USM Today - Spring/Summer 2018-19

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TODAY

SPRING/SUMMER 2018–19

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Responsible Tech for a Digital World GIVING LEFTOVERS A NEW LIFE ART THAT HOLDS WATER ALUMNI SWEETHEARTS ON HOW THEY MET

| a magazine for the usm community

Commencement 2019 Grace Petzold ’19 (left) reacts to finding a special note written on her diploma as she shows it to classmates Duncan Petrie ’19 (center) and Sheilla Nourzad ’19. The message was written by Andrew Petzold, Grace’s father, who signs all of the diplomas in his role as president of the board of trustees, and who just completed his final year in that role following Commencement. This year, 105 students walked across the stage to become USM alumni.

Alumna Dae Mellencamp ’87 gave the Commencement address, and Abby Frenkel ’19 gave the valedictorian’s address.

A commemorative booklet was mailed to all current families in June, containing additional photos and a full list of award winners. To request a copy, please email communications@usmk12.org.

On the cover: Although they have revolutionized the world—and USM’s curriculum—personal computing devices can serve as a distracting temptation for children and adults alike. Learn how students use such devices in the classroom, why they are important, and how USM teaches students to use them responsibly, on page 12.

in this issue Brave New World Technology—along with guidance from teachers and parents on how best to use it—is an integral part of USM’s curriculum in all divisions.

Learn how the school teaches students to use computers and devices responsibly, and how technology enhances the educational experience.

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Giving Leftovers a New Life Last year, Caroline Harkless ’21 repurposed USM’s leftovers into 10,000 meals for the homeless.

20 | Ms. Graham Goes to Washington Evelyn Graham ’23 writes about her experience on this year’s 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C.

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32 | Athletic Hall of Fame Meet USM’s second Athletic Hall of Fame class, to be inducted in October.

38 | Happily Ever After School sweethearts share their love stories.

cover to cover

03 | view from the tower

20 | in focus

26 | spotlight

30 | locker room

34 | beyond usm

USM TODAY STAFF

2018–19 LEADERSHIP

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

HEAD OF SCHOOL

HEAD OF PRESCHOOL AND LOWER SCHOOL

Tim Eilbes, Director of Marketing and Communications

Laura J. Fuller

Michael Tauscher

MANAGING EDITOR

ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL

PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Pamela Seiler, Communications and Public Relations Manager

Gregg Bach

Andrew A. Petzold

ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN

HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL

PRESIDENT, ALUMNI BOARD

McDill Design

Stuart Cushman

Andy Gordon ’98

ONLINE EDITOR

HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

PRESIDENT, PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Eric Schad, Marketing and Digital Communications Manager

Pamela Nosbusch

Sara LeBrun-Blashka

PHOTOGRAPHY

Gwendolyn GaBree McDill Design Visual Image Photography

USM Today is published by University School of Milwaukee twice per year. USM is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school for students from prekindergarten through grade 12.

Our editorial staff has made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of information reported, and we apologize for any inadvertent errors that may have occurred.

To change your address, your child’s address, or to unsubscribe, please contact the USM Advancement Office at 414.540.3339 or advancement@usmk12.org.

PARENTS OF ALUMNI: If you are still receiving your child’s USM Today even though he/she no longer lives with you, please let us know so we can send the magazine directly to him/her.

from the head of school

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ver the course of the past 30 years, I have walked through the process of retirement with many colleagues. While I always tried to understand and empathize with the myriad emotions associated with this pivotal moment in one’s life journey, like most things, it is next to impossible to grasp until you have walked your own path. Following the announcement in January of my plans to retire at the end of this upcoming school year, I have experienced mixed emotions, ranging from bittersweet to curious to a deep sense of satisfaction and peace, and I am looking forward to my final year at University School and the completion of a lifetime career in education.

As is always the case in major life decisions, there have been many conflating reasons why I believe this is the right time for me to retire, both for the school and my family. First and foremost, I feel University School is in a remarkable place. We have achieved the objectives of our strategic plan. We are on the cusp of surpassing our overall goal for the Our Common Bond campaign.

We recently completed the construction of the new Jack Olson ’67 Commons, Abert Tooman Center for the Arts, Lubar Center for Innovation and Exploration, and Lee Community Room—and, prior to these projects, we raised resources for turf fields, a major hockey rink renovation, and many internal space renovation projects. I am convinced we have the strongest faculty, administrative team, staff, and board in the nation. But most importantly, our students are being schooled in the skills, knowledge, and habits of mind necessary to become lifetime learners, ethical leaders, and global citizens, and the results they continue to produce are incredible.

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USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2018–19

My husband, Tom, and I have been grateful to spend nearly a decade at this wonderful school. I knew when University School made the decision to hire its first female head of school, and then allowed us to create a modern version of work/life balance by providing a career opportunity for Tom, that this was truly a progressive and insightful educational community with a big heart. Now, we are looking forward to spending more time with our six children (and two grandbabies!) as they continue in the various stages of their educational and professional journeys.

As I look back over the course of my career that evolved from science teacher to department chair to division head and ultimately 13 years as a head of school—including nine here at University School—there really is nothing I would change. To live and work with smart, interesting people who have a passion for similar goals and a mutual alignment of value systems has been enormously satisfying. I grew up in an education-minded family, had wonderful opportunities to become educated, and spent my career working toward providing the same possibilities for thousands of students, including my own children, and it really just doesn’t get any better than that!

I feel professionally satisfied and blessed.

We are forever grateful to University School for providing us the opportunity to live, work, and grow this school into an unparalleled educational institution. The dedication of this community to raising strong, educated, and ethical young adults is exactly what has supported us in achieving the successes of recent years. I look forward to our final year together and the path ahead of the final leg of my own journey toward retirement.

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Head of School Search Update In January, Head of School Laura Fuller announced her plan to retire at the end of the 2019–20 school year, after concluding nine highly successful years as the school’s first female head. The school’s Board of Trustees has commenced a national search for a new head of school to begin in July 2020. A search committee has been tasked with managing the process of selecting the next head of school. In addition, the board has partnered with Educators’ Collaborative, an independent school administrator search firm, to assist with this process.

University School’s next leader will inherit a school with robust enrollment, unprecedented financial strength, remarkable new educational, athletic, fine arts, and community spaces, and a team of innovative and exceptional faculty and administrative staff. There is no doubt that the school’s impeccable reputation and strong community puts it in a position to attract a stellar new leader.

For updates during the process, please visit www.usmk12.org/headsearch. You can also view the school’s Information for Candidates document on that page.

Anticipated Search Process Timeline Laura Fuller shares her retirement announcement with the University School community after having shared with the school's Board of Trustees the previous fall

Survey of University School community members and interviews with constituent group representatives to inform the head of school position description

JAN. 9, 2019

Semifinalist candidates are interviewed by the search committee and finalists for the position are selected

FEB. 2019

JAN. 17, 2019 A search committee comprised of current and former Board of Trustees members, faculty, and parents/parents of alumni is formed and tasked with leading the search process

AUG.–SEPT. 2019

JAN.–JULY 2019 Educators’ Collaborative receives applications, further develops the pool of candidates, and reviews candidate credentials

The search committee nominates a candidate to the Board of Trustees and the new head of school is elected and news shared with the University School community

FALL 2019

SEPT.–OCT. 2019 Finalists (and families, as appropriate) visit University School for search committee and administrator interviews and community forums, with feedback collected

JULY 2020 The new head of school assumes his or her responsibilities

Search Committee Jackie Darr

Stephen B. Guy

Debra Pokel

Search committee co-chair Board of Trustees member Parent ’24, ’25

Board of Trustees president Parent ’20, ’23

Parents’ Association president Parent ’20

Michael W. Darrow ’86

Jennifer Keppler

William A. Wernecke Jr.

Preschool faculty (since 1997) Parent ’20, ’20

Endowment Board member Past Board of Trustees president Past headmaster search committee chair Parent of alumni ’02, ’04, ’09, ’09

Search committee co-chair Board of Trustees member Parent ’24, ’24, ’26

Joseph Eason Upper School faculty (since 2009) History Department chair Parent ’26, ’26, ’28

Andrew A. Petzold Board of Trustees member Immediate past Board of Trustees president Parent of alumni ’16, ’19

Sarah O. Zimmerman ’92 Board of Trustees vice president Board Committee on Trustees chair Parent ’22, ’25 3

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Head of the Pack Introducing University School’s new head of Middle School, Elaine Griffin.

School faculty members, for 20 years. “It was a huge bonus for me that the [Middle School head] opportunity opened up here at USM, because the school has mentored me into the teacher and administrator that I am.”

For Griffin, the middle school years are an ideal time to expose students to a variety of topics, experiences, and ideas. “Kids in Middle School are still willing to try something even if they don’t think they’re good at it. They’re not worried about their college applications yet, so it’s a low-stakes environment and they can take greater risks. In addition, the kind of project-based teaching that Middle School teachers do fosters resilience and teaches problem solving.”

Elaine Griffin’s experience as a middle school student will likely sound familiar to many: “Looking back, I think I survived middle school rather than thrived in middle school,” she said. But Griffin is quick to point out that USM’s Middle School is different. “When you look at the work that the Middle School faculty has done and is doing, you see how engaged the students are, and you see that they really are thriving.”

Griffin became USM’s head of Middle School on July 1, succeeding long-time Middle School teacher and administrator Pamela Nosbusch, who retired in June. But Griffin is no novice to USM, having worked in teaching and administrative roles in the Upper School (most recently as assistant head of Upper School), as well as working closely with Middle

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At the same time, Griffin notes, the teachers make learning fun. “I think it’s a bit more embedded within the culture at USM that, yes, Middle School children should learn and be responsible, but the work should also be fun, and I think that’s the magic of those teachers in Middle School. There’s a balance of serious learning and laughter that I’m really excited to be a part of.”

Griffin has some advice for her middle-school self.

“I wish I had been the person who tried out for the play or who made the speech. I understand now that my point of view was just as valuable as anybody else’s. I want to develop a culture among Middle School students of, ‘Hey, why not me? Why shouldn’t I go for it?’ That’s how I want them to be in Middle School, and that’s how I want them to go through life.”

NEWS BRIEF

End of an Era

So many exciting things happen with students, faculty, and staff at USM that we don’t have room to fit it all in the magazine. Read longer-form versions of these stories, including more information and, for some items, photo galleries and videos, online at www.usmtoday.org/newsbrief.

The USM community celebrated Pamela Nosbusch—who retired in June after 41 years and multiple roles at USM, most recently as head of Middle School—at an assembly and reception in May.

USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2018–19

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Students’ Research Earns Accolades ROHAN ANNE ’21

AFIYA QURYSHI ’20

Rohan Anne’s ’21 research on cardiovascular disease garnered multiple accolades, including Best of Fair Grand Prize and first place in Biomedical and Health Sciences at the Badger State Science and Engineering Fair, state winner of the Google Science Fair, and the United States Office of Naval Research Award.

After earning first place at the Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, Afiya Quryshi ’20 was one of two delegates who presented their research in oral sessions at the national symposium in April, where students competed for military-sponsored undergraduate tuition scholarships. Her presentation was titled “Role of GATA4 in Early Gastrointestinal Tract Development.” All other regional delegates presented their research in a poster session.

For his project, Anne collaborated with researchers in the Department of Physiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin to investigate a previously unexplored pathophysiological pathway and its role in the development of hypertensive nephropathy, or damage to kidneys due to chronic high blood pressure.

In a separate but related project, Anne also researched the benefits of antioxidants found in super foods like turmeric and green tea which, according to his research, mitigate the endothelial dysfunction caused by diets high in salt, a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

In addition, Quryshi was selected as one of 80 high school students worldwide to attend the seven-week Research Science Institute (RSI) held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology this summer. RSI accepts only 2% of applicants to participate in its cost-free, summer science and engineering program in which on-campus course work in scientific theory is combined with off-campus work in science and technology research.

Goodbye, Farewell

Drumroll Please

Rishi Raghunathan has been named the new upper school head at The Wellington School in Columbus, Ohio.

He held many leadership positions at USM, including the Upper School’s longest-serving dean of students from 2006 to 2015.

Award-winning recording and touring drummer, Rich Redmond, performed for students in May and shared his tips for success, including staying positive, working to improve one’s skill set, and maintaining healthy relationships, among others.

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Lyrical Lesson Singer-songwriter Trapper Schoepp visited Middle School students this spring to discuss folk music, songwriting, and Bob Dylan.

As a young boy growing up in Wisconsin, Trapper Schoepp did not dream of traveling the world as a folk musician. But when he found himself recovering from spinal decompression surgery after a series of BMX biking accidents as a child, he discovered Bob Dylan.

“My mom had signed me up for guitar lessons but it didn’t take right away,” he said. “One day I was in my parents’ basement and heard this song by Bob Dylan called ‘Hurricane,’ and it clicked for me,” he said. “My whole life took on a new direction.” Today, Schoepp has earned acclaim as a gifted singer-songwriter and recorded four albums, and travels the world performing his work.

blizzard, Johnson dug a hole in the ground, flipped his wagon over the hole, and lived out the rest of the winter there. “I learned that story from my grandfather on his cattle farm in South Dakota and I put my own spin on it over time,” he said.

For Middle School English Teacher Amy Norman, who arranged Schoepp’s visit, it was a perfect blend of performance and writing. “I’m a huge music fan, and lyrics are my poetry. So Miriam [Altman, Middle School music teacher] and I were really excited that Trapper could work with students from both a music and writing standpoint.”

Schoepp visited campus in May to speak with 5th grade chorus students and 6th grade English students about folk music, singing, songwriting, and the inspiration behind his albums. Schoepp, who has a certificate in rock ’n roll studies from UW-Milwaukee, gave a brief history of American folk music and discussed how ethnomusicologists traveled to rural areas of the south in the 1920s and conducted field recordings of popular songs to preserve their history and peoples’ stories. Many of those songs, like “Man of Constant Sorrow,” first published by Dick Burnett in 1913, and “This Land is Your Land,” written by Woody Guthrie in 1940, are continuously being reused and repurposed.

For Schoepp, music is a way to both tell his life’s story and celebrate his family’s history. In his song “Ballad of Olaf Johnson” he tells the story of his ancestor Olaf Johnson, who came to America from Sweden around 1900. After encountering a terrible

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For a video of Schoepp’s performance, visit www.usmtoday.org/schoepp.

Doll-making 101

Tower Project 2019

Coleen Bins from the Oneida Nations Art Program visited Lower School students to teach them about corn husk dolls, including how to make them and their significance to Native American culture and history.

More than 90 students in 4th, 8th, and 12th grades participated in Tower Project capstones, in which they develop, research, and create individual projects for an entire year, gaining skills in research and writing, public speaking, risk taking, and more.

USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2018–19

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What’s the Big Deal with July 4? By Chuck Taft

America’s independence wasn’t decided on just one day. So what exactly are we celebrating on July 4?

The declaration states that “these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States.” It reinforces America’s social contract—that the government derives its power from the people and therefore must answer to the people—which is the root of our, and any, democracy. The document’s fundamental ideas are the foundation of our country, and of our study of American history in 8th grade.

In my mind, the most important concept that I can stress to my students is that the declaration crystallizes the growth mindset of America’s story. It captures our country’s continuous efforts to reconcile the document’s ideals—that all people are created equal—with the often-difficult reality.

We recently celebrated our nation’s independence, but in fact, America’s independence wasn’t decided on July 4, 1776—delegates from the 13 colonies (the Second Continental Congress) made that vote on July 2. The Declaration of Independence wasn’t signed on July 4 either; that didn’t happen until August 2. Why then is July 4 so important? And why do I relish starting every school year with that date?

July 4 is the date that the Second Continental Congress agreed on all the edits and changes to the draft of the declaration originally submitted on July 2, thus approving the final wording of the document, which proclaims why the 13 colonies established independence.

During 8th grade we examine America’s history, the highs and the lows, and discuss how we still strive to make the concepts of equality, liberty, and democracy a reality. Each topic we study, from the continued push for civil rights for all, to America’s involvement in global conflicts, allows us to better understand how we still are pushing for growth. And, when we see the actual Declaration of Independence on our annual trip to Washington, D.C., the impact becomes all the more powerful.

So, while the fireworks and parades from Independence Day celebrations may be finished until next year, Americans should never stop celebrating the real glory of the Declaration of Independence. Think of it as a 243-year-old proclamation on what makes our country so exceptional—and then challenge yourself to make it a reality.

Chuck Taft Earns Award

Robotics Takes 10th

Chuck Taft, 8th grade American studies history teacher and History Department chair, was recently named the Wisconsin State Outstanding Teacher of American History from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

USM’s Wildcats robotics team took 10th place after qualifications in the Midwest Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, the highest ranking ever for a USM team. The team also served for the first time as captain of an alliance team at the competition.

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Giving Leftovers a New Life As a sophomore, Caroline Harkless ’21 organized the donation of lunch leftovers to provide 10,000 meals to individuals in need.

It all started with the trash.

After noticing a large volume of food being thrown away at the end of the Upper School lunch periods last year, Caroline Harkless ’21 started taking pictures of the trash cans with her phone. “There was so much food being thrown out;” said Harkless, “it was just a huge heartbreaker to see.” USM chefs Dan Hoye and Jeff King, meanwhile, had also taken notice. “Jeff and I were discussing amongst ourselves, you know, what could we do with this food,” said Hoye. “We didn’t realize Caroline was also tackling the same issue.”

After getting the green light from Assistant Head of School Gregg Bach, as well as Hoye and King, Harkless contacted several local nonprofits to gauge interest in the school’s leftovers. She got an immediate response from Mequon-based Lumen Christi church, which had volunteers willing to take University School’s leftover food to partner organizations in downtown Milwaukee.

Each week, Hoye and King filled foil pans with leftover food they deemed safe to donate, and Harkless then carefully weighed and recorded each pan prior to pickup. “At first I was predicting maybe 30 to 50 pounds per week, but it blew up,” said Harkless. “It got way larger than we could have imagined.” In fact, the school donated an average of 400 to 500 pounds per week— equaling approximately 10,000 meals and 6 tons of food—over the course of the school year.

The volume, which might seem large, was not unexpected for Hoye, who has nearly three decades of experience as a chef. “We’re always careful when

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Midwest Fed Challenge Winners

A Dog’s Life

A team of four students — (from left) Gordy Leech ’19, Sammy Marcus ’19, Jack Glusman ’19, and Brodie Mutschler ’19 —won the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Midwest Fed Challenge 2019 in April.

Xander, the first four-legged member of the USM community, was a big hit on campus this past school year. A certified Canine Good Citizen, Xander shared his calm, loving demeanor with students and will be back next year.

USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2018–19

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we place our food orders,” he said. “We keep weekly production records of what we ordered, what we cooked, and what we had leftover, to inform future ordering. But we err on the side of having too much.

When you average 1,300 meals per day over roughly 170 days of school each year, we think the margin of error is pretty good.”

Harkless and Hoye intend to continue their work next school year. In fact, Hoye has been so impressed with Harkless that he obtained permission from FLIK Independent School Dining, the school’s food service provider, to purchase the foil pans for next year. “The project has brought us a lot of awareness and pushed us to be even more diligent with what we order,” he said. “Caroline is very proactive and easy to work with, and she’s always positive and happy.”

For Harkless, not only is the food being kept out of landfills, it’s going to feed those who need it most.

“It makes my heart so happy to know that someone is getting the opportunity to eat this food that would have otherwise been thrown away. It’s an impact I never would’ve imagined.”

Far left Caroline Harkless ’21 pictured with lunch leftovers.

Top Dan Hoye (left), Caroline Harkless ’21 (center), and Jeff King.

Bottom Caroline Harkless ’21 (left), Justine Cole ’21 (center), and Basma Daham ’21 weighed food prior to it being picked up by volunteers.

Intergalactic Success

Counselor of the Year

Amogh Bhatnagar ’20 and Aayush Karan ’19 were both grand award winners at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in May, and had minor planets named after them. Five USM students competed at this year’s competition.

Susan Zarwell ’87, USM’s director of college guidance, was selected as the state’s 2019 High School Professional Counselor of the Year by the Wisconsin Association of College Admission Counseling.

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Equal to the Task Aayush Karan ’19 solved a 30-year old problem in the mathematical field of knot theory and was named one of 40 finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search competition.

Last year, Aayush Karan ’19 had spent the better part of five months attempting to solve a mathematical problem in the field of knot theory when the unexpected happened—someone else solved the problem first. “A mathematician was working concurrently on the same problem but I didn’t know about it,” said Karan. “I was surprised that it happened, but I guess it’s very common in research.” Karan’s mentor, a professor at MIT, broke the bad news via email. “He sent me a link to the published paper with a sad face emoji,” said Karan.

For Karan, who is also an accomplished pianist and headed to Harvard University in the fall, solving the problem was a surreal experience. “There was always this feeling of, did I really, actually solve it? It’s very hard to describe, but it was a mixture of satisfaction, relief, and just happiness. It was really fun.”

Karan had been working under the PRIMES-USA (Program for Research In Mathematics, Engineering, and Science) program, in which high school juniors are mentored by MIT researchers on unsolved problems in mathematics. It didn’t take long for Karan to dust himself off and start tackling a different problem proposed by his mentor, also in the field of knot theory, which had been unsolved for 30 years.

“When you first see a problem, you just start thinking, ‘Can I do this?’ And there’s no way to tell; there’s never a guarantee that you’ll be able to solve it,” he said. But not only did Karan solve it, he submitted it to the Regeneron Science Talent Search competition, and his hard work paid off.

He was one of 40 high school seniors—and the only one from Wisconsin—out of 1,964 applicants to be named a Regeneron finalist. In March he traveled to Washington, D.C., where he met with the other finalists and notable scientists, and presented his work to the public.

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Aayush Karan ’19 (center) was presented with a copy of the congressional record by U.S. Representative Bryan Steil (left) and Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of the Society for Science & the Public. Karan traveled to Washington, D.C. in March as one of 40 Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists.

Senior Shenanigans

March to the Memorials

Senior class prefects organized a surprise visit by Milwaukee-based Mariachi Monarcas for some end-ofyear fun. “Everyone loved it; there was lots of dancing and it was a great way to unite the senior class,” said Aerial Lopez ’19.

Eighth grade students and faculty hosted the seventh annual March to the Memorials, a service-learning event that raised nearly $2,100 for the Stars and Stripes Honor Flights and Pets for Vets.

USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2018–19

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Art That Holds Water Lower School and Middle School students and visual arts teachers created eco-friendly art to raise awareness of the environmental impact of plastics.

In the United States, 1,500 single-use plastic water bottles are thrown away every second. In an effort to raise awareness of the issue, Lower School and Middle School students, along with visual arts teachers, joined forces to create an eco-art sculpture out of 1,500 water bottles. They were assisted by Milwaukee environmental artist Melanie Ariens, who helped the teachers design the sculpture.

“The inspiration behind the design was a single, large bottle pouring out ‘water’ that was constructed from individual bottles,” said Christina Dresang, Lower School art teacher. “We wanted to show the footprint of exactly how large 1,500 bottles was, so that viewers could get a true visual of how many single-use plastic bottles are disposed of every second in the United States alone.”

View the sculpture this summer July 1–17 Urban Ecology Center, Riverside Park

July 21–25 Schlitz Audubon Center

Aug. 9–11 Catalano Square, Historic Third Ward

Aug. 26–Sept. 20 Werner Family Art Gallery at University School of Milwaukee

The sculpture challenged students to think critically and creatively about the impact of plastics in our world. It is made entirely out of recycled materials, including soda syrup barrels from Lakefront Brewery and recycled palette wrap from Trader Joes. It traveled to various locations throughout Milwaukee in May and June and will continue throughout the summer. It was specifically designed so that it can be dismantled and moved, as well as recycled, at the end of its tour.

“The visual arts teachers and I loved creating art with students to raise awareness of single-use plastics and water consumption,” said Sarah Markwald, Middle Schools art teacher and Fine Arts Department co-chair.

“This sculpture has the capacity to make meaningful changes at USM and in our broader community.”

Sharing World Culture

Building Resilience

Master Ghanaian drummer and dancer Nani Agbeli recently visited the Middle School world drumming class for a workshop. Agbeli, a native of Ghana, serves as director of West African Music, Dance, and Arts at the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles.

At the final USM/REDgen speaker series event of the 2018-19 school year, Dr. Suniya Luthar spoke with parents, teachers, and administrators about building resilience. Luthar has researched vulnerability and resilience amongst many various populations.

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BRAVE NEW WORLD

Clockwise from bottom left Lily Steinbach ’20, Caroline Keppler ’20, Quinn Kingwill ’20, Grey Dugan ’20, and Gaëlle Marolda ’20.

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USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2018–19

Personal computing devices have revolutionized University School of Milwaukee’s curriculum, putting unparalleled knowledge into students’ hands with the click of a mouse or the swipe of a finger. But they can also serve as a distracting temptation—one that can be difficult for children and their parents to manage. So why are these devices important in the classroom, and how is USM teaching students to use them responsibly?

The first iPhone was launched and made available for purchase on June 29, 2007. While it wasn’t the first smartphone in existence, few would disagree that it was the most popular. As the fastest-selling product in Apple’s history, the company sold an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 phones that first weekend alone. It ushered in a new era of connectivity, entertainment, e-commerce, and life as we knew it.

The impact of that day might not have been immediately felt within the walls of University School, but its ripples would reach the school—and its students—soon enough. Today, a mere 12 years later, parents and educators at USM and beyond grapple with how to best manage tools like

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Brave New World smartphones and tablets. When more than 300 guests attended the USM/REDgen speaker series event last November featuring Dr. Delaney Ruston, a Stanford-educated physician who created the film “Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age,” it became clear that parents had reached a tipping point.

The root of the issue many parents face—that children want a sense of belonging with their peers, as well as autonomy and freedom—is certainly not a new one. But the methods today’s children use to attain that sense of belonging—and their consequences—have changed. Schools and parents, therefore, are finding themselves navigating the same uncharted waters together.

And while USM embraces the role of technology in its curriculum, it also recognizes the rapid pace of change in our connected world. As a result, the school continues to examine and implement best practices in educational technology to teach children—and their parents—how to use these tools successfully in school and at home.

HOW WE GOT HERE: A BRIEF HISTORY OF COMPUTERS AT USM Before it had iPads, Wi-Fi, and Google docs, USM had computer labs. They were the norm in each division at USM, but it did not take long for the curriculum to outpace the labs’ usefulness.

Not only were the computers expensive to equip and maintain, they sat unused when school was not in session. Teachers could not always access the labs when they needed to, making it difficult to unify lesson plans amongst multiple classes throughout the day.

In an effort to alleviate the logjams caused by the labs and to ensure equal access of technology to all students, the school implemented its 1:1 program in the 2012–13 school year. The program provides students in grades 3 through 12 with their own dedicated personal computing device

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USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2018–19

throughout the school day and beyond. Before implementing the program, administrators worked with an outside consulting agency, surveyed the USM community, and held multiple focus groups to ensure that the implementation was necessary to support learning. Once it was in place, the school held extensive professional development opportunities for faculty, and invited them to help develop the technology mission at USM.

“Parents are telling us—and we understand—that it can be very hard for them to say no to their child’s use of technology.”

Recently, school administrators announced a change in the 1:1 program in Lower School. Starting this fall, iPads for incoming 3rd graders will be owned and maintained by the school, not by the parents, and will remain at school during the evenings and on weekends.The impetus for the change was driven, in part, by parents. “Parents are telling us—and we understand—that it can be very hard for them to say no to their child’s use of technology,” said Tom Mussoline, one of the school’s academic technology coordinators. “So we’re hoping that this change will help alleviate some of that difficulty at home.”

Furthermore, the school recognizes that the world is a different place now than it was in 2012 when the program was launched. “When we implemented 1:1, group chats, Instagram, and Snapchat didn’t exist,” said Brad Dunning, assistant head of Middle School. “I think it’s important that we keep evaluating what we’ve done and use that knowledge to inform our decision-making moving forward.”

HOW—AND WHY—TECHNOLOGY ENHANCES USM’S CURRICULUM If, as many suggest, devices like iPads can be addicting to children, why does USM require students to have them starting in 3rd grade? For starters, 3rd grade students at USM are exposed to iPads in a limited, highly monitored setting when they are relevant and useful to the project or unit.

“Third grade is the beginning of learning how to use Google’s G Suite for Education,” said Brita Willis, 3rd grade teacher. G Suite is used by students in all three divisions at USM, and is free.

“They’re learning how to make a Google doc or a Google slide presentation, and also how to create something in one app, like a movie, and embed it in another app. They’re learning that the iPad is capable of doing many things.” The foundation that the students build in 3rd grade is vital to the work they will continue in subsequent grades. “Having

their own Google suite set up starting in 3rd grade is really cool because they can keep all of their work in one location that will stay with them all the way through 12th grade.”

But, as Dunning noted earlier, the world is a different place now than it was in 2012 when USM’s 1:1 program was launched. The question has been raised in the past about whether or not USM should consider banning devices completely, as France did recently with cellphones in all primary and middle schools. Banning devices outright, while perhaps an easy solution in the short term, is difficult to enforce and doesn’t necessarily prepare students for the reality they face outside of school walls. Rather, teachers at USM are taking the harder—but more beneficial— approach: using technology in monitored settings to help build genuine engagement with their students.

Students in Jane Keily’s physical education class learned about the inner workings of the human body by using an iPad to scan Keily’s virtual-reality T-shirt.

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Brave New World Will Piper ’96, 5th grade world cultural geography teacher, cited a recent example—the China mega map project—from his classroom. “The old-school way of teaching was having kids pick an area of China they’re interested in, research it, and give an oral report,” he said. “But with modern learning, that might seem kind of dull.” Instead, Piper asked students to design an artifact that represented their area of interest using any material they could find in the Middle School makerspace. Materials ranged from 3D printers to cardboard, bubble wrap, and clay, to name a few.

Students then recorded their oral reports on their iPads using an app called Scratch. Finally, they placed their artifacts on a table-top sized map of China and wired each artifact so that students could push a button and hear each other’s reports.

The result? “The learning for that project was exceptional,” said Piper. “All of a sudden we got

into some higher-level thinking about, ‘Why would people live in southeastern China as opposed to the plateau of Tibet? How is China a mix of modern and traditional cultures?’ I could point to anything on the map and they could tell me where it was and why it was important, whether it was their project or someone else’s.”

The key to how technology enhances curriculum at USM lies in the fact that students use the tools to create content—not simply to consume it. “An iPad, for example, is a relatively inexpensive way to help children learn basic skills, to work on group projects, and to create new things,” said Nikki Lucyk, director of innovation and academic technology. “We use iPads or laptops in class to improve learning, not just to play a game or to watch a video.” “I think at home, they see technology as gaming or something to do to waste time,” added Willis. “But at school,

Charlie Tiefenbrun ’26 referenced guitar tabs on his iPad while practicing.

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every single day they’re creating something, sharing something, collaborating with each other.

We use technology in really cool ways here, and those kinds of skills are powerful.”

TEACHING POSITIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY From a very young age, students learn that the tenets of USM’s Common Trust—treating each other with respect, trust, honesty, fairness, and kindness—extend to the digital world, too.

Administrators and teachers have implemented a digital citizenship curriculum that begins in 1st grade and continues through senior year.

Lessons start with teaching children how to safely search online and advance to topics like showing respect online, writing good emails, and understanding plagiarism.

Whenever possible, teachers reinforce these concepts in their standard lesson plans, too.

“I think the best way to teach responsible use of technology is within an integrated, meaningful setting,” said Piper. In the Middle School, for example, students may work on a group project or presentation in a shared Google document.

“Before starting a project, we ask the kids, ‘What does it mean to work in a shared space? How can we be respectful of other peoples’ work in a digital space?’ Good digital citizenship really boils down to being a good citizen, period. I haven’t had any problems, but I think reminding kids of those lessons and working them into our learning every day helps.” Several years ago, Piper coined a phrase that encapsulates the Middle School’s philosophy: “You are who you are wherever you go, including online.”

Upper School lessons continue to advance from there, starting with the freshmen STEP program and continuing throughout the four-year advising

program. Students read social media case studies and discuss issues like how and why companies collect user data, the effects of screen time and multitasking, and how to tell when an online interaction becomes risky. “Upper School students are introduced to more demanding academic expectations, and they learn how technology can both support their efforts for success and diminish their returns,” said Lucyk.

“With their advisors, they learn how to be self- and socially aware when using technology to maximize their learning, and have healthy relationships.”

Mussoline, who along with Brad Dunning and several teachers led the development of the digital citizenship curriculum in Lower School and Middle School, expects the content to change as the world changes. “My assumption is that the lesson plans will look completely different in the 2020–21 school year,” he said. “The Lower School and Middle School programs lay a solid foundation for the expectations and skills needed in the Upper School,” added Lucyk. “Administrators and teachers meet often to assess the school’s programming and its evolution as the landscape continues to change, to best meet the needs of the community.”

“Good digital citizenship really boils down to being a good citizen, period.”

University School takes the digital safety of its students just as seriously as their physical safety.

From the minute they walk through the door, students’ digital access is carefully managed within an age-appropriate framework. “Each division’s wireless network is subjected to different levels of content filtering based on

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Brave New World

PARENT-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP Children today have the same desire to connect and belong as those who grew up without the internet or smartphones. But the speed at which today’s youth can make mistakes—and the scale on which mistakes can be made public—is unprecedented. Parents, understandably, are caught in the middle. “We’ve definitely heard from parents who are finding it hard to manage their kids’ technology use at home,” said Lucyk. “It is the responsibility of the school and the parents to work together to develop the best solutions for students.”

David Moalusi ’26 used his iPad to work on a project in class.

age-appropriateness,” said Chris Cruz, director of information technology. “For example, Upper School students are allowed to access social media on the Upper School wireless network, but younger students are not allowed access on the Middle School and Lower School networks.

But many students can—and do—circumvent our filters by using their phone’s cellular data, which is outside of our control.”

As students gain increased access to content, however, they are subject to increased scrutiny.

Upper School students are required to authenticate when accessing the Wi-Fi network, meaning they must enter a username and password for internet access. This enables the school to identify individual machines and, theoretically, track where they’re going online and what they’re doing. “It’s not like someone is actively monitoring the school’s network analytics 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Cruz. “But the reality is, we need to be able to inspect our traffic to protect students— which is really no different from what any other organization does, including our students’ future colleges and employers.”

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While there is no magic-bullet solution for everyone, research and best practices are catching up, enabling parents and educators to make data-driven decisions. In her community presentation last year, Ruston highlighted the Wait Until 8th movement, in which parents sign a pledge declaring their intent to delay giving their children a smartphone until at least 8th grade.

She encouraged parents to learn more about it and consider signing the pledge, advocating a strength-in-numbers approach. “I like the whole Wait Until 8th movement,” said Lucyk. “With smartphones, it can take mere seconds to make a bad decision with life-altering consequences, and I just don’t think kids are developmentally ready for that. I’d like to see the USM community more engaged in that idea, because I think most of the problems our students have happen at night at home, not here at school. They have a tool that gives them instant access to connect with others, and they might not be ready to use it unsupervised.”

Student response to the movement, not surprisingly, is mixed. “I don’t think you should give kids a smartphone until 7th grade at the earliest,” said Bennett Hermanoff ’20. “I think it gives them too much freedom. They can get a flip phone if they need it, but there’s no need for them to have social media and all those other web services.” But waiting until 8th grade, according

to Carson Petersen ’20, might have negative consequences. “Kids will still have friends who have phones, and I think it would just create a lot more sneakiness,” he said. “The second they do finally get their phone, they might go overboard with it.” Added his sister, Mackenzie ’23, “I feel like it’s delaying the inevitable. I think technology is a great tool, you just have to be taught how to use it properly.”

Ultimately, it’s up to parents to decide if and when it’s the right time to purchase a smartphone for their child, and no amount of case studies or research will make up for a parent using his or her best judgment. “I think the hardest thing parents today face is standing up for what they believe is right,” said Pamela Nosbusch, retired head of Middle School. “It’s really easy to cave your rules when your kids are constantly bombarding you, but you have to figure out what works for you and your family, be brave, and stick with it.”

One thing that all parties can agree on is that technology is a great tool. “Technology is amazing,” said Dunning. “It’s powerful. It’s cool. It’s fun. It’s changing the world.” Added Mackenzie Petersen ’23, “I think with smartphones and those things, for the most part, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. They are a great way to be connected with friends.”

But the cons do exist, and they are hard to ignore. At USM, using the tools and technology to create content, more than simply consuming content, is a key differentiator. In addition, equipping students with the knowledge of how and why to use the tools appropriately provides them with a solid foundation for how to navigate those cons when they encounter them. They become empowered to take ownership of their decisions. There is no

easy, one-size-fits-all approach to these important issues, and mistakes are inevitable. But mistakes give us an opportunity to learn and improve.

“We’re never going to know what’s next,” said Dunning. “So parents and teachers, we’re all in this boat together, and we’re constantly learning.

But we need to teach our kids how to work with these tools so they go on to change the world.

If we don’t, we’re leaving them behind.”

Extra Credit Consider the below tips for technology use with children in your home.

Talk to your kids about technology Get your children involved in the decisionmaking and value their input. Show them articles or research on kids and technology use, invite their feedback, and make decisions together.

Create boundaries Create screen-free spaces, such as at the dinner table and in bedrooms. Talk to your children about if and when you would monitor their usage, for example, if you notice a change in mood or behavior.

Model good behavior in real life and online Put your phone down when talking to your child. If your child is not allowed to have screens at dinner, neither are you. Ask your kids to THINK before they post: Is it True?

Helpful? Inspiring? Necessary? Kind? Ask yourself the same before posting something.

Visit www.usmtoday.org/tech for more resources.

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in focus

Ms. Graham Goes to Washington By Evelyn Graham ’23 In May, Evelyn Graham ’23 and her classmates embarked on the pinnacle experience of their 8th grade year—the week-long trip to Washington, D.C. Graham shares her favorite moments from the trip, and how it impacted her understanding of our country.

E

very year, the 8th grade class has the incredible opportunity to take a week-long trip to Washington, D.C. My classmates and I had been eagerly waiting for this exclamation point of our Middle School years. Listening to older siblings rant and rave about their fabulous experiences on the trip, I was beyond excited to experience it for myself.

The preparation began in 7th grade with the annual flower sale, in which 7th grade students sell flowers and gift certificates to raise money to help pay for their trip.

Some students are able to pay for their entire trip from the flower sale! Then, throughout our 8th grade year, we dive deeply into America’s history. From the beginning of the original colonies to the American Civil Rights Movement, we learn about the important moments, speeches, marches, and battles that have shaped our country into what it is today.

Having this background information made a world of difference when we visited the famous memorials, museums, and buildings that are so important to our country’s history. For example, we visited Mount Vernon, George Washington’s beautiful mansion in Virginia, knowing all about Washington’s life—from his time serving as a general in the Army to becoming the first president of the United States. Being in his mansion, I was able to envision him walking through the house and living his life. The experience helped me truly understand how and why he loved the house and grounds; from the multiple immaculate gardens to the spectacular halls where he and his family walked. Having the unforgettable chance to visit and tour the house gave me a whole new perspective and helped further my knowledge and education on his impressive life.

The sojourn to our nation’s capital put all of the knowledge that we had been given from our American Studies class into real life. It is one thing to read about the Constitution, but it is a whole other experience to see the actual signed Constitution right before your eyes.

It is completely different to read about the Capitol and the events that occurred in it on your computer than it is to actually be inside of it, learning about it while walking its halls.

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in focus

All of the places we visited—the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the National Museum of African American History & Culture, the World War II Memorial, to name a few—were very impactful.

But the one that stood out the most to me was the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. It took my breath away from the moment I entered. Throughout the trip we had gone to many different museums, but not once did my classmates and I react to a museum like this.

Everyone was completely silent as we walked through and observed the sadness surrounding the museum memorial, which was beautifully thought out and packed with information, pictures, and videos about the horrific atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust.

I learned so much by

being able to see pictures and hear from victims. It is impossible to put into words what it was like to walk around the museum, but it’s something that I will simply never forget. It will always stand out in my mind when I think back on this trip.

Our trip was a time for the entire 8th grade class to bond through unforgettable moments and experiences that we will carry through our time in Upper School, as well as for the rest of our lives. I am sure that I speak for the whole grade when I say that the trip is an experience of a lifetime that I will never forget.

Thank you so much to Mr. Taft, Mrs. Eppelshiemer, the 8th grade team, all of the chaperones, parents, and faculty that made this amazing trip possible for the class of 2023 and the many trips to come!

A tomb guard sentinel gave instructions to (from left) Einthiri Mudili ’23, Will Berrien ’23, Eloise Hayden ’23, and Jordan Thomas ’23, as they prepared to lay a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

The group outside of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Students at the National Museum of African American History & Culture.

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The USM Fund: Your Investment Matters!

Your annual gift through the USM Fund impacts every student and teacher during the 2019–20 school year, and is an essential component to the success of the Our Common Bond comprehensive campaign.

We invite you to join parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends of USM in making your gift today for the 2019–20 school year. All gifts, regardless of size, support the USM educational experience, including our first-rate academics, athletics, faculty professional development, fine arts, financial assistance, global and community engagement, sustainability, technology, and innovation.

Your contributions to the USM Fund, both during the campaign and beyond, provide the most dependable, flexible, and impactful source of support for the education of our students.

The USM Fund—a collective gift from our entire community—enhances and sustains USM’s distinctive margin of excellence. Be a part of it by making your gift so that together, we can celebrate a successful completion of the Our Common Bond campaign for our school!

Our Common Bond The Campaign for University School of Milwaukee www.USMOurCommonBond.org 22

USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2018–19

Big Things Come in Small Packages Barbara (Abert) Tooman MDS’58 leaves a large legacy for the arts at USM.

The quote that accompanies Barbara (Abert) Tooman’s MDS’58 photo in the Milwaukee Downer Seminary yearbook, the 1958 Crest, reads “You scarce could think so small a thing could leave a loss so large.”

The caption goes on to add, “Barbie, Bish, had much pep in a little package…” While her footprint may have been small, her impact on University School of Milwaukee has been large indeed.

Tooman passed away on Jan. 23, 2017, but thanks to her incredible generosity, her love of music and the arts endures at University School. Through her estate, Tooman contributed $2.67 million to the school’s Our Common Bond campaign—the largest campaign gift to date. Her generosity is being recognized posthumously with the naming of the Abert Tooman Center for the Arts in the Upper School, which includes the Virginia Henes Young Theatre, the Hammes Family Lobby, the Werner Family Art Gallery, the Sardas-Trevorrow Band Room, the Stratton Family Orchestra Room, and other new support areas.

Starting at a young age, Tooman had an exceptional love of music and the arts that weaved throughout her life, and was sparked in part through her Milwaukee Downer Seminary education. “I have many fond memories of my fine arts experiences at Downer,” she said in an interview from 2013. “We sang at the talent

show all through high school and had a ball. Many years later, I did the arranging for another group of alumnae; we sang at two Alumnae Follies and at private parties. It all started in high school and I loved every minute of it.”

Tooman took great pride in supporting USM and the arts consistently through the USM Fund annual giving program for many years. She had many deep bonds to Milwaukee, and long-standing family ties to University School’s predecessor schools. Her mother, Barbara Abert, graduated from Milwaukee Downer Seminary (MDS) in 1931, and her late sister, Judith Meissner, was a 1956 graduate of MDS. Tooman’s brother, Grant Abert, is a 1963 graduate of Milwaukee Country Day School.

After graduating in 1958, Tooman attended Bradford Junior College in Bradford, Massachusetts and Garland Junior College in Boston, where she studied design. She went on to study classical music at the New England Conservatory of Music, and then studied jazz with Tommy Sheridan in Milwaukee. An accomplished musician, Tooman played both classical and jazz piano, led several amateur vocal groups over the years, composed in both classical and contemporary styles, and supported numerous performing arts organizations throughout Wisconsin. And now, thanks to the generosity she shared throughout her life and through her estate plans, her legacy and commitment to the arts will continue at her alma mater in perpetuity through the USM Endowment Fund.

We Are Almost There…

As we begin the final year of the Our Common Bond campaign, we invite you to help us achieve the $27 million goal in support of the USM Fund, endowment, and capital projects. Please join the community of donors who are supporting the students, faculty, and programming while contributing to the success of the campaign with your 2019–20 USM Fund gift today!

Help us finish strong!

USM Fund

Endowment

Capital

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in focus

Going Viral For the sixth annual crisis simulation, Global Scholars students tackled immigration, social media, and what it would be like to pitch an idea to President Donald Trump. They were assisted by USM alumnus R.P. Eddy ’90, bestselling author and former senior U.S. diplomat.

O

n Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, the United States government was entering day 22 of its shutdown over President Donald Trump’s request for Congress to allocate $5.7 billion to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. The timing could not have been more opportune for University School of Milwaukee and its Global Scholars students to host their sixth annual crisis simulation—the theme of which was immigration and politics in the digital age—on that same day.

The simulation, led by Upper School History Teacher and Director of Global Studies Dr. Henry Wend, featured a special guest: R.P. Eddy ’90, chairman of Ergo and former director at the White House National Security Council. Eddy most recently co-authored a bestselling book, “Warnings: Finding Cassandras to Stop Catastrophes,” with Richard Clarke, and has served in a variety of advisory positions to top American government officials, among other roles.

The mock crisis summit was the culmination of nearly six months of preparation, and students were assigned to teams representing non-governmental organizations (NGOs) ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to Nike and the National Rifle Association. They researched how these organizations are affected, either positively or negatively, by illegal immigrants. During the summit they used their social capital in an attempt to influence the president (whose role was played by Eddy), and subsequent public policy, to further their stances on immigration. “What I’m going to try to do, to really get my knowledge across to you, is not what you read in the headlines or see in speeches,” said Eddy in his opening remarks. “But I’m going to try to express why he [President Trump] really cares about this issue and what matters to him. And by this I mean immigration, and, in particular, the wall.”

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The students used ReactLearn, a closed social media environment, where they developed memes and social media posts on behalf of their NGOs, with the intent of influencing public opinion—in this case, freshmen who were invited to vote on the posts they found most influential.

“I was part of the ACLU group,” said Mira Stephens ’20, “which made pitching to the president difficult. It was interesting to see the different perspectives of the groups and how to construct a pitch to somebody who you know will not be on your side.”

This was the first simulation to deal with domestic challenges, and the first to involve social media, which proved popular with students. “I really enjoyed this simulation,” said Lisa Wong ’20. “It focused more on domestic issues and it also dealt with social media, which I think we really excel at because we grew up with it. We’ve seen how social media and inherent biases affect our perspectives and play a major role in society today.”

The simulation also taught students to be more critical consumers of information. “I’d say I’m more aware that a lot of times, things you see on the internet are not necessarily vetted completely,” said Thomas Wright ’21, who played the role of media in the simulation. “For us in the media, it was just a race to see who could publish something first. We all just kept trying to pump out as much material as possible.

And in order to do that, we weren’t able to carefully fact-check everything.”

Top Gerry Parra ’20 (left) and Caleb Kiehnau ’20.

Middle R.P. Eddy ’90 (left) and his son, Reed.

Bottom (from left) Jenny Kornreich ’19, Leen Mortada ’20, Athena Borca ’20, and Darby Tevlin ’19.

in focus

For Wend, the annual crisis simulation is a way to make real-world events relevant and interesting to students. “These are national security issues that the students are working on, even though they might not necessarily realize it,” he said. “But my hope is that they understand that this is a really vital, global issue that’s playing out right here, right now, without us actually telling them. It is the whole point of the exercise. I could yammer at them for a couple of periods and maybe show them a film, but it wouldn’t be as valuable as them actually living it and coming out with that idea on their own.”

Next year’s crisis simulation will involve Russia and the former Soviet empire in Eastern Europe. Global Scholars will read Masha Gessen’s award-winning book, “The Future is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia,” and meet with the author in September. Support for the crisis simulation comes from a small group of parents, parents of alumni, and alumni, resulting in additional funding thanks to a matching grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation.

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spotlight

TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW

Upper School theatre students presented “The Drowsy Chaperone,” in March. In the musical parody, Adolpho (pictured here and played by Donn Rhys Mondano ’22) is a bumbling Latin lothario hired to lure star showgirl Janet Van De Graaff (played by Margaret Stewart ’19) away from her fiancé.

“The cast and I enjoyed the process of creating shtick characters and routines that result in a fun-loving, silly frivolity throughout the show,” said director and Upper School Drama Teacher Mark Edwards. “However, when you dig beyond the superficial, a great deal of social commentary is revealed.”

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spotlight

Arts Live Students celebrated art in all its forms during the sixth annual Arts Live event in April. From visual arts to music and performing arts, students in all divisions participated in a wide range of activities to showcase their work and talent. Parents were invited to stay for the whole day and enjoy a delicious dinner from various food trucks, and the evening concluded with an Upper School band, orchestra, and choir curricular concert.

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spotlight

Superheroes Soar in 6th Grade

A collaborative unit including English, theatre arts, and visual arts classes yielded a fun evening of creative expression amongst 6th graders. Students wrote monologues and performed them in front of guests, and created superhero drawings that focused on body proportion, muscle structure, and costume design as part of the ComicCon event.

Top left, from left Emily Tian ’25, Amelia Otjen ’25, Fiona Hernandez ’25, Krista Wintersberger ’25, and Freja Sanstad ’25.

Top right Elom Adjanor ’25.

Scholastic Art Awards A USM record-setting 19 students won a total of 31 state recognition awards from the Scholastic Art Competition, including six Gold Keys and seven Silver Keys.

Congratulations to back row, from left Gianna Huff ’22, Qiufeng Rui ’20, Duncan Petrie ’19, Afiya Quryshi ’20, Kristen Chou ’19, Lana Stone ’22, Aidanne DePoy ’20, Xizhe Liu ’20; middle row, from left Elizabeth Borg ’20, Madeleine Megal ’21, Maia Thompson ’19, Anyah Jackson ’20, Audrey Engman ’20, Sheilla Nourzad ’19; front row, from left Nolee Xiong ’22, Mara Sadek ’23, Abby Moyer ’22; and not pictured Joe Jacobus ’20 and Mia Johnson ’20.

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spotlight

Middle School Players Present The USM Middle School Players performed “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” in May. The play is based on the book by Kate DiCamillo about a china rabbit named Edward Tulane who embarks on an extraordinary journey.

Inset Grace Piper ’26 (left) and Griffin Grebe ’24.

Reiley Fitzsimmons ’26 (left) and Trevor Dunning ’25.

Scholastic Writing Awards Congratulations to juniors (from left) Lucia Rondini, Lisa Wong, and Emma Keuler, who won a total of four state writing awards from the Scholastic Writing Competition, including two Gold Keys. In addition, Wong received a Gold Medal and the American Voices Medal for her short story, “Silence is the Loudest Scream.” The American Voices Medal is the highest regional honor that is given to one writer and one artist from each region. Wong’s short story moved on to the national level, where it was judged in New York City.

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locker room

Boys Hockey Wins Third WIAA State Title Winning a state championship takes talent, skill, and probably some luck. It also takes a lot of hard work.

“It all starts from the heart,” said Tyler Herzberg ’20, whose two goals and two assists helped secure the Wildcats’ victory over Neenah Co-op 6–2 in March.

“You have to have the desire to do it,” he said. “During the off-season I skated and worked out almost every day.”

USM completed the 2018–19 season 28–2 and won the third WIAA state title in program history.

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The team came close in previous years, reaching the sectional finals in 2017 and 2018, and losing in the quarterfinal of the state tournament in 2016. “It hasn’t been a one-year journey, it’s been a four-year journey,” said Head Coach Jason Woods. “We just kept building and building and building. You face some disappointment along the way, but you grow from it.

These kids were determined this year. Nobody was going to stop us.”

locker room

A

USM Athletes Compete at State Championships A

Kristen Chou ’19, Marcus Jay Wilkes ’19, Lexi Keppler ’20, and the boys’ 4 x 400 Relay team of C.J. Boyd ’21, Sam Mackey ’19, Duncan Petrie ’19, and Wilkes (along with alternates Alvin Pokel ’20 and Ishan Kuttickat ’19) represented the USM track team in the WIAA Division 2 State Track and Field Championships. Chou had the best finishes for the Wildcats at the tournament, earning 5th-place finishes in both the 400 meter dash and long jump.

B

Daniel Taleghani ’20 finished in 3rd place in singles in the WIAA Division 2 Individual State Tournament. In doubles, Matt Cooper ’19 and Addison Elliott ’20 joined Taleghani as representatives of the USM boys’ tennis team in the Division 2 doubles competition, where they advanced to the quarterfinal.

C

The girls’ lacrosse team competed in the Wisconsin Lacrosse Federation State Tournament Championship game, where they lost to five-time consecutive state champion team, Arrowhead Red, 11-8. Despite the loss, it was a great year for USM. The Wildcats finished the season at 15-2. Their only two losses were to Arrowhead, one in a close game during the regular season and the other in the state championship match.

D

Caleb Saffold ’20 took 8th place in the 100-yard breaststroke at the WIAA State Swimming Championships in February. He was also named the team’s most valuable player, served as a captain, and was an all-conference selection.

E

Porter Westveer ’21 skied as an individual for USM in the Wisconsin High School Ski and Snowboard Championships, where he placed 11th in the boys’ individual standings. Westveer was also named team most valuable player for the boys’ squad, and he was recognized as an all-conference selection.

Chou ’19

B

Taleghani ’20

C

Audrey Engman ’20 (center) and Grace Tuttle ’22 (right)

D

Saffold ’20

E

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Westveer ’21

locker room

University School of Milwaukee Honors Second Class of Inductees to Athletic Hall of Fame University School of Milwaukee will honor the second class of inductees to its Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, during a special ceremony as part of the school’s Homecoming celebration.

The USM Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 2016 to commemorate a legacy of exceptional athletic performance and accomplishments by former USM and predecessor school student athletes, coaches, teams, and distinguished contributors. It recognizes and honors the vital role of athletics within the culture of the school.

The second class of inductees was selected by an esteemed Hall of Fame committee consisting of former USM and predecessor school athletes, coaches, and administrators, with primary consideration given to athletic accomplishments and overall performance during each honorees’ tenure. The inductees will be added to the Hall of Fame wall, which was named in honor of Henry “Chip” Uihlein Jr. MCDS’63 and is located in the Quadracci Lobby.

Congratulations to the following members of this year’s USM Athletic Hall of Fame Class.

ROBERT “BOBBY” JAKE MUS’40

Jake is one of the most highly decorated male athletes in the history of USM’s predecessor schools. He was a standout tennis and basketball player, leading the basketball team in scoring as a junior with 103 points, and setting a school record as a senior with 165 points. After matriculating to Northwestern University he won the Big Ten Conference singles and doubles tennis championships in 1946.

Following his graduation from medical school, the Baltimore Bullets selected Jake 16th overall in the 1947 draft.

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ALICE KIECKHEFER FAJEN MDS’44

Fajen was a pioneering female athlete during her time at Milwaukee Downer Seminary. She excelled in the three major sports recognized at that time—field hockey, basketball, and baseball—as well as others. As a freshman, she lettered in all three major sports, and was recognized as the school’s best tennis player. She lettered in field hockey and basketball as a senior and matriculated to Smith College, where she continued to excel in tennis.

JOHN STOCKING MCDS’57

Stocking was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track at Milwaukee Country Day School, and the only unanimous, First Team All-Midwest conference prep selection for 1957 in basketball. Additionally, he was the Midwest Prep leading scorer with 331 points that same year. He served as a captain in all three sports and further developed his leadership skills at Yale University, where he was once again a tri-sport athlete and member of the football, basketball, and track teams.

JIM BELL MUS’58

Bell excelled in the classroom and on the tennis court, football field, and basketball court. Bell and his teammates started one of the longest winning streaks in Wisconsin high school history, with the team winning 57 straight games from 1957 to 1961, which still stands today. Bell was a leader in the classroom, earning the Thompson Trophy in 1958, and he matriculated to Williams College where he continued his football career. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees and chairman of the school’s endowment fund, and is a recipient of the USM Alumni Service Award.

locker room

EUGENE “PEPI” RANDOLPH ’79

Known for his incredible speed and tremendous work ethic, Randolph earned all-conference and all-area accolades in baseball following his sophomore, junior, and senior years, and also earned four varsity letters in baseball, three in basketball, and three in football. As a senior, he was named MVP and received the highly coveted Henry H. Uihlein Sportsmanship Award. He matriculated to UW-Madison, where he played baseball and helped the team to four top-five finishes in the Big Ten. KAREN HARTWIG ’86

During her time at USM, Hartwig received 10 varsity letters, was a three-sport captain, and also a three-time MVP. In 1986, she was awarded the Marion Chester Read Award as the top female athlete of her class. Hartwig matriculated to Dartmouth College, where she helped the field hockey team earn two conference championships in 1987 and 1988. While at Dartmouth, Hartwig won the Dorothy Hall Leavitt Award and received an all-Ivy League Honorable Mention in 1987.

1947–1950 MCDS FOOTBALL TEAMS

The Milwaukee Country Day School’s football teams from 1947 to 1950 achieved a collective 27-0 record, with each team being honored as Midwest Prep conference champions. In the 27 games played from 1947 to 1950, MCDS scored 730 points while their opponents scored a combined 129 points. In 12 of those games, the MCDS Cougars did not allow their opponents to score a single point. In 1948, two players received All-State honorable mentions for the first time in school history. The teams played under the esteemed coaching of the legendary Ken Laird and Tom Hughes.

SARAH CYGANIAK ’94

As a freshman, Cyganiak was the state champion in tennis, finishing her USM career with an overall record of 103-1—the lone loss resulting from an injury default. At the University of Michigan, Cyganiak was named the Big Ten freshman of the year.

She was a four-time All-Big Ten selection, was twice named conference player of the year, and served as captain when the school won its first and only Big Ten championship. She holds the school record with 100 career singles victories.

AUDREY ARNDT

Arndt worked as secretary for the headmaster at Milwaukee Country Day School and as Upper School secretary at USM for a total of 46 years, and also as a volunteer statistician and scorekeeper at conference track meets. She was a regular attendee at countless home and away games, and could often be found, rain or shine, on the sidelines to help cheer on her beloved teams. Arndt is often described by many as the heart and soul of both MCDS and USM.

TONY FRITZ

Fritz began his USM career in 1964 as a physical education teacher and boys’ hockey, soccer, and baseball coach. He is best known for having turned USM’s fledgling hockey program into a state powerhouse, compiling an overall record of 159-90-7. Fritz became a head coach at Lake Forest College in 1978. He was inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Forester Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007, and received the John MacInnes Award in 2013.

Save the Date The 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. Visit www.usmathletics.org for more information.

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Class Notes

’40s

’70s

BETTY MOONEY MUS’44

reports that she is still enjoying her work teaching sociology classes at Indiana University South Bend, while residing in Paw Paw, Michigan.

VALERIE TERRIS MDS’47

celebrated her birthday with her children and their spouses in Sarasota, Florida in January.

Pictured from left Geoff and Poppy ’74 (Terris) Spencer; and Susan and Stacy Terris.

Members of the Class of 1972 met for lunch to celebrate their collective 65th birthdays, and they stopped to visit their former teacher, Fengchi Chen, on her 93rd birthday.

Seated from left Connie Kieckhefer, Anne (Wuesthoff) Bridges, Mrs. Chen, and Gail Ann (Zarwell) Winkler.

Standing from left Karey (Tuttle) Servis, Tori (Servis) Lawrence, Anne McGovern, and Judy (Cutler) Rauh.

ANNE (WUESTHOFF) BRIDGES ’72 enjoyed a mini reunion with Leona Chen ’74 (right) in New York in April.

’60s WILLIAM G. WEBB ’69,

musician, composer, and writer, released the first of five manuals, called Transparent Waffles, which is a music and performing arts program that can be taught by any teacher to children in grades kindergarten through 6. The manuals include accompaniment tracks, lyric sheets, videos, an instruction book, and sheet music.

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JANE R. BEST ’78

joined the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music as director of individual giving and special events. The Conservatory is the leading community music school in Southeast Wisconsin, providing music instruction to more than 19,000 students annually.

JULIE (FROEHLICH) TRACY ’78

founded Urban Autism Solutions in 2012, which recently celebrated its fifth year in operation. The organization is dedicated to changing outcomes for young adults with autism through an integrated community life.

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’90s RANDOLPH P. EDDY ’90

Holly Segel ’77 (right) and Lindsay Stevens ’89 made the most of winter with a day of skiing at Heiliger Huegel Ski Club.

’80s RAJ BHALA ’80

released the fifth edition of his book “International Trade Law,” building upon the global successes of its predecessor editions.

In addition, Bhala is the inaugural Leo. S. Brenneisen Distinguished Professor at the University of Kansas School of Law, after previously holding the inaugural Rice Distinguished Professorship from 2003 to 2017.

DAE MELLENCAMP ’87

served as the speaker for USM’s 2019 Commencement.

Mellencamp has held a variety of esteemed positions throughout her career, most recently as president of Vimeo, where she oversaw the growth of the site from a $0 valuation to more than $500 million.

E. KELLY FITZSIMMONS ’89

published a new book, “Lost in Startuplandia: Wayfinding for the Weary Entrepreneur,” which gives startup founders advice for how to face inevitable failures, rebuild self-esteem, and make better decisions next time.

visited campus in January, where he served as a guest presenter and judge during the sixth annual USM Crisis Simulation (read more about it on page 24). Eddy is a bestselling author and chairman of Ergo.

Previously, he served as the White House National Security Council Director and as a senior U.S. diplomat.

JAIME (ERICKSON) MCGAVER ’99

and her husband, Steve, welcomed Charlotte “Charlie” Jo on Nov. 20, 2018. She joins her big brother, JJ McGaver, who will start in USM’s prekindergarten this fall.

’00s NOEL C. LUKIC KEGEL ’00

was named to the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list in March. He is co-owner of Wheel & Sprocket with his sister, Amelia, which was named Best Bike Shop by The Shepherd Express in 2018.

NISHA J. SINGH ’00

was named chief marketing officer at SeekingSimple in Seattle. Singh completed her MBA in international luxury brand management in 2012 in Paris. From there she accepted a full-time position running consumer and digital marketing for LVMH Group in Hong Kong, where she remained for four years.

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ADAM VANDERVEEN ’00

and his wife, Pamela, welcomed their second child, Emmett, on Feb. 2, 2019. He joins big brother Remington.

ALEXANDER BAL ’02

KELLY (CHRISTIANSEN) WABISZEWSKI ’01

married William Wabiszewski on March 8, 2019.

Many alumni and parents of alumni attended, including (from left) Julie and Jim ’74 Ladky, Julia (Reilly) Burke ’74, Jane Segerdahl, Cathy White, Poppy (Terris) Spencer ’74 and Geoff Spencer.

married Elise Schmidt on March 2, 2019 in New York. Alexander is a hedge fund analyst at Owl Creek Asset Management in New York. Many USM alumni were in attendance, including (seated, from left) Barb and Harry ’67 Stratton, Michelle Bal ’13, Mark Splittgerber ’02, Caroline Bal ’08 and (standing, from left) Ana Juarez (engaged to Philippe Bartholin), Philippe Bartholin ’02, Jennifer and Tom ’76 Florsheim, Chelsea and Brett ’02 Stratton, Elise Schmidt, Alex Bal ’02, Michael Koss Jr. ’02, Natasha Misra ’04, Todd and Elizabeth ’79 Krieg, and Sarah (Koss) Splittgerber ’06.

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beyond usm

JOHN GRAHAM JR. ’02

and his wife, Hilary, welcomed John Graham III into the world on Oct. 31, 2018. He is named after his father and grandfather, and is already looking forward to his first Halloween party in 2019.

DAVID P. HAVENS ’08

married Alex Larrave on Aug. 31, 2018 in California, where they are now living.

’10s BILLY SCHMIDT ’10

married Natalie (Rotheray) Schmidt ’11 in December 2018.

ALEX TESENSKY ’10 was recently promoted to account executive of recruiting and employer branding at Glassdoor.

REBECCA (RICHARDSON) TEBBE ’04

and her husband, Justin, welcomed their first child, Harper Armene Tebbe, on March 15, 2019. “We love that she shares the same birthday as our heroine, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and her great-grandmother’s Armenian heritage,” said Tebbe. “Butch [Richardson, former teacher and track coach] is already planning out her track career (hurdles, since she has long legs) and her future in wildlife preservation.”

AELIN HILL ’15

was the only member of Sewanee: The University of the South’s equestrian team to qualify for the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association National Championship, making her one of 24 riders who competed at the National Championship Show in May.

EMILY J. HAVENS ’05

and her fiance, Pat Minot, will marry on Aug. 10, 2019 on Madeline Island, Wisconsin.

DANIELLE (ANDERSON) MACK ’06

was recently named the founding director of operations for Ethos Classical charter school in Atlanta. Mack will complete her master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania this summer.

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From puppy love to the real deal, countless relationships have blossomed at USM and its predecessor schools. These sweethearts share their love stories and take us on a romantic stroll down memory lane.

Kathy (M uth) ’65 & Gregg ’65 Kueh If Milwau n kee Univ ersity Sc hadn’t m hool erg at the ho ed, we never wo and Milwaukee Co use of a uld have m met. Kath untr y Day Scho the first ol year of th utual friend in th y and I we e fall of 1 es re introd and we b 964, ou uced oth grad chools’ merger. r senior We rema uated in the Midw y e a r 1 in a 9 e est and I n 6 went eas 5. Although Kath d friends but did d eitman H 6 ’0 n t ) O ’t y e to u u date w g r T e ra first offic ufts, we nt off to Martha (Sp college in , still kept ial date w & 6 ’0 ” a n b e b x in touch. a t summe Tim “Bu r, and so s New Year ’s Ev ss at USM Denver. la c e o , is n h 1 d th 9 e 6 e in 5. We da rea Tha officially met when I jo ted throu were able nks to student s fter Kathy transfe raduation to g e Bubba and I k gh the ta ta ld r u r to n o e I w d d d v it b n t is a to y u r) it b a e , th each oth ir fares (o e Univer The rela SM lif U (a a in 2nd grade b b e n sity u ti r ly B o s nship go $100 ro everal tim er. In fact, und-trip), of gether for spring b t more s e to s le is d a u e put us togeth r th in r e n eak of 19 g our so we rious as to walk dow phomore the year 67 in the we waited in ile were paired h w y W F B e e t. r n a ar. n o e h t m ly m amas wit b then on, iate mence h my fam y, and we spent and I immed n ,” e s USM’s Com it ve h o lo e m n r e ily. g-distanc o “put on th mer and e roman f us dated anyon line, Bubba ting that sum o a d th c e d e e e e . rt r ls W ta e a s e ver y e worked e e relationship fell for him. W it out and ven though we h my frater six to eight wee ng-distance lo e a g ad a e lle m k iv o n g c s an it t to y during th ou pin in the decided engaged e schoo aged to see eac ther through e g b to e g g n d in yi e lk ta n l h d year. I ga ing of ou uring sp wa shot. After s ring brea r senior Bahama n, D.C., we v e to g K in h a s th a d ie W y y s. k of 196 to d were marr 9, on Gr ear, and we bec and a move in in 2014 an a y ame e g tl a a n W e t Exuma le c is e re a e e both gra ni. W m down th Is lu a la M d n S u d U a y in the ted were ma by man w reside rried tha in May 1969 and surrounded west and no id M e t th A m to u to ov gu Grafton, ton. moved back Wiscons st. During our se ed back to Milwa ur dog, Wins o h E it in ukee, an c w v e , ond year o g n a a tu nd boug ally we h in Chic d of marria ht the ho a d tw a n g o d 6 e u s ’0 A s w o e n n n e a d s w m m y it h w e o ’99. e ho both – Martha H graduate re we still live to ved day!

– Gregg d from U SM—Cha Kuehn ’6 rlie ’96 5 38 USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2018–19

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Marcia (Carman) MUS’49 & Warren MUS’48 Bowlus If it weren’t for a piece of candy, my life would have taken a left turn and I would not have met my life’s partner, Warren Bowlus.

When I was in 5th grade, a piece of round, wafer candy became caught crosswise in my throat. My mother called our doctor, who in those days made house calls. In the ensuing conversation, we learned that our doctor, Dr. Johnson, was on the board of directors of Milwaukee University School, where my older sister, Elizabeth Carman MUS’45, was a student. We learned that the lower school’s 6th grade was looking for one more student, so it was decided that I should attend MUS in the fall. Though I didn’t know it at the time, it had a huge impact on my life.

The next year, the junior-high girls decided to have a Sadie Hawkins- themed hay ride party in early February where the girls could ask the boys. Of course there was only one guy I wanted to ask, and he was Warren! Warren likes to tell everyone that I asked him out on our first date—telling them, “Imagine a February hayride in Wisconsin! You know how cold it was?” Regardless, neither of us looked back and soon thereafter we were going steady.

We took long walks along Lake Michigan, south to downtown Milwaukee or north to Whitefish Bay. We didn’t care how long they were because we were together. We often went to the movies, many of which were double-headers with headliner Big Band stage acts between them, for 15 to 25 cents.

We both went on to college—I went to Milwaukee’s Layton School of Art on a scholarship and Warren attended UW-La Crosse for physical education, but the distance did not hinder our growing affection. We were married in December 1950, and that was the beginning of the next wonderful chapter in our life together, including the births of our two children who are both now retired—imagine that!

We have been enjoying our retirement for 31 years, and have traveled to many countries. We enjoy cruising and, on one of our 73 cruises, I was asked, “What’s the secret to a long marriage?” My answer is this: Be friends first, then get married, then have children, then go cruising like we do!

Every year we celebrate two anniversaries—our first date in 1943, and our wedding anniversary; we look forward to celebrating our 69th wedding anniversary this winter! We know long relationships like ours don’t always happen but we are so grateful that a piece of candy turned my life right instead of left, and set the wheels moving in the right direction.

Visit www.usmk12.org/lovestories to read about more USM sweethearts, or to share your own story!

– Marcia Bowlus MUS’49 39

beyond usm

Alumni Honored at Black Excellence Awards From afar, Steven Weddle ’76 and Jordyn Smith ’19 don’t appear to have much in common. Weddle is a managing director at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in New York City with a bachelor’s degree and MBA from UW-Madison and nearly 40 years of experience in the banking industry. Smith, meanwhile, juggled her USM education and many extracurricular activities with a part-time job at Dairy Queen. She received the Frank S. Spigener Service and Leadership award in May and is headed to Xavier University of Louisiana this fall.

But dig a little deeper and you’ll soon see similarities.

Both USM alumni are highly driven; both were raised in families that value hard work and education; and both hail from the same Milwaukee neighborhood. In addition, both were honored at the 34th Annual Black Excellence Awards in January.

LAUREN LAUFMAN ’15

graduated from UW-Madison with Bachelor of Arts degrees in mathematics, astronomy, and physics. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Astrophysics at the University of Minnesota, where she has been awarded a threeyear College of Science and Engineering fellowship.

In addition, she was named a recipient of the 2019 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

CHAD CHRISTIANSEN ’16

enjoyed studying abroad in New Zealand.

The two first crossed paths at the Black Excellence Awards, where Weddle served as the keynote speaker and Smith attended as one of 11 recipients of the 2019 Louvenia Johnson Scholarship. In his keynote address, Weddle shared five principles he learned from his parents: value education, work hard, treat everyone with respect, don’t be afraid to fail, and have a plan.

“For me, I was able to navigate my education as a minority at both USM and UW-Madison because of the strong values, character, and pride that my parents instilled in me,” he said. “They allowed me to navigate those communities, which were different from the community where I grew up.”

Although they graduated 43 years apart, both recognize the value of their USM education. “If it weren’t for USM setting that academic foundation for me,

CANDACE WALTHER ’17 graduated with distinction from UW-Madison with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. She will attend Emory University School of Law this fall.

NABEEL QURYSHI ’18

(pictured far right) attended the Nobel Ceremony in Stockholm in December 2018. Quryshi, who won Best of Category Award in the Biomedical and Health Sciences category at Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in 2018, was one of three winners selected to represent the U.S. at the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar. The prize included an all-expenses paid, weeklong visit to Sweden and attendance at the ceremony.

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beyond usm

I would not have had the success that I’ve had,” said Weddle. Added Smith, “I liked how the USM faculty were very hands-on, and they were always available if I needed extra help with anything.” And while USM fosters an inclusive community and embraces diversity in all its forms, race has not been something either dwells on. “For me, I am who I am no matter where I live or go to school,” said Smith. Added Weddle, “I’ve found that, fundamentally in terms of my journey, race has been less significant. Not to say I haven’t experienced racism, but I tend to classify people into two groups: either good or bad. And neither have anything to do with race.”

STEVEN WEDDLE ’76

JORDYN SMITH ’19

Reunion Weekend Recap The 2019 Reunion Weekend was a hit! From campus tours and a beer garden to the Joe Lubar ’08 alumni baseball game and reuniting with friends, there was something for everyone. Visit www.usmk12.org/reunion for more photos and join us next year on June 19­–20, 2020!

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In Memoriam We celebrate the lives of the following alumni and friends, whose deaths were recently shared with us.

We are thankful for their friendship.

1930s Walter B. Clarkson MCDS’38 April 10, 2016 Evanston, Ill.

1940s Josephine McCulloch Knowlton MDS’40 July 28, 2015 Crystal Lake, Ill. A. Dougall Reith MCDS’40 Jan. 31, 2005 San Diego Penelope Fuller Robbins MDS’40 March 1, 2014 Shelton, Wash.

Nancy Bellack Rother MDS’41 Nov. 30, 2016 San Antonio Jacqueline Spencer Macomber MUS’42 Feb. 28, 2019 Milwaukee

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Robert E. Dudenhoefer MCDS’44 May 5, 2016 Largo, Fla.

Ambrose R. Wolverton MUS’48 2016 Portsmouth, R.I.

Herbert A. Haessler MCDS’44 June 20, 2017 Lincoln, Mass.

John D. Bird MCDS’49 Feb. 20, 2019 Durham, N.C.

Henry S. Jefferson MCDS’44 Sept. 15, 2018 Santa Barbara, Calif.

Kalen Kellett Koch MDS’49 Oct. 23, 2013 Boynton Beach, Fla.

Lucy Kuepper Lentzner MDS’44 April 20, 2012 Hernando, Miss.

Sarah Madison Lawless MDS’49 Feb. 19, 2016 Saint Paul, Minn.

Josephine Frank Zelov MDS’46 Nov. 8, 2017 Bryn Mawr, Pa.

Myles W. Leep MCDS’49 June 20, 2018 Kingman, Ariz.

Thomas W. Grossman MCDS’47 Jan. 26, 2019 Milwaukee

Edith Hartwig Snead MDS’49 Oct. 4, 2018 Littleton, N.C.

Patricia Slensby Jones MDS’47 April 25, 2019 Needham, Mass.

David H. Wenzel MCDS’49 July 6, 2012 Kewaskum, Wis.

Betty Andrae Barnum MUS’48 Dec. 31, 2018 Milwaukee

Barbara Nunnemacher McCallum MUS’42 April 9, 2019 Mequon, Wis.

Jane Sell Callan MDS’48 March 3, 2019 Elm Grove, Wis.

Richard L. Gold MCDS’43 April 18, 2019 Weston, Mass.

Earl D. Lillydahl MCDS’48 Jan. 2, 2019 Milwaukee

Alice Gilbert Davis MDS’44 Jan. 26, 2018 Valrico, Fla.

Joyce Wuesthoff Povolny MUS’48 March 27, 2019 Appleton, Wis.

USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2018–19

1950s Dorothy Wandling Kennedy MDS’50 Feb. 27, 2019 Leawood, Kan. Richard C. Retzlaff MUS’50 Dec. 29, 2018 Mukwonago, Wis. Hugh F. Biller MCDS’52 Feb. 22, 2015 Wells, Maine

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Marnie E. Tews Gilbert MUS’52 Sept. 18, 2018 Menomonee Falls, Wis. Caroline B. Brennan MUS’53 Jan. 18, 2019 Glendale, Wis. Willis G. Littell MCDS’53 April 2, 2019 Milwaukee Penelope J. Worth MDS’54 Dec. 31, 2015 Oconomowoc, Wis. Neal H. Petersen MUS’56 Aug. 25, 2018 Arlington, Va. David D. Carhart MUS’58 Jan. 31, 2019 Milwaukee Susan “Suki” Teipel Hill MDS’59 June 14, 2014 Mill Valley, Calif.

1960s Peter L. Grossman MCDS’63 March 20, 2019 San Mateo, Calif.

Jon A. Krause MUS’63 March 25, 2019 Phoenix Heidi Nunnemacher Schulz MDS’63 Jan. 29, 2019 Santa Barbara, Calif.

Candace Cronwall Wert ’69 Nov. 21, 1995 Cleveland

1970s Karen L. Stefancic ’75 June 11, 2015 Cos Cob, Conn.

Cynthia A. Stanford ’78 Feb. 11, 2019 Tucson, Ariz.

Friends John J. Burke Jr. Jan. 25, 2019 Fox Point, Wis. Father of Patrick Burke ’90, Wendy Burke ’85, and Rory Foley ’95. Grandfather of Fletcher Foley ’33, Jack Foley ’31, Graham Slocum ’12, Kathryn Slocum ’24, and Charles Slocum ’26.

Gloria Kappel Dec. 3, 2018 Mequon, Wis. Music teacher at Milwaukee Downer Seminary and University School of Milwaukee from 1959 to 1979.

Jeanne Ladky Dec. 5, 2018 Mother of John Ladky ’70, James Ladky ’74, and Mary Ladky ’77.

George Mosher Jan. 31, 2019 Milwaukee Father of Karen Wilkinson ’87 and Robert Mosher ’00.

Yvette Ragen Feb. 24, 2019 Milwaukee French teacher from 1965 to 1994.

James Rogers May 19, 2019 Milwaukee Father of Hannah Rogers ’19.

Patrice Smyczek Dec. 26, 2018 Milwaukee Mother of Bill Smyczek ’02, Bob Smyczek ’06, and Daniel Smyczek ’10.

Emmett Wright March 25, 2019 Mequon, Wis. Father of Thomas Wright ’21.

Scott Kubicki May 18, 2019 Fox Point, Wis. Father of Keegan ’19 and Tallyn ’24.

Updated as of June 1, 2019.

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a look back

Ticket to Ride By Nikki Lucyk

I

n the beginning of this past school year I was approached by Ryan Kennedy ’19, who had a lofty goal. He had recently rescued a rusty, old, barelyfunctioning bike from a dumpster and wanted to recycle it into a battery-operated, electric bike capable of sustaining speeds of 25 miles per hour, for a nominal cost. He asked me if he could work on this project as part of the criteria necessary to attain the Kramlich Innovation Distinction (more on that later), and I gladly gave him the green light.

Throughout his year-long project, I was inspired to takea back seat and observe Ryan putting his innovative mindset and the deep content skills in physics and engineering that he acquired at USM to work through this iterative process. He had to rethink his design to accommodate a large battery and an entirely different gear system, and communicate and collaborate with me and several mentors outside of the classroom to get authentic feedback.

This kind of experiential, student-directed project work would not have been possible five years ago at University School before the Lubar Center for Innovation and Exploration was built, not to mention the accompanying coursework and a schedule that afforded Ryan large blocks of time during the school day to work on the project with ongoing support from an engineer and teacher. He had the time, tools, expertise, and support

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needed to develop a solution to a problem that truly mattered to him. Ultimately, he was able to reach his goal of creating a viable, working electric bike that he plans to bring with him to college at the University of Denver in the fall.

As a result of his work, Ryan was one of five seniors to receive the newly created Kramlich Innovation Distinction on his USM transcript. Launched in 2018, the transcript designation recognizes students, like Ryan, who participate in courses and other activities including the House of Technology, and was designed to build skills, competencies, and attributes that will serve students in today’s rapidly changing technological society.

Observing Ryan throughout his project, and the many students who participate in similar projects throughout the year, made me reflect on how far USM has come in the 20 years I have been here. I witness first-hand, on a daily basis, students like Ryan who carefully prioritize their time and attention despite all of the temptations they face from social media, texting, etc. They are applying the knowledge they’ve gained in traditional classes to real-life projects—creating innovative solutions to things they are passionate about.

Nikki Lucyk, pictured above with Ryan Kennedy ’19, is USM’s director of innovation and academic technology.

Visit www.usmtoday.org/kennedy for a video of Ryan riding his bike.

a look ahead

Students announced their collegiate commitments at a special signing day ceremony in April. Four seniors were joined by family and friends to celebrate their successes and wish them well in college. Congratulations to: Keegan Kubicki (standing), basketball at Aurora University; and (seated, from left) Ashley Vogel, equestrian at Southern Methodist University; Kristen Chou, track and field at Williams College; and Gabrielle Turer, hockey at St. Norbert College.

Not pictured Katherine Hayes, swimming at Boston College; Ma’Teo Holland, basketball at Lakeland University; Tylan Huff, basketball at Lakeland University; Ishan Kuttickat, track and field at Loyola University Chicago; and Marcus Jay Wilkes, track and field at Washington University St. Louis.

Save the Date!

Homecoming Week | October 7–12

Celebrate with USM! Enjoy family-friendly events including Willie’s Fun Fest, an all-school BBQ, the 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and more!

www.usmk12.org/alumni

2100 W. Fairy Chasm Road Milwaukee, WI 53217 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Milwaukee, WI Permit No. 1025

Ava Willis ’29 (left) and Kate Abele ’29, along with the rest of the school, participated in the annual Senior Send-off event in May, where students celebrate the graduating seniors and wish them good luck on their next adventures at college and beyond.