated in a lab. In 2002, with his colleagues at the University of Connecticut, Terwin published “Linking climate change and biological invasions: Ocean warming facilitates nonindigenous species invasions” in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, a peerreviewed multidisciplinary scientific journal. Since its publishing, his research has been cited more than 15,000 times. The value of hard work has also been a driving force in his life, not just for the financial independence it represents but also the opportunity for personal growth by opening himself up to meeting people from all walks of life he wouldn’t have otherwise. He played basketball, tennis, and football during high school while also working part-
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time. As an undergrad at Michigan State, Terwin was named Spartan of the Year for his academic achievement and service, with a “resume sprinkled with a 3.9 GPA, and jobs as a two-year resident assistant in Wonders Hall, biology teaching assistant and night receptionist,” according to the State News campus newspaper. During his interview for the publication, Terwin said being an RA helped him learn a great deal about himself and although his position involved helping others, the residents often fostered his own personal growth. He also mentioned hoping to one day go to graduate school on the East Coast and eventually become a teacher. Getting to know young people as unique individuals, helping them to grow into healthy, capable adults, is a dream career for a man who can still remember the special moments in his own education that changed him as a person. He first realized the power of student autonomy in a high school poetry class when asked to select and analyze song lyrics. For him, there could have been no more fitting an introduction to a new subject.
The valuable lessons in communication and the importance of student health and well-being he learned as a college RA, manifest today in his commitment to developing programs around positive psychology and building character. When Terwin first came to Columbus to visit Wellington, he was struck by the vast potential synergy between cultivating confident young leaders and a city that felt vibrant and dynamic. “Everyone was really energized and there was so much potential with the power of student independent research,” Terwin remembers. “Wellington was a place open to big ideas and where passion really mattered for both students and teachers.” As head of upper school, from 20122019, he focused on giving students the resources they needed to create their own educational narrative, including providing them greater access to authentic independent research in college laboratories and local nonprofit organizations. The ability to fully explore a topic of personal interest in a real world professional environment has been a gamechanger for the school.
Elevating the morning meeting to include more student voice and recognition was another far-reaching initiative he led. “If we ask students to take risks,” Terwin explains, “they have to feel like they are a part of a community and they care about each other.” He also set out to refresh and redesign the upper school science curriculum by creating a fully integrated program with independent science research. Experiential equity, in which all Wellington students have equal access to international travel to further their global studies, was an ambitious dream brought to life only through his dogged determination to make it a reality. When considering what he has been most proud of during his time as head of upper school, Terwin returns to what brought him to teaching in the first place. “I was really able to get to know every student. I was present and connected with the students.” Indeed, in a gesture of great personal significance, he once wrote long notes to each graduating senior, specific to them as individuals. It meant a lot to him to be able to show the class how much he cared by being fully present and available to them.
Present and available are perhaps the two best words to describe a head of school excited by the infinite possibilities from making meaningful connections. Whether fostering mentorship across grade levels or providing students access to industry leaders in Columbus, Terwin looks forward to creating a more diverse, active, and influential school community. “As the requirements of higher education and the priorities of the workforce change,” he wrote to parents at the opening of the school year, “it is critical that we remain open and agile, balancing the foundational content and skill areas, while also facilitating passion-driven deep dives and unique educational experiences for our students, from Little Jags to seniors.” With record-high enrollment during his first year as head of school, Wellington will most definitely benefit from his expertise. As a marine biologist, he knows a thing or two about the conditions necessary for a thriving ecosystem. Always out and about on campus, happy to chat about whatever is on your mind, he enjoys sharing a joke but will
also, unfailingly, ask about your day, a recent trip, or your family. If you ask the same of him, there is a palpable delight in the way in which he talks about his wife, Mia, and children, Hannah, Cooper, and Finn. He is quick to give Mia all the credit in the world for making him better in every way. And the pride he has for all his children have accomplished in their young lives - Hannah recently graduated from Loyola - Chicago, Cooper is a senior at Miami University, and Finn is a senior in high school - is matched only by his steadfast love and support for the varied paths they have and will continue to take through life. As a parent and an educator, he can fully attest to the fact that no two children are alike. The real joy in life is discovering who they are as people and feeling honored to guide them on that journey. He’ll also probably ask what you’re listening to.
PICTURED Opposite Left: Family time with Cooper, Mia, Hannah, and Finn Opposite Right: Terwin with a blue crab Top: Meeting with faculty members David Glover, Me-Chelle Burkhalter P ‘22, and Nami Stager P ‘30 ‘32
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GRADUATION
PICTURED Left: Shaina Belford ’19 Mac Hammett ’19 Alfonso Botta-Lopez ’19 Andrew Haraburda ’19 Right: Robert Brisk P ‘13 ‘15 Sophie Haskett ’19
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Jaguars Forge Their Own Path Wellington’s 31st commencement exercises lauded the many strengths and accomplishments of the Class of 2019. Wellington’s 31st commencement exercises were held in the Gard Gym on Friday, May 31, as members of the Class of 2019, joined by family, friends, and faculty, celebrated a momentous milestone in their young lives. The vast accomplishments of this talented group included areas of scientific research, global travel, leadership, fine and performing arts, as well as athletics, including two state championship teams, and will be forever a part of the school’s history. For Robert Brisk P ‘13 ‘15, presiding over his last graduation as head of school, it was a bittersweet occasion in which he reflected on his arrival at Wellington 12 years ago with the purpose of transforming education. Building upon the founding mission of the school, Brisk set out to foster a dynamic learning environment in which students were able to take the lead in designing highly-individualized paths of discovery. By bringing together world-class faculty and fully engaged young scholars, according to Brisk, Wellington provided the tools and room for the Class of 2019 to explore emerging technologies, excel at writing and passing legislation at the model United Nations and Youth in Government, and dive into cuttingedge scientific application of topics like neural networks and computational fluid dynamics. “You must continue to direct more than be directed, to pursue the unexpected, and to grow the glory of the beautiful brains you have in your heads,” Brisk said. “The world depends on it, and I close with an invitation. I want to sit with each of you at your 50th Wellington reunion in 2069 and talk to you about how you’ve taken your incredible skills to build a meaningful life for yourself and others, how you’ve solved the world’s problems, and how you’ve created and appreciated beauty. If I seem not to understand what you are saying, it won’t be because I’m 110 years old, remember that even in 2019, you were way beyond me. Congratulations to the Class of 2019.”
Congratulations were also in order for Brisk himself, who was handed a honorary Wellington diploma by Catherine Zallanta ‘19 and Mac Hammett ‘19 for his time and service as head of school. Also among those receiving special recognition in the class were 19 Lifers, students who have attended Wellington since prekindergarten, kindergarten, or 1st grade. Senior Class President Soleil Tibbets-Barnes ‘19 presented the class gift, a memorial plaque in honor of classmate Courtney Roy, who passed away in 2014. “She was a smart, kind, and caring person who always saw the best in everyone else,” Tibbets-Barnes said. “We are forever better because of Courtney, and we hope that by leaving our mark on the school, Wellington will be forever better because of the Class of 2019.” A chair was placed in memory of Courtney Roy among the seniors at commencement as well. Achala Kasarla ‘19 and Soleil Tibbets-Barnes ‘19, co-editors of the yearbook, offered the dedication of the 33rd volume of The Duke to Robert Brisk and Dr. Jeff Terwin for their exemplary mentorship and leadership.
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Class speaker Allison Sheehan reminisced about the seminal moments of seniors’ shared opportunities and experiences, each one further strengthening the feeling that Wellington is unlike any other school and how fortunate they were to call it home. Sheehan ended not with advice for the new graduates, rather a hope that her classmates will be happy in the future no matter where their journey takes them. Music award winner Nathan Hay ‘19 performed the 1st movement of Paul Hindemith’s “Harp Sonata.” Dr. Jeff Terwin, associate head of school and head of upper school, began his address thanking faculty for showing how much they care every day and also sharing his gratitude for the students’ joyful exploration. He went on to ask the new graduates to avoid the danger of a world in which technology has created such ease in life that any challenge may be perceived as something to avoid. “We expect instant gratification and focus on the end; the thing, rather than the journey,” Terwin said. “When the world is trying to convince you to think less and provides you pre-packaged ideas; we need you to think more, work harder, and add your voice to the mix.” He likened the idea of fostering young minds to that of cultivating master chefs in a world full of fast, microwavable food. We need to delight in the process of making or doing, Terwin explained, instead of taking the path of least of resistance. He named a few examples of the seniors’ outstanding work as well as intellectual and personal growth, including their high level of research and collaboration with experts, founding clubs that exemplified their dedication to social justice and civic engagement, and rousing the senses through visual and performing arts.
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“The message from the work of these seniors is clear: committed and interesting students, when given some inspiration and autonomy, can and will do amazing things. Don’t let that end here,” Terwin told the Class of 2019. “Stay in the kitchen, and keep creating. Our rapidly changing world presents new challenges that require new solutions. You can help! Find joy in the work. Jaguars do not take shortcuts, they forge their own path.” Board Chair Ted Manley P ‘21 ‘24 provided his own encouraging words for seniors shortly before they were presented with their diplomas. “As you transition to the next phase of your studies, please know that your experience at Wellington has shaped you to play a meaningful role in the solutions to [the world’s problems] and to participate in the continued long arc of human flourishing.” In his closing remarks, Terwin noted an important milestone of his own. The Class of 2019 would be his last as head of upper school before becoming Wellington’s next head of school this summer. After pausing for a moment to consider the joy he found in that role for the last seven years, Terwin went on to share the pride he felt for being a part of their unfolding story. “Lessons learned at Wellington should serve you well going forward. Our model has taught you to trust in yourself and to take on any challenges ahead. You are awesome. You are Jags. And you are ready. Now get cookin!” As master chefs, designers, scientists, artists, athletes, and advocates, this inspiring group of young graduates will now use their skills and talents to make a positive impact on the world. They will face obstacles with conviction. They will explore the unknown with courage. They will reach for the stars with confidence. As Jaguars, now and forever, they are ready for their next leap.
CLASS OF 2019 COMMENCEMENT
1: Allison Sheehan ’19
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2: Anna Rambo ’19 Jack Haney ’19 3: Chloe Tussing ’19 4: India Carter ’19 5: Evan Albers ’19 Harrison Morosky ’19 6: Trevor McCraw ’19 Owen Gajoch ’19 Cameron Bresky ’19, Ryan Ouellette ’19
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7: Ella Sweitzer ’19 8: Savannah Childress ’19 9: Jaedyn Gaines ’19 Skyler Perry ’19 Aquila Simmons ’19 Soleil Tibbets-Barnes ’19 Veronica Poster ’19 Sophie Haskett ’19 Camille Simpson ’19 Megan Johnson ’19 Olivia White ’19
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CLASS OF 2019 COMMENCEMENT 1: Jenna Bresky ’19 Ana Dorenbusch ’19 2: David Glover, Andrew Davis ’19 3: Anna Rambo ’19 4: Robert Brisk P ‘13 ‘15 Mac Hammett ’19
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5: Jack Doody ’19, Kaz D’Arms ’19, Ben Edwards ’19, Katz Kadlic ’19, Trevor Seitz ’19, Max Thesing ’19 6: Achala Kasarla ’19 7: Robert Brisk P ‘13 ‘15 Carrie Kennard ’19 8: Amir Phillips ’19 9: Camille Simpson ’19 Owen Gajoch ’19, David Lynn ’19
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10: Lauren Kannally ’19 Addie Shock ’19 11: Soleil Tibbets-Barnes ’19 Anika Crouser ’19 12: Shaina Belford ’19 13: Mackenzie Beam ’19 14: Evan Scott ’19 15: Nathan Hay ’19 16: Rose Nandor ’19 Alfonso Botta-Lopez ’19 Declan Ross ’19 Sean O’Donovan ’19
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17: Anurag Reddy ’19 Adam Sorrels ’19 Harrison Morosky ‘19 18: Erin Anderson ’19 19: Jay Briggs ’19, Dallas Patrick ’19, William Roy ’19
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CLASS OF 2019 COMMENCEMENT
1: Catherine Zallanta ’19 2: Ben Edwards ’19 John Riley O’Toole ’19 3: Ben Sierzputowski ’19 Isabella Vegas ’19 Evan Albers ’19 4: Andrew Haraburda ’19 Ian Frim ’19
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All in the [Frim] Family The Frims saw their son flourish in Kaser and Kathy Yant’s class. Ian became more independent and absolutely loved school, remaining close to Kaser during his entire time at Wellington. “Ian’s growth throughout the years is a great tribute to the Wellington community as a whole,” Kaser said. “Ian became a confident and courageous learner willing to take risks.”
For most teachers, students, and parents, Wellington feels like family. But for some, Wellington really is family. As a first year teacher in 1992-1993, Aaron Frim P ‘19 had two students in his Physical Science class named Erin Cornett ‘96 P ‘32 ‘34 and Pete Kaser ‘96 P ‘27 ‘29. “I recall them to be energetic, personable, and fun,” Frim remembers of the young Cornett and Kaser. “Really though, it is no surprise that Pete and Erin returned. They enjoyed their time at Wellington. The fact that they wanted to be a part of what is happening here, and now to be here for the number of years that they have, just goes to show what an amazing place Wellington is. They are a part of that!” Kaser recollects Frim was a particularly respectful teacher to his students and, in return, they respected him. “It made his classes much more engaging because you knew you always had a voice. That helped me become a better teacher knowing that respect is something you earn from your students through trust.”
After becoming Wellington teachers themselves, Cornett and Kaser would have an even closer connection to the Frim family. Cornett, in fact, began teaching at Wellington when Frim’s wife Jennifer, also a Wellington teacher, was on maternity leave after the birth of their son, Ian ‘19. Years later, Kaser would be Ian’s prekindergarten teacher and Cornett his upper school history teacher. “Not only were they a part of Ian’s growth,” Frim said, “they were a part of my and Jennifer’s growth as parents. I remember Pete encouraging us to leave our crying pre-K student at the door, that it would be okay. It was one of our early lessons as parents. That was the beginning of trusting others to also do what is best for our child.”
Cornett helped polish Ian, according to Frim, before he went off to The Ohio State University. Even though she only had him in class his final year, Cornett was someone who interacted with him on a regular basis in the hall, giving him lots of opportunity to interact with an adult. “In the classroom, she challenged him to think and to express his ideas,” Frim said. “Pete, Erin, and Wellington not only provided Ian with a book education, but they developed his interpersonal skills that will enable him to succeed in life.” Now, after all these years, Cornett and Kaser each have their own children at Wellington. During Ian’s last year, his 14th at Wellington and Frim’s 25th, he was a senior buddy to Kaser’s son, River ‘27. Presented with the opportunity of one day being able to teach the children of his former first year students, Frim is excited to come “full circle.” PICTURED Top: Pete Kaser ‘96 P ‘27 ‘29, Erin Cornett ‘96 P ‘32 ‘34, Ian Frim ‘19, Aaron Frim P ’19 Left: Pete Kaser ‘96 P ‘27 ‘29 and Kathy Yant with Ian Frim ‘19 in prekindergarten
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A CLOSER LOOK
Students’ Stories Shine in National Podcast Challenge
This year students in 5th through 12th grade were invited to submit their best podcasts to the first NPR Podcast Challenge contest.
Out of 6,000 entries from across the country, Wellington student podcasts “Lurking in Loveland,” by Jenna Bresky ‘19 and Ana Dorenbusch ‘19, and “How Pokemon Go Caught My Dad,” by Skyler Perry ‘19 were finalists in the high school category, considered by the NPR judges to be two of the absolute top submissions. According to NPR Ed’s Clare Lombardo and Steve Drummond, “We cover schools and learning – and, for this contest, we set out to highlight student voices and give students an authentic audience for their projects.” 22
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In the upper school course “Podcast Journalism,” teacher Keith Leonard P ‘33 leads students through the New Journalism genre of long-form podcasts as they learn to how to use discerning methods of research, engage with the material they discover, and effectively use primary resources to tell compelling narratives. It’s a technique that began in the 1960s and 70s as journalists began to revolutionize how stories were told, and we hear today in the form of popular podcasts “This American Life” and “Radiolab.” Bresky and Dorenbusch’s ‘Lurking in Loveland” tells the story of a small Ohio town’s legendary humanoid amphibian, The Frogman, and the folklore associated with the creature through the decades. Perry’s podcast was about her dad discovering the health benefits of playing Pokemon Go, a mobile app that uses augmented reality to have players go outside and catch Pokemon. The piece received additional coverage from NPR when it was highlighted by Lombardo as “one her favorite” entries and then was featured locally on the WOSU Radio and Columbus Monthly online.
“I always thought it was really interesting that my dad continued his obsession with this game even after most people stopped playing it,” Perry shared with WOSU Radio. “But I didn’t like that he was judged for it.” Leonard was impressed with the caliber of work that Bresky, Dorenbusch, and Perry submitted to the contest, particularly because of the restriction NPR put on music and sound effects due to copyright reasons, thereby making the competition much more of a challenge. “They had to carefully structure their stories to keep the contest judges interested in their pieces, and they did a beautiful job of it,” Leonard said. “Even though each of their contest submissions were just under 12 minutes long, the process of putting together these podcasts took hours upon hours of writing and editing. Their hard work really paid off.” Bresky, Dorenbusch, and Perry will continue to work hard as they continue their storytelling careers at college this fall. All three are poised for more podcasts.
Tell your story.
How has your Wellington experience changed your idea of what school can be? Have you accomplished something at Wellington that you didn’t think was possible? Do you have a favorite story from your time at Wellington?
Wellington Stories launched earlier this fall, marking not only the beginning of a storytelling project focused on the conversations that emerge from our community, but also the creation of an archive of Wellington voices sharing stories and recollections, passed down through generations, shared between friends, and held in the memories of those speaking into a microphone, in front of the camera, or putting pen to paper. Over time, this archive will grow and expand to include tales from across the country and the globe - sharing experiences from Wellington alumni, their extended families, former faculty,and the greater Columbus community impacted by our school culture. The archive will span generations, experiences and points of view - all centered on one commonality: the Wellington experience. Making these stories available to others is our primary goal for this project. This October, we are taking the first steps towards making this collection accessible through an intuitive, searchable, online platform. While we build this platform, we are turning to you for help in growing our collection. These materials will span time and experience and this will serve generations to come. We are collecting visual, written and spoken stories from all community members. What is your story? Contact communications@wellington.org to tell us about it. WELLINGTON • THE JAG
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A CLOSER LOOK
Faculty News
Jaime Bennati
Victoria Pang
Bennati attended the summer teacher residency program at the Cleveland Institute of Art. The mission of the program is “to bring together a diverse group of art educators who have demonstrated a commitment to making, both in their personal studio and classroom,” according to CIA. “The residency creates a stimulating and rigorous environment for a period of concentrated artistic creation, interaction, and growth.”
Pang participated in the Supreme Court Summer Institute. She was selected from a highly-competitive application process in which only 60 teachers were given the opportunity to study recent Supreme Court cases in detail and learn innovative teaching methods to bring back to the classroom. Well-known lawyers, reporters, scholars, and educators were among the speakers and instructors for the Institute. Pang was also invited to visit the Court to attend decisions and a reception with Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
UPPER SCHOOL ART TEACHER
MIDDLE SCHOOL HISTORY TEACHER
Craig Kent P ’27 ‘29
Danielle Turkovich P ‘29 ‘33
Kent placed 8th out 293 runners at the Burning River 100 this summer. He ran a total of 102.5 miles and was 1st in his age group.
Turkovich was named to the Leadership Columbus Class of 2020. The mission of Leadership Columbus is to develop, connect, and inspire diverse leaders who serve as catalysts in building a strong and vibrant community.
LOWER SCHOOL LEARNING GUIDE
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DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Meet Our New Faculty
Dr. Brandon Sullivan UPPER SCHOOL ACADEMIC DEAN
Sullivan co-authored an article in the research journal Proteins. The work, “Phylogenetic Spread of Sequence Data Affects Fitness of Consensus Enzymes: Insight from Triosephosphate Isomerase,” was done at The Ohio State University and sought to better understand how proteins fold and function using bioinformatics. The mathematical predictions were than validated with biochemistry and biophysical experiments. One major goal of the study was to produce algorithms that could effectively improve the stability of engineered proteins for industry and therapeutics.
Drew Eberly
Rodney Crimes
Emeri Ferguson
MULTIMEDIA DESIGNER AND UPPER SCHOOL ART
LOWER SCHOOL LEARNING GUIDE AND READING SPECIALIST
Formely worked for IBM and Nationwide Insurance, as a media design specialist “I hope to have every Upper School student certified in at least one Adobe program.” He’s a classic car enthusiast and owns a 1976 Cadillac Seville Roadster
“I believe that building a trusting and caring relationship with a student is always my first priority.” Felt like she won the lottery when a former student overcame significant challenges to achieve his personal goal of becoming Student of the Month
UPPER SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER
Eberly appeared in the Available Light Theatre production of “Dance Nation” in September. The 2019 PulitzerPrize Finalist play, written by Clare Barron, is about an ambitious dance studio teacher, played by Eberly, who helps a group of pre-teen dancers discover their own identities.
Loves spending time with her family, eating ice cream, and watching Jeopardy
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A CLOSER LOOK
Meet Our New Faculty (continued)
Michael Graham
Jessica Hawkins
Emily Laabs
Scott Langford
MIDDLE SCHOOL HUMANITIES
EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING GUIDE
MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELOR
MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH
Likes reading, running, and studying the founding of America and the American Civil War with confidence and excitement Originally from Columbus, but he also lived on the East Coast before moving back to Ohio Earned a BA in history with a minor in aviation from The Ohio State University
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Upper Arlington is her hometown Enjoys going on walks at Fancyburg Park, playing with her cat Louie, and spending time with her family “Some of my favorite moments are when a child masters a skill they have been struggling with. I love to be there for those ‘aha’ moments and give them a high five and praise.”
“I hope to implement social emotional learning into each student’s everyday experience at school.” Prior to coming to Wellington, she was a school based clinician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital Has two dogs and enjoys reading as well as binge watching TV shows.
Hails from Brisbane Australia and graduated from the University of Queensland “Math is a universal language. Quantitative literacy is fundamental to an enormous array of career path. I want to instill and nurture creativity and a flair for numeracy in all students.” Enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, playing sports of all kinds, coached a regional under 15 boys cricket team to a state championship
Dia Mixon
Matthew Webber
Emily Berty
Courtney Cokes
MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL SPANISH
MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING
EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING GUIDE
Hometown is Columbus Has taught English at a vocational school in Spain. “Connecting with students as they worked on learning a second language to better prepare them for their careers was one of the best times of my life!” “Enjoys travelling, going to concerts and sporting events, as well as reading and creating glass mosaics.”
From Boston and has a master’s in biophysics Has worked for COSI and travelled to Port Huron, during the middle of the winter, for a hands-on day of science Likes playing chess, racquetball, and curling
“I hope to provide students and families with tools that will empower them to tackle the college admissions process with confidence and excitement.” Background in college admissions as well as college counseling
Columbus is her hometown Enjoys reading and collecting books, cross-stitching, and Star Trek “I want students to have a love of exploring, reading, and garnering mutual respect for oneself and others.”
Ran the Boston Marathon in April 2019 and training for her 5th marathon
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Gouache on paper KATH OLSON ’20
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PICTURED Althof works with students Lexi Stoner ‘25 and Taylor Liles ‘25 in Virtual Reality Deep Dive class.
Rachel Althof: The Joy and Awe of Middle School Not everyone starts their first day on the job with a surprise drone flyover in the hallway. But for Rachel Althof, it was the best possible introduction she could have to her new role as head of middle school. While the early years of adolescence have become comic fodder exploiting everyone’s worst fears about growing up, Althof sees it as an exciting opportunity for personal transformation. So, rather than admonish the students who piloted the small aircraft indoors, Althof encouraged them to continue their field testing.
“In American education, the priorities are typically compliance and retaining information,” she explains in her office on a quiet summer afternoon just before the start of the school year. “I’m committed to students building a strong academic foundation, while also participating in really cool immersive experiences.” As a child, Althof had the ultimate in immersive experiences. Her family frequently moved, something she reflects back on as a huge benefit to her personal development. “It was
wonderful,” she says. “Each time, I ended up in a better position to know more about myself and the world. It was really valuable.” Naturally curious about human development from an early age, she has always had a passion for inclusivity. Althof remembers wanting to play with all the kids in her neighborhood. She was determined to make sure no one felt left out. Understanding and appreciating people as unique individuals has always been important to her. She also travelled a lot with her family, and her parents made it a priority to learn about the history and culture of the places they visited. It instilled in her a lifelong appreciation for new faces and places. Energized by seeing and developing things that are not already there, Althof keeps one eye firmly focused on improvement. Perhaps it comes WELLINGTON • THE JAG
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from having an art teacher mother who always made sure there were plenty of supplies in the kitchen for creative exploration, or maybe it was her family’s dedication to visiting museums in the closest big city, that gave her the design mindset of a tinkerer. “I’ve never been one to accept things as they are,” Althof says. “We can always be better and do better. That’s why I love what I do. It’s the perfect fit for me. At Wellington, I’m in a place where there are so many people with the same mindset.” She first came to Wellington as a teacher 13 years ago and, after leaving for a few years to earn her Doctorate of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, she moved into a leadership role in the upper school for seven years. Instrumental in designing a new curricular paradigm that included greater focus on global connections, public speaking, creativity and design, and research, Althof’s innovative work with both teachers and children has positioned her for further success in the middle school. “I am impressed by the strong middle school faculty,” she says. “They’re supportive and collaborative. Likewise, middle school aged students are highly capable. Early adolescents are often misunderstood and actually capable of doing so much more than typical expectations. They surprise me every day with what they contribute and accomplish.” Althof looks forward to giving middle schoolers opportunities to shine as they grow and mature. They will continue to explore their personal interests in dive courses that closely resemble college seminars for their in-depth inquiry of specific topics. She’s also enthusiastic about the prospect of arranging 30
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“Wellington will benefit as Dr. Althof leverages her vast expertise to ensure our middle school provides an extraordinary experience for the faculty and students, while also supporting thoughtful transitions into the upper school.” DR. JEFF TERWIN, HEAD OF SCHOOL
authentic experiences for students in which they contribute to the world. Collaborations with local businesses, universities, and museums, are all on the docket for middle schoolers to expand their knowledge set as well as their sense of connectedness to the world beyond Wellington. Seeing a natural synergy between the school and city, Althof has an affinity for Columbus as a place that is constantly changing. “I feel the same about Wellington,” she explains. “I love working at a place that is always moving forward.” Movement is the antithesis of one of the things Althof deplores the most, boredom. As a wife and mother of two, she still finds time for soccer, a sport she has played since the age of three. This last year was particularly special for her with the U.S. women’s soccer team winning the World Cup. It was a moment she hopes young girls, including her daughters, Meira and Lila, will see as a message that they are important and matter. Whatever they do, they shouldn’t feel limited, rather inspired by the team’s many accomplishments. For fun, Althof keeps busy with two puppies, Max and Millie. Her family also enjoys exploring Columbus, skiing during the winter, and Friday night movies at home with lots of popcorn made by husband, Chris. She comes
to her new role as head of middle school not only with an impressive pedagogical pedigree but also as a parent. It’s a powerful combination that informs her approach to helping children build confidence as well as humility. She is a big proponent of trust with responsibility. Much is expected of middle school students, but they are also given lots of space to grow. “There are so many moments in which I think how students would get themselves into trouble at other schools,” Althof says. “Moments in which the teachers and students would be told by someone that they are being too disruptive. In middle school at Wellington, we instead embrace those moments for the joy and awe that cultivate a love of learning.”
PICTURED Althof with husband, Chris, and daughters, Lila and Meira
Double exposure self-portrait JENNIFER LI ’21
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Rishi Raghunathan: In Leadership, Service to Others Matters Most An invitation into the office of Head of Upper School Rishi Raghunathan P ’27 ‘30 is akin to entering an archeological site filled with rare antiquities from 80s pop culture. Original Star Wars action figures are entombed in the appropriate Darth Vader plastic carrying case and multitudes of other objects d’art pay homage to the memorable heroes and villains from Terminator, Robocop, Indiana Jones, and Ghostbusters. What makes all of
these collectibles truly special are the people and stories behind each one. And Raghunathan can gleefully recall them all. From former colleagues and students he has worked with through the years, the memorabilia represents the relationships he has built and fostered over a lifetime of searching for what he likes to call his people. Originally from Chennai, India, Raghunathan’s family moved to Florida when he was twelve. While his initial introduction to the U.S. was mostly positive, things later changed when he entered the 9th grade in Arizona. It was during that time, when he was struggling to make friends in a new city, that Raghunathan felt the incredible power of a single person reaching out. “An act of kindness and inclusion opened up my world,” he remembers. “It changed my life. It taught me the importance of putting PICTURED Raghunathan with upper school students Lindsay Harris ‘21 and Jordan Wurapa ‘21
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kindness first and being inclusive of the kid who sits alone. They might need a lifeline. After I found my place of belonging, I learned to take risks. I had to make choices that put me in charge of my own destiny.” Years later, as an adult, Raghunathan’s strong sense of autonomy would lead him to a life-changing career move. On September 11, 2001, he was a flight attendant and had worked Flight 92 several times when he was based in San Francisco. Feeling the full frightening weight of what could have been, combined with an undeniable rise in Islamophobia, he began looking for a different professional path. His wife, Neelie, was a French teacher at University School of Milwaukee, prekindergarten through 12th grade school, and provided him with an introduction into the world of independent education. It was a place where he, a self-described journeyman who had moved all around the country until that point, was able to find his people.
Empathy is another essential trait of a great leader and one that Raghunathan credits parenthood for. His daughter, Annika ‘27, and son, Simon ‘30, have taught him the importance of every child having a blanket, a source of comfort and safety, in their life. He considers every teacher to be the blanket, shepherding and caring for their students as they grow into adulthood.
PICTURED Raghunathan with wife, Neelie, and children, Simon ‘30 and Annika ‘27
Raghunathan ended up staying for 19 years, rising through the ranks as a teacher and administrator. Before coming to Wellington, he was the dean of students for eight years at USM, supporting and leading a robust student life program. Drawing on his international relations degree from the University of Cincinnati, Raghunathan has taught a wide range of courses in the history department. He currently serves on the ISACS Board of Trustees and is the chair of the ISACS Equity and Justice Committee. He is also a faculty member at the Gardner Carney Leadership Institute (gcLi), the only program of its kind in the country in which teachers learn the pedagogy of leadership. He is an expert in teaching teachers how to teach leadership. “Wellington has an academic and cocurricular model that puts students at the center of the process,” Head
of School Dr. Jeff Terwin said, “and Mr. Raghunathan’s ability to provide thoughtful leadership training will be an outstanding addition to our approach. Throughout his career in education, Mr. Raghunathan has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering positive learning environments in which both teachers and students thrive.” Playful by nature, Raghunathan becomes more contemplative when discussing the importance of education in creating effective young leaders. He has found that the key component to leadership is heart. “To make change, you have to win people’s hearts,” he explains. “You have to cultivate relationships. Vulnerability is the first step. My ego is not important. It’s my service to others that really matters.”
The person Raghunathan most counts on for love, support, and wisdom is his wife, Neelie. Whenever he doubts himself, she always tells him he can. She is the rock of their family. For fun, they take hikes with the kids, share a great meal, and ride bikes. Raghunathan is also an avid photographer who likes to capture the sublime beauty of everyday life and people. He has an eye for capturing stunning moments of humanity and the exquisite in the familiar. Creating an engaging learning experience for children, Raghunathan believes, is just as crucial as building character. Finding authentic connections, focusing on the process instead of content, and knowing that every student’s journey looks different, are intrinsic to a thriving school community; all themes underscoring the life of a Jag. “At Wellington, we know who we are and where we are going,” Raghunathan says when asked what drew him to a new school in a new state. “There’s so much excitement in that self-awareness and shared purpose. It’s also the excitement of rolling up my sleeves and building something really great. I feel invigorated by the possibilities.” Raghunathan has found his people.
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A CLOSER LOOK
Wellington Receives Case Award for Excellence Wellington’s rebranding work received a CASE 2019 Circle of Excellence Award for Visual Identity Systems in Marketing. The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is the global association for professionals in advancement alumni relations, communications, development, marketing, and advancement services - to champion education that transforms lives and society. Wellington received a Silver Award because “the new brand offers a clean and effective design,” CASE judges remarked. “The brand guidelines themselves do a wonderful job of laying out the nature of Wellington’s identity and location in the marketplace. The document offers a clear and engaging roadmap for how to implement the new brand.” Dani Turkovich P ‘29 ‘33, director of marketing and communications, led the department’s rebranding efforts with the goal of crystallizing Wellington’s unique position in the education landscape of Columbus. “The reinvigorated Wellington brand purposefully advances our tradition of innovation,” she explained. “We are positioning ourselves in a way that reflects more of who we’ve always been: forward-looking, agile, and passionate about igniting curiosity through engaged learning. This bold action signals the constant drive toward our clear and aligned longterm vision for Wellington.” 34
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Well Life SERIES
2019-2020 At Wellington, learning doesn’t stop with our students. Join us for a special series of events curated just for parents and designed to help you live well. All events are free and open to the Wellington and Columbus communities. Raising Kids to Thrive in a Globalized World, with author Homa Tavangar October 3, 2019 Amidst sweeping global change, how can parents not just offer their children the skills to succeed, but to make a difference and be happy? Join bestselling author Homa Tavangar for an evening exploring this big question.
“Screenagers: Growing up in the Digital Age,” film screening and discussion with filmmaker Dr. Delaney Ruston February 4, 2020 “Screenagers” is a film about the impact of the digital age on children and how to help families minimize harmful effects and find balance. The event is designed to help you feel more confident and better equipped to establish balance around your child’s screen time. Girls on the Run, with Central Ohio Executive Director Jess Sparks March 5, 2020 Research shows that physical activity and improving physical health help girls engage in prosocial behaviors and also tend to their emotional health. Parent modeling and engagement with their girl in this conversation is critical. The evening will include discussion of physical activity and physical health in the family context and self reflection for the adults in the girls’ lives.
Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Young People, with psychologist and author Dr. Lisa Damour November 20, 2019 New York Times bestselling author of “Under Pressure” and “Untangled,” Dr. Lisa Damour will discuss the difference between healthy and unhealthy stress and anxiety. Parents will be given research-based practical fixes to help their children manage naturally occurring tension, toxic stress, and anxiety, as well as learn how to help our sons and daughters build strength and confidence from preschool through high school.
Students Take Center Stage with Bohm Family Gift • The hiring of two new faculty members to assist with productions, Vocal Director Zach DelMonte and Technical Director Nick Hahn, which will help expand acting programs • Partnerships with local professional theatre companies, Available Light Theatre and Columbus Children’s Theatre
The Blanchard Performing Arts Center, or BPAC, where Wellington students of all ages act in theatre productions, play musical instruments or sing in a choir, and hone their public speaking skills, was transformed into a state-of-theart performance facility through the generous support of the Bohm family. Jean-Clare and Freidl Bohm witnessed firsthand the remarkable impact of Wellington performing arts on their children Anneliese Bohm Adkinson ‘91, Tyler Bohm ‘95, and Tucker Bohm ‘98, as well as their grandchildren Lilliana ‘23, Holden ‘26, and Akira ‘28, and wanted to provide future generations of Jags similarly inspirational experiences. Understanding the importance of helping young people find their voice, the Bohms saw a need at Wellington and wanted to help refresh a space that mattered deeply to them. “Wellington
creates opportunities for students in many areas,” the Bohms said of their gift. “We know the faculty and students will find new and creative ways to use the facility as the center for the performing arts.” Through their kindness, the BPAC is now a state-of-the-art theatre with: • A new ceiling and floor • Painted walls that lighten the room and give it warmth • Sound attenuation panels to help shape the sound during performances • Upgrade lighting instruments • Increased seating capacity for larger audiences to enjoy the show in greater comfort
Theatre Director David Glover is thrilled for students to have access to such an impressive performing arts center, one that validates the work they do. “It’s so important to think about your students coming to school and feeling comfortable and safe and loving the work they are doing,” Glover said at the ribbon cutting ceremony in September. “And the environment should reflect that. Now, I am proud to say it does.” Anneliese and Tucker both spoke at the event on behalf of their parents, expressing their own gratitude for the extraordinary personal growth they felt from participating in the performing arts at Wellington. “We’re just so thankful for the school and its impact on our lives,” Tucker shared. Anneliese was equally grateful. “I feel so lucky today,” she said. “I feel lucky to have been a part of the Wellington family for so long.”
• Drop down screen for better viewing pleasure
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A CLOSER LOOK
Oh, the Thinks They Can Think!
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The fantastical world of Dr. Seuss was brought to life by middle schoolers in the delightfully whimsical musical “Seussical, Jr.” In the tender-hearted parable, Horton the Elephant discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called Whos and vows to protect them in the face of ridicule, danger, and a judge and jury. It is only the power of true friendship that saves the determined elephant and helps him fulfill his destiny. As the chorus sings in a show-stopping, foot-tapping, inspirational number, ”Oh, the thinks you can think! When you think about Seuss!” 3
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PICTURED 1. Katherine Armitage ‘25, Cira Tibbets ‘24, Allison Klingler ‘23, Sigal Judd ‘25 2. Zack Sagone ‘23 3. Natalie Allen ‘24, Sigal Judd ‘25, Katherine Armitage ‘25 4. Diego Bazan ‘25, Hannah Guffrey ‘26, Lauren Smeltzer ‘26, Isabelle Cios ‘26, Charlie Lowrey ‘25, Katherine Armitage ‘25, Natalie Allen ‘24, Logan Vargo ‘24 5. Katherine Armitage ‘25, Maxwell Johnson ‘25, Diego Bazan ‘25, Kai Rozmiarek ‘25, Stephen Rosan ‘25, Charlie Lowrey ‘25, Ross Braswell ‘25, Vivienne Bond ‘25, Elodie Ware ‘25 6. Kaylei Johnson ‘24, Alexis Smith ‘26 7. Allison Klingler ‘23, Charlie Lowrey ‘25 8. Betty Mae Friend ‘26, Charlie Parkes ‘26, Zack Sagone ‘23, Sigal Judd ‘25
9 9. Isabella Cios ‘26, Hannah Guffrey ‘26, Charlie Lowrey ‘25 10. Isabella Cios ‘26, Zack Sagone ‘23, Natalie Allen ‘24, Ross Braswell ‘25, Kaylei Johnson ‘24 11. The cast of “Seussical, Jr.” 12. Charlie Lowrey ‘25
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ATHLETICS
Boys Tennis Back-to-Back State Champs by Evan Manley ‘21
Boys varsity tennis backed up its unprecedented 2018 state team title with another victory in 2019. The team went into the season widely considered the favorites to win the title, but the story behind their success was much more complicated and ultimately inspirational.
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The season opened with a tough test. The Jaguars faced off against a top 10 Division I team in Olentangy Orange in just the second match of the year. Trevor Ball ‘20, the team’s number one singles player, had been on the sidelines due to a shoulder injury for the majority of the off-season. His match against a very tough opponent in Alex Heiden ‘19 was his first singles match of any kind in nearly a year. Ball rose to the occasion and defeated Heiden in three tight sets. Wellington defeated Orange without dropping a
PICTURED The 2019 Boys Tennis State Champions
court, earning a 5-0 victory against a high-quality team. It was this spirit and will to win that defined much of the Jags winning season. The team posted a 12-3 record, winning the matches that mattered most. Despite losing to biggest title rival Columbus Academy during the regular season, when it was crunch time in post-season, Wellington
dominated the Vikings. Milan Gonela ’20 comprehensively defeated Academy’s Arie Tuckerman ’21 at second singles 6-3 6-2. Griffin Biernat ‘21, was a dominant 6-0 6-1 winner against Academy’s Jack Madison ‘21 at third singles. Ben Marshall ’20 and Evan Manley ’21 were 6-3 6-2 winners at second doubles. These results tell only part of the story, though. What made this team great was not just the success it enjoyed. It was each player’s grit and ability to rise to the occasion. It was each player’s ability to playing well despite the pressure. It was each players ability to maintain their composure when the opposition floundered that ultimately led this team to an unprecedented second straight title. Despite injury and other absences, the team continued to find a way to win and ended up cruising to the championship. Wellington failed to drop a single set, let alone a match, en route to the OTCA championship. Opponents such as Olentangy Berlin, the aforementioned Columbus Academy, Cincinnati Country Day School, and Ursuline High School were no match for the talent, intensity, and determination Wellington brought to the court. It was fitting that Trevor Ball clinched the title for the Jaguars in the final. After losing a three-hour, hot and humid, gladiatorial battle the day before at the OHSAA individual state tournament, Ball got back on the court and thoroughly dominated his opponent. It was a straightforward 6-0 6-0 double bagel victory, but the gravity of the moment was not lost on the team’s number one singles player. He sunk to his knees at the moment of
What made this team great was not just the success it enjoyed. It was each player’s grit and ability to rise to the occasion.
victory and the rest of the team stormed the court to celebrate with him. The team loses seniors Adam Sorrels and Anurag Reddy going into the next season. Coach Tommy Haddow says of the team’s co-captain “Sorrels was like a third coach, a statistician. He played percentages and could break down his opponent with his refusal to lose. He played a very important role for us with his versatility and willingness to play anywhere.” Haddow says of Reddy, “He played a vital role, a huge doubles player for us. From the start of the season to the end he always showed huge improvements. He always came through in the big matches at the end of the season.” Haddow says of the seniors overall, “last year’s seniors were
great role models and leaders. They knew their roles and provided great experience for the younger guys.” The future of the team continues to look up. There’s no shortage of talent going into next season, and that begs the question: is there a hat trick to come? After all this team has been through and accomplished, there’s every reason to believe so. PICTURED Above: Back L to R: Assistant Coach Dick Cassie, Milan Gonela ‘20, Griffin Biernat ‘21, Anurag Reddy ‘19, Trevor Ball ‘20, Adam Sorrels ‘19, Pranav Kora ‘21, Head Coach Tommy Haddow. Front L to R: Ben Marshall ‘20, Evan Manley ‘21, Brayden Chawla ‘22, and Sadeq Al-Ali ‘22 Left: Evan Manley ‘21 warms up before the OTCA District final against Columbus Academy.
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Digital Photo LESLIE GUO ’21
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Sisters Beahm with Jag Pride WELLINGTON • THE JAG
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this day. Jenn has a career in banking and is currently director of wealth management at PNC. Julie spent many years as a tennis pro at Wedgewood Country Club and is currently the proud mom of two teenagers, themselves budding young athletes.
This fall marks the 30th anniversary of sisters Jennifer ‘90 and Julie ‘93 Beahm winning the state championship in girls tennis doubles. It may have happened three decades ago, but it feels like only yesterday for the sibling best friends who made Wellington and Ohio history. They were the first Jags to bring home a title for the school and the first sisters in the state to win doubles. The best part, for them, was doing it together. During a recent visit to Wellington, Jenn and Julie were excited and thrilled to look back on the monumental moment in their lives. Asked to recount the legendary day, they were very quick to lob compliments back and forth, neither one wanting to take too much credit for their joint success. Although they live in two different states now, the sisters are still very close. They have the uncanny ability to finish each other’s sentences and always seem to know what the other is thinking. It’s not hard to understand what made them such a doubles powerhouse on the court. Tennis has been in their lives for as long as they can remember. Parents Harvey and Martha Beahm ran a tennis club, so Jenn and Julie began playing not long after they learned to walk. Their close relationship and shared love of the sport made going to state together a dream come true. 42
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“Being on a team, balancing tennis and school taught us a lot.” JULIE BEAHM ‘93
The title they won in high school meant more to them than any others won during college because they did it sideby-side. Playing in the championship was special for them also because of the tremendous support they felt from their classmates, all of whom had been bussed to the semi-finals to watch. It was the encouragement from their fellow Jags in the stands that really helped the girls from succumbing to the pressure of playing in such a high-stakes tournament. Jenn and Julie remember their friends making them laugh, which helped break the tension. Over a two day period, the sisters won four matches and only lost one to claim victory. They credit their success to being a naturally great pair. Jenn admits to being a bit feisty on the court while Julie was considered the calmer of the two. It was a partnership that clearly worked and continues to stay strong to
During their own adolescent years, Jenn and Julie had many wonderful memories of their time at Wellington and are grateful for all the many ways in which the school helped them become who they are today. Jenn appreciates all that her classes and teachers had to offer and sees them as hugely influential on her life long after graduation, including instilling a strong work ethic in her that continues to benefit her to this day. “We were pushed hard,” Julie remembers. “Being on a team, balancing tennis and school taught us a lot. The small class sizes were special because it allowed us to become really close to our teachers. It was a terrific environment to go to school.”
My Summer | Abstract expressionism MAX BOSTER ’25
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ATHLETICS
AWARD WINNERS
1
2
3
SPRING AWARD WINNERS
MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS LACROSSE Coaches Award Lilliana Adkinson ‘24 (7) Sophia Shihab ‘24 (7)
Grit Ben Sierzputowski ‘19 Most Improved Mason Halley ‘20 SOFTBALL BOYS TENNIS R.O.A.R. Coaches Award Camille Simpson ‘19 (2) Henry Allen ‘24 (7) Rookie of the Year Hudson McConnell ‘24 (7) Alexis Burkhalter ‘22 (4) Coaches Award TRACK & FIELD Soleil Tibbets-Barnes ‘19 Coaches Award A.J. Taylor ‘24 (7) BOYS TENNIS Will Smith ‘24 (7) R.O.A.R. Trevor Ball ‘20 (9) UPPER SCHOOL MVP BASEBALL Griffin Biernat ‘21 (8) R.O.A.R. MIP Jack Haney ‘19 Ben Marshall ‘20 Coaches Award JV Jag Trevor McCraw ‘19 Sadeq Al-Ali ‘22 Josh Wooddell ‘20
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5
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GIRLS LACROSSE R.O.A.R. Mackenzie Beam ‘19 Defensive MVP Lindsay Harris ‘20 Offensive MVP Mia Croft ‘20 BOYS LACROSSE R.O.A.R. Katz Kadlic ‘19 (6)
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2018-2019 AWARD WINNERS
Rising Star Chase Ouellette ‘22 (1) Alexis Burkhalter ‘22 (4) Archie Griffin Ben Sierzputowski ‘19 Mackenzie Beam ‘19 Award of Excellence Savannah Childress ‘19 (11) Jack Doody ‘19 Courageous Athlete Andrew Davis ‘19
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Game Changer Katz Kadlic ‘19 Athlete of the Year Addie Shock ‘19 (13) Dallas Patrick ‘19 (5) Coaches of the Year Craig Mosier ‘01 Tom Haddow
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OHSAA Scholar Athlete Isabella Vegas ‘19 (12) Adam Sorrels ‘19 (10) Downey Spirit and Service Mac Hammett ‘19 (3) Stewart-Brdar Faculty Spirit Chris Robbins P ‘17 ‘22 COLLEGE-BOUND ATHLETES Jay Briggs ‘19 - Golf Earlham College Jack Doody ‘19 - Golf University of Toledo
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COLLEGE SIGNING
Trevor McCraw ‘19 - Baseball Case Western University Dallas Patrick ‘19 - Basketball Otterbein University J.R. O’Toole ‘19 - Soccer Grinnell College Trevor Seitz ‘19 - Hockey Denison University Addie Shock ‘19 - Soccer Marquette University
PICTURED Above Left: Jay Briggs ‘19, Dallas Patrick ‘19, John Riley O’Toole ‘19
Max Thesing ‘19 - Soccer Drexel University
Above Right: Addie Shock ‘19, Lindsey Smith P ‘26 ‘33, Jack Doody ‘19 Right: Trevor McCraw ‘19, Max Thesing ‘19
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FEATURE A CLOSER LOOK
Melissa Tidwell The Reward of Risks and Resets 46
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In 2007, when Google was still growing in size and global reach, Melissa Tidwell ‘95 joined the company as senior counsel and soon found herself in meetings with legendary cofounders, Sergey Brin and Larry Page. Tidwell recalls of their first introduction that Brin was wearing ripped pants and no shoes. Although she felt a little overdressed in her collared shirt and jeans, practically formal wear by Silicon Valley standards, Tidwell never lacked in confidence that she belonged. It wasn’t the first time she stood out in a group of colleagues, and it wouldn’t be the last. As an AfricanAmerican woman with a corporate law background, she was no stranger to having a seat at the table with all white men. Her firsthand experience with a lack of inclusivity in leadership positions would have a direct impact on Tidwell’s own management style. “The beauty of diversity is not diversity for diversity’s sake, but the diversity of thought it brings to the table.” Tidwell explains over the phone as she walks to her office in San Francisco on a midsummer afternoon. “It should come from seeking out different perspectives and ways of thinking.” As general counsel for Reddit, another formidable tech startup from the early days of the world wide web that has since become the most popular website on the internet, Tidwell made sure the legal policy and communication teams she led included faces and voices that historically had not been invited to join the conversation. The notion of having a voice and platform from which to use it, is
central to her work at a company that has taken a few hits, like many social media giants, in recent years over its free speech policies. In spite of the seemingly nonstop barrage of outrage and distrust over what the internet has wrought, Tidwell is refreshingly upbeat when asked about what she considers to be social media’s greatest benefit to society. “I think what makes me most proud to work at Reddit are the everyday stories of complete strangers finding a way to connect. There are so many communities for people to ask questions. It’s a place where people are trying to help each other. At the end of the day, I truly believe, there are more things that connect us than divide us.” The importance of connections and sense of community, for Tidwell, go back to her days as a Wellington student. The school’s tight-knit and supportive environment encouraged Missy, as she was known back then, to embrace experiences that she would never have had the confidence to try otherwise. Small class sizes of only a dozen students or less and passionate, highly-engaged faculty
both contributed to Tidwell’s growing comfort in public-speaking and sharing her ideas with others. “Wellington put me on a different trajectory in life,” Tidwell says, explaining the learning environment encouraged regular and robust debate. “You can’t skip out of the conversation in groups of 12.” She remembers the energy and enthusiasm faculty members like Carol Goldsmith and Sam Stewart P ’99 ‘05 brought to the classroom not only solidified and strengthened her innate curiosity for subjects in the humanities but also inspired her to explore topics outside of a potential future career choice. “I was never going to be a scientist or chemist,” she says of appreciating the excitement teacher Aaron Frim P ‘19 shared with students, “but the exposure to so many different things really opened my mind to a variety of ways of thinking.” This spring, Tidwell received Wellington’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award. At the alumni weekend brunch,
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I have an affinity for giving people who haven’t had their stories told the ability to finally share them. Free speech is very much about allowing those discussions to be had.
her mother Nancy accepted the honor on her behalf. Upper School English teacher Chris Robbins P ‘17 ‘22 shared her own memories of Tidwell as a student and star athlete. “It was Missy’s passion and drive as a competitive runner,” Robbins said, “culminating in her placing 5th in the 400 meter dash as a sophomore and 5th in the 200 meter dash during her senior year at the Division 3 Girls State Track and Field Tournament, that paved the way for future Wellington students to later compete in the same way.” Always at the ready to take on a new challenge, Tidwell, an untrained singer with no previous performing experience, remembers the fear and anxiety she had about agreeing to be a soloist in the Wellington production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” her senior year. “Practicing and figuring out, at 17, how to sing in front of hundreds of people is great training for being in front of an audience talking about hate speech and how it should be regulated,” she says.
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In the classroom, Tidwell took advantage of every opportunity available. In addition to her advanced course load, she was a member of student council and the Blue Key Club. She served on the Cultural Diversity Task Force and Black History Club (now the African American Awareness Association, or 4A). “The Cultural Diversity Task Force was instrumental in shaping our continuing commitment to issues of diversity and inclusion,” Robbins said. Today Tidwell spends a great deal of time in the public eye in support of free speech on the internet. She is frequently interviewed and questioned about how Reddit tackles what has become a monumental global concern. Just what is free speech? At what point does free speech become hate speech? Even if the line can be clearly drawn, how can it be monitored? There are so many layers and nuances to even the most basic questions regarding online hate speech that Tidwell’s erudite but entirely approachable demeanor cuts through the complication without oversimplifying.
“Being a black woman in America,” she says, “I have an affinity for giving people who haven’t had their stories told the ability to finally share them. Free speech is very much about allowing those discussions to be had. The commitment to allowing people to have a voice really matters. You have to have a North Star as an organization, and Reddit’s north store is free speech, but that doesn’t mean you can say anything at anytime. We need to create an environment where people feel safe to participate in the conversation.” A staunch defender of the rights of the disenfranchised or marginalized, Tidwell is so good at what she does, it can be hard to believe that her path to advocacy wasn’t a straight line. Rather, it came from a purely authentic pursuit of her own interests. She chose to go to Georgetown because it had a similar learning environment (small, seminar-
prescribed plans of action. One of the reasons Tidwell became a lawyer was because she had a natural love of history. When later realizing the law firm wasn’t the best environment for her, she made the seemingly radical decision to move from New York to California and eventually to work at a much smaller company - Google. She considers it one of the best decisions she ever made.
style courses with lots of studentfaculty interaction) as Wellington. It was an atmosphere in which Tidwell excelled and continued to seek out when selecting New York University Law School. It was the opportunity to study topics she was deeply interested in, like the death penalty, with the top experts in their fields at NYU that drew her to the school. “The most important thing for me,” Tidwell explains, “was to figure out what I wanted to learn more about and where I could learn it, then take the steps to get there.” She advises Wellington students today to do the same. Her extraordinary career trajectory often prompts questions from parents and students about the best route to success. She cautions young people against focusing so much on job titles and self-
“The joy of working at Google at that time, was that it was a very different ecosystem,” Tidwell remembers. “Because what they were doing was so entirely new, they couldn’t be sure what they might need from employees, so they essentially wanted to hire smart problem-solvers.” She began working on Google Apps before moving onto Google Cloud Platform (a suite of cloud computing services that help companies scale their infrastructure), Google Fiber (TV and broadband internet) to Google Play (their app store for the Android operating system), with each new opportunity bringing a different set of challenges for teams of people breaking new ground in what was a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
that felt like a small community of people all working together to make a difference in the world. In her role as vice president and general counsel for the company, Tidwell was responsible for several teams: communications, legal, legal operations, and policy. Openness, flexibility, and adaptability, have brought Tidwell to a pivotal point in her life in which she is ready to try something new. This summer she decided to step down while continuing to serve as an advisor at Reddit and also explore other options, professionally and personally. Now preparing to take another giant leap into the unknown, she wants students to learn to be okay with making mistakes and changing their minds, not unlike Wellington’s approach to teaching children the value of risks and resets.
…
“Life is too short to not be inspired every day,” Tidwell says, wrapping up our call as she heads into a busy office. She is following her own North Star.
When Tidwell decided to make the move to Reddit, a much smaller company despite its behemoth presence on the internet, it was because she was excited about returning to a work environment
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ALUMNI
Alumni Weekend Alumni Weekend kicked off on May 17, 2019, with campus tours of Wellington in the afternoon. The festivities continued Friday evening with a social gathering at Watershed Kitchen and Bar. Surrounded by glass walls, inside the barrel room of the actual distillery, Wellington grads from four decades mingled with each other, as well as current and retired faculty, enjoying handcrafted cocktails and an incredible array of supper club style hors d’ ouevres, enhanced by a charcuterie tray from North Country Charcuterie. This particular venue was selected largely based on proximity to the charcuterie founded by Wellington’s very own Duncan Forbes ’04 and James Forbes ’02. In typical Wellington entrepreneurial fashion, the brothers launched their charcuterie business a few years back, and offered tours of their site to guests of the social gathering.
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Saturday morning’s Alumni Weekend Brunch offered the opportunity to honor alumni and the positive impact they have made on the world. Melissa Tidwell ’95 was recognized as the fourth recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. This award recognizes graduates of Wellington for significant achievement reflective of the school’s mission. Chris Robbins P ‘17 ‘22, upper school English teacher, shared her reflections on Melissa’s trajectory from a student voted by her classmates “Most Likely to Succeed,” to her roles as senior and general counsel for Google and Reddit, respectively.
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Mary Potter P ‘01 ‘04, retired middle school language arts teacher, beamed as she celebrated Class of 2015 member Jack Roslevic’s journey from the Gard gym to the NHL. Brooke O’Brien ’09 and Jenna Tugaoen ’13 were inducted into the Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame. Alumni and their parents got an insider’s view of new Head of School Dr. Jeff Terwin’s vision and enthusiasm for what’s next at Wellington. 3
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Class Reunions of
1989, 1994, 1999, 2009, and 2014
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PICTURED 1: Chris Robbins P ‘17 ‘22, Julie Martin, Idin Pirasteh ’97, Duncan Forbes ‘04 2: Nancy Tidwell P ‘95 ‘98 3: Jack Roslevic, Brooke O’Brien ’09, Jenna Tugaoen ’13 4: Alumni 30th Reunion- Class of 1989 – Held their 30th reunion at Gallo’s Kitchen and Bar 5: Alumni 25th Reunion- Class of 1994 – Held their 25th reunion at Fado Irish Pub 6: Alumni 20th Reunion- Class of 1999 – Held their 20th reunion at Brio at Easton 7: Alumni 10th Reunion- Class of 2009 – Held their 10th reunion at Gallo’s Tap
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2019-2020 Wellington Alumni Association Board The Alumni Association Board is a group of alumni and parents of alumni that provides insight to senior leadership and the board of trustees on how Wellington may better connect and serve our current and future alumni through alumni engagement, the alumni weekend, and college counseling. The following members will serve on the Alumni Advisory Board for the 2019-20 academic year:
Lyle Brown ’89 P ‘27 ‘29 (Chair) James Barrett ’10 Brad Biehl ‘18 Carl Faller P ’15 ‘18 Duncan Forbes ’04 Nick Gallo ‘91 Idin Pirasteh ‘97 Elizabeth Zimmerman ’13
8: Alumni 5th Reunion- Class of 2014 – Held their 5th reunion at Pins Bar Columbus, downtown
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ALUMNI
Alumni News THE CLASS OF
1991
Becca Blackwell is a transgendered actor in New York, challenging audiences and casting directors. Blackwell graduated from Otterbein and is known for being a talented actor. They currently are working on a new project “Snatch Adams,” a send-up of straight, male latenight talk show hosts. THE CLASS OF
1993
Cliona Howie met up with Aaron Frim P ‘19, upper school chemistry teacher, in Copenhagen, Denmark this spring. Cliona is a circle economy business developer for ClimateKIC, Europe’s largest public-private partnership on climate innovation and entrepreneurship. Cliona met with Mr. Frim to help facilitate a WISE experience focused on sustainability for 11th graders in the spring of 2020. 52
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THE CLASS OF
THE CLASS OF
1995
1997
Tyler Bohm recently visited with current art students regarding the complexities of acrylic painting.
Heath Krueger is an associate pastor for Spring Branch Community Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Heath and his wife, Lindsay, have three beautiful children.
Justin Klein is a managing partner at Vensana Capital, a new venture-capital and growth equity firm focused on medical technology. He and a partner raised $225 million for the debut fund. Melissa Tidwell met up with Chris Robbins P ‘17 ‘22, upper school English teacher, for dinner in San Francisco in June.
THE CLASS OF
2001 Casey Ostercamp was appointed by Governor Parson and confirmed by the Missouri Senate, in March, to serve as the Director of the Division of Personnel in support of the state’s 50,000 employees.
THE CLASS OF
2010
THE CLASS OF
2012 Miranda Crafton earned a BA in biology from the University of Vermont this May.
Mark Salerno participated in his 10th American Cancer Society Relay For Life event this June. Mark was inspired to do this when his father lost his nearly 7 year battle with cancer in 2015, and because many of his family and friends have battled cancer. In addition to being a team captain, he was part of the Event Leadership Team as the Survivor Chair and Team Ambassador. Longtime outstanding teacher, mentor, and friend Mary Potter joined him at the overnight event to walk around the track.
Anna Apostel married Matthew Duggins the first weekend of May. THE CLASS OF
2011
Brea Porter was chosen as Teacher of the Year at James Whitcomb Riley School 43 in Indianapolis, Indiana. To top off her exciting year, Porter also received a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Marian University in May and is currently the corps member development manager for Teach for America. THE CLASS OF
Alex Anderson was featured in City Pulse magazine for his work at Future Possibilities, an organization in Columbus serving children in 3rd-5th grade, where he is KidCoach.
2013 Erin O’Neil gave a presentation at the Grandview Heights Library, in May, about her travel adventures through Asia. She also self-published a book about her experience called “Gui Ren.” THE CLASS OF
Emily Sayre recently gave birth to Maggie Sayre Boyles who made her arrival three days early on Friday, May 3, 2019 at 9:11 p.m. With a full head of dark brown hair, she weighed in at 8lbs 2oz, and was 21” long. She is loved by both daddy, Cory Boyles, and mommy.
2015 Matthew Sorrels & Ian Wagner met up with Head of School Dr. Jeff Terwin at the Brick Store Pub in Atlanta, Georgia in July. Dr. Terwin was in town attending the NAIS Institute for New Heads of School. Sorrels is working in education after working with Teach for America. Wagner is headed to a post-doctorate in mathematics at Vanderbilt.
Henry Bacha was selected as a 2019-2020 Fulbright Grantee. Bacha, a 2019 graduate of the University of Chicago was awarded an English teaching assistantship in Brazil. WELLINGTON • THE JAG
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Christine Currie was named to the Miami University Spring 2019 Dean’s List. She is majoring in marketing and entrepreneurship. THE CLASS OF
2016 Sara Brubaker made the Dean’s List at Ohio Wesleyan University for the spring semester. She was also one of only 22 students selected for 2019 membership in the Mortar Board National Honor Society at Ohio Wesleyan. Brubaker was inducted in a campus ceremony on March 28, 2019, in which she was recognized as a senior with exemplary scholarship, leadership, and service.
Chris Doody recently fired a career-best 6 under 64 in the NCAA regional for Men’s Golf at Kent State University in his junior year. He featured five birdies and an eagle on the 379-yard, par-4 second hole. Doody finished in the top 20 at regionals and was the only KSU player who broke even-par at Regionals going 16 holes for par or better.
Maddie McClinchie is on the Allegheny College women’s soccer
THE CLASS OF
2017
Sam Kim interned this past summer in Nepal helping blind women.
Shashank Singh interned this summer in Ghana doing medical research. Matt Strasser was named to the Miami University Dean’s List this spring. He is majoring in political science.
Temidayo Dairo was part of the “Battery Team” for Stanford’s Solar Car Project which was unveiled on July 21. He has worked on the battery for the past three years as part of his engineering program at Stanford. The unveiling was a big event with representatives from Tesla and other car makers present. The Stanford team will go on to compete nationally. Temidayo was joined by brother Kolapo ‘18 and Jack Chester ‘16.
Spencer Rieser interned for Senator Sherrod Brown this summer and will study in Amman, Jordan this Fall. Furkan Kolanci interned this summer at ABB International.
Madeline Studer interned this summer in London working for a member of Parliament.
Emma Ruck is on The Ohio State University women’s Club soccer team. Connor Weber is a junior at Case Western Reserve University and plays on their men’s soccer team. 54
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THE CLASS OF
2018 Ben Hawkins had a great first year at Rose-Hulman studying really challenging materials. Brianna Masters was named to the Miami University Dean’s List this spring. She is majoring in biology, neuroscience. Max Wing named to the spring 2019 dean’s list at Butler University.
Wellington Pride On behalf of the Wellington’s Gay-Straight Alliance, fellow students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community represented Wellington at the Columbus Pride Parade. It was the second largest pride celebration in the country. The parade included familiar faces such as faculty members Drew Eberly, Bill Miller P ‘15 ‘17 ‘21, David Glover, Chris Robbins P ‘17 ‘22, and then incoming Head of School Dr. Jeff Terwin. The parade moved down High Street and headed into Bicentennial
Park, where everyone gathered for more pride activities that included music, food, art, and performances.
THE CLASS OF
2019 Anastasia Dorenbusch was accepted through an extensive application to be part of a volunteer trip to Zanzibar, Tanzania, with the organization GIVE which will take place this coming summer.
Caroline Walker’s Memorial Bench The Caroline Walker Memorial statue commissioned by the Class of 2012 in her honor has been replaced with a memorial bench, temporarily placed on the Early Childhood playground until final renovations of the new additions will be completed.
Orlene Shimberg Remembered The Wellington community was deeply saddened by the loss of former teacher Orlene Shimberg this summer. As a middle school social studies teacher, Shimberg was passionate about travel, geography, and art. She grew up in Great Neck, New York, graduated from American University, and taught in Washington, D.C., the New York City area, and at Wellington.
have Shimberg as a teacher. “She was so smart,” Cornett says. “She had very high expectations for her students and was known as a tough yet caring teacher. All of her students loved her very much and felt how much she loved them back. When I saw her after her Wellington years it always felt like coming home talking with her, and I appreciated her genuine interest in my life and teaching career. She was a great lady!”
Alumna and current upper school history teacher Erin Cornett ‘96 P ‘32 ‘34 remembers middle schoolers considering it a right of passage to
Notably, Shimberg began Wellington’s first In the Know team and coached students to two WOSU tournament championship titles. The team travelled
to national tournaments in Chicago, Houston, and New Orleans. “Lots of kids loved to participate,” she recalled for The Jag magazine in 2015. “In the Know, the students I interacted with, and the relationships that I cherish to this day were some of the greatest times at Wellington.” Alumnus Ajit Chaudhari ‘91 expressed immense gratitude for Shimberg’s role in his life. “In The Know with Mrs. Shimberg built many lifelong friendships and a greater appreciation for the humanities.” Shimberg, and her boundless energy and enthusiasm for all life has to offer, will be dearly missed.
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Watercolor on paper ELI BURKHARDT ’20
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2018-2019 Annual Report
Dear Friends, It’s pretty awesome to know you’ve made a difference in someone’s life, isn’t it? While there are countless ways you can make an impact - giving your time, financial support, or even just offering a kind smile and asking how someone is doing - the feeling you have in return is very much the same, the profound sense that you’re connected to a community committed to a common cause. There’s nothing better because there’s nothing that can’t be achieved with, as Dr. Terwin calls it, “unflappable optimism.”
Gratitude is similar. I am grateful for the many different ways the members of our community choose to get involved and help further advance our school’s mission to transform education. Whether you’re a parent volunteer or a donor, and many times it’s both, you should be immensely proud to play an important part in creating a learning environment where children thrive from your support.
great school because of the incredible people within it, and that includes you. Your contribution to Wellington, be it an annual fund donation, organizing a class party, or inviting students to your office so they can learn more about a potential career, is an investment in the people and programs that shape the young minds that will one day shape the world. Pretty awesome, isn’t it? With gratitude,
Philanthropy isn’t just about money. It’s about people and relationships, with your child’s teachers and fellow parents, as well as the lifelong bonds our alumni have with each other and the adults who played key roles in their development. Wellington is a
Laurie Beth Sweeney P ‘29 ‘33 Director of Development WELLINGTON • THE JAG
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ANNUAL REPORT
Thank you to our supporters for investing in our future leaders. Here we recognize supporters who have invested in Wellington between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. Please help us provide the most accurate and desired recognition by contacting development@wellington.org if you notice any errors or omissions.
The Wellington Annual Fund Leadership Society
The Legacy Society
Founders Society
The Legacy Society recognizes donors who have included Wellington in their estate plans, or have made a major gift to the endowment.
($10,000+)
Anonymous Friedrich and Jean-Clare Bohm Jim and Michelle Croft Henry and Melinda Gleissner Daniel and Sarah Kay Rae-Kelleher Family Nancy Kramer and Christopher Celeste The Manley Family Matthew and Meara Scantland Alan and Peg Scantland John and Elizabeth Sokol Bill and Sarah Soter Robert and Kelly Wheeler
Leadership Society ($2,500)
Alumni leadership begins at $1,000 Anonymous Richard and Tonda Adiansingh Ralph Anderson Doug and Laura Anderson Brian and Teresa Biernat Peter Biscardi and Jamie Gordon Robert Brisk and Monica Mahoney Kenneth and Kelli Browning John and Judy Chester, Jr.
Elizabeth Crane and Richard McKee Scott and Elizabeth Doolittle Andy ’97 and Brooke Farber Robert and Cathy Gale Christopher and Shari Graham Lawrence and Elizabeth Gross Charles Hall and Xiuqiong Wang Brad and Katie Halley Alex and Millie Hay Ram Kalyanam and Vidya Raman Elizabeth Kennedy Gillman and John Gillman Keith Klingler and Maura Stevenson Chasity and Jack Kuttrus Guanghui Lan and Yaping Wu Rob and Susan Littleton Steve ’92 and Melissa Paull John Marshall and Angela Plummer Scott and Allison McHenry Geoffrey and Amber Merl Nahush and Sunita Mokadam Brian and Lahari Murphy Jeffrey and Lisa Norris John and Kelly Olmstead Robert Ouellette Michael Para and Caroline Whitacre Marc and Adina Pelletier The Liles Family Matthew and Cynthia Ray Nelson and Anne Reid
John and Kristin Rosan Peter and Michelle Scantland Lori Seitz Jianbin Shen and Yun Shan Sam Shihab and Cheryl Brikho Jason and Kathleen Skestos Web and Lindsey Smith Todd and Sharla Starker Bryan ’95 and Jenny Stewart Greg Stewart Jason and Erin Stoner Ryan and Laurie Beth Sweeney Robert and Marlo Tannous Jeffrey and Mia Terwin The Thompson Family Stephen and Alyson Thompson James and Mireille Tussing Jason and Julia Ware Marci Wasserstrom ’94 Adam Winter
Anonymous (2) Larry and Linda Abbott
Doug and Laura Anderson Doug Aschenbach Bohm Family Foundation John and Cynthia Chester Chris and Laura Cooke Jim and Michelle Croft David and Mindy Gross Thomas R. Gross Family Foundation Dorene Henschen John and Kim Kadlic Sebastian and Janette Knowles Nancy Kramer George and Betty Minot Ed and Karen Moore Dale and Phyllis Perdue William and Joyce Roberts Bryan and Jenny Stewart Marlo and Robert Tannous Andy Thomas and Lisa Doran Ginny Trethewey Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Geoff and Lisa Webster Wolfe Associates, Inc. Lyda and Darryl Zick
The Wellington Annual Fund Foundations & Corporations AXA Foundation Battelle Cybervation, Inc. Dominion Homes - Borror Family Foundation Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Henry C. Gleissner Trust Honda R & D
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THE JAG • FALL 2019
James M And Louise C Roche Foundation John B. and Dareth Gerlach Foundation L Brands Foundation Make A Difference Foundation, Inc. Mary L. Seitz Living Trust Network for Good Orange County Community Foundation
Raymond James Global Account Roger Michaels and Barbara Michaels Family Fund Inc. Schawb Charitable Stewart McHarg Trust The Chester Family Foundation The Columbus Foundation The Holland Family Fund
The Peter Douglas Bunting Revocable Trust The RIG III Family Foundation The Robert and Bonnie Kreitler Charitable Fund UBS United Way of Central Ohio
The Wellington Annual Fund Grandparents & Special Friends Wellington would not be what it is today without the love and support of the extended families in our community. Annual Fund gifts from Grandparents and Special Friends help to make our school exceptional. Bill and Diny Albers Ralph Anderson Jackie Ariail Jeffrey and Cora Armitage Lori Augustus Tom and Carolyn Barton Dr. Liberato Batin Basobas Evan and Susan Becker Mark and Connie Binau Friedrich and Jean-Clare Bohm Mary Beth Borcherding R. Dale and Reggie Brown Carol Cencer Sandra Cornett Elizabeth Crane and Richard McKee Dan and Kathy Damiano Shelley Denney Laura Doolittle Bob and Anne Doolittle Peter and Suzie Edwards John and Sharron Eisenhauer David Ferguson and Karen Schwarzwalder Robert and Cathy Gale Susan Gass Yizhi Ge and Naiyin Yu
Janey George Vinhcam Giang and Judy Do Darryl and Lea Anna Gosnell Tom and Marlene Goudie Alfonso and Joyce Graham Debbie Griffin Ruth Griffing Larry Jones and Wanda Harewood Jones Lawrence and Gwendolyn Harper Jim and Linda Haskett Reginald and Sandra Henderson Larry and Donna James Paul and Marianne Kadlic Lavinia Kellenberger George and Susan Kentris Mildred Knight Edwin and Carol Koethe Tom and Barbara Kortte Linda Koza Susan Levin Mary Lindberg Lowell and Nancy MacKenzie Allen and Judy Marshall Jack McGinnis Stewart and Theresa McHarg
Restricted Gifts in Gifts Kind Friedrich and Jean-Clare Bohm Kenneth and Susan Bonvallet Jerry and Jill Dannemiller J. Chris and Jill Doody Scott and Elzabeth Doolittle Nancy Eaton Henry and Melinda Gleissner Craig Jones and Koritha Mitchell Nancy Kramer and Christopher Celeste Lawrence and Rachael Lynn The Manley Family Robert and Kelly Wheeler Adam Winter
John and Judy Chester J. Chris and Jill Doody Rae-Kelleher Family John Maceyko and Kelly McHarg
Shirley McIntosh Annie and Tom Means Jerry and Joy Norris John and Mary Helen Olszewski Deepak and Hetal Patel Robert and Toni Phelps Walter Platte Marco Quezada and Luz Munoz Merrillyn Rees Bill and Sarah Reynolds Jane Rife John and Carol Robinson Bruce and Phyllis Roginson Tom and Randee Saldoff Alan and Peg Scantland Larry and Diane Scott Mary Seitz James and Christie Shells Mike Smeltzer Rufus and Phillipa Smith Bill and Sarah Soter Barbara Starker Greg Stewart Don and Dawn Stout Wilma Sukapdjo Robert and Susan Thompson
Louis and Carol Unverferth Beatrice Vargo Lionel and Terry Walker Bob and Ann Weddle Robert and Wendy Weinberg Hugh Westwater Jeffrey and Julia Wilkins Bernardine Willard Torrance and Juliana Woodall Yu Ming Zhao and Xue Feng Wang
Endowment Gifts Dorene Henschen Carol Schwebel David Schwebel and Yikun Zhang Schwebel
WELLINGTON • THE JAG
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ANNUAL REPORT
The Wellington Annual Fund Alumni Participation Class of 1989
Class of 1993
Class of 1998
Class of 2004
Class of 2015
Cynthia Callender ‘89 and Richard Dungey Chad McCall Elin Seren
Peter ’93 and Whitney Horiszny
Tucker ’98 and Emma Bohm Melissa Isler Brittany Little
Daniel Strasser Laura Wolfe
Charlotte Brewer Casey Hansen
Class of 2005
Class of 2016
Bethany Gottesman Bowen
Temidayo Dairo
Class of 2006
Class of 2017
J.J. Bain Carter Kalchik Clarke ’06 and Julia Wise Chen Yan
Spencer Rieser Emma Ruck
Class of 1990 Christopher and Laura Wilkins Cooke ‘90 Lawrence ‘90 and Rebekah Forlenza
Class of 1991 Christopher and Anneliese Bohm Adkinson ‘91 Ajit Chaudhari ‘91 and Lise Worthen-Chaudhari Theodore ‘91 and Lorri Durbin
Class of 1992 Jason and Emily Bay Hurst ’92 Konstantinos Kambouroglou and Dorothea Yessios ‘92 Ryan ’92 and Alicia Krasik Steven ’92 and Melissa Paull David Tingley
Class of 1994 Anonymous Renee Karonis Marci Wasserstrom Brian and Jeanna Keinath Weaver ’94 Abigail Williamson
Class of 1995
Class of 1999 Lane and Amy Johnston Estes ’99
Class of 2000 Daniel Muzyka
John Fenimore ’95 and Shannon Baisden Fenimore John Maceyko and Kelly McHarg ’95 Bryan ’95 and Jennifer Stewart Melissa Tidwell
Class of 2001 Kathryn Sharrock David ’01 and Meghan Gouldin Young
Class of 2008
Class of 2002
Class of 2011
Class of 1996
David Moore
Bryce Griffing and Erin Cornett ’96 Peter ’96 and Jennifer Kaser
David Nassau Anna Viragh
Class of 2003
Class of 1997
Ashwin ’03 and Ashley Lakhi Jonathan Stulberg Gabriel ’03 and Taylor Vydra
Tyler ’08 and Callie Gruman Furste
Class of 2013 William Brisk Elizabeth Zimmerman
Andrew ’97 and Brooke Farber
The Wellington Annual Fund Alumni Parents Anonymous (2) Zoheir and Hana Abdelbaki Richard and Tonda Adiansingh Julian and Bridget Allen Doug and Laura Anderson Stephen and Maria Baker Timothy and Kristie Barbour Deirdre Beam Brian and Teresa Biernat Friedrich and Jean-Clare Bohm Adam and Brenda Porter Robert Briskand Monica Mahoney R. Dale and Reggie Brown Michael Cadwell and Jane Murphy James and Patricia Caldwell Daniel and Niki Callanan John and Judy Chester, Jr. Jim and Karen Chester Sandra Cornett Nanette Cox Jim and Michelle Croft Elliott and Sangeeta Crouser The Davis Family
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THE JAG • FALL 2019
Douglas and Valerie Davis Keith and Paula Dunnigan Matthew and Teresa Edic Jeff and Lisa Edwards Sue Ellen Eickelberg Carl Faller and Mary Finnegan Wayne and Rebecca Fuller Wesley and Ann Furste Raju Gaglani Carol Gallo Patty and Alan Hans Edward Haraburda and Pauline Wijaya-Haraburda Robert and Barbara Holland James and Mary Hutchison Rae-Kelleher Family G. Paul and Karen King Matthew and Jaime Kletzly Nancy Kramer and Christopher Celeste John and Maryline Kulewicz Stastia Lane-Earl Alyson Leeman
Richard and Judy Martin Stewart and Theresa McHarg Richard and Sara Mershad Charles and Susan Miller Bill and Abby Miller Neil and Nanette Neidhardt Earl and Stuart Oremus Richard O’Shaughnessy and Sarah Artman Michael Para and Caroline Whitacre Terry Ransom-Webb Christine Robbins Tracy Robbins Kyle and Amanda Roberts William and Joyce Roberts Anthony and Robyn Robinson Todd and Susan Ruck Daniel and Katherine Rupp Michael and Angela Shock Richard and Diane Sloan James and Janet Sorrels Todd and Sharla Starker Lynne Steger
Suzanne Stewart Greg Stewart Evan Sugarbaker David and Patricia Swaddling Robert and Marlo Tannous Lori Thomas Virginia Trethewey Rodney Wasserstrom Jeffrey and Julia Wilkins James and Jacquelyn Williams The Williamson Family Stephen Winslow Lisa Wise Raymond and Karin Wurapa Doug and Laura Zallanta Carol Zimmerman
Class of 2018 Bradley Biehl
The Wellington Annual Fund Parent Participation Class of 2033: 63% Scott Aungst and Rebecca Andorfer Todd and Fara Bellows Brian and Shelley Brown Ying and Heather Chen Sam Drew and Yan Chen Luke and Janelle Fedlam Yizhi Ge and Naiyin Yu Henrique Geigel and Maria Goldman-Geigel Bryan and Emelie Inderhees Keith and Jennifer Leonard Benjamin and Lisa Morgan Michael Pacca Francis and Emily Saul Peter and Michelle Scantland Jeurell and Regina Smith Web and Lindsey Smith Ryan and Laurie Beth Sweeney Danielle and Stephen Turkovich Saami Kalule-Sabiti and Jonna Twigg
Class of 2032: 43% Juarez Braga and Clarissa Cassol Brian and Shelley Brown Erin Cornett Griffing ‘96 and Bryce Griffing Peter and Tania Klein Jim and Kim Mermis April Moore Curtis Reed and Jo Ann Quinif Kyle and Amanda Roberts Douglas and Gretchen Roginson Robert and Nami Stager Vish Vishwanathan Gabriel ’03 and Taylor Vydra Kourtney Willis
Class of 2031: 72% Ryan and Mary Augsburger David and Leigh Anne Benedic Ryan and Meredith Berndt Andrew and Stacee Buechel Jeremy Campion and Sophia Hussain Ying and Heather Chen James Conroy Michael and Rachel Gersper Lauren and Anna Haas-Gehres Jason and Brandale Johnson Richard and Nicholle Jones The Joseph Family Alexej and Anastasia Jukkert Sascha and Kimberly Kellermann Shawn and Jennifer Logan Samir and Ashley Maldonado Makiva and Monte McIntosh Geoffrey and Amber Merl Matt and Jennie Milcetich Malik Moore
Jason Nami and Makeysha Baylor Justin and Sarah Owens Bhavesh and Sweta Patel Jack and Tish Pesicka Jimmy Pham and Phuong Nguyen Douglas and Gretchen Roginson Christopher and Heather Schultz Glen and Amy Sullivan
Class of 2030: 86% William Amato and Cheryl Lee Kin Fai Au and Yue Zhao Peter Biscardi and Jamie Gordon Valerie Burnham and Joseph Bertolini Darrell and Jaclyn Butler Catherine Cavezza Mark and Bree D’Aloisio Jonathan Doerflein and Cristol Rippe Scott and Elizabeth Doolittle Sam Drew and Yan Chen Jason and Jennifer Ferguson Bebie Wu Katherine Goodman Guanghui Lan and Yaping Wu Xufan Li and Yawen Bao John Maceyko and Kelly McHarg ’95 Jaap Martens and Jennifer Martens-Spaeth Matthew and Kathreen McGinnis Scott and Allison McHenry Matthew and Alicia Miller Andrew and Karen Minton Aaron and Rebekah Monroe Christopher and Jennifer Moran Wanjiku Kabiru Deepak and Hetal Patel Marc and Adina Pelletier Philip and Bryn Pelok Jimmy Pham and Phuong Nguyen Quinn and Leah Porner Faisal Rahman and Ambar Khan Nirav and Meenakshi Rana Jacob Reed and Sarah Hixon-Reed Kyle and Amanda Roberts Francis and Emily Saul Matthew and Meara Scantland Peter and Michelle Scantland Daniel and Laura Schrader Robert and Nami Stager Bryan ’95 and Jenny Stewart Matthew Sullivan and Virginia Rich The Trubilowicz Family The Graham-Wilhelm Family Torrance and Juliana Woodall
Class of 2029: 97% Matthew and Ann Arthur David and Leigh Anne Benedic Lyle ’89 and Sheila Brown Brahim and Heather Djafi Scott and Elizabeth Doolittle
Luke and Janelle Fedlam Jack Fenimore ’95 and Shannon Baisden Fenimore Andrew and Shannon Ginther Lawrence and Elizabeth Gross Alexej and Anastasia Jukkert Pete ’96 and Jennifer Kaser Michael and Paula Ley Geoffrey and Amber Merl Jan Ober Matthew Palmer and Kelly Gallina Girish and Anisha Patel Curtis Reed and Jo Ann Quinif Michael and Achea Redd Chris and Jocelyn Reynolds Ben Rupp Brian and Carmen Scott Ghassan Shihab and Btissam Hida Jeurell and Regina Smith David and Janet Swarthout Ryan and Laurie Beth Sweeney Danielle and Stephen Turkovich Nishant and Jyotsna Varma Brandon and Jocelyne Walker Brian Weaver and Jeanna Keinath Weaver ‘94 Brian and Leah Westwater
Class of 2028: 62% Ben Anderson and Sara Saldoff Aaron and Kerry Ard Jose and Sara Bazan Tucker ’98 and Emma Bohm Donella Braddix Leah and Erica Braswell Jeremy Campion and Sophia Hussain Mark and Bree D’Aloisio Justin and LeShel Hutchings Frank Imasuen and Claudia Latsch-Imasuen Jason and Brandale Johnson Chasity and Jack Kuttrus Seth and Armilee Levin Jaap Martens and Jennifer Martens-Spaeth Scott and Allison McHenry Garey and Tracey Noritz Justin and Sarah Owens Julius and Lisa Peterson Niti Smith Matthew Sullivan and Virginia Rich David and Janet Swarthout Ronald and Christine Thielman The Thompson Family
Class of 2027: 76% Matthew and Ann Arthur Mollie Blackburn and Melinda Rhoades Timothy and Diane Bond Dennis and Katrina Bong Anthony Kaldellis and Carolina Lopez-Ruiz Lyle ’89 and Sheila Brown
Darrell and Jaclyn Butler Christopher Cooke and Laura Wilkins Cooke ’90 Jonathan Doerflein and Cristol Rippe Christopher and Shari Graham Lawrence and Elizabeth Gross Pete ’96 and Jennifer Kaser John Kirsner and Lisa Han Ergun and Defne Kocak Ashwin ’03 and Ashley Lakhi Marty and Catherine Lanning Patrick and Sharon McConnell Brian and Lahari Murphy Robert and Aya Murray Perry and Ann Marie Oman Lisette and Roland Pagniano Xueliang Pan and Jun Liu Shunaid and Uzma Pathan Preston and Kelly Pickett Curtis Reed and Jo Ann Quinif John and Kristin Rosan Daniel and Laura Schrader Hashem and Tanya Shkoukani Rakesh and Alpana Singh Bryan ’95 and Jenny Stewart Jason and Erin Stoner Stephen and Alyson Thompson The Trubilowicz Family Brian Weaver and Jeanna Keinath Weaver ’94 Steven Wisnor and Yvonne Johnson
Class of 2026: 64% Chris Adkinson and Anneliese Bohm Adkinson ‘91 William Amato and Cheryl Lee Ibrahim Askira and Kyauta Fompun-Askira Gary and Deirdre Barton Robert and Elizabeth Bernard Jeremy Campion and Sophia Hussain Arthur Chau and Kim Huynh-Chau Karol and Jacquelyne Cios Brahim and Heather Djafi Danielle Guffrey Charles Hall and Xiuqiong Wang John Hamrick and Elizabeth Wolfe Hamrick John Kirsner and Lisa Han Derek and Melissa Kramer LaQuita Long Kevin and Jennifer Lutz Scott and Allison McHenry Joseph Moyer and Julie Weekley Wanjiku Kabiru The Parkes Family Brian and Carmen Scott Jianbin Shen and Yun Shan Web and Lindsey Smith M. Shane and Gina Spicer The Thompson Family
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ANNUAL REPORT
Class of 2025: 72% Jose and Sara Bazan Timothy and Diane Bond Dennis and Katrina Bong Ike and Monique Brady Leah and Erica Braswell Joseph and Jennifer Chenelle Andrew Cruse and Dorothée Imbert Michael and Phaedra Edwards Antonios Michailidis and Pelagia Gouma Jason and Amy Judd Jeffrey and Stacy Kallas Ram Kalyanam and Vidya Raman Scott and Patricia Kellicker John Kwak and Linda Ryu Marty and Catherine Lanning Daniel and Nicole McCarthy Robert and Aya Murray Steve ’92 and Melissa Paull The Liles Family Matthew and Cynthia Ray Michael and Achea Redd John and Kristin Rosan Sam Shihab and Cheryl Brikho Jason and Erin Stoner Jason and Julia Ware Robert and Kelly Wheeler Steven Wisnor and Yvonne Johnson Johannes and Dea Wuerdig
Class of 2024: 57% Richard and Tonda Adiansingh Julian and Bridget Allen Theodore Allen and Emily Patterson Mohamed Batun and Zamzam Liban Nicholas Breyfogle and Jillian Gustin Christopher Cooke and Laura Wilkins Cooke ’90 Robert Erlanger and Tina Kinnen Ian and Carmen Gray John Hamrick and Elizabeth Wolfe Hamrick Chad and Debbie Jester Elizabeth Kennedy Gillman and John Gillman Ergun and Defne Kocak Derek and Melissa Kramer Monica Quezada Lott Kevin and Jennifer Lutz Nathalie Maitre Randy and Susan Malloy The Manley Family Patrick and Sharon McConnell Daphne Meimaridis Enver and H. Gulcin Ozer Thomas and Tara Paider David and Elizabeth Sabol Ellen Shackelford M. Shane and Gina Spicer Susan Vargo and Jennifer Zegler
Class of 2023: 45% Chris Adkinson and Anneliese Bohm Adkinson ’91 Kirk and Anne Albers
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THE JAG • FALL 2019
Elizabeth Belcher Joseph and Jennifer Chenelle Jacob and Kimberly Dobres Paul Giorgianni and Julia White Jay and Wendy Johnson Daniel and Sarah Kay Keith Klingler and Maura Stevenson Chasity and Jack Kuttrus Matthew Mingione and Sara Sukalich Garey and Tracey Noritz Jeffrey and Lisa Norris Paul and Natalie Pepper Matthew and Shelva Sagone Terry Sanders and Kristen Sydney Sam Shihab and Cheryl Brikho Artie and Christine Taylor Ronald and Christine Thielman Stephen and Alyson Thompson The Thompson Family Matthew and Holly Wilson Adam Winter Jessica Winter and Aaron Seamon
Class of 2022: 70% Zoheir and Hana Abdelbaki Zhanna Mikulik William and Beth Anderson Ibrahim Askira and Kyauta Fompun-Askira Steve and Ashleigh Behnke Mollie Blackburn and Melinda Rhoades Timothy and Diane Bond William and Peggy Boyd Mike and Jennifer Brello Kenneth and Kelli Browning Me-Chelle Burkhalter Dana Calloway Karol and Jacquelyne Cios Jim and Michelle Croft Jerry and Jill Dannemiller Michael and Phaedra Edwards Stephen Evans and Stephanie Brown Raymond and Sarah Harpham Rebecca Harvey Jeff and Caroline Haskett Jeffery and Vicki Jacobs Curtis and Stacia Jones Ram Kalyanam and Vidya Raman Elizabeth Kennedy Gillman and John Gillman Orie Kristel and Lisa Evans Monica Quezada Lott Nathalie Maitre John Marshall and Angela Plummer Michael and Carlye Morosky Brian and Lahari Murphy Stephen and Shavonda Neal Jan Ober Robert Ouellette Steve ’92 and Melissa Paull Kurtis and April Posey The Liles Family Matthew and Cynthia Ray Christine Robbins Tracy Robbins Jerome and Susan Scott Ellen Shackelford Michael and Angela Shock
Rakesh and Alpana Singh Todd and Sharla Starker Rob and Noriko Stevens Jason and Erin Stoner Lori Thomas Paul and Barbara Velasco Jason and Julia Ware Robert and Kelly Wheeler Ernest and Kristyn Wilder Tyler and Kathy Wooddell Raymond and Karin Wurapa
Class of 2021: 55% Anonymous Heidi Ballard Steve and Theresa Belford Stephen Bennett and Sandra LaFontaine Brian and Teresa Biernat Anthony Brown and Susan Oppenheimer Daniel and Niki Callanan James Cencer and Julie McNamara-Cencer Christopher Cooke and Laura Wilkins Cooke ’90 Christelie and Monica Dunlap Vinhcam Giang and Judy Do Timothy and Jill Judge John and Kim Kadlic The Manley Family Bill and Abby Miller Nahush and Sunita Mokadam David O’Carroll and Leah Basobas O’Carroll Michael Perez and Linda Romano-Perez Nelson and Anne Reid Tim Rennick and Kirstin Lindbergh Reza Reyazi and Elaine Hostetler Abraham Roth and Lisa Downing David and Elizabeth Sabol Patricia Shaffer Jianbin Shen and Yun Shan Jason and Kathleen Skestos Marcus and Ronda Stewart Susan Vargo and Jennifer Zegler Wolfgang Windl
Class of 2020: 63% Zoheir and Hana Abdelbaki Richard and Tonda Adiansingh Doug and Laura Anderson Timothy and Diane Bond John and Judy Chester Frederick and Nancy Coons Marco and Celina Corridore Jim and Michelle Croft Bruce and Yumi Danford Bryan Dulle and Jennifer Jerwers-Dulle Henry and Melinda Gleissner Raakhee Gonela Kimberly Hall Brad and Katie Halley Jake and Gretchen Hammond Patty and Alan Hans Jeff and Caroline Haskett David and Ann Herrick Lawrence Hill and Janice Glowski Jason Hill and Ashley Clifton-Hill John Marshall and Angela Plummer
Michael and Carlye Morosky Trista O’Brien John and Kelly Olmstead Susan and Andrew Olson Richard O’Shaughnessy and Sarah Artman Enver and H. Gulcin Ozer Kurtis and April Posey Matthew and Cynthia Ray Nelson and Anne Reid Anthony and Robyn Robinson D. James and Jan Schumer Jerome and Susan Scott Antony Shuttleworth and Janice Aski Andrew and Courtney Smyth John and Elizabeth Sokol Jeffrey Thompson and Susan Cole Mike and Karen Tocci Ramarao and Rekha Venkatesh David Weinberg and Lisa Florman Robert and Kelly Wheeler Adam Winter Jessica Winter and Aaron Seamon Tyler and Kathy Wooddell Raymond and Karin Wurapa
Class of 2019: 35% Kirk and Anne Albers Deirdre Beam Steve and Theresa Belford Paula Cullen Anthony Kaldellis and Carolina Lopez-Ruiz Elliott and Sangeeta Crouser The Davis Family Michael and Phaedra Edwards J. Aaron and Jennifer Frim Paul Giorgianni and Julia White Edward Haraburda and Pauline Wijaya-Haraburda Jeff and Caroline Haskett Alex and Millie Hay John and Kim Kadlic Mike McCraw and Amye Sukapdjo Michael and Carlye Morosky Robert Ouellette Kent and Diane Rambo Michael and Angela Shock James and Janet Sorrels Lori Thomas James and Mireille Tussing Mark and Paulene Wilson Doug and Laura Zallanta
The Wellington Annual Fund Faculty & Staff Gifts Anonymous (2) Cheryl L. Allen Berc and Erica Backhurst J.J. Bain ’06 Stephen and Maria Baker Kimberly Barr Jaime Bennati Mary Beth Borcherding Adam and Brenda Porter Robert Brisk and Monica Mahoney Brian and Shelley Brown Me-Chelle Burkhalter Samantha Cheverton Mark and Christine Conkle Kara Conley Marianne Crowley The Davis Family Kim and Kevin Dunn Robert and Melanie Eggleton J. Aaron and Jennifer Frim
Wayne and Rebecca Fuller Benjamin and Cristen Geary Brandon and Danielle Gibbs Erin Cornett Griffing ‘96 and Bryce Griffing Phil Gross Patty and Alan Hans Dorene Henschen David and Ann Herrick David and Jill Hicks Audrey Bourriaud Bryan and Emelie Inderhees Jeffery and Vicki Jacobs The Joseph Family Pete ’96 and Jennifer Kaser Scott and Patricia Kellicker Matthew and Jaime Kletzly Keith Klingler and Maura Stevenson John and Karen Kruzan John and Maryline Kulewicz Jennifer and James Landon
Brendan Laughlin Keith and Jennifer Leonard Katherine Lin Stephen and Carol Linville Joe and Julie Lovett Daniel Magas The McConaghy Family Makiva and Monte McIntosh Gregory and Kelly Mexicott Bill and Abby Miller Erin Miller Kim Nally Trent Neely Erin Noviski David and Sharon Nye Jordan O’Brien Earl and Stuart Oremus Victoria Pang The Parkes Family Laurie L. Parsons
Girish and Anisha Patel Amanda Pierce Christine Robbins Sharon Sheridan Michael and Angela Shock Rebecca Shrader Web and Lindsey Smith Justine and Michael Smith Jeurell and Regina Smith M. Shane and Gina Spicer Lisa Springer Robert and Nami Stager Todd and Sharla Starker Lynne Steger Brandon and Heidi Sullivan Ryan and Laurie Beth Sweeney Emily Szabo Artie and Christine Taylor Jeff and Mia Terwin Michelle Neely The Trubilowicz Family Danielle and Stephen Turkovich Keti Uppal Lissa and Andrew Wade Thomas and Jill Webb Stephen Winslow Steven Wisnor and Yvonne Johnson David and Kathleen Yant
The Wellington Annual Fund In Honor Gifts Ryan Amaya-Thompson IN HONOR OF WYATT PELLETIER
Jacob and Kimberly Dobres IN HONOR OF CHARLIE DOBRES ‘23
Ryan and Mary Augsburger IN HONOR OF ERIN MILLER AND PETE KASER
Shavon Duffy IN HONOR OF ELIJAH MCINTOSH
Lori Augustus IN HONOR OF JULIA JOSEPH
Stephen and Molly Dutton IN HONOR OF THE LUKEMAN FAMILY
Bradley Biehl IN HONOR OF EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS AMAZING PLACE
Sue Ellen Eickelberg IN HONOR OF JANEEN ELLEN DANIEL
Charlotte Brewer IN HONOR OF JOE NEFF Michael Cadwell and Jane Murphy IN HONOR OF ROBERT BRISK AND THE BEST BASEBALL TEAM EVER! Carol Cencer IN HONOR OF SOPHIA CENCER Stormy Chitwood IN HONOR OF WYATT PELLETIER Glen and Amy Sullivan IN HONOR OF MARC AND THE CLASS OF 2031
John and Sharron Eisenhauer IN HONOR OF KATI RICHARDSON Andrew and Shannon Ginther IN HONOR OF CLARA GINTHER Tom and Marlene Goudie IN HONOR OF JAKE GOUDIE The Graham-Wilhelm Family IN HONOR OF ALEXIS WILHELM Ruth Griffing IN HONOR OF TESSA, WILLA, ERIN, AND BRYCE GRIFFING
Sandra Cornett IN HONOR OF ERIN CORNETT GRIFFING
Jim and Linda Haskett IN HONOR OF SOPHIE, ROSEMARY, AND PARKER HASKETT
Dan and Kathy Damiano IN HONOR OF KATZ AND REAGAN KADLIC
Reginald Henderson IN HONOR OF LANGDON AND OLIVA SMITH
Robert and Barbara Holland IN HONOR OF RETIRING HEAD OF SCHOOL ROBERT BRISK Peter and Whitney Horiszny IN HONOR OF LEFT OVER PROFITS FROM BLOW POP SALES John and Sharon Jacobs IN HONOR OF JACKSON JACOBS Larry and Donna James IN HONOR OF TRINITY SCOTT Kanisha Johnson IN HONOR OF ELIJAH MCINTOSH Jason and Amy Judd IN HONOR OF SIGAL JUDD Wanjiku Kabiru IN HONOR OF LILIAN MWAURA George and Susan Kentris IN HONOR OF ABBOTT AND ARLO ARTHUR AND QUINN COLEMAN G. Paul and Karen King IN HONOR OF CHRIS AND KATIE KING Mildred Knight IN HONOR OF MILLIE, RUBY, AND EMMETT DOOLITTLE
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ANNUAL REPORT
Guanghui Lan and Yaping Wu IN HONOR OF MICHAEL Z. LAN
Jimmy Pham and Phuong Nguyen IN HONOR OF NOAH AND NATHAN PHAM
Jeurell and Regina Smith IN HONOR OF LANGDON AND OLIVIA SMITH
Alyson Leeman IN HONOR OF MITCH AND CAROLINE MCGUIRE
Kurtis and April Posey IN HONOR OF NOAH AND HANNAH JONES-BEYENE
Rufus and Phillipa Smith IN HONOR OF LANGDON AND OLIVIA SMITH
Susan Levin IN HONOR OF GABRIEL LEVIN
Ram Kalyanam and Vidya Raman IN HONOR OF PTS RAGHAVAN
Sherri Smith IN HONOR OF ELIJAH MCINTOSH
Anthony Kaldellis and Carolina Lopez-Ruiz IN HONOR OF THE FANTASTIC EDUCATION OUR SON ALFONSO BOTTA-LOPEZ RECEIVED, CLASS OF 2019!
Jane Rife IN HONOR OF NATHANIEL HAY
Wilma Sukapdjo IN HONOR OF TREVOR MCCRAW
Richard and Judy Martin IN HONOR OF JENNIFER MARTIN
Robert and Cathy Gale IN HONOR OF ELIZABETH C. GILLMAN, HANNAH, AND ALEXIS KENNEDY
Louis and Carol Unverferth IN HONOR OF AUDREY AND DECLAN UNVERFERTH
Jack McGinnis IN HONOR OF MY GRANDSON JACK HENRY “HANK” MCGINNIS
Anthony and Robyn Robinson IN HONOR OF SIMONE, NICHOLAS, AND OLIVIA ROBINSON
Jerry and Joy Norris IN HONOR OF MANNING A. NORRIS
Bruce and Phyllis Roginson IN HONOR OF MASON AND LAUREN ROGINSON
Philip and Bryn Pelok IN HONOR OF BRYN, COLE, TATUM, ELLE PELOK, AND MRS. SMITH
Ben Anderson and Sara Saldoff IN HONOR OF TOM SALDOFF - ANOTHER TRIP AROUND THE SUN
Lisa Wise IN HONOR OF CLARKE R. WISE
Brittany Perkins IN HONOR OF ELIJAH
David Ferguson and Karen Schwarzwalder IN HONOR OF GRACE FERGUSON
Shaniece Wise-Spencer IN HONOR OF MAKIVA MCINTOSH
Jack and Tish Pesicka IN HONOR OF HUGO
James and Christie Shells IN HONOR OF GRYPHON WALKER
Peg Wright IN HONOR OF ABBY AND ELLA JOY NORITZ
Tracy Petrakis IN HONOR OF RACHEL GERSPER
Rakesh and Alpana Singh IN HONOR OF GRANDPARENTS
Susan Vargo and Jennifer Zegler IN HONOR OF RUSS VARGO
Gabriel and Taylor Vydra IN HONOR OF ELIANAH AND MARGARET VYDRA Lionel and Terry Walker IN HONOR OF GRYPHON DEWITT WALKER Bob and Ann Weddle IN HONOR OF DANZIG WILSON
Carol Zimmerman IN HONOR OF ELIZABETH ZIMMERMAN
The Wellington Annual Fund In Memory Gifts Matthew and Ann Arthur IN MEMORY OF RODNEY ARTHUR
Mary Seitz IN MEMORY OF THOMAS B. SEITZ, M.D.
Mary Beth Borcherding IN MEMORY OF LARRY BORCHERDING
Jan Ober IN MEMORY OF MONIKA OBER
Ajit Chaudhari and Lise Worthen-Chaudhari IN MEMORY OF CAROL GOLDSMITH
Tracy Petrakis IN MEMORY OF THERESA A. PETRAKIS
Bob and Anne Doolittle IN MEMORY OF RUBY DOOLITTLE, GRAMMA RUBY
Larry and Diane Scott IN MEMORY OF LARRY SCOTT, USAF VETERAN
Carol Gallo IN MEMORY OF “BO” GALLO
Greg Stewart Suzanne Stewart IN MEMORY OF ALEX FAYNE ‘95
Reginald and Sandra Henderson Renee Karonis IN MEMORY OF ANNETTE KARONIS
Beatrice Vargo IN MEMORY OF RUSS VARGO
Seth and Armilee Levin IN MEMORY OF ARTURO LUMAPAS
Brandon and Jocelyne Walker IN MEMORY OF HUGHBERT AND LUCILLE POORE
Brittany Little IN MEMORY OF MARTIN C. LITTLE, SR.
Rodney Wasserstrom IN MEMORY OF DONNA WASSERSTROM
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THE JAG • FALL 2019
Clarke and Julia Wise IN MEMORY OF RANDY WISE Susan Vargo and Jennifer Zegler IN MEMORY OF JEANETTE ZEGLER Kenneth and Kelli Browning Monica Quezada Lott Marco Quezada and Luz Munoz Spencer Rieser IN MEMORY OF EDDY LOTT Frank Benson George and Diane Byers Don Casto Phillip and Nancy Cochran William and Joyce Dargbusch Stephen and Molly Dutton Gordon Johnston Rosemary Lewis Joseph and Anne Lleonart William and Jean Louis Bob and Jodi Lukeman Robert and Sue Massey Gregory and Lori McMillan Smith & Hale LLC Nancy Snyder Thomas Szykowny David Williams Jane Zartman IN MEMORY OF GLORIA GARDNER LUKEMAN
Financial Reports A contribution to Wellington is a sound investment and has a profound and lasting impact. With the experience and knowledge of the business office staff, every dollar is maximized and the school’s financial position remains strong and stable. The Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees works cooperatively with the business office staff to assure prudent fiscal management and to provide focus and assistance to the school in realizing its short-term and long-term financial goals. Other
Operating Cash Flow
State Funds
(IN THOUSANDS)
4%
2018-19
REVENUE Tuition and Fees Annual Fund State Funds Other EXPENSES Salaries and Benefits Financial Aid/Remission Instructional Plant and Facilities Administrative Capital Expenditures Other
8%
Annual Fund
3% $14,765 $499 $789 $1,321 $17,374
REVENUE
Tuition & Fees
85%
$9,353 $2,558 $1,344 $927 $796 $330 $550 $15,858 Capital Expenditures
Balance Sheet
Administrative
AS OF JUNE 30, 2019
ASSETS Cash $7,212 Contributions Receivable $1,038 Tuition Receivables and Prepaids $212 Long-Term Investments $3,832 Property and Equipment $18,309 $30,603 LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Payables and Accruals $1,228 Unearned Tuition and Fees $5,539 Debt $4,752 Net Assets: Unrestricted $14,882 Restricted $4,202 $30,603
5%
2%
Other
3%
Plant & Facilities
6% Instructional
9% EXPENSES
Salaries & Benefits
59%
Financial Aid
16%
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Presorted First Class U.S. Postage
Wellington 3650 Reed Road Columbus, Ohio 43220 wellington.org
Digital drawing KYLE TOCCI ’20
PAID
Columbus, OH Permit #3374