This piece by Aida El-Hajjar ’27, titled “Just Human, and You?,” won a Gold Key award in drawing and illustration from the Scholastic Art Competition. It was one of an incredible seven Gold Keys, eight Silver Keys, and nine Honorable Mentions that she won at the regional level. El-Hajjar created it using alcohol markers and charcoal on vellum paper. “I wanted this title to serve as both a statement and a question, encouraging viewers to explore the depths of their own beliefs,” she said.
Her sister, Raya El-Hajjar ’25, won a silver medal at the national level of the Scholastic Writing Competition for her flash fiction piece titled “In Barcelona,” after winning four Gold Keys, four Silver Keys, and four Honorable Mentions at the regional level. She initially wrote the piece for an English assignment about “Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin. “I was drawn to Hella, a background character, and through my writing I wanted to explore her struggles with femininity and marriage, part of Baldwin’s commentary on societal norms,” she said.
Visit www.usmtoday.org/scholastic2024 for links to “In Barcelona;” a photo gallery of the students’ regional award-winning artwork; and lists of all regional art and writing award winners.
Congratulations to all of the Scholastic Art and Writing regional award winners*:
Ezran Anastas ’25
Rosie Barksdale ’27
Eva Barth ’25
Ainsley Berger ’27
Chloe Chen ’27
Grace Chen ’27
Gianna Cooks ’26
Aurelia Dawson ’26
Abigail Dengel ’27
Christian Doll ’26
Darcy Doyle ’26
Aida El-Hajjar ’27
Raya El-Hajjar ’25
Reiley Fitzsimmons ’26
Gabi Ortiz Fleet ’26
Wiley Fowler ’24
Natalie Gapinski ’24
Anand George ’26
Jorge Guifarro ’25
Madelyn Hernandez ’25
Eliana Igwike ’26
Emily Igwike ’24
Emmanuel Igwike ’28
Sophie Irwin ’27
Avana Kelly ’25
Nikhil Lazzaro ’26
Mia Lucke ’27
Tatiana Marich ’25
Azara Mason ’24
Madeline Mellowes ’27
Sullivan Mellowes ’25
Izabel Muñoz ’25
David Naples ’27
Tommaso Pantalei ’25
Azariah Pogreba ’27
Divya Rao ’27
Clara Robinson ’27
Halimah Shittu ’25
Kiran Siddalingaiah ’25
Lauren Stone ’26
Laya Sumithra ’25
Francesca Sturino ’26
Harini Tallam ’26
Sophia Torinus ’25
Ethan Van Genderen ’26
Eshaan Vasudev ’26
Aidan Wang ’24
Angela Wang ’26
Addy Witt ’27
William Zhao ’24
*Names were collected to the best of our ability; any omissions are unintentional.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Tim Eilbes
Director of Marketing and Communications
EDITOR
Pamela Seiler
Communications and Public Relations Manager
ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN
Maria Harris
Creative Services Director
ONLINE EDITOR
Eric Schad
Marketing and Digital Communications Manager
PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEOGRAPHY
Brennan Checkalski
Visual Media Specialist
CONTRIBUTORS
Visual Image Photography
Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association
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 12th grade. 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.
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in this issue
9
4 6 17 32 3 view from the tower cover to cover 14 in focus 16 spotlight 20 locker room 22 beyond usm
A Monster Collaboration Upper School ceramics students transformed 1st grade sketches into real-life monsters.
More Than a Paycheck How a part-time gig with USM’s After School program yielded confidence and leadership for these Upper School students.
Visual Arts Showcase The third-annual Gallery Night event was a celebration of visual arts at USM, featuring work from every grade level.
Leaving Their Mark Celebrating the Class of 2024 and the lasting legacy they left to honor our military veterans.
4 6 17 32 9 Well Connected When strong connections between students, parents, and teachers are nurtured within a school community, everyone benefits.
from the head of school
Dear USM Family,
Each year, summer offers a relaxed pace for our yearround staff, with time to reflect on the previous school year and finalize plans for the new one ahead. For our faculty, summer offers a crucial opportunity to unwind and recharge, whether spending time with family and friends, enjoying hobbies, traveling, and more. But many of our teachers continue to engage with USM in one way or another, be it writing and developing curriculum, tutoring, teaching Upper School Summer Institute courses or for our Summer I.D.E.A.S. program, or finding time for professional development opportunities. This summer, some of our dedicated teachers are visiting places like Australia, Luxembourg, and Iceland as they develop new partnerships and unique curricula, showcasing their commitment to our school’s growth and innovation. These opportunities, as well as many others closer to home, are made possible thanks to the school’s Think Big Fund—an endowed donor gift allowing our teachers to pursue a wide variety of challenging, invigorating, and transformational professional development opportunities.
Of course, summer did not officially begin until the completion of our Commencement exercises, held this year on Friday, June 7. Graduates–along with their families and friends, and our faculty and staff–enjoyed a beautiful evening outdoors in Don Forti Stadium, where this year’s featured speaker, Tom Florsheim ’76 helped celebrate our 93 graduates. The Class of 2024 will be matriculating at some of the top liberal arts colleges and public and private universities in the world. It is a personal point of pride for me that our College Guidance office has such tremendous success in helping our students find their best-fit colleges. You can view this year’s list of schools at usm.org/matriculation.
Speaking of graduates, a rainy weekend at the end of June did not keep our alumni away from Reunion Weekend 2025. USM welcomed more than 350 alumni and parents of alumni, with 23 unique reunion years represented at our Summer Soirée cocktail party, including the Class of 1974, celebrating its 50th reunion! I enjoyed reminiscing with alumni from 1958 to 2022 at all of the weekend’s wonderful events, including special off-campus events for alumni from our 4s and 9s classes celebrating milestone reunions. If you are an alum who has not recently (or never!) attended one of your milestone reunions, I strongly encourage you to make plans to do so. I would love to meet you, and I’m sure your former classmates would love to see you!
Steve Hancock Head of School
Around the World in 7 Hours
The annual Global Enrichment Festival, hosted by USM’s Parents’ Association, once again invited students to take a journey filled with colorful sights and sounds without ever leaving campus. The event featured booths, games, performances, music, and artifacts representing a broad range of cultures and backgrounds, many of which are represented within USM’s own student body. It supports USM’s guiding principle of inclusion, in which students are prepared for the opportunities of a diverse world.
In the Bangladesh booth, Joharah Bayazid (right) wrapped a traditional sari around Veronica Wydra ’25 (left) while her daughter, Yusra Khan ’26, (center) watched.
From left Nuria Lauritzen joined CJ Jacobsen ’29 and Viraj Kamath ’29 in the Spain booth.
Members of the 6th grade band performed on the main stage.
Second grade students, led by Katie Brister, Lower School music teacher, performed on the main stage.
Neema Mollel ’24 (center) demonstrated a craft project to Ava Rutherford ’36 (left) and Saylor Lucas ’36 (right) in the Global Scholars booth.
Fernando Islas ’24 (left) and Zaara Bonilla ’25 played violin with Mariachi Juvenil, a student branch of the Latino Arts Strings Program.
In the Israel booth, a volunteer helped Elliott Plamann ’34 (center) and Charlie Roberts ’34 (right) with their pretend passports.
Aubrey Jayne ’25 performed the Pandanggo, a traditional Filipino folk dance.
A Monster Collaboration
First grade students drew their monsters with markers, and Upper School ceramics students brought them to life with clay.
The inspiration came from an unexpected source. “I got the idea from a TikTok video I saw over winter break,” said Erica Melick, 1st grade teacher. The idea was for a cross-divisional art project, one in which 1st grade students would draw a monster, and Upper School students would create a 3-D version of the monster out of clay in their ceramics class, and then give it to their young friends. “I texted Andrea [Worthey, Upper School art teacher] to see if she’d be interested, and she loved the idea.”
Before drawing, 1st graders read monster-themed books for inspiration, and were asked to think intentionally about what their monster would look like. Would it have two eyes, or four? Would it be a nice monster, or a scary one? After sketching out their visions, the drawings were passed along to the sculptors, some of whom volunteered to make more than one monster to ensure each 1st grader would get a finished product.
The ceramics students were challenged to take a onedimensional drawing and make it a three-dimensional reality. “We approached it as if they were industrial designers and the 1st graders were their client,” said Worthey. Ceramics students had to be creative problem solvers to figure out what components they needed and in what order of assembly. Wire limbs, for example, would not survive being fired in a 2,000-degree kiln and had to be added later. “So although some of them look simple, they’re way more complicated than you’d think.”
After several months of production, the monsters were finally ready to be revealed the day of Gallery Night (see page 17). And the 1st grade students had a surprise up their
Spring Cum Laude Inductees
sleeves too—a story they wrote that incorporated their monster and their new Upper School friend. “I love being all under the same roof so we can take advantage of these opportunities,” said Worthey. “To see the surprise and delight on the faces of the 1st graders made the whole experience worth it.”
International Relations 101
Dr. Mai Truong, assistant professor of political science at Marquette University, participated in the 12th annual Global Scholars Crisis Simulation. It centered on rising tensions between the U.S. and China and involved complex negotiations.
Nine seniors were inducted into the spring Cum Laude Society. Congratulations to from left Hersh Singh, Coco Raube-van Bekkum, Caleb Radtke, Isabel Werner, Jackson Darr, Mia Crawford, John Torinus, Erika Schuh, and Will Zhao.
In January, Hardy Blanchet ’35 sketched his monster while Mila Shah ’35 looked on. In May, Blanchet was thrilled to show the final product to Everett Anderson ’35.
Abigail Dengel ’27 worked to create Leo Seiler’s ’35 10-eyed monster. Dengel later posed with Seiler and the completed monster.
Wang Named Top 300 Scholar
Aidan Wang ’24 was named a top 300 scholar in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2024, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Wang was selected from 2,162 entrants and was one of only two students from the state to be chosen as a top 300 scholar.
For his project, Wang discovered a novel approach to identifying potential mutations and classifying variants of SARS-CoV-2 viruses—ultimately enabling him to analyze over 6,000
USM Screens “The Exchange in White America” Documentary
USM’s Parents of Students of Color (POSOC) group hosted a showing of the award-winning documentary film “The Exchange in White America: Kaukauna and King 50 Years Later” in January. The film documents the experiences of a group of students at Rufus King and Kaukauna High Schools, who participated in a groundbreaking exchange program in 1966.
The film’s producer and director, Joanne Williams, was present at the screening and spoke to the audience. Williams, a native of Milwaukee, graduated from Rufus King High School in 1967. She returned to USM in April after 7th and 8th grade students watched the film. The students had many questions for Williams, including how she got the idea, how she gathered first-person research, and what it was like emotionally for her to make the film.
genome sequences in less than three minutes. Having an ability to analyze genome sequence data quickly and accurately could help researchers minimize the spread of infection.
Wang worked to gain knowledge in areas that would support his research, including taking online courses and holding two simultaneous summer internships, at Medical College of Wisconsin and Versiti Blood Research Institute.
Wang credits his participation and leadership in various student clubs, as well as the communication, writing, public speaking, and presentation skills he gained at USM, with helping his project to succeed. “To me, it’s not only
Math + Games = Fun
More than 100 attendees enjoyed the inaugural Math Family Fun Night in January. Brain-twisting puzzles, interactive exhibits, and group games added up to a celebration of math and a room filled with a happy buzz of excitement.
about being skilled in STEM. It’s also important that I’m able to convey my scientific work in a clear and concise manner,” he said.
Students Welcome Greg Marcus
More than 100 Upper School students listened as Greg Marcus, CEO of the Marcus Corporation, shared stories, life experiences, and advice. He was interviewed by Cristián Barrutia ’26, president of the Upper School Entrepreneurship Club.
More Than a Paycheck
It began as a convenient, part-time gig. But for Eden Hausmann ’24, Amara Nwagbaraocha ’26, and Nathan Steinbach ’24, their years working for USM’s After School program have given them much more than spending money.
When the bell rings to signal the end of the school day, Gus Bowie ’32 and Sebastian Ficks ’32 can’t wait to go to the After School program at USM. Weather determines if they will be outside or inside, but they have fun no matter where they are. “There’s basketball and tag,” began Ficks. “And four square and the playground,” added Bowie. “And football,” they both chimed at the same time. “There’s everything pretty much,” concluded Bowie. “It’s really fun.”
The counselors, some of whom are USM Upper School students, add to the fun. Nathan Steinbach ’24 has worked in the After School and Summer I.D.E.A.S. programs since he was a sophomore, and can often be spotted throwing a football and shooting hoops with 3rd and 4th graders, or officiating high-stakes four square matches. He values the confidence he has gained, and credits his job with helping him obtain it. “I’m a pretty introverted person, but what’s helped me is making connections with the kids,” he said. “I’ve known some of them for almost three years now, and they value my decisions and my authority. So if I have to step in to help resolve a conflict it’s easier because I have the confidence in that relationship and I know that they’ll listen to me.”
Those relationships are key to the success of the program. “Something that all kids need in school is repetition and familiar faces,” said Sophia Braschnewitz, associate director of auxiliary programs. “So it’s great when counselors start at
a younger age and grow through the program, because they get to know the kids so well and the kids get to know them.”
Like Steinbach, Eden Hausmann ’24 has worked as a paid After School counselor since she was a sophomore, plus two seasons with Summer I.D.E.A.S. “Initially I took the job because it was convenient and I wanted to earn money, not
Nathan Steinbach ’24 (center) with Griff Oplinger ’34 (left).
Eden Hausmann ’24 (left) with Alex Sovol ’38.
necessarily because I loved children,” she said. But the longer she worked in her role, the more she came to appreciate it. “There’s a huge sense of purpose and duty to not only working here, but having a job in general,” she said. “And having all these kids who really like you makes a huge difference. It’s worth coming back for.”
USM’s After School program embraces the principles of choice and self-guided play, giving students plenty of activities to choose from, plus opportunities for social and emotional growth. But it’s a learning experience for the counselors, too. “This is a real job,” said Braschnewitz. “They’re on USM’s payroll and they’re taxpayers. Learning to communicate with their employer when they need days off, when they’re sick or running late, is one of the biggest skills they learn.” In addition, they learn responsibility. “They’re not just here to be a body in a room, they’re making sure the kids are being safe, behaving, and having fun.”
For Amara Nwagbaraocha ’26, who started as a counselor her freshman year, the role was initially intimidating. “I was used to working with a maximum of five kids at a time, but now it’s like, 20 or 30 kids with two or three counselors,” she said, “so I had to learn to accommodate many different needs.” She loves when she sees the children outside of After School, like when she ran a booth for the Global Scholars program during the Global Enrichment Fest. “I got like, seven hugs by all these different After School kids wanting stamps for their passports. It literally made my day.”
All Rise
Rebecca Dallet, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice, visited 4th grade in March. She spoke about the judicial branch of the state government, how the Wisconsin Supreme Court differs from the U.S. Supreme Court, and answered questions.
Strategies for Bouncing Back
The Middle School REDgen student chapter hosted resilience week from April 19-26, which included a series of events, activities, and meetings to promote conversations around resilience and mental health.
Why Resilience Matters
USM hosted Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg in April, whose speech was titled “Resilience in Action.” Held in partnership with REDgen, a local organization that fosters healthy, balanced lifestyles, the event was free and open to the public.
“Big” Promotes
Acceptance
Author, illustrator, and filmmaker Vashti Harrison visited USM with her newest book, “Big,” which won the 2024 Caldecott Medal and was a National Book Award finalist. She spoke to students, gave drawing tutorials, and signed books.
Students Compete at ISEF
From left Aidan Wang ’24, Mairin Jarvis Castellano ’25, Mia Crawford ’24, Anjali George ’24, and Anand George ’26 competed at the 2024 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Crawford earned Fourth Award in Translational Medicine.
Celebrating Pride Month
USM alumni and Upper School students, faculty, and staff enjoyed fun activities to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month, including a T-shirt fundraiser that earned $521 for Courage MKE, a nonprofit that supports LGBTQ+ youth.
Amara Nwagbaraocha ’26 (center) with Mara Layden ’34 (left) and Winnie Bowie ’34.
Peru Trip Broadens Perspectives
Seventeen Upper School students had the unique opportunity to spend 10 days in Peru during the school’s spring break in March. They experienced Peruvian culture first-hand through a variety of activities, including a tour of Cuzco, a visit to Qorikancha, and a guided tour of Machu Picchu. “Despite leaving their homes at 4 a.m. on a Friday and sleeping for just a few hours before visits to Cuzco and Machu Picchu, the students were excited and full of energy,” said Cristina de Vizcarrondo, Upper School Spanish teacher and trip organizer.
While in Cuzco, students participated in a six-day homestay, which included daily Spanish classes at Amauta Spanish school. During the homestay, students were able to participate in cooking classes, learn how to dance the salsa, attend lectures on Peruvian culture and history, and more.
Students gained valuable cultural awareness and language skills, and were challenged to step out of their comfort zones and navigate unfamiliar environments. This enriching opportunity encouraged the students to think globally and gain a deeper appreciation for other cultures, customs, perspectives, and ways of living.
Tower Projects 2024
Nearly 100 students in 4th, 8th, and 12th grades participated in Tower Projects, in which they develop, research, and create capstone projects for a semester or year, gaining skills in research and writing, public speaking, risk-taking, and more.
USM Varsity Chess Team Wins State
The USM varsity chess team took first place in Division 1 at the 2024 State Scholastic Chess Championship—the first time since 2010 that the team has won state. This followed strong finishes at the City Chess Championships and the Wisconsin Scholastic Chess Federation’s grade-level tournament.
The state competition was held in March and attended by nearly 400 students across the state. USM’s team (with individual first-place finishes noted) consisted of Ezran Anastas ’25, Alex Chen ’25 (first place, board 4), David Dorn ’28, Aradh Kaur ’26 (first place, board 2), Jind Kaur ’28, Hersh Singh ’24 (first place, board 1), Jiyan Singh ’30, Krish Vasudev ’24, Jason Wu ’27, and Sam Yuan ’29, and was coached by Fred Lange, Upper School math teacher.
In addition, USM tied for first place with Waupaca High School in the bughouse competitions, although Waupaca earned the first-place trophy on tiebreaks. Joining the players above for the bughouse competition were alumnus Chris Seaman ’93 (who was paired with Lange) and former USM student Bradley Schlesinger (who competed with Vasudev).
Robotics Completes Season
USM’s FIRST Robotics Team #6823 competed in several matches this year, including the Milwaukee regional competition in March, where they were named an alliance captain and reached the second round of playoffs.
From left Fred Lange, team coach, Alex Chen ’25, Aradh Kaur ’26, Krish Vasudev ’24, and Hersh Singh ’24
Connected WELL
Feeling connected within the school community is critical to ensuring that students feel engaged, known, and valued at USM.
But in a community as large as USM’s, how are those connections formed and maintained, and what happens when they are tested?
eventh grade was proving to be a tough year for Lisa Smith ’29*, who was struggling with her behavior at school. She got into frequent conflicts with her classmates and was sarcastic and argumentative with her teachers. As a result, she felt ostracized from her peers and was unable to concentrate during class.
When teachers began discussing Smith’s behavior in grade-level meetings, Brad Dunning took note. As USM’s assistant head of Middle School, he is no stranger to boundary-testing adolescents. Although Smith’s teachers tried to intervene, it seemed she was stuck in a pattern of unproductive behavior they couldn’t break, and Dunning thought he could help. His first call was to Elina Kats, Middle
School counselor, to request a copy of Smith’s connections survey.
All students in grades 5 through 12 complete a connections survey at the beginning of every school year, in which they identify at least one adult at USM with whom they have a strong and authentic connection. That person, referred to internally as an ally, is someone the student trusts and could turn to for support and guidance. Allies can be any adult in any grade or department at school.
Cheryl Bair, 5th grade English teacher, hadn’t taught Smith in several years. But, as Smith’s ally, she was happy to help when Dunning asked her to be involved. “Cheryl and I sat down to develop a game plan,” said Dunning. “We thought, let’s meet with Lisa and see how we can help.”
*Identifiable details have been changed to protect privacy.
“The connections survey is critical to ensuring students feel engaged, known, and valued within our community,” said Lizzy Perry, Upper School counselor and Counseling department chair. In the 2023–24 school year, 689 students completed a connections survey, and each one was carefully recorded and analyzed by either Middle School or Upper School administrators, depending on the division. “The surveys are a great litmus test for how we’re doing,” said Perry. “Where are the gaps? Who feels like they don’t have strong connections, and how can we support them?”
In the Middle School, it was Elaine Griffin’s idea to use the connections survey strategically, as in Smith’s case, when a student is struggling. “The idea is to address the behavior before it requires disciplinary action,” said Griffin, head of Middle School. Because the student is meeting with someone they themselves identified as an ally, there is already trust established, and the student is more likely to approach the situation with openness and a willingness to try.
The survey is just one example of the efforts USM teachers, administrators, and staff members make to ensure that students feel they are respected, connected members of the community. Research has shown that children who feel valued, and who feel that they add value to others, are more likely to thrive in adolescence and adulthood. Research has also shown that the greatest protection against risky behaviors amongst youth is strong connections with adults. USM teachers know that students who feel connected within the community are more likely to exhibit kindness and empathy to others, stretch beyond their comfort zone, and exhibit resilience if they fail.
USM’s community of students, parents, faculty, and staff encompasses a diverse collection of cultural backgrounds, religions, interests, ZIP codes, income levels, political beliefs, and values. Relating to one another and the school with respect, trust, honesty, fairness, and kindness is sometimes easier said than done. “With teenagers, their developmental task is to
figure out who they are,” said Perry, “and they do that by comparing themselves to people their age.” Conflicts occur within the student body at USM just as they do at any other school, but providing avenues for exploring common interests builds connections and empathy. “We can’t manage who’s going to be friends with whom, but we can encourage and foster having a wide variety of activities and extracurriculars for students,” said Perry.
When Dunning and Bair sat down with Smith, the first thing they wanted her to understand was that she was not in trouble. “In my experience, the student will either be nervous that they’re getting punished or they will be completely guarded and closed off,” said Dunning. Dunning and Bair explained to Smith that her teachers noticed an unproductive pattern in her behavior, and asked her if she could identify recent challenges she’s had. “Our goal was for her, just like any student in that situation, to take ownership of her behavior.”
Smith knew that her comments were negatively affecting her friendships at school and getting herself in trouble with her teachers, but she wasn’t sure how to fix the problem. Dunning and Bair brainstormed with Smith, knowing that it was important for her to have ownership of the solution. Realizing that her outbursts were causing many of her problems, Smith’s proposed solution was to simply stop talking. Dunning and Bair knew that would be a difficult approach, but they were willing to let Smith try it. “It’s really important for the student to set the goal or make a plan, even if it’s not a great one,” he said. “As long as no one will be harmed, we’re inclined to let them try it so that they understand that this isn’t being done to them, it’s being done with them.” Although they had reservations about how effective her plan would be, Bair and Dunning supported Smith’s proposal and agreed to meet again in a few days to assess.
Both Middle School and Upper School students have many clubs, athletic teams, and performing arts opportunities to choose from, all of which strengthen a sense of belonging through shared experiences, avenues for connection, leadership, friendship, and activities that disrupt stereotypes. Amped 101, launched in 2021 by Natalie Gapinski ’24 and Arri Fuller ’23, is one such example. The student club is a collection of Upper School musicians who perform monthly concerts during Flex. The only prerequisites for joining the club are a love of music and a willingness to practice—usually weekdays at 7:30 a.m., due to most other extracurricular commitments occurring after school.
Not only has being in the club improved Gapinski’s confidence with public speaking, it’s helped her, and other club members, to form new friendships. “Being in a group with people who share similar interests is good to have a feeling of belonging,” she said. “And music is a really common thing. It’s something that’s easy to talk about with anyone.”
Opportunities for developing connections are not restricted to extracurricular activities; they are also woven into the school day. Both Middle School and Upper School students participate in advising groups, in which students are intentionally placed in small groups that they meet with throughout the school year. For Upper School students, their advising group
remains the same throughout all four years. In addition, both divisions have daily or weekly gatherings where administrators set aside dedicated time to explore threads that connect us as a larger tapestry. Depending on the day, these gatherings could encompass any number of activities, including an outside speaker, meeting time for student clubs or the House program in the Upper School, or advising groups.
“These are all important aspects of the USM experience that need time and space to grow,” said Upper School Dean of Students Charlie Housiaux ’02. Community time is just one example of the value that USM places on shared experiences and their power to connect us. Others include grade-level retreats, classroom communities, the Upper School House program, and school-wide events like Opening Day, Homecoming, and Senior Send-off.
As Dunning and Bair suspected, Smith’s plan to stop talking was not an effective one. “If the student’s plan doesn’t work, it can actually be helpful,” said Dunning. “Because at that point, if we offer a suggestion or advice, the student is probably more willing to hear us out. It feels more like a partnership than a punishment.”
In their quest to help Smith develop a new, more realistic plan, Dunning and Bair met with her again and asked her to think about what was happening in
those moments of dysregulation. What was she feeling? What types of situations made it harder for her to control her outbursts? After close examination, Smith realized that not completing her homework in time for class was causing her to feel anxious. As a result, she acted defensive towards her teachers and felt inferior when working alongside her peers, and lashed out in frustration.
Dunning knows that children will do the best they can with the skills and tools they have. He also knows that when students are invited to take ownership of their actions and participate in developing their own remediation plan, rather than receiving a punishment, they are much more likely to be successful. Together, the trio established realistic goals for Smith to complete her homework assignments in the evening—including establishing a quiet spot in her home and a dedicated window of time in which to focus on homework—and agreed to meet again to assess progress.
Intentional efforts to build community occur daily in Preschool and Lower School as well. Each classroom starts the day off with a morning meeting, where students might participate in a rhythmic game as a class, or they might discuss one of six core kindness concepts that are part of the divisions’ Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) curriculum: respect, caring, inclusiveness, integrity, responsibility, and courage.
“What’s great about the RAK curriculum is that the core kindness concepts closely match USM’s Common Trust values,” said Kelley Sovol, 4th grade teacher and Preschool and Lower School Social-Emotional Learning department chair. “It gives us a common framework of language from prekindergarten through 4th grade. It helps the students to understand what is good
character, what we as a school community value, and what we’re all collectively working towards.”
In Preschool and Lower School guidance classes, these values are further reinforced through the Kimochis curriculum, which uses a set of characters to teach children about five core social and emotional competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. “Through Kimochis, students are learning how to name specific emotions and identify when they’re having big feelings,” said Laura LaFave, Preschol and Lower School counselor. “It gives them specific tools for how to handle those emotions and learn how to be a positive member of a community.”
The adults in the building further serve to model those core social and emotional competencies and act as coaches throughout the school day. “Compared to subjects like math or reading, social-emotional learning is happening all day every day,” said Sovol. “Whether they’re working as a group in class, outside at recess, or eating lunch together, they have to be respectful, supportive, and kind as they navigate all of those social interactions.” Being intentional with social-emotional learning in Preschool and Lower School provides young students with the tools needed to contribute positively to a community and foster strong connections amongst their peers.
Parents play a vital role in the school’s ability to build and maintain a strong community. To succeed, the partnership between parents and the school requires mutual trust, respect, and clear expectations. “Our responsibility is to communicate our expectations and to partner with families when kids have a misstep,” said Housiaux. “When parents and educators work together in the best interest of the child, everyone benefits.”
USM’s community expectations are clearly defined in the school’s Common Trust: “We, the members of the University School of Milwaukee community, commit to and practice the Common Trust. We agree to relate to one another and the school with respect, trust, honesty, fairness, and kindness.” These core values define what is important to the school and serve as a guide for all members of the community, including incoming families.
“On every enrollment application, regardless of division, parents are asked to choose one of the Common Trust values and reflect on why it matters to their family,” said Claudia Fritz, director of enrollment management. There is no right or wrong answer, but the question requires parents to think intentionally about whether the school’s values align with their own. “When families tour USM they can see the Common Trust in action—children saying please and thank you, holding doors for each other, etc.—but that doesn’t just happen by accident,” said Fritz. “Our community is a living, breathing thing that requires buy-in and constant upkeep.”
Investment in the Common Trust does not mean we must be perfect—the word practice is included intentionally. But the Common Trust is a unifying element that steers our community, and one we can all agree to and refer to when we need guidance.
It’s been several months since Bair and Dunning first met with Smith. After much self examination and goal setting, she has established more productive homework habits, which have resulted in less anxiety during class and improved behavior. “What we saw was better performance in class, better collaboration with her peers, and better relationships with her teachers,” said Dunning. Her parents continue to receive notes from school—but now they’re notes of praise for her improved behavior.
“On the surface I wouldn’t have identified homework as the source of her difficulties,” said Dunning, “but in my experience, there’s always an underlying reason.” At USM, Smith’s struggles in the classroom were not a catalyst for discipline, but rather for strengthening connections. Dunning and Bair helped her to identify what was at the core of her dysregulation, and develop manageable steps to improve. It was not easy work for anyone involved—but it helped them all to feel trusted and connected as part of a supportive, collaborative environment. Dunning and Bair anticipate that Smith may experience an occasional relapse into old patterns, as most people who are working to establish new habits do. But when that happens she will be supported and challenged to do better by people who care deeply about her and are invested in her success.
MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME
We give a fond farewell to the below faculty and staff members who are retiring after years of dedication and service to USM. They helped to make the school such a special place to learn and work.
27 years | Debra Judge
For Debra Judge, teaching was a calling since she was 4 years old. After 27 years of teaching at USM (33 years of teaching in total), Judge retired in December 2023. The former 5th grade math teacher will miss her colleagues, the professional development opportunities at USM, and especially her students. “Every single day they made me smile, laugh, and filled me with so much joy.”
Judge is looking forward to spending time at her home in northern Wisconsin, traveling, reading, and seeing more of family and friends. “I’m proud to have taught for 33 years. I know my grandmothers, aunts, and my mom—all teachers who greatly influenced me—are looking down and cheering me on. For me, the greatest award has been being in the classroom and doing what I love.”
26 years | Ben Zarwell '87
Ben Zarwell ’87, Upper School history teacher, learned how to respect his students by challenging them to think critically and do difficult work, which he learned from former History department colleagues John “J.S.” Stephens, Doc Smith, and Steve Bruemmer. “I couldn’t have hoped for a better set of mentors,” said Zarwell. He is most proud of the Western Civilization and Fascism and the Legacy of the Second World War courses he built. “Upper School students are ready to tackle complex, important ideas, and urgent problems.” He is also grateful for professional development opportunities that nurtured his interests and enhanced his curriculum.
Zarwell is looking forward to spending more time outdoors with his family, friends, and dogs and pursuing interests like painting and gardening. “I’ll miss my brilliant students, but more than anything else, I’ll miss the best colleagues anyone could ever wish for— especially my History department family.”
23 years | Dr. Dain Shuler
As director of bands and music technology, Dr. Dain Shuler has made impressive contributions to USM’s music curriculum during his 23-year tenure. He started the digital music program and has directed over 30 musicals in both Middle School and Upper School. He has helped many band students secure spots in college programs, and inspired them to pursue music professionally. He was named Civic Music Instrumental Educator of the Year in 2012, a testament to his broader impact.
Shuler is looking forward to spending time doing what he loves most—playing music! “But I’m really going to miss the collaboration with the Performing Arts team,” he said. “I also will miss those special students who established a deep, long-term commitment to the performing arts. That was the best thing about working at USM: watching students develop their technical skills and love of music, seeing improvement, and being a small part of it all.”
19 years | Kathleen Roebber
The health and safety of students have been Kathleen Roebber’s north star as both school nurse and head school nurse at USM. Whether returning to in-person learning during a global pandemic or alerting parents to an isolated case of head lice, Roebber has handled her role with compassion and competency. After 19 years, she is ready to hang up her rubber gloves in pursuit of visiting her Canadian family, volunteering, and getting in shape (but not necessarily in that order).
In 2018, Roebber and Zadan Mason ’22 were instrumental in getting the school certified as a Project ADAM Heart Safe School. USM’s emergency response protocol, equipment, and faculty and staff training are consistently examined, practiced, and improved thanks to her. “Retirement is a decision that did not come easily,” said Roebber. “It has been an honor and an unforgettable experience to work at USM. I am so grateful for the trust, guidance, and friendships I have had throughout my tenure.”
18 years | Theresa Braam
After 18 years as the administrator of USM’s on-site daycare for faculty and staff, Theresa Braam is excited for the freedom and flexibility that come with retirement. “I am looking forward to waking up on a beautiful morning and deciding, along with my husband, to get in the car and just go somewhere for a day trip, a week-long trip, or for a few weeks with nothing holding us back,” she said.
Many students will likely recognize Braam thanks to her daily walks throughout the building with USM’s youngest wildcats, bringing them for quick visits with their parents or older siblings. Braam has watched many children in her care grow and develop. “I will miss seeing all of the children who started their USM journey as infants and are now in Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School, and watching them grow into wonderful young people.” In addition to traveling with her husband, Braam is looking forward to volunteering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in her retirement.
16 years | Judy Clegg
Judy Clegg has been a fixture in the Stratton Preschool/Lower School Library for the past 16 years. Although she worked with approximately 400 children every year, her ability to know each child and his or her reading preferences transformed the library into a treasure trove of adventures. In addition, she helped to coordinate countless author visits and spearheaded the renovation of the library in 2019.
Clegg loves USM’s long-standing traditions, like having the longest-tenured faculty ring the bell on Opening Day. She is grateful for the many professional development opportunities she’s had, including taking a class at the Library of Congress and traveling to Ghana. But most of all, she has loved working with children. She has no plans to slow down in retirement. “Spending time with my four grandchildren is high on my list, but I’d also like to take some adventurous vacations like hiking the Grand Canyon,” she said. “It will be nice to have time to chip away at the stack of books on my nightstand, too.”
USM recognizes the below individuals, who have also retired. We thank them for their service and dedication. Isaias Hernandez, custodian; Scott Peden, part-time custodian; and Sue Peden, school nurse
Tapestries of Sound
Music education is alive and well at USM, as evident by a packed Virginia Henes Young Theatre night after night during the month of May. Students and teachers were eager to showcase the progress they made over the course of the semester and year.
Middle School choir concert
Upper School band, orchestra, choir concert
Lower School curricular music concert
Visual Arts Showcase
The third-annual Gallery Night event in April was, once again, a feast for the eyes. Themed “Express Yourself,” the entire school was awash in student artwork from grades prekindergarten through 12. Guests participated in a variety of hands-on workshops, including contributing to community coloring pages and making light-up USM pendants, silkscreen prints, marbled pencils, jelly water creatures, and more. Guests also participated in an obliteration room project inspired by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama (pictured below), and enjoyed treats from visiting food trucks.
Better Together
During Gallery Night, multidisciplinary artist Marco Gonzalez (pictured above) unveiled the new, large-scale mural that he created with help from 6th grade students. The theme for the mural is “We Are Better Together” and was a months-long process to concept, sketch, and paint.
In the weeks leading up to Gallery Night, Gonzalez worked with each student to personalize a portion of the mural with their name. “It’s been fun to watch the students find the value in art, and to teach them skills and concepts has been really rewarding,” said Gonzalez. His visit was organized by Sarah Markwald, Middle School art teacher.
Catch Me If You Can
Upper School theatre students presented “Catch Me If You Can,” based on the Dreamworks motion picture of the same name. “From our wonderful senior leaders to our intrepid freshmen, the students came together and dedicated themselves to the study of this show,” said Mark Edwards, director and Upper School drama teacher, who won a Jerry Award for Outstanding Direction for his work.
Agent Carl Hanratty (right, Griffin Grebe ’24) shows checks forged by Frank Abagnale Jr. to his colleague, Agent Branton (left, River Kilsdonk ’25).
Lyle Mondano ’24, who played Frank Abagnale Jr., won a Jerry Award for Outstanding Lead Performer while Elle Ruvin ’24, pictured here as Cindy the stewardess, won a Jerry Award for Spirit.
Brenda Strong, played by Addy Witt ’27, serenades the audience while supported by principal dancers (from left) Coco Raube-van Bekkum ’24, Stella Nicoli ’27, and Abbey Norman ’26.
Frank Abagnale Jr. meets love interest Brenda Strong’s parents. From left Beckett Stratton ’25, Addy Witt ’27, Lyle Mondano ’24, and Neema Mollel ’24.
Frank Abagnale Jr. (Lyle Mondano ’24), impersonating a doctor, is serenaded by a team of nurses.
An ensemble performance by the cast of Catch Me If You Can.
Seussical The Musical
This musical, performed by Middle School thespians, is a celebration of some of Dr. Seuss’ most beloved characters. Directed by Katie Gonring, Middle School drama teacher, the performance was a fun and colorful trip through the jungle of Nool.
1 Throughout the opening number, famous Dr. Seuss characters are introduced and the adventure begins.
2 The Cat in the Hat, played by Summer Klingbail ’28, serves as the show’s narrator.
3 Mr. and Mrs. Mayor of Whoville, played by Nick Jost ’28 (far left) and Kate Abele ’29 (far right), are unhappy with their son, JoJo, played by Alex Grassl ’31 (center).
4 Sour Kangaroo (bottom right, played by Lauren Abele ’28) is joined by bird girls (from left) Aneesha Rao ’29, Bea Fetherston ’29, and Aniya Sloan ’30.
5 Mayzie La Bird (Emery Domer ’28) performs while Gertrude McFuzz (Ainsley Polston ’28) watches.
6 Gertrude McFuzz (Ainsley Polston ’28) is determined to tell Horton the Elephant (PJ Heiny ’28) how much she loves him. 2 3 4 5 6
Girls’ Varsity Ski Team Wins State
For the first time in school history, the girls’ varsity ski team won the WIARA Division 2 Wisconsin State Ski and Snowboard Championships. “We are so proud of these girls,” said Tim Williams, USM’s director of athletics. “They are a true testament to hard work and staying with the plan. Congratulations to head coach Cassandra Hoppe ’12 as well;
she has done a great job developing this group of skiers into this championship squad.” Seven USM skiers raced in the meet as part of a statewide field of 162 competitors: Mia Darr ’25, Francesca Drope ’24, Alice Gardner ’26, Sophia Torinus ’25, Isabel Werner ’24, Marlies Westveer ’26, and Marina Wigdale ’25.
Boys Tennis at State
At the WIAA Division 2 individuals state doubles tournament, the duo of Jack Gilpin ’25 and Miles Gourlay ’25 took fourth place, falling by a 6–7 (2), 6–4, 10–7 margin in the third-place match against St. Mary Catholic. Will MerluzziHitler ’26 and Beckett Stratton ’25 fell 6–1, 6–4 to Catholic Memorial. In singles, Oliver Boyd ’26 won a dramatic opening win over Kohler’s Nolan Villwock before falling in straight sets in the second round. In addition, captains Gilpin, Gourlay, and Stratton surpassed their fundraising goal for Milwaukee Tennis & Education Foundation to send Milwaukee youth to summer tennis camp.
Miles Gourlay ’25 (left) and Jack Gilpin ’25
Fernando Islas ’24 competed at the 2024 WIAA Boys Division 2 state swimming and diving meet in February. He placed 4th in the 100-yard butterfly event with a time of 27.68 and tied for 5th place in 50-yard freestyle event at 21.68, along with a swimmer from Stoughton High School.
The boys’ golf team took seventh place during the WIAA Division 2 state golf meet at Blackwolf Run in June. The opening day was shortened to nine holes due to the weather and the Wildcats carded a total of 175. On the second day, USM shot a 334 to finish with a team total of 509. Brayden Becker ’25 lead the team with a score of 121, while Charlie Darrow ’24 and Joey Darrow ’24 each shot a 127.
Track and Field Competes at State
Although they fell short of a victory at the Division 2 WIAA state track and field meet, the girls’ varsity track and field team came home with two new records, capping off a fantastic season that included winning the regional championship. At state, distance runner Bella Grenier ’25 finished fifth in the 3,200 with an 18-second personal best and school-record finish of 10:48.61. In the 1,600, Grenier finished in seventh at 5:08.42, and Annie Norman ’25 finished in 9th place at 5:15.33. The 3,200 relay team of Grenier, Anastasia Marich ’26, Norman, and Cate Kohli ’27 finished in sixth place at 9:36.67, breaking another school record. Marich also tied for seventh in the high jump at 5 feet, 2 inches. The combined efforts led the Wildcats to a 10.5 point total, good for 25th in the Division 2 girls team standings. For the boys, Austin Jarmuz ’27 earned 13th in the 3,200 (9:54.02).
Girls Lacrosse Earns Spot at Inaugural WIAA Championship
Several USM athletes were honored at the Milwaukee High School Sports Awards Show held in June: the girls’ tennis team was named girls’ team of the year; Angela Wang ’26 was named girls’ tennis player of the year; and Mia Darr ’25 was named girls' lacrosse player of the year.
It was the USM girls’ varsity lacrosse team’s sixth appearance at the state championship match, but the first time ever that the Division 1 match occurred as part of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. Although the Wildcats lost 17–15 to the Kettle Moraine/Badger co-op, it was a hard-fought battle.
Mia Darr ’25, the state’s leading scorer, set the record for the most goals scored in a championship game with nine goals, along with one assist, one ground ball, and one caused turnover. Darcy Doyle ’26 finished second on the team in scoring with four goals, while also setting state championship records with three ground balls and three caused turnovers. Sofie Bucher ’26 rounded out the scoring with two goals to go along with one assist. “I was really happy that I made it to the first WIAA state championship,” said Doyle. “Today wasn’t our day, but maybe next year.”
Brayden Becker ’25
Charlie Darrow ’24
Joey Darrow ’24
Back row Anastasia Marich ’26 (left), Bella Grenier ’25. Front row Annie Norman ’25 (left), Cate Kohli ’27
Class Notes
’50s
Betty Blank MDS’51, former Preschool teacher from 1965 to 1993, recently met up with long-time friends—who all turned 90 in 2023—(from left) Nancy Tyrrell Sommer MDS’51, Barbara Larkin, former head of Lower School at USM; Betty Blank MDS’51, and Ginny Fox Pierson MDS’51. The women have crossed paths in a variety of ways over the years, including at USM, where Blank and Larkin worked, and at St. John’s on the Lake, where Larkin and Tyrrell Sommer live. At lunch, the ladies “shared lots of stories and marveled that we all still drive,” wrote Blank.
’60s
Bill Banzhaf MUS’60 was inducted into the Wisconsin Forestry Hall of Fame in October 2023 for his 40-year career in forestry leading George Banzhaf & Company, and serving as CEO of the Society of American Foresters. He completed his career as the inaugural president of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), the largest forest certification organization in North America, which currently certifies 350,000,000 acres of forest land as sustainably managed.
Gabe Ceci Jr. MUS’60 shared the following: “I just retired as president of the Waukesha Musicians’ Association, AFM Local 193. After 12 years as president, I am giving up the office so I can have more time for the two 18-piece big bands (1940s-1950s style music) I play bass in every week.”
Susan Straub MUS’62 and her daughter, Emma, visited USM in April to promote their inaugural picture book, “Gaga Mistake Day,” about a mischievous granny who babysits her delighted granddaughter. A few days later, they were interviewed on “Today with Hoda & Jenna.”
’70s
John Scheinfeld ’71 released three documentary films in the past year: “What The Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat, & Tears,” which was nominated for a Critics Choice Award; “Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback,” currently streaming on Paramount+; and “M*A*S*H*: The Comedy That Changed Television,” which premiered on Jan. 1, 2024 and is now streaming on Hulu. Scheinfeld is an award-winning writer, producer, and director with Crew Neck Productions and lives in California.
Larry Moon ’72 submitted the following
note: “Judy ’72 and I met in 1st grade with Mrs. Billings at Milwaukee University School. I was a new kid in class—Judy had been there since nursery school. Fast forward to high school. I excelled in math while Judy was into history and English. There are many memories we share from parties, float building, and being in theater productions together. In 1982 we reconnected at Debra Usinger’s ’72 apartment to help plan the 10th reunion. We went out to dinner that evening and we were married nine months later! Should have practiced safe eating. We are grateful for the lifelong friends, memories, experiences, and of course the education that we received at USM and especially for the chance to plan our 10th reunion!”
John Blossom ’74 has received 11 national and international awards, including Sports Book of the Year runner-up, and starred reviews from BlueInk Review and BookLife, for his latest novel, “The Last Football Player.” The novel, for middle school-aged readers, dives deeply into issues of technology, creativity, art, teamwork, and project-based learning. Learn more at jtblossom.com.
Rock Marasco ’74 submitted a photo of himself and members of the Class of 1974, who gathered at Five O’Clock Steakhouse in
Milwaukee for a postholiday dinner. Pictured from left Ed Ricker, Rock Marasco, Tony Grueninger, Vic Thomas, Jim Ladky, Dave Kelley, and John Topetzes.
Tom Florsheim ’76 served as USM’s Class of 2024 Commencement speaker on June 7. Florsheim is chairman and chief executive officer of Weyco Group Inc. He served on USM’s Board of Trustees for nine years, including three years as that board’s president and two years on the board’s Finance committee. He currently serves as chairman of the school’s Endowment Board.
’80s
Jeff Zimm ’81 was appointed deputy executive officer for creative & brand at Los Angeles Metro, the second-largest public transit system in the U.S. With events like the 2026 World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl, and 2028 Olympic Games on the horizon, his team is making Metro the go-to choice for getting around Los Angeles. Zimm has held leadership roles at global advertising agencies in New York, London, and Dallas. “Any USM grads interested in pursuing a career in creative services, art direction, design, or copywriting are welcome to reach out,” he said.
Second Chance at Love
A fortuitous encounter at their 50th reunion led Kim Utz ’68 and Marcia Best ’68 to rekindle their romance and find lasting love.
When Kim Utz ’68 returned to Milwaukee for his 50th reunion in 2018, he was expecting to reconnect with friends—not rekindle a romance. But fate intervened, and that class reunion in 2018 led to Utz marrying Marcia Best ’68, his high school sweetheart, in 2023.
Kim and Marcia dated for a few months during senior year, but went their separate ways after graduation. Life in far-apart states (Kim in Arizona and Marcia in Florida), and marriages to other people, prevented any meaningful reconnection until that fateful weekend 50 years later. They attended the reunion not knowing the other was going to be there, or that they were both divorced by that point. “We’d had no contact in 20 years, and while I never forgot her, I just assumed she was a memory I’d have forever,” said Kim.
Their time together in Milwaukee led to long-distance phone calls and cross-country flights, until they realized they wanted more. “Life is short,” said Kim, “and all we wanted to do was spend it together.” They were engaged in February 2023, and married on Nov. 11, 2023. The wedding was attended by family members and best friends including John ’68 and Mary ’68 Sladkey.
“If it hadn’t been for the reunion, we’re sure we wouldn’t have reconnected,” said Kim. “Getting married is the best decision we ever made. We have both found the love of our lives.”
Betty Blank MDS’51
Bill Banzhaf MUS’60
Susan Straub MUS’62
Rock Marasco ’74
Tom Florsheim ’76
Jeff Zimm ’81
Bill Zito ’82 held the Stanley Cup after the Florida Panthers won their first-ever championship in an epic seven-game battle against the Edmonton Oilers. Zito serves as the Panthers general manager and is credited with building the championship team.
Jenny Jansen ’84 participated in a USM Career Lunch and Learn event in February, where students were invited to learn more about the fields of finance and real estate. Jansen is a Realtor with Shorewest, and has over 17 years of experience in the field.
Ben Zarwell ’87 retired after 26 years of teaching Upper School history at USM. What kept him at USM for so long? “The joy of teaching brilliant, creative, thoughtful, funny students about a subject I find fascinating,” he said. Read more about Ben on page 14.
Gavin Bardes ’89 competed at the American Birkebeiner for the seventh time in February 2024. Bardes, who competed on the men’s rowing team at UW-Madison as an undergraduate, is hoping to connect with other USM alumni of any age who also rowed at Madison. “There is a celebration planned to mark 150 years of Wisconsin rowing coming up this September 20-21, 2024, and it would be great to connect with other rowers,” he said.
’90s
Lafayette Crump ’91 earned a Mountaintop Legacy Award from the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre.
Sarah Zimmerman ’92 and Tonit Calaway (parent of alumni) recently purchased Downer Wine & Spirits in March. Both Zimmerman and Calaway were longtime customers of the shop when it was owned by brothers Mark and Steve Nord, and are excited to take on this new role.
Reggie Chambers ’94 has been appointed to Vail Resorts board of directors. Chambers, executive vice president and the chief transformation officer for TIAA, previously served as chief financial officer and head of strategy for the commercial banking division of JPMorgan Chase.
Jenny Weber ’94 and her mom, Nancy, reconnected with former Assistant Head of School Gregg Bach when he visited their home in Phoenix.
Dr. Louella Amos ’95, pulmonologist at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, and her colleagues’ research was recently featured in the Netflix documentary “Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul.”
Anwar Floyd-Pruitt ’95 earned a Mountaintop
Legacy Award from the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. He also participated in a USM Career Lunch and Learn event in January, where students were invited to learn more about the fields of arts and nonprofits. Floyd-Pruitt is curator at the Museum of Wisconsin Art and artist in residence at St. Kate – The Arts Hotel in Milwaukee.
Maayan Silver ’96 gave a tour of WUWM 89.7 FM, Milwaukee’s NPR, to a group of Upper School Digital Journalism students. Reporters talked about their process for story development, and students had the chance to record a sound bite. Silver is a news reporter at WUWM.
Wes McKenzie ’97 was named the new vice president of Columbia Savings and Loan Association, one of the only banks to give his greatgrandfather a loan decades ago. The bank celebrated its 100th birthday in 2024, and is one of only 41 Blackowned banks in America.
Chris (Russo) Hawley ’98 and her husband, Alex, welcomed Walker Alexander Hawley in May.
Nicole Hobbs ’98 was joined by Washington, D.C.-area alumni (from left) Will Gordon ’01, Isabella Mortara ’22, Hobbs, and Stephanie Guy ’20 for an evening walk around the National Mall and tour of the
monuments. Hobbs arranged the gathering to coincide with USM’s annual week-long 8th grade class trip to the nation’s capital.
Shatoia Robinson ’98 was accepted into BMO Fellowship, a fully-funded venture and leadership program designed to provide comprehensive support to highly promising, diverse sustainability entrepreneurs and leaders. Robinson and her mother, Sandra, recently launched Ready To Roll, a community-driven initiative on Milwaukee’s east side that addresses chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension by offering locally sourced vegan and vegetarian food options.
Kathryne Nelson ’99 and her husband, Jason, have owned and directed Camp Kamaji for Girls for more than 10 years, which is a sleepaway camp in Minnesota for girls ages 7 to 15. Kathryne and Jason continue to promote positive development for children, and teaching families the many mental, physical, and emotional benefits of a long-term sleepaway camp experience spent outdoors and without screens.
’00sChris Chan ’00 was named a winner of the 2023 Temple Grandin Award, given to individuals with autism who have made a major accomplishment in
the past year. His fourth novel, “She Ruined Our Lives,” was published by Level Best Books in February. His previous novel, “Ghosting My Friend,” was named a finalist in the mystery division of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
Rob Jacobs ’02 saved the life of a woman diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia through a bone marrow transplant.
After several rounds of interviews, shots to increase his white blood cell count, and a six-hour procedure to separate his blood and extract the white blood cells, Jacobs’ contribution was complete and he was fully recovered within five days. Jacobs, an orthopedic trauma surgeon with the University of Minnesota working at CentraCare in St. Cloud, Minnesota, is not typically on the receiving end of medical care, but he’s
grateful for the experience. “You have the opportunity to save somebody’s life,” he said. “It is something that is incredibly memorable and positive. It’s a powerful experience that is definitely worthwhile.” In March, his recipient created a podcast about her experience called “An Ordinary World: Full of Unforeseen Circumstances,” now available on Spotify.
Lindsay Starck ’04 visited USM in April, where
she met with students, co-taught an Upper School English class with Charlie Housiaux ’02, and toured school with Will Piper ’96. Starck was on campus to discuss her new book, “Monsters We Have Made.”
Catherine (Burke) Fink ’06 and her husband, Daniel, welcomed their son, Graham, in April.
Bill Zito ’82
Jenny Jansen ’84
Lindsay Starck ’04
Rob Jacobs ’02
Shatoia Robinson ’98
Maayan Silver ’96
Gavin Bardes ’89 Anwar Floyd-Pruitt ’95
Kathryne Nelson ’99
Nicole Hobbs ’98
Chris (Russo) Hawley ’98
Catherine (Burke) Fink ’06
Reunion Weekend 2024
USM alumni from coast to coast returned to Milwaukee in June for a weekend of celebrating and reminiscing. Members of the Class of 1974 marked their 50th reunion and were joined by others at a variety of events on campus, including the Summer Soirée, the Joe Lubar ’08 Alumni Baseball game, tours of campus, and a cookout at Head of School Steve Hancock’s house on campus.
Since its first year in 2011, the number of friends and families honoring the late Joe Lubar ’08 at the annual alumni baseball game continues to grow. This year’s inclement weather didn’t stop anyone from celebrating Joe by playing his favorite pasttime.
From left Mark Hansen ’74, Margaret (Grebe) Lidstone ’89, and Kip Jacobs ’74 each received an alumni award during the Summer Soirée event. Hansen and Jacobs received Alumni Service Awards for their work to support USM scholarships and campus improvements, respectively, and Lidstone received the inaugural Alumni Impact Award for her work in global health.
Members of the Class of 1974 joined Kip Jacobs ’74 (center) to see first-hand the work he’s been doing to eradicate invasive plant species and create new outdoor habitats on campus. The Class of 1974 is currently raising funds for the creation of an outdoor classroom in Jacobs’ honor; visit www.usm.org/class-of-1974 for details.
Cristina Costantini ’07 spoke as a panelist at the 2024 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles in May, where five USM students competed. She is executive producer and director of “Science Fair: The Series,” a docuseries streaming on Hulu and Disney+. The series is a spinoff to the award-winning documentary film “Science Fair,” which Costantini directed with Darren Foster.
Kenzie Kiefer ’07 participated in a USM Career Lunch and Learn event in February, where students were invited to learn more about the fields of finance and real estate. Kiefer is a senior transaction manager at CBRE, supporting the coordination and execution of all real estate transaction activities.
Ashley Heun ’08 and her husband, Anders Dowd, have taken ownership of Moonlight Tavern, a supper-club themed restaurant in the Port Hotel in Port Washington, Wisconsin. The couple plan to expand the bar’s whiskey selection to include 150 varieties, becoming the city’s definitive whiskey bar.
Lane Florsheim ’09 published an article in the Wall Street Journal about Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo titled “NBA Star Giannis Antetokounmpo on Skipping Coffee and His Viral ‘Failure’ Speech.”
Colin Fritz ’09
married Gracie Clemons in Milwaukee. Several USM alumni were in the wedding
party, including Kemp Collings ’09, Michael Crimmins ’09, Augie Fritz ’10, T.J. Hauske ’08, Adam Karnes ’09, Peter Lanigan ’09, Kent Peterson ’09, and Michael Sullivan ’10.
Kelly Cannon ’09 was hired by WME as an agent in its motion picture literary department in the agency’s Beverly Hills office. Prior to this, she served as manager, production and franchise development at Universal Pictures. She began her career as a lawyer before working as a journalist in Washington, D.C.
Michael Luckey ’09 visited campus in February as a panelist for a discussion about housing insecurity, food insecurity, and poverty, and how those issues affect people in Milwaukee. Luckey is assistant to the county administrator for Jefferson County.
Scott Walker ’09 reconnected with former Assistant Head of School Gregg Bach in Luxembourg. Bach was visiting the European country and reached out to Walker, who currently lives there.
’10s
Hannah E. Lubar ’10 and her husband, Mike, welcomed their daughter, Junie Josephine Lubar Borge, in late December 2023.
Fitz Stratton ’10 and his wife, Clare, welcomed son Miles Sherwood Stratton in February 2024. In addition, Fitz is the 2024 winner of the USM March Madness women’s bracket challenge.
Cristina Costantini ’07
Kenzie Kiefer ’07
Scott Walker ’09
Fitz Stratton ’10
Hannah E. Lubar ’10
Michael Luckey ’09
Colin Fritz ’09
Cassie (Bence) Hoppe ’12 visited USM in April to speak to Dr. Henry Wend’s Global Scholars students about her career journey. Hoppe is a project engineer with Stormwater Solutions Engineering, and serves as USM’s varsity skiing head coach.
Harriette (Hauske) Engel ’14 and her husband, Tommy, welcomed Amelia Grace Engel in December 2023.
Sophie Kies ’17 has started a new position as marketing coordinator at Cherry Bombe, a media and events company in Brooklyn, New York. “I’m excited to work at this mission-based organization and pursue my passions in the food and beverage industry,” she wrote.
Tripp Grebe ’19 was joined by fellow alumni and classmates at the annual Bridger & Essex Grebe Softball Challenge, a charity softball game that supports the Bridger & Essex Grebe Fund, in August
2023. Since 2011, the fund has raised more than $700,000 to support genetic research and families impacted by infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy (INAD), a rare, inherited disorder of the body’s nervous system, through Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and the INADCure Foundation. The next game will be held on Saturday, Aug. 10, learn more at https:// bridgerandessexgrebefund. com/. Pictured from left Branden Hicks-Becker ’19, Sander Read ’21, Tripp Grebe ’19, David Mock ’19, Dani Marcus ’19, Elizabeth McGee ’19, Jonah DeToro ’19, and Keegan Kubicki ’19.
George Graham ’20 has officially accepted a return offer from PwC as an audit associate for the fall of 2025, upon completion of the MS in Accounting and Business Analysis program at Wisconsin School of Business (WSB) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Grace Gridley ’20 has been accepted into Teachers College, Columbia University for its graduate program in early childhood education. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to learn from the incredible faculty at Teachers College and to join a community of passionate educators,” she wrote.
Leen Mortada ’20 visited 5th grade students at USM to speak about her religion (Islam), how she practices her faith, and her work to develop a mobile ablution station to help Muslims practice Wudu, or ritual cleansing, before prayer. Her visit supported the students’ exploration of the cultures, religions, geographies, and histories of India and Pakistan.
Alvin Pokel ’20 represented Baylor University at the 2024 American Collegiate Rowing Association National Championships Regatta in Oak Ridge, Tennessee in May. He placed 2nd overall in the men’s 2 grand final.
Jillian Bloch ’22 is a marketing intern with the University of Minnesota’s Athletic Department. She has worked with most of the sports teams and is a lead intern for the men’s baseball team, and has been a social media lead for the hockey team. Most recently she was hired as a member of the Minnesota Twins T.C. Squad, their fan experience group, and elected to be the associate social media coordinator of the Sports Management Association Board.
Zindzi Frederick ’23 was profiled in the “USGA Golf Journal,” a quarterly print publication exclusively for members of the United States Golf Association, as a recipient of the four-year Charles “Chick” Evans Scholarship from the Western Golf Association.
Bret Nerbun ’23 played for the U-19 Puerto Rico Lacrosse team at the Heritage Cup in Haverford, Pennsylvania in May 2024.
Cassie (Bence) Hoppe ’12
Tripp Grebe ’19
Jillian Bloch ’22
Harriette (Hauske) Engel ’14
Alumni Events
ALUMNI NIGHT AT THE THEATRE SERVICE DAY A
More than 100 guests from around the country and world signed up to listen to former Upper School history teachers John “J.S.” Stephens, Steve Bruemmer, and Greg Morgan speak about a wide-ranging number of topics. Content and questions were curated by Raj Bhala ’80, distinguished law professor at the University of Kansas. The three historians have more than 152 years of accumulated teaching experience, with 106 of them at USM. View a recording of the webinar at www.usmtoday.org/historians.
The annual Alumni Night at the Theatre event was held in March, in which alumni were invited to view the Upper School production of the musical “Catch Me If You Can.” Prior to the show, guests enjoyed a reception in the Jack Olson ’67 Commons with remarks from Mark Edwards, Upper School drama teacher and the musical’s director.
USM’s Alumni Association sponsored an Earth Day event to pick up trash at Milwaukee’s Lake Park. USM students, parents, alumni, and faculty joined more than 4,200 volunteers across the city of Milwaukee in celebration of Earth Day.
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.
Grandfather of Michael Polston ’23, Edith Polston ’25, Ainsley Polston ’28, and James Polston ’33
Paul Ellsworth III Scottsdale, Arizona
Father of Ephraim Ellsworth ’94 and Oliver Ellsworth ’97, and grandfather of Patrice Ellsworth ’34
William “Bill” Ainsworth Hart Jr. Mequon, Wisconsin
Father of Kelly Grebe, father-in-law of Michael Grebe ’85, and grandfather of Tripp Grebe ’19 and Griffin Grebe ’24
Nancy Isaacs Kaliebe
River Hills, Wisconsin
Mother of Kyle Kaliebe ’03 and grandmother of Caroline Kaliebe ’31
Terry Marino
Milwaukee
Mother of Jimmy Fox ’21
Alice Neitzel
Thiensville, Wisconsin
Grandmother of Allison Neitzel ’10 and Lindsay Neitzel ’12
Jose Olivieri
Milwaukee
Husband of former Lower School
Spanish Teacher Jeanne Olivieri, and father of Elisa Olivieri ’04, Lucas Olivieri ’04, and Elena Olivieri ’10
Diane Springer
Milwaukee
Mother of Denise Springer ’96
Cherrye Trotman
Milwaukee
Mother of Dr. Enid TrotmanAnyanwu ’77
Remembering Harvey Sperling
Harvey B. Sperling, former USM headmaster, passed away in February at the age of 82, following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife, Cathie (a former reading specialist in USM’s Lower School), and daughter, Sarah, as well as many other family members.
Sperling served as USM’s sixth headmaster, from 1990 to 2000. In addition to leading USM for a decade, Harvey was a beloved member of the school community and also a passionate advocate for education and philanthropic support. Shortly after his arrival, he helped with the cultivation of a gift from Virginia Henes Young MCDS’31, who donated the former “Woodwinds” property in 1991, which was used for outdoor experiential learning for many years. Later, he helped to oversee the development of the current Peter L. Borisch Fine Arts Center, the creation of the current Middle School gym, and the introduction of school-wide internet service on campus. Read about Harvey Sperling in his own words. Visit www.usm.org/sperling for this USM Today story he wrote upon his retirement.
Remembering William Wernecke Jr.
William Wernecke Jr., 68, of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, passed away suddenly on Feb. 27, 2024. Born May 10, 1955 to William and Sue Wernecke Sr., he considered himself extremely fortunate to spend most of his life in Cedarburg with small detours in California (Stanford University) and Illinois (Northwestern University).
Wernecke and his wife, Susan Graham Wernecke, were longtime, generous supporters of USM. He was a member of the Board of Trustees from 2000 to 2008, and served as board president from 2001 to 2004. He also served as a member of the Endowment board since 2006, working to ensure proper management and stewardship of the school’s financial resources. Informally he supported his children in myriad ways, from coaching 6th
grade girls’ basketball, to sourcing material for kindergarten projects and attending innumerable soccer games, theatre productions, and orchestra concerts.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Susan Graham Wernecke, and their children Ellen ’02, Claire ’04, Max ’09, and Chloe ’09. He will also be remembered forever by his father, William Wernecke Sr.; his brother, Clark, and sister, Trish Juranitch (along with husband and Upper School teacher Bob Juranitch and their children Jackson, Laura [Marlin] ’15 and Raymond ’22); his two grandchildren, Magnus and Minerva, and a world of family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors, all of whom he saw as people he wanted to help.
Remembering William Merrill
Chester Jr. MCDS’42
William Merrill Chester Jr. MCDS’42 died on Dec. 18, 2023 at home in Tunbridge, Vermont. Born in Milwaukee in 1925 to William Merrill Chester and Alice Miller, he was the third of four children. He attended Milwaukee Country Day School where he was an avid hockey player. Chester graduated from Princeton University in 1944 and Harvard Business School in 1949. During his time in Cambridge, Massachusetts he met Priscilla Penfield, who he married on June 10, 1949 in Montreal.
Chester worked for 37 years at the Heil Company, mostly in the international division. He also served as the president of the Wisconsin Humane Society, on the boards of the Milwaukee Zoo and St. Luke’s Hospital, and as president of Planned Parenthood.
He and Priscilla were longtime and generous supporters of USM. In 2002, they established the Chapman-Read faculty fund to support the men and women who work with students as teachers and coaches. They also generously supported the William M. Chester Memorial Scholarship Fund, and the USM Fund, and Chester served on the Milwaukee Downer Seminary board of trustees. Chester was preceded in death by Priscilla, in 2014, and his siblings Marion Chester Read MDS’37, George Chester MCDS’40, and Chapman Chester MCDS’47. He is survived by daughters Helen Chester, Caroline Chester ’69, Penfield Chester ’72, and Sarah McKusick ’75. He also left 10 grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren who all adored him.
Leaving Their Mark
Members of the Class of 2024 are about to embark on exciting new adventures, but thankfully they and their families left a generous gift to remember them by: the new monument to military service. The monument, which honors our nation’s veterans, was unveiled with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 24, the same day as Senior Send-off. Located in the front circle, it honors USM community members who have served in the armed forces and will be used by students and teachers in all divisions for reflection, gratitude, and learning.
The gift was especially meaningful to members of the Class of 2024 because, as 8th grade students in 2020, their class trip to Washington, D.C. was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This project served as a way to reconnect with Chuck Taft, their 8th grade American studies history teacher, and Will Piper ’96, assistant director of alumni relations and reunion giving, who both helped with planning and fundraising.
Chuck Taft, 8th grade American studies history teacher.
From left Lt. Col. Lee Rochwerger ’65, Col. Scott Miller ’68, and Capt. Andy Gordon ’98. Miller, who visited from his home in Arlington, Virginia, also spoke at the event.
Will Piper ’96, assistant director of alumni relations and reunion giving.
Members of the Class of 2024 joined faculty, staff, and visiting dignitaries for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
From left Stuart Cushman, chief operating officer and former sergeant, U.S. Army; Capt. Andy Gordon ’98, U.S. Army; Oskar Moe ’24, West Point cadet; Col. Scott Miller ’68, U.S. Army; Lt. Col. Lee Rochwerger ’65, U.S. Army, Fred Lange, Upper School math teacher and former sergeant, U.S. Navy; and Nancy Jaeger, College Guidance associate and former staff sergeant, U.S. Army; officially cut the ribbon to the USM monument to military service.
Building a BRIGHT Future
Most people are surprised to learn that tuition does not cover the entire cost of an independent school education—even for families who pay full tuition. In fact, tuition at USM only pays for about 76% of what it costs the school annually to educate one student. The other remaining 24% is covered in part by USM’s Endowment. In other words, thanks largely to the school’s Endowment, all students at USM benefit from tuition assistance.
Gifts to USM’s Endowment enhance the school’s financial position and impact every single student in perpetuity. Your gift—of any size—ensures we can deliver on our mission for another 173 years.
Visit www.usm.org/endowment for more information and to make your gift today.
Conrad Rariy ’36 and his classmates observed the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. The next total eclipse won’t reach the contiguous U.S. until 2044.
The new primary logo in the Wildcats athletics brand, including the new wildcat head and athletic fonts, was unveiled to the USM community on May 31. The full athletics brand, including more than a dozen unique primary, secondary, and tertiary marks, and sport-specific logos, will be introduced in full at the start of the 2024-25 school year.
