The Compass | Spring 2023

SPRING 2023

FOR REMY, with Love

By: Meg Smith

Remy Steevensz, who passed away April 9th, 2017, spent more than a decade on the Hill, acting as Maloney Hall’s first dorm head, a graphic design teacher, and Chair of the Arts Department. Her presence extended beyond her classroom, and seeped into the very fabric of campus, resonating with anyone who came to know her.

While threads of Steevenz still weave their way across campus, Rams new and old will now be able to see her legacy live on in Tilton’s latest initiative: the Remy Steevensz Artist In Residence Program.

Crafted to enhance the Tilton arts program while amplifying local and national artists, the new program will host its first artist as soon as September 2023.

“Remy was just an extraordinarily creative person — love and color just radiated from her,” says Head of School Kate Saunders P’17, ’21. “Not only did she help move us forward in the arts, but her impact across campus was genuinely felt in the relationships she curated every day. Naming this program after her impact on Tilton felt natural.”

Remembered for her unequivocal ability to connect deeply with everyone around her, Steevensz managed to make everyone on the Hill feel perfectly at home, no matter how far they traveled to get there. “She had such a positive energy, but she was also a firecracker,” remembers Arts department faculty Tyler Goodwin. “How she carried herself resonated really deeply with the kids.”

During her tenure on the Hill, Steevensz managed to connect with students and faculty from all walks of life. She had a way of making every person feel truly heard, and would devote her undivided attention to students who needed a supportive person to lean on. “Remy had this unique ability to uplift students, but also make sure they never sold themselves short,” says Goodwin. “She knew how to pull out the potential of our students — she saw the best in them.”

“Not only did Mrs. Steevensz radiate love, positivity, and enthusiasm,” says Class of 2017 Student Assembly President Olivia Orlando, “but she also had a way of ensuring those around her always felt seen, supported, and valued. She changed so many lives for the better, especially mine.”

Kaitlyn Hess ’17, president of her class, describes Steevensz as being “blessed with the ability to create these perfect moments in our lives.”

“At prom we all stood outside the library awaiting our turn in front of the camera, when Mrs. Steevensz entered the scene,” remembers Hess. “There she stood, head to toe, entirely in red — red shirt, red pants, topped with a pair of red Uggs. It was the best outfit on prom night and perfectly represented everything Remy was: a colorful, vibrant human being.”

That memory, paired with the exceptionally bright light Steevensz brought to campus, is what inspired the Class of 2017 to give Tilton School a pair of Adirondack chairs, in

“Not only did Mrs. Steevensz radiate love, positivity, and enthusiasm, but she also had a way of ensuring those around her always felt seen, supported, and valued. She changed so many lives for the better, especially mine.”

Olivia Orlando ’17 Student Assembly President

Tilton Mansion, the artists who join the School will have the resources available to expand their skill sets, while teaching the next generation.

“I think one of the lessons from Remy is the benefit of real educational opportunities for people to be connected with artists, so that they can see the connection of art and a career,” explains Saunders.

Whether it’s ceramics or stage design, oil painting or origami, artists across the nation can find a home on the Hill, where students are eager to learn from their expertise. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming the first Remy Steevensz Artist in Residence, please submit an application through the QR code found on page 3.

RECAP 2023 WINTER SPORTS

6 1 8 GAMES WON COMPETITIVE TEAMS

ALL-NEPSAC AWARDS LAKES REGION CHAMPIONSHIP

7 LAKES REGION ALL-STARS

For the first time in recent history, the Girls Varsity Hockey team made the Lakes Region Championship playoffs.

| The Compass: Spring 2023

BROOKS-PINGREE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS

The Boys Varsity A Hockey team won the 2022 Brooks-Pingree Tournament for the first time.

2023 LAKES REGION CHAMPIONS

Girls Varsity Basketball

AHNAY ADAMS

2023 Gatorade Player of the Year for the second straight year

ESPN Top 50 Class of 2024 Recruit

Commited to University of Miami

AHNAY ADAMS ’24

All-NEPSAC First Team

COLLEEN PHIRI ’25

All-NEPSAC

Honorable Mention

KEEGAN KNIGHT ’23

All-NEPSAC

Honorable Mention

BRENNEN PECARARO ’23

All-NEPSAC

Honorable Mention

SOPHIA BREA ’23

All-NEPSAC

Honorable Mention

JAYLEN KIRKLAND ’23

All-NEPSAC

Honorable Mention

LEAVING MORE THAN A Legacy

By: Bryan Geary

Months into their Legacy Project to benefit a local women’s shelter, the light went off for classmates Annie Dunlop ’23, Ashley Lafond-Sanchez ’23, and Emma Markwick ’23. “I called to check on our progress and they were the sweetest people I had ever talked to,” says Lafond-Sanchez. “They said, ‘I can’t believe you all are doing this. We’ve received donations from other people but never in these amounts.’”

“It made me realize that we actually did something that impacted this organization on a greater scale than I could have imagined,” Markwick says with a smile. “It just felt really good.”

For Markwick and her teammates on this project, it was an affirmation of their choice and their decisionmaking process. The cause was close to their hearts for personal reasons and that made all the difference in their motivation, their collaboration, and ultimately their final product.

The concept is simple. Required of all graduating students, the Legacy Project is a, “student-selected exploration of a topic that results in a significant piece of work designed to leave a legacy.” From fundraisers to events to physical artifacts such as a bench or a mural, ask a Tilton student past or present about their project and you’ll see a breadth of different directions. The common thread, says Dean of Teaching and Learning Katherine McCandless, is that the final product should be a manifestation of mastery learning.

“It made me realize that we actually did something that impacted this organization on a greater scale than I could have imagined.”

Emma Markwick ’23

“As we continue to evolve Legacy Projects, I see it as a template for our mastery learning record,” says McCandless. Rooted in the Mastery Approach, Tilton’s fundamental approach to teaching and learning, this transcript of sorts would distill years of learning into a tangible learning record that shows mastery of the five essential skills. “The Legacy Project is the culmination of all those strands.”

To achieve that across the board, says McCandless, there is a renewed focus on the process. For all projects, the question is not simply, “What is your final product?” The important learning comes from asking how the project is researched, how is it marketed and communicated, and how it works within the parameters of the community. Put differently, the Legacy Project is not the event or the fundraiser, it is the work behind the scenes that demonstrates mastery of Tilton’s essential skills.

The work of Dunlop, Lafond-Sanchez, and Markwick — who thanked this year’s Legacy Project Coordinator, Eliza Smith, and their advisors for their support along the way — is a perfect demonstration of this type of learning. Originally set on raising funds to support a cause that held personal significance, their work ended up being part community service, part entrepreneurship, and part marketing. Through a partnership with The Protein Lounge, a favorite local spot of Tilton students for coffee and smoothies, their group created a signature drink that was added to the public menu, with a portion of the proceeds going to Ozanam Place, the aforementioned nonprofit organization in Franklin, NH. Though she hadn’t taken the school’s entrepreneurship course, says Lafond-Sanchez, she tapped into the experience of The Protein Lounge’s owner, as well as peers who

had taken the class. That type of outside-the-classroom learning led to a deeper understanding of realworld skills like marketing, managing money, and pitching an idea.

“It’s all about the idea of showing what you know, and that you’re never done learning,” says Julie Donahue, an English faculty member who will be supervising next year’s Legacy Projects. “How can we give back to the community through education or volunteerism to create a larger connection with the topic for our students?”

The culture around Legacy Projects, says Donahue, should be celebratory. “It’s a chance to celebrate what you’ve learned and give back to the place that has given that to you. Whether it’s been a year or four years, how can you make your mark and leave it better for the next group of kids?”

Evelynn Irizarry ’23 expressed that exact sentiment when talking about her own project, an openmic night in support of the arts at Tilton. A two-sport varsity athlete who also participates in theatre, Irizarry set out to do something that would allow more space for artistic expression on campus. “I wanted to send the message that regardless of your interests, you are still a valued member of our community,” she says. “I would be ecstatic if my project helps people continue to recognize how important it is for everyone at Tilton to be comfortable showcasing their abilities.”

With 60 attendees at her first event, and several unexpected participants in the impromptu karaoke portion of the evening, Irizarry hopes her project was a good start.

Although the idea of a culminating project is nothing new to Tilton or other secondary schools, the difference, says McCandless, is the Mastery Approach. “It’s a differentiator because of personalization,” continues McCandless. “We owe it to our students to give them this opportunity to demonstrate their strengths by choosing something that matters to them, not something we’re telling them should matter.”

“This project is the capstone of their experience and all the things we do well,” reflects Donahue. “From design thinking in the ninth-grade program to our student experience block to the development of essential skills, we are funneling everything we do towards this celebration of student learning.”

“It’s all about the idea of showing what you know, and that you’re never done learning. How can we give back to the community through education or volunteerism to create a larger connection with the topic for our students?”

Julie Donahue

2023-24 Legacy Project Coordinator

WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN

By: Bryan Geary

Full of both nostalgia and possibility, first-floor renovations in the Charles E. Tilton Mansion are beginning to come to a close, and the results are stunning. While managing to preserve its ornate and museumlike qualities, the project has simultaneously created distinctive program opportunities in the arts, historical research and study, entrepreneurship, event planning, and community service. At its core, however, the progress returns the space to its rightful state, revitalizing its significance as both a family heirloom and a point of pride for the entire community.

Built in 1861 as the home of Charles E. Tilton, the Mansion remained within the Tilton family until it was sold in 1952. A decade later, in 1962, the property came up for sale again, at which time it was purchased by the School. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance and is home to a host of historical and one-of-one artifacts and furnishings.

“In reimagining this space and what is possible here, we’re building

something that truly celebrates our community and our purpose,” says Head of School Kate Saunders P’17, ’21. “Similar to how the namesake of the Mansion, Charles E. Tilton, helped bridge Tilton to the surrounding areas by bringing in railroads and building up town roadways, we want to build connections that establish the School as a center of distinction for community partnerships. Our location is an asset with immense untapped potential, and the Mansion project is a vital part of how we will transform what’s possible in independent school education.”

In collaboration with local organizations and the surrounding education community, the School is designing programming and events that will broaden appreciation and understanding of the Mansion as a historical landmark and shared history in this region. Phase one initiatives such as the archival display, a new social sciences classroom, a catering kitchen, and the new artistin-residence program are just the start of bringing this vision to life.

The newly restored Charles E. Tilton Mansion

INTO THEArchives

1927

The Administration Building was constructed and named after Mr. Plimpton, former headmaster of Tilton School.

1950

The new gymnasium nears completion at the cost of $250,000.

1923

1943

War efforts reach Tilton School—10 students are called directly from the classroom into the armed forces, and several others left to try to enter a favored branch.

1964

Ground-breaking ceremony is held for the new Tilton School Chapel, given by the parishioners of Canterbury (NH) Congregational Church.

The Administration of George L. Plimpton changes the name of Tilton Seminary to Tilton School.

1962

The School purchased the historic 35-room Charles E. Tilton Mansion, which became the school’s library and dormitory.

Celebrating 100 Years of “Tilton School”

Though our school on the Hill has been around since 1845, this year marks a century of using the name Tilton School. Previously called the New Hampshire Conference Seminary, then the New Hampshire Conference Seminary and Junior College, then simply the Tilton Seminary, the School adopted its current name in 1923. To honor this centennial, we worked with the Tilton Historical Society to mine through the archives in search of some of our favorite milestones, memories, and photos.

The town of Tilton celebrated its 100th birthday and Tilton gave tours of the Charles E. Tilton Mansion to celebrate.

1982

Hamilton Theater opens, following the renovation of the gymnasium built in 1907.

1970 1988

Coeducation returns to Tilton School after 30 years.

Tilton celebrates 100 years of Knowles Hall. The students raised money to purchase a tree which was planted, along with a time capsule (pictured), to be dug up in 2038.

LAX VEGASViva

By: Meg Smith

While snow covered the Hill well into April, the Tilton Girls Varsity Lacrosse team was able to enjoy a much-deserved spring break and an opportunity for athletic growth, team bonding, and perfecting their performance.

With sticks and goggles in tow, the team traveled over 2,600 miles to Mesquite, Nevada for a week-long spring training session, hosted by Trilogy Lacrosse. “We were super fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to Nevada for the second week of our spring break,” Head Coach Emily Johnson explains. “We had 20 of our 26 players join us on this trip, along with our Assistant Coach Maura Veilleux and myself.”

Each day was filled with team time between practices, meals, and other events that Trilogy provided, including practices run by Theresa Sherry, a former Division I lacrosse coach and player.

The team had the benefit of playing two scrimmages during training, which Johnson says greatly helped the new members of the team adjust to the fast paced style of competition that is typically seen in the Lakes Region. The weather also allowed them to train outdoors, an escape from the lengthy New England winter and indoor practices they left behind.

“We continue to see the positive impacts of the trip today,” Coach Johnson explains. “Our skill level has greatly improved, and our current team is the most cohesive team I’ve coached at Tilton in my five years of working here. I am incredibly grateful to our players and their families for committing to this trip and I hope to do something similar in the future!”

SPRING SPORTS 2023

THE LITTLE MERMAID

Spring Musical

Across: 2. Amphitheatre, 3. Chapel, 6. Saunders, 7. Comptons, 8.

Suarez, 11. Elsaesser, 13. The Hill, 16. Brisson

Down: 1. Knowles, 4. MARC, 5. Mackenzie, 9. Mansion, 10.

Hamilton, 12. Landroche, 14. Ruggles, 15. Waring

SEARCHING FOR GOLD

Across

2. What recent construction was built to honor Tilton Alumni?

3. Which campus building was purchased for $1?

6. Which community member made history in becoming Tilton’s first female Head of School?

7. What faculty couple moved to Tilton from Colorado?

8. Which staff member has recently taken on coaching boys varsity soccer?

11. When they’re not on campus, which faculty member can you find boating on Lake Sunapee?

13. What do community members lovingly refer to campus as?

16. Which Tilton coach is a five-time All American athlete?

Down

1. What building on campus features the iconic clock tower built in 1909?

4. Which building on campus houses more than 50 championship banners?

5. What current Tilton Spanish teacher is an avid disc golf player?

9. Where can you find the largest mirror east of the Mississippi River?

10. Which campus space is hiding a bowling alley from the 1960s?

12. What faculty member just celebrated a monumental 40 years working at Tilton?

14. Which faculty member additionally serves as a Tilton town selectman?

15. What Tilton alum returned to become the Lakes Region’s first full-time Strength and Conditioning Coach?

Alumni Weekend

JUNE 23–24, 2023

We can’t wait to see you! Scan the QR code for a full rundown of events and please join us to celebrate this year’s Alumni Award winners:

• Alumni of the Year: Bob Finch ’58 and Andrea Tecce ’88

• John Charles Daly Award: Dave Gould

• George L. Plimpton Award: John Perkins ’63

• Artist Hall of Fame: Remy Steevensz (posthumously)

• Athletics Hall of Fame: Marcus O’Neil, Terance Mann ’15, Georges Niang ’09, and Alex Oriakhi ’09

SECOND ANNUAL

ALUMNI GOLF SCRAMBLE

JUNE 23, 2023

Lochmere Country Club

9:00 am Shotgun Start

2022-23 YEAR END GIVING

The Tilton Fund runs from July 1 to June 30.

Your gift to the Tilton Fund impacts every student, every day. We deeply value the generosity of parents, faculty, alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, businesses, and other friends who have shaped Tilton’s history, and will help to profoundly influence its future.

FUND THE FUTURE.

Make Your Tilton Fund Gift Today through the QR code above.

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